The South in Radio

So, I drove from Knoxville to Atlanta and back to Cincinnati yesterday. A long trip made even longer by the fact that I had such a horrible time finding any radio stations to listen to. There is little to no music that I want to hear so I usually look for NPR or talk radio. I couldn't find any NPR stations on the way to Atlanta and the AM stations all played music or church services. In fact, there was a lot of church. Really wishing I would've spent a few bucks on that iTrip for my Nano. I finally found Neal Borts on a Knoxville station by the time I almost hit Chattanooga. Then when I hit the Northern part of Georgia, I was listening to the local news which included obituaries. Had never heard that before. Then I heard a story where a 4 year old boy got out of the van to go to the restroom at a gas station and his parents left his there. They thought he was asleep in the back of the van and they headed onto Tennessee. They were near Knoxville when they heard on the radio the Police were looking for them. It was like 4a or something. Can you imagine? Apparently, they drove back to get the kid and no charges were filed. I'm kinda shocked about that, but glad they aren't going to jail.

More soon.

Nachooooooooooooooooooooo

I finally made it to see Nacho Libre--the new Jack Black film. I love Jack Black--Saving Silverman, School of Rock, High Fidelity. He's so, full of energy for a big guy. He did seem to slim down a bit for this role, but he was wearing nothing but stretchy pants through most of the film, so maybe he decided it would be a good time to make friends with Jenny Craig. The film is actually a really cute story. An orphan who grew up to be a friar in the same orphanage with dreams of becoming a wrestler in Mexico. I laughed, I even cried. This was a good family film which means that I'll be watching again with the fam, much to the chagrin of James, who really didn't want to go see it in the first place. When you watch this, make sure you stay until the credits are done rolling. I totally forgot about it and left, but if you've never seen all of Napoleon Dynamite, go rent it. A must see for comedy lovers.

Goodbye, Manhatten

I finally made it back to Cincy. Monday was spent in Manhatten seeing a doctor at the Hospital for Special Surgery. With all the great minds at this place, you'd think they would come up with a better name. Oh, well. You can read more about that at www.toyotacamryismynemesis.com .

I couldn't believe how hot is was on the island and what shocked me more is that during the day, all the NYers looked as if it didn't even phase them. I was sweating like an Ohioan in inland Florida in August. Sweat was dripping off me-those subway platforms are like 200 degrees. I felt a little better on the way out of the city noticing that everyone on the train looked as if they'd been punched in the face. Not that I wanted them to look bad, but at least I knew the heat was getting to them as well. I managed to head out to Rockwood Music Hall that evening and caught a duo (though I never caught their names) the lead guy played acoustic guitar and sang with a voice like the guy from the Postal Service, and his partner in crime played the lap steel with an E bow. That was pretty cool and worth the long subway ride home.

I miss the city, but came home and plopped down by the pool. I started reading a Tom Clancy novel that Tom Clancy didn't actually write. Does he ever write them? It's my first so I don't really know. I was just shocked by the 8th grade writing ability of the author--the dialogue is hideous. Things that women would never say--I don't care who they are. I do think that is the hardest part about writing a screenplay or novel--getting inside the head of a character when there are a million characters. I think you need to develop them before you ever write the opening line. But that's me. I keep reading, but I think I'll go back to John Grisham next time. Much more interesting.

R

Day 2-Studio

It's nearly 8p and we're on song #4 out of 10. We'll be here a while. So, I went out a little earlier for some dinner and ran into a guy named Michael, a street vendor who was telling me about a Grenwich Village special that was on PBS. Something Woodie Guthrie, The Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan. Very interesting. He also clued me into a label in the building next to us on Broadway and a studio up the block where Ziggy Marley recorded. Apparently there's another studio across the street as well. It was interesting. Then I proceeded to put my crutch in a manhole cover and may have broken my leg again.

Now the tech is here talking to Denise about Harvey the studio ghost. The story goes that Harvey was a dentist that killed his mistress when they got found out. I still don't know how he died, but apparently the place had been a hotel previously. They are now building a hotel next door and something across the street. I don't know what. More before I leave.

Rhonda

It's now 2:55a and we just finished Wishing. We're now standing at 6 down and 3 to go. We've decided to nix one since it doesn't look as if we'll have time to wrap things up before dawn. I've just finished the last of my Starbucks cookie stash. I can't believe that I can only get these cookies here in NYC. Sucks living in the Midwest.

Anyway, I've been reading, playing solitaire and working on the computer to stay awake. HOping that I get a little sleep today after the session. I don't have any plans, but things tend to change rather quickly around here. It's been beautiful outside--I hope I get to enjoy a little of that. I'll be seeing a doctor here on Monday--a second opinion for the leg. I'll keep you all posted. But what have you been doing?

Rho--

Day 1--Studio

Back in NYC, it's lovely though I'm mostly stuck inside. However, I only had to walk two blocks to see a girl in a white linen dress riding a bicycle in the bike lane going the wrong way down a one way street. She seemed to be distracting the other bicyclists and cars enough to not get hit.

