What a year!

As 2010 comes to a close, I can only say...it was quite a year! To embark on not one but TWO Five For Fighting groupie road trips...WOW! The first was in April...six shows in ten days! From Seattle, WA to Las Vegas, NV, I followed John Ondrasik and the band from show to show...okay, I skipped San Francisco, but one person can only drive so much! And, there were some definite high points during my groupie experience. Baking cookies and getting them on the Five For Fighting tour bus in Seattle, where they were enjoyed by band and crew. Getting lucky and being invited for the sound check meet and greet in Portland, OR. Going to the Los Angeles show with my friends Lynne and Dave, and having the pleasure of meeting John's dad afterward. Talking to opener Matt Wertz and getting Five For Fighting drummer Randy Cooke to sign a drumstick in San Diego. Talking to John's wife Carla both during and after the Tuacahn concert...and getting daughter Olivia's autograph, too! There were a couple of low points...straining my neck looking up at John from the front row, and getting sunburned at Pet-a-Palooza in Las Vegas...but, it was overshadowed by the fun moments. The second half of my April road trip consisted of visiting some of our country's awesome national parks. Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, Arches and Yellowstone. It was a treat to drive and walk through such beautiful sights with perfect weather and no crowds.

In November, I only attended three of John's shows on his acoustic tour, but not having a band to back him up didn't make a difference...he was still great! As I told Carla after the second show, I never get tired of hearing John's stories...even though I know all the punch lines! This groupie road trip had one HUGE high point...I FINALLY got my face to face interview with John! I captured it with my digital voice recorder, and I have yet to transcribe it...Christmas preparations took priority. After the concerts, I had a wonderful time at Sequoia National Park, enjoyed my own private tour of Oregon Caves and played with a black leopard cub at West Coast Game Park. One HUGE low point...getting my finger smashed in the back window of my groupie mobile. The nail still hasn't fallen out, but I'm still not sure it won't!

So, what will 2011 bring? Well, I'm already planning my next road trip! Back in 2008, I had the pleasure of attending the Beach Bash For Augie's Quest. Augie's Quest is a ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) charity near and dear to John's heart, and I was happy to help support such a terrific cause. I was unable to attend the next couple of Bashes, but the stars finally aligned for next year. In March, I'll be going to the Bash for Augie's Quest in San Francisco...and plan another road trip vacation around it! Time is short, but I'm hard at work looking for new and fun things to experience! And, if I get the opportunity, I'll finally get to work transcribing that interview. Boy, how I hate hearing my own voice! Happy New Year!

Caverns and cats

On my last full day of road tripping, I only had two places to see, but they were good ones! I left Medford, OR early so I could get to Oregon Caves National Monument in time for their first tour of the day. Registration for cave tours opened at 9:30 am, and I was there before then. I was also the only one there. I was asked if I could wait till 10:30 to allow time for other folks to arrive. But, an hour later...no one! So...I got my own personal tour of the caverns! That's the second time it's happened on my road trip...the first was at Black Chasm Caverns in California. To make things a bit special for me, the Park Service guide actually gave me my own flashlight to use. She wasn't supposed to do that...I hope mentioning it doesn't get her in hot water!

As we entered the caverns, I was shown a few Little Brown bats roosting on the wall. I see those same kind of bats at home...I had one on the wall of my house once! For the next hour and a half, we walked through the caves. At one point, I asked the guide if she had seen the movie, The Descent...and, she said she had! It's about a group of women who explore a cave...and become trapped inside and terrorized by its subterranean occupants. If you like to explore caves and enjoy watching horror films, you'll love this one! It was so cool to be the only one down there...well, almost. About halfway into the tour, we encountered a researcher trying to reconstruct pieces of rock that were damaged long ago by people walking on it. Again, since it was only me, she actually showed me what she was working on...what a treat! Oh, and she has seen The Descent, too! The tour ended all too soon, but I'll never forget the experience!

After a quick picnic lunch, I visited Great Cats World Park. By now, it was raining lightly, but that wouldn't dampen my enthusiasm. This unique facility is devoted to educating the public about the great cats of the world...and we're not talking about domestic cats! Most wild cat species are endangered or threatened, and Great Cats World Park tries to educate the public on their plight. In addition, they have a successful breeding program, and also offer the use of their well-trained cats to the entertainment industry and the media.

For about 2 hours, the guide gave us an up close and personal tour of their cats: white tiger, cougar, Amur leopard, black leopard, snow leopard, Bengal tiger, jaguar, African lion, serval, ocelot and a trio of African wildcats. While the guide was doing her talk, she fed the cats pieces of meat...they seemed to know the routine! We were allowed to stand 4-5 feet away from the enclosure fences, which is the closest I've ever been to such cats! I mean, this was really close! And, the cats were SO BEAUTIFUL! I was especially impressed with the snow leopard...what a huge tail it had! I've seen snow leopards in zoos, but never up close. Toward the end of the tour, we got to pet a baby black leopard. Not quite the same as my experience at West Coast Game Park (see my Fair weather and furry faces blog), but still great!

I spent a longer time at the cat park than expected...that was certainly okay...but, I now had a long drive north to my nightly pit stop. It took me about 4 hours, the second half in the darkness and rain...and getting caught in a post-game football traffic jam. I was pretty tired when I arrived at my hotel. Well, tomorrow is the home stretch! Just one zoo...which I might skip if it rains too much. It might be just as well...I can't wait to get to home sweet home!

Little bit of this, little bit of that

I had another relaxing day of sightseeing today. Before I got things started, I went to the local Safeway in Redding to buy a few things for lunch. At the checkout stand, the lady at the register happened to see my Washington State driver's license, and commented that she used to live there. Born and raised in Ellensburg...I knew where that was because my parents live just south of that town! Small world!

It was already a beautiful sunny day as I arrived at Redding's Turtle Bay Exploration Park. This preserve is devoted to educating the public of the natural environment, culture and history of the Sacramento Valley area. I went to the museum first, which had a cool exhibit on costumes used in movies and television. Stuff like Indiana Jones' hat, jacket and bullwhip, and Darth Vader's outfit. The Paul Bunyan Forest Camp outside the museum is geared for children, but it was deserted when I walked through it. I was mostly interested in checking out the animals they had on display. As I walked up to the gray fox enclosure, I saw a little head pop up to see who was coming. Immediately, the fox jumped up on a tree branch to have a better look at me, which allowed me to have a better look at the fox. Inali was confiscated by people who were keeping her illegally. Because she could not be returned to the wild, she was now staying at Turtle Bay. Such a beautiful animal, but so sad she can't be free.

A prominent feature of the exploration park is McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, which I accessed by crossing over the amazing work of art, The Sundial Bridge (see photo above). These gardens include plants of Mediterranean climate zones from around the world. I'm not really big on gardens and plants, but I do appreciate the rare and unusual. I also decided that it would be good exercise to walk the paths of the gardens. In particular, I enjoyed looking at the monkey puzzle tree. I had heard of these trees, but never saw such nice specimens! Because it was so late in the year, many plants were not at their peak. Still, it was nice to take a stroll.

The only other destination of the day was a short drive out of town to Shasta State Historic Park. This park is devoted to the history of Shasta City, as told by interpretive signs with old buildings outside, and displays inside the town's original Shasta County Courthouse. The courthouse actually had a reproduced gallows out back, and jail cells downstairs. As I walked around the jail area, I noticed a smell that I've detected at so many old buildings. Kind of a damp, musty odor...not unpleasant, but a unique earthiness. I guess you can say it's an "old" smell, which lends a certain authenticity!

Before I left Redding, I decided to eat my lunch in my vehicle, parked in the quiet corner of a shopping center parking lot. I scanned the radio dial, searching for a good station. I was thinking there wasn't one until I finally found a soft rock station. Right at that very moment, they played Five For Fighting's Slice! Ahh...I was enjoying my lunch a whole lot more!

For those who served...

