K&W in Laguna Beach -- Saturday, 21Feb2015

This was supposed to be "our turn" at the ice cream corner, but, understandably, Tom had a tough time shutting down at 6 when I got there, since there were lots of people out and he was presumably doing pretty well. I didn't want to just sit there waiting like last time, so I set up on the Fingerhut side, and did OK, but I'm sure it made it easier for Tom to stall on relinquishing the "good side".

Just as I was starting, three teenage guys pulled up with their big cameras and asked if they could take pictures of me. Of course I said yes, and asked them to send me the best ones. They never did, though.

I had been standing in front of the Fingerhut display window when I noticed the lady inside. She gestured and mouthed for me to move away from blocking her window, which, hmmm: public sidewalk, *outside* her store. But I like to be cooperative, so I moved. That put me on the "wrong side" of my amp, and made me have to try to use my right foot for the harmony box buttons. That was surprisingly hard, since I'm used to using my left foot, not to mention that, if the box is on my right side, I can't even see it to aim my foot at the buttons 'cuz my guitar is in the way.

The Tommies finally quit when Warren showed up at 7:30, but took their time clearing out, so I didn't really get moved, set up, and restarted until 8:00. Tom doesn't really seem to be taking his "take turns" promise to heart -- but I guess it's a bit better than not having any cooperation at all.

It started out a bit chilly and windy, but a lot of people were out anyway, and we did quite well, for a February. Lots of people there, requesting songs and being appreciative. I sold six CDs, where I usually sell none.

At one point there was a couple who were big Cat Stevens fans on the bench, some Chinese guys who liked John Denver and the Beatles, and a couple who were huge James Taylor fans showed up. Ain't that the way? After a few songs back and forth, the James fan guy asked me if I could play "Up On the Roof", 'cuz it's his favorite, and he knew it was hard. I do know it, and it *is* hard, but I do a pretty good job of it, which he acknowledged by ostentatiously sticking a twenty in the jar.

Later on at closing time, like he had done last time, the new manager of the ice cream store asked if we'd like some free ice cream. I like this guy...

We were pretty drunk-free all night, but at 10:30 or so, the drunk and crazy Mexican lady showed up with her also drunk and crazy new boyfriend. She was wearing a tube top, and a wedding dress upside down and backwards, with the dress part fixed around her waist, and her feet sticking out the unzipped back, leaving the bodice and long sleeves to drag on the ground. That's something you don't see every day. Nor want to...

I put up with her antics for a while, but the sane people were mostly gone anyway, so eventually I gave up and we went home.