This is cat’s favorite song for me to sing to her while I put away groceries.

Oooh baby when you cry, your face is momentary. You hide your looks behind these scars.

#cats #misfits #homeimprovement

#photos #technews

360 degrees, wall to wall people. ❤️

#videos #nightmareonchicagostreet

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#photos #photogallery #nightmareonchicagostreet

Pearl likes to come at the water bowl from the hardest angle possible.

#photos #cats

Whenever I see a Ferris Wheel lit up, I think of The Warriors and their Wonder Wheel.

I should visit sometime. It’s one of my mental landmarks.

#photos #ferriswheels #thewarriors

😈 #photos #beakers #halloween

This is United States calling, are we reaching… See he keeps hanging up, and it’s a man answering.

You can never go wrong with Young Lust.

I couldn’t find the actual movie scene on YouTube where the operator says these famous lines but Jennifer Wright — seriously, one of my first celebrity crushes. St. Elmo’s Fire, too.

#missedconnections #pinkfloyd

Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout

The midpoint of the book captures this era of her life. Laura (still known as Tom then) had recently eloped with her second wife, Heather. Against Me! had just released its major label debut, New Wave (2007), which brought newfound fame but also a small army of pissed-off fans who felt they’d been shafted by the leap. The rising profile of Against Me! and the taxing schedule that came with it caused tensions and fights among its members. And on top of it all, Laura wasn’t much caring for the face of the selfish, perpetually hungover prick she saw staring back at her in the mirror every day.

I’d never heard of of Against Me! or of Laura Jane Grace before reading this…and that kinda made me feel like I was out of touch with pop culture. But then again, my head’s already full with music. I’m 44 after all and brand new punk bands reaching critical mass in 2007 were/are probably after my time.

In my teens and well into my twenties, there was plenty of punk blasting on away on my cassettes and CDs. Often times when I listen to punk now, I think it’s too loud. Maybe my hair is too gray.

The interesting things to me in the here and now are the people behind the music. Reading of Laura’s struggles in this VICE article, I was hooked immediately. The way I used to be hooked when hearing that first track off a new CD that I’d been waiting for. I’m eager to get her Tranny book when it comes out in November.

I had no idea what Heather was thinking as we left the scene. She said nothing. We walked in silence along the nearby railroad tracks until it was time to get back to the venue. There were two police cars waiting in the parking lot when we arrived.

Related: I love listening to John Roderick on the Roderick on the Line podcast, love his Instagram and Twitter, love reading his older writings. But I have maybe 1% interest in listening to his band, The Long Winters, the one I’d never heard of until after I came to know him on the podcast.

PS - VICE is worth the printed hard copy subscription.

#musicnews #laurajanegrace #johnroderick

Peeps, this is more for me than you. When I write, it generally is.

So I get frustrated with people. People do things that impact me, negatively and then I go into “MY GOD, how could you not see this?” mode faster than you can yell “rat.”

I get upset to say the least and react, negatively.

When I was much younger I was sure people were doing things out of spite. To hurt me. Because that’s what people did.

When I got older I learned that people weren’t out to get me, that their behavior truly wasn’t about me. I grew up a little bit and found a bigger perspective.

And then when I was driving to work this morning I learned that other people’s behavior has little (nothing) to do with me. Zilch. Nada. Not a fucking thing.

People can be spiteful, sure, but I bet 99% of the time people aren’t even thinking about me when they’re engaging in whatever childish behaviors that I’m saying are hurting my feelings. I’m like the last thing on their mind. Seriously.

They’re just doing what makes them happy. People can be oblivious to emotional dominoes. They’re meeting their own needs, often selfishly. Often with collateral damage.

Maybe they learned that when they were kids because nobody else was meeting those needs. Maybe they’re meeting their own wants. Because wants are fun. Cheap cars, fast thrills, whatever.

The part that twists my heart strings when I take a step back is that way too many people are looking to fill a void and that’s why they’re acting with little to no consideration. It’s not because they don’t care or are looking to hurt someone. They do it because they’re searching for some kind of wholeness. And that’s a powerful drug.

It’s hard for me not to react when people unknowingly step on my toes. I think in furious fumes, “you should’ve fucking known.” I want them to be paying attention because I sure as hell try to.

But then again, I know there’s more than one person reading this that can raise their hand and say, “remember that time you blew me off because you were having a photo shoot with your fucking cat?”

People will often need a gentle scolding now and then, when they’re out of line. Being the better person, that’s what I need to do. I complain that they’re not paying attention to my needs and there I am not paying attention to theirs either. I don’t wanna be that guy.

#lettherebehope