Song Of Our So-Called Friend

To end is to begin

2008-11-19T17:07:00.000-08:00

I'm experimenting switching from Blogger to Tumblr. If this is the most recent post you see, then you know that the experiment has been successful so far.

Roswell is still RosHell

2008-10-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a long drive, from Albuquerque to Pecos (TX). I
stopped in Roswell for lunch.

I had heard that Roswell was a more interesting town since the series
of the same name. But I can't see it. It still has a dull, oppressive
air. There's a local McCain/Palin office a block from where I took
this photo. Roswell is still flat and ugly. And the UFO/alien-themes
businesses all appear to be out of business (like this comics shop) or
struggling. At least my green chile cheeseburger from Sonic was edible.

Ruh roh!

2008-10-09T15:53:00.001-07:00

Coffee, Whole Paycheck Style

2008-10-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

I love developing patterns for my day-to-day operations. But sometimes
those patterns become ruts, and they need revisiting.

Going to Uptown Espesso after lunch is feeling like a rut. It would be
better if their coffee were better. I've been to the SLU Vivace a
number of times, but it's a schlep.

Today I remembered that Whole Foods has an espresso bar. So I thought
I'd try it. It's pretty good! Better than Uptown or (God forbid)
Starbucks. Not as good as Vivace. Exactly as I expected.

That's a pumpkin behind the latte, but you can't tell due to the
crappy photo composition. Apologies. :)

Always look on the bright side of life (conclusion)

2008-10-06T21:54:00.001-07:00

Bleah. That didn't help. But here we go, finally some good news!

Always look on the bright side of life (cont'd)

2008-10-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

That wasn't very reassuring. Let's try the Weather app...

Always look on the bright side of life

2008-10-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

Let's see, it's kind of a Blue Monday, isn't it? The iPhone isn't
forthcoming with good news when I click on the Stocks app...

Sunday cookin'

2008-10-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

Like Tina Fey's Sarah Palin, I don't like to pronounce the g's at the
ends of words. I also don't like that I've gotten so far from cooking
regularly. I really enjoy cooking. It's such a shame that I don't do
it as much as I used to. And with the economy the way it is, I'm
really stupid not to do it. But I've Bern spending nearly every
evening hour focusing on book club reading and my various music
activities.

So a couple of weeks ago, I stopped everything early on Sunday evening
to cook. I made sure to double recipes to have leftovers for work. It
was really easy, and I found myself eating things I wouldn't
otherwise. It is turning into a weekly ritual.

Tonight's meal was a tagine of cod with fresh heirloom tomatoes, olive
oil, cumin and cinnamon, with some Albarino added, plus rainbow chard
and rice. Plus more Albarino to drink. I made the tagine in my tagine,
which I bought a year ago at Crate & Barrel to make a lamb tagine for
book club. Most of the time it just sits around looking pretty.
Hopefully it will now begin earning its keep.

All in all, a fabulous, healthy dinner. Yes boys, I can cook. Another
reason for you to be beating a path to me RIGHT NOW.

Somebody in this house likes M&Ms!

2008-10-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

As another long week draws to a close, Astro Kitty and I share a
tender moment of asphyxiation, in between articles from Food & Wine.

Saturday music

2008-09-29T16:43:00.001-07:00

My friend Nick was amused that I managed to squeeze Mahler and Akimbo
into the same evening. At 8pm, I was onstage at Benaroya with the
Symphony Chorale singing Mahler's 8th, easily one of my favorite
choral works I've ever sung.

A quick costume change and bus ride later, i was on Capitol Hill to
see Akimbo play their tenth anniversary show at King Cobra. Since the
headliners weren't on till midnight, I had plenty of time to hang with
Nick, as well as other friends/girlfriends/parents/members (Jon & Nat)
of Akimbo. Jon's mom, in particular, was fabulous. Cheeky. And she was
selling band merch before the show!

Akimbo played a very exciting, very loud set. Now that I think about
it, high decibel levels were common to both concerts.

Is that my finger on a can of PBR?

2008-09-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

Why yes it is. But that is not my PBR. I am not hip enough to drink
that shit. I am the owner of the vodka tonic to the right.

Working lunch

2008-09-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is how I spent my lunch yesterday. Singapore Noodles with a side
of Mahler's 8th. I feel pretty good about the Symphony/Chorale's prep
work for tonight's first performance of this big work. But I'm also
reminded why I left the Chorale in the first place - too little time
for polishing pieces other than the over-performed Messiah and Ode to
Joy. I'd much rather sing Mahler every year.

The grapevine ate your baby

2008-09-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I cut down one of the two Orion grapevines
growing over my pergola. I thought I had cut it back far enough that
it would not regrow.

I was wrong. For two years now, Stubby has been reborn as a tenacious
ground cover. I don't really mind, except that it twines around
everything in its path. It has swallowed up my pathetic Miss Kim
lilac. It grabbed the legs of a deck chair. It attacked a dying
Arbutus unedo. And now it has pulled a flowepot off the deck.

