The Sightseer's Guide to theGalactic Peace Tour

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2012-01-25T19:29:00.005-05:00

Here's one I served this time of year at my little hotel a few years ago. It'll warm you up in more ways than one!

Cider House Rules

1 1/2 oz Apple Brandy or Spiced Rum
5 oz Hot Apple Cider
Whipped Cream
Cinnamon Stick

In a mug or heatproof glass, top the Brandy or Rum with hot apple cider. Top with whipped cream and the cinnamon stick.

Ice Cream Blues!

2012-01-20T10:17:00.004-05:00

The Texas Tornado needs his own ice cream flavor! Would have to be something like Cotton Candy Pop Rocks. Chocolate strawberry swirl dipped in Pop Rocks could be fun for kids. Silas could have one too, Maui Wowie seems appropriate. French vanilla with Pepsi swirl, with pieces of papaya and herbs might suit him!

Let's All Scream for Ice Cream!

2012-01-19T18:23:00.006-05:00

It's 4 degrees outside and I'm going to write about ice cream? Why not, we'd been talking about ice cream and now Silas has his new song on You Tube which is so much fun! I recently found Graeter's http://www.graeters.com/ Cincinnati's favorite ice cream in the local food store frozen food section and paid dearly to buy a pint. I don't remember my parents having an ice cream maker when I was a kid but my Dad loved the stuff so there was always ice cream in the freezer. There was an ice cream store a half block from my house called Ball's Ice Cream in Lexington, Kentucky and I was there a lot! My big indulgence there was a banana split which they would build in a tall milk shake glass with everything stacked on top of each other. Heavenly!

It seems we can credit the Chinese with some of the idea of ice cream, possibly as early as 3000BC. It began as you might expect with ices mixed with various flavorings. Eventually it ended up in Italy with Nero being a fan. The Arabs were the first to use milk and sugar, the French added eggs to the recipe and we in America took them out. As you might have guessed, by now ice cream has probably more flavors and types than any other food group. From savory to sweet, plain to exotic, there seems to be no limit to what you can create from a simple ice cream recipe.

Here's a list of the top ten best ice cream shops in the world compiled by The Virtual Tourist http://www.virtualtourist.com/:

10. Lula's Sweet Apothecary, New York, N.Y.http://www.lulassweetapothecary.com/

Even the pickiest of palates can experience silky satisfaction at Lula's Sweet Apothecary. Lula's innovative creations are vegan-friendly, nondairy, and gluten-free. Lula's has mastered the use of coconut and cashew milk, and created cone after cone of heavenly bliss.

9. Is Fra Skaro, Skaro, Denmark http://www.isfraskaroe.dk/EN/AboutUs/TheThinking/

Healthy ice cream. This concept sounds counter-intuitive, but at Is Fra Skaro you can enjoy the goods without the guilt. Situated on a remote island off the coast of Denmark, this shop is not your average creamery. Instead of sugar, Is Fra Skaro utilizes the island's local birch trees as a natural sweetener.

8. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Columbus, Ohio http://jenisicecreams.com/

Featured on the show "Best Thing I Ever Ate," Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams lives up to its motto: "Less sweet, more flavorful." With an enticing assortment of mouth-watering flavors, Jeni's pleases the tongue with seasonal sensations like Backyard Mint and Corn Syrup Custard with Whiskey & Pecans.

7. Molly Moon's Ice Cream, Seattle, Wash. http://www.mollymoon.com/

You'll run around the neighborhood looking for Molly's mobile ice cream truck once you get a taste of this mound of melted heaven. Molly Moon's Ice Cream uses locally grown, organic ingredients to create popular and unique flavors like Mandarin Chocolate Sorbet or Rosemary Meyer Lemon. Check out Molly's Twitter page for the latest scoop on seasonal flavors, and coordinates so you can stalk that truck.

6. Fenocchio's, Nice, France http://www.fenocchio.fr/eng_index.html

Experience gelato at its finest. Fenocchio's has served happy faces for many generations, and continues the tradition in this family-owned business. With more than 94 flavors, 35 of which are sorbet, Fenocchio's has perfected the art of Italian-flavored ice cream with Tomato & Basil, Rosemary and Thyme. For a less traditional treat, try the Cactus, Violet or Beer sorbets.

5. Leopold's Ice Cream, Savannah, Ga. http://www.leopoldsicecream.com/

Founded in 1919, Leopold's Ice Cream has been a mainstay in Savannah for many years. This classic yet modern shop prides itself in continuing to serve original recipes from the early 1900s. You can indulge in signature flavors like Tutti Frutti and Butter Pecan, or try a scrumptious new treat like Bananas Foster or Thin Mints and Cream. No matter what flavor you choose, your taste buds will thank you!

4. Grom, Torino, Italy http://www.grom.it/eng/index.php

Grom takes high quality to a new level. Made from only the freshest ingredients, Grom's desserts use cacao and coffee from Venezuela, fruit grown from their own farm, and Lurisian mountain water for its sorbets. Grom's commitment to premium products has helped propel this franchise into a widely recognized international chain.

3. The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, New York, N.Y.http://chinatownicecreamfactory.com/

The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory puts an Asian flare on an American staple. Over the years this establishment has evolved from a sweet treat into an iconic representation of the Big Apple's melting pot of culture. OCICF recently introduced its newest flavor, Zen Butter, a delectable blend of toasted sesame seeds and peanut butter.

2. Giuseppe Ricci, Madrid, Spain http://www.heladeriaricci.com/
Love at first lick? Locals boast that Giuseppe Ricci serves the best gelato in Madrid, and the growing lines are a testament to this belief. You will undoubtedly experience instant gratification once you dive into this luscious, creamy dream. Don't leave without trying After 8, a refreshing blend of mint and chocolate.

1. Scoops, Los Angeles, Calif. http://www.yelp.com/biz/scoops-los-angeles

Scoops is perhaps Los Angeles' best-kept secret. Unlike other popular creameries, this hole-in-the-wall establishment attracts theme park-length crowds, with unbeatable prices and rotating exotic flavors. With surprising options like: foie gras and onion, Thai iced tea and strawberry Riesling; you'll find yourself waiting in line every day, just to see what's on the menu next.

Ice cream stores like Cold Stone Creamery http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/about/cold_stone_story.html where they mix ingredients of your choice is an idea you can start with at home and take it to a whole new level if you love food adventuring. Here are two recipes to try and you don't have to make the ice cream!

Pistachio Ice-Cream Pastries with Orange & Date Salad

Ingredients: (serves 8)
2 pints bought pistachio or any good-quality ice-cream
10 sheets filo pastry
1 oz unsalted butter, melted
7 oz sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tbs orange flower water

Orange & date salad:
1 orange, peeled, segmented
4 fresh dates, seeded, cut into slivers
2 tbs pistachios, chopped

Directions:
Allow the ice-cream to soften slightly, then pack into a lamington pan lined with plastic wrap. Refreeze until firm.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a large baking tray, then place a sheet of pastry on tray, brush with a little butter, then place another sheet of pastry on top. Continue layering and brushing until you have a 5-sheet stack. Repeat to make another stack. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.
Meanwhile, place the sugar, honey, cinnamon and orange flower water in a pan with 1/2 cup water. Stir over low heat to dissolve sugar, then increase heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.
Remove pastry from oven and pour syrup over each stack, reserving a little syrup to drizzle. Set aside pastry to cool.
Use a pastry cutter to cut out eight 6cm rounds from each pile of pastry and eight 2.5 inch rounds from the ice-cream. Return ice-cream rounds to the freezer.
Make salad by combining orange, dates and pistachios in a small bowl. Add a little of the reserved syrup. Place a pastry stack on each plate, top with a round of ice-cream, then another pastry stack. Drizzle reserved syrup over top and serve with salad.

Banana Choc & Peanut Butter Ice Cream Terrine

Ingredients: (serves 10)
4 cups vanilla ice cream
7 oz chopped banana (2 small bananas)
1/4 lemon, juiced
2 cups chocolate ice cream
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
5 Double Delight Oreo biscuits (Peanut Butter 'n' Chocolate Creme)

Directions:
Line a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing extra to hang over the sides. Place half of the vanilla ice cream into a bowl. Allow to soften slightly. Blend the banana and lemon juice until pureed. Fold through the ice cream until well combined. Spread into the base of the pan. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm.
Place the chocolate ice cream in a bowl. Allow to soften slightly. Swirl the peanut butter through the ice cream. Spread over the banana ice cream layer. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm.
Place the remaining vanilla ice cream in a bowl. Allow to soften slightly. Use your hands to roughly crush the biscuits into the bowl. Fold the biscuits through the ice cream. Spread over the chocolate ice cream layer. Cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight to firm.
To serve, invert onto a chopping board or serving platter. Remove the plastic wrap and cut into slices to serve.

So whether you like your frozen treat as gelato, sorbet, super premium, something on a stick or in a cake, a bowl or a cone, I don't think it's ever too cold outside to enjoy. You can always warm it up with some hot fudge if you have a mind to and I don't mind if I do!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-17T09:58:00.002-05:00

Silas found this, so please enjoy! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Silas and Bibi!

This Way to the Goatman!

2011-12-11T13:37:00.009-05:00

Mark Twain said about traveling: “Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” What about the ghosts, the spirits of the dead who hang around here just to give us the willies? They can travel wherever they want, right? What are they looking for when it comes to choosing where they want to spend eternity, an old haunt (I know, I know)? Maybe it's the unfortunate circumstances which one dearly departed is trying to correct or simply recover from? I don't know. Some day I will find out when I, too, will become one of the dearly departed but how I would get back to you with an answer is uncertain at this time.

Silas was kidding around with a Goatman legend the other day, kind of like the Mothman Prophecy which is one that is creepy because of things that actually happened to the people in Point Pleasant, West Virginia and not just a urban legend to scare kids. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/bizarre/news-legacy-mothman I'm betting most of you know of these kinds of stories where you live and probably have even gone out to a deserted road and turned off the car lights to conjure up the spirits. Boys love doing this to girls and I am one who has been in that situation when I was a teen. Yeah, right, you laugh, you just go out and try it and see if you can keep from being so psyched out that you don't pee your pants! So, I'll admit, after Silas talked about Goatman, I was a little apprehensive at leaving my blinds open when I climbed into bed that night. Never one to like being closed in from the light of day, I was NOT going to give in to any inner fears. The bedroom is in the back of the house looking out to the woods. Wait, creepy things lurk in woods.

Anyway, according to Silas, Goatman was seen around Louisville but was heard to be heading south (laughs). This was a new one on me but I wanted to read about the urban legend so I did a bit of internet looking. Goatman legends are all over the place. I called him back to tell him about Goatman's Bridge http://www.goatmansbridge.com/ that is only a few miles from him in Texas. This is a good story and worth a trip over to see what's happening these days. As it turns out, so many people have seen spirits in this place near Denton TX (formally known as Alton) that there is a sign that the bridge is monitored by the Dallas Paranormal Society. http://dallasghost.webs.com/.

The legend is that Oscar Washburn and his family lived in a shack across the bridge where he was a goat farmer. He was a simple black man had put up a little sign on the bridge saying “This Way to the Goatman”. It was 1930s, the Klu Klux Klan still had a strong presence in North Texas. The Klan was not happy about that sign posted on a public bridge and one night in August 1938, they drove to the bridge and parked in the dark. Washburn was grabbed from his home and lynched over the side of the old Alton bridge in what is now known as Denton TX, a suburb of Dallas. The old iron bridge, built in 1884 had five foot railings so when the Klansmen ran off the bridge to look to see if Washburn was dead yet, they were horrified to see just a dangling rope and no body. They ran back to the shack to see if somehow he'd escaped death but he wasn't there so they murdered his family. Oscar's body was never found.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-alton.html

To this day, there are all sorts of apparitions on the bridge, in the surrounding woods and sightings are numerous. It's said you can park your car in the dark, turn off the lights and honk the horn and strange things will happen. People have reported hearing hoof beats on the bridge and splashes into the water directly underneath. The paranormal people have measured the temperature changes and set up tests which they say proves existence of activity. I'm feeling skeptical at the moment but if pressed to go at midnight and spend a few hours waiting for ghost to appear, I don't think I'd have the courage. Anyway, it's a cool urban legend and I think Silas should go over there and do some playing and filming---in the dark, with the lasers. Ooooweeeoooo

I am Naduah

2011-12-04T18:27:00.012-05:00

When Silas was in Amarillo a few weeks ago to film the Balloon Fest in the Palo Duro Canyon, I started searching the Internet for other places he might like to film as he was going to be there 4-5 days. The best part about navigating a tour is all the fun stuff you discover on the Internet. You can't possibly see it all and so you have to choose what it is you want to capture and share. For Silas, it has to be highly visual as the tour will always be about music and film. We found a fascinating story about a reluctant heroine that seemed it could only be a work of fiction. As usual, if it weren't true you wouldn't believe it.

Cynthia Ann Parker was a little girl of nine happily living in her new home in Texas where her father had relocated his and several other families in 1827 to work with the Indian tribes. Texas was still part of Mexico then and Indian bands were many and not used to whites coming onto their lands. The Parkers had built a fort for their security but they wanted to be friendly to the tribes so when a group of Indians came to ask for water and food, they didn't expect to be attacked. Many whites were murdered and Cynthia and her brother were kidnapped along with other women and children.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fort_parker/

Kidnapping was common among tribes for ransoming captives for money or trading to other tribes. If there was no purpose for a person, such as a baby, they were considered a liability and put to death. Cynthia and her brother were just old enough to be useful. They became servants. John learned to ride and grew to become a fine young warrior until he was felled by small pox. He was ejected from the tribe along with the Mexican girl who he'd fallen in love with. He eventually recovered and they married and lived a civilized life in Texas.

Cynthia had lost touch with her brother when they were separated into different bands. After five years, her native tongue was lost and likely some of her understanding of her native language. As a young teenager, she was nearly able to be returned to her family when she was found and approached by a soldier who'd looked for her. She sat stone faced and silent when told of her surviving family. It isn't known if she didn't understand what he was saying or was afraid of being punished for speaking. The soldier left without her.

