the person who lives above me plays the flute. he or she is really good too. there's also someone nearby who plays piano. in the summer, when the windows were open, i could hear it down the street. i've never been so close to other musicians since i lived in north carolina. i have no idea who they are, but here we are on this street, playing our instruments at our respective locations. it's great.
the moffom festival is happening again. music on film film on music. i've seen documentaries about kurt cobain and the history of freestyling, plus a performance by glen hansard and marketa irglova. thanks again for the tickets lori! my friend brian is also here, so it's been nice to see an old friend and do some reminiscing. affairs such as these tend to make me preemptively nostalgic. but there will be more occasions and locations to appreciate in the future. if the future does exist, right brian?
i attended two shows in the basement of the hostel last week. it was really pleasant to watch the space i've been rehearsing in come alive with such energy. i'm very grateful to be part of it, even from the sidelines.
here's their website
here are a few photos from olsanske hrbitovy,
the largest cemetery in the czech republic:
and here are a few minutes of sound:
my friends petr and iva live in a section of prague called pankrac. the borough was named for the roman saint pancras and is also home to pankrac prison. i wanted to record a journey somewhere that involved every form of public transportation in the city. and this destination seemed best. these tracks are long, but some interesting stuff happens along the way. at least i think so...
it's in the basement of a hostel down the street from our apartment. there are already some people who use the space for theatre, film, and music performances. my friend chris who manages the building said it would be okay to practice there whenever they weren't using it. i think he plans to turn it into a functioning club sometime next year. here's what it looks like...
i'm going to make them into beats using my computer.
there were three bands - one from barcelona, one from the netherlands, and one from poland. all around, it was a very pleasurable evening of music. thanks panika.
i went out for a drink with my friends andrew & svatka last week. during an animated point in the conversation, a beer was spilled in my lap. but it was okay. these things happen. you can call me miles davis.
i played around sixteen or seventeen songs.
and several of my friends were nice enough to attend.
thanks guys. it meant more than you can imagine.
so overall, it seemed like a good beginning...
after not playing out for two years, i'm beginning to remember what i enjoy about being in front of an audience. and my friend chris invited me to play this sunday in the cafe at his hostel. i think it's just going to be me in a corner with no amplification. but i really don't care. i just want to go and play some music. i'm sure everything else will fall into place with time.
wow, what a trip...
if you're interested, here's a synopsis.
stop reading when you get bored.
part one - louisville
wednesday 23 may
woke up...took a taxi to the airport...arrived late...a man trying to get through security started yelling that he was an ambassador, that he didn't have to take off his coat, and that he wanted to speak to 'the boss'...ordered a 100kc beer...listened to a husband at a nearby table describe to his wife about having to 'embrace the fear' as a part of his job...took off 45 minutes late...arrived in amsterdam...ate a cheese panini and watched a drug dog in training...departed 45 minutes later...had the chicken somewhere over the atlantic...arrived in newark...
welcome back to the united states
eventually, we arrived in louisville around 11 i think...after a pair of solid hugs from mom and dad, we drove to the house, played with the dogs, and ate small sandwiches...i think i also had some fruit...then we went to sleep
thursday 24 may
morning visit to the dermatologist
left the doctor's office
got the car washed
returned home and walked to cumberland brews
for some beer...asleep at 9 from jetlag.
friday 25 may
my old room has great air conditioning...went to the doctor again today for a general checkup...recorded the waiting room
...apparently, i lost seven pounds during the last ten months...that was surprising...off to walgreens for drugs...saw some bunnies on the way home
took an afternoon walk through cherokee park with sunny
...visited the pavilion
and hogan's fountain
...evenutally arrived at cumberlands again...
the old neighborhood looked great
saturday 26 may
slept late...walked to the farmer's market to buy goat cheese and eat omlettes...
drove downtown later and accidentally rear-ended someone with my car...someone meaning an old lady...i felt pretty great about it...it was just a tap though...very minimal damage...no dent, just a scratch...the police came and said it didn't look like it would be much of a problem...but the lady i hit was pretty angry...rightfully so because i'm an idiot
i'm sorry
sunday 27 may
slept late again...woke up and ate a sandwich...walked to cumberlands after lunch to read and draw...then back to the house to watch television...went to dinner with my parents at havana rumba
lots of productivity today
monday 28 may
woke up early...drove to see the accountant...came home and looked for my drum machine...drank beer and watched my dad cook hamburgers...
