It's cold enough to make a polar bear hunt for cover (-50 wind chill), the roads are ugly, and the winds are wilder'n a turpentined raccoon. We head out in a few hours.
I ain't afear'd, tho'!
I got snake blood in my veins. I got more guts than yuh could hang on a fence.
More grit than the Sahara Desert.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Free House!
Yet another reason why I love western ND.
But to have it moved to Dunn Center, plus basement and remodeling, would cost at least $25,000.
It might be worth it, though. I'd call it the Barn and raise me a family of nine or so kids and grow a garden out back with lots of carrots, corn, dill, and raspberries. Maybe some spuds and watermelon and tomatoes and green leafy salad fixings. Pumpkins, too, and, of course, onions. I wonder how portobella mushrooms would do?
Lake Ilo's only a mile away. We could eat fish and raise a few chickens. Eggs are nice . . .
Have you heard my song Ballad of a Salad? That's Jen Grady on harmonies.
Yet another reason why I love western ND.
But to have it moved to Dunn Center, plus basement and remodeling, would cost at least $25,000.
It might be worth it, though. I'd call it the Barn and raise me a family of nine or so kids and grow a garden out back with lots of carrots, corn, dill, and raspberries. Maybe some spuds and watermelon and tomatoes and green leafy salad fixings. Pumpkins, too, and, of course, onions. I wonder how portobella mushrooms would do?
Lake Ilo's only a mile away. We could eat fish and raise a few chickens. Eggs are nice . . .
Have you heard my song Ballad of a Salad? That's Jen Grady on harmonies.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
In the News:
1. Heath Ledger is dead. Crikey sad! Another awesome Australian bites the dust.
2. My friend Diana Arens, from Olympia, had her last "Free Things Are Cool" radio show on KAOS three days ago. Here's an article about her, with photo. I was briefly interviewed for it, so you can read my thoughts about her there. (FYI, Diana produced my second CD, Love's Hangover Sale, and co-produced my third, Until the End of Time.)
3. Another pal of mine, Vanessa Renwick, had her seven-minute movie, Red Stallion's Revenge, accepted into the International Film Festival Rotterdam (2008). Trisha Lovgren and I co-wrote the score for it, which can be heard on my last CD, Good to Be Awake. The song is called "Death of a Red Mare."
4. A spacious 90-year-old, three-story house in Killdeer is being given away to the first person who will move it and renovate it. It's very tempting to put it on the large empty lot next to my current house. I could fix it up, as time permits, in preparation for a future family. My current nido is barely big enough for two.
1. Heath Ledger is dead. Crikey sad! Another awesome Australian bites the dust.
2. My friend Diana Arens, from Olympia, had her last "Free Things Are Cool" radio show on KAOS three days ago. Here's an article about her, with photo. I was briefly interviewed for it, so you can read my thoughts about her there. (FYI, Diana produced my second CD, Love's Hangover Sale, and co-produced my third, Until the End of Time.)
3. Another pal of mine, Vanessa Renwick, had her seven-minute movie, Red Stallion's Revenge, accepted into the International Film Festival Rotterdam (2008). Trisha Lovgren and I co-wrote the score for it, which can be heard on my last CD, Good to Be Awake. The song is called "Death of a Red Mare."
4. A spacious 90-year-old, three-story house in Killdeer is being given away to the first person who will move it and renovate it. It's very tempting to put it on the large empty lot next to my current house. I could fix it up, as time permits, in preparation for a future family. My current nido is barely big enough for two.
If you want to see a creepy five-minute movie called "The Sandman," click here.
Synopsis: Evil Dr. Sandman creates a mechanical girlfriend & names her Olympia.
Synopsis: Evil Dr. Sandman creates a mechanical girlfriend & names her Olympia.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Grandpa bought an old banjo. He wants me to learn how to chord it so we can perform for the elders at Hill Top Home of Comfort. He'd play harmonica. I'm not so sure I'm up to the task, but I'll try.
My brain has really been spinning this weekend. Next summer could be a fruitful one, literally. I plan to pick several dozen gallons of buffalo berries, juneberries, chokecherries, and wild plums, and make jam to give as gifts and sell on tour. I'll even make a fancy label.
When to tour again is the question, though. If Shawn can find a driver, perhaps a week in March, a few weeks in July, and a couple months next winter. That'd be ideal.
Time is on my side.
