House Concert in Palo Alto

I’m a little hung over when I wake up - well a good coffee will do:) After that I’m on my way to Palo Alto where I play Nancy Cassidy’s house concert series. Darn, I almost missed my exit...

Nancy lives in a wonderful Southern style home with her husband Cass and kids. She has a guest house in the garden which is simply beautiful. I feel at home instantly!

It’s a living room with a small kitchen area around the corner and a separate bedroom.

The concert itself in in her garden house which looks like a part of a mexican hacienda. That is one of the coolest places i have played so far and it has a very cozy atmosphere.

The people are very nice and appreciate my music. We all have a great time in the break and i get to chat with almost everybody. Later that night i hang out with Nancy, Cass and their niece.

Off Day

I have today off and spend it just working all day on the computer

Later in the evening Phil, Kristine, Calla and I are playing card games and drinking several bottles of wine - lol
After that I fall asleep on the couch

Phil's birthday and the San Jose Sharks!

In the morning I go over to Matt’s and Treya’s house. I love Co-housing, what a great way to built “real” community in a wonderful surrounding.
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I have the most intense breakfast ever with a huge steak, 3 eggs, a bowl of cottage cheese and a huge hunk of home made bread - I was certainly not prepared for that but am starving and manage to finish it clean:)
After that I’m on my way down to San Jose to stay with Phil. I have a couple days off and am looking forward to staying in one place. Here I’m crossing the Richmond Bridge.

It’s Phil’s birthday today and he almost made it a secret but... So for “his” birthday gift to himself:) he bought two tickets for the Hockey game of the San Jose Sharks tonight at the HP Pavillion downtown. I’m completely floored and realize that it is about 30 years ago that I saw a big sports event live! We have fantastic seats in the sixth row right behind the players. Before the game I fool around and try to shoot a nice pic with Phil and me but man, is that hard...

Then the game starts - unbelievable how athletic those players are and the speed in which they go - it is too cool.

There are a couple of German players in the San Jose team. It’s so fun watching and I get completely absorbed in the craze of the stadium.

After the first 20 minutes San Jose leads with 2:0 and in the end they win 3:1. It was a fantastic game and I guess I have a new favorite sport!.
Phil and me are talking on after it’s over. We take a ride home in the light rail. Both of us are starving and the only place still open is... guess again:)

That was another full day and I fall asleep just like that! I even forgot that my back is still hurting like crazy.

An early and full Sunday

Oh my, it’s way too early! I’m so tired but I have to get up and pack the car and then drive to Hayward where I play a Service at the Starr King UU Church. It is very chilly and my car is frozen over. I have a hard time scraping all the ice of the windows.
Why didn’t I book a flight to Florida and tour there?

I start the car and warm up in Tom’s kitchen.

Then I get going. The nice thing is that at that time no one is on the road and there are no traffic jams. I arrive in Hayward and have a look around the church

I’ll play two Services and the theme on this day is Martin Luther King Jr. It’s his birthday! Rev Kathryn Kandarian does a great job and I enjoy listening very much. She’s a wonderful person:)

After that I have to dash out and drive back North where I play in Cotati. I’m the featured artist in a new concert series and am excited about it.
Teresa Tudury and Matt Kramer are the ones who brought this to life.
Here they are with one of the songwriters.

It’s a Round Robin for the first hour and then they have a featured traveling artist that follows it with a long set.

It’s a wonderful show and I’m received very well. Everybody loves it and I’m very inspired - I’m also totally exhausted and glad that I can stay in the guest room of Matt’s Co-housing community.

After a long nap, Matt and his wife Treya take me out to a party where I play again about five songs and make some more friends:) - Wow, what a day! I’m so done and as soon as I hit the bed I’m in dreamland.

Benicia

I’m on my way down South and then over to the East Bay to Benicia. I’ve never been there and am curious what awaits me.

It’s a beautiful little town that is right on the water. I’m playing at the First Street cafe so I’m cruising down First Street.

