I was thinking better thoughts.....someone liked them so much they added them to their blog. I'll let you read it over there.
I need to start thinking about bigger things again I think.
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
BlueGrass New Years Eve - Last of 07
The short version (for those who don't want to read a whole lot):
Friends and I got together at my place, I drove the whole kit and caboodle (so they could drink) out to Floyd VA where we enjoyed mexican food, bluegrass music, high energy clog-dancing and noise-makers at midnight.
yeah, we are like that.
The long version:
I asked folks what they wanted to do for new years & got replies ranging from utter silence to "I don't know - what do you want to do?" Well, the multitudes spoke (by not arguing with H and I's idea) and plans were put into action.
I made a reservation at a nice place for dinner. We planned to walk down the street to see the bluegrass band after. Then I somehow figured out how $$$ that restaurant was. No way could we enjoy ourselves spending that much on a night with other things on the agenda too. So the search was on. A restaurant where we could eat at 8:15 near the Floyd Country Store. Floyd is a town, right? It couldn't be that hard, right? It's new years eve fer cryin' out loud. Right?
The folks at the Floyd Country Store were kind enough to tell me the names of some places, which lead to some interesting phone calls. I called:
a restaurant that closes at 8;
a restaurant that isn't open but thurs-sun (even closed on new years!),
a coffeeshop (no food).
Nothing. nada, zilch. zippo. uh oh...
So then I called the natural foods store. they deal with food, maybe they have some idea. So I asked them for advice. They told me about a new mexican place. Mexican! Sounds great AND cheap. Now how do I call to make sure they are open?
Not listed in information. Not on the internet (tangent story as I discover how many Floyd County bloggers referenced this new place - woah - we should call it Blog County). Wait - the natural foods store said the mexican place (El Charro) is near Under the Sun Gallery. So I call the gallery....
It rings long enough for me to worry (it is 4:56 at this point). Finally a lady answers....and she goes down the hall to the restaurant and asks for me. Yes they are open! Yes we can eat there! Yes and Yes and Yes! All is set. I make the confirmation calls and get ready for the evening.
Well, folks start to gather at my place round about 6:30 pm, voices and beverages flowing through my home, infusing it with life. This is what I love. Being together with friends. Low impact, comfortable. We pile into the car and head out, 39 miles on windy roads. (On a side-note here, I was NOT drinking, as I was driving.)
I aimed for but missed one raccoon (kidding - I simply vowed to sacrifice the raccoon instead of the car when worried voices wondered), only had to pull over once for gas and once for a bathroom stop. The stars shone down brilliant and strong as we drove along, anticipating whatever Floyd would offer us.
In Floyd, I followed the directions carefully:
Turn left.
Park your car.
I smile. There is only one intersection in Floyd. Wonder how I'd do if I moved somewhere like this...
We park behind H's car and descend into the restaurant where she awaits us, full of the news that the restaurant is too new to serve alcohol so it's a teetotaling new years for her. Flask bearing friends create whiskey-doctored cokes and her sobriety abates. We feel silly and young. I smile as I look around the table at these people I have gotten to know. This is our first new years as friends, but that seems impossible. Haven't we been together forever? I am in love with us, with our lives, our potential.
The food arrives: simple, fresh and good. I have the Favorita: a burrito, an enchilada, fresh guacamole, crisp lettuce, tangy winter tomato it's just perfectly what I needed. Much more than I needed. A. has a vegetarian special that could feed three. The table slowly quiets, and salsa music fills our conversational gaps...chefs (or cooks or dishwashers) grin slyly through the kitchen window as they watch us eat. I wonder what they are wondering as I grin and eat. I realize I have been dancing in my seat, but I don't stop.
Bellies full, we pay and wander outward, up the stairs, wondering what the bluegrass experience will yield. Two door down we find it, light and sound expanding out the door, we enter and experience the Floyd Country Store.
Not to drag the story on too terribly much longer, we cast our inhibitions to the wind and danced with abandon, copying the simpler dancers, respecting the fantastic ones. We meet two lovely ladies from Culpeper who chose to spend their new years here as well - slender, tall, intelligent; we recognize RC sat by them accidentally, but secretly I think karma is rewarding his kindnesses. Charmer that he is, we leave two email addresses, and 2 friends, richer (well, he does anyway).
Well, H and A and N felt the urge to leave a little early, but S and RC and I stayed through to the end. At one point I felt a little tired. One flatfoot dance later, my heart was pounding, the energy returned.
Last thoughts - Brave Rodney, missing many front teeth, wasn't at all concerned and continued to close-talk any willing (or not so willing!) dance partner. Eddie from somewhar jest down tha road 15 miles, the two women whose laughter carried far, far across the room into the night, the folks from AA who came simply cause they heard there was a nonalcoholic new years celebration, the sweet lady who jumped into the square dance melee when she saw I was without a partner, the cool kid with the cowboy boots and the crazy jumping/knee switching dance thing he did, at first wondering why everyone left the floor between songs until finally dancing and realizing how hard it actually is to do, kazoos and horns and organic sparkling pear juice at midnight.
