Here comes the joker
with his silly grin
he carries a martini
made of bathtub gin
Wendy's on the windowsill
Waiting to be let in
And were all in the bathtub now
Making Bathtub Gin
bloggers:
Tao of Pauly
Daddy
Change 100
The Rooster
Derek
Coventry: A Phish Blog
Al Cant Hang
Live Music Blog
Phish & Chips
Raise Hell, Drink Beer.
Get Trished.
Indigo Boulevard
The Joker
is enjoying:
making bathtub gin:
the joker
31, Pisces
Denver, CO
Windowsill Wendy
is enjoying:
windowsill wendy
29, Capricorn
Denver, CO
"Music is a spiritual expression of what's in your heart. Music as a way of getting rich is a pretty new thing, and I often wonder if the mega-bucks glitzy atmosphere is making the quality of music suffer. You have to work really hard to get around that and remember why you're in it in the first place: because you have to be. It's like an addiction. You can't go a day without picking up your guitar. To me, the only commercial goals that are really valid are, 'Boy, I wish I didn't have to go to work. I wish I could do this all the time."
-Trey Anastasio
"Impose rules to make life simpler. Break them to make life more fun."
-Jon Fishman
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Widespread Panic Video
posted 8:50 PM by the joker
1 comments
Sonic Bloom Video
posted 8:50 PM by the joker
0 comments
Sonic Bloom + Widespread Panic Pics
posted 9:46 AM by the joker
1 comments
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Approaching the One-Year Mark
posted 12:52 PM by Windowsill Wendy
Last year at this time, the shit was just hitting the fan with The Boy. I was realizing things about him that I didn't want to see - hoped to ignore and they'd get better or go away. It was the beginning of the end, as it were.
I had just begun to entertain the idea of transferring to Denver for the job I have now. It was scary to even think about uprooting and moving out here, but I knew immediately when the opportunity presented itself that I was ready to leave Dallas.
Sometimes, ten or twelve months after the fact, I still can't believe I did it. I really changed many, many things about my life. New city. New state. New job. New life. No boyfriend. No roots. No ties. No obligations. Some of it has been really, really scary. Some of it has been wonderfully liberating. Some of it has been a whole lot of fun. Overall, I think I've made the right decisions.
I've survived:
- living in my brother's basement (thank god for my big brother)
- apartment shopping in Denver (an exercise in futility)
- a massive, messy breakup (exit 7.5-year relationship)
- my first couple of forays into the dating world (bizarre, but very fun for the most part)
- the sinus/double ear/upper respiratory infection from hell that raged the first two months I lived here and resulted in a pulled abdominal muscle (ouch, ouch, ouch)
- an incredibly frustrating "busy season" at work (people here really do hate Texans)
- a ski season (no broken bones - yay!)
- training for a half marathon at altitude (4,000 feet+ higher than normal)
Nothing that's the end of the world for anyone, but there for a while, it all seemed to pile up at once. I think it's all going to be OK now. I'm feeling pretty settled, pretty balanced and pretty happy over all.
1 comments
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sonic Bloom + Widespread Panic, Red Rocks
posted 10:50 AM by the joker
The setting was beautiful- a big meadow up in the mountains- and the weather was cool during the day. Friday night we saw a PA set by 3 of the members of Sound Tribe Sector 9- I liked it better than many of the other PA sets I had seen in the past because Hunter was playing guitar. I recognized parts of Somesing, Blu Mood, Lo Swaga, Water Song, and a couple of others.
Friday night was very cold up there, so it was perfect for our costumes. We dressed up as Bert & Ernie and made a lot of people laugh. Pictures to come.
Satruday morning I got up, rallied the troops to break camp and headed back to Denver to catch Widespread Panic at Red Rocks. I got in early and secured a large place via taping down a tarp for my group on row 23 in the Schools Zone.