Cynthia grew into a woman and became Naduah, wife of Comanche Chief Peta Nacoma and had three children. A second opportunity to return to her white family came when the Texas Rangers visited their encampment. When asked about leaving, she pointed to her babies and shook her head no. As the only wife of the chief, Cynthia no doubt had status with the Comanche tribe. The third opportunity for Cynthia to return to her family came when she was thirty-three. The Texas Rangers shot the horse out from under her and her baby Topsanna in a raid. She would have been murdered had not one of the soldiers noticed her blue eyes and realized it might be the long lost Cynthia. She and her daughter were taken away leaving behind her husband and two sons who were away hunting and did not know of the kidnapping.

Cynthia became a reluctant hero as her story, for years, had circulated far and wide. She attempted escape to return to her adopted Indian family multiple times. The State of Texas even granted her a pension of $100. a year. Cynthia was an embarrassment to her family that she was shuttled around to. She had an Indian baby and her ways were no longer as a civilized white girl. She was told a lie that her husband and sons had died. Later that year, her daughter died of influenza but by now Cynthia was a broken woman. She mourned her loss with an old Indian ritual by cutting her breasts and put her blood on tobacco leaves which she burned while she cried. She survived another seven years often not eating or speaking. She did not know that her husband had survived along with her first born son, Quanah. At the age of 43, Cynthia died of self-inflicted starvation. Quanah eventually became a well respected Comanche chief who also took many of the ways of the white man's civilization. He had looked for his mother all his life and eventually found where she'd been buried and moved her body to his birthplace in Oklahoma where he, she and her daughter Topsanna remain today.

“The Searchers” is a 1956 classic western film starring John Wayne and Natalie Wood is said to be loosely based on Cynthia's story. The trouble is that movies tend to romanticize and Cynthia's true story is quite harsh. Indians had savage ways long ago for whatever reasons, heritage, survival. Cynthia was young and innocent but learned to adapt and see the beauty in the Indian culture which she adopted as her own. This is far from all there is to discover about Cynthia Ann, the Parkers and her Indian Family. There is much information on the Internet and I am working on something that I am excited about. Fort Parker is a site worth visiting in Limestone County, Texas. Silas had thought there was a video he might like to do so he started with the poem that follows. It seemed a grand idea with music and dance but he feels it's so sad that it's not one he's interested in doing---for now. The poem really says what she must have felt.

The Death of Cynthia
by Silas Scarborough

Cynthia,

you're back home now.

You'll do as I command.

Recognize your family

as you'll not leave here again.

You bring shame

to your father

you'll stay in this cold room.

The tribal call,

to keen at night,

just foretells your doom.

You were proud

with that lost tribe

You rose to come a queen.

But here now,

in the civil world,

you're not fit to be seen.

The Devil's spawn

you've carried back

is never going to live.

For a half-breed,

mongrel child,

there's nothing here to give.

Cynthia,

you're back home now.

You'll do as I command.

You're a disgrace

to every white man,

but you'll live here ... if you can.

Do You Want Fries With That?

2011-11-23T13:27:00.016-05:00

Who'd have thought Dallas' less sophisticated cousin, Fort Worth would have one of the top places to eat in the country? Dallas is the restaurant originator's dream and Fort Worth, well...it had a lot of tacos. While the Galactic Peace Tour is on layover in Fort Worth, it gives Silas a chance to return to his old favorite for a drippy, juicy cheeseburger at Kincaid's Hamburgers. Most of us love a great burger and I had some when I lived in Dallas in the 90s including a not so memorable one at the infamous burger nazi's stand where he yelled at me because I took too long to find a quarter in my purse. I finally got to learn what Silas had been raving about last Spring when we visited Kincaid's and yes, it's true, they make one of the best burgers I ever tasted. I am in Iowa right now and there's not a great burger in sight unless I make it but more about that later.

Kincaid's started as a neighborhood grocery in the 1940s. Butcher, O.C. Gentry, started making hamburgers in 1967 to use up the meat scraps. Word started getting around the area at how good the burgers were an it wasn't long until one three foot grill wasn't enough. Gentry bought out Kincaid and concentrated on a casual place to eat from then on. Kincaid's is considered to make one of the best hamburgers in America, consistently winning awards from Zagats and national reviewers.

What then is it about this institution that makes Kincaid's so endearing to Fort Worth and all of Texas? The décor is simple, still looking much like it's market roots of the 1940s. Shelves line the walls with some canned and jarred goods as a reminder of the old days. Simple picnic tables covered in red and white checked plastic cloths and benches fill the restaurant where seating is community style. Folks might be sitting with strangers on a busy day. A counter for ordering is at the back at the restaurant with the kitchen beyond. Place your order and someone will deliver it to your table. All orders come in a paper sack with extra napkins which you will definitely need.

Texans, like their food simple and good. They want high quality ingredients and not a lot of frills. Since Texas is beef country, good beef is king. Kincaid's beef is Black Angus that is grass fed, hormone free and never frozen. The 80-20 chuck is cut and ground fresh everyday into 8oz patties. Burgers are cooked one way, medium-well. Tomatoes, lettuce and onions are also cut fresh daily. These burgers are stacked on top of the vegetables instead of the traditional way so that the juices of the meat can flavor them and not soak the bun on the bottom into falling apart. This is a juicy burger!

Old school crinkle fries accompany these burgers and a number of other classic sides and accompaniments can be found on the menu. Homemade onion rings, fried okra, deviled eggs and banana pudding as well as milkshakes, malts and floats add to the simple fare. Chicken sandwiches and hot dogs are also on the menu but the star is the cheeseburger.

Silas and Donika went to Kincaid's on his birthday. I thought he would surely want an Outback steak but nooo, he wanted the burger. A phone call on the way back from the restaurant gave me a chance to ask if they remembered to bring her puppy Toby leftovers. All I heard was a resounding “NO”! They both said there weren't any leftovers to bring! I guess that's as good a recommendation for a restaurant as there can be. Take that, big burger chains! http://kincaidshamburgers.com/

Ok, so you don't have a great burger joint around, I make this burger and it's a good one! Here's Alton Brown's recipe for “Burger of the God's”. If you don't want to grind your own meat, just substitute ground sirloin and chuck. Bon appetit!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/burger-of-the-gods-recipe/index.html

The Ghosts of Palo Duro Canyon

2011-11-02T08:04:00.009-04:00

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." Chief Seattle

Silas came from spending several days at Amarillo TX and the Palo Duro Canyon. He went to film the balloon fest "Pirates of the Canyon" but as sometimes happen, found something bigger.

The battle of Palo Duro Canyon was the major battle of the Red River War, which ended in the confinement of southern Plains Indians (Comanches, Kiowas, Kiowa Apaches, Cheyennes, and Arapahos) to the reservations. By September 1874 the warring Indians had camped in the protection of Palo Duro Canyon, where a Kiowa shaman, Maman-ti, promised them they would be safe. Col. Ranald Mackenzie led his Fourth United States Cavalry in a plan to trap the Indians in their refuge. Mackenzie reached the edge of Palo Duro Canyon on September 28, 1874, guided by the Tonkawa chief Johnson, and ordered his scouts to locate a path to the canyon floor. Although Mackenzie's attack on the large Indian encampment at sunrise on September 28 was designed to be a surprise, the Indians were warned by the Comanche leader Red Warbonnet, who discovered the soldiers and fired a warning shot. He was then killed by the Tonkawas. The leadership of the several Indian bands fell to the Cheyenne chief Iron Shirt, Comanche leader Poor Buffalo, and the Kiowa chief Lone Wolf. Because their camps were scattered over a large area on the canyon floor, the Indians were unable to assemble a united defense, the soldiers fought a series of skirmishes against a number of war parties who lacked the individual strength to defeat them.

Mackenzie's soldiers initially destroyed Red Warbonnet's village, an act that spread panic among the other Indian villages in the canyon. The Tonkawa scouts, accompanied by their women, were responsible for most of the destruction of Comanche property and also gathered an enormous amount of loot. Many Indians abandoned their belongings and even their horses and fled the canyon for the open plains. Some of the warriors fought back, sniping at the soldiers, but their resistance was insufficient, and by nightfall Mackenzie's soldiers and Tonkawa scouts had captured the Indians' villages and most of their possessions. The Indian losses at Palo Duro Canyon amounted to three warriors dead. One white was killed. Mackenzie's troops also captured more than 1,400 Indian ponies. Of these, forty were given to Johnson and another 300 to the other scouts. The remaining ponies were shot by the soldiers. Most of the Indians' supplies, including their entire winter food supply, was also destroyed. Though the loss of life on both sides was small, the battle of Palo Duro Canyon is significant because it represented the southern Plains Indians' last effort at military resistance against the encroaching whites. In spite of the help the Tokawa scouts gave to the soldiers, they were also forced to move to the reservation. Finally, in 1882, about half of the remaining Tokawa were killed by members of other tribes.

Silas takes you on a drive through the canyon. His wish is that you feel some of the strong vibe he experienced. The stark beauty of the canyon exposes dark wounds. It is said that if you visit at night, you can hear the sound of the horses. He presents the video with his original music titled "Going Downstream". My trip to the canyon, years ago, left me quite moved by it's history. My hope is that what you see and read here inspires you to explore more of the story, the place and the peoples.

Pirates of the Canyon 2011 Balloon Glow!

2011-10-30T11:09:00.006-04:00

Silas filmed this from the Galactic Peace Tour truck while in Amarillo TX for the Pirates of the Canyon Balloon Fest the end of October, 2011. Silas did all the editing and publishing from the truck! This is just the beginning! Stay tuned!

The Space Between Things is Filled with Stardust!

2011-10-28T17:51:00.014-04:00

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong claimed to have solved the mystery of "Unidentified Infared Emission features" that have been detected in stars, interstellar space, and galaxies. Observations of stardust formed in exploding stars called novae have chemical structures of a type of organic matter only thought to arise from living organisms.

Stars have no problem making complex organic compounds under near-vacuum conditions. Researchers say that not only are they producing on extremely short times scales of weeks but they are also injecting it into the general interstellar space in between stars. Silas was right. There is something magical in that "space between things" and it's called stardust!

Texas Panhandle, Yee Haw!

2011-10-27T10:37:00.012-04:00

Red Landscape 1916 by Georgia O'Keeffe

Years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a friend in Amarillo, Texas for the first time. It was a long flight from Philadelphia and after a day at work, I was tired and anxious for it to end. I hate window seats but had no choice for this flight. Lucky for me as when I looked out the window, when nearing the area, Palo Duro Canyon, in all it's glory, came into view. I knew nothing of it as my host hadn't mentioned it. It was a beautiful sight with the late afternoon sun accentuating the red rocks and dirt. I was to learn that this is the second largest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon. I hoped I'd get a closer look!

Amarillo is all out cowboy territory and I was visiting one. They take their state and ranching very seriously! I was going to see everything having to do with Texans, cattle, and mesquite. Good thing I was up for an adventure, whether I would survive it was another matter.

My first challenge was dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch: Home of the Free 72oz Steak. http://www.bigtexan.com/ My host dressed like every cowboy in the place, ten gallon hat, which stayed on throughout dinner, standard cowboy gear and embossed boots, thought he'd pull a fast one on me and order dinner. "Hon (I guess the waitress' name), Mountain Oysters for the lady". Lucky for me, I grew up with a grandmother that loved them and I knew what they were and had eaten them before. For the uninitiated, mountain oysters are bull testicles and they really do taste like chicken. After I polished off my dinner, the waitress told my companion "Hon, I guess the joke is on you". In any case, don't eat for a few days before going as you will need a big appetite.

But I digress. There's much to do and see around Amarillo. Route 66, the Mother Road, runs through town and for a few blocks, you'll find shops full of antiques and kitschy souvenirs. Nothing like a snow globe with a longhorn steer inside, right? How about a Texas-Right To Bear Arms coffee mug.

Cadillac Ranch is on Route 66. The Ant Farm, a San Francisco art colony partnered with billionaire rancher Stanley Marsh to confound the locals by burying ten Cadillacs nose down in the dirt on his ranch. http://www.texastwisted.com/attr/cadillacranch/ They've been in the ground longer than they were on the road and this is a ritual site with tourists from all over the world slogging through the mud to pay homage, add to the graffiti and snap pictures before the next wave of tourists arrives to add a fresh layer of paint.

I never thought of something as big as a locomotive being called an artifact. Santa Fe Steam Locomotive 5000 Madame Queen http://www.railroadartifactpreservation.org/is, indeed one. Train lovers will enjoy seeing this one parked at 2nd and Lincoln St. in Amarillo. She (seems appropriate to be a she) was in service from 1938 to 1953 for more than 1,700,000 miles. She was featured on the History Channel's Mega Movers.
She's a beauty! The kids and big boys will love it!

Palo Duro Canyon http://www.palodurocanyon.com/is the ultimate attraction, of course. Second only to the Grand Canyon, Palo Duro was formed by a fork of the Red River and covers approximately 20,000 acres. Incredibly hot in the summer and cold in winter, the canyon is dotted with caves and hoodoos (chimney formations) Nearby resident, painter Georgia O'Keeffe called it "...a burning, seething cauldron, filled with dramatic light and color." History and spirits make magic in this place. You might see coyotes, wild turkeys, rattlesnakes or fossils whether you hike, bicycle or just drive. A camera will be your best friend if you dare to look take your eyes off the scenery. I still have a small jar of the red dirt from there. Someone told me that Indians made paint from it. I was lucky to have made numerous trips to take pictures and explore. Here's a link to a panoramic view of the canyon. http://host.newspin360.net/pdcanyon/

I am so glad I got to see this beautiful part of our country. I met many friendly folks, proud of what they have and anxious to share and conserve. The cowboy is still there, raising little cowboys and girls and tending to his ranch. I did survive the trip and still have the boots I got and a pretty turquoise and silver necklace. I am glad Silas is there and hope the fact that it is snowing doesn't keep him from enjoying the wild beauty. If that doesn't grab him, Roswell is just down the road and around a bend. Talk about something different!

The Amarillo Convention & Visitor Center has quite a comprehensive wesite.
http://www.visitamarillotx.com/visitorsWelcome.cfm

Little Rock Nine

2011-10-25T14:02:00.009-04:00

To be the navigator on the Galactic Peace Tour for me means discovering interesting things on route. I am not physically in the seat but the phone is allowing me to ride along and enjoy the trip anyway. I sit in a chair with the laptop and see what I can find while Silas does the hard part, manage the terrible roads and look for a bathroom (laughs). He is nearly to his destination of Amarillo, Texas at this writing so the next post will be about the area around the Palo Duro Canyon and what I remember from a trip there long ago.

