HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2014

Had real fun times at Blatz' (That's Blair + Matt's) House on Halloween.  We didn't make it to destination WWT.  Not even upset.  From L-R: #16 Jeff Hanson, #17 Steve Hanson, and #18 Jack Hanson:

KMHD + Everett as Guinness World Record title-holders for longest nail growth.  Best costumes, IMO.  So sick, so subversive, so A+++:

A week before the actual holiday, we went to our neighbor Jake's Halloween party.  He outfitted his jukebox with 'spooky', 'scary' songs, which I thought pretty spiffy:

WHAT'S UP?

When we were in Ft. Smith last, ATM + I popped into this used bookstore we like. We were about to leave empty handed when I spotted in the 10¢ bin Christopher Pike's Die Softly.  I couldn't resist.

Our weekly allowance wasn't much, so my best gals + I would buy Christopher Pike [and Stephen King and Dean Koontz] pocket books and swap them.  This was in junior high school.  Total bookworms, we read every chance we got, lunch breaks, and sometimes during class.  Our teachers always commented on how thrilled they were to see us read but PUT IT AWAY NOW.



As a young teen, these books were a glimpse into the lives of other teens anywhere, but Ft. Smith, Arkansas. These kids seemingly didn't have any adult supervision or curfews, they had their own cars, some were involved in adult situations, and then there were the murders. We couldn't get enough.  After reading Die Softly again, I got on the internet and bid on a lot of 27 books - that's not even all of them, but a really good start - because I want to read them all again.  I've been enjoying reading these silly-ass young adult horror novels during the Halloween month.  No joke, I think it'd be fun to try to bang out one of these stories myself, with the help of ATM, natch.  I don't think you have to be particularly good. It's a formulaic process, and we just need to find the right one. And, too, it'd be hilarious to try to write a story about teenagers - how far off the mark would we be?   I suppose first things first, we need to come up with a pseudonym. What say ye?

***  

Even though I've been eating well, I still yield to my sweet tooth here and there.  Alannah hipped me to these dairy-free, no added sugar choco pops that taste incredible and really does the trick and treat. We have popsicle molds, but you can use little cups + popsicle sticks or even bust out the ice cream maker.

You'll need: 

One can of full-fat coconut milk
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla extract

In a saucepan, warm the coconut milk.  Add the chocolate chips, vanilla, and cinnamon, stirring constantly until melted, combined, and smooth. Pour into your molds and freeze.  You can add other things like chili powder or cocoa nibs, but we keep ours simple.  I think the next time I make it, I am going to run it through ice cream maker.  Speaking of which, I scored this beast a few weeks ago at the thrift store:



I didn't even know they made double ice cream makers until I sawr this one!  Incredible.

REQUIEM POUR UN CON

This is the first Serge Gainsbourg song I ever heard, so it is my favorite. I'll never forget hearing it for the first time, it was a beautifully devastating moment.  

FOLLOW THE BEARS

The 2 Bears have a new LP out and while it's no BE STRONG, it's still delicious.  Especially this banger of a track:

I WANNA SEE ALL MY FRIENDS AT ONCE

This past Thursday, a sum of us went roller skating, my first time in 10+ years.  I thought I'd be better than I actually am as I was quite the roller rink brat back in the day. Even though it took me the entire hour to feel any confidence, I'm keen on getting back there ASAP, if not for the blissful liberty of self-propulsion, but to watch the skate-dancers. They're cool as hell.  They definitely took my mind off my wobbliness. I was so absorbed watching them which caused me to relax and skate better. I think I'm going to start traveling with my skates to check out other rinks.

Chicago-inspired?






KMHD + I have our own skates, natch:

+++

Brittany + I woke up early Saturday and headed west towards Pinnacle Mountain State Park to go horseback riding. After having a disgusting, muggy week, we were treated to a perfectly cold morning. I'm talking flannels, cable-knit sweaters, scarves, and jackets. I miss riding a lot and need to somehow somehow find a way to make it regular in my life.



