tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56038465541037542602024-03-21T16:00:21.286-07:00earth languagetrevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-46357758418775650422012-02-04T13:41:00.000-08:002012-02-04T13:53:32.245-08:00A dirt cheap floor, a small green house, and other progressions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF6vsxrx-zCv_Fhu8AdsJc5aKvbWGVfXW-xG1AG7lPsyOuXGT61gg0fCJ9v_jJv0N5wnWWmqJka5XJkGG_Hof2IQu_68lgoh0IosNLHgE5SYfbbZ7sK-kaYMTUdU-81c82ThY3OAu6lnV/s1600/leveling+subfloor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF6vsxrx-zCv_Fhu8AdsJc5aKvbWGVfXW-xG1AG7lPsyOuXGT61gg0fCJ9v_jJv0N5wnWWmqJka5XJkGG_Hof2IQu_68lgoh0IosNLHgE5SYfbbZ7sK-kaYMTUdU-81c82ThY3OAu6lnV/s400/leveling+subfloor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
My friend Justin spent the month of January out here to progress the status of the dome project, which had been on hiatus for awhile due to a hefty music itinerary. In exchange, Justin left with a set of dome frames to begin his own off-grid abode. It has been awhile since I posted a progress update, so there are quite a few picture for anyone who might be interested. It is at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150542007037099.380262.641472098&type=3&l=4b6e751b91">this facebook album link</a>, which I made public.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm45QEwt78MKCnGfBrDQWZ-411lmHe0V66IMR7984dJagvbbKPU0IRrSe9cWYa9E7Z6_TgFXksRH87_OwqdEw6nhN32x4UOwEd4YVECovmJZIQ-5hlvJuJz-BEGxgUZYX9fXuIo1kOIlfT/s1600/radiance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm45QEwt78MKCnGfBrDQWZ-411lmHe0V66IMR7984dJagvbbKPU0IRrSe9cWYa9E7Z6_TgFXksRH87_OwqdEw6nhN32x4UOwEd4YVECovmJZIQ-5hlvJuJz-BEGxgUZYX9fXuIo1kOIlfT/s400/radiance.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm45QEwt78MKCnGfBrDQWZ-411lmHe0V66IMR7984dJagvbbKPU0IRrSe9cWYa9E7Z6_TgFXksRH87_OwqdEw6nhN32x4UOwEd4YVECovmJZIQ-5hlvJuJz-BEGxgUZYX9fXuIo1kOIlfT/s1600/radiance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hAyeanwb34ZVVVaciwZMl_Mo0W8R_aaEnUB3iO83hjYNze5UqYfQGxpo701ruQPTyymhrE-Fg-KW1YJQihdGa0ZFzuGk6dvNKnPBkVumeT9_rRaWIToU4YiEDx7POB1mjJm7Ck4JCzid/s1600/2nd+coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hAyeanwb34ZVVVaciwZMl_Mo0W8R_aaEnUB3iO83hjYNze5UqYfQGxpo701ruQPTyymhrE-Fg-KW1YJQihdGa0ZFzuGk6dvNKnPBkVumeT9_rRaWIToU4YiEDx7POB1mjJm7Ck4JCzid/s400/2nd+coat.jpg" width="400" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">For more photos and the process description, go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150542007037099.380262.641472098&type=3&l=4b6e751b91">this album link</a></span></div>
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<div class="fb-comments" data-href="http://www.earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2012/02/dirt-cheap-floor-small-green-house-and.html" data-num-posts="20" data-width="470"></div>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-56691144243853762122011-10-11T11:04:00.000-07:002011-10-11T11:05:46.198-07:00The Mighty Monarch MigrationThis last month has been gorgeous and eventful. The monarchs have chosen the Big Bend area as their point of Migration to the south...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXrhn4yalozZw3WfLIMBOVidKLEhbnSt-RbrctFi0mWQJ-0AxU4UvMf_OqhnqtIF2cCXg_mlqwuLGRIFm8sQVCKP9kLDqX0bygqYAn4UEyzvauiK5zT0nF8DH6fNgPItHLI2m4skTgSI-/s1600/MonarchMigration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXrhn4yalozZw3WfLIMBOVidKLEhbnSt-RbrctFi0mWQJ-0AxU4UvMf_OqhnqtIF2cCXg_mlqwuLGRIFm8sQVCKP9kLDqX0bygqYAn4UEyzvauiK5zT0nF8DH6fNgPItHLI2m4skTgSI-/s400/MonarchMigration.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">view the rest of the album <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150329501432099.348044.641472098&l=1770c5fd89&type=1">here</a></div>I am performing every Friday night at the Chisos Mountain Lodge this month. Last Friday happened to coincide with Yom Kippur. It was a magical night and a good way to start the 24 hour fast:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panaorama of Casa Grande in the Chisos during a Monkey's Wedding</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An above average sunset in the Chisos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more photos <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150328918657099.347908.641472098&l=918e55acf5&type=1">here</a></div><br />
And last week, I just completed a nice little mini tour of Texas with a great songwriter named <a href="http://mosssongs.com/fr_home.cfm">David Moss</a>:<br />
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<div class="fb-comments" data-href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/10/mighty-monarch-migration.html" data-num-posts="20" data-width="500"></div>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-86069494179142592362011-09-02T10:13:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:27:59.182-07:00Shower House UP dated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ-HmcQC-aOXkQcFZWP8q-ZuOMFWKpJPr3Scu1TE9BPNEK-uyFSlv-jiFyPevNFDvIefCE7XqI5_B-F74JZZurWFxV05qx9bkHwl2UFxvm88MAllokalCxj1mJbkoisqIZqA78hc93_td/s1600/IMG_6114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ-HmcQC-aOXkQcFZWP8q-ZuOMFWKpJPr3Scu1TE9BPNEK-uyFSlv-jiFyPevNFDvIefCE7XqI5_B-F74JZZurWFxV05qx9bkHwl2UFxvm88MAllokalCxj1mJbkoisqIZqA78hc93_td/s400/IMG_6114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After hauling and stacking many locally collected rocks (all within a mile) in the heat of the Texas desert summer, the shower house walls are at a finished level. All in all, I estimate it took between 40 and 50 man and woman hours. Since this wall is a dry stack, it will one day fall down, maybe tomorrow, maybe in 300 years. I just hope it doesn't happen while I am showering. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKI7fUOW0xCKlhB5bE2_BFb4KMUn1k2NgrzOyeexmjDMnBwEDO_Zf0Ud777FiKj-EBgHoWwVrWheLYLRnv7OTEKzGMIqJ2OpfoIzd0dfk5-DSThMbxwwyljuhm2hvRvvwd86IxotJH0xF/s1600/IMG_6113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKI7fUOW0xCKlhB5bE2_BFb4KMUn1k2NgrzOyeexmjDMnBwEDO_Zf0Ud777FiKj-EBgHoWwVrWheLYLRnv7OTEKzGMIqJ2OpfoIzd0dfk5-DSThMbxwwyljuhm2hvRvvwd86IxotJH0xF/s400/IMG_6113.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The shower now has privacy. The temporary water collection bucket makes it easy to distribute the used greywater to the trees that surround the shower house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirpzJTGdBkNbfBfkuwXytMohGiXCGP1OChpG-huocG0BrmKqu9GeuSnZWrlpJW2smobI89UuoSueqTgy_RazpE3Uo1S_iay7-KC7OCgPcevyQj9c3-V6xZ0H652AL2X-cOsYi_k998Ya4/s1600/IMG_6195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirpzJTGdBkNbfBfkuwXytMohGiXCGP1OChpG-huocG0BrmKqu9GeuSnZWrlpJW2smobI89UuoSueqTgy_RazpE3Uo1S_iay7-KC7OCgPcevyQj9c3-V6xZ0H652AL2X-cOsYi_k998Ya4/s400/IMG_6195.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent a day helping a new friend work on a concrete floor in his hand built strawbale house. Greg Donner is here for a year to work on his paintings in an inspiring and distraction free setting. I try to sit in on friends' projects when I can in order to pick up new skills and inspiration. Greg then talked me into going to the hot springs in our national park, which I never would have thought of as a summer option, but any temperature water is a respite in this unrelenting Texas summer . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gRpNeSKLFYSYERpS66LG4IgbV59FTlzbWMI9mAZ0GgHlT908LCPpEENzH2MOEysK4FQAYCVWKnMi5N5jKDpq0Cpa8dq3RFwQIUk0WwGiDxbO2XwoDMFJTyAOV-sIMI1Vyseth_DuF89d/s1600/IMG_6141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gRpNeSKLFYSYERpS66LG4IgbV59FTlzbWMI9mAZ0GgHlT908LCPpEENzH2MOEysK4FQAYCVWKnMi5N5jKDpq0Cpa8dq3RFwQIUk0WwGiDxbO2XwoDMFJTyAOV-sIMI1Vyseth_DuF89d/s400/IMG_6141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Good friends and fellow off gridders Kevin and Zoe stopped by for morning coffee and a tour of Don's Domeland. Kevin and Zoey are also coordinators for our recycling program in town and have been naturally living by example out here for many years.<br />
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</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/09/shower-house-up-dated.html" num_posts="20" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-68974066659519106672011-08-27T09:21:00.000-07:002011-08-28T13:07:29.271-07:00Texas' Toll on Trees<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fig tree before and after the Texas Summer<br />
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</tbody></table>I go back and forth on whether to maintain this blog or not. It sometimes seems like a long ramble, and so I am considering a more focused approach, perhaps a short self-published e-book or downloadable PDF, something along those lines sometime in the future.<br />
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Anyhow, I am now back in the desert after my tour up the East Coast by train. This last month (after the tour), I have been visiting with friends and family in Houston and Austin, and somewhat dawdling my return to the heat of the desert. Now that I am back, I find the heat quite tolerable. Even though I don't have AC or even a swamp cooler, allowing my body to adjust to the gradual heating and cooling between day and night is easier for me than constantly going back and forth between very cold AC interiors and the scorching outdoor temps that have settled over Texas this Summer.<br />
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Sadly, my fruit trees (one plum and one fig) didn't make it through the Summer heat and drought. My water catchment and timer system was foiled. This is because either a good intentioned neighbor or a very evolved rabbit or coyote turned off the faucet that my timer was attached to. I know that I left it in the right position before leaving because I monitored it for the few days leading up to my tour. Perhaps someone was just thirsty and needed water. Who knows? But I've realized that an automated system is far inferior to a manned system when it comes to being a caretaker of life, or of anything for that matter. It is OK. I feel fortunate that everything else is intact. Many people around here lost homes, property and livestock from fires caused by the drought. I may try to plant new trees this Fall. Or just focus on harvesting what this area provides naturally, i.e. mesquite.<br />
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</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/08/texas-toll-on-trees.html" num_posts="20" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-5730613727562200682011-07-14T06:14:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:20:38.005-07:00Quebec<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Solar House in Montreal with the Biodome in the background. </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I have spent the last week in Quebec, in the middle of the the old European settlements of Montreal and Quebec City. They are perfect models of integration between the old and the new. I asked a few people what the catch was to living here. The answer was unanimous. The Winter. I think this is an area that I would consider moving to if it weren't for the winters being brutal and long. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJa20vBRfa7toGlLDR6Lt_LyeNnrqZoxWynfBwkoKKwVQttJYCzeBkCF4sv8Z-OzZnibwTciUxdHoo9HrASi7WqkdysNOlIB8tF9PQK1aOwpYANtdcSfQDgGuL7VC4idSRYaqq-DU4Fp7/s1600/biking+in+montreal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJa20vBRfa7toGlLDR6Lt_LyeNnrqZoxWynfBwkoKKwVQttJYCzeBkCF4sv8Z-OzZnibwTciUxdHoo9HrASi7WqkdysNOlIB8tF9PQK1aOwpYANtdcSfQDgGuL7VC4idSRYaqq-DU4Fp7/s400/biking+in+montreal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making good use of a $5 a day Bixi bicycle in Montreal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Living in the center of town in Montreal for about a week, it doesn't take long to learn one's way around. I have mostly been bicycling around, with the occasional subway and rideshare. It is nice to have some real car free options that are also safe and well thought out. Some say that Quebec is somewhat of a separatist province. It could be its own country. It could be France. Some think that it IS France. Some make a clear distinction. I found myself in some situations where no English was understood. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn54QSMNs4nixL0tgak-posB3rjHkYOuV-fygqPJCJgxINrlDJupIaWMcvkvIyxetaaF1y_HCuCiJcCwIEMJSp-XFmp2TzrOK01HDfIPmROBezYmPGFdaPQ-U_-43MzBMdxIqRhsNoLL4/s1600/Quebec-City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn54QSMNs4nixL0tgak-posB3rjHkYOuV-fygqPJCJgxINrlDJupIaWMcvkvIyxetaaF1y_HCuCiJcCwIEMJSp-XFmp2TzrOK01HDfIPmROBezYmPGFdaPQ-U_-43MzBMdxIqRhsNoLL4/s400/Quebec-City.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The streets of Quebec City</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">In order to travel to Quebec city without a tourist budget, I joined a rideshare service called Allostop. They run a background check on all the drivers and passengers and have set times and payment amounts for certain common trips that drivers and passengers can sign up for. It is a very reliable service that is very popular and well used. It is much cheaper than the bus or train and faster too. I'd like to see a similar service in the USA. All of my rideshare experiences in the USA have been organized through craigslist and thus less reliable. