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Simply airing up the tires on that dolly will not do the trick. It needs to have one of two things happen to it: 1) Replace the pneumatic tires with solid rubber tires; or, 2) Take the dolly and kindly place it somewhere people not lifting very heavy things (i.e. your speakers and amps) can use it and replace it.

The problem with the dolly is the design. It was made for light residential use. You know, like taking a trash can to the curb or wheeling a UPS delivery of socks from QVC inside the house. By airing the tires you may have actually created more of a problem as when the heavy speakers, amps, etc are placed on the dolly, they will inevitably tilt and tip to one side.

I staunchly agree with your father on this issue. The dolly needs real wheels instead of toy wheels…

Still making progress out here in sunny, ahem, Colorado. Yesterday it sleeted intermittently most of the afternoon. Today, they are expecting eight inches of snow up in the higher country. Brrrrr.

So far the critters have been pretty tame. I have been taking walks in the morning hoping for a glance of something cool. Today I did walk within ten feet of a deer. It looked dumb, like one of the deer which will probably end up in someone’s grille. I wonder what it thought of me? Hmmm. Fresh venison does sound tasty. Other than several of the aforementioned large hooved rats, I have seen a lizard, three ground squirrels, two rabbits, and several hummingbirds.

The writing retreat continues to be fairly productive as a whole. Currently, I am working on a book proposal that is due at the end of June. It seems I have more work than I remembered. Hmmm. Time for an ATB post, aka delicious distraction. Yesterday I worked on some songs including one I am co-writing with Effron White, a folk singer from the Northwest Arkansas area.

I am still hoping for a 2008 release date of my first cd, sort of a sampler of songwriting as much as artistry. If I could just play a Bm I would be set.

Back to work. Take care friends, g

I knew the Maddy family was big but had no idea they had their own COOP.

I took this picture yesterday in Montrose, CO on the way here to Ridgway which I misppelled in my post yesterday.

Today has been productive. I have two pieces submitted for publication and, if the internet holds out, I will publish at least one more here tonight when this post goes active. Aaron will probably get credit for it. Figures…since it is his band and all. I am the eternal offensive lineman.

I am on a regimented diet of exercises for the mind, spirit, and body. I read. I walk. I write. I watch. I listen constantly. I photograph. I dream. I play. I believe, I eat, I drink.

Is it Blake Shelton who has that song which says something to the effect of, “the more I drink, the more I drink, the more I drink” playing on the idea that drinking will lead to more drinking, etc. I have found this to be the truest thing…when it comes to writing. The more I write, the more I write, the more I write.

If I think back to some of the most literate times of my life, I was working on several things in several genres. Last night I wrote an ATB post and that will go down as the first of hopefully about 15-20 things I plan to accomplish during this trip.

One of those things is to get an up-to-date gauge on how my songs sound and more unfortunately, how not good at singing or playing the guitar I am despite doing it a lot. I swear I could do this music thing if I could only find someone to play guitar and sing my songs…but then I would be a hack.

g

Greetings to the ATB faithful from Ridgeway, Colorado.

I made it out to the ‘Western Slope’ after staying with Greg Seiler and family in Garden City, KS last night. That was sure a nice time; Greg and the girls are doing well. Today was a beautiful day for driving I say. Cross Country rocked the XM radio (except in the canyons). The Buick Riviera rolled over the 178000 mile mark like it was standing still.

I am inspired by the beauty. I am sitting on the back deck looking out at snow capped mountains for as far as I can see. I will try to get some pictures up in the next day or so. I am forever walking around with a 9mm in my hand because I keep hearing weird sounds, like the bear (this is an affirmation of your ATB faithfulness if you catch this reference) from last time. I don’t want to find out if he has grown by two years.

I am here on a writing retreat–blog writing, songwriting, LitTunes writing, research writing, essay writing, article writing, encyclopedia entry writing. Don’t know how much I will get done but promise to keep the ATB faithful informed.

I see Aaron has a couple more shows on the books. Aaron Traffas and The Combine are playing somewhere near Kiowa, KS on July 5th. Or are we Aaron Traffas and The Fiddlers still? Call us what you will.

Signing out from the Mountain Home Mesa Grande,

G

Google “traffas” and tell me why in the top 10 results is a Youtube video of a guy getting poled in the nuts during a vault attempt. Is that the Traffas move? I don’t remember doing it when I vaulted.

I find myself in the lobby of The Arlington Hotel.

JFK and Al Capone have found themselves here too.

It is creepy nostalgia at its best.

Alright, this is the coolest thing. The elevators here, of which one is still operated by a human, all have clock looking things above them. They turn as the elevator moves marking the floor of the lift. So, essentially, I can sit here in the lobby and tell which floor people go to.

There is nothing as nostalgic as the plumbing. This morning the sink wouldn’t drain, the toilet wouldn’t flush, and the shower wouldn’t turn on all at once. The fire-starter electrical fixtures take a close second. The rooms have 81/2 by 11 dimmer switch plates with knobs proportionally as large. Very dramatic and absurd.

Mineral spirits and a massage might be in my future. This is one place you are supposed to drink the water. They say don’t eat the ice though.

For those of you following my every music whim, the new James McMurtry CD came out today, tax day. Just Us Kids has been previewed for several weeks on myspace and from what I hear, I like. I haven’t gotten around to downloading my copy yet at emusic.com but hope to tomorrow or at least by the time we head back up the hill.

I am beyond jealous of my true heart attending the Counting Crows with Lucas, Aaron, and Diane tomorrow night at Liberty Hall. Who would have ever believed the CC’s would be playing Liberty. With any luck I will get to Little Rock tomorrow night to see Chris Knight.

I would rather see him.

I really want to see the Crows though.

I might stay here.

I will keep you posted.

www.LitTunes.com is translated: http://www.kindsein.com/es/25/7/593/

G

Or is it Blaine Younger?

It seems our friend Aaron Traffas has been a bit of a blogging machine of late. Maybe he is a Massey and will never quit. If this is the blogging championship, he will surely throw a bearing and spark the field afire, ruining his chances of ever matching the G blog.

I am happy to report I too was watching KU dismantle, uh, Memphis on Monday…in Lawrence…and yes, I was one 45,000 people on Mass Street at midnight. Spectacular. If I had even minimal photo editing skills I would send some grist captured through the lens of my camera that night. I am sure you can YouTube it for hours.

Speaking of that colossal time suck, I spent most of the afternoon working and listening to a Scott Miller show on there. Neat stuff. Check out Scott Miller Studio 865.

“My old man could be your dad’s old man/ he lied about his age so he could fight Japan…”

If you get a chance, check out “The Calm” by a friend of mine down here at www.myspace.com/jivetownjimmy

Sad. Depressing. Beautfiul.

I realize this has turned into a rambling of sorts. Sorry for you linear types out there. For the spastic-random, you should be right with me.

Heading to Hot, Hot, Hot Springs tomorrow for a three day writing retreat. I am responsible. Scary.

Better get back to work.

“The reflection keeps me facing the other way.”

G

We’re now broadcasing the show over at countrykansas.com

Click it. Chat with us.