I was looking forward to a nice, relaxing day. I planned to visit a medical museum in Sacramento first thing this morning. But, it being Veteran's Day, that museum was closed. Not wanting to waste precious time doing nothing until the other places on my list opened, I looked for an alternative. I did a Google search and found the Aerospace Museum of California was open at 9:00 am...perfect! Also, I was thrilled to see that they had a special Star Trek exhibit there, and...it was a fitting place to visit on Veteran's Day. When I got to the air museum, I made a beeline for Star Trek - The Exhibition. This special exhibit is supposedly the best display of Star Trek props and information ever offered to the public. I've been a big Star Trek fan from the classic series to the movies, so this really appealed to me. And, I wasn't disappointed...it rocked!

Afterward, I went outside to look at the display of military aircraft. It turned out the first plane I saw is one of my personal favorites...the A-10 Warthog or Thunderbolt II. As I approached the plane, the docent there asked me if I was connected to the A-10 in some way. I said "No, unless you want to count computer games!" I love to fly old World War II fighter aircraft in a computer setting. As for modern planes, the only one is the A-10...I have three games devoted to it! I got to talking to the veteran pilot about the plane. The A-10 is well-known for it's durability and toughness in battle. There have been many stories of pilots getting shot up but still returning home...because they were flying A-10s. He even described a fellow female pilot who experienced that herself while on a mission in the Middle East. Another attribute of the Warthog...it's slow for a jet fighter. For that reason, it might draw more ground fire, but it makes it perfect as a tank killer. The pilot said when he used to fly Red Flag war games, he and the other A-10s would leave for the rendezvous point, while the pilots in the faster jets like F-16s would hang around the base eating cheeseburgers...they had time to catch up to the slower A-10s!

Before I left to check out the other planes, I shook the pilot's hand and thanked him for his service. He seemed surprised, and noted that not many people said that to him. He was very appreciative and thanked me! I walked around and took photos of the military aircraft on the tarmac, then returned to the main building to see the displays inside. Sitting outside the doorway were three more docents...all military veterans. Before going inside, I shook all of their hands and thanked them for their service. One of the men then asked if he should thank me, too. At first, I was a bit confused...until I realized he meant the Five For Fighting hoodie I was wearing! Being of a different generation...or, maybe not a hockey fan...he had no idea what it meant! I explained that Five For Fighting was a musician...who also happened to be a big supporter of the troops. They liked that!

After a quick lunch, I drove to downtown Sacramento to see Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. This historic site is devoted to the story of John Sutter and his failed attempt...because of the gold rush...to build his own farming and trade community. To add to the realism, visitors see volunteers dressed in period clothing re-enacting life at Sutter's Fort. In addition to the fort, the park also includes the State Indian Museum. There, I enjoyed displays of the different aspects of California native American life.

Tomorrow, I've scheduled another easy day. I only drove about 2 1/2 hours today and it will be the same tomorrow. Slow road home is SO much less tiring! Only three more days of road tripping...

Folsom prison views

When I woke up this morning, my injured finger felt a bit better. At least it doesn't hurt unless I apply pressure. Even typing is no problem...if I don't press on the key too hard! Needless to say, I'm VERY careful opening my Blazer's rear window now!

I was planning to visit two caverns today, but when I got to the first one... Black Chasm Cavern National Natural Landmark...I was told by the guy working there that the other one... Sutter Gold Mine...was closed today. Oh, well...I just go to another museum instead then! I arrived at Black Chasm well before the start of the first tour at 10:00 am. But, when that time rolled around...no one else had shown up! So...I got a private tour of the caves! Cool! This particular caverns is most famous for their extensive display of rare helictite crystals...the main reason it was awarded National Nature Landmark status by the National Park Service. And, those crystals ARE impressive!

As many past mornings on my road trip, I skipped breakfast so I was good and hungry after the cave tour. I was on my way to two museums in Folsom when I passed through the town of Placerville...and spotted an In N Out Burger! I had been planning to just eat the other half of my Subway sandwich, but I forgot all about that. Instead, I was envisioning a double double! I made a quick decision and...well, you know what I did! I beat the lunch crowd by just 5 minutes. As I was walking to my Blazer with my takeout burger, the vehicles started streaming into the parking lot! It was pretty amazing. And, yes...that double double tasted damn good!

I immediately felt a bit apprehensive as I turned into Prison Road in Folsom. There were signs along the sides of the road saying "No stopping or parking." My destination was the Folsom Prison Museum, but this attraction was located adjacent to Folsom State Prison. The prison is infamous for Johnny Cash's two performances there in 1966 and 1968. This was dramatized in the Joaquin Phoenix film, Walk The Line. I parked in the same lot that prison visitors use, which felt a bit weird. Actually, this is not the first time I've been near prisons. When I had a temporary job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers back in the early 80s, at least a couple of times I went to the main office and drove past Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Then, while working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in New Jersey, I occasionally passed by East Jersey State Prison...originally known as Rahway State Prison. Most prisons look the same...high walls and guard towers. The prison museum was extremely interesting. There were exhibits with prison memorabilia, including weapons and contraband constructed and confiscated from prisoners. The nice lady working there took a photo of me standing in front of the prison's East Gate. I prefer staying outside, thank you very much!

Next, I drove a short distance to the Folsom History Museum. I got a lot of information on local history from this museum. Since I didn't have a second cave visit today, I added the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento to my itinerary. I'm not the biggest fan of trains, but I was pleasantly surprised on how well done the exhibits were at this museum. The history of the big railroad companies in the West, railroad construction, and descriptions on railroad life. I spent a good 1 1/2 hours absorbing it all. Oh, and the trains were pretty nice, too.

Tomorrow, more museums and a historical park...did I ever say I love museums? Four more days till my journey ends...

Frozen in time

My day started on a painful note. I was loading my belongings into my Blazer when the rear window slammed down on my finger. A combination of overnight freezing temps and me not pushing window all the way up caused the accident. The end of my middle finger got smashed, and I was fortunate to just pull my hand out of the way at the last second, averting probably worse injury. At first, it didn't seem so bad. Yeah, my finger was numb and hurt like hell..I was hoping it was just a minor thing. But, as the day progressed, I noticed the finger starting to show bruising. And, by the time I stopped at my hotel for the night, my finger was swollen and purplish. I can't apply pressure without severe pain...otherwise, I'm managing. And, I'm doing what I hadn't done all day...icing the finger. It will probably keep it from bruising further, but it will take a while to feel normal. I'm just praying it's not something more serious. I guess time will tell.

My sightseeing for the day consisted of a historic park, a cave tour and a county museum. After spending the night in a quaint older hotel in Jamestown, I made the short drive to Columbia State Historic Park in Columbia. Many of the historic sites and museums in the region are related to the gold rush, and this place was a good example. Next, I drove up the road to Mercer Caverns...the first of several caves tours I planned for my road trip. This was only the 3rd time I had ever visited caves in this country...the other two were Jewel Caves in South Dakota and Shenandoah Caverns in Virginia. Mercer Caverns are what are known as limestone caves. It was a fun tour...especially when the guide turned the lights out. I think they do that on all cave tours. Scary!

I was hoping to see a museum in the historic town of Angels Camp, but it was unexpectedly closed...oh, well. So, I went on to my final destination of the day... Calaveras County Museum in San Andreas. Does the name Calaveras County sound familiar to you? Do you recall the Mark Twain story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County? Yep, THAT Calaveras County! The short story supposedly made Twain famous, and the rest, of course, is history! Anyway, this particular museum proved to be very interesting and well done. It wasn't real big, but I spent a good hour going through all the exhibits. The photo above is a room in the Hall Of Records...looks just the way it did way back when!

Tomorrow, I have two more cave tours planned, and well as two museums if time permits. I hope the swelling in my finger goes down...

Ancient sentinels

When I woke up this morning, the sun was shining through the clouds and the skies were blue. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day! After a quick visit to the grocery store for bananas and carrots for lunch, I left Oakhurst for the short drive to Yosemite National Park. At the entrance station, I showed the interagency pass I purchased on my last road trip....still good till April...then, headed over to Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. The only big trees I've ever seen are redwoods, and I was excited to see my first sequoias.

