2007 — 38 posts, oldest first

Things Can Only Get Better ...

Monday, January 1, 2007

I'm looking at the clock right now and it's almost 3am .. I'm still wide awake. The New Year has already passed ... and I'm trying to figure out what went wrong today. I know as you read my blogs .. you've been waiting for something good to happen .. right?? I guess I just tell it like it is .. and sometimes life isn't always fair. Its not that I had a bad day .. I worked, all day long and in my business .. thats a good thing. My first gig was at Max & Erma's in Woodrigde .. the manager, Stephanie was kind enough to let me work an hour early so I could make my next show at the Sabre Room later that night. Everything was going well .. grabbed some dinner to share with Val and mother, then it was out the door again.

The show went as well as it could considering I had to work with Valerie once again. She didn't want to spend New Years at the Sabre Room .. or with me for that matter. I suggested we stay and watch the band after the show and we would be there for the countdown. The band was actually decent .. and there was no where else for us to go. Instead she insisted we leave .. so, I loaded the van and hit the road at 11:45pm. I knew we would be on the highway as the clock struck midnight .. not very exciting, but sometimes you can never make people happy. I made a few calls to friends and family on the ride home to occupy my time. We made it home safe as it is of course amateur night. Val went on her way .. and I went for a long walk with my little Rex, he's better company anyway.

Hope you're night was a little more exciting .. Happy New Years!

Steve

Post ID 100 · recovered verbatim from the database

Catching Up on Things ...

Saturday, January 13, 2007

After the holidays .. things usually slow down, but I don't sit still. I'm back on the basement project that I started about three years ago. Up until a week ago .. you could barely walk down there. I had a path that you could almost navigate ... but it was a mess. It will be nice to find things again .. I'm usually pretty organized, often being compared with Monk .. the obsessive compulsive detective .. if you watch the show, you'll get it.

I still have shows on the weekend .. and I'm preparing for a road trip at the end of the month to Ohio. In just four days I hit as many stops as possible. The journey begins in Vandalia Ohio, then to Columbus for Magi-Fest. From there I'll cruise up to Bowling Green to visit a friend and back home on Superbowl Sunday. Who knows ... maybe the Chicago Bears will be playing .. we can only hope.

My mother has been doing better .. I've taken her out during the week for some dinner and shopping. She lives to shop .. so it's good she's getting out again. The weather in the Chicago area has been pretty amazing for this time of year. We haven't seen snow in a month or so .. and that's fine with me. At night I've been catching up on some of my shows on DVD. I have so many still sealed in plastic .. I probably won't live long enough to see them all. Lately I've been watching the Sopranos .. and if you didn't guess, my family is Italian. I love hearing the old language .. it's been a long time since I worked in the produce department of my dad's grocery store. We may have had the largest concentration of Italians working for us in the Chicagoland area. It was a good time while it lasted .. but we'll save that story for later.

See nothing too depressing this time around ..

Steve

Post ID 103 · recovered verbatim from the database

Hittin' the Road ...

Monday, January 29, 2007

Hopefully I'll be hitting the road for a fun filled adventure to Ohio on Wednesday. I'm getting things in order and packing my stuff up. My good friend Dan Sperry, may be joining the fun ... flying into Ohio for the Magi-Fest convention. My first stop will be in Indianapolis to meet up with my long time friend, Tom Rozoff. He's performing school shows in the area so, I'll see his morning shows on Thursday. We'll grab some lunch then it's off to Columbus for the convention. I'm crossing my fingers that everything back at home will be fine while I'm away.

Today I spent most of the day down in the basement .. again. You would think I'd be done by now .. but its getting there. I am trying to clear out some of the junk that I've accumulated over the years. Its always ... "I can use that one day" kind of thinking that really starts to pile up. I'm getting better at it ... but its always a bit difficult. I'll feel a lot better when the basement is situated. Then I'll finally get back to work in the shop ... its been while.

Today .. I'll probably go to the vet with my snake, Samantha .. she's been acting up again. It won't be easy of course, with the weather we've got here in Chicago .. its a bit chilly right now. For a cold-blooded animal .. it can be fatal, so I'll have to be extra careful with her on the drive.

I'll have a lot to write about when I return on Sunday evening .. and that of course is Super-bowl Sunday. Hopefully I'll be back home in time to see the end of the game. I'll be returning from a visit in Bowling Green, Ohio earlier in the day. Who would have thought the Chicago Bears would be playing this year .. but they are. Its been a long time since we've seen a Super-bowl championship .. but even if they don't win .. I'm glad they're in it, that's what really counts.

Until then I'll be singing the Super-bowl Shuffle from back in the 80's ...

Steve

Post ID 106 · recovered verbatim from the database

With a Few Minutes to Spare ...

Saturday, February 10, 2007

My best thinking is done while I'm driving .. if I don't write it down then, it's lost. I had some clever title for todays blog .. but I forgot it. I've got six minutes before I hop in the shower .. so this will be a quick update as I've got a couple of shows today. Lets see, I'm back from Ohio .. it was a fun time. I'll have to get back to all that one day at time ... because of course it was jam-packed. I do have a clever title for our 2am run to White Castle .. but you'll just have to wait on that one, I did write it down. My good friend Dan Sperry flew in for the adventure in Columbus .. so there was plenty of chaos ... and yet we didn't get into too much trouble. I'll get back to some of that too.

Alright .. I've got two minutes or I'll be thrown off schedule. Its freezing out here in the mid-west .. we've been in the single digits for two weeks. We really could use a good thaw. I love being outside with my little buddy, Rex .. but its just too cold some days. I could go on and on .. but its 2:01pm .. I'm late .. hope you're happy ...

Steve

Post ID 107 · recovered verbatim from the database

Road Trip: Day One and a Half ...

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Alright .. we're already going back two weeks .. but I've got to write about the adventure .. before I forget the details. I hit the road for Ohio on January 31st. My first stop was Indianapolis to meet up with my good friend, Tom Rozoff. He was in the area performing his school show. I arrived around 8pm and we headed over to Applebee's for some dinner. We talked shop .. and Tom refreshed my memory on some long forgotten tricks that I should add to my act. It was time for some TV and then off to bed.