Happy New Year, to my friends new and old.....much love and luck and space and time in 08 to simply be: happy
a little video for ya:
Friends and I got together at my place, I drove the whole kit and caboodle (so they could drink) out to Floyd VA where we enjoyed mexican food, bluegrass music, high energy clog-dancing and noise-makers at midnight.
yeah, we are like that.
The long version:
I asked folks what they wanted to do for new years & got replies ranging from utter silence to "I don't know - what do you want to do?" Well, the multitudes spoke (by not arguing with H and I's idea) and plans were put into action.
I made a reservation at a nice place for dinner. We planned to walk down the street to see the bluegrass band after. Then I somehow figured out how $$$ that restaurant was. No way could we enjoy ourselves spending that much on a night with other things on the agenda too. So the search was on. A restaurant where we could eat at 8:15 near the Floyd Country Store. Floyd is a town, right? It couldn't be that hard, right? It's new years eve fer cryin' out loud. Right?
The folks at the Floyd Country Store were kind enough to tell me the names of some places, which lead to some interesting phone calls. I called:
a restaurant that closes at 8;
a restaurant that isn't open but thurs-sun (even closed on new years!),
a coffeeshop (no food).
Nothing. nada, zilch. zippo. uh oh...
So then I called the natural foods store. they deal with food, maybe they have some idea. So I asked them for advice. They told me about a new mexican place. Mexican! Sounds great AND cheap. Now how do I call to make sure they are open?
Not listed in information. Not on the internet (tangent story as I discover how many Floyd County bloggers referenced this new place - woah - we should call it Blog County). Wait - the natural foods store said the mexican place (El Charro) is near Under the Sun Gallery. So I call the gallery....
It rings long enough for me to worry (it is 4:56 at this point). Finally a lady answers....and she goes down the hall to the restaurant and asks for me. Yes they are open! Yes we can eat there! Yes and Yes and Yes! All is set. I make the confirmation calls and get ready for the evening.
Well, folks start to gather at my place round about 6:30 pm, voices and beverages flowing through my home, infusing it with life. This is what I love. Being together with friends. Low impact, comfortable. We pile into the car and head out, 39 miles on windy roads. (On a side-note here, I was NOT drinking, as I was driving.)
I aimed for but missed one raccoon (kidding - I simply vowed to sacrifice the raccoon instead of the car when worried voices wondered), only had to pull over once for gas and once for a bathroom stop. The stars shone down brilliant and strong as we drove along, anticipating whatever Floyd would offer us.
In Floyd, I followed the directions carefully:
Turn left.
Park your car.
I smile. There is only one intersection in Floyd. Wonder how I'd do if I moved somewhere like this...
We park behind H's car and descend into the restaurant where she awaits us, full of the news that the restaurant is too new to serve alcohol so it's a teetotaling new years for her. Flask bearing friends create whiskey-doctored cokes and her sobriety abates. We feel silly and young. I smile as I look around the table at these people I have gotten to know. This is our first new years as friends, but that seems impossible. Haven't we been together forever? I am in love with us, with our lives, our potential.
The food arrives: simple, fresh and good. I have the Favorita: a burrito, an enchilada, fresh guacamole, crisp lettuce, tangy winter tomato it's just perfectly what I needed. Much more than I needed. A. has a vegetarian special that could feed three. The table slowly quiets, and salsa music fills our conversational gaps...chefs (or cooks or dishwashers) grin slyly through the kitchen window as they watch us eat. I wonder what they are wondering as I grin and eat. I realize I have been dancing in my seat, but I don't stop.
Bellies full, we pay and wander outward, up the stairs, wondering what the bluegrass experience will yield. Two door down we find it, light and sound expanding out the door, we enter and experience the Floyd Country Store.
Not to drag the story on too terribly much longer, we cast our inhibitions to the wind and danced with abandon, copying the simpler dancers, respecting the fantastic ones. We meet two lovely ladies from Culpeper who chose to spend their new years here as well - slender, tall, intelligent; we recognize RC sat by them accidentally, but secretly I think karma is rewarding his kindnesses. Charmer that he is, we leave two email addresses, and 2 friends, richer (well, he does anyway).
Well, H and A and N felt the urge to leave a little early, but S and RC and I stayed through to the end. At one point I felt a little tired. One flatfoot dance later, my heart was pounding, the energy returned.
