Just the roadie...

When Dick Reid (the American Airlines Shoe Bomber - how soon we forget) was taken from the American Airlines jet in custody, he asked State Trooper Santiago where the press and where the TV crews were, and the trooper stated, "You're no big deal."  The Lond o n bombings ARE a big deal. But make no mist ake about it, these gutless terrorists are only after one thing, pe rsonal glory and attention. More virgins waiting for t hem i n their sick and twisted heaven. If I don't stop now, I'll say things that will irritate, aggravate, and I will likely regret.   Freedom is never free. Je sus paid the ultimate sacrifice so that ALL people could be free of the crap that ruins our failed lives. I am not a liberal nor conservative in either my politics or faith. I was as lost as any terrorist.  What I am now is a follower of Jesus Christ; who came to this mudball to personally pick my sorry carcass up out of the gutter. Anything I am beyond that has to be imbued with tha...

My buddy Brian has his own Cornerstone blog here: http://flabbyironman.blogspot.com/   He has some great stories and pictures from the fest.   Go check it out!

Wow!  I sat through near record heat, sat in stand still traffic for nearly an hour, ran for cover from the absolute downpours; and I'm not even at the festival! Cornerstone Festival that is.  Usually at this time of year, I would have been on the grounds of the most amazing music and arts there is on the planet! (you still have time to get there, it goes through Sunday night! - stop reading - go now!!)  Of course I'm biased. I've lived for the Fourth of July weekend for over 17 years because it meant one thing. I was going to "THE Fest". Anyone from the Midwest especially knows it as "The Fest". Most people I know that are creative, culturally relevant, and into the arts and music know that Cornerstone Festival doesn't need to be described, it needs to be experienced.  Oppressive heat, damaging downpours, sulfur tinged water (major props to my JPUSA family for slowly bringing the water at the fest to a lot more drinkable state), sleepless nights (I...

It's been a rough week here in the dark wood but tonight I had a tiny chance to get away from northwest Indiana and see some of my favorite artists, The Lost Dogs . Another big fan of the boys (in all of their inceptions - Daniel Amos, da, The Choir, 77's, etc.) managed to snag the boys for a pre- Cornerstone show in their little fellowship hall of their church.   Rein Bontreger of Reinforcements Design managed to get them to his church, Fellowship of Living Hope, in Rensselaer, Indiana. I went with my buddy, Hippy, his wife, and their son, Levi. Our pal, Wally, would have made it but he backed out because of something called "worship practice". Wuss...  I read on the Lost Dogs listserv a couple days before about Mike not doing well physically. I read the details about the problem but it has to do with a lung infection and I know it's been tough for him on this tour. Stop and say a prayer for Doctor Love if you will. I know it's appreciated. Anyway, the sho...

An Open Letter to my Family at Cornerstone 2005 For so many reasons beyond my control, this is the first year in eighteen years that I will be unable to get to the festival. I'm still dealing with the reality of that statement. Yes, that IS longer than the majority of the festival-ites have been alive. I've said it out loud (at least through my fingertips) and am slowly coming to grips with it. It's hard, unbelievably hard, to realize I can't get to the one place on the planet that is my yearly sabbatical and source of sanity. I've been praying for a miracle but God seemingly has other things for me to learn this year. I've volunteered for the fest (I don't think anyone can ever emphasize how important volunteers really are to the fest) in one way or another every year, in every way imaginable. From trash pickup, to manning vendor and artist booths, to security in the old metal barns at Greyslake (Hi Ed), to (most recently) working with some absolutely amazi...

“And you may ask yourself - How do I work this? And you may ask yourself - Where is that large automobile? And you may tell yourself - This is not my beautiful house! And you may tell yourself - This is not my beautiful wife! Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...” Sure, I had big plans if the Chief Information Officer position came through in the school district. Of course I was ready to move back to New York to be near a lot of family (even have a wedding to go to out there in September). But… as David Byrne so eloquently states in the classic “Once In A Lifetime” (man, I loved Stop Making Sense), nothing has changed and I’m going nowhere fast… I heard today about the CIO job and it was exactly as suspected, HR had one in the hip pocket and pulled them out for the position. Once again, after talking to the HR Director it was, “You were a great interview and really showed how deep your knowledge is. I would hate to lose you now that I know how strong ...

I stole the first paragraph below (politely) from my nephew on his blog and decided to add my thoughts: "Christianity is the second of the Abrahamic faiths; it follows Judaism and is followed by Islam. It differs in its belief of Jesus, as not a prophet nor historical figure, but as God in human form. The Holy Trinity is the concept that God takes three forms: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (sometimes called Holy Spirit). Jesus taught the idea of instead of seeking revenge, one should love his or her neighbors and enemies. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humankind and forgive people's sins." ---------(Spazzmo Says)--------- Pretty sterile definition of "Christianity". Unfortunately, that's exactly how most of the world sees it; sterile, rigid, unforgiving. It's too bad we "Christians" (screw it, anytime I say "we", I mean me) can't live what Christ truly taught. The whole idea of truly ...