AZ’s “DIARY OF A DAMNED MAN”

Things have been very strange is Zanderworld. I feel like Charles Bukowski stuck in a David Lynch movie.

Robert Hyman  commented

“Nice write-up Alex.  Yeah I think you hit on some of the emotions I felt sitting in that audience.  Tears many times, joy and the overall feeling that “here is a man who gets it” - he’s said things we’ve all wanted to say before but he says it so much better than any of us could for sure!”
Jennifer Long made a comment

“Excellent review.  You covered the experience perfectly.”

Doing some cooking and guitar playing today, lotsa updates coming.

 

After seeing Leonard Cohen and spending the better part of Wednesday writing my review of the show, I felt a sense of accomplishment. And just knowing now that I was able to see the show given the many circumstances that would have normally prevented me from doing so leaves me with a strange sort of “someone’s looking out for me” feeling. Or maybe all is coming back into line. Only time can tell and a short time at that.

The show was only the greatest performance I’ve ever witnessed and I’m really not expecting that it will ever be topped. And I don’t care if it ever is. Those that know me well knew well before the show was ever announced what the possibility of seeing Mr. Cohen live in concert would mean to me. I just discussed that with my brother. He knew that’s for dammed sure.

It’s Sunday now and I’ve put a lot behind me. I’m still waking up much too early, and on  the news the local meteorologists are not getting the days forecasts correct. So I have missed a day of biking because at 5 30 AM they told me it was going to rain, and they did the same at 9 AM. Well they are certainly wrong, it is beautiful out today, 63 degrees and a light wind. I just got off the phone with my brother where we shared our past weeks frustrations but also planned for his next visit very soon.

Wednesday night my friend Michelle aka Michellio flew in from Arizona and she stayed w/ her friend Melissa in Indiana. When they woke up the next morning she called me and told me as soon as her hair and make up were done, they’d be on there way in to see me. Michellio and I have been close for 5 years now. She is a very special person to me and I usually see he when I drive or fly out to Arizona, this time she was coming my way.

When the ladies arrived we walked over to El Palmar and had an amazing brunch. They have  new shrimp taco on the menu made w/ cabbage as opposed to lettuce and it was INCREDIBLE. I had one along with a large shrimp and octopus cocktail. And I managed to eat it all actually. My brother would be proud.

 

 

 

 

The gals both had burritos and the burritos at El Palmar are massive. So of course they only ate 1/2.

We hung out on the deck for awhile, Michelle really seemed to like my place. She mentioned if she ever moved back she’d like to think about moving in. I wonder how that would work? maybe wed just kill each other.

It was not easy saying goodbye but we had to, as they had a lot of plans for the weekend.

I walked over to Wrigleville North and had a pitcher of beer before coming home to change to go out for burlesque at Blue Bayou. I sat there and took in the locals, and this is when I realized the charm of this place that I couldn’t quite put my finger on when I’ve been there w/ friends. It was like being Charles Bukowski in a David Lynch movie. The patrons are all oddly colorful and unique, they all know each other yet they all have a story all of their own. It all made sense to me through my blurred vision.

 

 

I went home and made my way to Blue Bayou. I maybe shouldn’t have but I did. I was feeling indestructible. Also feeling a bit hungry and got there early to eat some fine Cajun cooking. But before I could even get into my appetizer my old friend Zoran showed up and then Alicia did as well. I hadn’t seen Zoran in 4 years and Alicia in a year since last September. It was a nice reunion but one that got me quite inxticalted and I ened up haivng my food boxed up but left it behind.

I was up much too early on Friday, and started calling people and even got a call from my friend Joe out in Arizona who I hadn’t spoken to since January, the Friday before Obama took office. (that;’s how good my memory is) So I spent the morning on the phone and also got the idea to do a cover of the Elvis classic “Trouble” as part of our acoustic act. I ran the idea by Dave and he was naturally accepting although he didn’t really know the song. It would be the perfect song for him to sing as his voice is deeper than mine. And that afternoon I went back over to Wrigleyville North for what I had every intentions of having one pitcher of beer.

