We were five feet from the curb.

It's Friday and another weekend is upon us... It's warm outside. Be careful out there...

Have fun. Don't forget the sunscreen. And don't forget to smile for the camera...

Song of the day: "No More May" by Owl

Song for the weekend: "Please Let That Be You" by The Rentals

Songs for the parts in between: "Amie" by Damien Rice & "Powder Blue" by Elbow & "So Long" by Face to Face

3............

- gallo (bsm*)

"Ben, the two of..."

Today, the world lost a couple of celebrities.... We knew Farrah and we knew Michael. One better than the other, but maybe not... We knew what we saw, what we read, what we heard...

We were somewhat prepared to say 'goodbye' to Farrah as her road has been a rough one. Red was your color. With Mr. Jackson, it was sudden and without fair warning. This guy, Michael, was an icon on many levels. Farrah was an American icon of sorts, but Mike was an icon that affected the globe, it seemed...

His song about Ben will always be my favorite...

My memory... In 4th grade, I (along with my friends B & H) stood up in front of our homeroom class and sang "Billie Jean." Someone brought the "Thriller" LP in and like most classrooms (I hope) in America, we had a record player on cue for spontaneous musical moments. For some reason, we thought we would be "those 3 kids" who would use our free time to show off our ridiculous singing voices to our classmates. We even snapped our fingers to the beat... All we needed was a street corner. We sang our hearts out for the class. I remember the temperature in my skin was boiling because it was really happening... A pop show in a classroom. In a way, it was awesome, but considering the PG-13 lyrical content, I'm wondering why we were able to get away with such nonsense. Of course, this was Michael Jackson we were talking about... The world was enamored by his charm. He was THAT big... It didn't matter... Billie Jean could have been about stealing milk for the janitor or killing butterflies and it would have been appropriate for that setting. Any setting... Why did Ms. Markos let us do this? To watch us wilt under the pressure of imitating Mr. Jackson? To watch us shine? To prepare us for something bigger than the 3 of us combined? Was she THAT cool or was she THAT crazy?

Wait a minute. Killing butterflies? Sorry about that... It just came to mind. Just making a point...

MJ was huge at one point and in many circles, he is still on top. This thing is just getting started... The King of Pop is gone. He's there with the King of Rock and Roll now.

Wow... I just don't know what to say...

I wonder how John and George will greet him... R.I.P.

All of a sudden, I feel a little older.

Protect the record player, people.

Out.

bsm*

I'm moved, by the way.

Y'know, the most random things come to mind when I'm sitting in traffic... Here's something...

"We were in a race with the stars above through the understanding of the guide who brought us here just to leave us... Only to solve the riddle that faith left us in the sky. It's there for the taking and it will belong to us for eternity. He looks down. She looks up. As she sorts through the wisdom that runs through her, everything known becomes unknown. With one blink of the eye. And it's there where they are welcomed to something new... The stars are watching us."

Had to toss that into the ring... Something compelled me to...

Summer. It's hot.

I'm thinking about all of the times I followed my dad with my aluminum lawnmower. It made this rowdy rattling noise... I cherished that thing. It even grew rust just like the family mower... I remember following his pattern. The weight and speed of my fake mower would hit the clippings just right making it appear that I, too, was cutting the St. Augustine that we worked so hard to grow. It made me so happy. I was 5 years old and I'll never forget following those paths on Duane Street.

I hope you took care of your dad today... It's his day.

I love you, Dad. Goodnight.

Your son, always... bsm*

flitter, flutter...

Today, I learned that a hummingbird weighs less than a penny.

I love the fact that these kinds of nuggets can sometimes be hidden underneath a bottle cap. Thanks Snapple. Your "Real Fact" #17 made my day. Truly.

bsm*

Me: I need it like the ocean needs the waves.

Just thinking... Each day needs a chance. A chance to prove something... A chance to begin again. A chance to make wrong things right. A chance for something new. A chance to turn a page. One chance to make a difference. A chance to change the odds. Its chance to wake up... Each day deserves that chance. One chance. That's all... Just thinking... - Me

Oh... This post is brought to you by the believers I met today.

"dime stores in the brittle air..." - MR

Cheers.

This is a short piece on where I was exactly one year ago today. Written after a few... Wrote it to keep the memory alive somehow. Something kept it around for the occasion. Just keep it breathing for me. Thanks.

