Happy Birthday to Me

I am 42 today. I feel like I am in my mid-twenties. I will be chronicling this 'midpoint' year of my life elsewhere. See you when I turn 43...

Forty-Two

My 42nd birthday is this coming Wednesday, the 24th. For many reasons (but mostly for fun), I am going to start a new blog specifically for this momentous year. As a result, Kendar Keep may be neglected. Just a heads up. ☺

I will keep updating tallies of 'Quests' & 'Crawls', but a new 'State Visit' list will move over there.

State Highest Point: Jerimoth Hill, RI

Today was such a fantastic day (blue skies and mid-60's) that I couldn't pass up the chance to knock a hike/climb off my list of all 50 states' highest points. I just happened to have a job interview in Marlborough, so when i mapped the route out, I tacked on directions from there to the highest point in Rhode Island: Jerimoth Hill.

I got to the parking area for hikers, and after changing out of my interview clothes to a sweatshirt and jeans, I crossed Route 101 and headed into the woods. Five minutes and 0.1 miles later, I was atop the highest point in the state of Rhode Island (they don't count climbing the surrounding trees). It was a silly little hike, but it was a nice drive there and back, and I get the check it off my list. One down, 49 to go!

Note: there are a pair of Geodetic Survey markers on the way in, but the actual highest point is in the photo on the right.

Mountain Quest: Yosemite Day 2

On Halloween morning Jason & I woke up at a decent hour, had a great breakfast that was included with the tent rental (scrambled eggs, a bottomless cup of coffee, sliced peaches, a small blueberry muffin, and all the bacon I could eat!), packed up the car, and headed further into the park. Jason wanted us to climb to Glacier Point, but the road had been closed yesterday, and was not reopened today, due to snow and ice. The scenery on the drive up there was amazing though (we stopped to take some pretty majestic shots of various morning mountain vistas), and the place we settled on, Mariposa Grove was just as interesting. It was a steady hike up through a forest of giant sequoia trees, both fallen and soaring up majestically into the crystal blue sky. They are humongous! We saw all of the 'key' sights (the California Tunnel Tree, Grizzly Giant, etc...), and at the point we decided to head back down, we ran into a trio of deer. The air smelled amazing (sequoias and redwoods have a heady scent unlike anything here back east), the wildlife enchanted, and the second day of climbing in the thin air went so much smoother than I expected, it was a perfect day. I'm not sure how much elevation we attained, but it was a steep and steady climb upward for an hour, and it took us about 30 minutes to get back down to the parking lot. It was a weekend well-spent with my brother out in the wild!

Mountain Quest: Yosemite Day 1

On Saturday morning my brother Jason & I drove the 3+ hours from his home to Yosemite National Park to spend a weekend climbing and hiking through the peaks of the Sierra Nevada. On the way to our lodging we made a quick stop to check out Bridalveil Fall, one of the smaller falls we would see today. Very cool. It was a cloudy day, but once we checked in (a few hours early - score!), we headed out to the trail head parking, and set off on our first climb. After about an hour of ascending a reasonably inclined (and oddly, paved) trail, and then a steep staircase carved into the mountainside, we reached Vernal Fall (elevation 5044 feet). The sky had cleared, but the mist from the waterfall cast a greyish (yet beautiful) curtain over everything in its vicinity. And due to the steady spray I had to swap out my jacket for my brother's spare raincoat! We took a few photos and then trudged up another chunk of the steep steps, but after checking the time, we decided to turn around about 150 feet shy of the top of Nevada Fall, rather than attempt the extremely dangerous descent in the dark. What amazing scenery, fresh air, vistas and scents unlike those found in New England's forests. And while it was beautiful, and an extremely fun day, I don't feel very comfortable with so many millions of tons of rock looming overhead on all sides. The total distance we traveled was about 4¾ miles, and we went nearly 1,850 feet vertically. It was a visual feast, a fantastic workout, and most definitely (and importantly), time well-spent with my youngest brother.

Once we were back at the tent cabin (wooden platform, canvas shelter with a heater, three cots, one outlet and one overhead light) there wasn't much else to do but find a place to hang out for awhile. We headed over to the Mountain Room Lounge, and finding the inside packed with Giants fans watching their team lose Game 3 of the World Series, we decided to hang out at one of the outside tables 'til the place cleared out a bit. Jason had a serviceable Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and per usual, I decided to try a local beer. I opted for the Mammoth Brewing Company's Epic IPA. What a beer! Extremely fragrant, nice and hoppy, and it went down smooth. Over the course of the evening I enjoyed four more of this delicious brew, but for my second beer I decided to try Mammoth's Double Nut Brown. It had a definite chocolate taste to it, and even a coffee-ish tang. It was very good, though not quite as palatable as Wachusett's Nut Brown Ale. I am glad I got the chance to try it, but I returned to the IPA on the next round. We had dinner once we got a table inside, and hung out for a few hours watching random sports on one of the tvs, listening to the local band that set up right after the game ended, and enjoyed the friendly service of Maria, our gorgeous waitress from Belarus. I was so smitten I didn't find out 'til my bro and I got back to the cabin that she had a wedding ring on (haha). Picture a tall blue-eyed Jessica Biel type, with a superhot accent and winning smile, and you will have some idea of how nice that part of the evening was. What a perfect day.

Mountain Quest: Barrett Mountain

I drove up to New Ipswich, NH earlier today to climb Barrett Mountain by way of the Wapack Trail going up the Windblown Cross-Country Ski Area. It took 55 minutes to make it to the top, and 45 minutes to complete my descent.

It was a mostly sunny day, and relatively humid. The hike started off so easy (and with a barely noticeable incline for a good stretch), that I was rather disappointed. But as it went on, the steady increase in the degree of incline began to affect me. The worst thing about the climb though was the surface. There was barely any rock for footing! It was mostly spongy moss and grass overgrowing loose stones. I felt like I was climbing a hill of wet sand most of the time, and traction was frequently treacherous. Plus it was muddy. However, the air smelled fantastic, which always puts me in a great mood. The evergreens were giving off that Christmas wreath scent, and the damp leaves, ever-present moss, and running streams & small ponds added their bouquets to the air as well. It felt great to be outdoors, and it was another fortunate climb where there were no other humans in sight all day.

