The Great Tahoe-In for Spring 1999

The real problem is not whether machines think, but whether men do--B.F. Skinner

From: CINDY EZZELL <AVALONFIELDS@webtv.net>Subject: Adverse Effects of Grown-ups...Thurs. 2-25-99 (5;00 am) BUGGER ! I jump out of bed. " I forgot to pack last night." I trip through my walk through closet and turn on the bathrrom light. Blinded, and my heart pounding. A nasty head cold has a firm grip on me, and my contacts are screwed up.

DAH ! " Your not going this time." Says the little angel sitting on my right shoulder. I growl at her. "NOW YOU REMIND ME !" So, I blow my nose, and cuss myself in the mirror. I cut the light out, stumble through the walk in closet again, and fall back into bed.

Fri.2-26-99 ( sometime in the PM)

Sat.2-27-99 (4:00 am) I sit in a booth at Cafe Coma. Coma or not. I enjoy the calm atmosphere for breakfast. "ATMOSPHERE ! " I bring out my studies. The very ones I promised God, I wouldn't forget. If he would just grant me this trip to Tahoe. I find myplace in the book, eyes glued to it as I light up a smoke, and put coffee into my cup of equal. I glance across the room. Thats when I see him. Sitting in the booth next to mine. Polite smiles are exchanged. Suddenly my cup of equal with coffee in it spills over my book. The guy jumps up, napkin in hand, and begins dabbing my book dry. " Thanks." I mutter. " A weather person. Very interesting. I figured the whole lot of you folks, looked like Helen Hunt, or Bill Paxton." I hiss under a little laugh. Then I look up, only to see the guy is Bias. From out of no-where the waitress brings my annual C.P. Southwestern Omelet.

I wake up grumbling to myself, "DAMN ! I COULD BE EATING THAT OMELET RIGHT NOW ! "It's always unpredictable. But in the end its right.

I hope you had the time of your life. Love, Cin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is this the last tour of the Millennium? Can it possibly be? Stayed tuned for more, folks...I’m sorry I took so long to write this up, but I have had finals and such, and my school has been the first and foremost priority for me. So without further adieu, I shall launch into my report.

This time I know I was nuts to keep going to these shows. I definitely am in deep debt, my significant other was pissing and moaning about it. His car even "got sick" a week before the shows, so I was taking him to and from work....life was getting complex.

Tahoe is only a 15 hour drive from my home. So what. What's a short drive? In the snow? I passed a car license plate on the way, it said "Hayward" as it was from Hayward, California. Then it said "WHY" on the plate. Go figure. Maybe someone is trying to tell me something!!

Anyway the weather was more or less ok all the way down. I had to swing through Westwood which is north of Tahoe in the Sierras, for a friend's Washburn guitar, and it was actually on the way, a sort of shortcut to Tahoe, so after anxiously consulting the CHP in Yreka, went ahead and tried to mount the Sierras via Hwy 89-44. I did fine, though the slush got scary in spots, until I almost back- ended a snow plow just outside of Susanneville; as I stopped to put on chains, some old fart in a Lincoln whipped past me and 360*'ed into a ditch. The snowplow pulled him out as I did the chains. (Debbie Lyman mentioned using chains too, coming up from Chico: I can just see Debbie with her polished nails doing that! Grins).

Got to Tahoe, got a BIG room at the Blue Jay Inn, which was just as nice if not nicer than anything at Caesar's, as I could pull my car right up to the door, and get things in and out much easier. I liked that. TWO beds, and a kitchenette! For around $60 a night. Easy walking distance to the casinos and “all the fun”. The only problem was, it was genuinely scary walking around Tahoe the first night, as there was major ice on the ground, and if you didn't have good shoes, it was a good way to break a leg!

At one point, I was walking to the casinos, and I think I walked past Mike Pinder, over by the Blue Jay Lodge. I will not swear to this, but it sure as hell looked like him! I saw a coyote lurking in the parking lot at Caesar’s too. That impressed me.

Rumors floated around, some of them off the OFC hotline. No summer tour I guess, maybe something in the Fall after the CD comes out and all the promotion is done.

