Horton hears … A Lu!

Horton hears … A Lu!
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

I have to admit: I wasn't initially wild about the idea of going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. The simple reason: I was kind of having flashbacks to the idea of going to New Year's Eve in Times Square in 2001, when I lived in NYC. Not that I went — I didn't — but the horror stories of being penned up for six hours in Times Square still resounded in me.

The Macy's parade wasn't like that at all. It was great! And I should have known — it's one of the most venerable parades in the world, right?

So we went this year, Lucy and I, and it was a hoot.

Sure, we were late — pretty late. But when we came up out of the 59th Street Columbus Circle subway stop to throngs of people under the spell of Sailor Mickey, delight — not anxiety — set it.

It's true that I did a bit of strategizing the night before, but they were thrown completely to the wind (even I'm not dumb enough to try to convince NYPD to let me squeeze through to somewhere they don't want me to be.)

After wading in the crowds some, we wound up on the west side of 56th, as the parade moved down 7th Avenue in front of us, the adjacent buildings acting kind of like the sides of a giant TV set. In time, we casually weaseled our way nearly to the front, a scant 20 feet or so from the passing parade.

There's no denying the delight of those giant balloons. In some ways, they're not as big as I thought they were, but rest assured: they are plenty big.

After the parade, Lucy and I found ourselves somewhat hemmed in by meandering foot traffic by the thousands and made an unlikely exit: down the street elevator to the 57th st./7th ave. subway station. It was kind of like a movie: One minute lost in a sea of bodies, then pouring ourselves into a very full elevator; then doors closing and unlikely quiet; and finally doors opening onto a delightfully less-crowded underground world.

Amtrak Cardinal - Last Stop: Penn Station

Amtrak Cardinal - Last Stop: Penn Station
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

About 17 hours from Maysville Ky, we're approaching NYC & Penn
Station. Cardinal train No. 50 is sparsely populated by the final
destination folks like lucy and I. Its been a great trip and we'll do
it again on Sunday... Thanks, Amtrak!

(last approach video: The Last Waltz -- in which Rick Danko says
"happy thanksgiving everybody!")

I <3 Amtrak

I
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Lucy and I are riding Amtrak's no. 50 Cardinal to NYC for
thanksgiving. "It a different world on the train," says Lucy. I agree.
This conductor pictured has spent 15 minutes chatting with some recent
boarders, who coincidentally were childhood acquaintances of his.

There's so much special about riding the train; The riders are
friendly and relaxed. It's not flying. And it's not the bus. People
ride the train because they want to. Not because it's fast or cheap.
People on the train talk to each other. Which seems rare and cool in
today's travel climate. Lucy's right: it is a different world on the
train.

Regret

Spend 6 Minutes with Neil deGrasse Tyson

This guy is amazing. Take a few minutes for some inspiration. Just by circumstance, I've spent the last half-hour just watching youtube after youtube by him — just by clicking whatever pops up on the side. It's always wonderful.

How about Esquire's Winter Cocktails?

clipped from www.esquire.com The 27 Best Winter Cocktails to Get You Through the Holidays Esquire's resident cocktail guru, Dave Wundrich, offers up a fabulous election of warm-you-up drinks featuring a little whiskey, brandy, and hot buttered rum. He's one of my heroes, and go-to guys when I'm looking for my next cocktail project. One of the great things is that he offers his personal analysis on these drinks, which helps communicate the charm of well-made cocktails. Check out the selection here. Cheers!

This Is It

When I first heard about Michael Jackson: This Is It, my initial reaction was well, they sure hustled that out. And I wasn't particularly interested.

It seemed incredibly calculated to play on the death phenomenon of The Gloved One, so it wasn't too hard to roll my eyes. Also, the hype was such that I sort of assumed that it would be impossible to get tickets.

A week ago, I realized that wasn't the case and that, in fact, it was easy to see once the initial frenzy wore off.

Lucy and I went to see it tonight, and let me just say: If you are a fan of concert/insider/performance-type movies, you should see it.

