Mary Scholz at Lestat’s

Great set tonight from Mary Scholz.

I was standing outside the venue (Lestat's) when Mary approached me before her set.  She was obviously promoting her time slot with a card indicating her time to take the stage.  I said, "Thanks but don't need the card.  I am here for your set".  Then she recognized me from her opening set in June.  I think Mary was flattered that I remembered her set and returned for more.

Justin Haywood @ Belly Up

I got a ticket and the extra $$ VIP package.  This VIP package included a tour shirt, tote bag, signed poster, and 'a seat in the first 2 rows’.  I only cared about the seating and the shirt (obligatory).

Then 2 days before the concert I got an email saying ‘VIPs can enter the Belly Up at 6:45’ – normal entrance is at 7 pm.  So I guessed the first 2 rows were not really reserved for VIPs you just had to get there ahead of time.  Belly Up needs to get its message consistent.

I got in the VIP line about 6:25, and did my usual of asking ‘have you seen Justin before?’, ‘How many times?’.  Seems I almost a rookie seeing him 3 times before.  E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e had seen him 50+ times.  Upon the Belly Up entry, I got a second row just off dead center seat.  Off dead center so that the microphone isn’t in the direct view.

As with previous Justin Haywood shows, the accompanist and opening act was Mike Dawes.  Mike is an incredible acoustic guitarist.  And with this show Mike was much more animated than in previous shows.

Justin’s set was similar to the previous 2 times I have seen him.  The stories were essentially the same.  The highlight was about midway through the show, with Justin singing ‘One Day, Someday’.

VIP Dollars Gets You Close To The Stage

What a voice.  What a class act.

Syracuse Visit

I had skipped my usual upstate NY summer trip the past 2 years due to at least one work obligation.  Not this year.

I took the usual red-eye trip to arrive during a NY heatwave.  Normally NY heat does not bother me but this year was oppressive.  Bill and I managed only 2 rounds of 9-hole golf with both of us wilting by the 6th hole.  Bill trounced me- obviously, he has secretly been working on his game and I haven’t.

We did the usual walk in Onondaga Park, lunch at The Retreat, Dinner at Borio’s, and walk around Syracuse University campus.  We didn’t get to Coleman’s for a pint which was unusual.

Syracuse University Campus

A trip bonus was that John Conkling was taking 2 of 4 kids to college over 2 trips.  Bill and I traveled to Rochester for lunch at the Dinosaur and then walk the High-Falls Trail along the Genesee River in downtown Rochester.

Genesee River, with downtown Rochester.

Then on to Brockport to see John and Christina.  Christina is beginning her senior year.  I did not recognize a-n-y of the Brockport (class of 1983) campus.  Guess it has been awhile.  The 4 of us had dinner near the Canal Side in downtown Brockport, then Bill and I traveled back to Liverpool.

John stopped into Liverpool for lunch the next day since he was traveling to New Hampshire to pick up another kid from camp.  Tina was able to join us for lunch.  Bonus!

Initial plans were to travel to Maine and visit Stan Moore and his family.  Plans were also extended to see Boston, and to have dinner with Adam Del Rosso who was working a Lowell, MA internship.  But after speaking with Stan our trip was abandoned.  Stan was leaving within a week for Italy to work as Head Coach for SV Caldaro/Kaltern.  Stan volunteered to drive 2 hours to a meet point for lunch but I nixed the idea; he needs to spend quality family time now.  So we agreed Stan would email info once settled into Italy, and we would meet there since Bill and I were traveling in March 2019 to Budapest/Prague.

We ran into Nicole on my first day in Syracuse while walking off the red-eye jet-lag at the park.  Great to see her and catch up.  And a few days later, I got a text from Wendy (Nicole's ex-roommate) saying "you think you can be in town and we won't know?".  Busted.  Then Wendy gave me a guilt-trip saying the kids would be disappointed if we didn't get together.  So we arranged a fabulous dinner at Wendy and Gordon's of Elvis burgers (lettuce, tomato, peanut butter, bacon, and cheese).  I got to see the kids (Ben, Christopher, and Mesi) are becoming fine young adults.  Ben is off to his first year of college at Kingston CA.  Gordon's new interest is fly fishing and I had to ask, 'Do you tie your own lures?'.  OF COURSE, Gordon does.  Quite an impressive tie selection and rods.

