feelfunky

I suppose I should at least write a few blargs a year, huh? Maybe if I wrote more they'd be shorter, but that sounds like too much effort. . . and this gives me something to do while I check out some new tunes. I've fallen completely in love with Spotify, and Soundcloud is like the freakin' mother lode. Total godsend. Free music is great in all forms-- and free downloads direct from the artists are as good as it gets. For all the things that just seem to get progressively more fucked up in our world, it's good to remember things that have improved-- and the music distribution system is certainly one of them. I still try to purchase music from time to time, whether in physical or digital form. . . but there's so much of what I like available for free these days, it's tough to justify very often on my current budget. I also kinda feel like the seven or eight hundred CDs I've bought over the years has to count as paying the bulk of my dues. Anymore, I'd rather spend what funds I have available to go see live performances, and support the scene that way.



I haven't been out enough lately. I did get out to a great party about a month ago. Some of Colorado's oldest EDM promoters decided to do a series of invite-only reunion parties, and that was the first one. My best friend flew out from San Fran (I thought his wife was coming up to the last minute, but she's finishing her PhD, and had to ditch), and a bunch of our old group of friends came out. And just in general, there were tons of old heads there that I hadn't seen in a decade or more, in some cases. Lots of very cool people-- good people. Many of them came from out of state, even out of country in a few cases. They also brought back a ton of quality DJs from CO's old production crews, and everybody mixed vinyl. The whole night had a great vibe. My only regret was being too wiped out to get back up for the Party in the Park afterhours the next day. Trying to take a disco nap from 7-9 AM didn't cut it. Those used to be some of the very best parties-- they'd set up the turntables off a little loop of road that runs down by the pond, and people would bring down beer, grills, lawnchairs and blankets. I really hope they do another one this summer-- or a Sunset party up at the reservoir, which is pretty much the exact same vibe.



Outdoor parties are always the best. Fresh air is key. I just saw that some local peeps are doing a full moon party next month at an undisclosed location, so I joined the Facecrack group. I get distracted-- updates help. Hah. This past Friday night was the second installation of the reunion parties, and I ran into an old friend who told me that he's doing an outdoor party the night of July 3rd, up in the mountains. They're doing it that night so everyone can camp and party all night, and not have to drive home the next day until they feel like it. Very sound plan, IMO. Nothing beats partying under the stars, and sleeping in a tent.



Friday night was also a blast. Not as many people, and they rented a decent-sized club for the night instead of using a warehouse space, but it was sufficient-- and conveniently located, which is nice. I had a great time, but it kinda ruined me for Saturday. It was close to five when I got home, and I was still too keyed up to sleep. I was up 'til almost eight-- headphones, internets and a couple beers. And I had to work a few hours around noon. I've been helping a friend run his booth at a local farmers market, selling free-range, all-natural bison meat. I was then worthless for the rest of the day. Came home, slept a couple hours on the couch-- got up, had lunch, and kinda dozed on and off on the couch with the NBA playoffs on. . . got up, had dinner, and napped on the couch for another hour. Then stayed up late, and slept until noon today.



Lovin' this one so much. Just filthy.



I watched a little basketball while I cleaned up the wreckage of my kitchen. Finally got out later in the afternoon to do a little work in my garden.



I wanted to play disc golf before it got dark, and was bummed when it started raining. I went home and grabbed a quick lunch, and it was down to a drizzle, so I decided to give it a shot-- it was just finishing when I got to the park, and I was able to get most of a full game in. Had to skip a couple holes that were too muddy to fuck with.

I want to get out and play more, but I've been busy with work shit, and looking for a second and/or different job. And one of my two friends that I typically play with recently moved up to the mountains. I need to take advantage of that and go up and play some of the mountain courses with her, but it also takes most of a day, and twenty-plus bucks of gas.

Something I'm really happy about; I've recently taught myself how to bake bread. And some other stuff, but bread is the one I'm most pleased with. Preposition at the end of the sentence and all. I've wanted to bake my own bread forever , and I've always been intimidated by it. I learned to cook when I was about 19, and I'd always heard that most people could do one well, but not both. And I've heard people talk about baking yeast breads as though it were so difficult or complicated. All ridiculous, and I wish I'd tried years ago, instead of just thinking about it. It's relatively easy, and I haven't had an inedible loaf yet. I've mostly gotten recipes and instructions online, with a couple recipes and some tips from my mom. I actually started with a beer bread, but my first attempt at yeast bread was a basic white sandwich loaf recipe from the King Arthur flour website (their high-altitude adjustments worked so well that I saved the page, and use it for all recipes).









It makes my little apartment smell soooo good. And French toast made from fresh-baked bread is just ungodly good.



I've made Caraway Rye twice-- the recipe makes one very large loaf or two smaller ones, so I experimented a little. Did the first one as a basic loaf in the standard pan, and then two different free form loaves bakes on my pizza stone-- one flour top and one plain.





This is the best one I've made so far. It's an adaptation of a recipe my mom made when I was a kid-- farmhouse herb and cheddar, with dill seed and caraway seed. Yum.



Okay, enough. In the words of my friend Doug, keep on keepin' on.

http://soundcloud.com/cathyburns/hesohi-keep-on-keeping