2008 In a Nutshell

The last day of the year. Nothing GREAT happened to me. I didn't travel to new destinations nor even to old destinations. I found out that some "friends" don't think too much of me and knowing that I realize I don't care too much for them.

"No man is an island but some are often a low lying peninsula." Brian K Raynor

I reached the highest weight of my life thus far. My brother in law had a heart attack and that whole situation is making me nuts. I got no pay raises nor promotions and I didn't win the lottery. I used up some vacation days 12/25-12/30. Slept wayyy too much and watched lotsa tv. It's 8pm and I just clocked out 15 minutes ago from work. In hindsight I'd rather have skipped 2008 all together.

Days Off

I took yesterday and the day before off - trying to use up vacation time. Well, let me just say,...it was no vacation. I spent Monday working on a family home project. Moved a Craftmatic bed from one room to another by myself. That night I was telling RWB about moving the bed and she says, "You shoulda' hollered."
"Oh I did some hollerin'," I replied. Hollerin' and trying not to cuss. My back has been hollerin' ever since Monday!

Tuesday I tried to do some Christmas shopping. I love Christmas but I'd prefer to have a wife or personal shopper to do all that picking, choosing and buying for me. So far I'm about $400 in the hole and not even close to finished. Nor am I happy with what I've bought. Last year my friend Melonie gave me permission to do what I've thought is a great idea for a long time for her and her family. Give to a charitable organization in their name. Last year I gave to World Vision in their names. I wish more people I know would give that consideration. Most of my friends and overall most of my family overall get what they want or need all during the year. Anyway,... it would make shopping much easier and MORE MEANINGFUL!

Christmas Tree

It's been a few years since I've put a tree up for Christmas. No little one's at my house to enjoy it. I don't usually have holiday get-to-gethers at my house but this year my family will probably be coming to my house for Christmas. So, Sunday I got my Christmas tree out of the attic. 6 feet and scraggly. Brought the decorations down as well. Realized I had no lights for it. So last night I stopped at Wal-Mart & picked up a couple strings of white lights. Put the lights and ornaments on and now "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". Humbly compared to many and not nearly as decorative as Christmas' past at my sister's house. She died a few years ago. So I'm trying to hold our family together with some semblance of our previous holidays. Now I must begin my search for gifts,...

Northerner in the South

"Let Go or Go Back" Brian K Raynor
2008

This guy from NYC is always referring to the way things are done on "the island" and how we just don't do things in the efficient manner they do up there. It's bad enough that he can respond to a "yes" or "no" question with a fifteen minute monolouge that usually is unrelated to the question and often doesn't even answer the question but then he brings the NORTH vs SOUTH aspect into it! Drives me nuts!
Today I responded with, "You need to Let Go or Go Back".
He was perplexed.
"What?"
"You're not on 'the Island' anymore so you need to let it go or go back up there!" If NYC was so great then why would he leave that "paradise" for lowly, old Charlotte? I feel that way about any part of this country or any other. I'm not going to move to NY or CA or or to Germany and blather on about how much better it is from where I came. If I moved to Hull, Beviers, Timbuktu or Slovinia I'd like it or lump or get the Heck outa there!

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

Saw a hilarious, dark comedy Monday night: "Lars and the Real Girl". ***** I LOL so many times - Sometimes due to the absurdity of the situations. Nancy Oliver,...If only I could write something that brilliant!

Ho Ho Hum Bug!!

Spent the 1st day of December stressing at work (End of Month) while listening to Christmas music on pandora.com. Someone asked me if I have all my Christmas shopping done yet. "No" and the Christmas music didn't get me in the Spirit to start either. I just got over a 4 day Turkey & Carbohydrate coma and am not in a healthy state of mind or otherwise to be out shopping for Christmas. I may be as fat as Santa but not quite as jolly yet.

Writing

It's easy to BLOG but so hard to write. How many scripts, short stories, songs and books do I have unfinished? Too many to count. The few things I have finished are no better off than the things unfinished as they all wait in boxes in closets as Psocid feast on the pages of my creative genius.

MANHATTAN

I watched the movie "Manhattan" when I was a film student. Recently someone mentioned they'd rented the DVD and I thought I'd give it a revisit so I added it to my Netflix queue. Wednesday night I tried to watch it but fell asleep not even half way through it. I used to like Woody Allen. And I don't remember disliking "Manhattan" but for the life of me the movie could not hold my attention. And Woody Allen just seemed like a neurotic perv.