Many thanks.
________

Matthew Ryan Vs. The Silver State (MRVSS)
Cambridge Room inside the House of Blues, Dallas, TX
Friday, June 13th, 2008

A warm night in Texas... All of this happened as I recall and remember it all...

A handful of people were milling around the dark, yet sleek shed inside this monster house of supposed blues with doors to a handful of stages large and small. Then this anonymous gent carried himself to the stage. This was Jon Dee Graham. He opened and played a lonesome, yet blistering set. He was late to the gig, so he borrowed Matthew's guitar... And with pick in hand and a chilled Tecate in the other, he went to work. Midway through his acoustic set, he asked the multi-talented Molly Thomas onstage to play the fiddle on a couple of acoustic jams... They looked great together as he really appreciated her presence. She added just the right touch to his brawny style. Jon even brought out Matthew Ryan's drummer to help him out with a song. Jon was full of stories and even played a couple of songs with the Super Villains (aka MRVSS). He brought this motley crew out to help him with a song his 8 year old son created... Turned into a full-blown crowd-sing-along... It was so respectful that the Villains didn't steal his thunder. What an opener... Not expecting much from him, but his brief, heroic set showed me exactly why there is a documentary made of his life. His story about his song in the movie, "Ladder 49," brought the house down. Loved how he laughed all the way through his slotted time. This set the stage for MRVSS.

When MRVSS walked onto the stage, his curious band rolled out with a subtle confidence that echoed through the small, yet intimate venue. One would not know that this was the second show of an ultra-short run. My wife and I were up front and center along with some faithful followers who were clearly there to show our respect and appreciation for great music by a talented and hopeful artist. When I saw Matthew Ryan in Boston, MA last year, he played to a crowd of 21... Just him and his guitar and a harmonica. It was a special night and it set up my expectations for a full band assault. Because his latest release is a stellar body of work that packs a potent punch, I was intrigued with how it would correspond to the live stage... I wondered how it would all connect... We were not disappointed and the band delivered and went above and beyond to make sure that we, the listeners, had the kind of experience worth writing about... As I type this, I cannot recall the names of the players, except for Molly who was introduced as such... So I will just label them by the instruments they played on this great night. The guitar/bass duo looked like brothers as they laid it all down and brought a certain sonic appeal to each tune. The drummer attacked his drums as if he were mad at them because they had called him names, but treated them with a sweet sincerity when certain songs called for it. Very, very tight on the trap set. I loved the snap of the snare... Molly was all over the keys and strings... She would use her voice to accent Matthew's and would sprinkle cool little musical vignettes into each number as if she had been playing these songs all of her life. It was apparent from the beginning that this band was having fun and it showed through each song. Their appreciation for the moment was obvious as they were a tight, crisp group looking for an audience who cared... Matthew held them all together and was noticeably proud to have them by his side for this tour.

'Could've Been Worse' started the night out with its ominous beginning and we were off... Early in the show, Matthew asked the barkeep to turn off the TVs that lined the back of the room. They were bright and he said this... "Hey, I don't want to come across wrong, but is there any way you can turn the TVs off back there? There's enough entertainment in the room, tonight. Thanks." This singular moment is something that I can appreciate... Like buying my first copy of "The Bends" by Radiohead. It was the right thing to do in 1995. And on this night in 2008, he was right. Who needs additional distractions? Thankfully, the barkeep obliged and Matthew went into a dedication story of how 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' was written for his mom. Then he laughed and said that it was written about her... and did not want to confuse anyone...

Every song was true to form, but some left room for some subtle improvisational wordplay, which was nice as Matthew enjoys referencing his heroes and for the faithful ones, these types of things are a welcome gift. He went deep into his catalog early and broke 'Guilty' out... Solid and swift, it complimented the new songs well... I hoped that he would dig into his previous lives and we were not disappointed... The newer takes on his older stuff sounded so fresh and it was nice to see that he had not given up on where he came from... The crowd was ecstatic as we shouted out requests from each album. Matthew was appreciative of our efforts to influence the set list. I said (3 feet away), "Play your favorite Clash song!" His reply, "Hey, that's not a bad idea, that could be cool." But this was his night and he was going to do it his way. He would thank us later (in his own way) for our requests. 'They Were Wrong' was up next and was gorgeous. I remember it as an acoustic highlight from my journey to Boston last year. I was thrilled that it saw the light of day on his latest effort. And after a beautifully paced 'And Never Look Back,' he said, "This next one is my favorite song of the last 10 years." MRVSS then tore into a raucous 'Johnny Appleseed,' by the late, great Joe Strummer. This was a proper homage to someone that Matthew admires and holds a great deal of respect for and it was a true rocker from start to finish. Joe would have been proud had he heard what Matthew did with it... I'm sure of it...

