my first hump

I'll admit it: I was a bit nervous for this new thing. A few weeks ago, Andrew & I were out eating after drinks & there was a Portland Mercury on the table with a list of movies for Hump 2015. In case you don't know, HUMP is a film fest of the adult nature put on by Dan Savage. It began in just Seattle & Portland but has now gone national. I've never been. I've had friends that go though & I listen to Dan's podcast every week & read (or listened to [thanks, Audible]) his last book so I thought it was about time we go so I ordered us tickets.

I've never been to the venue Revolution Hall either in its current incarnation so I was looking forward to it all. The movies were fun & mostly funny & well-done for the most part. I had some hesitation about watching movies that featured lady bits on the big screen but one of my fav films was one that was primarily just that. It wasn't sexy for me but interesting & I will say challenging at times but I had a great time overall and I will definitely come back.

the harvest

 

Today, we harvested. Well, Andrew did. I helped tied up the trimmings tho so they could dry out. I imagine having our own weed harvest will lead to a lot of other new things as well.

What else?

On Thursday, I met Andrew on the benches outside of the Barley Mill on Hawthorne.

On Friday, I tried a grapefruit margarita at Ole Ole on our date night before we went to see Black Mass which was good but violent. Since we did a mob movie last night, this afternoon, after harvest, we went to Shaun the Sheep the Movie which was cute and the polar opposite of Black Mass.

modern blessings

I remember seeing the painting of the first pic above a lot in my childhood. It must have been at one of my grandma's because my mom claims it wasn't in our house. Anyway, Andrew and I went to  Roscoe's today and saw the second pic and thought it was very funny. The framed print was only $10 so I bought it. I don't believe I've actually purchased art in a restaurant or bar before. I'm happy with it.

We also tried Triumph Coffee which used to be Three Friends until the owner closed up the shop and my friend Emily reopened it. I'm looking forward to going back there more often!

What else?

We were hanging out at Roscoe's, waiting for the Far from the Madding Crowd matinee. Yesterday, we saw Ant-Man which was awesome and tomorrow, we've got plans with friends to go see Train Wreck. It's been close to 20 years since I've gone to movies back to back like this. With the global climate change, I could see it happening more often though.

3D for free

Dominic asked me today if I was still in love jail. For those of you that don't know, love jail is when your relationship isolates you from your friends. If anything, I've been in a love jail with Dean for the past 10 years. I don't think that Andrew and I are at this point, nor will we get there. He's pretty social and likes my friends. However, I have been less than social with some of my friends lately due to time constraints so I decided to set aside some Dom time today and go to Men in Black 3D with him today since he had free screener passes. All it cost me was time and that I got to spend with Dom and it was even a 3D movie. That's like $13 or so. Sweet!

I couldn't get a picture of it all though. They told us to put our cameras and cell-phones in the car. They checked bags and even waved metal detectors at us. So, since I don't have a picture of the movie, here's a random shot to Sir Elton John, performing Pinball Wizard.

What else?
We're having our CARF accreditation at work. This is the second time I've been through this in this position and the fourth time I've been through it with the company so I'm not really all that nervous or concerned. On Monday 5/21, I went with the surveyor and a district manager to my stores and stopped at a sushi place (which was new to me) on the way. Today, we went to two other stores and stopped at Sweet Betty's in Gresham. It was a surprisingly awesome place. I'd love to go back there...but it's in Gresham.

brunch date

Andrew and I did brunch together for the first time. It's silly but I see this as a step but I'm not sure what it's a step towards. I like where we're at and I don't see the need to change it really but I guess it's fun to see where it can go.

What else?
I fell off the wagon properly yesterday. Jenn and I had drinks for brunch, I met Josie (yay!) for drinks at the Red and Black (where I had my first Shot in the Dark which is an espresso shot in a stout) and then Jesse and I went drink some Terminator Stouts while watching the Terminator at the Bagdad Theater. And then of course Andrew and I had drinks today. Oh well, I knew it was only a week long ride when I got on.

Oh, I got my haircut yesterday too and once again, by a new stylist.

first class evening

X-Men: 1st Class has been nagging me since last Friday.  I've known I was going to see it in the theater since I'm such a fanboy so I haven't been able to think about much else.  I've been checking the times and cursing myself whenever I see that I've missed a showing.  Tonight, I cut my normal Tuesday plans short.  I was already up in Northeast Portland so I decided to bike to the Roseway Theater on 72nd and Sandy.  It's the first time I've biked up there but it wasn't such a long ride since I've moved considerably further north.