I’m early so i have enough time to set up and then after that go to James’ brother Tom. The upstairs where I play has a nice atmosphere and I think this could be a good show.

Once I’m done setting up my little PA I take a stroll down to the water. The sun is just setting and I can see the Golden Gate in the distance. It’s beautiful as much as it is chilly and I can see my breath.

It’s a long show and i have to play from 8pm to 11pm. Too much for my taste and my back is still hurting. I’m lucky that i have some fans that stay from the beginning to the end. Otherwise people eat and talk - not my type of venue at all despite the nice owners Terri and Mike who are also there most of the time. Here are some of my new friends that stayed from the beginning to the end. Mary and Dave are from Reno and Rebecca is from Benicia.

Once I’m done I sit with them and chat until 12:30 am. Oh my, I have to load the PA, well first take it all down and carry it a steep stairway down to the car. At about 1:30 am I’m ready to roll five blocks where i can stay with James’ brother Tom & his wife Melanie. They have a little guest room which I’m looking forward to. I have to get up at 7 am to drive to Hayward.

Last big school day

Had to get up pretty early for my taste (7:30 am), especially after playing the night before but today is my last day in the Santa Rosa schools and I have 3 shows at Village school which is right next to Merritt’s work. Again, the kids are just darling. I really like 5th Grade.

In between shows i have a little time and spend it outside in the school yard. Kind of wish i had a ball:)

After I’m done at Village school we drive back to the house for a little bit. Then I’m off to my last show at Austin Creek. It’s the newest and most upper class of all the schools I’ve seen so far. When I arrive the kids are still at recess so I go inside the classroom and get ready

Very sweet again! These schools have been very good to me and it is certainly something I’d like to repeat.
Alden, Merritt’s and Howard’s daughter picks me up and drives me over the to Honda dealership. I have to wait another hour there before it’s done. $750, wow, how I would have loved to safe that one! Well, tomorrow I’m back on the road and play in Benicia.

House Concert at the Boosters

Today I’m looking forward to my House Concert but before that I have to do one more school show. I really like those kids, it’s very inspiring!

After Merritt drives me home we set up the living room for the concert. I’m excited to play for adults again after some days in the school.

My car was supposed to be done by now but they found another thing and so I have to wait until tomorrow. By now all the $ I made this week is just going to the Honda dealership. Well, whatever...
I have a nice crowd in the evening and people are just wonderful, they are so attentive and really love what I’m doing - that’s the second time for today where I feel totally inspired.

After the concert people hang out a little and we have the chance to chat. By 11:30 pm everybody is out of the house and it’s just Howard, Merritt and me.

They are just wonderful friends and i was so happy that i could stay with them for the week. Already looking forward to next year!

2nd Day in the school

Today is my second day in the school and I have two shows total. The first one is about 40 kids, two 2nd grade classrooms. It’s not so easy to do 2nd grade but I get it and we all have a lot of fun

In the break I fool around sitting outside in the sun and enjoying the sound of playing kids.

The next show is for 3rd graders about the same size. Certainly different than yesterdays 5th and 6th graders but just as lovely and sweet.

Merrit picks me up after that and back at home I work about 8 hours on the computer trying to catch up my myspace. My profile is still locked and I can’t email or comment so I had to create a temporary one to do that. I lost several days and the workload is out of hand but I’ll just work away.
After dinner I put in another 3 hours before i start doing the journal. Now I’m completely wiped and need to lay down and sleep. Tomorrow I have only one school show in the morning and then a house concert in the evening.

100 kids and $800 for the car

It’s great staying with my friends in Santa Rosa and I have a room just for myself in the next days

I decide to get the car fixed today and Merritt offers to drive me to the schools in the next days. The timing belt is overdue and the fan looks like it has to be replaced, so I call the dealership and get an appointment for early afternoon. This morning I have to do a school show, the first of eight and the hardest one to start with. I have a total of 100 kids (5/6th grade) in the library. It goes really well but after that my vocal chords are a little tired. The kids are very sweet and everybody wants an autograph, so it takes a while before I get out.

