Looking back on B.C.

September 2nd, 2007 | Posted in Photo, Journal | 1 Comment »

A site not often found in the rear view, and one I’ll be looking back on for sometime.

As promised to myself, I was able to be released from the confines of the Missoula valley and be reminded of what it’s like to be free on the open road. My trip to the southern interior of British Columbia was a perfect escape of my routine existence and a much needed refreshment for mind, body and spirit.

Take a look at the complete photographic set posted at flickr:
Views of the Southern Interior of British Columbia : Oot and aboot in Canada.

I’ve tried to retain that sweet taste of being footloose and free, but coming back has been more bitter than sweet - back to school, back to work, back to the fields of sleep-walking sheep.

I was planning on writing a full narrative photo-journal of the week-long trip, but now that I’m back, the pressures of obligation are closing in upon me, attacking from all sides, nagging at my creative energy. The resolutions I made on this trip are quickly being put to the test.

It stood out to me that in B.C., Nelson especially, it was common for smiles to be shared freely with strangers on the street. Since returning, I’ve noticed that eye contact alone is hard to come by from those in passing. I’d like to say I’m going to keep smiling, and see what I can do to force a smile on others, even if I have to slap ‘em upside the head yelling, “Hey! Wake up! Pull your head out your ass and let’s be of good cheer!”

At the moment however, I especially sympathize with each and every face that is void of mirth, even in the midst of beauty and mystery. Ironically, in our material pursuit of comfort and convenience, our fast-paced lives are maximized with obligations, distractions, and demands - complicated to the point of perpetual restlessness and fatigue.
…no wonder the glum faces.

Maybe we should simplify. Slow down… Take a vacation from complication.

Summer Update

August 15th, 2007 | Posted in Progress, Journal | 1 Comment »

Where, oh where did my Summer go? It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here, but in case you’ve been wondering - I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth. I’ve just been laying low underneath the smoky skies of the Missoula Valley.

The first stages of the Evero fire as viewed from the Ceretana.
View other “2007 Fire Season Photos” at Grupthink.com

Mostly I’ve just been working the record shop and slingin’ vinyl. I’ve been neglecting this blog because most of my online time has been spent getting my new website for the Vintage Vinyl Revival up and running. The new site will provide a place solely for items focused on the radio show and record collection, leaving this blog for other artistic endeavors. Though I haven’t officially announced its completion, you’re welcome to stop by http://vintagevinylrevival.com for a preview. The archived radio sets that I’ve been posting at blog.trebday.com/radio have been moved to http://vintagevinylrevival.com/radio …Feel free to sign up to the RSS subscription over yonder for automatic downloads of the podcast.

So yes, I’ve been pretty lame thus far this Summer - confined to the smoky Missoula valley, but I did spend a lot of time organizing my apartment, and feel pretty good about being on top of my material possessions. I finally feel like the things I own are no longer owning me. I would have loved to get out more to hike and fish and such, but there’s only so much time. The abnormally high temperatures have been taxing on the fish, plus my favorite location, Rock Creek, has been in the middle of a forest fire.

BUT, there’s still time to get out before school starts! I’m gonna hit the road starting this weekend, and just get out and be free. I think I must be getting too comfortable with predictable patterns of existence, as the thought of getting out on the road (not knowing where exactly I’ll end up the next day or camp for the night) is for some reason a bit intimidating. BUT, this is exactly the reason I need to get out. I’m getting too comfortable being here, and if I don’t renew that travel bug, and embrace the feeling of change, I might just get sucked into the powerful, yet lovely sinkhole that is Missoula.

My Humble Bachelor Thanksgiving Dinner For One

November 24th, 2006 | Posted in Journal | 5 Comments »

Hot-plate-fried steak with grilled onions and horseradish, mashed sweet potatoes, and brussel sprouts with vinegar. Add to that some chips with salsa, sour cream, and a beer for an appetizer, and another beer for dessert.

-thankful as ever

8 tracks and kid’s toys.

November 12th, 2006 | Posted in Journal, Sound | 1 Comment »

Today I brought home an 8-track player / more importantly: RECORDER, from the record store. More on this in a bit.

…

Yesterday, my buddy Cole and I went shopping at the local thrift stores for electronic children’s toys, with the intent to take them apart and mess with their circuitry. After digging around the Circle Square junk closet, I came away with some real nice retro Panasonic headphones (none of this earbud crap, we’re talking bulging-over-the-ear manly kind of headphones). We had to pass on a crazy oscilloscope, but we vowed to come back for it when we had the flow.

We had more success at Good Will. I couldn’t tell, but I don’t think the clerks thought too much of two grown men coming to the counter with armloads of children’s toys including a barney doll, a talking phone, and a barbie piano - all of which have now either been thoroughly destroyed or manipulated to create musical instruments worth hours of delight. Cole had amazing success with the barbie piano after ripping off the back and probing around the circuitry. He managed to sodder in some switches we picked up at Radio Shack and put it back together. The result was an out-of-this-world noise maker that created surprisingly endless combinations of aleatoric sound. Unfortunately he didn’t leave well enough alone, for after trying to add a few more switches today, he may have fried the barbie piano for good.

So what’s this got to do with my new 8 track recorder? Well, I do believe we’re on our way to creating some far-out noise music and the 8 track recorder seems to be the perfect device to throw in the mix. I think 8 tracks should be great for creating loops (of say glitchy noise made on wacked out barbie pianos), with the possibility of switching between four different source sounds at any time.

8 tracks are essentially tape loops with the tracks lined up side by side. The play head can be shifted to any of the four pairs of loops at any time. Still confused? Go here.

I’m pretty excited about the possibilities. We’re well on our way to creating some pretty cool (or disturbing, depending on how you think of it) sounds. If you see any speak and spells or mini-keyboards, hold onto them for me. I want to bend their circuits.