So Much Good in Every Word: 2011 Best Album(s) #8,7,6

Ah! I get one more post in during the first month of 2012!
I think I'll take us down, down, down to #5....
#8
Starfucker - Reptilians
The band the FCC loves to hate! 
The band that is responsible for me being *thisclose* to losing my radio show on more than one occasion! It just rolls off the tongue...

Reptilians is a treasure of dancy goodness. Semi-locals (from Portland). Again, not a typical pick for me, it's ok folks who are waiting for the folky, alty singer songwriter stuff - it's coming it's just closer to the top of the list.
 I'm giving it a second award as well... #1 Best Album Art of 2011.

The vinyl came with a black and white poster of this image as well. Rad!
Sidenote: I heard someone really dorky say "rad" the other day. Whaaa? You gotta be RAD to use the word rad, right?
I may have mentioned on this blog before that I love colored vinyl. What a lovely surprise when you open that sleeve, right? Well, Reptilians is one of two CLEAR records that I now own. Really awesome looking - until you are in a dark radio studio trying to cue up a specific track - sorry to all the listeners who heard the second half of the song before the one I meant to play first... who cares, right? It's not like we're getting paid.


#7
Cotton Jones - Sit Beside Your Vegetables EP
 If you read my last blog, you know that Cotton Jones was one of my very very favorite live acts of 2011. The show was so good we saw them two nights in a row. The only reason this isn't even higher is because there are only 4 four songs, and even though they are all excellent, it felt like a tease. The EP really gives Whitney a chance to shine as well, Egg on the Sea is a tasty (ewww eggs) track that reminds you that Michael isn't the only stellar vocalist in the band.

This isn't the absolute best video, but it's from the show we were at (Portland's Doug Fir) and this tune brought a tear to my eye. The lyrics omg (see post title). The wife was about as pregnant as I am now (which is REALLY pregnant) and so adorable. They are the (second) cutest couple ever. I passed Michael Nau in the hall before the show and (not recognizing him) thought his sweater was dorky.  And it was pretty hot in there for a sweater... anyway. I changed my mind because he is the coolest.
Most of the show there were a lot more folks on stage (accordion! hello! The accordion player told me afterwards that he really liked Sam Bond's in Eugene because it smelled like his grandmothers' house. True story).
I SUPER HEART COTTON JONES. Seriously. If you don't know this band, do yourself a favor and please, please check it out.


#6
Tom Waits - Bad As Me
You know what your gonna get. And the getting is GOOD. It's really hard to go wrong with Tom Waits IMO. I just keep loving him more and more. And the more I listen to Bad as Me, the more I love it. Which means if I had postponed this post even longer, it probably would have moved up my chart even higher. Bone Machine is my favorite Waits album, but this one is creepin....
Congrats to Mr. Waits for his 2011 induction to the R n R Hall of Fame.





I love a renaissance man. One of my favorite quotes about Tom Waits, read on my film teacher's office door on a poster explaining the difference between a "movie" and a "film":

 Tom Hanks will never star in a film. Tom Waits will never star in a movie.

Don't even get me started on my love of Christopher Plummer. Or my love hate of Terry Gilliam. That's for another day.

Stay tuned for the top 5!

So Much Good in Every Word: 2011 Best Album(s) #9

Desperately trying to get this list out before people don't care about 2011 music anymore! (too late?)

#9
The Stepkids - Self-Titled Full Length Debut! 
For your listening pleasure:



One reason I think that I love this album so much is that I don't listen to anything else like it. Most bands I can describe like - they are kind of like ______ but add a little ______ and a little less ______. Maybe I can't do that with Stepkids because I don't really know R & B (And I only know this music is considered R & B because it made Spin's Best of R & B list.... who would have thought? Sidenote: I have never heard of any other musicians on their list other than the aforementioned Charles Bradley). But, maybe it's because they are a really original group of dudes putting out some ubercool music. I also like a little funny in my music - and they got it. Check em out!

Our vinyl just arrived special order the other day = heavy rotation over here.

So Much Good in Every Word: 2011 Best Album(s) #10

Here is the heart of the matter.

I decided to do one/or a few at a time.... keep coming back!
I  '  m     g  o  i  n  g     t  o   s  t  r  e  t  c  h i  t   o  u  t.

