Narrow escape

Sunday night we were all anxious to get out of Las Vegas. After dinner on the Nevada/ Arizona border our temporary driver Brian took us for a middle of the night crossing over the Hoover Dam. He explained that commercial vehicles were not allowed on the dam, but we were OK because we were "sight seeing". We were boarded by a federal police officer on the Nevada side and then sent on our way. Here is a pic of the group on the Nevada side.

Pictured in back are Matt, Uncle Al, John, Mitch, and Allan. In front Sari and Rob.

With no traffic we stopped on the Arizona side of the dam and got out. Then a bunch of cars came up behind us so the bus took off and stranded us. Passing cars saw a bunch of people on the dam taking pictures so they decided to stop and join the fun. Then the police showed up.

They were sincerely pissed and yelled for us to get back in our "car". When we pointed to our bus clearly visible 1/4 mile away and unable to come back for us, they suggested we start walking. They were more concerned with the people who had stopped cars that were still running on top of the dam.

Here is a shot of the dam from the Arizona side.

Finally, here is a cool shot (taken from the same spot as the above photo) of the almost finished US 93 bypass road under construction. It is a 1/2 mile or so south of the dam. It will allow commercial trucks and buses to travel 93. For more info about the by-pass click HERE.

I win 55 bucks !

I was back in Las Vegas for three days of work last weekend. Winning 55 dollars was easy. In less than twenty minutes, while waiting for takeout, I took 55 big ones out of this machine. My strategy was simple. First, I slipped in a brand new 100 dollar bill. Then I punched a bunch of buttons, got bored, and cashed out. Coming later this week ... Pictures from our "near arrest incident" on top of Hoover Dam at 2:30 this morning.

Iowa Cubs 3 Salt Lake Bees 2

This AAA minor league game had a 10:30 am start and was sold out. Beautiful place to watch a game.

Dreaming of The Pour House on the way to Denver

This was taken on the bus by Mitch on the way to Denver. I was dreaming about the Pour House.

Denver's Pour House is owned by a couple of guys who went to school in Boston. Although there is no connection to Boston's Pour House on Boylston St., the bar's TV's are tuned to every Sox, Pats, and Celtics game. Also from my morning jog ...

Invesco Field surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. To get this view I had to climb four flights of a fire escape stairs next to a parking garage. On the way down I encountered a squirrel who was busy climbing up. I sort of tried to scare him away, but every step I took down, he jumped up one. After a few minutes of unsuccessful coaxing, I just jumped over him and he chased me down the stairs. The people in Denver are a lot more friendly than the squirrels. I wish we had days off here.

Postcards from St Louis

These are from my morning jog. I think this statue is called "Guy running through water". Also a snap of the famous Gateway Arch.

My naked belly

We are back out on the road. Tonight we are in Cleveland. Then we go to St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver. Here are a couple Cleveland pics from my late morning jog. Old Stone Church is downtown and The Cleveland Browns Stadium is on the shore of Lake Erie.

Out on the road food is always around. A lot of it is good and healthy and a lot of it is not. I'm trying to pass on the mac and cheese, ice cream, and pizza. Those who have spent time with me recently are aware that my self-discipline on the food front has been less than stellar. So ... to add a little pressure, Allan and Rob are doing a time-lapse of my naked belly. Each workday after we are set-up, one of them snaps a pic that will be edited together and posted here at the end of June. The above is a pic of them taking the first picture.

Back Home in Eastie

We get to spend our 2nd set of days off at home because we finished the week in Manchester. I grew up in Framingham, but East Boston really is home now. I love the people, location, and views. I plan to spend the entire 2 days split between the Boston Athletic Club and Kelly's Pub.

The early lead for "worst venue to work in" goes to Philadelphia. The Spectrum is a place with lots of great Celtic memories but this building has to go. A new one is being built nearby. I sensed none of the sadness we had in Boston when we lost our Garden. The "wildlife" was incredible. I've seen more than a few four legged friends but in Philly, I really felt like I was intruding on their turf. The nickname for the Spectrum is a body part that rhymes with spectrum. I walked out of this hole for the last time late Saturday night.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to all the Moms in my life. My Mom, pictured here with yours truly, is the best. I took this pic this past February while walking with her in Ocean Park. Lot's of people retire and move south. My Mom retired, moved north to Maine and kept working. Now completely retired she spends her time taking classes at Senior College and playing with her grandchildren. I'm thankful for her. I love you Mom. Happy Mother's Day. .

