Back to Basics...(Or, Borrowing the 9th Step!)

Smack-dab in the middle...of the Wedding and Senior Portrait seasons, both DJP and Sac Senior Portraits have been hit with a tsunami of workflow the last two and a half months. So much so, we woke up this morning to find ourselves awash in wasteful habits and mindless, reactionary activity. And more important, letting the truly important things in life.fall by the wayside. So today, here, now, we get back to basics: and that always starts with family and friends...

I had a great chat...with my mom, Merle Schauer,  on the phone the other day. Those are way too few and far between. And of course, buried in the maelstrom on work-related activities, I had to cut it short, ending the conversation with "I'll give you a call tomorrow, when I have some time and we can catch up". Which, of course, never happened. WTF does that mean, "When I have some time?"  When should we ever not have time for our relatives, most especially our mothers? Like many (and perhaps more than most), my mom and I have had our patches of road filled with potholes. But there was never a time when she wasn't there for any of us, doing beyond what most might find feasible given her circumstances, and there is not a man on this Earth more grateful for that biggest blessing, my mom. I hope she isn't off on one of her adventures with her "twin sistah from the greatest mistah", as I will be calling her today to remind her of that very fact. But in case you're not home when I call, thanks, Mom...And speaking of my Aunt, Mary Sgheiza...my phone rang a few days ago, with the name "Mary", well there is only one of those on my phone, and I was caught in a moment of happiness that she was calling, and sheer terror because, she never does, and this couldn't be a good thing. Funny (not really) how we allow ourselves to do that to ourselves as we get older. Turns out a friend of a friend of hers (or at least as I understood it) had a son or daughter getting married and, being in need of a last minute photog change, called Mary to see if I might still be available. I checked my calendar and oddly enough had that date free. And while I was truly looking forward to spending the rare off-day couch-bound with Jenn and my Giants, I was equally excited to be able to help out my aunt, who has done so much for me over the years. Well, turns out the mother-in-law from the other side of the nuptials had taken matters into her own hands and hired another local yokel and my services were no longer required. Which is fine, as further research found my spot on the couch had not yet been resold and my day off is back in full force. However, I failed to send a note of thanks to my beloved Aunt for passing the referral on, or for any of the countless avenues of support she extended to me over the past half-century, most notably those first couple of years after I returned to California. And so, Mary, if you and Mom are out scoping through the discount bins at Hobby Lobby or enjoying another lovely afternoon at sorority tea (Alpha Pi Master ROCKS!)...thank you. For everything...


    *M&M...Best of the best!*

Jenn and the kids...are rockin', the former itching to get back to her class, the latter dreading the coming school year. My brother and nephews closed out the summer with an awesome rafting trip through Yosemite, and my youngest step-son is into the second of his two-year church mission in Brazil, where he is most decidedly not enjoying the Olympics. A cousin and his lovely wife excitedly expecting their first, and the oldest of my three younger brothers celebrates his fifteenth anni on Thursday. Yeah, we be blessed...

Old friends...As I am walking into the grocer's yesterday, I see a familiar form getting into a car in front of me. "Mick Jones!", I blurt out, as if I were yelling to his FOS position at the Greek 35 years ago. I first met Mick nearly 40 years ago when he joined the ranks of endlessly blessed at Bill Graham Presents, and had not seen him since Bill's Memorial at the Polo Grounds at GG Park, in November of '91. But as is the case with true friends, Little League teammates, and members of your rock and roll crew, we picked up like it had been three days, instead of decades. Mick is one of only three former BGP mates who continue to man a post at the SF Live Nation affiliate which grew from the old haunts: Ron Bergman,who (I think) oversees the productions out of the home base, Steve Paine, who, following years as GM at the Concord Pavilion (dating myself much?), how runs the "House of Paine", formerly known as Shoreline Amphitheater, and Mick, stagehand stalwart and a good man to have on any crew. Mick is the only human to have worked for the BGP production entity and it's offspring, for forty years. Longer than even Bill himself. Come to find out he has been living about a mile and a half from The Northern Fortress for nearly two years. We caught up on the basics in about ten minutes, with stated intentions to finish the task over coffee or a meal, soon. These are the meetings we can't miss, and need to schedule more of. SO great to see ya, Mick Flaire. And we'll be talking atcha, soon...

