State Fair

State Fair Shadow Box
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

My state fair. I love you. I love the food, the garbage cans, the people, the smells, the neon, the signs, the rides. I love the guys hawking their products - sometimes with decade old spiels. I've heard them all. I own brooms and mops and knife sharpeners purchased from the fair just so I have little reminders the other 355 days of the year. My shadow box only covers so much. I love hearing the fireworks (sorry Sass) every night. I only thing I don't love is that it heralds the end of summer.

Once I went to the fair, it was hot and sticky. A storm came up and as I walked the mile home, it got colder and grayer. By evening - it was 50º and I was eating soup to stay warm.

Iocane Powder

In the movie "Princess Bride" (for me it's the book - NOT the movie)

Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...

Vizzini: [Vizzini stops suddenly, and falls dead to the right]

Buttercup: And to think, all that time it was your cup that was poisoned.

Man in Black: They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.

When I bought this rum I swore it WAS Iocane. I still think it is. And if you drink enough of it - you do build up an immunity - to pretty much any liquor.

Amy and Todd 8/22/08

Amy and Todd
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

I love this picture of you guys. Off on one of your adventures. I have no idea who took it.

I keep the photo in my address book in case I want to call you and tell you of the funny thing I saw at a store. Or that I have gossip. I think about how long it's been since I talked to you. Then I remember. That the photo was in the funeral program five years ago. Everyone thought I was nuts saying, "It's a joke, right?" "They'll pop up and say "Surprise!" You guys didn't pop up. It was real. Both of you in a horrible plane crash.

I will toast you kids with ice cream and Captain and Coke. And wish you were with me. I miss you tons, love, Debora

Nurse Sass

Sass on the floor
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

My Sassala, was the best nurse. I loved that when I would get out the digital thermometer, she'd growl at every beep. But each growl would get softer. Beep. Grrrr. Then she got used to it. Damn that was cute. When you'd take a sick day, get a bunch of DVDs and get all comfy on the couch by the tv. She'd get on the floor right by you. Every few hours she'd get up and dead check you. She'd make you pet her by putting her nose under your hand. The response to that was, "Hi honey, I'm not dead. Yet." If someone was worrying about you being alone, at home and on NyQuil - you know Nurse Sass was there to dead check you. That cold wet nose could wake you from a double dose of the Quil.

I was out sick yesterday and I tried to will my nurse there with me. I tried to imagine her wet nose. And how she'd stand up on the frame of the couch and bark as other dogs dared to walk by the house. I only got a faint glimmer and a few dog hairs in the wuss blanket. But no actual real live dog.

Mumph.

Abode Motel, Winthrop Harbor, IL

Abode Motel, Winthrop Harbor, IL
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

On the weekends, what I did for fun after college was go on mini road trips. I worked at a camera store so my film processing and film was at cost. Sometimes friends would be dragged North to towns like Pleasent Prairie or Winthrop Harbor. Or I'd go to Chicago and watch Harold the Fried Chicken King go after that neon chicken - until my friends pulled me away. See more here.

Boombastic Jazz Style

More boombastic talking style. Wait - who talks like that. I. Don't. Know.

Boombastic Jazz Style

Who do I know who talks in a bombastic style? I don't. Know.

Waiting For You

Yes, you know who you are. I am waiting for you. FOR YOU.

Happy Birthday Amy E.

Amy modeling
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

I met Amy Currier at UW Stout in 1983. I swore she spoke with a New York accent. But actually, she was from Nicollet MN and couldn’t really say her “R”s. Currier became Cuweeyou. She liked punk music and weird clothes; a was a kindred spirit. As a little girl she’d write her name as Amy E. She thought she had to write out the “E” in Amy. She was one of the reasons I moved to Minneapolis after college. She had a house in St Paul and she was always rehabbing it. She went from clothing designer to computer programmer. It’s her birthday today and she was a big fan of Captain Morgan and Coke. One memory I have of her is drinking ice cream drinks at W.A, Frost in St Paul. I always toast her birthday with some liquor and some ice cream.

MN State Fair

Flamingo Shadow Box
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Come see this guy at the Minnesota State Fair Fine Art building from 8/21 to 9/1.

Yay!

Powderhorn Art Fair

This weekend in Minneapolis. Come check out my work. Love to see you.
The details are here.

Get Me A Shotgun

Too annoying!

