Saturday, August 22, 2009
More photos from tour
If I'm going to document it, I'm going to document it.
This is the setup that I memorized in one day. Not difficult for you audiophiles, I know, but for a sound virgin? A minor miracle.
Something about a full light setup that really makes your heart jump on the first night.
Heading on over to Rhode Island. The Isle of something. Not sure what? Rich people? Yeah, probably rich people.
This woman was showing off her very tiny ponies at the Albemarle County Fair. The one on the left is full grown and goes in and out of her house like a dog. They looked kinda cuddly.
More Blue Ridge goodness. Can't wait to go back.
This guy was making funnel cake and he really enjoyed his job. He and his family are Mennonites and they travel throughout the south selling their fried dough. Didn't try any but it looked glorious.
You may not be able to see this propane tank dispenser but it is hilarious for two reasons: One, it says "Mighty Flame" and it has a drawing of the gayest cartoon flame I'm ever seen dancing across a pile of logs. Two, it's placed directly next to the pump at a gas station.
The view of the Niagara River from our hotel. Didn't see the falls, but thinking I don't really want to since the town of Lewiston was so perfect.
This is Dave. Anya is drawing on Dave.
Dave is drinking a tall boy of Molson.
Dave's T-shirt says "You say redneck like it's a bad thing."
I really did like Dave a lot.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
We didn't sing 'Tiny Dancer' on the bus
There's only so much you can say about two weeks out on the road, watching music and making shows happen. It's a grand experience, the kind that enforces the value of travel, and the value of hygiene. Not that I was smelly. I was kinda smelly. Sorta. I can't imagine doing that full time like these guys do -- seven months out of the year! Here is a short synopsis in photo:
Anya on the first night at the Keswick Theatre near Philly. Blurry but it was all I could do with the stupid Canon.
We were out in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains at a county fair at one point. It was surreal in that way that dreams have misplaced perspective, misplaced objects.
The Blue Ridges again. Pictures do it no justice.
It took me two shows but I was setting up sound and tuning before we were off to Virginia. I was muy proud of my capabilities in this tent situation.
Out in Lewiston, they put on a free show in the park every Tuesday. Isaak and Anya were playing to a huge crowd that braved thunderstorms to hear the music.
The sun set behind the stage as Anya went on. Poor Isaak's crew loaded in all their stuff with tarps and rainproofing, but the rain didn't come until we had packed up and left.
After Anya warmed them up with TI's "Whatever You Like," Isaak grabbed the stage right away and just dove into his set headfirst.
Blurry from backstage, but this was my favorite costume change -- the turquoise blue sparkling suit!
Photos I've been meaning to post
My mom came to visit back in July and it was so nice to show her our new house and take her around the town. We ran into some car show in downtown Golden -- I think it was for Mopar -- and I found my dream car... in YELLOW!
We joined Em and Matt for a little noodle dancing near Clear Creek.
My mom and I on the busy "downtown" streets, surrounded by a whole lot of muscle shirts, mullets and "aw gee" accents. :)
Sunday, August 9, 2009
State checklist
I love checklists. They make me happy because after I check things off, no matter how small, I feel as though I've accomplished a great thing. Taa-daa! So I made a checklist of the states I still have yet to visit, because I do want to hit them all. Starting from west to east:
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- West Virginia
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Maine
Been everywhere else so that means I've been to more than half the country. Feels like an accomplishment. A lot of the places I have been to, I'd like to go back -- Alaska, Virginia, Montana, New York -- to show J. Soon enough. I've got the travel bug now.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Last leg of the trip
I think the Morristown, NJ, and Lewiston, NY, shows were the best. What great little towns! We had a full morning of free time in Morristown so despite the late bedtime, I got up to work out in the Hyatt's beautiful gym and then Anya and I headed to their in-hotel theatre to see The Ugly Truth. It was, well, not the best movie in the world, but it was entertaining I guess. The volume on the movie was hilariously high, despite us being the only people in the entire complex for the first showing.
We did the show that night, slept a few hours and got up early to drive to the U.S./Canadian border for a show in Lewiston. I can't wait to go back! The town has a small main street with hordes of restaurants and quirky little buildings. We stayed at a boutique hotel called the Barton Hill overlooking the Niagara River, just below the Falls.
