So, at my girlfriend's subtle behest, I went to tame the voracious expanse of hair rooted at my chin. To this end, I pulled out a trusty electric bread trimmer I had used many a time before with much success. However, this encounter was met with much besmirchment.
About 3 seconds after I plugged in and turned the device on, it exploded into my right hand, causing a second degree electrical burn all over the side of my palm and hand. However, all those years of Boy Scout first aid training did count for something as I quickly threw the hand under the water faucet and hit cold, keeping the blisters intact. With some quick application of burn cream, I went promptly to the ever well equipped and helpful Health Center here at Hastings and got a proper dressing. With the treatment I received, I am sure it'll be fully healed by next Thursday, and I've taken a few turns on the guitar since and I don't think it will affect playing Saturday.
And the sympathy points with my girl sure were nice.

I have forgotten the vitality that academia can have in the fall. Bunch of eager young minds running around scared half to death and overworked... But still smiling because the burnout of the spring hasn't hit yet. One can't help but walk along a college campus in autumn and not smile. The landscape is at its most beautiful, the population at its happiest. And no exception for me either.

The other great thing is being able to smile and talk to anyone, as the normal cliques and rigid social borders haven't set in yet. People haven't become known for anything yet and most are still forming their identity. It's an openess almost utopian in scope.
The folks at The Blue Moon are, as always, incredibly kind and forthcoming with shows. We got three more on the board, and plenty more on the way. Some preliminary solo Shaft action with just me next week, then JC is making the big drive up to rock the joint in a more thorough fashion.
Additionally, I'll be playing in my hometown for the first time in a long time with Aaron Traffas. Backing him up on a Buster's gig, I'm sure whatever incarnation the rock takes, it will be entertaining.

The grass really is greener on the other side. It is only after spending a summer with people from a big university that I realize how much I value my education at Hastings College. Yes, it's small. Yes, it can be very underchallenging.
But my education has been far superior to anyone that I've known from my hometown, and only few that I have met from my other travels. It is certainly better than I expected and far better than I deserve.

Many thanks to those who came our to our four show Saturday rockfest. Verily Lincoln was destroyed and those who heard us left with little besmirchment. JC demonstrated quickly and finally that his rock authority is that of the very gods. It was quite a day, and we appreciate everyone coming out to see us.
More shows are going to be posted in the coming weeks as the fall schedule gets finalized, and it looks as though we are going to be playing everywhere on the goddamned planet.
I'm back at Hastings. Looking forward to seeing a bunch of friendly faces.

Many thanks to the new Shaft folk who came to see our hasty, barely announced show at the Xcalibur Club in Junction City. For 8pm on a Sunday night, I think we rocked with all due hardness. The people that were there rocked more per capita than I believe any show The Shaft has seen, thanks in no small part to JC. The preparations have been made. Lincoln is going to be a wasteland by this time next Saturday.

If you haven't heard the Shaft lately, you are in for a serious surprise. The latest, greatest addition to the Geek Rock family is JC Casillas who will be providing bass, guitar, and vocals to bring Arturo Got The Shaft to new, unprecendented levels of rock. Rehearsals in preparation for The Day Upon Which Lincoln Was Rocked are underway, and the show is turning into a near unruly riotous ritual that is sure to cause the uprising of several local dissident groups. I can only pray our society is strong enough to withstand such a direct and powerful blow to its existence. To quote Eric Wood, music dude of the venue doomed to rock decimation: "We may be setting standards for rock to follow for years to come."

Read the news. Important stuff.

From the illustrious Gabriel of Penny Arcade:
I just wanted to hug them and say "it'll be okay kid, some day you'll have a high paying job in the technology industry and those fuckers on the football team will be living in trailers and beating their wives."

Little Emma is such a sweetheart. Today was my boss' daughter's very first birthday; a celebration in the extreme. She is a precious little rockstar, so to get her on her way to the career in music that awaits her I gave her my little djembe. To see her interact with it was something quite remarkable. Her little hand slid over the rough goat skin head for a little while, feeling the texture of the top. Then she moved it around a little bit; the drum is almost as big as she is. So I go and get a beer and listen to a bunch of old farmers talk about what old farmers talk about and then I hear, "Rob! She's playing it!"
I come around the corner, and there she is, smacking away with one hand with a lovely tone slap. She is so appreciative of music even at such a young age. To see a little child put together thoughts and ideas for the first time is quite a sight. And her little chubby face was all smiling as she was pounding away... Yeah, you could say I'm in love.

A very heartfelt and special thank you from me to you. I wonder sometimes if anybody's listening or reading or even paying attention to the Shaft, and occasionally I get a little down. But, I keep rocking because you guys keep rocking. I love all of you deeply and am working hard on a bunch of new surprises this fall.