Ruby & Bill's 13th Annual Backyard Party

Saturday: Up around 8. Checked out the PA in the basement, then loaded it into MB's car. Drove her to Union Square (lovely weather out), and got it set up under her tent. At 9 she began dancing. I stayed around for a bit, listening to the gentle Middle-Eastern music fill the space, and watching her gracefully move. Also wandered about looking at all the vegetables, arts and crafts that were on offer at the Farmer's Market.

Back home, upstairs for morning practices. At 11, back to Union Square to pick up MB. We packed the car. I bought a pie, and she bought some earrings. I treated her to breakfast at a little run-down diner called the Sunrise Cafe. Dingy interior, but the food was fine. Talked to the owner a bit. They have sold the place, pending the town's approval. A sewage leak has shut down Revere beach.

Back home, and not much time. Put away the PA. Some email. Warmed up on guitar for a bit. Printed out directions, packed guitars and gear in the car, then MB and I headed out. Drove to Roslindale to a party, at which the NEGC had been invited to play.

Victor arrived a bit late (dealing with family stuff), but we managed to go on pretty much right at 3, nonetheless. Alex did not show. Didn't really get a sound check. The opening circulation and Eye of the Needle had the "we're not all here yet" quality to them, but then we settled into it. I had an interesting experience during Thrak... it was the first time that I was really able to listen to the 5s while playing the 7s, and understand how they fit together in the moment. Bicycling was on the slow side, but not bad for a quartet (Victor and me on bass, Terry on lead, David mid.) The audience was supportive, and we had many kind comments afterwards. Two more gigs offered to the NEGC. (or the GCNE, depending on which side of the circle you ask.) After striking our stuff, we had a brief circle in the back behind the garage. MB and I stuck around and enjoyed the day, listening to a variety of acts, mostly in the singer songwriter vein. One man sang a song about a girl who was "a nose picker"... Would have been a perfect compliment to the Ringworm song. Bird Mancini was great... Ruby and Billy are both quite good entertainers. My cohort Dr. X (aka Tim Cassey) showed up. Good to see him. Seeing a dozen or so OST guitarists play gave me a new appreciation for just how different the NST/GC sound is. MB took a walk around the block, and ate various goodies. After saying our goodbyes, we left around 7.

Back home, a decadent evening with MB, camped out in the living room. We ordered out for pizza, and watched "My Dinner with Andre." A truly brilliant film... I hadn't seen it in years, but watching it again made me realize how many of its themes have been bubbling around in my mind in the in-between. One of the threads is "Strange Coincidences"... which is indeed strange, because, I've recently been having coincidences with the though of how to design an "intentional community"... which is itself another thread in the film. If you ask a question, the universe will answer you. Sometimes. Thus far, I am not hallucinating people with animal faces. But, I may go to Findhorn.