An Absolute Treasure

The weekend before last Angela and I flew to Detroit to witness the Electric Six filming a live concert DVD. My most kind brother and his friend Jarod picked us up at our place at 7:50pm and drove us to LAX. We made the mistake of booking a red eye on Spirit Airlines. Red Eye flights after a full workday are already a lesson in pain and humiliation, but Spirit has managed to take the experience to an entirely new circle of hell. I can't imagine the evil genius who managed to design the seat configuration on their planes, but he should be working in enhanced interrogation. Spirit Airlines hates your freedom. By the time you pay for your bag and your water on board you aren't saving any money, but because the fairs appear to be lower when booking online it attracts plenty of broke families with screaming children. At least I assume they were screaming children, when flying Spirit Airlines it might have just been another broken adult gone round the bend.
Our winged torture device took off late, because Spirit Airlines is really not very good at anything except making your travel experience miserable. We were in the air just after 11pm, and we tried our best to sleep. We landed a touch late and began our journey through the Detroit Wayne County Airport. We took a shuttle bus to the Dollar car rental lot. We drove off the lot with our Chevy Malibu just after 7am.
The drive into the big D was interesting, and exciting. You see a few burned out homes east of the freeway, but some very pretty buildings and landscapes as well. Downtown was a bit of ghost town when we arrived so early on a Saturday morning. I was left wondering if the absence of souls had more to do with the day of the week and the time of day or the 62% decline in population over the last 60 years.
Our trip had been planned in a whirlwind and on the cheap, so there were several points where we took chances. The first was with Spirit Airlines, and those with a memory of preceding paragraphs know how well that worked out. the second was deciding on a rental car verse a cab from the hotel. This turned out to be an excellent decision. The biggest chance of all though was booking the Courtyard Marriott for one night only. Saturday night. Check in was scheduled for 3pm and I rolled into town at 8am after hell flight #666. I parked the car out front and approached the counter with much trepidation. I explained to the girl behind the counter that I knew I was crazy early, but I would appreciate it if they could give me a call when my room was ready. She smiled and said "your room is ready now". Thank you Downtown Courtyard Marriott in Detroit. I loved you. They even managed to honor my request for a high floor.

We rode to the 18th floor and walked into our room with this south east facing room.

That's Canada over there. One of the few places in the USA where you can look south to Canada.

This was the view looking the opposite direction, west into downtown Detroit.

We unpacked a bit and headed down to the restaurant for the most soul satisfying breakfast buffet. Bacon, omlette, bagel, sausage and french toast. Carbapalooza and so damn good. After breakfast we took a soak in the hot tub. The hot tub had very much the same view as our room, though a little lower. The pool area was also completely empty. The Marriott very quickly undid the damage to our well being that Spirit Airlines had caused. After our tub we ventured back to our room for a nice 3 hour sleep. We woke up happy and excited and ready to explore.

Our hotel was connected to the GM building across the street by a tunnel and to the rest of downtown by the People Mover We paid our 75 cents and rode the loop around snapping pictures and getting a feel for the city.

After the People Mover ride we walked through the skywalk into the GM building. This is the view of the Detroit river from said building.

As we exited the GM building we were delighted to find it sprinkling outside.

Check out this little asshole.

Downtown Detroit has a lot of public art.

After our river walk we ventured into downtown to find something to eat. We also found a beach in the middle of a public square

We eventually settled on a hole in the wall pizza place called Slices where we had an amazing calzone.

Then it was back to the hotel for some rest and get ready for the show. While relaxing I noticed that the E-six were posting sound check photos to facebook. I couldn't resist walking over to the venue to see if I could hear them. Alas I could not, but I did recognize their well worn van and trailer.

Here are a few more random pics I snapped while wandering. Eventually showtime rolled around and we made our way to Saint Andrews Hall. I loved the venue. The show was amazing and I left feeling like the Electric Six has some of the friendliest fun loving fans you'll meet. I could go into detail but it will soon be available on DVD.

