#9 Louisville (pre-show)

The drive last night wasn't all bad. We pulled in at about 5am, earlier than expected.
Upon pulling up to my ghetto palace, Corey commented "Aww...look at your scary-ass neighborhood!"
I am still laughing at how he said it.

My dear wife has kept the house so damn clean that I barely feel right in it. It's amazing. I was so glad to see her and the cats. I missed that little lady a whole lot. I am very, VERY lucky and I never forget that.

So I am nearly back to the pre-tour life I know so well. The bums are lining up across the street for a free lunch and I have some very happy cats circling my feet. I love where I live, actually, and sometimes can't believe that it feels so good to be some place- a completely foreign sensation in my life.

Last night we all mentioned how we had just gotten into the rhythm of touring and now it's pretty much over (we play Chicago tomorrow). It's funny how it all registers with you- it takes days and days to adjust; your chemistry has to alter in a way to a life of meeting several times more people in a small amount of time. Life stretches out. Two days ago will seem like two weeks ago because the typical, "normal" mind isn't accustomed to so much living condensed into a small amount of time. It's not comfortable, really, but the good outweighs the bad so you do it.
Then, suddenly, it all falls into place and you find your spot; like the teeth of a gear finally lining up in a larger mechanism. It's only been in the past few days that it felt like I could do this all the time; the tour could go on for another two months and that would be fine.

BUT- it sure is nice to be able to wash my clothes, take a regular hot shower, and eat Indi's.

I am excited about tonight's show. We are surely a more tuned machine than our first Louisville show a few weeks back. This incarnation is still finding its way but it's something special. I think Brian Foor might join and that excited the hell out of me.

Tomorrow night's show in Chicago will be Russian Circle's homecoming so I reckon it will be a a good one. I dunno what that crowd will think of us, as always, but Chicago has always been pretty good to the Phantoms.

Past that, we plan on recording a lot. This music and these people make me very happy. I am truly lucky.

Now let's see if we play worth a shit tonight.