I wish I had a Sylvia Plath
Busted tooth and a smile
And cigarette ashes in her drink
The kind that goes out and then sleeps for a week
The kind that goes out on her own
To give me a reason, for well, I dunno

And maybe she’d take me to France
Or maybe to Spain and she’d ask me to dance
In a mansion on the top of a hill
She’d ash on the carpets
And slip me a pill
Then she’d get pretty loaded on gin
And maybe she’d give me a bath
How I wish I had a Sylvia Plath

And she and I would sleep on a boat
And swim in the sea without clothes
With rain falling fast on the sea
While she was swimming away, she’d be winking at me
Telling me it would all be okay
Out on the horizon and fading away
And I’d swim to the boat and I’d laugh
I gotta get me a Sylvia Plath

And maybe she’d take me to France
Or maybe to Spain and she’d ask me to dance
In a mansion on the top of a hill
She’d ash on the carpets
And slip me a pill
Then she’d get pretty loaded on gin
And maybe she’d give me a bath
How I wish I had a Sylvia Plath

12:07 AM me: how did you know it is my birthday?
Kerry: my space. ya know, they flag you for your birthday, and let me know a week in advance. plus, i’m awesome.
me: plus, you’re psychic
Kerry: its your birthday now, so happy birthday now!
me: oh yeah. happy birthday me.
12:08 AM Kerry: yeah, plus that too, i s’pose
and youre home? no birthday eve out?
me: no birthday eve
12:09 AM Kerry: it was my friends birthday tonight, beer and shuffleboard at a local watering hole
me: thanks for my present
sounds fun. I wish I knew a shuffleboard place round here
Kerry: for sure. have you listened yet?
12:10 AM me: i haven’t yet. I’m saving it for later today
after work I’ll put it in the cd player and rock out in my car.
12:11 AM Kerry: you should find one. it was fun. and then I came home and found my ryan adams tickets in the mail. hooray!
me: hurray. where is he playing?
Kerry: do it. its not really rockin, some are. and a little mellow. its a combination of all my favs.
12:12 AM me: well, I’ll sit in my car and chill out.
oh, gosh, know who I saw this saturday?
12:13 AM Kerry: you should tell me.
me: well…
I was sitting at home, hot and muggy, and doing nothing, browsing some websites, whatever
not having anything to do
12:14 AM and I see that the Rentals are playing in San Francisco
in 20 minutes
so I book it out there
12:18 AM Kerry: ok, this saturday?
12:19 AM me: The Rentals.
Kerry: i dont know them. good i take it by the oh gosh?
12:20 AM me: yes. very good. very nerd rock. 3 moog synths and some trumpets and violin
it was their first tour in 5 years
Kerry: nice
me: i found out 20 minutes before they were playing in SF. i book it up there. and its a great show.
Kerry: i will for sure check into it
12:21 AM me: yes. do it. i may have to make you a cd now.
Kerry: how far away are you from the city?
oh, you should.
me: 20-30 minutes
Kerry: that is a good idea
me: i’ll do it
but i think I’ll need your address
oh wait, dumb
i have it from your letter
12:22 AM Kerry: ooooohh, yes, thats right
and if it takes you a few months, ill understand.
me: ha. alright. thanks in advance.
12:23 AM i’ll to put it together tomorrow
i’ll try
12:24 AM so, it was a miracle that I found a parking spot by the concert venue in SF before the show started
Kerry: i bet. where was it at?
me: the theatre is in a real bad area of town.
at this place called the Great American Music Hall of Van Ness
off
12:25 AM Kerry: van ness?
me: yeah, so I’m parellel parking and this bum is directing me into the spot
its a street
a big long one
Kerry: right, its off van ness?
me: the venue is off Van Ness and OFarell
yes
anyway, this bum is directing me into this spot and jumping up and down
12:26 AM its a pretty common thing, they ask for money afterwards for helping you find the spot, even though they did nothing
Kerry: love that bum. did you give him a tip?
me: i get out, put on my coat (cause its cold in the city)
and I don’t give him a tip, because the first thing he asks for is $100,000
12:27 AM to buy a house and hookers he says
Kerry: whoa. thats a bit steep for a parking spot.
me: yeah yeah.
Kerry: hookers. you for sure want to support THAT
and 100,000 isnt going to get him much of a house in marin county
