Maximone to Halloween

Updates.

* Finished Batrider poster. So far, it has had the most positive feedback of all my posters. Recently, I've renewed my love for screenprinting. Now if only I knew how to mix cmyk inks more to my satisfaction.

* The St. Maximone celebration was last Wednesday. The dress code called for white, naturally the Pistol crew arrived in black. There were half a dozen shrines set up, including one with a man who was chosen to take on the spirit of Maximone and accept the offerings to the saint. I made an offering, but I cannot say what it was.

Aesthetically, the night was very much up my alley. In fact, I've decided to build a new shrine when I return, ideally double decker, one floor to Maximone and one to Lucy.

* Halloween at the Pistol, went well, although not enough people showed up.

* Typeset my business cards and postcards - now I only must print them. Working on hacking away at that printing list. Must finish Pecos Bill!!!

* Kelly, a friend of Joe's from Houston, visited for a week or so. We had a fabulous time and I made a good friend in the process. Very oddly, we have matching wardrobes...needless to say she was a fantastic dresser.

Picture updates

Outside dollar taco tuesday

St. Maximone

Dressed for Maximone

Up-do for Zack's Birthday

Batrider

This weekend I had a fair amount of time working at the Gap.

Sunday I worked from 6pm to 3am helping move maternity down a floor and expanding kids. Yesterday I helped with Kid's visuals because the CEO of Gap will be visiting on Friday and we must have everything perfect for his arrival.

Today I am taking time to catch up on my art projects. Which pring me to my Batrider mock-up. I am really excited for this piece. It will be a four color screenprint with an edition of fourty. The ugly brown color in the digital piece will be metallic gold in the final.

I'm thinking the halo might be larger as well to better balance out the top, oh and "at the" is missing from next to "3rd" but like I said, this is just a mock-up.

Out of the dork closet.

Long time no blog. A sad habit, but I just can't bring myself to write everyday. Late nights, early mornings, a lack of initiative, it all adds up to sporadic updates, so no long will I pretend that this will be updated daily, but instead everyone will be surprised when out of no where I post random and extra long going ons of my days.

Recently, I've been coming out of a funk. The last few weeks I've been pretty low. Maybe it has to do with restarting at the Gap, or the weather (probably both), but I can't waste time sitting in my bed watching hulu. I've got to get up and make the most of my time here, because it keeps seeming like it isn't nearly long enough.

So what have I done since I last posted....

- Started at the Gap. The Wednesday after the anniversary show was my first day. I've been getting a whole bunch of hours and due to chatty co-workers have found that my work situation it pretty nice. I have a higher pay than most of them and I work Visuals (dressing mannequins, setting up product) rather regularly which many people want to do, but haven't been able.
On that note, being part of the visuals team has been great. Very fulfilling, well as much as retail can be. There is much potential to be moving up the visuals ladder and so far have been getting progressively complicated tasks and left to work somewhat independently.
Oh, the Gap I work in is three stories and has all departments including a Baby Home. I feel like if I work at a different Gap, I want to manager/key holder position. I've found I know a ton about the brand and I feel like it is about time.
- First Friday. hung out at Hammerpress.
- American Royal Barbecue (First weekend of October). The world series of barbecue, no joking. five hundred plus people come from around the country to compete in cooking. There are four meat divisions, two side dish and one dessert. There really isn't anything for the wider public to do at this event except wander around and look at RV set ups and oil drum grills, well unless you play it right.
A friend had some wristbands, so Joe and I didn't have to pay the eleven dollar cover. We wandered in real casual like both on Friday and Saturday (Sunday I was BBQ'ed out). If a person is real friendly, preferably with a girl, and talkative it is very likely you'll find yourself swimming in free meat and beer. Since the judging only calls for six pieces, almost everyone has meat to spare. The only question is if they are nice enough to share it with your poor-ass self wandering around like a homeless puppy staring at their platters of pulled pork.
There are two types of people at the American Royal. Those who are serious competitors, and have been invited - they are in the front parking lot, and those who love to drink and cook - they are in the back parking lot, or the "darkside".
In the front parking lot I found: "The Party of the Year", one plate of pulled pork sandwich, frat boys, grumpy wives of bbq cooks who didn't want to share their meat bounty.
In the "darkside" I found: free margaritas, an oven mitt, beer, homemade potato chips, crazy delious grits side dish, more beer, brisket, ribs, makers mark, local and organic bbq, a dj laying down sweet beats, pulled pork, more potatoes, mexican bbq, more beer.
I think it is obvious where the fun was.
- Zombie fashion show. Saturday night (of American Royal) I joined Halliday's crew, donned some of her sexy fashions and drove to Lawrence, Kansas for a zombie themed fashion show. Lawrence has been described to be as the only place in Kansas worth visiting. It's a college town, and although I only saw part of it, at night, it seemed pretty interesting. I plan on going back before I leave and look around. There seems to be some shops worth a look, and somehow, Lawrence has all of the good-looking guys in the general area of Kansas City, or at least an unfair population.
The fashion show went well and the MC's outright said that Halliday had the best models. (We all had zombie make-up and walked like we were dead). The only thing was that night was the first night of the ultra cold weather we have been experiencing.
- Basement letterpress. The Hobbs building, a warehouse on the other side of the tracks, has been turned into artist studios. For sometime is has been growing in reputation along side hosting an insane amount of weddings on the first floor.
A while ago Joe showed me the basement where there is a letterpress studio - Kansas City Center for Book and Paper Arts. I finally took it upon myself to hound the guy who runs it and find out what he is about.
Turns out that KCCBP is a co-op. I can come in, pay an hourly fee and use whatever I please, which includes two Vandercooks, six cases of type (one that is all wood and cowboy fonts, yes I fainted) paper cutters, and soon a working platen press. The only catch is there were was no ink except red to begin with.
So for two dollars an hour, or the purchasing of letterpress ink, I am free to work there whenever I choose. Calvert, the guy who runs it, and I have even come up with a system where he leaves the keys and I can work in the middle of the night if I so choose.
I know, this sounds like a dream right? A letterpress, literally three minutes away. There is even a guy who is working as a tech, Greg, who bought ink and I am free to use it in exchange for showing him a thing or two about vandercooks. He's even going to take me shopping for huge linoblocks at an artstore in Westport, oh and help me dehaze my screens. Nice.
- Zombie Prom. dressed up in a blue wig and the swing dress my mom fixed and sent to me(thanks mom!). Was disappointingly like real prom. All couples, bad music. Some indie film trailers were screened, but I feel unimpressed. Just a bunch of guys just out of college, riding the coat tails of Quentin Tarentino. I had great skin that night though, I don't know how that happened so well.
- Bike riding - all the time, everywhere. Except the Gap.
- Picture taking with Joe - Joe is back into photography and I am officially his assistant.
- Dollar taco Tuesdays in KCK - best Tacos anywhere, period.
- Jared moved in - awesome mix. He's been an incredibly welcome addition to the Pistol. He's helping me refurbish my bike (which I've still yet to name), bought me potatoes, and took care of me when I got sick. We plan on having craft nights, but we've yet to start them. Tioo much bike polo for him and too many late nights at the Gap for me.
- Got sick
- Tuna and greenbean diet has turned into baked potato and greenbean diet with a side of queso fresco and yogurt.
- KCK library. who would have thought the best library would be in Kansas?
- Pistol shows. You and Yourn
- Hobbs open studios. I've never seen so much free food and beer, well, not since three weeks ago at American Royal anyway.

