The first falling leaves from one tree in my 'hood are a gathering on the porch. Some cool nights, good for reflection and much needed deepness of sleep.
Discovered the ease of shopping for victuals at the Wednesday Farmers Market on MLK Jr. Blvd. It has everything I like, without the crowds. The Saturday Farmers Market on the capitol square is OK if you can get there super early.
Passed on a job offer from pals this week. It was kind of them to send this my way, but it was not a place I want to work or a job I want to do. And the commute would suck. Anything that makes me have to drive any distance, especially with winter coming on seems precarious.
2 weeks without a working TV, and it's really not so bad. Reading on the porch and getting through some household tasks.
from the paper 'journal':
make your home a welcoming space
Getting there.
Pal Gregory and I are making with the electro-acoustic duo coming up on Friday 9/26 at Mother Fools.
This day is also my birthday. Task for today, on this re-re-built computer, is to make a poster and some flyers, so this rare gig is not a secret from those who may want to be there.
Tonight is going to be the end of 8 days straight of work. Short shifts for the most part, but a day of nothing scheduled will be nice.
Monday will be a drumming night with Sam and Patrick. Man o man am I looking forward to that! They are good pals and we have a strong connection moving air together. And I need to drum sooo bad. Feel like I'm on a fast or something..
listen:
Xiu Xiu live
High on Fire
The Beatles
laugh:
Pleaseeasaur live
read:
Milan Kundera - The Joke
eat:
spicy Red Beans and Jasmine Rice
Walnuts, Golden Raisins, Romain Lettuce
Golden Beets
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
the feeling returns
Last night after work, googling a significant name, connected to a significant language of origin:
PURE
lol
Other thoughts congealing in the restless little brain:
First seeing in others and verifying in my self-observation that human nature is to grow weary of and discard what once seemed like THE THING as soon it's 'used up' for us. So the thing is to fight the "taking for granted" with acknowledgment of the continuing inspirational qualities that may still be present after the passing of time. To express gratitude, mostly through action and not words. To remember.
Anything, any person that 'wakes you up', even if my immediate emotional reaction is confusion or anger, or maybe a more positive emotion, is a gift.
A promise is not a gift. The gift is when the promise is kept.
Irish whiskey has a way of shaking loose some odd thoughts..
Down to less lofty affairs, the fall season of cool nights is arriving and I am sleeping much better. Last night I slept over 6 hours strait through for the 1st time in months.1
Sunday marks a 30 day anniversary of the last meal containing meat. The vegetarian diet is really alot easier to keep with than I thought it would be. Wait till I go to Baraboo for meal with Mom! That'll be a test.
Having trouble finding a day Sam, Patrick and I are all free to play music. Patrick is busy finalizing the addition to his house and I am working many nights. That's fine though, cause I need to work as much as possible. Drumming has to take a back seat. Practising on pads in the apartment a bit, to stay loose and not lose the recent return to form. I do need to rock. So much is expressed from cooking at the drum stool that has no other outlet. It's a good hobby.
Tonight, Happyoke with the Gomers early (the return of Biff!) and Xiu Xiu later.
listen:
King Crimson - live at Park West 8/7/08
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
read:
Milan Kundera - Life is Elsewhere
view:
___ (TV is dead)
PURE
lol
Other thoughts congealing in the restless little brain:
First seeing in others and verifying in my self-observation that human nature is to grow weary of and discard what once seemed like THE THING as soon it's 'used up' for us. So the thing is to fight the "taking for granted" with acknowledgment of the continuing inspirational qualities that may still be present after the passing of time. To express gratitude, mostly through action and not words. To remember.
Anything, any person that 'wakes you up', even if my immediate emotional reaction is confusion or anger, or maybe a more positive emotion, is a gift.
A promise is not a gift. The gift is when the promise is kept.
Irish whiskey has a way of shaking loose some odd thoughts..
Down to less lofty affairs, the fall season of cool nights is arriving and I am sleeping much better. Last night I slept over 6 hours strait through for the 1st time in months.1
Sunday marks a 30 day anniversary of the last meal containing meat. The vegetarian diet is really alot easier to keep with than I thought it would be. Wait till I go to Baraboo for meal with Mom! That'll be a test.
Having trouble finding a day Sam, Patrick and I are all free to play music. Patrick is busy finalizing the addition to his house and I am working many nights. That's fine though, cause I need to work as much as possible. Drumming has to take a back seat. Practising on pads in the apartment a bit, to stay loose and not lose the recent return to form. I do need to rock. So much is expressed from cooking at the drum stool that has no other outlet. It's a good hobby.