Much like "encouraging" my man to take down the Christmas lights, this post had to happen before it is February. Please see last week's post to see some of my other top contenders.

If you haven't seen it - do. swoon. He even raises pigeons.

Sidenote: One time I was buying a postcard of Marlon from Street Car Named Desire and the girl at the register was all "swoon" and I was like "yeah - no kidding." Then she said she was in love with Marlon and qualified it with "Well - back then, not now. Wait, I mean, I know he is dead now, but you know, before.... when he was... well you know..." and I was like, "no, I don't know" because I was messing with her, I totally knew! And she was just like "nevermind." 

I'm pretty sure she was referring to this:

Poor guy - sometimes it's better to burn out than to fade away. And, yes, I am making a sarcastic reference here as well, because I don't like Neil Young. There, I said it. 

 Hmmm

 ~And~
~Without further ado~
My pics of the BEST of 2011 Album releases:
#10 (TIE)
Wilco - The Whole Love 
It's kind of hard for me to not get excited about Wilco. We went to the "release" party at our local record store for this album and dropped the $20+ on the vinyl. It's a quality album. I like it better than Wilco the Album, but not as much as, oh say, all the other Wilco albums. But here's something I do like:


AND, I won the signed Wilco poster! Here is what Tweedy's sig looks like.

But it was still exciting. Plus they were giving out free Pabst!
We are going to see Wilco in one week. The first Wilco show I saw they ran out of beer. I hope that happens again! Because, I can't drink it, see?
What do you think my chances are of an A.M. tune? Slim to none? oh well, I would settle for some YHF - and I know that I'll get it! Actually, She's a Jar would be a dream come true. 
How about making a request in my honor? She's a Jar She's a Jar She's a Jar
Seriously, how cool is this - click me! - the band takes requests..... you could even mention that this could be my LAST show before the baby bird arrives. And look what they tell you after you submit: Thanks, Wilco loves YOU! 
White Denim is opening (and I have to say... D was another contender for a spot on this list... great album).

#10 (TIE)
The Alabama Shakes - Self-Titled EP 
I hope there are no sticklers who have problems with EPs being on this list. I did it last year, so, what you gonna do? The full length comes out in April, so maybe they'll be back here again next year.
So I first heard of this band from Paste, but it was reconfirmed when David Byrne recommended it to me. Personally. Do you think that he found Lissie's Pursuit of Happiness through this blog? I sure like to think so.
This isn't my absolute favorite song on the EP, but seeing as there are only 4 to pick from it's right up there. I wanted to include this one because the filming is great. I can't wait to hear about 8 more on the full length.
I went to high school in Chattanooga which means that I know a sizable number of people in their early 30's who are starting to run things around there. The club (?) where this was filmed owners are about a 1/2 degree separation from me... or is it a degree and 1/2? Anyway, the place is called Track29.

If you can't wait til April, you can download the EP on their facebook. It's throwback and Motown feel (obvs) but there is some real soul in there IMO (see Hold On: "Bless my heart, bless my soul, didn't think I'd make it to 22 years old - Saying come on Brittany - ya got ta come on UP!"). These guys are pretty awesome and seem to totally be enjoying their rapid success... They sold out the Doug Fir!
Mark my words, they gonna be big! 

Stay tuned for #9 coming soon....
HINT:

All I Wanted Was a Good Song and a Fair Friend

Happy New Year Friends.
I really hope everyone had a wonderful celebration and end/beginning.
Here's what me and my man where up to

 

I can only say I love Portland. I love Hawthorne. And I love Langhorne. 

The show was exuberant. My man deemed it "one of" the best of the year for him. 

For your opinion...

While nosing around at the merch table in between the opener and the main act, I had the pleasure of literally bumping into my new, close friend Langhorne. What a nice and genuine guy. He says they'd like to come back to Eugene soon - I told him we'd promote it on the show, so guys, pressure's on.

It was a great show, but there is nothing like being dead sober on the (second?) biggest drinking holiday of the year. It's been more years than I care to declare in the name of self-incrimination that I haven't done some boozing myself on this eve. 