It was cold out when I left the hotel .. heading east to Dayton. Next stop was a little town called Vandaila to visit another long time friend, Mrs. Sheppard. This time around it would be a bit different as her husband, Walter had passed away last summer. I've written about him many times .. and I wasn't sure how I would do without him there. Mrs. Sheppard was still the same .. a little thinner, but still as fun as ever. We had a nice visit and remembered Walter, he was very special to both of us. The house was arranged a little different and the shop out back was closed. There were so many projects left unfinished .. it just kills me, all those unfinished dreams. I'll never forget all he taught me over the years .. he changed my life. I left without shedding a tear .. and I gave Mrs. Sheppard a hug good-bye until next time. I knew she was lonely and I didn't want to leave her sad.

It was time to hit the road once again, this time Columbus for the Magi-Fest Convention. This is were the fun begins ...
Steve

Post ID 108 · recovered verbatim from the database

Day Two: Columbus ...

Friday, February 16, 2007

This is actually the second time I'm writing the very same entry .. why you ask? Well the first version of this got lost somewhere in cyberspace .. so, here we go again. It was Thursday, February 1st and I was heading east on 70 towards Columbus. We always travel first class ... and I arrived at the Red Roof in around 6pm. The Magi-Fest was held near by and the first show was in about an hour. I don't even remember who was on the show ... I would have to look it up, its all kind of a blur. After so many years in magic .. it's all pretty much the same, for me at least. Some of the talent is good ... and some, well .. not so good. Years ago, I learned that bad magic was not only limited to the Chicagoland area. I'll save that for another time .. now where was I?? Lets see .. it was opening night of the convention and also our first peak into the dealers room, thats where we see what is new in magic. I'm still like a kid in a candy store .. its always fun to be fooled. I picked up a couple of new tricks to play with at the hotel .. I'm still working on them.

It was getting late .. and I still haven't had dinner. I know better than to eat at midnight .. but, I was starving. Not too far down the street I saw a familiar sign .. Steak 'n Shake. I had my usual ... the Frisco melt with a Vanilla Coke, that always does the trick for me. I was meeting Dan in the morning as he was flying in from Vegas. So once again I watched a little TV .. and it was off to dreamland.

Steve

Post ID 109 · recovered verbatim from the database

Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel ...

Monday, February 19, 2007

Alright .. this is messed up .. but I've got to bring you up to date on a few things. Sure, I'm still writing about my trip to Ohio .. and that was over two weeks ago .. but I will get back to all that. I have to tell you about last night .. it will freak you out. So .. I had a long weekend, I was out doing shows and I wasn't feeling too hot .. I wanted to get a good nights sleep. I took a swig of Nyquil and it was off to bed .. I think I was watching a little of "Everybody Loves Raymond." About half way through ... little Rex jumps off the bed and heads out into the hallway. Now you see .. this is very unusual, then I hear a little scuffle in the bathroom. Sure enough, he's got something on the floor .. I thought it was a mouse, and then it flew!! It was a little brown bat ... yes, a bat in the middle of winter ... in my bathroom! Nothing like a little excitement around the house.

Keep in mind .. it's after midnight, I'm in pajamas ... and I've had a bit of Nyquil. Next thing you know, I'm getting suited up for battle .. I've got a hoodie on, gloves and boots. I'm not afraid of many things .. but a bat flying around, indoors will make anyone a bit jumpy. I'm looking over my shoulder as I'm typing right now. Anyway .. I managed to corner the little guy in the shower, I scooped him up and set him free outside. It was a bit cold out and I had second thoughts .. but then, he took off into the night. Just imagine trying to get some sleep after that ...

Steve

Post ID 110 · recovered verbatim from the database

Seven Out of Ten ...

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Now we're going back like three weeks .. my time line is all messed up, but I promise I'll get things back on track .. eventually. I know I've got to get some pics up on here .. but I've been having trouble with that .. I will give it another try though. Back to the story .. what I can remember of it. It's Friday, February 2nd and my buddy Dan is flying in from Vegas to meet me for the convention. It's about 11:30am at the Marriot when I see something freaky with red/black hair emerge from the taxi .. Dan had arrived. We threw his bag in the H3 and it was off to meet up with the crew at Cabbage Cases. I always make sure I have time for a visit and a little magic show for the employees. Its really pretty funny when all production stops in the shop so they can be entertained. After a quick show we went to lunch with my good friend Mike Hannah .. he takes good care of me.

After lunch we went back to the convention and hung out there until the bus ride to the theater for the evening show. We actually take old school buses to downtown Columbus .. and its all part of the adventure. It was a bumpy ride .. and we did have some Skyline Chili right before we left. The show was fun and one of the highlights was the MC of the show, Micheal Finney .. he's one of the very best performers out there .. and a very genuine person, he's way up there on my list of greats.The buses were lined up after the show .. and it was back to the convention for some late night festivities. To tell you the truth ... it's mostly a bunch of nerds doing card tricks, and hitting on the only two females within a 50 mile radius.

It was getting a bit late .. and I was beat. Dan of course had other ideas .. he was starving, keep in mind it's about 2am. So, it was off on a quest for food that lead us to ... White Castle. The bill came to almost twenty bucks for just the two of us. I asked Dan what he ordered ... the number 10 Combo: consisting of ten Sliders, two fries and two drinks! That was just for him .. and he's just a scrawny little dude. The table was set and I was waiting to see just how many Sliders he was going to eat before he got sick. He actually did pretty good .. seven out of ten little burgers, topped off with Barq's Red Creme soda. We made it back to the Red Roof .. and set the alarm for 7:00am .. you see, the stage contest was on Saturday .. at 8:00am! You can only guess if we got up that early .. with a few hours of sleep, but I'll leave that for next time.

Steve

Post ID 111 · recovered verbatim from the database

Livin' Like Rock Stars ...

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Its about 7:30am Saturday, February 3rd .. and sure enough Dan had a wake up call for us ... it didn't work. Of course, we missed the stage contest .. but 8am is just a bit too early for rock stars like us. I think I was up and moving around 10am .. Dan still looked like death warmed-over, so I got cleaned up and ready for another action-packed day. We met up with my friend, Tom Rozoff for some lunch at Skyline Chili once again .. I could go for one of those Coney Dogs right about now. After lunch we made our way back to the convention and spent some time in the dealers room. We didn't want to miss the next lecture, Micheal Finney. If you get a chance don't miss him .. he's just an amazing speaker.

