Tuesday September 13

Woke up in New Hampshire. As a New Englander, I had to fix that situation soon. Had a hankering for local cuisine, and was chauffeured across the state to the Maine Diner for some blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup. How any restaurant in New England can serve artificial maple flavored table syrup is beyond me, but I was told that there are people who find the natural product overpowering. As an overpowering force myself, I understood. I disagree though. Never can be too overwhelming.

We drive past where my cats have chosen to take their holiday, an onwards to the cobbled and uneven streets of Old Port Portland ME. A fabulous and under rated water front traditional new England town. There was a cruise ship in town, and other exciting events planned for the evening, or so I heard. After an unsatisfying brush to the hair with the unsatisfying brush of the Tour, I set out for an adventure, bringing along my Team for support, three medics and an accountant, as one might get ill or need tabulating. We settle for fresh local produce simmered, sautéed and steamed to perfection, and once again caloric content was negated by the walk. Local mussels in white wine with pine nuts, fresh basils and tomatoes.

Off to have fairy tales told to me by professional vocalists. Complete with facial expressions and hand gestures. Who knew there was so much talent around, like people I hadn’t seen for a few months, vaguely resembling someone I had run into the night before. Then I got close up and personal with inanimate objects. No official receiving line this night for me, all that attention the night before wore me out, I am humble, and shy.

Again, I signal for the house lights to come down, and I conduct the show, secretly and silently making requests for a certain beloved or obscure classic to be played, and getting my wish, song after song, unwaveringly accurate. How do those nice gentlemen and ladies know what I want to hear? Like I might have been caught humming the tunes in public? Or they know my tastes? Spooky.

I actually knew this stage full of folks tonight, and they seemed to know each other, and got along fairly well. Looks improved quite a lot, too. Someone else must have found a better hair brush, I must try to run into them later and ask their secret. Also what rejuvenization methods they use, as they looked less worried by time tonight. Or it was the lights.

Merrill auditorium in Portland City Hall is a lovely older theatre intimate seating and nice sound. A few less of the usual and customary faces in their usual and customary seats, and doing the usual and customary rituals including illuminated synchronized hand dancing, with the added bonus of a flautist reproducing eighties synth solos. Much nicer than the original recording which I never took too, much. To be honest.

No yodeling, a few extra guitar chords but done correctly during the correct songs, and only a few missed words in the lyrics, but no one noticed.

Stand out Songs

Gypsy because it is played only for me
Peak Hour for the same reason
IKOTS because some stared intently at my daughter for enough few brief seconds to “creep her out”
And RMSS because someone else checked her out.

And question because I was smiled at in a warm and personal way.

After My show, we stumbled around the uneven brick sidewalks whick I find charming when in flats, and ended up looking for some place we could not find?
Tried Three Dollar Dewey’s but they were closed.
(one dollar looky, two dolar touchy)

Needed sleep, had to load up the dog sled to find Canada in the Morning.