Overheard in line at Price Chopper

Today I popped into the Price Chopper on my break, to get something different for lunch. I got strawberries, lean cuisine panini and cherry vanilla yogurt. (That was a pretty big lunch!)

In front of me in line was a mailman. Behind me was an old guy. The old guy says " Is the service any better now that you got your money? Stamps at 44 cents. I hope they close the place down." The mailman says, "What did I do to you?" Old guy: "Nothing, but I wish they would shut the whole thing down. Email is free."

Then the old guy looked at me. I am in uniform today, a cookies and milk scrub top. He says "Where do you work? I am guessing in the healthcare field". I said "Why, so you can tell me my job stinks too? Forget about it".

What a crazy encounter.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

This was the May selection for the Church Ladies book club. It won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize, and is written in the style of a father's memoir to his young son. The father is elderly, a pastor, and the son is the product of a second marriage and is very young. It is a sort of rambling prose that tells the story, which takes time to tell due to the many rememberences that the man includes.

For me, it was hard to get through. I found myself skimming over the extra, and tried to just get the bones of the story, which was difficult. Lots of lovely reflections about life, religion, love...but I did keep thinking 'get to the story!'

Chili's Wolf Road

Had dinner here prior to the movie. Had call ahead seating for party of 8, and it worked great, we didn't have to wait very long at all. I haven't gone here in quite awhile, since it just seems to be just like everyplace else, only a lot saltier...Had a black bean burger, which came with a side of broccoli. The burger was good enough, too much roll though, and plain broccoli is just that. The chips/salsa appetizer platter had plenty enough to share with the table, but again, the salsa was so salty. I think I can safely delete Chili's from my list of places to ever have to go again. When there are SO many fantastic places I have been lately...why waste the time and money going someplace so mediocre?

Star Trek

Saw this last night at Colonie Center - I liked it a lot, was easy to follow even for non-trekkies, and had some good special effects. Leonard Nimoy was great in it too...

Aperitivo

Went to Aperitivo Bistro in Schenectady last night. I love that they offer wine flights here! I tried the Pinot Noir flight, which was good, although wasn't crazy about the Mahoney - it was the darkest one, very full bodied....don't let me try to pretend I know anything about describing wines -
There were a large selection of small plates, although I just tried the Bruschetta Trio - very tasty. http://www.aperitivobistro.com/

Mother's Day

Had a nice dinner at Mom's house. Brought her a hanging petunia basket which I got from the Fire Dept plant sale fundraiser.

Had dinner with number one son at the famous Gateway Diner, where we went when we realized that our favorite sushi place was closed. Nothing like a nice BLT!

Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind played Tulip Fest this year...touring in support of their new album, which I think has been released by now...the price was right, (FREE) and I think I would have been disappointed if I had paid for that show. I always liked them and wanted to like them but maybe the throngs of crowd goers kind of made it not my scene....I am spoiled by easy access to my Graham.

Lionheart/Lark Tavern

Went with the Happy Hour group to the Lionheart, and had a great time. 2 Sam Adams Summer Ale, which is so tasty and refreshing! After a couple hours we crossed Madison Ave and had dinner at Tess' Lark Tavern. Great pub food there, and stainless steel bathrooms....

Tulip Fest

As usual, the tulips were gorgeous, and the city gardener was on hand to answer questions...it was a beautiful sunny day, and I have never seen the park so packed with people. Nice crafts and good junky fair food: sausage and peppers, fresh cut fries, and cream soda...

Cinco de Mayo @ Jose Malone's

Went here for Cinco De Mayo with the social club.

The food was surprisingly good - I mean, this is no Garcia's (which we LOVED, by the way. I can admit that.)

I went with 2 small plates:

1. Asparagus quesadilla
2. Avocado with scallops

Both were fantastic, and of course the margaritas were delish as well. As far as a special cinco party, it did get crowded, but the crowning touch was the irish music. haha.

Big Night - the movie

Recently I saw that there was going to be a cooking class to make "the Big Night dish". Never having seen the movie, I thought I would see what that dish was....

This was the slowest movie ever. I like all the actors/actresses, and this was a character driven film, but these characters drove SO SLOW!

Not on my recommendation list!

even "the Big Night dish" didn't look too good to me.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

We read this book for the April edition of Church Lady book club. I was hesitant for about the first chapter, since it didn't just grab me, but I found that by the second chapter, I was really enjoying it.

