Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Chances are that you, like myself, walk out the door each morning with little white earbuds buzzing in your head. Without realizing it, the artist you have selected to color your audio backdrop (Fiona, U2, Skid Row, Claude Debussy, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Henry Manicini, etc) has already changed the bounce in your step (slower, faster, longer, shorter, with hesitation, with fervor). Music has the ability to trigger a powerful, self-expressive mechanism that is frequently used by most of us on a daily basis. But, how often do we set time aside to cultivate our relationship with the music that we employ?

Music, for me, is a complex and evolving relationship that steers me ever closer to the core of this crazy life experience. Personally, I enjoy music that helps me achieve honest perspectives of the bigger picture. Discovery and understanding, whether it is overt (Bad Religion, Atmosphere, U2) or subtle (Andrew Bird, Norah J., Brian Vander Ark), intertwined within the fabric of beauty can instantly slingshot me to unparalleled heights of joy and exhilaration.

This brings me to The Smashing Pumpkins' 1995 release entitled Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. I can vividly remember the day that I walked into Hastings and bought this album on it's day of release over 13 years ago. That night, I went home a better person. This album has so many memories embedded into the fabric of it’s creation: traveling across Florida (1979), my first song in my first car (Tonight, Tonight), orchestra state competition in Bozeman (Zero), my ex-girlfriend’s dead cat (Galapagos), Leah (Farewell and Goodnight), countless nights of pondering the bigger picture when I didn’t even know what the bigger picture even was (Porcelina), jamming out with Josh (Jellybelly), jammin’ out by myself (Ode to No One), Autumn of 2002, Spokane WA (Thirty-Three), shootin’ hoops in my drive-way trying to figure out highschool (Thru the Eyes of Ruby), moving to Fremont (By Starlight), learning to love italian sodas at The Wallstreet Café (Stumbleine), and on and on and on….



“Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight”



“Tomorrow’s just an excuse away”

This collection of songs allows me to seamlessly stair into the eyes of my past. Each melody owns a feeling that was discovered through events of foregone days that together, are a crude painting of my personal history. In taking a recent trip through the portal, I have once again realized that I am a very lucky individual. My life has been extraordinary, blessed and cursed, but always gifted with wonderful people. Since the very beginning, I have been well cared for and I am grateful to have a musical refuge where I can let my secret thoughts come alive without a care in the whole world…

"...goodnight, always, to all that's pure that's in your heart."

Tour de Magnusón

Hang on tight, folks because this is the inaugural Tour de Magnusón at Magnuson Park in Seattle, WA. I have the good fortune of having this park at my fingertips, and with my fingertips, I will bring it to you. Put on your helmet and lets go!

Lets start by just appreciating some of the great backdrop that the weathered architecture from the original airfield provides. Top left: The entrance to the park. Top right: Brick buildings dot the west side of the park. Bottom left: One of many hangers that is still used today. This one is used for indoor soccer, beach volleyball, and assorted other sports when the rains grace the great Pacific Northwest. Bottom right: Previously used for, well, administration.

Left: The mountaineers, a local hiking and nature conservation group, have renovated this old building and made it their new mothership. On the other side, they installed an 80' climbing wall. Its HUGE! Right: Other buildings have been renovated and are cleverly being used as community housing...playground and all!










Alright, lets head up to the Northshore to check out the sailboat launch and other activities.


From here, its just a jump and a skip over to the P-patch. This is one of my favorite activities at Magnuson Park. I go here to grow food, play in dirt, log some volunteer hours, get some much needed sunshine, and clear my mind when things get tough. Top left: It looks like there are still some veggies going strong. I suppose some will over-winter. Food all year long...spectacular. Top right: My food bank plot has been cleared for the season and is recovering from a nice tomato harvest this past summer. Bottom: These lil' eggplants are refusing to quit. Better luck next season my wee friends...

We have many miles ahead of us so lets keep moving through the park. Top left: Referred to as the Sports Meadow, this is one of the best grassy fields that I've ever experienced. I like to lie down in the middle and feel small...that is, when there aren't a million knee-biters trying to play soccer. Top right: Magnuson Park has acres and acres of winding trails through beautiful nature preserves. Bottom left: As we crest over Kite Hill, the waterfront and Mt. Rainier comes into view. Bottom right: I spotted a few brave blackberries that were hanging on for dear life...I promptly ate this one.

Lets head on down to the waterfront. There's so much to see. This is a piece of public art called The Fin Project. It sort of looks like fish, as their seen from shore, swimming in the grass.



Summer of 05: My friend Tanner and I would travel from far and wide to go swimming off of this dock. Its just a superb little beach.



It looks like the locals are out sailing. Looks like fun!







And don't forget to look across the lake. It appears as if the Cascades are getting their first snow dusting of the season.


Change is abound at Magnuson Park. The City of Seattle has begun to invest several million dollars to turn the western corridor into outdoor recreational facilities. Next autumn, I imagine things will look a little different...


