whiskeyslowdown.com

wiht all theirlions and all their might and all their thirst

Sean — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:28:00 -0700

I was thinking about something a wrote a few posts ago, about how Obama was making mistakes I would make. And though I haven't been paying much attention, it does seem like the spirit of that post, that he was going to be ineffectual, was wrong. It does seem like he is passing his agenda. I think his incorrectly associated all his 'splaining with a lack of willpower. I mean, Bill spent a lot of time trying to convince people of the merits of his program, and if he couldn't, then he changed his program. I assumed Obama would do the same. Unfortunately, he seems to largly stick to his guns. I like it, I just don't like his guns.

Here is something from the new WFB anthology:

"What then is the indicated course of action? It is to maintain and wherever possible enhance the freedom of the individual to acquire property and dispose of that property in ways that he decides on. To deal with unemployment by eliminating monopoly unionism, featherbedding, and inflexibilities in the labor market, and be prepared, where residual unemployment persists, to cope with it locally, placing the political and humanitarian responsibility on the lowest feasible political unit. . . . And then let us see whether we are better off than we would be living by decisions made between nine and five in Washington office rooms, where the oligarchs of the Affluent Society sit, allocating complaints and solutions to communities represented by pins on the map.

Amen Brother.

all their lions and all their might and all their thirst

Sean — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:29:00 -0700

Crosfit Atlanta Got 8th in the Affiliate competition. I am proud. That they got first in the obstacle course makes me even prouder.

Mike G Finishied in the top half of the Men.

Karen and I had a great weekend in Austin. I had two of the most memorable meals ever: Heirloom Tomato salad, Figs and young goat cheese, and Paella at fino, the the sunday brunch at Fonda San Miguel. The breakfast fixing at Brunch were extrodinary. Wow. Don't come to Austin for a weekend and not eat and Fonda San Miguel for brunch. Don't.

Just saw Inception. I may need to see it again before commenting. It was very good, for sure

I went to Peeche and wasn't suprised to see the Unusual Negroni named "The Peche Negroni". I wasn't surprised to see the peniccillin on the menu either, but Rob is making 'em without ginger. Yeah, the dude plays fast and loose with his menu. I don't approve.

helicopter, helicopter won't you please come down

Sean — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:53:00 -0700

The Dutch came in second. I am sad the World Cup is over but glad that my brief affair with the Oranjemen is over. Now I can go back to hating them. Iniesta had a good game and I am glad he got the goal.

I am in Austin. Bootcamp has started.

One of the Bootcampers from the previous year has lost 30 pounds in the last few months following my dieting advice. No exercise, he just eliminated sugars and starches. That's it. "It was so easy" he said. The total pounds lost this year by following simple evelutionary principles is encouraging. That a freind of this colleague remarked to him, "your cholesteral is probably though the roof", reminds me of how much work still needs to be done.

Tara's wedding was perfect. A good Catholic wedding, and a beautiful and fun reception. Lots of open bars. She looked great. The more I think about it, the more I love her dress.

Saw Predators in Austin at the draft house. It was almost as good as anything like that could be. I enjoyed it.

I was at BarChef in Toronto and was very impressed. While there I read an issue of imbibe, and came across this:

2 oz sweet vermouth

1oz fernet branca

2 dashes simple syrup

1 dash absinth

Stirred.

Yum.

The Crossfit Games start this week. CFATL4EVA!

fuck yeah!

Sean — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:58:00 -0700

America!

Dave and I watched the game while chatting with eachother on YIM. I was at the cabin ( I had been since Firday night) and by the end we were conditioning ourselves for the loss: He texted 'Sign', and I responed 'oh well'. By the Very End I was screaming and hollering, but, alas, I was alone at the cabin so there was no one to hear me scream.

I spent the last couple of night sitting on the deck tending the grill a watching movies on my laptop. No need for a plate, I'd just eat right off the grill. Saw Book of Eli and and the Ugly Truth. First lets get it out of the way, yes I was watching the ugly truth by myself, and no, I didn't think it was a response to Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. I KNEW it was a rom-com, but I kinda have a thing for the lead I like that guy. Anyhow, it was unoriginal (arn't theny all) (No! Wedding Crashers and maybe sarah Marshal... and 40 year old virgin.. my point is that sometimes they are good). This one wasn't but I enjoyed it.

Suck it. I -do- drink beer for tatse, so I got that going for me. But then again, i sometimes carry a carry all/

Alex had told me to watch Eli, and it is obvious why. Well done theme. You all know I am touchyy about how christianity is portrayed in movies. Still enjoyed this movie , despite its implication (That Chirsitian fevor is responisble for an apocalyptic war). It's not that movie is so good despise that implication, its that the movie is otherwise as pro-christian as they come. Seriously. Add it to NRO's list of all time most conservative movies. (Pure coincidence that I mention NRO's culture section in subsequent posts, but while I am on the subject, that list of theirs doesn't include Demolition Man, which is by far the most conservative movie of all time. What did I call them? Rubes? RUBES!)/

Steve Matt and Dave just left. I don't get a chance to brag about game night much, since I am not actually that good, but I came in 1st and 2nd today, out of two games. Dave got skunked. That never happens in small group play.

Steve though. He's a gamer.

OK. cabin again this weekend. Toronto this week. Atlanta for a week. Then Austin (with a brief stop in Kansas City to see Tara get Married).

But really I should be documenting this world cup. I have seen all but seven or eight games. well, they have been on in the background at least. I love it. I would like to see more definitive outcomes but whatever. I love it.

I still hate the haters. I listen to local sports radio on the drive back from Blue Ridge, and lo-and-behold the only soccer they were discussion was wether or not America gives a shit I wanted to call in and tell them soccer isn't in the dock and pretending it is demostrates their ignorence and insecurity, but then I thought, why the hell am I listening to sports talk, and oh my god did I actually consider CALLING sports talk? Is still feel lame, and I probably exagerated how close I was to calling..

World Cup is the greatest sporting even in the world, by oh, a few thousand decameters (I hope that is far, I have no idea). If you don't recognize that, you are being obtuse (OBTUSE, is it intentional?). Its fine if you don't like it, it really is. But it is not in the Dock and maybe if you stopped pretending it was you would start to enjoy it. If that's too much to ask, at least let the casual listener in on the scores of the active games once in a while. From Eli's sake, thats what sports news is ostensibly for, isn't it?

