Pork Neck Boogie & Heavy Metal Mariachi – Sounds of the North Woods

Tags

local music

Dan & I had an amazing weekend of music.  I felt like a teenager again.

Friday, we went to Buffalo, MN where we saw Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders at Norm’s Wayside (http://www.normswayside.com/).  Heading into Norm’s was like walking into a Detroit Pub. There were 6-piece rectangular Detroit Deep Dish pizzas (they look a lot like Chicago style pizzas), Vernor’s Ginger Ale and lots of Detroit area paraphernalia from photos to street signs and Michigan trivia on the menu.  The Vernor’s was great and the music was amazing.  That’s why we were here, though after tonight, we’d recommend Norm’s if you’re ever heading through Buffalo.

We arrived about 20 ‘til 8 and there wasn’t a seat to be had in the place.  We stood at the back bar area for a bit waiting for someone to head out.  I asked a couple if they’d like to share their booth but she wasn’t interested.  Eventually, Dan saw a free seat at the back corner of the bar on the far side of the room so I headed over to see if it was available.  Turns out, it was!  The guys there were just getting ready to head up to play – it was Javier Matos the bass player and a new drummer we didn’t recognize as Alex’s brother Clint had played with them in Alec.  We told Javier we recognized him from the Alexandria show and he remembered the gig and was happy we’d come such a long way to see them again.  Alex “Crankshaft” Larson was already up front working the crowd.  http://www.crankshaftmusic.com/

We shared the newly acquired space with a shop teacher named Roger from Monticello.  I struck up a conversation and he mentioned that he’d been to Alexandria Technical and Community College (ATCC) for a class in metal working so he was familiar with our neck of the woods.  He wasn’t planning on staying but when we told him the music would be good, he decided to stick around, have another beer and check it out.  We’d described the sound as “Pork Neck” which got a questioning glance from Roger.

So what is Pork Neck?  It’s a cross between Punk, Country, Rock-a-billy, Rock & Roll, Blues and Surf.  It’s nothing short of AMAZING.  Here’s a couple links to videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdcRotbJRz4&list=PLF-1tccUuVNysXDNDNT8DPyCHC6cLPHjf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNOMln-KYDg&index=2&list=PLF-1tccUuVNysXDNDNT8DPyCHC6cLPHjf

If Crankshaft is in your neck of the woods, I recommend you head out and give it a listen.  Roger ended up leaving after the first set with a Crankshaft CD and bumper sticker… and a huge grin on his face as he held up his purchases to show us.  I gave him two big thumbs up. 🙂

The small dance floor allowed Crankshaft to dance with people as he was playing.  They were literally dancing next to his mike in the tight space.  At one point, he freed up his guitar to a local guy who played some good blues while Alex danced with the fans.  And shortly after, at the end of the second set, we decided it was time to head to Uncle Cam’s so we headed toward the door.  Alex was wrapping up the set and he looked like a wrung out rag.  Barely able to stand, he crumbled to the stage just as I was headed over to pick up another CD.  We’d seen him before the show and hewas glad to see us.  As he crashed in front of me, a dazed look on his face, I told him we were heading out and he replied, “You can’t leave me now!  Look how hard I’m workin’.”  He was covered in sweat and nearly shaking in exhaustion.  I told him I was getting a CD to listen all the way home and that seemed to placate him.  The newest CD wasn’t available but we picked up the live album this time.  I am happy to support this guy as I love his sound.  Sure hope he survived the last set!

Thank goodness we were able to sleep in Saturday as we didn’t get in until well after midnight.  Spent a great day relaxing and catching up with Cam and Karen.  He’s learning how to use Netflix from his phone so we watched some old Dick Van Dyke shows while I read my latest new book, Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, which I highly recommend.  We all had dinner at the local Welsh’s Big Ten where they have an AYCE Crableg special on Saturday night (which we WILL be doing on an upcoming visit with Cam & Karen).  Being in a hurry tonight, we stuck with the pulled pork potato skins and Reuben with tots.  There was a visit from the local Vulcan Krewe, a bunch of guys who go to all the local festivals having fun and putting on a spectacle.  The festival tonight was the Anoka Halloween Festival.  http://anokahalloween.com/event-calendar/  (Little did I know, Anoka is the Halloween Capital of the World…) From Wikipedia: The Vulcan Krewe is selected by the Order of Fire and Brimstone along with the new Fire King, Vulcanus Rex, each year. Each year a new Krewe is hand selected through an application and interview process. Selected Krewe members must complete a five-year commitment to become a full fledged member of Fire and Brimstone. After a member’s fifth year, that individual is then eligible to be a Fire King.

