The Bike Ride From Hell

I was thirty-two years old and had the body of a coke-fueled alcoholic on the fast track to The End. I had not lifted a weight since I was nineteen years old and I soaked my body nightly in Seagram’s VO, Elephant Beer, and other people’s girlfriends. I was dating my wife-to-be for all ofContinue reading “The Bike Ride From Hell”

Power

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Thomas Jefferson wrote that and if anyone was in a position of power for the United States, it was him. Power comes in many forms. There is the physical power of athletes who spend hours each day lifting weights and getting bigger and (hopefully) more powerful. Actors and actressesContinue reading “Power”

The Return of Maddogg

We know the Satin Latin is back, but guess who showed up at an open mic tonight in the coolest little venue I have ever lifted a guitar in? Maddogg is back. Two days removed from the Cardiovascular post-op ICU I finally make my way out to a little town called Pleasant Plain. (I wishContinue reading “The Return of Maddogg”

I Was Scammed

Who done me wrong? That fat Gregory the Groundhog or Chucky the Woodchuck as Karen calls it, is nowhere to be seen. After reporting his existence on the weekend, his presence and the danger he represented to my two Cocker Spaniels prompted me to call a Wildlife Rescue organization to remove and relocate the pudgyContinue reading “I Was Scammed”

What Rocks Your World?

And I am not talking the short term heat-of-the-moment flush of sexual excitement. No, what I speak of is your motivation. For living. For life itself. What gets you up in the morning with a smile of anticipation and eagerness to start another day? We only have an average of 77 years and four monthsContinue reading “What Rocks Your World?”

Somebody Please Explain it to Me

Why is it? We are still in the unpacking stage and will be for some time, but I open up two boxes that I specifically took the time and effort to write on in BIG letters: TRASH—KAREN DO NOT PACK!!! Please note that there were three exclamation points written in bold on both boxes (onContinue reading “Somebody Please Explain it to Me”

I Thought I’d Seen it All

But evidently not. For those of you who have checked out a few of my blogs and know I have had  (to put it very mildly) a pretty harrowing couple of months since leaving Arizona. Massive heart attack. Trouble closing on our house. Caring for our two Cocker Spaniels Bruiser and Murphy whilst staying atContinue reading “I Thought I’d Seen it All”

One More Time

Today at 10:30 EST I check into the hospital for a very short stay (I hope) as the vascular surgeon will be cleaning out my right corraded artery and putting yet another stent in my beautiful brown body. That makes a total of 9 and three of those were lost to amputation. I know IContinue reading “One More Time”

Don’t Ever Give Up

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” Those words have been spoken millions of times but never so impactful as when North Carolina State Men’s Basketball coach Jim Valvano used them to characterize his impending exit from this planet. I vividly remember his words and I still have my signed card with them handwritten byContinue reading “Don’t Ever Give Up”

Fencing

As we prepare to enter our new home, the subject of fencing has been an ongoing concern. In Arizona, we had cinder block walls to keep the dogs at bay, but out here, wood and vinyl are seen everywhere. I like the looks of western wooden posts and fences, except that they wear down soContinue reading “Fencing”