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!

It was a BEARY good day!

Before leaving Ogden, UT this morning, there was something I just had to do. My groupie mobile was a bit dirty, thanks to the dust of Monument Valley and the overnight snow in Monticello, UT. I did a Google search and found a pretty good car wash just a few miles from my hotel. Ten minutes and $7 later, the Blazer looked great! They do things right at Supersonic Car Wash!

I drove north on boring I-15...yes, most interstate freeways are boring...then switched to the more pleasant Hwy 26. I stopped briefly in Idaho Falls for gas, and picked up a salad for lunch. I wasn't quite ready to eat, so I continued on until I reached the town of St Anthony. Right off the highway, I found a quiet little park. I ate my salad with the sight of the raging Henrys Fork...a tributary of the Snake River...roaring in front of me.

I pulled into West Yellowstone, MT mid-afternoon and headed over to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. This facility houses grizzly bears and grey wolves. The bears featured here were either orphaned after their mothers were killed or abandoned them, or were captured after they became habituated to human food and failed relocation efforts. There are also two wolf packs whose members were all captive bred. I had never seen such beautiful specimens of both species up close. I guess it helps when they're living basically in their native environment. Plus, the center makes extra effort to feed them properly. For example, the wolves eat elk and deer meat.

I have a big day tomorrow. Yellowstone National Park is officially opening their west entrance and the northern half of the park to vehicles for the season. And, I'll be there at 8:00 am when that happens. The last (and only) time I visited Yellowstone, I was only 12 or 13 years old. I remember very little...Old Faithful, paint pots and another geyser or two. That's it! I'm expecting to see so much more tomorrow. And, I think I'll appreciate what I'm seeing a lot better than before. My LONG wait to see Yellowstone again will finally come to an end!

Guns and railroads

I took things easy today. After three straight days of visiting parks...and a lot of walking...I needed a break. I just did a little bit of walking today...through a few museums. I left Green River, UT this morning and headed north to Ogden. My destination was Ogden Union Station, a once railroad depot built by the Union Pacific Railroad. It currently houses three museums...the Utah State Railroad Museum, the John M. Browning Firearms Museum and the Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum. Admission for all the museums was easy on the pocketbook...only $5.

I walked through the car museum first, which was the smallest of the three. It only consisted of 9 classic automobiles...all donated to the city of Ogden by the Browning family. I've always appreciated old cars, especially the REALLY old stuff. The autos in his small collection were in wonderful condition, and a few of them even appear in local parades. Next, I checked out the firearms museum. I don't consider myself a gun afficionado, but I AM familiar with certain makes and models, especially those used in battle. John M. Browning is one of the big names in the gun world. His firearm designs later appeared in models of other gun manufacturers such as Remington, Winchester and Colt. And, if you are a World War II enthusiast, I'm sure you've heard of the Browning Automatic Rifle or BAR.

I spent the longest amount of time in the railroad museum. I love museums that deal with historical events, and this museum did not disappoint. The bulk of exhibits dealt with the building of the first Transcontinental Railroad, which originated in the Midwest and terminated on the West Coast. Also known as the Overland Route, the railroad line was built from 1863-1869 by the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. It was quite an amazing feat, considering all the work was done by hand!

Tomorrow is another easy travel day...nothing really big planned. I think I may even wake up a little later than usual. Oh, in case you were wondering, my sore neck is quite a bit better. The pain is bearable, but hasn't gone away completely. Since I haven't done much city driving lately, less need to turn my head side to side...that's the killer. Not that this would prevent me from being at the stage...and looking up...at a future Five For Fighting concert!

The REAL golden arches!

I was expecting a little precipitation overnight, but I wasn't expecting SNOW! I woke up to about an inch on my Blazer. But, I was prepared...I brought my scraper-snow brush! I also have my chains, just in case...better safe than sorry! Thankfully, the roads were clear as I left Monticello, UT on my way to my only destination of the day... Arches National Park! When I arrived in Moab, I decided to grab some lunch from a local supermarket. I was getting a bit tired of eating out and was craving some REAL food. I grabbed some string cheese, a couple of bananas and a container of enticing smoked salmon pasta salad.

When I arrived at the park, I flashed my annual pass, and continued on. I decided to do what is normally recommended at tourist attractions. Instead of starting at the sights closest to the entrance, I drove to the ones farthest away. The logic is that most people do the opposite, and I think I was correct. I had done some research ahead of time and decided I would try to see as many arches as I could in one day. That meant leaving out the ones that required the most walking to see...or the more strenuous hikes. With plan in place, I did six arches before breaking for lunch. Afterwards, I saw 5 more, including the most famous Delicate Arch. I opted not to attempt the 7 mile hike to get closest to it. Instead, it was the easier .6 mile walk...at least I thought it would be easy! It would prove to be the most strenuous of the day. The trail was fairly level at first, but soon turned into a rock staircase...that went up and up and up! I had to rest for a few seconds at each "landing," but I did better than some. After I reached the top and took photos of the arch...and got a good breather...I started down. As I descended, I tried to encourage those still on their way up. Comments like, "There's no shame in resting," and "It's not too much farther." One guy with his wife was pretty tired, and I told him, "There was nothing in the literature about the steep part, huh?" He laughed and agreed with me!

I would have to say that Arches is the most awesome park I've ever visited, Grand Canyon included. But, the best is yet to come...I think you might guess which park I'm talking about. Tomorrow, will be a sort of rest day...museums only! I'm looking forward to feeding my mind.

Rocks, rocks...and more rocks

My morning began with a rather abrupt and unexpected awakening at 5:30 am. No, it wasn't MY alarm clock...it was the HOTEL alarm clock. And, I didn't even set it! I never check the alarm clock before I go bed because I assume it's not activated. Well, this one was! So, I lost a half hour of sleep. I was planning to get up at 6:00 am anyway...which in reality was 7:00 am. Confused? Turns out the state of Arizona doesn't believe in Daylight Savings time! But, I still needed to account for it since I was traveling to Utah...which DID change their clocks last month!

