Currier & Ives

December was once hands down my favorite month of the year. That was long before I had the responsibility of making rent, paying monthly utilities, & taking out a loan for a tank of gas while simultaneously not letting little ones down. I guess it's safe to say I find myself not nearly as enthused about the holidays as I once was. The religious community doesn't help either. Oh sure we talk a good talk with our "Remember the Reason for the Season" trite little worn out sayings but rest assured when the Christmas Eve service is dismissed we retire to our picturesque Currier & Ives cottages sporting our $150 wool sweaters for a little R&R by the fire for a cozy gift exchange.

Please don't misunderstand me, I certainly realize things could be worse. That being said, things could also be significantly better! In a nut shell, life should be doable. That means (& listen closely politicians who brag about creating a bazillion eight dollar an hour poverty level jobs on your watch) living in the greatest country on earth, some hay seed out in western Wyoming should be able to graduate high school, & go to work somewhere at 40 hours a week (not 70 & not 80, remember he works to live not the other way around), afford to drive & maintain dependable transportation (nothing sexy, just dependable mind you), save a little each month, pay his bills, catch a movie on Friday nights, & live in a safe, clean environment.

If we can put a man on the moon, feed legions of starving people overseas (which I'm not against) finance global wars for decades on end in countries that hate us anyway (which I'm also not against), & use tax payer's dollars to build the eighth wonder of the world aka Dallas Cowboy's Stadium (okay I'm against), we should by all means be able to do a much better job of MAKING LIFE DOABLE for the average nutin' special John Q. Public down in good ol' Anytown, U.S.A. wooden shoe agree?

Not talkin' Martha Stewart or John Kerry New England style homes quietly nestled into 3 million acres of lush backdrop with gated security, a circle drive & a posh cement pond down yonder. Not talkin' a canary yellow Dodge gas guzzlin' chick magnet Viper either. Let's stay grounded here people. We can do better. We MUST do better. Our future depends on it. Need I remind you Rome fell from within? We're only as good as our weakest link.

So how can we accomplish this? Easy! Cut wasteful government spending, reduce the size of big government, work smarter not harder, work more efficiently, but most importantly & BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY-LOWER TAXES FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED! COMPREND?

If we implement these necessary disciplines at this pivotal time in our nation's history I promise you many more Americans will have the opportunity to experience that picturesque Currier & Ives backdrop in Twenty Ten! Now THAT'S change we can ALL believe in! Am I right? Or am I right? Of course I'm right! Now get goin'! ;-)

For Unto Us

A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon & had told him that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send. Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary & Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses' Teachings required. Then Simeon took the child in his arms & praised God by saying, 'Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace as you promised. My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people to see. He is a light that will reveal salvation to the nations & bring glory to your people Israel.' Gospel of Luke 2:25-32 GWT

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There

For my 2.5 year old life is pretty simple. He wants his father's undivided attention, he wants to be held (but only when he wants to be held!), & he wants to play with his cars (namely "Kachow" as he calls him, or "Lightening McQueen" as he's better known by).

Leave it to his father however, to significantly complicate matters. I find I am guilty of similar habits I once criticized my mother for-like the way she always opted to sweep our driveway rather than to shoot hoops with me while I pretended to be Larry Bird in game six of the NBA Finals. Now it's many years later, my mother is deceased, & history is repeating itself.

Sigh...

At times, necessity dictates I suppose.

Such the delicate balancing act parents must relentlessly strive to achieve & sustain.

Oh btw, speaking of old retired sport's legends, I've noticed those are the only MEN on the face of this planet who can walk away from their day jobs in their mid 30's to spend more time with their children, & actually receive mountains of praise for it. The rest of us are labeled irresponsible & lazy if we dare follow suit.

I know, I know. It's because Joe Montana has more zeros at the end of his monthly bank statement than me & can afford to read the menu from left to right rather than right to left (although that may be changing for o'l Sweet Sixteen if Obama care goes through).

Rest assured though, Kael doesn't care about my burdensome student loans, electric bills or how many digital mp3 downloads his daddy sold last month. He's an in the moment kinda guy who lives for the here & now. He gives no thought to yesterday I've noticed. Nor does he really seem to be all that concerned about tomorrow strangely enough. And get this, most nights he sleeps like a baby! Co:

I am told senior adulthood is like entering a second childhood. If these rumors are substantiated, I pray my outlook & approach is a lot like Kael's. Perhaps John Ondrasik sums it up best in that - "It's not the breaths you take, it's how you breathe."

One Week Later

Amazing what a difference a week makes. I managed to snap this picture early this morning just as the precipitation was moving into our area. So it's a hurried pic but you still get the idea. Currently it is raining AS WELL AS snowing. That's right...both, simultaneously. Only in south Houston could one witness such an event I suppose. And quite the adventure getting the squeedunks safely to school this morning. Nevertheless, here's hoping the snow wins out & not only sticks, but hangs around for awhile. After all, the only thing that goes better with my Seattle's Best Breakfast Blend than eggs & bacon... is snow! Wooden Shoe agree? =o)

Seasons

To everything there is a season, & a time for every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version

One Fine Day

This small gathering of foliage happen to catch my eye early this morning after dropping the Squee Dunks off at school. The red leaf in particular stuck out like a sore thumb just beckoning me to grab my camera & update my blog. Wish granted. An overcast cooler drizzly kind of morning so far. The perfect backdrop imho to go with this quaint autumn setting. Indeed, God's potpourri at its best. =0)

More Than Just A Slice

"There was a time, a long, long time ago..." ...when I remember being in college with precious few funds available for withdraw from my laughable bank account. Be that as it may, I was always determined to build my music library piece by piece exposing myself to new styles & artists. You see, I hold firmly to the belief that as a musician, it is just as important to listen to great recordings (actively, not passively) as it is to be in the practice room for untold hours on end. It's no different than the budding author who builds her home library by leaps & bounds. At any rate, those years have since passed me by. Like the rest of you, now I simply listen for free much of the time on youtube, some musician's myspace page (thank you Isaac Lausell & Lou Pardini!) or download songs for a mere buck off of Amazon.

