Early this spring, (February 9th, to be exact) I ventured out into my new city with my camera to see what I could see. It was 65 degrees and sunny. There was no snow on the ground, and I tried, and failed, to keep from feeling just a little smug that I had escaped from the snowy winter “wonderland” that is Michigan.

PDX Cans

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago. My friend Bruno (in snowy Michigan…wait…is it still snowing there? I can’t remember) sent me a package. Two years ago, Dan Worley and I had the pleasure of recording Bruno’s band, Collateral Damage at the Good Noise Studio. After much (much!) pestering, I persuaded him (finally) to send me the latest iteration of the record so I could have a listen. A couple weeks ago, I get a box (not an envelope, a box) with the “in process” CD enclosed. With packing peanuts. And, a small slip of paper.

Poke

This requires a little explanation. You see, a couple years ago, I started running live sound at this dive bar in Ypsilanti Michigan called TC’s Speakeasy. And there was this guy, a real hard case, who went by (like Madonna, and Prince, and…) Only One Name, the name of Bruno. And there was this one time, when I had (maybe) had a little to drink, and was in conversation with Bruno near the bar. Emphasizing my point (whatever it was), I went and poked the guy’s chest.

[Freeze]

Collective intake of breath. Beer, whiskey, wine, midway to lips: stop. Eyes turn toward us. Eyes turn away…what’s going to happen?

Thank God. [Exhale] Everybody laughs. And…a good joke is born.

Getting this package in the mail (well UPS actually)? Totally made my day. I laughed a long time.

Yes, I shaved my Van Dyke. Yes, I am letting my hair grow. Just don’t call me a hippie.