The Bay

Oh man, I really miss this place.

I know I'm getting borderline stalkerish now, with the 24/t telecast and all, but..the things I do to get back here again.

The best!

Drunken Barrel House Blues out soon..and VA gigs

Well, Eden and John's East River String Band's new CD is up for pre-order finally at AMAZON

Here I have some pics of the incredible artwork that Robert Crumb did for us..and it's funny cause it's true! it should be out by the end of October we hope, if not earlier!

We are leaving for Virginia on Friday to play a few shows down there..the info on them can be found at our BAND SITE

That flyer I snapped a pic of..oh man, I just couldn't resist..note how it mentions STEELY DAN in there? NOOOOOOO!!!!
I will take some fun pics in Virginia..and no, I am not making an immature joke about how much Virginia sounds like Vagina. Because that would be really immature and silly.

...P.S.- VIRGINIA=VAGINA!

Back!

I'm BACK!!!!!!!!!

I'm PUMPED! And that's all capital letters for you! =)

I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth, please! Well yes, I've been 'evicted' to a place without the luxury of internet! Oh how I've been taking this for granted, my sweet sweet internet. Anyway, to be fair, it's not like I had absolutely no internet or anything, in fact, I had my blackberry which allowed me to be online 24/7. So why am I complaining, you ask?

Well. First of all, have you ever tried typing and chatting away for hours with blackberry keypads?! I could still maintain a steady speed, which meant I was typing furiously non-stop without breathing. Now it's not really as easy as it sounds. If I could put that under 'skills' on my resume, I would. Not everyone can do that, I'm telling you.

Yeah. So I'm pretty happy to be back here with my laptop where I can effortlessly dominate all conversation in messenger. Ha! Ehem, not that I want to dominate or anything. Eh, I'm just saying.

Okay, I'm not gonna write much now, 'cos I have lots of catching up to do. You know, videos to watch, songs to download. Ehem. But I'm back! Damn happy to be here! And also, I'm in the 'redecorating room' mode. So, we'll see what's gonna happen.

xoxo

Alna Again

Last Saturday we had a fine KVBC ride to the Monmouth Apple Fest, thanks to Ken Louis who offered to lead the ride. The weather was spectacular - at least it was in Unity, where I was working at (and riding to) the Common Ground Fair. There was a sea of people and a mass of bicycles at the BCM compound at the fair - they didn't have a final count, but the Bike Coalition thought they may have set a one-day record, and it sure looked like more cyclists there than I'd ever seen in previous years. It bodes well for cycling in Maine, and cycling for this fall - which brings me to this weekend's rides:

We have a late season double header this weekend. We (KVBC) have been graciously invited to the social ride and barbecue of the Central Maine Cycling Club in Vassalboro on Saturday at 11 am. (Apparently no one has told them how much some of us can eat.) For details and directions see their website at: http://www.irproshop.com/index.php?pr=CMCC_BAR-B-QUE

Sunday, we will revisit the ride in Alna that was washed out earlier in the year. Some folks may be off to try the Dempsey Challenge; others to the Cadillac Challenge. For those who don't, we have the Alna Alternative, and I hope to see you there!

Sunday, October 4th - ALNA

"The Alna Alternative": a tour of the Sheepscot Valley through Alna, Pittston, and Whitefield.

START: 9:30 A.M. at the Post Office in Alna at the corner of Rt. 194 and Dock Road. Alna is located at 44:06:22N, 69:36:15W (for you GPS folks); also at DeLorme Map 13, E-2.

DISTANCE: 20-25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderately hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: beautiful back roads, the scenic Sheepscot River; and a post-ride gathering at the ride leader's house (across from the Post Office).

LEADER: Sandi Hodge.

Fourth Street Block Party in the Hands of God.

Here are some pics from the Fourth Street Block Party last weekend..It was okay..just people selling their stuff and advertising their stores stuff..some dance performance was going on which was sorta strange..Later on my friend tried to sneak me in to see the new scary glass Cooper building just so I can see what it looks like from inside the monstrosity-but the mean security lady wouldn't let me in..even after I explained that I just had to void urine.

Then I walked down 9th street and saw the jesus flyer posted in a phone booth..My hands were too small to fit in the hands of Jesus so I had to take off my shoes and put both my hands and feet on the flyer.

Been busy lately trying to promote some gigs East River String Band has in Virginia this weekend..We have our new awesome Crumb artwork which I will post up soon..Hopefully our new album will be out by mid-October..
Here's a link to my bands gig page in case anyone reading this lives in Richmond or Charlottesville, VA..

Drunk Pics and Whip Cream Sluts!

