You probably heard the news about the historic rainfall we recieved in the Milwaukee area last night. My neighbors and I were all unlucky to wake up to our basements completely flooded. My basement was inundated with an estimated 34" of water. I lost everything that wasn't up high on a wall-mounted shelf... appliances, furniture, and more.

My main concern was my boxes of Snickers' and Arthur's irreplaceable keepsakes. Snickers' box was on a high shelf and only got a little wet, but Arthur's box was sitting up high on furniture. All my furniture had floated up and toppled over in the water, so his keepsakes fell in and got drenched. Fortunately after the water abated, I was able to find and salvage all but a couple of them.

Since the heavy rains of 2007-2008 where my basement flooded both years with about 10" of water, I've kept my washer and dryer sitting up on concret blocks, stored my linens and clothes in tall waterproof tubs, and placed most everything of value on shelves off the ground.

It was no match for three feet of water.

Today would have been Snickers' 16th birthday. It was supposed to be just like any other day, so I think it's rather ironic that unforeseen circumstances forced me to go through all my mementos of him.

In the days ahead, the dehumidifier and box fans will keep blowing and slowly airing out the basement, and I'll be shopping for new appliances... and a lot more concrete blocks.

With Arthur now having been gone a month, I put together a special cat remembrance page to honor him and all of my cats going back to Kittling. In the weeks ahead as time allows, I will add photos and videos.

The time has come to liquidate much of my studio and live sound equipment. I've compiled a long list of items, and over the coming weeks, I will be taking and uploading product photos. I'm offering the gear here for your convenience, but some of it will undoubtedly end up on eBay or Craigslist.

I'm not quitting music! I'm just downsizing. I'm moving select pieces of gear from my studio to my home and selling the rest. I will continue to record my own music at home. I will continue to peform live, too, but I will be downsizing my band and sound equipment to favor performing in smaller venues.

Click here for a full list of items up for sale.