My first destination of the day... Monument Valley, which is a Navajo Tribal Park. I had never been to this famous park, location of many old western flicks and more recent films like National Lampoon's Vacation, Forrest Gump and Thelma And Louise. Visitors can drive a loop road through the park to see the unique rock formations. I knew ahead of time the road was going to be rough...dirt and rock. I wasn't wrong about that. But, my Blazer negotiated things with ease. I wonder what the other folks in their sedans were thinking as they bounced along the roads on their street tires? The scenery was breath taking...well worth getting my ride covered with red dust! It was VERY windy, too, which blew that same dust into my hair! Yuk!

When I got back to the visitor parking lot, I decided to eat my lunch in my car. As I did so, I noticed a couple of cute mutts walking around, looking for handouts. They walked up to a car where an older man was eating chips. He threw some on the ground, and they gobbled up the treat. After I was done eating, I got out of my vehicle to dispose of my trash. The dogs walked up to me expectedly. I didn't have any more lunch, but I DID have some beef jerky. I gave each of them a couple of pieces, which they greatly appreciated! Such nice, well-mannered dogs!

Next, I traveled a short distance north to a small, but impressive state park... Goosenecks. This park is notable for their rock formations known as entrenched meander which resembles curved goose necks...hence the park's name. After snapping some photos, I took the quickest route to my last park of the day, Natural Bridges. What I didn't realize was that this road would prove to be the most challenging of the day. Utah's Hwy 261 has a 4-mile stretch of gravel road. Not only that, the road is a series of wicked switchbacks and no guardrails as you travel up a steep grade. I handled this challenge with ease, but as I was driving up, I couldn't help but think this is one road you wouldn't want to take at night!

When I arrived at Natural Bridges National Monument, I was admitted with the annual pass that I bought at Grand Canyon yesterday. After getting a park map, I drove their loop road. Natural Bridges has only three stone arches...unlike Arches National Park, which has many more. I had never seen a natural bridge...or arch, if you prefer...in my life, so three was impressive. There were actually trails leading to each bridge, but I only walked to one... Owachomo Bridge. I really didn't have time to hike to the other two, and it was only a quarter mile to this one. There was no one around as I trekked down the stone steps and over rocks to the bottom. It was nice to just have the bridge to myself.

Going to the parks during the slow part of the year is great...hardly anyone around! And, it's not too hot yet. But, it's supposed to cool off and rain overnight! Hopefully, the weather will be favorable for more park visits tomorrow!

It's a GRAND canyon!

The sun was shining as I left Kingman, AZ this morning. When I left Las Vegas after a great Five For Fighting show at Pet-a-Palooza yesterday, I drove over Hoover Dam. Naturally, such an important structure requires a certain sense of security. Before reaching the dam, there was a security checkpoint. I was asked what I had in my vehicle, and it was no surprise with all the stuff I had for my road trip that I was selected for inspection. I opened the back for the female security officer and after looking over my multiple bags...much of it clothes, some of it dirty...she was satisfied and I was on my way.

Today, there was only one activity on the agenda...visit Grand Canyon National Park. In a previous blog, I mentioned that I hadn't been here since I was a kid. I was excited to see what I couldn't remember. When I reached the entrance to the South Rim of the park, I opted to purchase the multi-agency annual pass. Considering it can cost up to $25 per park, it's a steal at $80. And, not only can you use it for the National Park Service, it's also good for other federal areas, such as Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since I'm planning to visit other parks during my road trip, it made sense to get the annual pass.

It took a few hours to drive from Kingman to Grand Canyon, so it didn't leave me as much time as I wanted. Still, I didn't want to rush things too much, so I elected to start my day by walking the popular Rim trail. It was a beautiful day...mid-60s, sunny and breezy. Plus, there weren't a whole lot of people either...I came at the right time of the year! That allowed me to walk the trail with little disruption and enjoy the serenity. I stopped often to survey the scenery from different viewpoints, and I took a lot of photos. I was surprised how many access points there were to the cliff edges...with no fences or railings! It's amazing that there are not more accidents...people falling over the edge! As for myself, the closest I got was a few feet, and I was VERY, VERY careful with my movements. That's one LONG drop!

When I reached the Bright Angel trailhead, I saw the famous mules waiting to take the next group of visitors down the trail. Initially, I had wanted to walk all the rim trails. But, being short of time, I decided to take the free park shuttle to various viewpoints along the rest of the Rim trail. While walking the trails and riding the shuttles, I encountered a lot of foreign visitors. Considering the Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world, it attracts a lot of tourists, both foreign and domestic. I did make one humorous observation. I saw a Korean family enjoying their day at the park. The dad was taking photos with a rather small digital camera...attached to a full-sized tripod! I guess it made it easier to take a steady picture, but it sure looked funny!

Tomorrow, I continue my park adventures. Crossing my fingers the good weather holds!

Doggone it...it's Pet-a-Palooza!

I made the 2-hour drive from St. George, UT back the way I had come yesterday...Las Vegas. I was returning specifically to attend Mix 94.1's Pet-a-Palooza, an event to raise money for local animal organizations. I had with me a couple of cans of pet food, which would give me $2 off the admission price. Orianthi was the first musical act to perform, at 11:30. Since I had some time to kill, I checked out the informational booths and grabbed some lunch. I didn't see the Five For Fighting bus parked anywhere nearby, so I assumed they hadn't arrived yet.

