Thursday, August 31, 2006
At Home
My new bosses, The All-American Rejects, won the "Best Group Video" award tonight on the MTV Video Music Awards show.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
At Home
Another crappy day spent working. Turned in the rental car at the airport and took a taxi downtown to get the rental car that I'm paying for until I get my car repaired.
These blog entries are pretty much gonna be boring until something fun happens. Or did you already notice that?
These blog entries are pretty much gonna be boring until something fun happens. Or did you already notice that?
Monday, August 28, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Home At Last
Finished the trip to Raleigh. I got to my house around 9pm. Man, nothing on earth beats sleeping in your own bed…
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Headin' Home...
Road trip!!!!!
We're out of the hotel by 9:15, pick up the rental car at the Newark Airport at 10:00.
Wound up not taking the Cape May Ferry (the New Jersey to Delaware ferry – 17 miles, 80 minutes or so). Instead, we drove all the way to Chincoteague. Had a room at the Comfort Suites in the middle of town.
Went for beers at the local redneck dive bar. Stayed for dinner, watched the race, drank, drank, drank. The band there was absolutely horrible. Almost as bad as the bands that Northside Billiards books back home.
Later, we went down the street to another bar later. The (very young) cover band there played an All-American Rejects song.
I think we were back in the room by 1:30 or 2:00…
We're out of the hotel by 9:15, pick up the rental car at the Newark Airport at 10:00.
Wound up not taking the Cape May Ferry (the New Jersey to Delaware ferry – 17 miles, 80 minutes or so). Instead, we drove all the way to Chincoteague. Had a room at the Comfort Suites in the middle of town.
Went for beers at the local redneck dive bar. Stayed for dinner, watched the race, drank, drank, drank. The band there was absolutely horrible. Almost as bad as the bands that Northside Billiards books back home.
Later, we went down the street to another bar later. The (very young) cover band there played an All-American Rejects song.
I think we were back in the room by 1:30 or 2:00…
Friday, August 25, 2006
Game Day in New York City
Awesome. I'm finally doing Madison Square Garden.
Bummer. I'm doing Madison Square Garden with a damn basketball tour instead of a rock band.
The best news: last game of the tour. I'm going home from this shit tomorrow!!!!!
My buddy Chris Sheridan is flying in today to drive back down to NC with me. With flying being a PITA (pain in the ass) these days, I figured I'd just rent a car and drive home instead. We're gonna just mosey down the coast and stay overnight in Chincoteague, VA. Sounds like fun to me.
Got confirmed on my next gig this afternoon. I'll be out for 12 weeks with a band called The All-American Rejects. I actually like their music.
I split after the game and meet Chris a couple of blocks down 7th Avenue from the hotel. He's got a table outside some bar and is sitting with a couple of crazy and cute lesbian chicks. Major drinking in progress. I jump right in. Big fun!
Somehow wind up back at the hotel later…
Bummer. I'm doing Madison Square Garden with a damn basketball tour instead of a rock band.
The best news: last game of the tour. I'm going home from this shit tomorrow!!!!!
My buddy Chris Sheridan is flying in today to drive back down to NC with me. With flying being a PITA (pain in the ass) these days, I figured I'd just rent a car and drive home instead. We're gonna just mosey down the coast and stay overnight in Chincoteague, VA. Sounds like fun to me.
Got confirmed on my next gig this afternoon. I'll be out for 12 weeks with a band called The All-American Rejects. I actually like their music.
I split after the game and meet Chris a couple of blocks down 7th Avenue from the hotel. He's got a table outside some bar and is sitting with a couple of crazy and cute lesbian chicks. Major drinking in progress. I jump right in. Big fun!
Somehow wind up back at the hotel later…
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Day Off in New York City
Another day off in my all-time favorite city. Yay!!!!!!
Kinda bummed today. That gig I alluded to a couple of days ago might be getting squirrelly. The business manager emailed me with their salary offer. A bit on the insufficient side, I'd say. Maybe I don't want that gig, after all. I'll send my counter offer soon…
Rains a bit today, which keeps me in the room most of the day. Around 7pm, I head out to meet my friend CJ and her husband Bjorn for dinner. I want to take the subway, but to get from here to that part of the East Village is a 3-train, 2-changes pain-in-the-ass. So I jump a cab, instead. I'm running late, got in the cab at 8:20 and I'm supposed to meet them all the way down on Avenue A in 10 minutes. Guess I'm gonna be late.
But, no! Seems I got into a cab driven by an aspiring Formula One driver. He is driving like a bat out of hell. I say nothing, just hold on tight. Maybe he'll get me there on time. Besides, I've paid more than this for a ride at an amusement park that's not nearly as fun.
I arrive one minute late, but I beat CJ and Bjorn there. Dinner was great. We ate at a place in the East Village called the Flea Market Bistro. French food.
Afterwards, they headed to the Mercury Lounge to see some band and I walked about 45 minutes uptown, in the direction of my hotel.
I was walking on 7th St. going past McSorley's Old Ale House when an idiot frat-boy-looking dude came out the door and just EXPLODED with puke. Glad I was on the other side of the street.
Finally jumped a cab for the rest of the journey back to my hotel.
Kinda bummed today. That gig I alluded to a couple of days ago might be getting squirrelly. The business manager emailed me with their salary offer. A bit on the insufficient side, I'd say. Maybe I don't want that gig, after all. I'll send my counter offer soon…
Rains a bit today, which keeps me in the room most of the day. Around 7pm, I head out to meet my friend CJ and her husband Bjorn for dinner. I want to take the subway, but to get from here to that part of the East Village is a 3-train, 2-changes pain-in-the-ass. So I jump a cab, instead. I'm running late, got in the cab at 8:20 and I'm supposed to meet them all the way down on Avenue A in 10 minutes. Guess I'm gonna be late.