Here is the setlist:
06/23/07 Red Rocks, Morrison, CO
1: Pigeons > Better Off, All Time Low, Down, Party At Your Mama's House > Blackout Blues, Pickin' Up The Pieces, Airplane > Rock
2: Pleas > Chilly Water, Thought Sausage, Aunt Avis > Second Skin > Greta > Barstools and Dreamers > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers*, Dyin' Man* > Jam* > Drums* > Red Hot Mama*
E: The Take Out > Smoking Factory > Porch Song, End Of The Show
* with DJ Logic on turntables[DJ Logic performed during setbreak; Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter]
I loved the whole show. Airplane>Rock was the highlight of the first set for me. The second set was fantastic. I will definitely want to listen to this show a few times- I thought that Jimmy Herring’s guitar work was simply amazing. Huge energy from the crowd in Chilly Water, Greta was a great sing-along, The Barstools>Machine>Barstools sandwich was rockin. JB ended the evening perfectly with End of the Show.
After the show we had some good hangout time/post parties at a friend’s apartment and then some late night pizza and TV at my place. At 4am we watched the documentary Okie Noodling on PBS-wow, what a trip.
Sunday I definitely was moving a little slow, but still made it to the show.
06/24/07 Red Rocks, Morrison, CO
1: From the Cradle, One x One, Who Do You Belong To?, Gradle, Clinic Cynic, Sleepin Man > Stop Breaking Down Blues, Sleepy Monkey > Good People > Wondering
2: Little Kin, Bust it Big > Jack, Diner > Fixing to Die, Space Wrangler, Can't Find My Way Home, Ain't Life Grand
E: Surprise Valley > Morning Dew! > Mr. Soul [DJ Logic performed during set break]
I enjoyed this show but they played a few songs that I don’t listen to very much. More of the southern rock vibe out of this show. Again, weather and crowd was great. I thought the Surprise Valley>Morning Dew encore was my highlight.
In both of these shows I loved Jimmy’s guitar. His tone is powerful and he nails the Mikey written lead lines that are familiar from the records. At times he plays a lot of notes, but overall I love his ripping and the band really moves with him.
Pictures and video to come...
1 comments
Friday, June 22, 2007
It doesn't suck.
posted 9:17 AM by Windowsill Wendy
**********
I've had to break from the running routine this week due to a pretty sore knee. I feel pretty rested, though, and plan to join a group of people for a training run tomorrow morning. We'll see how it goes, but I'm hoping to log at least six or seven miles. I know I have at least one half marathon coming up in the fall, but if I can keep the workouts up through my work's busy season, I might even attempt to run a full marathon in December/January.
According to my Fitness Horoscope, I need to take up cliff diving and/or rock climbing. Hm.
**********
I don't know about all of you out there, but I'm pretty disappointed in Sir Paul's latest release. I have, however, really been enjoying the "Best of Wilco" mix The Joker put together for me. And I'm also pretty excited that the Traveling Wilbury's stuff is finally accessible. God, I love me some Tom Petty - any way I can get him.
**********
Well, that's about all that's going on today. Overall, life seems to be pretty freaking good. Happy Friday, happy summer, happy weekend.
Labels: music, running, summer
1 comments
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Commitment
posted 8:37 AM by Windowsill Wendy
My sister-in-law informed me that she thinks I have "relationship issues." I think that stems from a lack of commitment. But then, doesn't everyone have relationship issues?
I've been ridiculously committed to accomplishing some pretty massive goals at work - to the point that work has taken over my life.
I made a commitment to start from scratch and re-build my life when I moved to Colorado. I've succeeded in some areas and failed miserably in others.
Commitment is a funny thing - it seems we are always either over-committed or lacking commitment. How do you find the middle ground?
Interestingly enough, I enrolled a while back in a ten-week personal development seminar (gotta invest in yourself sometimes, right?). Last night was the first session of the seminar. I have been so busy lately that I really didn't pay attention to the title or content of the seminar - just sort of showed up and hoped for the best. Turns out the thing is all about commitment.
As part of the first session, I was asked to begin a list of things I am committed to at the moment. So that all of you out there on the inter-web can hold me accountable, I'll list them here. Here goes...
I am committed to:
- making a tangible, positive difference in the world by bringing my fundraising campaign to the $1 million dollar level.
- being honest and open and not sacrificing relationships for the sake of being "right."
- creating more time to enjoy life in general and engage in the activities I moved to Colorado to pursue.
- empowering others to create new possibilities in life.
- creating an extraordinary partnership with at least one person in my life.
So that's a start. I look at the list and realize that I have been very committed to some of the items and not so much on others. It's easy to say the words. It's not so easy to muster the courage to carry them out sometimes.
