The Three Hundred and Fifty Fifth...

Number Three Hundred and Fifty Five:

Home, Dinner, Lasagna

Amazing night last night at Balliceaux for the Macabre Masquerade. The Secretly Ya'll...storytelling was fine, the readings from the book were terrific and the band, The Zombie String Trio really brought the awesome! So great! So today, being Halloween, Gina, Justin and I got to dress up, cuz that's how we roll suckas! Gina did a good 60s black & white movie gal, Justin did a swell Muertos Cowboy, and well, I was the Masque of Red Death.

Here's a pic we shared with co-workers:

Third costume this Halloween by the way... damn. Anyway, home eating lasagna and watching the classic Wicker Man is my night! Nice!

The Three Hundred Fifty Forth...

Number Three Hundred and Fifty Four:

Home, Pumpkins!

One of Hope's friends came over for lunch and pumpkin carving today. The guy had never carved a pumpkin before, I think he was excited and had a good time. Lisa roasted some of the seeds and we played Apples to Apples. Good day amid another tragedy, a young woman with a bright future had her life cut short by a reckless driver Friday. She was the person who interviewed Beth and I for Quail Bell Magazine. Rest in Peace, Josephine Stone.

On another note --and I know I would have seen Josphine there-- our final October event for the book is this evening at Balliceaux. Macabre Masquerade with Secretly Ya'll and the Zombie String Trio!

The Three Hundred and Fifty Third...

Number Three Hundred and Fifty Three:

Home, Snack, Nuts

Well, today it happened. Phil Pollard died. He was with family, friends and his music and went peacefully. He leaves behind his wife, his three daughters and legacy of living. He was 44 years old. If you had ever met him, you would never forget him, and I certainly won't. We were in a band together for a year and a half and I still would see him occasionally. He was a man that always had a nod and a wink, and something clever, smart or terrific for you. A man that lived happily and shared that joy. Thanks for it, Phil!

This picture was taken on the fly, things were busy today; a book event at the New York Deli with Chop Suey Books that turned out well, then a drag costume party in the evening. The picture is a SUPER RARE print of the book cover, basically a test run, five made in this grey and black tone that Lisa and I had framed. We also had the "normal" book cover print framed, which will probably go up the rest of the year. Looks great!

The Three Hundred and Fifty Second:

Number Three Hundred and Fifty Two:

Home, Lunch, Turkey sandwich

This is me being rather tired! Up since 4, doing the radio show, then Fountain Books for a signing, then grocery store! I come home to think that I find out that Phil Pollard had died. I was very sad. He is an enigma of a man, but he is smart, caring, funny. One of a kind. I had the great pleasure of being with him in a band (SPLORK!) as well as at the radio station. This is from his website, and sums up the man quite nicely:

phil pollard: about phil

Phil Pollard - Human Being

Phil Pollard is a drummer, percussionist, and teacher. He is fond of the classics and believes everyone should know them; but he also knows the importance of living in the moment. Therefore, he combines the written, often classic Literature, with dance and improvised music so that live audiences can live in both worlds at once.He plays a variety of styles in a host of venues, including bars, theaters, and churches; he does a little radio; he led his Band of Humans in playing a set at Bonnaroo 2006, and he led the Bonnaroompah Band at this past Bonnaroo.

Lately, he has been helping to promote The Slomski Brothers, old salesman friends of his in their endeavor to spread good cheer to all.

He is a lover, not a fighter.

I was wrong, it was the Facebook tumble that started....and as it turns out, he is still on life support, but gravely ill. So let's pull for him people!!

The Three Hundred and Fifty First...

Number Three Hundred and Fifty Five:

Plaza Azteca, Lunch, Enchiladas

With the exception of the Dia de Muertos altar bearing such likes as Steve Jobs, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Johnny Cash and Heath Ledger, lunch was kind of like any other "mexican" joint in town. Only later did the day make me sad that a friend of mine had had a heart attack and was put into a coma to try and fix him, on his birthday no less. At first, you would think Phil Pollard would be fooling you, pulling your leg being the classic (and brilliant) comedian, musician, teacher that he is, then you just hope that it IS a joke, then you find out it isn't. Let's all hope he gets well soon, because the world would not be the same without him, and would be missing a big piece of the awesome puzzle that is life.

The Three Hundred and Fiftieth...

Number Three Hundred and Fifty:

Home, Dinner, Turkey sandwich

Really? Only 15 more? That is unbelievable!

Three Hundred and Forty Ninth...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Nine:

Mekong, Dinner, Beef

Lisa and I sat at the bar, chatting with Diablo and others, enjoying the dinner, enjoying the beer. Also, planning the "Last Napstache". Met with An for the plan and this is what we have. Yes, the last one will be at Mekong, one free beer from me and get a ticket if you show, have some dinner, buy more beer for yourself, and plan on doing a napstache with me for the last one!

