WINTER 2006-07 NEWSLETTER (Covering the dates from 10/8/06 to 2/2/07)
So, starting back in 2002, I slipped off the newsletter-a-month schedule to something like bi-monthly. Then it went to something like quarterly. Now, there is no pattern at all, except that I open each newsletter apologizing for not writing sooner. But you know what? I think it's time I just face facts and admit it: no one is sitting up nights wondering why I haven't written. To apologize for a lack of missives when nobody has complained has an odd air of arrogance, don't you think? In the words of Mr. Cobain, what else should I be, all apologies? Smells like time to begin . . .
Let's Get Started Then . . .
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Feelin' Buggy?
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When we last left off, it was still warm out. And that was especially true in California, where we left off. In order to continue that trend, we headed to Austin (as in City Limits), Texas, to play at the first of this year's four (count 'em FOUR) National Youthworkers Conventions hosted by our friends at Youth Specialties. If you guessed we had a great time, you were right. When I got back home, our daughter Lily had drawn a picture of me and Michael as insects. Ah, the mystery of a child's mind, right?
Scary Pumpkins!
"Ready? 1, 2, 3!!"
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After a couple of weekends off, we regrouped our group in Knoxville (as in courthouse), Tennessee and drove to Pigeon Forge. (That is, assumedly, the place where they pound steel in a hot furnace to create all the pigeons that I see here in New York. My cat thanks them for their fine work.) Had a fine time and drove past the various theaters for washed-up—er, that is, SEASONED country singers. The next day we returned to Sharonville (Cincinnati to you and me) to play at the Harvest Festival. Though we once again forgot to participate in the event called "Cornhole," I was sad to have missed the cakewalk at 3pm, since I'm sure that's an event I could have won. That evening, our friends Chris and Melissa wowed us all with another round of scary pumpkins. And also that evening, with election day approaching, we experienced first-hand the organizational skills of the local voters. Not only were they attempting to sway how locals would vote on this particular issue, they were determined to show the power of their constituency by all voting at the same time. Turns out, their strategy was successful.
"Hey, where's the band?"
Next Generation
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The next night we played in the basement of the chapel at Valparaiso. (It's not like they wouldn't let us play upstairs; it's more like because a band of two looks pretty small against this backdrop.) We had a nice intimate concert in the undercroft, and met some interesting people. Then we both went home, and I went on a "retreat" with my schoolmates to Connecticut. It was freezing. It was Connecticut. I went directly from there to the airport to fly to Anaheim, California, which was not freezing at all. And also, it was not Connecticut. Michael met me at the Los Angeles airport and we drove to Anaheim to play at the second of this year's four (count 'em FOUR) National Youthworkers Conventions hosted by our friends at Youth Specialties. If you guessed we had a great time, you were right. From there, we both went home until the next weekend when Michael extended a little quid pro quo by coming to New York. We played Saturday night at my loving mother (well, okay, alma mater) in Bronxville. Beforehand, Eleanor and Lily tried out my retirement plan.
The next night, we went out to Lawn Guy Land to play at the church of Famous Actor Justin Vetrano, which is in St. James (as in brother of our Lord), New York. He turned out a significant crowd, which included himself. Had a great time, and then I went back to the city for more schooling. The next weekend, Michael and I flew to Indianapolis to play some music for a combined international gathering of missionaries and youts from the Christian Church in Indiana. (I cannot clarify that sentence anymore than it already is.) From there we drove on over to Cincinnati to play at the third of this year's four (count 'em FOUR) National Youthworkers Conventions hosted by our friends at Youth Specialties. If you guessed we had a great time, you were right. Especially interesting was the fire alarm that went off during Bob Stromberg's set. (I don't think Bob would call it "interesting," since it came moments before a great punch-line. Timing, as they say, is everything.)
We both went home and had a Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat went to sleep and didn't get up until the next morning, when it was the day after Thanksgiving. That Sunday I preached for the first time at my field placement church in New York. I think it went well, but one never knows since church people are so nice about sermons all the time (Ann Hutchinson notwithstanding). To kick off December, we headed to Charlotte (as in 's Web) to play at the fourth of this year's four (count 'em FOUR) National Youthworkers Conventions hosted by our friends at Youth Specialties. If you guessed we had a great time, you were right. Then we both went home for a minute until . . .
"I'm going to the 11:00!"
Swami(chael) knows the answer
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We flew to South Dakota to start the 8th Annual LOST AND FOUND Christmas Tour. We had all the usual suspects: The Fabulous Fitz Family, the Awesome Rapper Agape', the Famous Actor Justin Vetrano, and the Amazing Rachel Kurtz. Oh, and we were there too. As I say, we started in Sioux Falls (as in Electric Pulp). Had a great crowd and a great time. The next night we took the show to Moorhead (as in Fargo), Minnesota. They have a variety of worship services each week, one of which seems particularly short. From there it was off to Maple Grove (Minneapolis, to you and me), Minnesota for the third Christmas show of the weekend. Had ourselves a nice time with a whole lot of people, and then went home for a few days.
