Ramblings from a writer, traveler, and insomniac

 
Here are a couple of things that Cali Jen wrote for Truckin'...

1. A Blonde's Guide to a Winning Football Pool
2. Reality Show Craze: An Interview with Tenzin McGrupp
posted by Pauly at 6/26/2003 09:05:00 AM | Permalink |

 
"Pauly, your life is what other people's dreams are made of..." - Cali Jen
posted by Pauly at 6/25/2003 07:33:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Box of Rain

Words by Robert Hunter; music by Phil Lesh; performed by the Grateful Dead

Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
this is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago

Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you -
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear through to another day
I know it's been seen before
through other eyes on other days
while going home --
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through
A a box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through

Just a box of rain -
wind and water -
Believe it if you need it,
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower -
Wind and rain -
in and out the window
like a moth before a flame

It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long long time to be gone
and a short time to be there

posted by Pauly at 6/25/2003 07:33:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Re: I'm not famous, but I'm a rock star in Japan...

Zobo wrote me: "Are you having a good time with Kohei? He was at Bonnaroo with a girl Aya that I know and now she is staying at my house. We should start a hotel chain in America that houses Japanese people because between the two of us, we know about 1/5 of the people in that country. Mike Bien (Beano) is headed down to Atlanta from Athens today and we are going to all go to the High Museum and then will go eat some Mexican food at Nuevo Laredo. Full, busy day. Aya and Kohei must have partied their butts off at Bonnaroo because she passed out last night around 8:15 and is still asleep at 10:30 this morning.

Any word on Deer Creek? When I told Mike you were 50-50, he started crying. I would hate to break the news to him that you aren't going!"
posted by Pauly at 6/24/2003 10:28:00 AM | Permalink |

 

Happy Birthday Betty!!!

Yes, it's offically Betty Day in Northern California. It's Cali Jen's (a.k.a. Betty) 28th birthday! Have a great day! I'll see you soon! If you would like to send Cali Jen and/or Betty b-day grettings, just send them: Here!
posted by Pauly at 6/23/2003 06:59:00 AM | Permalink |

 
I'm not really famous, but I'm a rock star in Japan...

My friends from Japan finally went home. They came to America almost two weeks ago for the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennesse. Afterwards their group split up. One set went down to Atlanta to spend time with Zobo. And Kohei, Menjo, and Ikuko flew north to NYC to visit me! They were some of the best visitors that I ever had. Why? Because they wanted to do very little touristy stuff. In fact their only request was to see and listen to as much live music as they could.

Last Wednesday, I took everybody to the East Village to check out some live jazz at The Detour. An old friend of mine (and his wife) are in a group called The Leisure Kings. Dave and Rachel Cuite (Dave on bass, Rachel sings) played a couple of sets while I got the Japhans drunk.

They loved eating pizza with Derek and they really enjoyed going to Brooklyn to hang out with Gil and Spider. Kohei is the lead singer and guitar player for the famous Tokyo jamband... Horse. He wanted to jam with American musicians and it was great for him to play with Gil. In the downtime over the past week, I managed to pen down a couple of songs for Horse. Last year they recorded Phreak (or sometimes listed as Freak)... and they play it at every live show! This year I came up with another hit song... this one is called: Do you like chicken?

This weekend, it was time to follow the Dead! Longtime Deadheads, the Japhans finally saw their first Dead show in Bonnaroo and were eager to see what the Dead tour looks like. They came all the way to Japan to experience the Dead vibe. It was great to be on a Dead tour again after an 8 year hiatus, and to be traveling with hardcore Japanese hippies.

Before they left, Ikuko and Menjo wrote me little notes. Here's what they had to say!!

Menjo wrote: "Hello Pauly! Every day so happy!! Arigato. Yea! From Menjo"

Ikuko wrote: "Thank you very much!! Please send me pictures. I will give you too. I had awesome time. See you next time. Bye! Love, Ikuko"

Of course we all exchagned many gifts. Ikuko gave me a cool Phish poster (for the IT festival with Homer Simpson looking for an extra ticket!). Kohei gave me a set of handcrafted chopsticks. And Menjo gave me a kimono!


posted by Pauly at 6/23/2003 06:55:00 AM | Permalink |

 

Truckin' June 2003 (Vol 2., Issue 6)

Welcome to my monthly blog-zine and the Birthday edition of Truckin'! This month's issue includes two special selections. The Reader's Choice and the Editor's Choice... which are the best two stories from last year's effort! Senor is back with a casino tale (part of a running gambling theme). Armando Huerta returns with another Greece story. And Stephen Adkins shares with us a story about a recent Pow-Wow that he atteneded in Seattle. Of course I submitted a new short story about two of your favorite characters: Baby & Winky Jr.! And I also have a two part story about my trip to Providence last month, which includes a gambling showdown with none other than... Kato Kaelin!

