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.

Be Careful What You Say

I think Web Warriors need to be very careful what they say.

Especially when they are being sentenced for a felony in a few days.

Thank you, drive through.

Five is right out

When somebody makes me mad, I call for the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

And it works every time. As long as I count to five ... uh, three ....

No Mo Paper

Shey Fey has been after me forever to get with the times and pay my bills online.

It's hard to let go of the old check in the envelope thing.

A while back we went to direct deposit and one person in the entire building held out. This person insists on getting the check printed and put in their hands. They feel better about it.

Now I'm beginning to think this person needs to get with the times.

DANG IT - point the finger, and three point back at you ....

Bret Who?

Look. I am not a big Bret Michaels fan. I never really liked Poison. I accidently watched half of a Rock of Love reality show and almost threw up.

Michaels is in Quincy tonight and tomorrow for shows at Backwaters. Good for him and good for Quincy. If you are a fan, go and enjoy, let me know how it went.

I'm seeing some people getting giddy about it, like the president himself is here, and I'd like to say something but if it blows up their bubble, well, I ain't gonna burst it.

Lake Michigan cure, The Grove and all kinds of other stuff

If you sit on the beach and watch the sunset, like this one on my uncle's Lake Michigan beach near Saugatuck, it will fix whatever ails you.

A great time up north. Thanks to my long-time buddy David Wilkins and family, Susan helped me write an "emergency vacation" column Monday morning. Enjoyed playing The Meadows at Grand Valley State University, tough track and thank goodness I left a few bullets so it can remember me ...

Camped at Orchard Beach State Park near Manistee. Reminded me of Hoffmaster a bit. My cousin Roland and family were across the road and we are thinking of doing Ludington State Park next summer.

The beach was glorious, the water 75 and clear, and the lemonade was great.

On Thursday night I was sitting in my campground when an older guy named Doug came by with an acoustic guitar. He's 70 and from Indiana, up to do some fishing by himself for a few days. This is where music breaks boundaries, because Doug and I played songs for more than two hours. He used to be a country music drummer and I've never had so much fun strumming along to Jimmy Reaves and Peter, Paul and Mary songs. Plus he writes his own tunes, it was just a blast trading stories and songs. He had open heart surgery not long ago and is vowing to put a song about the experience on YouTube, we'll be looking for it!

At 11 the park ranger informed us we had to stop playing, even though it wasn't that loud ... rules is rules, I guess. Do I get a merit badge for being told to stop playing?

Drove nine hours home yesterday to check out Rusty Wright at Blues In The Park. The storm at 5 p.m. undoubtedly kept some people away, but all it did was delay things a few minutes and cool it down, perfect night in the park. This guy and his band blew everybody away and John Hodge and I about fell off our chairs when he nailed a Robin Trower song near the end. I'm sure the K of C kept the crowd down too, but to me there was no question what was the better time last night.

BTW, you can either brave the masses (and that's not a bad thing) or you can come to The Grove tonight for the new Cheeseburgers first Quincy show since revamping the lineup. Come on out and we'll hoot and holler too!

And wish me luck as I recover from vacation ....

Vacation after vacation

Back from the Lake Michigan beaches. God, it was glorious. Thank You.

Stories and maybe a few pics coming.

HUGE show tomorrow night at The Grove Inn. This will be the first Quincy show for the revamped Cheeseburgers.

Monday morning thunderstorms

Tell me there is anything better than waking up to the sound of a thunderstorm rolling off Lake Michigan.

I'll walk the beach in the rain any day ...

Good luck to Shey Fey today. I am a fortunate man.

Click here for the press conference after the final game last week conducted by H-W Sports Editor Don O'Brien. Thanks to Mattt "Young Skywalker" Hopf for the video luv.

Still store this morning from all the jumping around and craziness at the Whispering Oaks Camp Ground in Mendon Saturday night. The Cheeseburgers are beginning to hit their stride as a band. Better check us out Saturday night at The Grove, our first show in town with the new lineup. As always, We Are Not Responsible For Our Own Behavior.

Gotta go listen to the rain ....

The Run, Camping

Kelly Wilson is with a team running from Quincy to Peoria for St. Jude Children's Hospital. She's posting regular updates on my Herald-Whig blog here, very cool stuff, go Kelly go!

Went down to the Quincy Boat Club last night and saw the Horndogs open for a young band called Trifecta. The Dogs were there usual funky selves. Drummer Kevin Vandament has a great new slogan for the Cheeseburgers next round of shows - "Hold The Pickle Tour."

Trifecta was really interesting, three young guys playing acoustic instruments and doing songs from America to Pearl Jam. Not sure if the venue was the right place for them but I thought they were different and really busted themselves to entertain.

There will be no busting tonight at the campground. The guys tell John Hodge and I it's a blast. Bring the bug spray and your own beverages and we'll have a marvelous time!

And ... heading north tomorrow for some Lake Michigan respite. I feel like a big balloon with the air slowly leaking out!

Last Game, New Baby, Vacation Looms

Last ever slow pitch softball game tonight at Upper Moorman Park. That's the text of my farewell speech.

One more day. I can survive one more day, one more day .... Lake Michigan beach on the brain.

