The Passing of Vicker Gringo

The Checkerboard Kids is primarily a ska program. I have to really believe in a band to have a band that is not ska on. Thus was the case with the innovative band The Deuce and a Quarter headed up by artist, animator, actor and general raconteur Vickers "Bastard" Gringo (Paul Vickers Lyon) I met Vickers about 1995, a kid with green hair and big ideas about music and life. I was happy to reconnect with him in 2009 and have the band on Checkerboard Kids. Upon my return from Canada yesterday I received a call from The Deuce drummer, Jerry who told me after the Gig they played on Saturday, Vickers passed away in his sleep. Wow. I'm still processing this but while I'm sitting around scratching my head. Lets never forget the music that he and his bandmates loved so much. My sincerest sympathies go out to his friends, family, girlfriend, and especially Jerry, Patrick, Adam and the entire network of The Deuce and a Quarter who were just putting the finishing touches on a new release. I'm sure Vickers would have wanted that music in the hands of the people. Rest in peace, Vickers. Thank you for everything.

His friend Abbi from Dart Gun Radio put up a touching tribute on her blog so check it out! http://abigailallan.blogspot.com/

Here are some clips:


Amero:



Absorbing the Head of a Fly:



Whiskey Bottle and a Shot Glass



The entire episode:

MondayTuesday in Canada

Monday: Ride in was very crampy. Met a nice Womens Studies Major named Betty. Met with my Uncle and his homeboy, Bobby and we took the train from Montreal to Sorel. Then we went shopping for everything that I eat. I have simple needs. then we had lunch. Enclosed is a picture of Lunch:

Sorry I said I was going to really stop posting pictures of my food up but Its what I do.

Exibit A: A yam and a salad made of lettuce, cucumbers, capers, red, green, orange, yellow and sweet long red peppers, carrots

Exibit B: Quinoa and kidney beans white and red with hot sauce, adobo and milled flaseeds.

Afterwards I went out and met with a freind from Sorel and hung out for a bit. then I came home and hung out on the porch with my family. My Uncle made Salmon and I had a smaller salad with 2 slices of wheat bread. Then we planned out the rest of the week and decided Weds was going to be Karaoke night! Yay! Emailed folks and went to bed after listening to the same song like a million times.

My cousin says I can get a job teaching English and stay in Canada. It sounds like a nice dream. Looking at the stars from this vantage point it almost seems feasable. Who knows what the future brings. For now Im happy to be on vacation.

Tuesday: I prayed, meditated and showered then I counted raisins:

63 sun maid raisins makes one ounce. put them on a napkin and make sure they dont touch each other. I dont take my travel scale across the border. I bet you can guess what kind of scenario that could create.

I count 27 squares of spoon sized shredded wheat. I make sure the grains of the cereal go up down up down up down. (look at photo closely for details) 27 squares is about ounce also. From there I add 3 teaspoons of flaxseeds for the needed amount and put them together in a tupperware sandwich case. I do this 3 more times. Note: at home I can do this 9 more times (see other blog entries) but time and tupperware constraints were upon me.

I chop up one banana and add one cup (8 ounces) of unsweetened soymilk. That is how I roll.

Next my Uncle and I went around Sorel Tracy and looked at the homes, some had homes with 2 cars, some had boats on their lawns one guy even had a plane. Then we went to visit my Aunt in the Cemetery. That was sad. I miss her. from there we came home and had lunch I ate the same thing I had yesterday. After lunch its been threatening to storm so we kicked back with Clash of the Titans then I broke out Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths I think hes digging it. Hes a very hip Uncle. Thats it for this moment more later. See ya!

Little Wonder About My Latest Obsession

On my way up to Canada I had a lot of David Bowie I was listening to, a lot of it I had never heard before. In the middle of the night I was awoken by this song that I enjoyed so much that pretty much I listened to on a loop since I found it. People know that I have this tendancy to do this. So here is my latest obsession, a song called Little Wonder off Bowies album Earthling. I was wondering why I liked it so much since I love to analyze stuff into the ground but I found somebody who really hit the nail on the head of what makes it such a catchy tune. Peep this article out. Ill have my normal blog about whats going on here in Canada next time. I think im gonna count raisins and listen to this song a couple of more times before going on a walk with my uncle.

Here is the video so I can watch it at my leisure:

Taking Off To The Great White North

Psyching myself up for my big Canadian Adventure! With the real actors doing the voices! watch the end for the preview to their animated television show.

What's Grosser Than Gross?

Warning: do not read this if you get easily grossed out. It makes me sick just thinking about it.

I was just discussing with my homegirl Maya Bidiya the virtues of veganism. Personally I eat salad to keep my food pretty much cruelty free. Yesterday I chopped open a red pepper to see that not only had I had successfully chopped the top off said pepper but also cut some sort of tiny caterpillar in half. We sat there looking at each other for a bit. the lil' feller was a gonner and he didn't even know it. So I just made him comfortable putting him in the bag with all the vegetable trimmings where he could eat his fill while the food kept pouring out the other side. I cleaned my pepper and pressed on. This hearkened me back to days in the Bronx as a child and roaches would get into the box of Golden Grahams and I would have to turn on the kitchen light, wait a minute. enter the room. grab the box, open the box, smack the box three times on the table, leave for a couple of minutes as a courtesy for them to get out of the box. Gingerly I'd pour cereal into the bowl. inspect it for any dead roaches or stragglers. Then pour the milk, eat, repeat. Any roaches alive or dead that would float to the surface I'd just remove with my spoon and keep it moving. Disgusting, I know but this is how it was. I am grateful that I don't ever have to experience any of that again on many levels. It is a fantastic life. Now without flinching I'm going sit, pray and fully appreciate my shredded wheat, banana, raisins and milled flaxseeds measured out perfectly with eight ounces of silk unsweetened soy milk. cruelty free of course. Have a great morning. Eat a good breakfast it's the most important part of your day.