I hiked steadily to the top of the ski area, and then pushed on for another quarter mile to the top of the mountain (1835 feet above sea level, and just over two miles traveled in each direction), but there was no scenic vista (nor was there a marker at the top) once I achieved the summit. What a disappointment! No view, no official confirmation of conquest - what a ripoff! Oh well, it was still an amazing hike, a great way to get exercise, the drives there and back were full of New England autumn foliage, and hey, it was 72 degrees on October 26th. So all complaining aside, it was a worthy way to spend a few hours.

On the way down I ate my traditional apple, and listened to Joy Zipper's "American Whip" album on my iPod. They sound like a cross between Lush and early Pale Saints. A nice dreamy accompaniment to an arduous trek. Toward the bottom of the mountain there were a ton of blue jays - they were an amusing burst of color and noise to signal the end of today's adventure. Next up: Yosemite National Park!

Mountain Quest: Crow Hills

Today's adventure began at historic Redemption Rock in Princeton, MA. I departed my car at 1 pm, with a long-sleeve thermal weave shirt under my brown sweatshirt. Since the temperature was in the high 40's, I had more clothing: thick over the calf socks, with gloves and a t-shirt (in case I needed a 3rd layer) in my backpack. Since Crow Hills isn't a mountain per se (it's a twin-peaked glacial cliff), the hike was a little different than the previous two: It was 3 miles of gradual ups & downs in, then a steep vertical climb, and then 3 miles back. The other two trips were both under 4 miles, but steeper grades overall.

I felt in better shape because of all the prior legwork, which was nice. I am proud to say that except for the vertical climb, I didn't stop once to catch my breath. It was cold out, but not uncomfortably so (I even took off my ball cap a few times to cool down), and the scenery was spectacular. There was a wide variety of tree species (oak, maple, birch, etc...), the leaves of each changing at their own nature-dictated pace. And there wasn't another human in sight the entire three hours I spent walking and taking pictures. Amazing.

It's funny, often there are times I notice that I have what must be a stupid grin on my face when I am doing these hikes/climbs. It's the mix of sunshine, exertion, and fresh air of New England. I was thinking to myself that as much as I love the smell of the ocean, I'd gladly give that up for life if I had to choose between the sea and inland New England in the fall.

Once I got to the summit, I ate an apple (as is my tradition), and as I headed down, the music on my iPod that I chose to listen to this time was The Mark Zaleski Band's self-titled album. It took me 80 minutes to get to the top, and 50 minutes to make the return trip. Total distance traveled: 6 miles round-trip plus and additional several hundred feet (I can't find an exact number anywhere!) vertically up and down, between each 3-mile leg. What a day...

The next few climbs on my planned list before Old Man Winter says "No more!" are Mt. Greylock, Mt. Monadnock, and one of the peaks near Bennington, VT, so I can hit the museum there too. Plus I am going to Yosemite with my youngest brother next week when I am in northern CA, so I will add at least one more while I am out there!

Mountain Quest: Watatic

At 3 pm today I packed my backpack, dressed appropriately, and headed off to nearby Ashburnham, MA to climb Mount Watatic, as part of my 2010 Mountain Quest plan. I had all the stuff with me that I had last time, and in addition I brought a baseball cap to cover my head in direct sunlight, and I applied sunscreen to my nose & cheeks.

The beginning of the Wapack Trail, which is well-marked with yellow triangles, was basically just a rocky dirt road. Then it began to get steep, and I got winded a couple of times. There were several other people making the ascent today, including a kid who passed me doing a cross-country workout for his high school team. About halfway to the summit I got my second wind, and even the 'Heartbreak Hill' section just before the top was pretty easy going. Once I was at the summit I took a bunch of photographs of the blue-skied panorama. I could see Mt. Wachusett off to the southeast, and the rest of the Wapack Range heading north into New Hampshire. I ate the apple I brought with me, drank some water, and after a last look around (I wasn't inclined to use my sketchpad again this time, but better to have it and not use it, than to need it), I made my descent. I had my iPod on like last time, with Colbie Caillat and Cocteau Twins accompanying me down the mountain. A truly glorious day it was, if a bit windy, and since my brother lives practically right across the street from the entrance, I spent an hour hanging out with him and his family afterward. What a great start to Columbus Day Weekend...

Squares - Davis and Central

Tuesday night I headed into the Boston area to have dinner and then see Chapterhouse perform at The Middle East. I met Erik around 6 pm at Redbones, and we caught up over a kick-ass dinner and a couple of beers. I had hushpuppies and catfish fingers (they were out of fried oysters - damn!), and then a small rack of St. Louis style ribs, accompanied by two bottles of one of my favorite beers, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. We took our time, and then hopped the T to Central Square.

We wandered over to The Middle East, but when we got there, we found out that the first act didn't even go on 'til 9, so we headed out into the rainy night to hit a few bars. First stop: The Asgard. When we got inside this rustic Irish bar, Erik headed to the can, and I ordered for us both. Erik wanted something with pumpkin, so the waiter recommended one (I forget which), and I wanted to try a new IPA, so I had a Peak Organic from Portland, ME. It kicked ASS. Best beer I had all night, hands down. Then it was off to the Cantab Lounge. There was a decent folk band (Carter Creek Revival) playing onstage while we had our beers (I had a Long Trail IPA - worst beer of the night, though usually pretty good), and Erik even filmed one of their songs on his cell phone (in between frequent checks for news of Randy Moss' impending trade to the Vikings). We finally left around 9:15 for the club, and the three bands we'd paid to see.

When we arrived, the first band, 28 Degrees Taurus (a fantastic local Boston band), was already into their set. The lead singer Karina had on a white tank top with a huge kitty face plastered across her breasts (which she pointed out to us), and it mesmerized us as she played her bass, belted out her lyrics, and tinked her chimes on the final song. What a great band! Jinsen killed it on guitar, and the drummer went nuts. They were full of energy, and the songs were a motivating mix of thoughtful shoegaze and power thrash. Karina spent the rest of the night buzzing around & through the crowd in an alcohol haze. Erik even chatted her up a bit! Next up was Ulrich Schnauss, who fed us a non-stop 40-minute mixture of pulsing ambient and psychedelic dance music that I couldn't sit still for, but which much of the young, "hipster doofus" wannabes ignored (their loss!). I even spent a few minutes with my eyes closed, just enjoying the "alone in a crowd" sensation. Check his music out, it's amazing.

