The Aurora Tragedy and The Fergusons: Kind Hearts and Eloquence

I don't write here very often. A lot of what I have to say will fit nicely on a Facebook page or even a tweet. But sometimes something happens that brings a flood of thoughts that I feel I must write somewhere, without regard if anyone ever sees them.

The horrible events in Aurora, Colorado keep coming back to me in news stories, all very sad, frequently about the heroism of some of the people who lost their lives there. The morning after it happened, I had been unaware at first and was happily posting a cute photo, sending it to Craig Ferguson, something to make him smile if he found it. Immediately after sending it, I returned to find the news. Horrified and upset, the first thing I did was delete that photo. Then I saw that one of my #RSA friends, Mimi, had tried to go to the show but couldn't get a ticket. At least one person I knew was safe. I worried about other people I knew and tried not to panic. The more news stories I watched, the worse it became. It felt wrong going to work, but I had to go.  Once I arrived there, I couldn't concentrate on anything. There seemed to be an odd silence around the office. I didn't hear anyone talking about what had happened. I'm sure nobody wanted to be reminded of the angry ex-boyfriend of a co-worker showing up outside the building recently with a gun. The same fear I had then resonated as I thought of all these defenseless people, out for an evening of fun, lives shattered in a matter of minutes. The only person I spoke/tweeted to all day was Lynn Ferguson, who is always there for us on Twitter with This Day Today, and who shared her sadness. She baked a turkey that day, comfort food for her family, and she virtually shared that with all of us. Thank you, Lynn.

Kind hearts run in the Ferguson family. When I arrived home, my only hopeful thought was that at least Craig would be on later so that there might be something positive about this day. When I saw CBS tweet that Craig had a special message for us, I was not surprised. This is the man who has opened his heart to us many times before, every day to some extent and sometimes in a big way, talking about his life as an alcoholic, and most notably in his eulogy for his Dad. What I love most about him is his humanity and honesty. But this was different. Before, we had been able to relate to Craig and appreciate his candor when it came to his personal life. This time he spoke for all of us, joining us in experiencing the shock and pain we had been facing all day. Of course he was going to change the show that evening because of its content. He is a very responsible person. But he could have had someone else come in and make the edits. He didn't do that. He came to work. He had to talk to us, as difficult as that might be. This was not going to be a formal statement, because that's just not Craig. He always gives us much more than that. You could see sadness was weighing heavily on him.  As he explained his reasons for changing the show that evening, he was careful not to completely give into his feelings, but he did use the words "rage and despair." We were right there with him. When he spoke directly to the people of Aurora and said "I'm sorry" he reached out to everyone. There was eloquence in his heartfelt message. It was the warm, comforting hug we all needed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvY_QbxvoLA

We won't forget the terrible events in Aurora. Our hearts and sympathies go out to everyone who was there or who lost a loved one that night.  But even without actually experiencing what happened in Aurora, as Craig said "we are all diminished by this." What Craig gave us on Friday night will also stay with us. The human connection, which holds us all together at the worst of times, is valuable beyond measure. I know all this attention may make him uneasy, but I hope he gains some comfort from knowing he touched so many lives. Craig sometimes questions whether what he does makes any difference in the world. It clearly does. The stream of thank you's and kudos continues, and this is just one more. ♥

California Dreamin' Part 7 - The Late Late Show

Last full day in LA, and the original  reason my trip was extended to this day was finally here! Craig was back in town and it was time for my very first Late Late Show taping. I had lots of good advice on what to do  from my many friends who have shared their experiences.Thank you all! 1iota had me worried for awhile, not posting the schedule for Late Late Show tapings past April 18th until I was just a week away from leaving for California. They had reassured me via email that there would be a taping that day, but I needed that computer copy of a ticket in my hand to feel secure.
Oddly a tweet to @joshrthompson where I mentioned that I was nervously waiting for a post was followed an hour later by 1iota posting two weeks of taping days (no guest mentions) starting April 30th. Coincidence? I'm not sure what happened there but thanks! I jumped online and had a priority ticket within seconds.

