tator tots.

is summertime and though i am working, i am trying to make it as much of a summertime as it is humanly possible. that means music shows, beers on the porch, fire truck red nail polish, short always dirty hair, late nights with the locusts, early mornings with french presses, swimming in the ol' swimming hole, reading country western novels and of course, creating the perfect summer soundtrack. lately, i have been obsessed with q. lazzarus's 'goodbye horses'. yes, it was that song that buffalo bill drag-danced to in 'silence of the lambs'. but, it is also my nighttime windows down, icee in hand jam session.
goodbye horses.

i move into my new home august 20th. i am most excited about this because i will be living by myself for the first time ever. it is a 400sq. ft. studio, but it has an alcove for my bed, and you know how i like my alcoves. i really like them. no more roomate squabbles. no more other people pet peeves. all the pet peeves will be my own about myself, and that is how i like it.

i saw the bats of austin last night, for the first time since i have ever been here. i was out for a run at dusk (bats or vampires..?) and i realized while standing over the bridge spanning lady bird lake, the boats full of tourists below, and the downtown skyline and hustle bustle behind me that i am so happy in this city
so happy.

buffalo bill bids you, adieu.

i wish there were a soundtrack to my life.

i've just made it through my third sxsw and i need to be sleeping. and then i need to clean. and then i should probably bask in my newfound freedom of having my house back to myself, but i already miss my friends and i want them to all come back and stay for forever.


here is a really long account for the shows and music we saw this weekend. sorry if it is boring. sorry if i sound pretentious. sorry, i just like the tunes, you know?

okay. here goes.


delorean and surfer blood were playing at club deville. and it was free high life and free mike's hard punch. the beer was tolerable, i mean it was free, but the punch was like drinking death. stomach ache city! the music more than made up for it though, and on such a bright sunny day with my sunglasses on, it could not have been more perfect.

deli- delorean
floating vibes- surfer blood

real estate and the xx were also fantastic. being practically front row at the xx was so great and they intro'd with 'intro' and played crystallised and infinity and blew my mind. i wish they had played their cover of florence + the machine's 'you've got the love' and i wish they had come back for the encore that everyone wanted them to give, but i realize they are a high commodity at this festival and needed to probably jet on to the next scene. still, freaking amazing.

younger than yesterday- real estate
you've got the love (florence + the machine cover)- the xx

neon indian was near the top of the list for music i most needed to be at. and i got my dream come true. we were packed in like sardines, and toes were getting stepped and people were smiling and dancing and the music lifted spirits and put a jig in everyone's step the rest of the day. memory tapes went on before neon indian, and it was as if they were meant to be. those two shows made the fact that my skirt kept blowing up all over downtown austin on that windy day totally worth it.

bicycle- memory tapes (3:25 and then when the guitar kicks in, you'll be feeling this for sure)
psychic chasms- neon indian

oh, and andrew w.k. fist pumps, head banging, etc. party hard, duh.

frightened rabbit has become one of my favorite bands to listen to over the past year and getting to see them was a dream come true. the music was moving, their accents were scottish, their smiles were charming and the cold, cold weather was completely forgotten as i listened to their beautiful, perfectly put together tunesies. i hope they continue to do well in the music biz.

the modern leper- frightened rabbit
keep yourself warm- frightened rabbit

boxer rebellion was on before frightened rabbit, and it was my first time to ever hear them. they were pretty good, too. very interpol-ish and black rebel motorcycle club and muse, even. plus, the bassist was the doppleganger of one of my friends and i think they need to meet and be friends. i mean, if i knew of my doppleganger, that is how i would feel.

i would be remiss if i were to never mention GWAR. and the fact that we saw them. and the fact that we all got fake blood sprayed at us. and the fact even though it was 39 degrees outside, somehow the fake dismemberment of robots and babies and MJ helped to erase the pain of frozen fingers, toes and noses. oh GWAR, you are disgusting and so completely vulgar. but i couldn't stop watching you anyway.

last but not least, to top off an epic weekend, the hood internet played an entirely, way too incredible dance party, and i danced my face into oblivion. lots of stage dancing and top of speaker dancing (?) and it was the best night ever. if you ever get the chance to hear them mix, you should never ever turn down the opportunity. the next girltalk? maybe.