For 'Closing In,' Matthew left his guitar on stage and walked into the audience to sing the album closer... He walked through us and we gave him his space and watched the guy say his piece. It was a special touch to an already special night and we were not even close to being through with it all... As the night heated up, each song from then on took on a sweet swagger that left us wanting more... Matthew's confidence was building and the band was clicking on all cylinders. We really couldn't ask for more... MRVSS even squeezed in a 'Happy Birthday' to an adoring fan who was just excited to be alive. Then they blazed, relentlessly, through some oldies and wrapped it up with 'Misundercould.' This was the last hurrah for the band as they rolled off... We were left wondering what was next...

Matthew then grabbed his acoustic and hopped down from the stage and started taking proper requests. From the second song of the night, a guy to my left repeatedly asked him to play '3rd Of October.' This guy would be rewarded for his patience when Matthew serenaded him and his wife who were celebrating their anniversary. We all watched him work and when he was finished, he started walking around and asked for more requests... Then, 'Me & My Lover' took us by surprise (also serenaded to another group of people) and melted into my request for 'Skylight.' While 10 different songs were requested during this brief acoustic-troubadour-like moment, the minute I said 'Skylight,' I was met with a "There you go, that's the one!" So there he stood on the floor in front of us all and sang it like it was the last time he would ever sing this song. It was amazing...

We knew that we were on borrowed time and this acoustic set was a real treat for us... Would it end and if it did, what would he go out with? Matthew jumped back on stage and looked at us all one last time and started the first strums of 'Return To Me.' Enough said... As he concluded this quietly majestic masterwork, he snuck this cluster of words in, just like he did in Boston last year... "The world is held together by the wind that blows through your hair." Powerful, I think. And very appropriate for personal reasons... This is all true. Then, he thanked us again and shuffled off to the dark corner of the stage. It was over.

The fact that he stuck around and visited with everyone after the show was just a nice touch. That was best encore of all...

Thank you, MRVSS. We would be happy to play host again if you'll have us...

The set...

01. Could've Been Worse
02. Sweetie
03. American Dirt
04. Dulce Et Decorum Est
05. Babybird
06. Guilty
07. Jane, I Still Feel The Same
08. Meet Me By The River
09. They Were Wrong
10. And Never Look Back
11. Johnny Appleseed
12. Closing In *
13. I Must Love Leaving
14. Irrelevant
15. Misundercould
16. 3rd Of October **
17. Me & My Lover **
18. Skylight **
19. Return To Me ***

* Matthew sans guitar, mic only, in crowd facing the band
** solo w/ acoustic guitar serenading crowd
*** solo w/ acoustic guitar on stage
________

- bsm*, fan of all things real

No, really...

I have a question.

What is a "Jon & Kate Plus 8?"

I suppose I live under a rock, but good grief... These made-for-tv-faux-celebrities are everywhere. Like mosquitoes in July. Here I am... trying to score a watermelon and some grapes and I see 5 magazines-turned-gossip rags spilling their guts all over my shopping experience.

When it was my turn, I asked the cashier if he watched the show... He said "no," but said his older sister did because she liked the Posh Spice character........

Enough said.

- Clueless shopper

Follow the leader.

Something about this bridge... Something about that April

afternoon a couple of years ago... It just made sense to go.

To get up, to leave and go. I followed it. I'll say this much...

The butterflies never left me. They don't know how to leave.

Once you have them, they're yours... They tattoo your insides

with a certain kind of ink. They are a part of who you are...

Your tummy will forever be grateful. And that, to me, is

beautiful. To the non-believers? Look inside. Let go. What

are you afraid of? It's just a bridge. - #19, Holding Midfield

Press "Play" and look away...