"It was never in doubt, except for the first 90 minutes"*

*Best opening line of an article ever

swinging the world by the tail bouncing over a white cloud killing the blues

Sean — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:42:00 -0700

Outside of Norlinger's writings on Classical music, the National Review's cultural musings have always been booring and uninsightful. It's hard for me not to impugn their motives, and also call it apologetic or reactionary, but the hidden message behind NRO's collection cultural articles seems to be "Don't worry, keep doing what you are doing you arn't missing anything".

I've felt that way since the first cultural articles were posted, and feel compelled to write it now, because they insist on patting themselves on the back for not liking soccer. There is nothing more tedious then people explaining why they don't like soccer. IT IS A SPORT, you arn't obliged to like it. There is no justification necessary! I am reminded of the gradeschool loudmouths who, not knowing what particular jet was flying overhead, would list loudly all the planes it wasn't, for that at least afforded them the chance to talk about things they knew. Such it is with people who feel compelled talk about World Cup in any way other than engaged.

I love you NRO, but SHUT THE FUCK UP. Really. SHUT UP. Finding some other commentator on the other edge of the internetverse who also doesn't like soccer isn't an excuse to regurgitate your own feelings on the matter. What purpose is served by posting polls showing that soccer still hasn't caught on?

Karen lent me her Allison Krause and Robert Plant collaboration. ("He was in some band called led zeppelin", she said. Yes, I replied, and then cautioned her against ever describing them aloud as "Some Band" while in the South, though it was college before I knew any of their songs myself). I haven't got a feel for the whole album yet, but the song "Killing the blues" is INCREDIBLE. There is also a moody cover of townes's Nothin and another good song called "Read the Letter".

I don't normally give these "Designed to win an Oscar" records a chance, but I am glad I did in this case.

YOu know what other song is good. Lost Cause by beck. "killinge the blues" reminds me of "lost cause" for somereason.

And this ain’t no place for the weary kind

Sean — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:23:00 -0700

I just notcied the Andy made an elliot smith comment... funny. You know who -is- good? Miike Smith (no typo, has two 'i's).

I have now missed 2 and half world cup games. I have seen all the rest and am watching the dutch opener right now at Meehans in Sandy Springs.

I should have wrote this before the cup started, but I can reference my Espn bracket if it ever becomes a point of centention: My teams are USA, Chile, England, Netherlands and Ghana.

Had a big planned dinner at Holeman last night, 8 beers, 4 courses. Lots of parts of course. It was hard to get up to watch the Dutch this morning, but I knew I would toss and turn in indecission if I didn't get up. So here I am. rooting for the Dutch in an empty bar that I don't even like. What the hell was I thinking?!

Still. Its the World Cup!

Went to a party beforehand and the host had a coffee roaster. a ROASTER. and a 5 gallong bag of unroaster collumbian beans.

Crazy Heart was good. Very much inspired by Billy Joe Shaver (who I wrote about a few posts ago). The link was made explicit when Duval sang "Live Forever" while fishing. I have had just read on a friends blog that robert Duval sings, acapella, Shaver's 'Live forever' in a fishing boat on a lake with the Dude, I would immediately rent that movie, but if you need more incentive, you should know there are at least two obvious Big Lebowski reverences.. For instance, one of the first scenes is a reverse angle shot of the Bad Blake, sitting at a bar in a bowling alley.

I'll let you find the rest.

There was also a Townes burnt into Bad Blake (the movies fictional musician), but the only townes song in the movie seemes a little out of place. Go watch already.

UNSATISFIED , A WORD HE OFTEN USES IS NEED, HE'S USUALLY WIRED ON THAT CHEAP TRUCKERS SPEED

Sean — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:54:00 -0700

Dr Saturday wrote the it was like America's funniest videos except Bob Sagat got to be himself, not Danny Tanner. So I checked out Tosh.0 and was pretty impressed. One episodehe showed this clip and said that it was like watching colege girls run away from Bill Mahar:

Now, I can't stand Bill Maher, and my dislike predates his repulsive political 'humor'. In fact, it predates the now agreed upon definition of Douchebag. I know because in college I was at the mellow mushroom with some friends and he walked by outside, and though none of us were familiar with the man, we were all instantly put off, but silent for want of adequete vocabulary. No more will be caught unprepared.

Spent too much time fiddling with the St Petersburg paradox this week.. just trying to get my head around the issue, and then I bought St petersburg the game and got schooled by Dave 3 to 0. Ugh.

Saw three comedians at the Laughing Skull. Gram Elwood was the headliner, but his opener Trevor Williams was the most impressive. He's routine needs a little work, but his stage presense is perfect. He made me spit Guiness out of my nose, calling himself on some particularly poor audience interaction. Gram was good too once he warmed up (I suspect coming out while everyone was fullfilling their two drink minimum, and then have to slow play his start until he had everyone's attention did him in). Everyone in atlanta should get out and support the Laughing skull comedy club (at the votrex in midtown). I know , I know, I go to one comedy show and now I am coming on like the fucking ambasssador of the arts, but its such a small place, your attendence really counts..

Margaret Cho did a surprise set. It was the Bluest bit of comedy I have ever seen. That she didn't end it with an aristocrats joke suprised me. It was very well done though.Outclassed the other two. But not for long, Trevor will make a name for himself.

Oh, I also saw Imogen Heap. Not a great concert. Not enough atmopshere.

Oh wait, one last thing. At the end of Gram's act he empahsized that everyone should say hi after the show.. " i'll be right over there, so when you leave don't feel like you have to just walk past, even if you dont want to buy any of my merchendice I'd love to thank you for coming out", which was a classy send off. Except he set up at the entrance, which was oposite the club's exit. So no one existing walked past him. I did walk past him because I was going the other way, and in my head I wanted to joke with him about the mistake.... What I SHOULD have said was "Not gonna move a lotta tape this way", but I totally didn't think of it till I passed him.

Damnit, it was too perfect.

u better try to have fun kow matter what you'll do

Sean — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:36:00 -0700

I oubt I couldn't possible fail to be less unlike Nordlinger (and lileks)

They have this slogan down in Austin: “Texas for people who hate Texas.” Must be the snottiest slogan on the planet. Well, I love Austin — and I also love Texas for people who love Texas. -jay

I used to cling to reasons to not like Austin, then I used to mock myself for it, and lately I have grown to hate the sentiment of that bumper sticker.