Sit back, relax, and enjoy! Be Sweet, McG

1. Sexual Chocolate: Another Baby and Winky, Jr. Adventure by Tenzin McGrupp
During a three month stretch back in the summer of 1999, Baby and I got addicted to smoking crack and gambling at the race track... More

2. The Graveyard Shift by Senor
I had never worked the graveyard shift before and I wasn't looking forward to it. To be perfectly honest with you I wasn't exactly sure how I was gonna handle it... More

3. Outside Providence Part 1: The Howl of a Greyhound by Tenzin McGrupp
The bus driver made an announcement. “Regarding cell phones. I have one rule. Keep your calls short and low. Low and short. Got it?”... More

4. Talk to the Hand by Armando Huerta
Just having hosted two American friends for the past week I really became aware of how much more accustomed I’ve become to Greek mannerisms and expressions... More

5. Outside Providence Part 2: The Kato Shuffle by Tenzin McGrupp
I knew I won the pot. It was a question of whether or not I could suck out more money from Kato. But there was one more card left. The River. The dealer put down the last card and it was a Queen. I looked at Kato and tried to learn anything from his body movement. He was still... More

6. Seattle Pow-Wow by Stephen Adkins
Several hundred people from as far away as North Dakota, Arizona and Montana were in attendance at this very special Pow-Wow... More

7. Reader's Choice: Baby's Steak Knife and Winky's Salad by Tenzin McGrupp
Our symbiotic original connection only lasted for a second maybe two, but it was one of those eternal seconds that seem to last forever and you never want to end. It’s those eclectic moments you come across while thinking about life’s odd idiosyncrasies, while stuck in a sullen slouch at the end of a bar, drinking away the roughness of the day’s grind... More

8. Editor's Choice: Nagoya by Tenzin McGrupp
About thirty or so of the most beautiful Japanese women sit and stand before us, all of them with their eyes fixated on Señor's huge smile... I arrive at a moment of clarity. I tap Señor on the shoulder and whisper in his ear, "Bro, either we are in the coolest bar on the planet, or we just walked into a whorehouse."... More

posted by Pauly at 6/23/2003 06:42:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Mike Gordon sits in with the DEAD!

It's true... Mike from Phish came out and played with Phil Lesh for a bass duo at the show on Friday! Steve Winwood opened both nights.

The Dead Setlists

June 20, 2003, SPAC - Saratoga Springs, NY
Set 1: Here Comes Sunshine > Jam > El Paso, Stagger Lee, ** Dear Mr. Fantasy > Jam > ** Baba Jingo, Looks Like Rain, Mr. Charlie > Lovelight (** with Steve Winwood)
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower > New Potato Caboose > I Know you Rider > Drums> Bass Jam (with Mike Gordon) > Eyes Of The World > Jam > He's Gone > Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Cryptical, Ripple, Sugar Magnolia
Encore: We Bid You Goodnight

Highlights: Steve Winwood opened he played 40,000 Headmen and Can't Find My Way Home. First set of the Dead picked up when Winwood joined the band on guitar for a kick ass Dear Mr. Fantasy. Joan Osbounre sounded great on Mr. Charlie (especially after I was ready to kick her out of the band the day before...). The Lovelight jam was the highlight of Set 1. For Set 2, China Cat Sunflower was sweet and the Japhans went nuts when Mike Gordon appeared after drums for a bass duo with Phil Lesh. The rest of the set was stellar... Eyes, He's Gone and Sugar Magnolia were some of the best I heard in a long time.

Notes: It was raining all week (all month!) and on the ride up I told Kohei, Iku, and Menjo to pray to Jerry and ask for "no rain" for the show. I think it worked! We had a dry show!

The Dead - 6.21.03, Hartford, CT
Set 1: Milestones Jam > Mississippi 1/2 Step > Me & Bobby McGee, Iko-Iko (w/ Steve Winwood), Low Spark (with Winwood), A Little Piece For You, The Wheel, Touch of Grey
Set 2: Jam > Feel Like A Stranger, Scarlet Begonias > Hard to Handle > Jam > Drums > Space > Night of 1000 Stars > Sugaree > St Stephen > William Tell Bridge > Playin' in the Band > Midnight Hour > Playin' Reprise
Encore: One More Saturday Night

posted by Pauly at 6/22/2003 07:38:00 AM | Permalink |

 

Happy Birthday, Orit!!

Today is Orit's b-day... best wishes today!


posted by Pauly at 6/22/2003 07:36:00 AM | Permalink |

 
My doorman pulled me aside a few moments ago to ask me if I was OK. He told me that he'd noticed that I "looked troubled and very depressed" today and most of this past week This is a guy who has seen me at my best and my worst over the last few years. His astute observation was a shocking realization for me... I am unable to put up a front anymore. The gates to my Kingdom have been overun by an intrepid army of sorrow and despair. I still have a good fight in me, but it's true... my vulnerabilities have been exposed, I am tired, and my patience has grown thin. I have reached majestic mountain tops and I have also been face first in the gutter of hopelessness... where do I find myself wandering in the future? Away from the abyss... I pray.
posted by Pauly at 6/20/2003 08:31:00 AM | Permalink |

 
The Dead performed Casey Jones on the Late Show with David Letterman. I have three words for the Dead... Lose Joan Osbourne.
posted by Pauly at 6/20/2003 12:36:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Top 5 Famous Guys I Want to Party With...

