Journey's end

Originally posted on MySpace on November 19, 2009.

The weather was blustery when I left Salem, OR...the last day of my road trip. With wind and rain in the forecast for the Portland area, I decided it was pointless to visit the Oregon Zoo. Instead, I headed east and the skies cleared...I think I ran away from the storm. There was a museum I wanted to see in The Dalles, but before getting there, I stopped at Multnomah Falls. I visited the falls in a previous road trip and I felt it was worth a return visit. It was a bit chilly there, but even colder closer to the falls with the mist. I just took some photos and left. I noticed other visitors doing the same thing...yes, it was cold!

I continued on to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. This museum has exhibits about the Columbia River gorge area, Wasco County history, and Lewis & Clark's expedition. When I first got there, I just missed a nature presentation with a great horned owl. I chatted with the Forest Service lady who conducted the program. Turns out like me, she also attended Washington State University. But, unlike me, she was able to get a job in the wildlife field...I kind of gave up on that a long time ago. I told her about West Coast Game Park and holding the tiger cubs. She had never heard of the zoo, and I encouraged her to check it out.

Afterward, there was nothing left to do but to end my journey at my parents' house. My cat immediately hid under the bed when she heard me. Damn, she's smart! Kimi thought it was time to go home, and she hates the car ride. And, so, the Five For Fighting Groupie Road Trip 2 is officially over. Not as much groupie as it was road trip vacation. But, the three Five For Fighting shows I DID go to proved most memorable. I'll be doing a recap blog soon. In addition, there will be a new photo album in my fan site Photo Gallery devoted to my road trip. First, I need to start my Christmas shopping...my road trip put me way behind schedule!

Almost done

Originally posted on MySpace on November 18, 2009.

I left Sacramento bright and early with an 8-hour drive ahead of me. Adorning my back window was a NEW radio station sticker! I forgot to mention yesterday, but I decided to try my luck getting window stickers from radio stations that play Five For Fighting music. I scored on the first one... 100.5 The Zone. They had the stickers sitting on the counter of the front reception desk, and I grabbed a few. The other station was a washout...I won't embarrass them by mentioning the name. So, I happily placed The Zone sticker in the big empty spot on my window...looks good!

I drove in sunshine most of the day, which surprised me. That's northern California's Mt. Shasta in the pic, taken on the road. According to The Weather Channel, I thought for sure it would be overcast and rainy. With the nice weather, I made good time, stopping only for lunch and gas. I have to admit, I'm liking having my gas pumped for me...they do that for you in Oregon. As long as it's not busy, it goes really fast, and you just wait in the comfort of your own vehicle. No muss, no fuss. The friendly 76 guy even cleaned my windshield for me without me having to ask him. I'll get such service one more time when I fill up tomorrow before crossing over into Washington where they DON'T pump your gas for you. I was going to the Oregon Zoo but since the weather forecast says wind and rain, I think I'll just take in a museum or two. My road trip will be coming to an end, but I think it's time. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.

So many museums, so little time

Originally posted on MySpace on November 17, 2009.

If you haven't figured it out by now, I LIKE museums! Especially the regional ones...you can learn a lot about a place by visiting the local museum. Some people find museums boring, but not me. I can never know too much about anything.

I started by going to The California Museum, which has exhibits about California history. There were also some special exhibits on notable women, Japanese American internment during World War II, and movie costumes and props. I spent about an hour and a half feeding my mind. The next museum I went to, on California military history, was a bit of a disappointment. Other than some nice memorabilia, it was just okay. The last stop of the day was the California Automobile Museum. Now, I've gone to a couple of auto museums on previous road trips... Petersen in Los Angeles and the National in Reno...and this one in Sacramento was equally as impressive. I love the older cars, and they had a fine collection. I take the time to read the informational signs and look over the vintage autos, so it was no surprise that before I knew it, I had spent 2 1/2 hours there. And, THAT is why it's best for me to go alone to museums! I'll definitely be back to Sacramento in the future. There are some other museums that I would like to visit!

Tomorrow, will be long day...8 hours of driving ahead of me! And, I'll be leaving sunny California and returning to the dark, rainy and windy Pacific Northwest. After experiencing so many highs on my road trip, I'm not looking forward to any lows. I'll try not to think about it as I eat the fresh peanut brittle I bought today! Yummy!

Sacramento LOVES Five For Fighting!

Originally posted on MySpace on November 16, 2009.

