baltimore

so,uh, this is my first post. and it is about baltimore. kinda. i got a call yesterday from my friend paddy in baltimore who said that a place called dougherty's pub was looking for me because i am suppoed to have a show there on thursday. but i didnt know about it. its possible i forgot but i dont think i ever knew. anyway, it is the first place i showed work outside of college and i have had several shows there since and it is the place i sell the best for some reason and so i like to show there when i can. so it took a lot of woking around the fact that everyone at work is out sick and on vacation but i got thursday off, so tomorrow after work i am hitting the road and getting into baltimore late and the hanging a show at 9 am and then seeing a couple people and then coming back home to providence because i have to work friday morning. so that is what i am doing, what are you doing?

Adver-wear

I don't have cable myself and have never gotten into the whole music video thing, really. So no big surprise that I didn't even know the VMA's were happening.....

I did hear about the adver-wear t-shirt TVs present in the crowd there. Neat idea, but a couple of things bother me.

Isn't there some technology out there that would allow a flexible screen instead of a box embedded in a t-shirt? This looks so clunky, to me it seems almost as cumbersome as the sandwich boards of old. I have to think we can execute better in our day and age!

Second, I wonder how long the clips are, and how visible from how far. Does anyone really want a crowd of people staring at their chest (whether that's visible or in this case, utterly obscured by the box in your clothes) for more than a few seconds? Couldn't it get creepy as they bend and get in close for a better view? It's like having something tattooed in small font across your belly - everyone would crunch in to see! Ick!

The birthday gathering

Well, after the stress mounted so much that I actually spent Sunday and Monday mostly abed with shivers and sweats plus migraines, we converged at Mom and Dad's camp for my birthday.

Quiet - not a ton of people camping, mostly stillness in the campground. Green. Warm (how weird for our area this summer!), sunny, with enough wind to stir the trees but not to really put a chill on. Campfire. Family and J. Excellent food. The total detox was what I really needed.
Played LOTR pinball (cool, tho I'm not great at it), mini-golf (I actually won the opening 9 vs J and the boys), a family Cranium match (where I was forced to charade the Berlin Wall and the Great Depression - we lost), swam with Dan, hiked....

Ahhhh, peace (click to see better)

What a great birthday!:) Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:)
Plus, cool presents! A selection awesome champagne and Roelle family stuff from Sonny, a beautiful suncatcher from Dan & Tara, a peeps maker, beautiful sweater and poncho, Neverwhere on DVD, the list goes on!
Oh, and Little Mono - in my bday stocking from J:

The "mono/ kissing virus" molecule 

Despite the fact that work is constantly piling up, our place is a mess, and the house thing is still intense, I feel great, recharged, and ready to take on mountains!

Morbid-yes, cool-yes

Thanks to Dave S for pointing out this site!

Featured are pics taken over the course of 2 yrs at a British cemetary. Yeah, a bit creepy that someone put that much into cemetary pics, but there are some amazing images to be captured there!
Many have been animated - some start animation automatically, some you need to explore by waving a mouse.

Some of the pics are beautiful, though. And some of the animation is fascinating - and yes, one of those listed below did make me jump!
My faves:
Beautiful pics:

• 4th cross in Spring
• 4th to last in Winter

Animation:

• 1st and 2nd to last crosses in Autumn
• 7th cross in Winter

On a lighter note

Couldn't really incorporate this into the same post. I'm an Olympics junkie. As a confessed sap, I get really wrapped up in watching people fight to achieve their dreams. And I get teary throughout. Paul Hamm's comeback was incredible!



But have you seen the male Japanese gymnasts? Really good - got a team gold. I think part of the reason is they get some strength points from their Hulk hairdos!

Tossed in the wind

Like a leaf over an air grate, tumbling, rising, dropping precipitously, almost landing, getting swirled up yet again. Twisting and turning in the air like a gymnast, but a gymnast unable to land - over and over again.
That's pretty much how I'm feeling of late.

• It's a migraine week and my stomach hasn't been all too happy of late anyway.
• I turn 30 next week. Somewhat freaked out by that on a conscious level, but I think I'm very freaked out on a deeper level.
• Three good friends have had babies this summer and I've been bad about keeping in touch with all 3. Lost one's phone number and haven't gotten around to calling her parents (she isn't online, can you believe it?) - so it's likely she's really mad at me for not calling recently. I feel like a bad friend.
• The whole house thing. It's amazing. It's such a big decision. It's a huge commitment to a neighborhood, to a house, to a debt, to J (not like I'm not ready for it, but it is big).

I'm psyched, I'm giddy, I'm scared to death.
I feel that same twitchiness in my veins that I had before my first big work presentation, before a solo in a concert, before singing at Carnegie Hall, before going to Paris for 3 months.

Actually Paris is probably the best comparison.
I freaked myself out so much that time I basically didn't come out of my room for a few weeks and cried a lot. Was pretty miserable until kind folk guided me out of my self-imposed shell.

