I just had a really cool, inter-active art experience at The Red Hot Art Fair in Stevens Square unlike one I've never had the pleasure. The whole event was a great way to spend the early part of a Saturday: some good noisy experimental jazz, some very good jerk chicken and plaintain and I was also finally called for a new ring so loudly that I came back with two: one was made from the shell casing from an old Howitzer shell, the other from a metal ruler (blue and "13 inches").

But what really made it for me and for my friend Mary was Round 13 of the Box Art War between Billy & Matt. Hopefully I have successfully figured out how to add the two photographs I took and won't have to explain it all. But here's the rub- there were 2 artists housed in five by five foot wood boxes with holes for eyes. Mind you- it was a very hot and humid day and the boxes were directly in the sun. It wasn't terribly comfortable on a blanket in the shade, it must be awful in the boxes, but they carried on.

Here's the deal: Billy and Matt are in the boxes painting pictures. Every 15 minutes the boxes would get up and move a short distance in the grass (usually around 10 feet) and when they moved from their spot, they would leave the just-completed, still-wet painting. The first person to grab it is the winner - although they are asked to put "ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY" through the eye holes; the winner of Round 13 is whomever collects the most money; the money all going to charity.

I am glad that not only we put the blanket close enough to the sign that I was motivated to read it, share it with Mary and play by their rules. We each got a painting from Box #1 and from Box #3 (our personal tastes were more toward #3, but #1 is no slouch by any means) as well as informing some of the other people in the park of the "rules." I had beaten a girl to the 1st painting (by #3), but Mary gave up the one from #1 and I delivered it to the girl. By the way, this painting also contained a lock of hair, seemingly from the artist. It must have been hot as blazes in there and an impromptu haircut probably seemed like a good idea at the time-- at least it wasn't an ear!

At some point, along with his painting #3 left some compost and a note. I'd scan the note and include it here too, but it's freaking hot upstairs and that's where my scanner is so I will just include the copy from the hand-written note. I may also attach the paintings to a future blog, but as for now: a. it's hot upstairs and b. they may still be a little wet and I don't really need any paint on my scanner glass but trust me-- they're good work.

The note read: "Please find a spot for this banana peel. It's starting to smell. Also I would love some water. Love, Box #3." Of course we disposed of the peel properly and I delivered the requested refreshment.

So, should you see these boxes and rules in passing, stop and watch and get a painting and give to charity at the same time. I think this was a really fantastically original (albeit also some great suffering for the boxed artists even if #1 didn't cut off his ear) method to deliver art.

Cheers,

Brian

Well, since the Yankees haven't made a move as the trade deadline looms and since I don't really want to talk about yesterday's ugly loss to the Mariners (they were due for a W; Seattle had lost 18 straight) I'll talk about That Thing in The Desert: Burning Man.

And while I am really not at liberty to discuss certain facts and details surrounding this week's developments, but in the 10 years that I've been going, this is the first time it sold out. There are maximum capacities numbers of participants as dictated by the terms of the agreement with the BLM (Burning Man occurs in property owned and operated by the US government's Bureau of Land Management and this year - as people were warned - the event sold out a month before it begins.

The only real bad part of certain people being shut out is that there could be a difficult to manage cluster-fart at the gate should people without tickets show up in mass despite being told that tickets will not be available and that they should not do so. Hippies don't think this means them! But getting in a few days before the event opens officially at least I won't have to see it.

And again, I am "doing my own thing" after camping with the same large group for many years; I broke off a few years back, nearly got pulled back into a smaller camp, but such is not the case. I may have a few friends in my proximity but all people who will not cause any camp drama-- especially hard when there is NO camp! That's the best way to avoid camp drama in my less than humble opinion.

