yeah... and stuff. ha ha. funny. almost 6 months since last post... 7 since I opened blog. yeah. Daniel and his girlfriend have wanted me and Michelle in jail... and my mom got married, so I have a stepdad, too. Michelle and I might go to Arcata, Montana, Nebraska, South America, or India this summer. and we have a kitty! Ahimsa! he's black. yeah.

I love Michelle. I don't need this and I don't need any other friends. I only need Michelle.

go to the "About" section to see the fort pictures! =)

wow. today is... over a month later. I suppose the blog/website happened just for a couple of reasons.. for that bad ordeal when I really upset Michelle a while ago... or perhaps it was meant to continue?

in any case, hi again! this weekend was spent [as most weekends] at my Dad and Barbara's house... [oh, they're married now, by the way. they did it in Hawai'i. so now I have a stepmom and two step brothers and a step sister-in-law. it's so weird. and Michelle is a daughter in law/step daughter in law-to be. it's great. yeah. I have a brother named Bryan. and his wife is Michelle. I'm named Brian and my significant other is Michelle. Bryan and Michelle are cool. we like a lot of the same music. and they're nice. Barbara's other son is named Mike [my dad's name] who has three kids... one is named Bryan/Brian Alexander. at least they call him Alex. and Mike is in the military. I don't like him. lol. it's so weird all of a sudden having more brothers. and three more nieces and nephews. so now I have ... eight nieces and nephews. and I've been bonding with my biological brother Daniel. he has long hair like me :) and his favourite band is Pearl Jam. he's the one that dumped my niece Shelby off to live with us/my dad and Barb. she's crazy. lol. like... possibly crazier than I was at her each. we might commit her to a mental hospital/outpatient ward. yeah. pretty screwed up/crazy stuff. *sigh* so yeah. he and I have been bonding when he comes over every once in a while for dinner or whatever [to my dad's house]. it's so strange. and I've been liking my other brother Steve [who has four cute kids] and his wife Kim. they're crazy fundamental Christians, but they're really good parents, and have a wonderful family and I like them a lot. so does Michelle. so yeah :)

did I already talk about this? maybe. eh. oh well.

OH YEAH. what I posted about.

anyway, this weekend, my dad and Barb were gone, so Shelby [15], Michelle and I [18 and 19] built a fort. that's right, a fort. I saw a commercial on TV where some kids had made a couch cushin fort, and I was like, "Shelby! dude, we haven't made a fort since we were like 10 and 6 or something." and she was like "yeah!" and i was like "let's make one!" so we did. [She and I grew up together like brother and sister cos Daniel lived with my mom and me for a long time]

dude. it was THE coolest fort. I was like, "dude, now that we're older, our fort will kick more ass because we can be more architectural and creative with it." I was afraid i wouldn't be as fun as when I was like 7, but dude, let me tell you. oh my gosh. TOO much fun. so we built it with chairs, blankets, and couch cushins. it took up half the living room. it was so FREAKING cool. so we were in there, and Michelle was on her computer, and finally she came over and was like "can I come in?" and we were like "no! no buttmunches allowed!" [previous joke between Michelle and me.] and she was like "I bring a food offering!" and she brought a banana. we said we wanted more food. so she opened up a can of olives [sorry, not whoop ass] and said "now I bring you olives! consider it a gift from the buttmunch people to the anti butt munch people" so we let her in. just like America. always coming in when everything's already done... and then expanding the empire. so we helped us expand our fort empire so she could have more butt space. lmao. that sounds really funny now. lol. so we made it even bigger. my gosh. it was beautiful. so we had food, and had to fashion a lookout device/weapon to protect our empire from the enemy [Dad and Barb]. so we got a toilet paper roll to look out with, and got crinkled up pieces of paper to shoot out the roll with a knife at our enemy. they finally came home and my dad was like, "what in the hell..." ... he often gets stressed out and mad for no reason and freaks out. so he was mad. but Barb liked it. [btw, we also had hummus, pita, and sprouts to eat. yummy.] so she took some pictures. they had brought home groceries, and I sneaked out and attacked the enemy! I stole a bag of food! ice cream and more hummus. too bad the ice cream wasn't of the vegan variety, lol. then Shelby called the house phone from my cell phone. she said "your people have angered us. we will attack! and we demand food!" and he hung up, lol. so yeah. that was our weekend. and we made margaritas [banana] and PINA COLADAS! oh yeah. lol. too much fun for one weekend. then we had to tear down the fortress cos my dad and Barb wanted to watch a movie, lol.

peace be with you. peace and joy through music.

