A funny thing happened on my way here

Hope is a hot commodity these days. Everybody wants some...

But more importantly right now... How the heck are you?!? It seems like it's been forever!

Yeah, yeah... I know... It's my fault. I don't even know where to start. We were in Minnesota and Illinois for a little over a week, I was working on rewriting the same sermon into something different every day, it's been hot, I took a long running break - which kind of threw off everything else... You know, some stuff happened. But I still had you in the back of my mind all that time. :)

MINNESOTA

We went to Minnesota June 26-July 2 to help the boy and his wife and son move. They went from a rental house in Minneapolis into their first home-that-they-own (or, the bank, actually) in St. Paul. We drove up on a Thursday - in what turned out to be a 10-hour trip ending in torrential downpours the last couple hours - then rented a Uhaul and moved everything on Friday. From then until we left on Wednesday we 1) got 5 bookshelves and 2 heavy wooden wardrobes at Ikea and put those suckers together. Ugh. They have a lot of books and a king foam mattress all of which went up a tiny, steep staircase! It just about did the two of us in. 2) We also found a used electric mower on marketplace, they bought that, and I spent half of one day mowing over and over and over their lawn that was a little out of control. 3) Then we pretty much just put stuff away and played with the now 9-month-old grandson! Anyway, it was a nice time, and it's a super cute house in a really cozy neighborhood with sidewalks and close to stuff.

BUDA

Wednesday, July 2, we drove the six hours from St. Paul to my mom's house and stayed there until Friday. I did the usual work-around-the-house-and-yard while Jane went over to her brothers house and stayed with him a bit. We did go out to eat with my mom one night in the local watering hole and managed to see several people that we kinda-sorta knew, and several more that my mom was just sure we knew who they were (not). Anyway, we had a nice time but were glad to return home on the 4th of July. The cat was actually happy to see us too! Though the poor little thing was hoarse from meowing so much while we were gone. :(

CARDIOLOGIST

Somewhere along the line Jane has now acquired a cardiologist, and had a couple appointments. She complained to her doctor that her left arm went to sleep now and then, and kind of hurt sometimes. Also, she's had trouble getting back into running - losing her breath so easily. So he referred her to the cardiologist who recommended a CTA stress test with contrast (and something else at the same time but I can't recall the name of it). That test actually showed that her arteries are in good shape - other than there is apparently a 5-5-ish cyst in one of them. They believe that may have been there for some time, and don't think it's a problem, but they're having her do an 'exercise echocardiogram' on a treadmill just to see if that has something to do with the breathing problems. So that's been fun! :/

PREACHING

Oof... I preached at our church gathering this past Sunday. I'd kinda/sorta been preparing for it since late-January-ish... and that is WAY too long to prepare for a single message. Anyway, it went fine (meaning, no one was physically harmed during the process), but it was just one of those totally flat dead-air type days. The entire service just seemed 'off,' the air was unusually warm, and there just seemed a lack of energy about the place. But, whatever, ya know. However, I was reminded of this quote from Bruce Thielemann: "The pulpit calls those anointed to it as the sea calls its sailors. And like the sea it batters and bruises and does not rest. To preach, to really preach, is to die naked a little at a time, and to know each time you do it that you are going to have to do it again." Yep.

MUSIC

This past weekend was a good one for us musically. Summertime in the Fort means 'Rock the Plaza' for us. The local downtown library has free music (with food and drinks) every Saturday during the summer. The time-frame has shrunk considerably over the years (I think it's only 8 or 9 weeks this summer), but we've been doing it since at least 2009, and I believe it started a few years before that. Anyway, this past Saturday was a bit like old times. They had some of the older bands, and there was just a really good vibe in the air. The last of 4 groups was a mix of musicians forming an 8-piece jam band - which we like. They were grooving 'Into The Mystic' (the Van Morrison classic that I walked the daughter down the aisle to), and just as a tear was forming in my eye, the local minor league baseball team's end-of-game fireworks show started! It was a grand way to end the evening the day before I was to preach! Then, like that wasn't enough, Sunday night we had tickets to a concert at the phenomenal Sweetwater Performance Pavillion. The 7pm show started with Yasmin Williams solo, then The Wood Brothers just rocked the house, and ended with St. Paul and the Broken Bones!!! We didn't know it was going to be a 4-hour show, but it was pretty fun if I do say so myself. I was really impressed with The Wood Brothers (our first time seeing them), and especially their drummer who also plays keyboards WHILE drumming! The Broken Bones have blown us away both times we've seen them. It was a fun weekend musically all the way around.

RUNNING

Yeah, so, I haven't really run since the end of May (I think). I've been riding the bike, if anything, and recently started walking more. Last week I did a run/walk thing one day, and again today. I've been nursing my sore left ankle hoping it's not achilles related, and I hope it's on the mend. We'll see. I need to start back into it if I'm going to do another half or four this fall, but the big challenge will be to not start back to fast or hard.

 

So, I guess that's where we're at. I need to get back into this habit - among a couple others - as well. I'll try to do better. 

I hope you've been well! Talk to you later!

Hello, it's... god

I don't remember what we were even talking about. It was probably the late 1970s or early 80s and I was hanging out with Jason Ringenberg (likely at the little gas station where I was working and playing guitar). For some reason I can recall plain-as-day Jason mentioning people referring to Todd Rundgren as "god." Who knows where the conversation went after that...

Well, I heard "Todd is god" several times from fans the other night at The Clyde Theatre when Mr. Rundgren brought his "Me/We" tour to Fort Wayne. 

