friends in warm places

casa de Leaf, Kingwood, TX

At this time last week I was waking up, throwing on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and having coffee by the pool.

Nope, not a dream. We were visiting some good friends who recently moved to Houston, Texas. For about 2 and a half days we ate well, drank wine (no bottle cost under $30 - the good stuff), swam, hot-tubbed, laughed (a lot) and generally had a great time.



(me and Mec chillin' by the tub - photos courtesy of Moxie Photography)

We didn't really leave the house, actually Mec aptly dubbed it Nate and Keri's pleasure palace. Located in a suburb outside Houston, the house was lovely and equipped with great amenities. Along with the pool and hot tub, there was a movie room and a pool table. Plus, it wouldn't have been complete without more good friends, Bill and Liz.

Great to have friends in warm places.

But I didn't see WKRP

(a view from Northern Kentucky looking at downtown Cincinnati)
I was in Cincinnati for a few days on official public radio business - very serious stuff. I stayed downtown for two nights, but only had one night to really look around.

I was staying at a pretty nice Hilton, with three very nice looking restaurants and bars. But, they were all full of white dudes in suits - who were all apparently apart of some big corporate gathering. And since I didn't want to get stuck at the bar drinking and listening to a bunch of inebriated businessman gabbing on about whatever they do, I decided to get out and find some locals. Plus I was feeling like some greasy bar food.

The weather wasn't bad, maybe mid 40s so I walked down toward the Ohio river with my camera to do some shutterbugging. I walked across an old historic bridge that was under renovation. The Roebling suspension bridge, originally built in the 1860s. (more info here: http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html). I walked across to the other side and snapped a photo of downtown Cincy. Little did I know, I had walked all the way to Northern Kentucky.

Dude, I was in Kentucky, all by myself and it was getting dark. So I hightailed it back across the bridge to find some food.

I found O'Malley's in the Alley. A very quaint looking Irish theme bar - not a pub. I walked in and was glad to see that it was an attraction for locals. Most local white folk, a few with thick southern accents (afterall we were just across the river from Kentucky).

Seeing no Confederate flags, i decided that the place was probably at least safe enough for a brother to get a sandwich and a beer. I sidled up to the bar and ordered a Killian's and a 'smasher'. That's like a panini that's been flattened and then fried, so it's crispy. Mine was full of Colby cheese and bacon. Just what I was looking for.

I quietly ate my fried sandwich and drank my beer, soaking in the local flavor. At the corner of the bar a group of three dudes and one woman were cussing and laughing. One guy was playfully harassing the bartender, a 20-something guy, as he made a margarita.

On my right side was a guy getting quietly drunk by himself. The bartender referred to him 'crazy man.' At one point, Crazy Man got up and weaved over to the jukebox and played a Rammstein song (a live track). It took me a little by surprise, because the dude looked more country than he did scary-German-Industrial-Metal.

I was getting tired and decided to hit another bar before I settled into an evening of watching cable TV in a little hotel room, so I settled my tab (a whopping $4.80) and wandered out.

I made a stop at an unremarkable, and nearly empty Mexican joint (it was a few hours past Fiesta Hour) and grabbed a rum and coke.

For the most part, downtown Cincy resembled many other downtowns I've visited. It had a lot of the same stores and chain restaurants (TJ Maxx, Mortons Steakhouse) as you'll find in many other places.

And no, I didn't find WKRP.

Hibernating

It's cold with windchill temperatures that can kill you instantly -- sort of.

So what's there to do? Explore the great indoors, that's what. Hibernate, mate.

I made a kick ass pot roast, put a fake log in the fire place, grabbed a beer or two and I'm chillin like Sub Zero.

The Timberwolves are playing on the TV (of course they're losing) and the dog is curled up on the couch next to me. I've exercised, lifted weights, cleaned myself up. Basically, I'm just making the best out of a nasty weather situation.

...and it happened on MLK Day of all days.

When comedian Paul Mooney used to use the n-word, he did a bit called "Nigger wake up call." It's an incident that reminds black folks that no matter how much status they've achieved, that they're really still just niggers.

Well, I had one of those on MLK day. Just minutes after listening to an account of a wealthy black woman get mistaken for house help in her own home that was on NPR as part of their King day coverage, I wandered into the Target store in St. Louis Park.

I'm standing in line with a few items. I notice that the white cashier is finishing pleasantries with the white woman in front of me. As I step up, the cashier suddenly clams up. She doesn't make eye contact, and the only words she says to me are "you need to give me another 17 cents."

I politely apologize and hand over another dollar.

