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Home of Michael Perry – Author, Humorist, Singer/Songwriter, Amateur Pig Farmer

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Archive for June, 2009

On the Radio With the Chicken Whisperer

Late notice, but at approximately 8:10 a.m. Central I will be doing a live interview with Andy Schneider, the famous Chicken Whisperer.  More info about Andy and the show here.   You can listen live online here.  The show replays at 11 a.m. Central, and when it is archived we will also provide that link.

POSTCRIPT: Hey, that was fun.  Thank you to the Chicken Whisperer.  We talked chickens, but also sneezing cows, and we both admitted we would be nothing without our wives.  If you’re here to look for the book, click right here.  We also have a mailing list signup here, Facebook page here, and I sometimes Twitter there.

But above all *cluck!* and welcome.

Guitar Hospital

Now that I’m off tour and there is a Long Beds event in the offing, it’s time to swing by the guitar hospital and get my poor Larrivee out of rehab.

Guitar and 4H sign

I’m hard on that guitar.  First day I had it I slapped an International Harvester logo on the soundboard.  Why wouldn’t a guy?  Since then I’ve put a lotta wear and tear on it.  Wore grooves in the frets, especially up there in the D-chord region.  Let it get too dry this winter.  And somewhere along the line I gave it a rap that dinged the varnish and eventually led to a crack in the wood.

International Larrivee

The ding that eventually became a crack is visible above and to the left of the red “i”.  I don’t mind scars and wear on my guitar.  It’s a tool, and I cherish some visible indications of mileage.  But these things went beyond wear to neglect and required attention.  So before the last leg of book tour I left the instrument in the capable hands of my friend Gordy.  When I handed the guitar across the counter, Gordy turned it this way and that, ran his hands over it as if it were a trembling bird, furrowed his brow worriedly, and looked at me like I was a bad parent.  It’s no wonder, because Gordy is an artisan of guitars.  Someday when the farm is paid for I hope to get a Bischoff.  This guy has one, and he’s playing it right here.

I’m eager to see the guitar.  Gotta get after it, been on book tour so long my calluses have faded…

Room of One’s Own and Mailing List

Back home just after midnight.  Skirted all the big thunderstorms, stupendous lightning to the west much of the trip.  Thank you to A Room of One’s Own and the folks who turned out, thank you to those who stood (my humble version of Neil Diamond’s “Tree People” shout-out).  Got choked up during the midwife section because the midwife herself was there.  Was remembering the day and the care with which she delivered us a blue-eyed bundle of joy.  Thank you, Leah.

Slipping at the end of the tour, I failed to circulate my high-tech yellow legal pad mailing list signup, so a reminder that you can get on the list by clicking here.

Morning TV

Footage of the interview done this morning is available right here.  I got to stumbling around a little during the middle (conversationally, not literally) (although that’d'a made good TeeVee) but I love that Charlie Shortino proved his street cred by miming a farmer snort.  You don’t see that much.  Also note beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol dome in the background.  Means I’m only three hours from home.

Mike and Charlie
The reading we’re discussing is the one taking place tonight.

Reading Tonight

I’ll be here.  I may be country (and I may enjoy trotting out the the old “Madison is 13 square miles surrounded by reality” chestnut), but I love this location: adjacent to State Street, 2 blocks from our state capitol, everything from rag-tag to high art, from lobbyists to buskers, and always the smells of patchouli and good food.  Coexistence and commotion.  Plus, Madison is at the forefront of the urban chicken movement.

Insurance Agent, or My Dad?

I have a great insurance agent.  Let’s call him Stan.  He takes my calls at all hours and on weekends, and entertains my repetitive questions and absentmindedness without complaint.  Plus I once wrote about him in an essay for a national magazine in which I described his being forced — in the course of him helping me obtain health insurance — to discuss a most intimate, um, well, incongruity about my person.  He is longsuffering and kind.

Recently I emailed Stan with a question about auto insurance.  The first part of his response was straightforward and businesslike and sounded like an insurance agent.  But then he started talking about how different styles and features of cars affect the premiums.  For instance, he wrote, if you are considering a car with a name that includes “GT”, you should know that:

If you see GT, it means more premiums.  My definition of GT is Gas and Tires.

Gotta remember that one when my daughter wants to buy her first GT Whatever.

Super 8 Settle Down

Back in the hotel at 11:40 p.m. after signing the last book at 11:30 p.m. (signed a bunch for the store after the last customer left).  Hard to know ever how to thank folks sufficiently.  For taking the time from whatever else you have going on; for making the drive; for laughing at the beer tent story one more time; for the kind words you share in the book-signing line.  Maybe the best I can say is I don’t take it for granted.  Not by a long shot.  And a couple of those books I signed for soldiers…thoughts with them tonight.  Thank you.  Thanks.