08-08

Wow, talk about a hiatus, huh? One would think nothing of note occurred during the month of August; that RUWF and her family and friends found themselves in a stalemate as the culmination of summer crept upon us. Well, I apologize to have led you all astray these past few weeks because, to the contrary, there have been a number of point changes and highlights worthy of bringing to your attention.

For starters, Liana, prego with her second dose of "trouble", and Marley returned to the east coast, which included a visit to Wolfeboro with Mars' Nana (Mama Sue), Pop-pop, Nan, Aunty D, Great-Aunt Bella, Robbie, Sam & Misty and 2nd cousin Ariana. Mars explored the trampoline with Ari (allotting time between bounces to offer some sound jumping advice), indulged in Nan's famous hand-picked blueberry muffins (hand-picked muffins, now that would be something), challenged Pop-pop to a face-off (that 18+ month old jaw has to be double jointed), and practiced delivering her favorite words: baby, Ahwie (Ari), mama, dowwwwn and di-di (Zoey).

Speaking of Zoe-bear, Mama Sue and Franko have become her new proud care-takers. For those unfamiliar with Zoey, Jamie and Liana's first baby, she is part black Lab, part Doberman and, I'm no mathematician, but I'm going with 110% lap dog.

Soon after Liana and Mars' departure, Owen also decided to fly 3000+ miles to pay New England a visit (just to even the stakes). The Brit got tossed into the fire but, not surprisingly, no manipulation was necessary to achieve a roaring end product. Together, Owen and I managed to successfully check off the Cape, Boston, Cambridge, Milton, Wolfeboro, NH, Arlington, VT, and the Berkshires (including a town named after Owen's heritage: Lee) in 5 days. On the second day of our road trip, Owen received a call from his brother in England notifying him of his new official uncle status. Jane delivered a healthy girl, Megan Ann, on August 20th, who could be found days later with a Red Sox teddy by her side. A girl after our own hearts, eh? But before Uncle O hopped his flight to London, he had won the hearts of more than one Bostonian. Parents, aunts, roommates, high school and uni friends, as well as a select few PTown goers, were shocked that RUWF unearthed such a gem and are already requesting an encore visit. Is a person considered a legend if he continues to be the subject of many a conversation weeks after he is removed from the scene? Thais, Marc and I are headed to Italy over Thanksgiving to verify that this label holds true (and maybe do some leather goods shopping and pizza consuming, but that's just on the side!).

In other news, long-time good friend Lauren Bowe announced her engagement to Dan Hover yesterday morning! Without questions (or complaints), Lauren was awoken at 5:30 to take a bike ride to the nearby beach in Salem. The pier on which they perched, the beach from which the rocks escaped and the expanse of water into which the rocks emerged, were absent of people and extraneous noises. Dan presented Lauren with a hand written heartfelt poem as well as a BEAUTIFUL ring for her to wear always. Congratulations Lauren and Dan!

King Khan

How do you describe psychedelic funk? I think you have to be witness to King Khan and the Shrines' stage act to gain a full understanding but let me open the door a crack for you...

Sun Ra and his 8 person entourage prepared to dominate the Middle East just shy of midnight last week. This Canadian bred (although you wouldn't speculate from his appearance or the lack of "ay"s in his speech) vocalist and comic set the precedence for the sold-out show with his pimp cane, black nylon cape and bejeweled headpiece as he molested the mic with the commencement of the opening number. He was accompanied by a pair of young probable Berklee-descendant trumpists who could harldy contain their amusement, a spellbound organist in competition for most perspiring grunge rocker who raised and manipulated his instrument for all to hail, a black guy dawning a pirate hat and a silly grin plastered to his face tucked in the corner of the stage, a long silver haired (accented with a purplish hue) drummer straight out of One Flew Over the Coo Coo's Nest who held post sans expression, a guitarist who resembled a spooky owl (I wonder if his occipital lobe is proportionate in size to his eye sockets), an Asian trophy cheerleader adorned with sequence and pom-poms, master of the "ooh-ahh" faces a mother makes whilst coaxing her baby to smile, and lastly, a lean fella wearing an over-sized costume chicken head ready to rumble with Sun Ra (or whomever he may trip over due to the displaced eye cut-outs).

As Marc Stuart commented, the product of this ensemble was analogous to a soundtrack for a 70's car chase movie (Smokey and the Bandit perhaps). Sun Ra hypnotized the audience with any given song: the interactive throng of listeners were forking over dollar bills to be burned on stage while reciting "here's to welfare", answering a gospel call with "ya, ya yas" and chanting "ass ass titties titties" in unison with their leader. Meanwhile, members of the band dove off stage, showered nearby heads with beer, sang through Freddie Cougar-esk masks and threw down with the hybrid chicken-man. Sun Ra concludes one of the chicken fights with, "You're a f'n chicken..I'm a human being" with the inflection and deliverance not unlike Mitch Hedberg (sure to get a smirk out of anyone). As Thursday's early morning hours crept up on us, Sun Ra held stage in his undies; time to depart.

Sweat hung in the air. Bodies rocked in sync. Raw, exuberant, distasteful, offensive...and highly recommended.

Glorious

Well I don't mean to gloat but I'm a friggin RN!! It only took 2 years, 1 month and 18 days of nursing school. Phew. Looks like I can start getting excited about taking the next 2 board exams less than a year from now... Naaah, isn't living in the moment precious? (By the way, if anyone would like to inform me of any part-time gigs in the area, that'd be delightful...I'm having difficulty recalling what a paycheck smells like at the moment.)

And while we're on the topic of sweet victory, I'd like to share with you all some documented news: Dan Hunt and I have won this year's Stamp Act challenge (only because Casey's time was deemed unofficial due to the lack of estrogen on the team. Aren't we lucky?!). Whitey and Skwar followed closely behind with Thais and Marc (our rookies who rose fearlessly (well ok not maybe not fearlessly but they still rose) to the challenge and even sported matching water shoes to fend off those nasty jagged rocks and floating tree stumps encircling the island)) pulling up the rear.

Horror stories were spared but to no avail; history unveiled itself in the photos mounted on the Ftoreks' walls. As the starting time drew near, joints stiffened, and sebaceous glands functioned hyperactively. First was the beach jaunt to claim the sharpest canoe that would cut the water like a pair of scissors. The run around the island, come to find out, was 2.27 miles before paddling back to the beach. An hour and half, a few sizable gashes and multitude of sore muscles later, the celebration ensued with a follow-up whiffle ball game, a round of Cranium, grilling and balance board try-outs in the gazebo.

It was a hell of a day at sea sir. (Anyone name it??)