She ends the transaction by handing me the receipt. I'm looking right at her as I put my receipt in the bag and start to walk away. She doesn't look at me and instead turns to the next customer and says 'hello.'

I stop and turn and obviously stare at her. I must be scaring her now, because she's obviously trying to ignore me.

As I leave the store I'm literally shaking with rage. I hate anger. It makes me queasy. Maybe it's one of the reasons that I don't allow myself to get angry very often. I steel my eyes at the sight of the hoards of white people coming into the Target as I leave. I'm pissed. I'm so tired of white people at this point. But now I'm mad mostly at myself for not saying anything; for not asking for a manager and explaining what just happened.

But I'm not confident that I could do so without coming off as just another angry nigger.

As I drive away my indignation grows. And I actually find myself saying out loud, "don't they know who I am? they pissed off the wrong black man. I'm a fuckin' reporter for motherfuckin' Minnesota Public Radio. Don't they know what I can do to them?

The next day I tell my editor about what happened and he literally recites the same lines. He tells me to write a letter to Target and tell them who I am. He's an older white man who grew up in the South and has learned to hate racism because he's seen it up close.

But he hasn't felt it. And I find myself inclined to not fire off a letter to Target.

When it all comes down to it, I am just another black person. And my story is no different from so many I've heard from middle class, well to do Af Ams who also suffer these indignities and then tell me because they expect that a black journalist can do something about it.

what is sexy?

Oh yeah, that's a slick looking device. The new Apple iPhone.

Now until now I didn't think I needed a PDA - something like a blackberry where you can get email while you're standing in line for your foofy coffee at the local Dunn Bros.

But i want this thing...badly. I will need a new phone sometime this year. And I'm also having the big 40th b-day coming up in September.

Oh yeah, you know what else is sexy? Getting hopped on by your drunk wife at 3 a.m.

heh

Right now...

Listening to right now:

An internet radio station Drainbamage - which is playing Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen having a guitar circle jerk over Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile."

Some pretty fancy string bending, (and with Malmsteen's sweeping arpeggios to boot) I tell you what...

Yeah, I'm a guitar geek.

What I'm watching right now: a bunch of talking heads on CNN. Apparently the topic is what the president will do about Iraq. Meanwhile, CNN is also reporting five more soldiers have died there.

This Sunday marks the beginning of the non-Vikings portion of the football season. Thank goodness there's still playoff football out there. But after a few short weeks, the Sunday wasteland begins.

I mean, I'll actually have to find something to do on Sunday afternoons that don't involve sitting on the couch. Note to self, get off your arse and do something.

Now the Foo Fighters are on, "No Way Back." I really like the Foo Fighters. They rock and Dave Groehl is a GREAT frontman.

So far I've managed to stick to my only New Year's resolution -- that is NOT to make any resolutions.

I did try to fast for at least 24 hours. I made it 18 and started feeling so sick I thought I wasn't going to be able to rehearse with the band. So I cut it off. Apparently I've got a lot of toxins floating around in my system that need purging.

Next time I'm going to take a day off work.

Now playing Jimmy Eat World's "Nighttime Drive."

Kind of a mellow song. Anywho, I'm thinking about breakfast - and who isn't?

Now playing: Pink Floyd, "The Thin Ice" from The Wall. "Don't be surprised/when a crack in the ice/appears under your feet..."

Pink Floyd is amazing because most people I know who like Floyd, don't listen to them anymore. And it seems like for the same reason: because Floyd's music really takes the listener through their own head - and I don't know about you, that's a place I don't need to stay in for too long.

OK, back to breakfast. It's one of the things I forgot to add to my long list of beliefs.

'I believe in breakfast' more specifically, I believe in eggs, hashbrowns and some form of pork product. Today, it's pancetta.

gotta go...

These things I believe

(I believe in sharp cheddar, strong coffee and rare beef)


I believe that deep, raucous laughter - the kind that makes you snort - is good for your health.

I believe that married people should still make out.

I believe that there's intelligent life on other planets, and that they're ignoring us

I believe in the healing powers of chocolate

I believe women with curves and a bit of a wiggle are sexy

I believe in taking naps on the couch with the television on

I believe that "The Exorcist" is still the scariest movie ever

I believe fiercely in the statement "No Gods, No Masters"

I believe ketchup is underrated

I believe that everyone should know how to do something with their hands, to create something.

I believe that the crux of America's problem of racism is between Af Ams and white folks.

I believe in slow food.

I believe that bacon is worth the price of eternal damnation (can't claim this witticism as my own - I saw it on a t-shirt).

