Bennington Battle Day is Stuck in VT

Bennington Battle Day [41]

It was windy and weird that day but the drive was worth it. I want to be a history reenactor when I grow up. Pretty please.

Sweet Tooth

GiGi and My Money Pit

The thing about home remodeling is, well, it sucks. Yep. No really, it is ok, except for the random piles of rubble and mounting piles of bills.

I did not even realize I was "remodeling" until the word started coming up with the many contractors that tromp through my house regularly these days.

So many people advised me not to buy my house because it is old and would need work.

"Buy a condo," they kindly smiled. "This house is going to need a lot of help."

The term "money pit" was thrown around so often that I nicknamed the house "mon petite moola pit."

And what did I do? Did I heed their sage advice? Of course not! I laughed in their faces with impish glee and wild abandon! The simple fact that I felt "right" standing in the kitchen and my fate was sealed.

Oh well, at least me and my house centipede GiGi get along. She still lives in my bathtub and I have warned the contractors not to harm her cause she might bite back. In fact, Bruce and David even like her although she does not appreciate their blow torches and the frequency with which they set off the smoke alarms. Awww, friends...

Aram and Eva

Well, we aren't really Siskel and Ebert quite yet but we're working on it. So far we got the I-hate-you-chemistry down pat but that is the easy part.

Aram Lecis, the manager of the Roxy and I are going to start doing movie review bits on Late Night Saturday with Tim Kavanagh (AKA VT's Homer Simpson) which will start fresh episodes this September on WCAX.

We threw together some promos which are here. Each review was shot in one take and we were rushing against time as the battery was about to die - D'OH!

Bugs, Birthdays and Butterflies

This bug is inhabiting my new bathtub. He is over an inch long and has many legs. I think the activity in the basement (asbestos removal) has forced him from his dank abode. This bug and I will have to do some serious negotiating because I love baths.




Yesterday was my 34th birthday. The morning was dark and stormy but soon the sun was poking through the clouds.

Suzanne brought sushi and a cake. Molly brought a baseball bat and a swell card. My family brought themselves and good times.

I wish the mini-break would never end. Having no internet access, cell reception or DVD burners felt awfully good. Me and Harry Potty got real close.

I soaked up as much atmosphere (see pics here) as I could and then...POP...back to reality....and big scary bugs.

Still, there are nice butterflies who follow me down shady wooded paths so I guess it'll work out in the end...

B-Boys are Stuck in VT

Rhythm Riderz Crew [40]

Wear Undead Molly

Undead Molly can do it all. She blogs, draws intricate and thoughtful cards, is kind to animals and bugs alike, helps people whether they are nice or not, writes letters to the editor, gets gussied up all purty, kills zombies on a regular basis AND she is now gracing a t-shirt!

That's right, she is SO special (duh) that she now has her very own t-shirt (above) so everyone can wear a little piece of Molly as they go about their mundane day awaiting the BIG zombie invasion.

And let me tell you, a little bit of Molly goes a long way. Molly is the sort of special person who brings over a crowbar, machete, sparklers, Bud Light and green beans to brighten up your mood and fill up your new house with good vibes.

Buy your Molly t-shirt soon and if you are smart, decorate it with blood splatters to attest to your zombie killing abilities.

Mud Volleyball Scores on YouTube

YouTube in their benevolence has given a shout out to another Stuck in Vermont video. There are a million different ways to give hollers on YouTube and although Stuck has never been featured on the main page, it has gotten all sorts of love in other little odd YouTube nooks and crannies.

Today STVT39: Mud Volleyball is the Pick of the Day on the featured videos by channel page and the hits shot from 500 to 11,000 in an afternoon. Thanks YouTube!

I wonder if there will be another nasty comment backlash like there was with Rosie's Girls? So far there is mainly SPAM, a lovely side effect of YouTube luvin'.

No More Ciggies

Yes, it is a minor accomplishment but it has been exactly one week since I quit smoking. The initial bad moods, unexplained anger and feelings of helplessness seem to have abated.

However, I still don't think I can sit next to a smoker without feeling the manic urge to pry the cigarette out of their fingers and suck on it.

I still get into my car thinking, "Oh goodie, time for a smoke break."

And it is still next to impossible for me to hold a drink without a cigarette in my other hand but I am managing - I have to numb the urge with something!

I miss watching old films or foreign films where sexy people are sucking on ciggies.

And most of all, I miss my late night, star gazing smoke breaks. Those were the best times of all. Sigh.

On the plus side, I am saving money that I can apply to old fashioned door knobs and I no longer harbor a filthy habit that embarrassed me to no end. Hip hip horray.

DBC17 Plays on VCAM

DBC17, August 2005
VCAM, Channel 15
Fridays @ 11:30PM
Sundays @ 9PM
Playing for the month of August

Hopefully The Deadbeat Club, the cable access show I have been making for three years with my family is not dead, just snoozing.

It is the summer after all so it makes sense that we should be in re-runs. Still, it has been a while since I managed to find the time to make a new episode which worries me. Now that my job is making videos for a living (yes, I still pinch myself when I say that in case I have to wake up), it's hard to justify more time spent in front of a computer screen.

