Greg’s Happenings by Greg Kristapovich
There is NOT going to be a drought this year. I’ve perfected the hippy dippy rain dance, the Ukrainian rain dance – AND I’ve got the musical, magical rain stick from Chile – all at my disposal. Actually, I cannot take all the credit for the increase in precipitation: my friend in Murphys, Michael Charles Hoffman, aka McHoffman pointed out that he’d strapped a 16-foot canoe atop his pickup truck, and driven all over the area; and lo and behold, the rains came! McH’s canoe will undoubtedly come in handy as the downpours and deluges continue! And McH explained how his watercraft is useful in other ways: since it hangs over his windshield so far, it keeps a lot of the snow off his windshield. So, when he steps into his truck in the morning, he doesn’t have to scrape as much snow off!
Snow IS a very important part of the season. But you might just have to hire someone to shovel your driveway. You DO have to be careful who you hire. Fortunately, I have come into the possession of one of “David Letterman’s Top Ten Lists!” This one’s titled “Top Ten Signs You’ve Hired the Wrong Kid to Shovel Your Driveway”. The kid…….
10. Doesn’t seem sure which end of the shovel to use.
9. Ten minutes into the job, his lips are frozen to your drainpipe.
8. He’s wearing a bathing suit and clogs.
7. You give him a bag of salt and he eats it.
6. Says his shovel broke; asks you for vacuum cleaner and extension cord.
5. Won’t stop bragging about his custom-made six-finger gloves.
4. Prefers the “melt snow with warm breath” method.
3. Tells you your wife looks as good in person as she does through binoculars.
2. Asserts he knows 30 ways to kill a man with a shovel.
…….and the number 1 way to tell that you’ve hired the wrong kid to shovel your driveway: The kid…Doesn’t finish till mid-July.
Please heed Mr. Letterman’s advice. He is a very wise man. And his advice may save you a lot of grief. I WILL refrain from any and all rain dances during, and just before the dates of March 13th, 14th and 15th to spare the 23rd Annual Sonora Celtic Faire, (at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds). Sir Patrick Michael Karnahan is making extraordinary efforts to make this Faire, the BEST one ever! The handy shuttle buses that transport faire-goers between the fairgrounds and the shuttle stops (one at Wal-Mart; the other in front of Inns of California on South Washington Street) will be considerably larger this year, meaning shorter waits for a shuttle. And this year’s Celtic Faire line-up is mind-boggling! I described the headliner, Brother last week. But here’s a little bit about the eight other headliners, as told by Sir Patrick, himself:
The Wicked Tinkers: The Tinkers are a hybrid Scottish Highland drum and pipe band. Recently, they have made two appearances on The Late Show with Craig Ferguson! They’re also up and running now for the television program “America’s Got Talent”! They just auditioned for that!
The Black Irish Band: The Black Irish Band just released their 19th album! The band performs a unique blend of Irish, American and Italian folk music.
John Mitchell: He’s from Glasgow, Scotland and he’s perhaps the #1 bagpiper in America!
Golden Bough: They’re probably the group that’s been performing Celtic music longer than any other group on the West Coast! They’ve been around for just a little under 30 years! And they were playing Celtic music before people knew what Celtic music was!
Need Fire: They hail from Texas! They’re like the Wicked Tinkers. They’re a cross between the Wicked Tinkers and Tempest. But they have cordless microphones and they go out into the audience. They really work the audience! They have bagpipes, guitars, fiddles – and they’re awesome! They also have quite a few albums out!
Nine-8ths Irish: These folks are out of the Sacramento area, but they’re a traditional group, which does traditional Irish music like the Chieftains.
Banshee in the Kitchen: Musically, they are similar to Nine-8ths.
. They are a three-woman group who specializes in traditional Irish and Scottish music.
Tempest: They’ve been together over 20 years and have about 12 albums out! They perform Celtic hybrid Scottish and Irish music. And they travel all around the world!
“All these groups are headliners, in their own right!” proclaims Sir Patrick. Indeed, this is destined to be the greatest Celtic Faire ever held in the Mother Lode, so plan to attend! And remember, the Faire is a great place to buy your kilt!
Try to tune into Good Day Sacramento (on CW31), Saturday, March 7th: Sir Patrick and his Black Irish Band are scheduled to preformed sometime between 8am and 10am! Also, Sir Patrick will perform with the group Nine-8ths Irish on Sacramento and Company on ABC, Thursday, March 12th at around 9 a.m.! Hey, check out this photo! That’s Sir Patrick Michael Karnahan, himself, upon that horse!
LOTS OF HAPPENINGS! Claussen’s Corner on S. Main Street in Angels Camp holds their pool tournaments on Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. The bar inside Villa D’Oro (on Fuller Road in Twain Harte) has beer pong on Thursday nights. And, if you don’t know how to play beer pong, bar manager Ryan Holden will give you a quick lesson! And recent American Idol contestant Karina Sanchez will perform with the band Power Play, Saturday, March 14 (9 p.m.) at Micki and Larry’s Sports Pub in Copperopolis!!! And just a few doors down, the Copper Kitchen will once again open after midnight for their special Midnight Club Breakfast!!! Copper Cove Drive is becoming a Calaveras hot spot! …Try to catch the return engagement of Them Changes at Murphys Nugget Bar on Saturday, March 7th at 9 p.m.! They played there a few weeks ago and blew everybody away with their classic rock. Their bodacious posters invite you to “Experience the Twin Guitar Attack!”
Was recently enjoying an absolutely delectable Denver omelet at The Rock Pub and Restaurant in Twain Harte, and I noticed they’ve got satellite radio. So, among the groovy tunes I’m hearing is “Compared to What” by Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express?? Whoa! When’s the last time you heard that one!? I’ve also discovered that the owners of the Rock, Jim and Diane Dunnigan are Classic Rock fans! In fact, I chatted with Jim and very soon realized that this cat knows A LOT about Classic Rock! Look for my “Sit down chat with a cool cat”, featuring Jim Dunigan in a future issue, real soon!
Want to see a good move? Bob Hogg, the video guru of Twain Harte (and owner of Video Scene of Twain Harte) recommends “Miracle at St. Anna”, directed by Spike Lee. As Bob describes the movie, “It takes place in Italy during WWII. It’s about four soldiers from an all-Black Infantry Division that get trapped behind enemy lines after saving a traumatized Italian boy. The movie has some very good battle scenes and a lot of action. Bob gives the film 4 ½ out of 5 medals! (It’s rated R.)
THERE ARE GHOSTS IN MURPHYS!!! At least there is credible evidence of it. While I was delivering SMT in that charming little town, Johnny Harris, who owns Murphys Motorcycle Shop informed me about an investigation being conducted, that very moment, by California Haunts, a Ghostbusters-style paranormal/poltergeist investigating group out of Sacramento. In fact, “ghost investigations” are currently in process in at least two popular spots in Murphys! I’ll keep you posted on the ghosts! What would the Mother Lode be without our ghosts! We need our ghosts! Have you hugged your poltergeist today? Until next week, peace, love and poltergeists!