Earth Avenger,
Brian

I need Tabla riaz [Urdu for practise]

np [now playing]: various Zakir/Alla Rakha tabla solos/duets

oh my gosh. best birthday ever!

Friday evening, Michelle came home a little late, and she had me sit down and not look. I heard plastic creaking, and I knew she had cake. she said she didn't, though :P so she brought Vegan Chocolate Cake from Marlene's Natural Foods in Tacoma, and it was so good! it had a chocolate custard like filling in the middle... ooohh... and she gave me my gift, which was of course in a lovely hot pink bag... she knows me so well :) hehe. in addition to the awesome book, she got me a Dharma Deck, set of pictures and quotes from Hindu Vedic Scriptures, and an Aum Candle holder, also at Marlene's, which a few days previous, I had said "ooh, I want those!" hehe. she's so wonderful. The AUM candle holder goes over a candle, and has the Sanskrit "AUM" cut out of the sides and the top, so at night AUM shines on the walls and the ceiling. it's amazing. reminds me of that lantern in Sleepy Hollow [one of the first movies we saw together on one of our first visits!], but not scary, hehe. so that made me so happy. I got to celebrate my birthday a little early, just with Michelle. Friday night we went to Bellevue and she took her first Tabla class [I'd been teaching her] from William, a group class with all Indians [except for William and us, hehe]. afterward, we were supposed to meet Gabe, the mridangam/tabla player in Spiral Axis, and go to Mariya's [flute player that has a studio] to practise. he ended up not showing, and the studio ended up having the roof redone, and fumigated or something, so we couldn't go. so we hung out with William at the mall, and ate some food and talked. we hung out for a few hours, and at the end, we went to his house, and he gave me a gift. that reminds me! I still have it in my purse! it's a beautiful little white Quan Yin statuette. it rocks. it's amazing: the past few months, William has been giving us gifts left and right. William rocks. and the other night, he was St. Anthony, because we had lost Michelle's purse, and we found it at his place. he had it and had kept it safe.

after that, we went to my dad's and spent the night there. Saturday [12 Oct, my birthday], at 1 pm, we went to my mom's in Auburn, and she made some very good food for us, and gave me a very nice gift: $60 [Michelle's parents gave me $50, and another $50 so we could go out to dinner - we were supposed to go Saturday evening to Assimba Ethiopian in Seattle, but that didn't happen... next weekend!] and a stained glass thing for the window that has sunflowers, and says "You are my sunshine", and the card from her said "happy birthday... Sunshine!" and she wrote a very sweet note. hehe. I'm my mom's Sunshine =) it was really sweet. so we got all filled up on delicious food, and ended up not going to dinner, cos we were too full. oh, a couple years ago, my mom made Dirt Cake for my birthday.. it has pudding, cream cheese, cool whip and oreo cookie crumbs. it's like cookies and cream pie. [she's also made me pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, anyuthing I've wanted]. I asked her to make it for me this year, and she said she wouldn't be able to find vegan ingredients for it, so she asked what else she could make instead, and I said Cherry Pie cos I love that, too. so we get at my mom's, and open the fridge, and there's a flower pot, with the trowel and a flower and "dirt" and everything! yay! she made it. Michelle go to try it for the first time. oh my goodness, it was sooo delicious. we ate it all, and then a little more that was left, that same day! hehe. it was so good. Thank you, Mommy!

so we went to hang out at my dad's. nothing really happened.... well, Shelby had made a HUGE bowl [like probably $30 worth at a restaurant] of Kheer, Indian rice pudding... and it was PINK! with icing. and she gave me a really sweet card. it was really nice. so we hung out there, and Shelby had her first homecoming [at Hazen, the school I graduated last year]. so that was fun, hehe. Daniel [her dad, my brother] came over, and he had forgotten my birthday, hehe, but I forgot to get him something, too for his. we all bonded and huing out, and Michelle and Daniel talked about college professors, and Daniel sounding like a high school kid, doing impressions of his teachers and whatnot. it was interesting... cos my brothers and I aren't really close and don't "bond", so to speak, like that... but it was nice. and really funny. laughter really is the best medicine. God invented it! so that came and went, and Michelle worked on a paper, and we had to take Shelby's date home at midnight, and then we watched a little SNL, and Almost Live! [an early 90s Seattle based SNL-type show. it's the best! it was good] and went to bed... didn't fall asleep till about 3:30... but yeah. so that was a nice birthday.