Going to see Imogen Heap tonight. Her album Speak For Yourself is very gettable. I am late to the game praising the song 'Hide and Seek', but it's definately worth a listen. Whoah to have discovered in it highschool so that I could sneak it on to mix tapes for girlfriends.... (I know, I didn't have girlfriends in HIghschool (or college! my inner heckler heckles). I would have put the whole 'nothing compares to you' crowd to shame! (I have this memory of all the girls on the bus freshman year listening to that song in hushed reverance.. that moment made an impression on me , what can I say?)

I did have Brenda and Mellissa who I would drive to school every morning, and to mrs winners for breakfast. I rememeber listening to Gish, mostly, but Mel tells me I used to play Dright Yoakum to to annoy Brenda. Ahh, good times.

I don't know it this rates, given all the ancillary wierdness in my life, but on mother's day I went to see Joann, she wasn't there so I went to see melissa at the restaurant she works at, and I ran into Joann and My dad, who were eating there. I caught up with melissa again this tuesday and she told me she works after-school at the Ron Clark Academy. I told her he used to live in my building. Yesterday he was waiting in the loby for the elvator I was in.

Also, Melissa beat me in pool. (that, I know, will stretch your credulity)

seet smelling blackberry stone

Sean — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:28:00 -0700

Wow. Invictus is boring.

This clip isn't.

why is he such a prick, please tell me so I know what makes guys like him tick. he's such a dick.

Sean — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:03:00 -0700

I have to type fast....

This morning I thought I would treat myself to a nice diner breakfast before work. Unfortunately the server was the jocular type. He had a flower in his ear, zany sunglasses, called everyone 'young sir' or 'young lady', was obviously up on multiple cups of coffee, and was bantering with the rest of the staff in the kitchen.

Fine fine fine and fine. He was fine. And if it was lunchtime, he wouldn't have ruined my meal. I am a morning person, but they are a time of quiet introspection, and short communication. I repeat, I love the mornings, but if I had to give my waitron a swing-thought for dealing with me, it would be 'Silent Commiseration". If I am in such a good mood that a smile sneaks out, the swing thought should then be "ironic commiseration". You know, make some comment when refilling my coffee like , "things are turning around, here is some joe was actually made today." If you can't do irony, treat me like a pitcher 7 innings into a no-hitter.

Also, The Flying Biscuits' biscuits are lousy. They always have been. (This reminds me of a running joke corrie and I had. When I expressed surprise to our server that my pancakes came with a biscuit, he said, "all or meals do, hence the name flying biscuit". Oh.)

Anyhow, so my morning didn't go as well as I hoped. A moment ago I checked in on Lileks, and he improved it:

Before the meal came we amused ourselves with the games on the kid’s menu. One had mixed-up overlapping line-drawings of sharks, and you had to count the number of sharks. Shark jumble! The answer was ten, but there was also a fully-realized picture of a shark in the tank. So technically, the answer was eleven. Daughter was vaguely amused. I said I would point this out to the waitress. Daughter was slightly alarmed. “I’ll get a free meal out of this,” I said. Daughter was now seriously alarmed. Dad don’t.

Well, that’s all the inducement I need. “Waitress?” She came over. I pointed out that the answer said ten sharks, but if you include this one, the answer was eleven.

“It could be a dolphin,” she said.

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

She left. Daughter: “Dad why did you DO that?”

“Waitresses love funny customers! It brightens up their day. The ones that tell jokes, make puns, think they’re the life of the party – waitresses can’t wait for those.”

I got a skeptical expression.

“No, really, they fight over ‘em, even thought they usually are bad tippers because they think they’ve tipped enough just by being so entertaining.”

She wasn’t buying it. I told her no, that wasn’t true, but the waitress seemed the type who’d enjoy a little banter, and since her section wasn’t full at all there wasn’t any harm.

Actually, waiters don’t like ha-ha funny customers, the ones with routines, accents, stock phrases, and three other people who find them hilarious. (Or not.) These are performers. Waiters don’t like people whose humor has an aggressive undertone – I’ll have the horsemeat. Don’t tell me you don’t serve it, I’ve eaten here before. Banter is fine. Banter is a social lubricant. But it’s my experience lately that half of the waiters do not listen to most of what you say, and my strongest evidence is my stock request for Coffee, Black, as if I’m tugging down the front of my uniform and commanding the Enterprise replicator. Half the time it’s met with “Cream or sugar?” To which you want to say well, I think I’ll just have my black coffee black, thanks. Then the coffee arrives, and the waiter sets down cream and sugar. When I ask them to take it away, there’s confusion – no cream? No sugar? Seriously? The last time we went out the waitress seemed peeved I didn’t want the cream, as if I’d just sprung this on her at the last moment. You could have told me. ,mmmm

I couldn't turn my back on a world for And I couldn't turn my back on sweet smelling Blackberry stone

Sean — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:30:00 -0700

Wow. Readers. Plurl even.

Out of respect for Andy, I won't counter his lost points. I agree with most of what he says, I just am not as inclined to give them the "prime time" pass. I didn't give BattleStar galactica a pass either, but maybe my citing of the superb Firefly, which was cancelled after one season, supports Andy's argument more than it supports my own.

I reread my except for the Corner, and am remind of Buckley, who said it better (of course) and more succicntly (not so common for Buckley) when he said, "dont' immanitize the eschaton". All my political thoughts these days start with that sentiment. I think to myself, "well of course that isn't going to work". For example, Drudge reports the Canada's health care isn't falling apart. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but what, in the realm of human existance, makes people think that it would work?

Moreover, if, lets say, that for the first 10 years of someone's life the state provides them 'free' medical care. Doesn't that mean that person is indebted to the state before he's had any choices?

So either that model fails because people don't repay their debt, or they are forced to repay their debt , vis a vis slavery. (Is that an extremist thought? I don't know, but I had it this morning)

I just had drinks with Melissa, she is my oldest friend, and a school teacher, and she of course bemoans lack of funding for teaching. But I can't help but think that the whole Idea of putting your kids in the hands of the state is COMPLETELY FUCKING RETARDED. Who actually thought that would work!? I'll tell you who, people who knew all the other student's parents, and personally knew the teacher, and knew that the prayers would be the same ones they said at home, and the teaching would be confined to math ,english, and how to respect your elders. The minute that cirriculum wasn't acceptable to the 'public' the model was broke. Is that extremist? Dunno, maybe it's idealistic, but I have felt that way for a long time.

I should note that the difference now, between me, and a pessimist like dolorous ed, is that he is pissed, and I am just confused. I really am.

All teachers complain about not getting paid enough, but no teachers suggest upending the entire system. This bespeaks a lack imagination. And She's an Art Teacher.