More Skinny

More Skinny Used Cars, Pueblo, CO
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

My dad always wanted someone to invent a skinny pill. I'm with you, dad. There is no magic skinny pill.

Cactus

Mexican Food, Walsenberg, CO
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

When my sister was a wee thing, we were in Arizona. It was hot and she was tired and crabby. She's whining and crying and my mom was getting sick of it. Finally, my mom decides to ask her what why she was so upset. My sister says she has cactus in her pants. My mom in a fit just pulls down my sister's underpants. There it was - some tiny piece of cactus in her underpants.

Sometimes it is that easy to make it all better. Sometimes it's the Mexican food that makes it feel like you have cactus in your pants.

Cone of silence

Dogs hate the cone of silence. This doggy looks so sad.









It's like the Get Smart cone of silence:
I need the cone of silence to block out everyone else. I'm a sad doggy WITHOUT one. Give me a cone or I'll scratch my wounds. Grrrrrrrr.

Sainted, Tainted and Grass Skirts

My local paper, the Pioneer Press has this great column called Sainted and Tainted. Anyone can write in write good or bad (Sainted or Tainted) moments that happened to them in St Paul. Mostly it’s about wallets returned, restaurant bills paid anonymously – lost dogs found. The tainted ones are the best. This was in today’s paper.

TAINTED
The reality TV show "Greatest American Dog." I grew up watching "Lassie" and have loved dogs my whole life. When I heard a commercial for "Greatest American Dog," I thought, why not watch it? Ten minutes later, I turned it off. I did turn it back on after about a half hour, hoping it would have gotten better, only to see the dog owners in grass skirts.
I know this is reality TV, but we humans have sunk to a low level, having our dogs act like us. It was pitiful, and I think those dogs need to adopt new masters.
Kathy Hamilton, St. Paul

I can see why umm she uh um What! Because of grass skirts! Dogs acting like us (?) Yes, of course.

Tainted and hideous. See for yourself:

Motel, Chelsea OK

Motel, Chelsea OK
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

In 2000, I went on a road trip to Austin, TX to see a good friend, Caroline. I took alot of side roads, shot the shit. You know. I traveled a bit on Route 66 and found this gorgeous old thing.

In November 2007 - I went on a road trip to Austin, TX to visit her again. I took the Lincoln Highway and other parts of Route 66. I have the world's greatest travel white noise generator/alarm clock. - it goes with me everywhere. Caroline and I take a road trip while I'm visiting her and of course plug in the alarm clock. When the alarm goes on, the white noise goes off. Then I start hearing shit in other hotel rooms. And that's what gets me up. Caroline is sound asleep after the alarm goes off. She's sleeping so soundly, that I think she's dead. Finally she wakes up - the best sleep she's ever had. I tell her how freaked out I was. The next morning - I'm a bit better prepared but it's like we're at the famous Hotel Chelsea where the Warhol superstars stayed. Is she Edie Sedgwick? It becomes the running joke.

I just sent Caroline a similar white noise generator (a much overdue birthday present). I didn't even know her neighbor would let her alarm clock go off for an hour - in her own Hotel Chelsea. Maybe someone got the neighbor girl a white noise machine. And Caroline tells me it's the best sleep she's gotten since the Motel Chelsea.

Little Debora Snacks

Little Debora Snacks
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Damn you Little Debbie and Mrs Freshley. I love your 100 calorie products. Which by the way, Deb, you seem to be ashamed of because they are buried on your web site. Mrs Freshley's is a bit more out out in the open. Can I buy your products at my local grocery store? No. I have to gird my loins, suck it up and go to a Super Walmart to obtain your products. Is Super Walmart any where near my house? No fucking way. It's a trip to East Jesus nowhere. But the dazzling array of snackitude when I arrive is almost worth the trip.

Damn you both for my snack jones.

Dear God

I don't believe in you. Dear god
I wont believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
Youre always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And its the same the whole world round.
The hurt I see helps to compound,
That the father, son and holy ghost,
Is just somebody's unholy hoax,
And if you're up there you'll perceive,
That my hearts here upon my sleeve.
If theres one thing I don't believe in...

Its you,
Dear god.

Jabba the Hut

StarWars exhibition - Jabba the Hut
Originally uploaded by Lizzie-G.

