Brazil -- Sao Paulo

Just a quick post so I can say I blogged from Brazil...yeah, I'm here for business, which means I won't see much outside of conference rooms etc. But I did go to dinner last night and the night before at some wonderful places with wonderful people. I went to one of the Brazilian barbeque places the other night and ate more meat than I ever thought possible in one sitting. Everything was so good -- I even ate a chicken heart. Yum!

The picture here is a shot from the window of my hotel room -- right across the street from the IBM building.

Some observations about my short stay here in Brazil:

• Brazil is way more European than "latin" (My only points of comparison are Mexico and Costa Rica)
  
• Everyone says, "It's your first time to Brazil, you must go to Rio!"
• I need to come back and go to Rio
• The favelas from City of God are real -- they lurk in the distance at every turn

My bud, Bud Dry

If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out buddry.com. Before you leap to the conclusion that this is some viral marketing ploy, think again. It's actually the work of my friend Dan who (thanks to his parents dropping him on his head repeatedly throughout his toddler years) is either a ground-breaking genius or a complete doofus. In the meantime, whether he's a doofus or brilliant -- or a brilliant doofus -- we can enjoy his creative output.

Rock n' roll lineage

This past weekend Sarah and I met my cousin Janet at her tattoo shop in Narrowsburg, NY. By her own description she and her husband Larry (aka Crazy Fuckin' Larry) are "freaks." It was a blast to meet them both -- they've been on Geraldo and written up in tons of magazines for living the biker lifestyle. Their shop was busy in a fun way -- people from neighboring shops stopping by to chat etc. And while we were there a guy came in with his little son, who waited patiently while dad got a big tat on his back.

The best part for me was getting Janet to reminisce about her uncle Wolfie -- my grandfather for whom I changed my name -- and my grandma, Blossom. He was so important to me -- so hearing her tell me how he was the "cool" uncle with the great stereo and the jazz on in the background and the open mind....well, it meant a lot to me.

The cost of war

My buddy Klayton sent me a fascinating article pointing out th true cost of the war in Iraq. Now I'm not going to get all politically berserk on this blog, but this article interviewing Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz is a quick read that demonstrates the painfully enormous opportunity cost of the war in Iraq.

Last night I had the strangest dream

I dreamt last night that I had to saw off my own left leg, mid-calf. Any interpretations?

Ohio -- heart of it all. And other stuff.

Not everyone would choose Ohio as their vacation destination, but it actually has a lot to recommend it -- especially if you're me. Let's see…there's beautiful weddings, wonderful friends, amazing backyard pools, awesome organic food and plenty of people to rock out with. I should have been blogging this trip all along, but I've been too busy enjoying myself with music, pool-time, reading and just shooting the shit with Dan, Tracy and friends.

The trip started off with a really incredible wedding -- I wrote earlier about Brian and Beth -- in Akron, Ohio. It was really the most wonderful and memorable wedding I've attended. Those two and their families came together like so much chocolate and peanut butter.

The vows in particular moved us all. I actually got all weepy and stuff when Beth said hers to Brian.

Of course the dancing, eating and partying were fantastic. Brian and Beth have surrounded themselves with some really high quality friends -- and the groomsmen and bridesmaids had a blast together on the dance floor, at the meals and all the interstitial hanging-out. Really good times, and I hope we'll get together again in a group or smaller groups.

So tonight Dan and I are playing our first live gig as Indelible Beancurd. We're going to record the show, so if it turns out well I'll post some songs. We're doing a mix of old and new material…as well as a cover of Cum on Feel the Noise. More to come soon…