i’d rather be in haena   

I’ve been trying to sign up online for two days. After four attempts I think I’ll give up.

First attempt: can’t get past the “agree to these conditions” screen. I get a message saying too many users are trying to access the system. This goes on all Sunday night.

Today I logged in again and, mercifully, got past the problem screen. I fill in all the billing info, click ‘next,’ and am told my credit card info is wrong (after a 3 minute wait). I click the button that tells me to correct the info and find that I have to re-enter everything again.

I grit my teeth and do so. I click “next”.

Five minutes later I get kicked out of the system with a timeout message. Apparently my card hasn’t been charged, but there’s no way to determine that.

I decide someone has to politely inform these folks that their online ordering system sucks.

I go to the contact page and find no email contact, or way to get in touch with a web admin.

I decide waiting in line at the Bay Bridge tollbooths is slightly less frustrating than this.

Can anyone give me a source for this oft-quoted Emmylou endorsement? I keep reading it in Lucinda Williams articles, yet no one ever mentions where it was first published.

“[Lucinda] is an example of the best of what country at least says it is. But, for some reason, she’s completely out of the loop. And I feel strongly that that’s country music’s loss.”

This SF Weekly blog entry is almost like being there, minus (thankfully) the aging, drunk fanboy behind us screaming and W00Ting and shouting at the stage.

Oh, and Shearer was also playing an electric 5-string bass. Not to be pedantic. Or anything.

Grove of madrones (Arbutus menziesii) framed by young oak and redwood. Between Silver Springs and Chinquapin Trails. Kings Mountain/San Mateo County, CA. iPhone pic.

Number 1 on my top 10 list of advice to MySpace: Ignore Jason Calacanis.

PunkRockCat goes all chameleonic on the Army-surplus poncho liner that now drapes the Foof chair.

iPhone pic from a lovely Easter afternoon walk with Kate in the Orinda hills.

A neighborhood cat near Ridge Road’s dead end.

Do It Yourself – The Story of Rough Trade

Thanks to Brian Turner for the link.