One of my favorite mirrorstaches by the way. Love the angle and the bottles of booze.

The Three Hundred and Forty Eighth...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Eight:

Home, Dinner, Fajitas

Nice yoga tonight with Iffet. Then fajitas and some delightful pumpkin cookie Lisa made over the weekend!

Yum.

The Three Hundred Forty Seventh...

Number Three Hundred Forty Seven:

Chesterfield Towne Center, Lunch, Some Chinese nightmare

Okay, since when did the old Chesterfield Mall don "Towne" and "Center" to it's moniker? It's not only stupid sounding, but stupid spelling for Midlo, yo! Anyway, Richmond Macabre crew were in full effect for the Poe Museum fundraiser at Barnes & Noble. Beth and I managed to sneak away for some mediocre Chinese plates. Sat like a rock for me, made Beth feel icky. Lot of great activity at the tables though; bag puppets, readings, zombie make-up demos, plus this thing that Beth and I posed for below. Anne Soffee and family stopped by too, and great to chat with her, plus she took the picture!

Getting Casky with it.

Long day, fun day. B&N does NOT support local, just want you to know that, and they are bastards about it. BUT, we still had a great time with the Poe people and writers, a few of us even grabbed a beer (or two) at the Red Robin across the Food Court late in the day. Good times yucking it up at the RR bar, acting up.

The Three Hundred and Forty Sixth...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Six:

Home, Breakfast, Bagel

One of the many things that is awesome about Lisa is her ability to hold onto stuff. She would be the first to proclaim herself a pack rat, but I think it is really quite charming that she has held on to this particular bat above my head since childhood! Spooky bat in the kitchen!

The Three Hundred and Forty Fifth...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Five:

Dots Back Inn, Dinner, Burrito

Lisa and Emily went south to see the Cake Wrecks girl at a Barnes & Noble. Incidentally it is the same B&N that RM will be at for the Poe Museum fundraiser. We were to meet up at Dots after, I walked up after they called en route, then waited for a table with a beer in my hand getting friendly with the waitresses. Lisa and Emily's timing was just right, as soon as a booth opened up, they showed up! Nice dinner, but I was fading fast after the fun last night, then getting up early to do my radio show. Crash n burn time! Zzzzzzzzzz......

The Three Hundred and Forty Fourth...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Four:

Visual Arts Center, Pumpkinhead

Yes! This is an ACTUAL prop from the 1988 Stan Winston flick Pumpkinhead. Doc Gillespie, wise sage of horror film, brought props as part of the fun that the James River Film Society had tonight with it's first Halloween Showcase. I was a part of it, as curator for the opening film, Pickman's Model, by Giovanni Furore, based on the H.P. Lovecraft short story. Fangoria was also there representing. Geeks of Doom Bobby Morgan in the house too, running the triva contest between movies! Great night, we had about 60 people show up! More icing for the cake, please, you ask? Sure! Richmond Macabre writers Melissa Scott Sinclair, Michael Baughan, and cohort Beth Brown too! WOOT!

The Three Hundred and Forty Third...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Three:

Home, Breakfast, Eggs

It's starting to get to be that time in the Fall when it's dark when you leave for work, and come home!

The Three Hundred and Forty Second...

Number Three Hundred and Forty Two:

Avalon, Dinner, Monkfish

Nice dinner with Lisa at our old haunt, followed by an after dinner cocktail at Secco while waiting to talk to Ward from Chop Suey Books about another Richmond Macabre event at New York Deli! October 29th, 4-6PM, Fears & Beers kind of thing, show up!

Date night, out on the town!

The Three Hundred and Forty First...

Number Three Hundred and Forty One:

Home, Dinner, Ravioli

Monday = Yoga + Pasta Dinner + Antiques Roadshow

The Three Hundred and Fortieth....

Number Three Hundred and Forty:

Home, Dinner, Pork Tenderloin

Like the new chandelier? We do! This is one of those nights that I do envy people with cable. The Walking Dead season two premieres tonight. Ah well, I am equally excited to watch Sharktopus!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Ninth...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Nine:

India K' Raja, Folk Festival, Samosa

I think I have found my favorite way to really enjoy the folk festival in Richmond, photograph interviews! Now I am sure I'm like a lot of people, I don't really know a lot about the acts they get for the thing, plus it's all not really music that I seek, but always enjoy when I get there.

This year I was helping with WRIR 97.3. Since the host radio station (88.9) won't allow ANY OTHER station a stage (for whatever reason), we decided to use guerrilla tactics; a $97.30 giveaway to random people that wear their WRIR Fund Drive tee shirt! It worked like a charmed both times today. Mike Rutz took the mic and we found two appreciative WRIR fans then broadcast them live getting the prize pack. Fun! So we did one around 2 then at 7, in between James Hickman and I, with help from Will Armstrong and Charles Williams, went around getting interviews with acts backstage! Fricking sweet! (and thus, my favorite way to enjoy the festival!) Original P was a peak moment, seen below here. Dude just arrived and needed a beer and the ladies were hilarious!

