OMG

I just got word that my time for the marathon I ran on Saturday was actually 4 hours 5 minutes, and not what I thought before (4 h, 16 min). This is great news because I already know I could have ran faster and harder. I think I could actually qualify for the Boston Marathon if I really wanted to, with the qualifying time for my age being 3 h 30 min. I could totally do that. No problem.

we ate ice cream in a desert dream

Today is Wednesday, which means it is my day off, but not really. I have a lot of reading to do, errands to run, a trail run to run, and maybe dinner with a friend who I am going to Europe with. I am tired of my hair and I want to cut it all off and probably will end up doing just that; I am impulsive after all. My place is a disaster, which is sooo rare knowing me, but since running the marathon on Saturday I haven't cleaned or put things away since. Shocking I know. I have a lot to do and don't want to do any of it...
This is what I want to do today...
I want to lay out on the grass in the sun (sun where are you today??)
I want to write a letter
I want to talk to old friends
I want to paint and make more erasures
I want a margarita or two, but really I want three or four
I want to sit next to my record player and listen to vinyls
I want to cuddle up next to a fire
I want the moon (I realize this doesn't quite fit with what I want to do per se, I just want it)...(I would settle for some moon dust)
I want to read the book that is sitting on the Ballard Library shelf but the library is still closed.
I want to sing along to my favorite French musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and not be embarrassed by it, for it is a beautiful beautiful film and oh so vibrant.
I want a lot.

AN ADDENDUM: 5 hours later...
Got a cute haircut. Super cute.
Got that book.
Ran 5 miles and smiled the whole time....resisted the urge to keep going...
Proposed dinner plans with Greta at La Carta de Oaxaca and will have margaritas.
And now at Caffe Fiore with a bagel with cream cheese, an americano, and some readings....it is nice...

Reminiscing

I feel like reminiscing.
I am taking a trip no one knows about soon and it is making me think about where I used to be in life. It makes me think about my past relationships, past friends, and of badminton tournaments with my brother on sunny summer afternoons where we would just smack the hell out of that poor poor birdie (or shuttlecocks). We even had our special expensive rackets no one else could use. We got so good no one could beat us so we were force to split up for doubles tournaments. It just wasn't fun for anyone else. We used to give each other welts from slamming the birdie so hard and it hitting our bare chests. Oh brotherly bonding.
Ever since I left LA I haven't played and I realize as I write this that I am talking years now and I miss that. I am pretty sure Frankie hasn't played either. Maybe I can get Angie and Jason a net as a house warming gift, or maybe Cameron and Ruthie, who just bought their house last week.
I am thinking about these things because they are comforting and pleasant and because Frankie, Adrienne, Luciani, and Eloisa seem so far away. My little niece and nephew are growing up and I am missing it. There isn't much I can do about it either. It is hard when your family splits up to pursue their dreams.
I just hope I can see them all again soon and maybe, just maybe, slam that birdie for a point.

Un Basier S'il Vous Plait

I watched this last night. I have a penchant for French films; a love affair if you will. I always have. Even though I don't speak a lick of french other than "Ciao" (does "baguette" count?) I am still drawn to the sound of their beautiful language, their idea of romance and love, and of the simple pleasures of life and how important it is to enjoy these things. No better moment is captured than the rock skipping scene in Amelie or even the scene where she dips her hand into a bag of beans. Like I said, simple pleasures.

Shall We Kiss is a brilliantly told story of the complexity of love, of kismet, and of the lengths we go to get what we truly desire and how sometimes this can be harmful at first but in the end it is always worth it. We sometimes have to hurt those we love in order to be truly happy. This seems twisted, but love and loss always go hand in hand no?

