The Summer of 2012, I went to...

[Bugeyes]

Detroit to see YES, then up to Brimley, Michigan to hang out with Kathi for a week. WHAT A FREAKIN' blast that was. Oh man, we packed it in. First we hung out near Detroit. Saw her younger brother and family with their two loveable rescue dogs, some type of pitbull or terrior but I wasn't scared of them at all. Great conversations catching up on family events, I hope Pat's thumb is all healed up, the kids are growing like weeds, and learned ammonia is better to wash up the dogs toys than bleach. Very comfortable evening, lots of love there!

We went to a YES concert the next day. Oh wait, not just a YES concert, the best YES concert of the tour, right?! I've been to Pine Knobs!

Then on Tuesday, I got to listen to Kathi play her flute in the The Straits Area Concert band under the bridge in Mackinaw City. I didn't get a good picture of her, but she's second row, inbetween the music stands, you just got to look hard and you'll see her. Some of you will remember Kathi played From the Balcony at the First Annual Yesfans Gathering in Chicago, 2003. I also got to meet her very cool, helpful, band geek buddies!

Oh yeah, when we arrived there, Kathi spotted a rare golden eagle, and some how I managed to get a picture of it.

And that's just the first three days.

[Bugeyes]

On Wednesday, we went to Mackinaw Island and rode a bike around the whole island. I still don't know if riding the tandum bike or going to Whitefish Point, Lake Superior to where they count the birds during migrations, I ran away from the lake waves as I waded and picking blueberry off the wild bushes was the most relaxing, eyeful time. All of it was a great time!

[Bugeyes]

Ah...more later. Good night YesFans.

[Jonah]

Sounds like you had a great time, Peggy (how could you NOT have had a great time with Kathi?!). I still have great memories of the both of you in Boston, particularly Kathi's flute playing on the final morning.

[Kevin Still]

Very nice.

[Soleil3]

Wow.
Thanks for all the pictures.
I luvs you both.

[luvyesmusic]

Very nice indeed. Luv the smiles, btw. :-)

Looking at the pic.s near the lake, I'm feeling it all but the breeze. Got to get up there sometime ( during the summer only ;-) ).

Thanks for sharing, look forward to more, soooon.

[Bugeyes]

Afternoon Jonah... yes, always a blast with that girl! Why do I not remember Kathi playing in Boston? Was it a small group of people present? Well, that's what I'm going to tell myself until something jogs my memory! It's just amazing, this YesFans stuff, 'cause never in a million years did I ever think we'd actually met. I remember you & I at the bar when the joint went crazy dancing to YES. Hilarious!

Morning Kevin, GarBear, & Rob. And just give this a few more days; we have lots of very nice stuff to talk about.

The guys loading us up on the bikes thought it might be better if Kathi drove. Ut oh...we'd still be on the island! (Just kidding, Kathi!) She hadn't been on a bike in years, and put her whole trust in me. No one got run over and we didn't crash! We zoomed around everywhere. (I ride a 14 mile riverside trail a couple of times a week. Kathi says my calves are chiseled ~ that still crackes me up. {I wish I could figure out how to get rid of my spare tire...uh, besides not eating.})

We called Harry Sergent (Starrship) when we were at the rock that reminded Kathi of Roger Dean's artwork. Another wonderful YesFan. We played some of his son’s music too. Oh my gosh! We played everyone’s stuff while driving the Upper Peninsula.


AAAAAAhhhhh ! I'm currently overwhelmed with all the memories, and I can't type fast enough to get them out. I type over 80 wpm, too!

Here's some of the Bug House pictures. We're still on the island, but the lighthouse is in St. Ignace, that's where we caught the hydrojets to the island.

[Bugeyes]

Oh man, Kathi can you remind me...which of Kevin's (Dantalion Rides Again) song did I keep requesting over & over? (#4 or #7 ~ I have the CRAFT again...Can't Remember A F'ing Thing...& I tried really hard to remember this. Grrrr)

Here's some more pics from Wednesday, day four of nine days of traveling.


