All Things Must Pass

It's a game of indifference. Whoever can act the most indifferent for the longest wins. I play a pretty good hand - I always played a pretty good hand.

And that's really why I drink coffee. Coffee is a way of being indifferent. It's a way of diverting focus. When you're holding the cup in your hands, you don't have time for anything else. You don't have time to care...you don't need to care.

And not many people I know can stand to drink coffee the way I do. Not many people I know want to waste a couple hours away just sitting. And so coffee becomes a way to get away from people for a while.

It's horrible, it's misanthropic, but it's true.

I listen to Hey Jude a lot but I don't learn anything.

All I want is coffee and conversation. Eloquent conversations about the unimportant things in life. Talks about New York bands against London bands, about Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal. Conversations which wear away a few hours of my life.

Conversations with strangers.

Should I be ashamed that I'm listening to Rod Stewart? My mom listens to Rod Stewart. But I really can't help it if his songs make me happy - I can't help it if I want to hear him sing a duet with Bette Midler. I can't help it if his version of "In My Life" makes me feel things. I miss mom now.

I don't interest you at all.

(Coffee by Rick Poon)

People are too Loud

I think I know what I want to do.

I walked down today and got a coffee. A white cup on a table outside - pen, paper. I had time. Nothing is good. Nothing makes me feel things. I should sit outside more often.

I picked up two bottles of San Pellegrino and lugged it up a hill. It feels happy to pull the bottles out of brown paper bags and put them into the fridge.

I wish I was dad. He's been places I've never been, read books I've never read. Most of all, he knows where to eat. I think I know Hong Kong, eating-wise, but I really don't come close at all. And it's not just Hong Kong - he seems to know where to go for food in almost everywhere we've been...be it New York, Paris, London, Japan. If dad wrote a food guide, I'd buy it in an instant. I wish I was dad.

I prefer small restaurants. Restaurants which pour San Pellegrino into tall clear glasses. I love Al Fresco dining more than most things and coffee cups should be white most of the time. I wish I had the complete Donna Hay collection...or that New York Restaurant book. No...I want both.

I love Donna Hay.

I want to take photographs. I want to write. I want to talk about music, or kung fu films. I want to know food. I want to travel.

I want people to take me seriously when I say that's what I want to do...

I think tomorrow, I'm going to do same thing I did today. Only, this time, I'll walk a little farther, I'll stay a little longer, and I'll take a camera with me.

(Where I should be. Photograph of Norway by Rick Poon)

Come on and Kick Me

What is February 14th?

3 years ago, it was coffee in a basement listening to Uncle Joe's set...good music.

1 year ago, it was at the QE with Franz Ferdinand - backstage and all..good music.

This year, bring on the Yoshida Brothers...I'm ready.

Fuck what other people say, THIS is love.

(The Yoshida Brothers: Hishou)