Sunday [my birthday lasted three days this year, hehe! like Hanukkah! (sp?)] we were still at my dad's... and my dad and Barbara were gone shopping until about 1 or 2 in the afternoon, or so... they said they'd have dinner and do something nice. so we could have gone to the restaurant, but didn't. so we hung out... it was kinda weird. Barbara and Dad were looking for a wedding dress [they're getting married next weekend in Hawai'i or the weekend after in Mexico], so yeah... my dad seemed weird ...probably about the wedding I guess... and yeah. so it was kinda weird around the house. around 5 or 6 or so, we dinner my dad made, Pizza... it was pretty good. after that, we were on the couch watching a little tv, and my dad gave me a card and walked off. I didn't know whether to open it in front of them or whatever, so I didn't. it was a card, and a check for $50 [the Ravi Shankar tickets had been my real birthday gift], and I thanked them for it and for the tickets. my dad said he's glad I could do something like see Ravi... and yeah. then we went to William's to get Michelle's purse, came back... and that was about 9 or so. my dad said, "I'm going to bed.. so goodnight" and he went to bed. so we came home.

it was weird... I thought they'd have a cake, or give me my card over dinner, or something... it just seemed like a regular dinner. and my dad said Happy Birthday all of once, and that was on Saturday, after Michelle, my mom, and Barbara already had. and that was that. I mean I didn't want more presents, or a big cake or anything... but it just didn't seem like my dad celebrated my birthday with me at all... so Michelle and I could have gone to dinner... oh well. I don't know. it was just weird and a little depressing... but... the rest of my birthday was the best ever and everyone was awesome :) mmm... we still have pink kheer! hehe. and potato soup that Shelby made Sunday night. so yeah. that's my 3-day birthday. oh yeah, and my other brother Steve stopped by to drop off his resume so my dad could give it so someone, and I guess he forgot, too and didn't say anything. usually I get a homemade card from Steve and Kim and the kids [they have four kids, hehe] .... and usually birthdays are shared with mroe of the family... like Steve and Kim and the kids... I would have loved to see Monica [their five year old daughter... she is the THE cutest kid in the entire universe... I swear that to you. big blue eyes, long, curly blonde hair. she's so adorable, hehe.] for my birthday, but yeah.

so yeah... next weekend I guess we'll go to Assimba =) and I have $160 [just in birthday money! that kicks ass! just from three different people] saved for my Pakhawaj! so I'll definitely have money for it by X-mas! hehe =) they're $200 through William, so just $40 more to go. I've been wanting it for .. what.. at least few months now. but fervently... FERVENTLY!! hehe. also I hope to use some of the birthday [or xmas if I have to wait until then] money to get Zakir and Ravi cds! especially Ragas.

so that was Brian's 19th birthday, 2002. Happy Birthday to me. and to everyone else who's had their birthday... my old online friend had hers the 10th, this guy Matt that I went to Hazen with, has his on the same day as mine, and my grandma [on my mom's side]'s would have been tomorrow, the 15th. she would have been... 97 or something like that. wow. hehe. God Bless her.

so I'm 19... I don't feel it... why should birthdays, something of a manmade device, time [which is irrelevant], dictate how old we are? every year, I think "so I'm this old... I don't feel it. what does that mean, that I'm this old?" but yeah. I don't know. it's weird. you're as old as your experience. and I'm not any age. I just am. I'm Eternal, actually ;) we all are. hehe.

so yeah. that's that. Happy Birthday, Brian =)