Yesterday was rediscovering the Little Rock Nine. 1957 was a pivotal year in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1954 segregated schools were declared unconstitutional but it took three years more years to implement a plan to safely enroll nine brave African American children into an Arkansas high school. September 4, 1957 Governor Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to block entry to the students. One of the students, Elizabeth Eckford, remembers "They moved closer and closer....someone started yelling...I tried to see a friendly face in the crowd-someone who maybe could help. I looked into the face of an old woman and it seemed a kind face, but when I looked at her again, she spat on me."

President Eisenhower summoned Gov. Faubus and forbade him to defy the Supreme Court's ruling. On September 24, the President sent the 101st Airborne and federalized the entire 10,000 member Arkansas National Guard thus bypassing the orders of the Governor. Entry into the school was not the end of the struggle which went on for years. There is much more to the story and you can read about it by Googling Little Rock Nine.

The best part of this pivotal moment in our history is that those nine children endured unspeakable acts and still went on to have successful careers. There's no lesson here other than hate and ignorance serves no one. It was interesting looking into it as Silas was driving past Little Rock. I like that it's what a road trip can do, provide some lessons in our history as well as sights to see, music to play.

Tour Launch Today!

2011-10-24T09:06:00.005-04:00

Today is a very big day! Silas hits the road on what will be a great test for the truck and equipment. After a huge amount of research, Silas went and picked up a new Honda portable generator yesterday. It's working beyond expectations and allows Silas to be warm and able to function within the truck. I love that there's no worries about generator noise that will transfer to the videos. The cost was most uncomfortable but there's no question that it's worth every penny.

I can't go on this leg of the trip but I am beyond excited to see Silas get going and do all the things that have been planned for so long. If there's a way I can still be the navigator and write about things on the trip to the balloon fest, that Silas won't be writing about, maybe I can. We'll see. I have been to the area and the travel blog that this one is linked with may well benefit. In the mean time, I will sit tight here in Iowa and continue to raise money for the tour.

Big thanks to Mr and Mrs Lotho for taking good care of Silas and for suggesting the Balloon Fest! We are going to see some cool music and video come out of this trip! Wish our guy well and safe travel. Happy Motoring Darlin'!

Waiting On a Peace Train

2011-10-21T14:57:00.002-04:00

Troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a good start!

Big Music, Little Music. It's All Music.

2011-10-18T14:18:00.005-04:00

Silas and I are in two separate music communities at the moment. One is huge, perhaps second only to L.A. and one so small you might not have heard of it. Nashville and Dubuque are as far apart as you can get in terms of recognition, production and stars living nearby. But in terms of music fans, my bet is on Dubuque being on a par with Nashville.

For a town of only 65,000 population, I have never seen such a strong, small town music community. Sitting on the border of three states and Minnesota not so far away, Dubuque draws from Illinois, Wisconsin as well as Iowa for a wide variety of music and players. Many rock and roll bands began here since the 1950s and because Highway 61 runs through town, musicians and bands have made their way through the area for decades. Bands come and go but the community stays strong in it's support and commitment to music.

Nashville is a million and a half population with a history of music going back to the mid 19th century. Music publishing and an early radio show which was heard as far as New York turned Nashville into the Mother Church of Country Music. Other than the Grand Ol Opry stage and a bygone television show, fans now can only drive by where the stars, that remain, have homes. These days there's a variety of music and venues are full of unknowns (same as Dubuque) hoping to make it to the big time. Probably the strongest thing about music coming out of Nashville today is it's production of music and a big songwriting community.

Big or little, one isn't better or worse. It's the people who listen and buy music is what is important. Most people who stop by our blogs came because of a common interest in music. Our life centers around music. Get out and support live music. Silas and I and a lot of musicians would appreciate it.

Occupy Galactic Peace Tour!

2011-10-09T19:39:00.005-04:00

I had no idea I had been absent for over a month! Thanks Mystery Lady for the ass kicking! There's been much activity around the marketing of the house. Today, it made the front page of the real estate section along with a big "Owner wants offers!" A lot of small repairs had to happen along with carpet cleaning and trips to Goodwill. I have learned a big lesson. When you buy anything, there will come a day when you have to get rid of it. I thought I had done a major sweep of belongings right after the Cincinnati show in preparation for moving. Way over a year later and I am still doing it. I sound like a hoarder but I was far from one, just a person with stuff. EBay is helping me get rid of things and I have been happy to give things to people who appreciate getting them. I'd give everything away if raising tour money wasn't important.

It was pretty blue with the end of summer landing with a thud and the tour sitting still. But--the purchase of two remaining key items is still pending. The good news is that the Gladys is newly serviced and was found to be sound except for the lighter where Silas plugs in the GPS.

Being hermits due to circumstances could be very tough if not for contact with others. Spirits are fine, just dreading the cold. Phone calls help and make for plenty to laugh about. Facebook is also helpful for sharing links about cameras, photography and other topics being researched, places of interest to visit, etc. Issues of the day regarding politics, peace and the Occupy movement are discussed there as well. There is a good amount of that as some of us have strong views. I have learned quite a few things about the political process through those conversations, which seems funny to say but it is a place to talk and share information. Activism is explored and ideas of ways to participate are shared. A group came together at the time of the fires in Texas and was able to rescue a large number of horses in danger. It was quite amazing and we learned that Facebook is a powerful tool that can be used effectively. Silas' videos get posted. Facebook is one avenue for getting the word out about his music but I think I will put the videos on this blog too as it will further distribution. His blog is not connected to other blogs where this one is.

I got to be in two new Sasquatch's today and had a blast. I had never done such a thing and was not very good but hopefully will improve. I found some of my grandmother's church hats and soon I hope you'll see them even if Sasquatch wears them(he said he would!) I would still like to see an Internet streaming show evolve once traveling begins. The new cameras are small enough to be quite handy for shooting views riding through a small town or visiting sites.

While I would love to be in Tennessee, there isn't room for me for an extended stay and Silas hates the idea of a rental while waiting out the winter. We have no answers at the moment although once the house sells will have to decide something. So don't worry about a thing, days are filled with one thing and another. The Scarborough family is large and extends around the galaxy. Some stop by the blogs to see what's new and are subjects and participants as well. Thanks so much for taking a few minutes of your time to take a look. Hope to see you next time!

PS: For those following Occupy Wall Street, Silas will be doing an Occupy the Truck!

Plenty Going On

2011-09-01T21:28:00.006-04:00

The damage from the deluge has been repaired and just waiting for offers, any offers, on the house. Meanwhile, I've been posting things for sale on Craigslist and trying to interest jewelry stores in purchasing fabulous jewelry for more than twenty cents on the dollar. EBay is still something I dread trying but there is a consignment office for it here in town and I will go visit tomorrow.

More interesting to me is learning about the new cameras which seem to be working out better than expected. I am also trying to understand Final Cut which will, no doubt, take the rest of my life. The best part is that Silas has a clear picture about what he wants to do so that allows me a fairly direct path to exploring what I need and want to learn.

We still have two generators to purchase, one more camera and some essentials which we can get at the last minute such as cooler, grill, etc. There's plenty going on and a lot of dollars yet to come up with but we are working on it. We'll get on the road when we are able. It is still hard to be patient but being properly prepared will make the trip so much easier and more fun! We're still excited!

Hanging In There!

2011-07-26T09:35:00.003-04:00

A year ago today was one of the funniest, most precious days of my life. Who would propose marriage to a girl on a blog?? I am happy to say, we are still engaged and will be married as soon as it's feasible. We are working through financial challenges and finishing up the truck and this and that.

We have lived together and loved it. We have traveled together and had the best time. We've had sad times and survived. We are on the phone every day, sometimes many times, figuring things out or just laughing at ourselves. Every thing we do, every day, is for the future.

We'd still love to have a big Silas show in a theater and a wedding with all our friends and families but it's unclear how we can pull that off at present. It may end up with vows being said on a mountaintop in Idaho with only bears and possums as our witnesses. We are already married as far as we are concerned.

So, to my husband, I'll just say, I love you more today than a year ago. I long for the day when we will never be separated again!

PS: You can see the proposal on Silas' blog by clicking "proposal" on the tag words.

Wedding Bracelets

2011-07-11T11:35:00.004-04:00

Trella McMahon is an extraordinary woman. We have made friends with her through Facebook and she is on Second Life as well. Trella is quite the busy lady with a farm in Texas where she rides, trains horses and dogs and takes care of her family, farm, garden and entertains friends. She has had an interesting and sometimes difficult life, yet she is certainly the most positive person I know.

Trella is an artist, writer, photographer, lover of people, nature and animals. She is also part Cherokee. With all that she does, Trella took the time to make Silas and I a set of wedding bracelets in traditional Native American beadwork. This is a picture of the first, in progress, still on the loom. Every bead has meaning and the following is Trella's explanation.

"The heart on the end have three gold beads, set three ways, the number three being powerful in any stand as well for the symbol of trinity. The four purple beads forming the cross is the four winds of life, directions you'll always be willing to follow with each other, always connected to the star--the galactic tour, which points on to your initials connected to the tied hearts of love through peace, faith and promise forever as symbolized by the rainbows of your connected souls. Woven of the same weave, continued around on the back-side of the same strung loom, so the weave was done on all the same threads, to become two to evolve further with love as the two in the end become one."

There are no words to express Trella's inner beauty and generosity of spirit. This gift is something we will want to pass down through our family some way. They are a pair of bracelets which I hope will stay together. We'll have them as part of our ceremony which Raven is already familiar with and told us about. We will be visiting Trella when we get to the Texas part of our travels. We will actually meet her for the first time then but she will get hugs like we have known her all our lives. Thank you again dear friend!

Two Weeks and Counting!

2011-06-26T22:52:00.007-04:00

This is the time when the clock quits going so slow and picks up speed. There's been plenty to do here although it seems like everything has gone in slow motion. I had to tackle a medical problem that took weeks to diagnose and treat with physical therapy. It's fixed now.

The other thing which I decided to attend to was switching a medication. I have had a hand tremor all my life passed down through generations in my family. I hadn't paid any attention to it but after discussing it with Silas, I saw that it's serious enough that operating the cameras would have been problematic. I have had five days with the new beta blocker and it's working quite well! The doc wants me to have vitals checked three times before I leave just to be on the safe side.

So, my one small (that's for Silas) bag is packed and ready to go. Tomorrow is either making a plane reservation or arrangements with Hertz for a rental car. I am beyond excited to get on the road with what we have planned. This year has been the best and the worst life has had to offer. We have waited so long for this adventure. I am just going to be happy to have it be somewhere in the middle with peace, love and a big dose of music.

The Thelma and Louise Expedition

2011-06-20T12:48:00.009-04:00

You remember The Louis and Clark Expedition, right? Ours will be just like that! Well not really, this one will be more like that of Thelma and Louise. The only comparison to Lewis and Clark's trip is that we will be traveling from East to West and have no idea what we will encounter.(laughs) Starting in New York to visit the good folks at Adorama if we decide to get the new cameras from them and heading West to see what we can see is what we are thinking of today.

Plans for the trip made over a year and a half ago haven't changed except that now there's a new IPad which will make video blogging a snap. I want to make short videos regularly so they will be picked up by the big travel, road food, senior and RV sites. We might roll into a small town at lunchtime and could easily point and shoot some Main Street video talking about what one could find around the area. Finding a mom and pop cafe to have the best grilled cheese sandwich within miles and chatting with Flo, the waitress or owners seems like it would be fun. I wouldn't mind trading a free lunch for a mention in the blog!

These won't be lengthy videos but provide enough to appeal to travelers, foodies, RVers, etc. The question is how to use some of this video, if we want to, along with that from the big cameras for a film or Silas' music videos. There's no doubt there will be shooting of anything interesting along the way to keep in a library, of sorts, for future use.

So now it's getting down to the details now about what size cooler to buy, do we really need a trash can, where to hang the IPad and butterfly stickers, for the inside of the Sprinter, etc. Silas has done an amazing job getting the truck ready to roll in spite of the Tennessee heat and his recovery. There is a lot of excitement in the air! Now if only, like The Lewis and Clark Expedition, we could just get sponsorship money from the President.

21st Century Homeless

2011-06-14T22:09:00.007-04:00

I expect there are a lot more invisible homeless people out there than we know. That's because there are laptops and lots of free wifi to keep in touch and most former homeowners probably have vehicles for sleeping and keeping dry. Our situation is no secret but there must be many who choose to hide their situation. Hopefully that will change.

I don't know how many of the US population are on the street but I expect the number is huge. I have been seeing more and more cars and vans at the rear of the Walmart parking lot where the RVs and semi-trucks park.

It doesn't need be so terrible these days with some preparation. Certainly there is no reason to feel embarrassed about it and perhaps with Internet, new groups will emerge to provide assistance or at least information. Heck, you don't even have to look poor or disheveled anymore.

I am writing some things down that might be useful to others as we travel around but with the IPad, and a MacBook, pretty much anything we need will be at our fingertips. Sure, there's plenty to learn and missteps will happen along the way but a good sense of humor and keeping things simple will make it all work.

So, no one should worry as the Galactic Peace Tour is about an adventure with music, cameras, phones, Internet and a really comfortable bunk. There will be plenty of tales to tell and pictures to see. There's lots of butterflies out there. Stay tuned!

Gifts From Afar

2011-06-11T08:54:00.005-04:00

Friend from Wales, June Kidd, sent us this wonderful gift! It's called a Welsh Love Spoon. They are traditionally carved from one piece of wood(not sure this kind). The upturned horseshoe is so luck doesn't spill out. Silas attached it to the driver's visor in the truck so it will be on the tour! This thrills June as she is a free spirit who, many years ago, sold her house, bought a van and traveled around Europe. June also fights for people's rights in many areas but mainly legalization of marijuana. She and her group mooned No 10 Downing Street years ago and made the British papers. We'll see what kind of influence this has on Silas' Naked Old People's Galactic Peace Tour!

And Then You Wait...

2011-06-08T19:06:00.005-04:00

I'm feeling somewhat useless at the moment. There isn't much for me to do but keep interest up on the plans and the music. I don't like living out of a suitcase and shuttling around to sleep in other people's houses. How is that different than living in the truck? It's different, trust me.