But there have been some talks amongst the deadbeats of another show so hopefully I can scrounge together the editing time. After all these years, making the show is a sort of family tradition.

Meanwhile, it is fun watching the re-runs. This month is an episode from 2 years ago. There is a countdown of Dizzy Dames plus a montage I am super fond of - hmmm, I wonder why!? Plus some new kitten madness, a dance number I did with Amy and some celeb trash news.

Howl of Howl's Moving Castle is our babe of the month. That's right, a cartoon character based on a novel character. Could we BE any more nerdy??!?! Oh and on a special note, the Howl montage might give you a seizure!

New Stucks on VCAM

Stuck in Vermont's July episodes 34-38 begin airing on VCAM this Monday night and will play throughout the month of August:

Stuck in Vermont
VCAM, Channel 15
Mondays @ 8:30pm
Tuesdays @ 9:30am

And I must say that July was a busy month: Circus Smirkus, Cirque du so Gay, Rosie's Girls, Harry Potter and The Ramble. Phew - this state is happening!

Thanks for having us VCAM!

Fill Your Heart

Every day lately has been bringing some new minor challenge (eg: learning how to drill), nugget of learning (eg: feeling compassion toward my dad instead of impatience), glimpse of the great unknown (eg: watching my radiators get hammered to bits) and faint taste of inner peace (eg: finally getting my ass to a yoga class).

Maybe it is my upcoming birthday or the new responsibilities of homeownership but I feel sure of only one thing these days, you better fill your heart with love today, don't play the game of time. Things that happened in the past only happened in your mind.

I finally brought a boom box and some music over to my new house. I grabbed 5 tapes randomly and the first song to BLAST through my crumbling ancient walls sent me dancing around its rooms like a spinning top.

Fucking David Bowie, he makes me feel so DAMN Hunky Dory...

"Fill Your Heart"

Fill your heart with love today
Don't play the game of time
Things that happened in the past
Only happened in your Mind
Only in your Mind-Forget your Mind
And you'll be free-yea'
The writing's on the wall
Free-yea'. And you can know it all
If you choose. Just remember
Lovers never lose
'Cause they are Free of thoughts unpure [sic]
And of thoughts unkind
Gentleness clears the soul
Love cleans the mind
And makes it Free.

Happiness is happening
The dragons have been bled
Gentleness is everywhere
Fear's just in your Head
Only in your Head
Fear is in your Head
Only in your Head
So Forget your Head
And you'll be free
The writing's on the wall
Free-yea'. And you can know it all
If you choose. Just remember
Lovers never lose
'Cause they are free of thoughts unpure
And of thoughts unkind
Gentleness clears the soul
Love cleans the mind
And makes it Free!!

In other news, I saw the biggest, scariest CREEPY CRAWLY I have ever seen in my life scurrying on its hundreds of legs into the dark depths of my already-plenty-ominous-basement. Maybe all that sage I was burning and Bowie I was blasting scared Mr. Horrible out of his evil hiding place? Eeek.

Daysies 2007 Video

For those of you that missed the Daysies party, now you can watch the video - the next best thing to being there. Thanks Judy and the Ps for a killer evening! And congrats Peter on kicking cancer to the curb! Hurrah!

Love the LeMays and the Daysies

The leggy LeMay ladies were hoofing around the Seven Daysies Friday in matching flower gowns and they managed to score pics with all the hottest attendees except my new hero, Mr Tom Messner!

When these dames were through, there was no booze left in the place and all the snap and pizazz had left the building.

Love you LeMays! Like a stunned baby bird loves a thundering herd of wildebeests!

Check out their excellent Daysies pics at their blog - you will even see yours truly in her videographer grin...sigh, my hair will never be as BIG as theirs...

I am editing my own Daysies video as we speak...and did I ever mention that I won the runner up non-political blog award? The eminent Bill Simmon of Candleblog being the far more popular first place winner.

I would like to take this moment to thank the 5 people who bothered to vote for me - you are my new best friends.

It is particularly odd because my blog is more of a vlog which we do not have a category for yet as Cathy fears there is not enough proper competition - my point exactly! Bring on the vlog Daysie!

Mud Volleyball is Stuck in VT

Mud Volleyball [39]

My Hero

Tom Messner is my hero. He is so nice and helpful even when you make a dumb mistake. Thanks for being YOU Tom Messner!

Fun for Butts!

In case you are not MySpace "friends" with Good Vibrations, read further. Apparently, August, in addition to being my birthday month, is also ANAL SEX MONTH! Hurrah! Below is an urgent MySpace butt bulletin from Good Vibrations...

Good Vibrations

We LOVE the butt!

Anal sex is much more than just anal intercourse. People use their fingers, mouths and hands during anal-play, not to mention toys ranging from plugs to dildos to anal beads. It's a pleasure we can all enjoy regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

"The great thing about asses is that everyone's got one!"

Celebrate anal health and pleasure with 15 - 25% off hot and educational anal plugs, dildos, vibrators, books, dvds, lube, and other ingredients for happy and healthy anal exploration.

This sale is happening throughout August online at www.goodvibes.com, and at our Berkeley, San Francisco, and Brookline store locations.