While watching this movie I found myself laughing out loud because some scenes were so awkwardly humorous and wonderful. Warning Adult Content ahead so stop reading. For example, and I am not giving anything away, when the main characters first make love it is so funny because it is so incredibly awkward and so perfect. I loved it. I loved it that he asks for permission to do certain things like 'Can I touch your breast' and 'Can I touch your skin'. (take a look again at the DVD cover and you will see what I mean). He doesn't want to overstep his bounds and is unsure how to proceed, even though she invited him to her bed. At the same time she is so hoping for something to happen but is too set on pleasing him and all the while he is set on pleasing her that this becomes an obstacle because they don't know what to do and neither one is really taking the lead. She "Should we undress..." Him "Oh sure. That sounds good." And they undress but what's next...Oh awkward love and yet it is only the start of their passionate love affair. The whole time I am watching it I was sort of cheering them on "Come on Nicolas, go for it, she wants you too, she is waiting" and other times I was like "Judith just grab him already, show him." It was torturous. It was wonderful.

I probably have said enough though this movie is still running around in my mind. I suppose I should go so goodbye....I mean ciao.

PS. Other favorite French films: Love Me If You Dare, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, A Very Long Engagement, Amelie.

Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2010

I woke up this morning, earlier than you should ever have a reason to, and put on my race number and running shoes. Gobbling down raspberry yogurt, a banana, an orange, and toast with jam at 4:30 am is not an easy feat, not when your body is screaming at you "Go back to bed or at least give me some coffee!" It was time for me to embark on a journey, one that would take me 26.2 miles over 4 hours and 16 minutes.
I made my way downtown where there were shuttles taking runners to Tukwila's start line. Once I navigated the maze of road closures and was on the shuttle, I started getting the little 'day of race' nervous feeling, which is such a strange feeling. I am not concerned with how I will do; I will simply give it my all as I always do, so why the nervousness. Who knows?

A retired school teacher sat next to me on our little field trip. Wow, she was sure chatty at 5:30 am. I think I can write her memoir, if only I could recall her name. She was really sweet actually. One of the first things she did was pull up her pants to show me her scares from a recent knee surgery, one that has enabled her to move better than she had in years. You could just see the sheer joy in her eyes as she was telling me these things and I couldn't help but be inspired. It turns out she is an avid book lover, former high school tennis coach, and voracious audio books listener. Sounds like my dream girl right, only 40 years older :) She was running the half marathon, having only recently run her first 8 miles with her new knee. I wonder how she did for she was truly delightful.

Fast forward (you don't want to hear about all the waiting in lines and pre-race stuff).
I am in my corral. Corral #20. There are about 500 other runners in there with me, all with the goal of running a 4:30 marathon (that is about 10-12 minute miles but I eventually didn't like that slower pace so I ran harder and made my way to the 4:15 group, hence my time) The gun went off at 7am sharp, and off in the far distance I could see the trickle of people stripping off their layers and tossing them into the clothes donations bin as they start the race. It would take 25 minutes for the trickle to reach my corral. At 7:25 am I started running. I never stopped.

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon sold out months ago and had 30,000 participants from all over the country and all of whom have a penchant for running (well that may not be entirely true, let's just say most of them do). I met some girls from Massachusetts, a man from Florida who was loving the cooler 65 degree weather, and some other girls from Canada. This is something I love about these sorts of races; the opportunity to meet people from all over and from all walks of life.

Oh by the way...I am sitting in a coffee shop in my dear beloved Ballard, sipping that Tall Americano I should have had hours ago.

At mile 12 I saw my favorite Josie St. Peter! Love her! That was wonderful and I sort of surprised her too even though she was looking for me and her friend Erin. Despite my sweat she gave me a wonderful and loving hug and well, it just felt nice.

Most people know that I always smile. I can't help it. It just happens. So of course I am smiling all race long and several spectators commented on this as I ran by them. I heard one woman laugh at me saying "that guy is actually enjoying this." I found that so funny because it is true. I was enjoying it. So I waved at her. I mean, why in the world would you put yourself through this if you didn't enjoy it right? That just seems crazy to me. I find that smiling puts me in a different frame of mind...I don't think it is possible to be smile and not be happy. So I smile.

Each mile had a different band playing. I am pretty sure I heard 'Don't Stop Believin' like 3 times. Don't get me wrong, that is a great song and it is the universal karaoke song, but 3 times was plenty. I loved the energy the bands gave off, as well as their time and support. I didn't really have a chance to truly enjoy them but the little glimpses I got were good enough. As one band faded from view another appeared over the horizon. It was lovely.

