Many happy returns. Or at least one happy return. The other one is doing alright too. And also: the continuing saga of absent bears

It has come to my attention that neither Haribo nor Black Forest made the gummi bears that I was craving all tour. After some diligent internetting, I notice neither bag is the brand which I'm fixated on. Wikipedia, alas, has failed me. Google gives me too much information on that mid-80's cartoon with the wonderful theme song and horrific plotting and not enough on the ins, outs, and what have yous of the gummiverse. So for now, I stagger through the darkness, gummi-less, moderately depressed.

But why focus on the bad? Plenty of delicious things go the way of the gummi dinosaur, plenty quality TV shows go the way of Dinosaurs; good things come and go while Mountain Dew is here to stay. It's the way of the world. I'm accepting it. I'm moving on. I'm talking about Friday.

See, Friday was fantastic. We had the pleasure of playing to a Slim's packed with faces old and new, with two of our favorite bands on the planet, back in a hometown we missed sorely. It was like a family reunion, albeit one that leaves you with tinnitus and a swollen knee. Thanks to everyone that came, said hi, danced, sang, heckled, stabbed, soft-shoed, drank, and anything remotely similar to the aforementioned verbs of enjoyment. Just a complete joy to be back. And thanks to Division Day for soldiering onwards, through broken glasses, transmissions, and, perhaps, spirits, to play one of the best sets I've ever seen them play. Which is truly saying something since I'm one of the world's foremost experts on Division Day. After all, we've done three week-plus tours with them, shows here and there not involved in a greater migratory pattern, own all three of their CDs (including the embarrassing one), and can even sing you the Elliott Smith ditty for which they're named. I know Rohner's blood type (B positive), Seb's shoe size (eight and a half), and the name of Kevin's barber (Blind Joe McGruggin). Two Seconds, also: Bravo. Proud we could be a part of your CD release, even though the printing press you used shat the bed on your font. (That's why we use Pirate's Press. Not only have we never had a problem, but most of them have eyepatches and a degenerative gum disease.) Arial be damned; y'all were great.

It also seems pertinent to divulge the fact that, yes, once again, I've returned to work. A gigantic, expensive van, an illegitimately inflated cell phone bill, and other usurious demands have forced yet another return to the ol' nine to five. But it's not too bad. I'm two hours in and have retained a large portion of my sanity. I sort of forgot what 7:30 in the morning feels like (not so good, by the way), but I can get back into this. And hey, I really don't mind sitting at a computer. I can check email, do this here blog, and---wait. I recall my boss reads this. If so, hey there big guy. Hope you're feeling better. Sorry that WOXY went the way of the gummi dinosaur. We can mourn together, perhaps, over a Lone Star. I'm on hold right now with a client. I swears.

Ah, they, um, they picked up. I better get going. Until shortly.