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Day 2

Per the suggestion of our host, we have breakfast at Cracker Barrel. This is a new eating place for the Apes. Somehow, the country store/restaurant never called out to us before. Anything that has the name "country" in it scares me. But let me tell you, they are cooking up something special for dinner every day of the week. With country favorites like Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, Fried Pork Chops and Turkey 'n' Dressing, I don't know how we stayed away.

We have to walk through the country store to get to the restaurant. It contains mostly rabbits, pickle relish, jam, and candy. There is also an assortment of wooden paddles with inspirational messages and some stuffed dolls on porch swings.

Once we are perusing the menu, I get scared. Jeff can't eat anything either -- eggs verboten. I end up with some of their special scrambled fake egg product called "EggStrodinaire!" It arrives on a little plate and its mostly these strange little yellow strips. Hey, with mustard and tobasco, anything can be made into a delicious treat.

We are off to Jackson, Mississippi: home of Eudora Welty and the happy hour crawdad bathtub. I jog in the bathroom of each rest stop. I know those one minute energy expenditures can add up at the end of the day.

It's pouring by the time we pull up at Martin's. Their happy hour is in full swing. The place is packed and everyone is enjoying huge piles of crawdads, raw oysters, corn, and potatoes, along with their post work alcohol specials. The bartender named Chubb tells me that the promoter isn't coming, there is no food hook-up, and no sound man for the evening. The Apes get to do their own sound on this rainy Tuesday night. We get directions to the hippy food place down the street. We also call Wes, our buddy from Jackson. He's not sure if he can make it out. He has gotten married in the last year and his wife is pregnant and his newly bought house is flooding. I guess we'll find another place to stay.

We go to Aladdin's for dinner and to the coffee shop across the street for some dessert (or free wireless internet and caffeine with soymilk hook-up). Just like the creeps we promised we'd be, I sit far from Jeff and immediately get an Instant Message. It's awesome. We don't even make eye contact. [Jeff: Even more awesome is that the wireless in the coffee shop is fast enough that I download the new episode of The Ultimate Fighter in about 10 minutes.]

Back at the club, we chat with Supersystem. And moments later, we are surprised by the arrival of our very devoted SuperFan, Mike, from Memphis, TN. Mike was several hours away on business and decided to make the trip to see The Apes. Even though we are playing in Memphis on Friday night, he is dedicated enough to drive to freaking Jackson, Mississippi to see us play four days early. We are honored.

Shortly after, we are also greeted by a long time friend of Birdman's own David Katznelson, Greg P, who is a Mississipi Blues legend of sorts, and our host for the evening. The show starts really late. We go on around 11 pm after trying to set up the vocal PA for some time. Apes have never really had to do this. Oh, you should have heard the sounds coming out of that thing. Not much in the way of vocals.

The show is fun, even if it's very sparsely attended, and the fans report that it was quite un-promoted. That's cool.

We drive over to Greg Preston's house after the show. He has a beautiful little house and Erick and I get to sleep in his older son's bedroom. I think I fall asleep around 3.30 am. At 6.15 am, I hear the sounds of his younger son, the 3 year old.

"Pappa? You up, Pappa? Want to go pee pee in the toilet, Pappa? Let's play, Pappa! I want some milk, Pappa. I want some peanut butter, Pappa! I want to play the drums, Pappa!" Another peanut butter eating drummer is about to roam the earth. This one is so excited to be alive!

His chipper little voice is so excited, so full of life, and innocence. I can't wait to meet him, and hope he can fall back asleep for just 3 more hours, so I can fall back asleep for just 3 more hours.

When I do leave the bedroom, I meet him and his mom. They are super cool. I get to play with the little guy and chat with his mom, who is a yoga teacher. We bond immediately. She teaches Anusara style. I mostly practice Iyengar and Power Yoga. She has made French Press coffee and soy milk is sitting on the counter. The day is starting out right.

Erick sneaks in the shower ahead of me and then the little boy has to go pee pee in the toilet. We have to jimmy the lock.

Once the family departs, I pay some bills using their computer. We pack and leave, gearing up for the 10 hour drive to Austin. Once we hit the Waffle House, I discover that I've left my wallet at our host's house. Fuck. Double fuck. We locked the door behind us. I call Greg on his cell phone. He thinks I can fit through the doggy door. Also says that it shouldn't be too hard to jimmy the lock with something metal. Fuck. Then he just says he'll go home and get the wallet and bring it to us at the Waffle House. We end up meeting him there. No wallet. While I'm in the house, I hear Paul's voice coming from the van in the driveway.

"God Dammit, Kleiny. It's sitting right here on the front seat. I thought you checked the van. Dammit, Kleiny!"

I did check the van, Pauly, I did. I swear I did. Bad Kleiny. Kleiny is very very bad.

We leave for Austin. I'm not allowed to drive.

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