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 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!

The Three Hundred and Fourth...

Number Three Hundred and Four:

Home, Snack, Hummus

Home from WRIR doing the River City Limits. Decent show with band Machine Gun Mustache, followed by great conversation with some Teen Library folks visiting!

The Two Hundred and Ninety Eighth...

Number two Hundred and Ninety Eight:

Peaks of Otter, Goldfish, snack

So Lisa, Gina and I took a trip to the Peaks of Otter today and climbed Sharp Top. A great steep climb that takes about an hour and a half and boy was it crowded on the trail today. Still, a grand view from the top, despite the crazy buzzing bugs all around. A quick jaunt down was followed by a late lunch at the Lodge, then a dash over to the Peaks of Otter Winery (a totally lesson in fruit wiiiine) then drive all the way back to RVA! I feel almost too beat to attend the Sprout Restaurant closing party, but maybe a quick beer.

The Two Hundred and Sixty Eighth...

Number Two Hundred and Sixty Eight:

Home, Tomatoes

Lisa was making a little tomato salad to go with dinner tonight, I did this. These are from our garden, they kind have an eyeball appeal! Eyeballs Eyeballs Eyeballs!

The Two Hundred and Sixty Fifth...

Number Two Hundred and Sixty Five:

Snack, National Night Out, Root beer Float

Lisa and I rode our bikes to dinner at Tastebuds, sitting at the bar thinking that NNO would draw hoards of people to the restaurants on MacArthur and we would be lucky just to be able to eat. We got there pretty early, and it wasn't very crowded, but we still had a great time talking with the owner and enjoying our dinner. Afterward we popped out into the street and saw this going on; the free ice cream and floats, the Mayor's police entourage, the people milling about and chatting it up. Not that I am a big NNO fan, I mean yes, it's absolutely great and although the mascot is a little doofy it is a great way to bring people together in the community.

By the way, 265! 100 more to do!

The Two Hundred and Thirty Fourth...

Number Two Hundred and Thirty Four:

Luray, Part 1

Sky Meadow State Park, Snack, Goldfish

Our second trip in two weeks! This time not camping, but a trip to Mimslyn Inn, which we managed a package deal a few years ago and scored the same again due to the goof that the Virginia is For Lovers website did, which was still having the deal up two years later. Before heading to Luray though, we wanted to knock out a state park on our list.

Mount Bleak Farm House

Sky Meadow is basically an old farm house property from the 19th century, with some beautiful views and pretty good trails, ending for us with the above view of a small town call Paris. After a good solid hike, we heading toward Luray, stopping a local restaurant called The Apple House for some OK BBQ and awesome apple donuts!

The Two Hundred Twenty First:

Number Two Hundred and Twenty One:

Bow-Tie Cinema, Movie, Popcorn

On this Father's Day, Hope had to work, and she wasn't interested in going to see a movie anyway, so Lisa and I went to see Super 8. A kind of E.T. / Goonies / Stand By Me movie by J.J. Abrams. Not bad, a nice matinee flick that isn't a sequel or franchise like so many movies are that are out right now. Hollywood is a barren wasteland, so I have to choose wisely. The previews were atrocious; Transformers - destroying a city a la 9-11, Zookeeper - man-boy tripe, Captain America - looks absolutely dumb (STOP MAKING SUPER HERO MOVIES!), and the last two I would see. Harry Potter, the last one, finally. And then Cowboys and Aliens, which YES, will most certainly fall in the ridiculous schlock category, but like I said, I think I will have chosen wisely. It IS based on a graphic novel, and it DOES look completely ludicrous and over the top! And, it's not a sequel or franchise! (Yet.) Still, when you combine western with sci-fi it should be interesting, well, unless it goes the way of Wild Wild West. Hmmm, maybe I should rethink things....

Anyway, when we came back home, Hope had left me a card that was great! Nice!

The Two Hundred and Twentieth...

Number Two Hundred and Twenty:

Richmond Public Library, Snack, Ice Cream

I honestly don't know why I have such a cranky look in the picture, I think it might have been the sun in my face, so let's go with that. Lisa and I went down to our local library for the Summer Reading Kick Off, which not only had free ice cream, but Barry Fox the Snake Guy doing a program about local snakes, complete with live examples.

Barry holding a recently captured and cranky Black Rat Snake.

It was in the tiny meeting room, and Lisa and I each sat in chairs around the walls with other adults while a host of kids sat on the carpet in the middle. A lady who sat beside me was being very nervous, in a fun way, about seeing live snakes. By the end, she wound up petting one with me. Looks like it was a nice turn out for the event and Lisa and I both know, working for libraries ourselves, how awesome it is to be a small branch and have a great turn out for a program. Support your local library!

The Two Hundred and Thirteenth...

Number Two Hundred and Thirteen:

Michael and Melissa's House, Beer

After Ceci and I had a groovy River City Limits Show on WRIR 97.3 with my band Shoot Fire Yeah! playing live, Lisa and I managed a meal at Avalon, then headed over to our friends Michael and Melissa for beers, chips and great conversation. Ceci and Doyle, Michael and Melissa, and Lisa and I basically hung out on the front porch feeling the cool air brought on by the distant thunder and occasional lightening. What is often best about meeting in small groups is you get a more personal conversation with friends. The laughter is more genuine, the tale spun by the speaker usually more complex and the atmosphere is swell. Anyway, good times on a Saturday night!

I know, I am barely in the picture, but the man faces are clearly more interesting!

The Two Hundred and Eleventh...

Number Two Hundred and Eleven:

Home, Snack, Brownie

Lisa makes great chocolate chip brownies, the cat makes a good loafing philosopher. It was very hot out today, especially working on the Bookmobile where a/c is scarce to non existent. But we get to wear shorts and casual gear for just the occasion and you gotta have it in your blood to be a Bookmobiler...

Anyway, when I came home from work, the cat was outside in the shade. Smart for a cat to know when to stay out of the sun. She comes inside the house with me, I immediately appreciate the central air, the cat immediately sprawls out in the bit of sunshine coming in from some window.

So, as cat logic goes:

Outside + Hot = Shade

Inside + Cool = Sunshine

Who knew?

Two Hundred and First...

Number Two Hundred and One:

York River State Park, Snack, Nuts

Last week on the Bookmobile, I saw Gina looking around the Virginia State Parks website, wanting to do some kayaking or something on Memorial Day. Lisa and I are always up for an adventure, so I suggested we all go. Group trip!

Lisa and I have kayaked on Taskinas Creek a few times before, so we knew where to go, all the way up till you could go no further. This is where the napstache was taken. A great little spot, not nearly enough shade, but still wonderful. A ton of great birds, particularly some Great Blue Herons that we kept interrupting on the way back and getting wonderfully close to, Osprey and their nest, and the Bald Eagle. After getting back to the mouth of the creek, we kept going out to the York River where it was surprisingly calm and allowed us to spend a lot of time out in the breezy area too. After 3 hours or so on the water, it was time to head back and have lunch in Williamsburg at Berret's Seafood Restaurant, then meander around Colonial Williamsburg for a bit before heading home. Great day!

Kayakstache!

The Eighteenth...

Number Eighteen:






Home, Snack, Cheese and Crackers







After decorating the aluminum tree, listening to Phil Spector's Christmas Album on vinyl, we noshed on some fancy cheese leftover from Thanksgiving. Funny how I act like I dread that the Holidays are coming too fast, but love when the vintage gleaming tree is up and the color wheel is clicking and shining!