For all my barefoot runners out there...I saw 3 pairs of Vibram Fiverfingers. Yay. Two girls and a guy. I didn't wear mine today, since I was not on a trail, but I was envious when I saw them.

People often ask me what I think about when I run. Usually it is my time for reflection. I think about a lot of things. I think about my family back in California and about Angela and Jason here. I think about my friends Sarah, Ian, and Sylvie and how they are all leaving so soon. I think about Jimmy and Josie and how they are leaving even sooner. I think about Portland (not the city). I think about Portland (this time the city). I think about how nice it was having a cat and if I ever got a new one I would name him or her 'Stevens' and refer to it as 'my cat Stevens.' I think about how nice it is to be able to run and how I should be grateful. I am grateful.

So now I am done. Post race I took my photo, had a free beer (which was god-awful MGD and made me gag, bleh) and hoped on the bus back to my car. Once I got home I took a shot of celebratory Tequila, hopped in the shower, and tried to nap but really I just laid there thinking about what I had done. It was worth it.

ps. please don't worry about any grammar or spelling errors. I just ran a marathon. Cut me some slack :)

CocoRosie Goodness

CocoRosie goodness indeed. I was listening to KEXP today and CocoRosie was playing a live in-studio performance in anticipation for their show tonight at the Showbox (a show I would love to attend but cannot for I need the rest because of my marathon tomorrow morning). I love their new record, so much in fact that I already bought it on vinyl and have added this song onto my new mix cd's. Enjoy.

Camping Weekend Gold Basin

Before I really write anything you should look at the photos because they will do so much of a better job than I can in describing what took place.
(http://picasaweb.google.com/105068785704661864798/GoldBasinCampingWeekend618620201002#)

Ok, so this past weekend Angela, Jason, Ian, Sylvie and I went on our camping trip. Sarah was hoping to go as well but sadly wasn't able to find the time.
It is somewhat difficult to write about this trip because it was simply just soooo amazing and breathtaking. Not only did we have an amazing campsite, good company, wonderfully prepared and slightly gourmet meals, and the views....wow the views, but it was utterly serene and peaceful. We slept by a winding river, the Stillaguamish, that would put me to sleep each night. The first day the sun radiated off of the rocks, baking your exposed and sun kissed skin. Next time I am bringing floaties or an inter-tube.
The hikes we went on winded through old growth forests, where remnants of ancient stumps remain with new trees growing among the decay. In several of the stumps you could still see the loggers' notches that were carved for support as they would cut away, cutting into the past while preparing for their own, and often uncertain, futures. At times it was sad to see this, but I have to understand that these people were creating their own new starts, using these humongous trees to build their log cabins and shelters. Seeing these stumps made me think of our past, and my past, and how I have come a long long way in certain respects. It also gave me a glimmer of hope for my uncertain future.
I really don't know where I am going, will I stay in Seattle or will I move to Portland if a library job opens up. These are the sorts of things that were running through my mind as I hiked on these trails, past the streams, past the waterfalls, over the moss covered bridges, up the mountains, around the lakes, into the ice caves, and back to my campsite where a fire would warm up my hands and a "Brass Monkey" would fill my stomach. (Thanks to Jason and Angela via Andy....a Brass Monkey is 3/4 beer-Rainier or PBR- and 1/4 orange juice....try it for it is disturbingly delicious).
I always love camping with Angela and Jason. Their excitement only adds fuel to my own and I cannot think of a time when I didn't have fun with them. Jason, in particular, really shines when he is playing his ukulele or guitar by the fire. Angela is a super trooper, storming up the mountain with a full backpack and no complaints. You can tell she is a Koroshec, for her endurance and strength are pretty evident. She is a strong woman, both mentally and physically, and now that Angela and Jason are together they form some sort of super couple. I am lucky to have them both in my life.
I wish Ian and Sylvie could have spent more time with us, but timing was a factor. When they arrived it was just starting to drizzle, which turned into rain and we had to put up tarps, with the rain preventing us from playing in the river. Like Angela and Jason, Sylvie and Ian are one of those power couples, who balances each other out so perfectly and are truly a delight to know and spend time with. I have really come to love trail running with Ian and it will be hard once he leaves for Africa to not miss that.
This past weekend has really made me appreciate those few key people I have in my life. When you surround yourself around good quality people it is hard not to strive for greatness and through them and with them you can achieve that.

