FEBRUARY 2000 NEWSLETTER
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So, I might as well admit it. I had this notion that I was going to begin this month's newsletter with a little sanctimonious, self-congratulatory, theological nit picking in the form of an essay. As a former Iranian English professor of mine might once have said, I was going to "play advocate of the devil." In fact, I already had the opening two paragraphs written a couple weeks ago. Then—after reflecting on the responses to last month's little newsletter—I realized, I'm too busy and tired to answer yet another barrage of e-mails from people who are offended and want answers and explanations post haste. That said, I'm keeping it light this month, folks. Playing the part of the heavy, however, will be our very own Michael D. Bridges. Michael has assumed the role of "Bandmember Who Shall Explain Our Recent Album Changes." He has graciously offered to pen a detailed explanation as to why we removed "Used To Be" from Speedwood 3. You can click on EXPLANATION to get the long and short of it all.
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He ain't heavy, he's Mark's brother!
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In other departments, we've got last month's trivia to deconstruct, and a short opinion poll to conduct. Let's start with the trivia. As you'll recall, last month's trivia question asked you to provide the nickname for the great state of Alabama. This question generated the largest response of any trivia to date. And, most remarkably, not one person guessed correctly! The majority of folks guessed "The Heart of Dixie." Though this may be what one sees on the signs when entering the state, and on the residents' license plates, it is incorrect. A few of my personal favorite wrong answers follow . . .
- Jason from Long Island guessed "The Heavy Duty Rock and Roll State."
- Mary suggested "The Cotton State."
- I cannot tell you what ARSELBYG submitted, for it wasn't very nice.
- Michael P. guessed "The Shrimp State," but that should be Rhode Island, right?
- And more than ten people guessed "The Heart of Dixie." This group included Brooke, of New York, who offered as proof the fact that Carmen San Diego gives that answer.
- Also, in the Heart of Dixie group, was a young lady who insisted "I should know, I live there!" While that may be true, she did not know the correct answer.
- The correct answer to the question "What is Alabama's nickname?" is THE YELLOWHAMMER STATE. (I am so serious.) Many thanks to all those who played. The jackpot now doubles to twenty points.
As for the rest of the month of February, here's the briefest of descriptions of our days.
Cathy.
Tiffany.
Driving?
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We began February (by finishing January) in St. Louis with our friends from Youth Encounter. On Sunday, we drove to Chicago where we watched the Superbowl, and played for the youth leaders from the Covenant Church. They were a really fun group to play for and a good time was had by all (two of us, anyway). After that we traveled east to New Jersey, where we got to play an event with our long-time friend Cathy Pino, and to meet our brand-new friend Tiffany Thompson. Being in New Jersey afforded us the opportunity to visit our old pal, Manhattan (a.k.a. New York City). As always, driving provided a needed break from actually going anywhere. I was also able to get Michael's photo in front of a familiar landmark.
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Back in New Jersey, the church in Ridgewood didn't want any disturbances, so they only allowed quiet folks. The next night, we played for a fine packed-out crowd in Allentown (as in living here in), Pennsylvania. On my way home, I had the opportunity to stop off at one of my favorite areas. You know, everyone should have a little area that they really favor. When I got home, Eleanor and I put together a little snow person.
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Quiet there!
My favorite area
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Ready to go!
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During our time off in the next week, we had a most unusual opportunity. Through the kindness of our friends at Compassion International, we were invited to attend a retreat where Brennan Manning was the speaker and facilitator. Though we'd read some of his writing, we hadn't heard him in person before. Quite worth the trip. I was fortunate enough to bring my family along, which meant that Lily flew for the first time on an airplane. Lily's older sister flew across the continent 3 times before she was one year old. Obviously, Lillian is much more conservative than her sister Eleanor is. |
Anyway, back to the point . . . Brennan is a true gift to the church; if you haven't read any of his work, we highly recommend that you do. In a more personal vein, I'd always thought that I would one day become good friends with a fellow I'd met a few times whose name was Rich. I felt better about the world knowing that he walked upon its face. One shocking day, he died suddenly. With Rich's departure, I hoped that God might bring someone else into my life who could communicate that particular aspect of God to me. And, so it happens, here is Brennan, a man who likely knew Rich better than anyone else. Though I don't know Brennan closely, I feel better knowing that he walks on the same earth that I do. And so, things begin, end, and begin again . . .
 Following our retreating, we flew westward to provide a little music at another Youth Encounter event, in California. As expected, we had a grand time. This being California, I expected to see a few signs in Spanish, but this particular one seemed to be missing a vowel in the definite article.
