April began in Wisconsin for us, in a town we like to call Wausau. Turns out, that's what the residents call it too. They really packed them in and we had a very fine time. The next night we played in a town the locals and we call "Barron." It was a nice theater and a fine group of concertgoers. The community civic center in Barron was only a precursor to the stunning room we played in Coleraine, Minnesota the next night. Wow. This room came with actual paintings on the walls and everything. I found a few costumes backstage and tried my hand at policing the joint.

". . . except learning prepositions and adverbs."

"And how long will you be in Canada?"

Smile poms

Spoonful

"Home at last!"

We took the next night off (it being a Wednesday in Lent), and then drove to Rockford, Illinois, where we played an afternoon gig for the Lutheran High School folks who taught us the handy phrase "Smile Poms!" Later that same afternoon, we met the band that would be opening the concert that night. They are called "Spoonful," and they rock in a most unusual and enjoyable fashion. Their lineup included a violinist. (Man, I really must get to work on learning to play those bagpipes Michael gave me for my birthday.) These Spoonful folks are seriously talented on their instruments, which makes them quite different from LOST AND FOUND. On Friday afternoon, I met my family in downtown Chicago for an afternoon that our daughter Eleanor will cherish forever. Those of you who have young daughters (and some, I imagine who don't) know full well the significance of the words American Girl Dolls. Well, Eleanor had the chance to pay a little visit to a Mecca of her own. That evening we began another fine event hosted by our friends Youth Encounter. They had many enthusiastic Middle-School folks in attendance—60 or so from my own church—which made for a raucous and sleepless time for all. (Apologies, as always, to the unlucky pilots who badly misjudged the amount of sleep they'd get at this particular stopover. But, hey, pilots need to learn to practice good judgement, right?)

Anyway, Sunday afternoon we raced over to Madison, Wisconsin, where we were treated to another great opening band. Though I didn't get their photo . . . oh, wait! I DID get their photo. They are called "Courting Topanga." They were really good and used an accordion. (Man, I really must get to work on learning to play that didjiradu my brother-in-law gave me for Christmas.)

Courting Topanga

The next morning, we woke up in Minneapolis. Fortunately, we had driven there the night before so it wasn't all that surprising. The reason for returning to The Metroplex (with apologies to those offended by that term) was an exciting new venture cooked up by Youth Encounter and a bunch of us independent bands. We've started a website called www.churchnoise.com. When it's fully functional, it will allow the websurfer to connect to each band's website from one central source. We're very excited about the whole thing, though it's hard to tell from the serious looks on everyone's faces. Check that URL there once in a while and eventually you can sign up to get monthly notices of where we and all our independent friends are playing. Speaking of playing, those who know me—and who doesn't?—know that I generally only listen to albums by female singers. (To which Michael always responds, "So George can only listen to music when he's got a singer to sit next to.") However, in the last few years, this album buyer has made a huge exception. I listen a lot (A LOT) to a duo called Chris and Johnny, or Storyhill. Well, on that Monday night, we had the opportunity to go watch John Hermanson (of Chris and Johnny fame). I swooned for minutes—and thus added no fewer than 13 parentheses and dashes in the above paragraph!

On Easter Sunday, my family gathered back in our hometown (where Al Gore discovered toxins) to visit with our Grandmother who's turning 96 this year. We took her to Goat Island, which is right above the American Falls. We spent some time climbing around on rocks with the nephews. Eleanor and her cousins seem destined to start a band someday, don't they? Cris and Lily went down a tad close to the water, but it's really safer than it looks. That fine day drew to a close and we all went back to our homes.

Hiking at 96

Future Rockers On

Yikes!

Aww . . .

A couple of days later, Michael, Pete, and I regrouped in my town to drive down to one of our favorite festivals of all: The Ichthus Festival, in Wilmore, Kentucky. This event is always such a blast for us. It's also a chance for all the Crazily Dressed LOST-AND-FOUND Listeners to gather under one tent. All the regulars were there, except for Blue Dave. Myke With a Y brought his Safety Nun outfit, and the caterpillars were out in full force. A great event and I can't think of a better way to close out the month of April. Michael even got a new shirt from some very kind youth leaders.

What else is there? Oh yes, Pete got us a new banner of which we are psyched. If you've ever seen the old one, you know why we're psyched. (No offense intended, Mr. Vetrano.) On the way home, I ran across (not literally, mind you) an interesting sign. You know, these days people don't want you just "sort-of" parking. Times being what they are, folks like to know which side of issues you're on.

Get parked or get out!