Oregon, Last Show

Today is the last day of the tour, except for tomorrow which is just a travel day, getting us back home to L.A. We're on highway 58 in Oregon, driving from McMinnville to Klamath Falls. It's so beautiful. It's sunny and warm and dry, and we get to spend hours driving through central Oregon, not on I-5 but the smaller roads, which takes us through many small towns, farmlands, easy hills and forrest. We drive by rivers and lakes and trailer park homes. Today we even - this is a first - had to ferry across a river! Hilarious. I have strong memories of this environment from my childhood. My family took a road trip from LA to Canada when I was in elementary school. And in the sixth grade, I did my state report on Oregon.

Where am I? I am in Seattle.

It seems as though, at about day 30, I lost track of my life and stopped blogging. From what I remember, I had a series of days (which seemed to extend to weeks) that took me away from my computer for one reason or another, and then I just got out of the blogging habit. I had a string of long and draining show days: I was either doing a show, driving, or trying to catch up on sleep. At the same time as all this, I reached a point of feeling really burnt out and tired of being on the road. I started to become irritable and I noticed that the whole band was becoming more moody. It makes sense, a month is a long time to be connected at the hip. I definitely reached some sort of tipping point, like my organization and habits all went out the window. My personal belongings - all stored in various bags, suitcases, bins - became scattered and disorganized, I lost track of what day and date it was, a couple of times for a split second I actually didn't know where I was.

Currently, I am in Seattle. Today we were supposed to play at a college just outside Portland but they canceled. I desperately need the day off, I have a long list of things to catch up on. I have three shows left, one in Washington and two in Oregon. I'll be home in L.A. in less than a week.

Walla Walla

Time off between Caldwell, ID (Boise) and Spokane. So we decided to spend it in Walla Walla. Ate dinner tonight at T. Maccarone's. Excellent Italian owned by a fabulous gay man.

Day 29: Tattoo

Matt's birthday tattoo. It says "Know Thyself" in Greek.

Photos from Willy P. mini-tour

Three days of rehearsals.

My sitar / toy piano corner. Willy asked me to play toy piano on one song, and it's the exact same toy piano I had as a little kid, which I still have at home.

Radio appearance on the local public station WUWM.
The next day, a live performance on the TV morning show "Morning Blend"

Our first time on TV.

The Hyatt in Milwaukee.

Soundcheck at The Pabst.

During the soundcheck at Martyr's in Chicago, I discovered this feather (about eight inches long) inside my pant leg along the seam near my calf. So strange! I can't figure out where it came from and how it got in my pants.

Onstage at Martyr's

The Apple Store in Chicago - awkward and corporate-y but kind of cool too.

NYC PHOTOS 3/3: People (for the most part)

Post-outdoor movie, trying to get a cab.

There was a third guy in the same outfit on the other side of the tree but you can't see him in this picture.

The same place with the pickle bowl which I can never remember the name of.


He drew me a map of how to get to the Williamsburg Bridge from where we were: Egg.
Baby Fuad.

Ruba and bread at Rockland Bakery.

Nigel

The best bathroom wall graffiti I've ever seen.

Day 28: Day off in Coeur D'Alene, ID

So needing a day off! Today I get to catch up with laundry, email, post office, fixing my blog entries, sykpeing to Kuwait, and even getting in a work out. All in a nice new Hampton Inn, in the setting of beautiful resort town Coeur D'Alene. It's gorgeous today although looks like a thunderstorn may be pending. And right across the street - a gold mine: Starbucks, a movie theater, and a Red Robin! There are actually good places to eat and real places to get coffee but it still feels like a boon to have these nearby, as opposed to a Waffle House and Subway.

Last night's show at North Idaho College was really good. We played in the gym and a bunch of people from the community showed up, not just students. Also a lot of people who saw us play in Spokane with Sara in the fall.