The Epic Haiku Post

Rockapella West Coast Road Trip

August 28-31, 2015

Epic Haiku Post

I promised Haiku

From our PellaPosse trip

Hope you enjoy it!

-------

August 29, 2015

rockapella says 

I've reached platinum status

Super fan upgrade

 · 

Road trips are more fun

With Pella posse members

Sherry had coffee. ‪

Ghirardelli chocolate and ice cream outlet. 

Didn't stop. Sadness 

Kinda scary when

The driver suddenly gasps

False alarm thank God 

Sunshine! Moonlight!

Singing along with the record

Practice for tonight 

"Taco Night" is on

Guacamole on her jeans

Sang this in my house 

Rental's a hybrid

How do you turn this thing off?

Oh duh push button

Great day for road trip. 

Nice clouds brilliant blue sky. 

Rest stop photo op‪

  

Driving in NorCal

Center lane equals slow lane

When did that happen?

"More than a woman" 

Scott Leonard singing Bee Gees. 

Auditory bliss.  

Much Rockapella 

in Sherry's playlist but we

Skip holiday songs

· 

Flirty flirty eyes

Rockin' out to new EP

No red lights to run 

  

Sherry is hungry

Yikes this could be dangerous

Not at Donner pass. 

Great memories here. 

Pegs glorified Ham & Eggs. 

Fred's not on Facebook

  

Chipotle for lunch

Finally here in Reno

Waiting for Cindy

"Why is it Aztec?"

Karla says, "It's Chipotle."

I feel so dumb now

At Reno airport. 

Waiting in the cell phone lot. 

Have you landed yet?

· 

And now we are three. 

"I can't contribute to this".

Cindy tells us lies. ‪

An outdoor venue 

Means seats in the sun for now

Hiding in the shade

· 

Like the Britt center. 

Where Kevin sang of the birds

 in the giant hedge 

  

Musical chairs time.

I'm taking the front row seat.

Bring on the Pella!!!!

Before the show must:

Figure out where Fred will be

So I can visit 

The opening act. 

The silver dollar chorus.

 A barbershop group‪ 

Barbersharp quartet

Easy for you to say that

Bananas plantains

The comstock Cowboys. 

This Western swing makes me want 

to get up and dance.

Johnny Cash let's sing

Can't hum with your mouth open

Ring of fire named Sue

Look up and we see 

Fred and Steven in the wings

Sherry and I smile ‪

Tally me banana 

The nice man just gave us some 

free barbershop fruit 

Action shots of Fred.

If he knows not of these pics

Is his soul stolen? 

One more Pella show. 

Such magical harmonies.

 How I love these guys.

----

August 30, 2015

· 

Only a teacher

Would find her escape thinking 

Up poems all day  ‪ 

Love the new EP

Makes the road trip much more fun

So this is Living ‬ 

Debriefed at Denny's

Sherry tries to write it down

Or we will forget 

Early morning walk

Hard to find motivation

We still rocked it, though.

On the hotel wall 

others would see trees but I 

see my initial‪

Glasses from Ryan. 

Orange shows my Jester pride. 

Thanks so much bass man

Diehard fans in front

See Steve start a video

We wave right on cue

· 

Bottom left corner

We just noticed video

PellaPusher waves

Goodbye to Reno

Dropping KP at airport

Napa valley bound

‪

Disappointed that

Weff has yet to write Haiku

Poem challenge fail ‪

 I'm not a poet.

I thought that you would know it.

Does it have to rhyme?

When taking Beg Girl

Back to her seat, remember:

The door may be locked

Second day in row

Hotel decor matches me

Curly redheads rock

This is the good life

And it's all you'll ever need

Love you FFE 

"How deep is your love" 

Rockapella's Scott Leonard, 

how we love his voice‪

We pass Nyack road

"Let's get away from it all"

Comes on. How perfect

I fly home today 

So you must help the posse

Write some more haikus 

Tentatively touch 

The door of bathroom stall

Is someone in there?

Friends waving goodbye 

Must write haikus without me 

What a great weekend  

Writing more haikus

I need a stenographer

Missing you, Karla!

gate B seventeen 

Please Mister Please is playing 

over in my head‪ 

· 

No third show for me

But this will get lots of play

In my classroom. Thanks 

Haikus are better

With Sherry as co-writer

We make a good team ‪ 

*So jealous of you

Been way too long since I've heard

Rockapella sing*

On board my flight home. 

Had much fun with my posse. 

Last haiku for me‪ 

Naan fortune teller

Where is good Indian food

Tell me what I like

Wished for food and wine

Yummy food, then wine tasting

Napa is my jam.

Wine before Pella

Sherry, is this really wise?

Danger looms ahead.

Now a drunk haiku

Anyone want a peanut?

I think I've lost it.

 · 

City Winery

Used to be Opera House

Still Rockapella

Hug the guys for me

All travel safe tomorrow 

Hi to Fred of course

Drunk girls at the show

Emerald and amethyst

Cathy not a gem

*Cindy (no name) is

speaking in haiku, you see

I do not know why.*

Accepted challenge 

Rockapella Road Trip Posts

We have lost our minds.