I just spent 30 minutes looking for the quote from Coplan where Figgs dresses down Freddy for being idealistic, saying something like, "that's a child's plan, freddy, written in crayon on the back of fairytale". Or something remotely similar to that.. (I couldn't find the quote), but basically I feel that way about every progressive policy.

Don't Immanatize the Eschaton.

Amen Bill. RIP.

Anyhow, let me say something slowdownish...

Was in Kansas all weekend. Watched golf and ate with grandma in the mornings and for Dinner (lunch to y'all), then hung out with Aunt and Uncle and Cousins for drinks , supper, pingpong, shuffleboard and four wheeling in the evenings. Can't beat that. Love Kansas.

Great Bend strikes me as the kind of town that is only so nice because once a year the town elders sacrifice a child to some demon. Each year he asks for a little more (at first it was the tip of a pinky), and since it's incremental, they go along with it (The demon is the Government!?). Only something like that could explain who the town remains idyllic. Its got a big zoo, a waterpark, a skate park, a river, three coffee shops...

Or maybe I am only there on vacation and don't see the meth addiction and poverty. I know it isn't idyllic.... but you don't have to have a huge imagination to see it that way.If it shows up on a 'best place to live' list, let me know.

Hmmm..... I haven't listened to Andy's suggestions, but I have been listening to Pandora radio based on Andy's suggestions. Hey, it could be more frustrating, instead of saying "Hey, I value your suggestions, but instead of listening to what you said, I am listening to music that will only make my refusal to listen to them more fustrating", I could be recommending stuff I am hearing on this station back at you. And I could be smug about it.... "I know you are still listening to old Fleet Foxes stuff, but you should really check out something new, like Elliot Smith".

Or whatever. I just pulled 'Elliot Smith' out of a hat. Comments about him arn't welcome.

the pride of man In Levelland

Sean — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:34:00 -0700

Lost is done. Good riddance. I'm not a Hater, but that show and I weren't made for each other. I liked this season best. All my complaints circle around how the writers had to yank the characters around both physically and emotionally in order to work the story. I honestly think the writers should have expressly made it a characteristic of the Island: In the first few episodes anyone survivor who answers a question directly should be immediately devoured by the smoke monster. Then, for the rest of the show, the characters' miserable communications would have been an intentional defense against the smoke.

In the first season, any time two groups of people met and didn't exchange people or otherwise split up needlessly, the lot of them would be flung by some mysterious force into the ocean, forcing them to swim back. The writers then would have had a tidy explanation for the logistical hoops they made their characters jump through.

Finally, early in the season they should have discovered that the Dharma Rations were laced with some drug that makes people irrational and bi-polar.

Anyhow.. not to dis the show. It was remarkable, and successfully ambitious. Bravo.

I don't post politics much no more, partly because I can't find anyone worth rooting for. The Republicans (for many years now) have behaved like unprincipled opportunists. This corner post shows was good though, for many reasons.

We who live in the 21st century West have the least messy, least dangerous, least uncertain lives of any human beings in history. We should be very grateful for that, but we should not let our good fortune utterly distort our expectations of life, and we should not react with unrestrained indignant shock anytime the limitations of our power make themselves seen or the cold and harsh capriciousness of nature overcomes our defenses. We should expect a firm response from the institutions we have built to protect ourselves—science, technology, and modern government—but we cannot expect a perfect response. Not from Bush, and not from Obama.

Let’s hope the administration does a better job in response to this spill than it has so far, just as the Bush administration could certainly have done a better job in its response to Katrina. It’s clear they have made mistakes. But let’s not pretend that what we’re witnessing here is fundamentally a colossal failure of the federal government. There are plenty of those going on, but this isn’t one of them.

I've felt like this for ages, just didn't know how to say it

Sean — Tue, 25 May 2010 08:11:00 -0700

I am so fucking confused.

I was looking for some new Rock to listen to and was very impressed with this mini-review of a "Male Bonding"

Male Bonding's songs are fast, noisy, and full of hooks, a combination that might remind you of any number of things: Nirvana-era fuzz-pedal stompers, 1990s American indie rockers, Hüsker Dü and Dinosaur Jr. followers, not-quite-shoegazer English bands. Like a lot of those acts-- and like their contemporaries in No Age and Abe Vigoda-- Male Bonding started out making more abrasive music. But with Male Bonding, part of the treat is hearing them jump out of ultra-lo-fi scene and find room in the wide-open field where amped-up, rangy punk stuff collides with tuneful slacker pop. The hustle, the energy, and the sheer number of hooks make this an easy album to love-- especially if you're in the mood for some feedback and punk-rock energy along with your melodies.

Sound Great Right!?
So I bought the first song on the CD and thought, "I could probably get into this, but I don't know if I have the patience to deal with lo-fi at the moment". A couple days later I pulled the trigger, and have been generally impressed.

Over the last couple of weekend I got familiar with the album, and thoguh Ican clearly say it is very good, I am frustrated by its tweeny-ness. I mean, these guys an aural equivalent of that rabit/duck optical illusion. . One listen I think they are Dinosaur Jr except with 2k indy pop vocals, and then the next listen they are an Pitchfork darling inpy pop band (a la Pains of Being Pure of heart), hiding behind extra guitars and low production values. Of course it doen't matter one bit, the distinction is only in my head,but I could help but fiddle with it.

Today I saw that they had a video posted on pitchfork, and while it was playing, I started writing this post, with the theme 'it's alright to be confused', but as I glanced back at the video, halfway through the song, I became less sure of myself. Watch and Find out why.

Anyhow, for a good song without all the mixed messages, try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77yeQlJmPXk (Anti Warning: This is just audio. ) (Anti Warning #2: Starts Noisy, gets cowbelly )

I reckon we'll ramble till hell freezes over

Sean — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:59:00 -0700

in 1994, or so, Billy Joe shaver, a musician who I had never heard of released a country rocker called "Georgia on a Fast train". The Song was fun, the video got airplay, and I had everyone in the dorm listening to it. We all liked it, though neither I, or most of the dorm previously listened to country music. I was just a damn fine song.

Later that year, or maybe the next, McNalley and I drove to Atlanta to see him perform at smiths old bar. First we had a bite at Ansley shopping mall, across the street, during which we were slow to pick up on that neighborhood's peculiar demographic. It wasn't until Brian got up to throw away some trash, and I watched the other guys watch him that we realized that, statistically at least, we were on a date.   Later we walked upstairs to see the show, but were not allowed entry because we were not 21. We pleaded that we already bought the tickets, and that we had drove all the way from Athens, but made no headway.