To Hell In A Hand Basket

When did the world become so depraved that search engines burn to locate nude photos of Angelina Jolie or Brittany Spears crotch shots or to find pics of Brad Pitt's tattoos? I guess with the invention of Search Engines the freaky obsessions of modern man have been revealed. How long has the world been obsessed with VIP pornography and celebrity smut? I get so tired of hearing about who's sleeping with who and who has a bastard baby bump and all the other Hollywood crap like that. If people stopped bothering with keeping up with it all would the celebrities chill out with their raunchy behavior? Probably not. The world's going to Hell in a hand basket and probably has been for centuries.

"Chocolate Daydreamer" by Brian K Raynor

"Chocolate Daydreamer" was the 1st painting I sold this year (2008)at the Rockabilly BBQ. It's small, acrylic on canvas board. A chocolate goddess bought it.

EASTERN PROMISES

I watched "Eastern Promises" Sunday afternoon. A guesome, thriller! Russian mob family in London. I don't care so much for the gruesome BUT this film is a must see if you like suspense/thrillers.

Rocket Science

I watched "Rocket Science" the other night on DVD. A funny coming of age sort of flick. Love the SOUNDTRACK. What is my own coming of age story? Need to think about that and get back to you. Might be titled "Leaving Orange County". Probably less a comedy and more a tragedy. Maybe a dark comedy. My soundtrack would include some Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Morrisey, Beruit, Elvis, Slim Whitman , Reverend Horton Heat and The Cure.

ELECTION DAY

I voted this morning just before 8 am. I was #143 at my polling station. No line - no wait. I'm a Republican and I vote Republican but no matter who wins this election we are and should remain patriots to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I've heard democrats make outrageous comments that they may move to Canada if Obama does NOT win. I've heard Republicans say that if McCain loses there will be another civil war. I love this COUNTRY and the beliefs on which it was founded. If your candidate loses, don't lose faith in America or bring turmoil to the citizens. We need to remain UNITED and work together for the good of these GREAT United States of America.
I'm Brian K Raynor and I approved this message.

The Thirsty Beaver

The Thirsty Beaver is a cool, new honkytonk on Central Avenue in Charlotte. Selection in the Jukebox is close to excellent. Had a good time at The Thirsty Beaver Saloon Friday night. Bo Stevens played. About 80 percent of the patrons were in costume. I was not. About 95 were drunk or on their way to drunk. I was not. Met a couple from Raleigh and a cutie named Megan dressed as Frida Kahlo. Mike & Chelly, Christian, Katy, Dee & Tommy Ray, Chris & Carla, Dave, Jenny (from the Penquin) and some rockabilly people originally from WV (?) were all there. Left at about 1:45am but the crowd was still partying.

Happy Halloween

No plans to trick or to treat tonight. I might make it to the THIRSTY BEAVER to hear Bo Stevens play. Missed my only Halloween Costume Party invite. Today Lisa & I wore our goofy teeth to work. Sexy!! As dressed up as I'll be this Halloween.


Last year I dressed as a vampire. That was a pretty good costume.
The year before I was a dead golfer. Appears that a golf ball to the eye is what killed me. I don't have pics from that party. Perhaps I'll find some out there somewhere.


In 2005 I was a severely sunburned Nascar fan. Jimmy Johnson ballcap and t-shirt, carrying a cooler of beer. Not a good pic taken but people did not recognize me.

JUST SHUT UP

Never miss a good opportunity to just shut up! How long has it been since I've had my foot in my mouth? Or was embarrassed over my babbling after a social situation with friends, acquaintances or strangers? Not long enough but I think I'm doing better.
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Abraham Lincoln
16th president of US (1809 - 1865)
Sometimes I play over in my head things I've said and I wish I could destroy the memory from anyone who heard it! But you can't do that. It's like looking through someone elses photo album and seeing a snapshot of yourself with a goofy haircut or a dumb look on your face and you can't take it out.