It had rained yesterday and overnight in Oakhurst, but at the higher elevations in Yosemite, it was snow that fell on the ground. It was still chilly as I started on the trail to see the sequoias...35 degrees! But, I quickly warmed up as I hiked along. At first, the trail gradually inclined. As I kept walking, though, the trails became steeper and steeper. To make it even more challenging, snow was on the ground and the trails...tougher to walk on that stuff. When I first started out, there were some people on the trail, too. I soon left them behind, and I found myself on the trail alone. Now, I admit I'm not in tip top shape, but I think most people would have gotten quite a workout on these trails! I occasionally stopped to take photos and admire the view, which gave me a breather. It was also interesting to see the different animals tracks in the new snow...deer, squirrel, chipmunk. Thankfully, no bear or cougar! As time went on, I began to question the wisdom of me hiking to the top. But, I told myself if I do it, I never have to do it again...so, I kept going. Three strenuous miles later, I made it! Then, I quickly took a different trail back down...SO much easier than going up! When I finally reached the parking lot, I was exhausted and famished. It took me THREE HOURS to do those six miles! After fueling up on Subway, carrots and chips, I was ready to see the main attractions.

Yosemite Valley is home to some of the most beautiful and well known natural attractions in the world. Right after driving through a eastbound tunnel...there they were! At an overlook, were the famous El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridal Veil Falls. The photo above is what I saw. It was truly breathtaking! From there, I stopped along the road often to take pictures. You can't get enough great shots of the sights! Even better, since it was so late in the year, there were not too many people in the park. My only regret is not having enough time to do hike some more trails, although at that point, I think I was all hiked out for the day! After getting photos of Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, I was ready to leave. As I walked back to the Blazer, I noticed some people taking pics of some grazing deer. I opted to take a pass...after all, I see deer all the time in my neighborhood and backyard!

Tomorrow, a less strenuous day! A historic park, a cavern tour and a couple of local museums...less driving, too! I could use an easy day. Road tripping starts to catch up to you after awhile...particularly if you do it alone!

Were there lizards back then?

I had a terrible stay at my Glendale hotel. First of all, when you enter the lobby and you're greeted by a guy behind a inpenetrable glass wall, you don't feel that welcome! I knew something wasn't quite right when the supposed non-smoking room had it's door wide open...as did several other rooms on the floor! Airing it out...for what? The room itself smelled musty and not all that clean. I soon discovered this was one of many problems. There was NO facial tissue, NO clock radio, NO soap holder in the shower and rough towels! To make matters worse, when I got back from the Five For Fighting show, I passed a couple of people smoking on the walkway, two doors down from mine. I entered my room to find...it smelled like smoke! I think the smoke seeped under the door and through the 1/4 inch gap around the wall-mounted air conditioner! Needless to say, when I do my AAA review of this hotel, I will not be complimentary!

My first item on the agenda today was a visit to Fort Tejon State Historic Park in Lebec, CA. Stationed at this fort from 1854 to 1864 was the 1st U.S. Dragoons. The unit was most famous for their failed experiment of using camels in the U.S. Army. This park has original and restored buildings from that time. But, what interested me the most? Lizards! Small lizards were crawling all over the sunny side wall of the Barracks building. I hadn't seen wild lizards since I was growing up in southern California. All the kids had pets that they caught from the wild...snakes, tortoises...and lizards, too! I spent a good amount of time following the little critters...took a few pics, too, as you can see. So cute! I wished I could catch a couple for pets, but I just left them alone. Hmm...I wonder if those same lizards were crawling around Fort Tejon way back when?

The other fun thing for the day was going to the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. This zoo has animals and plants native to the surrounding area. The place was pretty small, but I managed to find something of great interest...rattlesnakes! Yes, many zoos have rattlesnakes, but it's not often you can actually SEE them really up close! I snapped some nice shots of the reptiles through the glass.

In general, the weather today was pretty nice. That all changed when I reached Fresno...rain! And, it rained all the way to my pit stop for the night. It might still be showering tomorrow morning, but it's supposed to clear up and be sunny the rest of the day. Crossing my fingers that will be the case as I'm going to visit Yosemite National Park!

Super moment...Superman

My last show of the current Five For Fighting tour was certainly a special one...have I been saying that for every show? I attended with friends Lynne and Dave, who were with me at the Redondo Beach concert. Unlike last night, dinner was actually pretty decent at the Canyon Club, although it's pretty hard to mess up prime rib! The crowd was a little better audience with opener Matt Hires...their bantering didn't quite drown out his music. It might have also been the decent sound system, though. Oh, I guess I should mention I had a GREAT seat for this show, courtesy of my two friends! Got some nice photos, like the one you see here.

When John came on stage, he started out by communicating his pleasure at his Bruins football team winning this afternoon. He got right into World on piano, and replicated his set list for the past two nights (see Making things right blog). But, he did things a little differently for Superman. Cellist Victor Lawrence...who has played with John on past albums...accompanied him for that song. Victor was with John for his appearance in The Concert For NYC, and John reminisced on that special benefit concert. Hearing Victor play his cello for Superman was a wonderful addition to John's performance, and the highpoint of the evening.

After the show, I was hoping for one last photo moment with John, but it wasn't to be. I DID get to say goodbye to wife Carla, though! She was talking to a few friends, and when she saw me, told them I was John's biggest fan...she said it again! I guess it must be true? I explained to the ladies that I followed John from show to show when he toured the west coast, and they were pretty impressed. Then, I said my goodbyes to Carla and gave her a hug, and she wished me a safe trip home.

So, my groupie adventure has come to an end. But, my road trip continues. Still more sights to see, more fun on the horizon. And, thank goodness I'll be heading back into the cool weather!

Way out west

The nice thing about early Saturday in the L.A. area...no traffic jams on the freeways. At least I didn't encounter any as I left San Clemente and headed north. Temperatures were in the low 70s...my kind of weather! My only destination for the morning was Autry National Center, located in Griffith Park. Actually, this museum features art, artifacts and exhibits related to the American West. As I've said before, I love museums, and this one turned out to be a very nice one. I ended up staying there 2 1/2 hours. I was especially impressed by the original oil paintings done by famous artists.

So, tonight will be my final Five For Fighting show of the current tour. I'm happy to see John Ondrasik one more time, but also a bit sad that it will be coming to an end. Canyon Club in Agoura Hills is another dinner venue. Will the food be better than last night? I'm sure I won't care too much...I'll be too busy listening to John sing. And, his stories, too, of course! Stay tuned...

The biggest fan

I guess I should have left the hotel a bit earlier...but, maybe things wouldn't have been the same if I had. Entry to The Coach House was supposed to start at 6:00 pm, and I was told by the box office via phone to be there early to get a good seat. Well, I forgot about RUSH HOUR! It was only about 5 miles to the venue, but the fast route...the freeway...was jam packed with cars. So, I asked my GPS for an alternate route, which got me there by 6:00. But, there was already a good line of people waiting to get in. When I got to the seat assignment guy, he looked over his chart, then told the usher where to put me. I think it may have worked to my advantage that I was alone. I don't think they're used to people flying solo, because I ended up having a choice between two adjacent seats. I selected one, but the other one was basically mine, too...more room for me. My view of the stage was not too bad, although there WAS a rather tall guy at the nearby table who had a big head and would end up making it harder for me to see John Ondrasik at the piano.

I elected to eat dinner there, so I opted for the grilled tilapia with pineapple salsa. It turned out to be just so-so, and would have been slightly more palatable if they didn't put CILANTRO in the salsa...I HATE cilantro! As I scanned the crowd, I noticed Augie Nieto and his wife Lynne in attendance. John mentioned at last night's show that Augie would be there. Augie is the subject of John's song bearing his name. He has ALS...Lou Gehrig's disease...founded his ALS research charity organization, Augie's Quest, and is truly an inspiration. Not too long after, I saw John's wife Carla had arrived. I was hoping to chat with her tonight. While waiting for the show to start, I conversed with a lady across the table from me. Turns out John is her cousin, or something like that. Then, Carla came by and started talking to her...and noticed me sitting there. "Hi, Wynne!" she said. Carla proceeded to tell the lady I was John's biggest fan...hey, I won't argue with that! I asked Carla if John told her about the bottle of wine I gave him last night. Carla thought it was cool, especially the UCLA Bruins wine bag it came in! I'm hoping to eventually hear how it tastes when they get around to drinking it!