If you've never been in a recording studio, you may not know that the tempurature is usually chilly, at least somewhere. It just so happens that it's really cold in the control room where we're mixing. When I went out for Starbucks at 10:30p, it felt like I was on the beach on a warm balmy night, the wind warming my frozen limbs as I walked along noticing all the interesting store fronts. It's gorgeous here. I'm definately glad to be back even if we're just starting our second song at 10:30p. One down, nine to go. It's going to be a long weekend. I'm just hoping to be able to enjoy the city a little since I don't know when I'll be back. Apparently Rhett Miller is playing a show in Central Park tomorrow, but I will have to miss it, I'm sure. There's no way we'll be far enough along when the show starts. Bummer. Rhett is my Wally World. He and Conan. But I think it will all be okay, because we are working in a studio on a street named BOND. That has to mean something good, right?

Mucho love--Hope you are all out watching Nacho Libre. Make sure you tell me about it.
Rhonda

New x-rays, New York

So I posted the latest x-rays on www.toyotacamryismynemesis.com . You can see the bone isn't healed just yet. It is an improvement in some ways, at least I believe, but it's not healed.

Also, I finally got to NY today. My flight was delayed after they changed our gate 3 times in Atlanta. I don't know what was going on today, but the airports were crazy. People were everywhere.

Surprise! It's everyone you haven't seen in forever

I drove up to Canal Street tonite because my merch girl somehow packed Canal Street's light in with my stuff. Wouldn't be such a big deal except that gas is back to $2.95 a gallon and it's about 40 minutes from my house. Oh, well, I'm frustrated and needed to get out so why not go check out Musician's co-op and sign up? Great idea, but when I got there, Flyaway Minion was having a cd release party and the place was packed! I guess I missed a few things, Joe Anderl, Wil Cope, Steven Gullett, Eric Cassidy and Tod Weidner opened things up. I chatted with our lovely and talented myspace friend Juliet, I saw George, Kim, Monica, John Lakes, Craig Houston, Amity, Dan Stahl, Angel, Brian, Adam Edwards, and about a million people I didn't know. The place was completely packed and the band was on fire. That's always exciting for a Tuesday night. I couldn't stay for the entire thing because it was a little smoky--the show was sponsored by Camel so really, what did I expect? But what I heard sounded great and the EP that I got with my $5 cover sounded good too.

I was a little wound up when I got home so I cleaned the kitchen. It wasn't that messy, but it's the little things and then once you start, you see more little things. Like the sugar jar has crud on it, and then you see something splattered on the wall behind the blender, and then how did that get there? Hmmmm. Well, it took about an hour, but I think I got it all. Then I couldn't sleep so I headed upstairs to play the keyboard which turns into recording four new ideas and listening to the really lame "electronica" version of "witches" that I did before the tour just for fun. No, you're not hearing it, at least not as it is. Well, it's nearly 3a, I guess I'm back on NYC musician time. I guess I'll be ready when I go back next week.

Your assignment this week is to clean out the refrigerator. That's always fun.
Rhonda

Comparing...Moe's Southwest Grill and Qdoba

I've been comparing casual Mexican restaurants. Tuesday it was Moe's Southwest Grill for burritos. Meh. That's about all I have to say. The chicken was a little wierd, the chips were not coated in lime--they were colorful, but not tasty--the queso was kinda alfredo-like, and the margarita was undrinkable. Yes, we threw it out. It's a shame because it's a great idea. The salsa, however, was quite good and I was soooo wishing that I could put it on a burrito from Qdoba. So, the next night we ate Qdoba and it was aaaaahhhhhhhh. Except for the ranchero sauce. There's no pleasing me.

Comparing...Smoothies

I've been comparing smoothies. Monday, I went to Smoothie King for some protein after my kick a** workout and nearly got into a fight with the guy behind the counter. It seems that everytime I go there, some little blonde girl blends the snot out of my smoothie. All I did was ask that he not over blend it. Apparently he was offended and had the nerve to say that everything was computerized. What?!!! Are you telling me you can't stop the blender when it starts making that high-pitched whirring sound? He actually had the nerve to talk about me behind my back when I was out at my car getting my smoothie card. The smoothie was fine, but it really irritated me that he lied to me instead of asking if I was having problems with my smoothies being too runny. Maybe he thought that I was incapable of understanding smoothie technology?

Today, I decided to meet Beau Alquizola at Planet Smoothie. Thank goodness hot rocker, Chris Dunaway, was working. He made me a great C-Monster. And imagine, it wasn't over blended and I didn't even have to ask. Mmmm, Capaccino bread.

I haven't had much to do so...

I've been cleaning the house. I don't just pick up. I rearranged the living room and feng shui-ed the office/studio. I'm finally filling up that bag to drop off at Goodwill and we may be putting some things on Ebay soon. I just hate spending time posting things on ebay to make a couple of dollars if anything.

I got my free credit report for the year. Yep.
I bought, washed and cut up celery. I think I've only done that one other time.
I went to the pool a couple times because I'm too afraid to surf with the leg.

I did a test to see how long I could go without playing the piano. Apparently 5 days is the max. I had to get out of bed at midnight last night--it was calling out to me. I played for 2 hours and recorded a little something inspired by a photo from Tid in Evansville, IN.

I've also been watching movies. What? I haven't had time to watch a movie in forever and yet I've been reviewing them like crazy on the message boards at www.palebeneaththeblue.com . MI3, DaVinci Code, Yours, Mine and Ours, Fun with Dick and Jane and more. I still need to check out that movie that my friend Jerel recommended. I guess I should get on that.