Headed to bed now

Hope to see many haikus

When I wake in morn'

Not done drinking yet
Applebee's Angry Orchard
Can't help it. Thirsty.

----

August 31, 2015

Little Red Corvette

Rockapella debuted song

Miss Paper Doll, though.

Wake up and it's dark

But Cindy left hours ago

She took her olives

Olives are my treat

Stuffed with almonds and yummy

But not for breakfast

*Celebration treat

Special times with special friends

Olives with candles*

Zombie Jamboree

Calvin didn't want to sing

Watch Sherry next time!

Meet and Greet Moment:

Jeff said Zombie's like VD

Keeps on coming back.

Why are legs so sore

Only a 5K Sunday

Oh, weights day before

Fun posse weekend

Laughs and good times but now work

The end of the road 

Hotel check out time

Dude didn't hold door open

Chivalry is dead.

Wendy pets a dog

Croissants and macarons. YUM!

Happiness abounds.

Garden of veggies

Fancy food for fancy folks

Someday, French Laundry.

Rental car return

Trunk wouldn't open again.

How embarrassing.

‪ 

Landed in LA,

But waiting on the tarmac.

Incredibly bored. 

Hope you all enjoyed

‪#‎PellaPossePoetry‬

It was fun to write.

‪#‎roadtriphaiku‬ done

 Missing Pella already.

Until next time, Boys.

Don't know how to stop

Counting five seven and five

Help! I'm addicted.

One more for the road -- 

My posse is amazing.

Thank you for the smiles!

Five...Seven...Five

___________________

Legend:

Collaboration

KP

Sher

Cindy

Wendy

*people not on trip*

Wine, Dine and Pella Divine

Rockapella West Coast Road Trip

Days 3 & 4 -- August 30-31, 2015

City Winery

Napa, CA

I woke up early to meet up with Cindy and walk a 5K.  We had originally intended on walking a 10K, but reality set in, and we figured that would take too long, so we did a 5.  We didn't really have anything mapped out, just walked around the nearby parking lots, and around a duck pond and over a bridge, and then we couldn't find the bridge that we thought we saw before.  

That there in the distance was not a footbridge

Well, at least we didn't get lost.  We did see the end of a sidewalk and wondered if anyone would just stop there and not know what to do.  Not us, though.  We're rebels.  We saw a Sweet Frog yogurt shop and decided to freak out Linda and send her a picture.

Never closed.  Or Open.

FFE had uploaded on instagram the video that he was showing us last night.  Last night, I didn't notice that YOU CAN SEE US in the audience, waving at the camera!   OMG, that was awesome!  https://instagram.com/p/7AJa-5PXNM/ We are in the lower left corner as Calvin takes the stage.  You can see me leaning over to KP to tell her about the video, and then we wave to the iPhone.  We're famous in our own minds.

Once everyone was showered and ready to go, we met downstairs in the lobby, where they had free Starbucks available.  Well, OK, then!  I wanted the flavor that had run out, so while we were waiting, we asked Ron the hotel desk manager to take a picture of us.   I also took a picture of the coffee because there were choices, and there were 4....wait, there are 5 Pella.  I don't know, I was delirious.  Not too delirious to drive, though!  But first:  Target, of course!  Cindy wanted to see if they had the new Pumpkin Spice Latte m&ms, and they did.  I enjoyed them.  KP doesn't like pumpkin, so she bought granola bars or whatevs.  Cindy liked the m&ms, too, then later made me take all of the rest.  Yes, she made me do it.  

Coffee Choices

Our drive to Sacramento was filled with more haiku and giggling.  KP had to go home, so we dropped her off at SMF, then I took Cindy took the rental car building.  She had an early flight in the morning and decided to drive herself to the airport.  I headed on over to Napa.  There was lots of traffic.  I imagined the guys sitting in the same traffic.  They probably weren't listening to the same music as me, though.  I don't know how I'd react if I saw them in the next car, but I looked for them.  Because I can't be mortified enough by what I look like sitting in a car in traffic in the heat.  

When I arrived in Napa, it felt like home.  I love Napa.  When I arrived at the hotel, Weff was out having lunch, so I decided to wait for Cindy.  She had already eaten when she arrived, but she was kind enough to drive me wherever so that I could get some food and some wine, preferably in the same place.  We went to a fancy winery that only gave tastings by appointment, and they pretty much ignored us, so we decided to leave instead of ask any questions.

Fancy Grapes

Fancy Winery

 I was trying to find the former Rubicon winery (they keep changing the name), but we couldn't find it because my phone kept freezing.  We ended up at V Sattui winery, because they had a deli.  I made Cindy wait a couple of minutes so that I could check into the next day's flight, and then we walked to the deli.

Well, that was not just some ordinary deli!  It was full of wonderful cheeses and food and olive oils and bread and just too much yumminess for us.  I ordered an Arancini (risotto ball) and brussels sprouts sauteed with balsamic vinegar and bacon.  Cindy got some olives stuffed with almond.  We sat down in the shade on a bench outside in the picnic area.  It was quite relaxing.  I wanted Rockapella to just come over and sing for us there.  But first, wine!  

