Anyone else watching the Democratic National Convention? Hillary Clinton closed out the night tonight; Michelle Obama last night. I didn't watch last night, but finished my paper in time to watch tonight. Whoever wrote the speech should be commended. I'm not sure that it cured all that ails the Democratic Party, but maybe it helped. The passage about Senator McCain sure did start out nice...and then took a 180. Again, the writing was remarkable. I can't wait to hear tomorrow night's.

Entire speech here: ABC News

Tonight was the first episode of this season of Mad Men that I thought was really great. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. If you watched...OMG. The flashbacks, the ring, the new girl, the salt... I loved every second of tonight's episode.

There was one line spoken by Peggy's mother that was so perfect while she was in the state ward. "I'm goin', but I'm not leaving." So good...and exactly what I'd imagine everyone would want to hear.

I'm freaking out a bit about my schedule this week. I've got a brief due Wednesday and feel like it's 70-80% complete. I could probably finish it tonight, but I need to get to the office early tomorrow, so I'll like put it off until tomorrow afternoon. I want to have the entire morning Wednesday to review/edit everything. I know I can delegate most of the end bits to the staff, but I hate not doing it myself. I have a real problem not reviewing everything with my own eyes until the thing's placed in the mail. I re-check everything...standards of review, case citations, dates of incidents, addresses, spelling of names... I just feel like it's the least you can do in situations where it's likely the client's last shot at reversing the court's ruling. The point of all this being, I should have reviewed my schedule earlier. I will not have time to do this Wednesday. I guess this means I know what I'll be doing Monday and Tuesday nights. Fun...

Hey! Take It Easy...

Saturday:

We got off to a LATE start this morning. Heather and I stayed up a while after going back to the room, we watched the second airing of Larry King Live. It was all about John Edwards admitting to the affair, which had been swirling around for weeks. It's strange which details stick in my head...

I don't remember much besides all of us moving slowly and heading down to the store to grab some lunch from Subway, cash at the ATM, sunglasses, and ice for the cooler. We run into Sunny and Vinny and it seems like their group is coming to life just as slowly as ours. After a quick lunch, it's time to make the lemonade and figure out what to do with the other bottle of vodka. A few weeks before the trip I bought a Platypus water bottle. It holds a liter...no glass allowed inside the gates...so, it will be a vodka bottle today. Heather, Suzy, MMJ and I head out to the show with our cooler in tow. We are arriving a little late, so the parking was not going to be in a great spot. Thank goodness for the shuttle they'd arranged for everyone. The couple that picked us up were great and extremely helpful. I would hate to think how long the trek would have taken us if it weren't for them.

We get in the gate and the Doo Wah Riders were already on. The lawn was so crowded, in comparison to years past. Thankfully, Maureen and Carolyn were already there and had staked out a spot. At some point, I went back to the merch booth to talk with MMJ and Suzy, and ended up staying there for a good while. The vodka sours started around this point. In retrospect, probably too early in the day...

I'm standing out in front of the Ragweed merch booth and say I feel a sprinkle. Nathan asks for some help to shield the side with a tarp, just in case. Not fifteen minutes later I see a huge piece of hail (which I first thought looked like a small snowball) bounce off the RK booth. I get under the tent to watch 4000 people clamor for cover. We watch the hail storm move across the mountains...one of the coolest things to watch all weekend. Then a rainbow...and the rain come.

The merch booth sees a steady stream of customers...but I bailed the second RRB starts to set up for their show. It was one of the best sets I've seen from them in a LONG time. It truly was like it used to be. The crowd was great...and as the set went on, it grew larger. I loved every second of it. Even though I probably see them more than any other band, I still have the best time at their shows.

I may have this on the wrong day, but at some point I remember we were all talking about how weird it was to see Randy just standing in the middle of a crowd at a show. The last time I'd seen this, it wasn't the best time. Let's just say that. Anyway, it was announced that REK would be doing a special presentation. Cody and Shannon Canada walked out on stage. They are celebrating their ten year anniversary, and chose to renew their vows in Challis. It was definitely one of those moments.

Things get a little fuzzy around here...I have no idea how much vodka or lemonade I've had at this point. I do remember going back to the merch booth. I remember thinking I'm having no part of the maker's mark...thank you. I bought some raffle tickets in Travis' name. He wanted so desperately to win that autographed guitar. At this time, Take It Easy became the theme of the night. Mustaches everywhere.