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3729LNKKdbMPvyWEGVukJuRfzJWr8CcXjpXWtR4K3PWB-tYwv4WMC0QsKk2W1REhiwdIfaqB6x0Bt8kSBWyHI0gyl6bTNh1eYTH2l9DQIPxgWzE2zpaSER0jRPyfxqIFw8jZwNKbWkp2I/s1600/Bike+Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3729LNKKdbMPvyWEGVukJuRfzJWr8CcXjpXWtR4K3PWB-tYwv4WMC0QsKk2W1REhiwdIfaqB6x0Bt8kSBWyHI0gyl6bTNh1eYTH2l9DQIPxgWzE2zpaSER0jRPyfxqIFw8jZwNKbWkp2I/s400/Bike+Lane.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Now that's a bike lane!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaBjRJYyTT69sNtY1nhsHYDqlM-C1Wal4Cp5BNo56iAGSfQXY4ZDkU9IcKnym3A0fHetsAcDRNSoOmRdEr_kZgCypTuBKgkNJ1l6QPMttCaR8n8vQUBEbUqiYwL9c_KdWcXtruvDZojjS/s1600/Emilie-Circus-Eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaBjRJYyTT69sNtY1nhsHYDqlM-C1Wal4Cp5BNo56iAGSfQXY4ZDkU9IcKnym3A0fHetsAcDRNSoOmRdEr_kZgCypTuBKgkNJ1l6QPMttCaR8n8vQUBEbUqiYwL9c_KdWcXtruvDZojjS/s400/Emilie-Circus-Eyes.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">My gracious hosts who work for the Cique du Soleil comped me a couple of tickets to a eye popping show. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc6RSl5N3oYogpxvl3WNUqqbaJgUdVsEGZ9tckNuIG3RFGYKlc50BcXz6KZ0pHkT0Wk8a9V27gL3y8fMygs4IvxTzjuUnT8QG2R3GPXG7EAfy5HMf04d_Lz-PL0E9pCj702lvt4vUWTLk/s1600/partypic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc6RSl5N3oYogpxvl3WNUqqbaJgUdVsEGZ9tckNuIG3RFGYKlc50BcXz6KZ0pHkT0Wk8a9V27gL3y8fMygs4IvxTzjuUnT8QG2R3GPXG7EAfy5HMf04d_Lz-PL0E9pCj702lvt4vUWTLk/s400/partypic2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">celebrating Joann's 30th birthday with what she calls and "eclectic" crowd</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XJf5ggcFBrAVMfxCjtk0bJ5WLxkydFpN21pQfQk2_dIMthKnrtCv7Yywr5SDXZH2V1DYIF4EX2nXWBj_4JE_KC-CoabGq2UpUSMtpHoxssooG7idHYeZtJuqFxB5991YlEeh6FztM0Ec/s1600/vietnamese+Sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XJf5ggcFBrAVMfxCjtk0bJ5WLxkydFpN21pQfQk2_dIMthKnrtCv7Yywr5SDXZH2V1DYIF4EX2nXWBj_4JE_KC-CoabGq2UpUSMtpHoxssooG7idHYeZtJuqFxB5991YlEeh6FztM0Ec/s400/vietnamese+Sandwich.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">this $3.50 vegan vietnamese sandwich has been a staple lunch for me in Montreal as my budget wears thin being that<br />
I currently have no income after having to cancel my Canadian shows. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>All the money that I made in the East Coast of the USA on my tour by train, which wasn't much, I have spent in Canada, and then some. So Canada wins. Canada could have been an even bigger winner if they had let me bring in my "tools of trade" because any money that I would have made in Canada would have been spent in Canada as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlnWkhZw39S8EokGZ2ZriNYdEdxL0lH16ntg0r9e-9XJO_fUen99GsG2gedGn363oX75k-UB86GLBjnblp8UFvvVLW0QjOt55Co4LW-l2BedlUjGXNfORF6tK_4_0jz9WalzoTcnjqM2I/s1600/SaintJames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlnWkhZw39S8EokGZ2ZriNYdEdxL0lH16ntg0r9e-9XJO_fUen99GsG2gedGn363oX75k-UB86GLBjnblp8UFvvVLW0QjOt55Co4LW-l2BedlUjGXNfORF6tK_4_0jz9WalzoTcnjqM2I/s400/SaintJames.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of blocks from where I was staying, outside the St. James hotel, a small crowd awaits an appearance from Bono and the rest of U2. It seems that Canada not only allowed them to bring their guitars across the border, but also the largest traveling entertainment convoy ever in history of time. And the largest environmental footprint to go along with it. </td></tr>
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</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/07/quebec.html" num_posts="20" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-63212138256872840752011-07-05T08:56:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:21:04.866-07:00Independence in Canada<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaHlxLnV-zcaKVX9i7Yv7Gjse9IOQQo6Ld-mJ1lxDE5GqnWhksWC6GErXUdf2Qce0z_xQe8Mb94wXXC5ogR3xqm0eyqRSQYJTbEpOU1h4MIAp_gv83UtisJHmPQlfK88HaJD9451QVLLO/s1600/Toronto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaHlxLnV-zcaKVX9i7Yv7Gjse9IOQQo6Ld-mJ1lxDE5GqnWhksWC6GErXUdf2Qce0z_xQe8Mb94wXXC5ogR3xqm0eyqRSQYJTbEpOU1h4MIAp_gv83UtisJHmPQlfK88HaJD9451QVLLO/s400/Toronto.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am a free man in Canada. The train tour has come to an end, after the border agents required that I cancel the Canadian leg (3 shows). And now I am on a Canadian vacation, after leaving my guitar in Buffalo, New York with a friend of a friend. The border agents let me into their country on my 4th attempt under the condition that I didn't bring my "tools of trade" into their country. We were each triumphant in our own eyes. They feel that they prevented me from working illegally in their country, and I successfully got across the border when it was seeming less and less likely. I didn't come all this way from Texas just to go home. It is all an absurd display of protocol, because a guitar is not hard to find in Canada.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montreal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I spent a couple of days in Toronto, reuniting with more of my South African cousins. I got to experience my first Canada Day (Canadian Independence Day on July 1st), and also each a grilled cheese sandwich with the great Canadian songwriter, Corin Raymond.<br />
My 8 year old cousin Jessica Rabin's Jennifer Lopez imitation:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kensington Market, the neighborhood I would live in if I lived in Toronto. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v4a8LNbYSiYyRgRm2N7sa_kmf4QY_M5_UT526y_Gw6HJII3v5vBPYrotJWbCK3HtxWz17HPX0FnGUv0gZzyrKiUIA3xwQMead97ds5bC4d9eyi8Omhs8pW_-HhsZsAiFPK8RVmhyLaG3/s1600/the-grilled-cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v4a8LNbYSiYyRgRm2N7sa_kmf4QY_M5_UT526y_Gw6HJII3v5vBPYrotJWbCK3HtxWz17HPX0FnGUv0gZzyrKiUIA3xwQMead97ds5bC4d9eyi8Omhs8pW_-HhsZsAiFPK8RVmhyLaG3/s400/the-grilled-cheese.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corin Raymond at the Grilled Cheese in Kensington Market</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Then, the Megabus took me to Montreal, a 6 hour comfortable bus ride with wifi on board. Just in time to see my good friend Emilie Clepper at the Montreal Jazz Fest where she hypnotized the audience with a perfect set. I didn't understand her banter in French in between songs, but I did hear her mention Texas and then my name and then realized that she was calling me to the stage to sing one of my songs. I didn't expect that at all, which was good because I didn't have time to get nervous in front of a large crowd in a concert setting, an atmosphere that is mostly foreign to me. Emilie's very skilled band chimed in with the perfect amount of accompaniment, especially for a song they have never heard. The audience seemed to like it and after the concert were asking me questions about my trouble getting into Canada. I assumed that Emilie had given a brief synopsis of my circumstance in French while introducing me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emilie Clepper at the Montreal Jazz Festival</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>I spent most of the last couple of days riding bicycles around Montreal with my hosts Joann and Jon, who work for the Cirque de Soleil and are positioned in Montreal for the next couple of months. They have graciously given me shelter in their extra room in downtown Montreal.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon And JoAnn outside of their "workplace" in Montreal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NHaXMeVIp3eYzcsT6Hmx_IShpQOOmSbDWwpcAN1COCtZ0IgbZ7biMvyzaNpQIIUKVwu4SJLvqIvsBcJ45_j-1OE2F6Fb7WEXCbqf1CYivvYCjv8gz3xZjSuIuqQGDPmLl2gsEZtg9RDY/s1600/Bixi-Bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NHaXMeVIp3eYzcsT6Hmx_IShpQOOmSbDWwpcAN1COCtZ0IgbZ7biMvyzaNpQIIUKVwu4SJLvqIvsBcJ45_j-1OE2F6Fb7WEXCbqf1CYivvYCjv8gz3xZjSuIuqQGDPmLl2gsEZtg9RDY/s400/Bixi-Bikes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bixi bicycled are for rent for $5 a day in Montreal and Toronto. Available at almost every other street corner, a rider can pick up and return a bicycle from any location an unlimited number of times in a 24 hour period. This has been my transportation around Montreal. They even have built in flashing LED lights for safety. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Last night, fireworks erupted all over downtown Montreal, as a finale for Montreal Jazz Festival. It just happened to be July 4th.<br />
<div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/07/independence-in-canada.html" num_posts="20" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-987287664481268352011-06-29T21:02:00.003-07:002011-07-20T14:25:42.344-07:00Entering Canada with a Guitar is a Red Flag<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrDzWXJEdT-YmvK4NM6VvhbYBaHDelIDMPzG9_COX8gBEYxnQxObrMIyYg7kIG_6YK3djdtJH6wY5rePgRhp_awzJ3ZZsLvcQzZbOB-w1hjo0p-H7cUQbQ57N5oYSEuSYmMd2-Cz2HzWx/s1600/Niagara+Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrDzWXJEdT-YmvK4NM6VvhbYBaHDelIDMPzG9_COX8gBEYxnQxObrMIyYg7kIG_6YK3djdtJH6wY5rePgRhp_awzJ3ZZsLvcQzZbOB-w1hjo0p-H7cUQbQ57N5oYSEuSYmMd2-Cz2HzWx/s400/Niagara+Falls.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuck in Niagara Falls after being denied entry into Canada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Being declined crossing a border is like being declined for credit. Once you are declined, you keep getting declined. In fact, one of the standard questions at the border is "Have you even been denied entry into Canada before?". Like with bad credit, the gatekeeper doesn't view your circumstance from a fresh perspective but rather, from a lens that is tainted.<br />
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And so now I've been declined entry three times in three days, each time given a new checklist of what I need to do to get permission to cross. <br />
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My itinerary started to fall apart a few days ago, during the last leg of my train journey, heading into Canada on the Amtrak into Montreal. I had a few informal shows booked, and because of the nature of the shows and varied advice from other musicians, I didn't think that a work visa was necessary. I was wrong. In Canada, even if a gig is unpaid, if it is in a bar or restaurant, a work visa is needed. This isn't so for street performers. One is allowed to busk on the streets without a work permit, or play house concerts and festivals where performers are exempt from needing work visas. <br />
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This first attempt, I was turned away after a 10 hour train ride from New York City to Montreal. After an escort back to the USA side, there was a Greyhound bus waiting there heading back to New York City and the border agent suggested that I jump on it. I didn't know what else to do, so I did. It was an 8 hour bus ride back to NYC. And so it was 18 hours of travel to get from New York City to New York City. After talking with a good friend in Canada who works for the Cirque de Soleil in the immigration department for performers, and also the American Federation for Musicians, the consensus was that I shouldn't have been turned away and should try again from another border entry after I cancel my shows. I had one more segment allowed on my train pass and so I decided to hop on the train to Toronto, another 10 hour train ride. <br />
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I figured that they would have the resources and technology to verify that my shows were canceled, such as calling them on the phone, but they told me that I needed to provide proof. After rejecting me a 2nd time, and also searching me for narcotics and frisking me, they gave me a new checklist of what I needed to do to gain entry: Letters from the venues confirming that my shows were canceled, proof of self-employment, my bank statement, a letter from a utility provider proving residency in Texas, proof of my flight home, and names and addresses of friends and family in Canada. The agent also suggested that it would help if I were to leave my guitar in America. I reminded her that I was flying out of Montreal and didn't have any logistics worked out for getting my guitar back to Texas from Niagara Falls. She understood and agreed. <br />
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Today, I went back to the gatekeepers with all of the documentation that they requested after spending the entire day gathering it all. I was turned away a 3rd time. The agent said that because I am still carrying my guitar, I am a musician by profession with my tools in hand, and thus can find work in Canada. I reminded him that I had canceled my shows, and have proof, and that it is virtually impossible for a musician to book a gig in a venue with less than two months notice, and that I am only here until July 7th with proof that I am leaving the country. I just wanted to fulfill my travel plans, visit relatives in Toronto, explore Montreal and the Montreal Jazz Festival where a good friend is performing, and take up my good friend's offer in Montreal for a free ticket to the Cirque de Soleil. Oh, and also catch my flight back home out of Montreal. He said that he is not confident that I won't be working. I asked for a supervisor. She explained that each agent makes their own determination and that she doesn't want to override him. It is a quick stamp of rejection from them after many many hours on my end of extra travel and meeting their requests for documentation. He recommended that I go home, wait a couple of months, and try again. Or I can leave my guitar in the USA and try again tomorrow.<br />