When opener Matt Hires took the stage, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. The crowd was VERY noisy...I could barely hear him singing, and forget about hearing him talk. I know, this happens a lot to the opening acts, but I think it's rude. If you want to talk, go to a bar or something...some of us want to actually hear the music! Thankfully, and not surprisingly, the chatterboxes piped down when John came out. He seemed a lot more chipper than usual. John's set list was the same as the last show (see blog Making things right). John tells the same stories for certain songs, but I never get tired of hearing them. He DID have a new one, though...about his appearance on Lifetime's Army Wives, and his stress of having to learn a line for the show. SO FUNNY! Because the lighting on the stage was pretty dim, I didn't have a whole lot of luck getting photos of John. The one you see above is one of the better ones.

When the concert was over, I went over to Carla to say goodbye. As she did at last April's Tuacahn show, Carla asked me again if I ever get tired of hearing John's stories. And, as before, I told her "No." I asked her if SHE ever gets tired of hearing them, and she replied, "Sometimes." But, she DOES like hearing the ones about her! I told her that I would be at tomorrow's show at Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, then bid her a goodnight. I'm pretty sure John wasn't doing a meet and greet after tonight's show...he didn't say he would while on stage. But, that's OK...I already got at least one photo of him with me. Last show of the tour for me tomorrow...like usual, it will be great.

Shrunken heads are cool

I left Redondo Beach this morning, still high from last night's Five For Fighting show...and my backstage encounter with John Ondrasik. John is such a nice guy! Oh, in my haste to put out last night's blog, I forgot to mention there was a special guest in the audience. Unlike myself, HE had an assigned VIP table, and I saw his name when I was looking for my own (see last blog). It was none other than Five For Fighting fan and star soccer player Landon Donovan! He's made it known in interviews that he likes to listen to Five For Fighting tunes before games. And, he was seen wearing a Five For Fighting T-shirt in a CBS Sports video story. When he arrived, the club manager showed him to his table. I could be him quite well from my vantage point. And, after the show during his meet and greet, Landon got a photo with John.

My day today was pretty relaxed. I drove south and checked out the famous Wayfarers Chapel. It's made out of wood and glass and sits on a bluff on the Palos Verdes peninsula, and is a popular site for weddings due to its picturesque location. I also visited the even more famous RMS Queen Mary, but just took some pics. For lunch, I was yearning for a hot bowl of ramen. I made the short drive to Costa Mesa, and visited a Japanese market with a nice food court. That soy sauce ramen from Santouka really hit the spot...SO yummy! Afterward, I decided to feed my mind by visiting the Bower's Museum in Santa Ana. This is a cultural art museum, and it specializes in artifacts from ancient, primitive and modern day cultures. I was especially interested in the more macabre things...stuff like shrunken heads and ceremonial items made from human bones. But, hey, that's me.

So, tonight I'll be going to my 2nd Five For Fighting show of the current tour at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. It will be my first dinner show. You're seated at a table, have your meal, and that will also be your seat for the concert. I neglected to call ahead of time for a reservation so I'll have to cross my fingers I will still have a fairly good seat. Blogging after the show...

Making things right

Well, my night at the Brixton South Bay started out on the wrong foot. When I got there, I had a feeling something wasn't quite right. First of all, I wasn't on their VIP list...just kind of a separate list. I got my tickets and proceeded to the entry point. I showed my tickets, but there was some confusion about my VIP seats. Then, I was told to look for my designated seating area...my name should be on a table. I looked...and looked...and looked. No name and no table! I started asking around and was told to get one of the wait staff to help me out. When I explained my situation, she ended up notifying the club manager. Turns out she was never notified by the Five For Fighting management that I had VIP seats. OH, NO! It appeared there had been a communication problem between the Muscular Dystrophy Association...they sponsored the charity auction that resulted in me winning the Five For Fighting show experience...and John Ondrasik's manager. Someone neglected to let the Brixton management know that I was to have VIP seats. Wanting to make things right, the very nice Brixton manager seated me and my friend at a booth...but, the view was lousy. Yeah, I was close to the stage, but I was sitting way to the side. I admit I was a bit upset at the whole matter, but tried to put a positive face on the situation. In the meantime, the Brixton manager said she would let John and his manager know what happened.

Well, I was sitting there still feeling kind of down when the Brixton manager and John's manager came to the table. They had a remedy to the screw-up...proceed backstage to the Green Room and spend some time with John! Now, I had NEVER been backstage in my life, although I had always wished for something like that. So, my friend Lynne and I followed John's manager to the Green Room. I found John sitting on the sofa in front of a table of rather generic snacks...I don't think he was eating any of it. John greeted me and I introduced him to Lynne. John asked me how things were, and I told him a little about my road trip so far. I presented John with a little gift...a bottle of Washington State merlot. John is a big wine fan, and he appreciated the gift...which was encased in a UCLA Bruins wine bag! Yes, John's alma mater!

Then, John suggested we do the planned interview. So, I turned on my digital voice recorder...John made sure it was working...and got to the questions. Now, I had been told previously that I would only be allowed to ask a certain number of questions. But, I ended up asking John every single question I had brought with me...and then some! I told John at the start that I would be asking him stuff that he probably had never been asked before...or at least not very often...as I'm sure he sometimes gets tired of answering the same old questions. And, the interview went wonderfully. At the end, John complimented me on my questions, which made me feel great. It was only after I went back out to my booth that Lynne asked me why I didn't get photos with John. DOH! Well, I should get a pic with him after the show.

Even though my view of the stage wasn't the greatest, it didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the show. And, I managed to get a few decent photos, although the lighting...which was some what dim...made it difficult. The audience loved his stories...and of course, his music, too! His set list of the night was as follows:

World (piano)
The Riddle (piano)
Chances (guitar)
Slice (guitar)
65 Mustang (guitar)
Freedom Never Cries (piano)
Superman (piano)
Easy Tonight (guitar)
If God Made You (guitar)
I Just Love You (piano)
Augie Nieto (piano)
100 Years (piano)

Encore: Disneyland (piano), Hope (a capella)

As expected, John had a meet and greet session for those who stayed after the show. And, yes, I got my photo with John! I also took pics of Lynne and her two friends who also came to see John. One of them, Trish, had never been to a Five For Fighting show and came away a new fan.
Tomorrow, I travel to San Juan Capistrano to see my second Five For Fighting show at The Coach House. I have a dinner ticket, so we'll see how that goes. I'm ready for more!

Getting ready to rock!

I left my hotel in Hollywood vowing not to stay in a non-chain hotel in the future. Yeah, there was some effort to make the best of it, but nothing could change the fact that it was an older building, and it's the little things that make all the difference in the world. The room was pretty cramped, with furniture crammed in that really didn't fit. Even the bathroom was small...you couldn't even open the door inward without hitting the toilet! I stayed there two nights, but never got the right configuration of towels. The parking lot was pretty cramped, too...not enough spaces for every room, although I was lucky enough to get one each night.

But, enough about the hotel. Things should be better for the rest of my road trip. I didn't really have much to do today. Besides, it was another scorcher and I didn't want to be outside much. At this point of the trip, I decided it was time pick up some liquid refreshment. I love Mountain Dew...diet, please...and that includes their Code Red variety. Well, it turns out the Pepsi Company, who makes Mt. Dew, decided that diet Code Red wasn't selling well enough in my state of Washington. So, they quit stocking it on the shelves of all the stores in the state...Oregon and Idaho, too! That really irked me, but there was nothing I could do. A couple of friends were nice enough to bring back a half case for me when they traveled elsewhere in the country. That didn't last, though, and I needed to replenish my supply. So, I did a Google search and found a convenient grocery store to stop and get my Code Red today because they still have it in California. But, as luck would have it...rather bad luck...they were sold out! Well, there would be other opportunities.

I had an early lunch at Neptune's Net in Malibu...fried calamari and scallop basket...then headed south. I made a brief stop in Venice to check out the beach front and the famous canal area. Onward, to Redondo Beach! I had some time to kill before checking into my hotel, so I went to another grocery store for my soda. YES! They had it...I ended up buying all 4 half cases on the shelf! No, it's not all for me. I have a friend back home who is also a diet Code Red lover, and two cases are for her. I may have to stop one more time for at least another case...three should be enough to hold me until my next road trip planned for March.

