Can there be anything better then a pair of Mickey ears and being piggy back for a fireworks show in Epcot?
Beautiful difference
Disney World or Yosemite?Yosemite is like the girl next door. Natural, looks great in shorts and hiking boots. Up for any adventure, maybe a row of freckles along her nose.
Disney World, well she’s a super model. All make up, botox and enhancements. Flashy outfits and glitter everywhere. She is entertaining and fast, and how do you say a good ride.
History is from the beginning of time at Yosemite, ancient glaciers ripped through the valley and natives have likely lived under the falls of Yosemite as long as there have been people in north America. History at Disney is late 20th century, all concrete and glass. Each, river, plant and animal placed perfectly. Disney is a marvel to mans ability to make things happen, Yosemite a marvel of natures power.
Can you love both the super model and the girl next door. Why not, after all they are both stunning and fun.
Rebecca Scott-Old Chicago
Was lucky enough to catch just a bit of Rebecca Scotts set at Old Chicago(yes Old Chicago) Thursday night. Pretty much the old band. The tight harmonies of Deb and Becca never sounded better. Even wedged in the front of a Yuppie pizza joint it sounded great, I’ll be back for more. You should be too.
Monday Follies-Downtown Boise
Found this street sign before 8th on Main street downtown Boise. 
It is even funnier because there is no right hand turn for two blocks at sixth. Guess if we confuse the tourists enought they will go home.
FIFTY
OK, So I’m 50. It’s the new 40 right. My 40’s were good.
I’m in Disney World with great family. 
My freinds old and new are the best bunch I have ever had. I've still got hair, most of my teeth and good health. I love 50, well maybe not love-but as George Burns said, , , it’s better than the alternative.
Royal, a resturant?
After being rejected for the old Boise National Bank building at 8th and Bannock it sounds as if big time national steakhouse chain Ruth Chris will land in the penthouse of the Royal Building. Had a Ruth Chris meal in Hawaii last summer. It was wonderful and priced like it. Guess Boise is becoming a big city. Can even a high class venue like Ruth Chris come close to the old Royal. Hard to do.
The Main Street Bordello-Pair
Each year the Pair crew dresses up and puts on a show for the Martini Mix Off.
Last years “Cocktails at Tiffany's†was a tough act to follow. Gotta’ say this year was a step up. Lilke a step up to dance on the bar step up. Dressed as a very classy Madame from Boise’s more colorful past. Owner Christine and her “Girls†Jen, Nikki, and Jamie were very attentive to the judges and the customers. With Sheriff Mitch and dude Nicole close by the bar was a working mans dream for a while last night. So Christine whatta going to do next year?
Kat's really has nine lives!
The ever changing Kat’s in Nampa has changed again. Just heard from Richard Soliz. Apparently the new owners are not going to Hip Hop as Cindie Lee believed. Kat’s will drop the House of Blues moniker and concentrate on classic rock. House band Riff Raff will continue to play and Richard has been booked for at least a weekend a month. Anybody else have a take on Kat’s?
Festival for the rest of you
Getting so the only place to see real live music is at the festivals. One of the very best of the season kicks off the summer right. The Eagle Island Experience is, well, just that an experiance.
2007 EAGLE ISLAND EXPERIENCE FESTIVAL MAIN STAGE LINE UP FRIDAY MAY 18, 2007 LISTEN TO THE MUSIC OF GOLDEN GATE STATE PARK 1967 4PM GATES OPEN 5-5:45PM HEADS LIKE US 6-7:30PM MUSIC OF JANIS JOPLIN PRESENTED BY CINDI LEE AND STREETWISE 8-9:30PM MUSIC OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD PRESENTED BY FARMDOG & FRIENDS SATURDAY MAY 19, 2007 12-1PM FARMDOG 1:15-2:15 DANCE (TBA) 2:30-3:30 PHONIEX & AFTERBUFFALO 3:45-4:45 LORI B ! and THE BOYS 5-6:30 DALLAS HODGE 7-9 EDDIE TURNER 9:15-9:45 SPECIAL FIRE SHOW SUNDAY MAY 20, 2007 12-1:30 TERRA SONUS 2:30-4:30 8TRAC 4:45-5:45 SCRIBE
Old dog, gets new one
Happy Birthday to me. Thanks for the present family. Her name is Kloi.
At 7 months she is full of energy but sits, fetches most of the time and is potty trained. OK, she ate part of a plant, and looks longingly at shoes, but she is a good dog so far.
What do you think? Obedience training for us. Teach an old dog and a young one new tricks!!!
Monday Follies-Yosemite
Yosemite
Poets, pundits, and politicians have all tried to capture the magnificence of that is Yosemite. Teddy Roosevelt made it a national park the after a just a few minutes in the park. Ansel Adams was likely the best, his images almost to convey the power of Yosemite. 
For me as one of my instructors Mike Osborn said. . .
"magnificence does not make great photographs." Like so many before me I struggled to grasp such a powerful place.
