The waiting is the hardest part or FACE/OFF

hiya. . .sittin in a coffee shop in the good ole EL. . .things are clicking right along for the tour. . .my checklist is now done. . .drums sent, sticks received, cymbals ordered and new peeps met and "brought into the loop" now its time to wrap my brain around the fact that i'm gonna be away form home and loved ones for quite awhile. . .this is always the part of touring that seems to take the longest to reconcile within yourself no matter how many times you do it. . .i'm actually listening to the new record as i type this and it seems alien to think of these songs being played live. . .though i can't wait to do that. . .i absolutely love hearing/watching the songs change and take on a new shape live and i feel that this time we really have a group of folks going with us who are gonna be just as interested in watching that happen as we are. . .

man i'm full of hot-air. . .

Begin the Begin or REM as a clue to understanding the universe. . .

i sit here listening to Life's Rich Pageant. . .in particular Don't Fall On Me. . .and as i do so i can distinctly remember the night this record "hit" me. . .i was down in FLA at my cousin Teresa's house and everyone had gone to sleep. . .i couldn't have been over 14. . .maybe 15. . .and i had brought my cd player (yes iPods weren't around yet) and i put this cd in and laid on the couch a room lit by one single lamp and i listened to EVERY single note of this record and thought to myself, "If one day i can make music that is this AMAZING then i've really done something." Well i'm still waiting to do that. . .and i'm sure if you asked any member of REM they'd say "We had NO idea what we're doing!". . .and of course its aruguable that this album is REM's very best (though it definitely ranks up there). . .it just hit me all over again how great the songs and the performances and maybe even more importantly, the IDEAS are on this record are. . .i dunno. . .i could gush on about this one for hours and hours. . .

anywho. . .do you have something like that?. . .a work of some sort that gets you?. . .that will always be super special to you for some reason and will always have that transportative power??. . .i sure hope you do. . .

lovies

fordsie

ccccccccccccccold! or c-c-c-c-c-c-COLDER!!!!

so i just woke up on this lovely friday. . .it is officially -10 degrees. . .wind chill feels like -22!!! i myself haven't been in temps like this in a LONG LONG time. . .not since one winter in Illinois where i got snowed in for a week. . .apparently there is ice between the panes of of glass on the front door. . .we're talkin COLD peeps. . . .REAL cold. . .but it looks like everywhere is getting it today. . .nashville's at +6. . .they even cancelled school. . .yowsah!!

everyone stay warm and inside if you can!!!

lovies

fordsie

a picture's worth a thousand hams or "Hot water warm-up?"

so here's a little peek into what its been like in my new Winter Wonderland. . .the first pic is just a fun one. . .pic #2 is the icicles THIS morning. . .pic #3 is the icicles a day ago. . .pic #4 is the street out front the morning after arrival and last but not least is a shot down the street right after we pulled in. . .needless to say, it has snowed a little. . .

'nuff said.

la la la-la-la la means i love you or PROBOT!

18 degrees here in Michigan. . .YOWSAH!!!. . .it gets worse this week with the onset of sub teens highs and well below zero lows. . .going through MAJOR guitar rock phase. . .KARATE, SF59, PROBOT, Smashing Pumpkins, Pell Mell. . .i even busted out the Primus!!! in just a bit i shall go foraging for a new bank account. . .the first REAL signs of settling in here in Lansing! its been fun so far. . .everyone in the house got back safely from their breaks as of last night so that's awesome!

drove in the snow yesterday. . .no wrecks and the van handled well!!! its hard to wanna go outside when its so very chilly outside. . .even though i know i should go. . .hehe.

maybe i should post more pics. . .i think i shall!

Karate is the best snow music or There's exorbitant whiteness in my beard!!

so here i am. . .in Michigan, my new home. . .Stacey and I drove up in the snow on friday and really had no troubles until the no man's land that exists between the state lines of Indiana and Michigan. . .then it gots a little hairy. . .but we made it safe and sound and unloaded the cars (after i shoveled the walk!!) and now we're sitting around on our computers being nerds. . .hehe!!

the TOD tour is now, i think, cemented in. . .we're doing a full month and a half here stateside then heading out for another month and a half in the old country then on to Aussie land and Japan. . .then i think we do the whole thing over (with some S. America thrown in for good measure) needless to say we'll be busy for some time!!!

i'm posting some photos from the FC/TSG taken by Travis' lovely ladyfriend, Heather. . .THANKS SOOOOOOOO MUCH HEATHER!!!!

these pics are super great and REALLY capture the spirit of the TSG experience thank you very much!!

i hope you're all well and good and warmer than we are here!!

lovies

fordsie