The dude abides

May you stay forever young

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:29:00 +0000

I WANNA DRIVE YOUR BUS!

The supervisor guy turns off the factory lightsThe robots have to work in the dark

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:43:00 +0000

It snowed all morning, and then a cold front came through, driving out all the clouds.

We sat in the hot tub with hats on. It was very cold out. I love sitting outside in a hot tub when it's freezing cold and the full moon and the snow make the evening so bright that you cannot see the stars.

We leave on Friday. I'll take a lot of pictures down there, where it is 88 and humid.

Daft Punk is playing at my house

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Two bass players and a magic cowbell breakdown. Love this.

The guy in the limousine with the magic hair

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:03:00 +0000

I went snowboarding today for the first time this season up at Big Sky.

The drive from my house to the resort is probably around 25 miles, through a steep-walled canyon, formed by the Gallatin river. It is a gorgeous, winding, potentially treacherous drive. For instance, today, my lane of traffic stopped because there were three bighorn sheep in the road. They were in the other lane, so we crept past the animals. As I was scooting by, some idiot in an SUV, driving far too fast, locked up his brakes, laid on his horn and slid sideways to avoid the sheep.

I am glad he didn't end up in my lane. He could have hit me really easily.

The remainder of the drive was uneventful, except that my pocket camera died while I was trying to snap a quick picture of the sheep.

They reported 4 inches overnight in the parking lot. Up in the bowl, off the triple lift, it was more like 10 inches.

I have new boots this season, and my board was freshly tuned. It was cold, and I was riding very, very fast. Each year, there is a combination of anticipation and nerves prior to getting on the mountain, but, once there, it is just like riding a bike.

It was a clear day, and the snow was vibrant. I rode with an iPod cranking a mix I had put together for this type of occasion. I was moving fluidly and comfortably at comparatively high velocity.

I saw familliar faces, lit up with smiles, and rode a little with a couple friends I hadn't seen since last season.

Welcome to winter.

We sat in the hot tub for a while after I got home.

I am not sure if I want to watch a movie tonight or play rock and roll. I just finished the new Chuck Klosterman book and the new Pahlaniuk book, Pygmy. Each one is a one-day read. Each one is entertaining, but not the author's best work.

I am listening to T Rex. I am looking at the alpenglow on the mountains looming out my back yard. Stanette is blow-drying her hair. That tells me we are probably going out tonight.

This time next week, we'll be in St. Lucia for a week, getting married.

My cat absolutely adores me.

I may go snowboarding tomorrow again.

It is beautiful here.

Schnitzel with noodles

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:51:00 +0000

Here are some girls kicking ass:

When I am 60, I hope to stll rock like this:

As they pulled him out of the oxygen tent

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:51:00 +0000

There is nothing like playing with your organ to brighten the day.

At the end of every jam with Chris, we always do a drum duet.

And here is the extended version of the first one, with some absolutely stunning organ work.

Believe me, we were laughing a lot and having us a real good time.

So won't you smile for the cameraI know they're gonna love youPeg

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:56:00 +0000

I spent the last week in The Dam.

(In case you didn't know, ^^^that is The Dam, by the by.

It had been too long since I came home.

I have a ton of clients in Wisconsin, and a ton of friends.

It will never again be longer than a year before I come back home.

The Dad picked me up from the airport.

We went around the corner and saw Josh at the Ale Asylum.

I saw Tony, Kris and Alison on Thursday. Kris is in love, which is nice to see.

Friday, I met some people out in Madison.

Tom Doepke surprised me on Saturday.

He was all jacked up, "Dude, Dude, Dude, I got the sweet hook-up!!"

I had plans to meet Tom at Alex Smith's for a jam session.

I said, "What?"

I HAVE FREE BOX SEATS TO SEE STEELY DAN PLAY THE ROYAL SCAM AT THE RIVERSIDE IN MILWAUKEE!

We met at Al's and went to see Steely Dan.

I wailed on the drums.

We saw Steely Dan.

Our seats were Abraham lincoln box seats.

^That's Hey Nineteen.

