H and I visited again for the second time since we've been seeing each other. These hikes in the wilds of Wisconsin are very nice and relaxing, can't get enough.
view:
The Commitments
listen:
Rasputina
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
and Sunday a return to Cherokee Marsh
H and I visited again for the second time since we've been seeing each other. These hikes in the wilds of Wisconsin are very nice and relaxing, can't get enough.
view:
The Commitments
listen:
Rasputina
Monday, November 9, 2009
A visit with Dr. Evermor / Eleanor & Natural Bridge
It was a very nice weekend to be out and about, temps in the high 60s all weekend. Saturday had to be the bluest sky ever. Hannah and I journeyed out at noon and headed up Hwy 12 to Dr. Evermor's sculpture park
PBS story on the Forevertron and Dr. Tom Evermor
The pics above are from the net, I neglected to bring my camera.
We lingered until about 4PM, chatting breifly with the Doctor and Eleanor. Then doubled back on Hwy 12 a bit and west on County C to Natural Bridge State Park. It was great to be out in the woods on such a gorgeous day. A nice little hike around the perimeter and a visit to one of the oldest firepits on this continent at the foot of the formation.
PBS story on the Forevertron and Dr. Tom Evermor
The pics above are from the net, I neglected to bring my camera.
We lingered until about 4PM, chatting breifly with the Doctor and Eleanor. Then doubled back on Hwy 12 a bit and west on County C to Natural Bridge State Park. It was great to be out in the woods on such a gorgeous day. A nice little hike around the perimeter and a visit to one of the oldest firepits on this continent at the foot of the formation.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
H1N1
or some other flavor of virus has laid low my sweetie and I this week. She started coming down with it on Wed and my distress began early Thursday. Particularly sad for dear Hannah as All Hallows Eve is her most favorite and celebrated of holidays. Here's H getting into the spirit of the holiday a week ago.
Seems contradictory tho to refer to it as a Holi-day per-se, being a celebration of darkness and evil hauntings and such. I was reading the Catholics Church's rant the other day warning of too much celebrating with Satan. Now that was scary.
My cohorts are mostly in favor of partying with Beelzebub. Not really in my nature, but who am I to decline a good party. Tho I have passed on the downtown celebration for over 10 years now mainly cuz it used to be more fun in the 80s. All moot point as I recover from this devil bug. Fever broke yesterday (!) and is settling into a simple head cold today. Will call H in a minute and see how she's faring. Hoping she is up to carving a few more pumpkins today. Some of her work at chez Hamer:
listen:
The Mic
WORT
view:
so much dumb broadcast TV
my head could explode
Seems contradictory tho to refer to it as a Holi-day per-se, being a celebration of darkness and evil hauntings and such. I was reading the Catholics Church's rant the other day warning of too much celebrating with Satan. Now that was scary.
My cohorts are mostly in favor of partying with Beelzebub. Not really in my nature, but who am I to decline a good party. Tho I have passed on the downtown celebration for over 10 years now mainly cuz it used to be more fun in the 80s. All moot point as I recover from this devil bug. Fever broke yesterday (!) and is settling into a simple head cold today. Will call H in a minute and see how she's faring. Hoping she is up to carving a few more pumpkins today. Some of her work at chez Hamer:
listen:
The Mic
WORT
view:
so much dumb broadcast TV
my head could explode
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Dilettantes in public and being leaf tourists
Just returned from a very nice trip with Hannah to Prairie du Chien over the weekend. spent most of Saturday at LaRiverre Farm Park for a party put on by the in-laws of our guitarist Sam to play at his wife's family gathering - the Shedivy clan - have gathered nearly every year for 10 years in the Park Barn. Knoshing and music-making friendliness for all who attended. This fine structure for country gathering is situated in a 320 acre park and reserve in western WI.
An overnight in town and then on Sunday we made the trip across the rivers to Pike's Peak State Park in Iowa for the view of the beautiful valley where the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers join together. The weather was pretty chilly all weekend, but only a minor distraction from the good company, music and leaf tourism. The leaves aren't actually kicking in with color much yet, but that doesn't matter a smidge.
