Today's Urban Grind

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. 

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you... 
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." -John Muir

Today I was up by 7:30. Stayed horizontal for another 30, 

avoiding the cold. 

I looked outside suprised by the blanket of white. 

I made towards the kitchen and then started coffee input. I turned on the computer and checked my email. Plans were still on...I connected with pal and looked out at another snowy day in Portland. 

I put my boots and thermals on while I watched a bit more of the Wild Bunch.

The plan was to hike Forest Park. Trimet would not get me to the St. John's access, so we opted for the Upshur entrance. After a few bus transfers finally we reached downtown. We had a big breakfast for energy and made it to the trail head around 12:30. We stayed primarily on the Wildwood trail and trekked through mud and snow.

We emerged tired, hungry and accomplished. It was a beautiful day. The sun came out and melted the snow. The trees shed their heavy loads and I was born anew.  

PCT solo hike one day

Despite my physical and mental limitations it is still my life goal to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Bottom feeders

Did you know that writing in a classroom setting, with a room full of other writers, who are there to learn and critique you, is like writing poetry for a room full of piranhas. How do you write poetry for piranhas? How do you let them eat the flesh of your poem like their bait. My poem is new, and fragile and eggshell white and able to break and shatter. The piranhas in the pool all feel the same sensitivity. Once the first bit of bait drops and the water stops boiling, there are only a few fierce enough to stay. The rest are just bottom feeders. 

Improve upon what you already possess.

Those who see your true nature will not falter your steps.

The truest of truths. The truest of thoughts. 

Gentleness of life,

peeled sweet layers,

gulf storms can,

memories wash away,

nights fold in,

covers blew off.

Cliff face of rocks, tumble to the plain.

Blanket of grey,

Warmed by the coast,

Hearts of mingled mist.

And truest of truest form,

And truest of truest things.

The truest of true thoughts,

The shelter of the wing.

Blade

Our shared experience like a knife that stuck us both. 

The warm blood of our open wounds felt with fingers and forgiving flesh. An inclining...

So much more.

The newness fills our spaces, heart races.

Felt like salt, like lemon, like acid in that wound.

A burn deepened as we hold our breaths.

In mornings wake the waves came ashore. In the undertow we choked.

I grasp through murky waters for you.

I feel you.

I hold your fears.

Relax with me and breath.

Oceans of stillness await and soothe the aching wounds of the soul.

Grain's Unrest

Walking past the tidy houses I wish for salt in my mouth/ Maybe the taste of sweat in the summer maybe the sand spit/Winter is/

I sense a shift in the tides/ In the sand/ We stand feet apart grasping the land/ Past behind/ future ahead/ Standing on the shoreline /with wishes/fears we must shed/My padded footprints sprint along the/ the bouncing /the bouncing shadows. If I stand still I can watch the sidewalk fill in/

Is this 2008? Two-thousand...Really?

Yay Conneticut! Come on California get your head out of your ass!

The Electoral College of the Human Heart

The Electoral College of the human heart looks like a battle field of pink coffins set adrift in a hypodermic sea of waves made of silk and knives that nick past the non-competitive vessels. They do not race successfully. Never is there a finish line. Never any blue ribbons awarded. 

Threaded needles attached by love wash ashore crippling, growing voters, like cockroaches with genitals. Roses and receipts in wallets overflowing like fat Buddhas.

Freedom is in the absentee bachelor ballot of love.

Its a cake walk of hardness. The straight forward notion of singledom can stare you down and scold you like an extra-hot-black-angry-barista-made-americano in a flaming styrofoam cup.

Silk scarves and painted nails float ashore. The tidal wave of red hot love and passion cools the country of blue cool. In the promised land of love the President walks around like the embodiment of the word "swagger." In thee secret heart we hold close in our jacket pocket, we cast our ballot, hoping to be counted forever more.

Things to enchant the eyeballs with

When I feel yucky I like to cuddle up and watch a loved movie. I have my standards I could watch over and over. Today I could watch any of the following... (And yes, appearantly I love musicals).

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). I saw this movie when I was in high school. I went and saw it with my sister at the theater in Fig Garden village that has since been torn down. Love the humor, love the last bit with the agreement " Can we argree...not to get married?"

Pulp Fiction (1994). I saw this with my dad and my sister when it arrived at the cheap theater. I was in high school, my sister had already seen it she couldn't stop talking about it. The theater was crowded with teenagers the night we went. I've been loving the replay in mind ever since. This film made me love lanky Uma Thurman. And helped me make movies of my own.