Cheers!

Yes, Sherry did some wine tasting.  It was a great deal at 6 tastes for $15.00.  It was an even better deal when I actually had 10 tastes because Dulce could tell that we had similar tastes and kept recommending stuff that wasn't on the tasting list.  Thank you, Dulce, my Sweet!

Cute Bottle

Wines marked with an asterisk are my favorites of the day.  

• 2014 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
• 2014 Reserve Carsi Sauvignon Blanc* -- Mmm... salad-y.
• 2014 Dancing Egg Riesling
• 2014 Dry Gewurtztraminer
• 2014 Dry Muscat
• 2014 Gamay Rouge
• 2012 Entanglement
• 2014 Moscato Frizzante*  -- Cindy bought a case of this, which allowed her membership into the wine club.  It's really good.  I hope I get to go to the tasting room with her.
• 2014 Muscat
• Angelica* -- This was my favorite.  It's made from the muscat grape (my favorite), and is enhanced with brandy.  Tastes like a white port.  I need to order me some of this.

Sweet Dulce, New Member Cindy and Tipsy Sher 

So, yeah, I was REALLY tipsy after all of that wine.  Thank goodness Cindy was driving!  We hit a bit of traffic, which meant that we had to make a pit stop for me because I couldn't wait any longer.  So I thanked the gas station people by buying Cool Ranch Doritos, and gave them to Weff when we returned to the hotel.  I ate the rest of my food before getting ready so that I wouldn't be ridiculously drunk when we got to the venue.  I wasn't sure if I'd drink more there, because, well, this is Napa! I showed the video of KP and I waving to the camera in Reno, because Rockapella had posted the full video on Facebook: 

View and sounds from back stage in Reno.

Posted by Rockapella on Sunday, August 30, 2015

Somehow, I tore myself away from watching the video 4000 more times.  The four of us went to City Winery together, which is good because I was included on Weff's ticket.  I was feeling weird because I didn't have my own individual ticket, but at least I got inside.  The old lobby downstairs is now a restaurant.  I miss our old meet and greet area.  I saw a guy that looked really familiar to me, and he saw me staring at him.  I told him he looked familiar, and he gave me a resume of shows that he's been in, but I hadn't seen any of them.  We went upstairs and were seated at our table, which was right next to the stage.  RIGHT NEXT to it.  Like, I was touching the stage.  Cindy ordered food, and I decided not to get more alcohol, so I ordered coffee.  It came with a cute little milk bottle!  Jeff reminded me that I would not have received such on the cruise.  The server looked like someone I sang with in choir, and when I said his name, Wendy said that she knew somebody with the same name.  The server wasn't the guy I know, though.  Neither is Wendy's friend.  Our table numbers were marked with wine bottles, and Jeff looked for number 18 so that he could take a picture with it for "Edge of 18", but the one bottle without a number was at table 18.  That's just crazy.  There weren't many people in the house.  It was weird.  But hey, at least Rockapella was there.

No, not that number is not how many glasses of wine I drank!

SUN BROTHERS OF TAMPA BAY

L-O-V-E

CSL4:  You've all got some sunshine out here, as well as some lovely traffic.

See?  They could have been on that freeway with me!

Change The World

RC was acting like he was flying at the end, and almost ran into the microphone stand.

ROCKAPELLA

Rock Around The Clock

CSL4 was getting dizzy with all of the head banging.

Jailhouse Rock

CSL4 is wearing my tie!  

CSL4:  We drove from Reno.  What a lovely drive that was.  We're familiar with the ups and downs and the sitting on the highways of Northern California.  

When the crowd cheered, CSL4 called us a "small but mighty crowd".

Dancing In The Streets

I felt like FFE was going to kick me in the face.  RC did the Robot for his solo, and he was quite impressed with himself.  FFE told him, "That was great, Bro."

Just My Imagination / Imagine

RC stopped the intro because he was out of breath.  "Sorry, the dancing!"

Satisfaction / Cupid

CSL4 regarding FFE's EP:  It is fantastic.  He's going to be a famous country star.  We're going to be looking for a job opening soon.  (He said that last sentence while looking straight at me.  Yes, he remembered what I asked him the night before.  Yes, he loves to torture me.  I just stared at him because I didn't want my tipsy mouth to say anything out loud, like, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!?").  

My Cherie Amour

Sherry to Cindy:  Tear!

While CSL4 was talking, FFE waved at JeffEvs.  CSL4 asked what was going on.  FFE said that he was just saying hi to JeffEvs.  So CSL4 said "Hi, Jeff!"  OMG, now the show is being stopped for the posse!  Wendy said later that, at this rate, JeffEvs would be on stage before her.  

CSL4 regarding RC:  Sometimes my little girly head can't even hear what you're saying, but I know it feels goooood.

Regarding JT:  Anything that requires math of, you know, double digits...Jeff does it.

Then instead of singing MY song in a venue that would have been perfect for an FFE sighting, CSL4 announced that they were learning a new song while in the car on the way to Napa.  He asked if we would like them to share it, and warned us that it was their first time.

