guns+jazz

for once, it seems i've got exactly what i've bargained for. not yet an entire week in new orleans and i'm already wondering how long i'll survive down here. i knew moving south would test my ability to deal with out right bigoted racism, but what i didn't take into consideration was exactly how short my fuse is and my constant desire to speak my mind. at the new job (=$ and the unfortunate main reason for my move), where it's obviously important to make a good first impression, i've already bit my tongue so many times that i dunno i'll speak again. guns, trucks, homophobic and anti-obama talk have spilled their way into my everyday life these last 6days. exhibit a: i was dragged to a gun show yesterday (out with a friend, away from my hotel by the airport and no mode of transportation, i had no other choice) was 1 of the scariest moments of my life. hundreds of people purchasing weapons like they were choosing a snack from a vending machine. vendors, some straight neo-nazis, all missing teeth, would make a quick phone call before handing over the newly purchased tec-9, or .357magnum, etc; not to run a background check, but rather to ensure that you (the purchaser) doesn't owe the state any money. 'what the fuck?' you say. well that was exactly what i was thinking. standing over 1man's table of handguns, listening to him and another dumb-fuck redneck talk about president-elect obama like a monkey the white man can keep in check, i found myself thinking i may need a firearm just to protect myself from their stupid, small-minded, inbred selves. it was at that moment that i had to leave for fresh air, bumming a cigarette in an attempt to calm my nerves. i should point out that it wasn't as though the redneck confederates were the only assholes out to buy firearms, in fact i just realised that it was the most diverse place i've seen since arriving in new orleans. there were plenty of young black men+women making their purchases, plenty of hispanics and even a few asians; all people buying weapons under the principle of 'protection.' protection from each other it seems. i couldn't help but think about the dozen people who were murdered in cold blood around my dc neighbourhood over the summer and then about chris rock's skit 'bullet control' off his bigger+blacker tour. still, despite the racism, ignorance, and stupidity, i've found things to like about this place. the climate is obviously nicer than dc winter, but i think i'll find myself wishing for dc humidity and my basement apartment once the 7months of unbearable humidity start here. the food is great. i haven't eaten anything here yet that i won't be excited to eat again. everyone, despite their thoughts about each other, is generally friendly; willing to look you in the eye and speak to you with some degree of respect, part of which i contribute greatly to the slower speed of life here than the north where people will walk into you and over you before stepping aside and saying 'hello.' lastly, the music. walking the french quarter on my lunch break the other day i passed by a different musician on each block: 1playing otis redding's sitting on the dock of the bay on electric guitar, 1playing beautiful blues on a harmonica, 1 even playing christmas classics+louis armstrong on a trumpet and singing the occasional verse a cappella. just this week they announced the schedule of artists playing at the new orleans jazz+heritage festival; a 2weekend celebration of music. you gotta check out the lineup under 'music schedule' on the link. i'm already looking forward to both weekends. once my car makes the trip with me from dc to new orleans next week, i'm sure i'll drive around and find my own nitch in the city, but if i'm to survive my time on the dirty coast, i'll have to find a way to avoid all the assholes - and for the moment there seems to be many close-minded assholes. i suppose that's part of traveling the country (and eventually the world); it's always about give+take, good+bad, what you gain and what you're giving up. wish me luck. talk soon.

unwanted guests

everyone i trust knows they can stop by whenever they want. today while continuing the mind-numbing task of packing for new orleans, i heard what is now an endless scratching coming from the small unfinished closet that holds the houses water heater. i always figured i'd have to deal with the occasional mouse when i moved in an basement apartment on capitol hill, even though i never have, but now after nearly 2years of living here, the creature trying to join me in the living room is large enough to climb, hold on to and claw @ the top of the door that is currently keeping us unacquainted. animal control are on their way and should be here within the hour. i'll be sure to let you know what unwanted guest decided it didn't need an invitation to join the party. talk soon. ps. (5:57p) it was a fucking squirrel. it scratched through an already small whole in the wall where the water connects to my washing machine, bounced around the house for a few minutes and eventually out the front door i had opened as soon as it caught my eye jumping from my dryer to the stove top; all before animal control could arrive.

