2,600 miles in three unexpected days

July 18th, 2008

Itís so funny how life is. Iíve been working myself stupid trying to get ready for this art party and slacking on updating my site. I was planning on posting a nice blog about the work Iíve been doing last Saturday. Hereís what I ended up doing instead.

I was just finishing a painting in my studio when Lars came in with coffee and some news. ìWeen is having a secret MySpace show in Colorado on Tuesday,î he said. ìLooks like a really small venue.î He knew the reaction he was gonna get. We calculated the cost of gas, made a few calls to figure out the logistics and left the next day.

We only drove about nine hours the first day because weíd gotten a late start. We rolled into Twin Falls, Idaho around 11PM- sweaty and ready to stretch out. We decided not to sleep in Mrs. Chang, but rather to splurge on a motel for the night. Lars went in to see if there was availability while I waited in the car. A long time passed. Finally I locked Mrs. Chang and went inside. Lars was finishing up a ìdealî with the guy behind the counter that landed us in the nicest room in the hotel for only 79 dollars. King sized bed, mirrored walls, porno-recliner and an in-room jacuzzi. Oh SHAZAM!

Normally I reserve naked pictures to accidently show to my parents at the breakfast table, but i canít resist showing you the hot tub in this room. How fucking Vegas am i?

We hit the road the next morning after eating some free sausage and cottage cheese. There were SO many funny signs that we passed but unfortunately I was too slow to capture most of them. Hereís a good one, though. Heh-heh.

Here's Lars and his woman on the side, Mrs. Chang. She's kind of a beater. She's fairly new but has a helluv a lot of miles on her. She also has a "missin' front toof" that causes her to scream like a tea kettle when she exceeds 75 MPH. Occasionally, she dies while we're driving down the road for no apparent reason. We got her for a good deal cause she had a lot of body damage and a lot of lit up lights on the dash. She's named after the previous owner who left an indelible presence (and her glasses) in the car.

Welcome to Wyoming, aka beef country. I should probably move here. I love cowboys and guns, hate crowds and get along really well with truckers. Bueno.

We got into Colorado after driving about ten hours the second day. It was a gorgeous drive but our asses were definitely sore by the time we got in. We went to a couple motels before finding one that had a room- The Budget Host Inn. All they had left was a smoking suite with two King sized beds. Since we just wanted a single, they gave it to us for sixty bucks- another good deal. I wish I'd gotten a picture of the old guy sitting in the common area. He had a big beard, big smile and was the number one attraction at this motel.

There was an Albertson's across the street so we bought some ice cream for dinner. We watched South Park re-runs on my computer but I was so excited about the show I could barely see straight.

The next morning we checked out of the motel and hit the town to see what there was to see. We passed by the venue around 10:30 in the morning and saw the line was already stretched way down the block. I later heard that it started at 6AM. The people LOVE their Ween. It was so hot out there I thought I was going to melt, but we were too broke to do much other than walk around and buy an iced coffee every few hours when we needed the AC.

Lars likes me. I like him, too. He's the only dude I've ever met who could really just let me be what I am and roll with it. He fancies himself my handler. I call him my husband, but the former probably rings more true.

The closer we got to the show the more nervous I became. It's hard to explain what I go through with Ween. It's not like Ween is just a band to me. It's a much bigger and more universal experience. These adventures have stretched me and challenged me to expand my capacity for life. I sat in the shade and thought about how grateful I was for the things unfolding.

We walked a lot that day. I loved this house but wouldn't want to live there unless there were a lot of trees shielding it from the sidewalk.

Around 5PM I found some swings. They were exactly what I needed. I swung for a half hour or so, and then went to meet up with Kirk behind the bar. We hung out for awhile. Wanting to build my street cred, I showed off my sweet original Weenja joint case, labled "Weenja: TOP SECRET W.M.D." It's clear and so totally incognito. I made it myself with a Sharpie. Brilliant, I know.

Lars met J Dubya, who is apparently a celebrity in his own right, having followed Ween for 11 years.

That's some pretty nice energy, no? Look how gangster they look together.

Here's a beautiful shot of Kirk.

We got to watch soundcheck again- which was a treat.

Once that was over, I planted myself where I wanted to be and didn't move. I liked the waiting time. I feel better settling in and then letting the room fill in around me.

The venue itself was pretty stuffy and small (300 person capacity). I had been excited to get indoors from the 90 degree heat until I realized this pub had no air conditioning. It seriously had to be in the mid-80's BEFORE doors opened. Once the doors opened and the people filled in, I literally thought I might pass out.

The instant Ween came out, I forgot the suffocation and embraced the inferno.

Deaner had been in a cast the last four times I'd seen Ween play. On this night, he was back with a vengance. It might have been the most passionate performance I've seen... he went at it with everything he had and it pretty much completely ruined me. Again.

