esrosedotblog

I drove over the mountain this morning from San Diego.

It was beautiful. The sky was very clear and, for the first time this "fall", I saw Orion rising in the east.

It was about 5AM.

I had left at about 3AM. No matter what I do or how I do it, the drive takes three full hours.

Today, I stopped once to get a coffee at a Jack (the new name of Jack in the Box) for an iced coffee then once more in Anza at a K to take a pee. I should have done both at one spot but I didn't have to pee when I wanted the iced coffee.

Fast Food iced coffee is pre-made with a whitener and sweetener. Take it or leave it. I asked to take the whitener shit out (nicer than that) and they did. She told me it was very strong that way. She had that right. I was flying over the hills to Anza where I dumped it and made my own at the K. Where, incidentally, they have no public toilet but I used my charm to get into the employees lousy, dirty facility. Some employee relations. Some public relations. But it was Anza. Population 1000 and maybe that is big.

There was a guy in there who qualified as the resident geezer and we talked a little about life and the coffee and Anza. He was pretty good to bs with for a few minutes. Like a lot of older guys when I grew up. Resident wits in a half wit town. Didn't get out, had to stay, ironic and funny in a healthy way. I could be that guy.

I had a very good time at San Diego. Shelter Island. BayClub Hotel.

I got a room sort of over the pool so I could ogle nicely and still have a good balcony with some sun. If I really craned out to the right I could see the city skyline.

The place is the same under new ownership. Some corners have been cut. Nothing serious. Portion control at the buffet breakfast which used to be included with the room. It is a big layout. Now, I notice that it has become "complimentary". Next year I may have to pay. I now pay for the parking. Five bucks not bad.

The seal and the pelicans were still there along with the guys putting their boats in the water. A lot of lookers.

I also discovered the ice cream machine at the boat ramp. They have the old "nutty buddy" for two dollars. If you put in five dollars you get dollar coins out. They are small now. Worth the fun.

I got up and walked to one end of the island every day by 5AM, back for the "complimentary breakfast" by 630, a shower, into my room until the early makeup when I went for a walk up the other side of the island. It is a lot more walking than I am used to and I take it at a good clip. I have the shin splints some by the third day of it. Back to the bike tomorrow.

The show next door at the outside concert place was The Monkees on Monday. Keerist. The Monkees. I know for a fact that one of them is dead. The seventies.

I am in bed before the concerts start and the place is great for it. Pull the slider, pull the heavy curtains and I use ear plugs anyway and I never hear it.

I do listen to the sound check in the afternoon which is very interesting. In the Monkees case, the band running through the arrangements, one or two, without the singers. It is quite something. Stirring in a way. "Last train to Clarksville" with a really jazzy arrrangment. The pauses for the verses are there and so it goes and then stops and goes again. I first heard this with the band for Hall and Oates years ago and learned to listen closely. It is very good stuff, this music. And these musicians.

Wednesday night was Lyle Lovett who has a big band with him this year and has switched to a kind of straight on jazz band kind of pieces. The band was really great with a hot trumpeter. Lyle himself tried the stage out later and he was pretty good. He is so weird looking that somehow his artistry gets diverted. For me.

It was a good trip. I am really glad that I do this and I am glad that it is over.

Labels: travel, vacation