2009 Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee

So it is that time where I update you on my memories of the jazz festival. Anyways, James and I arrived in Mammoth around 3 pm on Wednesday and when we got to Megan's house we relaxed for a bit and then we ran some errands with Megan. At 8 pm we sold cds for Ivory and Gold and then at 9:15 pm we sold cds for Jas'm. On Thursday James, Megan, and I got up early and went to the lakes where we took some engagement photos and then at 3 pm James and I went to go sell cds for Jas'm. Then at 4 pm James, Megan, and I watched Sue Palmer and Tom Hook play dueling pianos. Then at 5 pm James, Megan, and I went to go see the Professors play. Then at 6 pm James and I went to see Titan Hot Seven play and after that set I talked to Jeff and Anne Barnhart for a bit and then we went back to Megan's house where we celebrated Ray Ray's birthday and then at 8:45 pm Megan, Megan's brother Ryan, and I went and watched the Side Street Strutters. On Friday Megan, James, and I got up early again to take some more engagement photos and this time Megan's mom Carol helped. Then at 12:30 pm James, Megan, and I went and saw Temple of Folly for a bit, but we all had to leave early because we had other duties. At 1:45 pm James and I went and sold for Ivory and Gold and then at 2:30 pm we went to sell for Blue Street... we were a bit late to that set though because we had to finish our duties with Ivory and Gold. Then James and I went to the hospitality for a bit and then at 4:45 pm James and I went to sell cds for Blue Street. After that set James and I decided to go to the hospitality for dinner instead of watching Titan Hot Seven play and then we went to Megan's house to get some Mardi Gras stuff for the Mardi Gras sets. I just ended up wearing some of Megan's beads. Bonnie Colgan took a picture of Sherri and I before Sherri went on stage with the band and James and I went to sell the cds for Blue Street and then after that Megan, James, and I got some coffee and then James left to go back to Megan's house and Megan and I stayed and watched Gator Beat at 9:15 pm and talk to some of her friends. Then at 10:30 pm Megan and I listened to High Street and we danced. Then at 11:45 pm Megan and I went to watch Gator Beat play and we hung out and danced with some High Street members. On Saturday James and I went to the hospitality for some breakfast and then we went and sold for Ivory and Gold at 11 am. Then James and I went to the hospitality room for some lunch. Then at 2 pm James and I sold for Blue Street and where Megan and I danced and after that set I got a ride from Sherri and Matty, so that James could go lay down for a bit because the altitude got to him. So Sherri, Matty, and I went to the hospitality room and then at 4:15 pm Sherri, Matty, and I went to the Blue Renditions set where I sold cds for them. Then at 5:15 pm Sherri, Matty, and I went to go watch Louis Ford and his New Orleans Flairs and then at 6:30 pm James and I sold for Blue Street. Then after that set James and I went and watched Blue Street play some poker. Then at 9:30 pm James and I went and sold cds for Blue Street where we got to hear Sherri sing our song and we got to dance to it. On Sunday James and I went and sold for Blue Street at 9:45 am where Yve Evans (auntie Yve) sang with them for their gospel set. Then at 11:30 am James and I went to sell for Blue Street. Then at 1:15 pm James and I went and sold for Blue Renditions where Megan and I got to swing dance a bit. Then at 2:45 pm James and I went and sold for Ivory and Gold. After that set James and I went to the finale and then we went to Megan's house and relaxed for a bit and then at 8 pm to 10:30 pm we went to the extra jazz featuring High Street and Megan and I also got dance there as well. The highlights of this festival was Megan taking mine and James' engagement pictures, hanging out with Sherri and Matty, watching Blue Street play some poker, getting my new Ivory and Gold cd, learning how to swing dance, wearing my shimmy dress on Saturday, taking a picture of me and Megan in our matching shimmy dresses, dancing to Every Autumn is When I Fall in Love and Now Baby or Never with James, watching Sherri and Matt play with Louis Ford and his New Orleans Flairs, meeting Matt Summers of High Street, meeting Bruce Wehler of High Street, and meeting Steve Goff of High Street, partying with Matt Summers, Bruce Wehler, and Steve Goff, Megan, Ryan, and I having to walk home about a 25 minute walk because Megan didn't look at the time the jazz shuttle stop picking up, celebrating Ray Ray's birthday, and having some girl time with Megan. Special thanks to Megan and her family for the hospitality, Matt Summer, Bruce Wehler, and Steve Goff for the great time on Friday, Megan for teaching me how to swing dance and for showing me a great time during our girl time, Blue Street, Blue Renditions Ivory and Gold, and Jas'm for showing James and I a great time, Sherri and Matty for taking good care of me when James didn't feel good, Jeff and Anne Barnhart for the new Ivory and Gold cd, Bonnie Colgan for taking a wonderful picture of Sherri and I, Sherri and Matty for their musician guest badges, Jeff and Anne Barnhart for trying to help situate the whole badge issue out, Blue Street for not laughing at me when I was learning how to swing dance, and of course James.