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I found out that I can fly home out of Buffalo tomorrow with only a $25 change fee. Or I can leave my guitar with a friend of a friend in Buffalo (with a ride to Texas in a couple of weeks) and try to cross again tomorrow. But there is no guarantee that they won't just deny me again. Especially since I've been declined 3 times already.<br />
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Part of me doesn't want to accept defeat and fulfill my travel plans in Canada after getting all this way from Texas. Part of me just wants to go home and forget that Canada exists. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzLT9aWu61icH2QG2KX1RmPN4ZTlezJ7rTbHmVdqcJL4QpGbzzZbm8Q_qtlEC3t0pR_1rVi47NzEhQ0Y8xhbgErzT0yej-LUsYCDvY4BFVplloTSuzYgy5EfL8q-AgGBhA41F9IPM5Wgn/s1600/Red-Lounge-Hostel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzLT9aWu61icH2QG2KX1RmPN4ZTlezJ7rTbHmVdqcJL4QpGbzzZbm8Q_qtlEC3t0pR_1rVi47NzEhQ0Y8xhbgErzT0yej-LUsYCDvY4BFVplloTSuzYgy5EfL8q-AgGBhA41F9IPM5Wgn/s400/Red-Lounge-Hostel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Lounge Hostel on the American side of Niagara Falls is a budget traveler's oasis <br />
in a town of uncountable tourist traps. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq0vb4H-J94HEqnzWAQVwAVguwEZBo-15qWBeyLh-9zT20vl5iQKbGPVHNjN1ZmSEyH0txm07cgJx7dHljIRosEREAPBiQjiKmvsKeZKmPMdcUnUAEkVMo_kppWD6pMXW1fF1B3vvKxlo/s1600/Niagara-Falls-Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq0vb4H-J94HEqnzWAQVwAVguwEZBo-15qWBeyLh-9zT20vl5iQKbGPVHNjN1ZmSEyH0txm07cgJx7dHljIRosEREAPBiQjiKmvsKeZKmPMdcUnUAEkVMo_kppWD6pMXW1fF1B3vvKxlo/s400/Niagara-Falls-Bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway in between Canada and the USA on the rainbow immigration bridge with Niagara Falls in the Distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/06/entering-canada-with-guitar-is-red-flag.html" num_posts="20" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-20857107535338856032011-06-28T03:14:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:21:42.002-07:00DC-NYC-PROVIDENCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzXYYEoeuTQ5nqflELXHlE3J9aYgqstoY9zZAmZKxZ9d1F8CT1VTzvx3VTw9nZN7K4bjASoTrqBQTp1infSAechUn23AH2zlNWl5jZoYSiCOsgpSXJ4cGNkDN4WeNm4F3LLAUeK3dolqW/s1600/train-hitching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzXYYEoeuTQ5nqflELXHlE3J9aYgqstoY9zZAmZKxZ9d1F8CT1VTzvx3VTw9nZN7K4bjASoTrqBQTp1infSAechUn23AH2zlNWl5jZoYSiCOsgpSXJ4cGNkDN4WeNm4F3LLAUeK3dolqW/s400/train-hitching.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Stephany Yantorn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After being denied entry into Canada, which I'll expand on in the next post, I find myself back in NYC. I am at Penn Station waiting for my final train in about 4 hours. Sleeping is not allowed in Penn Station but using the internet is. And so, I'll take this time to share s photo journal of the past week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0Iyj1LzfDgS5TdVIH2lolEzGmee1YP-gzxbFRcfFFDliTWWqSA3jPEvHC5H7lBBwJdo7lhqe99qCMnXJs0V81rL6Cz331W8hYuFnvUwtpkoQC0WVsfbXUZSY1IpvKBBsPFhWrrk52iDk/s1600/DC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0Iyj1LzfDgS5TdVIH2lolEzGmee1YP-gzxbFRcfFFDliTWWqSA3jPEvHC5H7lBBwJdo7lhqe99qCMnXJs0V81rL6Cz331W8hYuFnvUwtpkoQC0WVsfbXUZSY1IpvKBBsPFhWrrk52iDk/s400/DC.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicycles lanes leading the way to the lawmakers in D.C.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3EaXw6BdTpWelDvlnHiEhK791J-bvQaH-3nn4uixNT1s7FLeZDp0VXabMpALLhyPY-YeHYmNNHfmNAax3F5mXf6-cWIgaBX46ct7q865Gg0owoanEAfOPEZm2VAffqVeeAv_lCOkFgI7/s1600/DDs+Farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3EaXw6BdTpWelDvlnHiEhK791J-bvQaH-3nn4uixNT1s7FLeZDp0VXabMpALLhyPY-YeHYmNNHfmNAax3F5mXf6-cWIgaBX46ct7q865Gg0owoanEAfOPEZm2VAffqVeeAv_lCOkFgI7/s320/DDs+Farm.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">DeeDee's farmhouse in Rhode Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OZEzXQpzwhjC1Pub47Ff-G8NOItyecc7pRnq0R5PBAElg743pY4REHN0EQrL2YyT36qniYltJX3t_rjifaWVTUcFpVIuMoLX9nf37yI2RPssn_X4xeizQYK2yqkO3GnSPxst1Co9zsjq/s1600/3+little+pigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OZEzXQpzwhjC1Pub47Ff-G8NOItyecc7pRnq0R5PBAElg743pY4REHN0EQrL2YyT36qniYltJX3t_rjifaWVTUcFpVIuMoLX9nf37yI2RPssn_X4xeizQYK2yqkO3GnSPxst1Co9zsjq/s400/3+little+pigs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 little pigs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0L3hd9l7qQkfu5IeNNetp2r7JBHQ-NozyDKqJOCovzKn0rp1r_-WOc5wLN4Z6EYmYQcIWCAyfnUMIadR1GnKgNPUNlutx67lFxatVRYzIZuFMsd9MOissF1kUEMfzw7vJiHR0jdKtPwjP/s1600/Jessica+and+DD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0L3hd9l7qQkfu5IeNNetp2r7JBHQ-NozyDKqJOCovzKn0rp1r_-WOc5wLN4Z6EYmYQcIWCAyfnUMIadR1GnKgNPUNlutx67lFxatVRYzIZuFMsd9MOissF1kUEMfzw7vJiHR0jdKtPwjP/s320/Jessica+and+DD.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica and DeeDee at the show in Providence</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9AEJpIXnp-G0GNqM_lF9IHbmmH1biMg2zs9BNaPmyTUWZNzwCzc1B2YjK8-eEViT9DeibPizVvRKCyVUq9KbnDU7v4P3yWVUpSdowlglhA39xZ-6HGo280BGMb4u6RvCJ-Un2ouBwOsD/s1600/Times+Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9AEJpIXnp-G0GNqM_lF9IHbmmH1biMg2zs9BNaPmyTUWZNzwCzc1B2YjK8-eEViT9DeibPizVvRKCyVUq9KbnDU7v4P3yWVUpSdowlglhA39xZ-6HGo280BGMb4u6RvCJ-Un2ouBwOsD/s400/Times+Square.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliche NYC photo of Times Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuSfn_FMzeR4N7NV7939yG89C5ASCsAJm5BHCW1SdpxZU6aJ7kuxF_kUKV9lrAZ_PL2wp7bIc47JMkALjUxm3lSjCEUNLhJLm05e2y_4N4GkU5CEyIiD2G0gICF8WFq5Aj4a5uU2s3qh1/s1600/folk+art+museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuSfn_FMzeR4N7NV7939yG89C5ASCsAJm5BHCW1SdpxZU6aJ7kuxF_kUKV9lrAZ_PL2wp7bIc47JMkALjUxm3lSjCEUNLhJLm05e2y_4N4GkU5CEyIiD2G0gICF8WFq5Aj4a5uU2s3qh1/s400/folk+art+museum.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum of folk art - one of three gigs in NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZa9S6EIZSsBVGCHJtf-N38rqlxDZa81jjH16N-R2NT1bVk6rPjbRofVSAI1l4803tjLyejx4gwfkoQLfSgNWnhPu_YgqvEojguqeX6tvX9qE9b8AvpkkZ_OZ1ocoaQW0kRJ6wlTysHOL/s1600/folk+art+seating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZa9S6EIZSsBVGCHJtf-N38rqlxDZa81jjH16N-R2NT1bVk6rPjbRofVSAI1l4803tjLyejx4gwfkoQLfSgNWnhPu_YgqvEojguqeX6tvX9qE9b8AvpkkZ_OZ1ocoaQW0kRJ6wlTysHOL/s400/folk+art+seating.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seating for the concert at the Museum of folk art in NYC. <br />
A nice listening crowd turned out for the show. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLcYy2PT-1Jp8EaZVW8i3qWglgEyC5fqAc-GBaoZ0EDVgatdjr6kwghVGInRP0SBTo43urAxpxsOWSOVrPfAqbm175mfGU5ww4wWvaN4ZegQi6ykwT2Tr4Sk7lrOYGtZtUFvik1WPCd4h/s1600/Jamming+with+Pickles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLcYy2PT-1Jp8EaZVW8i3qWglgEyC5fqAc-GBaoZ0EDVgatdjr6kwghVGInRP0SBTo43urAxpxsOWSOVrPfAqbm175mfGU5ww4wWvaN4ZegQi6ykwT2Tr4Sk7lrOYGtZtUFvik1WPCd4h/s400/Jamming+with+Pickles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamming with Pickled in D.C.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_kNwhTaiyWcZHdV7PTU4vEE_iuz48NHXta5TUFkQAygc1aHGdTMai6i8tstOwzXwU2eObyFa964O5qKj41tL28n5eD5egRqdwIFIeXxsK91uU8mOqczEzwNYSoKVuLfQeXnmG6YITy5n/s1600/Stephany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_kNwhTaiyWcZHdV7PTU4vEE_iuz48NHXta5TUFkQAygc1aHGdTMai6i8tstOwzXwU2eObyFa964O5qKj41tL28n5eD5egRqdwIFIeXxsK91uU8mOqczEzwNYSoKVuLfQeXnmG6YITy5n/s400/Stephany.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NY Photographer and friend, Stephany Yantorn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/06/dc-nyc-providence.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-40281123960176880112011-06-21T11:15:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:22:01.716-07:00Philadelphia, Jersey Shore, and the Milkboy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa86g84k-BzYL5vf-8fLkHKnsq5xR7PRhoQpGKESdFB8FTUoU4CSCgTI9UXIe7Cx4IPsT21_DcdjFIDTIkv59C1-lnLQGAa_eELxY43TvYreVE_inWyBlLZIXqltMsJbgnIhf0nD_2DNW/s1600/seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa86g84k-BzYL5vf-8fLkHKnsq5xR7PRhoQpGKESdFB8FTUoU4CSCgTI9UXIe7Cx4IPsT21_DcdjFIDTIkv59C1-lnLQGAa_eELxY43TvYreVE_inWyBlLZIXqltMsJbgnIhf0nD_2DNW/s400/seagull.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jersey Shore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I reunited with about 20 of my South African cousins in Philadelphia. From when we grew up in Johannesburg together to present day, we went from visiting each other every few days to seeing each other every few years. The addition of a last minute show at the Milkboy in Philadelphia was mostly an excuse for a stop in Philly for a little reunion. The Milkboy is a cool little joint in the suburbs, but it is also one of those venues that feels it's being generous by giving a performer one free beverage and letting them put out a tip jar. Almost the entire audience were relatives of mine, which makes a tip jar somewhat awkward, but I've learned to adjust to many different situations and be flexible.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwDVijFoF1LK9wPjI66KDv_3xdPrjRdoW1xByvaGotY2OaXX4pQBKduEUHAPqahpFOmyUvQvtOVxnvuBC2tuwkn69_YGSI21oWFDTkH-zN7u3cppQZ98YyqM4y6Y8Beb6oSkaRKVepyG4/s1600/Milkboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwDVijFoF1LK9wPjI66KDv_3xdPrjRdoW1xByvaGotY2OaXX4pQBKduEUHAPqahpFOmyUvQvtOVxnvuBC2tuwkn69_YGSI21oWFDTkH-zN7u3cppQZ98YyqM4y6Y8Beb6oSkaRKVepyG4/s400/Milkboy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Milkboy in Bryn Mawr</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6zH0nexhig3NqRR3QWYgdG3VqB364O85sGdYz0k0Ukf_N4eA8T2LJ9ZUTEUqiRh4J2G93f_VJpZWw7z9LSAWuxMOfACQFyb-0RA_cU4UvRGNZ5ndVgYDraf-tBZSs_ZyEt5DvyCIEBUz/s1600/burried2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6zH0nexhig3NqRR3QWYgdG3VqB364O85sGdYz0k0Ukf_N4eA8T2LJ9ZUTEUqiRh4J2G93f_VJpZWw7z9LSAWuxMOfACQFyb-0RA_cU4UvRGNZ5ndVgYDraf-tBZSs_ZyEt5DvyCIEBUz/s400/burried2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buried</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My cousins were very hospitable and besides giving me my own basement apartment for a couple of days, they also included me in their Father's Day outing to the beach. The last time I saw the Ocean was in Israel almost two years ago, so this was a real treat. I went body surfing with my 12 year old cousin Aaron after running a few miles on the beach with his mom, Lynn, my first cousin. The day ended with a great meal at a restaurant called Harmony, and satisfied all of the various dietary restrictions in our group: vegetarian, gluten free, and kosher. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYBxICReFmx_oEFoI8H6ibZaY-9XF5f7Jsen5Z7gG8IN0tqJO39kqeNL2clFiB2SVXi7B8he6EAo3n7dRbN3ZtCrAKsaZCDGjOM0T4TP45WjtIqhK6N9a8GhclxkmIujSyaEK0UthN6cB/s1600/philly+phamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYBxICReFmx_oEFoI8H6ibZaY-9XF5f7Jsen5Z7gG8IN0tqJO39kqeNL2clFiB2SVXi7B8he6EAo3n7dRbN3ZtCrAKsaZCDGjOM0T4TP45WjtIqhK6N9a8GhclxkmIujSyaEK0UthN6cB/s320/philly+phamily.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my Philly Phamily</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eYfPX9Vhp0CtHh0jGBmL32TBzEv9KxEFT8rQBhF3uMeikjeLayatAN0y-HlP8HAi9so8y8mlu_FMvJlUp9_aJcrUucSq4BEm-8TymGE7fiOGsupCmXtk0jC1nUgOYJ9dznClaHA44wgg/s1600/Daaron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eYfPX9Vhp0CtHh0jGBmL32TBzEv9KxEFT8rQBhF3uMeikjeLayatAN0y-HlP8HAi9so8y8mlu_FMvJlUp9_aJcrUucSq4BEm-8TymGE7fiOGsupCmXtk0jC1nUgOYJ9dznClaHA44wgg/s400/Daaron.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dani + Aaron = Daaron</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/06/philadelphia-jersey-shore-and-milkboy.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-16897393027544503742011-06-18T14:57:00.000-07:002011-06-18T15:01:52.416-07:00Playcation<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba3855u0gi8L0x5jwPbT8ZlWf1cevPJe8Laa62suKNrprrNdKoMZwh_rYKYpeG-zNh3tmfEIg9KJVVOn94aBBdKtoWX4JlXOaDALiYpxV0Fbjfh0Hzhviqz0epNM2gP9ZNJhv5fuvaFCM/s1600/Tree+Sap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba3855u0gi8L0x5jwPbT8ZlWf1cevPJe8Laa62suKNrprrNdKoMZwh_rYKYpeG-zNh3tmfEIg9KJVVOn94aBBdKtoWX4JlXOaDALiYpxV0Fbjfh0Hzhviqz0epNM2gP9ZNJhv5fuvaFCM/s400/Tree+Sap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is hard to imagine a place as lush as Virginia after leaving a desert that is<br />
going on 10 months without a drop of rain<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Playcation is the word I am using for a leisurely music tour routed to places and people I want to see. I may not earn very much, but I have a perpetually paid vacation, with a healthy amount of hard work mixed in.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span><br />
