Riders on the Storm.......

First Star on the left, and straight on towards morning---Peter Pan

I lost it about a week prior to the shows. Sarah did too, on line, and pbaub did some wonderful "loose it" posts on LC82 I thought I'd die laughing over.

I don't know how many have been up before dawn recently, but when the cloud cover clears, there is a lovely morning star (probably Venus) there real early. I got up at 4 am to go to Tahoe, and there she was, being all beautiful and leading me down the road. So we were off to a good start.

It was great being able to drive this time and take all those things you have to leave behind if you fly, like extra shoes! For that matter it was just better being on the ground.....I took a road I had not done for 20 years into Truckee, dropped down to Reno to pick up Pat Ryan and the Violet Rose who were both flying in from back East and were my roomies for Caesar's. Had never met Pat, waited for her TWA plane to disgorge her...it never did. I asked about a zillon women if they were Pat (wondering if she had radically changed her hair or something). Nope. Taking a break in the restroom, heard someone page Jolene Jones and almost missed the seat. I mean, we had all decided to come to Tahoe a day early to enjoy a little time off from the regular crowd, hope maybe find a stray Moody in a bar to chat nicely with (if they were in the mood), you know, just hang out a little. Nope. The regulars all had the same idea.

Anyway, the counter person finally told me Pat would make it in around 4:30, so I grabbed lunch at Taco Bell and waited for Violet Rose. She got off SWA thankfully, wearing glasses.....she had trashed two contacts before getting out here.....we all do pre-Moody anxiety different. I get on the wrong roads. Others probably sort negatives obcessively. Violet and me grabbed her stuff and boogied for Caesar's, leaving Pat to her fate when she got there....(she made it ok later.....). Pat was pretty livid when she got in, as TWA had really screwed up the schedules back East. For future reference, if you live East, I advise flying to Nashville, then picking up SWA all the way to Reno (1-800-IFLYSWA). The cowboys keep that connection hot, it's direct, and they are a great airline. I bet they go to Vegas from Nashville too.

I think before we could even get checked in good, we tripped over Frusty Sue running around. According to her (take it for what it's worth), "the band got here at 1 am Wed morn" and later she would say she saw Justin, John and Kirsten coming back from dinner, and Justin seemed just fine, and was very healthy (in fact, Frusty said he was joking around a good deal). Marie has not been spotted on the tour so far, and according to Frusty, Marie is alleged to hate Tahoe.

Oddly I didn't see Frusty around that much...she is the most obvious of the "stalkers" although she is truely harmless and rather nice actually. Also, I thought security was much more gung ho on the fans that always lurk on the band's floor, essentially trapping them in their rooms. I think the Lady Di thang in Aug shook up a lot of people.....it's gonna be tight for a while I suspect. I do know one of my friends kept running afoul of security in past Tahoe weekends, and it is not a pleasant experience to have house dicks jump on you at all. There ARE laws against stalking, and you CAN get arrested. Everyone should think of that.

Also, as per the missing rings, they apparently are NOT on in those pictures on the OFC website either. Allegedly someone asked Justin about it (gathering much courage I'm sure), and His Nibs replied "I feel naked without them" My thoughts on the Missing Ring Caper:

• He probably took them off to work on something and left them on the sink after washing his hands, remembered them 1/2 way across the Atlantic. Yes, this is called a Freudian slip, but it probably only would have significance to Justin.
• His acupuncturist recommended removing them for a health reason
• A French stalker got them
• Marie got mad and hid, sold or deep sixed them
• Some fans have observed the signet ring was getting thin on the back. The rings are only 30 years old! Maybe they fell off and had to be repaired
• He forget them at Autumn's house
• He had his belly button pierced, engraved the pinkie ring with his secret love's name and that's where it is now.

It certainly is a helluva unusual thing to happen, I hope the OFC stoops to explanations, as it really is kinda a big fan deal I think; I doubt Justin took them off just to make a statement, there is something going on, probably minor, we don't know about, and may never....who knows?

