Did the levee break?

THIS FLOODING STUFF is reaching critical mass. Last night everybody was ordered out of West Quincy (across the river from us) because of a levee "breach" at a creek near LaGrange. The Bayview Bridge was closed to traffic coming from Illinois. Our other bridge has been closed for several days. There was all kinds of panic and Social Media Disorder, which is what happens when people say whatever they want on Facebook without proof or any idea what they are talking about.

The TV stations cut in for dramatic live coverage. They showed scintillating shots of cars waiting to cross the bridge, gas stations without gas pumps, and water in a field. The water in the field footage was particularly thrilling, and grainy, and the camera was shaking, and it was made to feel like the water was about to drown West Quincy but probably not the reporter and cameraperson.

It didn't happen. The levee was apparently stabilized and the bridge was open on the Illinois side by 9:30 last night. It's still pretty bad over there and we are all hoping and praying the levees hold and we get through this latest high-water crisis.

Marian Wyse

If in fact the levees fail and West Quincy succumbs to the power of the mighty Mississippi River, it would be an economic catastrophe. It would be a huge blow for us because at least 30 to 40 percent of our business in the music store comes from the good people of Missouri and Iowa. The bridge in Hamilton, which connects Illinois and Iowa to the north of us, is also closed. We'd be on a very high island and it would be a struggle. A few summers ago the Memorial Bridge was closed for six months due to maintenance and we barely hung on to the store.

So we cross our fingers and say a prayer that the levees will hold. The Mississippi River is supposed to crest today or tomorrow, and it will hopefully not rain for a few days. Let's hope everything holds and we don't have to watch more grainy video of water in fields. Or water in general.

Remember to support the small businesses that are impacted by these kinds of issues. Help make the hard times easier all year long. Shop small, shop local, keep your local economy healthy.

Here is a great quote from one of our Missouri customers, Cat Kelso, "Thankful that we are not fighting extreme temperatures, but workers may need snipers to shoot the mosquitoes and buffalo gnats unless they can be trained to airlift the sandbags." The gnats will really keep you moving right now ....

Gnashing teeth over gnats

FIRST OF ALL, why is there a G in the word "gnats?" If we start putting consonants in front of words and leave out vowels, the world will indeed be a very gscary gplace.

Secondly, what do you do about gnats? Do you tell them the G is useless and hope they get depressed and go away? They are everywhere right now because of our near-record rains, and we can't even walk in Washington Park because of the gswarms of gnats. Then again, the Outside People can't even sit in the park right now and I really hope our Farmer's Market this Saturday won't get gnatted out.

Ggo away, stupid Gnats!

Yesterday about 3 p.m. I took Angus into the park and they enveloped him when he was doing his bidness. Angus simply shook his head and looked for the next spot to mark, but I ate about 12 gnats and started gnashing my gteeth. We came back into the store, and several gnats came in with me, and Sheryl spent the next hour swatting anything that gmoved. Double G GGUH.

It's not ggoing to gget better. The Mississippi River is cresting at near-record levels this weekend and the tepid flood waters are perfect breeding ggrounds for more gnats. Bridges are closing, streets are closing and Clat Adams Park is completely submerged right now. It's just really Ggross. I guess we gget out the bug spray and cover our faces while we walk and hope they ggo away.

If it doesn't rain Friday afternoon, perhaps we'll sit on the sidewalk and smoke the necessary cigars to keep the gnats away. Gnats hate cigar smoke. Especially cheap Cuban reject cigar smoke.

Hey. We'll do anything to keep those darns gnats from ruining happy hour.

Chilling to music

WHAT DO YOU listen to when you are stressed out or want to relax? We ask because Sheryl and I are decompressing after another adventure-filled weekend.

I survived another Gus Macker, and we had big days in the store both Saturday and Sunday (when we aren't even supposed to be open).

Sheryl went to Burlington, Iowa yesterday to hear presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren speak. (Where's Burlington?) She survived nearly-flooded roads and got stuck in Burlington for several hours with Warren at the venue due to tornadoes touching down. She finally made it home around 6 p.m. We grilled and appreciated that it was Memorial Day.


To chill out I usually listen to stuff like Roxy Music, Clannad, Enya and Allison Krauss. Sheryl is a huge Pink Floyd fan, she plays it loud and forces the dogs to sing along. There are tons of artists with great mellow songs, of course.

But what's out there today? I don't listen to the radio or current music. There's gotta be new faces who can calm and soothe, right?