It was getting close to dinner time .. and we had it all planned out. We were meeting with the boys from the east coast and heading to the Outback for steaks. We had an awesome dinner there last year .. and we were all looking forward to it. Sure enough .. we can't find it, I know it was just down the street and on the left. We wound up at the Lone Star and they told us that the Outback was boarded up ... looks like we'll be eating here! We had a nice dinner ... the boys were working our waitress .. pretty funny to watch. There was one final show to see tonight at the Marriot .. so we made our way back. Now it's all coming back to me .. the show, well it was almost painful to sit through. The audience began to turn ... and it was pretty sad. I can't really remember who was on that show either .. but the only thing memorable about it .. was how bad it was, and thats not a good thing.

Despite all that, we did have a blast hanging out with the boys .. and the convention was coming to a close. It was Sunday morning and we made quick stop to Tim Hortons for some donuts, then it was off to the airport to say by to little Danny Boy. He was flying back home to Vegas while I was heading up north to Bowling Green, Ohio to visit a friend. I always enjoy spending time with Owen and his family .. out in the middle of nowhere. They live on a small farm outside of Toledo .. lots of land out there. I wanted to get on the road before it got too late .. as the Superbowl was tonight, and the Chicago Bears were in it. I'm not a huge sports fan .. but I was happy that the Bears were in it .. finally! As I made my way across the Indiana Toll Road .. the weather got a bit rough. Blinding snow, and strong wind made the trip challenging. I managed to listen to the game on the way .. and the first quarter sounded like we were on the way to winning. By the time I got home .. well you know what happened ... there's always next year.

Steve

Post ID 114 · recovered verbatim from the database

Send Me an Angel ...

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

February has just flown by .... and I've got plenty of stories to tell. I don't want to fall too far behind, so here goes. After the Ohio road trip, it was right back to work. This time around I shared the stage with Angel, which made things much easier. Now Angel has been doing shows for just about the same number of years as Val .. but, we don't argue anymore. I found a simple trick that works with Angel and everything is fine. As long as I agree with what ever she's talking about .. its all good. She doesn't give me a hard time about the outfits or the dance steps required ... so things go smoothly.

Over the past few weekends we had shows back to back .. and thats not easy with the amount of equipment we move. Angel made things a breeze .. she had most of the props packed by the time the show was finished. I trained her well years ago .. she knows what to do. We met a lot of great people with our travels .. especially Tari in Oak Park. She made us feel right at home and hung out backstage with us. Normally, no one is allowed backstage while were setting up .. but for her, I made an exception. Of course we have our "secrets" to keep .. and she didn't see a thing. The audiences were very receptive, we had so many great volunteers . After each show, we make it a point to sign autographs and meet our little fans, their excitement makes all the hard work worth while.

Steve

Post ID 119 · recovered verbatim from the database

Now Where Did That Hour Go??

Sunday, March 11, 2007

So here's the deal .. I was trying to catch up on all my adventures in the past month, and that doesn't seem to be working. We are going to skip ahead to the present day and try to keep up with this thing. It looks like spring won't be too far ahead. Out here the snow is almost gone .. the temps are finally rising past 50 or so. Tonight I worked at Max & Erma's in Woodridge, going table to table and sharing my magic .. right up close. Each week I see many of the same faces and the kids are just great. Right now it's the closest thing to a real job I have .. so come on in and grab some dinner .. tell them you came to see "Magic Steve."

This weekend we turned the clocks forward .. lost an hour in the process, if you forgot .. this is your friendly reminder. Let's see .. not too much new going on .. I've been working in the shop repairing a few props that needed a fresh coat of paint. My little boy Rex is doing just fine .. he's passed out beside my bed as I'm writing. My mother too, is doing well .. she even made a triumphant return to church on Saturday, it's been three months. The winter is pretty rough on her .. but they let her slide. My good friend Dan is off to work in Greece for a few months ... it should be an interesting adventure. I guess that's about it right now .. you're all caught up .. I think ..

Steve

Post ID 123 · recovered verbatim from the database

Bed-time Story ...

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Today was another long day .. show days usually are. I was on a schedule and I had to stick to it so everything would fall into place. My back has been killing me for a while now .. but I just couldn't put my finger on the cause. Last week I was wondering around the local Menards, thats a big hardware store out here .. and sure enough I run into a bed in the center isle. I'm thinking to myself .. they sell everything here, even beds ... not to mention the kitchen sink. Then it clicks .. I need a new bed, this must be why I wake up feeling like an old man. So .. I'm out with mother the other night .. and we go to take a closer look at the bed selection. Mom was finding all kinds of stuff at Menards ... she picked up a new disaster movie on DVD and even a case of Hunt's Tomato Paste on clearance .. go figure. So she's telling me to try it out .. now I'm laying flat on the bed staring at the ceiling in aisle 37.

My plan goes into effect .. Sunday is garbage day on this side of town, and its my chance to make my move. After my usual duties around the house including a long walk with Rex, I empty out the van and make my way back to Menards. I quickly make my purchase and head back home .. the clock is ticking away, I've got to be at work by five. I pick up some lunch for everyone at the house, then it was time to get some work done. It's already about 3pm and I've got to be in the shower in an hour. My brother Jeff helps me get the old bed out and carry up the new one. After setting it all up .. it's like six inches taller, that will take some getting use to. Rex needs a running start to get up there and sure enough, he's passed out on it as I'm typing now. I should finally get a good nights rest .. at least thats what the label says.

I'll let you know how my back feels in the morning .. until then, sweet dreams.

Steve

Post ID 124 · recovered verbatim from the database

So, I Ran into Elvis Today ...

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Of course I didn't have my camera handy, but there was the jumpsuit on the counter. Let me explain .. I was at the shop that does all my leather work. I'm getting some new pieces made and I know Elvis has been there before .. but this time, his stuff was there. I heard some voices in the back .. I knew he was near. He was having some repairs made to his outfits. We finally met .. his has was as black as coal, and he's wearing glasses now. It's funny .. but he's still working after all these years. A moment later .. Elvis had left the building.

In other news .. things are warming up out here. Mother has actually driven to Kmart, on her own .. twice this week. She hasn't been behind the wheel since last November and relies on me as her chauffeur. I don't mind too much .. as long as she's not crabbing .. over the years I've toned most of it out .. I have to.

