Chapter 13: An unlucky chapter...

Wow, it would be chapter 13...

On my way to Morro Bay for a family reunion...ALL of the immediate family is already there. Mom and Dad and their new Itasca, Kathy and Tim and the the boys in their 5th wheeler, John and Betsy and their boys in their trailer...all that is missing is me in my beautiful Tioga...

Right outside of Padaro Lane...and I hear an HUGE "kluTHUNK!"....all I can think of is "kuhRAP!"...pulling over...I think it is the main hose...I should be so lucky...the fan clutch broke, sending the fan into the radiator DEMOLISHING the soft metal and sending coolant everywhere...double kuhRAP!

Then, I found out my towing is, pay first and submit a claim....another kuhRAP...I'm changing my towing to AAA...

The gentleman from Colson's towing was calming, pleasant and efficient...he took me to his recommended mechanic...who will remain nameless until I see the quality of his work...

Here is a pic of the sad beast:




and the blown out fan:


So I went for a walk...and saw something odd, and a bit scary: Danny's Deli with Car Wash and ATM...wow, what a combination...


But! I found a lovely cafe to sit and hang out at...The Chamomile Cafe...lovely coffee...with delightful people working there...and, always a plus: free WiFi...



Of course, I just get the call from the mechanic that my car won't be finished today...another kuhRAP...

Chapter 12: CalArts Concert, then RV party...

OK, I put this picture first...it makes me look relaxed, which I'm not right now..as I'm getting ready to hand over 6 bills to have my RV fixed...but, ah, I do look relaxed here...


So, filling in for John Fumo at Cal Arts this semester...he is on the road with Neil Diamond...my ensemble just had its first gig...

Eric Klerks, guitar; Graham Chapman, bass; Gabe Johnson, trumpet; Evan (last name!!!???), drums; me on tpt

So, Gabe likes to make fun of the faces I make when playing...hmmmmm....Gabe? What is that look on your face...??


Gabe is the finest young jazz trumpet player I've heard...he has amazing chops, technical skills, is very creative, BUT he should not make fun of my faces if he is going to do this. :-)...Let's get a close-up...no photoshop action here, really...



Graham hates the sun as much as I do...


Enjoying stogies (arturo fuentes) after a killer vegan BBQ...well, actually, not killer...nothing died for it...






Off to pay attention to the RV repairs...

Chapter 11: My new favorite "local" campsite...

OK, my RV is broken-down in Carpinteria...So I'll catch up on my blog...

My new favorite local RV hang.....


I'm not going to mention its name as I want to keep it for myself...



Although I did have a few friends join me:









Some had the very rare opportunity to see me play a highly competitive game of horseshoes....




Beautiful desert flora...



Bye...

Chapter 10: Choir Boys with Strings

Now there is something you don't see to often: creative music advertised in neon. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Ollie Powers and Robert Lawson for inviting me to be a guest artist at their faculty music series at Ventura College. My band of choice was The Choir Boys, a collaborative effort between Andrew Pask and myself. You can read about our infamous Holiday Inn gig earlier in the blog. The Choir Boys with Strings idea is all Steuart Liebig...he joked about it at a Cryptonite gig...and there you go...here it is. The addition of G.E. Stinson on guitars and Steuart on contrabass guitars added a whole new level of madness to the proceedings, as well as a lot of fun. Roger Meyer and crew did the lights, which were great.

For the gig, I brought recording gear, and the multi-gifted Wayne Peet engineered. The recording came out quite good, and will be released in January....Wayne is great, he has played on three of my albums, engineered and mastered many pfMENTUM and Angry Vegan records....and I have commissioned him in the past to write choral music for the Ojai Camerata when I was there...my life is better with Wayne Peet in it! He is amazing.


Jeff and Andrew looking for audience....


G.E., Andrew, Jeff, Steuart


Andrew and Jeff



G.E.


Jeff and Steuart


The ubiquitous Wayne Peet


Oh man, the marquee as well....