Georgia was partly wonderful and significantly too long. Sorry ma. I fought with my father in the most good-natured way possible--for us--and that's an acomplishment. Of sorts. Hailey actually drove the car with me in it, something I swore years ago would never happen. It was just as terrifying as I had expected, too. Goddamnit. She nearly merged into a cadillac downtown. We saw the aquarium. I have aquarium pictures now. With fish.

More people than fish, really. It makes quite a statement, if you're into that sort of thing.

W and I saw Cat Power at the Aladdin! It was the best show I've ever been to, and the very first one I've seen in Portland. (Probably my 5th? overall.) I told myself that when I got here I would start going to shows, as Portland is a very "go to shows" kind of town. But until a few days ago, nothing had really interested me. I happened to glance through the paper at work and saw that Cat Power was playing, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, and I nearly cried because I'm retarded and got the dates wrong. After I'd sorted that out, I went right out and bought the fucking tickets.

It's generally agreed that Cat Power is notoriously bad (read: unpredictable) live. She's either feeling it or she's not, you know? And this was a solo show, so it could have been a real disaster. Well, according to her the first show that she played that night was a complete disaster. But the second was magic.

My favorite Cat Moments:

1. when she told that girl in front with the camera to take pictures of her later...she began that gentle order by asking the girl's name

2. when she asked for a cigarette onstage and took a mini-break to tell stories about traveling, and the traintracks, and the place where I live

3. when she tapped her cigarette ash into her shirtpocket

4. when she sang

5. when she pretended to forget how to play "maybe not"

6. when somebody yelled out "PLAY FREEBIRD!" and she did, beautifully

7. when she reenacted the tape that she and her sister made as children, O-R-E-O OR-E-O! in that charming southern accent

8. when she kicked her feet in time with the music

9. when she snapped her fingers

10. when she sang accapella at the end, and danced her funny little dance, and waved us all goodnight

In other, musical news, W has recovered his ESP. That is a pretty high-falutin' electric gee-tarr, for those of ya'll who ain't in the know. He is now dividing his time between wowing Andrew and trying to teach me Ozzy Ozbourne riffs. Well, sure, he wows me too. But the "Crazy Train" thing is so not okay. I'm having fun with the guitar mom gave me, my uncle's old one. It really has a beautiful sound. And the nylon strings don't hurt my fingers. (Yes, I'm a huge baby.) It's been a long time since I've had a musical instrument around, I'd forgotten how much fun you can have just fiddling. Kinda makes me wish I'd learned more when I was younger. I'm practically senile now.