Anyway to continue with the narrative, we got the 10th floor hoping His Nibs would be there as he was before. Margie Sweet did too I found out later. Hahah Justin fooled us and got the 15th floor. Justin has also changed his gym time, as Frusty had taken to sitting out there at 11am (his old time). It's good frankly, as it does not do to be predictable in your movements when you are a target of stalkers. I confess I hung out once at 11 in the corridor to the limos, but Pat was trying to sleep, and it was as good a place as any to do my letters. I only saw Gordon, Sue and Paul off stage....they all really hid out this time.

Spotted Paul at the counter getting his comp tickets, so I must presume he had folks there, which is nice. (He didn't want to make eye contact with me though, my feelings are hurt if you reading Paul...all I did was smile nicely for crying out loud!). Sometimes the band members make you feel like you have leperosy if you reach out to them. I wonder if it's really pressure from the fans, or if this bunch is just stand-offish. More later on this....

Shawn Skinner showed up Thursday night and chatted with me and VR.....VR was smitten (Shawn really is a well grounded fan, nice guy). VR was tons of fun to hang out with, as we both are sans mates at the time, and we had a ball watching the guys. ALL men, a few were enough to make you say "Justin whoooo?". We got to see the foxy Italian manager who did the Santa Claus announcing last show there.....even sexier than we remembered (he came out and lectured me in line....I smiled he was so cute). There was an even neater guy in the bookstore with glasses. He got my buyers' resistance down and I bought three books!

They put out the t-shirts early in a sundries store next to the elevators, I bought the tee with the window on it for Justin's 1998 tour (nothing on back yet). I like the concept (windows), but it didn't come out that well I thought. Chatted with the man putting them out, he was nice, indeed we discussed how to get to Konocti. Hwy 20 had looked snowy when I came up on 80, and I recommended calling CHP first.

Sarah was scrambling around for someone she had met on line who had tickets for another friend for that show.....I turned up a drunken Lost Chords party in Margie's Room, and got Shawn to flush out the ticket holder (I wasn't about to go in there....after all I *was* kicked off LC, they can "bite my furry little butt" as my fave saying of the weekend became). After frantic calling, they hooked up. I never saw so many tickets shuffle in my life! I turned up with extra tickets for three friends who could not make it. I may not do this again, it was nerve wracking but turned out ok. After shuffling with Pat, I sold the extras as a pair, and turned in one extra Sat night ticket for Friday in Sec F. Then VR and I tried to bribe down in front of Bias, with miserable sucess: we wound up in front of Gordon and back in section A. RIGHT before show started, there were three empties where we wanted to be, so we went down there. As the show started, here came the inconsiderate louts with those seats, so we went back to our originals. Who should be in them but Keester and her Masher date!!!!

(I hope Kathy forgives me for this story, as she was kinda victimized but it was funny looking back)

Well after having my brain short from having to kick one of my best pen pals out of my Sec A seats (I'm getting cruel by this time as "The Voice" has already started), we all stood, milled around a bit. Kathy just *stood* there and would not move back! Neither would her gentleman friend. As one of us was going to be left standing, I finally reached over about three heads, grabbed a chair and put it in the aisle! VR landed in that, Kathy manuvered me between the Masher and her (thanks Keester!), and I sat down next to him, just wanting to watch the show. He whispered to me "Could you trade with Kathy so we can sit together?" Hey I'm dumb, I thought it sounded cool, so we all shuffled around some more....missing most of "The Voice", which I love. Later I got the whole story, Keester had just bought some tickets from this geek, and he came on like he was her sugar daddy, buying gifts, flowers, playing his guitar for her.....REALLY too much though (Christopher, Keester's 24 year old son, labled the Masher "a mental case"). AND Kathy didn't want to sit next to him at all!

So anyway, if anyone in the seats around us was annoyed during all this, I deeply apologize to them, and to the band too as it was kinda rude. Me and VR should have stayed in our own seats I guess. (Gad what a headache tickets are!!!) As a follow-up, Keester gave the Masher the brush the next day, and we all had a nice chat & laugh about it. Christopher (her son) incidently is a nice, intelligent young man; he was out looking at employment opportunities as was VR. I may go up there myself before too long, looking for work! (Indeed, Christopher enjoyed watching Tracy during the show he saw.....healthy young man!)