Stars at the Triple Door, the Can Can, Ceu

So last night Ross treated a select few to a special treat at the Triple Door. The Canadian band, Stars, were in town and Ross got us VIP tickets and the entire VIP lounge where we could view the show from up on high. For those where have never been to the Triple Door, there is no other music venue like it in Seattle. It attracts musicians from all over the world, musicians who want to have an intimate show with their fans. Unlike most music venues, the Triple Door is a seated venue/supper club, where you wine and dine throughout the performance. The sound quality is also one of the best Seattle has to offer as well. Ross had me try several new cocktails, with my favorite being a Thai Guavarita, where there is a muddled Thai chili in the drink. The spice was perfect. It was so delicious I had three.
Post show and not being ready to head home, Ross and I, along with a few others, went to join the Stars crew at the Can Can. The Can Can is an interesting place in a basement under Pike's Place Market and the home of one of the best burlesque dancers in Seattle, as well as home of the several absinthe cocktails. The ambiance is nice with low red lighting and well placed candles. The decor resembles an old brothel.
Before I go, I must write about another notable performance I saw a few months back. It was Ceu,a Brazilian artist, who I saw with Sarah and who blew us away with her stage presence and sexy Portuguese accent. Her afro was gorgeous, as well as the way she opened herself up on stage. She was intoxicating and seeing how Sarah was blown away too, I know it wasn't just me.

Angel Eyes Designs

So most of you know that my sister is an amazing fashion designer. If you didn't already know this then simply check out her website and see for yourself. (http://angeleyesdesigns.net/)
The reason for me bringing this up is because her new swimsuits are out now and she was featured in Seattle Magazine's June 2010 issue. (http://www.seattlemag.com/0p124a2100/shopping-around-junes-shopping-finds/)
In anticipation for this she had a recent photo shoot with Rosemary Photography.
(http://rosemaryphoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/angel-eyes-rosemary-photography-pin-up.html)
Needless to say, the swimsuits are incredible and so classic, as you can see in the photos. She has an eye for design and each suit is custom made to perfectly fit the wearer's unique body type, a rather rare thing to find in womens' swimsuits which are typically made in mass. By taking the time to custom make the suits, she is able to take in account each wearer's differing curves and body shapes, allowing the suit to then be more comfortable and also sexier.

Are words sexy?

Most of my friends and family are well aware of the fact that I am a letter writer. I love the flow of ink on a page, the words that form, the sensual nature of the craft. Sometimes I wonder if it is because I think the words themselves are sexy without any association to the hand that wrote them....

Really can there be any better unexpected feeling than the feeling of elation you find when you open your mailbox and find a postcard, a letter, or some tiny specially made package just for you with little treasures inside? My nature is very altruistic, which isn't necessarily a good thing, but that is just how it is. Letter writing is altruistic because it is sacrificial. You give up precious moments in your day to think, to write, to open up. Letter writing, in my case, feeds my altruistic nature for I love the feeling I get when I drop off a letter in the mailbox and dream of whomever finding it a few days later. I don't mind giving up time in my day for someone else and for this feeling.