Last thoughts - Brave Rodney, missing many front teeth, wasn't at all concerned and continued to close-talk any willing (or not so willing!) dance partner. Eddie from somewhar jest down tha road 15 miles, the two women whose laughter carried far, far across the room into the night, the folks from AA who came simply cause they heard there was a nonalcoholic new years celebration, the sweet lady who jumped into the square dance melee when she saw I was without a partner, the cool kid with the cowboy boots and the crazy jumping/knee switching dance thing he did, at first wondering why everyone left the floor between songs until finally dancing and realizing how hard it actually is to do, kazoos and horns and organic sparkling pear juice at midnight.
Happy New Year, to my friends new and old.....much love and luck and space and time in 08 to simply be: happy
a little video for ya:
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas!
That's all. Thanks for being there you people who make my life full. My world wouldn't be as good a place without having known you.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
No election board to start an election year.
Go government. You people are so annoying. geeze. my cat just farted and it's because of things you do like this, you government weenies. I wish there was someone I could trust.
This is a response to this article (you might want to read it first):
As Primaries Begin, the FEC Will Shut Down
No Quorum on Election Board As Nominees Stall in Congress
I was annoyed that the politicians are playing chicken like this. The dems don't like the republican and the republican doesn't like the dems, or so they say. As you read through the article, it says if this doesn't get solved quickly, funds could be denied to the Edwards campaign.
So, this could be a problem created by dems who want a hilary or obama ticket. Or not. Great, thanks a lot leaders.
Also, this article was seriously edited and buried inside the Roanoke Times. It didn't even mention the Edwards campaign in that version. Perhaps they just didn't have the room. Or didn't care. Who knows. I couldn't even find the short version on their website. Thank you for existing, Washington Post.
So:
I can't trust the media.
I can't trust the politicians.
I can't trust the elections boards.
~makes you want to move to Spain or something~
Have a happy weekend!
This is a response to this article (you might want to read it first):
No Quorum on Election Board As Nominees Stall in Congress
By Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 22, 2007; Page A01
I was annoyed that the politicians are playing chicken like this. The dems don't like the republican and the republican doesn't like the dems, or so they say. As you read through the article, it says if this doesn't get solved quickly, funds could be denied to the Edwards campaign.
So, this could be a problem created by dems who want a hilary or obama ticket. Or not. Great, thanks a lot leaders.
Also, this article was seriously edited and buried inside the Roanoke Times. It didn't even mention the Edwards campaign in that version. Perhaps they just didn't have the room. Or didn't care. Who knows. I couldn't even find the short version on their website. Thank you for existing, Washington Post.
So:
I can't trust the media.
I can't trust the politicians.
I can't trust the elections boards.
~makes you want to move to Spain or something~
Have a happy weekend!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
selling the market building?
where is a good investor when you need them!?
http://www.roanoke.com/news/wb/142227
this could be such a wonderful opportunity for the downtown community
or it could really hurt this town
what will it be?
oliver? you interested?
http://www.roanoke.com/news/wb/142227
this could be such a wonderful opportunity for the downtown community
or it could really hurt this town
what will it be?
oliver? you interested?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
dispointment
weekend bliss,
i have been talking to folks about the Steve Keene exhibit since I found the card advertising it on the counter at mill mountain coffee in downtown roanoke. i couldn't wait to see his work b/c i was sad i never bought something when i saw him in philly. how happy i was when i found 3 of his cville paintings in the basement of a house i rented - i can see then now from my spot on my couch. i wanted to talk to him about the backdrop of a play he painted back in the 90's. a backdrop i still have (well, have access to).
i decided to go on the last day - the last day he was an artist in residence - because i work during the week and i figured he'd need a little time in the area to make some good work using local images.
his paintings from 1992 that i have, well, none of them are local imagery but when he was onsite in philly he painted local images so i have reason to think he'll do a few - the star, that biscuit tin sign on a wall on church street - anything really. just want to have some roanoke sk for my wall.
so the card says in BIG letters
(but I knew they were trying to trick me with the large font so i read further:
centered below information about an artist lecture and the opening reception (i have no interest in art gatherings) I saw this:
i have been talking to folks about the Steve Keene exhibit since I found the card advertising it on the counter at mill mountain coffee in downtown roanoke. i couldn't wait to see his work b/c i was sad i never bought something when i saw him in philly. how happy i was when i found 3 of his cville paintings in the basement of a house i rented - i can see then now from my spot on my couch. i wanted to talk to him about the backdrop of a play he painted back in the 90's. a backdrop i still have (well, have access to).
i decided to go on the last day - the last day he was an artist in residence - because i work during the week and i figured he'd need a little time in the area to make some good work using local images.
his paintings from 1992 that i have, well, none of them are local imagery but when he was onsite in philly he painted local images so i have reason to think he'll do a few - the star, that biscuit tin sign on a wall on church street - anything really. just want to have some roanoke sk for my wall.
so the card says in BIG letters
Olin Gallery
October 26-November 16, 2007
(but I knew they were trying to trick me with the large font so i read further:
centered below information about an artist lecture and the opening reception (i have no interest in art gatherings) I saw this:
*Artist in Residence October 26-November 10*
Steve Keene will be painting onsite during his residency at Roanoke College.
