From: "Paul Lawler" lawlermusic@btinternet.com
To: RicochetGathering@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2003 10:18 PM
Subject: [RicochetGathering] My Ricochet 2003 Report

Ok, so after being upgraded for the flight to Chicago to almost 1st class, i
was enjoying the trip.Then I had the connection with a lady and 2 small very
hyper-active kids next to me for 3 hours, and to be honest i wanted to kill
them all :)

After a while trying not to sleep at the Stratosphere hotel, I finally met
Vic, Der Spyra and SSO. We then tried to find some food and met Del , Roger,
Dave, Marion,  Jim etc.You could`nt eat them, but they were nice enough.
In the morning i travelled with Frank to Nipton, and after getting there a
little late ;) we all began to get aquainted.

Friday night for me was essentially getting to know people via the gift of
beer, and i spent a lot of time with Roger and his friend Rob who spent an
age trying to explain the current constellation to me.That night was also
the first time I got around to making some music , (many thanks to Dave)and
for me that was some of the best music I was invloved in, so you can imagine
my joy when the hard drive went for a trip ;)

The next day (after 2 hours sleep in a nearby towns hotel, where myself,
Jerry and Jim were staying) involved a 4 wheel drive trip out into the
desert, which was a real highlight for me as life in an inner city isnt
quite right without somebody stealing the car, which I tried on many
occasions to feel at home.

Later on that night we had the raffle and the "name that tune" game, which
like the teachers pet, I won, (so much for the hardcore collectors ;))) I
think i played music again that night ????? the CD will tell.

Sunday was the big day, the day that the towns owner and guests would
witness our improvisational genius (thats 3 in the audience) For the best
part of the day i convinced Dave and Folker(sp?) that we should involve a
few structured moments into our set.It seemed like a good idea at the time,
even with no rehearsal.By 8pm, and after several hours of Vic insisting we
should start, even though all the PC recorders were not working, we kicked
off the set. All was going well....and then i said.."lets do part 1". Of
course the lack of rehearsals meant a sudden stop and return to the improv,
( i do apologise for that guys :)))  Good ol Dave kept it going, and we
finished almost sparing my blushes...ahem !!! 2 great sets of music then
followed, and it was a joy to hear them.

My favourite local by this time was a guy named David Cole (he looked like a
Hells Angel on a bad hair day) who introduced the party to the delights of
local desert weeds ;) and after i realised that my lift (Dr Jerry) was`nt
trying to kidnap and kill me, I kinda enjoyed myself..

Monday was a kind of everyman for himself day, and the music did`nt start
till late on. I did not play this night and the music was brilliant !!(I
started to ask myself some questions by then)

Then it was Tuesday, and after the trip feeling like it had gone on for 1
month, yet 2 minutes at the same time, it was time to leave.

Many thanks for all of the people who were injured at the trip ...Dave the
mountain goat, Marion and Dave (they fell over the same log) and Jim who
broke his foot. I`ve never felt so lucky so near Vegas before.
A big thanks to Vic and all of the great people who made this trip so
special !!!

Paul

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