I'm now waiting for my friend to pick me up. We're having dinner before we head over to Brixton South Bay for the Five For Fighting show. It's been six months since I've last seen John Ondrasik perform live, and I really miss seeing him. Nothing beats watching and hearing him in concert! I have my questions ready and I'll be interviewing John at the meet and greet post show. I hope it all works out well. Stay tuned...I'll be posting another blog tonight!

Nomming with Nom Nom Truck

I only had a few hours this morning to spend sightseeing. So, I decided to stick to the touristy stuff in Hollywood. First, the obligatory visit to Grauman's Chinese Theatre to check out the celebrity hand and footprints in concrete. The last time I was here was 25 years ago, and since then, there have been a lot of additions to the display. Next, I went to the Hollywood Museum, home to a lot of old Hollywood memorabilia, with a sprinkling of newer stuff.

Having skipped breakfast again, I made the short drive to Studio City to rendezvous with the now famous Nom Nom Truck. This mobile food truck was featured on Food Network's The Great American Food Truck Race this last summer. I was rooting for Nom Nom Truck...they specialize in Vietnamese style bahn mi sandwiches...but, they fell short and had to settle for runner-up. During the competition, from city to city, they wowed people with their food. I knew I had to try them out for myself. I found out their lunch location from their website, and spotting the truck, parked in front of it. Since I would only be a few minutes, I decided not to put a coin in the parking meter. Just as I stepped on the curb, a Los Angeles County sheriff's car parked on the street behind me! Panicked, I told the sheriff's deputy exiting the car that I neglected to pay for parking. He cheerfully told me not the worry about it. I think he and his partner were more focused on getting bahn mi! I already knew what I was going to order...honey pork bahn mi! Grilled marinated pork with pickled vegetables, cucumber, jalapenos, cilantro and mayo on a crusty bagette. I drove to the nearby Fryman Canyon Park to enjoy my sandwich...and it was awesome! I might try to seek out the Nom Nom Truck again tomorrow before I head south.

My biggest event of the day was attending the taping of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. I did this last November, and it was so much fun, there was no doubt I wanted to do it again! I parked my Blazer at The Grove parking garage, and walked around the outdoor shopping center to kill some time. I came upon what appeared to be a filming set-up, and read signs that said they taped segments for the TV show Extra with Mario Lopez. I was interested in seeing him, but I wanted to get to CBS Television City early enough to be at the front of the line. After returning to my car to leave my camera...it wouldn't be allowed in the TV studio...I walked back to the mall to find...Mario Lopez had arrived. Rats! Maybe I should have waiting another 10 minutes...I could have gotten pics! Oh, well. At least I saw him!

It was blazing hot today...the thermometer said 98 degrees! I walked the short distance from The Grove to the CBS entrance. I was pleased to find no one waiting yet...I was first in line! That would hopefully translate into a primo spot in the audience seating area. At least the assigned waiting area was in the shade! When the time came to enter the studio, sure enough, I found myself in the front row! That sure beats back row like last time, although you really don't have a bad seat in the house. One thing you may not know. The musical guests may not necessarily perform on the day that you see them on TV! We were treated to a pre-show performance by a group, whose name escapes me. But, we were told they would appear on a future show. The same warm-up comedian as last time was there...goes by the name Chucky B. REALLY funny! The guest for the show was Jayma Mays, who plays Emma Pillsbury on the TV series, Glee. She and Craig were great...lots of laughs! So, I guess you can say I enjoyed myself! Needless to say, I would love to see the show again in the future , and I would highly recommend it to everyone!

I ended my day by stopping by the Farmer's Market adjacent to The Grove to pick up dinner. I already knew what I wanted to get...Brazilian grill! They had a nice buffet at the Pampas Grill, and I got takeout. Lamb, garlic beef and the always tasty fried plantains!

Tomorrow, I drive south to Redondo Beach and my first Five For Fighting show of my groupie road trip. I'll be on the VIP list at Brixton South Bay, courtesy of the Muscular Dystrophy Association charity auction. Then, after the show, I'll have a meet and greet with John Ondrasik. And, if that's not enough, I will finally...after much asking...be granted the privilege of interviewing John for my fan site, Five For Fighting Fan Central. I was able to get a print interview last year, but I was looking for the more coveted face to face. So excited it will become a reality! It will take me awhile to dictate to print what my digital voice recorder will pick up. But, I'll give you the lowdown on tomorrow night after the show!

Hail to the chief

Before leaving San Luis Obispo this morning, I just had to get my groupie mobile washed. It was a mess from the rain in Oregon, a couple of muddy roads in Northern California and not to mention the dust I just seemed to pick up yesterday. I ended up going to the same car wash I went to the last time I was in town... Sunset North Car Wash. It's one of those typical hand wash places, but they're fast and do a great job at a fair price. Fifteen minutes later, my Blazer looked great!

I was in the homestretch and due to arrive in the Los Angeles area today. But, before I made the drive south, I had to take a little side trip to a radio station in Bakersfield. You see, back in September, I bid on a couple of items in their charity auction...a guitar and a poster, both autographed by John Ondrasik. Happy to support a good cause, I placed my bids and ended up winning both items. Rather than go through the hassle of having the items shipped, I arranged to pick them up during my planned road trip. I stopped by Kelly 95.3 this morning, and received my auction prizes. The guitar was especially nice...a pretty blue acoustic. While I was waiting in the lobby, I noticed there was writing on the sofa there. I soon realized they were autographs of musical artists who had visited the station. Scanning the signatures...yes, there's John's Hancock! He signed his name with the note, "I Got Your Back!" Why? The autograph was located on the inside seat back...funny! While I was there, I asked if I could have a couple of Kelly window stickers. The one on the back window of my groupie mobile was holding up pretty well, but I would want to eventually replace it. The nice radio station guy gave me FOUR! Before I left town, I had my first meal of the day...and my first In-N-Out Burger of my road trip. Tasted great, and SO much better than Five Guys' greasy food!

My task complete, I headed south to Simi Valley and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. I love museums, and I heard this was a good one. When I got there, I was a bit surprised to find that they had a polling place set up there for Election Day. On the other hand, it was only fitting...I mean, why not? After looking at a replica of Reagan's White House Oval Office, I headed into the large pavilion holding an Air Force One Boeing 707. In the same building, there was also a special motorcycle exhibit, with vintage and movie motorcycles. The high point of my visit was seeing a model miniature White House, complete with tiny rooms with equally tiny furniture and objects. The photo above is the visitor's entrance to the White House...looks real, huh?

Well, tomorrow I'm planning to spend the morning playing tourist in Hollywood. Then, I'll be attending a taping of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. I did the show last year, and it was awesome! Hoping to get a seat up front this time, though!

Take me to the bottom of...the ocean

It was nice to wake up to sunshine for a change. But, I think the sun contributed to the slowdown in rush hour traffic as I left San Francisco and traveled south. Drivers blinded by the morning rays directly in their faces, and a little fog in one spot from the sun hitting the cold waters of the bay. But, the tie ups weren't so bad, and in no time, I reached Santa Cruz. I was looking forward to getting a real breakfast for a change. My destination was Santa Cruz Diner...an eatery featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Every road trip I try to seek out restaurants I've seen on television. A few days ago I went to Pacific Pie Company in Portland, and now this place. I got country fried steak with eggs to go, and made the short drive to the nearby Natural Bridges State Beach. I settled down at a picnic table and enjoyed my meal in the mid-morning sunshine.

This particular state park had two features I was interested in checking out. It's a wintering area for monarch butterflies traveling from the north to escape the colder weather. And, there is a natural mudstone arch that was one of three carved out by wave erosion...the other two were destroyed by wind and waves. I was hoping to see thousands of butterflies, but there were just some flitting around the trees and tall shrubs. More monarchs than I've ever seen at one time, but nothing impressive...a disappointment. After taking photos of the arch, I left the park for Monterey.

At this time, I realized that I underestimated the amount of time it would take for me to complete the day's activities. I had been planning to visit Point Lobos State Natural Reserve later in the afternoon, but I decided that was out of the question. When I arrived at Monterey Bay Aquarium, I checked my GPS and found out it would take about 2 hours to drive to my pitstop for the night. Better to concentrate my time at the aquarium, and leave Point Lobos for a future road trip.