Jane wasn't able to go, and I went back and forth as to whether I should shell out the money to see yet another aged former star that I wasn't really 'into' all that much other than the radio hits. But, you know, it's literally five minutes from our house... and it IS Todd Rundgren, after all... So I got a ticket and took myself out on the town.

First let me say, I LOVE The Clyde. The fact we have a state-of-the-art concert venue in the neighborhood, the sound is incredible, free parking... everything! I am not, however, a big fan of their seated shows. Yes, sometimes I get tired of standing all night, but I'd much rather be able to move around than have to squeeze myself into the space of a plastic folding chair with no leg, arm, or shoulder room. To make matters worse, while I was able to snag one of the few aisle seats left, I spaced out and forgot that the one side was along a rail so it wasn't really 'on' an aisle. Sure enough, I walked in, and even though my row towards the back only had four chairs in it, the other three people were - how you say - somewhat large. There was no way I was sitting there. Fortunately there happened to be a padded stool along the wall (I think it was for an usher), and I just perched myself in it and acted like I was supposed to be there! About halfway through the show I ended up just standing along the back wall by the bar. So it worked out okay.

On to the show... I was glad there was a good crowd. I think it holds around 600 for seated shows (2,000 for standing), and it was nearly full. I ran into a few people I knew, even though I literally walked in at 7:58 for the 8pm show. It started right about 8.

I have to say, the first hour was... Weird. I know Todd is known as somewhat of an "artsy" sort; and I've heard he occasionally has off nights (plus he is 76 years old). I mean, people were polite, clapped and whatnot, and maybe I just didn't "get" what he was trying to do, but I debated whether to just call it a night and head home.

I stuck it out, though, and I'm glad I did. The second half of the show was much better. Personally, I prefer the more "rock" type numbers, and I know that's not really his forte so much anymore, but he did rock out some. Around 9:50 they did the obligatory leave-the-stage-like-it's-over, and after raucous applause returned and... this was really the only time all night Todd addressed the crowd. He even noted that the biggest complaint he gets is that he doesn't talk enough. So he talked a bit, and then finished up with a nice medley of some of his biggest hits. The place was going wild by the time he ended shortly after 10pm.

All in all, it was a good show and I'm glad I went (it's okay that I didn't enjoy every bit of it, because obviously some people did).

I'm also glad I did a little digging for this post and discovered some things about the man that I did not know (or I'd forgotten). For starters, I didn't realize he was sort of Liv Tyler's "father" for much of her life. From the Todd Rundgren Wiki page is this tidbit:

Rundgren began a relationship with model Bebe Buell in 1972. During a break in their relationship, Buell had a brief relationship with Steven Tyler, which resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. Buell gave birth to Liv Tyler on July 1, 1977. Buell initially claimed that Todd Rundgren was the biological father and named the child Liv Rundgren. Shortly after Liv's birth, Rundgren and Buell ended their romantic relationship, but Rundgren remained committed to Liv. At age eleven, Liv learned that her biological father was Steven Tyler. According to Liv Tyler, "Todd basically decided when I was born that I needed a father so he signed my birth certificate. He knew that there was a chance that I might not be his, but…" He paid to put her through private school, and she visited him several times a year. As of 2012, Tyler maintains a close relationship with Rundgren. "I'm so grateful to him, I have so much love for him. You know, when he holds me it feels like Daddy. And he's very protective and strong." Buell's stated reason for claiming that Rundgren was Liv's father was that Tyler was too heavily addicted to drugs at the time of Liv's birth.

I also stumbled onto this interview from 2004 where, in response to being asked if there was anything that's eluded him as an artist, he said:

No. I think people often think that our career is the most important thing in your life. And though it is a hugely important thing in my life, I had other goals for as long as I can remember and one of them I knew was to have a family. The fact that I’ve survived that [big laugh], to me, is the greatest achievement for me. The fact that I’ve had fairly, substantially happy family life and had the kids I wanted to have and watched them grow up. As pedestrian as that sounds, you have to cover the basics in life. That’s what life is about...

I like that. So, whether Todd really is god or not... I don't know... But he seems like a pretty decent human being. :)

Terrance simien & the zydeco experience

We had the pleasure of hosting Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience at the concert hall Saturday night. Wow, what a show! And this 6-piece band knows how to throw a partay!!! 

This was actually a rental - a local person booked the hall, band, and just paid to have it there (it was her 70th birthday party). They also brought in a private caterer for the bar so I helped Jane at the front door scanning/selling tickets (rather than my usual bartending). That made it a much easier night for me - although I did spend part of the time out front because our building is currently under construction and there's no sign outside and it kinda looks like the building is being torn down, so there was a bit of confusion by people who weren't familiar as to whether the event was there or not. I saw several people walking by and I bet at least half of those who I opened the door for weren't sure if they were in the right place or not (not that that's a problem! Gah!!). 

Anyway, this is a fun band. Terrance is actually a two-time Grammy Award winner, and from his Wiki page:

Simien and his group have toured internationally, presenting over 8500 live performances in more than 45 countries, and released dozens of solo recordings and collaborations. He has shared studio and stage with the likes of Paul Simon, Dr. John, The Meters, Marcia Ball, Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer and the roots rockers Los Lobos.

Simien has appeared on screen and contributed to the soundtracks of multiple movies, television films and commercials. He appears on the soundtrack of the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, featuring authentic Louisiana music scored by Randy Newman. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of movies, such as, The Big Easy, Exit to Eden and A Murder of Crows. 

Along with his wife, Cynthia, the Simiens are also active in Creole music education and advocacy. They created the "Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco" performing arts program, which provides informational performances to K-12 students, teachers and parents.

