THIS Is Why I Do This

Thursday April 10th, 2008 - North Lake Tahoe, NV

Days like today are why I haven’t put a bullet in my head yet. When things go like they have been going lately it’s easy to question my life and career choices but then I’ll have a day like I had today and it all gets crystal clear. I’m on the correct path, at least for today.

I got up and checked out of the hotel in Oroville because I wanted to not have a stressed out drive and get lost on the way to North Lake Tahoe. I lived in Reno a few years ago for a year or so when I had a radio gig there but I never went to this part of Lake Tahoe and it is easy to get lost around these parts. There’s a lot more wilderness than paved roads here.

Most of my drive today was two lane highway through some of the most amazing roads in North America. I sat behind the wheel of my rental car in stunned silence worshipping the spectacular raw mountain scenery that can’t be duplicated on any postcard. This has to be seen and felt and smelled in person to get the full effect and that’s what I did all day.

The sun was out but it was a little crisp and I had to keep cracking the window and then rolling it back up when it got too cold. Then the sun would heat it up inside again and I’d roll the window back down. I didn’t mind because every curve in the road would bring an entirely new batch of awe inspiring natural beauty which made me very glad I’d come.

Exploring scenery in the west has always been one of my favorite things about being on the road for my whole life and I never get sick of it. When I’m in a foul mood this pokes a hidden supply of adrenaline I didn’t know I had and invigorates my whole being. I feel a strong sense of pride in being an American whenever I see all this natural beauty up close.

The drive was only about 200 miles in length but it took a lot longer than it should have because there were a lot of two lane roads and steep hills and dangerous curves and it’s an obstacle course that can’t be sped through without extreme danger. One wrong move in a tight spot and I’m Purina Critter Chow. There are lots of hungry mouths in those woods.

I made it to the Crystal Bay Casino which is literally right on the state line of Nevada. It is right next to the ‘Welcome To California’ sign and I always think it’s cool to do that. It was a pleasant surprise to see my name up on the marquee outside of the hotel and it was even spelled correctly! I didn’t expect either one and that made me even happier I came.

I checked into the hotel and they gave me a VIP room that was again very classy. These can get addictive especially after all the fleabags I’ve stayed in over the years. This is why I like working in casinos. They know how to take care of their entertainers. It’s only good business because the happier we are the better shows we’ll do for their customers later.

The hotel was right on Lake Tahoe and the view was heart stopping. I went to the diner across the street to have lunch because the restaurant in the hotel was closed for repairing or remodeling or something but whatever it was it was closed for a few days. The diner is across the street and had an even more all inclusive view of the lake and the mountains.

What a way to eat lunch. THIS is why I’ve chased my dreams all these years. I wouldn’t have ever seen a sight like this had I listened to my Grandfather and gotten a civil service job in Milwaukee like he wanted me to and like my father and uncle did. They lost out. It was worth it all just to sit in that diner and eat a BLT and gawk at this one of a kind sight.

I looked across the street and saw the marquee with my name on it and that was a scene I will replay in my head for a long time. The band Asleep At The Wheel is playing in the lounge tomorrow and they’re on the marquee too but it looked like all one sentence when I looked at it. “Dobie Maxwell Asleep At The Wheel”. Maybe that’s a cosmic warning.

The last thing I need is to be asleep at the wheel in my life. Especially now. I have to be at my best in the thinking and planning department and in the doing too. I sat there eating lunch and soaking it all in and I realized that no matter how much money I didn’t happen to take in this week this experience will be worth the trip. I am in sync with the universe.

After lunch I was walking back to the hotel and I saw the opener Mike Betancourt. He’s 26 and just getting started and very eager to learn. I asked him if he wanted to take a drive around Lake Tahoe and his eyes bugged out with excitement. ‘SURE!! Let’s go!’ I was as exuberant as that when I started out and I love being around that kind of positive energy.

We started driving and he started to pick my brain about comedy and I told him a lot of good solid pointers that would really help him. I remember when I was starting how much that meant when the headliner would even talk to me so I tried to make it fun for us both. I love to talk about comedy and he was in a mood to listen and we both enjoyed the scene.

The drive was a lot longer than we’d expected but it was worth every second. If I’ve got to fork out four bucks a gallon for gas I want something to make it worth it and this was it by far. We wound our way through mountain roads and even saw some live bears. We did not expect that and stopped the car and almost got rear ended but again it was worth it.

It was good to be able to share some pointers with Mike and I hope he remembers a few of them but even if he doesn’t neither one of us will forget the lap around the lake with all that optical stimulation. We could barely take it all in but we kept our eyes open anyway.

The show tonight was another great one. The room was pretty full and it was a beautiful setup for comedy. There was a big stage and nice lighting and the mike was booming and sharp until the power went out and I had to stand up there and wing it until they fixed it. I have enough experience where I can do that and it got the respect of everyone in the joint.

This was not a moneymaking trip this time but I had fun anyway. The feature act was an amazingly funny woman named Kristi McHugh out of L.A. by way of Iowa. She had very strong jokes and is blonde and gorgeous and I bet she’ll go far if the right person sees her.

Unfortunately she’s smart and funny and that usually doesn’t go with blonde and sexy. If I had power she’d get a shot because she’s hilarious. But I don’t. I’m just making a living.