I have to say, I felt like maybe I am ready to do this parenting thing, because I started to feel very concerned about the well being of those drunken slobs around me. "How is she going to get home?" I kept asking my man. "Does he even know that girl?!" and the best was the girl who was literally HEADBANGING as well as the circular hair twirl during the first song. At a show for a band whose music can legitimately be defined as "folk." It was shocking to me that she maintained for at least 30 minutes after that which enabled her to throw multiple drinks into the crowd of people dancing. She was escorted out. I hope she got home ok.

I'm only being nice because no drinks got on me so it was kind of funny.

Here's what it looked like to everyone but me.
ps - thanks to momma bird for the replacement lens. Who knew how critical auto-focus is?


Speaking of being grownups now, we put up some lights on the house for the first time ever!

And when I say "we," I really mean "he."

All I could think about was Clark Griswald and the staples and the sleeves and the falls... (same method "we" used... is there a better way? Is it ok to base your knowledge of how to do stuff from Chevy Chase vacation movies? Anyway. )

What do you think? Did we go overboard?

I'm just kidding of course. But this is a real place here in Eug. 

(BTW that rhymes with Huge).

Ah, that's more like it. I can't tell you the joy those lights brought me. I am going seriously soft over here. I even listened to Christmas music. For the WHOLE month.

and, yeah. Phil Spector was always a freak. Why didn't we see it coming?

Aw. Xmas is fun. 

Even Fdog got a homemade gift.

In the spirit of working backwards, and not totally abandoning my month old promise for a thanksgiving post.

The dog likes to look his best for what he considers Dog Show Day (also known as Thanksgiving). 

I'll skip the obligatory tofurky pictures, but I WILL say that it was delicious. My parents even claim to have enjoyed it on Christmas Eve. Having it twice in a couple weeks was divine. I have another one in the fridge now!

That about wraps up the holidays, readers. Hope 2012 brings you everything your little heart desires. And, remember, be excellent to each other.

Stay tuned... I WILL be attempting a Best of 2011 music post. But it is so time consuming... give me a couple more days. And a couple more listens to Kaputt.

Love, pigeon xo

My Furr Has Turned to Skin [percolator]

...but I still dream of running careless through the snow...
In honor of a fantastic show in Eugene last weekend. Thank you Blitzen Trapper.



And in the animal spirit of a vegan Thanksgiving. Can't wait for our Tofurky. Green bean casserole and chocolate banana cake! Mashed potatoes..... Did I tell you guys that my man asked for Tofurky last year for his birthday dinner? Laugh all you want. It's that good.
Oh, and mom and dad - laugh even harder, but you will be enjoying a Tofurky at our Christmas visit!
I am starting a new "feature" on this blog.
Pigeon's Percolator - my "i'm kind of obsessed with" column was getting long and I was afraid that no one was reading it - oh the shame.
I really want to post one every Tuesday, so it's just going to be something that I came across that I wanted to share (movies, music, products...). And short. For the inaugural percolator, I must highly recommend:

THE LAST CIRCUS 

(Or, as I prefer to translate it: The Ballad of the Sad Clown)

Warning - MOM - don't watch this trailer, but everyone else - check it out! Actually, watching the trailer again just now, it really tones it down compared to the full movie (you have been warned).

I have a friend who for some reason thinks that I like this type of movie... probably because I usually do. Past selections have included Hobo with a Shotgun (just...no),

The Oregonian (meh... kind of a POOR man's David Lynch rip) 

This picture kind of makes it look more interesting than the movie actually is.

Save yourself the 90 minutes. Don't bother.

and next on the agenda is Rubber (will let you know. And yes, it is about a killer tire).
Anyway - I suggested this one and I wish it was still at the Bijou so all you Eugenians could go see it. We saw the last showing.
I decided not to tell my man it was going to be subtitled... mean trick, or just a forgivable slip? After the first 5 minutes and the intro credits he whispered "Is the whole thing going to be in Spanish?"
"Um, I think so..."
"EHRGH" whispered emphatically.
But it was totally worth it. Beautiful cinematography (made for the big screen), love triangles, human hunting dogs, Spanish history and vengeful clowns.
I mean - if you only see one circus movie this year, don't let it be Water For Elephants.
Call to action - I loved The Last Circus. It's streaming on Netflix RIGHT NOW.

Feast post to come.

To Be Young (Is to Be Sad)

Hello Friends.
As confusing as I found the recent Ryan Adams concert to be - I still can't help being massively in love with the new album... Here is the title track for your listening pleasure. WARNING - there is an alarm clock sound at the beginning. PLEASE forgive the annoying host and the alarm clock. It's totally worth it.


Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

I wish MY eyes were indigo! And I want my man to tell me that my skin smells like black cherries! But, alas, my man "does NOT write happy love songs." He has to remind me of this rule often.

Sidenote: I was talking to (a Canadian) person that I had just met about music and mentioned that I was going to a Ryan Adams concert the next week and he got really excited. Then I realized he thought I said BRYAN ADAMS. Whoa.

ps - you might not want to click that link...

Anyway, I picked this version because he opened the Eugene show with it. And I love his America (or is it Rasta?) guitar and black binder of tunes. He referred often to it during the performance.
The man played solo for THREE FULL HOURS. Just one pee break.
If you listen to our radio show, you have heard enough about the show. But just in case you missed the show last week - for shame - The music and the voice were IMO incredible. Incredible.

But - friends - the audience.

So this was my first time to the Shedd, which I like to think of as the "grown up" venue in Eugene. Not only is there no beer served and the shows start at 7pm, rather than sometime after 10pm whenever the third opener feels like jumping up on stage and starting, and it is "sit down." Meaning - there were assigned seats. And the tickets cost $39 rather than $8 advance, $9 at the door. Also, KWVA doesn't score free tickets. Anyway, this show was announced and promptly sold out when I was in FL visiting the parents this summer.

But I just couldn't pass it up. Have any of you EVER got a ticket on Stub Hub for 50% of face value?! Not double - but half! Friends, it's never happened to me before either - but I didn't ask questions! 

So I'm thinking - Awesome.

Because, as rarely as I imagine myself to be a "grown up," I also often don't enjoy the moshing and the spilled beer and the earaches that come after the "kid" shows. I don't like when people are talking during the shows or singing at full volume along with the songs (I am looking at you, 16 year old girl who RUINED Head and the Heart's encore of Rivers and Roads for me last month. Or you - middle age fat man who ruined AN ENTIRE John Prine show in Missoula a couple years back by singing every word quietly but audibly. Yes, I am still mad about that). What I am saying is that I am cranky and old - without being grown up enough to know better and not actually attend these shows. Never!

So - I'm thinking that people at the Shedd are going to be quiet and respectful. People who paid the big bucks to have a "real" seat. Before the show there were ads running for all kinds of adulty events upcoming like jazz trios and theatrical performances called things like "The Laugh Heard 'Round the World" and "Yule Be Swinging" (I am not kidding).

So - I'm thinking this will be a nice adult evening.

Friends - apparently grown up audiences have their own issues. Especially Ryan Adams fans.
At first it began with about 3~4 minutes of full blown applause when he came out. Then the yelling out "I love you Ryan!" over and over, in between every song. This was seemed to be several different folks each time - and all men - not that there's anything wrong with that - but what possesses you to yell something like that?
This devolved into more creative (?) yells such as "Hi!," "Move to Eugene!," "Can I pick the next song?" and my personal favorite "I want you inside me" (this was a man also), followed by "SHUT THE FUCK UP."

And this behavior really wasn't discouraged by Ryan. He kept saying "what?" And he really did leave to pee at one point. He claimed since "we" were treating him like we were all hanging out at his house, he would treat us that way too. He also talked about death metal and nosepicking. A lot.
He said it was one of the weirdest concert experiences of his life. "No fourth wall!"
Anyway, we went to some other concerts this month and we have a couple coming up - Blitzen Trapper, Dawes, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Bear Hands...

We are also contemplating a Langhorne Slim New Years Eve show in Portland. I think we should do it. Who knows, it could be the last time we get to do something like that...

we have to start being grown ups sometime. soon?

Talk To Me in September

My dad's infamous baseball quote is coming back to bite MY team this year! Yikes, the Sox might go down in flames. Every time some ignorant, casual, fair-weather fan would knock the Sox, my dad would respond "Talk to me in September." No baseball matters until then. Now I hope no one talks to me... about that at least. We are in the break between a double header and the Red Sox dropped the day game to the Orioles. The Baltimore Orioles. The team that is 29 games back, tied for the second worst record in the American League. This is after losing 3 of 4 to the RAYS. Because my parents now live in Florida, they like the Rays. And by association, and the fact that I have probably been to more Rays games than any other professional team, and the fact that the Rays are pretty spunky and defying odds to succeed this year, and the fact that the Dunkin Donuts in Sarasota gives my parents free donuts after a Ray's win, has made me a *kindof* Rays fan. But not when they are playing the Sox.