There was no way to know that things would happen to delay getting on the road again. We still don't know what knocked Silas down and it is going to take time to recover. The heat of summer is not helping. I will say, his playing has not suffered! I am seeing a wonderful new vibe and even strength in his music. So the stamina isn't there for anything lengthy but that will come in time. The accident with the Godin sure didn't help but it's almost repaired already so I don't see that any momentum is being lost.

Lots of music is being sent to CD Baby and ITunes! This is tedious work and not anything I can help with from where I am. When we were in Texas, we planned and worked every day on touring and the future. I have pages and pages of notes that we made. We have the IPad now so much of that will happen while we are riding. I am so looking forward to that again! I am really proud that Silas is not letting anything keep him from pushing forward.

Silas wants to me write about the tour as I see it from my point of view. I have much that you will see when we get on the road again. In the meantime it's a little hard to think of what to say, stay upbeat and positive but if Silas can keep going then I sure as hell can too!

This blog goes out to some big travel and other kinds of blog sites. That means that there is traffic on other sites even though comments are rare here on Duck Soup. That's a good thing! Now I have to get busy and blog more often. That's my marching orders!

Silas Scarborough Galactic Tour: CD Cover - Going Downstream

2011-06-03T18:33:00.000-04:00

Silas Scarborough Galactic Tour: CD Cover - Going Downstream: "CD Cover - Going Downstream , a photo by Silas Scarborough on Flickr. This would have been posted sooner but there were problems with Flick..."

Albuquerque Balloon Festival!

2011-05-31T17:23:00.002-04:00

Hot Air Balloons from Greene HD Productions on Vimeo.

This is going on the calendar!

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T10:06:00.002-04:00

Jimi was a veteran and proud to be an American. Remember what today is really about while you barbeque.

Can You Feel The Wonder

2011-05-27T23:10:00.001-04:00

If Duke Ellington were alive and played the guitar, this is what he'd sound like.

Hummingbird Reggae

2011-05-24T10:50:00.001-04:00

Sorry. I screwed myself with the YouTube prompter again and it went to the wrong place.

And Then You Wake

2011-05-23T14:59:00.005-04:00

Waiting is so hard to do sometimes. We are getting there!

Getting Back On The Bus

2011-05-15T09:53:00.002-04:00

Now that the most recent health crises is fading, it's time to get going again. That doesn't mean it will happen today but soon. Silas must take time to recover from this last emergency. Patience is not something I am good at even though I encourage others (Silas) to have it. I am dying to get back in my seat on the bus and get on with it!

The bus is not quite ready for touring yet. We have a new comfy mattress that was picked up yesterday but it has to be cut and placed. The IMac has to be installed so we can edit on the road and watch movies. These things take strength and energy that isn't there at the moment. A good health recovery is important for stamina when we are on the road.

We had planned to meet in Cincinnati where we can unload some of our things for storage. Getting as much out of the truck as we can is critical for being able to move around inside as well as unloading to shoot video and play music. Tripping over shoes and breaking a noggin is not anything we want to deal with on the road. We have had more than our share of interruptions this year and one can only hope we, and the truck, can stay healthy for awhile.

The tour is about spontaneity so what happens if trouble happens on the road? We will figure it out. Patience, AAA and 911 on speed dial and a good sense of humor is all that's required. Hmmm, I better write that down.

Green People on World Peace (video)

2011-05-07T17:03:00.000-04:00

Splat aka The Raven shares his thoughts on the steps toward World Peace. Alcohol might have been involved.

Rolling Hippie Art Bus!

2011-05-06T13:13:00.005-04:00

Once again the discussion of painting the Sprinter comes up. It seems maybe it isn't such a bad idea after all. The reason for not doing it before was to avoid interest from cops. That's all! It appears that there are far more reasons to turn it into art than not.

Letting our family's youth help launch the tour by putting their mark on the truck seems like a good karma thing. Allowing plain folks across the country add their signature, thought or piece of art would be so wonderful. Maybe some would invite us for supper, a place to shower or donate something fun for the truck. We could drive in parades! We could get some publicity for what we are doing (when we figure it out). It's even been suggested that we make it a rolling petition for bringing our troops home and we deliver it to Washington. We may need to save some bail money for that one!

I do think we have a chance to have a collectors item at the end of the tour and maybe sell it for a tidy profit! Perhaps a full sized RV would then come into the picture and what a statement one painted up that would make!

Worth Remembering!

2011-05-02T17:25:00.003-04:00

Wow, some things never change. The scary thing is that the smaller our world becomes, the more dangerous it is to each and every one of us. Each of us has an obligation to live peacefully with one another. Our children deserve it. All we ever needed was and still is--love.

Peace, Love and Rock and Roll!

2011-05-02T10:34:00.005-04:00

The news of the death of OBL has reinvigorated me! It is not that I am happy he is dead. I would have preferred he live in humiliating circumstances in our prison, on our soil. What concerns me is that the fact that peace now becomes more important than ever. The State Department has just issued a warning for travelers around the world but especially Americans. We have friends that will be affected by this and hope they will be safe.

The Galactic Tour is also more important than ever. It always was about peace, love and music but our efforts might have become much easier. Being able to talk to people about what inspires them to think about peace and love instead of Big Macs and living in the suburbs will be interesting. I certainly don't want to challenge anyone that they are focused on the wrong things, just curious.

Simple things seem to have disappeared. Focus on how we live and protecting that right has made people work harder, longer and for what? We don't live in peace, but in anger. We are tired, broke and fat. I know some of you are living quite well and have figured out how to balance your lives but I believe you are few.

We are focused on seeing and documenting what is truly about peace, love and music. The events of last night show, more than ever, how important it is to appreciate the simple things. So, if you have time today, wherever you go, smile at someone, open a door, give a hug, say thanks. You do have time, don't you?

America The Beautiful

2011-04-27T18:24:00.006-04:00

Well, so much of America isn't beautiful these days but that's exactly why we are making this trip. The economy sucks, there's drama in our government, we have invaded places we don't belong and obesity reigns in America. We are so caught up in the madness of survival and what we perceive is the truth as TV presents it, we are giving up precious time to appreciate what is really around us. We are going to find and show you that there is still much to enjoy and many beautiful souls everywhere you look. I'm not sure if we will get to Cincinnati in time for the Magnolias but it's a great place to start. There's nothing like the beauty Mother Nature paints with a brush. Heading west draws us.

Indian mounds are on the list as is much of South Dakota. We have an invitation to visit one of our dear friends from Second Life who is a full blooded Lakota. If we are able base ourselves there for a time, we can visit the Badlands, Black Hills, Devil's Tower and maybe even Sturgis (for a tattoo?). I have been there before but filming and making music in such surroundings will make it much more memorable. I was stuck by the gentleness of Native Americans I met there years ago and hope to show you some of their art and heritage.

As you know, the further west you go, America has extraordinary vistas so there's no specific plan beyond SD as we will let the road will lead us. Ontario is a possibility but ultimately the great northwest is a goal as neither of us have visited Washington and Oregon. Visiting friends in those places and documenting the beauty is going to be a joy. Maybe Sasquatch will even get to meet Sasquatch.

How we will manage such a lofty goal with gas prices as they are and living in a truck is unknown. All I know is that life and time are fleeting. Perhaps friends and family look at this as sheer madness but we will tell you that madness is going to our graves wishing we had not, at least, tried. Sharing with you is going to be our great pleasure.

Playing with Fire and Lasers in Tennessee (video)

2011-04-25T01:31:00.000-04:00

This is more experimentation with shooting laser videos plus Cybertron came back to do some more magical feats with light. It was cool to do it but what works the best is to shoot into deep darkness and to use the fogger The fire makes great smoke but it makes too much light so the coolest stuff was after the fire had burned down to embers.

Cybertron does some pretty whacked-out stuff with lights. That part is later in the video. I used "Call to Arms" for the audio but I wasn't playing it live.

LOOK AROUND!

2011-04-24T18:54:00.005-04:00

I am as guilty as anyone for not looking around where I have lived to see wondrous things. I always loved architectural things and the arts before noticing nature's beauty because that was my interest and education. Having lived two blocks from the Mississippi for 10 years, I should have looked more than I did. When the river is near flood stage like now, the old railroad bridge is just a few feet above the water and quite amazing to see! My friend Mark Dierker took the picture.

The sunsets in this part of Iowa are brilliant colored just the same as you would see when you are at the beach. Why that is I don't know but this area is where the glaciers stopped moving southward and the land is full of ravines and woods, not what you'd imagine Iowa to look like.

The woods behind my old house are lovely to walk in before the weeds take over. Catfish Creek is down there which empties into the Mississippi River. Morel mushrooms pop up this time of year under elms for a couple of weeks. If you are lucky enough to find this prized delicacy, you have a party and cook them up all at once for your friends.

Our tour is going to be all about seeing what's out there around America. We'll show you some but all I am saying (and what Silas has been showing you) is that wherever you are, there is plenty to see. Do take some time to look around, you'll be glad you did.

The Raven as Cybertron II (video)

2011-04-22T23:48:00.000-04:00

The Raven does another Galactic Tour set and you won't believe what he did this time. How he acquired these magic powers isn't yet known but it's pretty cool to watch what he can do.

This was done entirely off power from the Galactic Tour Remote Unit. There are four lasers and a light effects unit and a controller. Was too chicken to try any additional hardware. The inverter got warm but nothing caught fire.

There was too much wind to use the fogger but definitely next time. This would look astoundingly cool with smoke blowing through it to reveal the beam path of the lasers.

All of the laser / light devices are mounted in fixed locations in the truck and require no set-up time to exploit them for a remote video shoot.

I'm most pleased by how it's coming together and also that it's been quite inexpensive. Six bucks for the clamps for each laser and nothing additional required.

Casino Jack

2011-04-22T22:08:00.001-04:00

Cool movie about Jack Abramoff was the feature on a rainy Friday night. Kevin Spacey starred and was excellent as was the de-licious Barry Pepper. No, I am not becoming a movie reviewer, just liked the movie. I remember when Abramoff fell and brought down Tom Delay but as I am not much of a news watcher, I wasn't sure exactly what happened. I do want to watch The Black Swan too, but it looks creepy (my new favorite word) to me.

Silas wants to hang a propane grill off the back of the truck Right above the exhaust pipe)LOL. We will be a rolling time bomb. Stay tuned.

The King's Speech

2011-04-21T22:37:00.004-04:00

An Oscar winning achievement? I doubt it. I love period films (I really do) and this was a fair one. It was certainly invasive of a troubled life, however public it was and that was uncomfortable. Is it my right to peek into that, I don't think so. I know how much I respect privacy and try hard to protect mine but I suppose public figures are fair game. Just because they are doesn't mean I choose to gawk at or judge their troubles. Judgemental people surely have nothing better to do.

I was ready to bail on the film about a third way into it but my friend suggested we give it a chance. I was impressed with the starring role but it was always acting. I saw it to the end and now I know more about poor King George than I want to.

Movies are so poorly done, for the most part, that I have succumbed to the blow things up and noisy films of late (at least they hold your attention with action). So, nothing lost, nothing gained and a few hours passed in relaxation with a glass of wine and a friend. Where is my chocolate donut and warm pajamas? Oh, there you are!

Galactic Tour and Peace Truck Planning

2011-04-21T13:28:00.001-04:00

Whoops. Went to the wrong one!

I Shall Be Released- The Band- Festival Express

2011-04-21T10:57:00.000-04:00

This is from The Festival Express which was filmed in 1970. A group of musicians chartered a Canadian Railways train to travel to 4 different locations for a Woodstock type of gathering. It was a financial failure and the fourth appearance was canceled for because of a conflict. What's a shame is that it doesn't seem possible for anything like this to ever happen again.

PREPARATIONS FOR LAUNCH

2011-04-20T18:30:00.008-04:00

Spring is bursting forth as planning for the tour is under way. What the heck does that mean?? It means no planning in a traditional sense. We'll begin in the truck as it's paid for, works just fine and is reasonable to run while gas prices are still high. Until the day comes that is isn't practical for staying in and we figure out a better living solution, it should serve us well.

The beauty of this phase of the tour is not planning anything. We can go where ever we want at a moments notice. Actually we will always be on the way to somewhere. I want us to do video blogging as much as possible. A year ago we talked about how we would travel and make it fun for travel fans to see the little roadside places and maybe review waffles and waitrons at the Waffle House in Mobile. It's not to compete with TV because it isn't TV but I think we can be just as much fun. I know we will have as much fun and won't have to worry about some producers telling us to do it over again.

The jewels of the tour will be visiting unique and special places where Silas can play his music. There won't be audiences as these will be special times where Silas can explore his music in surroundings that move him. Those will be put on high quality DVDs and sold for a small price. You'll be able to sample those on YouTube.

Practicality rules the next few weeks. Silas is working on the truck interior and testing the equipment that will be used. I am working on the financial part and paring down clothes---again. We dream of better video cameras and new Mac Books and a huge tour bus with a driver while we sit in the back and edit video on the computers but we don't have those. If you think this will hold us back from having the time of our life, think again! We have been dreaming of this for over a year and are so ready to get rolling. I hope we will see many of you along the road so let us know if that is something that interests you as well!

FIGURING IT ALL OUT

2011-04-15T12:28:00.004-04:00

A year ago, we had a plan for the tour that was solid and exciting to say the least. Flooded laptops and relocations put so much on hold. Now that all that is behind us we are talking about ways to get going again. The speed with which the world and internet related things change, ideas of a year ago need to be looked at again to see how we can do what we love best.

We've learned much since we moved in together. We don't do well without eating properly. I can't believe we haven't gotten fat eating at fast food joints but we haven't! The best food besides an Outback steak and some curry from Amol India, once in a rare while, is the food we fix ourselves. We like the same foods and get a kick out of fixing them. How to take care of ourselves is unclear at the moment.

We would love to be on the road all the time doing our videos around America. We have something to offer whether you call it video blogging or something else. I really want Silas' music to get back out there as well although it make take some convincing. We both need the music! Our new IPad is going to make creating music, videos and the on the road activities easier and more fun. We are really excited about the possibilities.

The problem is how to travel and use our money wisely as not to run out. We found living in motel rooms to be depressing not to mention expensive with no return, ever, on that money. We can do motels now and then but not every day. That leaves truck living, an RV or a shack we find to set up as a studio and base for all the computers and instruments when we are sitting still. Maybe there options we haven't even thought of yet.

