Renagade Ramblings

Preping For Easter

2009-04-11T21:12:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. It's the day we celebrate Christ's resurrection. It's an early day for me. At the church by 6:00 to get everything ready for the three services. It will be a great day.

Passion Week

2009-04-06T21:26:00.002-05:00

This is the week that changed the world. Christ entered Jerusalem as a King and Final Sacrifice. He laid down His life as the final sacrifice for my sins. Three days later, he knocked down the gates of hell. He walked out of the tomb a Risen Savior.

By His stripes I have been healed. I have been saved by His Grace, through my faith in Him.

He has changed my life.

NASCAR fans - April Fooled?

2009-04-02T08:25:00.002-05:00

OK folks, did you bite? When you heard or read the Car & Driver article on Obama forcing GM and Chrysler out of NASCAR, did you thing it was true?

If you haven't heard, yesterday (April fool's day) Car & driver reported the Obama was forcing the companies being bailed out out of NASCAR. It was a great article. Early in the morning, there was no mention of it being a joke. The disclaimer was added later in the day. After all the major networks had picked it up and many internet outlets. I loved it. It was not mentioned on the NASCAR site or Jayski's. So i figured it was a joke. The NHRA always has some great jokes too. But non that were as convincing as yesterdays.

What made it so convincing? Is it the fact we could easily believe it? With all the bail out money flowing and executives being fired, bonuses asked (demanded) to be returned, or any of the other socialist ideals moving through the government, it was just too believable NOT to be true. On my facebook, people were outraged. Some wrote public comments but i got a bunch of private messages - horrified at where we are heading as a nation. And we are headed to a socialist nation quickly. The democrats goal of pitting the lower 60% of the nation against the upper 40% will ensure they stay in office. They will tax the corporate executives with punitive taxes and give the money to the workers. They will regulate and tax small business out of existence and create government jobs on the name of "change we can believe in." Soon, we will be like Europe, there will be no middle class. Just the elite politicians and their biggest supporters and those of us that are taxed to support them.

Why was the joke so effective - We all know it's coming. And we thought it was here.

A Father's Quandary - Quality of Life - Did I Make the Right Calls?

2009-03-31T22:37:00.003-05:00

I was never trained in high school or college to be a dad. I have no clue what I am doing. And, it shows. I don't think i was a good dad when i had healthy kids. Now, and for the last three years, I have been trying to be the dad of a critically ill child.

What do you do when you have a child facing a life threatening illness? I don't know the answer! I don't even know the question! My son fights for life everyday. Some day it's a skirmish. Some days it's an all out war. I rips my heart out to see him and hear him beg God to let him die. In his eyes, he has lost it all. He essentially died December 21 2005. The doctors, by God's grace and mercy, were able to revive him. Now, he spends his days being watched and taken care of by me. He remembers life before the tumor - the dreams, the capabilities, the freedom. Things have change. He has lost his vision. He takes 11 medications a day to stay alive an function. His memory is damaged. And the list goes on and on. I know God has a plan for Wiley. There IS SOMEONE that only he can reach out to. But, I still hurt for him.

Am I selfish for saving him for a life of suffering? Have I made the wrong call on his treatments? Are my selfish desires in God's will? And the questions continue in the mind of a father searching for the answers that are in the best interest of a son - no matter how painful the may be.

Bessy Widner's Gardening Pro Tip - The Easter Cold Snap

2009-03-30T08:18:00.004-05:00

My great-grandmother never went to college. I'm not even real sure what grade she finished. But, I can tell you this. No one could out work her or grow a better garden. She had the best vegetable garden. Good stuff.

Her best advice to southern vegi-farmers. You don;t plant before Easter. cause there is always an Easter cold snap.

Penn Jillette's Thoughts

2009-03-29T15:00:00.002-05:00

This morning in church, Chip Henderson, played the following video BLOG from Penn Jillette. You probably know him as the talking one of the Penn and Teller comedy team. This is a great statement on Christianity and sharing our faith.

Penn Says: A Gift of a Bible

How bad do you have to hate someone?

I don't agree with Penn's religious views. I am a Christian, a believer, a follower of Christ.

I believe I have been saved by grace, through my faith in Christ Jesus. This belief has changed my life.

More Pedal Parts

2009-03-28T20:30:00.002-05:00

It's amazing what you can pick up at you local electronics store and Radio Shack. I am not an electrical engineer. I'm not even real bright. I just love to goof off and play with stuff. As my wife says, I build brick out-houses. I have a blast tinkering. But, inevitably, i over engineer.

I have a massive box that holds 4 overdrives and a compressor. It's been a fun leaning experience. Trying different Op-Amps, different capacitors & resistor, different clipper diodes has been a real learning exercise. I know what i want now. So, i'll build a small pair of Tube Screamers, two Red Llamas, an an Orange Squeeze.

What do i build next? Tremolo? Phase Shifter? Distortion? Tube Amp? . . . ???? Hhhmmmm

The Red Llama Lives

2009-03-27T07:53:00.002-05:00

It's Friday! Woo Hoo!! I love my Job. But, let's face it. The weekend is pretty cool too.

Last night, was a great night of electronics tinkering. I finished the Red Llama overdrive clone. But, there were a "few" Stephen King Mods. Now, to put it on a case and get it on the pedal board.
I love this overdrive - deep, rich tones; gritty overdriven distortion; or clean boost. The 4049 Op-Amp is a cool Integrated Circuit to play with. It's makes a smaller footprint for a pedal. It did require a little manipulation of capacitor values. But, Kirchoff's Voltage Law saves the day. It's a great pedal. But what color do we paint it?

Fear Vs. Faith

2009-03-26T08:30:00.002-05:00

Fear, Worry, Anxiety - that gut wrenching feeling you get. We see it every day. Society - our culture, friends and family - say "it's OK", "It's natural", or "I would be worried too." But, what is FEAR? I don't have Webster's definition in front of me so you get my definition.

Fear is the belief that something BAD is going to happen.

You can have "fear" all day long and people will say you are normal. People live in fear every day. The hospitals are full of people that have fears. It eats at you stomach. It raises you blood pressure. It paralyzes you. Fear will kill you.

But what about Faith? Try having "Faith" and see what the world does to you. People think you are nuts. What's the definition of "Faith" Again, no Webster's - just me.

Faith is the belief that something GOOD is going to happen.

Fear and Faith are the same emotion. The belief that something that has not happened is going to happen. Fear believes the worst. Faith Believes the best. We choose. Neither the good nor the bad have happened. Our mind is going to focus on one or the other. We make the decision. It sounds simple but it's not. But, we do have the ability to choose.

I try to choose Faith. I don't always succeed. Fear is just so natural. But I AM GETTING BETTER at choosing FAITH.

Paul's take on Goals

2009-03-24T07:36:00.003-05:00

We are given some guidance by Paul to have a definite goal. He tells us in 1 Cor 9:26 to NOT "run uncertainly" or just "beat the air." If you have ever started running long distances (or any distance for that matter.) You know it's not the running you enjoy. It's best to have a specific goal in mind - a big race, a target distance, something important. If the goal is not big enough, it is very easy to quit because there is not "magic." If you want to loose 2 pounds, it's easy to tell your self i can cut back on my portion sizes at meal time. If the goal is to great, it may seem unattainable. Then it's easy to give by saying it was an impossible goal to begin with. If you are 50 pounds over weight and cant walk to the mailbox much less run, running the marathon next month is not realistic. But, running to the end of the road may be.

Goals must be specific. You cant just beat the air and hope your apponent runs in ftont of a punch. I saw that in an MMA fight last night. To often i hear poeple who want to get into shape. What's "Shape?" Lets face it "round" is a shape. And I'm already in that shape. I want to loose 65 pounds over the next 12 months. That goal is specific. There is an amount and a timeframe. It is easly measured. I have a scale and a calender.

But the real criticale part of goals is the "WHY!!!" Face it. If you do not have a reason to lose weight, save money, start a business, go back to school, or whatever else, then IT DON'T MATTER!!!! YOU WILL NOT DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR NO REASON. Sorry, I was yelling. But it's true. You have to have a "Why!" or the "How" is irelevant. We run for the PRIZE not because we love the pain of running. At some point you may love to run. But we start because of the prize. And the prize needs to be large enough to be seen beyond any obsticle that is in front of us. When the going gets tough, only the person that sees the prize will keep going.

Here is how Paul puts it.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] {and} make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately {and} restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air {and} striking without an adversary. But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel {and} things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. 1 Cor 9:24-27 (Amplified)

Make-a-Wish

2009-03-23T09:34:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all the folks that helped with the Wish Maker's Ball Saturday night. It was a blast. The Ball was to raise money for the Mississippi Chapter of Make-a-Wish. I'm not sure the final total. But, we were well on the way to a great event.

The highlight of the evening was this year's queen. She was an 8 year old with energy for days. (Or, at least til the car hit the end of the drive way.) She danced all night. And the band "Almost Famous" could probably not play a song she didn't know. It was a hoot to watch her.

If you are looking for a charity to support, Make-a-Wish is one of the best. Check them out with any charity watchdog group. You will be impressed too.

We benefited from a Make-a-Wish trip with Wiley a couple years ago. it was a vital part of his recovery. These are not dying wishes but recovery and healing wishes. In Wiley's case, he wanted a "normal" vacation. I may never be able to afford a "normal" vacation after all the expenses of a brian tumor and the related expenses. Not to mention, Make-a-Wish, Give Kids the World, Disney, Sea World, Universal and the volunteers set a pretty high standard for "Normal."

I want to encourage you. In this time of economic uncertanty, give. The battles these kids face are not swayed by economic factors. 244 kids a year in Mississippi are recommended by doctors to Make-a-Wish. More than a 100 wishes are not able to be filled because of a lack of funding. That is more than 100 kids miss out on a dream.

Come and Join Make-a-Wish

Working From Home

2009-03-18T08:20:00.002-05:00

I am blessed. I work for a great company - SkyHawke Technologies. We build a GPS system for golfers called the SkyCaddie. IT not just "A" system. It's "THE" system. If you are serious about your game, you have to have one of these in your bag. There are others out there but none are as good as ours. (That's another day's BLOGing)

With Wiley being sick, SkyHawke has been so very gracious in letting work from home. I am thankful i can be the fulltime care giver for Wiley. It doesn't take a much work. But, it's not something we can pass off to someone else either. I get to take a few days a month and work from Memphis / St. Jude.

