People will be talking about this one for years

They put together an unbelievable show at Antone's last night to honor Clifford. The club opened around 4:00 pm, and it was my understanding that the music would not stop until dawn, if then. (A photographer I spoke to said he had to be at work at 6:00 but had brought a change of clothes in case the show went straight through.) We got there about 6:00. It was packed of course, and there were long lines waiting to get in all night. We made it up to the stage where my friend was already stationed.

Lineup of who I saw: Guy Forsyth with Gary Clark Jr., Ruthie Foster, Tyrone Vaughan (Jimmie's son, Stevie Ray's nephew), LZ Love, Guy Forsyth again, this time with Papa Mali and Leann Atherton, Del Castillo (all electric!!), Monte Montgomery, and an all star continuing show (musical chairs and rotating musicians) with Jimmie Vaughan, Roscoe Beck, Denny Freeman, Derek O'Brien, Riley Osborn, W.C. Clark, James Cotton, Charlie Sexton, Double Trouble (Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon), and more waiting in the wings.

Malford Milligan, Roky Erickson, Jake Andrews, and Joe Ely were spotted. Also Jeff Van Zandt, which leads me to think that Eric was probably going to play a bit later. That breaks my heart a bit, because we really couldn't stay any longer. It was around midnight by then, and Mr. Blueberry was trying to use my shoulder as a pillow. He was faded to be sure, needed to get up at 5:00 AM for work, and had retired to a nice spot near the door. There's only so much the body can do. Mine could have done more, but then I didn't have to worry about an alarm clock.

Tonight and tomorrow there with be funeral home visitations for Clifford, and on June 3rd there will be a big bash at Auditorium Shores. Next Tuesday, Antone's, Home of the Blues was to be released on DVD, and Clifford had already been set up for autograph signings.

EDIT: Turns out that Eric Johnson did play (EDIT2: Here are a couple of pictures of EJ and Malford there], also several of the other people I mentioned plus Cyril Neville. Also, I truly apologize to users of Internet Explorer for the way this blog is displaying. I know the pictures are screwed up, and the right column shifted down.

EDIT3: I've got a whole slew of pictures posted here.

- Music - Austin - Texas - Texas Music - Blues - Antone's - Antone -

R.I.P Clifford Antone

The first time I came to Austin it was to go to Antone's. It was before I ever thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be moving anywhere out of St. Louis, and I was coming down to see Eric Johnson do his live recording at Antone's. Now it's one of the clubs where I go regularly, and probably always will. Such great music there, such an atmosphere, and what intimate surroundings! It's a fan's dream, and although that part of it is probably not so great for the performer, it's still an honor to be able to say that your band played at Antone's.

It is too hard for me to try and sum up what Clifford has meant to Austin and what he did for it. This stuff has already filled books. There's a documentary. Maybe two. There will be many tributes and eulogies written. I will most likely post a few good when they turn up.

EDIT: I had a couple of pictures posted here, but they were having loading problems in IE. This blog and its technical difficulties are giving me fits.

- Music - Austin - Texas - Texas Music - Antone - Antone's -

How does it look to you?

Lately (since late last week) this blog has started looking funny in Internet Explorer for Windows. The right sidebar is pushed way down on the page by the left column. Firefox for Windows and Mac, Internet Explorer for Mac, and Safari all look fine to me.
EDIT: I take back the part about IE for Mac. It looks like crap in IE for both Mac and Windows.

Does it look screwed up to you, and what Operating System/browser are you using?

Voir Dire Straits

What a long week it's been already, and it's only Tuesday morning! Yesterday I was summoned for jury selection. I was not picked, so I am very relieved (I guess I am literally relieved). I'd like to be on a jury sometime but not right now, I really can't spare the time. It would have been an ugly case: man with cancer versus a bunch of corporations. Even though I hate big corporations, I had made up my mind that if selected, I would really try to be fair in the verdict.

Juries are frightening. Most people are going to bring so many biases to the table with them. Still, I think it's a good system that helps keep a smidgeon of corruption out of the process.