Sunny Sunday Morning. Sunday Morning was the exact opposite of Saturday morning. The Lions had a home game and there were tailgate parties in parking lots all over downtown. Had we been in the mood to tie one on, this would have been a grand day to do it. Instead we found a nice place in greektown for breakfast and checked out of our hotel. This is where the decision to get a rental car would really pay off. From 12pm to 5pm we drove around exploring detroit.

Here begins my photos of the Heidlberg Project

To contrast with the Heidlberg Project we drove 20 minutes north to Gross Point Park, which reminded me very much of LA's hancock park, if it happened to be set alongside a gorgeous river. We had an ice coffee and walked through a street fair. On the drive back we drove around Bell Isle Park.

Last but not least we drove by Motown. Hours later we were back in LA, riding in Devin's car with Dylan in the front seat. Off to meet our pets and prepare for the coming week of work. We had such a wonderful time. I would gladly visit the motor city again. Thanks to the electric six for the lovely time.

Miles stone

450.3 mi Total Distance 100 Total Runs 2113 Supplies Collected 144 Zombies Evaded last month AUGUST 2013 20 runs 97.4 mi distance 14811 calories 17:08:48 time

A Rave New World

Life has been a steadily unsteady. So many good things, and stressful things and flat out fun things. I don't have time to sit here and type it all out and have it make any sense. I'm not being lazy, I just can't. I wanted to check in and say that it's always worth it when you aim a little higher than you did before. Even when you miss in spectacular fashion it's worth every humiliating second. Bill Hicks was right about everything coming down to a choice between fear and love.

Going beyond steady

Electro Shock jock

Tonight I did something I have wanted to do for many years. I ran a sub 2 hour half marathon. Total time 1:43:37 that's an average mile of 7:58

Vivienne

TCB

Kicking out small album related tasks as often as possible. Feels good. I tested a bunch of theories about recording loud things and it's seems there is some confirmation. I'm listening to something that is sort of amazingly rad, but it's a secret for now.

Doctor Dagger

one left

just one more export them I'm done. for this tiny part of a big whole.

Lay Z

I took 5 minutes and exported Hey Citizen tonight.

Channel Batch Export

I'm running down tracks from the Turbo Album so I can transport them the studio here in the apartment, to the studio at the new rehearsal studio. It feels good to have decided to finish the first turbo album, no matter how it turns out it must be completed. I'm ready to write new turbo tunes but I'm holding off, that's not the position that I need to be in. I'm thinking of trying to hold my own feet to the sunshine and forcing myself to list the work I do on the album as I do it. So there, tonight I exported the channel batches for Welcome to the fallout to take to the studio downtown.

The downtown recording set up is trying to remain minimal, tracking only, no mixing. At least not yet.

I also exported the channel batches for American Quicksand.

Angie and I ran through a couple of songs last night, we both felt pretty underwhelmed with the performance.

I ran down "I need a priest" also. JULY 2013 16 runs 76.15 mi distance 11955 calories 13:17:13 time

This I have missed

Acoustic guitar and paper composition.  Nice feeling.

Lettuce Grow

Best Month This Year

JULY 2013 12 runs 64.16 mi distance 10037 calories 11:04:47 time

Mother board swap completed

All is well at the new rehearsal/recording studio.

Romaine lettuce plant

Ok, this thing is about to flower....  What is this?

Guitar rig

Bass tracking

286

Eternalizing

Half a month ago my little sister married a very nice man. To mark the occasion and help celebrate my brother and I and our partner's traveled to Kansas City.

We left on 6/26/13 on a delayed flight out of LAX, there are pictures of us drinking to kill time on this blog below. We arrived eventually and my tired father picked us up and drove us to my parents house in Olathe. There we ate pulled pork sandwiches and capped the night off with one last drink, perhaps 2.