People tell me all the time i am lucky. I don't believe in "luck" though. I do believe in blessings. But, I also remind folks. When you work from home, you never leave work. I work more hours than ever now. I feel guilty about not being in the office. I try to work harder and get more done just so no one thinks I'm goofin' off. I also miss the interaction with my team. I have a great bunch of guys I enjoy hanging out with.

But for now. in this season, I need to take care off Wiley. (And work a lot!!!!)

Pinelake's Life Journal reading for today - Joshua 1-2; Psalms 37; 1 Corrinthains 3

I'm Qualified!!!!!

2009-03-16T07:56:00.002-05:00

From todays Life Journal readin'

For Christ (the Messiah) sent me out not to baptize but [to evangelize by] preaching the glad tidings (the Gospel), and that not with verbal eloquence, lest the cross of Christ should be deprived of force {and} emptied of its power {and} rendered vain (fruitless, void of value, and of no effect). For the story {and} message of the cross is sheer absurdity {and} folly to those who are perishing {and} on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God. For it is written, I will baffle {and} render useless {and} destroy the learning of the learned {and} the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever {and} the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate {and} nullify [them] {and} bring [them] to nothing. 1 Cor 1:17 (Amplified)

I love it. We are sent to share the message of the Cross. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. And, it's not our ability. It is our availability. Through our weakness, He is glorified.

He will baffle the brilliant, frustrate the philosophers, and generally hack off the religious leaders. I love God's sense of humor. It's amazing how many people are educated byond thier intelligence.

RAIN!!!!! Wooo Hooooo!!!!

2009-03-13T09:42:00.002-05:00

I am a huge fan of the rain today. My head has been pounding. My eyes watering. My sinuses are revolting. I can feel my heart beat between my eyes. In Mississippi, everything - EVERYTHING indoors and out - has a layer of yellow dust blanketing it. All cars are yellow. Factory paint codes mean nothing. I have a choice - I can function and suffer the effects of allergies. OR, I can combat the allergies and be groggy or asleep. I chose to fight back with medications. Now, I am sleepy AND my head hurts!!!! AAAarrrrggghhhhhh!!!

As the rain falls, you can see the rivers of pollen being created. It's a cleansing rain. A healing rain.

I love the rain.

Curses & Blessings - (Deuteronomy 27-28)

2009-03-12T08:56:00.003-05:00

In the Pinelake Life Journal, we have been reading Deuteronomy 27-28. This is the covenant with Israel. It covers the "Curses and Blessings" of Israel. Chapter 27 deals with the "Curses" and 28 the "Blessings".

Israel is told in 28:1 - "IF YOU will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." (Amplified Bible) That is a promise to the nation and people of Israel. But God's promise is conditional. "If you will" means that you get these promises under the conditions outlined. And what were the conditions - "do all His Commandments" and "listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God". This means that we have the option of doing these things or NOT doing them. And as with all God's promises, there is a reward for obedience and a punishment for a lack of obedience.

Today's Life Journal reading - Deut. 28-29; Gal. 6

Living Vicariously Through Children

2009-03-11T21:58:00.002-05:00

I am sitting here with my beautiful bride one day after our 24th wedding anniversary. She is watching some program on little girls and moms in beauty pageants. She was a pageant queen growing up. I got to be there for all of the pageants after we met. It was cool. Let's face it, i became a guitar player to meet girls - this was heaven. Sorry, i digressed. Stacy's mom was great. Stacy wanted to be there. And her mom, just let her be there and supported her.

BUT THESE LADIES ON TV ARE NUTS!!!!!!!!! These moms were living their lives through these little girls. It was painful to watch. I never saw anything like that with Stacy's mom. Thank goodness. Thank you, Ms. Holmes.

Dads, were not off the hook. I see dads living through their sons out on all kinds of field - football, baseball, soccer, and every other sport. If you never made it to the pros, don't try to live your past through your kids.

Where Did Time Go

2009-02-27T17:13:00.002-06:00

A few days ago, March 24, Wiley left the teenage years and crossed into his 20's. Wow!!!!! I remember his birth. (In the days before cell phone, you could charge your long distance calls to you home phone. And that's what I was doing as I called the parents to let them know. As I placed the third call, the operator told me that number i gave her was not the number i gave the first 2 calls. Not sure who paid for the first two calls - but thank you.) Anyhow, it's had to believe how quickly time passes by. But, the days march on. No going back. No "do overs". We don't have Bill Murray's day in Ground Hog Day to practice or know what will happen next.

Live today like there is no tomorrow. Love like you may never see people again. Don't let things get to you. Worry will kill you faster than a brain tumor. And Laugh all you can.

25 Random Things

2009-02-14T21:19:00.000-06:00

OK, OK, OK, already. I get the picture. Everybody wants to know 25 random things. Well, here they are:

I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is God made flesh and sent to earth to be the final sacrifice for my sins. I am saved by God’s grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.
My wife is the best! I could not live without her. She truly is my completer. We got married March 10, 1985.
I have two sons – Wiley & Hunter. Wiley is 20. Hunter is 18.
My son, Wiley, is battling a very rare brain tumor called a Craniopharingioma. It has robbed him of most of his vision. It has destroyed his endocrine system – he now takes 11 medications a day to stay alive and function. Without all the meds, he can live about 6 hours past the time he needs to take them.
Hunter is a scientist. He wants to go to Mississippi State to study Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. He got his momma’s brains.
I am ambitiously lazy. I love work. I could sit and watch it for hours.
I am a musician that works as a research mathematician to support my habit as a guitar player. I consider myself more of an artist than scientist.
I am a Dale Carnegie instructor to pay for my gear and studio.
I use to be a motivational speaker. It’s just like being a musician only different. One day, I’ll get back on the road again.
I am the lead singer, slide & rhythm guitar player for the Off 61 band. We play Christian music with a southern rock and blues feel.
I am trying to learn to be a song writer. For a boy that failed English almost every time he took it, this is a challenge. It took me 5 senior semesters to pass sophomore literature.
I get to be a substitute preacher sometimes. When I retire, I would like to pastor a church. Or, just work as a janitor at one.
I have written, produced, edited, and directed 13 movies. One was even picked up, in parts, by the Discovery Channel several years back for the “Weapons of War” series on the HEDI Missile system.
I have worked on several albums over the years. My first exposure to recording was with James Stroud, a friend of the family when I was a kid. James had just produced a Gold Album with Dorothy Moore. James is now one of the top music people in Nashville.
I’m a picky eater.
I am building a 1979 ProStreet Toyota Pickup truck. I have a Chevy 327 Small Block motor, Power Glide transmission, Narrowed Ford 9” rear end, 10 point Art Morrison roll cage, and other custom stuff. The only thing left made by Toyota is the frame from the cab forward; the front suspension and steering; and the skin on the body. I have done all the cutting, welding, and sheet metal work myself. Family and friends have helped and hung out with me along the way.
I love motorcycles. I have a Kawasaki KLR 650 Dual Sport. Looks and rides like a motocross / enduro bike. I would love to build a chopper – not buy one – I want to do all the sheet metal work, forming / welding, etc.
I still have my first car - a 1974 MGB. It needs to be rebuilt and restored. It’s next in line to be rolled into the shop and out of my mom’s garage.
I have a dream of building a 1948 Anglia (little British Ford car) hotrod for Wiley. I want to put pedals and steering on both sides so he can drive and I can be the co-pilot. Driving is one of the things Wiley misses most from his life before the tumor.
I love photography. I would love to have a studio. Stacy is a better photographer. But, we love to photograph different things. She likes nature. I love junkyards, cars, and people.
I would prefer to have long hair and a beard. I’m a hippy at heart.
I want to build a Factory 5 Cobra Replica.
I love playing golf. Ken Halford taught me the etiquette and how to play. We would play in the mornings. It would be the long hairs and the grey hairs. If you want to ruin a golf game, go to work in the golf industry. I have broken 90 within the rules. No fudging, no cheating, I played every shot and putted out every hole. 89 shots on a par 72 course.
My favorite color is camouflage / green. Closely followed by yellow and orange.
I love the water and sailing. But, my wife is not a water nut like me. Our biggest fights have been about water – and specifically water parks. So, I don’t push water, water toys, or water type vacaions.

30 Hour Work Days Make People NUTS!

2009-02-05T13:39:00.002-06:00

I'm working at the office today. My one day a week to get to hangout with some of the best developers in the world. We have all been working long and hard on new software and systems. I have worked five days that exceeded 25 hours since Christmas. One work day was 30 hours. But, most days are 16-18 hour days. I have been fortunate of late. I am back to half days now - just 12 hour days.

As I got here this morning, I walked into a room full of web developers who were getting close to that 24 hour mark. And, you could tell. Heavy eyes were everywhere. They new if they stood still, sleep would over take them. So, they do what any self-respecting engineer would do - play jokes and cut up. From the USB controlled darts and a Nerf rocket launcher to practical jokes and funny stories. All tools in the battle for productivity have been employed. No time for sanity. We have milestones to meet!

The site is alive! They have succeeded in getting it migrated and published for he world to use. And, they should be commended. Not many developers have software used by thousands and thousands of consumers.

So next time use sit at your computer, think to yourself - some cat with a USB Nerf cannon, fed a diet of pizza and junk food, that has not had sleep in months wrote this. And, you wonder why it crashes sometimes. Now you know!

We Lost Another Cranio Kid

2009-02-04T10:37:00.002-06:00

I have started writing this post several times. But, I could not finish it. And today may not be different. But, I'll try.

When we were told about Wiley's tumor, our minds raced. Would he survive? Would he be blind? Would he . . . ? Fill in the blanks. We had the question.

The research shows an average life expectancy of 10 years - on average. That means some live longer than 10 years. Unfortunately, some don't live as long. This weekend we lost another young one. It brings back the reality of mortality. You forget that this is a fight for life. So often, I get so focused on the fight for a "normal" life and fail to be thankful we get to be in that battle. Too many have lost the fight for life.

If Wiley lives the average, we have 6 more years. What would you or I do different if you knew when the last day was? Why am i not doing it?

What Does a Nerd do on a Night Off?

2009-01-29T08:32:00.007-06:00

So what does a nerd do when he takes a night off? He does nerd stuff.

I took a couple of nights off this week. I ordered a Ibanez Tube Screamer Replica kit back before Christmas and right as all the long work hours kicked in. I looked at it several times but couldn't take time to build it. Well, over the last couple of nights, I built it and modified it. It's the basic 808 with the Keeley mods. I added a bass boost switch and changed it over to diode clipping. I also built an A/B guitar switch. Now i can keep two guitars plugged up and step on a switch to change between them. Sound nerdy? Guitar nerdy at least.

