i am a racing horse.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-28T14:15:00

2009-01-28T22:16:03Z

blue skies, and my share of love, are somewhere in the past. because nothing, worth anything, is strong enough to last.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-23T01:01:00

2009-01-23T09:01:55Z

couldn't have said it better myself.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-20T23:14:00

2009-01-21T07:17:49Z

BEST BREAK-UP SONG EVER

</lj-embed>
Well, I don't want a thing to do with you kind
And I ain't got no time to kill on your dime
Strung up, hanging 'round
Looking like you're upside down

Well, I ain't wanting to shed no blood, that's your crime
And I ain't wanting to sling no mud, I clean it up
You ain't what I'd call a friend
I wouldn't even if I could pretend
Man, you ain't like anybody else

As night becomes the sun to rise
As dirt becomes the butterflies
As sure as though it always seems to stay the same
And I'll be waiting anxiously
And I'll be falling fast asleep
And I'll be dreaming of the day the dream died
Uh huh

No sticks, no stones could break my bones like you can
If I knew hate, I'd call it love for you, man
High up on the hill, cheaper than a dollar bill
Man, you ain't like anybody else

Should we pretend that it's the end?
Are you my curse or are you my friend?
And if we got hitched to the end of the road
Will you be there to carry my load?

I'm getting it back with that terrible feeling
My vision is cracked, but it looks like it's healing
I'm getting it back like it's four in the morning
When the sun only shines as if it's giving a warning
I'm getting it back with the rest of the leap year
I'm keeping the rabbit, the bat, and the reindeer
I'm getting it out, whatever I've gotta keep in
I'm telling the truth, said it don't win with pretend
Should we pretend?
Should we pretend?
Should we pretend?

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-19T21:18:00

2009-01-20T05:34:47Z

Inspired by Dr. Dog-- and, to a lesser extent, Fleet Foxes-- I decided to make an attempt at some serious vocal harmonies. The resulting song can be heard here: Meant To Last. It's also the first time I've written something in 3/4.

Such a fun weekend. I like the fact that I'm talking to strangers and meeting new people without any awkwardness or nerves. I think I've overcome some personal stuff in that regard in the past few months. And I think I'm much better off for it.

Days are so much better when they're shared.

Also, I'm for-real making a Myspace as soon I can overcome the lethargy.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-17T15:34:00

2009-01-17T23:35:39Z

it's come! it's finally come!

i've been waiting so long to have this on vinyl. searching, searching. eventually having to resort to ebay.

psyched. CRANKING IT.

A map is more unreal / Than where you've been / Or how you feel / And it's impossible to tell / How important something was / And what you might have missed out on / And how it might have changed it all for you

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-14T13:33:00

2009-01-14T21:33:47Z

when getting dressed, i often find myself thinking, "what would dr dog do?"

ex- is wearing the fedora WITH the sunglasses a LITTLE TOO MUCH? i dunno.. WWDDD?

they would definitely wear the fedora with the sunglasses-- so i wear the fedora with the sunglasses.

what about adding a tie? would that then take the outfit overboard? maybe. but then again....

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-11T22:41:00

2009-01-12T06:58:32Z

here's what $15 will get you at amoeba. i totally lucked out.

crazy weekend. drink, got drunk. blacked out, memories so foggy. fun times too.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-07T22:44:00

2009-01-08T06:57:37Z

I wrote and recorded a new song this afternoon. it's called california. like to listen?

things are going well. i can't wait for the weekend, tho. i want to drink beer. lots of beer. and then school starts on monday, and things get all kind of crazy.

and i still haven't got my grades back from last semester. how fucked up is that?

also, this blew my mind:

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-06T22:56:00

2009-01-07T06:56:40Z

it's like a choo-choo train, rolling away.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-05T17:57:00

2009-01-06T02:06:23Z

so good:

Though I have never seen this movie, judging from the clips contained there-in, the froggie apocalypse seems kinda sad. Poor little guys.

ihearthappy @ 2009-01-02T16:31:00

2009-01-03T00:40:56Z

I miss San Francisco, and I want to come home.

But I try and remember-- during periods of boredom, or while my mom is going on and on about something that struggles to hold my attention-- that these times are all but constant, and that they will not last forever.

So I'm trying. I'm trying not to be so homesick, and not to long so much for the West Coast. And instead, I'm trying to hold on to everything. Because if I don't, I know that-- one day, far in the future-- I will regret it.

And, really, it's not that hard.

how do you like them apples, part 2

2009-01-02T06:22:14Z

new sunglasses:

yes/no? like persols, but half the price. also, clear.

I AM TOTALLY DIGGING THEM.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-31T14:23:00

2008-12-31T19:34:41Z

awesome:

why?

