(no subject)
I am back from my seemingly interminable sojourn up north. I was glad to sleep in my own bed last night after nearly three weeks on floors or couches. As much as I enjoy travelling, I am a creature of habit and one who likes a routine---when it comes to my writing, this is almost an absolute necessity, and I got next to nothing accomplished during the time I was gone. These comments are not meant to indicate that I did not enjoy my trip, because there were certainly a lot of great moments, but there was also a great deal of sitting around and feeling bored and restless.
Here are the highlights:
First and foremost, the Tom Waits show, which was the primary reason I went up north, was just amazing. It was everything I could have wanted or asked for, and being in the third row orchestra is a hell of a lot better than being up in the balcony. I owe so much to
desierto for getting those tickets, and for his hospitality afterward, and I will repay him somehow. Thank you, my friend! Here is the set list from the show:
Make It Rain
Hoist That Rag
Shore Leave
God’s Away On Business
All The World Is Green
Falling Down
Tango Till They’re Sore
Tom Traubert’s Blues
Eyeball Kid
Down In The Hole
Don’t Go Into That Barn
Shake It
Trampled Rose
What’s He Building In There
Who’s Been Talking / Till The Money Runs Out
Murder in the Red Barn
Lie To Me Baby
Get Behind The Mule
Day After Tomorrow
Singapore
Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard
Time
The crowd stomped, clapped, cheered, and yelled, in hopes of getting a 3rd encore out of the man, and the theatre remained dark for three minutes or so, just as it did before the previous two encores, so we thought it might happen, but, alas the lights came up and we slowly made our way out. But, we really had no reason or right to complain. Tom had given us 2-and-a-half hours of great music and everyone seemed happy. I sure as hell was.
Just a few days before I left, I auditioned for an independent film that is being made here in B-ton, but since I could not make it to the call back, they gave the part to someone else. And, I did not know of their decision until after I left. Had I known, I would have made other arrangements, and been here for the call back. Oh well... But, damn, I know I would have been great in the part of Mr. B., the junk shop owner. I would have used Mr. Wark, the old hardware shop owner in Valparaiso as a model. It would have been great. Bah and harrumph!
Some of the greatest moments I had while up north were spent in the company of my nieces Arrin, Elizabeth, and Leah, who are all slightly crazy and a lot of fun. I taught them how to play Texas Hold 'Em Sunday night, and we played on until the wee hours of the morning (and I cleaned their clocks, though we put all the pennies and nickels in Leah's bank when we were done). Monday night, the four of us went to see Clerks II, one of the sickest, most vulgar, and damned hilarious movies I've seen in a very long time. Now, you can say that it is inappropriate to take my four-year-old niece to see such a movie, and when she yelled out "weiner!" in the theatre I thought to myself, Hey it may not have been appropriate to bring my four-year-old niece to see this movie. But, what is done is done. I doubt she's horribly scarred by it. The larger point is, I had a good time with my nieces, and I am grateful to them for the good times.