Then, after many extra hours sitting around the San Francisco airport, we both flew home. We took a few days off and then rejoined to play at Wittenburg University, in Springfield, Ohio. An amazing turnout! We were psyched. The next morning, we setup and played in Indianapolis, Indiana for a fine group of young Methodists from Indiana. That, of course, explains why they had their meeting in Indiana and all. The event was held at the Adam's Mark Hotel. Long-time readers will recall that over the summer we guessed that Adam's mark was really Gumby practicing his Aikido moves. However, during this brief stay I hit upon a new possibility. I think that with a little further turning, the mark of Adam reveals its true nature. Adam's Mark is an image of Gumby, it's true. However, Gumby isn't preparing to do battle. He's skipping through the flowers! |
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Gumby works out?
Gumby skips on!
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Sunday afternoon we drove on up to Michigan to play the first of two shows on the west side of the state. For some reason, unknown to us, lots of people in western Michigan like to hear us play, and it's always a pleasure to visit with them. The first night was in K-A-L-A-M-A-Z-O-Oh what a gal! The second was in Spring Lake (oh what a gal!). Both shows were grand (as in rapids), and in between we sneaked off for a few rounds of pool at the home of pal Carl, of CPR fame. If memory serves me correctly, Carl's a big Michigan State fan. Go Green, right Carl?
Do you have semi-private cells?
Translation: We work 24-7
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Then I had a couple of days at home, while Michael had a couple of days of driving. We each gathered together all our international-man-of-mystery documents so that we could begin a long day's journey into Canada, and parts north. As usual, it was no easy feat entering the true north, strong and free. In fact, by the time we rerouted ourselves because of delayed flights, talked our way through customs, paid for working permits, filled out the lost luggage forms, and met our ride a mere 14 hours late, we were feeling neither strong nor free. However, it was all worth the trip because we were headed to one of the premiere events of the northland. At the customs stand on the way into Canada I noticed a peculiar sign. In the US lately, I've heard people on one occasion or another use the term "24-7," which I take to mean "constantly." In Canada, though, because of the exchange rate and translation into and out of French, it becomes a little bit different, as you'll note on this photo. |
To review, my airline, which has hubs in Detroit and Minneapolis (as opposed to Michael's airline, which has hubs in Denver and Chicago), messed up our flights AND lost our luggage for two days. They arranged to try and make it up to us by giving us the special "We Messed Up Packets." The agents did fine on the instructions as far as numbers one and two go. However, in both cities, they forgot to read and follow rule #3 on the front of the We Messed Up Packets. |
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Well, in the words of Meatloaf . . .
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But enough of my griping. My airline did actually get us to Canada, which was the whole point of our arduous journey. Once John picked us up in baggage claim sans-a-baggage, we were off and running to a fine event called Youth Quake, held in Caronport, which is a town just past Moose Jaw, which is an hour west of the capital of Saskatchewan. (I won't bother asking you to guess that capital since, based on last month's trivia, geography is obviously not your strong suit. Suffice it to say, it ain't Saskatoon.)
Hey Canada!
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Anyway, as I say, Youth Quake is one of the best events in Canada. Marv and the folks who put it together really do it up big. We missed the kick-off (see above-mentioned delays), but on the highlights video it's really something. Hey, there's an idea! Instead of our actually going to events, we could just stand around in airports all day and then have people send us the highlight video! **Mental note: ask Michael if that's a good idea.**
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Back to the Youth Quake. They had several thousand folks in attendance and they let us play many times. One of our fun times was a concert over in a place called "The Landing," where folks packed in and had a swell time. Over in the main hall they had all sorts of amusements, including those large figures where you stand behind them and put your face through for a photo. (If you don't know what I mean, that sounds really funny, doesn't it?) So, I got many photos of Michael as the various characters, which leads us to the short opinion poll I mentioned up there in paragraph two. In the spirit of the current presidential race here in the states, I think Michael should change his image, based on the results of a finger-in-the-wind poll of likely concert attendees. If you'd like to participate in sending a message to candidate Bridges, please click on OPINION POLL.
Thanks for your input. And so, after the Youth Quake, Michael and I went to our respective homes to rest up for 2 days before a huge tour through the month of March. I spent one of my evenings over at the local roller skating rink with Eleanor for the monthly elementary school night. Wow. If you haven't had the opportunity to go roller skating lately, bring your earplugs, and check your musical taste at the door. I was afforded the chance to hear all sorts of music I'd never heard, since I do not listen to AM radio. From Brittany Spaniel all the way to the Backseat Boys, it was a regular survey of music that—it turns out—I do not like. However, my daughter loved it and is slowly learning how to skate in a circle to deafening music and flashing lights, a skill that no 6 year old should be without.
Speaking of music and lights, if you'd like to see the photos I took of the various people from the stage, you can click on the Photo Phrenzy and look them over.
Otherwise, I'm done with you for this month. Be sure to check back next month to get all the latest LOST AND FOUND news. Maybe I'll even get my dander up and write something that will cause several hundred people to write and tell me they're disappointed in us, or something like that.
Until then, rock on, stein auf, and be good.
george
Read more of George's monthly newsletters.
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