So that is my last three weeks in a nutshell...
More to come, I've got to go to target for some boots.

Joe just broke it to me that I am not a secret dork, apparently I'm rather blatant about it.

Happy Anniversary Pistol!

Saturday was the Pistol Social Club's Fourth Anniversary.

I spent the morning (after Adam left) going between the farmer's market and Sunfresh purchasing ingredients for dinner. Eric was planning on coming as well as Joe's friend Maria. I'd decided to try my hand at bacon wrapped stuffed peppers and tamales. I just want to say I can make both just fine, but I'll get into that later...

At the farmer's market, I picked up some spices for the tamales as well as the jalapenos for the stuffed peppers. I also found a 14" mum plants for five dollars that made its way back with me.

At Sunfresh, I surprisingly found everything needed for tamales and the special cheese - queso fresco - for the peppers. I wonder if Fred Meyers has these ingredients. I know they have corn husks so I can only imagine they have everything else, well maybe not the queso fresco, there seem to be more Mexicans here in Kansas City.

I was tempted to buy a pumpkin, but I can annoy my roommates with my absurd love of squash at a later time.

Post grocery shopping I drove to the arts INKubator and screenprinted forty-two anniversary show posters. I was impressed with how well they turned out. I need to scan one or figure out this photo situation because they've gone over smashingly. To my astonishment, I finished three layers in four hours, screen drying time included. Either I'm getting better at printing or my design was very simple - maybe both.

On the way home, I grabbed some cases of soda to sell at the show - trying to make all that I can. I advertised the posters for ten dollars, although I probably should have done five, turns out hipsters are broke.

When the posters were set up and the soda in a cooler, I began the tamales and gutting the peppers.

The show started at ten (by which time the tamales were steaming in my ingenious little aluminum tent contraption) and featured Ill Ease as the opening act.

In between her act and the next, I found out that I can make a mildly mean tamale. Honestly, I was impressed. I didn't think my tamale dough would set up, but it did and the chicken meat inside was rather tasty. Granted, they were no Manny's tamales, but for my first time, they were alright. It must be the spirits of the hundreds I've eaten in my life that helped. It was bound to happen that I start making them myself sooner or later.

The second (and last) main act was Hearts of Darkness. I had to miss a few of their songs to pick up Eric, but we made it back in time to hear the last few of their two and a half hour set.

When the show wound up, we ajourned to the Ship for a night of carousing and partying until the wee hours of the morn. Overall, it was an excellent way for the Pistol to celebrate its day.

Hearts of Darkness

More Updates coming, but here is some art.

Poster for a large show coming up later this month. To be silkscreened, but now it is just a digital file. Original heart drawing is a scratchboard image.

Week in Review - Greaserama 2.0

Sunday, September 6th

Originally, I had intended to go to Greaserama for only one day, but Saturday night, one of the Ship patron's gave me their two day pass.

So after a long walk exploring the West Bottoms with Joe, we went for day two.

The second day wasn't as exciting as the first. There were less people, fewer cars (originally there had been 800) and the bands weren't as good. I missed seeing Halliday by an hour and so Joe and I wandered around until dusk.

I was asked to model with more cars, this time I was wearing a black pencil skirt, black three-quarter length shirt, stockings with a seam up the back, my red cardigan, and my hair looked brilliant - without hairspray at that. I was even asked to do more model work and given a photographer's number for later.

Post Greaserama; Joe and I grabbed mexican and then crashed a wedding happening next door since we were already dresses up. I didn't have any wedding cake (personally that is rude) but I did snake some pineapple and these amazing meatballs that I am kind of wishing I had right now...

Back at the Press

Monday, August 31st
First day back to school - if I'd been in Portland that is.

