franny & zooey
"all i wanted to say to you this morning was "just what is this cheeseburger business?" but i was afraid if i opened my mouth it would break the sleep cloud" --braun
the Trip
Crazy. Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe.
Beautiful. Kyoto, Nara.
We pulled all nighters and slept on trains, experienced the insanity of the baseball superfan. With fish costing mere pennies and tasting so scrumptious it was impossible to stay the sounds of satisfaction plate after plate; slow hay smoked Bonito, fire roasted fish jaw, crunchy and juicy whole fish, and sashimi galore. Chicken organs, pork buns, strange meet on sticks, hot pot octopus, tako yaki, and okonomiyaki were all eaten with exacting focus. Everyone enjoyed treats with minimal sugar (aka tastier than states-sweets) and matcha matcha matcha for days. Tranquil temples purified our wanderings as deer ambled with our stride. We melted into the floor and slept in great love. Nights were spent canoodling in dim Jazz clubs and lobbing darts with strangers and the occasional gift of "wiener" from the curious izakaya owner. Snacks of tsukemono and soft cream aided in our battle against humidity, whose cicada army was out-noised only by over-sized crows. Our minimal language skills got us in and entertained where most foreigners will never set foot.
Pedicab
Running from show to show. Poetry at the Waypost: a rough night, but I'm promised to be impressed later. FUTRO record release at Someday: hugs from Srs Biz, travelers advice with MT, and a whole lot of shoe-shakin. Nick waits for us in a pedicab with carnitas from Pink Taco. We rotate running behind the bike cart to push up the Burnside bridge as Andrew rides and laughs behind. The peddler gets a hug from each of us after dismount at Doug Fir, but we've arrived too late to hear Doubleplusgood. Miller High Life and conversation moves into a warm walk home, and a meeting with a couple of young hooligans hollering about Nick's "gay man purse." Nice to meet you; stop being an asshole.
Quotes of the Day: Facebook Status
Merkin
accidentally got excited when my boss told me there was a weezy demo called "sandwiches time." turns out he said weezer. "oh", i said, "i think i'll go for a cigarette instead."
Rao, Guilt Taste
It’s hilarious, for sure, when a young woman swoons over a man’s decanting skills, but it’s also a great way to draw attention to the technical proficiency of a beautiful pour without getting too technical.
a Dream Affects the Real
In my slumber, I envisioned my neck adorned with several large art deco block necklaces. After realizing these were entirely inappropriate for the office, I decided to take one off before getting ready for work. In a daze and half out of sleep, my arms managed to unclasp the necklace I was actually wearing and place it haphazardly on the bedside table. I remember being very confused as to why my fingers couldn't re-close the clasp. Seems my body was awake while my brain was still in a dream. Is this the start of a sleep walking problem?
Term of the Day
DINK: Dual Income No Kids. A married couple who has the funding and time to frequent Europe, purchase fine art, and enjoy a life sans unnecessary strife due to not having children. Often the target of marketing efforts for luxury items such as expensive cars. Will most likely feel a sense of incompleteness in later life.
Quote of the Day @ Enso Winery
Customer: "we need the music down and we're gunna need some sausage here." Chris: "It's salumi."
for the love of old things
We have pennies, yet drink only beautiful wines and artisan coffees. We ride our bicycles and vintage cars. We will watch nothing but classic films on 35millimeter prints. We dine with masterly passion. Our fingers dash furiously on analog machines. Our life is resplendent. Fascinating. Electric. This is our manifesto.
Quote of the Day re: this bottle of wine
"Hamburgers are more expensive than that Priorat! What? Shouldn't all things be measured in hamburger currency?"
After a long weekend featuring minimal sleep
Adore:
1980/90s James Spader.
Photography shows.
Visits from out-of-town friends.
Dancing at pop shows & feeling awkward about it.
Bluehour.
Befriending awesome fellow service industry people.
and a quote snippet from Morgan Miller, visiting from San Francisco: "...black hole succubus of productivity..."
Despise:
Poorly made coffee.
Being overly intoxicated.
1980/90s James Spader.Photography shows.