One Piece at A Time

I took it ONE PEICE AT A TIME AND IT DIDN'T COST ME A DIME but it sure cost me some time. I guess in the 18 months in our new building at work I've not had to sit down to use the toilet. Today I did & I found out that the toilet paper dispenser (apparently built by Fort Knox) doesn't like to give up the tissue. No matter how I pulled it broke off one piece at a time- turning a 2 minute job into 15 minutes. Luckily no one else was in there because the racket I was making with the dispenser combined with my mumbled narrative was not good!

"No Country For Old Men"

I watched "No Country For Old Men" the other night. It was a great movie up until the point where Llewelyn Moss meets the woman with beer at the hotel. It lost my interest once the movie went in the direction that it did. I know that it was Sheriff Bell's story but I connected more with Llewelyn. Real Life is random enough with drive by shootings and heart attacks and car accidents. I want my movies to have a bit less randomness to them.

A SIMPLE PLAN

Last night I finished watching a really good movie on DVD, "A Simple Plan". Excellent!! I started it the other night but got a phone call and paused it. I started it again last night and Doug, Amy & Jacob stopped by. So I paused it again until they left. Suspenceful to the very end!

Fat Man Returns

Fat Man is eating CANDY because it runs rampant on the evil desk across from which he sits. It makes him miserable because once he starts he cannot stop. He just slows it down a little. Fat Man is really making a come back!

"LIVE WEEKEND"

"LIVE WEEKEND" was basically like "Vacation Bible School" for adults. Several men and women from churches in PA & TN came and held small group discussions. An attempt at building bonds within our congregation and reviving us as a spiritual body. I went to the evening meetings Fri & Sat. I skipped the "coffee" and lunches on Saturday. Made it to Sunday service and even sang a solo.

TGIF

Friday!!!! Couldn't get here soon enough! Even with being off Monday it has been a long week. Thought I might be going out to Rodi's in Gastonia tonight but I've obligated myself to be at church tonight & tomorrow night & Sunday night! Something called "LIVE Weekend". Not sure what it is. The church hasn't really been clear about what it is. When I've asked other people about it they don't seem to know much more than I do.

"ERIK" by Brian K Raynor

I'm not really happy with "ERIK". I may add some touch ups to him at some point if I don't sell him before. I basically tried to copy Sam Morrison's style (very cool stuff!) that I first saw on FLICKR.COM. "ERIK" is one of three paintings with a piratey theme.

GHOST TOWN IN THE SKY

Friday evening Doug, Amy, their son Jacob and I headed out to Maggie Valley, NC for our camping trip. Doug hauled his pop-up Apache camper that he refurbished this past summer. Michael, Lisa and their baby Chloe and Michael's other two children Brittany and David followed us hauling Michael's pop-up camper. We met up with Charles and Darlene and their daughter's Elizabeth and Hannah. They came up the night before and were staying in a cabin at campground destination- Stone Bridge.


Doug's cousins Eric and Robert came up from GA. Eric, Kristi and their daughters Kayla and Erica were there when we arrived; as were Robert and Marya and their 3 sons Tyler, Collin and Evan. The GA cousins were in two huge tents.


We got settled and built a campfire. Roasted marshmellows and made smores. Sleeping in the camper was COLD!! My sleeping bag kept my body warm but my face was so cold all night long.

Saturday morning we built a campfire. Doug and Michael cooked breakfast (bacon, eggs and sausage) for everyone. This was done with electric gridddles (a bit more high tech than a skillet & campfire).

Later in the morning we went into town -Waynesville, to a Kmart looking for whatever whoever needed. That's where we ran into a pathetic family of INBREDS. The Queen of the bunch was a 15 year old (?) pregnant girl hobbling along with a cast on her leg, sporting a Prince Valiant haircut gone bad, wearing a belly exposing t-shirt sloganed "DADDY'S GIRL". The grandma, and sister and brother followed her throughout the store. I assume she was the one with the welfare money. "Shut up! Shut up! I'm gonna buy me a telephone! Shut Up!" she was yelling at the check out line. And they all shut up and followed her.

We drove up the blueridge parkway and walked up a trail. Beautiful country! Everyone seems too impatient to just stop and take in the beauty along the way.
Lisa was freaked out by what she thought was a snake on the way down.


Had lunch at Ammons. Back at the campsite in the afternoon- Wesley and Sara had arrived,... horse shoes and other games were played and we walked the kids over to a branch to hop along rocks in the stream. Grilled burgers for supper. Campfire ghost tails and toasting marshmellows. Not as cold that night. It was the sound of snoring that kept me awake!

