From Toast

If I were actively building a winter wardrobe, it would look something like this. Thankfully for my pocketbook, Toast is a British retailer, and it is much easier to resist online shopping if international postage is involved.

From the Transportation Security Administration:

Traveling with Crematory Remains

We understand how painful losing a loved one is, and we respect anyone traveling with crematory remains. Passengers are allowed to carry a crematory container as part of their carry-on luggage, but the container must pass through the X-ray machine. If the container is made of a material that generates an opaque image and prevents the Transportation Security Officer from clearly being able to see what is inside, then the container cannot be allowed through the security checkpoint.

Out of respect to the deceased and their family and friends, under no circumstances will an officer open the container even if the passenger requests this be done. Documentation from the funeral home is not sufficient to carry a crematory container through security and onto a plane without screening.

You may transport the urn as checked baggage provided that it is successfully screened. We will screen the urn for explosive materials/devices using a variety of techniques; if cleared, it will be permitted as checked baggage only.

Some airlines do not allow cremated remains as checked baggage so please check with your air carrier before attempting to transport a crematory container in checked baggage.

More CDs for sale…
Should you want any of these and send money to me, either by personal check or Paypal, I will mail them to you. Email me first at rsdchen@gmail.com

They will be $3 for the first CD and $2 for each additional CD. No charge for shipping in the United States. I’ll do international shipping at cost.

Marion – This World and Body – London
Me Me Me – Hanging Around – Indolent
Elizabeth Mitchell – You Are My Flower
Morrissey – November Spawned A Monster – EMI
Morrissey – My Love Life – Sire/Reprise
Morrissey – Vauxhall and I – Sire/Reprise
Moving Pictures – Joie de vivre – Shelflife
New Order – Video 5-8-6 – Touch Tone
New Order – Regret – Qwest
Oasis – Masterplan – Epic
Oasis – Be Here Now – Epic
Oasis – Definitely Maybe – Epic
the Ocean Blue – Cerulean – Sire/Reprise
OMD – Sugar Tax – Virgin
Origami – Please Exit Quietly – 555
Pale Sunday – A Weekend with Jane – Matinee
Palomar – Revenge of Palomar – Self-Starter
Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted – Matador
the Peechees – Do the Math – Kill Rock Stars
Lee Perry – Introducing – Caribbean
Phoebe Quest – The Windward Sound – Shelflife
Pipas – A Cat Escaped – Matinee
the Pixies – Death To the Pixies – Elektra
Pizzicato Five – London-Paris-Tokyo – Nippon Columbia
Pizzicato Five – Music Is Organized By Sound – Matador
Portishead – Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me) – Go!
Portishead – s/t – Go!
Postal Blue – Weather Sensitive – Shelflife
Postal Blue – International Breeze – Shelflife
the Postal Service – Give Up – Sub Pop
Pulp – Party Hard – CD 1 – Island
Pulp – This Is Hardcore single – CD 2 – Island
Pulp – Help the Aged – Island
Pulp – Mis-Shapes & Sorted For E’s & Wiz – CD 2 – Island
Pulp – Disco 2000 – CD 1 – Island
Pulp – Disco 2000 – CD 2 – Island
Pulp – Something Changed – Girl CD – Island
Pulp – Something Changed – Boy CD – Island
Pulp – Common People – CD 1 – Island
Pulp – Common People – CD 2 – Island
Pulp – Common People ‘96 – Island
Pulp – Lipgloss – Island
Pulp – My Legendary Girlfriend – Fire
Radiohead – Karma Police – CD 1 – EMI