My current new favorite book is "Yours Ever: People and Their Letters" by Thomas Mallon. This book explores the world of letter writing, from the obvious love letters, to pen pals, to other correspondences. It also compares the world of e-affairs (love letters via email....bluckkk) and letters for hire (people paying people to write letters for them.....maybe I should be in that business). I am loving this book because you can very easily put it down and pick it up again without losing any sense of what you were reading before. (http://tinyurl.com/29ssptr)

One dream of mine is that I will find someone who will send me letters. I have tasted this before, in past lives, in past relationships, with past friendships, but not as of lately. It may seem silly to most people, especially as we move further and further into a paperless society (which is crazy because we technically are using more paper than ever before). There is just something special about the art of letter writing, as what once existed with mix tapes. Unlike mix tapes, however, letter writing isn't dependent of any form of technology, so I can keep sending those letters knowing that they will be read.....
So in the meantime, I'll keep writing my letters and checking my mail for those little gems in return.

Theresa Anderson

Every once and a while you get into conversations with friends where you share what new music you've been listening too. An acquaintance of mine, Cameron, is a music producer and musician, but more than that he is just a great guy. Though I don't see him all that often we tend to pick off where we left off in prior conversations and it is so natural.
Cameron just returned home from traveling with a wonderful musician by the name of Theresa Anderson, where he was recording her at her home in Sweden and also New Orleans. This girl is the complete package, as you will see from the video. I am glad Cameron shared this with me over tequila at the Saint.

Beautiful Seattle Day

And yet again, Seattle has such beautiful weather it makes you wonder why more people don't move here. The city has awoken from a deep sleep, arms outstretched as the clouds have parted. I am pretty sure this is what people are feeling like.

The Crayon Fields "Mirroball"

I just can't stop listening to this song. It will be making my next series of mix cd's, this I am certain of.

Cribbage Night

Jimmy and I went out last night for Kings Burgers (I had the Billy Burger while Jimmy had the Tijuana Burger) and Tall boys. (http://www.kingsballard.com/)
Really it was an excuse for us to play cribbage at the bar and say hello to our friend/bartender Mandi. It was nice catching up with Mandi, the Depeche Mode Loving German with a heavy accent Bombshell that she is. I haven't been around King's much, which shows how my tastes have changed over the years. I had random moments of nostalgia while sitting on the bar stool, trying to count out my 15's and sipping beer. I am pretty sure that Jimmy had those moments as well, maybe even more so since he used to work there. It being a Friday night, the crowd slowing moved in and the meat market that is King's on the weekends began, so we made our exit. We moved over to Aster Coffee Lounge, which sells beer and wine at night, resuming our game over fresh delicious beers.
(http://www.astercoffeelounge.com/)
It was nice playing cribbage though. It isn't as good as pinochle (which I am playing tonight) but it sure is fun. I love games, whether board games or card games. Jimmy got the best of me last night though, beating me 4 to 1, with all but 1 game coming down to the final crib. So close and yet the score doesn't show that. Oh well, maybe next time.

Palms

Yesterday I bought several new palm plants. I’ve had a couple of empty pots since last summer I’ve been meaning to fill; I just haven’t had an idea for what to put in them. I’ve contemplated planting some grass or ferns, since the location for them would be on my deck, which gets only indirect sunlight. I love my little apartment, with its assortments of old vinyl records, bookshelves, several bikes, and plants; the only thing is that I never get direct sunlight making me learn all about shade plants, something I know little about having grown up in sunny southern California.
Shade plants need little or no sun making them easy to maintain. While most people would love this and often seek out these sorts of low maintenance plants, it makes me a little sad. I love gardening and I love getting to know the little intimate things that make plants thrive. I wrote about not getting the Ballard P-Patch a few days ago, and this may still be some of those lingering feelings of sadness knowing I will have to wait yet another year to plant a real vegetable garden. For now, I'll just stick with my new palms.