I danced my ass off. I have no idea how anyone stayed standing in that heat- but everyone did. I was sweating so hard lars said my ponytail was whipping sweat in his face. I'm pretty sure I got up in Johnny's shit too.... It's why I usually dance alone. My partners rarely understand my need to end a dance-session with a spontaneous WWE move.

I see a lion.

The show ended. We hit the road about an hour later. After driving a couple hundred miles we pulled into a truck stop and took a two hour nap. As is our tradition, I present to you our Post-Ween "hotel" art shot.

After a brief sleep we hit the road again- prepared to make the 19-hour haul home. The whole way we laughed at how completely worth it this was.

We also counted billboards advertising a tiny town called "Little America." There were 25 HUGE signs polluting the landscape advertising "50 cent cones" and "Suite Dreams". This town is about the only thing we passed going through Wyoming. We were creeped-out but needed gas so we stopped there on the way back. It was around 10 in the morning and everyone was eating soft-serve serve ice cream. It was as if the midwest and the Amish had a baby and dropped it off in the middle of nowhere. All the women were wearing weird aprons. We should have taken pictures but we were too creeped-out in the moment and just left.

We did bring the camera into the next gas station, thank god because I found the coolest hat. Someday I'll return and buy you, my precious. I deeply enjoy enthusiasticly ugly crap.

We stopped around 8 at a viewpoint to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. It had been a long trip but we were both feeling happy. Tired and new at the same time.

The sun started to set. We laughed about how I'd almost decided not to come (most of my friends say I'm crazy- sometimes I let myself be convinced...) Lars and I drove the entire way home without music, silently reliving the show.

The setlist had been phenominal. It's like they read my brain. It was almost beside myself with happiness. There is now only one song I haven't gotten to see live that I'm hoping for. I'm crossing my fingers for Brooklyn.

The end of this road is coming. My heart is both aching and happier than ever. On the other side of this mountain is New York- the last show of the tour. 9 shows in 9 months, we've seen. We walk away from each one having seen the most profoundly beautiful thing. I don't know what's next. Surely something exciting- I'm always stumbling upon some new reason for my friends to call me crazy.

How will I be this happy again? I'm sure I'll find my way. I have an incredible nose for magic. I know nothing will ever be special like this has been, though. I am so happy to have savored and felt every step. My gut knew this tidal wave was coming and vowed to surrender to it. I've held faith throughout and it's taken me farther than I ever expected, both into myself and out to the world. Every part has been perfect. Not without pain or tremendous fear, but truly perfect.

Posted on 20 Nov 2008, 10:07
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Working For the MAN

Dean Ween and the Brownie Troop Fishing Show

Behold, the most punk rock fishing show ever to grace the internet is now up and ready for you. If you don't know him yet, let me introduce to you to Dean Ween. Meet Mickey Melchiondo (more commonly known as Dean Ween.) Remember this: Mickey + Stratocaster= eternal paradisiacal pleasure.

I know, I'm sorry. (I can't stop with this picture...) It's OK if you need to take a minute. This photo makes reading incredibly hard for me as well. But Dean Ween is more than just a devastatingly adroit Strat-wielding God of the purest and most visceral ROCK... He's also an avid fisherman. And believe me he brings the punk rock flavor to BTFS. The REAL punk rock. For example, he recently went surfcasting with a broken foot wrapped in trash bags and duct tape. What can you even say to that?

The story of how I came to work for BTFS is that earlier this spring Mickey asked if I would take a whack at designing the logo for his new fishing show. I screamed like a schoolgirl and then ran down to my studio to draw him a logo, graphics and some merchandise. That's the story.

Whether you care about fishing or not, please hightail it over to the Troop and check out Dean Ween in another sparkling facet of his glory.

http://www.brownietroopfs.com

In other studio news: I am in the works of planning my next big art show/party. The date is August 16th, so save it. I plan on debuting around sixty new pieces, many of which cannot be seen online. It should be a lovely evening full of art, wine, live music, beautiful people, dancing, drinking and eventually- dawn. To get more information about the party, please check out the "shows" section of my website. To receive postcard invitations to my events, please sign up for my private mailing list here: '../contactthea.html'. (If you already get my postcards but don't get email notifications and wish to, you can send me your email address by signing up for my mailing list also.)

And while you're here, please check out the New Work section of my Portfolio ( ../index.html ). I just added some new stuff and have more stuff to add soon, so keep checking back here.

Sometimes I miss the days before the glass eye... (Does anyone find this picture of Jonny and me as funny as I do? We're indisputably the sexiest brother-sister duo ever.)

Posted on 25 Jun 2008, 22:15
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