Yep, a classic Caseyblog, although I admit to being a bit rusty.

I told you I would inhabit this little corner of the dying vessel of entertainment known as myspace more often and here I am. Is it a send off to friends with facebook pages? Not a chance. I will enjoy it here even as McDonalds adverts eventually make their way onto the banner above the space I am writing in. There is something special about that... what it is, I have no clue. Anyway, I have been living in Cincinnati for just over a year now and am feeling more at home than I ever could have imagined in Columbus a few years ago. I left plenty of poison littering High Street behind me, but it's mostly a result of being with Michelle now....something is actually working in my life for once and there is a huge domino effect to coincide!! There is also a little part of me that is now entangled in the roots that grow deep beneath the many layers of pavement and bricks that make up the streets here in Cincinnati, Ohio. I've been reading about the history of this town and it really is amazing. This was the original boomtown before Chicago and many claims can be made to things that are now associated with the windy city. Simply put, I live in the deepest heart of Porkopolis and love it dearly.

Ok, that's done. Now lets get to some photos of a simple winter night in the life... We have cats and live in a pretty cool loft-type space downtown now but sometimes even Ben and Bus (our cats) get a bit restless.



We decided to head two blocks down the street to a local pub... My shoes in the snow.



Once we made our way down the street, I turned around and took a shot of the quiet little corner of downtown that is our neighborhood. Durring the summer there are plenty of people walking dogs and hanging out on this street.



Here we are... Tina's. The bar has great chili and is usually a good place to plot and scheme our next move/dream (buying a house, buying a house, working on a house etc.)



The bar is not so fancy but is a comfortable little place in the hood.



I am constantly astounded while viewing the collection of vintage 1980's "art posters" that hold a special place within the warm walls of Tina's. It gets no better than this. Enjoy.

"Woman we are led to believe wants sex: Holding Ice Cream"



"Woman we are led to believe wants sex: With Lifesaver Candy"



"Woman we are led to believe wants sex: Licking Popsicle" (ok I like this one but don't hold it against me...please don't ask)



"Woman we are led to believe wants sex: Drinking From An Erotic Water Fountain" (no comment)



Oh, and you just had to know this one was coming...

"Woman we are led to believe wants sex: Stepping On Paint Tube"



After a few drinks, we braved the cold, arrived home and decided that our cat Bendi-butt needed to be sealed in a box with only his head sticking out. Not to worry, he was purring loudly the entire time. That cat loves to be fucked with... what a sport.


This would make a perfect lolcat "I iZ hacking yerz Mak Buk" picture if he didn't look so focused.



Finally, we take a nap... Much love from the nest here in Cincinnati, Ahia. xoxo



Goodnight (seeya soon).

It's been sooo long since I've posted anything worthwhile here that it feels like starting all over again. I like it. Plenty of things have happened over the past year with my departure from Columbus and marriage to Michelle... Instead of trying to catch up, lets just live in the presesnt for a moment. If you hadn't guessed, we live in the central business district of downtown Cincinnati. We have a pool on the roof of our loft building and have seen better weather from which to enjoy the view. For now we have adapted to the winter and only had to walk a few blocks to go ice skating at Fountain Square the other night. This will only be brief but might kick start me into giving friends more frequent updates.

Abigail, Michelle and I had a little "hat lottery" to see who wears what on the head.





Of course Abigail won the middle hat but the battle was not over... Yep, my winter weight is here once again but will disappear once the weather warms. Strange animal I am, eh?





Abigail was happy with her new hat. That child is growing so fast now. She is turning out to be the gem I always knew she would be. It really is amazing to see her grow up and have a voice. Her own voice.





Our cats were highly fond of the long hat as well. (introducing Bussi & Bendi)





A switch of hats once again and a kiss to the big furry tiger (Bendi) before heading down the street to the ice skating rink.





Once we arrived to the center of town and our destination for seasonal fun, things got a little confusing where pictures are concerned so just enjoy the shots I took.


My girls on ice.














I sure do love them thar girls....

Cheers, y'all,
Casey

I arrived home from work yesterday to discover some very exciting news. It seems that the folks at Hey! Nielsen and Billboard.com have paid a visit to our little music world and found it worthy of nomination for their 1st annual Best Music Blog Contest!! If you visit the contest page at the H!N Website, you will find plenty of more recognizable music blogs than our own that are run by some of the people who were an original influence when we started this whole thing. Anyway, this should be interesting and I hope those of you who visit us on a regular basis will show up to vote for The Milk. We will definitely need your help in getting the word out there also! Voting starts this Monday, November 12th and will run through December 12th.

More information and details to come soon... Go Milk!!

Milk Milk Lemonade International Music Blog

My daughter Abigail recently spent the weekend with us and this is all you need to know....


We're in the car, halfway between Columbus and Cincinnati, munching trail mix and listening to NPR...

Abigail [out of the blue]: Guess what?! D'you want to know something??

Dad: Yeah, sweetie?

Abigail: My friend had a hamster and it only lived for FIVE DAYS!!

Michelle: Ohh, poor little hamster...What happened to him?

Abigail: I don't know, I had to leave after that.

Dad [choking back laughter]: What did you do to it?

Abigail [reluctant to elaborate]: Maybe he was stunned, I told you I don't know.

Dad & Michelle [dissolve into hysterics]

Abigail [pouting]: Can we talk about something else please?



Dad of the Year honors for this photo?







I think so...







Much love from Cincinnati, Ahia!!!

xoxo,
Casey

As most of you know, I am moving to Cincinnati, Ohio. For the past 5 years I have been living in my shoebox apartment here in the Short North and have had several run-ins with the local homeless population sifting through my trash. I even have to take my mail to work for opening since the fuckers sit there patiently sorting through my bank statements. They really are a lovable bunch and I never have to worry about aluminum cans or broken dvd players piling up. They have a purpose and for that I decided to reward them... In my own way.