Amidst the heated fol-der-ol and all-too vitriolic back-and-forth regarding this year's election for the top spot in the room with the rounded corners, I am atop the heap of those who often lost perspective for just exactly what was at stake. This election is not about race or poverty, guns or budgets, Supreme Court nominees or who pees in which restroom. This election is, quite simply, about who cares about others and who cares about only themselves. Now, because this election is all but decided, and I have had time to reflect, it is clear that, regardless of how one feels about this topic, that one has an opinion and is willing to stand for it, by definition means they care about something, and if we are ever going to find common ground and room to work, all opinions must be respected, heard, and considered. My apologies to all on whom a clear perspective by me in this matter, was lost during our discussions. Oh, and to Marty Greenwood, especially, I am still looking forward to that big honkin' dinner, on you, at Dave Wong's in November...

Procrastination Part Deux...While I only worked with him a half dozen times or so, former Doobie Bros Field General and current Supreme Commander Allied Forces for Frampton's Third Army, John Procaciccini, is a friend with whom I am hoping to join on some very honorable non-profit work in the future, and was really hoping to get to see him at the upcoming Frampton / Skynard show at Ironstone. But, as they say in the trades, if you don't write it down it never happened, and I completely forgot to secure tix for the big date. ( understandably, as from every indication, this show rocks to roof!). I just hate it when a plan doesn't come together, but for those of you who were lucky to lay your hands on ducats, enjoy. Neither of these acts ever disappoint. And Grinda...hopefully we'll get some time in Sonoma. And on a related topic, General Procaccini is also the logistic genius behind the Sonoma Music Festival, for a quarter-century known as the BR Cohn Fall Music Festival. Clearly one of the top festivals in the region for the season, if you like top shelf tunage with casual and comfy surroundings, at reasonable prices and all nestled within the friendly confines of Downtown Sonoma, you do not want to pass this one by. John runs the best ship going, and you want to get on board while tix are still available. http://www.sonomamusicfestival.com/ ...
    *BR Cohn Fall Music Festival, 2013*

Friends Finale...Since Opening Day, I have been beyond remiss in letting numerous birthday and health wishes, visits or calls to the ill, and assistance to those who have needed it, but I simply didn't make the time. Those who know me know, that's not me, and never has been. I ask your forgiveness and can only pray that each of you know, truly, how much you mean to me and that, if there is anything I can ever do to be of help, you will not hesitate to call...

On deck and hitting clean up...music and sports...thinking about the upcoming Frampton / Skynyrd shows at Ironstone got me thinking back to the DOG days. I always had a soft spot in my heart for Fleetwood Mac during that time. To a person, nice folk, and always a good show. In honor of those days, and those wonderful shows, I'd like to throw up this amazing (actually the original demo version) version of the Mac hit, "Dreams".  People talk about Janis and Grace and Anne, and so many other hot rockin' women of my generation, but, from beltin' out a rocker to melting your heart with a tender ballad, there will always be only one Stevie...


    *Chris McVie, Fleetwooid Mac, DOG, 1976*

And, on a Hummm Baby note, last night's Giant's 14-inning bender may well be the turning point of the season. With Skipper Bruce Boche in a local Miami hospital and starter Johnny Cueto giving up two bad pitches in an otherwise stellar five inning performance, the G-men battled back from a 5-1 deficit, took the lead, lost it,and then reclaimed the top spot for a 
5.5 hour marathon, 8-7 win. Leading the charge, Pleasanton's own Brandon Crawford gave his brothers-in-arms an all-time franchise record seven-hit, three ribbie night, including the go ahead smack in the final frame. Skip in the hospital, multiple losses of the lead, and still they battle back. Cain is back throwing well, and the bats are showing the life they had in the first half. Now, they just need to - do it. Hummm Baby. Let's go, fellas...

    *Crawdaddy*