Monterey Bay Aquarium has always been one of those places I just had to visit. I had heard so many great things about it, and I found out it was all true! The fish tanks and exhibits were awesome! I was especially impressed by the jelly fish and the seahorses. But, my high point of the day had to be my close encounter with a bat ray. These gentle creatures were swimming around in a touch tank, and yes...I touched them! They were surprisingly...soft! Kind of like running your hand over wet fur! Strange, but true!

Tomorrow...Los Angeles! And, two days later...my first Five For Fighting show of the trip! Yes, Thursday will be a VERY special day for me...in more ways than one! Stay tuned...

Redwoods...just drivin' through

I had my doubts on the weather when I left Crescent City, CA this morning. It was overcast, rainy and windy. As I drove south on US Hwy 101...also known as Redwood Hwy...I observed the ocean was rough and churning. No time to stop for pics, though...I had a lot of miles to cover. My plan for the day was to travel on the Avenue of the Giants...a slow route through Humboldt Redwoods State Park...which is the way to go if you want to really get up close with redwood trees. By the time I got there, it quit raining and the skies were clearing, to my great relief. I was hoping to do some walking along the trails to see the various redwood groves. But, it quickly became evident that I didn't have the time because I had to make it to San Francisco for the night. I stopped a couple of times and took photos, then sought out a couple of cheesy tourist attractions.

In a previous road trip, I visited the Tour-Thru tree in Klamath, CA. Basically, you drive your vehicle through a live redwood. Well, it turns out there two other similar trees located right off the Avenue of the Giants. I had to check them out! The first was the Shrine Drive-Thru tree in Myers Flat. This tree had a really tight opening and I had to take it really slow to get through. Afterward, I asked the guy working there if many people got their vehicles stuck in the tree. He replied it happens occasionally. Recently, he had to let the air out of the tires of a Ford F-150 truck. Turns out it DOESN'T fit in the tree, as the owner of the truck found out! I was happy my little Blazer had no trouble negotiating this redwood! The Chandler Drive-Thru Tree in Leggett was not quite so tight, but a much nicer looking tree. That's my groupie mobile with the tree in the photo.

With the afternoon flying by, I traveled onward to San Francisco. I didn't have much daylight left to enjoy, so I decided to spend it getting a closer look at the Golden Gate Bridge. The Vista Point at the north end provided me with a great view of the bay and gave me an opportunity to take some photos of the bridge. It was nice and sunny...something I hadn't seen in awhile back home! Perhaps in the future, I'll have more time to actually walk across the bridge like the many people I observed doing so today.

Tomorrow, I do less driving and more sightseeing as I travel down the California Coast. Weather is supposed to be perfect...I can't wait!

Fair weather and furry faces

I left Wilsonville, OR to cloudy skies. It rained a bit as I traveled south on I-5, but not much. I was crossing my fingers that the weather would be favorable for my visit to West Coast Game Park in Bandon, OR. It was early in the morning...just after 8:00 am...but the road was filled with cars decorated with window flags and large magnetic banners with beaver logos...Oregon State fans on their way to a game, no doubt.

It took me about 4 hours of driving to reach the zoo, and I was relieved to find it was not raining. As I entered the grounds, I just missed seeing a couple of tiger cubs available for petting. That's OK...I got up close and personal with baby tigers last year. I was eager to see what else they had. And, it was better...MUCH better! First, I got to hold a opossum again. This one was younger than last time, and such a sweetie! Next, a beautiful, 3 month old black leopard cub named Diesel. I got to pet AND play with him! Awesome! After walking around and taking photos of the other animals on display...more one on one! A half grown caracal named Cadence...a desert cat similar to a serval...was brought out for petting. So beautiful! Finally, more babies! Two lion cubs just a few weeks old. They were too young for holding, but I did get to pet them. I got pics of myself with the lion cubs and the leopard, too. Every visit to this zoo has been so rewarding! I mean, where else can you get so close to animals? And, it's kid friendly, too!

Tomorrow, I get up close and personal with nature...redwoods! I had seen some before on previous road trips, but I want to experience it more. So, I'll be taking the Avenue of the Giants instead of US Hwy 101 through the redwood area. And, I have a few other things on the agenda, too. Ah, it's raining outside...please don't rain tomorrow!

If the shoe fits...

Had a terrific first day on the road. Rush hour traffic through Seattle was not too bad by the time I got there. When I arrived in Portland, I picked up lunch from Pacific Pie Co. I had a very tasty beef & stout meat pie. I had heard about this place on Food Network's Meat & Potatoes show. They specialize in Australian style meat pies, and they did not disappoint...my lunch was downright tasty!

After my meal, I went directly to PacWest Center, location of KINK FM's Live Bing Lounge. This would be the site of Joan Osborne's live performance lounge appearance. I found myself second in line for the show and had a nice conversation with a couple of other attendees while we waited. We talked music and yes, they both knew who Five For Fighting was! I must admit, I really only know Joan by name...with the exception of her hit song, One Of Us. I was impressed by her singing talent...it was really nice to see Joan perform live. She sang three songs, accompanied by Keith Cotton, who backed her up on piano. I was hoping there would a meet and greet afterwards, but Joan had to prepare for her concert later tonight, so there wasn't. Still, I have to say my first live performance lounge was pretty neat!

My other plan for the day was a trip to the Nike Employee Store in Beaverton. This place is an invitation only store, and I got my invite care of the Washington State University Alumni Association. My support for my alma mater is strong...despite the fact their football team is struggling right now. I was happy to take advantage of the opportunity to add to my shoe collection. After perusing the aisles of men's athletic shoes...theirs is SO much nicer than the women's offerings...I found one that I liked. To my disappointment, my size was not available, but I took a shot at the next bigger size...and they fit! I'm now the proud owner of a pair of shiny blue Air Max Hyperdunks!

When I checked my emails this evening, I had an unexpected surprise waiting for me. I had FINALLY been granted an opportunity to interview IN PERSON a certain awesome singer-songwriter. You can probably guess who that might be. I don't want to give away too much until the time comes, but it's an understatement to say I'm excited. This is truly a dream come true! In the meantime, my road trip continues...

On the road again...

Well, my groupie mobile is all loaded up and I'm ready to get some sleep before an early start tomorrow morning. I had barely finished my road trip itinerary and programmed my GPS when I had to make a last minute change...but, it was a GOOD change! Turns out luck was smiling on me and I got picked to be in the audience for Joan Osborne's visit to KINK FM's Bing performance lounge. It will be my first for such a thing. I tried entering a similar drawing last August when Five For Fighting appeared at the inaugural Bing lounge. But, alas, I was not chosen, to my huge disappointment.

As always, I will blog about tomorrow's radio lounge show, as I will throughout my road trip. Of course, the highlight will be the three Five For Fighting shows when I reach Los Angeles. It's been six months since I last saw John Ondrasik perform live, and I'm SO ready to see him again! I have an extra special gift to give John...something that I KNOW he'll like! What is it? Well, you'll just have to wait to find out!

Another tour, another road trip!

Wow, it HAS been awhile since I last posted! After a busy summer on the U.S./Canada border doing my agriculture inspectional duties, things have finally died down. During that time, I was excited to hear that Five For Fighting was planning another tour this year. John Ondrasik will be hitting the road for a rather short acoustic run, visiting some cities that he missed on the last two tours. I was hoping John would be coming to Seattle since had to cancel his show there in November of '09 due to illness. But, as this year's fall concert schedule was finalized, Seattle was missing from the itinerary. Of course, something like that would never stop me from seeing John perform, at least if I can help it!

I had enough vacation time saved up for another road trip, but I had to do some finagling to make it happen. With the help of a couple of generous coworkers who changed their time off to accommodate my needs, my road trip became a reality! The next step...buying the concert tickets! When I saw the three Los Angeles area shows on the tour schedule, I knew my road trip would center around those. Any Five For Fighting concerts on the West Coast are fair game in my book, and logistically, those three shows were my best bet. I contacted my friend Lynne down in L.A., and it turns out she was free to attend two of the shows! I've gone to two previous Five For Fighting shows with her, and it was a lot of fun.