Finally, it was Chapterhouse's turn! I played these guys' music to death back in college, and had most of their EPs and full-length albums in heavy rotation off & on for many years after. To this day I have the "Mesmerise" EP on my iPod. Long story short: I never got to see them play live back in the early 90's, but tonight I did, and it was SO worth the wait. The entire set was loud and pulsing (though the sound was off a bit at times), and you'd have needed a sandblaster to get the grin off my face when they played "Then We'll Rise" and "Precious One" back to back. Seriously. I was in heaven. They even came out for a two-song encore, which was icing on the cake. What a show. It's definitely in the top ten for this decade, at the very least.

A Turn of Luck

Whoo-HOO! Look what I won :)

My Kinda Friday

A little after 5 pm this evening I packed the car with necessities, stopped at the Wachusett Brewery to fill my growler with fresh Larry IPA, and headed down to the lake. I always bring 'too much' to do with me, and so my sketchpad and my book, "The Wreck of the Medusa" both sat neglected. I sunscreened up, filled my pint glass with beer, and proceeded to spend the next hour paddling around the lake and floating in the center of it, watching the sun slowly set as various other watercraft sped or meandered by. There is nothing like staring up at the sky on a dry warm evening, the smells of lake water, early autumn breezes, and hop-laden local beer vying for the attention of one's nose. Midway through the sunset I paddled back to shore for a refill, and then headed right back out. What a picture (as you can see!). Afterward I dried off, and then grilled up a trio of hot dogs, to eat in peaceful twilight, before packing up and heading to my sister's house to watch a movie ("Killers") with my 3 nieces and brother in law (she went to a friend's birthday party). Great movie, awesome kids, good ice cream (haha).

Mountain Quest: Wachusett

I climbed the Mountain House Trail on Mt. Wachusett this afternoon. I had on jeans, sturdy black sneakers with socks, a bright yellow t-shirt, and a sweatshirt tied around my waist in case the summit was a lot colder than the base. I had a backpack containing: a bottle of water, a small bit of food, my digital camera, my iPod, my cellphone, a sketchpad, a pencil & sharpener. I forgot a baseball cap for my shaved head, but it wasn't missed. The climb is .9 miles long, with a vertical ascent of 740 feet from the entry point. It was an intermediate challenge to go up the trail (since I haven't climbed any mountains in well over a decade, or any stairs for that matter, since I moved from my last apartment back at the end of May), with several stops to catch my breath and drink some water. I only met one person on the way up, an older (late 50's-early 60's) gentleman who, I found out during our quick exchange of pleasantries, does this kind of climb rather frequently, as he passed me during one of my rests, and got to the top before I did. The ascent took me 40 minutes, which isn't bad at all I think.

Once I was at the top I rested for a bit, basked in the late afternoon sun, took many pictures, and ate a small repast of almonds and an apple. The sun was shining, the strong breeze was invigorating, and for the most part, I had the summit to myself for a good 15 minutes, before the 'after work' crowd slowly trickled up. Just before I headed down I listened to "Surry Hospitality" (a little Almanac Mountain on Wachusett Mountain - ba-DUM-chh!), and then was motivated on my descent by a chunk of Abbie Barrett's "Dying Day" album on my iPod. What a fun first climb in my Autumn 2010 Mountain Quest series!

Next week: either Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, MA or a peak local to Bennington, VT if I decide to hit the museum there (thus fulfilling two series entries with one road trip!).

A Community of Mad Men

...'nuff said.

Labor Day Lake Time

I went down to the lake this evening from around 6:00 to 7:30 pm. I took a few pictures of the sun going down, and then spent the next hour floating on the water, watching planes and birds fly overhead, daydreaming, and pondering tomorrow's potential climb of nearby Mount Wachusett. It was just the break from monotony I needed. While I dried off, I listened to Mirande Lee Richards on my iPod. On the way home I made a quick stop at the park office to find out the details for hikers, since the road up the mountain is closed this year for an overhaul, and found out that all trails are still open for hoofing it up the side. Sweet! Mountain Quest should begin tomorrow...

My lofty goal is to climb Mount Wachusett tomorrow, hang out on the lake again Wednesday, climb Mount Watatic on Thursday, and then do some more floating on the lake on Friday. I may replace one of those with the next leg of my museum crawl. We shall see where whim takes me...

And once I get these two local climbs under my belt (I've done them many times in my youth, but not in the last decade or so), I want to climb Mount Monadnock with friends as a 'day event'. I haven't been up that mountain in over 20 years, and it would be nice to see what changes have occurred in the area.

Upcoming Autumn Excursions

I did some research today to see what my next art museum destination will be in the next week or two, and I discovered that most of the affiliated institutions included in my year's membership are quite far away! The nearest is 30 minutes away, the next about an hour, and the rest are all at least 2½ hours away. I may do an overnight to hit the one in Maine (4 hours away), and the two on Cape Cod (Dennis & Provincetown). And I went to Bennington, VT for a day trip last year and loved the area, so an excuse to repeat will be just fine (Alpacas and Beer and Chocolate, oh my!).

I also bought two tickets to see Pete Yorn in early October! I just randomly checked his site to see if he had any upcoming shows, and sure enough - October 4th at the Pearl Street Ballroom in Northampton. The same thing happened a few days ago when I stumbled upon old college favorites Chapterhouse, who I'd assumed folded. I got two tickets to see them at The Middle East the day after the Pete Yorn show (though I bought those tickets first). Maybe I'll try to find 3 other shows (Almanac Mountain is playing on the 3rd, and Dan Blakeslee on the 6th), and make a week of it - Not Lame Minus look out!

Throw in a few upcoming local mountain climbing expeditions (both solo and with family & friends, if they are so inclined), and this fall is going to be fun...