Next year, rather than fighting it, I may let it have its way as the
dominant groundcover. Or I may come to my senses and hack it back yet
again.

Absolutely appalling

2008-09-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone is concerned about Sarah Palin's lack of foreign policy experience, but John McCain has his own issues. He thinks that Spain is in Latin America.

Here's the full story, in Spanish:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/candidato/republicano/compromete/ver/Zapatero/gana/elpepiint/20080918elpepiint_9/Tes

And here's a link to the audio of the interview (in English).

As someone who spent three of the best months of my life in Spain, I can just imagine the cynical glee with which our Spanish friends read this interview in El País. (Readers give the article 4.5 stars out of five.)

Teak oil

2008-09-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

I spent part of this past weekend sanding and applying the first coats
of teak oil to my front door. I was going to just paint it. I figured
refinishing it for the third time was too much trouble. But Emily
reminded me that paint wouldn't last much longer, and the door has to
be sanded regardless. So I bit the bullet.

It's not going to look as good as the last time I refinished it. The
door has just suffered too much damage from its west exposure. It
would behoove me to extend the door frame to accommodate a storm door.

I know everyone else already knows this stuff, so back off!

2008-09-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

I recently bought my first couple of iPhone apps. That's right, PAID
MONEY. I bought Guitar Toolkit and the SpeakEasy voice recorder. It's
amazing that there are multiple competing apps that do these things! I
expect these little apps will come in very handy with the songwriting
and the guitar practice. The latter really suffered this week, what
with Symphony Chorale, RCB and [band redacted] practice every night.
But not tonight! Must. Practice. Guitar.

I also downloaded the Remote app to control iTunes on my laptop. That
should be a very sweet app, and it's free!

Now if they will just develop an app that allows you to use the iPhone
as a video camera without having to unlock the phone, my taste for
apps will be satiated. For now. Until someone informs me of another
function my significant other is capable of (since my iPhone is the
closest thing I've got to an SO at the moment).

OZ Mania!

2008-09-08T15:32:00.001-07:00

My RCB friends Richie and David have told me several times that I need
to see Orkestar Zirkonium. Last night I finally attended one of their
shows at Columbia City Theatre.

Wow! OZ was easily the most fun I've had at a concert in at least a
year. The musicianship was incredibly high. I felt like I was in a
Balkan bar, especially at the end, when those of us in the back of the
theater were clapping and dancing in time with the band.

The source of my best dining experience in Seattle

2008-09-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

is moving.

Cleaning house

2008-08-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

Today I found this short video I took back in the summer of 2004. It was the last time I was in Europe. This video was from the part of the trip where I was visiting my college buddy David Liso near his home in Saxon, Switzerland.

JACKPOT!

2008-08-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, decent, cheap ethnic food nearby! Except that it's been there the whole time. I just didn't know about it. I have been complaining for months about the dearth of good lunch options in SLU, and then a couple of people told me that there's "great pho" next to the Greyhound Bus Station on 8th & Stewart. Turns out that the pho in question is Pho Bac, a place I've heard about for years but never realized was in this location.

My pho was much better (and cheaper) than the over-anised stuff I had last week at Black Bottle. The broth was tasty. Salty. Maybe not quite as complex as Than Bros., but then again "complex" pho is not pho.

Pho Bac is in the Greyhound terminal. It is a bit strange. But then again, I should be so lucky to get off the bus in an unknown city and eat like this in the station!

Everett Has the Gays

2008-08-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

Or at least it did this weekend. I spent part of Saturday night at The
Castle in Everett, where Kate was having her birthday. It wasn't quite
the bang-up affair we'd anticipated. A charity drag show had taken
over the main bar. We were banished to the pool-and-darts section. It
wasn't so bad. I played one partner game and won.

Here is Kate showing off her pool skills.

You will comply. Resistance is futile.

2008-08-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

There is a heckuva lot of construction going on at SLU. It's fun watching construction workers munching salads (with arugula, no doubt!) at Whole Foods during my lunch break.

This building project kind of freaks me out. I don't know why. It's certainly not the biggest building going up in the neighborhood. I think it's all of that blue and orange, and all of the equipment leaning against the building.

Slog didn't care

2008-08-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

I took this photo of a temporary sharrow painted on the Ave. Am I
wrong, or is this too much gay? It looks like the city's Bike Master
Plan is also a piece of the Gay (male) Agenda!

I sent this to Slog, where it was promptly ignored.

My neighbor Emily

2008-08-17T21:04:00.001-07:00

Tonight I went to hear my duplex mate Emily sing six songs at Kobuta
Garden. She was fabulous. That year of graduate opera training in
Wimnipeg has clearly paid off. I think composer Byron Au Yong was
impressed as well with Emily's gutsy delivery, accompanied by water
percussionist Stuart Mc Leod, at four different locations in the
gardens.

Lesbo? Lesbi friends!

