December*

*Pictures taken by everyone. Happy New Year, El Paso.

VIDEO (music, tv, book)

Sunday Night Marfa Drive*

Woke up Sunday morning to two missed Cesar calls. Called him, heard the news. Relayed the news to Jessica. Two hours later we were Marfa bound to see Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. We had no tickets. I checked online and they were sold out and a phone call told us it was at capacity. We had our doubts and our hopes and we said, fuck it, lets do it. Our fallout plan was eating at Marfa's Sonic.
We arrived two and a half hours later. Cesar led the way into the venue. He walked in and no one was stationed at the reception table and he headed in, and so did Jessica and I. We found awesome seats and free wine and beer was being served. We met up with Duran and company. It was a close to two hour set. It was beautiful. Marfa was the last date of the Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band world tour and you could tell. Everyone let loose and it was a party on stage with everyone involved playing an instrument, roadies and all. Conor is a funny witty man that loves his band and friends. His banter and use of "fuck" is amazing. He played one song off Cassadaga which was cool. Everyone in the band had their own song they sung which was nice. An epic show for the three of us. Warm feelings when I remember.
Cesar at Prada. He caught a great deal on the road: 20 cent apples.
Jessica at Prada. Afraid of the dark but can still be an awesome roadie on road trips.
I totally neglected my homework for this trip. But I had super fun and loved Cesar and Jessica's company. We had a fantastic Wendy's dinner after the show in Van Horn.
Top two quotes of the trip, paraphrased:
1) What mile marker are you?
2) Watch out, its a truck!
*Pictures taken from Jessica's camera phone. Not great pictures, but rich in sentimental value.

Austin November*^

An argument on I-54 because I'd been listening to electronica for ten hours; they were drinking, smoking illegal substances, and I couldn't catch a break with simple directions. Too cavalier, these kids.

Getting my groove on finally with some Lonies and some camouflaged beer which made no sense. Unless you're hunting. So you're drinking and carrying a gun and you fear that your un-camouflaged beer can will give you away to the harmless deer. And we hit an armadillo on the drive to Austin.

My OG friend, Chris Lea made it out for the weekend. He brought a skull beer bong with him. Val was really taken by it.

There was a liquidation sale at the 'stache emporium on Riverside.

I look like a Lebanese Charlie Chaplin.

Blaine, loving his new 'stache and the very viable Natural Light 24 pack.

Trail of Dead. One of many bands that is finally suffering from old age. Good set though. Oh, and the punk stage. A bunch of fat old men playing songs once re-popularized in the Tony Hawk video game franchise.

Sarah and Michele: Austin mamas. Daniel and Raul: El Paso Casanovas.

Ben Nichols and Raul. Holy Shit! Picture of the year.

Sarah Monster. I like her feather assortment. Very speakeasy flapper!

It was a good weekend. Nice to be out of town for a few days. Got to see some beautiful friends. And look at those awesome side burns. I've been feeding them nothing but American ground beef. I want to thank Arto, Daniel, and Red Bull for the backstage pass for Fun x3 Fest. The open bar was awesome and there I got to meet Ben Nichols. P.S. Love everyone at Shake H.

*All pictures by Daniel.

^Reckless driving by James. Ha!

Beautiful Rave Girl

I'm sure you're unstable. Too many drugs and not enough talks with Mom. I like your clothes, must've bought 'em online. Couldn't find them here. Fiery hair that I could swallow full and be content for the night.

Your face I can't remove from this dejection. And I already forgot how you look. Just stare at you like a creep, but I'm ten steps behind your first impressions of me.

In silence we can find our way back.

Stick N Poke 08

My love rack. No magazines after Spring 07 allowed.
Cecil. The fifth wheel of H.E.A.L.T.H. and the third leg of our hearts.
The little tyke* got woken up and wondered out his bedroom to see what the commotion was. Stick and Poke, yeah!
I cringe. I cry. I moan. I scream. I yelp. I yell. I chuckle. I sweat. Little volcanoes were erupting on my skin. Like poking an open wound with a switchblade. And so many more things.
A Cecil feather. I'm damn proud of his work. I took it like a fucking infant, but I took it nonetheless.
Cecil getting work done. They want to reinvent rock paper scissors with tattooed weapons on each finger. I'm thinking about getting a two by four with a nail on my finger. That's a good weapon. Oh, a grenade. I'm getting a grenade on my finger!
El Paso Hot Button. Goddamn, this man could rock his shit out. A one man heart breaker, soul taker, and rock n roll maker.
The Chinese Stars. Too much rough housing, and sloppy dancing, and raisins grinding with white trash Heath Ledger Joker makeup floozies.
Anne Marie and Bob's Pumpkin Carving Party of 2008. My first pumpkin carving ever. This is hour two of my pumpkin. I hardly touched my beer and never made eye contact with anyone, save for my five minute breaks.
End result. Top pumpkin is Daniels. Mine is the Party Bat.
Afterward, we went to our friend, Justin's 22nd birthday party. We met some new friends and saw a lot of sloppy fresas. Girls don't seem to care if you walk in on them in the bathroom at a U.N. party. I felt left out without a flag, but I finally got the 50 states.
Saturday, we went to an East Side party where Blaine and Aaron spun. Funny thing about the East Side. Its not anything in conversation. But the drive back from, you begin to talk shit about the place. And it does suck.
*Not a real penis, its plastic. Don't report me!