Ready for a full day in the CBS Television City/Grove/Farmers Market area, I made the drive over there in just a few minutes. It actually felt a little bit like going to work (I wish!). Even more so after I parked and walked over to the street next to the CBS parking lot, where I met up with other audience members. http://twitpic.com/9i9u0w  It was only 2:30 in the afternoon, and the taping was scheduled for 5 PM, so we had time to chat and share Craig stories while we waited. Then Ryan with 1iota showed up and started preparing us for what was to come. He had us cheering on the street! Tour bus guides called out to us as they passed by. It was getting festive out here! After we passed through the security gates and handed over our cell phones, we found seats in a waiting area next to the gift shop.  We were told we could shop and use the restrooms now. Best to be prepared and not need a bathroom break past this point.  Ryan introduced Chunky B, who did a great job creating just the right atmosphere for what we were about to do, "make great television with Craig Ferguson."  As we walked through the hallway, I saw Jeff Arnold, stage manager, someone I've missed seeing on the road and in those great musical cold opens. It was good to see his smiling face!

Then it was time to go to the studio. I haven't been in a television studio in awhile, but it does feel comfortable. I've been hanging out in the corners of studios most of my life. When I was a kid, my Dad took me along when he went to the local CBS in Louisville to play bass on some of the shows they taped there. That time, along with lots of years working in radio, is probably why I had this 'going to work' feeling.
Still, even though we've been told this is a small studio, the size was a bit of a surprise. That long shot you see when Craig walks through the doorway makes the distance across the stage seem farther than it is.
I enjoyed having a look at the cameras and the lighting arrangement. I was seated in the front row, stage left, the side opposite Lesbian Row.  I could see Josh a little bit and Michael quite well, as he was in front of  me just a few seats to my left.
I would give you more details about the pre-show fun, but it might take away from the enjoyment of seeing it for the first time. If you get the chance, go! Needless to say, we were ready for Craig. When he walked onstage we were out of our seats cheering. As much coaching as Chunky B may do, this crowd was enthusiastic for real. It certainly felt that way to me!
Craig was fresh from ten days on the road and ready for some fun. He and Josh/Geoff were fantastic together. The guests were Jim Gaffigan and Cat Cora. The chat with Jim was hilarious. I enjoyed the chats and planning between segments too, especially the preparation for the cooking segment, watching Craig putting on the jacket and toque and seeing Geoff being dressed in his cooking outfit. The cooking segment was such a treat, uproariously funny, with the added advantage of the wonderful cooking aromas. Made me hungry!
When the show was over, Craig thanked us and introduced Josh as the genius behind Geoff Peterson. That was very nice moment. Not in a hurry to leave, but it was time. Again in the hallway I saw Jeff Arnold, this time with a little time to chat, as we prepared to go. What a great experience! I was already thinking of returning to celebrate the move to the new studio.

It was dinner time, and I was wandering around Farmer's Market and the Grove. http://twitpic.com/9i9vw4 I checked the menu at Morel's and decided to sit outside to enjoy my last dinner in California there. http://twitpic.com/9i9uhf  http://twitpic.com/9i9usa It was cool and overcast, so the waitress put me next to a heater. Very comfy sitting there people watching, I was also treated to the full "Dancing Waters" show, with great jazz and pop standards playing while what many of us now consider Craig's fountain put on a full display. It was the perfect way to spend the last evening of this California journey. http://twitpic.com/9i9v81

Thanks to RSA News for posting all these blogs! And a big thank you to Craig Ferguson, who continues to inspire me to choose adventure. I am truly grateful. ♥ #RSA

California Dreamin' Part 6 - Eric Idle and the House Of Pies

Sunday morning I was in San Francisco. I had enjoyed dinner with Jim and Christina in Chinatown the night before. http://twitpic.com/9i9of3 I had taken time earlier on Saturday to visit Muir Woods, one of my favorite places on the planet. http://twitpic.com/9ia3gu http://twitpic.com/9ia0zy http://twitpic.com/9ia1wv http://twitpic.com/9ia19d I was full of northern California memories from just the few short days I had spent there. My little hotel had a great restaurant and I was having a tasty breakfast before beginning the longest drive of this trip.
Tonight I would be in LA again, back at my first hotel, and going to see Eric Idle's play at the Orpheum. I needed to get started! I took my bags downstairs, and took advantage of the complimentary beverages, making tea in a to-go cup while I waited for my car. http://twitpic.com/9i9ot6 http://twitpic.com/9i9p5o
Today I wanted to make it to LA in time to relax for a little bit before going to the Orpheum. Driving along the coast would have been awesome, but I had to be practical about this, so I-5 through California farm country worked just fine.