It was a shame Cincinnati didn't work out. I love it there and we both have friends and family we care about but for now (and maybe always) it is not in the cards. Tennessee is the place of comfort for now. Thank goodness it's Spring and we have warmer weather to figure it all out! Onward ho!

GETTING BACK TO LIVING

2011-03-31T20:24:00.003-04:00

The 8th to the 29th of this month was totally off track with a medical emergency that ended sadly. While it took me to my knees, I could not have gotten through without Silas. When an emergency such as this comes blowing into your life without a warning, there is no time to plan or think rationally what to do. I was lucky. Silas showed me the way and stood like a rock beside me. In fact, he was the only rock in a family that was desperate for answers. Silas taught me about death and dying, and other things I didn't know how to deal with. This was an act of love that went beyond anything I could ever imagine. I am so proud of him. Now it's time to get back on to the music and it's my turn to help him to do those things which make him who he is and happy. It's my honor to do so. I love you Darlin'.

HAVING SOME FUN!

2011-03-14T16:00:00.003-04:00

Yes, we do that! Yesterday, we went to a kids basketball game which was hilarious. One of the Moms was killing us yelling at the ref. Silas had never seen a game before but I grew up watching the Kentucky Wildcats so knew a little. Unfortunately we forgot to take the camera!

We just came from the movies. This is something I would have never thought of because I haven't been in a movie theater in 25 years. Silas knew where to go and how to do it first class. There is a beautiful facility near by that has food out the ying yang and 18 fancy theaters with cushy seats. We went to see Battle Los Angeles. It was a big screen with fabulous sound, just right for alien effects and explosions. I am not a chick flick chick so loved all the big action and noise. One of my fav all time movies is Apocalypse Now Sure, I like other types of movies too. Wizard of Oz is one as well as All That Jazz.

We are working through figuring our next moves here. We had a lovely chat with Mystery Lady and look forward to seeing her soon. We have a video planned for Going Downstream and a great location for it if the weather breaks soon enough. Winter seems to be hanging on just long enough to be annoying. But we are eating fine and have a comfy bed to sleep in. The family is loving Silas and there's been some funny things to see. We each have new families now which is the delightful part! Everyone on both sides of our families is extremely busy and don't have much time to give us which is fine for us as we like our space. We know we couldn't do what young families do these days with all the commitments and pressure so there is much admiration.

We've been busy the last many days and Silas is playing again but no shows are planned for the moment until we figure out a few things. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to some more movies at the Wednesday old goobers day. I am also looking forward to what's next in our life which, as usual, is a surprise every day.

DOING THE BEST WE CAN

2011-03-04T11:57:00.003-05:00

I am staying with family to help care for someone just out of the hospital. Silas is near by in a motel until Tuesday. We get to spend some time together everyday. We are holding on to each other more than ever while we try to find something affordable for him for awhile. I hate for for him to have to go stay in TN as he is a big help to me and I don't know what I would do without him. We love being back in Cincinnati and plan to stay. So, there's alot of worry but also it's Spring and hope is on the air!

A LITTLE CULTURE DIDN'T HURT

2011-02-19T14:34:00.012-05:00

When the weather turned warm, leaving the house seemed like a good idea. Trolling Walmart and Krogers was getting old (just kidding, although I do wonder what management thinks about the old folks walking around holding hands in their stores all the time). That left, what I really wanted, some museum adventures. The cultural district has them all in one place and we found free parking!

We began by visiting the World Trade Center artifact just before it was to be put away for some time by the Museum Of Science and History. It was a pair of beams from the 101 to 103 floor of the North Tower (three floors above where the plane hit). They will be preparing an exhibit which will place it in the position it was found at Ground Zero. We saw it on a flatbed trailer with a fire truck standing in honor at each end. There was only one other couple that walked by on their way into the museum so we had it preety much to ourselves. That surprised me as was the fact that I could walk all around it and touch it. I had to do that, to feel those spirits. I wasn't trying to take anything mystical from that but give something from me to say how sorry I was that this horrendous act took you from your loved ones. We didn't talk about it when we got back in the truck. There wasn't anything to say.

A visit to the Kimbell Museum followed with a look see at works by artists we all have heard of and studied in Art History class. Nothing blew us away except for one small Michaelangelo called The Torment of Saint Anthony. Said to be his first painting (no way could anyone paint like that first time in their life). We got our souvenir postcard of the painting and now have two things in our collection of memories that we have to find a place for. I know Silas is thrilled-laughs. Well the painting did inspire the jazz man as you have probably already seen. The Kimbell was designed by Louis Kahn and is quite beautiful.

The next day, we ventured to The Modern because we saw on the internet that they had three Jackson Pollocks. After seeing the movie staring Ed Harris last week we wanted to go because the movie used Pollock's real paintings. It was a disappointment as all three paintings stunk (his pre-famous works) although I think I recall one of them being in the movie. The most memorable part of The Modern was the architecture, designed by my favorite Japanese Architect, Tadao Ando. Ando never had any formal study and was a truck driver and boxer before he gained recognition for his stunning use of raw materials and natural light. Outside there is a gigantic piece of steel that feels like a giant Sequoia tree and you can walk inside.

I can't wait to get back to one of my favorite museums, The Taft (Cincinnati). They have a cool shop there and maybe we can find some funky rings we can use for our wedding rings if we can ever afford a preacher. PS: Silas posted our silly photographic experiments on his Flickr. The camera loves him and hates me but so be it.

CNN PICKED UP THE JAZZMAN!! REALLY!

2011-02-17T23:32:00.000-05:00

YADAYADA

2011-02-16T11:14:00.003-05:00

Since last we met, the weather changed! It is lovely and warm and last night the windows were open for sleeping. My clothes are mostly winter, that I brought, so I'm not sure how to retrieve much from Iowa without adding to the truck's already full load. Travel is very close at hand so I'll have to wait and see what kind of room we'll have before making a run to get more clothes. Work clothes will probably have to take priority but not knowing the job market in Cincy, I am not sure whether to get my business clothes or casual. Running hotels again is not really what I'd care to do but the money is good. I might be more inclined to work in food but that's hard, long hours. In any case, it will be wonderful to get there and be close to family and good friends.

I was so tickled for Silas to drag out the Reverend Sasquatch again. I died laughing at his piece on lap dancing, I really want to get them somewhere where you can hear them. Silas says there are over 70 of them so maybe some CDs would help contribute a little cash for us. I also am mad for this new blues guy that he brought out recently! One thing we have talked about when we watch movies is whether or not some actors play the role or become the role. Silas becomes his roles and it amazes me. It makes me wonder if way back when he was invited and didn't go to LA to make music would he have gotten the acting bug and been somebody we read about in the tabloids now. But then I wouldn't have met him.

I am not thinking as much about what we do musically in Cincy yet. Silas thinks about it all the time but it's too scary for me. We can balance things fine that way. I just have to rein him in from time to time and we laugh. A long ago when we were struggling to get to know each other, via long distance, I wondered if he would ever hear me but our good friend Harold told me that he does listen. That bit of information gave me the patience to stick around and I am so glad I did. Life is so sweet and hope grows for the future if we can survive our current circumstances. I love you Darlin'.

A giant piece of the World Trade Center wreckage arrived a couple of days ago at The Museum of Science and Industry. It will be be outside until 2pm today and I want to go see it, touch it. I doubt touching is possible but I always felt like I should have gone to NYC after it happened and helped in some way. I didn't so maybe this little visit will put that to rest. Before we leave Texas, I'd like to visit the Kimball Art Museum, designed by Louis Kahn and the Botanical Gardens. So much to do, so little time.

FROZEN FANNIES

2011-02-01T17:32:00.004-05:00

Yep, what goes around, comes around. All those phone calls from Silas telling me how cold he was in Texas, I laughed. It is bloody, bone chillin' cold inside! We can stay inside and cover up with blankets and stuff but all those people here for the Super Bowl and warm Texas air must be pissed. When you go on vacation, you take clothes for the perceived climate, right? I remember this from my last "Girls Gone Wild" trip to Key West a year ago. It was the coldest week on record, pffftt.

So today, we take a hard look at new ideas for using these cameras to make something happen financially and for fun. We'd starting talking about how to build a creative life over a year ago with Cincinnati as a base. Things changed abruptly and we are just now getting back to seriously thinking of ways to accomplish this, pretty much along the same lines.

We aren't Ken Burns or anything but I believe if we do enough research, there are some opportunities to present the indie music community, maybe as it's never been presented before. I am still unclear how we can make any sort of a living from it but it's worth the time to spend researching instead of watching television.

We are disovering that the things each of us a good at are different enough to avoid butting heads, therefore it's kind of a dance. Oh, if we only could have started this 30 years ago! Oh well, no lamenting. The time is now and we must make good use of it and we do.

I did the laundry, ran the dishwasher and made brownies. Silas WILL make supper or I'll kick his ass.

THIS IS TOO EASY!

2011-01-30T11:46:00.006-05:00

Sitting with Silas every morning in our pajamas, he doing his thing, me doing mine, no words being said, how hard is this! Life is simple and sweet. We get off on going to the supermarket. He makes the best curry and tuna salad with raisins and peanuts. I don't want to annoy you with sweetness but it's all so much easier and better, than we ever anticipated and just want you to know that.

So after a few years of a Second Life romance and three weeks of real life living together, we had our first date last night. Doing things a little backwards? Yeah, we are. Unconventional people do things unconventionally. Kids like us growing up looking at life differently, you eventually decide you'll never find another one like you but surprise, suprise, sometimes you really can.

We were all psyched to go see Matthew Broyles (Matthew Perrault in Second Life) at The Cellar in Fort Worth. It's a TCU dive bar with a long and storied history. We set up in advance of what we thought would be a 11pm start time for Matthew and when the band started up, the camera was turned on. Hmmm, this is not what we thought. This wasn't Matthew's band but a cover band doing all the stuff people with whole lotta likker in 'em love. Oh well, the crowd had a rootin' tootin' good time and we used it to test the video and sound. Matt's set didn't start till 1am! I am quite glad we didn't know in advance that we need not have come till midnight as we might have blown it off in favor of laying on the sofa watching a movie.

The majority of the crowd left at the end of the cover band's set and I wondered if Matthew thinks like Silas does, "Man I can clear a room like nobody's business!" The small room with fewer than twenty people allowed us to be able to watch from our spot in the rear instead of looking at the backs of people standing in front of us. It was funny watching people standing where they thought they would be seen by the camera but Silas had cranked the tripod way up high so unless you were on the dance floor two feet in front of the band, you weren't going to be in the shots.

Matthew had a great set list and put on a show to be proud of whether there it was for 10 people or 300. He's a pro, he knows what he wants and delivers. This is not a guy with a day job and doing gigs at night, now and then. He has a family to take care of and so far, he's making it. It's a trick to know what to play for an audience, play what you want or play what they want to hear. It was clear he did both because everyone in the room had fun. Beth Odets with her Skelator violin may have had the most fun as when I hugged her at the end of their set, she was soaking wet. There's a lady who puts everything she is and has into her music and knows how to have fun doing it. Matthew put it well, she adds a lot of texture to his music.

So, this is how Silas and I like to do a date. Go play with some music and cameras, sneak in a smooch now and then or just steal a glance and smile. If we could make a living doing this, then how cool that would be. On the way to the gig last night, we passed the midway at the rodeo all lit up with rides. The evenings are warm here so maybe tonight we'll take a camera to shoot some of the neon lights and folks eating corn dogs. Date number two coming right up. Yahoo!

ADJUSTING...

2011-01-14T15:43:00.008-05:00

How hard can it be? Well, if there is any adjusting to be done, I'm not sure what it would be. It's terribly cold outside so wandering around the area isn't much fun. Exploring the grocery store is interesting with Silas. He just wants spices and doesn't care what we put 'em in. When we spent periods of time together before this move, we just ate out. Now we are learning about what we like to eat at home and who can cook what. So far, we are good on the peanut butter front and have gone through a half a jar in 2 days.

I am a southern girl and like anything deep fried and cooked with sugar, pepper or bacon grease. Silas' tummy ain't gonna like that so I have to learn some new tricks. Fortunately he likes his food spicy so that works for me. We'll figger it all out and have fun doing it. If we eventually manage getting our own place, some day, I have lots of fancy kitchen gear and a thousand cookbooks. Getting back into writing about food and wine might create some revenue again, which would be nice.

Life here in the studio is quite easy. Good people allow good things to happen and we all are doing just fine. I haven't learned to drive the truck yet but that will come in due time. The music gets better each day. I don't know how that works but it's amazing to see it unfold. Silas is exploring some new things his gear can do and when he straps on the Godin and twists some knobs, songs just magically appear. From the beginning of listening to Silas' music in SL, I wanted to "see" him play and how things worked. Watching him play is just as much fun as listening, for me.

There is one habit I would like to establish in the studio. That's to record everything. There have been a number of times when he's played something that was so amazing it could have gone straight to a CD. "Did you record that Silas??" "Um, no." He doesn't like the idea of being aware that he is recording but if it's just a habit we get into, the thinking about it part goes away.

We spent some time last night in Second Life going to shows by some fine musicians we've enjoyed in the past. It was so wonderful being greeted by old friends and the musicians themselves. To be remembered and missed warmed our hearts beyond measure. We'll try to manage a Second Life wedding as lots of SL friends have asked us to have one. There are those across the pond and far enough away in the USA, that won't be able to come to our real wedding so this is a way to share with those friends.

I have never had any kind of a wedding anywhere so I am most shy about either, so what ever we do live or virtually will have to be short and sweet. Funny, yes, a funny wedding would be good.

"Do you Silas and Bibi promise to love each other forever and make lots of music?"

"Yep"

"Sure, why not."

"OK, yer hitched, now let's party?"

I know this all sounds strange to those of you who have not experienced Second Life. There is no way to explain how much you can get from it, you'd just have to experience it. But isn't life like that, getting back what you put into it? Second Life brought Silas and I together and I guess that's all I need to say. So, adjusting is going quite well, well enough that we talk about the future. Wow, that blows my mind!

TEXAS HOUSE JAM

2011-01-10T10:08:00.012-05:00

Spending time in Silas' company is fun for me, as aside from interesting connversation, there will be music and things to learn and much comedy as I have said before. Laughing till your sides hurt isn't sounding to bad for being homeless.