But, no! Seems I got into a cab driven by an aspiring Formula One driver. He is driving like a bat out of hell. I say nothing, just hold on tight. Maybe he'll get me there on time. Besides, I've paid more than this for a ride at an amusement park that's not nearly as fun.
I arrive one minute late, but I beat CJ and Bjorn there. Dinner was great. We ate at a place in the East Village called the Flea Market Bistro. French food.
Afterwards, they headed to the Mercury Lounge to see some band and I walked about 45 minutes uptown, in the direction of my hotel.
I was walking on 7th St. going past McSorley's Old Ale House when an idiot frat-boy-looking dude came out the door and just EXPLODED with puke. Glad I was on the other side of the street.
Finally jumped a cab for the rest of the journey back to my hotel.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Day Off in New York City
Well, I can't believe it, but the FUCKING RETARDS that ride my bus managed to outdo themselves. The Indianapolis-to-Chicago outrage is now the second-worst bus ride I've been on. This one was waaaaay worse. Not one wink of sleep did I get during the 5-hour drive, due to the noise. This was with earplugs in, too.
Fuckers. I hope you all rot in hell.
We pulled up to the hotel at 5:15am. I got into my room and laid down about 6, but was awakened at 7:15 by all the traffic noise outside. I'm on the 7th floor, with a corner room (extra windows!), overlooking Penn Station. Lots of commuters, lots of cabs, lots of everything. Lots of noise. Oh, well, at least now I have an early start on the day.
Around 4:30, I head out. I'm taking the train out to see Kenny Soule and his lovely wife, Anne. They live in Richmond Hill, in Queens. Across the street from my hotel, at Penn Station, I catch the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) out to Jamaica, Queens, then double back a bit on the J train to Richmond Hill. I called Kenny 2 stops before arriving and he walks down to the station to meet me, then we walked the 3-4 blocks to their house.
They have a lovely home. Too many stairs for my tired old ass, but a killer place nonetheless. Kenny's got his drum lesson studio in the basement with 2 drumkits set up. Main floor has the foyer, a small parlour, living room, and kitchen. Upstairs are the bedrooms, and a third floor has Kenny's getaway room. Like I said, great house.
Out back, their back yard is pretty amazing. The lady who sold them the house had one helluva green thumb. There must have been 30-40 different types of plants out there. Also, a great patio with a table and chairs, and a hidden and very private area at the rear of the yard.
There's a massive park just steps from their house. Kenny tells me it's about a mile long. Cool.
We kill some time watching the new Grand Funk DVD that came out 2 weeks ago – mine's waiting for me at home. Anne shows up from work, we order some Thai take-out food, then Kenny and me jump in his van to go pick it up. Along the way, I get the nickel tour of where they used to live in Forest Hills, not far from the U.S. Open Tennis Stadium, which we drive around at one point.
Back at the house with the food, we dine outside on the patio. The weather couldn't be nicer. Chat for some time, and then Anne goes to bed around 10:15. Kenny and me hang, just drinking and talking for a long time. He tells a couple of good stories that involve doing gigs with Andy Swindell, who's always good for a laugh.
I could do this all night, but I gotta split, so I can get the trains back into Manhattan. Kenny walks me to the station, then he heads back home. Always a pleasure to hang with him. He's one of the reasons I love having a day off in NYC.
Back in my room around 1am.
Fuckers. I hope you all rot in hell.
We pulled up to the hotel at 5:15am. I got into my room and laid down about 6, but was awakened at 7:15 by all the traffic noise outside. I'm on the 7th floor, with a corner room (extra windows!), overlooking Penn Station. Lots of commuters, lots of cabs, lots of everything. Lots of noise. Oh, well, at least now I have an early start on the day.
Around 4:30, I head out. I'm taking the train out to see Kenny Soule and his lovely wife, Anne. They live in Richmond Hill, in Queens. Across the street from my hotel, at Penn Station, I catch the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) out to Jamaica, Queens, then double back a bit on the J train to Richmond Hill. I called Kenny 2 stops before arriving and he walks down to the station to meet me, then we walked the 3-4 blocks to their house.
They have a lovely home. Too many stairs for my tired old ass, but a killer place nonetheless. Kenny's got his drum lesson studio in the basement with 2 drumkits set up. Main floor has the foyer, a small parlour, living room, and kitchen. Upstairs are the bedrooms, and a third floor has Kenny's getaway room. Like I said, great house.
Out back, their back yard is pretty amazing. The lady who sold them the house had one helluva green thumb. There must have been 30-40 different types of plants out there. Also, a great patio with a table and chairs, and a hidden and very private area at the rear of the yard.
There's a massive park just steps from their house. Kenny tells me it's about a mile long. Cool.
We kill some time watching the new Grand Funk DVD that came out 2 weeks ago – mine's waiting for me at home. Anne shows up from work, we order some Thai take-out food, then Kenny and me jump in his van to go pick it up. Along the way, I get the nickel tour of where they used to live in Forest Hills, not far from the U.S. Open Tennis Stadium, which we drive around at one point.
Back at the house with the food, we dine outside on the patio. The weather couldn't be nicer. Chat for some time, and then Anne goes to bed around 10:15. Kenny and me hang, just drinking and talking for a long time. He tells a couple of good stories that involve doing gigs with Andy Swindell, who's always good for a laugh.
