The abyss is calling...

PDX

2008-09-08T16:02:00Z

Black is all moved into Portland. Megan and he and myself loaded up all his earthly possessions into the Crow Van on friday and headed down to PDX. We hung at Kate's house and I was reminded at just why she is the coolest person on the freaking planet. It ended up a pretty mellow weekend as all three of us were a bit beat up and looking for some escape from various things. But we still had a ton of fun. Bopping around town, stopping at all sorts of cool little places. And on sat night, Megan got us tickets to the Rat City vs Rose City roller derby. And although Rose City crushed us, it was still a fucking blast.
Sad to see Mr. Black go, but I am happy that he is down there as I think that town is gonna make him much happier. It is just a better fit. Plus I am moving there in less than a year, so the fun shall commence again soon.
So, so glad to finally spent some time with megan. That girl is rad beyond words and I am really looking forward to hanging with her and her incredible boy some more when they return from their roadtrip

sad times

2008-09-04T17:02:22Z

So, laurie and I broke up. I don't really want to talk about it but she keeps getting in rough situations where people don't know so she sort of wanted me to let it be known. So let it be known.

rollercoaster

2008-08-06T20:06:40Z

Wow life has been pretty up and down lately. Tremendous highs, brutal lows, plans coming together, plans falling apart, feeling strong and on my game, feeling weak and out of control.

I think life had been pretty good and easy for too long and this was due. I had not had such a long time of peace in quite awhile and I think I got used to it which is good and bad.

But now I am back in the mix dammit, for better or worse.

Ah life...

bittercrow @ 2008-07-22T13:55:00

2008-07-22T21:56:17Z

A survey that Cheryl posted on her LJ. I am tired of working today, so here it goes:

1. Who would you want as your 4 fantasy dinner party guests?
living only: William Gibson, Al Jourgenson, Tito Ortiz and Dan Simmons

2. Favorite place to have a drink?
The Crow Bar-Black Rock City

3. At age 7 you wanted to be?
A truck driver

4. What's one thing you find easiest to forgive?
ignorance

5. What's one thing you find impossible to forgive?
fear

6. Where do you live?
Cap hill

7. Something you learned this week?
the heart is even more complicated than I though

8. What is the last movie you watched?
Hellboy 2. Lame.....

9. Favorite place to shop?
Any high end kitchen shop. They are like crack dens!
Also, Title MMA gear online.

10. If you were an inventor, what would you invent?
An MMA octagon that assembles and disassembles in your home at the touch of a button

11.What was your childhood nickname?
never had one

12. Who is your best friend?
too tough, too controversial!

13. Who is your worst enemy?
humanity

14.Last person who called you?
Ted!!

15. Do you think you'll move in the next year?
You bet. Heading to Portland next June.

16. What grosses you out?
Feet. Hippies. Overly affectionate people.

17. What's bothering you right now?
Heart and head at war.

18. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Everyday till the end of time

19. What impresses you?
Willpower, inner strength and reslilence

20. Last compliment you received?
"Your could tear me to pieces with your hands, literally." so sweet....

21. Do you miss someone?
Yes I do.

22. Something that mystifies you.
Recorded music. I still cannot quite understand how we can capture sound in plastic.

23. What's the last bone you broke?
rib. ouch

24. What are you excited about?
new friendships

25. Favorite vacation spot?
Iceland.

26. What is your most treasured posession?
my cynicism. and my ipod touch

27. Did you speak to your mother today?
nope!

28. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?
not at all. get it right the first time

29. Most hated food:
peanuts. they kiiiiiiilllllll me.

30. What's the last thing that made you smile:
a funny text from a friend

31. What are you doing tonight?
training with the Viking at the Crow Gym and then buying glowsticks and EL wire

32. I Wish:
that I could clone myself and live two lives.

33. Right now I'm craving:
kisses from her

34. You're sad - who can cheer you up?
bug!

35. What is your current mood?
frustrated and tired.

36. What does the last message in your inbox say?
Virgin reservation. he-he

37. Favorite quote?
"Not all dark places need light, I need to remember that"

The Art of Eight Limbs

2008-07-21T17:49:38Z

Anyone that knows anything about my fighting background and preferences knows that I will go to the grave singing the praises of Muay Thai. Of all the combat arts I have tried, this is by far the best (in my opinion) and it is the style I have spend the most time training in.
So when MMA came about, and Muay Thai became the primary striking base for fighters, I was not surprised, and felt very vindicated.