Peace and Happiness! :) and Music!
***Birthday Boy Brian

oh yeah! the other day, Michelle and I were looking for something in her car... and I accidentally came across her birthday gift to me! it was hidden in a wrapped up paper bag, and opened it, half because I was curious as to what it was [I felt it was a book] and because I wanted to make sure that object wasn't what we were looking for. I felt awful... but I was meant to discover it before my birthday, I suppose... It is a beautiful book:

"Love Poems From God"
by Daniel Ladinsky

it is filled with beautify, inspiring poems from twelve mystics and saints, six from the East, and Six from the West... it has my favourites, like Mira, Kabir, St. Francis, Rumi, and others, and I've even discovered a few that I didn't know before... it's so beautiful! Everyone should have a copy, or at least find writings from those authors.

so thank you Michelle! you always know my soul... =) I love you.

Joy, Joy, and Laughing!
oh, you know how the other day I was talking about God being the last one to laugh, and the ultimate jokster? well... this author happened to produce a volume of Hafiz [Sufi Poet]'s poetry called "I Heard God Laughing"... and in the introduction to this book, the author talks about God being laughing and being the ultimate jokster or something to tha effect. just like I had said. so there! :D God is good. She rocks!

Peace, Joy, Happines, and Laughs! Always to you and to all! :)

Sri Ram Jai Ram!
Brian

ps please don't eat animals! if you see yourself in others, how can you cause suffering of them?
visit www.goveg.com for a free vegetarian starter kit!

going to add parts to website...
I'll use another blog for a section on how they're after me, and all the conspiracies I've found and uncovered.
I'll bet everybody any amount that after I put that up, my site will be down. I'll bet you.
and I'll add another section about... something. I'll ask Michelle what I told her I'd do. I can't remember. maybe another section with a list and talking about... not a post/blog... about conspiracies and the harm that they're doing... with political aspects? maybe I'll do that.

well.. it's been a couple days since my last post... I guess nothing too uneventful has happened. Today we see Ralph Nader, though! and I want to go to The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wa... it's a total hippie school :) and then... Humboldt! yay! hehe :) or UW for Ethnomusicology... or even India. I don't know.

this Saturday's my birthday, too... 19. can you believe it? I keep thinking nothing of it... I swear it'll be Saturday and Michelle will be like, "Happy Birthday!" and I'll be like, "what are you talking about? oh shit! it's my birthday?! I forgot to get myself something!" lol... or something. ehh, nevermind. Saturday we see my mom for lunch at her place and then Michelle and I go out to Assimba Ethiopian Restaurant in Seattle [cos I've wanted to try Ethiopian and it sounds like a nice place to go for dinner together]... dude! there are like 10+ Ethiopian places in Seattle. it's crazy. and then Sunday we'll be at my dad's and Barbara's. aahhh... I've always had none traditional birthday cakes cos I don't really like cake. I've had pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, dirt cake [my mommy made it in a flower pot and with gummi worms and even a gardening trowel! it was so cute... and gooood....ahhh] and this year Shelby is making me my favourite dessert... Kheer... aahhh... it's an Indian rice pudding and ahhh she's making a whole bowl of it. it will be wonderful. so yeah. I guess that's about that. Today is Shelby's first real counseling appointment. I hope it goes well and she talks to her counselor.

well... I love Michelle-y :D I got to run her purse/wallet to her cos she forgot it at school, which means she didn't have her license while driving, hehe. that silly girl that I love so much... =)

well... peace and love. om namah Sivaya!

Last night, 6 October 2002, my girlfriend Michelle, William, and I went to the Ravi Shankar concert.
Oh my gosh. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen or heard. And it was Michelle’s and my first Indian concert [beside Zakir]. It was in the S. Mark Taper auditorium at Benaroya Hall. It was very nice. There was a new, huge organ in the back. It made an interest contrast with Anoushka. The first thing I thought when I walked down the aisle to my seat and looked to the stage was “how simple.” It was just a rectangular box with a simple, but pretty Indian design. There were two sets of Tabla. On the left was Bikram’s, which I later went to see from the front. The Baya wasn’t engraved, but looked detailed or painted with some designs I hadn’t seen before. Tanmoy’s tabla, on the right, was of beautiful copper.