I could do this all night, but I gotta split, so I can get the trains back into Manhattan. Kenny walks me to the station, then he heads back home. Always a pleasure to hang with him. He's one of the reasons I love having a day off in NYC.
Back in my room around 1am.
Day Off in New York City
Well, I can't believe it, but the FUCKING RETARDS that ride my bus managed to outdo themselves. The Indianapolis-to-Chicago outrage is now the second-worst bus ride I've been on. This one was waaaaay worse. Not one wink of sleep did I get during the 5-hour drive, due to the noise. This was with earplugs in, too.
Fuckers. I hope you all rot in hell.
We pulled up to the hotel at 5:15am. I got into my room and laid down about 6, but was awakened at 7:15 by all the traffic noise outside. I'm on the 7th floor, with a corner room (extra windows!), overlooking Penn Station. Lots of commuters, lots of cabs, lots of everything. Lots of noise. Oh, well, at least now I have an early start on the day.
Around 4:30, I head out. I'm taking the train out to see Kenny Soule and his lovely wife, Anne. They live in Richmond Hill, in Queens. Across the street from my hotel, at Penn Station, I catch the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) out to Jamaica, Queens, then double back a bit on the J train to Richmond Hill. I called Kenny 2 stops before arriving and he walks down to the station to meet me, then we walked the 3-4 blocks to their house.
They have a lovely home. Too many stairs for my tired old ass, but a killer place nonetheless. Kenny's got his drum lesson studio in the basement with 2 drumkits set up. Main floor has the foyer, a small parlour, living room, and kitchen. Upstairs are the bedrooms, and a third floor has Kenny's getaway room. Like I said, great house.
Out back, their back yard is pretty amazing. The lady who sold them the house had one helluva green thumb. There must have been 30-40 different types of plants out there. Also, a great patio with a table and chairs, and a hidden and very private area at the rear of the yard.
There's a massive park just steps from their house. Kenny tells me it's about a mile long. Cool.
We kill some time watching the new Grand Funk DVD that came out 2 weeks ago – mine's waiting for me at home. Anne shows up from work, we order some Thai take-out food, then Kenny and me jump in his van to go pick it up. Along the way, I get the nickel tour of where they used to live in Forest Hills, not far from the U.S. Open Tennis Stadium, which we drive around at one point.
Back at the house with the food, we dine outside on the patio. The weather couldn't be nicer. Chat for some time, and then Anne goes to bed around 10:15. Kenny and me hang, just drinking and talking for a long time. He tells a couple of good stories that involve doing gigs with Andy Swindell, who's always good for a laugh.
I could do this all night, but I gotta split, so I can get the trains back into Manhattan. Kenny walks me to the station, then he heads back home. Always a pleasure to hang with him. He's one of the reasons I love having a day off in NYC.
Back in my room around 1am.
Fuckers. I hope you all rot in hell.
We pulled up to the hotel at 5:15am. I got into my room and laid down about 6, but was awakened at 7:15 by all the traffic noise outside. I'm on the 7th floor, with a corner room (extra windows!), overlooking Penn Station. Lots of commuters, lots of cabs, lots of everything. Lots of noise. Oh, well, at least now I have an early start on the day.
Around 4:30, I head out. I'm taking the train out to see Kenny Soule and his lovely wife, Anne. They live in Richmond Hill, in Queens. Across the street from my hotel, at Penn Station, I catch the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) out to Jamaica, Queens, then double back a bit on the J train to Richmond Hill. I called Kenny 2 stops before arriving and he walks down to the station to meet me, then we walked the 3-4 blocks to their house.
They have a lovely home. Too many stairs for my tired old ass, but a killer place nonetheless. Kenny's got his drum lesson studio in the basement with 2 drumkits set up. Main floor has the foyer, a small parlour, living room, and kitchen. Upstairs are the bedrooms, and a third floor has Kenny's getaway room. Like I said, great house.
Out back, their back yard is pretty amazing. The lady who sold them the house had one helluva green thumb. There must have been 30-40 different types of plants out there. Also, a great patio with a table and chairs, and a hidden and very private area at the rear of the yard.
There's a massive park just steps from their house. Kenny tells me it's about a mile long. Cool.
We kill some time watching the new Grand Funk DVD that came out 2 weeks ago – mine's waiting for me at home. Anne shows up from work, we order some Thai take-out food, then Kenny and me jump in his van to go pick it up. Along the way, I get the nickel tour of where they used to live in Forest Hills, not far from the U.S. Open Tennis Stadium, which we drive around at one point.
Back at the house with the food, we dine outside on the patio. The weather couldn't be nicer. Chat for some time, and then Anne goes to bed around 10:15. Kenny and me hang, just drinking and talking for a long time. He tells a couple of good stories that involve doing gigs with Andy Swindell, who's always good for a laugh.
I could do this all night, but I gotta split, so I can get the trains back into Manhattan. Kenny walks me to the station, then he heads back home. Always a pleasure to hang with him. He's one of the reasons I love having a day off in NYC.
Back in my room around 1am.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Day Off in Boston
Bummed around the neighborhood a bit today. Hit the grocery store for lunch – they had a salad bar. Went to Newbury Comics, which is the cool, long-established independent record store chain in the Boston area. Bought a CD by the new band Black Stone Cherry, then headed back to the hotel.
My buddy Steve is tour managing for Nick Lachey on his upcoming tour. I'll be consulting on it, meaning that I'll be setting up all of the settlement files for all the shows. Steve sent me all of the deal sheets via email, and we spend about 30 minutes on the phone going over some details. Hopefully, I can get started on this stuff while I'm out here on this lousy tour.
