I love Walt Whitman, what does that say about me?

Marmalade Sky, by Jaime Zollars, whose creations are a poem in themselves.

TO YOU
Stranger! If you, passing, meet me,
and desire to speak to me,
why should you not speak to me?
And why should I not speak to you?
--Walt Whitman

And, stranger, if you, while working, surf the internet, and desire to take another personality test that's going around, why shouldn't you? And why shouldn't I? (it's a good one!!)

really covering the entire gamut in this post, eh?

Lovemakers Craft Fair

Hear ye! Hear ye! Come one, come all!(and click on the poster above, designed by ashley rose helvey, to see it in all it's glory!)

Next Tuesday, in lovely Mill Valley from 2pm to 8pm, we're having ourselves one amazing day of craft, cider and community. The ladies behind it all: Molly, who owns Ambatalia, where the festivites will take place and Ashley Rose Helvey, who's beauty in felt you don't want to miss. Plus, my good friends Christina and Danica will also be hawking their wares, y moi aussi.

We're bringing in the holidays, lovin'craft style.

There but for the grace of music

On any given day, I verge on the side of atheism. But this past Sunday, I found myself flipping the radio dial on an old Emerson that we own.
See, if I don't time it right, there's a few crucial moments/minutes between the time I tell myself I'm leaving the house--so, I shut down itunes--and the time that I actually leave the house. So, in one of those too oft moments recently, there I am, rolling the Emerson dial, looking for something to listen to while I do those last few things: tying my shoes, trying on a lighter coat cuz it just that second got sunny, making sure I have all my keys, and all the projects I'm bringing back and forth to the studio....anyway....as I'm rolling the dial, I come across the most fabulous gospel mass in the upper 150's FM.

I'm transfixed.

It feels like an incredible Broadway show--all feel good, with tragic lyrics but an uplifting score. That's real live piano playing I'm listening to! This isn't pre-recoded, dressed up, hairsprayed, "jesus-puff" types. This is passion. True, blood-warming passion coming over the airwaves. And it's the kind of audience I can really relate to: yelling out, "aaaaiiiights" and "you TELL it!" It's a group of people that can't help but clap along.

The introduction of each "selection" is said with so much conviction. Each word, stressed at just the right places. I know I can't literally see them (and that makes is all the stronger in this moment) but I can hear them smiling and closing their eyes while the're swaying to the music. Shit, now I'm sittin here swinging along with them. Up, up and away.


(i recorded a couple songs and part of the mass, but i don't have the little thingie that hooks up my camera to my computer, so i'll have to post them later...but they're great)

The not exactly postcards postcard show

It's the holiday season, which means it's the time for capatalism in all it's glory. A time when you can really say you have to shop. I love getting involved in the explosion of art shows and sales at this time too. And I'm doing about three or four, so, let us begin: I've done this show for the last three years, and once in LA, it's always a good time. A total bizarre bazaar of art in all it's forms. (I don't think I've ever seen a postcard there, actually.) If you live in SF, or are travelling thru, stop on by...


POST-POSTCARD 11
The 11th Annual Small Format Art Sale

LAB Members Preview Reception: Friday, November 30, 2007: 5-6pm
Opening Reception: Friday, November 30, 2007: 6-9pm
Sale continues: Saturday, December 1 & Sunday, December 2: 11am -7 pm,
Wednesday, December 5 – Friday, December 7: 1-7pm
& Saturday, December 8: 11am-7pm
Free admission
CASH/ CHECKS accepted. $20 minimum for VISA/MC purchases

The LAB is pleased to present Post-Postcard 11, the eleventh annual exhibition and sale. For this open-invitational exhibition, artists are encouraged to submit small format multiples--whether that be a series of hand-made paintings or a stack of production run postcards. Post-Postcard challenges artists to stretch the parameters of media and conceptual strategies by doing what they do best--subverting and manipulating a theme to their own ends. From November 30th through December 8th, hundreds of small format editions will be on view as the gallery is transformed into a bazaar-like bargain-hunter's paradise, just in time for holiday shopping. Art lovers can explore original works and discover hidden gems at affordable prices while supporting emerging artists and a great alternative art space.

Fixed-price work will be available for $1 to $30 (cash, checks, VISA or MasterCard accepted). Become a member of The LAB and get a chance to preview the sale in our gallery Friday, November 30, from 5-6 PM.

Thanks to

Just. A. Few. Things. To. Be. Thankful. For.