Instead, I worked on my scratchboards, job applications, looked for cracks on the inside of my eyelids, and cleaned like a bat out of hell. I made the Pistol shine. There must be a gallon of Murphy oil on all this wood.

Oh, and I started my West Bottoms (Top of the Bottoms) sketchbook. We'll see how that goes.

Today
Since today is the first of the month, today is also the first of my new regiment - counting calories, waking up early, and exercise. I've stocked up on healthy foods and am in the process of getting my bike fixed, this is bound to work.

I arrived at work at ten, and it felt like I'd never left, except for the fact my water bottle had gone missing that there were some changes to the decor. I packaged orders all day which was fine, there really wasn't anything to print.

I talked to Brady and we decided I will be working three to four days, two paid and two not. Eric's hiring has made it so I couldn't get my original three, but the press he operates cranks out 2000 prints per hour(going slow), so I can't argue his presence. For now, I will probably do a fair amount of order filling, because they are inbetween print jobs. However, I proposed the idea, and Brady and I are going to attempt to catalogue his type at some point. It'll give me something to do and help him in the long run - meanwhile I will be free to fondle the type and get may hands on everything from A to Z.

Tomorrow I don't have work since we are adjusting to the new schedule, but Thursday I do, and maybe Friday since it is First Friday.

After work I came home, took a nap and then started cleaning some more in an attempt to make this place presentable since Eric said he was going to come over for some dinner and the show.

He arrived around 8 and I had made chili and green beans (mostly because that is all I have). We talked about Art and Hammerpress until the show started. Eventually his friend joined us after the auction ended next door and she enjoyed the chili as well.

It was a good night and I feel like I'm back in the charmed (maybe cursed?) groove of the Pistol.

Baconfest and the Birthday of Charlie Parker

Saturday, August 29th
Baconfest! The morning greeted me to half a dozen tents being set up on the street below. There were a handful of food booths with bacon delights and a pig corral that held a very tired but cute little pink pig. At 11, Patrick (from Foundation next door) turned on the tunes and the party was started.

Part of the Pistol prerogative is "snaking" free food and booze. Baconfest is such an occasion where it is my duty to do so. From the secret location of my room, I surveyed the crowd with an an eye details to help the success of my snaking. Wristbands would be a problem, but not with long sleeves. I threw on my light thermal and went to see what Baconfest was about.

Baconfest was a testament to all that Bacon is - a desert, a pizza, an alcoholic beverage. There were large pans brimming with crispy strips and a vendor doling out the most delicious bacon barbecue sandwich I'd ever tasted. Since admission was thirty dollars, all of the food and drinks were free. Since the festival was in my front yard, the entire thing was free.

At two the festival wrapped up and I returned, well fed, to my base. Eventually I got so bored I needed to get out of my room. I went to the Plaza to scout out job opportunities. In the evening there was a show next door and I snaked some more drinks before going to bed.

Sunday, August 30th
I woke up at 9 and listened to my audio book for an hour while Cecil attempted to win my love back with the virtue of annoyance. At 11, Joe burst in and told me that if I wanted, the Hearts of Darkness' crazy red-head stepchild, The Dirty Force (Top of the Bottoms) were going to preform at a Jazz funeral/birthday celebration for the famous Charlie Parker, and if I wanted we were invited to go with.

Well, I wanted to clean the Pistol, but how could I turn down that offer? Originally we dressed in normal clothes, but Joe reported the Dirty Force were going to be dressing up, after all, they were taking part in a Jazz funeral procession - or more like were the procession (Dirty Force is a Funeral inspired Mardi Gras band). So instead of jeans, I donned a brown pencil shirt and forties style red blouse, red lipstick, and my new gold wedges. I finished putting up my hair and we were off.

There were four carloads of musicians and their instruments. We arrived at Lincoln Cemetery to find it full of cars. There were probably eighty to a hundred people standing around, a dozen or so with saxophones. We milled about for fifteen-ish minutes and then the eulogies started. There were four speakers followed by a jazz improve by the saxophone players. The event ended with the funeral procession by The Dirty Force. The whole thing probably lasted an hour and a half.

Joe and I went home, changed, and immediately left again for cheap Mexican food. Then we came back to the Pistol. I napped, then awoke to start sweeping and dusting.

At seven Halliday called and picked me up a half hour later - drive in movie at 8. We picked up a pizza, some drinks, and joined up with some of her friends that we'd met at the show on Friday. Halliday had tricked out her trunk with a cooler and blankets, although it paled in comparison to another couple who brought their porch rocker, table, and a rug.

The movies were Halloween II and Inglorious Bastards.

Halloween II was a grizzly attempt at making a horror movie but relied on cheap tricks to try to scare its audience. The effects used blood and guts as a crutch and the story was choppy at best. Not enough psychological play and too much stabbing. There is no way one man could kill a hospital full of people. Not even if that man is Michael Myers. Oh, and the whole "I love you brother" at the end. Lame.

Inglorious Bastards was supposed to be a film about killing Nazis and I was disappointed. I thought that Tarantino would have used his great tricks to make an excellent film, but I don't think the movie lived up to the trailer.

The night was fun none the less and I am going back to the drive in next weekend for Greaserama.

On the blog again

Much has happened since I last wrote.

I drove the Oregon Trail, made some yard sale cash, saw friendly faces, and made some trouble here in K.C.

Before driving out from Poulsbo, my brother, his wife, and I had a yard sale. Lessons were learned and I will have to remember, Saturday is the most lucrative day. My brother took most of my money on Sunday as "dues" so I left early to pack for my trip.

Sunday night my good friend Tami and I met up for some navy bar escapades and in the early morn, my mom and I left for Kansas City.