I was feeling sluggish the other day - moving as fast as Jabba the Hut. Driving to get a massage from a dear friend of mine. We exchange stories during the massage. I was feeling dull and felt I had no stories to tell her. Last time she told me about a Werebear that got me laughing. I told her I was feeling like Jabba the Hut. And she responds in that guttural way Jabba talks. And we both started laughing. Then the conversation morphed into people who talk like cartoon characters. She knows a man who talks like Mr Lunt of Veggie Tales. I know a guy who talks like one of the characters from the movie, Galaxy Quest.

Pretty cool to walk in as Jabba and leave laughing.

"Sad fish"

"Sad fish"
Originally uploaded by iamthefinn.

Update: Karen, yet another Pisces, just got fired. Wow. Sad fish indeed. The old post follows below:

A few weeks ago, a dear friend, Chris, leaves me a voicemail. He’s all jokey and says, “Hi, I had a heart attack call me back!” Asshole! Why would he joke around like that? We take classes together and mostly I just punch him on the arm and tell him he’s retarded. We do joke around a lot. So I call back and his girlfriend, Lisa answers. She says she overheard him and he was a jerk for leaving that message. He was serious! He did have a heart attack. That fucker. He’s 43, in good shape but has a family history of heart problems. I get the story. He was having chest pain and Lisa (who can be tough) told him he could go to the hospital by car or ambulance. Those were the choices. They get to the hospital he is having a heart attack and one of his arteries was 60% blocked. He has a stent put in and he’s doing good.

I get shots and there’s this receptionist, Dee who is another dear friend. She’s one of my favorite reasons I go to the allergist (besides getting shots.) She turned 40 this March and I surprised her with a box of chocolates and some champagne. That was fun seeing the expression on her face when I surprised her. I go to get my shot a few weeks ago and she wasn’t there. A day off – they said. I just mentioned to her that I missed seeing her and she has another hospital story. She was feeling really exhausted and being in a doctor’s office she had her blood pressure checked – it’s really high. She feels really sick, goes to the hospital and she’s having a big diabetic reaction and nearly dies from it. Holy shit!

Both of these friends are Pisces. Weird! I, too am a Pisces. Makes me worry.

Mr. Peanut

Mr. Peanut
Originally uploaded by agilitynut.

O.k. Mr Peanut, you are my only hope. I hope you are pointing the way to my last allergy test.

I didn't realize legumes were in so much stuff - like Vitamin E.

Is this it??

Bob Smiths Sports Club, Hudson, WI

Bob Smiths Sports Club, Hudson, WI
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Bob, I'm coming by after work. If you can pull down that big ass shot gun for me off the sign - I need it. Don't ask. And a single malt scotch - god, I hope you have some good stuff there. What sides come with those steaks? Fries? I'll need a double order.

I'll see you later, buddy.

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
Originally uploaded by Saloponc (Con un Farias entre los dientes...).

I am starting this pretty hard core cleanse. No bourbon, no scotch and no beer for me. Not for a while. Friends think I'm crazy.

Maybe it will help.

Dreams

hard curves
Originally uploaded by Azure Bleu.

I had a dream where I saw a bridge like this. The curve, the rivets. Then it turned into oil derricks that were pumping oil.


Oil Derrick
Originally uploaded by neillharmer.

Last night in my dreams I had a bunch of ropes that were covered in diamonds. I was using it like you would on a ship. I wrapped these ropes around a tie off.

Maybe I'm slowly getting the pieces to a puzzle.

Nate's Clothing, Minneapolis MN

Nate's Clothing, Minneapolis MN
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

See this work and others at:

Bloomingdales at Mall of America
Men's Dept
May 14 - June 18, 2008

"Nostalgic and Roadside America"
Open during store hours - check web site above.

That's a Spicy Meatball!

What an oldie!

Moonstruck

James was out with his brother Paul pruning some grape vines. Two times, they stopped to talk to each other - not paying attention tothe sharp shears. Each time they each cut their thumbs pretty bad. Same thumb on both of them. They had to work bloody and silent the rest of the day.

You have to go 2 minutes into the clip where Johnnie talks about losing his hand and being a freakin' monument to justice.

Flamingo Motel, Marshalltown, IA

Flamingo Motel, Marshalltown, IA
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

I had to go see this flamingo because when I was at a show in Des Moines, IA - I was asked if my flamingo shot (below) was the same flamingo as the one above:



Oh duh No!

I had one guy telling me in Des Moines about my shot (from the Wisconsin Dells) and was pointing and saying this was the fire station and a machine shop. And he was WRONG. He was pointing to buildings in the Dells NOT stupid Marshalltown IA.