There are a number of reasons why:

• Of course, the legendary weirdness of MJ is a draw, although this movie isn't about that. (If you want that, you should find the Bashir documentary). Nonetheless, MJ is a mesmerizing figure to watch, no matter what he's doing — singing, dancing, standing around, whatever.
• What I really liked was getting a peek into the staging of a premier-level concert tour. Watching this kind of modern world thing get worked out, at a rehearsal level, is so engrossing to me. This is a little bit because I spent my younger years working college-grade concert tech crew, and learning that putting up a gig like that is like building a city.

And this is a "behind-the-scenes" movie, which I've always generally loved. In addition to the compelling character of MJ — and the bittersweet nature of its circumstances (which is never mentioned and I applaud the producers for this) — watching the consummate professional musicians, dancers and technicians do their stuff is compelling to me.

Just like any documentary, it's important to understand that it's all completely calculated. That's the art of the documentary; not that it's untrue, but that it is the art of editing. But even so, you get to see these people working at their craft. And it pretty endearing. Also, you can't leave without feeling the colossal bummer for these people who were about to go on tour performing with Michael Jackson, probably the most famous entertainer in the world.

These people aren't acolytes, either. They're clearly working professionals. They're eminently employable. But this was certainly a gig to be proud of. Or, would have been, anyway. And you can definitely see that they are in awe of MJ.

So, the magic of this movie — and I would say there is magic — is this: it's not really about Michael Jackson. It's more of the anatomy of staging a giant concert touring show. Put in the middle of that, this guy, this weird amazing unique dead guy.

And it makes for compelling viewing. (if a little too long, I must note).

photo.jpg

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Richie Wireman's moving and thought-provoking exhibit, a funeral in
effect for the demolished "busters/dame" block. The added benefit:
it's in a treasured old downtown location called The Ballroom-- across
the street from the ghosts.

The proof is in the … proofing.

Proofing
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Today happens to be the anniversary of the patenting of the "paper pencil" by Frederick E. Blaisdell in 1895; aka the china marker aka the non-repro marker… an elemental tool in traditional proofing. At least, back in the day…

Everything look good? Signing off!

(full disclosure: I'm not holding one)

Stupid Pet Tricks? This one's a winner

"Stupid Pet Tricks" used to be a feature on the Letterman show and may still be. I don't think "stupid" is really the right word, but sometimes, there are things that our pets do that are so unexpected, so delightful… and maybe slightly disturbing — that the SPT moniker seems to be the only appropriate blanket term.

This is not a music video. But it is a very clever promo video by the band Dead Man's Bones, who have gotten fascinatingly mixed reviews. In my opinion, they are a more-than-decent band, with a particular and odd sensibility. I'm not sure that I love them, but I definitely like them.

This video is so simultaneously savvy and uncomplicated, completely devoid of production values. And as I said, it's not a music video.

Their music aside, this video shows that Dead Man's Bones have plenty of mirth and ingenuity.

habit or circumstance?

I've just wrapped up one of the busiest work times I've had in years. So, yay!

And sure, this is a good thing (the busy-ness, it's so American to be intensely overextended!), but I'm soo glad that things are wrapping up. I've been crazy for months now. And totally stressed out.

What I'm curious about is my part in all of this. Because in keeping with a friend's Pet Peeves list, I have to assume that I choose this kind of frantic pace, and even thrive within it.

I've also assumed that — once things were "wrapped up" (as if they ever are), I could return to "normal," to a more sane pace.

But I'm not so sure. I've done this before. It's kinda like a pattern. I look around me and can see pretty plainly that I've shunted off just about everything to get the job done: exercise, decent nutrition, relationships, leisure — really just about everything. So I feel like, now, I'm getting to go back and pick up the wreckage, and try to put things back together. Exhume my cool office, spend more time with loved ones, get some exercise, — not to mention pay bills and go through unopened mail, which is just a ridiculous pile.

So I'm not sure what the payoff is. I mean — of course there's money involved, but it's not like I'm getting rich here. Doing fine, thanks, but… the payoff, were I to be honest, has more to do with feeling important based on impressing people through work. Which is just such a slippery slope.

Is this my life? The answer would pretty much have to be "yes." And I would be a fool to complain about it because, by any measure, I get to do some pretty cool stuff. But I could do with some chaos management skills; not because I should or I need to, but because I get really stressed out over stuff when I overcommit to the jagged edge of unmanageable.

And that was pretty much the last four months.