As the rollercoaster of MMA development began, there were huge shifts in success between the ground fighters and the strikers. At first, the BJJ guys wiped everyone up. Then some of the big strikers found success. Then the wrestlers started dominating, only to be followed up be a resurgence of good standup. But over the last couple of years, almost all of the fighters good enough to get into the UFC or other decent organization, have been amazingly well rounded and evolved in their skills. So the age old feud between striking and grappling has quieted down quite a bit.

So it is with extreme pleasure to me that the guy most people consider to be the pound for pound best fighter in the world right now (and I happen to agree, Fedor is unreal, but Silva is just a combat god) is a Muay Thai fighter. He has beaten almost everyone if the middle weight division so this weekend he moved up to Lightheavy weight and demolished a game James Irvin in the first round. And this was one of his post fight quotes:

“I’m a Muay Thai fighter, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid,” said Silva. “I didn’t come up to the 205-pound division to disrespect any fighters, but if you stand up and exchange Muay Thai, this is what happens.”

Hell yeah baby. Muay Thai does it again.

Sigur Ros!

2008-07-16T22:34:27Z

Sometimes I love my job!
Sigur Ros is playing a show at Benaroya in Oct. And everyshow in the world (Europe, US and Asia) still has tickets left except Seattle. The only sold out show in the WORLD!
But the Seattle Symphony is one of my clients, so I called my contact, and she found 3 tickets that were returned by the promoter this morning! She stuck them in an envelope and I ran down and bought them! So we are going to see Sigur Ros live!!! Holy hell. This is as close as I am gonna get to getting back to Iceland this year.

central oregon

2008-07-14T15:08:55Z

So I went out the The Dalles in central Oregon this weekend and worked on a cherry orchard. Damn it felt good to do some hard work in the hot sun. Bug's grandpa runs a big orchard out there so the whole Clark family convened. Got to see super pregnant Katie and her kick ass hubby Ryan. Carrie and Damon came on down too. It is always such an amazingly fun time to hang with those 4.
We got to stain decks and trim trees and tear down sheds and drive the farm equipment around and get stupid drunk a few times. The orchard is way up on the to of the hill overlooking town, the rive, the big damn and Mt Hood. So beautiful out there.

bittercrow @ 2008-07-07T12:43:00

2008-07-07T19:37:30Z

what a great weekend. some truly amazing moments and some truly amazing people.

this is what I want children to watch.

2008-07-03T22:03:55Z

wow

cohabitation

2008-06-27T18:09:04Z

So it is official, Bug is moving in! Since I will be moving to Portland in June, she was going back and forth about wanting to move in now so we see each other more before our year apart, or waiting and keeping her ridiculously cheap room until she joins me in PDX. But after staying in my place the whole week I was back east, she decided that my place had always felt like home to her anyway so why wait!

So I gave her keys last night bit she officially moves in, in July.

Of course the private Scorpio in me had a small reflexive moment of panic and doubt, but that was quickly squashed at the thought of playing house with my favorite person in the world. Life is just better when she is around me. So I am really excited about this change. Nothing like moving forward!

Plus I will get to save some dough for the move. We will have to have a house warming party for her and cover the place in booze!

East Coast adventures

2008-06-24T22:15:01Z

What a great fucking trip! I got back from the East Coast on sunday and finally have a chance to post about it!