It felt very comfortable checking into the same hotel where I had spent my first night in California. It was just after 5 PM and the show was at 7, enough time to change clothes, freshen up and go. This was going to be another one of those theaters worth seeing on its own! http://www.laorpheum.com/gallery.html  http://twitpic.com/9i9pjx
When I arrived at the theater, I walked downstairs first to find something to drink. I've discovered from seeing Craig's shows that laughing a lot makes me very thirsty. With bottle of water in hand, I was ushered to my seat.  Not front row this time, but stage left 14 rows back. It was actually a good view! I noticed a camera set up near me. They were filming this. Check the photos of the program for the cast list (!!) and details about the filming.  http://twitpic.com/9i9rnd http://twitpic.com/9i9s2d
One of the most hilarious moments of the evening was the disembodied voice of Eddie Izzard giving us theater safety announcements before the show. I'm sure you can imagine. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I haven't seen Eddie live since he brought his "Stripped" tour to Tampa Theatre three years ago. It would have been enough to see just Eddie onstage. But this was one of those evenings that boggles the mind. ERIC IDLE! I grew up loving Monty Python and it's a tradition that has been lovingly passed down in our house.  BILLY CONNOLLY! Are you kidding me?! Bringing some of the most outrageously funny speeches to the show and leading us all in song. TIM CURRY! - just freaking brilliant, and RUSSELL BRAND! Providing some of the more risque/risky moments of the evening. JANE LEEVES, with one of the most hilarious songs of the show (Blow Me (A Kiss)). TRACEY ULLMAN! (I've missed seeing her), whose laugh I could always hear through everything else that was happening. One comedy icon after another, all onstage together.  This was presented as a radio play, so they were all holding scripts. I say holding, because clearly there were plenty of times when they didn't follow along. There were seats for everyone set up in a semi-circle, so that when an actor wasn't in the scene, he could sit down for a bit. And then there was the band, The DickTones, with their spangly sign, looking very much like a Vegas lounge act. The sound effects man was also a character in the show, clearly visible, stage right. It was great watching him work.
There were so many highlights to this show, but I'll just mention a few. With all these amazing people working together, there seemed to be quite a bit of improvisation going on. Eric Idle was always visible, sitting downstage left. When Eddie said something that was followed by a reaction by several cast members, he came out with "I wasn't expecting a Spanish Inquisition!" The crowd roared its approval, and Eric threw his script over his shoulder, giving in to the Python love coming his way. At one point in the show, Russell Brand kept mentioning the mouth organ for some reason. It made me wonder who else might be sitting in the theater. :) And when Billy Connolly sang "The Lonely Trout" he was accompanied by two dancers, "The Lonely Scottish Tarts," and a bagpipe player. We were all invited to join in, following along on the giant lyric sheet that dropped down from the stage ceiling.

It was an incredible night. When it was over, I noticed I was hungry. I hadn't thought about it all day, but now I needed to find a place for dinner. It was pretty late, so I figured my choices might be limited. I totally blame being tired and hungry on the way I found this restaurant. It isn't on a main thoroughfare and I didn't look it up on Google maps. I did take a right when I should have taken a left, and that turned out very well! Just north of Hollywood Boulevard, nestled in a little neighborhood, I found this friendly sign. http://twitpic.com/9i9srk It was after 10PM, and the parking lot was crowded. I wondered if all these people were eating pie.  I settled in at the counter and the waitress brought me a menu and some coffee. http://twitpic.com/9i9t15  I found out they serve everything, even breakfast, until 2AM! I couldn't be more grateful that I knew the name of this place. (Thanks again, Craig!) Crazy thing is, I didn't have pie at all. I had a very large salad with chicken, so big I had to take some back to the little hotel refrigerator. Just one more reason I have to come back to LA - for the pie. :D

California Dreamin' Part 5 - Napa

There's nothing like waking up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. Oddly, my alarm at home has that sound. It's also too soothing to really wake me up. *_*

It was going to be a longer drive today to reach Napa and my last Craigy show of his tour. I didn't want it to be the last one. This west coast trip was beyond anything I could have dreamed so far. There were some great reasons to stay in Napa though. I would be seeing my brother for the first time in a long time, meeting my sister-in-law for the first time, and meeting fellow skelly Melody, who, in the way we #RSA do, had become a good friend even before we met.