2008-08-17T20:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I went as my friend Topher's date to a lesbian wedding,
sorry "commitment ceremony," in Issaquah. It was a lovely, steamy
affair. Topher did a fine reading. The reception was nice and cool.
Topher and DJ Colby B chatted about great DJs who have played, or will
play, in Seattle. Colby is one of those people to whom I get
introduced over and over again, but we can never quite remember each
other.

2008-08-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Mark Jacobson's essay about a man disguising himself as a zombie to sell DVDs of his ultra-low-budget Bed-Stuy zombie flick. I can dig it. I identify with - and have been guilty of indulging in - relentless self promotion.

The essay reminded me of a boneheaded thing I did a couple of years ago. Against my better judgment, I sunk some money into a locally-produced horror film. It's not a great film by any measure. It's unlikely that I will ever recoup my investment. What was I smoking? you may well ask.

I'm still asking myself. Was I tipsy when the story idea was laid on me? Yes. Was I feeling on top of the world, confident that my picture would appear in Slog the next day? Yes. Did I find that I was still reeling from the remnants of a crush on the best city councilmember Seattle never had? A bit. Did I have money to burn? Not exactly. Was I terribly impressed with the rough cut of the film that was lent me? Not really. Was I delusional? I don't understand the question . . .

Funny how our occasional bouts of star-stricken madness are tempered with the worst jolts of real life. I was saddened to read last week that the (very nice) guy who wrote the film and who gave me such a good spiel for financing his film was gay-bashed last week in Belltown.

RideCivil video on KING5

2008-08-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

I make an ever-so-brief appearance in this story KING-5 TV did on last Friday's RideCivil. RideCivil now has its own blog!

Kid-friendly

2008-08-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday I hosted book club and saw the Stay Up Late Show starring
Rebecca Davis. And took no photos, apparently. Sunday, I went to Dave
and Aki's BBQ. Never have I seen so many content, happy babies. Caught
up with a number of BBers I hadn't seen in awhile.

RideCivil

2008-08-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

So Friday after work, I rode to Westlake Park for RideCivil. It's a
bike ride that seeks harmony among cars, bikes and pedestrians. There
were about 30 of us. Dave, the organizer, says that this is three or
four times better than any turnout to date, no doubt because of all
the hubbub over Critical Mass recently. KIRO-TV interviewed Dave
before we took off on our ride. We rode towards Puoneer Square, up to
Broadway, Eastlake to South Lake Union. That's right, back to the SLU
Block Party for me. Aqueduct was playing when we arrived, which was
cool. We had one beer before the six of us remaining ended up at Paddy
Coyne's. We talked bike politics, locally and nationally. I rode home
with Dave most of the way, which was fortunate because my headlight
burned out on Dexter. I borrowed Dave's Frog light. He was such a nice
guy. He wrote about the ride for BikeHugger over the weekend.

Controlled, not chaos

2008-08-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that my lunch on Friday would be paid for by
Paul Allen? Not exactly, of course. Vulcan created the space for the
SLU Block Party. But the participating eateries had to pony up their
wares for us workers. I was pleasantly surprised by how low-key the
whole thing was. And did I mention free??

If it's Thursday, it must be guitar lesson day

2008-08-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

Thursdays I take the bus to work rather than riding my bike. I bring
my guitar to work with me so I can go directly from work to guitar
lesson.

There need to be a trash can and a recycling bin near the bus stop.
Without them, this pile of rubbish behind my guitar will continue to
grow.

Bikes bikes bikes

2008-08-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

Just as I published my last post, I saw that Bike Commute Tips Blog ran an article about another company which sells Dutch bikes, this one based in Vancouver (BC). More intriguing is the brief mention of Breezer Bikes, which attempt to combine European comfort/versatility with the American need for lighter bikes with more gears - the kind of bike that can climb hills.

But waitaminnit! I already own such a bike. I've owned such bikes for over fifteen years. They're called hybrid bikes, and every bike company worth its salt now makes them. My current hybrid is a Kona Dew Deluxe, and despite some documented flaws, it is the best bike I've ever owned.

A little impractical in hilly Seattle . . .

2008-08-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

. . . but these bikes are amazing. The come from a company called Dutch Bike Co. Seattle, and I found out about them from Cyclelicious. (Photo courtesy Henry Cutler of WorkCycles.)

The Dutch Bike Seattle blog praises Portland and Chicago as great (or soon-to-be-great, in the case of Chicago) bicycling cities. Meanwhile, it rails against the "elitist cycling egos" of Seattle and many other cities.

Amen to that. Anti-elitism is part of the reason why I'm joining RideCivil tomorrow.

Stuff I See

2008-07-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had to go to REI during lunch to get a replacement bolt
for my bike cage. I of course stopped by Vivace when I was done, where
Zach the barista thanked me for brightening the store or something
like that. He's a very sweet guy, the sort of Seattle guy whose sexual
orientation is a mystery to all until/unless he chooses to reveal. He
hasn't, at least to me. But I digress. I and my nonfat iced latte
walked back to the office by way of this mural. I've probably passed
it a dozen times without really noticing it. It's nice.

Went to see "9 to 5" at the ReBar last night, where Rebecca Davis and
Scott Shoemaker stole the show.