Monday, August 24th
One month since the day I left Kansas City, I left Poulsbo. Monday I was sick from allergies and so I didn't drive much. The drive was the same one we took in May - Poulsbo to Bozeman. The Motel 8 had Golden Girls and I fell asleep watching them.

Tuesday, August 25
Bozeman, MT to Scott's Bluff, NE. The drive was much shorter. This time instead of crossing into the Dakotas, our trek took us south into Wyoming and from there into Nebraska. We met the Oregon Trail at Fort Laramie near the Nebraska border and followed it to our day's destination at Scott's Bluff.

We weren't purposely tracing the trail, but today's modern-day highway follows it because of the natural ease of the land - the very reason pioneers chose the route. Although coincidental, the historical part of it was the most exciting part about our trip.

In Fort Laramie, the rain was pouring hard enough we were unable look at the site (no umbrellas) although I did strike up enough courage to hike a short distance to Oregon Trail tracks that had been cut into solid rock. A mile or so away was Register Cliff, a cliff face (go figure) that contained the signatures of thousands in its side. There were many from the 1800's (the earliest I saw was from 1820), although sadly I saw one carved as recently as 2005. Near the tracks I found a very faded, but distinguishable signature from JR - 1888 next to a much larger and legible Sam and Peggy - 1979.

"The sandstone rocks near Guernsey .... Here, the trail ruts are not to be missed since they are carved into the stone. Some gouges are more than four feet deep! These deep ruts result from years of wagon wear and from intentional cutting by emigrants attempting to ease the steep passage up from the level river bottom to the High Plains. .... A short drive from the trail ruts back through Guernsey takes visitors to Register Cliff, .... Following a day’s journey from Fort Laramie, emigrants spent the night at Register Cliff and inscribed their names into the rock face. The earliest signatures date to the late 1820s when trappers and fur traders passed through the area, but most of the names visible today were carved during the 1840s and 1850s when the Oregon Trail was at its height. Today, visitors can walk along the cliff base to view the signatures up close."

Wednesday, August 26th
We started the day at Scott's Bluff National Monument. The fog was so thick nothing could be seen until we were upon it. Then the fog cleared to reveal a bright blue sky with the fog cloud hovering inbetween the towering rock formations of the bluff. It was awe inspiring to stand there were at one point a good 150 thousand plus people traveled through to the west. We walked the tracks from a few yards and then were on our way.

The second stop of the day was at Chimney Rock - another monument on the Oregon Trail. We arrived as the museum opened. I was surprised to find out that Chimney Rock is significantly shorter than it was when the pioneers rode by - I'd say maybe even 50 - 60 feet shorter.

We didn't stop at Courthouse Rock, but did at a Pony Express station. After said Station we booked it across the rest of Nebraska to Lincoln and from there to Kansas City. We arrived late in the night and rose again early to take my mom to the airport.

Thursday, August 27th, I slept. Oh, and started Travels with Charley

Friday, August 28th
I met Halliday and we went to a basement show where I oddly enough ran into a new hiree at Hammerpress. Eric, was hired to run the larger automatic platen presses by Brady and it is he who vies for my hours. I crushed him and then laughed at his remains. No not really, we laughed about our meeting and had a good time. He might come to the show on Tuesday at the Pistol.

Speaking of the Pistol. I should be cleaning it right now. Joe has lived here more or less alone for a month and it looks it. I need some air fresheners too. Uriah is moving out with his girlfriend Jenny. Lame.

Presses and punk bands

Friday Brady left early in the morning to go to St. Louis for a wedding - well, by early, I mean 10ish. Matt didn't come into work either, also to go to a (different) wedding. That left Jen, Bobby, and I to work Hammerpress. I had a list of things to do that included assembling wedding invites, cleaning, folding make-ready notebooks, and printing more card inserts.

The wedding invites had a "cantaloupe" and "watermelon" diecut cover/envelope with five inserts. With the three of us in an assembly line, it didn't take very long to put them together and I had plenty of time for my other list of chores.

When I clean, which I try to do extensively every other week, I try to do it as thoroughly as possible. Because of what I sweep up, I don't think that had been happening before. Through cleaning is one of my little way of setting myself apart. I know Brady has noticed a difference, he's mentioned so, and so I am attempting to keep that distinction up.

I ended the day with much printing of inserts on the treadle press.

The evening didn't include too much until Halliday called around 10 to go to a punk show down the street. It wasn't very interesting, the music being (personally) nothing of distinction. I did however have a good conversation with one of the guitarists about the pros and cons of the Empire pre and post Sith influence. Oh and some dudes did a sweet trick on the skate ramp in the warehouse - lots of jumping over trashcans and such.

I ended the night back at the Pistol, a little lonely and a lot tired. I have good friends here, but everyone is pairing off and it makes me miss my Adam something strong.

Tuesday Tuesday, can't trust that day

Tuesday part two

Tuesday was also Wendy's second-to-last day at work. I think I forgot to mention last Thursday she brought a mushroom quiche after I mentioned I'd totally eat a mushroom quiche! She's been incredibly welcoming. She invited me to go to a movie about Valentino with her and her daughter Lucy later in the week.

After work I picked up my bike tires and went home for a ride - still using the BMX, schwinn isn't ready. I continued to feel very odd, and the bike ride didn't help much with clearing my head.

A show was also going on. The only band I remember was Bella Nouvela. I remember because I bought their rad five dollar t-shirt and listened to them out in the Pistol. It kind of goes that if one buys the t-shirt one should listen to the band. I feel asleep not long after. Kind of bummed, and feeling low.

