destruction

This is devastating.

Yesterday, we took down the stage at Autonomy.  It was something that needed to be done for reasons that I can't write down.  Today, we came to the space to rebuild studios over where the stage was and found that the space had been vandalized.  There was no sign of forced entry and some of the people that are on their way out were pretty upset about the stage so I'm pretty sure it was an inside job.

Windows were smashed, messages of hate like the one pictured above were written all over the place, dry wall was punched in, a fire extinguisher was sprayed into one of the studios through a hole busted in the wall, paint was thrown around, one of the artists who rents a space there had his art destroyed and there was blood on the walls.  It was surreal.  Vandalism wasn't covered in the insurance policy and the cops wouldn't care enough to DNA test the blood or pull fingerprints so we didn't call the cops.  Instead we just cleaned it up.  Fortunately, a handful of our friends showed up to assist in the cleanup.

It's disgusting and I truly despise the people that did this.  Nothing can be proven but one of the people that pretended to be horrified later admitted to writing the crap on the boards which, just coincidentally, went along with the destruction that was done.  I can't really write anymore about this because it's too disheartening.  The space may be done for though.

brand new pony

The awesome people that put on Blowpony brought their talents to Autonomy tonight for the first of what hopefully will be a monthly gig.  It wasn't near as big as Blowpony but it was still well attended for the initial night.  It's awesome to have such a strong queer presence in the space.  I wish it wasn't on a Friday nite because that means the first Friday of every month will be a super-long day for me but, hey, it's not all about me.  However, I do want to make sure to be here for it so I guess I'll just have to suffer.

There was some drama (not with the wonderful event organizers) in the space before time which put a really uncomfortable vibe in the space.  I just hope that the Pony can ride into the space again next month and hopefully have a drama-free presence.

hell prom

I think that tonight was my favorite Halloween party ever.  It was the last show for the band, The Golden Greats and we also had Chervona and Holy Holy Holy playing.  There wasn't really any point where anybody got out of line, the music was awesome, the costumes were great and it was just what I needed.

I went as a tea-bagger as you can see by the picture above.  This year was different for me than the past several years have been in terms of costuming because I didn't need to tailor my costume around work regulations.  My work had their Halloween party on Friday when I was at my internship place and my internship place had their party last night when I wasn't working so I was free to get a little more creative.

While I absolutely loved the show, I didn't get back home until 5am which makes for a very tired me.  Since I was out in costume past midnight tonight, I'm counting that as my Halloween adventure for the year.  My housemates are all going trick-or-treating out in Gresham with the grandparents on Halloween night so I'll probably just stay home, watch a scary movie and not answer the door.  Hopefully we won't get egged.

a great show to lose money on

Tonight wasn't the first show that I've ever helped with that's lost money and it's not the first show that's lost money that I would still consider a success either.  However, I will have to say that I was definitely more upset this time around that not more people were here to see it because it was a GREAT show.  Of course I love Riot Cop but I have deep appreciation for the raw energy, enthusiasm and radical nature of HolyHolyHoly.  I also got to see Broken in Half for the first time.  The video above is them performing last night.  I was going to take a video of HolyHolyHoly too but the singer got naked too quickly and I didn't want to be the creeper who posted that on-line.  If you wanna see that, you got to go to the show.

While I am upset that more people did not the chance to go, I did love the people that were there.  There were some underage folks that probably didn't have a lot of options for real entertainment downtown that thought it was just the craziest thing ever.  I honestly don't know how some of these folks ended up at the show because it didn't appear to be their scene but I think every last one of them enjoyed it and I bet they'll be back.  That's what makes it a success.

90210

OMZ, it's 90210 today!  Despite my decades of watching soaps, I really do hate drama.  Still, I can appreciate the irony of engaging in drama today of all days.


My work actually has a policy against gossip.  People have gotten disciplined over this policy before so I don't really want to put what happened today in writing but I will say that a co-worker exposed their angry side today and tried to pull me and my roommate into crazy land with the co-worker.  The co-worker has done a piss poor job lately and I'm completely over dealing with them anymore.  It was frustrating but I don't want to gossip cuz I don't need any drama.

What else?
It's first Thursday again.  I saw some new bands.  It wasn't as busy or fun as last month but it was still a success.

2nd 1st Thursday

Autonomy had their second first Thursday today.  Based upon the success of the last (or first) first Thursday, we were expecting tonight to be busy.  Ashes and I flyered for the event by following the drum corps band, LRSD.