From the start, it was obvious Pet-a-Palooza wasn't really about all pets...it was primarily a dog event. And, there were a LOT of dogs there! People proudly parading their prize pooches, purebreds and mixed breeds galore. There were a few other types of animals in the mix. Minatures ponies, wild horses, a donkey...I even saw a couple of people with snakes! But, no cats, which was probably a good thing. When Orianthi hit the stage, I almost immediately lost interest...not my thing. I WAS curious about Kris Allen, though! I had watched him win American Idol last year, and since then, his career is going fine. And, I also think he's kinda cute!

As I was waiting for Kris, I was hanging around the stage when I saw a familiar face...Five For Fighting bass player Joe Karns! I greeted him and he gave me a hug! We talked a bit...Joe wasn't performing today because it was primarily an acoustic show. I assumed that would mean John Ondrasik and guitarist Greg Suran, but Joe told me that drummer Randy Cooke was doing a little percussion today. After Joe left, I went over to the fence where I saw the bus was now parked. I saw Greg and said hello. When I walked back to the stage area, and noticed Kris Allen was being interviewed by a radio station guy. I snapped several pictures of him, and before he left to go backstage, he signed some autographs for people. Rats! I suddenly realized that I forgot his CD in my car! If I had it with me, I probably would have gotten it signed then and there! Oh, well. Soon after, Kris appeared on stage for his performance. It was nice seeing him play live, but I still found myself not that enthused about him either. I guess I was just eager to see John again.

Like Kris, John did a short radio station interview before his performance...I got some photos to capture the moment. By the time John started into his first song, I was roasting in the sun. It got steadily hotter as the day progressed, and my arms were getting pretty dark. In one day, I was getting more sun that I get in a whole summer back home in the Pacific Northwest. At least, it seemed that way! John played for about a half hour, backed up by Greg on acoustic and electric guitar, and Randy on percussion. Here is his abbreviated set list...he played the first two songs on piano, and the rest on guitar, except for his aca pella last song.

World
100 Years
Chances
Slice
65 Mustang
Superman
Hope (Greg on guitar)

Afterwards, I went back to the fence and said goodbye to John as he was returning to the bus. I didn't stay for the autograph session afterwards, but I had done enough of that on the tour. Nor did I hang around for Barenaked Ladies. I have a big day tomorrow...have to drive a few hours and visit Grand Canyon National Park. I haven't been there since I was a child of about 7 or 8, and I remember nothing of it. So, I'm looking forward to this a lot. And, the weather forecast says it will be cooler...low 60s! Fantastic! It was too hot today. Hmm...it looks like my right arm got a little sunburned.

Rockin' at Tuacahn...and red rocks

The last show of the Five For Fighting Slice tour took place at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, UT. This might not be the biggest amphitheatre, but it is certainly a beautiful one. Surrounded by a natural red rock background, it seemed to enhance the acoustics of the venue. By the time the show started, the amphitheatre was pretty much full, which was wonderful to see!

I got a second row center seat, which gave me an excellent view of the stage...and, without further straining my neck, which was by the way still giving me pain (read my last blog). I was hoping whoever was sitting in front of me wasn't tall...I wanted an unimpeded view of the stage. I watched as the front row filled...all except three seats in front of me. Well, I didn't have to worry about tall people. Who should sit in those seats but John Ondrasik's wife Carla and the kids! What a nice surprise! I said "Hi" to Carla as they settled in for the show. The set list of the night was the same as the one they performed at the Portland concert (see Right place, right time...and a little luck), The only difference was that since there was no opening act, John played the storyteller to some songs...more so than the previous shows on the tour. When he came to the song, I Just Love You, and started into his experience at The Ashram, I told Carla that it was my favorite story! So funny! She laughed, too! I ended up taking more photos than usual...or trying to, anyway...because this was the last show. And, because more end up NOT coming out than do. Still, I got some great shots of John and the band.

After the show was over, John and the guys did their customary meet and greet with the fans. I waited till the line shortened, then situated myself at the end. When I got to the table with the band, I saw that John's daughter Olivia was signing autographs, too. Not wanting to be deprived of a future superstar's signature, I asked her to sign my ticket. Everyone else did, too...John signed the front. I told Randy that I brought a drum for him to sign. At first he didn't get it, but then he remembered he joked at the HOB San Diego show after signing a drumstick I had brought that I would bring a snare drum next time! Ha...gotcha! I got a goodbye hug from Randy, and a last photo with John. I told John how much I liked hearing the old songs, and thanked him for putting up with me for the past week.

And, so, the Five For Fighting spring tour is over. But, it's not quite over for me. I'll be traveling back to Las Vegas tomorrow for Mix 94.1's Pet-a-Palooza, which raises funds for local animal agencies. John and Greg Suran will be doing an acoustic performance, along with Orianthi, Kris Allen and Barenaked Ladies. It should be fun!

The price of being a groupie

My neck is killing me! The right side of my neck from my head to my shoulder aches when I turn it. How did this happen? I have a theory. For the past four Five For Fighting shows, I've been front and center at the stage...right smack in front of John Ondrasik. And, every single stage has been elevated, although the Crystal Ballroom in Portland wasn't so bad. Being that close required a lot of neck craning...look up at opening act Matt Wertz and of course, John. That put a big strain on my neck...that's about 2 1/2 hours straight looking up. I think things went on the wayside after The Wiltern show in Los Angeles. The next day...which was last night...at House of Blues, San Diego, my neck was already hurting pretty good. Was I going to let that stop me from looking up at John? No. So, now, I'm paying the price for my devotion. Aleve barely put a dent in the discomfort. I just hope by NOT looking up anymore, it will slowly get better. Thankfully, tomorrow's show...the last show of the Slice tour...is at a seated amphitheatre. I'll be looking at the stage straight and level. I'm just glad John doesn't hang from wires over the audience like some performers do. My neck just couldn't take it!