I've been working on props lately .. repairs, repainting .. sewing, yes .. I do it all. Above you'll see our Inside- Out illusion along side the very rare Slicer. We're actually preparing this illusion for out next concert show .. I'll keep ya posted on that. My friend Dan is working in Athens, Greece right now .. I'm sure he'll have some interesting stories from that adventure. So far he hates it .. but he's stuck there for another month. Oh .. almost forgot, but our former Chezababe, Quissy is about to have her first child. I think Greg is spending the night at the hospital. They live in Vegas .. so it will be a while before I see the new little one. They don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet or an Alien for that matter .. but my money is on a little boy.

I'll let you know if I'm right .. I've got three to one odds ...

Steve

Post ID 125 · recovered verbatim from the database

And the Winner is ...

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Believe it or not .. we got some snow today, and yes it's April. I just washed cars the other day .. so it only figures. I forgot where I left off .. I'm sure a few weeks have passed, but I'd rather have something to say .. than nothing at all .. and that is questionable most of the time. It's funny how many people have a blog .. yet have nothing to say.

Let's see .. I did have a fun time the other night at a magic gathering on Monday. My good friend, Marshall Brodien invited many of the local magicians to his house. It was nice to see and visit with friends I haven't seen in a while. Marshall has quiet a set up in the basement of his home .. filled from wall to wall .. it's his Magic Museum. Most of the photos include Marshall with stars of the stage and screen. David Copperfield has even been over for a visit .. the tour bus took up the whole driveway!

Everything else around here is fine, mother was in for a special test on her heart and the doctor was pleased with the results. Rex is going back to school .. and I'm not the father of Anna Nichole's baby. Actually .. that would kinda be like winning the lottery .. maybe I should have worked on that a bit more ...

Steve

Post ID 128 · recovered verbatim from the database

Heroes and Cowards ...

Friday, April 20, 2007

You can't ignore what's going on in the world and it's just tragic to hear the news this past week about the students in Virginia. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families that were involved. This of course touches on many subjects that I normally steer clear of on here. First, the loss is beyond comprehension .. these poor kids had their whole life ahead of them. These where good kids ... the future of America, they deserved their chance at life.

As for the gunman ... he's simply a coward, a disgrace to the human race. This person had no regards for human life .. and should never had been able to purchase a gun. I can see both sides of this situation .. but the laws and licensing should be much stricter. I myself have a few different licenses for the pyrotechnics used in our concert show. I worked with the ATF, the FBI and the Illinois Office of Mines and Minerals. Let me tell you ... it wasn't easy, and it shouldn't be. Owning a gun shouldn't be simple and a mentally unstable person should have no chance of getting their hands on a weapon. There .. I said it and I'll stand behind that. I know it's a constitutional right .. but, not in all cases. I could go on .. but you get the point.

As the news unfolds .. I'm sure we'll here more details of this sad event. I couldn't help to think .. there must have been someone that would stand up to this pathetic loser .. and there was. I just read about one of the teachers at the college, Liviu Librescu, who barricaded the doorway of the classroom and saved his students lives. His unselfish act of bravery cost him his life .. he is a true hero. You see they are still among us .. they're really out there. You never know who they are but they do exist. Sure, they may not wear a flashy outfit .. or where a cape ... but they are the real deal.

Just keep your eyes open, he may be sitting right next to you.

Steve

Post ID 129 · recovered verbatim from the database

Out with the Boyz ...

Monday, April 30, 2007

Again .. a few weeks have passed since I wrote, so here goes nothing. My mom is in Florida right now .. I still have one more week of freedom. You see most of my week is driving her back and forth to doctors appointments, shopping .. stuff like that. I never knew I was going to become a chauffeur later in life .. but then again, she carted me around for the beginning of my magic career. We would load up the Delta 88 with a couple of Kmart footlocker trunks and I was off to conquer the local birthday magic market. I still run into young adults that say I was at their tenth birthday or a Blue and Gold dinner .. it's alway pretty fun to hear the stories.

Anyway .. I should have tons of free time .. but, a week has already flown by. I told my mom I was going to build a room addition while she was away. She liked that one .. and knew I was just joking. I did manage to take some time off for a ride up to Milwaukee with the boys. Joining me was fellow magicians Paul Lee and Mike Di Domenico. We were heading up north to see the premier of "Wohsgicam." This is my friend, Brett Daniels latest project .. and it's a really cool new concept in magic. Kinda like watching the "Prestige" live on stage .. a murder mystery with classic magic woven in. It was a long drive on a rainy night .. but we made it just in time. It was great to run into some old friends and some new. Afterwards we were a bit hungry and made a stop in Racine, Wisconsin for a late night snack. The drive thru was open .. and we opted to eat in the parking lot. Nothing like fine dining at 2am.

Steve

Post ID 130 · recovered verbatim from the database

Planes, Trains and Automobiles ...

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

I really wasn't expecting things to be so difficult today .. but it was worse than I imagined. A simple trip to pick up my mother at the airport turned out to be a nightmare. Of course things aren't simple .. theres a catch, mother has a health condition that requires her to carry an oxygen tank. The plan was simple enough and I would meet her at the gate ... but today it was near impossible. I left almost two hours ahead of time to get through traffic and find a place to park. When I arrived at Ohare with plenty of time to spare .. I found that all of the parking lots had been closed .. really ALL the lots! I tried to explain the situation .. that mother was handicapped and required her oxygen tank to leave the plane. She had taken her handicap placard with to use in Florida .. leaving me with nothing but the tank to show as proof. Of course that wasn't good enough and I was told to park miles away in a remote lot. From there I would have to walk to the bus stop, wait in line .. then board a bus to the airport. There is no way that situation would work .. she would never make it that far.

Just when I thought all hope was lost .. the lower lot opened up and I zipped in a found a space. From there it would take another 30-40 minutes for me to get through security and then on to the gate. It was a bit stressful .. they had to hold the plane for a bit until they could get her and the tank she used off the plane. Thanks to our buddies in the Middle East .. you are no longer allowed to carry your own personal O2 tank on board. Mom is home safe and sound .. looks like the terrorists have won again.

Steve

Post ID 132 · recovered verbatim from the database

Better Than the Alternative ...

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Things are pretty much back to normal around here .. mother is on my case as usual and things keep breaking around the house. Today, I nearly killed myself falling off a ladder. Last time I worked on the garage doors ... I wound up in the hospital with metal in my eye. I'm not sure if I wrote about that .. but it wasn't fun. This time around, I twisted my ankle as I was stepping down .. I fell backwards, and lucky for me .. the bumper on my van broke my fall. Actually I hit my head on the bumper .. and no, it didn't knock any sense into me.

