Tonight is an amazing night.  It’s warm out.  Windy and warm in late October isn’t common in Ontario, but I’ll take this last clear night to breathe deep and enjoy the smell of fall on my face.  Every tree is a bright color, and as if a memo went out, they are dropping leaves madly, determined to meet their deadline.  Bright yellow and deep reds leaves cover the cars parked beneath the trees.  My pumpkins are embarrasing.  Between the neighborhood possum and the squirrels, they have already made a significant dent in the sides of tomorrow’s carving project.

Damn possum.  Go back to America where you belong.  (only suggesting that possums are not native to Hamilton…. i’m all for immigration, however… )

Some ideas for tomorrow.

I sure love a boozy trick or treater.   Please don’t barf up candy on my front step.

Goodnight, kiddies!

So long and so neglectful to my blog. I think something happens in my brain where I want a do something well, so I choose not to just do one sentence here, one sentence there…. and so I’ve found the time, energy, and will to post some news and some photos.

First off, the most important update: my beloved Mr. T is happy healthy and a real mouser! He also is thinking about trying out for Canada’s Next Top Cat Model.

But he IS a little cross-eyed… so he didn’t make it past the auditions.

Ok, so enough about the cat.

I went to Afghanistan. A LONG time ago. December, actually. But, here are two photos from my trip. I made friends, I saw Kabul, I drank a serious amount of Strawberry Milk, and I gave up my coffee addiction for one week. Don’t be fooled by the Tim Horton’s in Kandahar, there is NO espresso.

But there are giant men who I wish I had backstage at specific shows…. if only these two had been on the Cayamo Cruise, I could have gone for breakfast without signing CD’s. (kidding)

Patate, me and Duncan in Kabul. (left to right) Keep in mind, I’m a woman, a musician, and my face is uncovered. Pretty incredible thing to think about doing if you consider what would have been done to me had I been there 7 years ago…. or less, and still. Something I consider frequently.

What else… John Doe and I had a great time touring together and I’ve been meaning to post these photos to show folks. We had a great time in Austin and here are some shots of my friend Polly Parsons, Gram’s daughter and a great woman who is working to help women get sober through her own generosity and experience. An incredible thing. You might recognize her as “officer” Parsons in the Back to Me video, thank you to Todd V. Wolfson for these photos. And here is the link for Polly’s safe haven for women trying to get sober, it’s a labor of love and life experience for Polly, so if you can make a donation, no matter how small, it would go to a great cause. Hickorywindranch.com

And then the spring brought the Juno’s in Vancouver. I LOVED the Juno Cup. I skated, I scored, and I got pushed down the ice by various NHL’ers to get me to the puck faster. Shockingly, we won the game. I took great joy in a moment that only Sidney Crosby could appreciate. Or Marty McSorley… ha…

ok.  that is it for now.  half a report.  i’m caught up til the spring, summer.

i have more details to come.  making a record, and all the other stuff coming up.

Mr. T says goodnight.

xxx

Kathleen

MR. T!!!

my new love…. what a guy.

nothing like adopting a cat you can’t believe someone else didn’t want.

he sleeps under the covers with me and sticks his head out and lays it on my pillow.

true love.

for the weird ass cookies.

more soon on the john doe tour wrap up!

in Toronto. Monday, November 3rd. Doors at 8pm.

John and I will be playing some songs for the first time live.

Some call this a “warm up” show.

I just like fucking up in a place I’m comfortable in.

And John will too.

If you are one of those people who have been in one of those incredible theaters in Geneva, NY, Kalamazoo, Michigan, or Joliet, Illinois, you’ll appreciate this next sentiment: These old rooms are a priceless treasure to your community. They were the gems when they were built in the 1910’s and 20’s, and for those of you smart enough to have preserved or restored those buildings, arts and culture will continue to thrive. The investment of preserving these historical theaters will have long lasting effects on promoting not just your communities, but the thing that brings people together in a community: the arts.

I live in a town that doesn’t believe in preserving landmarks.

If I could say one thing to my city councillors it would be this:

Tearing down the history of a city is the act of erasing all future possibilities for it. I am continually mortified by Hamilton’s lack of foresight, likely due to a handful of people who need to get out and see how other towns turn neglected buildings into the cornerstone of a city’s resurgence. When the mafia stops running Hamilton’s urban renewal plans (or lack thereof), hopefully there will be a few buildings left for our city to restore so we can enjoy what so many others do: a sense of ownership and pride in our town.

Resting in ruin: The Tivoli

I had a great time touring with Amy and Emily, they’re as lovely as you could hope them to be in your imagination. It occured to me quite suddenly on the first night that they were huge influences of mine. Songs were played all night that I heard so many times in my teenage life, and their new material continues to be affecting. It was a scary thing getting up on stage alone (after Jim returned home for “baby watch”). Amazing to feel the full circle of life this month: Singing “Closer to Fine” with the girls, a song which I believe may be the first I learned to play on guitar. Sorry for the fuzzy pics, but here they are anyway…. also, a note on the amazing rooms I got to play in, below…. getting my boxing gloves out now… x K.

Here’s the deal: John and I met 4 years ago when we both got asked to sing at a Gram Parsons tribute concert hosted by Gram’s daughter, Polly. John offered to sing “We’ll Sweep Out the Ashes” and called me to see if I’d join him. It was plutonic love and admiration at first sight and getting to sing on “Golden State” was a track that furthered my belief that friendship and great songs is what making music is about. We will be heading out shortly for what I expect to be the highlight of my year. 2 weeks of sharing the stage with John, including a night at Carnegie Hall in NYC (well, Ok, Zankel Hall….), a stop in my adoptive American home of Austin, Portland, Oregon, and possibly a not-yet-announced show at the Dakota in the first week of November. It is getting my butterflies flying a flurry in my tummy already.

So the point of this is: We have formed a 2 week extravaganza tour called “Hurtin’ and Flurtin’ Tour”. We’re gonna sing some cover songs, I’ll play some of my songs, and John some of his. If you don’t come the night we roll into your town, you’re missing out on a great night. It’s going to be a whole fucking bag of fun. Plus John is hot, ladies, so make no mistake….. it’s a win/win situation.

See you there. Kathleen (and John and spirit).

Yes, I’ll be in Halifax this Monday night, and for those of you who were unable to get tickets, please know that I’m sorry about the short notice and the small venue.  It was a last minute trip out east, but I promise to return sometime soon for a show that is accessible to those of you underage AND those of you ticketless this Monday (meaning a larger venue).

I am dying for a fish cake fix, suggestions welcome!

x

kathleen

A great laugh.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/08/12/poo-sculpture-escape.html?ref=rss