Fantabulous Family, Honorable,humorous Husbands, Incredible In-Laws, Friggin great Friends, bountiful blogs, jester-like jokes, fine food, lovely colored leaves, never-ending New England, saucy San Francisco, Hopeful Hollywood, holy health, the ability to read, the right to vote and protest an outcome,house and home, employment, curious kids, caterpillars, gerber daises, the real McCoy and Wallace Nutting, technology, pistachios, champagne, chocolate log roll cake, majestic mountains, olympic oceans, and romance, beautiful gorgeous love, that makes the world go 'round...

Of course, I could go on and on and on, and I want to...but, that big ole meal we call Thanksgiving Dinner calls and I must attend, and be thankful.

Have a very happy day, wherever you are, whatever you may be doing, and be sure to mentally check off your list of thanks...

Saying YES to everything

sacha eckes nails it on the head for me.

Weather you do or Weather you don't

I'm not one of those people who think it's weird to talk about weather. In fact, I LOVE talking about the weather. I love noticing the clouds and how much colder it is today than it was yesterday. I love chatting with strangers about what they think it'll be like tomorrow when today's weather was such a surprise.

Weather 'round here, in these San Francisco parts, has been downright weird. In the first few days of November, it was 75 degrees. We were sweatin' and I, for one, was lovin' it! Now, here we are at the 7th day of November and it's frigging COLD! My little fingers are chilled to the bone. And when I walked out of work today, my co-worker and I talked about the weather. It looked like a storm could come thru any minute... It hasn't yet, but there's nothing saying it won't either.


(I went to this amazing Wainwright concert at the Hollywood Bowl in September and this isn't the only, but the best so far, video evidence I've seen of it--but you should know I was bawling like a baby during Martha's rendition of this. Also, funny, cuz this guy was sitting just a few seats in front of us. I don't think this video will do it justice, but know that it was beautiful...Turn it waaaay up loud!)

Where Is My Mind?

Growing up, I have to say, my friends thought I had a pretty diverse, fairly cool, music collection. I gave most all credit to my four older siblings: They introduced me to the widely diverse tunes of The Grateful Dead, Kenny Loggins, and Alison Moyet. I was waaaay ahead of the crowd my age when I went to see Crowded House in concert with my older sister. My brothers found a huge box of old 45's one night, brought them home, we taped them all and considered ourselves connisours of an early Bill Cosby, singing. And then, of course, because my brother had spent his hard earned paper route money on a sound system that could tape to tape and record the radio, I was privy to anything that could be culled from the radio-show-du-jour "Dr. Demento" on KROQ. Pretty cool stuff, I have to admit, lo these many years later. And this feeling of being a musicologist of sorts of the far out and interesting and unusual came to a screeching halt when I met RK. I had most everything on cassette tape with an impressive collection of about 35 cd's. And not only did this not come across as cool and attractive...I think RK might have even felt burdened by having to actually introduce me to the world of music. A huge world I'd been missing and that he'd been grooving in since he was a teenager. We were only three years apart in age, but we were light years apart in the world of cool. Turns out, I didn't actually live in it.

So, it was with a begrudging thanks that I listened to him when he told me to play an entire Beastie Boys album with ears wide open and then later listen to The Beta Band, and even try out A Tribe Called Quest. But the band he really encouraged the appreciation of was The Pixies. And thank god he did. One song really, really stuck in my head: the music, the lyrics, the sort of mantra it seems to expound. It's never left my mind. I've now seen them in concert and I am converted.

I'm also a really, really big fan of choirs (I think that's from my old days....)

the Blue Ribbon Glee Club is Chicago’s (first?, only?) finest punk rock choir!

Rollin With Friday

Birdhead by Drew Beckmeyer

Maybe it's this strange weather change or the fact that I haven't adjusted my time difference from NYC quite yet. Maybe it's this upcoming solo show I have and the fact that I haven't set foot in the studio in almost a month.

Maybe it's that inspiration knows no bounds...

YES! That's it!

I've been overloading on all things beautiful, interesting, clever, weird & wonderful and letting them come in, stay awhile, and then lodge themselves in the recess' of my brain. It almost feels like too much great stuff, but I figure if I share it, it will spread and eventually lessen (in a good way, of course).
So, it's not a normal thing for me...but I'm going to delve into everything (okay, that would be impossible)--how bout a few things that're filling my brain:

An awesome ode to New York, a city that I have a never-ending crush on, big time

Davey Dance Blog -26- BROOKLYN BRIDGE - Ace Frehley - "NY Groove" from Pheasant Plucker on Vimeo.

I first saw this video on Mega's blog, which keeps me constantly in the know about all things musical. Thanks Megs. You can also find more of Davey's dances around the world here & here. I don't personally know Davey, but he's the first person that's made me dance in my chair watching a video!