Today, I left San Diego later than expected and found there was no time to visit Mojave National Preserve. Oh, well...there will always be other road trips! I'm in Las Vegas this evening, then a short two hour drive to Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, UT tomorrow. I've never seen John perform outdoors before, so this will be a new experience for me. It's a bit sad that the tour is finally coming to an end, but it's been fun. I'll cherish the final show tomorrow night and look forward to saying goodbye to John and the band.

Sing along with John at the HOB

It was my first really warm day since starting my road trip a week ago. Warm enough to run the air conditioner in my groupie mobile! Like I planned last night, before leaving Los Angeles, I had an early lunch at Pink's. That chili dog really hit the spot. Nothing tastes better than something you really, really wanted!

When I arrived in San Diego, it was too early to check into my hotel, so I walked down to the House of Blues...the site of tonight's Five For Fighting concert. Since I wanted Pass The Line privileges to get into the show...you buy a meal and get to enter ahead of the general public...I had an early dinner there. About halfway through my hot turkey sandwich, a couple of the Five For Fighting crew guys walked by. Ah, the bus must have arrived. When I finished eating, I walked outside and sure enough, they were in the process of unloading the trailer. Hoping my room was ready, I walked back to the hotel...it was!

After freshening up, I returned to the HOB and found out from the security guy where Pass The Line folks should stand. I then took up my position at the front of the imaginary line, since there was absolutely no one there at 4:45 pm. Opening act Matt Wertz's van and trailer were being unloaded, which didn't take very long...both are pretty small compared to the Five For Fighting set up. Then, Matt came walking out of the building toward me. I said "Hello" and told him it was my 4th show...he was impressed! I complimented him on his music and wished him luck on his career...this was his last show with Five For Fighting. Matt was appreciative and thanked me...such a nice guy! Later, his drummer Josh Robinson came outside and I greeted him, too...he remembered me from Portland.

As I continued to wait, Five For Fighting bass player Joe Karns came out of the restaurant. I told him "Show number 4!," which enthused him! At around 6:00 pm, a van pulled up and out stepped Greg Suran and John Ondrasik. They were coming from a special acoustic performance put on by Sophie @103.7 in San Diego. I said "Hi" to John and told him "I'll see you up in front of the stage!" In response, John gave me the thumbs up! Soon, I could hear the sweet sounds of the Five For Fighting soundchecks through the closed music hall doors. Afterwards, drummer Randy Cooke exited the building, and I called out to him. I asked Randy if he would sign something for me...he was cool about that. At that point, I whipped out a signature Randy Cooke drumstick out of my plastic bag, and Randy started laughing. I told him that he never offered me a drumstick so I just got my own. I asked Randy if he would personalize the stick for me, which he was glad to do. He thanked me again for making the cookies for everyone...I was happy to do it! After Randy left, I was surprised when John popped out of the same door. Before he walked down the street, he told me, "See you later!," to which I replied, "OK." How lame could I be? But, I couldn't think of anything witty to say, considering I was caught unawares and John wasn't stopping.

At around 6:15, people started to finally start lining up for the show, including a few others in the Pass The Line queue. One gal said I looked familiar. Turns out we stood next to each other at the 4th & B show back in 2007! It's amazing how I run into the same people at Five For Fighting shows, but then John has a considerable loyal fan base! When doors opened at 7:00, I was first inside, and got my primo spot at the stage. I was joined by the gal who knew me and her husband and friend, and a couple of Five For Fighting newbies. Like all folks who have never seen a Five For Fighting show, I told the newbies they were going to love John performing live. When Matt and his band started things off, I must say I enjoyed hearing him one last time. Tonight was his final show with John, and he didn't disappoint...great stuff!

As John took the stage, right off the bat it was obvious things were going to be different from the previous 3 shows I had already gone to. For one thing...everyone was singing! World, Chances, The Riddle...the sound of the audience singing in unison with John was truly amazing! John loved it! Nothing is sweeter to a songwriter than knowing that people not only love your music, but take the time to learn the lyrics. John's set for the night was short one song from what I'd been hearing...he didn't sing Bella's Birthday Cake!

World
Chances
The Riddle
Devil In The Wishing Well
65 Mustang
Easy Tonight
NYC Weather Report
Superman
Two Frogs
Freedom Never Cries (solo)
If God Made You (solo)
Augie Nieto (Greg on guitar)
Slice
100 Years

Encore: Disneyland, I Just Love You, Hope

Also missing...John didn't grab a child in the audience to sit with him for Superman because there WERE no children. It was a 21 and older show. And, there was one minor glitch...a malfunction prevented Greg from accompanying John on guitar for Hope. John, ever the professional, went on and finished the song without any music. It was awesome to hear John sing aca pella with no music...he's SO good! After the show, people lined up to get autographs and photos with John and the band. I had something cool to show John, so I let everyone go ahead of me. I was pretty much last when I got to the band table. When Randy saw me, he started laughing. He turned to Greg and told him about the drumstick and joked next time I would bring a snare drum for him to sign! That Randy! Always the funny guy! I told Greg if I had known that he had a turntable on the bus...John tweeted about it...I would have let him borrow some of my vinyl. Finally, when I got to John, I pulled out a vintage Five For Fighting hockey jersey, put out my Sony Music, Canada. It was red and white with white maple leaf on the front with the words "Five For Fighting" inside of it. On the back, it said "Superman" and "5 For Fighting." Randy was impressed with the jersey, and John said it was REALLY old. John signed the back for me, and before leaving, I said I would see him at Tuacahn...the venue of the last Five For Fighting show of the tour.

So, tomorrow I have a free day, which I'll spend doing a bit of sightseeing before spending the night in Las Vegas. No, I don't plan on doing any gambling. I have more constructive ways to utilize my hard-earned dough...going on Five For Fighting groupie road trips!

Welcome home, John!

My first order of this fine day...getting my groupie mobile washed. It had picked up a thin film from the dirty rain-soaked roads of Washington and Oregon. With luck, I won't have to get another wash from now till the end of my road trip!