12:28 AM me: and I would have, but he went out of line with the house part… cause sheesh who can buy a house in SF for $100,000?
the hookers sure, but come on
Kerry: for real
me: anyway, i’m walking towards the venue
the guy keeps pestering me for $100,000
for the hookers for the hookers
12:29 AM do I want to see a strip show (this is that part of town) cause his buddy will get me in
no, i don’t of course I just want to go to my concert
he follows me up a couple blocks to the line
always pestering me for $100,000
Kerry: are you looking like $100,000? cause that might explain it.
12:30 AM me: Im looking like a $50 H&M courderouy jacket and a tshirt that says, “my baby got stole by a bear holding a shark” and some jeans good
but not $100,000
12:31 AM Kerry: nice shirt
me: but I banter back right. I’m a nice guy I don’t tell him to get lost, but I only have $20 and I know I have to spend it to get into this show
even when he drops his price to $5 i can’t give it
Kerry: which, thankfully for you is not sold out
12:32 AM me: yeah. i’m lucky it isn’t. that would have sucked. i would have had to beg my way in.
cause its the Rentals
and its their first show in 5 years
Kerry: it is indeed
me: anway, hes hanging out with me in line
12:33 AM which is cool
because I was there alone and the guy is kind of funny asking me for $100,000
and I have a pretty good banter going back and forth
12:34 AM anyway, I don’t give him any money and i would have, really, cause the show ended up onl being $15
but he starts threatening me
there’s this line that I’m standing in
and there are 47 people in this line the bum says (I asked him to count for me)
and I’m number 46 he says
12:35 AM lucky me he says
Kerry: of course, he may as well be of some use
me: I’m going to gaurd this line for you he says
and thats cool
but we’re standing in this line and he’s getting antsy for his $100,000
he can’t wait anymore
12:36 AM Kerry: which you are definately a possible bank for
me: seriously.
he says if I dont give him some money right now he’s going to let two people cut
Kerry: oooooooohhh!
me: that means I’d be out of the concert. cause he says there are only 47 tickets left.
12:37 AM Kerry: snap
me: and 47 people and he’s gonna let two cut cause I won’t give him $100,000 right now
12:38 AM Kerry: but you won, cause you saw them
me: and now the story is over, cause he went away
and I saw the Rentals
Kerry: that was a very good story
me: becuase I paid another bum who was scalping tickets
and I went right in
Kerry: i’m impressed at how you held your own
you did what??
12:39 AM me: yeah. so I just told you that story. not such a good ending. but I felt like telling it.
Kerry: so, did they sell out, or did you just not have to wait in line that way?
me: they sold out. but I bought the other bum’s ticket
i was lucky
Kerry: and it did NOT cost you $100,000
12:40 AM you saved yourself $985,000 that night
no
me: true, but I did miss out on the house and hookers.
Kerry: $99, 985
12:41 AM me: yes. good math.
Kerry: well, you werent going to get any of it anyway, you think he would have shared? from his threats/ ultimatums, it doesnt sound like hes the sweet or thankful type
12:42 AM me: yeah thats true. i probably would have given him his $100k and he would have locked me out of his house full of hookers.
and i’d have been like, “man, I knew I shouldn’t have given that guy my $100,000 dollars”
12:43 AM Kerry: you shouldnt have. you could have bought a door in SF yourself for that 100k
12:44 AM me: yes i could have
do you ever go to concerts by yourself?
Kerry: i’ve only been to a few.
12:45 AM me: a few concerts, or a few by yourself?
i’m assuming the latter?
Kerry: for a while i was doing all kinds of things alone. i feel like i learned how to be alone this winter.
i few by myself. a lot of shows
12:46 AM me: did you rock harder when you were by yourself?
did you dance?
dance harder?
12:48 AM Kerry: i did dance. i dont know if i did anything harder tho. its good, becuase you can go whereever, squeeze into a space thats only enough room for one, rather than having to deal with whomever you came with
me: yeah. that too. but I always feel more free when I’m alone.