Note: a good way to not get picked is to tell the court that you are PMS-ing. One woman actually did that. It might be TMI, but she was not picked. They didn't let us out of there until 7:00 pm, and that was followed by a group fiasco of Dillo newbies trying to get on the right bus, and watching the right bus go by because we were in the wrong place at the right time.

Hidey Hoe Holy Grail

Thoughts on the whole Da Vinci Code business:

First of all, the movie could have been better, could have been worse, better than expected based on the critics. If you can wait that long, it's a good rental. Ian McKellan is fantastic in it. The book is a great fun read but not as good as a Harry Potter, also the puzzles in Harry Potter are harder to figure out.

As for the premise and all that... as it's been pointed out in a million places, including the court of law, much of it is based on the non-fiction research and speculation book Holy Blood Holy Grail. This is where all the stuff about the Priory of Sion comes from. The chapters on the P.S. in HBHG are really very fascinating! Trouble is, it's quite likely to be a hoax. Here's an article debunking it a bit, although I am always wary of anything like this that claims to have "the truth". The truth is that we can't know the truth, it's impossible to determine what is really "the truth". There is much more than just the Priory of Sion in the the book. It's a good read, especially if you love a mystery. Even if the P.S. is not real, the Templars and Freemasons certainly were (are), and the Bible has been tailored by the Church to suit the Church. Why that was done is going to be controversial.

My take on the main punch line of both of these books is this. I was raised as a Christian, but no longer believe in Jesus' divinity... or the divinity of anything for that matter. Gods are where you want them to be. To me, if Jesus even existed, he was a wise man and powerful leader but nothing more. Was he married to Mary Magdalene? I think it's very plausible. Could he possible have faked his own death and escaped? Don't laugh. If you are a Christian, then your own beliefs are far more bizarre than that if you can look at them objectively for even a moment. I'm not saying I believe these things. I have already stated my beliefs and disbeliefs. I am saying that I think either of these things could have happened. We just don't know. Can't prove anything one way or the other.

Jesus and MM both had kingly blood and their offspring would have had to be kept in hiding or surely be killed given the politics of the day (the same might be true today). Nowadays though, the only thing with real power is just the possible existence of that bloodline, and that wields the power to diminish the Christian church. So if the bloodline exists, why not reveal it? If there's paperwork, let's see it. I call. Show your hand or fold. Exactly what are you waiting for? I can't think of a better time to show your stuff.

Birthday thoughts for Jeen Lilly

Today would have been the birthday of ev brown, AKA Jeen Lilly of scrumptious monkey and others. The cake is taken from her last blog post. She was supposed to be starting a new cake decorating job that morning (it's an early morning post), and it's one of the last things she ever posted. I don't know if she ever actually started that job.

I only met her in person a few times, she was mostly an online friend. I really miss her and think of her all the time. When I post something, I think "ev would have responded to this", or when I hear Book People mentioned, or a certain show comes to town, or we do some activity like First Thursday or Eeyore's where I think "I would have invited ev to join us for this". Even Eric's forum has lost some luster, I just miss her.

Previous postings on her passing:
RIP ev brown, AKA Jeen Lilly
A Bright Spirit

Friday Cat - Afternoon Donut

Henry is looking sweet soaking up some afternoon sun. It's just what he does.
EDIT: News Alert!!! I just found out that today, May 19th, is "Hug Your Cat Day". I think you know what to do. To help mark the occasion (not the same way that Duncan would mark it... oooh... smelly!!), you can send these really cute cards or make a cat mask.


- Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at IMAO on Sunday - Cats - Catblogging -

Crunching and testing the tomatoes

Posting has been light around here, last Saturday I got a new assignment, something really fun, but is going to take up most of my waking hours that are available, plus a few sleeping hours no doubt. It's a CD artwork design! Trouble is, it's got to be sent to press by the end of the month... THIS month. I really want the customer to love it. I want to love it too, but will probably be tired of it by then.