1. Hugh Hefner
2. Hunter S. Thompson
3. Prince Harry "Pothead"
4. Keith Richards
5. Bill Clinton

posted by Pauly at 6/19/2003 09:38:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Tears of a Clown

If there is a smile on my face, it’s only there to fool the public. The unsympathetic vultures circle overhead in attack formation, ready to swoop in and pick at my beleaguered bones. I am unable to comfortably sigh because the anemic circus clown stole the last few emotions that I had saved up and hid in a small leather pouch that I was given many many, years ago. That was swiped along with the last few inklings of my delicate sanity, which has wavered back and forth between calmness and chaos. The calm, warm feelings of long walks down white sandy beaches, with crystal blue waters slowly rolling up along the shore, soothing my weary feet as I walk next to a faint image of someone I was in love with once, a long time ago, are now a faint dream peppered with unclear thoughts and faded memories. The chaos trickles down from overhead. First, a couple of droplets hit the now expanding bald spot on my head. Then the once steady rhythmic and hypnotic downfall accelerated into a messy downpour. My entire body is now soaked and if there were a smile on my face, it was only there to fool the public.
posted by Pauly at 6/18/2003 07:22:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Bryant Park

I sit in Bryant Park and I watch all the Five o’clock People scurry off, released from their cubicles they rush away down Fifth Avenue, dozens, hundreds, thousands. A flashback of a scene from the Matrix. I am alive as I will ever be, yet everything around me is as distant as far as Saturn’s moon are from the Oregon Coast, my detachment thrills and disturbs my child like eyes.

I could feel a rare summer breeze. I could hear the background cacophony, conflicting city sounds echoing and dancing, horns honking from Al Qaeda supporting cabbies, bus breaks screeching to a halt, express delivery trucks beeping as they back up. A snot nosed child laughs, then a pigeon shits on a tourist from Nebraska.

The traffic light changes. A swarmy mass of pedestrians converge while I am pushed as far out onto the fringe as I have ever been. My tense back up against the sharp wall of reality. I sigh with the thoughts of futility and irresponsibility dancing in front of me with intimidating ghosts of old memories and forgotten dreams.

The minutes accumulate and I stare out into nowhere. Something real and vibrant, traits I sought out incessantly, now limped it’s way down the street into a vacant lot, scattered with broken glass from cheap wine bottles and burnt out light bulbs.

The illumination vanished and the walk down the street became fabricated. The three minute jaunt from the lobby to the subway whispers hollow wood sounds that seduce the walking clichés that walk right in front of me. Their insidious conformity shines in their visionless eyeballs.

A suit on a cell phone almost ran over a group of trust fund yentas with freshly painted manicured toes, the unoriginal ones carrying Gucci handbags with tiny yapping poodles given French sounding names by their malcontent owners. Tourists in shorts and “I LOVE NY” T-shirts quickly pull out their digital cameras, their disposable cameras, their video cameras. Their desire to photograph a scene which now makes me nauseous.

A black homeless man jingles his Starbucks cup filled with pennies and dimes and a Canadian Quarter. A sad fat woman munches down on a Big Mac, as she gripped her crumpled McD’s bag. A hungry construction worker sidesteps a woman with a baby carriage so he can get home in time to eat leftovers. A thirsty alcoholic shakes his way through the crowd, his mind wanders to the afterthoughts of a double scotch. An addictive smoker chain smokes in front of a group of retarded school children. An old man carries a briefcase that looked like the one my father used to have. A distressed Ukrainian taxi driver considers running over a group of pedestrians in the crosswalk. A gay man hums a show tune. A young woman glides by and I catch a whiff of her perfume, and it reminds me of an old girlfriend, that used to wear her hair in a French Twist when she painted. A content man whistles a song. An insane red head hopes that I’ll notice that she’s not wearing a bra and underwear. A lonely secretary contemplates suicide. She doesn’t because she has no one to look after her three cats. A cynic sits and thinks out loud. Pigeons fly overhead, some may or may not carry the Monkeypox. A pickpocket slithers away with someone’s $22.00 Metrocard, only to be hit by a speeding Mercedes from Connecticut. An angry man gets out of his convertible and spits on the thief.


posted by Pauly at 6/17/2003 01:11:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Cali Jen sent me these heady links from Alternet.org:

1. The Right to Party is written by Neal Pollack. It's quite disturbing.

Here's a bit: "According to the law, it is illegal to "manage or control any place, whether permanently or temporarily, either as an owner, lessee, agent, employee, occupant, or mortgagee, and knowingly and intentionally rent, lease, profit from, or make available for use, with or without compensation, the place for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance."

This definition was derived from a 20-year-old federal law that permitted raids on "crackhouses." The law is so broad that you could have 10 people over for dinner, put on some loud music, and you've got yourself a rave. If someone lights a joint at your "rave," and the neighbors complain about the music, and the police are in a bad mood that night, you face decades in prison. Suddenly everyone is a potential drug criminal and it's doubly dangerous if there's dancing involved."