Wednesday

picked up a bit. I printed all day at work. Cards are in desperate need of re-printing and so I started on one of the birthday designs - doing the first gold layer. I most definitely printed 500 and then went on to help Brady print some wedding invite packages - don't worry, I'll take pics, I know it sounds weird, it isn't, just expensive.

Since the exterminator was coming at five instead of the usual noon, Uriah and I met up after work for some coffee until he had to go to his once-a-week shift at Lulu's. We talked about Portland vs. Kansas City, since Uriah is looking to move there next fall (2010) with Jenny so she can go to school. They are going to be visiting in August to check the place out. I told them I'd show them around a bit. I hope they do move. I think they'll love it. Hopefully it doesn't rain during their entire visit...

We also made plans for Sunday. We're going to drive to St. Louis. Coincidentally, Brady will be there at the same time.

After I left Uriah at Lulu's I drove to the Plaza Library where I researched American folktales via children's books.

I didn't do much else the entire day. I still felt low.

Case of the Missing Teapot

Saturday started out with me attempting to brainstorm an idea for the variety show in July. I tried to get somewhere, although between Buffy and the growing heat, I didn't. A few sketches were my pathetic result.

Around noon, Cali came back from escapades about town and told me about an up and coming young designer Monkey Wrench Clothing (http://www.monkeywrenchclothing.com/). Cali, being a designer herself, had traded a swimsuit for an adorable dress, right up my alley. I decided to get out of the house and drive toward Crown Center to check out the lady's booth.

Should it have not been raining, the plaza outside Crown Center would have been filled with people celebrating Kansas City Chalk and Walk Festival. However, the downpour had reduced the participants to a soggy smattering. Monkey Wrench Clothing occupied three of the, maybe, seven tents set up outside. I found the clothing to be fabulous, expertly crafted, and just my style. There were few dresses that I would have liked, but none in my size. In the end, the designer took my measurements and agreed to make me a custom dress in a teal gingham print. It pays to be in with local designers.

As it was lunch time, I headed back in Crown Center to search out some grub. Crown Center is built by Hallmark and includes a giant Hallmark store, go figure, Crayola store, as well as a small amount of second tier stores. The only large name I saw other than the previously mentioned was Victoria's Secret. The design is over done and in the end looks like a food court at a theme park. Also, the shopping area is carpeted and in my opinion, that always makes a mall look dirty verses welcoming.

The one thing Crown Center does have is food. There were at least a dozen places worth looking into for a quick bite. The one place that finally claimed my cash, was Fritz's. Fritz's is unique because your food is delivered by train and then conveyed via a weight sensitive contraption straight on to your table. It was probably the coolest hamburger I've ever eaten. Cheap too. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDeYFZV4xKE&feature=related)

Come 8ish, Halliday and I went out to the Infoshop, a small venue/used bookstore that reminded me of a place back in Bremerton. I think the claim to fame there, other than shows, is their zine collection. It was extensive, massing together all of the underground zines that Kansas City has produced and any the proprietors could/can get their hands on.

There probably weren't more than 30 people at the show, but because of the small size, that was perfect. Everyone was dancing and getting into the groove. It was wicked hot, but worth staying inside for the atmosphere.

I got a free tank top from Modie Bones, a local guy just starting up, met some neat guys from the Intolerants (from Portland, http://www.myspace.com/theintolerantsband) and ended the night with great, slightly rockabilly, rocking from the Muddy Udders (http://www.myspace.com/muddyuddersband). I offered the Intolerants a place to stay at the Pistol and some dinner if they wanted it, and they took me up on it. Halliday and I showed them the way back around 1:30 after an excellent show.

Back home I started cooking dinner (the Intolerants supplied an apple pie) and Joe pulled me aside. Foundations was hosting a show with three touring bands and Joe had agreed to watch the door. Things led to other thing (purposefully being elusive) and a teapot with two thousand dollars went missing.

Needless to say, drama went down. Halliday left, a chair or two got thrown (Foundation's owner and not at anyone), trash cans were turned inside out, the Intolerants questioned (that made me angry), and the Pistol searched until four am when I told Joe to go to bed - if the teapot was still in the Pistol, it would be in the morning. The touring bands left angry and without being paid.

I took control and had to force the issue of sleep and in the end, that is what happened (I did too after some more Buffy).

Sunday

I awoke the next morning at eleven, and helped the Intolerants get their things together while profusely apologizing. When they left, I looked around the Pistol and all I saw was a mess. There were no clean dishes, a mountain of them in the sink, cat hair and dust threatening to over take the living room, and the actual Pistol still had not been cleaned up since the Sodafest. With a call into Uriah, 12:30 was the start time of what would become known as the deep clean.

For five hours, Uriah and I did every possible cleaning task we could think of without busting out power tools. I sweated to the Hearts of Darkness practicing while I sweeped out the Pistol and rearranged furniture. As I attacked a couch, I found what we'd been looking for. A little china teapot stuffed with money.

The rest of the day included resting (with Buffy), going grocery shopping with Uriah, a nap, and going on an uber long night bike ride with Uriah and his friend Jared. Multiple people commented on how nice the Pistol looked.

*Neat foot note: Jared has a pool and invited me to go swimming. Finally, water!

Monday

Again, I attempted to work on the poster, but 100 degree heat made me start feeling sick. I think I'm going to carry around a gallon jug for drinking water, I need it.

At seven I had a member's meeting at the Arts INKubator. We talked about how to turn some space into a store and how to promote the press best on first Fridays.

I came home, went for a short ride, and finished season three Buffy. What will I do now?

I need to figure out a way to work at the Pistol, the crazy heat thing is making it so I am incredibly unproductive.

I posted this from the Arts INKubator, and I might make a habit of coming down here to cool off for a few hours every night.