I was on the road by 10 AM, figuring I could make it to the hotel in Napa early enough to have time to freshen up for the evening. We were all meeting at Pearl, a popular local restaurant within walking distance of the Uptown Theatre.  The drive started by taking me back up through San Luis Obispo and past the Madonna Inn, my first visual comedy call back of the day. 

It was a very pleasant drive through the hills. I started to see signs for San Francisco and Oakland, and sharpened up to make sure I didn't miss any turns as I headed for the bay bridge. I had no problem making it through the city, quickly making it to the other side, looking across the bay from an angle I had never seen before.  There was the Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance! The bay views continued to be spectacular for a nice long stretch until I turned into the hills again. 

When I arrived in Napa, I saw what my brother had told me was the newly renovated west end of town. I was staying within walking distance of all that at the River Terrace Inn. I couldn't resist turning on Third Street first to get a look at the Uptown Theatre. http://twitpic.com/9ia5c5 Then it was on to the hotel.

The bellman greeted me and helped me with my bags. The lobby was warm and inviting, also very large and lodge-y looking, with an enormous bar on one side. Oh yeah, wine country! And my room, more like a studio apartment! This was to be home for the next three days. http://twitpic.com/9i9hm1 http://twitpic.com/9i9h2g

I called Jim and Christina (my brother and sister-in-law) and they planned to meet me at the hotel. After freshening up a bit and setting up the laptop, I was ready for the evening. I had Jim and Christina's tickets to the show. Melody was picking up our tickets at will call. We would meet Melody at Pearl and walk from there. It's a good thing we were organized, because I was very excited. I still had to double-check that the tickets were in the purse. Okay, breathe!

Jim and Christina arrived at the hotel and it was like we had just seen each other the day before. That's part of what I love about them; we can always pick up right where we left off. Still, it was so good to finally be here and with them. I was already thinking about moving back to the west coast, and here was a very good reason to do it.

We got in my rental car and headed to the center of town. There was some rain in the area that night, so a long walk might be a little damp in our nice clothes. We found the restaurant, where we saw a few people standing around outside. I was looking for Melody, but I had never seen her face before! I just said out loud "I'm looking for Melody" and turned to see her standing there. Why she insists on hiding her face from the Tweety I don't know, but I respect her privacy. That said, she is a very lovely lady.

We were seated at the restaurant and everybody got to know each other. Jim and Christina have had experience running a pre-school and Melody teaches young children, so there was an instant connection. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and chatted away about everything, of course a lot about Craig. Then we took a short walk to the theater.  It started raining, so we hurried up to get inside. 

The Uptown Theatre is a wonderful art deco renovation. I found this online when I was buying tickets. 

http://www.uptowntheatrenapa.com/history/  http://www.uptowntheatrenapa.com/uptown-photos/  What a great place to see a show, and a lovely place to perform! We found our seats and made ourselves comfortable. Melody and I were sitting second row center. She informed me that she might faint, being this close. Feeling like a seasoned veteran of this kind of closeness (yeah right!) I reassured her that it would be okay, she could survive it. http://twitpic.com/9hvxlw

Then there was Craig's pre-show music again. The Uptown was punk rockin' and we were ready for the evening to start! A gentleman came out and made some stage announcements, notably a list of many of the upcoming events. Wow! This young theater is the place to be for entertainment. Then Ted was announced and did another great set, this time mixing it up a bit with some new additions.  Craig announced himself and walked onstage, beginning his show with comments about the amount of drinking going on here in wine country. "This is not a comedy show, it's an intervention!" The audience adored him and of course the night was over too soon. Thrilled with the company I had for the show that night, it was a little bit easier to leave, knowing it was my last stop on the tour.  Now my attention was turned to family and friends for awhile. I had northern California to explore too! Sunday it would be time to return to LA, with a very special play and a Late Late show taping still in the future.  http://twitpic.com/9hvrzt

