First of all, forgive the randomness of this post, as I only slept about three hours last night and it’s getting to that part of the day where things stop making sense.

So, last night down at the Gospel Music Channel’s studio in Atlanta, (thanks Carlos for not coming to visit even though it was in the middle of the Presidential Debate) there was a ridiculous amount of snacks and beverages laying around for everyone to take part it.  And what does one do in between taking pictures, talking about blog stuff, and watching video performances over and over?  They drink stuff.  They drink multiple bottles of water, Sprite, Diet Coke, more water because they can’t handle any more Diet Coke, and even a little coffee for good measure.

Here’s the problem with being a four hour drive away from home and having an entire day of sipping on selected beverages.  Nature takes it’s course and one might find themselves in need of a restroom more than once on the late night drive home.  Now, if any of you have driven the stretch between Atlanta and Nashville you know, that aside from Chattanooga, there’s not many spots to pull over and take a stop, and I for one am horrible at choosing the right place to take these stops.  I look for things that seem decent but always end up in places that I’m afraid I am leaving with a disease.

So last night at our second attempt to stop at a decent restroom, I had the choice between two gas stations.  One on the right, and one under the freeway to the left.  The one on the right looked a little dark and gross, so I decided to go to the one on the left.  As I pulled in I noticed the sign informing me that the restrooms were, in fact, outdoor restrooms.  Strike one.  I walked around the corner to find two doors.  ”Women’s” and “Men’s”.  At first I debated just going straight into the women’s knowing that typically women are cleaner than men and since it was after two in the morning there was sure to be vacant.  Locked.  Strike two.

As I opened the next door I noticed, first that it was unlocked, and second that it was occupied.  Not only was it occupied but it was occupied by a guy maybe in his early twenties, standing there with his back to me.  This particular guy was not only not facing me, he was also not facing any sort of toilet.  He was, however, doing what one would typically do when they are facing the toilet.  This guy was literally turned completely to the side and was peeing on the wall and directly on to the plastic mechanism that dispensed the toilet paper.  The floor was pooling and the toilet paper was now saturated with what I can only assume was at one point large amounts of alcohol.  

I took a step back and closed the door, and started to walk back to the car as the door opened behind me and a loud “Whaaattsssssuuuppp” came from behind me.  I turned to see now the front of this guy who was clearly under the influence of a different sort of beverage.  A slight nod and I was headed back to the car to look for a third option.

Randy and I are headed to Atlanta to hang out with the MercyMe guys and watch them record some stuff for the Gospel Music Channel.

Oh yeah, and I’m writing this from my phone because it was too much work to get my computer out of my bag.

I’ll have some pictures up later today from our travels but for now it’s time to find some coffee.

I sat in line at an obscure gas station just outside of town last night for about an hour to only be able to put three and a half gallons of gas in my car.  And that was after going to about ten other stations that we out of gas.  I sat there with probably about forty other cars waiting to do the same thing. 

What the heck?!  We are getting closer and closer to Mad Max style living.  It’s kind of exciting and kind of weird at the same time.  There were people fighting and yelling at each other, there was honking, simple finger gestures all over twenty dollars worth of gas.  Amazing to watch.  I was waiting for some renegade in leather to pop up with a chainsaw and take someone’s arm off.

I for one, know that most of the stations around me are completely out of gas.  They are saying that there will be some next week brought in, but they aren’t clear on what day that will be.  What’s crazy about the whole thing is that it doesn’t seem like anyone is slowing down and conserving.  What’s going to happen when the gas runs out and this entire area shuts down?  I’m not one for looting but there’s a nice TV I have my eye on if things go that way.  (*I’m kidding, don’t send me nasty mail*)

How’s the gas in your area?  Anyone else out?

So check this out.  I got a call today from Bart and it looks as though I will be heading out on tour with MercyMe and Bebo Norman this fall.  I’m pretty excited about this for a few reasons.  

First off, Kristin and I have been pretty big fans of Bebo for a while now and the thought of sharing a bus with him for two months and watching him play every night seems like a pretty cool thing.  Second, the fact that I get to work with the MercyMe guys again is really exciting to me.  They are great guys and amazing to work for.  Not to mention the blogging that we will be able to get done will be awesome.

It will be tough to be away from home for that time but the cool thing about this tour is that I will be home for good chunks of the week.  Anyway, that’s the news here.  I think the tour starts in the middle of next month so it’s time to start gearing up.

Today I got a text message from my sister.  ”Are You In Jail?”, it said.  ”Not today”, I sent back.  

Minutes later she called me saying that my grandpa, who I’ve seen once in over fifteen years got a call from a guy claiming to be me.  So this fellah, claiming to be me tells my grandpa who I’ve seen once in over fifteen years that he (I) was on the road with a band and did a show in Vancouver, Canada.  Well you know the crazy life of traveling with bands like MercyMe and David Crowder can be, so this guy tells my grandpa that after the show we (the band and I) went out and had a few too many drinks.  Now, this guy doesn’t mention the name of the band he (I) am out with, because well… that would be just too hard to come up with, but never the less, I am out drinking with this unnamed band and got so drunk that I (or someone else) wrecked some sort of motor vehicle.  I assume it’s not a tour bus, but something much more manageable by intoxicated band members and myself.  So anyway.  According to the caller, he (I) is now in a Canadian jail and needs five thousand dollars, from this grandpa I have seen once in fifteen years, to get out.  Huh.  

Naturally my grandpa questions the caller a little more, but to no avail, as said grandpa is the only person on the planet that he (I) felt comfortable calling.  Make sense right?  Thirty year old man, drunk in Canada with a Christian band calls grandpa he’s only seen once in fifteen years, because there’s no one else in his life that he trusts to loan him five grand?

But seriously.  For anyone wondering, I’m not in jail in Canada, but if you want to send me five thousand dollars I’ll take it.

I’m leaving tonight for another quick trip out with Phil.  This time we are flying in to Baltimore and driving up to a festival called “Creation East”.  Or maybe it’s just called “Creation” and there is one in the west and in the “East”  or maybe it’s just called “Creation” and the “East” is implied.  Either way I am headed there tonight.  It’s in Pennsylvania, which is “East” of here.

Because of where we are flying in and where the festival is Phil and I noticed a little place on the map right in between the two.  I have never been to Gettysburg and neither has Phil, so we thought there was no better time than now to see it.  I’ll try to make sure to get some cool pictures if I get a chance.

Also if you haven’t yet, make sure to head over to Brian’s blog and read his entry for the 40 Day Fast about the Global Food Crisis.  

I’ll try to update some this week, but I will be in a car a lot.  Maybe another trip in pictures is in order?

I’m flying home tomorrow morning.  More updates from the whirlwind trip to Ohio later.  David says hi.

Tonight I’m flying to Canton, Ohio tonight to meet up with Mr. Wickham and his band of merry men to watch them play some music.  They are playing with a whole bunch of other people tomorrow in the hot summer heat of Ohio.  Phil and I have lots of stuff to talk about and it should be pretty fun to catch up and see him with a band again.  I think the Crowder boys will be there too so it will be like a big ol’ reunion.  

Anyone from the area reading this?  If so I will be hanging out at some point near Phil’s merch table.  Come say hi.  I’ll be the guy dressed in long pants and a sweatshirt.  You got any festival plans this year?