The Weblog of Daniel Tashian

Well, now I guess Keith Richards is really my hero. I mean he seems like a gracious guy, quite kind and generous. I don’t mean about how much of an alcoholic or partier he supposedly is, but just the greatness of his spirit, energy, soul, and sense of humor. He’s like an aging lion. I want to watch that Stones movie “Shine a Light” the Scorcese thing. This is what my grandfather left me when he died:

So, onward and upward as Beston always says. So hung-over all day, broke down and actually went to McDonalds, horror of horrors. I had 2 hamburgers and a Coke and a small fries. It was good. The last time I went, I think, was about December last year. I was drinking these orange martinis at PM, and they were tasty, but full of sugar, and a bad idea. From now on, no more liquor. Just, you know, maybe beer and wine. To dinner at Jay and Leann’s, and they had a nice time in Portland. Some promising new songs developing. One is called “My Sparrow” which sounds a lot like “My Arrow” by Neilson, but, you know, what can you do? Also another one called “I’d Rather be Anywhere” (which seems to acurately sum up my ADD personality) Also, still working on “The Coast”, and i’ve been doing some simplification techniques, pretending i’m in 7th grade and trying to learn to play the song. Sort of editing it a bit. Country co-writes this week, Natalie, and we came up with a good idea: “After Dark” and Karen Rochelle : “This Restless Night” and I guess my country songs are flavored with night stuff. Saw Mindy Smith at Tap Room, and Ben Folds at Frothy Monkey. I like that place. It’s always laid-back in there, nobody bothers you. But lately I’ve been trying this new strategy of talking to people who work in various businesses and asking them questions:

The WIne store:

Me: “Which sells better, white or red?”

Guy: “Pretty much neck and neck”

Me: “Who buys more white, men or women?”

Guy: “Women buy more white.”

etc…

Well we finally went on a bike ride at Shelby Bottoms. It was lovely. I was having fun ringing my little bicycle bell at everyone we passed, and, in general, being annoying. We rode to the wave pool and back. Heh heh. I remember going to the wave pool as a kid. Almost drowning in the deep end.  To El Mariachi for mexican food and Titans with Mike and Mindy, and Kat showed up. Home and took a giant sized Sunday nap, which I woke from feeling fat and groggy. To the dog park, then home and had salads with arugula and toasted walnuts, and we watched the Emmys. Ricky Gervais was funny. You could sort of see him trying to ingratiate himself to Hollywood. All of Hollywood so obviously democrat, and I love this. Laura Linney was elegant and Tommy Smothers was cryptic and interesting. Steve Martin was funny too. Then we went to 3rd and Lindsley and Luke Reynolds new band “Pictures and Sound“. They were very good, and they were working with some nice textures. I thought that a bigger crowd should have been there. But then again I always think that. Oh, and I forgot: what is up with this guy Josh Groban? It’s was so weird watching him sing the theme to all those old sitcoms. I didn’t know what to think so I guess that’s good. L. and I drove by my grandfather’s house and examined the shed a bit. It was dark, but light enough that I could see a master plan forming in my mind: build a studio in my grandfather’s shed.

Well it was kind of an interesting day because nobody has any gas for sale. The Honda is empty so I guess it’s gonna be the bike for a bit. It’s kind of exciting. It feels like the seventies. Or how I think it must have been. Walked to the park with V. and she told me about her life in Venezuela. Then I made tea and worked at the piano for a couple hours. Took a short nap, then L. and I to the pool. Got halfway through my laps and my arm started hurting again so I quit. Maybe it’s time to take up jogging. I must get some shoes. Maybe I will just get some more New Balance. Home and made chicken soup for B & H and they got home about 4. Packed up and moved back home, then picked up L. and we went to The Boundry for restaurant week. Feeling fat and sluggish. Having fun with the new camera, though, and especially the black and white stuff. I want to get photoshop. Have to see how exp. it is. My arm was hurting so I took 2 Aleve and it felt better. Hard to sleep, dogs restless. Watched Leno, and Dane Cook was on, and he is funny, but he seemed nervous for some reason. Dogs kept switching beds and fussing all night, wouldn’t get settled.

