Not Everything So Well

Well I wrote a lot of posts about positive things going on this year. Well, I don't live in a world that is peaches and cream. I wouldn't like that world either, since I don't like peaches. Well we got our fist big snow of the year 5-10 inches. I tried to cowboy my car out of my drive way, and now it is stuck in snow and mud.

Now if my car couldn't get out of the driveway, it sure wasn't going to get up the hill on the back roads to the main roads. Guess I should have waited longer, or shovel more. Oh, the fun of winter...

Last night I took my daughter for a ride on my skis. I got them down and the first thing she says "where are mine?" That's my girl. I skied a bit around our property and down to the lake. She rode on my shoulders down to the garage, and I went down the hill behind it a few times. More like cross country and a lot more work with no lifts. The breaking branches and the noises the deer made did add to the adventure. That and it was really dark, I used a headlamp for lighting. The snow was real pretty last night and a pain in my neck today.

Day on the Slopes

It was great to see old friends I haven't seen  in a long time. Some, I saw over the summer. One it had been 2 years and another 4 years. Where does the time go? The team had a pretty good showing and we finished second which wasn't bad. I did well for me, finishing 17 out of 40 with a respectable time.  I miss the old days, where the old friends became friends. The league races at different mountains, the road trips. The pot luck lunches and dinners , the hotels and cabins. Fun times indeed.

The league isn't around anymore. It felt nice to be on the snow again. Wow, what a busy weekend. The CASA Concert, the ski race, and I am not done yet. Tonight I will be volunteering at a homeless shelter for a few hours. Then another busy week ahead.

Back in the Skis

Most winters I would have been skiing quite a few times by now. I'd have a season pass, a night card, a discount program of some sort. This season I have none. This year is different. The weekends are the only time I get to spend with my wife and the whole family. So, if I was gone it wouldn't really help our relationship and wouldn't feel to right. During the week I have to take our daughter to daycare, so I don't really have the luxury of taking a night off during the week. So, a season pass or night card would not of made sense.

Honestly, I wasn't planning to ski at all this season. However, I got the call for a challenge at the Troegs Cup. So I got together what was left of the old Bombers, with a few additions. Putting the team back together..

Most of my ski buddies are in skiing shape. Not me. However, we have three really fast skiers in my age group. Even if I was in shape I wouldn't beat them. I hope my team wins. However, for me the pressure is off. Sure, I want to do well and earn my team some points. However, I can ski loose, have fun with it.

Well, I had a great evening covering the CASA concert which I blogged about earlier this week. I sent the pictures I want to use and I will write a review for it coming up. I think the cold kept some folks away. It was a great show with a lot of different music and a lot of talented musicians.

ARNOLD SMITH MUSICAL BENEFIT Sunday in Shepherdstown

Another big, local benefit show this weekend. The Arnold Smith Musical Benefit is Sunday, January 23 at the Clarion Hotel in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Doors open at 6:30 music starts at 7. Fpur bands are scheduled with a $10 cover. The concert benefits a local musician Arnold Smith who had major health problems and no insurance. He is unable to work and his expenses are growing.  The local music scene got together and are putting on a show to raise money for his expenses. You can read more about it here.

Upcoming Concert in Martinsburg

Saturday night there is a great concert in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The concert is a benefit for CASA helping abused children in the area. Tickets are $15 and six bands are performing. I wrote an article at the Examiner on it and you can read it here.

If you are a blues lover Todd Coyle and the Kathy McGrath will surely fit the bill. Though Todd may venture into some folk rock. Old time rock, country and rockabilly will be served up by The Flashbacks. Blue Eyed Soul will bring you everything with American Music Roots including jazz, blues, rock, and R&B. The Rolling Coyotes will bring their acoustic music. Youngblood will close out the show with their blend of rock and country. Should be a fun time for a good cause.

Don Kirshner Rest in Peace

In 2010 it appears big names behind the music scene are passing away. First Pat Moran the producer died now Don Kirshner a rock publicist has passed away. Here is a link to an AP article on his death.


Kirshner had something to do with The Archies, The Monkees, Neil Diamond, Carole King and Neil Sedaka. He had a television show in the 70's. Historic Films stated his show "ROCK CONCERT is to the 1970s what THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW was to the 1950s-60s. "The Rolling Stones. Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, The Sex Pistols, Sly and the Family Stone, REO Speedwagon, Kiss, Jackson Browne, Bob Marley, Black Sabbath, Rod Stewart and more all appeared on the show. Pretty much a big list of all the stars of that era performed on the show. A show before MTV.


Now MTV, VH1 don't play as much music. I am sure his show was better than American Idol...

Things are getting better!

I am not saying who my interviews are with, but I am lining them up. It looks like I have three set up so far. I am also going to be a lot more album reviews. I am also working on possibly doing some writing in print as well. So far so good.

I am really excited. I get to review and interview artist I like. Not all of them are big names but they are really talented and they play the music I like. It also looks like there will be some neat smaller shows near me which I hope to go to. Possibly the California Guitar Trio, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and more. So I will have a lot to write about soon.

I am also keeping this blog updated better than I did last year!

One Year Ago the Haiti Quake!

A 7.0 earthquake shook Haiti one year ago. The quake shattered lives. The lives of many poor Haitians. The lives of hospitals, schools, and most of the folks in the island country. People from across the world came together to help Haiti in their time of need.

The Quake killed over 200,000 people and left a million and a half people homeless, in a country which was poor to begin with.Money was donated, however Haiti still has a lot of rebuilding to do. The people struggle with wide spread diseases.

