Home of The Cafe Cats

All in all, a pretty damn good weekend. Friday night we played poker over at Big Bill and the First Lady’s place. Didn’t do so hot, but it was still fun. Saturday was work in the morning, but Saturday night we had the Cut n’Color Extravaganza! Johnny was in town from Louisville and wanted to cut his hair and it snowballed from there into the soiree.

The First Lady was awesome! She did a great job with my ponytail. It’s still a bit uneven, but I kinda like it like this. Is asymmetrical back in style yet? I almost want to do it so that it looks dramatically asymmetrical. I haven’t had that look since the 80s, and I haven't had it this short in about 3 years.

and resk went super short and platinum blond. He’s so cuuuuuuuuuuute!! I think as it grows out it will probably look a lot like it did before he got it cut, with the light tips and red roots.

Sunday was wonderfully lazy. Got up and went for sushi lunch to say au revoir to Johnny, went home and napped, had Mom’s spaghetti for dinner and watched the United States of Leeland. Gotta love easy Sundays.

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams St. Pat's Edition

What an amazing night that was! The snow on Friday (St. Pat’s) was spectacular, easily a foot between 11 am and 11pm. We were really worried about how long the storm would last, especially once the freezing rain started, but when we woke up on St. Pat’s morning it was clear as a bell everything was already plowed out!

It was SO cool meeting Amber from the Circus Fans!!!!!!!!! Shoot! We should have taken a picture! Rats. Ah well, next time.

It was LOTS of fun coming in and seeing the surprise on everyone’s face when I got there. I just about slid under my seat when they turned the spotlight on me and announced that I was there from Michigan though! I will find out who the mastermind was behind that little trick! ;-)

Got to see Tony, Tink and Chen for a minute before the show and introduce them to my friend Maura, and Joziah and Sharkey after the show. They were, as always, wonderful hosts and she was so wonderfully impressed with how much they enjoy connecting with their fans, and the level of appreciation that they have for them. Thanks to Tink for the green carnation!

I didn’t realize that there was going to be an opening act, and what a delightful surprise. Jason Spooner and his band are just wonderful! They’re coming out with a new album and played some of their new tunes and I really really enjoyed it. They have a folksy/blues/country/rock thing going on, so they fit in perfectly for opening up for the Circus.

I don’t think they did the set list that they’d planned. I know that they hadn’t been doing Yodel as much, so it was fun to have them pop that back in. The new tunes were awesome! Let it Roll is a wonderful “big dumb song” with epic qualities that will surely make it another of everyone’s faves. Tink is absolutely magical (the song, well …the woman too, but I’m referring to the song). It is a beautiful beautiful song, and an amazing tribute to the little girl in all women. It’s up on YouTube right now too and I just keep playing it over and over. Performing She’s In Her Own World right after Tink was PERFECT! That’s one that is especially close to my heart (gee, wonder why? LOL) and they’re just the perfect compliment to each other.

The Irish tunes were so full of life!! Amber had typed up the chorus to Rocky Road to DublinCircus Fans link on it, so hopefully we’ll see some new friends here. It was wonderful to have those so we could sing along, they aren’t kidding when they say that it goes along at a good clip! The Subterranean Homesick Blues surprise was lots of fun. I love it when Joziah just takes off into something and everyone just goes with the flow, like when we were in Muskegon. thanks to Shiredweller’s heads up, and it had the

As always, the music was only part of what made the evening so special. I can’t think of anyone else, any other band that would recognize that someone that had come to attend a concert in another state, and that’s because they aren’t just a band. They’re our friends, people that we share our stories with, as much as they share their stories with us. They’re people that you’d go and grab a coffee with (a damn fine cup of coffee it is too!) and as always it seemed odd to leave and know that I wouldn’t be seeing them again for 3 weeks.

Thank you, you beautiful Slambovians, for another evening filled with love and the reminder that the child inside of us all has to be set free in order to truly live.

10 weird things

Rules: No re-tagging, write a blog with 10 weird random things, facts, or habits about yourself, chose 10 people to be tagged and list their names, leave a comment that says “you are tagged” on their profile, and tell them to read your latest blog.

Friday's Feast #1

Thursday Thirteen #9 (and last, apparently ...)

6. Started scripting a performance piece that my friend Kelly and I are doing in April.

12. Wondered why clubs and memes disappeared off of the face of the earth and why people have to be so selfish as to ruin other people’s fun.

Thursday Thirteen #8

Dear Maxi Pad Makers ...

I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for over 20 years, and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core(tm) or Dri-Weave(tm) absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from "the curse"? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my "time of the month" is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call "an inbred hillbilly with knife skills." Isn't the human body amazing?

As brand manager in the feminine-hygiene division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits from Aunt Flo. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in capri pants. Which brings me to the reason for my letter.

Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy Period."

Are you f&*%ing kidding me?

What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness-actual smiling, laughing happiness-is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything "happy" about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlúa and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreens armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out, man. If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like "Put Down the Hammer" or "Vehicular Manslaughter Is Wrong"? Or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your accounting department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullshit. And that's a promise I will keep.