^That's Peg.

We liked it, and so did everybody else.

I came home to two feet of snow.

Doodle says, "Have a good Wednesday!"

And she means it!

It was nice to see all you busy beavers...

If you're having trouble with the high school headHe's giving you the blues

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:41:00 +0000

I am back in the Beaver Dam.

Hanging with the Dad and the Mom.

They are the coolest. Everybody who knows them, knows it.

I have a lot of people I need to see, when I come home.

We walked into the grocery store and this guy ran up to me and said, "JOE!!!"

I used to coach him in mock trial when he was in high school.

Then, the next day, I took a walk with my dad.

We were walking down Center Street. A kid in a gold camry drove by, did a U-turn, parked and jumped out of his car, "JOE!!!"

(It was John Michael, Tony's son.)

My dad said, "You're still a bit of a celebrity around here."

Later, I borrowed his car and went out to lunch with Steve Vessey.

I visited some other friends whom I haven't seen in a while, came home, got on my dad's computer, fired up iTunes and went to his top 25 most played playlist.

The first song, most played was Dirty Deeds by AC/DC.

It's good to be back home.

Love you all.

When a problem comes alongYou must whip it

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:07:00 +0000

I was in Philly last weekend, visiting the city of brotherly love, seeing Pearl Jam, and visiting Stanette's brother, Stephan, and his wife, Sarah.

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

I want you to want me.

I guess I'll end up alone just like before.

Well, I guess you people are expecting a blog post.

We phlew to Philly.

We were delayed in Bozeman because there was 10 inches of snow. The runways were all icy. We eventually got there, though.

Philly is a cool town.

(^^Masonic Temple. I wanted to take a tour, but they were closed that day. Probably working on a new secret handsake.)

Pearl Jam closed the Spectrum. They played the four final shows there over the weekend. That didn't suck at all. No, siree.

I want to do a big emergency brake powerslide in a vintage muscle car.

The dollar bill is trying to tell me something. (Bad attempt to make fun of that crappy Nicholaus Cage movie "National Treasure." That building behind me is the Masonic Temple again... It's doorway is the next picture.)

I sure did like Philly. We went to City Hall, and the Art Museum. I neglected to take the requisite Rocky photo at the top of the steps. There was a killer Gorky exhibit. They also had a great Dali, and an entire Marcel Duchamp exhibit that was incredible. Also, Rodin's "The Thinker" was inside the museum for cleaning, instead of across town at the Rodin museum, so we got to see that up close.

Stanette's brother and sister-in-law are great fun. We did a lot of laughing.

(^City Hall.)

Oh yes...

Phil-A-Delphi-A FREEDOM!

Thanks for reading.

Everything has changed.

WTF?

I failed to eat a cheesesteak in Philly.

All you mindful, skinny vegans can go ahead and SUCK IT!!

You can't really trust anybody who subsists on nuts and soy milk.

Before you know it, you're composting and abducting babies from the Dominican Republic and selling them on the black market to Madonna in the K-Mart parking lot.

Absolutely nothing's changed.

I am living the dream.

I met Matt Cameron on the street in Philly.

He played drums for Soundgarden.

He has played the skins for Pearl Jam since around '98...

Yay!

Check out the theremin...

On Halloween, in Philly, Pearl Jam put on Devo costimes and played "Whip It."

Need I say more?

The one you never seen before

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:12:00 +0000

The Flaming Lips covering the White Stripes...

I love, love, love my Boogie Station.

I was up there today, making the rock happen.

My buddy, Jeff, came over.

He plays guitar.

(Isn't my sister pretty?!?!)

We played guitar together.

I also played the organ a little.

I played the bass.

I played the drums.

I bought a tambourine this weekend, that I attached to the hi-hat, and I played that, too.

The sound up there is out of sight.

It's a pretty unique space.

I bet that not too many of you know somebody (besides me) who has a total mad-scientist music room with an organ, a tambourine and a theremin. And if you do?

Well, here's to you.

