The News of Liza Kate

NOVEMBER!

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Well, the even Teenier, Tinier October Tour with HOLOPAW was a huge success!

I learned a lot of T Payne lyrics, a little bit about football, had a New York slice, went buck wild with some apple pie, made Evan Dando my bff, and had, in my opinion, a scandalous photo of me posted on the internet. *

Win win!

Now that it's November, it's time for a poorly planned, irresponsible tour with more days off than on and little to no money.

Just in time for the holidays!

My tourcation starts in Durham on Friday, November 6th, thanks to the good people of The Troika Music Festival who have agreed to let me play.

Please, please come out and support live music. The full schedule is available here.

So many wonderful bands are playing like Mount Moriah, Ryan Gustafson, Megafaun, Bowerbirds, Birds and Arrows, and so, so many others.

It will be glorious.

On Saturday November 7th, I'll be playing this fella's birthday party. (I know I don't exactly give off that party vibe, but my jokes are pretty solid and I have a jaunty cap).

I'm pretty sure this isn't open to the public, but I never ever get to play "private" events, so I'm just bragging at this point.

Ned Norland's October 5th podcast, which features a sweet little in-studio recording of mine is still available for your listening enjoyment, by the way.

After a couple of days pretending to be on tour, I'll be playing in Athens, Georgia on November 9th at a place called Flicker with Chartreuse and Chris Ingham.

I haven't played in Athens in years and years and I'm so excited to have this show.

I was hoping to play a show in Asheville On November 10th, but I think that's not happening.

Another time.

November 11th will be bringing me to Bloomington, Indiana to play at the home sweet home of my dear friends Jeff and Erin on 401 S. Rogers.

Busman's Holiday and hopefully Vera Maleta will be joining me.

See you there!

November 12th - November 14th I'll be goofing off, doing nothing.

If you know of something I can do, let me know.

November 15th, I'll be at at Spike Hill. 184 & 186 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn and playing with my dear, old friends Brown Bird.

Melaena Cadiz and Big Honey Mama are playing as well!

It's set to start at 9 and I NEED to see you there.

November 16th, I'll be playing at The White Haus in Jamaica Plains, Boston with Brown Bird and the sweet sounds of South China. Anyone, apparently, can tell you how to get to this house.

And then I'm driving all the way home and preparing for yet another, less teeny tour in December with South China.

More info on that to follow.

*Almost none of those things are related, or even true, but I ordered them in that way to create a dramatic effect.

Album Reviews: Liza Kate, Atlas Sound, Iron Age, Speech Debelle, Brand New

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Album Reviews: Liza Kate, Atlas Sound, Iron Age, Speech Debelle, Brand New

Posted using ShareThis

It's all happening

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:29:00 +0000

A photo by: the life of liza.

Thanks to everyone in my world for being so amazing and supportive. Maybe I can get back to making a few pictures now.

If you live in Richmond, you can pick this baby up (for a limited time) at Shield's Market, and at Plan 9.

If you don't then sometime next month you can ask your local record store to add it to their order from Chicago Independent Distribution or you can order it yourself from Holidays For Quince Records.

I hope you like it and that I'll see you in your town this summer, fall, winter, and maybe next spring.

Tour details will be available soon.

Try to keep up now, people

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:08:00 +0000

My schedule is confusing - I'm hoping this will make it easier:

5/15/09, 1pm, WKNC 88.1 fm, NC State Radio
5/15/09, 8pm, HFQ Block Party! AND my Chapel Hill CD Release!
5/17/09, 8pm, WXYC 89.3 fm, UNC at Chapel Hill Radio
5/20/09, 7pm, WRIR 97.3 fm, ACTIVATE!, Richmond Independent Radio
5/22/09, 8pm, Richmond CD Release SHOW!!!
5/24/09, 8pm, A show at Richmond's beautiful Firehouse Theater!
6/13/09, 1pm, TRK Fest, I'll be splitting a slot with Mount Moriah
6/14/09, 8pm, WUAG 103.1 fm, UNC Greensboro Radio

There's a lot going on here.