Arghhhhhh. I'll never go back to any art fair in IA. Not Des Moines or sadly Sioux City. Because they get their flamingos all mixed up. And they won't buy my work.

Dance Card

Deco Dance Card
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth.

My dance card is getting full. I love that expression. Maybe a night of scotch and stories. Or BBQ. Deep dish pizza, a funny play. Gosh!

Debora and Karen's Healthy Eating...

Debora and Karen's Healthy Eating...
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

..through chemistry. Karen and I are going to have a catering service much like Seattle Sutton's. We know too many people who need to be on medication but just don't know it. So we'll bring them their food already laced with meds for depression, OCD what have you and life will be grand for everyone. Us included.

I told my therapist, as she was writing out MY prescriptions, about the idea and she loved it. She told me if you can declare family members incompetent, then you can control their meds. She said we'd probably make millions of dollars until we got sued. Then we should leave the country.

She is the world's greatest therapist.

Sass the grrrr

Sass
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Pat and I took the feisty old Sass to the doctor today. She had been getting more cranky and fussy about her food. She could barely walk into the doctor's office. They x-rayed her and saw cancer in her lungs and on her side, and her hips were really deteriorated. The doctor was telling us of more pain meds that Sass could go on. Pat leveled with me and said there were so many problems, and she was so old. We should let her go. I had been blocking the thought of putting her to sleep, I couldn't face it. But seeing those x rays and knowing that she must be in alot of pain really nailed it. We hung out with her and petting her getting one last foot (she puts her big warm paws on you like she's healing you) And we stayed until the end. I have not stopped crying since we left her.

She's always been such a sweet thing, so compassionate, I knew she had to have a big heart and the x ray showed it - she did, she really really had a big heart. And Pat and I laughed seeing her actual big heart. You've left a big hole in my heart, my Sassala, I'll love you forever.

Sleep well, sweetie - see you in my dreams.

Phil and Eleanor

Phil and Eleanor!
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

I got an email today that Phil had died. I am so sad. There's a nice article here. I am so glad James and I went and had a great dinner there last fall. I can't stop crying.

Higbee, MO

Higbee, MO
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

James and I were on the hunt for vineyards in Missouri. Looking at the map, we saw that off the main highway was this cute town, Higbee (fun to say!) and a vineyard. We stopped in town for gas and at the gas station a personable man overheard us asking where the vineyard was. He joked that he'd see us there because his son owned it. We pulled around the corner so I could shoot some shots then headed to the vineyard. There was the son and the dad and we had a grand old time talking wine and sampling the products. We learned that they're coopers - henceforth the name The Cooper's Oak Winery. A manufacturer of fine American oak barrels. We got an extensive tour of the place - of their barrels, and all the processes it takes to make an oak barrel. There's also an antique shop and the collection of barrels that Dale, the dad has collected. They even will sell old barrels - something that James was interested in. It was such a wonderful visit . I kept asking James -"When are we going back - you know to get the barrels?"

10 years ago today...

Sass smiles in the snow
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

...Pat and I went to the Humane Society of St Paul. We were thinking of adopting a dog. The other dogs were trying to sell themselves by barking and jumping up and down. "Get me, adopt me" they seemed to be saying. We saw this one dog. She was dirty and skinny and was at the back of the kennel with her head down. The little sad dog had given up. Not working it at all. It brought tears to my eyes - this Charlie Brown Christmas tree dog and I turned to Pat to see tears in his eyes. We took the dog out for a walk and she brightened up. Getting away from the noise made her much happier. We took her home and put 20 lbs of Science Diet on her. This is that same sad doggy 10 years later playing in the snow. Miss Sass. Happy Birthday girl.

Good Friday

Long ago on a Good Friday, Patrick's (my ex) brother, Mark came home on leave from the air force. He really wanted some bacon. Being a good Catholic, he would've been fasting. And during Lent - you don't eat meat on Fridays. His mom, a wonderfully wild spirited Pisces thought - what the hell and got out the fry pan to cook the bacon. Also, Jesus was Jewish - he would've never had bacon - keeping Kosher (you'd think.) All things put together possibly caused a big grease fire on the stove. A modern day smiting perhaps? Or just coincidence?

