thorvalson.net : babble ether

Friends Don't Let Friends Post Drunk Reunion Pictures

Wonder Twin Powers! Activate!

I cannot look at this man without laughing. With jazz hands. Oh, Kevin Wilson. Pitter pat.

Now, this is the woman I fell in love with. Tracey von Gessner, Flesh-Eating Vampire Whore. Okay, maybe not "whore." The conjured image of us dressed as Mina and Lucy for Halloween twelve years ago provoked it.

Don't worry, she's got plenty of payback material on me.

Maddie Larsh, Toothless Wonder

"Say, 'Mississippi'."

"Mithithippi. What?!"

Fish heads, fish heads/Roly poly fish heads/Fish heads, fish heads/Eat them up/Yum!

Of course, the minute I say I'm not posting for a while, here I go for a record two posts in two days!
Roll the tape...

"I think it's like ROCK and ROLL!"

Like she was surprised something her Mother did was "ROCK and ROLL." Of COURSE it's rock and roll. Sheeit. Punk ass kid.

Note the curious angle of her two front lower teeth (kinda blurry, but doin' my BEST HERE, PEOPLE):

The one on your left will be gone by Monday. Guarantee it. It's at the cool twisty stage. I've offered to twist the relic from its bloody, pulpy root, but she won't let me. Poo.

Speaking of bloody pulpy...
Greg and I didn't get to actually go on the boat this time (too many people signed up), but the annual County Clare fishing extravaganza went smoothly this year, with the two Most Likely to Fall Overboard from last year remaining shockingly, disappointingly on the sober side of drunkenness, and Barry Dodd once again triumphantly catching the biggest fish of the day. Last year, he promised Maddie he'd catch a fish bigger than she was. And he did.
Greg and I enjoyed our landlocked day in the cozy confines of local pubs, playing checkers (I so beat his ass), with my day reaching its crowning moment via the capture of this here fine photograph (Mom, look away):

Thank you, and good night. Steal that photograph and die, fucker.

"Do the Do! Don't do the Done!" - Ian MacKaye

It's been a while since the last post, and will probably be longer until the next. The last few weeks have been pretty inspirational in terms of music and writing, and I'm trying to focus more of my attention on those pursuits. Greg and I had the honor and privilege - and I mean that phrase soberly, without any salt whatsoever - of hanging out with Ian MacKaye for breakfast last weekend, which was both surreal and educational. For those of you who aren't familiar with Ian's history, please take the time to read the link above. For my take on it, all I can really say is that he is one of my all-time favorite musicians, not only for his music, but for his integrity and humility regarding both his own music and punk rock/post-punk/hardcore/all music in general. The man has been performing for over 25 years and has never charged more than $7 for a show. He's committed to preserving music as an all-access, interactive medium for people of all ages to enjoy. Most punk rock bands got their start playing for "the kids" - average age 16 to 25 - and Ian is one of few mainstays left in all of American music - not just punk rock - to adhere to the standards he set for himself when he was only 18 years old. And let me emphasize the words "for himself" - he made it pretty clear early on that his ideals were and are not "a set of rules" for everyone to follow, but rather his own personal opinion, expressed freely.
The 16-year-old in me couldn't help shaking, initially. While it had been our intention to make him feel comfortable during his stay in Milwaukee, it was Ian who ended up making us - or at least me - feel more comfortable. His humility, friendliness, sincerity, and willingness to listen as well as to speak freely and thoughtfully will stay with me for a long time. Everyone poops, yes, but it's not every day we get to wake up knowing we're sharing air with a personal hero who happens to be in the same room. Sharing tea and conversation with him that morning confirmed and upheld a more innocent, naive belief that, for a lot of people, including me, gets crushed with the onset of adulthood: that we can not only be ourselves in this world but, in the doing so, change it; that we can pursue our goals and ambitions without selling out and still manage to pay the mortgage.

Thank you, Ian, for reminding me.

***

In sadder, somewhat related news, CBGB's held their last show last night. Watch a brief video here, or read about it here.

***

Heads up: If I'm not around the blog much in coming weeks, this is why. While attempting to string out 1,666 word-long ticker tapes of thoughts, I will not have much left for the blog, I'm sure. Don't get excited - I'm not writing a book or putting down anything useful - but encourage freely. I haven't written this much since high school. It's a huge challenge, but something that is necessary for me to get back on the wagon.

And when I'm not doing that, I will be in the basement learning how to do this.