2. Democrats on Weed by Steven Wishnia.

Here's a little bit: "The Bush junta's record on pot is abysmal. Some people hoped that as a Republican recovering alcoholic and cokehead, George W. might pull a "Nixon goes to China" on drug policy, but his performance in office has been more like Nixon bombing hospitals in Vietnam. From the crackdowns on medical marijuana and glass pipes to the threats to Canada if it decriminalizes pot, he's made cultural war on cannabis the center of his drug policy. So what are the alternatives? Well, as it's unlikely that the US will elect a Green or a Libertarian in 2004, that leaves the Democrats. Which isn't much. None of the nine candidates currently running is as extreme as Bush, but the ones who have criticized the Drug War the most are the ones considered least likely to win. "

posted by Pauly at 6/17/2003 07:49:00 AM | Permalink |

 

Pauly's Pub Baseball Pool

Week 11 Update thru 6.16.03 @ 8:53 am

Team of the Week: Rib Boy's Latrells (340 points in Week 11)

Week 11 Results:
1 Rib Boy's Latrells 340
2 Holla Atmeyoes 311
3 Subway Rats 286
4 Big Sal's Goodfellas 278
5 Buttamaker's Boilermakers 276
6 Furcal's Phisheads 231
7 Beantown Baby GO SOX 203
8 Moe's Tavern 196

Overall First Half Standings:
1 Rib Boy's Latrells (Derek) 3419 (Last Week 1)
2 Holla Atmeyoes (Gil) 3376 (2)
3 Buttamaker's Boilermakers (Armen) 3185 (3)
4 Big Sal's Goodfellas (Sal Biaggi) 3153 (4)
5 Subway Rats (Spider) 3150 (5)
6 Moe's Tavern (Pauly 2) 2999 (6)
7 Furcal's Phisheads (Pauly 1) 2937 (7)
8 Beantown Baby GO SOX (Brad) 2878 (8)

The Skinny: Nobody changed any places as Rib Boy's Latrells sat in first place for a second straight week.

Pauly's Pub Golf Pool

US Open Update thru 6.16.03 @ 9:16 am EST

Duffer of the Week: Big Sal (242)

Overall Results for the U.S. Open:
1 Big Sal 60-60-61-61 (242)
2 Sausage & Links 64-56-63-63 (246)
2 Spalding Eats Boogers 62-56-64-64 (246)
4 DeNunzio's Ball Sack 62-60-63-64 (249)
5 Pot Smoking USA 63-59-64-66 (252)
6 Carl's Hydro Trip Weed 64-60-66-63 (253)
7 Bushwood's Dirty Micks 61-60-66-70 (257)
7 Al's Cervix 65-61-66-65 (257)
9 Grateful Jenny 63-60-65-71 (259)
10 The Divots 0
10 EightInch Driver 0
10 Team Singer 0

OVERALL RESULTS ***
1. Sausage & Links (Senor) 4 (Last Week 2)
2. DeNunzio's Ball Sack (Derek) 7 (T-3)
3. Pot Smoking USA (Ty Webb) 8 (T-3)
4. Eight Inch Driver (Spider) 11 (1)
5. Grateful Jenny (Cali Jen) 12 (T-3)
5. Big Sal (Sal Biaggi ) 12 (11)
7. Bushwood's Dirty Micks (Pauly) 14 (T-7)
7. Al's Cervix (Pauly 2) 14 (T-7)
7. Spalding Eats Boogers (Joe Moore) 14 (12)
10. Carl's Hydro Trip Weed (Danny Noonan) 15 (T-9)
11. Team Singer (Brad Singer) 16 (6)
12. The Divots (Gil Shapir) 19 (T-9)

*** Determined by adding the number of place finished from the Masters & the US Open. The lower the score the better. Example: Senor finished 2nd both times, hence he has 4 overall points. I finished 7th both times, hence 14 points.

The Skinny: Senor and Joe Moore had the lowest rounds of the US Open with 56 a piece on Day 2, friday. But they weren't enough to hold off Big Sal, who's low 60s held up to win the US Open. He picked the winning golfer: Jim Furyk! I see that the 2 biggest golfers did much better after they finished in last place for the Masters!
posted by Pauly at 6/17/2003 07:49:00 AM | Permalink |

 
"There is not one big cosmic meaning for all, there is only the meaning we each give to our life, an individual meaning, an individual plot, like an individual novel, a book for each person." - Anais Nin

posted by Pauly at 6/16/2003 10:10:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Last 5 Books I Saw People Reading on the Subway...

1. Absolute Power by David Balducci
2. The People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
3. Soho: The Rise and Fall of an Artist's Colony by Richard Kostelanetz
4. On the Road by Jack Keroauc
5. Trilobite: Eyewitness to Evolution by Richard Fortey
posted by Pauly at 6/16/2003 03:32:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Today in Phish History

6/16/00 Zepp Theatre, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, JAPAN
Set I: Limb By Limb, Sample in a Jar, First Tube, Golgi Apparatus, Heavy Things, Dirt, My Sweet One, Reba, Character Zero
Set II: Runaway Jim, Theme from the Bottom, Dog Faced Boy, Driver, Slave to the Traffic Light **, Julius, Bug
Encore: Bouncing Around the Room, Harry Hood

** Beano started a glowstick war during Slave!

I got lost during Reba. I had my eyes closed and ten minutes into the song I forgot: 1. What song they were playing and 2. Where I was! Truly a remarkable experince to suddenly realize I was about thirty feet in front of Trey in Osaka, Japan!!

posted by Pauly at 6/16/2003 07:37:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Thoroughbred Conspiracy Theory is an article written by Hunter S. Thompson.