Who knew what last evening would turn into other than sitting around and talking but it evolved into a real jam for a few hours. There was just three songs being played with but enough time was spent on each to explore places to go them. "Make My Day" is such a cool number from our Second Life friend Ictus Belford. Different folks tried it and sounded quite good. It was a lovely time.

So today, is day two we'll go find breakfast, get a post office box, go to Guitar Center and whatever other have to stuff we need to do. It's cold and grey outside but inside is filled with warmth, music and love, lots of love.

AND SO IT BEGINS

2011-01-08T22:40:00.007-05:00

Sitting up late last night talking to Silas made for a crazy, slept too late, kinda morning. It was a mad dash to the airport and $120. in baggage charges as I made one bag 65 lbs! Flights were just great with good weather and early arrival. Silas was right on time but wrong on the pick up location (my error) but it was so wonderful to see him after 6 months. We just did an SL show and laughed over all the Facebook hoopla but the support there and in SL has been wonderful! Yeah, it's crazy and foolish but I didn't know what else to do! I hope he is as glad I came as I am.

I can't comment on Donika as she is away at the moment but she has an amazing house. Silas' music is so much better to hear in person and the accoustics in this room are good. The first thing he played was "Mashing", which I melt into a puddle over every time. Seeing all the work he puts into every piece of music is quite remarkable. I got to see it December 2009 but this new music is making for lots more effort on his part. UStream doesn't begin to show how much gear there is here or how much he really puts into a piece of music. There are lasers and smoke going now (Silas showing off the toys). He's noodling on the keyboard now and it's beautiful and then he adds the guitar and we have the beginnings of a new song. I love that! The funniest news is that snow is coming to DFW tomorrow 1-4 inches! I swear I had nothiing to do with it!! So, it has begun.

COUNTING DOWN!

2011-01-01T11:21:00.008-05:00

Seven days to blast off! I am starting to feel like I am climbing on the tour bus now. My clothes have been shipped to Texas and I am figuring out how to pack an elephant into the last suitcase which flies with me on Saturday. When we originally planned the tour, I was riding shotgun with the Sony handicam, Bibicam and laptop to document our travels and reviews of cheap motels and dive bars. Everything is different now so I'm not yet sure how to provide interesting reading material here.

If we can get out and about around DFW then perhaps there will be some fun adventures. Adventuring on the cheap (or free) will be a challenge. All the cool places have an entry fee. We want to go to the Arboreteum and I wouldn't mind showing Silas the Texas School Depository building which gave me chills when I visited long ago. There's lots of good food around DFW. We went to a fabulous sushi place last year when we went to the Texas Jam. Silas introduced me to the delights of Asian cuisine. That may sound funny since I come from the food and wine business but I have carefully avoided sushi all my life. Boy, was I wrong to do that! We both like good Indian food so perhaps we can find a place we can afford or Silas can make it, he says. Maybe that would make for some good piccys, Silas in an apron!

Mostly for him, adventures are artistically based and I expect there will be much indoor time. That means when I am not helping him, I will have to do my own thing, whatever that may be. I may find a job so we can have some fun money but that depends on how long we stay. Donika is most generous in giving us a place to stay while she and Silas work on dance routines and we will not want to abuse that. We will be moving up the road to Cincinnati in the Spring to Tennesse Jed's for awhile. Cincy is one of the candidates for the next stage show. Mystery Lady is going to, once again, play an intergral part and that will be exciting to see she and Silas working together again. So 2011 is going to be full of many wonderous things for the Scarborough family and we'll be sharing it with you! Happy 2011 to you all as well, and may your year also be full of amazing things!

LOVE ACTUALLY...

2010-12-25T11:43:00.004-05:00

Don't worry, I am not here to profess my undying love for Silas. He has been going on and on about this movie for weeks but I have steadfastly refused to watch it alone. It would just make me cry. The title is stuck in my head, though and so I started to think about what I have loved in my life. Love of family is a given for all of us and even when things go awry, it never wanes. We all share that.

I adored my elementary school girlfriends that I went to dance class with, walked to school with. We were dangerous, as in throwing water balloons on passerbys below from Mr. Stair's Ballet School on the second floor. I loved my Siamese cat that my Dad's friend had shipped back from a Parisian vacation. My father didn't have any sons so I learned about and loved fast cars, basketball and football. I still watch some Nascar but it will never meet the thrill of a LeMans or Indy 500 to me.

The person I loved the most was my Grandmother, Madeline Rose. She was one of 13 children born in rural Kentucky. As a young woman in dire poverty, she was given the opportunity to move to the city and work in a grand mansion with columns. Going to stay with her was the stuff of dreams for me. I'd ride up and down in the dumbwaiter and we'd sit on the roof and watch the sunset. There was a glorious lily pond and foxgloves covering the fence. I'd stick the red blossoms on my fingers to pretend I was a fox and chase the cat. She'd build a fire in the fireplace of her room and even in summer I'd fall asleep to that firelight. It was magic. She listened and learned everything about gracious living from those she worked for and lived that way till the end of her life.

The things I still love most are books. My Dad took me to the library every Satuday when I was a kid. Picking out my books for the week, sliding down the iron banister outside was part of the ritual. Then we'd go to the cigar store so he could get his Playboy or Car magazine and I could have a Heath Bar or Blue Monday candy bar and perhaps a comic book. I was an only child till my teens so books occupied a great deal of my time. I have a library of my own books now. Giving them up is exetremly painful. Perhaps they'll have to go in storage in hopes that Silas and I might have a home base of our own someday. I have been a wine and food writer so there are a thousand books on those subjects, collected over a lifetime.

The dream I love for the future is writing. I'd love to write stories for children, about some history of regional music, and some more culinary adventure, as well. When you build a life with someone whose is a talented writer like Silas, it can be intimidating but he is so encouraging, I think, more than any other time, I have a real shot at giving it a try. His poetry is also a project as I am dying to get some of it published.

One can certainly write pages and pages about things loved in a life well lived. I have just shared some from my past and a wish for something I'd love in my future. I hope at this special time of the year, you think about what or who you have loved in your life and smile.

THE FAMOUS BLOG PROPOSAL

2010-12-08T16:57:00.007-05:00

In case you missed it the first time, below is what I saw when Sister Jacques messaged me on Facebook and said "Did you see it yet?" "See what?" "The blog!" "You'd better get over there!" Holy Crapola!

I never had a clue it was coming and after a funny phone conversation with Silas and much hemming and hawing (whatever that means) I couldn't think of any reason to say no so I said yes. Well, the truth is, I could think of lots of reasons to say no but I couldn't. Here was a man I had loved for a looong time. I loved his humor, his amazing musical talent, his poetry, his way with words, his strong beliefs of right and wrong, his sensitive side, his honesty and straight forwardness. I also loved his baby blue eyes and the way he feels in my arms.

It's been almost five months since the proposal and it's been a struggle to get together. Silas has been in Texas for awhile but is still setting things up. I hope to finally be there in a few weeks. This is a big day because today is the day Silas returns to Second Life after a long time away. We know much has changed in SL and not sure if or how we'll fit into the virtual music community. We'd heard from many of you that Silas' music has been missed and that means so much to both of us. So in an hour, we'll see! The real life tour plans go on as before. If there is any one thing about the Scarborough family, it's that we have dogged determination to share good music and love with you all.

So, here it is in Silas' own words, once again!

A PROPOSAL AND GOING BACK TO PLAY IN SECOND LIFE
by Silas on July 23, 2010.

If it becomes necessary then I'll play in Second Life and try to build things back up that way. It wouldn't be begging for Lindens as that has disgusted me since I first started there. Instead the request would be for people to click the Web sites.

I apologize for getting unstable. The destruction of the laptop unbalanced everything. Cincinnati was to be the video base where all that gear and the computers would be safe. You saw what happened.

I also see that everything I've been saying to Ms Bibi has been, in effect, let's get married: let's go ride around, death to us part, no way back, and all of that stuff. And everything I've been saying to Ms Bibi has been no way in hell are we getting married. No wonder she's confused.

So, uh, Ms Bibi, you wanna get married or what?

(Ed: Did you really just ask Ms Bibi to marry you?)

I believe so. Never saw that in a blog before, didja.

To review for the Editor: she's interesting, funny, and once in a while we have sex. Seems like enough of a basis for a marriage right there. No, I'm not being sarcastic. What else do you want your partner to be.

(Ed: Has Ms Bibi heard this?)

Nope. I'm guessing she may have some questions.

Yes, I'm clear this throws out some hippie stuff but not all that much. It makes Texas more of a solution rather than less as no-one gets hurt if the rules are clear going into it. One of those rules is that Silas can't act like Prosti-Toad (i.e. jumps from bed to bed).

Clue: I don't want to act like Prosti-Toad, I just didn't want anyone telling me I couldn't.

Whether Ms Bibi swoons at this idea remains to be seen but I'm guessing it will elicit some questions.

(Ed: What about the show with The Raven?)

It doesn't change anything. I'm not exaggerating about the disintegration from the loss of the laptop but maybe you've seen the additional design stuff going on in parallel. There's a lot happening at once and it's difficult but I want very much to do that show.

While I try to pull my stuff together, there's a lot The Raven and Donika need to do as they're the ones to map out the choreography. I need to see it at least minimally written in the blog what you're doing in each of the songs and there's a pile of them now. Think wide open as maybe the show happens in Texas. The Raven comes down and works with Donika's bellydancer pals and does the show that way. Or not. Do it the other way around. Map this stuff out and show me you can do this. I'm not kidding about the disconnection and it will be very difficult to connect again for some while. Get your questions to me soon!

I'm obviously feeling pretty meager about my own abilities and every other damn thing but it dawns on me this has been my whiny little soul saying it sure wishes my squeeze were here. See above about a marriage proposal (laughs).

(Ed: You laugh?)

Tell me this isn't funny! I'm quite serious but tell me it ain't funny (laughs).
Posted by Silas Scarborough at 8:17 AM 7 comments

BLACK BLOOM!

2010-12-07T19:31:00.002-05:00

I love this band! You may think the midwest is all farmers and corn but there is plenty of music. Some might say it's because there is nothing else to do. I'm not so sure about that. Black Bloom is just four pieces but with three guitars, drums and vocals, they have a big sound. The guys are not afraid to tackle anything from rock to funk to ballads. It's a big, wild show they put on with smoke and lasers but the music is tight, well rehearsed and mostly original songs. Indie music is alive and growing in the midwest and the short time I have left to spend here will be anything but boring!

"Woodstock Now & Then"

2010-11-28T14:39:00.006-05:00

I love the old music festivals! I don't know why they aren't so great anymore. Maybe they try to have too many acts or there's more focus on selling stuff and food. It just seems like people paid a lot more attention to the music years ago. Nowadays, everyone would want to plan well and travel comfortably. Young folks today probably wouldn't have a clue how to just pick up and go on a whim. Last night I saw a two hour show on Woodstock "Woodstock, Now and Then" on Vh1 that had bits of everything we've seen before but much of it was interviewing people, now, about their experiences.

I was surprised to see that the news media then didn't want reports of anything but catastrophe. The fact that Woodstock really was about peace, love and rock and roll, did not sit well with the news outlets. It seems that kids calling home to check in with parents changed that perception. Parents stood up for their kids. The spirit that made Woodstock is said to have never been seen again until the Obama inauguration. Funny that spirit from Woodstock could still be recalled after all these years while the spirit of the inauguration has dimmed in such a short time.

Some fun facts about Woodstock: Many groups said they wouldn't play unless they were paid up front, in cash. They woke the banker in the middle of the night telling him that a helicopter would be over to pick him up. He said he was in bed and the bank was locked. He, indeed, did get up, go to the bank, and was copter-ed in with enough cash to guarantee double sets being performed.

Crosby, Stills and Nash had only ever performed in public one time before Woodstock. They were terrified at the fact that not only was this their second gig but they were in awe of the big names also playing.

The closing act was Jimi Hendrix but because of all the delays, didn't get on stage till 8:30 in the morning. There were only 40,000 people left to see Jimi playing the most incredible version of the Star Spangled Banner I have ever heard. The gunfire and war sounds that he pulled out of that guitar was truly amazing.

The video here is one of my all time favorites of any performance by any musician, anywhere. Michael Shrieve, Santana drummer for 12 albums was only 19 at the time. He played the drum solo of a lifetime.

There's a thousand more stories about this event and not enough space to tell more here or time. You'll have to do your own Googling but it's something you'll enjoy. I don't know why we can't have a festival like this or Monterey Pop anymore. One has to believe there's a Woodstock in all of us just waiting to bust out!

Indie Music In Iowa!

2010-11-25T14:53:00.002-05:00

Where I've lived the last few years is a hot bed of indie music! Dubuque, Iowa is only 65,000 population but the region surrounding puts the numbers at over 350,000. Sitting on the Mississippi River where it meets Wisconsin and Illinois, Dubuque is the center of a vibrant music community like no other I have ever seen. Live music can be heard every night of the year and not in just one bar or club. Indie bands and solo artists come to play here from all over America because the community gets out to support it. This is nothing new here. The areas biggest promoter, Julie Griffin, told me that her Dad was a musician and she can remember seeing him play all over the area when she was little.

River and the Tributaries is typical in that they are kids of musicians or just grew up in this community surrounded by good music. River Brietbach is the son of Mike and Pearl Breitbach a notable family of musicians and organic food store owners. If you are born into this family, you learn to play something! The family has national recognition for it's music and River's band is an offshoot of that. Tributaries is because their music is about tributes to things they believe in or admire. Here's a song "Virginia" by the band.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-25T12:12:00.002-05:00

For all of you turkeys out there who don't fancy dressing the bird today, we are meeting at the local diner to celebrate anyway!

Illusion of Gravity at Stonehenge!

2010-11-13T21:34:00.010-05:00

The Bank of America Band performs LIVE at Stonehenge. I hear the short haircuts are part of the ritual of the Druids. You've heard of the Barber of Seville? However, the band appears to have eaten too much bar-b-que. I understand the lead singer is now a house painter; good news as he was bloody awful. Zeldo, the keyboad player is really hot! I'd love a phone number if anyone has it. Disclaimer: The author of this post is sitting in front of a bloody computer on a Saturday night drinking wine and makes no claim to anything, anytime, anywhere, at this time.

