The first drops are hitting the windows...

I've got some wood in, the flashlight handy, and some mini marshmallows. I think we're all set for what we may one day look back on and remember as "The Great Storm of Ought Nine." At least that's what the TV weather folks would have us believe. From Weather.com:

"A powerful storm in the eastern Pacific plows through central California Tuesday bringing heavy rain and flooding with it. The worst of the system should be focused on central and northern California with 2 to 6 inches of rain likely with high spot amounts of over 8 inches possible. The heaviest rain should fall along the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. Flash flooding is likely Tuesday and Tuesday night with the heavy rain, but river flooding may last into late week. All that heavy rain falling on the hills and mountains could lead to landslides, especially in areas that wildfires scarred in the past few years. Snow levels with this storm are going to be high due to the recent warm spell. Accumulating snow should only occur above 9,000 feet. Rain is not the only feature with this storm, strong winds also buffet central and northern California. Sustained winds of 15 to 40 mph (strongest at the coast) with gusts over 60 mph are likely Tuesday."

We'll see. I am looking forward to the fire and hot chocolate. And to watching the rain run off our newly sealed deck and in to the shiny new gutters.

I used to care but things have changed...

Last Saturday, we had a grand day out in Berkeley. Eight of us - Michael, Dolores, Jeff, Jake, Lauren, Paul, and I all went to Berkeley to see Bob Dylan at The Greek. It was a long stretch of road getting there, but a beautiful drive through the wine country - the fading smell of harvest and crush with that sickly sweet post crush grapes dead and dying from time to time.

I was looking forward to giving my tour of Berkeley, but I found there wasn't all that much to show anymore. I guess in my mind, Berkeley is a bit like Disneyland - like I could go back after twenty years and see the same rides and the same wacky characters would be there at Sather Gate to greet me with enthusiasm. And my friends would all be sitting upstairs at Milano or outside at Roma puffing on cigarettes and doing the crossword. But the people and places I remember are mostly gone, changed, or crowded out by new buildings.

Rick Starr, The Hate Man, The Naked Man, Rare, Steven Lightfoot, all gone. The high rise dorms are dramatically different, and much of the empty space has been filled in. I couldn't point and say "I lived in that room my first year," or "Scott and I climbed on this roof one night." Cafe tables are now crowded with laptops and students walk around typing or talking on cell phones.

"See when I was here, Jake, the girls were just as cute, but there were no laptops or cell phones. I had what they used to call a 'typewriter.'"

Cody's has been gone a while, yet the sign remains on the vacant building.


You can still get yourself a sandwich and salad from Cafe Intermezzo. Only it's not called that anymore. It's Cafe Mattina. Next door, Raleigh's is now Manny's Tap Room, but who cares, really?
Anyway - same bread, same bowls, same great salads, same mad dash to get a table when someone looks about to leave. So that was a genuine nostalgic moment for me. I kind of half expectd to see Subham and Matt walking up the street.

And then there was Moe's.

I like to tell people of the magic of Moe's - that the book you need in your life can fall off the shelf and hit you on the head. This time, nothing hit me on the head. But I did get a signed copy of Juliet Naked. And I ventured up to the rare book room on the 4th floor. And there I found a complete McSweeney's #4. I have #5-#32, and the reissue of #1-#3. And now I have 4, so my set is complete. Although I would very much like to have originals of 1-3.

Anyway, while Dolores, Rachel and I were book shopping the rest of the crew went to Amoeba Records.

And then it was off to The Greek.

I've heard people say "The 'U.C.' in U.C. Berkeley stands for 'under construction.' And I found that to be apt. Strange new buildings obscuring the old, scaffolding on The Campanile, blocked off pathways and orange netting denying my old shortcuts, and cranes towering over everything. So it was mostly zigging and zagging Northwest. We barely touched the actual campus.

There was a line and in that line, there was a good deal of confusion over whether the section, row and seat information was trumped by the "General Admission" text. Nobody in the line seemed to know for sure, and none of the hired wind breakers out front could answer that question. A bit of chaos ensued, but we ended up with great seats a little stage right, and in the last row where nobody could kick us.

I thought the show was excellent. Some in our group thought it was too loud. And some preferred "folk" Bob over "Blues" Bob and were disappointed. I completely disagree with the Chronicle review that said it was "just another stop on the way to the next state fair."

I got almost everything I hoped for from the show. I've posted before about my remorse at failing to see artists I admire. And I am thankful for the opportunity to see Bob Dylan perform in person. And I am glad we gave Jake a chance to see him. And, in all, it was great to get a big family group together for something like this. As achievers, it was wonderful to hear him play "The Man In Me." And Highway 61 totally rocked.




Having said that, I have one complaint. I wish he would have played even just one song in a way that we could have sang along with. I understand that he's played them all a million times and he probably has to do something to keep it interesting. And I have heard that he is having some problems with his hands. And yes, he is supporting a "blues album." But I wish he could have played us just one song with just him, his words, his voice, and an acoustic guitar. Kind of like what John Hiatt does.

Anyway - here's the set list...

1.	Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking (Bob on keyboard)
2.	The Man In Me (Bob on keyboard, Donnie on trumpet)
3.	Beyond Here Lies Nothin' (Bob center stage on harp, Donnie on trumpet)
4.	Mama, You Been On My Mind (Bob on guitar, Donnie on violin, Stu on acoustic guitar, Tony on standup bass)
5.	Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on keyboard)
6.	I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) (Bob center stage on harp)
7.	My Wife's Hometown (Bob on guitar, Donnie on electric mandolin, Tony on standup bass)
8.	Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard, then center stage on harp)
9.	Cold Irons Bound (Bob center stage on harp)
10.	The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll (Bob on keyboard, then center stage on harp, Donnie on electric mandolin)
11.	Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on keyboard)
12.	I Feel A Change Comin' On (Bob on keyboard)
13.	Thunder On The Mountain (Bob on keyboard)
14.	Ballad Of A Thin Man (Bob center stage on harp)
	(encore)
15.	Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
16.	Jolene (Bob on keyboard)
17.	All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)