Radiohead – Paranoid Android – CD 1 and 2 – EMI
Radiohead – The Bends – EMI
R.E.M. – Document – IRS
R.E.M. – Green – Warner Bros.
R.E.M. – Monster – Warner Bros.
R.E.M. – Out Of Time – Warner Bros.
R.E.M. – Reveal – Warner Bros.
the Real Tuesday Weld – The Meteorology of Love – Bambini
Loud Reed – Walk On the Wild Side (Best of) – BMG
Remember Fun – Train Journeys – Matinee
Rialto – Untouchable – East West
Rialto – Dream Another Dream – East West
Ride – Carnival Of Light – Sire/Reprise
Ride – Vapour Trail – Sire/Reprise
River – s/t – Shelflife
the Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street – Rolling Stones
the Rolling Stones – Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) – London
Rye Coalition – Hee Saw Dhuh Kaet – Gern Blandsten
Saint Etienne – So Tough – Warner Bros.
Saint Etienne – Finisterre – Mantra
Saint Etienne – Tiger Bay – Warner Bros.
Satisfact – The Third Meeting At the Third Counter – K
Schumacher – Fidicin Drones – Colorful Clouds for Acoustics
Seam – Are You Driving Me Crazy? – Touch and Go
the Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols – Warner Bros.
DJ Shadow – High Noon – Mo Wax
DJ Shadow – Midnight In A Perfect World – Mo Wax
DJ Shadow – Midnight In A Perfect World/The Number Song – Mo Wax
the Shermans – Casual – Shelflife
the Shermans – Happiness Is Toy Shaped – Shelflife
the Shermans – In Technicolor – Shelflife
Sleater-Kinney – Off With Your Head – Kill Rocks Stars
Sleater-Kinney – All Hands On the Bad One – Kill Rock Stars
Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out – Kill Rock Stars
Sleater-Kinney – The Hot Rock – Kill Rock Stars
Sleater-Kinney – One Beat – Kill Rock Stars
Sleater-Kinney – Sub Pop
Sleeper – Statuesque – CD 2 – Indolent
Sleeper – The It Girl – Arista
Sleeper – Smart – Indolent
Slipside – Four Day Weekend – Matinee
Slipside – The World Can Wait – Matinee
Sloan – Smeared – DGC
Sodastream – A Minor Revival – Microindie
South Ambulance – s/t – Labrador
Souvenir – s/t – Shelflife
Souvenir – Points de suspension – Shelflife
Ronnie Spector – She Talks To Rainbows – Kill Rock Stars
The Steinbecks – Branches and Fronds Brushing the Windows – Microindie
Stereo Total – Monokini – Bungalow
the Stone Roses – Second Coming
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names – #1 – Labrador
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names – #2 – Labrador
the London Suede – Stay Together – Nude
Suede – s/t – Nude
the London Suede – Dog Man Star – Nude
Suede – Coming Up – Nude
Suede – Trash – CD1 and 2 – Nude
Suede – Beautiful Ones – Nude
Suede – Lazy – CD1 and 2 – Nude
Suede – Filmstar – CD1 and 2 – Nude
Suede – Saturday Night – CD1 and 2 – Nude
Suede – Electricity – CD1 and 2 – Nude
the London Suede – Headmusic – Nude
the Sugarplastic – Bang, the Earth Is Round – DGC
the Sundays – Blind – DGC
Superdrag – Regretfully Yours – Elektra
Sushi – The Quiet Space Between Houses – Shelflife
Sweet William – World of Books – Shelflife
Sweetness – Ashtray Floors – CBK
Le Tigre – s/t – Mr. Lady
the Trash Can Sinatras – I’ve Seen Everything – Go!
the Twilight Sad – s/t – Fat Cat
The Tyde – Once – Orange Sky
Unarmed Enemies – s/t – Songs I Wish I Had Written
Unrest – Isabel Bishop – 4AD
Laura Watling – Early Morning Walk – Shelflife
The Windmills – Sunlight – Matinee
The Windmills – Walking Around the World – Matinee
Would-Be Goods – Emmanualle Beart – Matinee
2004 Teen Beat Sampler
Little Darla Has a Treat for You Vol. 16 Spring 2001
Aperitivo: una recopilacion de canciones de Siesta (1996 Siesta Records compilation)
You Make Me Smile Shelflife Records Collection