While typing this I heard laughter/coughing out in the back alley.

My pillows now belong to someone else.




I'm going to miss living here. For some strange reason, it feels like someone is newly arriving while I am abandoning this place. It might even be someone I knew years ago returning from a far. I have that feeling. It's almost the same as when I was younger and frequented certain parks and strip malls on my bicycle. I would feel like I was missing something if I didn't go. I would sit on my bike and watch the stores close. Everyone comes back to Columbus (or so they say), but what if I never do come back? Now my little shoebox apartment is turning into that cold fall day when no one was around. Everyone was studying and being productive in their well lit warm little windows. It feels cold now.

It will get better. I know.

Yep... It's been a while. There will be no whining about the past here. I am in a position to move forward now and will need to enlist all of my energy to move on to the next chapter of "The Casey Book". This was just going to be a bulletin but I figured I'd post here to let those of you that are still subscribed know that I have not abandoned this fun little place.

For those of you that do not know, I have to move to Cincinnati shortly after the 1st of the year for work. I have absolutely no knowledge of that city beyond the fact that they have professional sports teams so Michelle and I went down to check things out. As it stands, I am probably going to get one of the places I checked out in the Mount Adams area... That place is lovely and overlooks the city. If any of you have additional information on Cincinnati please let me know. From what I checked out, it seems very cool. Even the cheesy areas for people in their mid 20's to 30's are kind of like Clintonville or Grandview here in Columbus. Mount Adams is an extremely small version of what I can only compare to a cross between The Short North here and Martha's Vineyard on Cape Cod (if it were on a very steep hill.)

I love road trips with chemically restructured beef sticks, Red Bull and my smokey treats.

As plenty of you are also aware, Michelle is here in town from London so last night we hit a few places down there in the Mount Lookout area after meeting a few "helpful" people.....Oh, did I mention the halloween parties?

Michelle and I ran into a lovely girl named Danielle.








Danielle has a boyfriend named James. They have a hot tub. If this picture had turned out a bit less blurry I might have considered it as new default picture to springboard myself into a new myspace porn identity. You don't want to know my train of thought at this moment. Anyway, I am changing my myspace picture tonight so if you see wheat fields and puffy clouds soon try not to be alarmed. So many things are changing in my life right now.



This really isn't meant to be a textbook Caseyblog by any means. It's just fun for me and a change from blabbering on about music. Back on topic... we wondered aimlessly on our way and stumbled into a really cheesy place called "Millions". Since the bar was lighted and pretty we stepped inside to find a fun bartender who was nice enough to take pictures with us.



No I am not trying to rap because I am standing next to a black man... I just happened to strike this pose as the camera went off. If I were to rap you would hear about it on the mean streets. Yo. Word. errrr...Something.



We then accosted an entering patron who had an afro wig that almost reached the ceiling. I was astonished while Michelle felt compelled to have her picture taken with this strange man.



After we settled in for a few beers, we realised that the people we met were very nice and a fun bunch at that. We took a few pictures before catching a taxi back to our downtown hotel room.








In case you forgot what kind of person I am, we reserved a hotel room for non-smokers since I can't stand the smell of other people's smoke. Since I smoke, the lady in the next room complained at around 2am. After the hotel desk clerk was finished warning me at our room door (I'm fairly certain I still had the cigarette in hand while denying it), I had to smoke in the bathroom with the fan on for the rest of the morning. In a ridiculous display of random retaliation, we decided to remove the last page of the bible and leave a note explaining various non-related endings. Don't ask.

It feels good to be back here. I like to write about non-music stuff. I am worried about moving. I'm a bit scared of change.

Hopefully this is a good thing.

I don't go out on the town too often.  When I do, I like it to be somewhat of an adventure.  My plans fell through in having Abigail this weekend.  I hear she had to go to her first communion? (I have no idea what that means) Aparently something catholic that might earn family money or gifts I think?   Anyway, when I have a free night I am most likely sitting here at my computer.  This time was a little bit different.  The weather is nice now and I actually got out of the house with my new companion. A brand new Cannon Elph SD450.  I had to get it after all of the reviews I read.  I wanted an upgrade in megapixels but didn't want to slow my pages down.  I can always tell when someone has 7 megapixel photos online.  Very slow.    Anyway, here is the newest member of the cam team... "Elphy"

 

Yep... she's a cutie.  I can fit her in any pocket without notice and the quality will be better without dragging my site(s) down.  The Panasonic was there for the end of my bad marriage and also for the recovery.  That camera was in Europe twice and has been a big part of my online involvement.  If you look to your left there is a place where you can mess around with the dates and see some of my first online journals with that camera.  Abigail saw the new camera and asked if she can have the Panasonic.  I might consider it hers and keep it here for her to take some pictures.  No way in hell (laughing) that thing goes home with her.  It might end up yard sale fodder in under a week.  Somewhere deep in my mind I can sense an Abigail picture blog coming.  For now, however, it is retired to my sock drawer.   

 

 

This weekend turned out to be a good one for the extra time.  There is an event on the first Saturday night of every month.  It's called the Gallery Hop.  All of the stores are open late and serve wine and food for free.  Plenty of people pour in from the suburbs to experience what must seem like a quaint little freak show.  I saw a nicely dressed couple sitting on the sidewalk reading (yes at night) trying to look bohemian in a place I used to puke last year.  Just some perspective. 

After spending some time sulking over my lack of spawn for the weekend, I quickly decided that it would be nice to go out and re-visit the neighborhood I once inhabited frequently with reckless abandon.  I'm talking about nightlife.  I got myself together last night and headed up the road.  As I approached High Street, the first thing I noticed was the sound  coming from a shoe store??  My favorite shoe store.  Legs Diamond.  They have a shop here and in Austin, Texas..  The owner gave Abigail a pair of sun glasses last gallery hop. 

