Because I’m a total sucker for things Dinosaur and Steampunk, I pretty much completely caved and bought this Clockwork Dinosaurs t-shirt which combines the best of both. Available on Shirt.woot.com today for $10 (free shipping; $15, free shipping after today). Yes, I realize I don’t need any more t-shirts — but they’re giant mechanical steam-powered dinosaurs - how could I possibly resist? Kudos goes to Drakxxx, the designer who won this particular Shirt.Woot Derby. Nice work man. Keep it up.

And I have to say, I’m excited about this one. Actually ordered it on vinyl last week and I can’t wait to throw it on the record player. Hopefully, “The Hazards of Love” will live up to expectations and previous albums.

Every once and awhile an album will come out that I’m so looking forward to that I’ll actually make my way to a store, or order it online, in its physical format… its funny how the move from physical medium to digital has been so fast and sweeping. It make yearn nostalgiacly for those days in the 90’s when I would save up some cash from my minimum wage job, head out to store to pick some CDs up, and cloister myself in my bedroom… slowly opening each album in turn, putting the cd in to play it all the way through, and examining the album booklet in detail while listening.

I think, in addition to the argument about sound quality, we are seeing such a strong niche movement in the revival of lps and turntables… people miss that physical experience of handling and unwrapping the album, placing it in the player, sitting back in one place, and experiencing the musicfor itself, rather than just as a soundtrack to our own lives. And perhaps that is also why the division between top 40/mainstream music and indie ie becoming more noticeable…. almost as if there’s an invisible line being drawn between people who want to appreciate music as an art form, and those who want to experience it as a disposable commodity to provide a backdrop score to their exercise routine or their daily commute.

Anyway, apologies for the rambling. If you want to pick up the Decemberists’ “The Hazards of Love” on 180 gram vinyl, head on over to their online store to order. In the meantime, if you want to listen to the album for free, check out the download/stream of their live performance of the entire album at SXSW on NPR.com.

I actually had about 5 legitimate comments in que for moderation amongst the hundred or so spam comments. Sorry about that folks… my intent was not to censor - i was just being unmindful of my poor, attention starved blog.

Aww the joys of home ownership. Take heed friends, I am now living proof that if you keep hacking away at DIY’ing all the hard home repairs, eventually you’ll get one that turns out to be much easier and cheaper than expected.

Specifically, out hot water handle in the bathroom sink began dribbling out water whenever the hot or cold handle was turned a certain way. As it goes with these things, the problem got worse over time as I kept putting the actual fix off. However, as of this weekend, the problem is no more. After reading up on some valuable advice online (amazing how much home imrpovement info is on the web these days), I took apart the hot water assembly (much easier than I thought it would be - all I needed was a philips head screw driver, an adjustable wrench, and a needle nose pliers), I took the dysfunctional stem/valve assembly to Home Depot, where, for the first time ever, I found the exact match in less than ten minutes. It was one of those light shining down from heaven moments (I think I heard the “ahhhhhhhhs” coming from the garden center), and there it was, sitting in the wrong place, one lone, perfect replacement for the part I had in my hand. Awesome.

THen once home, it was literally five minutes - push the assembly into place, tighten down the nut that holds it there, screw the handle back on, BAM! All fixed.

I swear, nothing I’ve ever done around this 100 year old home has ever been so easy. Don’t even ask about the tub surround, the dryer vent, or the privacy fence. Ugh.

Now, next week, I’m going to attempt to fix the leaking diverter valve in out shower (something Mother Earth and the Washington Sanitary Commission will surely appreciate) and replace the caulk around the bathtub (AGAIN! - one of my least favorite, and most frustrating things to do).

Wish me luck.

I don’t know about you all, but watching President Obama get sworn in and Bush flying away led me to one cathartic conclusion: a great sigh of relieve. Think of it: it doesn’t matter what happens going forward, because we have at last arrived at this place. I think that’s what drives me so crazy about people already syaing things like, “well, its just a matter of time before Obama screws up” or “he’s going to have a hard time living up to the expectation he’s created”; chill the eff out and enjoy the moment folks. We’ve ended eight years of the worst administration in the history of this country, and begun a new administration that has excited and inspired people like almost no other before it. Enjoy the moment. Breathe it in. Allow yourselves to be contented and lifted by the fact that we have at last begun a new chapter, and it is as of yet unwritten.

Please stop the Auto-Tune madness. Singing like robots is now only cool if you are, in fact, an actual robot. You know, like those Daft Punk guys.

A shameless mash-up of at least two other idioms that I just came across and rather like:

“This shit is pajamas.”

I encourage you all to slip it into your daily communication  in the year ahead.

WOO-HOO!!!

GO-BAMA!!!

In case you haven’t already voted, get out there slacker! And in case you’re undecided, Barack Obama is a pretty good candidate…why don’t you vote for him?

The lines at our usually sleepy little polling place were out to the street… so many people from our neighborhood I’d never even seen before. I think that’s pretty amazing, and definitely an indication on the importance/height of this particular election.

People were in such good moods too… everyone knew that today is of significance, and for once it seemed everyone involved was proud to be a part of the process.

That’s it for now. I realize this blog has been pretty much dead the last several months… I’ve had some pretty big life-changing events which have been keeping me busy and off the internet (all good things though!). If you’ve ever stopped by before, or if I know you from a previous era of my life, I hope you’re doing well, and that things are good.