I don't give a fuck about being here and I don't know why. This really bothers me.

Today my friend Learning (given name: Nick) was in town for the first time since forever. Last time I saw him was my visit last march to Minneapolis, where he was living at the time. He was my first roommate from October 2005 - June 2006. When we see each other we talk for hours. He hops trains, works random jobs, sleeps on streets, kinda thinks government sucks, has the sweetest dreadlocks ever and is a devout Christian. We are different yet similar and since we meet in the middle with punk rock, we are the like the best buddies ever when we are in the same room. If this guy needed a place to stay, he'd be welcome for anywhere from a day to a year on my floor no questions asked.

I'm at Ralph's Deli down the street where I find my self walking by the same guy at the register on the way in to use their wireless without purchasing anything.

I should already have some posters together, a basic book layout and an Art Nouveau inspired logo for a freelance job in process but it ain't quite happening like that. I should be more professional three - four years in to college but I'm not.

Inauguration Party tomorrow at Seattle's historic Paramount Theatre at 7am (AM!) The things I'll do for PRESIDENT Barack Obama...

P.S. No beer until April. Yes we can!

A few years ago when I went on that Europe trip, I learned a thing or two. One of the things I got out of it was traveling always seems to be an adventure and the only way you'll get a real understanding of a city is if you get to know a person or two from where ever you are to show you around, as opposed to getting to understand your destination through tourist attractions. I remember going to London with with my friend Lynsee a few years ago and how much better the experience was that we got to know and stay with a native.

So through an acquaintance I heard about this site called Couch Surfing.com, which is a site for travelers to meet people who live in their travel destination and need a place to crash. With another travel adventure coming up and a desire to fill the void of not meeting people from strange-lands while at home, I decided to sign up. It seems pretty safe; you can choose to be "verified" (a document will get sent to your place of residence that you have to sign to prove you are actually a real person who lives where you say you do) and your visitors are asked to write a short bit on their experience staying with you.

So yeah. I signed up and within 48 hours I got a message from a guy my age on a trek across America or something from Israel and he needs a place to stay for 3 nights. Maybe this wasn't the best time to sign up for this seeing as how I'm so busy and I'm a little nervous because I have not done this before, but I think it will be cool! Hopefully my roommate will be alright with it when I tell him about this couch surfing thing I'm doing and Bailey will be ok with me sleeping at my place for a few nights.

I just bought my plane ticket to Europe for Spring 2009. Now I REALLY have to graduate on time.

Itinerary:

Tuesday Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Depart: Seattle 1:00pm
Arrive: Wednesday April 1st Amsterdam 7:05am
Depart: Amsterdam 10:15am
Arrive: Berlin 11:30am

Wednesday April 8th, 2009
Depart: Berlin 7:00am
Arrive: Budapest, Hungary, 8:30am

Tuesday April 14th, 2009
Depart: Budapest 3:45pm
Arrive Berlin 5:15pm

Wednesday April 15th, 2009
Depart: Berlin 10:25am
Arrive: Amsterdam 11:55am
Depart: Amsterdam 1:05pm
Arrive: Seattle 2:15pm (same day, because of the time difference)

Now I just have to graduate. Oh dear god...

To go to Europe or to not go to Europe? That is the question.

I'm weighing the pros and cons here: On one hand, I have a descent amount of money saved up... for something. Exactly what will happen when I graduate at the end of March 2009 is undermined. Will I be able to find a job in Graphic Design immediately? Will I have to be a fucking Barista until I find a "real" job? The dilemma is, do I use the entirety of the money I have saved for myself to hold me over between school and a design job (so I don't have to get a day job during the interim) OR, do I use a portion of this money for a two week return to Europe trip to visit the art museums, art studios of Berlin and Budapest, while visiting my best friend who has just moved abroad?