First I flew into Newark and took the train to Philly. Yes, I know, that cesspool of a pit they call a city is on the bottom of my list, but there are some amazingly good people living in that abomination, so I went. I have owed my friend Shelle a visit for some time now, and it was time to pay it in. We have both been so incredibly busy lately that we have not had a chance to keep up with each other's lives. And I miss it as she has been an absolutely incredible friend to me over the years. So I was not only excited to see her in person again, but to meet her boyfriend Houser and he kid Archer.
Shelle picked me up from the train station and we headed to her place. Once there I finally met Houser and we all walked to a kick ass brewery just a few blocks away. As shelle's friend, I of course am very particular when it comes to who she dates. She had talked highly of her man for awhile but I still needed to meet him. Well turns out she could not have picked a better guy. Houser turned out to be a completely kick ass person (despite the fact that he is from Philly, no one is perfect right?) He is funny as hell and made me feel completely comfortable immediately. So we drank a ton and headed back to their house to engage in what is now my favorite game in the world, Shotzee. Yep, Yahtzee with drinking. And oh boy was there drinking!!!
The next few days were filled with all kinds of fun stuff. We met friends for lunch, picked raspberries and strawberries and visited a huge old prison. Cool stuff indeed. And every night the yahtzee came out and so did the booze!! Poor Houser would stay up drinking with us till the wee hours every night and then get up early for his hour commute to work. Amazing he did not die that week. I met the kid finally and he was a cool one. I am in no way a fan of children, but this one was wittier and sharper than most 30 year olds.
So my time in Philly was fantastic. So good to see shelle again and catch up. Great to meet her kick ass boyfriend and hang with him having fun. And nice to finally see why she thinks so highly of her son, he is amazing.

Thursday took a train to NYC. Oh it felt good to be back. I wandered during the day, eating great food and sunbathing in Union Square. At 5, Jess, Ricky and Christine met me in the park and we hit the bar. God it was good to see my peeps again!! Soon Lisa met us and we all headed to a kickass dive bar. Nikki met us there and we spend the night gulping down booze, playing Naked Photo Hunt and having an absolutely fabulous time. One of my favorite nights in recent memory. Here are some pix from that first night:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=13az3jzt.57gelz5h&x=0&y=51f5ju&localeid=en_US

Woke up the next day and hit the town. Just wandered all over. East Village, Broadway, West Village (went by my old apartment), Washington Square, Chinatown, UES. Headed back to Jess' at 5 and took a shower, bought some Absinthe for Jess (wormwood is legal now!) Did a shot with her and Nikki and headed into Brooklyn to see my fucking amazing friend Sheila.
Damn it was good to see her. In fact, it was really the first time she and I have had a chance to hang for an extended period of time alone. And honestly, it was my favorite time with her ever. Met her and her friend at an Austrian Bar in park Slope (my old Brooklyn hood) Her friend took off after a few minutes and Sheila and I got to drinking! The bar was amazing and I had my first Schnitzel, yum! We talked and talked and talked and then headed over to Buttermilk for some more booze. The last time I had been to Buttermilk was when I lived in Brooklyn and went to a Halloween party with Sheila so it was fitting. We had lots of life stuff to talk about and I just have never had the kind of connection with another friend that I do with her. It was some of the best time I have had in a long time and a much needed get together for the two of us. She is a truly amazing person and I miss her already.

Friday spend the day at Jess' with her and Nikki chilling big time! It was perfect. Then as evening fell, I had some absinthe and headed to the Cure show. I cannot even describe how cool it was to see the Cure live in Radio City. Like a dream. he sounded exactly the same as he used to and his stage presence was amazing. I left early, and still heard over 3 stright hours of them playing! I tried to catch up with everyone on Williamsburgh, but the subways were not running well. So I just headed back to Jess' and chilled with her when she got home. Jess is the kind of friend that I felt like I had known her all my life after just a few weeks. Going to see her in NYC feels good for my soul and I truly love that girl with all of my heart.

What a trip! Too much booze, too little sleep and not a single complaint.

Since everyone else is doing it....

2008-06-12T05:55:10Z

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want — good or bad. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.

These can be bad memories too!

weekend sabotage

2008-06-09T21:56:51Z

Well before my weekend started, it looked to be pretty sweet.
See a friend in a play friday night.
Spend all sat and sunday building the crow bar.
Go to see Sex and The City with the ladies at Big Picture sunday night.