Engagement Photo by Megan T. Guffey

Engagement Photo by Megan T. Guffey

James and I dancing to "Every Autumn Is When I Fall In Love"

Sherri and I just before Blue Street's Mardi Gras Set... this picture is courtesy of Bonnie Colgan

www.candidimages.com

Megan and I in our matching shimmy dresses

Megan teaching me how to swing dance

Megan singing with High Street

2009 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee

So it is that time where I update you on my memories of the jazz festival and I know it has been two weeks, but I have been busy. Anyways, at 10:45 am James and I went to the opening day parade where we watched Blue Street Jazz Band play the pre-parade entertainment and then we watched the parade. After the parade James and I walked around Old Town Sacramento and then we went and sold cds for Blue Street Jazz Band at 2:30 pm and I gave Sherri the children's book I wrote about her. After that set James and I then went with Sherri, Matty, Rick, and Rich to the Freeway Gardens and we sat around and had a few drinks and watched Mumbo Gumbo play for a bit and then we went out to dinner with them. After dinner we went and sold cds for Blue Street Jazz Band and then after that set James and I went to go watch Hal Smith's Hayriders play. On Saturday at 10 am James and I went and sold cds for Blue Street Jazz Band. Then we got on the bus and ran into Bria where we then went and watched the New Lowdown with Chloe Feoranzo. Then James and I took off to go sell cds for Blue Street Jazz Band where they did an all Sherri Colby set. After the all Sherri Colby set James and I went to Round Table where we watched BSR Hotshots and after that set I talked to Molly Reeves for a bit. Then James and I took off to go sell cds for Blue Street Jazz Band. After that set James and I went to see Hal Smith's Hayriders and then James and I stayed to watch the headliner band which was Aftershock. Since we didn't like them very much James and I left. On Sunday at 10 am James and I went to go sell cds for Blue Street Jazz Band's gospel set. Then after that set James and I went to go see 101st Army Dixieland Jazz Band with Bria. Then after that set James and I went to go watch the Firecracker Jazz Band and then after that set James and I then made our way to the back of the room to sell cds for Blue Street Jazz Band. After the 2:30 pm set Sherri, Matty, Rick, James, and I all went out to sushi at Mikuni's where I got to spin the birthday wheel. After lunch we all went to the next Blue Street Jazz Band set where Sherri sang "Now Baby or Never" upon my request and James and I got up from the cds table and danced to our song. After that set James and I got on the bus and went to sell cds for Blue Street Jazz Band and after that set was over I had girl talk with Sherri. On Monday at 10 am James and I went and sold cds for Blue Street Jazz Band. At that set the band got me up on the stage and sang happy birthday to me. Then after that set James and I went to go see Reynolds Brothers' Rascals with Madison Munn. Then after that set we went and saw 101st Army Dixieland Band's patriotic set where Leonard Fahrni played a really fast rendition of happy birthday for me on his trumpet. Then James and I ended the festival with Hal Smith's Hayriders. During that set Anita tried to embarrass James, but it did not work and the band all so sang me happy birthday and played my favorite Johnny Cash song which is Jackson. The highlights of this festival was meeting Rich, meeting Rich's wife, getting a special gift from Leonard, having dinner with Sherri, Matty, Rich, and Rick, having sushi for my birthday with Sherri, Matty, and Rick, spinning the birthday wheel at Mikuni's and ending up getting mints on the wheel, but coming home with a beer cup instead, giving Sherri the children's book I wrote for her and seeing her reaction when I gave it to her, watching Sherri show the rest of the band her children's book, Matty telling me he was going to read Sherri her children's book to put her to sleep, meeting Laurie, meeting Gwen, having Blue Street Jazz Band sing me happy birthday while I was on stage, Matty keeping me from falling off the stage on my birthday, Sherri and Matty meeting Christina and Brian, having Leonard play me happy birthday on his trumpet, having Hal Smith's Hayriders sing me happy birthday and play Jackson for me on my birthday, Anita trying to embarrass James, Johnny G. embarrassing James and I, taking a picture with Katie Cavera, having a special swing dance with Kymmi, Sherri singing Now Baby or Never for James and I as we danced, meeting Chloe, watching New Lowdown with Bria, watching Bria play with 101st Army Dixieland Band, seeing Leonard's impression of Brian Casserly, getting a picture with Leonard, Bria, and Forrest, talking to Claire, seeing Claire's bride to be mardi gras beads, James buying me a Betty Boop shirt, and Bria telling me blondes are smarter then brunettes. Special thanks to Blue Street Jazz Band, Hal Smith's Hayrider's, Sherri Colby- Bottel and Matty Bottel, Rick Canfield, Bria Skonberg, Claire McKenna, Katie Cavera, Anita Thomas, Leonard Fahrni, Brant English, and of course my wonderful fiance James Chastain.