Sunday we started to break camp. Went to breakfast at Joey's Pancake House. The place was packed but the service was quick. Food was good. We went back to the campsite to finish packing.

The GA cousins headed back to GA and the rest of us headed to GHOST TOWN In the Sky. (A trip to GHOST TOWN was the only family vacation we ever took when I was a wee wee lad. Oddly enough most of my family that went on that trip are all... ghost now.) Anyway we took the chairlift up - David rode with me up and Jacob rode with me down. That rides a little scarey if you consider how easily a kid could just slip out of the seat. So I tried not to think about it.

We went immediately to the few amusement park rides. Some rides aren't available yet. "Awaiting State Approval". I rode a few things that spin ya around (The Dreamcatcher and the Undertaker) and felt sick. I skipped the GunSlinger Swings because I knew one more spin and I'd be blowin' chunks. I liked the Geronimo Drop Tower that shoots you up - like the BIG SHOT @ the Stratosphere in Las Vegas.

We went to the Ghost Town and watched part of the "Can Can Girls" show and then a GUN FIGHT in the street. Bought a t-shirt and a couple "cowboy" cds from a gift shop. Overall a nice trip. Got a complimentry pass to come back. I guess it was 4 or later before we headed home. Playing Roadside Bingo.

"Frankenstein's Monster In Love" by Brian K. Raynor

First Day of October,... only fitting that I start this Month of Ghouls with a painting of "Frankenstein's Monster In Love". Sold this year at the rockabilly BBQ.

Ukulebilly??!!!

Saturday night I went out to Puckett's Farm Eqipment to hear Mad Tea Party open for Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics. I've heard Mad Tea Party before and was not unimpressed then,...but Saturday her vocals were up way too loud. That's not a good thing. I had to stand outside for most of their show to keep my ears from bleeding. Loud, High Pitched & Nasally,... not a good combination. Sorry MTP but I think Old dogs, miles away, were probablly howling in pain.
Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics did a couple songs I haven't heard them do before. ABOUT TIME!
A couple swing dancers hit he floor once or twice or thrice.
I left with my clothes wreaking of cigarette smoke. But a drive home at 2am from Puckett's without that lingering stinch just wouldn't be the same!

Myspace U SUCK!!

"Blue Angel" and "Woman With Bowl" by Brian K. Raynor. These TWO images were deleted from Myspace for being offensive!!!! ? Who would report this as VULGAR???!!! There are photos of REAL men and women on Myspace being MORE sexually explicit with their clothes on than these PAINTINGS!!!!!

"Contentment of Fury" by Brian K. Raynor

I painted "Contentment of Fury" several years ago. Still haven't sold it. Although a couple angry and/or bitter women have enquired about it.

"No. 13" by Brian K. Raynor

"No. 13" was sold to Mike (Grease Monkey) & Chellie from Concord, NC. They bought it and a few others at the Rockabilly BBQ. Met them in 2007 at the BBQ and run into them from time to time at Pucketts Farm Equipment or downtown Concord.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

The FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN began this morning. After the day I've had at work I'm wondering if there's not a bloody FULL MOON inducing the chaotic atmosphere. Very busy and short handed!! I spoke to Autumn in NY earlier today. She was heading into work.

"Pirated Booty" by Brian K. Raynor

Shiver me timbers!!! Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day!! Therefore me Mateys I'm posting this painting I did ARRRR of a sailing wench that makes me billows roll! AC bought "Pirated Booty".

"TV Tiki" by Brian K. Raynor

ToddV has a series of tiki paintings that look like this. In fact I own one of his tiki paintings. This is my attempt at copying his style.

Don't Wasabi & Drive

I picked up some Royal Orchid brand Roasted Wasabi Peas yesterday evening to munch on my way home. So i'm driving along and AC calls. She's was telling me about her apartment ordeal and things going on at her job. At a stoplight I popped a few wasabi peas in my mouth and BAM!!! It was like acid driving through my brain! I moaned and tried not to black out. "What's wrong?" , AC asked. "Wasabi peas! I thought I might black out." She laughed. I've had Wasabi peas before and have tried Pepper Palace Nasal Napalm but YOWLCH that was some powerful WASABI!!!