Nice view of Pinnacle Mountain from the trail:


I was surprised at how much love I have for cute country boys.  Our guide was adorable.  His other jobs include helping run the haunted house on Roosevelt, bull riding in the rodeo, and breaking horses:


Glorious:



Photo by Brittany

+++

After riding, we had a quick lunch in West Little Rock and went back to our respective places to chill; Britt had to report to work later and I had a wedding to go to.  

Best wishes to Sara + Zach!  And Ike.


Louise made an appearance:


Sydney smuggled in a bottle of wine into reception locale Vino's, so we had a private party for two amidst all.  I had a really good time.  Mr. and Mrs. Zach Reeves, y'all nailed it!

Photo by Jack

To-do:  Write down all of my ideas + plans, big and small.  Start knockin' 'em out.

+++

As previously mentioned, KMHD + I are on this hella strict dietary regimen.  I've also taken on the task of forever quitting smoking cigarettes.  I am absolutely terrified to leave the house as temptation is everywhere I turn my head.  Socializin' in Arkansas during autumn is all about eatin', drinkin', smokin', campin', and stayin' up much too late. While I'm definitely catching up on my reading and listening to albums, I do miss cooking, having a long sit-down dinner with wine (Hello, Keiko!), and seeing people.  Well, some people.

On the upside, all of the hard work is paying off. Wait until our paths cross again, you will notice a difference! Too, this little program has brought KMHD + I closer.  I can't say I've saved monies from not smoking, because I wasn't that level of smoker, and I've made up for it by spending it on records, but yadda yadda yadda.

When this program is over, I am going to bake and eat this pistachio cake.

 +++

In other news not relating to me, Jeff/Drawing Room Records is releasing Chinese Girls (FYI, Rhonda, it's hard to link you to a band that has been long-defunct and didn't leave a mark on the internet hellscape and DO NOT G00Gl3 Chinese Girls!) on vinyl. ATM just listened to the test pressing and gave it his seal of approval. So, expect something soon.  Maybe a listening pardy or summink similar.

ATM/Chinese Girls

+++

Very soon, ATM + I will begin work on a joint mix to post on AR Times' Guest Mix feature. Speaking of which, ATM has already done one + it's quite good!  It is hilarious yet something powerful to hear John Carpenter while working. Feast your ears!

Says he:

This mix came about like most do: I grabbed a stack of records — some recent acquisitions some not so — that included tunes I'm currently obsessed with, put a tape in the deck, started mixing without a plan, and then tried to stop by the time the tape ran out. The main difference this time is it's not a bunch of Strictly Rhythm trax or whatever, but rather tunes that are fun to belt out when one is alone in the car. Or not alone. Since Arkansas is a strange cultural vortex, or at least a dusty eddy, it's always fun to eke out local connections to the music. Not too much doing here. Some tangential ones, though. Sonny Sharrock did some of his most beautiful work with Pharaoh "Little Rock" Sanders. (Speaking of, I wonder if Pharaoh ever corrected people out in L.A. when they started calling him that. "Uh, it's NORTH Little Rock." "Yeah whatever you say, Little Rock.") The Ventures' famous Mosrites were made in Booneville for, what, a few months? And, um, Leon Russell was a Tultsa Boy, so maybe he got lost on some back-road one night and found himself in Siloam Springs. Anyway, enjoy.

J Carptenter - Into the Spirit Path
Robert Schröder - Lost Humanity
Leon & Mary Russell - Rainbow in Your Eyes
Sonny & Linda Sharrock - Apollo
Terry Reid - To Be Treated Right
Double - Wrong Time
Demis Roussos - My Face in the Rain
The Ventures - Good Morning Captain

 +++

Last weekend, ATM discovered two little brown bats roosting between the screen and window of our front bedroom.  I was elated! I think bats are cute + cool!  It was an ideal way to observe them with all interested parties safe from each other and not freaking out. Unfortunately, they defecate, piss, and mate in addition to sleeping, so they can't stay, but we decided to let them leave on their own accord and then we'll seal the window properly.  About Tues or Wed, there was only one. I figured the little lady went on ahead to find a nursery colony, but what the hell do I know. I can't even verify that it was a male and female, but they most certainly copulated.  UPDATE: After the frightful storms we had last night, our remaining little buddy did not return.  Gutted.

