the tonedef blog

Band Mom and Pooh left for Band Mom’s Mom’s place yesterday. Thing 1, Thing 2 and I stayed home alone. We goofed off for a bit then they went to bed while I stayed up and watched Sci-Friday on the Sci-Fi channel for the first time in a few weeks. Yes, I’m a geek like that. I was going through withdrawal not seeing SG-1, Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica.

Today we got up and I made everyone some eggs, then after everyone bathed we had some left over Chinese food for lunch. I dropped Thing 1 and Thing 2 off at my parents place around 1:30 and headed to Rock’s for load up. After Bill and Mike arrived we were loaded up and headed for Ellsworth around 2:30. Keyser met us at the fire hall not long after we got there. People started showing up around 3, and Chuck showed up with the grub around 3:30 or so We were set up and playing by 4:15.

Today’s show was for Chuck. Or more correctly for Chuck’s customers. This was Chuck’s customer appreciation day. He called his customers, and invited them all to the party. Everyone got in for free (A $1 donation got you some tickets for door prizes and they also were taking non-perishable donations for the Ellsworth food bank.) Chuck brought a great spread of grub. deer hot sausage, deer keilbasa, deer meatballs, some wild turkey dishes, oh and some vegetables. The hot sausage was excellent! Chuck also had a ton of door prizes to give away every half hour, and there was a muzzle loader given away. Any money taken in at the event went to the fire hall. Chuck did this whole thing for his customers. That was totally cool.

What else was cool, is the fact that Chuck asked us to play the event. We got to play to some fans that haven’t seen us in a while (since the Crazy Horse doesn’t do bands any more and we’re banned from Tradesmen’s), and a lot of people that have never gotten to see us. Also it was nice to get to get out with the band again for me personally. We played a good set and I think everyone had a good time. Actually, we weren’t sure if many people were actually paying attention to us, but after we finished, we had a bunch of people asking us to play more, and finding out where we would be playing next. That was a nice thing. We actually got up and played an encore. Since there were a bunch of Skynard fans there we did Needle and the Spoon. After that we were going to do another and of all people Keyser suggested since everyone enjoyed Needle we should do Sweet Home Alabama. Thats right I said Keyser suggested it. In case you’re not aware Keyser has lobbied for over a year that we never, ever play anymore Skynard, and if we have to play some that we never, ever, ever play Sweet Home Alabama. So next time your at a show be sure to request Sweet Home Alabama to Keyser.

I talked to Band Mom after the show and she almost fainted when she heard that. She’ll be coming home tomorrow, so tonight I’m gonna clean up the mess that Thing 1 and Thing 2 have managed to make. (Just kidding Band Mom.)

Any way be sure to check shot30.com because more shows are gonna start getting added here soon. Keyser will be talking to Mike at Nicolozake’s and Mike is talking to Christian’s. Also Band Mom and I will be back in the swing of things come March, and Band Mom already has us lined up for a new festival in May.

Well I’ve babbled enough…See you soon.

Doesn’t look like I’m going to Band Mom’s Mom’s this weekend.

Yesterday, Band Mom got a call from Thing 1′s school and had to pick her up early. Thing 1 was falling asleep in class and had a temp over 100. Band Mom took Thing 1 to the doctor’s last night and the rapid strep test came back positive. We decided not to take the chance of getting Band Mom’s Mom sick, so I’m staying home this weekend with the 2 little ones and Band Mom is taking Pooh with her.

Since I’m home this weekend, I might get to go play with the boys. If my mom will watch the kids for a little on Saturday (assuming Thing 1 is not too sick), I’m gonna go to the Elsworth Fire Hall for “Chuck’s Wild Game Feast”. Chuck is a good guy and has always supported Shot:30. Plus you might be able to beat Chuck’s prices but you can’t beat his meat.

Anyhow, If you get a chance you should check out the Beast Feast even if I can’t.

Last night Band Mom and I took a trip to Dorchester Towers by South Hills Village. We took a look at some apartments and they were pretty nice. Band Mom’s Mom was looking for a 2 bedroom 1-1/2 bath. They have one, but it wont be ready till probably mid-March. We looked at the 2 bedroom 1 bath and figured it will work for her. Plus without the extra 1/2 bath the master bedroom’s closet is ginormous. Its walking distance to the T so she can catch a lift to the Village or Downtown. Its also close to a grocery store, shopping and restaurants. Granted Ft. Couch Road is a little busy, but not nearly as bad as where she is at now. Looks like we’ll be moving her in the last weekend in February.

