Alright, I know this is technically a "Forum," not a "Blog." Due to some limitations with my site, I can't have 2 blogs. This is actually better, though. Trust me...
I am back to civilization, after a safe unforgettable trip down the Salmon River. I will write more about it later, but I posted a binch of pictures below. I'll also add captions later, as some need explanation.
We were on the water for 7 days, entirely through wilderness. We covered over 80 miles, and we had weather ranging from 100 degree sunshine to borderline snow/sleet. The scenery was SPECTACULAR, and the group was perfect. Once again, I made some new friends on the river.
Last Saturday (a week ago), I drove up to a boat ramp about 2 hours from Salmon Idaho, where I met 15 of my fellow boaters on the trip. We spent the night at a campsite there, after drinking a bunch of beer and getting acquainted and re-acquainted with the rest of the group.
I made a "carbecue" on the way up. For those who don't know what this is, here goes: take a beef roast, wrap it in heavy-duty aluminum foil, and find a warm spot under the hood of your car/truck/van. Then, go for a long spin (4 hours or so). Done right, you've got a beautifully cooked roast. I my case, I had to finish it off on the grill for a few minutes. It was delicious. We all ate pieces of it after a healthy amount of beer.
The trip, itself, began the next day (Sunday). We generally went 15-25 miles a day, camping along the way. We ate well (STUFFED PORK LOIN, FISH TACOS, LASAGNE, ENCHILADAS, ETC). Evrything was made fresh on the fire and in Dutch ovens. It rained a little, here and there, and there wa a day that got chilly (40s). The whitewater was at a very manageable level. We brought musical instruments, and played a bunch of bluegrass. Nice trip! Check the pictures below.
Everything you bring or produce on the Salmon river must be packed out, including trash, ash, and human waste. We had ammo cans for the human waste part, and loaded them onto rafts everyday.
It is neat to walk onto a campsite, and see NO evidence that others have been there. I didn't mind the inconvenience.
I apologize for letting this blog get away from me. It was a rough 12 days.
I took a pit orchestra gig at the new theater in town. The show is called "Crazy Love," and it is very challenging music for me. The whole thing calls for upright bass, which is not my forte, either. This is exactly what I needed right now: a tough gigs that forces me out of my comfort zone on that instrument.
I'll do about 15 shows this month, and I'll be a decent upright player by the end of it. In the meantime, it's beating me up. It's kinda like boot camp for me.
Last Saturday, we did a Soul Impressions gig at Jackson Lake Lodge. Terry (our singer), had a surgical procedure last month that kept him from doing this gig, so we had to get a sub for him. Subbing a frontman is a tall order, but our friend Buddy Thomas, from Salt Lake, did a nice job. We also used a sub keyboardist, sub drummer, and a sax player. Of the 6 of us, only 2 were actually Soul Impressions.
The band sounded great, but it was a great effort to put this together. This effort, along with Crazy Love, caused me to have one of the more difficult 2 week periods that I can remember. This week, I have 8 gigs in 8 days, and I am still viewing this as a break.
Julie's brother and his family were here last week, too. Their son of about 10 months is a cute little knee-knocker. It was fun having them here. I have some pictures, but I cannot find my camera this morning. I'll get them up soon, though.
Rock and Roll Camp is going great guns right now, too. We are up to 19 middle-schoolers and 35 high-schoolers. We may get a few more before this is over, but I bet this is pretty close to what we will end up with. Not bad at all.
We are still about $7,000 light on fundraising, which another reason to lose sleep. We'll get there (hopefully), but we can use all the help we can get. If you're inclined to donate, or purchase a sponsorship opportunity, please send me a note, or go the "Support Us" page on the jhrocknrollcamp.com websiteJackson Hole Rock & Roll Camp
Please consider giving us a hand, as it is a really cool program that will make a big difference for a lot of kids.
I have a day off from gigs, but I will spend a lot of the day working on some administrative stuff (Rock and Roll Camp, Straight Up bookings, Soul Impressions personnel, Jackson Hole Music Experience website), and I may try to cut the grass. I could also use some practice on the Crazy Love music.
I forget to mention an interesting thing that happened a few weeks ago. It turned out to be an attempt to scam me.
A guy named "Dipson Koiki" emailed the Soul Impressions through the web site. He said he lived in England, but his family has a house in Molt, Montana (near Billings). He was having a surprise party for his wife's 40th birthday, and he wanted the Soul Impressions to play from about 1:00 until 4:00.
The schedule was tight. The gig was about 3 weeks away, and we were already booked to play at Jackson Lake Lodge the night before Dipson's party. We would have to load in at 9 am, which meant that we would need to leave right after our gig at the Lodge, and drive 8 hours through Yellowstone to make it on time.
Of course, it can be done. Most of us, after all, effectively earn our livings by selling our discomfort and inconvenience. In this case, it would involve hiring drivers, renting a big van, and sleeping in the van while someone drove.