Home Built - Ibanez Tube Screamer T808 w/ some Modifications

Home Built - A/B

I have more designs in works. I am designing a true bypass pedal board. I need a good way to carry the stuff to gigs. I also am designing a "mega overdrive". Right now, it will have an Orange Crush, 2 Tube Screamers, and a Red Llama all in one box. It will also have a guitar selector - A/B/C/D. I need to build a tremolo too. And a . . . well it's nit a short list.

I have totally revamped my rig over our Christmas break. I got a Boss GT-10 amp simulator and multi effect for Christmas. It replaced a lot of my stomp boxes. Gone are the Chorus, Auto Wah, Wah, Acoustic Simulator, and delays/reverb/phase shift/flanger of the ME-10. I have 4 weeks to get the new rig "gig" ready.

and some of the old stuff . . .

I'm Back - (Back to a Reasonable Work Schedule)

2009-01-26T10:57:00.003-06:00

We have rolled out our new software for this years PGA products show in Orlando. I am now back to a reasonable work schedule. It's 60 h0ur weeks now. Back with the family, back in the studio, band back to gigs, and maybe a few minutes of goofing off.

I love the intensity of the PGA Show deadlines. It's hard work. 30 hour work days drain you. (Yes - you can work 30 hours non-stop without dieing.) You miss a lot. But, it after 25 years of this kind of work you get use to. And I guess, I expect it. I don't know what people do that don't work this way. What do you do with a 9-5 job?

I guess golf and music.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T13:28:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas!!

This is the time of year we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

But all too often, I forget. I have no excuses. I get busy at work. (This is our busy season.) Busy at home. Busy at church. . . . and the list goes on.

I try to take a few minutes each day to reflect and be thankful. I try to focus on the the gift of salvation I have been given.

Where Were You 3 Years Ago Today

2008-12-21T15:45:00.002-06:00

Do you remember where you were three years ago today? For most people, it was a fairly mundane day. It was just four days before Christmas. Were you doing that last minute shopping? Were you on the road to visit the ones you loved?

I remember that day well. I wake up to that nightmare too often. For me, it was one of the hardest days of my life. Wiley had survived a major brain surgery. For over 8 hours, the doctor had dug out as much tumor as he could safely remove. We had been released from ICU and were on the "floor" to continue recovery. But this morning, things went terribly wrong. In a matter of hours, Wiley had started pushing out all of the fluids he body held. I knew there was something wrong. I asked the nurse to call the doctors. She said she did. (We later found out - She did not.) Wiley had drawn up into a fetal position. He could not close his eyes. He couldn't talk or make any noise. You could pinch his skin and it would not return back.

Stacy was late getting to the hospital that morning. She had taken Hunter to school and was taking a few minutes to take care of some business. I had to call her and ask her where she was. And as calmly as possible let her know we REALLY needed her at the hospital. But, I did not want to tell her that Wiley was about to die. The last thing I wanted to upset her and risk her having a wreck getting to the hospital.

When I finally did get the doctor, they rushed Wiley back to the ICU. The staff of the ICU were able to get an artillerial line in to him and start getting fluids back into him. For all practical purposes, we had lost him. By the Grace of God and the work of the ICU staff Wiley was saved. It was touch and go through the day. It was a loooooong day for me.

That Christmas was spent back in the ICU. They let us sneak Hunter in to celebrate too. Wiley did not know we had Christmas. We let him open presents often. It was always a surprise for him to see his gifts.

That year I was given the gift of "time" with my sons.

Merry Christmas,
stephen

Cold and Wet

2008-12-16T15:10:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, Wiley and I made a mad dash to St. Jude for an appointment. The appointment was at 2:00. At 1:30, they dismissed schools due to "inclamate" weather. I guess dismissing school so "you buy all the milk and bread you can afford" is doesn't look to good on somebody's TPS report. We were blessed, we only say four bridge misshaps. But, it dd make for a slow drive home. Very cold, very wet, and bridges - there is a combination of challenges that always makes getting home fun.

It's a great day for duck huntin'. But, for Christmas? Well, yep! Tis great weather for that too I guess. I would rather have a good snow than this ice and freezing rain. But then again, I think I kinda like the "shorts and t-shirt" Christmas weather the best.

The winter wonder land sounds great in song. But, I think Christmas on the beach in shorts would be better. And even better still, on a sail boat in the Caribbean. How would that be for a holiday celebration. Now i need a friend with a sail boat! Where's Halford?

My son on Yahoo Sport - Thanks Jay Busbee

2008-12-11T10:05:00.002-06:00

At a time of year when many people struggle to find joy, my family is grateful. It was three years ago we almost lost Wiley. The three years since have not been easy. Every day has had battles. But there are the days that are "Great days." God has blessed us beyond our wildest imagination.

Yesterday, Jay Busbee wrote in his BLOG about Wiley and David Reutimann and one of our "Great Days." Here is the Link to it

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Some-feel-good-news-for-you-at-an-ugly-time-of-y?urn=nascar,128249

If you like racing, you will like Jay's BLOG.

What Would it Take for Pastors to Come Together?

2008-12-08T09:47:00.003-06:00

At a time when people are struggling in many areas of life, there is a safe harbor. The solutions to life's problems are not in a bottle, a pill, a new spouse, a rebounding stock market, or even a church building. The solutions are found in Christ Jesus. It's about a relationship - not religion. But how to we as believers reach out and share that message of REAL HOPE to our world.

I get to share every day. My life is filled with struggles. My struggles and battles take into places I DO NOT want to go. In those places, I meet people I would not have met otherwise. I try to share how my life has been effected by relationship with Christ. I show them how I cope with and rise above my problems with His help.

I have a burden on my heart. It's not the world, world hunger, some place I have never seen, or anything BIG. My burden is my home and the area I call home - Jackson and Central Mississippi. But how do we reach out?

I want to see our pastors come together and pray. We have different doctrinal views but we should all be bound by the belief we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. We need to ignore color, income, neighborhoods, or whatever ever else blinds us to God's love. Our Christian pastors need to take the lead with the church leaders to bridge the gaps in worship style, "religious" tradition, and theological differences and start sharing the love of Christ with our city and the surrounding area.

Will this ever happen? I don't know. But, I will do everything I can.

Wiley wil be on WLBT Sunday Dec 7 at Noon for St, Jude

2008-12-06T16:59:00.003-06:00

Hey guys, Wiley will be on our local ABC affiliate Sunday, Dec. 7 at 12:00 (Noon)

He will be helping the St. Jude Dream home raffle. We have no clue what he will be doing. But we will be there to support St. Jude how ever we can. I hope someone we know wins.

Low Cost, Great Christmas Idea for the Person with EVERYTHING

2008-12-05T17:56:00.008-06:00

Hey folks, this is not exactly a BLOG type entry. But, I think it's a cool Christmas gift for the person with everything. It's one of my favorites.

Audible.com - for about $20 a month you can get 2 audio books a month. I love it!!! I have been a subscriber for several years. I have a bunch (over 100) audio books now. When I have a long drive, it's a great tool for learning and entertainment. Most of the books I get are business related. But, I have several fiction books as well.

Most of the books, if purchased at Barns & Noble, would cost more than the monthly subscription price.

Here are just SOME of the books I have now:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Unabridged)
7 Steps to a Turnaround
Albert Einstein (Unabridged)
The Anatomy of Buzz (Unabridged)
All the books in the Left Behind Series
The Art of Nonfiction (Unabridged)
Becoming a Person of Influence
Blue Like Jazz
Book Yourself Solid (Unabridged)
Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty
The E-Myth Revisited (Unabridged)
The Five Love Languages (Unabridged)
The Fred Factor (Unabridged)
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Unabridged)
Goals!
High Trust Selling
How to Not Suck at Sales (Live)
How to Speak, How to Listen (Unabridged)
How to Win Friends & Influence People (Unabridged)
If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat
Inspire Any Audience
It's Never Crowded Along the Extra Mile
Lead Like Jesus (Unabridged)
Leadership Success
Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play
Made to Stick (Unabridged)
The Magic of Thinking Big
Mastering the Two Critical Elements of Success in Speaking
The Millionaire Next Door (Unabridged)
Never Eat Alone (Unabridged)
The Next Generation Leader
Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Unabridged)
On Selling (Unabridged)
Personality Plus
Pistol (Unabridged)
The Psychology of Winning
Punk Marketing (Unabridged)
The Purpose-Driven Church (Unabridged)
The Purpose-Driven Life (Unabridged)
Quiet Strength
Robin Williams Interviewing Lance Armstrong
Re-imagine! (Unabridged)
Revolution (Unabridged)
Rich Dad's Who Took My Money?
The Richest Man in Babylon (Unabridged)
Ronald Reagan's Presidential Farewell Address & Funeral Services
Rules for Renegades (Unabridged)
Running With the Giants (Unabridged)
Seven Steps to Presenting 200 Programs a Year in Your Niche Market
The Total Money Makeover
Ultimate Sales Success
Verbal Command
What Got You Here Won't Get You There (Unabridged)
Wild at Heart (Unabridged)
Words That Work
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Unabridged)
You: On a Diet
Your Best Life Now
AND over 100 MORE

Forget giving it to someone, get it for yourself. You cant beat it.

Merry Christmas Y'all

Does Speed Channel Read These Ramblings?

2008-12-03T12:33:00.002-06:00

I sat down for my nuked chicken pot-pie lunch today and flipped on the TV for some noise. And what did Speed have showing at lunch?

SCCA Racing!!!!!! WoooooHooooooo! I have my fix!

Well . . . now back to work.

Racing and Silly Season

2008-12-03T10:22:00.002-06:00

Why do they call it "Silly Season"? 'Cause I'm going NUTS with no racing!

I know they need time off. I hope they have a great "off season."

But, I need some speed in my life. "Speed" TV does not cut it. All I see are these "car" shows about about unique egos, wrecked egos, sexy models in lowrider shorts, auctions and the other similar programs. Now, if you show me how to build a car or some modification "How-to", that I can get into. But, where is the racing? There is more to life than NASCAR, Monster trucks, and F1. Where are those of us that are grassroots racers? Where are the bracket racers and local heroes of racing. Where is the SCCA events? The local dirt tracks, drag strips, motocross tracks, parking lots, and road course are full of great racing.