Please, come see me or listen in. I don't do this for myself, you know.

LOVE YOU, LIZA

Media Blitz on the Liza Kate

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Hey friend(s) - just wanted to share my joy and excitement.

The internet is now featuring two (2) pages devoted to only me. And I didn't even put them there.

#1 RVA Mag. An interview where I ramble on and on and on and on.
Their new website looks sweet, too.

#2 RVA News. A downloadable live show I played at Ipanema.

I'm a big deal in RVA?

Also, I love you.

Dear The North,

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:37:00 +0000

So, Friday marks the beginning of a tiny tour with Aimee (Des Ark).

We're going to play on Friday night at a lil place called DEATH BY AUDIO in Brooklyn (49 South 2nd Street between Wythe & Kent) and we'll be playing with Little Gold and Out Like Lambs. I think it starts at 8, but that's the Myspace talking. I have no idea.

On Saturday, we're playing at CLARK PARK in Philly at sunset. Sounds dreamy.

In case of rain, though, the show will be at Beautiful World Syndicate (1619 E. Passyunk Ave in South Philadelphia) at 9pm.

I've never played a show in Philly before, so I'm looking forward to it.

On Sunday, Easter Sunday, we'll be playing in DC at a place called THE GIRL CAVE (14th and Gallatin NW WDC) at 7pm with Selfish and Little Gold.

I would love to see you.

Love, Liza

Harvest of Hope Fest

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:11:00 +0000

A photo by: dawson..

It was a long way to drive to play for such a short while, but it was worth it.

Thanks to everyone who went. You made a difference.

And clearly, I had a spectacular time, so, win win!

To the Month of March and BEYOND!

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:28:00 +0000

So, dear friends of the Internet, etc. - things have been looking up here in my teeny world and I want, again, to give you an update.

*On Sunday, March 1st, I'll be playing all by my lonesome at Ipanema.

It's the first in a collaborative series, called "LIVE at Ipanema," with RVAnews.

The show will be recorded, and then posted on here (the Internet) for the world to download!

Music begins around 10:30pm (but probably not until later than that - I mean, c'mon, this is Richmond) and the show is free!

I'm nervous because my songs tend to disappear in the din of MOST bar crowds, but we'll see. Maybe the people will be there to give a listen.

*On Friday, March 6th, I'll be playing in beautiful, romantic St. Augustine at the Harvest of Hope Fest.

(Check the HOH website for schedule info)

I'm proud to be a part of it and of my old school buddies for putting it together.

Some highlights include:
-Driving through the night with Jay, Greg and B-Dog.
-Seeing a giant mob of Gainesville friends.
-Free food!
-Being in St. Augustine and in my home state.
-Kool Keith
-KOOL KEITH!
-South of the Border in the middle of the night.
-Playing songs with my number one boo, Josh Small.

*On Wednesday, March 11th, I'll be playing on a radio show called El Radon - WDCE 90.1FM with David Shultz somewhere between 7 and 9pm.

We'll be there with Jess Barton to promote a benefit show she's putting on (and that David and I are playing) to raise money for The Breast Cancer Fund.

Jess is gonna climb a mountain and we're so excited for her!

*On Friday, March 13th, Gallery 5 is hosting the above benefit show for the BCF.
Doors open at 7pm, All Ages, $10 donation.

I'll be playing with Herschel Statego, Jonathan Vassar & the Speckled Bird, Zac Hryciak, and David Shultz and the Skyline.

*End of March sometime, there will be a private viewing of "The Builder."

(Invitations will not be hard to get, though.)

My dear friends worked long and hard to make this film and were sweet enough to give me a role.

I wouldn't say this is my first time acting, but it is, so, you know - I'm pretty excited.

It's very strange to see all the weirdo ways a face can move and jump around.

And by "strange" I mean "embarrassing," but my ego needs to take a nap anyway, so - no complaints here.

