Hey look! I'm almost up to date!
We went down to the Boardwalk this evening to listen to the rock concert. The band is led by the bass player, whose claim to fame is that he is the host of Hungary’s "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." Needless to say, these are great credentials to be a bass player in a rock band, and his skills are about what you would expect of a TV host fronting a rock band. The lead guitarist is unassuming - (!!!). The rhythm guitarist and the keyboard player are pretty competent. And then there is the trumpet/harmonica appendage. Trumpet is not really his ax - kind of a very weak Herb Alpert - and on harmonica, well, when he is in the right key and on the right chord - he’s OK! Their vocals are their strength, and they use them very effectively. Of course the trumpet appendage is the arranger. The rhythm guitarist writes the lyrics, and the songs are all originals. You’ll spend a lot of time going, "hey, that tune sounds a lot like..." But if you going to steal, steal from the best!
*****
After the show, we wandered home to meet the new house pests, relatives of the owner of the vineyard that Peter takes care of. Grandma, Mom, two boys and their new Au Pair (19), that arrived just a week ago. I was treated to watching the Au Pair survive her first schnapps (nice to watch somebody else do it for a change). I find I know just enough German to barely follow the conversation, so hurrah for me. Am I adding to the conversation? Well, not so much. In fact, not at all. But it nice to at least have some clue what is going on for a change.
The boys don’t speak any English, and are pushing me to the limit to respond in German. But they are pretty easy going about it. I thought I might teach them a word or two in English. Can you say, "Swordfish?" I know some of you have Swordfished over quite a long distance, but I like the idea of the long term payoff of this.
(Zia adds at this point that she completely doesn’t get the whole "Swordfish" thing. If ya gotta ask, you’ll never know. Besides, it is kind of beyond explanation anymore, anyway. As I am becomming an expert at this summer, just smile and nod, smile and nod...)
The boys are bundles of energy, and are immediately attracted to Peter. He is kind of a kid magnet. He seems to be having the time of his life.
The best part of this evening is - IT STARTED TO RAIN! The temperature is dropping enough that I may actually get to sleep. It feels really great after a month of heat, even though I know eventually it will push up the humidity (it ain’t the heat...).
Dave
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