They had a really good DJ.

The night was early and people were just starting to filter in.  Great shoes too.

I walked a few blocks up the street and found a 2 piece band on a street corner.  These guys were good.  Really good.  After talking to Jason and Robby I figured out they have a myspace page. 

I am still trying to get my brain around this new camera.  Some pictures are coming out really strangely.  Moving things are transparent.   Here is a perfect example. A girl walked through this photo. 

 

A few more steps down the street led me to the cast of a Rocky Horror Picture Show production going on around town.  I don't think I've been to that in 20 years?  We used to go when we were kids and throw shit at the screen at the wrong times.  By the end of the show it was complete chaos.  I only got kicked out of the theater one time for throwing eggs at the people in front of us.  Another time I beat a kid over the head with my skateboard after he spit on my friend JP behind the movie place.  They had to call the ambulance because the poor bastard lost so much blood.   I soon learned that he was a part of a Korean gang  After that, I had to change High Schools because there were a bunch of mid 20's Korean men waiting outside of school for me with golf clubs every day.  I would often hear the phrase "I kill you white boy" while going from one class to another.  Hell, even the hoods and brothas were scared of me after that... True Story

Oh yeah, Rocky Horror Picture Show.  I was cornered by them with fliers to hand me so I kindly asked for a picture....and yes I am very tan.  I got this membership to a place near my office in Gahanna.  I love taking a 20 minute afternoon nap with the fans blowing in that thing.  I know it's cheesy but I do like it.   

 

Once I liberated myself from the throws of geekdom I took two steps to discover I had come across the far left royalty.  PETA was in full force!!  I stood alone in front of the video monitor they had set up watching cow deaths.  One girl asked why I watched twice.  I guess I was just stunned that they had someone shoot that video and not stop the torture.  I made up this big story about being from a farm and how animals affected my life.  It was truly ridiculous. 

She was nice enough to pose for this picture... She must not have seen my leather shoes.

 

I got a bit of fake shopping in.  There are plenty of little shops where credit card abuse is the not just an isolated incident... It's the law.  I am on a budget now and couldn't do any damage.  It was just nice to window shop. 

 

 

Outside of the boutique area was a great DJ girl.  She really had some good sound manipulation going on.  I gave her my myspace address (google 4casey4...duh) and can only hope she contacts me.  Fantastic music and a good simple equipment setup also.

 

 

I was in need of a beer and wanted to head to a bar that wasn't crowded with suburban fools at this point.  I walked across the street and wouldn't you know it?!?  I ran into Indian Joe (as I call him)!!!  The last time I saw this guy was 2 years ago and Abigail was too scared to go anywhere near him for a picture.  I can describe his music as a perfect mix of organic rhythm and commercial radio coming from his boombox.   Don't laugh.  He might be closer than you think to the universal truth regarding music trends and cycles.  I'd put my money on good old Joe any day.  Indian Joe.

 

Joe's version of  Huey Lewis & The News was dead on, although the vocals were a bit shakey.

 

Now I really want a damnned beer.  I can only stand so much walking around looking sensitive and gentle.   On my way to the bar a Mexican band was playing out of the back of a car trunk.  It was really nice but I was thirsty so I stopped with a blank face to check it out.  They had me smiling in under 30 seconds.  Great music.

 

 

 

I turned to walk into the Short North Tavern and that's when a great photo opportunity presented itself to me.  A girl with Hula Hoops came out of nowhere and began this performance art routine that was amazing.  She had both foot and motorist traffic stopped in all directions.  Even the Mexican band was all turned around playing to her.  I asked quickly if pictures were ok by pointing to my camera and she gave me a thumbs up sign.  Now my new Elph goes to work!!  These pictures are still weird but I'll get things under control eventually.

And shes off...

Everyone makes mistakes.

Back on cue...

Finale...

 

After her performance I had a few guys asking about my camera.  I was just starting to go into the bar when I got a smack on the shoulder.  Hula Hoop girl ( I can't remember her name) wanted to see the pics for herself.  She approved of them and then we took this picture. 

Can I have my beer now????? Jeesh...

 

I then ran into Veronica.  We worked at a hell hole mexican bar/restaurant together 10 years ago.  Estradas on King Ave.  I bartended and she waited tables.  That place was fucking awful.  Do not eat there.  Please!!

I finally made my way into the bar.  Once inside I noticed a really nice soul/funk band.  I'm not usually one that can stand anyhing close to "the blues" but this was different.  There was an empty bit of urban edge that caught me.  After the first set I went up and talked to the bass player.  He and I hit it off right away.  The first thing I ask any band person is if they have a myspace page. He is starting one so I gave him my business card.   

Soul Kitchen. 

 

 

I'm not sure what it is that got me free drinks after the pics stopped snapping.. well, I do know.  People associated me with the band.  I might have seemed like a presence just by taking flash pictures.   Anyway, it was really nice to have people pull me aside to furnish me with liquor.  Here are some of the kind folks that did so!!

They bought for me...

 

I bought for them...

 

 

Picture of the evening?  I honestly had to go for a walk shortly after this was taken....This pic woke me up enough to realize that my balance was off and I felt kind of sluggish.  Last picture in the bar.

 

 

After this I could have walked home.  Instead I made my way down to the ultimate destination.  Surly Gurl Saloon.  I stood outside and looked in.  It was crowded and I had just been there the night before so I just waved at the window people and walked home.  I like to walk home.

 

 

Stay here please.  I like to walk home.  I like to stay home. 

 

 

Thank you.

Casey.