On one hand, there is something more "grown-up" and mature about saving money to support ones self, and this clearly sounds like the most adult choice. On the the hand, I've learned a lot about Berlin since I left and and dying to see things I've missed, along with visiting my best friend in a a city I've never been to. This trip has been on my mind for two years now and I have no definitive date on when I'll be able to go other than this opportunity (though, I am young; I'm sure another chance will arise in the next year an a half once I get vacation from a real job... right? Or maybe even that is wishful thinking.)

This trip won't entirely kill me, or break the bank... but it would make things more challenging for a few months. I'm the kind of person who would rather take a chance to learn for myself even if I've been advised not to before hand. I want to do it just as much as not wanting to be a Barista or Sandwich artist, if that makes any sense.

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. But at the same time, I do.

Top 10 Moments of 2008 for Matthew Scott Opsahl (in order of which they occurred):

Tuesday January 29th, 2008
Replacements Tribute Night
Jim Walsh, veteran of the 1980's Minneapolis music scene, assembled a interview biography on the long defunct Minneapolis punk band, The Replacements. He was in town on his little book tour (earlier in the day he did a reading at the Westlake Borders). That night there was a tribute night to the band at The Comet Tavern. Bands played 2-3 Mat's songs while every remaining Mat's fan came out to the show. Everyone in the bar was singing along; it was like one big bonding experience. The most played song of the night was "I'm In Trouble", so the third band to play it invited Jim Walsh to sing it. Jim got up and said something to the effect of, "I'm not much of s singer, so I want my friend Matt to come up here and sing this song. He's 21 and huge Replacements fan. I love this kid!" Then he gave me a sloppy kiss on the check right before the song. I, of course, forgot most of the words during our duet, and felt compelled to mention at the end of the song, "They are my favorite band, and I forgot all the words!" It was real fun.

[Note: I think the entire week of January 27th- February 2nd can fit between the lines of this list; Walsh Reading/ Tribute Night that Tuesday, 30 Years of Seattle Design group Modern Dog speaking event Thursday and Cute Lepers Show at The Comet again Friday. A busy and semi-alcohol fueled week.]

Sunday March 23rd, 2008 - Thursday March 27th, 2008
Minneapolis, Minnesota visit #2
Second visit to the great city of Minneapolis in 6 months. I have this feeling that it's becoming sort of familiar: Same gate/ terminal via the Seattle-Tacoma Airport subway every time and same gate at the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Airport. I spent a week with my former roommate and his band in a South Minneapolis house. I managed to take the bus twice and wander around myself and see fellow "Berliner" Lynsee Lauritsen. Minneapolis is kind of wacky, with rivers, bridges, parks and brick buildings. I feel very secured and protected whenever I visit the Mid-west. I'd live there if it wasn't so cold in the winters.

Saturday March 29th, 2008
Bob Mould @ Neumos
48 hours after returning from Minneapolis, I got to see former Minneapolite, Bob Mould play at Nuemos. I was from row and saw him play many of the old Husker Du songs. It was a good show all by myself.

[Note: This week was also very busy: Minneapolis Sunday- Thursday, Cute Lepers at King Cobra Friday, Mould Saturday, X the band Sunday - Monday and helping Bailey move both of those days.]

Thursday June 5th, 2008
Turn in Portfolio I & II Work
I think this is the only scholarly related moment on my list. I worked so hard on two sets of Portfolios over 9 months (taking Portfolio II twice.) and it was still a huge crunch getting this all in and packaged by the Noon deadline. This was unbelievable amount of work and it all turned out really good.

Sunday June 15th, 2008 - Monday June 16th, 2008
Cabin Trip with Graphic Design friends in Gold Bar, Washington
After a busy quarter for everyone, a few of us rented a cabin for a few days up North. It was on some river, near mountains and a beautiful two days. We made some good food, jumped around in the hot tub and swam in the river.

