Strange Pulse

I had a dream the other night that I was at a U2 show. I was right up front. It was 80s era U2, and they were singing “Pride.” Something happened though and they needed to stop the show. So the band decided to move it to an outdoor park, a big grassy area. There were tons of people there, but somehow I again ended up right up front. The area where the band was playing was small. The band was sitting on the ground, as was the entire crowd, while they waited for the sound equipment to be set up. I was literally a foot away from Bono. My best friend from high school was there too, only we were separated by a couple people—other friends from high school—and I leaned over to look at her. We didn’t have to say anything—we both knew what each other were thinking. “Can you believe this?!”

Best dream ever.

I told my son Nathaniel about it. He said, “You can tell people, ‘I was this close to Bono!’ And they’ll ask when, and you’ll say, ‘In my dreams!’”

Yeah, he can laugh. But then I reminded him I have actually been that close to Bono. I had to tell him the story of meeting U2 again. Kids! They forget all the important stuff parents tell them about.

Then last night, I had the worst dream ever. My daughter Catherine died in it. And to make it worse, in the dream, I first had a dream that she died! It was horrible. Made me glad I don’t often remember my dreams.

I’m talking years 1955-1959. ‘54 and earlier were very rounded, like this.

Here’s a ‘55:

Note the chrome stripe is one solid line.

Here’s a ‘56:

The chrome stripe is wider with paint in the middle of it.

A ‘57:

The chrome stripe is now divided into two, with one in front and one in the back.

A ‘58:

Fins are developing on the rear fender. The chrome stripe is solid again. There are two round chrome hood ornaments.

‘59:

Big fins, painted stripe surrounded by chrome, hood ornaments are spikes.

When we were in high school, Daniel drove a ‘58. It was literally falling apart. But that thing was a tank. It caught on fire once in my driveway. He put it out and drove it home.

(None of these pictures were taken by me.)

Nathaniel turns 18. How did it happen?

He used to be so small.

At the beach in Oregon:

Signing “all gone” or “all done:”

With little sister:

With little brother:

With sunshine:

With motorcycle:

Now he’s over 6 feet tall.

With Built to Spill:

We’re not really going to celebrate until Spring Break, when his old friend from Washington will be here. We’ll take them to Magic Mountain. Today, he wants to go eat at Subway. And make one of these with his dad:

The inscriptions that can be etched in the center. Here’s an old Melvins’ album:

It says “Melvin Pole Bath Tub.” The other side?

It says “Millions of Dead Melvins.”

Soundgarden’s Ultramega OK vinyl has “A RELIGIOUS MAN MIGHT THINK WE’RE EVIL…” “A RATIONAL MAN MIGHT THINK WE’RE RELIGIOUS.”

Although it seemed like a lot of the Sub Pop vinyl would just advertise for other bands. I have a Soundgarden record with “Buy Green River” etched on it, and a Green River album with “Buy Soundgarden” on it.

Holy cow. I’ve been taking pictures of my vinyl records today, because I’m geeky like that. I’m thinking I might someday post them all online or blog about them one at a time, who knows. As I was thinking about it, though, I considered bands like B-Movie. I have more than a few 80s albums that no one will remember, and they’re impossible to find anywhere for download (I’ve tried), so how am I going to post any music from them?

youtube to the rescue! I cannot believe that B-Movie’s one semi-hit is on there. It’s like a dream come true! I still love this song.
The video:

The album:

In Seattle I used to complain about there not being enough shows. In LA it’s the opposite. Constant shows! I can’t make it to them all!

I just found out Tegan & Sara are playing, but it’s sold out already. I think I’m gonna go to the venue night of the show and try to buy a ticket off of someone with an extra one.

Here’s the list of shows I want to see:

Clutch Mar 13

Boredoms Mar 16

Explosions in the Sky Mar 17

Built to Spill Mar 22

Bell x1 Mar 24

Red Sparowes Mar 23

Middian w/Indian Mar 28

The Black Keys Mar 30

New Model Army Apr 1

Gutter Twins (Mark Lanegan & Greg Dulli) Apr 2

Fu Manchu Apr 5

Testament Apr 10

Converge Apr 18 & 19

The Sword Apr 18

Tegan & Sara Apr 23

Bold are the ones I’m for sure going to. Hopefully. Planning on. Better not miss.

It’s rare for me.

But in my dream last night, Pride Tiger was playing as my high school friends and I danced around in one of their basements, which just happened to be a department store.

It was “The Lucky Ones.”

I was trying to impress on them the greatness of the band, but of course no one cared.

If you’re not dancing, then there’s something wrong…

(This dream was obviously inspired by an email I got from Mike D. about this very song.)

So this post right here inspired me. I saw the jewelry and thought, making that looks like fun. Daniel needed to get some material at a craft store, so I went along, thinking I’d look at some jewelry making supplies.

I spent entirely too much money. Money I really shouldn’t have spent. But I’m obsessive compulsive and here we are.

I made this one first:

Then these:

Sorry the pictures suck but I’m tired and lazy right now. (A dangerous combination. Stupid daylight savings.)

I didn’t realize the starter kit I picked up didn’t include clasps, so I have to go back and get some. I’m not even sure what I’m going to do with these. None of them are really something I’d wear. To be honest, I never wear jewelry. I was thinking if it’s something I made maybe I’ll wear it. But I doubt it. It itches.

I’ll probably give them away. If I keep making stuff, and I think it’s cool, I might try to start selling them on etsy.com. But then how will I package them? Ugh.

So all you jewelry makers out there (and I know you’re out there!), give me some tips. I realize these are extremely basic! I want to try some jump rings, I think those are cool.

This time Daniel and I were picking Elijah up from his friend’s.

Elijah said, “I don’t understand cannibalism.”

Daniel said, “Don’t worry. I’ll eat your arm first.”

Elijah didn’t laugh.

Then Daniel said, “I’ll leave your eyeballs for last. ‘Cuz those are gross.”

I said, “I can think of lots of stuff that are ickier than the eyeballs.”

“Yeah,” Daniel said, “Like the feet.”

Then he added, “Plus the naughty bits.”

A little bit later Elijah said, “I think traditions are stupid.”

I said, “Not all traditions are stupid.”

Daniel said, “Yeah. Like metal traditions!”

On my way out to Vegas I stopped by Calico, a little tourist spot. It\’s an old mining town at the base of some big hills. I took a few rolls of film there and stashed them in a cubbyhole in my car and forgot about them. I just discovered them the other day, and finally had time to develop them.\r\n\r\nYou pay about $6 to get in, and they have restaurants, little tourist shops, and little museum displays in all the old buildings. There\’s people dressed in period costumes and they put on different types of shows and demonstrations. I didn\’t stick around for any of that, just walked around, checking out the old buildings, equipment, pictures, and the ruins of old adobe shacks.\r\n\r\nThere\’s an old schoolhouse:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPartially-standing adobe shacks:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCalico House:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTown hall:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRestaurant:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis is a modern building, but the sign said it\’s entirely likely the miners who lived here in the old days could have made a house out of glass bottles:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe craziest thing about this place is how many people were there. It\’s in the middle of nowhere. You drive up to the gate expecting it to be some old mines and maybe a building or two. I thought nobody would be there. I was lucky to get pictures of these places with no people in them, though, there were so many people there! Mostly from a couple tour buses that were full of Japanese tourists. It was kind of bizarre!