Zombie-walked around the mall (attached to the hotel) for an hour or two. While there, I found a Legal Seafood and decided to have dinner there. Ponied up to the bar, got a Bud, and a menu. While perusing it, I had a flashback to a bar/restaurant that Dennis and I walked past last night. Much as I love Legal Seafood, this one had just a few too many lawyer/stockbroker types in it, so off I went.
Glad I did. I have a new favorite bar here in Boston. It's called the Summer Shack. I grabbed a seat at the bar and settled in. I could immediately tell I was gonna like this place. At first I thought it was another one of those "oyster bars" that didn't have one, and they kinda didn't, but they did have a dedicated shucker who was pretty awesome to watch. Fast, too. Unfortunately, being fast means that some shell bits occasionally make it to the customer. I though I was gonna break a tooth at one point. Had a dozen of whatever the special was, then got some steamed shrimp, which were great, too.
As I was eating, a lovely young lady asked if the stool next to me was taken. The place was pretty full and I guess I looked safer to sit next to than the crazy frat boys at the other end of the bar who were next to the only other empty stool in the place. (Little did she know, hey-hey-hey…)
Her name was Helene, and let me tell you, she was NOT ugly. Nosiree, not by any stretch. She used to work here before she moved up into New Hampshire. She was in the process of moving back and would be working here again soon. She told me all about the history of the place. And a lot more…
Before I knew it, we'd been talking for about 3 hours. What's that quote by Albert Einstein? Oh, yeah:
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity."
True 'dat, Al.
Anyway, I had to scoot. Shame. That was the most fun I've had in weeks.
My buddy Steve is tour managing for Nick Lachey on his upcoming tour. I'll be consulting on it, meaning that I'll be setting up all of the settlement files for all the shows. Steve sent me all of the deal sheets via email, and we spend about 30 minutes on the phone going over some details. Hopefully, I can get started on this stuff while I'm out here on this lousy tour.
Zombie-walked around the mall (attached to the hotel) for an hour or two. While there, I found a Legal Seafood and decided to have dinner there. Ponied up to the bar, got a Bud, and a menu. While perusing it, I had a flashback to a bar/restaurant that Dennis and I walked past last night. Much as I love Legal Seafood, this one had just a few too many lawyer/stockbroker types in it, so off I went.
Glad I did. I have a new favorite bar here in Boston. It's called the Summer Shack. I grabbed a seat at the bar and settled in. I could immediately tell I was gonna like this place. At first I thought it was another one of those "oyster bars" that didn't have one, and they kinda didn't, but they did have a dedicated shucker who was pretty awesome to watch. Fast, too. Unfortunately, being fast means that some shell bits occasionally make it to the customer. I though I was gonna break a tooth at one point. Had a dozen of whatever the special was, then got some steamed shrimp, which were great, too.
As I was eating, a lovely young lady asked if the stool next to me was taken. The place was pretty full and I guess I looked safer to sit next to than the crazy frat boys at the other end of the bar who were next to the only other empty stool in the place. (Little did she know, hey-hey-hey…)
Her name was Helene, and let me tell you, she was NOT ugly. Nosiree, not by any stretch. She used to work here before she moved up into New Hampshire. She was in the process of moving back and would be working here again soon. She told me all about the history of the place. And a lot more…
Before I knew it, we'd been talking for about 3 hours. What's that quote by Albert Einstein? Oh, yeah:
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity."
True 'dat, Al.
Anyway, I had to scoot. Shame. That was the most fun I've had in weeks.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Day Off in Boston
I woke up when Danny pulled into a truckstop near West Haven, CT. That was around 4:15am, and after tossing and turning for over an hour trying to go back to sleep, I gave up, got dressed and sat up front with him for the rest of the drive to Boston. It was just pissing down rain.
We drove through a bit of the "Big Dig" getting into downtown. I kept my eyes open for falling panels.
Pulled up to the Sheraton Prudential Center about 7. Tossed bags inside, cranked up the AC and went out for breakfast.
Watched the race during the afternoon. My buddy Dennis showed up around 6pm to go to dinner. We ate at the Capital Room Bar & Grille, which is a steakhouse a step ABOVE Morton's, which means it's awesome. Dinner was ace. I even had a Martini afterwards, a real martini, not some foofy concoction of flavored crap, but a gin & vermouth one, with olives. Mmmmm, tasty.
After Dennis split, I wound up back in my room, watching some godawful Ben Affleck movie with Uma Thurman in it. I think it was Paycheck, but I’m not sure. Couldn't take it, went to sleep…
We drove through a bit of the "Big Dig" getting into downtown. I kept my eyes open for falling panels.
Pulled up to the Sheraton Prudential Center about 7. Tossed bags inside, cranked up the AC and went out for breakfast.
Watched the race during the afternoon. My buddy Dennis showed up around 6pm to go to dinner. We ate at the Capital Room Bar & Grille, which is a steakhouse a step ABOVE Morton's, which means it's awesome. Dinner was ace. I even had a Martini afterwards, a real martini, not some foofy concoction of flavored crap, but a gin & vermouth one, with olives. Mmmmm, tasty.
After Dennis split, I wound up back in my room, watching some godawful Ben Affleck movie with Uma Thurman in it. I think it was Paycheck, but I’m not sure. Couldn't take it, went to sleep…
Friday, August 18, 2006
Day Off in Philadelphia
Had lunch today with Jim Bodenheimer, the guy who owns Egotrips, Inc., our trucking vendor. He offered me a couple of tickets to go see Tom Petty tonight at the amphitheater here, but I don't really care to. Petty's in Raleigh in a few weeks (when I'm home), so maybe I'll see him then.