I left Los Angeles early this morning...about 7:00 am. As I drove north, I observed commuters traveling south in huge freeway backups. It's amazing...I could NEVER stand going to work like that AND going home the same way!

I had a 6-hour plus drive to Sacramento ahead of me, but there were a few places I needed to go to. First, was Charlie Brown Farms in Littlerock. I stopped there once on a previous road trip and LOVED their salt water taffy. I picked up 3 BAGS, in addition to nuts, dates and orange blossom honey. It's a tourist draw, but a great place to pick up snacks for the road!

Next...a VERY IMPORTANT stop at a spot in the middle of nowhere. I drove north for about a half hour, on desolate roads through desert-like terrain. Then...there it was. Club Ed. The location of the Five For Fighting promo photo shoot AND the Chances music video! The site is private property, so I couldn't really check it out, but I DID take a lot of photos from the road. The photo that you see was taken at about the same spot as the Slice CD cover. Yes, that's my groupie mobile in the picture! I can just imagine John's Mustang tearing down the road. I wonder how fast he was driving?

Another half hour away in Lancaster is a most unusual piece of pavement. It's known as The Singing Road, and the only one of its kind in the U.S. and probably the world. Several years ago, an auto company created a musical road for a TV commercial. Grooves were placed in the asphalt, which played a tune when tires rolled over them. Afterward, it proved to be a popular tourist attraction. Unfortunately, it wasn't popular with the locals who lived near the road, who had to put up with the constant noise. Subsequently, the grooves were taken out, and the musical road was no more. Well, there was an outcry from those who missed the road and wanted it back. So, the city of Lancaster made a brand new "singing road", but located it out of town away from any populated area. I just had to check it out, and I wasn't disappointed. I drove, I heard...and I recorded a little video of my experience. Onward to Sacramento!

After I checked into my hotel, I pulled into a parking space in the hotel lot. I had my radio tuned to a local soft rock station. Right before I shut off the engine, 100 Years started playing on the air. Cool! I never get tired of hearing John's songs! I unloaded my stuff, and went to get something for dinner. I was so tired from the long drive, I just went to the nearby McDonald's to grab a salad. As I walked into the restaurant, what should be playing over their speakers? The Riddle. It brings to mind John's story about hearing American Pie when he was in the coffee house with Stephen Schwartz and they came up with the idea of his song Slice. Is there such a thing as coincidence? I think some things are just meant to be.

Hope in an intolerant world

Originally posted on MySpace on November 15, 2009.

My last day in Los Angeles! It was sunny and beautiful. I tried to enjoy the nice weather because when I return to Washington, it will not be like that...at all! Since I didn't have to time to do it last week, I drove up to Griffith Park Observatory to take in the city panorama...and get a photo of the famous Hollywood sign! I then had a bite from the equally famous Pink's hot dog stand. Chili dogs with mustard and onions...oh, yeah!

I had been planning to see two museums today, but it turns out I only had time for one. The Museum of Tolerance is part of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and it serves to educate and enlighten visitors of the intolerences and prejudices of the world, past and present. Even though the centerpiece of the museum of the Holocaust Exhibit, there are also many examples of why we must remain vigilant to be prevent history from repeating itself. Despite the dark themes, this museum should be a must see for everyone.

And, so, tomorrow I leave sunny southern California and slowly travel north on my way back home. I shouldn't exactly say slowly...I have a marathon drive to Sacramento. But, I'm going to make time to check out a couple of interesting sights...at least that's the plan. Then, there's my quest for salt water taffy. More on THAT tomorrow!

Preserving the past

Originally posted on MySpace on November 14, 2009.

It was my kind of day today...sunny skies but low 70s...perfect! I took a short drive east to Riverside to take in a couple of museums. I was looking forward to visiting the March Field Air Museum, located adjacent to March Air Force Base. When I was growing up in Riverside, whenever we drove past the base, I remember seeing the flight line of B-52 bombers with their long, drooping wings. The planes are no longer there, but the some of the buildings are. And, the tarmac is now occupied by historic warbirds...and one B-52! I love looking at military aircraft, especially the World War II era planes. This facility had a nice collection, including some very rare planes...and my favorite, the P-38 Lighting, which had the nickname "Fork-tailed Devil." Another nice thing about going to museums such as this one...talking to veteran pilots who flew aircraft in past military conflicts throughout our history. I spoke to one such gentleman at this museum, and appreciated hearing of his personal experiences.