And for possibly the first time ever, I will be hitting the playa with the same person I hit it with last year. See? Some things do change for the better... And although it seems to be "poor planning" I have come to believe that I have this thing down. No expectations other than it will be hot (but after this heat and humidity seemingly not as big a bother) and it will be dusty and that parts of it will suck and that so much of it will be beautiful. I do go out there to suffer some (and I do- trust me) but this year I have taken some preliminary steps to correct some of my issues from last year (broken down gear, too much time all by myself, etc.) but I am sure new challenges will present themselves. That, I do sort of expect since it is Burning Man after all and it's SUPPOSED to.

Cheers,
Brian

I was asked this morning if I were worried about the Yankees yet. And "worry" as a real Yankee fan is a different animal. Am I worried that the team won't make the playoffs like 2008? No, I have very little doubt that when post-season play begins that New York will be represented and not by the Mets. But having grown up in the Steinbrenner-era (and I am sure it was like it back in the day when "rooting for the Yankees was like rooting for US Steel") we really don't settle for anything less than winning it all, putting up another championship flag, hoisting another trophy and celebrating down the Canyon of Heroes.

In that, we are very alone as fans and it's not as easy as some of you may think.

Yes, the Yanks would make the playoffs should they start today, but they would be hard-pressed to take the whole thing. But, it is still July and my calendar isn't marked for the post-season until October. So what has to happen between now and then?

* A-Rod needs to come back off the DL next month looking like a man who has 600 home-runs and not like the world's most overpaid singles and double hitter.
* Jeter needs to put away the distractions and the naysayers and continue to hit (a .333 clip give or take) like he has since coming off the DL.
* Phil Hughes needs to figure it out and soon. Nova is waiting in the AAA wings (where he really doesn't belong and everyone is aware of that) but he is not post-season-seasoned and is not the answer.
* The bullpen cannot get so worn down that they don't have anything left for the playoffs.

Obviously, injuries as well as how guys (Chavez is really needed now; the jury still out on Soriano) come back and fit in. I have a lot of confidence in Bartolo Colon and will continue to do so until what time he proves I shouldn't ie breaks down from too many innings pitched. There are some major league arms down in Scranton and other miracles and trades are not to be discounted.

Swisher has finally started to heat up along with Gardner and both of them are proven spark-plugs for this team, but Texeira has become something of an all or nothing slugger, Granderson, who is having a great year, still strikes out way too much and Posada still isn't comfortable in his DH role. Yet, the Yankee lineup is one of, if not the most formidable in baseball, but the old adage of good pitching beating good hitting often bears out.

That's my just past mid-season update. Optimistic for sure, but not confident that this team has all the pieces firing on the cylinders that they need to for that 28th World Championship. And yes, I am aware that I didn't mention AJ Burnett (until just now) or Freddy Garcia (ibid); CC, on the other hand, is as rock-solid and trusted a #1 starter as they come...

Game on,
Brian

So, the Yankees split a 4-game series with the Rays who are really so much better than they should be. They lost most of their offensive oomph as well as their entire bullpen and although they are not breathing down either the Yanks' or the Sox' necks, manager Joe Maddon has them playing above their heads. But playing them in that stupid dome - which Granderson in centerfield had so much trouble with that he pretty much handed one of the games to the home team - it's hard to tell if the Yanks pitching was as great as it looked, or if the Yanks bats were as bad as they seemed: the Rays can really pitch, but they can't hit a lick...

Speaking of the Rays pitching here's an interesting tidbit gleaned from the YES broadcast (a broadcast free of the ever-babbling Michael Kay to the delight of my ears and my brain): the Rays have now played 700 straight games started by a pitcher under 30 years of age. Night and day from the Yankee staff.

It's 10 days until the July 31st trading deadline and there's not much out there. Clearly the Mets are going to move Beltran; they have to, but I am hoping he doesn't go to either the Bosox or the Phils; the Giants could really, really use that big bat in the outfield and probably have the pitching prospects (I mean, really, Brian Sabean has to be taken seriously as a great developer of young arms; see: Lincecum, Cain, Baumgartner, et al) to potentially overwhelm Sandy Alderson and the Mets.