And more importantly, I'd like to get a little better at separating Me from My Work. They're very easy to confuse, especially as a self-employed person. In fact, it's very easy to define Me by My Work. A lot easier than separating them. And I think that's what leads me into these occasional frenzies that I come out of feeling exhausted and relieved that I didn't fuck anything up too completely, that I can pick up the pieces.

Which, oddly, makes me a gambler, I've observed in clearer moments. I say "odd," because I've never liked conventional gambling — casinos, cards, any of that stuff. Even horse racing, I'm just as happy just watching the pretty horsies run around than visiting that betting window. Which may be because I hate to lose. Hate it.

But I gamble all the time in my life, betting my intuition and collected quote-unquote wisdom against worldly situations, big and small. It's a fools game, even I can see that. But I love being right and I'm right often enough that humility isn't one of my stronger suits.

The Clothes Line

We finally got around to buying a clothes line for Campsie, and it has been one of the great joys of the outside months of 2009.

It's a simple joy, the best kind.

I had a clothes line in the back yard at my old house, too — it only took me years to think of actually using it. I wouldn't consider myself to be of a clothes line-type lineage or even generation. Isn't that what the electric tumble drier is designed to supercede?

Maybe, so.

But the joys of a clothesline are many:

• The very unique and authentic smell. This is the "fresh" that fabric softeners are trying to mimick, I now realize.
• The methodical chore of putting things on — and then taking them off — of a clothesline. If you think you don't need this added task, check on the size of the pile of clean drier-dried laundry that you haven't yet folded — and get back to me.
  
• I even like the act of checking to see what's dry and what's not. It's like magic to me that things get dry just hangin' outside. Checking on them, under the sun and sky, also seems more affirmative than leaning over into the dark cave of drier.
• And, controversially, I like the crispiness of some things like jeans. Besides, it goes away quickly after putting them on. That crispiness is a confirmation of clean, I think.
  

There are some things that I don't put on the line: socks, underwear and towels, mostly. It's not worth the trouble in the case of the first two, and I must confess to prefer the drier fluff when it comes to towels.

And while I like that I'm using less energy — being "greener" or whatever — what I ultra-dig that I'm saving my favorite clothes from shrinking and the pounding that everything takes in a drier — especially considering the utter cheapness of today's hip rags.

And finally, let us not forget: The sheets. The glory of the sheets! Crispy sheets. Amazing-smelling sheets. Again: Downy was created to mimick this, I realize, only after having finally hung those sheets outside, where they dance a languid jig in the breeze.

It's going to be time to pack in the clothes line soon (I bought the kind that comes down); but not yet! I'll keep hanging clothes just as long as the increasingly-chill late autumn air will permit.

the Madness of Marching

click, click, click, click

is the sound of a March Madness Marching Band rehearsal.

It's the sound of the percussion section keeping time, as Tripp Bratton our conductor, arranger, and musical director works through assorted arrangements with the different sections. I think it's one of the unsung (and unlisted) jobs of drummers to keep time for these exercises, and it's actually one that I get great satisfaction from. Not only do I get to make noise (and I get to make alot of noise in the band, as the bass drum player), but I'm also providing — in my mind — a valuable service that requires very little effort.

I'm reminded of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists, an ensemble of guitar players who have the uncommon honor of playing with one of the giants of progrock. In particular, I'm thinking of the fact that the LOCG ensemble includes a player who doesn't play, who's job is to "keep silence" — which is as important to the music as the, um, non-silence.

I feel this way when I keep time for rehearsals.

It reminds me that the band is a collaborative effort, through and through. When we perform, I'll get to make huge noise, guaranteed. That's a fact. In the meantime, there are other responsibilities. Like keeping time.

Our rehearsals have become increasingly a thing of wonder. Tripp has upped the ante with every new selection that he adds to our repertoire. At first, he catered to the unavoidable fact that many of us were rank amateurs or at least — years out-of-practice former high school band geeks. Over the last year, Tripp has gently begun denying us that luxurious excuse and come to expect us to learn to play more complicated music.

It's a challenge that the band seems entirely up for, and I've watched and listened with delight as the horns and winds, in particular, have answered the call — learning and practicing with Tripp's patient supervision.