Before heading over to the Five For Fighting show at The Wiltern in the afternoon, I thought I would grab a bite to eat at Pink's Hot Dogs. I was dying for one of their chili dogs! But, my GPS chose the wrong moment to let me down once again. By the time I realized I was heading south on La Brea Blvd instead of north, it was getting late in the afternoon. Traffic was already murder and I wanted to get to the venue early to be first in line. So, I abandoned my quest for chili dog and headed to The Wiltern. McDonald's was conveniently nearby, so I almost reluctantly got something to eat there.

Afterwards, I walked over to the theater and found there was no one in line yet. Feeling the cover shirt I had was inadequate for the slight chill of the shade, I went back to my Blazer to get something a little warmer. But, by the time I returned to start my vigil...there was someone waiting there! Hmm...I was no longer first in line, but it was no big tragedy. To a Five For Fighting fanatic like me, second in line was almost as good as first...if you know what to do with it. I started talking to the gal who was waiting. Her name was Alma, and she had walked over to The Wiltern from work nearby. It was Alma's first Five For Fighting concert, and I told her she was going to enjoy it a lot! She was waiting for the arrival of her husband and a couple of friends. I was also awaiting my friends Lynne and Dave...I had attended John's Largo show last November with the two of them. As the hour grew late, and doors opening was fast approaching, our respective companions finally arrived.

When we entered the theater, my friends and I were in total agreement as to where we would watch the show. Alma and her companions chose the seats, whereas we elected to be right at the stage in the standing only orchestra section. As the section slowly filled up, a guy walked up to us and boldly introduced himself...a Devon something. He wasted no time crowing about opening act Matt Wertz, and basically dissing Five For Fighting. Claimed that Matt was a true singer-songwriter and John was "corporate." Excuse me? Turns out this Devon jerk was not only promoting himself...I think he said he would be touring with Matt...he had never even HEARD Five For Fighting's music! Kind of hard to pass judgment when you don't know what you're talking about. At least I could say that I had listened to Matt...having gone to two previous shows already...but, I just wasn't into his stuff. Needless to say, I had no further interest in listening to the clueless idiot. He has a lot to learn about respect and paying your dues.

After politely listening to Matt's set, there was a brief intermission as the crew set up the stage for Five For Fighting. While I waited, I got into a lot more pleasant conversation with a couple of fellow Five For Fighting fans. That's part of the experience of going to these shows...meeting other nice people who are also admirers of John and his music. I ended up giving out a few of my fan site business cards...hey, the more folks who know about my site, the better! Then, what we were all waiting for...John and the band took the stage. The set list was the same as the Portland show (see Right place, right time...and a little luck blog). As in previous shows, after John finished singing NYC Weather Report, he looked for a child to join him on stage for his next song. Since John was at his home base of Los Angeles, it was no surprise his family was there...wife Carla, his kids Johnny and Olivia, and his parents. And, it was only fitting that John selected one of his own kids to grace the stage...in this case, his son Johnny. It was such a touching moment!

When the show was over, John and the band stationed themselves in the lobby for autographs and photos. I made myself useful by taking pics of my friends, and likewise, Lynne took photos of me with the band and with John. Before parting ways, I thanked John for the pic and told him that I would see him in San Diego tomorrow. John replied, "Manana...have a safe drive!" In case you don't know the Spanish, manana means tomorrow. And, so, I'll be heading south for the 4th show of my 6 show groupie road trip. Since, I'm still wanting that Pink's chili dog, I'm going to make a quick stop there before heading out of town. It opens at 9:30 am! Ahh...the perfect road trip breakfast!

Attention Robot Skeleton Army!

I woke up to...rain! It started raining last night and it was still there in the morning. Thankfully, by the time I drove to downtown Los Angeles, it had stopped and the sun was peeking through the clouds. I checked out the historic Angels Flight Railway, touted as The World's Shortest Railway. At 25 cents a ride, the price was right! I rode it up...then down. Next, I went to Hollywood to visit the Museum Of Death. It's a museum that simply deals with death in our society, which is a topic that most people tend to avoid...until they're forced to face it personally. The exhibits tended to be pretty graphic, especially when dealing with criminal cases, but I found them informative. This museum is definitely not for everyone, but give it a try if you find you have a morbid fascination with death...or just want to learn something different!

My big event of the day was attending a taping of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. After a tasty corned beef and cabbage lunch at the Los Angeles Farmer's Market, I drove to CBS Television City. I parked in their visitor's lot, then joined the line of people waiting to get in. While I was waiting, I bonded with a vacationing couple from Calgary, Alberta. When I told them I lived in Bellingham, WA, they both knew where it was, having lived north of the border in Vancouver, BC.

When zero hour came, our tickets...previously obtained via the internet...were collected, and everyone went through metal detectors and bag checks. Next, we proceeded into the building and up to the studio. Initially, I was seated in the last row...and right behind a lady with a big head. But, after they placed other audience members in some unfilled VIP seats up front...me and two guys got moved to 4th row center! A much better view of the stage! We were soon entertained by the warm-up comedian, who went by the name Chucky B. He was hilarious, and was later really good at encouraging everyone on when and how to cheer Craig on.

Finally...SHOW TIME! Craig came out and did a musical number with some backup musicians...well, they were pretending anyway! I would have to say, Craig sings pretty good, even though it was a satiric tune! This was a really big show because Craig's robot sidekick made his debut. Named Geoff Peterson...for seemingly no particular reason...the robot was built by Mythbusters member Grant Imahara and was inspired by Craig's Twitter followers, known as the Robot Skeleton Army. You can read about the construction of Geoff here. Craig included Geoff throughout the show, even when interviewing guests Kristin Bell and Grant. The robot was limited to only 8 canned phrases, but Craig utilized them to great comic effect. In all, it was yet another fun-filled experience, and one I would definitely do again! If you ever find yourself wanting some FREE entertainment, why not give Craig's show a whirl! Oh, and you can always watch him on TV, too...CBS-TV, right after David Letterman!

