news

~ Jeff's Blog page 5 ~
(aka Weavil's Blog)
...so on Sat., 7/17/4, I was hangin' with guitarist Roger Steen in a hotel bar in Port Washington, WI after the Fishday Festival in which The Tubes opened for Blue Oyster Cult. He suggested that I start a blog to document my times and travels.

me with roger steen of the tubes on 7/14/4

...and 4/21/6
This is my blog...thanks Roger

(collage by Geppy)

(photo by Sharon - cropped by smeeg)
Dig the LIARS shirt - available at: rundgrenjunkie@aol.com
(tell him i sent ya)

(banner designed by mark larson)

*Now with more pages*
for easier load
~~~~* 2007 *~~~~
comments?

*all photos by me with phone unless stated otherwise*
The Weavils were Grateful Web's
Band of the Month
for April 2007

Celebrating 40 years of Todd Rundgren

Celebrate 40 Years of Todd!
Get your name in Rolling Stone in 2007

TODData is at it again, and this time
we're going for the big one.
In 1992, fans helped sponsor a b/w classified Rolling Stone ad to celebrate 20 Years of Something/Anything?
Last time, we ran a full-color quarter page ad to celebrate 30 Years of TODD (the album).

Now, since NAZZ hit the streets in 1967, it's time to for 40 Years of Todd. TODData is facilitating a full page ad in
Rolling Stone.
It's going to take a lot more fans to make this happen.
So, for a limited time, a donation of just $5 is all it takes to get your name in a 2007 Rolling Stone Magazine tribute ad.
The exact issue and run date of the ad is yet to be determined.
A prize schedule for larger donations will be added.
News on past events and current progress is in the works.

For more, email info@TODData.com

Contribute $5 before March 31, 2007 to reserve your space.
The minimum donation amount is subject to change.

To participate:
Send your donation via PayPal (select "service" as the category) to:Todd40@TODData.com
Or mail a check or money order to:
TODData: 40 Years of Todd
3445 Seminole TR, Ste 275
Charlottesville, VA 22911

TODData and 40 Years of Todd have no official affiliation with Todd Rundgren's Utopia.

~~~~~~~~~~
****************************************

Hear The Song Here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff prefers

Cleartone Strings
Testimonial
I have tried many different strings over the decades of playing and performing (live and in the studio) but have never found something that could bend so well and stay in tune over multiple shows, until i found Cleartone. I never really paid much attention to the brand of strings i used until i discovered these. The way they hold their tone and tuning, even while bending WAY outside the normal realm, continues to amaze me. The durability - whether in a smokey bar, basement studio, outdoors, or a dusty theatre - is astounding! They also seem to last three times as long as other brands i have used! The residue from my hands has destroyed strings in the past but this has not been a problem with Cleartone, and that is something that amazes me.
I have also found that it takes A LOT to break them (and i have tried)!
They also carry great tone from low to high - and that's quite incredible.

THANK YOU for making such a high-quality product and teaching me that string brand can make a HUGE difference.
Jeff "Weavil" Gauss
~~~~
*

9/20/7
Trip to Port Edwards Grade School open house

megan's art on the wall

christopher, ever the scientist!

at her FIRST desk!

and also the 'teacher'
(photo by nephew Christopher)

ALSO a grade 3 'teacher'

...and his star pupil!

"hello...is there anybody in there?"
inside the K-house

megan with our pictures...and the evening's close
:(

~~~~ * ~~~~
STOP THE FEAR-MONGERING
can you believe they are now wasting their time and our money fighting a FREE SPEECH ad from Move On?
RIDICULOUS!
The U.S. Senate just told you to sit down and be quiet. They passed a resolution condemning MoveOn.org and it has one purpose: to intimidate all of us who care about responsibly ending this war. They wanted to send a message that anyone who speaks unpleasant truths about this war will pay.
To make everyone--especially politicians--think twice before they accuse the administration of lying.
We can't let that happen, so we're letting Congress know that they're not going to intimidate us.
Can you sign on to this statement?
on top of that WE can't get $ for infrastructure help as
it's all going to Iraq...BUllSHit!
SAVE OUR FIRST AMENDMENT!

9/19/7
Quaudiophiliac
THE most awesome thing these ears have EVER heard!
...EVER!
FZ does it again (and from the grave!)
It's like being INSIDE the band!

Reviewed by - Marco Passarelli
WOW!
That’s really all that can be said about this one.
In fact, this release is so inspired; it will be my first 5-star review. This is essential music.
“Quaudiophiliac” is a compilation of recordings, some previously unreleased, that were created in “Quad” or 4-way sound. “Quadraphonic audio” never garnered the sort of attention that modern day 5.1 surround has but Frank Zappa, always the trailblazer, began recording in the medium as early as 1970.
It is amazing to listen to the breath and scope of these pieces, from the symphonic grandeur of “Naval Aviation In Art?” to the basement jam (literally) of “Chunga Basement”. In the case of the latter, it was recorded in the basement of Zappa’s legendary studio, the Utility Muffin Resource Kitchen live to 4 tracks. Yes, live. Fans of jam bands take note; this is the real deal.
If you are a dedicated Zappa guitar freak, this album is most certainly for you as you can bathe yourself in the light of Frank’s intoxicating solos. What a thrill it is to hear Frank go for the throat on “Rollo” while sitting in the middle of it! In the case of “Chunga Basement”, it is almost like listening in on a band rehearsal. “Venusian Time Bandits” features outlandish lead guitar sounds that sound like they are coming from…well, Venus!
Check out Zappa playing some jazzy sounding rhythm guitar on Waka/ Jawaka before launching into an ultra hip solo.
The sound quality of this album, while coming from differing sources is remarkable. Considering that the recording dates span the years of 1970 to 1978, the overall consistency of the album is notable. While Frank Zappa himself mixed the original ‘quad’ recording, Dweezil Zappa is to be commended for selecting, sequencing and mixing this material to 5.1; it is a job well done! And I must say that I wholeheartedly agree with his liner notes – the track “Rollo” IS bitchin’!
I cannot praise this album enough; it truly is an example of pure genius at work.
Let’s hope the Zappa Family Trust and DTS keep pulling things out of
THAT vault!