OH! p.s. the coolest thing happened last night. Joe's friend Kyle found an old suitcase full of vintage items from the 20's-1940's from a guy named Carl. Some awesome finds included: school notebooks, a school paper, vintage valentines, love letters, telegrams, and drawings. I traded him some Hammerpress for a few key items.

Sodafest

On Friday, I probably printed 600 things. I finished the poster I'd been working on all week by adding the final layer, a dark blue. I learned how to do some fine tuning adjustments to the grippers for precise registration. More than enough needed turned out well, although I've certainly learned how important holding the paper down to the timpin is.

Next, I printed a bunch of cd inserts and by bunch, I'm pretty sure there were 400. Those two projects comprised my day with some studio cleaning interspersed throughout.

When I arrived home, there were surprises to be found. The nicest was a care package from my momma, stuffed with goodies like dried mangos and tax returns. The other surprise was a group of guys who call themselves "Chomp Whomp" decorating the two venues. The Pistol was strung with lights and had balloons across the floor. Foundations was festooned with hundreds of streamers.

"Chomp Whomp Sodafest" - a giant show put on by a group of guys from Lawrence, Kansas. It included fourteen bands playing on two stages, free food, soda, and live artists painting.

Joe and I took a ride across the tracks before people started arriving. A daily bike ride, after work, has become a nice little habit.

Due to the heat I fell asleep and missed 5 or so bands (No ear plugs, go me!). I awoke to a raging crowded Pistol. According to Cali, who collected money at the door, she estimated 300 - 350 people came. In the end, each band and Cali were paid 80 dollars, and each venue gained 250 - The admission price was five dollars. Since the Pistol has no Air Conditioning and Foundations seems like it doesn't with that many people, it was an impressive turnout, a crazy party that lasted until easily 3 or 4 in the morning.

The bands kind of melded together for me, but the BLEACHBLOODZ (http://www.myspace.com/bleachbloodz) who I'd seen at the first show, played and they know how to give a good live performance. Most of the crowds just stood with their arms crossed, but the BLEACHBLOODZ gets people involved. The artists set up in foundation were pretty interesting. A bunch of them had giant canvases set up and were painting large graffitiesc murals. One guy had some woodcut prints for sale on a table. As everyone was packing up I offered him six dollars for one and he took me up on it. They'd been originally priced at eight.

I needed some Buffy to help lull me to sleep, then I passed out.

* Appendix
So I know I haven't been updating on schedule. The reason being mostly due to the fact I wake up at nine instead of eight, which doesn't give me enough time to write my day up. I am trying to rectify the situation. In otherwords, look for daily posts again soon.

Turning the fan on full blast

Tuesday

The day started off with wedding invites, 400 of them to be exact. When one goes to Brady for wedding invites, not only do they have it created, but stamped and assembled ready to be addressed and mailed. Thus the morning of Tuesday was spent preparing wedding invites to be picked up later that morning.

Should it have been just one person, the job would have easily taken two days to complete. However with three, Jen, Wendy and I, it was surprisingly easy. We finished just after lunch.

For lunch Brady bought me an amazing taco and side of rice, in return I (stupidly?) volunteered to make lunch on Thursday (that way Wendy could join us as well). I think I'll make my traditional stirfry, that way I know I won't poison anybody.

After the wedding invite assemblage marathon Brady had me set up the press to do a promotional piece for a local design firm, they designed the image, we will print it. There were around 300 (although I only go to 200 or so) white layers to print before I bounced for the evening.

A couple came in just before five and recorded an interview with Brady and then about a minute's worth of me printing. I think I was on the nine o'clock news.

The evening held another show at the Pistol, Prince Rama (http://www.myspace.com/princeramaofayodhya), Witch and Hare, as well as a couple kids who were touring with Prince Rama were set up to play, the Nature Boys backed out an hour or so before the show.

Right after I got home, I took a bike ride over to the American Royal arena and explored the grounds a bit more thoroughly. When I felt like I was going to melt into the pavement, I took it as a sign that I should head home. I arrived just in time to see Prince Rama pile out of their van. I helped them unload their stuff into the freight elevator and then joined Cali to help her make dinner.

Cali had shown up just before my bike ride and was intending on preparing some pasta. However, when Joe and Halliday told her they were making curry for the band, she was worried her food would go to waste. I assured her otherwise and together we ate the pasta with pesto shrimp. Cali spoils us every time she come over. She said she is going to be staying at the Pistol this weekend (there is a giant show on Friday). I plan to turn the tables and make her dinner.

The show was good and the bands friendly. I'd review the music as organized noise, but people got into it and were dancing all over the place. Prince Rama laid out various shakers for the audience to play and everyone did. Audience participation which is what makes a show worth while. Good bands know this and in the end, the sound can sometimes be irrelevant.

oh, did I mention on Monday I saw a car made up to look like a giant fiberglass sub sandwich?

Wednesday

More printing! I worked further on the piece for the design firm, finishing the white layer and laying down the second, a turquoise blue.

Actually, I learned alot about printing yesterday, I would say I even leveled up. Among other things; I learned that if on is going to make a full sized poster that is in need of tight registration, one should hold down the piece of paper tightly to the timpin, as far as one is able, because a light hold will make a large difference in alignment (Chaotic good instead of chaotic evil).

Post blue layer, I finished the red layer on my alphabet poster, making a total of around five hundred prints for the day. Granted, that is nothing compared to Brady, but a personal best for me. I believe I will have a bicep when I return (just one though).