Not the case with the new album "Slice" from artist John Ondrasik. Who? Oh yes, you may better recognize him from his stage name "Five For Fighting" (hockey terminology). No, this time around the good Chessking laid down twelve whole U.S. watermarked dollars for a physical copy wrapped in the most annoying invention of the previous century-shrink wrap.

The album screams of Carol King & William Joel influences & is heavily laced with thought provoking lyrics that seem to be the exception rather than the norm in this American Idol age that perpetually favors style over substance.

I am particularly fond of the second track off the album entitled "Note To An Unknown Soldier" which quite poignantly personalizes & magnifies the ultimate sacrifices made by our brave men & women in uniform. Refreshing to hear the recognition & deep sense of gratitude pumping through my Dell computer speakers from a nationally known act rather than the usual antiwar one sided rhetoric we've grown so accustomed to enduring. Excellent job John! I give the album a resounding two thumbs up! Now hurry to your nearest discount store or music distribution website & support this new body of work! Hurry I say! Why are you still reading this? ;0)

Say Goodbye To Hollywood

Recent email to friend circa August 28, 2009 genre:

Say, wouldn't it be cool if one day we were old men sitting on a quiet glassy still pond in a canoe just across the Canadian border in mid October quietly fishing with a small ice chest full of cold beverages? The temperature was in the high 50's and not an ounce of humidity (even though we were on the water). And wouldn't it be even cooler if about a hundred yards away there was a place to make a small fire to cook the morning's catch over? Oh & look! I just happen to have in my possession a backpack overflowing with fresh lemon wedges, chopped fennel, Sicilian sea salt (say that 10 times as fast as you can!), ground black & white pepper, smoked paprika, & the best olive oil money can buy! The sound of a hawk resonates in the background from just around the bend. We're both sporting heavy long sleeve flannel with hats & vests. We didn't shave or shower that morning. Then, you quietly reach inside your backpack, smile, & open your light as a feather paper thin Mac Book. Oh & look...the Dodger post season NLCS game has just started in crystal clear high fi! Wow! Heaven on earth! Wooden shoe agree?

Friend's response: And you were doing so well (Brave's fan).

Sigh...wait'll next year Dodger fans. :0(

Warm & Fuzzy

I'll be the first to admit I complain entirely too much. And those who know me best, I am certain, will concur. You see lately (lately being the last 4 years or so mind you) I've openly sounded off about everything from the extreme tropical weather that perpetually encases my every move, to my favorite sports teams taking a beating, to the dangers of global cooling everyone keeps ignoring. However, in my defense, I'm also the quickest to thoroughly relish & appreciate the moment for all it's bloody worth when something indeed goes right! That's what living with an emotionally unstable "man of extremes" is like (just ask my wife. Hi wife!)...which brings us to my little pictured friend, the "RAT" as he's called. For those of you not familiar with guitar processors let me explain (Reader: Oh please do! Yawn, stretch, sleep, slumber, snooze, shut-eye, zzzzzzzz...).

For every sound effect you hear on your favorite recorded top 40 song, there is almost always a processor hard at work altering all those electronic signals being hammered out by your favorite artist to supply you the listener with that unmistakable groovy jive that takes you back to yesteryear when the grass was greener & your waist line was thinner.

For example, Distortion, Crunch, Wa-Wa, Tremolo, Chorus, Delay, are just a few of the colors in the typical electric guitarist's pallet (am i still boring you?). And processors can come in the form of an external box (as pictured) or they can be internal software in a PC. I know, who cares? Just because you drive a car doesn't mean you want to know the inner workings of a timing gear.

I only torture you with the above mentioned because last night, be it brief, I had one of those moments where everything went right! And boy was it brief! Talkin'... seconds! You see, the previous recording I was working on ended up being slightly sharp (like 10 cents sharp). Almost had myself committed over it because it meant all the following tracks I recorded ALSO had to be 10 cents sharp or it would all sound like alley cats being slowly mutilated over a girl scout camp fire.

I survived the ordeal (barely, & thanks for your concern) but last night was a different story. Everything was "on the money" in tune which was almost a religious experience for me after enduring the previous tuning nightmare. Better still, I dug out my old friend the "RAT" which drastically warmed my cold, sterile, digital signal up quite a little bit.

Recording is no fun. Not only is it meticulous time consuming hard work, it's a constant reminder of how bad you really sing & play (& dance!). And recordings never lie...especially unforgiving 16 bit digital recordings which are like a lot of pizzas I used to deliver: thin & crispy. And don't get me started on mp3's! We'll have to save that discussion for next time (Reader: Can hardly wait!).

Where was I? Oh yeah, So last night, just for a moment, when I experienced a perfectly in tune guitar, with fresh new strings going through a most righteous guitar processor (aka stomp box) while laying down some saucy new tracks with just the right eq & delicious effects sprinkled on top...well, needless to say your favorite blogger was in heaven.

Then harsh reality immediately reared it's grotesque head the moment I moved on to other tasks (namely singing! blech!).

Sigh...