I'm very lucky to have been a part of it and I'm very, very proud for my friends.

*April = WORKWORKWORKING. Saving money. Planning, plotting, scheming. Mostly scheming.

Also, there will be romance in the air.

That's just what happens in the spring.

Nothing you can do about it.

*On May 15th-17th, Holidays For Quince is throwing a Block Party "in Chapel Hill at The Nightlight. Confirmed performers for the 3-day festival include: Screaming Females, Bellafea, Caltrop, The Curtains of Night, In the Year of the Pig, Liza Kate (CD release), Mount Moriah, and The Moaners. More bands and details TBA. "

Yeah that's right, it says "CD release." That's because on May 19th, my CD is going to be released (see below).

*May 19th, CD RELEASE DATE!

That's right friends and strangers, it's finally happening. Come to Chapel Hill and celebrate with us.

OR

Come to the Richmond CD Release show featuring bands that have yet to be named at a place and time that has yet to be determined. Watch this space for more details.

OR

Do both. Ever seen "Entourage?" Me neither, but I think I kinda want one.

SO - That should bring us up to speed.

Thanks for reading this stuff and for being around.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Your patience is, of course, a precious, shiny metal.

Always will be.

Straight Outta Denmark

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:40:00 +0000

"I really look forward to your record and I cross my fingers hoping that as a sign a quiet but very small zebra will walk close by but I also write it down somewhere just in case it does not happen. Take care."

Watch out for those zebras, Europe.

You're about to be stampeded.

SAVE THE DATE!!! and other stories

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:24:00 +0000

PART 1 (ONE): THIS WEEK ON THE LIFE OF LIZA!

*Tim and Eric. Tuesday night.

I'm not involved at all, of course, but I will be there.

*A house show. Thursday night. It's like sweet relief.

Oh! the intimacy, the long-lasting friendships, the connections, the close proximity to my own house so I can walk!!!!

I haven't played a house show in some time and I really cannot wait.

You should come.
For real:

*A photo show. Saturday night.

PJ Sykes has organized "The Best of 2008" photo show and was nice enough to invite me and one of my best!

There are going to be so many great photos up and a sweet reception on Friday that everyone is invited to.

(I actually have a photo job that evening, so I'll be there either right in the beginning or end, but you will have friends there. For sure.)

PART 2 (TWO): SAVE THE DATE!!

Or at least the month of May.

The wonderful people at Holidays for Quince have graciously accepted my bribe and are putting out my first full-length(ish) record.

"May" is the tentative date that we're shooting for, so please watch this space for release shows in both Chapel Hill (an entire weekend Holidays for Quince music/love!!) and Richmond.

The rest of the year should see me doing many more things than last year including (but not limited to):

-touring
-recording again
-paying back my forgiving friend Katy
-zero haircuts
-meeting you finally
-swimming
-iceland(?)
-a movie release!! (more on that later)
-and much, much more

Thank you everyone, for your support and friendship. Things have been a little dark around here and I appreciate you all waiting for me to wake up.

Your patience is a shiny, precious metal.

And I love you, Liza

I've missed you.

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:18:00 +0000

I really have, but I'll tell you more about that later.

For now, I have some other news:

I'm accidentally playing a tiny Richmond tour.

I really need someone else to take care of this stuff for me, because I'm really, really bad at it.

Anyway, I'm pleased to announce that I will be opening for ILAD at Capital Ale House (623 W. Main St.) on Black Friday (11/28).

It is to begin around 9:30 and I'm kind of nervous about this one, so your presence would be so very appreciated. Really, I would appreciate it very much.

Very.

Seriously.

I'm also delighted to announced that I'll be playing on Saturday (11/29) at the Camel (1621 W. Broad St.) with Jonathan Vassar and The Speckled Bird, Josh Small, and Zac Hryciak and The Jungle Beat.

That show is to begin at 8pm and I'm pretty sure they're pretty serious about that.

I would love to see you there. I need a good dose of love just as much as you do.

Love, Liza

I'm coming home.

