Bridge School Benefit

Yesterday was the Bridge School Benefit! Unfortunately, Eddie Vedder didn't end up playing the show due to a family issue with the band. I was pretty bummed because I just saw Into the Wild (see previous post) and was looking forward to hearing those insane cries he utters during some of the tracks.

I did see Tom Waits with Kronos Quartet, Jerry Lee Lewis, Metallica, Neil Young, and My Morning Jacket. I also saw John Mayer but was less excited about that one.

The highlight was without a doubt Tom Waits and Kronos. I can't even describe it, but it was my first time seeing Tom perform and I was blown away. Kronos was an outstanding contribution to the performance and he even did "Day After Tomorrow" which I LOVE.

Metallica was...interesting. I think they are an amazing band and have seen them live numerous times - never been disappointed. This time, they were acoustic (as were all the acts). The first song can only be described as a train wreck, at least to me. Things picked up after that but stumbled on the third track, where they covered Garbage's "Only Happy When it Rains." I'm not a big Garbage fan so you can guess what I thought of that. However, after I accepted that this wasn't going to be a typical "huge" concert (plugged in and outta control) I dug it. You can't deny James Hetfield's vocal power - melodic yet gruff. And they did "Turn the Page," one of my favorite covers they've done and also a song that has a lot of memories attached to it for me. :)

And Neil was Neil! Had some amazing solos and played Winterlong...yeah!

I had a great night. And drank Fat Tire to boot - who can complain?!

Into the Wild

So, I haven't read Jon Krakauer's book, but I was inspired to go see this movie today.

Eddie Vedder provides a number of original songs for the soundtrack, which are tremendous.

There are a number of beautiful moments in this movie, and questions raised for me...go see it, then give me a call or let's go out for a beer. I'm anxious to discuss...

MONDAY UPDATE: Parts of this movie haunted me all night and this morning. I woke up hearing Eddie Vedder screaming and having visions of vast Alaskan landscapes.

Washington D.C., Day 2

Visited Sticky Fingers Bakery in their new location in Columbia Heights. Had a vegan chili cheese dog and vegan soft serve. It was another gorgeous day in D.C. Licking an ice cream cone on a sunny day is an incredibly satisfying feeling. I was smiling from ear to ear.

I hit an exhibit I have tried to see twice already, unsuccessfully, entitled "The Art of being Tuareg" at the African Art Museum. It was UCLA's Fowler Museum about a year ago, and I missed it, and then recently showing at Stanford, and I missed it again. The third time is a charm! Some of you may be unfamiliar with the word Tuareg, other may know it as a model of Volkswagon. However, Tuaregs are a semi-nomadic (less so now) Berber people living in West Africa. The exhibit was beautiful, and looking at fascinating examples of Tuareg clothing, jewelery, weapons and household items made me long to see them in action. Seeing something behind glass is so stark and cold; the connection with humanity is lost. At least now exhibits usually also include media, such as a short video, in which you can see items being used. Nonetheless, part of me is still that little kid wondering why we're all standing around in dim light, staring at these items behind the glass, and wishing I could touch and hold the items.

Washington D.C.

What a beautiful day in Washington D.C. -- met up with Amanda & Bill, toured the Solar Decathlon on the Mall, went to the National Portrait Gallery to see an exhibit entitled "Let Your Motto be Resistance,"** and visited the Jefferson Memorial by twilight.

We then ate at Pizzeria Paradiso - where they offer vegan pizzas w/soy cheese, and an amazing beer selection (I had the Imperial Pumpkin!).

It was so nice to see Amanda & Bill, although I made them promise that the next time I see them, I get to meet their dogs Oscar & Toby!

**from a quotation by Henry Highland Garnet advocating action: “Strike for your lives and liberties. …Let your motto be Resistance! Resistance! RESISTANCE!...”

My fifteenth quarter life crisis

Okay...I am probably having what is my fifteenth quarter life crisis. Don't worry, these happen often enough where I am not a woman on the verge of anything...

So I like my job. I would even say I really like my job. I'm having the time of my life - I get to travel, I work with smart people, I love the company and the culture. I work hard. Really hard.

But, what should I really be doing? I feel like I'm still riding the procrastination train. Eventually, we'll get to the end of the line and I'll have to disembark. It's that same sinking feeling you get when you are supposed to be completing an assignment for school - you do something fun in the meantime, but you know, eventually, you are going to have to write that paper. Similarly, I think eventually I'll have to face the music and figure out what to do with myself. So shouldn't I just bite the bullet and do it now?

If only it were that easy. How do I know what I'm meant to be doing? What activity would make best use of my skills and passions? I turn this over and over in my mind and can't come up with an answer.

Sometimes, at the end of this consideration, I conclude that I must be incredibly self-absorbed to be able to spend so much time contemplating myself. And other times I think that I must not spend enough time thinking about myself since I clearly am not self-aware enough to know what I should be pursuing. Drat!

A friend of mine says that she always thought I would/should be a pediatrician. Friends, comrades...did you ever envision me in a particular calling? Send me an email and let me know...I'm all ears.

In a cave

Between starting a new job, moving 3 times in the last 3 months (!), and other stuff going on, I feel like I've been holed up for a loooooooooooong summer/fall's nap. I sat down yesterday and read a magazine that I like on yoga & conscious living, and got really excited to be up here in the bay area. Now that I'm a bit more settled, I want to find a yoga teacher I like and start practicing again. I want to dive in to some of those books that have been waiting patiently for me, try all the rockin' cuisine just waiting to be sampled, and go hiking!

Of course, that will have to wait for a couple more weeks. I'm out of town for the next few weeks, and my next two projects are:
-find a bike so I can start biking the 3 1/2 miles to work (can't wait!)
-figure out what I'm going to be for Halloween.