Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject: A post-vacation "What's New"
As if ANYONE missed me, but: Just got back from a 9-day trip to the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound, Washington, and have returned to an office that looks as if a dumptruck full of files simply backed up and let it all land on my desk. So not only am I out of touch, but it'll be a while before I'm anywhere near IN touch.
In the meantime, and especially for you Washintonians: Why did it take me so long to get up to Paradise on Earth for a visit? Sorry to bore those of you who actually live up there, or get there often, but what an amazing area. Everywhere, life just slows down so you can get your breath back. We spent two or more nights on each of Orcas, Lopez and San Juan, taking our rented car on the ferry from Anacortes and then from one island to the next. Instead of sitting in traffice we sat up on the passenger deck of the ferry taking in the most amazing vistas and feeling the wind in our faces (a la Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslette on the bow of the "Titanic"). Once on the islands we found very few roads where the speed limit was over 35 mph, and even on those the top limit was 45. Wonderful hiking trails and beach walks galore, and great restaurants.
The only down side: With their small populations and travel isolation, the San Juans are not a mecca for live music. It wasn't until our last night there that we found a restaurant with live musicians, who may have been every gigging musician on the entire island. Two middle-aged jazz guitarists (one of whom may have been the other's student), a not-too-adventurous but completely competent bass player (Fender fretless) and a very young punk-looking but quiet straight-ahead jazz playing drummer, backing up a 25-ish female vocalist doing a nice job with standard after standard, stuff out of the Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme songlists. (I wondered if after the restraurant gig they all had to head over to the other side of the island, put on wigs, make-up and leather clothes, and do heavy metal for the Senior Fall Dance at Friday Harbor High School!).
Anyway, with the ton of work that backed up it's tough to say "it's nice to be home" ... until I check on the upcoming schedules at The Blue Cafe, Cozy's, Harvelle's, and even our local Zoey's, none of which requires a ferry ride. (Of course, if I'd won the California Lottery while on our trip we'd be in Nagoya, Japan, tonight, at the Blue Note.)
Oh, and by the way, for you SoCal folks: WE'RE the ones who brought back the rain that's finally putting a dent in our long-time drought. Send thank-you cards to ..." _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:25 pm Post subject:
Hey Blue,
I heard that Michael Landau will be at the Baked Potato this Friday, wish I could make it. _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:42 pm Post subject:
I just came back today from an 8 day trip cruising the Hawaiin islands aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship the Pride of Aloha. It was my wife's and my once-in-a-lifetme dream vacation to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. I missed the daily interaction of this BB and now have a lot of catching up to do. And, I hope the rocking motion I'm still experiencing goes away soon...
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As if ANYONE missed me, but: Just got back from a 9-day trip to the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound, Washington, and have returned to an office that looks as if a dumptruck full of files simply backed up and let it all land on my desk. So not only am I out of touch, but it'll be a while before I'm anywhere near IN touch.