Ok... Let's start this one out right. I really only want to post pics here to share with my friends this time. There will be no moaning on about my past (hopefully) so as not to be a hypocrite. I got back from my vacation in London with my gracious host Michelle two weeks ago and finally went through about half of the pictures. These are the ones I've managed to like. If you look at my old blogs you will realize that I am in none of the pictures. That all changes now as I am standing in front of various things here... It might not be what you wanted to see, but please be assured it was a fan-fucking-tabulous time. We should probably get started with things ah??

The flight was good. I connected in Atlanta and they had a smoking lounge where I met a couple from Norway playing cards. They had matches and also a business card for their farm there. Nice 20something kids. I sat on the plane next to a woman that was going home because her father had passed. We had a beer after talking for some time. The "in flight" movie was Chicken Little and the meal was also bbq chicken. I made a joke of it to her and it was the only laugh I got from her. Her eyes were swollen from crying. After landing at Gatwick International Airport she helped me find the way to my bag. Nice woman.

After a much expected and fully embraced warm welcome from my girl, we were off to the train station to get home into London. Maida Vale. Here are a few pictures from the train.

Yes these things actually move....and you can drink beer on them too!


My classy chick...


looking out into the unknown housing projects


We arrive in London and I am not finished with my brew.


We spent the first couple of days in her house playing music, drinking and eating all of the food she had stocked up for my visit. There was also some drunken dishwashing going on. What a spread!!









A very wonderful reason I made this trip...

I also discovered a new food group called Marmite on my very first morning there. It kind of tastes like vitamins and soy sauce in an oily peanut butter type paste. I tried it once and loved it!! People there are raised on the stuff. You need to eat it on a crumpet. Those are a better version of our "english muffin"





Yesssss... even barbie made the trip. She loved marmite. For those of you that haven't read my older blogs this might not make sense. I forgot to bring her home. Michelle will take care though. Barbie will be back just in time for comfest.


Here is the stockpile... fridge full of beer and food. You always have to appreciate when someone cares enough to do this for you.



...and on top of the fridge


I swear, the frozen pizza from the market is way better than even the DiGiorno we get here.


Time to leave the house... This is where all of the 'me standing in front of stuff' begins. We went off to a market at the beginning of the week. Lots of flea market type things both new and used. These vendors were haggling like markets I went to in Greece so I guess it's a worldwide phenomenon.

Outside the front door...


I know...every picture with a cig. How cool am I? Just ask the bloke in the puffy black jacket across the street. Bahh.



This is Portobello Market... The old woman was shopping and the pretty girl just happend to be in the shot. haha *ahem*


Later that day we managed to visit a few pubs. The scary thing is that we actually would drink at the same time. Stereo.









This guy was probably homeless... He was in a pub we visited and drinking a beer only wealthy attorneys drink here. Lovely



Then off to see the sights... We didn't really make it into the tourist type areas. I thank Michelle for this. Instead we got a few shots from a far at night. I think this is the River Thames. I might be spelling it wrong but it was the brodcasting company that put out "Are You Being Served" when I was a kid so I think that's right?!? I am all about research ah??

Here are some post cards for you.







Back to the pubs. Here are some really cool little spots we found. The British are all about drinking. There were tons of business people in the pubs at lunchtime drinking beer!! You get fired for that here in an instant. U.S. is the land of the free? My ass it is.







There was even a bar we went to that had all chamber pots on the ceiling... drunken Casey was confused.


Michelle was wonderful enough to book us a 2 night stay at Brighton Beach. Really nice although the weather was a continuous draft. Damn the coastal areas. I loved Brighton. I can honestly say that I would move there in a second if given a measley bar job. Great college town!!

Our room...good job Michelle. Damn this was nice.







We had a nice view of the channel... There was also a burned down pier that was amazing to see. It looked surreal... like a large shipwreck.





There was some entertainment we decided to pass on. WTF??? My god no wonder the rest of the world hates us... Jeesh.



Uptown Brighton was really nice. I got some good pictures. They even have a version of our TJ Maxx... I was stunned. I learned what a "Chav" is and if TK Maxx is anything like our version...They all shop there. We have a name for those little sports label wearing teenage pukes here. It just isn't PC to say it.



More pictures of me standing in front of stuff (only in Brighton this time)





On the balcony of our room... Very hungover. I look awful.


I can't remember whether this was still Brighton or in Soho central London... You decide and create your own reality. Are you getting sick of my vacation yet? I have over 300 photos and just went through around half of them.



There is a bar here in Columbus called the "Silent Woman". This would be a perfect way to advertise out front.



Lets keep this thing moving... Back to London. I miss, more than anything, being with Michelle. We really connected and had a wonderful time just looking at each other. It really is strange when that happens. Kind of like a white noise in your ear while you are in some trance. I used to get that buzzing feeling when I would try to go to sleep as a kid. all of the time.

In Maida Vale it is heavily populated with muslims and middle eastern people... So much so I thought I was in Detroit or Beruit. It is kind of interesting that the U.S. calls itself the "Melting Pot" when it has nothing compared to London. Would you like a franchise of this place?



Finally some random photos... These are of things that caught my eye.

I spent 3 days walking past these signs before I realized what they meant.



Now this is polite.



This is not so polite... and probably the worst picture of me.



We then proceeded to the Red Light district of Soho because it was interesting to have women out on the street trying to lure you into the strip clubs and brothel type places. I wanted to take pictures. It kind of went wrong.

This was the first girl I took a picture of. It didnt come out because I was nervous about doing it.



Second time was better. The girl was talking to men trying to get them to come into a strip joint.