And I know I've mentioned it before, but David Byrne's current play list is so fantastic--if you don't have itunes, you can stream it straight from his site. An excellent mix. Not to be missed.

I recently learned about this gorgeous site from Modern Craft (who is worth checking into everyday, as he posts great things...well, every day!) I'm heading into the purchase of Rob Ryan's book and the wishful thinking purchase of this amazing book.

The image above is by an artist I just can't seem to get enough of: Drew Beckmeyer. I wish I could describe what it is that he does that actually does me in...but I can't articulate. If I could, I might have just blogged about Drew solely. Instead, I chose an image of his that seemed to sum up my entire being right this moment. Please check out more of his pieces on his site. There's a black and white sketch of kids swinging on the swings and one of the kids flys right out of seat into the sky. That image could work for me right now too....

And, finally, Etsy. I know most bloggers know about Etsy and prolly spend a heck of a lot of time on there. Since my inspirational thoughts lately are just that: thoughts, spending money doesn't come into play that often. But, if I could, I would spend it here, here and here.

Scattered? You bet! All over the place? For sure. Happily entertained by all the beauty and creativity that reigns out there? Thank goodness!

Happy Friday!

SPAM (a lot)

I've been getting a lot of spam mail lately. A lot of junk emails with crazy titles like "Magic Stick" and "I show you how far the rabbit hole goes." And I never open them. I immediately erase them. But this most recent spam email came to a different address and it automatically opened to this incredibly crazy letter from some man (or so i think) who wants to give me millions of pounds (that's moola, to you Americans). I realized I had to share it. Please note the fabulous spelling and the wondrous mismatched sentence structure: Needless to say, it's "proof just to proof." Enjoy!


SIR LARRY KANE
204 Wilmer Lane
London
WC25A 1JR
United Kingdom..

Dear Friend,

PLEASE READ THIS WITH UNDERSTANDING
------------------------------------------------------
I am Larry kane retired excutive with Barclays BankPlc London United Kingdom.I am the personal friend to Dr. David Clemetson 40 years of age who is from United State. who died on January 31st 2000 with Alaska Airlines Flight 261.You can as well confirm the above information by going through this CNN under stated Website of the incident
(i removed the website)
Dr. David Clemetson was a medical doctor who sepecialised in internal medicine before he died . He based in United States of America . He used to come to London to visit me and my family .Two months before his death, he visited me here in London and wanted to establish a world class hospital which I was helping him to open . All the requirements needed to open the hospital were ready , including the money for the project. He deposited the money for the project with my bank Barclays Bank Plc, which I helped him alot for that with my position with the bank then.

He went back to United States to prepare his coming back to London for the hospital project.But I was surprise to hear through CNN that my very good friend whom I was waiting for was involved on January 31st 2000 with Alaska Airlines Flight 261 plane crash,that crashed into the Pacific Ocean not far from Los Angeles. The worst of it all , is that He died along side with his family members which includes his wife Carolyn and children Coriander, 9, Blake, 7, Miles,6, and Spencer, 6 months.

Since the death of my good friend Dr. David Clemetson,I as his good friend and account officer have made several enquiries to locate his surviving relation, without any success until my by retirement last year,because himself David and his family members were involved in the same plane crash. I am sheding tears of sorrow as I am writing this mail to you.So, just last week, the bank again issued me a notice to come up and present the next of kin of my friend or a relation deposited fund which my late friend deposited with them.

It was because of the above reason that I decided to contact you on the course of my late friend's relation since you are a foreigner like him and both of you are not from Britain. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating and securing the wealth left behind in a fixed deposit account by my late friend David Clemetson, before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank.Since the board of the bank, has issued a notice, that after two weeks(2 weeks) from now and no next of kin shown up for the claim, the funds will be confiscated and declared unserviceable.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating Dr.David Clemetson relatives for sometime now, I seek your humble consent to present you as the Next of Kin and relation of the deceased since you are a foreigner with my late friend. So that the proceed of this deposit valued at £6.5Million British i Pounds Sterling can be released to you.The bank will release the funds to any person whom i present as the next of kin to my late friend and client. To crown it all, I have all related information/documents to the bank account. And all these are under my control which I can produce any time it is required for the process.

Please,do not fail to visit the website above for your confirmation and proof just to proof because I am aware of many scam mails and letters that are going on around the world and espercialy in the net. All I requires is your honest cooperation to enable us to the realisation of this money successfuly.I guaranttee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.

Further details awaits your response by email.

Regards
Sir Larry Kane