The kids can’t wait for NiNi to be closer. Oh and you know if we go visit maybe they could go to the pool. Did I mention that the complex has a pool. That’s pretty much all the kids heard. The apartment itself has more living space than the place she’s in now. Also, the Dorchester has a party room in every building. And they aren’t kidding. Its a huge room with a 50+ inch HDTV, DVD player, giant couch, bathroom, full kitchen, multiple dining tables. Band Mom and I are going to move into the party room, if they let us. Its got everything we need.

Well this weekend is Chinese New Year so we are taking the kids down to Band Mom’s Mom’s. And bringing back more stuff to put in storage until the move. The following week we aren’t going down. Friday is Bo’s birthday party, then Saturday we are going to celebrate my Mom’s birthday and then Sunday is something…Oh yeah…The Super Bowl. I guess I have to watch that since the Steelers are in it. (wow sarcasm doesn’t work in print very well…)

Well I’ll keep you all posted.

Apparently, the fact that I run sound has gotten around. I got a call last night from Keith. His current band is looking to record a demo (cheaply). So he called me. Unfortunately, I don’t actually own any of the equipment I use to run sound. And on top of that I don’t have a multitrack recorder. But, I do have some friends who do. I would really like to do some recording work for Keith. So I think I’m gonna call Sal to see if he would like to join me and use his new toy to do it. (Sal last year bought himself a wicked portable studio). If that fails, our old interim bass player and guitar phenom Ed just got his new house. He’s been talking for a while about how when he got his house he was going to set up a studio in it. Wonder if we could break it in? Barring that, I have been trying to find an excuse to go play in Donny’s studio that he built last year (or maybe its been 2 years now?). Either way, I’m gonna go to Keith’s practice next Tuesday, I think, to check out what he’s doing and meet the other guys in the band.

On a side note, if anyone knows a good metal guitar player and/or vocalist, Keith is looking. And here by metal I mean METAL, not 80′s hair stuff, we’re talking Lamb Of God type metal, agressive, shredding in your face kinda shit. They have a show in Cleveland in February and would really like to add 2 more people to the band. Right now its just Keith on drums, a bass player and a guitar player/singer. To really pull of the kinda stuff they are writing, they would like to have a dedicated vocalist and a second guitfiddle.

I’ll keep you all updated on how that’s going.

This weekend Band Mom and I are heading back down to her mom’s. We’re gonna help her start packing. It looks like she will be moving back to SWPA in the next month or so now. Also, she may have a roomate in her older sister. We’ll see.

Talk to you all next week. Don’t forget to check Shot:30′s web site. I know Band Mom has put up some pictures and Mike has been playing around as well. Also, we cancelled our show this weekend at Nicolozake’s since I was going to be out of town, and also Mike had to work in Michigan. But we have a show in February coming up and more so stay tuned.

I decided I would reprint the obits as they appeared since the links in my previous post wont last forever.

Washington Observer Reporter
1/14/2006
Lung Cheng
Bureau of Mines retiree formerly of McMurray

Dr. Lung Cheng, of Adelphi, Md., formerly of McMurray, died Tuesday, January 10, 2006, in his home.

He retired from the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

Dr. Cheng was well-liked and respected and received many awards for his work at Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center.

Surviving are his beloved and cherished wife, Carol; daughter, Lilie; and three granddaughters, Destiny, Toni and Samantha.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 14, in Gasch’s Funeral Home, 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD (301-927-6100).

Washington Post
Dr. Lung Cheng
CHENG, Dr. LUNG

Passed peacefully in his home in Adelphi, MD, on Tuesday, January 10, 2006. Formerly of McMurray, PA. He is survived by his beloved and cherished wife Carol; daughter Lilie; and three granddaughters, Destiny, Toni and Samantha. Retired from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Dr. Cheng was well liked, respected and received many awards for his work at the Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the GASCH’S FUNERAL HOME, 4739 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD.
Published in The Washington Post on 1/14/2006.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Dr. Lung Cheng
CHENG
DR. LUNG
Passed peacefully at his home in Adelphi, MD on Tuesday, January 10, 2006. Formerly of McMurray, PA. Survived by his beloved and cherished wife Carol, daughter Lilie and three granddaughters, Destiny, Toni and Samantha. Retired from the US Bureau of Mines. Dr. Cheng was well liked, respected and received many awards for his work at the Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at 2 pm at the GASCHS FUNERAL HOME, 301-927-6100, Hyattsville, MD.
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 1/14/2006.

