A rainy 5th of July.

It's funny. It feels like a lazy day, but I'm realizing I've actually done quite a bit. I rolled out of bed, talked to Ma on the phone, grabbed java in Waldport, visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the otters and sharks and jellies, stopped in at the Nye Beach Clambake and partook in clams and shrimp and crab and a historical walking tour to boot, read about the only state-sanctioned counterculture music festival in America's history (Vortex 1 near Portland in 1970) at the Canyon Way Bookstore, and moseyed 20 miles north to Lincoln City for some chowder and Wi-Fi connection at the McMenamin's Brewpub. It's been a joyful experience partly because the music mix here has been (expectedly) amazing. In addition to some really great classic stuff, I've heard a few of my recent favorites – Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and the Avett Brothers.

Last night was really fantastic, rather surreal evening. After the day at the La De Da Parade, a nap, and bowls of chowder at various favorite dives, I meandered back to Yachats for the evening Independence Day fireworks. To appreciate the scene, you should know about this particular section of the town. There's a large inlet that is filled with lulling waves at high tide and is a big sandy cove at low tide. All around the inlet, folks had camped out and those who lived along the perimeter were hosting parties. All throughout the evening, pyrotechnics from laymans' private collections would pierce the dusk. There were smoke bombs, sparklers, piccolo petes, and various crackling and whistling diversions which in turn made way for pieces that varied in legality and, therefore, fun... Roman candles and other crazy bright and loud things. It was all rather fun to see the cove socked in, not just with a light fog, but a layer of pyro smoke. The actual show, detonated in part by the Yachats Fire Department was pretty spectacular too... at least a half dozen false endings followed by an amazing bombastic finale. As the traffic congestion eased up through the little town, I took refuge at the Landmark and caught a set by The Insomniacs, a really fantastic blues/rockabilly band. On the walk back to the car, I happened by the local craft bazaar and their evening finale of fire dancing by the Burning Truth Tribe. Pretty spectacular! After soaking up a little of the local color, I meandered back to the house and watched Blazing Saddles on TVLand. A really great day.

And now, I've got to get back to my homework – formatting pages for my long-overdue website redesign. Wish me luck. Take care, y'all. Peace and love!

Happy Fourth!

Howdy! Ah!... I just found a happy little Wi-Fi connection! That last post was a little something I felt compelled to write on the journey from Lebanon to the coast – a little nostalgia on a summer's day. Hope you enjoyed. Now I'm in Yachats braving some drizzle as I meander to the La De Da Parade route. This fun, eccentric little parade is a Fourth of July tradition in this quaint coastal town.

I was here in Yachats last evening in an attempt to catch my favorite singer/guitar guy, Richard Sharpless. Although I stopped into his usual location, the wonderful Drift Inn (and heard a really good singer/piano/accordian guy), I found Richard at a little wine and cheese bar just down the street. I was wondering where I was as I wandered between venues to catch all sorts of music. Not only did we have Richard and the guy at the Drift Inn, but I stumbled upon big band night at the Yachats Commons. This lovely little rag-tag band really got to cooking at times and it was a joy to see the hall full of folks out for a good time. There were older couples dancing to their tunes and little kids dancing with parents. It was such a lovely scene to happen upon.

Before I made my way back to town today, I actually got my booty out of bed rather early and headed south to the amazing tidepools at Cape Perpetua. There was an incredibly low "minus" tide at around 8am and it has been a desire of mine to do a little exploring. So many anemones and mussels and starfish! I'm glad I made the effort. And now, I'm on my third cup of coffee and set for a slightly drippy day of red, white, and blue activities. Peace and love, y'all!

This used to be my playground.

Yesterday as I drove through my hometown, I passed a construction site. I became nostalgic as I realized that it was formerly the site of one of the ball fields on which I spent my little league summers and, specifically, the one on which I experienced my finest moment in baseball.

I liked little league – the camaraderie, the lazy lulls peppered with bursts of pure thrill, even the occasional crunch of dirt between my teeth. I liked the common ground found there between my dad and I. I was pretty good at this sapling version of America’s pastime. Well, I was better earlier on. Okay… in retrospect, I’m fine with not having been a baseball star on those fields of my youth. As we all careened into upper grades and became “big kids”, I started to get better at track & field. I took fourth in the eighth grade pentathlon at the Oregon State Junior Olympics. I then moved on to soccer, arguably a more manly sport (but you’d have to be European to think so). Amidst a very enjoyable high school soccer career, I set a goalkeeping record that still stands almost 20 years later. But as an older junior higher, I was holding down a lower-to-middle rung on the leaguer ladder to the diamond. Among the boys of summer, I think it was a matter of priorities. Many of my teammates’ dreams were dependent on a direct trajectory from those fields of little league through those daunting high school and college diamonds, then right through minor and major league stadiums on their way to Cooperstown. At that age I wasn’t sure exactly what my dreams were much less where they would take me. I was pretty confident, however, that I wasn’t on my way to the Hall of Fame. But even so, I must have borrowed someone else’s dream one particular game day because something came true.

The pitchers were pretty sharp in our league. I must have maintained a batting average of .200 this particular season so when I came to bat I knew my team was probably just hoping for a walk or some miracle to merely keep us alive for the next hitter. The pitch came. I swung and I’ll never forget that teeth-rattling connection with the ball. No one was more shocked than me to see the ball fly at a low but strong rise to a place just left of center field, causing the fielders to run to the farthest point of the outfield. Two of my teammates crossed home before I safely touched third. Two “ribbies” (RBIs) and a solid triple! And for that moment, I was the center of the team. I can still hear the yells and feel the pats on the back. I climbed from my low-to-middlin’ rung that day to a much higher place. And although the following week I’d settle once again for that old familiar rung, for one day I WAS a baseball star. I wish every ball player on every field in every remote county at least one moment like that.

And as I slowly drove by the vacant lot occupied only by foundation markers, I remembered that lazy day bursting open with young joy, and for just a split second, I could have sworn I felt that old familiar crunch between my teeth.

Off to greener pastures...

I'm off to Oregon to visit the family and to get a Pacific Northwest fix. I'll be up north for a week, just freewheeling with the schedule. I hope I get a bit of time out at the coast, but for sure I'll spend time with Grandma who is on the quick mend from surgery, and because of that my aunts are also in town which will be great. It will also be wonderful to see the folks (and all the work they've been doing on the house) and my sister and her family. I'll also take along tools to accomplish a little light work if the spirit so moves. We'll see. I'm just looking forward to breathing some of that Oregon air. Peace and love, y'all!

"Not creepy."

I picked up a caricature gig this evening – a lovely bat mitzvah at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. The agency had found me at PartyPop.Com and so it was my first time working with them. During the event, the agent told me to be sure to call back on Monday to be entered into their rolodex. She said, "Most of the caricaturists we've worked with before aren't as good... or are creepy." I'm thinking about making my new promotional catch phrase, "Not creepy!" Ha ha! Seriously, it was really nice to get hooked up with a new agency on a cold call. They were easy to work with, and it would be great to work together again down the line.

Tomorrow, I'll get to church after a month-long absence and then I'll get a chance to visit with a friend who's in town on the A Chorus Line tour. Monday finds me on a plane to Oregon to visit the family including Grandma who just went through surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her kidney. Well... actually we just got some great news. The tumor was actually benign and everyone's so excited. So, YAY, answered prayers and happy times. Peace and love, y'all!