Easter Sunday drivers

Traffic was light as I left West Sacramento on this Easter Sunday. Looking to avoid the somewhat depressing monotony of Interstate 5, I decided to travel south to Los Angeles via Hwy 99. Unlike the interstate, this road passes through a number of small cities, which in itself makes for a more challenging drive. I've often compared driving the freeways of California to playing an arcade video game. You're going fast, maneuvering around slower traffic and constantly seeking out an open lane in front of you while jockeying for position with your worthy adversaries...in this case, the other drivers. Not only do I enjoy this in a strange sort of way, it helps to keep my mind and body occupied. Ideally, everyone should be driving defensively, but they don't...those are the cars you usually end up passing. One irritating trend I noticed today was the stubborn, discourteous driver. Those are the ones that plant themselves in the faster lanes...and drive slower than everyone trying to get around them! They act seemingly oblivious to the line of cars behind them, and don't even bother to pull over into the slow lane. Why do they do this? And, I saw this A LOT today! Is this a territorial thing, or something they teach in California driver's education?

Being the Easter holiday, I quickly realized my lunch plan was not to be realized. I stopped in Merced, hoping for an In N Out Burger. Closed! I didn't feel like Taco Bell...the drive-through was open...or Kentucky Fried Chicken. So, I just ate the other half of the Subway sandwich I bought for lunch yesterday. As I got back on the freeway, my GPS temporarily went out of its mind...or maybe it was just the voice persona having a brain fart. While I was ON THE FREEWAY, it started instructing me to make turns on a city street! That's the 3rd time on this road trip that the GPS did crazy things! It's enough to make you swear. But, who would I be cursing out...the GPS itself or the voice inside? Oh, in case you were wondering, her name is Mandy. Hmm...it might be time to give Mandy a break and pick out a new GPS helper?

On the road...to rest

For the past couple days, I have been so caught up with doing my groupie thing and blogging into the wee hours of the morning, my sleep has suffered. I think I've only gotten 8 hours total. To make matters worse, I had a LONG 9-hour drive from Portland to Sacramento today. Why aren't I in San Francisco for tonight's Five For Fighting show, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. I got to sleep around 3:00 am this morning, and got up at 7:00. It would have taken me 10 HOURS to drive to San Francisco! That's not counting rest stops, lunch and a gas fill up. Yeah, I could have made the show. But, what condition would I have been physically? And, I certainly wouldn't have been at the venue early enough for get my primo spot at the stage. So, I weighed the benefits and opted out. I figured, I'm going to 5 shows anyway...6, if you count Pet-a-Palooza, too. So, I could afford to skip a show. Besides, John needs a break from me anyway, right?

My drive today was fairly routine and uneventful. Oh, unless you want to count my GPS letting me down in Medford, OR! After filling my gas tank, I wanted to return to the freeway. I followed my GPS instructions, and it directed me to...a freeway onramp that DIDN'T EXIST! It took me to the freeway, but there was NO RAMP! I had never had THAT happen before! Ultimately, I just retraced my route backwards from the gas station...I didn't need my GPS to help me do that!

Tomorrow, I travel to Los Angeles and The Wiltern show on Tuesday. I'll be doing tourist stuff the day before...I'll be blogging about that later. Today, I saw more sun than I have in who knows how long. Such is the life of a Pacific Northwest dweller...lots of cloudy days! I'll be looking forward to more sunny days on the rest of my road trip!

Right place, right time...and a little luck!

I woke up this morning a bit bleary eyed. I didn't get bed till 2:00 am, and had problems falling asleep. Too wound up from yesterday's excitement, I guess! As I left the Best Western Loyal Inn...there, I revealed the hotel with the stuffy front counter guy...it was raining. It continued all the way down to Portland, with wind added to the mixture. I swung by the Crystal Ballroom...the venue for the night's Five For Fighting concert...at around 12:30 pm, but the bus wasn't there yet. I hung around for about an hour, then decided to check into my hotel.

My accommodations in Portland were a lot nicer than usual, at least for someone as thrifty as myself. I usually stay at the two star hotels, like Days Inn, Econolodge, and the before-mentioned Best Western. Since I wanted to be as close to the venue as possible this time around, I looked over the AAA offerings...and went with the Marriott! Now, you would think a place like this would be expensive, it usually is. But, as a AAA member, it was downright reasonable, albeit about $20-30 more than my usual type of hotel. As soon as I approached the front door, I knew things were going to be different! There were door guys, and valet parking. The front counter gal was VERY pleasant, and immediately checked me in, even though it was only 1:30 pm! I unloaded my bags from the Blazer, and the bell hop/door guy accompanied me up to my room. I admitted to him that I was a newbie when it came to the Marriott, so he showed me the room's amenities. As he left, yes, I tipped him!

After grabbing a quick bite to eat, and freshening up, I made the 10 minute walk to the Crystal Ballroom. At 4:30 pm, no one was waiting in line yet...and the tour bus was parked out in front. But, shortly after I arrived, a couple showed up, and said they were there for the radio station K103 soundcheck meet and greet with Five For Fighting. Now, I had entered the drawing for this, and had high hopes, but I didn’t win. As we waited and talked, Greg Suran got off the bus, and I asked him if he tried my cookies. He said he had, and they were good…he specifically mentioned eating a peanut butter one! A little later, Joe Karns walked up, and I asked him the same question. He also said he enjoyed the cookies, and I thanked him for the compliment!

After a little while, the guy working at the venue told everyone that they would be going in about 5:00 pm. I told him I was just waiting to be first in line for the concert itself. He then told me I could go in with them! I wasn't sure this was right, but he assured me it was okay. At that moment, I thought fortune was smiling on me! Shortly after that, John Ondrasik got off the bus, and made his way toward the entrance. As John walked by, he spotted me, and I told him I got invited to the party. He looked a little surprised, but said that was nice.