Get YOUR butt new gear!

Daysies and Dad

My Dad visits so rarely that it is always a mad rush to do as many things with him as we can before he leaves town. For starters, that meant attending the Seven Daysies party Friday night which involved many introductions, tasty food and lots of chit chat.

I was working/videoing the party so the best part for me was the post-party party at Matt and Diane's compound. They both looked lovely in white - they are such Rock Stars. Diane was full o' sass and Matt was full o' bling. I love their funky style, plethora of cats and art-filled walls. If it weren't for my new/old house, I would be petitioning to live in their compound.

The rest of the weekend was spent swimming in mad waves, filming mud volleyball, driving through colorful VT countryside, eating lots of tasty Italian sauces and guzzling wine a'plenty.

Thanks for coming to Vermont Harvey. I think we both need a vacation from your vacation here!

Crap Monday

Argh. it is just going to be one of those days/weeks...crap...

I could blame it on the quitting smoking which is making me want to rip my hair out and spread feces on the walls. Seriously, it is not pleasant.

I quit two times in my life already (see blog post) and this recent smoke-inhaling resurgence can be blamed on Spielpalast inspired stress/nerves (of which there was plenty). But the cabaret has been over for months now and my latest excuse, home buying stress, is also wearing thin. Time to grow up a bit and face the nerves head on without the aid of tobacco. Damn it.

Or I could blame it on a fun-filled weekend which involved many stressful moments and guffaws. Or perhaps it could be blamed on that hellish moment when I realized that I taped over some of my BEST footage from the weekend - also known as the moment that the world came crashing down overhead, also known as "NOOOOO!"

Or maybe it is the inevitable Monday morning flurry of emails requesting this and that and that other thing. Or it could be the hour long conversation with B&H video about DVD duplication that left my head swimming.

Maybe I am not cut out for this digital media crap? Maybe I need to go live in a yurt and spend my days knitting and digging in the dirt?

Or perhaps I should shut up and stop spreading blame/angst all over the place. Damn it, I would really enjoy a cigarette about now...time to edit...

Toad's Wild Summer

Too busy to blog much these days. Lots of editing, carrying of boxes, wiping the sweat from my soggy brow and collapsing from the heat.

My electricians cut a hole in my living room wall this week. It was exciting and scary to see the insulation spill out. This is the beginning of a long month of renovations. It will be odd having strangers tromping through my new home and cutting holes in things.

The baby birds next door are so HUNGRY! They can never get enough food. To quote Undead Molly who has a way with animals, sort of a female Beastmaster if you will,
"foodnowfoodnowfoodnowhungryhungryhungrymommommmmommmy!"

I think they must be getting ready to leave the nest because their food is getting to be more solid. It used to be all regurge (much like the television these days) and now it is thicker and less barfy. Yum, whole worms ALL for me!

I showed the babies to the electricians as though I was the proud parent dangling the earthworm. John is an Irish step dancer and his dog Squidgey came over to hang out. He is the first dog that's visited my house! Oooh boy, I can't wait to get a dog! Instead of looking for one, I am gonna wait until the right dog finds me. I know he or she will. I just know it.

Carey LIKES The Pig Room - AKA The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Room aptly named by Molly. No doubt I will think of this name late at night when I am creeping around my house in the dark and wetting myself in fear. Most people just shudder when they see it and ask when I am ripping it down. It is growing on me, like a wild swine fungus.

Daysies tomorrow night! My dad is in town, time to hit up bookstores! Lock up your books Burlington residents! YIPS!

Below is another video I made with my summer camp kids. It is a shortened version of a 1/2 hr documentary we shot. This is the grand finale when they walk the red carpet and we hoot and holler. w00t!

Donut Eating whilst Gliding

How many donuts can you eat in 4 minutes?

Joel Ribout always dreamt of being in an eating contest and on Friday, he was. He ate 8.5 donuts in 4 minutes and won the Simpsons Donut Eating Contest at the Roxy hands down.

Homer and Bart were also in attendance as was Merrill Jarvis the THIRD! Eva ate 3 donuts when she should have been filming but Aram, Tim and Margot helped.


Do you know how the the president of Sugarbush Soaring lets his wife know he is ready to be picked up? He glides over their house where she is gardening and does a loop above her head. After years of this surreal form of notification, she knows the sound of his plane by instinct. Woah.

On Sunday Eva went up in a glider airplane for the first time. She is very proud of herself for not puking inside the cockpit and making a stinky mess. The still pictures she took on this trip may also be in the paper with Mike Ives story.

She spent hours talking to the gliding dudes because they were so damn interesting. She has also decided to become a glider pilot when she grows up - oops, the time has come. Perhaps she can fly with Angelina Jolie?!

Editing this video down to a 6.5 minutes nearly killed her and yes, she realizes it is STILL too long! How to portray an experience that meant so much to her in flimsy ol' 2D pixels??! HOW?!?!


Why is she talking about herself in the 3rd person again? Hmmm....

I have been making editorial videos for Seven Days. They don't get as much play as the Stuck in VT vlogs but they are honestly quite nice. Little slices of VT life with LESS of me in them. OH YEAH!