Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Chunks of snow as big as silver dollars are drifting down like an Anchorage jackpot. Maybe I'll be trapped here.

Both my Olympia shows went excellently. Both were packed with friendly, familiar faces. For a little on the hip hop program at Le Voyeur see Giles' blog. It was a thrill to do songs off (return to) . . . the blackhole (of outerspace).
Craaazy bizzy. No time 2 write.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Uffda. Olympia is a bitter-sweet pill; a house with frayed electrical wiring; a mish-mash of cherubs and malodorous demigods. I know why I liked it here. And then again, I know why I left.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Utopic times on Orcas Island. At Doe Bay they fed me like an Elfin king . . . A perfect little holiday.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Due to the $500 no-insurance fine and many other costly vehicular happenings, this trip has drained my bank account of everything. Thankfully my friend Nina just lent me $1000. I've decided to auction off the front license plate of 319 JOE.

Will anyone start the bidding at $15?

Note: The auction will end at midnight on my birthday which is December 28th. I'll include a video of me singing my song "319 JOE" along with other surprise holiday goodies.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Lenny and I finally got our hot springs fix--we drove to Goldmeyer Hot Springs last night. Due to the road being too rutty, we chose to walk the final four miles. And due to me forgetting the head lamp we had to hike in pitch blackness. Then we crossed a raging icy river and hiked another steep mile to the mountain cave with its hot liquid magic where we soaked for five hours. This morning we soaked again, recrossed the river (barefoot on sharp, yet slippery, rocks), and trudged back down the hill. My feet are blistered and cut, and my legs and back ache. I felt like 319 JOE might've during his final miles. In spite of the more torturous aspects, I'm glad we went.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Anacortes is a city of saints. Jen and I took in over $150 in merchandise sales. The leather belts did well as did many a CD. The two other acts were excellent. Karl Blau has become an aural prophet beyond . . .

We slept at Bret and Denise Lunsford's farm. They treated us like royalty.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Many miles. Many miles between yesterday and today. Lenny and I buried JOE (my '84 Subaru station wagon) in the heart of Idaho. Li'l JOE gallantly drove us, on three cylinders, across the lengthy barren stretches of Montana and its many mile-high passes. He puttered and sputtered, in first gear, up snowy mountains and never once forced us to hitch hike or get towed. He drove us 1,000 miles, to Salmon, Idaho, where I located Fritz's Salvage Yard and stoicly turned him out to greener pastures. No car has been as trustworthy or dignified as 319 JOE--the little beast that could. Thanks for the memories ol' man. I'll never forget your silver spirit and crafty willpower.

I now own a new steed--a 1988 Buick Century sedan. I bought him this morning for $460 (actually Lenny paid as I am without) at the same place I sold JOE. He is indeed a young blue stallion on a mission to spread seeds of poetry and music across the nation. 700 miles later we've arrived in Olympia where I now sit and type.

Our first show is tomorrow night in Anacortes. Jen Grady will join me with cello and harmonies.

Friday, November 18, 2005

'Tis a small miracle that Lenny, JOE, and I are still truckin'. We've broken down multiple times and are now puttering across the landscape at well below the speed limit. We are fully prepared to camp on the side of the interstate, but last night we fortunately made it to my Aunt Bryher's place in Basin, MT. This may be JOE's last ride. I've spent over $200 in mechanic's fees in the last two days, but JOE deserves every piece of encouragement I can give him. We've many a mountain pass to climb in the next two days.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

See ya!
$500 ticket for no insurance on the way back from Amtrak. I had it comin', but it takes my whole paycheck which doesn't seem quite fair.

Lenny and I will head west at the break of dawn tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

The current tempurature is around 0 degrees F. I about got frost bite driving home from work this evening.

Tomorrow my good friend from Olympia, WA, Lenny Wolford, will arrive in Williston via Amtrak. After exploring western North Dakota for a day, he and I will drive across Montana, Idaho, and Washington looking for natural hot springs to soak in. If you see him, don't mention that the heater in my car just gave out. Misery loves company.

Monday, November 14, 2005

More thought-provoking correspondence between my friend, "Danielle," and her friend, "Azhar," who lives in Basra, Iraq:
11.9.05

hi dear

iam waiting you every day i comming to internet cafe to read your message. you have no idea what are you doing for me you gave me a new hope and this is a first time i don't feel tyird in my work
please don't forget me

your friend ...azhar
11.9.05

dearest Azhar,

This morning I went on a hike with a friend and watched the fish (salmon) swimming up the creek to spawn. Then after hiking I saw a different friend and we went out for dinner (sushi). And now I am back home in my bedroom. It is very cold and foggy tonight. My father is sleeping but I stay up late every night on the computer or playing my guitar. Tonite I think I am going to draw. I am glad that our new friendship is giving you hope and inspiration in your life. I am sure that life for you is very difficult right now with the war going on. I wish that I could stop all the violence and sadness in the world. Is it possible to send mail to Iraq? I am thinking that maybe because of the war it is very difficult or impossible to send you something in the mail. I hope you have a good day at work and tell your family hello. I will be working at the restaurant tomorrow night. sweet dreams... i will write you again tomorrow night.

xo danielle

11.9.05
hi danielle...