I believe that white folks come in many colors - pink, purple and grey, to name a few

I believe that athletic competition is a good thing, but unfortunately, fans are too 'fanny' and professional athletes take themselves way too seriously.

I believe in eye contact and polite greetings; in holding doors open for people; in talking about the weather in elevators with strangers; in being nice - and that 'nice' does not equal 'phony.'

I believe that Americans are way too obsessed with the lives of famous people

I believe that the smartest people are the ones who are not afraid to ask questions when they don't know the answer.

I believe in Marshall Amplification

I believe in gravy

I believe that people who don't like cats are worthy of suspicion

I believe Kevin Garnett is the best basketball player in the NBA

I believe the best buzz involves a few drinks, a little weed and the company of someone who makes you laugh

I believe that conversation is a lost art

I believe that germs are everywhere - so just deal with it

I believe that Angus Young is god

I believe in Apple computers

I believe that you let other people make you mad

I believe that hetero men should not be afraid of their own nipples

I believe in non-fiction

I believe in the blues scale

I believe in foreplay

I believe that Public Enemy's "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" is the greatest rap song ever

I believe that reason and logic are underrated and get a bad rap

I believe in 'both/and'

I believe that real men cry -- (and not just when their team loses)

I believe that my parents love me with all their hearts

I believe in sharp cheddar, strong coffee and rare beef

I believe that man created god in his own image - that's why there are gods to match nearly every culture on the planet.

I believe humans are BOTH good and evil

I believe people should not be afraid to question their own deeply held beliefs -- and mine

Predictions for 2007

(oh fer cyute)

I'm going to rub the crystal ball for a second and take a stab at some prognostications for the big 07:

First a few easy ones

-some celebrities are going to get married and then divorced after a few months (paris hilton, the world is looking at you...)

-a bunch of people are going to die in Iraq

-Minnesota sports teams will fall below their potential and disappoint their fans.

-i'm going to turn 40 freakin' years old

A few more daring predictions:

-Rosie O'Donnell will get a bad case of ass cancer

-SNL's Rob Schneider makes a bigtime comeback by breaking into serious film by playing a gay jewish holocaust survivor.

-President Bush will get caught kicking his dog Barney on the White House lawn and the video footage will break hit-records on YouTube

-Jesus returns to earth and bitch-slaps Pat Robertson shouting, "you're fired, bee-yotch!" Then goes back to heaven but first tells everyone to carry-on as if he'd never been here.

-the U.S. Surgeon General will release a statement finally verifying what everybody really suspected all along, "Everything causes cancer. So eat whatever you want."

-The vatican will reveal that the anti-christ is walking the earth, and yes it is Anderson Cooper.

-A new serial killer will begin stalking, killing and eating celebrities. Nicole Ritchie and Lindsay Lohan will not be afraid. Not enough meat there, you know.

right now...

CNN is reporting that Saddam Hussein has been executed.

Right now, I'm having a beer with my feet up on the couch. Here's to you, you sick, tyrant beyotch...

U.S. troops are on alert for an uptick in violence as news of the dictators death spreads.

What? Like there's going to be MORE violence?

How could there be more?

CNN also reports that there was dancing around his body after he was hanged. And that the execution was filmed, so there's going to be video.

Good lordy...

(the painting is Annunciation by El Greco - 1570-1575)

This is an excerpt from an AP story which ran in the Strib today, (12/23/06)

"An overwhelming majority, almost regardless of backgrounds and religious convictions, think angels are real, according to an AP-AOL News poll exploring attitudes about Santa Claus, angels and more.

"Belief in angels, however people define them, is highest — almost universal — among white evangelical Christians, 97 percent of whom trust in their existence, the poll indicates. But even among people with no religious affiliation, well more than half said angels are for real."

There's a quote that I love about democracy that goes something like this: "Democracy is the belief that the majority is smarter than just one person."

I think it accurately sums up why the folks who don't believe in fairy tales, Santa, the virgin birth, heaven and hell, the great father in the sky -- and those who believe that religious beliefs shouldn't restrict personal liberties (like marrying the consenting adult that you love) -- constantly get shouted down in the public marketplace of ideas.

I think the quote also highlights how intractable the problem is. There's an overwhelming sense of entitlement on the part of the majority who believes in angels, demons, gods, etc. that feels like the government is supposed to uphold their religious sensibilities and validate them by making laws that uphold those beliefs.

I don't care what you call it...

...I still dig this time of year.

