Sunday, March 30th, 2008

[Dan McLaughlin]

Good Sunday folks. Went to church at 7 :15 this morning to open it up, get the heat going, set up the mics, make coffee and attend the early service. Was home by 9ish and went back to bed for a couple of hours. After checking in here I'm going to play a little guitar. Have good ones.

[Deleted]

Overcast with light rain and a forecast that predicts 100% chance for precipitation. Imagine that.... they may have one right after all.

Good to see everyone stirring. Hope your day brings at least one good laugh and lots of good music.

[Cornflake]

Good morning--only five minutes of it left here. I went for a good long walk early and then had chalice bearing duty at church. Not as early as Dan, luckily. It's a good day.

[John B]

Sorry to hear about your daughter and college, Bill. I wasn't able to go to any of the schools I really wanted to. In my case, dad said "forget about applying to any other schools. You're going to KU because you'll never be able to afford anything else." I'm paraphrasing, of course, and it makes my dad sound like a worse person than he is (I like him a whole lot, actually). So while my friends were going to prestigious schools both large and small, I was #449908 in student body of 25K.

If I had gone to one of those schools, I probably would have blown massive amounts of money on my first two wasted years (vs. the $3K or so at KU). I wouldn't have met my wife. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have picked the career I did. So things worked out OK for me.

Still, it would have been REALLY COOL to have your daughter so close.

[Don Clark]

Evenin'.....

Long day. Played service this morning. Lunch. Grocery shopping. Back home. Nap. Unload PA gear from Suburban (sure made for a nice ride for me, Bill, PA and guitars).

Son Ty played in a basketball tournament in Turpin, Oklahoma (independent team with his 6th grade classmates, fundraiser tourney). Won first game Friday night. Lost the next game (first one on Saturday a.m.), won the next 4 making it to the championship game, then lost by 2.....taking 2nd place. Played some good ball. Too bad I couldn't get there. Had sick daughter home on Friday, then gig yesterday.

Ty was so wiped out tired, that he was a grumpy grouchy PITA today. Kinda expected that though.

Gig turned out real good. The funny part was that we were not told that it was a "Ladies' Night Out". Just about 100 of them ranging in age from 20's to 80's. We knew it was a fundraiser for improvements to the local city pool, but a ladies night?

It had its benefits though.....all 18 tables in the big room were all custom decorated and set (some ladies were going around photographing them) by individual groups of ladies. Each had a different theme and color scheme. All very nice, as was the whole room. A separate room off the main room was set up as a hospitality room.....just for us. Two stuffed couches, tables and chairs, bottled water on ice, huge plate of grapes and apple slices, another huge plate of horsey durvies (crackers, cheddar and Jalapeño cheese, sausage slices, olives). We hung in there grazing on that while the ladies had their opening wackiness, salads, and main course, then we went out to play. Did an hour and ten minute set, with a maybe 5 minute break while they announces door prizes. Then we were done playing. Then they fed us dinner while they cleaned up their mess. Lasagna, French bread, mixed veggies, salad, awesome Strawberry dessert.

Packed up and went home. Was there by 10:00 pm. After deducting 9 gallons of fuel expense, we took home $172.50 each. Not a bad night at all. Too bad this is SW Kansas (well the gig was in Buffalo, Oklahoma but what's the difference?).....I could do 2 or 3 of these a week. ;D

[billhammond]

Man, that sounds like an awesome gig and a great weekend all around, Don. You are definitely one of those people who deserve and can justifty a Suburban!

I just got back from the conservatory Wedding Showcase, and it went pretty well considering I had to handle the playing and the schmoozing alone and try to give the couples an idea of what the duo is all about without Barb on hand (she was unavailable, needed to be a Mom today). Three couples seemed very interested, down to asking if I would hold a date open for them until they can listen to website clips. And they all are getting married at the Como Conservatory, which is like 5 minutes from my house!