Shoot 'Em Up

FINALLYa flick that is exactly what it claims to be...a balls-to-the-wall action movie, no holds barred...
AND HILARIOUS!
i laughed SO HARD that the peeps around me must have thought i was INSANE (which may be true)
but it was infectious as all began laughing too. SO MUCH VIOLENCE that it becomes COMEDY!
a kinetic slam-bam- thank-you-ma'am ode to all things capable
clive owen has a similar role to this year's BEST FILM (so far)
Children of Men
in which he must deliver and save a baby...
careful Clive you may get typecast, son

this guy shoulda been the new James Bond

plus this hottie!
(gorgeous,...and SO SAD in the film that her eyes almost always are swelled with tears)
...and on a BIG SCREEN in madison, AMAZING!
*******************************************************************
prior to leaving the 'Pids i hung with a very cool old couple by the Wisco River...

one of a kind!

on my way 'home'

9/8/7
Weavils at HRox Bier Garten
can now ALSO be found at Hollyrock's picture pages

(photos by Shawn Tassone with my camera phone...THANKS Shawn!)
mark larson also sat in on melodica for 2 tunes
w/ Purple Penquin Light Show

the following pix taken by Geppy's cell phone

indoors..........

9/5-8/7
Madison Redux

the view from casa de rona

TPB hits the Mad streets!

...let the MADness begin!

my old place of residence (3rd floor)...nuthin' fancy but i sure MISS IT!

we also miss our brother Tyler Kremin!

the selfish gene...up'n'coming KILLER Madison band with a GREAT original psychedelic power pop sound!

i played with drummer Mark Heise-Marsh in several bands...good to see he's hooked up with some gems

brother clyde stubblefield, whom i ALSO played with in bands, with Madison Idol Keri ?
- downstairs in the old haven once known as The Chamber, now the King Club -
(she sat in with Clyde's band for killer versions of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" and Allman's "Midnight Rider", along with staple "Flip, Flop, and Fly" at UW-Madison's Terrace earlier in the eve.
she took my advice about jumping up an octave during the pre-chorus=smart gal)

bleck proves a dead horse can still hold up a Weavils sticker...THANKS for flyin' the flag!
(bummer they left your name off the bill bro)

Art Paul Schlosser tears up "Punk Rock in the White House" on State Street for a mere $1

an earlier drive yielded some beauty!

UNIVERSITY DRIVE

Giddings Park...

where i used to catch MANY a sunset

maple bluff along the shores of lake mendota...or germany?

earlier at my guitar tech's place...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHAT A WALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

marshes on the south-east edge of madtown

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the Capitol!

9/4/7
Envoy’s Letters Counter Bush on Plan for Iraq
more crap on the shithead
Book Tells Of Dissent In Bush's Inner Circle
even more crap on the shithead

Asshole of the Moment

Senator Larry Craig
another lying political hipocrit (secret life while gay bashing) gets busted...
FOOL plead guilty and now wants to take it back...total dumbass!

8/31/7
Happy Birthday Brother Craig!

Alice Cooper ROCKS Marshfield Fair

post-show aglow!
Alice Cooper 8/31/7 Marshfield WI Setlist

It's Hot Tonight>
No More Mr. Nice Guy>
Under my Wheels
Eighteen>
Is it My Body
A Woman of Mass Distraction
Lost In America
Feed My Frankenstein>
Be My Lover>
Raped and Freezing
Public Animal #9
Muscle of Love!!
Desperado!!!!
Halo of Flies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to my Nighmare>
Cold Ethel>
Only women Bleed (yes, i teared up during the bridge)>
Steven>
Dead babies (problems with 'stroller mic' at beginning)>
Ballad of Dwight Frye>
I Love the Dead
School's Out (w/ special guest guitarist ? Johnson)
*encore*
Billion dollar Babies
Poison
Elected
...and MORE great news of the sinking ship
Tony Snow to resign!
(BUllSHit lies caught again)

8/27/7
Gonzalez Resigns!
FINALLY the ever-amazing liar piece of shit leaves office...his tenure was been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, announced his resignation in Washington today.
goodbye, good riddence, and may you never EVER stink up our nation again.
man, i've been pushin' this one for quite a while, signed MANY petitions, and even made phone calls as
this Bushite chronie above-the-law liar that never cared nor knew how to do his job NEVER belonged in such a spot of authority and power...thanks for leaving, ASSHOLE!
of course, he'll be remembered most for the firing of nine U.S. attorneys
and over the use of warrantless wiretaps in the war on terror
...the BUllSHit house of cards continues to crumble
(there are very few left on the ship, finally pointing to the real crook(s) at last!)
HISTORY SHOWS AGAIN AND AGAIN HOW NATURE POINTS OUT THE FOLLY OF MAN