Oh well, I guess it's TVs way of saying, "turn me off and go work on YOUR HOTROD!"

Blues Picker Vs Classical Player

2008-12-02T08:11:00.002-06:00

You know the difference between a blues guitar picker and a classical one - Blues pickers play all day and never tune - Classical players tune all day and never play.

That's my dad's favorite guitar joke. I must admit. I tell it often too. (There are a bunch more musician jokes - some I can put here, some . . . well there musician jokes and not exactly family friendly.)

All good joke have to be based on some truth. And this one is. I have played with guys that spend hours "tuning" or getting ready to play. Then there are those who never get ready. They just play - good or bad, right or wrong. It's a "joyful noise" but they are not "Playing skillfully on a loud instrument." In the military world, we had the "Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim . . ." and the "FIRE!!!!, Aim, Ready" guys.

There has to be a balance between preparation and performance. Unfortunately, I'm more of the Blues Picker. I have never let a lack of knowledge or preparation keep from anything. I have talked my way into and out of trouble so many times. My wife has seen it so often she just laughs at me now. She now laughs and calls it a bookstore experience. I have never had a job I was qualified for. Resumes are the ultimate sales job - or mine is at least. When I was a consultant, (every few months - when I was trying to land a client) I would go to the bookstore or library and read about the problem or system I was trying to land. I would learn just enough to talk to the company. I focused on the problems or weird features. Then if I got the gig, I would go buy all the books i could find on the subject and learn as I went. I played a lot without "tuning" as a consultant.

My cousin, John Wilson, also got to experience a lot of my mouth writin' checks we had to cash. We were moving an office for a friend one summer when I said I could wire up some of the office. And next thing I knew, we were doing it. I think my quote to John was, "Hey it's just two wires for the electrical. And we can buy pre-made cabinets to hang. How hard can it be?" We did it. No one died. Someone may have gotten hurt but that was not uncommon for us.

I cant say i have ever experienced the "Tune all day and never play" side of life. I depend on the people around me for that. My wife and John mainly get that privilege. It's up to me to keep thier life exciting.

One day, I may learn balance. I am trying. (But, "try" means to attempt and fail.)

Christmas is Here

2008-12-01T07:43:00.002-06:00

Today is December 1st. The final month of 2008 is on us. For me, this is crunch time. Our SkyCaddie is THE BEST golf GPS on the market today. Our customers reaffirm that every day. This time of year puts a level of stress on our web systems that's incredible. Our team at SkyHawke is the best. We have a great group of in house engineers, technicians, and developers as well as some wonderful vendors and contractors. Everyone has put in a lot of time to ensure this is another great holiday season. I love our team!!

If you want to get a golfer the best Christmas gift possible, give'm a SkyCaddie.

Check them out at SkyGolf.com

Merry Christmas Y'all!!!

6 Phases of Project Development

2008-11-28T10:48:00.001-06:00

All projects - at work, home, or church - go through a normal life cycle. If you understand these phases, life will be much easier on you. To ignore them means a life of disappointment and unrealistic expectations. 8^)

Enthusiasm
Disillusion
Panic
Search for the Guilty
Punishment of the Innocent
Praise and Honors for the Non-Participants

Y'all have a fun weekend!

Your Last Normal Weekend?

2008-11-27T13:32:00.004-06:00

What would you do if you knew your life was going to change DRASTICALLY tomorrow? Would you spend more time with your family? Would you . . . ? Forget the questions. You can think of things you may do different on your own.

I find myself not thinking about "Giving Thanks Today." Today has become a milestone on the calender. A date, a weekend, a point in my life when my world changed.

For me - on this day of "Thanksgiving", I look back over the last three years and all we have endured. Three years ago this weekend was our last "normal" weekend. It was the last time Wiley drove. It was the last time we we were not wondering, "Will we be rushing to the hospital tonight?" Will there be a breakdown? And even tougher questions like, "Will Wiley be with us tomorrow?" For three years, we have had to wonder about these questions and a ton more every day.

That Thanksgiving three years ago was the last holiday with all families. That Christmas was celebrated in the ICU with Wiley medicated and hooked up to monitors, tubes, and machines not really knowing we were there or what day it was. He was unaware that 4 days earlier that had almost pronounced him dead. Stacy's Dad went home to be with the Lord right after that holiday.

There have been no easy holidays since then. Please understand, I am very grateful the blessings I have received through my life - my salvation, my parents, my wife, my sons, My friends, my health, . . . and the list goes on. My full list would take days to write. We have been so blessed even for the last three years. It's true, we have faced many adversities. We have been blessed in the middle of these storms.

Have you ever thought, "What is there to be thankful for?" I have! There have been times when I was down. Times when I was in the middle of a "pity party." Intellectually I know, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED. But emotionally, I struggle to be truly thankful. I would love to say am always thankful. I would LOVE to be able to say that. One day may be able to always say that. I pray I can.

I pray every day for God to use me as a minister wherever satan drags me. In my weakness, when I am broken, I pray for God to shine through me and in spite of me. When I struggle to make it through the day, I lean on God to carry me. And, He does.

On the day for "Giving Thanks", it's hard. It's tough to face my struggles with a heart of thanksgiving. But I do. I am so very thankful for the blessings and mercies God has shown me.

I want to encourage you - Be thankful.

I Wish I was Smarter or Wiser

2008-11-24T08:07:00.004-06:00

This weekend was tough. We had a bad weekend on stage. We have a good friend that access to a 24x4 snake. We want one for the band. And, we want to get the board away from the stage so I can focus on the vocals and guitar. Then someone else can handle the mix and volume that is out in the audience. Sounds like a great plan. We need to do it. I want to do it. I know that. After all, it's how i got started playing in public.

I didn't like the feel of it this weekend. The sound guy is a great friend. But, I did not know his skill level. And, i would never have a guitar player have his first time to play with us be at a gig. It would not be fair to the new player or the band.

I let the band down. I knew better and failed to say "no." When we saw the sound check going so bad, I didn't step in and take over the engineering. I was so frustrated with my self for failing to fix everything, my frustrations made the night tough on the band.

We all got so focused on the volume, we forgot to share the Love of Jesus. But, We were blessed. God moved in spite of us. What's the quote, "God loves fools and Little children." Well Saturday night, I was both.

I wish I had the wisdom to not make my failures tough on the band. I let the guys down. And it was not my technical failure that made the night tough. But, it was how my frustration effected my attitude that made the night difficult.

It's a SMALL world

2008-11-18T08:52:00.003-06:00

Last night was a a blast for me. Debi Longoria found me on facebook. (No big deal, that happens a lot with my name - go figure!) She was looking for Christian artists apparently - I guess I should ask. But, I saw she was from Flower Mound, Texas. We lived there for 6 years. We left about 10 years ago. If you know that area, you know how transient it is. None of our friend were from Flower Mound or even the Dallas area. Everyone was a transplant. And just when you got to know someone, it seemed like they moved on. We were no exception.

Through our chatting back and forth we discovered we went to church together at Lakeland Baptist in Lewisville. We even went there at the same time - but didn't remember each other. We know so many of the same people it was fun to catch up on the happenings of our mutual friends.

It's helped me find some of Wiley's old friends. I am looking forward to helping him reconnect with them. It will help him on bad days to think about the fun and friends from Texas.

Now, to do the detective work and find those friends and other people i have lost contact with is the challenge.

Where are Glen Fivash, Ann Perrigin, Trace Perrigin, Colt Perrigin, Scott Farbiack, Bobby Davidson, and a bunch of other people?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love Stephen Wright's quote, "It's a small world . . . but, I don't want to paint it."

Fun Stuff

2008-11-13T11:07:00.005-06:00

If I can't have fun, I don't want to play.

Life is too short to hate what you are doing. It's too short to just survive. I know there are things in every job that we don't like. And we have to put on the big boy pants and do them anyway. But, as a rule. If you hate everything about what you do, do something else. It's not hard. But, it may take work. My wife is a great example. She is heading back to school to get a BA in communications. She doesn't want to go to school. She want's the opportunity that school/diploma provides. It's hard work. She is doing great and working her tail off. But, she is having fun.

I love what I do. Writing software is fun for me. Playing music is more fun. But, I also LOVE eating and sleeping indoors.

I have had jobs I hate. When that happens, it's time to move on. It's hard to leave a good paying job. But, money can't buy an extra day of life.

Life's too short. You had better start enjoying it! Start now!

St. Jude - Home Away From Home

2008-11-10T17:26:00.002-06:00

I never imagined a hospital could feel like home. But then, I have not imagined most of the last three years. We are quickly approaching the 3 year mark for diagnosing Wiley's tumor.

Tomorrow, we had back to St. Jude. This time it's a psychiatric evaluation. It's a late in the day so we will be spending the night and rolling back Wednesday morning. We are excited about the prospects of the visit. We are praying for some medications to help control his emotional swings that occur each day.

When we get to St. Jude, there is a level of comfort that is hard to explain. We relax for some reason. Why? I am not sure. It may be the fact every one there is in the same boat we're in. Even though it is a hospital, it not a typical hospital. No ER. No real OR. If you have an emergency, you're off to LeBonhuer. (We have made that trip before.) But, there is a comfort. No one ask, "What are you here for?" You wonder sometimes, but you never ask. It's not important. We each belong to the fraternity of "Parents of St. Jude Kids." You develop a real friendship with the people you see often. You wind up on the same checkup schedules. And before you know it, you see each other every three months. You spend your days in the same waiting Areas.

There is an old arab proverb - "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." We are all there battling the common enemy of childhood cancer, tumors, or some other illness. So, as we fight the common enemy, we build friendships.

Too Grateful?

2008-11-08T10:32:00.002-06:00

Can you be too grateful? I do not think so. Gratitude was taught to me as a child. My dad stressed to me the importance of telling people "Thank You". As I have grown older, I understand the value being sincerely grateful to others. I use to think my success was based only on my performance. I have learned that's not the case. My success is based on the success of the people around me. In every thing I do, I search for something I can complement people on. I do this so I can give a very specific example of what I am grateful for. A complement or "thank you" without an example, is just flattery. People know when you are sincere. Think about it. which comment makes you feel like the work you did was noticed: "good job!" or "Thanks for the 'good job' on...!" IF you hear something specific, you know they were really watching.

Gratitude is not a ploy to get your way or to gain favor. It MUST be sincere and without strings.

Be grateful. It's a skill you can learn. I think it's a skill you must learn.

Facebook - Old Friends - Wait, Does That Make Me Old?