With the tickets purchased, I went to work making hotel accommodations. I'll be traveling in late October through mid-November, which is a great time to do so. Hotel rooms are less expensive this time of the year, and places of interest in general are less crowded. One thing I'll be contending with, though...the weather. During my November road trip last year, I basically hugged the coast, avoiding any potential inclimate conditions. This time, part of my route will take me into areas where things will be colder, with snow a constant possibility. For me, planning my road trip is just as fun as experiencing it. And, I'll be doing a LOT of planning between now and the start of my new adventure. There's never such as thing as overplanning in my book! If I take the time to organize things now, less time wasted and more time to concentrate on fun later! Ahh...I'm such a stickler!

Five For Fighting and Wind-up Records...the REAL story

I'm sure all of you have heard by now that Five For Fighting left Columbia Records for Wind-up Records. When I first heard the news, it was quite a shock, but I had an inkling beforehand that something wasn't quite right. Most noticeable to me, the Five For Fighting MySpace page seemed to be sorely neglected. Not a lot of news there, comments not being posted...the last one was NOVEMBER! Less obvious was the fact that a second single hadn't been released from the Slice album. I mean, the first single, Chances was released in JULY 2009! That's an awful long time to have nothing new on the charts!

My first indicator that there was a change was in the form of an email from Wind-up Records to sign up for their Five For Fighting newsletter. This was before anything official had come out, so I emailed my contact at Aware Records to inquire about the Wind-up request. I got my answer soon enough when a message from John appeared at the Five For Fighting website the following week.

Friends,

Last week an e-mail went out asking you all to re-up for the e-mail list. As there was a bit of confusion I wanted to let you know about a few changes. After a great 10 year run I am no longer with Columbia Records. I'm pleased to announce a new home at Wind-up Records. Wind-up will be re-releasing Slice and going to radio with the title track "Slice" this July.

In the big picture nothing has changed. It's all good in Five For Fighting land and please re-sign up for the e-mail list here so we can keep you in the loop on touring and various projects going forward.

As always I appreciate your support and energy...

Thanks

John

There it was...John was no longer with Columbia. But, the question was...why? Did he have some sort of falling out with the label? Did they not see eye to eye on things anymore? Were they displeased with John's latest album? Does John take too long to write and release albums? Was Columbia not supporting John's efforts as well as they could be? Why would John move from a big established label like Columbia to...Wind-up Records? For those in Five For Fighting Land, it was cause for worry, despite John's assurances to the contrary.

Well, the real story didn't come out...until July 9th during John's first live video web chat. One of the questions I submitted for the chat pertained to Five For Fighting's move to Wind-up. I was hoping John would enlighten us with the details. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to wonder the same thing because it was John's opening topic when the chat started. The reason for the break-up was a lot simpler than expected. But, first, here's a little background on the relationship between Aware and Columbia.

Back in 1997, Aware Records contracted with Columbia Records to provide them with unsigned musical talent in exchange for having Columbia provide distribution and marketing. It worked out so well, they renewed their contract in 2002. As we all know, one of the artists benefiting from this business relationship was Five For Fighting. Well, as often happens, all good things must sometimes come to an end. And, as John explained during the July 7th chat, Aware and Columbia decided to part ways this year. John stated that this now basically made him a free agent. Even though his connection to Aware will continue, he was free to choose his own record distribution company. For John, it was a pretty simple decision, for he already had a connection at Wind-up.

Never heard of Wind-up Records? Neither had I. When I got that first initial email from the company, I visited their website for information. Turns out that Wind-up is the biggest independently owned record company in the world! And, they represent artists such as Creed, Hawthorne Heights, Evanescence and Finger Eleven. As for John's reason for choosing Wind-up...he has a friend working there. His buddy Gregg Wattenberg is a senior vice-president of A & R...that would be artists and repetoire...at Wind-up. Not only that, he produced Five For Fighting's America Town album, as well as singles 100 Years and Chances. Oh, and Gregg won a Grammy for cowriting Daughtry's hit, It's Over, and co-produced Train's awesome #1 single, Hey, Soul Sister! Sounds to me like John will be in good company! Best of luck to John at Wind-up Records and may his new single Slice burn up the charts!

Remembering Mount St Helens

Two days from now is the 30th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St Helens in Washington State. On Friday, April 18, 1980, the dormant volcano came to life in a catastrophic explosion. It destroyed 230 square miles of surrounding forest and took the lives of 57 people.

On that fateful day, I was still in my dorm bed at Washington State University when the sound of people yelling outside woke me up. When I opened the window to see what was going on, I overhead someone saying, "The volcano erupted!" Within a couple of hours, a dark, unnatural looking cloud appeared on the western horizon and slowly came over the town of Pullman, WA. Soon, the ash started falling. It was powdery, blanketing everything and impeding vehicles trying to drive through it as their air filters clogged with the stuff. That evening, not wanting students to venture out through the accumulating ash, the dining hall set up a makeshift dinner service in our dorm lobby. We felt like refugees! Later, I went out on the covered balcony and surveyed the eerie sight. Ash was still falling like snow, and the smell of sulfur filled the air. So surreal.

I spent the weekend holed up in my dorm, except for my trips to the dining hall in the adjacent dorm for meals. I donned makeshift protective headgear...a towel over my head, nose and mouth, and lab goggles covered my eyes. When I returned to my room, I would leave my dusty shoes and clothes in the hallway...all the other girls did the same. It was stuffy in the building as the ventilation had been turned off to prevent the ash from getting into the system. Everyone was glued to televisions to watch the constant news coverage of the devastation around the volcano and rescue efforts of the people affected by its wrath.

As Monday rolled around, classes were canceled as the university dealt with the uncertainty of the health effects of the ash. Was it damaging to the lungs? I decided to take a walk with a couple of friends to another friend's apartment for the day. We slogged through about 6 inches of ash on the ground. Police and other essential vehicles were outfitted with makeshift air filters raised to roof level to prevent clogging by the ash. By Wednesday...the third day of suspended classes...we were finally issued filter masks designed to protect from the most harmful particles, even though analyses of the ash were still inconclusive. On Thursday, the word was if we missed one more day of class, we would have to make up the whole week! Finally, on Friday, April 25...a week after the eruption...students returned to class. By then, the clean up of the town and campus had removed most of the ash from the roads and sidewalks.

It would take months before all remnants of the ashfall disappeared from Pullman. I still have ash I collected when I ventured out on the balcony on the night of April 18. It's a day that I'll never forget because I survived it, although survived might not be the right word for it. Perhaps experienced it would be more appropriate because some people literally DID survive the eruption. Many did not. As we remember this day, I wonder whether MY local dormant volcano, Mt Baker will someday soon awaken.

Road trippin' by the numbers

Okay, here's the first part of my road trip recap...number crunching! How many, how much, days, dollars, etc. It seems with each successive road trip, I exceed the previous ones in many ways. Read on and be amazed...or bored.

Total number of days on the road = 18
Total miles traveled = 4449
Total number of states visited = 8: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Idaho
Most miles driven in one day = 590: from Portland, OR to West Sacramento, CA
Least miles driven in one day = 35: out and about the Los Angeles area
Total number of gas fill ups = 18
Total amount spent on gas = $611.05
Most expensive gas = $3.14/gal: tied between Kayenta, AZ and Moab, UT
Least expensive gas = $2.79/gal: Portland, OR
Number of times I got a car wash = 2: Glendale, CA to wash off the grime of the Pacific NW rainstorms and Ogden, UT to clean off the dust of Monument Valley
Number of tickets = 1: I got nailed by a red light camera at a intersection in Seattle...the $124 ticket was waiting for me when I got home!
Number of times I ate at In N Out Burger = 1: St George, UT...I had other opportunities, but one cannot exist on In N Out alone!
Number of times I ate at a sit-down restaurant = 1: House of Blues, San Diego to get their Pass The Line privileges

Total number of hotels stayed at = 14
Total amount spent on hotels = $1232.60: that's an average of $72.50/night, which ain't bad considering those taxes they tack on...oh, and parking fees at 3 of those hotels
Most expensive hotel = Courtyard at Marriott, Portland, OR: after added taxes and valet parking...hey, I need to splurge at least once in my lifetime...it came out to $134.75
Least expensive hotel = America's Best Value Inn, Page, AZ: at $43.12, it came with it's disadvantages (you'll hear about them in the next blog)
Number of times the hotel clock radio woke me up...and I didn't set the alarm = 2: you would think after the first time I would check before going to bed!

