There isn't much I get upset by or spooled up about anymore no matter what the topic - terrorism, presidential elections, or the importance of the use of real cheese and not just cheese food products in school lunches. I have sort of hit a point of acknowledgement. Acknowledgement and acceptance that largely it is something I can not change. In a presidential election, I have my one vote, but I don't seriously believe that it's all that important because the voting system does not represe...

I've said it before. I use this site to spew a random amount of stuff into the blogosphere. And once again, I thank the creators of it for the space to do just that. Today's spewage is a dedication to a wonderful woman. I am a lucky lucky man, and I'll tell ya...it took me a long time to get lucky. (*rimshot*) Dear Mari, I just wanted to tell you that I love you - here - in public. You're brilliantly intelligent. You're an awesome cook. You put up with me, and that, by itself,...

Somewhere around 1994 I began to read a fantasy epic series called "The Wheel of Time." I learned a really good lesson about reading series of books - namely - don't start the series until it is finished. It's a really good series if you like the genre, but five books into it, I found out that I'd have to wait to continue. Two years passed before the next one came out, and I bought it immediately and finished it in short order, and then....two more years. Good god. Write faster, RJ..."...

The sad thing is, my Dad, a retired full bird Colonel in the USAF who was in Viet Nam, was born on September, 11. Now he doesn't want to celebrate his birthday anymore. I've asked him, on my wife's suggestion, to have a half-year birthday on March 11. Maybe he'll go for that. In any case, I started looking at 9/11 in history, and thought some people might be interested in the other things that have happened on that day. So here it is. September 11, 1995 Eastern Tennessee begins...

Did you ever have those moments when you stopped to analyze where you were, right now, in your life, and in your retrospection, you found some decisive moments that directly resulted in who you are today? It's an illusion, really. Because of course what you did before led to what you did next, and next, and next, and suddenly you're where you are. So it makes perfect sense that you see some previous event as being pivotal. But dammit. They WERE pivotal! I played music in high scho...

This article is pretty much just for me to get something out of my system - even though I know it won't do much good. Background: The Navy enlisted rank structure goes like this: Seaman recruit, seaman apprentice, seaman, petty officer third class, second class, first class, chief, senior chief, master chief. I am a first class. It's the worst rank of all because you have to convince your superiors that you're worthy of being a chief while taking care of the juniors below you. These...

When I got to Naples 2 years and a few months ago, one of the first persons I met was a guy I'll just call MH. I'm just calling him that, because what I'm about to describe is illegal, and I don't want to dime him out for his service. MH deserves a blog entry all his own. He's a thinker - very astute. He's absolutely hilarious...a wit faster than greased lightning and sharper than a razor. But perhaps I'll save that for another time. MH and I became friends immediately, and he told me...

Dharmagrl, there are parts of the following that might seem a bit "heavy handed," or maybe they won't, but I'm gonna play it safe. I apologize in advance and only enter this in the spirit of healthy debate. Since I know samma-kammanta and samma-yayama to be important to you, I am sure you will understand. </disclaimer> I began this post as a commentary on dharmagrl's post entitled Ranting and Raving which I noticed has received a rather large number of comments. I post the ...

I can play in front of an audience all day and not think twice about ooooooh...being on stage.  Don't give a shit.   Make me play in front of my peers?  I give a BIG shit.  Usually right in my pants.  There's nothing worse for me than playing music while my peers sit and critique me.   So, since day 1 of my career as a US Navy musician, I have dreaded going back to the Armed Forces School of Music, because I've been petrified to audition in front of my p...

Just a little update on life and whatnot.   After a grueling trip that my friend Charlie referred to as "The Great Migration," Mari and I are finally back on home soil in the US of A.  Here's a brief synopsis of what "The Great Migration" entailed.   During the summer months, there is an embargo on traveling with pets.  If the temperature at the departing airport is 85 degrees or higher at the time of departure, or if the projected temperature at the time of arriv...

I don't even have the patience now to find the right category for this, so it goes in misc.  Tough.   Dear reader, this a full on cathartic rant.  You're not likely going to understand what the hell I'm talking about, but it's either this or I start breaking shit.  And since I don't have any shit to break at the moment, the point is moot.  Welcome!  Welcome to my blog!   I'm a musician.  And on occasion, I have to write music.  Ye...

With the recent addition of a "Karma" button, I was reminded of a story from my college days.  I am not sure whether I really believe in karma as a functional system that is truly in action, but this story is definitely an example that it's at least possible, and it's something I'm fond of reminiscing about 20+ years later   The year is 1985.  The place is in a parking lot just up a hill from a football field where the University of South Carolina Marching Band practices in ...

Now I hope this gets some sort of wide dissemination, and I hope everyone that sees this answers and answers honestly.  It's a poll of sorts.   Who here ever wanted Crackerjacks or bought Crackerjacks solely for the prize at the bottom.  Raise your hand.   * OckhamsRazor raises his hand *