(only TWO left holding the cards, destroying our freedoms, and wiping their asses with our constitution)

8/25-7/7
CMN Balloon Rally
Check out my NEW page!
my fourth year involved in this led to joining the music committee, bringing both main bands, and even doing a solo spot
(to fill in for the AWOL SLM, which now stands for So Long Muthafuckas!)
'twas fun, especially since it was improved and i was also joined by Lizard Mark Larson on accordion,
The aTomix's Jack Faville on drums and brushes, Tom DeWitt on harp, and Connie Tomski on harmonies...
and even Rapids' Don Rickles, Kevin Stellman, on drums. quite a band to pull outta my ass!
(THANKS guys and gals)
Setlist was something like:
Deep Elem Blues
Morning Dew (with sped-up middle)
El Camino (nice to FREAK people out with this one, references to local illegal immigrant workers)
Lawyers, Guns, and Money (Zevon stopped many peeps walkin' by...LOVE the new book!)
Make It Happen
Ain't No Sunshine (Jack Vocals)
I Know You Rider
Girl from the North Country>All Along the Watchtower>Girl from the North Country
River City Blues (the 'arabic' section was another FREAK OUT for the crowd)
*BIG THANKS to Lizard Brenda for the use of her KILLER acoustic guitar!*
the set also included several SLaMs to SLM who blew off the concert as a no-show,
i will NEVER book them again!

(photo by Jack Faville)

8/20/7
'tis been RAINING for days!
thought i'd catch a flick and the power went out so maybe i'll attempt sleep before midnight (doubt it)
NOW posting my 'recommended products' at my 'other blog' in myspaceland
here

8/17/7
Happy Birthday Sister Kim!
The mother of my two favorite kids in the world

8/16/7
Tower of Power
Funkifies Oshkosh!
Rocco is the MAN!

2 of the best bassists EVER! Rocco w/ brother Geppy Weavil

these guys ARE funk!

the POWER of horns
(and those creepy ballads were, thankfully, kept to a minimum)

"DO NOT SAY SPAIN"
i have NO IDEA what that means but find it HILARIOUS!

the magical, mystical BLUR of Oshkosh!

8/16/7
Domestic spying out-of-hand
* WEMUSTSTOPTHISMADNESS *
Last May, The U.S.'s top intelligence official has greatly expanded the range of federal and local authorities who can get access to information from the nation's vast network of spy satellites in the U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Jerkoff and BUllSHit now admit these powers are greater than they first told us (duh!)
TO SPY ON OUR OWN CITIZENS!

Since THIS is probably being watched I am NOT an activist/terrorist so no physical harm will come from me,
however, i AM a patriot that's VERY concerned about our leaders' FASCIST tactics to take away our freedoms,
the hate-mongers love of war (in the name of "God"), and the assault on the very principles our country was founded on
~ BUSH WATCH ~
apparently it is up to US to
keep our political leaders in check
TheyMUSTbeheldaccountable!
they work for US

8/14/7

Mama Nature busts thru a grey day in the 'Pids

Executive privileges gone WILD!

Bush now uses this fascist tactic (executive privilege) tactic to stop Congress from getting Pat Tillman's records...
so he's even stopping his precious army from getting info...when will someone STOP THIS MADNESS???!!!
above the law with no regards for the Constitution OR the people it was written for,
he'll find his proper place in history alright, just not where he thinks it's gonna be.
George W. Bush's presidential tenure has been marked by one cover-up after another...friendly fire, my ass-this guy threw away gazillions of dollars in the NFL to get EXECUTED by his own superiors...

this is disgustingly awful and WRONG and W's disregard for the law adds insult to injury!

8/13/7
!!!ROVE STEPS DOWN!!!
Hate manipulator prepares for next role
OW! more coverups and protection for Prez and crew, the "architect" does what the law couldn't/wouldn't do...
probably the first time he's EVER done the right thing...thanks jackass!
Karl Rove, President Bush's close friend and chief political strategist, plans to leave the White House at the end of August, joining a lengthening line of senior officials heading for the exits in the final 1 1/2 years of the administration.
of course, with executive privilegde he'll never have to spill the beans on the other real crook, his former boss!
*Looks like 8/13 is now a new HOLIDAY!*
Bye Bye Roveday

...also, in much smaller news, my myspace page was hijacked. changed password, reported, and hopefully this won't happen again (yeah right). i apologize to anyone who got spammed in this effort by imbiciles with nothing else to do.
all appears fine again...be alerted and DON'T let this happen to you. it came as a comment from an approved friend stating that myspace had terminated their account and to check one of two clicks to see why. this takes one to a log-in page that was NOT a real myspace page, although it sure looked like one.
i believe it was www.login.myspace.com...a false front for porn bulletined from my page!
THANKS for the many 'heads-up's, much appreciated.

