Aspects of 39,000 feet
From the air
The wondrous Caribbean from 39,001 feet. Tell me I don't live in an amazing world.
Up and away
The wondrous Caribbean from 39,001 feet. Tell me I don't live in an amazing world.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Atlanta airport where y'at?!
Doin the hurry up and wait but successfully headed towards some paradise
In the clouds in the dreams
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Eerie history
I'm not a museum curator, but it seems like some artifacts would be more awe-inspiring than others. I've personally noticed on museum visits that some artifacts seem to carry some mystical quality — a hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-the-neck quality.
In pop culture, I got this sense from Raiders of the Lost Ark, when I was a kid. The powerful mystery that the story attached to things like the Ark of the Covenant was a feeling that I never got from going to church or reading the Bible.
I got this kind of feeling the other day during a meeting at the Kentucky Horse Park which included a very-preliminary tour of "A Gift from the Desert — The Art, History, and Culture of the Arabian Horse," the jaw-dropping exhibit now under construction, that is scheduled to open in May 2010, to coincide with the World Equestrian Games, here in Lexington.
The feeling came from hearing some of the lore surrounding The Standard of Ur, which is over 4,000 years old and valued at $50 million — though it would more accurately be described as priceless. In particular: The Standard features what are considered to be some of — if not the — oldest existing illustrations of horse driving. That is to say: Horses pulling things designed by humans. Also, let's not fail to note: It's from Iraq.
There's something that is just eerie to me about such an ancient thing, and its juxtaposition against this modern world, and our struggles and complications.
I've heard that the Standard, which is housed at London's British Museum, was widely assumed to be unlendable, because of its astronomical value. But the substantial cachet of our own Kentucky Horse Park may have proven otherwise. Because of the particular efforts of the staff of KHP's International Museum of the Horse, the Royal Standard of Ur will reside on Kentucky soil for the exhibit. No doubt secured beyond belief.
And there's something just amazingly cool about that. It gives me tingles.
Check out this interactive, zoomable image from the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Open studio $1 portrait by Maxine
Open studio $1 portrait by Maxine
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey
A popular thing at this last UK Reynolds Bldg Open Studio (always an
occasion of delight and charm, btw) was the $1 Portraits Room.
Maxine did mine, and when she realized that I was the WRFL Trivial
Thursdays guy, she added the musical notes (thanks for listening!).
Later, with genuine concern, Maxine slid the drawing to me and
pronounced: "This looks nothing like you… I'm sorry!"
I disagree. I think she captured curiosity and zeal, pouring out of my
eyes.
(Also? Maxine and a nearby classmate were so funny that I was grinning
the whole time. So it was extra-challenging.)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Santa photos at busters!
Comebon down for holiday happy hour and Santa pix til 8!
Rock m roll santa at busters
It's the Mo Pho studio in effect with sant at busters
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Meanwhile back at tha Carter
Here it is. The dirty truth about what goes on after those Mecca 1st Monday cocktail nights at Gumbo Ya Ya @ Bar Lexington.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
I want a cookie
I want a cookie
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey
Amazing cookie jar collection at an undisclosed location so that they
remain safe.
Monday, December 07, 2009
The Gypsy Queen — Burning Man 2009
The Gypsy Queen — Burning Man 2009
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey
For longer than I could have imagined possible, I've been intending to work through my Burning Man 2009 photos. One of the main desires: to post my photos of an amazing journey with a bunch of madcap, delightful North Carolinians who built and crewed The Gypsy Queen, a desert version of an actual Alaskan Salmon boat.
To have captured even a sliver of their delight, adds to my own immensely.
A toast then — to the crew of the Gypsy Queen
(click the photo to get to the entire set on Flickr)
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Farhad & The Pope Recital
Those March Madness Marching Band members who survived The Last Waltz at Busters and made it back to @jennmill 's were treated to extraordinary pianomanship by Farhad, John, & Tripp, too. Priceless.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Ed McClanahan
Lexington wonder Ed McClanahan reads ferlinghetti's "Statue of St.Francis" at The Last Waltz at Busters
The Last Waltz at Busters
A cool tradition, a performance/recreation of The Last Waltz by local musicians. March Madness Marching Band opened; we dis our holiday set in the thunderous glory of Busters. Love Playing that room!
Lucy
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Ellen
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Manke
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Hoop girls
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Dr Sousa
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
March madness
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Carla
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
March madness!
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Kelly
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Tripp and Lori
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Laura
March madness wins Lawrenceberg Xmas parade!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Aspects of Young Japanese Metal Understudy
I stumbled into the world of 17586063 because today is Ozzy's birthday, and I was looking for some fodder for my radio show. I didn't expect that I'd be listing Some reasons why 17586063 is my new guitar hero:
- Most astounding demonstration(s!) of Randy Rhoads guitar technique I've ever seen. Ever.
- Giant stuffed fuzzy chickadee prop
- Frame composition
- Incredible guitar tone and volume!
- Mysterious Asian chick with fashion sense who rocks like an avalanche.
- Treatise on all videos: "I play (name of song) on guitar in order to let METAL be popular."