The last couple of days, I stayed with my friends Keleigh and Thomas, who live part time in Terlingua Texas.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0_BMdBMuqvh2JAW2uZxoVwpfTW-Fjy3iwwqJWmOJBBchAww0GpEc01cIJAHoTo6dyXxLWUAX_GJXGfHef649D6vl0rIF5lY_Uya6MupdhP2yGnJoDBFHOLTOfroZr7MxsplZmt7yhweS/s1600/secret+springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0_BMdBMuqvh2JAW2uZxoVwpfTW-Fjy3iwwqJWmOJBBchAww0GpEc01cIJAHoTo6dyXxLWUAX_GJXGfHef649D6vl0rIF5lY_Uya6MupdhP2yGnJoDBFHOLTOfroZr7MxsplZmt7yhweS/s320/secret+springs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The secret hot springs in Big Bend with Keleigh and Thomas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcCCmhVyfK7uFxol1HJm29OtZVY9pdY1H81cFv4nd86GpgPi_Kl2PorcinV6aF_A7-f_RUj2nJtdI5hQzjdKjZfP2PQqaiK1q3VPUecYizPTcduf88WArS2NfMLroCpNMd6YNG89yT4N-/s1600/Lavens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcCCmhVyfK7uFxol1HJm29OtZVY9pdY1H81cFv4nd86GpgPi_Kl2PorcinV6aF_A7-f_RUj2nJtdI5hQzjdKjZfP2PQqaiK1q3VPUecYizPTcduf88WArS2NfMLroCpNMd6YNG89yT4N-/s320/Lavens.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niko and Jana Laven sit in at <br />
Oddfella's in Floyd, Virginia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Serendipidly, mutual musical mates, Niko and Jana Laven (Mother/Son duo) were touring through at the same time. And so we all became the house band for a house concert in Roanoke, Virginia on Thursday where the entire staff of the Roanoke Food Coop were present and contributed gourmet delights. Friday found us all in Floyd Virginia, where the Texas troubadours helped me fill my 4.5 hour set. The tiny town of Floyd has more going on per capita than any place I've ever rolled through. Our Friday night show was a full house, in spite of the famous Country Store Friday night concert down the road. And I had the best Chimichangas I've ever eaten...in Virginia.<br />
<br />
Back on the train, I tried to convince the snack dealer to let me use my own coffee mug, but he explained that Amtrak verifies the amount of coffee beverages sold from the amount of disposable cups missing from their inventory at the end of a shift. This protocol doesn't fit with their campaign to use the train as a greener form of travel. It is also incongruent with their their substantial efforts to provide recycling bins on board. But I needed the coffee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P5HQ6DWMxH2_duULaRaeI5YAzg96fkThVqBSxgZ0EEZIjcGsTv8oCunbEUUDY5UDhU11Jl5Axm_-_5pj91y4-NdbLSLKgCTg4w3bhRa_PRx3kOT5u2n1QeVsx5_zzAuZmEsipFe8_WZx/s1600/Floyd%252C+VA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P5HQ6DWMxH2_duULaRaeI5YAzg96fkThVqBSxgZ0EEZIjcGsTv8oCunbEUUDY5UDhU11Jl5Axm_-_5pj91y4-NdbLSLKgCTg4w3bhRa_PRx3kOT5u2n1QeVsx5_zzAuZmEsipFe8_WZx/s320/Floyd%252C+VA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Floyd pickers<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYW0_lV7Scg2qFh5oholyBZAjOkXSt5cVyZBzrolYMwPz_UZfs9o0o4Yh3cuIxf23kioL_-oy8m1IjTFIFBfLnC4tpwd1AzSSizou0Q4Ps4wmixTw2d1Uq8c5ynMAq2tkBy3IShVPvmz0/s1600/virginia-green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYW0_lV7Scg2qFh5oholyBZAjOkXSt5cVyZBzrolYMwPz_UZfs9o0o4Yh3cuIxf23kioL_-oy8m1IjTFIFBfLnC4tpwd1AzSSizou0Q4Ps4wmixTw2d1Uq8c5ynMAq2tkBy3IShVPvmz0/s320/virginia-green.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Virginia</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">And now my playcation takes me to Philadelphia, after 6.5 hours on the train, where I will reunite with 20+ South African cousins. </div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/06/playcation.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-48889525475234927102011-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:22:20.566-07:00the susTRAINable Tour is Launched<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxvnSDTeJZslLJuyqVHDtyasEBcUlSvurqjXptEhjhBYvztFC924aLYB1Uk8TFyCFbPubCOhgDJ_HIFxBzzv9Iidu4ut6bGhtN_kETWBpQU7zGutQAOUsN3GaJxgqD_VqwjkxF90ijjaL/s1600/IMG_4982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxvnSDTeJZslLJuyqVHDtyasEBcUlSvurqjXptEhjhBYvztFC924aLYB1Uk8TFyCFbPubCOhgDJ_HIFxBzzv9Iidu4ut6bGhtN_kETWBpQU7zGutQAOUsN3GaJxgqD_VqwjkxF90ijjaL/s320/IMG_4982.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I am a couple of days into my train journey. I have 12 shows in 15 days, and the Amtrak is my portal to the shows. These first train segments are the long ones, but there is no hurry. It is not time lost, like when driving. On board there is a restaurant, a lounge, and plenty of space to walk around while the world streams by outside the windows. It is a good time to relax or be productive. With a 15 day train pass, each day on the train costs me $26, not bad considering the distance traveled. And I don't have to worry about unexpected car troubles. </span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">My first exit off the train was in New Orleans. I walked a mile to Canal Street to catch the streetcar. And this is when I realized that I may be carrying too much stuff. Besides my guitar, I am also equipped with a small amplifier, a mic stand, a sleeping bag, music cables, food, and clothes. I'll have to play around with redistributing the weight, or consider unloading a few things. I dropped my things off at Chickie Wah Wah and then took the streetcar to the French Quarter, a nice glimpse of how American cities could be if character and architecture were emphasized instead of speed and efficiency.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB-NoLc3ytQ3pJITKej8bAvhldQwRAgmn-1apo1z4H3wJ7vJ9RCytE6AdQC4hjh1HukFgpPpNOp15FJ46q7U1ERWZ3QVh0lQY1C9jst2L5POoJLTvqaRpbsWHiCFv5aw9ZJNb7TgAW4hH/s1600/IMG_4986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB-NoLc3ytQ3pJITKej8bAvhldQwRAgmn-1apo1z4H3wJ7vJ9RCytE6AdQC4hjh1HukFgpPpNOp15FJ46q7U1ERWZ3QVh0lQY1C9jst2L5POoJLTvqaRpbsWHiCFv5aw9ZJNb7TgAW4hH/s400/IMG_4986.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Chickie Wah Wah turned out to be a great show. The venue is in Midcity, and so the crowd was mostly locals. And they wanted to listen. And support my music. They fed me the best tacos I have ever eaten...in Louisiana. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJfXa_b77eDukLLJyKWDIbYCXY_xPLKaD6bHeJfUqwKI_6cskqkaFDzAX2ZwVLUyYVJHB58m-durfMILHdbwbMeJQC_SihvBNUmSw8VycoPFau_LWIxihoxF9h78QvB7jARW7pAwShFG8/s1600/ChickieWahWah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJfXa_b77eDukLLJyKWDIbYCXY_xPLKaD6bHeJfUqwKI_6cskqkaFDzAX2ZwVLUyYVJHB58m-durfMILHdbwbMeJQC_SihvBNUmSw8VycoPFau_LWIxihoxF9h78QvB7jARW7pAwShFG8/s400/ChickieWahWah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-49060131492121336572011-05-27T09:45:00.000-07:002011-05-27T10:48:51.451-07:00Food from the Desert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_G3kzvtGjVakf2VGlkHTahWzIaoiqeIzsge5zXHUMzPXzS11x2VkX_tnyq-dd96fVZ4Vtpc41x0qS7L9kVKjSjsVBcnleKbwfLIXgU9jaPO-CoLq_MjhPEuvv81LeXmHs2-Zv_HS6HZt/s1600/mesquite+tree+terlingua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_G3kzvtGjVakf2VGlkHTahWzIaoiqeIzsge5zXHUMzPXzS11x2VkX_tnyq-dd96fVZ4Vtpc41x0qS7L9kVKjSjsVBcnleKbwfLIXgU9jaPO-CoLq_MjhPEuvv81LeXmHs2-Zv_HS6HZt/s400/mesquite+tree+terlingua.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Every year, it seems that I am gone while the Mesquites are podding. Usually I return from the road and they have fallen from the trees and are rotting on the ground. There is such an abundance of Mesquite pods, not even all the birds and hungry desert critters awaking from hibernation can make a dent in the supply. Ever since I have moved out here, I have wanted to harvest the plethora of mesquite pods and make mesquite flour, which is very high in protein and minerals. It is also gluten free and has a very desirable sweet and nutty taste. Yesterday, when I should have been indoors instead of outside in 108 degree weather, I harvested a few gallons of pods in town. I have read that the ones to pick are the ones that snap off the tree easily and taste sweet. This is the easy part, unless it is 108 outside. The hard part is grinding them down into flour. It would help to have the right tools. I'd like to harvest enough to be able to at least sell some mesquite flour at the Farmer's market when the season starts again. And in the future, sell it here on the interweb. But I only have a few days in town in between tours, so I may lose the opportunity once again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">figs!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was excited to find that my water timer setup worked while I was gone on tour these last three weeks. I have a hose going from my rain catchment to my plum tree and another going to my fig tree. I didn't get a chance to test it very well before I left, and was a little worried, but I put my faith in it and this whole desert agriculture thing is a big experiment anyway. When I got back, I counted over 20 figs and this is only its first year. They are on the verge of ripening of course as I am about to leave again, but at least the birds will get to feast on this desert delicacy.<br />
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My new friend Lillis, an amazing singer-botanist, passed through Terlingua and helped me identify some of the native plants on my little piece of earth. I have a hard enough time remembering people's names and so now two days later, I have no information to impart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPdErk6td3xXNHVumtdIXeKVRkiKG8s00r5FJc3buJ4RMfcKmiXIaHfS93pTHQr6OZ0Myi6psgqx6Czh9L_ZKhv17rb4Dy1g4XpmXx9h3mkqAQIuFuE3SNrnaTD9y9evRc7VTbmgv93pv/s1600/Lillis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPdErk6td3xXNHVumtdIXeKVRkiKG8s00r5FJc3buJ4RMfcKmiXIaHfS93pTHQr6OZ0Myi6psgqx6Czh9L_ZKhv17rb4Dy1g4XpmXx9h3mkqAQIuFuE3SNrnaTD9y9evRc7VTbmgv93pv/s320/Lillis.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Lillis Urban</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFu78WL5wryg5daNp4LrTwGtUW3okyiZvjLCIl6EQex5cMD-_tmal6OtP6HFmgrajmA7wXaJK5b6tdXqLSUKN2iqwTRk0V-GdyCHNozPAYLcG-CE8zaD4Ea_hDH0hsuDfu_vONmj3EMHg/s1600/mesquite-bucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFu78WL5wryg5daNp4LrTwGtUW3okyiZvjLCIl6EQex5cMD-_tmal6OtP6HFmgrajmA7wXaJK5b6tdXqLSUKN2iqwTRk0V-GdyCHNozPAYLcG-CE8zaD4Ea_hDH0hsuDfu_vONmj3EMHg/s400/mesquite-bucket.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mesquite pods can make flour, tea, jam, and more.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/food-from-desert.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-5955964980572212682011-05-23T10:56:00.000-07:002011-05-24T09:57:19.347-07:00Tour Summary: Through Deserts, Mountains, and Forests<div style="text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm89eLs0DGF8u5K9NvO9JRvSJ_AigfiQJITDncAaMjprEaY6w3JHA15Ly4XGfq70AG82RYLSGCFIKYsTOm93rWgM0sql3Y5GRQA09cOgy-8ieIb_kDM5xHA1R2srOnvPEUJnlS0dXfMVZ/s1600/IMG_4885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm89eLs0DGF8u5K9NvO9JRvSJ_AigfiQJITDncAaMjprEaY6w3JHA15Ly4XGfq70AG82RYLSGCFIKYsTOm93rWgM0sql3Y5GRQA09cOgy-8ieIb_kDM5xHA1R2srOnvPEUJnlS0dXfMVZ/s400/IMG_4885.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the cost of touring and cashflow over 3 weeks</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Another tour has come to an end. Or I suppose a tour never ends. It just pauses on this perpetual road. Of 22 booked shows, 18 actually panned out. I had to cancel two shows due to being sick and losing my voice. A Saturday night in Denver never manifested. And I was double booked in Las Cruces on the way home, but still paid. 18 shows in three weeks is still a rather dense schedule. And while I don't feel road fatigue, I would take a few more days off next time in order to better experience these incredible far away places that took a lot of driving to get to. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The price of gas was a real killer this tour. I was expecting that though. Car expenses accounted for about half of my touring costs. It was mostly from gas, but also a $200 starter replacement and an oil change along the way. Other than that, Ruby is a true road dog, just hitting 260,000 miles upon returning. She even starting pumping out arctic air again, which she hasn't done in a year. Getting sick was also an unexpected cost, from lost revenue from canceled gigs, having to quarantine myself in a hotel for couple of nights, and also from prescribed medication which I pay for out of pocket since I don't have health insurance.<br />
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All of my income was from music (guarantees, tips, and CD sales) other than a few bucks from a couple of rideshares. The rideshares didn't pan out so well this time since I traveled mostly off the beaten path. I also had to quarantine myself for about a week while I was sick. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I've gotten in the habit of documenting every single expense and source of income while on the road. If I didn't, I'm not sure I would break even. I used to do this on a pad of paper, but now I use an app called iXpensit that makes it really easy. It helps me tremendously to know exactly where I stand and what my cashflow is at all times. That way I know if I can get a hotel room or go camping instead, or whether I can treat myself to some sesame tofu at a nice vietnamese restaurant or stick to the groceries in my on board refrigerator. Thankfully, most venues I played also offered me a meal. Usually a really good meal that also provided leftovers for lunch the next day. Traveling with a <a href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/03/solar-cooling.html">solar powered refrigerator</a> was a true luxury. I think maybe even a necessity. It saved me from eating any fast food on the tour and I was able to store goodies from co-ops and natural food stores that found along the way. I've traveled with a ice cooler before, but I'd have to replace the ice almost daily which is an extra expense but even a greater annoyance. And much of the food would drown in the melted ice if left an hour too long. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1je6W-KpzPf1bGnto7saqsPvARO-H-ZPTmtDQSxGLX3Ovj8LEomVhV3j645DCg5faOHpMAlzcZ9TcCs4AR3EGlgTVpqiMchyphenhyphenkvfYj6iam8SF90NyWX8fzvrj9w66KHLtt5whEw5vJr_A-/s1600/lotus-gage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1je6W-KpzPf1bGnto7saqsPvARO-H-ZPTmtDQSxGLX3Ovj8LEomVhV3j645DCg5faOHpMAlzcZ9TcCs4AR3EGlgTVpqiMchyphenhyphenkvfYj6iam8SF90NyWX8fzvrj9w66KHLtt5whEw5vJr_A-/s400/lotus-gage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last show on the tour in Marathon, TX at the Gage hotel. Nice Lotus, but she's no Ruby. </td></tr>
