July 2007

Odin & Tundra Dehkes

July 2007 nears its close, and I am merrily sitting my ever-working butt down in Savage, Minnesota... finally. I've finished most of my jaunting around the country - that is if you don't include next month's Tortuga Twins gig at the Grand River Cellars Winery in northeast Ohio. I am content to sit in the happy place that I've made my most recent home, with the Twin Cities friends I've garnered after a decade or so of working and playing here in the Midwest.

Since my last journal, I've traveled to New York, South Carolina, and Illinois. I'm living with Bruce & Melissa Dehkes, their two sons Jacob (6) and Joshua (now 1), their dogs Tundra and Odin (don't really know their ages, but Odin is the puppy). Bruce is one of our good buddies from Ten Seconds of Harmony, whom I've mentioned several times before. They do a guest appearance on our Tortugapalooza 2: Spies DVD, and they have extended an invite for us to appear in their upcoming TSOH DVD release party coming up on September 21^st. Stay tuned for more info on that as the time draws nearer.

New York:

Sarina and I flew into New York to attend a benefit for Give Children a Choice - an organization whose mission is to "... build and fill preschools with children in Asia." Sarina's own non-profit Chi Kids, Inc. donated artwork created by her friend Rachel Tribble. Sarina and I had a great time meeting people and enjoying the unending procession of delicious oriental cuisine. Wow, were we full by the end of the evening!

 

You're Hired!

Sarina and Rachel Tribble art

New York City awaits

Going to New York also afforded me the opportunity to visit the fabulous LaBella sisters. Well... two out of three of them. While there, I stayed in Chester, New York with Melissa - formally LaBella, now Sly - and her husband, Mark. You may remember them from their wedding, mentioned in mySeptember 2005 Journal. I got to see sister Michelle, Momma LaBella, and the rest of the LaBella clan (minus sister Lisa who was away) at Melissa's birthday cookout. It was a good day of kicking back and enjoying family. I even got the chance to hear Mark's 9/11 survival story - he was inTower 1 - and how he met Melissa soon after. Since then, he has stepped away from the corporate world, and he is fulfilling his promise to follow his dream of a life filled with music. Check out slymarkmusic.com for his Secrets Guitar Teachers Don't Want You To Know teaching DVD.

 

Mark Sly - King of Kool

Melissa Sly with Momma LaBella and a Friend

Partytown Savage:

I travel so much, I often get the chance to experience a variety of party opportunities around the country. I've spent Christmas in Minneapolis, New Year's in New Orleans, and Halloween in Kansas City, Charlotte, and Florida. This month I had the triple-whammy of Melissa Sly's latest birthday, Joshua Dehkes's first birthday, and our nation's birthday on the Fourth. Sometimes, playtime can be busy, too.

After Melissa's came the 4^th, and we went all out here in Savage. The hot tub and pool were made ready, extra chairs and the hammock were set out, the gazebo was set up... we did a lot. Then a copious amount of TSOH & Tortuga friends and family came by to celebrate.

 

Bars & Stripes Forever

Savage Party Feast

Click for Party Video I Click for Party Video II

And, if that weren't enough, the following week we threw Joshua his first birthday ever. It was like déjà vu all over again. A bunch of the same people came to the same setup to do almost the same thing as the week before. Weird. Fun, but weird. The following weekend we were supposed to go up north to "the cabin," but everyone agreed that we were "partied out." Happily, we stayed home and did "nothing."

 

Joshua, before...

...and Joshua after (and brother Jacob)

MagiQuest

We've had a most interesting journey. We've visited a land down south - a land of sun, beaches... and magic!

Your Tortugas went on an excursion to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at the behest of the good people of MagiQuest.

 

 

 

Swordfighting & Stupidity

Raphael Tortuga and the Wand of Destiny

Goofin' with those Crazy Creators from MagiQuest

So, that's what it's all about. We were hired to perform two of our shows - Swordfighting & Stupidity (the Kid-Friendly version) and Robin Hood - then invite people to come in and see what all the fun was about. We all had a very good time. They loved it, we loved it... smiles all around. They treated us well, setting us up with wands, placing us in guilds, and then we picked our "character names." Of course, we all took our Tortuga names. Well... what name would you pick? It was fun-fun, and the beginning of a fantastic business relationship. Look for us there again soon. (Keep checking the Tortuga Website Schedule Calendar - duh!)
I just got back from Chicago. I attended yet another Landmark seminar - the Advance Course. I got more stuff out of it than when I attended the Forum in Los Angeles, but that's the nature of this progressive seminar series. I watched people transform their lives, letting go of past hindrances that went as far back as 10 to 55 years. Pretty cool stuff. I made new friends and had a good time, but then I always do. Not a bad life I lead.

 

My Gorgeous Group from Landmark Chicago

Tortuga Antics

Well, Tortugaholics, that's my end of June and most of July - but we'll call it July just to keep things clear. I'm sure you're out there having as good a time as I am. If not, shame on you. You should find someone to spank your bottom. With all the birthdays that happened this month, I'm sure we've got a few spare spankings to spread around.

Ciao for now, amigos! See you in a month!