One of us remembered that when we had first driven in we had seen a van unloading equipment, and one of us had the idea to canvas the area for that van. We figured that the driver would be Billy and his son, and that we could plead our case with them. Ridiculous?   Yes. But we did it anyway, and without too much difficulty found the van parked at a motel on Cheshire Bridge.   We walked into the lobby, and through some subterfuge confirmed that the Shaver's were in fact at the hotel. Though spying, we derived their room number. And so we walked over and knocked on the door.

Billy answered it, and we could see Eddie relaxing on one of the beds inside. We explained our plight, telling him we were big fans. Billy said "well hell, tell them you're kin".   On further conversation he wrote on the back of a card, "these boys are kin" or something to that effect. We carried the card back to Smiths, and were still not granted admittance.    We lurked around the back of the building, perhaps hoping to intercept Billy again, but for reasons I don't recall, gave up early and drove back to Athens.

The Concert was recorded and released as "unshaven. Shaver live at smiths".

A year or two later I went to Eddies attic to see a few musicians who were said to be Outlaw Country, along the lines of Billy. Sometime before or after the show I fell into talking with one of them, David Olney I believe, who started telling me Shaver Stories. Or rather, he was telling me other people's stories and when I mentioned Shaver, he laughed, and said a few things that made me think that all these guys had some combination of respect , awe, and fear of the man. If Texas singers were hockey players, Billy was the enforcer. That, at least, was the impression I walked away with.

Sometime Later, or maybe around that time, Billy's son Eddie past away, and Billy showed remarkable strength released new albums that were brutally honest about the loss, and, well, hard life in general.

Many years later I found out that the Owner of the company I worked for was not only friend with Billy, but also the late Townes Van Zandt. Though he has sold the company, he still owes me many stories about both....

Last night I was reading Stomp And Stammer, which, under the issue number had the tag "Pussy Loves Us", a reference I completely didn't get but found funny (yes, I am out of touch). Later inside the concert hall at smiths, I saw another sticker that said "I collect records because pussy hates me". Apprantly there is a whole meme I have missed. Anyhow, the magazine featured the band Smoke Faires who opened for the band I was going to see (Laura Marling. Llinks posted a couple posts back), and an editorial that skewered Obama's divisive rhetoric. Anyhow, none of this is important except I love Stomp and Stammer, and their News Leak page had this blurb, which was news to me.

A Waco, Tex. jury found Billy Joe Shaver not guilty of aggravated assault charges stemming from a 2007 altercation in which he popped a cap in a guy's face outside a bar in 2007. Willie Nelson and Robert Duvall showed up to testify on Shaver's behalf, and as the defendant advised prosecutors during the trial, "I'm from Texas. If I were chickenshit, I would have left, but I'm not." To wit: Don't even think about fucking with Billy Joe Shaver under any circumstances whatsoever.

I laughed at that. Here is a full article.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/28575479.html

Some of the good stuff

In a packed, sweltering courtroom, Shaver, 70, admitted to shooting Billy Bryant Coker on the back porch of Papa Joe’s Saloon, a beer joint outside Shaver’s Waco hometown. The singer pleaded self-defense, claiming Coker stirred his drink with a pocket blade, wiped it on Shaver’s shirt and asked him to come outside. “I felt he was gonna kill me,” Shaver testified. “He was a big bully, the worst I ever seen — a big bad one. And I been all around the world.”

State prosecutors argued Shaver could have left in his truck before shooting Coker. “I’m from Texas,” Shaver responded in his honky-tonk Texas drawl. “If I was a chicken shit I would have left.”

The shooting occurred March 31, 2007, after Shaver stopped into the smoky bar for a beer with his former wife, Wanda. Shaver testified Coker was rude to Wanda and told Shaver to “Shut the fuck up.” After the two went outside, witnesses testified Shaver asked Coker, “Where do you want it?” then pointed a .22 pistol at Coker’s cheek, pulled the trigger and fled in his truck. When Shaver was asked on the stand if he shot Coker because Shaver was jealous the victim was talking Shaver’s wife, Shaver laughed. “I get more woman than a passenger train can haul,” he said.

This is all so very much like the new Olyphant TV Show Justified, which I incorrectly fretted might be a bit unrealistic. I mean, people don't go around shooting people like we're all living in deadwood. Well, yep, they do actually.

To recap.
Things I love: Stomp and Stammer, Timothy Olyphant, Billy Joe Shaver, Laura Marling, Smoke Fairies, and of course, Deadwood, Townes Van Zandt, and Robert Duval.

Things that love me: Pussy.

(did I do that right?)

Who the hell is the blue guy?

Sean — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:26:00 -0700

I seem to be getting worse at making coffee. Maybe its periodization.. (no one is going to get that reference)

New hold Steady is on in the background and hitting the spot. But in the car today it fell flat. Hmmmm.

I am trying to put a mix tape together inspired by Iron & Wine. Here is what I got

King Of Carrot Flowers Part 1
Which Will Nick Drake
Delicate Damien Rice
Goodbye England (Covered In Snow) Laura Marling
Julie Jens Lekman
Lua Bright Eyes
Hi-Fi M. Ward
Only Him Or Me Townes Van Zandt
The Sparrow and the Medicine   Tallest Man On Earth
Start A War The National
Golden My Morning Jacket
Jesus, Etc. Wilco
White Winter Hymnal Fleet Foxes
Roscoe Midlake

Detlef Schrempf Band of Horses
Mystifies Me   Son Volt

Obviously I need help... Nick Drake is the most obvious. Man I would love a good version of O'Brien

I think it was the hold steady's latest that has sinspiried to me to work on song lyrics... I guess its obvious when the line I am working on goes like this:

Maybe Bigfoot was really blurry/And the pictures came out fine/Maybe everything in downtown minnapolis has to ryme

Of course I'de need to come up with a bunch more examples of the Big Foot Phenomena. Alex would be helpful here I suspect. And I'd need a point, eventually.

Had Iberian Pig Last night. They're front man is so good at the greet and grin I fall for it every time. He doesn't rememebr me from shinola, and I never realize it until I hear him greet the next person the exact same way. Happened to me 3 times yesterday and one months before. He's a Jedi. A forgetful restaurant Jedi.

I had been on Game Streak against Dave for the last year or two, but he turned it around today with the help of his boy Jason. Good looking kid, him.