Some things I forgot to add to other reviews: meeting Keester at Tahoe I got to see her infamous Velo she reads her email on. EGAD...., it's tiny, for Keester's sake, I plead for everyone to not ramble on Lost Chords! Her son Christopher and she have a really good relationship....they are very open about their issues too. They reminded me of myself and my son a lot......good people. I hope Chris gets his job out in Tahoe.

Ok to the first show: First off, John's hair looked REALLY good, shaggy, one of the best doos I've seen on him.....whatever he did to it, he should continue, and he looked like he had his bloat down. The girls looked sleezy (really sleezy, not just the normal naughty), and Tracy had a gut! (about like mine...if you got it, camoflauge it, geeze!). That was just for the first show, they got better Sat night in very cool "Batman vinyls" that held in the body warbles, and the third night at Konocti, it was leather jackets all around, very attractive. Overall the girls are toned down a lot, and I think they lost their mikes once.....I'm not one that worries about the back-ups one way or another, and still think Tracy has a dynamite voice. They were sleezily rubbing their thighs in one song, I liked that....good show!

The rest looked wonderful, but tired at times......Gordo was the magnificent animal of course......I made a lot of eye contact with him first show, and during "Wildest Dreams" I made a motion to throw the sticks, and he actually started shaking his head "no" in time to the music! (and they didn't either) Paul looked really good in all the shows.... Justin's voice was all screwed up at first (bad throat?) in fact I think JL might have helped out a few times in songs for him (?); Justin worked the kinks out finally......in the three following shows he belted it out without a hitch. Really the first Friday show, I would have said Justin was flying on anti-biotics, as he was definately down more for those. The other shows he picked up really nicely and appeared to be enjoying watching the crowd as much as they enjoyed watching him.

I think my fave song this time was "For My Lady" and it really is an "all hands effort" watching all the musicians doing their own parts, it's a wonderful arrangement, they have taken some time to do good rehersals of that, and thought it out a good deal, it has detail and texturing to it. Sitting at my fave table 109, I made some interested eye contact with Justin during FML on Sat night, which was magical but shook me up a bit (I'm not sure if sender or receiver was losing it that time, or if "trust your feelings" is a good idea in this case) .....I have this feeling that Justin is often playing to a "ghost" over there in on the left side of the house. I dunno, I could be wrong.....just a thought. He sure looks over there more than any other place. I always try to sit on the left side because one can see Justin's fingering much better, (and after all, I am a musician....there is more to life than surface attraction!). So I notice these things. Anyway, FML was always my fave on 7th Sojourn, I'm glad it's back.

Once during LOAM it looked like Justin was in love with his Gibson, playing it. He really likes his music. The more I heard "Strange Times" the more I like it, and I find myself humming it a good deal. VR identified the song, "Cry Baby Cry" by the Beatles that it has been reminding me of. It's not identical, but close. Ray does this little finger motion thing in it I liked. I can somehow see a lot of us fans all singing that one together.....great song. It's "temples of *greed*" and "wastelands that lived before the *snow*" BTW, I read his lips this time and distinctly heard it.

Paul and Bias made a lot of good eye contact during FML, Gordon and Paul were grinning at each other later, it's good they all connect like that...and I noticed that FML got less applause than the rocker song that followed, which took much less effort for the band to play, so go figure. Proof people understand a beat better than melody perhaps.

The drummers were great to watch coordinate. ILS is a wonderful song, always a joy to watch them all coordinate that too. I like the jingles Gordon does there. He's very talented......

TOSOL was the usual geek show. Well, not so bad this time, but Caesar's was being horsie about photos this time, so I had to keep it down, and they had that great "city" background up.....really wanted a shot of that. Could not get good one as some drunk was wildly waving their little glow stick in front of me. I'll have to see how the shots come out to assess the damage as it were. Caesar's camera police were pretty gung ho....I only shot one roll per show, trying to cut it back. (Gad someone mentioned taking 12 rolls?????egad......noooo who's obcessed, ME???)

Back to the show. Justin added a flourish onto the end of TOSOL.....also I finally noticed that the guitars in LOAM sound like sitars.....a nice touch, and shows the versitility of the Gibson 335. I thought of a very funny joke that would go with that arm whirl Justin does over his head...the punch line is "Ya hoo, beat 'cha all!" and you'll have to ask off line, it's a very old. Too dirty to put in the review.

