the last stanza

July 4th nears. I am wondering what we as a people will really be celebrating in a few years. We watch from our comfortable Lazy-Boys as our independence is either surrendered to or taken by the state. What will come of July 4th in years to come?

There is a cost for freedom - a cost for our individual and collective independence. We for the most part have become a people who had rather trade our birthright for a "free" bowl of lukewarm stew today and worry about the bill later. Let's us give thanks and fill our bellies with that mediocre-institutional-goodness-in-a-can that only government can dish out. It might not taste good or be very filling - but guaranteed will feed everyone. Just add water and serve. It's now a good thing that we can depend on the United State government to take care of us. What's so independent about that? We'll give it all away today and moan about it later.

Let's turn back to Egypt brothers. Egypt might not be our promised land - but at least were fed there. At least we had a place to lay our head there. Let's turn back to Egypt brothers - forget about this freedom. Freedom is hard - with freedom you have to worry.

July 4th, let's try not to think about the sacrifice we are making and will have to make for all this governmental grace. For now let's enjoy our backyard barbecues with with family and friends. When the evening comes, look to the night sky for that brilliant display of fireworks - those bombs bursting in air, the rockets red glare...

happy dependence day.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
-Francis Scott Key

more

how do i worship you o Lord
for all your goodness
for all you are
how do i worship you
for each moment i have had breath
down every hard road
deliverer savior
all the blessings and answered prayers
through pain fear doubt
you have been there and always close
i will worship you
you are in my every day
i will proclaim you
throughout my years
you are in my song
because you are my only reason to sing
you are my song
you bring hope to every hopeless moment
you are the reason for all good things
my redeemer
i give you all of what little i am
what little lifespan i have
i will ever point to you
o Lord
i will speak of your goodness and mercy
your love
your light
i will burn it until i am ashes
give away and let go
until there is nothing more of me
o Lord
teach me show me
how to be less
so i may worship you more

lyric & rhythm

i am not a musician
but i'm a good faker
who started out some thirty odd years ago
with a few good lines
and three chords
on a second hand guitar
i hammered away at that box
until i found some rhythm
and some words for pain
during the time i worked to craft lyric
i threw away a forest of trees
until the lyric sang without me
then i joined in the chorus
trying to find my voice
amid lyric and rhythm
until i got it down
and got down
hammered that box, strings and lines
until songs came out with shouts
i played and play on
for anyone who showed a glimpse of interest
played and play on
hoping i'm never found out
an old kid on the stage
who really ought not be there
a faker
still just trying
still just trying
to get through to you

praying for a nation

"I invite the people of the United states to invoke the influence of His Holy Spirit... to guide the counsels of the government with wisdom adequate to so great a national emergency, and to visit with tender care and consolation throughout the length and breadth of our land all those who, through the vicissitudes of marches, voyages, battles, and sieges have been brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate, and finally to lead the whole nation through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine will back to the perfect enjoyment of union and internal peace."

- Abraham Lincoln July 15, 1863

political correctness

Our guys were killed and wounded by Viet Cong, by North Vietnamese Army soldiers, by Chinese Army advisors, by civilian sympathizers, by explosives hidden in the clothing of children, by soap bars with razor blades inside, by poisoned candy and foodstuffs, by multitudes of assorted booby traps, by our own troops, through bad artillery coordinates and defective munitions. We lost troops because we were commanded not to lock and load our weapons, and not to fire until we were fired upon. This came directly from Lyndon Johnson, POTUS, who tried to micro-manage a war from the White House, with left-wing idealistic ideology, and the technology of the 1960’s. After the initial deaths of fellow Marines because of this diabolical command, we disregarded the order, at possible pain of arrest and courts-martial. These were my comrades, and brothers-in-arms. We fought because Communism is a threat to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We weren’t political, we were patriotic.

Read Hebrews, Chapter 11, for accounts of martyrs for the Kingdom of God, which has been repeated throughout history by faithful saints who chose to die for Christ, rather than bow to the then current lassez -faire politically correct doctrines and fads.

My wife has had 10 miscarriages, a tubal pregnancy, a child born in the 2nd trimester who was only able to live for 20 minutes, 2 children with spina-bifida, one of whom died of complications at 8 months of age. We met many other families whose stories dwarfed ours. Every death is a loss and a heartbreak. Every one significant in the whole scheme of things, and every one a scar written on the heart of our Savior and Creator, who loves every soul he has made, and died to redeem us all. We will continue to choose to trust Him, and understand what we can, leaving the rest to His wisdom and sovereignty.