Here's a bit: "The villain of this Triple Crown story was thoroughbred the "racing establishment," the mint julep, pink lemonade crowd that had ruled the sport from the beginning of time. Known in the business as the dreaded Kentucky Mafia of horse breeders & trainers & money barons, who hated the sight of Funny Cide and "would do almost anything" to keep him from winning this race."
posted by Pauly at 6/16/2003 07:36:00 AM | Permalink |

 
The Reality Principle is an article written by Thomas Friedman and appeared in yesterday's NY Times.

Here's a bit: "Self-destructive is, in fact, a useful term to describe Israelis and Palestinians today. "Both sides," notes the Israeli political theorist Yaron Ezrahi, "have crossed the line where self-defense has turned into self-destruction. When self-defense becomes self-destruction, only an external force can bring people back to their senses. And that force is President Bush. I think he is the only reality principle left that either side might listen to, and I hope he understands that."
posted by Pauly at 6/16/2003 07:34:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Tao of Pauly will be on hiatus...

It's true. I'll be going away for the weekend, and I'll be back Sunday for your blogging pleasure. Truckin' will be out on Monday for sure. I apologize for the delay!


Today in PHISH History....

6/13/00 Club Quattro, Naka-ku, Nagoya, JAPAN
Set I: Meat > Maze > Meat, Ya Mar, Fast Enough For You, Old Home Place, Wilson, Mike's Song > Simple > Weekapaug Groove
Set II: Gotta Jibboo, Wolfman's Brother, Antelope > Contact, Sand, Roggae, Prince Caspian, Rocky Top, Cavern
Encore: Brian and Robert, Good Times Bad Times

posted by Pauly at 6/13/2003 11:06:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Foxwoods?

I am finally back from a long stint at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. Senor drove down from Rhode Island after work to meet me at the poker room. We got to play together at the same table for almost two hours. I was getting cold cards all night. I had a couple of great hands (Pocket Aces A-A, a couple of A-K, and a K-Q). My best hand of the nigth was a Q-10. I won a huge pot on a full house playing $4-$8 but it was not enough to cover my loses. Overall it was one of the worst performance sof my short poker career. I'll get them back. Maybe this weekend?

I missed the Phish performance. I set my VCR only to have it tape the wrong thing. Oh well. I got to catch the last few innings of the Yankees no-hit lowlight and saw all of the second half of the NBA Finals.


posted by Pauly at 6/13/2003 11:04:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Phish will be performing the national anthem at tonight's NBA Finals game at 8 PM EST on ABC. Check local listings for more details.
posted by Pauly at 6/11/2003 01:39:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Monkeypox!

I haven't heard any good MONKEYPOX jokes... feel free to submit them!
posted by Pauly at 6/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Permalink |

 
"The world is the mirror of myself dying." - Henry Miller
posted by Pauly at 6/10/2003 10:31:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Tampa Workers Start Again is an article written by Dave Simanoff and appears in today's Tampa Tribune. Good work, Skippy!


posted by Pauly at 6/10/2003 03:49:00 PM | Permalink |

 

Your Favorite Truckin' Stories

Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting process! I will be submitting the winning story for future publication!

The Winner: Baby's Steak Knife and Winky's Salad (May 2003)

The Rest of the Top 5:
2. A Caged Bird Sings on the Subway (September 2002)
3. Tela & Cheese Sandwich (October 2002)
4. Nagoya (August 2002)
5. TIE: Shooting Pool (March 2003)
5. TIE: Baby, $2,000, and the Dork Brothers (April 2003)

Here's some of the feedback I got from everyone:

"I must confess, while in Asia although I wrote for Truckin, I never read a Truckin issue!!!!! I did not have access to a printer and I was never in the mood to pay for each moment of reading each story. It was exciting to be part of an e-zine, but really for me it was all about you asking me to write and so I did. Since being back in the states and having access to a printer I have managed to print out and read every Truckin issue!!! First of all i want to congratulate you. It boggles my mind how you can be so prolific and still remain so creative. Your ability to keep each story fresh and interesting has really blown me away. I love Truckin'!!!!! I love your stories, Jessica's stories seem so real, Phish reviews are nastolgic for me and told with such detail I feel as if I was at the show, Armando's works are hilaroius and its truly a very entertaining magaizine. Now I am far more than excited to have been part of this experience I am proud to have been a writer and now am thrilled to be a reader of Truckin!!!!!! Keep up the amazing work. This is truly something you should cherish and be immencely proud of. I love you and I am proud of you!!!!" - Senor

"The character names fit each one and your descriptions are outstanding... and being a loosely based character in any of your stories is an honor! The rest of your characters are so original with amazing depth that every one of them deserves their own Truckin' story at some point..." - Heather

"I base all my opinions on Americans through your stories. I think I must move there to experience your way of living. I might enjoy myself more if everyday is like your Truckin' stories; filled with tales of excessive drug usage, world wide jaunts, hookers all over the place, lavish trips to Las Vegas and gambling outrageous sums of money, hysterical women from all walks of life, and more drugs and partying..." - Edgar, Thunder Bay, Canada

"The Phish NYE story was special..." - Modeski

"Some of those stories are really poignant to me... Reading some of those tales give me peace. And some make me laugh! And some make me melancholy. But they ALL make me smile." - Jessica

