WINTER 2002-2003 NEWSLETTER
Covering the activities of LOST AND FOUND
from 10/10/02 through 1/30/03


So, kind of cold where you live, ain't it? (Sure, some people live in Arizona and southern California, but I don't. And Emerson says to assume you're like me makes me a true genius, right?) First we move on to matters of health. As some of you might recall, in January of 2002 I began a yearlong treatment with interferon hoping to be rid of the virus for hepatitis C. I am now finally done with that treatment, though I do not yet know whether it was successful. From my perspective, all that matters is that I am done with the treatment. Even if the treatment did not work, life is at least livable now—though possibly a bit shorter. I'm supposed to find out in June if the treatment was successful. I'll let you know when I know. And then it will be nice to know that you know that I know. And speaking of knowing, it's time for you to know what we've been doing for the last few months . . .

"It's called the Sunshine State" "Tangled Blue rocking you" Paging Bryan Adams

After Sacramento, Michael and I went home. When I arrived there, our daughters were covered with red spots. Before I jumped in with a good deal of scouring, I was told that these spots were chickenpox. That was my cue to head for Florida, where Michael met me and we played some music in the Tampa area. Next day, it was off to the interior, where we joined up with lots of young folks and our friends, Joel and Aimee of Tangled Blue. In case you didn't know it, let me tell you that Tangled Blue is a most excellent band. They provided lots of great music, and Michael and I tried our best to keep up. From there it was off to Orlando proper, where my cousin and his family came out to hear us play. This was the night in the sound check where Michael and I recorded our smash hit singles "Just in Case," and the one-day-classic "Later George." They seemed to have some sort of strange time-travel requirement when leaving the church. Not sure what to make of it all, but I thought I should put on my Twisted Sister album when we drove away, just in case. Then I remembered, a Twisted Sister album is one skeleton that's not in my musical closet.

Huh?

From there, we went home to prepare for a brand-new adventure: we went on a two-week tour with our friends CPR. We called it the "Monsters of Rock Tour," though nobody else seemed to catch the vision of that. Still, the tour was great fun. We began in Indianapolis (Carmel, actually), and then had a day off so CPR could rest up from the grueling pace of touring. Michael and I played for some folks in Chicago, and then on to Valparaiso, where we met a fellow who REALLY wanted to be a Slide Girl. Fortunately, we have a little bit of say as to who makes the cut, and the 20th time really was a charm. The next night, we hooked back up with our CPR friends and provided some fun for a group in Topeka, Kansas, where I received a shirt befitting my professionalism. The next night was Des Moines, Iowa, where we left our red cart and wrote a little ditty commemorating the event. From there, it was a short drive to the east to play in Sully, Iowa. Interestingly, during this whole time in Iowa, I didn't get one single speeding ticket. The times they are a changing.


Two days later, we rejoined the Monsters of Rock Tour in Searcy, Arkansas. We stopped in a music store in Little Rock and ran into a fellow we recognized from the local Lutheran high school. He sold us a pink recorder. That was cool. Next up were two nights without CPR—fortunately, we didn't have any heart trouble. The first of these nights was in Austin, Texas, right downtown. Beautiful room, and a fine, fun crowd. After that, we were scheduled opposite Aerosmith; they were playing in San Antonio while we were playing Seguin. Based on our informal survey, we lost approximately 5% of our crowd to Steven Tyler and the boys. But they deserve it, I suppose.

A German Sprecher! Commence Collecting! Getting Ready Getting Beat

Anyway, the next night we were with CPR to finish the tour in Dallas, Texas. Had a huge crowd and a tremendous amount of fun. Before the folks showed up, the church staff had us all up for some fine food and friendly conversation. The next day, I flew home for a little candy collecting while Michael went to work driving the van northward. He avoided a speeding ticket in Oklahoma because he knew karate, then picked me up in The Metroplex, Minnesota so we could drive over to Sioux Falls, SD to play a synodical youth gathering. Interestingly, we were shut out of the scheduled hotel because the president was flying in that weekend hoping to give a boost to senate candidate John Thune. Apparently, he didn't boost quite hard enough, and the other guy won. However, I took Michael's picture with the candidate, just in case. Michael tried his hand at sumo wrestling and was handily beaten.

Rich Moore

The next night, we played in Wayne, Nebraska. Here we met another senate candidate, this time from Iowa. (We've actually known Rich for some time; this is just the first time we've known him while he was running for United States Congress.) Also at the Wayne concert were various makers of slide girl shirts. It's become something of a cottage industry, this slide-girl-shirt making.