So anyway, I got there Thursday night, got my room a night early, and after freshening up, hiked over to Caesar's about 9ish. (I left Portland at 5:30 am). Spotted *I think* Libby Sharpe, who *I think* is that tall, big, chick with the glasses who has long brown hair, and she had a clone in tow, who I think is her sister. They were lurking back in a bar that everyone seems to think the Moodies like. At the other bar that overlooks the casino, who should hail me, but Debbie Lyman (Blue Lady) and June (who is from England, and a real rip). They were doing "scanning and vigilance". Earlier I had run into Cheryl Bezek and some of her friends from back East, Virginia and such (Carol is one? I forgot, the mind goes rapidly!), they are "regulars" who often do the Atlantic City casino shows. This was the first time I had met Cheryl and she (and her friends too) is a lovely person indeed, glad to have finally met her! As well, she introduced me to Catbeard, that is Paula Beard, who ALSO is a lovely person, her personality reminds me of Kathy Loyd, very sweet and smiles a lot. I think Paula was a bit skittish of me, as I was "the terrible Tigger" but it doesn't matter. I stopped letting social situations bug me a long time ago. Spotted Lili I. (can’t spell her last name) she was wearing a really nice MB logo shirt all glittery. She seems a nice lady. Met someone who is a Deadhead as well, named Jim Franklin, he was pretty cool, and I must write him something just to be sociable, he lurks on line.

A lot of regular fans weren't there, or I just missed them due to being in another hotel. I think a lot of people are going to the Vegas venues, or they are just dropping out of it. Some fan news: do you know that guy that "looks like Justin" we always see in the front row? Well, we've watched him date, then get married, then he and his wife arrive with a little one, then the kid grows....the kid has to be in kindergarten now! (the kid's name is Justin). Tad Bartel and Debbie had been on the plane for two days bouncing between Hawaii, Eugene, and then to Tahoe. They were wearing real plumeria leis, which got me to hang around them as much as I could, as I love the smell of plumerias, and it’s a real treat. They are all doing fine, looked tired, but tan! Emmie is a LOVELY young lady, all grown up, but can't drive due to eye problems, and is pretty annoyed about it. She is so nice though, it's good to see these kids getting to be real people.

I met Bill Ashman, and he is a nice kind, interesting man indeed! Didn’t tell him who I was, as his wife Carol had asked me to stay away from her party, so I didn’t want to spoil the conversation. Carol has a real jewel there though. I hope everyone was well behaved at the party, and that everyone got enough pictures to be orgiastically happy!

Sally Conway and Tracy Wolf snubbed me I think, but it was hard to tell (I was just as happy to not talk with them: Tracy W. smacked gum solidly through the show. Such a cute gal she is too, a shame she came over so cheesy: I expected her to start talking about Monica's lipstick shade next). So many Moody fans come over as stuck up, but maybe they are just drunk and withdrawn, or are being cliquish ‘cause it feels safe. Whatever. I saw others whose names I have forgotten and/or blocked out. The fan-addicts are all starting to blend together: a certain gaggle are always overweight chicks, they group together, and glare at you; I didn’t know if it was from personal recognition, or just natural meanness. Total strangers greeted me. Maybe I should take my picture off my website!

Also, the first night, saw some young ladies about Emmie's age, who had terrible taste in evening gowns, indeed I muttered "when's Halloween?" as I slid past them. I guess I should not be so catty, but honestly, they looked like little ones playing dress up, as perhaps they were. To the prom, yes, but why bother with a Moodies show? They ought to be chasing young studs through the halls at the local high school! (I sure was at that age....). OK, I'll stop being an old CAT!

The only excitement from Thursday night was that some band members were there, someone had bumped into Graeme, and he had mentioned "this album is the best thing we have ever done" good news, as he was blatantly critical of KotK. Also, on the way up the slope from Reno (scary as hell in itself, as the snow was coming down again, and the ski busses tried to run me off the road; they are horrible gassy things), anyway, a limo passed me Thursday (at 6 pm in Carson City) doing about 80 mph, driving like a bat outta hell in that weather. I tried to follow it for a while, but it got away: it could have been carrying Justin himself, or Lady Sarah for all I know.