Third time was a charm!!... This girl was out in the streets talking guys up hardcore. I think it was less than 2 seconds after I took this picture that she came after me. She was screaming in the worst fake british accent I've heard since Pierce Brosnan (and he's british!!...I think). YOU MUST DELETE THAT YOU PRICK. I CANNOT HAVE MY PICTURE TAKEN LIKE THIS YOU PRICK. She is now tearing at my jacket and trying to get my camera in the middle of a busy street. My first thought was to shove the camera down my waistbelt so she couldn't get it. It started falling down my pants. So there we are. I am in the middle of the red light district with a stripper/hooker screaming and wrestling with me and my hand down my pants. Nice. Luckily Michelle pulled her off of me and we ran as she stood there screaming for some backup... SECRURRRATAAAAAAY!!!....SECURRRITAAAY!!! I don't think I have laughed so hard in my life. I could barely run.



That was my last night out in London. There were so many great things there and I probably only captured 10% of the fun. Michelle was a wonderful host and I only hope I can return the favor this summer. Here are some parting shots. Enjoy!!

Yep... you can gamble there.


I stole Michelle's lighter


Phone booth treasures in Soho


I had to...


Bad shave, No sleep... I blame myspace. Lovely....


There are plenty more. I might add a few in comments here. As always, Cheers!! It was a wonderful time.

If you are still looking at this I am happy... Please take care of yourself.

Casey

I love waking up.  I often wonder what would happen if I didn't.  I was outside of my office having a cigarette the other day and one of the grounds-keepers was trimming the hedges around the building.  He was annoyed by this big dragonfly that kept flying around his head.  He took his weed wacker and swung it up in the air at the dragonfly.  It was horribly perfect.  One loud *pop* sound and that bug dissappeared in a shower of it's own parts... he looked at me.   he knew I saw it.  his crooked half toothed smile was comforting enough for me to respond with a head nod and thumbs up.  I thought about that for the rest of the day.  what did that bug think right before it's demise?  did it even realize what happend?  what happens when you no longer exist?  I'd like to think I have plenty of years ahead of me...and can't imagine why anyone would want to die purposefully.  I want to be here.  I am needed for something.   One of these day I might just figure out what that is.  I would say Abigail, but then I think the opposite is true.  I need her.

The older I get the more I think about these things.  I've given myself plenty of time to do so.  Unfortunately people get lost in the shuffle of my time making.  I am selfish.

and this is what I see in the morning.

Yeah... I smoke in bed.  couple of carpet burn holes to prove it also.  I can't tell you that my mornings would be the same without that ritual.   I'll cheat death in this way...for now.    Since we are on the topic of "me" lets start the day.  My bathroom is the first place I visit.  I once knew a woman that would sleep on her bathroom floor when she was drunk with problems... I would rather use it for it's intended purpose.  It was so dramatic to watch her throw her self on the floor in there and play the damaged little girl.  funny thing is, if I pretended not to notice, out she would come with her purple wine stained mouth...furious.   Here is my setup.

 

On the left are some dried flowers from my old place.  I didn't have much when I left.  so any gift was welcome.  I wasn't welcome.  tis why I left.   Yeah...I still drink beer and smoke...  but no longer walk on eggshells around the manipulative disaster that surpassed my much needed vices at the time. 

Here is my sink!!  (good segway ah?) 

 

speaking of damage... check just behind my panasonic.  the rain came into the walls and made bubbles in it last year.  the landlord will not fix it until I move out.  Oh and my soap from "curio-a-go-go" up the street.  I loved that place.  They moved to a proper space and it just isn't the same.   I got this there also...  anyone up for the challenge?

Today is so dark and dreary I can't even tell you with words...  I can only tell you that when I was 8 years old I would ride my little huffy bike around the neighborhood and no one would be around.  I would perch myself on the corner where the hoods hung out to smoke cigarettes and beat up kids like me... anything was better than nothing.  But even they were at home eating dinner. I would sit on my bike near "the path" which was the scary little alley that led you to Sherwood Middle School. My school.  That alley would be active with fights, pot and cigarette smoking, and the sounds of the "Sugar Hill Gang" the next morning when the busses dropped the kids off Monday.   I would sit there wondering about the same things I do now.  the girls I knew, the future and my thoughts on everything .  I can almost hear my grandmother shattering my daydreams of adventure and fortune when she would step out of our house and call for me "Caaaaassssey....Dinnnner".  I can still smell the damp fall in that beat up old neighborhood.  I can also taste my dinner.  canned peas and potatoes, roast beef and boiled carrots.  the big ones. 

I was going to go out to my old hood to take pictures for this.  but changed my mind.  It's become quite the dangerous area of town.  I still might...but not today.  If you play with "google earth" check this...

1512 Country Club Rd. Columbus, Oh. 43227

Since we are on about nothing today, I might as well give you my kitchen...

 

 Yep... the pot holders need to be replaced.  I think they double as cooking napkins.  Abigail and I got those baby pumpkins the other day.  It's Halloween!!   I strung the rope lights up under the cabinets when I first moved in here well over 3 years ago.  this is what they look like when the lights are off...  I'm fairly proud of what I've done to this place over the past few years.  With not much money at that.  It will be hard to leave here someday.

I'm really not sure where to go from here.  I have plenty of pictures to share so yeah.... you get a shower picture of casey.  I had to take down the original and now infamous "other" shower picture due to the fact that some people outside of myspace know me and could view this and would have a laugh riot at what I posted.   It's all just fun folks, and I actually think I looked pretty good in that pic!!    

can you say "gag reflex"???

 As a matter of fact, if you want to see some nip then the picture below will have to hold you over.  I wasn't going to post this for fear that I might be percieved as some sort of  new age screwball...  plenty of those people around.  The older men are the ones that creep me out the most... for some reason they are usually photographers (here I go again). that hang out in the holistic world.  My mother worked at Beechwold Natural Clinic here in town (Clintonville) for years and years doing kelation treatments so I am well aware of that element.  Anyway, the little card was something she gave me when I first moved into this place... It really is kind of nice.  so it stays.  