In other news .. it was my birthday the other day. The weather was beautiful .. just like I ordered. I took my little boy, Rex, for his walk and thanked God for another year. Sure, it was a rough year for me .. I lost some very special people in my life .. but I'm still alive and well .. what more can you ask for? Later that night we had a dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings and then a stop at Target .. yes, that's where I go on my birthday. Actually, we were saving the fun for the next evening. Tonight, I had a few friends meet up at Famous Dave's in Naperville for dinner. The food is just awesome there .. and they took good care of us. Afterward, we went back to the Manor and had some pie from Bakers Square. As you can see in the photo .. you never know what is going to happen when we get together. These are my friends .. and I wouldn't have it any other way ..

Steve

Post ID 134 · recovered verbatim from the database

Peanuts and Crackerjack ...

Friday, June 15, 2007

Again .. a few weeks have passed since I last wrote. Everything is fine .. don't worry, really. Between gigs I've been catching up on some projects around the house including some landscaping. Once again .. trying to complete one project before starting another. That never seems to happen though. I've got a lot going on as usual .. never enough time in a day.

Last night was our annual group outing to see the Kane County Cougars play some baseball. Nothing like some fresh air and a few hot dogs .. oh, and the funnel cake that's all over my shirt. Looks like Valerie is trying to sneak a sample when I'm not looking. The weather was just right and after the game fireworks to finish off the night.

Steve

Post ID 136 · recovered verbatim from the database

Summer Rain ...

Thursday, June 21, 2007

It's almost 1:00am and the sound of rain is a comforting feeling. I've been doing some landscaping around the house, planting a few trees .. stuff like that. Well .. it's been very dry around here, the grass is brown. The rain is a much needed sigh of relief for my newly planted grass. Things have been picking up for me .. in fact, I've got something going on just about evey day of the week now. Earlier today I had my first guitar lesson in years. I signed up for class months ago .. and even picked out a special guitar and matching strap. I didn't want to show up with anything too flashy .. like the Black Diamond guitar, you get the idea.

In other news ... there has been a lot of magic on TV again. On NBC theirs the return of America's Got Talent and of course .. that Criss Angel dude on A&E. Just the other night on the Late Show there was even a bit with Hanz Klok and Pamela Anderson from their new Vegas show. It looks like magic will once again be on an upswing .. and considering the next Harry Potter book and movie will be out soon .. I should really be doing well this summer!

If not .. I'll just start a band ..

Steve

Post ID 137 · recovered verbatim from the database

A Phoney Story ...

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Really .. I didn't forget about you, I'm still here. I have been keeping busy .. real busy, oh and I've got a funny story to tell ya. I guess we'll start with that. So, the other day I see a strange phone number on my cell. I usually don't answer, I don't give it out to just anyone. For some reason, I answer and it's the local Verizon Wireless store telling me someone is trying to reprogram my old phone. At first I didn't know what she was talking about. Well, turns out some punk kid went in with the phone that was stolen from my car last November. They told me I could come in a pick it up. I figured by now, it must be trashed. The nice lady said she recognized me from a pic on the phone. I'm like they didn't erase all that?? Sure enough .. all my info was still on there .. all my pics and numbers! You would think a criminal would erase that information .. but, most criminals are just that .. stupid. But wait .. it gets better, there was one additional photo on the phone .. a close up of some young dude. Of course this may not have been the crook himself .. but, there is a good chance. If anything I was glad to have my old phone back .. I'm sure I'll need a spare one day.

My calender has been packed the last week or two. We saw Weird Al in concert last Saturday .. then Heart, right here at Naperville's Ribfest. Of course we watched the fireworks just last night .. even mother was out to see them. The rest of the week I'm booked solid .. I'll actually have some money coming in .. that's always a plus!

That will do it for now .. I've got to get movin'

Steve

Post ID 138 · recovered verbatim from the database

Feelin' Like Jack Bauer ...

Thursday, July 12, 2007

You ever have one of those days where everything is going wrong?? It was just the other day ... mother wasn't feeling too hot and I was bringing her to an appointment. That all went fine .. they check the consistency of her blood, maybe the oxygen level .. something like that. We grab some lunch and one more stop .. then back home. Still no big deal .. that's a normal day for me. Well .. now things take a twist, and I discover that the phone is out at home. In todays modern day everyone has a cell .. no big deal. Mother is still not doing any better with her breathing .. so, it's time to take her in to the emergency room. Now ... on the way to the hospital I discover my cell is almost out of charge .. great. I'm in mothers car so, I don't have a charger in it. That's when it popped in my head I was having a day like Jack Bauer on "24" .. nothing was going right. They decided to keep mother in to check her out .. which is the best thing. Sure, I'm a magician ... but I'm no doctor. It just aggravates me to no end that I can't do anything to help her sometimes.

Later, I get home .. test the phones, check the line and still nothing. I can't get through to the phone company on my cell. I'm on hold for half an hour, much too long to wait for me. The cable was still up and running so, I still have the internet. I report the problem online .. but, still feel that no one is listening. It's always nice to talk to a real person when a problem like this comes up.

Sure enough, in less than 24 hours the repair crew fixed the line that was cut. Apparently the neighbor switched cable companies and they cut my line .. nice job. Mother is out of the hospital .. she just needed a tune-up as I look at it. The phones are ringing again and things are getting back to .. ah, normal??

Steve

Post ID 139 · recovered verbatim from the database

'Twas the Night Before Abbott's ...

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

In just a little bit .. I'll be hitting the road to a sleepy little town called Colon, Michigan. For over twenty years now I've spent a few days here each summer .. along with hundreds of magicians from across the country. Abbotts Magic holds their annual Magic Get-Together the first week of August. Of course I'll try to take some cool pics and I'll have plenty to write about.

I remember years ago .. I would get so excited about heading out there, that I couldn't get to sleep. It was almost like the Christmas .. you know, when you were a kid and couldn't wait to get up in the morning. Of course now .. I fall fast asleep, but .. I still get a little excited to see my good friends from over the years.

I still have plenty to tell you about .. we've been keeping busy with the show and there's even a new Chezababe I have yet to reveal. We'll get back to her when I get a chance .. not that I want to leave ya hangin' ...