Tuesday June 17th, 2008 - Tuesday June 24th, 2008
Maryland/ Washington D.C. Trip
I went back to the East Coast to see friends and family. Highlights include driving around Montgomery County with Matt Williams, going to Dave & Busters with Gabe, Michael and Matt, taking the Metro in to Washington D.C. per usual, seeing my Grandmother who I hadn't seen in 3 years, Dinner in D.C. with my Mom and Brother with a family friend that occasionally assists Barack Obama, etc, etc, etc. I can only milk these family trips back home for so long...

Friday October 24th, 2008
Against Me! @ The Showbox with Bailey
Bailey and I don't go to concerts together very often, so it was really nice to go have an evening together where we saw one of her favorite bands. That woman is too cute when she sings along. It's a good thing she loves me.

Monday October 27th, 2008
First Day at Lustre Communications
My first internship last from November 2007- March 2008 at a record label called Loveless Records. It was pretty ok, but mid-October I secured my second internship at a bona-fide design studio. I submitted three pieces for my portfolio for the application and was happy to learn that my "gritty" work got me the job rather than my two other "traditional" projects. The internship has been slow, but at least I get to chat with a few designers every week.

Sunday November 2nd, 2008
22nd Birthday
I turned 22 and work that day. Luckly my job is at school and involves sitting in front of a computer, printing color pieces for people. No one is ever in the building on Sunday's so often I go 9 hours without doing anything. Dinner at Serious Pie and Parents and Bailey.

Tuesday November 4th
Election Night 2008/ Barack Obama Win
I was so excited for this day. I kept up on reports from the rest of the country while at school and skipped out on my afternoon class because I felt compelled to take in this historic day instead of being at school. I walked to the local music store, Singles Going Steady and had a conversation with the always humorous store-owner, Byron. On my walk from Belltown to Capitol Hill that evening, everybody was out with Obama signs, posters and shirt, extremely excited for what we all hoped would happen. Bailey and I met for dinner around 6:30 and the results were already coming in. Barack Obama was winning so hard. Bailey and walked from Capitol Hill to the Showbox at Pike Place Market intending to attend the Election Party. Half way down the hill, Obama was announced the next President and you didn't need to be near a television to know about it. For the next hour and a half our news and excitement was supplied to us the the amount of ecstatic people out on the street (and there were MANY.) People were hugging strangers, honking their horns and holding Obama signs out of their car and apartment windows. Bailey and I stopped at the bar at Cheesecake Factory to watch McCain's concession speech, ripped a giant Shepard Fairey Obama poster of a telephone pole and a few few people took a picture of us with it. We walked up to Broadway where the madness of honking, yelling, joy and cheers continued loudly. We were kindly let in to a private party at Broadway Grill so we could watch Barack Obama's speech, while the entire restaurant seemingly stopped business for the moment. On the way out, Bailey cried. The whole evening was indescribable.

Europe is... officially a no go in April. I can't spend $1,500 on myself for fun when I have no promises of a full-time job lined up. (I am not going to be a Barista or "Sandwich Artist" until I have exhausted my efforts getting a bone-a-fide design job.) I'll need rent money, food and probably a car (My education fund has covered for school and student housing the past 3 years.) Coming back from Europe with $300 in my pocket isn't going to work.

But I am so bumed. I've been planning to go back for 2 1/2 years and I have to push it back even further. This is the smartest decision though. I won't regret it when I need the money.

Last night Barack Obama became the 44th President of The United States and I don't think there was a more explosive reaction (in a good way) than here in Seattle. This city went fucking nuts and it was one of the most extraordinary things I've seen or been a part of.

Bailey and I were walking down from Capitol Hill to attend The Stranger's Election Party at the Showbox when the news came. EVERYONE was yelling, hugging strangers, yelling from their cars, honking, those with cameras were taking pictures of eachother, yelling from their apartments, people gathered unexpectedly in the streets (reportedly, atleast a thousand per group). I don't know quite how to describe it except that it was absolutely electrifying. All of this lasted several hours throughout the city and it was amazing. You had to be there.