. . . theres much sharing betwen us maybe we have a sharing causes,iam sorry ,about the war ,the people here live a normal life nearly exept the explosions it not allway's we here shoping and go to working but we can't go out with the children because we expect an explosion in any moment in the markets or in the streets,but though many people chalenging the terror and go out with there children,you asked me one day about church is that nesesary you know that? . . . please don't think iam terrorest
i can't kill a cat ,someday in past a cat eat my food and i be angry then i thinking it may have a children and they hungry so i left it go,any way . . .
yes send maile is possible in iraq or to iraq,or send files or any thing in it.i'll watting your message ,and hear now (thousand miles)thers magic in this song,about bob dylan music acualy iam don't heard it yet but iam sure i'll like it .if you want to learn more arabic please tell me,thank you for any thing.

your friend azhar.....

Sunday, November 13, 2005

I came across a stash of old photos of my house when it was still owned by its first owner, Mrs. Pauline Weber:


This was her bedroom--where I slept last night.


My 80-yr-old neighbor, Vivian, claims Pauline had a green thumb. This picture proves it.


Those little trees she planted in the front yard are monsters now.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

My friend Danielle from Tacoma has become email pals with an Iraqi fellow named Azhar. Azhar saw Danielle's pretty face on Friendster and invited her to be his friend. She sends me most of their correspondences; I find them fascinating and moving. Below is today's contribution. (Note: Danielle gives me permission to do this, but for privacy reasons she's asked me to use different names, i.e. "Azhar" and "Danielle" are not their actual names.)
11.12.05

i dearsst danielle

please reassure me about your aunts health and send to her some flowers for me and tell her i wish from my heart to her be in a good health ,i dont know what could say to the sick ,tell her that please.

about my religion ,iam not shamed from my religin but from what the muslims doing like the first terrorist in the world (usama bin ladin) and his friends ,i don't know why more the terrorists in the world are muslims,yes we have a beuatiful mosques inbasrah like the (big mosque).

you jewess right?i don't have any problim with that i know that when you wrot "shalom" really i wish the human lives as brothers ,jewesh and muslims and christians .......

you asked me before if i travel out of iraq ,no iam do'nt ,can you discript to me the place where you live thats can make me imagine i there .i be happy wen i find a long leter from you iam enjoy with each word ,please don't forget tell me about your aunt .....

xoxo.......azhar
Today's weather was nice--69 degrees. I took the day off to enjoy it. I currently have eleven dollars and some change in my pocket. Perhaps a trip to Ilo Bar is in order, for I feel wealthy today.

I am an elevenaire.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

"Hi Chris,
I heard the Marezy Doats album while on a week-end trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. The cd was playing in a women's clothing/sports apparel boutique and I fell in love with it right away and asked the cashier (a young kid, probably around 18 yrs.) for the name of the cd that was playing. That was in August, and I have been looking for you ever since . . ."

I received this email today. It surprised me that anyone remembered that tape which was recorded in 1998 and had super low distribution. I think only 75 tapes were sold or given away in the Nashville area. Tonight, because of the above quoted email, I became inspired to dig it out of a box and listen again. Our band consisted of Camo Davi, Asher Dudley, and myself. Four of the songs on this tape are written and sung by Asher, and they're transcendent. Asher is still one of my all time favorite songwriters, even though he's never released a full-length album. Marezy Doats will one day be combined with the first Workhorses of Yesteryear tape from 1995 and be repackaged as a funky and beautiful CD.

Giles O'Dell recorded Marezy Doats on his four-track in our Nashville living room. Giles is also the producer of my brand new rap CD (return to) . . .the blackhole (of outerspace).

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Before & after pics from my haircut.


Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . Today

These are actually photos from past years.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

-----------------------------------------------------
I'm contemplating touring
Florida in mid-January. Does
anyone live there or know of
any places I should play at?
I've never been south of
Jacksonville.
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Monday, November 07, 2005

Sunday, November 06, 2005

"When you have nothing to say, say nothing."

-Charles Caleb Colton

"When you have nothing to blog, quote somebody. Or post a penguin picture."

-Chris Sand

I'm braindead lately. I have a feeling that for the next two weeks this journal will appear pretty anemic.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Here are my upcoming shows:

Nov. 20 - Anacortes, WA @ Department of Safety w/ Karl Blau and Robots Ate Me.
Nov. 23 - Astoria, OR @ Cannery Cafe Lounge.
Nov. 24 - Orcas Island, WA @ Doe Bay Resort.
Nov. 25 - Orcas Island, WA @ Doe Bay Resort.
Nov. 26 - Olympia, WA @ Eagles Hall, 9 p.m. $5.
Nov. 29 - Olympia, WA on Radio 8 Ball KAOS.
Nov. 29 - Olympia, WA - Radio 8 Ball aftershow @ Yes Yes (tentative location). $1.25.
Nov. 30 - Eugene, OR @ Cozmic Pizza. $5.
Dec. 1st - Portland, OR (tentative)
Dec. 2nd- Spokane, WA @ Empyrean Coffeehouse w/ The Beat Committee. $5.
Dec. 3rd - Missoula, MT (tentative)

Thursday, November 03, 2005

The Northwest tour is starting to pick up momentum. More soon. Right now it's snowing and I'm about to drive to Bismarck for a museum conference.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

I work approximately 14 hours each day, I've figured out. A lot of that goes into my museum job, but the rest goes to promoting my music career, working on my new house, and helping other people with their work. It's a good but exhausting life. I look forward to my trip to Washington in two weeks. I will play a lot.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005