"Flutterbys reminded me of having to take a shit. There seems to be some underlying meaning in that write up. Please re-read it and let me know what you think... I like your reviews (both the movies and concerts) but... I really liked the Nagoya one where someone was like... 'Senor doesn't look Mexican!' That was one of my favorite traveling story... I'm also a fan of the Subway Quotes... Keep up the e-zine. I like the variety of write ups including your Subway Stories and subway quotes. Your e-zine is awesome and really entertaining. You should definitely keep it up." - Derek

Here's a complete list of the stories that the readers voted on:

Subway Quotes (June 2002)
The Worst Subway Ride (July 2002)
Nagoya (August 2002)
A Caged Bird Sings on the Subway (September 2002)
The Cookie Junkie (September 2002)
Jake's Beer (October 2002)
Monday Morning, Montego Bay (October 2002)
Tela & Cheese Sandwich (October 2002)
Jack Tripper Stole My Dog (November 2002)... NaNoWriMo novel excerpt #1
Flutterbys (November 2002)
S.P.U.D. (November 2002)
December Subway Story: Part 1 (December 2002)
Phishy Proposal (December 2002)
Jack Tripper Stole My Dog (December 2002)... NaNoWriMo novel excerpt #2
Phish Reunion Concert: A NYE Review (January 2003)
Feb Subway Story: Fallen Angel (February 2003)
The Girl Next Door (February 2003)
Shooting Pool (March 2003)
The Girl Next Door: Episode 2 (March 2003)
Baby, $2,000, and the Dork Brothers (April 2003)
Vegas, Two Canadian Hockey Players, and a Kansas Blonde(April 2003)
Baby's Steak Knife and Winky's Salad (May 2003)

Written by Tenzin McGrupp © 2002, 2003



posted by Pauly at 6/10/2003 01:38:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Coldplay Extras?

Charna sent me this e-mail: "Is anyone would be interested in buying 2 Coldplay Tickets off me for this Friday night, June 13 at Madison Square Gardens. It's at 8pm and the seats are really good! They are $50 each at cost value. I can no longer go, so please forward this along to any one else that might be interested. Thanks."

If you are interested, let me know...
posted by Pauly at 6/10/2003 01:31:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Poker Champ to be on Letterman!

Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 World Series of Poker Champion, will make an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight. Check it out!
posted by Pauly at 6/10/2003 09:45:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Last 5 Books I Saw People Reading on the Subway...

1. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem
2. How to Be Good by Nick Hornby
3. The Nanny by Melissa Nathan
4. The Girl From the South by Stephen King
5. Faith Under Fire: How Christians Respond to Islam and Other Religions by David C. Cooper
posted by Pauly at 6/09/2003 11:56:00 PM | Permalink |

 
"The weather's too nice to be sitting in front of the computer, so I'll be sitting in front of the TV." - Sigge
posted by Pauly at 6/09/2003 02:33:00 PM | Permalink |

 

Pauly's Pub Baseball Pool

Week 10 Update thru 6.9.03 @ 8:43 AM EST

Team of the Week: Big Sal's Goodfellas!

Week 10 Results:
1 Big Sal's Goodfellas 346
2 Rib Boy's Latrells 319
3 Subway Rats 309
4 Furcal's Phisheads 296
5 Beantown Baby GO SOX 295
6 Moe's Tavern 292
7 Buttamaker's Boilermakers 279
8 Holla Atmeyoes 227

Overall First Half Standings:
1 Rib Boy's Latrells (Derek) 3079 (Last Week 2)
2 Holla Atmeyoes (Gil) 3065 (1)
3 Buttamaker's Boilermakers (Armen) 2909 (3)
4 Big Sal's Goodfellas (Sal) 2875 (5)
5 Subway Rats (Spider) 2864 (4)
6 Moe's Tavern (Pauly 2) 2803 (6)
7 Furcal's Phisheads (Pauly 1) 2706 (8)
8 Beantown Baby GO SOX (Brad) 2675 (9)

The Skinny: After 6 straight weeks in top spot, Holla Atmeyoes slipped to second place after a solid week from Rib Boy's Latrells, who took over the lead late last night. A strong showing from Big Sal's Goodfellas, who won team of the week, helped them move into 4th place ahead of the Subway Rats (only 215 points out of first place). Beantown Baby returned to the basement after Furcal's Phisheads cut all their problem players, sobered up and pitched much better.
posted by Pauly at 6/09/2003 01:49:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Re: Only in Brooklyn!

Here's a NY Daily News article about the Killer Shoe Story!

Here's a bit: "Roosevelt Bonds was a heel - a jealous, two-timing lout who would think nothing of punching a lady in the mouth. Anna Rhinehart was a big lady, with a couple of big shoes and an even bigger temper - with a jealous streak to match."

Some comments:

Derek wrote: "Too funny, but not really! I can't believe some guy got beat to death with a shoe and by a woman. She must have been some big ass woman if she was able to kill that guy with her stilletto!"

Cali Jen added: "Sounds like one of your Truckin' stories!! By the way, what kind of shoe was it? Prada, Steve Madden, Manolo Blahnik? She might be ripe for a commercial for the multi-purpose shoe: you can go out all night dancing then come home and beat up your cheating boyfriend."

Jen Flowers wrote: "Wow! A size 12? That's one big and mean woman!"

posted by Pauly at 6/09/2003 09:41:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Only in Brooklyn!

