I am CuTRis

The other day as I was mixing up my frozen, concentrated apple juice from Cub Foods, I noticed that the can said, “China” on it. Upon further investigation, the (Cub Brand) can said that the contents came from apples that were from Germany and/or Argentina and/or China. I stared at it, wondering why when a butt-load of apples are grown in the USA, that these apples came from “one or more” of these other countries? Yesterday, I decided to make a raspberry wine, using wild, Minnesota-grown raspberries. I will tell you, up front, that this is not a cost-effective way to get wine. The benefit is in the artistic creation, the satisfaction of making a fine wine, and using local fruit! My first step was to drive to Rapids Lake (about a 48 mile round-trip), where I know there are a lot of plants and a lot of berries. I was fortunate to find mulberries too! I was dressed in denim pants and a denim jacket to protect against the many thorns. I also wore a hat and a mosquito net over my head. I wa...

Our recording session yesterday, may have gotten us one song (i.e. "Roadmap"). We also recorded a live version of a song I wrote called, "Freeman." I wrote the song years ago, and when I first played it for the guys they said they would never be able to do it. I change time in a couple of places. I've been told that I "can't do that!" My response is "of course I can!" and "Don't you oppress me!" The guys can play it well now, though they claim it took "three years." I doubt it took over one... My point to them was, that time changes, when everyone knows where they are, actually sound great... and of course... I'm right -they do! Freeman probably needs more work in the recording "studio." I must admit that after several hours, I was running out of steam. Recording is hard work!

Even though things went well with my initial tracks, Dave and Pete had trouble following it. We tried again with me on acoustic guitar and Pete on drums. Then it was a little tricky at the end with my vocal track. In short, we're use to playing off each other live. We may have to try recording a live version with the whole band together. Today is all about seeing what works. No doubt about it, recording is a work session. Some of the joy of a spontaneous jam session is gone. Still, it's time we put some of our 160+ original songs down on CD...

After a beautiful morning, we're getting some much needed rain. The band is at Dave's house and I can hear Pete recording his drum part right now. I used my acoustic guitar and put down the rhythm part of my song, "Road Map." The first take was all that was needed, and then I put down my vocal track in one take. So far it sounds good...

On Friday, June 9th I flew to Charlotte, North Carolina. My friend Alison picked me up at the airport, and after beer and BBQ at Mac's Bar, we went to her beautiful home in Waxhaw, NC where I had my own room (with Internet access) and bathroom! Such opulence... sigh... On Saturday we went to Linville Falls, and hiked up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The first photo shows the view from the top, which was more than worth the hike -even in 9o degree (F) heat! That evening we grilled out, and I enjoyed a local beer, Carolina Blonde. On Sunday, Alison had work to do (she is a freelance journalist and marketing maven), so I ventured off into the woods in Waxhaw. Later, we toured Waxhaw and Charlotte. We also visited Lake Norman. In the evening, we attended a Tony Awards party given by the North Carolina, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, in the Booth Playhouse. We watched the Tony Awards, and instead of commercials, two actors cracked jokes and gave away prizes -including theater tickets...

Thanks to Alison for this picture of me discussing the philosophy of life with a stone eagle in a garden in Charleston, SC. This photo pretty well captures the humor that permeated the trip, amidst some pretty enlightening conversation.

I just got back from my trip to the Carolinas. More about that will come later. It was a very nice trip, and Carolinians are very nice. Last night was my first night back, and I needed sleep! So, the large, tattooed woman who lives above me had a loud party that started at 10:00PM, and continued until after 5:00AM. This puts me in a bad position, as I don't want to fight with my neighbors, yet I bought into a community where loud, late, midweek parties are not allowed. If it becomes a trend, I will need to do something about it.

I made it through the last day of school (for the kids)! There were fights and rowdiness. My job for the last two days was to patrol the school with a two-way radio. Today is my last day. We have to go through the lockers and empty any leftovers. Then summer vacation begins!

Last night I played my guitar Jade. She had been stolen, pawned, and then found and returned by police. She was in good condition, though my tools and a few other things were missing. The guitar, strap, cord, case and whammy bar were there. That was what was important if you were pawning it. We jammed with the band, and came up with a spontaneous song called, “Sudden Urge to Strangle,” which was inspired by the whole ordeal. It’s nice to have my guitar back.

