Chicago, Madonna, Modding My Bass...

Halooooooooooooooooo out there...

Boy, June has been a busy month.

The first weekend, we went camping downstate. Wouldn't you know it, the weather turned unseasonably cold just in time for it and we froze our asses off at night. Still a nice weekend, though.

The second weekend, we took a trip to Chicago (the first time for both of us in the "Windy City") to catch the Madonna show. Chicago...wow, what an amazing city. So much stimulation and so many things only a walk or a short bus ride away. Our friend, Bert, who is the production manager for Gay Chicago Magazine, very kindly put us up for the weekend and showed us around town. A big city is a lot less intimidating when you're with someone who knows his way around. The Madonna concert was great fun - from what I've heard, it wasn't quite as an elaborate a production as she has featured on previous tours, but it was still quite a spectacle of sight and sound. Madge does know how to throw a party!

Then it was back to Michgan (and reality) to spend the rest of the week taking care of everything that had been let go during all of this. Ugh.

Finally, I was able to get around to installing the mods for my Fender Jazz fretless bass that I'd been wanting to do for the past month. A set of Dimarzio Model J pickups, a new Gotoh bridge and a new pickguard later, I have it sounding and looking mucho better. The new pickups have really brought that bass to life with a big bottom end and a "vintage" vibe. It put me in such a "retro" frame of mind that I'm now working on a downtempo track with an almost '70s feel to it for the 10th song on the new CD. I wonder if Madonna would lend me her "John Travolta" suit if I do a video for this song? It would probably almost fit my skinny ass...although the sleeves and pant legs would be a little short... ;-)

Time to kick back with a glass of wine for a few. George Carlin is on TV - I can't think of a better way to cap off the day. :-)