My man (who is FROM Baltimore) has promised to cheer for the Sox since winning the game matters to them. And to me.



Stepkids. They have an album coming out next week. Streaming at KCRW.
It's pretty funky. Hope you enjoy.

Since we might eat smart dogs tonight to get in the baseball mood, we'll postpone the fresh pesto and tomatoes from the garden-

OMB - I stopped writing to check the game and we are getting NATIONAL LEAGUE COVERAGE, WHAT??? I even tried to get it on my parents' slingbox. Boo. So no game. Pesto is back on. Oregon gardening has not been very kind to me, next year I need to plant Early Girls. But those sweet Toms are worth the wait.

Other produce. These blackberries that have taken over, with no assistance from me (actually in spite of resistance by me. They are thorny!)

Isn't he a beautiful animal? 

In his home habitat.

On vacation at Cannon Beach. Anywhere with his bed is home.

We went to Northern Coast of Oregon for our anniversary. My man got me a beautiful pair of sapphire earrings to match my wedding band. He did good. I got him a mandolin case. We had a wonderful time, but I honestly think Floyd might have enjoyed it even more than we did. 

The escape...

(note the feet aren't even touching the ground)

and the return. 

I also made a beach blanket from Soulemama's (no relation - actually we might be related. She has the same rare last name as I do and lives in Maine... I emailed her once to investigate but apparently she is too busy raising 4 (5?) kids and making her own everything to respond) book, The Handmade Home. I kind of hated to put it in the sandy sand. I wanted to make a little treasure that my man and I could look back, ok  I could look back, and say, I made this for our first anniversary trip to the beach. Here's to many, many more trips and beach blanket usage.

Of course, I complicated her design. Why would you buy bias tape when you can make your own? HAHA. I used all scraps for this project, other than the backing, which was a heavy synthetic quilt I got at Salvation Army. That yellow is from my Grammie's rad 60's pillowcase and the blue is from a sheet set from high school that lost the fitted sheet somehow. Pieces leftover on the trim from too many projects to name. It made me think back on all the baby showers I have been to and all my lovely ladies that hopefully still have some homemade goodness from me.

It was a good day. Good thing F.dog isn't a female (and human) or he might need a chin wax.

The next day we went to Astoria and saw all the Goonies related stuff we could handle. Pics to come? Interested? Wait I might as well while I'm at it, right?

 The unfortunately named Ecola Park held the key to the treasure map! That large one rock in the distance is Haystack rock, right near where we stayed in Cannon Beach.

 Indian Beach, surfing mecca and home to Point Break's Bondi Beach scene.
Can I just say that bragging about being at this venerated location opened some debate whether Point Break "sucked" or not. ARE you kidding? I really thought the person was kidding at first.

 The future is bright with road trippers like these. Wait - maybe they are from the future, almost 20,000 years in the future.

 Mikey's house.

Goondocks

 Fratelli's Jail.
(*Edited to fix - Thanks to a big Goonies fan!)

And Sloth. 

Can I just close by saying I did the worst thing this week? Even though I knew FULL WELL that Missoni had a line at Target coming out and I even KNEW the date so I could go the first day, I forgot. 

I was watching Project Runway on Thursday and saw the ad. I almost had a fit.

I knew it would all be gone - it had been on sale for three days already!!!

The next day I went to all my Targets of course starting with the ghetto one, hoping that people who live in Springfield couldn't possibly understand the signifigance of MISSONI BEING AT TARGET. 

But they did. The customer service woman told me there were almost riots in the store and the parking lot. In Eugene, Oregon. My man said, "Why are you freaking out about this Massorini brand? I have never heard you mention it before." oh beiber. That might be because I can't afford a $900 sweater. But I can afford a $40 MISSONI sweater from Target. Anyway, mine only had underwear left in two sizes too small and a size too big. I happily grabbed the big ones, and sadly, they work just fine.

Then- 

Momma bird to the rescue! And she didn't even try to sell them like this mom!

I almost can't wait for it to rain! 

I can't believe I just wrote that. 