The recent deaths of some celebrities has brought forth the usual responses of shock, sadness and loss. These are ‘usual’ responses because that’s what the deaths of fellow human beings always elicit. It reminds us that we all will face such a day, and it pains us because we genuinely care about other people. The tragedy of the power of personality cults is that it can make us inordinately concerned with people who touch us with their art, talent and influence to the degree that we think we really ‘know’ them. They become ‘larger than life’, and when their lives end, we have been conditioned to have a ‘larger than normal’ reaction. If we don’t fall in line, say all the things expected of us, wear the correct color ribbon, etc., we can be looked upon as unfeeling, cruel, inhuman.

If, in an attempt to bring a larger context into view, we point out that celebrity deaths are just as painful, sad, and traumatic to their family, friends and loved ones, and yes, fans, but are no more tragic than other, less well known, or unknown people, there often
arises a firestorm of recriminations, accusations, etc. I’m sure there are a lot of reasons in hearts and minds for this, and I’m not smart enough to figure out the nuances of human motives, but the reactions are often more heated than seem appropriate for just trying to bring a balance to the situation.

I know this, I believe political correctness is a blight on humanity, and gives dark forces the leverage to divide people through the elimination of original thought and critical examination. Let’s grieve with those who grieve, and rejoice with those who rejoice as well as our consciences will allow. But, away from me, all who only give the ‘correct answer’, or the ‘expected response’. That type of ‘thinking’ cost the lives of many of my friends, and causes untold problems for human relationships, and society as a whole.

-Danny Daniels
http://www.danny-daniels.com

It's LGBT Month!

Say, how many people out there knew that this month is officially Lesbian Gay Bisexual, Trans-Gender Month? It's true - LGBT Month! I haven't seen many people out on the streets celebrating it though. Frankly, I haven't really heard much about it. Judge Roy Moore was over at my home a few weeks ago and told me about Obama's LGBT Month declaration. So this is change we can believe in?

By the way, I did the above graphic about this time last year during the presidential campaign. This image is still pretty darn relevant a year later. Maybe I should work on a banner graphic especially for this LGBT Month. Let's all celebrate this new great day in the anals of American history. Happy Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans-Gender Month!!!!

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."
-Matthew 12:35

nothing but sugar

Obama, I believe, is a walking placebo - a big sugar pill. There seems to be a lot of people out there who think this walking sweet talking pill is the cure for all our woes. Obama I believe, believes in his own faux medicine.

No more shopping days til Moon Song!

I've looked forward toward tonight since Danny Moon booked us at Moon Song Songwriter's Cafe'. No rehearsal - no net - just three guise getting together to play songs they used to play together twenty years ago. We're going to throw in some new songs too. Much of tonight will be a jam session of sorts - letting the music have it's way with us.

When Michael, Brook, and I started playing together as The Guise, we talked about the kind of music we wanted to sing. We knew we were going to be singing each others songs, but we wanted to sing songs of friends of ours. Arnie Sanford for one. Arnie was still living at the time, suffering from M.S.. Arnie couldn't play and sing anymore. One of the last songs Arnie was able to pen was a song called 'With Your Help'. It's a beautiful and simple piece that was one of the first songs that The Guise added to our repertoire. You see, we wanted to sing songs that our friends wrote that we didn't want forgotten. We used to sing 'Jesus Knows All About It' that Barry Goss wrote. I have a blues version of that song that we may do - or we might just play it old school (or both). Dan Noojin once wrote a song called 'Insane Man' - another great song that The Guise took to a new level. There was always plenty of material - great old songs written by old friends.

It's not just the material that made The Guise - The Guise. We are friends that play well together. We are like chocolate, caramel and chewy nugget. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I've never been in a group before or since that had a chemistry. I have no idea what tonight will be like. I'm always curious as to what will happen when the individual elements are combined.

little shop of kelsey

A few weeks ago Kelsey (six) came to me in my studio and showed me a drawing. She asked me what it was and I laughed. The family sat down a few Saturdays ago and watched the original Roger Corman version of Little Shop of Horrors. The movie must have made an impression on her. I really like this piece of artwork.