Other than that, 'twas a pretty laidback day spent mostly in the room.
Quizno's for dinner in front of the TV. Again. Boring!
Thinking about home…
Other than that, 'twas a pretty laidback day spent mostly in the room.
Quizno's for dinner in front of the TV. Again. Boring!
Thinking about home…
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Day Off in Philadelphia
Woke up at 5:30am, just as we pulled up to the hotel. We're in Philly, staying at the Marriott on Market Street. The last couple of times I was here, I stayed across the street at the Loew's Hotel, so I know the neighborhood pretty well.
The usual story – hot room, so I crank up the AC and take a walk – maybe I'll find something new around here. Turns out I know this area better than I thought, but I still walk around for an hour, as the room cools.
Hit Starbucks in the lobby on the way back to my room, then sit up and read a couple of papers, followed by an hour's worth of catnap.
Around 2, I go a block to the Reading Terminal Market for some lunch. It's a really cool combination of farmer's market/restaurant area that I always go to when I'm in town. Go to the place I ate at last time to see how their oyster stew is. This is a little odd; they serve their oyster stew with a side of horseradish. Huh?
Well, shortly I find out why. This is the worst excuse for oyster stew that I've ever had. Now, admittedly, my mom made the best. But come on, It's not that hard. We're talking whole milk, butter, pepper, and oysters. This shit is totally watered down – seems like it's one part milk to 3 parts water, and they pretty much just waved a stick of butter over it. Plenty of oysters, but they're far too big to be used in stew. I chow on the oysters and pass on the stew. And don't even get me started on their oyster crackers, which are round (?), the diameter of a quarter and stale as hell. Yuck!
On the way out of the market, I spot a vendor I've never noticed before, a juice bar. I grab a made-in-front-of-me 20oz. carrot juice, a bargain at $3.20. Now THAT hits the spot. Off I go.
Stop at the Kinko's/FedEx on the way back. Need a box and some tape to ship my brother the Norfolk/Southern hats from the other day in Norfolk.
Bum around all day, then head to Chinatown around 7 for some dinner. There's a killer Thai place about a ½ block from the Trocadero (legendary Philly club) that I've eaten at a couple of times, so a grab some chow to go, then stop by the liquor store for a six-pack of Bud. Back to the room…
The usual story – hot room, so I crank up the AC and take a walk – maybe I'll find something new around here. Turns out I know this area better than I thought, but I still walk around for an hour, as the room cools.
Hit Starbucks in the lobby on the way back to my room, then sit up and read a couple of papers, followed by an hour's worth of catnap.
Around 2, I go a block to the Reading Terminal Market for some lunch. It's a really cool combination of farmer's market/restaurant area that I always go to when I'm in town. Go to the place I ate at last time to see how their oyster stew is. This is a little odd; they serve their oyster stew with a side of horseradish. Huh?
Well, shortly I find out why. This is the worst excuse for oyster stew that I've ever had. Now, admittedly, my mom made the best. But come on, It's not that hard. We're talking whole milk, butter, pepper, and oysters. This shit is totally watered down – seems like it's one part milk to 3 parts water, and they pretty much just waved a stick of butter over it. Plenty of oysters, but they're far too big to be used in stew. I chow on the oysters and pass on the stew. And don't even get me started on their oyster crackers, which are round (?), the diameter of a quarter and stale as hell. Yuck!
On the way out of the market, I spot a vendor I've never noticed before, a juice bar. I grab a made-in-front-of-me 20oz. carrot juice, a bargain at $3.20. Now THAT hits the spot. Off I go.
Stop at the Kinko's/FedEx on the way back. Need a box and some tape to ship my brother the Norfolk/Southern hats from the other day in Norfolk.
Bum around all day, then head to Chinatown around 7 for some dinner. There's a killer Thai place about a ½ block from the Trocadero (legendary Philly club) that I've eaten at a couple of times, so a grab some chow to go, then stop by the liquor store for a six-pack of Bud. Back to the room…
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Day Off in Norfolk
Talk about a lazy day. Did much of nada. Really can't tell where the time went. My buddy Foy told me about some cool stuff to do all around the area, but I couldn't seem to get motivated enough to do anything today
Got another job opp thrown my way today. Threw them a resume, they came back looking for my salary range. Good gig with a popular band, but again, I don't wanna say who it is yet, lest I jinx it.
Take a walk during the afternoon and wind up over at the Norfolk/Southern Railway building a couple of blocks from the hotel. My dad worked for the company his whole life, from the age of 15 on. He died the day he retired, at 59.
Just off the lobby, there's a N/S museum, which I wander around in for an hour or so, learning all sorts of stuff about the history and mechanics of railroading. There's even a locomotive cockpit simulator where after going around the circuit once with the computer controlling the train, on the second go-round, YOU operate the controls and drive the train. Pretty cool. I'm sure after I tell my brother Bill about this, he'll immediately drive down from Richmond to check it out.
The museum's not a really popular place. I'm only the 4th person to sign in, and it's 3 in the afternoon. An employee stops by while I'm in the simulator to welcome me, then gives me a couple of hats and other souvenirs. I thank him, even though I don't really want them. I figure I'll send them to my brother, who's a way bigger train nut than I'll ever be.
Watched TV in my room for my evening entertainment…
Got another job opp thrown my way today. Threw them a resume, they came back looking for my salary range. Good gig with a popular band, but again, I don't wanna say who it is yet, lest I jinx it.
Take a walk during the afternoon and wind up over at the Norfolk/Southern Railway building a couple of blocks from the hotel. My dad worked for the company his whole life, from the age of 15 on. He died the day he retired, at 59.