Fitchburg Art Museum

I went to the Fitchburg Art Museum today. I got an individual membership for $35, which gets me into this museum for a year (normally $7 per visit), plus free admission to ten other New England Museums! And I got a free $8 mug too - score! The best thing about the day besides all of the amazing artwork and inspiration was that there was no one else in the museum for the entire 3 hours I spent there today (noon to 3 pm). It was perfect. I doubt I'll ever be so fortunate again, but that's okay - today rocked.

Productive Day

I spent ALL day drawing and writing (in front of the tv). I got a lot done.

Obsessions

There is something magical and satisfying about avoiding all the hype and full senses media assault of a particular television show or book series, and waiting until it's past being the 'Current Big Thing' to dive in and make one's own judgment on the body of work's merits without outside influence.

Back in July of '08 I finally dove into the Harry Potter books & films after having ignored them from the beginning (I viewed Harry as a blatant ripoff of DC Comics "Timothy Hunter", who had been created seven years prior). I read all six paperbacks that were in print at the time, watched all of the movies that had been released to that point, and when the final book was published, I bought the hardcover as well (and even reread the first 6 books before I opened the new one). I got to read them uninterrupted by long waits, and it was summer on Cape Cod, so the sea air and sunshine in my backyard enhanced the experience. They were excellent.

In the spring of '09 I decided to check out "Bones". It was in syndication on TBS, so I could watch 2 episodes every evening from 6-8 pm. I immediately fell in love with all of the cast except Emily Deschanel, but even she grew on me after awhile. Great stories, likable characters, interesting cases, lots of humor, and rotating lab assistants - a perfect mix of elements. I still watch the new episodes on FOX, and I even have the show's theme by The Chemical Brothers on my iPod!

Early winter 2010: After years of mental exhaustion from hearing how wonderful "Jim & Pam" were, and what a hilarious actor Rainn Wilson was, not to mention Steve Carell's nearly 'Will Ferrellesque' overexposure, I finally caved and began watching "The Office". I needed something new to fill my time, and TBS had Tuesday night marathons from 8-11 pm of six episodes, plus MyTV had 2 episodes every weeknight from 7-8 pm. The MyTV episodes were sequential from day to day, but not on the same day, so I was watching 2 different seasons at a time each evening. It was an interesting way to get to know the characters, with them being in different stages of their relationships, and I had a great time hunting down episodes I hadn't seen to fill in the gaps. When the new shows were run on NBC, it was even more of a leap into 'the future', which was a unique experience. I would watch an episode with Pam & Roy together, another with Jim & Karen, and then *POW!* Pam is pregnant with Jim's baby, and they are about to get married. Bizarre, but cool at the same time. It was very much a visual analog to the times I would fill in gaps in my comic book collection when I was younger.

Anyway, to get to the point (and up to date): over the past 2 weeks or so I decided to finally give AMC's "Mad Men" a try. I watched the first episode of Season 4 on July 25th, and then the following one the next Sunday, and I was hooked. And thanks to Comcast On Demand, I watched the 13 episodes of Season 3 this past week, and it's absolutely fantastic. The era is captured perfectly, the stories and characters are engaging, and the style is so cool.

The only problem I have with the show is the extremely jarring sight of seeing nearly every single person smoking cigarettes! It's so bizarre to think that people actually smoked that much back in the day. Though looking back to when I was a kid, except for my parents, most adults did in fact view smoking to be as essential as drinking water or breathing (irony!) air. And the excessive drinking, both at home every evening, and at work all day, is very weird too. But I appreciate these vices for their historical accuracy. They do add immensely to the overall tone of the show. I am going to hunt down the box sets for Seasons 1 & 2 so I have the full story (though I already plowed through all the entries on wikipedia).

Who knows what the next big ignored thing will be?

A Liv(eable)ing Room

I ran out to K-mart today, determined to upgrade my living room. I came home with two cool new chairs, which are both much higher off the ground than my big leather one (not to mention better for my posture), for $50 each. I also got two matching rugs so poor Sabrino has something that provides traction when he runs around the apartment like a maniac (the laminate floor clatters with the scrabbling of his claws). Another bonus: the chairs are perfect for playing guitar, so I don't have to make a special effort to drag in another chair, or practice solely in my bedroom.

I also dusted and vacuumed the entire room, moved the 2nd of my two big bookcases to the window area, and slid the big leather chair in between them, for a mini-library that is sunlit. This really opens up the main part of the room, though it will take a bit of time to get used to not having the deep shelves and top surface for my drawing implements & beverages. But I am nothing if not adaptable!

Wyman's Pond Music Fest - Wrap

Well, that was a good day.

After showering and packing my cooler, I made a quick stop for some Wachusett Nut Brown at the Depot Package Store in Westminster, and headed down to the lake. It was finally the day of the music festival I have been planning & producing since January, Wyman's Pond Music Fest. Kevin was already putting the finishing touches on the stage he built for the musicians, and Ted and his brother showed up soon after with a canopy and two long tables.

People slowly started trickling in around noon (Sarah & Jon were the first, then Rob, Brian & Nikki). And the kids spent the first hour or so in the water. Over the early part of the afternoon close to sixty people showed up for the event, with a few latecomers.

Right around 1:30 Almanac Mountain (Chris Cote) showed up, with Erik F. in tow, and at 2 pm, he played the first notes of the event. It was a mesmerizing set, he projected well for the space, and everyone (especially the kids) loved it. He sold a few cds, and after his set I raffled off a copy that he'd donated, along with one of five "to be printed post-event" t-shirts. I was a bit distracted while he played, as I had to meet & greet other musicians as they arrived, but I paid close attention during his unplugged versions of "Spiral Onion Shoots" and "Surry Hospitality", plus several of his older tunes. It's always fantastic to hear my old friend perform live. Plus, he finally got to meet all the Lebanese members of my family in attendance (haha).

Then at 3 pm Elizabeth Lorrey went on. Her voice was somewhat softer, and didn't project as well as AM's, but she sounded great. Once again, I was so busy making sure everyone was having a good time, and greeting stragglers, that I didn't have much time to just sit and listen. But I love her songs "Awakening" and "She", and I took a moment to listen to them up close and personal. You could tell that the inspiration for them was drawn from her life. When she finished, I repeated the raffle act (a copy of her cd and a t-shirt), to another two fans' delight. Elizabeth is very down to earth, and quite cool. I tried to make sure she & Lee were well-attended over the course of the day, but they didn't seem to mind making their ways through the crowd (they knew Pete from other gigs, and Luke of course, when he arrived), and they spoke to a great many revelers.