I just play bass drum. But I've taken a personal delight in relegating myself to his instruction. It would be easy enough for me just to bang out a beat — improvised — and the temptation is certainly there. But there's a difficult-to-describe feeling of satisfaction that I get from asking Tripp "what I should play, what would you like me to play" — and then playing it.

I find that all too often, by doing so, I'm made privvy to an aspect of the music that I might never have heard had I just banged out a beat.

Thanks to Tripp and to the members of March Madness Marching Band for a rare and unique opportunity for fun, learning, and camraderie. It's just magical.

Photo credit: Thanks to Meagan Jordan for the wonderful image!

Vampire Santa

What's that sound? Is it the sound of Vampire Santa dragging his sorry sackful of eggnog around once again for the holiday season?

You betcha!

And as the sole purveyer of Vampire Santa's Eggnog, I have only one wish for you: That you get a bottle. But we'll see how good and/or bad you are in the next few weeks.

Big ups to Cricket Press for the art collab!

Las Musicas de los Rock

Today's title was inspired by an album by Pussy Galore, diligently based on a well-teased series of Spanish compilation albums. I'm pretending I knew all that, by the way, when in fact, I had a vague recollection, and sussed out details on La Internet, just now.

It's great to be an information junkie. How could there be a better time to be alive? Though it's probably better when it's your job or when you don't have anything else to do.

And you know who's job it is? Librarians. I discovered an interesting thing in the course of working on my WRFL oral history project: Punk rockers are quietly taking over the library. Did anybody notice?

There's a lot more tattoos in LIS than I imagine there were 20 years ago. It seems perfect really; despite some misunderstood trouble-making ne'er-do-well stereotype, many of the punky people I've known over the years we in fact quite introverted — when not located in or near the slam pit in front of some high-octane live band like Active Ingredients.

And as the world of zines and other underground literature gave way to the much much bigger world of the Web, it's probably no surprise that these folks got pulled in, finally finding more kindred spirits than the couple of dozen (maybe) that they'd found in their hometowns.

Which brings us to the New Wave of LIS people. Just as punk gave way to new wave in music (because the musicians couldn't help but get better on their instruments, despite not really wanting to), maybe that idle fascination turned into a career for some.

This is a good thing. The library is one of the last great institutions in this country, somehow not yet sponsored by Microsoft or General Mills. It makes good sense and is comforting that the people running the show be enormous iconoclasts, because maybe we stand a better chance of not losing the library concept, in their hands.

So be extra nice to librarians. Who knows what tattoos are lurking underneath those practical, mildly conservative workclothes?

By the way, you know who is a terrible example of a good librarian? This lady.

Problem-solving through tequila!

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

I've got no problem that can't be alleviated by sitting outside and drinking high-grade tequila!

With the possible exception of ensuing poverty due to an increased dependence on high-grade tequila.

The Loudon Buffet

The Loudon Buffet
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Loudon Buffet — Loudon Square, if you want to split hairs — stands tall, a relic of a fading restaurant time. Beets, macaroni salads, hominy, liver, and dozens of other things. When you
walk in the door, somebody gets your attention from across the room to see what you want to drink. I usually have unsweetened tea. After I fill my plate (for the 1st round), there's my tea, waiting for me at the table. I like that.

Some people think Loudon Square is dirty. I think it's just not buffed to plastic perfection like most of the places that have replaced this type of eatery over time. In the name of progress, apparently.

Too bad for progress.

I don't know what will fill the void on that inevitable day when — hopefully many years from now — Loudon Square closes. I don't think there's anything left that fits the bill. I don't know where I'll go.

Anyway, to plagiarize some bar review I once read:

Loudon Square is amazing, a nearly-forgotten classic — but please don't go — you'll just ruin it for the rest of us.

Sworn

Right now: my life, my mission, my focus: The Lexington School

I've been working with my fine TLS folks for months and months on the school's 50th Anniversary. It has been a cast of literally thousands. Okay, many hundreds, anyway…

There's been photography, graphic design, party planning, and a myriad of coordination — all the things that I love to do.

The event itself is a wrap, but work continues feverishly on the mammoth 50th anniversary edition of the school magazine. Normally, 24 pages, maybe 36 sometimes — this one is over a hundred pages.