After an enjoyable couple of hours at the air museum, I drove into downtown Riverside to take in the Riverside Metropolitan Museum. It was pretty small and after reading up on the history of navel orange industry and some other local stuff, I drove back to L.A. For a change, I'm going to try to get a good sleep tonight...something that I haven't done much of since I started my road trip. One more day of sightseeing, then I slowly make my drive back north. One more week, then it's back to work for me. In a way, I kind of miss it. And, yes, I'm still listening to Slice. Everyday, several times a day. It's so good, I can't stop!

Going behind the scenes

Originally posted on MySpace on November 14, 2009.

I had a long day experiencing movie and television magic. First up, my 5-hour Warner Brothers Studios VIP Tour. Now, I went on this tour last year and had such a good time, I decided to do it again. Even though a lot of the tour was the same, I learned some new stuff. One of the high points is always eating in the fine dining commissary. It's where the bigwigs eat...producers, executives and yes, actors, too. I decided to go with the top sirloin steak in red wine sauce, baked fingerling potatoes and sauteed spinach. Dessert was a tasty coconut cream pie. There was some filming going on in a few soundstages, but the only actor I saw was George Lopez. He has a new series called Lopez Tonight. I would have loved to see someone from my favorite TV shows, like Cold Case and The Mentalist. Ah, Simon Baker...where were you hiding? Oh, and I DID see George Clooney's parking space...no car, though.

Afterwards, I drove immediately to CBS Studio Center to attend a taping of the CBS television situation comedy, Accidentally On Purpose. I have never watched this series...in fact, I don't watch sitcoms in general...but I was familiar with the basic premise. I got there early, but didn't have to wait too long. Studio pages guided the attendees to the soundstage. After a quick runthough the metal detector...I guess those things are standard at film studios...we were seated overlooking the stage, which was divided into sections. Each section contained a different room or location. On the far right was a newspaper office, and the far left was a bar. The whole middle sections were the kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom of the main character's apartment. The cast of Accidentally On Purpose had a couple of familiar names to me. Star Jenna Elfman was previously on the comedy Dharma & Greg. Grant Show guest starred on several episodes of Private Practice, a series I regularly watch. And, Michael Rappaport was doing a guest appearance on the show. He has been in many feature films, and in another favorite series that is no longer on the air, Prison Break.

The audience was entertained by a stand up comedian who regularly appears at L.A.'s Laugh Factory. He was VERY funny and helped bide the time between takes when filming began. The actual filming process was very interesting...and very tedious! There was usually multiple takes, always to get other camera angles...and sometimes to redo scenes when mistakes were made. Intially, Grant Show was having a frustrating time saying his lines. He would occasionally forget a line, but more often stumbled over his words. But, everyone in the cast made mistakes...not only him. Filming started at 6:00 pm and went on for hours. So, a half hour...actually 22 minutes without commercials...show took 4 HOURS to film! But, like I said, the stand up guy was really good at keeping everyone entertained. He had people dancing, playing Name That Tune, etc and gave out free gifts, too. About 2 hours into things, they fed us...a slice of cheese pizza and bottled water. Nice! The most important thing was our responsibility as audience members. We were encouraged to laugh at the appropriate times while the actors were performing. Our laughter was recorded, and will be included in the laugh track when the episode is later edited. All I can say is I would love to do something like that again...it was fun!

Well, tomorrow I travel about 50 miles to Riverside, CA to visit March Field Air Museum and the Riverside Municipal Museum. I'm always looking to feed my mind...and I love air museums, too! The weather will be beautiful tomorrow...perfect for looking at planes!

Fun with Conan and Al

Originally posted on MySpace on November 12, 2009.

Now that the Five For Fighting portion of my road trip has concluded, I'm continuing my vacation doing other interesting stuff. I had an early lunch at Neptune's Net in Malibu. I try to make a trip there every time I visit southern California...at least since the Two Lights album. In the song California Justice, Neptune's Net is mentioned. I had the calamari/scallop basket...I LOVE scallops! Afterwards, I went to the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum. I last visited the tar pits back in 1973...I was only 12 years old. A lot has changed. They didn't have the museum back then, which now houses the fantastic collection of bones excavated from the tar pits. One thing that DIDN'T change was the mammoth replicas in the tar pits...they were the same ones I saw way back when!

After my educational lesson of the day, it was time for something fun. I had a ticket reserved for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, so I left the tar pits for Universal Studios. It wasn't a long drive, but I found myself stuck in traffic...on just one street! I had about an hour to get to the studios, otherwise, they would give my ticket to someone else! Getting worried I might be late, I turned off the problem street and relied on my own instincts...and my GPS...to bypass the choke point. And, I was successful! I got to the studio with 30 minutes to spare.