We've had tickets to The Da Vinci Code's opening day for about a week, and according to most critics the viewing might require some rotten tomatoes. Arrrgh! That's why I like to see something as close to opening day as possible... to avoid being drawn to the reviews like a car wreck... don't look!!!! I'd rather make up my own mind before I'm told what everyone else thinks.

[shatner mode] ...one...more...day...must...not...read...those...must...not...listen...!!!!

Back to work now. There will be a Friday cat post tomorrow.

The Mona Lisa Tautou

Panic, terror, happiness, shock, surprise, love, excitement... they are all there in the expressions of Sophie. I'm just not sure which is which. Just like Mona Lisa... what is she thinking?? hmmm?

[feeling a bit catty this afternoon]

- Da Vinci Code - DaVinci -

Birthday boy

Happy Birthday to Mr. Blueberry! Sorry it has to be on a Monday this year, and that Bush is making a speech, but looks like Jack Bauer will arrive just in time to open a can of Whoop-Ass.

The M-Word

Hope everyone had a pretty good Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is a non-occasion to me now. All I've got left is my Mother-in-Law, who's a really great person and treats me well. She lives in another state and I didn't see her. My own Mother passed away 13 years ago (she had superstitions about and insisted on traditions relating to flowers, one was that you wore a white rose on Mother's Day if your mother was no longer living), my grandmothers have been gone for 20 years, and I didn't have kids. Kids are not for everybody, not everyone is meant to be a parent, and I feel lucky that I didn't end up pregnant by that abusive white supremicist trash I fell in love with when I was 17. Temporary stupidity.

The radio stations were playing songs with the theme of "Mother" this weekend, of course. This is one I hadn't heard before, and it cracked me up. How's this for a title: The M-Word Scares the F-Word Out of Me. Listen to it here.

Most of my female friends had very difficult relationships with their mothers, and I was no different. The usual story is one of rejection, being made to feel "not good enough", treated as not being capable of doing the right thing, and not returning love. Add this to a woman's struggle to be successful in a man's world and the constant pressure to look beautiful and it's a recipe for low self-esteem as best. Oddly (coincidentally?) most of these women friends did not want or chose not to have children. I think Mother's Day is important, but also wish there was more respect for choice and for women who made a choice.

My wish for Mother's Day is that all children would be loved, wanted, and sheltered. My wish for all mothers (all parents, whether adoptive or natural) is the same one.

Roly-Poly, Daddy's Little Fatty*

Crack me up! This Week's Jesus looks like someone's attempt to make God in their own image. If so, I would recommend cutting down on the beer and chips. Not sure where this came from or what they're trying to say with it.

* Title is from a Fred Rose song made famous by Bob Wills.

Friday Cat - Pure black magic

Jax glows in the sun.
He's the luckiest cat on the block and we are lucky to have him.
This is a happy cat.

Cats have been the subject of superstition for hundreds, even thousands of years, especially black ones. Here's a whole collection of them on this page, and just for fun, here's a little black cat quiz for you.

A friend sent me this little collection of Cat Superstitions, a couple of which are on the previous link. I couldn't resist adding a few comments [in brackets]

Dreaming of white cat means good luck. [Or maybe there is a new white cat in your future]
- American superstition

To see a white cat on the road is lucky. [Um, a dated sentiment. I shudder when I see any animals on the road. Bah!]
- American superstition

It is bad luck to see a white cat at night. [Not for you, for the white cat who wants to come indoors]
- American superstition

If a cat washes behind its ears, it will rain. [Rain is predicted in England!]
- English superstition

A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. [Both of my black cats are very strange, and the prosperity they bring is humor]
- Scottish superstition

A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. [Bless you!]
- Italian superstition

A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather ahead. [Another weather forecast for England]
- English superstition

When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp it in the palm of your hand, and make a wish. The wish will come true. [As reliable as a wishbone or a birthday candle]
- American superstition

In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on. The Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread gossips around the town. [Now that's just catty!!]
- Netherlands superstition

- Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Watermark on Sunday - Cats - Catblogging -