I am respectful of the Catholics in my life and I don't eat meat on Fridays. But tonight, they'll all be in church. For Christmas, I received the Band aids shown above.
Is it wrong to use a bacon-like Band aid on Good Friday to cover a burn from a bacon grease fire?

Toilet Godess

Toilet for you
Originally uploaded by mrlego54.

Let me start off by saying I have to pee - alot. My close friends are never shocked when I have to go - they're more shocked when I don't. I also have a fiery nature. Also I am loud and outspoken. Often times my feistiness shows itself in the many bathrooms I find myself in. It seems in Minnesota what people call Minnesota Nice is actually this weird passive-aggressive shit. A few weeks ago, I was out with my book club - a bunch of really fun ladies. We were picking on Mike, the black waiter. Maybe there was wine involved, but I don't remember. When he came by to see if we wanted dessert, Jenny, gave him a wink and said sort of lasciviously, "I'm thinking of something...chocolate." I hated to miss out more of that humor but I had to go pee. Damn wine. There's a long line - all because one the stalls was out of paper. I walk over to the cabinet under the sink - there's a gorgeous array of rolls and I grab two rolls, one for each stall. Those Minnesotans just can't do it. They can't ask for paper, or get a staff member to get more if it runs out. Or even just check that someone is in the stall. I feel it's my life's mission to educate the fine people I encounter in the bathroom.
I'm like a Johnny Appleseed - spreading not apples but toilet goodwill with a dose of assertiveness throughout out the land.

Or find a way to stop peeing so much.

Valentine's Day

I found this funny heart tattoo sign in Austin,TX. The street was named Jessie but through the magic of the Roadway font - it's my street and my house number. And a nod to Caroline who lives in Austin.

Last year, Pat and I watched, "Apocalypto" at a dollar theater on a cold night. We were both without valentines and thought a bloody movie about hearts being ripped out would be good right before bed time. And the nightmares we both had! Oy - Mel!

Is it more fun to be bitter and to curse your mail box?

Tangent - A few years ago, I was at the big, marbled Minneapolis post office. A guy was checking his post office box. The post office is a long, cavernous building. When he found out he had not one valentine, he started yelling, "And I didn't even get one FUCKING valentine!!" It echoed all over and while my day hadn't been that bad. I smiled and appreciated his exclamation. In Minnesota, there's no honking or yelling. It was a lovely sentiment on all fronts.

Or better to have a vase of pretty pink and red flowers and the promise of a steak dinner?

Jucy Lucys and Maks

Jucy Lucy
Originally uploaded by frozendog.

We took Maks to Matt's bar for one these bad boys. There is a fine art to eating a Jucy Lucy (yes, it's spelled like that.) You need to wait. Patiently - that's why the basket of fries. To kill time waiting for the burger and molten cheese to cool. We kept trying to warn Maks. He took too big a first bite and the cheese oozed out - all over his pants. Then he kept taking bites around the burger - making even more of a mess. Ah well.

Then we went to (sigh of resignation) Mall of America for some mini golf. He's a competitive little thing. He'd be so gleeful if he shot better than me or James. He'd exclaim - "You lost!!!!" And I'd think, no - I won. Because he was having a good time and laughing.

Ratt Hair Party

Babysitting the other weekend, We were talking about hair. First, guys have to learn how to brush their girlfriend's hair on the chance they end up having a girl child.

Then the discussion turned to Sarah's hair. She hates to have it brushed and had it had gotten all ratty. Somehow it got all mixed up into rats having a party in her hair.

Luckily long ago the 80's hair band, Ratt, made this rat party video:

Harvest gold pants

tosia pants
Originally uploaded by KarWar.

Driving back from coffee, Patrick somehow got on a rant about Colin and the harvest gold corduroy pants. I'm trying to think how we went from ripping on a badly designed billboard to Colin but it's lost to me. Long long long ago, Colin - of the pants, who was three, was running around Patrick's family's house. The harvest gold corduroy pants were filled with the world's biggest and stinkiest dump. That's pretty much the whole story, but Patrick likes to go one that Colin is probably still wearing those (you have to always say the whole color) harvest gold corduroy pants. With the big dump. And Colin has had a hideous diaper rash for something like 30 years. I had one of those laughing fits where you cannot talk or breathe. I was punching Pat because I couldn't talk. And he kept ranting. It was funny and I guess you had to be there.

