The set for a play about Frida Kahlo

Gable Mansion

Gable Mansion, Woodland 03-30-09

Today I went to the Gable Mansion to tune a piano. It was a square grand, so I couldn't tune it, so instead I got a personal tour from the owner. Amazing!

Me recording one of Rich O'Day's songs

Doolittle at "How to Succeed'

I played How to Succeed at Sac State again last night. John Doolittle was playing clarinet. I say, it's not a show unless John is playing.

Recording of Rich O'Day's songs

We recorded three of Rich's songs in his living room. 

Incident report from John Cabrillo school

This report filed by "Miguel" says: "Kaysea side to push me. then he pushed me. then I spit in his eye."

At the Davis Bike Church...

...they keep bike parts in an old card catalog. 

I found one of my cartoons translated into Spanish

This used to be Neptune's Table...

...a very old-fashioned restaurant. Then it was briefly a nightclub. I don't remember the name, except they had Al Green (yes, that one!) on opening night. Then it was the Highlander, featuring Scottish cuisine. (There can be only one.) Then it was a sushi place which thriftily kept the name Highlander. Now, it's quickly turning into a dump. 

They displayed Jack's head on the countertop...

...as a warning to the others.

Abandoned car dealership, Woodland, CA

Mind the knocker

My customer's doorknocker reminds me of the London Underground sign.

Yesterday we saw Avenue Q

... on its national tour. Unique and hilarious show. I strongly recommend that you listen to the soundtrack, too, because it's hard to catch all the words in performance. A truly funny song is a glorious thing, and this show has a lot of them. 

Our Peace Corps wine tasting fundraiser was a success...

we raised almost $600 which will be divided up among four projects. Above are Zande (she served in Peru) and Natalie (a Peace Corps groupie).

Next year we're going to raise even more money. 

View from the stage

I fixed a keyboard problem at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret today; I took this picture from the stage.

Amazing gift display for a baby shower

How to Succeed

I played piano for How to Succeed at Sac State today. I had never played in their theatre before... quite nice! The set, costumes, and acting were quite good. But the show lasted over three hours... how'd that happen? 

I wanted to see the Davis Bike Church before it closed

...but it's too late.

Boy's room

This customer works for a high-tech firm. He has a big rehearsal/home theatre room that has 40 speakers in it.

How to Succeed

I'm going to be subbing on piano for a couple of performances of How to Succeed... at Sac State. I've never done a show there... should be fun.

A chemistry lesson from Espresso Metro

A giant drawing mannequin...

...in a hammock at University Arts.

These are made from free range cats...

...who were raised on a vegetarian diet.

Peace Corps Day

On Peace Corps Day, Fran Kennedy wore a sari. I didn't have a costume. But I swear I'm going to get one by next year!

Formerly a shower...

...now a storage area. Very common in public schools.

Roberta and Martin, then and now

I'm doing a cabaret show with Roberta Mumm and Martin Beal. Above (from the wall of Roberta's studio): twenty years ago in Pirates of Penzance. Below, today. 

A former mailbox...

...screwed shut and painted over. I hope they removed all the mail first.

A chess set...

...based on the Napoleonic wars. Note Napoleon's poodle.

I found my dream girl...

...Dora Carrington, as portrayed by Emma Thompson in the movie Carrington. 

Sandwich board for a masseur

cool illustration of the body's meridians.

If you see three accordions together...

...do not attempt to take action but call the authorities immediately.

Mural at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek

Frank Warren

We went to Walnut Creek (1 hr. 20 min. drive) to see a show of Postsecret cards and hear a talk by the Postsecret founder, Frank Warren (here seen signing books). After his talk people came up to a microphone and told their secrets. Powerfully moving. 

Postsecret is a fascinating art project and social phenomenon, but it has also demonstrably saved hundreds and possibly thousands of lives. 

Me playing chess in college

Chris Harvey, my onetime dormmate, posted this picture. Note the homemade chess set. 

A Hohner concertina?

Hohner is famous for harmonicas, of course, which made me wonder if accordions, concertinas, and harmonicas all had the same kind of reeds inside.

Period piece

I showed my friend, a woman of a certain age, an article about a Leonardo self-portrait discovered in his Codex on the Flight of Birds. She remarked, "I used to use Codex, but I don't have to any more."

Another piano-related tragedy

This is the lyre (pedal frame) from a Yamaha grand at Sacramento City College. Kathleen Poe (head of the music department) watched in horror as a team of men rolled the piano into an obstacle and tore the lyre off. 

But as my grandmother used to say: there's hardly anything that a little marine-grade epoxy can't fix.