And send me your friend's phone number. Hook a brother up.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself and raise a glass to the world, for giving me such an awesome life up here in the mountains, a loving family, friends that I will take to the grave, and a beautiful, funny, talented, special, smoking hot chick, whom, in a few short weeks, I will be proud to make my wife.

I am a fortunate man.

The nature of my game

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:18:00 +0000

Here is a pretty ding dang sweet Sympathy from the rock and roll circus:

Let me please introduce myself.

My name is Joe.

I try to do the best I can with what I have.

I give out a whole lotta love to a whole lotta people.

I suspect if you're reading this... I'd lay even odds that I just may have given out a little bit of that love to you.

The best part about the whole thing is that if the previous sentence is true, and you are reading this, well, it's just sending a little love back my way.

Thanks.

P.S. I'm 40 years old; I'm mildly retarded: I live with my parents; I ride my bike ... and I REALLY LIKE POPCORN!

P.P.S. John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, Winston Legthigh and Keith Richards, whom Mick recognizes as, "Dirty."

P.P.P.S. I have read Catcher In The Rye several times. I'm a pretty smart guy, and I think I understand the book. But I have no idea why it would make you shoot John Lennon.

(^Check out Yoko knitting with a blindfold. Bitch was crazy, no?)

Her man's been goneFor nigh on a yearHe was due home yesterdayBut he ain't here

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Keith Richards introducing your band + eyepatch + top hat + cigar + Keith Moon unhinged + tight white pants + silver vest + john entwhistle singing harmony in some kind of skintight scuba suit + fringed jacket with no shirt + pete FULL WINDMILL = Victory.

Well, that seems like a good night to me.

P.S. Is Keith Moon wearing a sequined, black bodysuit?

Not exactly.

It seems to be a black bodysuit with little, tiny cymbals sewed on it.

You can't get that at Target.

It's a lot to take in. I am on my eighth viewing, and I am riveted.

P.P.S. Still miss him...

There's nobody else hereNo one like meI'm specialSo special

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:13:00 +0000

I gotta have some of your attention

Detroit leaning

Make you notice

I'm special

I gotta have some of your attention

Give it to me

The cracks between the paving stonesAre like rivers of flowing rainStrange people who know meCome from behind every window pane

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:21:00 +0000

I said to Stanette, Lizzy and Tom, prior to the show, "I have one birthday wish. I hope Pearl Jam plays Not For You."

I clasped my hands, shook them under my chin...

And guess what?

They played it!

Here is part one, as shot by Tom:

Here is part two (I was right the F. Up Front.):

And this is Doodlebug, just doodling that doodle that she doodles so well:

And here is Pearl Jam doing The Real Me by the Who:

Enjoy.

I know I did.

Havn't seen the sun in weeksMy skin is getting paleHaven't got a mind left to speakI'm skinny as a rail

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:38:00 +0000

Last Thursday, we saw Them Crooked Vultures, the supergroup with Dave Grohl, Johns Paul Jones and Josh Homme at Stubb's in Austin. It was exciting, and there was a buzzz of electricity in the air, but, honestly, I was disappointed with the music. Don't get me wrong, Dave Grohl is a freaking madman on drums, and John Paul Jones is straight-up rock royalty. It was serious metal, but I left with the opinion that they should have let Dave write them some of those big, catchy choruses that he learned at the feet of Kurt and uses to platinum-selling heights with the Foos.

Friday was Medeski, Martin & Wood played early, then Thievery Corporation. Kings of Leon closed the show Friday. For the very last song, Caleb, the singer, said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's been a great evening... but it's about to get a whole lot better. MR. EDDIE VEDDER!"

They did this song, replete with tambourines:

Lizzy likes turtles.

Jack White's new band, The Dead Weather were the second to last band we saw at the fest.

They were awesome.

So was the last band.

Ben Harper sat in with Pearl Jam. So did Perry Farrell. They were ferocious. I fought my way to the front rail, and was really close for most of the show.