Always.

Best,
Wendi Aarons
Austin, TX

Thursday Thirteen #6

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

The Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams concert this past Saturday in Muskegon, Michigan was flippin’ amazing. We forgot the tickets (oops) so we got there around 7:25, planning on getting that figured out and maybe catching some of the sound check. Turns out that they moved the time of the concert to 7:30 …still not sure how we hadn’t found that out. They’d also switched it to General Admission because of something with the season ticket holders for the venue. It was a sold out show and the only seats left were smack in the front row …OK. Didn’t phase us in the slightest, since we’re used to getting up close and personal with them (I wish …). Chen (Bass) saw us from the wings and waved and scooted off, then when the band came on Sharkey (Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals) looked down at us and just laughed.

They were on FIRE Saturday night. I guess the show at the folk festival was amazing and it fired them up for the next day, then add walking out to a sold out show and they were HOT.

Josiah (Lead/guitar/mandolin) was in fabulous ramble form. He was really into the spirit of play, the child inside seemed to want to burst out of him, and we were lucky enough to witness it. I think Josiah’s playfulness really flowed through to the rest of the band. Since we were so close to them being in the front row, we could hear that their monitors were picking up a local radio station between songs. I don’t think that anyone else in the audience could hear it though. Tink (Flute/Cello/Accordion/Theramin) mentioned it a couple of times, and they launched into “I Got You, Babe” along with the radio. Everyone in the audience was singing with them, and Sharkey was laughing so hard I’m surprised that he could sing. When we all got done screaming and applauding, Tink mentioned that they’d never done that one before. The next song was another from the radio, so we got an awesome bonus!

Tony (Percussion) just jammed out. I don’t think that there is an ounce of that man’s body that isn’t in tune with all of the rhythms around him. Watching Tony play is always like watching poetry, but never quite so much as on Saturday night, it just seemed to flow out of him.

There’s a voice with no name in the band …well, other than Gibson. Sharkey plays in such a way that the guitar actually sings. In trying to explain the concert to a friend, and the passion that he puts into the music, the only word I could come up with (and I had to make it up at that) was that his style is “Hendrixian,” and I don’t use Jimi’s name lightly. His talent is such that he makes it look effortless as his hands fly up and down the strings. Like with Tony, the give and take of the music as each instrument came to the fore, and then flowed back to support, was seamless. I really have a hard time when watching them, as opposed to just listening sometimes, because I can’t decide if I want to watch Tony or Sharkey, as they just seem to be so in sync. For this show, during the second set I scooted over so that I was sitting smack center stage, and I could really get to watch them both. I was just riveted, the way that the instruments communicate with each other.

Tink was rockin’ out at this show. Anyone who thinks that you can’t jam on an accordion or cello has never watched Tink play. The inherent talent inside this magical woman is stunning. The love of the music and playing shines from her, and it was so much fun to watch her really interact with the audience and have her share in our joy.

Chen was full of mischief, like his Dad, on Saturday. I got a great picture of Chen, Sharkey and Josiah together during the final encore. At one point when the radio was inspiring them *g* I really thought that he and Sharkey were about to start headbanging or hair flipping! They all have such joy in being together. I was talking to Josiah in December about Chen, and it struck me again at the Muskegon show, just how amazingly talented this young man is. At the time I didn’t know that he was Josiah and Tink’s son, but I don’t think I would have said anything any differently. I am so excited to watch Chen grow as a performer and a musician. He’s got this wonderful ethereal quality from his Mother, and that playful quality that shines through from his Father, and all that ability and raw talent dumped in from them both.

Musically, the show was absolutely spectacular, but was really only part of it. The Spirit of these people, the love that they have for each other and for their audience is what has us all coming back and driving all over the country to see them. It’s that moment when they finish the show and Tony comes over and gives us all hugs and calls us by name. It’s when Sharkey makes a beeline for the teenagers and talks to them about music, or takes the kids up to the stage and shows them chords or what the pedals do (I’m gonna have to eavesdrop on that next show …), or ruffles a kid’s hair. It’s when Josiah’s face lights up when he sees you, and kisses your cheek, or when Tink takes time to talk with you when she’s running the Merchandise table even though she’s super busy. It’s the smile that Chen gets when he sees how his Dad looks at his Mom. They’re the kind of people that you can’t believe you have to part company with. You feel like they should be a part of your life every day, and their music is, but them …there’s a bit that’s empty in us when we know we won’t see good friends again for a few months, that’s how it is with the Circus.

So yeah, that was our Saturday night. I had friends that couldn’t believe that I was going to travel 3+ hours and spend the night to hear someone that they’d never heard of in concert. Maybe I’ll get them to come with when I go to the Strawberry Music Festival in Yosemite in May. *g*

Thanks so much, you beautiful Slambovians, for helping the Child in all of us remember how to play.

Brevity

What tarot card are you?

You are The Star

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

I'm annicat!

Poof! All gone!