At the event, Holy Holy Holy and Chernova played some awesome rowdy Balkan music.  It was a beautiful sight to see the place so festive.  It was also busy as hell.  We (Ashes and I) had originally intended to leave early, around 10pm, because we both have to work tomorrow.  However, it got so crazy that we had to stay until 1:30am.  For me to be out that late on a work night is unheard of but it felt so right.  I'm sure I'll be dragging ass tomorrow but it was worth it.  Awesome awesome night.

another night at autonomy

This place looks amazing.  Tonight I worked the door at a show there and saw three new bands.  It was fun, a lot more fun than I thought it would be.  I really enjoy the space.  It has a great vibe and a very comfortable political setting, moreso than other places I've went to that espouse to be queer friendly.  One of the bands, The Black Hankies was just what I would look for in a band to play at Autonomy.  They had such awesome politics.  I put some videos up here and here.  I really hope they all come back.

I hung out for a lot longer than I usually do and really enjoyed it.  There's a bunch of cushions set up in the corner that make for a great sleeping area.  I put on my Goldfrapp Pandora station and chilled out.  It was so nice.  I think my housemates have done a fabulous job on the place and I'm excited about its prospects.

rocco's bar

It's hard to believe this place is in conjunction with the dirty dive I've come to love since I moved here.  Rocco's Pizza is at the beginning of where the gay ghetto used to be and it's right across the street from Powell's Books so I've been there a lot.  When my parents and grandma came to town within a year or so of me moving here, I took them to Rocco's.  I realize in hindsight that it was not a great place to take visitors.  However, I would bring them here.

Rocco's Bar opened up not that long ago and today was my first visit there.  It's clean and has nice interior.  It doesn't have the character that the Pizza Parlor has but it's still got the same cheap, doughy pizza.  It also has mixed drinks though.  Next school year, I'll be working two days per week at New Avenues which is right down the block from Rocco's.  I'm sure I'll get to Rocco's Bar a lot more often.

What else?
I was at Autonomy tonight, helping clean.  It's coming along so well.

When I was heading home, I was biking up Division and ran into a bike mob right around 12th Ave.  They had tall bikes and a sound system and said, "Join us," so I did.  We biked down the Springwater Corridor when they stopped and I kept going.  It was nice to ride with for a while though.  I miss mass rides.

1st thursday

I took art classes all throughout high school.  My art teacher was very supportive although I really don't think I had a lot of talent.  It was still fun and it gave me a good creative outlet.

Today, I struggle with finding art unpretentious.  I find a lot of art amazing but a lot of artists and art aficionados annoying.  I think a lot of that is insecurities regarding my own creativity combined with the idea that art does hardly anything to advance the well-being of the oppressed and the planet.  That being said, once I feel comfortable with artists, I adore them.

Al's work is a good example of what can be oh-so-right with art.  His imagery conveys a very distinct, strong political message, even though it may leave a little open to interpretation.  I headed down to Autonomy tonight for First Thursday.  I've only been down to First Thursday once or twice before.  I went through a lot of galleries today and almost bought a bike shirt at one place but then I realized that I could make it.  It was a simple design and I've done screen printing.  I wouldn't use the same design because it's someone else's and it wasn't that great.  I may have to creative soon and print.

working to prepare the fair

It's coming!

Last year, when we went down to the Oregon Country Fair for a work party, I was sort of at a loss for what to do.  I knew stuff needed to be done but I didn't know who to ask to get started so I just hauled bamboo for two days straight.

This year, I had more insight into how things work and I jumped right in.  I helped Tim build a bench and I spread dirt around as they rebuilt the stage.  It felt a lot more organic this year and I was a lot more comfortable.  I cannot wait for it to begin.

What else?
We had a show at Autonomy and I worked the door with a young punk kid named Eli who unintentionally made me feel older but that's not a bad thing.  I also met a cool person with an awesome accent from the UK who was thinking of moving her.  I talked to her so long that my friend BHT felt the need to come over and remind me that I'm gay.  Ha ha.

building walls

Since I have free time now, I decided to help out Autonomy tonight.  Actually, I was kind of bored and didn't know what to do with myself.

The place is coming along nicely.  It's all framed up, there's a huge stage and walls now.  I helped drywall today for the first time.  I'm sure there's tricks to the trade but it's really not as hard as you'd think building walls would be.

What else?
We went to some big Hipster bar on Burnside just east of the Plaid Pantry on MLK.  It was nice.  I still don't know the name of the place but I would head back if I knew the name of the place.

the first in what will be many

Wow, it's been almost exactly a year since our last Indymedia benefit.  Tonight's benefit was moreso for Autonomy but it was organized by primarily the same people and at the same location but under new management.  I'm sure I'll be helping out with several benefits at this place but it was nice to have an inaugural benefit tonight with good friends.

