Get what you need

I didn't feel much like driving out past Manassas today, but there was a get together for Rebekah's coworker who is leaving soon. A couple hours later and I'm sitting at a gas station listening to The Stones. "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need." Sitting out on a shaded porch discussing life in Costa Rica and enjoying some delicious traditional food was good nourishment for the soul. You never know what a seemingly inconvenient event may give you in return. Live your life and enjoy it.


- Drew

Familiar Fear

I've had a slight sense of panic all day.  I can shake it for a few hours but it creeps back in.  My stomach has been upset and I have a faint pain around my heart.  The combination of these sensations would have sent me to the hospital a few months back.  It's difficult to convince myself that everything is fine and I'm being hypersensitive, but that is the key.  None of these symptoms have ever lead to anything other than a panic attack and a visit to the ER.  I will take what I've learned in counseling and work towards calm and peace.  If all else fails, there's always Xanax as a last resort.

Just got a text from Diamonds stating "National chicken wing day today son. Get your BDubs on brah."

Haha.  Life goes on...

Heavy Hitters

This is some crazy ish.  I have to admit I am looking forward to listening to the final product.

For 18 months, Mick Jagger has been working on a secret album with Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and AR Rahman. Super Heavy is the fitting name of this heavyweight musical collective, who plan to release their debut "fusion" album in September.

Story Here

Whoa, Watch Out Says That Bird

We are in the midst of a huge debt crisis, but the markets are behaving like The Honeybadger

The Honeybadger

Overwhelming

It's funny how many times this has taken place and yet I still fall victim to the "holy shit I'm never going to catch up" feeling of a busy morning at work.  From the moment I woke today, the emails, conference calls and projects have been relentlessly beating in my skull.  Feelings of helplessness and an overall dooming sense of madness crept in.  And yet, here I am, 4:24pm and I'm about caught up again.  Every now and then I have to simply allow myself to relinquish total control and focus on the work that can be done NOW not everything at once.

It's Gonna Rain All Day

Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio is releasing his first solo album.  I've been listening to "It's Gonna Rain All Day" and it strikes a cord.  Who hasn't experienced the staring at the ceiling laying in bed pondering the intense emotional ping pong life can throw your way type of morning?  For over 12 years Alkaline Trio has provided a great soundtrack to my life.  The slightly dark and twisted melodic song style has comforted and at times seemingly mirrored different phases in my life.  I like what I hear from this project so far and will consider picking up the vinyl/t-shirt combo.  Check out some sample tunes from the new album here: The Emergency Room

What You Ingest You Digest

On a recent trip to Shenandoah National Park the below sight caught my attention.  Here I was, on top of the highest peak along Skyline Drive watching a beautiful sunset, and I wondered why I was so at peace.  Between the Zen related book, the Outside magazine, the apple and the prescription drugs mixed with vitamin supplements you might say it's obvious.  But none of the items on the table were providing the warm sense of peace I felt quenching the thirst inside my soul.  It was the natural environment.  The view of the valley below.  The smell of the coming storm.  The warm breeze that came from behind our cabin and floated off and over the cliff.  There is nothing quite like the gentle hand of Mother Nature.


- Drew

Ozark Fun

- Drew

Stephen Marley: Roots

Stephen Marley has been producing, playing and singing some of the best reggae music you've probably never heard for the past decade.  If you have the chance to catch his current tour, do it, your soul will thank you.  ROOTS!


- Drew

Cali Dreamin'

- Drew

Despair

- Drew

Food and Drink

I stopped by El Charrito yesterday, not realizing that they're closed on Tuesdays, and decided to try Arturo which is next door.  This was my first foray into Bolivian food.  It looked crazy.  Can't remember what I ordered but it was a huge piece of meat that had been pounded to a quarter inch thin then breaded and fried.  On top of that was two fried eggs, and that all sat on a bed of rice and fried potatoes.  Pretty darn tasty.

I then had some Irish Pale Ale, a couple Sierra Nevadas and three Flying Dogs.  Horrible Nats game, 1-9 loss, but it was a fun evening nonetheless.  I decided to stop by my friend Erin's house on my way home to catch up.  It's always good to pop in on a friend and share a few moments.  As usual I do not think I drank enough water yesterday and have felt it today.  The body just doesn't handle things like it used to.

Headed to the game again tonight, hoping for redemption.

I remember now, Silpacho, this pic is pretty close to what it looked like:

tUnE-YarDs

The tUnE-YarDs are definitely worth checking out.  Merrill Garbus creates crazy loops of sonic weirdness when performing live and manages to mold them into catchy pop songs one minute and crazy experimental Tom Waits style madness another.  I have the "w h o k i l l" album on vinyl and it's quite stimulating.

Tune-Yards

10/08/2011 09:00 PM

Black Cat

1811 14th St. NW Washington, DC 20009

Capability

I wonder what all I am capable of. If I put aside all of the limitations I impose upon myself. What can I do? What could you do? You read the stories, you feel the inspiration, but you never go for it on your own. Imagine. Dream. Grab life and live it. No one holds you back from greatness more than yourself.


- Drew

Outsiders

I wonder how different my day to day life would be if I worked outside.  If my office was immersed in Mother Nature instead of smothered in florescent lights and recycled air.  If there was a breeze, or when it rained it would actually effect me rather than briefly catch my attention from a window.  Much of this internet plugged in business lifestyle feels unnatural.  The evolution of technology, the revolution of technology, has moved at such incredible speeds over the past few decades.  The human brain and spirit don't stand a chance to properly adapt to this new world and time.  Go ahead and marinate on that for a minute...

Why So Alone?

Enjoying the moment. Not living in fear.

As the first signs of panic arise, recognize them, identify them, and conciously change direction. What are you fearing? Why? Is it actually happening now or is it yet another future fear? Bring your mind back to the present. Look around. Feel your surroundings. If those future fears seem legit, tell yourself you'll allow time for thought and introspection, but not right now. This moment is all that matters. It is the now that lasts forever and should be the focus.

Peace

Wugazi

Though they play different styles of music, Washington D.C. punk icons Fugazi and Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan are more closely linked than one might think. Both outfits are iconic in respective circles, pioneered the ethos of Do-It-Yourself in independent music and during their heydays, have had some of the most amazing live shows. Fugazi’s foray into the hip-hop world has been very limited (though some may recall Rick Rubin‘s sampling of the band’s “Closed Captioned,” for an unreleased JAY Z track from the “99 Problems” recording session in Fade to Black), whereas the Wu-Tang Clan’s pairings with rock have been hit or miss.

So in the creation of the mash-up/tribute album Wugazi 13 Chambers producers Cecil Otter and Swiss Andy had to tread lightly, pair carefully and find interesting ways to capture the essence of both groups without delivering something that was…limp. The end result is something that, despite Fugazi’s rougher songs, and the Wu-Tang’s off-kilter rhyme patterns, is chopped right, layered correctly and even with a few missteps, simply just works.

Download Wugazi’s 13 Chambers for free here.

Ghostface Killah with vintage African funk, high-life, and psychedelic rock music. Artwork by Joe Dichiara.

Download the remix album here: http://www.maxtannone.com/projects/ghostfunk/

Original Face

You cannot describe it or draw it,
You cannot praise it enough or perceive it.
No place can be found in which
To put the Original Face;
It will not disappear even
When the universe is destroyed.

- Mumon (13th cent)