...to the city where it all began

Saturday night fever in Brooklyn. Rudy Mance and I bar-hopped which on this particular evening meant going back and forth between the same 2 bars- Enid's and Daddy's.
Rudy is often mistaken for a celebrity. And this porcelain skinned beauty is simply known as Vern.
I was also fortunate enough to spend part of the evening with Joshua Zucker- who I have known since I was 13!
These here delectible bevs are called Hendersons I mean Harrisons. In a dark bar it's difficult to tell just how pink they are- until you see a picture...
I ran into at least 4 other people I know that night in Brooklyn, which was a splendid treat.
SPEAKING of splendid treats... Pastis! J'Adore!

NYC, JAN, 08

OKAY! I will be posting lovely pictures quite soon. 3 days is simply not enough time to do everything you want to do in new york! it doesn't exactly help when it's 2 degrees...
Great times were had by all. I know i haven't posted in over a week, but now I am tired and will upload pics laaaatttterrr

Baltimore: More than just Guns and Crack*

*continuation of the previous post
The aforementioned graveyard and slave quarters. Slaveyard and grave quarters.

Maryland Mansions

The Hampton House National Historic Site. When it was finished in 1790, Hampton was the largest house in America.

This house is over 200 years old. I kept asking the park rangers if it was haunted, and they kept saying NO. When ever I would ask about the ghost stories, they would be like "those are made up". They are full of it, this place is obviously haunted.


If you like old stuff, ghosts, and fake food (who doesn't!) I would say it is worth a trip to the Hampton House. The tours and everything are free, and then you can peruse the graveyard and clearly haunted slave quarters and farm house.


Baltimore: It's more than just guns and crack.

sunshine and wood

I forgot how to properly appreciate a 70 degree day in January.

a real live wire

It's become increasingly apparent that when people think of Baltimore, they think of The Wire. I have never seen that show. It's funny whenever I say I'm from Baltimore, people bring it up. It used to be John Waters, or the Orioles, now it's The Wire. My mom's house was once used in an episode of Homicide, but I never watched that show either.
Here are some unrelated pictures from my neighborhood.

"You know that it's true that it's gonna come true"

January 1, 2008 was the best day of the year so far.
After the after-after party, we slept until about 12:30pm and then some people came over for breakfast. It was extremely cold, and we didn't leave the house at all the whole day. We watched a movie, ate a lot of food, then went to Sarah's (she lives upstairs, still didn't have to leave the house) for more movie-viewing and bloody mary party.
Then back downstairs, played scrabble while watching Dazed and Confused- but to mix it up a bit, we decided to watch it in black and white with French subtitles. Amazing.
By now it was already night time again, and there was an attempt at shooting off left-over fireworks in front of the house, but as soon as I opened the door and felt how cold it was, I turned around and went right back inside.
It was about this time that I was introduced to the band Gas Station Dogs and their hit song "Rock n Roll Dreams'll come Through". We definately listened to it about 10 times.
It was also about this time that Bobby returned from the store with nearly everything on the list that we sent him out with. He said he was at the grocery store just looking at the list and laughing. He also conveniently transcribed the list on facebook, so here it is...

1. Blueberry Pie***
2. Name Brand Tots
3. Vanilla Bean ice cream**
(must have bean)
4. Thai Food*
5. 30 Pack Old Style Lite Ice
6. Party Stix
7. Green Tea*
8. Lemons
9. Gepetto's Check Mix* (snackins)
10. Weed

***If they do not have this, get key lime pie.
**If they do not have this, then get peppermint ice cream.
* Do not get

Haha ha

The next day I got to hang out with Mr. Rudy Mance. We cruised around Goldcoast looking for our future residences.
Then off to the Rainbo of course, because I have never had a trip to Chicago without a trip to the rainbo. Some traditions never die. But this was the first time there with out walking into a cloud of smoke.

"The opposite of tequila, but hilarious."

