So long San Fran

Posted January 27, 2010 By bob and has 4 comments.

So it’s farewell to San Francisco for now as I’ll be flying back east tomorrow to beautiful JFK… Ugh… Grrr… Shrug…. Meh… Ugh again… And siiiiiigh.

Ah well. But i wanted to touch on some of things i have learned along the way.

All around this has been such a wonderful trip. I’ve seen new sights which have awakened old senses. A sense of wonder towards new places and people, one that had unfortunately grown a bit stale. My peeps in Burlington can relate the best to this I’m sure. As we approach February, you know there’s no better time to get out of town for a while. Unless you’re one of those people that actually like below zero temperatures. Yuck. I am not, and I know that now.

Next, a sense of adventure that has been driven out of another sense, one that I think is essential in all of us but one that we too easily forget or ignore. It’s a sense that life really is short. No matter if you believe that we’re here just once and that dead is forever or if you believe we live many many times trying to get it right, at the end of the day, the day is short and you owe it to yourself to make sure that YOU are living your life for yourself – whatever that means to you. You know when that’s not happening – life feels sticky and rigid and somewhere inside us we know that doesn’t make sense.

With so much going on to distract us all the time, it can be a massive challenge to even remember that every morning we wake up we have a chance to change things we don’t like about our life. Could be a job, the place you live, a relationship, etc. All these things need to get shook up every once in a while in order for you to know you’re really alive and to know what really makes you happy. It’s not easy nor should it be because that’s when we learn and expand our perspective. Those are times you learn what you’re made of. Those are the times nobody likes to live through until they’re safe on the other side and can say with a laugh, “I remember when…” but live through them we must.

… … …

Maybe I’m on a rant but that’s ok with me. One of the things I remembered I like to do on this trip is to write. The blogging thing is something I’m looking forward to refining and having fun with. With that in mind, I’m coming out of this trip with a new website:

* www.gingermoses.com * will be up and running at some point soon – I plan on using that as a starting point and as a new creative outlet.

… … …

I’d quickly like to say a thank you to Max Schwartz for being one of the best all time travel companions a person could ask for. Max, your energy and optimism are truly inspiring and I wish you all the success that San Francisco has to offer. San Francisco, say hello to the new mayor.

… … …

No jewels. Shucks :-(

… … …

From Max and myself, thank you for following along with us and for all of your comments, stories and good wishes. : )

Take care.

Categories: Adventures

Ginger Moses

Posted January 25, 2010 By bob and has 3 comments.

Sooooo you know how it is when you’re on a long car ride – and this was a LONG one – you get to talking about stuff, you develop inside jokes, etc. They start small- nothing at all really. Well on this trip, somehow between discussing music, favorite performers, different aspects of entertainment, ridiculous facial hair, image branding, etc. – somewhere in there this idea or character was born.

Ladies and gentleman I’d like to introduce to you to:

GINGER MOSES

Nomadic bard, prophet, poet, fashion outlaw, transpersonal sex therapist, healer, graphic design pioneer, tech junky, head with no body, etc.

Ginger Moses is many things to many people but he could be best summed up as a general hero to the people as well as an emerging state of mind.

Look for GM on the scene real soon – he’s rumored to be making an appearance this Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (even if it is outside the venue) in San Francisco when Apple is rumored to be unveiling it’s newest creation, the Apple Tablet.

Stay tuned for updates and remember:

If you see the beard, you’re in business.

Categories: Uncategorized

Ritual coffee

Posted January 23, 2010 By bob and has no comments yet.

Whatever town you visit you need to know where the good coffee is. Thank you to Ritual on Valencia St. for being so easy to find and for delivering the goods. This place has a steady stream of people coming and going – typical smattering of hipsterville but without being too pretentious. Hey, a little pretention’s ok – nobody likes drinking coffee with riff raff or rapscallions.

Today was very relaxing. Sometimes just not having a plan is the best thing you can do for yourself. Frees you up inside. Walked around though I still don’t get the layout of this city. Thank you Google Maps and GPS for you geographic omnipotence.

New sneeks + new haircut = new attitude about life. Yup. I’m a simpleton.

Last night I got to meet up with Jamie J at her place and meet some of her friends where we pregamed it before heading to the most jam packed crowded club I have ever been in- Amnesia on Valencia – for a bit of burlesque mixed with some old timey New Orleans jazz. Absolutely great show and now I’m pretty sure I need to buy a tenor banjo. Burlesque shows seem to be following Max and I around- something we’re ok with.

Not sure about tonight but it is Saturday so I’m sure this town will figure out a way to take more of my money from me. Looking forward to it.

Have a great night everyone.

Ps. also got to see some other killer vintage gear today at Real Guitas. Gold top Les Paul’s seem to be following me around too which will probably prove to be a financial disaster one day.

Categories: Adventures

San Francisco

Posted January 22, 2010 By bob and has 2 comments.

And we have arrived at our destination. After an incredible adventure of a detour – we drove from LA to Bakersfield on roads that were “not the interstate” – we arrived late at night, slightly disheveled, malnurished, dehydrated, agoraphobic, all of our hair had fallen out, arms were broken, legs had fallen clean off of our bodies and someone had stolen our moustaches.