Just off the lobby, there's a N/S museum, which I wander around in for an hour or so, learning all sorts of stuff about the history and mechanics of railroading. There's even a locomotive cockpit simulator where after going around the circuit once with the computer controlling the train, on the second go-round, YOU operate the controls and drive the train. Pretty cool. I'm sure after I tell my brother Bill about this, he'll immediately drive down from Richmond to check it out.
The museum's not a really popular place. I'm only the 4th person to sign in, and it's 3 in the afternoon. An employee stops by while I'm in the simulator to welcome me, then gives me a couple of hats and other souvenirs. I thank him, even though I don't really want them. I figure I'll send them to my brother, who's a way bigger train nut than I'll ever be.
Watched TV in my room for my evening entertainment…
Monday, August 14, 2006
Day Off in Norfolk
Laundry Day!
After googling my options, I grab a cab and head out. Wind up at a killer coin laundry. What's so cool about it? Air-conditioning, Starbucks a block away, a bunch of restaurants, and lots of pedestrian traffic, so I can indulge in a couple of hours of people watching. I'm in a cool neighborhood called Ghent, which is not too terribly unlike Five Points back in Raleigh.
Amazing older houses, stupid expensive according to some folks I talked to. If I lived in Norfolk, this is exactly the neighborhood I'd want to live in. Probably couldn't afford to buy, but I'd rent here in a heartbeat.
Got contacted about a fall gig today. Don't wanna say anything, lest I jinx it.
Chilled out in my room most of the afternoon. Around 5:30, I head next door to sit on the patio at Outback and watch the afternoon traffic flow by (cars and people). Read the Washington Post and enjoy a few beers. What great weather! It's probably 82 degrees and very low humidity.
Back in my room around 8:30.
After googling my options, I grab a cab and head out. Wind up at a killer coin laundry. What's so cool about it? Air-conditioning, Starbucks a block away, a bunch of restaurants, and lots of pedestrian traffic, so I can indulge in a couple of hours of people watching. I'm in a cool neighborhood called Ghent, which is not too terribly unlike Five Points back in Raleigh.
Amazing older houses, stupid expensive according to some folks I talked to. If I lived in Norfolk, this is exactly the neighborhood I'd want to live in. Probably couldn't afford to buy, but I'd rent here in a heartbeat.
Got contacted about a fall gig today. Don't wanna say anything, lest I jinx it.
Chilled out in my room most of the afternoon. Around 5:30, I head next door to sit on the patio at Outback and watch the afternoon traffic flow by (cars and people). Read the Washington Post and enjoy a few beers. What great weather! It's probably 82 degrees and very low humidity.
Back in my room around 8:30.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Day Off in Norfolk
Finally, a hotel with a clue. Opened the door to my room around 4:30am and it was absolutely FREEZING in there. If you read this blog much, you know how much it pisses me off to get into a room in the middle of the night, only to find it's 80 degrees in there. No way in hell I can sleep in a hot room, so I usually crank the AC and go walking around for an hour or two while I wait for the room to cool off enough for me to sleep in it. Not today. I actually had to back the AC off a bit. Slept like a baby.
We have 3 days off here, and a game on Wednesday. The only thing I have to do today is watch NASCAR. Tough day, I know.
Went walking around for a couple of hours during mid-morning. This is the Waterside area of town. We're a few blocks away from the Norva, a killer club I've done shows at with a few bands. Lots of bars and restaurants nearby, along with a mall. If my room was across the hall, I'd have a great view of several Navy ships.
Lazy day, read the Sunday paper, watched the race. Grabbed some Buffalo Shrimp from Hooter's next door for dinner.
We have 3 days off here, and a game on Wednesday. The only thing I have to do today is watch NASCAR. Tough day, I know.
Went walking around for a couple of hours during mid-morning. This is the Waterside area of town. We're a few blocks away from the Norva, a killer club I've done shows at with a few bands. Lots of bars and restaurants nearby, along with a mall. If my room was across the hall, I'd have a great view of several Navy ships.
Lazy day, read the Sunday paper, watched the race. Grabbed some Buffalo Shrimp from Hooter's next door for dinner.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Day Off in DC
I was right. Woke up at 8:30, and I've been lying around the room feeling like crap all day. Mixed too many different types of beer last night. Glad I don't have to work today.
I was gonna go see Watershed at the 9:30 Club tonight, but I'll probably have to pass. Just don't have the energy. Besides, they're playing in Raleigh in three weeks so I'll catch them then.
I was gonna go see Watershed at the 9:30 Club tonight, but I'll probably have to pass. Just don't have the energy. Besides, they're playing in Raleigh in three weeks so I'll catch them then.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Day Off in Washington, DC
We pulled in to the hotel around 5am and I actually managed to get to sleep by 6:30 or so. Accomplished much of nothing all day.
Around 6pm I grabbed a cab to my fave beer joint here in DC, The Brickskeller. It opened in 1957, and I've been drinking there since 1976, the year I graduated high school in the suburbs here. They have more than 1,000 different foreign and domestic beers to choose from. Amazing.
Probably won't feel too good tomorrow morning.
Around 6pm I grabbed a cab to my fave beer joint here in DC, The Brickskeller. It opened in 1957, and I've been drinking there since 1976, the year I graduated high school in the suburbs here. They have more than 1,000 different foreign and domestic beers to choose from. Amazing.
Probably won't feel too good tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Game Day in Raleigh
Came home to a dead air conditioner at the house the other day, so I had to stay at the hotel with the rest of the tour folks.
