September 16, 2010 – CDs (the rest of the C’s.)

Posted on September 16, 2010 by planboy

The C's include some oldies, including a CD by one of my Facebook friends.

And here’s the balance of the C’s.

The highlights:

Common – I’ll admit I found Common AFTER I had discovered Kanye.

Cheap Trick – Back in the cassette days, I had several of their albums. But, after the conversion to CDs, I bought the greatest hits collection and kept it simple.

Counting Crows -I’ll repeat what I said about Citizen Cope yesterday…why, oh why, was this debut album so good…and yet, they never reached that high again?

Coldplay – I bought their live album wondering if there was a reason that everyone I knew seemed to love Coldplay and I didn’t. Nope – this album DIDN’T do the trick. I just don’t get it.

Clerks – The first movie soundtrack of the RID project. And one of my top 5 movie favorites of all time. I remember going into the theatre, not even sure what this was about — and laughing for a full two hours. But alas, Kevin Smith, like Counting Crows and Citizen Cope….(sigh)

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September 15, 2010 – CDs (the C’s…the duplicates.)

Posted on September 15, 2010 by planboy

From Cracker to Cloud Cult...and more.

Ok, here we are on the 15th…it’s a CD day.

Today, I get rid of the C artists that I have duplicates of. That is, bands/artists from which I own more than one album.

Among the highlights…

Citizen Cope – One of the most solid debut albums I’ve ever heard. Here’s hoping he will recapture that form someday.

Cracker – I remember shopping in a Tower Records store in 1992, when this song, “I See The Light,” came over the speaker system. I had to have it. I remember asking the clerk who it was, and his response was simply to hold up the cassette (!!!) cover and say simply, “It’s a bunch of guys from Camper Van Beethoven.”

Elvis Costello – I’ll admit it…I don’t have the appreciation for him that most music snobs have. That having been said, there are a few tunes of his that I think make me get it …at least a little.

Crowded House – A band that I’ve appreciated from the first album…and just saw them play live a few weeks ago. They never disappoint.

Johnny Cash – The first concert I ever went to. And a person I never appreciated until much, much later.

Julian Cope – If you like Perry Ferrell and don’t know who this guy is, give it a listen. If Jane’s Addiction had come along earlier…I’m convinced this is what they would’ve sounded like.

Cloud Cult – A band I have Bumbershoot to thank for helping me find. I don’t really know how to describe them…but I find them both insightful AND thrilling. Go here to hear a sample. More importantly, find a way to see them live. You won’t regret it.

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September 14, 2010 – Speedway, go away.

Posted on September 14, 2010 by planboy

Memories...

Here’s a t-shirt that has a very specific memory attached to it.

A few years ago, I took a stand-up comedy course and this is the t-shirt I wore when I performed at the club. (It was the “final exam.”)

I had a great time doing stand up, and have lately been thinking about trying it again.

Today, as I give this shirt to the RID project, I’m thinking about the memories of my class, my classmates, and my performance.

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about memories – how they get distorted over time, and how most of our memories aren’t accurate at all…even though they feel that they are.

As I cast this shirt to the RID project, I wonder how accurate my memory of that class is. Have I forgotten how much WORK it took to get to the point that my routine was ready for the stage? Was I more nervous than I remember being?

Good questions to ask myself – especially if I intend to try doing it again.

Stay tuned.

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September 13, 2010 – Magic Wand.

Posted on September 13, 2010 by planboy

Yes, I know what it looks like.

Here’s kind of a cool gadget – it’s a “magic wand” that you can use to control your remote-controlled devices. With a wave of a hand, your devices seem to answer your command.

It IS cool…BUT it would’ve taken me time to program, and I already have remotes…so I gave this to an 8-year old I know. He will give this the time, wonder, and attention this gadget needs.

Time, wonder and attention. Hmmm….I think this might be my new “rule of thumb” before the purchase of ANY new electronic gadgets. If I have to devote more time and attention to them than the wonder I receive from them…don’t buy/keep them.

Think I’ll go dig through more electronics for the RID project…

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September 12, 2010 – Running shoes.

Posted on September 12, 2010 by planboy

Served me well.

This is the first full day of NFL football.

As a Dolphins fan, suffice it to say my Sundays are a bit challenging finding a sports bar full of “friendlies” with which to watch the game.

It plays hell with my workout schedule. So I thought it’d be a good day to give away an older pair of running shoes. Since I certainly won’t need them today.

Go Fins.

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September 11, 2010 – the first piece of luggage.

Posted on September 11, 2010 by planboy

Seemed an appropriate day.

I love travel.

A few years ago, when I went to Africa; I ran across an old Maasi proverb,

“Eyes that travel…see.”

That statement recognizes how I feel about travel. It keeps us worldly, open-minded, and vibrant. I love seeing new places, meeting new people, trying new food, having new experiences.