We all regrouped in Carmel (Indianapolis to you and me), Indiana, home of Dan Quayle (as in Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine). This was a great space for the show and we had a fine turnout. The next night we set it all up for two shows in Park Forest (Chicago to you and me), Illinois. Both shows went well, and they put out some fine food and pastries in between. Then a kind local raced me to Midway airport so I could get home to take my Liturgics final. I conveniently left my notes on the van dashboard, which gave me a good excuse for not getting an A on the exam.
We took the rest of the year off. Or, LOST AND FOUND did. I preached a couple times and met my family in Ohio for Christmas. Michael planted a row of trees in his backyard and continued to handle the booking so Troy could go back to school. The first concert of 2007 was in Toledo (as in sword-makers), Ohio. Saw lots of people I know (having lived there for 10 years), and had a great time too. Our friends Alathea opened the show, and sound better every time we hear them. The next night, we all played in Battle Creek (as in Road to Wellness), Michigan. Beautiful Congregational church right downtown. Had a nice turnout and time, and Michael began losing his voice. (I mean his ability to sing; I do not mean to suggest he was being silenced or denied his freedom in some way.) The next morning, Michael and I played at a worship service in Rockford (as in Files), Michigan, and he continued losing his voice.
Alathea
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That night we played in Remus (as in brother of Romulus?), Michigan. By then, Michael could barely speak, and I did all the singing . . .or, what passes for singing in our band. Still, we had a great time, and got to hear some cool bands before we started. The next night, we hooked back up with Alathea in Grand Rapids (as in Gerald Ford), Michigan and played at another beautiful downtown Congregational Church. Michael's voice had not returned by then, so I continued with the melodies as best I could remember them, though we occasionally got the Art Garfunkel version of harmony with no melody. Alathea was great, and we got to hang out with our friend Pete, and everyone was well pleased. Michael and I drove across Michigan in the snow and flew out of Detroit (as in Rock City) in the morning.
Rachel Kurtz
You'll note it's set to ON"
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Then what? Oh yes. We flew down to New Orleans (as in the train they call the city of) and drove over to Ocean Spring, Mississippi to play for some folks at Camp Victor, which is a place people can stay when they head south to help with the disaster relief effort. Had a pretty good turn out, and a really great time. A few days later, we flew to Minnesota to drive over to St. Cloud (as in . . .uh, I got nothing). Played two shows for our friend Jane, and Rachel Kurtz opened both sets. Always a treat to hear her sing. Also, before we played, I noticed backstage the secret to having a good show is to always show power. Then we drove back to Minneapolis to play two Lutheran High Schools in the morning. The next day, we flew to Baltimore (as in man it's hard just to live), MD (as in doctor) so that we could drive down to Annapolis (as in St. John's College) to play for a gathered group of youts from all over the area. Had a great time hanging out with them, and got to spend some time with our artist friend, Jonathan. When we went out to eat, Michael had the sense that somebody was trying to steal his coffee. But I think it was just his imagination.
Sunday afternoon we flew back to Minnesota to drive all the way across the state and play a concert back in Moorhead (as in Fargo). The next morning, they had a bunch of confirmands (as in confirmands) over to the college for a daylong gathering where we played a whole bunch of times. When that was done, we raced back across the state and were able to fly home that night. Or, Michael did. I flew halfway and the rest of the way in the morning.
And that brings you up to today, February 2 (as in how much more winter?), 2007, when it's time for a little cleaning of the house . . .
ITEM: When the equipment works (by which I mean to include my brain), I have been recording "Slide Girl" at most concerts. Most of these are uploaded at the site and are downloadable for your listening pleasure. You can find them at this link in the downloads section. If your concert is not there, give it a week and it might be. I can't figure out how to get them in any order, so you have to search through them all.
ITEM: We have in the works something like a box set of our earliest recordings. The criteria for inclusion was something like "albums that were released only as cassette the first time around." The set will include lots of photos, and all the remastered versions of the songs on We All Are, Our Third Album, Hengh!, This is Our Prespective, Sikkibahm, and something like 40 bonus tracks, that are mostly just funny. It will be a bit pricey, but if you are interested, send us an e-mail at hengh@aol.com and we'll let you know how to get a copy when they're available.
ITEM: If you'd like to see photos from the piano bench, you can click on Photo Phrenzy and be whisked away to my little worldview.
Go ahead, I dare you!
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ITEM: If you've had it with this newsletter, just press down that button with your finger-tip.
Later on,
george
Read more of George's monthly newsletters.
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