Mama nature at hers rawest. Glacier honed canyons three times higher than the empire state loomed over us. Young Sequoias climbing hundreds of feet. Even the man made structures have a place in history. We walked an old toll road abandon for a half a century that still had long stretches of pavement and hand crafted hand stack support walls that survived rock falls and time with a craftsmanship that is all but lost. The vista are beyond grand. Wide jagged green valleys backed by cliffs and domes freshly cap with a late spring snow
From the base of El Cap ever so mighty pine trees look like twigs and even at just a third of the way up climbers become little blue and red specs.
It is work to teach an old dog new tricks. Especially one like me, a dog that loves the city and thinks alleys and water covers are fantastic. Keith Walkett is a dynamo. His ever present smile lit the snow covered landscape early in the week and fired up my classmates to that place “just over here†later in the week when we began to flag. Along with recently retired Yosemite Park Ranger Mike Osborn we worked, we worked 13 hours days to capture light and glory. Our group was similar and diverse. Geographically we came from just over the hill to as far away as London England. All we had in common was a need to get better as photographers. Keith and Mike helped us along. “Look here.†“See how the trees look against El Cap, or we can catch the light on the river if we hurry.
Keith worked to help us find order and beauty in natures chaos. 
A leaf against the sky, or waterfall across a valley? 
The ragged shadow of a raven against a shear mountain side . The bigger picture become a smaller one. This is a place where size and scale skew. Where big things are overwhelmed and the tiniest flower can loom larger than life.
By the end we had become a merry band. “Onward religiously affiliated solders.†We came from Jersey or England to march up waterfalls and down over boulders the size of U-Hauls. Splashing thought marshes and leaning against tall bushes. We carried tripods, lens and cameras to places few have seen. At each stop and cross over we help each other with a hand or covered a lens and helped a picture taker with a protective umbrella to shield against a water fall or the snow. We fought off cold and rain and wind to take home a couple of good photos to hang on our walls or show a friend or two. 
We battled hard and we won. Even without a single picture, we captured each others respect and admiration, and yes we produced some good work. It was a long rewarding week. I hope to see these guys again.
Now as I head back to the familiar foothills and alleys of Idaho, I can’t wait to get out a see what I can find. I’m thinking a 4-wheel drive might be in my future. Oh, and definitely a better phone!!! Stay tune for more pictures and adventures.
Three for all
Kat's may be dead for good!
This from Cindie Lee. . . Comment: Well, Kat's House of Blues decided they would be better off changing their format to Hip Hop. This is just sad. What has happened to all the blues lovers in the valley? ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!!!
Cable cars at rest
Heh, I know you want some more Yosemite Pics. I’m having some issues with my camera, but I did get an image from San Francisco, that I shot last Monday. So here it is.
Bouquet-This just in(last week)
From "Dr. Dave" Wren. . .I got a nice little bulletin about the bouquet and in it there was some information that I wanted to pass along. "We're thinking of starting a lighter side of the Bouquet on Sundays, maybe once a month or so. We'll be booking jazz, comedy, and poetry, etc. If you're interested in this, let me know at booking@thebouquet.net." If you do know of anyone who would like to try to book there the name of the person doing booking is Pollyanna.
China Blue Owner arrested-update
Enough nature for a minute.CONFIRMED
Click here for the arrest records>
Apparently(yes, I am sure but don’t have confirmation yet.) Bistro, Little Roddy’s etc. owner Ted Challenger was arrested late Saturday night. Sounds like he tampered with evidence that showed his staff serving a minor at China Blue. News at 10 as they say. I know it will be hard, but keep the comments clean please BTW the Boise weekly site also has an short article.
Yosemite challange
Ok, back to civilization or as close as you can get in Oakdale. Can’t really absorb the whole Yosemite week yet but here are a few of my thoughts and images from the first part of the week. More as soon as I have some time to write it and process the pics.
It takes a command of English that few can master to describe the beauty that is Yosemite. A poet maybe. Even the depth and vitality of an Ansel Adams photo can in no way capture this place. As I sit in a cabin under a mile high rock face, a storm is rolling in. Wind blows ever stronger up the valley. Soon I will take my shot at finding images. I will walk the paths of the greats and see what I can see. This marvelous challenge is intimidating and tantalizing at once. I’m off.
(Part of the crew 1st day)
Yosmite Falls(quote the raven)
Meadow Elm
Wet Yosemite
Rain and snow, makes for wet cold photogs and beautiful Pictures. More as soon as I get back to civilization.
Loft Left?-Update
Still in Yosemite with no internet, so this is from the files Sounds like a combination of liquor violations, violence, and just bad karma helped the owners of the old, Brando’s Manhattan, Loft etc. location decide to move to a quieter restaurant. On the apparent advise from a “Main†competitor. The Capitol Boulevard Grill is open. Even if the opening is on Idaho.
Had a meal there recently. Not much has changed in the atmosphere department. Think nice frat house. However the food was good from the short menu. and there was a live comedy show featured that night.
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