"Pretty In Pink" by Brian K. Raynor

"Pretty In Pink" was an attempt at painting a 50's Pin-Up style nude. Didn't want it to be too racey. Sold it at the Rockabilly BBQ 2008. The hotty that bought it said she'd be hanging it in her bathroom. Appropriate.

Quiet Drive

On my 45 minute drive into work this morning I decided not to listen to the usual radio ("Bob & Sherri", "John Boy & Billy", "Bob & Tom") nor CDs (here lately Reverend Horton Heat). Just time to think quietly. Nothing profound popped out of my brain. I did try to remember the last book I read all the way through. I decided it was American Gods. That was perhaps 3 years ago. I have tried to get through a few books since then but just couldn't get into them. I know that I've allowed tv to occupy too much of my time. Sadly, I don't see myself doing anything about that anytime soon. :(

"Jungle Tiki" by Brian K. Raynor

I painted "Jungle Tiki" a couple years ago. Maybe 2006. Sold it to a guy from Kannapolis, NC.

Wild Turkey Sleep Over

Yesterday evening as I was heading out the door for church I was greeted by 8 WILD TURKEYS at my car. I had just woken up from a nap and thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I went back in & got my camera. For wild birds they were pretty tame. I herded them around and into the old dog pen. Fed them some corn and then I went on to church. After service Doug, Amy, Jacob and Charles, Darlene, Elizabeth & Hannah and Frank & Barbara came by to see the birds. Only one was left in the pen! So I let it out and it wandered around searching for it's fellow gobblers before fluttering it's way to the roof of my house where it spent the night. I could hear the other gobblers were up on the wooded hill behind my house- not nearly as safe from vermon as the WILD TURKEY that slept over my house Sunday night!

"Rockabilly Red" by Brian K. Raynor

Sold "Rockabilly Red" to Mark Rosen of Charlotte, NC in 2007. Painted it in 2006.

"Nothings Quite As Pretty As Mary In The EVENING..."

Last night I went to Rodi's in Gastonia. Mary ("MSM"), from VA called me. I guess she was my early teen crush. Hadn't spoken to her in a long time. It's been a few years since I last saw her when she was in Charlotte, NC at some seminar. Last night she called to let me know her grandmother died. She's been through alot over the past several years. We talked a long time. Reminiscing about places and people in Gordonsville, VA. That time in my life seems like a movie I watched when I was half asleep... I know I saw it but the details are fuzzy and don't even ask me about the plot!

"Scorn" by Brian K. Raynor

Scorn was painted specifically to hang in On Common Grounds (coffee house). Wilma the owner had the store front window area and lighting remodeled or whatever. She wanted a big painting to hang near the new window to catch passerbys attention on Union St. So I did "Scorn". Regardless of the title I figured the hand up implied STOP.

"Drinking & Bowling" by Brian K. Raynor

"Drinking & Bowling" is another painting I did specifically for the Rockabilly BBQ. Painted in 2005 or 2006? Oddly enough it hasn't sold yet. I did have it for sale at Open Door General Store in Concord. Now it's back at my house. I don't mind. It's one of my favorites.

"A Rooster" by Brian K. Raynor

"A Rooster" is one of the most realistic paintings I've done so far. It used to hang in On Common Grounds (coffee house) until they closed. I remember some kooky, hippie chick asking me, "What were you thinking when you painted this?" I laughed to myself. I wasn't thinking in terms of synbolism or whatever her half baked brain was wondering, I was trying to make the feathers look like feathers!!! It's "A Rooster", not "The Soul of Modern Man"!!! Anyway I sold this one to Jason. He's the bass player in the band Aqualads. Surf Music.

Wasted Days & Wasted Nights

Another crappy weekend over and out of the way. Thought I might make it up to VA for a family reunion of sorts. The hurricane weather missed us here and was moving over VA, so I decided to stay home. Waited around for a friend to call to go hit some golf balls but that never happened. So after wasting the day running around doing nothing I stayed in to do even more nothing!!! Chinese take-out from Dragon Palace (mmm, crab rangoons)and a bottle of wine and it didn't matter anyway. When it comes to alcohol I'm a real lightweight. Autumn in NY called me and I tried to conceal my mental state. I was very talkative and opinionated. Made it to a.m. church service Sunday. Sermon about marriage. NEVER about being single!!! If you're not married you don't seem to matter. You know JESUS CHRIST himself was single!!!! Maybe that's why sermons are not geared toward singles (We're already living so much like Christ).