Steve

Post ID 140 · recovered verbatim from the database

Hangin' Out with the Bishop ...

Monday, August 13, 2007

So, I'm back from my little adventure to Colon, Michigan .. and of course it was a fun time. My good friend, David Seebach, came along for the ride and we stayed at a nice hotel in Sturgis. This year was Abbott's 70th Get-Together .. and it was a hot one. There of course are lectures and contests during the four day event, but most of my time is spent backstage with the acts. I've been part of the stage crew now .. for like 15 years. Some of the talent was really amazing .. and some, to tell you the truth .. I couldn't bear to watch. I guess they have something for everyone .. that's one way to look at it.

Friday night my buddy Jason Bishop worked the stage. He's got one of the coolest illusion acts out on the road these days, so if you get a chance check him out. Not many other magicians would promote another .. but, I really like this dude. His girl, Kim is really something else too .. she runs the show from backstage and even drives the truck .. she's really an amazing girl. Anyway .. I did get to spend a lot of time with both of them and I gave them the tour of the town including the cemetery. My little friend Blade was with for most of the fun .. including skippin' stones near Blackstone Island. The rest of our time was spent in the dealers room and later at night in Five Star Pizza. Nothing is quite like spending some time with fellow Magi in my home away from home.

Steve

Photo: Me, duh ... Blade, Kim, Jason, Stuart, Lori and Paul Emmick.

Post ID 142 · recovered verbatim from the database

It's a Dry Heat ...

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

It looks like summer is already behind us and I'm still trying to get caught up. Since my last entry, I spent a few days in the Wisconsin Dells then a day later I was in Vegas for the Magic Live! convention. As soon as I returned home, it was back to work for me.

Magic Live! was a gathering of the top magicians from around the world .. and yes, somehow I slipped under the radar. There were lectures, shows and a few surprise guests including Jason Alexander from the TV series "Seinfeld." He actually had a fresh new perspective on magic .. from an actors point of view. I met up with some good friends who live in Vegas now and some new friends along the way. The weather was a bit warm, over 100 degrees during the day. I'm told it's a dry heat, kinda like sticking your head in an oven .. but what do I know? My flight home was delayed because of some huge storms in Chicago. We circled Kansas City for a while until we could land. The airport was virtually closed and there were people everywhere .. it was quite a sight. Of course, I enjoyed a couple of days off and it was just the thing to get me fired up again. I've got some new exciting projects underway and you'll be the first to find out.

Steve

Post ID 144 · recovered verbatim from the database

A Dozen White Roses ...

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

I've been putting this off .. a year to be exact. I never finished the sad story about losing my friend Tina. Today was a beautiful day outside .. I went for a long walk with Rex and looked up to the sky thinking of her. It's already been a year to the day that she slipped away. Just a year before on the very same day, we shared the stage one last time at Santa's Village. I can still remember her smile .. it was special for both of us, truly magical. I really didn't think it was going to be our last show .. we had actually planned another about a month later ... but, it wasn't meant to be as she was still recovering from surgery.

Tina was more than a friend, more than a Chezababe ... she was my girl. From the day we met, we spent nearly every day together for almost five years. That's a long time to put up with me ... she deserves and award for that alone. Of course we had our ups and downs .. there was plenty of chaos, and that ultimately sent us in different directions. There is so much to say about her, so much talent, the energy she had .. and how much we loved each other. It was easy to see in some old pictures I just came across. We really had something special .. and I was a coward never to marry her. With that said I've got to finish her story and lay it to rest.

It was just last September .. I was lucky enough to visit her one last time, a week before she passed away. She was very frail .. the cancer had spread through her body. To this day I can't understand how a God above would let this happen, and I'm still very angry about it all. I knew deep down inside, it would be the last time I would see her .. how do you say goodbye?? She even had me fooled right up till the end, she called me on Monday and told me she needed to get some rest after a busy weekend. She went to eat at the Cracker Barrel and then took a ride on the back of a motorcycle. For a second I thought .. she's going to beat this, miracles do happen .. right??

On Thursday, she slipped into a deep sleep and a few days later, I got the call. I was preparing to go on stage in Appleton, Wisconsin. It was her sister Stacy .. and I knew what was coming next. Her family was with her at home .. she took one last breath and with a crash of thunder she was gone. It rained heavy for about five minutes, then the skies cleared. At the same time, I remember walking outside as the rain came crashing down on me .. I couldn't believe she was gone.

After returning home, I drove out to the small town of Marseilles. It was a very sad time for everyone, she had touched the lives of so many people. At least she was finally at rest and no longer in pain. Our story has finally come to an end and Tina finally got her flowers ..

I'll never forget you babe ..

Steve

Christina Michele Ryan

November 12, 1975 - September 17, 2006

Post ID 146 · recovered verbatim from the database

Sundays in September ...

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

I've said many times before, this is my favorite time of year. The days are warm and the nights are nice and cool .. good sleepin' weather. Just last night I fell fast asleep on the couch .. again. The trees are already starting to show colors and the pumpkins are in season.

I couldn't wait for Labor Day to pass and see the Halloween Display at Target. I always get a kick out of all the cool new stuff they have for the season. We use to set up quiet a display at my house .. the kids were actually scared to come up to the door, and for good reason. The fall also brings back fond memories of my father. He would usually be the first up and the hum of the lawnmower could be heard outside. Sure enough, he would be in shorts and knee high tube socks, cutting the grass. Soon afterwards the smell of pancakes would fill the house .. he liked making those on his little grill. Later in the afternoon, the Chicago Bears would be on in the family room.

Those days are long gone .. but I can't help to think of him, especially when there is a chill in the air. Looking at the calendar, I've got one more Sunday in September to enjoy.

Steve

Post ID 149 · recovered verbatim from the database

A Night Out on the Town ...

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Last Monday there was a special dinner and show presented by the Wizards Club of Chicago. Mother was well enough to attend and really had a good time. Over the years she's become friends with many of the performers I work with. Everyone was glad to see her .. and she got all dressed up for the evening. I was working backstage that night .. but, I did get to sit down for the meal. My brother drove her home while I finished packing up. Only a few days later .. she's back in the hospital again. She usually just goes in for a "tune-up" .. as I like to call them, but .. they're keeping her in almost a week now. I guess the doctors say it's her asthma acting up again .. and maybe a slight infection. She bounces back quickly .. and she'll be alright, this time around. I don't think I could sit still for even a day .. not to mention a week!