When the radio station people arrived, I got the bad news. They had a list, and the venue guy was mistaken about allowing me in! Oh, well. The radio guy started reading off names, and several people did not answer. One of the winners thought that maybe I could go in after all! I didn’t think so. Suddenly, a family who won a different contest…that included meet and greet AND show tickets…said that they were allowed 5 people in their party. Not only did they only have 3…they invited me to join them! How cool was that? I thanked them for their generosity, and rejoined the group. Talk about luck! It was almost too good to be true! But, we all went in, and I soon found myself upstairs, where John and the band were already doing musical exercises with their instruments. John asked everyone what they wanted to hear. Someone suggested The Taste, but John had to decline that one. He did agree on the next request, Angels and Girlfriends, followed by Superman. Then, John and the band did the customary meet and greet thing...photos and autographs.

As all this was going on, I hung back and let everyone enjoy the moment. After all, I had already done it all the previous night. I ended up talking to opening act Matt Wertz's drummer, John. He appreciated my compliments on their music. When I finally got a chance, I asked John if he had tried my cookies. He replied with some resignation that he was on a "tour diet," which accounted for his slim physique! I told him that he was too thin, which he thanked me! I also got to talk to Randy Cooke a little more. I asked him what his cat's name was...Mac. I also asked who was taking care of him while he was on tour. Randy said that his next door neighbors were tending to Mac. I love people who are cat lovers! In all, it was fun being at a soundcheck. I wouldn't mind doing it again, though!

As I exited the building, I once again took up my position as first-in-line. Soon, a couple showed up to join me. Turns out they were at last November's show at The Aladdin...closer to the front of the line then me for that one! We had a nice conversation talking about John and his music...they were pretty knowledgable! Several more people joined us, waiting in the chilly wind for the doors to open. Suddenly, the same door guy I talked to earlier told everyone we could wait in the cafe inside, to get away from the weather! How nice! But, it turned out to be not the best deal for me and the couple...at least at first. Without us knowing it, when it got close 7:00 pm...the official opening time...people who were waiting in the bar started lining up at the staircase to the ballroom! We were now no longer first. In fact, there were about a dozen folks ahead of us! I could see the quest for a front and center spot at the stage going down the drain! When the time came, I went up the stairs with a mission...run if I had to! Turns out it wasn't necessary. Most of the people in front of us ended up going for the balcony seats! I had my perfect spot after all! Whew! Strangely enough, I was joined by 4 other people who I had met at the November show...a lady and her daughter, and a guy with his young daughter! One would say small world, but I would reply...fellow Five For Fighting fanatics! I was now in good company!

Because the ballroom was a bigger venue than the Seattle club show, Matt's music didn't seem quite so loud. But, it was still great! And, the same could be said of John and the band. The night's set list was as follows:

World
Chances
The Riddle
Devil In The Wishing Well
65 Mustang
Easy Tonight
NYC Weather Report
Superman
Two Frogs
Freedom Never Cries (solo)
If God Made You (solo)
Augie Nieto (w/Greg on acoustic)
Disneyland
Slice
100 Years

Encore: Bella's Birthday Cake, I Just Love You, Hope

I need to make special note of lighting director Don Weeks' fine work. The lights were just awesome...they made for some pretty sweet pics! One thing I forgot to mention in the last blog. At one point in the show, John complimented the parents who brought their kids to see him. Then, John focused on one small boy...a 7-year-old named Tyler. He didn't have the greatest view of John because of the huge piano on the small stage. John thought that he should have a better seat...so he invited him on stage to sit with him at the piano! John then proceeded to perform Superman, with the thrilled child next to him! Well, John did the same thing tonight, with a 12-year-old girl named Abbie. John never ceases to amaze people with his kindness and thoughtfulness!

After the show, John and the band made themselves available for autographs and photos. While I waited to talk to John, I perused the merchandise table. Hey, new stuff! I ended up buying a hooded sweatshirt and a T-shirt. I can never have too much when it comes to Five For Fighting apparel! When the line finally petered out, and John and the band started to leave, I wished them all a Happy Easter and told them I would see them at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Randy wanted a good bye hug, which I was only to happy to give him!

So, that concluded another event-filled day for this Five For Fighting groupie. While John does another show in San Francisco tomorrow night, I'll be making the long drive to Sacramento, followed by another half day of driving to L.A. In reality, it will be a few days of rest for me. Right now, it's 1:30 am, and I still have my personal journal to finish before hitting the sack. Sweet dreams await!

Magic in Seattle

Just got back from the Five For Fighting show at Neumos. Like usual, John and the band were just awesome. But, the day didn't start out that great. When I left home to start on my groupie road trip, it was raining lightly on and off...not good! I didn't envision myself waiting outside of Neumos and getting wet! It cleared as I reached Seattle. But, before starting my vigil at the venue, I decided to grab an early lunch since I had no breakfast. I stopped by a local Seattle institution, Dick's Drive In. Cheap and quick, but it certainly doesn't compare to In N Out Burger!