My damn car had died 2 days before I flew out to start the tour, so I had to rent a car. I snagged it as soon as we got to downtown Raleigh, grabbed my dirty laundry and headed to the house, only to walk into the inferno. Crap!
Had to go to a coin laundry, as the house was far too hot to sit there and do anything.
Got some quality time with a few friends while I was here. Couple of dinners, some beers. The System Of A Down crew was here, too, enjoying a couple of days off before Ozzfest (which is today, across town). So I called Janet, then went and picked her up at her hotel and took her to dinner with my gang. After that, we went and picked up some other System folks and I took everyone down to Slim's. A bunch of And 1 folks from my bus were there, too – I'd recommended Slim's to them as the coolest local bar in the downtown area.
Good time was had by all, 'til the wee hours.
I don't really want to get back on the bus tonight and leave, but I'll be home again in just a few more weeks.
My damn car had died 2 days before I flew out to start the tour, so I had to rent a car. I snagged it as soon as we got to downtown Raleigh, grabbed my dirty laundry and headed to the house, only to walk into the inferno. Crap!
Had to go to a coin laundry, as the house was far too hot to sit there and do anything.
Got some quality time with a few friends while I was here. Couple of dinners, some beers. The System Of A Down crew was here, too, enjoying a couple of days off before Ozzfest (which is today, across town). So I called Janet, then went and picked her up at her hotel and took her to dinner with my gang. After that, we went and picked up some other System folks and I took everyone down to Slim's. A bunch of And 1 folks from my bus were there, too – I'd recommended Slim's to them as the coolest local bar in the downtown area.
Good time was had by all, 'til the wee hours.
I don't really want to get back on the bus tonight and leave, but I'll be home again in just a few more weeks.
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Day Off in Orlando
Head downstairs around 8am as I have the strangest craving for chocolate milk. No idea why. Score some newspapers on the way back to the room and never leave again all day.
I really, really need to get home and see my friends. This tour sucks. Two of the only three people I liked out here have left the tour, and I don't really hang out with Danny (my bus driver) all that much. I also need some hang time with my house...
I really, really need to get home and see my friends. This tour sucks. Two of the only three people I liked out here have left the tour, and I don't really hang out with Danny (my bus driver) all that much. I also need some hang time with my house...
Friday, August 4, 2006
Day Off in Orlando
It was about a 4-hour drive to get here from Miami. We arrived at 4am. As soon as I walked into my room, the AC unit eerily kicks in. Not cool. I read the notice by the thermostat, which informs me that it's triggered by a motion sensor, so they save energy when you're not in your room. All well and good, unless that means that it does the same thing when I’m sleeping, which is when I want it freezing me out.
I head to the desk to make an in-person inquiry (always works better than the phone), and sure enough, that's the way it works. Bless her, the desk clerk even says, "Yeah, if you don't move around much when you're asleep, it won't come on." Well, if the damn thing's not working while I’m sleeping, you can bet I'm gonna move around plenty. That's called tossing and turning in the heat.
Ten minutes later there's a very sympathetic engineer in my room disconnecting the motion sensor. He says the new thermostats and sensor are cheap crap and malfunction a lot. Cheapskate Disney!
I crawl into bed just after 5:30am and get up at 8. Read a few papers (USA Today, the local, NY Times, Wall Street Journal) and pretty much hang out in my room.
Oh, yeah, we're at Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort. I call it the Bird & Fish. I hate this place. Haven't stayed here since December 2000, and I always hoped I'd never have to return. But here I am.
Disney gouges you for everything here. Everything. Knowing this, I brought supplies – beer, bagels, Clif Bars. I'll be damned if I'm handing over all my money to the Rat.
FTR!
Even so, for dinner, I wind up in Palio, their Italian place. Two beers, an appetizer, one glass of wine, and an entrée set me back $70 with tip. I had the appetizer as my dinner, and got my entrée boxed to go – it'll be dinner tomorrow night in my room.
I can be such a cheap shit when I want to be.
I head to the desk to make an in-person inquiry (always works better than the phone), and sure enough, that's the way it works. Bless her, the desk clerk even says, "Yeah, if you don't move around much when you're asleep, it won't come on." Well, if the damn thing's not working while I’m sleeping, you can bet I'm gonna move around plenty. That's called tossing and turning in the heat.
Ten minutes later there's a very sympathetic engineer in my room disconnecting the motion sensor. He says the new thermostats and sensor are cheap crap and malfunction a lot. Cheapskate Disney!
I crawl into bed just after 5:30am and get up at 8. Read a few papers (USA Today, the local, NY Times, Wall Street Journal) and pretty much hang out in my room.
Oh, yeah, we're at Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort. I call it the Bird & Fish. I hate this place. Haven't stayed here since December 2000, and I always hoped I'd never have to return. But here I am.
Disney gouges you for everything here. Everything. Knowing this, I brought supplies – beer, bagels, Clif Bars. I'll be damned if I'm handing over all my money to the Rat.
FTR!
Even so, for dinner, I wind up in Palio, their Italian place. Two beers, an appetizer, one glass of wine, and an entrée set me back $70 with tip. I had the appetizer as my dinner, and got my entrée boxed to go – it'll be dinner tomorrow night in my room.
I can be such a cheap shit when I want to be.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Game Day in Miami
Why is it that you can never forget certain things that will never be of any use to you for the rest of your life? I can't tell you what shirt I had on yesterday (not that it's important), but I always know that today is Cheryl Balston's birthday. She was my first serious girlfriend – we started dating in the last 2-3 weeks of high school and it lasted about a year and a half, including her moving to Charlotte with me. I think she still works for the Smithsonian, but damned if I know…
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Day Off in Miami
Accomplished nothing. Had some more of Offerdahl's killer veg chili for lunch. Hung out in the room.