This was the setlist:

1.Why Go
2.Corduroy with Interstellar Overdrive
3.Got Some
4.Not For You with Modern Girl snippet
5.Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
6.Given To Fly
7.World Wide Suicide
8.Even Flow
9.Unthought Unknown
10.Daughter with WMA snippet
11.Hail Hail
12.Insignificance
13.Present Tense
14.State Of Love And Trust
15.The Fixer
16.Go

Encore:
17.Jazz Odyssey
18.Red Mosquito (with Ben Harper)
19.Do The Evolution
20.The Real Me (The Who cover)
21.Alive

Encore 2:
22.Mountain Song: first time ever (Jane's Addiction cover) (with Perry Farrell)
23.Rockin' in the Free World (Neil Young)

If you have never seen them, by all means, do what you can to make it happen. They are one of the best live acts out there.

Tom shot some great video. He mailed me discs. Rest assured, I will youtube them and share them with you.

We met Jeff Blaylock on Monday. We also toured the Texas State Capitol building.

I played a little twelve-string guitar at an outdoor wedding yesterday. It was about sixteen degrees.

They had a heater blasting at the gazebo, which allowed me to keep all my fingers and toes.

The maid-of-honor, Kelly, sang.

By all accounts, we nailed it.

The band at the reception, which was fortunately indoors, killed.

It was you, Fredo. It was you.

You broke my heart.

Just for kicks... Keith and Ronnie playing slide guitar:

Give bloodAnd you may find that blood is not enough

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Tom Doepke took some great pictures and video from this weekend. He is mailing me a disc. When I get that, I will do a bunch of uploading, youtubing and whatnot... and do a proper post on my 40th birthday weekend.

For a quick summary- Pearl Jam was phenomenal. They brought out Ben Harper for a song, and they brought out Perry Farrell for a song. That was my eighth Pearl Jam show. They are hitting on all cylinders. I am looking forward to seeing them again at the end of the month. Them Crooked Vultures (supergroup with Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones and Josh Homme) was kind of disappointing. Dead Weather = phenommenal. King of Leon were great; they have come a long way since I saw them 2 years ago. Thievery Corporation was very impressive. Toadies were OK. I was pleasantly surprised by Coheed and Cambria. Medeski, Martin and Wood were really, really good. Flogging Molly was a fun show in teh pouring rain on Saturday. I liked Dan Auerbach, too.

And Elvis Costello struck up a conversation with me in across a crowded elevator and wished me a happy birthday.

And Austin, Texas is my new favorite city in the United States.

That is all for now. Pictures and more to follow.

When something's cold, let me put a little fire on itWhen something's old, let me put a little shine on it

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:00 +0000

I am going to grind out the last day at work before heading to Texas. The weather here in Bozeman couldn't have cooperated in a better fashion. It is dark, cold and snowing.

While this bums out your average human, I get excited like a kid on Christmas.

We fly to Austin tomorow. My childhood friend, Tom Doepke, is going to meet us at the airport. We'll check out downtown Austin until the Them Crooked Vultures club show at Stubbs. Them Crooked Vultures is a supergroup with Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), John Paul Jones (Zeppelin), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age).

My sister, Liz, arrives Thursday night. On Friday at the festival, I hope to see Blitzen Trapper, Avett Brothers, Daniel Johnston, Thievery Corporation and Kings of Leon.

Saturday, there isn't as much on the schedule to thrill me, but we will try to see Airborne Toxic Event, Flogging Molly, maybe Bon Iver, & Mos Def.

We have tickets to see Dan Auerbach in a club that night.

Oh, and Saturday is my 40th birthday.

Sunday is a whopper day... Rodriguez, B-52's, Arctic Monkeys, Toadies, Dead Weather and Pearl Jam. We're gonna park at the big stage starting with the Toadies & Dead Weather to move into a good spot for Pearl Jam.

I am cautiously optimistic that a good time will be had by all.

Small my tableSeats just twoGot so crowdedI can't make room

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:13:00 +0000

We had an excellent, sprawling 8 hour jam yesterday. Tons of fun. We covered the gamut, and roughed up the usual suspects.