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Anyhow, I know that this is not the romanticized version of this livelihood, where I'm flown or bussed around from show to show, and they have my favorite brand of mineral water waiting for me in my hotel suite. This is ground level, where I'm not only the musician, but also the booking agent, the soundman, the roadie, the driver, the chef, and the accountant. I don't mind being on the ground. It provides real experiences and material for new songs.<br />
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It's funny, each time I tour, I hear of a new artist that people repeatedly say I sound like throughout the course of the tour. Last year it was Iron and Wine. This year it is Ray Lamontagne. I don't mind either of those comparisons. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div>And now I'm back home in Terlingua and here is the forecast for the next week:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi-H-vDSk017x20gXLchx5wgiFxl5-9v4MVp_Sle9UI8lNqB3Q1Eh3t-Fy337P5OpzGFn9VajxO5u4Egzx0LviWL3rwdMsSkYUQXUUbtHqFxhXnbjBcl7yzH3Ya1fPrekL9OjAbX-PwAf/s1600/IMG_4887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi-H-vDSk017x20gXLchx5wgiFxl5-9v4MVp_Sle9UI8lNqB3Q1Eh3t-Fy337P5OpzGFn9VajxO5u4Egzx0LviWL3rwdMsSkYUQXUUbtHqFxhXnbjBcl7yzH3Ya1fPrekL9OjAbX-PwAf/s400/IMG_4887.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High temps of 111 degrees expected this weekend. It is hard to believe that it was snowing just last week. </td></tr>
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</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/tour-summary-through-deserts-mountains.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-75701323274778502172011-05-20T19:06:00.000-07:002011-05-23T11:02:05.073-07:00Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdhDUQE11YjWKCqCNAfT8Isx33bUDYeRNwRWxIElqadi3PL6TL5Q3J4ijgRXpOZuJcny1maL5kkx9OL79_o-rFZa0fOsJS-j4udiZnjsxMs2OZZivVilax6w_myWryTpORFJ82Rha-Jb_/s1600/opera+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdhDUQE11YjWKCqCNAfT8Isx33bUDYeRNwRWxIElqadi3PL6TL5Q3J4ijgRXpOZuJcny1maL5kkx9OL79_o-rFZa0fOsJS-j4udiZnjsxMs2OZZivVilax6w_myWryTpORFJ82Rha-Jb_/s400/opera+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This middle of nowhere venue in Pinos Altos, NM is tied for first place for my favorite venue this tour.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUp5LLLpcz3OXBuXYwG0B6MbCJwfAgOxI697Rb3UrC0fSmvvwE4KLOu_1tGoNnkXHTRdlzvr_tU2Nu0HEc2elq4fFnQY9hMTn2950g8wmEU3m9DnfDuZ2-UFIu2-Lr4JPy0hoywfQ0GOA/s1600/buckhorn+saloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUp5LLLpcz3OXBuXYwG0B6MbCJwfAgOxI697Rb3UrC0fSmvvwE4KLOu_1tGoNnkXHTRdlzvr_tU2Nu0HEc2elq4fFnQY9hMTn2950g8wmEU3m9DnfDuZ2-UFIu2-Lr4JPy0hoywfQ0GOA/s400/buckhorn+saloon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buckhorn Saloon - Pinos Altos, NM.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFgq8T2gSqizK3Ve69e7fIlDeDwVL_hlqLcJPkpffAP6bA3S_-pWxw08VaUHNYLRIBeSv_1U18L00NoLlKnCE-aGSx4wnI9lEFKWOq2kudnIG3Ykr0n3pOLmDHDGodW_KslO6wte9Sekc/s1600/swanky+pad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFgq8T2gSqizK3Ve69e7fIlDeDwVL_hlqLcJPkpffAP6bA3S_-pWxw08VaUHNYLRIBeSv_1U18L00NoLlKnCE-aGSx4wnI9lEFKWOq2kudnIG3Ykr0n3pOLmDHDGodW_KslO6wte9Sekc/s400/swanky+pad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not only is it a great listening room, but they also put me up in a swanky house for the night</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was undisputedly the best shower of the tour</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5Xu7F_W3wyZGqc3xlR47hGrGThyphenhyphenpvSl8U3fpyavPGFj0klTu73VUJhUUxq1BScwjG-jS1JQP1QJHJoA_2lWktIoNDdtO-ZNVkoozaX1kp_ZntxH3u9_srabUL_5raHCfH5enJFdZeCuD/s1600/IMG_4731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5Xu7F_W3wyZGqc3xlR47hGrGThyphenhyphenpvSl8U3fpyavPGFj0klTu73VUJhUUxq1BScwjG-jS1JQP1QJHJoA_2lWktIoNDdtO-ZNVkoozaX1kp_ZntxH3u9_srabUL_5raHCfH5enJFdZeCuD/s400/IMG_4731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don't regret ignoring the GPS suggested route and taking the winding road through the Gila National Forest to get there</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like the mixture of accommodations while touring, from rest stops, to camp grounds, to hotels, to friends' houses, to strangers' couches, to venue floors, to swanky pads. I only sleep in award winning rest stops though. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8vzVTWKyrulSY7WHwmQCujadLOpwcWYAsk0TB_sV0Freb2a_mj1yMuNi2HpFYSgZfUxrEiSTKkPxfpAXi4Huag0XxqNIS9cuUJ39JeYgwBk-g6V-W9vTyeTm0a2HMwjtdWWTBLXYZHWd/s1600/award+winning+rest+stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8vzVTWKyrulSY7WHwmQCujadLOpwcWYAsk0TB_sV0Freb2a_mj1yMuNi2HpFYSgZfUxrEiSTKkPxfpAXi4Huag0XxqNIS9cuUJ39JeYgwBk-g6V-W9vTyeTm0a2HMwjtdWWTBLXYZHWd/s400/award+winning+rest+stop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Award winning rest stop in Las Cruces, NM.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubNmQmvRyd6hhi-AO2FtzAMFZlXO2JT2xWBil6wYhu6_4aTuHVS8BL3x8kSsV_mnhwfBsSC0XaJHHsTDczZPK174pNuXLIqR6uN7tftPwhHccLMqXOdnG1qMW5vc41LZKaJmJ_mMRVzvy/s1600/road+runner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubNmQmvRyd6hhi-AO2FtzAMFZlXO2JT2xWBil6wYhu6_4aTuHVS8BL3x8kSsV_mnhwfBsSC0XaJHHsTDczZPK174pNuXLIqR6uN7tftPwhHccLMqXOdnG1qMW5vc41LZKaJmJ_mMRVzvy/s400/road+runner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This rest stop in Las Cruces has a giant Road Runner monument.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRuD25MOZC2TIBUFqG9Oi2lQfIKrS1HQCjFs22g12qvIUiIoBXk4cFCZDtw0hRY62KUOEsNyroyhCkAmmWiC264Rs2BhnqqCA_yF0RvfulZLgTiT2v0hbdAFKYCOwN0ix29y3IMELh0xk/s1600/road+runner+trash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRuD25MOZC2TIBUFqG9Oi2lQfIKrS1HQCjFs22g12qvIUiIoBXk4cFCZDtw0hRY62KUOEsNyroyhCkAmmWiC264Rs2BhnqqCA_yF0RvfulZLgTiT2v0hbdAFKYCOwN0ix29y3IMELh0xk/s400/road+runner+trash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Upon further inspection, it is evident that the entire monument is made of trash.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdU6SXxodMmGWS8-vgYr5CN9X5RQOQKndvsibA37c3CgAP9WIQ9v9AdTqG7uXcbqHvrFoQCCQETrhk2c6LKk0AhZIPQDpIxUXGZO2sb52zVrH10ui4C-LzhPGlpUPIq2q8Rllje4FsD3B/s1600/shoebelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdU6SXxodMmGWS8-vgYr5CN9X5RQOQKndvsibA37c3CgAP9WIQ9v9AdTqG7uXcbqHvrFoQCCQETrhk2c6LKk0AhZIPQDpIxUXGZO2sb52zVrH10ui4C-LzhPGlpUPIq2q8Rllje4FsD3B/s400/shoebelly.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Including a belly of shoes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tonight I was double booked in Las Cruces. This happens about twice a year. They still paid me the guarantee and told me that I must have good karma to get a paid night off. But really the difficult part of touring is the driving, booking, and other logistics. Playing music is the fun part and the payoff. After playing almost every night for the last 3 weeks though, I didn't argue. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/buckhorn-saloon-and-opera-house.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-80659185597170628132011-05-17T10:45:00.000-07:002011-05-22T10:08:45.406-07:00Colorado & Isakov<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wjts5w5tJgqkwY7qwpGqhyB7RuI-9grzhWDMb2zb2HPeHHlXpgZJm5gvSJDsje_XMZ0Dc-uUx6bARgJfYtAvVIr6CC02iGIjOraIS_KNovHfZ_ubFaDSjgg_GjjMX8sI4JlT2VNtc-UX/s1600/isakov-reichman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wjts5w5tJgqkwY7qwpGqhyB7RuI-9grzhWDMb2zb2HPeHHlXpgZJm5gvSJDsje_XMZ0Dc-uUx6bARgJfYtAvVIr6CC02iGIjOraIS_KNovHfZ_ubFaDSjgg_GjjMX8sI4JlT2VNtc-UX/s400/isakov-reichman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I've been hanging out with my friend and songwriter, <a href="http://www.gregoryalanisakov.com/">Gregory Alan Isakov</a> for a few days. Out of anyone I know, we have the most parallel lives. Besides being a jewish South African born songwriter, we have also been vegetarian for about the same length of time (over 15 years). And we also have some uncanny details in common, such a the fact that we both have broken speedometers and position our gps devices on our dashboard so that we know how fast we are going. I convinced him last minute to play a show with me at the Jamestown Mercantile. It was a much smaller venue then he usually plays in Colorado, but this tiny mountain community houses some avid fans of his and when word got out, there was a nice turnout.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIJQi6nzhzlHSAoYVNUf7GFfcVCgw5rH7mcGjOBpgL-7_TjDVBvXV2aWwkbdaTx6wZjF_XvTooefE5PF93C2zFMhqexWFNOuqUChsH1gwkfdL9fhYeN-nVe_0zhr16bWcwCEFxNdpK3Vk/s1600/isakov-colorado+springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIJQi6nzhzlHSAoYVNUf7GFfcVCgw5rH7mcGjOBpgL-7_TjDVBvXV2aWwkbdaTx6wZjF_XvTooefE5PF93C2zFMhqexWFNOuqUChsH1gwkfdL9fhYeN-nVe_0zhr16bWcwCEFxNdpK3Vk/s400/isakov-colorado+springs.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
A couple of nights later, he played an 800 seater in Colorado Springs. Gregory leaves for his first European tour next week.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8MwkZut9mESE0LQM2hEkuwWy_JmInMJeE6xPVMZDJQ1ohDnDb4K9g0SJlYykNiLRGpdF-3YWuNIcarEO2SbS1Mr_zfqpN_wdAmTKKHH4ulZI5Lpw7HqOYfx3fetV71q_iTngbKnl6gzQ/s1600/colorado-snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8MwkZut9mESE0LQM2hEkuwWy_JmInMJeE6xPVMZDJQ1ohDnDb4K9g0SJlYykNiLRGpdF-3YWuNIcarEO2SbS1Mr_zfqpN_wdAmTKKHH4ulZI5Lpw7HqOYfx3fetV71q_iTngbKnl6gzQ/s400/colorado-snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Driving around Colorado doesn't seem like work. Ruby has found a good rhythm through the Mountain passes. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKPPtFpobJS4Q-rQmFg66zSUTWPQIR3HbYhJIBkFykw7P87RcMEWIbmS0z4y4IIwO9oYbLXC4v5WU0nJxM6k6HY5SbooSo7aNQB6Mq4vcLXi9WUIdajGham3vTLI95yrz0YAzjH2CNzSo/s1600/colorado-fresh-snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKPPtFpobJS4Q-rQmFg66zSUTWPQIR3HbYhJIBkFykw7P87RcMEWIbmS0z4y4IIwO9oYbLXC4v5WU0nJxM6k6HY5SbooSo7aNQB6Mq4vcLXi9WUIdajGham3vTLI95yrz0YAzjH2CNzSo/s400/colorado-fresh-snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Plenty of fresh snow for the month of May.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEhrQWjsc91sbKnsm3NQHUvHT8QONS_ZiVGGYlmljN0geeuDQti27nsZ4AJvELPP3Qkv4QthWL7XDOEIWM6Sh0UmjpwcQrGX5jduzKrpNtCnV7YE7QEoshM-yRJEW3j0xJxbE_nFhmODY/s1600/denver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEhrQWjsc91sbKnsm3NQHUvHT8QONS_ZiVGGYlmljN0geeuDQti27nsZ4AJvELPP3Qkv4QthWL7XDOEIWM6Sh0UmjpwcQrGX5jduzKrpNtCnV7YE7QEoshM-yRJEW3j0xJxbE_nFhmODY/s400/denver.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denver</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kefxGnavW85ukoC04kAsQrksBy5Ai4kLuP8Y7t6aP1HJusEXvvMUGjchpAwKG_bk_SBrjIYhPbNj_90Zr7f6qgrgx1G8XuO-BIH7UE9jRjfy2T5GsDk7aRPJhkkmreSFOE3Pq5SRTOiZ/s1600/colorado+grass+and+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kefxGnavW85ukoC04kAsQrksBy5Ai4kLuP8Y7t6aP1HJusEXvvMUGjchpAwKG_bk_SBrjIYhPbNj_90Zr7f6qgrgx1G8XuO-BIH7UE9jRjfy2T5GsDk7aRPJhkkmreSFOE3Pq5SRTOiZ/s400/colorado+grass+and+mountains.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xZUi-5Y8vjDFXwJ9JFvJxOiRcBhwuY445OaTzDVT4PqnZezFwzU6AFyq8Sf9-26lp0sVAk5vWA9zKwmch3DgUms_Od0dMW0UVD3ydvAf-0sAoAxsrEEZy0ghrCEVYzcH3TEnNAwHGJKU/s1600/ig+thaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xZUi-5Y8vjDFXwJ9JFvJxOiRcBhwuY445OaTzDVT4PqnZezFwzU6AFyq8Sf9-26lp0sVAk5vWA9zKwmch3DgUms_Od0dMW0UVD3ydvAf-0sAoAxsrEEZy0ghrCEVYzcH3TEnNAwHGJKU/s400/ig+thaw.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xZUi-5Y8vjDFXwJ9JFvJxOiRcBhwuY445OaTzDVT4PqnZezFwzU6AFyq8Sf9-26lp0sVAk5vWA9zKwmch3DgUms_Od0dMW0UVD3ydvAf-0sAoAxsrEEZy0ghrCEVYzcH3TEnNAwHGJKU/s1600/ig+thaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
It has been about a week since there has been a sunny day. I have tethered the spare battery that runs the refrigerator to the car battery so that when the car is running, it will replenish the lost energy strorage without the dependence on sunshine entirely. Since I have left Texas, the fridge has remained in the 30s. No ice!</div></div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/colorado-isakov.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-6320146672944852692011-05-13T17:22:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:22:24.769-07:00Pearl<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNHqiWgcsKYyvfNJ3o7can7rmSZONaa2Xsp_2sfw15nSjDl-yQtCXAr3TOZAirfxlY2gPU7L70nUb9bGTjaZRjFTtoD8uvoenkB1a5SiYIJBOxqgCIzAh_kEIflSCjuXgrDVObyf0NBbW/s1600/Speedtrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNHqiWgcsKYyvfNJ3o7can7rmSZONaa2Xsp_2sfw15nSjDl-yQtCXAr3TOZAirfxlY2gPU7L70nUb9bGTjaZRjFTtoD8uvoenkB1a5SiYIJBOxqgCIzAh_kEIflSCjuXgrDVObyf0NBbW/s400/Speedtrap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby's alter ego, "Pearl" this morning in front of the Speedtrap in Palmer Lake. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>The first precipitation I have seen in over 7 months is in the form of snow. Last week in Terlingua it was 105 degrees. And 800 miles North it is snowing. It's incredible what a little distance and elevation can do.<br />
