Holidays

Holidays

Oy. It's started.

The whole rushing towards Christmas. It feels like running to slide under the garage door as it's coming down.

My Thanksgiving was very nice. I spent it with the "coffee group".

Deb and Eric hosted a wonderful evening filled with wonderful eats, witty conversation, fabulous wine and an ass-whipping by Deb and Calvin in a game of Rummy.

On Friday I went with Sharon to the 'still under construction' Cleveland Museum of Art to see the Barcelona exhibit. It was interesting. Many different mediums. Lots of Miro and Picasso of course.

One critique is that there was ONE woman artist in the whole exhibit. I do not remember that but Leslie told me. She keeps close track of that sort of thing.

There was an artist in the exhibit that I really liked, his name is Ramon Casas. Beautiful work.

As I walked around the gallery, I kept bumping into people with what looked like circa 1989 cell phone to their ears. They were listening to an audio tour of the show. I had never seen that sort of device used for the audio guide.

It gave me the feeling that they were a bunch of rude schmucks that could not take a second to get off their cell phone. I eventually got that ill-conceived bad taste out of my mouth and then heard some guy talking into one...then I realized he was one of the few with an actual cell phone to his ear.

That night my back was killing me so much I had to miss a visit with some WRUW folks at Muldoons. That was quite the bummer.

On Saturday afternoon I met Ann and Mary at a wine shop near Chagrin Falls for a wine tasting. They rode their bike to the shop from Cleveland Heights. Crazy kids. They bought a delicious assorted case of wine. Oh..and yes...they put a whole case of wine on their two bikes to ride home with.

On Sunday I went down to the radio station to sub for the show Delirium. The hosts were out of town and they needed someone to come down and make sure their Associate Programmer who is learning the ropes did not mess up. I mostly had to just sit there and make sure she didn't shout expletives into the mic or set the place on fire.

It was an easy job because their AP is my good friend Rebecca and she is a better programmer now then some of the folks that have been there for a few years are. I'm really happy she wants to be part of the WRUW dysfunctional family.

LOUDsmokeQUIETsmokeLOUD

Last night Ann and I watched the Pixies documentary called Loud Quiet Loud.

It was pretty interesting. Kim and Kelly Deal are pretty nutty. In a way I like though.

The drummer, Dave Lovering seems like he might be gay. And he seems like he has a TON of issues. He also is a magician. Oh...and he likes going up and down beaches with a metal detector.

Frank Black seems like he has TONS O' resentment about Kim Deal becoming so famous. Although his wife and Joey Santiago's wife look a LOT like Kim Deal. Ann and I thought that was pretty interesting.

Joey Santiago works on a lot of soundtracks. He seems like the most down to earth, emotionally healthiest one of the bunch.

Kim was the only one during the whole thing that seemed to really enjoy playing concerts. I loved that she is big into the crafts. During the movie her Kim Deal's mother said she was happy that the Pixies were touring, "it gave Kim something to do besides sit at home and do all her crafts."

Another thing about Kim Deal....I don't think she stopped smoking once during the whole thing.

New Crush

I sometimes wonder why I just love music so much. Why I get so crazy over a new song or sound. I think I just this moment figured it out!

I was just listening to a new song by the band Boyskout from their new cd Another Life. The song is called "Everybody Knew".

As I was listening to the song, I got that same feeling I get when I am crushed out on someone.

I was sitting there working on Chronicle website updates thinking..."Why am I feeling like this? Who am I crushed out on?"

It's the damn song! It must release the same chemicals, signals, etc., that a new crush releases in my pea brain.

Wow.

The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.

Dan gave me his most recent copy of Details to peruse through yesterday.

I asked him for it when I saw he got it. I have never read it and was wondering what it was like.

On the cover is Lance Armstrong. A photo taken by super freak Terry Richardson.

As I flipped through the pages looking at the handsome pouty-faced boy models I noticed that almost all the stories had something about how NOT to LOOK, SOUND, FEEL, SEEM, or BE gay.

It was kind of funny. Almost EVERY story!

Okay, my advice to men who don't want to be gay is:

Don't fall in love with, have a crush on, or have sex with other men.

There. It's just that easy.

Tokyo Bob


My friend Bob went to Tokyo last month. He loves all things Japanese. He sent me a box of souvenirs which included "Black Black 10 Gum Sticks."

I tried one of them expecting a licorice flavor. It did sort of taste like "licorice" but also a lot like dirty basement floor.

Tony a co-worker looked up Black Black 10 Gum Sticks on the internet only to find that it's a double caffeinated "energy gum."

Yuck. I loved the lemon lime "gum sticks" tho. Bob also sent a gorgeous handkerchief and a cd of photos of his trip which included this one.

Isn't he and his boyfriend cute?

stonecoldbikini on ice!

Ann and I went to the Cleveland Heights Community center to inquire about renting one of the ice rinks out for an indie rock on ice night.