Little Red Corvette / Born To Be Wild

That sounded really good.  I'm familiar with the arrangement because I'm a Sun Bros subscriber, and it was one of the downloads.  So now Cal is Prince!  I miss my FFE, though.  JeffEvs later asked CSL4 if my song was being phased out, and CSL4 said "probably half of the time".  Sadness.  It's like when they phased out "California Sad-Eyed Girl".  Excuse me while I go mourn that song again.

Blame It On The Boogie

Seriously, I want to touch their shoes every time they walk to the edge of the stage.

CSL4 felt a connection with Emerald.  She's from Boston and San Francisco, and she was lively!  Lively and loud.  Wow, she was excited.  Most likely drunk, too, which made me really glad that I had calmed down and didn't drink anymore during the show.  She works for Apple.  CSL4 told her that he dropped his iPhone and it broke.  She asked if he wanted her to get a new one for her. 

Stand By Me

Emerald:  Ooh, it's like karaoke!

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

Cal was so cute, waving to her to get her attention.  She really had fun out there, which was good because our crowd was so small and it energized the place.  

Thrift Shop / Celebrate

Emerald's friend, Kathy, got all excited when CSL4 talked about Carmen SanDiego, because she's a huge fan of the show.

CSL4:  Kathy.  Shouldn't you be, like, "Amethyst" or something?   

He said "amethyst" with a bit of a lisp and it was hilarious.

Carmen

JT stopped his solo.  "EM!"

Encore

A*Punk

Used Ta Be My Girl

CSL4:  We'll be back in your state (I told him November), flying in by helicopter.

Somebody yelled out "Zombie!"

CSL4:  Somebody said Zombie, but um, no.  (To Calvin): You don't know it, do you?  (To RC): Do you?  OK!

Zombie Jamboree

RC sounds like Bear when he does the "Manhattan!" spiel.  Calvin!!!  Do the moves, Calvin! FFE came in too early at one point, and CSL4 reacted by tripping.  They're so damn funny and cute.  It was great to hear Zombie again.

Up On The Roof / Wonderful World

Yay -- off mic again. Aaahhhh, Pella.

Robin came over and chatted with us.  We still had hummus that we hadn't finished, so when FFE arrived in the audience area, I loudly said his name and offered him some, but he had already eaten his share.  Just trying to keep him happy.  

The guy that I recognized earlier turned out to be the guy in Reno that saw me celebrating my 100th show.  See?  I knew I had met him before!  How dare he not remember me.

Meet and Greet

Calvin said that when asked if he knew "Zombie", he said, "No."  He was outvoted, though.  I said that I noticed that he couldn't do the choreography, and he said that he was too busy trying to remember the words.  I told him he needs to watch me next time for the choreography.  Maybe I should just go up there next time.  Not.  He said that he'd only done the song once before, and it was on Hallowe'en.  He asked me what I made for them, and I said that the cake was called "Blueberry Boy Bait".  He said, "Blueberry Boy Bake?  Oh, yeah, that was a good bake!"  I said, "No, I said, 'bait'. As in fishing and you put it on a hook."  He figured it out and said, "Oh, then you really reeled me in!  I was there!" and gave me a huge hug.  So cute.  He said that he'd like to order some.  "I'll fly out.  I have a birthday coming up."  When we asked when, he said, "Next year.  March 16."  Maybe I'll have him do a house concert and I'll bake him anything he wants.  He's excited because he'll be going to Vegas for the first time when they have their show there in December.  Ryan told him that he would be overwhelmed and would need to have a plan.  Calvin told Ryan that he knew Ryan would have a plan, and he was going to follow him around. 

Ryan said that they had fun at Hussong's the previous night in Reno.  They used to hang out there a lot because of the margaritas, which, apparently, the owner invented while back in Mexico.  He and Steve would be there at noon and stay all day.  Calvin said that he didn't go to Hussong's because of the line dancing.  Ryan said that Calvin didn't go because he'd have one margarita and go to bed.  Weff showed him a picture of their dog, Barney.   

Em's friend notAmethyst told Scott that he was her favorite.  His response, "Oh, finally!"  Yeah, right!  I told him that he was wearing my favorite tie tonight, and he said, "It's my favorite, too."  Wendy asked how he liked the renovated venue.  He said that he liked that without the carpet, the sound isn't so muffled.  But Fred doesn't like it.  He likes the equipment, but not the sound, as it's not as consistent as it used to be.  Wendy mentioned that they weren't staying in one place for very long during this trip.  He said they were on a "surgical strike...we go in, sing, and leave."  Robin said that the small crowds were due to the fact that there was no advertising for their show.  In fact, if you look at the list of shows that they posted in the restrooms, Rockapella is not listed.  I don't know what's up with that.  Maybe they finalized the booking late?  Scott didn't understand that.  I remember that Wendy and I weren't even sure that they were going to play Napa because it wasn't listed at first, but we held tight, and there they were.  I really wasn't crazy about the new set-up.  I miss the old theater-style seating, and the non-interruption of servers.  They weren't distracting us that much, but I really just want to sit and watch a show without all of that other stuff going on.  Wendy received an email after we got home that said that City Winery Napa will be closing its doors for good due to low attendance.  Well, maybe you should have ADVERTISED correctly!  Sigh.  I would like to think that they would just sell it to the city so that they can return it to its former glory, but that would take money.  I hope that wasn't the last time we see Rockapella there, because I do love that building, and they're my favorite excuse to go to Napa.  We have many, many great memories in the Napa Valley Opera House.

