What I Did Yesterday

I had an apple. These apples are from the Kiyokawa Family Orchards in Hood River, Oregon. They are a third generation American Japanese family.

The stickers say "Read Stubborn Twig." The apples are given as a part of MCL's Everybody Reads and Oregon Reads. Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family is about 3 generations of a Japanese American family in the Pacific Northwest as well.



I was home from work awhile when Jerry reminded Facebook friends that he and Aqila would be at Marino Cafe, where he would be playing, and she dancing. I haven't really watched belly dancing before. Certainly not so close up. By day, demure Buddhist minister assistant, by night...


sexy belly dancer...

And the way the drumbeats told her what body part to move...oh my. That vibrating jiggle that belly dancers do...whooo boy.


They are at the cafe every 2nd Friday. Then my homie and I went across the street to Sckavone's for a drink and ran into this...


Some people jammin Brazilian style. They too are there every 2nd Friday, and I believe the waitress told us every Thursday.

Lisa Mann makes the news

My friend Lisa Mann has come out with a second album. While I'm not one to hawk the local paper, otherwise known as the War-egonian, it does earn some points for featuring her among 4 local blues musicians. It also earns points for going multimedia, something I think papers need to do to survive.

So you can listen to the podcast featuring Lisa among others right here on the Oregonian's website.

Lisa's 2 CDs are available on CDBaby.

Dinner, Lisa, and my first YouTube upload

I finally went to see my good friend Lisa Mann perform. I have her first CD, which she said at this little show is now a collector's item. It is, too...good songs on there. Go and buy one before they're all gone. You can sample her songs at her MySpace page.

She was playing alone at this little place called The East Burn. Or is it The EastBurn? They have yummy food...I had potato pancakes that seemed to have a little influence from the Japanese version. I also had the ravioli special made with sunchokes and artichokes. My sweetie met me there. He's been working a lot again. He's not so into this kind of music, and his ears bother him, so it was especially sweet that he joined me. He got their fries, which were a mix of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and leeks. Oh, I would go back even if just for those. The leeks were sliced into slivers, so were these crispy green things that had a taste reminiscent of fried onions, only more refined, as leeks are. I'm not a big fan of sweet potato fries, but the leeks made these quite delicious.

Actually, when I arrived there was a guy drumming along with Lisa, but he left after a couple of songs. He was drumming with his hands on a box contraption. That just goes to show you how much I know about music these days.

The first thing I was inspired to do was pull out the crayons from the double shot glass and start drawing on the butcher paper that served as a tablecloth. I draw like a kid. When Lisa saw it she loved it. I'd already decided if she liked it, it was hers. When I told her so after the show, she jumped up and down in a little happy dance. Of course I had to hang on to the image just a little by taking a photo.

Her final song was a cover of a Tom Waits song. Of course I thought immediately of my blogging friend in Nashville, so I thought this was as good a time as any to see how good a video my little camera could produce for YouTube. And I have to say, not bad, not bad at all for a pocket-sized camera.

While I wait for that video to upload, here's my sweetie's drawing that he started after I was all done.

Lisa Mann Update

My friend Lisa Mann is vying for first place with Tripdavon in the famecast competion. Time is running out. Please vote for her, spread the word, and help good things happen. Here's what Lisa has to say:

Hi friends and fans, this is Lisa Mann, back from the big Finale show in the Famecast competition, LIVE from Austin, TX- you can watch a replay at www.famecast.com/lisamann

I'm wearing pink in the video in honor of my friend Sonny Hess, blues guitar legend diagnosed with breast cancer last October, and using the interview part of the video to spread breast cancer awareness.

VOTING IS NOW OPEN-- The grand prize in each category is $10,000! I can make a new CD, as well as help Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation and the Sonny Hess Fund with a $1000 pledge if I win. DON'T DELAY! Voting closes early Tuesday morning at 9am on the West Coast, noon Eastern (USA)

If you haven't registered yet, go to: www.famecast.com/registerfan.php
Then check your email for a confirmation, log in, and find me on the ROCK STAGE. Click the check mark under the video and a pop-up should say "you have successfully cast your vote!"

You can register up to TEN VOTES per IP address, as long as they are different people voting from different email addresses.

I am hovering between #1 and #2- just a few votes can make a difference- please ask a friend or family member!

While you're logged in, also visit the pop stage and vote for Portland roots rocker Amanda Richards and her fabulous band! She did an amazing performance! (voting for Amanda closes at 9am Monday morning)

Thanks so much for your support!
Lisa Mann
www.myspace.com/lisamannmusic
www.sonicbids.com/LisaMann

HNT #25: Yes I Read It

Last Saturday I worked at the library, and I also happened to get my library copy of the latest Harry Potter. Since I was working I couldn't spend the day reading as so many fans seemed to do, finishing by nightfall, but I did finish within the week.

Before I show my HNT pics or say any more, let me put in a plug for my friend Lisa "Rent-a-Gent" Mann. She's a blues singer, got a big voice in that little body, and she made it to the finals on the web version of American Idol: Famecast.com. If she wins, she'll get $10,000, and she would put that money towards her second CD, as well as some to a fund for Sonny Hess, local female blues star battling breast cancer and the subsequent bills. So please, promise you'll check out Lisa and her Really Good Band here: www.famecast.com/lisamann and then register and vote for her. (Unfortunately the sound recording isn't the best, please don't let that keep you from voting for her.)



You went, listened and voted, then came back here? Good, but my pics will be a step down after that. I can't compete, isn't she great?

Of course I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There were some side stories that I'd like to know about, but the book was already thick enough. While this is supposed to be the 7th and final book, there are rumors that JK Rowling may find a way to bring us an 8th book. Maybe we could get some of those side stories.

Our library had some temporary tattoos to give out. I snagged one for myself, my way of participating in the excitement, and I did get some comments. I must say though that I think the most excitement at the library was generated for book #5. A lot of people placed holds on book 6, but then went to midnight parties or bought it cheap at Costco, and cancelled their holds. This year I believe there were less holds.



So I finally got a chance to read on Monday, and while I intended to do other things, I kept going back to the book. I did have an errand to run, and I noticed while riding the bus that a couple of people stared at me wide-eyed, as though I sparkled with a bit of the magic that danced through the pages.

Before I began reading, I knew if that Vast Great Oceanic Wisdom of Plot were to be fulfilled I knew, I just knew, that Snape would be redeemed. I wasn't the only one, this librarian was called a traitor. I won't say one way or other if I was satisfied, I don't want to spoil the book for others. Clearly, this songster got a look at one of those pre-release pirated versions, or else he is truly a Potter geek to have guessed all those plot points.

I finished the book before my temp tattoo disappeared:



Ok, if you haven't, please please go vote for my friend Lisa Mann, and spread the word.

Visit more of the Half Nekkid crowd here.

Vote on Famecast

I have no idea how many hits I get daily. I don't know how many people read my blog regularly. Those people I would most care to read it readily admit they don't read blogs, and don't even read mine regularly. Ah well. But, assuming I do have a regular contingent of readers that can spread the word, I'm asking you, please vote for my friend Lisa Mann. Yes, Lisa "Rent-a-Gent" Mann.

You'll find her on Famecast here. Make the scroll stop by hovering. Click on Lisa Mann, she has a great new live video I hadn't seen before. You'll need to register to vote. When you do, you probably want to opt out of receiving future promotional emails.

Hear more of her music on MySpace. And hey, if you really like her music, don't be afraid to buy her CD. She is talented in a variety of styles. With my activist bent, I especially like her song My Oil. "Oh Yeah. How did my oil get under your sand."

Oh, and if you like her well enough, please spread the word!