They played for about two and a half hours. There were Anoushka and Ravi on sitar, Tanmoy Bose and Bikram Ghosh on tabla, and two tanpura players, one being a student of Ravi’s. The first half of the concert was without Ravi. They opened with a beautiful Alop from Anoushka. I couldn’t stop crying through that… it was so beautiful, and God was talking to me. It was incredible beyond words. [Her sitar reminded me of the sitar we have… but hers looked almost gold plated… same with Ravi’s.] Anoushka is just incredible. It is so inspiring to see a young female starting the concert, one of the best at sitar in the world. If only all the girls of the world looked up to her. She’s a feminist for the new age. Hopefully soon there will be a young woman to take that role with Tabla [hint, hint :)] At the beginning of the concert, during Alop, there was this low rumbling and it made Anoushka and the tabla players look around and eventually laugh. Michelle remarked, “It’s Siva!” She played a faster Jor, and that was incredible. I thought I was seeing the fastest, most precise sitar player in the world, and that was even before Ravi came out. And she’s only 21! Turning 19 in a week, she’s practically my age! I couldn’t help but imagine what she’ll sound like when she’s Ravi’s age [82, I believe]. The tabla joined in on Gat, and they switched off accompanying Anoushka. When it got faster toward the end, they would compete with each other to see who could play more complex rhythms. It reminded me very much of the Zakir concert. At the end, they became very creative and would play only on the Tabla or only one the Baya. It was captivating. When Anoushka would play with the Tabla, she’d look at them and give this smile, and she’d have this twinkle in her eye. I think I’ve never seen people happier than the players in this concert and the Zakir concert. I can’t remember the name of that Raga. They played another Raga, which I also can’t remember the name of. Then there was intermission.

For the second half, they all came out with Ravi, who received a standing ovation. Most of the people attending the concert were older white people, which was interesting. I expected to see mostly Indians. I suppose many of the people there had season tickets to the Seattle Symphony [It was presented by them]. But everyone there seemed to really appreciate the music, and there were several loud standing ovations, and even some people yelling at certain points in the concert. Ravi was very small and thin. I actually had this hint in the back of my mind that he might not be able to play the same as he used to when he was younger. I have NEVER seen anyone play any instrument with so much passion and love, with so much behind the physical movements! Even when Ravi was playing the Alop, which was of course slow and didn’t seem too technically difficult, I know that no one else could play the way he did. He was an instrument of God, and God was singing. I can honestly say I experienced a bit of Heaven on Earth. When he played the Gat, it was just as amazing. He played so fast and accurately. He sat down and they played a third raga, was in SIX AND A HALF! Anoushka would nod along, and smile so big, and her hair would go everywhere. It was a challenge to follow, and was so amazing to see all of them clapping and being so into it. The audience must have thought Michelle, William and I were crazy: We seemed to be the only people nodding and clapping with the musicians. It was fun.

The tabla players switched off, and Ravi and Anoushka switched off, or Anoushka would play a lower part of what Ravi played. I’ve never heard two sitars together before. It was beautiful. The fourth and last raga was Raga Yemenmaj [spelling?] Ravi described this piece they would play next as “romantic, playful, and … romantic. Indeed it was romantic. Most of it was Tintal, very slow, then faster. It also went into Keharwa and Dadra. The Tablas were so fast… Their hands were just a blur… I’ve never seen anyone play tintal so fast! I couldn’t fathom how the hands were doing it. Bikram is the man! The Tablas got to solo, too! However, for the concert, the tablas weren’t quite loud enough. During the piece, Ravi would play a super fast riff, and Anoushka would follow. Meanwhile, Bikram would play something fast, and Tanmoy would try to beat it. It’s so beautiful to see such a competition where they’re all challenging each other to be better than themselves. They shake their heads in appreciate at each other. Everyone is such a part of the music. If they’re not playing, they’re clapping along and are just as much part of the music. I know there’s nothing healthier than what went on that night. Father and daughter playing together, challenging each other. It was so beautiful. [I know I’ve used that phrase several times now, but there’s no other way to describe that night]. For the solo [Anoushka played Lehara], Bikram and Tanmoy were challenging each other, playing harder, more complex, and faster each time. They got so creative! Tanmoy would play just the Tabla, for instance, and Bikram would try to “beat him” by playing just his Baya. They did so many different creative things. It was very Zakir-esque. They are both amazing Tabla studs. They went on and on, and then the concert ended with all four playing faster and louder than anything I’ve heard before. [Each raga ended with all four playing loud and fast]. They all received a very loud, very long standing ovation. Ravi and Anoushka left and came back onstage a few times, and the clapping only became more intense. It seemed that everyone could appreciate and love the music.

