ring-a-ling.

OAK/LAX/PHX.

OAK blast site. LAX 1: "Welcome to Los Angle-es, Mr. Gittes." LAX 2. PHX Backyard 1. PHX Backyard 2. The Dark Knight vs. Deadshot on the kitchen table. A spaghetti squash puttanesca experiment + rosemary lemon grilled chicken and young kale salad with grapes and almonds.

a secret rose.

So yesterday looked kind of like this. Above: where I've been staying for the past four days, on a day that would remain the least beautiful one (strictly weather-wise) I've experienced here. Below: my first coffee in many days, at Haddon Hill Cafe, great coffee by them, stupid idea by me; final rehearsal; dinner break and waiting; lying on back on the floor to ease shoulder pain (notice my striped foot on the right), and I see this actual tree outside and the actual sky, looking not real; more waiting, but yis the skies are a helpful distraction; just before doors open.
 

Understandably, I have no pics of the gig. It's over, to say it was great would be a silly and meaningless understatement, it was possibly the best gig ever. Now I go to Laotian restaurant for lunch and final debrief then off to LAX/Phoenix to reunite with la mia famiglia.

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reglars.

Went to Vlaming again, again good and worth going back yet again soon. I think next time we'll even order something different.

that's the joint.

Residence permit scare seemingly conquered (thank you Nina), we stopped off on the way home from our immigration lawyer's office for a brief celebration involving Trashy Blondes, Brother Ruiten, Real Customer Service (the bar staff brought us logo-ed umbrellas when it started raining outside), Burger Bar (it continues to get better, the buns and condiments especially), and Mel Brooks. And then up jumped the boogie via Chic, Cameo, and Sugar Hill Records.

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take the long way home.

The walk home in Oostende after Brugge. It was 10pm or so, we just missed sunset. We did not stop at the Lusitania.

nuthammer.

Above: Nothammer indeed. Below: The Room. Our first beer, at 't Botteltje (don't think we'll be back: flat beer, flat vibe). Our second through eighth beers, at De Zeegeuzen, (a perfect bar with excellent music, lighting, and an unreasonably cute and gracious Belgian girl named Veerle behind the bar). Steak and sole meunière at Stad Kortrijk, simple and just what we needed. Back to Zeegeuze for a nightcap, then a walk home down the bustling Monday night promenade plus fireworks for no apparent reason. We did well.