6/27/13 I had gone to bed late and should have slept in but when I heard my sister's voice floating up from the floor below I had to leap from bed and march downstairs to greet her. We spoke of times past and drank coffee and ate some delicious egg dish my mother had prepared. As the rest of my California travelling companions slowly ambled in and got their grub on my dad and I took to the back patio to enjoy Cigars. No simple cigar were these, but in fact he had purchased an entire case of Hawaiian cigars, the same variety that he and I had shared while on Maui several yuletide back.

Olathe, Ks. has a beautiful trail system that I spent a fair amount of time on during the time when I lived there in the early 00s. Though a bit tired and a touch hungover I decided exercise was the best medicine and went off for a run. Thanks to technology you can retrace that run here: http://www.zombiesrungame.com/brandonbodt/1767384/

It was a hot sticky sort of run, but it felt good.

The rest of the day passed us by rather quickly. Angela and I took mom and dad's dog Royal, and my sister's dog Maddie for a short walk. We ate more food and lounged around and soon we were getting ready for Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. Angela and Mom left us to meet up with Adrienne and friends. Dad and Dylan and I were all ready to head out the door on time when we realized that Devin had decided to go shopping with the only available vehicle, and he'd neglected to take his phone with him. I was surprised to learn that Devin's phone wasn't permanently attached to his hand, I had just assumed the two had grown together, like a wire left in the crook of a tree.

Better late then never the 4 of us guys were off to meet Drew, the groom and company at the Brick for dinner. On the way we picked up Jerry, Drew's dad.

The Brick had great food and beer and proved to be a perfect setting for the slow ramp up of festivities. I ordered a famous meatloaf sandwich and loved every bite. The waitress did rib us a little about our low key festivities, but we assured her we were just getting started.

Angela rejoined us after the bachelorette party and we all headed down to the Cigar box for Cigars and drinks. The lubrication must have been taking effect because before I knew what was happening Angela was belting out "That's Amore" with the most excellent lounge singer.

The last stop of the evening for my crew was Harrah's Riverboat Casino, where we enjoyed gambling and indoor smoking. I didn't win anything and I didn't lose anything. Drew taught me somethings about cards that I have already forgotten. It was fun while it lasted but soon I was glad that my brother has taken a year off of drinking and was able to drive us home.

6/28/13

Friday morning came fairly early. I got up and had coffee and breakfast and talked to mom and dad while I shook off the effects of the night before. Again I decided that a run was the best way to regain my handle on the day.

https://www.zombiesrungame.com/brandonbodt/1772697/

I felt like I was swimming more than running, but by the end I had regained composure and I was ready to face the day.

For lunch on this day we enjoyed a delightful casserole which mom's back fence neighbor had been so kind as to prepare.

Sometime in the mid to late afternoon our posse mounted up and headed out for Independence, Ms to settle into the Bed and breakfast which would become our world for the next two nights.

Angela and I were second to check into our room. It was picture perfect and beautiful with a comfy bet and a blasting dose of central air.

Immediately after check in we all sprang into action to set up for the rehearsal dinner. I soon met Ann, the mother of the Groom, and her brother Lee, both of whom would become new favorite people to me. Ann has a sparkly personality which made the wedding that much more fun.

I was excited at the rehearsal dinner to be reunited with Ronnie, and his family. Ronnie was down to perform acoustic guitar ditties prior to the ceremony.

Ann and Jerry provided the BBQ rehearsal dinner, which was just what the stomach needed after a long day of setting up for the wedding. The rehearsal dinner ended at 8pm sharp, because there are rules goddamn it. Having seen everyone off we quickly played a game of croquet, and I of course won.

The groom left the bride this night and went off with his friends so the wedding party that remained formed a circle on the lawn and tried to say as many nice things about the bride as possible. When we had discussed both of those things we moved on to all the bad and embarrassing things we had to say, it was fun and that could have lasted all night long. Better judgment and beauty sleep did finally win out and folks crept off to bed. Dylan and I stayed up a touch longer and took one last walk around the grounds, locking out the world behind us as we crept off to sleep.