But come on. Look at these boots. 

They are Missoni. 

Kick Drum, High Hat

Happy Summer guys! It's real summer for me now that my class is over, grades were submitted and I only had one student complain! That is easily the least complaining I have ever had. It was a fun class, I think that Marcom might be my favorite class to teach.

So I have already posted a video for this song here in the past. MUCH different version, but still completely radical.



This was my introduction to Lissie, who sadly does not tend to live up to the bad-ass-ness displayed above. It's just such a great summer song I felt like giving you another version. If you like this one and you don't know the original, definitely check it out. Interestingly - I looked at the old blog and the Kid Cudi version had been viewed 9 million times when I first linked it, now it's up to TWENTY NINE million... Are we here at Golden Pigeon at least partially responsible? I like to think so. Nice work guys!

Stay tuned for more music coming soon...
We have one show a month coming up - Bon Iver in Sept (and maybe Pretty Lights if we can swing free tickets. Or is it worth it to pay, what do you guys think? I don't like to go to shows that make me feel at least a decade older than the normal attender), Head and the Heart and Thao and the Get Down Stay Down in October and We Were Promised Jetpacks and Bear Hands in November.

Be happy your freezer is working 'cause mine's not. I think my man really missed me when I was in FL last week because 1) our freezer broke 2) he forgot his dentist appt and 3) he got a ticket for talking on the cell phone while driving (and guess who he was talking to?). Normally, my man does not cook at all while I am away, but this time I encouraged him to try to eat what was in the freezer quickly so he was eating A LOT of vegan meatballs.

Maybe I will do a cooking post soon, yes? This week I will be making baked chimichangas (which I like to refer to as chimi-CHANGE-as from my days working at a Mexican restaurant in Tennessee. The Southern folks strangely do not have a grasp on Spanish pronunciations. I loved when people ordered Tecate - said Ta-KATE. Anyway that is a whole nother post), "chicken" piccata  and "chicken" marsala. Is there any interest in veganized versions of these recipes? My dear parents are doing meatless Mondays and I *think* I convinced them to make it vegan Mondays. I challenge you lovely readers to do the same. The piccata is amazing.

Fdog was happy to see me too. We are taking a anniversary trip to Cannon Beach in a couple weeks. You all know how Floyd loves the beach.

I can't believe it's been a year already since the wedding. I am happy to report that contrary to our fears (due to the fact that we never received a copy of the marriage certificate), we are indeed officially married. I called the city and checked on it this morning. Apparently, they don't send out certificates unless you pay $7 for the "decorative" version. And, as you all know, I am cheap so I did not opt to pay for that when we picked up the license. So it turns out that our friend WAS certified to marry us! And the paperwork did reach the city! It's kind of too bad, because I was thinking about having you all come back out to have another party for us all over again!

Stay tuned and be excellent to each other.
xo Pigeon

Every Weekend, My Car Goes....

 Something about the summer always makes me want to take road trips.
And something about this song makes me feel like I'm on a road trip. Which is why I listen to it almost every day, much to my man's dismay. There are few bands we disagree on, but, unfortunately Felice Brothers are one of them - in the distinguished company of Thao and the Get Down, Stay Down, Cold War Kids, Ryan Bingham and the non-musical husband-torture of the RHONY and RHOBH - I refuse to expand those acronyms. Those of you who need to know already do. The reunion shows are particularly painful for him. He can't just leave the room, it must be the whole house.

There is some music he loves that I cannot abide as well. Rush. Frank Zappa (ok, I can tolerate small doses) and most all 70s-80s "butt-rock." When I got home from my trip to France,  a mysterious Deep Purple LP had appeared in our collection.

Anyway, whenever I start gushing about a new band I have discovered, he asks "Is it a young guy trying to sound like an old guy?" UM, no... except maybe, yes. I am looking at you, Low Anthem. And Felice Brothers. Anyway, you can decide for yourself.



I mean, accordion? What's not to love.