tuesday 29 may
went to the dentist...a kind woman named kelly cleaned my teeth...she really got in there...my mouth hurt for a couple days...no cavities though...went to purchase temporary phones...said goodbye to my dad as he left for chicago...walked to cumberlands to see john whitaker...hey john...no more jetlag.
wednesday 30 may
morning visit to the bank...afternoon walk down bardstown road...bought a couple new shirts...walked home through cherokee park
made last trip to cumberlands. ordered the sampler
also saw erik bendl walk by outside
returned home to pack...found my drum machine...went to dinner with my mom at the lemongrass cafe...enjoyed listening to a man playing saxophone outside the restaurant next to Wild and Wooly
went to john's apartment at midnight to listen to some of his new album...john is moving to spain soon.
thursday 31 may
carried several heavy bags to the car...broke a sweat...packed a lunch...had breakfast with my mom at lynn's. brooke arranged the horse army
...gave my mom a hug and said goodbye to louisville.
part two - charlotte
thursday 31 may
drove to charlotte...
followed directions
...listened to pop music on the radio...ate more small sandwiches...the doctor's office called to tell me that something was wrong with my kidneys...i needed more tests, they said...maybe i should drink more water.
arrived in charlotte and drove to jim's...went to dinner with jim, allison, and thomas at the moosehead grill...drank moosehead beer...walked down the street to jeff's bucket shop, perhaps the best bar in charlotte
...watched some outstanding karaoke...the angry american was my favorite...well done, thomas.
friday 1 june
had lunch at phat burrito
...walked down east blvd...brooke shopped at lotus
...explored the grocery...
there’s so much food!
...went to cabo fish taco for dinner with ben...hey ben...walked to the dog bar...brooke found a poodle chihuahua puppy
i found this little guy
...drove a few blocks to see ben’s new studio...watched an improv comedy troupe that was performing there...hung out with ben in his studio for a while.
saturday 2 june
went to owen's bagels for breakfast...went to play disc golf with jim, ben, allison, thomas, and brooke...played apples to apples later at jim's...brooke won all three games...
kelvin looked annoyed.
sunday 3 june
slept late...breakfast at owen's again...went to a movie...dinner at sir edmund halley's...went bowling
...walked to the bucket shop for trivia with thomas
...won trivia...returned to jim's for more apples to apples.
monday 4 june
slept in again...played disc golf with jim and thomas...recuperated...went to our favorite ethiopian restaurant for dinner...then back to jim's for more apples to apples.
tuesday 5 june
owen's again for breakfast...drove to manifest records...drove to south park to visit a mall...drove to davidson...went to sangam for lunch with molly...
walked through campus
...saw tim, mike, rusty, michael, and brian at
...hey guys...drove back to charlotte for dinner at brixx pizza...returned to jim's to listen to new musical ideas...played night disc golf with jim and brian...won somehow...hooray.
wednesday 6 june
said goodbye to jim and allison...thank you thank you thank you thank you for everything...went to lang van for lunch...mmm, lang van...unable to find my belt...bye, charlotte.
part three a - rabun gap
wednesday 6 june
arrived in rabun gap...met the lucky couple kim and aaron for mexican food...left afterwards to play poker on a boat in the middle of a lake...i don't play poker very often...i thought i did okay though...returned and fell asleep on dre’s couch.
thanks dre
part three b – highlands (wedding #1)
thursday 7 june
drove to highlands
...settled into our cabin...walked down the hill to a cookout and met some nice people...hung out with them later around a big fire...good times.
friday 8 june
woke up early for golf with the groomsmen...although i was not a groomsman, aaron was nice enough to invite me along...i thought i did okay...my partner steve held it together for us...returned to the cabin...found my belt...drove to the rehearsal and watched it rain for a few minutes...went to the rehearsal dinner...returned to the cabin and hung out with the increasingly cool people.
saturday 9 june
drove to highlands for a greasy breakfast with travis, dre, and kim at the main street pharmacy...yup, there's a diner in the pharmacy...returned to the cabin to snooze...woke up and drove to the wedding...celebration!