Illusion of Gravity band page

Peter, Paul and Mary-Oh My!

2010-11-11T11:49:00.011-05:00

When Mary Travers came into a room, she made an "entrance"! The last time I saw her, she had become a rather large woman and she was tall so there was no doubt she commanded whatever space she was in. Her entrances seemed to be calculated on when the most people were around in a given situation.

The hotel restaurant was jam packed with middle to later aged folks having lunch on a Saturday. We were at full capacity for the weekend and it was mainly Seniors who had checked in for the Peter, Paul and Mary Show. Peter and Paul had already checked in and were in their rooms. They had either cabbed it from the airport or drove in via rental cars.

Not Mary, she pulled up in a stretch limo. She stood in the middle of lobby for a bit, playing with her big red cape, making sure she looked just right but no one was around but me and a couple of other employees. After a few minutes Mary spotted the restaurant off in the corner and made a bee line for it. She paraded around that restaurant until everyone in there recognized her and gave her the ooohs and awwws and polite applause she so adored. Then she asked to be escorted to her room where she had her lunch alone.

We had received a package for Paul and it had something to do with the show so I went up to drop it off to him. It was mid-afternoon and rest time before the show but the instructions were to deliver the material as soon as it arrived. I made a big mistake and knocked on the wrong door. I had gone to Peter's room and knocked and knocked, knowing full well I was waking him up. He woke up, alright. He stood in the doorway totally nude while I turned beet red with embarassment. While he wasn't too happy, he said nothing while I apologized for disturbing him. His nakedness was my payback, I guess. I never made a mistake like that again!

Their show was a sellout and I know they still have a huge fan base even though Mary is gone now. Their music is not my musical cup of tea but certainly worthy of kudos for a career well played! This video is from The Tonight Show, 1966. Surprised to see it in black and white?? I was too!

That's Entertainment, I Guess.

2010-11-09T17:51:00.007-05:00

Seems like when I have been thinking about something, Silas gets on it every time. In the last couple of days he got onto three things I had been thinking about sharing.

I worked in the hospitality industry starting when I was 18. I was fortunate to have met some interesting people in show business over the years, some nice, some not so nice. I would probably rather have seen them performing in shows like Silas, Mystery Lady and the boys but I saw more without their makeup and manners. What happens to some people when they get into show business and their heads suddenly end up in their ass is a mystery to me.

Kenny Rogers is at the top of my skank list. I was checking on his accomodations to see that everything was top notch prior to his arrival for his show at the Valley Forge Music Fair. He had adjoining rooms which was odd because his wife Marianne, was not coming this time. On the bed in the smaller room was a gift of a gorgeous new fox coat for a lady. That bed was still made when I checked the next morning. She left with the coat.

When I saw him in the hall next afternoon, he asked if I'd like to stop in for a drink after his show. You can guess what the implication was. I said no thanks but wouldn't mind an autograph. He said no, not unless I came in for that drink. I bit my tongue but I was not going to risk my job. I wished I had called the tabloids about the fact that he was cheating on his wife. I bet I could have made a tidy sum off of that story.

More stories to share if you are interested. Next one will be funny--Peter, Paul and Mary.

Navigating The Galaxy

2010-10-29T18:27:00.025-04:00

When the World Tour became the Galactic Tour, there was a good reason. We had begun to realize that there might be a lot of time when we'd be sitting on our asses trying to figure out how to get to Omaha and whether anyone in Omaha would be waiting for us to show up and entertain them. That meant the Galactic Tour would have to include traveling around in our minds when not on the road. In Grandpa's days, you had to pay the monkey to see him dance. Just a street corner was all that was required. Now we have to rent a hall, buy costumes, pay for printing tickets and flyers, and fly in the Mystery Lady and Raven. We'd really love it if we rolled into town to a thousand screaming fans with 20 dollar bills begging Silas and the band to put on a show. Right now, we are still waiting to hear from Omaha. While we wait, we also think about how to feed ourselves and where's the cheapest gas. We really need to stop eating and driving in order to finance this project. So, much time is spent on dreaming and resting (or Galactic travel).

Navigating the Galaxy requires a vehicle, one of great versatility. Aliens (or hippies in the 21st century) need much more than a refrigerator on four wheels. With all the new information on possible livable plants in the Universe now, we require a real flying, driving, navigatable, teleportable ship. The history channel tells us where to find it!

All we have to do is look at the history of Earth to find plenty of plans for such a vehicle. Apparently there is proof everywhere of visitors from other worlds and pictures and plans of their space craft. I was interested to hear that even the Bible even provides information. Some cat named Enoch could neither read nor write before he was taken to another planet. He wrote in the first person (the very first person writing in human history) of his experiences and even gave names and duties of aliens he encountered. http://www.ufodigest.com/news/0308/enoch19.html Another biblical chap with good information about spaceships was Ezeckiel. He wrote about ships that were comprised of wheels within wheels. Could these be gyroscopes? I heard that the designer of the Mars ship Josef Blumrich was inspired by Ezeckiel's ideas. http://www.earthportals.com/Portal_Ship/ezekiel.html Well, it's all fascinating but raises the question, with all the information (proof?) around on alien visits to Earth, why is there more belief around the world in an invisible God. I really don't know and this is not about religion.

I've only touched on two tiny pieces of information that's out there on the subject. I love subjects like this because I like to believe there's more to life than what I have seen or heard. It's why I love what Silas is doing because without dreams or beliefs in something bigger than what we are, life is just TV and shopping. Silas and I always said, "the best is in front of us" and we are trying (with a wonderful group of friends and family) to not only achieve it but share it with everyone. So we dream big and plan and do whatever we can to stay alive and focused although some days it seems impossible. Navigating the Galaxy is hard work but there is life out there beyond what we know and we mean to see it, learn from it and hopefully pass something on. What that is, isn't clear at the moment but we hope you'll watch or better yet, come along.

Silas Said To Dream Big!

2010-10-11T16:57:00.008-04:00

I watched a National Geographic Show yesterday about one group of people who traveled the Mississippi River from headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico mostly on a pontoon boat. Over the course of the trip, this team encountered others making the same trip from a 70 year old in his canoe to guys who'd built a hobo shack on a flat wooden thing that floated. And, of course, we've heard of Mark Twain's wonderful stories of river boating. Most of these wonderful old boats are gone now and I wonder why. Seems like living on the river would be fun or am I dreaming again. Run up and down all summer and winter over in LA and watch the world go by?

Well, dang it, we need a venue, studio and a home. What do you think of one of these boats? If we take on tourists, we have aready have a captured audience. Of course, crew would have to be most versatile. Wheelman would have to do Elvis impersonations and engine repairs, cook should be able to sing and hold whiskey tastings. You get the picture.

Silas gains the most. The boat is named The Silas Scarborough. On the river, he can play as loud and as long as he pleases. He has so many busted body parts, he won't (and shouldn't) lift a thing. He is surrounded with friends and fans, all 6 of us as he always says. I don't believe it for a moment!

Silas and I are fairly intelligent people most of the time. We are currently way less than smart (not gonna say stupid) to figure out how to be homeless and live the dreams we have talked about for last couple of years. So, perhaps the way to solve this problem of survival is to dream it just as big as the show. Some cash or a winning lottery ticket would also help!

The Comedy Tour!

2010-10-01T11:02:00.004-04:00

You know that old saw about the bear and whether you eat him or he eats you?? Silas and I combined barely weigh as much as one Chicago Bears linebacker but yesterday, the bear had a real feast. I doubt if there's enough bones left for Buster the dog to get up off his spot in Lotho's driveway and go investigate. Yesterday was about facing fears, dancing on highs, laughing at lows and dealing with the elephant that sits on your chest when you don't know whether you are coming or going.

We have been waiting patiently for the Galaxy Guitar to be finished being put together (since May) so that we can start the tour. By now, I thought the blog would be full of strange and funny pictures and reviews of rest stops along life's trails. (Silas, is that a cliche?) I have packed and repacked my clothes according to this season's fashion trends, got myself a new pair of silver brogues and for Silas, a vintage rock star topper embellished with snake skin and silver liberty dimes. You can never have enough costumage for a show even though Silas keeps telling me I only need a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. So, at least I will have some silver slippers to wear with my zombie wedding dress. (You think I'm kidding!)

The last two days have been full of fun telephone reports about picking up the guitar and visiting with the Mystery Lady. To say Silas was a happy boy is an understatement! Thank you Rusty and ML!! Yesterday I made my 9th rental car reservation with Andy at Hertz, who knows well who I am after the previous 8 reservations and cancellations over the last few weeks. I was at Walmart picking up a GPS gizmo. I wanted one because Silas and I decided that we would just meet at Donika's house on Sunday since we are driving in from two different directions. In the space of a few minutes, we had 4-5 phone calls from which GPS thing to purchase to the uh oh, broken key moment. By the last phone call, on my way home, I had to pull off to the side of the road, I was laughing so hard. I loved the part about the key having to be shipped from Texas.

So we have another delay which makes me wonder what it all means since we have been trying to get this going since the June 4th show and here it is October 1 with the leaves turning and frost predicted. Maybe that's the girl in me since I know Silas would just say it means nothing. I will have to go with that as we will get going when it is actually possible. Whether Andy at Hertz actually believes me next time I order a car or laughs and does nothing when I hang up the phone is unknown. People I know around this town are no doubt wondering if I am bull shitting about this whole thing by now. No, I am not. The dream still lives and we will be together creating whatever strikes us as something delicious to do regarding music, dance, writing, poetry or anything else. We have no idea how but we are still excited about getting started and hope it will be things you'll find interesting and appealing.

Yep, The Galactic Tour has turned into The Comedy Tour. A couple of days ago my horoscope said "You are in the middle of a romantic comedy." and "Think of it as reality insurance." Really, ya think?? Today's horoscope?? I am afraid to look.

Silas Battles The Horsefly

2010-08-25T18:48:00.003-04:00

5J2CSJSRWFNW So, yesterday I am on the phone with Silas and all of a sudden I hear all hell break loose! I have had the luck or misfortune to have been on the phone with Silas as he had 3 fender benders and accumulated other "situations".

The funniest one was when he was parked in front of his nephew's in a bad section of Cincinnati and a couple of cop cars pulled up to check him out. Silas talks to everyone on his IPhone thru the truck speakers (I think) so he can be hands free. So I heard everything but I forgot that the cops could hear me too. Silas did his good behavior thing and it got quiet so I said "Are they gone yet" and started to make a funny comment like "Whew, that was a close one, did ya have your ganja put away?" The cops wanted to know what I was talking about but Silas cutting me off saying "I don't want to hear any editorializing"! or something like that. I shut up cause he was loud about it so thought I'd pissed him off. I got off the phone and he called me back as soon as they left and explained he was just trying to shut me up. The whole thing shook us both up cause they could have hauled him in!

Anyway, getting back to yesterday's comedy show, I heard all this commotion and thought maybe he saw a bear or porcupine or another turtle and just wanted to take a picture. After much noise, slamming doors and such, he said something about escaping a fly that was a foot long!! I kid you not, Silas was battling a fly! I laughed until my sides hurt and still get tickled about it.

So, I guess we better make sure the camera is always charged on this adventure cause there will definitely be lots of comedy! Let's see, what else do we need, oh yes, a fly swatter.

The Silas & Bibi Odyssey

2010-08-24T11:44:00.008-04:00

I think of what Silas and I will be starting in a few short weeks as more of an odyssey than anything. It will be a bit of odd with some messy thrown in, maybe lots! For now, it will be us rambling across America, space and time one full gas tank at a time.

I am just as surprised as most of you that there will be a wedding (date and location yet undetermined) and this morning I accepted a surprise proposal from Silas to be his partner in Second Life. One thing that I have learned about Silas in over three years is to expect the unexpected. He has never disappointed!

His talent in music and writing is easily seen but each of you have your personal view of all that he is--just for you. I have mine, of course, to share just with him. Let's just say it's easy for me to become part of Silas' life and create something we both are passionate about. He is definitely unique and very special as everyone that knows him will attest to. One thing we both said three years ago was that the best in life was ahead of us and here it is. So, let's get this party started!

At the moment, we are extremely busy getting the practical matters of living together into place in addition to dreaming and planning creative and musical adventures. The challenges are huge as you have to remember we will be walking a thin line between being vagabonds and vagrants. How to finance all this is a huge challenge! We hope we can share this adventure across the blog world with clickable ads and I am dreaming of a book to come out of all this in the future. I think Silas' poetry is most worthy of sharing in an e-book at least and will look into that.

Silas doesn't want to sell his music so whether or not live gigs are possible remains to be seen. Donika is checking out Fort Worth now and there are friends like Matthew Perrault in Dallas who may have ideas. Charm March is in Austin and has asked us to come. Pete Mroz is in Nashville and we will be meeting with him soon just to learn what's possible. We had hoped Cincinnati would be home base as there seem to be so many opportunities for indie artists plus we have many friends and family as well. That fell through for the moment but there is hope for the future. We'd love to visit Zak Claxton (Kat) and Grateful Stryker in California and we have lots of musical friends in Seattle. These are just a few of places we'd love to visit if we can! How to do that is up in the air but we have talked about an RV for a home as one possibility. It's all unclear but as we say every day about something "We'll figure it out"!

I guess this is enough of a start of blogging for this girl. I don't like blogs! I don't read them (expect for Silas') and I have no experiencing in writing one. I come from a background of writing about wine and food and music and know nothing about how to blog. Silas is really sticking his neck out to include me in his public perspective of life, but as we all do when he asks something of us, I will do my best for him. Silas loves people to stand up and do something, so here ya go Darlin', see what you started now!

Tour in Retreat in Tennessee

2010-08-09T22:50:00.000-04:00

The damage to the Tour in Cincinnati was profound and photographing hummingbirds may not seem that it would serve any purpose toward recovering it.

Half of the set was destroyed as it's not possible to use back tracks anymore. Since the majority of my songs are more than one part, that takes almost all of them out of contention for a live show. I'm not interested in recorded music so that doesn't leave a whole lot.

The loss of the laptop also cost Cincinnati as a base for recording. It's possible that can be corrected at some other location in the future but there's no freedom or time to do that now.

I've talked quite a bit with the Mystery Lady and with Ms Bibi about Just What the Hell Are You Doing and the caps are because it's extremely difficult and complicated, not because anyone is angry about anything.