The Little Shop of Horror (1960) was the fastest movie Roger Corman ever produced. He once claimed he made a bet that he could produce full length feature film in three days. He won his bet by shooting Little Shop in two days and one night. Well...at least that's Corman's story anyway. Little Shop of Horrors is a man-eating-plant story that crossed over onto stage as a macabre-comedy musical, and then back into film. I've seen both screen versions as well as the stage play. I wasn't disappointed by any of the productions. I am not one for musicals - but the stage and screen show is very fun - and the songs are most excellent. As for my youngest daughter. I am constantly amazed at her. Gina says that Kelsey will one day surpass me in creativity and in art. I believe so too. Kelsey is a very imaginative little creature. She's always keeping her little hands busy with crayons, scissors, tape, and any very important documents that are missing that later turn up as great works of six year old art.

brothers in arms

dire straits on all channels of my mind today - enjoy

see beautiful noccalula falls meet the creep

This afternoon Gina drove to the park ahead of me to secure a pavilion at Noccalula Falls Park. I followed in the other van so I could stop at the grocery store and pick up some bags of ice. We had decided to have the luau themed party for Katie's thirteenth even amid the rain. So Gina gets there before I do. She walks over to the office to talk to the guy about renting a pavilion. The conversation started friendly and jovial but then turned creepy real fast. The Parks & Recreation work asked where Gina lived - then asked if she was single. Gina said that she was married. He then asked if she would be interested in having an affair anyway - just don't tell her husband. I don't know how long the sleazy character has worked up at the falls but he's going to say the wrong thing to the wrong wife one of these days and end up in a world of hurt. All it takes is one.

The rain came and the sky was dark. Faithful family showed up to wish Katie a happy birthday. We had a pleasant time in spite of the creepy park guy and the weather. Gina had prepped a killer Pineapple Punch and Mary made a chocolate on chocolate birthday cake. Mary's made Katie's birthday cake every years since she was born. It was a pleasant afternoon.

I came home and unloaded the car. Judge Moore asked to come by and we worked some more on a design project. I really enjoy having him over. We are both very happy with the outcome of the project. I will share the at my design blog in good time.

I am looking forward to playing at Moon Song Songwriter's Cafe' this coming Friday night. I've secured Ron Greer to join us on his stand-up bass. I am looking forward to playing with Ron again. He's a fun fellow to be around and I didn't learn until recently that he too is a graphic designer and cartoonist. Maybe that's why we get along so well together. Brook and Michael seem to be anticipating The Guise reunion at the songwriter's cafe' as well. I've been listening to some old recordings from Christian Brother's days of The Guise. I am trying to reacquaint myself with some of our old tunes.

Massage clinic went well Saturday. I am still kind of tired from it. Maybe I am just tired from the entire previous week. I am constantly having to be working on school stuff - even when I am not in class - I have to be prepping and studying. I feel behind even though I've been doing as much as I can to stay on top. I am sure that I am just as much on top of things if not more so than my fellow classmates - still - it's so much work. I feel guilty if am not doing something toward school each day because of the intense work load. There's no slack. I am overwhelmed. I might not do as good as I did the previous semesters because I have so much on my plate. I am sure though that I will get through it - maybe not with a 4.0 average - but I will get through it. My blood pressure is off the scale again - very high.

Tomorrow is the third week of a nine week semester. It's a hard and fast one I tell you. I'm feeling better about my S.O.A.P notes and feeling good about the quality of my massages. I learned some new stuff during clinics this past Saturday. I like it when an instructor shows a move/approach to add to my repertoire. Though I feel like I am getting better - I know that there's lots of room for improvement. I always dread going to clinic - but I always enjoy it when I get there. I don't know why I dread it like I do. It's usually always a very educational and rewarding experience.

where did she go?

What happened to my little Katie? She's that little girl I used to call my little ragamuffin. She's now teenager. That's right, Katie Finlayson is now 13. No, she's not a little ragamuffin - she a young lady. I still get a dozen hugs a day - just like I used to get from her when she was little one. I am very proud of Katie - her heart - her mind - her everything. This daddy is proud. I like most dad's feel in moments like this - like time is on a fast track.

My children are speeding forward quicker that I prefer. I am enjoying each moment. My girls are among the biggest blessings in my life. I remember the years that we were not sure Gina was going to be able to have children. The doctors in Louisville pretty much told Gina that she would either have to undergo surgery or super drugs. On our way back home to Bowling Green, KY, Gina told me that she didn't want to go further with trying to have a baby. "If God wants me to have a baby - He'll just have to perform a miracle and heal my body." That moment in time was a big moment for Gina. She had been going through an emotional roller coaster because she couldn't conceive. Gina had to come to a place where she had to give up her efforts and give it to God.