Friday went well. Saw Emily in "The Ten Thousand Things". Turned out to be one of my favorite plays ever. Very post apocalyptic. About time and insanity and punishment and a hell of a lot of other stuff I did not understand. Visually it was ASTOUNDING! And the dialog blew me away. The idea is that every time it is performed, the cast or audience changes one of the play's 10,000 words, so it is never the same play twice. And it was amazing.

Saturday I ended coming into work for over 8 fucking hours. Brutal business these days.
And when I woke up early on sunday to work on the bar, I was sick as hell. I stayed home all day chilling and then pulled it together and put my happy face on for the movie. And glad I did. I felt like hell, but I had a TON of fun. The theater was gorgeous, the company was top notch and the movie was fabulous. Thanks to Ninja for making it happen and too Amie and T for giggling and moaning next to me at all the crazy parts.

the dream is dead. long live the dream

2008-06-05T05:17:56Z

The Pens lost 3-2 tonight and the Red Wings hoisted the cup. We scored a goal in the last 2 minutes and then were about 1/2" away from tying it with 1 second left. Another thrilling end.
I am beyond proud of them and think they fought hard against an almost perfect Detroit team. The Red Wings are truly the best team in hockey, but my boys gave them a hell of a run.

Next year.

game 6

2008-06-04T22:02:55Z

...in pittsburgh tonight.
My stomach is doing flips already.

Firewater was freaking amazing last night. just amazing.

And I just scored two tickets to the Black Angels show next wed! All in all it has been a pretty amazing month for live shows.

lost 5 years of my life

2008-06-03T04:55:55Z

Penguins win game 5 in the 3rd overtime!!! Good lord!
We were down a goal in regulation, pulled the goalie and tied it with 35 seconds left in the game! The whole arena was chanting because they figured Detroit was about to win the cup at home and my boys shut them up.
Then three heartstopping sudden death overtimes. Fleury made over 54 saves.
I cannot believe it.
Game 6 in Pittsburgh on wed. I hope those guys get a good night's sleep tonight. I know I won't.

LETS GO PENS!!!

good weekend

2008-05-30T22:44:50Z

Peter Murphy tonight.
Penguins tomorrow night.
Accelerant sunday night.

Looks to be a damn fine weekend.
I even get to start making the bar for the Crow bar.

Penguin blues

2008-05-27T16:11:40Z

Detroit is fucking us up. Big time.
The Pens have yet to score a goal in two games and look like a high school team playing a pro team.
I knew Detroit was as close to perfect as a hockey team can be, but wow. Despite the pain and agony of seeing my team crushed, it is a pleasure to watch Detroit play. They are truly amazing. It is like watching the old Red Army team, there are just no flaws.

The series goes to Pittsburgh on wed, where the Pens are undefeated in the playoffs. If things are gonna turn around, this is where it will happen.
It looks bleak, but with so much talent on one team, we always have a chance to take it.

good times in the woods

2008-05-19T16:30:01Z

Went with Systm Fck to Cle Ellum this weekend to celebrate Sick's b-day. Damn it was gorgeous! Sunny and hot. The woods, river and lake were just beyond beautiful. We had the whole campground to ourselves, so no one to complain about our loud music and yelling till dawn.
What a great fucking group of people. There were like 15 or so of us there, and not a dud in the bunch. I enjoyed everyone.
Oh yeah, and boxed wine and whiskey is a brilliant combo! All hail Bacchaus!!!!

I decided to stay longer on sunday and miss Game 5 of the Penguin/Flyer series. So I got the wonderful news when I got back. Pittsburgh fucking smoked them 6-0 to win the series 4 games to 1. We are off to play for the Stanley Cup!!!!!!!!!!! so...fucking .....excited...

.........

2008-05-14T22:39:50Z

STREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...ahem....
Thanks, I feel much better.
Job trying to kill me again.

On a good note, Penguins up 3 games to none against Philly in the series. One more win and we go to play for the Cup! I already know everything about Pittsburgh kicks everything about Philly's ass, but I still get such satisfaction when it is proved again and again and again.