Keep Ma in your thoughts and prayers .. this way I can get a little rest myself.

Steve

Post ID 150 · recovered verbatim from the database

In Just a Few Days ...

Thursday, October 11, 2007

You never know what the weather is going to be like around here. Just the other day is was near 90 degrees in fine city of Chicago. Today we're almost half that .. no joke, it does take some getting use to. As long as it's above freezing I'm fine with it. I still go for two walks a day with my little buddy, Rex .. no matter what the weather is like.

Enough about the weather .. let's talk magic! We've got a lot going on this month and one of our stops will be up in Racine Wisconsin on October 20th @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm. You can find details on the show right here .. themastersofmagic.com. We're also getting ready for a photo shoot and new merchandise will be right around the corner.

In other news, my mother is out of the hospital .. that's a good thing. I've got a little sniffle myself .. but, I'll be fine.

Steve

Post ID 151 · recovered verbatim from the database

Rocktober Update ...

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

It was boys night out yesterday ... as we headed over to the old Rosemont Horizon to see Van Halen. It's been a while since I've been to a concert .. but, I always come prepared with ear plugs. The ringing in my ears a day later just isn't worth it anymore. The place was packed, I haven't seen that many people in a while .. it had to be near 16,000 by my guess. It was an older crowd as most of the youngsters don't even have a clue who Van Halen is. David Lee Roth is clearly the star of the show and held the band together. It was the first time I've actually seen the legendary Eddy Van Halen do his thing on the guitar .. and he lived up to everything I've heard. The show itself was Ok .. I'm glad I didn't drop $149.50 for a better seat and that's not including your "convenience" charge of $14.00 per ticket. Don't even get me started on the crooks that run that scam .. but, we managed to avoid those fees and went right to the box office that night and picked up some crappy tickets in the upper balcony for a mere $49.50 each. The crowd was peaceful .. no fights that I saw, so that's a good thing. We usually get the one drunken fool next to us .. it never seems to fail. Last time I was at one of these events, WWE Wrestling .. I was ready to throw a guy over the rail because of his constant swearing. I think I wrote about that a while back. We finished off the night with a little Mc Donanld's and I was still wide awake at 3:00am because I drank a little too much Coca Cola late at night.

The next few weeks are really busy with projects and shows. We'll be up in Racine, Wisconsin this Saturday for two shows, you can check the Tour Schedule for details. I'll try to get some pics from the road trip .. it should be fun time.

Steve

Post ID 152 · recovered verbatim from the database

Roctober Roadtrip ...

Saturday, October 27, 2007

October has been a busy month .. lots of work and even more chaos. I'll pick up from where I left off .. a few weeks back. Right before our road trip to Wisconsin we had a photo shoot for all new promo stuff that will be coming out in the next few months. Joining the crew is our new Chezababe in training, Seneca. This girl is really something else, I think you'll get a kick out of her if you see our show. She's got a lot to learn but she comes with years of dance training, so she'll really liven up the show.

Only a day later my mother was back in the hospital for another brief stay. I was going out of town that weekend, so it makes things a bit difficult .. but, the show must go on. We had a fun time starring in the Masters of Magic show at Veterans Memorial Hall. The place was huge .. I thought we would never fill it. We arrived a little behind schedule because of all the road construction, but had everything ready to go in just under two hours. Valerie suited up for the show and everything went well. The weather was beautiful up there and the day went by fast. We hit the road around 10:30pm and grabbed some Burger King along the way. We'll be home around midnight .. nothing like life on the road.

Steve

Post ID 154 · recovered verbatim from the database

Little Stacy ...

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

I woke up today with my mind racing .. I saw something very disturbing, but the truth is all too real. A friend of mine has been reported missing .. and it's even made national news now. Her name is Stacy Peterson .. from the nearby town of Bolingbrook. She was kinda like family years ago ... she was my girlfriend, Tina's younger sister. If you've been keeping up with my posts online, you'll already know she passed away last year. Tina was always looking out for her little sisters .. and this was her worst fear. I've already been in touch with the Illinois State Police with some information I had to offer. I've kept in touch with Stacy recently, in fact she came to visit me at one of my shows to drop off an old photo album of her sister. It was from the time we were together .. and it was a very special gift. She wanted me to have it as a memory of her sister, Stacy was always very thoughtful.

You can do a search online .. the story is in the Chicago Sun Times .. I'm not sure how to get the link up here. It's not a simple story .. as there are a few strange twists including the mysterious death of the previous wife. I remember when all this was going down a few years ago .. it was pretty alarming. I can't say a whole lot more ... I just hope Stacy is hiding out or something, I just don't have a good feeling about all this ...

Steve

Post ID 156 · recovered verbatim from the database

Jackie's Magic ...

Sunday, November 4, 2007

It was a long ride up to Gurnee, IL yesterday .. the road construction is ridiculous around here. Angel was in town and joined me for this special event. Jackie's Magic is a food drive for the families in northern Illinois. We were glad to be part of the show again this year.

Once we arrived for set up .. the stage was filled with props. It looked like show was sponsored by the magicauction.com. As you can see in the pic .. it's very chaotic. We were doing a short 12 minute spot in the show .. so, we were set up pretty fast. This time around I carefully selected what I would do in the show .. and it really payed off. The audience really responded well to our act and got a lot of great comments after the show. Many of my good friends were also performing including Marshall Brodien, Mark & Sue Holstein and the Balsters. We all work really well together .. there are no attitudes backstage.

After the meet and greet session we learned that the school alarm would go off in an hour and the school would be fined, big time. That means the load out would have to be fast .. real fast! It wasn't a problem for me but, the rest of the stage was filled with equipment. Of course I stuck around and got things moving, we made it out with 15 minutes to spare!

It's amazing what goes through your head when your a performer. On minute your on stage, the lights are shining bright .. with everyones attention. The next moment, you're on the road ... digging through a bag of Taco Bell, while calling a friend across the country and telling them how the show went. The highs and lows can be extreme .. and only a performer can understand. I try to keep things in check and lead a pretty normal life .. I think. I'm lucky enough to do what I love .. and if you love your job, you never work a day of your life.

My star shined bright last night .. and I'm very thankful for that ..