The greatest pleasure of the weekend was spending nearly 2 full days with Hannah and getting away from our routines and such. This jaunting-about activity is soon to be somewhat diminished by the arrival of fluffy white slippery stuff and even less hospitable temperatures, so the timing of this trip was perfect.
It was a very unique sort of 'gig' - I hesitate to call it that. I believe we played our hastily put together set with competency. My kit sounded great in the room, I could hear everyone too so it wasn't a struggle to be tight. Given the number of little ones about, I held back from the possible heavy hitting I might have preferred, but I also tried to not be overly subtle on our slower quieter numbers. I think it worked out. It was difficult not to show off too much with my sweetie in the front straight ahead of me. Anyway, it was fun to play for those folks and there were some fine performances of folk rock material throughout the day from the Shedivy clan and friends. Did I mention the food? Well, it's worth mentioning that the cooking and presentation of victuals was very well done! Sliced beef, turkey/noodle casserole, pasta & potato salads & assorted snacks were yummy. Skillfully avoided the desert tray which looked very tempting. Anyway, I hope we sang for our supper in an entertaining manner for our gracious hosts.
I'd normally blog about the hotel room here...but don't really feel inclined to give a review in this case. H enjoyed a swim before the pool closed and we both enjoyed the hot tub and huge comfy bed. It was a bit ostentatious for me to have accommodations like that, literally one of the last rooms available in town, due to my late booking. I should know better! My good fairy had a hand in my finding the room that became avail, it had been booked solid with leaf tourist reservations. Happy that we ended up staying over in Prairie du Chien and our little excursion into Iowa Sunday was very nice.
This was one of those times that the thought "it's good to be home" wasn't the first thing on my mind when coming back to Madison from a trip. But still, it is good. Feeling very rested and centered.
Listen:
Radiolab podcasts
Ladyhawk
Agitpop - Back at the Plain of Jars
Bruford's Earthworks - All Heaven Broke Loose
RTQE
An overnight in town and then on Sunday we made the trip across the rivers to Pike's Peak State Park in Iowa for the view of the beautiful valley where the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers join together. The weather was pretty chilly all weekend, but only a minor distraction from the good company, music and leaf tourism. The leaves aren't actually kicking in with color much yet, but that doesn't matter a smidge.
The greatest pleasure of the weekend was spending nearly 2 full days with Hannah and getting away from our routines and such. This jaunting-about activity is soon to be somewhat diminished by the arrival of fluffy white slippery stuff and even less hospitable temperatures, so the timing of this trip was perfect.
It was a very unique sort of 'gig' - I hesitate to call it that. I believe we played our hastily put together set with competency. My kit sounded great in the room, I could hear everyone too so it wasn't a struggle to be tight. Given the number of little ones about, I held back from the possible heavy hitting I might have preferred, but I also tried to not be overly subtle on our slower quieter numbers. I think it worked out. It was difficult not to show off too much with my sweetie in the front straight ahead of me. Anyway, it was fun to play for those folks and there were some fine performances of folk rock material throughout the day from the Shedivy clan and friends. Did I mention the food? Well, it's worth mentioning that the cooking and presentation of victuals was very well done! Sliced beef, turkey/noodle casserole, pasta & potato salads & assorted snacks were yummy. Skillfully avoided the desert tray which looked very tempting. Anyway, I hope we sang for our supper in an entertaining manner for our gracious hosts.
I'd normally blog about the hotel room here...but don't really feel inclined to give a review in this case. H enjoyed a swim before the pool closed and we both enjoyed the hot tub and huge comfy bed. It was a bit ostentatious for me to have accommodations like that, literally one of the last rooms available in town, due to my late booking. I should know better! My good fairy had a hand in my finding the room that became avail, it had been booked solid with leaf tourist reservations. Happy that we ended up staying over in Prairie du Chien and our little excursion into Iowa Sunday was very nice.
This was one of those times that the thought "it's good to be home" wasn't the first thing on my mind when coming back to Madison from a trip. But still, it is good. Feeling very rested and centered.
