Coffee @ SLU

Still haven't found anything to compare with Trabant, but Tin Cup
tastes pretty good. A slight step up from Uptown Espresso, though the
atmosphere isn't as conducive to hanging out or chatting. Both are
very close to my new office.

First in a series of Dreams

Last Saturday was the first time Kaley and Jason and I got together
with the brass to run through my arrangement of Dream's song, "Slow
Poison." Arranging it took me hours and hours; as I told Kaley, it was
definitely a catharsis to listen to it over and over, in excruciating
detail, transcribing it note for note.

The result will be, I hope, rather extraordinary. I want to record it
as much to send to Dream's friends and family as to show off all of
the work I've put into it. I think it is something he would be honored
by.

Sunday non-drinking book club

Which is not the same thing as saying we never drink; a trip to
Portland which was partially documented in this blog would attest
to the fact that these boys know their way around a cock...tail. As
for cocks, all but one of the guys in my "other" book club are fans.
The odd man out is the wedding-banded Stephen, shown here showing his
best friend Bailey a little love.

Sunny weekend

Yes, I know it has been several days since it was the weekend, but
I've been busy dammit!

Here's another photo from the pep band's appearance at a charity
softball match on Capitol Hill. Doug is one of my closer friends in
the band.

Dykes vs Drag Queens

Today was a really good day. I made peace - more or less - with a guy
who essentially dumped me for someone much younger, I had a great time
hanging with Rodney, and I had two very good music experiences - one
practicing with the brass on Dream's song that I've arranged, one
playing with the Renegayde Pep Band at a fundraiser in Cal Anderson
Park. I'm actually a little sunburned: unfathomable just a couple of
days ago.

I took this photo of Miss Phoebe aka Brent of RCB, Gabrielle and some
other unidentified chick at the softball game. None of us were smiling
like this last week, when the headline of The Seattle Times read,
"Colder Than Siberia!" Fuck dat.

I like STIFF

I like how it has multiple meanings, good and bad, most of which were
applicable to me, and my friends, this past weekend.

The meaning that sticks today is the most basic, least ambiguous one.
My back is stiff. I spent too much time hunched over my laptop. Too
little sleeping in a lumbar-beneficient manner.

I haven't seen any of SIFF this year, or STIFF either.

Not dead!

I am happy to report that my Kousa dogwood is now thriving, since I
started watering it regularly, and since we've had such a wet spring.

Meanwhile, I've been working hard at practicing the guitar in
preparation for playing/singing at my birthday party in August. It is
a good workout for me brain to do something totally foreign like learn
a stringed instrument.

Not paying enough attention

Have the Penguins caught up with the Red Wings, or is the series over?
I don't really want to know, I'm sure. In any event, my Sidney Crosby
baseball cap works on so many levels. Here's my RCB buddy Natalie
wearing it last night at CC's.

Moron band camp

Here's the artist formerly known as Velveeta Jesus right after
blessing a sinner (me) with a sparkly silver bindi and spray cheese.
Not only did you have to be there, you should have been there.