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:20:00 +0000

A photo by: the life of liza.

Please come out if you're around!

a show

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:45:00 +0000

A photo by: the life of liza.

My friend Heather is in Bellafea. She's amazing and she rips on guitar. The whole band is endlessly talented, really.

The Awesome Few is Marshall Costan's band. He recorded/engineered my songs on the split 7" with Rachel Jacobs and has been an all around inspiration for me.

Oh, and Josh Small (of Josh Small) and Curtis Patton (of David Shultz and the Skyline) will be playing with me. A sweet cover will happen along with some new things you've never heard.

It's going to be very nice.

This is real,

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:20:00 +0000

isn't it?

I think so, but I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

"Kind of icky" comes close, though.

And to think I cried real, actual, preteen-tears when I read that Joey McIntyre wouldn't date somebody who was younger than he was.

Yeah, "icky" works.

media blitz

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:03:00 +0000

A List *Amended!

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:59:00 +0000

I have a list of things to do that should have been finished already.

Those things include: paying people back the money that I owe them (I just got a second job, so bear with me until next week, okay?), cleaning up after myself (Seriously on the list. I suck.), and emailing certain things to certain people who are waiting for me to do it. Stupid easy, of course.

You want to know what I'm doing, though? Aside from typing this and trying (sadly) to listen to "Everybody Loves Raymond" reruns happening one room over, I'm coming up with another list. *Amendment: And now I'm amending that list.

A List of Funny things to Say:

1. "I'm really good at blogging."

2. "Dunch," or "Linner." (In the case of having one more meal after breakfast in a day and it happens to fall in the late afternoon or evening. Sad.)

3. "Where's my shotgun?" *Amendment: this is only contextually funny. See below.

Example A: FRIEND #1 - "Hey friend! I'm afraid I'm going to be 5 to 8 minutes late for our coffee date. Are you mad?"

FRIEND #2 - "Where's my shotgun?"

Example B: CHILD - "Oooooh! I hear the ice cream truck!"

PARENT/GUARDIAN - "Where's my shotgun?"

(You don't even need to raise your voice or anything, because the word "shotgun" takes care of it.)

4. "Well, give me a brick." *Amendment: This isn't funny.

5. "Quit it, Pony." *Amendment: This is only funny OUT of context. There is no good example.

6. Dick Hyman. (Not classy of me, I know, but it's also not my fault.)

7. "I'm regionally famous." Only when it isn't true. If it's true, it's funnier to say "I've never been here before!" or "What do you call this region again?"

*Note: This differs from the statement "I'm regionally infamous." That's not very funny.

8. "I have a full tank." (Not the kind of full tank of gas that would cost a lot of money; the kind that would de-friend me.) *Amendment: This is only funny over the phone and I'm only guessing because I'm a lady and I don't know a thing about farting.

*Note: That amendment was funny because I made a joke about not farting so that I could say, in a round about way, that I DO actually fart and that it's weird when people pretend they don't. But I could have just left it alone and you would never have put two and two together. It's also funny (I can't stop) that I felt the need to go on so far with this. It's almost like I'm proud of passing gas. This is really funny!

9. "I'm writing a list of funny things to say." *Amendment: I couldn't stop at 8. No one does that and it's not funny to try either.

*Another Amendment: It's also not funny that I stopped at 9, but 10 was terrible. Trust me.

Doesn't anyone want to hang out with me anymore? That doesn't make the list because it makes me sad a little.

But seriously, do you want to go for a coffee or something? Note: It would probably get a chuckle if I added "Don't be late, though!" eluding to Example A. But it really isn't funny. It's probably more funny that I'm talking about it instead of leaving it as a "wink, wink" sort of thing.

I love you, Liza

Proof

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:59:00 +0000

Of the family band. You can't see him, but Curtis is pretty awesome on the lap steel.

Thanks, Anne!

new

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:42:00 +0000

Hi.
I just thought I should tell you about the three new-ish songs I've posted to the music page. (Which is really a Myspace page.)