A Starter Home

The next night, it was back north of Sioux Falls for a return engagement in Brookings, SD. Before the concert, Michael took some time to learn some of the local customs, like home construction. After that, I did a little injection of interferon and drove us off into the South Dakota night in search of a hotel near the Minneapolis Airport. Michael and I both flew home for a couple of days. Then Pete drove the van to my house, and together he and I drove to Allentown, Pennsylvania. The next morning, Michael flew in to meet us, and I woke up with a serious bad back problem. That night we played in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The locals provided me with back braces and stuff and the show sort of went on, as they say. From there, we drove to Bowie, Maryland, where I succumbed to health troubles, developing pneumonia and delirium. Michael had his photo taken with a wedding party who began their married life at our concert. I was unable to join him, as I was shivering on the floor in the nursery, or something like that. But, enough of my complaining. After that concert on November 9th, we gave up on my behalf and canceled a couple of things—most sadly, a National Youthworkers Convention in Pittsburgh—so I could go home and seek medical care. The local hospital staff nursed me back to health with drugs and fluids and antibiotics, and on the 15th we flew to Kansas City for an international gathering of missionaries. As always, we had a total blast with these folks, and even took some time to decipher a couple of different phrases, such as "sikelne." While staying at this event, we penned the new smash hit single, "Hyatt Hotel." This is my new favorite LOST AND FOUND song.


On Sunday evening, after the gathering, we drove over to Kansas City, Kansas (Leawood, actually), and got to play for a really large group of folks. This night was a lot of fun. From there, we drove back over to Wichita and played a make-up gig. (I don't mean like we played a Mary Kay event; I mean to say we played a rescheduled show, which my ill health had caused us to cancel.) Had a surprisingly large turnout for having rescheduled, and then we headed off to the east. Our destination was Rome, Georgia, which is somewhere near unto Atlanta. We arrived in the dark, pouring rain, and some kind souls from the campus helped us unload. Or, more accurately, helped Michael unload while I pleaded back-trouble mercy. Our friend Debbie brought a sign she made. As you can see on the close-up, we're feeling a little introspective these days.

Lunchtime!

From there, we drove back to Nashville, where my family flew in to join us at the third National Youthworkers Convention of the year. Eleanor took a picture of us with our babysitter under the stairs. As you might've guessed, we all had a real fun time. And, yes, I had a fine birthday; thanks for asking. On Sunday night, we did the year-end show with our pals CPR, since by then they'd rested up from the grueling tour. Monday morning, Michael and I flew home, where we relaxed until flying back into Nashville where Michael represented us at a meeting of the folks in Churchnoise. I arrived when the meeting was done (seems I just don't have that corporate-world timing), and together we headed for Atlanta, Georgia to prepare for the Fourth Annual LOST AND FOUND Christmas Tour. This year, the show became even more exciting, since we added our rapping friend Agape, and the Fitz Family added razor-sharp machetes! Spent one day practicing, and then on December 6th we began the tour in Atlanta with a really successful debut.

Pride!

From there, we drove west and set up the second show in Memphis, Tennessee. As expected, it went great, and we drove onward and upward to St. Louis. This show also went great, and Mark and I were delighted before the show to have received official Drivers Rings from our tour mates. After St. Louis, Michael dropped Famous Actor Justin Vetrano and me at a hotel near the airport and drove on into the darkness with a van full of folks. He drove to Minneapolis, where Famous Actor Justin Vetrano and I met up with the tour for the second round of shows.

Oh really?

First, though, on the morning of December 12, Michael and I played for a class and at chapel for some folks at Augsburg College, in The Metroplex. That evening, we played what those in the business call an "In-Store" at Northwestern Bookstore. An "In-store" means you set up with your instruments in a corner of the store and annoy folks while they try to buy devotional books and stuff. It went surprisingly well, considering that it was we who were playing the music. That's grammatically correct, though it just doesn't flow using the word "we," does it? Oh, and speaking of language, have you ever seen a sign more disturbing than the one outside Northwestern Bookstore?


Following the "In-store," we drove over to the LAFOffice and hosted our second online chat. This was really fun and interesting (for us anyway). You can read the transcript by clicking here. The next morning, we headed to Concordia Academy, where Pete from our office spends his free time coaching soccer. Had a whole lot of fun, and then drove out to Golden Valley, where our pal Jim Ryberg was kind enough to host a last-minute version of the Christmas Show, since our original hosts had to back out of the planned hosting of said event. Had a fun night, including a meal afterward with lots of friends.