"Metamorphatality" by Brian K. Raynor

This is a small painting I did after my 1st visit to Vegas to the VIVA LAS VEGAS ROCKABILLY WEEKEND. There were some busty vixens there with hair accessories that were butterfly wings centered with a skull. Autumn Carver bought this painting at the 2008 Rockabilly BBQ in Charlotte.

sexual innuendos

Was on the phone with AC and surfing the www when the computer started slowing down. When it seems to be stuck on a page I have a habit of tapping the mouse on the pad. So I'm rattling the mouse and she asks, "What's that noise?" "Oh, I'm just banging the mouse." It went down hill from there. "Banging the Mouse",... it might catch on. BUT I don't want to be accused of it!!!

"Black Cat Strut" by Brian K. Raynor

I painted and sold this one in 2006. Cindy from Charlotte, NC bought it.
Last night I thought I might get a new painting started but there is just so much nothing on tv to watch.

Labor Day

Long Weekend was a real LONG bore. I was determined to do something constructive or memorable but that didn't happen.
Friday I spent the evening in watching tv (flipping channels).
Saturday I managed to take an hour walk uptown and back. Ran into Scott Mills. He was out running. Scott was a Marine and is preparing to run a marathon in OH. His wife, Bethany, was home growing their baby and taking care of their son, Corban.
Saturday night I went out hoping a band was playing somewhere (Creative Loafing didn't offer much hope). All I found in the NoDa district of Charlotte was hippie crap. On my way home there looked to be 3 cars at Puckett's so I did't even stop. Ended the night with Chinese take-out and a rerun of SNL.
Sunday I went to a.m. service and had lunch at the Concord Hotel. Their Sunday lunch is catered by Plain or Fancy Catering. Real Good! Sunday night got together at Michael & Lisa's with Doug and Amy, Charles and Darlene and their kids. Pictures were brought out from a get together in April and July and I was thoroughly disgusted at pictures of myself. How many chins does one man need?
I watched a good movie on DVD yesterday; "Four Brothers". Guns, violence and profanity - a real feel good movie.

"Spaced Out" by Brian K. Raynor

More artwork by Brian K. Raynor! "Spaced Out" has not been sold as of yet. I've tried to sell it but I'm really not 100% ready to see it go.

No More Overtime

Finishing up a fairly depressing day at work. I ate cake hoping it would at least get me a sugar rush,... but nothing. "No more overtime!!" Hey, how am I to pay for my new KIA? New car and nowhere to go. No plans for Labor Day. No friends inviting me to cook out or hang out or go out. Screw them all. Second fiddle to last place. I think that's what makes me depressed. Maybe I need to move away. Go where no one knows me so I won't be offended that no one stops by to see me or invite me over or whatever. Maybe I'll go back to college. I heard NYU is fairly easy to get into. Easy to get lost in NYC.

"The Leopard Lounge" by Brian K. Raynor

"The Leopard Lounge" is a painting I did for Jill O'Neill, a Music Prof at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. She puts on an annual recital of sorts with the help of music students and some local band members, such as, Truckstop Preachers, Jem Crossland,...

"Andy's Green Kitten" by Brian K Raynor

This is a painting I sold to a cutie from Charlotte, NC. It's called "Andy's Green Kitten". Stylized in the likeness of Andy Warhol's Green Cat from the 50's. I'm allergic to cats so I'm not going to have a real cat roaming around as a live model. Andy didn't paint his from real "cat models" but from Walter Chandoha's photographic images.

Tremont Music Hall

8/23/08 Tremont Music Hall - Charlotte, NC : Fans of Rockabilly, where were you? I saw Kim & Jarod,... Christain squared was there, Jason & Gwyn came all the way from Saluda, Lauren and Sherry were there to support Jem and Chipps, Dee and Carla were there to support Tommy and Chris, Mark & Robin were there. Autumn made her way over, Alice came up from Rock Hill, SC (?) and she brought Alan all the way from France...via Huntersville. Gabby & Rick and Johnny & Leah were there. Hickry Hawkins even staggered in for the shows. BUT the point is that the place should have been packed with Rockabilly Fans, not the mere <100 folks that were there. Tommy & the RayGuns started us off. Their best song of the night was "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town". They're really evolving into their sound.
Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics followed. Every show when Jem belts out the last note of "Crying" the crowd always goes wild with applause. The night ended after The Belmont Playboys dished out a big serving of rockabilly whup up on the crowd. And YOU MISSED IT!!! Thanks to StillNotDead.com and Tremont Music Hall for a good time had by all!