I've come to the conclusion mountain top experiences take on a variety of forms in the average person's life. And sadly, they always seem to be anything but enduring. Perhaps that's why we're repeatedly reminded to... "enjoy the journey." Yes, day to day, to day, to day, is quite possibly where the battle is won or lost. No worries. Haven't you heard? "Ho-hum" is the new cool! ;-)

Coming Home

Yesterday afternoon found me in the midst of a cold & cloudy, rainy day on Galveston, Island. With three little restless squeedunks keeping things lively, we all prepared to bring my wife home after multiple days in the hospital. A severe case of the flu was the guilty culprit responsible for this drama. And no, it wasn't the dreaded Swine Flu for which we were all relieved.

I hope the worst is behind us. I hope my wife can finally rest this week. I hope someone will pop in & help us get caught up on dishes, bills & laundry. While I'm dreaming I'd also like a 2009 Dodger's World Championship, peace in the Middle East, & a shiny new pony for my backyard.

Even As We Sleep

I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O LORD, enable me to live securely. Psalm 4:8 God's Word Translation

Seven ate Nine

About a week ago my oldest son decided he was finished being seven. So he hauled off & had a birthday. Now, I know what you're thinking. Here I go again with my boring sentimental ramblings that are the cyber equivalent of some stranger in a grocery check out line whipping out their purse to immerse you in countless faded dog eared pics of their offspring sporting terribly dated hair & duds who now reside in north Toledo.

Guilty as charged Your Honor.

However, in my defense I must throw myself at the mercy of the court because we're now staring nine years of age in the face folks which is difficult for a guy/dad like me to process. Perhaps I'm experiencing a "quarter life crisis" as John Mayer sings about. Nope (sigh). I've already passed that benchmark come to think. Three eighths life crisis? I dunno. Fractions were never my friend in school. Bunny Trail commenced. Happy Birthday Caleb. Cherished are you.

The Song I Had to Write

heart of freedom
Oh say can you see
Through the fields of great uncertainty
Just beyond our gate of fears
Lies a pathway in the waiting

Battered from our perilous fight
Standing strong though slowly drifting
Through the darkest hour of night
Lies a pathway worth taking

From across a northern shore
Like a mighty lion's roar
With a voice I heard her say...
"Stand & fight with me this day"

Heart of Freedom beat for me
Holding high the light of liberty
Guardian of our way of life
Lead us safely through the night

Heart of Freedom beat for me
Be the voice a nation heeds
Lead us safely through the night
To the dawn's early light

words & music: chess ward September 11, 2009

Written exclusively for Governor Sarah Louise Palin who exemplifies the character, vision, & steadfast leadership that made our nation the greatest the world has ever known. Thank you for your service & bravery during these troubled times. You are the very essence of the Heart of Freedom.

What Goes With Coffee?

Green flannel shirts. Fire places with real wood (sad that I have to specify isn't it?). Brisk Autumn mornings. Anything surrounding the Christmas holidays. Sweaters. Classical music. Ducks on a pond. Cream & or sugar. A good book. A good laptop. The new fallen snow. Finals week! A road trip. Fox & Friends in the morning with your host Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocey, & Brian Kilmeade. Red flannel shirts. The month of October. A crescent moon. Jeans & a sweatshirt. The company of good friends. Randall L. Taylor. Snow capped mountains. Amber waves of grain. Thanksgiving. Pumpkin pie. Wooden floors with rugs. Making music. Bacon & eggs (over easy). A set of skis (& preferably an Aspen or a Vail to go along with that set of skis & cup o' joe!). Twitter. Tuna on toast & cole slaw if your George Castanza (from "The Opposite" Episode). Coffee filters (duh). Funnel cakes, Kettle corn, or one of those giant Turkey legs from "Gladfest" in Gladstone, Missouri. That Colombian gentleman with the big thick dark moustache walking along side his trusty loaded down mule. And last but not least...tin cans! That's right. Tin cans (okay aluminum based cans). Bring them back Folgers! I beg of thee!

Pictured: My mom's coffee mug from many years ago. Still in use today as you can clearly see!

The Encounter

My Check Out Supervisor unexpectedly approached me & asked me to work the front entry way at Sam's Club on North Oak Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri. Not that it was any big deal (a monkey could do it!) but I had never been asked to man the door before. The year was 1997 & I had just arrived in the City of Fountains to continue work on my Master's degree.

After only a few minutes patrolling the door there came an older gentleman accompanied by a younger man who was obviously helping him. I immediately recognized something wasn't right. The older gentleman needed a place to rest & was gasping for breath & bellowing quite loudly. I helped him find a chair & asked how I could assist. After a few seconds he said "I have severe Asthma" in between shallow breaths. "I'll be alright in just a minute. Just let me catch my breath."

After he was able to rest, his breathing improved with the help from a rescue inhaler. I was relieved. He introduced himself. "M' name's Blacky" He said as he extended his hand to me. I smiled. Interesting choice of name since he was a pasty Irish Caucasian with snow white hair. ;0)

We continued dialoguing & in the course of the conversation I told him I too suffered from Asthma.

He perked up & replied "Say, you wouldn't happen to need any prescription medications would you? I get mine through the Veteran's Hospital & don't use them up fast enough & I would gladly give them to you for next to nothing."

Time slowed dramatically. My hearing was significantly enhanced as I could not only feel but hear my heart beat. People around me became cardboard cutouts.