Anyway, the road trips. I can't take one this year. And last year, no. Does driving 10 hours in separate cars to move across the PNW count as a road trip? No, it does not. I have had some epic road trips throughout the years. Some were horrible where I was trapped with maniac pseudo-hippies trying to touch my face with their dirty, disgusting pseudo-hippie feet and camping at sewage treatment plants (this is two separate trips). Some were wonderful filled with deserts and national parks and grilled cheese sandwiches and Wall Drug visits. Speeding tickets and snow camping in May.
Tennessee to North Carolina
TN to MT to TN not sure how many times, but once it took almost a month. Variously by way of Denver, Dayton OH, Chicago IL, literally every state and national park in Utah and some in Arizona.
MT to Banff
MT to Arcata, CA - through Eugene!

I want a road trip with my man down Highway 1 and next year, my friend moves to San Francisco and IT IS ON. I am already looking forward to it. Also, another friend has a quite significant milestone birthday, to which I have already RSVP'd. Don't know where it will be, but I am hoping we can drive there! Of course, because my car doesn't currently drive on the highway, or to South Eugene, because there are hills, so I may need to learn to drive my man's stick shift. I know. The other day I didn't fill my tank all the way, not because I am short on cash, but because why waste a full tank of gas in case my car breaks down?

Anyway, that was a tangent, but it's summertime! I have been neglecting the blog. I don't like to write too long at once, so the next time I will cover some recent developments such as:
I passed my comprehensive exams! - Do you really want to hear about this?
I went to France - I have to be brief here out of weak respect the people who I traveled with who I am unsure if read this blog. There is really no disguised identity around here. I will post some pics though.

Venus De Milo

I went to the Louvre. Some of you may know of the ill fated Paris trip of '02... Not a road trip but rather a train trip. Where my brother and I valiantly tolerated each others constant company for over a month before the eventual and inevitable blow up(s). Anyway, we left from France, leaving the only day to go to the Louvre A TUESDAY which EVERYONE KNOWS is the day all museums in France are closed. I finally got to go and although I went directly from the 10 hour flight and it was about 3am body time, it was worth the nine year wait. More later on this trip. The current one, not the brother one. Although, that trip is a goldmine...

We went to Ween! We got to sit in the disabled section! I met some people from the Ween Forum which I have "known" on the internet for almost a decade. Surprisingly nice.
We went to the Country Fair - I heard a bluegrass KIDS cover of NIN's Closer "I want to pet you like an animal. I want to feel you from the outside. You get me closer to dog."
My garden is growing - let me just say this now. Why can I only grow leaves and no vegetables? Lettuce is the only thing I like to grow in Oregon because everything else just makes leaves and flowers that never produce. Any tips?
I have two weeks left of the last course I am require to teach for the next two years. I have been loving the summer course and the students. Of course, this love will be gone when I get my evaluations. Two more weeks of love.

Will write soon friends.  Block Party next weekend VIVA Whiteaker!
xo pigeon xo

I Saw You First, It Was in a Dream

Kaliméra friends, happy long weekend.
Here's what we were doing last year this time.

Sasquatch 2010

After a long, arduous debate, which btw is how I make the vast majority of all decisions, we opted to not go to Sasquatch this year. It is a little bit painful now that the time is upon us. Back in the fall, we were watching the streaming video and twitter obsessively to get the word on who would be playing.

On the pro-side we had:

GIVERS - I saw you first

Sidenote: There was another version of this song on youtube, which was nausea-inducing and the sound was worse BUT it showed the band pulling balloons out of big trash bags. Priceless. It reminded me of poorman's this feat by AF @ Coachella.

We watched Arcade Fire's Coachella performance live on youtube - it was fantastic and to be honest, I *almost* felt like I was there. Actually, we got better views and closeups, with none of the portapotties and sweat. Kind of nice. Anyway - on the encore, these big balls dropped down, hundreds of them, and they were somehow synchronized and controlled to turn patterns of different colors. I love it. Chris Milk (of Wilderness Downtown video fame), fun stuff. So what I am saying is, GIVERS, hang in! Pretty soon you could go from 800 youtube views and filling up Glad bags with balloons you blew up yourselves, to multimedia art collaborations and headlining Coachella, it could happen!

Back to the point: This band played at the WOW with Ra Ra Riot (also awesome and Sasquatch alums) and we didn't go because we are too tired and old. Big mistake.
Other pluses of 2011 lineup: Wilco, Head and the Heart, Iron and Wine (although I don't think that a festival is ideal for this at all, hence we'll see him at Crystal on Tuesday instead), Yeasayer, Cold War Kids (although we just saw them, and one member of this unit (the male member) is not so interested), Beach House(!!!), Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings, Local Natives, Matt & Kim, Deerhunter, Sleigh Bells (who would be perfect at a festival I think), Cotton Jones... Plus the couple dozen I have never heard of that would probably go on to become next year's favorites.

