Musician's Flea Market Jam-The Strangeness Of Days

Songs;

Can't Get Enough
Feel Like Making Love
Brown Eyed Girl
Rocky Top
Lay Down Sally


Russ From Tracer-Vocals 1-3
Mike Clair-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Mark Awad-Bass 1-3
Bird-Bass 4,5
Beth Wilson  sang lead on Rocky Top
Billy Bourbon sang lead on Lay Down Sally

Terry McDowell hosted

Herman, Steve Stratton, Mike Lint, DJ Hovenstot, Randy Faulker were the other drummers
Others included Ed Butler, Leroy Munn, Mitch Smith, Tim Canfield


And;

Guest star for Dreams Of Arcadia, at The Grove in Scotch Grove 9/22/18

Songs:

I started hating cheating songs today
The race is on
Summertime Blues

Julie Gordon: Percussion and backing vocals
Ryan Matthew Paul-Congas

Rich Bryan and Pat Geasland from Harvey Headbanger showed up and sang and played on a few numbers.

(They're tearing down the Viola school for a proposed winery, the gym is supposed to be saved, this was taken at 3 AM with the harvest moon lightning things up)
Notes:

Is the harvest moon that is bringing out the freaky people?  Saturday Night I played percussion to Dreams Of Arcadia and sang three country songs of no significant importance.   They wanted to do their own versions of Sundown and Ring Of Fire.   It was decided that I would meet them there rather than waste gas and time going over there, since I live about 20 miles from Scotch Grove.  The Grove is a small bar, it's really no bigger than my basement and Ryan bought the congas, so I didn't need the snare drum, even tho' I did bring it.  The best way was coming off 151 down to 38.  There was a short cut, but it was mostly gravel road and not something I enjoy being on.  After I got done, I return back to 151 from North 38. I wasn't taking any gravel road home.  Anyway, Julie and Ryan impressed the folks and the bar owners so much that they wanted them back to play the Halloween gig a month from now.  No idea if I'll help out but chances are I'll probably will.

Ryan liked my take on Tuxedo Junction with the brushes playing like tap dancing shoes.  It was something that I thought up on the spot as well as other songs but it seemed to strike a chord with Ryan.   The country songs were Julie's idea, I wasn't impressed with what I did, and perhaps I should retire ...Cheating Songs".

My Acupuncturist Curtis was there with his wife and they stayed for the first set before making the hour trip back to Fairfax.  Rich and Pat showed up at around midnight and played a few songs.

(Crankshaft playing: Renee Clair Photo credit....The Mosquitoes were terrible)

Sunday:  The first annual Musician's flea market.  Steve Stratton picked up the CB Percussion drums for 50 dollars (shell cases only) but still a pretty nifty deal. I thought about selling some cymbals but never got around to it.  I was too busy listening to the Cubs and they gave Ken "hawk" Harrelson a final goodbye as they beat the White Sox 6-1,  With Harrelson saying naughty things  about the Cubs, I wanted them to beat the Sox.  And they did.  Happy trails to the bitter old Hawk.

A rare occasion: the jam was outdoors and plenty of people were there.  I got to play a couple songs with Mark Awad on bass.  I may do that again if and when he shows up at the Parlor City Jam.  Bartender Mark was up there and of course we had to do the Bad Company numbers he loved so well. Some off the wall things, Rocky Top and Lay Down Sally to  which I was playing the opposite beat before getting into the right groove.   I got bitten about five time from fucking mosquitoes. I'm surprised I kept a beat.

Herman, for who he is, remains a very good drummer.  He surprised me by saying how good I have been playing of late.  Well, after being back for over 3 years, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, even if I'm not on the same page of what Bear or Tommy wanted me to play Rocky Top, or Lay Down Sally, but eventually I'll find the groove and stick with it. They are professionals, I'm the hobbyist, I have to find some sort of backbeat to keep people dancing.   Tough job but somebody's gotta do it.

After this, I went to see how Josh was doing hosting the Otis Tailgators Jam, and nobody was there. They were playing Josh's original songs.  They could have used a drummer but I wasn't familiar with his songs.  Maybe next time.

Last year before Julie and I were dating,  I sat with Jean and thought about asking her out.  Then once Julie and I became an item we lost track of one another except she told me about a estate sale with records across from her place.   With Julie and I now returning back to simply friends, I did see Jean last week to announce that I am available, Jean started dating a new guy, Randy actually.  They were there at the jam and they quite cozy together so I didn't bother them.  In the meantime,  Tommy has once again went back to that crazy woman he's been with off and on again and Kimberly is back being single again.  However on one song Kim was slow dancing with her ex hubby.  It seems that the circle is small between CR musicians and women.  Both Randy and Jean have gone through seeing their significant others depart this world and now ready to go back on the dating scene again.  Like last week, I do think Randy/Jean make a sweet couple, he treats her like a queen.

The strangeness of days and relationships, especially what I have seen of Tommy and his reunited girlfriend was witnessed behind these eyes.  When I think about what Julie and I have, I smile at the beginning of knowing her and she was very interested to get to know me.  Even as her being my bestie, it was never like what I had with Nicole.  All we really had was being safe friends.  I know in her mind she wasn't sold on me, even though she decided to date one another.  I still love her dearly but when you don't spend time and nights together you become strangers sooner than expected.  But when I look at who's available to date, I realize I'm better off just being on my own.  I know Julie will find somebody sooner than me, but she's remains true to my heart.   Knowing myself I'd put the next woman through a lot of grief as well with my come and go ways.  I'm still inclined to take Julie out on the town if something special came up.  She wouldn't be the first who gave up on me but I still love her in my own special way.

Whatever that means.


Happy birthday to a couple of my former girlfriends.  Penny turns 57 on Monday, she was my high school sweetheart, but we never got too far in high school.  She couldn't keep me out of the record store.  She did actually married her true high school sweetheart to which they are still together.

Also, to the Brat, aka Nicole.  For two and a half years she was part of my life even tho' the time we were together I wasn't playing music.  But I did entertain her by yelling at many ball games on the weekends.

Whatever that means.