Hopefully I've learned more since then.
Hopefully all of these seemingly little but in actuality big and important things happening at once won't push me totally over the brink.

Keep watching. Could be my Gold medal match. Could be a train wreck.

More bunnies!

Angry Alien has posted the latest bunny movie - Jaws! The Richard Dreyfus bunny is perfect! :) I'll probably watch 10 times or more today. People around my cube will wonder....

On another note. The househunt is officially underway. When we get a bit further along I'll post details!

Tale of a kidnapping

The final part of Mom's birthday present was a surprise excursion. Dad dropped her off at our house Saturday, and Mom had no clue. As we drew nearer to the port, she got more and more excited, but didn't know still exactly what we were doing. The present, a 2.5 hour cruise on a 53 foot catamaran on Lake Ontario.













Mom grew up on the lake and a large bay and has always had a love for the water. I've inherited that. It is so soothing, relaxing. Such an escape from workaday worries and the "real world". Much like watching a campfire. Ahhhhh. This is what I love about summer.

It wasn't the warmest or windiest day, but it wasn't raining, we had spots of sun, and we had enough wind to tool along at a leisurely pace. J and I had a most excellent time, and I think Mom did, too. Hats off to the great, friendly crew. Here's hoping we can take this as the start of a tradition and go again next year!

Thirteen

Started watching Thirteen last night. We usually watch movies in bits and pieces - which is why Netflix is our saving grace....

In a way, I identify with Tracy, the good girl that gets wrapped up in the wrong crowd. A lot of us probably can.

My "rebellion" was on a much smaller scale - but it was enough to worry Mom. I was always the bookworm, good-girl type so little things like not coming straight home were a big deal.

Was it a yearning to be popular? To be the admired one? To rebel? Not really. I think I was afraid of my potential, my experience being limited by my grades, my non-sports bent, my country location. Starting Senior year of HS, I've seen myself pushing at those bounds. As the years go by I force myself out of my shell a bit more - but also more wisely (I guess we're all a bit lacking on the judgement side in HS).

Cuddling

Cuddling Parties are the newest fad to hit NYC. For $30, you too can sit with a group of strangers in pajamas and get that close, personal touch cuddling affords without fear of wackos, commitment, or other obligations. Well, at least there aren't supposed to be any wackos:

Cuddle parties are intended for people who are emotionally sound. People in therapy or who are seeing a mental health professional are asked to consult their doctor before signing up for a party and to tell organizers of their situation.

I can see the point, the need for this in a big anonymous burg like New York. Still, I find the cow part a bit odd - and disturbing:

An introduction to cuddling ensues, first by hugging three people. People then get in a circle on their hands and knees, rub shoulders and moo like cows. After a bit of swaying, everyone falls to their side, which puts them into an easy cuddling position.

Just weird, man.

Our buddy

Time to introduce our cat. We got Molson at the local shelter - and, yes, he came with the name.
Molson is a sixteen pound bruiser who startles passers-by, gophers for treats and hugs, and cuddles up close when I have nightmares. A really good buddy.
He's a very vocal and expressive cat, and very spoiled.

Danny has fish. Sonny has a puppy. I'll try to get pics of the puppy, at least.

Where are the kick-butt female superheroes?

I mean, think about it. This article has a good point. We don't see a modern-day Wonder Woman. Buffy and Xena aren't big screen material, apparently, in Hollywood's eyes. Lara Croft and Kill Bill's Bride aren't exactly role models for the kiddies. Many cool kick-butt chics end up as side-characters (Elektra in Daredevil) or part of a team (Rogue, Jean Gray, and Storm).

Oh, speaking of super-hero teams, I love that Olympics ad. American athletes get calls on their secret cells and run off to save the world - each with their own "talent"/ sport.

Think of the great chics (not derogatory, I just think "women" is stuffy) on TV now. Syd Bristow in Alias is awesome - very awesome. Tru Davies doesn't necessarily kick butt but uses her unique "gift" to save lives. Why can't we get characters like that on the big screen?

In Memoriam

Great-Grandma' - at roughly 95 years of age -passed away on August 6.
I will miss you. Although I definitely didn't keep in touch or visit as much as I should, it was good to know you were here. I enjoyed the Xmas cards we did exchange.
Rest peacefully.

Doesn't sound like such a bad idea

You may have seen this already, but the Brits are ready to bring the court jester back! I mean, they actually posted an ad!

But maybe it isn't so silly, really. The jester would serve as a distraction from bad news, a tension breaker. A "safe" distraction, rather than leaving leaders to provide their own with questionable government boondoggles. Perhaps the press would focus more on the antics of the man in bells than trying to unearth the most remote scandals possible.

To think of it, we probably already have some jester-like characters in Washington (depending on your political leanings, you can pick yours) - they just lack the outfit with bells and bladder on a stick.

Evil meetings

8 am meetings are evil. Especially on Mondays and Fridays. In a cold office. I just want bed. And sleep.

