Article
Mood:  mischievious
Now Playing: Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi
Topic: Narrative
Summerfest sings along with McGraw
By DAVE TIANEN
dtianen@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 4, 2004
It was, among other things, an exceptional Summerfest for special guests. LeAnn Rimes showed up to sing with Kid Rock, and then the Kid performed a similar favor showing up at Buddy Guy's set. And Mr. Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, turned up to introduce Something Corporate.

It wasn't exactly a total shocker, but Tim McGraw had a rather high-profile guest of his own Sunday night at the Marcus Amphitheater. Near the end of his set, Tim introduced a new song called "Blank Sheet of Paper" that he'd learned through his buddies, the Warren Brothers. Joining him were Brad and Brett Warren, and a lovely blond lady he later introduced as Mrs. McGraw.

Having Faith Hill and the Warrens join him on stage was entirely appropriate, since most of the night resembled one big group hug between McGraw and 23,000 adoring fans. This was the kind of crowd that stood and sang along not just on the choruses but sometimes on whole songs. McGraw spent his whole first song slapping hands in the front row and later invited a couple dozen fans up on stage for a singalong.

Of course, a resume of more than 16 No. 1 songs tends to build a bond for a performer. But there was more than familiar tunes such as "Don't Take the Girl," "Where the Green Grass Grows," "She's My Kind of Rain" and "Just to See You Smile" at work here.

McGraw seems to have forged a sense of community that goes well beyond chart longevity and his obvious assets as country pin-up fodder. In the middle of his set he introduced another new song, "My Old Friend," and dedicated it to a buddy who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the U.S. Army special forces. As he performed the song, pictures that his friend had taken were flashed on the projection screens. They were pictures of villagers with broken teeth, desolate landscapes, shell-torn towns, confiscated weapons and GIs both under fire and carousing off duty.

It was passage that put a human face on our troops in Iraq. Capping it off, McGraw brought his friend on stage and had him sing along on "Don't Take the Girl." It was a moment that was entertaining, illuminating and an altogether perfect way to acknowledge the holiday.

Opening were both the Warren Brothers and Big & Rich. The Warren Brothers are the kind of country act that once toured with Quiet Riot, and they appear to owe far more to Led Zeppelin than Hank Williams. They also are way louder than anybody else in country.

Big & Rich are rock 'n' roll boys themselves, but party tunes such as "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" also carry a connection to such grizzled party animals of the past as Jerry Jeff Walker.

