Mötley Crüe - Summerfest July 4th, 2014

Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago one of the most important documents in the history of the future United States of America was written bringing forth the great Nation and a country of people who love their freedoms.  Since then the Fourth of July has become a massive celebration complete with fireworks rife with brilliant flashes and loud reports.  Its fitting when you think of those fireworks and how two hundred thirty-eight years ago those flashes sounds were associated with cannon fire and muskets.  Is the "birth of the Nation" and the freedom that we enjoy merely forgotten or noticed, or between the hot dogs and potato salad is there still that flame still flickering true?

Namaste - Q & Z Expo Center - May 22nd, 2014

Namaste: "Is used as a respectful form of greeting, acknowledging and welcoming a relative, guest or stranger. It is used with good byes as well. It is typically spoken and simultaneously performed with palms touching gesture."  Its an interesting word really, as mentioned above it has many meanings all of which lead to a spirituality that words from the English language really don't seem to have the same level of respect.  Respect is of great import to cultures, clans and individuals for millennia.  So?

Banjo Loco - CD Release and Soiree

Banjos and soirees go together like grape jelly and beef jerky scrambled eggs.  Often we hear these wonderful recipes and we think "that could be interesting" but at times the concept is much greater than the finished project.  Take it from a father who once had a child inspire his greatness using a chocolate chip pancake, maple flavored syrup, ketchup and whipped creme to the massive failure that was indeed the gnarliest looking concoction that ever came forth at three times the speed of sound.  Come to think of it those eggs might grow on you...

Galena High School Spring Concert - May 10th, 2014

Nationwide music programs are under the proverbial chopping block with a neatly sharpened blade and the the executioner is getting bored.  Education itself is on the same chopping block with decidedly terrifying focus on lessening what is taught as well as how.  Music programs stimulate the mind of the children participating and therefore helping those students become even better students.  Sadly with the focus of many schools not supporting music programs it is the students that suffer and at the same time allowing a justification of why that program should be cut.  Living in the community in which I do it can be said that...

Cheap Thrill - Mississippi Moon Bar

At some point in one's life we are presented with the opportunity to get a "cheap thrill."  Whether it be an unexpected chance meeting with a personal hero or celebrity, or watching a car chase on TV, the experience of a cheap thrill is the same.  One could even consider the Janet Jackson appearance, and her wardrobe "malfunction" as a cheap thrill but never discount the affects of a cold and rainy night in Iowa as to providing its own "Cheap Thrill."

RATT - A Three Part Series of Sorts

Growing up in the '80's had a profound effect on my little slice of heaven.  Without crawling back down Memory Lane (no seriously I did that once) or "memory lane" the time I could spend talking about sports, politics, world events, hopes, dreams, crushes and school will be reserved to the annals pf the thing I remember the most: Music.  When I was a "wee lad" we didn't have MTV (no I'm not breaking into a "When I was a kid" moment) because the cable company didn't provide it to.  When we would work our way to the town many of my cousins lived I was able to watch it despite the fact that the town in which they lived was smaller.  That was actually very important to me, why you ask?  Well...

Galena High School Choir - 2014 Disney World

The community in which I live has gone through astronomic changes in the 28 years since I graduated but I the largest changes have been in the educational system.  Twenty eight years is a span that most would assume that the education of a community should change in some fashion and within my community those changes have been for the best.  I'm from a community that had between 90 - 100 students graduate every year all of the way into the '90's but recently those numbers have significantly dropped.  With the aforementioned drop-off in enrollment numbers it is easy to assume that many programs would have been cut and forgotten but in this case...