http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyCi4CMD29w

Let’s Dance To Joy Division by The Wombats

1. I think I mentioned that I’m cat sitting my son’s cat - Kiko - while Matt is in Hawaii with his mom
2. It has been an educational experience
3. I’m certainly a cat person, I much prefer them over dogs
4. I haven’t lived full time with a cat (or indeed, any pet) since my last cat Shadow died many years ago
5. I figured this three week period would be a good trial to see if my lifestyle would accommodate a cat
6. It has but it required a lot of adjustments I’m not sure I want to make and introduced more stress than I’m used to
7. Cats can be whiny and needy… I’m just saying!
8. And Kiko at least, feels and demonstrates emotions quite well
9. And he’s quite an affectionate cat, loves people… especially at 3am when he just HAS to have a snuggle
10. He’s also taught me to think twice about dangling my hand over the edge of the bed, apparently it makes for an irresistible cat toy
11. I’m pretty sure he forced me to clear off several window sills so he’d have a place to sit and watch what’s going on outside
12. I’m still vaguely disturbed at how much time he spends sitting and staring at blank walls… there is NOTHING there. I think he’s messing with my mind!
13. The whole experience has caused me to rethink if I’m really willing to put the effort into maintaining a relationship at all at this point… human or feline.

Very Important Cat Things by Neil Zaza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cim6jjC2aZk

I’m So Sick (T-Virus Remix) by Flyleaf

And yes, I am watching zombie movies as I huddle on the couch hoping for sweet, sweet oblivion…

What sound or noise do you love?
I love being up early, before the neighborhood starts to wake up. When it’s warm like it has been this week in Seattle, I love to sit here in the morning with the windows open and listen to the sounds of summer outside. Birds, insects buzzing around, very peaceful.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Hmm, I can’t think of any particular noise that raises the hair on the back of my neck. I guess I don’t like traffic noise, construction, car alarms, things like that. Anything that interrupts my peace!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I really would like to write more. Either by expanding my current writing gigs doing movie reviews (I wouldn’t mind expanding into doing official music reviews for example) or starting to write fiction more seriously.

What profession would you not like to do?
That’s a good question. I’ve done some pretty nasty jobs growing up (garbage collection in the deep South, cleaning out a septic tank) so I’m pretty thankful to be a “professional” now. That said, I don’t think I’d like a job where I didn’t get a chance to exercise my mind and creativity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSpO14dff5U

Fort Hood by Mike Doughty

And it is shining in Seattle. Summer has finally arrived! The last few days have been gorgeous.

I stumbled over this video this morning doing research for a writing/photography gig later this summer. I wangled an editorial assignment to cover the Bumbershoot for a web-based outlet. I’ve applied for my press credentials, hopefully that goes smoothly!

Mike Doughty is one of the artists I’m most looking forward to seeing. Also Flobots and The Offspring. Did I mention that William Gibson is going to be there as part of their literary program?

I can’t wait!

http://twitter.com/vladmeb

http://www.vimeo.com/1246188

There was  one tiny bit of excitement while riding today. The nice, shiny new road from Neah Bay to the Cape Flattery trail head has one corner that for some reason is coated with sand and gravel. This is a very bad combination for a motorcycle! This short clip demonstrates just how interesting taking a corner when there is no traction can be. Well, technically it could be more interesting but that would involve crashing and I try to avoid that! This was exciting enough, trust me!

Blah, blah, blah… home safe, etc. Photos here… video this weekend!

(Perfect weather, fantastic ride, and now the weekend actually begins! I love it!)

Bet you can’t guess what I’m doing! What? You there — in the back — what was that? That was sarcasm wasn’t it?

Fine, fine… so it’s no big surprise. I’m hitting the road… again! Leaving this afternoon to hook up with a friend and we’re taking the bikes out to the Olympic Peninsula. We’ll overnight as his parent’s house in Sequim, WA and then tomorrow head out to Neah Bay. We went last year but the road to Cape Flattery (the furthest northwest point of the contiguous United States) was closed for repaving. It’s supposed to be open now, so we’re going to go find out!

I should be home sometime Friday afternoon. Looks like the weather is going to be absolutely perfect. And I’ll have the whole rest of the weekend to do something else. I love it!

Let’s Dance to Joy Division by The Wombats

The Supreme Court made history today by finally ruling on the ultimate interpretation of the Second Amendment. In a 5-4 vote, the Court ruled that the 2nd established an individuals right to own firearms for self defense and hunting. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit brought against the District of Columbia protesting their blanket handgun ban.

While it wasn’t stated in official court documents, clearly the justices recognize the looming zombie threat and took action to ensure that the tools to survive are available to the general populace. This would be a good time to review your zombie action plan and make updates as necessary.

In all seriousness, this is one of those issues I swerve conservative on. I enjoy target shooting and own a variety of firearms. I learned to shoot in high school, it was part of my ROTC curriculum. I can remember walking through my neighborhood with my friends, all of us carrying our .22 rifles to a nearby quarry to shoot. No one looked at us twice, it wasn’t a scary thing then.

I don’t believe that firearms are any more widely available now than they were then, but I don’t remember anyone in my high school being shot. Over the years, the guns haven’t changed so it must be society that has become different. There seems now to be a more pervasive fear of guns. It mystifies me given the overwhelming data that shows that you are far more likely to be killed by your car or your doctor than my gun.