The evening was intended to be full of lunch cooking and poster mock-up preparing, but the minute I stepped out of Hammerpress' air-conditioned goodness, I was knocked over by a heat wave aimed at my existance. Instead, I passed out after a short bike ride and slept until it was cool enough to breathe - at which point I woke up to watch some Buffy.

Learning my ABC's

Wednesday at work was a great deal of fun. Lots of printing and even typesetting my own poster.

The first task I had was to set four fonts and proof them in black. Their purpose was for Matt to scan and use in computer design work. The fonts were all wood type, some that Brady hadn't even used yet. There was this amazing small and squat tuscan font that I adored, although it was missing a very essential "a" and "d".

Out of the four fonts, three were small enough to fit on one sheet of chipboard. I arranged them in a broadside style, attempting to have both form and function. I surprised Brady with how fast I finished setting the type and printing. He checked out my final result and loved it enough to set me to work on creating an alphabet proof poster using a variety of thick and thin fonts. The poster is very simple and graphic, although completely my choice of fonts and placement. Brady leaned towards a lack of embellishments and focusing on the boldness of the letterforms. He said he'd been meaning to make a type poster and now I've gotten to do it for him.

I almost finished setting the pressbed, but around 5:30 I'd had enough and went home before leaving to put up the Pistol posters.

At home, I ran into Joe. He wanted to join me in my pamphleting rampage, but needed to go to Costco to pick up food for the band playing later in the evening. We decided to compromise and do some poster pining on the way to Costco.

Not many posters ended up being hung, only four out of thirty. I'll have to finish tonight. Costco tricked me into buying two books with their low prices, "Botany of Desire", and "Eat, Pray, Love". "Botany of Desire" promises to be an excellent read.

The second show of my stay started at ten, and this time I did not strike out. There was no waffling in and out of my room or moping in a corner. Instead, I wore my new black dress, put my hair up and attempted to make conversations. Much to my benefit, I was friendly and outgoing. If one acts with confidence, others will assume they have it and react with that in mind.

One fellow who came over cooked a very delicious dinner of tortellinis fried in garlic oil. I am told he is a chef at a local vegan resturant. Occationally Joe enlists him to cook dinner for the touring band. This band, Dead Science, was touring from Seattle and we spent some time talking about Pacific Northwest venues.

The two opening bands were very good, much better than any who played last week. I have a new local favorite, Mannequin Skywalker http://www.myspace.com/mannequinskywalker1. They preformed a stellar live show, and musically fit the venue. There are some bands who's sound lends itself to a loft/warehouse, and there are some that do not. The headliner last night, Deas Science, did not. Their lead singer was among the ranks of front men who sing with a whine that is unappealing and personally, boring. Seems to make sense he's from Seattle.

While they played I went in my room to watch some Colbert Report and an episode of Buffy before falling asleep. It is about time for me to get started on my zine. I have an idea of what I'm doing, now I need to plan it out.

One last thing I did yesterday was the dishes. With that I found that if I am going to live here, there will have to be a cleaning schedule or I will end up doing everything myself. Not because Uriah or Joe don't clean, they do, but because they put it off until one cannot help but need to clean. It isn't everywhere either, mostly the kitchen and the cat hair. The kitchen quickly stacks up with dirty dishes, which can't be a good thing when it get hot, and the cat hair has created small rugs in some places along the walls. I plan to work on a solution more this weekend when I have better time to throughly inspect the apartment and decide what should be done.

Prince Rama of Ayodhya

Prince Rama of Ayodhya poster for Pistol Social Club, to be a screen print within hours. (8.5 x 11)

West Bottoms and the Pistol Social Club

Here are some pictures of the West Bottoms and the Pistol Social Club. Below is a train passing through about two blocks away from where I live. You can't see it, but all of those cars are full of coal.

The back alley of the Pistol. The white door leads inside to The Ship and Foundations, the architectual salvage store. The windows above is the back of the Pistol.

A Photographic moment with some signs in the alley.

Warehouses by the Pistol. Come to think of it, I think that's the other side of the alley. The next picture is looking down the street infront of the Pistol towards the train.

The front door of the Pistol Social Club I live on the second floor. My room is the far window above the screen printing shop. The picture below that is the hallway leading up to my place.

The kitchen. The giant table/bar used to be a stage. There is a dishwasher but it doesn't work. The stove is below the funny lamp in the corner. Then there is a picture of fluffy Flora.

The livingroom. I tried to capture the beautiful light that happens at sundown, but I don't think my camera is capable. That's Joe sitting on the couch and my room is on the otherside of the red-orange wall. Joe's shrine is a few pictures down.

My room. Not too much going on there. Just the old air mattress and my computer. It is pretty large and the ceilings are very high. Brady might have a desk I can add, that would be a welcome change as sitting on the floor kind of sucks. You can see my shelves there too. I didn't take a picture of the otherside of my room since there isn't anything to see but the frenchdoors and my clothes hanging up.

and that's what there is to see. More West Bottoms pics will come, but yesterday was hot and I didn't want to fry my brain while taking pictures. As you might be able to tell, there isn't alot of shade out here.

Perennial wallflower

I'm a little embarrassed for how last night turned out.

I felt awkward, and in the end both hid in my room and sulked on the edge of the crowd. I should have done what I've been doing elsewise, just dive right in and socialized, but maybe the combination of having my room to hide in and the daunting task of approaching a well knit group were too much for me. I bowed out around midnight, and only the second band had played by then. I'm kind of running out of things to say. How far does "How did your day go?" and "Are you from Kansas City?" go?

I need to rethink my plan of attack. If I'm going to make the most out of this, I can't sulk when there are shows at my house. It isn't too late to redeem myself, I just have to overcome last night. Maybe next time I'll cook food for the band or something to get me more involved. These people are friendly, I just don't know what to say. However, this summer is a summer of changes and social awkwardness is something I'm ready boot out the window.