I must admit, I was/am fairly ignorant of what exactly Zydeco music is (I'd have said it was Louisiana/Creole music). It is sort of that, but if you venture to this page on their website it gives a much fuller explanation. Fairly interesting stuff! 

As for my own personal thoughts... I appreciated that Terrance, and all the members of the band, were exceptionally nice people, they play a raucous show, and I really liked how towards the end they do a medley of worship-type songs (complete with Amazing Grace) acknowledging how good it is to be blessed by God. I was also highly impressed by Stan Chambers on his 5-string bass. Dang, that man can play!!

All in all it was a somewhat unexpectedly super-fun night. I'll take more of these, please! :)

The brilliance & praytell

Last night we took in a concert by The Brilliance and the husband/wife duo Praytell. It was splendid.

Apparently some people from our church paid for them to do a show, so we got in free. It was held in the main sanctuary of the church where we rent space to hold our gatherings (we use a room on the third floor, not the sanctuary). It's a tall spacious room with padded chairs that was beautifully decorated for Christmas. It was very nice (though I was a bit annoyed by the half dozen brightly lit Christmas trees on the stage - it sort of compromised the intimate feel of the evening... but that was probably just me). I don't know how many were there, but the room was full.

We saw The Brilliance a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them. I believe this was their third time in Fort Wayne. It features David Gungor (guitar & bass) and John Arndt (keys), as well as a drummer, violinist, cellist, backup singer (David's daughter), and Jon and Valerie Guerra from Praytell (David's son also played bass on one song). I talked to the pastor of the main church afterward and he said this was their first performance together so they spent the afternoon working on songs. It sounded like they've all been together forever!

While The Brilliance was once again just phenomenal both musically and vibe-wise, I was unsure what to expect with Praytell. Oh my. I LOVED them! I found their song Lord Remind Me particularly touching and have listened to it several times since. I highly recommend it if you'd like to get into the Christmas spirit. I'd also recommend seeing this concert if it comes anywhere near you.

Grace potter and leaving

Last Thursday we attended the Grace Potter concert at the Clyde Theater. Eddie 9V opened, and I liked his group. Grace was also pretty awesome, and her drummer is an actual Fort Wayne native (Jordan West) who we'd seen a couple times when she lived here. It was a fun show, and sort of my birthday present to myself.

"Leaving" is what I have named raking leaves. It sounds cooler, doesn't it? Anyway, Jane started raking our lawn of leaves Sunday afternoon. I finished yesterday morning and transported them to the front curb for pickup... supposedly this week. Unfortunately our trees still have a number of hanger-oners, so whether I can just mulch the rest with the mower or not remains to be seen.

And, there, I killed two birds with one post... while I try to put something together in regard to the Shaped By Shame webinar I watched yesterday. I also hope to post some of my reading thoughts from Bradley Jersak's 'A More Christlike God' in the days/weeks to come. Until then...

Mower trouble, robert cray, and a birthday party

It was a full weekend. Lots of good, and just a little stumble at the start...

I had a full list of things to do, and as usual on Saturday mornings, I was not much in the mindset. I finally dragged my sorry butt off the couch though, and set out to mow.

That went great until about the second or third pass. Uh, remember when I said I needed to double-check the gap on the spark plug? Well, I did that, and it was fine. However, the mower just died on me. It would run for a second, then die again. 

Well, one thing I figured out was that I put too much oil in when I changed that. However, that wasn't the problem. After some google searches it turned out to be a blocked port in the bottom cap on the carburetor. So, I tore all that apart, sprayed carb cleaner everywhere, put a new air filter on, and crossed my fingers. Several hours later the ol' girl was purring like a kitten! Whew.

Saturday night, then, we took in a Robert Cray concert at The Clyde. I love being able to see shows like this there, because it's just a couple miles from our house. And the opening act - The Todd Harrold band - is one of our favorite local bands.

This was a seated show, and I actually prefer the standing shows at The Clyde. Their seats are cheap and way close together. And by the time I got tickets we had to sit clear in back right in front of the bar. So it was cramped, and sooooo many people were talking in the back. We are a bit spoiled because the venue where we volunteer, while much smaller (400 capacity) is a way better setting for concerts. Still, it was a nice show and I'm glad we went.

Sunday we then celebrated the youngest grandchild's upcoming 9th birthday. We took the whole clan to Crazy Pinz. I believe I was the only one who hadn't been there before. Holy Cow, it's huge! They have video games, miniature golf, go-carts, laser tag, bowling, food and drinks... all inside! We did the bowling and let the kids play games, then they did this jungle gym type thing.

There was a lot of activity all in one place for this geezer, but I think we all had a good time (and pizza). By the time we got home I was too tired to go to afternoon church, and I was pretty much spent. 

It was a full, and fairly fun, weekend.

Neil diamond superstar

This past Saturday night we hosted Jack Wright's 'Neil Diamond Superstar' show at the Baker Street Centre (pictured). While the crowd was not large, it was a really fun show. Here's the blurb from his website:

Jack Wright's highly acclaimed national touring production -- NEIL DIAMOND SUPERSTAR brings together the passionate ballads, soaring anthems and high-energy rock ‘n roll that encompass Neil's five decades of superstar performances. Each show is seamlessly woven together with fascinating stories and song explanations, integrated with  stunning multimedia imagery that sets this show apart from all others.

