Vacation Beard

Time to get back to work.

Stanley Park

Pool meets ocean (almost) in Stanley Park, Vancouver BC.

Vancouver Aquarium

We had a dandy time at the VanBC aquarium. A few fotos below, including a few of those ever-popular dolphins.

Jellies. Dude.

I do not know how old the sea turtle was.

OK, no more Nemo references.

Except that B.Roosevelt took one look at a blue fish with yellow tail, and exclaimed, "Dad, look! Dory." The German tourists thought that was hilarious and translated for their children.

Everyone loves those dolphins.

Salmon in Flight

Watch the salmon fly by at the Capilano Regional Park.

Texas Cousins (and friends)

Uncle G. Roosevelt sends these pics of the Texas cousins each posing with a pal.

Gracie with pal Chloe and Kaye's chickens.

Maddie with red-headed bf.

Congraduations

J.Roosevelt at her post-elementary-school-graduation lunch.

4 and 20 until 7/31

Had a lovely Father's Day brunch at Four and Twenty Blackbirds, in Flint Hill VA. We were sad to learn that this fabulous restaurant "in the foothills of Rappahannock County" is closing in July. Apparently the owners are exhausted and ready for something less demanding than a successful, reasonably priced, unpretentious restaurant serving serious food in the middle of VA.

Notable moment at brunch: Jordie taking all of my pan fried trout in exchange for all of her berry coffee cake. We'll have to make it back one more time before the requiem.

Mid-Year Champeen

My mid-year nominee for Album of the Year is unquestionably Grand Champeen's dial T for this.

This morning I just took the rare step--post kids, job, and ipod--of listening to the whole album all the way through. There's hardly a dud on the record. Indie alt-country rock at its finest.

I first noticed Champeen when they were featured on a album of Elvis Costello covers, where they ripped through No Action. (Loyal listeners heard their version of that Elvis classic on THLS 2003.) I bought a full album at that time and was disappointed at how uneven their music was.

No longer. dial T is one of the most consistent set of fast driving (can't say hard driving with all those hooks) 2:40 songs I have heard in years. Although they are aptly compared to the Replacements and Soul Asylum, there is something bigger/older in this records. I can't quite place it, but there is something of the harmonies, song structures, and low tech production that stimulates the Byrds Beatles Who Monkey's part of my admittedly addled musical brain.

Champeen are reputed to tear it up on stage. Listeners will have little doubt of that fact.

Champeen's web presence also reflects a generational (speaking in web time) shift. Their self-named website is completely out of date, and essentially acts as a referral to their myspace page.

At myspace, you can hear them, and find out that their only scheduled show is at the Hole in the Wall, tonight.

Moist Moon Bounce

B.Roosevelt seemed to enjoy the company picnic.

River Dreaming

Went floating down the Shenandoah River for Memorial Day, launching from Harper's Ferry WV. We took the slow float, on account of B.Roosevelt, and it was fabulous. Harper's Ferry is at the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah, and is ridiculously close to where we live. So, if you can't find us at the Great House, come one down the river, 'cause that's where we'll be.