2008-11-06T21:38:00.002-06:00

We are having a good time playing on Facebook. My wife and sons got me on it. (I hate computers. But, that's another entry.) Facebook - If you are not on it you should be. It's free, easy, and helps you reconnect and keep in touch with friends. And for me, it was a place to meet new friends.

The old friends - and they are not that OLD! Trust me, they cant be too old - I'm not. My old school friends. I was not much of an outgoing person in high school. As my dad said I made the top half of the class possible. I had 3 or 4 friend and a bunch of people I knew. I have started reconnecting with them through it. Marci Webber Woodruff was someone I knew. We didn't hang out together. But, I have learned a lot about her on Facebook. We both have gone through tragedy and struggle in the last few years. A friendship is building. Then there's Al Dubuc, He is the person responsible for us moving back to Clinton - and he lives in Modesto, CA. He owned a training company I worked for. Needless to say, I don't get to Modesto often and Clinton is not a hot bed of staffing training. We can keep in touch at our leisure. How about Dia Jenkins Welch, this is a great childhood friend that's fun to talk to.

Then there are the new friends, guys like Kevin Berry. He is becoming a great friend. We have been to the track to hangout with him and his family. And James Davis, he's working on some new music. I have opened my studio up to him based on the friendship we have built. Racers and Musicians always make great new friends. There is an instant commonality.

Family. I think i have a better idea of where my wife is, going, and doing by her status than anything we have ever had. I have it setup to send her changes to my phone. I love it!

But, let me tell you. The main reason you should be on Facebook - to protect your children! When i say child, I'm talkin' 25 and younger! I can't say this emphatically enough - If you have children, you had better be on Facebook, MySpace, and any other social networking site you child may be on. There are people out there in the cyberworld look for them. You better be there trying to protect them. I have parents say their kids don't go to these sites at home. Guess what, they get to them at friend's houses, the library, and dozens of other places. Burying you head in the cyber-sand does not protect your kids. You MUST get involved in there cyber-social network. To not do it, is placing your child at risk!

Just Slidin' Through

2008-11-05T20:05:00.004-06:00

A great way to spend a few hours!

"Life Sucks!" - Wiley King's Quote

2008-11-05T13:03:00.002-06:00

My son as most of you know is battling a brain tumor. Battling is an understatement!

Here is a young man who was a "normal" kid one day and a "Special Needs" kid the next. He has not lost his innate intelligence. But he has lost the speed in which his mind processes. He went from the most incredible memory of anyone I have ever known - to a very poor memory. Add the memory loss the loss of sight, and when you forget where you set something, you can't see it - even if it's in front of you. He gets a shot every day. He takes 11 meds a day to stay alive and function. He has limited control of his emotions. He can't work right now. Maybe he can in the future. We don't know. The plans he had for himself are gone. To him, in his words, "Life Sucks!"

Jesus said in the "Sermon on the Mount", It rains on the just and the unjust. Rain can be a bad thing and rain can be a good thing. But good or bad, just because we have been redeemed by the Blood of Christ does not mean we are exempt. It does not help his emotions. But, it helps me keep things in perspective.

We try very hard not to make Wiley feel I am sacrificing my career to stay home with him. I'm fortunate that it is an option. But, it is career suicide. And i wish i could give more to make his days better. I wish i could trade places with him and take his pain.

We don't know God's plan for our lives. We take each day as it comes. We pray we are in His will. We pray for the rain - the good rain. We pray that we can persevere in the rain - the bad rain.

My Last Political Plea - Vote Newt!

2008-11-04T06:46:00.002-06:00

Well, here we are. ELECTION DAY! Thank the Lord. I don't know if I'm gettin' older our the adds are getting more annoying! At least who ever wins it may be over. (Except for the law suits)

My question is. "Why didn't Newt Gingrich run?" I wish we had a conservative running for office. But, we don't. We have to choose the lesser of two evils. I bet they are not evil people - but their policies are suspect.

So, we're off. I get the privilege of taking Wiley to the poll to vote in his first presidential election. We are going mid morning searching / hoping for a gap in the lines.

Then we wait. How long we wait is determined by how much money they want to pay the lawyers to fight it out in court.

Obama or OH NO!

2008-11-03T07:23:00.002-06:00

Well one more day till we vote - then another 2 months of legal bickering if Obama losses. 'Cause, there is no way he could loose - after all they have been voting for him thanks to groups like ACORN for weeks now. Here in Mississippi, we say on the news that the NAACP is here with legal help if you are intimidated at the polls. But it's ok to say, "There will be blood in the streets if Obama looses!" That's not intimidation?

I am the most hated person in the world - white, middle aged, hard working, American, male & successful. My wife and I do well. Or I think we do anyway. But I have worked my butt off for 20 years to get here. I work 50+ hours a week. I get paid for 40. I have worked nights, weekends, and holidays. But, I owe more to doctors than I can ever earn. Thanks to insurance and Medicaid, we can pay for the care my son needs. I have had a failed business that cost me everything I own - and a lot of stuff I didn't own but had to continue making payments on. I never filed bankruptcy. I paid everyone back I owed money to. My credit was ruined thanks to our laws that reward bankruptcy and punishes responsibility. But, my conscious was clear.

Just to keep things weird, my son is on Medicaid - a government program supported by our tax dollars. Wiley, and those like him who are not able to work or have medical problems so severe, need help. And in my opinion, the church should step in and help them! But, the church has failed! That's why the government got the opportunity to take our cash. I earn a lot of money. But, there is no way I could pay for all the medical care Wiley needs. There are people who need help to live. We need to help them. But, if you can work, you need to be working to get the help. There are plenty of job opportunities. Sorry folk, if you can work and don't, you don't get help.

My family, nor my wife's family, ever owned slaves. We are not prejudice. We believe Christ, the True Son of God, came to earth and sacrificed himself for everyone. And as far as I'm concerned, if you're good enough for Him, you are good enough for me. We were not given a choice of who to love. We were given the laws to live by. We believe the Bible. Abortion is a sin. Homosexuality is a sin. Murder is a sin. Gluttony is a sin. (If you look at me you can see i have broken this one. But, I am working on it.) Right is Right - Wrong is Wrong. We can not decide which sins we will tolerate as a society. I wish i knew how to fix the gluttony. I do know how a Christian can support a candidate that says it's a "choice" not a Child? Or, that homosexuality is a lifestyle not an abomination to God?

I don't think either candidate for leader of the "free world" has my values. I know one of them want to create a cast system of the old socialist Russia. I have seen the definition of wealthy drop from $250,000 to $80,000. I don't know what the real definition is. I do feel wealthy. Not because of the money I earn. I EARN that money. No one gives it to me. I EARN - EARN - my income. But, the idea of punitive taxation is troubling. They want to take what I earn and give - GIVE - it to some one who will not work. Yep, that is a CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN! If we begin the move to socialism in this elevation, the USA will fail as a world leader. Why do you think the world wants Obama and the country to move away from our Christian values, they do not want us to be the world power.

Well i better get back to work - someone has to make so it can be taken away and given to those who wont work! I'm sure the secrete service will visit me for this political rant.

Great Day of Music

2008-11-02T19:10:00.003-06:00

Wow! We had a great afternoon of rehearsing for our gigs that are coming up. We are putting the finishing touches on a few new tunes. We love new songs. It's cool to stretch musically. It's feels good to be off the album and on to gigs. I love playing live. It's a cool outlet. For us, it's a great mission tool. We feel blessed to be called to this ministry.

We had to take a few minutes and do one of the hard parts of playing a gig - fight out a set lists. It's always fun. Which songs? What order? Why? Is there a musical flow? A message flow? What changes are needed between songs? Switch guitars? Who starts the song? What key? It takes time. We never just throw it together. Everyone has ideas. Everybody gets involved. It's a part of the music process most people don't think about. We take this just a serious as the music.

There is nothing like the joy of fellowship with your brothers. We have become family. We laugh and cut up like kids. And when it's time to jam, we all lock in and have one musical voice. Our prayer is to be broken vessels that God will pour through to the souls that are searching for truth.

THE EMMY Nominated ESPN Segment

2008-10-28T09:46:00.005-05:00

I have had some emails asking for the video link. So here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR41OHDQ4Hs

Wiley standing with David Reutimann and the crew at the National Anthem.

It was a GREAT Race Weekend!!!!!!!

2008-10-28T07:56:00.002-05:00

Folks, it's hard to describe how great our weekend was. Everybody had a blast. The people of Michael Waltrip Racing are amazing. Aaron's Rents, again, they are amazing. Josh Wise, David Reutimann, Jerry Baxter, Julie Song, THE WHOLE CREW!! Everyone of them went beyond what could have been wished for and made the weekend even more special than last year. The crew was so kind to Wiley. We got to sit in the pits for the race. We felt like a part of them. To us, they are OUR NASCAR family.

The chassis they raced this weekend has been named "Wiley." You can only name a chassis after it has won. And this one has. David took it to Victory Lane last year with Wiley's paint scheme. This year we got caught by a yellow flag and went two laps down. David was able to make up the 2 laps and finish second. With one more lap, he could have won, again! We felt so bad for the #99 team. They built the best car. They had the best setup. They had the best drivers. (By the way, Josh Wise did the setup and qualifying. He put third on the grid. You WILL be seeing him on Sunday in the future!)

We love David so much. But, watchin' the way he finished Saturday's race makes me respect him even more. David races everyone clean. Had the rolls been reversed, Carl would have punted him. Shoot for what it's worth, I would have punted him. But, David has the integrity to win clean. (I guess i don't cause I'd punted him.) David took a lot of time with Wiley at pre-race. I was amazed. He is the best!

The Crew - Wow! Those guys are unreal. They are at it, full tilt, from the time their plane hits the ground till the hauler doors are closed and they are heading back to the plane! And the guys at the shop are at it too. We saw them getting after it last year. If it had not been for some bad luck this year, this team would be in the title hunt. Saturday was the season in a microcosm. The got 2 laps down and finished second. They just ran out of laps. And we will just run out of season. The baddest hotrod on the track Saturday was WILEY - no doubt! and they have had BAD hotrods all year. This is the best team - period! We are thrilled to call them family.

Julie Song of Aaron's is another person that is amazing. She took her weekend to hang out with us and show us around. Not to mention, she is a hoot! we laughed all weekend. And work! let me tell you this lady was hard at it too. She was taking notes listening to the race traffic radio, and trying to keep the crew in line. **grin** She is a part of the crew! And you can watch her interact with the team and see she is a part of the family. She looked good all weekend. She was also the only one there with a pen color coordinated to the outfit.