Less than 12 hours prior I was required to attend a late night meeting after our store closed & was experiencing my own bronchial spasms with no necessary medication, & no medical insurance. I became quite angry on the way to the meeting while struggling to breathe. I remember yelling at my maker at the top of what diminished lung power I had while alone in the car. At one point I exclaimed "It's not like breathing is optional!"

Time returned to it's normal pace as feelings of guilt, gratefulness & humility washed over me.

All a coincidence? I suppose it could be argued but those kinds of odds I would guess are even steep for the Vegas crowd.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8 GWT

Three Minus Two

Silence has fallen over my home. My highly cranky youngest has just fallen back to sleep. The house permeates of bacon after this morning's hurried breakfast (remembers that there are leftovers on kitchen table & pauses writing to grab a piece). The sound of my morning coffee steadily percolates from the other room. It's Tuesday, which is trash day, which explains the sounds of heavy machinery running from several blocks away. This may all sound ho-hum to you the reader but I assure you something's quite different here. Alas, Summer has left the building! I repeat, Summer has left the building folks! Oh sure it's still 125 degrees outside with the humidity factor the closest it can possibly be to raining without actually raining, but say goodbye to what was, as the new school year just got under way a little over an hour ago.

After several weeks of carefully re-adjusting bed time schedules, & shopping for new school clothes & other necessary supplies that drain your bank account, the moment has finally arrived.

Such a bitter sweet feeling this is. On one hand I'm grateful for growth & progress. On the other hand everything within me wishes I could somehow postpone the inevitable. It would appear the only worthy option I have is to embrace the moment hook line & sinker.

"Grab the reigns, take the wheel. Lose what's not & keep what's real. It's not too late, It's not too late. Just close your eyes... & feel." -Danny Orton/Blair Daly

New Twist On An Old Classic

The cuddly fuzzy bunny says___. The furry squirrel goes____.
The threatened fire ant exclaims "____!" as it injects its mandibles full of poisonous flesh rotting venom into lil' "Jenny's ankle that only antibiotics will cure (hope her parents have good health insurance!). "____!" goes the electric eel "___, ___!" says the Pacific Northwest Mule Deer! The lethargic hermit crab says_____ , as she crawls along the warm Texas gulf coastline on a lazy, breezy summer's eve. Momma Plankton goes "____,_____,____!" as she puts her five hundred thousand offspring to bed. "___! ____!" goes Mr. Diamondback Terrapin in proud fashion. "____'' says grumpy & highly toxinous Mr. Japanese puffer fish!

Yes my offspring are very well adjusted. Why do you ask? ;0)

They Cancel Each Other Out

Do your very best. Relax & have fun. Live every day like it's your last. Plan for the future. Save. Invest. Get enough sleep. Early bird gets the worm. There are no second chances. Tomorrow's a new day. Put others first. Take time for yourself. Work like it's all up to you. Pray like it's all up to God (that one's particularly annoying). Put your family first. Put your wife first. Put your children first. Put God first. If you don't put your career first you'll never have financial stability. Life is about having fun. "Life... is difficult" (opening line in the late Dr. M. Scott Peck's best seller "The Road Less Traveled") Make logical, calculated moves. Walk by faith. Play it safe. Be willing to take risks. Take your vitamins. Vitamins=expensive urine (my father-in-law the physician has stated that so take it up with him if you have a complaint ;-). Establish a quiet time early each morning. Establish a quiet time before bedtime. Be unique. Go with the flow. Stand out! Fit in! And last but not least...Be a leader! Be a team player!

I am reminded of a minister I know who once wisely stated "If you do everything in those expensive 3 day self improvement retreats you attend at the Posh Hyatt Regency that they tell you to do, you'll end up with a 36 hour work day. So...just live your life."

Alas, to that observation I can finally say..."Amen!"

End of An Era

As I write it's Tuesday morning, August 11th, 2009. The "tweet" heard 'round the world came quite early this day. Truly, the End of an era. After 28 years a musical giant has gracefully stepped down from arguably the most successful American rock band of all time, Chicago. And while I knew it was only a matter of time, my heart is still heavy to learn of his departure.

For almost 3 decades as I grew from a young man into the musician I am today, Bill Champlin has been the inspiring monstrous yin to Chicago's yang of lead vocalists. He was the successor to lead singer & guitarist Terry Kath after his untimely death in the late 70's. Bill's unmistakable gritty & soulful vocals are impossible to miss on any Chicago album, & a deadly knockout punch in concert. Champlin parted ways to pursue a solo career & play more intimate settings wanting to finish his career on his terms & at his pace.

God Speed Bill. I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you for laying it all on the line for so long. I couldn't have asked for a better musical backdrop through the years &... "Through It All."

Here She Comes

Late this afternoon my wife & I witnessed the transition of power from Alaska's most famous daughter to newly sworn in Sean Parnell in downtown Fairbanks. I can think of zero other people in my thirty something years of room & board on this big blue marble that evoke such intensely polarizing emotions as Governor Sarah Palin. I also continue to be astounded at the relentless calculated attacks on this woman & her family.

Beyond shameful & inexcuseable.

Good people will always disagree with one another on the issue of politics. No surprise there. Most however, (granted, not all, but most) will criticize a politician on their platform, NOT their latest irrelevant hairstyle, equally irrelevant wardrobe, or worst & most disturbing of all, sacred offspring.

A wise psychologist from the Amarillo, TX region once told me "People can't help but tell on themselves." So when these classless snipers continue to verbally as well as legally assault this brave woman & her children I cannot help but be reminded of the fact that no military commander would EVER use a highly mobile M1 Abrams tank to take out a mosquito. Translation: If she were genuinely no threat, the opposition wouldn't be wasting its time.