Afterwards, I parked my car just down the street from Neumos...and waited for the tour bus to arrive. But, just as it did, a dark cloud passed overhead and the skies opened up. The timing couldn't have been worse, as the crew had to unload the trailer. And, about the time they got done, it stopped raining. A portent of things to come? I hoped not! I soon found out that John and the band were not on the bus. I seemed they were already relaxing at their hotel. Since there was no sense hanging around, I made my way to my accommodations. Turns out I had a heck of a time getting a room. It was about 1:30 pm, which was not an unusual time for me to be checking into a hotel. They usually have no problem finding a room for me...one hotel checked me in at 11:00 am! Well, things were different at this one, which will remain unnamed...for now. As soon as I told the desk guy that I had a reservation for the night, he immediately stated that check-in time was 4:00 pm. Talk about a lack of optimism! I tried explaining to him that I almost always checked in earlier than the official time...I actually did a couple years ago at that very hotel! But, no, he stubbornly insisted that it was not possible. Exasperated, I finally asked him what was the earliest I could POSSIBLY get a room before 4:00 pm. At this point, I think he began to sense my frustration...and maybe losing a future customer. He checked the progress of the housekeeping, looked in their system...and low and behold, there was a room for me. Satisfied, I can say now that there is no hard feelings...but, I might mention my experience in a future AAA review!

After freshening up, I called my friends who were to meet me at Neumos...they were well on their way. With everything now going smoothly, I returned to the club. I got there about 4:15 pm, with the intent of being first in line to get the primo spot at the stage. I know, it's early, but what can I say? I'm a groupie! Of course, there was no one else there yet, and there wouldn't be for another 2 hours! My friends arrived before everyone else, too, and having someone to talk to made the time go by faster. Around 5:00 pm, a car showed up carrying bass player Joe Karns and guitarist Greg Suran. Joe quickly went inside the building, and I greeted Greg...he remembered me from the last acoustic tour. Now, where was John and drummer Randy Cooke? I later found out when I heard John's voice and the band doing their soundchecks inside the club. Huh? How did John get in without me seeing him? Oh, well. I should be able to see him after the concert, like he has been doing for the duration of the tour so far. Not long after that, Randy came out of the building. He made eye contact with me, and I called out to him. But, I almost didn't need to...it seemed like he recognized me, even though our only previous correspondence was by email. Maybe he's seen some pictures of me somewhere? I introduced myself, and Randy cheerfully shook my hand.

At this point, I mentioned something that I had asked him about a week ago. Wanting to give a special treat for him and the whole Five For Fighting crew, I suggested baking them cookies. Randy was agreeable to that, so I spent all afternoon yesterday baking chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, and brownies. I told Randy that I had the cookies, and I was hoping to get them on the bus for everyone to enjoy later on. He suggested checking back after the concert. Then, a surprise. John suddenly showed up from seemingly nowhere. He saw me and I greeted him. Before he got in the bus, I handed him a gift I was hoping to give to him. Inside a plastic bag was a T-shirt, one I thought would be a perfect gift for John. It was grey, with the image of a hockey stick and puck, and included the word "Superman" and the Superman logo gracing the puck. John accepted the offering, and entered the bus. I planned to ask him later about the shirt when I saw him again.

At 7:00 pm, the box office opened, and I got a ticket to the night's concert via guest list. Because John canceled his Seattle show last November, those who hung onto their tickets were put on a special list for admission to the spring show. When my friends and I entered the music hall, we made a beeline for the spot right next to the piano...and in front of the microphone where John would do his guitar thing. The crowd initially seemed a bit sparse, but that wasn't too surprising. People often show up later because they aren't that keen on opening acts. In this case, Matt Wertz was entertaining and played well...but, was a bit loud for my taste. Normally, I wouldn't show up at a Five For Fighting concert wearing ear protection...John just isn't THAT loud! But, Matt's electric guitar work had my ears crying for help. Of course, it might have just been the venue. Neumos is a VERY small club, with a small stage, and the loud tunes really have nowhere to go. Nevertheless, I'll be going to the next 4 shows with ear protection on hand for Matt...just in case.

As the crew set up for Five For Fighting, the crowd got bigger and moved closer to the stage. They were there for the REAL show! Then, John and the band came out, and immediately started into their set. Here is the setlist for the night:

World
Chances
The Riddle
Devil In The Wishing Well
65 Mustang
Easy Tonight
NYC Weather Report
Superman
Two Frogs
Freedom Never Cries (solo)
If God Made You (solo)
Augie Nieto (w/Greg on acoustic)
Slice
100 Years

Encore: Bella's Birthday Cake, Disneyland, Hope

John sounded great with his voice at full strength, unlike last November when illness affected his singing. And, the boys in the band were equally terrific! Nothing beats John performing his songs live. After the show, John and the guys made themselves available for autographs and photos. My ex-military friend Gerry brought a CD for John to sign. I mentioned to John that Gerry was a vet, and John made sure he got the latest CD For The Troops that they had available for military folks like him. After John signed Gerry's CD, I took their pic. John asked me if I wanted a photo, too, but I told him I would wait for everyone else to have their turn. After waiting at the back of the line, it was my turn, I asked everyone to sign a copy of the set list, which I managed to grab from the stage after the show was over. My other friend Andrew then took my pic with Greg, Randy and Joe. Then, I asked John to sign his Slice CD for friends taking care of my cat Kimi while I'm on my road trip. Randy overhead me talking about my cat, and I asked HIM who was taking care of HIS cat while he was away. Randy, being the funny guy said that he just put out a great big bowl of food for his cat! Too bad I didn't think to ask him about the litter box! I asked Andrew to get a pic of me and John together, and John suggested the whole band. I really couldn't turn down that suggestion, so I got the group shot. I then insisted on another photo with just me and John, for which John kindly obliged. Before leaving, I asked Randy and Greg about getting my cookies on the bus. They told me to just ask one of the crew guys to take it on board. I wasn't sure if they would trust me with such a request, but Randy and Greg assured me that it would be OK. Sure enough, after retrieving the 3 big containers of cookies from my car, I asked Don, the lighting guy...who I spotting walking toward the bus...if he could take the cookies. And, he did! Now, I just hope everyone likes them...it was sheer aggravation making those Toll House cookies! Oh, I almost forgot! As John was signing my stuff, he thanked me for the T-shirt...he thought it was pretty cool! So, now, will I ever see him wearing my shirt? As the song goes...you gotta have hope!