Members of the Vulcan Krewe

• Vulcanus Rex (The Vulc) – The True King of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Of all the members of the Krewe, he is the only one to wear red and black (all others wear only red).
• General Flameous (Flame) – Keeper of the flame. Legend says that if the flame dies, the Fire King dies and it will be winter forever.
• The Duke of Klinker (Klinker) – The Fire King’s aide-de-camp and the herder of the flock. The Klinker is the longest burning ember.
• The Count of Ashes (Ash) – The raiser of sleeping spirits. The “swinger” of the Krewe.
• The Prince of Soot (Sooty) – The recorder of past memories. The “ladies’ man”. Usually the oldest member of the Krewe.
• Baron Hot Sparkus (Sparky) – Commander of the Lancer’s Legion and the Stoker of Emotions. The “spark plug” of the Vulcan Krewe.
• Count Embrious (EB) – The Fire King’s Chancellor of the Exchequer. The young and romantic one. Usually the youngest member of the Krewe.
• Grand Duke Fertilious (Ferty) – Minister of Propaganda and the propagator of progeny. Usually the member with the most children.

It’s Saturday Night and time to head out for Metalachi!!!  http://metalachi.com/about-us/

I was super pumped to see these guys as Dan and I have been watching videos of them for the last few years.  A friend from California turned us on to them (thanks, Ron!) and we thought they were adorable and hilarious.  The show was not a disappointment as they are even better in person.  I was jumping and dancing and singing and screaming at the top of my lungs.  I threw my “horns” in the air like a true heavy metal fan and was on my feet the entire time.  Every song was another surprise to see how the Mariachi influence would land.  There were slowed down sections and speeded up sections and a huge amount of horns and violin along with LOTS of sexy dancing with hair flipping and an overabundance of hip thrusting.

https://youtu.be/qwAwwNixVuI

At the end of the night, I was ecstatic to hear the band would be coming out for autographs and pictures.  I HAD to get a photo between Maximillian “Dirty” Sanchez (on violin) and El Cucuy (on trumpet) as I was so impressed with their musical talents.  Max’s six-pack abs and El Cucuy’s pumping cod piece were possible influences…  As I waited patiently while El Cucuy talked with some fans, Maximillian walked past.  I ran to grab him for a quick photo and he graciously agreed.  Dan took a while taking the photo (we’re still learning how to use this stinking smart phone) and I explained to Max, “He takes a long time so I have more time to stand here with my arm around you.” These guys were total encouragers of the Cougar crowd and he chuckled. (Note: this photo was “brightened” as it was really not visible in original condition.)

I told him I really wanted a photo between him and El Cucuy and Max says, “Well, let’s go!” as El Cucuy was now in front of us just finishing up with a new crowd.  I squeezed between them, letting El Cucuy know I was super stoked about getting a picture with the two of them and he shouts, “All right!  We’re going to make a sandweech!” thrusting the cod piece toward me and sticking out his devil horns and his tongue.  I am laughing and grabbing them both at the waist as we wait for Dan to get the shot.  They are playing along, putting out their hands in front of me like they are grabbing my “chi-chis” and we’re all having a ball.  Dan finally gets the shot and we break up, me thanking them profusely and praising their performance.  Dan and I wander toward the merch stand and he asks me to check the phone to see the photo.  I do.  And.  Nothing.  He didn’t get it!

I wail that I MUST have a photo with them so we have to try again.  We walk back over and while I wait for them to be freed up, I see they are taking photos with the couple we initially joined at their table before the show – Ernie and Ruth.  She’s gonna get a shot of Ernie and I say, “You want me to get you both?”  She’s jubilant and rushes to get in the shot.  I get a couple shots and, after getting her phone back to her, jump back in for another chance with the boys, explaining that the first photo didn’t take and we need a second pose.  El Cucuy is happy to pose again saying, “I could tell you were having a good time tonight.  Let’s get another picture!” Max isn’t as excited but he’s still hanging with us and Dan takes another shot.  I am hugging them and my hand goes to El Cucuy’s belly as I we are breaking apart and I say, “My God!  You’re soaking wet!”  He says, thrusting his pelvis a couple times, “You try doing this for an hour, baby! You’ll be soaking wet too!!” He’s gets that super huge maniacal smile on his face and I laugh out loud, thanking him again and wandering to a table to check the second shot.  And. Again, nothing.  Are you serious!!!!  Dan is telling me, “It looked like it took the photo” and asking, “how can you tell when it’s working?”  (I know he feels terrible and I’m frustrated but still willing to keep trying.)

