Dear Joe,

I know you probably get thousands of requests like this, but I'm hoping you'll take the time to read this.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis and over the last 6 or so months it has become almost impossible for me to walk without a walker or wheel chair. Also, my mind has been affected with vertigo, which is a daily problem. I haven't been able to work now for about 2 months. I'm working with some great doctors here in Chicago, but so far all of the treatments haven't helped ease up my MS. I am a really big fan of yours and I've been fortunate to see you in concert a few times. Anyway, my hands are the only thing that hasn't been affected by the MS and I was wondering if it would be possible for you to send me an autographed guitar. My 9 year old daughter is also a big fan, and she can kick some serious butt on Guitar Hero playing the Satch Boogie. I know you probably can't do something like this, because all your fans probably would love to have an autographed guitar. If you can't I understand and I'll still be listening to your music. It really helps my through my rough days when my body is having a really bad flare up.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, God Bless and please keep making music. It truly inspires me to push through my illness.

Burly - I saw your post about home recording and I know how hard it is to find the right equipment.

Have you ever thought about instead of buying all that expensive equipment that takes up space and instead buying a really high powered computer with all the toys on there?

Here's a list of the programs I use at home for my keyboard, they are all Midi capable and my computer hooks directly with my keyboard.

Pianoteq Cakewalk Dimension Pro Toontrack EZDrummer Broomstick Bass Peavey Revalver Cakewalk Sonar 8: Producer Edition

It's obviously not as awesome as studio recording but the sound quality is really great and it saves space, time and money. I've never owned a single guitar amp in my life and I'm quite happy with the stuff I can get out of those programs. But of course, I'm a keyboardist for the most part alot of those programs are geared toward a keyboard, but the guitar program is really great, and yes I do play guitar, just can't say it on the T2J forums.

I hope you find something you are interested in, not sure if you play keyboards at all, but just thought I'd pitch in my 2 cents.

Burly - LOL. Nice Saprano reference. Sure do miss that series! By the way, I went to check out some Tony Spinner, but no one had any of his cd's in stock. Itunes did have a recording from 2007 called Live in Europe. I downloaded it on your advice. I like it. He really reminds me of a slightly less bluesy Robin Trower. I really like it alot.

Alan- I absolutely cannot stand Vista,which is on the laptop I am on now. My desktop is a few years old with XP.

I will be switching to MAC as well on my next purchase, In my side business I use Microsoft Office which I understand is not supported by MAC.

Hybes- Tony Spinner is a super good guy. He grew up a couple of hours from here in Missouri, and played with a couple of groups in my area over the course of about 15 years then I lost track of him until I heard he was on the road with Toto. He used to drive around in his 1964 Chevrolet convertible (thus the song My '64) just a down to earth kinda guy, he helped get my band some gigs in Missouri and Illinois where he started playing. I always knew he belonged somewhere besides clubbing here locally, not much happenin' even in Memphis. He lives in The Netherlands now and if anyone is in the area check out his site and try to catch him live. An exceptional showman.

punkdude75

CONGRATS !!

punkdude75

In case I forgot to tell you, CONGRATS !!

punkdude75

Oh yes, CONGRATS !!

Great News !!

Another generation of Satch fans !!

Guys- If any of you are interested in Dave Weiners computer, Scubadaz posted a link yesterday. Some of you fans out close to him may be able to pick it up cheap. There are no bids as of about 1 hour ago. I am thinking the shipping will be tough on this, but you might be able to pick it up if you live close,and a great chance to meet the man in person..!!!

I've been seeing Blue Moon beer here in PA for prolly over a year now.

Al, very cool shot of the GG bridge.

Wicked storm blew through here yesterday. The tornado was about a half hour from here. Yikes!

I'm still playing catch-up...

There are some concert update mailing lists I'm on that send me things very late...I think it probably has something to do with the size of their mailing list. Maybe they start sending a day ahead of time, but if you're at the end of the list it takes up to a day or so for you to get it.

I don't mind missing the generic "coming events" emails, but it really bugs me when venues send me a presale password a day late.

And you know what, when I was talking to him after the SF PSATMOR gig, he told me he'd be working on his website. What's taking him so long? ;-)

The playing in the clip you posted is the actual actor (and he does a great job), but FYI all of the other guitar parts in the movie are played by the amazing Kaki King. Check her out on MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/kakiking

Give a listen to Bone Chaos In The Castle and Gay Sons Of Lesbian Mothers, and then scroll down to see her video of Playing With Pink Noise.

Dave says items will ship from PA so the computer is near Michelle.

I picked up the Gen 3, the volume pedal and the 535Q Wah. Some great buys on cases and such, anyone interested should check it out.

Scubadaz- Thanks again for the heads up on that 1. And Aerosmith is the best performance in concert I have been to and that is saying a lot considering I am a die hard Kiss fan.(some crappy shows from them in the 80s but some good ones as well). Aerosmith puts it out there man,..The ultimate showmen.

Dave's parents live about 4 miles from me, but I'm not sure where Dave lives. He told me once I might see him riding around on his motorcycle on his time off from touring. The music store he deals with is 3 or 4 blocks from me. He posts ads there to get jam bands together once in a while when he's home. We were at the same gig in Philly once to see An Evening With Joe. He was hanging out in the lobby with his girlfriend, and I was standing with my husband and a group of friends, and I was like "Holy shit! There's Dave Weiner!" We went over and said hi and stuff. It was pretty cool :-)

I'm used to seeing him as the awesome guitar guy on stage, not the fan in the lobby with the rest of the schmucks. lol!