new time

Hey everyone,

this will be a quick post. I'd like to make a longer one, with pics, about the ASU LSU game, and the superhero party we went to after. It will happen, but later.

Today, 9/14/05, is my 3rd day in San Francisco. I have been fortunate enough to find some part time work for the moment, and a gig as well for this Friday evening.

The gig will be at a benefit concert for the Dare to Dream foundation. It is at the Glas Kat on Friday evening. My set will be about 20 minutes, and the benefits go to help not for profit organizations that assist disabled people. Much of the proceeds from this particular event will go to organizations affected (destroyed) bby Hurricane Katrina.

Also, the part time job also involves the dare to dream foundation. I am helping out as an attendent to disabled folks. I have really learned alot in the last couple of days about the trails and travails of these people. Many may have physical disabilities, but are as bright (or brighter) than most people I know. All I can say is, never underestimate the intelligence of a disabled person. They may have to struggle to express themselves, but underneath, they have a depth of emotion, and an intelligence that is equal or surpasses many of us.

Not a bad 3 days. I'm working hard to make connections, and I remain positive. Also, to have two paying gigs is a good thing.

Keep it greasy, everybody!

the lost post

Set up camp right outside of Flagstaff, drove into town to watch the Oakland/New England game. Moss is on my fantasy team so I was stoked that he got me 21 points (and, sorry rossi club, I don't think I'll be trading him). I'd tell you more about my fantasy team, but that's another post.

Ended up getting sauced at Maloney pub. 2 for 1 drink specials. The liters of Sierra Nevada flowed freely, and good times were had. we went to a brewery next, where a guy named Brad was playing acoustic. He seemed a little pissed because there was hardly anyone there, so he let take the stage and play a couple. I did Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown", followed by Calexico's "Not Even Stevie Nicks". I dug Brads set as well as he played subdued versions of Zepplin's "GOing to California" (which really hit home for me) and the Dead's "Brokedown Palace" (a beautiful song by anyones standards).at that point we were hammered, we made our way to the campsite with a couple of 2x4's of budweiser, listened to some jazz.

Woke up the next day sitting upright in the passenger seat of the truck, thought "what the fuck" crawled off to my tent and slept a bit more. so, 9.9.05, we left flagstaff and drove through Sedona on the way back to Phoenix. This is some seriously beautiful country. Hiked around a bit, took some photos. Before we left we found a swimming hole with a rope swing. We thanked Krum for our good luck and we got down to some swinging and swimming.

Drove back into phoenix tired as hell. Had some crappy ass not really authentic mexican food at a chain-y type joint called Tres Margaritas. At one point one of the waiters was walking around the restaurant with a can of air freshener and sprayed it for at least three full minutes. Next thing you know, the whole restaurant has this nasty fake can spray smell with particles of that shit floating around, giving you a headache and getting on you food. What the hell is up with that? I should have gone medival on those fucks, but most of you probably know that is not my way. We just laughed our asses off, shook our heads, and went back to Pats with our hands on our stomachs and our tails between our legs for choosing such a lame ass mexican restaurant in a town full of amazing mexican food. we were spent and laid up and took it easy that night.

This morning 9.10.05, we woke at 9 am and went up to campus in Tempe to buy 10 dollar tickets to see the ASU vs LSU football game tonight. I expect much tailgating and post game partying, because that's how we roll. It's now 11 am and I'm watching the Notre DAme/Michigan game while writing this.

SHout out to TInchowski, who probably won't read this. You are a fizzle. Also, hey to all the folks at SLM, especially the guitar shop and warehouse (Tom, let folks know about this blog), hey to my family (are you reading this, Jano?), my friends (I know Sleepy's reading this), and even my bro's friends who I have bothered with multiple emails (chicago crew, guy in France, Ice Sculpture, Roell's, and everyone else [you know who are]).

Finally, I don't have have everyones email that I'd like to, so please spread the word to others who might find this somewhat interesting (friends, former coworkers and such)cheers

saga continues...

so, arrived in Silver City Nm on the night of 9.5.05. Ate pizza, watched bad movies, went to bed. The next day it was raining, and I started this blog and sent multiple emails to folks letting them know what was up. now the saga continues...

we decided to stay around Silver City for the day, and in the afternoon when the rain let up we hiked around the small mines just outside of town. We brought pat's dads dog, Ivy, with us. Good view of the city from up on those hills.

Silver City seems like a real cool town. I was here 5 years ago, and it hasn't changed much. The downtown is very artsy. Many art galleries and coffee shops. The architexture is very southwestern, with mexican influences and many colors. The houses are old, and unique. Villa type spread. Opposite of the burbs.

Pat and I drove up into the hills after our hike, and stopped in at the Buckhorn Saloon for a beer. This saloon was established in 1865, and has a opera house attached in the back. 5 years ago we happened in to this joint on an open mic night and I sang "Buenos Tardes Amigo" with a local guitar player sitting in. Today, drank a Negra Modelo, snapped a couple photos and drove back to the compound for some dinner.