...and just like that, it's dark in my mind. I remember being off to the side of the stage with everyone. Shan and her Dyrdek dance. Trying to avoid Rebs and Erica every time they shout Take It Easy! LOL Too much to drink. Sunny taking pictures. Ragweed was on stage and I remember hearing pieces of songs...but if you'd asked me to give you a list, I'd be hard-pressed. I remember having a great time though...that's something. We stayed in the same spot for MMC. I remember "Twilight" clearly. I keep thinking everyone came out for Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", but I could be wrong.

I remember heading back up to the merch booth after the show. Still not completely aware of the injuries sustained. Somehow getting to the car. I seriously have no recall of any of this. I have racked my brain as to how we got to the damn car for days now. I have no idea. I vaguely remember walking down the main road. I think we went to Bux again. Not certain. I know we spent a lot of time outside that night. I remember MMJ turning to us, as we're sitting on the bench by the fire, and saying..."Well, I'm done." I think Suzy and I agreed and we found our way inside just before daybreak.

The following morning came much too quickly. We totally missed check-out...took a good hour to leave the parking lot (or so it seemed). We met up at the Village Inn for some food before heading on to Stanley. We weren't a very lively group at first, but then it became apparent that there was a reason we were seated in the "other" room.

The majority of the group headed out whitewater rafting the second we got to Stanley. Erica and I had other plans. I was looking forward to sleeping a few hours and getting off my now swollen ankle. The sleep didn't come, but I got some reading in. The ankle still stings as I type this. The thumb is recovering much better. It's almost back to normal. The cabins were in the most picturesque setting imaginable. The river literally outside your back door. After a late dinner, we hit the Kasino Klub. None of us were particularly up for a long night. The band was fun, the dancing was funnier, and the George Brett impression was funniest. All in all, it was a good last night in Idaho.

I promise I will post about the last few BBR days, sometime. It's saved on my computer at home, which I haven't turned on in four days. I have been going to bed entirely too early or too late this week. I don't know what's going on.

I'm a day late, but I just listened to Boland's "Comal County Blue". I had no idea how much I missed hearing Jason's voice. Is it wrong to say it sounds like the old stuff? I didn't hate the most recent cd; it just never hooked me. I think I might love this one. I love that "Alright" makes an appearance. I love hearing JB and REK singing together. I love the dark songs, the reflective songs, and oh yeah...Noah's unbelievable.

P.S. I have washed the hoodie/jacket that I wore out by the fire...and it STILL smells like I live in a smokehouse. Seriously.

I should be sleeping...

I woke up ninety minutes early today, was dragging around 6:30...and now, I am wide awake. Tomorrow is going to suck.

I've spent the majority of my time tonight reading and writing. I was out of the office for Idaho + sick days last week. So, I'm playing catchup on some cases. In addition, tomorrow, I'm putting in a leave notice for Steamboat + extended stay. Thank goodness I work in a great office.

At the end of the work day, I entertained myself with visions of possible videos for RK's Love in Her Eyes. I hope they put the submissions on their website. I am dying to see what people produce for the contest.

Break from the Brauns...

Just for a second...

If you haven't seen Pineapple Express, go! I had such a good time at the movie. The movie won't win any awards, but James Franco and Seth Rogen are great.

Friday

Oh, man. Where did I leave off? Friday. I woke to an empty room and figured everyone was down the hall. Heather came in maybe a 1/2 hour later and I joined everyone in the Vegas room. We decided on a trip to Antonio's for lunch and then on to the show.

The weather was already looking iffy, but I was positive it would clear out. Um...not so much. Although, I will say it was nothing compared to the previous night's rain. Following lunch, we went back to the Northgate to gather supplies and ended up with a primo parking spot and did a little tailgating. We made some young friends and had a music war of sorts with the surrounding cars.

We decided to go ahead and enter the show, just in time for the guitar pull. The set featured Robert Earl Keen, George DeVore, Micky, Willy and Muzzie, Cody Canada, and Randy. In a word, the set was perfect. If that's all the show would have consisted of, I would have returned home happy. REK won the crowd over with his "Village Inn" song, which he wrote the night before. He's a great entertainer that I've come to take for granted over time. One of the reasons I love this trip so much is that it renewed my love for his live shows. Willy wowed me with "Mirage". Honestly, he could have sung anything from Bulletproof and I would have loved it. Another plus was the smile on Cathy's face watching the set. She told me she'd heard Ally asking Tate that morning, "Dad, have you ever been this happy?" I'm glad they loved the trip (aside from the bugs). It was great to see them.

The Braun Family and George DeVore both had fabulous sets.

REK – still amazing

Reckless closed out the night. I love them more every show. They never disappoint me, they can leave off a favorite song, but replace with 3 or 4 others that more than make up for it. The set Friday night was fantastic; great mix of the old and new.