Steel Magnolias (1989). Classic chick flick, always good to watch. The one liners in this film spill out so well. "Like two pigs fighting under a blanket."

The Color Purple (1985). Sad, rejuvenating, entertaining. Love the singing scene down by the river.

Mary Poppins (1964). I always wanted to jump in a chalk drawing. The penguins are great.

Grease (1978). I've seen it a million times but I still love Stockard Channing singing 'bout Elvis.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001). Say what you will but that's some good writing.Saw this at the GLBT film fest in ol' Fresno. Great flick.

All About My Mother (1999). Pedro Almodovar's films get to my soul.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004). New favorite. The cinematography is breathtaking. Based on the true story of Ernesto "Che" Gueverra and his friend Albert "Mial" Granado.

In a journey that lasts eight months, the partners travel over 14,000 kilometres, from Argentina through Chile, Peru, and Colombia toVenezuela. Key locations along the journey described in the film include: In Argentina, Buenos Aires, Miramar, Buenos Aires, Villa Gesell, San Martín de los Andes, Lago Frías, Patagonia; in Chile, Temuco, Los Angeles, Valparaiso, Atacama desert, Chuquicamata; inPeru, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lima; The San Pablo Leper Colony; Leticia, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela

The Birds (1963). Great Hitchcock movie. Good for any lazy hazy Sunday. No soundtrack to this film. Just the sound of the birds.

The Shining (1980). This is a great thriller Jack! Oh man the maze scares me.

Stand by Me (1986). I feel so nostalgic watching this film. Every time I hear of Castle Rock it brings me to this movie.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). Saw this when it first came out. I was six years old. My mom took me and my teenage sisters to the Manchester theater to see this film. We missed the intro so we stayed through the credits to catch the beginning of the next show. Love all the catch phrases. "Dr. Jones!"

This is not a definitive list, but I would watch any one of these movies if they fell into my lap right now. 

I am your embryo

I miss you father.

Now I'm not attached but free.

Look at how our country has changed. 

You should have followed me.

http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/122586091457650.xml&coll=7

Rollingstone's 100 greatest guitar songs

This is such an interesting article, but I can never manage to finish reading it. I always get distracted or inspired to go make my own music. But if you get the chance, read it!

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20947527

Here's the list:

The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time

1. "Johnny B. Goode," Chuck Berry

2. "Purple Haze," The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)

3. "Crossroads" Cream (1968)

4. "You Really Got Me" The Kinks (1964)

5. "Brown Sugar" The Rolling Stones (1971)

6. "Eruption" Van Halen (1978)

7. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" The Beatles (1968)

8. "Stairway to Heaven" Led Zepplin (1971)

9. "Statesboro Blues" The Allman Brothers Band (1971)

10. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana (1991)

11. "Whole Lotta Love" Led Zeppelin (1969)

12. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)

13. "Layla" Derek and the Dominos (1970)

14. "Born to Run" Bruce Springsteen (1975)

15. "My Generation" The Who (1965)

16. "Cowgirl in the Sand" Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)

17. "Black Sabbath" Black Sabbath (1970)

18. "Blitzkrieg Bop" Ramones (1976)

19. "Purple Rain" Prince and the Revolution (1984)

20. "People Get Ready" The Impressions (1965)

21. "Seven Nation Army" The White Stripes (2003)

22. "A Hard Day's Night" The Beatles (1964)

23. "Over Under Sideways Down" The Yardbirds (1966)

24. "Killing In The Name Of" Rage Against The Machine (1992)

25. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" The Rolling Stones (1971)

26. "How Blue Can you Get" B.B. King (1965)

27. "Look Over Yonders Wall" The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965)

28. "Where the Streets Have No Name" U2 (1987)

29. "Back in Black" AC/DC (1980)

30. "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" Bill Haley and His Comets (1954)

31. "Keep Yourself Alive" Queen (1973)

32. "Sultans of Swing" Dire Straits (1978)

33. "Master of Puppets" Metallica (1986)

34. "Walk This Way" Aerosmith (1975)

35. "1969" The Stooges (1969)

36. "Interstellar Overdrive" Pink Floyd (1967)

37. "That's All Right" Elvis Presley (1954)

38. "Stay With Me" The Faces (1971)

39. "Black Magic Woman" Santana (1970)