N Myrtle Beach

Went to Myrtle Beach, SC this past weekend with Jem, Lauren & Autumn. Stayed at the Apache Campground in N Myrtle. It's a nice place. Autumn's grandfather has a mobile home there. Had a good time. We got there Friday evening after Autumn took a wrong turn... the scenic route... with no gas stations in sight. Jem was on his motorcycle and was afraid he'd run out of fuel before we found a station. We had dinner on the pier at Apache. It is the longest pier on the East coast. Watched fireworks going off. Saturday we went to the beach for some sun and later to "tut" shops at Broadway at the Beach. Had dinner at Nakato's Japanese Steakhouse. I don't like Japanese steakhouses because I don't eat rice nor noodles so I usually am still hungry when I leave. And i was Saturday night! So Saturday night we hung out at the trailor and invibed. Sunday morning I got up and went out alone to the beach. I swam a little. We had lunch at the pier, hung out on the beach and headed back toward home aound 3:30pm.

Thrift Store Find

There is a beautiful young lady that I see when I go to Value Village thrift store in Kannapolis, NC. I've only seen her twice. She's a customer. I haven't spoken to her because I'm not sure how old she is. I'd like to hope at least 18 as she did catch my eye and I'm pretty sure I caught hers. Long fair hair and porcelin skin,... just beautiful. Sounds silly but I feel sort of dizzy when when I see her.

NEW CAR

Wednesday night, the 16th, I took my "classic" but decrepit 2001 Kia Sephia to
FOLGER KIA at 5701 E Independence Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28212 to talk about trading in. My salesman was none other than a Mr. James Brown! "HEH! Hit me" He was a pretty cool guy fom NY. I liked my 2001 Kia, so I can't say for sure that Folger Kia "sold me" as much as I just had to replace the battered "classic". Anyway, I ended up buying a 2008 Kia Spectra. I wanted grey, silver or blue but it's black. Not a great deal of amenities but AC was my main focus and a good price. And I got that. My previous Kia was a dependable, fuel efficient vehicle. I think this Spectra will be the same. FOLGER KIA (704) 569-3300 or (888) 247-0384. Stop by and see James Brown and tell him Brian K. Raynor sent you. "See ya, ...at Folger Kia".

grass

Last years drought has made me lazier than ever when it comes to mowing the grass. The rain (almost every evening) this month has my weeds growing like ... weeds. I live on a hill and that's the part that puts me off. Pushing a mower up the hill or stirring up a mess with the weedeater. There are grass shoots almost waist high, so I can't put it off any longer. Tomorrow I may take a half day off to tend to it.

"Lady" by Brian K. Raynor

"Lady", sold to Allison & Shannon at the Rockabilly BBQ. Ran into them last night at Wal-Mart. It's either Wal-Mart or Wanda's Thrift store in Concord that our paths cross. Allison sells vintage clothes, etc. Shannon is a musician. He plays harmonica.

The 4th of July

The 4th of July was not a blast. It mostly fizzled. Went to a cook-out with the usual group of friends: Mike, Lisa & Chloe; Doug, Amy & Jacob; Melonie, Craig & Odin; Charles, Darlene, Elizabeth & Hannah; Scott, Bethany & Corban; Carol; Autumn; and Mark (aka X) & Taffey. If there was anyone else there,... I forget. Fired off some fire works in the rain as we sat under the carport breathing in the sulphuric smoke. People ate and talked and children played and whined. I wasn't really engaged in any of the conversation nor the fireworks. I did my share of eating! I wasted most of that weekend doing nothing,... My way of celebrating our INDEPENDENCE. Freedom to be a lazy, good for nothing.