We spoke with the person in charge of the ice rinks. She was very nice and into the idea.

I cannot wait. All I can think of is the Charlie Brown Christmas special when everyone is skating around on the frozen pond. I want that...but with Dressy Bessy or Magnetic Fields playing instead of the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

We are thinking about doing it on December 9th at 10pm. What do ya think? Wouldn't that be a lot of fun?

I can't ice skate to save my life so I am happy to just provide an indie pop soundtrack to the night.

Merry Invert Day!

Wow. Another National Coming Out Day.

It's the holiday that just won't die. Much like Sweetest Day and The Great American Smokeout Day.

Time for all d-list (I think 'd' is kinda high, maybe 'l' or 'r') celebrities to announce their homosexuality so they can maybe get just a smidge of press.

Although it's been a while since anyone has really come out on NCOD.

It's been at least a few years since Jonathon of 'Who's the Boss' made the big announcement.

I think maybe this year we should throw a couple of homos back in the closet.

We really don't want them on our team do we?

Wish yr favorite queer a happy National Coming Out Day.

Or, maybe just come out to your mom ya big freaking coward!

Underwear Nite at Club Bear

Panties Nite at Club Bear
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

Why is it that women do not seem to have as many fetishes as men?

I know there are exceptions to every rule....but generally... you don't
hear about women who will only have sex with certain kinds of men
or women.

Or maybe women ARE like that but it's just not made into a commodity or a target market.

But I love October even more.

October

October
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

Today on the way into work, after doing my radio show, I was thinking about how Cleveland is most beautiful in October and May.

That's it. Don't ever visit any other time. Unless of course you love raw cold uglyness. Then visit in January and go down to Edgewater Park. There you can crunch icy dead fish-cubes under your sneakers on the beach and stare out into the wet gray cold Lake Erie.

But now...NOW it's just gorgeous here. But maybe I am too easy. I think that I find too many things beautiful.

There is a story on This American Life about a man who removes all the Testosterone in his body and then all the sudden everything looks more beautiful to him.

I wonder if I need some hormone therapy to get over my crush on blue skys, yellow leaves and red bricks today?

By the way, if you want to listen to that This American Life episode, go to their website and do a search for "Testosterone." I think it was an episode from August of 2002.

Christine To Watch Out For

Christine To Watch Out For
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

One other thing about yesterday....

I was lucky enough to have Alison draw a cartoon of me.

I was really embarrassed at the time having to "pose",

...but now of course I am thrilled to have it!

If you could have dinner with someone famous,
dead or alive, who would it be?

I was lucky enough to go see Alison Bechdel speak at Joseph Beth booksellers last night. I had not seen her in 17 years and was very excited to hear her talk about her new graphic novel, Fun Home.

If you haven't read it yet, ya should. It's amazing.

After the reading and book signing, my friends and I convinced Alison to have dinner with us before she had to head back to her hotel. It wasn't easy. She was trying to find some friends that had asked her to dinner earlier. She turned them down but changed her mind I guess. Lucky for us she could not find them.

Another exciting part of the evening was that Harvey Pekar was there to introduce her.

Oh...and there is one more interestesting thing...I discovered today that there is a Decemberist's song that I like. It's called Yankee Bayonet. It's from their new cd The Crane Wife.

Tune into my show tomorrow morning and I will play a cut or two from it.

By the way...if you want to read a REAL review of Alison's talk last night, check out Austin Kleon's blog. He has a gorgeous stamp carving illustration of Ms. Bechdel at her computer.

September 6, 2006

Diary9-6-06
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

Drawing Diary September 5, 2006

Diary9-5-06
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

Drawing Diary September 3, 2006

Diary9-3-06
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

"Burn Out Ledges"

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges02
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

When I was in high school all the bad school-skipping kids would drive to Nelson Ledges to get high and hang out.

I only did it once with my friend Tim. We didn't get high. We just snuck away from school.

This past Saturday I went back with Monica and Kozmo.

I didn't get high then either.

This is why I got so lazy updating my blog.

diarypicture2
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

I started keeping a daily drawing diary on August 27th.

My friend Leslie who is a 'real' artist does it and showed me hers.

It inspired me.

Cleveland

Cleveland Bridge
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

Doesn't this picture say "Cleveland" to you?

One the BEST songs ever.

I had never seen the video for this song before. Notice how cute Kristen Hersh is in her short haircut!

My two favorite Kims.

Am I lame? Yes...Yes I am lame.

I have been very bad about updates. Things will change soon...I promise.

In the meantime....




Via: VideoSift

Before Jens, Concretes, Peter, Bjorn and John...

...there was Bettie Serveert. In 1992 they released Palomine. A great album. Very different then the rest of the stuff that was out there then.

This isn't the best track on that album...I think "kid's alright" was better. But I could not find a video for that song.





Bettie Serveert has a new cd coming out called 'Bare Stripped Naked'.