The story opens with a sort of forensic examination of an ancient book and follows the book back in time, based on artifacts from the book itself, and a story about who had the book at that time in history. It may not sound that thrilling as I am discussing it - I don't want to give anything away - but it turned out to be a really good read.

Savion Glover @ the Egg

Saw this genius at the egg. We had seats in the first row behind the pit. The first half of the show was Savion dancing with a jazz type ensemble, the second half had him dancing with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. It was amazing to watch him.

Cella Bistro

http://www.cellabistro.com/

Had dinner here as a 'replacement' place for my beloved WineDown Lounge...

Nice, was highly recommended, and the roasted red pepper soup was delish, but overall, it just didn't do it for me.

Big Love

I love this show. I have been watching season 1 and 2 from netflix. I love it.

I don't think I could do the first wife, second wife thing, but actually I would like to have a sister wife....

333 cafe, delmar

Went with the wine group to the 333 Cafe (333 Delaware Avenue, Delmar) for a wine/apps get together.

This place is unbelievable. The appetizers were fabulous, our table ordered 3 to share:

Avacado with carmelized onions on fried ricotta, which was like a crispy cracker.

Zucchini and parmesan latkes with kalamata olives

and the best: chicken and ginger wontons with pineapple sweet and sour salsa. I have been attempting to make this at home. I haven't quite gotten it yet, but I am going to keep trying!

Colin Hay

Colin Hay (from Men at Work) (He actually commented that that is pretty much his whole name now) played at the Egg on April 20th, in the Swyer Theater. It seats 450 and it was ALMOST full, just the top row or so empty. He wondered aloud what interesting thing THOSE people were doing that made them miss the show.

He is a master of his craft, the singer/songwriter/solo performer. Very engaging, and told many absolute Laugh Out Loud stories. Played some songs, old and new, and then was joined on stage by Cecilia Noel, who he recently married.

It was a fantastic show, I would recommend him to anyone.

Katrinella's Bistro

We went here on Tuesday before the show at the Egg. It is a new little (seats 15) place that we found on the web. It is at 123 Madison Avenue, (just up from Lombardo's).

WOW

We both loved it. The food was great, the service wonderful, and the price very reasonable. I had the tortellini ala pana and dinner date had the ziti with sausage and peppers. The bread came out fresh and hot, and we were told that they bake it every two hours, so everybody gets the same good quality.

WOW

We will totally be back here, but if I tell everybody how good it is, will I still be able to get a table?

Cooperstown Beer tours

On April 4, we did a bus trip to Cooperstown, and did tours of 2 breweries. First up was the Cooperstown Brewery, where their beers all have baseball names, and they were really accomodating and informative. I never had any idea (or interest really) of how they brew beer, and the differences between them. I never drank it anyway. However now it is all more interesting to me, and I am enjoying getting to know and appreciate the differences. I have a long way to go though! Anyway, my favorite brew at Cooperstown was this porter, Benchwarmer. Loved it.

Then we went on to Ommegang, which is a gorgeous building, and a similar tour, and a great tasting as well. The highlight of this tasting for me was a batch of ?three philosophers maybe, that had been aged in howe caverns for awhile. The difference in tast between a regular bottle and the aged bottle was really incredible, with the aged bottle so smooth and richly mellowed. That really made an impact on me!

This was a very fun day.

Greg Klyma Trifecta

Greg Klyma got on my radar when I saw him open for Anthony da Costa (who got on my radar from opening for Graham, but more on him later) at Caffe Lena, sometime back in the fall.

Greg Klyma is 'the Rust Belt Vagabond' from Buffalo, NY (which is also the title of his latest album). He travels around the country in a Toyota minivan. After that first show I bought his CDs (3 f0r 30) and got hooked.

Now, Greg Klyma is a singer/songwriter, a folksinger, and seeing him live is really a treat. For one thing, he is so funny, his stories make you laugh, and his songs can make you think, or they touch your heart. His song 'Two Degrees in Buffalo" is totally a love song to the place he came from, and I think it is a masterpiece (I appreciate it and I've never even been there!)

The thing that really grabs me about him is that he has so much heart. He is intelligent and respectful, and just seems like the ANTI-angry young man. In the introduction to the song "New Clothes" he told a story about how a fan/friend shared with him the impact that song had on her. He said something like "People give you their stories and then they become part of you". But it was such a touching story that now that story has become part of me too, and I don't think I could hear that song without thinking of that other girl....

