Tuesday (Weekend roundup)

It's great being busy.

But man, am I busy!

Tremendous apologies for last night's absence. I know you all wait with bated breath for my weekend adventures. Please recognize my sarcasm (Unless you really like me that much - then thank you!).

Thursday night launched me into a sleepless marathon with the Repeal Prop 8 benefit show at The Smell. I attended to show my support and to see and photograph VOICEsVOICEs, and I ended up seeing a lot of really cool music.

I also experimented with the black and white settings on my camera to varying degrees of success.

Grant from Echo Curio played music from his Sleepwalkers Local project - a one man sample show featuring dreamy discordant guitar tones and keyboards. It suited the dreamy haze I had just walked out of at home.

Paloma Palfrey performed next, sharing music and poetry with raw passion. I found her pieces moving and her courage to bare her emotions inspiring. It's easy to turn jaded about something like that, but I resisted the postmodern urge, and found myself rewarded.



ilo mar followed and I loved the way the drummer played, rolling over the drums as he was moved by the music. It was a sound I'd never heard before. It almost didn't work with the guitar and the singer's quiet voice, but somewhere in the chaos, music synthesized.

VOICEsVOICEs followed and I know I say this every time, but they just keep getting better and better. Jenean pounded something primitive out of those drums, it's the most amazing powerful sound ever, really raw and really driving.



The night closed with blackblack, who are something of an indie favorite I believe. I found their childlike music infectious and their whimsy - bordering on affected - was ultimately irresistibly charming.

I just had to switch to color to shoot them!



The downtown night was so pleasant I couldn't resist hanging out. I knew the consequences would be steep, but the moment felt so good. So I went with it and called a friend up, making new friends and chatting about bikes until two in the morning.



Friday night I planned on a VOICEsVOICEs encore with We Are The World, but I accidentally overslept and woke up just in time to fly out my door to Dance to the Underground.

Like his prior parties, Ben again put on one of the best vibes I've ever been to. Excellent choice in location, excellent choice in security, excellent choice in decoration, and excellent choice in music.

In fact, I am helping out with a photo shoot for his oprstu t-shirts tonight. Stay tuned for the shoot!







Got home as the sun was coming up, slept three hours before my mom called me to let me know she had arrived....

With my chairs!

Which are sooo beautiful and make me so happy every time I look at them! I will show you some time, maybe tomorrow.

Thanks mom!

Saturday night I moseyed over to Brandon's housewarming party, where I was greeted with warmth, food, and friends I'd made the night before. Brandon's apartment is likewise scarcely furnished!

Sunday night I attended yet another housewarming party at Jenean and Nico's new pad. Made a lot of new friends and reunited with my boys Not The Government (Minus Tyler - very sad!) - and it felt so good! It had been a while - too long - and the embraces we exchanged were tight and extended.

Voice on Tape shared a few songs with wth us, and for the first time ever in my lifetime of listening to music I found myself thinking, "His voice is absolutely beautiful!"

Monday night found me rushing to dump the weekend's photographic evidence onto my computer, curating, editing, and uploading almost a thousand pictures. In addition to fixing a flat (I got new hybrid tires from my dad - which are so choice - but that's another story.) (Thanks Dad!), I had a friend over and a spur-of-the-moment photo gig for Big Lovin' Panda.

I hopped on the 'Hog to hit up Crane's here in Hollywood. The space is a photographic dream come true, and I again experimented with the black and white settings on my camera, honing in on an appealing aesthetic.



And now I am back and it's already Tuesday night!

This coming weekend will be devoted to sleep!

Did I ever tell you much I adore catching moments like this?:



I find these images so endearing, exquisite, and ultimately ephemeral.

And remember to CALL IN GAY TOMORROW!

Here is the official business:

In a historic election, America voted for its first African-American President.
But opponents of full equality for another minority were also successful across the Nation.

It's time to take a stand for FULL EQUALITY for ALL AMERICANS, including the LGBT Community!

45 States ban gay marriage in some form.
30 states ban gay and lesbian employment protection
16 states are planning to ban gay adoptions and fostering.
Civil Unions are denied the 1100 Federal benefits of marriage.

Join us on December 10th, International Human Rights Day.

STRIKE! Take the day off, close your business, or call in sick. (unless you may get fired because you are gay or lesbian)

BOYCOTT! Don't buy anything, spend money or support the economy.

PARTICIPATE! Don't stay home! To volunteer, petition or protest, go to adaywithoutgays.com.
(If you live in CA, go to couragecampaign.org to find out how to help overturn Prop 8.)

In a sign of solidarity, HappyLand will be closed for the day tomorrow.

Equality for all!