Listen:
Radiolab podcasts
Ladyhawk
Agitpop - Back at the Plain of Jars
Bruford's Earthworks - All Heaven Broke Loose
RTQE
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
joke
Hannah has given a 'note' about my profile. She feels my statement that I feel 'somewhat uncomfortable referring to myself in the 2nd person' should stated 3rd person. Perhaps a stretch for the intended irony Not funny I guess, so I've corrected it. Being defensive of her calling me out on my poor and lacking usage, which was really a joke I forgot about, it gets me to wonder if my 'sense of humor' is getting thru even 1/2 the time. But I know Hannah 'gets' me, so I should be happy with that, but for this blip. Then Gordon tells this one last night:
So a termite walks into a bar
and says
"where is the bartender"
huh huh
It took Tom about 10 seconds to get that. Who is it then with a dull sense of humor..
listen:
Lowell George
The Mic
So a termite walks into a bar
and says
"where is the bartender"
huh huh
It took Tom about 10 seconds to get that. Who is it then with a dull sense of humor..
listen:
Lowell George
The Mic
Monday, September 14, 2009
post Labor day post
The end of the 2009 summer draws near, but with very nice weather to enjoy. Along with the weather, I've been enjoying spending time with my dear friend Hannah. She seems to like me, despite my quirks and such. Finding myself in good humor much more, when loneliness stops all kinds of doors swing open. HcT is a great woman, and we are enjoying each other's company with movies, dining options (the near east side is rife) and an actual date last Friday. Houses in Motion played & we sat up in the balcony an bobbed heads, both prolly too tired to shake booty with the youngsters.
Replaced my rear bicycle tire in Aug, which was in a bald way. In other DIY mechanical activities, also put brake shoes on the rear - some cretin actually stole them from where I was parked at work. Bike thieves carry metric allen wrenches!
Worth blathering about was the Zappa plays Zappa set in Milwaukee attended 3 weeks ago. It was mind-bending. That Dweezil spawn o' Frank sho can play that geetar. The whole band was fantastic. Inca Roads! Black Page! and many other favorites. A pal is the guitar/sax tech and enabled Joe A. and I to bear witness to this event of true musical greatness. Dined on some Mexican entrees enroute. They were very reasonably priced too, much like the concert - I had a PBR tall boy and a couple soda-corn-syrupy-treats, just to attempt tp pump a lil' survival juice into the wallets of Milwaukee service industry brothers and sisters you understand.
The trio of dilettantery is gearing up for our 1st performing in front of people. In about 3 weeks we'll be proving we can play a reasonably tight and entertaining set. It's thankfully a party environment, no pressure really.
listen:
Ellery Eskelin trio - 1 Great Night...Live
Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
Jumbo's Killercrane - The Slow Decay
Dub Trio - Cool Out and Co-exist
lots of Tom Waits
a little John, Paul, George & Ringo
crickets
read:
David Sedaris - Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Replaced my rear bicycle tire in Aug, which was in a bald way. In other DIY mechanical activities, also put brake shoes on the rear - some cretin actually stole them from where I was parked at work. Bike thieves carry metric allen wrenches!
Worth blathering about was the Zappa plays Zappa set in Milwaukee attended 3 weeks ago. It was mind-bending. That Dweezil spawn o' Frank sho can play that geetar. The whole band was fantastic. Inca Roads! Black Page! and many other favorites. A pal is the guitar/sax tech and enabled Joe A. and I to bear witness to this event of true musical greatness. Dined on some Mexican entrees enroute. They were very reasonably priced too, much like the concert - I had a PBR tall boy and a couple soda-corn-syrupy-treats, just to attempt tp pump a lil' survival juice into the wallets of Milwaukee service industry brothers and sisters you understand.
