Cruise Control

We’re heading home today. Our tour in the U.P. went really well and we had a lot of fun playing, especially with Hoss on keys. We were able to enjoy the sauna at Katie’s parents’ house and spend some time with her family. They have three Yorkie puppies that are absolutely adorable. As Lynn said, “They can make a grown man giggle.”

Last night we played at Ishpeming HS Auditorium for the local community. It’s a really cool venue: an old school theater complete with red velvet curtains and seats. I met a lot of really nice people from the area and I’m looking forward to coming back again soon.

When we get home, we’ll be playing a show in Leo, IN on Wednesday night, heading on down to Tennessee for Thursday and Friday, and then on to Florida for a week or so. We’ll be spending some time with my family while they’re on vacation in Pompano and also some time with Lynn’s parents in Sarasota. What a weather difference that will be to all the snow up here!

Right now we’re driving south through the quite remote state of Michigan, which is beautiful with all the snow on the pines. The drive is very scenic. We just saw a large fox scurry across the road in front of us. That’s not something you see everyday in Indiana. We’ve had several close encounters with deer too, though we’ve managed to avoid getting abducted or experimented on. A few minutes ago we had a close encounter with the Michigan State Police. Katie seems to think that cruise control is for sissies. Fortunately, the officer was very lenient with us and the fine won’t be that terrible.

We stopped at a small gas station along our route where they were selling smoked fish and all kinds of jerky. We loaded up on some of these local delicacies. The smoked salmon and cajun jerky make excellent road food. I also picked up some schweet bug-eyed ski goggles that will double as my sunglasses while in Florida. I’m anticipating some delicious racoon tan lines. Aww, who am I kidding? I never tan. My skin only comes in 2 shades: pearly white and delightful crimson. ’ello, aloe!

At the moment we’re approaching the Mackinaw Bridge, which at 5 miles long is the longest bridge in the USA and is the only connection between upper and lower Michigan. I haven’t been up this way since I was a kid. I remember coming up here for a family vacation. We went to Mackinac Island. My siblings and I insisted on getting Superman–flavored ice cream cones, which, unbeknownst to me at the time, are disgusting. The huge waffle cones held nearly a quart of ice cream and we ate ourselves sick. That’s all I can really remember about that vacation.

I need to finish up the design for Katie’s new album, so gotta get back to the grinding wheel. We’ll be stopping at Elderly’s in Lansing, Michigan to check out some sweet guitars we can’t afford. We’ll also be passing by the oddly bent trees in St. Johns, Michigan, which are pictured on the cover of the Rudisill album. Ahh, the memories…

Yours truly,

Scott

P.S. How about the latest Ray LaMontagne? [insert sound of someone whistling when really impressed]

Currently listening:
Till the Sun Turns Black
By Ray LaMontagne
Release date: 29 August, 2006