Go to this site to get an idea of what it was like: The Slog

Seattle's own weekly hipster newspaper, The Stranger, has this Election blog called The Slog, with updates every few minutes from staffers about Election Day in Seattle. It is highly entertaining even if you don't live here. I love this city.

Oh, also, it says that there will be a correspondant from ABC news at the Stranger/Showbox Elections Party I'm going to tonight. So if you watch ABC news, you might see me. Maybe.

Life is good. This is why:

- Got an internship that a real design studio where the head-honchos let you come in as much or as little as you want and have no problem with you working on your school projects at the office.
- The fact that head-honcho #1, Tim, has worked with both Milton Glaser and David Carson.
- I finally think I figured out my senior project, after not knowing what to do for 4 weeks. Time to get to work...
- Submitting work to the student show that will be up in the school gallery my last quarter.
- Antticipating graduation in March
- Anticipating going back to Europe the first two weeks of April to visit Berlin, my favorite city ever and my best friend from High School who is moving to Budapest, Hungary for grad school.
- Baileyyyyyyyy
- Halloween Party on friday. I'm going to be a zombie Peapod.
- Election Party November 4th at the Showbox. Free event and free booze!
- All of my school/design friends are the best.
- The fact that BARACK OBAMA WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

Today I voted for Barack Obama.

I have an interview for an internship at Lustre Communications this Friday. I heard about this opportunity from the graphic design club blog from my school. Come on, read the memo, they sound like they are really looking, right? And approachable? I couldn't pass up taking a stab at this, even with everything I'll be doing between now and when I graduate in March. I so want this internship.

I never know what to say on livejournal any more. I don't know, I check my friends list more than once a day, but I never feel like putting anything up, even though stuff is happening all the time. Like this interview on Friday for instance. Or the time I had too much to drink at the Graphic Design Student end of the Quarter Bash last month. Or how I'm solidifying plans to visit my best friend from High School upon his move to Budapest, Hungary in March of 2009. Or how I've recently discovered Francisco de Goyaand his Black Paintings, which I amtotally loving (especially Saturn Devouring His Own Son. I am a Nerdddd.) Or how I'm still trying to figure out what my LAST COLLEGE DESIGN PROJECT EVER will be. Or how I have a new roommate from New Jersey who is rather nice. Or.... or... or how I just love Capitol Hill for some weird reason and being up there all the time with Bailey since she lives there. or how I just love Bailey. Or how I love walking short distances in the dark in the Seattle rain.

Orrr...I don't know. Stuff happens. Stuff is happening. I'm still around. I guess the gist of it is I'm thinking about my futture. Art. My art history geek-out tendencies. Love. Sex. Women. Jobs. Seattle. Art. Stuff. STUFF. I think I'm just tired.

Oh, I have this last.fm thing. It's fun. Take a look:

This past Saturday, August 23nd, was Seattle's School of Visual Concepts Annual Wayzgoose. "Dating back to the 17th century, a wayzgoose is a long-standing tradition in the history of printing. The event marked the end of the summer, where a master printer would host a drunken feast for his apprentice workers, marking the point of the season when work by candlelight once again began."

SVC wasn't hosting a big drunken event! SVC provided an open walk-through of their letterpress studio, a "market" with letterpress artists selling their posters as well as the opportunity to buy letterpress typefaces and pieces, as well as a steamroller pressing oversize prints in the parking lot.

I went with my friends David, Chad, Jodie and Casey.

( SVC Wayzgoose 2008 )

Thoughts:

- I cut my hair incredibly short today. I usually keep something to work with up there but Seattle is disgustingly hot.

-Speaking of which, today was, dare I say, miserable. I grew up with Washington DC Metropolitan area humidity, and claim to love summers sweet, sweet warmth, however, I've been sweating like crazy both in and out of the house. I walk from Summit/Pike down to Spring/ Alaskan way most evenings to pick Bailey up from work so she doesn't have to walk home alone in the dark, and now I kind of wish I had borrowed her car keys when I met with her for lunch.

