Tales From The Road: Point, Pucker & Puking.

I know, I know, it's been too long since my last blog. A thousand apologies.

Since our last episode, the rain has actually stopped from time to time, we've played a few unbelievable shows and rocked another regional NACA conference. All that is fine, but first things first...

If you're in the driver seat of the tour bus, it's certainly the point position. You wield all the power because you can see the mirrors and the back-up cam. Although it takes a lot of getting used to, it is one of the preferred seats in the house while moving.

If you're in the passenger seat (the 2nd captain's chair near the dash) you're clearly in the pucker position. There's nothing quite like going over a suspension bridge, sitting in pucker position while David drives and happily asks the question "How is the view over there dude?" Little does he know that from where I sit it appears that our tires are a nanometer from the cement side and our side mirror is casting a shadow on the river 700 feet below as it reaches over. Seriously folks, pucker is an understatement. Driving through construction and narrow one-way downtown streets (or God forbid, BOTH simultaneously) is a nail biting, breath holding and eye squinting fest just as you see the guy trying to get out of his car which is parallel parked just ahead. The scene is quickly transformed to silent Hail Mary's and hopeful wincing. Yeah...PUCKER.

If you're on either couch or at the table, chances are you're trying to work (while moving) you're in the puking position. As you might imagine, attempting to read a laptop screen while landscape whizzes by sideways is a little queasy to say the least. Now add rain, construction and a GPS unit that we're all ready to skip across the next lake and things are very nearly vomittus maximus.

I wish I could've blogged more since my last posting, but I must admit, thus far the tour has been an endless exercise in exhaustion vs exhilaration. We've all consumed more coffee and more BAD coffee on this tour than ever before in our lives. We've all experienced some pretty serious pangs of homesickness. The three of us miss our loved ones and think of home...and of the little things like our cars, our beds, our pets and our electric toothbrushes. Oh...and the beach. Oh...and the gorgeous California weather. Oh..and..........I could keep doing that for hours.

The shows have simply been AWESOME. South Bend, Indiana was an absolute blast as we rocked the Wander Inn Tavern on the owner's birthday. He insisted that we play our original set twice and the packed crowd loved every second of it. Madison, Wisconsin was a treat as we rocked the stage at Scatz (the equivalent to House of Blues, Anaheim). I had family there and the owner FLIPPED OUT and demanded we re-route the end of the tour to enable a REPEAT ROCKING. Obviously, we'll oblige. I lovingly played the last two songs of our set 'Dispense' and 'Turnin' it Up' in my Green Bay Packer jersey (no, not THAT jersey). We hung in my hometown with family for a couple days and then headed for Bloomington, Indiana to spend time with dear friends and the King family. Our show at Max's Place positively WENT OFF and featured the youngest and most talented 7k dancers yet. All of the King Kids and their pals rushed the stage and romped around...a true delight. After Indiana, it was time for Louisville, Kentucky. One of the most FUN and unique shows in 7k history, we were set-up on an Oriental rug spanning two BOWLING LANES at the Vernon (America's 3rd oldest bowling alley). Imagine the late night rock n' bowl that you've all done at home, but with the music provided LIVE by 7k. It was awesome and our QSC sound system sounded simply ARENA-LIKE. Interestingly enough, the bowling alley is connected to a 4 story historical mansion, which the owner lead us through room by spooky room. WOW! And, before I forget, Sergio's. WOW and WOW and WOW!! Sergio's is a little place a couple blocks from the Vernon. My Godfather, a Louisville resident and huge 7k fan took us there for a pre-show meal and a beer...or 4. Sergio's has over 1400 beers. Yes, you read that correctly. The owner (fluent in at least 3 languages) had a story for each and we sampled dozens. It was the most amazing exBEERience of our lives.

We now sit at a KOA campground in East Sparta, Ohio and just like clock-work, the rain has resumed. We're getting comfy and ready for tonight's movie: Transformers 2.

Will blog again soon...see all the pics on the Facebook page.

Love,
C, J & D