This morning, like every morning this week, I woke up a little later than I wanted, feeling a little groggy and guilty that I slept through the alarm on my cell phone again. When I say "slept through" I mean I turned it off and then went back to bed. While I laid in bed I heard a sound that I often hear in the morning and at night, too.. It's a sound that I had previously attributed to living in an older apartment building. It's sort of a pop, but also sort of a crack. I think my best guess was that it was the seal on the window doing a poor version of what it's supposed to do. That was wrong. While it was sort of nice having this mystery sound do its thing while I'm feeling the most alone and quiet, I think it was better or more romantic to find out what it was..
I live in North Portland, Oregon. Portland is one of the most obviously segregated cities I've been to in the USA. It was once said to be the second most segregated city west of the Rockies. I live in a neighborhood that's rapidly changing and I'm not exactly sure if it's a good change or not. I really don't like the vibe of the "Alberta Arts District" and I hope that my neighborhood isn't headed down that path.. It just feels like Seattle over there; tons of bad art and fake, recently-installed "culture." I'm sorry if you live in Seattle and this bums you out. I just get a bad feeling almost every time I'm there. Anyway, the apartment building I live in has recently started to undergo a remodeling process and it's slowly being transformed into an artists' community. This means that there are raw spaces in the basement that you can rent for studio-space and the rent is really cheap. The apartments are big, cheap and pretty in my favorite early-1900s way. The downside is that there are the occasional cockroaches left over from poor maintenance, the common-areas are stinky and half-painted, and then there's the weird feeling about contributing to the gentrification of a neighborhood.
Above the main door to the apartment building there hangs a big vinyl sign, not unlike the vinyl signs you see all over the place stating "If you lived here you'd be home by now," etc. This one advertises that the apartments are for rent and lists the telephone number you can call to try and do so. The sign is tied to metal poles on the top and the bottom. When a bigger gust of wind hits the sign, it clanks against the building and makes the aforementioned sound I was imagining as a natural or supernatural "old building sound." Turns out it was just this old man vinyl sign feeling sad about his life, but happy with his duty. He just blows in the wind and bumps around to see if anyone notices him. Guy, I respect you and think you are doing a great job.
you put it all in perspective brother!
Man I just made a RIL Yacht comp from the songs you've posted on your blog; best album ever!
It makes me sad too. I wonder were those with little income will go. They are doing this in the St. johns area aswll. I know the communty does not what to see their community torn apart to become another play area for the rich. while they will be pushed out to find a slumier place to live far away from the newly created plsy area. Sometimes. Good thought provoking entry
Yes. this is definitely one of the coolest things i've read in my life. i like your songs, too. they made me dance.
Hey Jonah!
I just had a thought... a while ago you had asked for opinions/suggestions on certain aspects of your blog/site. I remember way back when the Badger King website had a listing of "things we're listening to now." I learned about a lot of great bands that way.. Lucky dragons, yume bitsu, etc. I'm sure your listening to awesome stuff. That would be great if you told us about it! I've got one for you... have you heard of Tetsu Inoue?
Peace!
I've got it!
Call the page "what Whiskers has been listening to" and have a new picture of whiskers each time you update.
I know what you mean.... I too live in close-in North PDX (gantenbein X shaver) and have been feeling the creepy feelings that go along with living in a neighborhood that is becoming gentrified. My girlfriend and I have been in our house going on five years and in the last year have seen the neighborhood erupt with new shops and new white people. While some of these new shops/white people, i like.... others make me feel icky and uncomfortable. The most recent trend i have noticed is white people paying black families $60-80k for their house (never reaching the open market first), then fixing it up a little, then selling it for $250k and up.
this is a big icky in my book.
No way! You played with Dat Politics? Crazy! Im totally playing with them tommarow here in arizona!
update you!
this is one of the best blog entries I have ever read in my life. Love to my nice old friend, Ol' Ratty Toggs.