40. "I Can See for Miles" The Who (1967)

41. "Marquee Moon" Television (1977)

42. "Hideaway" John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (1966)

43. "Holidays in the Sun" The Sex Pistols (1977)

44. "Dig Me Out" Sleater-Kinne (1997)

45. "I Saw Her Standing There" The Beatles (1963)

46. "Miserlou" Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1962)

47. "Panama" Van Halen (1984)

48. "London Calling" The Clash (1980)

49. "Machine Gun" Jimi Hendrix (1970)

50. "Debaser" Pixies (1989)

51. "Crazy Train" Ozzy Osbourne (1981)

52. "My Iron Lung" Radiohead (1995)

53. "Born on the Bayou" Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

54. "Little Wing" Stevie Ray Vaughan (1991)

55. "White Room" Cream (1968)

56. "Eight Miles High" The Byrds (1966)

57. "Dark Star" Grateful Dead (1969)

58. "Rumble" Link Wray (1958)

59. "Freeway Jam" Jeff Beck (1975)

60. "Maggot Brain" Funkadelic (1971)

61. "Soul Man" Sam and Dave (1967)

62. "Born Under a Bad Sign" Albert King (1967)

63. "Sweet Child O' Mine" Guns n' Roses (1987)

64. "Freebird" Lyrnyrd Skynyrd (1973)

65. "Message in a Bottle" The Police (1979)

66. "Texas Flood" Stevie Ray Vaughan (1983)

67. "Adam Raised a Cain" Bruce Springsteen (1978)

68. "The Thrill is Gone" B.B. King (1969)

69. "Money" Pink Floyd (1973)

70. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

71. "Take It or Leave It" The Strokes (2001)

72. "Say It Ain't So" Weezer (1994)

73. "Summertime Blues" Blue Cheer (1968)

74. "La Grange" ZZ Top (1973)

75. "Willie the Pimp" Frank Zappa (1969)

76. "American Girl" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)

77. "Even Flow" Pearl Jam (1991)

78. "Stone Crazy" Buddy Guy (1970)

79. "Silver Rocket" Sonic Youth (1988)

80. "Kid Charlemagne" Steely Dan (1976)

81. "Beat It" Michael Jackson (1982)

82. "Walk — Don't Run" The Ventures (1960)

83. "What I Got" Sublime (1996)

84. "Gravity" John Mayer (2006)

85. "You Enjoy Myself" Phish (1988)

86. "I Ain't Superstitious" Jeff Beck (1968)

87. "Red" King Crimson (1974)

88. "Mona" Quicksilver Messenger Service (1969)

89. "I Love Rock N Roll" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1981)

90. "How Soon Is Now?" The Smiths (1985)

91. "Drunkship of Lanterns" The Mars Volta (2003)

92. "Memo from Turner" Mick Jagger (1970)

93. "Only Shallow" My Bloody Valentine (1991)

94. "Money for Nothing" Dire Straits (1984)

95. "Omaha" Moby Grape (1967)

96. "New Day Rising" Husker Du (1985)

97. "No One Knows" Queens of the Stone Age (2002)

98. "Under the Bridge" Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)

99. "Run Thru" My Morning Jacket (2003)

100. "Vicarious" Tool (2006)

Renewed

I have been an addict, a lover, a leaver; 

A dreamer, a wisher and a foiled achiever.

Despite the stitches, I've strengthened my failures. 

I've inhaled after been smothered. 

I returned the lost hearts to their makers. I stand with my own wounds.

More Rich

Wait

BY ADRIENNE RICH

In paradise every 
the desert wind is rising 
third thought 
in hell there are no thoughts 
is of earth 
sand screams against your government 
issued tent hell’s noise 
in your nostrils crawl 
into your ear-shell 
wrap yourself in no-thought 
wait no place for the little lyric 
wedding-ring glint the reason why 
on earth 
they never told you

It has taken me awhile to jump on this wagon. In two days I will be thrown into the madness that it this election. After much consideration I finally conclude he is a great leader for this nation. Here's another article that led me to my final conclusion. 

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/10/13/081013taco_talk_editors

Working Stiff

In collared moments shattered whispers lie.

In between patient breaths, we hold ourselves and try to seal up the cracks.

Our secrets are all we have left.

In time they will fall like leaves, and our walls made of old stones will come down. 

Winter is here, and we throw ourselves against the hardness it brings.

The park is still. It's months till spring.