Anderceus

I hate this. I really hate running. I got dragged into this and suffered for it. But if I hadn't run with them...

And we defy it by running

Bravely, calmly, and without fail.

Believing the answer we seek lies ahead

I’m sure of it. Joji’s the better runner.  Even if there’s no difference now, Joji will become way faster than me. He’ll see worlds I can’t see.

What is strength?

Damn it. What did I do?

What is running?

I'd better go.

What is living?

Today’s my last day. I have my own life to live. Hey, Kakeru... Don't go too far. The place you're going is beautiful, but it's too lonely.

It’s all beyond the wind.

My love hasn’t changed. Never has, never will. I like running. I love it. I’ll leave all my lingering attachments on this road!

Hope resides within our hearts.

Released from everything else, I can face myself. When I’m running, I don’t need to put on an act.

Look. The road is right before your eyes.

Why are we so desperate to keep running? Why can’t we stop doing something so painful and difficult? For our friends. For our goals. For ourselves. Stubbornness and pride. I don’t know. I doubt anyone knows. That’s why we can’t look away. That’s why it sticks in our hearts.

So we run again today.

I lost hope once. I felt betrayed by myself and the entire world. But I was wrong. Running returned to me in an even more beautiful form. Can one man be so blessed? I’m happy. I could cry. I am truly happy. Even if I can never run again, I love running!

We’ll run to the edges of the earth.

I got so many more lovely photos back from Cooper. I can't wait to share them.

more Araness and Occtis too.

I'm so obsessed with the shape of the bodice. it was my first time really making something this structured and I am so happy with how it's holding itself up. I do wish I hadn't used a stretch taffeta bc its lead to some issues with the final bodice but it was the only thing I could get within my budget and time frame so it is what it is. the sleeves are still my favorite thing ever, they are SO big and too so long to put together but it was absolutely worth it.

and of course, that green statement fabric is what all of the rest of the look was designed around.

it was a lucky break that I had the gold velvet ( a gift from a friend )

if anyone actually reads this let me know if you want a more in-depth break down on some of the materials used / designs.

in no particular order

1. Crystal Castles - III

This album was released in November 2012 but this was my album of 2013 Alice’s vocals, the dreamy lyrics, the oddly catchy screaming, the electrifying beats. Hard to describe and not easy on the ears at first. This one, like every other Crystal Castles albums, really grows on you and eventually becomes a classic. Grateful to Stijn Essnor for keeping this one on the LP player non-stop when we were roommates in 2007.

2. Logh - Raging Song

The most beautiful, serene, melancholic rock songs ever. Can listen to this Nordic band forever.  Probably played this album a thousand times.

3. Sebadoh - Sebadoh III

This album was a complete revelation. Recorded at home on tape decks and low cost mixers, bone-chilling emo-pop like I never hear before (and again). Music was never the same again. Who needs producers? Not these guys.

4. Statistics - Leave Your Name

Went through a major breakup in 2003-04, was on the road for chunks of the year, and this was that album that I took along for the ride. Every word, every chord seemed to be just right. This band never did anything great again but it was enough, more than enough.

5. Smog- Wild Love

Hard to pick one Smog album - so many unbelievable albums. Every word on Wild Love seems to have deep meaning. Its just so well done, so imaginative. Billy C is truly the great song writer of my generation.

6. Toman - Perhaps We Should Have Smoked the Salmon First

If I have to pick one Belgian band as my favorite, it would not be Toman - I would rate  Wio, de portables, and Styrofoam higher. But for a complete album, this one eats the cake. For its atmosphere. Its just a perfect and uniquely mesmerizing album. Their other album, Where Wolves Wear Wolf Wear, is a different beast (more high energy) but also pretty darn good.

7. God Machine - Scenes from the Second Story

Hard, so hard, soft, so soft. All in one. Epic songs. If Spartans wrote music as poetry, this is what it would sound like!

8. Fabrizio Paterlini - Autum Stories

Ultimate piano songs. Maybe even better than Max Richter. Spotify informed me that I listed to Paterlini more than anything else in 2017. Did I leave it in muted autoplay by accident all night or did enjoy it in the background every day? It was the latter.

9. Burial - Rival Dealer

Awesome. Dub. Ambient. “Hiders“ is my favorite song.