Prophet’s rebuilding a 3-wheeler. Marie is shaving down the carpet around the compartment doors on her brother’s bass boat. Since my handy man skill set consist of “being smart at lifting heavy things,” I’m on the sidelines out in the backyard at Prophet’s house chronicling the final steps of the great fishing boat restoration of […]
Book of Blues
Black Wednesday Release: 2008
I went into the national nightlife celebration called Black Wednesday not realizing how much I needed a release. The release came in moments wrapped up in ironies. Real ironies, not the poetic moments people mistake for ironies. Then again, I’ll hold off on that because I might get to the end of this thought and […]
“Just like Brian Wilson did,” (“lying in bed” and sleeping and hiding…)
For those who just want the video and lyrics… “Brian Wilson” music video [YouTube] “Brian Wilson” lyrics by Stephen Page “Gordon” by BarenakedLadies on Spotify “No. You’re a writer,” she supported. It only took those 4 simple words said in a back alley Broad Ripple bar around 2:15 AM by a supportive lady with designer […]
Lessons Learned from White Castle
It was last Thursday night at a local townie bar, Franklin House. The area’s oldest bar has been around since the 1860’s. Creaks and warps in the establishment’s flooring gives testament to the joint’s age, but the square footage, high ceilings and circa 1900 ceiling tiles add to the spacious feel – which is a […]
The Minnesota Verdict – TBC
I looked forward to my trip to Minneapolis. was a crossroads for my first Book of Blues. Good and great stuff keeps being said of Book of Blues, but I needed to hear something harsh. I don’t care how much I put into the book. Someone has to hate it eventually. Those people are out […]
The damned distraction called the 2008 Chicago Cubs
A synopsis of a 2008 Chicago Cubs fan: “Pride won’t be my fall. I’m a Cubs’ fan. My heart was coming apart before I was born.” — Nat Finn I dunno. I suppose everyone who claims to be a writer has either distractions posed as vices or vices posed as distractions. Many drink. Some just […]
Why Churches Make for Great Wakes
My mother told me the news in that “I haven’t had a chance to tell him,” sort of way as we rode with my grandfather to our Sunday night dinner. But as we went in to Immanuel Lutheran Church to attend my great uncle’s wake, I quickly became re-reminded of the power atmospherics play in […]
Plans for Minnesota – Awaiting My Cousin’s Unbiased Book Edits
Awaiting book edits is equal parts agony, anxiety, and anticipation. Back in the 1990s, I got my cousin to listen to an abstract, coffee house hip-hip band from New York named Soul Coughing. Back in the early 2000s, my cousin came to visit me when I lived in a place my world dubbed The Corn […]
Coming to terms with the death of LeRoi Moore
Oh, LeRoi Moore. Dear, sweet, understated Leroi Moore: I didn’t know how bad my bad day was until my supervisor told me the news: “Did you hear?”“Hear what?”“Your boy, LeRoi Moore, died today.” It was August 19th, 2008. I was groaning over an ex-girlfriend’s birthday and over the thoughts that she was in the city […]