Crocodile Rock - Elton John

My sister and I made up some silly dance to Crocodile Rock when we were young. When I was older my mom, of all people, recognized Elton John in a restaurant while on a vacation to L.A. with my family. I was more bold, so I approached Elton John with a napkin and pen and told him we (I pointed to my scared shitless sister) used to dance to Crocodile Rock. He autographed the napkin and said something like it seems you've survived so far. The best part
of it was when we got back to the table I turned to my sister and asked her (mockingly) " Oh wait, did Elton John sing Crocodile Rock?" And she gasped! I just laughed. Simpler times.

Daily Democrat

Daily Democrat, Pauls Valley, OK
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Happy New Hampshire primary! Go Hilary and Go Obama. Why not. We're all from Chicago. Good luck.

Big Fish

I watched the movie, "Big Fish" tonight. The whole movie is great. A movie about stories, tale tales, love, losing love, finding love. Great quotes, "Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring." I pretty much cried all the way through it. I'd pause, get more kleenex and then the waterworks would start back up. I'm not sure why.

Me, my Christmas lights and a big fish It was actually kinda nice. Quiet and peaceful.

Groundhog Day

In the movie, "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray is doomed to repeat the same day over and over again until he gets it right. Everyday in the movie, Bill steps in this big puddle of slush up to the top of his boot. Finally one day he AVOIDS the puddle. Going to a job I used to drive on I-94 and I'd hit the same pothole every damn day. I'd even yell out, Groundhog Day!" as I hit it. Maybe once in a blue moon I'd avoid that stupid pothole. It took a long long time to remember to avoid it.

So stupid me. I am out to dinner. There's candles, roses, red wine and sweetness. And there's that pothole full of slush. And I step in it. I step in other holes and splash the shit all over the place. A nice dinner ruined by slush. Old gray slush. I could walk around the hole, avoid the hole. But I step right in. It could've been a really great dinner and no amount of apologies can clean off the slush. Just walk consciously walk around it, Drower. Walk around it. Avoid it. Let go of it. Is it just laziness that we walk through it? Because it's an old habit. Because you deserve cold feet? Because it feels more comfortable to be uncomfortable. Because later you replay it over and over and torment yourself and make even more angst.

Someday, I'll wake up to Sonny and Cher and let the slush go. Someday I'll learn. Maybe I've got more doomed days to repeat. Until I get it right.

Pile Your Arms High With Smokes

Pile Your Arms High With Smokes
Originally uploaded by Charm and Poise.

An early Merry Christmas present from me.
And cancer.

LSMFT

Sass, the guard doggy

Sass
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

You tell 'em girl. Grrrrr - stay away! We are tired and crabby and in need of naps. Or candy. Or meat. Sass asks, "when are we going to Fogo de Chão??"

I'm Bad

Hanging out with the crotch grabbin' bad kids at Echo's again. What can I say. The kid's table is the best. Someone's gotta make up for the missing Pamie Lou, TM and Carlene.

Mad As Hell ...

And I'm not gonna take it anymore.

Me and Jameson

Me and Jameson
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Cause I drink alone, yeah, with nobody else.
I drink alone, yeah, with nobody else.
Yeah, you know when I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself.

Now, the other night I lay sleeping,
And I woke from a terrible dream.
So I called up my pal, Jack Daniels,
And his partner Jimmy Beam.

Rooms of Love

I have adored this photo, this artist since I first saw this show at the MOMA eons ago. I have my own - and it's also called the Rooms of Love.



Above is my latest shot.


I also shot it two years ago.



I've got to get other people to love it as much as I do.

Fight the power

I heard Fight The Power this morning coming into work. It was good to scream along with Flava and Chuck D because I am stressed. I’ve had too much shit going on and the shit aint stoppin’ neither. Last weekend we went back to Medford, WI to visit Phil and Eleanor’s for dinner and it was so cute. I’ll have to write more on that trip when I’m not in a bitching mood. A friend called last minute for a concert at a lesbian bar on Sunday. Then Monday, a ghost tour in the Halloween Capital of the world. I had to scramble to get everything ready for the Halloween onslaught. I had 130 kids and I was on a sugar high until about 11 pm. A local indie ghost movie (only one showing) was last night. There’s a musical tonight. At some point, I want to watch my Thursday night NBC TV funfest. And then today, I head a friend is having an art opening on Sunday. SHIT! It’s too much. And I owe these friends who’ve come to my shit. But does it all have to be right the fuck now. Right the fuck now. I can’t wait for Sunday night when it’s all the fuck over.