Did I mention I hung out with the Todd, and after Wisteria we came back and listed to soft jazz records and drank fancy liquers? We did. Everytime I play Check magione on my old Record Player I crack up.

What?

I got us some Drinking jackets buddy, when you coming back to town.

(IPTDBBPAP)

it´s 22 pages front and back And it´s too good to be used

Sean — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:56:00 -0700

Yeah I went to Vegas, and yeah I have some stories to tell, but they are long and hard to tell. For the moment, feast on these bit of the following awesomeness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvOCrRVDPpI

and this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUi9teTRCgk

Oh, and the Hold Steady's latest is out... There were a couple pretty crass propositions. There were some bugs in the bars. There was a kid camped out by the coat check. She said the theme of this party is the industrial age. You came in dressed like a train wreck.

And the inside jokes are still there:

'Cause I was thinking we could pull another weekender.
If you've still got a little bit of clairvoyance....
.....God only knows it's not always a positive thing.
To see a few seconds into the future

and my favorite, which along with train wreck lyric pretty much made my week

That one girl got me cornered in the kitchen
I said I'll do anything but clean.

Well, the first time I lose I drink whiskey Second time I lose I drink gin

Sean — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:44:00 -0700

Thanks for the room! As if the picture wasn't... awesome... enough

Hey puts the bread in the basket. love it.

the pigs have won tonight

Sean — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:06:00 -0700

So So Good, Cochon555

lives are punctuated by moons

Sean — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:51:00 -0700

Good to find out the McCrady won at Cochon. He had the best drift of dishes, and the best Single Dish too.     His dish actually proved there is a top-end to how good mexican food can be, since the Tamale his competitor the the end-all of tamales, but McCrady's Pork Belly-Cake-and-Foam creation was undeniable.

MJQ was disappointing for the first time ever, Saturday Night. Not sure what that was about. The back half of the club was closed too, which meant we couldn't escape the DJ's up front. They weren't bad.. just not as good as they have been (as good as I remember them being, is probably more accurate)

I also saw the "No-Hitter" against the braves. The guy had 6 walks though. *I* could throw a no hitter under those criteria. Maybe.   I guess I would need to get an out somehow....eventually... you get my point though.

Dogwood and Sweetwater both seemed bigger this year.... and that's all I have to say about that (As grandma would say)

Gudgingly, I must add that Park Tavern has shed its heavy cloak of mediocrity. The Sushi was very good, the Sangria was good (for what it was), and the service was good (For what it was). Yeah, I purposefully didn't qualify my sushi remark. It was good. I liked it a lot.

Does this mean I should go check out Neighbors, and see if Atlanta's other outdoor spot has come off the cutting edge of Oppressively Average?

Anyone ever have one of those days were everyone was mulling around trying to surreptitiously block your way ("Your in my road" my Father would say). I wasn't in that much of a hurry, at all this weekend, but everyone was strategically positioned to foil my advance.   It took me 10 minutes to walk through Alons, and it wasn't that crowded. It was very Truman Show, except they didn't want to trap me, they just wanted to slow me down.

Finally.   Andy needs to check out Cymbals Eat Guitars, if not for the vibraphone (see the excellent Wind Phoenix) then for this reference to the infamous Parking Lot (the excellent Cold Spring):

The empty parkway wound its way back through charred black pine
Just like a wormhole
A bridge becomes an island when the ends are disconnected

being responsible for the charred remains

Sean — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:02:00 -0700

Speaking of the Paleo Diet (something I haven't been doing too much lately, but..) , I spoke too soon when I suggested that a gluten free diet had greatly reduced my seasonal allergies. Saturday was the pits. But then again, I was at a park in the wind, and hadn't exactly been gluten free in weeks. I am tempted to go all-out for the next two weeks (until Mosley/Mayweather/Vegas), but I don't know what level of adherence I can muster right now. Its not cravings, its just the diligence required: You always have to be on guard.

I am actually as bad as I have ever been on Timed Crossfit workouts. At the moment. I am heavier and stronger, in a few ways, which is nice, and there isn't a great way to calculate if those gains were worth it. I suppose if I get my timed workouts under control while retaining those gains....    I am not sweating it: I ate fat and flesh all winter, almost exclusively, and worked out with very little intensity (or volume)

And all day yesterday too.    Well, I rode around town in the afternoon (to work up at appetite) , checked out Dogwood (sweetwater was yesterday) and THEN went to Cochon at the W downtown. Cochon is a 'benifit' for Heritage Pigs, which are tasty.     Are they ever.    There were 5 chefs in competition to make the best pork dish.    Wow. And then there were cocktails at the afterparty , um , afterward.

I should do a writeup on it, but its 5am and I have been UP since 2:30. For no good reason.    I can't actually construct anything at the moment.

Hey, Mettenberger just got let go. Wow. Dave was pulling for that guy.

.

.

And it flies by day and it flies by night

Sean — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 03:37:00 -0700

Tom's Of Maine, original recipe odor protecting deoderant, available at trader joes and wherever hippie houskeeping shit is sold, smells like Bitters.
It's like turning yourself into a cocktail before leaving the house in the morning. Awesome!
It really binds everything together.

I was a michum gel man for years. You really CAN miss a day with that stuff, or a week. With Tom's I don't know. Why would I try?

Wilco at the fox was a mellow show. The cut up Via Chicago per usual, but generally played a downbeat set with lots of acoustic numbers.

The Cabin is awesome. Talk to me about going up.

Austin for the summer again, though not necessarily as exclusively. Here, I'll say it, this has been a shitty 10 months, and I don't know how to feel about how fast it flew by.

New music abounds.

Halfway through the new Kay book....

Northside tavern is still a great spot.

does whatever a spider pig does

Sean — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:51:00 -0700

The best things to do with a pig

#10 Give it to Bricktop or Al to help hide the bodies,
#9 Ribs at Smokey's on the Tennessee border. (Admittedly, I am not a rib expert. these are the best pork ribs I have had though)
#8 Make Chorizo, to put in a breakfast taco, on the side of the road in San Diego
#7 Ask My father to make hamhocks and beans, over cornbread, with some mustard
#6 Give to any Georgia BBQ man, like one of the Fox Brothers, and have him smoke it
#5 Cut out the Pork Belly, and give it to Linton Hopkins.
#4 Fly the pig to San Francisco and ask anyone to make a pork chop. That city knows.
#3 While in San Francisco walk it up Russian hill and through the back door at Frascati, and ask them for their old pork loin and roasted pepper dish. This odd behavior won't dent the impenetrably good service there.. They are so frustratingly perfect there, there is no such thing as special service.