The movie was awesome!  I think that I enjoyed the second X-Men better just because the director Bryan Singer is awesome and the movie was thick with gay allegory.  However, First Class had a fantastic love story between Professor X and Magneto that was written just between the lines.  It was also well-acted and just fun to watch.

What else?

In biking home, I pretty much just aimed south or east and meandered home on the bike.  I biked some roads, including 57th, that I haven't taken before

reflecting on '10

I was having dinner tonight with Sophia and Jesse (eating the Mac N Cheese for the 1st time and trying a new beer) when Jesse asked me if I think that 2010 has been a bad year with good points or a good year with bad points.  Most of the rest of my friends answered bad year/good points so I felt a little guilty for saying good year/bad points.  However, I'm also really grateful.

Upon reflecting on 2010, I would say that Oregon Country Fair, my time in Omaha, pedalpalooza and my internship have probably been the high points but none of those were single events.  OCF was short (as was my time in Omaha) but different points in each of those several days made them memorable.  There have been bad points but nothing too bad and anything that lasted too long.  Meeting awesome new people, having several awesome bike rides (naked or in many different costumes, trying new things (Laser tag!!!), some wonderful parties, great music shows, and much-needed vacation trips made for one awesome year!

What else?
After the Hedge House, we went to watch Big Lebowski at the Clinton Street Theater.  I heard that Portland has a Big Lebowski event where everyone dresses in their robes and goes to the park to drink white russians.  I am definitely doing that this next year!

forget your underwear, we're free

On April 20, 2001, I drove to see my sister in Emporia, Kansas.  It was a memorable trip for me because I didn't check it out on the map and this was before I had GPS.  I had a book-on-cassette of Jack Kerouac's On The Road and no specific paths or plans.  I just went in the general direction, content to get lost and not worry about it.  I found my way easily enough and enjoyed doing so.

The freedom that is associated with the Beat Generation is intoxicating.  It's hard not to romanticize it, especially their sexual liberties.  To relate, I turn to Allen Ginsberg.  After reading Ginsberg and Kerouac, it's hard not to envision them as characters instead of actual people.  I always thought that the unrequitted love that Ginsberg felt for Kerouac was tragic.  I wanted Kerouac's character to have a passionate and romantic affair with Ginsberg's character or at least for him to be bi-curious.  However, that's not how it went down and there was not enough literary license with their pseudonyms to make it happen.  Even more beautiful and tragic was Neal Cassady's flirtation with Ginsberg which left Ginsberg heart-broken when Cassady decided that it's wasn't natural.

Tonight, I got to experience Ginsberg on a whole new level when I went to Howl at the Hollywood Theater.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  The acting in it was superb.  The animation that was interspersed in the movie was done provocatively by politically radical Eric Drooker.  I wasn't going to go to the movie tonight even after I had made plans to meet some friends there because I was feeling sick.  But I decided to tough it out and do it and I am SOOO glad I did.

Despite the tragedy of his previous crushes on straight or seemingly straight guys, Ginsberg ended up with the love of his life who he met early on and who stayed with him until he died.

What else?
Aside from the wonderful movie, the ride to the theater was adventurous for me.  I took some neighborhood roads that were unfamiliar to me.  I do recognize that I have a rational fear of potholes now.  When I am heading down a hill, I ride the brakes if it's heavily shaded at the bottom to the point where I can't see the road's condition.  I guess it doesn't hurt to be cautious.  Also, knowing that I was going to a beat movie, I decided that it was imperative that I first have a drink.  I ducked into Sam's Billiards because my options were limited based upon time.  It really wasn't a bad place.  If I was good at pool at all, I may consider going back.

Also, it was another productive day at my internship.  Dave showed me how to do orientation paperwork as I got to meet a new resident whose case I am going to be partially responsible for.

punch em in the d*&k

I heard this song about a year ago and I thought it was pretty funny but I didn't think much more of the artist.  Tonight, I was fortunate enough to see his whole show and I was kind of blown away.  Juicy Karkass has a good stage presence but what really go to me was his lyrics which bordered on heavy at times.  He prefaced one of his songs with saying it was his one serious song of the evening and he wasn't lying.  It was a song about seeing violence happen against women and not knowing what to do in the situation.  It was brutally honest and well done.  Eminem is no longer singing about killing his baby mama and stuffing her in the trunk but he's moved onto tying his lover to the bed and setting the house on fire if she tries to leave.  When the mainstream is littered with shit like that, a supportive act like Juicy Karkass is even more appreciated.