I hung in as long as I could that night at Caesar's talking to various friends, but it had been a long drive, and I went back to my little room and watched TV until I dropped. I never have seen the band come out much at Tahoe, I don't know why not. I think that thin Martian air gets to them and they sleep a lot there. No one spotted any wives of any bandmembers, which means nothing of course. Oh, I take that back, apparently Mrs. Marshall was there keeping an eye on her better half.

Well, to the show. There was no line and the energy was “down” outside the Circus Maximus, but the place was almost sold out! Lots of empty seats, I bet some people bailed totally over the weather.

It's always a great thing to experience, even if the songs are all the same, and you saw them last year. I still love watching the show and watching the band, it's like a vaudeville act that came through last year, and you want the same show over again. I leaned my elbow on the dirty old stage (that needed mopping, honestly….ugh). Bias grinned at me, he is always cool to me when I make the front rows! Ray looked WONDERFUL; in fact Tad mentioned it, and I told him Ray had a lady friend last I heard, it must be doing well by him. "Good for him" is the general consensus there. John looks older, not a put down, but he was not as perky as I have seen him. The BUVs told someone they were still jet lagged, but they did a great show (Tracy G. as well as Tracy Wolf, BTW, both have smaller butts than they did last I saw them, good!). Once the BUVs got to going on IJASIARRB, and they ended it with a butt bump, it was pretty funny! I rather hope they keep it, they need to be more than just vapid-eyed bimbos jiggling in the back as stage dressing.

Bias looked like HELL, I'm sorry VR, he is getting a horrible pot gut! He was wearing some sort of Egyptian T-shirt with a Sphinx on it under the usual purple suits, but it wasn't tucked in and hung out the back. I never can sort out which synth is which, but someone sounds "plunky" on FML, like the attack on the synth is a little too fast or sharp. It should be a softer piece. Paul looked suave and debonair, he always does, he wears white shirts and black pants, and is very dashing. Gordon and Graeme, as always, the energy sources; Graeme never stopped smiling from what I could tell. He grinned over at me even a few time through the cymbals. Once at the beginning of the last show, GE comes on stage, mouthing and waving his arms "the kings of classic rock and roll" he is absolutely hilarious! Someone yelled "welcome back!" at he beginning of the first show, and sitting up against the stage, we heard Ray say "thank you!" in his deep voice, so that sort of thing is worth sitting up front to hear.

Justin looked FINE. Apparently people are pissing and moaning he looked pale (probably the "delicate shade of studio gray" he likes to mention in interviews!). Gad, like I say, they are often jet lagged the first shows. The first night JH was pretty somber, until the end of NCTD (which had some serious technical problems sound-wise) anyway, as the song was ending, he suddenly turns around and lays this big grin on me (or on the lady in front of me, hard to tell). He perked up as the energy improved. It always takes a few songs to get going, and often I was muttering "Thank you Rocker" when the pace picked up, like in "Slidezone". The second night, Justin was definitely a few pegs lower on his energy, and the last show I don't think he cracked any smiles at ALL, he was definatly tired. The last show, he was pressing the bridge of his nose, rubbing his temples, and on ILS he closed his eyes, unto making me think he was going to sleep and was going to miss his cues again. Nope, apparently just resting his eyes. Many things could have been wrong (hey let me start a rumor!) his contacts need fixing, headaches, sinuses, migraines ....hell he was just probably jet-lagged! Poor guy, whatever the problem, I hope he gets rested up and feels better for the other casino shows; he seemed to be saving his voice on some songs. His music was flawless, discounting the problems with amps, and that is all I care about. The performance music-wise was without a bobble. Well, unless you count that parapraxism on "Nights" the second show. Heheh. Not worth mentioning.

