It's Been A Great 3 Or 4 Years

I.
Hi Jim, this is your, uh, favoritest cousin on the Quaid side of the family.  Um, it's about...time...([Female:] hm, twenty to 9) approximately twenty to 9, Shelbyville time.  And I was just callin' to wish myself a safe trip and a good time, and, uh, hope you're safe, and, uh, don't get kidnapped by any Iranian terrorists or, uh Colombian ([Female:] Nicaraguan), Nica...Nicaraguans or anything like that.  So anyway, um, I appreciate it, thanks for thinking of me.  And, um, tell Tom and Jennifer thanks for going out to eat with us the other night.  That was real nice of them.  (laughs)  So anyway, man, uh, you guys get to practicing, and I will, uh, uh, have a good time, and you guys have a good time, and, uh, oh, have fun in Chicago.  Have fun at Mike Baker's.  Get that record done.  I'm pulling for you.  Can't wait.  If it's not done when I get back, then I'll be very, uh, perturbed.  So, be good.  And tell Dave Trombone I said hi.  And, (sigh), take care of yourself.  It's been a great 3 or 4 years with the band.  I, I really had the best times of my life with you guys, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it and these opportunities, and thanks for making me feel included.  ([Female:] Why don't you do your American Visa board speech now.)  Uh.  ([Distantly:] I'll call back again...)
([Answering machine:] Message saved.  Received January 20th at 8:47 PM.)
II.
So anyway Jim, um, like I said, ([background: laughing]) it's been great, and I cannot wait to get back in town, and do the following support tour for the new record and the Bloomington show.  It's all coming together, and I...I, I'm really excited about it.  And I appreciate the time off for the nine days to get my kinda thoughts together and collect myself and hope that I come back refreshed and ready to play those old hits again: The Bear, Heartbreakin' Man, Evelyn.  I think we all know those.  So, anyway, it's gonna be great.  I mean me coming back.  And playin' and uh.  [laughs]  No, I'm just kidding.  So, you guys be good.  Have fun.  If anything should happen, milk it baby, milk it.  Sob it up, you know what I mean?  Make it look real sad and pathetic.  Sell those records.  And, if I don't, I'm sorry, but, uh...I did get the loft done, and I did the best I could, humanly, that I could do.  And it's gonna be a little tight squeeze getting up in there, up in that piece, but I figure me and Tom will be spending the most time up in there anyway, so it's pretty cozy for us.  I got a couple little bitty knickknacks to do to it, and I'm gonna build a little gate or a little door across the back, so don't freak out if I'm not done with it totally, but, give it a, give it a look-at and see what you think.  So, I will see you when I get back.  Nine days, the 29th, I'll be home in Chicago.