Spent several hours at Pewaukee Lake yesterday. With the no wake law still in force it's unusually quiet, and if my canoe didn't still have gaping holes in it... So we fish from shore. Very peaceful watching the regatta of around 50 sailboats. Later in the day was Taste of Lake Country and fireworks, but that's another story.

Making every cent of my weekend dollars count I went to Milwaukee today to do several things. I parked under the Hoan Bridge by the river, saving $10.00. I attended a very nice Lutheran service in the Marcus Amphitheater and was allowed into German Fest free, saving $13.00.

German Fest is one of the few festivals I missed last year, (Pride Fest will still have to wait) and I wanted to get there for the food and music. I haven't been to this one before. I wasn't into the music and dancing all that much, but the scents, tastes and sights were overwhelming. Got my first look at the new Harley Stage also. Very cool.

Wandered over to Discovery World next door to use the pass I obtained with the purchase of my Les Paul concert ticket, saving $17.00. I spent the next couple hours in my first tour of the Technology and Aquarium Buildings and the Les Paul House of Sound exhibit!  The Les Paul exhibit, indeed all of Discovery World, was way more than I could've imagined. I enjoyed handling everything, trying it out, playing with things, discovering at my own pace.

Discovery World has to be seen to be believed. When I thought nothing could possibly top the Les Paul exhibit, I had doubts while touring the rest of the building. The bed of nails was one very interesting interactive feature of the Technology Building. Fun to try. The Great Lakes are to scale in the Aquarium complete with interactive locks, rain and storms, and bluegills (not to scale). Also had fun touching the rays and lake sturgeon.

The schooner in the Aquarium Building is a fun play thing. Lots of things to touch, turn and see with many things identified with labels. I played with as many things as I could today and the best thing is I only got yelled at once - at the German Fest Splash Pad for not taking my shoes off!  

The theater was packed - even the $500.00 seats appeared to be sold out. The Pabst is absolutely beautiful and, even though it's older than Les, he'd never played there before Saturday. The stage had a relaxed and comfortable feel to it. Several people sat at pub tables and chairs around the perimeter giving the setting a jazz club atmosphere. The tuxedoed gentlemen falling off his stool just added to the realism of the bar scene.

Les played many decent tunes accompanied by three other men, but he could have played tiddlywinks and we would have applauded. The three hour program was kept interesting with new introductions every few songs, and with stories about him and by him. One of the first introductions was quite auspicious because he represented the future to Les' past. An eight year old boy played guitar beautifully with Les and even sang a blues tune. By our tickets, we were all contributing to the new "House of Sound" educational exhibit, and by this young man we knew we were doing the right thing. It didn't take much imagination to think of this boy as young Les as he played beside the 93 year old. Les was eight when he began playing an instrument.

It's harder to imagine what Waukesha was like 93 years ago when Les was born. It had been 80 years since the area was first settled, and 20 years after Waukesha became an incorporated city. He was born around the same time the health resorts were dying in a little house that used to be where the downtown Walgreens is now. He entertained at Waukesha Beach on Pewaukee Lake and his first concert was at Marquette University. 

Several other friends performed with Les, mostly those he plays with Monday nights at the Iridium in New York. Besides the eight year old guitarist, a singer, a violinist, harmonica player and tap dancer all performed to much applause. Bob Reitman was the logical choice of MC as both gentlemen are legends.

After meeting Les last year and watching his biography I thought I knew him pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised last night that there is much, much more Les.

Happy birthday Les, and many more!

The weather cleared in time for an enjoyable Father's Day though rain dampened Flag Day and graduation day celebrations Saturday. Congratulations to all grads and dads!

It's this blogs second blogiversary and I just want to say thanks. It's really been a pleasure. I am more active in the community now than ever before. One of the side benefits of writing is needing something to write about. I've volunteered, attended plays, concerts, festivals, services... enjoyed it all and enjoyed talking about it too.

I've posted 50% more blogs in this last year than I did in the first. The most popular post, Matzah and Messiah, was 2-1/2 times more popular than the next highest viewed blog. Not sure why.

Last year I mentioned my favorite post was my letter to Dad. My favorite post this year is This Is My Prayer.

I've met a lot of really interesting, fun and hard-working people in the last two years, more than I can count, but the one I'd like to recognize tonight is Les Paul. He's a genuine person full of humor and talent who is a real pleasure to write about. I'm looking forward to seeing him again next weekend.

Thanks for your interest, and keep reading and commenting.

 

Brien and Les

"Thank you, God, for Les Paul, a child of the universe."

"Most people can't go a day without seeing or hearing something played, said or invented by Les Paul."

I was one of many hundreds enjoying the world premier of "Les Paul -- Chasing Sound," a profound documentary interesting for more than just a couple good quotes. Les has been around for 91 years and I never had the pleasure of meeting him... until now.

Just getting to the theater was a trick. Two showings but I could only make it to the second. Was told Les wasn't appearing at the second. Few hours after being told that, read in Journal Sentinel that he was appearing. I called back and was told it was sold out. Left name on waiting list. Was called back. Insert smile here.

Well, I made it to the Downer Theater from my Waukesha home in half an hour - a neat trick even if I knew where it was. Needn't have hurried, everyone was still queued on the sidewalk at the 9:30 start time. Les made a brief appearance before the film and, with the late start, it probably lasted till 11:30 p.m.

I saw a great movie and met a legend. It's 11:30 on a weeknight. Time to go home? I'd heard earlier that Les was putting in an appearance at the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Surely he'd be long gone by the time I got there? The customized Gibson coach out front told me Les was close but the front desk told me he was close to leaving. I took the first elevator to the third floor and found the nice man in the upper right surrounded by autograph seekers and photographers.

Mr. Paul tirelessly signed hundreds of guitars and straps, booklets, albums, posters, a purse, and one blog page about himself titled "I came this close to meeting Les Paul."

It was midnight when the last autograph was signed. If 91 year old Les Paul can still socialize and work till midnight then I expect we haven't seen the last of him. He'll be back. He has to.

July 11th. Please, please try to see "Les Paul -- Chasing Sound" when it comes to Channel 10 on July 11th. You'll understand my facination.