So what I'm needing to say, pretty much without exception or intended offense: Don't call, don't write. I am trying to keep my head above water.

Fortunately, there's deadmau5 and Tasty Noodles.

… and on the 8th day, God sipped some Tequila

After years and years of shuddering, I'm starting to develop a mad fondness for tequila.

I think I'm not alone in having misunderstood what might rightly be called Mexican champagne — or bourbon, for that matter. (here's an explanation of why).

It's a complicated landscape: there's highland and lowland agave, and then at least three grades: blanco, reposado, and añejo. My taste — and more signicantly, my curiosity — was wetted by a typically-delightful Esquire article evangelizing tequila recently. (Which is what Esquire does best, by the way — a frequently-captivating magazine, to which I am a proud subscriber for years)

Good tequila, it turns out, is a sipping beverage. Who knew? I think that's part of the problem, the whole tequila shots, lime, salt, etc. thing — it's an undeniable mythos, and it would be interesting to research where it came from. (Some of that mentality, not unlike other boozes, turns out to be designed to soften the bite of lower-quality stuff)

The top-shelf stuff — which ain't cheap — is something else entirely. You like bourbon? Good bourbon? You could like tequila. It's as simple as that.

I'm still looking for the right balance of price and delight. The Esquire article provides some very helpful insight into the nature of the beverage, and some places to start.

So far, I strongly like Jose Cuervo Tradicional reposado and I love Herradura añejo. I've followed my nearly-drained bottle of the latter with some Milagro añejo, but I'm less than thrilled with that. Tequilas are so different from one another it turns out!

I'm still resistant to crossing the $50 mark — and reaching for the Gran Centenario or more likely this Chinaco bottle — but it's probably only a matter of time; I've found that sitting at night in the quiet autumnal Campsie backyard, under the stars, with about 3 oz. of quality tequila? Almost pricelessly peaceful.

Season succulents

Season succulents
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

I've always had a great love for succulent plants. I think it's
because they sort of look alien.

I've kept them for years, but feel like I've waxed and waned on my
cultivation ability.

Anyway it's been a great year. I did a lot of connecting and research
trying to improve my skills — and the payoff was some very vigorous
jade plants!

What I learned: drainage, drainage, drainage. Thing number 2: filtered
light.

And a 3rd thing: pruning. It's something I've never liked doing, but
it has made my plants fierce.

I've been cleaning up the jade kingdom for moving inside for the cold
months, and today's best thing: all of the clippings — which I've
been stacking on the kitchen counter — I got to give them away to my
March Madness Marching Band dearies!

It fills my heart with joy that: a) so many were interested in a
clipping and b) I figured out how not to discard pieces of the plants
that give me such delight.

Did I mention that it was the most beautiful Nocember day?

(pictured: thriving clippings that I brought all the way back from the
Shochat's Berkeley CA yard. Thanks, Ashley!)

Autumn in the Bluegrass

Miss Olive
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Suffice it to say: Autumn in the bluegrass is beautiful. Sure — it's getting cold, and I'm not crazy about winter but in some way, the changing leaves and musky perfumed bluster — and the clatter — are reassuring sentinels of the seasons' cycle. I like the smell, and feel and look of autumn.

Last night, sat in the back yard with an old friend and we wondered about some things, through the delirious mediums of cigarette smoke, bourbon and ice, in hefty reassuring big-bottomed glasses. We wondered about friendship and what happens to it over time. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but there's not always a dramatic turning point. one of the best encapsulations of this is Springsteen's over-played but spot-on "Glory Days."

Aging (gerund?) friendships is a tricky business; I'm occasionally irked and exhausted by old friends — no matter how dear — who can't seem to stop rehashing times gone by. It's not that I don't, I am fully aware,* there's just so much going on right in front of our noses, let's talk about that, ok?

Rachel is a good example, and that's what we talked about last night. We both have the incredible frame of WRFL: a formative, unforgettable experience for her, for me, and for many of us 'back then."

Twenty years ago, our friendship was of mild consequence, to be candid — pleasant but not really intrinsic. Neither of us had too much trouble losing touch in the intervening years. Twenty years later, our friendship has more appeal to the both of us. And some of that comes from a mutual dislike of quote-unquote "Glory Days" talk.

