That’s the hat on the cover of Montaigne in Barn Boots. Me* and my mustache were younger when this picture was taken.

*Spare me yer notes it’s how I talk when I’m relaxed.

Every week the Wisconsin State Journal runs “Roughneck Grace,” a weekly column written by Mike (many of the columns will be adapted from Mike’s Tent Show Radio monologues). This week’s column, titled “Sound in the night may be what you fear” can be seen online here.

That’s a whole lotta books signed, stories told, songs sung, hands shook, merch boxes lugged, gear packed and unpacked, soundchecks checked, gas station coffee, and just general truckin’.

Thank you, 2002 Toyota Sienna with two hubcaps on the other side:

Then there was the time the gas tank fell off:

Full gas tank story after the break. (more…)

Trying to help the neighbor find work:

Full tour here. It’s a big one.

#NotHisUncle

From Coop:

In time I began to recognize letters and make attempts at small words, so Mom sent away to a Chicago newspaper for a phonics book. When it arrived, she started at the beginning and worked through page by page…

Dug the remnants of that phonics book out of a box in the barn recently:

Mighty powerful to imagine Mom patiently guiding me through the colored panels on a trip I’m still taking. Once you have learned a vowel…