New Years Eve 2007 was spent in Chicago. It was one of the most top new years I can remember. Even though it was 10 degrees and blizzarding, we went to the Hideout for the annual nye party.
Jimmy came to town too, from Austin. It was just like old times! Except that this day marked the first day in Chicago history of no smoking in bars. It was bizzare. But nice that I didn't have to wash my hair the next day. Jeremy declared that he was never going to do laundry again.
Countdown to 2008...
Bobby clearly started off the new year in the best possible way. And this is already the top picture of 2008.
After a radical dance party where the radical dj played almost all the songs I requested, we headed over to Erdman's party. I don't have many pictures, but there were fireworks mishaps in the snow I wish I had captured.

We trampled through the snow back to Jeremy and Martha's for the after-after party. I don't remember much of this. Finally went to sleep around 5:30am, (normally I would have fallen asleep long before this, but we drank a lot of green tea before going out. This is key for nights like New Years when you want to maximize the fun.)
Everything was awesome- and I didn't even ruin my shoes! So far 2008 is the best year of my life!

baby bowling

Stoneleigh duckpin lanes. This place has been here since before I was born, and I'm pretty sure the last time I came here I was about 8.
My nephew Will has this amazing technique where you lay down after chucking the ball overhead. He beat me.
What is it about bowling alley pizza that is so consistently good? It doesn't matter where you go. Maybe it's just that it's not good.
Uncle Timmy- always the clown.

Tomorrow I am going to Chicago- come snow or shine!

It's viticus, but they call it something else.

Dance party at the Lithuanian hall.
Constantine is in Baltimore...
(The bathroom was the best place to escape the sauna-like effect of sweat and smoke.)
Oh, what fun!

I really am dreaming of a white christmas

Some things that make Christmas merry-
Twinkly lights
BBQ at troy hall
24 hours of A Christmas Story
Christmas cookies
Spiked egg nog
A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack
Seeing family members I only see at this time of year
Old ornaments
Gift wrapping (I actually enjoy this task).
And of course, getting presents.

no fancy fotos this week

been slaving away on a top secret project.

does anyone know how to put a picture in your blog title area? It's totally not working for me.

Another night, another dream

That'll be the day.Turns out that was Old Man Nevin's o'douls and Tim stole it. Good thing I blamed it on someone else- Old Man Nevin hates Timmy.

Whoa. Whiplash.
This guy.
Family ties.
Poor kitty, your fur probably smells like cigs. Mew.

Glorious Snow!

betsy said that snow is magic, a good omen.
I don't know about magic, but I can roll with the good omen thing.
My car was pretty well covered. Took a good 20 minutes to scrape that baby off- but it was worth it, because snowflakes, albeit cold, are pretty and snow smells good and makes everything quiet.
After several moons in southern california, i thought that rainboots would suffice in my lack of proper snow boots. I am here to tell you that I was wrong. My feets was freezin.

Art / work

YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GET THE NEWEST ISSUE OF ARTHUR MAGAZINE, BECAUSE WITHIN THOSE PAGES YOU WILL FIND MANY INTERESTING THINGS INCLUDING MY ILLUSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS MUSICIANS IN THE C&D SECTION! In case you didn't know, this magazine is free and is reminiscent of the earliest days of Rolling Stone magazine.

The following is from their website:

C &D drink kratom smoothies and beer, run the fog machine and check out the "ULTIMATE REALITY" dvd by DAN DEACON & JIMMY JOE ROCHE, the "MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES" dvd, AC/DC's live/TV triple-dvd, an unearthed goodie by KAREN DALTON, and new records by WITCHCRAFT, BABYSHAMBLES, SOULSAVERS, TENDER FOREVER, MICHAEL HURLEY, PHOSPHENE RIVER, WOODEN SHJIPS, DRAGONS OF ZYNTH, YELLOW SWANS, EXPO '70, EXTRA GOLDEN, BRAD LANER and HEADDRESS. With artwork by Beth Hoeckel.