I haven't posted in a while, I know, and though I'd like to say it is because I am completely overwhelmed with work or fun or sex or whatever, I'm not. I've just been "not in the mood." But maybe this will make up for a few things.



First, let's talk about Provence. I was planning to go to Provence with two friends in the end of September, but that fell through. I don't really know why and I can't really get an answer out of the two of them, so I am still a little miffed about that. I could go by myself, but I wanted to rent a car and explore the small, difficult-to-access hilltowns in the region. If I go by myself I will have to either rent a car with no one to share expenses with or use the trains and buses, which is not as flexible nor as prone to exploration. I believe instead now I will go to Rome for a week or so, research my next book and see my friends.



Further complicating this scheme is that the band has a Big Gig in mid-October. We have been asked to play at the company's User Conference, an annual "Get the Customers Together and Teach Them Stuff About What They Bought" thing. It's two days long and the evening of the first day is devoted to a harbor cruise with "entertainment." We're the "entertainment" this year. We've been working on new songs and have modified lyrics to some of them to be in tune with the gathering. We think it's funny; I guess the audience will be the final judge. We'll be a 5 piece; Myself, Vinh, Mark, Bob and Ed. We hav already had requests for audience members to jam with us, so it could get extremely out of control.



As I was driving in to work the other day, the radio DJ announced he had a pair of tickets for Amy Mann available. I called in immediately and won! So, I went to the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach a week ago Tuesday to see her. It was a good show. Amy is not the most dynamic performer (and she looks quite uncomfortable up there, really), but the band was good and the crowd was into it so she played well and put on a good show.



Some friends of mine have come together for a "Beatles Singalong" night in Lake Arrowhead next weekend. I am looking forward to attending this; it should be really really great.



I guess the big news is that the Ancient Rome book is now ready to go. I finally finished it, and even though there were some niggling little technical problems, including a frontispiece photo that ended up being way more jaggy than it should be, I authorized it anyway. Enough is enough. It's editorially correct and so we're gonna run with it! I will do a second edition of it along with the first edition of the Early Christian Rome book early next year. I'll try to get up to speed on Quark Xpress too, so I don't need to hassle with Word anymore. I spammed all of my friends and few mere aquaintances with the news last night, so we'll see what happens. I updated the World Weary Traveler website to include the now-active web store link.



As far as NZ emigration is concerned, I received my evaluation report from the immigration liason service I had contacted. I provided them with some information about myself and my situation and they evaluated my qualifications. It turns out I scored 27 points out of a currently necessary 28. This is enough to allow me to immigrate on an "I'll find work when I get there" visa. I gained 2 points by virtue of claiming I'd bring $US100 000 with me. Were I to have a job offer in my field I'd gain 8 points. Were I to have a job offer of any kind, I'd gain 2 points. So, basically, if I wanted to immigrate tomorrow I could. Interesting... I need to visit the country before I make any more decisions, and I can't really do that until early next year because of the America's Cup competition being held there November-January. And, I'd like a particular friend to come along with me, which can't happen right now, either, so, Febuary or March of next year, then.

Haven't posted in a while.



I've been thinking about emigrating to New Zealand. I've even begun the process by filling out an unofficial evaluation form. It's an interesting idea, but man, NZ is a long way away from everywhere else.



I took the motorbike in for a long-delayed and much-needed service two weekends ago and it came back a totally different and great-running machine. It's a lot of fun to ride around on it. Maybe I don't need a new bike after all. Along those lines, I've been pondering a new car. I initially was considering a restored mid-60's Jaguar XKE, but I think those are out of my range. So, maybe a relateively recent used European sedan, now. Maybe even a Jaguar, but probably an Audi or maybe an MB or a BMW.



I've been playing a lot lately, too, which is fun and gratifying. We now have a gig on the harbor cruise boat the company rents out for the annual Users Conference. So, we'll see how that goes.



Finally, vacation is up in the air. I am not sure what I will be doing. I was planning on Provence but I suspect the people I was to go with will back out. In that case I might vacation in New Zealand. I'll know more in about a week.

I have had a very busy 6 days.



Tuesday, July 2, I was at 4th and B for Neil Finn, who was fantastic. A great show; the band was great and he was in a great, happy mood. Easily the best show I've seen him do (I've seen him 5 or 6 times).



Wednesday I came home and worked out. There is a new 24 Fitness Sport Club near me on Mission Blvd, so I don't have to go to Escondido any more. I saw it the other day but didn't go in it. My workout was at the crappy fitness club at El Camino Real and Vista Wy.



Thursday was July 4 and I went to Ed and Jerry's place. We had a good time, but the girls brought WAY too much food. It was obscene how much food they brought, and lot of it was desserts, which neither Jerry, Ed nor I wanted to eat. They brought all this crap and they didn't eat it either. We could see 3 different fireworks shows from the house; Sea World, Coronado and PB.