Didn’t walk the dogs, just put them out back to play, and they did, and came back in huffing and puffing. I have to get a baby gift for Ang. Stayed in my pj’s until about 10:15, when Natalie called and she said she was already in the neighborhood, and could she come early, so we started writing about 11, and we finished at about 5, after going to Kalamata’s for lunch. I forgot I mentioned something to L. about going to the meditation thing, so when I called her when we were done she was disappointed. “I waited for you.” But things perked up when we went to Ombi, for “Restaurant Week” and it was excellent. Trout and parsnips, Muscles and Heirloom Tomatoes, Gnocci and Brussels sprouts. Chocolate Pot du Creme, heavenly. Lovely wine, too, and Jeanne got a bit tipsy. Home and played the song for L. that Natalie and I wrote: “After Dark” – It currently has a key change, but i’m not sure I don’t like it better if it stays in the original key. Then again, “I’ll Stand By You” has like 2 key changes in it, and I love that. Did an interview with Jeanne and took some portraits of her, but couldn’t post them from the laptop, Apple told me when I called them.

Well it’s finally cooling off a bit. Made scrambled eggs with parmesan cheese. I am really into eggs at the moment. Except not really duck eggs. Worked at home a bit on interviews and I need to find contact info for Matthew Ryan because he said he would do one. To the pool around noon, then to Whole Foods for a salad. Saw Mindy Smith. She had a whole shopping cart full of healthy food. “I’m completely giving up wheat!” she said. Back home and worked on “The Coast” for a little while, then tidied up and packed a suitcase for Hopkins.

Things to take with me:

Oxygen Keyboard

Computer/ Charger/ Drive

Phone / Charger

Clothes / Toothpaste / Toothbrush

Headphones

Recorder

Camera

Alec Guiness diary

Walking shoes

Took Aunt Faith to the airport. 2 hours early. No thanks. Email from Joe re new Ashton Kutcher film wanting SIlver Seas song. Watched “Strange Foods” on the travel channel and I had to turn it off because one retaurant offered, to my extreme horror and disgust: Fried bumble bees! That’s the worst thing i’ve ever seen. Sometimes I feel like humankind is just so negligable. But then later I saw an advertisment for an ASPCA credit card and I think that’s the one I should get. “No rewards?” said L. “Just a donation? That’s silly.” To dinner at PM and then to see “Transiberia”. Kind of dumb. Woody Harrelson sort of bothers me now. I don’t know why, maybe it’s his glasses in this movie. Home and read strange article in the times about Myspace Music. I couldn’t help feeling sort of fatigued by all this technology. To bed with uneasy feeling about the future.

Well it was rent day and I went to Grimey’s in the AM to pick up money from the last Guilty Pleasures show. Thank God for that gig. It has been so great to be a member of that excellent group. We just get better and better, I think. Started the day somewhat stressfully, trying to negotiate over a piece of my grandfather’s furniture with Vicky. I just felt irritated and distressed. We came to an agreement by the end of the day that we are both ok with – I will buy it, but not at full “market” price. It feels strange to buy my grandfather’s furniture. Took L. some Mums, and ran into H. Korine and his wife, Rach. “I didn’t know you shave your head!” he said. “Good look for you!” – Devon emailed from NACA – wants me to put my calendar on Google Calendars. I need to figure out how to do this. Played with the iWeb quite a bit. The Interviews are now up. Messed with the Canon and figured out how to shoot B & W. Made fish with scallions and butter and breadcrumbs for dinner: “So good, I can’t believe it’s fish!” L. is working furiously on her paper. Started new song, or rather, began pruning old idea, with new excitement: “The Coast” – playing the Wurlitzer. Cooler weather in the AM and all day. Ran a couple errands with L. and got a black T-shirt. Can’t have too many of those. Watched Carson Daly. He looked like he had some sort of fake tan. The guy who invented “Stuff White People Like” was on, and I couldn’t decide if he was funny or not.