Rambling On.

My new favorite Breakfast spot: Eggies, Fulton near Arden Way, Sacto.

Yep as the caption says, I have a new favorite coffee shop/breakfast spot.  Kind of nondescript on the outside, but inside it's a typical 60's style coffee shop.  I had breakfast there yesterday (6/02/12); awfully good bacon and eggs, home fries and biscuits.  It's an authentic local's hangout and people were very friendly.  One couple even moved their car so I would have more room to park.  Certainly worth a trip back - but in reality I can (should!) only eat like that once per month. 

Back on May 20th we had a solar eclipse that was "visible" here in Sacto - i.e. visible with special glasses, etc.  I took a walk down by the river and snapped a few shots.  You really didn't see much of anything that was dramatically different, but on what normally would have been a bright sunny afternoon, the light had that odd reddish eclipsey quality, know what I mean?

Eclipse Shadow Boy

You Are Here, and the Sun is Going Away.

Eclipse Frolicers

Post Ecliptic Sunset

The following week on Thursday, I took a special exam required to transfer into my new job.  It is a three hour test consisting of some basic statistics, mathematical analysis, and organization skills.  It is a pass/fail test and I did well enough to pass - 70% or better.  I tried to get some extra info out of the person who called with the results, but the most I could get out of her was that I did "very well." Whatever....

I made it home for the long Memorial Day weekend (May 26 -28).  Justine was busy hanging a show of Art by her students, and I helped out a little with that.  We got a preview of her soon-to-be released yearbook and it looked fabulous!   The trip back north last week was surprisingly traffic-free for a three day weekend.  Not much to mention about the trip, but here's a few pix to share.  Sorry this first one is fuzzy, but it's a story that needs to be told:

only in Bakersfield.....

and... my new favorite Pit Stop on the 99:

Unfortunately, I now won't be able to get home until the end of June due to gigs and rehearsals. This weekend (June 2-3) I had a rehearsal down in Mtn View for G-Men.  Next weekend I have gigs with The Agency (Friday), Bond Girl (Saturday) and The West Sac community Orchestra (Sunday).  The following weekend is the G-Men Gig at Keenan Winery, then the next weekend Bond Girl will be playing a party for Andy, the guitar player.  Busy-busy-busy.  Then finally... HOME on Monday June 28 for a two week vacation while Mia is in LA.  That'll have been a long time runnin'.

In the meantime, Justine's yearbook has been released to the school.  Unfortunately there were several errors and omissions, and the parents involved are FURIOUS.  It is so sad to see this, after all the heart and soul that Justine poured into the project.  To have it end in such vitriol is so disheartening.  I feel so bad for her and what she is enduring.  I wish I was there to give support.

Last week I was in a class that I will be teaching soon enough:  Basic Presentation Skills.  At the end of class each student (including me!) was to give a five minute presentation.  I chose to give a five minute bass lesson to a non-musician volunteer, culminating with the new student playing "Folsom Prison Blues" along with me as I played the uke and sang.  We were successful within the time limit and it was a hoot of a presentation (if I say so myself).  I think it will be talked about for some time to come.  Other presentation subjects included a few different recipes, How to do exercises at your desk, Instruction on how to dance The Electric Boogaloo, a Beatles history and a presentation on Women's Pro Football. Apparently the Sacramento Sirens are the top of the heap.  Who Knew? At least not me.

I seem to have some new neighbors on Hallmark.  Another RV has shown up and is making the same rounds as I am:  sleeping nights on Hallmark, then moving in the morning to the "cul de sac" at the end of Ethan.  They seem to be mirroring my movements - which is a bit maddening.  But, hey, the streets are open to all.  I know there is at least one woman, three (maybe more) dogs, and possibly a man all living in an RV which is just a tad larger than mine.   The woman did make some contact with me today, calling out and mentioning that my (infamous) brake light was out.  I appreciated that, thanked her and later worked on it.  I THINK it is fixed now.  The socket holding the light was a bit loose so contact was intermittent.  I tightened that up so now hopefully all is well.  Hopefully.... 'cuz we know what might happen if that light is not operating properly... grrrrrr.

Well, that's all the latest news and events.  Now off to prepare for the week to come....

Ramble on, rambler.