pretty things, that make me smile:
Tibetan Prayer flags blowing in the wind… A prayer flag is a colorful panel or rectangular cloth often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas to bless the surrounding countryside or for other purposes. Unknown in other branches of Buddhism, prayer flags are believed to have originated with Bön, which predated Buddhism in Tibet. Traditionally they are woodblock-printed with texts and images… we have some hanging on our back porch, but I want more, because they make me happy.
The lyrics to Yes, I will… because I do believe that what you sing to the clouds will rain upon you when your sun, has gone away. And I believe, that what you dream to the moon will manifest, before you rest, another day. So stay strong, and sleep long when you need to let the mornin’ take you right on through the day And when you find you’re at the end of the road just lift your head up spread your wings and fly away. Franti is the man and he can ask me 1000 times “How I’m Feeling” and I’ll still answer.
Garden State… I honestly don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times I have watched the movie and its good every, single, solitary time. I enjoy it because its life, real life, “and sometimes it fuckin’ hurts, but it’s sort of all we have.” I can’t believe it came out in 2004, it seems so long ago.
Perpetual Groove… if you haven’t seen them, go see them, you can thank me later… and you will.
This guy from Railroad Earth… when he plays he smiles and he has an amazing smile. Not to mention, Railroad Earth is amazing. I saw them first in a late night festival slot. I decided against raging electronic music and made my way to the stage where RRE was playing. It was magical. They played Black Bear and I felt like I was floating, along with the others in the crowd, to this amazing song. I love their music and their lyrics. They are a combination of bluegrass/jamgrass/celtic melodies. I used the word “amazing” to describe them, because they are. Hopefully I got my point across.
Blublockers… Guarantee that you look “cool” (thanks Chad!)
Walt Whitman… a portion of the preface to Leaves of the Grass was sent to me by a dear, dear friend. Hand written on the inside of a beautiful card, it still hangs on my refrigerator, as a constant reminder of their knowledge it holds:
This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.
