The Knights of the Auto Order Proudly Present: The Auto Body Estimate: Vol. II, #90, April 2009

Okay, I admit it - I am a lazy newsletter writer. In the past I've confessed to committing the Bil Keane/Family Circus sin of pawning off my son's antics as "humor," but this month I've slipped to a new low: exhuming past newsletter topics.

In March of 2008 I expressed my displeasure with a rock journalist who used the phrase "Dad Rock" as a pejorative. Apparently feeling defensive, I responded that I didn't think having kids necessary diminished one's ability to rock, and used Robert Plant as an example: Plant's daughter was born before the first Led Zeppelin album was released. The update I offer today comes from Becca (I don't even write the recycled bits - oh, the shame!) who wonders if, perhaps, all those Robert Plant oohs and aahs we always assumed were expressions of erotic passion might have actually been inspired by the pain and surprise of stepping, barefoot, on LEGOs in the dark.

Last month I wrote of Erik's epic battles against the Brushing of the Teeth and of my efforts to combat his opposition to dental hygiene. I've subsequently tried to share the "why" of tooth brushing with Erik telling him that if he doesn't brush his teeth, they'll fall out. This didn't seem to help at all. Later, while visiting the kids' section of the public library, we befriended a chatty grade-school aged kid. When he showed us, with great pride, how floppy loose one of his front teeth were, Erik's face immediately went ashen, and he began to stammer about how he brushes his teeth all the time.

Realizing my shortcomings as a newsletter author and my shame at not setting Erik straight on the whole tooth thing, I attempted to turn to popular philosophy for the answer. I had this epiphany after hearing some coworkers talk about Eckhart Tolle, the author of non-fiction bestsellers "The Power of Now" and "A New Earth". My understanding is that Eckhart suggests that we need to find happiness not in the promise of a better tomorrow, or in the allure of more material things, but in finding the simple joy within each present moment. This made sense to me and I began to think that my future life would be richer after buying Eckhart's books, when I realized that in my hypocrisy I'd failed at self-improvement as well.

Having ruled out other possible vocations and avocations, it appears I'm left with music. Lucky you.

On Friday, May 8th the Auto Body Experience will return to the Eagles club with two sets of music specially selected for the night. We've dug out a hearty handful of Auto Body chestnuts to throw at our new keyboardist Doug Rohde and he's breathed new life into them all. As added incentive, this is likely to be our last gig until July, as misguided and tardy bassist Tom Larson seems to think that his dad's wedding is more important than a gig at the Eagles Club. Sheesh. I mean I understood when gambling was more important for Twiss, but really...

Have you ever noticed my hesitancy to identify Doug as one who plays the piano, despite the fact that this is indeed what he does much of the time? It's my belief that the term most often used for this purpose is troublesome and best used only in one context: "That there coon hound is the pianist dog I've ever seen!"

Well, anyway come and hear what we sound like with the addition of Doug - he's a real wiz.

Love, Scott Yoho, Grand Pooh Bah, The Knights of the Auto Order

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