Well, we won't stress over it. But if you have some suggestions, let us know.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'd say this or write this or even think this ... but The Who is aging gracefully.

Thanks to Mike Sorensen and Bad Wolf Media (these are his amazing photos), I scored a ticket 20 rows from the stage last Thursday at the big amphitheater near St. Louis. It was amazing, of course. I'm a Who fanatic and always will be. They could have done a puppet show and it would have been fine. Of course, The Who would need to be billed above the puppet show, but onward ...

In fact, this tour is called Moving On. It's a grand experiment, with a full orchestra and big chunks from Tommy and Quadrophenia. I could only imagine the nightmare for the sound crew, getting the mix and microphones right. The band struggled early during the Tommy songs because they were basically playing in a  big shed and you could tell they couldn't hear well.

Much love to the incredible drummer Zak Starkey, who guided the band through a few minor setbacks and kept things together and from completely going off the rails. Roger Daltrey rushed his lyrics early and Pete Townshend kept barking at the sound crew to his left. The orchestra director just kept going and they got better as the night went on.

As I've played in bands for years and can almost never hear on stage, I can only say The Who didn't let it bog them down and it's a miracle they can play fantastic rock shows with the sound bouncing around.

Townshend and Daltrey are in the mid-70s, and it shows. Daltrey's voice has never been better, he never hit a wrong note and it was pure the whole night. Townshend fought sound issues, faulty guitars and a sore throat- he croaked his way through Eminence Front and I'm One bravely and without fear. God bless him!

The Who used to overpower audiences with sheer volume and energy, but those days are long gone. Townshend still windmills, Daltey still swings his microphone, but they do it less now and they are well aware the two-plus hours they are on stage are marathons, not sprints.

Simon Townshend, Pete's brother, was featured more this year on vocals and guitar and it makes the band better. The orchestra could be heard and the cello and violin on Behind Blue Eyes was right on target.

Favorite parts? The power chord intro to Who Are You, the searing instrumentals Sparks from Tommy and The Rock from Quadrophenia, Daltrey introducing Substitute by saying "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth" is one of the greatest lyrics ever, the incredible acoustic version of We Don't Get Fooled Again, and Love Reign O'er Me, which literally brought tears to my eyes.

The Who can't go on forever. Can they? They are indeed Moving On, and I'm grateful to Mike for letting me go on another rock and roll adventure.

Hope I die before I get old

THANKS TO FRIEND and neighbor Mike Sorensen of Bad Wolf Media, I'm heading to St. Louis tonight to see The Who at the massive amphitheater. Mike is taking photos and managed to come up with another ticket. This came up suddenly and it's the start of an action packed weekend - I'm playing for the Illinois Veterans Home folks tomorrow and Gus Macker is Saturday and Sunday.

Sheryl and I saw The Who in St. Louis at the hockey rink a few years ago and it was a great show. My brother flew in from Phoenix and we had floor seats, and we hooted and hollered for more than two hours to every song. The sound was amazing and the band was on form and it was a great night.

This year they are playing with an orchestra and doing Tommy and Quadrophenia songs, new takes on classics. The tour is getting good reviews and Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend seem to be enjoying themselves. It will be a good night.

They are in their mid-70s now and some say they are too old and just milking the nostalgia thing. Maybe so, but if you are that age and you are good at something, are you going to stop doing it? Geesh, they are only 20 years older than me, and I don't plan to stop rocking. Ever.


Again, thank you Mike Sorensen for including me on your rock and roll adventures - Mike is a concert photographer extraordinaire and I'm sure he'll get some great shots.

You are never too old to rock and roll!

Good days, and Let's Go Blues!

TUESDAY WAS A good day. We figured out our cardboard deal - let's just say we have a place to bring it now. We had a huge day in the store, and in the roller coaster world of small retail, it was very much appreciated. And finally, the Blues are in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Wait a second .... did I really just type THE BLUES ARE IN THE STANLEY CUP FINALS?

There are some die-hard Blues fans in the Q-Town and I'm happy for them. It's a great story, from worst in early January to four wins away from being NHL champs. My brother Stephen and I were at the Blues-Bruins game in February, and who knew it would be a finals preview?

Unlike St. Louis Cardinals fans, who "demand excellence" and think it's some sort of conspiracy if they don't win the World Series, Blues fans are patient and loyal. Good for them! Let's Go Blues, and also, I HATE the Boston Bleeping Bruins. Still, Bruins in six.

Here's to more good days ahead, including this weekend's Gus Macker right in front of our Second String Music doors. And again .... Let's Go Blues!