Luckily, on Friday some regulation safety vests arrived in the mail from our pal Lindsay, and I can now get on with my life.
Times when I've been working a regular job during the week, the weekend seemed like the only time to do the other things that pile up (laundry, dishes, bathing). This weekend I tried to take a break from the computer, where I spent all week confirming some last tour dates and making all kinds of travel plans. Like my fruitless weed-pulling in the courtyard, every time I think I'm almost finished, I'm back at it because more of the sneaky things keep popping up.
But it's hard not to catch the summery, relaxed feeling around here. It's August in France - the pace really does slow down as businesses close and people who have actual jobs take time off. But with the way the economy is, there is clearly less of that going on this summer.
Eric's been helping with the scene ouverte (or open mic night) at our local bar for several months. The idea is mostly for some of the younger musicians to have a chance to get out and play. For us, it seems to have become an opportunity to suck completely, as we did this past Friday when we massacred "Me & Bobby McGee". I think I was playing and singing in one key and Eric in another but it gave a clear message to the youngsters - you're never too bad or incompetent to strut your stuff in public.
We had a big excursion to the curry van planned for Saturday night. It is the only place within hundreds of miles to get decent Indian food, and it comes but once a week to a nearby village. Some friends had driven up from the Dordogne for a fix but it turned out the van was at the night market in another town. These night markets are happening all over this month - it's a novelty and special treat to be able to shop after 7 PM, and for the commercants it's a chance to make a little extra. We decided to go check one out and it was tacky, useless fun: lots of hippie-style ponchos and leather hats, fake flower arrangements and a guy at a keyboard playing a version of "On Broadway" that seemed to last the entire length of time it took for us to cruise all the stalls.
Yesterday I stood in line at the good bakery and ogled the treats in the case: eclairs, tartes aux fruits, mille-feuilles, religieuses. The place smelled incredible and I wanted to buy everything they had but stopped at some croissants and a chocolatine. Which meant of course that Eric and I had to take a bike ride, because we're "in training" for the tour. I think the hardest part of the strenuous routine is getting the bikes in the car so that we can drive to the (nearly flat) bike path. Still, it's something.
The sun came out late in the afternoon and I sat out at this little table we found recently at a vide grenier. Typical cafe table and four chairs, two with all their slats. I know we should paint it to cover the rust but the color is just too perfect. And I know we should cut the grass but hell, it was the weekend.
6 comments:
when does the curry van call? I'll be down for my fix
To manage to massacre 'Me & Bobby McGee' is quite an achievement! There is something heroic about hammering through a number in two different keys, viz Bob Dylan, Keith Richard and Ronnie Wood at Live Aid. We did a gig recently during which our sax player blew an enormously confident solo in what sounded like a key of his own devising. I became hysterical and the number ended early.
"Luckily, on Friday some regulation safety vests arrived in the mail from our pal Lindsay, and I can now get on with my life."
Amy, that's hilarious. As a matter of fact it not only made me laugh, but my husband - who was hanging over my shoulder - laughed, too. I guess you could say we were tandem-blogging.
Since he was reading over my shoulder, I clicked over to your CDs so my husband could hear your music. We both agree, you're one talented human, Amy!
Hey, you remind us a little of our friend Dominique Davalos of the Delphines. Have you heard of them? My husband produced one of their CDs in our livingroom in the '90s.
Anyway, thanks for the laugh. And keep making great music!
My day job (night job, actually) is doing pastry. It would be a pleasure to bring you some when you come to San Francisco, but I'm taking the night off to come see you and Eric perform, so I won't actually be baking. If you're in the area on Saturday, though, maybe we can arrange some yummies.
It'll be around tomorrow night Rosie - shall I order some kind of tikka masala for you?
Dick that is too funny about the saxophone solo...but that's the risk you take allowing a sax player in the group!
Michele I've heard of the Delphines, and I now have to look them up. I think you're on to something there with "tandem-blogging"
Simon let us know where and we'll be there - if we can manage to get up in the morning...the last time at the Parkside we didn't finish playing til 2AM! (or was it 3?)
don't you dare paint it. I'm a design maven (lol) I know of what I speak! And I'm jealous. I've hit a few V-Gs and saw nothing that came close. And the near misses were trés cher. But I'm soldiering on in search of my own garden table and chairs and a long list of other stuff!
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