Now, I think most people have never been to a live studio taping, let alone The Tonight Show, so I'll describe the process. A series of signs directed me from the parking garage to the check in location. After presenting my reservation letter, I was given a ticket and a wristband. Then, I waited. There were a lot of people already there, and most seemed to be in their 20s and 30s. At 4:00 pm, they escorted groups of us into the building housing The Tonight Show set. There was a metal detector that everyone had to walk through, but I'm wondering if that is standard practice, or because of the special guest appearing on the show. As I walked into the set, I was amazed at how great it looked. There was music playing quite loudly over the speakers, and I immediately noticed the air conditioning that is always present in such studios. At first, it's not apparant why it should be so cold. But, when the hot overhead lights come on and stay on...you know why!

About 10 minutes before showtime, the warm up guy came out and bantered with the audience. He had fun with some Canadian tourists, and was a good start for things to come. Then, he turned things over to Conan's announcer and sidekick, Andy Richter. We found out the guests for the evening would be former vice-president Al Gore, actor Jim Parsons and musical artist Jason Mraz. I wonder if the metal detector was for Mr. Gore's safety? Now, I've seen a few government figures in person in my time, but never a president OR a vice-president. The Tonight Show band got things pumping as the final minutes ticked down. Promptly at 5:00 pm, it was time to roll!

We had been educated by the warm up guy to react properly to the Applause sign, and everyone did when Conan took the stage. It was so exciting to see what I've always seen on TV right in front of me. Conan immediately got into his opening show monologue, and he was funny as usual! When he was done, the band played again during what would be the commercial break. Next, Conan and Andy did a comedy skit entitled In The Year 3000, where they predict future events. After another break, Al Gore came out to promote his new book. The interaction between him and Conan was the high point of the show. During the next break, Conan recorded a few local promo spots for tonight's show. Then, Jim Parsons from the hit comedy Big Bang Theory was the next guest...funny guy! Finally, Jason Mraz performed one song with The Tonight Show band and a women's choir. Conan ended the taping by singing a little impromtu ditty about not letting the audience leave to battle the rush hour traffic...hilarious!

In all, it was a very entertaining experience, and something I would love to do again. As it turns out, I'm going to another live TV taping tomorrow. This time, it's this season's new situation comedy Accidentally On Purpose with actress Jenna Elfman. But, before doing that, I'll be repeating the 5-hour Warner Brothers Studios VIP tour. I'm hoping to see an actor or two, since television program filming is still in full swing, and Warner Brothers hosts a LOT of shows on their backlot. Hooray for Hollywood!

It's a family affair

Originally posted on MySpace on November 12, 2009

The last show of Five For Fighting's acoustic tour was at L.A.'s Largo at the Coronet. I went with a couple of friends, and due to a lucky connection...we got front row seats! Sometimes, it's not what you know...it's WHO you know! My main goal of the night was to see John one last time, and have him autograph a photo for me. It's been awhile since I've had John sign anything for myself...lately, it's been for others. We were hoping to wait for John to arrive via the backdoor, but were thwarted by a Nazi dweeb working for Largo. His power trip was the only black mark of the evening. Not wanting to fight him, I suggested that we try to see John after the show. I DID talk to Jason...Angel Taylor's guitarist...again. He was so nice in San Francisco, and was sympathetic to my desire to see John. He even offered to have John sign the photo backstage...such a sweetie! But, I really wanted to see John myself, so I declined his generous offer.

Right before doors opened, we were amazed at the arrival of Augie Nieto and his wife Lynne. If you've read my previous blogs, you know that I attended his Beach Bash last year to raise funds for his ALS charity, Augie's Quest. Augie was in his souped up motorized wheelchair with computer voice system. As he rolled in I greeted both Augie and Lynne. Like John Ondrasik, I'm a big supporter of Augie's Quest, too. As we entered the theater, it soon became evident that John had a lot of friends and family attending. I saw his wife Carla, his kids Johnny and Olivia, and even his parents! I really wanted to talk to his mom and dad, but had to wait for the right moment. I DID get to talk to Carla. She remembered me from our previous encounters. I told her about my current groupie road trip, and she thanked me for my support.