Indeed God did heal and God did bless us. It took place in Michael Bynum's kitchen - not the conception - but the healing. The Bynums were having a kinship at their house at the time. We were in town and went to the kinship. Gina told me that Mike and Vickie had prayed over her and that she believed that she was healed.

She was.

So along came Katie. A young girl that blesses my heart with her presence in my life. Happy Birthday daughter - I love you and so very proud of you!

unusually good day

Today was a quiet day. I mowed the lawn, light housecleaning, studied for and aced an online Pathology test. I checked my email afterward and found an email from a very old friend. I blogged about Dan Parrish in May of last year. His family left town not long after his dad died back in 1969. I hadn't seen him since I was in sixth grade. It was a hope that he might one day come across the site and respond. Well, he did. I can't express how I felt. I can't tell you how many times I thought about him down through the decades - wondering where he ended up. I found an old friend that I thought lost forever. How cool is that?

Early in the afternoon I got a call from Judge Roy Moore. He said he was heading to my house and wanted some help on a project. He came by and we spent a few hours at my house working and talking. I really like this man.

I can't explain the day. It was quiet. Katie and Kelsey worked and played together like sisters should. I found an old friend and had a great conversation with a great man. I am tired and needing to get another online quiz behind me. I need to weed-eat before the sun disappears. I've got clinic tomorrow - I've still got things to do.

looking back looking forward

It came from the Jesus Movement. No, not by way of California - but from right here in little ol' Alabama. I was the brat brother - the youngest kid hanging around my older brother and sisters at the early prayer meetings. I guess I was just thirteen years old - but I was drawn to the passion that burned from those early fires. I was there when the doors of the first Free House were opened - where coffee and friendship was poured out to anyone passing.

As the fellowship grew and the young Christians picked up guitars and went out to sing about life in Jesus - I followed along. I made myself useful, carrying guitar cases and PA equipment. Little brothers have to make themselves useful if they want to ride with the big boys. At the time, I had never heard of the term Jesus Music. The only Jesus music I heard was when I was around the older high school and college kids. The songs they sang from Cum-bay-yah Lord to Here Comes The Son. It was all about Jesus. He was the light that I was always drawn toward.

As the fellowship grew - and the music from the coast finally made it here to Alabama via Larry Norman, Malcom & Alwyn, Love Song...we realized that we were not the only ones singing about Jesus in four four time. So much happened during the seventies that I don't want to get away from the original intent of my post. The music both locally and nationally reflected a passion for Jesus and the term Jesus Music seemed the fitting term for what was going on.

Somewhere in the late seventies the emphasis seemed to drift from following Jesus -- to following personalities. I know that I am using a broad brush here - but it's how I feel. It's what I saw. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the concerts and festivals - but eyes seemed to quickly become affixed onto "big names" rather than a big God. I remember by the end of the seventies, I was standing on the brink of the eighties looking back a short distance, wondering where the Jesus Movement went. When did Jesus Music turn into Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)? When did the Jesus Movement turn into a music industry?

I remember becoming disinterested in the vast amount of CCM that began to fill the shelves of music stores. Most of the CCM I was hearing didn't have that same passion - it was polished sentiment. It wasn't distributed to save souls but to sell records (my personal opinion). Much of the music at the time didn't have any originality or unique sound like the earlier Jesus Music pioneers. Most of it still doesn't. I tuned out Christian radio a very long time ago. Somewhere the industry figured out that a certain sound sold and that the sound was replicated for every artist out there. My dear old departed friend Arnie Sanford used to call it "ear candy".

So the Jesus Movement that washed over this country - ebbed many years ago. I have for a very long time felt like a shell washed ashore from a great tide. To me, I still have a passion to sing for Jesus. I realize that I am just an old fart with a guitar. I am a leftover Jesus Freak. I still have Jesus Freak friends who love to sing for Jesus. The only difference now is that I don't want to just sing about Jesus - I want to take Him to the streets. After all, He inhabits the praise of His people. I want to worship God OUTSIDE the walls and let His invited presence walk up and down the streets. That's been my heart for quite sometime. Ever since I was a kid just tagging along, I wanted to be part of that fire. I am just one of those shells left over from a distant ocean - ready to be picked up by that great tide and ride again.