i don’t really care about the people I don’t know around me.
its pretty fun.
12:49 AM i dance and act like like an idiot. where as, I might be embarrassed to do that in front of someone I know.
Kerry: i feel like when you do things alone, the experience is that much truer, because everything is left up to you, to feel and think and do however you please. true of art shows, movies, concerts, etc.
me: yes, thats put wonderfully
12:50 AM Kerry: i had to be alone to learn that. and im glad i did.
12:51 AM me: good. i think its a good thing to learn. but you also learn why its not so good to be alone too.
Kerry: yeah. i learned that.
me: i really would have enjoyed having someone there with me to share it all with.
cause whats the point if you keep it to yourself?
Kerry: yup
me: thats why I’ve kept my website
12:52 AM thats why I’m telling you my story about the bum and the concert. much more fun to share.
Kerry: and i tend to be one who wants to share things. experiences, thoughts; to have someone to talk about it with, to exclaim my excitement to, and who understands, becuase they were there with you
12:53 AM kept, but not updated?
me: yes. kept. not updated.
i’ve posted a few things recently
this past week
Kerry: really, ill have to go look
12:54 AM me: I think the next iteration of my website should look like this: http://explodingdog.com/the_walk/0.html
Kerry: plus, i think its good to get things out there sometimes, even if only a few people ever read it. put it out into the void
12:55 AM me: yeah. a lot of people used to read my website. back in the day I had this daily journal thing where I would take a camera everywhere
and take pictures of everything
Kerry: is that your photo?
me: and write about my entire day
Kerry: shoot, everyday? thats a bit of work
12:56 AM me: yeah it was
i kept it up for a pretty good while too
Kerry: your story telling is very good
when was that?
12:57 AM me: your letter writing is very good. i was very very happy to recieve such a quality letter. such a well reasoned argument why I should like Ryan Adams.
the website? eh, 5 or 6 years ago.
Kerry: well thank you. i like letters.
and reasons why.
12:58 AM me: reasons why you should visit San Francisco August 22nd:
a) its colder than San Diego
Kerry: i’m not very good on the phone, and I tend to keep in better contact though letters, i think they are so much easier
12:59 AM me: b) thats only 1 month away
Kerry: it would feel like fall, and I could wear my new fall sweaters and jackets
me: c) a train up the coast is romantic
d) i know this is a lie and i know the truth of it
Kerry: but i am working, tho thinking about taking a weekend journey somewhere
1:00 AM me: (the seats are hard and the woman snoring across the aisle has a beard)
e) golden gate park
f) the hippies in Golden Gate park that bang their drums every saturday
Kerry: i dont think it is that much of a lie, a train up the coast could be romantic, and a time to read, write and think. plus, if i’m not driving, and esp if its not up the 5, then things are better
1:01 AM i love golden gate park
me: g) buffalo
h) twin peaks and hot chocolate
1:02 AM i) thai food
and thats about all I got right now
you
‘re a much better reasoner
1:03 AM Kerry: have you made it to the DeYoung yet?
1:04 AM me: no, but thats a good one
j) DeYoung
Kerry: buffalo? twin peaks and hot chocolate?
me: did you know there are buffalo in the park?
Kerry: thai food is one of my favorites. you make a compelling argument.
no, i did NOT.
me: yeah. there are.
1:05 AM i can show you.
its towards the very back near the sea.
Kerry: hmmm. perhaps i may have to make a trip.
but for now, 1:00 is my cutoff, and I should get to bed.
me: I was thinking twin peaks cause thats just such a cool place and then hot chocolate because its so ridiculously cold up there
Kerry: oohhh, i see. mmmm.
1:06 AM me: well goodnight. thanks for spending the first hour of my birthday with me.
Kerry: happy birthday, thanks for spending the first hour of your birthday with me. :]
goodnight, and until we meet again…
me: yes yes. until then.
1:07 AM Kerry: meanwhile, have a listen tomorrow, perhaps with a good beer.
but not while you’re driving
me: haha.
Kerry: goodnight.
me: goodnight