It ended with slow-cooked pulled pork sandwiches, broccoli slaw, fresh-cooked potato chips, and some KILLER cookies that Alicia (Mrs. Bells) brought over. She joined us at the tail end.

Had a nice soak under the stars with the Bells family afterwards and I went to bed nice and early, like the soft-spoken, well-mannered young man that I am.

No, really, I was out by 9:15.

(Soft-spoken and well-mannered is bullshit, though.)

Today, by contrast, has been a busy, grueling day.

To wit: I woke up at 5, because I passed out at 9:15. I puttered for a couple hours on the internet, and cleaned up from yesterday's rock-and-pork fest and went back to bed at 7.

I got out of bed for the second time at 9. I was settling in with some coffee to watch a little Tivo, and my mom called. We talked for an hour.

Then I had to drive into town for a massage at high noon that Stanette had gotten me as a gift. It was very strenuous and stressful.

I came home, shot out a few texts and downloaded some tablature for this Bob Dylan song I have to play at a friend's wedding in a couple weeks.

(Stanette isn't singing it, another chica is... *SCANDAL!* Not to worry, nearly 6 fans ((two of which are not yet five years old)), the BAND IS NOT BREAKING UP. Call this our "individual Kiss solo record phase." (((Does anyone remember those? I had the Ace Frehley one and I think the Peter Criss one. I'm back! Back in the New York Groove!"))) ...)

It's actually a pretty cool song called, "To Make You Feel My Love."

Here are the words:

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I would offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go blind for you
I'd go crawling down the aisle for you
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on a rolling sea
Down the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
But you ain't seen nothing like me yet

There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
Make you happy, make your dreams come true
To make you feel my love

Yes, I will be playing a love song, up on an altar, in a church. Let's hope there aren't any thunderclouds that day.

One and one and one is three

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:05:00 +0000

This is my 1100th post. I hope you like it.

If I am not doing this:

Here:

I'd rather be doing this:

Check out my ninja skills on the picture above.

I am in and out in three frames, flowing like water.

And leaving the ladies laughing.

It's how I roll.

Here comes the guitargasm...

(((((((((((GONG))))))))))))))

Whaddya gonna do?

Listen to the cicadas play that music.

I don't need to go to church.

I have an organ, so I don't necessarily need to come to the mountain.

That mountain will come to me.

That is a Kirby, the most bad-ass of all vacuum cleaners.

And that is my didgeridoo.

Though your confidence may be shattered

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0000

I'm thinking of naming all my guitars after fictional characters.

The bass could be Lurch. The new Gibson is Admiral James T. (((((KIRK))))) The Les Paul is Han Solo (of course). The white Strat is Gandalf. The Tele is Keith Richards. The dobro is Tyler Durden. My acoustic is Chinaski.

So on, and so forth...

And in case you guys forgot, I own a gong and display it proudly.

That is enough self-disclosure for the evening.

They're the ones who spit at youYou'll be the one who is crying outDon't leave me highDon't leave me dry

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:09:00 +0000

Steve Vessey called me out, so here I am.

I've been spending time doing things besides writing:

-Growing hot peppers.

-Giving Doodlebug the love she needs.

-I am on the board of the YMCA here. Flag football!

-I have been training really hard for snow season. This morning, there was snow on the Spanish Peaks and on the Hyalite. I have been lifting and climbing stairs with visions of champagne powder in my head. Things are chugging along, with steps or elliptical for an hour, 5 times a week, and lifting two or three times a week. I am pretty fit right now, but come opening day, it's on like Donkey Kong.

-A couple close friends have been going through some very difficult times. Come to think of it, I have been dealing with a damn stressful scenario myself.

-I have been working like a busy beaver to plan our wedding. This involves precious metals, a tropical locale, a lovely dress and sexy lingerie (for me... oh yes, I will be wearing something unusual. Sensuous.)

(We're staying on that little beach under that mountain...)

-I got a bonus at work. I went to the music store and bought my very first Gibson, a custom shop ES 336.

This is the real reason I have not been blogging.

It is a beautiful piece of craftmanship, worthy of being played by only the finest musicians.