Meet my new addition to the family here. Bought her at Time To Play Music in Quincy. Chris matched the Musician's Friend price and took care of me, in fact, you might be surprised what your local store can do, so give them a chance before going online.

We are fortunate to have two good music stores in Vegas and Time To Play. I support both as much as I can. Yes, I've gotten stuff off the Internet, but only because it wasn't available here.

Support your local guys!

The Night Is Hot And Black As Ink

Going outside is like walking through soup. I hate this typical Quincy summer weather, 120 in the shade, 99 percent humidity ... you just never really get used to it. Worked on the lawn the last two nights and probably lost 20 pounds.

Trying to think of songs to cool off and came up with this classic Who tune from Quadrophenia ...




This is from their December 1982 show in Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, the final show on their supposed Farewell Tour. Right. I do remember being in my room on Rosewood, a high school loser in his senior year, I think there was a dance or something at school but I stayed home and taped this show since it was broadcast live on WLAV.

The band is tired and burned out from many nights on the road but Daltrey gives it his best. Love, love, LOVE this song, Quadrophenia is one of the great underrated albums of all time.

Keith Richards unveils new Calftown fence

OK. My Saturday morning just got bettter (see previous post).

Keith is a great guy ....

No More BK

There are summer Saturday mornings when a greasy breakfast sandwich is not just an idea, it has to happen.

So this morning I hop on the scooter and go to the Burger King at Seventh and Broadway. I walk in and there is nobody in the place, save for a guy in the back eating breakfast and reading his paper. I yell and nobody, and I mean nobody, is there.

So I get back on the scooter and pull to the back and the two employees are standing there smoking.

Congrats, BK. You lost my business for good. Too bad, I liked the place a lot because it was usually quiet and you never had to wait long.

There might be reasons for that.

Old NBA

I'm home for lunch today and turn on ESPN Classic, and they are showing a Christmas Day 1970 NBA game between Atlanta and Phoenix.

ESPN Classic needs to do more of this instead of showing the dumb bowling and poker shows. For Phoenix, Connie Hawkins is tearing it up in the second half until Mendy Rudolph calls him for his fourth foul. For Atlanta, Pistol Pete Maravich has the high socks with the shorty shorts and he shoots it every chance he gets.

The scorer's table is just that - a table. The players are sitting in metal folding chairs. Keith Jackson is the announcer and the graphics are hilariously huge, with the score flashing once every five minutes.

And ... no obnoxious music or PA announcers annoying the crowd.

I vote for more of this. If they can dig up some old NHL games, well ... I'd be hooked.

Hot and Rainy Music Nights

Weekend started with a band with a tremendous Blues In The Park show by Laurie Morvan. This gal is an incredible guitar player, singer and her band is superb - loved the gal she sang with, the harmonies were awesome. Easily the best Blues In The Park band ever! If you thought it was too hot and didn't come out, man, you missed out.

The Tappe boys did sound and did a great job. A few weeks ago there was another act and I heard people grumbling about the sound - well, geesh, ask for a refund (free shows hoser). The sound many times depends on the band and making sure nobody is cranked to 11. The mix in the park Friday was clear and you could hear each part of band perfectly.

We don't sit right in front, though some people prefer it. Off to the side it's not nearly as loud and actually easier to pick out the band instruments and vocals.

Last night the Cheeseburgers played the Hancock County Fair in Augusta and it was easily our tightest show so far. Despite the fact it was raining sideways on our way up there (at one point we saw water running uphill from a culvert, I am not making it up) we had no issues since we were under a big picnic type roof. The rain probably kept people away but the crowd was decent and they were waaaaayyyy into it, especially after beer-30 came and kept coming.

Snapped a string on each of my electric and my acoustic guitars. Now THAT's a good gig.

We have a young guy named Brian who is our roadie/sound guy/string fixer, and he's the bomb. To start the fourth set he dresses up as Angus Young and plays a mean guitar on "Dirty Deeds" you have to see to believe ...

Anyway, getting better and still having more fun than should be allowed ....

Home Improvement - Fence me in UPDATED

So Shey Fey decides last week we are going to replace 52 feet of 6-foot wood fence in the backyard.

The old stuff was rotting and starting to fall apart. We have the hot tub right against that section and once more big storm, well, we'd all be falling apart.

We bought six sections of fence at Lowes. They wanted $500 plus to install it. GEESH. Racket city!

So we tore the old pieces down last week with her nephew, Brant, helping. Then Brant's big brother came by and dug the post holes (unfortunately a couple of them were in the wrong places). Rev. Dirk was here early in the week and he helped Shey Fey dig three new ones and measure the post holes correctly.

This morning we hauled the sections and leaned them against the posts, now we are waiting for Keith Richards (you'll see some of the old fence) to show up and give me a guitar lesson and lend us his electric drill.

Home improvement sucks. But it's almost done. And Shey Fey hasn't killed me. Yet.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: Stupid fence is in. It's vertically challenged. But so am I. At least it was only 120 in the shade when we finished ....

Rain and Fences

Putting in a new fence. The Rev. Dirk is here from Lew-ville, he had to help Shey Fey dig a few holes Monday morning before the rain.

Then it looked like this.

I wish fences, especially big heavy wooden fences, could install themselves ....