I send my kudos to Rhode Island, for once again, winning the title of worst drivers in the United States. After having lived there for a short time, and having driven there, I know personally that they are most deserving of this "honor." From their own paper, The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20060527_driver27.3199ad0.html

Sometime last week, my guitar Jade had been located by the police at a local pawn shop under the name of the guy who we think stole her. By the end of the week, the guy that stole my guitar was arrested and sitting in jail. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Apparently he stole a bunch of other things from my friends too, but they hadn’t noticed right away. Hopefully they can get it back. My guitar sent that fartknocker to jail! When I get my Stratocaster back, I’m going to get her a badge and put it on the guitar strap. http://cutris.blogspot.com/2006/05/violation.html

All roads eventually lead to the bathroom.

Why Me? May 26, 2006 It wasn’t fair! Now he was going to be late because one of the kids wouldn’t cooperate. Josh cautiously sped up his car so he was going 5 miles-per-hour faster than the speed limit. He kept looking for police cars, but was determined to make up for lost time. He wasn’t late very often. Surely his boss Mr. Cavanaugh would understand. Still, he was frustrated. He should have left 10 minutes ago, but his son Brian insisted on making the morning as miserable as possible. Finally, with the children safely dropped off at school, Josh had only to drive the 13 miles to work. He was making good time, and 15 minutes later he swung his car around the corner just as a tractor-trailer came speeding through the intersection. The two vehicles just missed each other, and though he knew he had narrowly missed catastrophe, Josh hurried on into the parking lot of the building where he worked. He was only two minutes late. Not too bad, he thought. Still it was not something he let hap...

Two Minnesotans, Newt and Svenor, were discussing fishing don’tchya know, when Newt, he says to Svenor, “I want to take my boat out, but I know if I do it will rain. But if I don’t go fishing, it’ll probably be a nice day.” “Ahhh…” said Svenor, “catch-22 huh?” “I don’t know how many I’ll catch," replied Newt, "but I doubt I’ll get that many!”

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Cutris Fires Trump May 24, 2006 Ironically, the man who coined the phrase, “you’re fired,” got fired earlier today. Cutris fired billionaire Donald Trump today with little explanation. When asked if he had the authority to fire the Donald, Cutris merely smirked and said, “Yes I do, and you are also fired for asking that question.” Cutris went on to say that it was “about time someone fired Trump,” and that he should “try shaving his head.”

Few possessions can invoke the kind of emotions that one can develop for a musical instrument. I am a guitarist. I have more than one guitar. They are all named. I can make them all sing. Last night, after going to hangout and jam with my band, I found that the Stratocaster that I keep where we practice had been stolen. We know who did it, but we have no solid proof. If he is smart (which he isn’t), he will try to return it. He should also avoid being in my presence. No real man would steal another man’s guitar! I remained calm. We did file a police report. My guitar is gone, and our equipment is not safe. This all happened because a troubled little girl, decided to choose a piece of human-garbage for a boyfriend, and he gained access to the house where we have jammed for the last 15 or so years. The one time I met him, he wouldn’t look me in the eye. That can say a lot. Whoever has my guitar now, she will never sing for you the way she did for me. She knows all my songs, but she will...

Cutris Appointed to Supreme Fort May 19, 2006 UnAssociated Press Report Cutris was named Supreme Fort Cutris yesterday by some government bureaucracy that has little to do with much of anything. The duties of a Supreme Fort Cutris are as of yet, still unknown. Also unknown, is the whereabouts of the Supreme Fort. No one in the government seemed to know what a Supreme Fort was used for, though nearly all of them agreed that it was better than a regular fort.

The school-year is almost over. The kids are getting in trouble at a rather remarkable rate lately. All of us are ready for it to be over. I am going to North Carolina for a few days. I just have to get through these last couple of weeks...

My closet hanger pole fell down last night. I hung all my clothes on it yesterday. Whoever put it up didn't screw the middle support into a stud, and it pulled out of the wall. Now I have to fix it and the wall! Ughh!