days of naze

my boy, david
12:00 AM

What can I tell you about the terrors or fatherhood?

Will my boy be o.k.? Who is he? How can we make it if he doesn't follow my path? School isn't the game that it was for you. It's hard and not his passion.

You've had some help. Your parents have worked on getting you what you need to get more out of your education.

"Spicy beer dogs with Dijon mustard and onions! Thanks Dad!"

"I'll be out riding my bike. Let me know when the Spanish rice and broccoli is done."

Here you go. A little Dr. Pepper on ice?

"Dad? Can we go on a night walk to Laurelhurst Park?"

We walk north in the spring night zigzagging blocks towards the WPA masterpiece.

And the questions of history loft forth from his mind as helium rises to the blue sky. And I find myself reaching to memories of 1984 and submarine warfare of WWII via Das Boot. The lamp posts light our way to the little west gully where he rolls down the hill until he is too dizzy to walk straight.

I balance him, remembering what it felt to be dizzy, late at night, with just one parent all to myself. And we walk together.

Cactus flourishes next to the sidewalk. We stop and touch it, in wonder. "They make a tasty dish of it at Esparza's, David. I forget what they call it. It's like french fries, but it tastes like broccoli [Napolitas, I remember now].

This is our neighborhood. Our place on this earth.

Less than a block from our home, we stop and pause in the silhouette of two mighty deciduous trees. Their branches intertwine naked against the night sky. It is beautiful in a way that we both perceive, but neither of us will be able to put into words.

"Dad, the night is different. I like it better."

"David, so do I."

...

May 03, 2008

lost & found
01:16 PM

Baby! EMI just re-issued the 1985 cowpunk masterpiece Lost & Found by Jason & the Scorchers. This Nashville band was one of the bright stars in a movement that included Lone Justice, The Knitters, The Beat Farmers, and the Violent Femmes. Cowpunk infused country themes and traditions with an edge and intensity that created a new branch of music, but I contend also served to revitalize mainstream country.

One stanza of lyrics each from four of the tracks:

I’ve seen a million dreams in your eyes
I’ve searched for love and found goodbyes
Still here I am
The days going blind
Will I ever find a way
Find a way to leave you far behind
[killer sad fiddle solo]

If money talks I’d wish it’s speak to me
Cause I could use the conversation
It’s plain to see

I can’t go on livin’ in your broken whiskey glass
Some day there’ll be an epitaph that reads:
“Here lies Jason
strangled by love that wouldn’t breathe”

Last time around
I’m the final survivor in your heart’s ghost town

April 29, 2008

karma overdraft
10:47 PM

Glen and Marketa were amazing last night at the Keller. Glen owned the room. He could barely contain this huge grin and several unfakeable, "It's so f*ckin' great to be here."

Before "Falling", Glen had a thought about what his life has been like since the ultra-low budget "Once" captured a rabid world-wide audience: "You're tryin' to kick the ball across the garden, and then it goes over the fence and then over the block and then over the sea. And then other guy wants his ball back..."

Glen recalled playing the Aladdin and hitting the used clothing shop next to it that used to have loads of Pendleton shirts.

(Isorski has a nice summary of the evening.)

This concert ranks right up there amongst my very favorite Portland musical experiences. I was there with a very cool family with connections to art and culture (and my old job in Beaverton!).

Frankly, I'm starting to get a little worried. I'm not certain I've sent out enough good stuff to have earned what's coming my way...

This morning, a student brought in a multi-colored origami crane - with a 4 foot wingspan! And just for fun she added another crane smaller than a centimeter in length. The starting material was a 6 foot by 6 foot quilt work of colored paper.

Then we encountered Hurricane Bart King. Bart used to teach middle school in Beaverton, but lately he's been pumping out very popular books like the Pocket Guide to Mischief. An hour later, my face was sore from laughing so hard. My students, weary of my tired old schtick, were ready to adopt Bart as their new teacher, having him sign foreheads, arms, and books he hadn't written.

A couple of hours later Superintendent of Portland Public Schools (40,000+ students), Carol Smith, made an appearance as we were working through a game of Guess My Number. I'm doing my teacher thing: "Do you know what superintendent means?" And a bright student "Kind of like the principal of the whole school district", which I thought was dead on. I got a really good vibe from Carol and gave her credit for doing a job that is incredibly difficult. One student earned a quick $20 on the sly for his "Mr. Naze is the best teacher ever".

Hey, I know how to teach 'em.

April 28, 2008

swell
06:11 PM

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova won this year's Oscar for Best Original Song with "Falling Slowly". For those of you who have been living under a rock, their music was essentially the script for the indy smash "Once".

Yes, yes, Christopher and why do you trouble us with this trivia?

I received a happy little e-mail last night from friends that just happened to have a spare ticket to the sold out show and wouldn't I like to come?

Curtain in a little less than two hours! Sweet.

...
notes:
Glen and Marketa perform under the group name The Swell Season.
Swell Season website
Swell Season Wikipedia entry

April 27, 2008

the kharma train rolls
10:36 PM

I know it to be true: the fact that I can be happy with others is predicated on the truth that I am happy by myself.

I remind myself, but others help me to remember.

April 22, 2008

it's good to be alive
12:03 AM

I'm my favorite
Taurus, Naze, but you come close
Happy Birthday, man.

-Carol, Faithful Reader

You are forty-four
Naze, that's a multiple of
eleven, like me

-paraphrasing a student's comment this morning

Haiku arrives late
Webb's are thinking of your birth
On important date

-Tom Webb
host of the most awesome St. Patrick's Day ever

Spawn of Sixty-Four,
Effervescence tip to toe,
Keep it in the now....

-Calamity Jane