Me, a along time ago at a coffeehouse far far away.

The Guise ride again

"THE GUISE: Michael Bynum along with brothers Brook & David Finlayson will be performing live at Moon Song Songwriter's Cafe' just atop Noccalula Mountain Friday Night on June 19th. THE GUISE was the stage band for Christian Brothers Association's SKYLIGHT Coffeehouse back in the mid to late eighties. Michael, Brook, and David have reunited from time to time since those days, and are each looking forward to a night at Moon Song as THE GUISE. They'll be playing many of their old familiars as well as newer songs. Anyone who's ever heard THE GUISE play should remember the distinctive chemistry when ever they get together - a very unique sound - and always a good time for one and all.

If you're an old Christian Brother from way back or have never heard THE GUISE. Do come! The session is free but encourage you to donate something to Moon Song. It's a wonderful venue - simply nothing like it anywhere in Etowah County."

I was playing with Michael Bynum as DREAMER through out the first half of the 1980's. By the later part of the eighties my brother Brook joined us and we became THE GUISE. I can't explain what happened, but when we became three - there was a chemistry. I've never been part of a group with a chemistry before. At the time THE GUISE was the Christian Brother's SKYLIGHT stage band. We played a good bit together and enjoyed every minute of it. I married Gina in 1990 and moved up to Bowling Green, KY - far away from Christian Brothers and THE GUISE.

Brook and Michael then became involved with a rock and roll worship band called PERMANENT WAVE (AKA: THE WAVE) with Nori Kelley, Debbie Handy, and Kenny Young. Boy did I feel left out while I was up in Kentucky. I looked forward to coming down during those six years I was a foreigner to reunite our vibacious trio.

Michael, Brook and I have only gotton together a few times during this new millennium. We've lead worship at the Gadsden Vineyard about three times over the course of the last nine years - every time there is chemistry - every time unique. Our get togethers are few and far between. We don't know what we are going to sing as of yet...but we can't wait!

Commencement Dance Music by Westbrook Band

Carlisle Bugle / Carlisle Military Scool Newspaper / May 24, 1946

When Henry Westbrook brings his 16-piece orchestra to Bamberg to play at the Carlisle Military school dance on May 24 at the Carlisle auditorium, he will bring along Jay Pace and "Sonny" Bull, both alumni of Carlisle Military school.

Henry first played at Carlisle April 28, 1938, and it was then that Jay and Sonny, students at the time, became enthusiastic admirers of the band. Jay soon became a close friend of Ingram Blanding, who was then the drummer with the band. This resulted in a teacher-pupil affair; and not that Blanding has joined the Atlanta headquarters staff of the American Red Cross. Jay has taken over the spot as drummer. While at Carlisle, Pace was on the staff of the school's newspaper and served as captain of the band his last two years.

"I'm glad," says Henry, "that we're able to have Jay with us. Ing feels that as long as jay is with the band, he himself-in a way-remains. they are good friends, they play and act so much alike you'd think Ing was right back there beating out that steady rhythm at which he was so good."

Sonny, too, is a good friend of Jay's, and being a student of the drums himself, he could sit in should the occasion demand it. Inseparable in school, they joined the navy together. However, they were shipped out to different parts of the globe and didn't get to see much of each other during their naval careers.

After being discharged from the navy they again looked each other up. When Sonny learned that Jay was the prospective drummer in Henry Westbrook's band, he also discovered that there was a vacancy for a property manager's position. So-- once again the boys are united. The Westbrook organization has just been reactivated after a three year temporary lay-off. Booking for the orchestra started on April 1, and with the applause of the crowds played to still in mind, members of the band are looking forward to their next engagement in the vicinity of Bamberg.

Emmala Rice and "Buzz" Plemming are vocalist with the band -- and, of course, Henry is still doing his bit in that department too.

Westbrook Plays At The Officers' Club

Officers and their ladies will dance to the music of South Carolina's outstanding orchestra when Henry Westbrook and his orchestra entertains at the Officers' Club Saturday night.

Emma Rice, a familiar personality at past club dances, will share the vocals with the maestro. Westbrook will also feature "Buzz" Fleming, Dave Abeel, Joe Belk, and the Westbrook Choir.