Ray and John now have this thing they do in IJASIARRB where they get together and shake their heads like the Beatles...it's really cute! Once during LOM, Justin let his hand go limp and got this odd smile on his face.....he does neat things when the lights are off him. I wish so much I could have put a telescopic lens on Gordon, he was very visual.

Second show, I managed to get my very fave little table and had a wonderful show. During the Dino walk, got some great shots, and one member looked at me like "ooop!" as cameras were banned that show. I don't care...it's not like I'm charging for them. Tried to hustle Emmy Bartel outta her seat so I could sit on the rail and flash my legs at the band, but she liked it there, and could see better.....John had on a really nice black shirt with a guitar engraved on it. Lights were done very well at Tahoe. There were no programs. Second show too, Justin told the audience about what someone probably thought was a hearing aid (I thought the girls had on earplugs to protect their hearing from the drums). He, and the girls were testing new monitering devices that would replace the speakers in front of them.....what great ergonomics! It would be a better monitering method, as well as protecting hearing from rock music....as well, think of the costume possibilities! Skinhead groups are going to have a hard time hiding the wires in long hair, but they could get devices that make them look like Borg, adding to the show! Every so often, Justin would cock his head listening to things he could hear better thusly and was apparently analysing.

From my notes, I was apparently in sheer ectasy for the first show, "Nights" and "Dr. Leary" both just have "so nice" after them. (I don't know how people can do ALL the casinos, or more than 3-4 shows. I overload. This weekend was just enough for me). Anyway, LOAM is so delightful now, as it is truely a tribute to a great mind of the 60's....in a way that would make him laugh, and I like to think the good Doctor is with us when that song is sung. The final joke. When the Jays came back after Ray's solo, they were doing this walk back and forth like a see saw...it was really weird. Never noticed that one before!

One show during "Question" GE did this slower roll....and Justin I think kinda looked slightly back there. It was pretty subtle.....Dan spotted that on the lines in TA "I'm just beginning to see" on the "be" he plays a B chord, and on the "see" he plays a C chord.

Two Red Horned Cows were dead center in Section B for TOSOL. I passed one after one show, her horns still glowing in the bag. "MoooooOOO" I said gently to her.....she stared at me and I kept walking so she would not pull my hair. It was very gratifying. VR was making smart cracks about giving them some A1 sauce, and I told her about our Cattle Crossing sign we never got around to making. Once there were some people with red glow wands near me, thankfully no horns.....oh well, it's harmless I guess. I think.

Speaking of ........ I ran into one girl who was very very pleased that she had lost 60 pounds and was able to squeeze into a nice dress! Another person I saw who was very heavy last time there had dropped some pounds too. I lost a stone mesself: RIGHT ON, fight that fat! On the negative side, there was always at the bars after the shows, a table full of middle aged, plump ladies, many with glasses, needing aerobics lessons, and I didn't know a single one of them. They all looked like clones; I don't know who the new people are any more. Just as well I suspect. I dunno, some could be nice people for all I know. Some of the on-liners I *did* know looked pretty sour-faced, I can see why I don't get along with some of them. They going to make great mothers-in-law, which probably is not fair to some of the nice Mums in the world.

Someone made a rude remark to one of my friends at the elevators, I remember drunkenly flipping off her retreating arse as she left.....totally forgot the reason for the smart remark from the woman, but she was really off center frankly. As well, sitting there the first show, during "Nights" some negative broad next to me says "Oh wow, stars for a background....how original!" sarcastically. I controlled myself, I just turned and said "I think it's pretty", nothing more. It IS pretty. I don't care if someone thinks it's schlock, it looks very good to me. That song is always lovely, and Justin appeared to hit the notes well this night.

Frusty Sue again was sitting against the stage right in front of John's spot. Next to her was the girl who claimed to be John's caddy last time Moodies did Tahoe; the Caddy had auburn hair this time rather than jet black though. They have found one another; VR said sweetly "Ah...a touching reunion... fooooORE!" as the Caddy returned with the drinks. I agree we're sick dogs. Frusty is really ok, I have no time for Caddy who snubbed me too last Tahoe cycle.