The show was a blast but saying goodbye to the Isaak crew was a bummer. They were all such kind people. To celebrate a successful trip, we decided to hit up a nice italian place on the main strip called Carmelo's. The owner and his wife were absolutely hospitable, serving us the best penne rigate and calamari I've ever tasted. I'm salivating just thinking about it. We even got to try a puff pastry filled with cookie dough ice cream. Good lord, heart attack central. After finishing off an entire bottle of wine, we stumbled back to the hotel and passed out.
We had an early flight but made it to Denver in one piece. It's nice to be home with the doggers and the J. The weather is warm and clear with a few puffy clouds. I'm back in the swing of things.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
We made it back to Jersey (Day 6)
Another long drive today. I'm pooped. Best sights were through Virginia on Hwy 29 and then up through the township of Princeton when we hit Jersey. Anya did a fun radio appearance today and I sat around listening to the police scanner (one of my fav things to do... gotta look into getting my own). We arrived here and I basically grubbed and then collapsed. I'm about to fall asleep now and not wake up until late tomorrow morning (or early afternoon?).
Day 5, Long drive to Virginia
I have no concept of the time it takes to get places on the East Coast. I grew up in California where it takes 7 hours to drive anywhere cool in the state. So I was impressed that it only took that long to get from NYC to Charlottesville, VA, even though it was a long day of driving. It was hard to say goodbye to the city, but a little Whole Foods in Baltimore fixed the bummer mood.
Virginia is exactly as it should be: the beautiful gateway to the South. All the flower bushes were in bloom and the forests were exploding with green. So lush. With a nap in the worst hotel in America, we were ready for the Albemarle County Fair, nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Yes, there was a lot of 4-H fair, but the people were so kind and generous and the views as the lightning blue through were beyond description. I can't wait to go back to Shenandoah with J.
I was a bit peeved about having no clean clothes and about not being able to try a funnel cake (no more junk food!) but it was a good jaunt down to VA before having to drive right back up to Jersey.
Day 4, or, Why NYC is beautiful
I've spent my life appreciating places that are rural and full of natural beauty, but every time I come to Manhattan, I fall in love with it more. The massive human-made pyramids of brick and glass; the multitude of smells from food to perfume to fake leather; the cab drivers; and even the way the horns sound from below. It's all such a romantic package. I can't wait to take my beautiful husband there one day.
I got to see my old friend Sean. I mean, he's not old, but we are old friends. I can't believe we've known each other for more than 15 years. Time flies. We got to catch up -- it's been far too long -- in a great little bar called Mayahuel. Mmmm, tequila.
In the afternoon, Ms. Anya Marina took me to my first raw food restaurant, called Quintessence, in the East Village. I had tacos and OMG, they were actually amazing. How do they make that sour cream from raw ingredients?!?! The crunchy corn shells were even delicious. I would totally have it again. After dropping Anya off at Atlantic Records, I got to go through midtown and stare at all the great landmarks. I even took a nice drive by Central Park to remember why I enjoyed it so much last time.
The drive back down FDR and Battery was so calming. (Despite the surrounding traffic.) The bustle of the city was pausing as the clouds darkened and the views out toward Brooklyn were arresting. After a little work at the hotel I set off to take a quick run and of course it started pouring right then. I ended up running about half way to the water and walking back to the hotel a slogging mess. Oh well, at least I tried. And at least it was warm!
Southampton, you're the bestest (Day 3)
As we drove out of Providence, RI, after the Newport show, it was a beautiful view of the state capital as I looked back. It's a clean state, if anything. All white-washed and tucked-in. I could see children being raised properly there. Good thing we were on our way to a less savory place. Go NYC! First we made a stop in the lovely Southampton. Getting there should have been a nice short drive and ferry ride from RI, but I wasn't paying attention and Gwyneth the Garmin led us around to Long Island by way of Manhattan. Urgh.
The Southampton venue was a cute little music joint (one of the only on the island) tucked away in the trees. We ate and drank well, thanks to the kind folks at Regulars and saw many beautiful deer on the way to the hotel. (Who knew there were herds of deer on Long Island?!)
We we more excited for NYC though, I think.
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