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Going South of the Border has become one of my favorite escapes on many levels. Mostly it's because this is the time when I can absorb mass amounts of music in the tranquility of my noise canceling headphones. I enjoy the airports, security, customs, the flights, the hotel and the company I keep during the visit. I recognize the privilege so remain grateful for the opportunity for as long as it lasts...

It's always sweet to come home but there's that part of me that wants to keep going. I remain torn. One of these days, when I decide to cease being burdened by responsibility, who knows...

Instead of a straight travelogue I decided to go back through all the tunes I listened to and select the overall mood. There is a melancholy to be found here as represented by artists such as Silent Servant, Demdike Stare and Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement.

I refuse to give it the "dark" tag (some artists try so hard to be that they come off as, well, trying too hard); this is more of the shadow we all have lurking in us. Never fear, though, Alabama3 provides a little salvation so all hope is not lost.

I was also able to plug through a little over 800 pages of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.  Picked it up on a whim after seeing it in an airport bookstore.  Have not been so enthralled by fiction since The Life of Pi. The music was right, the mood was right and the book was exactly what I needed to rethink some things.

As for the cover art, I was looking for an interesting photo - tough to find amidst all the "glamour" of the shopping mecca at DFW - and looked up and noticed the camera.  

Enjoy