Ruth comes over to tell me the shots I got of her and Ernie were awesome and I ask if she knows how to take photos with my phone.  “Sure”, she says, “it’s the same as mine.” She agrees to get another shot of me with El Cucuy.  He’s laughing as I come up a third time saying, “I swear the shot didn’t take!  Can we try it again?”  He is amazing, gladly going through all the poses again as if we’ve just begun.  We’ve lost Max by now but I’m fine with that… I’ve decided El Cucuy is Mi Favorito!  I’m hugging him again as we finish up, I give him a quick peck and more thanks and he leans into me saying, “See you again in another two minutes!”  I am cackling as I walk back to Dan and yes, we finally got some shots!

We’re ready to head to the door and I grab a quick shot with the tech dudes as we’re leaving.  I think the one tech guy wasn’t sure how this all worked as he kept stepping closer to the “Lemmy look-alike” tech but I finally squeezed between them for a quick shot.  Dan’s got it down now (except for that finger near the lens, but hey, we’re making huge progress).

We head out the door exhausted, elated and laughing.  What a terrific night.  The whole way home from St. Paul to Alec, we randomly say to each other, “See you again in two minutes!” in a thick Mexican accent.  I am SO HAPPY my husband was still learning to get this smart phone camera stuff figured out!

As we head out of Minneapolis, Danny ruminates that if only he’d known trumpet playing could turn out like this, he’d never have quit playing. 🙂

Advertisement

Listening

Tags

being nice, communication, family, Listening

Dan & I were invited by a friend to attend a new group on intentional, deep listening this week. I was excited about this group because I thought it would be similar to the experience I had during unprogrammed Quaker worship.  In that venue, there is a sitting in silence until the spirit moves someone to speak.  Often, we would spend the entire hour in silence and, even if someone was moved to speak, it was usually only a small portion of the shared period.  I knew this would be more sharing and listening but there would be silent pauses as well and I’m always excited about experiencing something new.

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.

The night of the event, as Mom and I were preparing dinner, she asked what time we needed to leave and I said that we would need to leave by 6:40.  I was sure Dan was there, but, I would find later, he did not hear this exchange.  We ate dinner and were able to get the cleanup done before 6:30. Dan headed downstairs and I followed.  At 6:37 I mentioned to him that it was about time to go.  At 6:41 I was starting to get very anxious, he was still staring intently into the computer.  At 6:43, I headed towards the door and again said, “It’s time to go.”  Dan said, “Go on out and start the car and I’ll be out in a minute.” As I left the house I said, “You know it starts at 6:50, not 7 o’clock.” (I was definitely exasperated.)

I got the car started and anxiously awaited Dan’s arrival. As he got in the car, he was asking “Why 6:50?” I said I wasn’t sure but he seemed to be really bothered by this as he kept going on about “normal start times” and such.  I was frustrated not understanding why it was a big deal so answered back sharply, “I don’t know. Maybe she’s worried about people showing up on time.  Maybe she wants to give people a chance to settle in before we start. I DON’T KNOW!”  (I’m always the one to escalate the volume.) We argued about this back and forth for a minute or two building in our frustration and anger until we had built a giant snowball and started it down the hill, yelling at each other all the way. At one point I said. “Do you not want to go?!?”  He didn’t say he didn’t want to go but we kept arguing.  (Actually, I asked him this twice and would find out later he started to wonder if I didn’t want him to go.)  At another point I said, “Great! This is exactly how I wanted to go into this meeting.”  This of course only pumped up the bickering. We continue arguing up to the point when we arrived at the building… at exactly 6:50.

The walk up to the building included me letting our host know we’d been fighting all the way there so we probably really need this group!  She gave me a hug and warmly welcomed Dan as I had another sharp comment about how I was giving Dan such a hard time.  (Amazing how I realize when I’m not functioning well but seem helpless to stop doing it and change gear to something more successful.)