Brooklyn Woman Accused Of Beating Ex-Boyfriend To Death with Shoe!

Here's a bit: "The New York Post reports a size-12 high-heel shoe was taken into evidence at the crime scene.The victim is the father of one of Rhinehart's five children, a 6-year-old boy..."

posted by Pauly at 6/08/2003 11:13:00 PM | Permalink |

 
I need a new bookie. Why? Thanks to Operation Losing Bet!
posted by Pauly at 6/07/2003 06:55:00 PM | Permalink |

 
The Belmont Stakes, Funny Cide, and the "Fix is in!"

What are Pauly's picks? Here's what I wrote in a recent e-mail.

1. Scrimshaw
2. Empire Maker
3. Funny Cide

After I woke up this morning and saw sloppy wet condiitons, I ran (literally I ran) to OTB and placed bets on the rest of the field to win. I have money on the longshots to win: Supervisor (50-1), Scrimshaw (20-1 and MY PICK TO WIN) and Ten Most Wanted (10-1). If any of those win, I clean up big time.

The fix is in. And I'm betting heavily on that hunch. Funny Cide will not win today. I want Funny Cide to win since it's a NY horse, but in all reality horseracing is one of the most fixed events in all of sports. I've been hanging around OTBs and the racetrack ever since I could walk (wasnt my father a positive influence on me?) and I've been picking winners consistently since age 5 (read my father's autobiography). I know when something is "rotten in denmark". I have that itch in my bones. If I'm wrong so be it. You can't win money betting on a favorite. Because if I'm right... I wanna get PAID OFF!

I placed wheel bets on Scrimshaw over Empire Maker and Funny Cide! Pauly's Picks!
posted by Pauly at 6/07/2003 12:12:00 PM | Permalink |

 

Happy 21 Molly!!

Today it's Molly's 21st Birthday! Send her groovy birthday greetings: Here!
posted by Pauly at 6/07/2003 12:24:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Required Reading: Killed By a Speeding Hummer is an article written by Hunter S. Thompson.

Here's a bit: "It is horrible to think about Jason Kidd and Tim Duncan on the same team next year, and especially on the defending NBA champions. They would be unbeatable. Unless they get their legs broken, or get run over by a speeding Hummer in some dark and lonely Parking facility by a hit-and-run drunk driver who flees the scene and disappears forever."
posted by Pauly at 6/06/2003 08:45:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Dark Star Orchestra

6.4.03 Irving Plaza, NYC, NY (Show #813)
Performing an Original Setlist

Set 1: Cold Rain & Snow, Me & My Uncle> Big River, Jack A Roe, Tons of Steel, Passenger, High Time, You Ain't Women Enough, Paint My Masterpiece, Loose Lucy, Brother Esau, Touch of Grey

Set 2: Women R Smarter, Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Sunrise, Uncle John's Band > Supplication > Drums* > Space > Uncle John's > Attics > Good Lovin

Encore: Run For The Roses > We Bid You Goodnight

*with Mark Greenberg (Dickey Betts Band) on drums


posted by Pauly at 6/05/2003 12:02:00 PM | Permalink |

 

Pauly's Pub BBC Week 9 Update

Thru 6.3.03 @ 6:32 PM

Team of the Week Holla Atmeyoes

Week 9 Results:
1 Holla Atmeyoes 335
2 Rib Boy's Latrells 326
3 Subway Rats 294
4 Moe's Tavern 270
5 Buttamaker's Boilermaker 268
6 Big Sal's Goodfellas 250
7 Beantown Baby GO SOX 241
8 Furcal's Phisheads 199

Overall First Half Standings:
1 Holla Atmeyoes (G. Shapir) 2838 (Last Week 1)
2 Rib Boy's Latrells (D. McGuire) 2760 (2)
3 Buttamaker's Boilermakers (A. Tanzairian) 2630 (3)
4 Subway Rats (S. McNamara) 2555 (4)
5 Big Sal's Goodfellas (S. Biaggi) 2529 (5)
6 Moe's Tavern (T. McGrupp) 2511 (6)
7 Furcal's Phisheads ({Pauly) 2410 (7)
8 Beantown Baby GO SOX (Brad Singer) 2380 (8)

The Skinny: Holla Atmeyoes still holds the top spot after a week where nobody changed places. Rib Boy's is 2nd, and the Subway Rats hold third. Beatown Baby Go Sox is making a push to get the hell out of the basement, looking to whiz by the anemic Furcal's Phisheads, who's management dismissed half the team (including Jung Bong and Jeff "Smokes" Weaver) and for excessive marijuana usage in between innings.

posted by Pauly at 6/05/2003 12:01:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Jon Schanzer wrote an article that apears in the National Review. Check out: Lurking in Lebanon: We Know Where al Qaeda Is.