8/10/7

with the GORGEOUS melissa at Trail's End mid-Lizardz show...hot and sweet, a rare combination
(THANKS!)
Drop me a line, hon

...and what of the Cheap Trick shirt?
CT does Sgt. Pepper's

On August 10 & 11, Cheap Trick will be participating in a very special tribute to the 40th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Orchestra will play the album in its entirety, along with other Beatles classics, with special guests and even a classical Indian music ensemble
Rick's 5 neck was on display along with some other CT gear.

ACT ONE
Conductor Edwin Outwater took the stage and led the orchestra through an overture of sorts before introducing that fine quartet from Illinois.
CT kicked things off with "Magical Mystery Tour"
Fashion report
RZ - what looked like a DP officer's hat, red plaid coat, black shirt and pants
RN - black suit & cap (couldn't read the shirt)
TP - white jacket, dark pants
BEC - dark pants (or jeans), tshirt
After that they took a break while all the guest vocalists took turns doing they're own renditions of Beatles tunes. Here's what I remember...
Joan Osbourne (looking lovely in a red dress) did a lovely rendition of "The Long and Winding Road."
... second song that Joan Osbourne sang, (Lady Madonna)
I just know that I love her voice and that I appreciated the way she added her own style to the songs...
Ian Ball was adorable and had added a great vibe to the evening...
Rob Laufer sang "Norwegian Wood" and did a great job.
Aimee Mann did "Blackbird" and thoroughly underwhelmed me. She would continue to do so the rest of the night. She was definitely the weak link of the evening. IMHO
CT came back onstage for a couple more songs. Rick said some very nice things - telling us it was an honor to play the Hollywood Bowl for the first time and to have been asked to be a part of this event. Then he introduced the gents from Ministry and they launched into "She's So Heavy" and wackiness ensued.
While I love Ministry's Al Jourgensen and all, his vox almost sounded like a joke. It was hard to know that there was a man standing onstage *cough* Robin Zander *cough* who would've been a wee bit better.
Oh well. LOL It was fun in a nutty way - and thankfully the act ended on a much higher note with CT's rendition of "Golden Slumbers."
After a break, we came back for the main event.

1st set was;
Overture
Magical Mystery Tour
Strawberry Fields
Lady Madonna
Long & Winding Road
Norwegian Wood
Blackbird
Eleanor Rigby
She's so Heavy
Golden Slumbers>Carry That Weight> The End

(photo by CHEAPDRUMKAT)
ACT TWO
Here's a break down of who sang what. CT remained on stage the entire time and all the guest vocalists took turns with the backup singing vs. lead.
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" – RZ
"With a Little Help from My Friends" – RZ
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" – Joan Osbourne
"Getting Better" – RZ
"Fixing a Hole" – Aimee Mann
"She's Leaving Home" – RZ
"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" – Ian Ball
"Within You Without You" – Rob Laufer
"When I'm Sixty-Four" – Ian Ball
"Lovely Rita" – Aimee Mann
"Good Morning Good Morning" – RZ
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" – RZ
"A Day in the Life" – RZ

(some selections available here - THANKS to Danny Saint)

Partial Fashion Report, Part 2
Robin had on a black hat, vest plus a shirt and tie for this set.
I LOVED Rick's pink suit and black Beatles tshirt ensemble. And as one would expect, Rick had a special Beatles guitar for the occasion. I'll leave the details to the tech savvy - he showed the back at one point which reads "40 years ago) I think.
Highlights from the SP set...
The title track rocked!
Joan's "Lucy" was a nice twist (it was in a different key and had a "swing" vibe to it)
"She's Leaving Home." Was. GORGEOUS! Rick put down his guitar and stood by his mic to help with some of the high notes. WOW! Robin sounded wonderful - he did all night, for that matter.
Tom really seemed to relish playing those McCartney bass lines. Very nicely done!
Bun E. sounded wonderful too!
Rick was firing on all cylinders as well - I just hope they bump him up in the mix a bit more tonight...
Ian Ball's two songs on lead were wonderful as well. Hearing them tackle "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" was a treat. And of course "64" was a crowd favorite.
"Within You..." had the full back up of an ensemble playing sitars, tanpars and a double violin. I really loved the dynamics they added to the song. Wonderfully done!
"A Day in the Life" - one of my all time favorite Beatles tracks. Hearing my all time favorite band play it with an orchestra? It doesn't get any better than that!
Everyone took their bows and came back for one encore... "All You Need Is Love" with the vocalists taking turns: a perfect end to a wonderful evening.
Wow. Wow. And wow!
I swear, I lost count of the times I thought I would burst with pride. There are no words for how proud I was of our boys!
...
the weakest link was Aimee Mann. Al Jourgensen was AWFUL, but at least we only had to deal with him for one song. Aimee's voice was just too fragile to do the material justice. Weird, though, RZ seemed to be a big Aimee fan...when she'd walk up to or away from the mic Robin would grab her hand...I just think she was out of her league.
...
Al J. was like a drunk karoake singer..."I Want You (She's So Heavy)" deserved better treatment than it got from Al.
...
!CONDUCTOR'S BLOG COMMENTS!

8/4/7
Happy Birthday Sister Debbie!

8/3/7

how cool is this?! bassbro Geppy sends me GE Smith the night before i meet him at 3Gs!!!

