Here are my 10 favorite songs from the first six months of 2012. In order!

1. Usher - Climax
2. Schoolboy Q f/ Kendrick Lamar - Blessed
3. Stay Calm - Let Me Clear My Throat
4. Purse Candy - Fire Fight
5. Hot Chip - Look at Where We Are
6. Heartless Bastards - Low, Low, Low
7. Just Friends - Avalanche
8. Perfume Genius - Hood
9. R. Kelly - Share My Love
10. How to Dress Well - Ocean Floor for Everything

For those who ain't done packin' yet

Teaching a stone to talk.

But there is this stubborn provincial singing in me oh each time

"Little bird have you got a key?
Unlock the lock inside of me
Where will you go?
Keep yourself afloat
Feeling old until the wings unfolded
Caught me a long wind
Where will we go?
Keep ourselves afloat

I caught a long wind
A long life wind
I got to know the sky
But it didn't know me"
- Feist, "Caught a long wind"

the world stops at the window

Warm nights on the roof, the moon full over my heart:

You in mid-air; send in the clowns

I went to a parade -- THE parade, as far as Portland goes -- on Saturday for work. I can't believe it, but I actually liked it.

And so for you, I came this far across the tracks

"And we walk in the world of safe people
And at night we walk into our houses and burn"
- Dar Williams, "Iowa"

Start turning the grain into ground; roll a new leaf over

Scenes from Omaha

I'll stand up on top of the dugout and shout out and wave my arms and hold my tongue

Q plays wiffle ball every Sunday night, so he asked me to join in while I visited him in Omaha. The rest of the players were all boys -- and all but Q over 6-feet -- so I played at a handicap. I got popped in the face but still hit in a few singles. As an outfielder, though, I made a better picture documenter than catcher.

Feelin the sunshine so warm on my skin

Omaha has better Indian food than Portland.

"I'm filled up with cold my future is bright
and give me some sunshine give me sunshine"
- The Heartless Bastards, "Low Low Low"

Bought a donut / the hole's the size of the entire world

Friday was Donut Day. We squeaked in, late-night, to the shop where Q spent his teenage years. QUITE a sight, that place.

Count the days I'm gone.