Here's a bit: "In one of the camp's wildest stories, it appeared that North Korea was also attempting to benefit from the lawlessness of Ein al-Hilweh. In February, the Lebanon Daily Star reported that a North Korean agent named Jim Su Kim was arrested and held by the Lebanese army for questioning. Was Kim trying to work with al Qaeda's Lebanese operatives? There was no follow-up in the Lebanese press, and no official statement from Beirut."
posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 10:16:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Dark Star Orchestra

6.3.03, Irving Plaza, NYC, NY (Show #812)

Performing The Grateful Dead concert on 3.24.87 at Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA

Set 1: Jack Straw, Candyman, Minglewood, Loser, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Ramble On Rose, Let It Grow
Set 2: Gimme Some Lovin > Black Muddy River, Playin > Terrapin > Drumz > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Wharf Rat > NFA
Encore: Brokedown Palace
Filler: Viola Lee Blues

The show was sold out. One more tonight!
posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 10:09:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Last 5 Books I Saw People Reading on the Subway...

1. Sacrament by Clive Barker
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
3. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
4. The Holy Bible
5. Building a Character by Constantine Stanislavski
posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 08:05:00 AM | Permalink |

 
"The nature of the gambling experience drags our emotions and fears to the surface and forces us to deal with them." - Miron Stabinsky
posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 08:00:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Re: Happy Birthday, Tao of Pauly!

Here are some responses I got recently...

Stephen Adkins wrote: "To the Tao master, my friend Pauly McGrupp. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE TAO!! I always look forward to the reading of the Tao, it turned me on to the wonders of Dave Simanoff, the co-operative E-story, and the first mention of my name on the web! But seriously McGrupp, you are a gifted wordsmith, a great friend and the fame and fortune of the Tao could not have happened to a better person. It is with a great deal of pleasure (that I say) HAPPY 1st BIRHTDAY TO THE TAO OF PAULY!!! I bid you royal flushes, straight drives and golden words. Peaches, Noonan!

Jerry Engel wrote: "I read the email on the Tao - it was a nice capsule of you life and the site over the past year. I say, if you can swing it finacially, you have to go play poker in Europe. Think of the experiences and the stories that will only enhance your creativity and writing. However, I will say that this is how people disappear. For example:

Ranodm Emory Alumnus: "Hey, have you heard from Pauly?"
Jerry: "No, last I heard he was playing poker in Europe."
Ranodm Emory Alumnus: "Oh."

And that's all she wrote!"
posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 07:50:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Re: 11 Q's May... the Jerry Engel Question

Jerry answered: "Thanks for the memories - you captured the events and the spirit in which they occured very well."

Schanzer responded: "Big smiles over here. Great times!"

posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 07:41:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Phish National Anthem

Phish will sing the national anthem at Game 4 of the NBA Finals (Nets vs. Spurs) on Wednesday, June 11 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ. The game will be televised on ABC TV at 8 p.m. ET
posted by Pauly at 6/04/2003 07:36:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Dark Star Orchestra

5.30.03 Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island

Performing the Grateful Dead concert on 9.12.88... The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

Set 1: Jack Straw, Althea, Let the Good Times Roll, Dire Wolf, Cassidy, Dupree's, I Paint My Masterpiece, When Push Comes to Shove, Music Never Stopped

Set 2: Box Of Rain > Cold Rain and Snow > Woman Are Smarter > Eyes of the World > Drumz > Other One > Wharf Rat > Around and Around > Good Lovin

Encore: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Filler: The Weight

The Zen Tricksters opened.
posted by Pauly at 6/02/2003 07:24:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Providence Misadventures with Senor, Singer and Kato....?

Well I'm back.... from a weekend getaway in New England. Got to see Senor's new house (nice!), got to see newly refurbished Providence. We met up with Brad Singer, who drove down from Boston. Finally, I got to see a show at the infamous Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel. A cool venue, a cross between the Electric Factory in Philly and Irving Plaza in NYC. Everyone is very nice and cordial in Rhode Island, and P-town has a hefty share a adorable Phishy chicks! Parts of Providence reminded my of the Highlands in Atlanta and some parts reminded me of the Northwest like Portland and Seattle. It rained a lot, just like in Seattle!

And most importantly, the highlight of my weekend, I played 8 hours of poker at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut on Saturday. I doubled my money and played $4-$8 Texas Hold 'em with none other than.... Kato Kaelin! I had the best rush (run of lucky cards) that I ever had since I started playing cards! More stories to come... but for now, Senor is alive, well, and he started his new life. It's looks promising!
posted by Pauly at 6/02/2003 07:03:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Trey Anastasio Band San Francisco setlists

Thanks to the Biaggi sisters (Betty and Katarina) for e-mailing me the setlists! Sounds like good shows! Carlos Santana played the entire second set on Saturday!

5.30.03 Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA
Set I: Money Love and Change, Plasma, Magilla, Push On Til the Day, Flock of Words, Sidewalks of San Francisco, Drifting, Olivia, At the Gazebo, Last Tube
Set II: Curlew's Call, Tube Top Wobble, Alive Again, Pebbles and Marbles, Small Axe, The Inlaw Josie Wales, Secret Smile, Spices, Dazed and Confused
Encore: Sweet and Dandy


05.31.03 Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA
Set I: Mozambique, Simple Twist Up Dave, Last Tube*, The Way I Feel*, Cincinnati, Black Dog
Set II: Mr. Completely * > John The Revelator* > Night Speaks To A Woman* > Caravan*
Encore: Root Down***

* With Carlos Santana
*** The Beastie Boys version of the Jimmy Smith tune. Trey & Jen reading lyrics off of notecards

posted by Pauly at 6/02/2003 07:03:00 AM | Permalink |