Car Accident

In May I had the back bumper of my "2001 CLASSIC KIA SEPHIA " (Mad TV had a skit about that car) repaired after being rearended at a stoplight. Last evening.... I got rearended again. Same situation, at a stop light, light turns green-WHAM! This one hit me so hard it knocked my sunglasses off my face and I didn't even feel my car apparently hit the car in front of me. There may be an invisable sign on that car that says "HIT ME". Since 2001 it has been hit at least 6 times. I think I need a job, closer to home, so close that I could simply walk to work. A job closer to home or a personal helicopter to get me to and from work. There's no good mass transit system between my house and work.

weekends

URRR! I hate having to work on Saturdays. I rarely work more than 1 per month but I still HATE IT!!! Tomorrow is my Saturday to work and this has been a stressful week anyway. I remember when "weekends off" was the only thing about my job that I liked. Those were the days.

List #1

In the MOVIES

Another Friday is here! The weekend is just minutes away. No plans and that's okay. Sometimes I like to just stay home. Last Friday I took a trip to the Black Cat Burrito in Boone, NC after work. The drummer for Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics wanted me and my ex to ride with him to the show so he could drink and chill on the way home. That's 2 hours up and 2 hours back. That was a LLOOOONNNGG night. Got home @ 4am Saturday. Don't want to repeat that!
Found out this morning that I'm in the background scene of a documentary film,
"Hot Rods, Rat Rods & Kustom Kulture: Back From The Dead: The Complete Build". Wish they could've come up with a longer name for it. Apparently, the scene was shot one year when I was at VIVA LAS VEGAS ROCKABILLY WEEKENDER. I'm wearing Elvis shades and although I haven't seen the film, I was told that I look lost. Go figure! I'll have to see if I can find it at my local Best Buy or Wal-Mart. Autograph seekers and paparazzi please give some time and distance to adjust to my new found fame.

Vacation to Nowhere

I took the week of June 1-7 off from work (week 1 of 4 vacation time) . With the price of gas so high and my hourly wage not rising with "cost of living" I stayed at home. I mean, I really stayed at home. It was sooo hot and humid all week that it almost took my breath away anytime I opened the front door. So, I watched more daytime tv than I have in years. Jerry Springer, Maurey Povich, all the court tv... the world is going to HELL IN A HANDBASKET!
I did manage to finish up 13 new paintings for the Rockabilly BBQ. I sold 20 or 21! That was a good thing! If I could do that once a week or two I'd be on permanent vacation.

"Memorializing"

There was not much memorializing this Memorial Day Weekend. At church Sunday morning we were to observe a moment of silence but then it wasn't silent as the piano player played for that 3 seconds in honor of lost Veterans. In our congregation I know there is at least one woman who lost a husband in Vietnnam but in all the years I've attended I can't say that her loss has ever been acknowledged.
Monday I did give thought to those Americans who have sacrificed their lives in service to this Country. A thought and a prayer of thanks that was interrupted by a phone call. Shamefully, I let a phone call steal that away from me.

kids!

Had an unexpected guest for the weekend. My 7 year old neice. I can't count the number of times I heard, "I'm bored" or "You're mean". I wish when I was a kid that someone had toted me around to playgrounds and to restaurants and came up with activities to occupy my time.

rockabillybabe.com

I got an email from Rockabillybabe.com late yesterday that they have made room for me to vend at this years Rockabilly BBQ at Pucketts Farm Equipment, June 7th in Charlotte, NC. This will be my 3rd year setting up and selling my paintings at that event. So last night I tried to work on some new painting ideas specifically for th BBQ but I just couldn't get into it. So I gave up and pulled out some paintings I've done in years past and wondered why they didn't sell last year or the year before. Should I even bother bringing them to the BBQ again? So today I put in for 5 days off from work the week before the BBQ. I'm hoping I'll get some inspiration and and some new artwork done in that week.
Brian K Raynor

Where is the Passion?

I need to form an opinion on something that I am passionate about. Well, that's not the real issue,... as I am very opinionated,... . I think the real issue is that I am not passionate about anything. I am often told (sarcastically) to not get too excited when news is shared that seems to excite the bearer of said news. My reactions are minimal. Not sure if it's to keep composure or to stave Fate's plan to spoil good news that might be in my favor. Maybe most people get too invested in the mundane and turn it into more than it is.? Maybe none of the above.

I do have interest, such as writing and art and religion and music,... but where is the Passion?