I'd say that's a pretty apt description of our evening with his three-piece band. He really does a nice job of helping us relive Neil's songs and career without trying to 'be' Neil himself (though he really does sound like him). Plus Jack, his wife, and the band members were all super nice people! Personally, I had a great time singing along and even learning a thing or two in the process. I'd say everyone went home pleased.

While I wish ticket sales had been higher (50-ish), this was a good night to have a small crowd. Neither of the regular hall managers were able to be there (one was traveling and one sick), and Jane got a text a couple nights before asking if she could sort of "handle things." We are both able to do the ticket counter, tend bar, and clean-up/set-up after the show, and the other volunteers there were all experienced as well. Everything was fine and I don't think anything got broken... all that much.

10 miles and a hendrix tribute

I did my first double-digit miles run of the year this past Saturday. 10 miles (plus the cool-down walk). It was pretty good, even though the weather was not.

I always get nervous before these long runs. It's worse when the weather is shaky. There are so many unknowns and the last thing I want is to be stuck somewhere miles from home without a phone and not knowing what I may encounter. Of course, that's part of the sport of it too! :)

Anyway, Saturday morning was fairly warm  - lower 50s - but it was raining, and as that subsided the winds began to pick up as the temperature dropped. Fun stuff.

I finally decided to go with shorts, two shirts and my light jacket. Jane was doing 4 miles and she went with long pants. It seemed to work for both of us. We procrastinated until just after noon.

We had to take the Lower Huntington to Bluffton Road route due to flooding along the river. It's great going TO Foster Park, but it's all uphill coming back - and today it was also against the wind! Ugh. Jane's turnaround was at The Stand, and I chugged along to Foster. There were only occasional sprinkles, and once inside the park I was pretty well protected from the wind except one little stretch along Old Mill. So I did two loops around Foster. That way I wouldn't have to try to find some random miles at the end. I only saw one other person the whole time! A youngish woman. We both shrugged in our bewilderment that no one else was out. Apparently some people take those wind advisories serious.

For some odd reason I felt really good on this run. I mostly stayed around a 10:30 pace, but it was honestly difficult to not go faster. That is... until I headed back down Bluffton Road. The wind was equal to or greater than the last double-digit run I did: the Monumental Marathon. There were a couple times where a gust actually knocked me out of rhythm. At one point I just laughed because there was really nothing else I could do but put my head down and keep moving my feet.

When I turned the corner onto Lower Huntington though... the last mile... with the wind at my back..... Eweee baby, I sailed home! I was literally trying not to go any faster but I think I finished at a 9-minute/mile pace. I'd have been happy if it wasn't a long run, that's supposed to be slower. Still, I was plenty pleased it went so well. Just a couple weeks ago I wasn't sure I would ever even do double digits this year.

Afterward we had just enough time to stretch, shower, supper, and get ready to work a concert that night. Kiss the Sky, the RE-Experience was playing at the Baker Street Centre. I thought it might be our first time bartending, but ended up we were both at the front ticket counter as usual.

For some reason it was a fairly small crowd (70-ish), and the evening started a bit slow. There was a stripped down stage setup (not a Marshall in sight!), and I think people were a bit thrown. Finally "Jimi", aka Jimy Bleu, explained they were covering the era when 'The Experience' was first starting out, and it made sense.

And... at some point it was like somebody threw a switch! The audience came alive and the band exploded (was the chicken or the egg first?). Not only did these guys dress the part (all of them), but Jimi/Jimy wailed that left-handed strat like nobody's business! He played with his teeth, behind his back, all the way to humping it down to feedback on the last song before the encore! It ended up being a fun night and I think everyone went home happy.

So, that was Saturday. It was a good day. Sunday we went to Canvas for church, and it made for an all-around good weekend. :)

Buddy guy, eric gales, and ally venable - damn right farewell tour

Damn right is damn right! I saw it with my eyes, heard it with my ears, breathed it in my lungs.

Buddy Guy brought his 'Damn Right Farewell' tour to town... and it was! Joining him at The Embassy Theater in Fort Wayne on February 23rd were the incomparable Eric Gales, as well as the Ally Venable band to start things off.

And let me say... "Whew, what a night!!!" Jane actually bought our tickets for my 60th birthday last November. She couldn't have imagined a better gift. Not only was it Buddy Guy, in our hometown, but I'm not sure she realized Eric Gales would be here too! I've been a fan of his since the two times we hosted him at C2G/Baker Street Centre (The first time was actually the first concert we worked as volunteers and the second time was in 2019).

I mean, Buddy Guy is Legend. Do I need to say more? Yes, he's 86 years old, but his performance now is measured by the lifetime of music and influence he has shared over the years. I was in awe from the moment he took the stage in his brightly colored shirt under bib overalls and tennies. He sang, told stories, wandered the stage, and slung his guitar longer than I expected. It was an honor and privilege.

Ally Venable was quite a surprise to begin the evening. I was not familiar with her, but anyone who can pull off Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Lemmy' is alright in my book! 

The highlight of the evening for me though... Eric Gales. And I'll be honest, I was high from the get-go on this evening. Not from drugs, but being a Thursday night, and me taking Friday off work for a 3-day weekend, and the aura of the old Theater... it was a special night already. When Eric came out and after a brief few notes went into his story of addiction and now 6 1/2 years of sobriety, and then just WAILING on his guitar... Well, those of you who know me will not be surprised that I mostly just sat with a stream of tears for the first few songs. My heart was full and the headliner hadn't even started... Dang.

I could go on about Eric for some time. The two posts I linked above give a good enough idea, and I've honestly yet to fully wrap my head around this night. This pic with him was after the show - FOUR HOURS LATER! Altogether the concert was around 3 hours and 45 minutes. I was so emotionally worn out, and to get an autographed CD and a brief chat just about did me in. Jane had to tell me later what I even said. ...