I'm amused how much they remind me of the cats with their scratching, grooming, and yawning:

+++

New lights:

KISS ME AGAIN

Wanted: Cookbooks

Brooks Headley's Fancy Desserts

Vegan Stoner

Thug Kitchen

I considered not touching this one with a 10 ft. pole, but I must confess that I love Thug Kitchen.  It's absolutely vulgar in every sense of the word.  The vegan recipes are so bloody good.  Too bad it's cultural appropriation for profit, SMDH.

I'd like to think cultural appropriation would be easy for me to grasp, but, admittedly, I have a hard time getting my head around it sometimes.  Seems pretty cut and dry, but here I am, guiltily liking TK. Race and culture is fucking complicated + confusing.  This is no exception. I think I'll pass on book purchase and just stick to the website for the goods.  Thoughts? 

TOTAL CON

I am obsessed with Total Control band of Melbourne, Australia.  They are pleasurably/painfully unavailable having released one of my favorite records this year and not touring in support of it.  I would've driven many hours to see them, too.  ALAS! Sometimes it's nice to be deprived of something when you want it.

ALL of their releases are good.  All of them.

BAND THAT NEVER WAS

Late last month, ATM + I went to Memphis - again - this time to see The Clean. For a good minute, as I watched them perform, I wondered if they were sauced or if this is how they do it? They played a lot of the songs I know and love. It was suitably lo-fi and just the right amount of embarrassing. They ended strong having members of the opening bands NOTS (of Memphis) and Boogarins (of Brasil) join in the fun and playing Tally Ho.

Me + ATM, post-show. I just quit cigarettes forever here:

This is going to be a foode + drinke-heavy post because I'm on this super strict dietary regimen with KMHD, so just allow me to recall the goode ole days here.

We stayed in a hotel downtown instead of Midtown or East Memphis, so instead of driving to our usual haunt Otherlands, we decided to find a coffee shop within walking distance.  We discovered Tamp & Tap, my new favorite thing about Memphis.  The coffee is kill-er.  It fills the space behind your face with pleasantness.  I recommend their pour over brew.  

Our current model for eating in Memphis requires us to: 1. not eat typical Memphis cuisine (bbq, fried chicken, Huey's, etc.),  2. sometimes resume our ever-continuing search for the perfect club sandwich, and/or 3. simply try a new place. I've always seen and admired the Bon Ton's neon sign and, after a quick scan of the menu, we discovered we'd be hitting all the marks.

Photo by R Virus

This club was not cut into four triangles, wasn't held together with cello-topped toothpicks, or even on white bread, but still gets high marks for good grilling and thick-cut turkey.  Fries were good, too, and they had vinegar for me to sprinkle on them.  ATM spoke highly of their eggs benedict.  Add Bon Ton Cafe to the YES list.


From Memphis, we drove down to Brandon, MS to celebrate ATM's mum's birthday. That evening, we went to Saigon Restaurant in Flowood.  It's your standard Viet restaurant with decent phở and vermicelli bowls, but one thing they have going for them is that they serve bánh xèo.  Most Viet restaurants don't serve that.  In fact, the only other place I've had it in my life is my aunt's kitchen! If you get the chance to have some, do.

On the way back home, we stopped at The Dock in Lake Providence, LA, something I've wanted to do for years.  It's a bit pricey, but it's yr chance to get a fantastic shrimp poboy before you're out of Louisiana territory.  Lemonade is good, but I suspect it's from a mix.  It looks like it'd be a cool place to hang out and drink beer on a Saturday night.  Here's the boat 'parking lot' out back:


Here's an exciting thing: my nephews got a new boxer puppy! She's a lovely little creature!
There were a lot of people at my in-law's house that weekend, so she'd sneak into our room and hide under our bed for quiet times.  Almost made me want a dog. 


See what I mean?

BREAKDOWN

A SIMPLE DESIGN

Gonna have to order this new The Juan MacLean track album. Gorgeous.

