The journey is the destination.

So tonight was my 3rd session of mandatory creative mondays. The last two weeks I worked on songs (posted on the music page). Tonight I had a different idea.

I've always had this fantasy of playing a live set of music doing covers of some of my favorite songs. This is very much an homage to the same style of dedication perfected by Richie Havens and Jeff Buckley. Not only did they play great cover songs, they completely made the songs their own in the process by adding their own flare. The setlist has floated around my head for a few years but tonight I actually sat down and looked at all my music (thanks iTunes) and jotted down 40 or so songs I would like to cover. [Yeah - go ahead and click the link to see what songs made the cut.]

I am particularly interested in the songs that in my mind have no business being covered on acoustic guitar - songs by massive attack, tribe called quest, bjork. You get the point. All these songs have the common thread that they are some of my favorites.

This seems like a fairly easy fantasy to pull off - even if only at the open mic level. I might ask A. to join me in figuring out how to re-arrange the songs and maybe add a second player. The possibilities truly are endless (2 guitars, samplers, upright bass, theramin, etc.)

So while I have no product, I feel like I am one step closer to maybe pulling this off sometime. Somehow it feels like a lot. Now I'm going to go eat desert.

Protest pics from Sunday's march now on the Photoblog Page. 

Do you know why I love Brooklyn? Hot Dogs.  

Role reversal.

Last night, Thursday, I went out and got a bit shizzy. Seems to always work out that way when I hang with work peoples. Needles to say it was a bit much for a work night, which has now left me on Friday night having to take it easy. Thursday is Friday - Friday is Thursday. Weird. In college Tuesday was always the hottest night. Let's do that again.

A. loaned me a copy of a cd by The Thrills. It's toight. Taking a look at their site it looks like a new album is on the way, lead single being "What ever happened to Corey Haim?". Damn - not only is this band good, they are asking the questions that probe our nation's consciousness. Probe.

RNC starts next week which is sure to cause some booshalay. It's a good week to stay in brooklyn.

Checking in.

Work at school is a big old bee-yatch these days. Lots to do before the staff comes back next week and then the kids the week after that. Not to mention the hard drive fried on my machine and I barely have time to hook up the new one! (Insert the world's smallest violin playing for me here).

Beyond that though, I'm feeling pretty good about things. I've been rocking this @ home workout every other day. It's real simple, it includes squats (I just like saying the word squats). Have the Bus Stop on Saturday night which should be tight. The thing about those nights, for better or worse, is that they always go until four am and I'm always ripped by that point. They make Sunday even harder. (Insert small violin again here, please)

My brother is getting married in a few weeks - he left me a vm today about a bachelor party. His last bachelor party (this will be his 2nd marriage) involved an experience that was so drastic for me I had to sequester myself in the bathroom and smack myself in the face saying in the 3rd person "Lippy - you're going to be ok". Let's hope this is not a repeat and that I'll just be eating a delicious steak. Mmmmmm steak.

Anywho - this post is a bit lacking in links. Here is an awesome VR photo osite I've been into recently. High bandwidth only for sure. http://www.mediapiculture.net/360days/

later skaters.. lip

A day of highs and lows.

Most of my first day back at work went pretty smooth. I was making great headway with the new server I'm trying to get running before school starts.

Then, towards the end of the day it happened. I was installing some shiz and my computer's hard drive starting getting weird. I couldn't reboot, and none of the fixes were taking. After many a tech call, it's been decided that the hard drive has said "so long stink town" and laid down for its final rest (if I knew the quote from the Tibetan Book of the Dead I would have recited it).

Ah well - this too shall pass. Came home a bit pissed, worked out (if you can even call it that) and made dinner.

Then came round two of Monday Night Creative Time. I had a real slow start trying to work with last weeks song, looking through my audio files for half finished projects to latch onto. Nothing. I started playing Hawaiian records for inspiration (or at least enjoyment).

At last I heard a jazz riff that sounded nice. It was just really free & easy (like the cover of a Frank Sinatra album I have.) I looped it, added some bizarre smoothed out backup vocals and laid down the cheesiest chorused guitar lead I could muster. I'm pretty happy with it. It's weird, but it put a huge smile on my face after an up and down day.

Listen to the new song Freeballin' on the music page.

Stay tuned for more developments. Please tip your waitresses.

It was a beautiful day in Brooklyn today. I tooled around and took some snapshots around the Gowanus area. Everything is on the Photoblog page. Enjoy! 

Been a busy few days.

I had thurs & fri off from work, so I've been taking advantage of the daytime. Here's a smattering of what I've been up to.

*Took a road trip with I. out to Infinity Records on long island. I really was just as excited to be driving in car as buying vinyl, but I did make a few scores including "Supermodel" by Rupaul. Damn she's hot.

