ting ting a ting goes the cymbal

time is rolling downhill over here in holland. i blink my eyes and already it is december 10. i went to berlin 2 weeks ago, a fact that is hard to swallow. i have been busy with school work because we have a lot to do in studio and there is reading to be done for my other class. it is annoying to have a school term that bridges the christmas break into january. all of the joyful momentum of the christmas break is simmered with the realization that you have 3-4 more weeks of school after trying to enjoy your holiday time.

this past saturday was sinterklaas with sinterklaas and his zwarte piet, the comical black men who help him deliver presents to the young ones of holland. there are a lot of funny things about the story so i encourage you to find it on google or something instead of hearing my incomplete version of it. but i wanted to do something fun so i hosted SINTERKLAASHUISFEESTNACHT and invited friends over for some potluck, drinks, and eventually attempts at collage art. the mess is visible in the photo below. i like house parties like this where everybody can talk with everybody else and the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. it made me think of the parties at the tree home that i have missed by being away.



tonight i watched "waltz with bashir" with my cinema class. it is beautifully animated but hideous in plot. it was even stronger because i had no idea about the war events depicted in the film, nothing about the war between israel and lebanon. wow. then i went to rotterdam to hear the stoner drone machine band called brightblack morning light play in a bar there. they are from california sort of and make some hazed out pentatonic drone sounds, with heavy fender rhodes basslines, two drummers, reverb-soaked vocals, and pedals (even harmonium at one point). this set seemed particularly free compared to the restrained versions on their records. nice enough.

now i am packing and preparing because i'm going to barcelona tomorrow until tuesday morning. it will be nice to explore that gorgeous city and even better to see the song again. it hasn't been that cold here but the lack of sunlight is the killer part. it should be yet another adventure. i will report back about the city next week. then i am working to finish things before my very special guest arrives for the christmas holiday. tot ziens, y'all.