New Year 2022

So, here we are, on the cusp of another year into the new millennium. Can you believe that it’s been over 20 years since we made that monumental transition? When I was a kid, I imagined that we’d have flying cars (à la The Jetsons) by the year 2022. But we’re not quite there yet. And judging the way some people drive traditional cars, I’m not sure that I’d want them “driving” the friendly skies.

As expected, I’ve heard people talking about their New Year’s Resolutions. It’s the same typical mantra….lose weight, exercise, blah, blah, blah. Of course, most of the same people were making the same resolutions last year, And the year before. And the year before that…The happiest people this time of year is, no doubt, gym owners. Years ago, when I was a regular gym rat, I used to dread the month of January. You could always count on droves of “resolutionists” flooding the local gyms and causing major back-ups at the treadmill. Of course, this only lasted for a few weeks, Once Planet Fitness blindsided them with pizza night, it was game over.

My resolutions are modest and obtainable. For instance, my good buddy Chad has been on my ass to watch “Yellowstone”. I have started that path and I resolve to conclude it in early 2022. Keeping it simple is often the best approach…

There was a time when I looked forward to New Years Eve. It was always a fun night to be spent with family and friends. We would often party into the wee hours of the morning. But somewhere along the way, I got old. Nowadays, I’m asleep well before that famous ball even starts its decent.

No doubt, it’s been another challenging year. Most people would have thought that we’d be out of the COVID woods by now. But Omicron crashed the party and, well, here we go again. Let’s hope that 2022 will be the year that we can finally say goodbye to the Coronavirus and all its unwelcomed variants.

And as I finish up with this one, I just learned that beloved actress Betty White just passed away. She was a breath of fresh air, even at the age 99. Rest in peace, Betty. And thank you for being a friend 😉

Whatever plans you might have for the evening, please be safe and healthy. Wishing you and yours the happiest of New Years. 

kw

 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Message 2021

 There was a time, not so long ago (at least it doesn’t seem that way), when I would gingerly make my way down the stairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa had left behind. There was always a tinge of concern that there might not be anything. I would weigh the “naughty” versus “nice” moments from the previous year as I descended into the living room. I am happy to say that Santa never disappointed….

These days, that same anticipation has transitioned into watching my grandkids tear the wrapping from their gifts. And there’s never any need to weigh the "good" versus "bad" moments. Because as any grandparent will tell you, grandchildren are the perfect angels and could never do anything wrong. 😊

As I take a little quiet time for myself this morning, I look forward to the busy day ahead. Tina is preparing to wake up to her latest birthday (I won’t tell you the actual number because that would definitely fall into the naughty category). Sharing a birthday celebration with a guy named Jesus Christ is a lot to handle. So, I’d better make sure that I have a fresh pot of coffee waiting for her when she makes her way downstairs.

Christmas is a great time for reflection. This will be the first year that we’ll be celebrating the holiday without Tina’s mom, Evelyn. And it’s also our first Christmas without my beloved cousin and mentor, Virginia. While they have left this earth, they remain with us in spirt as we regularly relive all the great moments that made them so special. And today will be no different.

No doubt, it’s been a challenging year in many ways. But as we prepare for Christmas Day and move into the New Year, try to focus on the positive things in your life. Nothing is guaranteed in life, so don’t take things for granted. When you gather with family and friends later, take a moment to appreciate them. And don’t leave any compliments or endearments on the table. Tell people how you feel about them now.

I’ve found that being kind to people is one of the main keys to happiness. Not only do you have the potential change a person’s day, but through a random act of kindness you can also change a person’s life. These can be the simplest things. If you see someone without a smile, give them yours. There’s no telling where things could go from there…

I recently heard a rather profound statement. It went something like this...”Anger is the punishment that we give ourselves for other people’s mistakes.” Think about that for a minute…

As you celebrate this special day, please keep our troops and first responders in your thoughts. And take a moment to remember Officer Keona Holley of the Baltimore City Police Department. She was senselessly gunned down while on duty last week. May she rest in peace and may her family find the strength to get through this difficult time.