They're all demo recordings - to give you a tiny taste of what I'll be working on this summer.

They were recorded by Grant Hunnicut, who rules, and who also wrote "Don't Know What to Do" (Dear Grant, I sure hope that's what it's called, Love Liza).

Mr. Hunnicut will also be putting out a sweet compilation this summer featuring me, Josh Hryciak, Zac Hryciak, David Shultz, Matt Morton, Mat Shelton, Hershel Mehta, The Golden Band and quite a few more whose names I cannot remember. It's pretty much going to kill you in a good way.

Seriously, Grant rules.

For recording this summer, I'll be at Minimum Wage Studios with an itty bitty handful of some of my favorites around here to record a full-length. We'll talk about who is going to put it out later. As soon as I fugure it out. Yikes.

Until then, I'll be playing here and there, I'll be taking pictures, and I'll be waiting tables.

I'm sure I'll see you, if you're around.

Summer is the new Spring Break.

Bye.

Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:49:00 +0000

Goal:

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Make commercials for myself that are as inspiring as the commercials PBS makes for itself.

I would make some people slumped on the couch on a beautiful springy day feel bad about themselves and some other people would send me donations.

Please, tell me where I went to.

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:00:00 +0000

I have some ideas about where I've disappeared to and why. The following is a short list:

1. Winter left me sad and depressed.
2. This winter was sad and depressing.
3. Sadly, I was depressed this winter.
4. I was saddened with winter depression.
5. I was depressed by the sad winter.

I have a million things to share with both of you (as I'm sure my teeny-tiny readership may have jumped off of my sorry, little, dark ship of gloom a long time ago) but I will try to keep it brief.

1. I have not smoked in 72 days. This is huge.

I tried to quit smoking last May. I went through about one million nicotine patches, suffered through as many little circular rashes, and never really kicked the habit.

Then, smarty pants here decided to stop buying pouches of tobacco I rolled myself ($4.00/4 days) and start buying very fancy "natural" smokes ($6.00+/1.5 days) in order to teach myself some sort of lesson. I never learned it, but I did go kind of broke in the process. More on that later, though.

Finally, I said enough was enough (actually, I think it was more like "You know what? Fuck this shit!"), threw away a half a pack, searched for and destroyed any and all cigarette stuff, and that was that.

The first two weeks were weird: I was a jerk, my skin was crawling and my gums hurt, I had tunnel vision and could only think about smoking.

But now, I've got it pretty under control. No patches, no gum, no mystically magical tinctures from Ellwood's. I just really wanted to be done.

I was really ready.

Now, I'm only spending so much time on this quitting thing because it is the single most important thing I have ever and will ever do for myself. I'm not being preachy, I won't do that, but I know that for the first time ever that I can remember, I had an opportunity to improve my own lot, and I did it. I really did it and it's sticking.

I feel invincible and proud (which is something I do not throw around) and my whole life is possible.

Okay, moving on.

2. I'm writing songs again.

Some of you may remember me saying things like, "I HATE playing music!" or "I'm over this shit." It's true, I did and I was. I needed a break.

Now, I no longer say "yes" to every single show that is offered to me and it's catching on. I almost never get asked anymore.

I'm trying to play more and more infrequently - once a month tops - and lately, one of a couple of things have been happening:

- I open the show, which means that no one is really there yet (can the world have forgotten about me so soon? Jeez!)

- Or, the people putting the show on forget about it and leave town, or forget about it and give the night a pop guitarist who strums for the lord. Or is it "Lord?"

Anyhoo, that's all behind me now, kind of.

The next show will be on April 13th (Sunday) at The Camel, from 8pm-11pm with Charles Theodore and Mermaid Skeletons. It will rule you.

Oh, I'm opening so please, please come on time and show me that I'm not washed up or forgotten. It's kicking my ego in the groin, you know?

3. I got a photo studio.

Yup, for the next 4-5 months, I'll be subletting 1/2 of an amazing studio at a place that is quite coveted.