End of an era? Think again. Hell hath no furry like a provoked momma grizzly.

Act II: Scene II: "The Reckoning."

Here she comes.

Lawter Road

Lawter Road was an old country road just north of a small quiet western Oklahoma town in which I spent my college years.

When living the dream of a lowly freshman with a minuscule bank account & precious few resources, I quickly learned you must become creative in finding cheap alternatives to self coping mechanisms or risk sinking further into a dark, emotional abyss...at least that's what they tell me. ;-)

Many summer evenings, golden autumn mornings, bleak, snowy weekends & lazy spring Saturdays, would find me on this therapeutic pathway driving well under the speed limit playing music in my car stereo while trying to summon every free moment I could afford to gather myself, my thoughts, & the courage to dig back in to the never ending demands of college life.

Time always seemed to stand still on Lawter Road, giving no thought or concern to its travelers or their circumstances. That was the beauty of it. And from its vantage point one could always easily gaze back toward the community & see the college standing firmly on the hill. I admit it sounds too good to be true, but a simple change in perspective was often just the ingredient needed to gain fresh insight & motivation to confront lingering issues.

Some say western Oklahoma is a repulsive eyesore with its red dirt & pancake terrain. I've even heard it jokingly referred to as "The backside of Mars." I couldn't disagree more. While maybe an acquired taste for some, those harvested wheat fields & grain elevators provided the perfect backdrop in every season of my college experience. Everyone needs a Lawter Road at some point or another in their life. If you haven't found yours, I hope you do.

The Eagle Has Landed

"Houston, Tranquility base here...the eagle has landed." Hard to believe it's been forty years to date since we heard those words transmitted from Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon that would forever change the world. As I type, Space Shuttle Endeavor is currently docked with the International Space Station orbiting the Earth. The Space Shuttle fleet will be retiring next year. Then...finally, we set our sights back to the Moon & beyond to the red planet. It's time. It's more than time. Whether a lunar surface or a cold Atlantic shore, there are lessons to be learned & vast knowledge to be gained from pushing the boundaries of our confines. And I for one cannot wait. Congratulations NASA. Here's to the next 40 years of exploring the final frontier.

1 and 0

Say goodbye to single digits! Happy birthday Kristen! Ten today! Huray!!

Friday's the official sleepover party (or should I say "anything but sleep...over"). I have been informed that part of today's festivities will include a trip to some exquisite dining at the luxurious world renowned five star restaurant- Long John Silver's, her new found love (despite the deplorable service & stale tea we always seem to be the victims of). Takes after her grandmother in that regard in her strange admiration for that eating establishment.

Oh well. What's there not to love? A girl only turns ten once in her life & we've got boneless chicken planks & hush puppies to devour! Here's hoping your day is special & the Lord brings you many more birthdays to come. We love you dearly.

She Sells Sea Shells

Took the fam to the beach several days ago. I am still in disbelief how the outside temperature can be well over a hundred; yet if you happen to find yourself lounging in a chair in the sand, sipping girly beverages watching ceaseless waves heading straight toward you, all is amazingly right with the world (even for this easily overheated pudgy white boy with Norwegian ancestry I'm guessing).

It is also intriguing how surprisingly gratifying it is to simply sit & gaze for hours upon hours at the fruit of my loins (reader: "thanks for the visual" me: "no problem") playing in the sand, digging holes, filling the holes with ocean water, adding to their sea shell collection, laughing when waves catch them off balance, & creating small kingdoms out of mere sand, water, & buckets.

The structure you see in the picture was conceived & erected by my VERY soon to be ten year old daughter, Kristen. Today it's sand castles. Tomorrow, who knows. Cherish each moment & the journey as well. Indeed, they grow up entirely too fast.

Don't Tread On Me

"Oh beautiful for spacious skies...but now those skies are threatening" sung Eagle great Don Henley in his song "End of the Innocence." I find those words highly appropriate to brood given the date of this blog entry & the distress our nation currently faces internally & abroad.

Tonight after enjoying a grand fireworks display with the fam, I noticed an older gentleman's shirt in the massive sea of people slowly exiting the park. It was bright red with yellow lettering (hard to miss). The caption on the front read... "CHANGE." The "C" in the word "change" consisted of the all too familiar haunting hammer & sickle symbol we saw for decades on the Soviet Union flag. Regardless your political convictions, you would be hard pressed to deny change has indeed come to America, just as promised.

I realize it is human nature to pin blame on those in or seeking leadership (be it the leader of the free world, to the CEO of a major company, right down to the small town pastor in the tiny rural community struggling to keep the church doors open & electric bills paid). Easy targets they are. So if you don't enjoy the sight of your own blood, avoid any form of leadership at all costs.

That being acknowledged, clearly, we are in uncharted waters.

Take just a moment & reflect on a handful of values YOU believe made this nation great. Now ask yourself if our current trajectory will afford those values you listed the proper environment to sustain, grow & thrive. If you answered "yes,'' then rest well. All will be fine. But if there is any room for doubt, education is the answer.

Start by making yourself comfortably uncomfortable. How? Listen to those with opposing views. Discover why you believe what you believe & be able to defend it. Be a student of American history. And whatever the cost gather your source of news from multiple, multiple (& did I mention multiple?) sources. Then draw YOUR OWN conclusions (like a certain cable news station with phenomenal ratings reiterates daily if not hourly). Finally, don't be afraid if you find your viewpoints unpopular. Have courage, take heart & be not afraid to go it alone. To quote my father-in-law "Nothing hard is ever easy." (ha!) Besides, running with the uninformed, uneducated crowd is not only costly, but entirely overrated!