Update on Kobe beef burger

2008-07-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Yummy, but not really worth a 30-minute wait. Next time I'll go way
early.

Finally, it's happened to me!

2008-07-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to meet my RCB buddy David for lunch today @ Skillet,
but he had to cancel. But I've had this lunch date on my calendar for
days and wasn't about to miss my opportunity to experience this
increasingly famous "street food" fir myself. So I hopped on the SLUT
and rode to 9th & Denny, and I walked up a couple of steep blocks to
Boren. Only to wait in a slow-moving queue to order. And a sit in the
parking lot. Which is where I continue to be, waiting for what had
better be a damn fine Kobe beef burger!

Exotic and erotic

2008-07-20T21:14:00.001-07:00

If nothing else, my garden has some great flower displays. Right now
both the Crocosmia "Lucifer" and the lilies are putting on quite a
show. I have always read that Asiatic lilies are easier to grow than
trumpet or Oriental varieties, but the Asiatic ones I planted a few
years ago were almost absent this year, while the fragrant and
supposedly fussy Oriental varieties did just fine. I'm sure my lilies
don't get as much food as they would like, but I did try to help them
out by dumping the rest of my bulb food on them last week.

Yesterday was a busy day consisting of laundry, a BBQ hosted by book
club buddy Michael at Magnuson Park, and a very intense and focused
practice of Dream's song "Slow Poison" with Sean, Kaley and JHT. Today
I went to see "Wall-E" with my book club buddy Bailey. The movie was
impressive and very sweet. A bit like these lilies.

Noodles and Cheever

2008-07-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

I am having little luck paying less than ten bucks for lunch. Today I
hit the Noodle Ranch in Belltown. I have never been there for lunch.
It was as I remember - decent food, friendly service, a bit slow. I
had Udon, which was much better than "Bullet Park," the John Cheever
novel I'm reading for the non-drinking book club. I'd heard of Cheever
but knew nothing about him. The book is what I'd call Hemingway in the
suburbs, though that really does a disservice to Hemingway. There's
lots of men drinking and fighting and making love, but there are too
many asides and loose ends and just bad writing. I suppose I should
Google what others think of Cheever and his book...

Cascade Garden

2008-07-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

I love the P-Patch in South Lake Union, and I've been going out of my
way to walk by it during my lunch hour. Today, as I was returning from
Vivace, I saw a group of schoolkids leaving the garden in an orderly
fashion, each one wearing a bright red vest. I would have taken their
picture, but I was afraid of being mistaken for a pedophile. So I'm
posting this shot of daisies instead, despite the overabundance of
midday sun.

Food, drink and music

2008-07-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

The still-unnamed band didn't practice this weekend, as RCB played at
Tacoma Pride on Saturday. I got a ride south with Jonathan, and Alex
joined us as well. I was amused to find a Conn organ sitting on the
front lawn near the festival; here's Alex showing it off with angular
aplomb.

We also played Bellingam's Pride parade this weekend. And so ends
marching season! It's been way more fun than I expected, and I've
gotten to know a number of band members I never would have otherwise.
And finally, rejoining the band has allowed me to recruit players for
our band's inaugural gig, which also happens to be my birthday and my
20th anniversary of moving to Seattle.

Not a school night

2008-07-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

and band practice was canceled, so I hung out with Astro Kitty for a
bit. Outside. It was the first time she'd been outside in many months,
and I think it was a bit overwhelming for her. And as for me, I was
horrified to see all the weeds and overgrowth in the front garden.
Good thing I'm not having a Fourth of July party!

Tom Douglas' Empire

2008-07-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Today I took the SLUT downtown for lunch. I was interested in trying
Serious Pie, the pizza joint around the corner from the Dahlia Lounge.
But the pizzas there seemed to all run at least $14. So I went to the
OTHER Dahlia-associated spot, Dahlia Pastry.

I had a very nice hot sandwich - baguette with chorizo, arugula
(bland) and queso fresco. Prices here are still a bit high to make
this a regular lunch haunt, but I'd like to come back on a weekend for
fresh pastries on the morning.

Sunday Gay Shame

2008-07-02T12:03:00.001-07:00

Sunday I played with RCB in the Pride Parade downtown. I didn't think
it was so well attended, but I read that the police were estimating a
crowd of 400,000.

Afterwards, I probably should have stayed and enjoyed the festival,
but again the crowds thing. I went home and took a nap instead. Then
after practicing guitar, I went to the Hill, where I waited in a 45-
minute line to get into the Cuff. Which was fun as long as I hung out
near friends, like book club buddies Bailey and Michael (pictured
here). It's the one day each year I feel compelled to take my shirt
off, temperature permitting.

Saturday at Artopia

2008-07-02T11:56:00.001-07:00

Saturday after band practice, Kaley and I drove to Georgetown for a
bite at Stella (great pizza, slow service) and to take in Artopia. The
layout was better than when I went to last year's music festival, but
the crowds were still enough to bug me.