It wasn't just him either tonight.  The show at Autonomy which I worked was a release party for Coin in the Coffer's new 7".  The banjo player for the band is a friend and neighbor.  It was a fun good show which was attended by good people who enjoyed themselves and supported a good organization (Indymedia) in the meantime.  All together, it makes for a great way to spend a Saturday night.

What else?
I got stupid today in three dimensions as I sat through Jackass 3D.  However, that isn't meant that I didn't laugh my ass off.  The beehive tetherball was kind of fucked up to the bees but it was damn funny to see the dumbasses get stung a lot.  Before the show, Justin, Sophia and I went to the Doug Fir for lunch which was a 1st for me too.

from Rainier to rainier

I don't really get to Seattle very often but this is my second visit so far this year.  Both times, I went to the Space Needle.  It's not that impressive but, like my dad said, if you only make it to Seattle once, it's something you should do.  Dad and I went up.  I got a better view than I did last time since it wasn't as cloudy.  Still, meh.  I'm glad my dad suggested taking a different path back to Portland other than I-5.  I used my phone to get us directly south which put us close to Mt Rainer.  I only got us lost once too when we went out of phone range.  D'oh, technology fail.

This is where we got a little lost.  It's probably the closest I have been to Mt Rainer.  It's a pretty area that I'd like to spend more time in.  It's really not that far from Portland so I will have to get up there sometime within the next year.

After our drive, we went to watch the swifts but the rain chased us away and the birds into the chimney quickly.  We ended up going to a movie at the Mission so we could get food too.  It's the first time I've eaten at the Mission and the first time I've been there and not in the balcony.  It was nothing too exciting but it was a nice trip and a nice visit with my parents.  They're heading to Paris later on this week so I wasn't going to try to make the Seattle experience compete with that.  It was a nice simple Northwestern experience.

water fun

When I was a little kid, I loved Aquaman.  When my friends and I would run around the yard and pick superheroes that we were pretending to be, I'd usually go with Aquaman.  This is odd because he doesn't have great superpowers and it's ironic because I'm not a good swimmer.

I can remember swimming lessons being a type of punishment for me.  I liked to go around and splash a bunch in the water but I did not like the structure of lessons.  There were stages that we would go through until the instructor thought we had graduated to the next level.  I didn't advance through these stages early.  The pool once lost my sister Jackie's swimming lessons card and she had to go through each stage again, which she did in a matter of minutes.  I remember being jealous and also thinking, "Take me with you so I don't have to go through this anymore!"

In community college, my friend Brian was a lifeguard at the Y.  I would go there occasionally and screw around in the pool but was constantly taking criticism from him and our friend Mick about how I didn't swim properly.  I guess it's the equivalent to me criticizing people with bad spelling.  It really doesn't matter unless you care, which I don't.  I know I can swim enough to survive.  I will never be a Baywatch lifeguard though.

Today, I mustered up the courage to go to the PSU Rec Center pool.  I have been to their hot tub many times (so many times that I have my favorite jets) but I have never gone in the pool.  People are always doing laps and with good form and speed.  I would look ridiculous trying, like a drunken seal with one flipper.  However, it was hot enough for me today to go for it.  I found out they have an open area which more closely resembles a community pool.  There was only a few other people in the open area so I had a lot of time to float around.  They have a bunch of water aerobic equipment there and I had already surpassed shame by getting into the pool so I gave some of the equipment a shot.  I tried the water gloves which webbed my fingers and gave me a good workout just treading water.  Since I paid for the membership to the Rec Center, I will definitely be going back.

What else?
I went to Vincente's pizza with Dom quick so we could have a drink before seeing Inception.  It was well worth the $4.75.  If you like Memento, go see this.  I've been loving Christopher Nolan's work since Memento so I was eager to see it and it lived up to my expectations.  Don't just go to see it expecting a FX extravaganza because it's a lot more story-driven than FX driven.