I am, of course, biased here. I don't think the Yankees will pursue the good-hitting outfielder unless it's to keep him away from the Sox who really don't *need* any more bats. C'mon give JD Drew another chance...

Watch this spot for upcoming information on the writers/poets salon I am starting soon. It's to be called "Batting for Punto: A Salon" and mark September 22 in your calendar as I do believe that will be the maiden voyage. Keep me to that if you have a mind to.

Thanks
Brian

I am still a legal resident of the state of California. I still pay taxes to CA; I maintain both a business and a residential address there, too (although I do also have my so-called business incorporated in the NV for some other tax issues) even if I have been spending time away from that residence and the state. The word for today is "stress" and I am stressing both that first "s" as well as the elongated "s" sound at the end of the word; it's a pretty *great* onomatopoeia when you say and hear it like that...

The Yankees gave the game back that they took from the Rays the previous night. Colon, perhaps pitching for his pinstriped future threw a heck of a game. He seemed to loosen up as the game went on, his fastball (his primary pitch) gaining in MPH as the contest progressed; he was getting strikeouts and looked like he could move around and off the mound better than he had in the last few starts following his hamstring strain. But, the Yankee defense -- which had let him down early in his last start -- gave his well-pitched game away.

One of the biggest blows which technically wasn't an error - Granderson lost an easy fly ball in center to the stupid white domed roof of the Trop' - but it set up Boone Logan's error on a bouncer to the mound that should have at least cut the tying run off at the plate and, at best, been turned into a 1-2-3 double-play that would have gotten the team out of the 7th and perhaps preserved a win with how effective the tandem of Roberston and Mo have been coming out of the bullpen in the 8th and 9th innings respectively. Could have picked up a game on the Sox too as they finally lost to the O's.

But you do usually need to score more than 2 runs to win a game in the AL East so the bats (although they did hit their first longball - an impressive opposite-field blast off Cano's bat - in 4 games) are to blame as well. And tonight they face David Price, so no walk in the woods by any stretch of the imagination.

Twins are playing this afternoon in what will be more like Bikram Yoga than America's Past-time...

Okay, back to my regular scheduled stress... Hope I have good news to report next time...

Cheers,
Brian

Well, all my fears about being hacked to pieces by either my ride from a stranger or the Chicago hostess who I did not know never materialized; I am back and still one with the living. And for finding a ride off of Craigslist I actually couldn't have done much better. Amy was a little bit of a slow driver, but she got us to Chicago (2 hours late which was a non-issue for me) and back to the 612 in time for last call at Grumpy's NE -- and that was even with the beer & cheese pit-stop in Wisconsin which I think is required to be able to re-enter Minnesota.

I got a little bit of the scenic/tourist Chicago when a friend of the Ranger with whom I was staying drove me down Lakeshore Drive (they call it "LSD") at night and then back through the city on the way back toward Evanston. I always knew Chicago was a major city, but was pleasantly surprised to see how legitimate it really is; outside of New York, Chicago really is the only other major city in this country.

The plan for Saturday afternoon was my 1st visit to Wrigley Field and I can't say the place disappointed. An amazingly charming small field right smack in the middle of a bustling neighborhood, you don't come close to getting it until you get to experience it. The over-loaded stands atop all the buildings across the street really are a sight to behold. Chicagoans really love their Cubbies even if there is no actual reason to do so other than they're all they got. On the Southside, the White Sox (despite being a far better ballclub) are an after-thought and something to be mocked.

Sitting in the last row of the upper deck still afforded me a great view of the field. The Wrigley staff and fans are actually more than just mid-west nice. My only real complaint about Wrigley is the beer selection: I searched the entire lower deck for a "real" beer and didn't see a single one on offer. I ate my 1st Chicago "dawg" with everything as I looked, but finally had to settle for a PBR near my upper deck seat. The choices from the beer-men were Bud/Bud light and Old Style; I clearly went with the latter but wasn't really "happy" about it; a second, longer search did net me a Guinnesss.