Inside, we started meeting new people and trying to break free from the argument but feeling uncomfortable about where we left it. We chatted briefly as we walked to the meeting room and I know we both felt very ill at ease.  You see, Dan and I rarely ever fight or argue.  The last time we fought was at the end of June.  It was before Tom came up to visit for 4^th of July and it was one of the longer fights we had as we continued to not talk it out for a week.  So we only yell like this a couple times a year.  It was disturbing.

The group started a bit after 7 with the final arrivals.  There were readings on listening, sharing and then fellowship.  It was a time filled with peace and good feelings but also questioning and intensity of attention as I listened to others and shared my own thoughts about listening.  I realized a couple things during the meditation portion of the meeting where we took time to write and think on the topic of listening following the readings.

• First, I thought about how when I am hurt, stressed or angry, it becomes impossible to communicate, especially if the one with whom I am sharing is also having any of these feelings.
• And second, while talking, I cannot hear new information or get inputs that could be vital to my understanding.  Thus, I could see how the snowball was created and then pushed down the hill, getting bigger and bigger all the way to the meeting.

I thought through the argument a bit and tried to understand the source of my anger.  And I listened to what was shared during the meeting and remembered that listening is care.  It is an act of love, as Storycorp tells us on NPR.  Listening to another is a gift given and, in the same moment, received. I knew afterward I would ask Dan two questions:

1. Did it bother you that I could be so rageful in the car with you & then so smiley and friendly with the others?  [It bugs me how I can do this.  I get that it’s a change in focus and I normally am super smiley and friendly, but it feels so superficial and false when it occurs in the direct aftermath of conflict with someone I love.]
2. Why didn’t you leave with me when I let you know it was time to go?

Before I could even ask question #2, Dan admitted it was rude to not leave when I originally asked.  When I asked why he didn’t, he explained that he was just trying to get through 3 more emails to clear his account. He only gets a few times during the work week when he can check e-mails and he thought he had 5 more minutes. Leaving at 6:40 was not in his field of expectation.

We talked the whole way home, breaking down all the points where we could now see the communication had failed.
I had indicated to Dan that I thought I told him of the meeting time being 6:50 and, in frustration, Dan had said, “I must not have been listening” to which I retorted, “well maybe you’ll learn something tonight!”  Yes, shitty.  But in part, hopeful that he would! (Of course, that pointing finger has three pointing back to me.)  I admitted that it was clear that this would have come across to him as a slam, as did much of my push back.  I was frustrated and angry that he hadn’t simply agreed to go when my expectation said it was time to leave.

I have always felt that one of the hardest things in life is unmet expectations.  Both of us had our expectations dashed in the moments prior to leaving for the meeting.  And it was obvious we lacked an ability in the moments following to hear each other.

It was timely that we had this listening event and beautiful that we had the love and patience to listen to one another after the argument in order to find understanding.  It was a gift we gave each other.  And we continue to work on this practice.

Listening is a Dance, and the other person Leads.

(Quotes today are from M. Scott Peck and Bfrienders Ministries, respectively.)

For those of you who read to keep up on the Harn progress, we had a super successful weekend due in big part to help from Paul Trumm.  He may tell you he did nothing… as I hear he and Dan commiserated about feeling like they weren’t really doing anything.  But he was a huge help!  With both my hands in muddy gloves, having someone to move all the supplies, constantly spray water and paint fresh clay slip made for huge progress on our Rocket Mass Heater build.  Here’s the latest video. https://youtu.be/8fJ3isGL-K4

What are we thinking? Are we?

Tags

Finding Fulfillment

I had an interesting weekend.  It was fun, the weather was great, I enjoyed a couple good meals and talked with some great people and even bought a few used books at this great bookstore in St. Paul. http://www.midwaybook.com/  Summer is sneaking further into Fall here in Minnesota making my continued transition to the Northlands much more bearable than I imagined.

I’ve been reading a book called Mindfulness by Ellen Langer… re-reading actually. I’m recognizing each section as I re-read it… how do I forget that I’ve read this book?  And do I keep reading it, thinking I didn’t quite finish it last time?  Yes, of course.  While it covers a wide range of ideas that I cannot give full explanation to here, it was not what I expected, which was something along the lines of meditation mindfulness.  It is instead more about the way we think of things: how we categorize information which prevents us from seeing things outside their already determined roles; how we act automatically; how our mindset keeps us from creatively understanding situations or keeps us in ruts that have been conditioned into us. And it explains how being mindful and thoughtful can bring power to us along the lines of creativity, productivity, prejudice and even our health.  In this re-reading, I’m realizing that either it’s a natural aspect of my personality or it’s something I’ve developed since my first reading of this book; I see many ways that my comprehension and actions are in line with mindfulness.  But I still have so far to go.  There is often still such a mindlessness in my everyday life.  It’s not always for lack of trying… sometimes it’s a result of trying too much.  Taking on a lot of projects in hope of making a difference, then realizing that I can’t quite do as much as I might have hoped.