My two favorite types of bed are pretty different. The contemporary wannabe-designer part of me is intrigued by platform beds, especially as a reader, too, who never can quite reach the nightstand to set the book aside... (No good pics online)

But the little girl, comfort and safety seeking part of me seeks the fluffy luxury of down and piled mattresses and pillows. (Again, no good pics - if I had known I would have scanned some)

Chips of all shades

I've mentioned before that J likes to pick up weird food. This can include weird flavors of potato chips. In PA this summer, he picked up Steak & Worchestshire chips for our lunch. He has bought two different brands of ketchup flavored chips - an off brand and Pringles. Weird and the color can come off on fingers and lips, but they tasted like ketchup and potato and they were good (liked the Pringles best).

(BTW, on Last Comic Standing Tuesday, Kathleen Madigan had a great joke about Kerry campaigning by withholding the ketchup - have you ever thought about America without ketchup? That's a weird concept - summer wouldn't be the same.)


Anyway, the best chips, by far were Zapp's Cajun Crawtators - spicy cajun crawfish - kettle-cooked and yummy!

PS - Sonny says he plans to get started soon - but the PC he has access to is down. - Maybe this weekend!

Forget the pics for now...the show!

OK, I can't wait for the pics any longer - when they come, if they come, I'll post them. Until then:

A warm, sunny July evening. A plaza full of folks of all sizes, races, ages, hairdos, and especially outfits. From caps and big suspenders and forties era skirts and blouses to stupid t-shirts paired with ragged skirts over sweatpants. From Spidey tanks and bowling shirts to polos and golf shorts - all were represented.
Behind the bobbing heads of the crowd, the horns echoed off of buildings important to Rochester's past and near future. Behind and above the band, trains rattled by in the trees. Below, the falls roared.
This was the setting.

Twin A opened, a fave of Jenny. Turns out I'd heard some of their songs on the radio and liked them. They were good but not on really long. Poor Aaron missed most of it.
The next band was, well, not my speed.

Then, 9 tonily dressed guys took the stage. 5 horns, upright bass, piano, drums, and guitar/lead vocals. Bursting with energy and up-tempo tunes. Not a foot in the crowd could resist. Explosive, rich sound, fun lyrics and having a great time on the stage.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy hit Rochester and the crowd LOVED them.
What a fun night!

Danny - why do some drummers sit behind plexiglass screens?

Events in August and Monday randomness

Roelle events in August:

• Until August 14 - CW Roelle show at the South Country Art Association (see Sonny's site for details)


• August 14 - Theophilus at Sodus Youth Fest - 4pm


• August 22 - Theophilus at Penfield Days - 1:30pm


• August 23-25 - Roelles gather at camp for Aprille's bday


• August 28 - Theophilus at CrossCreek Church Youth Event

The trailer for the latest Batman shows something definitely different - as it looks like it doesn't even happen in Gotham... but Gary Oldman is in it, based on the pics! That makes it cool.

Took the first swim of the summer (sad, yes, but I do live in Rochester) in Dan's pool yesterday - so nice. I'll have to look into getting one if and when I get a house of my own.

All in the name...

I recently caught the re-braodcast of the 48 Hours piece on Searching for Angela Shelton.Fascinating on a few fronts:

First of all, Angela Shelton and her story of surviving abuse and confronting it. The fact that 50% of the Angela Sheltons she found around the country had been abused or attacked in some way. So powerful, so moving (My name is Aprille, and I'm a sap. This was one of many shows that made me cry). To see the impact the filmmaker had on the other Angelas interviewed in getting them to tell their stories - some for the first time. I may try to arrange for a screening at work or somewhere - it looks important.

The researcher in me also found it highly interesting that Angela Shelton decided to sample the country by contacting as many people with the same name as possible. It certainly did provide a cross-section of race, background, lifestlye, religion, etc. An interesting perspective.

Of course, you have to have a name that will generate hits. Occasionally, we hear stories of name mixups. Jenny's name was on the news, but it wasn't her. Sonny says he found another CW Roelle (not from the direct line of which he is the 4th) online, but I couldn't find him when I Googled. My boyfriend (J) says there's a high school basketball star with his name.

In the Google realm, at least, Danny and I have a first and last combination that comes up with no hits other than our own.
So I searched just on my first name, which is unique enough that I was actually surprised to get some hits. Another cross-section, although leaning towards higher education levels - though that could be because I did an online search:

• A writer/ computer tech
• A sculptor
• A NASA engineer
• A guitarist who was in a high shool band in '99
• A 2004 Ms Fitness Competitor/ speech pathologist
• A parenting teacher/ social worker
• A few other high schoolers
• Someone with a ferret page?

I was a bit disturbed to find a really ugly jacket bearing my name and a site where you can morph your pics to see what you'd look like with cosmetic surgery.

In the process, I discovered that Aprille is not only the Old English spelling of the month, but that it is also supposed to mean "forthcoming". Sounds like a good name to me - lots of potential.