I want to be president so I can get pissed and interrupt a moderator and belittle the citizens of the United States of America. I’ve never had a moderator, but I belittle people all the time…of course, I’m not the president.

I just saw President Bush say that he would wouldn’t appoint a judge that let personal feeling get in the way of interpreting the constitution. He used the example of the Pledge of Allegiance debate as an example. Let me tell you something, folks. A strict interpretation of the constitution’s first amendment would demand that the words “under God” be removed. There’s no two ways around it. Freedom of religion doesn’t mean as long as there is religion. Freedom of religion means the right not to be religious as well. I’m a Catholic, but I’ll defend to the end of the earth the right for people to disagree with me. I’ll also defend the right of people to believe as they wish without having values and beliefs forced upon them. You’re reading this so you choose to hear what I think. If you think I’m wrong, I couldn’t be happier. I’ll defend your right to be wrong.

“Satan is a Yankee’s fan.” –Scott Copeland

Wow. It’s funny how life can drag you away and not let you go. I thought I’d post an entry and it was over a week ago since my last one. I’ll try to catch up.

I went home early enough last Friday to put in three or four hours on the tractor. It’s amazing how much ground you can get over in that time pulling a 60′ Crust Buster at 7.5 mph.

Saturday was monstrously fun. Blaine Younger came down to Buster’s in Sun City and put on one hell of a show. The place was packed and I think we sounded very good. I’m still in awe of how my guitar sounds after my upgrade.

I had a rather productive day today. I spent the afternoon replacing the power steering pump in the Brougham. I spent tonight recording some demos of my songs so that they’re ready for pre-production and to give to prospective musicians or a producer. I still haven’t exactly nailed down what I’m going to do, but I want to be ready.

One last note: no more open mic at Bobby T’s. I’m overjoyed.

Had a great time Sunday at Rusty’s
Blaine Younger
Rob Hildreth
Trevor Burgess
Pete Gile
We were all sitting at the same table
That’s never happend before

If a bomb went off there
It would have been the day the music died
Or at least www.countrykansas.com

Just found out today that I’ll be playing Salina
JC’s Bar and Thrill
Song-swappin’ with Burgess on the new PA
Rollin’ up in the new van (read: short bus)
Burgess, my new truck can take your new van

Put up a new download in the downloads section
24 Feet at a Rusty’s

Looking forward to Saturday
Taking Blaine home to meet the Busters
Finally have my new electronics tweaked
Should have some dynamite recordings for you members

You’ll hear from me.

Had an absolutely marvelous time last night
Davey’s Uptown
Downtown KC, MO
Thanks to the ladies from Lincoln for treating us so well
Thanks to Corey Rice for being the designate
Thanks to 4020 for getting me up to sing
I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday party

How was I supposed to know that talented only had one “L”? Thanks, Shana Kerstetter, for keeping me on my toes. To the rest of you: it was only a typo. My “L” key sticks sometimes…

I promised I’d post pictures of the modifications to my truck. Here’s the story.

When I pulled the cover off of my filter housing I realized I had a broken EGR valve.
This is what the valve looked like.

This is what the bad valve did to my intake manifold. The manifold shouldn’t look
like this.

I needed a new EGR valve.

My GM dealer told me that my diesel engine didn’t have an EGR valve. After I told
him he was full of shit, I gave him the AC Delco part number. He looked it up and
sheepishly told me that they wanted $240. Autozone knew that my diesel used an EGR
valve and they only wanted $140 for one, but they would have to order it. That’s
when I decided to take matters into my own hands. I drove to my local Orscheln Farm
& Home Supply and purchased the cover plate to an electrical junction box, a tube
of high temp. gasket silicone, and a bolt. I cut the plate to the shape of my EGR
valve, ground out a couple of notches in the ends, and used the bolt to plug the
vacuum line. This is my creation.

It sure runs better now after spending my $7.94.

I’ve been shorting the log for a while. I’d better make up for it.

I’m selling my Mazda to pay for a guitar upgrade
If this weren’t so nerve racking it’d be laughable

Late breaking news
I’m playing tonight in Hunter, KS at Vera’s
We’ll do our best to add another chapter to the Aaron’s and Trevor’s 2004 Fun With Road Signs Picture Diary