Christmas cheer.

So my giddy Christmas spirit was short-lived, but still lingering. After a few weeks I became stressed with figuring out gifts, packing, moving, errands, and seeing that credit card bill creep up higher than it's been all year... :\
Regardless last night I got to go to Christmas Around the World with Kristina, my coworker and friend. We are big fans of Christmas, and this was a spectacular experience. They have about 30 different trees decorated for a different country that Reagan had visited during his presidency. The neatest part was to read about how other countries celebrate Christmas and the traditions different from ours. Some don't open gifts til the 6th or 7th of January, which is expected to be when the 3 wise men arrived to bring baby Jesus gifts. Some wait til Midnight Mass on the 24th, then open gifts, then have a huge meal after that: An all-night event! Most countries, whether they celebrate Christmas for religious or social reasons, are united with the feelings of joy and giving that come from the season.


Below is the sunset last night from Simi Valley. Sorry for the cell phone pics, they don't capture it all that splendidly. But it was breathtaking... and chilly!

Well it's off to Flagstaff for a few days, then packing up the apartment til New Years. Thank you for reading, and thank you for the role you play in my life. Much love and merriment sent to you this Christmas, and wishing you a wonderful time with your friends and family and a very Happy New Year.
I'm really looking forward to 2010! New Year, New Decade, gladly welcomed...

Phoenix in Paris.

Phoenix - Lizstomania / One time too many - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Rita (again)

She is just too adorable...

Cole's & Varnish

Your next outing: Cole's 118 East 6th Street, in the Historic District of Downtown Los Angeles.
This was an amazing historic restaurant. It claims to have invented the French Dip sandwich (along with Philippe's, another downtown restaurant), but regardless of who invented it, Cole's French Dip is much better than Philippe's. The best part about this place is that if you go to the back of the restaurant, there is an nondescript door that leads to Varnish, the small bar in the back. This classy low-lit speak-easy has a live piano player and elegant cocktails. They'll take 5 minutes to make your drink, but it will be worth the wait. I would definitely suggest checking this place out for a nice outing. I'll definitely be returning.

Mew at the Fonda Music Box, 12-14-09

Mew was incredible last night. It's a band that I wasn't initially crazy about, but it was Sam's Christmas gift (mine is seeing Joseph Arthur in January). And I was blown away! Such amazing sound and unique performance. They had slightly disturbing but playful images behind them during songs, and the lighting was fantastic. They sing together beautifully and I felt like I was in a dream world at times. Here are some images from the show, and a video of one of their most well-known songs:

Saint Motel

A few months ago, I stumbled across a band called AM, who is now going to be touring with Air (another band I've written blogs about). The Los Angeles show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in March was sold out in 30 minutes. Amazing!
Today I stumbled across another LA local band that I'm excited to check out live. They're called Saint Motel, and have very creative music videos and lovely upbeat music. I'm going to try to make their next show, this Wednesday, 8:30 at Spaceland, but it is quite short notice, and am not guaranteeing anything. In the meantime, enjoy this "whodunit" video (you may need to watch it twice):

Morrissey

"I don't know what it is, but I like it." This was once said to me, and I've been thinking about it lately. Such a simple statement, but I find I can relate. I like something and really have no desire to figure out why or find an explanation. I just like it. Not that this is bad, but I've been trying to explore reasoning behind some things. Might as well start with the small things:

Morrissey!

Thanks to coworker Kyle Johnson and his wife Jen, Sam and I got to see Morrissey at the Ventura Theater this past Friday. I saw Morrissey last year for my anniversary at the Palladium in Hollywood, but the Ventura Theater was small and an amazing place to see such an artist. If you're unfamiliar with Morrissey, he is a British singer/songwriter whose sexuality has always been a mystery. Reportedly "asexual," he is able to seamlessly sport femininity and masculinity, sometimes reminding me of Elvis, other times of George Clooney. He is cocky and charming, romantically swelling lyrics such as "Leave me alone, I'm only singing" or "You're the one for me, fatty. You're the one I really, really love." Above is a video of the song he opened with (not the same venue or year, even), originally one of The Smiths hits, the well-known 80's alt. rock band. I think the thing I like most about Morrissey shows, besides feeling like I'm being serenaded, is the audience. The wide variety of fans are united with these shows: dancing, arms flying, singing along to every song. It is quite an experience.
Morrissey surprisingly only played for an hour on Friday night, so Sam and I went back to Kyle and Jen's house and had a blast having drinks and talking til 1am. They are such a great couple and wonderful company. So, many thanks to the Johnson's for one of the best nights I've had in a while!

Miami, part 3

In Miami, I got to play around with infrared photography for the first time, borrowing Aunt Cheryl's Canon Rebel xT infrared camera. Below are some of my favorite pictures from our visit to Key Biscayne.

Stop

It's always so hard just to choose one song from Ryan Adams. I think he's probably my favorite artist. Here's one for today, called Stop. It always initially grabs me because of the piano, but when I sit and listen to the lyrics, I feel my soul relate. This song's lyrics are so tough, so true. I think we all struggle at times with doing the right thing, and sometimes the answer is so simple. But we are not alone in this life struggle, we can "call in the backups." The last section of this song says it so beautifully: "There is a darkness and there is a light and there is a choice. For a balance to be made every night, a weakness must be found. If you want it to stop, [then] stop.



I know a sickness so ancient and cross
No crucifix could ever fix enough
In the basement of a church
These people, they talk
There is a line that must be walked
If you wanna make it stop, then stop

I know a place where the future is denied
I know a hand that twitches inside
For some of us the glass is filled with lights
But if the honey makes you sick
Honey, there is a line that must be walked
If you wanna make it stop, then stop, stop

Slow down, You don't have to talk
Lie down, breathe, stop
Slow down, It's not your fault
Look around, There's so many of us
So many of us
You are not alone ever, ever, ever
Stop

Call in the backup and the backup comes
Nobody can help you if you won't
Inside your chest your heart is just hurt
Behind your eyes, a need replaced, a want

I know a sickness so ancient and cross
A crucifix can never fix enough
I know a past when the future is lost
I know a line that must be walked

There is a darkness and there is a light
And there is a choice.
For a balance to be made every night
A weakness must be found
If you want it to stop, stop,
Stop.

Adagio For Strings

(taken with infra-red camera on Key Biscayne, FL)

Lately, this song by William Orbit called Adagio for Strings has brought much comfort to me (I know it's probably in some movie score, but I can't place it). It's one of those emotional depressing songs that makes your heart feel sorrow. So why has it brought me comfort? Well, I think there's something to be said about going through pain in our lives. Most of the time, with pain comes growth, understanding, loss with some sense of newness. I recently heard that the Japanese symbol for "crisis" is a combination of the symbols for "danger" and "opportunity." I can definitely relate to this. William Orbit's "Adagio for Strings" reminds me of the calms after the storm. When I am overwhelmed by loss, tragedy, or sorrow, I also catch glimpses of hope and revival. New beginnings are offered and a chance to slowly rise from the pain. I don't know if I ever understand the pain completely, but this song helps me to be ok with pain in my life, and then move forward with hope.

While looking for a video of the song, I found it was originally composed by Samuel Barber. Here is a youtube video of the song. Take some time to relax and feel the emotions in this piece. "Digest slowly..."