You'd think that would be enough to do the trick. But I am greedy. And unreasonable.

I wanted Arcade Fire. I wanted Black Keys. I wanted Ween again.

The first indication that we might not go this year came with the announcement of headliner Foo Fighters. Not really in the same class as Ween ('10) - for me anyway. Meh. Then the big names kept coming and and more meh.
Death Cab. Decemberists. Bright Eyes. Modest mouse. These bands do not excite me.
Then there was the portapotties, the trash, the lack of any vegan food, the field mice...

Oh wait, then we thought about the fact that technically - I am a student. On the quarter system.

That means next week is exam week.

And how I have COMPREHENSIVE exams in two weeks. For the (blissfully) unaware, these are tests where you are expected to demonstrate everything that you learned in the first 2 years of your PhD education and you need to pass if you want to continue in the program. you have 96 hours to complete a set of four questions. You have 10 pages to answer each question. The dreaded comps are looming large.

Then I need to get ready to teach a brand spanking new class.

It's going to be intense.

So, yeah, if you were wondering, we aren't going to the festival this year. Does this mean I am a (kind of) grown up?

Probably not, since we decided to binge locally on the Sasquatch ripple effect. Cotton Jones tonight. Maybe Cotton Jones again Saturday. Back up to Portland for Head and the Heart and Iron & Wine (aforementioned).

And stay tuned for another post this weekend about last weekend. We went to the Ms. Whiteaker pageant! And we played poker! We stayed up til 4am listening to records! Who says I am grown up?

There's No Darkness A Loomin

So if you follow me on my radioshow page or my FB page, you probably know that I was getting a little impatient about the sophomore release from Fleet Foxes.

I personally apologize to Robin Pecknold for the doubt because these guys killed it with this album. Which is probably not a good description because what they did is more like these guys met it at an art museum, took it out for coffee and ended up riding it on the handlebars of a cruiser bike while drinking red wine, eating strawberries and riding off into the sunset with this album.

It's pretty beibing good. And again I am in love. 

I usually imagine my faithful readers clicking my intro videos and using them as a sort of soundtrack to my writing, but today, I hope that you just watch the video.

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Helplessness Blues

Wasn't that incredible? 

I may have mentioned this before, but Fleet Foxes were here in Portland a couple weeks ago. And as major fans, we knew about the presale and bought the tickets immediately... even though in the back of my mind I felt like "May 1st... isn't there something I am doing that day?" Then a couple days later I realized. My man is RUNNING THE MARATHON that day.

We really like this band. We (he) seriously considered whether he could get up at 5:30am, run for 26.2 miles, get in the car, drive for 2 hrs and go to the show and stand up for 3 more hours, get back in the car and drive 2 hrs to get back around 24 hours after this day began. Wisely (or not) I talked him out of it.

We sold the tickets (for face value which I am really kind of proud about because I saw them going for triple the price. I really hope my friend's research assistant had a fantastic time).  Next time we are there.

But instead it was the marathon.

Dude in the orange ended up winning. Although I have to say 

I think that if you finish the marathon, you won it.

The Eugene Marathon is really an incredible event and I am so proud that my man has been a part of it. He is incredible too. He had a PR and took over 15 minutes off his time from last year. 

There was a Will Ferrel impersonator among the spectators/supporters this year.

F said he saw this guy at four different spots along the course, which is more than I even made. The runners were (mainly) loving it. I heard one runner say "show off that gut!" I guess if you are running a marathon you are allowed to say things like that.

It turns out May 1st is quite popular for events, because as well as Fleet Foxes and the Eugene Marathon, my man's sister also was going to get married that day. But she kindly moved it to the next weekend, which meant that we got to go to Baltimore for a long weekend. 

And I got to wear a cute dress. And orange shoes.

Not to trivialize how hard it is on the feet to run a marathon, but I felt like my feet *might* have been as sore than my man's after 6 hours in those 5 1/2 inch heels. Totally worth it though.

On another note, I am going to play poker this week. Last time I played it did not end well.

I really don't like losing.