My brain has really been spinning this weekend. Next summer could be a fruitful one, literally. I plan to pick several dozen gallons of buffalo berries, juneberries, chokecherries, and wild plums, and make jam to give as gifts and sell on tour. I'll even make a fancy label.
When to tour again is the question, though. If Shawn can find a driver, perhaps a week in March, a few weeks in July, and a couple months next winter. That'd be ideal.
Time is on my side.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Yesterday was the official kick-off to Dunn County's 100th Anniversary. I went to two events, one in Killdeer and one in Dodge. There was food, music, comedy, and a speaker. Many more Centennial-related events will be held throughout the next few months.
Our motto is: "A Century Dunn & Just Begun!"
Should be an animated year. The Museum will be hoppin', too, which reminds me . . . it's time to go meet the new curator and find out how he's faring in his new position. He probably has a few questions for me, too.
Our motto is: "A Century Dunn & Just Begun!"
Should be an animated year. The Museum will be hoppin', too, which reminds me . . . it's time to go meet the new curator and find out how he's faring in his new position. He probably has a few questions for me, too.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Off to Vancouver, B.C., in a few hours. Shawn's been driving all weekend, so he'll need a rest. I never get tired of seeing the sun rise over the Dakota badlands or the moon float over the Montana Rockies.
On a somber note, two of my best lady friends, Lacy (Shawn's girlfriend) and Natalie (my girlfriend-if-I-lived-in-Olympia), both lost their beloved grandmothers last week. I attended Lacy's grandma's funeral on Saturday.
Her name was Martha Dahl Fischer. Shawn says Martha was a "sweet, gentle woman who made the best cookies and lemonade." According to Lacy, "Grandma got kinda feisty in old age, after Grandpa Dutch died." Maybe that's where Lacy gets it!
The glamorous picture to the left is of Natalie's grandmother, Joy, holding one of her children sometime in the early '50s. Natalie says that Joy "kept her sexy legs her whole 79 years."
Rest in peace, Mrs. Fischer and Grandma Joy.
On a somber note, two of my best lady friends, Lacy (Shawn's girlfriend) and Natalie (my girlfriend-if-I-lived-in-Olympia), both lost their beloved grandmothers last week. I attended Lacy's grandma's funeral on Saturday.
Her name was Martha Dahl Fischer. Shawn says Martha was a "sweet, gentle woman who made the best cookies and lemonade." According to Lacy, "Grandma got kinda feisty in old age, after Grandpa Dutch died." Maybe that's where Lacy gets it!The glamorous picture to the left is of Natalie's grandmother, Joy, holding one of her children sometime in the early '50s. Natalie says that Joy "kept her sexy legs her whole 79 years."
Rest in peace, Mrs. Fischer and Grandma Joy.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Tour Report, January 2008 :
Show 1: Orcas Island, WA - New Year's Eve show at Doe Bay Resort (see Jan. 2nd entry).
Show 2: Olympia, WA - Tiffany organized a super house-party show. Froseph played, followed by me and then Bryce Panic. Bryce's full-out rap set was revelatory. Froseph put it best: "Bryce is my new, most favorite superhero!"
Show 3: Spokane, WA - Benefit show for A.S.A.P. (I never did learn what that stood for). This was an anarchist house show filled with lots of youthful artists, dumpster divers, bike mechanics, and anti-imperialist tacticians. I played first, then had to split for my downtown show. Froseph reported that the night went swimmingly and he made many friends.
Show 4: Spokane, WA - Benefit show for my gas tank, at Prago Cafe. Prior to the show, the space had been rented by a flock of skydiving enthusiasts who were watching life-sized video projections of themselves leaping from planes, to the music of high-octane hardcore. Isamu Jordan, music columnist for The Spokesman-Review, was there and did a 20-minute interview after my performance. I sold at least 15 hats between sets. Turns out trucker hats are a worthwhile investment, unlike old cowboy boots! All hats were gone by show's end.
Show 5: Missoula, MT - Froseph and I were worried about this show, because I hadn't promoted it very well and because it was scheduled for 3 a.m. in a vintage clothing store. Fortunately, my new good friend Jeff Medley did everything required to make the show a grand success. He made excellent flyers, helped get us a great review--with photo--in the Missoula Independent, and chose the perfect venue: Hausfrau. Johna, the owner of Hausfrau, arranged a sharp opening band (a girl/guy saw-and-banjo duo).