First night after the show, I had this idea to ride the elevators and see which floor the fans were lurking on to catch a look at the Moodies. (they always do, nothing new). VR and I had a great time punching all the buttons, but could not find any stalkers. As we left the elevators headed to the bar, security was scuttling around, we heard the walkie talkies say "15th floor....problems with fans"....so we went back and rode up to 15th floor...there looking very innocent (where they had not been before) were a two and three stooler**(i.e. Ms. Threestooler made about two of me). They were bigger than Paul Bliss, and me too. Whomever the bandmember was that called security on them was right to be scared. I stuck my head outta the lift, getting a good look and saying "Oh gee this isn't our floor!". Laughing hysterically, we headed back down to the bar, and VR claims she saw the plain-clothes housedick pass us going back up in the lift.....muttered to herself "they're in deep sh*t now!".

The night went on, and VR tugged on Shawn's tie (he was wearing a suit!) somewhere in all that.....gad they flirted!!! We drank in the bar, spotted some of Sarahs' Bear Dance comrades (Dan and friends from Napa) and Robyn whom I think is in Texas now. Being cheap, I went back up to the room to get a wine cooler from my supplies, and the stalkers from the 15th floor got on with us. They both had foot long Hoagies from Subway, and appeared to be ready to settle in....."Do you ladies have rooms on the 15th floor?" I asked, seeing which button they had pushed....they both nodded vigorously, smiling (with a bit of drool on their lips). We got off at the 10th floor, then when we returned past the guard, narked on them (I felt kinda bad for tattling, but they are the sorts who make it hard for the rest of us to meet the band; poor Justin is probably terrified to get ice or a soda even). The House Dick really looked put out, and headed up there again, I hope he chewed their arses good. Sarah heard about the Hoagies and about split a gut, saying "they were feeding, and getting ready to nest!" Imagine having fantasies about Justin or John while narfing on comfort food..... Poor Justin, if I were to ever get the hint he liked me, I would never go knock on the man's door after witnessing a evolution like that! uuuughhh....

I forgot some who were there: Deborah Ragland and her Mom from Lawton showed up.....they are real nice, just home folks. I got to meet Katlady too, who seems a regular sort of gal. Ran into Lili who took that cover photo of the current H & H of Gordon, and she told me all about it. She's a really nice lady. I gave her a fake name as Tigger might have turned her off. Many many nice people were there.

But of course the creeps stick out in your mind, hard to forget them. A few from on line I was glad to avoid, I actually closed the elevator on one to avoid her. Luckily no one tried to serve me with papers, my paranoia was groundless. I grabbed another annoying on-liner in Section A thinking it was Keester (they bear striking resemblance to one another)....then had to wipe my hand off later. A note in the "judge not least ye too be judged" catagory; at the first show VR and I were sitting across from a rather attractive lady, who seemed just a little "false", but nice, and we chatted with her a bit; I told I was the "terrible Tigger", she smiled etc....but after we left, VR commented "she asked too many questions"...at the time I blew it off, being more interested in the music. It turned out VR was right and picked up the same falseness I did; Blaine sure enough knifed me on LC. Well, to publically answer those matters, since there are people reading my stuff and finding nothing but the negative..... I've been with this fan club since 1991, longer than most (5 years is about the average limit). I've tried to be friendly to both Dr. Wendy and bb (and others), and have either been snubbed or had knives slipped into me on LC by both, so I have no use for either, and any insults I hand them they have coming; I have feelings too, you know, and a memory like an elephant. The Red Horned Cows have really bugged GE in the past, and are probably major reasons he does not come out in Tahoe any more. (he used to). The RHCs have also been making the rest of the fans look pretty dippy by association since 1992, and are an insult to my cultural heritage as a Native American, so people who feel the need to defend them can "kiss my furry little butt". And stay off my website if you don't like it. These are the reasons I avoid the on-liners and their parties. Too many flying knives.

My roomies were wonderful, although smokers....I've always preferred rooming with smokers as, as a group, smokers are nicer and more fun people. We all had very compatable Chinese horoscopes it turned out! Pat gambled quite a bit, and got enough comp points to buy us two meals!