*Got my first ever shiatsu massage. Totally got my ass kicked by this tiny woman, which was awesome. She walked on my back! I'm convinced this is the way to go for rub-downs, Swedish massage is boosh. And no - I didn't get a happy ending.

* Went to "Her Long Black Hair" in Central Park. This is a public art installation of sorts. It's a fictional audio journey through the park where you hear the stories, and match photos to locations, describing the events of a woman. But it's so much more than that. It really felt like living in a movie. Very well done, I highly recommend hopping on this before it's done on Sep. 13th.

* I've devoured the East Village this weekend, getting loaded all over town (acting like I still live on 4th street or some shiz.)Celebrated I & M's engagement and M's bday last night. Good times.

* Enjoyed today (which for the record is the nicest day of all time) by hitting Prospect Park early, got through more of the book I have to read for school, skated around Gowanus and took a bunch of photos. They'll be posted later tonight.

Hope everyone enjoyed today, it was truly glorious. Heading back to work tomorrow. Fuggit.

The search for inspirado.

Recently my creative moments have been so varied and sporadic, it's been hard to make any real headway. So, in an effort to keep the juices flowing, I will be devoting my Monday nights to creativity.

This really means doing anything. First and foremost, it will mean that I'll be in the studio and not watching TV or getting boozed. I have left the parameters of what happens on these monday nights fairly wide open. I could be writing a song, or in my journal. Working on photography or playing along with music. Maybe even just looping beats. The bottom line is I will be doing SOMETHING, every monday night.

Tonight was the first go, and I feel pretty good about it. I wrote a song a few years back that's stuck with me, so I decided to try recording it and adding a few new layers. It's far from finished, but I posted tonight's accomplishments here and on the Music page. It's called Green Grass. Stupid name, and it will probably change.

Let's see what these monday nights come to offer. I fully acknowledge that I may totally drop the ball on this idea, but at least I got one under my belt!

A few new pics on the photoblog page.  

Got back early this AM from seeing the folks. A good 18 hour visit (just the right amount of time). Some pics to follow...

Feeling very fired up today - got a lot done, and bought some new records. What more can you ask for out of life? Well, now that you asked, I would have loved to have made it to the Lebowski fest this weekend. I'll get 'em next year when new shit comes to light.

Only a 3 day work-week which is sweet! See you in hell bastards!

A low key brook-land night. Went to the slope with D & R for sushi & booze. Mission accomplished. Tooled back to our hood for a new secret spot that I'm not alllowed to tell you about (ask me real nice - maybe I'll tell you).

Heading out to the Island tomorrow to meet up for mom's 60th. She's 30 years older than me - I keep trying to catch up, but can never make it.

Hard day today - a bit overwhelming between work shiz and life shiz. For today this is what it is. Tomorrow holds something different. Who sounds like a weird cult figure?

Just so you know - the new roots album is bomb. We gonna get on down now.

Jersey shore pics posted on the photoblog page.  

Jersey Cheese.

Just got back from an extended weekend in the Garden Sate. So much cheese residue I need to clean off me, but it was still a great trip. Went for M's bachelor party, stayed in Wildwood at a motel that was like living in downtown Compton. One bed was being held up by phone books and there was a lot of brown juice dripping from the ceiling (always beware the motel that makes you pay before you see the room).

Nonetheless, had a great time. Spent the day at Maurey's Piers, got all ridiculous in Atlantic City, and ate a lot of Tastykake, treats.

Feels great to be home. Just skated across the Brooklyn Bridge. Have to go back to work tomorrow which is a drag, but having 2 full weeks off has made it easier.

Can't say I don't have some larger issues on my mind right now (future, girlies, creative endeavors) but for tonight I'm just trying to take it eash (pronounced eeesh).

Much love.

Check out the best VT photos on the Photoblog page 

Check out the best VT photos on the Photoblog page 

The terror alert is booshy bouche.

What the f is with this terror alert booshy bouche???? I have a sneaking suspicion that none of the threats are valid, that they are introduced to make us feel frightened and then feel grateful that Bush is keeping us safe. We're at "red" now. What the f does that mean??? What do I do about it? Should I freak out ? Ugghh... If Bush wins the election I'm moving to France. Don't worry I'll still blog from France. BOOSH!

Back home from Vermont....

Sweet sweet Vermont - is there anything you can't do???? Had a great long weekend. Did lots of outsdoorsy crap including my new favorite sport Kayaking. Does this make me a yuppie? Maybe I should sell my condo. Went and saw beautiful waterfalls (next time you see me ask me about the beautiful German ladies who were there bathing and holding each other - wow)

Did some hardcore hanging with the peeps, did a radio show with Free Range Chicken on WRUV, got ripped at all the local haunts and generaly lounged.

Back in the hood for a few days then heading out for M's bach. party at the Jersey shore. Click that link. Trust me.

VT pics to follow. Peace up.