While I could ramble more, lets just say I was pretty pleased. This was an "event" for me. It seemed like years were flooding through my mind while time stood still and... a lot is churning beneath the surface. I can't even say for sure what it is... but it's good. All of it.

Damn. Right.

I'ma gonna need a minute...

Broken bones are fun

Yes, that's right, we saw broken bones. And it was splendid!

A few years ago we were flipping through channels one late night and came across this band on Austin City Limits (or some such program). I kept the clicker in hand as we kind of chuckled at the sight. Several songs later we were still transfixed. It wasn't long and I was caught up in the spectacle of St. Paul and the Broken Bones. They were awesome!

I've been anxiously awaiting their arrival in Fort Wayne ever since I saw they were coming to The Clyde Theater. We were not disappointed Friday night. Wow what a show!

We went out for supper before and arrived what we thought was plenty early. I had actually been a little worried there wouldn't be a very good turnout. Shoot, what do I know? Nothing, because there were already quite a few there 45 minutes before the opener began. 

We were not huge fans of the opening act, but she was okay and the rambunctious crowd was into it (even for a solo acoustic act). I went to get us a drink before the main show began and could barely find my way back to Jane even then. We always try to perch ourselves atop one of the in-floor subwoofers near the front of the stage. Somehow we managed to keep our spot most of the night. It wasn't long and we weren't going anywhere. I don't know if I've been to a show there with that many people. Apparently this band has a big following. The people next to us had driven from Cincinnati.

One they started... Well, let's just say I had fun (and I never got another drink all night!). Paul Janeway is a showman. He's a big voice and demands attention. The band is a perfect balance of rock, soul, and groove and it made for a special night.

So, it was nice to be surprised with a big crowd and a fun show. Nicer still that it was only blocks from our house. And it made for a fun start to the weekend. :)

Fort4fitness & davy knowles

Saturday was a good day. The Fort4Fitness Fall Festival is one of my favorite days of the year, and it was topped off by working a show at C2G Music Hall/Baker Street Centre that night.

This year I was scheduled for a 19-mile run on the day of Fort4Fitness. Officially I ran in the half marathon, but I also ran 1.6 miles before it started, and from the finish line of the half I ran up the stadium stairs, found Carrie and gave her my medal, then took off on the 4-mile course to catch up with Jane. Altogether I covered 19.4 miles in 3 hours and 18 minutes (or thereabouts).

I did the half marathon in 2:17. That was close to the pace I wanted to do the whole thing (maybe a little too fast even). However, I did the first 1.6 and the final 4 miles faster than I wanted to. The last 2 miles were my fastest.

I say I went too fast because the object on these long training runs is to spend a certain amount of time on my feet. I had hoped it would be closer to 4 hours, but I knew it wouldn't be. It's Fort4Fitness!

Anyway, it was a beautiful day and I felt good running and after. It's always nice seeing so many friends out running as well.

Jane intended to do the half marathon too, but she developed plantar fasciitis awhile back and had to settle for walking the 4-mile. Although she did run in with me on the last mile or so.

After our post-race beer (which took almost as long to get as it took to run the half) we went home and took a nap.

Saturday night we worked as volunteer ticket-takers for the Davy Knowles show. He comes to Fort Wayne quite a bit, and is a super nice guy. It was not a great crowd (maybe a little over 100), but it was a great show! I'm not sure if it was just me or not, but he seemed to be "on" on this night. He played both electric and acoustic, and it just seemed like a special night. I am glad we were there.

Anyway, I waxed on in a late-night Facebook post about having a "near-zen moment" at the start of the half marathon (that's me in the center with a gray hat). It made sense then, but just seems stupid now. Regardless, it was a good day.

I wish I could bottle days like that. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. So, here we go...

***

 

18 miles, b-side, rich

"Sometimes my life just don't make sense at all."

It was an emotional weekend. I realized this morning it isn't going to let up today...

If you're reading here on purpose I'm sure you realize the above line is from Rich Mullins's song Hold Me, Jesus. If you're here by accident... I'm sorry.

The weekend was actually really good. We got to keep the grandkids overnight Friday into Saturday. They're pretty funny to listen to, and they're pretty fun to be around.

18 MILES

Saturday I did my weekly "long run," and this week it was 18 miles. I averaged 11-minute miles and finished a little under 3 hours 20 minutes (including plenty of water/goo breaks). That's kind of a long time to be on your feet regardless. However, the time passes so much better when Jane rides her bike along with me. 

I wore my size 9 Brooks Ghosts. I keep going back and forth with these shoes. At one point I didn't think they'd be good for anything but wearing to work. I've worn them several times to run though and now they don't feel so bad. It's weird. I'm having such a hard time getting my shoes to cooperate with my feet this year.

Anyway, the run wasn't too bad. I went down Lower Huntington to Bluffton Rd and over to Foster Park. Went around it 1 1/2 times and back toward home on the greenway. I did that twice and just had to meander an extra half mile at the end to get the full 18. It helped that it was a nice day.

THE B-SIDE

Saturday night we took in a show at The B-Side, which is this fabulously intimate venue that seats maybe 60 people in a hodgepodge of chairs. A friend owns it (and runs his business out of it), and he comped us tickets.

Cassie Beer was the opener. It was just her and an acoustic guitar - with no mic or anything! Oh my, her songs are so powerfully tender and she had me in tears from the get-go. She is an early-morning patron of the Y where I work, and as I said on Facebook, "Her 5am smile can change the world and her music will melt your heart." It was a beautiful 30-minute set.