So after seeing him the first time, I got on his mailing list - got an invite to a house party where he was playing, so got to see him again in early March. Then I saw he was playing Binghamton (well within my 2.5 hour travel time for music) called an old friend I have there, and we went to see him together. It was a great time, and I am totally hooked on Klyma.

Drew's House 3/8/09

Drew's house is an incredible place to see a show...it is a really intimate venue because, well, it really is his house. On a lake in Ringwood NJ, Drew has hosted many different shows live in his living room, but I only make the 2.25 hour drive for GP.

20 dollars and an appetizer is the cost of admission - and always over 100 people, I am guessing 150 for the more crowded times I have been there for Graham. There has been some kind of GP theme for these shows the last few times...The first stunt du jour that I know about was when he played the SOS record in order in its entirety. This time it was a CD release party of sorts, for the Carp Fishing on Valium songs, which were written back in 2000 to go with the book of the same name. He had done a short tour at that time in which he read from the stories and then sang the song for that story. He said in short that it was a disaster. However, from the 'story songs', many were great enough to become the anchor of a 'regular' CD.

Anyway, the set list comes courtesy of Jersey Jerry.

Anything For a Laugh

Chloroform

Soultime

Brain Surgery

Custom Fanny

Last Stop Is Nowhere

Carp Fishing On Valium

Coins in my Pocket

Well Well Well

Blue Horizon

Hot Ringlets(Go Little Jimmy)

Gypsy Blood

Sugaree

Wrapping Paper

Character Assassination

If it Ever Stops Raining

Glue and Chickens

You Can’t Be Too Strong

Passion is no Ordinary Word --

Not if it Pleases Me

Soul Shoes

Heat Treatment-

Local Girls

Iron Horse Music Hall

On March 26, a Thursday night, I drove over to Northampton MA, to the Iron Horse to see Graham. It is about an hour and a half drive, and every time I go to this town I wish I had some time to look around. It is a very artsy place from what I have seen and heard about it. Someday I will, but tonight was all about Graham (isn't it always?)

Met up with other traveling GP friends. Set list courtesy of said friend.
If It Ever Stops Rainin' [Gibson acoustic]

High Horse

Nothin's Gonna Pull It Apart

Chloroform

Custom Fanny

They Got It Wrong (As Usual)

Pollinate

First Day of Spring

Black Lincoln Continental

Hotel Chambermaid

Soul Corruption [Fender electric]

Tough on Clothes

Long Stem Rose

Love Gets You Twisted

Discovering Japan

Passion Is No Ordinary Word

White Honey

Temporary Beauty

Back in Time [Gibson]

Heat Treatment

(encore)

Local Girls

Get Started. Start a Fire [Fender]

You Can't Be Too Strong

Of note in this show: Long Stem Rose, which is usually a slow acoustic number was played electric, in kind of a reggae version. Nice for something different.

Infinity Hall, Norwalk CT

Back on the 10th of April, I met some friends for a concert at the Infinity Music Hall. It is a pretty new venue, actually an OLD venue that has been lovingly restored in (middle of nowhere) Norwalk CT. It was an easy ride from Albany, although you pass Great Barrington MA, then drive past one hundred cows, and then you are there. It is gorgeous, with every seat a good view. You can just feel the history in this place. I saw Graham there, who said the sound was so good he would play a full show even if noone was in the place...

Set list courtesy of said friend:

If It Ever Stops Rainin' [Gibson acoustic]

High Horse

Nothin's Gonna Pull It Apart

Chloroform

They Got It Wrong (As Usual)

Custom Fanny

Pollinate

Black Lincoln Continental

Hotel Chambermaid

Soul Corruption [Fender electric]

Stick To Me

Long Stem Rose

Love Gets You Twisted

Discovering Japan

Passion Is No Ordinary Word

Don't Ask Me Questions
Someone to Watch Over Me [a cappela]

Depend on Me [Gibson]

Back In Time

Heat Treatment

(encore)

Glue and Chickens

Last Stop is Nowhere

Local Girls

http://www.infinityhall.com/

Gavin Rossdale at Northern Lights

New band, new album Wanderlust, (2008).

Played the hits, chided the audience for not knowing all the songs. Not a big chatter but a pretty good RnR show.

Still delicious eye candy as well!

I'm back

Hadn't really left, but time flies by and I have been doing so many things that I haven't made time for posting. Back with a vengeance.