Friday morning and my back hurts

— Personally, I think the president should stay in Washington, never get out, and just run the country from his office. Or his man cave, if he has wireless.

— Somebody asked if I was going to write a column about this "tea party business." I said, "What are you talking about?"

— Dogwood Weekend, and I have to work. I'm covering the tricycle races Saturday because they are HUGE.

— Sadly, Trinity does not have a float and the band won't be playing tomorrow. We'll give somebody else a chance to win best float.

— The former Herald-Whig Demons softball team made its return to the diamond Thursday night, click here. You know you are getting old when you score from first and are still tired two innings later.

— As noted on my Facebook status, I caught a pop up and now my back hurts.

— Two words for you. HOT TUB. And one more — GLORIOUS.

— Congrats to The Mighty One on his well deserved promotion. He will be playing drums for The Funions at his party May 22. It's his party and he can cry if he wants to dangit.

— Be safe this weekend!

Dangerous Old Lady Dogs

Recovering from the president's visit ....

Walked the dogs this morning and they wouldn't go back across the street. So I called Obama's Riot Police. The dogs didn't like it and claimed they were being persecuted, and Lucy is a Grandmother and Old Lady Dog, so I don't blame them.

But they listened and went back across the street, and everything turned out fine.

Iowa

Up in Fort Madison, Iowa today for President Obama's visit.

Click here for The Whig's blog about the next two days.

Burt Shackleton Is a Vampire

Great time at Rock Against Rape last night, check out SheyFey's pics for more on Facebook here.

As you can see in the above photo, Cheeseburgers singer, keyboardist, sax player and guitarist Burt Shackleton (he also does windows) has an orb on his head. He said he doesn't show up in photos because he thinks he's a vampire.

Well. ORB. HUGE. Maybe we should call Ghost Hunters. Or an exorcist. Go see Burt tonight at Brix, perhaps his fangs will be out. I hope he doesn't bite me in the neck.

Thanks to Sondi at Backwaters, all the bands that donated their time, Quanada, Pat and Warren from Vegas Music for doing sound, everybody who ever lived.

I really liked The Sharrows (top photo), who opened the show. They are two gals from Griggsville who can really sing. It's heartening to see young people playing their own music, and I hope these gals continue to play and make music as much as possible.

Big Show Friday!

Thanks to Jessica Martin at The Whig for helping us promote Rock Against Rape, click here for the story.

Also thanks to Dennis Oliver and Y-101 and Mary Griffith at WTAD for letting us talk about the event on the radio.

It's gonna be great!

Gus Was Great As Usual

Fun fun fun with Gus .... Sunday was awesome, better weather, better Dream Court games, just better.

That's me with my Macker girls, Meg on the left and Knee Cap on the right. Surrounded by greatness, in America's University, no wonder I cried right after this photo was taken!

Took 8 1/2 hours to fly home with the cruise on 75 (except for select spots around Chicago, especially after the Tri-State Tollway where ISP was lurking).

Feel like a truck ran me over, normal the day after working for Gus. Next up - Quincy!

Got a shot for my poison ivy today, right where the sun don't shine. HUUUGGGGEEEE.

Some Stuff Still The Same ....

So I'm in Mount Pleasant working for Gus and it's going to be reaaallllyyy cold tomorrow, but we'll survive.

I loved my college years here at Central and miss this place a lot. I drove into town this morning and couldn't believe how much stuff was on the west end of M-20 coming in.

My old house on Belknap is still there. Walked around campus and noticed the library that looks like a toaster was gone, replaced by a huger version. All kinds of new buildings. Geesh!

But Anspach Hall is still here, and Moore Hall looks really good with the CM Life newspaper offices.

We are doing the tournament in front of Finch Fieldhouse, where I played intramurals. I just figured out I started at Central TWENTY FIVE FREAKING YEARS AGO this fall. God, do I feel old.

Went back to Freddy's for dinner, met my old soccer buddy Kenny Mac for a brew at The Bird, which is twice as big and still a great bar. We used to go there for the free peanuts and cheap beverages, and guess what? It hasn't changed.

I think coming back keeps you young.

RAR Lineup

We are doing radio promos for April 23rd's Rock Against Rape Show. Tuesday at 7:40 a.m. we are on Y-101 with Dennis Oliver and Jeff Dorsey, big local music supporters. Wednesday we are doing the Mary Griffith Show at 9:40 a.m on WTAD.

Here's The Lineup .... Backwaters, $7, all ages!