Over the years, I’ve picked up several pieces of luggage that I no longer have need for.

I found the perfect use for the one above. I used it quite extensively as I transported my wine collection bottle by bottle to big D. I would carefully wrap each bottle in a t-shirt (see a theme developing here?), and check the bag from Seattle to Dallas.

Never broke a bottle.

At the same time, luggage is a bit of an addiction for me. It’s a great “stuff for stuff” category. I have SO many pieces of it – that today…a day I refuse the shorthand on, and only refer to as “the day the World Trade Center was attacked” — seemed an appropriate day to give it away.

Enjoy the day folks – get out there, experience things, and enjoy life.

In other words,

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September 10, 2010 – Bumbershirt.

Posted on September 10, 2010 by planboy

Leads to a bit 'o confusion in Texas - land of rampant Christianism.

It’s interesting being an atheist in Texas. Especially when you’ve moved from Seattle.

I truly feel like an alien who has landed here sometimes – religion is so pervasive, and so assumed…that people bring it up in conversations that no one would’ve on the West Coast. Not because it’s controversial….but frankly, because it’s rude.

I loved wearing the T-shirt above in Seattle. I got it at Bumbershoot, the annual Labor Day arts and music festival. It simply depicts a pair of praying hands — but at the lower left…if you squint…you’ll notice it reads “Art Saves Me.”

It’s a statement that I wholeheartedly agree with.

I wrote about my “10 percent rule” with T-shirts a couple of days ago. That I enjoy wearing T-shirts that about 10 percent people get; and respond with a knowing smile.

This T-shirt FAILS in the biggest way on that front in Texas. It produces knowing smiles, but ones that represent something far afield from what this shirt means.

This is the second RID project item that is specifically tied to my move.

I’m hoping there won’t be many more. It gives me too much pause.

PERSONAL ANECDOTE: I was recently invited to an event that makes me think about religion as “stuff” in a broader category. And I’m coming face-to-face with the fact that I don’t treat all religions equally, despite how I like to see myself as “Mr. OpenMinded Liberal from the West Coast who’s arrived in Texas.” I’ll be blogging about this soon, but here’s the central question…When you’re not aligned with a particular group, and you don’t really much care, BUT you’re forced to point out repeatedly that you don’t care, do you end up resenting that fact that you have to deal with it all…and how does one keep that anger in check? Any tips? Feel free to email them along…I DO have a technique for dealing with this, but I’m just not sure it’s the right one…

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September 9, 2010 – Ironing out something.

Posted on September 9, 2010 by planboy

Once used.

When I first got to Dallas, I bought this ironing board.

It was used exactly once.

I’m not sure why I was hanging on to it – except that it’s as good as new, and I think I felt a little guilty for buying it in the first place. Once my stuff arrived from Seattle, my full-size ironing board came into my place…and the one you see above was retired to a closet.

In hindsight, what I really should’ve done was gotten a new full-size ironing board when I arrived in Dallas, since the one from Seattle didn’t come until months later.

I always run  into trouble when I buy something as a stop-gap. I could learn from buying what I really need, and then never having to buy it again.

I recently bought a laptop bag from this company.

Here’s how they refer to their prices (which can be a bit high) — I love this phrase, and I’m going to use it to make sure I’m buying quality (and what I really want.)

Can you help me justify spending this much on a piece of leather?

“Buy the best, cry once.”

Good advice on all purchases, if you ask me.

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September 8, 2010 – The first (of what I suspect will be many) t-shirts.

Posted on September 8, 2010 by planboy

E wore it best.

Ah…the t-shirts begin.

I love T-shirts. But the ones I love the most have a clear pattern – they refer to something about 10 percent (or less) of people understand.

Take the shirt above – those of you who watch Entourage may recognize it as the shirt that Billy the director wore to taunt Eric.

I love shirts like this – about 1/10 of people smile, and give me a knowing glance when I wear it. There’s something about this kind of thing – the inside humor that forms a bond, an odd sort of “community” among people, simply by the choice of something to wear.

I’m giving away this shirt today, because I just don’t wear it very often.

Truth be told, it doesn’t really work well with my 10 percent rule, because many people THINK they understand what it means. I’ve had people say to me, “Yes I agree, suits DO suck,” and I don’t really even know what to say to them. It seems impolite to say “Yeah, um….you’ve missed the joke.”

So…my Entourage t-shirt now sits atop the RID project.

Wear it proudly, next owner.

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Traveling? Take the effort to RID yourself a little, and benefit others in the process.

Posted on September 7, 2010 by planboy

“Stuffyourrucksack.com is an online community that helps responsible travellers make a practical difference to the lives of those in developing countries that have so little, and deserve so much more.”

Go here to participate.

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