CGT Road Trip Day 3: Lawrence, KS (02-26-09)

Uncle Terry and Aunt Anna's house 02-26-09

We're staying with Aunt Anna and Uncle Terry, relatives of the Siara brothers, in Lenexa, a Kansas-side suburb of Kansas City. They live in a large home on a cul de sac, a retirement fortress with multple guest rooms, perfectly suited for grandparents with a small militia of grandchildren.

They are marvelously kind, hospitable folks. The Kansans I've encourtered on previous road trips, usually farmer-types eating their breakfast at a road stop, were gruff and unfriendly. But Aunt Anna and Uncle Terry are the kind of people that give the midwest a good name. Warm, conversational, and happy to open their doors to friends and family in need.

We had the luxury of sleeping in and showering well into the late morning before going to Spin! a gourmet pizza franchise managed by Dan, one of the Siara's cousins. Dan's a great guy. He reminds me of a lot of younger guys with backwards caps that I've met who have found success in the restaurant business. Animated, actively interested in his industry, and still a little mischievous in his leisure time. He really exemplifies the midwestern small businessman and American work ethic.

Lunch was on the house and was exceptional. Delicious 12-inch pizzas with many local-grown ingredients, wine, and pitchers of Boulevard Wheat Ale. The rest and the food did the band a lot of good and everyone seemed recharged. Afterwards there was an impromptu at a Ruby Tuesdays for -- yep, you guessed it -- one last pint of Boulevard.

Joey Siara. Hawt.

Jonathan Price, man of class.

Mike Hopkins has had enough.

Following that everyone came back to the house to relax. The Siara's uncle Mike is in town from Chicago, and he also is a person of pleasant disposition. It's easy to see why the Siara brothers are so easy-going in social situations, coming from genetic stock like this.

Dinner was at the Hereford House, a very nice steakhouse in Lenexa, and was a gift from Uncle Terry. The steak was exceptional. I really enjoyed Uncle Terry's life story. He grew-up in small town Illionois, joined the service and went to Italy during Vietnam, became an insurance adjuster and eventually worked his way up to being a CFO via Chicago, NYC, and finally Kansas City before retiring a happily married man with children and grand children. One sometimes wonders if such a life is possible in this country anymore.

Andy Siara and manager Dane Sundseth.

Between a 3am sandwich snack last night, the massive pizza lunch, the extra bar stop, and the steak dinner... nearly everyone is in pain and using the restroom. Over-eating is a wonderful problem to have if you're a touring rock band and everyone seems eager to sop-up every ounce of comfort before heading to Minneapolis...