I am so glad Ryan Kurek had the vision last year to do the special paint schemes for St. Jude. Without his vision, none of this would have happened. He and Meghan Stantan put a lot, an awful lot, of effort into making this happen. Well, Meghan put a lot of effort into it. I'm sure Ryan helped. At least, he said he helped. I'm givin' Ryan a hard time. This whole thing - Design a Dream - has been vital to Wiley's mental health. Wiley has many bad days. And for us, a bad day is very rough. Wiley has lost so much over the last three years. This is the area of his life we can point to, relive, and talk about to change the day. Ryan had the vision and the drive to make it happen.

And I want to congratulate Jackie Decker and Kevin Money of ESPN. The story on David and Wiley is (or was) up for an Emmy. The work they did was awesome. And to think how quick they pulled it together is astounding. It was wonderful seeing them again this weekend.

I'm sure i will have even more to write about this event in the days a head.

You Just Can't Beat a Night of Playing Music!

2008-10-23T08:17:00.002-05:00

There are days in life that are tough. The first of this week has been one of those days for me personally. I have a great friend struggling with a problem that I can not imagine. I have been physically sick for my brother.

Last night, God gave me a break. Our band had rehearsal. The music is my release. We crank the PA up to where pictures move on the walls. Then give that little extra BAM! I have been BLESSED! I have been BLESSED beyond measure! I wish everyone could experience the release of playing music with great brothers. There is a chemistry and connection we have with each other. We know when someone is struggling. You can hear when somebody is hurting in their playing. As the focus moves from the problems to the music the tone changes, the grove tightens up, and then the band lock together. Everybody gets lost in the music. You quit thinking about the outside world, you hear yourself in concert with three other musicians. And it becomes one sound. Before you realize it, three hours have past. It's that "runner's high." You feel refreshed. Now I have to be honest, You're baked physically. It's a workout. But the best workout you can get in my opinion.

Thank God for the blessings of great brothers and music. And for me, those aren't the greatest blessings in my life. But, they are VERY close to the top of my list.

The Price of Sin

2008-10-22T13:31:00.002-05:00

We are devastated at our house. I dear friend has been accused of a very severe error in judgment. I do not know the details. I don't want to. Am I naive? No. I just know that it will not change my opinion of this brother. And more importantly, I will not let it effect the way I love him or his family.

What is the price of sin? We don't know. It's a hidden fee that is required after we have indulged the sin. As my momma always told me, "If you break your arm sinnin', God will forgive the sin. But, you still have a broken arm." If we were presented the price of our sin up front, we would be less apt to sin. If you knew one more drink would cause the wreck and cost a life, would you have one more? If going to lunch with your secretary would lead to an affair that causes the breakup of two families, would it be worth the moments of pleasure? Probably not. You can be very sure that all sin has a consequence. You may feel like you have escaped punishment, but it will affect you. I remember as a kid racing down Sylvan Trail. It was a kick in an MGB - curves, hills, and speed. Lots of speed. I passed a police officer with my speedometer pegged. Without thinking, I ran. I did not get caught. I'm not sure why. But for the next few months, every time the phone rang, there was a knock at the door, or a police officer pulled in behind me, fear would set in. Had I been caught? Would I get arrested? Are they looking for me?

Sin has a price. And we still sin. We are sinful by nature. But, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. We only have to confess them and repent (or turn away from) our sin.

We are saved by grace through our faith in Christ Jesus.

The Price of Success

2008-10-21T07:00:00.002-05:00

I wrote an email to a new friend this morning. He and I have a mutual friend in the music industry who has been VERY successful. Our friend worked his way up from a session and road drummer to recording engineer to studio executive. He has every musician's dream of success. But, in his case, it came with a heavy price. It cost him a marriage, and the life of his teenage son to suicide. Could he have been successful without that cost? Could he have paid that price and not been successful? I don't know. I do know you can find examples of those that have lost and failed and those who have not lost ans succeeded.

Did success demand that high a price? I don't know. But, in the music industry, to be the best requires hours and hours of time learning, practicing, and trying to perfect something that is so subjective. Look at the top 40 songs in any genre, they change every week. The songs that were popular a year ago don't get airplay today. There are some classics, but they are very few and there is no objective criteria for what makes a classic. The bottom line is this, music is never perfected. You will always learn a new riff, sound, or something? It requires a level of effort you must be wiling to invest. You practice and explore daily. But, you have to do that in balance with the other priorities of life - faith, family, health, finances . . . you know your priorities. Unfortunately, there is no good formula. I believe it was the great golfer Jack Nicholas who came the closest to a formula. But his formula is for golf, he said, "The proper score for a businessman golfer is 90. If he is better than that he is neglecting his business. If he's worse, he's neglecting his golf." Now, how do we translate that to other areas of our life?

Practice, Practice, Practice (Repeat Daily)

2008-10-20T06:57:00.002-05:00

They say, "If you do something the same way for 31 straight days it moves from memory to muscle memory." First of all, I have no idea who "they" are. This is info i got from a friend from Guitar Institute of Technology. And lets face it, if it came from MIT not GIT no one would ask.

Well, back to the premise "practice." Does practice make perfect? Or, does perfect practice make perfect? From my experience, it's the latter. There is nothing worse than learning something the wrong way. I think you are better off not even learning it. I have spent many hours trying to unlearn something bad by replacing it with the correct. And, it seems that in a panic situation the original muscle memory takes over. I guess I need to practice even more.

It's Official - I Do NOT like C#

2008-10-19T20:41:00.003-05:00

I have been fighting C# all day. I live in a binary world. Everything I write is about moving bits and bytes. I think in assembly code.

Well, C# id the PITS!!!!! (I can't write how I really feel!) Let's just say bamboo in under the fingernails sounds more enjoyable.

ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

Quick, Hand me a guitar . . . . .

It's been A Busy Summer and Fall

2008-10-19T10:04:00.004-05:00

Wow - It's been a blur. We started recording in May now we are close to having a CD. We had planned on a simple "demo" cd. But with the help of Ken Halford, we have a great album. Ken has found diamonds in our dirt.

For you musicians, Ken is the Chief Producer / Engineer for Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40. More than the skill and ear he brought to the project, he is a great brother.

Our guitar player, John Wilson, is headed back to college. We are so proud of him for doing that. It's a lot of time and commitment to do it. Not to mention the boy is haulin a 4.0 so far. John is the smartest one in the band. (My wife Stacy is also back at MC. She is doing great. She is the HOTTEST mom in college!)

Tim and Garret have been busy as well.

Well, the summer is over and the fall is here. John has finished the first semester so the band is back playin.

We had our first practice, well serious practice, gettin ready for the fall and winter gigs. We have added a few new blues songs. We are working on writing some more tunes also. We had so much fun on the EP, look for an album of originals next year.

Time Flies

2008-07-21T10:21:00.002-05:00

Wow - my Sons are growing up. That's hard to imagine. I feel like a kid. But my kids are becoming adults. How can they get older and I don't. And, I look at my friends from my youth. Some of them are REAL old. Yep, I ache and hurt when I get out of bed - motorcycles I guess. My hands hurt all the time - again motorcycles and guitar. My back creaks and crunches - motorcycles. But hey, I had rather wear out than rust out.

Live, laugh, & love - I seem to forget that at times. But life is too short to forget it.

EP is Getting Close

2008-07-18T10:34:00.002-05:00

It has been a long few weeks. All the tracks we have recorded have been sent to my good friend - Ken Halford at AudioAmmo. He is starting the final mixing. I'll be heading out next week to spend the weekend re-recording the vocals and mixing. Then i hope we are ready for the CDs. Ken has a tough job. We have more equipment we just don;t have any more talent.

This for us is about outreach. We want to put our best foot forward. And Ken is the best person for helping get the best product out the door.

We Are Getting Close to Wrapping Recording

2008-07-02T08:50:00.002-05:00

We are getting close to wrapping up the recording process. We have lead guitar on two tracks remaining. It has been a long few weeks. And we could take longer if we had more time.

Next, we put the polish on the tracks and record touch-ups as necessary.

We are still shooting for mid July for going to production.

Kicked Off 12 More Weeks of Carnegie

2008-06-18T09:04:00.003-05:00

I had a great class last night. I am looking forward to 12 more week of my own personal growth.

The Dale Carnegie class is a wonderful experience. I recommend everyone take the class. If you have taken it, i think you should go through it again as a Graduate Assistant. You get even more out the class when you are part of the instructional team.

Long, Tough Night in the Studio

2008-06-17T08:59:00.002-05:00

Well, Last night i was the one on the playing side of recording. It stated out great. But i fell apart on the last song. It was one of those times when nothing worked. I could not hear well enough to catch my cues. After many takes on one section and listening to the play back, it was just too muddy. So we decided to scrap the whole rhythm pattern. It sounds good live but not on tape. We worked up a new part that we think will work better with the drums and bass. I will try to get it on tape later this week. Then, we will be down to Lead Guitar and vocals.

Rhythm & Slide

2008-06-16T14:08:00.003-05:00

I am taking a break from engineering our album and moving to the artist chair. I get to play rhythm guitar on all the songs and slide guitar on one or two. It's fun to engineer but I am looking forward to relaxing an playing for a couple of nights. I';; let John be the engineer. I'll still do the mixing and editing. He'll be directing me so for me, that's cool!

Everything has gone great so far. We are having a good time playing, arranging, and recording. It's work. But it's fun.

Bass is Done

2008-06-13T10:50:00.002-05:00

We have the bass tracked now. Last night, we were able to record all the bass parts. Tim was incredible. After playing these song together for a year, we have tightened them up pretty good. So the recording is going fast.

I will take the weekend to mix the drums and bass. That will give us a good foundation for the rhythm, lead, and vocals.

It beats working for a living.

IndieHeaven

2008-06-12T11:07:00.001-05:00

We are now on the IndieHeaven.com web site. We are looking forward to selling our EP through the site as well as MP3 downloads.

Drums are Done

2008-06-12T08:03:00.003-05:00

Garret and I finished recording drums last night. I put the lipstick on them to get ready for the next steps in the process.

Tonight, Tim will be laying down Bass. And I may get a few rhythm tracks down.

Recording Drum Tracks

2008-06-11T08:48:00.002-05:00

I love playing and recording with a live drummer. Drum Machines are so perfect even when you try add some "soul" to them. I just can't get the same feel with a box as i can with a body.

