Saturday, August 16, 2008

August 16th

It's been a while! We heard good news that long-time friend Mike "Yosh" Yoshizaki is recovering well from a recent heart attack and stroke. Go Yosh!

The biggest news is the upcoming four-show reunion concert series by the original Desert Rose Band. August 27th the band is at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA; Thursday the 28th they're at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA; the 31st they'll be in Copper, CO for the Copper Country Festival. Then in October, on the 4th, the DRB will be up in San Francisco in Golden Gate Park for the "Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival". Google the venues for more information. I designed new T-shirts for the Reunion Concerts, which will be for sale at the shows, and later, I hope, on Chris Hillman's (really nice) website.

Tammy has been talking for a long time about buying an Airstream trailer after I retire, as she loves to camp, but is finished with sleeping on the ground. She recently found a vintage 15-foot travel trailer and we may buy it if the price is right. It looks like it's been nicely refurbished, and would be well within the capacity of our Acura MDX to tow, unlike an Airstream.

This past Wednesday, the 13th of August, the founder of my favorite Western shirt company died. "Papa" Jack Weil founded Rockmount in 1946, and was still in the office every day at the age of 107! I bought my first Rockmount shirt in about 1977, I think, at the old Frontierland Trading Post at Disneyland. I still have the shirt, white with black flock horse heads, and it caused a stir at Papa Jack's 103rd birthday bash at the Rockmount store. The last time Tammy and I talked to him at the store, Papa Jack told so many stories we ended up with a parking ticket! It was worth the $20.

2 comments:

Mike said...

Hi DJ and Family,
Yes Yosh has had great care at USC
I can now feel a little better about saying something good about them.So I came across the DRB Reunion Tour by accident right before Yosh fell ill. We visited his bedside early on before he new we were there ...wow that was tough seeing a friend that way.
Did you get the note I mailed you?

Doug Johnson said...

Howdy, Bear!

I did get the note, thanks. Send me an email to:
airplaygraphics@earthlink.net so that I can stay in touch. It was great to hear from you, and hope everyone is doing well out there.