Playlist for today (for the book club or something):

a) matt pond pa "halloween"
b) jason lytle "brand new sun"
c) haven "say something"
d) the verve "blue"
e) strays don't sleep "cars and history"
f) cassettes won't listen "freeze and explode"
g) peter murphy "hit song"
h) the church "the unguarded moment"
i) lakes "photographs"
j) liam finn "second chance"
k) unbunny "nothing comes to rest"
l) lewis "the path that strays"
m) the police "so lonely"
n) sonic youth "superstar"
o) ned's atomic dustbin "twenty three hour toothache"

In no particular order... Just some songs to sort through as you're sorting through your cabinets for that perfect seasoning blend...

Letter "h" was my favorite today for some reason. Later.

Part VII

I threw something out there on the 9th of March... That was #4. This is the seventh part.

He never really knew what to say when she walked through the door, but he felt like saying everything, both right and wrong, from the bottom of his heart. When she said, "hi," it was always met with simple applause from the others in the room, but it spoke volumes about her as a person, given her past and possible future. She was coming out of her shell, scratching at the walls she had built around herself. She found herself in a circle of friends and felt safe and in control. She shifted with a certain delicate sway and questioned even the little things with her "I challenge everything, so what" eyes. Protected from it all, reluctant to shred the singular emotional agreement that was cast in stone so many seasons ago. Giving pieces of herself away had a price and lending an ounce to anyone meant giving away a ton of something that had little in reserve... It was a fear of the known and a genuine calling to something more... The crooked smiles and the sudden stares... They all spoke up, but when noticed, they crawled away for fear of being remembered... Her tentative nature lead some to believe that she may not have always cared, but to the trained soul, it wasn't that she didn't care, but it was that she cared enough to be tentative... Her choices to engage? Always calculated. When he sees her, he sees someone he always thought of and may have possibly met... In a dream, perhaps, or maybe in 4th grade. When he hears her laugh and when he listens to her talk, he thinks about the feelings he calls home. When she shares and, to an extent, explores, he remembers what it's like to believe in something pure and unconditional. And when she stands alone quietly in the shaded room, he recalls times spent with a friend in a backyard on the second floor of his fort reading under the flashlight, counting random satellites orbiting above... One, two, nine. Also alone, quiet and near dark light. It conjures up the understanding of who he is as a person and what it's like to be near and inside certain moments. When together, even in silence, the calming nature of her spirit makes one elicit thoughts only a blooming flower would understand. On any given day, one could only hope to see what he sees... And when it becomes clear that there is more behind her eyes and even more behind her mind... It's there... The foundation and the colors for the painting that could only be on display inside the walls of the most personal of hearts. Does she knows this? Will she know this? Will it matter? Does it matter that he may never tell her that when she has the time, there will always be a place in his story for her? Can she see what he sees? Will she keep it nearby and if so, where? Will she put it away with reservations for a rainy day? Tucked away under her skin? Her protective canopy shimmers, it seems, and she guards it with everything giving bits and pieces to imagine... With hopes of seeing more... To be cherished like a first kiss on Friday night. Her thoughts, channeling everything forgotten and everything asked... With everything in mind... He leaves room for her. So many things come to mind as he looks at the cards on the table. One card stands out as bright as a full moon on Christmas Eve. Her name is Piper. To see her like he does... Is she here? Was she there? His thoughts are clear. Made with conviction. For her. For him. Where is she? Is she coming back?

bsm*

I need a mason jar.

Of note: I just spotted my first firefly of the year. A little early, but it was exactly what I needed...

I'm ready whenever you are...

Have a good night and a better tomorrow. bsm*

A lonely, single thank you.

That's it?

Really?

Here's the deal. My money's on the scientist.

"Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a completely natural ale. There are no additives, only the finest malted barley, whole hops, brewer's yeast, and crystal-clear water. The fine layer of yeast in each bottle is a result of the traditional bottle-conditioning process that produces carbonation naturally." - Lifted right from the bottle and why not?

I must say that there is something entirely killer about those three sentences.

About that 'thank you.' If found, drop in any mailbox. Postage guaranteed.

Any takers?

Okay.

One cup of heavy whipping cream + a half a cup of confectioner's sugar = whipped cream. Once you see the peaks, but before you see something resembling butter, fold in some lemon curd and see what happens...

Pamper it.

I want to say that Kelly Kapowski shared this with me. Or was it the dude working the counter at The T-Shirt Shack? Can't quite remember.

- bsm* on the 1st