I drive over to Merritt’s work and then she leads the way to the Honda dealership.
I look at an estimate of about $880 - shit, that’s the whole week of work - well at least I can pay it and it’s better than to be stuck in Texas I guess, besides, after all it’s just money and just makes unwanted dents in my pockets.
The rest of the day goes by with doing emails. We all have a nice dinner and after that I’m pretty much ready for bed.

Oakland to Santa Rosa

Today I give a lesson in Oakland and after a quick breakfast I’m on my way.

I’ll teach my friend Erik some new tricks in DADGAD and we have fun seeing each other. Last time was about a year ago.

Tonight I’m a feature in an Open Mic night in Novato. My car starts to make strange sounds, actually the fan, so I think I’ll have it checked in the next days. The drive from Oakland is great and I love the bridge into Marin County

The evening goes well and I even sell a CD which at open mic nights is unheard of...I leave the place around 10 pm and drive to Santa Rosa to stay with my friends Merritt and Howard Booster. Merritt works for the school district and arranged several school shows for me starting tomorrow. I arrive short after 11 pm and after a wonderful conversation I’m ready for bed. Tomorrow is a big day and an early start in the school.

San Mateo

Oh, it’s early... No breakfast, just out of bed, ehem couch, and then in the car. Today I play in San Mateo at the UU church. It’s easy to get to the highway

Usually I’m pretty good with directions but I’m half asleep and miss a n exit. I’m on 280 North instead of 101. Well, it’s not so bad but when i finally arrive in San Mateo nobody knows the street I’m looking for. Just pure luck gets me there in time. It’s cold in the church and I feel chilly. Everything works out just fine and people love what I do, so I sell a lot of CD's. I’m still not in the mode of this journal and forget to take any pictures.
Later when I’m back at Phil’s we go out for a bite and then to the Movies. We see “A Night in the Museum” with Ben Stiller. He’s usually not my type of comedian but this film is great! Love it.
Back home “Mirabelle” the cat does her schmusing:0)

First show

I wake up early and crawl out of my king size travel bed.

Today I’ll have my first full on show for the tour and I’m considerably nervous. Don’t know exactly why and it confuses me a little. I like the adrenalin right before a show but certainly not all day! I have breakfast with my friends and then I accompany Phil to his hair appointment. Now that gets my mind distracted.

The rest of the day flies by and soon enough we’re driving up to the Lakeside school. Everybody there is optimistic about the turnout but so far it looks fairly empty.

Right before I’m supposed to start people come in and I get a decent crowd for the first show and have a lot of fun. I try out several new songs and my rendition of “Don’t get around anymore” hits the target.

In the break I sell Cds and make new friends and reconnect with old ones.


All in all it was a good first show and I slowly get into the tour mode. Got to get to bed early because I have a UU church show in San Mateo and need to be there by 9 am.

Official Start

It has been some days since I found the time to sit down and write a little. Today is the official start of the tour and I have a school show in Los Gatos. Abby and the kids are heading back to Seattle. Fresno is still chilly, especially at 7 am. Time is running somehow and all over sudden I find myself in the car on my way out West towards the Coast

I always liked the past when it goes into the San Luis Reservoir and out of the valley. It is a pretty day though it stayed cold.

Laurie Gee greets me when I get to the School up on Black road. She’s a gem and shows me around. Many of the teachers and students still remember me from last years performance. It’s a great start and I sit in a small classroom answering all kinds of questions and telling them about Germany, the wall, and my upcoming trip out East. Then I play them the penguin song which they love. After that I drive to my Phil who lives in San Jose. I haven’t seen him for while and we have a great evening together where I play him some of my new songs. I realize that I’m not yet quite in the journal mode, I have hardly taken any pics but...I’ll get there☺