Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 - 8:17 a.m.
What a weekend of music and friends!(and food at "Twist" on Saturday night with Herbie and his wife Paulina followed by the Eric Idle show on Saturday)...It was sad to see everyone go but nice to know that I've got new friends in LA; wonderfully talented people pushing the envelope of creativity: gilli, Jen and Darren(sp?). Also had a chance to bond with fellow Chicago artist Herbie Gaines and his wife...all amazing people...
While I'm glad that my Chicago accent could provide fodder for a linguistic study of Chicago-ese, there are certain mannerisms and phraseologies that caught me off guard being decidedly LA (or maybe even Aussie!) in origin...
Gilli's show last night was great; there was a good crowd that appreciated her music. It was kinda cool, watching gilli and Jen; Eric Idle sitting next to me...
Took them all back to the hotel after a stop at McDonald's (Kinda a shame that they had to have McDonald's TWICE while in Chicago especially when there are all these great restaurants around.) We sang a couple of tunes together as we cruised through the city; I pulled up at the hotel for our final adieux's...Jen said, "Give me some love.." I turned around and she was kitty corner from me, too far away to hug or kiss, I looked at her for what seemed an eternity after which she pursed her lips and said, "muah!"
It's gotta be an LA thing...
I got out of the car, gave them all a hug one at a time starting with Darren (a guy after my own heart who does their sound-he loves a good drink and life...), then Jennifer with her black feather boa scarf and studded jeans... and they each exited the stage as it were, disappearing behind the tinted glass curtains of the hotel...and then gilli.. a hug that knocked my "outback" hat (as gilli called it)into the breeze which I caught as it came off, and an assurance from her that she's coming back next year with her band. Nonetheless, I should head to LA in March or April and do some serious giggage...
a smile (the wind gusted again and I pulled the brim of my hat down), she turned and was gone...
the stage was empty...
I climbed into the car and "Something so Strong" was playing on my CD. I pulled into traffic and cruised along the river, high from the weekend...
****
Gusting winds howled in the darkness as I clicked off the alarm. The dog was snuggled along side and I rolled out of bed. It's cold out-I just KNOW it... I crack open the door to let the dog out and see swirls of tiny flakes outside the door...
REAL COLD....
Winter has arrived (though it's supposed to be getting up to the 40's later this week again). It was 21F this morning with windchills of 7F.
I was joking with the LA folks about the weather here in Chicago and how bundled up they were, wearing gloves and all...I told them my gloves start coming out when the temps hit single digits WITHOUT the windchill...I pop on a knit cap and step outside...
Back to work - my "day job"; not a bad gig at this time-it let's me do my music...
I think about my friends on their bus ride to Fargo, then on to Edmonton...gonna miss them...
Listen to classical music and drive...