Steve got the guys together so that we could finally get a group picture.  I can't believe that this was the first one all weekend where we could include all of the guys.  

All Smiles

Steve:  I heard you had a little glass of wine today.  (I tagged him in the haiku.  APPARENTLY, he noticed).
Sher:  Six.  I paid $15.00 for six, and I ended up getting ten.
Steve:  I should have gone with you!
Sher:  Yeah, you really need to listen to me.
I mean, really, he does.  All they did was hang out at the hotel, when they could have been partying with us.  Note to FFE:  get a hold of Sherry whenever you know she's in the same town.  She knows how to have a good time without getting into too much trouble.  
Cindy asked him if he knew that Venus is Cupid's mom. 
Steve:  Oh, the mother and the daughter.
Sher:  Actually, Cupid's a boy.
Steve:  Oh (laughs).  OK, mother and son.
He told me to email him a reminder for the song that I requested, and I told him we'd see him in November, when I bring him his surprise.  His eyes got all wide and he said, "Surprise?!" 

We talked to Jeff briefly as we were leaving.  He was closing up the merchandise bag.  We told him that we loved seeing Zombie again, and he said that the guys said, "We need to learn Zombie" after that performance.  
JT:  Zombie is like a venereal disease.  It just keeps popping back up.  Not that I would know anything about that.
I laughed and laughed.  I don't know how, but JT never ceases to surprise me with that mouth of his (drumming and otherwise).

We walked back to the parking structure and talked to Robin for awhile before we went to Applebee's.  I saw the ad for Angry Orchard and ordered a bottle because I lied before and wasn't actually done drinking.  We then went back to the hotel and said goodbye to Cindy because she was going to leave really early in the morning, and I needed to sleep.

Angry Orchard and Sher

The next morning, Weff and I went to Yountville for yumminess at Bouchon Bakery.

Mmmm....Hazelnut Macaron

 Someone in line had a dog, and she tied him to a bench outside while she went inside.  He started whining, so Wendy walked over to him to comfort him.  He seemed to like that.  After we ate our goodies, we took a walk so that Wendy could get a picture in front of The French Laundry.  We saw their garden across the street and realized that we walk  through it, so we perused the vegetation.  

Little tiny eggplant in JeffEvs' man hand

They also had chickens!  The sunflowers were gorgeous, the bees were buzzing, the heat was blazing, and we had a nice, relaxing time.  After a little pit stop near where our car was parked, we went back to the hotel so that I could get my car.

I drove to the airport, got gas for the car, and parked at the rental car return.  OMG, it took me at least 15 tries before I could get that stupid trunk open!  It was embarrassing.  I finally got out of there and made my way to the airport.  I was able to see Weff for a few minutes before they boarded their flight, then I waited for my own.  My flight was relaxing, and I got a few nice pictures of LA from my window seat.  

So Cal Coastline

Since I arrived at rush hour, I had to wait a really long time to catch the FlyAway (I had just missed one).  But you know, it just gave me more time to think of haiku to end the trip.  I felt beat up when I got home because of all of the waiting, but I was home and safe.

Sad, though.  I always get sad when I get home from a Rockapella weekend like this, because of that withdrawal.  I was actually emotional for about a week afterward.  Maybe it was hormones.  Maybe it was haiku withdrawal.  I don't know.  We've since decided that all Pella road trips together must have haiku, so that can be remedied in November.  :)

Until next time, boys!  Thank you for the awesome shows and the time you spent talking to us!  Loving you.

I Shot Some Pics in Reno

Rockapella West Coast Road Trip

Day 2 -- Saturday, August 29, 2015

Reno Sings Under the Stars II

Hawkins Amphitheatre Bartley Ranch

Reno, NV

After somewhat of a restful night's sleep, KP and I got ready for the next leg of our road trip.  She sat out on our balcony for a bit, and I wanted to get a picture of us there in the daylight.

Our beautiful view of the Jack in the Box drive thru

We met up with Weff and went downstairs for our free hotel breakfast.  I was annoyed by the color scheme of the new renovation.  Yeah, I'm crazy.  The room just doesn't feel the same without eating breakfast with FFE.  We said our goodbyes to Weff for the day, and went to the car.  I don't know what was up with this car, but we had trouble opening the trunk.  I couldn't figure out how to unlock it, and KP was able to open it right away.  Whatevs.  She then noticed my license plate, and said, "How did you manage to get a license plate that was only one letter off of 'FFE'?"  I hadn't even noticed.  (The letters of the license plate were "FGE").  As we were leaving our hotel room earlier, I told KP about the cool Haiku door signs at our hotel in Indianapolis.  We decided that we should document the rest of our road trip with Haiku.  