One of the events was a drag race among souled-up powertools. Kaley's
friend Beth was working the event. I really wanted to see out-of-
control saws and nailguns terrorizing the populace. The closest it
came was a tool that crashed and burned, slightly and literally, after
it went through the ring of fire. Here is the ring pre-accident.

Coffee @ SLU

2008-06-25T18:47:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-18T20:02:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-18T19:56:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-14T20:47:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-09T12:26:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-06-08T13:27:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

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.

Five years of lovin' it between the covers

2008-05-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here are Scott and Kirsten modelling our brand new book club t-shirts.
We are total geeks.

More book club

2008-05-26T13:59:00.001-07:00

Sarah and Phyllis were in good spirits on Friday night as well.
Julie's painting makes it look like there is some thought bubble
action happening over Phyl's head.

Another weekend, another book club

2008-05-26T13:55:00.001-07:00

Here are Kirsten and Cindy this past Friday night. I don't think
they're discussing the book ("Music for Torching" by A M Holmes),
because pretty much everyone hated it, except me.

Deaf but not blind

2008-05-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Astro kitty normally ignores the computer screen, but something about
its placement next to the bed, and the fact that "What's Opera, Doc?"
was playing, was enough to command her attention for a few minutes.

Nostalgia

2008-05-18T20:59:00.001-07:00

Last night I went with my friend Julie to see The Posies' 20th
anniversary concert at Neumo's. We had an ulterior motive. Her husband
Arthur, who played bass with the group for an album or two, was going
to play a tune with Jon (pictured here) and Ken. Plus Mike, who
drummed for the group for awhile, and whom I've also met.

The band was tight, and it was sweet (or pathetic) to see a lot of
guys in their 30s and 40s singing along with every song, but an hour
and fifteen minutes was plenty for me. I left soon after Arthur had
finished.

Union Trust Building

2008-05-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

My brother John and I wandered into this marvel of downtown Pittsburgh
architecture this morning, my last fling with the city before heading
home. Caught up despite myself in Pens mania, I also bought a Pens
baseball cap(?!) and Pens wool cap. The driver of the shuttle to the
airport was happy to give me the lowdown on Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup-
bound (probably) Penguins. The verdict: like Detroit, they are a
strong team rather than a bunch of guys huddled around an egomaniacal
leader. Younger than Detroit, but focused.

I expect to be quite the envy of the sports fanatics at the gym
tomorrow in my new cap...

Local wine

2008-05-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

I always like to sample local wine when I'm in a new place, and I was
pleased to discover on this trip that one can get both Pennsylvania
and Maryland wines. I had a red blend while in Pittsburgh that was
perfectly acceptable, and I found two out of these three Maryland
whites to my liking. The exception was the Riesling, pictured here
still in its glass. It had an odor of rubber. The simple Pinot Blanc,
on the other hand, was fresh and light.

The smell was lovely

2008-05-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

at the nearby Folger Rose Garden.

At the Haupt Garden

2008-05-14T13:32:00.001-07:00

I was hoping to go to the Museum of the American Indian today but ran
out of time. Instead I hung out in several gardens, including the
Haupt Garden in front of the Smithsonian Information Center.

Shannon & Laurie

2008-05-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

While I poked around DC for another day, my cousins hopped the Bolt
Bus to NYC to see Laurie's friends Richard and Paul.

And speaking of Nut Job

2008-05-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here he is!

Mimi is three

2008-05-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

Last night after our walk around the Mall, Shannon and I returned to
Laurie's house in Arlington for cousin Mimi's birthday, which was
celebrated with Thai takeout, presents and a Tinkerbell cake. Mini
loved her new dresses and hat, but she pretty much ignored her new
stuffed dog Coconut, which I proceeded to call "Nut Job for short."

Vacation Part Two: DC

2008-05-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here I am communing with my friend Vincent at the National Gallery
yesterday. Weather yesterday and today in DC has been absolutely
perfect.

Family geeks in Pittsburgh

2008-05-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here are my brother John and stepmom attending to their individual
needs at John's house in Pittsburgh.

Food ironies

2008-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Here I am at the Pittsburgh airport, waiting for my parents to arrive,
and I am hungry. This being an airport in a not particularly snooty
city, I expect that I can get a mediocre meal and a glass of mediocre
wine at a chain pub, say TGI Fridays. Pittsburgh airport does in fact
have a TGI Fridays (more than one, according to the directory), but it
closes at 8:30 pm. Which happens to be as I land.

The only place still open is, as you can see, an even bigger chain
than TGI Fridays. And they don't serve alcohol.

Meanwhile, I picked up this Barbara Kingsolver book at the airport in
snooty Seattle, a book which happens to be about the author and her
family packing up and moving to a farm in Appalachia to try and live
off only locally-grown, sustainable food for a year. The picture on
the front cover appears to be a handful of lovely scarlet runner
beans, grown locally and organically I'm sure. But there's nothing
local or organic about my dinner tonight!

New digs

2008-05-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is where my office is moving in six weeks. It's UW Medicine's
newest and shiniest complex of buildings, located in South Lake Union.

