Your Sunday Squirrel

I never thought I'd be able to catch a squirrel mid-itch, but here it is. Let's face it, most mammals get fleas. It has to do with how they nest or dwell or whatnot and how it coincides with flea development and the fact that mammals are good places for fleas to live. Of course, that relationship has visited some pretty heavy plagues upon humankind. It just so happens that there was a squirrel in Oakland that tested positive for bubonic plague last year. But it's the fleas' fault! And it might have something to do with Oakland, too. Anyhow, I'm sure this guy doesn't have the plague. He's just itchy.

Your Sunday Squirrel

I was supposed to begin a three-month temp gig, but it got canceled. Rats! Silver lining: I was able to get this shot. Expect this on next year's calendar.

Oh, and remember that I was on the lookout for the injured squirrel from a few weeks ago? I saw him twice this week, so he's fine. I have pictures of him and everything. Here's one:

And Then There Were...

...geese! I go down to Lake Union every Saturday morning to have a look around. Very often there are many nearby geese. We generally leave each other alone, but these two guys swam by just because. And here they are.

New Construction!

This project has been going on for some time, so unless you don't get out, this will be news to you. Well, after more than 10 years after the Speakeasy burned, they're finally building something on this lot at 2nd & Bell. I say condos, because that's usually the answer. When they first began work there, I figured it was a staging area for the new Bell Street Park, but it wasn't. While we're on the subject, where's Bell Street Park? I mean, even the re-updated sign (at 1st & Bell) says it's supposed to be done by now. What's the deal? Anyhow, congratulations to the above site, as it looks like they're getting their very own construction crane.

Demo-licious!

This is the scene at 2nd & Stewart. They're tearing down the parking garage, presumably to build condos. Good luck with that, guys. I parked my car here for over 10 years. It was a good operation at the time. It was convenient, the rates were reasonable and I knew all the guys who worked there. Then it got sold around 2006 or so to somebody who wanted to develop the property. All the guys working there got laid off, but the garage stayed open. The new owner contracted services out to United Parking who are owned by Diamond. They were terrible. In four months, my rates went up by $50. That's when I headed out for cheaper pastures. These days I don't have a car, which makes things much less complicated. But then again, it means I have to ride the bus a lot. That is not always pleasing. Anyhow, until the last few years, the garage was a good place to keep a car. Now it's not even a garage anymore.

Your Sunday Squirrel

Here's the injured guy from a few weeks ago. I haven't seen him around lately, but that doesn't mean anything. I always feel I'm being watched by squirrels when I'm in Denny Park. And crows. Squirrels and crows, sworn enemies but united in watching. So this guy has probably healed up and is climbing trees faster than a chipmunk. A chipmunk, I tell you! Anyhow, I've gotten many good shots in the last few weeks and it's fortunate, because I go back to work full time on Wednesday. It's nice to have some prime squirrel footage in the bank for the future. So that's something to live for. That and my new album, which will be coming out in April sometime. I haven't decided when, but probably mid-month; just in time for the crappy spring weather.

The Lava Lounge's New Door!

Actually, it's around the corner for the Lava Lounge at 2nd & Bell. Every so often they put up something new. Since this is the first time I've noticed it, it's new to me. I'm pretty glad facial tattoos haven't really caught on. They're unsettling - even the tribal designs. But if you're inked in the face, it probably means one of these three things:

1. You murdered a guy in prison
2. You're determined never to have a job
3. You just signed on as a harpoon thrower aboard the Pequod

Your Sunday Squirrel

I wrote a lot of music this week and met this squirrel. He's peering off into the distance at nothing in particular. I'm not completely sure, but he may be working on his meerkat impersonation.

I apologize for nothin' but squirrels lately, but I didn't expect to immerse myself so deeply into music this soon after immersing myself so deeply into recording. Last year, I needed a break after Greater Seattle. This year, all I want to do is write dozens of tunes. I'll try to post a few more things about this crummy neighborhood over the next few weeks.

Your Sunday Squirrel

OK, so the record is done. I'm just recovering now. I had this idea that I would do all these posts about what it was like to make an album, but nothing came of it. The thing is that visually, making a recording just isn't that compelling. Sure, there are lots of photos of the Beatles in the studio, but they generally look exhausted, haggard and cranky. Those shots don't really lend any insight to the process. Any pictures I could offer would only show me singing in the booth and honestly, how entertaining is that? "Here I am singing TGV" or "This is me doing backing vocals for Mammoths and Ma$todons." You know what? They're the same dang shot! So there's no evidence of the session, except for some video that the trombone players shot for a few of the backing vocals everybody recorded. That was from the big session on Feb. 9th. It was all good, (mostly) clean fun at Avast Recording. This was, yet again, a wonderful experience and I'm quite satisfied with the end product. Like Greater Seattle, it's not completely perfect, but the songs are better. It will be out probably in April. After that, I'll send it to every indie radio station in this great land. And none of them will play it. That is the way of things.

Anyhow, here is this week's squirrel. He is watching a dog off in the distance. The dog was not interested in him, so quite soon after I took this picture, he was happily eating his peanut. Well, that's it for this week.

Your Sunday Squirrel

OK, so I recorded an album this week. Yeah, a whole album. God knows when it'll be out. If the sales of Greater Seattle are any indication of how this one will do, it won't especially matter. All I can tell you is that it's got better tunes. Oh, and it doesn't have a concept, so it's just songs. I plan other concept albums in the future, but none of them will be about Seattle. That subject is, as they say, a dry socket. But I feel really good about this effort.

Anyhow, here is a squirrel from last week. He didn't have a dramatic head wound. He was just a squirrel who did squirrel-things, like hanging upside down and eating a peanut.

OK, so yesterday I was coming back from Lake Union via Denny Park and I saw a squirrel, gave him a peanut and went for my camera. I turned it on and...nothing. I had left the battery at home. But he was in such an iconic squirrel-pose that I had to whip out my cell phone and get a shot. When he was done with the first peanut, I gave him a second and he hopped atop another rock. What are the odds of that? So there you have it; same squirrel, different rock. Please excuse the zoom-blurriness from my crappy cell camera. Enjoy.