Next up at 4 pm: Lee Villaire belted out her bluesy set at a high & energetic volume. My dad really enjoyed her rowdy songs, and she definitely knew how to interact with the crowd. Once again, the kids (there were close to 20 in attendance!) were entranced. Though at times they kept coming up to me and asking "how many songs are left? We want to see Vanessa!", which was cool, but I felt a bit embarrassed for the other musicians' sake. But hey, kids know what they like! After Lee was done, there was a 20-minute break or so (the other 'intermissions' had been about ten minutes), in order to give people a chance to grill and eat something (and make the kids eat!), and for Vanessa's ensemble to gather themselves on stage.

Then at 5 pm it was time for Vanessa Kafka! Accompanying her were Carl Puglisi (djembe) and Brian Sargent (guitar and mandolin) from her band, with their friend Kenneth Budka sitting in on bongos. They were fantastic. Having more than one musician playing (and two of them singing) really made it a sight to see (and sound to hear), and they were easily heard by all. They played a bunch of songs from "Into Place", a couple of older tunes ("Better" & "Gold"), and some new ones ("Good as New", "Don't Believe Me" and "What am I Falling For?") - I was in heaven, and it was definitely a highlight of my day, personally. The crowd loved them too, and the kids flooded the stage after the last song with their parents' money to buy copies of "Into Place", and have Vanessa personalize them with a few kind words and her autograph. She even let my nieces sign their names to her guitar case with a sharpie! What a sweetheart. Helena, Georgia, Jackie and Celia all came away from that set in a glow of happiness and wonder. It was quite the sight to see....

After all three of the female performers did a quick round of exchanging copies of their respective cds, next up was Rob's friend James McGarvey III. He had driven all the way from Maine with his girlfriend to play, and arrived around 5:30. James had a strong high voice (which Jon later said he could hear across the lake), and chatted up the crowd constantly. He also played a lot of covers, which was a fantastic way to prevent a veil of 'festival fatigue' from settling over the listeners, which could have otherwise fallen over the crowd. After 12 or 13 songs (he could have gone on all night, he said), a final raffle of his cd and one last t-shirt, and he was done. Finally, Kenneth Budka, who had accompanied Vanessa Kafka & her crew to the event, was game to do a set of his own. He played several of his original songs, and wrapped up the music part of the day (a span of six hours!) quite nicely.

After the music was over, people lazily dispersed. They ate, mingled, caught up on old times, made new plans, and headed home at their leisure. Jon & Sarah, and Kevin were going to set off fireworks after dark, but I was too drained to stick around. So after a quick clean-up of my stuff and major trash receptacles (Kevin graciously offered to clean the rest up in the morning), I headed home around 8:30.

The day was mostly a blur. I did my best to make sure everyone was having a good time, and tried to spend a few minutes with every attendee. Rob did a kick-ass job throughout the day, taking snapshots of the event, and Jon was kind enough to grill for the guys in Vanessa's band after their set. Plus, it was fantastic to have so many old friends from Oakmont, my time in New Hampshire, and beyond in attendance (it's not a true 'Ken Party' unless many eras in my life are represented at once!). And I now have a successful 6-act live music festival under my belt. I guess that makes me a professional!

All photos taken by me, except this last one (taken by Jon S.)

A Week Away

The Wyman's Pond Music Fest (which I am producing) is one week from today.

I want it to be as fun for as many guests as possible, with them taking away memories of amazement, happiness and contentment. I want the musicians to feel like they spent their day in a productive and fun way, leading to many loyal new fans. And I want to cement my status as a professional event coordinator and festival producer.

If it goes well, next year may be a (low-priced) ticketed event, with paid musicians, local food vendors*, inexpensive commemorative merchandise, and a definitive logo.

I am so excited to bring such a musical gathering to all of my friends & family!
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* 2011 WPMF Local Food Vendor Wish List

• Wachusett Brewery
• Wachusett Potato Chips
• Simpson Spring (old-fashioned sodas)
• A local deli for giant sandwiches & freshly-made hot dogs
  
• A local farm for ground bison
  

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I was sitting in my chair earlier this evening reading (and bagging & boarding) old Legion of Superheroes comics, when my brain's 'drive engine' finally turned back over...

I grabbed my sketchpad and drew for over an hour, and after watching Jillian Michael's show, I rolled out the mat, warmed up the ol' muscles, and am in the middle of a two-hour workout in front of "America's Got Talent" and the MLB All-Star Game. Also, I am multi-tasking between set of reps: I am doing design work for the music festival (actually ongoing since yesterday, but part of today's 'rebirth'), and charging my iPod so I can go for a long walk in the morning (I finally found a route in my new neighborhood that should be safe).

After relocating, and feeling kind of 'blah' (shitty weather + no job prospects + those asshole GOP senators blocking unemployment extended benefits), I am back to a productive routine!

Calendar: July

I was watching an episode of "The Office" I'd DVR'ed last night, and decided to quickly whip out out the calendar for July. It should be the busiest month this year to date, with a bunch of live shows on the 10th (see: 'Upcoming Events' at the top of the page), and of course the event of the summer: Wyman's Pond Music Fest on the 31st! Also, my brother in law wants to take my sister on an overnight motorcycle trip, so I am staying over at their house tomorrow night to hang out with their 4 kids. I see the lake in our future, and maybe even the comic shop!

It's really odd that it appears so yellowish. It's on white paper, and I took the photo in my all-white bathroom, in full exposure of the four 60-watt bulbs over the sink, plus the ceiling light. Spooky...

Maybe I'll post the June one when I get a chance, but I didn't even scribble that one out until last week, because of all the move mayhem, and it's pretty lame.

Cover to Cover

Since I'd gotten out of bed at 6 am today, I'd already lived a full day before lunch. So I did something I haven't done in awhile: I read a novel start to finish.