John's performance was basically a repeat of his previous shows, but it didn't make it any less entertaining. I've said it before and I'll say it again...I never get tired of watching John perform live! He DID add one special song to his set list. As part of his encore, and in honor of his friend Augie, John sang Augie Nieto. It was a touching performance, with John and his microphone, and Greg Suran accompanying him on guitar. Afterwards, we hung around, hoping to see John. At one point, someone asked Johnny if his dad was backstage, and Johnny found out that John was actually in the theater with Augie. I went back and stood in the doorway as a few other fans got photos and autographs. John saw me standing there waiting, and said "Hi Wynne!" I watched as a gal wanted John to sign her CD, but her ballpoint pen didn't work. Now, everyone knows for signing autographs...you need a Sharpie! I told John that I had a Sharpie, and offered it to him. I'm always giving John my pens...I think he depends on it now! Then, it was my turn. I showed John the photo I brought...it was a vintage 1997 pic of John with long hair and huge goatee. John looked at the photo and said "Wow, look at the devil." Yes, John DID look almost Satanic back then! I thanked John, told him I had fun following him for the past 3 shows, and wished him a good night. As I exited, I ran into Jason again. He asked if I got my photo signed, and I said that I did. I told Jason that I it was fun, and that I hoped to see him again in the future...he replied likewise. Such a nice guy! As I rejoined my friends, I noted John's family talking in the lobby. When the opportunity presented itself, I went up to John's dad, and told him about my Five For Fighting fan site. He thought it was nice of me to do it. John's dad is a cool dude!

And, so, my Five For Fighting groupie road trip has come to an end. But, my actual road trip is not over yet. I'll be staying in Los Angeles for the next 4 days, seeing the sights. I have some interesting stuff on my agenda. Hope you hang around for that!

It was worth the wait!

Originally posted on MySpace on November 10, 2009

I didn't have anything planned for this morning, except maybe visiting a radio station to get a window sticker. On my last groupie road trip, I decorated the back window of my Blazer with stickers of radio stations that play Five For Fighting music. I was pretty successful getting some stickers, either mailed to me or by visiting the radio station offices. This time around, I'm coming up empty handed. I didn't get one in Portland, and the same with the one station I went to here in San Francisco. I got the same explanation at both places...they ran out and haven't gotten anymore. That's a shame, but par for the course. Radio stations don't really do promotions with stickers anymore. I might try again in L.A., but I'm not holding out any hope there.

The only thing I really wanted to do today...other than attend tonight's Five For Fighting show...was ride San Francisco's famous cable cars. The one and only time I rode the trolleys was about 35 years ago! I needed to re-experience things. I drove to the Castro district, where tonight's concert venue, Swedish American Hall, was located. After taking a few photos of the building, I parked my ride near the cable car terminus point. I noted the parking sign said a 2-hour limit. I figured it would be just enough time to ride the trolley down to Fisherman's Wharf and back. The old cable car interior was cool...all wooden benches and trim. They run on electricity, and the ride was bumpy but what do you expect when you're rails? When the trolley reached the waterfront, I immediately hopped on another trolley and returned the way I had come. And, yes, I made it back before my 2-hour limit had expired!

When I drove to the venue in the morning, I noted the route and decided it was not too far to walk. Google Maps said it was a 20-minute walk, so after freshening up, I left my hotel just before 3:00 pm. I turned out it took about 25 minutes, but I attribute that to the traffic lights. Not surprisingly, there was no one waiting at the Swedish American Hall...I was first in line! But, shortly after getting there, a couple walked up and asked if I was waiting for the concert. They left to get something to eat, and so I continued my vigil alone. Then, things got strange. An older gentleman parked his SUV right in front of the building, and walked up to me. He asked if I wanted to go in...said he had the key. I replied that I was waiting for the concert, but he said I could go in anyway. I was confused and uncertain, but I decided to take him up on his offer, since he seemed to know what he was doing. Well, a guy from inside immediately showed up and told me I couldn't wait inside. Turns out he had heard what was going on, including my indecisiveness, and kindly showed me out the door. Soon, the older man came back and I found out he was one of the owners of the building. He asked about the concert and what type of music it was. I told him about John and suggested he check out the show. Oh, I asked him if there were any other entrances to the building, like a back door, and he said there wasn't. So, I would DEFINITELY be seeing John before the show!

It didn't take long for a few other people to show up and form a line. I got to talking to them and it turned out no one had been to a Five For Fighting show yet! I told them that they were in for a treat...that John was awesome live! At about 5:00 pm, Angel Taylor arrived with her guitarist Jason Kanakis. I asked Angel to sign the CD booklet from her new album, while someone took a pic of us for me. After Angel went inside, I helped Jason a bit by holding the door open for him while he unloaded their gear from their van. I also told him that I was at the Portland show, which seemed to impress him...he was very nice! Around that same time, John's tour manager Al showed up, but John and Greg Suran were not with him. So, I patiently continued to wait.