It was very simple.  I DJ'ed, mLe (pictured above as the band White Teeth for the night) played and so did the Eclectic Bastards.  Then we kareoke'd.  I would normally have left a lot earlier than I did but it was fun, something I haven't really had a lot of lately.

On Thursday, I stayed at Southeast Grind for four hours in the evening working on my final paper.  I got maybe 1/3 of it done.  I was kind of beating myself up for not doing more but I'm going to chose to celebrate the progress I have made instead.  I have a long weekend ahead of me and a deadline of getting it done before next Wednesday so I can turn a rough draft in to my instructor.  I think I can do it.

It was worth it to stay at the party too.  DJ'ing was fun.  I finally got to play "Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?" during a DJ session which a surprising number of people seemed excited to hear. (Luv my friends!)  During karaoke, I sang a lot.  I can remember singing No Scrubs (again), Just Dance (again), Wannabe, Sexy Back, Kids (by MGMT with the rest of my house) and Bad Romance (which I did as a song Ashes played in between karaoke requests so it wasn't actually a karaoke song and I didn't have lyrics but I still rocked).  Anyway, a lot of fun and a good precedent to set for Autonomy.

paint job

I have decided that Saturdays are going to be my Autonomy days for a while until the project is closer to completetion.  Really, it's a nice break from school and it feels good to do a little manual labor.  I did a variety of jobs there today.  For a while, I pulled up underlayment from one of the rooms.  It reminded me of when I helped my friends Michael B and Jemma pull it off the floor of their house.  However, this stuff is nailed in and needs crowbars to get it up.  I only did this job for about 30 minutes before I couldn't take it anymore.

My favorite job was painting.  Not only is it light on the labor but it is also one in which you can instantenously see the results.  The people who rented the space there went a bit crazy with their "artistic expression" and made the place look ultra-shitty with graffitti.  I've always thought that colored walls look better than white walls but that was not the case here.

It's getting closer to being complete!  Yay!

building autonomy

Like I said yesterday, my housemates are renovating the new Autonomy Hive.  It reminds me of when my parents bought our house in Wallace, NE and absolutely gutted it.  They're not leaving anything.  It was a shanty town inside before and a messy shanty town at that.  The amount of garbage in the place is unbelievable.  There's an old elevator shaft which probably has a working elevator in it but we don't know for sure because it is FILLED with garbage.  Balam dubbed it 'The Pit of Despair.'  They had a "trash room" in the back.  Behind all of the trash was a door which, until this week, had been hidden.  However, when they uncovered it, they discovered another bathroom!

I took the day off studying today to help out with the building.  I spent most of the afternoon sweeping off the roof and the deck.  I hold a grudge now against all smokers who throw their butts around.  When we get the place ready to open, I am investing in an ashtray for the deck.  I spent the evening pulling nails out of boards.

Anyway, I'm super-sore and super tired.  My hand is banged up and my legs are hurting from biking around everywhere.  Still, I'd be helping with the project everyday if it wasn't for school.  It'll be a good this summer though.

What else?
I had a beautiful morning.  I made myself an awesome scramble, got my haircut by a new and cute guy and saw two of my clients on a walk while biking.  I feel like Spring is really here.

merry old land of oz

Oh the things I'll do for friendship.  Today, I sat through a 3 1/2 hour performance of Wizard of Oz because Dominic's daughter Mo was a munchkin, a poppy and a ghost in the play.  I was in the mood to sit down and relax and be entertained for a while but after the second hour, I was ready for them to throw the damn water on the witch already.

The play was cute and the actors did an amazing job, particularly Dorothy and the Lion.  It was full of technical difficulties which probably drove the director nuts but the audience took it all in good stride.  The main problem with the play was that they used the soundtrack for the EXTENDED edition of the film with the stupid Jitterbug scene added in.  The kids sang their own songs too but, since they used the soundtrack for the music, the scarecrow had a tremendously long dance scene where the movie actor was bouncing back and forth on the fences and this kid just had to jump around the stage.  While the whole thing was a bit long, it was still worth it to support Mo.

What else?
My housemates are leasing the former Union Hall and are in the process of renovating it.  It was the venue for the last J Party and many benefits.  The name is now Autonomy Hive.  Today was my first day there since they got a hold of the place.  We have a lot of renovations to make so it'll probably be a reoccurring new thing for me.