We drove to Reno and listened to the songs on my iPod.  Lots and lots of Pella-centric songs came up, even though it was on shuffle, and I swear that I have more than just Rockapella on there.  We thought up a lot of haiku.  A LOT.  Some of them made the cut, and they will be posted on a separate trip report.  You're looking forward to it already, aren't you?  Well, you have more to read here, so please sit tight.  At one point, we stopped at a rest area.  One of the trash cans was originally labeled something about "glass", but somebody scratched off the "gl", so it made for a funny comment.  When we arrived in Reno, we had a little bit of time before Cindy's flight was due to arrive, so we had lunch at Chipotle.  We tried to go to Peg's Glorified Ham and Eggs to reminisce about our morning with Fred, but they had just closed before we arrived.  Bummer.

We went to the cell phone lot at the airport and waited for Cindy to get off of the plane.  Then she got off of the plane but we missed each other and we had to circle around the airport.  Twice.  When she finally got into the car, "Didn't I Blow Your Mind" by Jordan Knight/NKOTB was playing.  (I told you there was more than Pella on there).  The trouble is that the "r Mind" was not showing on the display, so Cindy wondered what the heck car she had just joined.  It was hilarious.  We drove to the hotel and checked in, then got ready for the show.  

Since the show was General Admission, we wanted to get there early to reserve our seats.  A bunch of people were already in line.  When I went to pick up my ticket, they had my name listed twice, each with 1 ticket.  I don't remember buying more than 1.  So I took both, because I didn't see Cindy's name and wanted this one just in case.   When Cindy went into the same line, they told her that she wasn't listed.  Then they tried to help somebody else, leaving her just standing there.  She complained about that and they finally helped her and gave her a ticket.  This event is on its second year, but they need to get faster people to help with the ticket process, and also make it so that they're more aware of what to do.  I felt like I was at that voting polls because I told one person my name, she said it out loud, told the other lady, and then I got the ticket. 

There were a lot of seats that were reserved for people, so I was glad that we arrived early.  We found 3 seats in the second row, but KP and I eventually moved to the 2 seats in front of us because Cindy didn't mind sitting apart from us.  Thanks, Cindy!  Before the first group performed, I walked over to get some water and maybe a drink.  The water was being sold separately from the alcohol, so I had to stand in the long food truck line even though I didn't want their food.  I wish they would have had other choices there, but I guess I'm totally spoiled because I'm used to going to food truck events that have variety.  Little did I know that Pella was in the trailer about 20 feet away from me, getting ready for the show.  I was wondering where they were, but didn't know they were in there.  It's good I didn't know, or I might not have gone in to watch the other 2 acts.  :)

SILVER DOLLAR CHORUS

This is an award-winning community barbershop group of about 20-25 guys of all ages.  I heard them singing the Star-Spangled Banner while I was in line for water.  It was good, as well as the US Armed Forces Medley.  When I finally got back into the amphitheatre, I was subjected to the same talking that KP and Cindy had to endure while I was gone.  The emcee was OK and I laughed, but I don't think that he needed to introduce every single song and tell jokes for each one.  Maybe they could have him there to stretch a show, but there were 3 acts tonight, and each one did more than 5 songs, and they just didn't need the additional prattle.  I did enjoy the singing, but he was a bit much.  Probably my favorite pieces were the Calypso medley (they had bananas, they had a guy dressed as a banana, how could I not love this?!)...and How Great Thou Art, which was my grandfather's favorite hymn.  They had 2 people doing sign language for this one.  I don't know why they didn't do that for all of the songs, though.

See the bananas?

While they were singing, Fred arrived.  KP and I were pretty much distracted from that point on....but still, bananas!  Also, the emcee guy had a shark.  It reminded me of the Velvet Knights drum corps that liked to spoof stuff, and at one point had a shark on the field.  Emcee guy: "Do whatever you want to do to my banana."  Well, OK, then!

DAVID JOHN AND THE COMSTOCK COWBOYS

Emcee guy told us check out the pedal steel guitar, saying, "If you had a seizure, you could really kick some ass with that thing."

They played some Johnny Cash, which included "Folsom Prison Blues".  Well, how can you not, when you're in Reno, and one of the lines is "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die"?  But, but....Rockapella has that song in their repertoire now, so I wondered if we'd hear it twice tonight.  I couldn't help but repeatedly say to KP:  "CHOO CHOOOOO!!!"  Then they played an awesome version of "Orange Blossom Special" (with 2 fiddlers), and I about lost my mind, again saying "CHOO CHOOOOOO!!!!"  The band was quite talented, and the emcee wasn't talking anymore, so we were happy.  We were still being impatient about seeing Pella, but we were happy.

Singing Cowboys

During their show, various Pella members came to the stage wings to watch a little bit.  Steve waved at us.  We happily waved back.  HI!!!

Members of the Silver Dollar Chorus were handing out free bananas.  Of course I wanted one, and got all excited when we each got one.  It would have been more awesome if the guy was dressed as Bananaman, but hmmm...maybe it would have been more awkward.  Never mind.

