© 1996 Melissa Martinez Photography

© 1996 Melissa Martinez Photography


Photographer: Hristo Shindov

Ethyl Alcohol, Please

  • Penny (as barkeeper): OK Sheldon, what can I get ya?
  • Sheldon: Alcohol.
  • Penny: Could you be a little more specific?
  • Sheldon: Ethyl alcohol ... 40 milliliters.

Dave Matthews and His Band

I know I just recently posted a whole weeks worth of boy band music videos which to most is probably considered one of the biggest stains on music history.  And then there is Dave Matthews.  A lot of people have this “too cool for school,” “that’s so college” attitude about the Dave Matthews Band which apparently makes it bad music.  I have to totally disagree.  Yes, he appeals to a wide audience.  Yes, he has had some chart topping hits but that does not mean he sucks.  It’s that irony of becoming a huge music star and have your song played over and over and over (and over) on the radio that makes me giggle sometimes.  Oh, don’t worry I am totally guilty of it too but only with music that truly does suck. 

Some of the best memories I have were at a Dave Matthews Band concert.  I honestly think it might have been my first concert at the Coca Cola Starplex (which I think is still called the Smirnoff Center).  I was a junior in high-school and I was with a pretty big group of friends.  It was the first time I got a whiff of marijuana.  Yes, I was a super late bloomer.  We were not only smelling grass but sitting on grass.  One of the greatest things about the Starplex was that half of the amphitheater was lawn seating.  At this concert it started to rain which made it even more memorable.  People were dancing all of the place all high and shit.  It was awesome.

My girl friends and I even traveled to the Woodlands just north of Houston to see him.  Come to think of it, it rained at that show too.  There was this amazing lightening show going on behind the concert.  The venue in the Woodlands was also an amphitheater and we were sitting on the lawn.  My friends and I were dancing in the mud getting all dirty and high and shit.  Wait!  We weren’t high, but tons of other people were.  It must be something about the venue.  Outside lawn seating.  Who would’ve thought it was lend itself to some serious smoking?  

I love it when he comes on over my speakers.  He even says my name in one song.  Well it’s not one of his songs but he did a cover of the Allman Brothers’ song, “Melissa.”  Sends chills down my back when I hear him sing that song.  Also, who wouldn’t love a guy who is quoted as saying, “I am a lover of women.”  I think I read that in Rolling Stone Magazine.  I never skip through a song and sometimes I even purposely hit play on one of his songs as I sit down to my computer.  While I may retrospectively have some shame on liking boys bands so much, such is NOT the case with Dave Matthews and his band.

#CurrentlyListeningTo a straight and heavy dose of Dave Matthews Band


[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

DONT SLEEP ON ME SHAWTY ! ! !*

45 plays


If you dream of something worth doing and then simply go to work on it and don’t think anything of personalities, or emotional conflicts, or of money, or of family distractions; it is amazing how quickly you get through those 5,000 steps.
Edwin Land (creator of Polaroid and fellow Taurus!)

(Source: mikeschreiber)


A new photo study I’m calling “Dead Spaces”


John Steinbeck on Falling in Love: A 1958 Letter

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:


We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.


First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.


Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.


You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.


But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.


Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.


The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.


If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.


Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.


It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.


Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.


We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.


And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.


Love,


Fa