We tried to understand how it works and how holding onto old friendship can be a slippery business: to appreciate the past, to let go of demons, to treasure one's personal experiences — and shared experiences with those loved ones, that we're so lucky to have had — and yet still see the delight and wonder that is now and today. In a myriad of forms and instances that I must certainly miss over and over. And I just can't dwell on those missed — then or now. I can only revel in the instances that I do get.

*Finally, there's a terrific irony here that I don't want to ignore: In spite of all this heady talk, I've been the director of an oral history project for over two years about the beginnings of WRFL. How could anybody be more "Glory Days" than me, then?

Maybe in some uncanny way, I've gotten to be the guy who gives people the opportunity to recollect. I've always liked that word, and it's taken on much greater meaning since embarking on this project. It's much more evocative to me than its cousin to remember. I've enabled people to recollect their memories of those wonderful, turbulent, coming-of-age days. Meanwhile, I've gotten to actually recollect those people as living breathing souls. And selfishly, I get to see how those people fit into my life and world — if in fact they even do. Or I into theirs.

It's tempting to say something like "it's cool to see how people turned out," but I think that's a disservice to the Present. If you're still alive, you're not done, you ain't baked. The only people that I would feel comfortable talking about how they "turned out" would be dead people.

In the meantime — Life — we're all works in progress. The WRFL project has afforded me the treasured opportunity of checking in on people, armed with the comforting context of our shared past at WRFL. But my greatest delight always comes from talking to these old (one might even say "former") friends about something — anything — that we've never talked about before.

"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.”

Babatunde Olatunji

Biz lex portrait

Biz lex portrait
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Scouting for a WEG portrait for bizlex. Probly need to keep looking.

What Do Roses Smell Like Again?

I feel so out of touch with blogging, and I guess I have myself to blame, though it's easy to blame Facebook. Or Facecrackbook, as my pal AliThinks says. Taking a look at her blog this morning is actually what has inspired this post.

I've been "busy" for so long now that it's probably well past sounding important and gone to just being annoying to anybody who hears it from me. What is this "busy" thing all about? I've twice seen this delightful programmer/lecturer named Phillip Kerman who decries "being busy" as a form of disorganization. I don't disagree, and my office is currently a testament to complete chaos.

I feel like I work for whoever yells the loudest, and I would really like to get out of that. But I'm not currently wired that way. I keep trying to check all the things off the list which has never worked to my knowledge. I don't know how to be empowered by the list and yet not be a slave to the list. Brother Chris has some arcane approach, something about "put big things on the list. and then at the end of the day, throw away the list. start again tomorrow with a new list."

Something like that. It's pretty arcane to me.

Lately, I've done so much cool stuff, though. I would like to return to my once-upon-a-time modus operandi of using my blog as a kind of personal scrapbook.

Right now, I'm trying to finish a blur of work projects, but what I really want to be doing is culling and sorting my Burning Man photos — which are over three months old. Bah. They're coming soon.

Hang on, Gypsy Queen. Your photos are coming. And my memories.

I had a recent thing happen that caused my blogpride to swell, though. I did this Zombie Photobooth thing again this year — once for SWAvm, and then again for the Beaux Arts Fall Ball — to great delight, even my own. (actually, technically, I did it three times but due to some miscommunication, the original gig — at 3rd Street Stuff for Thriller — was kind of a bust. But I will post the few photos that I shot)

It's a kind of tricky digital setup and as I prepared and made sure that I understood WTF I was doing, I did a google search to find a tutorial on "tethering" (shooting directly from camera to computer), and I found … a link to my blog. Because, shockingly, I had actually written a well-notated blogpost on how I did it last time. It was like Past Mick leaving a breadcrumb trail for Future Mick.

Anyway, fuck Facebook, for reducing my blogging to one or two sentence bursts that are written in a creepy 3rd-person voice. (and were I ON Facebook right now?* I would have typed "fvck" instead of "fuck" because of a fear of reprisal from the Faceless Facebook management)

Big love to blogging. I think I can have my coffee now.

*Note to those of you reading this on Facebook though the atrocious "Notes" feed: I didn't write this on Facebook. I'm wrote this on my BLOG. It's called Mingle Freely. Feel free to visit it, as I worked hard on it for years… until Facebook distracted me with its irresistible pointlessness. Probably, like me, you have other things that you could do, but are weedling away the hours on this infernal timesuck. I wish I could quit it.