I've been a huge fan of Lisa Jewell since I read her first novel, "Ralph's Party", back in 2001, and have picked up each new one as it was published. Today I couldn't put down "Roommates Wanted" (published originally in the UK under "31 Dream Street"). I won't bore you with a synopsis or details, but it was an engrossing read about a group of people living in the various rooms of a big house in London, and how they all finally grew up. A new book, my cat snoozing on my lap, a pot of good coffee, and few interruptions made for a fantastic Saturday.

And FYI, if you are a fan of Nick Hornby's style, then you just might love Lisa Jewell too. That was how I came across her work. Oh, and check out Jennifer Egan too ("The Invisible Circus", et al).

Back-Issue Bin

Now that the legendary Paul Levitz is back as the writer on DC Comics' "Legion of Superheroes", it's time to go back and reread over 30 years of back-issues.

The original incarnation of the team began in Adventure Comics #247 back in 1958, and for all intents & purposes ("5 Years Later" was interesting, but is not considered canon now) ended in 1989. To me, this is the iconic version of the team, as it was "my" team when I was growing up. I will always remember the sheer joy at getting the latest comic off the stands at The Westminster Pharmacy right up the street from my childhood home, or the time I found a few missing issues of the "Reflecto Saga" at the now-defunct Hildreth's Variety Store on a bicycle ride with my cousin Jebb to our family's place on Wyman's Pond. Add in the many occasions my grandfather would drag out boxes of comics he picked up at flea markets or yard sales, and it was a great time to be a comics-loving kid.

A couple of long 'reboot' runs later (wherein I mostly enjoyed the "Archie Legion", and mostly hated the recent "Threeboot" version), and the original team, under it's most successful writer, is back once again, this time in two books: current adventures in Legion of Superheroes (issue #2 out tomorrow) and new tales from the team's past in Adventure Comics (issue #12 on the stands now). Paul Levitz is at the helm of both books, where he belongs, with Turkish illustrator Yildiray Cinar doing the art duties on the main title, and with various artists doing the drawing on the old-time tales. Here's to 30 more years of great stories and no more reboots!

Nantucket: Day 2

We slept 'til 9:30 or so after last night's excesses, and then got ready to go out for breakfast. A quick walk to the Even Keel Cafe on Main Street found us in one of the best breakfast places on the island (find two other great places at the bottom of the post).

Nearly the entire waitstaff was comprised of attractive young women, made up of both natives and European summer imports. Our server, Claire, was a willowy blonde Irish lass, who while competent and attentive (my coffee cup was never empty), was all business, thus putting the only damper on the meal. Can a friendly guy please get a smile?

Anyway, having forgotten how big the plates are, I ordered 2 eggs scrambled with sausage, grits and wheat toast, plus a short stack of their homemade buttermilk pancakes. The eggs & sausage were good, the grits a nostalgic surprise, and the pancakes fantastic. I couldn't finish the pancakes, and I didn't eat but a slice and a half of the toast, but it was a meal fit for a king. And because Brian & I had our $9 breakfast vouchers from The Chestnut House, the meal came to a grand total of $6.96 (the tip was more)!

Brian spent the rest of the morning walking around town (checkout was at 11 am, but they allow people to store their luggage for the day if they aren't leaving right away); and after a stop for a large Sumatran coffee at The Bean, I hung out on the house's garden bench (and then on the back outside staircase) reading more of "Tale of the Fox", and talking to the staff and various passers-by, while waiting for the bicycle I rented to get picked up. A great way to spend a lazy morning. Plus, I love it when I reread a book several years later, and memories of the place I read it last come flooding back.

Because we hadn't wanted to rush for the noon slow ferry, we paid double for the fast one at 3:15. I spent the trip with my nose in my book, Brian wandered around the boat, and then all that was left was for us to each go our separate ways when the ferry docked in Hyannis. A carefree 2-hour drive back to my new place, and I was home. Yet another terrific (if too short) trip to Nantucket is on the books!

Other amazing breakfast spots on Nantucket:

• The Hen House, 1 Chin's Way - Back when I was spending a week on-island at the end of every summer ('98-'03), we would eat here at least once each year. The lilts of the mostly Irish staff's accents are a pleasing musical backdrop to the delicious food, which comes in generous portions for the price. The only reason I haven't eaten there in recent years is the nine dollar vouchers for the convenient downtown places. Otherwise, it's a nice bike ride for a great meal, and closer to most rental properties than downtown would be.
  
• Arno's at 41 Main St. - Chestnut House vouchers are good here too! The food is great (try their Portuguese sweet bread French toast), and the staff is always friendly.
  

Nantucket After Dark

After showering and shaving, and all that other "night on the town" stuff that guys do, Brian & I walked downtown to Cy's Lobster Pot (formerly the Atlantic Cafe) for dinner. I began a bowl of their excellent clam chowder and a Long Trail IPA (another island location with no Cisco on tap?!?), and finished with ______ (how can I not remember? I think I had fish & chips, but I forget). Then it was off to the Rose & Crown for a few more Long Trail IPAs, and to watch the Celtics pummel the Lakers, and hopefully win title #18. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way. And to make matters worse, I had a hot Dominican girl sitting in front of me, flirting and bragging about how "her" Lakers, even though she lived in Miami, were going to destroy us (which, unfortunately, they did). Despite her garrulous nature and flawless skin, I was not sad to see her leave at halftime, before the Celtics had fully imploded. There were plenty of other beautiful women in the place to keep our vision occupied however, including a heavenly Brit brunette with eyes to die for, and a smile from the gods.

Once the game was over, I was so annoyed with the loss, I walked back in the night air to the room for a minute to collect myself. Mind cleared and reset, I called Brian, and met him at Cambridge Street (nice legs, missy at the bar!) for another beer. By then we were all about being 'out & about' (and she was the only female in the place), so in quick succession (after guzzling our pints) we hit several other places, ending with last call at The Gazebo as it was closing down. Because we each had eight beers over the course of the evening, the five bottles of Cisco Sankaty Light left in our room's minifridge sat untouched for the rest of the trip, to the delight of a Chestnut House staff member when we checked out the next day. Despite the Celtics losing, it was a pretty fun bar-hop on the island. Up next: Nantucket Day 2

We're On Island Time (Morning)...