John took these pics of me at Jalopy tonite and when we got home and I was tipsy..he insists they are adorable in a drunken mess type of way..I dunno..Anyway the last pic is from Jerry Springer where John worked monday..he saw all kinds of boobies and a slutty whipped cream wrestling match..I could have gone but I slept late as usual..Bah..I am definitely going next time. John says I can get front row seats and if I ask the funniest, most offensive question then i get to go onstage with Jerry and do the lead in to the commercial. Ah, a woman's reach should exceed her grasp or what's a heaven for? Yeah, i'm druuunk..Time to go to bed.
I love Jerry and his hideous show of freaks..I can't wait to go!

Rev Billy and Jerry Springer!

Here are some pics from Reverend Billy preaching his anti-consumerist gospel in Washington Square Park on Sunday evening..he had a decent sized crowd there..having to compete with the doo-wop buskers performing under the arch..I haven't been to WSP since the renovations and was kinda freaked out by how different it looked..I hung out in that park when I was like 14..I have many crazy memories from that time..Rev Billy was fun as usual..He performed an exorcism on a fellow that had a Starbucks drink with him.

Then I walked down St. Marks where I ran across a dude dressed up like a bong handing out flyers for a piercing place that I guess also sold bongs..I thought he was dressed up like a oozing pus-like infected piercing which he seemed to find funny..All these people had fake moustaches on and I guess it was a promotional campaign for the new Family Guy spin-off Cleveland. I love Family Guy, but Cleveland is a boring character. I think that perv Quagmire should have his own show personally..Anyway, they insisted i take their pic..the weird pus oozing bong guy and all the weird mustache people..

The last pic is of a band playing in Tompkins today..They had a freaking tuba..yeah. Anyway, i'm drunk and John took some drunken pics of me that he insists are nice..maybe i'll put those up now..We played at Jalopy which is just such a great space..I guess I got drunk because I kept going on about jerry Springer who John works for now at times and how excited I am to be an audience participant soon..JERRY JERRY!!!

Monmouth a la Mode

Fall is definitely in the air, and this Saturday is the 21st Annual Monmouth Apple Fest. In years past we discovered this great little small town festival devoted to celebrating all things pomological in one of Maine's classic apple towns. The festival features lots of hot, baked apple pies and other apple treats, yard sales and open houses, fun and games, and self-guided tours of the Monmouth Historical Society's many unique museum buildings and shops. It's a great ride, too - many thanks to Ken Louis for offering to lead the ride. You ought to be able to do the short ride on a slice of pie; for the long loop you might want to make that "a la mode." Don't miss it!

Saturday, September 26th - WINTHROP

"Monmouth a la Mode" - a tour from Winthrop to the Monmouth Apple Fest.

START: 9:30 AM at the Winthrop Town Boat Landing on Maranacook Lake, near the gazebo on Coady Street, off of Memorial Drive. If the boat landing parking lot is full, there are additional spaces around the corner on Summer Street, lakeside.

DISTANCE: 18 or 24 Miles.

TERRAIN: Rolling, with a few stiff hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads beside rolling orchards, lakeside summer camps, small hidden hamlets - and maybe a slice of pie...

LEADER: Ken Louis.

Even Liar's need to Eat!

Cruised by the St. Marks Block Party yesterday..really just kinda lame..the stores on the block trying to hawk their wares with some annoying music..I was hoping for something more creative I guess..They were giving out free skateboard decks to people who had bought raffle tickets I assume..Someone kept yelling, "The fix is in!" every time they lost which was sort of funny. The kids that were there seemed to be having fun though..I noticed the people blocking the sidewalk, just drinking openly. If they can do this during a block party, than why can't I drink cisco out of a brown paper bag when there is no block party on the street? It just doesn't make any sense!!!

I ran into the beautiful Amy who was selling these cool masks she makes out of her cart..I like the pink, feathery ones..it reminded me that halloween is coming up and I don't have an idea for a costume yet..Last year, I was Harlequinn so I could beat on every person I saw dressed up as The Joker..and they were plentiful-believe you, me..

Jim Power was out doing a mosaic on a pole..I love his stuff..Jimmy the Greek had pitched in and made that jewish star there..

And today I went to see Reverend Billy do his thing in Washington Square Park..but before that I hit Tompkins..and saw that a Liar's Picnic was going on! I have no idea what it was all about..best to leave it a mystery I guess..I didn't see anyone eating anything..but I may be lying..you'll never know!

On a side note-I saw the movie The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra by Larry Blamire the other night..so freaking funny! I loved it..I really want to see Trail of the Screaming Forehead now.."Who can sleep with brows on the prowl?" HAW! I think Larry Blamire is my new obsession..

DIY home repairs, weird balloon,and bingo.

I had a mellow Friday night..have a bunch of stuff to do pertaining to apartment repairs and our new CD Drunken Barrel House Blues which hopefully will be ready in 2 or 3 weeks..Crumbs book of Genesis will be out next week so want to have our Cd out soon after that..We got a copy of Genesis in the mail yesterday and it is pretty impressive!