Beaux Arts Halloween Fall Ball at Busters - Zombie Photobooth

Beaux Arts Halloween Fall Ball at Busters - Zombie Photobooth
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

A Mad, mad, mad, mad Halloween weekend that made Lexington genuinely seem like the center of the universe.

Three times I set up the Zombie Photobooth and captured the delight and revelry.

This is the set from Beaux Arts Fall Ball for Halloween at Busters, featuring not one but TWO performances by my own March Madness Marching Band and the wildly-anticipated Lexington return of Man Man.

SWAvm rehearsal dinner at Busters

SWAvm rehearsal dinner at Busters
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Just wonderful, wonderful fun with the SWAvm Wedding festivities, including one-for-the-books Halloween party at Buster's, including performances by my own March Madness Marching Band and Man Man.

Plus, I did Zombie Photobooth, both for SWAvm and also for Halloween kicks and it was a wild success.

Here's one of two Zombie Photobooth photosets.

Hairmasters in Eastland

Hairmasters in Eastland
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Can I just say "wow?"

Oral History Association

Oral History Association
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Os Mutantes enchants WRFL Boomslang Festival

Os Mutantes enchants WRFL Boomslang Festival
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Sqecial's Boomslang lighting at Busters

Sqecial's Boomslang lighting at Busters
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

are you ready for www.boomslangfest.com ? Pictured: Sqecial Media's
divine lighting install graces the main stage, where — very soon —
amazing music will happen, including performances by Faust, Mission of
Burma, and Os Mutantes! Plus jillions more!

My gig at Burning Man: Makin' PSAs for the Man.

Hey, wow! It turns out that my buddy and sort-of Burning Manager Jkanizzle from Black Rock City 2009 made this video that shows exactly what I was doing for BMIR radio this year! Some of my fave memories, both the job and the people I met through the job!

Watch BMIR PSA Tutorial in Educational & How-To | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

VJ Mediavictim's amazing Burning Man vlog

VJ Mediavictim video blog- Burning Man - part 2 from Ryan McCann on Vimeo.

A superb video blog of Burning Man — in four parts. This presents some pretty wonderful imagery from Black Rock City 2009, both daytime and nighttime, and some amazing footage of the Root Society and Opulent Temple outdoor discos, either of which were jaw-dropping.

(click through to the Vimeo site to see the other parts of the series)

Evolution (Burning Man time lapses) on Vimeo

Evolution (Burning Man time lapses) from Delrious on Vimeo.

Julian Beever

Julian Beever
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

the Ultra-perspective magic of Julian Beever revealed from "the other
side." (viewing from the tripod produces the amazing illusion)

Amazing note: Beever's artwork has the very-odd quality of being the
most real via photography-- in other words, standing there, it's
pretty cool, but snap a photo with any device, and you can't help but
stand there chuckling and shaking your head, looking at your
"impossible photo."

Julian Beever

Julian Beever
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Cuh-razy pastel ultra-perpective piece in front of Idea Festival 2009
(Kentucky Center in Louisville) by world-renowned artist Julian
Beever. Yup it's 100% flat!

Boomslang photo shoot with Mark Cornelison

Boomslang photo shoot with Mark Cornelison
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

boomslang photo shoot

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Boomslang photo shoot at Busters

Boomslang photo shoot at Busters
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

The Herald-Leader's great Mark Cornelison navigates snakes, swords,
hula hoops, and fashion to capture WRFL's Boomslang Festival for the
upcoming Weekender!

THIS is Burning Man.

Check out Brad Templeton's AMAZING panoramic images from Burning Man 2009!

Brad Templeton Burning Man 2009 Pano Photos

The ACEWeekly Gift Bag

A big big thanks to ACEWeekly readers who were exceedingly kind to me in this year's "Best of Lex" poll! I didn't do too bad, scoring Best Local Radio Show, Best Local Blog (non-corporate), Sexiest Radio Guy (2nd place), Best DJ (2nd place).

Um, wow!

Thanks so much to ACEWeekly readers for their fondness!