6/29/13

Breakfast was at 9am sharp, because there are rules goddamn it. It was good and we needed the fuel because there was a lot of setting up to do for the big day. Most of the morning flew by in a flurry of efficient activity. Dad went out of the way to prove his improvisational repair skills by smashing the glass that protected the collage of photos from Adrienne and Drew's lives, just so that he could replace it with plexi-glass. As always I was impressed.

In the hours leading up to the big moment I tried and failed to catch up on some zzz's. I was simply too excited. I cleaned up and changed so that I could begin the process of greeting guests, many of whom I've not had the good fortune to spend enough time with in the last 10 years.

All guests greeted the show was now on the road.

For me the ceremony began by escorting my mother's left side down the porch stairs and into the yard where the wedding took place.

Angela and Dylan held front row seats and drinks for Devin and I and we took them to watch our little sister join a new family in love. It makes me a little sad to see her with a new last name, but I'm far too happy for her to dwell long on the treasonous act.

I was happy that the wedding was outside, because the sunglasses helped as I tried to make it through the ceremony without publicly crying, too much... The same can't be said for my little sister.

The ceremony was very short and super sweet and before we could rest and catch our breath it was off to the party, where we ate, drank and danced. No mixture of words and emotion could capture the intoxicating effect of the evening, so I will bow out from the description business leaving just the memories of those that were there and the envy of those that weren't. Also 1300 photographs.

The wedding ended at 11pm sharp, because there are rules goddamn it. A quick 35 minutes of work and everything was stowed away and torn down and we could resume the task of floating the kegs. Dad passed out some cigars and our new larger family gathered around to talk about the triumphs and delights of the day. All marveled at the ease with which the production had bee pulled off, leaving our group with just one last spectacular task; removing 23 extensions from Adrienne's hair.

6/30/13

Recovery day started at 9am sharp for breakfast, because there are rules goddamn it. Breakfast was yummy and soon were packed up and crossed the state line back to Olathe.

In the afternoon Angela and Ronnie and I went off to meet a new person, Nico, the daughter of my Bestie Jason. What a cute kid. We had a short visit that consisted of pulling glasses on and off of people's faces which is much more entertaining than it may sound.

Time and location proved to be on our side because our proximity to Adrienne and Drew's house allowed us to make a brief send off for the happy couple as they were headed out the door for their honeymoon. We bid them adieu and headed back to olathe to feast on Long John Silvers.

The evening of recovery day was spent on an impromptu family reunion for my Mother's side at Dave and Busters. Dave and Busters is what we would all be doing every saturday night had the Nazi's won the war, and yet it was a great dinner all the same. I love seeing mom's family and being able to sit all at one table and marvel at how time passes felt right and perfect.

7/1/13 Our final day and one last sad goodbye to the people I love and always miss.

Ma and Pa left Angela and I at the airport in Kansas City and Jennn fetched us at LAX. We immediately drove over to have thai food and thank Jennn for watching our monsters in our absence. After dinner we watched some television with our pets and tried to assimilate back into our lives.

I loved everything about my sister's wedding, from her groom and his friends and family to all the food drinks and fun. I know that she's now embarked on a new adventure and that there will be joy and there will be hardships, yet I know she's up to the task. She will forever be my little sister, but now she is someone's wife.

Mission completed

We need new power!

Turbo rehearsal studio v2

Back at downtown rehearsal 2 after a 10 month absence.   Slowly setting up, much to be done but at least its functional for rehearsal and recording.

Rip Barbara Joan

You are loved and missed

Spike times

Objects in Wait

Travel times

Here we sit, flight is delayed but the bar is open.
Devin, Dylan, Angela and myself.  Yay!