Steve

Post ID 158 · recovered verbatim from the database

For All the Wrong Reasons ...

Monday, November 5, 2007

Things have taken a strange twist around here. If you look back on a previous post from just last week .. you'll see one of my friends has gone missing, it's been all over the news. I just got back from spending most of the day near Stacy's home in Bolingbrook, IL.

Apparently the e-mails I had between Stacy and myself are a key piece of evidence in this case. The phone began ringing off the hook at 7am. As most of you might assume .. I'm not a morning person .. so, it's been long day. I was asked to do an interview, then another and another. By the time the day was over I had talked to all the local stations and a few others that you may have heard before. I was on Nancy Grace, Larry King, MSNBC and even On the Record w/Greta Van Susteren.

It was all very surreal .. I never thought I would be involved in anything like this, but the reality is all to real. It was interesting to see how the networks piece things together. I didn't even have time to really gather my thoughts .. the cell just kept on ringing. One interview after another, I stood in the cold .. the wind chilling to the bone. One of the neighbors even opened up their home to the people involved. In between segments I went inside to warm up .. then it was back outside again. Under the conditions, I did the best I could to help out. You really can't imagine what it's like being in the middle of all this .. it's exhausting. Many say that I'm putting myself at risk .. but, to tell you the truth .. it was the right thing to do. Of course I should be excited to be on National TV .. but, it was for all the wrong reasons. This a very sad story .. I just hope she's alive and well .. somewhere. Pray for my friend Stacy's safe return .. I really hope we're all wrong, I just fear the worst ...

Steve

Post ID 159 · recovered verbatim from the database

Searching for Answers ...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Something is up ... the State Police have called off the search today for my friend Stacy Peterson. I was out just the other day with my trusty Shepherd, Rex searching with Stacy's family. It's a very strange situation that I never thought I would be involved with.

Her husband has been named as a suspect in her disappearance so, we all know what direction this is heading. I still feel numb about this whole thing .. I can't imagine why someone would take a young girls life, it just doesn't make sense. There are so many good people out in the world .. it only takes a few evil ones to mess it all up for the rest of us. It's just so sad that this is our world .... it could be so much better.

I've been trying to keep my head on straight, the media keeps on hounding me for information. The story will even be in People Magazine and the National Enquirer this week. I've been doing all I can to keep the story out there .. I don't think this guy is going to get away with it this time around. I just hope for my sake they lock him up and throw away the key.

If I happen to go missing ..

Steve

Post ID 161 · recovered verbatim from the database

When a Boy Becomes a Man ...

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Eleven years ago this very day, my world changed forever. On this very night, I would go to bed knowing my father was no longer alive. My very worst fear had become reality, and things would never be the same. I still remember it all like it was yesterday.

The day started simple enough, I went to help my dad wash his car and pick up some lunch. I remember he was having some chest pains .. but, shrugged it off .. no big deal. He had a doctors appointment in the afternoon so, I figured that they would get to the bottom of things. A little later in the day my mother called and they were going straight to the hospital. It still really didn't hit me .. but, thing were only going to get worse. The next thing you know my dad is surrounded by doctors trying to revive him. He was rushed into surgery as we waited patiently for hours. It was after midnight when the doctors came out and told us he could no longer be saved.

I remember driving my mother and brother home ... everyone was in tears. The house never felt so empty and cold. It's still very painful to even write about but, I can't help of think of him .. especially tonight. I remember waking up in the middle of the night .. praying it was all just a nightmare .. but, I knew it wasn't.

My dad was a very special man, most knew that he would give you the shirt off his back. He had a great sense of humor and would be known to pull a good prank or two. We had a lot of great years together, he worked hard and lived the American dream. He ran a successful business for over 30 years only to have his dream taken away from him. There is so much more to say .. it only took me eleven years to write this much. Every now and then I could use his advise. All I can do now is look up to the heavens and wait for an answer ...

Steve

Post ID 163 · recovered verbatim from the database

A Vent and his Dummy ...

Monday, November 19, 2007

In the performing arts a "vent" is short for ventriloquist .. you know, while keeping your lips closed you do the talking for the "dummy." So, I'm watching the "Today" show this morning and sure enough they had Mr. Drew Peterson with his lawyer. I think you see where I'm going with this. I might as well be watching a stupid puppet show as the lawyer was doing all the talking for the "dummy." If you look close you might even see the lawyers hand up .. ah, never mind. It just gets me sick .. as you know this is a personal situation and I'll do everything I can to see this guy behind bars. The so called "exclusive" interview was a waste of time.

Enough of all that .. I actually dig go see a vent last Friday and it helped get my mind off of things. Jeff Dunham and friends were playing at the Rialto Theater in nearby Joliet. You may have even seen him on Comedy Central or his DVD at all the major retailers. The show was really fun, I've seen him a few times before and he's always got fresh material. The place was packed, two sold out shows that night .. I couldn't believe it. He really is on top of his game right now ... selling out theaters across the country. You can check him out online at his website or even on youtube.com. If he's in your area .. get tickets fast, I highly recommend his show.

It was mostly adults in the audience but, I did see a few kids in the mix. He did slip a couple of swears in the show .. actually it was the puppet, so Jeff can't be to blame ... right?? It's good to see people going to the theater again especially for an act in the variety arts. There is still hope that magic will be on an upswing again .. and people will see magic the way it should be seen, live and in person.

Steve

Post ID 165 · recovered verbatim from the database

As Long as it's Above Freezing ...

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

No doubt about it .. winter has arrived in the Chicago area. This of course makes things a bit more challenging when we're out with the show. There of course is a lot more to our performance then the 45 minutes of show-time. Once we arrive at the venue, we have to unload a van full of equipment .. this is called the "load-in." The next step is the set-up that usually takes about an hour or so. Sure .. we've got props to assemble but, there's also sound equipment, backdrops and costumes to get ready. The sound is up and running, then we go over the show list to make sure everything is set. Finally it's show-time ... and the fun begins. Just last weekend there were over 700 people at one of our gigs .. that's a big crowd.

Once the show is over, our work isn't finished .. not yet. We usually get back into our street clothes and begin tearing down. Everything needs to go in the right cases and then back in the van .. this is simply called the "load-out." Some days we repeat this process up to three times on a given day. It is a very tough job but, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Steve

Post ID 166 · recovered verbatim from the database