14 years

Today is the 14th anniversary of my first day at The Whig.

Don't pinch yourself cause it doesn't fly by, it hyper-spaces by.

What I remember about that time is having a proper sendoff by my buddy Wilx in Grand Rapids, he was a little green the next morning but I was more experienced in the matter. I remember the long drive, somehow getting around Chicago, the rest stop just south of Pontiac, listening to a Cubs-Cardinals game and thinking how awful and arrogant Mike Shannon was as an announcer.

The day I arrived in Quincy, a Saturday, there was a huge karting race around the downtown area and I couldn't get close to my temporary quarters. Let's just say it was a downtown "hotel." Let's just say it was the longest 40 days and 40 nights of my life staying there.

I remember taking the bridge to Missouri and thinking, "Wow, I'm in Missouri." I remember going to South Park and then walking up South 12th Street to see our new digs in Southern View. And feeling blue I couldn't move in for more than a month.

I have little memory of my first day at The Whig as sports editor, other than I think I was introduced to some coaches and administrators right off the bat. I do remember walking past the Branding Iron at 5 a.m. that first week and seeing all the graveyard guys with their Buds.

I think one of the first lunch places was The Scoreboard. I think. I do remember covering a volleyball match at Culver-Stockton that first week, and going to Hannibal for a football game that first Friday night.

Geesh. Fourteen years ago?

How can that be?

Pat Is Recovering

Pat Cornwell, owner of Vegas Music and drummer for many local bands, had a brain tumor surgically removed today at Blessing Hospital in Quincy.

Pat has been very good to many musicians in this area. Now it's our turn to keep him and his family in our prayers.

Things look good after surgery, doctors are hopeful, the family relieved and still hoping for the best. Pat was awake and answering questions this afternoon after surgery. The tumor was the size of a ping pong ball!

He wasn't feeling well for about a month and was having issues with his balance. He went to the FastMed Saturday and they told him to go to the ER, but he had a Reasonable Doubt gig and nothing would keep him from playing Saturday night.

So he went Sunday and they found it pretty quickly.

Thank God for skilled surgeons like Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Morris. Thank God for the skilled nurses and staff, for taking care of Pat.

The family wants to keep it low key for now but word has spread and I'm sure many people will be checking in on Pat and his progress.

If I know the stubborn old drummer, he'll be back behind the kit in good time!

Back With The News

OK. I'm back. I couldn't resist ...

"We all know that crap is king." - Don Henley

Hi Ate Us

Going on blog hiatus for a while. I'll keep the Cheeseburgers schedule updated and pop in once in a while, maybe do more Facebook stuff, and there's always the Whig blog, which I try to update every day.

It's been real, Q-Town.