What You Mean to Me (A poem that I wrote for my mentor, Sherri Colby- Bottel)

What you Mean to Me
I love all your warm hugs
I love the way you care for me even though I am not your own
I love your caring, kind, and loving heart
I love you with all my heart

You mean the world to me
I don’t know what I would do without you and your wonderful husband
I love looking up to you
I love all the prep talks you give me
I love you with all my heart

You give me joy, hope, and faith
I love all the ways you make me feel inside
You truly are a guardian angel
I love you with all my heart

I love the way you are always there to help me
I love the way you are there beside me in thick and thin
I love the way you protect me
I love you with all my heart

I love the way you blow kisses to me
I love the way you make me smile
I love the way you make me laugh
I love you with all my heart

Me with Sherri Colby who is one of the best people to hang out with

Dixieland Monterey

So it is that time again where I update you on my memories of the jazz festival. Anyways, James and I arrived in Monterey when James realized he packed light, so just before we went to the Portola Hotel we checked in our hotel and then we went to the Portola Hotel where we went searching for some food, but couldn't get what we wanted until 3. At 3 pm we got our badges from Anne and Jeff and that is when I also showed Anne my ring. James and I decided to watch Titan Hot Seven for a little bit and then we went and ate lunch. After Titan Hot Seven finished James and I went to Ivory and Gold to sell. Since Titan Hot Seven had to play at 5:30 pm Ivory and Gold had to stop the set 5 minutes ahead a time, so when James and I were done selling we helped Anne pack up the cds and walked with her to the Titan Hot Seven set. After the Titan Hot Seven set James, Anne, Jeff, and I walked to the Wharf Theater where James and I went to go sell the cds, but we were very lucky and we got to watch Ivory and Gold play where Anne got some pig slippers, so she played in them. Then James and I stayed and watched We 3 where Danny and Jeff messed with Bob's head. After We 3 James and I walked back to the Portola Hotel to watch the last Titan Hot Seven set. Then on Saturday James and I went to go see We 3 again, but we were late and the room was full, so instead we went to the hospitality room to hang out and eat. Then we decided to go see Jeff's pianorama where I was asked if I was Jeff's wife... James decided to study at the cd table so that Anne can go in and play with Jeff. After Jeff's pianorama I went with Jeff and Anne to go watch Titan Hot Seven where James later met me. After Titan Hot Seven's set James, Jeff, Anne, and I went to the hospitality room to go eat and that was when Jeff asked James and I if we wanted to go eat with him, Anne, and Danny after their 5:30 Titan Hot Seven set. Then I walked to Gilbert's with Jeff and Anne and James later came to join us to go sell cds for Ivory and Gold. After Ivory and Gold James and I went to Titan Hot Seven's set and after that set we went to go eat dinner at an Indian restaurant where Jeff made a toast about James and I and about our wedding and then we went and had some drinks with Anne, Jeff, and Danny where we met some of their friends and Jeff told them that James and I were engaged. After that James and I went to go and watch Titan Hot Seven's last set. On Sunday James and I wanted to go see Titan Hot Seven's first set, but our cell phones didn't update so we were late and never got to see Titan Hot Seven's first set. James and I then went to go see Blue Street play after that we went and saw Yve Evans and Company's set where Yve embarrassed us by telling the audience that we were engaged and how proud she was of us and she also made me run up to the stage to show her my ring. Then James and I went and watched Titan Hot Seven's last set where Jeff also decided to embarrass us as well by playing here comes the bride to the tune of Panama. Then James and I went and sold for Ivory and Gold where I became Danny's wife which was what we ended our festival with which was a bit weird because we always end our festivals with Titan Hot Seven. The highlights of this festival was having some drinks with Anne, Jeff, and Danny, going out to dinner with Anne, Jeff, and Danny, seeing Anne get her slippers, seeing Jeff and Danny mess with Bob's head, finding out that Bob was engaged, talking to Bob's fiancee about weddings, Yve playing James and I a song and then making me go up to the stage to show her my ring, Yve telling us how proud she is of us, Jeff telling the audience we were engaged and playing here comes the bride, seeing a picture of Danny's baby girl, watching Jeff almost eat Danny's food as we were in the elevator, and Jeff making a toast to James and I.