In closing, I’d like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. And thank you for being a part of my life…

kw

Mick Jagger Walks Into a Bar...

The other night, I was having dinner and few libations at a local seafood restaurant. One of the employees decided to conduct an impromptu survey. It consisted of showing photos of iconic musicians to a specific group of customers. The "specificity" included anyone under 30 years of age.

The photo selection included well known performers like Elton John, Billy Joel. Prince and Bruce Springsteen. After showing these photos around the bar, he informed us that only one out of ten people could identify these celebrities. Several people thought that the Prince photo was Michael Jackson. Most of them had no idea who the other three were. And these weren't ambiguous photos designed to trick anyone. They were all photos that most of us have seen before...

I understand that young people might not have Billy Joel and Elton John on their regular play lists. But how can they not know who these people are? As a teenager, I wasn't exactly blasting Elvis or Buddy Holly through the speakers of my '74 Duster. But I could certainly identify them. 

Right on the heels of this, I was just reading a story about Mick Jagger walking into a North Carolina bar and to have a beer. Yes, it's kind of strange to hear that the Stones' iconic front man casually walked into a bar. But what's even more strange is that no one seemed to notice him. In the photo below, you can see Mick sipping on a beer at the Thirsty Beaver bar. It turns out that several of the people in the photo actually had tickets to the Rolling Stones show in Charlotte the following night. How do you not notice Mick Jagger knocking back a beer next to you?? Especially after you just spent $500 to see his band the following night??

This all takes me back a few years ago when I was in Florida for a big 3-day country music concert. The final night of the event was headlined by Toby Keith. After the show, Tina and I, along with our friends Kevin and Lorri, decided to stop off at a local oyster bar for a night cap. At some point, a small group of guys came in and sat at a nearby table. We didn't really pay them much attention. A short time later, I bumped into one of the them as I was entering the men's room (As Bruce Springsteen might say, I was walking in, he was walking out). Anyway, I said something like, "Sorry, bud. My fault."  

With his head down, the guy replied, "No problem."

So, I return to my table and take a sip of my beer. Before long, Kevin asks, "Do you think you would recognize Toby Keith if he was in this bar?"

I said, "Of course. We just came from his show!"

"Well, be subtle. But look at that table across from you," Kevin said quietly as he motioned to the nearby table with his eyes.  

Not doubt, it was Toby Keith. And even more surprising, it was the same guy that I literally bumped into earlier. It was pretty cool to be sitting across from the "rock star" who just closed down a three-day music festival. And as much as we wanted to say hello, we realized that this was his personal time and we didn't want to intrude. But eventually, when he passed our table again, Lorri asked him if we could take a quick photo with him. Similar to the bathroom interchange, he smiled and replied, "No problem."

We took a quick photo and thanked him. And that was that....

So when I think about all of this, I guess I can understand how someone might not recognize a celebrity right away. But Mick Jagger? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I would recognize him....

kw

Remembering 9/11 - 20 Years Later

Although today marks 20 years since the heinous attacks of 9/11, I still remember it like it was yesterday. As with most Americans, it will always remain as one of the worst days of my life. While I never personally knew anyone who died on that day, it felt like I had lost countless friends that I had not yet met. Nor would I ever get the chance...

Anger, despair, fear, confusion,.....all of these emotions were overwhelming me. With my eyes fixated on my TV screen, I wondered if I was simply having a bad dream or if I had accidently tuned into a science fiction movie. Sadly, it was neither. It was real. And raw. And so ugly...

I watched first responders desperately try to control the situation. They did what they could to calm people. But the situation was beyond anything they could ever prepare for. Countless firefighters bravely entered the unstable buildings. They put their own fears on the shelf, knowing that they might never come out alive. A new breed of hero was emerging. But at an unfathomable price.

And then the buildings came down...

A lone firefighter, covered in soot and kneeling on one knee, tried to regain his composure. He was mentally and physically exhausted. He had just watched a building collapse on hundreds of his brothers. He briefly looked to the sky, searching for any source of hope or inspiration.