California Dreamin' Part 4 - An Unexpected Stop, Santa Barbara and RSA in SLO

The day after a great show, I'm always gliding a couple of inches off the ground. Waking up at Humphrey's was like that.  Then add seeing the stage as I walked outside and you've got the only kind of hangover I ever want to have.
Another cool refreshing morning in San Diego. I made my way to breakfast first, just to be sure I didn't miss another chance to enjoy the hotel restaurant.  It was lovely sitting next to the marina, and the coffee was good. I enjoyed hearing people at other tables talking about how great Craig was the night before. Today was a free day, and while I couldn't stay at Humphrey's past check-out time, I was in no hurry to leave.  I found the exercise room, and this was my view!  http://twitpic.com/9i8nzx There were occasional gulls flying by at eye level. When I checked out, all I did was move my car across the street. I had to catch a few more pictures to share. http://twitpic.com/9i8pks  http://twitpic.com/9i8oq9
I was headed to Santa Barbara, a nice place to spend some time before making it to San Luis Obispo for Craig's next show. I needed a break from driving, so I took the Santa Monica Boulevard exit off the 101, looking for coffee and maybe lunch. After a couple of turns I found myself on Beverly Boulevard, and there was CBS Television City! I really am not sure how I did this, but now I knew where I was. I drove around the block, parked at Farmer's Market, and walked into a place even my Dad would recognize after 40 years. Many things have changed around it but Farmer's Market is the same and I love it. I wandered until I found a Starbuck's, bought a coffee and had my parking validated. Then I walked into the Grove and found myself touring the locations Craig has made famous, circling past the fountain, stopping on the little bridge there, and soaking it in. Not the afternoon I had planned, but I was very happy to be here. http://twitpic.com/9jhsca
...Waking up at the Lavender Inn in Santa Barbara was wonderful. I was thinking about getting to San Luis Obispo for Craig's show that evening while I enjoyed a light breakfast in this cozy room. http://twitpic.com/9i8urr My next stop was only a couple of hours away, so there was still plenty of time to go exploring. I went shopping for gifts for family back home, drove along State Street, visited the Mission. http://twitpic.com/9i9ek7
Then it was back on the road again, this time to Pismo Beach (your Bugs Bunny references here :)). SLO is only about twenty minutes from there, and I hadn't stayed on the beach in a long time. As I got closer, I came around a curve and there was the ocean again. It literally took my breath away! A great sweeping vista looking up the coastline. With no good place to stop along this stretch of highway, I'm left with only pictures in my mind. When I arrived at my hotel, the first thing I did was step onto the balcony. http://twitpic.com/9i9ewx
I had some time to change clothes and get ready to drive into San Luis Obispo to meet fellow skellies Diane, Sara and Kayla for dinner at the Apple Farm. Sara's Mom was also with us, and we had a great time chatting about Craig and enjoying a delicious assortment of foods from the big menu.  We were a three-minute drive from CalPoly Arts' Harmon Hall. This was the best meetup of the trip so far! We were hoping there might be a chance to say hello to Craig after the show.
As we walked towards the entrance to Harmon Hall, we could see Craig's tour bus parked a couple of levels down by the stage door exit of the building. We kept that in mind for later. I met several members of Diane's family. We had become quite a group going to this show! I briefly found myself walking behind Rebecca Tucker and her friend and heard ask the way to backstage. Her hair is looking very nice, quite a bit longer than when I last saw pics of her with Craig in Paris. That was all I had time to notice, as we were making our way downstairs for a pre-show bathroom break. Front row center this time, absolutely not moving from that seat! I know what happens. :D
Craig's music before the show put everyone in the right mood. There were some stage announcements, then Ted Alexandro started his set and got a great reception. (BTW Ted is on tour now. If you can see him, do it! And he's tweeting.) This was such a good audience, a mix of students and locals. We were ready for Craig. He announced himself and strode onstage to cheers and applause. Part of his opening remarks were about the Madonna Inn. I had noticed their pink sign along the highway. He said,  "You should be so proud. " If you haven't seen it before, please check out their website. You will be entertained.
Then Craig took us on a wonderful romp that (as usual) seemed to be over very quickly. He was having fun, and when the show was over, he suggested he might stay and chat awhile. Unfortunately, a self-promoting woman blurted out her reddit site and ruined that chance for all of us. I felt badly for Craig; he opened himself up to us and that happened. We walked down to see them at the bus, but Craig and Ted were already on their way. At least we had a very fine skelly meetup. And the show was top-notch! Diane and I stood and talked for awhile; then it was time for us both to go get some rest. Tomorrow, Napa. ♥

Things I Forgot to Mention, or How Writing with a Deadline Made Me Stupid

This has been sitting here as a draft since shortly after Craig's Florida standup tour in November 2011. I don't know why. lol  I meant to share it with friends, so here you go! .....