I'm very, very lucky and you will be hearing more about this later. Especially if you live in town and I like you. I'll probably want to make a picture with your face on it.

(a) I've been spending loads of time in the darkroom.

I really am very, very lucky. And grateful.

Somehow, just by knowing the right people(?), doing the right things(?), or some other reason I don't know about, I have almost endless access to probably one of the oldest darkrooms in Richmond.

It's dusty and chilly, a little bit creepy and probably home to several million crawling things, but I pretend it's mine when I'm down there. And I pretty much have it to myself. Lucky, lucky, lucky.

(b) I'm hoping to make the fruits of my labor visible to the rest of the world at a photo show sometime this summer. More about that later too.

4. I'm working on a screen play.

I know, what a dork, right?

Right. I am. But it is, kind of, all about dancing. And that makes it cool, right? eh.

That will be a summertime project, hopefully completed by the Fall.

These things are pretty slow moving, by the way - the photo show, the song writing, the script writing, the darkroom-ing.

For some really weird reason, I don't get paid to do the things I want to do just yet, so, unless I pick up an extra shift at work or find a second job, these projects are and will remain meagerly funded.

But jesus, I'm having the best time ever. Or is it "Jesus?" I never know.

I'll leave you now, with this:

Wow

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:40:00 +0000

I almost married this fool back when I was a fool.

He owes me money too, Louisianna.

No Man Is An Island

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:33:00 +0000

If I were a bazillionaire, I would probably spend less time browsing through privateislandsonline.com and a lot more time just buying one and moving there already.

I think I would especially enjoy The Moss Cays. According to the advertisement, the Cays are near Georgetown on Great Exuma Island of the Bahamas.

(I don't know what that means, but it surely sounds sophisticated.)

Apparently, this area is popular for "yacht enthusiasts."

Question: You kind of have to be rich to be a "yacht enthusiast," right? Or at least, to be a "yacht enthusiast" that chills at a yacht-hot-spot in the Bahamas?

I think you might have to be a lot more than just enthusiastic about yachts to chill with them. Maybe I'm wrong. I'd have to invite them over for veggie burgers and chips and salsa to be sure. If they don't high-five me back, there will be be trouble.

Needless to say, I've never been on a yacht, so I wouldn't crash any of their parties right away.

In fact, before I get to crash any parties or do anything at all, I'll need to acquire at least 3 million dollars. Probably not all at once but even 10% of that is more than I've ever made in my life.

I'm guessing my '91 Honda Station Wagon won't do for collateral even though it does have a standard transmission.

I would then need to figure out how to live there. Though, judging by the photos, the "rustic home" on the middle island that boasts "glamorous camping" can't be all that bad.

I would only really need some electricity (solar - if I get to be rich anyway, why not), water (recycled rain water?) and perhaps some sort of responsible, eco-friendly human waste disposal system is in order? What the hell, I'll treat myself.

I would also kind of like Internet capabilities. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about exploring my little islands, making gardens and discovering a new kind of ant or worm that I can name after myself, but I think an email alert with the subject "A hurricane is coming, never mind, it's here!" or "Those pesky pirates are up to their pillaging again!" would be helpful.

I would need a boat and I would need to know how to make that boat do what I want it to.

Maybe I would need some kind of security? I'm not sure what the protocol is among Caribbean Island Owners, but if I were to miss the email alert about the pirates because I was, say, domesticating a bull shark due to loneliness, I'd be screwed.

And unless Mr. Depp and Mr. Bloom were the pesky pirates, that would be a bad thing.

(Worst innuendo by me, ever. Sorry.)

Okay, so none of this will ever happen - especially the recycled rainwater bit (I'm a dreamer, I know), but the more I do my humble "research," the more I realize that this is all totally possible.

Grand Exuma Island has an international airport, Georgetown is so unbelievably chill that they've hardly given many of their streets names because it's just that easy. The Moss Cays are, of course, actually for sale and I know more and more people can actually afford them. Still not me, though.