We can not forget the places where tragedy has hit. I don't have the answers but belief they come from remembering. We can't forget the Gulf Coast states in the United States hit by Katrina and the oil spill. The war turn places and the other places where natural disasters have hit. Take a moment to reflect, help where you can, and help find the answers.

War Eagle!

Congrats to the Auburn Tigers, the 2010-2011 NCAA Football champions. Auburn defeated Oregon 22-19.Earlier in the fourth quarter Auburn made a defensive stand at the goal line, and Oregon came away with no points. The Ducks would tie it up on a touchdown and two point conversion. However, Auburn would drive down the field and kick a short game winning field goal.

Auburn won the SEC, they went undefeated, they beat a very good Oregon team and deserve to be national champions. TCU had a great season and were the odd team out. Horned Frogs fans might think their team got screwed and they are right. The BCS isn't perfect and i is the system college football has in place. Texas Christian beat a very good Wisconsin team in the Rose Bowl. The Horned Frogs can be extremely proud of their football season.

Things I didn't like, besides the season ending with two undefeated teams would start with the season lasting until January 10th. Fans waiting and waiting for the Championship game. The game could have been played a little earlier, but that is my East Coast bias coming out and the reason I am very tired today.

Well, I did stay up to do my final college football ranking of the season you can read it here.

Pat Moran Died

Record producer/engineer Pat Moran has died. I am familiar with his work being  a big Led Zeppelin fan, thus being a big fan of Robert Plant. Pat produced Robert Plant's solo albums right after Led Zeppelin broke up. The albums "Pictures at Eleven" and "Principal of Moments." He also produced an album for John Miles. John Miles sang on a couple of tracks on Jimmy Page's "Outrider" album.

He also worked with Iggy Pop, Edie Brickell, Tom Cochrane, and Big Country to name to few. In the world of classic rock Pat Moran had quite the resume as a producer. The music world lost a talented producer. However, reports say he was suffering from a disease so at least he is no longer suffering.

Sources: Gibson.com

New Year Bigger News!

My first two interviews were great. My first one with Jay A. Turner was incredible. He might be a local session player who fortunate enough to tour Europe on a regular bases. However, he was a pro when it came to the interview. He sent everything I needed and was great on the correspondence. Chocolate Thunder was warm and genuine. She was the first face to face interview.

Yngwie Malmsteen well he was my first big name interview. He was a lot of fun. Now it is a new year. How do I follow up a year with those three interviews. Well I have an agreement in place for another interview. The specifics of who in the band I am going to interview remains to be ironed out. However, I am very excited. Yes, they are big names.

The New Year is just getting started but it is so promising. Of course it will have twists and turns. Some good and some bad. However, it is exciting to start it out on a very positive note. As the song goes "the future's so bright I have to wear shades."

Rich Rodriguez Fired

Hindsight is 20/20 but Rich Rodriguez should have stayed at West Virginia. The Mountaineers and Rich would have been better off. Rich is still the most hated sports figure in West Virginia and is now unemployed. WVU fans were upset oh how Rich left. Now Rodriguez is upset at leaving Michigan. I believe they call that Karma

His first season ended 3-9 and his next season ended 5-7. This season Michigan went 7-6. Yes his team did improve each season. However, the Michigan fans and athletic department had hoped for bigger improvements. Michigan was blown out in the Gator Bowl by Mississippi State 52-14. That loss did not help Rich Rodriguez. Rich did not help himself by not beating arch rivals. The Wolverines were win less against Ohio State and Michigan State. If you don't have a great record a coach needs to beat his rivals.

Rodriguez also had some problems with the NCAA or the NCAA had some issues with Rich while he was at Michigan. Heat from the NCAA doesn't make schools happy.

The good news for Rich is there will always be college coaching openings.Rich was a successful coach at West Virginia. Rodriguez should have a future in college football. However, that future does not include West Virginia or Michigan.

Gerry Rafferty Passed Away

I confirmed the news at the New York Times. You can read the article here. Gerry Rafferty was a great song writer with Stealer's Wheel and solo. My favorite song by him is "Right Down the Line" which a friend posted on facebook. It is a beautiful song. One I don't listen to a lot but when I do it is one that grabs me. "Stuck in the Middle With You" is a fun song from his Stealer's Wheel days. "Baker Street" appears to be a song he is famed for or was the most successful.

He died at the age of 63 apparently from kidney and liver problems. Sorry the world lost a musician, an artist. I am thankful we can listen to the songs he left behind. So, 2011 starts with another musician gone. May he rest in peace, away from his depression and demons.

Facebook Fan Page

My facebook fan page is up. It can be found here. If you have facebook feel free to like and keep up to date with some of my latest articles. I have been linking mostly to my Yahoo articles. However, if I publish anything interesting. I will post a link.

2010 was an interesting year for my writing. Hopefully 2011 will be even better. Thanks for your support and I wish you all the best in 2011. Also I hope to blog a little more in 2011 since 2010 was a down year for my blog.

Two points

My fantasy football team made it to the championship match up. My team lost by 2 points so I will have to settle with second place. However, I did have a great season going 15-2. The last week of the season is a tricky one. Teams start to rest their starters for the playoffs, teams out of the playoff hunt  sometimes have key players have season ending surgeries. The team I lost two was the second seed team in the playoffs. I had beaten them during the regular season. I lost to a worthy opponent. Well, I guess I need to spend a little more time looking at my Fantasy Basketball and Hockey teams.