Tonight, Happyoke with the Gomers early (the return of Biff!) and Xiu Xiu later.
listen:
King Crimson - live at Park West 8/7/08
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
read:
Milan Kundera - Life is Elsewhere
view:
___ (TV is dead)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
rabbits, ghosts and heartless bastards
it's been a strange week. anger coming at me and some synchronous strangeness involving appearing where I am needed, when I am needed. someone close is spinning out of control and it hurts my heart. much of this is kind of personal and I don't like to talk shit outside the 'classroom'.
my heart's desires seem galaxies away. brother and musiking cohorts do not call. last night I bought a bottle of Irish whiskey and put a good dent in it.
this morning on the way biking to work, a startled rabbit raced me for a ways. I could claim victory, but there was no clear winner. After all, my finish line was the end of a mop handle and his was the next tasty green morsel.
sleep continues to be difficult, vivid dreams that are somehow more reasonable than other dramas in the real life they reflect. perhaps aboriginal culture is calling.
listen:
Heartless Bastards - All This Time
Richard and Linda Thompson - Pour Down Like Silver
Smog - Knock Knock
view:
The Straight Story
write:
journal
my heart's desires seem galaxies away. brother and musiking cohorts do not call. last night I bought a bottle of Irish whiskey and put a good dent in it.
this morning on the way biking to work, a startled rabbit raced me for a ways. I could claim victory, but there was no clear winner. After all, my finish line was the end of a mop handle and his was the next tasty green morsel.
sleep continues to be difficult, vivid dreams that are somehow more reasonable than other dramas in the real life they reflect. perhaps aboriginal culture is calling.
listen:
Heartless Bastards - All This Time
Richard and Linda Thompson - Pour Down Like Silver
Smog - Knock Knock
view:
The Straight Story
write:
journal
Sunday, August 17, 2008
smoke signals
still waiting for the smoke to clear away
listen:
The Band - Cahoots
Talking Heads - Fear of Music, Naked
Byrne & Eno - Strange Overtones
read:
What You Need to Know Before You Fall in Love - David Nicholson, Ph.D.
Transformation - J.G. Bennett
view:
eyes
listen:
The Band - Cahoots
Talking Heads - Fear of Music, Naked
Byrne & Eno - Strange Overtones
read:
What You Need to Know Before You Fall in Love - David Nicholson, Ph.D.
Transformation - J.G. Bennett
view:
eyes
Sunday, August 10, 2008
drummers rocking my world, changes
Last week was the week of bands with 2 drummers kicking it. Strange coincidence that I should see these percussive pairings in the same week. Funfunfun!
First was Sunday, a return of Melvins. Holy shit what an awe-inspiring show. The last time they were here I worked and didn't really get to listen to 'em although they made quite an impression. This time I lucked out and they played on my night off. They are described as 'stoner metal' but for me they are a rocking beast that don't really fit into any category. And those drummers, a righty and lefty sharing a bit of each others kits and cooking up some hellatious rhythms - Wow! This is a band I would never know about were it not for my job at the club, and I am a lucky dog.
Thursday was a trip to Chicago to see "The 40th Anniversary Celebration" of King Crimson at Park West. Just about a perfect day all round. In the company of bestest buddy Greg - we have had many adventures together on and in front of stages and this one was one for the books. Certainly one for the blogs. Got there plenty early and found some parking. Had a swell late lunch at Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. Black bean 'n' chicken chili, blackened chicken sammy. Greg had the pulled pork. We both enjoyed the sweet potato fries and tasty beverages. Got in line for the Gen. Adm. show, I picked the tickets at 6 just before the line began to move us in. Park West is an exceptional place to see a show. The staff are awesome, the seating comfortable and house sound system is damn fine. The new line up of Crim started right on time at 7:30 and proceeded to kick some ass for about 2+ hours. 2 encores (3 pieces) later I said like a young student "My brain is full, can I go home now" so we hit the road and was back in Madison shortly after midnight.
Friday at the bar sucked. In an attempt to not dwell on the negative, I'll leave it at that.
Sat AM up early, trip to to the Farmers Market for tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, beets, onions and a way overpriced but yummy cinnamon roll. Been doing veggie cooking for myself (sigh) and its all good. If I eat another piece of pizza this month it will be purely a desperate move. Changing my diet, changing my bad self into something better. We'll see.
The 'jazz trio' held forth in the squalor of TL's trailer Saturday afternoon. Music was good, but the future of doing this seems uncertain, for a number of reasons.
