Monthly Archives: April 2009

I Abstain

Could you give up alcohol for a month ?

I've given-up booze from the day after Thanksgiving (a.k.a, the 4th Friday in November) till Christmas Eve, the past two years. The first year I did it because we had such a blowout at Thanksgiving that I felt I needed some detox time. The second year I did it ... for the same reason.

How was it? Well, it's boring. It makes parties difficult - and there are always a lot of parties in December. It takes a lot of the fun out of going out to eat - a steak and a Coke just isn't the same as a steak and a Cabernet. But it saves a lot of money! I don't really notice any physical or mental changes; I don't feel better, or smarter, or livelier. I just wake up a bit earlier on weekend mornings. It does lower my tolerance for alcohol tremendously, though; once the month ends, the first beer will give me a serious headrush.

So basically, it's a challenge: a test of willpower and stick-to-it-iveness. Worth it? I dunno.

Fenced

Nikon D100, 50mm
(repost)

I think I should re-do this one and crop about 1/2 the sand off the left side.

Wha?

UPI.com:

By age 12, 12 percent of U.S. students had already engaged in vaginal sex, 7.9 percent in oral sex and 6.5 percent in anal sex, U.S. researchers have learned.

12 ?

Zero is a Percent

A follower of my online food chat wants to know how much of a thank-you he should leave when he orders carryout from a restaurant. "I find myself somewhat perplexed about whether I should include a tip when I pay for the meal(s). I realize that the usual 20 percent for table service is not necessary, but what is appropriate for this situation?"

I responded that I typically tip 10 percent of the bill for takeout, because even when you're not eating in, someone has to handle your request. After the live discussion, another reader pointed out that that "someone" is frequently the bartender, who has to "take your order, pack it up, ring you up, make change, get you extra bread or utensils" -- all tasks that take away from customers at the bar and in the dining room and that merit a monetary reward.

The other day, The Mrs., a friend and I were talking about this, and we all agreed that the proper amount to tip for takeout is zero percent.

So I guess we're going to hell.

Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 @ The Cat's Cradle

Saw Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 at the Cat's Cradle last night. This was the (1,2,3,4,5...6?) sixth time I've seen him, and the fourth time I've seen him at the Cat's Cradle. I suppose that means I'm one creepy smile away from getting a restraining order. It was another great show.

Nikon D90, 18-105mm VR

The Venus 3 are Scott McCaughey, Bill Rieflin and Peter Buck - all of whom play, in various capacities, with some band called R.E.M., and another called The Minus 5. There were a surprising number of people in line who had only a passing familiarity with Hitchcock, and were there to mostly see Peter Buck. Nothing wrong with that of course; Buck's kind of a legend, and I was all gushy over seeing him last time they came to town.

Nikon D90, 18-105mm VR

And Robyn Hitchcock remains Robyn Hitchcock: still as funny and clever and musically interesting as ever. Who else could make a crowd sing along and pump their fists to a line like "Fuck me baby, I'm a trolley bus!" ? (OK, maybe Malkmus)

Nikon D90, 18-105mm VR

This time around, they played mostly songs from the two R.H. & V3 albums, with a few from Robyn's Egyptians-period (including an acoustic "Lady Waters", by request, which he said he hadn't played since the mid 80s), a couple of Soft Boys' songs, and just a couple from Robyn's many solo-acoustic albums (typically my favorite). But, they're a good enough band that it all sounded great. The new stuff I especially liked live - the songs seem a little too polished in the studio.

Nikon D90, 18-105mm VR

They played Matt Pond PA's "Last Light" album on a loop, before the opening band came on. I'll just go ahead and assume that the Cat's Cradle staff reads this blog. Kidding, of course. Matt Pond PA played there last year. And I didn't go, because I'm lame.

There was a silent auction for miniature traffic cones that Robyn had doodled all over. My $50 bid was immediately trumped. I'm not sure how much they eventually went for. Instead, I bought a giant print of a double-decker bus with "Goodnight Oslo" (title of their current album) printed on its side. They were numbered prints, and I got number "200/200". I don't know if that means I got the last one they had, or just the last one printed, or if it doesn't mean anything. Anyway, Buck and Hitchcock signed it for me.

Nikon D90, 18-105mm VR

Robyn and Scott McCaughey were both playing these funky-lookin Airline guitars. Retro-hipsters!

The opening band, Durham's Erie Choir was quite good, too. It was the first time I'd seen anyone play a wooden box, live.

Saw Neko Case the night before, and I left the Cat's Cradle last night at 12:45AM, with a 40 minute drive home - in a car reeking of BBQ. Fuck I'm tired.