Nhu,

I’ve glad you’ve asked. Yes, I have recomendations for where to go in Spain. Go everywhere. Miss nothing.

To the northeast where the wind blows hard but the climate is mild, is Barcelona. The wealthiest city in Spain, cosmopolitan, arrogant, catalan. Home of Gaudi, Miro, Dali, butifarra, catalan, youth, las ramblas, and europe’s artistic and modern cultural renaissance. This is Barcelona. Just to the north is la costa brava. Avoid everything but Cadaques. Please see cadaques. Wind swept and roman terrace sculped mountain sides. Monserrat if you have time.

Further south but hugging the east coast is Valencia. Paella, paella, mar y mariscos, las fallas, and the sea. Oh Valencia by the sea. Firecrackers all the time. Passing through a war zone of firecrackers and burning effegies during las fallas. But always paella. A woman drives by with a large paella dish in the back of her car. The seat has to be folded down its so large and the heat from its steamed muscles blankets her windows in fog. Valencia by the sea. Cool wine poured down a dry throat. Valencia by the sea.

In land to Madrid and the heart of Spain. Very much a capital city. Cookie cutter, palaces, commerce, and descisions. You have to dig deep in Madrid. Maybe around a corner and up an alley, find a group of young spanish kids and Madrid comes alive. Dinner at 10pm, a nap, out at 12 midnight, coming home at 7am with legs already worn from dancing and your head heavy from wine and spanish women, the streets already swept and wet from the street cleaners, the men in yellow jumpsuits with the firehoses who spray the streets at night are in bed with their dark skinned wives. No shame, your sins are already tucked in bed. Cruising gran via, stop for a chocolate, see the palace, and read The Sun Also Rises in Place Espana. Then 4 hours by train to anywhere else in Spain.

And stretching wide with open arms across the south, the whole south, in the form of a deep smile is Andalucia, the real Spain. So spanish with the Flamenco, the enthusiasm for a matador in the ring slaughtering his first bull, tapas and the best red wine and gazpacho gazpacho, tomatoes so red. Buy a dollar drink in Granada and get a plate of green chiles and 3 croquetas for free. To seville for flamenco and the unbearable heat in the summer, this is home of the siesta which was created out of necessity from the heat. Life stops at 2pm and starts again at 6pm. You can go west to Cadiz where the spanish language takes on a life of its own. People are so laid back that they don’t even bother to pronounce the last half of their words. Siesta is a religion, the beaches are long, and life is good. Rhoda for more bull fights and Tarifa for more wind and a taste of the rock of gilbralter. Avoid the costa del sol as its a continual tourist trap for english and german fat tourists.

I could continue up the west along Portgual. Cut west for a taste of portugeuse, the most undeveloped western european state or hard hard east for La Mancha, the windmeals, and Don Quijote. Keep going north.

In the west above Portugal are 50 marsiscos for a dollar. Everything tastes like the salty sea and people speek in old Gailic. Days are overcast and the people simple. Stay and enjoy the seafood and the tiny towns. Its the most underdeveloped part of Spain. Further east to the mountains and rock climbing, river rafting, and the Spanish woods. We’re almost back to where we started.

Basque country! The funny people in the stripped shirts and berreis. Pass through Bilbao but San Sebastian is so gorgeous. It has the highest concentration of bars per square meter in Europe, probably the world. You eat better than you ever have in San Sebastian. The basque know food, food and extremism. Take a swim in the half moon bay at night. Go skinny dipping, the beach is nude anyway and you’ll feel free. Surf if you want, its the best surf in Spain. Take a hike up to one of the old pirate lookout fortresses on the hill. Its everything you want from a vacation.

Along France through the Pierenees, up to Andorra for a day of shopping and gambling. Almost home to Barcelona.

Nhu, everything in Spain is great. I’ve just waxed idiotic but you get the idea. I love it all. Barcelona for the art and the arrogance, Madrid for the nightlife, Valencia for the sea and Paella, Andalucia for the spanishness of it all, Galicia for the salt and the grey and the simple life. Basque country for the radical ideas of a fading people and the food.

Enjoy Spain Nhu. Please tell me all about it.

Gabe