A Writer’s Diary Entries From Late December, 1999 | Richard Grayson

A Writer’s Diary Entries From Late December, 1999 | Richard Grayson

Thursday Night in Gilbert: Rondavous at Freestone Park

On this gorgeous evening, we went to Freestone Park in Gilbert for a free concert by Rondavous, a high-energy country band that is fronted by a talented, energetic, female singer and guitarist - Pandy Ray - along with strong male vocals and instrumentals by Neil Bunker, Joe Swafford and Mike Kellems on drums.

It was a pleasant show for an audience of lots of white people with little kids and grandmas.

The band quite nicely played some well-known songs by artists like Lady Anabellum, Sugarland, Janis Joplin, Zac Brown and George Strait. We're grateful we got to spend the evening there to listen.

Early Saturday Morning in Gilbert: KA-POW! Superhero Adventure Run at Freestone Park

At 8 a.m. today we were at beautiful Freestone Park in Gilbert to watch the start of the Ka-Pow! Superhero Adventure Run, a race featuring the East Valley's least lethargic costumed crimefighters.

We enjoyed ourselves a lot. Too bad the Joker was disqualified after the race when he tested positive for steroids. Police Commissioner Gordon arrested him and took him off to the Gotham City jail, where he'll be sharing a cell with fellow supervillains Roger Clemens and Bobby Bonds. Kids, don't let this happen to you!

Other than that, it was a fantastic race and a wonderful morning, and we're grateful to all the superheroes who participated fairly at Freestone Park.

Thursday Evening in Gilbert: Spring Concerts in the Park presents Midnight Confessions at Freestone Park

It was a beautiful, mild evening in Gilbert's Freestone Park as we went to the first of the Spring Concerts in the Park series at the amphitheater,

featuring Midnight Confessions, "hot oldies rock band specializing in your favorite good-time music: 50's, 60's, 70's, Classic Rock, Surf and Memorable One-Hit Wonders."

We had a pleasant time sitting on the grass and listening to such memory-inducing songs as "Love Potion #9," "Can't Buy Me Love," "Runaround Sue," "Surfin' USA," "I Think We're Alone Now,"

"Born on the Bayou," "How Long Has This Been Going On?" and "I'm a Believer," after which one of the band members said, "RIP Davy Jones," making us sadly wistful; like every other gay teen boy we knew around 1967, we had a huge crush on him. There were a lot of little, mostly blond, kids dancing around in front of the band,

and eventually they were joined by adults, including some amazingly terrific dancing couples who looked like Dick and Lynne Cheney.

It was a really nice night in a pretty park.

There was a big full moon low in the sky to the east, and people sat in their portable chairs or lay on their blankets on the hill overlooking the stage space and a lake and palm trees.

We're grateful that we were recovered enough from yesterday's foot surgery to be able to hobble around to this free concert tonight.