That weird balloon thing was in Tompkins today..They spent hours setting it up..this balloon with two computers hooked up..I think the idea was people were supposed to email them or text what NYC means to them..and they would project these texts and emails from the balloon onto the ground. The balloon didn't get very high up into the sky..and I knew if I didn't leave I would start texting offensive things to their balloon project..like "Your balloon needs to be all fro-yo'd up, bitches!" or "Let's all have a fucking crack binge tonight NYC!"..so I just wandered off. It didn't seem very exciting anyway.

Then I and a few friends stopped into the garden at 6th and B where they were playing Bingo for prizes..It was very peaceful in there and there were some fun prizes..I kinda wanted to stay and play Bingo and win that Casio keyboard, but John and I had plans to try and tile our bathroom floor and spackle some cracks in our apartment, etc..As you can see by the last pic, we did just a helluva job and I added in some interesting buttons and stuff that I had laying around when we ran out of tiles..You know you want to hire us to tile YOUR floor now!

The Seven Hills of Rome

We are starting to get some cooler weather and it looks like the leaves are turning in spots. The weather looks clear for this weekend and it might hit 70 on Sunday, just right for a tour around the Kennebec Highlands and maybe a short climb up French's Mountain. When in Rome...

Meanwhile, on Saturday, September 26, there is a great little apple festival in Monmouth. We have a great KVBC ride to the Apple Fest from Winthrop all mapped out, but we need a ride leader (I have to cover the Common Ground Fair that day). If anyone can lead the ride (honestly, the hot apple pie is not to be missed) let me know, and I'll get the ride maps to you and the ride announcement out to everyone. Wish I could be two places at once.

Sunday, September 20th: ROME

"The Seven Hills of Rome" - a roadside tour of the many hillside trails through Rome and Belgrade.

START: 10:00 AM, Rome Town Hall at the corner of Rt. 225 and Mercer Road, about 0.3 mi from the junction of Rt. 27 and Rt. 225.

DISTANCE: 20 miles.

TERRAIN: Moderately Hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: the route passes 5 trailheads, Blueberry Hill and the Kennebec Highlands. There is an optional short hike up French's Mountain to a spectacular scenic vista.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.

Oh, death..

Jeez, lots of deaths lately..in the animal world a wonderful dog named Jambalaya died a few weeks ago..plus an awesome, very old cat named Diamond from Csquat who I loved has passed on to the feline pearly gates..not to mention Patrick Swayze and Jim Carroll. Is it true there is a website where people bet on which celebrity will croak next? I dunno..this seems vaguely illegal and creepy. I watched the VMA's and enjoyed seeing Kanye make an ass of himself yet again..The only reason to watch these award shows that are live is to see what Kanye will do to get kicked out.

Well, these pics are not too exciting..been somewhat busy lately with stuff..nothing in particular. Just Stuff! I like this page from an Archie Comic(TM dammit!) where they are pretending to play ragtime music..Then I had to get a pic of Karl wearing a suit as he works as an usher at Lorcan Otway's Theater 80. I have just never seen Karl in a suit! He was happy I had my camera on me to commemorate this.

Then there's some interesting graffiti from the woman's bathroom in Tompkins Square Park..Not sure what it said to begin with as its all crossed out and changed now. I'll have to update on that stall and see what transpires! And no, I don't sit on the seats in there-I HOVER. I could tell a story about several old toilets from Tompkins ending up in my old room at Csquat after the park upgraded their toilets..but its just too disturbing to get into..sob! I am still scarred from that experience.

Then my friend Jay noticed this weird assortment of items in front of Odessa's on Avenue A. A bag with a kangaroo on it, with a paint stirrer in it and a banana peel next to it. Somehow, I believe it is connected with the graffiti in the bathroom but I have to think on it for a bit. Not sure what's on for the weekend..There is some kind of block party on St. Marks this month but I'm not sure when exactly..

Some Call It Work

But we call it hill climbing.

We had a number of good hills to climb on the KVBC ride on Labor Day. Some of the toughest were on Sandy River Road between Fayette and Chesterville. The weather was clear and cool, near ideal for some hill work.











The ride started in Mount Vernon Village - it was the third attempt at the Eleven Ponds tour that had been completely washed out and then abbreviated by rain earlier in the season. This time, the weather was cooperative, and five intrepid riders showed up on the Monday holiday to tackle the route.










After climbing up and over into Chesterville, the ride dropped down to the Ridge Road which lies on top of the Chesterville Esker, a glacial sandbar that runs between ponds and gullies carved out by retreating ice eons ago. In our age it forms a beautiful flat stretch that we rode all the way to Farmington Falls, stopping for a break at the country store in the Chesterville Mall.








The return ride took us back through Vienna to Mount Vernon, climbing up the Tower Road to the Bean Farm Road, over an area of glacial sand deposits so extensive it was once known locally as "Egypt." Finally descending back into Mount Vernon Village, we left the geology field lessons behind and retreated to the cafe in town for lunch. It made for a great Labor Day ride. We'll have to revisit it again next year.