Mountain Quest 2012 No.2

Bear Mountain in Salisbury, CT:

Dum Dum Girls

 

I worked from 9 - 3 today, and then after a quick drive to Alewife, and changing my clothes & shoes in the parking garage, I hopped the Red Line into the city.

I was sitting at the bar at T's Pub when Erik called to say he'd be late. It turned out to be a few hours late, but that was okay because the beer and food were good, and there was sports on the television. (rest later)

T-Shirt Swap

I just got a few t-shirts from Threadless (at ridiculous prices, by the way), and as I was hanging them in my closet I decided to try something new. I have so many shirts that go unworn for months, or are so worn out that they should have been retired a long time ago, that going forward anytime I buy or somehow acquire new shirts, I am going to get rid of (give away, donate or trash) an equal number of them.

IN:

• Orange tee "Burner" 70's monster car
• White tee "Peace Forest"

OUT:

• Grey tee - "2007 AFC Champions New England Patriots"
• White ringer tee - "Super Bowl XXXVIII Champions New England Patriots"

I am all about losing clutter, and this will keep my wardrobe reasonably manageable. This time, the old tees go in the trash (both are SO worn out!), and the new ones will be worn on this year's "Mountain Quest" hikes.

Random Bits of Music Business

Here are some music-related happenings in my world (over the last few days):

• I sent WPMF3 invites to Boston legend Sarah Blacker and local pop-country chanteuse Whitney Doucet. Also, Almanac Mountain confirmed, and I am waiting for final decisions from The Rafters and Kristin Cifelli.
• I received my Kickstarter reward from Robin Rutenberg & Friends - the EP I helped to finance with my $35 donation, plus a whole lot more (see photo below - how cool a package o'stuff is that?).
• I just snagged two tickets to see The Wedding Present at Brighton Music Hall on Friday March 23rd.

2012 is going to be a year FULL of live performances!

Unstoppable

...Meaning things like Death and Taxes.

In regard to the latter, I just finished filing my 2011 taxes, and I have been rewarded with over fifteen hundred dollars between federal and state refunds.

Sweet.

Fantastic

I had today off, and it couldn't have been more perfect for having had no plan:

•  Kristin Cifelli responded happily to my WPMF3 e-mail and will consider joining us.
• I watched the Patriots squeak by the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game (on a missed field goal!) to get into the Superbowl, while eating great Chinese food.
• At halftime I ran out to my local comic shop to buy a pile of them from my subscription box (lots of #4 and #5 issues of the DCU 52, and a couple of Vertigos), as well as a cool Uncanny X-Men pint glass.
• The Celtics and Bruins both won today too.
• I got laundry done, read all of the comics (13), had coffee (freshly-ground Starbucks 'Dark Sumatra'), and then watched new episodes of "Pan Am" and "Downton Abbey".

A great day of self-indulgence (with a smattering of productivity).

WPMF3 Notes - 1

I sent out invites to Almanac Mountain, Elizabeth Lorrey and Vanessa Kafka for this year's Wyman's Pond Music Fest. They are the acts that have performed both years to date, and I hope to keep them on the Musicians' Roster (as 'permanent' guest artists) for as long as they are willing to set aside the last Saturday each July. I also sent 'repeat' invitations to Abbie Barrett and The Rafters, and I extended one to potential newcomers Brooklyn duo Barnaby Bright and Boston's own Kristin Cifelli.

Elizabeth replied almost immediately, and is in!
Alas, Vanessa is otherwise occupied, and will most likely not be able to perform.