I was on my to way to my river trip while all this was happening, so I didn't have a chance to formulate costs. I simply ball-parked everything, then added about $1200 to cover my butt. I sent Dipson the bid.
He wrote back right away, saying he wanted to do it. I wrote him a quick note, saying that he really needed to HUSTLE with a deposit, as the check needs to clear before we can leave town for his show. We had travel arrangements, too, so time was of the essence.
I got back from the river a little over a week later. Dipson sent me a check for $7500, which was well in excess of what I had asked for. In fact, it actually exceeded our total bill.
He then sent me a note, saying that he had forgotten to send a deposit to the caterer for this party. He wanted me to send $3000 to that person, as a favor to Dipson.
I told him I could not do that. I also asked for our gig details (directions, hotel info, electricsal specifics, etc). I had the same email discussion with him repeatedly. He kept asking me to Western Union $3000 to a caterer.
I smelled a rat. I called the bank his check was drawn on, and, as you have probably guessed, the check was a fraud. This guy has tried this 4100 times, as far as the bank knows. He probably succeeds occasionally, which is often enough to make it worth his while.
I emailed Dipson and told him I had sent the money (I did not actually send it, but I thought I might waste some of his time with a trip to Western Union. I know that he made that trip. I tried to keep it up for as long as possible, sending lots of excuses for not sednding the dough.
I also inserted some of the most disgusting photos I have ever seen in my notes to him. Maybe I made him sick, too. It's really unbelievable what you can find on Google Image search. There seem to be no limits, at all. The security guy at the bank said there was no way to catch this person, so that was the best I could do.
Turns out, Dipson tried this on several bands in the region. I wonder if anyone fell for it...
OK, I am a week into the musical, "Crazy Love." As far as the challenge is concerned, I have gotten my ass handed to me. There were several shows after which I should have been fired, but I was not the only one in the pit with this distinction.
At this point, I feel pretty good about it. The last 2 shows have gone smoothly, and it gets better each time. It has been quite an experience, though. I believe I will accomplish my goal of being decent on this instrument (upright bass). My callous has developed, which was one thing I had hoped would happen. I'm surprised it happened that quickly.
The Soul Impressions got 2 inquiries for summer 2008 bookings this week. We have not even set prices yet, and I did not realize we needed to think about that. It looks like both of these inquiries will result in bookings, and more will follow. We'll set prices today...
Today is my brother's 44th birthday. I wish he were still alive to celebrate it. I robbed a couple of nice pictures from his wife's site, and posted them below.
The couple across the street spends a lot of time in Cambodia. They have a non-profit that works to teach children over there, and they seem to be there for 6-9 months at a a time.
They appear to have returned recently. I see them out in the yard quite a bit, doing some great things with landscaping. They are neat people, probably some of my favorite neighbors.
I noticed something peculiar the other day. It doesn't bother, me, but it causes me to have a small suspicion.
They have positioned a wide, luxurious, brand-new looking hammock in their front yard. It even has one of those heavy-duty racks holding it up, so they aren't limited by the location of their trees. When I see the hammock, it is always in daylight. I notice that there are pillows and blankets on it.
It has been hot here lately (80s). One would not likely take afternoon naps under blankets in this weather. Nights in Jackson Hole are always chilly, though.
I think that one of my neighbors may be keepin' it real, Cambodia-style, by sleeping under the stars in a hammock. In the front yard. I have been to Cambodia, and I can attest to the fact that a lot of those folks sleep that way. Perhaps most of them do.
I keep forgetting to look over there when I come home in the wee hours, but I will try my best to confirm the suspicion this week...
That's me with Stanley Clarke, at the NAMM show, January in L.A.
My daughter's first-ever season pass to Jackson Hole, age 4 months
Baby in her hat, which I gave her for Christmas
Avery and I, on the beach near San Diego
My smiling baby
The happy Princess
I took this with my phone the other day. It's the sky over Wilson at sunset. In that light, it looked like the sky was on fire.
Old Bill's Fun Run, with our friends and their daughter
This is probably my favorite unposed shot of Avery. That's what she normally looks like.
This is Avery's first plane ride, in October.
That's Avery on the far side of the basket. Her basketmate is cousin Eli, and Eli's brother, Jack, watches from the outside.
Halloween 2008
Halloween 2008
She has taken to this thing lately. Avery likes to be able to look around.
Tiny baby, not too long after she was born
Avery's favorite hold, at the time. Look how small she was!
Our family
Our family. As usual, Avery is out cold
Avery, dresssed up for my cousins wedding
Avery with my mom
My baby
My girl on a Fall day in West Point
West Point, my my brother-in-law's family
That's me, The Right Reverend Andrew Calder, on the wedding day. Avery enjoyed herself, too.
Avery with my Dad
My daughter and I. Avery is about an hour old in this one!
That's Banyan at Cervante's Ballroom in Denver, Friday, August 8, 2008. From left to right, it's Brian Jordan, Stephen Perkins, myself, and Willie Waldman. What a blast!
The official wedding photo
After years of only dreaming of this, I lucked into this institution on the road.