As we drove home from the Cities, I had the realization that much of what I had done this weekend was mindless fun and not very productive.  I became overwhelmed by a feeling that I should be focusing instead on critical aspects of life like climate change mitigation, local food resiliency, creating a sustainable lifestyle.  How much effort am I expending along the lines of the most important things in life and how much am I wasting on things that will have little consequence in the grander scheme?

So I find myself again at a place in the cycle where I feel a bit overwhelmed by the need to find answers and make progress on the path of sustainability.  Maybe it’s just a letdown from the amazing feeling of accomplishment from last weekend.  Maybe it’s an epiphany, a realization of how different it feels to just twinkle along having fun versus seeing a big project come to fruition.  I see the difference ~ knowing that I got much more fulfillment from the Rocket Stove accomplishment than I did from this past weekend.  The building was way more work, but it was worth it.

Yet I still go through the motions.  As do so many of us.  We still drive a long way to work, or make three trips to town instead of a single consolidated trip.  We waste time shopping for things we don’t really need and have more groceries on our shelves or in our freezers than we can eat in a month.  We feel this need to have the latest gadget or a newer car/dress/shoes.  Why?  Why aren’t we seeing the waste and making more changes?  Why aren’t I making these changes?  I know the downside of all the driving, the wasted dollars and more importantly, wasted time.  Don’t I?  Perhaps life is all a process.  It’s progress, not perfection, they say.  But it sure feels lousy when I realize I haven’t made the most of my time and efforts.

We still have plans to go back to the Cities for a weekend of fun later this month: some music, seeing family and friends, eating some tasty food.  But I’m guessing it will again be not quite as fulfilling as the feeling I will have after this weekend’s cob work or the land prep we’ll do later this season.  I have a belief that I am where I am supposed to be.  This is all part of my process of figuring it out.  So I am grateful for the realization and I am in hopes that it will push me to continued recognition of doing more of the things that I know truly bring value.  And less of those that do not.

The most valuable production to date ~ our son Tom.

Fired Up!!

Tags

DIY, Rocket Stove

I am so fired up!! This weekend’s Rocket Stove Round 2 was amazing!

It’s still just me and Dan but we’re chugging along. Though we did have a couple guys come by Sunday morning to check out the project and hear more about Rocket Stoves, they didn’t stay long enough to get their hands into any cob with us.  We are planning on having a cobbing workshop on the 17^th so perhaps with a bit of notice, we’ll get some cob workers to come learn about building rocket stoves and donate some of their sweat equity in getting this rocket mass heater closer to finished.  Isn’t it true… if you feed them, they will come!?!

This weekend we were able to make:

• Two more buckets of cob, which we turned into thermal cob with fire-clay/sand additions
• A few buckets of clay slip (of varying thicknesses for multiple uses)
• Fire-clay mortar
• A tarp full of pearlite/clay-slip mix (functions as an expansion joint)

We used all this to build our stove:

• Mortared in the manifold
• Coated “hot” surfaces with pearlite/clay-slip and then thermal cob
• Wrapped the heat riser with k-wool, machine cloth and clay-slip
• Loaded the barrel and sealed it with a gasket, aluminum tape and a barrel band

Twigs here were gathered at the TLUD (Top Load Up Draft) Stove class Dan taught this summer. These little stoves are made from recycled cans.  Check out more on this blog post: https://alexandriacardinals.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/how-to-build-a-rocket-stove/

Then…

We lit it.

https://youtu.be/exMZHvdotcY 

As you can see, it rendered me speechless.  I finally realized I needed to give some narration but was still pretty overwhelmed with simple amazement that this was working.  I am so proud of this accomplishment.  Dan’s core has been transformed into a functional heating unit.  We now have a smokeless Rocket Stove and once we get all the cob work done, we will have a fabulous Rocket Mass Heater.

If you want to learn more, go visit Ernie & Erica Wisner http://www.ernieanderica.info/rocketstoves or their main page http://www.ernieanderica.info/

🙂