There will be blood...on the ice

2008-05-06T00:00:15Z

Anyone who really knows me, knows that I have a secret love of sports. And not just MMA. I love football and soccer and college ball. And I have my favorites that I have followed over the years and cheered for and gotten worked up on behalf of.

But there is only one team, and will always only be one time that I live and die with. And that team is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Games were dirt cheap growing up so we used to go all the time. I was a little kid and I remember watching the games at the Igloo, screaming, and then shooting goals on my brother during the intermissions out in the arena hallways. Pittsburgh is a hockey town and most kids I knew either played ice or street hockey and viciously rooted for the Pens.
Hell, a lot of the players even got homes in my neighborhood and I used to run into them. I drank with Mario Lemiuex and Tommy Barrasso at a party once. And my friend Bill and I hung around with Rob Brown for a few months, underage drinking and party crashing. I mean hell, some of those guys were only a few years older than us, but with lots of cash!

And through all of those years, there were plenty of rivalries...both NYC teams, the Capitals....
but only one really mattered.

The fucking Philadelphia fucking Flyers. We always had a faster more talented team. And those goons always had a bigger, stronger team. It was just the way of the universe. Either we outplayed them and won, or they beat the hell out of us and won. But never, ever was there anything less than complete hate between the teams and the fans.

So now, for the first time ever, these two teams are going to meet in the conference finals! Both have won their first two playoff series and whoever wins, goes on the the Stanley Cup final, and wins the ultimate in bragging rights in the War of Pennsylvania.
And guess what, Pittsburgh sports a team of young, fast and extremely talented stars. And Philly is a bunch of hardworking, big, strong goons. Just like the old days.

God damn! I am so fucking excited I could spit!!

GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Southern Migration

2008-05-01T20:03:37Z

Well, it is official, we are moving to Portland.
It won't happen for at least a year, but Laurie and I are heading down to PDX. I am going to take my boss up on opening a business down there. It is going to be the biggest challenge of my life, starting a company from almost scratch. And while I am beyond scared and apprehensive about it, I need to do it to try and convince myself that I am capable. If it works, it will be an unbelievable opportunity for me. If it fails, then I can either get a normal job down there or come back to Seattle. So in the long haul, it is worth the risk.
Laurie will either start photography school in Seattle and then join my in PDX after a year, or she will wait and start school down there.

There are a ton of things I will miss about Seattle, but honestly, I need to get away from here again. This place is beautiful and fun, but it is too predictable, too safe, to uptight. Portland may be a much smaller town, but the people have more of an edge, and have always been easier to hang with for me. Also, one of the best MMA gyms int he country is down there and I wanna train!!!

We gain a lot and lose a lot by going, but we have put a lot of thought into it and are now pretty excited. The closer we get to the move, the sadder we will become about leaving Seattle. But honestly, just the big life change has me happy right now. Time to close this chapter and open a new one and see what that brings.

Besides, I have spent a ton of time partying and hanging in Portland while I lived in Seattle, so I will do the same thing in Seattle once I live in Portland. These towns will always be closely linked, and I like that. So you had better believe I will be back for every Compound Halloween bash!!!

meh

2008-04-26T02:34:12Z

This has been the worst day in the worst week of the year.
meh.
Glad it is friday and this week will be over soon.
Meh.

At least the Penguins won. yay!

website...check

2008-04-07T20:43:35Z

Happy to report after my previous post that thanks to my shame and Talsky's advice on mac web site ease, I have finally made my first website. It is basic, and boring, but it is out there.
One more thing to check off of my list entitled..."Things I should have done by high school"

http://web.mac.com/bittercrow/iWeb/Site/Home.html

pathetic

2008-03-28T16:48:13Z

You know what I think is pathetic? (no, no, besides humanity)
I think it is pathetic that in this day and age I don't know how to make a website. Seriously. It just never occurred to me to try or learn. And now it is 2008 and I don't know how to do it.
Lame.
I think I will teach myself just to try and keep up with the 4 year olds.