Finally, as 6:00 pm rolled around, I saw a taxi cab pull up, and Greg and John get out. I quickly handed my camera to the same gal who took the pic of me and Angel, and prepared myself. As John walked up, I greeted him, and asked if I could get a photo with him. He said "Sure, let's get Greg in this, too!" John put his arm around me, and Greg joined us for the money shot. I couldn't have gotten for a better pic! I asked John if he was feeling OK, and he thanked me, and said that he was. I then turned my attention to Greg as John went to the other people waiting in line to take photos with them. I asked Greg if he would sign my Slice CD booklet...he contributed his guitar work to some of the songs. After he was done, I watched John interacting with his fans...he's so awesome!

When doors opened just after 6:30, I made my way into the auditorium, and staked out a seat in the front row. It's wonderful being in front! The stage was VERY close, and also pretty small...not that John and Greg needed much room to do their thing. Angel Taylor opened things and as they took the stage, Jason saw me sitting up front and waved to me! I noticed the seats weren't completely filled at this point...I guess some people chose to see only John? That soon changed after Angel finished her set, and there was a full house when it was John and Greg's turn. There was a noticeable difference in John's voice compared to the Portland show. It was obvious to me that he was fully recovered from his illness and voice problems. His voice was clear and sweet! Before John took the stage, his people placed copies of the set list on the ground. I noted that it was identical to The Aladdin show. But, John didn't quite follow the usual procedure of leaving the stage and returning for the encore because...there was no place TO leave the stage! John stated the only door next to the stage was an emergency exit, so he deviated from the norm, and just went right into his closing song, Hope. He skipped NYC Weather Report...it was on the set list...but, that was OK. It was yet another fantastic performance by my favorite music guy! Before I left the auditorium, I noticed Greg putting his guitars away. I went up to him and told him that I would see him in L.A. tomorrow and that he did a great job tonight.

So, I couldn't have asked for more tonight. I talked to some very nice fellow Five For Fighting fans, I met Angel Taylor and got her autograph, I got a front row seat, and best of all, got my awesome photo with John AND Greg! And, I'm not quite done yet! I have one more show at the Largo in Los Angeles tomorrow. John is predicting some craziness. I'm looking forward to that!

Sunny...you are a part of me

Originally posted on MySpace on November 9, 2009

When I left Crescent City, CA on the morning of November 9, no big surprise...it was raining again! So, rather than take in the ocean or the redwoods, I just drove straight through to San Francisco...which was just as well. It took me nearly 7 hours, and it was actually better to arrive in the city before rush hour got into full swing. One of the best things about driving into San Francisco from the north is entering via the Golden Gate bridge. It's always so impressive! And, even better...no rain!

Well, tomorrow brings another Five For Fighting show. It's an event I always look forward to and something I will never get tired of. If you've been to a John Ondrasik concert, you know what I'm talking about. I'm hoping to get a photo with John, but we'll see how it goes. I don't really have any other plans for the day, so we'll see how THAT goes, too. Hmm...maybe a cable car ride?

Big cats...little cats

Originally posted on MySpace on November 9, 2009

I woke up to blue skies and sun...a big change from the past couple days of rain. I left Roseburg, OR and made the short trip down the road to Winston to visit the first of two zoos of the day. Wildlife Safari is a drive-through zoo, meaning you drive your vehicle amidst the free-roaming animals. At least most of them are...the exceptions were critters like elephants, lions and monkeys. I had never done anything like this before, so it was a new experience. And, it was OK...nothing spectacular. The high point was an emu that walked up to my Blazer and proceeded to peck the side...hunting and eating imaginary bugs?

The other zoo was one that I had gone to back in 2008... West Coast Game Park in Bandon, OR. I was so impressed and had such a great time playing with Solo the cougar cub that I had to go back. This time when I arrived, there was already a couple of animals available for petting. Kimbo and Titan were 5-week-old Bengal tiger cubs, and not only were people petting them...they were HOLDING them! When my turn came, I sat down and the keeper placed both cubs in my lap! It was SO COOL! Kimbo was the more rambunctious of the two, but I managed to hold him in my arms while the keeper took a couple of pics. Like playing with Solo, it was an experience I will never forget!

