The birdhouse in your soul

Here, let me be the boss of you

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:53:00 +0000

Read this: "Survival of the Sudsiest", Washington Post

Listen to this: My Morning Jacket's Evil Urges

Eat this: Rising Moon Organics raviolis

Join this: Kiva.org

Admire this: Woodblock prints of Hiroshige

And finally, contemplate this:

"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? (The Gulag Archipelago)"
— Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

I'm here all week, folks. Tips appreciated. :)

Neglect

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:34:00 +0000

Damn, I have totally neglected this thing. But there are some good reasons. As usual, I've been burning the candle at both ends lately. Got me a new job at Wheatsville (as HR Coordinator). And Black Star has really been gaining momentum in the last couple of months.

I originally started this blog to write posts about random topics, and put them out there in the world for people to stumble across. So I actually hate posts like the one I am currently writing that is merely a life update. But here I am. :) Now that I have explained my absence, I can return to the randomness that is my usual blog broadcasting.

SXSW recap coming soon...

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:29:00 +0000

Wow. 4 days, 39 bands, lots of free drinks and meals - it's enough to wipe anyone out for a few days solid afterwards. And as luck would have it, I've had to work 10 hour days all of this week.

But don't you worry, there will be an excellent recap of my splendid SX experience on here soon enough. I might even spoil you with links and embedded videos!

A Good Day to be an Austinite

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:36:00 +0000

There are rarely days where I don't feel lucky to live where I do. But there are some days where I just smile and appreciate how much I love my fair city. Today was one of those days. The weather was gorgeous - one of my favorite "winter" days with blue skies and just enough of a breeze.

As pretty as the day was, it was my evening that made me so grateful for my current geographical fate. I met some friends for a potluck in which we all made dishes with veggies from our local CSA, Johnson's Backyard Garden, and nibbled beforehand on local cheese, and then finished our night with locally made brownies (Mary Louise Butters) and chocolate (Arte Y Chocolate). Oh and let's not forget that we were drinking tasty home brew and listening to one of my favorite new Austin bands, The Story Of! Without necessarily intending to, we pulled together a night that revolved around celebrating all sorts of things that Austin has to offer. It is this effortlessness that I love about this town.

An out-of-town friend recently commented that it must be a requirement of all Austinites to proselytize about how cool our city is. I think that rather than a requirement, it is a side effect. You don't do it because you have to, you do it because you can't help it.

If I seem to be gushing more than usual about this subject, it is partly because I started planning my SXSW week today. So I am a bit giddy with excitement and filled with a sense of awe at the vastness of that whole endeavor.

A Life Soundtrack

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:11:00 +0000

Our lives all have soundtracks, made up of the music that we just couldn't stop playing for a period of time. Maybe others don't have these phases, but I know that I have no single favorite artist or band, but rather the favorite one of the season or year. And then I get that wonderful feeling of nostalgia when I hear one of those songs.

I don't know if it was the start of a new year or the discovery of the next piece in the soundtrack of my life, but I recently started thinking about what albums are inextricably linked to my memories. It's a lot of fun to piece together this list - and I think I may have the beginnings of an excellent mix cd. :)

Oddly enough, the albums that I listened to most in a certain time period (years aren't really the best method by which to categorize but they are easiest) weren't necessarily new releases. Judging from this list, it seems that I generally only keep up with current music trends when it comes to local stuff. I'm way behind the times on a lot of the rest of it. I need to work on that.

2001 Radiohead OK Computer / Moby Play

2002 They Might be Giants Severe Tire Damage / Spoon Girls Can Tell

2003 Okkervil River Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See / Mason Jennings Century Spring

2004 Shearwater Winged Life / Belle & Sebastian If You're Feeling Sinister

2005 Micah P. Hinson The Gospel of Progress / The Decemberists Picaresque

2006 The Gourds Heavy Ornamentals / The Postal Service Give Up

2007 The Blow Paper Television & Poor Aim: Love Songs / Bob Marley Legend

2008 My Morning Jacket? (I'm currently neglecting all my other cds in favor of It Still Moves)

Warrior

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:39:00 +0000

I love yoga. I don't know why I ever stopped doing it. I suppose before it didn't seem as essential for me to have an activity that was both relaxing and healthy. But seriously, yoga is the perfect activity. It can be done very slowly for pure relaxation, or you can do a more vigorous routine (with lots of sun salutations, which I am learning to love). And the weather won't stop you since you can do it indoors or out. So yeah, I am happy to get back into yoga. :)

Here's my favorite new pose: Warrior III (This isn't where I take my directions from, fyi, I've got formal books and whatnot)

Ha, someday I'll look that straight and balanced when I do it. So not there yet, though.

North Austin beer drinkers have it made

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:57:00 +0000

Friday night I ventured down south of the river to the newest "brewpub" in that part of town, BJ's Brewhouse. I had been once before, but late on a weeknight. This was my first time to see it at a peak time. I was shocked at how crowded it was! The wait for a table was an hour or more. We waited in the bar and eventually just ate there as well. And even the bar area was so crowded that we were only able to stake out a tiny piece of countertop real estate at first.

The popularity of this place puzzled me, because the beer isn't anything to write home about, and the prices are high. But then I remembered where I was - Hwy 71 and Brodie. If I was your average South Austinite on a Friday night looking to go out, my choices of restaurants or bars serving good beers would be pretty slim. I'd either have to drive up north, or wait it out at a crowded BJ's. I hope I am not completely overlooking some South Austin gem that I'm unaware of, but as far as I know, there really isn't much down there for beer geeks. I suppose Uncle Billy's is technically south, but that area feels more like an extension of downtown these days.

