Year in review: things I tried to learn

My intention often outsized by actual ability this year, like wanting to make pretty black and white photos. When I first set my mind on it, I didn't have a model, so I tried taking photos of myself. It didn't really go how I wanted. Oh, well. I'll keep trying.

an outtake:

This is not a date.

A few months ago, Ryan and I saw this guy speak at BackFence PDX, a local storytelling event. We both thought he was so funny, so afterward, I asked him if I could make a video of him for the paper. So that's what I did. Sunday night, he's doing a one-man show called "This is not a date" at the Someday Lounge here in Portland.

Nathaniel Boggess - This is Not a Date from Casey Parks on Vimeo.

Correspondence

A postcard I made for Lizz:





PS: Quentin, I got a straight-edge and finally learned how to cut!

Abode

Nico.

Baby Nico posed for a photo on one of his last nights in Portland. Nico and his mom and dad have moved back to Jackson, Miss. Neola, you're lucky to have 'em.

Albums. (00.09)

I meant to post this a while back, whenever I listed the songs that were most important to me in the decade. Got sidetracked. So it is. But, not even a moment too late, here is a list of my favorite (not most important, just favorite) albums of the last decade. With links to lala for your listening treasure.

1. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
2. Jay-z - The Black Album (2003)
3. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
4. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
5. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000)
6. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006)
7. The Strokes - Is This It? (2001)
8. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
9. The Postal Service - Give Up (2003)
10. The Walkmen - You & Me (2008)
11. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (2006)
12. Sleater-Kinney - One Beat (2002)
13. Neko Case - Blacklisted (2002)
14. Kanye West - The College Dropout (2004)
15. The National - Alligator (2005)
16. Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
17. Tegan and Sarah - So Jealous (2004)
18. The Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury (2006)
19. The Walkmen - Bows & Arrows (2004)
20. The Decemberists - Crane Wife (2004)
21. Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica (2000)
22. Rufus Wainwright - Poses (2002)
23. Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
24. Stars - Set Yourself on Fire (2005)
25. Spoon - Kill The Moonlight (2002)
26. The Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way (2006)
27. Tegan and Sara - The Con (2007)
28. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
29. Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah (2005)
30. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (2005)

Dog in repose