Path (Title inspired by a true bottle cap)
Mood:  flirty
Now Playing: Drift Away - Uncle Kracker
Topic: Narrative
Wow, where to begin...got a lot of catching up to do...
Friday I worked some, at the radio station and at Staff Right too. All I remember about that morning is Summerfest tickets and whishing that I wouldn't get hangovers, like the good ol' days (jeez, was that only 9 months ago?)
I came home and left for the track, and during the first hotlap session the car was missing. Turns out we broke a stud on the rocker arm, and the pushrod went through the rocker on the other valve on the cylinder. So we ran to JRC, my motor builder, and he helped us fix it up. I got it done in time for qualifying, which I totally sucked very much badly at. The heat race was pretty much the same way...I started outside the front row, and at C-track, that is not the place to be. I managed not to finish last at the line.
The feature was good. I was doing great until the same damn thing happend with the motor as before...except it was the cylinder next to it. This was lap 20 or so, and I was actually passing cars. I was on my way to the infield when the asshole who had been beating on my bumper for the past 3 laps instead of trying to pas sme on the outside finally succeded in taking me out. I guess he got the black flag, but I was to pissy stewing about the motor. Between getting up at 4:30, the hangover, the shitty luck I was having, and other assorted maladies, I was pretty much ready to kill someting, or cry hysterically, or both. When I was almost in tears because some asshole behind me had his brights on on the way home, I decided to go to Columbus and spend the night. It was a good choice.
Saturday morning was spent running around looking for parts for the car. We finally go thte car fixed about 11:30, so I had enough time to come home, shower, and go to the track. We had to get there ungodly early becasue of the kids rides, fireworks, and bigwheel races (which I have to be trophy queen for when they eventually get run) even thogh we all knew they were goign to get rained out.
And boy, did they ever. We saw it coming and got everything put away before it hit. But, I had to go get the helmet, gloves and seatcover out of my car, becasue I didn't trust the tarp. Well, I got under the tarp for my car when the storm hit. I was soaked to the bone in less than 10 seconds. Good thing I wore the swimsuit top under my racesuit...
I came home and watched the race, well, at least the first 50 laps untill I fell asleep.
Sunday was the best day of the weekend. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was the best in my life, but it was pretty damn close. The day started out in the Watertown parade for Staff Right, which I made $25 bucks for and got to ride in a stretch limo back to our starting place to boot. I came home and watched one of the best races I've ever seen on TV. 2 Indy cars raced side by side-teammates no less- for 15 laps, with the win being decided by 0.0031 of a second...like literally 2 inches. The computer picked up the guy on the outside first - who finished second - just becasue he was that much closer to the transponder.
Then the rest was kinda downhill. I just got to see Scott, Big and Rich and Tim Mc Graw, that's all....(I am SOOOO J/K here!)Yeah, LC showed up and brought me booze and a shot glass...which is pretty thoughtful. (And I'm NOT going to drink the bottle either)He liked his gift too, which made me happy. We even managed to find a way for him to get it back to Alabama, which was even better.
So after a nice drive in his kickass rental car - a 2004 Grand Am with the V6 (the mother hauls some serious ass) listening to Big and Rich and watching cocky momma's boys in Firebirds getting busted by speedtraps, we made it. We parked a literally a whole hour away from the concert hall. It was a nice walk though, by the lake and all.
Tickets were horrendously priced. It turns out that we ended up paying $40 a piece for decent grandstand seats (THANK YOU SCOTT...you're the best!) but they were so worth it. I could tell you all abotu hte concert, but someone else did for me, and my fingers are tired. (See next entry) Suffice it to say, those boys know how to put on a show.
So, the show got over at 11, we walked nonstop to the car, getting there at midnight, and we took the scenic way out of town, going downtown past MSOE and Water Street, singing along to to Pat McCurdy.
Never did manage to get much sleep, and LC had to leave by 8 :( Did I mention I already miss him?
Grandpa came shortly afrt Scott left and loaded up Bobbi's Regal form Jimmy that magically appeared in our front yard Saturday (now that was a funny voicemil from Mom.) So I go back in the house and decide to take a short nap...and wake up about 2. Oops.
I did nothing but go to town and rent some old Burt Renyolds movies (Smokey & the Bandit II & III and Stroker Ace)and get food. See, I figured it out. Mom and Dad left me enough cash so if I eat cheap, I never need to cook. That was so thoughtful of them. Mom also left a 6 pack of Mike's in the fridge, which is fair game becasue she forgot it when she went camping. (Hence the title of this long winded entry...they put random words on the bottom of the caps) I have "THE" and "PATH" so far. (yes, I am bored.)
Today was a long ass day. Radio station stuff, and I finally got out of Staff Right at 5:15. Thigs did not go well there today, with major crises at every turn it seemed. But I got Thursday afternoon off to go to Dells with Jeff and Natasha (who have set the date of their wedding for May 28, 2005...found out today) and I think Joe might tag along too. It should be a good time.
I worked on Mom's present today too. Almost got the pictures all figured out, just need to get them hung tomorrow night. And now I've spent the past half hour typing this.
So to summarize: racing sucked Friday, Saturday rained out, Sunday I finally got to see Scott (Yay!) and some other unimportant people...I can't rememebr anymore (lol), yewsterday I was dead to the world, and today I worked too much and am just chillin' now with just 1 Mike's. Wow, bet you're whishing you just read the last paragraph now. LOL...catch ya later.

Thirsty Thursday
Mood:  on fire
Now Playing: If That Ain't Country - Anthony Smith
I'm drunk. Yes, I will admit it. But it was better than..hell, I don't remeber why I am drinking. Wait! Dad was near the racecar...that means he was all pissy. Yup, that was why.
Today was busy at work. I worked pretty much nonstop for 8 till 4. The guys from Generac came and took down signs for us from the old location, which we moved from over a year ago. I also got the tour, and it was pretty bad. The walls were peeling, and the old style register leaked water like a sive.
I did lots all day, and got good pizza for lunch. I came home, worked on the car, started drinking...oh, finished a certain someone's present and got it wrapped, drank some more while cookign supper, went and got a neighbor dog and called its owner, and cleaned my room and drank some more. Oh, note to self: Segram's whiskey can be drunk straight. That's some good shit, which is why I am so hammered, I mixed it pretty strong (as in there is like no Pepsi in it.) Well, I need to work at the station tomorrow, it's bedtime. Night Night.

Hump Day
Mood:  on fire
Now Playing: While You Loved Me - Rascal Flatts
Topic: Narrative
Ok, random thought here: Why do they call Wednesday Hump Day? Seriously, I don't seen anyone getting any or in the mood to do so...
Anyways, today was a news reading day again. I didn't suck this morning, which was good. Staff Right was not too busy, though. I've spent the betetr part of two days tying cards on pens for that parade on Sunday. I had some other random jobs, but I was done by 2:30, even with a hour lunch. No work this week...not too cool.
I came home and Grandpa was here changing flywheels and oil. I then cleaned all the random fluids off the chassis, and got kicked out of the house becasue degreaser spray is smelly.
Then I spent a hour working on a super secret project untill the equipment broke (well, after a shower.) Taht's about all the excitement in my life. I just can't wait untill Sunday! It's only 4 days away....