...and also on bass

8/2/7
Asshole of the Moment

a no show, he ignores a subpoena, proving he thinks he's above the law
(like most of the administration seems to believe)
Karl Rove

8/1/7
Asshole of the Moment
another one that thinks he's above the law...this is gettin' too easy as 'the other Donald'
decides that he suddenly has NO memory as well! ...and we KNOW he aint that stoooooooooooopid,
regardless of his recklessness with occupying other countries!
this time over the EXECUTION of Pat Tillman.

* IDon'tRemember*
Artist: Peter Gabriel Album: Peter Gabriel III

I got no means to show identification
I got no papers show you what I am
You'll have to take me just the way that you find me
What's gone is gone and I do not give a damn
Empty stomach, empty head
I got empty heart and empty bed
I don't remember
I don't remember

I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
-anything at all

Strange is your language and I have no decoder
Why don't you make your intentions clear
With eyes to the sun and your mouth to the soda
Saying, "Tell me the truth, you got nothing to fear
Stop staring at me like a bird of prey
I'm all mixed up, I got nothing to say
I don't remember
I don't remember

I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
Anything at all

I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
absolutely anything at all
I don't remember

please welcome back...another weapon of mass distraction,
"Rummy"

7/29/7
what goes up must come down...the universe balances itself once again.

(a world turned upside-down)

after a great weekend in Disneyland for Drunks (minocqua) the Lizardz came home to heartache and pain for our drummer Travis as the house his mother and sister were renting burned to the ground.

Posted July 30, 2007
Fire destroys Grant home
By Deb Cleworth
Daily Tribune Staff

GRANT -- Charred remains are all that's left of a town of Grant home after a fire destroyed it Sunday afternoon.
No one was injured in the fire, but the whereabouts of a dog at the residence were unknown Sunday night.
The renters who lived in the home at 2311 100th St. S. were reported to be at work when the fire started.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen from Eighth Street South and Riverview Expressway.

"Carl was visiting his son and took a ride to check the crops and saw the fire about 3:30 p.m.," said Carol Novack, who owns the home with her husband, Carl Novack. "There were flames all over. He came home to tell me to call the fire department."
Grand Rapids Fire Department Chief Scott Bernette said the call came in at about 3:39 p.m.

"It was fully engulfed when the first engine got here," Bernette said, describing the blaze as a "working structure fire."
The Novacks were at the scene as firefighters from Plover, Rudolph, Nekoosa and Stockton
aided the Grand Rapids department.
"It did go fast," Carol Novack said, her eyes filling with tears.

"I was hoping they could have saved it, but in the back of my mind, I knew they couldn't."
The couple own several rental properties, but Carol Novack said the 12-year-old home was one of her favorites.
"I just liked it," she said.

Firefighters expected to remain on the scene several more hours, Bernette said. He explained crews were in "salvage and overhaul mode," looking for hot spots. A propane tank near the house had been cooled and was not considered dangerous.
"That particular hazard has been taken out of the equation," Bernette said.

Crews also tried to see if any of the renters' property was salvageable.
The home was in a remote location, but that wasn't an issue for firefighters, Bernette said.

"(Wood County) Dispatch has awesome computer-aided mapping," Bernette said.
The absence of nearby fire hydrants wasn't a problem, either.
"We were using a creek right down the road at 100th and Lake," Bernette said.
Grand Rapids fire personnel blocked the street off about a half-mile from the scene.
"(People) don't realize what it takes to actually orchestrate a structure attack," Bernette said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.

perhaps the saddest part is their missing dog...

which will hopefully come home for food
(8/15/7 - their dog has been found, sadly, dead in the basement)

they did not have renters insurance, so they will have to earn everything back.
they are looking to buy some good used stuff like furniture, appliances, and probably even smaller stuff like pots, pans, dishes, etc. if anyone has anything that they have been trying to sell, or knows anyone that has stuff for sale, please let me know and i will pass that on to Trav...
THANKS!

7/27/7
Happy Birthday to...ME!
i'm off to ROCK the tourist town of Minocqua in da northwoods of Wisco

7/26/7
FINALLY...Rove subpoena
we all know shit flows downhill and much of it starts with this asshole!
of course our insane dictator king won't let charges be brought up but at least someone's finally bringing to light what all of us know, THESE GUYS ARE ALL CROOKS AND LIARS AND THE WORST ADMINISTRATION EVER!
we cannot allow them to crap on our Constitution anymore!
of course this all revolves around POS Alberto Gonzalez and his wall of lies so, in his honor...
* Asshole of the Moment *

Alberto "Liar" Gonzalez
where does one start with this guy?
he lies so much that his lies tell lies and was, of course, hand-picked by the Madman, King George,
as he knows his lies from that awful state of Texas which means he won't roll over and EVER tell the truth
Alberto Gonzales lies about everything
of course we CAN thank his lying lies for bringing out ROVE, the King of all that shits!

* IDon'tRemember*
Artist: Peter Gabriel Album: Peter Gabriel III

I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
-anything at all

I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
Anything at all

I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
absolutely anything at all
I don't remember

7/23/7
Happy 8th Birthday Christopher!
I love you SOOOOOOOO much!

7/21/7
MORE PROOF that our dictator king is insane with power as he issues a directive to NOT torture terrorists with information.
although i am COMPLETELY against this war (illegal occupation), IF it is war then let's do WAR not some fukkin' tea party!
RIDICULOUS! like they are gonna serve OUR BOYS cookies and milk.
next up is talk of freezing assets of those who speak out against the war...he's already stealing assets of "terrorists",
which King George can apparently define himself.