Ok so some of those things didn’t really happen but we were pretty zombied out from a ten hour ride that should have lasted six. But…. We’re here. And it was all totally worth it.

Like the heroes in the old movies Max and myself have trudged through vast and dangerous terrains, foiled the plans of would be adversaries, aided the rescue of many a fare maiden, and met a diverse cast of characters along the way- some whom I hope to grower closer to over the passing of the years.

“What about the jewels?” you ask. I cannot speak as to their whereabouts quite yet- but our adventure is not over – and while only having been in San Francisco for a few hours now I can tell that this is a place that has great potential to bestow luminous treasures- both extenal and internal.

I hope you’ll stay tuned for our next few entries. Tonight will feature dinner with old friends, music with new ones and a variety of new experiences for both Max and myself as we explore the Fog City. Till then…

Categories: Uncategorized

LA LA Land

Posted January 21, 2010 By bob and has 2 comments.

Inspirational quote of the day:
“Life is funny. Wear a moustache.”

Let me just start by saying the last time I “went” to LA I actually just drove around it very deliberately. No regrets there but I am happy to report that LA has won me over. At least for now.

We had the great pleasure of staying with possibly (strike that- definitely) the two nicest people in LA. Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti are a husband and wife team that make up the indie pop dynamo that is The Submarines. They also happen to be incredibly gracious and generous hosts. Be sure to check them out at www.thesubmarines.com !

After settling in for a moment and getting the tour of the house (the home studio, the lemon trees, where we’d be sleeping, where the Knob Creek likes to sleep when I’m not there yet, etc.) we decided to head out for dinner and a few drinks. While I forget the name of the establishment we went to, the food was great and beer menu extensive enough to keep us busy for hours. Peroni me my good man!

Lucky for us there was a burlesque show happening at the bar that evening too. Other friends joined us for the show. Peter, a keyboard pro based in LA. Caroline, a soon to be architect with a passion for tango (have fun in Argentina!) and their good friend Ted. The burlesque was lots of fun minus a few musical disasters courtesy of Tashimo(?) the DJ. Great night out.

This morning, minor bruises in tow, we awoke and headed for a great breakfast at the Nickel Diner in downtown LA. Food was totally yummy and the place boasts some serious ambiance. Have you ever had a maple glazed bacon donut? That’s right. Start with a big fat awesome donut, cover it in maple glaze, then sprinkle shredded delicious bacon all over the top of it. It’s wrong. It’s right. Who knows- just don’t let it become a habit.

After a car ride tour of various hoods
we head back to the house and geek out in John and Blake’s studio- Max and John amping and tubing it up, me sneaking out for a smoke.

LA – you impressed me and I didn’t think you had it in you. I will keep that in mind.

To wrap up I’m writing now from a detour – Interatate 5 is closed due to snow and ice (hey Cali, WTF!?!) and as I write we are on a crazy two lane mountain highway in heavy rain with tons of detour traffic. We’ll get to San Francisco at some point tonight and I’m really looking forward to exploring the city with Max over the next few days before returning east.

Thank you LA for changing my mind.
Thank you California for being big and beautiful and wild… and for not being Texas.
Thank you Max- for being a great travel companion.
And thank you Submarines! Wish you both all the very best in all you do.

Categories: Adventures

Tucson, AZ

Posted January 20, 2010 By max and has 4 comments.

Ahh. Tucsan, AZ. What a gem.

Grateful to be out of Texas, and far away from Juarez, Mexico, the white lion purred into Tucson looking for a warm bowl of milk after a 13 hour jaunt.

Thanks to our friends knowing friends all over this country, Bob and I were referred to the best hotel stay of the adventure, Hotel Congress – www.hotelcongress.com/.

Making our reservations on the phone, the friendly staff prefaced that this was a historic hotel and did not have TV, only vintage radios. Perfect.

PS, we just drove past a huge gem show in Quartzsite, AZ. RV’s as far as the eye can see.

A Historic Hotel with vintage radios. What more could we ask for? How about a great bar, music venue and the award-winning best breakfast spot in Tucson – all packed into a completely preseved historic western hotel! I guess we’ll stay here,

After a super friendly check in, Bob and I scampered down the antique staircase like 2 little boys on Christmas morning.

Side note – we just crossed into CA!

Bob and I relaxed in the Tap Room with 2 regional beers. The bar, hotel lobby and venue were bustling with locals enjoying this classic downtown hotel saloon.

The venue featured a metal cover band, Metal Heads – www.metalheadrocks.com

These guys ate metal 3 meals a day. They executed every cover with laser precision, note for note.

In the morning Bob and I savored the delicious flavors of the Congress breakfast and hit the road.

Off to LA.

Categories: Adventures

Playlist Recap 4

By max and has no comments yet.

