The Piano Guys

Papa, Nana, and Sam grabbed Matteo a little early from school today and headed for Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison (just west of Denver) to see The Piano Guys. What a venue! What a show! But first, we stopped at The Fort for dinner. Robob took Lynn and I and Trevor and Tracy there over 30 years ago. Rattlesnake was still on the menu back then; tastes just like chicken. It's been a couple years since they've had rattlesnake; hard to keep a steady supply for how much they need if it's on the menu, per our waiter. This may have been where Robob developed his love of peanut butter jalapenos. Anyway, great dinner. Our plates included bison, elk, quail, and a lamb t-bone (new to me, very good). Got the cookbook. Then on to Red Rock. We were just as thrilled as two years ago when we were here with Matteo for the Piano Guys. At one point, Steve (cellist) gave a shout out to all the kids learning instruments. Matteo raised his hand and we cheered him on! Unfortunately, tonight they chased us out at intermission for a severe weather alert, advised us to seek shelter in our cars. Figuring at least an hour delay, we headed home (was a school night, after all), listening to Piano Guys all the way, of course, including their new album, Limitless.

The Fort

Peanut butter-stuffed jalapenos.

Red Rocks entrance ramp from the South Lot. (It's not really that steep.)

Tried to get some lightning in the shot; no luck.

The Tempest

We closed last night. What a fabulous experience. To a one, fantastically great people to work with. Helped me have a super first-time experience with Shakespeare. As Tracy said, everything was on point. Everyone in blacks with costume "hints" worked exceptionally well; never any question as to who is who. Lighting, sound, convincing set though extremely minimal. She said she needed dramamine for the opening scene, the tempest itself; the coordinated movement of the people gave an all-too-real feeling of extreme ship motion. And the little bit of audience immersion genuinely sucked them in for the whole show. Wonderfully reactive audiences. And Ariel (the puppet), eerie, mystical, very cool. And all original music (that I got to play, too).

The Tempest
Counterweight Theatre Lab
Directed by Megan Michelle
August 9-18, 2019

Front: Roxanne, Shelby, Mikala, Megan.
Back: Madalyn, Delaney, Dalton, Joe, Ethan, Jo-Jo, Jamie, Jeremiah.

That's me (King Alonso) sitting center (light blue) during an early rehearsal.

Director, Megan Michelle

Stephano, Ethan Everhart

Musicians (and several other roles): Roxanne Rankin and Jeremiah Walter

Miranda, Shelby Evanoika

Caliban, Jo-Jo Hurford-Reynolds

Ariel, played by several actors

Ferdinand, Jo-Jo

Delaney Watson, Joe O'Rear, and Madalyn Rilling

The Harpy

Ariel

Prospero, Madalyn Rilling

Back to School

Tracy: She was the first baby of our group of friends.
14 years and 14 kids between all of us - she is starting high school today.
How did that happen?!?!? Guys we are getting OLD!!!!!

Tracy: First day - 9th (HS), 6th (MS), 4th, 2nd, 2nd, and pre-K.
It’s going to be a busy year!

AJ is in the hoody. His carpool group arrived AOK for its maiden voyage.
AJ gets to do his 4th grade year at School in the Woods.

A "sculpture" at School in the Woods!

SLO-COS Wormhole

A 2-way wormhole opened up on July 16 between San Luis Obispo and Colorado Springs. And the Gibsons and the Fosters traded places for a week. A few more pics.

Nana and Papa with the Nipomo Grands and Sam at the SB pier.
After a train ride to SB for a zoo visit.

Three years of GibGusci gatherings: top-to-bottom, 2017-2019.

Pappa Pia at the Melodrama with Zach and Rebecca.

Peacock Cellars on Los Berros Road.

Rolld (sic) in SLO.

PTA moms (for decades) gathered at Giuseppe's in SLO.

AJ Goes to Camp

A real camp. A real overnight camp. And, of course, he loved it. AJ took all the pics below. Lutheran Valley Retreat. He went with his good friend, Griffen.

Fina's Birthday Party

It was a gorgeous day... Until party time when a storm came through. And the party was to be outdoors. No problem. It never got really bad, and the new easy-up jumped into action just when needed. I think the party-ers got the wettest out on their video scavenger hunt. All the photos are here.

During the video scavenger hunt (clips are in the main gallery, here.)

Everyone got to have s'mores!