6 p.m. - The Sharrows
7 p.m. - Cheeks McGee
8 p.m. - The Cheeseburgers
9:15 p.m. - The Funions
10:30 - Fielder

It's gonna be huuuuuuugggggeeee .....

Big Brother & the Holding Co., Gus at CMU

Interviewed Sam Andrew today from Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin's original band. BBHC is in Quincy Saturday. I respect Sam and the other original members, still rocking after all these years.

Wish I was in town to see them play, but I'm fleeing north to work for Gus in, SOB, the place where I spent the best 12 years of my life, America's University, CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY. It's gonna be great! I haven't spent a weekend in Mount Pleasant in at least 17, 18 years. We used to have the CMU Fantasy Baseball League draft every year and those were always great weekends.

The thing about working for Gus is that we laugh too much to not have a fun, even though it's a lot of work and a long weekend. The drive home Sunday night won't be fun, either.

All worth it though!

Inspiration

Had a good question this morning at church from a guy who wanted to know where I get ideas for my stories.

It's a constant struggle when you write two columns a week, which might not sound like much, but with all the other things going on it can be tough to come up with a good topic.

I simply don't have enough time to just hang out and find out about the good stuff. And a column is only as good as the subject matter. I've written a lot of bad columns simply because the topic was lame.

So ... always looking for inspiration. Fortunately this week I have a couple of possibilities. That doesn't mean it will be a good column — but getting the idea is often main hurdle.

Rock Against Rape

Next up for The Funions is our second annual Rock Against Rape benefit for Quanada on Friday, April 23. Cheeks McGee, The Cheeseburgers and Fielder join us at Backwaters. We had blast last year and hope it goes well again.

I still think our last show at Turner Hall was one of our best. We'll see what the guys want to do, though I have a feeling we'll really be showcasing Jack and Rock A. Bye.

It'll be fun!

Squished Toad

Today Shey Fey made a grisly discovery when putting the tarp back on the hot tub — a squished toad.

The toad, which I have named Oscar, never had a chance. It was likely smushed when we flipped the lid over to get in on Friday night or Saturday morning. It was rainy and the tarp was wet, a perfect place for Oscar to hang out.

Until he got squished.

You can sort of see the imprint in the photo above. If it doesn't look like a squished toad (Squished Toad is a great name for a band, by the way), tough. It is.

Just don't call PETA on us.

Farewell, Oscar The Squished Toad. We didn't know you until you were compacted to death. Now you are ribbitting with the rest of your toad brothers and sisters in that great tadpole in the sky.

And all we have is a mark on our hot tub lid to remember you by.

Recovery on Easter

Wow did we have fun at Turner Hall Saturday at the Fielder CD Release party.

Couldn't stay late, but people were streaming in all night and the place was jammed to the rafters by the end of the night.

Thanks to Brant, our newest Funions roadie!

Here's a press conference with Logan Kammerer of Fielder after we got done playing. Next time we'll take it outside so the audio is better.

Music Everywhere

Really looking forward to playing at Turner Hall tomorrow at 5 p.m. for the Fielder CD release party. We only have 45 minutes but will make the most of it.

Mark is unavailable so we are borrowing Alex Tappe of Fielder to play bass. We've have a couple of practices and he picked it up right away, even the three or four original songs we are doing. Chris Cornwell will be playing guitar with us too. Might even have a few surprises during our set!

Tons of great music this weekend. A good Detroit band at The Club, country show for the firefighters at QJHS, as always click here for the rundown.

Get out and support live and local music!

Funions To Open For U2 This Summer. Really. Honest.

After considerable negotiations and angst, The Funions have decided to accept the offer of opening for U2 this summer during the Irish band's HUGE summer tour in the U.S.

"Bono said it was OK to bring the dogs. He's a huge border collie fan anyway so it's all working out," Shey Fey said. "And, uh, The Edge is SEXY."

"I think it's great because this will be the first time me and my keyboard won't be hidden behind a big stack of guitar amps," Mighty One said.

"I'll play because my daughter is taking over the family law practice and it's about dang time," sax player Jack Inghram said.

"This means Warren will be in charge of Vegas Music for the summer," drummer Pat Cornwall said. "Oh BLEEP."

"I'll play, but only if U2 will let us jam before and after the show," Rock A. Bye said. "I can show The Edge a thing or two on slide guitar."

I am declining to comment since the two lawyers in the band have advised me against making any statements that may torpedo our big chance.

Thank you ....