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Day Off in Miami
Up at 8, out the door by 8:15. Because the weather here is so miserably hot, I gotta do my exploring early. Grab a couple of things from CVS, and find the motherload a block from the hotel in a direction I hadn't yet been. On one block, there's 3 sushi restaurants, a Mediterranean café, 2 Cuban cafés, some of the usual crap (Quizno's, Subway), and a place called Offerdahl's Café/Grill. The owner of this chain is John Offerdahl, who played with the Miami Dolphins for 9-10 year as a linebacker. He originally had a chain of 10 bagel restaurants (Offerdahl's Bagels) which he was practically strong-armed into selling to Boston Market back in 1995. They changed the name to Einstein Brothers Bagels and ran it into bankruptcy within 5 years. He bailed out 6 months after selling to them because of disagreements on where the company should be heading. Babble, babble, babble…
Found a place a few blocks further called Granny Feelgood's Café and grabbed a window/counter seat for breakfast. The first waitress who came by didn't speak a word of English, which is not unusual here in Miami, so she sent over another waitress to take care of me.
Side rant: WTF is up with this country? Why can't I do business with English-speaking people? Why do we have bilingual English/Spanish signs? Why do we offer a bilingual driving test? We never offered them to people of German, French, Swiss, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Chinese or any other heritage. So WHY in the hell are we doing it for people who speak Spanish? Dammit, if you come to America, learn how to speak English like everyone before you had to do.
Another side rant: While I'm sitting there, I watch someone in a Jeep Cherokee try to drive face-first into a parking spot directly in front of me. The space was big enough to accommodate the vehicle and still allow 5-6 feet between it and the cars in front of and behind it. On the first attempt, he misses his angle completely, gets frustrated, and pulls away to park down the block. Had he actually attempted to properly parallel park it, he's have made it easily. Problem was, he was talking on his mobile phone while trying to accomplish an everyday task. Moron. Exactly the kind of idiot that causes wrecks by being distracted by his phone conversation.
So two things, World-At-Large: Ban all smoking in public places, but especially in bars and restaurants. And ban all use of mobile phones while operating a motor vehicle. Period.
After breakfast, I wander around for a while. By 10:30, it's getting hella hot, so I head back to the comfort of my air-conditioned cave at the hotel. Maybe today's not a good "people day" for me.
Head to Offerdahl's Café Grill for lunch. They have the 3rd best vegetarian chili I've ever eaten, bested only by my own and Mitch's Tavern back home. I think the red lentils put it over the top. Might have to add them to my recipe.
Spend the rest of the afternoon just hanging out in my room.
Around 7, I head out for dinner. Two of the 3 sushi places are closed (!?), and the third one is pretty much delivery oriented. There are 4 stools inside at a small counter, but there's no proper sushi bar and the place is waaaay too brutal with fluorescent lighting. Pass.
Wind up back at Lombardi's, the "oyster bar" place from last night. I'm heartily welcomed back by Alessandro, the GM and Jenny, the lovely bartender from last night. I'm all about a comfort zone with restaurants, and these two folks are fun to talk to, so I don't mind eating here again at all.
Good time was had by all. OK, by me, but that's all I care about.
Found a place a few blocks further called Granny Feelgood's Café and grabbed a window/counter seat for breakfast. The first waitress who came by didn't speak a word of English, which is not unusual here in Miami, so she sent over another waitress to take care of me.
Side rant: WTF is up with this country? Why can't I do business with English-speaking people? Why do we have bilingual English/Spanish signs? Why do we offer a bilingual driving test? We never offered them to people of German, French, Swiss, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Chinese or any other heritage. So WHY in the hell are we doing it for people who speak Spanish? Dammit, if you come to America, learn how to speak English like everyone before you had to do.
Another side rant: While I'm sitting there, I watch someone in a Jeep Cherokee try to drive face-first into a parking spot directly in front of me. The space was big enough to accommodate the vehicle and still allow 5-6 feet between it and the cars in front of and behind it. On the first attempt, he misses his angle completely, gets frustrated, and pulls away to park down the block. Had he actually attempted to properly parallel park it, he's have made it easily. Problem was, he was talking on his mobile phone while trying to accomplish an everyday task. Moron. Exactly the kind of idiot that causes wrecks by being distracted by his phone conversation.
So two things, World-At-Large: Ban all smoking in public places, but especially in bars and restaurants. And ban all use of mobile phones while operating a motor vehicle. Period.
After breakfast, I wander around for a while. By 10:30, it's getting hella hot, so I head back to the comfort of my air-conditioned cave at the hotel. Maybe today's not a good "people day" for me.
Head to Offerdahl's Café Grill for lunch. They have the 3rd best vegetarian chili I've ever eaten, bested only by my own and Mitch's Tavern back home. I think the red lentils put it over the top. Might have to add them to my recipe.
Spend the rest of the afternoon just hanging out in my room.
Around 7, I head out for dinner. Two of the 3 sushi places are closed (!?), and the third one is pretty much delivery oriented. There are 4 stools inside at a small counter, but there's no proper sushi bar and the place is waaaay too brutal with fluorescent lighting. Pass.
Wind up back at Lombardi's, the "oyster bar" place from last night. I'm heartily welcomed back by Alessandro, the GM and Jenny, the lovely bartender from last night. I'm all about a comfort zone with restaurants, and these two folks are fun to talk to, so I don't mind eating here again at all.
Good time was had by all. OK, by me, but that's all I care about.
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