So why don't more people buy islands?

Dolphin Bay Island in Panama (!), for example, costs less than half or a third of what many people spend on homes here in Richmond.

How amazing would it be to start from scratch and build your own little world? You could play "Little House on the Prairie" and be a pioneer! Build a well! Make your own clothes!! Wear a bonnet!!!!

Seriously, Laura never had it so good.

You could play "Lord of the Flies" and scare all your friends!

You could play "Lost" and spend your entire island life in fear of "The Others," or you could get stuck in a perpetual state of flashbacks and forwards and, just flashing all over the place!!!!

I just might buy Dolphin Bay Island, it's more in my price range than the boring old Moss Cays. Plus, it has pineapple plants! Score!!

But the Panamanian Government is going to have to let me change the name. "Dolphin Bay Island" sounds entirely too corny. I wonder if "Gilligan's" is taken?

Dear Richmond Friends,

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:26:00 +0000

I'm sorry to inform you that if you were planning on hearing me play at The Camel on Friday night (with Charles Theodore, Chris Volpe, and Mermaid Skeletons), you will only be hearing Charles Theodore and Chris Volpe.

Both The Mermaid Skeletons and I are very sad to not be playing, but someone, somewhere, never told someone somewhere else that we were playing and now a whole other person will not call or write us back.

It's weird.

But hey, that's show business!!!!!?!

I encourage you, though, to still go and listen to Charles Theodore and Chris Volpe.

If people stop going to shows, then people will stop coming to town to play shows, and then Richmond will be just like one million other sad cities with nothing live to listen to.

People (and venues) should take note of that.

Sorry again, but please, please come say hello next time.

Love, Liza Kate

Adventures with Pony Brown

noreply@blogger.com (lizakate) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:51:00 +0000

Today was Pony's semi-annual visit to the vet. Everything went on in its usual way - he got his temperature taken (ouch), he got some shots (ouch, ouch!), got his nails clipped (finally), I got a talking to about his plaque (ouch!), paid $292 (ouch!!), etc - business as usual.

It's really beautiful out today, so on the walk home, I decided to get a cup of coffee and a crossword puzzle. I just knew we would have a splendid early afternoon - I would get a bit of caffeine into my system and work my brain out a little while Pony would feast on the pocket full of treats I got from the vet. Basically we would have a dreamy day off together.

So, I tether Pony to a chair outside - the one right by the door so he can still see me. Usually, this keeps him from howling like a freakazoid and it has never failed before.

I place my order, look back at him again, notice people smiling at him and then at me and I felt, for a second, a little bit of pride.

"You see?" I tell myself, "You can have a normal life with a dog. You can be one of those pet owners that other pet owners envy - no problems, no weirdness. Look, someone is even walking by and he's just sitting like a good boy. Victory!"

I turn back around to pay and hear "Miss, your dog is taking off!"

"He got off the chair?"

"No, he took off with the chair!"

I dropped everything and ran outside to see him barrelling across a very busy street dragging a giant metal chair behind him.

"Pony! Pony wait!!" He looked behind at me for a second and then kept right on trucking.

When I finally caught up to him at the bank parking lot, he was exhausted, defeated, and trembling a little. Like me.

A very nice man came over and offered to carry the chair back for me - mentioning casually that next time, I might want to consider tethering him to something a little more substantial - like a building.

Another man shared a story of his own involving a dog he was dog sitting and a trash can outside of a 7-11.

A nice lady offered to sit outside with him while I went in to finish my transaction - I left the newspaper behind.

Everyone in the place laughed a bit - with me - I gave a general "Thanks everyone!" and we were off.

I was still shaky for a couple of blocks - enduring the flashes in my mind about what could have happened if, say, a driver wasn't paying attention, or - if I had tethered him to the 8 foot tall wrought iron plant stand that I almost actually tethered him to.

I eventually felt a sense of relief, told Pony he was crazy, gave him a treat and thanked him for filling my life with adventure - even if no one would ever envy us.