   

David Wax Museum (or, in this case, David and Suz) were the headliner. We had listened/watched a virtual show they did from their living room a year or two ago. While it was very homey (in a good way), it was equally intimate here, but a whole lot better!! They magically wove story and song through a variety of instruments and it was just... a superb night. I was so full.

 So, from a long ragged run on wobbly legs, to the joy of finishing 18 miles, to ending the evening on such a swell high... I can't even describe how I felt. The only drawback was I ended up downing an entire bottle of wine (and a beer) and I'm sure I was stupid drunk and annoying to others. Fortunately Jane drove home, and we lived to tell about it!

RICH MULLINS

Of course then this morning I was reminded this is the 25th anniversary of the passing of Rich Mullins. I don't even know what to say about that. If you're not familiar with him then you probably can't understand how deeply he influenced my life. I did stumble across this piece by Jeremy Kaszus that speaks to a lot of how I feel.

And... that's about all there is to say about all that. It was a stupid good time this weekend, though not void of regrets. That's probably a decent summation of my life. Maybe someone will say that about me at my funeral someday...

***

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him^"

 

Davy knowles

We hosted another concert Saturday night at the music venue where we volunteer. Davy Knowles has been to the Baker Street Centre (formerly C2G Music Hall) several times. He seems to have quite a loyal following, and it was good to have him back.

I wasn't sure what to expect for a crowd - what with all the new covid stuff and the night before halloween. It wasn't the largest of crowds, but it turned out not too bad. There were around 200 regular tickets sold and just over 50 in Gold Circle (we are Gold Circle ticket-takers). Tickets were $25 for regular and $50 for Gold. 

I honestly couldn't recall Davy's music from before, but was pretty sure he played Rock/Blues. As soon as I heard him speak (as he ran from the green room to the restroom) I quickly recalled the chap. He hails from the Isle of Man, and has an honest nifty accent. Apparently he currently resides in Chicago, and was looking forward to returning home after the show.

One thing I will say about Davy and his three-piece band is... they were there to play music! There was very little chit-chat, no long tirades, and nothing political... just straight-on, wailing, rock and blues! It was grand. And, the crowd was up to snuff and made it a fun night. Another great show!

***

1 Samuel 16:14-17

Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.

Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

16 miles to samantha fish

LONG RUN

I did my weekly long run yesterday. Sixteen miles, and it wasn't too bad. I intended to set out around 9:30 in the morning (after working 4:45-8), but it started pouring down rain just then. I waited until just before 11 and at least stayed dry. It began to warm up quite a bit before I was done at 2 pm though.

I'm still dealing with the nipple rash/infection. I wore a couple layers of bandages (rubber blister bandages covered by big ol' regular bandaids). I wore my tightest tank for a shirt, and it lasted about six miles until the rubber bandages started peeling off. I just took my shirt off and hid it under a bridge and ran the remaining ten miles with no shirt. I know it's not the prettiest sight (I'm not a big fan of fat old guys with no shirt), but it's either that or try not to sweat for a week or two. I don't think I can afford to take that long of a break.

Anyway, I averaged right at an 11-minute pace, which included only two miles that were above that (when refilling my water and eating a gel). Altogether it was 2 hours 56 minutes (3 minutes faster than the 15 miles last week). I was happy to not have to walk other than when taking a drink and downing a gel. I was also happy my shirt was still where I left it when I made the turn back up onto Lower Huntington Road to venture home.

SAMANTHA FISH

Last night we took in our first concert at the lovely Sweetwater Performance Pavilion. Our friends Tom & Kim drove down from Michigan and we saw Samantha Fish and band. They then spent the night at our house afterward (Tom & Kim, not Samantha & band). She/they were good. It was nice seeing someone at a little bigger venue than we're used to again.

I really liked the opening act Southern Avenue, out of Memphis. The singer was full of energy and had a voice to match, and their sound was soooooooo good. I would go see them again!

As for the Performance Pavilion, it was top notch, as you would expect from Sweetwater. Parking is free, it's easy in and easy out, there are food trucks, beer and wine, and nice air-conditioned restrooms. It's also very spacious with a covered top and sides that open up. And the sound was fantastic! It was loud, but not 'hurt your ears' loud. It helped that it was a perfect night with a nice breeze. I look forward to going back and seeing some other first-rate bands here.

So, in spite of it being a really long and stupid week, we had a pretty good Friday. It was nice to have guests, visit with old friends, see some great music, and I actually don't feel bad at all this morning after my weekly long run. Next week I get to take a step back to 12 miles on Friday, before doing 18 and 20 the two weeks after. I think the 20-mile long run week also includes 20 miles during the week. Ugh. At least after that I start the taper before the marathon. I am tentatively planning to run the Grand Rapids Marathon in October.

And... that's that.

***

“Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”” -John 6:29

From the accidentals to the accidental blues band

 

Make no mistake, we meant to do it!

Saturday night we started off the evening selling tickets at the Baker Street Center (formerly C2G Music Hall) for The Accidentals. They are a phenomenal indie/alt/folk-influenced/pop-rock power trio, and we have seen them numerous times. Unfortunately, on this beautiful summer night, there was A LOT going on in town! It was a pretty small crowd at this venue that normally caters to old blues groups. And, apparently like a lot of other people, we decided to venture elsewhere. So after our allotment of tickets had been accounted for, we headed a few blocks over to the public library pavilion.