But the thing that everybody is REALLY wanting to know is: What was in that swag bag given to recipients of ACEWeekly readers poll "Best of Lex 2009?" at the swanky Awesome Inc fête during Gallery Hop?

Well, dear friends, as the recipient of the "Best Blog" award, it only seems appropriate that I should post about that very thing. So let's have a look.

The Contents of the ACEWeekly Swag Bag for "Best of Lex 2009"

• Iced cookie from Brown's Bakery (delicious — semi-consumed/stolen by wife Lucy. But I did get about three bites of it)
• Gourmet, baked dog treats from the Bluegrass Barkery (Oscar has consumed and pronounced barktastic)
• Mingua Brothers' award-winning beef jerky. (already a personal fave)
• Handy 4-port USB hub courtesy of McEwen Creative
• Cool little Third Street Stuff laptop sticker (love the laptop sticker concept)
• 2010 Jewel Case Calendar from Rose Street Design ("The cutest calendars on the planet!")
• A copy of Holly Goddard Jones' just-out story collection "Girl Trouble."
• Town & Country Bank change pouch.
• Invite to Cecil Carpenter's art opening "Designed Obsolescence" at J.Allen Studio (ahem — there's a robot. I'm totally there)
• Issue of Keeneland magazine (which happens to include some of my design work — very handy for the archives!)
• Eco-bag from Buster's, which I'm sure will find some real and regular use. (my next gym bag? Now I just have to actually go back to the gym)
• $50 GC from the renowned Vôce salon!
• Ring pop from Always Planned, planners of ACEWeekly's "Best of Lex" party
• Actual baseball from the Lexington Legends
• Strange piggy bank keychain from Old Kentucky Barbeque.
• Nice selection of stickers, pens, chewing gum, and business cards from the likes of Edward T. Jones investments, WRFL-FM, South Van events, and Peggy's Gifts.
  
• Kewl henry brown coffee cozy. Just what I've needed!
• Ball cap from TOBA. Mmm-kay!
• Little airline bottle of Blanton's "Connoisseur Sauce," which seems to be a bourbon-flavored barbeque sauce. No complaints, there…
• Rather iconic, squarish Buffalo Trace shot glass. (note: these people have been involved fairly intimately in my drinking and in my matrimony. Lucy and I got married at Buffalo Trace distillery.)

Thanks again, ACEWeekly readers for the accolades and local businesses for the swag!

If you want one more social media thing to do (two actually), follow me on twitter at mrtoastey or follow the radio show at trivialthursday!

Neverwas Haul

.:.
Originally uploaded by Mulling it Over

I don't know if anything astonishes quite as much as Mulling It Over's HDR Burning Man photos. Take a look at the set. (pictured: the breathtaking Neverwas Haul, one of the most amazing of the mostly amazing things at Burning Man 2009.

Part Victorian House, part train, part car… all Jules Verne. Just unbelievable to see.

http://www.neverwashaul.com/

)'( 09 : Gothic Raygun Rocketship

)'( 09 : Gothic Raygun Rocketship
Originally uploaded by moontrolling

Still curious about Burning Man 2009? The Flickr Burning Man pool is over 27,000 images strong and growing. Check it out!

Another great Burning Man 2009 video montage

It's great to see the Burn through the eyes of others.

Roots & Heritage Parade 2009

roots & heritage 2009
Originally uploaded by geoffandsherry

thanks to geoff maddox for this wonderful shot from surreal saturday — back from Burning Man less than 24 hours and playing THREE March Madness gigs. My life has its pluses.

The Lady Sassafras

The Lady Sassafras
Originally uploaded by grimmwire

This was a delightful mutant vehicle that I almost forgot about. Guy and Ashley and I had a splendid time tooling around on The Lady Sassafras

Cubatron L5

One of my most favorite visual delights at Burning Man 2009 was the Modular Cubatron, an amazing work of kinetic art by Mark Lottor. This was the biggest yet of Mark's Cubatron projects, partially funded by a Burning Man art grant. Read more about it at the link.

The Gypsy Queen

Fishing
Originally uploaded by ninjaonmoss

Ninjaonmoss has posted some of my favorite Burning Man 2009 photos thus far, including this one of the Gypsy Queen. Check out his whole set!