Friday I went to the Gypsy Den in Santa Ana for a "Songwriter's Roundabout" which is a show Joe does once a month or so to feature song writers. They play a few songs and he interviews them about their work and the creative process. It has the potential to be interesting but most of the guests aren't very articulate. They answer questions with "Yes" or "No" or "I don't know" type answers.



Saturday I was in Long Beach because Neil Finn was at a small record store playing a few songs and signing autographs. Unfortunately I didn't get anything signed because he had to leave before the line was finished. I was two people away from him when he had to leave. I shook his hand as he was leaving, though. I was disappointed.



Sunday I went over to Ed and Jerry's. We had lunch at a Mexican place, went over to a coffee house and then later we had dinner and watched a movie. We ended up talking about a lot of stuff. I now consider Jerry a friend, too, so we were burning (friendly insults) each other almost constantly, too, which was pretty funny.



Tonight I will finish up some chores, such as organizing the office and finishing my laundry and then I'll watch Tour de France at 9 PM.

Neil Finn tonight at 4th and B. Should be a good show. I am still waiting for stauts from my publisher vis=-a-vis the book. Maybe I'll know more next week. I'm getting anxious.

So, I had to suffer through another "party" gig yesterday. My drummer, Vinh, had a block party and the the organizer/neighbor wanted us to play. We were not prepared to play, since whenever we get together to goof on our instruments we are really just solving a puzzle - "How does this song go?"

We don't rehearse with a goal in mind, and in fact I play very little in between times when we do play. As a result I am not really prepared to sing a lot, have lyrics memorized, play the various intricacies the songs may require, you know, things like that. I have improved immenselyin the last year but I am nowhere near being able to just "wing it." But Vinh was nervous or something and didnt play his best and since we are the foundation of the band the band sounded kinda bad. I was embarrassed and decided to cut the set list short.

It was also a debacle in that at one point, while I was inside the house, the cops showed up because someone had complained about rock music (we had been warming up and goofing around a little bit, which actually sounded better than the actual "real" playing). So, Vinh turned the volume down. I went from in one moment having a nice loud, energetic sound to a wimpy one. And it struck me either really lame or pretty ironic that the band, consisting of giuys whose combined income was WELL over $500K a year (more like $750K, since my friend Ed was filling in for one of my regular guitarists) and here we are getting busted by the cops for playing at a party. In a $500K house, owned by the drummer.

Later my actions were misinterpreted by Ed, who told me the only way to get over my performance anxiety was to play in front of people and take my lumps. But, that wasn't the problem; I have no fear of performance; I have faced audiences of upwards of 200 people for presentations in the past. But, I was prepared, which is where the problem comes in for me with thie "let's play live" thing.

Ed wants to put together some sort of acoustic trio (Ed, Mark who is my "lead" guitarist and I) with an eye towards playing Sunday afternoon beach bar rave up type stuff. His concept is we'd all switch around between guitars, bass, and some percussion set and we'd all sing. It's OK with me; I'd like to do that.

I took the train today and was treated with a great evening ride home. The fog had halfway come in and the sun was shining through the cloud breaks, turning the ocean into alternate patches of turquoise and gray. Quite beautiful.

I was happy to be on the train enjoying it and happy to be here to enjoy it.

I Am A Criminal Suspect (Apparently)



I went shopping at a local nation-wide chain of computer stores today and was treated like a shoplifter because I walked out of the store after buying something.



I went shopping for some computer stuff today at a computer store. I don't usually go to this store but I was out and it was on my way back home. I found the time I needed and paid for it at the register. I was th eonly person at th register at the time. After completing the transaction I walked out f the exit. i was stopped by an employee who wanted to see my receipt. I asked him why. His response was, "Because that's what the sign says and it's my job."



We exchanged words and eventually I allowed him to examine my purchase and "let" me go.



I was torn - I needed this particular piece of equipment to get back online, but I wanted to go home and do my other chores (which I have been neglecting the last few weekends). I could have simply said, "Well, since you are treating me like a shoplifter I will return this item right now. You'll lose this sale and every potential sale in the future, too. Or you can assume I legitimately purchased this item and allow me to exit unharassed, just as almost every other store I've ever been in does." If the answer was "return it" then I would have had to drive down to the Apple store 30 miles away to buy a modem.



Guitar Center pulled this crap on me the last time I went there. I refused to allow him to look at my stuff and walked away. So, I now only go to local music stores for equipment and accessory purchases.



I'll not give this chain my business in the future, but I wish I had been able to make a freer (or maybe "more equal") choice this afternoon. I'll have to locate a store that stocks Apple products and use it from now on.