Total number of Five For Fighting shows attended = 6: five were part of the tour and the sixth was a fundraising appearance
Number of shows attended with friends = 2: Seattle and Los Angeles
Number of shows attended where people I met at previous shows were present = 4: Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego and Ivins, UT...the last three included John's family!
Number of setlists I procured from the shows = 2: I gave away two others...one to a little girl who didn't have anything for the band to sign, and the other to an older couple who had never been to a Five For Fighting show before and were thrilled to have a memento
Number of photos I got with the band = 2: Seattle and Los Angeles
Number of photos I got with John Ondrasik = 3: Seattle, Los Angeles and Ivins

Number of museums visited = 4: one in Los Angeles and three in Ogden, UT
Number of national parks visited = 4: Grand Canyon, Natural Bridges, Arches, Yellowstone
Number of state parks visited = 2: Monument Valley and Goosenecks in Utah
Number of animals seen in Yellowstone (not counting birds) = 5: bison, elk and a squirrel in the park, and grey wolves and grizzly bears at a wildlife center in West Yellowstone
Total number of arches/natural bridges visited (in 2 parks) = 14

So, after 34 DAYS OFF, I return to work tomorrow! I had a fantastic vacation, and I'm all refreshed and ready to get back to the old grind! I'll be working on my subsequent blog, which will contain the more interesting and unusual events from my most amazing road trip. Stay tuned!

End of the road

My overnight stay in Spokane, WA felt like no more than a pitstop. I was basically on my way home now, but it was too far a drive from West Yellowstone, MT. In a rush to get on the road, I left about 7:30 am. Instead of taking the interstate option, decided on the more scenic, albeit slower US Hwy 2. This route takes you through the wheat fields of eastern Washington and over the Cascade Mountains, while passing through small towns along the way.

Although anxious to get home, I found time to see one of Washington State's most impressive natural attractions. Just south of Coulee City is an area known as Dry Falls. These rock faces were formed at the end of the last ice age, and the water flowing was ten times greater than Niagara Falls. There is no longer any water...hence the name...but it's still an amazing sight.

As I followed Hwy 2 into the mountains, I stopped briefly in the town of Cashmere to visit Liberty Orchards, famous for their Aplets & Cotlets candy. Since it was Sunday, their factory was not in operation, but I bought a few things at their outlet store. I continued on and drove through the Bavarian town of Leavenworth. This is a good place to go if you want a cuckoo clock! When I reached the other side of the mountains, I joined traffic heading north on I-5. I was in the homestretch!

But, there was one last roadblock impeding my way...tulip gridlock! During the month of April, people flock from miles around...even other countries...for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in La Conner. Personally, I don't see what the big deal is. I mean, they're FLOWERS! And, all the same kind...just different colors. Oh, well...to each his own. All I know is, the volume of vehicles on the freeway suddenly increased in the area and delayed my homecoming, much to my frustration. Thankfully, it didn't last and 30 minutes later...I was home! As I was unlocking my front door, I could hear my cat Kimi meowing. She was SO HAPPY to see me...wouldn't stop meowing!

And, so, my third Five For Fighting groupie road trip has come to an end. I would say by far this was the best road trip ever! I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to top this one. When I get caught up on things, I'll be posting my end-of-the-road-trip number crunching blog, as well as my road trip wrap up. You'll read stuff that I didn't include in my previous blogs. So, stay tuned! Oh, there's no place like home!

Above the timberline...and down again

As I headed north out of the town of West Yellowstone, I had a couple of final encounters with local bison. I'm not sure why, but they sure like to eat along the sides of the road! I had to slow down as I was passing them, although I wasn't really expecting the bison to suddenly dash in front of me. The photo is actually one that I took yesterday at Yellowstone Park, but you get the idea.

My travel day consisted of basically taking I-90 through the length of Montana to my home state of Washington. About 7 hours of driving, with two gas fill ups, a lunch break and 3 rest area pit stops. I really didn't have time to do any sightseeing today, not that my heart was into it. I guess I'm just eager to get back home. Road tripping sure is fun, but after awhile, you get that urge to return to the real world and home, sweet home.

After filling my tank in Butte, MT, I was scanning the local radio stations for music when the sweet sound of John Ondrasik's voice filled my groupie mobile...Chances. I start every travel day with the Five For Fighting Slice CD. It always seems to set the mood for the rest of the day. I never get tired of listening to that one...it's my favorite Five For Fighting album.

Tomorrow, I make the final push home. I'm planning to avoid the interstate and take the more scenic route. It will delay my homecoming by no more than a half hour, and I might check out a couple of things along the way. I'm looking forward to hugging my cat and sleeping in my own bed!

Geysers are cool, but bison rule!

I couldn't have asked for a better day to visit Yellowstone National Park. The temperature was freezing as I arrived at the park entrance just after 8:00 am. There were already about 20 cars in line. I guess they were as eager as I was for the official opening for the spring season! Today was also the official day that my park annual pass paid for itself. Normally, national park entrance fees are $25 per car, and I had already gone to 3 such parks...Yellowstone would be Number 4. That would have been $100 total for me, except the annual pass only cost me $80. And, even though this is the last national park of my road trip, the pass is good for a year. I may be able to use it next year...I'm planning another road trip in March 2011!

As I drove into the park, it didn't take very long for cars to pull off the side of the road to see something...in this case, elk. I did, too, and snapped a few photos. I continued for only a few more miles before I stopped again. It was the first of many bison sightings that I would have today. These magnificent animals were nothing like the ones I had seen in zoos. It seems like living in the wild makes them bigger and healthier looking. My first destination of the day was Geyser Loop Trail, which included Old Faithful. Contrary to popular belief, Old Faithful is no longer very predictable. When I arrived, I had already decided I wasn't going to waste precious time waiting around for Old Faithful to blow. Instead, I started out on the trail to see what else this wonderful park had to offer. I wasn't disappointed. Geysers, springs, vents and pools. No other park in the United States can compare to Yellowstone when it comes to natural geothermal attractions. About a half hour into my walk, I heard a whooshing noise and looked over to see Old Faithful doing its thing. I snapped some photos from afar, but it didn't bother me that I wasn't seeing it up close. For me, it was just one of many things to see at the park. By the time I saw just about everything along the trails, I was on my way back to the parking lot when Old Faithful started spouting again. Like before, I missed being right there to see it. Oh, well.

By now, the temperature hovered around 60 degrees, it was sunny and breezy...perfect weather for a Pacific Northwesterner! I went to a couple of other locations with loop trails to see more stuff, including something I remember from my childhood... fountain paint pots! A pool of bubbling mud that resembles paint. After a lunch break, I was on the road heading to the Norris Geyser Basin when traffic came to an abrupt halt. Bison! A herd of about 30 bison decided to start walking on the roadway, and they have right-of-way! The animals took their sweet time, seemingly obvious to the vehicles trying to get by them. After about 15 minutes of going nowhere, a couple of guys on bikes seemed to spook them and they quickly ran off the road. Bison can move pretty fast when they want to! Oh, one indicator that this park has a lot of bison, you see their droppings...which I will call bison pies...all over the place! And, I mean ALL OVER! Every place I went today, you can see the pies!

As I was walking along the Norris trail, I soon heard the rather irritating sound of voices...LOUD voices! A small group of what appeared to be college students were talking obnoxiously loud, laughing, even chatting on a cell phone. You would think that just for one day they could leave the city out of the country. Just hearing them destroyed the serenity of anyone within earshot of their raucous conversation. Needless to say, I quickened my pace to get away from them, with success. After this trail, I was ready to call it quits for the day. I think I had walked about 6-7 miles total. I wasn't able to see everything I had planned, but I still had a wonderful time. I'll have to visit Yellowstone again to catch what I missed...there's just too much to see in one day!

Tomorrow, I start heading back home. It will be mostly a travel day, although I might have time for sightseeing. My road trip is almost over...but, I think it's time!