minmising life

1 goal of mine is to eventually have my life in 3bags; 1 of clothes, 1 for my laptop, and 1 for my camera. that's how i'll leave the states to see the world. having an obsession with culture it's my opinion that the only way to understand a culture, or maybe more importantly cultural differences and thus a further understanding of the world we all share is to immerse oneself into a culture for a length of time (something more than a simple few week vacation). so it is my intention to save my money to travel and then see+experience as much of this world as possible. some may feel that this is a lonely way to spend one's life, moving from place to place, possibly never spending enough time to get too attached to 1place or 1person; and some of you may be right. but i rarely find myself getting so close to individuals that they feel essential to my life; maybe because i know my plans and don't often allow for interference, or perhaps it's an issue i'll hit head-on someday that will haunt me forever or, dare i say, regret. not believing in regret, i tend to disagree with the latter, but as seems to be my life motto anymore: time will tell. let me add that i'm not in anyway opposed to staying anywhere for years, decades or perhaps a lifetime if the right place or person moves me to do so. that said, this post is about those 3bags. you see, i'm moving to new orleans very soon to start new work in hopes of accomplishing, or at least denting the first task toward world travel: finances. i've landed a new, higher paying job in the big easy and with money in mind have decided that selling a vast majority of my worldly possessions now instead of uhauling them or shipping them down for a large chunk of change is in my best interest. please know that i have no monetary obsession, in fact in many ways i wish the world could operate on a barter system (even though it never could), but traveling costs money and i've already explained my obsessions above. enough money to travel also means leaving the states without debt which i'm not so far from, but not so close to either. so i'm minimising life. finally. it seems like something i've been wanting to do forever and anyone who's ever moved anywhere can tell you; you can never imagine the amount of shit you accumulate when you stay in 1place. i've pitched the junk and set aside the goodwill items and now as i sit surrounded by all my belongings realising how much more i need to eliminate if i'm to ever cut down to those 3bags. the toughest part will inevitably be figuring out what to do with all my art (books, music, movies and my own personal creations) when the time comes to leave the country.. but i'm not leaving the country just yet, so all that stuff is making the near 1100mile, 17hour (google estimates) trek to new orleans with me. even now, knowing that i can't plan to take it with me breaks my heart and while i obviously should just put a cease and desist on all additional accumulation of art, i just can't help myself, and from time to time books+music still tend to sneak their way into my collection. maybe international shipping will become real cheap or i'll be a sweepstakes winner someday and then bringing my art with me won't be such a dilemma, but with neither of those options on the horizon, my art is more likely to end up in my sister's basement gathering dust and probably the eventual water damage; which i can't bare to think about... so we won't. those 3bags. i've eliminated all the easy stuff; the items i never use or will never need. the things that surround me now are here because i need/want them or someone else needs/wants them, which begins to make decisions tough. obviously, anything i'm holding onto for others isn't going anywhere, so the real questions become "what to i want but don't need?" and "what do i need but don't want?" (maybe i'm crazy, but i'm suddenly reminded of gnarls barkley's going on lyrics "anyone that needs what they want and doesn't want what they need, i want nothing to do with.") i'm working on making the need/want decisions each day. the furniture is selling on craigslist pretty well @ this point and sooner than later i may be left with nothing to sit on which only means the minimising is advancing successfully. i'll ultimately cram everything i can into my car and leave dc with only necessities; my art, my kitchen, and my clothes. i'll need a bed, but that'll come in time as will a couch and i might even treat myself to a tv someday so i can keep up with my football. the bed i might need to get new because i don't know i can get passed sleeping in someone else's potential filth+semen, but the couch+tv will hopefully be thrift items; cheap to buy and easy to return. in the end, i'll definitely be a lot closer to those 3bags and with any luck the next time you see me, they'll be all i own. talk soon. ps. stephen+ jr. gong marley's the mission is a new favourite track of mine. okay, not new, but new to me.

from capitol hill to the dirty south

i'm leaving dc. i'm leaving this place where i found home, this place where i found family, this place... i'm a little heartbroken at my decision to leave. leaving behind those few places that trigger good memories and +vibes. but the harsh reality is that there is nothing left for me in dc. i've grown tired of the monotony and speed of my life, and the cold (i live in a basement, it's always cold; even in the summer). the monotony has everything to do with the job i worked that after 2years (i worked there nearly 3) in a gross environment has forced me to use an inhaler before+after each work day; doctor's orders. what sewer or factory has caused the deteriation of my lungs? the luxurious grand hyatt in the heart of downtown washington, dc. i tell you this simply so you never stay there. it wasn't too long ago they were on inside edition for disturbing practices in their sleeping rooms, so try to imagine the mold, fungus+pests (mice) that exist in their back halls that i used to walk everyday - the same back halls they'll use to bring you your room service. please excuse the rant, but seriously, never stay there. i understand that i have the ability to change the monotony and speed of things for myself but i have an agenda that involves saving money in hopes of traveling the world in the nearest future possible; and it seems that anything worth doing with those worth doing things with always involves money. and so i cringe. i go out at least half the time but going out means more living paycheck to paycheck and less saving for my dreams, which i just can't have. there are still great people here that i would like to see more of, but the opportunity to better my life has presented itself and i've taken it. in new orleans, louisiana, nola as the natives refer to it, is waiting a new life which i'll begin on the first day of the new year. a new job promising me new opportunites and a new lifestyle awaits. a lower cost of living (maybe because it's the murder/crime capital of the states) and more money awaits which can only help push my dreams to reality. i don't know how i'll adjust to living in the south besides consistantly warmer, darker skin but i figure a year in new orleans might just give me the finances needed to leave this country behind me and find even warmer climates still. i've never done well with stupidity+prejudice, both of which i've been warned exist in mass in new orleans, and tend to speak my mind too bluntly which could simply get me killed once i mouth off to the wrong people. and even though i told myself i'd never live in a red (republican) state, i know nola is quite liberal and as long as i avoid the inbred rednecks on the outskirts i'll hope to avoid trouble and keep my cool. the art community, uptown (where i intend on living) is massive from what i'm told and have researched, and the music scene in new orleans has never quit; ie. the airport is named 'louis armstrong international' (msy for those of you who come visit). food in new orleans is incredible and something i'm really looking forward to. any fish, meat, poultry or reptile can be made into a po' boy and generally speaking all food has a lot more fire than much of the country; it is the home of cajan afterall. they have a festival for damn near everything - the lamest of which seems to be mardi gras. i'm much more interested in jazz fest, voodoo fest, gumbo fest, seafood fest, pie fest to name a few. the casino's are reopened since hurricane katrina and i have been known to play a card or 2 from time to time. there are drive through daquari stands, no open beverage laws, and scores is about to reopen. oh, and i've already looked into joining the local football league which i can't wait to get back into. so it appears there are advantages to the new orleans move beyond financial and i truly look forward to making the move, the change and getting into warmer climates, particularly with the gulf of mexico a short drive away. the beaches in my dreams are never as warm+calming as the real thing and it's been too many years since i've seen a good one. so (pending a terrifying piss test tomorrow) i'm leaving this place, washington, dc, with a little heartbreak but i'll take with me all the memories worth remembering (plenty really) and those worth their salt will be down to visit. dc has been good to me. thanks for the memories, for the family... but most of all for the home. talk soon.