THIS INSANITY MUST BE STOPPED!
our representatives are to hold up the Constitution not a lame duck
(of course this could also put to rest the notion that he may be drinking again and our foreign-and now domestic- policies are coming from the bottom of a Jim Beam bottle. also note that Laura hasn't been seen around him. she said she'd leave his side if he started up again and rumor has it she's in the Mayflower hotel up the road from our nation's capitol)

today he gets a camera shoved up his ass and will be 'replaced' by Lord Vader while he is under...
this is even more scary than this declining loss of freedom scene we are in now...TIME TO GO!

7/16/7
Coach Jeff in Action

anaheim angels
i started as a helper and became co-coach

milwaukee brewers
co-coach

second-to-last day for T-ball and pitchball. man, i'm gonna miss this as the kids are all so much fun!
it's GREAT to help them learn the game and all the interaction that unfolds on the field...anaheim angels above
and that red circle really sums up the magical aura of it all
(megan on left)

sammy...one cool kid that's REALLY grown over the past year, waaaaaaaaay cool!
she even asked for me to hold her hand as we entered the grounds (twas my honor)

dylan, forefront, learned more in one inning than most will learn all their lives

sammy and megan havin' fun creating during the Brewers game

the brewers have REALLY become a team, great focus, excellent hitting, fine fielding, much improvement...and
playing like ONE, a team. WAAAAAY COOL!
opponents, the cardinals, had some AMAZING hitters, two of 'em girls

one of my fave kids ever, nickolas willard (aka Spark Plug-man, that kids has speed!),
asks for picture with Coach Mike and myself as he missed 'picture day'...
pleased to oblige. now add the sister...

...Coach Sierra and all is complete.
we then headed into the big diamond to catch legion baseball with the Rapids Ramblers with the 2 above and their parents
!MUCH FUN!
(just a shame i can't go with 'my kids' as they have SO MUCH pre-planned every hour of every day it seems)

7/15/7

post-bday bash backyard fun with niece and nephew

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...the power of a hammock
(picture by megan)

"make a scary face" - picture by megan

(pix by megan)

gymnast extraordinnaire!

Christopher's Birthday Bash!

"make a scary face!" - pix by megan

Noah...opera star!

one happy birthday boy with many new toys!

can't forget sister!

time to sing..."Happy birthday................."

the pinata!

(and its yields)
Cornstock 2007

drummer dean has the POWER!

the weavils from my perspective

the crowd as we were "supposed to quit" (bartime)...WANTIN MUCH MORE (and we delivered)

on the way to paradise!

"no one's noticed but the band's all packed and gone
were they ever here at all?"

chemtrails over amherst!

our friend Al Bundy 5:30am

7/13/7
Friday the 13th

the lizardz at hotel mead for tunes on the terrace...a PERFECT evening!
(is that a YAWN i spot?)

sporting the NEW Toddata shirt...ALWAYS flyin' the TR flag!

7/12/7
Ed Geinland

another space cruise that led to Ed Gein's grave with sweet lil' flower arrangement.
i had this feeling that people would actually be there...and was right!

a couple wanders for hours attempting to find THE spot...after much contemplation i decided to help them

his last victim...just a few steps to the right of the man

PEOPLE walikng down the road in front of where Ed's house once stood...
we met up later in the cemetary

i love the 'lightrings' as they can say so much.
twas REALLY cool to be a 'local tour guide' for guests from milwaukee and atlanta...
there were actually SEVEN of us standing in the cemetary together.
QUITE COOL!
ANY OF YOU SIX READING THIS?
(especially the gal with the gorgeous eyes)
drop me a line please

port edwards' movie night on the side of the YMCA-harry potter 4
i counted around 50 as the show began

7/11/7

then off to the 'big boys' Rapids Rangers-Riverview giveaway night

bartender lou holds some lizardz promo at the new joint Anchor Bay. she'll have her first lizardz experience
alongside her mom (already fan) on july 22

7/10/7

a cool 'mini-lake' i recently found...always unpopulated so it's a great place to clear the head
(actually a cranberry bog flowage)

7/9/7

t-ballers anaheim angels

neice megan

and my brewers...REALLY becoming a TEAM!

7/8/7
got polka?

jim busta band really got 'em goin' with cool stage moves and oomp-pa-pas galore!

got mollie?

finest legs i've seen in quite awhile!
WITH TALENT!

Mollie Busta
(Trumpet, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Valve Trombone, Keyboard, Button Accordion, vocals, & Assistant Sound Engineer)

THREE ROTATING POLKA BANDS!
at St. Bronislava’s Festival in Plover

on the way to the Dells...Big Flats

elliot will get a kick outta this one...on the way to Big Sky Drive-In Theatre (again)

...and YES 1408 held up well to a second viewing

7/6/7
missed the tubes (see below) but weavils' bassist Geppy and good buddy Tim Root caught it...
THANKS for the scoop guys!