Later, some more animals were brought out for petting. Bentley, the young spotted leopard...that's him in the photo...was so awesome and beautiful, as was Kesa, the Siberian lynx. I love cats, big and small! There were also some smaller animals that were equally exciting to interact with. I held a ferret, a opossum and a white skunk...de-scented, of course! West Coast Game Park is the largest wild animal petting zoo in the U.S. And, they have a very successful breeding program of rare and endangered species. If you want a truly memorable experience, you gotta take the kids...or yourself!

Goose out of water...LOTS of water

I started my day still feeling some euphoria from last night's Five For Fighting show. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. And, not having seen John perform for almost 6 months, I was DYING to see him again. I know, 6 months is not a long time, but it SEEMED long! Needless to say, I'm looking forward to seeing John again in San Francisco in just 3 short days!

I noticed my blog about Giada DeLaurentiis and the Lola donuts has proved quite popular...many people have read it! Thus, I'm going to mention another eatery recommended by another Food Network foodie. Pine State Biscuits in Portland was featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I decided to check out the place for breakfast before leaving The City of Roses. When I got there, I found a short line at the door. Not surprising, considering the food IS supposed to be good! After a 15-minute wait, it was my turn to order. After perusing the menu, I selected the McIsley...fried chicken, mustard, pickles and honey on their signature biscuit. I got it to go, and ate it in my Blazer. The biscuit and chicken were excellent and went perfect with the other ingredients, although I wasn't too keen on the mustard. Next time, I'll have to try the Fried Club.

My only destination of the day was the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. This facility is home of the Hughes Flying Boat, better known as the Spruce Goose...the largest plane ever built. When I arrived, it started to rain. It steadily got worse and worse, with wind, and later thunder, lightning and hail. Thankfully, most of the exhibits were housed in two large buildings, so it didn't matter. I love air museums...actually museums in general. I tend to spend way more time in museums than most people can stand, thus it's better for me to go alone. When I left McMinnville about 3 hours later, the rain was still coming down hard, and continued on my trip south to my evening pitstop. There were a couple of covered bridges that I wanted to check out along the way, but the downpour put a damper on that idea. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a little drier. I have two zoos on the day's agenda, and I don't fancy looking at wet animals!

When the going gets tough...you put on a show!

I drove to Portland today with high hopes of seeing another wonderful Five For Fighting concert...and starting my shortened groupie road trip. On my way there, I stopped to see the Stonehenge replica at Maryhill State Park on the Washington side of the Columbia river gorge. If you remember on a previous road trip, I was unsuccessful in finding the unusual monument. I did a little more research this time around, and found it with no problem.

When I got to Portland, I checked into my hotel, then made my way to 105.1 The Buzz radio station. John Ondrasik did a performance lounge thing with them back in September, and I was hoping to add their radio station sticker to my groupie mobile's back window. I failed in my mission...they didn't have any. Oh, well...hopefully I'll have better luck with a San Francisco station or two. Next, I swung by The Aladdin for a little pre-concert reconnaisance. I asked the guy at the ticket window if cameras would be allowed at the Five For Fighting show...yes, but no video and no professional photography. I also inquired about when John and Angel Taylor would arrive. He gave a time, but I always err on the side of caution and arrive earlier than necessary.

As it would turn out...it didn't matter. After freshening up and getting a bite to eat, I waited outside The Aladdin for any sign of John. I waited...and waited...and waited. In the meantime, at 4:00 pm, a few people were already starting to line up for the 8:00 pm general admission show. Now, I'm always used to being one of the first in line...often THE FIRST in line. So, this turn of events started to trouble me. I watched as some equipment arrived in personal vehicles, including John's guitar with his tour manager. But, still no John. Finally, at 5:30...and with more people joining the line out in front, I resigned myself to the fact that John would be probably be arriving at the last moment. I gathered my things, and joined the dozen or so fans patiently waiting for the 7:00 pm doors opening time.

When the theater opened, I staked out a seat second row center. It provided me with an excellent view of the stage. Angel Taylor opened the show promptly at 8:00 pm, and she was witty and thoroughly entertaining! She has a great stage presence, and plays a terrific piano...pretty good for a 21-year-old newcomer! But, I could sense the audience was waiting for the real show...John. At intermission, I rushed out to the lobby to see if I could score one of The Aladdin Five For Fighting posters stuck to the front doors. One of the questions I asked the ticket guy earlier was if there were any extra posters I could have. He replied that I could get the ones on the doors at intermission. It was a good thing I hurried out there. As I entered the lobby, I already saw posters in the hands of a couple of people. I got there just as the gal removing the posters was setting the Chances Mustang poster on the table. I grabbed it, and watched as she took down the even more coveted poster with John's promo pic...I grabbed that, too! Sometimes, the best things in life are free! But, I spent some bucks, too. They had a cool new Five For Fighting Mustang T-shirt that I just had to have.