Justin is indeed wearing LEATHER PANTS. I have the photo that proves it. I bet anything he got them in Portland, as there is a leather shop right across from where they were staying that first show they appeared. He was also wearing a wrinkled shirt, fashionable; a patchwork leopard vest the second night that looked like hell in the back, too short. I don’t think I can convey just how nice it was to be there against the stage during the Dino walk, and being close enough to Justin to reach over and hug him around the legs (but I didn’t of course). Maybe he stood that close knowing I would behave, I hope so. And I know it sounds obsessive, but I got the feeling our auras overlapped, and it was pretty neat indeed. He’s a wonderful man. Whew. And I confess, I was not just leering at Justin! I lowered the camera once, and soaked in the details of his Gibson, it was in my face, literally. Boy has it got some miles on it!!!!! Neat aura, he and his axe both!!!

Ray was very spontaneous at times, and opened his shirt a bit, looked sexy I thought! Some j*** the 1st show Sat night broke the mood during his solo by spouting “Number One Ray!” well meant, but annoying at the time. Oh well again.

The songs:

The Voice: I forgot which show it was (first??), but the keyboards started without Justin and John...they looked at each other in shock, then strolled casually to the mikes and started the show. I don't know whose goof that was, but J & J looked like they were asleep at the switch.

“Strange Times”: Not as good as with the orchestra. I was somehow thinking about how we are a global village in the truest sense any more, and how things now affect us worldwide rather than in our own little neighborhoods.

“Never Comes the Day”: we were special in Tahoe, and getting that grin from Justin during this is even more special; apparently opening night was the only performance unless they add it back East. I wound up reflecting on my own personal situation this time and being weepy (tangled thoughts), which I don’t feel like talking about; but it’s one of the most lovely love songs ever, even moreso than “Nights”. I never caught the whole story on what Justin said about it last tour in AC. Something about "doing him a lot of good" or scoring; it is such a deeper song that just getting a piece of a**. The words are so so true, and all from a youngster of 22.

LOM—JH always goofing with the riff on this one, very nice.

Slidezone: my notes say THE BEST EVER.

IKYOTS—ALL the bandmembers looked around as if they expected a ghost to materialize on stage:

Wildest Dreams: some drumstick tossing, GE almost nailed Justin this time (I think he threw it semi at JH in frustration, or so it looked! Heheh) Finally GM and GE just tossed the sticks in the air and caught them! Some chick is alleged to have dived on stage and grabbed a stick! Much applause!

LOAM: some smirks from the band, Dr. Leary is always with us during that song. JH stayed on stage the first night, clutching his guitar neck with both hands. Second night he left with the others during Ray’s solo. LOTS of umph to this solo this time; JL does the Ohms, Gordon does a teeny flip of the stick before he re-enters the song.

Question: the 12 string was AWESOME this time, they found an amp that compliments it VERY well, very very rich sound. Kudos to Renee, who is back with the crew!

ILS-GE sucks Oxygen during this, looks like an alien. Yeah life’s strange!

 

Tidbits: JH stared up behind me once; he was either glaring at the RHCs or checking out Blue Lady. Bias did too many dipsy doodles on the piano for my taste. I think he hung around Moraz too long. Spotted a big burley lady security guard backstage in the wings the first show who was copping a free show obviously. I got a good picture of the signet ring, it appears to have the black worn off it, and is all silver. The pinky ring is still MIA. (My theory is they were dropped down a garbage disposal by accident, and the well polished signet ring is all that survived!) There were two late light cues, forgot where, but it didn’t affect the show, and I doubt anyone noticed it. BUVs came over "nasty and nice", in tight short leather skirts. JL did some eye roll once, and even Justin smiled, they were connecting on stage well. Gordon is wired somehow in the head, and looks like a Borg when he turns around.

Justin, the tux shirt needs some bleach. That is all I am going to say. This costumer has spoken!!!

I was glad the RHCs were behind/above me this time, for all shows; that way I didn’t have to look at them. (I had been eating burritos and beer though, and enjoyed myself immensely). I did glance up once, and one RHC had a smirk like a little impish child on her face, as she sneakily slipped on her horns. Jeeeze…..no Dr. Freud I don’t get it either, but it’s definitely penis envy of some kind. Even though a bit perverse, I love the musical nuances of OSOL more than the lights. Nice song. Poor Debbie Lyman was next to the RHCs, as was Cheryl Bezek. Luckily for them, there was no screaming this time. Libby was next to Sarah last show, which was fine with me in both cases.