It all goes by so quickly. I'm used to taking notes, like jotting down the setlist at a concert. But so much of what Craig Ferguson says and does buries itself in my subconscious and pops up in my mind the next day. This often happens when I'm at work. I'm the one sitting in my corner cubicle giggling for no apparent reason.

This past weekend of Florida shows was one of the best of my life. What started out as a promise not to miss any of Craig's visit here turned into a great adventure and a challenge to meet deadlines. I didn't want to let my fellow skellies or RSA News down!

Now that I think of it...
Scots dialect
441's looking habitable
Meeting Janis
The ALoft in Tally
Talking to fans
Talking to Joe
Louavull
Love, the real kind

You can ask me about these if you want. Maybe I'll elaborate. :)

California Dreamin' Part 3 - Humphrey's, San Diego

Sunday morning. It was nice waking up in a big cozy bed in LA, though a little strange having all this space to myself. Usually there's a little place for me, my husband and maybe a couple of cats. Being able to stretch out in the middle of the bed was a luxury. I had time to make use of the hotel gym (very nice and new) and have breakfast.  Not rushed at all, but I was ready for the drive to San Diego and very much looking forward to seeing Craig at Humphrey's that evening.
The drive was uneventful until I reached a point where I could see the Pacific Ocean. From then on, until I reached my destination, I kept having moments where I wanted to take a little side trip to the beach!  All the beautiful scenery spread out in front of me made the rest of the drive go quickly. 

Then I started seeing signs for San Diego exits. I needed to find the one for Shelter Island. When I did, I was glad I had chosen to stay on the main road. This was exactly where I wanted to be.  It may have had something to do with Humphrey's by the Bay.  Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites is the hotel name. I won't post an ad for it here, but Google it. It's heavenly! http://twitpic.com/9i8mrg  http://twitpic.com/9i8mai http://twitpic.com/9i8oq9 http://twitpic.com/9i8nzx 

When I checked in, guess who was at the front desk? http://twitpic.com/9it4ik There's a greeting! I found I had been upgraded to a junior suite. When I located my room, I discovered the view from my door. http://twitpic.com/9it4ik Oh come on, really? I couldn't stop giggling at the whole situation. I'm not really much of a stalker, more of a lover of adventure letting one of my favorite people lead the way. Sorry, Craig, I'll try to do better. Just kidding! :D  --- But I this was just too perfect. I settled into this beautiful suite and set up the computer to send some pics. http://twitpic.com/9iykj5 http://twitpic.com/9iykj5 (Could I live here, please?) I had a 6PM dinner reservation at the hotel restaurant, and plenty of time to get there. So I wandered around the property, falling more in love with this little paradise at every turn.

At 6PM, I arrived at Humphrey's casually elegant restaurant, with a large abstract bird sculpture hanging from the ceiling (like Brancusi, maybe Calder?), and full view of the marina. Sitting comfortably at a table on one side, I could enjoy the ambience with a little privacy. I tweeted about a sailboat flying the skull & crossbones (Aarrgh, there be pirates here!). I wondered how many boat owners would be watching Craig from their decks that night. 

Dinner was from a special prix fixe menu. It was delicious, including a salmon dish with vegetables and a sauce that had bacon in it. Gourmet comfort food! I was enjoying this so much that I broke my diet and ate the dessert. Thank you, Chef Murphy!

After dinner, I still had an hour to relax before the show. There was a concession selling Humphrey's logo items and I found a pink t-shirt I liked. It took so long to pay that I lost my chance to meet another skelly, @bd_sd, who visited my seat but didn't find me. Rats.(I'll be back!) I did enjoy watching people arrive and took some more pictures as the sun was setting. http://twitpic.com/9i8n5z http://twitpic.com/9iy7e8 http://twitpic.com/9iy72h http://twitpic.com/9iy8gr