The trio of dilettantery is gearing up for our 1st performing in front of people. In about 3 weeks we'll be proving we can play a reasonably tight and entertaining set. It's thankfully a party environment, no pressure really.
listen:
Ellery Eskelin trio - 1 Great Night...Live
Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
Jumbo's Killercrane - The Slow Decay
Dub Trio - Cool Out and Co-exist
lots of Tom Waits
a little John, Paul, George & Ringo
crickets
read:
David Sedaris - Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Saturday, July 11, 2009
blue skies
The weather is really great today, for my day off. 80, sunny and no humidity. Just came in from a trip to a neighborhood festival, but the blazing sun did me in. It will certainly be nicer out there once the sun hits the (somewhat distant) treeline and buildings on the Ave facing west.
The Flat Tire taps they were tasty.
Best part of the trip was the exploratory zig-zag along the river front. Last years flooding kinda wiped out the the landscaping along the riverbank, but it's coming back and I see there are a few little trails forming. It's great having greenspace areas near the homestead.
Tonight looks to be a Mother Fools/Mickeys/Marquette triple M trifecta of live performances. Oboy. I'm seriously hoping to not have to plan for another RTQE tomorrow, tentative dinner and social plans await if not.
Patrick and Sam and drummingTom have made a commitment to stop spending as much time playing songs we know and concentrate on jelling our respective contributions into our own music. I have much hope that we will get there, maybe this year.
Also on Tom's playing out agenda is a gig downtown, 1st on a bill of three groupings. The thing is to be a duo with Lachmund and I for about 45" or so. I may completely pull out the stops and become more or less unhinged at this. Just so you know. It's
Saturday, August 8th
Capitol Lakes Grand Hall
333 W. Main, Madison
7PM (note the early time)
●Lachmund and Hamer duo
followed by, not necessarily in this order:
●Hannah Jon Taylor quartet
●JoAnne Pow!ers quartet with guests from Chicago and Philly
I should note that, once again, some of the best music at the place I work has been cover stuff, imagine that. Pete K and the crew were spot on with his group Shakey doing Neil Young's 'Harvest' yesterday. A superfine turnout of friendly patrons and the music of Neil Young played with heart and gusto. Good times! Can't say much for the late show, but I hung in there until bartime.
And then there's The Gomers and that Gomeroke. They make it a show. I have said, 'hey, if the singer sucks, just listen to the band!' and of course 'they can play anything'
Oh the drama at work, will it never subside? 'nuff said
Am I enjoying my day off? Most certainly.
listen:
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
Thelonius Monk w/John Coltrane
Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones
Bill Monroe
The Flat Tire taps they were tasty.
Best part of the trip was the exploratory zig-zag along the river front. Last years flooding kinda wiped out the the landscaping along the riverbank, but it's coming back and I see there are a few little trails forming. It's great having greenspace areas near the homestead.
Tonight looks to be a Mother Fools/Mickeys/Marquette triple M trifecta of live performances. Oboy. I'm seriously hoping to not have to plan for another RTQE tomorrow, tentative dinner and social plans await if not.
Patrick and Sam and drummingTom have made a commitment to stop spending as much time playing songs we know and concentrate on jelling our respective contributions into our own music. I have much hope that we will get there, maybe this year.
Also on Tom's playing out agenda is a gig downtown, 1st on a bill of three groupings. The thing is to be a duo with Lachmund and I for about 45" or so. I may completely pull out the stops and become more or less unhinged at this. Just so you know. It's
Saturday, August 8th
Capitol Lakes Grand Hall
333 W. Main, Madison
7PM (note the early time)
●Lachmund and Hamer duo
followed by, not necessarily in this order:
●Hannah Jon Taylor quartet
●JoAnne Pow!ers quartet with guests from Chicago and Philly
I should note that, once again, some of the best music at the place I work has been cover stuff, imagine that. Pete K and the crew were spot on with his group Shakey doing Neil Young's 'Harvest' yesterday. A superfine turnout of friendly patrons and the music of Neil Young played with heart and gusto. Good times! Can't say much for the late show, but I hung in there until bartime.
And then there's The Gomers and that Gomeroke. They make it a show. I have said, 'hey, if the singer sucks, just listen to the band!' and of course 'they can play anything'
Oh the drama at work, will it never subside? 'nuff said
Am I enjoying my day off? Most certainly.
listen:
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
Thelonius Monk w/John Coltrane
Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones
Bill Monroe
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