chopping a new niche.

About a week and a half ago I returned from a wintery and near perfect trip back to Minnesota to play a show and see some friends. It felt good to see familiar faces and bars and frostbitten fingertips, and the kids show I played for Rock the cradle ended up being a blast. A kid even passed out in the front row on his dad's coat during the last couple of songs. Some very small girls were dancing wildly behind me while I was singing. It was great. I also recorded a Vic Chesnutt song called "Gepetto" (from his record "Little") for an upcoming benefit album. My friend Ethan Sutton from Spaghetti Western String Co. played on it, and we're really happy with the outcome! Going back to my old homestead used to be more difficult, especially in terms of leaving it to return to my new city. But now it feels good both landing and flying away. I seem to gain a bit more perspective on what exactly it is I'm doing here and with my life and what I'm learning and experiencing in general, and this in itself is quite rewarding. Fortunately I am feeling like I have hit a stride in my new life here both with work and creativity, and this is a sacred thing which I am thankful for every day. Of course, that goes without saying that I miss my friends back in the midwest, but I am enjoying the process of meeting and befriending new people as well.
I don't have much to say other than I often have the feeling similar to that of leaving a good friend's house after a great meal- full, and more than just the literal sense of the word- content with the figures which have scribbled my fate and simple sense of existence right now. I know this is a waning feeling, which is part of what makes it so unique and delicate. I've been reading good books, writing every day, running every day, listening to a lot of music, and hanging out with good people. I also really like my job as a nanny, and though it is testing at times, I even like that part of it, too. The other day it was in the 50's and sunny here, so I dusted off my trusty bike and went for a ride. Above is a picture of a really awesome tree in Laurelhurst park. Here's me in my fancy ass helmet taking my own picture. This is a project that Eliza did on her own last night using glue, paper clips and small rubber bands. She was quite proud of herself, and I think it's pretty fetching.

Here are my recent and or current musings:
*books
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (GREAT read)
just started Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey

*musique
"Wake Up" by the Walkmen (from Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone)
Philip Glass solo piano (Metamorphosis 1-5 rule)
"untitled fantastic" by Slum Village (from a recently received mix cd that's awesome!)
"Imagine" album John Lennon Plastic Ono Band
"After the Goldrush" Neil Young

*etc.
making pizza from scratch
the Avalon nickle arcade (skee ball, anyone?)
salty chocolate

thanks for reading this stuff.
xo, hb(mt st helens and mt hood from the airplane)