a crystal-clear canvas is my masterpiece

While I’d prefer to pummel you with deep thoughts and unending wit, I imagine any update, no matter how banal the content, is better than none at all when I’ve only made 4 posts in 12 days and I’m aiming to have 30 written this month.

I am highly allergic to Poison Ivy. Just thinking about its existence can cause a small rash to form. Two weekends ago, while taking photographs in Arlington’s River Legacy Park, the Poison Ivy capital of the world, I, apparently, got a bit too excited about the photographs I was taking and forgot to be cautious of what I was rubbing against. Needless to say, I now have a bit of it on both arms. I’m trying desperately to be good, apply my medicine, and not scratch, but DAMN does it ever itch. Thankfully, the photographs I got were absolutely worth it.

We saw “Mike Doughty”:http://mikedoughty.com and “Barenaked Ladies”:http://bnlmusic.com/ this past weekend in Austin. Of course, I was on my feet the minute Mike took the stage and dancing though almost every song. He even played “Saint Louise”, which made me really happy. Toward the end of the set, some asshole came up to me and asked me to sit down because his daughter couldn’t see the show. I wanted to say “Hey, buddy! You’re at a rock concert! If you’re not standing up and dancing, you may be at the wrong place.” Of course, at that particular moment, the standing people were way out numbered by the seated people. Once BNL got on the stage *everyone* stood up for the entire show. I wanted so bad to go back and find him and ask him if he wouldn’t mind sitting down so I could see but it just wasn’t worth it.

After Mike’s set, he spent some time signing things. Jess got her shirt signed and gave Mike a hug. I was once again faced with that situation where I want to express how important and instrumental someones art has been on my life without sounding like a total goober fan boy. With my infinite wisdom, naturally poetic speech, and rapier wit, here’s what I came up with:

Great show, Mike. Come back to Texas soon. Please.

I hope some day to see Mike play a show where he is the headliner. But, this exposure is very good for him and was very glad to see him there.

The Ladies were fantastic, as always. They are such outstanding performers that, even if the music wasn’t all that great you’d still find the show interesting and fun. Coupled with fantastic music, as far as a live performance in a large venue goes, it’s pretty hard to beat. They even played “When I Fall”, which is one of my favorite songs ever. Those of you who can think back about 4 or 5 years in my life might recognize just how much the song means to me. Maybe these lyrics will help you recall. If not, that’s okay.

I look straight in the mirror, watch it come clearer
I look like a painter, behind all the grease.
But painting’s creating, and Im just erasing.
A crystal-clear canvas is my masterpiece.

– Barenaked Ladies / When I Fall

Jess and I spent 3 hours or so at “Hamilton Pool”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Pool_Preserve which is easily one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I’ve ever seen in all of Texas. I’ve seen thousands of paintings where I’ve thought to myself, “yeah, but places don’t look like that in real life”. Well, I guess they do. And this is one of them.

The leaves shed by the trees have fallen directly into the crystal-clear creek water and there are fish and turtles swimming below them. On either side of the creek, there are trees half full with leaves of every color. Rocks and boulders outline them and, beyond that large amounts of rock form walls on either side, as if protecting this place from the outside world. The hike is difficult enough to feel good, and lazy enough to be relaxing. And, at the very end of all of this there is this beautiful, crystal-clear pool of water in a grotto with a falling waterfall. It’s utterly breathtaking.

For a moment, if I could have had any wish come true, I would have buried myself deep in the rocks and dirt becoming part of this place forever. Of course, we had places to go and things to see and, after a few hours we made our way out and back into the harsher world.

(785 words)