I think there's plenty of evidence to show that humans (at least those of us above the equator) have always celebrated at this period on the calendar. Why not have a big festival that features lights and food and gifts around the solstice, the shortest 'day' of the year? And for that matter, why not have another big shindig in the springtime that highlights the joys of rebirth? Like with bunnies, and eggs and Jesuses rising from the dead?

I guess it's just as easy to believe that a bunny can carry around a basket of eggs and hide them from children...

Anywho, bring it all on. I like a party. Why quibble over where it originated?

And I'll say Merry Christmas to you or anyone. I don't care. And you shouldn't either. Not a xtian? No big deal. You can say happy hanukah to me and I won't care. Hell, say Happy Solstice and I'll return your salutation.

This time of year means different things to different people. To some it means the birth of Jebus. To others it's the story behind the oil and the lamps and the lighting of the candles.

Oy vey.

And to people like me, the season is about shiny objects, little gifty gifts, family gatherings with a lot of food and drink, snow, listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis, Nat King Cole and Brenda Lee sing Xmas standards, watching the Grinch; and to me, the ultimate Xmas music, Vince Guaraldi's score for the Peanut's xmas show.

Oh yeah, and it's also cool to get three days off of work.

Sweet...

Lazy Sunday...

cold chillin' on the couch with my bitch Beans.
feet up in socks, sweatpants and a t-shirt
won't get up until halftime of the second football game

i'm a better napper than rapper
but this is church for me son
i worship the gods of chillin'
or lords of laziness - i won't get off the couch
until i'm done.

word.

another reason why i love the internet

i love the internet because where else can you find a person who had dedicated an entire blog to the pork tenderloin sandwich.

heh

check it out

http://web.mac.com/davydd/iWeb/Site/Pork%20Tenderloin%20Sandwich%20Blog/Pork%20Tenderloin%20Sandwich%20Blog.html

kewl movie

Starship Troopers

I got home last Saturday night late and turned on the TV and lo and behold one of the kewlest movies ever was on.
Here's what I love about it. Special effects are great. Especially in the scene in the picture above. The movie is a bit cheesy. Especially at the beginning. I won't try to explain the movie to anyone who hasn't seen it. But briefly: All these great looking people start out as gung ho young recruits in the military as the Earth as it battles against, well huge, wickedscary bugs who live on the planet Klendethu, or something.

The bugs send a big meteor to hit the earth and destroys Buenos Aires.

Of course, the humans are whipped into a fervor and they boast that their going to squash all them bugs. When they arrive on the planet they realize that they underestimated the bugs and they get their asses kicked. Then the movie gets real dark from there.



And I'm not the only one who loves this movie. Earlier this week, I was (long story short) sitting in a hallway at City Hall waiting for the council to finish up a meeting. Waiting with me are several news folks, including a cameraman from a local station who starts talking about Starship Troopers. He loved it for the same reasons I did.

small world huh?

...hard to carry on...

(grunting and gasping for breath)...feel like I'm walking through quicksand...(whew)195 lbs too much weight on my frame...too much damn food...not enough excercise...why does pork taste so freakin' good?

(guk-whoo!) ... don't even want to know what cholesterol number is...or blood pressure...

damn dreadlocks weighing me down...must cut hair...must drop 20 lbs...(wheezing)...while i'm at it...need to get rid of stuff i don't need...way too many t-shirts and coats...old sweaters from the 80s...

(skronk!) ...knees beginning to buckle under weight of holiday stuff...haven't bought any gifts...fear of disappointing loved ones pushing down on shoulders...

(argh-kak!)

...will try to muster energy to make to do list...but can't find pencil...@#$#!

Some observations...

First, Beans is the cutest dog ever.

The women who work at that liquor store on Lake street near the Arbys always look bored and never look you in the eye.

The dudes who work at Hums smell like B.O.

There's nothing convenient about the S.A. on Lake street and Aldrich. Everytime I go in there to buy just one thing and there's someone in line in front of me buying a bunch of lottery tickets.

There's no need for live music in the lounge at 5. It's just too dang loud.

30 degrees actually feels warm.

Car repairs rarely cost under $100. And on the rare occasion that one does, celebrate it.

My highlights and notable events of 2006:

(Dude, I got a Marshall stack this year! -- photo courtesy of Collin Lyle)

(In no particular chronological order or rank of importance)

Sold the house in North Minneapolis and moved to Lyn Lake area.
Thanks to the move, instead of more 911 calls about drug dealers and large groups of teenagers fighting in the street, this summer was full of bike rides, walking to nearby bars and restaurants. A nice change of pace.