*Extended Gallery Hours: 10-5 pm everyday including weekends*
(oh, the top line is also underlined, but I don't know how to make an underline on this blog)
So imagine my surprise when I get to the gallery at a few minutes after noon on Saturday the 10th of November to find it dark. After chatting with the 3 people I had brought with me and the 4 who were already there waiting (2 "grownups", 2 students), one of the waiting students went to find someone to unlock the gallery.
Security showed up and told us it didn't open until 1, couldn't we see the info on the door of the gallery? Huh? Saturday the 10th is a weekend within the dates the show runs. I checked a poster in the hall. Nope, I'm not crazy.
Well so, ok, for some reason they aren't following the info on the card. That's cool. But now I am nervous. I really want to see the artist in residence, say hello, perhaps grab an iconic painting of this area that he made while in residence, painting onsite, as the card and posters all indicate, and go on my way. Will I get to do this? Bad feeling in my gut.
While waiting for 1 pm we wander over to a building that has an info desk in it. I'm not familiar with the college so don't know the name.
The student at the desk (who tries her hardest despite having a bad cold) has never heard of this show, has no phone numbers to call except the one on the poster i brought over to her (though she doesn't call it since it is the number for Olin Gallery, which we know is closed).
After fruitless conversation, we go back to the gallery. Now unlocked it contains:
1 student who has absolutely NO information about anything
2 giant frames for displaying s.k. work
a big silver box for collecting $
4 teeny tiny paintings
a nice show (ironically, i know most of the folks who's pieces are displayed)
it does not contain an artist in residence.
it does not contain work that reflects any local sights
it does not contain any indication that said artist will return any time soon.
it contains many disappointed gallery-goers. We exchanged stories about how far we had driven. it was a very mini-tragedy, but a tragedy nonetheless.
So - the 3 people i brought with me, the 4 we met in the hall and the 6-8 others we encountered while we were there sadly looked around thoroughly. glumly. bummer-edly. ok, so a couple of them didn't seem to care, but they also didn't know about the show in advance and were just there to see whatever might be going on.
So, mlogan at roanoke dot edu, I send you my tale of woe. Many hopes that it helps you remedy this with future shows, as, alack, there is nothing that can be done about it now.
bp
excville
current r'noker
Steve Keene will be painting onsite during his residency at Roanoke College.
*Extended Gallery Hours: 10-5 pm everyday including weekends*
(oh, the top line is also underlined, but I don't know how to make an underline on this blog)
So imagine my surprise when I get to the gallery at a few minutes after noon on Saturday the 10th of November to find it dark. After chatting with the 3 people I had brought with me and the 4 who were already there waiting (2 "grownups", 2 students), one of the waiting students went to find someone to unlock the gallery.
Security showed up and told us it didn't open until 1, couldn't we see the info on the door of the gallery? Huh? Saturday the 10th is a weekend within the dates the show runs. I checked a poster in the hall. Nope, I'm not crazy.
Well so, ok, for some reason they aren't following the info on the card. That's cool. But now I am nervous. I really want to see the artist in residence, say hello, perhaps grab an iconic painting of this area that he made while in residence, painting onsite, as the card and posters all indicate, and go on my way. Will I get to do this? Bad feeling in my gut.
While waiting for 1 pm we wander over to a building that has an info desk in it. I'm not familiar with the college so don't know the name.
The student at the desk (who tries her hardest despite having a bad cold) has never heard of this show, has no phone numbers to call except the one on the poster i brought over to her (though she doesn't call it since it is the number for Olin Gallery, which we know is closed).
After fruitless conversation, we go back to the gallery. Now unlocked it contains:
1 student who has absolutely NO information about anything
2 giant frames for displaying s.k. work
a big silver box for collecting $
4 teeny tiny paintings
a nice show (ironically, i know most of the folks who's pieces are displayed)
it does not contain an artist in residence.
it does not contain work that reflects any local sights
it does not contain any indication that said artist will return any time soon.
it contains many disappointed gallery-goers. We exchanged stories about how far we had driven. it was a very mini-tragedy, but a tragedy nonetheless.
So - the 3 people i brought with me, the 4 we met in the hall and the 6-8 others we encountered while we were there sadly looked around thoroughly. glumly. bummer-edly. ok, so a couple of them didn't seem to care, but they also didn't know about the show in advance and were just there to see whatever might be going on.
So, mlogan at roanoke dot edu, I send you my tale of woe. Many hopes that it helps you remedy this with future shows, as, alack, there is nothing that can be done about it now.
bp
excville
current r'noker
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