Last night, we spent hours recording drums on three songs. With my recording rig, it requires some creative patching to get 8 channels. But, I can do it. The computer handles it well. We track as much as we can separately - Kick, Snare, & Toms 1-4. Then, I use two SM58s to get the Hi-Hat and Cymbals. It works out great. I have almost total control.

With Cubase, I have a great interface for the recording, editing, and tone tweaking. It's hard to remember back to the 8 track, analog days. I can't remember how I did all of this back then. It's soooo easy now. I can think more about the art of the sound than the mechanics of it.

But what made it really enjoyable was having Garret and John in the studio. It's fun to be in a band. It's not my band. It's A band I am a part of. We are all working together and having fun.

The first EP may be ready Mid-July. Keep watching the band site.

Unicode and my Simple MInd

2008-06-10T12:33:00.002-05:00

I have been trying to convert one of my pet applications from ASCII to Unicode. So it's real simple, Set the "Unicode Flag" and compile. Then you just sit back and watch the errors scroll by. To say one compile flag could be a huge problem is an understatement. It is a drastic change in the way the compiler functions. It changes the size of all "char" based variables.

I thought English was hard. I was just plain wrong! English, Southern English, ain't so bad after all.

Limit, Compress, EQ, . . (Repeat as Necessary)

2008-06-09T11:37:00.003-05:00

I spent a lot of time over the weekend in the studio. I was just working on the scratch tracks. But, those tracks are the ones we will practice to and use as the basis of the actual tracking. So, those are important. I want them to sound as good as possible because I will be listening to them a lot.

We do very little in the recording software. We use it to mix - a little reverb on the vocals, some compressor on the bass and drums, and then level everything.

It's a great way to spend a few hours with friends.

Message from Govenor's School

2008-06-04T15:49:00.002-05:00

Here is a profound message my son sent to his mother on her birthday. (BTW - Happy Birthday Beautiful)

Class is fine, Having Fun

And that is the exact quote. No more, no less, I guess everything is fine and he is having fun.

Quote of the Day

2008-06-03T11:39:00.002-05:00

This was sent to me by my wife today.

In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them.

-- Johann von Neumann

Governor's School

2008-06-02T11:19:00.002-05:00

Well, it was an eventful weekend. I spent all day Saturday working on my shop, tractor, and yard. It was hot.

Then Sunday was a sort of milestone. We took Hunter to the Governor's School at Columbus. He will spend three weeks studying fluid dynamics and aerospace engineering. It will be a great experience for him.

I am proud of both my son's academic achievements. I made the top half of the class possible. They are in the top percentiles. They got their intelligence from their mother.

Me and the Tree

2008-05-30T15:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I have been working on the tree that fell. It will cost a bunch of cash to rent a tractor and debris bin to haul it off. So, I'm on the plan "B". Get my old tractor running and haul it into the woods to decay.

I have gone through the fuel system. It seems to be getting to the carb. And it smells like it is getting into the cylinders. So now, I'm on to the ignition. Put in new plugs. But that did not help, now I'm at the distributor. The joys of a 60 year old tractor.

Indiana Jones (Remembering Bowes Channell)

2008-05-27T07:46:00.003-05:00

It's a great flick. We don't get out to see many movies but this one was worth it. It was a great way to finish off the Memorial Day Weekend.

For us, this was a "memorial" movie. One of the most influential uncles in my life, Bowes Channell loved the series. We had a great time reminiscing about Uncle Bowes. He and Kay have opened their home up to every one of their nephews. We have all lived with them for some period. I brought a wife to live with them for a few months when we moved to Decatur. It would be hard get a better Aunt and Uncle than Kay and Bowes.

Bowes was the only engineer I knew growing up. He could fix anything - even Corvairs. I dreamed of having all the tools he had. Growing up when we would go to Decatur, I looked forward to spending time with Uncle Bowes. We talked about cars, engineering, NASA, and other nerd stuff. It was great fun. After we moved to Decatur and I started working in the NASA/MICOM world he was a great career mentor. I had been working for three weeks at Teledyne when Reagan shut the government down for a week. My wife and I panicked. Kay and Bowes helped guide us through it. They were blessings.

Bowes was a man of utmost integrity. Everyone respected him.

I miss Uncle Bowes. Anyone that knew him misses him.

If a Tree Falls . . .

2008-05-26T21:10:00.002-05:00

If a tree falls in your yard and takes out the service line to the house while you are writing some software, will you hear it? Well, you bet!

I am grateful it fell the direction it did. It could have hit my son's truck, my tractor, or a number of other things. As it was, it took out the power to my shop and damaged the meter base and components. So, I will get all the damaged stuff fixed have my electrician, Bobby, come check out the guts. And then get Entergy to reconnect me.

I'll rent a backhoe and a debris bin for the cleanup. Next Saturday will be a long one. I hope I can get everything scheduled.

What a way to finish off a weekend. I love it.

'Nother Day Older

2008-05-24T22:56:00.002-05:00

May 24 and I'm sitting here on the side of the bed in Bin #8 of the Shack-up Inn. My wife is laying here asleep. And me? I'm reflecting. It has been a incredible weekend. Got to see one of my favorite artist - Jimmy Bratcher - live for the first time. It was a great gig. If you ever get a chance to see Jimmie play, take advantage of it.

But tonight, I think about my beautiful wife and sons. Stacy is starting to resume college. She helped me get through school and now I want to help her. I pray i can be as supportive of her as she was of me.

Hunter started his first job as pool monitor. I know he will do great. I would rather work with my sons than anyone else. The out work most adults. In a couple of weeks he heads out to Governor's School. He will be studying fluid dynamics.

Wiley gives me hope. I see him struggle daily. But, I wonder what his future holds. Oh how I wish I could say I do not worry. But, I do. I worry a lot.

Writing a Song

2008-05-22T10:08:00.003-05:00

I admire people that can sit down and write a song. It is a skill i am working on. I have not been gifted with English. I have degrees in Math and Computer Science because i could not pass college level English courses. I have a good vocabulary and i express myself well. Just please so not look at my punctuation and spelling.

I don't have any formal training in song writing. I have worked with writers that have. And everyone has their style and routine. For me i start with the lyrics. What is my hook or my message for the song. There are song patterns that are commercially successful so i try to stay within those patterns. Let's face it, it's hard to get a new "Free Bird" on the modern radio play rotation. As an indie artist/writer I do have total freedom. But as a the financier, I would like to not loose much money. So, I work in "best practices" formulas.

Here are my guidelines: about 3 minutes, 4 bar intro, Intro/Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Bridge/Chorus/Outro, Good hook, Something I would listen to, Something I would defend every word of.

A Weekend Away

2008-05-21T07:30:00.002-05:00

Woo Hoo!!!! The weekend is just about here. And I am EXCITED!!!

This weekend I am taking my wife to Clarksdale, MS for a getaway. The boys will be at home hanging out with Grandma and working. But for me and my bride, it's music and shopping. Well, for me it's music. For her it's shopping. Two nights at the Shack-up Inn. The Shack-up is great. Rather than a mint or chocolates on you pillow, you get a moon-pie. We may stop along the way to visit some friends. And even though it's a weekend vacation, I'll take the laptop and work in my down time.

I am going to hear Jimmie Bratcher. Jimmie Bratcher web site He is a guitar player I found on Indie Heaven. He is an incredible slide player and wonderful writer. I am looking forward to meeting him.

My wife is laying out the shopping route. It will probably be - Head to Memphis! Which is cool with me. Her favorite mall is near Guitar Center. And you can't go wrong with lunch at the real Corky's or Rendezvous.

A Night of Recording and Mixing

2008-05-19T09:31:00.002-05:00

Last night was one of those night. It was great. I spent most of the evening after church recording and mixing. I was working on a demo for my brother Rick Boone.

It's amazing how many times you can listen to a single song. I was searching for the right sound, the right effects, the right mix. Compressors, Reverbs, Chorus, Echo, EQ, moving notes, overdubbing, and the list goes on. I love it.

I was introduced to the studio by James Stroud, my elementary lessons were from Joey Holder, and my advanced lessons came from Ken Halford. These three men created a life long passion in me for music production. To them, Thanks.

Pouring Out Your Soul

2008-05-16T07:24:00.004-05:00

We are getting ready to start recording an album. We have several hours of music for our live sets. The songs are tight. And, we love them.

So what do we record? I am writing some tunes, trying to pour out my soul in song. If this was a Stephen King album, it would be all blues. That's where I am. Every day is a struggle. I feel like I live the song "Every day I have the Blues". But then the reality is, I love life. It is a dichotomy that keeps me writing. We have Jazz influences that are really kicking in. John and Tim are stretching themselves technically. Garret is growing from youth to wise young man. All of these growths will play a major part of this album.

Stay tuned, It will be worth the wait. Off 61 Album #1 will be blessed of God. It will minister to us as we write and record. I pray y'all can ride the blessing with us.

Great Christian Blues SIte

2008-05-15T14:06:00.003-05:00

Looking for some great Christian Blues Tunes? Check these guys out.

www.christianblues.net

One day, Off 61 will have an album here.

Thud!

2008-05-15T13:26:00.003-05:00

It's been a few weeks. My laptop crashed and I've been a little busy. It has taken some time to get back up and running. But I'm back.

We are working on the summer schedule for the band. And, i can say it's looking good. Check out off61.com for concert details.

Check Randy Owen's New Song for St. Jude

2008-03-31T13:25:00.003-05:00

Y'all Check out the new single from Randy Owen for St. Jude. http://www.randyowen.com/

As a parent of a St. Jude kid, this song hits close to home. I have seen so many little bald headed kids in the past two years I feel this song. I have watch a child loose their hair. You see the little braids drop every day till there is none left. The bandannas and baseball caps only cover so much. They know they are sick. And this just yells it to the world. Wiley lost very little hair through radiation. For Wiley it is the scars of surgery. The ear-to-ear cut to attack the tumor, the upside down horseshoe for a shunt are the hair "badges" of his battle.

How Blue?

2008-03-27T10:54:00.002-05:00

I pray to hear my son's laughter. It hurts so much to hear him in frustration and depression over what he has lost, the fears of his future, and the physical pain that he is having.

It's hard to imagine having to put a baby monitor in your 19 year old's room. But we had to. I have to listen to him cry out to God for help. I have to then sit there helpless as a dad. I try to comfort him. But at times, there is no consoling him. It breaks my heart.

I live to hear him Laugh.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-25T09:59:00.001-05:00

In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.