The next day, we were driving furiously across Wisconsin in order to get to the first of two shows in Madison. Made it there just fine, and were treated to some serious cookies in between the shows. The second show went just as well, and then it was off to the south to play the final show of the tour in Cincinnati, OH. Before the show, Michael got a lesson in plate spinning. Boy, how did folks ever survive before the plate gin, huh? The show there went great, just like last year, and it was a most excellent way to end the annual Christmas Tour. Then we went home.

Catching Air

At my house, we finally had a bunch of snow, which meant we could finally try out the hill that's right behind our house. I made—I mean LET—Eleanor go first under the guise of getting some photos. As you can see, there's a bit of a jump about halfway down. Having survived all that, I shared a delightful Christmas with my family in our new house. Michael spent a delightful Christmas with his brother in Venice, and I don't mean California. After our respective delightful Christmi, we joined forces in Detroit and headed for Canada. Surprisingly, they let us in, and we Tim Hortoned our way over to Toronto for the gathering of the BIC church.


We had a wonderful time there, and even took advantage of the photographer's offer of a free photo for each group. I suspect he meant each youth group, but hey, a duo is a group, and you're as young as you feel, right? At some point, I borrowed someone's winter gear to face the Canadian climate. I think I might have looked a bit out of place in the land of maple leafs, eh? After the BIC gathering, we drove south and crossed the bridge at our hometown, Niagara Falls, where things have become so bad that the Convention Center itself has been turned into a casino. Yes, the room where Michael and I both graduated high school is now filled with slot machines. But don't get me started on dissing our hometown. I have neither time nor space. (John 21:25b) Anyway, we spent a few days with our respective families, and then headed back to our respective homes for a long winter's rest. As you might have noticed, the yearometer changed to 2003.


On January 9th, we both headed toward the southeast and went to Gatlinburg together. It was time to return, once more, to the TCTC gathering. Great fun, as always, and this time our friends the Fitz Family were also there, throwing their dangerous items above the people's heads. Also got to spend some time with our friends in Apologetix. We tried our best to console them on the loss suffered by their hometown Steelers that weekend, though secretly in my heart of hearts I felt that my adopted Browns had been vindicated. Hockey aside though, we had a great weekend, though by the end of it, Michael started to suffer from the all-too-familiar bad back syndrome. If you've ever had such a problem I don't need to explain, and if you've never had this problem then I can't explain. Suffice it to say, it's bad. (And it's in your back.)

No, they won't back down!

Anyway, we headed north on Sunday afternoon and played a concert in Concord, NC. Had a nice time and continued north. Once in Philadelphia, we stopped for some time to visit our friend Bart Campolo and his lovely family. Bart took us on a tour of his beloved Philadelphia. Among our stops was the Rodin museum, which I found absolutely fascinating. From there, we drove over to our beloved New York City, where I visited with my brother and his family, while Michael visited with our friend Dave. On the 16th, we played once more at Martin Luther High School in Queens. A good crowd, including the wandering Rhode Island contingent. It was a good thing we had lots of help in fact, because we had all sorts of van trouble, from a flat tire to a broken starter. After all was repaired, we headed north.

Can everybody squeeze in?

Next on the agenda was a YFC event in Saratoga Springs, NY, as in racetrack. (And I imagine one place you can bet those races is the Niagara Falls Convention Center!) We had a nice time with the YFC folks, especially the ones who were kind enough to come over to our unpublicized workshop which was upstairs and down the block. It snowed all through the weekend, but Michael was able to fly out as scheduled. I drove home at a bit of a slow pace owing to the conditions. However, I did make it home and was happy to do so.


Our next scheduled gig was in Thousand Oaks, California, and my family consented to accompany me. We spent a lovely few days with Michael in Los Angeles and the Oestreichers in San Diego. While we basked in the warmth of Southern California, our dog toughed it out in Below Zero Ohio (which is quite close to Toledo).


And then we flew home, and the spell was broken.


So, if you'd like to see the photo from the bench, here it is. However, if you'd like to see the various pictures of the view from stage, you can click on Photo Phrenzy and be taken there, by the magic of Albert Gore. From here on out, I expect to return to something more like monthly newsletters. Thanks for your patience during my interferon trials. If you like the quarterly approach I've been using lately, just check back every three months.


Later,


george

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