Riding The Storm Out

Riding The Storm Out                              1451

Thursday, August 11, 2005-11:00 A.M.

Hello from Wisconsin!  What a rocket ride this tour has been so far.  It started out Tuesday morning about 3:15 A.M., when I woke and realized that my 3:00 alarm hadn't gone off.  I got up and showered really fast, but my daughter had different plans than I did.  Instead of loading out my luggage and picking up touring buddy Ray Salah at 4:00 A.M., I had to soothe and comfort the infant from a case of gas or night terrors or whatever was making her howl inconsolably.  My pretty wife was the only tonic that Harmony was interested in, and she finally got her settled down around 5:30 (I was in Buffalo by then, and still communicating by phone).

I drove around 16 hours (counting stops) on two hours of sleep and we pulled into LaCrosse, Wisconsin on the heels of a twister, hurricane, tornado, monsoon, or whatever you want to call it.  The skys grew purple and pregnant with rain, and the wind starting whipping up dust devils as LaCrosse grew closer and closer.  With only 15 miles to go, lightning bolts like the anger of God started striking in the distance, and I pokes a sleeping Ray in the ribs and said, "Hey, we're gonna die...you're probably gonna wanna be awake for this."

We actually made it to the hotel and checked in before the rain started falling, and there was a good group of people there.  I was tired, which never makes for a good show, but I got my point across despite a few unwanted lulls.  I'm working with Mike Armstrong this week, positively one of the best in the business, and that's a little intimidating.  He's a good guy and we've met before, back when I was running the club in Rochester.

Last night was Dubuque, Iowa, in a new room than the one I've played before...the old Brass Ring used to pack 'em in, but this room is still getting their feet wet, and to make matters worse, there's another bar in town doing comedy on the same night.  Again, there was good participation from the folks down front, but the bar clingers in the back were a little disassociated.  All in all, an unsatifying experience, but a few people came up after the show and expressed their enjoyment, and that's what really matters.  No comic gets 100% approval for every show, anyway.

Tonight we head off to Madison, Wisconsin, possibly one of my favorite rooms in the country.  I always do well here, and the hotel is to die for...plus it's right next to the club.  The other fun thing is the string of shops leading up to the college...it's the dope-smokingest, patchouli-oil-smellingest, juggling-with-sticksingest place in the world!  Liberal thought abounds, and for just a few days, I feel like I can unclench my sphincter and relax.  Plus there's hot college girls everywhere, but I'm a happily married man, so it's like Krispy Kreme donuts to my diabetic ass...I can look, but no touchy.  And I definitely can't put one of them in my mouth.

Merchandise sales have been soft so far this week, but one-nighters usually are.  I expect to do better this weekend, and hope so, because we've already put 1,000 miles behind us....that's three tanks of gas!  I'm $70 in the hole just going to work! I'm sure that Madison won't let me down.

Last night's dinner was the broasted chicken for two at the Hoffman House restaurant here at the hotel...I only mention that because it was so good, it was the best meal we've had so far this week.  Madison will probably change that....there's a gyro place on the college strip that is to die for, and I go there everytime I'm in Madison.  It's sad that I'm excited over a few strips of beef in a pita shell and a Greek salad, but life offers it's treasures sparingly, so take them when you can.

Lotsa love and we'll see you later.

Ralph Tetta

Rochester, NY