- Did I mention the astounding Randy Rhoads technique?
Bonus: You're not done until you've seen this other girl play Rush's YYZ.
PS: A translation of the title cards of the "Mr. Crowley" video would be appreciated.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Jungle Jim's
Pickles! Giant pickles! I have only seen pickles like these at Gus's Pickles in NY. I couldn't resist one of each flavor. Just some of the many delectables at the insane Jungle Jim's in Cinci — including "preserved lemons," which I've never ever even heard of.
"award-winning" bathrooms?
More of the retail weirdness of Cinci's Jungle Jim's, a giant gourmet food/bev one-of-a-kind superstore. Est. 1972
Ginger Beer champs! Found!
My first trip ever to Cincinnati's bizarre and magnificent Jungle Jim's has yielded not one, but two highly sought-after Ginger beers (ales)! Looks like the forecast calls for Dark-n-Stormy cocktails
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Check-up reward
I had a full physical today and all the indignity that is included therein:- nudity in front of strangers,
- poking,
- prodding,
- and let's not forget the fasting that is required to precede having blood drawn.
I cannot understate how much I hate needles. This time, I calmly informed the Labtech people (because somewhere along the line, sticking needles in people's arms has become a successful free-standing business model) that I had a "mordid fear of needles" and that they were under no circumstances to allow a needle to cross into my line of sight. I did my part by staring in the complete opposite direction the entire time.
Afterwards, feeling the need for some sort of reward (boyond the mesmerizing concept of breakfast), I stopped in to the Kroger Wine & Spirits store in Beaumont. It's a new concept for Kroger — and they now have three of these freestanding booze shops in town. The decor was plush, the store empty (it was 9:30am, it should be noted), and the selection was passable, if somewhat unremarkable.
A notable exception was the presence of one bottle each of the celebrated Van Winkle whiskies. Especially eye-opening was the presence of one bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve "Lot B," which I think is, for $44, maybe the best bourbon money can buy — No offense to the Pappy 20 year, but at $100 on a bottle it's not twice as good as the Special Reserve, though it is fabulous. But out of my current pay grade and that probaby won't change. Anyway, the Special may be harder to find than the Pappy, I think due to transition intricacies of Buffalo Trace having acquired Van Winkle a few years back. So it was a surprise to see, even this one bottle. They're just not around much anymore.
I hinted to the manager that "you don't see this too often," and he immediately agreed, adding that he had a distributor who would, occasionally provide him with no more than one or two bottles "that she gets from some secret stash or something. I don't know where she gets them." This bottle he had put on the shelf 15 minutes prior to my arrival.
He didn't have to sell me. I already worry that I'll never see the stuff again, and snapped that bottle right up, as a reward for enduring a full physical. Who knows when it will get opened, though. I just feel better having an extra bottle stashed away.
Check-up reward
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey
Monday, November 30, 2009
Getting the Boot
Well, it finally happened…My car got the boot this morning.
And it's kind of a relief, I have to admit. I was at Gumbo Ya-Ya doing Laptop Lunch and so The Boot didn't really affect me that much, in terms of convenience. Except to my wallet, of course. The whole thing was handled on the phone. Once I went outside and there was a boot on my car; later I went outside and there wasn't a boot on my car. Voila.
The problem was that I owed about $150 in parking tickets. Why didn't I pay them? I guess paying parking tickets just doesn't really (will never, in fact) rank on my radar very much.
It's not a policy of mine, per se. It's just an unfortunate pattern of behavior.
You might wonder if getting The Boot will change that pattern: Probably not. I'm honestly just relieved that the tickets are paid now, and that I can go back to getting tickets like a normal person, without having to worry about whether or not I'm going to be booted or towed if I find the need to park somewhere w/o feeding the meter.
(For some of you who read my blog regularly, this may sound familiar. Tomorrow, I'll post the essay that I wrote about how I got my bike towed and enormous good came of it.)
Cardinal dining car
Silverware, table service, entrees, plates.. It ain't what it used to be, but it beats the dining on planes hands down.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Train Pose
"there we were, dramatically gazing out the window upon rural Vrginia." (Amtrak is made for these sorts of idle vanities and silliness)
¡Con Gran Pajaro!
Mi gran amigo!
DC Train Station
If all major Amtrak stations had cool vaulted-ceiling malls, maybe that would lure shopping-obsessed Americans back to the rails.
We've got plenty of time
Those dudes say so.
Our train
I knew it: Amtrak trains ARE smaller than they used to be.
Photo by TiltShift Generator
Photo by TiltShift Generator
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey
Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com
phone: 859-539-1877
fax: 702-224-2133
Morning by rail
Morning by rail
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey
Glorious light kicks off our return train trip to kentucky. (iPhone
photo using tiltshiftgen)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Adam at Mayahuel
Delicious times in the village! Lucy and I kind of struggled to pin down our 1st cocktail, but eventually landed in the capable tequila-drenched hands of Adam at Mayahuel. What you need to know: my Oaxaca Old-Fashioned was a-mazing, and that Adam is coincidentally "from Lexington." (kind of — until he was, like, six). Highly recommended.
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