In North Austin, however, we are spoilt for choice. We can start out north of the university at Crown & Anchor and make our way up to Opal Divine's Marina (in what I would consider to be south Dallas), with several quality options of beer hangouts that aren't overly crowded. And with the new Flying Saucer opening at the Triangle, we are about to have even more options.

South Austin beer drinkers - slam your pints down and demand beer-friendly development! And perhaps try to get yourself on the Black Star Co-op Location Search Committee... ;)

Ear (and eye) Candy

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:13:00 +0000

I'm in Seattle and still recovering from this damn cold. So writing this was meant to cheer me up, and I chose to blend two loves: boys and music. ;)

I've never really dated a musician, and have never particularly been attracted to guys for their musical abilities (though it's a nice cherry on top), but there are a few musicians I've seen live that are just damn sexy when doing their thing on stage. Here's a sample:

Britt Daniel - He may be a hipster and a player who's too cool for Austin, but the man has perfected his foot stompin and ass shakin moves. There was a day when I would go see Spoon live almost every time they played, but these days they play large, expensive venues and I am content to just recall past memories of Britt's sexy stage charisma and jam to their CDs.

Munaf Rayani - Unfortunately I've only seen Explosions in the Sky play live once, and though I was half dead from exhaustion, I was mesmerized. These four guys are absolutely amazing musicians. And there is something undeniably attractive about the way Munaf sways (and thrashes) with his guitar. I could watch for hours. (He's the one on the far right of the stage in the video - it's long but SO worth it)

Gary Clark, Jr. - Those who've seen live shows with me know that I am a sucker for the harmonica, and Gary Clark, Jr. plays it oh so well. Any musician who can successfully juggle vocals, harmonica, and guitar alone on stage commands my respect, and this one happens to be easy on the eyes as well.

Gary Clark, Jr. - Unknown song

Add to My Profile | More Videos

So there you have it. Now, don't think I see live shows simply for the eye candy, cause that's hardly the case. I am happy and eager to see any good live show, whether it's Pinetop Perkins, Daniel Johnston, or someone who could give Johnny Depp a run for his money. The fact that some shows provide a little added bonus just makes the deal even sweeter. And make for a fun blog post.

My revived interest in sci-fi/fantasy novels

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:37:00 +0000

Other than the Harry Potter series, I haven't read sci-fi since middle school. Does everyone go through a sci-fi phase at that age? It seemed to me that section of the bookstore was always full of shy, bookworm teens like myself back then.

But after I read the last Harry Potter book and was jonesin for some more page-turning fiction, a friend turned me on to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.

This is by far the best sci-fi/fantasy series I have ever read (and no, I haven't read them all). And I am somewhat resentful that it is even included in that genre, which is kept separate from all other fiction in most bookstores. I'm not sure if this segregation implies inferiority, but if it does, Martin's books certainly don't belong in any inferior section.

My favorite thing about the series is that no character is entirely pure and lovable. Which is a good thing, since most characters, important or not, could be killed off in any paragraph. But each character is uniquely dynamic.

And I continue to be amazed at the complete unpredictability of the plot! I have found myself rereading pages, just to make sure that I was actually reading the words correctly. "No shit! He really did kill her off!" is a common exclamation when I read these books.

Sadly, I have just started the last published book in the series. I will try my damnedest to read it slowly in the hopes that the last book will be published soon after I finish this one. As you all know, I am not a patient person.

Hacking up a lung

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:24:00 +0000

Ugh, I hate being sick! Especially with a cold, like I have now. I was out Christmas shopping and half the store turned to look at me in pity when I went into a fit of coughing. It's bad enough that I feel and look awful, but now everyone has to stare at me! Not fair. So no more Christmas shopping for me until I feel normal again.

On a happier note, here's a neat link that Jon sent me: www.beerandturkey.org. The BA will make all our holidays better with their thoughtful suggestions of the perfect beer and food pairings. :)

Introductions

noreply@blogger.com (T-star) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:32:00 +0000

That's right, citags! I've got myself a "real" blog now. :) And as some of you have come to expect from my myspace blog, here you will find strange and sometimes humorous ramblings on topics such as music, beer, books, Austin, cooperatives, boys, traveling, and all sorts of other random crap that I choose to write about.
So, welcome!

I thought I would start by pulling from an old, old myspace blog post that makes for a lovely introduction of yours truly.

Some random facts about me:

Until I was five, my last name was Haffelder.

I've been to 16 states in the U.S. and 10 countries.

I had heart surgery at 18 mos to repair a hole in the wall of my heart.

My mother and I have a matching birthmark on each leg.

I think everyone should read War with the Newts by Karel Capek.

I want to learn to play disc golf.

I have moved every year since 2000.

The only biological relative I've ever met is my mother.

My bookshelves have more Czech literature than anything else (13 books to be exact).

My pinkie fingers are abnormally short.

I have read the entire Bible.

And here are a few of the things that fascinate me:

Clouds - I could watch them move and change shape for hours on a windy day.

The silent, almost inperceptible communication that takes place between two people who understand one another, no matter how long they've actually known each other.

Quotes - I am a collector of quotes and have been doing so since my grandpa got me a Reader's Digest subscription when I was 13 or so. Quotable Quotes was my favorite page!

The way pets know when you are sad or sick and are suddenly much more interested in giving you attention.

Everything about cities and how they work, how they change over time, why they attract certain types of people, and become breeding grounds for specific industries.

The image and connotation of Texas/Texans around the world.

Beer :)