The Tubes
7/5/7
Oshkosh, WI
Waterfest
(opener for Cowboy Mouth)

Turn Me On
I Was a Punk
Mr. Hate (they talked about what this song was about ... never knew is based on a real lunatic’s words)
Amnesia
Tip of My Tongue
She’s a Beauty
Sushi Girl
What Do You Want From Life
I Don’t Want To Wait Anymore
Tubes World Tour
White Punks on Dope

Talk To Ya Later

(photo by Geppy with phone)

7/5/7

In Memorium of 'Grandma Ginny'
Virginia Hanson passes on today
Posted July 7, 2007

Virginia A. Hanson

Virginia A. Hanson, 89, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away peacefully Thursday, July 5, 2007, at
The Wellington Place in Wisconsin Rapids.
There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be conducted with family at a later date.
Virginia was born March 26, 1918, in Detroit. She was the daughter of the late Walter and Corinne (Miller) Albyn.
Virginia married George H. Hanson on October 14, 1940, in Detroit. Both Virginia and George lived in Michigan the majority of their lives and later moved to Wisconsin Rapids to be closer to family. Her husband died May 1993.
Virginia enjoyed being a homemaker with her husband and their four daughters. She also worked various part-time jobs along with a lot of volunteer work, which she really loved. She also enjoyed reading, knitting, needlepoint and gardening.
She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Wisconsin Rapids.

Survivors include one brother, Richard (Nancy) Albyn of North Carolina; three sisters, Beverly Remter of Georgia, Shirley LePoir of New Jersey and Betty Lou (Stewart) Murray of New Mexico; four daughters, Susann Papciak of Duluth, Ga., Sally (James) Gauss of Wisconsin Rapids; Betsy (Craig) Dykstra of Carmel, Ind. and Deborah (Robert) Bennett of Columbus; 13 grandchildren including four in the Wisconsin Rapids area; Jeffrey Gauss, Deborah (Brian) Bobrowski, Kim (Jason) Shields, Craig Gauss; and 13 great-grandchildren including two in the Wisconsin Rapids area; Christopher and Megan Shields.
She also had a very special niece, Gail Rancher of Santa Fe, N.M.

Her husband, George H. Hanson, preceded her in death, along with her father, Walter; her mother, Corinne; three sisters, Helen Gerow, Phyllis Bennett, Janet Coup; and one infant brother, Walter.
Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given, in Virginia's name, to the Alzheimer's Association or Parkinson's Association.

7/4/7

hot to trot, local bartender legend (and future ex-wife) Lori shows off her...
YEAH she's GOT it!

Lizardz played downtown Rapids pre-fireworks...many thanks to Maggie and the Aqua Skiers for settin this one up!
early in the show, stage left...

...stage right

skynyrd dude and beatles guy studied me the whole evening...very cool to reach such young kids

setup on the flatbed...i LOVE gigs like these!

the sky NEARLY cries
(photo by Brother Craig)

dances with glowsticks in front of the flatbed

hotel mead hottie SAM off work amidst bliss

almost as if the whole town showed up!

THREE grand finales in Da 'Pids! not bad for such a little town

local freak ricky d attempts a circus trick

jim morrison is alive and well in whiskey rapids!

twistortion, some local kids too young to walk into a bar (although they WERE spotted walking into Hollyrocks later that eve), played post-fireworks at 4 stools short.
although i was pleased to book them for the upcoming balloon rally in an effort to bring in fresh blood and all their friends, parents, grandparents, and siblings,
they aren't very good. the guitarists pretty much played the same thing (what's the point), the drummer had MAJOR tempo problems, and the frontman had a difficult time playing while singing...not a large problem
UNLESS YOU'RE THE BASSIST!
(which he is)
as then the entire bottom falls out and there is no groove...IF there ever was one.
they've got many years to improve ... here's hopin' they do

7/2/7

yes deer ARE this gentle 'round here...near 'TorkGauss Wetlands"

7/1/7

the good and evil strats battle...very cool of Travis to bring this to the gig and lemme play it
(on early springtime rainfall and iko iko)

GORGEOUS day as the Lizardz invade Lake Arrowhead!

LET'S BOWL UPSIDE DOWN!

6/30/7
KGP Rehearsal

WENT GREAT!...then off to Riverfront Rendezvous in Stevens Point with Milo
(where the head booking guy actually vacuums the rug! well-done Greg!)

then off to the elbow room...

where people are SOOOO much cooler than in the 'Pids (maybe it's the U)...

then a suck for a buck 'round the corner!

beacon home!

6/29/7

painting outside of Randy's Wonderland, Radio KAOS in stevens point

SEEMORE the eagle says hi!

stopped by hotelmead after riverfront rendezvous (sloppy joe was great!) to see trav's old band autin healy (great bassist!)

new hottie Sarah at the 'Rox

6/28/7

road trip with Dr. TillBorkian took us to marshfield and JURUSTIC PARK,
a very hip (and free) place of wonder

Over 250 metal folk art sculptures peer at you from the woods and swamp at Jurustic Park. Meet the sculptor or his wife while you stroll around their front and side yard.

Mr. Wynia has created all these sculptures out of found objects, most coming from antique farm equipment.

All the sculptures have a lovely red rust patina. Most of the sculptures move when the wind blows or with a slight touch.

This is not a hands-off place.