Twice I had people hopping up and down in front of me, but it’s normal. Last show I was tired and real active, and I know the office worker with the swivel chair butt next to me was getting irritated (she never got out of her seat ONCE). One gal almost tipped the table leaping up and gushingly applauding, so I moved; and then another show, Paula Beard was up there (up and down a bit), and she is so nice I couldn’t get mad at her: besides, our Catbeard can DANCE!!! (No wonder John was openly flirting with her during one Dino Walk!) NO huge butt blockages. AND I was over on the side, so I got up and danced toward the end. Nice shows in that way, no irritations from other fans. Blue Lady (Debbie Lyman) was a bit put out by commentary on Blue World; she really likes to dance, and she is so small, I don’t know why anyone would be upset by this. It’s the mooses in the front row with telescopics that bug ME! (Especially when they are selling the pictures).

The photo thing was relaxed this time, which makes me very happy, and draws the market away from the photographers who are paying for their Moody habits by peddling photographic Moody Flesh. I won’t mention names, but my stomach still turns over the one who hustled John O’Keefe into lugging a huge mounted picture of Justin backstage for signature. I wonder how much she got for it?

No band members shook hands or took flowers after the shows. NO ONE. This is probably some management policy thing. In front of me last show, was a guy from the HOF movement (I've seen his picture on some HOF flyer that goes out to all the Moody fans) anyway he took a framed picture from Christie Young who was sitting next to me the last show, and he kept waving it for Justin (?) to sign after the show. Justin looked over and saw the whole thing. Then, JH got this terribly sad look on his face....I would never have noticed it had I not been behind this guy. I've seen Justin sign so much in the last two years...I don't feel sorry at all that he didn't get the signature. Apparently there is nothing going backstage for signing either. I didn't see ANY fans hanging around the backstage door this time.

I wore that gold glittery dress I made for the Santa Barbara show last year, yeah it still fits! (smiles). BOY DID I GET LEERED AT. Jeeze, I'm 44 years old, and just trying to spice it up a little bit for the night, not like the Moodies can see anything in the dark anyway, but just walking around after the show, I thought I was going to have holes burned in the thing by Italian & older men checking me out! Put a cheap wrapping on it, some cheesy paint on the eyes, add likker to a male, shake well; you get their attention, ladies, never forget that! However, also never forget, they go home to their wives and bambinos afterwards, so it's just fluff. I was feeling a bit used (like a piece of meat), so again I went “home” early, about midnight and sulked with my Hoagie, remote, and wine coolers.

Come to think of it, the glittery dress ties into the cheapness and the glittery appeal of the casinos, and that jingle jangle of the promised “pay off” that only comes on an irregular basis (Skinner). (No not Shawn; B.F.). Speaking of Shawn Skinner, he was there too, he is lovely to chat with, and he has a nice lady too. They appear very happy, and were swaying with the music once.

Adventures and close encounters: Cheryl Bezek, I and other friends, were headed out to go walking on Saturday morning, and we passed Paul. We didn't say hi, but I know he looked over at us and knew us to be fans. However, we were COOL.

They went on, and I eventually (after this big walkabout in the grocery store, where I impressed them all with my wine knowledge "Gee Christie is there anything you don't know?" "Hey I just live in California, I know my wines if nothing else!") Anyway, I wandered back to Caesar's with a burrito, and ate it peacefully, watching the people (you forget I'm a shrink: watching people is more fun than gambling to me!). Caught up on some mailies. Rested. It's been a rough quarter! And sometimes it's cool to just sit and do nothing. Eventually the Caesar's bookstore “called to me”, and I went down there to prowl, I always talk myself into buying something there. I found myself buying a book on "Why Cats Paint" which I'll talk about later, but suffice to say I was really knocked out by it. Checking out, the owners of the store engaged me in a rather long story about their geriatric angel fish who seemed to have higher than normal cognitive powers...it was long, ludicrous, and I was laughing pretty hard by the end of it, and trying to figure out how to escape these people!