3 comments
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Haikus
posted 10:36 AM by the joker
you showed up to my
yoga class and performance
i dont want to talk
*
you are like smoking
bad for me but im hooked
quitting you is hard
*
i fell in love but
didnt see it from your side
you threw it away
*
widespread panic with
santa claus on guitar
i think im in love
*
hippie chicks with dreads
its like waking up next to a
brillo pad on me
*
Labels: haikus
0 comments
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Horoscope
posted 4:10 PM by Windowsill Wendy
Capricorn - December 22 to January 20
It's time to bring back the ghetto blaster. Naturally, you are the person to do this.
Well alright.
0 comments
The Mad Scientists
posted 8:39 AM by the joker
The owner actually double-booked the evening last night. A talented duo from Amarillo, TX- The Fieldside Refugees were there as well. Neither band knew about the other one- but we started talking and they were really cool guys. We ended up all jamming together- they had a huge percussion setup and it was a lot of fun.
We had so much fun, in fact, that we are playing there again tonight- with the same band. They were in town for a couple of days and so we said what the heck.
Yoga
Since I started my new job downtown I have been riding my bike to work every day (at least on the sunny days, a couple of times it rained & i took the bus) and then have been going to Yoga after work 4 days a week. I have been doing that for about 3 weeks solid now, and I feel great. I can really feel the difference and am really getting into it. It is also cool to slowly see my body change, I am glad I have finally found a routine that is getting me back into shape after years of supporting Wendy's.
The other afternoon when I was walking into the yoga studio & checking in at the front desk, one of the teachers commented that I had become "quite the regular." I smiled & let her know that I had started a new job close by and I was doing my best to come 3-4 days a week after work. The owner of the studio was sitting next to her and perked up when he heard me say this. Dave is pictured on the website- and can be best described as a dashing South African with flowing hair.
Dave: "If you do yoga 3 times a week consistently, it will change your life."
The Joker: "Will it put hair on my chest?" (Dave had his shirt unbuttoned)
Dave: "Possibly. But I have also seen a lot of yoga take the hair off of people's chests." (referring to the men at the studio who groom themselves & hog the mirror)
One thing about working in a corporate environment is that everyone feels the need to comment on something really obvious but is a little bit out of the ordinary.
Case in point: my yoga mat. Every day I walk into the office with my yoga mat rolled up on my backpack. I work in a large office, so I suppose everyone has not noticed that I have a yoga mat on my backpack every day.
But I know when they notice.
"Is that a yoga mat?" "Do you do yoga?" "Are you going to take a nap later on that mat?"
The answer to the quiz questions: Yes, Yes, and maybe I should.
Labels: Mad Scientists, Yoga
0 comments
Monday, June 18, 2007
I love drunken Sundays.
posted 11:04 AM by Windowsill Wendy
Bloody Marys with Lunch > More Bloody Marys > A Few Stellas in the Sunshine > Decide to go to Sancho's (five hours after sitting down for lunch) > Grateful Dead Songs > Cocktails > Beers > Shots With The Barback > Loss of Multiple IQ Points > Require a Ride Home
The weather here is gorgeous. Very conducive to sipping/gulping drinks on the patio. Thank goodness for my girlfriends - I don't know how I would possibly manage without them! We had such a great day yesterday, relaxing, catching up, enjoying the sunshine and - oh yes - drinking heavily. I haven't laughed that much in quite a while. It was an awesome day.
0 comments
Weekend Recap: My face melted a few times
posted 9:33 AM by the joker
Friday night I saw Toubab Crewe at Quixotes and Particle at Cervantes. These 2 venues in Denver have the same owner, and are very jam-band friendly. I rode my bike down there with a few friends and saw both bands.
I enjoyed Toubab Crewe. I had never seen them before, but had always heard good things. They incorporate African instruments to their instrumental grooves. I found them enjoyable, some people REALLY loved them.
Particle has not been the same for me since about ’04. I think the last amazing Particle show I saw was at High Sierra ’04. They replaced their guitar player and now the new guitar player sings. I am more a fan of their older material- the stuff that has Steve Molitz turning knobs and melting faces. UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ. Still, this was a pretty good show. I danced a bit and wandered around the venue when the guitar player sang. At times it almost reminded me of an old Galactic show when I would dance my ass off and then take a piss break whenever The Houseman came out. This was the same- piss break when the Particle guitar player sings.