Yesterday some of us took a tour of our almost-finished spaces. We
also got to see the new lab building, which we won't have access to as
"admin people" once we move in.

It's all very pretty and nice, but I continue to have mixed feelings
about the impending move. My commute will be longer, I'll probably
have to work later and, of course, it will be more effort to get to
decent places for lunch. Not to mention coffee.

I need a nap!

2008-05-03T19:44:00.001-07:00

Tonight was the annual RCB dinner, dance and auction. I volunteered to
be a greeter. We have so few opportunities to dress up in casual
Seattle, so I had to get a photo of Kenny, Natalie and Jonathan in
their finery.

What a weekend

2008-04-27T20:51:00.001-07:00

I am addicted to "Random Spirit Lover," the sophomore album from
Sunset Rubdown. I listened to the first four tracks like 20 times
while driving this weekend.

And what a lot of driving I did, all short trips of course. The big
event was my friend Topher's birthday at Boom Noodle on Capitol Hill
Saturday night. This is my fave photo from that evening, of Jon and
Maria. I like the body language.

I spent the bulk of Saturday finishing a song. I also practiced
guitar, which I'm finding quite enjoyable. I haven't even plugged it in!

I sent email tonight to the three wind players I've recruited for my
rescored version of "Slow Poison." I find that my mind still drifts to
Dream a lot, not surprising when it comes to this project, but perhaps
more surprising when it comes to listening to other music. The first
Sunset Rubdown album I burned for Dream to listen to last fall, only
to learn that he already had it. The new one is the sort of brilliant,
manic record that I felt I could really connect with Dream on. I felt
pangs of sadness many times this weekend knowing that I'd never be
able to talk to him about this album.

Gardening

2008-04-22T16:29:00.001-07:00

I asked one of the landscape workers what was going to replace all of the plants that are being ripped out in front of UWMC. He didn't know: "That's up to the landscape architect." What power! I wish I had an army to redo my garden whenever I had a whim. Though I'm told that the plant scheme here has been the same for at least 20 years.

I stopped here on my way to a class on effective presentations. I know that I could use some help in this area. One of our exercises was to rewrite an introduction to give it more punch. This is what I wrote:

Here's a fact you may not know: The largest manufacturer of baby carriages in the U.S. is not Scwinn, Tonka or GM. It's Anheiser Busch. So perhaps it's not surprising that kids are abusing alcohol at younger and younger ages.

Georgetown Super 8

2008-04-19T21:24:00.001-07:00

Tonight was the third(?) annual Georgetown Super 8 Film Fest. I think
around 500 people showed up; an overflow crowd.

The flicks were very hit or miss, as one would expect. Too many
cameras jerkily moving through the neighborhood for no particular
reason. But the interview with the veteran whom everyone knows as that
old guy who takes a walk every day was touching.

I skipped out at intermission to grab a Manny's and a Gringa at Smarty
Pants. Some loud, rather drunken party was going on there.

Unhappy dogwood :(

2008-04-19T10:12:00.001-07:00

I began today doing chores and running errands. This included a stop
at Swanson's to ask for advice about what to do with my Cornus kousa
which, as you can see, is not doing well. Its bark is covered in white
spots, and it leafs out less and less each year. Last year it produced
almost no blossoms, and this year seems likely to be even worse. "Why
did I buy a supposedly disease-resistant dogwood when this one is
clearly dying?" I wondered.

About ready to chop the thing down, I decided to take photos of the
poor patient to Swanson's where, to my surprise, they diagnosed the
problem as simple underwatering. "These trees are not drought tolerate
AT ALL," Brenda firmly (but politely) informed me. I asked her if deep
watering twice a week - her recommended regimen - would bring it back.
"Not this year," she replied. "It's very stressed."

I hope a year of proper watering will produce a different result. I'll
put it in my calendar to take the same photo a year from today.

Book club

2008-04-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have scheduled book club on Saturday, which
turned out to be the nicest day of the year so far. The book, for
those of you keeping score, was "The Gathering," by Anne Enright.
Beautiful but sad.

Also beautiful, not sad, is book club member Julie. Here she is
studying Kirsten's back yard. And for the benefit of the pregnancy
fascists, yes, that is water in her wine glass.

Blossoms everywhere

2008-04-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

I took this one of pear? cherry? trees in full bloom outside UWMC.
Some of these damn trees are giving me terrible allergies, but I love
them anyway.

I wish I had three hours off every day!

2008-04-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

I had to leave work for awhile today to have my water heater replaced. Since they always give you a two- to three-hour window, I took advantage of the opportunity to clean up the basement a bit (at least enough for the guy from Benla to get my water heater out!) and pull some dandelions.

I also did some Internet browsing and ran across the review I wrote of Sketchingham, which I saw two weekends ago when I drove north to perform with RCB.

Here's my new water heater, which I should have had put in awhile ago . . .