Stats thus far; Zombies, Run!

since 1/9/13

259.19 mi Total Distance

59 Total Runs

1145 Supplies Collected

100 Zombies Evaded

45:25:24 time

40222 cals

#1 Bottled Water x91

#2 Tinned Food x89

#3 Underwear x81

#4 Bandages x78

#5 Trousers x77

#6 Batteries x60

#7 Axe x47

#8 Box of Lightbulbs x47

#9 Mobile Phone x46

#10 Pain Meds x42

#11 Baseball Bat x41

#12 Shorts x40

#13 9mm Ammo x38

#14 Book x37

#15 Sports Bra x37

#16 Shirt x37

#17 Power Cable x36

#18 Radio x36

#19 Kensaido manifesto x32

#20 Tool Box x31

#21 USB Key x30

#22 ChipotleLabs app x26

#23 First Aid Kit x22

#24 Fuel Can x10

#25 Overcoat x6

#26 Trainers x6

#27 Whisky x6

#28 Network Cable x5

#29 Crutches x4

#30 Laptop x3

#31 Car Battery x2

#32 Rifle Ammo x2

#33 Rope x2

#34 Solar Charger x2

#35 Flashlight x2

#36 Antibiotics x1

#37 Insulin x1

#38 Kensaido sword x1

#39 Prescription Pain Meds x1

#40 Rifle x1

to the wire

We've been busy in my world lately, and at times it's been very unpleasant. This morning I was reminded that life is something to be enjoyed not endured and it planted my head back on straight.

Hollywoo!

Shilo

I'm a gardener

Who's @ Fault?

I'm so excited to let Turbo come out and play again. Too much recording in a little room makes Brandon want noise.

Concrete drums

Handy

3d test

Stuff on my cat

Conflicting

I've been reading about current violent conflicts on wikipedia. I complain way too much about stupid things. No one tied me to a tree today and set me aflame.

Being Done

Many preparations are being made. I have a show with Turbo on June 19th. Angela makes her Burlesque re-debut in Long Beach on the 21st. I'm putting the finishing touches on the song Angela is dancing to. It's a big band cover of a well known hard rock song that she commissioned through craigslist. The horns were done fabulously and I just needed to reinforce the drums, mix it and add a bigger ending. I hope to put that to bed this week so that she can have time to work out the performance.
I have a remix project happening for a band out of NYC that Devin and I know from back in the glitter shitting days. I like the song and I get a Who Killed Love? remix out of it in the process. I have a very bad record of finishing mixes and remixes for other people so I hope this goes well.
Turbo is working on a Dream Academy song for a tribute album, Devin was kind enough to do much of the programming already, though I haven't had a chance to load in the project file and take a listen yet. I also assisted Devin Tait and the Traitors in the recording of some live drums for a couple Traitors covers that will appear on the same album.
The Turbo album doesn't need to be mentioned again, but I will add that I've decided based on the drum recording experience listed above to incorporate some actual live kit into the mix.
I do mean to get back to writing short stories soon, but it's been tricky balancing so much as it is.
S no S has sort of surprised me with positive reaction to the new album, so I have been thinking of follow up options. There are so many S no S songs in progress that I was thinking about doing something super ambitious, but I've also been considering going with the current flow and releasing a bunch of singles.

National Bike to Work Day

answers

lets set the scene, open spotify and queue up "desert raven" by jonathan wilson, now go make it lightly rain outside, I'll wait. pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee.

now that we've synced up these key elements I'd like to welcome you to this smooth easy feeling that is bubbling under the shrouded sun, who's simplicity betray's it's gravity. And all over, people suffer, and struggle, and I try and keep this in mind as my life trickles over time. What's a boy to do? I've told myself over the years that a proper reaction to the seeming imbalance in the world is perspective and acceptance. I try and identify what is good in my life, and cherish it, because to me it's not the worst thing that some have so much while other have so little, but to accept your existence as proof of entitlement is.

Time grinds on, and I've started the song over, and I've been interrupted and I've replaced one cup of coffee for another. I'm thinking about ambitious projects, and how to have life between the struggle for subsistence and creation. Actions and repercussion and decisions and consequences all roll by. I spend time asking question which have no answer, or at least not one right answer, because I don't want to miss something.

Would I like to know now, what I will know in another 34 years?

The calendar is grounding me, as I consider what I know of the busy months to come. I won't always have time to think, and I won't always think when I should. I trust my instinct, because I still live, but I hope to rely more on my mind in times to come.