THE CONVERSATION HOMECOMING SHOW - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22nd AT WILDHARE'S... so if you're not going to that show at 101, we'll see you there! If you are going to that, WE'RE PLAYING SATURDAY THE 21st IN LAS CRUCES AT THE DIRT!

It's been a chore finding a computer that you can post a diary on, but we finally got to one. Let's see where to start... we've played many a show with our friends from Before Braille so we'd like to thank them for watching us and cheering. Brendan from The Good Life Experience in Provo, Utah - thanks for the floor and the cereal. Our memories fail us in our old age, so don't feel bad if we skip people or places. We know we've skipped a lot. Sorry. Last night's show at the Martini Lounge went okay. We met a really neat band from Los Angeles who's name I can't remember, but the bass player's name is Andy. So Andy, if you read this - sign the guest book and let us know what you guys are called.

The situation with the brakes on the van was getting ridiculous. They were getting to where we thought a plane was flying overhead every time you stepped on them. We tried to replace the pads ourselves but only managed to make the bolts tighter and strip them at the same time. Bloody knuckles. How many Conversation band members does it take to change brake pads? We dont really know, but the one guy that knows how to do it is stuck in El Paso. Well, thanks to Brett and his girlfriend ("so you guys are leaving?") for letting us crash at Brett's place, Teal and Kristen for getting dirty with us and sharing their peanuts, Chris for hooking us up with a great deal on the brakes and Tony (dog) for only barking at Darin. Riverside and Temecula... you will be remembered.

Well, night before last i got in a fight with Darin's clippers and they won (they've kicked the crap out of Darin, too), leaving my head with a kind of loppsided mohawk look (think DeNiro in Taxi Driver). I spent most of Monday walking around with really screwed up hair. I would have worn a hat but my head is far to big for most ordinary hats. I should have just cut the top off of a volksvvagon beetle and used the seatbelt as a chin strap, but instead I just wore a beanie. I finally got to a barbershop, that wasn't laughing too hard at my situation, to cut my hair. The nice lady said that it "'kind of' looked cool" and I felt better but I could tell that she was trying to hold the laughter in. Well that's about it... Jared and I saw a guy lock his keys in a car. He was wearing a dress. God bless California.

We played a great show last night in El Paso. All the bands kicked butt. Thanks to all the bands for playing and helping us out. My amp didn't seem to work last night, so I borrowed Davey's new Ampeg. It got the job done, but there is just no comparison to the tone (and volume) of a Marshall. I think Davey sabotaged my amp so I wouldn't be so loud. Hmmm....

Our next show is not until December 10th in South Lake Tahoe, California. We will be hanging around El Paso for the next few days. For those of you who don't know the story of why we're home early... I'll give you the short version: Mike (our drummer) cracked a vertebrae in his back on Thanksgiving day after a fight with a four-wheeler (yes, the ATV kind). He had to spend 3 days in the hospital while he waited for a back brace. You should see this thing. It looks like a piece of white plastic body armor. It's got to be uncomfotable. Anyway, we obviuosly had to cancel a few shows while he was laid up. Mike got out of the hospital on Sunday, and we decided to make the trek to Roswell, NM to stay with Jared's mom. It was about a 20 hour drive.

Fun.

The doctors cleared Mike to play shows, so he bravely played the show in Lubbock. He was in some pain, I could tell. He made some "go to hell" faces for sure. Rather than aggravate the injury, Mike decided he should take it easy for a few days. So, we cancelled a few shows so that he could rest up. We had a show scheduled for El Paso, so our good friend Sean said he'd fill in for the ailing Mike. We practiced with Sean and everything went well, but Mike decided he could play the show. It was good to see Mike in good spirits again. He was even doing a little rockin' while he played. At this point, a little head bob is a good thing for him, I guess. So, that's why we're in El Paso for a few days. It's not "home" for me, but the rest of the guys seem happy to be here. I guess they deserve a little home time, since I've gotten so much home time on this tour. And, man... Jorge's mom can cook some burritos.

Sean, hope the flight back was a good one.

We did play one show in Davenport, Iowa the night before all of the Thanksgiving madness at a place called Peabody's. The local band didn't show up, and they were supposed to bring the p.a. But we found a mic cable and went on with the show. Thanks to the kids that came from the mall! Without you there, would have been no show. Also, thanks to the guy that got the mic cable for us. We will be back and ready for anything.
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Well kids, once again, sorry for the abscence. We're still in St Paul, MN, where its still cold. "Why are you still there?" you may be asking. Well, on Thanksgiving Mike injured his back and has been sitting at a county hospital waiting for a back brace. Thankfully, the injury is not as serious as it could have been, and he is scheduled to be released soon. The doc says that Mike can play the drums, but he can't lift anything. So it looks like loading and unloading is out of the question for him, but we will be resuming the tour in Lubbock, Tx. on Tuesday. Hope to see you there!

We'd like to thank Sean from Small Towns Burn A Little Slower for putting us up for the week and his roommates for being cool with it. THANKS!