Oh, I have mentioned how much I love Kathi lately?! I just love that girl!

[Bugeyes]

Oh everybody, anybody, ... What did you guys do this Summer?

Catch yous later.

[Bugeyes]

Thursday, August 9, 2012 ... let's go to the woods!







(Oops...give me another minute to add photos. Operator error AGAIN!)

[Bugeyes]

Let's go to the lake! Which one? Monocle or Spectacle lake? Isn't that funny!

BG is Kathi's Black Girl dog.

[Bugeyes]

Some more of the upper peninsula of Michigan. You can see Canada from Kathi's house.

[Kathi]

holy COW!! WHAT A CAMERA PEGGY! to get that osprey so clearly on that cell tower is spectacular!! [you can see how high that thing is-they've got quite a view up there!] congrats on posting those pics-i took a couple hours yesterday to learn to put new tunes on my new[er] phone, but not sure it stuck. [i'll know when i get kevin and his bands new cd in a couple of weeks]

what a BLAST! we put over 2000 miles on our little HHR in less than a week! [she's a good girl]
ya know folks-sometimes we become disillusioned with where we live [or sometimes with the people we share the landscape with] but all it takes is to bring someone else up here & show em a few sights and BAM-i feel Blessed to live here [again] so THANX PEGGY! seeing my place thru your eyes helped me settle in for another winter up here. [lol!]

those are beautiful shots man! [cant believe you found that golden in ALL that Blue! well done!]
i always travel with binocs NOW. ya never know when the birds will show up.

the STARS!! we spied one of the longest shooting stars during the meteor showers that i've ever seen!
now peggy sees that OUR milky way is NOT 2%-it's WHOLE milk!

we only had one 'down' day where we stayed her local. we still missed a few things but i know she'll be back.
i feel blessed & happy to know that three yesfans have been to my house so far off the beaten track.
peggy phil & brent. so yeah.. 'it's just a website' UNLESS it's More [heehee]

didnt crash the bike-i did get a pretty big slam on my shin once, but my shins feel nothing much after all those years of bars in gymnastics. told the bike dude i aint driving even if i am taller! poor peggy! drug my ass all over the island on that bike. hahaha!!

remember the cairns? [the rockpiles everywhere?] we should build one everywhere we go!

the concert.. AH!! GREAT and Excellent! felt Really REALLY 'right'.. i bought glass hammer cor cordium cause phil says it's great. [will let ya know-it's on my phone now] signed by the band beforehand, too. [a cheap thrill is STILL a thrill-hehe]

I CANT REMEMBER THE KEVIN SONG!! [but i'll listen today and figure it out]

yep-we listened to earl, kevin, & kurt's music over the week. listened to ms lisa's too! [i'm not your enemy is wonderful!]
we also listened to moon safari [my new fav band!] john wesley and some other stuff-piano based because peggy is back playing her piano again! [yippee!!]

the straits band..[they aint all strait either if ya know what i mean, but not one old hippie amongst em besides me -hehe] kicked my ASS!! get the music at 6 p.m.-practice [sightread-NOT my thing] and then perform it at 8 p.m. that SAME NIGHT!
peggy MADE me practice in front of her! i was nervous, but kept going.. she helped me break thru that 'play in front of people ALONE' scare pretty good! [thanx! sorry bout yer ears, tho] played in that band all summer and so far, peggy is the only one who came to hear us [well-i DID own the car and she was kinda my prisoner-hehe] i cant remember the last time i laughed so hard-unless it was with brent & phil & glennie in motown for the jazz show. my gut hurt from laughing all week!!