Dean vs the sprinklers...The other day on Infomania, they showed a clip of dogs vs sprinklers so I got out my droid today when Dean went to get some water or get sprayed trying...

 

stonewall uprising

I think I know a lot about radical queer history but there's always something more to learn.

Tonight, I went to a new documentary, Stonewall Uprising which is based upon the book I read a few years ago, "Stonewall" by David Carter.  It was an excellent documentary (and an excellent book) that added on to the book nicely.

It was awesome seeing it with Dominic who is also an expert on radical uprisings and has read the book.  For my new thing, we watched the film from the balcony of Cinema 21 which made the experience all the better.

the last LOST

Wow. I'm kind of stunned, happy and disappointed all at the same time.  I loved this show but I'm glad it's over.  No, they did not come close to explaining everything and left it open for a lot of interpretation but I think that they did give the fans a lot of what they wanted to see and that means something.  Although they didn't give me what I wanted to see the most (the picture above is doctored). ;)

I went to the Bagdad to watch this like I did with Battlestar Galactica.  Jesse Bastard and I waited outside the theater for close to 1 1/2 hours to get in.  Then, when we got it, we waited 15 minutes for the 2 hour pre-show to start and then the last episode was 2 1/2 hours.  That's a lot of time to devote to the show and we're both in school and have papers due.  Still, watching it this way made it more of an event.  Otherwise I think I may have been disappointed.

day of focus

I have hardly slept this week.  I spent the evenings researching my paper and I would dream about it at night.

I decided that it was time for me to get to work.  I started the morning at Papaccino's researching my paper.  After a bit, I realized that I couldn't really concentrate when I was there so I went to the PSU library instead.  Yesterday, my new thing was going to the fifth floor of library to find a magazine.  Today, I went back there because I saw that it was the quiet floor.  The above picture was the view I had in the window next to the desk I camped out at.  I spent at least five hours, focused on my paper and research, running up and down the floors (going to the basement for the first time), finding articles and ended with almost a complete paper.  I went back home and watched a documentary about social cognitive theory and finished the paper.

Really, I felt like I was in a montage that lasted nine hours but I came out of it smarter and got my paper done.  Yay!

What else?
I went to Barbarella tonight with Dominic, Ashes and Victory at the Bagdad as soon as I was done.  I remember watching the movie when I was really young, like back in 85 or 86.  The only part I remembered was the dolls with teeth biting Barbarella.  The movie is fascinating and funny but I wished I could have stayed awake for it.  Chances are I'll sleep better tonight though.

the roseway

Tonight I saw Avatar in 3D.  It didn't help the movie that much.  I think the special effects are amazing but they were amazing last time I saw them.  3D only made it so the ash looked like it was floating in the theater.  However, I did get to see it in the Roseway for the first time.  I was determined that, if I saw it in 3D, it would not be in a multiplex.  The Roseway has held over Avatar since I got back from Nebraska after Christmas.  Apparently some other people think that it is really worth it.

in my top five

When 'Run Lola Run' came to video in late 99 or early 2000, the preview for it played on our promo reel at the video store enough times that I decided I had to give it a shot.  Within the first five minutes, my roommate Brian asked me what the hell I just rented.  By the end, we were each blown away and I was racing to the store to buy the soundtrack which I would have worn out had it been a cassette tape.

Favorites are a peculiar thing.  It's odd what resonates with us and what doesn't resonate with others.  It might have been the time and place I was in when I watched it but I was in love with this movie.  I bought the English dubbed video (foolishly), then the English subtitled version and finally the DVD.  I also have the movie poster hanging in my room.  I realize that it's not one of the best movies ever made but it's one of my favorite and it's a damn good movie.

I think that it's one concepts in Run Lola Run that sells me on the movie; everything we do has an impact on our surroundings in some way, shape or form.  I used to see children as the only way your everyday person could have a lasting effect on the world that went beyond their lifetime.  However, Run Lola Run really brings home the point that whether we are conscious of it or not, we impact people all of the time and that sets off a ripple of how they impact others in their surroundings and so on and so forth.  In other words, what we do in this life does indeed make a difference.  Well, it's that concept and the kick-ass original soundtrack.