Well, no one...and I mean NO ONE...enjoys this park more than the dogs. Seriously. It's been scientifically proven that one can't walk through the dog park at Magnuson without smiling. I dare you to try...


Crazy canines. Is anyone else famished after the inaugural Tour de Magnusón??? I hope you aren't sore tomorrow. Drop by sometime and we'll make this virtual tour a reality!

The Last Supper

“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”

~W. C. Fields~

In the early 1970s, the Picardo Family Farm (located in Seattle's glorious Wedgwood neighborhood) started a community gardening program that assisted urban gardeners in growing food for themselves and their community. These shared plots of land were collectively known as P-patch gardens.  This became hugely successful in a short amount of time and the city of Seattle adopted the program and to start new P-patchs throughout the rest of the city. Today, there are over 54 P-patch gardens providing thousands of urban farmers with the means to sow, tend, and harvest food for themselves, their friends, local food banks, and for assisted living programs. Doesn't it make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside?

I had the pleasure of sharing a plot with two seasoned (pun intended) gardeners this year in the Magnuson Park P-patch. Additionally, I tended a plot that was set aside to produce veggies for the local food bank. Truth be told, it was a tough year for everything except beets. Why? I don't know...

Lets have a seat, shall we?








                                              

The bounty of a pleasant fall harvest:

And so heres to you, summer...when the air was a bit warmer, when the sun was a smidge brighter, and each day lasted for what seemed like forever.

You stay classy, Seattle.  I'm Jake Dodge?

The Mysterious Production of Andrew Bird

“I know we're gonna meet someday in the crumbled financial institutions of this land. There will be tables and chairs, pony rides, dancing bears, and there'll even be a band. 'Cause listen after the fall there'll be no more countries, no currencies at all. We're gonna live on our wits, throw away survival kits, trade butterfly knives for adderall, and that's not all… there will be snacks!”  

~Andrew Bird~

Allow me to have the pleasure of introducing you to Mr. Andrew Bird.  He really is "that cool".  Mr. Bird is a guitar slingin', fiddle jammin', glockenspiel poundin', whistling madman.  He is a true one man band.  Though I pale in comparison, we both grew up Suzuki violin boys...he just made it a little further than me I guess.  

Imitosis:

Even cooler, check this out.

Dr. Stringz:

I came across his work when he started collaborating with Ani Difranco on her release entitled Knuckledown...and boy I'm glad that I did! Violin has found a new voice in the world of rock with Andrew Bird. He is a wealth of creative perseverance. Keep your eyes and ears out for more great tunes. If you get curious, seek out his explanation to the song entitled "Spare-Ohs". It heightens his level of awesomeness to an elite level...

“Being alone it can be quite romantic, like Jacques Cousteau underneath the Atlantic.  A fantastic voyage to parts unknown, going to depths where the sun’s never shown.”

Hi, My Name Is: Jake

Alright, square one. My name is Jake Dodge and I live in the wonderful Republic of Cascadia, that is Seattle. This is my home:


I am living my city life with a pair of cats that I picked up from the pound. They are great company, as you can see...

                              

We all reside across the street from the wonderful Magnuson Park. The city was bequeathed an old Naval airfield in the 1970s, hangers and all.   The city refrained from development and turned it into the second largest park in Seattle.  Its so awesome. This is where I do my community gardening, Sunday morning walking, bird watching, blackberry picking, apple harvesting, and as the name of this blog suggests...my running.  I have tracked hundreds of miles in the short 2 years thats I've lived here and I feel as if it's my own personal backyard.  

I have so much more to say, and I am sure I will scribble it down eventually. But, as I look outside and see a rare cloudbreak happening in what should be a drab November day in Seattle, I'm thinkin' it's time for a little sunshower. BOTTOMS UP!

A Long Run at Magnuson has Begun.

“Life in the circus ain't easy but the folks on the outside don't know.  The tent goes up and the tent comes down and all that they see is the show.  The ladies on the horses look so pretty, and the lions are looking real mad; some of the clowns are happy and some of the clowns are sad.  But underneath there's another expression that the makeup isn't making.  Life under the big top, it's about freedom, it's about faking.  There's an art to the laughter, there's a science.  There's a lot of love and compliance.  Welcome to the freakshow, here we go…”  ~ANI~

So life is just full of new beginnings, one being my new blog!  My old blog is great for reading memories etched in the past...

 (seattlecoffeetalk@blogspot.com)  

...but from here on out the future remains unwritten.  I've been logging some long hours doing some house cleaning (of sorts) and am now ready to take on the world again.  How 'bout that election, huh?  It seems I'm not the only one changing my perspectives of things...  For better or for worse, it is what it is.  We'll see.  I've also been logging some long hours at the University of Washington Sports Medicine Clinic, where I have begun my clinic work as a real physical therapist.  Go Me!  Other than that, my life is still the sam...wait a sec, nope.  Its entirely different.  Call me and we'll go get some bean (No Charbucks).  ~Adieu~