I'm sorry, I can't hear you.  I have a banana in my ear.

We needed to take a picture of Cindy for Geo, and the guy sitting next to Cindy overheard us and offered to help.  I mean, I was ready to just call FFE over to do it because everything was taking so long, but this was more appropriate.  

He's Still The Man

Awards and thank yous happened.  I was concerned when they thanked someone whom couldn't really walk very well, and they were waiting for him to get to the stage, and then one of the speakers got knocked over.  We wondered if Fred was freaking out.  Then the Raffle Disaster happened.  KP decided that these folks were not Catholic, because they couldn't use the raffle drum properly.  Tickets fell to the floor.  It was just a mess, and there were a lot of prizes that we didn't care about because they were all from local businesses, so we'd need to come back to redeem them.  So that took forever.  We were 20 minutes past the time that Rockapella was supposed to take the stage.  AUGH!  They are your headliner, and you're making them wait that long?  WTF?


ROCKAPELLA

Finally!  The emcee said that they would have "buckets of catchy songs".  Buckets.  I need to buy a bucket for them one day, and ask that they place all of their catchy songs in it.

Rock Around The Clock
FFE's hair was very spiky today.

Rockin Us

Jailhouse Rock
APPARENTLY, CSL4 did not get the white shirt memo.  I couldn't help but be happy when they did Folsom Prison Blues, and said, "Choo CHOOOO!!!"  FFE got a big cheer when he sang that he shot a man in Reno.
CSL4:  Reno is our second home now.  We started the first 17 months of the year here.  (Did he say "weeks"?  I wrote down "months".  Either way, that's longer than they were here).  We know the path to the 7-11, the path to the Walgreen's...

Dancing In The Streets
Hi, Steve!  

Just My Imagination / Imagine
The crowd really likes Calvin's voice.  I don't blame them a bit.

"Two...Four...Twenty!"

Satisfaction
We noted that there were no doors to lock and hinder FFE from doing his audience participation bit.  While he was out there, one guy got up to go to the restroom, and FFE started to follow him out, ending up right in front of us.  We just laughed at him.  

CSL4:  Steve has a new CD, his first country-rock crossover CD.  He played it for us today and I tell you, it's OK! 

CSL4:  Our CD is available in the lobby...  We don't like to go too far out on a limb with the titles of our albums.

My Cherie Amour
I tell you, they really love Calvin here.  Huge applause when he began the song.

CSL4:  Ryan has those low tones...they just rumble me nicely.  Jeff has been our vocal percussionist for over 20 years.  He started in utero. Anything that requires any degree of intelligence, we give to him.  

While CSL4 was telling people about records being a round thing with a hole in the middle, Calvin and Ryan were demonstrating to each other like they were DJs scratching.  People "whoo"d.
CSL4:  What was that "whoo!" for? The hole?  You have questionable taste.

Paper Doll
FFE was kind of far away from our vantage point, but he still managed to Flirty Flirty Eye me.  Awwww....happiness!

See that FFE Action?  That's for ME!

Blame It On The Boogie

That Bass

Blame It On Him

When CSL4 said that he felt a connection with someone in the audience, somebody in the back loudly called for his attention.  He saw that it was way up in the lawn area, started to walk up there, and said, "I. Cannot. Go. That. Far. Up.  Dear Lord, we're at altitude here!"  He finally got to Callie.

Stand By Me / Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Callie was having a good time up there, singing and dancing. FFE was sliding all over the stage.  Sher:  "He is going to fall down."

Callie and The Boys

JT pointed at us at the "Do It, Rockapella!" point.  
CSL4: We sang this song every day for 53 years.

Carmen
Sounds like CSL4's voice was hurting at this point, maybe due to that altitude, and the fact that they were tired.  We noticed that FFE was setting up his phone on a music stand, and I figured that maybe he was doing another Periscope session from the stage.  I told KP.  We waved at the camera.  The guys came back onto the stage, one by one.  

Up On The Roof / Wonderful World
They were still using their microphones this time, probably because of the venue.  We were outside, and it was pretty big, and people had started to leave, which I thought was rude, but it seemed to be older people, so OK.

We didn't know if the guys were going to do a meet and greet, or where they would have it, so we hung out for a few minutes at our seats before going outside the gate.  That's when we realized that they were in the trailer.  That, and the post on FB of a picture of them inside the trailer.  KP paid $8.00 for Scott's new sheet music.  I had only paid $5.00 the night before.  Maybe the proceeds were going to the benefit?  I don't know.  Maybe it's the effect of the Supermoon.

Supermoon!

Cindy told Calvin that "My Cherie Amour" was awesome.  I told him that I almost cried.
Cal:  Me, Too.  Could you hear my voice kind of losing it at the end?
Sher:  No...
Cal:  Just kidding.
He said that the venue was beautiful, and wanted to take pictures inside before they closed the doors.  We told him that we noticed that he got lots of cheers really early on in the show, and he smiled.