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Last night was my 2nd post flu show and it seems that my full vocal range is back, with a slight Tom Waits effect, which is fun for now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx4PHQMS_SNr0_lXrJYA0zriPMCkyL8Pimcsm31qTZ4vb4YOOf3Ic14oywETzymeiP2aVrQ6LL-YuETJ3lb1-ZDiIzv9sVXS_R9-3k7i28s19n-krBwE-4kwT38T5lI-TgFnBDRsFLoxX/s1600/kinfolks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx4PHQMS_SNr0_lXrJYA0zriPMCkyL8Pimcsm31qTZ4vb4YOOf3Ic14oywETzymeiP2aVrQ6LL-YuETJ3lb1-ZDiIzv9sVXS_R9-3k7i28s19n-krBwE-4kwT38T5lI-TgFnBDRsFLoxX/s400/kinfolks2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kinfolks Mountain Shop and Bar in Manitou, CO.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After two days off from canceled shows, a friend of a friend , Conor Bourgal of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheChangingColorsMusic">Changing Colors</a>, booked me a last minute show at Kinfolks in Manitou. As the first show after being sick, I considered it a warm up for the busy schedule ahead. It was a nice evening with nice people in a nice place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5mBF41Z27k82M5nIaLOJph_0ct_B3jguwq5fRW70ljJI9LVRnzhd5IdxbQmMQftCW-Wmn1lTdDAtz-XfURuB9ntVEAy8o1JjLTqkbDCev723pwW-68itb21EdnotZ9SvKHgWqv0k3jW7/s1600/manitou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5mBF41Z27k82M5nIaLOJph_0ct_B3jguwq5fRW70ljJI9LVRnzhd5IdxbQmMQftCW-Wmn1lTdDAtz-XfURuB9ntVEAy8o1JjLTqkbDCev723pwW-68itb21EdnotZ9SvKHgWqv0k3jW7/s400/manitou.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manitou, Colorado</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUZQ9BNquSTRaFIyQqE60HIPbnQwJme1utscl93RSXV9bzWDjxTDs2BaPyhiBwOtlz7BKkYleSf9SrTbaviixRrO-UcT4y6mr8hmyVoxHyI-XjgES4khSrXg_KcXEB86sDvGoYAmLPDvq/s1600/snolarpanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUZQ9BNquSTRaFIyQqE60HIPbnQwJme1utscl93RSXV9bzWDjxTDs2BaPyhiBwOtlz7BKkYleSf9SrTbaviixRrO-UcT4y6mr8hmyVoxHyI-XjgES4khSrXg_KcXEB86sDvGoYAmLPDvq/s400/snolarpanel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby's snowlar panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/pearl.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-54643528295768870172011-05-10T09:06:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:20:21.021-07:00No Paid Sick Days<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">There are no paid sick days while on tour. In fact, being sick is costly and I figure that the flu has cost me several hundred dollars on this tour.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh673eaV8ZqDWofUD-W5t4gn5j-Ab59wQOP2SGnfboTNxqh_tOgKkixZecIHMlXTuxdGrMakwiksv_B6NhQETGv2a-l0GovVhLZ9MzurqkDsMiQZUYeBddQqZdNGJJTbi1r5gyOGDyGxe2V/s1600/5%253A10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh673eaV8ZqDWofUD-W5t4gn5j-Ab59wQOP2SGnfboTNxqh_tOgKkixZecIHMlXTuxdGrMakwiksv_B6NhQETGv2a-l0GovVhLZ9MzurqkDsMiQZUYeBddQqZdNGJJTbi1r5gyOGDyGxe2V/s400/5%253A10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rio Grande Gorge in Toas, NM. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Though this tour has been my best planned and routed tour to date, one can't plan around the potential of getting sick. In a typical job, there is the security that if you get sick that you'll be able to rest and recover at home, while still being able to maintain your budget. This is not the case for a touring musician. The show must go on unless it is absolutely not physically possible, for instance, if their primary instrument is lost. In my case, it is my voice.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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I had to cancel two shows, but if I could have, I would have canceled a few more. I ended up performing three shows during the incubation period of the flu, fulfilling a few three hour performances while my nose was dripping like a faucet and my sinuses were seismic. I was able to pull off the first two shows because my voice was still intact. But the last one was a mistake. I didn't know until I started the performance that my vocal range was down to a few notes and I had to adjust my singing style over the course of the evening to where I was mostly rapping through my songs. While the melody was lost, I wanted to make sure that the lyrics were salvaged at least. A couple of guys came up after that show and told me that they really liked my style. I don't know if they were trying to boost my spirits or what, but they may be disappointed when they listen to the CD that they bought when they find out that I'm not a rapper.<br />
<br />
These shows were anchor dates with guarantees that I didn't feel I could miss, especially after I had already driven hundreds of miles and paid a small fortune to the oil companies. I also didn't want to let down the venues who gave me a slot that could have gone to another performer. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I'm on the upswing I think, and I am planning to be back on track after a couple days of rest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iaTs_t1PJ030VFMBjOw_QXKUnaW9osC4L7E4IKcYsmiagMzIjdLQfiJ2wBKOxGvw6-hYqnQMmbWzMkFjvtcGpQYcjnIHJFMmnLu3NIuUuoluCb1HTYK6K0TrHgO5cL4A-r6qS9eHc0qg/s1600/colorado+roadside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iaTs_t1PJ030VFMBjOw_QXKUnaW9osC4L7E4IKcYsmiagMzIjdLQfiJ2wBKOxGvw6-hYqnQMmbWzMkFjvtcGpQYcjnIHJFMmnLu3NIuUuoluCb1HTYK6K0TrHgO5cL4A-r6qS9eHc0qg/s400/colorado+roadside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I jumped the border into Colorado yesterday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Other than this hiccup, the shows have gone very well. Audiences have been very kind and generous. And Ruby continues to defy planned obsolescence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbSX8YiJ28hOD9g9gNVCIuyvSwRXff0TFdsgIw50vQXJEe2p3I0WCKaxtQwx2u-fgHn0kNp9u0iC7nfpkfjNalFwP9g6Eiw0fRAwzSEaXXsSqB17Y1pUXTFpdu4PlwtQoYU8M_QM2kbRF/s1600/ruby+in+colorado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbSX8YiJ28hOD9g9gNVCIuyvSwRXff0TFdsgIw50vQXJEe2p3I0WCKaxtQwx2u-fgHn0kNp9u0iC7nfpkfjNalFwP9g6Eiw0fRAwzSEaXXsSqB17Y1pUXTFpdu4PlwtQoYU8M_QM2kbRF/s400/ruby+in+colorado.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby looks brand new after a car wash. Her new solar panel is working <br />
marvelously and has been a topic of conversation wherever we stop. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-paid-sick-days.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-73577183968314521372011-05-05T16:25:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:20:40.628-07:00ELIPHANTE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is <a href="http://www.eliphante.org/">Eliphante</a>. Perhaps the most unique space I have ever performed in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpR0zJHVcUyRibRJbau3Ncp8UYSAieGrDqhj8lKayNVOM8pClfYTP1M4lzQk1KiLUn21FBwzSQVpfPmGO_dhUlxF-ovBP4nlEZJAt1gV5P72EutuU5Xz-ogXFiGBECDLh_6SKHFbGHjLf/s1600/IMG_4426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpR0zJHVcUyRibRJbau3Ncp8UYSAieGrDqhj8lKayNVOM8pClfYTP1M4lzQk1KiLUn21FBwzSQVpfPmGO_dhUlxF-ovBP4nlEZJAt1gV5P72EutuU5Xz-ogXFiGBECDLh_6SKHFbGHjLf/s400/IMG_4426.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">The chapel of Eliphante. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9GTeTUuhiofhWJBcIVcWG_kl0PQbmHd8SxnPortUgqaIo4mJlG_c5dGv-2NqBxCNj_xMjVQRQfT49M7dJrEVNzRBPVoi985Ub2ZvjQPg9oRdvwKGQvaEyrHbCtXpToUuhPpABw2VtqVL/s1600/IMG_4442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9GTeTUuhiofhWJBcIVcWG_kl0PQbmHd8SxnPortUgqaIo4mJlG_c5dGv-2NqBxCNj_xMjVQRQfT49M7dJrEVNzRBPVoi985Ub2ZvjQPg9oRdvwKGQvaEyrHbCtXpToUuhPpABw2VtqVL/s400/IMG_4442.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of the glasswork</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-MT0CcpY4K3ldwhkUr1tHH5vGq1YSwfP3DHoN2rpMiaPrNkTfNNRmeeEfEqD1j8qWHD_KGq0Qey7efUYkUK5lb5n5rSZ1cVZca0qNVPoExl1-MJXjgYeaU2c1cA44PvEZfOuD83O7YbK/s1600/tracy%2526ryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-MT0CcpY4K3ldwhkUr1tHH5vGq1YSwfP3DHoN2rpMiaPrNkTfNNRmeeEfEqD1j8qWHD_KGq0Qey7efUYkUK5lb5n5rSZ1cVZca0qNVPoExl1-MJXjgYeaU2c1cA44PvEZfOuD83O7YbK/s400/tracy%2526ryan.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Gracious hosts and caretakers of Eliphante, Tracy and Ryan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmRVPfM8KDbAzUtw-iaSYfqB6g9aUJ0ybAwmFU-W9Ydm5k8O5ueB1389WJZvWx8wJtzl94lekNs5yQUcauk4nccmMLNnjLynq2RZmX_zsubqdS6WQqndTYpZ02ZfbWaXO8Mm4q8oUujVG/s1600/goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmRVPfM8KDbAzUtw-iaSYfqB6g9aUJ0ybAwmFU-W9Ydm5k8O5ueB1389WJZvWx8wJtzl94lekNs5yQUcauk4nccmMLNnjLynq2RZmX_zsubqdS6WQqndTYpZ02ZfbWaXO8Mm4q8oUujVG/s400/goat.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">And their pet goat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HoICK674ti350-zZ8g5Sbx5CK9XM_86Fb7opNLj_upABVQvDBP9WTxGzHyhPHAYF0m8s3JbSeXbStVeHc1_KnAAK2riF6Wqa6_fgL8Xpgfe9f5ntm-wLemnr9kzgEWT1O42kN2zKSIRL/s1600/IMG_4454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HoICK674ti350-zZ8g5Sbx5CK9XM_86Fb7opNLj_upABVQvDBP9WTxGzHyhPHAYF0m8s3JbSeXbStVeHc1_KnAAK2riF6Wqa6_fgL8Xpgfe9f5ntm-wLemnr9kzgEWT1O42kN2zKSIRL/s400/IMG_4454.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Eliphante</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hbTTlc-NONvXVoSaOlYJJM8ybTxiD0T1SgTYUDgLFSbOVo3j0MlNou1QKsY5MLt0NZ70uJ7ygdMbyzObv7WlZGHixUF8PEV6iAuNS-H1DuH7JawRQHljrnLhLtyw20ZRPw8Pc-uSZLF_/s1600/hippodome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hbTTlc-NONvXVoSaOlYJJM8ybTxiD0T1SgTYUDgLFSbOVo3j0MlNou1QKsY5MLt0NZ70uJ7ygdMbyzObv7WlZGHixUF8PEV6iAuNS-H1DuH7JawRQHljrnLhLtyw20ZRPw8Pc-uSZLF_/s400/hippodome.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand carved Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlblfO9IFWabFeEHMitZxiPz62Pbvj9slEa4bHBtPsDU2F7AacdGvUaejBvL7xOigyjIt412GhxS136e3llV7n4xLsvlBlDcU59UZapIuRyPlXZg0bWgw1NMUKb5os0HuUHaMHf9FJi3Iy/s1600/solar+bath+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlblfO9IFWabFeEHMitZxiPz62Pbvj9slEa4bHBtPsDU2F7AacdGvUaejBvL7xOigyjIt412GhxS136e3llV7n4xLsvlBlDcU59UZapIuRyPlXZg0bWgw1NMUKb5os0HuUHaMHf9FJi3Iy/s400/solar+bath+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solar bath house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDF1s9lI3HwAFk8IuzKOEoagYBnL58KpK2egzBkUDaf73Nvi7HnUcC4JqTOIHHKQiSpouwJAwyYdA-CrlIAEMCm497sze-Y33joIE_p58Y3gUnKw8xmbqmZi4oFCEZp1aTQLtFHx9WWap/s1600/pianocat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDF1s9lI3HwAFk8IuzKOEoagYBnL58KpK2egzBkUDaf73Nvi7HnUcC4JqTOIHHKQiSpouwJAwyYdA-CrlIAEMCm497sze-Y33joIE_p58Y3gUnKw8xmbqmZi4oFCEZp1aTQLtFHx9WWap/s400/pianocat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Every room has a piano of some sort. And the same cat who follows you from room to room and poses for pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZdrRz-6g7pONQcWKfLLwAPB3PfhTyouR5vu0SFWddFlxPaMxqyTCV7SlZXB1t9vT_rnyPBOJZfEDqUz9MiNz5pdlt9GbabiSaDInEa4wNPBG0eiQQoIn554a4PEy69i4cqUa34mOIxRD/s1600/eliphante.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZdrRz-6g7pONQcWKfLLwAPB3PfhTyouR5vu0SFWddFlxPaMxqyTCV7SlZXB1t9vT_rnyPBOJZfEDqUz9MiNz5pdlt9GbabiSaDInEa4wNPBG0eiQQoIn554a4PEy69i4cqUa34mOIxRD/s400/eliphante.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Another view of the chapel of salvaged glass, wood, and rock that I performed in last night. A good crew of friends and friends of friends crowded in. When I sang "Bad Bad Bad", the goat even chimed in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div id="fb-root"></div>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-4355882589999157562011-05-03T09:41:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:20:59.238-07:00Ruby gets a Starter Transplant in Tucson<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dkE0rntq67E8Xf_nWYQ9VcMuNPVL2xGchBO-aZNnDhXt70eimIs2N0oiupKBKH1A3oz5Ffv6tWB4o4pcV42WxoIlHvBjzvEApIyN7XzNT5a75B7VJnfo_p6pqM7J_JLOlyNURrK0R9v5/s1600/life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dkE0rntq67E8Xf_nWYQ9VcMuNPVL2xGchBO-aZNnDhXt70eimIs2N0oiupKBKH1A3oz5Ffv6tWB4o4pcV42WxoIlHvBjzvEApIyN7XzNT5a75B7VJnfo_p6pqM7J_JLOlyNURrK0R9v5/s400/life.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ruby in Tucson with Terlingua dust. She could sure use a shower.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ruby received a starter transplant in Tucson. She has had a worsening condition for over two months now and yesterday morning after 10 tries to get her started, I finally got her some medical attention. She only has catastrophic coverage, so this preventative procedure was out of pocket. Luckily, I found a place in Tucson that only works on Volvos and did the job for half of what everyone else quoted me. That is because they use salvaged authentic Volvo parts rather than new junky versions. She has been given new life and is now much more excited to get started in the mornings. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a name='more'></a><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am going to try my best to report from the road, but there isn't a whole lot of time left over after driving for hours, and then being the roadie, sound man, merch person, promoter, booker, AND performer. These are common duties of the modern troubadour. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR5gVEii4gAMmmzEGHQgqTTgtQJhXCZJfQ545_JBg09KELwm-e3IYPSNeXQqVain4rGD8G-uQ2W81cDu_rOfCrtYGb94zfa-1vTCVjtXstqcntULbREatpzFMZX5NUJmtyrAX-treTsZd/s1600/gas-prices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR5gVEii4gAMmmzEGHQgqTTgtQJhXCZJfQ545_JBg09KELwm-e3IYPSNeXQqVain4rGD8G-uQ2W81cDu_rOfCrtYGb94zfa-1vTCVjtXstqcntULbREatpzFMZX5NUJmtyrAX-treTsZd/s400/gas-prices.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The price of gas in Terlingua when I left was $4.228 and rising.<br />