#2 Make Bacon. Leon's full service will put it in a glass with a side of peanut butter. Simple, perfectly cooked, and delicious.

And the Number 1 best thing to do with pork?

#1 Piri Piri roasted pork at Rare in atlanta. Yeah, I know! But I had it last night and its simultaneously as good as the best georgia BBQ -all smokey and tender- and as good and as good as the best Texas Brisket all crispy on the ends. Plus, the Sauce trumps both. Wow. I always liked the chef there but I didn't think he was this good.

When I conceived of this list last night I thought I would surely have 10 things... but I had struggled in the end. I know I am missing a few preparations..

give praise where praise is due

Sean — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:06:00 -0700

Ok Both Shows were OK.

Neither band is worthy of any hyperbole, except to say that Cymbasl reminds me more Stephen Malkmous than anybody reminds me of anybody. Holy smokes.

Go listen to MeWithOutYou, then right before you call me to tell how much they sound like Neutral Milk, think to yourself, "Cymbals eat guitars sounds more like Pavement".

Do it.

no, do it.

Natural American Spirit Doctorate

Sean — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:34:00 -0800

RIP Corey Haim.

I am Going to See Cymbals Eat Guitars, and Bear in Heaven tomorrow. Reviews will follow.

Wow! Pelosi actually said "We need to pass this bill so you can find out what's in it!" This fire-able offense ranks up there with Clinton's "We could give you your money back, but how do we know you will spend it correctly" in the realm of random outbursts of Socialist honesty.

I have always avoided lazily buying into whatever meme drudge is pushing, but there have been too many signs of insanity lately to not to at least buy in a little to the idea that this crop of liberals is actually as bad as the caricature we'd warned against for decades.

His breach of decorum in the last state of the union, when he called out the judges, was one of the bigger mistakes he has made. Who is this Chicago hack to criticism the Supreme Court, after 40some better men refrained?

I always felt strongly that Obama was a non-entity who didn't contain the experience of backbone to be anything but a Tool in office. I was so appalled by his lack of credentials, and accumulation of anti-credentials, that I couldn't actually fathom him getting elected, but after the election I hoped that he might do some good by virtue of his skin color and speaking ability. That was all the credit I gave him. Sometime early in his first term I started recognizing his style of governance as naive, wishful and completely unsophisticated. How would I know? Because he is making mistakes I could see myself making. He is trying to explain his moves to the crowd instead of playing his opponents.

If that worked, everyone else would do it. Shut up and govern, dumb ass.

His Presidency, most notable for its constant, unrelenting, and filthy demonization of his opponents, remains a shining continuation of the Clinton legacy and a rubuke of W's too: The worst thing the W did was associate, in the minds of America, all his positive traits with failure. In short, W, showed that bi-partisanship and a respect for the office don't pay, and he successor has taken that lesson to heart.

I will say this though: To press ahead on health care.. that's a Balsy move.

Let the hand move its people, and draw us lines from our fiery designs.

Sean — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:01:00 -0800

ok, so I just spent the night at the bar at Woodfire Grill. Of top chef fame. (Before I continue I should admit that I have noticed that I am especially typo prone these days, and the bar and my state ensures that this post is going to be rather fantastic, but here goes). I got home and decided to play some Constantines, since their song Draw us Lines has been in my head all day. And it WAS in my head all day but when I listened to it a few minutes ago I realized I had no fucking idea what the hell it was about. I assumed it was something rock and roll sexy. Ha. I googled it and found this review at pitchfork. Say what you want about pitchfork, it's probably fair, but the interviewer and I share the exact same sentimen:

the Constantines have become an underground rock staple, with guitars that steal the best parts of classic rock, angular indie, and heart-on-sleeve punk coupled with hoarse fire-breathing vocals. Given the tenacity of their music, both live and on record, I figured this band worked menial labor jobs from ages five to 22, stole their instruments, ate glass, and shit earnestness.

The article goes on to express surprise that Draw us lines, and other aspects of the band aren't as Constantinian as we had been led to believe. Now, I don't necessarily feel eco-whateverthissongisabout its anathama to whatever it is these guys represent, but I do feel that they represent something foundational and simple, and now that the explanation of their brilliance, which had already eluded me, is even more complex makes me even more anxious now that I know they aren't as one-note as I previously thought. and loved. (That a rough sentence.. sorry.)

Speaking of redundancy, and eco-spiritualism, I was at Wildfire (not the same place) having happy hour with Yogi Gina, and the waitress kept saying "can I get you anything at the current moment". And I kept shooting myself in the head with an unloaded finger pistol. If that fucking phrase catches on.......

So anyhow. Woodfire grill is exceptionally good. Nothing was challenging though, and that disappointed me. It was like he turned everything into comfort food. That a remarkable feat, but if the restaurant isn't walking distance from me, I don't want it to be JUST comforting. Just one dish that confused me and I would be singing their praises. As it stands, I will sing their praises, but only when asked: Nothing they did turned me into an evangelist.

I howl and I whine I'm after you

Sean — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:38:00 -0800

The invaluable Robb Wolf, whose podcasts a listen to religiously, whose lectures are empowering, and whose website I constantly refer to, and refer other to (one of those uses has to be incorrect), is starting to get annoying with his lazy dismissal of CrossFit. Every compliment is strained and framed, and the digs and dismissals lost their novelty a long time ago. Staring every positive comment with "one of the good things about" or "that's actually one thing that" just doesn't sit well with me. For one, his programming and mainpage programming rarely have the same goal. I think its lazy for him to sneer at the programming without mentioning the goal. Robb is clearly not a lazy dude, which leads me to the second reason it's annoying me: Glassman was supposed to be the petty one with an axe to grind

Robb, if you want to lay out your issues, DO IT. Whatever you are doing now, sucks.

To make up for not providing more examples and possibly misquoting him in the ones I did provide, I am going to go buy some of his paleo meals. I'd pre-order a book if he's let me. Which reminds me, paleokits are available again at www.paleokits.org. Yum.

Your subtle acclamation's true! Best to give praise where praise is due. Every rook and jay in the Corvidae's been raving about me too

Sean — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:25:00 -0800

CFATL's Brandan Mahoney went to San Francisco, started teaching crossfit, and Along with the incomparable k-star, got a bunch on non-runners with little or no long-distance experience to compete in and finish the QuadDipsea ultra-marathon.   Many of them were 200+ pound monsters, who are much stronger than I.

