And it was.

Really.

We took off to Detroit this weekend to see Tool. The concert was Monday night, so we figured, you know, we'll just make a weekend out of it.

We left Saturday.

Sunday morning, we went to the casino. We were expecting it to be much like every other casino to which we've been. It was, and it wasn't. The machines don't pay out the same way we've seen in the past and it just seemed that it was--there's no other way to put it really--just . . .a cheap casino. I've been to Indian casinos which had more class than this place. Not my idea of a good time.

And then, Sunday, we're planning on staying in our hotel and hanging out, right?

Well, we accomplished that.

Because Sunday afternoon, I developed a kidney stone.

Yup. Next thing I knew I was in the emergency room in a strange town with an i.v. stuck in my arm hoping against all hope that the medication would kick in and please,please,please just dull the pain even one iota. (For the record, if you've never experienced the pure, unadulterated joy of a kidney stone, let's just say it's akin to being kicked in the balls once every six minutes or so. The feeling really is quite similar.)

Ahem.

But the pain did pass, thanks to heavy narcotics.

We spent the rest of the day in the hotel room, after that. After all, I was too drugged to do much else.

The stone passed early Monday, and we took in a couple of movies before the concert.

And you know what? I'd go through it all again to see Tool play live in that small of a venue. It was absolutely incredible.

So I guess it worked out okay.

Sort of.

If you know, ignore the middle part.

Joseph Haines, signing off from The Edge of The Abyss.