Stage 6: Commence

California Brazil Camp
Day 0

I was awoken at 4:27 am by the 100lb rottweiler belonging to one of my roommates. I couldn't go back to sleep. I spent the better part of yesterday preparing for an 12 day trip that will take me from Lakewood (bus to)

DIA (plane to)
see mom in San Francisco (car ride to)
Calistoga (car ride to)
Santa Rosa (shuttle to)
Brazil Camp in Cazadero for a week (car ride to)
Santa Rosa (shuttle to)
San Francisco (plane to)
San Diego (shuttle to)
Carlsbad (shuttle to)
Toxby's wedding in La Jolla (shuttle to)
Carlsbad (train to)
see brother in Oxnard (car ride to)
see Grandparents in Montebello (car ride to)
LAX (plane to)
Denver (bus to)
house sit for 3 weeks.

So... I had to plan accordingly for a week long camping/music trip a 10+ hr day of travel and a wedding immediately following said day of travel. Driving around Denver in a car with no AC when it's 98 degrees is miserable. Having to shop made it worse. I hate shopping. I HATE SHOPPING. I HATE SHOPPING. 60 year old Dude at Wal Mart wearing the green IZOD polo shirt with his collar popped while rocking the socks with sandals was a highlight. The amazingly cold thrift store off of Alameda in Lakewood was as well.

Yes, when I talk about shopping, I am not rolling into Macy's and Banana Republic... I'm popping in wally world and tha A. R. C.

It's now 7:34 am on Saturday, August 20th. I'm sitting at Denver International Airport, where I have been for the last hour and a half. It'll be another hour and a half til I leave. I am on my second night of less that 4 hours of sleep following an awesome gig with Adam Stern and The High Country Gentleman at The Westin Hotel in Avon, Colorado. I'm tired and a little delirious but excited to get to San Francisco to see my mom and eventually head to the 1st day of California Brazil Camp for an intensive week of Brazilian music and culture learnin. To quote my good friend Spanky, "He goin to learn that International music... ain't no Country 'n Western in International music"

View from the office at The Westin

I'm not sure if I have it in me this morning to be witty (not that I ever am witty) or descriptive or interesting. Heading to camp is another step in my journey of my... drum... journey? For the last three months I've been keeping a practice log of various exercises/techniques I've been working on; almost on a daily basis, when time allows. My playing has improved steadily. Obviously, the trip to New Orleans had a tremendous impact on my career and I'm thinking that CBC will do the same.

--Ha... a guy just passed in front of me at the airport wearing a shirt that said "I Love Bacon" People watching at the airport is fun.

I think I might be off the grid for a week or so but I'm going to attempt to document my experience at the camp and I might even try to write a review and submit it to Modern Drummer to be published. How Bout Them Plantains?

Okay, kiddos. Y'all enjoy yourselves and I'll be in touch soon.

Oh, went for a nice hike at Chicago Lakes in between Evergreen and Idaho Springs, close to the base entrance of Mt. Evans. I saws a bear. Here are some pics (not of the bear).