We talked to Scott and I told him that I wished he could release his Bee Gees CD again, and that I had told Cindy about it.  He said that he couldn't release it because the music belongs to Sony.  I told him that I had 2 copies from Angela and they are now somewhere lost in my house.  I just want the recording of "Massachusetts" at this point, because I love the way he sings it.  I also said that I had told Cindy that he'd be singing in my house.
Scott:  Yeah....
I asked if he was worried about Steve getting all rich and famous and leaving the band.  He said that he wasn't worried.  I didn't ask him why he wasn't worried, because I kinda don't want to know.  
KP told him that we tagged him on Facebook with bad poetry, and we discussed the haiku format.
KP said that Rockapella needs to sell new t-shirts because they were getting...Scott offered the word "ratty"...KP preferred the word "crusty".  We told him that he has Ryan now and he could probably do them.  I asked him if he needed me to talk to Ryan.  Was he shy?  He looked at me like I had grown a few more heads, and said that he could talk to Ryan.  Gosh, I hope he knew that I was kidding.  We also mentioned that they should have Sun Brothers glasses, because we'd buy them.  He said that was a good idea.  

Later when KP was asking Fred if his wife Fran was the person that was interviewed while serving jury duty with Donald Trump, Scott joined in on the conversation because he hadn't heard about that yet.  Honestly, what does Fred ever talk about with them?  I know he wasn't in their car, but still, I wonder.  (It was Fran, by the way, and she won't be voting for Trump.  YAY!).

Jeff was holding stuff when I asked him to sign my program, so Cindy offered to hold it for him.  He ended up treating her like she was some kind of pack mule.  One of the items was a box of peppermint tea.  After signing my program, he was trying to get Steve's attention, but Steve was busy showing me the video that he took while they were on stage.  Clearly, he wasn't asking us his question, so I said, "Steve, Thacher's talking to you."  Steve apologized and answered his question.  Sorry about that, JT!  He kindly asked about our drive.  Sweet.

We talked to Ryan about the glasses, and he told KP that he was going to get them as he went back to the trailer.  When he exited the trailer, he gave them to me.  I didn't realize that he didn't give any to KP until later, so I gave them to her.   I guess KP and I look alike?

Steve wanted to sign on the dark part of the program, and declared that he needs a silver sharpie.  Perhaps his wish will come true some day.  :)  I had all of the EPs that I bought from him the night before, and he said that he would sign them there, in the dark, while standing.  He put a heart on mine.  :)   I got irritated at Cindy because she was spelling whatever while he was making sure to write my name correctly, because he was getting confused.  I told her to stand elsewhere, and she wouldn't.  My friends don't listen to me.  She's lucky that I was distracted by his blowing on each EP to dry the ink before handing it over to me.  I told him that I noticed that he put my name first in the paragraph of pledgemusic supporters.  He said, "That was by design."  Awwww....thank you!  "Yeah, you and Carol" (the other person that hosted a house concert).   I told him that I didn't realize he was going to do that, and had pledged to have my name on the EP liner notes, so he said that he owed me one, and not Double N.  I asked him what he was going to do.  He said, "Anything you want."  He really needs to stop telling me that.  :)  He offered to do a video of him singing, so I asked for "Weightless", a song that he sang in my house but had to leave off of the EP.  He agreed to do so, and seemed happy with my decision.  Then I gave him the others to sign.  For Bro's, I said, "This is for Bro.  Or Ryan.  Whatever you want to write."  He asked if B-r-o was the correct spelling and did that.  I beamed.  When I handed him Dodie's, I said, "This is for Dodie.  Or...Dic."  He said, "Oh, that was soooo embarrassing!"  You know I'm never going to let him live that down.  That was a priceless moment during our raffle.  Not the raffle disaster.  I'm going to let Dodie wonder what the heck he wrote since she hasn't received her EP yet and I like to torture people.  He talked about designing his studio at home, and I asked if he wanted the backdrop that we used for the photo op at the house.  At first, he seemed excited about it, then said, "Oh, but you should keep it."    I said that we had planned to sign it and give it to him, and we were all happy to do so.  He said that he'd like that.  He asked for us to put pictures of that day all over it and keep it.  I told him that we had something else planned for the pictures, and he'd find out around his birthday.  He gave me a puzzled look, and I asked if he'd be in California in November, and he said yes.  I reminded him that it was a few days before his birthday, and he figured it out.  KP told him how excited we were when he shared our haiku with the picture of "Living".  He said, "Yeah, I did!"  I asked him to take a picture with me and the EP, and he made sure that we stood in the light.  We smiled and said, "LIVING!!!"  So cute.

#Living

We said our goodbyes and safe travel wishes to the guys, and walked the long dark walk back to our car.  Most of the guys were going to Hussong's because they wanted to see the place that they frequented when they were in Reno earlier this year.  We were hungry and found a Denny's after circling around a bit while directions were being found.  The server told us that she enjoyed her late shift because the people that come in at night have more interesting stories to tell her.  No, we didn't tell her any.  She was quite busy.  When we got back to the hotel, Cindy and I agreed on a meeting time for our morning walk, and we went to sleep, all of us counting 5-7-5 in our dreams, I'm sure.  

Next up: Napa