I got enough gas to get me to Alpine, where gas is 30 cents less. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This past weekend took me to the Paisano Hotel in Marfa, where I performed in the courtyard as planned, and at the last minute was also asked to do a pre-show in the Ballroom where there was a fundraiser and auction to purchase a Therapeutic horse. Unplanned.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5sHtEI46SR5BPguLLE3MBedOMWNvVIlO62EAs8FyVVX2Lf8Q0vbxf0d9Q0LNPQkAKVUk9QCqsfDlWnMLFGVWl0Hj8iwVEeuQEFgmRYTx-sKOW5I4Vvqg4WICjuvY4lpQ4KU56ATstEgD/s1600/horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5sHtEI46SR5BPguLLE3MBedOMWNvVIlO62EAs8FyVVX2Lf8Q0vbxf0d9Q0LNPQkAKVUk9QCqsfDlWnMLFGVWl0Hj8iwVEeuQEFgmRYTx-sKOW5I4Vvqg4WICjuvY4lpQ4KU56ATstEgD/s400/horse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Horse Therapist</td></tr>
</tbody></table> While in Marfa, I had the privelege of attending my friend Alyce Santoro's <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Join-us-this-weekend-for-The-Synergetic-Omni-Solution-with-Alyce-Santoro.html?soid=1102509771678&aid=nLKYsl3-Ux4">art installation</a> which was presented by Ballroom Marfa. Alyce has developed a 'sonic' material woven from old cassette tapes. In this exhibit, she combined it with her other passion, sailing, by weaving sails out of the material.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYXF1RBAmSfG5TluqEpeakxyIsxpH2uNBP3tewm2peSWd0BR9guTacic5778vG_2JOSqXdjQvAdcJ4qigG8KBNKm7-SS2rNWx4rXGTeYf_tfTeHD5Pxn689jOq8XgIvnCEqJY1fvOoech/s1600/alyce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYXF1RBAmSfG5TluqEpeakxyIsxpH2uNBP3tewm2peSWd0BR9guTacic5778vG_2JOSqXdjQvAdcJ4qigG8KBNKm7-SS2rNWx4rXGTeYf_tfTeHD5Pxn689jOq8XgIvnCEqJY1fvOoech/s400/alyce.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alyce Santoro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next morning, I feasted on a delicious vegan casserole, salad, and some ice cream at the Chinati Foundation's free brunch during their annual Community Day event. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljY2Sg7TCjNxmoZJ1VT6xiol5TS34krDFsvGreaeiTzQsjUBfITUgVveQrJGDGiu7Tftzmhn2PmTpWkOBJOM9ECAEYrSNjQ7XcNGEJtZtsXM9qbz7LYjzlZGByqum7pzv3BarsKCaUea0/s1600/chinati+brunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljY2Sg7TCjNxmoZJ1VT6xiol5TS34krDFsvGreaeiTzQsjUBfITUgVveQrJGDGiu7Tftzmhn2PmTpWkOBJOM9ECAEYrSNjQ7XcNGEJtZtsXM9qbz7LYjzlZGByqum7pzv3BarsKCaUea0/s400/chinati+brunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinati Brunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>As I headed out of Marfa, I passed by the house that started the 300,000 acre fire that engulfed Far West Texas in latter April. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gU5SNxs4XTpeUpQWR8498ETZdjfmZBeoDfX5AJVy5g7csuybDl68H3x2cwSeQSAl_ByYmP7KrDDmQzpe6LpbZi6WOE9UB4k4D8KwsMqf9QlAo_5owPR1mSbon2sYju7meLq_cSxHeAW6/s1600/rock+house+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gU5SNxs4XTpeUpQWR8498ETZdjfmZBeoDfX5AJVy5g7csuybDl68H3x2cwSeQSAl_ByYmP7KrDDmQzpe6LpbZi6WOE9UB4k4D8KwsMqf9QlAo_5owPR1mSbon2sYju7meLq_cSxHeAW6/s400/rock+house+fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock House Fire Starter</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5waoSlMhj0W5hao0ymBiFjpT-cgxcTgHwL3TpA4xMa3Q6twrLM6stKAlZYCAEQZHH9OS5U4dqAhTT-WBYWpqAUlSFJhYLdIe4J0ZjuFnPHnuvU8WcgibLA3v6wzzPOTveYd7x9oW9jFc/s1600/Sunset+in+Big+Bend+-+May+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5waoSlMhj0W5hao0ymBiFjpT-cgxcTgHwL3TpA4xMa3Q6twrLM6stKAlZYCAEQZHH9OS5U4dqAhTT-WBYWpqAUlSFJhYLdIe4J0ZjuFnPHnuvU8WcgibLA3v6wzzPOTveYd7x9oW9jFc/s400/Sunset+in+Big+Bend+-+May+29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in Big Bend - April 29th, 2011. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this was the view from my last show in the Big Bend until the Fall and also the first of 22 shows in this tour. A good way to end and begin. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/05/ruby-gets-starter-transplant-in-tucson.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-86363401906129576402011-04-28T22:19:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:21:21.019-07:00Ruby Goes Solar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkMh29YYVgMraYzY-F4ZfwmRpHtbmahC-sAJTsHWv3rihsT1pBItdVpDT1qAVEzR0rcePnBBsOVMDv7uPGJqtrOlvi2cqbYtTm0Zu42_SJ3dFEsaKnTz3K7uBhWlo-pFrwIFQylzK6EZS/s1600/IMG_4276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkMh29YYVgMraYzY-F4ZfwmRpHtbmahC-sAJTsHWv3rihsT1pBItdVpDT1qAVEzR0rcePnBBsOVMDv7uPGJqtrOlvi2cqbYtTm0Zu42_SJ3dFEsaKnTz3K7uBhWlo-pFrwIFQylzK6EZS/s400/IMG_4276.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby gets a solar panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was one of the things I wrote off getting done before I left on tour this week. But then my neighbor Rusty popped by (out here, anyone within 20 miles or so is a neighbor). Rusty salvaged my pipe dream about hooking up a solar panel to the roof of my Volvo in time for my tour through some very sunny areas.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Rusty mentioned that he needed a break from his current building project, and thought he'd stop by to see what I was working on. I told him my idea and asked if it was possible. He said "You mean to tell me that you want to get this all done by Friday?! OK, I'm in!!"<br />
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Luckily, I already had everything I needed: I borrowed one of the solar panels from my home, since I won't need it while away. I had the leftover battery from my old battery bank before I upgraded, the roof rack that my brother gave me a few years ago, a small charge controller from my first solar setup, and all the necessary cables. Rusty threw in some nuts and bolts, as well as his time and experience modifying cars.<br />
<br />
And so I followed Rusty to his adobe house up the backside of a cliff on a steep rocky road with very loose gravel. The road seemed to be moving in the opposite direction that I was driving, and after getting stuck a few times, I eventually made it to the top of the mesa where Rusty and his tools live. We did some drilling, soldering, metal bending, wiring, and eventually sleeping once we ran out of sunlight.<br />
<br />
In the morning, we daisy chained the engine battery to the new battery, so that the Sun would charge both batteries and also so that I could choose to have the alternator charge the 2nd battery while I am driving if need be.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzTtII6UnCXn_V2aj_2eSeRKrS2IPZOnxdeuK9P7Fv-OY_zxmxEwclKV-i5f1eUiYu91l6w-aqb9WjwjjIARDDhJVerlgPe54NI7MCGZNWSAwLliO8oFNENfaBam-d9I2KNG4XCS_fEiX/s1600/IMG_4279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzTtII6UnCXn_V2aj_2eSeRKrS2IPZOnxdeuK9P7Fv-OY_zxmxEwclKV-i5f1eUiYu91l6w-aqb9WjwjjIARDDhJVerlgPe54NI7MCGZNWSAwLliO8oFNENfaBam-d9I2KNG4XCS_fEiX/s400/IMG_4279.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Mohr, the solar dealer, built this solar array that moves electronically with the angle of the Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Afterwards, I drove by Ron's house to get his approval. Ron is the solar dealer (one of the them) around here. He sold me my panel and also the battery bank and other toys.<br />
<br />
While on the road, I can now power my <a href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/03/solar-cooling.html">fridge</a> <a href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/03/solar-cooling.html">(same one I use at home)</a> and laptop, and if the situation arises, plug in a sound system for an impromptu performance on the side of the road.<br />
<br />
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5603846554103754260" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-20823795227163131292011-04-26T10:26:00.000-07:002011-04-28T21:32:47.033-07:00McMercy Family's Annual Pilgrimage to Far West Texas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbQvnuEHYtAUzbq275O-qH-XDOAoyEHRYlVzVq3MVyrx253kIOiLwKKriBqDxy4REPBK6t0c3fnoiwyiKzCBBSfDaSzsDftDaqK4PG8t9v15kRk53g6u2aXWn_3S2hCKB8_d6fQUQ3U6X/s1600/jam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbQvnuEHYtAUzbq275O-qH-XDOAoyEHRYlVzVq3MVyrx253kIOiLwKKriBqDxy4REPBK6t0c3fnoiwyiKzCBBSfDaSzsDftDaqK4PG8t9v15kRk53g6u2aXWn_3S2hCKB8_d6fQUQ3U6X/s400/jam3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The McMercy Family Band returns to Far West Texas for their annual pilgrimage. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The themes this week have been trains and music, a great combination I think. Of course, there was the well publicized and well attended <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mumford-sons-play-high-spirited-show-in-marfa-texas-20110426">Ralroad Revival Concert</a> that passed through Marfa this weekend. But there was also my lesser known train trip back from a short Passover trip to Houston to play a weekend warm up show at Padres in Marfa with my friend, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/jackwilsonmusic">Jack Wilson</a>. <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>AND, The McMercy Family Band's annual pilgrimage out to Far West Texas for Easter Weekend. This group of unique personalities perform eccentric versions of traditional and not so traditional gospel tunes. It was the usual... nonstop jams, soaking in the hot springs, energized perfomances, large feasts for 20+ musicians, no sleep, a large suspicious convoy driving late at night down the heavily patrolled West Texas Highways (we didn't get stopped this time), and a couple of car breakdowns. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Here are some pictures from the weekend:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBgax64gHmF9Rza3SdKI-elDMKVfnE5rnApI3_tkkdfXtaq-NCtLq33ov4oUjwFlMX4FBrvYN-JSDLTY9pJChKtVmn0tSryrsBIcKThmRzWAgctXbJJpB-xTSPjLOqJuIYZi1P3K6iJtc/s1600/jam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBgax64gHmF9Rza3SdKI-elDMKVfnE5rnApI3_tkkdfXtaq-NCtLq33ov4oUjwFlMX4FBrvYN-JSDLTY9pJChKtVmn0tSryrsBIcKThmRzWAgctXbJJpB-xTSPjLOqJuIYZi1P3K6iJtc/s400/jam2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Lots of jams in Tent City</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlk7B2OaHASIiFFB43dV87-vwYr8A83Yc0h5ODkt7nv0-iYEe1N97dnpMEH-OVl94YLG2iAq-oDx58n4GrIJgZa1B511Wf8EXndSgR9HcEkG2UfLp7j_N63YsK7LXXTj125RWmR-je1Yi/s1600/breakfast+in+dome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlk7B2OaHASIiFFB43dV87-vwYr8A83Yc0h5ODkt7nv0-iYEe1N97dnpMEH-OVl94YLG2iAq-oDx58n4GrIJgZa1B511Wf8EXndSgR9HcEkG2UfLp7j_N63YsK7LXXTj125RWmR-je1Yi/s400/breakfast+in+dome.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">large breakfast feast in the dome<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnyNFx49XSraZNdaL_OtEheg1kExWLiAuPdVfQo4Yu7kbFt6652UC13AbE4qD2YmttxrHpUEdOu3DL8R8iVsyTbfpt2hT1-s_-UD1BfWbZnhW_LigjYHt2ThmUBttF-OAfvPNxhrFgoyW/s1600/coffee+grinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnyNFx49XSraZNdaL_OtEheg1kExWLiAuPdVfQo4Yu7kbFt6652UC13AbE4qD2YmttxrHpUEdOu3DL8R8iVsyTbfpt2hT1-s_-UD1BfWbZnhW_LigjYHt2ThmUBttF-OAfvPNxhrFgoyW/s400/coffee+grinder.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Michael Rubin hand grinds the morning coffee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWSL9H0t2VGTgEo3_KNmLjPBQHz2LpXMXja-pMnPYPBYQPRa4Q9ftK6vyFIz0U4y9Om0J2GnLt0q9fcG4e2xLV8X2ZaZmOt-XvZn9LANbbESs_4Ktl2m6uS-VUkQNiJq6A6gwMuO37eLn/s1600/Linky%253ARon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWSL9H0t2VGTgEo3_KNmLjPBQHz2LpXMXja-pMnPYPBYQPRa4Q9ftK6vyFIz0U4y9Om0J2GnLt0q9fcG4e2xLV8X2ZaZmOt-XvZn9LANbbESs_4Ktl2m6uS-VUkQNiJq6A6gwMuO37eLn/s400/Linky%253ARon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some of the best music was off stage:<br />
Ron Scott and Linky Dickson</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzTgszNKOHnrBTmyEsMpVqEafnfCEuHZt_1NeY0wyWuOGKFNimXG5JwrjieAU5PjmxGMpXfcuc0RMS_Ir_oP1KXVCGtMl-PxpLMhRhTIOaEB4rRv07o2YjqTBKRY-fOu8ZD5NG0Bdok_h/s1600/mcmercy+at+starlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzTgszNKOHnrBTmyEsMpVqEafnfCEuHZt_1NeY0wyWuOGKFNimXG5JwrjieAU5PjmxGMpXfcuc0RMS_Ir_oP1KXVCGtMl-PxpLMhRhTIOaEB4rRv07o2YjqTBKRY-fOu8ZD5NG0Bdok_h/s400/mcmercy+at+starlight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the best music was ONstage: <br />