As the days progressed, America remained on edge. Was there another imminent attack? Were there any survivors under all of the rubble? How many fathers, sons, mothers and daughters would never make it home again?

Random strangers came together to offer whatever comfort they could. We were all in this together. We didn't really know how to respond to it. But we knew someway, somehow, we would prevail. We knew this because we were Americans. No matter how dire the circumstances, America always prevails.

So, as I sit hear 20 years later, I reflect on how that infamous day changed me....

First off, my love of this country has only grown stronger. I could have been born anywhere in the world. But I wound up in America. It's like drawing a winning lottery ticket every day. I still get goosebumps every time I hear the "Star Spangled Banner". 

I've also learned that you can't take life for granted. When you leave for work in the morning, there is no guarantee that you'll make it home. I remember being at a party a few years ago with family and friends. At some point, I looked around and imagined many of these people not being around anymore. I had to step away for a moment because I started to get emotional. This had never happened to me before. But it reinforced the fact that the people in your life are everything.

I've learned to live life to the fullest. Life isn't a dress rehearsal, it's the main attraction. The best way to honor those who have passed is to live a great life. Smell the flowers, dance to the music or whatever else makes you happy. 

There's also something to be said about random acts of kindness. I have had many conversations with many different people over the years. You never know what someone is going through until you actually talk to them. Never underestimate what a few simple words of encouragement can do for someone. 

A few years after 9/11, my son entered the Army and eventually wound up in Iraq. Before he left, he gave me a dog tag with his name on it. I said that I would wear it until he came back home. I would get strange looks as I went through metal detectors. I would explain that my son was Iraq fighting the good fight. The security person would then shake my hand and say, "I understand. Thank your son for his service". I was eventually able to breathe a huge sigh of relief when I was able to take the dog tag off. My heart goes out to the countless military families who never got to have the same happy reunion. The sacrifices of these brave men and women must never be forgotten.

With all of this being said, I will never forget that tragic day of 20 years ago. I know we've still got some work to do in this country. But remember, we're all still Americans. Let's try to set aside our differences and find a way to come together once again as the United States of America. It's the least we can do for all of those who were lost on 9/11 and all of those who bravely gave their lives in the fight against terrorism. 

kw

A Visit From The Sea Urchin

Yesterday, Tina and I made dinner plans with our good friends, Joe and Fran. Initially, we discussed going to one of the local Irish pubs because, after all, who doesn't like an Irish pub? But ultimately we all agreed on hitting our local go-to Asian restaurant, the Passion Asian Bistro. They have a wide variety of familiar Chinese menu items as well as an impressive selection of sushi.

We settled into our seats and we were quickly greeted by our host. As he takes our drink orders, he recognizes us from previous visits. He grins, then holds his hand about eye level and says, "Tall one, right?" Of course, he's referring to the large draft beers that we always order with dinner. I'm not really sure of the exact size of these beer glasses, But when the guy returned with three gigantic Stellas, he seemed a bit exhausted. He presented Tina, Joe and I with our beers (Fran graciously volunteered to be our designated driver for the evening). As he placed each beer in front of us, he reiterated, "Tall one!" and giggled.

We all ordered our dinner. Joe and I opted for a couple sushi rolls while the ladies ordered some more traditional menu items. About mid-way through the meal, another hostess appeared and announced, "We have sea urchin tonight". 

We looked at each other and simultaneously replied, "Hmmm."

"You want to to try?" asked the hostess.

Again, we looked at each other but with a little more uncertainty this time. I had completely finished my first gigantic beer and I could tell that it was already having a compromising effect on my judgment. So, I broke the ice and said, "Sure, we'd love to have some of that sea urchin."

Our hostess's face immediately lit up and she said, "Very good. How would you like it?"

She gave us some choices but I had no idea of what they meant. So, Tina spoke up and said, "We'll take it whatever you recommend."

"Very good. I will have the chef prepare it now", she said.

As the hostess walked away, Fran made it perfectly clear that she was not partaking in our spontaneous sea adventure. I think she said something like, "Do you even know what you just ordered?"

"Of course", I confidently replied. "It's sea urchin."

Fran just shook her head and laughed. 