1993 barry bonds (kanye west vs. lil wayne vs. dj signify)- the hood internet
tambourine reckoning (eve vs. radiohead)- the hood internet
stop feeling it (three six mafia vs. memory tapes)- the hood internet
billie 'wildcat' jean (michael jackson vs. ratatat)- the hood internet

in fact, just go check out the site and spend some quality time there. thehoodinternet.com, fools.

you are universal.

today, a man came into starbucks and he had on a very nice looking tie. i complemented him on said tie, saying that i liked it very much. he said thanks, and was quiet for a moment while i got him his coffee. then he said to me that the compliment on his tie was very significant and meaningful for him, as it was his son's that passed away a few weeks ago. he was wearing it today to help him remember and feel closer to his son.
when he left, i started crying. it was completely heartwrenching but it was so good to know that such a small comment could make someone feel so loved.

i've been struggling a lot lately, living here in austin. doing the same thing over and over and over and trying to make new friends that mean something and keeping my head afloat and staying out of trouble. when interactions like this happen, it reminds me that life really does mean something. that people do really mean something and that it is amazing how you can connect so completely with a stranger over something that you may not have ever experienced yourself. grief and love and all those other feelings are so universal. and it's nice to know that if nothing else, you can at least share that with the person who is sitting next to you on the bus.

anyway, totally sentimental today. sentimental a lot lately, actually. i just wanted to share this with you, whoever you are.

and this. Goodbye Horses- Q Lazzarus

spring greens.

yes yes. it is january 18th. and it is only january 18th but i have the spring fever. i'm getting all antsy pantsy for warm weather, and frozen lemonades and swimming hole swimming and achy sunburnt skin.

i think that it is this wonderful weather that austin, texas is putting out. if a state could ever put out, it would be this state and it's 74 degree weather in january. what a floozy state.

anyway, in honor of such flirtations, i have made a springtime playlist to welcome in the good vibes. here are some songs that make me feel as such:

1. Built To Spill- Carry The Zero

2. The Faces- Ooh La La

3. Rod Stewart- Maggie May

4. Lykke Li- Little Bit

5. Matt &Kim- Daylight

6. Benji Hughes- Tight Tee Shirt

7. Frightened Rabbit- Good Arms vs. Bad Arms

8. Atmosphere- You

9. Bob Dylan- Wigwam

10. You Can't Always Get What You Want (Remix)- The Rolling Stones

11. Lightspeed Champion- Midnight Surprise

12. Arcade Fire- Wake Up

that's it, people. wake up to the wonderful world of spring and all that comes with it.

here's to dogmothers and spit bubbles.

two thousand ten, i'm making no resolutions. i just want to point out the people who have meant the world to me the past few years. something that should be done everyday and not just once at the beginning of every decade.

i love you guys and i think that that is enough to say. happy new decade.

This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

You know that saying, about the bee’s knees? When someone invokes in you that delighted feeling of ultimate contentment? When your heart feels so swollen with affection for them that you think it might just burst inside your bones? And that someone makes you feel all fancy, and invaluably valued? They are your bee’s knees.

Did I find you or you find me?

This song, "This Must Be The Place" by Talking Heads is about finding that person who is your bee’s knees. It’s simple, it’s perfect. It’s hopeful and silly and it is what love is all about. There really is no need for analysis, it is what it is. Maybe that is why I like it so much, why I can’t explain the happiness it brings me. Because, for the moment, I am alone and on my own. I don’t have my bee’s knees yet, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t experienced that type of love before. And usually, that type of love is all about surprise parties. You know, BOO! LOVE!

And it is also all about going for it. Don’t be scared, just take off. Make it up as you go and have fun and show someone they are worth it, I love the idea of this. Reckless abandonment in the name of passion!

(War cries ensue).

But really, this song I have recently deemed as my favorite song of all time. Out of all the other songs in the world. It has the beats, it has the melody, it has the lyrics. It has the message. And if David Byrne were sitting next to me at this very moment, I would say thank you for sharing and ask him for a bike ride around Austin.

Out of all those kinds of people, you’ve got a face with a view…

This Must Be The Place- Talking Heads

Check out this video from "Stop Making Sense". It is absolutely beautiful.

pups and props.

i need a big, fluffy, slobbery pup. big+fluffy+slobbery= a best friend who is loyal and true. there was a great pyrenees that frequented a place i used to work that looked like this:

look how preciously cute.

behold how gallantly noble.

and overall affectionately wonderful.

though i don't think he would be too happy here in austin, tex ass with me, i need this polar bear dog in my life and would consider closing up shop for such a treasure.

it wasn't until a few months ago or so, that i realized, hey hannah you are all grown up. and to be honest, i guess i had been waiting for this one moment to happen where the clouds roll back and the trumpets sound and God descends from the heavens with a written scroll declaring, "THIS IS IT. YOU ARE GROWN UP."
but that didn't happen, and that's okay because i've never been one for big hootenannies and to dos. but when i realized it, i understood it, and though sometimes i don't feel like i'm okay, i am anyway. it feels good to my bones to know that i have my family and i have a few friends collected up and i really am just fine.
i am working two jobs. i am cooking my dinners. i am doing my laundry regularly. i figured out my bus routes. i am speaking up for myself. i am letting people know how i feel and i am handling rejection. i am going on dates. i am hanging on to friendships and letting go of friendships when they are ready to be let go of. i am changing and rearranging and although i don't know what i am going to do with my life or what i really really want out of the rest of my life, at least i am close to figuring out me and not the me that others want me to be. cheesy? totally. but not untrue.

whew. it's good to get that out into the world, world.

anndd..... in the city (extended version)- chromatics!

so how's this for first post back after almost a year? yay? nay?

love.