...returned to the cabin to hang out around the fire...played guitar with dre...thanks dre.
sunday 10 june
had maybe the best cheese grits ever for breakfast...said goodbye to kim and aaron...drove to gainesville florida...stopped at the days inn because we were tired...walked to a mexican restaurant down the street por una quesadilla sin queso...returned to the hotel and fell asleep to the tonys...ah, gainesville...
part four - tampa
monday 11 june
drove to tampa...attended the 94th birthday luncheon for brooke's grandfather...drove across town to uncle duke and aunt sally's house for the night...
duke makes a mean margarita
...went to the beach to watch the sunset
...then back to the house to talk and eat mannacoti...thanks again duke and sally.
part five - disneyworld
tuesday 12 june
up early...drove to disneyworld...arrived at the disney all-star music resort...felt fairly ridiculous...checked in to our room at the rock inn
took the bus to the magic kingdom...visited the buzz lightyear ride in tomorrow land...visited the small world...visited big thunder mountain railroad...tried to ride space mountain, but it was closed...same with the haunted mansion...alas...watched a parade...returned to the hotel for a frosty beverage by the pool
...took a nap...took a bus to epcot...visited the world of imagination...it was terrible...i loved that ride when i was a kid...i think they changed it...
what the hell, figment?
...walked to the countries for a margarita near china...nowhere as good as duke's...watched the fireworks...returned to the hotel and ordered a pizza...fell asleep...thanks, walt.
part six - fort lauderdale (wedding #2)
wednesday 13 june
drove to fort lauderdale...killed lots of love bugs with the car...arrived in fort lauderdale...visited la spada’s for submarine sandwich goodness...drove to the weihes...played with holly
...took a nap...ate dinner...enjoyed a round of apples to apples with will, laura, kate, ally, brooke, and bruce.
thursday 14 june
not much...went to southport raw bar in the afternoon for conch fritters, beer, and free wi-fi...returned home to have my socks attacked by holly while still on my feet...went to bahia cabana for drinks with wedding party number two...played more late night apples to apples.
friday 15 june
figured out that the last season of the sopranos was available through hbo on demand...so i demanded that the television show it to me...attended the rehearsal dinner for brad and taylor at pier sixty-six
met more nice people
saturday 16 june
attended the beard/barbee wedding...returned home to say goodbye to kate before she left for idaho...we miss you, kate.
part seven - islamorada
sunday 17 june
happy father's day...drove to the islander on islamorada for the loehr family reunion...
hung out...enjoyed the beach...sipped frosty beverages...played late night apples to apples with the loehrs.
monday 18 june
second day on islamorada...saw an iguana
...ate more conch fritters at the lorelei
...took a family picture...played swimming games at night...played a round of onze with aunt wendy and pals after dark.
tuesday 19 june
last day on islamorada...
explored the neighborhood
...saw the hurricane memorial...took a boat ride
with uncle nick, aunt taryn, and cousin haley...drank mudslides at the tiki bar...returned to the islander and watched nick clean a few fish...recorded the wind blowing through some palm trees
and the waves hitting some rocks
...accidentally disturbed a photo shoot after someone's wedding...ate one of my father-in-law's famous bratwursts for dinner...
celebrated baby eliza's first birthday...rounded off the trip with more apples to apples.
part eight - fort lauderdale
wednesday 20 june
drove back to fort lauderdale...had chinese food with brooke's grandparents...drove to dania to watch and gamble on jai-alai...returned home to watch the sopranos.
thursday 21 june
shopped at the galleria...had sushi for lunch...mmm, sushi...took a nap...ate a tasty dinner prepared by laura...drove to boca raton to watch a movie at muvico...then home for more sopranos.
friday 22 june
had breakfast at the new york deli with bruce...visited the optician...got the car washed again...not as much fun this time...picked up my parents at the airport...more sopranos.
saturday 23 june
had breakfast with my dad at the floridian...then lunch somewhere else...dinner at casablanca...felt bad all over.
sunday 24 june
still felt bad...decided to watch the empire strikes back...enjoyed a cookout dinner....my hamburger fell apart though...but it was no big deal...went home to finish the sopranos...nice work, mister chase...took a late night swim...took a shower
monday 25 june
went to cafe europa with my mom for lunch...went to the doctor so they could check on my kidneys...peed in a cup...was told that i weighed eight pounds more than i did one month ago in louisville...what?...informed later that my kidneys were okay...yay kidneys!...returned home to pack...went to southport again to say goodbye to nick, taryn, and morgan...drove to alan and gerry's to say goodbye...had dinner with my parents...purchased a couple videos.
tuesday 26 june
drove to the airport...flew to newark...flew to paris...flew to prague...took a taxi home...fell asleep at 4am...that's about it...thanks for reading.