A genuine smile goes a long way. If you feel awkward and act awkward, people pick up on it and treat you as such. Remember that Karen.

Not much happened yesterday. Work entailed more packaging and a little printing. I stayed late to finish some boxes, but in the end only almost finished them.

The show was interesting, but like I said, I took the social scenario entirely the wrong way and completely bombed. I could have enjoyed it a lot more. The music was good, but I was in the wrong mindset to really appreciate it.

Catching up - Part 2

Okay, so after driving approx 1850 miles, I was in Kansas City.

Tuesday, May 26th
Spent most of the day sight seeing. Mom wanted to see both Truman's home and Jesse James' farm, which conveniently happen to be in/near Independence. Truman's home was interesting although most of it was under construction so we were unable to see much of it. Jesse James' farm was simple, but really, there isn't too much to say on the matter except what was said in a short movie shown just before the tour of the farm house.

The most interesting part of Independence sadly didn't have much information on it. Independence is where many, if not most, of the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail pioneers started. Coming from where they ended, if was pretty cool to be there thinking about what it took to found my home.

The evening was spent picking up essentials that I'd essentially forgotten to pack. I briefly dropped off what I did pack at the Pistol Social Club (more about the Pistol later) and went back to the Quality Inn. Went to Walmart to get an air mattress and lights because my new room lacked furniture of any kind.

Early the next morning I dropped off my Mom at the airport and went to my first day of work...

Now for the really interesting stuff. What should I say first? Do I talk about the Pistol, Hammerpress or Kansas City first? Since I know most of you are interested to learn about the happenings at Hammerpress, that is the last thing I will describe. Haha! Actually, it makes sense to talk about things in order as I came across them, and well, that still puts Hammerpress last.

Kansas City
is not surrounded by amber wave of grain. Surprise! Surprise! It actually is very leafy and the suburbs remind me a little of North Carolina. The drive into town is obscuring since all the trees are the same height and one can't see beyond them. Kansas City itself (Missouri side, I've yet to really explore the Kansas side) is slightly smaller than Seattle, but the downtown is only slightly larger than Portland. The architecture is industrial chic. Joe (you'll get to know who he is soon) told me that Kansas City has enough concrete to rival Los Angeles (I only sort of doubt it) and is second to Chicago for trains passing though (I don't doubt it, I get to hear many of them personally). Either way, both statements reflect the culture of the place, if that makes any sense.

Neighborhoods are somewhat ethnically divided. There is a distinct mexican quarter, black quarter, italian quarter, etc. Joe says Kansas City it isn't as segregated as it looks off the bat, but no city is. However the cultural "districts" seem to make it so that each part of the city is vibrant in distinctly different ways.

Hammerpress is in a place called the Crossroad Arts District. It is what the Pearl is to Portland, but not yet as pricey. Once upon a time the warehouses were cheap rental space for artists, then fancy galleries moved in raising the rent and what we all know to be gentrification set in. Like I mentioned, the ritz that oozes from some places in the Pearl does not yet inhabit the Crossorads, but Kansas City is still in the revitalization stage.

Once booted from Crossroads alot of the artists moved to the West Bottoms, which is where I am now....

The Pistol Social Club
is both home and music venue. Actually, music venues are holed up and down this place. The section that I live in is drywalled apart from the show space. First I think I need to describe West Bottoms to really describe my home.

When Kansas City was a fledgling town, and even when it was not such a fledgling town one of the huge markets was livestock. In fact, I believe it was the market. Anyways, West Bottoms was the stockyards until Kansas City had no stockyards anymore. Already cris-crossed with train tracks/yards, they took over and the only thing to make it's home in West Bottoms that was not a warehouse or train related, was a rodeo area, now rarely used.

So I live in a section of warehouse surrounded by train tracks, and thus frequent trains. It's somewhat surreal. Upon first look, it seems sketchy, but really isn't. People look out for each other and there are almost no homeless or wandering souls. Joe says the surrounding warehouses are filled to capacity with a variety of people and venues. There is an auction house, screen printing studio, apartments, and an architectural salvage store to name a few.

The loft I live in consists of drywall made rooms, an old kitchen and communal bathroom. My room is huge with a brick wall, old wood floors, and gigantic windows that get glorious sun all day long. Alas, I have nothing to furnish it will, but my air mattress and plank shelves will do. The communal room is also a bit surreal. It seems like a set from a movie. It contains alot of large mismatched furniture that some how all pulls together to create a perfectly bohemian setting, although I think it became so by chance verses purpose. "Everything is here because it's too big to go anywhere else." Pictures will explain much better than I can.

I have two-four roommates depending on who is here. Joe is my only consistent roommate so far. Joe Hammer (fate says that is not a coincidence) is the manager of the Pistol Social Club and is the caretaker of the building. I gather he's in his early 30's or late 20's. His girlfriend Halliday spends time here often, but she has a place of her own too. She uses the space as a studio for her fashion line. Uriah and his girlfriend are here sometimes (Uriah is my third actual roommate) but I've yet to meet either. It seems he's been staying with his girlfriend and then they went to the lakes. They're supposed to be back on Sunday. Joe and Halliday are fantastic and have taken it upon themselves to include me the the local scene. They're into Rockabilly which is refreshing to get a dose of from time to time (again, fate says this is not a coincidence).

Did I mention the Pistol Social Club has a giant cap gun outside the building? Well it does.

Alright, well I have to go to a Led Zeppelin themed party and then a few shows or something, I'm honestly not quite sure. I'll finish this up later. Keep you waiting....