balanced tiny rock stupas on the trail to the peace pagoda 

balanced rock stupas on the trail up to the peace pagoda in leverett, ma 

peace pagoda, leverett, ma 

peace pagoda, leverett, ma 

being one sixteenth native american myself, i almost busted my colon laughing at this:

forest hills cemetary, jamaica plain, ma

this is a marker for e.e. cummings in the forest hills cemetary in jamaica plain. it is made from a large tree trunk, and on the inside there is a poem of his...also hidden on the inside of the trunk is a small plastic bag with three e.e. cummings books, which are a strange find in a cemetary on a dreary sunday evening. 

the arnold arboretum, jamaica plain, ma

you absolutely cannot come to the boston area without visiting the arnold arboretum in jamaica plain...and unfortunately, i've known people to live here for years without ever taking the time to trek over to jp and visit. it is possible the most comforting place i've found here...summer, spring, winter and fall. 

i want all of these colors on my walls... 

goodbye summer... 

mark kozelek vs. isaac brock

i have to say that i was apprehensive, to say the least, when i heard that mark kozelek would be covering modest mouse songs on the new sun kil moon album. but now, that i've heard a few tracks (and always having been a fan of mr.kozelek, as well as mr.brock), i am much too impressed not to post about it.
if you're a fan of either band, or you're just looking for some good solid, melancholy music for the coming winter, check the album out:
sun kil moon "tiny cities"

here ye!! here ye!!

to all and everyone in boston, and beyond, another AMAZING show is about to take place at our beloved middle east club (down)...
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2005
THE TIGER LILLIES w/ the Grindhouse Marionettes

please make yourselves available for this show...you will not be disappointed...the tiger lillies put on one of the most lovely, wonderful and disturbing performances you'll ever have the honour to witness. big claims? yes, but come and see for yourself.

see you there.

i guess they really like their cheese

this is an ad from the cheddar flavored slushies we discovered while visiting the montreal local convienence store, 'couche tard' (which we kindly refer to as "coochie tarde")...they're slushies, they're cheese flavored...i don't know what else to say.  

j'adore montreal

a wedding in montreal this weekend...another wonderful trip to this wonderful city. here we are, looking swank.  

mr.ernie well into the fourth hour of the six hour open bar at the reception. thank you, clancy family. and thank you jamesons (or 'jemmy' as the irish affectionately call it).  

a large spider sculpture in ottawa...of all places. took a picture to assure myself that it was real, and i wasn't still drunk. 

bits and pieces

i've had nothing clever to say lately, in turn, i've had nothing clever to write. so, i would like to use this post to promote some things that i think are wonderful and that everyone should know about.
one:
NYC Gypsy compilation, 'Mehanata'
i've recently become quite obsessed with gypsy music, as i think everyone, at some point in their lives should be. this compilation is mostly made up of nyc bands and people who have played at the bulgarian bar, mehanata. buy it, support them...
two:
this leads me to my next recommendation, the new york city gypsy festival, october 29-november 6, with an ending show at the roxy, featuring, none other than, gogol bordello. i've mentioned this band before, and i'm very serious when i say this, they put on one of the best live shows i've ever seen. if you live anywhere near nyc (by 'near', i mean within a 1000 mile radius, yes, they're that good), go. see. this. show!
three:
autumn is upon us, with all of it's wet, breezy, colorfilled glory. my third recommendation is to visit your nearest pumpkin patch. i know, it seems, cliche. but i say this honestly, it will take away most of your stresses from the summer, and help you to sail easily right into winter. and more importantly, the carving of the pumpking when you have it home, is sure to take the edge off if you've had a particularly rough few months. stabbing an inanimate object with a big knife and pulling out it's insides. what more can i say.

our western adventures...

vegas was bizarre...many dollars were spent, breasts were seen (both good and bad), sins were committed.
only one thing to say about the grand canyon...SEE IT BEFORE YOU DIE.
seriously.

it's vegas baby... 

ernie pretending he can fly... 

overcoming my fear of heights at the canyon... 

ernie's artistic view of the mgm grand waterfalls. 

the art in vegas is spectacular. 

my tribute to ansel adams at the grand canyon. 

our room at the mgm grand in las vegas had a small television in the mirror of the bathroom...i'm not quite sure why one would need such a thing, but it's vegas...nothing is actually "needed". 

las vegas trip. in front of the waterfall light show at the wynn hotel and casino. 

grand canyon 

our trip to the grand canyon.  

gloucester 

thought i would give this a try...

hello all out there in blogland. i don't know how many people read this dribble, but i would like to take a moment to mention that i am going to be currently looking for a job. if anyone in the boston area (specifically within the bounds of public transportation), knows of a job that might fit my needs, please please let me know. i'll post my resume soon. looking for mostly administrative, i have manager experience and i play theremin and make a wonderfully subtle cup of green tea.
i could work part time or full time. i love working for non profits, and i'm extremely adaptable.
send any and all prospects my way.
ciao.

the 617 to the 781

here's a few interesting shows taking place in and around boston that i feel are important enough to take up space in my dayplanner (sorry, no time for links, maybe later):
wednesday, september 7: ziaf @ les zygomates
thursday, sept.8: suftjan stevens @ somerville theater (sold out)
sept.8: bloc party @ the avalon
friday, sept.9: seu jorge @ pearl street, north hampton
sept.9: black dice @ the mass fine arts museum
sept.9: apollo sunshine & mazarin @ middle east down
saturday, sept.10: the brazilian girls w/ ozmatli @ the paradise
monday, sept.12: nouvelle vague @ the paradise
wednesday, sept.14: sue jorge @ the mass fine arts museum
sept.14: portistatic & mary timony @ the middle east up
thursday, sept.15: sigur ros @ the opera house
saturday, sept.17: ziaf w/ cirkestra @ the lizard lounge
(also the south end open studios are this weekend)
sunday, sept. 18: the notwist @ the mfa
monday, sept.19: the gossip @ great scott's
saturday, sept.24: lila downs @ the somerville theater
(the new hampshire scottish highland games are this weekend, biggest in new england)
tuesday, sept.27: black rebel motorcycle @ the paradise
wed. sept.28: wierd war @ great scotts
mon. october 3: built to spill @ the avalon
thurs. oct. 6: daniel lanois w/ tortoise @ the somerville theater
monday, oct. 10: the decemberists @ the avalon
tuesday, oct. 11: (this day breaks my heart, two great shows, same night, ugh!!!)
the new pornographers w/ destroyer @ the roxy
the beat circus w/ sleepy gorilla time museum @ tt the bears
thursday, oct.13: dungen @ the middle east up
friday, oct. 14: jonathan richman @ the somerville theater
oct. 14: deerhoof @ the middle east down
sunday, oct. 16: the dirty three @ mass fine arts museum
thursday, oct.20: wolf parade @ the middle east down
sunday, oct.23: son volt @ the paradise
monday, oct.31: black eyed peas w/ gwen stefani @ the ol' fleet centah (yup yup!)
oct.31: the dresden dolls @ the avalon
friday, nov. 4: paris combo @ the somerville theater
wed. nov. 16: the black keys @ avalon
*that's all i got...if anyone has any other interesting shows that are worthy of spots in my planner, let me know*

one of the nicer schooners from maine 

a little tail...

i would recommend a whale watch to anyone who has never gone. but, two things: bring a coat, and charge your batteries for your camera. unfortunately, this is the best pic we got, because our camera died before the whales started doing all of their cute little water dances.