9 - Count 'Em - Days of Blissful Bluegrass

First TroutGrass, a unique event, for many reasons, including the fact that I don't eat fish. The jamming was wonderful, the scenery spectacular, and I discovered the American River. The fishing wasn't particularly successful this trip.

CBA Music Camp followed, with a great bass workshop with Dean Knight, and an equally great banjo workshop for The Boy (my son) with Bill Evans. Both these guys were wonderful, kind, generous, intelligent, and dadgum good pickers.

Then, some of the best music I have heard, IBMA Male Vocalist of the year, Larry Sparks gave great shows; Audie Blaylock and Redline was as tight and sweet a band as I have heard. Little wonder they are the "Emerging Band" of IBMA. We got to have dinner with them, a little impromptu concert and jam. Lots of other very talented musicians on the stage and off.

And my boy got his new banjo. Check out his band: http://www.scottgates.com/wordpress/pacific-ocean-bluegrass/ They sold all 100 copies of their pre-release CD, and picked up a two set (paid) gig for Sunday morning. Not bad for a five-member band whose combined age is less than 70.

Meanwhile, in the law, a lawyer was shot here last week by a disgruntled client. I don't have details, but it was a workers' comp lawyer. Go figure. I've had friends assaulted and even raped, offices burglarized. And I have heard of a probation officer shooting his soon to be or perhaps already ex-wife. (They don't have to go through security at the courthouse, because they all carry guns.)

Years ago, several of us made a stink at the Harris County Courthouse about the new security system: Assistant DA's and judges and probation officers all bypassed the things, while the defense bar went through them with their clients, witnesses and jurors. A lot can be said about that. But not here, not by me, anyhow.

Life remains interesting, even confounding. There is that old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." We're there.