Demand honesty, integrity, transparency, & only the sharpest, creative minds to lead this nation our founding fathers dreamed up 233 years ago this day in that hot & stuffy room in downtown Philly.

What are you prepared to do?

"...whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

-Thomas Jefferson, July 4th, 1776 (final draft) ;-)

Brothers

Sometimes I catch myself envisioning my children as 78 year old senior adults, strolling into their local small town coffee shop someday being greeted by their circle of friends. Hard to conceptualize, but it will happen. Long after they've colonized the moon, paid down (not off) our national debt, & solved south Houston's traffic problems, by God's grace, my children will be elderly some day. I suppose most parents don't dwell on such matters but I think it's important to envision & embrace this kind of long term thinking. Reason being is because what I do today as their parent (or don't do for that matter) will impact generations.

What will life be like for them? Did their mother & father properly set them up for success or failure? Will our society be radically different? Will they be in good health? Will they have siblings to lean on when their parents depart this life?

Tonight my daughter went to a slumber party & my sons went with us to a Practice of Medicine meeting for my wife's medical school group. We felt a little out of place without having Kristen near us. Nevertheless the boys had a marvelous time running around together, playing in/near the outdoor pool, petting overly friendly, slobbery, stinky dogs, & being loud & rambunctious at inopportune times (naturally). They seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves & perhaps more importantly each other. For the measure of their days, I sincerely hope that never changes.

Summer's Arrival

There are few advantages in my play book to the scorching hot days of Summer, but fresh fruit is one of them. For example, my father-in-law says there's nothing worse than biting into a bad orange. I concur. Because when they're bad, they're truly awful. Wretched, soggy strawberries however have to be a close second.

Since I live darn near the Tropic of Cancer (south Houston ;-) I have the option of purchasing strawberries nearly year around (notice I didn't say fresh strawberries). Reminds me of that saying "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." Identifying the worthy of purchasing I've decided is an art form. Since my oldest enjoys them so, I've learned how to detect the contenders from the pretenders. First, (& thank you for asking) the obvious-choose locally grown. Second, I have found the larger & darker the better. Finally (& this is the most tricky & perhaps most important) the skin should sport a waxy, shiny, plastic looking texture. If you follow these steps you could find yourself enjoying a wonderful summer evening treat such as I used to indulge in during my adolescents just before bedtime...which almost always involved a bowl of cheerios, freshly washed & cut strawberries to garnish on top, & a rerun of Magnum P.I. just after the ten o'clock news. Ah the memories. Maybe summer's not so lousy after all. Am I boring you?

Chess Is Life

In keeping with the board game theme, Kristen & I played two games of Chess this afternoon. I can think of no other game that teaches so many basic life skills such as foresight, strategy, patience, peripheral vision, dealing with loss, managing employees (or in this case a small plastic kingdom) delaying gratification, grace under fire, etc., etc. Kristen has been playing for several years now & is gaining confidence & becoming more skilled & seasoned.

That being said, I find I must guard against making everything under the sun an object lesson. After all, it's summer. A time to veg. A time to perfect the art of doing nothing. A time to simply hang with my first born in the middle of a carpeted floor with a squeaky ceiling fan on high directly above us while the a.c. pumps out whopping amounts of British Thermal Units per hour. These are the moments I'll wish I could relive when she's 12 hours away at a big University.

Classic Naval Combat

Engaged in bloody war games this afternoon with my daughter Kristen (A great way to spend a summer afternoon I might add when the punishing outside heat is certain death to old people & small children). My strategy was to move my giant floating armada into one tight cluster with the exception of my patrol boat (which anyone who has played the game knows is the hardest to locate).

At the onset it was like December 7, 1941 all over again! I tell you from the first shot fired, Kristen couldn't miss as she luckily stumbled upon my fleet like sitting ducks. With one swift devastating blow she sank my ships like the Dow on a bad earnings day without the slightest regard for her father's preservation or dignity! Pitiful! ;0)

My only hope rested in my vagrant, listless patrol boat (formerly known as a "cruiser") which I fervently prayed would sustain life long enough for the Allies to muster enough strength & resources for a substantial retaliation.

Alas! I would not be denied! My darkest hour would give way to a victory for the ages! My oldest simply could not hunt down the whereabouts of my only remaining vessel in time to save her own Naval fleet which would prove to be her ultimate demise! (Right about now you're thinking I seriously need to get a life aren't you?) Good fortune may not prevail come tomorrow but for now moral is high with the troops as we relish in the sweet savory smell of victory.

Regardless, we shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas & oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence & growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields & in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!

The Well Rounded Man

In larger cities I've noticed one can purchase fresh flowers for a very reasonable price (unlike in the smaller communities I lived in growing up with fewer competitors & captive audiences I guess). That being the case, Natalie & I have decided to try to maintain fresh flowers in our home on a regular basis. At the risk of sounding entirely too feminine (too late) they really add such a wonderful depth of color & warmth to our house it would be a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity. My readers should also note I enjoy ice cold beer after mowing the lawn, college & pro football, the occasional cigar, medium rare steaks, polish sausages, baseball, foot long chili cheese dogs (with massive white onion sprinkles on top to ensure fresh breath), frito pies, flannel shirts, never shaving & ape grunts when something really cool happens. Yes I'm quite the well rounded man. :O)

When One Door Closes...