I failed to get a group pic, but isn't Wendy's garden awesome???

John and Courtney stopped in for lunch the following week as John was taking Courtney to SUNY Potsdam.  And Courtney delivered a hug from Karen.  Thanks!

Bill and I made several trips to the New York State Fair.  It was different than the Del Mar San Diego Fair, with a smaller woodworking and photography exhibit.  However, we discovered an air-conditioned stage that local acts were presenting on.

And we discovered seating, music, A/C and beers!

We started work on Plan B, to visit Montreal in place of Stan and Boston.  But we checked the Montreal forecast (rain, followed by more rain) and canceled that idea.  Plan C was a day trip to Ithaca to walk about Cornell campus and see their waterfalls.  We got into watching some women’s volleyball (very good!) and then snuck into the Cornell bell tower for stunning views.

View From the Cornell Bell Tower.  Awesome!

We found our way back to Syracuse through Skaneateles Lake.  Ah yea, a stop at the Sherlock Inn for a refreshing drink overlooking the lake then to Doug’s Fish Fry to split a lobster roll.  This is Living Well.

At Skaneateles Lake, pre Doug's Fish Fry

Tina had arranged a dinner/drinks for several people to introduce Mark, her fiancé.  It was good to catch up with Kathy, Kim and Ethan, and Debbie and Dick.  And Adam showed up from Lowell.

Vancouver with Patricia

Patricia had texted, “Hey, what are you doing?”.  My usual response was ‘not much’.  So she countered ‘come up to Vancouver’.  So I poked around for flights and said ‘how about this weekend?’.  OK!

I met Patricia some years ago at a Leah party.  I wish I knew when that was but could not find it in my blog but it had to have been before April 2013.  Patricia and I have had deep conversations at every Leah party since then.  Patricia has wanderlust travel DNA that I envy.

We met at the airport and traveled to Granville Island for a great view (a common theme in Vancouver).

Great view.

Then we walked about the shopping area in an outdoor market.  Beautiful.

Saturday, Patricia already had a planned afternoon event so she dropped me off at the entrance to Stanley Park.  I think I can handle it from here.

On the left, my next home.

The first block to the park had 4 bike rental shops.  I see a pattern here.  I rented a bike, walked it to the park, and took off.

Vancouver view from Stanley Park

Wow.  Perfect day, perfect weather.  I stopped to watch a cricket game (don’t understand it) on the island.  Vancouver is beautiful from Stanley Park.  For lunch I stopped at one of the many Asian restaurants and somehow worked my way through the menu.  Delicious.

Patricia picked me up and we went to another walkway/view spot to Vancouver and walked and talked for hours.  Her afternoon meeting had been intense.

That evening we watched the fireworks from her balcony.  Vancouver has fireworks completion every year.

The view from Patricia's place, pre fireworks.

Patricia suggested we go to Whistler.  Yes!  Whistler has a very nice base village (I compare it to Vail) with several lifts to the top.

Patricia at the Base.

And what a view from the top.  Incredible!

Patricia and me on the suspension bridge.

And the view down from the suspension bridge.  Yikes!

  We saw some active glaciers while walking down to the lower gondola.

On the flight home, I noticed an Orange County fire from the port side of the aircraft.  Welcome to SoCal.

From the return flight, an Orange County fire.

Leah Visits San Diego

Leah had a wedding reception in San Diego so she stretched the visit over a weekend to add in a visit with me.  It’s always great to see her.

View from Encinitas Meditation Gardens 

Being silly at an obscure park in Orange County office complex

Leah's turn at being silly

And the requisite backyard dining

Del Mar Horse Racing Opening Day

I decided to attend the racetrack opening day since I have a newfound free schedule.  The racing is a moot point; it’s the people watching and the scene that’s entertaining.  I saw outrageous suits, too small miniskirts matched with 5+ inch stiletto heels, fat cigars, and general bad behavior.

Steve Sherman was working and paying the price for having to wear a coat and tie.  He opened his jacket showing he was sweat-soaked in the upper 80's temperature

Sherm was working that day

And that's "The Hoff" making an appearance

Toad the Wet Sprocket @ Belly Up

Gotta love the ‘90’s music.