I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped
Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps!

Hyped plus I'm amped. Fight the power. Fight the power and say no. No more shit. No more events. No more. Just let me rest.

Time Has Come Today

Fall. Autumn. Funny to use a song about time to talk about my favorite radio stations. I listen to KLBB. The music of your life as they call it. Dean Martin, Sinatra, Mills Brothers. The morning DJ is Reed Hagen. Who has this rich, buttery set of pipes. I just love hearing that if I have to get up early. But they're a low watt station and they have to power down when it's dark. In the summer the sun is up and so is KLBB - at full power. But now in fall, it's dark and so is the station. It's kind of there - just not at full power until it's light. The signal drifts in and out, no rich buttery tones - just fizz. So, I have the clock set to this really annoying station FM107. It's like chick talk day and night. It gets me right out of bed so I can turn it off. There is the ABC news at the top of the hour. Which is better than KLBB's Fox Radio, "We report, you decide." But Reed. I miss my morning cup of Reed.

Also, Radio K, a great college radio station is the same. Luckily there is an FM station. But long ago, it used to be that when it got dark, so did Radio K. I remember one cold dark winter day and the sun was setting around 4 and so was my cool radio station. What a bunch of shit.

But now they're both on the Internet, but I mostly listen in the car or clock radio - so the Internet doesn't help me much. Time has come for fall and winter to be dark and cold. And without music. When I need it most.

Bear bait

We had just come from Medford, WI and saw Phil and Eleanor's steak house

and got great stories. Then on to the Florena Supper club.

The guy comes out and asks what am I doing. I try to engage him but he's not in a story mood.

We go up the road to Prentice, WI and see the Bear Bait Ford. I'm walking around, getting different angles and we decide to go in. There's an old guy on an old couch
And then oddly, James asks to use the bathroom. It's weird. I had hoped for maybe an old service station. Candy, postcards. Old cute retro stuff around. Like a movie set. No, It's got junk. And odd metal scrap. I try to talk to the old guy on the couch but he's deaf as a post. I'm talking loud to him but to no avail. He somehow manages to tell me the Ford sign isn't for sale. Then some other old guys come in and they're talking about the sign - it's now only a few thousand dollars. The creep level cranks up a notch. James is taking forever. I'm sending him psychic signals that we HAVE TO Ghttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifO. The woman's bathroom looks way too creepy. I'll just wait. And I'm not that picky. Suddenly, some younger people come in but when they start talking - the weird gets weirder. They somehow know old deaf as a post and get food out of a small dirty fridge. They are off somehow, learning disabled or cross bred and it's like those Diane Arbus photos of retarded people. It's amazingly creepy and now I'm thinking we're the bear bait. We will all be eaten by bears. Me and this creepshow all in some bear's stomach. James FINALLY comes out and I give him the hairy eyeball meaning let's get the fuck out of here. Outside I snap a few more shots, even some close ups of the Ford sign as more bear bait goes into the shop. Chomp, chomp chomp.

Phil and Eleanor's Steakhouse

I had been at an art fair in Wausau, WI. I wanted to take Hwy 8 back to the Twin Cities. We had this notion that we'd make it to St Croix by 6pm to visit a vineyard. Driving through Medford, WI, we saw this sign. Did I want to stop and shoot it? No. We found the little downtown and drove around. Cute. Leaving we could go left and continue or if we go right, I can shoot Phil and Eleanor's. It's not in the sun, but I could shoot it for reference. We go back and pull in. As if we've planned it - out of the restaurant comes the actual Phil and Eleanor. I tell them I love the sign and want to photograph it. James stays and chats with them. I get the shot above. When I come back- they've offered to give us a tour. You can see the whole set here. Eleanor shows off her original kitchen and give us a sample of some toasted bread they serve for an appetizer. We hear stories that she bought the place as a young girl. It had originally just been the bar tended by a crust old guy. She's been making the food by hand ever since. There are some big companies in town and they'll reserve the whole place so you gotta call ahead. You can see the menu and the gorgeous bar with sparkly blue bar stools. I have been pestering James that we gotta go back so we can eat there. And I want to print up all these pictures and bring them along. I worry we'll get snowed in - like in "Seven brides for Seven brothers" and wont be able to get back to Medford, WI. With the pass being blocked. I bet the food is great. And maybe we can get to the vineyard we never to.

Tired

I'm tired - tired of playing the game.