Beware of the Blob

Today, we drove to La Habra for dental exams...at 8 a.m. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? Well, the route I chose to take - see Labor Day with Brian & Sylv - is always indirect and as traffic free as possible. So the night before, we simonize our watches (Amos N Andy, 1957), set out clean underwear and other provisions and set the alarm for 6:30. Day of trip, Sylvia was already up when I arose at 6 to give me the news that her uncle Buck Liebi had died (his unforgiving daugher Martha proclaimed him "the devil" because he cheated on his wife of 25 years, then moved the new woman into the home.

At about 7:10, we set out on our journey. Windshield needed on-trip cleaning, mucho sun in our eyes as we went out Del Amo, then up the 605, slowly with lots of bad drivers waiting for us so they could demonstrate their skill-less-ness monster driving, out the 91 to to Bloomfield, up to Rosecrans, out to Valley View - didn't really view a valley anywhere - the right on Leffingwell to La Habra and finally Hillcrest, our destination.

I had no cavaties, Sylvia had one and a cleaning. We left, sound some weird 45s at the St. Vincent, then over to a Korean thrift shop...nothing. Just as we were thinking it was all clear roads and no problems ahead, we turned onto Rosecrans and two trains were blocking the street, so I u-turned to Valley View, a bad idea, since the southbound train was making life hell for them, so I u-turned a second time, back onto Rosecrans...the only difference was, #1, the trains were gone, #2, lots more traffic than if I'd just waited. That's when I regretted not waiting, until we got to another Korean thrift shop on the other side of the tracks ... a mirror image of the La Habra one, that was literally just being opened, so if I hadn'ta stopped at the first one, wouldn't have been delayed by the train, thus would've been there too early for the opening...found 4 45s, the very rare The Blob by the Zanies on Era...first label...some Hank Williams 45s and a Columbia custom sound check record.

Just imagine if I had to commute like this every day, like everyone else does. I need a nap.

This afternoon, visited Roland Kerr to look at 78s, boxes of them, all Mercury/Clef product from when he'd been a KNOB dj in '54 and the label was phasing out 78s. They sent him the discs, gratis. I recommended he donate them to the jazz archives and went on my way. Interesting guy tho.

Day after tomorrow, Rip Spencer of the Untoucahbles will be on to discuss Sam Cooke, as the new bio just came out. Will be fun.