The Buzz

Bouncing around Old Town Auburn today was pleased to learn about all the changes taking place starting with the Gold Rush Mall where I learned Mimi of  The Silver Store will soon take the best location in the front of the mall; congrats to Mimi who has waited well over a decade for this opp.  Mahogany Gail moves to Tea Thyme up Sacramento Street as TT is now out of business.  Roseanne has opened a boutique in the back of the mall next to the veteran Sharon Stanley of  South of  The Border.  The Brookside eatery appears to be holding its own while Stan of  The Gold store is suffering with a serious injury and the Indian store has folded their tent.  I was very impressed with the scintillating lustre of  The OT Gallery and enjoyed my connection with the always enthusiastic Doreen Kidd who waxed joyously about the success of the Gallery.  Congrats to Kidd and all the creative artists.  Enjoyed a cup with Courthouse Coffee Owner Linda Lareau and daughter Lisa with her fashion-grooved daughter sitting outside on the sunny patio.  Headed over for a visit with good pal Syl Bruce who had her staff re-inventorying at the new location at the end of  High Street where Syl says she is happy in her new digs and will soon advertise a grand opening.   Plan on eating at Pasquale Ts next week at their new location next to the Downtown clock tower.  As a consumer, I'm pleased with all the changes and look forward to my shopping/dining choices in our happy hamlet.

Looking forward to Dakota Sid guesting tomorrow, Thursday, on KAHI CONNECTIONS.  Sid "grabs the audience in the gut" says Bill Varbie of the Medford Mail Tribune so we shall see.  At 9:30am Jim Linsdau, Publisher of the Foresthill Messenger and fellow golfer George Kazezski guest on THE GOLF CONNECTION; and at 10am I head over to Courthouse Coffee to enjoy the post-program connections where Barry Stigers, Liz Pope and Dina Farr usually drop in.  Should the weather clear up, I'll point the golfmobile in the direction of  The Ridge to practice the swing and putting so I can be on point Friday when I join up with pal Donna Arz for an enjoyable experience out on the green carpet.  Home Sweet Home

So enjoyed the experience today:  Hosted Zoo-Keeper/musician Gary Bowman at KAHI where we cranked up the mirth meter by playing Bowman's new CD with animal sounds/theme.  Bowman also shared his interesting background and talked about meeting Jane Goodall.  On the golf program I chatted with Shawn Kelly, pro/instruction at The Ridge, about the short game and Kelly gave his opinions on golf etiquette.  After the programs, we all headed over to Courthouse Coffee and joined The Ridge Sales Manager Diana Farr, golfers Liz Pope and Spencer Strand and were also joined by KAHI programmers Barry Stigers and Stewart Schurr.  No dues/rules/structure--just good community connections at our Round Table group.   Picked up my newly fitted clubs at The Ridge and headed home and look forward to a joyous time on the links tomorrow with good friend Donna Arz.  And now you know why I NEVER LEAVE HOME to travel.

It is being said that 2008 is the beginning of a major shift in growth/change/upheaval and one can certainly appreciate the economic reality with higher gas prices, etc; but life does, hopefully, go on.  Ran into good pal Syl Bruce as she headed over to Depoe Bay on High Street where I joined her and bumped into fellow golfer Donna Arz who was with Jack Bangs.  While waiting for our order at this very busy coffee house, chatted with AJ columnist Susan Rushton whom Bruce brought up to speed regarding her new location for Southwest Silver:  Just a stone's thrown away on High adjacent to Sundance Computer (recently moved to Palm Avenue).  Although the new location is smaller in size, the richly painted walls create a trading post atmosphere which will contribute to an alluring look for Southwest Silver when the place is put together.  Good luck to Syl in her new digs and congrats to Depoe Bay for spreading their wings with more menu selections and tables to nosh/network/connect.