No... I am not buddist.  Just liked the little trinket. 

 

ya know what?... I forgot to add the new "phone team" picture.  I got both of these last week.  My land line is panasonic and my new cell is supposed to be the top end in video phones.  Ahhh... and the book.  I read this over and over as a kid.  It truly reminds me of myself and Abigail.    If you look closely throughout my blogs, or visit my shoebox place sometime, you'll notice my brand of choice for electronics is panasonic.  For cars it is Mazda (have had 4 of them now).  

 

I hope you feel at home. 

much love...

casey.

I'm a fairly simple human being, but it might depend on who you ask. I only connect to certain things, certain people and certain places. I'm not really fanatical about much these days, but when I find something that feels right I hold onto it... and I don't let go. I could go on and on about lost love, reckless abandon, foreign travel but not this time. This time it's music. This time it's Bob Mould and an incredible band from Toronto. Uncut.

I had planned on waking up early yesterday for something i've been waiting for. A concert that was held in the only venue I could possibly get to. Detroit, Michigan. I slept in late and had to hurry around the house to get ready... shower shave and then walked in and out of my door repeatedly forgetting travel things. Cell phone, Camera, wallet, keys, eye drops, signature ring and coin neckwear, altoids and smokes. A quick trip to UDF and got me some sour gummy worms, 2 red bull cans and a french vanilla coffee. Enough with the lists.

The drive was good.  I actually hit 115 outside of Findlay, OH and kept it for around 5 minutes... not another car in sight. That was good adrenaline. Finally I cross the Michigan border and see what I need... (side note:  these people drive like maniacs.  I love it and fit right in.)



When you ask someone from Ohio about Detroit or Michigan in general the response will most likely be unfavorable (to put it nicely) but I'm not a sports fan. I have to tell you, when I finally got into downtown Detroit I was impressed. The city might be old and industrial, and the surrounding areas might be in complete disrepair and worthy of demolition, but downtown is really cool!!... a real city.

I like Detroit.

I found this pic of the front of the Majestic theater on the internet but it's exactly what I saw once my car was parked nervously on a ghetto street there.  Quick walk across the street and here I was...



A brief wait and a very cool cell call from a special person in London and I was through the door just after 8pm. Inside it was just one big room.. with bar in the back...nothing special.  Looked like a small version of The Newport here in Columbus. Just add another 100 years of abuse.  I got an Amstel ($5) and wandered around.   My camera was burning a hole in my pocket.  The stage and band equipment....oh my. so I played around with my camera a bit to check settings. Surely I wouldnt get into trouble for taking a flash pic before it starts.   As soon as I snapped this my elbow slipped.   A beautiful accident!!!



I went back to the bar and had another beer to wash the car trip out of my system. a couple people saw me take the pic and asked if it was ok to do also. "sure!!" I said. Then I spot this long haired person I recognized for some reason.   Ian from Uncut!!!  I grabbed his attention and we talked for a bit.  Really nice guy. He had to go with stage time in 15 minutes.  So no pics of that. But this is what happend next.

These guys were amazing.







After this I switched some settings on my camera and got some more pics.  It was like Uma Thurman in kill bill when she blinks and the fight scene goes from black n' white to color.








Uncut. I went up to the bar to grab yet another beer. I was impressed. Ian came back out and we talked a bit more. He told me a great one.   The drummers kick pedal had broken and Brendan Canty let them use his old one.   Apparently the only other one he had ever used.  You know what that means!!!  Yep...fugazi history under foot for Jon.

Next up?   The show stopper!  Yes Mr. Bob Mould. He came out quickly and quietly instantly kicking things into the highest gear. The first 3 songs were from his Sugar days... Act we Act/Good Idea/Changes... and then into the new stuff.   I tried to capture this best I could but bob was all over the place on stage.   Let me introduce some of the band.


Jason Narducy (Verbow)




Brendan Canty (Rites of Spring/FUGAZI)




Bob Mould (Husker Du/Sugar/ Solo)



Richard Morel (morel) was sitting at keyboard on the other side of the stage so this is the best I could do.   Speaking of which.  Lets get this started!!!!!

And here we go...

















I got my fix.

After a few deep breaths and an extra water that was left on stage I bought a shirt.

Front


Back


and then waited to see if he would come out at all.  I was being shuffled to the door by security and out he came.  "I forgot my keys" I said and the security guy let me go back. I walked up so nervously and said hello.

 He looked whooped.  He signed my ticket stub.



and then I asked for a picture...he agreed.   I was more nervous than ever and in a vacuum.   I didnt even think about the settings on my camera.   I took the worst jittery ill planned pic ever but still... me and Bob.

All I can ask for!!



Next time I'll get a good one.   I promise.

After the show I went next door to this bar that is also the oldest bowling alley in the US???...something like that.



Really cool place.  Lots of people from the show and pretty local girls... yeah, I turned a couple heads...hahaha.  Anyway, they had a promo poster for the show on the wall and I talked the security guy into letiing me have it.



I briefly talked to a really nice couple outside at the patio bar. They checked my pics and gave me directions back to the freeway. Thank you Chad and Liz.  I made it!!!   Back to my car to find a local hotel room...uggg. You know what? I decided to do the unthinkable... drive back to Columbus.  I got outside of Detroit and popped the Uncut CD I got in. I thought to myself.   Jesus this is really distorted and bad quality..what the hell?  Then it dawned on me as I drove through Toledo.  I had my stereo on full blast because my hearing was so shot.   The CD is great and I am so glad I have the entire thing now.

Now I'm hungry and tired.   I reach into my bag of goodies for a sour gummy and figured out the red bull had spilled into the bag...so I drove on eating nasty sticky caffeine soaked gummies.   My whole face was sticky. I stopped at a drive through Taco bell also. got this massive burrito and Mountain Dew... ate it in my dark car while listening to AM talk radio for the rest of the trip. I stopped 4 (yes 4) times to pee in various back road farm fields in rural Ohio. I was actually more afraid of being out there than I was in the urban squalor of Detroit....hrmm.

