The Wilds of Henry County, and some Fantasy Football

Starting tonight, I get to head out to my parents' place for my seemingly annual house-sitting escapade, which will last until next Tuesday. Two distant cousins of mine--Greti and Franci--came from Belgium for an extended visit with my parents (who saw them in Europe last year), and they took off today to see my stepbrother and his family in Minnesota. The last time I saw Greti was over 20 years ago, so it's pretty neat to see them again, as well as being a nice reminder that there's still part of my extended family overseas. Greti, if you were wondering, is the daughter of my great-uncle Josef, the man I was named after, so it gives me a good sense of history to see her again after so many years. Becky and I went to visit them and my parents last Sunday and, along with my stepsister Kim and her family, went to see the Toledo Mudhens get spanked by the Columbus Clippers. Kind of a wacky, busy day, but fun overall.

House-sitting, however, means that I primarily get to take care of Samantha and Felix, my parents' cats. It's nice to get away for a while too, considering I still haven't found a job and am alternately feeling depressed or dejected as I continue my job hunt. Mom and Dad have a huge ten-acre spread in Henry County and a really nice house, and I alway see it as a kind of refuge from whatever shit I'm dealing with at the time.

Aside from that, it'll be another kind of busy weekend. Gonna see Becky on Friday and probably Sunday, and Saturday will be spent with some friends doing a live draft for our fantasy football league. After acting macho and talking smack for several hours (and eating tons of bad food--Doritos, donuts, pop, etc.), we're heading to the German-American Festival in T-town as our night out. I'm looking forward to Andy Mack possibly getting drunk, personally.

And we've had a surprisingly busy gig schedule too. We've had about 5 gigs in the past three days, which is another welcome method of blowing off steam and having fun. We've even got a new member in the band--Ron Edwards, who brings it live on lead and rhythm guitar. I won't lie; he's still adjusting to the rest of the band as well as the style of music that we play, but it's great having another instrumental layer again. This way, he and I can trade solos and phrases without having to sacrifice the rhythm part at any given point. And maximum respecx go out again to the Mad Doctor, whose Marshall amp has been filling in nicely for my still-in-the-shop Fender amp.

So that's it for now. Come check out the band at Oak Openings Park (out west of Toledo towards Swanton) on Sunday, September 3rd from 1-4 pm. We might even livicate a song to you. :)

Groovemaster Setlist--from recent shows:

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Stir It Up
No More Trouble
Running From Jamaica/Jump Nyahbingi
So Much Things to Say
No Speech, No Language
No Woman No Cry
Real Situation
The Heathen
Jah Live
Hot Like a Melting Pot
Johnny Dollar
Prophecy
Solidarity
King David's Dance
96 Degrees In the Shade
My Number One
Such a Business
Waiting In Vain
Natural Mystic
Rastaman Chant Nyahbingi
Hill and Gully Rider
Righteous
Keep On Moving
I Shot the Sheriff
Three Little Birds
Jammin'
Night Nurse
Jah Voice Is Calling