Back in the early part of 1943 the Columbia-organized swing band tooted its last note in Ausable Chasm, New York, packed its instruments and music, and, for the most part, went marching away to war. Now, three years and two V-days later, the band is back together again, with a few new faces, a lot of old ones, and a great number of overseas service ribbons and decorations. And its leader, Henry Westbrook, is once more set to give forth with "music in the night".

Henry Westbrook has been in the music business a long time. A native of Cheraw, he was only 16 years old when he composed the song that was officially adopted as his high school's Alma Mater. When he enrolled at the University of South Carolina, in the fall of 1934, he organized a dance orchestra to help pay his way through school. Since that time. Westbrook has made it a standing rule to fill as many vacancies as possible from the ranks of deserving youths who need the work to put themselves through school.

Last month the orchestra was recognized and started playing for dances in South Carolina. The band is still using its original theme song "Good Night", composed by Westbrook many years ago.

life rolls on

The owner of the old Warehouse Restaurant building had a huge tree cut down. It took the guy almost all of last week to carefully bring it down because it was inches away from the building. There were branches hanging over the roof of the building that were as big as trees. It seemed a tedious task. Gina asked the guy for the wood and he was more than happy to not have to haul it somewhere. He was nice enough to cut it into fireplace length pieces. The wood that was taken from the base of the massive tree is foreboding in width. I took two trips on my trailer yesterday (in the heat). I think it will take two more loads. Two loads not because of the quantity of the wood - but the size of each peace. The very base of the tree is an interesting shape and is about four feet in diameter (roughly speaking). It could be an interesting coffee table. It surely weighs over two hundred pounds. I am going to try to roll it up the ramp of my trailer. Frankly, I am scared of it. It looks terribly heavy. The grass at the office needs mowing and I can't start cutting until I get the wood off the grass. I've been to two classes since I last blogged.

I am quickly getting overwhelmed by the volume of work that will need to be tackled by the end of nine weeks. I've got to get back into the study all the time zombie mode and fast. Already I've been assigned pathology case studies. There are tons of quizzes/tests coming my way. It's a shout Summer semester and I can't afford to miss a day of it.

Judge Roy Moore contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I was available to help do the design work for his campaign like last time. Holland and I burned a lot of midnight oil during Moore's run for governor in 2006. Handling school and design work is going to make for a busy Summer. He's a very sweet individual. I look forward to working with him again.

I am sore from hauling and stacking wood and drained from the morning to night shuffle. I woke up this morning tired and sore. I've taken two pain relievers and about to go hook up the trailer for another round with the wood. By the way...does anyone want an interesting looking coffee table?

back o school

Tonight am am going back to school. I did alright with the online courses this past semester - but now it's time to get back into the familiar. I am jumping into this Summer and taking eleven hours. It's going to be a busy Summer for me.

During my time in life-limbo - I had time to post to my blogs. I've spent entirely too much time on facebook. I created a Downtown Gadsden facebook group after the surgery. I uploaded lots of found images of Etowah County there. I created a group of dad's old orchestra and linked postings I made here at this blog to that group. I linked a bunch of photos to a group called LST 312 for my Uncle Pat. He's been wanting to get on facebook and I think he'll be pleased to find what I started for him there. Yesterday I dropped by Michael and Vicky Bynum's house to drop of a small gift. Mike let me borrow three photos taken at a Christian Brother's Falls Festival event (1980). So there I went again - the eve of my first school day - scanning, uploading, tagging photos to yet another group - Christian Brothers. I know that I can't manage all the groups I've launched. I am not going to try. I'm just throwing it all up and out there and hope that other people take advantage of the forum.

Today life gets back in gear for me. I am pretty much over the hard part - going under the knife and getting over being under the knife. I've got my blood sugar down but my blood pressure is too high today. I don't know why. I don't feel bad. Tonight I'll head over to the school and will be getting oriented for the online Pathology class. Tomorrow night will be orientation and the first night of my Kinesiology II class. I don't look forward to all the work. I am anxious to get on with life. I really do feel like I've been put on hold during my own personal health crisis.

Like before - I won't be singing as much as I'd like. I am trying to line up a night for The Guise (the old Christian Brother's house band) that consisted of Michael Bynum, Brook Finlayson and myself to play at Moon Song Songwriter's Cafe'. There's a few available Friday nights in June that might work out for us. I will miss singing at Grace for now. Massage clinics are on Thursdays evenings and Saturday mornings/afternoons. I look forward to doing massage again. I never thought that I would enjoy giving massages as much as I do.