--Bertrand Russell

Have you questioned something lately?

Great Easter!

2008-03-24T08:45:00.002-05:00

I had a great day yesterday with my family. A wonderful Easter. My mom and Mother-in-law fixed an incredible lunch. Roast, gravy, mac-n-Cheese, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, and the list goes on. I'm still full.

Then, we went home. I spent the rest of the day playing my guitar and teaching my youngest boy to drive a manual transmission truck. It was a good day.

I feel I am truly blessed and highly favored.

Know and Remember, we are saved by Grace through Faith in Christ Jesus. There is an empty tomb and an empty cross to show God's love for us.

Gurgle,Gurgle, Cough

2008-03-20T16:12:00.002-05:00

It's spring in Mississippi. The birds are chirping. Days are getting longer. The temperature is rising. And every surface is turning pine-pollen yellow! The other common sound of spring is the "Gurgle, Gurgle, Cough" of the allergy sufferers. I'm one of them. I take, or have taken, every over-the-counter med I can find! I have two options - Take enough meds to sleep through spring and into summer or just suffer through it. So, I just suffer. Niquil, by the way, works the best but I can't stay awake.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-14T12:51:00.001-05:00

The problem with having a sense of humor is often that people you use it on aren't in a very good mood.

-- Lou Holtz

I Don't Sound Like That . . .

2008-03-11T11:24:00.002-05:00

Have you ever heard yourself on tape and thought or said "That does not sound like me." I hear it a lot in the studio. I know the feeling. When I sing a vocal line, it just sounds different when I play it back. But after years of doing it, it no longer bothers me. I know that's the way i sound.

So i take the experience of listening to myself and learn from it. Rather than fight the idea of i sound different, i work to improve the way i sound. I work on tone, pitch, enunciation, and style.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

--Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Quote of the Day

2008-03-10T12:42:00.000-05:00

I'm looking for a lot of men with an infinite capacity for not knowing what can't be done.

-- Henry Ford

Quote of the Day

2008-03-07T08:20:00.001-06:00

Powell's Principles

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.

-- Colin L. Powell

Music Therapy

2008-03-07T08:02:00.002-06:00

The band got together last night and rehearsed. It was therapy to me. After three long days at St. Jude and a long day at the office, I could immerse myself in music. For a couple of hours, I was away from the stress of life.

When the music stops and very thing is cut off, the daily grind is easier to handle.

As I prepare to preach this Sunday, I use the music to get me into the groove. A few minutes of playing clears my mind and gets me ready.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-06T08:09:00.001-06:00

We sow our thoughts, and reap our actions.
We sow our actions, and reap our habits.
We sow our habits, and reap our character.
We sow our character, and reap our destiny.

-- Unknown

Back to the Daily Routine

2008-03-06T07:27:00.002-06:00

Well, we're back at home. Even though St. Jude feels like home now. There is a level of comfort when you are there that I can't explain. But every parent I have met there feels the same way.

We got great reports back from all the doctors. The tumor is "neutral" - no growth, no shrinkage. After a little more than two years in this battle, "neutral" is great news.

We ran into another Crainiopharyngioma kid, Stephen, while we were there. We met him as he was going through his radiation back in the summer. He could be Wiley's twin. There is a distinctive "Cranio" look. He has had another cranio growth removed back in January. He was looking great.

As I was sitting in one of the waiting area, a gentleman in his late 20s was walking around hugging the staff telling them "thank you". He was wearing a patient wristband. I over heard him tell a nurse it was his last visit as a patient. He was a cancer survivor. He now has three kids of his own. And thanks to St. Jude he is still here. St. Jude sees patients 10 years after treatment is finished.

Wiley is in a research program to study his type tumor. I pray that they can learn more from Wiley, and Hunter also, about this and how to minimize the damage it causes and the difficulties it causes.

Little People,Big Words

2008-03-05T08:55:00.000-06:00

As you sit in the waiting rooms at St. Jude, you see little bald-headed children running around every where. You can see the progression of the chemo. When we were here for Wiley's treatment, we would watch them go from up and playing to barely able to move in a matter of days. I happened to Wiley too. It was and still is difficult for me to witness. I remember watching one young lady gradually loose her battle with her cancer and be sent home for her final days to be treated by hospice. She went around telling all the Doctors, Nurses, and the staff in the clinics and houses her last goodbyes. That was the day she was leaving to go home and ultimately die.

This trip I met Evan. Evan has a brain tumor I can't pronounce - but he can. He could even spell it for me. (I must admit if he misspelled it, I would not know.) Evan is 7 going on 8, or 38 to listen to him talk. His battle began when he was 4. He told me about his vacation to Lookout Mountain. He said he had fun even though he could not get his Hickman wet. I do not know his prognosis. But I know he was a bundle of joy and energy. To me, Evan was a little boy with big words and an even bigger heart.

Remember St. Jude and kids and families that are here. For many, the stay maybe just a few days for a checkup. For others, the roller coaster of childhood illness may just be beginning. We meet people who are here for 2 months, 6, months, 12 months, 14 months, and longer. People from Memphis to people from Australia. When they are here they all share a common enemy in a very personal battle.

Settling in at St. Jude

2008-03-04T09:13:00.002-06:00

Well, we are here. We drove up yesterday. (Dropped the band's PA board at Yarbrough's Music.) Last night, we had pizza and karioke at the Grizzly House. And a fun time was had by all.

It was a long, trying night. We have gone through the hoops to have Wiley "gassed down" before they stick him. He has developed a hyper-anxiety about needles. I can't blame him. He has been poked so many times. Some attempts were not the most pleasant. The last IV took me and 6 big boy nurses in the ER. Three of us left crying, plus the doctor and Wiley. NOT GOOD! We were informed last night that they would not "gas" as planned and approved. The anxiety kicked in. AAAARRRGGGHHHHhhhhhh! I'm not frustrated with Wiley. I am very frustrated with the doctors at St. Jude. This is not something you can just spring on us. We would have requested some med to calm him - and us!

Then a nurse anesthetist was incredibly rude to Stacy about the whole ordeal in the waiting area. We have never experienced this from the staff at St. Jude. I am very disappointed.

What Was He Thinking?

2008-03-02T20:11:00.006-06:00

Today the Pastor was out today. So we had some wonderful fill ins. Adam Epperson and Mark Jones did incredible jobs.

But, in the morning service Adam showed a music video from Casting Crowns. It was graphic. But it was very appropriate. I did not think to myself "What was he Thinking." I knew what was on his mind and why he did it. It was good - no it was great.

But i have to ask what was one of our deacons thinking. He grabbed Adam by the neck and got in his face, just berating him. Be cause he was offended. If you were offended i agree you should talk about it. But, physically grabbing - i do not think so. I wish i knew what he was thinking or not thinking.

I am very disappointed.

A Day for Moving

2008-03-01T18:06:00.002-06:00

I have good friend and DBA packing up and heading to San Diego. He is starting a new mission church for the Vineyard. I am so excited for him. I have enjoyed having him in our office.

The mission field is southern California. And for a Mississippi boy, it could be a foreign mission. When I see 1400 SqFt homes for about $2,000 a month, it seems like a world away. As I sit in my home, I think this is almost twice the size. My shop is 1200 SqFt. I have almost 3 acres and I am on a 10+ acre lake. The cost for this - no where hear that much. Yes, I'm sure of it. It is a foreign country.

2008 Reading List

2008-02-29T14:49:00.004-06:00

Several have asked about my 2008 reading list so here it is.

1. Amplified Bible
2. Purpose Driven Life (Rick Warren)
3. Wild At Heart (John Eldredge)
4. Visioneering (Andy Stanley)
5. How To Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie)
6. The Magic Of Thinking Big (David Schwartz)
7. Awaken the Giant Within (Anthony Robbins)
8. Live Your Dreams (Les Brown)
9. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Dale Carnegie)
10. The Fred Factor (Mark Sanborn)
11. Rules for Revolutionaries (Guy Kawasaki)
12. Financial Peace (Dave Ramsey)
13. Good to Great (Jim Collins)
14. Think And Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill)
15. The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking (Dale Carnegie)
16. In Search of Excellence (Tom Peters)
17. Richest Man in Babylon (George S Clason)
18. E-Myth Revisited (Michael Gerber)
19. The Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman)
20. The Next Generation Leader (Andy Stanley)
21. Team Built (Mark Sanborn)
22. The Heart of a Leader (Ken Blanchard)
23. The Millionaire Next Door (Thomas J. Stanley)
24. Answers Awaiting in the Presence of God (Creflo A Dollar)
25. Raving Fans (Ken Blanchard)
26. Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
27. Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
28. The Greatest Salesman in the World (Og Mandino)
29. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey)
30. God Wants you to be Rich (Paul Zane Pilzer)
31. The Magic of Thinking Success (David J Schwartz)
32. No More Debt (Creflo A Dollar)
33. One Minute Millionaire (Mark Victor Hansen)
34. Peace with God (Billy Graham)
35. Meditations for the Road Warrior (Mark Sanborn)
36. Stairway to Success (Nido R Qubein)
37. Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill)
38. Leadership (John Maxwell)
39. How to Act Like a CEO (D. A. Benton)
40. Leadership by the Book (Ken Blanchard)
41. Never Eat Alone: The Power of Networking (Keith Ferrazzi)
42. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (John C. Maxwell)
43. The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader (John C. Maxwell)
44. GOALS! (Bryan Tracy)
45. Personality Plus (Florence Littauer)
46. The New Dynamics of Goal Setting (Denis Waitley)
47. See You at the Top (Zig Ziglar)
48. The Anatomy of Buzz (Emanuel Rosen)
49. Lead the Field (Earl Nightingale)
50. Customers for Life (Carl Sewell)
51. Predatory Marketing (C. Britt Beemer)
52. The Power of Positive Thinking (Norman Vincent Peale)

This was the list at the start of the year. So, it will more than likely change over time.

Quote of the Day

2008-02-29T09:39:00.000-06:00

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.

-- Dwight L. Moody

Creative Writing

2008-02-29T08:57:00.002-06:00

Most scientist would tell you they are not "creative writers". They lie. Just read their resume. My wife loves to say i have never had a job i was qualified for. I have "bluffed" my way into some interviews with my writing. On one job, I told them i could not start for two weeks even though i did not have a job at the time. I figured it would take me that long to learn to do what I said I had done on my resume. I did. The customer was happy.

Quote of the Day

2008-02-28T08:50:00.000-06:00

We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.

-- Ronald Reagan