Rock The Plaza is one of our favorite things to do. It is free, outdoors, right downtown, and there are usually four bands every Saturday night in summer. This year was a shortened version (just three weeks in August), and we didn't want to miss it.

Irony would have it, and much to our surprise, but when we arrived during the third act of the evening, we had no idea the closing group was The Accidental Blues Band. Ha! What are the odds??

On just about any other night we would have stayed and listened to the first group - and enjoyed it! But we are blues lovers at heart. I would also prefer to listen to music I am familiar with. Especially when relaxing with a beer at an outdoor venue. So, for me anyway, a decent cover band is equal to or better than a great band playing originals (and waaaaay better than a mediocre band playing originals).

This coming weekend will be another with too many musical options and not enough time. I guess you could say we're a bit spoiled. 

So, we were not accidentally treated to another weekend of great music in Fort Wayne... we totally hope to do it as much as we can!!!

***

Isaiah 45:18

"For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens,
    he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth,
    he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty,
    but formed it to be inhabited—
he says:
“I am the Lord,
    and there is no other."

 

Ana popovic at baker street

Let me just say this right up front: Ana Popovic is smoking hot!!! And I'm talking about how she plays guitar! Daaaaaaaaaaang......

Last night was her second time playing at the Baker Street Centre (former C2G Music Hall). Though it was a small crowd of 150-ish, she and her band put on perhaps one of the better shows they've had in recent memory. It was loud, they were on fire, and most of us there were amazed! It's unfortunate there were so many other things going on in the area on this night, because a lot of people missed out.

The band was warming up when we arrived 90 minutes before the the show and they were rocking it! They were really good. As we were getting ready to sell tickets we heard someone buzz the front door. Ana arrived in jeans and sunglasses, and as she made her way through the crowd waiting for doors to open, we all knew it had to be her. She has a definite 'look.' I have to admit, though, I was not prepared for how good she is. She is way more than just a pretty face.

At most of the shows we work we don't leave the front entrance until well into the show, and even then we usually just stand in the back for bits here and there. All of us went around the corner to the stage area to see what she had on for the start of this show. Jane and I actually grabbed a couple seats when it looked like all the VIP tickets were accounted for.

So, it was another good show. Actually a great show. There is usually an older, seasoned audience at this venue, and I heard more than a handful of old guys saying she's the best guitarist they've ever seen. I do not disagree.

On a personal note, I'm pretty proud of the above pic. I actually took it myself. I wish that guy's big head wasn't there, but that's a pretty good pic for me on my old phone. I also took this one of the entire band (neither pic has been doctored).

***

Psalm 23:1

"The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want."

 

Anthony gomes show

I don't know that I've ever seen a bad show at this venue... But this was one of the BEST!

Anthony Gomes rocked the Baker Street Centre (formerly C2G Music Hall) Saturday night, and a good time was definitely had by all!

There was a patriotic pops concert across the street at Parkview Field, a wedding reception next door at the old train station, but neither compared to the wailing guitars screaming from our building. It was an electric night to be on the southern side of downtown Fort Wayne!

We work as volunteers at these shows (Gold Circle tickets), and this was our second show since restarting since the pandemic. 400 rowdy old souls made for one of the most active crowds I can remember - standing, singing along, dancing in the aisles, and simply having a fun night out. At one point there were about 30 women dancing on the stage with the band. Gomes has a knack for not only reading the audience, but generating this atmosphere himself. Everyone was on fire on this night.

Anthony has been here several times, and the Canadian-born bluesman has grown quite a following. Although he said his first time in Fort Wayne he only had four people show up! Now he packs the house, and no one wanted to leave! The band played for almost three hours, and people lingered long after they were done. I didn't mind at all as we were cleaning up and changing the room into a Sunday worship space.

I will also add... Anthony seems to be a super nice guy. Totally unassuming and generally friendly. I almost didn't recognize him before the show when he sort of just appeared behind me in his Chuck Taylors and his hair in a ponytail. I swear he's a foot taller when he transforms into his stage presence! 

Anyway, this is not so much a review as I just want to say, "Dang, that was a great time!!!" It was.

 

 ***

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4

Fathers day and ribfest

Father's Day has come and gone once more. I actually had a pretty good one this year.

For starters, we kept the grandkids Saturday night and enjoyed the first evening under our new backyard lights. By the time I dragged my bones out of bed Sunday around 9:30 their mother was already there to pick them up. Then Jane made me a grand breakfast.

I was surprised with some swell gifts this year too. Jane got me the pictured Bose Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker. For something so small it works really well and will be put to good use! She also got me a box of chocolates.

The Feipel clan gave me a box full of nuts, sausage, cheese, and crackers. I could take gifts like this for just about any occasion! These are some of my favorite things. Plus we then hung out together at Ribfest in the afternoon.

Isaac and Ricci got me Jason Ringenberg's newest CD 'Rhinestoned.' Jason stuck a note in with it that we've been friends and supporters of his music for 45 years now! There's a little ditty here about how he put the album together. It's a little country for my tastes, but he's an amazing person. Isaac also called Sunday evening.

RIBFEST

The annual blues, brews, and bbq celebration is perhaps one of the few traditions we have. At least it had been. I wasn't even concerned about going this year. The past few have just not been that good. They seemed to struggle to find legitimate bands, and the sound quality had been SOOOOOOO BAD. Perhaps having to take last year off was good for them, because it seemed better this year. The band lineup was still kind of iffy, but the sound was so much better this year!

Just the two of us went for a bit Friday night, then we returned Sunday and stayed later than we planned to. It was nice to see live outdoor music again, run into some friends, and we appreciated all the bands we saw.