Those who read My June 4th entry know my offspring were quite relieved with the arrival of the last day of school finally upon us. Jubilation quickly turned to sorrow however, in the realization of leaving teachers & friends behind for the summer (or worse, for good, as some were moving away). I tried especially to comfort my daughter with the one worn out expression I actually still believe in- "When one door closes another one opens." I reminded her how she cried her eyes out when we left our previous residence & moved to our current home. I told her if that painful experience had not occurred she never would have met her favorite 4th grade teacher at her new school. I think she understood.

My wife moved often growing up so she has always lived by the motto "Make friends fast." Noble words. You can never fully be certain what's behind or beyond the new door opening but rest assured there's always strength in numbers.

And There Was Much Rejoicing

Captains Log- Stardate: 060409. Crew experiencing unexplainable lift in spirits during early morning commute to salt mines aboard transportation vessel. Docked for morning donuts at 0700 hours outside of Neutral Zone as to avoid any Romulan detection/confrontation.

None of above stated however accounts for crew's origins of excessive joy.

Should note crew retired to quarters early last evening for hearty night's rest but can safely dismiss as root of morning's euphoria.

Careful deduction would also negate benefits of crew's recent dietary changes-fresh kelp from sanctuary moons of Trinoxidevlbenovvvianeespz.

Nonetheless, logic would dictate not to dismiss immediate upcoming sabbatical from salt mine responsibilities for following summer months as cause of celebration. More data would need to be accumulated to develop substantial working theory however.

Will continue to monitor situation closely as crew adjusts to new schedule involving 0.000 early mornings, aggressive consumption of sugar coated cereals, & frequent viewings of strange porous life form who exclusively refers to himself as "Spongebob."

Over & out.

Momentum

Like a freshly pruned bouquet of flowers in an an elegant glass vase sitting front & center on your dining room table, momentum is one of those highly desired yet elusive things in life you know will simply not last.

Anyone who has ever undertaken a substantial project can tell you momentum can be quite difficult to achieve much less sustain. Usually I find during these times things must get worse before they can get better. For example, if your spouse comes to you wanting to repaint your living room, hall, & back three bedrooms, you know the preparation alone for painting (much less the actual act) will initially be slow & painful while simultaneously making your house look like a war zone. I am constantly reminded of this very fact when I prepare a large meal for my family. Usually I must spend at least 30 minutes creating wiggle room in my embarrassingly small & messy kitchen while making even bigger messes under the guise of "preparation" (wink, wink/cynical air quotes) before any serious culinary endeavors can be undertaken.

I find myself dealing with this particular subject today (I thought you'd never ask!) because I've been trying to catch even a handful of this magic pixie dust for the past month on a particular musical project I'm recording. That's the problem with art. You can't simply force the issue without severely damaging the end result. All I can do at this point is have my sails set high & be ready when the narrow winds of opportunity grace me with their presence. Then I shall ride it for as long as humanly possible. In the meantime I'll hang with Kael. ;-)

Sounds I Like

An oscillating fan on low as I quietly nap in a dark air conditioned room on a hot summer day. Fresh Coffee percolating. Breaking glass. Aged firewood snapping & popping on a quiet winter night. Brined, pounded, & heavily seasoned fresh chicken breasts just tossed on a piping hot outdoor charcoal grill (Why do we say "chicken breasts" anyway? They're not mammals. Shouldn't it be "chicken chests?"). A can of tennis balls being opened for the first time. Typing on a laptop (not a regular keypad mind you. Must be a laptop). A thirsty dog lapping his water from a bowl on a 100 degree day in August. A woodpecker doing his (or her!) thing. A fish tank aquarium air pump hard at work. The fairy boat horns in commute late at night to & from Galveston Island. Jason Scheff's electric bass. A "Nothing but net" three pointer. A wooden bat hitting 216 red stitches at 95 mph. Brian E. Smith's laugh (like no other). A NASCAR engine from the driver's perspective (not the audience's) in the heat of the race. A new leather bound book being opened. A canoe being rowed on an otherwise glassy still pond. That muffled voice on the old Pole Position arcade game that always stated "Prepare to qualify!" at the start of your game. A bottle of white wine being opened (preferably Fitzer's Pinot Grigio 2007). A group of professional violinists in unison. Al Michael's commentary. Scripture being read aloud by a child. Bacon cooking. Wind whistling thru my window on an evening in December. The strike of a match. Anything off the Chicago 17 album. A tennis ball being hit in the sweet spot of a tennis racket. That crackly aftermath sound that big commercial level fireworks make while dissipating. An old west steam engine coming to a halt. The tip of a marker writing on a blank sheet of white paper. That subtle high pitched noise dogs make sometimes when they yawn. Gordon Ramsay grinding fresh peppercorns over his culinary creations. Anything out of the mouth of Sarah Palin or Condoleezza Rice. The impact from my daughter's fabulous cannonballs. Bill Champlin's singing voice. A concert grand piano being tuned (preferably a Yamaha, Steinway or Bosendorfer pending on what genre of music). Skates on ice. My children's laughter.

The Impossible Dream

It was perhaps our family's darkest hour during the late summer & early fall of 2001. I don't have to remind any American what was happening on the national & global scene during that time. Our family was no stranger to crisis either. My wife was fighting for our oldest son's life as well as her own in a small hospital room on the south side of Kansas City, Missouri. There she would be bed ridden for the better half of four months & it wouldn't be until Thanksgiving, before our son would finally come home from the hospital for the first time. It was in that small room where life & death hung in the balance that my wife's vision for becoming a physician was born. That was almost eight years ago.

Fast forward.