I thought I would post a link to the obit for Band Mom’s Dad. I could only locate one of the three that we submitted. I will edit to add the other two if I can get them.

Washington Observer-Reporter
Washington Post (may require registration)
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Saturday was the memorial service for Band Mom’s Dad. It was to begin at 2pm. We got up and had some breakfast. (The stupid alarm clock in the room didn’t work, so we missed the continental breakfast, so I went and got some McDonald’s.) My parents left around 11 to head to Reagan National to pick up my sister. Around noon we got everyone that was at the hotel rounded up and we all headed to Band Mom’s Mom’s apartment. Mary’s other son Charles and his wife Lori had shown up by then. We all piled into 4 cars and headed to the funeral home.

They had set up the funeral home for the ceremony. They did a nice job. The urn had come in and was engraved. It came out looking very good. The US Bureau of Mines logo looked awesome on the urn. We set up the memory board, another photograph, some candles and an incense jar. After a while my folks showed up with my sister. Then Lee’s cousin John got in. He flew in from Toronto. Then the bus from Band Mom’s Mom’s apartment complex showed up with a bunch of the residents. Finally, the reverend showed up.

The ceremony was in Chinese so for us whiteys, some was lost. However it was very nice. Band Mom gave the first eulogy. Her cousin Frank, translated her English into Chinese for the Chinese guests. It was a very touching eulogy. I got pretty choked up even though I had read and heard it a few times earlier this morning while she was working on it. Then John, who was the only member of Band Mom’s Dad’s side of the family able to make it since he is the only one on this side of the ocean gave a eulogy. Again Frank translated. His was very touching as well. Then Pooh got up and read a poem she had written for her Ya Ya. When the floor was opened to the rest of the guests we heard from a person from the co-op (Chinese only), as well as family members, Mary, Mirinda, Martha, and Jason. If there was anyone else I’m sorry I forgot to mention them. When the ceremony was over incense was lit in the traditional Chinese custom. Everyone lit an incense and said a prayer and put the incense in the pot to burn.

After we were done at the funeral home Band Mom’s Mom took everyone to lunch/dinner at Band Mom’s Dad’s favorite restaurant down there, the International Buffet. Before we went there, Band Mom, John, Frank and I took Band Mom’s Dad’s remains and some other things from the funeral home to the apartment. Band Mom (and I agree) felt weird about leaving her dad in the car while we all ate.

After dinner the family went back to the apartment. We sat around and talked forever. I got to hear some great family stories and learned alot not just about Band Mom’s Dad, but Band Mom as a youngster and other family members as well. It was a good time. I took the kids to the hotel to get some rest around 11 and headed back. We ended up staying til around 2 in the morning. I feel bad for Fali and Frank. The airport shuttle was picking them up at 5:30.

All in all it was a nice day. I think Band Mom’s Dad would have liked it. Hopefully, we can get together with some of her family members for a less sad event sometime soon.

Goodbye, Dr. Cheng.

Today, the relatives began to arrive. Around 4 or so Fali and Frank arrived from Houston, TX. Band Mom and I went to the hotel and checked in. Band Mom’s Mom insisted on paying for everyone’s hotel accomodations. Yesterday Band Mom and I reserved all of the rooms we would need. So we headed to the hotel and checked in and picked up Fali and Frank and took them to the apartment. Mary’s husband Jay arrived not long after.

Band Mom and I had to run some errands and while we did Mary started some spagetti dinner. While we were out we picked up some salad, dressing and bread to go with the spagetti. We headed back to the apartment and had some dinner. We then got a call from Mary’s youngest son Mike. He just drove into the hotel from Columbus, OH. We went and picked him up and brought him over for some dinner. After everyone ate and visited for a while we took Frank, Jay and Mike back to the hotel. My parents showed up not long after with the kids. Band Mom spent most of the evening working on a memory board to display at the funeral home tomorrow. Finally around midnight, Mirinda and Martha (San Fransisco area) and their brother, Jason (Minnesota) all arrived.

