So you really want to know, huh?  Well, you wanted it, you got it.  Every so often, I'll plop down a few notes about what's been happening in my little world.  It may interest you, it may not.  However, some of you asked for it, so, here it is!

Wed. June 21st

Wow!  I haven't said much here in a while.

The biggest news is I'm getting divorced.  Again!  Nora and I weren't happy in our relationship, so, we have gone our separate ways.

The other big news is that I'm in a very happy new relationship.  I'm seeing a lady I went to high school with.  I didn't know her then, but, we have since learned that we have mutual friends!  It's good to be with someone with a lot of the same experiences and background.

I'm still working at Famous Furniture.  I'm now the delivery driver, which is a boost in responsibility and pay!

I also have my own place on the west side of Kankakee.  It's a nice big one bedroom apartment.  it's also close to my kids, so I get to see them quite often.

Life is pretty good at the moment.  I hope it gets even better soon!

Thurs. March 23rd

OK.  There's a bit of new stuff since Jan.!  I have a new job at Famous Furniture in Kankakee delivering furniture.  Being a full time musician just doesn't seem to be in the cards, so, it's time to do the day job thing.  It's actually a lot of fun!  Sure I have to lift heavy furniture all day, but, at least I have something to do! 

Thurs. Jan. 12th

What's going on?  Absolutely nothing.  Very few gigs and a whole lot of time on my hands.  I'm getting the last of a few personal matters taken care of and then it's time to either get a day job or start working as a full time musician.  Hmmmmmm........  Which to choose...................

Tues. Dec. 6th

Lot's going on!  Where to start...............

I no longer work at Axes Music.  (Note to Clyde.  "Why?")

I'm still busy with JD & The Phuzz.  We're expanding our list of venues and hope to be heading north soon!  We've started performing at The Breakaway and The Spot in Bradley, Illinois.  We're hard at work on a better demo for the purpose of performing at clubs farther north.

We had to put our precious dog, Roxie, to sleep last week.  That had to be one of the hardest things I've ever done.  Roxie was one of the gentlest souls I've ever met.  Here's another photo of our friend.  She'll be remembered fondly.

Friday August 5th,

I finally did it.  I went and got myself a job.  It's not much at the moment, but, hopefully it will turn into more hours soon.  I'm now working at Axes Music in Frankfort, Illinois.  I'm working 4 to 8 pm on Monday and Tuesday.  Come on in and say hello if you're in Frankfort!  The address is 47 East Lincoln Hwy.  I'm hoping to start teaching bass there as well.  This is a great opportunity and I intend to make the most of it!

As far as news about the web site goes, I've added yet another page for a new kind of computer art I'm doing.  Check out the Bryce Art page.  This program is intense!  There is virtually no limit to the kinds of things that can be created with this program.  I'm still in the very early learning stages and I'm creating some interesting stuff already.  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Monday July 25th,

Can you imagine my surprise when I was contacted by an old school buddy of mine today?  Bill Charbonneau, an old high school friend, called today out of the blue.  Well, out of the overcast anyway.  Bill was in town helping his folks move out of their old house and had some old music equipment lying around and thought of me.  How sweet!  (Or did ya think of me as a garbage dump?  I'm still not sure!)  Just kidding.  Bill donated a Sunn 412 S cabinet, a Fender Bandmaster Reverb TFL 50050 amp head, a Peavey 212 TS monitor and about 6 mic stands with boom arms.  Not an inexpensive lot of equipment!

The equipment will be put to good use.  Thanks Bill!

(Also coming soon from Bill, a collection of photos from meeting Yes backstage at a concert!)

I also just spoke with Dirk Panozzo, owner of The Jailhouse Rock.  He told me today that it will be at least a month before he reopens the bar.  I was inside and the damage is extensive.  The good news is, he will be completely remodeling the place.  New bar, new fixtures, new floor, the pictures will be gone, new lighting, the smell will be gone, new DJ equipment, a smaller DJ booth, new furniture, you name it!  He's got a lot of work that needs to be done, but, it will all be worth it in the end!

Thursday, July 21st

It was a wild night last night.  Really bad storms tore through our area and caused a lot of power outages and downed quite a few trees.  The winds were really bad.  Luckily, the storms passed by the time we had to perform!

I won't be performing at The Jailhouse Rock this evening though.  It seems that someone drove their car through the south wall of the building!  I haven't heard of anyone being hurt, thankfully.  I'll try to get more info on this as soon as I can.  (As I was typing this, I got a call from one of the bartenders from The Jailhouse Rock!  It looks like it may be up to a month before we are able to resume the jam night there.  Keep checking in here for the latest.)

I've added a new page to display some of the artwork I've been doing.  Hopefully some of it will be used for logos and stuff for the bands I'm in!