*sigh* wish my yes buddies lived closer.. always hard to say good bye..

we had heaven indeed! Great clean yes concert-then some band geek concert the next night. it was filled with driving, scenery and tunes!! decent food and [surprise] EXCELLENT WEATHER!!

now-where are the pics of you discing around the lake? the last day we finally got out to the boat for some fun. it wasnt really warm, but the water was. [we never found your ski gloves, either.. donated to the lake just like the sunglasses, cell phones & lawn chairs.. hehe]
man.. we had FUN!! showed peggy both my workplaces-took the horses some apples..
we did hit the casino once, too. [i dont gamble but enjoy reading the plaques and artwork info]

what a wonderful event-filled week.obviously my camera/phone wasnt up to snuff, so i didnt get any pics, but peggy made up for it!
ok.. off to get some work done.. the leaves are changing before my eyes!

i am SO GLAD you headed North, peggy! you needed a break and i needed to be reminded of what a wonderful place in which i live.. [for now..]
hi jonah! i need to get YOUR bands cd next!!
gary-you can see peggys HAT in some of those photos right? look familiar?
mark-any Yes freak is a friend of mine [pretty much..hehe] you're welcome ANYTIME [but yeah-right-summer would be much better]
our new bumper sticker slogan is this:
"The Great Lakes-unsalted & shark-free" i LOVE IT!
michigan-more than just a mitten!! [wink]

[Soleil3]

Loving all the pix. Mackinaw Island is on our "to do" list. It's just a couple hours from where the kid is going to school.

[Kathi]

PLEASE let me know when you do plan a visit, ok? i brushed up on local stuff for when peggy visited and learned even more while we were touring around. [damn-just like music theory, i wished i had paid more attention to michigan history in h.s.]
gotta ask-where is his school? is it in the u.p.? what is he studying? didja come up here to help him settle in? [which kid is this, btw..?]
the island isnt cheap.. AT ALL!! but lemme know when you may come and i'll find ya some discount coupons for stuff on the island as well as the two cities by the bridge. [the ferry is now $25!! and they charge if you bring your own bike, too. we rented a tandem for pretty cheap tho] p.m. coming your way now,yesyadda..

[tardistraveler]

Wow - such beautiful scenery . . . I'd love to visit myself.

And always good to see your smiling faces . . . I really miss you guys . . .

[Sheerah]

Beautiful pictures, Bugs!

Every since seeing Somewhere In Time I've always wanted to visit Mackinaw Island.

[Jonah]

Afternoon Jonah... yes, always a blast with that girl! Why do I not remember Kathi playing in Boston? Was it a small group of people present? Well, that's what I'm going to tell myself until something jogs my memory! It's just amazing, this YesFans stuff, 'cause never in a million years did I ever think we'd actually met. I remember you & I at the bar when the joint went crazy dancing to YES. Hilarious!

Peggy, it was during the last morning, just about the time when some of us stragglers were about to leave. Melissa was there and one other person (can't remember who). Kathi appeared with her flute and played The Meeting. I have tears in my eyes now just typing this (not good when the shop is full of customers!). It was a magnificent, sublime moment and one I will always remember. There were no words needed. There are so many memories of Boston (I loved the place so much that we have been back twice) and yes, being in the bar - and the bowling alley! - are high among them. I hope to be back at a US gathering before too long.

[Bugeyes]

Way! Thanks for the reminder, Jonah. I wish I'd been there. Let's see, I think Kathi also played that in St. Louis, July '05. And if I had the piano sheet music, I know we'd play it at a gathering. That'd be WILD for me.

Well, let me think...what pictures to post tonight. I'm jumping forward to Sunday this time. Kathi does not ski, so no pictures of her in the water. My arms were so tired...and I couldn't stand up cause I couldn't put balance without putting my hand on the board. So knee high is all I got. I did get a thumbsup from Kathi's husband, Troy, when I rode out some four to five foot swells. That was highlight, getting a thumbsup from Troy. What a blast this was...I think I only wiped out once, maybe twice.

Kathi's back yard is Brimley State Park. (Doesn't that make you pea green with envy? It does me!)