Charles and Original P members

Me hamming it up in the backstage tent.

Also squeezed in was a visit to the American Civil War Center, it was free and I also got to talk with Doc Gillespie and my Macabre Partner in Crime Beth signing books! Good day, but a long one!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Eighth...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Eight:

WTVR, Television Appearance

I covered three mediums today.

Radio: First, I did my radio show, with two guests; Jeff Roll from the James River Film Society, then Alex Orangyna from the River City Roller Girls. Jeff talked about the Halloween Showcase and several other events upcoming, and Alex talked about a roller derby double header happening tomorrow. Excellent time with them both!

Television: After that, it was down the street to the "South's first television station" WTVR Channel 6 and their Virginia This Morning show for an appearance for the Richmond Macabre book. There Beth and I were, wedged in between "hicks-spanic" comedian Alex Reymundo, "The Waltons" Earl Hamner, AND a baby flamingo, eventually batting clean up in show. I managed this napstache right before the interview with Cheryl Miller, who is way more calm while interviewing than the other dude; who is jacked up on some serious coffee or something. Here is the interview. Funny thing, it was so fast once we got in the studio, then bam, interview done, now here is the egress. "Which way would you like to leave the building?" the thin fashionable blonde producer asked. Beth said the back, so yup, we left the station via the alley, which was kind of great because the huge pink and white station tower looms right there and is always awesome to see up close.

Interlude: Then went to work for a few hours. Lunch break. Then off to the west end of town to ANOTHER television studio, this time Henrico County's HCTV to do some voice over work for a show they did on the county library system.

At HCTV studios.

Print: Ending the day at Westbury Pharmacy for a book signing. The owners there were so nice and hospitable. They made two really big posters for the event, gave us a great location, table, candy corn and refreshment.

Me, Michael Baughan, Beth

We even signed several books too! The kind folks even let us take one of the large posters with us to totally use for future book events. So a full, fun day!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Seventh...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Seven:

Home, Dinner, Leftovers

After yoga, it was some quick leftovers before deciding what to wear on television tomorrow. It's been kind of funny because Beth and I have been telling each other what we are maybe wearing so we don't clash on camera; like a couple of gals going out on the town! hahahahahahaaaaaaa Anyway, I think we have decided! Tomorrow is going to be an action-packed day. I might, no, I MUST get a napstache while getting ready to get on the television!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Sixth...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Six:

The Camel, Dinner, Quesadilla

Long day today. First went to an online conference at the library on eBooks. Great thing was that the keynote speaker was my pal and author M.T. Anderson. M.T. Anderson was Henrico County Public Library's All Henrico Reads author last year. Lisa and I had the pleasure of driving him around Richmond on a nickel tour of the town. Great guy, smart guy.

After that it was off to Carytown to post some flyers for the James River Film Society's Halloween Horror Showcase. I am one of the curators of the event, plus Richmond Macabre will be there in full effect! Also, spoke with Ward at Chop Suey about another RM event!

I had a meeting at the radio station to go to at 7:30, so I had a light supper at The Camel where Secretly Ya'll's Colin was bar tending. We chatted a bit about some Secretlys and the event we have planned on October 30th. Then the meeting up at the station last till nearly nine, nearly a 12 hour day! Whew! See the exit sign in the pic? Yup!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Fifth...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Five:

Home, Dinner, Tacos

Tacos! I know, again! We are on a taco roll! Also, we have been having some hoot watching episodes of The Simpsons, uh, yeah, the Treehouse of Horror episodes! Tonight....The Shinning!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Fourth...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Four:

Home, Breakfast, Cereal

Totally for Lisa! Tiny Dracula! I forget where we picked this little guy up, but Lisa and I have this great game of hiding him for each other in various places to be discovered. We do this with some other things; like our chicken hats (yes, we have chicken hats), and our blow up eyeball.

The Three Hundred and Thirty Third...

Number Three Hundred Thirty Three:

Home, Dinner, Pot Roast

I guess I can make the funny about being only half-evil with the whole 333 thing. I wasn't a complete slacker today, I did do the laundry and make the first pot roast of the season. A little overdone but not bad! I added beer to the recipe and bourbon into me!

The Three Hundred and Thirty Second...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty Two:

Tarrant's Cafe, Corned Beef Hash, Brunch

A quick meal before the third book event in as many days! I enjoy the busy! It was at Quirk Gallery, and while not many people showed up, three great things happened: more author interaction, a great live set by the band Machine Gun Mustache, and an interactive event called Exquisite Corpse which will be posted later on the Richmond Macabre website!