Actually, we went down to Brenda's house for dinner. Her and Tom Brand(Pat's dad) will soon be celebrating 10 years together. They are going to San Fran to celebrate in a week or two. Tonight, we had a delicious home cooked meal. Roast beef (from a crockpot), potatoes, salad, and bread. All of us (me, patrick, Brenda, Tom) had lived in Kansas during the late 1990's, so we discussed random things from the past (whatever happened to Peter Wiegmann?) Also, we talked about Tom's running feud with his neighbors ("Fuck them...okay? I don't want to talk about it.") Also talked about Pat's job hunt, and how he may soon move to Oakland if he is offered a job (he's a geologist, and it looks like he may land it).

We left Brenda's, went up the hill to the compound and started a bonfire, where pat and I talked about all kinds of debauchery and good times and people from days past (lawrence era) From the days of Hashinger hall (keg party in trents room) to the final days of post 2000 era (snip snip Penka, or Andy Mackenstedt from Minnisoda, or crazy Duma getting tazed). Watched a little of "Freddy vs. Jason" on sattelite tv late night and went to bed to have more of the many strange dreams I've been having of late.

on 9.7.05 we decided to flee the compound and head towards the Grand Canyon, flagstaff, and sedona. the weather has been odd by South west standards. Buckets of rain dropped on us as we scaled a mountain with little more than a patch of grass between our right side tire, and the edge of a cliff that would send us hurtling down any number of thousands of feet to our doom. But as bad as it rained at times, there were also patches of great weather.

Ate an "Arizona Burrito" in Clifton AZ from a very small, very mexican run shop. Some of the better mexican food I've had is in AZ and NM. Made it to Alpine, AZ when we decided we had to stop and camp. The rain had soaked all possible wood for a fire, although we tried (goddam we tried) to get one going. We camped at 11000 feet, essentially in the dark and cold. For a while we sat in the truck drinking beer listening to the Alice Cooper radio show. The wind blew up a gale, and my 12 dollar walmart tent barely survived it (not very aerodynamic I guess). More strange dreams. Most of them relate back to St. Louis somehow.

I woke at 5:45 am in time to see the sunrise on 9.8.05. Our site was really beutiful, a flat spot at 11000 feet, and cows roamed freely around us. Lots of bear hunters up here. We drove into Flagstaff that afternoon, ate BBQ, and went to the Grand Canyon. We chilled at the normal touristy spot for a couple hours. All kinds. It was a collection of all sorts of folks, ranging from the geriatrics, to the germans. An interesting collection, although a bit annoying. We hiked off to a trailhead and found more seclusion as we hiked a while down into the canyon. Going into the canyon is fun. Walking back up is a bit tougher, but we managed.
cheers

first post

yo dawg,

flew into phoenix on 9/2, partied and got silly the first night, then pat and I drove a couple hours down to Tucson. The local music festival was pretty damn amazing. Saw numerous brilliant acts that I'd never heard of before. Sunday night was the big Calexico show. Joey and John played with some old bands they used to play with (The Friends of Dean Martin), then they played as Spoke. They cut it short due to time constraints, but I did achieve my goal of meeting both of them and chatting for awhile. They indulged me as I talked their ears off about how I am influenced by their music and how I am traveling etc... John (the drummer) told that although traveling and uncertainty about what Im gonna do next is a bit scary, it will probably be a great source of creativity. We cheered with our bottles of beer, and I told them what a thrill this has been for me, then they finally politely excused themselves as they had to load some equipment into their truck. John dubbed me "the drifter".
On top of that coolness, earlier that afternoon, me pat, and his bud Leighton drove up Mt. Lemmon outside of Tucson and went on a 7 mile hike on Butterfly trail(!)
we stayed at Leightons parents house for a couple days, had home cooked meals, swam in their pool, hiked and saw great music. I decided that if for some reason San Fran doesn't work out (too expensive) I might move to Tucson.
We left tucson monday, I bought some sweet mexican wedding shirts, and we drove into the small town of Silver City New Mexico, where pats dad live. We got in late last night, ate pizza, watched CROCOdile Dundee 3, death wish 3, a little of death wish 5, (all 3 awesome) drank a couple brews and went to bed.
Pats dad has a bit of land on top of a hill, he lives in a pimped out trailer with internet and sattelite tv, he also is building a little two story guest shack/house, but we stayed in a RV also owned by Pats dad on the property. Its a pretty cool little compound he's got here.
Anyway, today it looks like rain, not sure we'll get much done besides hanging out. I hope all is well in Missouri-land, feel free to call my cell phone and leave amessage (im not getting service currently) or email me back. I think I'll send this same email to many people.

Cheers,
Cree