Then, the main attraction began. John and Greg Suran took the stage to thunderous applause. It was obvious Portland loves John! He settled down at the piano, and got right into World, then The Riddle. As he switched to guitar, he explained that he would try to get through the show the best he could, despite his voice problems. And, at times, yes, John's voice cracked a bit. But, it didn't matter. John is such a trouper, and he gave it his all. John and Greg did Chances, Slice...my personal favorite of the night...and '65 Mustang on guitar. Back to the piano, John sang Freedom Never Cries, 100 Years, Tuesday and I Just Love You. For the latter, John told his usual story of his experience at The Ashram...but it was funnier than ever! John had the crowd in stitches, myself included! The hilarity continued when he went back to the guitar, and after he did If God Made You. John went into his Easy Tonight story, and brought down the house with his humor. John should get into standup comedy! He closed the show with Superman, but came out for his encore. After NYC Weather Report on guitar, he grabbed the microphone, and did an acapella version of his new song Hope, which was just awesome! It was a fitting finish to a memorable night.

Since I didn't get a chance to see John before the show, I decided to try for afterwards. I was parked conveniently behind the theater, directly opposite the back door. There was no one around, but soon a guy came out and appeared to be ready to possibly chauffeur...someone. I had a gift for John, and I decided he should have it sooner rather than later. Recently, John mentioned in an interview that he had moved, and I thought it would be nice to give him a housewarming gift. I thought something from my home state of Washington would be cool, so bought some local wild huckleberry and blackberry honey...really tasty stuff. And, we're talking the real deal...not flavored with juice! I made up a small gift basket, which I had with me as I waited in my car.

Suddenly, I saw John's tour manager exit the building, followed closely behind by John! I hopped out of my ride with my basket, and made my move. I said "Hi, John!" and he said "Hi, Wynne!" Ah, music to my ears! I explained to him about the gift, and also told him just how appropriate a gift it now was. If you don't know, honey is supposed to be good for vocalists, especially those with ailing throats. And, John knew this. Not wanting to hold him up, I wished him a good time at the Napa Valley event, and told him I would see him again at the San Francisco and L.A. shows. We exchanged our good nights, and we both left in our vehicles to our respective hotels...although I'm sure John's is much more luxurious than mine!

So, while John spends the next 3 days in Napa indulging in fine wine, and hopefully getting through another musical performance OK, I'll be doing some sightseeing in Oregon. I'm betting on the weather cooperating...rain can put a damper on a lot of things! Then, onward to San Fran and another Five For Fighting show. John's voice should be better by then, right?

Not the way to start a groupie road trip

What is the worst thing that can happen when one is planning to attend a concert? Yes, losing your ticket is bad, but having the show canceled is even worse! That's what happened to tomorrow's scheduled Five For Fighting show at Seattle's Crocodile.

Actually, I knew something was up when I read a tweet...that would be a Twitter post...about a radio station interview with John Ondrasik being canceled due to laryngitis. That was yesterday, and soon after, John posted his own tweet to say that he was having voice issues and would not be singing at his planned appearance at the Bob Woodruff Foundation Stand Up For Heroes benefit event tonight. Naturally, I was concerned because I could see John's Seattle show in jeopardy. Sure enough, the other shoe fell this morning, when John let everyone know on Twitter that his voice was completely gone, and the Crocodile gig was canceled.

I was disappointed, because every opportunity to see John perform live is precious to me. I tried to see the bright side of things. At least I found out in time to cancel my hotel reservation and get a full refund! I was supposed to start my Five For Fighting Groupie Road Trip 2...my first was back in 2007...in Seattle, but now, I will be moving things to Portland. Hopefully, there WILL be a Portland show! There is reason for optimism. Tonight, John posted yet another tweet to tell us that he's taking steroid shots to hopefully help his throat and bring his beautiful voice back. After reading his post, I sent him a reply...something that I think was appropriate. From this new Slice album, the lyrics from his song entitled Hope:

Hope
Cause nothing less
Will save the day

We gotta have hope that John will be there for us in Portland! But, if the stars don't align...onward to San Francisco for John's November 10th concert. He's gotta be better by then, right? No...he'll be better for Portland. Gotta have hope!!!