- I'm currently writing my Senior Thesis. It's on the use of abjection, the unheimliche and otherness in Graphic Design (er, or advertising..) and how they generate clouded meaning and an unescapable personal experience. It's due in two weeks, 9-15 pages. I still have to expand my outline and start writing more than just my abstract. Kinda oops.

- Since earlier this week, when I decided March/ April would mark my return to Deutschland post graduation, I've suddenly drawn blanks on what I want to do and where else I want to go (Hamburg? Munich? Manchester? Edinburgh? Basel? Zurich?). I'm worrying about the language barrier and going by myself, even though from my experience there I know I don't have anything to worry about. I know I have a huge list of things I missed out on the first time, really like visiting new places and have more acquaintances there than I think. I actually do want to go by myself so I can go to all the hipster bars I discovered, see cheap punk shows every night and visit grave sites of long dead Dadaists (see: John Heartfield.) I'll be fine and I'll have fun.

- Speaking of Germany, I'm currently sitting in the oven that is my girlfriends apartment while watching Olympic replays and drinking Bitburger beer.

- Going to see Breakfast Club at The Egyptian midnight show tonight.

I am going back to Berlin in March or April of 2009, with an excursion to Hamburg.

Today in Advanced Ad Campaign was was talking to my instructor, who I've gotten to know better since I first had her 9 months ago, about things like my Senior Thesis (which I'm currently "writing") and my interest in getting my Master Degree eventually in Art History. She told me that she had been thinking (with my international interest due entirely to Berlin two years ago) that she would really like to see me attend The Basel School of Art and Design (apparently it's somehow tied to the University of Chicago, but I haven't figured out how yet. Oh yes, this is Basel, as in SWITZERLAND.)

After about an hour of research on Basel and the school, it seems really cool. The Masters Program, they offer is geared towards Graphic Design, which, is probably more practical than Art History. Ofcourse, it's like $40,000 for the program, plus a lot of money for trips back to America + food+ room+ exchange rate, etc etc. Obviously, this is all fantasy at this point and I'm sure there are more reasons why I shouldn't do it (including financially.) I'm pretty positive my parents would say "what is wrong with The University of Washington?" or something. Then again, there are many pros (the program is apparently taught in english, a degree from an international school might be interesting to someone, live in Europe, learn more German, etc, etc.)

It's something to consider.

This morning,I'm on the bus crossing the 520 bridge back to Kirkland so that I'll be around for dinner of the eve of my Dad's 55th birthday. I called my brother to let him know I'll be at the bus stop so that he can pick me up and says he'll leave as soon as he finishes watching Barack Obamas speech that was airing live from Berlin, Germany. I knew Obama was abroad visiting several Middle Eastern countries, but I wasn't aware he would be visiting Europe and that they would make Berlin the first and most important of his European visit.

Even after two years from my 12 week stay in Berlin, it is still a city that resonates with me. Berlin is an vital city in the history the world, it has birthed and housed many of the worlds most importat artists over the past 200 years and continues to be a city that acknowleges their rich yet troublesome history as well dedication to growth. Plus there are so many amazing artists currently working in or frequenty traveling to Berlin for these same reasons. It really is a special city.

Herre is Senator Obama's speech from 6pm Berlin time today (thats 12:30pm EST or 9am PST)


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/24/obama-in-berlin-video-of_n_114771.html




Little video about American (and German) Obama supporters in Berlin, Germany. This video features the Oberbaumbrucke bridge which connects the boroughs of West Berlin's Kreuzberg to the former East Berlin's Friedrichshain. This symbolic bridge is located on Warschauer Strasse which is the same street I lived on for three months in the summer of 2006.


I just like this video because Germans are great. I like the part where after one man states that "No one will be free as long as man posesses land" a random guy interupts him to say hi to his Mom while the other man looks at him like a pure moron.

Barack Obama in Berlin

Last night was a boat load of fun (no pun intended.)