On the field the Cubbies did their thing. What should have been a pitching match-up that strongly favored the home town team (their best starter Carlos Zambrano vs. quite possibly the worst starter in MLB- Javier Vazquez) didn't quite go the Cubs way. Zambrano gave up 3 in the 1st en route to a 13-3 drubbing, but the fans mostly stayed... mostly.

I got myself pretty freakin' lost downtown after a little pub crawl around Wrigleyville following the last out which with the heat & humidity took its toll on me; I wound up not having any famous deep-dish so I guess I'll have to go back some time...

As for the real purpose of the trip - my Black Rock City Ranger (re)training - was yesterday afternoon. As a 3rd year returning Ranger all that was necessary of me was to show up for the shorter, 2nd half of the training, but since I was there I made myself available to support the trainer. Odd to me, I wound up being one of the most senior Rangers there and assisted the trainer all day long. I sure hope this news doesn't make it back to the powers-that-be who know me; could lead to expectations and/or "promotion" and I'm not really ready or willing to give up the nice and mellow anonymity of being "nothing" more than a dirt Ranger, which is where I feel I still belong.

Long trip home but pleasant company and a pit-stop for good, unavailable in MN beer from WI, as well as some bacon/cheddar cheese and making last call at Grumpy's NE on arrival back in the Twin Cities made for a pretty complete weekend even if it wasn't the one I was "expecting" which is really good practice for That Thing in The Desert.

Okay, time to beat the heat & humidity with a trek down to the ManKave for the Twins game on the telly.

Cheers, Brian

Mid-Western Weekend Travel Parts I & II

Last Sunday I was zipped off to Wisconsin with a new friend aptly named Sunshine- she's full of the stuff - for a wedding her band her band was playing. I'm nearly always up for a roadtrip on a sun-streaked Sunday morning and considering that one can purchase beer in Wisconsin that's a win-win. As soon as you hit the border there are signs reading "Wisconsin: Open for Business." Take that Minnesota!

Glaurus brewing makes fantastic beers that do taste even better on Sundays. My previous WI-beer run netted me their Double IPA; this time we had some of the Spotted Cow and another ale whose name escapes me.

Somehow wound up on a CSA farm (yeah, I didn't know what that was either) surrounded by kale and broccoli, I spent most of the day sitting on hay bales or the grass as Sunshine's band played, drinking Summit EPA from the keg and feeling the very odd sensation of being at a wedding that I didn't know anyone at. I know if you work weddings that's a given and a norm, but I felt like something of a crasher, I was almost expecting to have to tell someone that, "I'm with the band."

I know I am getting this weird, local "legend" rapper-DJ-singer's name wrong but it's something like Harmar Superstar and I guess I have to say, "only in the Mid-West" (but I sincerely mean that kindly) but picture a sweatier, shorter version of Ron Jeremy singing Madonna songs and you've just started to scratch the surface.

As the affair was winding down the light show was only getting started. The farm was rocked by thunder and crashed by a very serious lightening storm. We got drenched to the skin during the short run to the car. It made no sense to drive off into the storm just yet, so we did not...

Now that I have ticked off WI, Illinois is up next; more specifically Chicago. I have changed planes at O'hare a few times and I once had a ticket to visit a friend in the Windy City, but as the fortunes have it, this will be my first trip to Chicago. I'm travelling in much different fashion than I normally do, but I'm doing it on the cheap and the quick. I think this will be my first Craigslist ride-share and if I were smart I'd put the girl's name & number here in case this is the last anyone ever hears from me; that info would give the FBI someplace to start but I'll take my chances.

I'm going down for Black Rock Ranger training and I'm being housed by the local Ranger who is having the session at her house so that should be easy... famous last words. I especially got my interest piqued to go to Wrigley Field when watching those games against the Yankees a month or so ago and I'm actually very excited to go the fabled park this Saturday afternoon for a Cubs game.

Looking forward to a Chicago hotdog and deep-dish pizza. You can look forward to a report on Monday. Have a good weekend,

Brian