I Love Ping Pong

Austin, TX Thuan's Place Ping Pong. That's all I have to say; it's a leisure activity for me now. Thuan bought a professional $20 ping pong paddle hoping he would beat me. I'll tell you this, technology doesn't work on me my friend. The weather is my best friend thus far. Why can't it be like this everyday? I want to take advantage while I can before I'm only left with remnants of memories. I have an itch now. Time to scratch it.

Music Reason and Emotion

August 25, 2005 - Friday

Wheatsville Co-op -- Austin, TX

I am asked to show how I feel. How interesting is all I cansay. Austin is unique, that is a definite. I do belong here, yet I am bombarded. I am happy to have moved back here] with information, I am no longer bored, if anything, overwhelmed. There are so many ways of approaching life here, in Austin, I begin to lose my perspective. Initially, I came down here to pursue music, that was my approach, my final destination, performing cover music at coffee shops and open-mics, which, I no doubt will achieve, If I choose, that excited me coming down from Dallas.

It still does, [Oh, god pretty girls everywhere here in Austin, & my type, too! I think. Has what is important changed any? Slightly. The emotional 2 the extreme experience is now not only pure emotional stimulation (fun) but also purpose; a reason for the work. Reason just became more important than the emotional experience. For strong reason will bring strong emotions! Thus our answer to why we do not have emotional success...no reason to feel excited.

In The Scene of ThinGs

PainTer Hall -- AusTin, TX
12:45 A.M.

I ought to be sleeping but find it necessary to jot down my thoughts and feelings. Tonight, I had a chance to "jam" with a complete stranger and fellow "blues" musician. I ran into Louis coming from work at Madam Mam's, a Thai outfit on campus. He drove me to the lake, (dude, that sounds both gay and scary) which I felt uneasy about initially but relaxed as time passed and I got to know him a litter better.

Tuns out, he's crunk on the guitar, phenomenal, making me feel a variety of emotions. First, it was beautiful to be by the lake under the willows with the water strumming along softly along with the rhythms of his guitar (i think i fell in love...oh, brother) Listening to Louis makes me think about my goals with music and if I could stick these three months pursuing it. Learning guitar reminds me of the past when I was just beginning to get to know Shristi. It was a cold feet submersion. a kind of "don't look, just jump" approach. In the mornings I play Incubus' "Whatever Tomorrow Brings..." everyday. Yea...*self-nodding

Making Music

July 13, 2005 - Thursday

Music In RouTe -- Amarillo, TX Making Music

It's been a good week since I've made an entry. Seems funny how we tend to write when we have something to share. This weekend I spent in Amarillo, TX. A friend of mine got married. It was an overall pleasant experience. In the context of pursuing music, I was asked by the bride to play/perform Elvis Presley's, "Only fools rush in". I gladly agreed and even volunteered a cousin of hers to do it "duet" with me. For you musically illiterate, that does not mean what you think it means.

All it means is that two people get to make music together...I'll stroke my guitar, grunt some lyrics, and she would hit the high notes. Well, from the audience's feedback, I got limited success, but success, nevertheless! I got several compliments from my friends; made me feel good. Some people even laughed at my corney jokes! sweet! I was pretty excited to hear their applause in the beginning when I got on the stage. Kind of encouraging. However, when I finished, I did not recieve the same enthusiastic response. Kind 'of discouraging.

Being the ever-self-critical artist, I kept thinking after the performance that I messed up here and there. I had a good time on stage and so did my "music-mate". She was soooooooo cute. Dang!

Dallas > Austin

Dallas Public Library--Dallas, TX (dhur?!)

Whew. Deep breathe. I started a new journey today. What do I mean? Well, it so happens that Richland College is short on funds this summer and will not have a second summer session which means there will be no campus life. Initially, I thought of returning to Austin. Campus life is always kicking in Austin. However, after talking with my little sister, I made a compromise to try and stay in Dallas but see if another college atmosphere can keep me happy and stimulated.

So today, I headed downtown to a community college called "El Centro". What a cool name for a college, huh? Well, the campus is pretty neat. I definitely like the atmosphere that surrounds the campus...pedestrians walking about, highrises that seem to go into the sky forever, the sounds of construction crews refurbishing roads..sounds of Life and production. Still, it does not come close to UT life. I know summers are slow at any campus around the nation, but at UT seems to retain it's vibe way past midnight. Well, comrades, I gotta scoot my boot. Leave me a comment when you get a chance. Until we meet again...Dao...signing out!