After getting the memory board all done, it was time to get some sleep the ceremony is tomorrow at 2.

Today, the phone slowed down…a little. Band Mom, her mom and I went to the funeral home so they could make arrangements. Since Band Mom’s dad was to be cremated, it made some of the preperations much easier. They had to pick out some incidental things, like if they were going to have prayer cards, flowers, sign in book, when the ceremony would be, etc. After that we looked at urns. This led to a rather amusing moment. Something everyone kinda needed actually.

While looking through the book of urns Band Mom’s mom was drawn to the “Ginger Jar” style urns. Now if any of you have ever been to an oriental home, or store you’ve seen these. They are used for any number of things. The are small ornate jars with tops. Usually they have some sort of floral or asian themed design on them. Here is one to get an idea of I’m talking about. Clicky. Now it wasn’t this particular one, but you get the idea. Anyway. Band Mom’s Mom finally decided against this, so Band Mom told her mom a humerous story.

A while back Band Mom’s Mom gave us a ginger jar (not an urn) that was very pretty that she had from a visit to China. We took it home and put in our curio cabinet. Some time passed and for a week or more we noticed Thing 2 was always eating Life Savers. Now neither Band Mom or I remebered ever buying Life Savers and we couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. Finally Band Mom noticed that the ginger jar in the curio was open. When she looked it turned out that it was full of individually wrapped Life Saver Cream Savers obviouslly put there at some time by her mom. While Band Mom’s Mom was looking at the urns all Band Mom could think of was Thing 2 trying to get into the urn thinking it was another secret candy dish…

Band Mom’s Mom finally decided on a marble box style urn. It is a green marble and Band Mom’s Mom decided that is more masculine and dignified than the ginger jar style. We had it engraved in gold with Band Mom’s Dad’s name and birth and death days. Also they were able to engrave the US Bureau of Mines indicia on the urn since this was where Band Mom’s Dad had worked for most of his professional life.

After picking everything out we got to see her dad. They had him in a private room. We had brought along his favorite shirt so he could be at least partially clothed when we saw him. He looked very peaceful. It was a tough moment for Band Mom and her Mom. Band Mom hadn’t seen her dad since our last visit around Christmas and Band Mom’s Mom hadn’t seen him since Tuesday when he was taken to the hospital. The funeral home allowed us to borrow a Polaroid camera to take a couple of quick pictures to send to relatives that couldn’t make it, most especially, Band Mom’s Dad’s sister who still lives in mainland China.

Later that day Band Mom’s Aunt Mary arrived. She drove in from Charleston, WV. When she arrived we contacted the funeral home, to ask if we could see Band Mom’s Dad one more time. Mary wanted to also say her good-bye’s and Band Mom’s Mom kinda needed another visit. They were very accomodating and we headed back to visit again. This time was a little tougher for Band Mom. She had pretty much made her peace during the earlier visit and this just made it a litle harder. Mary brought a camera and we took a few more pictures. This kinda creeped me out a little. I don’t deal with death all that well to begin with. The posing and taking pictures with a dead guy was weird for me. I kinda understood sending some pictures to close relatives that couldn’t be here to show that he was treated with the proper respect, but it was still creepy.

It has started to set in that Band Mom’s Dad has passed. Today we (and like most times when I say we I mean Band Mom) spent most of the day on the phone making arrangements with the funeral home, notifying relatives, answering calls from relatives, and basically greiving via telephone. At one point Band Mom was on her cell, Band Mom’s Mom was on her phone and I was on my cell, talking to relatives. It seemed like anytime a phone was hung up it began ringing instantly. We spoke to relatives in PA, WV, TX, CA, Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and more.

The calls to China were interesting. It was the first time Band Mom or I made a phone call accross the ocean. Band Mom was having trouble placing the call. Then when she did get the call completed, she kept getting a busy signal. Then when I heard the signal, I realised it was really the ring tone in China. It sounds very close to a US busy signal. No one said anything, but I bet for a while the relatives in China were quite annoyed at the half hour or so of hang-ups.

Over all everyone is doing okay. We are going to the funeral home tomorrow to make plans, and we will also get to see Band Mom’s Dad before he is cremated. One final good bye for Band Mom, and her mom.