This is awesome. Out of 20 runners, only one didn't finish.   The post run interviews were like "Fun... a bit sore.. only going to do a light workout tomorrow".

What does this say about fetishists who equate fitness with running? Exactly how much are they missing out on? I mean, these Crossfitters went in for a recovery workout the next day that featured lifts and loads well beyond most marathoners..... awesomeness.

Meanwhile, It looks like CFATL secured 5 out of the 6 medals at the sectionals this weekend.   What's impressive to me lately about CFATL is that guys whom I was 'natually' stronger and faster than, all smoke me now. And my times are as good as they ever were. Hard work and smart programming tells.

Also, in the realm of fitness and nutrition awesomeness: Spend an hour listening to the much discusses and never derided (successfully), Gary Taubes, as he destroys all your feeble notions of why people are fat, here: http://www.dhslides.org/mgr/mgr060509f/f.htm

I will add that the paleo Diet is catching on at the office like wildfire. I went up to three different people this weekend and commented on how much weight they had lost, and they cited Diet, not workout. In fact, the only two people I saw who appeared to have gained some fat, had increased their exercise. (and did NOT follow a paleo or otherwise low-carb diet)

And condescend to the earth below and take whichever treat I'd like

Sean — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:41:00 -0800

Thought I might come here and defend hippos, but the irony of heckling them over the internet whilst under the pen name 'anonymous' was surely intentional. Poster might have well added, "Hold me back!" and feigned trying to break free from his friends restraints.

Bad Lieutenant is Awesome. A masterpiece. Wow. What fun.

Also, Archer, that adult Swim Spy Cartoon is freaking hysterical. The first 5 minutes of the the premier was stop-and-replay-each-scene-funny, and the drop off in the next 5 episodes was minimal.

Check it out here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/127971/archer-mole-hunt-aka-pilot

Austin was a blast. I introduces Peche to The Penicillin Cocktail, and the first one, made by Rob was exceptional. Later in the week I ordered two more, made by the line, and i they were not nearly smokey or gingery enough. "More ginger, and in a Collins or Rocks glass" would be my suggestion. I don't know the history of the drink, but I'll give credit to Erik at Drink shop for introducing it to me (if not actually inventing it).

Tried to go out each night, but on the fifth night I failed. I did, on that final night, go to Fino's sister restaurant, Asti, with the boss and was very impressed with the ambiance and pleased with the food, though I didn't experience enough of it to be certain.

On of my trainees tells me the Management at Fino turned their noses at him and his under-dressed college friends, and so he threw a fit last week. I am not sure if I need to write off both restaurants, or just fino, or if I can continue to frequent fino's bar. They have always been nice to me. They should email me here to apologize to Eddie.

Thanks to Matt for introducing me (us) to the following brilliance:

Florida, theres no more perfect place to retire from life

Sean — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:15:00 -0800

There is this guy who runs a blog called the BS Detective. He’s studied nutrition (at Florida) and knows a good bit. Still, he picks easy targets most of time, but brings a lot of science into his posts. it’s nice to know WHY there is no scientific backing to say, a colon cleanse, even though it’s not entirely necessary.   Anyhow, a few weeks ago the guy calls Gary Taubes as an Uber Bullshitter. Taubes is a scientific journalist whose book Good Calories Bad Calories, meticulously outlines how bad science and politics have ‘informed’ everything we ‘know’ about nutrition, and there is nothing in his persona that merits that bit of name calling. That the book ultimately only suggests four hypothesis’s that Taubes feels should be scientifically pursued, should spare it from some wanker’s Photo-shopped name calling.

But whatever, the BS Detective quickly retreated to the narrowest, and strictest reading of his original post, and still manages an epic-fail, coming off shrill (think cartoon version of StarScream) and desperate (think William H Macy in Fargo ).   It’s all unremarkable and I only bring it up now, because he recently went after Dr. Eades on the good Doctor’s own blog. And Dr. Eades, in the comments, has put on a case study on how to treat sophists like the BS Detective.   I encourage you all to go buy Eades' Protein Power Life Plan. It is easily the most recommendable book on Nutrition and its DIRT CHEAP.

While I am here.. hmm… not much new .. I had Veal Hearts and Holeman and it was INCREDIBLE.   Wow. Veal Hearts. My poor over-leveraged soul……

First Ski trip was a success except that no one has paid me for it. Second ski trip is in the works. Email me if you want to come.

Started book 1011 of the Wheel of Time Series.   Whatever the number is, the one after RJ died. It’s good.   As was the previous, if I recall.

I also started StarShip Troupers (Heinlen), after enjoying his “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress”.

Kay’s latest comes out in April. It's his celestial novel, as Al would have said.

Finally: BookHouse on Ponce is worth a visit.   Maybe a bookhouse/MJQ night soon. That would be something.    "Get the Pot Pie and bring a cozy group of friends", about sums it up.They have a great beer selection, and a tiki room out back.

While you wait for the others to make it all worthwhile

Sean — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:02:00 -0800

Kia Sorento Vegas daydream, #1
Google's French vacation #2

Saints #1
Colts #2

Cakes and ale... I give a 3. The food was good but the service, everywhere except the bar, was disorganized. If I had to describe the place based on its what little I knew about it before Saturday-- which was what it looked like, and what I has heard from Atlanta Fooduminaries (one of which was at the bar, incognitolike on Saturday)-- I would have said, "bustling hardworking servers, slinging original , forward comfort food, off a small menu, in the kind of place you love to go to before you go somewhere else". So the fact that a full meal at table missed some marks shouldn't concern you too much. That the 'bustling' staff was still chronically late, should.

But on a positive note, Alon's the deli/bakery, out here in Sandy Springs , which I have since learned is an outpost of the original somewhere in the highlands, serves the best soups I have ever had. Yeah, that's saying something. I MAY have had better soups, as one offs from fancy restaurants (Tomato at Jeanty, Carrot Ginger and Scott Howard, and Chestnut and Joel), but Alon's Celery Root, and Alon's Pumpkin-kale were in the same category, and both in one place.. Every few years I look for a good soup kitchen in Atlanta , and wind up and Souper Jenny. No more. Alon's is the place.

--

On a side note, and in one sentence, and one pass: Part of my response to certain people who have called my music collection forced, that that the lack of popular music was somewhat explainable by my reluctance to buy something I was going to hear so muchanyway, was validated yesterday, when I heard that darn Arcade Fire where-the-wild-things-are song 8 million times, which is a lot more times that I have played it myself , since buying it a few weeks ago.