Robert McLean turns 78 !

During the summer of 1968 I was 6 years old. I remember a cookout my family was having and I was being a little clingy with my father. I had recently had a birthday and I remember being curious about everyone's age. I asked my Dad how old he was. He replied that he didn't know and I found that impossible to believe. I insisted he tell me so he subtracted 31 from 68 and answered me. I'm certain he still doesn't know his own age, but now that I know him better, I think I understand why. One of the qualities I love the most about my father is his ability to live in the moment.

He has taught me so much. He has a certain wisdom that is hard for me write about. Throughout my life he has been one of my best friends.

In the pic is the birthday boy, his guide dog Belle, my brother Mark and his son Mitch.

Lunch was a Trip in Pittsburgh

I haven't seen Tripp Clarke since June 1980. We were roommates my junior year of high school. I met him for lunch Wednesday in Pittsburgh and the experience was exactly like meeting an old friend should be. It's such a curious feeling meeting a stranger that you know so well. I can't say it any better than that.

Music was always central to his life. Here is a link to some of his recent work as a radio producer.

http://www.wyep.org/music/features/feature.php?id=46

He also wrote the book on musicians from Pittsburgh ... Literally. Here is a link to that.

AMAZON

Finally here is a pic of 2 of his kids, Will and Evan, who were at the show last night. I was their age when I last saw their dad.

4 More from the Intrepid Air and Space Museum

First Day off ! Woo hoo.

Early Monday morning we checked into a hotel in Jersey City, NJ. I spent the first hour of my first day off lost in the NJ underground trying to find a ferry to Manhattan. I wanted a picture from the New Jersey side. Finally, I emerged in Hoboken to find the weather had changed to a foggy, rainy day. Not great for pictures. I took a ferry to financial district and then the A train to 42nd Street. (Thank you New York strangers who patiently explained the MTA maze to me)

I picked up a few things in Times Square and then moved towards objective 1 for the day which was here.

Walking around the Intrepid Museum was wild. I had never been on an air craft carrier. I saw rooms the size of my hotel room that had 40 bunks. I'll pull that image to mind if ever I grow weary of my much bigger bunk on the bus. I don't know how the sailors did it. In addition to more comfortable bunks when on the bus, I sleep without worrying that a kamkasi fighter pilot will crash onto the flight deck. At any given time over 3000 men were in service aboard the Intrepid from 1943 through the early 70's. World War II ... collecting astronauts for NASA ... Vietnam. My visit was a very rich experience.

Monday night Al, Mitch, Rob, Allan, Eric, and John went to The Iridium Jazz Club to see the 93 year old Les Paul perform. (he will be 94 in June) Here's a snap taken by master cameraman Rob McLaughlin.

I missed the show so that I could get together with my friend Katy and her brand new husband John.

I met the former Miss O'Brien working at KSP. We both
shared "the pipe"(internet) on the back bench of the
control room. Everyone in Foxboro is curious about
the type of guy that could lure Katy away from blissful
Massachusetts. Monday night I found out. Great guy.

Coming later this week ... a possible violation of my
blogger "terms of service agreement" !

Also - apologies for all the weird page breaks
(words broken up) I'm trying to fix it.

mm

Routine ???

... well not yet but we're getting better each day. From my little seat on the bus things are going very well. The biggest surprise for me was how well I can sleep on a moving bus. Our excellent driver, Uncle Bill, said that many people have trouble sleeping after they get home. When we arrived in Long Island at 2:30 this morning he kept our engine running because people tend to wake up as soon as it he shuts it down. I honestly feel like a little kid passed out in the back of the family car. Being exhausted doesn't hurt either.

Everyone I've met has been great. There are 9 on our bus and to a person they are all the type of people I would pick to ride across the country with. Our first shows were in Albany and Baltimore. Yesterday we were in Newark where I met Cindy, who is an IATSE 23 Stage hand who also happens to be an Ironworker who helped build the venue we were working in. In this pic she is demonstrating the first part of what was described as a very painful move she inflicts on any "25 year old boy" who doubts her capability as an Ironworker in local 11.

The subject of her demonstration is Matt Henderson. He is an engineer who designed and built our system. Matt is only with us for 2 weeks, but "Keep Matt" buttons are starting to show up on people everywhere.

After the show tonight we are in a Manhattan hotel for 2 nights and then to Pittsburgh where we have one more day off before Thursday's show.