Well, if they had not told me that crazy story, I would have missed the next episode! I escaped them, and egressed the store, clutching my cat book. YIKES!!!! AND..there's Justin coming down the hall (sigh, in his leather jacket), headed for the limo door. I HATE that feeling I get when I see him unexpectedly like that, it's like I’m in unrequited love again, and I'm 13! UHHH. First I started to escape/panic/dart into another shop, the grabbed myself and said "this is ridiculous, he's just a guy who plays the guitar well!" and I kept walking. Next, I got this screwy thought "Hey I wonder if Justin would like to see my book about Painting Cats". Like this is the most important thing in the world. [are you getting the idea I still have it bad for this man? It's INSANE!!] Luckily the rational part of my brain quelled that notion rapidly too. All this happened in about 2 steps, in which time Justin had walked toward ME with his long stride; and now I saw he was being shadowed by small dark haired lady with Brit accent, who is The Caddy.

Now for those who don't know The Caddy. She is friend to Sue McCrimmon (Frusty Sue) and is "from Essex" (?) as June identified her accent. The Caddy claimed to be John Lodge's caddy at some point, and the Violet Rose gets a big kick outta muttering under her breath "fooooRRRE!" everytime she sees this chick. Anyway, the first show I had let the word out that I had a ticket for the last show up in the second seat from the front, if anyone wanted it. At cost, which is of course $70 in the front. Well, The Caddy tried to buy it off me for $55 and then got pissy as I wanted full price for it! "Well mine was only $55!" No doubt, but that was further back! Sigh. I wound up using the ticket myself. Anyway, the Caddy is ok. Just obsessed.

Well back to the adventure. Justin and the Caddy pass me, and I smile, keep walking...until they are around the corner. I eased back and shamelessly eavesdropped (well, it wasn't a private conversation, she ran him down!). Justin was very genteel, and there was little gist to the conversation other than the Caddy seemed to be trying to get Justin lined up for a solo venture. I heard Justin say something about “Back East” and if you are up with the doings for Return to the Center of the Earth, you know they are thinking of doing a stage show of this, in London, NY, and LA, so you can put that together on your own (I do know if Justin does something like this in LA, I’m gonna be there for sure…whheeee Patrick Stewart and Justin in a rock opera LIVE??? O please o please!!!)

Oh, oooopps I digress…anyway the Caddy quizzed Justin about seeing the eclipse in Cornwall in August, which Justin probably cares even less about than painting cats! As I stood there out of their sight, leaning over and listening, a security man walked past, saw me and grinned, I grinned back. Well, really, I figured if Justin got in trouble with the Caddy, I'd help him out, but it seemed ok, he gave her the brush, she stomped off looking like a Sackville-Baggins, and JH jumped into an unmarked car from the Casino (and they went out a back road, I presume to the gym for his work out; I watched). I think an older limo driver was driving, might have been that old guy I met some years back. He was a Moody fan. Justin looked fine, especially as he was probably feeling pretty well rested! Last I saw of the Caddy, she was still sitting on a bench in the hall. Waiting for the right Moody to come along, I guess.

One nasty thing I'm going to say about other fans is that far too many of them wear their Moody habit (t-shirts) stretched over their haunches. There is something really unattractive about these huge butts with a tee stretched over them. I guess it was the first show Ray comes out with "I want Fatty" in THAT accent and voice, and I, along with the rest of the front rows, about split a gut laughing (I was the one with the maniac "Amadeus" laugh in the corner). "I didn't write it" Ray said next. I wonder how much nasty mail they got over that Simpson's dialog, from fat chicks? Justin was insufferably sweet after that incident. So many fans said they were going on to Vegas to THOSE shows; not only are some well fed, but they have more money than they know what to do with apparently!