 

 

Well I was certainly possessed by the bar on this sunny afternoon, so much that I made conversation with everyone, snapped photos of strangers, and met a young man and fellow beer guzzler named John Holmes. Yup, that’s really his name. We downed some more pitchers and walked down to Thelma’s where we acquired a 12 of Tecate and took it to my porch . We sat there talking about ladies and more BS when I come to the realization that I had indeed had more than enough, kindly asked my guest to depart and I tool a lil nap which is very rare for me indeed. In retrospect it certainly was a stranger than usual couple of afternoons mostly due to the patrons at my favorite new dive. And I hope to spend more time there as the people are much more interesting than anything I’ve seen this area for the 4 years I’ve lived here.

As usual Saturday morning came much earlier to me than most. I was up out of bed by 5 AM. My head was swimming with ideas. I made some killer spicy Cajun chicken and stowed it away till later. Oddly there were no good westerns on this Saturday morning and I was a bit bored, and that’s about when I came across Vera’s mother on myspace. Apparently they spent last weekend together and Vera did a wonderful photo of her free spirited biker mother that is now a resident of Arizona. After reviewing he profile and sending a few emails, it was very evident where Vera got her manner. It was very cool connecting with her. She spends time at few of my favorite Arizona places and certainly has a lust for life. I have it in my head to meet this lady at some point in person, sooner than later. First of all though, in 2 weeks I’ll be hanging w/ her daughter Vera in New Glarus.

Vera is just off the hook. Over the next few days she’s driving to Canada where she’s doing a shoot at a major industrial EBM fest. Then she’s driving towards MN then meeting me in New Glarus on Sunday the 24th, coming the next day to Chicago w/ me, then that night shooting a band in Rockford and afterwards heading to Madison to hang w/ The Murder Junkies. DAMMIT that’s the stamina that kept me going in the 90’s. I’m so much for laid back these days.

I must admint that Vera is one of the more interesting personalities I’ve been introduced to this year. We’ve tread down many of the same paths which is ironic given our age difference, and when I saw her home in Baton Rouge I was struck by how much we had in common in tastes and more. So needless to say I’m looking forward to showing her one day of NG.

For the second Saturday in a row, I blew off another burlesque show at the last minute. Last evening I was actually walking to the train to go to the Viaduct Theatre where I was on the guest list for another heavy metal burlesque show. But as I was about to board, I changed my mind. I had been awake since 430 AM again and just didn’t have it in me to sit at another show. So I cane home, watched a movie and hit the hay around midnight.

Sunday morning Dave called and we discussed the new songs and a photo shoot as well as ort debut. By noon he was here and we were outside working through our rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Trouble” and Van Halen’s “Ice Cream Man” and they both came out perfect after working them out for about an hour. Dave is singing “Trouble” and I’m doing “Ice Cream Man”. They came out incredible and it was nice to see Dave so fucking excited about my Elvis choice.

My brother called later in the afternoon and as mentioned in the opening, we had some frustrations with lifer and relationships to share. He had a pretty tough week and mine was a bit dramatic due to circumstances to do with people not really in my life anymore. It’s almost similar to my brothers woes, but not exactly, yet oddly parallel. I think it’s good therapy that we talk every Sunday.

I made an ass kicking batch of Shrimp Creole this afternoon. Nice follow up to the Cajun Chicken I made yesterday and the Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo I made Thursday. I think I’ve perfected my recipes thanks mostly to some of the spices my good friend Mark in Baton Rouge has been sending me.

In 2 weeks I’ll be grilling alligator w/ Mich. And that’s surely going to be the least of my adventures this time out in New Glarus. In search of hot looking ladies in cowboy boots and cut off shorts. And if so lucky, a hat as well. The more the merrier. I’ll have a room in the lodge all to myself, but that doesn’t mean nobody is invited. I’m taking a bit of advive from my friend the Piper that he suggested earlier in the week so we’ll see what develops.

Maybe it’s time I leave more in New Glarus than just tips. hehehe

 

 

 

 

My Shrimp Creole and secret weapon!

BTW I have just got to close with two more fascinating items. #1 PAM’s INCREDIBLE new headshot. OO LA LA. WOW!

and a close runner up. Drew Peterson in custody. I only wish he was in general population that sick smirking piece of crap.