The Three Hundred and Thirty First...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty One:

Fountain Bookstore, Book signing

Great time in the Slip at a great bookstore! We had a number of people come in and purchase the book. Then Beth, Michael Baughan and myself signed copies and chatted with folks about it. Kelly, the owner, is absolutely awesome. She plugged the event, she hung up a banner out front, she showed people coming in the store the book while they browsed and totally sold some of them on it. So very full of greatness.

Window display @ Fountain.

Beth, Michael and I having some fun.

Later, I went to Carytown to pick up some cheese at River City Cellars for a party we are going to later. I pop into Chop Suey and our book is being proudly displayed. The guy behind the counter told me it was doing well too! Yay! Further evidence that local bookstores ROCK!

On the counter at Chop Suey.

Also awesome? Our Wedding Anniversary! Happy Anniversary Lisa!

The Three Hundred and Thirtieth...

Number Three Hundred and Thirty:

Home, Dinner, Egg Sandwich

Quick bite after work, headed to the Poe Museum for their awesome Poe Memorial Service. Today is the anniversary of Poe's death. A fair amount of people showed up, plus Richmond Macabre authors Dale Brumfield, Charles Albert and Andrew Goethals read selections intermingled with actual Poe stories read by museum staff. It was kind of nice to have a couple of beers and chat with the other writers in the book in a less formal atmosphere (meaning with booze). A grand time! Note the decoration of pumpkin in the window; it's the most wonderful time of the year! ;-)

The Three Hundred and Twenty Ninth...

Number Three Hundred and Twenty Nine:

Home, Dinner, Leftovers

Beth Brown and I are suave at marketing (well, mostly Beth). Coming off of the great interview on Wordy Birds last week, we then get a nice big blurb in the city's glossy Richmond Magazine! Sweet. Beth told me in her Publisher travels that the book was already being asked for last weekend at Chop Suey. Add that the copies in our library are all checked out, with holds and that is some nice confidence boosting that people are requesting and liking the book! Nice! Oh, and NEXT week, we are slated to be on Channel 6's morning show on Friday. Woot! Feels good to be bringing something to Richmond that people are enjoying and wanting!

The Three Hundred and Twenty Eighth...

Number Three Hundred and Twenty Eight:

Dots Back Inn, Dinner, Nachos

So, on behalf (hopefully) of WRIR I met with the Northside Merchants Association on the possibility of the radio station maybe participating (booth, DJing) during their Christmas on MacArthur event. It would be a perfect fit, since a LOT of WRIR people live Northside. My dream idea would be that fellow Breakfast Blend DJ Anna G. and I would spin awesome holiday tunes during the event. Later met Lisa for dinner at Dots!

The Three Hundred and Twenty Seventh...

Number Three Hundred and Twenty Seven:

Balkan Restaurant, Lunch, Goulash

Chilly day yesterday and today made me want something warm when we went to Balkan for lunch. Goulash. Oh yeah, that's the good stuff!

The Three Hundred and Twenty Sixth...

Number Three Hundred and Twenty Six:

The Poe Museum, Book Launch

Today was our book launch party of Richmond Macabre : Nightmares from the River City at the Poe Museum. Wow! What terrific event! The weather was getting cold, threatening rain, perfect for the day full of moody soundscapes, creepy book readings and getting to know everyone that contributed to the book.

Lisa and I showed up around one to help set up with co-conspirator Beth Brown. Everything started to come together around 15 minutes before the event. Beth and I could tell when someone walked in who looked like one of the writers. (We had met NONE of the contributors before today, that was kind of cool!) After a while, chock full of great atmospheric music by my pal Sean Lovelace and Brian, the first set of readings by the authors began. I was one of them, I thought I did a pretty decent job. After the first set of readings, more musical interlude followed as well as the invitation for people to tour the fantastic Poe Museum. So surreal, and awesome, was when people started coming up to me asking to sign their book! Wow! Kind of special, neat. It was great to see so many people interested in a collection of short horror fiction set in and inspired by Richmond, Virginia, something that I (and I am sure Beth) am very proud to be a part of! It's kind of like the reward for the hard work of putting this project together.

Next, the second set of readings began, also great. Ending the afternoon with a massive book signing by the 13 authors that appeared for the event. There were a lot of special moments for me, too many to mention here, but there will be some pictures on tomorrow's blog of the event. Such a great time, perfect!

The Three Hundred and Twenty Fifth...

Number Three Hundred and Twenty Five:

Secco Wine Bar, Snack, beer

The awesome people at Secco offered a free cheese plate to WRIR Fund Drive volunteers! You had to have a secret password and spend at least 5 bucks, so what better way than a fine beer from their tap (usually chosen by Dave at neighboring River City Cellars)! So good, and such a great place! The owner of both places, Julia, is a great local business person that believes in Richmond community! Woot!