1. it was filmed in san francisco.
2. it has fucking jawas.
3. neil does powderfinger, cortez the killer, and like a hurricane.
4. the "live rust" album is awesome, and this is the best possible visual accompaniment.
5. pigeon organ.
6. WHITE PANTS + SUSPENDERS = 1978.
7. it has fucking jawas.

it's the perfect partner on a snowy, cold new years eve afternoon.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-30T23:40:00

2008-12-31T04:41:28Z

San Francisco! I miss you!

Also:

and

You can't front on Michael McDonald. For reals.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-29T23:45:00

2008-12-30T04:49:09Z

wat?

bumming.

:(

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-28T22:28:00

2008-12-29T03:33:46Z

So I set up a Twitter page last night. I've added everyone that I know that I could find (hi elly!). Also, people I don't know-- including old TechTV peoples, political writers like Chris Cillizza, and neat stuff like Bob Dylan's radio show.

Anyone else have an account that I've missed? Or know of any other interesting things that I could follow? Or maybe even, if you don't have one, you could start one too. Ok?

Ok. Here's the link: http://www.twitter.com/stoopeck. It's also at the top of the page.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-28T01:28:00

2008-12-28T06:29:40Z

why am i eating pumpkin pie at 1:30 in the morning?

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-28T00:17:00

2008-12-28T05:38:45Z

i spent the day at my grandfather's-- with my cousin, who is slightly older than i am, and whom i have not seen in years and years.

she has a 5 year old daughter-- who was there as well-- and the three of us watched an ancient, animated version of "the lion, the witch and the wardrobe" on her 15" dell laptop, recoiling at the surprising amount of violence contained there with-in.

her husband died less than an year ago from a brain tumor, and watching her interact with her daughter-- as the child spastically flailed about in her lap, whispering secrets in her ear while simultaneously kissing her cheek and giggly-- both shattered and enlarged my heart in equally proportionate ways, all day.

as her daughter grew increasingly rambunctious at a later point, running out of the room screaming, my cousin looked at me and laughed, "stewart, don't ever have kids."

"she's hella cute, tho," i said, "and the two of you are great together."

she laughed again, saying, "yeah, like oil and water."

and i really wanted to grab her arm and say, "no-- listen to me-- the two of you are fucking amazing, and so beautiful, and i am just really, really sorry."

but instead i just smiled, giggling at her joke.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-27T23:12:00

2008-12-28T04:13:04Z

OMG! NEIL YOUNG'S HEART OF GOLD IS ON VH1 RIGHT NOW!!!!!

As I am totally exhausted, this a fine way to console my weary bones. Good looking out on that one, television.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-26T23:20:00

2008-12-27T04:22:18Z

this is an album that i forgot to put on my top ten (eleven?) of 2008 list:

so good! they're going to be at bottom of the hill in early february. i so wanna go.

also, the laura marling record. so i guess, all together, it's twelve.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-25T22:49:00

2008-12-26T03:49:51Z

so full. can't. stop. eating. :(

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-25T18:10:00

2008-12-25T23:14:31Z

My mom recently acquired a cd player/stereo for the first time in a while, and she doesn't have anything to listen to. So, for Christmas, I gave her the She & Him album, Ryan Adam's "Easy Tiger," and "The Reminder" by Feist.

She liked them all. Especially Ryan Adams. My mom, she's found a good deal of hipness in her golden years.

She, in turn, got me some of the warmest socks that my feet have ever had the pleasure to experience.

Also, home cooking and hot showers ftw.

Merry Christmas everybody!

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-25T02:07:00

2008-12-25T07:15:52Z

so fucking amazing:

i picked it up and did not put it down until i was finished. that has never happened before.

and it totally made the west coast jump fly by, so to speak.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-24T01:52:00

2008-12-24T09:53:05Z

I totally have to be up in 6 hours.

Fuck.

ihearthappy @ 2008-12-23T23:17:00

2008-12-24T07:38:34Z

So I wrote a song Sunday afternoon after meeting a girl Saturday night. It makes me laugh, because I can just imagine telling her: "yeah, so I wrote this song about you. It contains the phrase 'harlequin demon.' But it's totally a complement, I swear."

I recorded it this afternoon, in about an hour and a half. It's all the time I had to spare between packing and what-not. But I think it sounds pretty good. I think my voice is getting better. Slowly but surely.

Here it is, if you'd like to take a listen.

And before anyone says anything-- I'm totally not tripping on this girl, so don't get any ideas.

Also, this isn't wasn't what I was talking about yesterday. That was this. Which is something I wrote a while ago, and finally got around to recording yesterday. And while I think a little of its luster may have faded in my mind, I'm still digging it.

Look for the Myspace soon. LOL.