The Ashmans apparently put on a good feed for their fan gathering, and he looks like a character! bb was there, the money changer in the temple, hawking her photos. If anyone asks me to reprint my photos I think I will scream... Micky and Minnie found me, and are well....they asked about Nida and promised to be back on line soon! Charlie-O is a very nice man, and I have to hook him up with Tad Bartel, as they are both from the Eugene area. Shawn Skinner passed us as we were talking, and Charlie said "I did residency with a guy that looked like him". It was hilarious to me, as Shawn looked like something from a Nazi SS camp suddenly......sorry, I've done just enough psychiatric field work to think that was funny. I'm not sure a joke was intended.....maybe I was just punchy. Sorry Shawn and Charlie.

Tad seemed discouraged about his efforts to get the new surround sound stuff together with Mike Keyes, and I comforted him saying "hell they can't even get an album out, cut 'em some slack!" I didn't get to visit with Keester as much as I would have liked, but we talked some. Sarah roomed with Lynn Powell, June (a wild Brit, a lot of fun) and Sandy (from Susanneville area, as is Robyn). Rhonda Connelly was not at Tahoe, she's doing Vegas, and was at Konocti, just passing through on her way to do business in LA (she brought her friend Tamara, and Tamara's 89 year old Mum, who enjoyed the Konocti show too). Son of Dr. Wendy has grown up into a very nice young man...his mom never did crack a smile the few times I caught sight of her.

We were hanging around the bottom of the elevators once, making lame jokes about "ganging up" (we were wearing denim and leather.....) watching men, you know.....and out of the elevator came Gordon. He was followed (at distance) by two bleached blonde "regular" fans (don't know their names). Later we saw Sue (BUV) in the casino headed to the slots with a bucket of coins....some people at the next table said "let's follow her!", but they didn't.....so that's another factoid to add to your "reasons why the Moodies won't come out and talk to the fans". These are just the incidents I witnessed, there must have been others. You know, I'm not being judgemental on some of these people, I'd love to stalk Justin myself, but I just was taught manners when small, and I don't do that sort of thing.....it's kinda rude and thoughtless.

Penny Peterson chatted with us once and told an interesting story about Justin walking some woman's dustmop dog as she was a major contributor to some charity of theirs. Another time we're on the elevators, and some candy sniffers got on. "There's some candy I can't get any place else, there in the store where they sell the Moody souveniers". They were only two-stoolers. I waited until out of ear shot to start choking. Why MY fan club????

We got out and explored a little bit, as Tahoe has some fun places. Across the street is where the ice cream shop is! (the yoghurt joint in Caesar's is too expensive if you ask me). In that same casino, we found this dark dank corridor, and feeling like Luke Skywalker in the evil tree, went underground, following bear tracks to this "pub" guarded by a large bear.....I pulled the door handle and it came off in my hands!!!!! (shock....) I guess they were repairing it, but it was a very weird moment. Turns out a cyber cafe and brew pub were behind that door, and I think they even have darts in there. They charge $5.00 per 1/2 hour to go on line. So I might check this out next time I'm on the road, as it's a good access to the Webs for 5 bucks.

I managed to get in some choreography/work out one morning, and we spent a lot of time in hot tub, or swimming. I wish I worked someplace like Caesar's, I'd exercise more. VR had never hot tubbed before and enjoyed it! She says she might be able to get that Tin Pan South thing to happen, as she has some connections in Nashville, or at least find out what the hell is up with it. There was a lot of good talent in that show. I passed out mood rings to a lot of people..... it was a deal and I never give my friends anything so I figured it was time.

At the end of the last show, about 2 am, Ray was obviously tired and only flapped one arm during LOAM. That said it all for us. Even Justin was staggering and batting his eyes more. But it was a nice ending and everyone was on their feet singing and clapping, Justin looking out over us like a proud pappa.

Herein ends the Tahoe story, and it will be continued with the Konocti story as soon as I finish with my notes. If you want to print this, you might wait about a week, as I might add a few things or smooth this, not to mention link up photos. Anyone with feedback, let me know! Photos to forth come, please be patient and do NOT ask me for copies! You'll just have to print it off line.

**A "two or three stooler" is Navy slang for anyone, male or female, who needs that number of bar stools to sit for a drink. "Pleasing plump" is one thing.....obese is another, and a definate health hazard, especially if these people are listening at your keyhole at Caesar's. I've been fat myself, and food addiction is like smoke, drink or drug addiction: the answer is "quit eating!!!".