Despite many lost hopes for Cincinnati, I'm going to Ft Worth and Ms Bibi will meet up somewhere along the way. I don't want Donika to feel like she's all that's left although circumstances make it appear that way.

My specific purpose is to work up a show all over again and part of that is developing the music and dance sequences we've been considering for the Boudicca Act. Although my original material is not lost, it's unavailable for live and that makes it useless to me. At times it overwhelms me as it's been so many years in building for that type of show. To see all that flushed by a water leak is like something out of a Terry Gilliam movie.

Ms Bibi has used Andrew Bird as an example of someone who does just fine in a solo act with multiple instruments and loopers. It's a good example but it's not the fact that a single person can do it that intrigues me. The long-time regulars will almost certainly have heard me say I do it this way because I'm the only one in the studio.

So why be so restrictive as to refuse admission to anyone else to play in the studio. I loved the Drum God's thunder and I hate it that it will be a long time before getting up this way again but so the Fates decree.

I've got to be very damn clear on what kind of music I'm trying to make or it will turn into bad stew when I bring other people into it. Some approach music competitively and I throw those competitions right from the start. OK, you win. I'm off to find someplace I can jam. There isn't time for that, tho.

This is largely for Donika to understand as I bet your Guardian Angel would have no problem finding a drummer but how do we know he's the right drummer. I'm figuring we'll get down there early September as it's going to be slow getting up the money for diesel fuel.

Part of my thinking is that it takes me some time to work up a song if I'm playing all the parts. It takes some time to get a drum loop going ... then some more to put some bass on it .... then some more time for some keys ... There are times when that's cool and others where I just want the song to rip right into it. What that means is whether to save loops I've recorded previously or to build all from scratch in every live gig.

So looking at hummingbirds has plenty to do with it. Being here in Tennessee gives me time to think without any worries about much of anything. He says I took care of him for a long time but I don't remember it. Even if I didn't, he would do what he's doing now anyway.

I fail Lotho and I fail you all if I don't pull it back together again. At first I didn't think there was any way to recover from the loss of the laptop but it's coming clear to me what I need to do now. There are some things for which I had no plan and this is one of them.

So this is as much of a plan as I can give you just now. We'll get down to Texas in early September and I figure it'll be at least a month to put together the music. Hopefully Donika will be able to use the time with me to work up her moves and The Raven will be able to come down every so often as well.

It's likely we'll try to do some type of gig in the DFW area and this is where we'll discuss things as we'll need the money so what happens if the place isn't big enough for Donika to dance. I don't think we should take the gig. We'll talk more and this article is to let you know where it stands just now.

Being on retreat in Tennessee is the best place to be after Cincinnati and things will pick up musically starting in September.

Big Day for Tour Design

2010-08-02T11:34:00.000-04:00

The most practical place for the next show is in Nashville. The Raven, Donika, and I talked for a good while and it came down to who has the most troops to bring to the show. It would be much easier to bring Donika up here for the show than to bring The Raven's people down to Texas or somewhere else so Nashville is it.

We talked quite a bit about the detail of the time and it's very good to see everyone with the same view of it. Donika has been thinking of using a spear in her dance but The Raven told her it wouldn't be appropriate for the Queen of the Iceni. It's still premature to get into that level of detail for everything but it was good to hear them going over it.

The Raven has discovered a Roman legion down here as many role-playing groups exist in the area and one of them has a fascination with Roman history. He will check to see if there's interest in being part of the show.

Great progress and the same thing will happen in reverse when I get down to Texas as the strategy calls will be a big part of coordinating this when people are far apart.

The Galactic Tour is Headed for Nashville

2010-07-31T10:36:00.000-04:00

The schedule posted yesterday was to throw off the slumlord or anyone who might be tracking me. The truck is fully-loaded and will be rolling out in just a few minutes. I'll get down to Tennessee by mid-afternoon today.

The Tour is once again mobile. The slumlord destroyed a lot of things but we'll recover and keep on pushing out there. We've got a whole Galaxy to cover and not a lot of time!

I'll update as I can but that will be difficult without the laptop. The answer may be to authorize the blog for updates by Ms Bibi so she can post them but I haven't talked to her about that yet.

Much love to you and we're coming out to see you. Hope it's soon.

Frampton on the Importance of Touring for Music

2010-07-30T12:19:00.001-04:00

Frampton: Touring key part of business

This is a quick read from the Cincinnati Enquirer with some thoughts from Peter Frampton on surviving in music and the inadvisability of the continuing creation of musical monoliths that dominate the musical world.

Frampton is sixty and has been touring with Yes, apparently to sell-out crowds. If you've heard him play lately, you'll know he's faster than he ever was.

Schedule for Nashville

2010-07-30T08:22:00.000-04:00

The truck will be loaded on Saturday night to roll-out as early as possible Sunday morning.

Yes, I'm aware this will make the truck a target on Saturday night but there's excellent visibility and it's parked right outside. Also, there are two pit bulls here and they are fully-capable of eating people.

You know I hate giving up specifics on rolling out but it's important that Lotho understands when I'll get down there.

CD Baby Makes Licensing of Cover Songs Much Easier

2010-07-29T17:21:00.000-04:00

CD Baby is now making it exceptionally easy to license cover tunes as it costs fifteen bucks up front and a minimal charge per sale. Previously it was such a hassle to license cover tunes that it prevented many people from playing them. I suspect part of the flexibility from the recording industry is they know many people are ignoring licensing altogether.

This makes it practical to release some number of the cover songs with the Mystery Lady as I didn't do anything with them previously because there was nothing I could legally do with them.

It's a very interesting development and we'll see how it affects things as we go along. I want to record more with the Mystery Lady in any case and my preference is originals but covers aren't restricted anymore.

Clarifying the Schedule for the Galactic Tour

2010-07-29T09:21:00.000-04:00

Arrival in Tennessee will be on or just after Saturday, August 1, and I'll stay there until after the Perseids meteor shower on 8/12-8/13. This will give enough time to make it worth setting up part of the kit to work out with The Raven. (Dude, I know you're aware already but we both die if we disturb the baby. We can talk about how that works when I get down there.)

I'm very much looking toward the Perseids as a sign and it's never good to plan on serendipity but this isn't a plan so much as a hope. Ms Bibi is hoping to get down there around that time and I hope it's in time for the meteor shower.

After the Perseids, we'll be going down to Texas to meet up with Donika. Call it a couple of days of travel time to get down there and at least that many more days after arrival to get gear set up. Call it 8/20 that we'll be down in Texas and set up to play.

I'm anticipating a month to get the Boudicca Act solid enough for live but that's only for the music. It will take quite a bit more than that for the dancers to get accustomed to the music, the flow of the songs, and the general pacing of the show.

Don't read the previous as one month to write music and, in turn, one month to learn dance as these things will be offset from each other. "The Girl Who Would Be Lavender" is already available and likely the "Call to Arms" will be out there next so that planning and practicing can start pretty soon.

So call it mid- to late-September that the Galactic Tour will be ready to roll out again. This is hugely-dependent on clicking the ads. You can see part of the value in it in the fact that the trip from Tennessee to Texas will be paid entirely by the proceeds from clicking the ads.

Pumping up the ads with your friends is street team stuff in which I hope you'll click them and you'll encourage your friends to click them. I know it's slutty but I'm doing my bit as I really don't like seeing ads all over my babies but it's necessary for the show.

There's going to be a wedding in there somewhere - you might have heard about it - and there's been one suggestion that would be quite beautiful. There won't be any details just yet but don't think I'm forgetting this part of the Galactic Tour planning.

Much love and we'll be on the road again pretty soon.

Getting Back on the Road

2010-07-28T09:05:00.000-04:00

The Silas Galactic Tour will be pulling out of Cincinnati shortly and it will be some while before it will be possible to post anything on a regular basis. The next stop is Tennessee and there will an update posted from there as we're very much looking forward to seeing my family down there and to work some more with The Raven.

The next stop after that is Texas as Donika is very important to the show in many ways and it will be very good to put some serious time into working out the dance routines that will go with the Boudicca Act. The Act is getting progressively more complicated and improv is still the most important part of the dancing but expectations have to be clear going into it or the dancer(s) won't know the theme on which they're improvising.

Tying the dancing together with what The Raven is doing in Tennessee is another crucial component and we've not worked out the specifics on how to do that.

Going Through the Opening Act

2010-07-24T08:52:00.000-04:00

There's no thematic continuity to the Opening Act and it needs to get some. Here's a line-up I'm considering:

"Mr Ganja Man" - Ten minutes of getting hammered and flipping off the State.

Object is to come out simple: I'm Silas, let's have a party. Va-room.

"Woman in the Snow" - Ten minutes of somber to beautiful with a heavy beatdown on using crack.

Started strong so bring it back down.

"The Clark Kent Complex" - Teen Angst from The Raven for ten minutes. He's not a 'teen anymore so he brings some depth to it. Still, mostly introspective but with a beat to it.

The last one got all beautiful so get raw with this one. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Pick it up.

"Duckboat Love" - Ten minutes of mush. I'm ok with doing R&B but it should be my own R&B. This one started out as Grateful Stryker and I were using it and I got a kick out of it as it shows that two guitarists will do something quite differently even when starting over exactly the same base.

This one or the one I use to replace it is an orphan. It doesn't fit between the others and it doesn't roll off Clark Kent too much. It doesn't fit in the trip jams so the Opening Act needs more stuff to get the balance.

Possible candidates:

"Son of Funky Munky" - Throwing blue notes at a funky beat. It's fun, feels good.

"Bombs Away" - The name I gave the loop I had recorded before I did this one. You haven't heard it yet.

"It's For You" - The song is huge to me but it's as much of an orphan as these others in the context of the existing Opening Act.

"Come On Home" - I came up with the chords thirty years ago and was working it up with Ophir Shur but the band was falling apart and it never happened. I've tried various combinations with it since but nothing satisfied me. It's kind of comical as he had a tune called "Girl Like You" and it infuriated the Drum God that he kept changing it. That one never got finished either. This one may end up in the Boudicca set as I'll use lyrics from one of those poems if they'll work with this particular song.

Designing a Rock Ballet

2010-07-23T07:14:00.001-04:00

The show is not a rock opera but hopefully it will be something close to a rock ballet. I have no idea if anyone has tried something like this before but the only thing that's important is what it will take so we can try it. Donika saw the extent of the Boudicca Act and got a bit daunted but that's exactly the reason I've put so much work into setting up the different blogs.

If this works as I hope, things will be easier rather than harder. The problem I'm trying to solve is that it was very difficult for you all to talk back to me or with each other. Hopefully what I've done will solve both problems.

This is the primary blog for the Galactic Tour. When you come here, you'll see in the sidebar what new titles there are in the other blogs and when they were last updated. You won't need to look at any of the other blogs unless you see that something has changed in them.

The Poems Blog isn't something you need to read every day as I won't write to it all that much. Poems that would otherwise have been lost in the flow of the original blog now serve as a reference and any of the poems can be easily located again if you ever lose track.

It works the same way for me as for you. Yesterday I saw a message in Twitter that the Concert Managers blog had been updated so I went there to find Donika's article.

Twitter is by far the easiest way to track this and I'm adamant that Facebook will not. Unless you're setting up a Facebook group for Who Wants to Cover Sarah Palin with Mazola Oil, nothing on that system lasts for more than twenty-four hours. It's a crew of social butterflies who live on potato chips instead of flowers and it cannot possibly serve any production purpose.

I have severe doubts as to whether the concert can be done at all but any thoughts on that matter only belong in the Unofficial Blog until there's no question one way or the other. More than likely, that blog will be a whole lot funnier than this one.

Finding a Brighter Star - Galactic Tour Concert

2010-07-22T23:39:00.004-04:00

This is the flow for as much of it as is known. The article will be updated as the concert evolves.

Opening Act

"Mr Ganja Man" - Ten minutes of chaos you've already seen

"Woman in the Snow" - Ten minutes of Donika and The Raven

"Duckboat Love" - Ten minutes of mush. (I'm still not convinced this is a good idea)

"The Clark Kent Complex" - An original from The Raven. Raven-lyrics / Silas-music.

Everything else uses back-tracks so most of the roster is out except for anything that can be adapted for the looper.

The Boudicca Act

"Celtic Dawn" - Song of peace in the Iceni kingdom.

"Boudicca, My Name is War" - The Roman attack on the Iceni.

"The Battle Song" - Combat with the Romans and burning Londinium.

"The Girl Who Would Be Lavender" - Raise Boudicca back up again with lavender in her hair.

This may yet expand as I'm not sure it's complete yet.

The Hippy Trippy Act

"I Love Rats" - Eight minutes of mayhem

Improvise.

Designing Galactic Tour Concerts

2010-07-22T23:32:00.000-04:00

The move from the original blog seems to have worked so this is to tighten things back to the focus I intended:

Silas Scarborough Galactic Tour - This is the blog you're reading now. If you're going to bookmark any of them, this is the one as it will lead you to the others which are much more specialized than this one. This is the same blog as was once on the old server and it is used for the overall concert design. The other blogs were split off to keep this one focused on that specific aspect of the Galactic Tour.

Unofficial Galactic Tour - The blog for anything that doesn't belong as primary design. Might be funny videos, could be anything.

Poems of the Galactic Tour - Blog containing only the text of the poems I've written, some to be turned into songs.

Galactic Tour Managers - Blog for designers of all aspects of the concerts. This includes choreography specifically but also applies to any designs specific to a song or a set. The overall flow of the concert comes from the Silas Scarborough Galactic Tour.

Although things are in a state of chaos, I'll stay on design.

What's the Rush

2010-07-22T19:52:00.000-04:00

The rush is that there was no warning when the laptop was destroyed. As soon as any leaking was discovered, it was next discovered coming down pretty much every wall and across many of the ceilings in the second floor rooms.

There's no reason to believe it won't happen again and there's nothing I've got that has any tolerance for water.

Proposed Replacement for the Original Galactic Tour Blog

2010-07-22T17:22:00.000-04:00

The object of the exercise is to transfer the original blog over here to Blogger and then to eliminate the old one, eventually to eliminate the entire Web site.

Almost everything from the original blog except the Try-Out Songs transports to this one and I can rig up something like that. However, any MP3 I upload is immediately taken by the Web spiders and is then copied all over the place. The minute you upload an MP3 to the Web without download controls, it is no longer yours.