Its been time, brother

I'm twenty one. Its less than a year from graduation and "fucked" is an understatement.
Sunday Bicycle Society. They sure love The Tap and the Sun Bowl. I recently got the hang of skidding on a bicycle. It'd be funner on a fixed gear.
The undead, the dead, and a cougar. Watch out, young men. This one has big claws!
James and the Giant Fro. Look at the combing action!
Chino's birthday, and no one told me it was a bandanna themed party. I looked like an idiot.
Kenley, you were a vocal bitch, and a saint. But Leanne got the best of us both. Who cares about the other one!
Daniel at Black Market. I saw a lot of people I haven't spoken to in years. Beers were three dollars and up as always!
Sometimes I write my Mom letters explaining why the car won't be parked outside in the morning.
Blaine recently got his first tattoo, by Daniel. It was a double whammy. His love of skating and El Paso.
I finished The Rum Diary. And I'm close to finishing The Road. I last stopped on a page of cannibalism on The Road. I always found cannibalism fascinating but after this book, I'll pass on any impulse during my apocalypse.

You're a Fruit

I've been under the weather lately. Waking up to cobwebs of moco in my nostrils and filling the banister with tissues of colors: white, vanilla, yellow, and green. But at least I'm not HIV positive. This is my attire for when I feel bad. MJ gave me this blanket in the winter of 2005. Thanx, babe. You'll catch me doing a Dracula pose if you live with me.
I started doing caricatures. I have another batch that takes inspiration from Mitch Clem but I'll reveal that one later. I made some back stories for these three gentlemen. Chuck engages in recreation, most notably buying prostitutes during his work break at Red Lobster. Every pay day or when they disperse tips he goes to the back alleys or bad sides of town and gets a lucky toothless lady to unwrap his plantain. Scooter is a petty thief who steals shit he doesn't need. You'll find maxipads, light bulbs, and novelty t-shirts from Walgreens in the trunk of his car. Tick is a retired drug mule that now works at Smash Hit Videos and devotes his extra time to his cat's blog.
Erick, Jessica, and I went to Beck and MGMT. Yasmin was nice to give me a birds view shot of us. You can see me holding an overpriced light beer. They also served five dollar weak margaritas.
Afterward, we went to Marlyn's party somewhere on Los Angeles. Everyone was dancing and making blunts and talking about Beck and MGMT. I was apologizing to everyone that I weirded out earlier at the show.
Jessica and I then took a nice walk to the second Beck/MGMT show downtown. We walked with my Carta Blanca and danced a little. I then bought a lot of Shiners at the coffee shop. I met up with Wolf Motherfucker, and the performers from that show. I was feeling up someone's beard at the show but I don't remember the details. I think it was Blake. Sorry!
MGMT played Electric Feel which I missed at the official show. Beck's guitarist is a cute goddess that is loved by everyone she meets. And Beck is, like, five five. But he seems to love El Paso so god bless that little angel.
This is a goddamn sexy picture of MGMT.
Sunday I joined the boys on their Sunday ride. I thought of it more as a prolonged ride to the Tap, Blaine's idea every time I'm sure. We loitered at the Sun Bowl while everyone on a fixed gear did tricks and stuff. I broke off around Sunset and rode back to my car and headed home for some homework.
Monday I went to see The Mars Volta with my friend, Mark, a number one fan of The Volta, and an ex-Juggalo, and Rick. I met up with Rob, Pete, Taty, and Hola. It was my first time seeing the band and it felt good to pay only fifteen bucks. The drummer was goddamn amazing. However, I wished there were more dance moves on stage like I had been promised on their many Youtube videos.
Danielson is back in town and that means trouble for my liver. I'm excited for the fun times ahead and the many Halloween parties and costumes, and for Soulwax on November 1st.