We made it here by the way.

I'm so sorry I haven't been able to give you all the updates I promised. (not really)

We DID find a hotel in Elgin on Thursday night. Actually, it was a hotel that called itself a motel. Did I mention we were looking for a motel? I think I did.

A lot has happened since that Thursday night so long ago*. My band forgot my cymbals. We thought we were going to have to stop at Guitar Center Friday morning and buy me a whole new cymbal setup. Luckily, the fine folks at Electrical Audio had some cymbals for me to use and were kind enough to let us use them. They even had a china cymbal! (I just outed myself as a total douche bag)

By the way. I typed a couple blogs on the ol' Powerbook on the van and in the hotel(motel) in Elgin. I haven't found a way to post them yet since I can't get the ol' Powerbook online here. One of them was about the cymbal incident above. The other one I can't remember at this point. I'm pretty sure they're both very, very funny and I'll be doing you a favor if I ever get around to posting them. We'll see if it happens.

So, to bring you up to speed. We spent yesterday setting up and doing some tracking. We got three songs completed (sans vocals). Today we started around noon. I was kind of thinking we were fucked as far as getting the other NINE (9) songs we wanted to do done. Suprisingly enough we had a very, very successful day. We got all twelve songs tracked (sans vocals) and Drew (even though he's been sick for a week) actually finished most of his vocals tonight! He absolutely destroyed that microphone. Everything sounds great so far. So far...what am I talking about? We're done tracking (sans a few vocal tracks) and everything sounds awesome! We're all very pleased with the way the "record" sounds. Very pleased. Ok, I'll stop sucking my own band's balls right now.

One of the coolest things ever just happened. We're currently in the "lounge" of Electrical Audio. Drew and Michael are playing billiards. Not pool, billiards. We rule at this game. Cory is watching Michael and Drew, Steve is watching poker. Cory just called "Chicago Pizza" (that's the name of the place) to order us a couple pies. That's his thing, he's the phone guy. Anyway, he ordered the pizzas etc. and hung up. Immediately after he hung up, Steve said, "oh, hey, call them back and tell them "we get free Cokes". Cory called and after a bunch of hoo ha, a manager on the phone, etc. Cory apparently got us the free cokes. Steve elaborated: "Like ten years ago they sent out a bunch of coupons saying that you got free Cokes with every order over twenty dollars. Ever since then, I've just been saying 'I get free Cokes with that', and they give me free Cokes." Steve rules. We rule. It's my turn to play billiards.

*Two nights ago.