Visits from out-of-town friends.
Dancing at pop shows & feeling awkward about it.
Bluehour.
Befriending awesome fellow service industry people.
and a quote snippet from Morgan Miller, visiting from San Francisco: "...black hole succubus of productivity..."
Despise:
Poorly made coffee.
Being overly intoxicated.
Grammar is Fun: a tiny sampling of "educated" adult correspondence.
"lol TGIF!! One more day and I probably would loose my marbles."
"What time are you planning on it happening at (from what time to what time?)"
Subject: Upcoming Information
Importance: High
...I realize we are all busy in are respective areas but this should be a great opportunity...
"I was trying to figure out how to suggest this option myself as I was having issues with most all of the other options. Great list but I just can’t picture myself doing most of those things and trying to be a team player at the same time (I don’t do stuff in the sun as it makes me sick, I don’t drink (also makes me sick), I don’t want Willamette water touching any part of my skin, the thought of doing manual labor/getting sweaty with my co-workers makes me cringe, and I want it to be during work hours – as much as I love my co-workers, my time after work is very precious to me J).
Her \ Him
baby \ daddy-o
babycakes \ gerbraunamo
duck babyfit \ brauntonamo bay
dur babyschnitzel \ braunicles of narnia
au baby climat \ brauntosaurus
. . . . .
. . . . .
My little brother, who describes himself as: "a motorcycle riding infantry marine officer engineer writer who's going to be a firefighter medic real estate master" has just been "voluntold" for a duathalon.
His take on the situation: "You know who has to train for that stuff?! Normal people."
... and later: "Spoiler alert: I'm fucking badass." If only he knew how adorable he is.
The Sommelier at Andina has just refered to herself as a "baby in the industry" at 28.
Braun's take on the situation: "I like hearing people say that because that makes me a fetus."
Brother & Sister Dunk: In Conversation
Brother: Ill have to tell you about my various misadventures last weekend
Sister: indeed
Brother: Including but not limited to getting broken down halfway to sf
Sister: that blows!
Pushing cars
Saving birds
Getting molested by truckers
Sister: nooooooo
And then the rocky theme came on my ipod
And it was motherfucking gotterdammerung epic
Sister: you're so 1980s
Brother: Despite the shittiness of the day, I had a good time and was laughing basically the whole time, because this kind of shit happens all the time.
Hence: Life and times of the dunk
And the sequel: Life and times 2: slam dunk
Sister: there tends to be true hilarity once one crosses the shitty line into the realm of the absurd
Brother: True, but if i werent absurdly good looking, that would be unhilariously shitty
Sister: if you were absurdly good looking, someone would've been filming and paying you millions...
also, your shirt would have been ripped at some point
Lisa has been out to lunch for 2 hours.
She has stopped to buy me a "sorry" coffee.
but locked her keys in the car and had to wait for AAA.
Commence text messaging:
Lisa: tick tick tick!!! driving me crazy sitting here waiting!!!
Me: haha I'm tweeting about how silly that Middle Sister wine is... total snob!
@doubtfuldevon their caBeRNet sAuVignON has a "cute" & "clever" label "20% mixed Red Varieties," no oak or vintage for $11... not naming names... #winesnob
Lisa: shame on you! it's adorable!
Me: but delish?! ;D
Lisa: fuck! now a train so the guy cant get to me if he tries!!!
Me: you're screwed! might as well throw yourself on the tracks!
Lisa: looking at a giant cookie to relieve the anxiety.
Me: OH evil.
and then I had the tiniest cup!
on the romantics of travel
the morning i left it rained, even though July told it not to.
there was a bumbling passer-by.
solo, i flew a romantic 1,006 miles.
and was met by a man who was handsome beneath all the scratches, splotchy sunburns, the hobbling limp, and cut-off shorts.
for hours, madame snyder kept me company by the fire.
for hours, madame snyder kept me company by the fire.
much celebration and congratulation propelled us through days and days.
we were received at Chez Braun for a time on a beachside rooftop with juicy steaks and plenty of mushrooms.
and i changed my mind about something, which i found quite odd.
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