I suggested that someone Google a picture of a sea urchin. But Tina quickly shot that idea down. She said that if we saw what it looked like, we wouldn't want to eat it. Now, I was started to get worried. And then she added that sea urchin is considered a delicacy and that it was probably quite expensive. I tried to play things down by reminding everyone that we only live once. 

A short time later, our hostess returned with the mystery fish. It didn't look anything like I expected. I figured it would be a fleshy cut of fish similar to tuna or salmon. But instead, it resembled an orange paste topped with what liked like black caviar. Each pasty row was laid upon a small leaf of lettuce. It looked innocent enough but there was still some apprehension in the air. 

We examined the pasty blobs, poking at them and viewing them from different angles. It was reminiscent of that scene in  "My Cousin Vinny' where Vinny and Lisa discover grits for the first time. Eventually, we all made the decision to jump in...

Tina, Joe and I each grabbed our respective sea urchin, carefully balancing it on the lettuce leaf. We gingerly raised it to our mouths as if it were a cup of Jim Jones' Kool-Aid. We simultaneously took a bite, watching the expressions on each others faces. Our faces initially contorted like we had bit into a sour lemon. But that look gave way to another surprised look of utter disgust. If I had to describe it, I imagine that sucking on a sweaty gym sock would be quite accurate. It was an explosion of bitterness followed by heavy notes of sea sludge. The awful flavor lingered on my palate for an uncomfortably long time. I desperately wished that I had a glass of strong whiskey to wash the pungent taste out of my mouth. I shook my head from side to side, hoping that it would bring some kind of relief. But it did no good. 

Joe and I were in pretty bad shape. But Tina seemed to be taking things in stride. She explained that she had put some wasabi on her sea urchin. I guess it offset some of the punishment. Well played...

We all quickly returned the half-eaten sea urchins back to their serving tray. As the three of us continued on the road to recovery, Fran just laughed. I think she really enjoyed seeing us in this moment of despair. She even snapped some photos with her phone similar to the way Lisa did when Vinny tried his first grit.

When the dust finally settled and our taste buds regained consciousness, our hostess returned and saw that we didn't finish the delicacy. She had an initial look of disappointment on her face. But it quickly transitioned into a subtle laugh. I have a feeling that she had seen this reaction before. To her credit, she did not charge us for the sea urchin. We were willing to pay. After all, we did order these things. But she insisted that we would not be changed. That's great customer service and that's one of the reasons we love this place.

So, in the end, I can now say that I've tried sea urchin. But I can't say that it was pretty. So, if any of you ever go down this experimental route with this mystical sea creature , let me give you one piece of advice....Have a strong shot of your favorite liquor nearby. And if that isn't possible, a small glass of gasoline will suffice.

kw

Chad vs. Lewis - The Recurring Swatdown

Lewis spends most of his day sleeping. His intermittent slumbers are interrupted only by his occasional desire to eat. He's a happy-go-lucky fellow that usually minds his own business.  I guess you could call him a cool cat. Mainly, because he is a cat.

My long-time friend, Chad, was first introduced to Lewis about ten years ago. The relationship started off without much ado. But it gradually escalated into the tumultuous kinship that they currently share. This is their story.... 

In ways, their interactions could be loosely compared to the Michael Douglas/Glenn Close relationship in "Fatal Attraction". Of course, Lewis doesn't wield a knife or a pair of scissors. Instead, he possesses a set of sharp claws. I've been told that he sharpens these claws whenever hears that Chad will be visiting. But I have not witnessed it for myself.

Much like an approaching storm, Chad's arrival casts an ominous shadow over Lewis's demeanor. As Chad's Dodge minivan (ironical referred to as "The Black Tiger") rolls into my driveway, you can see the hair on Lewis's back start to stand up.. His tail fluffs up like a Swiffer duster. He then begins to methodically pace the room. (I like to refer to this part as the calm before the storm).