Almost showtime! I took my seat, front row, stage left. The audience was friendly. I had a conversation with the people sitting behind me. One couple was from Florida, and the husband had gone to the University of Tampa! Ted came on and did a great set. It was a good crowd in a partying mood.  Performing on a stage outside on a cool, fresh evening with the boats swaying in the marina nearby has to be pretty sweet.  It was time for Craig. He was all smiles walking onstage. He talked about the pirates in the marina and the beautiful surroundings, and wondered aloud how the audience on the boats might behave that night. (He's been here before. :D) Craig did a fantastic job. The audience was very happy. Just before the end, the lady behind me got up to go to the bathroom. Craig suggested we should all hide while she was gone. We liked the idea! When he reached the end of the show Craig looked over at us and asked "Did that lady ever come back?" She had sneaked in and was in a different spot behind me. Craig spotted her. "Oh I see you like to change it up... I like that!"  When Craig was ready to leave, he made his way towards stage left. He said something like "A lot of you are parked out front here. My car's out there too. I was gonna tell you this one thing..." and he dropped the mic and ran offstage. A very playful, delightful evening!

California Dreamin' Part 2 - Lancaster and Seats on The Stage

Cut to the Saturday flight to LA on Southwest. http://twitpic.com/9fxx4k  If you've flown Southwest, you may have been entertained by the flight attendants.  Sometimes they turn the safety talk into standup, sometimes they sing. Our flight from the stopover in Denver was great! The whole cabin was cracking up from the pre-flight talk, then Willie Nelson "On the Road Again" came over the speakers. When we landed in LA, they played "California Dreamin'!" Perfect. lol 

I picked up my rental car and headed bravely for the 405.  The plan was to check into the hotel, then drive to Lancaster and go straight to the theater. When I arrived in Beverly Hills (don't judge me - it's 10 minutes from CBS!), I already felt pressed for time. The hotel had upgraded me and made me their random guest of the day. This happened at the same chain in Ft. Myers when I did Craig's Florida tour back in November! Feeling pampered again and ready for the drive to Lancaster, I headed out for an early evening drive into the hills.

Hills! I've been living in Florida for eight years now, where the only high places are in buildings or on highway overpasses. Even with traffic this was a lovely drive. Unfortunately my GPS had died and I was trying to make it there on time. So I called the theater.  A very nice person at LPAC gave me easy directions and I was there quickly. Parking nearby, I passed Craig's red and white tour bus. I had a first row seat for the show. As I walked into the theater, I was told that the first two rows were not ready yet. When I looked up I saw two rows of chairs on the stage! Close enough?! They did lower them so that they became the 'orchestra pit.' They sent us for a free drink while we waited. 

I settled into my front row seat and enjoyed the music. I noticed a change to some familiar songs that I later recognized as the music set leading up to the show, artists including Iggy Pop and Ian Dury. Some punk rock attitude to set the mood - oh yeah! This was just what I needed after a long day of flying and driving.  Ted Alexandro was the opening act for Craig on this tour, and a had a very strong set, with unique timing that I really enjoyed. I had been hearing great things about Ted from friends who had seen him, and he did not disappoint. Very funny and original! 

Then it was time for Craig to take the stage.  He announced himself, then walked on to a roar of applause and cheers. Being in the front of the theater for these shows gave me the opportunity to feel the reaction of the crowd, so even though I was part of it, I found myself soaking in the appreciation of the audience and enjoying the show from a slightly different perspective, like a proud parent, or skelly. :)  Craig looked healthy and rested, sporting a nice blue t-shirt (long-sleeved?) under a suit jacket with jeans and boots. No suits on this road trip, at least none that I saw! "It's a great day for America!" We were on our way. There's no denying the energy and enthusiasm of this man; he just sweeps you up and takes you along. I was completely re-energized right away. I know this show very well by now but hadn't seen Craig live since November in Florida. Of course there was some local talk at the beginning, but there were more changes along the way as well. As consistently good as Craig's basic material for this show is, he continues to massage it and play with a bit every night. So of course there were some surprises. I've seen Craig say he can't imagine why anyone would want to see the same show more than once. Well, in his case, it's never the same show! I do believe I saw a glance or two come my way that evening. I was just happy to be spending my first hours in California seeing Craig live. The rest of the day melted away.

When the show was over, I headed for my car, stopping along the way with other fans to wave at the tour bus as it pulled out of the parking lot.  Wondering where the guys would have dinner, I realized I hadn't had food since peanuts on the plane. I grabbed what seemed like an enormous burrito at El Pollo Loco and then made my way back to the hotel in Beverly Hills, feeling very content.

