So, Toxic Bash is officially a go! It will be on Saturday, July 25. In order to make this event happen, there will be some slight changes from years past, such as a new location for the stage and BYOB&F (beverages & food). Considering these dire economic times, this seems like a good compromise that will accommodate everyone's needs while still allowing the all-day-rocking to go down too. So, mark it on your calendars; WC3 and Semi-P back in action!

My little brother tells me Toxic Bash is in jeopardy this year, in short, because of the economy. When the Big 3 auto makers are in trouble, there's Washington with billions of dollars in loans. The economy's in trouble? Here's the $800 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I disagree with either of those actions. I just think our legislators should be more equitable when handing out taxpayers' money.

I'm encouraging Congress to adopt the ROCKS Act -- Reinvest in Our Community rocK Show. Just a few thousand dollars should do it, but that can be more. Is it really too much to ask for?

It's been too long since my last post, but I've had nothing riveting to share. Things are humming along nicely.

The boys are playing baseball this summer. Michael is in player pitch, and Anthony gets a pitching machine. I've been able to help at all of their practices this year, which is awesome. Turns out a pretty good coach, and my boys are pretty good ball players. It's a lot of fun -- and sometimes emotional -- to watch them grow. Michael's still prone to lose his temper when he doesn't do as well as he thinks he should (don't know where he got that) but he's got some great teammates who help cheer him on and encourage him. Anthony just isn't athletic, but he doesn't give up, and it's rare to see him without a smile on his face. Those are two amazing boys. Sometimes it's hard to believe they're mine.

For those of you planning your summer, make sure to keep some time available for Toxic Bash. It looks like the Winston Churchill Trio will be making another appearance, as will Semi-Productive. Lots of great music, beer and summer sun. What a great way to spend a day.

And finally, it's NHL playoff time. College basketball fans have March Madness. Baseball fans have the Fall Classic. For those of us who are fans of the greatest game ever played for the oldest trophy in professional sports, there's the NHL playoffs. We don't need a catchy nickname for playoffs or "bracketology." We just watch 16 teams battle through emotionally jarring, physically exhausting series, often with injuries that would put mere mortals in physical therapy for months. Awesome.

One last thing: I am NOT a fan of the new Facebook.

Ok, let's be honest: this is not the best performance of this song I have ever heard. But there is more to singing than just hitting the correct notes and following the score, and this lady seems to have whatever that intangible "it" is. Maybe it is judging a book by its cover, but I don't think anyone in the crowd expected what they got. And I have to admit that this gave me the chills, and to be perfectly honest, made me well up a bit. With that I give you the plucky Susan Boyle.

Some quick notes on what’s been happening lately in the metaphysicalrockstar world…

• I will be officially traveling with Karin to Hawaii in May, with a weekend stop in San Diego to visit Marissa. As this is the first vacation I have had in almost two years, I am really looking forward to it. .

• I have some more hockey pictures up at the MPRS Gallery. There are some from the Gates championship game and some from One Under’s final game. In other hockey news, I am helping to coach a clinic for adults here in Ann Arbor. It was set up by the managers of one of the teams I was subbing for, and so I volunteered to help run drills, make pointers, offer words of inspiration. So far it has proven to be both intimidating and rewarding. The downside is that now I keep catching myself contemplating drills!

• I have successfully executed my first foray into baking! For Karin’s birthday I made cookies with white-chocolate chips and sun-dried cherries. They were awesome! I was very surprised at how well they turned out and I am planning on making some more soon. Proof that Karin is an influence upon me; whether good or bad, I leave you to decide. shot 1, shot 2, shot 3

• And finally, as playoffs are over and Spring has (sort of) arrived, I shaved off the beard. It always frightens me to see my face after a long reprieve, and I did suffer some separation anxiety for my beard, but I am slowly getting used to my face again. In the interim, I had a pretty sweet mustache for a few days. Check out these shots: shot 1, shot 2, shot 3.

So that's all for now. Until next time, keep on rockin'.