I Miss the Cold

Nostalgia is a plague. It seems to be triggered with minimal stimuli and can only bring about feelings of despair and sadness. That said, this picture hardly does justice to one of the most beautiful highways in the United States. An extension of the Hutchinson River Parkway, the Merritt Parkway runs through Connecticut like a concrete river, passing vibrant forests and beautiful brick bridges from a different time.
Memories of riding down this hilly and winding parkway only seem to spark happiness, though. It reminds me of going to a three dollar concert at Fairfield University to witness Aloha for the first time. Them and another brilliant band by the name of Shortpants Romance.
It reminds me of meeting Zach Ebel at a families home to play really weird guitar-drum improv, only to scare some, but delight and entertain a large Japanese 'clientele'.
It reminds me of finding a large Connecticut park that had on it's premises a large home surrounded by a gorgeous garden. I lost myself there for about an hour or so, eventually sitting down in a secluded alcove to read in perhaps the most serene setting I've ever encountered.
The Merritt signaled good things to come. Maybe there are a few places like that for you, too. These are the tangible, yet insubstantial insurances for the future that I as a weak human being cling to. These also remind me that it's far more effective to cling to Jehovah.

In other words, Texas sucks.

"Perfect Ears are waiting for us in Paradise."

Such clarity and poetry could only come from the mouth of a child. I am not a spiritual man.

The Boredoms

Something fairly amusing happened at work today.

I was packing up boxes to be shipped as part of a company move. The day had gone pretty quick and the tech I was working with on this occasion had a nice disposition.

Another team of people came into the office to start removing the telecommunications equipment. One of them was a small Mexican man (I'm not being stereotypical here. I actually know he was Mexican). As he made his rounds, I noticed a melody that was humming through his nostrils. I thought in a split second:
It's from the late 80s.
A vague Teen Beat quality.
Oh, crap. It's a Rick Astley song.

Not ringing a bell? Let me refresh your memory.
"Together Forever and never to part.
Together Forever we two
And don't you know I would move heaven and earth
To be Together Forever with you."

Still not? Maybe this is more familiar.
"Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you"

If that didn't give it away, I don't know what will. But if you are familiar with these songs, you may have realized what I did. They sound exactly the same. Same tempo, same key, instrumentation, the works. And despite what "Rick Astley's Greatest Hits" would lead you to believe, this man's soulful bellow has only generated these two well known songs.

Am I comdemning him? No. Because you know what? I love these songs. They're trite and ridiculous but I adore them. They remind me of being a seven year old kid, riding in an '87 Mercury Sable with my mother. They stir memories of driving to Dublin, sometimes to my grandmother's on the Northeast side of Columbus. All the while, the radio station turned to 97.9 WNCI. "Not too hard, not too lite." Though I would describe Rick Astley as very "lite".

Why did I write this down? Because I'm in Texas. *Sigh*

On a completely unrelated note, if you're in Ohio, do yourself a big favor. Go see The Boredoms. They may change your life, or provide a curious bump in the road. And I won't be able to see them. Because Texas is hell. Here are some other dates.

Sat 06/24/06 Intonation Music Festival Chicago IL
Sun 06/25/06 Turf Club St. Paul MN
Tue 06/27/06 Wexner Center Columbus OH
Wed 06/28/06 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights OH
Fri 06/30/06 Starlite Philadelphia PA w/ Lighting Bolt
07/07/06 Deitch Projects New York NY

Can't make Tuesday? Go to Cleveland. Please.