As Chad walks towards the house, a subtle growl can be heard. I have never known a cat to growl, but Chad brings out even the most mystical things in Lewis. Instead of hiding out in the basement or one of the upstairs bedrooms, the black cat perches himself a top the dining room table. From here, he gets a better vantage point. After all, Chad outweighs Lewis by about 200 pounds. So, any strategic advantage is welcomed.

As Chad enters the room, Lewis greets him with an icy stare. His eyes lock on him like a heat-seeking missile. Chad approaches Lewis and greets him with, "What's up, you worthless piece of shit?!" 

Lewis is not impressed by Chad's blatant display of disrespect. For a brief moment, he thinks about responding with a quick open-pawed swat to teach him some manners. But he stays composed and responds only by locking his stare even tighter. He has learned that there are times to pounce. And this is not the time. 

As Chad and other guests move out to the back yard, Lewis takes a deep breath transitions into a comfortable slumber. He will rest for now....

A little while later, Chad re-enters the house to use the bathroom. After expelling several Bud Light Limes from his system, Chad emerges from the hallway bathroom feeling a bit more courageous. But still, he approaches Lewis very cautiously. Chad slowly moves his right hand under the cat's chin. Instinctively, Lewis raises his left paw and assumes his fighting stance. Chad then makes a sudden move and instantly pays for it. With lightning-quick precision, Lewis opens up Chad's forearm with three razor thin gashes. 

Shouting a slew of profanities, Chad pulls back and clutches his arm. Most sane individuals would just acknowledge defeat and move on. But Chad will have none of that. He reaches back in with his left hand, thinking that he can somehow outsmart the cat. But this too would prove to be futile. Lewis fakes a swipe with his left paw and then sinks his teeth into webbing between Chad's thumb and index finger. As Lewis retracts his teeth, he doubles down and throws a jab with his right paw. He lands cleanly and adds a few more puncture wounds to Chad's already bleeding hand. If Chad had a corner man, he would have thrown in the towel by now. Lewis, knowing that he's fully in charge now, simply releases his grip and shows Chad some mercy. He would rather leave Chad a little battered than permanently maim him. He wants to assure that Chad will keep coming back.

It's like watching one of those old Kimbo Slice videos.....

Feeling equally pissed and beaten, Chad retreats to the kitchen and grabs a wad of paper towels to wrap his injuries. He carefully walks by Lewis on the way out the door. As he passes, he mumbles more profanities under his breath. Lewis looks at him as if to say, "Keep coming back. I'm here all day." 

Chad rejoins the group outside. He loudly announces that Lewis is an asshole. Everyone sees the bloody wrap around his hands. But no one even bats an eye. We've all seen it before. Chad enters the house unscathed, picks a fight with the cat, gets his ass kicked by the cat and then emerges the house with his hands wrapped in paper towels. What's the old saying about doing the same thing over and over and then expecting different results? At some point, you've got to acknowledge that you're overmatched. 

There was a time when Lewis would track down and catch an occasional insect that found it's way into our house. But ever since Chad entered the picture, he doesn't react at all to these things anymore. Instead, he reserves all of his energy for the human pin cushion that he calls Chad.

kw

M3 Festival 2021 - The First Night Back

Yesterday, I ventured down down to Columbia, MD to check out Day 1 of the traditional M3 Rock Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion. The bands on the bill were The Iron Maidens (an all-female Iron Maiden tribute band), Tokyo Motor Fist (a last minute addition made of musicians from several 80's bands), Slaughter (a successful 90's band) and local legends, Kix.

Celebrating the return of live music is something that I looked forward to. Although I've seen a few local bands at various bars over the past six months, this would be my first venture into a large venue since COVID reared it's ugly head. I felt especially good for the musicians who have pretty much been out of work for the past year and a half.

It's always a tradition to grab dinner and a couple of beers at nearby restaurant prior to any concert. So, in yesterday's case, John (my brother-in-law) and I stopped off at Union Jack's, an English-style pub/restaurant. The food was ok but, most interesting, was that they had Red Stripe beer on tap. Risking a beer faux pas by ordering a Jamaican lager in an English pub, I went for it. It was light and refreshing, the perfect primer for the evening ahead.

