Burd aka: Kevin Burdeshaw "that guy we oughtta censor"

My years cooking at Leslie's taught me something; sometimes working in food service sucks. The work can be frantic as hell. The breaks are erratic, if you even get one. The pay is lousy. The hours are shit, and the customers are sometimes jerks. When you get the right co-workers however, it can be a lot of fun. If you were to ask me what the best part about owning a business is,… Continue

There's a special group of people who gave me the wherewithal, the diligence and the inspiration to stay sober. They make up a small segment of our society. Some might consider them an aggravation, but to me they were a godsend. They gave me clarity and perspective when I really needed it most, and I'd like to thank them now. I'm talking about The Drunk Obnoxious Assholes. Thank You. Really. From t… Continue

I never considered myself enthralled. Held in bondage. Enslaved. Subjugated. Truth can sting sometimes. The worm started to turn after the Gulf War began. I had never thought my drug use and drinking was that big of a problem, that is, until I actually had to manage some real responsibility. Running a business and staying high, staying high and running a business. It was… Continue

Never get into business with someone you're not sure about. I always had a sneaking suspicion that Frank was a fraud. In the couple of weeks after Johnny Rockit's opened, evidence began accumulating. Incontrovertible evidence. Mountains of it. I mean, I had always taken Frank's stories with a grain of salt, but my confidence in them containing even a grain of truth was starti… Continue

The first piece of advice I'd give to anyone who wants to start a business is this: "Have a plan." I'm sure they say that in business school, I've never taken a class, but I can't imagine that they don't. In fact it should be on page 1 of Basic Business: "Have a plan. If you do not have a plan, you will fail summarily and with little solace to your anus." (Hav… Continue

I was drunk. There I said it. That's it. That's all. There is really nothing more to it. A simple explanation. No-no-no, I know what you're thinking: "That's just an excuse Burd." "You know what my friend John Matthew always said about excuses." I'd retort politely. "Tell me." "Excuses are like Assholes...ev… Continue

I'm gonna attempt to write about Rockit's pizza. It was my baby from 1990-1996. It was interesting, fun, stressfull, aggravating, joyous, silly, scary, and idiotic. I had many employees in those 6 years and many customers-if you were one, and I leave you out of the telling-then speak up. I'm gonna talk about everythin… Continue

The first reunion lunches began with a discussion in the summer of 2006. Kate Matthew and I had been emailing each other back and forth about Kate's visit to Bloomington at Thanksgiving (Her brother Thomas and his family were coming as well). It has been a usual custom for people to hit the Video Saloon after Thanksgiving Dinner at their parents/relatives/friends houses. They could meet, have drinks and catch up with people they may not have seen in years. Thanksgiving night is very slow around… Continue