Obama vs. Entitlement

2008-04-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

The time it took me to compose this photo of the signs outside the
43rd District precinct caucuses was unfortunately the best time I had
at that event. Well, that and the hot dog I bought from the cart out
front. I can't imagine going through this torture again, not even for
my man Obama. Nothing but a lot of irritating, entitled white folks
asking stupid questions and making boring speeches. Granted, I did
leave before 1pm, before the election of delegates to the next level.
I just could not take one more minute. Plus I had an RCB concert in
Bellingham.

Ants on the move

2008-04-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

Swarming ants were an endless sorce of fascination when I was a kid.
I'm still mildly fascinated. Yesterday the ants in front of my house
were going frigging nuts, presumably preparing for the apocalypse.

Apologies for bad photography

2008-04-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

but I had to put up something when I saw this guy driving the 44
yesterday. Like all of the other passengers who boarded after me, I
just smiled politely and didn't say anything to acknowledge his crown
when I boarded. And as I was sitting, chastising myself and Seattle
for being too cool to say some word of encouragement for this guy's snappy headgear choice, I thought damnit, I'm going to take this guy's photo and ask him his story.

So I didn't get a great picture obviously, but I did find out that it was not his birthday. Rather, he said he wears it as part of a group of drivers who wanted to reduce or mitigate complaints against them as Metro drivers. This guy hasn't had a complaint filed against him in 38(?) years of driving for Metro.

Busy weekend

2008-04-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have all of these photos I took of RCB's "Renegayde Pep Band" when
we played impropmptu at various Broadway locales on Saturday. I would
not have participated if I'd realized how cold it was outside, but I'm
glad I took part. There's not enough impromptu anything in Seattle.
And how else are homeless guys in wheelchairs going to hear a gay pep
band?

This is Brandon in the foreground, by the way. He's a major
cornerstone of RCB and a heckuva nice guy.

Lost post

2008-04-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

I wrote a few paragraphs about dosas at Malabar and how Paul Constant
at The Stranger beat me to the punch in blogging about what he read
during, and where he ate, lunch. But my post disappeared before it
could reach blog status. One thing I didn't mention in that lost post
- the owner tells me that the secret to the great dosa taste is using
mustard seed oil in the potatoes.

Too cold for "spring"

2008-03-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

But you wouldn't know it from the display put on by these flowering
currant bushes on the Burke-Gilman. Many people get excited by the
invasive blackberries fruiting in the summer along the trail (and many
of those people become hazards themselves as they weave from one side
of the trail to the other in their tunnelvisioned quest for berries).
I look forward to the blooming of the mighty Ribes sanguineum. I have
a smaller version in my own garden, reminding me that spring is here,
eventually overcoming my skepticism.

Geeking out

2008-03-24T20:39:00.001-07:00

This is what it feels like not to have commitments every night. Other
than self-imposed ones, that is.

With no class or RCB or gym this week, I'm able to focus on what I
really care about. I can listen to music, create songs, reflect on how
music makes me feel and how it helps me cope with all the sadness and
loss in the world.

I hate this guy!

2008-03-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

Just had a slight argument with the barista at Trabant when I showed
him this photo. "I kinda liked this guy," he said. "I'm really kind of
a libertarian."

Well, I've seen a lot of libertarians, and Ron Paul is no libertarian!
He's more a right-wing isolationist nut job, as The Stranger has noted
more than once. The fact that he was able to garner support from so
many otherwise intelligent folks says a lot about how little we pay
attention in this country.

Good riddance, asshole!

Garden begins to awaken

2008-03-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not entirely happy with this photo, but then again I'm never
entirely happy with my garden either. This PJM-relative rhododendron
is blooming better than last year, but it's been several years now
since it's bloomed in full. It's such a sweet plant otherwise that I
don't have the heart to remove it.

Luckily, it's about to be joined in bloom by these white tulips I
planted last fall. If there is anything I've learned through years of
planting successes and failures, it's that you can't have too many
bulbs.

Everybody poops

2008-03-17T12:08:00.001-07:00

This sign has been the talk of our office (well, of the men anyway).
What does it mean? How does one use the toilet "inappropriately"? I'm
sure I don't want to know...

Satan! Satan! Satan!

2008-03-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

Having just tried Ginger Teriyaki for the first time, I think I know
why people are staying away in droves. It's not the location, which is
primo (45th & the Ave). It's not the décor, which has been nicely
redone for a hole in the wall. It's not even the teriyaki, which is as
good or better than any other place on the Ave.

No, the problem is the radio. KGNW. God Talk over AM. Testimonials
about home schooling. Why we get mad at God more than he gets mad at
us. Aaaaugh! I can't take it. At least at the dry cleaners, I only
have to listen to Xtian radio for a minute while picking up my pants.
At Ginger Teriyaki, I'm stuck until I wolf down my whole chicken bowl.

Then again, maybe it's just their way of clearing tables (as if they
need any help). Or maybe they want to move to a takeout-only business
model.

In any event, their nondenominational God appears to be losing to
Taqueria Mi Charrito's telenovela/futbol-fueled Catholic one, if this
sign comparison is any, uh, sign. Viva mi charrito! (Their taco al
pastor rules.)