The Zakir concert was amazing, but there’s nothing like seeing tala and raga together, something so beautiful and ancient that fits together so beautifully. It was the most beautiful, and healthiest, thing I’ve ever experienced. I think it has changed my life, and changed me, forever. The only thing left for me to say is that I am inspired, not just for life, but for a few lifetimes.

Afterward, we were standing outside, and Ravi’s car went by. Anoushka waved, and William jumped about wildly, waving and hollering. hehe :D
we actually ended up chasing Ravi's car down the freeway... at least what we thought was theirs. lol. I love feeling young.

"america is a friend to the people of Iraq"

oh my god. I turned on the tv to watch simpsons... and Dubya's on. this is great. oh man... congress votes on war soon... I'm scared. lol, he's almost getting better at saying big words without stumbling too much. my gosh. I still don't understand how he's here! how he's STILL here! is everyone under a spell?! okay, not only is this on, but next is some stupid sports game. I WANT MY SIMPSONS! they shouldn't be allowed to be cancelled for some stupid sports game! it should be illegal!

"secure the peace... leave america to a better day. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!" dah. okay. anyway... yeah. Ravi concert last night! will post again with my review!

howdy! it's now noon on Sunday...
some stuff has happened. it's been good.

first... remember how I told you about the orange kitty we want? and the neighbour upstains got one? well... first, Friday, we were planning on going to a mini St Francis Blessing of the Animals prayer service at UPS.... [check out St. Francis and Kuthumi]. I was at the computer working on my website, and I thought I heard a meow at the screen door. so I turned around and there was the neighbour's upstairs kitty! the orange one just like the one we wanted! and it had a hot pink collar [my favourite colour and the same colour we vowed to get our kitty!] and a purple bell... and it wanted to come in so I let her in! she was so small and cute! she sniffed around everywher and I started taking a pictuer for Michelle [cos she was at school] and then she came back and we played with the kitty! and then we brought her back to our neighbour. since then we've been my Dad and Barbara's [my old house] up in Renton... oh... Friday night we went to a studio for the band I'm in ... Spiral Axis ... it sucked and there were rock bands everywhere and super loud.. it would have been okay if we were a loud rock band too, but we're a evolutionary world music band. so we couldn't take it and left. William and we went to look at Mariya [the floutist] 's studio. we lost them because we were in another car, and drove around trying to find them, and didn't. so yeah. but that's cool.

so this morning I was outsdide helping my niece Shelby [15] living with my dad wash out the blue in her hair that she just dyed. and then a kitty with a purple bell came! we pet it and it was cute. it looks like a cat of the neighbour's. so yeah. there's something going on. I love animals, and I've been told that in many lifetimes I've been a devotee of St. Francis and Kuthumi. so... I think there's something cosmical going on... I mean, there always is... but there's specific things every once in a while... so yeah... we'll see what happens.

I AM in constant conscious communication with Kuthumi.
I AM a devotee of Kuthumi.

RAVI SHANKAR TONIGHT with William! soooo sweet! Ravi Shankar is so sweet I want to crap my pants. just kidding. lol. it's immature, but it's funny: www.realultimatepower.net. NINJA POWER!

anyway... yeah. well... yeah. I guess I'm going now. have fun... before I get started on a rant about how society is made to make people feel awful about their natural bodies and how people, especially girls, are made to look to rich white men for how to dress, how brush their hair, how much to puke after they've eaten, how to live their lives, etc.

peace and compassion to ALL!
"FIGHT THE MAN!"