The Laurelhurst, one of my favorite theaters, is playing Run Lola Run this week.  Dominic went to see it with me today and we pointed out scenery that we saw when we were in Berlin.  While I would count this movie as a new thing since it does have such an impact on my life, I could also say that not drinking beer and instead trying lemonade at the Laurelhurst is my new thing for the day.

a vacation in two hours and forty-two minutes

Yesterday, I didn't leave my parent's house at all.  Today, I left reality for a few hours.

Cabin fever set in and none of us were going to be satisfied with playing board games any longer.  We checked the roads, figured out it was do-able and headed to Kearney where we went to a new theater.  It's a nice multiplex that wasn't there when I was in college.  And we went to see Avatar.

I've been wanting to see this movie for a while and I haven't seen a movie with most of my family in the theater for years.  My brother, dad and I liked it.  My niece didn't and my grandma got motion sickness from it.  It has a great message (although there is problems with about anything if you scrutinize it hard enough) and it's absolutely beautiful.  I can't wait to see it in 3-D when I get back to Portland.

What else?
My sister and youngest niece got to my parents' house today.  My littlest niece has long hair and loves dogs.  She's actually worn Oliver out.  I'm really grateful to be able to see them before I go home even if it's just for a little bit.

the rom-com

I worked in as a video store snob for several years.  How come is it then that I never heard of the term 'Rom-Com?"

It makes sense.  Sci-fi = science fiction & Rom-com = romantic comedy.  I get it.  I just can't believe I haven't heard it used before today.  Maybe that's because I have little to no interest in seeing most romantic comedies.  However, I am a sucker (complete and utter sucker...I didn't mean it like that) for independent films though.  (Look, you can tell it's an independent movies by the funky layered clothing, glasses, beard and the arty shot on the moving airport sidewalk.)  For the most part, I think that they have a higher level of comedic and dramatic value.  Also, I just like movies with a small budget and bigger heart.

'Away We Go' will not be the worse movie I've seen but it could've been a lot better.  There are just so many deep and dramatic scenes towards the end so you forget that it used to be a comedy.  Plus it's real heterosexist.  It has several straight couples and a few single people just looking for that perfect person...of the opposite gender.  Still, Jim from the Office is pretty adorkable in it.

Anyway, that was my movie for the night.  My new thing was going on a different route for this year's Diabetes Walk and hanging out with different co-workers out of the office.  However, I just couldn't bring myself to blog about it because this movie was considerably more interesting.   That's a sad reflection on my lazy Sunday.

i love you, girl

In high school, a bunch of the girls in my senior class referred to me as "Our Antonio," in reference to the character on the show Wings who crashed the ladies' slumber party and fit right in. That's how I've been most of my life. I've almost always had more or better female friends than I have had guy friends. Maybe it was just because I was repressing a lot earlier in my life and was afraid of revealing my less-than-macho status, but I could always be more at ease with women.

Sometime around college, I became more comfortable with guys as friends and discovered that, really, it doesn't matter. Gender shouldn't be as much of an issue as it is. A friend is a friend is a friend. Still, I really liked the male relationships in 'I Love You, Man.' The movie did a great job of not being homophobic or even heterosexist in a movie where it would have been really easy to go for the easy queer jokes. Ironically, I went to the movie with two good female friends and ended up hanging outside the movie theater last night, just chit-chatting after the theater people turned off the lights and locked up.

The new thing was I snuck into the movie. Yes, you can say it's wrong but you didn't have to sit through Year One before going into I Love You, Man. If I hadn't snuck in, I may have just went to the ticket office and demanded my money back for that stinker of a movie. I'm kind of surprised that it's the first time in my 33 years that I've ever snuck into a theater but I generally have known people who have worked in theaters who have let me in for free.

harry potter and the half-told story

Alright, I admit that I can be a bit critical of movies based upon beloved books but Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was unforgivable. The omissions they left out were startling. They completely cut out the Gaunts. I was sooooo looking forward to seeing that scene on-screen. I realize that they can't include everything but c'mon! They also set up false things (Dumbledore's wand) for the next film(s). I was just plain pissed. Well, I guess that much is obvious.

The only real bright spot was that I saw this movie in a cool theater that's not too far from me that I haven't been to before, the Moreland. It's an independent theater (yay!!) and it cost me less than $10 for a ticket to a new release along with popcorn and a drink. You can't really beat that. Now I'll just have to go see decent movies there and I'll be set.