Night off

2008-03-03T19:37:00.001-08:00

I so seldom seem to have time to myself these days. Rehearsals two
nights a week, class one night a week, and other random tasks or
social obligations filling up the rest.

I have a presentation due on Wednesday night, and I was going to spend
tonight working on it. But then I had a brilliant idea: Why not take
Wednesday off? It seemed too simple. It WAS simple.

So I'll finish the presentation on Wednesday at my leisure. Tonight
it's the Zombie War.

Recording Session

2008-03-02T21:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was our first time recording since we lost Dream.

Our friend Jason, ex-Red Stars Theory and Sun Vow, graciously agreed to practice his audio engineering skills on us, and brought along his Pro Tools rig.

We decided to lay the bass down first, so Kaley had the joyous task of playing her part over and over again.

Three hours later, I was ready to do something completely different, so I went over to Rachel & Lyle's house for their moving/art sale. Rachel is pictured here, overjoyed that I have offered to buy a meat purse from her.

Pre-funk

2008-02-29T22:56:00.000-08:00

Gin, soda and new tattoos at CC's pre-Comeback. This is apparently the
first night that Sean has worn shoes since his latest tattoo.

Bridges of Seattle

2008-02-25T12:35:00.000-08:00

For the first year or two I lived in Seattle, I was entranced by the
canal bridges. I would always hop out of my car whenever the bridge
went up, to have a closer look at whatever boats were interrupting the
traffic flow. I'm sure some people thought I was nuts, but what the
he'll else are you gonna do while waiting for the bridge to go back
down?

Recently I started getting out of my car again when the bridge goes
up. Something about being reminded that life is too short. Here's the
lone sailboat that caused the Ballard Bridge to go up yesterday.

The master plan

2008-02-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

I would like to have pleasant smells and colors greet me whenever I
step out my front door. But there isn't nearly enough of that in late
winter / early spring. So last fall, I finally followed the advice of
Julie's hero Ciscoe Morris, among others, and planted as many early
spring bulbs as I possibly could. At least 100 bulbs I reckon.

They are just now starting to make themselves known. Here are one of
the clumps of crocuses I planted last fall. There are also narcissus,
tulips and allium.

Wasting time

2008-02-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

I needed to buy extra equipment in order to edit my Sibelius score, so
I decided to hit the U District (as if I don't get enough of it during
the week). I passed Thai Tom just as they opened, so NO LINE. And I
was out of there in 20 minutes.

Frigging gorgeous day

2008-02-22T19:02:00.001-08:00

I was thinking about going to an Obama fundraiser after work, but I
was wiped. Having seen the incredible sunrise this morning through the
windows of the IMA but not having had easy access to my iPhone's
camera to record it, I decided on a slight detour from my regular bike
ride home to take in the sunset at Gasworks. It was well worth the
additional two minutes' ride.

So many good times yet to be had

2008-02-21T19:03:00.001-08:00

There are so many people complaining about what Seattle has become,
and I can't really disagree that it's expensive and filled with people
who feel profoundly entitled.

But all of the money and attention have brought great changes to the
bar/restaurant scene. Ten years ago, who would have thought one could
hang out on Capitol Hill and enjoy a wild boar sloppy joe and a glass
of garnacha in the spot previously occupied by the worst Mexican joint
in town?

The allure no longer escapes me

2008-02-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

My friend and fellow trumpeter Doug got an iPhone months before I did.
I don't spend as much time browsing and texting as he is does
(demonstrated here), but I do find myself reaching for the camera
quite often.

My life as defined by where I buy coffee

2008-02-20T12:00:00.001-08:00

Over the course of the last 15+ years, I've frequented a number of
coffee establishments, including Vivace (every location, even the long-
defunct cart downtown), Bauhaus, Victrola (both locations), Pegasus,
Lighthouse (still my vendor of choice for beans), and the new
Stumptown on 12th.

But few places balance atmosphere, enthusiasm and fine coffee like
Trabant in the U District. I've become addicted to stopping there
after lunch each weekday for a nonfat iced latte or one of their
featured varietals made in their trendsetting Clover machine. (I hear
that Starbucks is even testing one at a store in Greenwood.)

Trabant is another nicety of the U District that I will miss. I will
miss the employees as well, including sweetheart Jonathan here.

One of the things I love about working @ the UW

2008-02-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

Almost every weekday, I take a bus to the Ave to eat lunch. The lack
of cheap ethnic food is perhaps the thing I like least about our
office's impending move to South Lake Union. Well, that and the extra
20 minutes it will take me to bike to work every day.

I know that most of the teriyaki joints are owned & run by Koreans,
but this place, whose name I don't know despite walking by it hundreds
of times, serves Korean food almost exclusively. I seldom eat Korean,
so I decided to give it a shot.

I had the beef hot pot. Very hearty, if a bit too sweet.

Despite the bad jokes and too many birthdays

2008-02-17T20:51:00.001-08:00

I really enjoyed Darcelle's. She's quite the Portland institution at
age 77.