Saturday morning I woke up early. Even though I was out till nearly 3am the night before, I was up at 7:30am on a Saturday. The new house gets light through the windows and I suppose my body is on a 8-5 work schedule. But I had to be up early anyway because the Comcast Cable guy was scheduled to come over and install TV and Internet from 8-10am.
Comcast. Does anything ever go right with the Cable Guy?
The guy they sent out was nice enough. But he took a while to get started. It was 11am and he was getting close to being about halfway done.
Then he spilled a paint can in the utility room.
He played dumb, like there was suddenly paint that appeared on the floor and he had nothing to do with it. I got understandably upset and told him to clean it up.
Of course, like any good slacker would do, he acted like he didn’t know how to clean it up. So I had to clean up a ½ gallon of dark green paint spilled on the floor while he finished getting my internet hooked up. My complaint to Comcast is pending.
Saturday afternoon I rode my bike over to the Highlands Street Festival. I love street festivals. I sampled the beer and funnel cakes and margaritas. I was wasted by about 6pm when we decided it would be a good idea to get out of there. My friends J & J suggested we go to a friend’s house where the UFC fight was happening.
Throw the bikes in the back of the pickup, go see a UFC fight. I am not a huge UFC fan, but I seem to be guilty by association. By about 10pm J suggested we ride our bikes home; both of us were going down hill pretty fast and thought we had done enough partying for the day. The bike ride home was adventurous for me- There is nothing like riding a bike through the cool Colorado air with a stomach full of margaritas. I got home safely and woke up Sunday morning still wearing my clothes on my couch.
Sunday morning I spent most of my time setting up my newly assembled entertainment center. I was able to hook up my TV to my computer and watch the Bonnaroo webcast though the TV and stereo system.
My face was pretty much melted by Wilco>The White Stripes>Widespread Panic. Holy Shit.
Wilco did a GREAT set. The band sounded great and I dug the new songs off of Sky Blue Sky. I hope I get to see them this summer. Nels Cline is one of the best guitarists that no one ever talks about.
Jack White rocked out next. He played the raw rockin White Stripes catalog in an all red stage setup and wore red head to toe. What a rockstar.
Widespread Panic’s set was massive. Here is the setlist:
Disco > Traveling Light, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Smoking Factory > Surprise Valley > Protein Drink > Sewing Machine, Im Not Alone, From The Cradle > Chilly > Visiting Day > Chilly, Tickle the Truth, Fairies Wear Boots > Jam > Wrangler > Drums > Don't Want to Lose You > Henry Parsons Died, Driving Song, Postcard > Driving > Jack > Chainsaw City > Fishwater
E: Crippled Inside, Heaven, Action Man
[First 'Fairies Wear Boots' (Led Zeppelin); First 'Crippled Inside' (John Lennon)
Jimmy Herring is my hero. The man looks like he a 60 year old Santa Claus up there, but he SHREDDS. Schools must of eaten an extra large pizza topped with indie rock posers cause he laid it down thick. John Bell sounded great too. What a monster set! I was dancing and throwing water during Chilly in my living room; I can only imagine how people were raging at the ‘Roo. I called my Vegoose buddies Aaron and Lissa who were at the show- I caught them as they were exiting the field and they were PUMPED. I am now looking forward to the Red Rocks shows- I am going to Sonic Bloom on Thurs and Fri nights, then hopefully will be able to make it to Red Rocks on Saturday and maybe Sunday.
Labels: Bonnaroo Webcast, Particle, Toubab Crewe
0 comments
Friday, June 15, 2007
I have a problem.
posted 3:06 PM by Windowsill Wendy
One that makes me drink heavily and often. It's called "Men."
Fukkers will lie to you - about major stuff.
They will date you for a few months and suddenly decide you are "on a break," but fail to clue you in on that fact and simply stop returning phone calls/texts/e-mails. Update: Or, they will just decide to end it by telling your friends that you are no longer attractive, and hope that your friends do the dirty work for them.
They will act completely interested in you one day, and convince you the next that they can't stand the sight of you, only to act interested again the day after that.