Don't miss the peeing frogs. [Margaret Guyette, 06/24/2005]

...earlier that morning...

fishin' with some freaks i met on the river just north of the Biron mill...they were crankin'
Todd Rundgren's Utopia
as i drove by so i had to stop and inTRoduce myself, bring 'em beer, turn 'em onto the Weavils, and smoke 'em out

an AMAZING sunrise that took FOREVER to creep from underneath the cloud covering

recharging the energy in the gift from John Luc while listening to the entire
Live at Cornstock FROM THE VAULTS 3 ~ 7.12.3,
a GREAT double disc set of which we finally have more copies available

a scary site so early in the morn as we parted ways

6/27/7

witter field...so full of baseball memories and so ready for more!

my T-ball team, the angels, as megan approaches first base and birthday girl lydia (who was hilariously over-the-top cute)

butterfly girl is gettin' GOOD!

my pitchball team, the BREWERS, are becoming quite a group of players and bonding (almost) as one.
christopher improved GREATLY on all levels...i just gotta keep him away from reed as that leads to
christopher the clown, nothing but unfocused trouble
(but still great to let him be a kid!)
no girls? well, two that are coaches, coach allie and coach sierra ;)

sammy and megan coloring during christopher's game

6/26/7

bikers tent-up for a big race in the 'Pids
1408

FINALLY a great movie (and a PRIVATE SHOWING!)
free from the land of sequels, re-writes, crappy comics,
and other NON-ORIGINAL ideas. based on one of the BEST stephen king short stories i've ever read.
contained in the excellent collection Everything's Eventual, this piece is as close to an acid trip as i've ever read.
the moviemakers are smart enough to stick to the script and use REALNESS, not a bunchu green-screen computer garbage.
fronted by two of my faves, john cusack and samuel jackson, this flick delivers without all all the gore of
today's exploitational crap!
9 outta 10 stars from me!

also...
here's an insightful review
1408 is a better-than-usual adaptation of Stephen King’s fiction. It’s not a great horror film—more like a lite version of The Shining—but it serves up some well-earned scares without resorting to gore. Besides, you have to love any film that can turn the Carpenters’ hit, “We’ve Only Just Begun,” into a forboding tune of bad things to come.
Writer Mike Enslin (John Cusack) spends his time debunking supposedly haunted places. He once had loftier goals, but the untimely death of his daughter (Jasmine Jessica Anthony) left him bitter, divorced and lonely. His history of discrediting the supernatural is threatened when he checks into the “evil room,” 1408, in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City. Though warned by the manager (played with delectable sinister relish by Samuel Jackson) to STAY OUT OF THE ROOM, Enslin checks in anyway, though over 50 people have supposedly come to bad ends there
(jumping out the window, drowning in chicken soup, cutting their own eyes out, etc.).
He’s in the room for less than an hour when he goes from jaded cynic to scared-silly, let-me-outta-here believer. That’s one of the film’s weaknesses; the transformation is a little hard to swallow. Sure, some bad things happen, but Enslin’s change of mind comes very quickly for someone who’s supposed to be a seen-it-all hard case.
Naturally, however, things get worse and worse.
Eventually, 1408 goes overboard with special effects. But thanks to the deft direction of Mikael Hafstrom (who previously made the Oscar-nominated Swedish film Evil) and a bravura performance by Cusack, the film is, for the most part, claustrophobically creepy. Since almost of the movie involves Cusack’s character alone in the room, everything rides on the actor’s shoulders. He pulls it off, alternating between cynicism, terror, relief and near-madness without going over the top.
Unfortunately, the ending to 1408 wraps things up a little too neatly. Until that point, there’s some question as to whether the supernatural events are really happening—or whether Enslin has gone off the deep end. A little ambiguity would have been more chilling. Still, despite its flaws, 1408 offers some honest shudders that don’t involve mutilation and “torture ####.” You gotta give it credit for that.1408 is rated PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language. Running time: 94 minutes. Macsimum rating: 6 out of 10.
You can check out the films’ trailers on the QuickTime movie trailer site.
Here's some old-school shots of the theatre's beginnings...

i LOVE stuff like this!

6/25/7

i decided to jump right in and help coach niece megan's T-ball team as well...the lil tykes need all the help they can get
as it's all COMPLETELY new to them...lottsa laughs!

6/24/7

beauty amidst those ugly stacks! comin' into the 'Pids

stopped at Ed's for a few seasonal shots

checked out the facelift to Oshkosh's Waterfest and gotta admit i do NOT like it as they sucked all the sould out of it!
however that will NOT stop me from seeing the TUBES

there next week!

i WILL play this stage someday!

from 'my side' of the stage

backstage areas i hope to invade with those crazy tubes on 7/5/7

6/23/7

CRAZY third set madness..we flowed as one with the crowd like a river of swaying insanity
(THANKS to the many newbies that discovered us that night!)

bathroom politics

setbreak sanctuary!

a last bastion of freedom!

on the way to SloshCrotch!

6/22/7
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD RUNDGREN!
The Weavils

our NEW BANNER!

helped my dreams come true by playing Party in the Park at Stevens Points' gorgeous
Pfiffner Park. we had a banner made for the event and booked Take 1 audio to do sound and drew a pretty large crowd.

note the lizardz' rhythm section near the soundboard...and my recording device ;)

the night was PERFECT 'til the mosquitos hit...but overall an AMAZING evening all-around!

THANKS to all that attended and made this event possible!

"i'm just a GEPSTER for your love"

greatest keys EVER!

glad i brought a bag o' kids toys!

the horns of the bandshell

Steve of Take 1

post-show comedown from my view
the following shots taken by drumgod Travis Plantico...THANKS, my man!