Here’s a few slices from the playlist deli that we can rememer:

1. Paul McCartney’s Ram
2. Supergrass Life on Other Planets
3. Buena Vista Social Club
4. Jimmy Bryant
5. John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band
6. Beach Boys – Friends
7. LCD Soundsystem
8. Porno for Pyros – Good God’s Urge
9. White Stripes Elephant
10. XTC – Black Sea

Categories: Adventures

Texan Restin’

By max and has 1 comment.

We made it out of Texas yesterday, but on the way we stopped at a rest area with giant wagon wheels. Perfect time for a photo!

Categories: Adventures

New Mexico Border Patrol

Posted January 19, 2010 By bob and has 2 comments.

Who knew you could go through border patrol when you didn’t even leave your own country? Here’s how it went:

Max: hi there
Patrol: you guys US citizens?
Us: you bet!
Patrol: where you goin?
Max: Tuscon, Arizona!
Patrol: where ya comin from?
Max: Austin. But I’m coming from Vermont. I’m moving to San Francisco.
Patrol: Where’d you get this car ( read: with the Illinois plates )
Max: Massachusetts! It’s a rental!
Patrol: …… Um …… Have a nice day.

Thank you New Mexico. And we’re off again.

Categories: Uncategorized

Austin night 2

By bob and has 5 comments.

Let me just say a few words: Prestidigitation. Croupier. And finally, quilted yoke. There. Now that that is out of the way.

Day 2 in Austin was filled with excitement, blood boiling emotion, luxurious retail therapies, bittersweet croonings, gold top steel bends and the fine satisfaction that one associates with top notch barbque.

We awoke at Marley’s and headed out for coffee to Spider House- for those of you reading this in Burlington just imagine if the radio bean and the monkey house got together, drank way too much and made a coffee house love child. For those of you not in Burlington, make sure you hit this place if you’re ever in Austin. It’s delish.

After coffee and a BLT we drop Tia at the airport for her flight back to Burlington. Bye Tia! Xo

Then it’s off to the downtown area to meet Blaine for some shopping. On the way there one of Austin’s finest pulled us over to alert us that in Texas the solid white lines that i crossed over while changing lanes are to be reguarded as real physical barriers. Thanks officer! And thanks for the totally ridiculous ticket! Though I could tell you were visibly intimidated by the fiercness that is my cop stache, I think 2010 will definetly be the year you can expect the promotion to assistant to regional hall monitor. Ugh! Anywho…

Austin abounds with tons of vintage clothing boutiques. Great selection and totally reasonable prices. Max and I each scored a killer western shirt from Brohemia where Marley works. His is really cool. Mine’s cooler because it has an epic western scene on the quilted pillow yoke. Super comfy.

Inbetween retail wanderings we need some fuel so we headed to Freebirds for burritos. Who knew that all three of us guitar nerds would want to quit guitar forever before the end of lunch. We head out on the patio where there’s a band playing a Hatian earthquake relief fundraiser. We sit down in front and the lead guitar gun, noticing my infallable geographic fashion sense, says into the mic “Hey, I love that Creston shirt you’re rockin.” In all honesty I was in a rotten nasty mood still from my traffic ticket episode but that changed right then. We knew we were in the right place and then enjoyed our lunch to the sounds of Stone Honey- heartbreaking country crooners with flawless four part harmony.

Let me say two other words about Austin: Phil Hurley. Gold top Gibson, blackface Vibrolux Reverb, mind blowing melodicism, and a steel bending left hand that was obviously fashinoned in the deppest depths of Mordor. This guy plays the guitar like a fucking house on fire! And he just happens to be a really great guy who knows everyone we know in Burlington and LA. Thanks for the inspiration and the impending desparation that comes with watching a player of your caliber. And thank you Creston- for just knowing everyone, everywhere. (sell me your Esquire!)

Driving note: we just saw a zebra and an ostrich. Huh. Ok Texas.

For dinner Max, Blaine and myself hit up Ruby’s ( not Rudy’s ) for some kick ass local BBQ. Delicious baby back ribs and sides for all washed down with some Lone Stars and great conversation. Was it the best BBQ Austin had to offer? Probably not. But when the guy who works at one of the biggest BBQ shacks in town tells you that this is HIS favorite places you just go there. Thanks Channing… whoever you are.

Then it was off to MoMo’s for some tunes. I’ll keep this part short. The club has a really cool layout where you can be outside sitting ( and smoking ) and still watch and hear the bands which is great. Only problem is we didn’t stay out late enough to hear anything mind blowing… But I like to think it happened some time last night after we left. Then it was back to Blaine’s to noodle on some guitars and then sleep on the floor. Hi floor! I’m ready to never see you again. Blaine, thank you for the hospitality. RAWK!

Austin. Great city. Sneakers are pointless because you can’t walk anywhere. The guy playing guitar during the lunch hour rush will bury you at guitar. The Mexican food and BBQ are perfection. The people are friendly and totally accomodating of moustaches, no matter how ridiculous you feel… or look.

Thank you Austin. On the road now heading towards the LA by way of Tuscon, Arizona.

Hugs and kisses from the 73F and sunny highway 10.

Categories: Uncategorized