A side-note about Johna: she lived directly across from me in an apartment building in Missoula back in 1989. I had a crush on her, and have wondered what became of her.
After the Missoula fun (thanks again, Jeff & Anne!), Froseph and I, fighting off tiredness, barreled four hours east to Earl and Susan's. The next morning Earl joined us for soak at Boiling River in Yellowstone Park. We discussed philosophy like angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo.*
The next day Froseph & I, like Cassady & Kerouac, drove back to NoDak, where Frojak caught Amtrak home to his Winona shack. Farewell, amigo! Thanks for the great comradery and for recording my songs for the new CD.
*Ginsberg
Show 1: Orcas Island, WA - New Year's Eve show at Doe Bay Resort (see Jan. 2nd entry).
Show 2: Olympia, WA - Tiffany organized a super house-party show. Froseph played, followed by me and then Bryce Panic. Bryce's full-out rap set was revelatory. Froseph put it best: "Bryce is my new, most favorite superhero!"
Show 3: Spokane, WA - Benefit show for A.S.A.P. (I never did learn what that stood for). This was an anarchist house show filled with lots of youthful artists, dumpster divers, bike mechanics, and anti-imperialist tacticians. I played first, then had to split for my downtown show. Froseph reported that the night went swimmingly and he made many friends.
Show 4: Spokane, WA - Benefit show for my gas tank, at Prago Cafe. Prior to the show, the space had been rented by a flock of skydiving enthusiasts who were watching life-sized video projections of themselves leaping from planes, to the music of high-octane hardcore. Isamu Jordan, music columnist for The Spokesman-Review, was there and did a 20-minute interview after my performance. I sold at least 15 hats between sets. Turns out trucker hats are a worthwhile investment, unlike old cowboy boots! All hats were gone by show's end.
Show 5: Missoula, MT - Froseph and I were worried about this show, because I hadn't promoted it very well and because it was scheduled for 3 a.m. in a vintage clothing store. Fortunately, my new good friend Jeff Medley did everything required to make the show a grand success. He made excellent flyers, helped get us a great review--with photo--in the Missoula Independent, and chose the perfect venue: Hausfrau. Johna, the owner of Hausfrau, arranged a sharp opening band (a girl/guy saw-and-banjo duo).
A side-note about Johna: she lived directly across from me in an apartment building in Missoula back in 1989. I had a crush on her, and have wondered what became of her.
After the Missoula fun (thanks again, Jeff & Anne!), Froseph and I, fighting off tiredness, barreled four hours east to Earl and Susan's. The next morning Earl joined us for soak at Boiling River in Yellowstone Park. We discussed philosophy like angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo.*
The next day Froseph & I, like Cassady & Kerouac, drove back to NoDak, where Frojak caught Amtrak home to his Winona shack. Farewell, amigo! Thanks for the great comradery and for recording my songs for the new CD.
*Ginsberg
Friday, January 11, 2008
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Friday, January 04, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Just finished recording around 15 new songs in the last 15 hours. Froseph's the producer. Some of the new songs include: "Artesian Lover," "Crazy Animals," "Wedding Song Man," "Natty Joy," "End of America," "The Hermit," & "Shelly the Sea Turtle."
I should mention that the view from the Doe Bay studio is world class. We look out upon Otter Cove and, in fact, can view otter families playing betwixt the salty waves.
One word: Paradiso.
--------------------------------------------
Tiffany.
Froseph & Casandra.
I should mention that the view from the Doe Bay studio is world class. We look out upon Otter Cove and, in fact, can view otter families playing betwixt the salty waves.
One word: Paradiso.
--------------------------------------------
Tiffany.
Froseph & Casandra.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The New Year's show was fun. I played an indoor set 'til about midnight and then a bonfire set 'til about 3 a.m. Sold a lot of trucker hats and antique souvenir soaps!
I'm still here on the island at Doe Bay Resort with Tiffany, Casandra, & Froseph. We've commandeered two large buildings, one for living in and the other for recording in. Froseph and I recorded a couple songs yesterday and hope to capture a dozen more by tonight.
I'm still here on the island at Doe Bay Resort with Tiffany, Casandra, & Froseph. We've commandeered two large buildings, one for living in and the other for recording in. Froseph and I recorded a couple songs yesterday and hope to capture a dozen more by tonight.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
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