All I know is that I had sour cream, fire sauce and blue gummy worm stickiness all over my face when I got home and looked in the mirror. I was as happy as could be and couldn't hear a thing.

Thank you Uncut... Thank you Bob

Casey

Good Morning.   I took the garbage out @ 07:45am.  The view of the alley beside my house made me drop the bag and run back in for the camera.   It might not seem like much but I think I know every broken bottle and discarded tennis shoe back there.  I often go down the steps for no reason and sit at my bottom one... this way I know for sure that I am not putting myself on a stage.  People go to coffee shops by themselves to get noticed.  You can study and make coffee at home.  When I was younger I always had this notion that they were deep people that loved reading books and just happened to stop into that particular establishment...I thought they had this "shoot from the hip" spur of the moment attitude about life....they aren't and they don't.  Those people look so pitifully lonely to me... especially the ones with laptops. 

I sit here...

 

I like living in this building.  The apartment below me is empty now so there is no worry of sound restrictions...  and guess what my front door looks like?  I could not have picked a better number. 

 

When I was very young I would put the number 44 on everything.  All of my toy race cars, electric vibrating football players (remember those?) and ALL sports jerseys were numbered 44.  I have no idea how it started...I only know it has always been my favorite number.  So ever since I have been on the internet I have been 4casey4.   My grandfather always used to sit back in the bedroom listening to "Radio Moscow" on his short wave radio and drink his beer out of a little glass while I sat on the floor furiously pasting 44 onto my toys.  He was a a very respected Canadian soldier during WWII... Colonel Edwin G. Shannon.

Please take note of my pajama top... fitting ah?...

I was up late last night... Abigail was hopped up on Laffy Taffy and I had a couple of beers... She outlasted me this time.  I remember vaguely hearing her playing the first part of her "Fairytopia" dvd over and over again as I lay drifting off... the last thing I remember was her explaining that she wouldn't break anything and it was ok for me to sleep.  She was right.  She's getting older now... the only worry I have is that she will forget non-custodial me some day.  She got a pencil and paper out she had packed in her bookbag and this is what she was doing while I slept....

I really hadn't planned on writing this today.  I thought I needed some space from the space.... but you never know where the day will lead you.  

Fall is here...and so are you.

for now

Casey

den to vlepo san dropi
n'andimetopizoume
tis parexigisis pou kratan
ton enan ap'ton allon ine megalo krima
giati boro na figo, na xeperaso
horisna mathis an itan
pragmatiki agapi

Yesterday was Sunday. I had all of these thoughts for my blog and they were quickly shattered with one keystroke. I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating it is to finally be able to pour out what I would consider"good stuff" only to hit one wrong button and have myspace lose it.I spent all day on the pictures and build up... That was fun enough. But I think I need to remember something very important. This is only a social website. This is only myspace. If I were some sort of literary talent, my time could be better spent in some stuffy journalistic judgment forum. I don't need that,and laugh when some take themselves too seriously. If you take pictures and call it art... it really is not. manipulate those pics and it might be. If you write things and call it art... you might get away with it. In either case you need to be fairly self absorbed to do it with yourself as the subject matter. I plead "no contest"to these charges...

The anger has all but closed the door on its way out now... (calm blue
ocean...calm blue ocean...cigarette kisses...calm blue ocean)

I did some cooking and picture snapping yesterday. Lets go back and visit
Sunday. Just you and me ok?..

As in many cases, I start here where the day begins. Mornin' sunshine..!!.
Today is chili day. I've spent the usual amount of time preparing for it.
A scratch to the head, and some distant memory of walking across a
wonderfully dirty black and white kitchen floor feeling cat litter under my
toes. I learned a lot back then...and looking back on it, the good
outweighed the bad. Chili was one of those things. This is where it all
begins.

This is my "kit"... I can play it in much the same manner most any
percussionist would turn out a groove.




...and now for the ingredients.... Let's start with the canned goods.
White corn and Ro-tel brand spicy diced tomatoes. Ro-tel is probably one
of my favorite things in the world. You can cook it with anything.... Or
just dip tortilla chips in it. I use it for everything from omelets to
fried potatoes. And guess who is back for the presentation??? could she?
would she??




Barbie is back. I had reservations about posting more pics of her... With
half the people I know having concerns about my sanity, the last thing I
need is the other half questioning my sexuality. Might be metro but most
definitely hetro... With that out of the way, lets move on to more
ingredients. Fantastic brand veggie chili mix and black beans. I went
around the corner from my house for these shots... Me, my grocery bag full
of props and an open beer in the front yard of St. Francis Assisi. This
chili mix is really only good if you add meat but we will arrive at that
later. Ain't she pretty? I spent half of my beer trying to balance her
for this shot. She was actually falling forward when this snapped.




Now the spice group. These are all very welcome members to the chili family
melee. These components combined with all of the above will have your
Tupperware full. Lunches all week!!! I will go over how much of what at
some point. I actually think this picture could be my entry into
commercial photography....but then again, we all know Casey's view on that
matter.




I knew I was forgetting something.... The ground turkey meat... yes I know
the chili mix is veggie but the meat soaks in the flavor famously. I needed
to go across the street to Big Chicken (Giant Eagle) for more supplies. For
this I needed the validation of Jennie from the block. Quick enlistment
call and she agrees to meet me and Barbie and at the store. Lets go find us
some bird meat.



Nope...wrong stuff girlie... and if you are thinking what I'm thinking...
Yup, you are...