And tonight is the 3rd week anniversary of abstinence from a certain illicit substance which has been a vortex of wasted time and bad luck for too long. I feel good.
listen:
Peter Gabriel - Shaking the Tree, Passion
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
Captain Beefheart - Doc at the Radar Station
RTQE
read:
Nat'l Geo
view:
blue skies
First was Sunday, a return of Melvins. Holy shit what an awe-inspiring show. The last time they were here I worked and didn't really get to listen to 'em although they made quite an impression. This time I lucked out and they played on my night off. They are described as 'stoner metal' but for me they are a rocking beast that don't really fit into any category. And those drummers, a righty and lefty sharing a bit of each others kits and cooking up some hellatious rhythms - Wow! This is a band I would never know about were it not for my job at the club, and I am a lucky dog.
Thursday was a trip to Chicago to see "The 40th Anniversary Celebration" of King Crimson at Park West. Just about a perfect day all round. In the company of bestest buddy Greg - we have had many adventures together on and in front of stages and this one was one for the books. Certainly one for the blogs. Got there plenty early and found some parking. Had a swell late lunch at Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. Black bean 'n' chicken chili, blackened chicken sammy. Greg had the pulled pork. We both enjoyed the sweet potato fries and tasty beverages. Got in line for the Gen. Adm. show, I picked the tickets at 6 just before the line began to move us in. Park West is an exceptional place to see a show. The staff are awesome, the seating comfortable and house sound system is damn fine. The new line up of Crim started right on time at 7:30 and proceeded to kick some ass for about 2+ hours. 2 encores (3 pieces) later I said like a young student "My brain is full, can I go home now" so we hit the road and was back in Madison shortly after midnight.
Friday at the bar sucked. In an attempt to not dwell on the negative, I'll leave it at that.
Sat AM up early, trip to to the Farmers Market for tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, beets, onions and a way overpriced but yummy cinnamon roll. Been doing veggie cooking for myself (sigh) and its all good. If I eat another piece of pizza this month it will be purely a desperate move. Changing my diet, changing my bad self into something better. We'll see.
The 'jazz trio' held forth in the squalor of TL's trailer Saturday afternoon. Music was good, but the future of doing this seems uncertain, for a number of reasons.
And tonight is the 3rd week anniversary of abstinence from a certain illicit substance which has been a vortex of wasted time and bad luck for too long. I feel good.
listen:
Peter Gabriel - Shaking the Tree, Passion
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
Captain Beefheart - Doc at the Radar Station
RTQE
read:
Nat'l Geo
view:
blue skies
Thursday, July 31, 2008
spinning wheel, got to go 'round
My humble stretch of E. Main St. is receiving a total makeover this summer and will soon be a real passable street again. New sewer and water service is done and all the concrete is poured. Soon the sound of beep-beep-fucking-beep will be heard no more! The end of - WHAAAM - at 7AM, road crew playing twiddly-winks with manhole covers. The foot of my driveway has a really nice new curb and gutter. Unfortunately there is no actual road to drive on yet - it ends in a sharp drop off down to gravel. Car is going to be sitting in the driveway unless I get all Evel Knievel. Started gathering wood for a ramp from the garage yesterday, but there just weren't enough big pieces. Hoping for asphalt soon, or one of those flying cars we should all have by now.
Plans afoot to see a longtime favorite noisy combo next week - King Crimson. They are at Park West in Chicago for 4 nights celebrating 40 years of beauty and mayhem. Thursday is a goer. Greg's gonna motor us down, bless him. My craptastic vehicle could never make it. Greg and I have shared some unforgettable experiences and this promises to be another. In September Gregory and I will have another chance to make with our super-fine duo on a stage again. More on that when it gets closer.
listen:
Melvins - Stag
Talking Heads
Fripp
müm -finally we are no one
Dub Trio, Czarbles live
the relentless sound of roadwork
read:
Milan Kundera - The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Tape Op
National Geographic
view:
Tideland
Mr. Show seasons 1 and 2
PBS Nature
Plans afoot to see a longtime favorite noisy combo next week - King Crimson. They are at Park West in Chicago for 4 nights celebrating 40 years of beauty and mayhem. Thursday is a goer. Greg's gonna motor us down, bless him. My craptastic vehicle could never make it. Greg and I have shared some unforgettable experiences and this promises to be another. In September Gregory and I will have another chance to make with our super-fine duo on a stage again. More on that when it gets closer.
listen:
Melvins - Stag
Talking Heads
Fripp
müm -finally we are no one
Dub Trio, Czarbles live
the relentless sound of roadwork
read:
Milan Kundera - The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Tape Op
National Geographic
view:
Tideland
Mr. Show seasons 1 and 2
PBS Nature
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