They are impossible to read, impossible to figure out and impossible in general.
They fully expect you to be absolutely fine with all of the above. And in spite of all the frustration, they are ridiculously fun to play with.
The last time I dated, when The Boy and I got started, I was 21 years old. Maybe that has something to do with it. I hate "games," and I hate being jerked around. Sometimes I think I am Man-Repellant.
Fukkers will lie to you - about major stuff.
They will act completely interested in you one day, and convince you the next that they can't stand the sight of you, only to act interested again the day after that.
They are impossible to read, impossible to figure out and impossible in general.
They fully expect you to be absolutely fine with all of the above. And in spite of all the frustration, they are ridiculously fun to play with.
The last time I dated, when The Boy and I got started, I was 21 years old. Maybe that has something to do with it. I hate "games," and I hate being jerked around. Sometimes I think I am Man-Repellant.
I don't really know how to do this. But it sure is fun to try.
1 comments
Paddlin' Around The Tub Again
posted 2:09 PM by Windowsill Wendy
Well, since the Joker is bringin' it back, I figured I might as well jump on in. It has been three years since I have posted anything here on the Gin, and quite a bit has changed for me as well:
- I got fired from my job at the Advertising Agency of Death.
- I started working in nonprofit as a fundraiser and event planner.
- I moved to Denver in August to run my organization's fundraising Walk program in the Rocky Mountain chapter.
- After seven years, I finally realized things with The Boy and me really weren't working out. I broke up with him in October. I might be a slow learner, but I'm not stupid!
- I've run two half marathons (does that count as a full?) at 13.1 miles each - one in Nashville and one in Oklahoma City.
Anyway, I'm happy to be back at Bathtub Gin! We're going to brush off the dust and spruce things up a little bit around here.
0 comments
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Lets Make My Intentions Clear
posted 9:09 AM by the joker
My World is full of love.
I make a difference in people’s lives.
Women want to date me.
I love to exercise in the morning.
I produce at the Million Dollar line.
*****************
The first 2 were great. I thought that and said that to myself several times a day and that reality was created.
The Third, “Women want to date me.” Was also created. However, I discovered that i really didn’t want a bunch of women to date me. In fact, if found that it was a lot of trouble and work if too many women want to date me. But it was fun for a while.
“I love to exercise in the morning” was ok for a little while. I found that really at my core I do love to exercise, just most of the time not in the early morning if I have to be at work early as well.
...and “I produce at the Million Dollar line” scared me to death. It was a work metric referring to my commissions as a stockbroker. I only did it a couple of times, and most of the time it depressed me that I was not producing at the Million Dollar line.
So
I have moved to a new city, started a new job, and my relationships are different. I feel like i can accomplish anything that I want...
...but what do I want to accomplish? What kind of a reality do I want to create?
Right now I am pondering this. I am going to write down my intentions today and start creating it. But I promise to only use my powers for good. As of now, here is my new list. I will write them on a business card and get them laminated and carry it in my pocket.
I am present. Now is exactly where I need to be.
My world is full of love.
I make a difference in the lives of my friends and co-workers.
I am wildly successful in my organization.
My yoga practice enriches my life.
My relationships are fulfilling.
2 comments
Monday, June 11, 2007
Jeff Tweedy writes some great f#cking lyrics
posted 12:43 PM by the joker
Or at least I get him.
from "Either Way", on Sky Blue Sky (2007)
"Maybe you still love me
Maybe you don’t
Either you will or you won’t
Maybe you just need some time alone
I will try to understand
Everything has its plan"
from "At Least That's What You Said" on A Ghost is Born (2004)
When I sat down on the bed next to you
You started to cry
I said, maybe if I leave, you'll want me
To come back home
Or maybe all you mean, is leave me alone
At least that's what you said
from "Poor Places" on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
There's bourbon on the breath
Of the singer you love so much
He takes all his words from the books
That you don't read anyway
brilliant stuff, Jeff.
1 comments
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Rebirth
posted 8:49 PM by the joker
I now have a great new Apple laptop and have started a new job in Downtown Denver. I live in a house in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver and ride my bike to work every day. I re-discovered Yoga and am recently out of a relationship. Sounds like a good time to start up the ‘ol Bathtub Gin again!
0 comments
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