-Brian

good morning! err... afternoon.

well, today was a good day... the two and a half hours of it I've been awake, lol.

well, let me give you some background to my story... [I love telling stories!] I have five nieces and nephews and grew up around them. I've taken care of them, including a fifteen year old living with us. [she's a little crazy, too.. well... like I used to be] so Michelle and I have even had experience raising/taking care of a teenager, lol. and we're barely adults. it's great. anyway, I've always loved and been good with kids, and I've always wanted to be a baby-sitter like practically every girl in American society. I think that usually girls are favoured for the job... which usually makes sense. well.. I'd trust a girl to take care of my child over a male any day. well... in most cases. but usually teenage girls are dumb, too... [I think not as dumb as guys, though]. but in any case, I think girls are favoured more, so I didn't think I had much hope. plus I'm really shy and somewhat anti-social, lol. anyhow, the other day Michelle says, "oh, by the way, I saw an ad at UPS for a family looking for a babysitter, and wrote down the number. I forgot to tell you." and I thought... wow. babysitting, what I've been wanting to do, and I NEED a job. how PERFECT! plus it's under the table... and no offical interviews. I DO NOT like interviews! they're even worse than the applications! lol. wow, how I've lost track of whatever the heck I was saying. [I'm good at that].

anyway, so I called the family... the father's name happens to be Brian also... I've known way too many Brians. [Even another one in the rock band I was in... and a manager (thank goodness for not very long) at Tully's.... and in classes, friends, etc etc... OH! and GET THIS! My dad's fiance... my soon-to-be stepmom, Barbara, has a son named Brian and Brian's wife is named Michelle also. how creepy is that? and my dad's name is Michael and Barbara's other soon is named Michael... and she has a grandson named Brian [but they call him Alexander cos there's already a Brian... and then we were all at dinner not too long ago, and my niece's name is Shelby... so there's Michelle and Brian, Michelle and Brian, Shelby, Michael, Mike, and Brian (Alexander)]] isn't that great? I think I confused myself with all those damn parentheses...

okay, on to the story. I had set up a time to meet with Brian [the father] today. I met with him, and he had to run, so we arranged to meet Monday [with the kids and such]. but just from talking for the few minutes, I think it went great. I gave him a super professional looking resume [which Michelle suggested and helped... well... did most of... for me. Thank you, babe! =) ...she's so good at everything and super professional. she's a genius, and she's my hero :D] so yeah. yay! I possibly have a job! and it's a good one, with UNDER THE TABLE pay! UP YOURS, CAPITALISM!!! and on that note, I've just spilt berry juice on my nice shirt. I always do that. It's least it's dark blue. so yeah... if I can get away without paying taxes that fund UNJUST WARS for oil and money for the rich... then by all means, damnit... I'll do it. and I keep spilling juice. from now on, no eating/drinking and politics at the same time, lol.

so yeah. I think I have a relaxed, fun, good, job. it was great. I answered questions like, "what kind of pay are you looking for?" and "what kind of hours did you want?" with "whatever you want to give me " :) plus I'm open pretty much any hours expect Friday evenings... after whcih he asked "but you can work Friday in the day?" "of course I can" I like not having school yet. and a small, neat, nature-y company that I visited just the other day called this morning [I thought they might call in a couple months], and asked if I was going to school full time when I go back in January [I have to go full time to keep my dad's insurance benefits and such]. she said she was looking for someone who was open more than that... pity. it would have been the perfect place to work. they have wild bird supplies and garden stuff... tons of St. Francis statues [which we've been looking for!] and a Lord Buddha statue and all sorts of neat things. she woman working there is really friendly and has a neat East Coast sounding accent, too. and it was local and independent and close and would have been sweet. oh well. if I'm meant for that job, I'll get it some way or another.

so yeah... depending on how many hours and pay this babysitting thing yields, maybe I'll get a part time [instead of full time! yay] job. then we'll hopefully be set... and we can get things like cable internet so we won't miss calls like I probably am writing this blog, lol. and we can get our little orange kitten we've been wanting! [the neighbour upstairs just got one too! we always go outside and talk to and look at the kitty. he/she's SO CUTE!] so yeah. that's my exciting job story... holy crap. I apologize for all that. holy crap.

soimetimes the pen just flows its own course....

and today is band practise! yay! William moved, so we're having it at a studio.. called Evolution Studios... the owner has even played Tabla for three years. and at UPS there's a "St Francis Blessing of the Animals!" how cool is that?! and we'll see if we go to William's group lesson.

now on to cleaning the apartment.

happiness to you,

-Brian