On Tuesday morning, I got up just before my alarm was supposed to go off at 5:45 am, and I fed the cat & made coffee. I spent the next hour packing & getting everything in order for my trip, and at precisely 6:55 am I hopped in my car, and headed out onto the highway. About halfway there (it was a smooth 2-hour drive from my apartment to the Steamship Authority ferry dock in Hyannis), Brian called and said that morning rush-hour traffic through Boston was severely delaying his drive, so I took the slow boat solo, and he caught the 11 am fast ferry instead. I spent the first hour on the top deck enjoying the glorious morning sunshine, and the second hour under a walkway so I wouldn't burn. I finished the book I was reading, listened to Almanac Mountain's "When in Nature" EP on my iPod (as well as "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga), and then I disembarked in Nantucket! I was officially on "Island Time" at 11:27 am...

I checked into our room at The Chestnut House (a place I've stayed many times over the years because of their awesomely cheap off-season rates), unpacked, and then waited with the book's sequel for the delivery of the bicycle I rented, as well as Brian's arrival. When Brian arrived soon after my bike, we sat around for a few minutes, and then walked over to old favorite The Brotherhood of Thieves for lunch. I had an amazing bowl of lobster bisque and a Cisco Bailey's Pale Ale to start, and after thoroughly enjoying both, I savored an equally-good Cisco Beer BBQ Burger with smoked bacon & Vermont cheddar cheese, and a bunch of curly fries. What a way to start the island feasting.

On the way back to the room I grabbed an excellent Rwandan coffee at The Bean, I stuffed my backpack with beach gear, and then Brian & I headed out on our bicycles to Surfside Beach, 4½ miles away. Man, did we luck out with the weather! It was sunny and around 70 all day, and the ride was awesome. Once we got to the beach I slathered on extra sunscreen, and while Brian went for a walk up and down the beach, I spent a half hour in the ocean, body surfing, swimming, and just being a happy goofball. There were several bikinied beauties nearby for scenery, the occasional seagull squeed overhead, and the smell and sound of the sea wiped away weeks of "old apartment/unfinished new apartment/no job" stress. We hung out for an hour or so, and then rode our bikes back to the Chestnut House to chill for awhile (I read and finished my coffee, and Brian got sucked into the bizarre phenomenon known as 'World Cup Soccer'). Up next: dinner and Nantucket After Dark.

Nantucket Mini-Trip

Brian & I are going to Nantucket tomorrow!

He was able to get Tuesday and Wednesday off, so I got us a place to stay at the always convenient Chestnut House (Room #2, two twin beds and two breakfast vouchers for only $100 + tax). Brian is bringing his bike over on the ferry, but I opted to rent one for 24 hours from Easy Rider Bicycle Rentals - $21 for a kick-ass hybrid bike delivered to my door (and picked up from my door the following day). Sweet!

The $9 breakfast voucher is good at one of two places, Even Keel and another (it changes from time to time, but used to be Arno's at 41), so that'll be good. And it's supposed to be sunny and around 70 degrees both days, so several long bike rides and beach time are musts. Ah'm goin' swimmin'!

For Tuesday evening, there are several options:

• The Celtics are going to roll up the Lakers, and win their 18th Finals Championship in LA. Tip-off is at 9 pm, so a local bar (Cambridge Street, The Rose & Crown, Kitty Murtagh's, etc...) is a possibility.
• It's open mic night at The Muse.
• Joshua Tree, a U2 cover band has a three-night residency at The Chicken Box.

Add in the good local food, coffee and beer, and it's going to be a hell of a trip.

Improvements and Oddities

Today I was awakened before 7 am with a call from my aunt/landlord that the guy was coming to install my living room floor "in less than 30 minutes"! So I dragged my ass out of bed, made coffee, threw in my contacts, and prepared to hole up in the bedroom with the computer and the cat for a large chunk of the day.

The guy arrived around nine. Good thing I got up at seven!!!

Anyway, he finished around 2 pm, and it looks light years better than the unfinished thing that was my floor up until today, but with all the sawdust & light debris clean-up, and furniture relocation I need to do, I had to bail on my trip to meet the guys (Jay, Gavin, Brian & Rob) at Redbones and Joshua Tree tonight.

Anyway, here is a chronological update for how the move-in and construction are going:

Improvements

• My computer is set up, and I am using Wi-Fi now. Plus, my aunt is including it in the rent!
• The gas got turned on yesterday finally, and my brand-new gas stove is up & running (though as of this afternoon, I still haven't cooked yet).
  
• The aforementioned living room floor is down, and except for the two thresholds and some caulking & painting, the living room is done. Now I can set up my stereo, and unload the stacks of boxes of books and milk crates of compact discs that are making my bedroom feel like I've been living in an episode of "Hoarders". And I can finally use my curling bar and do push-ups again without fear of slivers, exposed nails, or breathing in sawdust or paint fumes - let the workouts resume!

Oddities

• It's been a weird, relatively music-less 2 weeks. I usually have my 5-cd stereo playing, or the local jazz stations on, or my iPod in my ears. But with the stereo packed away, and people knocking on my door every day to do work on the place, I've listened to very little music. Which is very unlike me. That being said, I have been doing a lot of work on the Wyman's Pond Music Fest. Musician e-mails, trying to fill in empty time slots, and design work (not music, but related to the biggest event of my summer) have kept my mind off how annoying at times it has been to live in an unfinished place.
• Except for when I am out of the house, I haven't had a hot meal in 11 days! And far too much junk food (damn you, Chester Cheetah!).
  
• Also food-related: I had my first Double Whopper (with cheese, no onions - horrifying nutrition data in the link) since I left Hyannis Tuesday night. A span of 21 months! It was SO good, but after over a year of eating so much healthier, I can't believe I used to eat them about once a week. Those suckers are HUGE to my stomach's eyes in my post-South Beach Diet world.

Another update soon...

Weekend Accomplishments

This weekend saw a lot of work getting done on my new place:

• I finally have cable! I read three books this week because I had no television channels until this morning.
• My kitchen floor is almost complete. The room is much brighter, and the floor is clean and smooth.
• The washer and dryer got hooked up. All that needs to be done is to drill a hole in the wall to the outside for the dryer vent, but I can still use them both.