Saw my folks
I flew out to Denver to see my folks and celebrate my mom's 63rd birthday with them. What else can I say? A guy always misses his mom. And it was great getting the chance to hang out with the old man, too.

Venus
Full Stack recorded our first full-length CD, 'Venus'. We spent a lot of long days in the studio. And it paid off. I know I'm biased but the disc sounds f-ing brilliant.

New Orleans vacation
Mecca and I spent five lovely days eating, drinking and taking in some great live music in the Big Easy. We also met some very proud people who wore their love of their great city on their sleeves. They were glad to see visitors and we were glad to be there.

Lowlights
Beans the wonder dog got diagnosed with diabetes and went blind this year. A definite low light. However, this amazing animal is such a trooper. She gets around just fine - of course she bumps into things from time to time -- and she does the things she likes to do, bark, eat, bark, sleep, bark, go for walks and bark some more.

Un-glam rock

It's the morning after our big CD release party at Station 4. I have a hangover that is probably less from the whiskey and beers I consumed on stage, and more about all the head-banging I do while I play.

I got home last night around 2:30 a.m. with most of my gear in the back of the Focus. I'll take it back to the rehearsal space when I'm good and ready.

I ran into more technical difficulties last night at the show. I started hearing a loud buzzing sound coming from my rig and then for some reason my sound cut out during the next to last song.

eh - it could have been worse.

We started our set late so we cut a song out. I think we played well for the most part, although I couldn't help notice people start to trickle out of the bar during the set. Maybe we were just too loud - or maybe they didn't dig the music.

I'd like to thank everyone who stuck around to see us, in fact I can probably name each of them: Eric and Kim, Collin and Katie, Mecca, Jeff, Frank and Tim from ET, Liz and Kathy, and Leah. There are probably a few more that I didn't mention because I didn't meet them. but there you have it - about a dozen folks.

Did I mention we made $90?

I ain't complaining. There are so many people who would gladly change places with me -- frustrated guitar players and band-fans who just never took the time to learn how to play and organize a band. And some bands don't even get a chance to play gigs at all.

I'll end it there. I could go on, but I've got to try and nurse this hangover by watching the Vikings play some lackluster football against the Cardinals in about a half an hour.

14 hours to show time...

Later on this evening the band will be on stage at Station 4 in downtown St. Paul officially launching our new CD Venus. If all goes according to plan, we'll play for 30 or 40 people, sell maybe 10 CDs and put on the best show we can. Then at the end of the night, I'll be buzzed, sweaty and exhausted and will have to load my gear back in the car and head home.

"riding down the highway/going to a show..."

These are lyrics that have been burned into my head ever since I was 12 and picked up a guitar for the first time.

"stopping on the byways/playing rock and roll..."

Yes, Bon, it is a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. And i guess, like every kid who started trying to master "Smoke on the Water," "Stairway to Heaven" and "Eruption," on the gee-tar, I really wanted to be a rock star.

But not so much for the reasons that I think a lot of young folks today want to be stars. I cringe every time I watch "Cribs" and see these wealthy young punks flaunting a garage full of expensive cars that they don't really drive and show off professionally decorated rooms in their McMansions that they never spend time in.

I've always just wanted to be a really good guitar player and make a living at it.
And it also wouldn't be a bad thing to get a little famous along the way. But not stopping-me-in-a-public-bathroom-for-an-autograph-famous.

Who knows? Maybe someone with some real connections will hear Venus and fall in love with it and hook us up. And by hooked up I mean someone who can help finance a small tour, pay for another CD and get us in front of large groups of people.

My dad always told me, that if you do what you love, the money will follow.

OK $$$, I'm waiting....

Thankful for the day after Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the fact that its sole purpose is to give people the excuse to gather with friends and family and consume large amounts of food and drink. I also love that the emphasis is placed on slow food - meals that take several hours to prepare and often require the participation of guests.

But perhaps what I love most about Thanksgiving is the day after. I don't have to work. I have plenty of food leftover from last night (we had a brilliant shindig with a small group of good friends and family), and aside from a sinkful of dirty dishes, there's nothing that I absolutely have to do. Although I will have to go to liquor store - we had seven or eight full bottles of wine last night, along with an 18 pack of beer + some home brew brought by my buddy Eric -- this morning the death toll stands at seven or eight empty bottles of wine and an empty growler of home brew. There are maybe two cans of beer left in the fridge.

I plan on lounging, lounging, lounging and then I'll take a nap. There's plenty of "Austin Powers" movies on TBS and I'm a happy camper.