Oh my God, there are so many CDs!!!!! And I have so many bills to pay!!!!

Should you want any of these and send money to me, either by personal check or Paypal, I will mail them to you. Email me first at rsdchen@gmail.com

They will be $3 for the first CD and $2 for each additional CD. No charge for shipping in the United States. I’ll do international shipping at cost.

10,000 Maniacs – Candy Everybody Wants – Elektra
10,000 Maniacs – You Happy Puppet – Elektra
10,000 Maniacs – The Wishing Chair – Elektra
10,000 Maniacs – Hope Chest – Elektra
Acid House Kings – Do What You Wanna Do – Twentyseven
American Analog Set/White Magic – Songs of Hurt and Healing – Tylenol
the Beautiful South – Everybody’s Talking – CD1 and 2 – Go!
the Beautiful South – Pretenders to the Throne- Go!
the Beautiful South – Dream a Little Dream- Go!
the Beautiful South – Rotterdam – Go!
the Beautiful South – One Last Love Song – CD1 and 2 – Go!
the Beautiful South – Prettiest Eyes – CD1 – Go!
the Beautiful South – Prettiest Eyes – CD2 – Go!
Belle and Sebastian – I’m Waking Up To Us – Matador
Belle and Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue single – Rough Trade
Belle and Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue DVD – Rough Trade
Belle and Sebastian – I’m A Cuckoo – Rough Trade
Belle and Sebastian – This Is Just A Modern Rock Song – Jeepster
Belle and Sebastian – Sing Jonathan David – Matador
Bis – The Secret Vampire Soundtrack – Chemikal Underground
Bis – Everybody Thinks They’re Going To Get Theirs – Wiiija
Bis – Atom Powered Action – Wiiija
Bis – Action and Drama – Wiiija
Bjork – The Best Mixes From the Album-Debut For All the People Who Don’t Buy White-Labels – Polygram
Blur – Girls & Boys – Capitol – American issue with 5 songs
Blur – The Universal – Food
Blur – M.O.R. – Virgin
Blur – On Your Own – Food
Blur – Song 2 – CD1 and 2 – Food
Blur – Beetlebum – CD1 and 2 – Food
Blur – Tender – CD1 and 2 – Food
the Boy Least Likely To – Bits of the Best Party Ever – Too Young To Die
Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue (Part 1) – Elektra
Bernard Butler – People Move On – Creation
Cagney and Lacee – Six Feet of Chain – No. 6 (Dean Wareham side project)
Camera Obscura – Lloyd I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken – Merge
Catatonia – You’ve Got A Lot To Answer For – CD2 – Blanco y Negro
Catatonia – Bleed – Blanco y Negro
Catatonia – I Am the Mob – Blanco y Negro
the Charlatans – One To Another – Beggars Banquet
Churchbuilder – Microdancer – Shelflife
Churchbuilder – Patty Darling – Shelflife
the Clientele – Suburban Light – Merge
Elvis Costello and The Attractions – Get Happy – Columbia
the Crooner – Heaven Airlines – Shelflife
the Cure – Friday I’m In Love – Elektra
the Cure – Lovesong – Elektra
the Cure – High – Elektra
the Decemberists – Billy Liar – Kill Rock Stars
the Decemberists – The Tain – Acuarela
the Divine Comedy – Everybody Knows (Except You) – CD1, 2, and 3 – Setanta
Dressy Bessy – Pink Hearts Yellow Moons – Kindercore
Drugstore – s/t – Go!
Dubstar – The Elevator Song – Food
Dubstar – Anywhere – Food
Dubstar – Cathedral Park – CD2 – Food
Elastica – Stutter – DGC
Elastica – Car Song – DGC
Evening Lights – Landscape – Shelflife
the Fantastic Plastic Machine – s/t – Emperor Norton
The Flower Machine – Chalk Dust Dream of the Tea Cozy Mitten Company – Microindie
Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better – Domino
Free Loan Investments – Ever Been To Mexico?
Gene – To See the Lights – Costermonger
Gene – Haunted By You – Costermonger
Gene – Fighting Fit – Polydor
Gene – Where Are They Now? – CD1 & 2 – Polydor
Gene – We Could Be Kings- Polydor
Gene – Speak To Me Someone – CD1 & 2 – Polydor
the Groovie Ghoulies – World Contact Day – Lookout
The Guild League – Jet-Set…Go! – Matinee
Harper Lee – Everything’s Going to Be OK – Matinee
Harper Lee – Train Not Stopping – Matinee
the Hi-Fives – And A Whole Lotta You! – Lookout
the Housemartins – The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death – Elektra
James – Whiplash – Fontana/Mercury
James – Seven – Fontana
the Jesus and Mary Chain – Reverence – Def American
Jets To Brazil – Orange Rhyming Dictionary – Jade Tree
Kula Shaker – Tattva – Columbia
the Legends – Play It For Today – Labrador
Lilys – Everything Wrong is Imaginary – Manifesto
Lilys – Precollection – Manifesto
Looper – Ballad of Ray Suzuki – Jeepster
Lovejoy – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Matinee
the Lovekevins – Max Leon – Songs I Wish I Had Written
Low – Christmas – Chair Kickers’ Union
Lunchbox – The Magic of Sound – Magic Marker
Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go – Epic
Manic Street Preachers – A Design For Life – Sony
Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next – Sony

I’ll have even more listed next week.

Yesterday morning I stood shin-deep in seawater on the beach in Milford, Connecticut, dropping fistfuls of my father’s ashes in the Sound. I watched all that’s physically left of my father wash away in the water and sand. It became suddenly clear to me that that’s all there is when a life ends, and it is very right and proper to send ashes out to become part of the natural world again. I’m not sure anymore whether an Afterlife exists, but it’s comforting to know that at least my father is being returned to the sands and the sea.

I am resting at Ara’s apartment in Baltimore today, and tomorrow I return to Chapel Hill. I have an urn with the rest of my father’s ashes with me. I will keep it until I can go back to California, to add him to the beaches there that he loved so well.

Here – http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/basilgildersleeve

Tell yr friends.

If I were to live within sight of the interstate, I would like to have a bed as comfortable as this, sheets as white as these are, pillows piled high for me to rest my head upon, and a window with glass as wide and thick as that one is so that I could see the cars streaking by but not hear them.

This is the video for a new song by local band the Kingsbury Manx. It’s the sweetest thing I’ve seen all day. There are lots of babies in strollers and dogs on leashes in the video, and there are people walking around and watching live music outside. It’s really very lovely, and watching it reminds me how nice it is to live here.

I remember when I was half as tall as I am now the three of us took the train from San Diego to somewhere beyond Kansas City, my mother, my younger sister, and me.

I remember using the toilets on the train, bleary-eyed and knocked from side to side with the movement of the train cars on the tracks. When the toilet flushed I could see daylight, I could see the hot desert ground rushing beneath the train.

Did they really flush to the ground like that? It seems unallowable, but that is a truth that I remember.

My zine is done, and if you would like a copy, please send money via Paypal to rsdchen@gmail.com in the following amount as appropriate:

USA – $2.75
Canada/Mexico – $3.50
Everywhere else in the world – $4.00

It is 14 full pages of hand-drawn paper doll clothes based on my actual clothes, plus style interviews with some of my friends. I had a lot of fun making it.