As progressed through dinner, John continued to remind me that we had to be in line by a certain time to ensure that we would be in our seats by the time the opening band (The Iron Maidens) took the stage. He's a bit obsessive these days. I kept telling him to relax and assured him that we would make it in plenty of time.

We eventually settled our check and made our way across the street towards the venue. A small line had already formed. As we took our spot in the line, I checked my phone and saw that it was now 5:20. We were then told that the gates would not open until 6:00. I turned to John and said, "Are you f*cking kidding me? We have to stand here for 40 minutes?? I hope you're happy." (We're like Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in "Grumpy Old Men" sometimes). A short time later, I was delighted to hear that they would be opening the gates at 5:30 instead. 

As we made our way in, we could hear the band going through their sound check. We could hear Kirsten, the lead singer, belting out the familiar vocal bridge to "The Trooper". We had known Kirsten prior to her time with The Iron Maidens, so we were really looking forward to seeing her perform on the big stage.

As the band took the stage and kicked into a familiar Iron Maiden song, that melodic energy that we had been missing for so long rapidly made it's way through the venue. The band was very polished as they played a variety of Maiden songs. I especially enjoyed "The Trooper" as Kirsten introduced the song by waving the British flag and later transitioning to the American flag. A fitting tribute for the July 4th weekend. To sum up their performance, the Iron Maidens were awesome! They re-introduced live music back to Merriweather in stellar fashion.

The next band, Tokyo Motor Fist, was introduced by former "That Metal Show" host, Eddie Trunk. The band, who I was not familiar with, kicked off with a typical "80's rock sounding" song. The band members consisted of guys who had enjoyed moderate success with other 80's bands (Trixter, Danger-Danger, Ted Nugent, Rainbow, Alice Cooper). I did not know any of their original songs but they did a really good cover of Rainbow's "Street of Dreams" with bass player, Greg Smith, doing a respectable job on lead vocals. They also did Trixter's "Give It To Me Good" with original guitarist, Steve Brown, delivering the lead vocals. Overall, the band gave a great performance and I really enjoyed them.

Next up was Slaughter, a band who wrote some really good songs back in the early 90's. Their two most notable tunes are "Up All Night (Sleep All Day)" and the power ballad "Fly To The Angels". I had never seen these guys live before, so I was really looking forward to it. Well, when they launched into their first song, my ear drums nearly exploded! I'm not kidding, they were so loud that I could feel the impact of every drum kick and bass note like an assault of baseball bats against my chest.. I was worried that my heart might be knocked out of rhythm by mid-song. The clarity of the songs was overwhelmed by the enormous volume. You could barely distinguish the guitar solo from the singer's shreiking voice. Yes, I know I'm getting old, but this was ridiculous. It could have been so much better if they could have just turned it down a notch.

Speaking of getting old, I'm guessing that the average age of the crowd was 50-something. And some of them were dressed like they came to the show directly from 1982. Hey, whatever makes you happy. By the way, what's up with the canvas Converse fish-heads that all of these old guys wear? Hey guys, do yourself a favor and throw those stupid looking things away and pick yourself up a nice pair of black leather boots. Way more rock and roll in my opinion.

Sorry, I got a bit off track.....

During the intermission there was an impressive fireworks display in the lawn area. The noise of the exploding projectiles was thunderous! But it paled in comparison to the Slaughter set we had just experienced. 

The finale of the first night always belongs to local boys, Kix. I've seen Kix many times before and they never disappoint. It's a shame that they never made it any bigger back in the day. They had everything that you would ever expect from a great rock band: energetic songs, catchy hooks, infectious guitar riffs and a charismatic front man who literally "moves like Jagger". 

Kix played most of their popular songs and the crowd responded favorably. Kix's last album was titled "Rock Your Face off" and that's exactly what they did throughout the duration of their set. It seems like Kix has been around forever but they perform with the same precision and energy that they did back in the early 80's. They delivered the goods and closed down the night with an exclamation point!

It was really good to get out again to experience a real concert. It's been long overdue. There are two more days of M3 concerts (today and tomorrow). But at my age, one night out is about all I can handle. Until next time....

kw