California Dreamin' Part 1 - Getting There

If you should randomly discover this blog, I should preface it with an explanation. A lot of this is going to be about Craig Ferguson and is written with all my fellow Robot Skeletons in mind. :-)

It's been over twenty years since I've visited California, and my brother. It's not like I don't love the place. When I was in my twenties I lived in San Francisco and LA and in a little town north of LA called Frazier Park. I was born in LA, then made the cross-country trip to Louisville (Louavull) when I was still a baby. My Dad has told me stories about growing up in La Crescenta and the Hollywood Hills my whole life.  In high school I wanted to go to USC or UCLA. My high school yearbook song was California Dreamin'! - So of course seeing Craig Ferguson sing it, with the harmonies, in The Big Tease is a funny and really sweet moment for me. I had been hoping for some inspiration, something or someone to give me a little push to make this trip. It all started with a tweet on January 7th...

Craig Ferguson ‏ @CraigyFerg

“@Freundlydude: My goal this year is to have @BenFolds@IamStevenT or @CraigyFerg to RT one of my tweets #goals” Jeez. Aim higher.

I had a response to that, even though it was not directed at me...

Nancy Herman ‏ @NancyinTampa

@CraigyFerg Good afternoon!2012 goal-time to visit brother in Sonoma & attend a LLS taping.Dream- west coast standup show too!#toohigh ? :)

Then things started to happen. One month later, new standup dates were announced. And there it was - the Uptown Theatre in Napa - 20 minutes from my brother's house! All the components were there - visit my brother, see Craig live, then drive to LA for a Late Late Show taping.  I was already thanking Craig for making this the perfect California visit!

Thanks to Craig joining Twitter and creating his Robot Skeleton Army, I have made some great friends. As soon as the Napa show was announced, I heard from Melody (@cozyhobo),  who lives nearby in Novato.  She offered to drive over to the Uptown Theatre and purchase a membership so that we could later find good seats for the show. We could split the cost and it would be totally worth it. This is not unusual for the #RSA! We hadn't even met yet and this is what we were doing. When the tickets became available, the seats Melody came up with were second row center! Off to an amazing start, not really expecting any more than that. When tickets opened up to the general public on Valentine's Day, I was online right away and bought fourth row seats for my brother and sister-in-law.  After learning more about the Uptown Theatre, I was really looking forward to the whole experience. It is a beautiful place.
http://twitpic.com/9hvrzt

I knew when I started this that I had to fill some time between arriving in LA and leaving the day after the LLS taping. I would have a few days with my family, but they had to work while I was playing tourist. I also wanted to see friends if I could manage it. When the San Diego and San Luis Obispo shows were announced I hoped to meet with #RSA friends @Diane4mail and @sarieswick. I started filling up the days with Craig's standup shows, and my visit blossomed into a full tour of California! Eventually this became the plan:

4-21-Arrive Saturday afternoon in LA, check into hotel, drive to Lancaster. See Craig the first night in California. (I really liked that!:))
4-22- Back in LA, leave for San Diego. Arrive mid-afternoon, have dinner and then see Craig at Humphrey's. Stay at Humphrey's.
4-23 - Free day. Spend it in Santa Barbara.
4-24- Drive to hotel in Pismo Beach. Join Diane and Sara for dinner at the Apple Farm in SLO, then see Craig at Harmon Hall.
4-25- Drive to Napa, check into hotel, meet brother, sister-in-law and Melody for dinner, then see Craig at the Uptown Theatre.
4-26 & 27 - Tour northern California, visit friends and family.
4-28 - Drive to San Francisco, dinner with family
4-29 Drive back to LA.
4-30 Go to Late Late Show taping.
5-1 Fly back to Tampa.

That seemed like plenty! But there was one more thing. Eric Idle appeared on Craig's show and talked about his production of "What About Dick?", scheduled to be at the Orpheum in LA April 26-29.  The cast was beyond anyone's wildest dreams! Eric, Eddie Izzard, Billy Connolly, Russell Brand, Tim Curry, Tracey Ullman, Jane Leeves, Jim Piddick and Sophie Winkleman. So Sunday night suddenly had a destination.