In the same frame of thought we decided that a little plastic someone (not
Jennie) needed to be safe. We actually approached the girl in the
background for a photo and she nervously declined claiming lack of English
skills. Was it the beer on my breath when I tried to explain what the
picture was for?... It may have also been because Jennie was still standing
there, condoms in hand, when I asked.



I always forget just how skinny I am until I see a picture of myself like
this. Uggg... I better make a ton of chili...get some meat on these here
bones. I've always been thin... My daughter even says I look like a giant
teenager. I didn't have her this weekend.




We were spotted by the deli guy who immediately wanted in on the action. He
said he also has a myspace account and would check this out some time.
This is getting out of hand now... I was going to try to talk him into
putting her into the display case with the meat but didn't. At this point,
shoppers and employees alike were starting to take notice of the spectacle.




Back home it is.... You need to cook the ground turkey with some of the red
onions in a separate pan. Just cook it until it browns a bit.... Drain the
juices then put it to the side (covered).





You then need to add the following into a large pot. 5 cups of water, 2
boxes of Fantastic brand chili mix, 1 can black beans, 1 can Ro-tel diced
tomatoes, 1 can white corn and 2 table spoons of minced garlic. Add
crushed red pepper, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon to taste as the pot cooks on low for the next few hours... Pour beer into it if you'd like also.   

Reheat and serve as much as you'd like... I like juice with chili (don't
ask)....sorry, out of proper napkins... Paper towels will have to suffice...
Perpetual bachelor here...



Enjoy and behave... Cheers!!

Casey

Well... I started drinking coffee again. I usually only have 1 can of red bull in the morning on my way into the office. Coffee is a funny thing... the smell and taste reminds me of sitting in a jiffy lube waiting for my car to get serviced. Coffee also reminds me of that old sitcom "Barney Miller" or some other random New York cop show. nothing cultured...something dirty. I'm not sure what the allure is... is it the social aspect? I just never understood what other value besides the wake up factor it holds. My coffee is cold now.



Today is Friday. I really need to call some people and get back out into the world. That sweet little shoebox I inhabit is starting to feel smaller than usual. I don't even watch TV anymore... well I do watch Fox and Friends in the morning while getting ready. I know, I know but I have to see Kiran Chetry (quite possibly the most beautiful woman on the planet). Didn't see her today. For some reason this morning I had both my keys and my cell phone in my hands while standing there trying to put my socks on. My balance shifted forward and I had to drop all three to catch myself on the coffee table. I sat down, amazed at my attempt, and had a cigarette after that.



Tonight I feel like going somewhere different. My second Living room up the street is just not the same these days. I can't do too much since I have Abigail tomorrow, but would like to do something. Grandview might be a plan. I just hate driving through there after I've even looked at a beer... those cops might as well be sitting in the pub with you taking count. I could always try the Arena District. That place is cheesy as all get out, but sometimes I need it. Dressing up and mixing in at one of those places is really fun sometimes. People try to talk golf and exchange business cards with me... I hate golf talk and usually just sit there with my patented blank stare. It's also fun to take their business card and give it to the next person you talk to.... I wonder how many confusing emails have been sent as a result of this. I usually just head out by myself. I like to travel light and usually know a few people in just about every place I go. That's kind of the fun thing about having grown up central... and having gone to four different High Schools around here doesn't hurt either.



It's going to be gloomy this weekend weather wise. I think I can counteract it with some of urban fun tonight, and a big dose of Abigail mayhem on Saturday.

And you, my fair weather friend... are still looking. 

Casey

My city... in the middle of the country. I have some people from both coasts in my brain... I wonder what they think of us... are we too common?  simpletons that they blame for elections and ufo sightings?  I could only hope aliens would descend on me at this point... I would happily go... but they would need my salary history in order to fit me into their caste system...

This is when the bad usually comes to me... out of nowhere.. and I feel like I am nowhere right now.  So don't expect my usual fun stuff.  stupid...yes...fun... no  I'm back to square one right now.  I was at square two for a bit... or so I thought... It's funny how quickly information travels these days... so now I'm back to square one.    I spent the last two days by myself... I needed it.   I've been sitting on my back porch smoking about 2 to 3 packs each day.  My back porch is beautiful.... like a little treehouse.  It looks like it could fall down at any moment, but that only serves to dare me.  I always accept the challenge...

What if it did fall?   who would know?... well the first ones I can be sure of are the fucking bums that patrol the alley in search of aluminum cans and other goodies.  I got there first the other day and got this really cool art book out of the dumpster.  A girl that moved out of my building threw it away.  She was pretty but the kind of pretty you know will fall into disrepair quickly as she ages.  You can see what people are going to look like when they get older once you've seen enough of them... I wasn't able to do it until a few years ago. 

She was very close to her mother and they both had that almost moustache.  There was never a man in sight and to me that speaks volumes about a family... They must have chased the bastards away.   Her mother looked at me as if I were the devil.

 

I helped her move a couch into her place a year ago and her mother said something terrible to me after... something about her guessing i'd never been on a football team in high school... I think she meant to say that I was not manly and not corn fed enough for her little girl.... she knew I was a different animal.  That scares people.  I was just helping her with the couch so I could get up the stairs to my place. 

Thats how evil people are... and why I seem to feel better when they aren't around.

This is the view from my back porch...

I looked at this all day and convinced myself that if it were an ocean and beach I would be no better off.   It would just smell and sound different.  Besides... I like the drama of squirrels and birds fighting over the mullberries that grow on the tree you are looking at... there are parties in the back of these houses all of the time... cookouts.  Never been to one.... 

We were out on the back porch and had company for a bit the other night.  Abigail dashed in to get her telescope I bought her for christmas... I thought she forgot about that thing..... the stars were bright.

I probably could have helped her at this point but decided on the picture first.  My girly.

Nothing spectacular for now

Casey