A FIRST

I suppose it's worth noting this was the first Father's Day without my dad. We never had a very good relationship, which was mostly because I was never a very good son. I always hated that he was the high school principal; I probably resented him for it even. Yet it occurred to me this weekend that I didn't necessarily dislike my dad. I think I wanted to like him, and respect him... But when so many of my friends and others I knew seemingly DIDN'T like him, I I felt like I couldn't like him or I would risk them not liking me. It sounds pretty silly now, but I'm sure it's one of the reasons I'm as messed up as I am. Plus, our family has just never done relationships and emotions and stuff like that very well.

Anyway, there ya have it. June is almost over, the summer if flying by, and it will be snowing before you know it.

***

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord." - Jeremiah 17:7

 

First concert in over a year

We worked our first concert in over a year this past Friday night. It was quite the event - on so many levels!

The wife and I usually take 'Gold Circle' tickets (VIP seating) at C2G Music Hall (now the Baker Street Centre). That means we scan tickets, put on wrist bands, and sometimes escort people to the designated area. In other words, we rub shoulders (literally) with a lot of people. We did again on this night.

We wondered beforehand how they would handle things. It's been a crazy year, and the CDC just came out and said vaccinated people don't need masks. Still...

I was not prepared for NO SOCIAL DISTANCING OR MASK GUIDELINES AT ALL! There were about 80 Gold Circle, plus over 200 General Admission tickets sold. So 300 people packed into an indoor concert venue, and most of us feeling like teenagers on our first Spring Break! Oof. I was so far outside my comfort zone I was almost lost! But... I survived (at least so far). I just tried not to think about it.

I actually started out wearing my mask, even though only one other staff person was. Eventually it got too hectic, and just seemed pointless, so even I went free and clear.

Anyway, someone said it had been 15 months since the last concert, though none of us could remember who it was. And I would say everyone was pretty darn excited to be out and about again! Sometimes it almost felt like we were doing something we weren't supposed to do. And maybe we were.

It was also good to see friends we hadn't seen in over a year. A couple of people had lost spouses in that time. We have probably all changed in various ways and degrees. But it was a slice of normalcy, and hopefully won't be the last. Plus, the band was fantastic!!

Pink Droyd is a local band, and as you may have guessed, a Pink Floyd tribute band. We've seen them several times. On this night they played the Animals album in its entirety, plus another hour or so more. I think they were as happy to be playing live again as the rest of us were to be listening again! They have a great light show, and sound pretty darn close to the original. I even heard the bass player (?) flew in from California just for this show!

So, I'm trying to not think about "super spreader" possibilities and such. We were all adults, hopefully most of us have been fully vaccinated, and it was a fun night. It didn't hurt that it was also our 38th wedding anniversary!

 ***

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him..." - Nahum 1:7

Five things friday

1. BIKE TUNE-UP

I took my Scott SubCross 30 bicycle in for a tune-up yesterday. I bought it on June 5th of last year, and with the purchase of a new bike you get one free tune-up within the first year. There is a bike shop inside my place of employ (literally right across from my desk) and Emily is a fantastic mechanic. She adjusted the brakes, derailleurs, lubed the chain, checked cables, tightened spokes, and tried like the dickens to get rid of the squeal in my rear disc break. All for $0! Well, actually I gave her a $10 tip because she spent nearly 3 hours on it. The squeal is better, but she reminded me there is a 2-year warranty on the brakes, so if it doesn't clear up eventually I should maybe have them replaced. She also said to tell any other mechanics that it helps to sand the disc slightly.

2. AIRPOD PROS

I had told Jane I would get her some noise-cancelling headphones for Mother's Day - because she works by a sometimes loudly annoying coworker. First I ordered her some ~$50-ish earbuds online. I started to feel like maybe it was a scam though, so the next day I cancelled - and they actually gave my money back! Finally I decided to just splurge and get her the Airpod Pro earbuds. She is more than worth the $197 they cost, and hopefully this will help with her work situation - at least some. I do have to say, they are pretty nice.

3. VISIT WITH ISAAC

The boy was back in Indiana for a few days this week. One of his professors from undergrad passed away, and they asked him to help with the eulogy. They also said they wanted him to have his books and papers and whatnot. Isaac stayed in Indy and the funeral was south of there, so we met up in Anderson last night for a quick bite to eat. The Feipels also went. It was nice to see him, but I was the usual jerk. We ate at this little pizza place we used to love (Arts on Broadway). The pizza was still really good, but the service was a little lacking - as I'm sure it is at most places nowadays. I had ordered a second drink when our food arrived, and by the time I was done eating it still hadn't arrived, nor had the waitress been back. So not only was I annoyed, but I was mostly just REALLY thirsty. I tried not to make a total scene, but I'm sure I embarrassed everyone else. As usual.

4. WEDDING ANNIVERSARY #38

Today is our 38th wedding anniversary. In some ways it seems weird, but mostly it's not registering with me much this year. I should probably make a post just about this. Actually, I probably could have made a separate post about all these things. Anyway, I have the day off and Jane is taking a half day. We are planning to go out for lunch, then at 2 we get to see our granddaughter in a choral group. Tonight we actually work our first concert in over a year. I'll be curious to see how that goes.

5. OTHERWISE...

I really don't have much else to say. I've been in sort of a funk and not feeling the best for awhile. I'm still trying to run, but can barely make the first mile at a 12-minute pace before having to walk. The other day I finally did the third mile under 11 but that was it. It's not looking like it's going to be a stellar year. We'll see.

***

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” -Psalm 139:13-14