Check This Gig

Here's the lineup for The Kansas City Voices' annual reading in Lawrence, co-hosted by Coal City Review. It's at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) at Aimee's Coffee House, 1025 Massachusetts and features Brian Daldorph, Beth Schultz, Lisa McBride, Serena Allison Hearne, Matt Porubsky, and Lora Reiter, and myself. I'll be reading a short story I wrote called Except For Patches. Music will be provided by Iain Ellis. Admission is free. Come early. Seating is limited.

Thanksgiving 2007

I am thankful for many things this year: my family, my health, and my friends. I am also thankful for people that read this web log including you. Thank you. I have a feeling we could all fit into the corner booth at Denny's, but I am thankful just the same.

My Second KU Football Post

I suppose 100 years from now when my great grandchildren find record of this web log in the National Internet Archives, available on micro wafer or 8-track tape, they'll wonder why I didn't write more about the biggest football game in 100 years between KU and MU coming up this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. I don't want to be a bandwagon gomer but I am excited.

Both teams feature a spread offense and I can't help but wonder how the cooler weather forecasted for this weekend will effect the passing game. Advantage KU since they have a stronger running game. My prediction: KU 35 MU 32.

Pedaljets Play

A nice conversation with the Pedaljets, appearing at 10pm this Saturday at the Replay in Lawrence along with the Hearers and Hyperopia.

Remember the Bug Juice?

Check out Camp Zoe Memories, a nostalgic rant through the summer camp experience, for campers and staffers of the fabled Missouri sleep-away camp, circa 1929 - 1986.

Happy Birthday Olde Hip-Eye

I drove to Lawrence last night for Matthew Moore's 54th birthday party. He fixed up a barn in the woods north of town. It's north of the Teepee Junction in Jefferson County. Matthew Moore, AKA the Olde Hip-Eye, welcomed us with a hello in his trademark booming voice as I parked my car.

My friend Rob Loud and I arrived with some extra ice and a small gift - a photo poster of concert ticket stubs taken by Corky Carrel. There was hot curry stew, spiral cut ham and kegs of Free State beer. I saw a million stars in the sky and the milky way cut a misty swath through it all . A six piece country band complete with slide guitar and fiddle played inside the barn and Darrell Lea sat in on electric guitar for a few numbers.

I chatted with Andy Timmons and John Cutler about local music and old times at the bonfire. John mentioned that he was once in a band that opened for Green Day at the Outhouse. I reminded him about the Pedaljets gig tonight at the Record Bar. He said he was playing with The Kelihans at Kyle's Tap Room, but planned to swing by after his show. Then he busted out a brand new mandolin and played "The Girl From Ipanema". Not to be outdone, Andy Timmons, longtime Crossing bartender, and former proprietor of the Hambonery shop on Massachusetts street, reeled off a somewhat Leon Redbone-ish rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" on acoustic guitar.

We reminisced about the fact its been 20 years since the River City Reunion with William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Marianne Faithful, Husker Du and others. A bonfire comrade remarked that Mark Kaplan was the guy who shot film and video footage for a documentary that never got made. I don't know Mark Kaplan but I'd love to see the completed project.

The next thing I knew it was 12:30 in the morning. We thanked Matthew for his hospitality and I drove back to Overland Park with Rob, where a teenage driver missed a turn and drove into the fish pond by my house. Authorities towed her car out of the wetness as I turned into the sub-division. Police strobe lights bounced off the facades of neighboring houses. What a night.

My first KU football post

Here's a nice video blog re-cap of Saturday's KU/Nebraska football game in case you missed it from the Kansas City Star. This isn't a typical sports program highlight reel with all the touchdowns and big runs, but the reporter does a nice job conveying the pertinent points, namely all the records KU broke in their big victory against the Cornhuskers. One not so nice thing about the video blog on the KC Star website - it continues to play other stories after the KU story finishes. I think you'll figure out when the Jayhawk story is over.

Diet Hope and Soap on a Rope. Which One Will Drop First?

I'm re-dedicating myself to weight loss starting today. I hope that by mentioning it here I will remain accountable. My starting weight is 186 lbs and I want to get down to 175 lbs by the end of the year.

I'm going to make better snack choices, like raisins and rice cakes, instead of chips and ice cream. I plan on walking more often.

Ask me how my diet is going if you see me on the street, and if you catch me in a Taco Bell, please slap me with a chalupa and escort me to the door.