endless summer

not that an endless summer is a bad thing. Seems like August is going into overdrive for its business. This last week was an example- Tennis classes for Audrey and Sarah, Sarah's niece Mary stayed over for a night and day. Baby shower yesterday followed by a party.
We enjoyed Mary's visit and Sarah also truly appreciated the extra set of hands in the day time. It was a short stay, but the MacMillan family had Mary's schedule in oregon pretty filled up.
The evening party was also great. I wish I had remember the camera. The party was at one of Audrey's preschool friend's (Erin) house. The dad is a semi-pro BBQer. He competes at competitions around the state. Which means he takes all day cooking, making pulled pork, brisket, etc... It also means the food was very yummy. They also had a band which played from 6:30 to 10 .

Here is description of the band :
JOE MCMURRIAN QUARTETOver the past year and many months Joe has filled the White Eagle with deep acoustic finger style slidework and storytelling, often weaved within drums & stand up bass.

As the Oregonian recently noted:
"In most cities, Tuesdays can be a dreadful, dead quiet night for live music. Not so in Portland. Among the ancient brick and timber, the Eagle is a venue perfect for McMurrian to spin his spellbinding yarns... an edgy, insistent and hypnotic swirl of delta - and hill style blues that he picks with a one step closer to hell aggression…but It's the depth of his songwriting and smoldering voice that set him apart…whether he's a prophet or pariah is up to the listener; regardless, McMurrian is a formidable old soul whose music will haunt you to your bones."

Joe McMurrian is a delta blues/roots songwriter based in Portland. His family is rooted in the hills of Oklahoma and the plains of Texas, and Joe grew up with America's old music deep in his ears. He plays a rich amalgam of delta style acoustic blues, roots, old-time, and original material -- all bearing his unique touch and delivery. He has a rich capability to infuse tradition with contemporary invention through his intense finger style, slide guitar work and original storytelling. He incorporates the delta slide over a fluid finger style approach reminiscent of a Robert Pete Williams, Skip James or Bert Jansch with a rhythmic base out of R.L Burnside, Big Joe Williams and Roscoe Holcomb. Joe McMurrian has been compared to such modern masters as Chris Smither and Kelly Joe Phelps, but has a voice all his own and a bag of visions and sounds true to his own experience and delivery.

www.joemcmurrian.com


-------------------------------

anyways, the band is quite good and I think we would go to see them (they play regularly at the White Eagle Saloon , a Mcmenamins pub in Portland). Audrey also enjoyed there music and spent a lot of the evening dancing. Many complemented us/her on her great dancing. She looked even better in the red velvet dress she had borrowed from Erin. When Audrey wasn't dancing she was all of playing with the other kids, making our evening easy. jack as always was very accomodating. He ate dinner at the party then went to sleep in my arms around 8pm. Then spent the next couple hours sleeping while I dranbk and listened to the great music.

This coming week continues our business.
Today I play golf. Then more Tennis for all (Sarah and Audrey lessons and me in a league). The coming weekend is the Portland air show, which Sarah will be mc'ing Fri-Sunday and the Websters will be coming.
Then the following week we will go to Bend with the Websters.
Then i am off to North Carolina for my best man Steve's wedding...

anyways we will be ready for the calmness of September when it gets here...

Rob