This weekend Natalie sang for a crowd of six thousand during UTMB graduation exercises for the class of 2009. How things change. While our journey & purpose is never fully complete this side of eternity, this is an enormous milestone to finally arrive just under a year from graduation. Her vision is now within reach.

Lean years these have been. It's easy to forget that dreams come with a hefty price tag if you're not the one in the hot seat. Nevertheless, here we are at opportunity's gate. what a dream. What a journey. What a woman.

Just Grapes & Sunshine

I belong to a raisin eating family. This is largely because my youngest is a finely tuned raisin eating machine. So I purpose to have them on hand for his dining pleasure since they're decidedly better for you than gallons of high fructose corn syrup. The only downside is I often find remnants of his raisins carelessly scattered throughout the house. Or worse, stomped deep into the threads of our carpet, which is largely why we rent...okay partially why we rent ;-)

The other day I happened to notice the little phrase on the box which boasted its ingredients to be "Just Grapes & Sunshine." I recall thinking it seemed too good to be true because they taste so sweet. There must surely be high fructose corn syrup embedded in there somewhere. Upon further investigation I was relieved to find the label of contents missing the ghastly syrup of death.

Nice.

Much like good food & good cooking, sometimes simple is best. I continue to be amazed however as to how anyone could bite into one of these tiny fruit snacks & believe its existence to be mere happenstance. Simple ingredients aside, it possesses highly complex design, obvious purpose, & months of cultivation to reach maturity. None of which just happened or happens by accident.

Reminds me of the late famed astronomer & astrochemist Carl Sagan who once acknowledged "In order to create an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." Key word being..."create."

Making Music in a Cluttered Room

Up late. Nothing new there. Taking a break from arranging some of my music while the family sleeps.

Someone once told me your success may very well be determined by what you are willing to lose. In my case it's a neat & tidy abode. There are worse things in life. As much as I would love to reside in a rustic white two story Martha Stewart New England style home (with forest green trim..has to have forest green trim around it) that's nestled perfectly into the backdrop of something out of a Jim Wilson film with a lush circle drive & freshly landscaped lawn, there simply aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish the goals I've set before me & maintain that property tax of a nightmare.

So alas, here I sit in my cluttered room creating my masterpieces into the wee small hours of the morning. I suppose one man's cluttered room is another man's recording studio. We should all be so lucky. :-)

Time Passing

At this very hour my youngest is turning two. I can think of no greater reminder of how quickly time passes than to have children & watch them grow up one hour at a time. It is the greatest & most sobering responsibility I will ever encounter. May wisdom be his father's faithful company. Here's to many more years to come. Happy Birthday Kael.

Birds of a Feather

While I fully realize Bill O'reilly is a polarizing journalist to many, even the far left would be hard pressed not to acknowledge the Factor's "Miller Time" segment is hands down the whitiest political banter anywhere on television today. Miller's monologues are nothing short of genius... a political Robin Williams sporting a scruffy beard. I find myself mesmerized by the blistering array of analogies & references. I confess though, many fly right over me. That's okay. I'll take my six minutes of perplexing brilliant dialogue any day over most public speakers who refuse to quit when they're done. Less is more. Say it with me..."Less is more!" Better still..."keep it pithy." :0D

To Boldly Go...

Last night I found myself nestled in a theatre well into the wee hours of the morning relishing the new Star Trek film (btw I give it a resounding two thumbs up).

It never ceases to amaze me how many thousands of people it takes to produce any given Hollywood film. It also never ceases to amaze me how everyone loves to shout kudos to household name producers or actors but overlook the third chair trombonist in the symphony who was recorded at just the right moment to enhance your favorite scene. Or what about the graphic artist whose parents said she was throwing her life away majoring in art instead of law who created a phenomenal story board that took Spielberg's ideas to an entirely new level? Or what about the set designer who made a Vulcan planetary surface more than believable? And let's not forget the sound engineer that remastered the final mix of the movie soundtrack to give it that extra sizzle.

We've all heard "It takes all kinds of people to make a world" but rarely do we sincerely acknowledge it. Usually the measuring stick by which most define success is "Will it pay the bills?" Interestingly enough, these are the same folks who don't think twice about laying down several Benjamins when Cher or McCartney's farewell tour rolls into town. They also love to build their dvd/cd libraries & ipod play lists by leaps & bounds. Last time I checked it wasn't tax attorneys, CEO's or plastic surgeons writing those musical scores or producing those fresh ideas out of thin air.

I'm not advocating avoiding responsibilities, but we need creative dreamers, unconventional thinkers & risk takers. I'm glad Beethoven, Bill Gates & Hank Williams Sr. didn't listen to the cynical masses. Had they fallen prey our world would be the worse for it.

Old Man Summer

Those who know me best know I much prefer cloudy, cold, dreary, wet, drizzly, autumn leaves sticking to your windshield, with heavy snow in the forecast kind of days to summer. It's not that I hate summer, it's just that where I live I can sit in an air conditioned house with a ceiling fan on high with all the lights off & the drapes drawn & still sweat bucket loads. Today however, was a gift from above. Highs were in the 70's. Though the underlying gift was the non existent humidity. Stranger than fiction. It's as if The Almighty threw me one last celestial bone before we are to be lambasted with four months of "lows in the 90's" with 99% humidity. In honor of this most rarest of days I chose to cut my grass. I have found I can get all manner of manual labor done with zero humidity. Next month I shall be torching my yard with the devine smell of highly flamable petrolium via my local shell station. Don't knock it till you've tried it. Yellow grass has gotten a bad rap over the years. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder & in my eyes a scorched yard is like the rarest delicate crocus that blooms but once in a lifetime. ;0>