I have these friends from Sacramento, California who are in a band called BOATS!. I met two of the guys, David
and Matt, about three years ago during my first quarter of college when my photographer friend shot the band they were in at the time and gave them a place to stay the night at my apartment. I've stayed in touch with Matt and David over the years and everytime they come to town (once or twice a year) I meet up with them in the afternoon or evening at the venue, talk, do the whole hang-out-with-the-other-bands-stuff, watch the show, more hang out, ending up at my apartment after it's all said and done around 1 or 2 in the morning.

It's an interesting situation hanging out with Boats (Matt, David, and Jeff), but it's a dynamic I really enjoy. For one, Matt and David are my age (unlike a lot of the older bands guys I know in Seattle) and dropped out of high school to play music (Jeff is a few years older and I don't know much about his educational experience.) It is usually an awkward situation when they ask me what I'm doing or what classes I'm taking. Explaining that I'm taking a class on Experimental Typography or that I'm writing my Senior Thesis really puts in to contrast how different our lives are, which leads me to my second point.

Second, they are from Sacramento. They live there, they grew up there. They don't know Seattle and I don't know Sacramento. We live in different places and lead very different lives. To get out of my typical social bubble and jump in to theirs is really interesting. We've only seen each other in person 4 times but we always talk about anything and it's a given they want me to come hangout before the show and that they'll stay at my place. They've been come really good friends that I really never see. It's different, but it's something I really like about being with Boats when they are in town.

Boats (or any other other bands I have seen Matt and David in) have never had a good show in Seattle. They have this love hate relationship with it and the subject comes up whenever they are in town. The shows are never really that full or well promoted and (they say) the venues don't pay the best and have typically tried to weasel them out of money. Seattle as a city isn't the most exciting to them; I think the only reason they come up here (or around when they do US tours) is because of me and Davids love for The Briefs, The Cute Lepers and The Girls.

Last night they played the Funhouse with a bunch of Seattle bands I happen to have seen play before. I showed up at their van parked behind the Funhouse around 7pm, several hours after they got in to town. With Matt, David and Jeff was their friend Ryan (who is their "roadie"), a friend from Sac who who flew in to Seattle that day to finish the tour with them) and Matts Girlfriend (who, apparently, randomly showed up at the venue unbeknownst to the rest of the band). Everyone had been killing time all day sitting in the van, so I could tell they were particularly excited to see a different face. We stood outside behind the venue for a good hour or two laughing and talking, while other bands drove up with other members joining on in and out of our little group standing in a circle.

David has befriended Kicks and Zache from The Cute Lepers, who he always calls when Boats is in town (David calls them "celebrities".) Like last time, the two mid thirties "punks" showed up. (Kicks is one of the strangest people I have ever met and probably drinks more beer and has more sex than most people manage, but thats him.) Between bands I got to talk with Kicks about Germany and the Red Light district in Hamburg. Nuts.

Boats played their short but sweet gig and gave a shout to to me and the "celebs" in the audience. I drank more beers than I typically consume, and played as Boats merch guy when they weren't sitting around their stuff (mainly because I thought it would deter people from giving them money of someone wasn't sitting there to sell something to them.)

We left of my apartment around 1am, and I had to be up at 6:30 for school at 8. No sweat, though. I got back from class with enough time to see Boats off to Portland. (They did, for the record, invite me to come down today Portland with them, via Greyhound with Matt's girlfriend Jamie because thats how she was getting down there for whatever reason. I swear I would have taken it if I had been paid sometime recently, since I dont have school until Friday. I opted out, only because I picture a scenario in which i would stuck in Portland miss work and class somehow on Friday.)

There WILL before pictures tomorrow.

I'm in Washington D.C., and it's been really great. Much more fun and less depressing than the past two years I have visited.

Lots of friends. Lots of old sights. Lots of food and beer on a night basis (tonight inparicular was food + beer heaven at a swanky Arlington, Virginia resturant.)

I'll hve some photographs to put up come Wednesday. Life is really fun and relaxing at the moment. Couldn't be better.