The McMercy Family Band at the Starlight Theatre</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0tg9P4K3ZbKSbcbskyTxliWMEZEIntLkfkvJ4PgaKqxx2i8-6ZSLxKm1DyQQJc9R7Kfj_570NYkPiaGAA_Ul8aV7-P7SUn4C-Pt6CKQgqBIZNfd6evB6EZpmbYtvdpAhbXekDQ0K77Ye/s1600/train+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0tg9P4K3ZbKSbcbskyTxliWMEZEIntLkfkvJ4PgaKqxx2i8-6ZSLxKm1DyQQJc9R7Kfj_570NYkPiaGAA_Ul8aV7-P7SUn4C-Pt6CKQgqBIZNfd6evB6EZpmbYtvdpAhbXekDQ0K77Ye/s400/train+window.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">train window view of<br />
burnt fields in west texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHJMZG0xilL9QHxufQfLsTs-D6C-qkdMDHwPh5gyra3l9qS8P4mmLNP4QJ2OJhymI9JDc7xS9jAn4qOZxgEd1V64hbSjKPMBFyn_310KanN8doIy__uI9MtfanVJ3dBqLU-0vHflUkgdh/s1600/fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHJMZG0xilL9QHxufQfLsTs-D6C-qkdMDHwPh5gyra3l9qS8P4mmLNP4QJ2OJhymI9JDc7xS9jAn4qOZxgEd1V64hbSjKPMBFyn_310KanN8doIy__uI9MtfanVJ3dBqLU-0vHflUkgdh/s400/fortune.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">So far, so true. You may need to click on this one to read it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=APP_ID&xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/mcmercy-familys-annual-pilgrimage-to.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-28309723685278547262011-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:002011-04-14T10:50:41.354-07:00Build Some and They Will Come<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kvHultF4fp0" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe><br />
<i>Ike and Wendy perform a desert ballad on mouth harps</i><br />
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Well I haven't even finished building and they are coming. Since early February, most days I have had friends or strangers camping on my land, from anywhere from one night to two weeks. This seems to be a popular getaway for Canadians. I have had 3 sets of guests from Quebec. Two from New York. Many from Austin. And from a few other places with cold winters. It has been enjoyable. I seem to do more hiking and see more sights when I am showing visitors around. I also learn a lot from watching the way that others live off-grid, what they cook, etc. Hopefully, they learn something too. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Ike and Wendy, who I know from the Kerrville Folk festival camped out here last week. Ike is more of a dome enthusiast than anyone I know, other than Don Bryant. He ogled over Don's work and I could see his head spinning with ideas. Same thing happened to me when I first saw Don's buildings. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvY1AYSF6WRwFPIJrOunj4M-F8LE2UrnS5krZ5ttM9CiLBG8eFWUn_WXaFLMWm8nGv_ExsmsM3A-4oPSiO9PUt1q7iz4sTWxBZs5Ybi1_9N-xvGcTDWCQeEteHSrubX-at5WLrJszyZC5/s1600/derek.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvY1AYSF6WRwFPIJrOunj4M-F8LE2UrnS5krZ5ttM9CiLBG8eFWUn_WXaFLMWm8nGv_ExsmsM3A-4oPSiO9PUt1q7iz4sTWxBZs5Ybi1_9N-xvGcTDWCQeEteHSrubX-at5WLrJszyZC5/s320/derek.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derek masters the Cram-Alot</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">My current guest is Derek Hansen, a cyclist who is prepping for a short little bicycle ride to Montana. We are linked by mutual friends in Austin. We put him to work this week in our volunteer recycling crew in Terlingua. And of course, I coerced him to mix a few batches of stucco after I showed him how, while I stuccoed the last piece of the exterior perimeter. Now all that is left of the outer cover coat is the very top. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">On Tuesday night we had a dinner in the shade of the dome. Eight friends and neighbors came by for a big pot of pesto pasta and some jalapeno and onion mashed potatoes. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I do have to get more disciplined about keeping to a schedule, as I am falling a little behind on booking Summer shows as well as all the logistics that go along with my tour coming up in May (making and mailing flyers and other forms of promotion).<br />
<br />
One thing that definitely keeps me homebound is the Fina station in Terlingua, where the lowest octane is now over $4 a gallon. Ruby prefers top shelf gasoline, but she seems wiling to make the sacrifice in these hard times. It now costs me almost $10 to get to Terlingua Ghost Town and back, so it defeats the purpose of two for one (veggie) burger night at the Starlight Theater. </div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=APP_ID&xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/build-some-and-they-will-come.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-43138091507094267752011-04-11T19:56:00.000-07:002011-04-14T07:44:22.283-07:00The Blackened Fields of Far West Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIUpJTptpMy90O9gkUFZyDvZb_pHVg9pIi22JmbuL1_8XtxdJRjHrmLmQOCaq5jM7JpU7LPhYy3tLWsPxZcP9S6XZaZkW8qapqWgChrLq8qqfIFWVq3nD3VxGX8IE89duEAYsULwQlyoF/s1600/west-texas-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIUpJTptpMy90O9gkUFZyDvZb_pHVg9pIi22JmbuL1_8XtxdJRjHrmLmQOCaq5jM7JpU7LPhYy3tLWsPxZcP9S6XZaZkW8qapqWgChrLq8qqfIFWVq3nD3VxGX8IE89duEAYsULwQlyoF/s400/west-texas-fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761056920" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">John Schwerdtfeger</a></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtRmXB9gamt13pNvD0AMbnpWbsWKGGc9mEm3vMtAM0lZtCbh8ucOsRBKCWHDoS7RVXCC7sog2yAzrTMg3hCZKt5OJi7cWYx5MURnGJkUTjFTQSa5txInzD7YRZHdxCrBXAqmvlzTq_Xxk/s1600/tumbleweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtRmXB9gamt13pNvD0AMbnpWbsWKGGc9mEm3vMtAM0lZtCbh8ucOsRBKCWHDoS7RVXCC7sog2yAzrTMg3hCZKt5OJi7cWYx5MURnGJkUTjFTQSa5txInzD7YRZHdxCrBXAqmvlzTq_Xxk/s320/tumbleweed.jpg" width="320" /></a>As I headed home from weekend gigs in the Big Bend and Marathon, along the same highway I have driven many times, it was unfamiliar. Unrecognizable.The vast West Texas fields that alternate between green and yellow have turned black in an instant.<br />
After more than 6 months without any rain, the aggressive and unrelenting winds are taking this opportunity to escort the blaze through unconvincing obstacles, such as hilltops, meadows, and houses of convention. While there have been no human casualties, many other mammals have perished after being trapped inside barbed wire boundaries. As hydrants run dry, firefighters are combating the flames with a resource we'll never have a shortage of here in the desert...dirt. <br />
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<div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=APP_ID&xfbml=1">
</script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/blackened-fields-of-far-west-texas.html" num_posts="10" width="500"></fb:comments>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-28079307570967072572011-04-07T21:03:00.001-07:002011-04-08T11:44:39.834-07:00Big Bend Getaway<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEKU1bjITLD4MdsGzhOBdPNUwtSvnV6lpMAnF-zlRpOLATO34_LabJN8uLxDJWwGu2IEd8F1PdVsJz8AJDi-1gQDStcCDDT3BROAO8PFA7byLCERDGzpC8jzj2zgsIHtAR4w2CJVrTE2_/s1600/tim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEKU1bjITLD4MdsGzhOBdPNUwtSvnV6lpMAnF-zlRpOLATO34_LabJN8uLxDJWwGu2IEd8F1PdVsJz8AJDi-1gQDStcCDDT3BROAO8PFA7byLCERDGzpC8jzj2zgsIHtAR4w2CJVrTE2_/s400/tim.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Lost Mine Trail overlooking Mexico</div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The last few days I've taken a much needed break from routine and spent some time in our National Park. No gigs, no booking, no building, no dishes or laundry, just convening with one of the greatest national parks in the country. There is a rumor that Big Bend National Park could shut down this weekend indefinitely along with all the other national parks in the country because Congress members are using public programs and workers as pawns in their game of chess. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaHprgIrJ_mFcug5Wm648xAFwIWrjMZ0uoNpaSf3C6r8nQipmzRvgdFyv9Z0VZuLuNsVKSEmj5zIG1otCMOpaEAI2WBA0YH3a8qNRTtC9NB_EbfhiBHBKJEuqI7kVlVGHHszIZ5etqVC_/s1600/rio+grande+swamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaHprgIrJ_mFcug5Wm648xAFwIWrjMZ0uoNpaSf3C6r8nQipmzRvgdFyv9Z0VZuLuNsVKSEmj5zIG1otCMOpaEAI2WBA0YH3a8qNRTtC9NB_EbfhiBHBKJEuqI7kVlVGHHszIZ5etqVC_/s400/rio+grande+swamp.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Rio Grand Village Swamp</div><div><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The 3rd <a href="http://www.terlinguagreenscene.com/">Green Scene</a> last weekend was a success. There were demonstrations on cob building, earthship construction, and rainwater harvesting. Don Bryant and I gave a demonstration on building with ferrocement. And the live music was all powered by the sun, which we did not have a shortage of that day. All proceeds went to benefit Terlingua's community garden and recycling department. </div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=APP_ID&xfbml=1"></script><fb:comments href="http://earthlanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/big-bend-getaway.html" num_posts="6" width="500"></fb:comments><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603846554103754260.post-35875604934671599932011-03-30T08:24:00.000-07:002011-04-08T11:46:08.376-07:00Ocotillo Tea, Ferrocement, and Tour plans...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcFIe8P329kHcMzMumIdCB9c3kYp-CdfJexjcSITLDySVhF6kVdJje3d8BjXQcHjLtJakmKWzujRNoolGP_JCCOpQcVKv_0od3c8XP6GzxTS-qNkLBqpUOKlA3EtBvq38dVQcPgkBYmJy/s1600/ocotillo+blossoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcFIe8P329kHcMzMumIdCB9c3kYp-CdfJexjcSITLDySVhF6kVdJje3d8BjXQcHjLtJakmKWzujRNoolGP_JCCOpQcVKv_0od3c8XP6GzxTS-qNkLBqpUOKlA3EtBvq38dVQcPgkBYmJy/s320/ocotillo+blossoms.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocotillo in bloom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Today, Don Bryant and I started prepping for the ferrocement demonstration at the <a href="http://www.terlinguagreenscene.com/">Green Scene</a> in Terlingua this weekend. Our one hour workshop is one of many on the subject of off grid living and sustainability. Ferrocement is the binding of sand, metal, and cement. It is the material that the dome studio is being built with. We stopped by Bonnie Hill, a friend of Don's, who he built a ferrocement cistern for about a decade ago. They last forever, unlike the plastic cisterns that are expensive and allow algae to grow. Bonnie has a thick Ocotillo orchard that is in bloom. She told me that she makes a tea out of the blossoms and she let me pick some to take home to try. It is good! Fruity!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8EewK5pl6VhBdzLQA3MlS0ZsY6wsNIahYY8pHa63rQBNWDABHXLwD35ORXTc-xqjbFa3wXG6yRlb-Ox7ALHhQy96EbdUaFZycPz7K3tOlNFftfxTdMTMhduHcnf8PSA-is_gnEu7WyIt/s1600/ferrocement+cistern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8EewK5pl6VhBdzLQA3MlS0ZsY6wsNIahYY8pHa63rQBNWDABHXLwD35ORXTc-xqjbFa3wXG6yRlb-Ox7ALHhQy96EbdUaFZycPz7K3tOlNFftfxTdMTMhduHcnf8PSA-is_gnEu7WyIt/s200/ferrocement+cistern.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ferrocement cistern</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxgNhi6QHeoq0m7_881Qvc6W6MfbTwsHX_vmo8leveNjTlGc600fgqHGRCkFhjA8LD0TJ1Xu_-mlnTVoMe9YImQJ-EIZwlHqYjQf91Qgi9nL7Cy12n144EjJD1_QqV1OWPlTmSpZhB8im/s1600/ferrocement+cistern+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxgNhi6QHeoq0m7_881Qvc6W6MfbTwsHX_vmo8leveNjTlGc600fgqHGRCkFhjA8LD0TJ1Xu_-mlnTVoMe9YImQJ-EIZwlHqYjQf91Qgi9nL7Cy12n144EjJD1_QqV1OWPlTmSpZhB8im/s200/ferrocement+cistern+interior.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside a ferrocement cistern</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div>I am in the midst of booking two tours. One is complete, other than I still have to do the tour. But it seems that booking is the hardest part. A full time job in itself. The actual tour is the payoff. It is a good thing that I don't have rent or utility bills, or I would never have the time to book. In May, I leave on a 3 week tour that will include about 15 shows in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The tour after that will be around the perimeter of the country, by train. It has been very challenging to build a tour around where and when the train goes, but I figure that by Summer, gas will be at least $4 a gallon and the train will be the better option. I also like the idea of a car-free tour. I've done it once before with fellow songwriter, <a href="http://www.elamblackman.com/">Elam Blackman</a>, last time gas went above $4 a gallon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyymrcjlVnuvpAjiCiY1XQvtHPEze0YOOH5r0omsAkieSz1Rxg2D78RAuF9yoW8u1tmdHAIjc6bd3a-2epOXuZa1bkSgn_sr_UuRMLRtr7M-7F6gLuJ9vAjltdcapeI862HrdA84QL_iy1/s1600/domeland+security.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyymrcjlVnuvpAjiCiY1XQvtHPEze0YOOH5r0omsAkieSz1Rxg2D78RAuF9yoW8u1tmdHAIjc6bd3a-2epOXuZa1bkSgn_sr_UuRMLRtr7M-7F6gLuJ9vAjltdcapeI862HrdA84QL_iy1/s400/domeland+security.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domeland Security</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8EewK5pl6VhBdzLQA3MlS0ZsY6wsNIahYY8pHa63rQBNWDABHXLwD35ORXTc-xqjbFa3wXG6yRlb-Ox7ALHhQy96EbdUaFZycPz7K3tOlNFftfxTdMTMhduHcnf8PSA-is_gnEu7WyIt/s1600/ferrocement+cistern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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</div></div></div>trevor.reichmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09488715405593336625noreply@blogger.com8