Tomorrow (Monday) the gas should be on, and I'll finally be able to cook. If not, then Tuesday for sure. My biggest desire is for the living room floor to be done, so I can fill my bookshelves and empty my bedroom of clutter.

New Place Firsts

Whenever I move into a new apartment, I make a note of several "firsts".

• First CDs: Miles Davis "Kind of Blue", Pete Yorn "Back & Fourth", and Broken Bells "Broken Bells", all played on 'Black Manta', not my full stereo.
• First Books: Harry Turtledove's "Werenight" and George R. R. Martin's (editor) "Wild Cards 14: Marked Cards".
• First TV Show: "Two and a Half Men" (no cable to date).
• First Meal: Dunkin Donuts - A large regular coffee and a sausage, egg & cheese on a plain bagel (no stove or fridge on Monday night, still no stove to date).
• First Coffee: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters 'Nantucket Blend'.

This is the first time I've moved into a place that still needed heavy renovation (it is a work in progress, and if I'd waited another month, I'd have moved into the finished product, but it'd have cost me another month's rent at $750, which I didn't care to pay). The bedroom is basically completed, but because floors still need to be installed in the kitchen and living room, all of my belongings are crammed in with me on three sides of the bed! Also, none of the living room windows are done being painted, so I have no blinds/shades/curtains, which after dark basically leaves me on display in a big glass cage. I've thumbtacked curtains over a few strategic windows, which helps, but I am looking forward to the work getting done soon. Both floors should be in place by the end of the weekend too, but the stove and washer/dryer hookups won't be done until Monday earliest, so I am still living a half-life... At least my aunt/landlord has lended me her spare laptop until she gets me a wifi card (or whatever) for my computer. Thanks Jean Marie!

I kinda feel like I am roughing it, with my cat standing in for the usual island crew, but without a campfire, fresh seafood or beer...

Moving: Progress Report

My brother Kevin & I moved all of my furniture, boxes and stuff on Saturday, a long day of two trips, and MANY boxes (18 comic longboxes, and 10 boxes of paperbacks & hardcovers). Sunday and Monday I took my time doing the rest of the packing (all my kitchen stuff, and valuables like cds and tech) and final clean-up (bathroom, fridge, etc..). I slept on the carpet both nights (Sun & Mon) , rather than cram myself and my cat into the one finished room in the new place while work is going on.

Tuesday (yesterday) my brother & I brought the previous tenants' fridge down from the upstairs, and blasted it with the hose, cleaned it up, and brought it inside. This morning the bathroom's medicine chest went up, and an air conditioner was installed in the kitchen window. I still have no floors in the kitchen or living room, and no kitchen sink or working stove. And all this eating out, and driving to my parent's house to go online (job search, etc...) sucks.

More later...

Books

Since I am moving at the end of next week, I am going to do something I've never done before (and always wondered how many I own): count my books.

Fiction, non-fiction, science, history, art, etc..., I'll put a grand total here when I have finished boxing them all up, sometime in the next week or so.

Kayaking

Not much to say, just that I kayaked around the lake for about an hour, then did some "yardwork", and made a 'to-do' list for the WPMF. Plus, I had a Wachusett Nut Brown Ale, which kicked ass as usual!

Music Festival News

Today I decided to write up FAQs for the Wyman's Pond Music Fest. After I finished, I checked my MySpace account to see if any bands had updated their tour info, and I found a note from Vanessa Kafka: she was interested in performing at the WPMF! I wrote back immediately, spelling out what the 'Fest is all about, and a few hours later, she confirmed that she and her guitarist would perform as a duo at some point on that day. Sweet!

I was so shocked and amazed that I fired off inquiries to Dan Blakeslee and Elizabeth Lorrey in the hopes that they too might have the date free. I also got confirmation from Chris that he will be performing under his Almanac Mountain nom de guerre. I spent the rest of the day brainstorming and planning for the event. And I sent out the E-vite. It is going to be huge.

Oh, and I designed the wooden nickel (admission token) a few days ago. Once I have a few extra bucks, I will order them, and then hand them out!

Cinco de Mayo

Wednesday afternoon I drove up to Portsmouth for the first time in a half-decade (after having lived there for six years: late '99 - late '04), to hang out with three of the best of the friends I made during that time period (and beyond).

After a nice long sunny drive (about 90 minutes or so), I arrived at Brian's new apartment in Kittery. It's very cool. A 3rd-story walk-up above an auto reupholstery shop, he & his girlfriend Nikki have an interesting 2-floor living area with a 3-barstool kitchen, an open staircase, and a super-high wood ceiling over the living room/bedroom combo. It's like being in a mountain chalet without a mountain nearby, and would be a great place for a small party. We sat around for a little while, and then walked across the bridge into Portsmouth to The Rusty Hammer to have dinner and watch the Bruins & Red Sox games, drink some local beer, and wait for Rob and Chris to join us after their respective evening commitments.

I had a bowl of clam chowder (which was horrible) and a Red Hook Long Hammer IPA before my dinner, and Brian had a Sam's Summer. The turkey club and waffle fries were both fantastic, especially in comparison with that chowder. Seriously - worst clam chowder I've had in years, but the rest of the food, beer and service made up for that initial misstep. Plus, the Bruins and Red Sox both won their games, and the beer was fantastic.

Unfortunately, Chris had been sick the last couple days, and being the trouper he is, waited until the last possible minute to reluctantly determine he didn't have the physical resources to join us (get well soon, chum!). But Rob arrived around 8:15 or so after his class, and the three of us caught up, talked about favorite TV shows and the economy, and discussed the next time we might all get together.

We all left around ten, Brian & I walked back across the bridge, we hung out for another half hour or so (his 2 cats rock) discussing our next gathering, I said hi to Nikki when she got home, and then I drove the 76 miles back to my place. There is nothing like a late night solo drive. I got to listen to WXGR (best. station. EVER.) in my car for a good 20 minutes before I was out of range, and then with frequent dial-surfing, I got to sing my lungs out (Lit's "My Own Worst Enemy", a few good 80's hard rock songs, Owl City's "Fireflies", etc...) for awhile. A good night all around, and totally worth the trip.