Worse yet, there was one Moody fan you could not miss, as he had a huge Buddha pot belly with a Moody t-shirt stretched over it. Perhaps he was cool and a biker, but fat guys can be disgusting too. There are “plump and well kept” guys which is kinda cute, then there is disgusting! (Especially as you know the guy got that gut by knocking off a 12 pack every night). One girl I saw (the poor thing) last I saw her was approaching 200 lbs, and she's shorter than me (and younger). She's up to 300 by now, I kid you not: I know she’s a nice gal though so I am NOT making fun of her. Others have lost weight, which is good: many of us go through a "fat" period. Some poor fat gals really need medical help. God, everyone, wire your jaws shut or something!

I only rode the elevators once looking for stalkers. No dice. I did find it fascinating that some gals posted on Lost Chords that they “had spotted Gordon coming out of Justin’s suite” then they corrected themselves next LC. Now how did they know it was “Justin’s suite” unless it were they who were those stalkers last time at Tahoe? I know for a fact every time that Justin has a DIFFERENT floor, the 10th, the 9th, the 11th, the 15th…and so forth. Gee, I wonder if there is a reason for this? Naaaawww…but sometimes, it felt like I was at a party of strangers, I have a hard time relating to the fan mentality at times. GE was mentioned as saying in the past something about having a room at another hotel “away from all those madwomen!” heheh. Can’t say I blame him after the restful time I had at the Blue Jay Lodge. Even with the skiers clumping around in the morning, it was very nice.

I'll wrap it up by saying this was one of the nicest Tahoe adventures I have ever had, possibly due to having my own room, and being able to rest, and catch up on homework, and due to not prowling the damn halls of Caesar's to all hours. I found out some old Lost Chords friends live up in Tahoe now (they asked me not to say more) and Violet Rose has muttered about moving out there. It looks like there might be a serious possibility of me working there as a teacher next year, it is certainly a lovely place to live, and it's lively, you can see all the good acts you want. I especially am sorry I will be missing Willie Nelson the week after the Moodies, he is a handsome old man, and I love his music as much as Justin's.

The toga teddies were pretty cute this time, only 10$, I got a goat beanie baby, only 6$, so I feel I made out there. The Moody tees and souvenirs were so so, some left overs I think mostly. Nice atomic logo on the back of one.

As I left Tahoe Sunday, I went by way of North Shore about 6 am, and passed through one area that said “avalanche danger” EEEEEK. I crept through at a VERY QUIET PUTTER. The snow was scary, I expected members of the Donner party to come out from behind 10 foot drift munching on their comrades’ arms. Right after I passed the avalanche area, right at sunrise, I saw (the only car at that hour) a limo going the other way…TOWARD Caesar’s. Now over the years some of the more spicy rumors have been “Marie stays at a friend’s house at North Shore” "Justin won't drive the mountain roads in Tahoe after dark" and even better yet “Justin has found his long lost love, and she has a condo at Tahoe City”. Surely there are plenty of celebrities living in the area; even so, you can have all the fantasies you want from that info I guess. Cheers.

I don’t keep up on all the reviews on line, but there are definitely some people out there with no lives, who have nothing better to do than show hatred on line; Lost Chords has cleaned up, but Blue World is sadly getting more nasty: I'm just as glad I don't associate with the AOL crowd much, I've heard it's nasty there too. A lot of anger out there with life in general I guess. Seems a shame. I saved a few on-line reviews, and will try to print them out for the hard copy of the Vibes.

Hope everyone is having fun at the shows; apparently there was a lot of stalking action at Vegas (tut tut), but then again, that’s Vegas for you. Marie and Doremi were spotted at Vegas, Justin went shopping at the mall without them. No more dog stories about Justin entering the bar at three with dog and friends in tow. Then again, not all the stories are out yet! Pass along any doozies you hear, and be sure to say if you want your name attached or not! Carrie just wrote some stuff about Vegas (Ray cutting off J & J during LOAM? hehehe) so keep them thar stories coming guys!

Last note: I was chatting with someone at Tahoe, and we wondered together why so many fans had attitudes. "They get jealous, 'cause they think someone else has 'an edge' on fan information".....what a joke! There IS no "edge" in this fan club. If you are reading, and are one of those who worry about "who has the edge"... you really ought to get over it. Competition is healthy, until we start knifing each other like happens sometimes. This is not the 80's any more, in case you hadn't noticed! Say it with love!