<< West Coast Tour, Days 3-4

2006 > September

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Friday, 1 September 2006

East Coast Tour, Days 0-2 ::

(getting out of order here... but best to post as I write rather than trying to catch up all at once)

Mon. 28 Aug. (Day 0)

While it was fun and no big deal to bring the Minimoog Voyager for the West Coast dates, it was hard to justify flying with it. Spent a few hours in the evening reprogramming a number of songs to use the Access Virus instead.

Tue. 28 Aug. (Day 1)

We get the two 88-key weighted keyboards and other assorted gear into a minivan and to the SF airport by 6:30 am, 2 hours before the flight. No problem there.

Then I see the ominous sign in the Continental checkin area: they do not accept luggage over 100 lbs. My keyboard in its flight case (ha) is 135 lbs, which was no problem on Icelandair to and from Copenhagen last year. But the agent confirms that it cannot fly domestically and suggests FedEx or DHL.

A phone call locates a FedEx service office in the international terminal. At the FAR end of the international terminal. I drag the keyboard 100 yards before finding an abandoned cart. (The flight case has wheels, but after a while, the effects of supporting the additional weight with one’s knees and ankles are intense.)

It would cost around $700 to have FedEx ship it 2-day to upstate NY. That’s a significant fraction of the cost of the instrument. I’m thinking about cancelling the gigs and going home to sleep. I call Egan who insists: the show must go on! I decide to continue the trip if for no other reason than to see my kids and reserve judgement on whether the show can be done without the keyboard.

I leave the keyboard at the baggage services place (at $20/day, grump) and begin the trek back to meet Egan and Joann at Continental checkin. I walk slowly, actually hoping we miss the flight so that we can talk and make new plans. I arrive precisely 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. There’s some discussion between two gate agents about whether it’s too late for us to check the rest of our stuff and make the flight. The flight’s delayed; we can still check in.

The utility case containing the rest of my gear, CDs, clothes and toiletries is 54 pounds, 4 pounds overweight, and yes, they really do have to be strict about this—despite the fact that it’s (now) my only piece of checked luggage and I deliberately chose to cram everything into this one case instead of bringing a larger carryon.

Joann’s keyboard with case is only 90 lbs. We pay oversize and overweight fees. Egan makes noises about how I should get a lighter case like hers (SKB). I darkly mutter something about seeing how well it survives this trip—it arrived in California slightly warped.

On the flight I snooze intermittently and mentally review everything my keyboard’s used for.

In Newark, Joann’s keyboard case arrives with one of its wheels missing. I feel as if I’ve cursed it. So there really is no good way to fly with a fully weighted 88-key keyboard.

We stuff everything onto some baggage carts and take the AirTrain to the car rental place.

Joann makes a phone call and locates a keyboard very similar to mine (new and improved model). I will have to spend some hours programming it, but the show shouldn’t suffer at all.

We find some great Indian food in south Jersey, not far from Joann’s, and crash not long after arriving at her place.

Wed. 28 Aug. (Day 2)

We’re all still demolished from the flight the day before. It takes us until noon to work up some some momentum towards departing for Ithaca. Procuring a keyboard, getting Joann’s car inspected, and Philly traffic suck up more time. We meet for a late lunch in Lansdale around 3:30 and don’t get on the road until 5 pm.

It’s shortly before 9 pm when we’re driving up the hill above Ithaca and Cayuga Lake, towards my parents. I notice: there’s still a big special spot in my heart for Ithaca, where I was born and lived for around 29 of my 44 years. My parents, kids, ex, and many good friends are all here. Could I want to live here again someday? I don’t know; it’s not impossible.

<< West Coast Tour, Days 3-4

2006 > September

Quitting smoking >>

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