Barefoot Running

Barefoot running is going through a sort of revolution right now. This is partly due to the recent success of Christopher McDougall's book "Born To Run," which is still on Best Sellers Lists' and circulating wonderfully. In addition to this, the release of Vibram's Fivefingers has torn apart the running shoe business, stripping it back down to the basics; a place where it should be.
The idea behind Fivefingers is a basic running shoe. You don't need all the cushioning that is prevalent in modern running shoes, which is overkill and also flat out wrong. We already have all we need when it comes to running...we have springiness and elasticity in our legs, both things that absorb and naturally cushion the impact of the ground. Your feet need to spread out when you run, reaching for the ground to stabilize your stride.
As a child I used to run around barefoot on my parent's property. I loved the way the earth felt under my feet and how I felt more in tune with nature. It just made sense. Having grown up it only makes sense to re-live that feeling. Once again, now when I run I run with a smile, a smile that was absent when I would wear modern running shoes because all the sensation was lost in the shoe.
It is funny how, as a Capitalist society, we are drawn towards the latest new thing. I admit that I fall victim to this sometimes too. Sometimes what we need we already have but it isn't until there is monetary value that we forget about it. People have been running for centuries barefoot while running with modern running shoes only since the 70's. What changed? Well, the business of running was born.
All I can do now is fight against this by running barefoot and running barefoot with a smile; a natural smile, a natural run.

Ballard P-Patch

I just received news that I will be wait-listed yet another year for a P-Patch in Seattle. This makes it three years in a row. I’ll admit that I am a little disappointed, but maybe it is for the best. One day I will have a plot, or better yet maybe I will have a house with a porch and a nice yard in which I will cultivate, planting cucumbers, zucchini (for zucchini bread), carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, and even beets. For now all I can do is wonder and wait patiently.

Tom Phillips

I have been fascinated, somewhat borderline obsessed, with Tom Phillips' masterpiece "A Humument." I love the uniquness of each individual page, the use of collage, the use of watercolor, and my favorite, gouache. He even uses a keyboard to re-type over the print! In using a 'cut-up' technique similar to that of Erasure, Phillips has created a beautiful piece of Book Art.
I could go on and on about this, and maybe I will at some other point. For now I just want to watch a slideshow of his work via his "A Humument" website.
http://humument.com/

Favorite Food Blog

TasteSpotting-a community driven visual potluck, has to be one of my favorite food blogs. The appeal is that people from anywhere in the world can post their favorite recipes with, and this is the great thing about it, images!
The only real problem is that sometimes the language is in some other language, leaving you with the beautiful pictures of food but no real way to translate. It becomes a multiple step process then, with you having to translate the text. Anyway, check it out.

http://www.tastespotting.com/

What to Read???

I am stuck with the predicament of what I should be reading. I recently finished 'Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall and loved it. I can't decide of what to read next. I stare and stare at the stack of library books on my counter.
The ones that are catching my eye most are 'Why We Run: A Natural History' by Bernd Heinrich, 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell, and "Yours Ever: People and Their Letters" by Thomas Mallon. The runner in me wants to read the first. The letter writer in me wants to read the last. I am simply just intrigued by the middle. Some people can read multiple books at the same time but I just am not part of that crowd. And this is why I can't decide...

Discovery Park

Well I managed to make my way into the sunshine yesterday and I simply couldn't leave it. My short run ended up being 28 miles. The only sad thing about that is that I missed out on cocktails at Zig Zag and Chez Shea. I must say it was worth it though.
The Discovery Park Trail was packed all day. If you do a full lap, starting at the Park's Visitor Center, it is about 4.25 miles. I ran this 6 times, plus the added mileage of getting there from my place in Ballard.

Kamishibai

First Entry

Well, it is probably about time for me to do this. I have held off for so long, apparently all in vain.
Today is a beautiful sunny day in Seattle, one that is begging me to head to Golden Gardens with a book in one hand and a Paseo's sandwich in the other. Before I head over that way, I must first take a quick trip over to Discovery Park and run a few laps.
Today is one of those Seattle days that you want to do everything. If I had my way I would take my bike out, find a nice patio happy hour to write a few letters, and in the evening make my way to Zig Zag or Chez Shea. So much to do and not enough sunny hours to do this all in. So where do I begin.
First I need to go the post office. I ordered a new Kamishibai children's story that arrived! If you don't know what this is then you are missing out. (http://www.kamishibai.com/)
It is one of the best ways to tell a childrens story. Picture a makeshift bike carrier, similar to a portable ice cream truck, and someone who pulls up and starts telling a story in the middle of the street. People love this. As do I.
So this is where I will begin.