Time to shut it down, we cram in a few people over capacity into the car and drive down to Bux; ½ hour power hour!

Back to the Northgate for the fire…entertained by the play by play and “setlist”

Early night for me (330)

Odds and Ends: Dirt bike; whispering in the ear; circling, circling…target acquired; where is your beer?!; Elvira…(grrr); 44 seconds!

Wed-Thurs

While it's true that I came home bruised and injured, I think it was one of the best trips up to Challis so far. Final word on thumb - no break, "just" dislocated; ankle - sprain (still hurts like hell)... In addition to these injuries, I came home with a nice sinus infection that kept me home today.

Wednesday morning we arrive in Boise and pick up the rental car. First stop - Wally World for snacks and drinks...not a veggie or fruit purchased. This was probably a mistake. Second, we stop in at a pizza parlor for lunch. I played it safe with a Caesar salad and pizza. The other salad looked interesting. Suzy declares herself drunk as we leave. LOL! The drive to Stanley begins.

We stop a few times along the way. The scenery never grows old.

After checking into the cabin and setting our luggage down, we head to the Rod 'n' Gun...for 9 1/2 hours. Suzy and I school the rest of the bar at ping pong (hahaha). We play drinking games. We are, essentially, the only people in the place. We meet a river guide that refreshes our memory as to how to play "Asshole"/"President". He said he'd sit in for the first two rounds...um, yeah, he was still there when we left the place around 1:30 a.m. There was a foosball lesson in there somewhere, too. It's probably not a great thing when the bartender is very concerned as to how the group is getting home.

After hitting it hard the day before, I'm kinda dragging Thursday. I think we went to The Bakery for breakfast and then headed over so some could go canoing. Maureen and I went to the post office and stopped in on a few shops in Stanley. We also tracked the progress of the canoes along the road. We set up at at little spot on the side of the road at a bend in the river...then the rain came. We booked it back to pick up the other car and drove downstream to find the girls. The rain made for a slow, cold, wet ride back to Stanley.

It was the early afternoon when we began driving to Challis. We checked into Room 209, as usual. There are a few new decorations in the Northgate...and I wonder how long these will last. Vegas arrives and we head out to greet them, then it's off to Antonio's for an early dinner. Well, after a stop at the liquor store. We see most of the RRB boys walking down Main Street. Inside we find the Martins and have dinner. We walk out in time for RRB's soundcheck. Randy is singing "A Song for You" and it was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. I have a bit of it recorded, and now wish I'd recorded the whole thing. You'd only know it's RRB by the voice because we were still back on the far side of the street...but it's great just the same.


I have no idea how we passed the rest of the time before the street dance began. Giggly juice, maybe??? In my mind, the sun is set and Muzzie's on stage with Willy on the drums covered by the tarp due to the light rainfall. Then, the heavens open up and a steady downpour begins. RRB's set will be delayed.

Deeming it safe to go on, Muzzie introduces RRB and everything is going great. They sound great, the crowd's reaction is great...and then some jackass throws a bottle and hits Geoff. All I saw out of the corner of my eye was the light reflecting off the glass as the bottle was flying. Then, I saw his head. Randy stops the show, and they tend to Geoff. I was sure the night was over. I had no expectations for them to return to the stage. I have no idea why Erica, Shannon, and I end up behind the stage, but we watch as all the guys return to the stage. After a few songs in, the band retires and leaves Randy and Brady to finish up with an acoustic set.

We hang out for quite a while after the show. There are some ninja moves, more giggly juice, jager, flashlights, introductions, photos, and gawking…

I was just about to type that it was a fairly early night out by the fire, but that would be a lie. There were not many people out that night, but I think I made it in around 445.

*The video is being processed by youtube...just FYI!

home sweet home

I don't think I've ever been so glad to be back in the LBK. It's not that I wanted to leave; I just wanted my bed back.

Pics/recap from another unreal trip to Idaho coming up...

P.S. Amalia - the "sober section" was one fewer Saturday night

2 work days to go...

I'll finally get to see Cross Canadian Ragweed again...outside the confines of this state. I'll see a full RRB show, which I don't think I've seen since May. I'll see RK - sans the vodka veil (or attempt to, anyway). It will be good to see MMC with an enthusiastic crowd, too... and, of course, George DeVore. Is REK on the list this year? I remember having a great time during his set last year. He's another that I just don't get to see much more than once a year.

One of my favorite trips, with some of my favorite people. I can't wait to leave the office Tuesday!