Fresno Mardi Gras

So it is that time where I update you on my memories of the jazz festival and I know it has been three weeks, but I have been busy with 18 units. Anyways, James and I went to the Radisson after his 2 o' clock class and we had some lunch and met Mary which was fun. After lunch and hanging out with Mary we went and saw Blue Street play and we ended up being the cd salesmen for Blue Street. We then had dinner and after that we went and watched Climax and that is when the new King and Queen was announced which just so you all know the new king and queen was Dave and Lori. I then got a prep talk from Sherri and after that Sherri and I went to the lounge where James, Matty, and Mary were and we had a few drinks and hung out for a bit. Then on Saturday James and I went and had some breakfast with Mary and after breakfast we went to go work for Blue Street... Sherri noticed something was wrong with me and she asked me if I was okay and I shook my head yes and she did this all from the stage. Later when Sherri came to tell me she would work with me on my homework she asked me if I was okay and I told her yes and she then replied no you're not we will talk later. James and I hung out in the lounge with Mary on Saturday and then we went to sell cds for Blue Street's second set. After that Sherri helped me with some homework and then James and I went out to eat with Sherri, Matty, Gailene , and a friend of theirs. We talked about many things in the restaurant. After dinner James and I sold cds for Blue Street's last set. That was so much fun because Sherri sang mine and James' song (I am talking about the song she sang when he proposed to me) and James and I danced to the song! After that James and I stayed and watched Climax play with Sherri, Matty, and Gailene. Then James and I went and said bye to Sherri and Matty and Sherri and I set up a time on Monday that we could meet up since her and Matty were not going to be at the festival on Sunday since they had to be in Sacramento. On Sunday James and I went and watched Fulton Street play and on the way to that I got a picture of Hal playing with Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band and then off James and I went to sell cds for Blue Street. After we finished selling cds for Blue Street James and I went and watched Hal play with Fulton Street which was a wonderful set and then James and I moved our way over to the cds table to sell cds for Blue Street again. Usually we would of ended our festival there, but we didn't... James and I then went and saw High Sierra play and that is when we ended our festival. James and I then went and hung out in the lounge and waited for Mary and after that we went and had dinner and then we went and hung out in the lounge with Mary and I texted Sherri to find out what time and where we were going to meet on Monday. Then on Monday James and I met Sherri at Uncle Harry's and we had some coffee and breakfast with her and she gave me a cookbook that was hers and some cooking goodies, so that I could learn how to cook. The highlights of this festival was having my girl talks with Sherri, going out to dinner with Sherri, Matty, Gailene, and their friend, watching Sherri sing with Climax Jazz Band, getting pictures with Bob, Hal, and Clint, meeting Mary, James playing with the sugar, the peppers, his straw, and the silverware at dinnertime on Sunday, hanging out in the lounge with Sherri, Matty, and Mary, being told by Peiter that I really am wonderful, helping Karen Marguth choose some songs to sing at Blue Street's last set and going out to breakfast with Sherri and getting all my cooking goodies and getting a cookbook that was hers.

Me and Hal Smith at the 2009 Fresno Mardi Gras

Me and Bob Williams at the 2009 Fresno Mardi Gras

Me and Clint Baker at the 2009 Fresno Mardi Gras