There is something profoundly sick about this country's haste to merchandise holiday goods which ultimately ruins my holiday cheer. In September, I was stoked about Halloween. This weekend, I was over it. I was in a store today that was bustling with activity as the shop owner put out Christmas decorations. So, I'm NOW stoked for Christmas. Before we even popped in that store, I caught Cyndemouse singing a Christmas song. Let's just exchange gifts next week while we're riding this yuletide high. After making great noise about going to the city this weekend, I only felt like staying local. I got alot accomplished in the house. Mainly, it's clean for a change. I cooked for hours on Saturday. The fruits of my labor include- salmon in peanut sauce with brown rice, split pea soup, chicken soup, pasta with an eggplant sauce. Craving rice krispie treats, I bought the ingredients but didn't get to make them. My craving was satisfied at Tallulah's brother's house party. Told it was a costume party, I donned a kaftan and turban, enough makeup to make Tammy Faye Baker cringe, a bag of tricks and made my entrance as my character, Bruce: The Psychic Queen. If you were to surmise, I was a wee bit over dressed for this particular party, you would be correct. Luckily, a plate of rice krispie treats and a bottle of gin materialized to ease my trepidation. The main source of entertainment was a girl dressed like a farm girl singing karaoke to "Today's Pop Hits" in a caterwauling fashion. I had no choice but to flirt mercilessly with Tallulah's cousins to distract my attention from the cacophony. Although, I am not at liberty to go into graphic details, I will tell you Cyndemouse effectively shut the house down in a creative manner that will certainly be remembered for a very long time by those who witnessed the act. Pure genius. Cyndemouse, you are my hero. Continuing the keeping it local theme for the weekend, Mouse and I dipped into Asbury Park to see what the cool kids are up to. They are actually up to quite a few cool things. We stumbled into a garage sale at Asbury Lanes. We ran into Lenny Lounge, otherwise known as "My Rock n Roll Contractor", who introduced us to the man who is making all the cool shit happen over there, Mel "King Rat" Van Riper Stultz (no, even with my fertile imagination, I could not have conjured this name-it's the real deal). King Rat has lined up some spectacular shows over the next few months, so I expect to be hanging out over there rather often. We're talking Southern Culture on the Skids, The Unicorns, John Spencer Blues Explosion with The Gossip (I heart Beth Ditto), The Forty-Fives, Fishbone (who I saw next door at The Fast Lanes so long ago I don't think email existed yet), The Blackouts (who are kid tested-Little Steven approved) and lots more. I admit, I have been hating on my local entertainment possibilities lately. Consider me taken down a notch. After a coffee at Cafe Blue and some gigs at Asbury Lanes, I may be in much better spirits. And the Roxymobile will thank me for not driving it in the city again when it really just wants to rest on the weekend and inhale some salt air. There is also that small matter of the brakes needing some attention..... Tonight I got crafty and made about 80 glass bauble magnets while I watched tv. Look for them at next month's garage sale at the Lanes.