GRUMBLING FUR

Here lately my favorite thing to listen to is Grumbling Fur's new album Preternaturals. I'm still waiting for my vinyl to be shipped over from the UK - can you believe the shipping rates these days?! - but you can stream it right now. Their album Glynnaestra, released only a year ago, is pretty fantastic, too.  

Harmonized vocals, sweet lyrics.  Too true. 

Billy Bragg at the legendary White Water Tavern

Thursday before last I got a message from KMHD that said something like "Billy Bragg is playing a free show at WWT tonight."

A free, impromptu show with Billy Bragg?! I knew word would get out pretty quickly, this being (N) Little Rock + all, and I really wanted to witness, so I came up with a plan to rush home after work, eat a spoonful of peanut butter for supper, dress down + go to WWT to claim a spot.

It was every bit of lovely even though it was a very hot night + the A/C was broken. The people were jam-packed into that small steamy venue. People I haven't seen in years came out of the woodwork. Everyone was all smiles + hugs. Billy Bragg was fantastic + inspiring. Here's a man that speaks my language, which is a comfort.  I found it especially adorable when the crowd sang along with him in an English accent. Good show.


Photo by Everett

HE'S THE GREATEST DANCER

2 MPH WEEKENDS

Back 2 School:


"New" design for spice tins:


Latest kitchen updates:

COMMON PEOPLE

ESCAPE VELOCITY

I was saying to ATM how easy it is to fall into the ol' Chicago/New Orleans routine which makes exploring new places (Boise, Idaho?  Thee Badlands?) and getting to far-flung places like Seattle difficult.  You need more time and $$$ to achieve escape velocity, things we're generally short on.

We're canceling our October trip to Chicago and using that refunded money to put towards an Xmas holiday in Seattle. I've not seen my beloved cousin My Tam since she's recovered from cancer, which is fucking shameful.  I am forever grateful for social media for keeping us in touch, but I definitely need to be near her.

!!! played in town last Saturday.  This is a stupid thing to say, but we go way back.  There were some years where !!! and Outhud came here annually for some days to hang out and to play some of the most memorable shows of my life.  Both bands share members, so they were never here at the same time (or were they?) and the details become fuzzy looking back. Did all that really happen? Anyway, great show.  I became a space cadet and danced, which is rare these days.  The line-up has changed some - again - but it was wonderful to see Nic, Gorman + Mario.

KMHD, Nic, ATM + Everett, all 10s:


Lovely Blair had a few of us over for post-show drinks + noshing. After awhile, she handed me a book and pretty much was like "you must".  I obliged + read it in four hours the following Monday.  It was Judy Blume's Summer Sisters. I couldn't put it down!  It's the perfect paperback poolside read, although being flung on a couch, barefoot, with just a t-shirt and cutoffs is acceptable, too. I'm glad Blair put into my hands a book I'd never pick on my own. I'm to pass it on to KMHD; it's regrettable that I didn't get it to her before she went off to the beach.

The book I'm reading now, Escape Velocity: a Charles Portis Miscellany, is a pleasure. Pure sugar. This past Thursday, I went to Big Orange to sit at the bar, sip, and read. I'd like to think it was Portis' writing and not the numerous Sidecars that was making me chuckle out loud. He speaks my language. It doesn't hurt that he's from Arkansas.  With that, there's an unspoken understanding, one that even I, a daughter born in Fort Smith, Arkansas of foreign and Yankee parentage, am privy to.  The book isn't a novel, but as the title suggests writings and observances while being on the beat for newspapers and lengthy compositions for magazines. I'm not even halfway through this book, but I'd recommend it on what I've read thus far, whether you're a Portishead or not.

My best gal, Brittany, slinging, taking good care of me:


Photo by George Probst. Please look at his album for awesome shark photographs.


We were in the neighborhood, so KMHD + I popped in to say hi to our dearest VWW. I miss him so much it hurts:


Just a wee reminder that I'm not a writer, but I do try. Not very much, but there is some effort.  No editor in sight!  Please remember that.

STAND BY ME

IN AND OUT OF SIGHT

I just read that the Horrors may've cancelled a lot of their US tour, including Chicago. Waiting for official word, but it's looking that way. Was so looking forward to it.