I like the second track, 'Hell=Other People'. If ya like it, go buy the cd. These guys deserve yr hard earned cash in my opinion.

Boys Skate.

Remember going to Garrettsville Roller Rink every Friday night in 8th grade?

Remember wearing the navy blue Gap cords and rainbow striped velour blouse with a tab collar?

Remember having the big 'ol comb in yr back pocket and Love's Baby Soft sprayed on yr neck?

Remember how angry you would get when the DJ would play 'Black Betty' and then announce that it was a "boy's skate" and you would roll to the snack bar and watch the guys skate soooooo fast around the rink to that RAWKIN song?!?!

I do.

Cleveland to Conneaut

Along Lake Erie on the way to Ashtabula.
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

This past weekend I did a one day roadtrip along Lake Erie.
I tried to drive along the shore as much as possible.

After about 60 miles of driving along Lake Erie there is only about 5 miles where you can actually see the lake.

That kind of stinks don't ya think?

The high point of the trip was a stop at the White Turkey Drive In. A cheeseburger and rootbeer.

What more could a girl ask for?

Song for the summer of '06

Peace
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

I was wondering just the other day, "What is the song for the summer of '06"?

I found it.

I found it thanks to Mark who listens to my show from England. he requested it today on my radio show.

The song is by the band Peter Bjorn and John. They are from Sweden, natch.

This song features vocal by the former Concretes vocalist Victoria Bergsman. This song, called The Young Folks by the way, also features bongos and whistling.

What more could you want for a summer song.

Go to their MySpace page and check out the video for the song. Very cute.

Butch Factory

Butch Factory
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

On the way to work this morning I stopped and took a picture of the Lakeshore Generating Station.

I did not know exactly what the building was until I asked a co-worker, Brian, who is the expert on all things Cleveland.

He proceeded to tell me that it is a 500 megawatt station, the smallest of the 5 that serve the Cleveland area.

He then proceeded to tell me about the other ones. I had to interupt him.

Anywho...I just wanted to show you the picture I took. I call it 'Butch Factory'.

'Butch Factory' was what my friend LuAnn wanted to name a band that we joked about starting.

It never started.

Saugatuck

Saugatuck
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.

This past weekend Monica and I went to Saugatuck on Lake Michigan. It's really a lovely little town.

I have to admit tho...I saw more bad art there then I have seen anywhere in a long time.

We went to Oval Beach and took a swim in the Great Lake. Afterwards we went back to town and ate and drank too much at "The Butler".

On Sunday we walked around Saugatuck poking our noses in art galleries and shops and restaurants.

We had lunch at a place with a guy playing guitar. I thought it would be awful but he was playing Gillian Welch, Elliot Smith and other pretty good selections.

Okay...this is a lame post and I apologize.

"Repent or rejoice... I'll choose to rejoice."

Amy Linton, where are you? Why are you not making new music? If you are when will I get to hear it?

Here is an Aislers Set song from a new various artist cd called "Slaying since 1996"

TracyAnn, I'm ready to be heartbroken.

















I got the chance to go see Camera Obscura at the Grog Shop last Saturday. I enjoyed the show, although not as much as I would have liked to enjoy the show.

There were too many people talking too much and too loudly while the band was playing slow, quiet songs. What is wrong with you people? Shut UP!

I've seen bands in other cities and it seems like people in other cities know how to be a considerate audience. Weird. Why pay 12 bucks to go to a club and talk over a band.

The band also complained about the sound. I guess there wasn't a whole lot coming out of their monitors. The lead singer, TracyAnn did not seem too happy about that.

The Bears, a local cleveland tweepop band opened for them. They are very good. Check 'em out.

I just found out today that there is an "indie pop fest" going on in Toledo this Thursday and Friday. They aren't doing an awful lot of advertising are they? Why can't we do something like this in Cleveland?

Whipped cream and other Swedish delights

Monday night I went to see Jens Lekman at the Beachland Ballroom. It was one of the best live shows I have seen in a long time.

Jens had a back up band consisting of 6 women, one of whom was his opening act. They were all dressed in some sort of white frock. That sounds like it would be sexist and stupid, but it really was kinda cool.

The backup band had trumpets, saxophones, accordions, recorders, COW BELLS, etc. At one point my friend Sharon who was at the show suggested that it was a bit Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

It was....but in a GOOD way.

During an encore he played the song Julie. He was up on stage all alone with his guitar playing along and then all of the sudden the horns came in from behind the audience. Part of the band had formed behind the crowd. It was really lovely. I am rarely surprised by anything at live shows, other then the amount of second hand smoke that I am huffing in at about a pack an hour.

Here are a couple of songs for you if you don’t know his work. Black Cab (my fave) and Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill.

If you like them, go buy the cds at Music Saves!!

Whipped cream and other Swedish delights
Originally uploaded by bitterbutter.