Alex turns nine today, so I can no longer say, "2, 4, 6, and 8," when people ask how old the kids are. We now have an odd one. Actually, we have four odd ones, but that's not a numerical concept.
We had the party yesterday, borrowing my place of employment for the occasion. Jen held down the fort at the picnic table while the rest of us went on a hike. Each kid got a bag of trail mix, a harmonica, and a compass, all wrapped in a bandana, as party favors. When the hikers arrived back, we feasted on cupcakes and the ever present trail mix while Alex opened presents. Simple and successful.
Oh, and Nate spotted a Garter snake on the trail. It looked like it had recently shed too.

Later on, I went up to Adobe Books in San Francisco to see a rare local appearance by In Gowan Ring (the last time was in 1999, I believe). The bookstore turned out to be one of those appealing hippie-run establishments with an eccentric organizational ethic (ie, unsteady looking piles of books upon every surface). The odor of incense permeated everything, and there were some interesting photoshopped photos on the walls. A homeless guy was asleep in one of the number of mismatched chairs littered throughout the store. The show itself started about an hour late, but I filled the time by browsing and talking with some of the other people waiting for things to start.
The first band did not appeal to me, being rather simplistic singer-songwriter type stuff. They were friendly and relaxed though. The second band, a duo like the first, sounded like Devendra Banhart's drug-addled younger brothers. Better than the first band though. In Gowan Ring was just B'eirth, or Bee, as he is calling himself these days, and he was incredible, with fluid, melodic guitar playing and hushed vocals which perfectly complemented the music. He accompanied himself on a variety of harmonicas as well, and even did a brief, vietnamese mouth-harp solo.
Since it was a free show, somebody passed around the hat so he could finish his mini-tour with enough money to eat. I picked up his newest cd too. I only wish the show had been properly advertised. I guess since the venue was confirmed only a week ago (or less) that the advertising was all last-minute. It's hard for wandering minstrels to make a living if nobody knows that they're wandering.

A nice night out. Now I'm watching the three younger kids while Jen takes Alex out for a birthday lunch. They're making mischief, so I'd better go get busy now.