I have been teaching myself to play slide guitar. Not well, but I am the only one who has to listen to it. That Hohner guitar with the big metal resonator in it is the weapon of choice for the slide. Nice and twangy, waiting for me to play it to its potential, waiting for me to birth some talent from my fingers and brain.

I learned a beautiful Radiohead song called, "High and Dry," off their album, The Bends. When I sing it I struggle to keep from crying.

I will never leave anyone I love high and dry.

Never.

I have been trying to make weird underwater sounds on the organ.

I have been listening to the Faces over and over and over again.

Sorry if I have been drifting away from providing you workday entertainment, Steve.

I guess I have been busy entertaining myself...

I also fixed the toilet in the Boogie Station, which was a pretty manly endeavor.

There are some really good musicians coming over on Saturday. I will get to play with people who are way out of my league.

Standing on the edge of the quarry wall, looking past your toes, forty feet down into the deep, green water. Skinny, tan kids drinking cheap canned beer scream at you to jump.

Some kind of ventilator

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:06:00 +0000

There was an anorexic girl at the gym last night. It was really disturbing.

She was cranking away on the elliptical a couple machines down from me.

She looked to be in her early 20's, and she weighed approximately 75 - 80 pounds. Her waist was about the same circumference as my thigh. Her legs were no bigger than my forearm.

Living in the town I do, which is littered with athletes and very, very fit people, I see trim, thin ultra-runner types every day. (Even in my own house.)

This girl was not one of those people.

She was definitely in the throes of an eating disorder, body dysmprphia, whatever.

Like I said, it was disturbing.

It made me wonder what, if any, moral, ethical or other obligation a fitness club has toward her.

"Sorry, you can't use our facility to kill yourself."

I wonder what I would do in that situation.

I said I'm traveling on the one after 909

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:50:00 +0000

From August of 2006:

From September of 2009:

Let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild westA state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:44:00 +0000

This is the new toy.

To play it real proper-like, one should know how to play slide guitar.

The back forty:

Here's something for the first day of school:

I'll give you the best I've got...

Such as it is.

Annnnd, there you go.

Jesus is just alright with me

joemilitello33@yahoo.com (Joe) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:07:00 +0000

I haven't written much lately. Life has simply gotten in the way. But here goes:

My friend, Tony, came out for Labor Day weekend.

The plan was to go to Big Sky to see the Doobie Brothers.

No, Michael McDonald was not with them. He was too busy rocking a yacht to play to 2000 bikers, ski bums, yahoos, wahoos and us under the stars at Big Sky.

They stuck to the Dependin' On You, Without Love, China Grove, Black Water side of their oeuvre.

Tony and I went up early and rode the lift to play disc golf atop Andesite Mountain.

It was a challenging layout, and I lost several discs.

We used to play together a lot, when I lived around the corner from him in The Dam.

It was something I enjoyed, and it just stopped when I moved to Montana. Tony also pretty much stopped playing when I left.

So when we get together, we usually try to play a round for nostalgia's sake.

The course looped around and through several ski runs, and came close to the Yellowstone Club boundary.

It was a gorgeous day.

We found some mushrooms. We did not eat them.

This is the typical piece of crap house they throw up at the Yellowstone Club.

I recreated a picture I took the last time Tony was here.

Bells came and got us and took us the 5 miles to the show.

Bells and Tony grew up right across the street from each other, and have known each other since they were wee, little lads.

I came on the scene somewhere between 6th and 7th grade, so I only go back with these guys 28 years or so.

^Tricky joined us.

As did his wife, Janelle. Stanette was just beginning to have a bad time.

It just spiraled from there.

People began to get down.

The night was warm and clear.

Yes, yes.

We all stayed up there, and then ventured back down the canyon to mi casa on Saturday.

Tony, Bells and I spent the day in seclusion in the Boogie Station, cooking up grooves for 6 hours.

I swear, it felt like I played and sang just about every song of the hundreds I know.

It was fun.

Things are back to clean living until October 1, when we get on a plane to fly to Austin to celebrate my 40th year on earth.