I want to take a little time out to rant about something.  That something is the prices we are paying for everything in the Kankakee area.  Let's face it.  We are not a tourist mecca and there is no reason for the ridiculously high prices we pay for everything around here.  I can go 30 miles north to a music store smaller than the one's we have here and buy the same items there cheaper than they are here.  Why is that?  Can someone honestly explain this to me?  Kankakee is a slum compared to places like Frankfort, yet, we pay much higher prices for everything from housing to gasoline to a loaf of bread.  Kankakee, Bradley and Bourbonnais need to get their collective heads out of their rumps and start working to get this area growing.  The water company here charges way more for water than anyplace nearby.  And we have a river to draw from!  For cryin' out loud people!  Why in the world is this happening?!?!?!  Why do we only have one cable company?  Why aren't more areas around here wired for DSL?  Do we want to get this area growing or do we want to stagnate and be Chicago's dumping ground?  Everything north of us is growing.  Soon, we will be known as the place where not only Chicago's garbage is dumped, but, so is their human refuse.

To our complacent and intellectually challenged politicians.  Get on the stick!  Take action now to get our area economy growing again!  You want to charge me extraordinarily high taxes on all utilities?  Get off your butt and ensure that there are jobs for me to be able to pay those taxes.  I don't mean minimum wage jobs at Mickey D's either.  Get some high paying jobs in here that don't require a Ph D.  It's not rocket science.  It will just take a lot more work that you lazy morons are willing to do.

While you're at it.  Clean up the Kankakee Police Department.  We have a PD that is a laughing stock.  While I have no proof to provide other than personal experience, our PD has more than its fair share of officers that are in need of extensive re-training and further sensitivity training.  Not only are many of our officers rude and overly "motivated".  Many are outright rude and obnoxious.  Our PD needs to be professional and above reproach.  Under the current administration, there is no way this is going to happen.  We need a radical change in the way things are done in all areas of local government.  If not, we deserve the rating of being one of the least desirable places to live in the entire country.

Sunday, July 10th

Things are going pretty well here on the home front.  I have gigs coming out of my ears and I'm really enjoying the work!  I hope to get up north and speak to a certain person about doing lessons very soon.  I need something to fill my days as well.  I get really bored sitting around waiting for the next gig. 

I've started the process of looking for new equipment.  I'm pricing and comparing amps, cabinets and basses.  I'll be buying new stuff early next year and I hope to have a good idea of what I want by then.  I also may be investing in some outboard gear as well.  If anyone has any recommendations, feel free to email me or call.  I'm always happy to talk gear!

I went to see The Fantastic Four with my youngest daughter, Donna, yesterday.  Good movie!  Two thumbs up!  It's not an Oscar winner by any means, but, it's really entertaining and that's what matters most.  If you want an art flick, go to an art house!

Gotta last minute gig, so, I have to go.  See ya next time!

Monday, June 27th

Things have been going fairly well recently.  I finally bowed out of Big Giant Head for creative reasons.  (I wanted to be creative, they didn't.)  I guess that's not really fair either.  BGH has been stuck in the same rut for years now.  I just decided to get out of that rut and move on.

I'm having a great time working with JD & The Phuzz!  JD and Kevin are incredible musicians.  I have to work my butt off just to keep up with those guys!  It feels great to really be challenged musically again.  Now if we can just suffer through the usual growing pains, we'll be fine.  (Anybody wanna be a booking agent?)

As some of you know, Rude Mood is currently going through a bit of drama.  I, of course, have ended up planted firmly in the middle of it.  Whichever version you consider to be the true Rude Mood is your personal choice.  I, however, will be filling in with Kerry's version of the band.  To me, Rude Mood has always been Kerry.  It's a real privilege for me to be helping him out on a few gigs this summer!

If you're looking for a new club to check out, stop by the Whatever Bar on East Ave. in Kankakee, Il.  The new owners have put a lot of effort into the place and the bartenders are some of the friendliest around.  JD & The Phuzz had a great time there our last time out and we're looking forward to our next performance there!

My last computer fried and I had to buy the one I'm typing this on now.  It's very used, but, it will suffice until I can afford one that is more up to date.  It seems like my computers are always dinosaurs.  Anybody willing to donate a high quality computer?  I lost all of my info on my old computer, so, if I was supposed to get back to you or there was a project I was working on for you, it's been put on the back burner for now.  I don't have much hard drive space right now, so, I have to conserve space at the expense of functionality.  It's a real bummer, but, I'll get there.  Probably early next year.  I could also use a good digital camera if you've got an extra one lying around.

Well, that's it for now.  I'll be back to bore you some more on another day!

Curt