Three years ago today I went on a road trip to go see a concert. This was not a new or rare thing for me. I had been on concert road trips before. When it comes to concerts, St. Louis is mostly considered a “B” market. In other words, we get most of the big tours and cool artists, but not all. If a touring band is plotting a short U.S. tour, they will hit mostly high profile cities like New York, L.A., Chicago, Atlanta, etc. St. Louis is one of those cities that’s too big to be considered a secondary market, but not quite big enough to be a priority market. I have also heard that we are a little bit difficult from a routing perspective, in that we are not really on the way to or from any other major city (at least not according to the guys who book the tours). So sometimes we get skipped and if you want to see a tour badly enough you have to travel.

Not a problem for me. As stated, I have traveled for shows before, with friends and/or family in tow. Van Halen, The Who, Cheap Trick, and Iron Maiden are all among artists I have made road trips for. But this one was a little different.

This trip was with my friend and Pastor Jimmy Cooper. Now, normally if someone tells you they went on a road trip with their pastor you would think that the destination would be for something church related. Like perhaps a church men’s retreat weekend where the men from the church go fishing or hiking maybe, camp out and barbecue, getting in some male bonding while reading scripture and having bible study. Or, sometimes pastors take church members with them to conferences and seminars about church related topics or faith based living.

Nope.

We didn’t do that. We went to a concert. Not a contemporary Christian band (which I probably wouldn’t go to anyway) or a gathering of old-timey gospel performers (which I probably would) or anything of the like.

No sir. We took a road trip to see “Weird” Al Yankovic.

And-get this-it was Jimmy’s idea. I feel like I need to clarify this as there were several people at the church asking me why in the world I talked Jimmy into going with me to this. I don’t think they believed me when I told them it was just the opposite. They probably still don’t, but it’s here in writing for the record to show. Now, let the record also show that I was immediately in when he made the suggestion.

At this point any normal person should be thinking that this is an incredibly silly, nay, ridiculous thing for two grown men to do. I mean, we’re talking “Weird” Al here. Plus, it wasn’t even a normal Al tour. This was the one where he largely did his original songs, with the parody hits relegated to the very end of the show. Isn’t that just a remarkably immature waste of time and money?

Yes. Yes it was…and that was the point. As Al himself would say, “Dare To Be Stupid”, right?

It was a fun trip. Jimmy brought along his laptop and some books, so I knew he’d be doing work in his room during the down time, working on sermons, answering e-mails, setting up meetings, etc. That told me everything I needed to know about my role during this excursion. I made sure that we kept the conversation light during the drives-or families, movies we liked, some funny, yet not too embarrassing stories, that kind of thing. We discussed a little bit of church stuff too, but very little. This was a chance to unwind, release, and have a little fun and silliness for a day or so. I know how seriously Jimmy takes his job and how much his heart is truly in what he does, but sometimes the guy needs a break. We all do. I was more than happy to help him get that small break we all need.

As far as the show itself goes, the legendary Emo Phillips opened the show (a genius, and a hero of mine from my own stand up days), and Al and his band were quite entertaining. Musically, they really are quite under rated. Anyway, the show was fun, and we got the obligatory post show meal at Waffle House. This was Jimmy’s first trip to the WH if I remember properly. He wisely stuck to a burger and fries, while I took the late night breakfast gamble, as is my go to.

I’m bringing this up today, because a post popped up in Jimmy’s Facebook memories about this trip and he texted it to me. We still make Waffle House jokes and “Weird Al” references sometimes, and always share a smile. Normally, a blog post of mine like this one would end up with some line about how only music can make memories such as this. While that is absolutely true, in this case the music was the instigator, it was not the reason. Not really.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is this. When life gets intense, work gets crazy and adulting feels like running on a hamster wheel , it’s okay to take a break. Let that kid inside out, even if it’s just for a short while. Do something silly and goofy just for the sake of the silliness and goofiness it offers. That’s why Al has a career, and that’s why road trips exist. It’s also why God gave people friends like me. When the COVID restrictions lift and normalcy resumes, I’m ready for a new, silly adventure. Gas up the car, y’all, Waffle House is on me.

I read a snarky little meme on the internet that implied, nay, accused men over thirty (specifically husbands) of hopping from one obsession to another. It seems as though the author of this inflammatory hit piece thinks that we find some new hobby or interest, spend a bunch of money on said thing, or fill our heads with minutiae details and move on to something else within a matter of months.

Well, as a self respecting, married, American male over the age of thirty I am here to say:

Balderdash. Hogwash. Poppycock. Absolutely, positively, uh-uh.

We do not just ping-pong from obsession to obsession. We merely expand our minds, learn about the world at large and invest in the betterment of ourselves and those around us.

Well, that’s what we tell ourselves anyway. Sounds good though, right?

To be honest, I am pretty darn guilty of this obsessive behavior. The following is a list of obsessions I have spent lots of time and or money on within the past year.

Pellet grills. Small dog breeds. The resurgence of “Traditional Heavy Metal” music throughout Europe. Watch battery replacement and small repair (okay, that was for work but still.) Family sized SUVs. Box turtles. Coronavirus safety (duh). Home made musical instruments. The theory of de-evolution. Western movies. The history and cast members of “Hee Haw”. Natural grooming products for men that actually work and smell all manly and rugged like. Narrowboat culture in Britain. Probably something else I’ve forgotten about but will remember after I hit publish.

Sure, some of these are fleeting interests, but many will remain. At least in part. Enough to sound interesting at parties in any case.

Granted, a few of these were brought on by the pandemic, but mostly it’s just my own natural curiosity. Some of these items relate to established interests, some are pretty new. Yet they all keep me thinking, learning, and help me feel connected to society at large.

Especially “Hee Haw”.

I guess the point here is that we all know a few men who really only know thoroughly one or two subjects at best. Usually it’s the field they work in, and sports. Nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but I’d much rather fill my head with a great many facts and tidbits about all sorts of things. It’s what keeps life interesting. It’s also what enables me to write this blog about a different topic each week!

Stay curious, friends. See you next time.

One of my greatest pleasures over the last several years has been the simple act of taking a walk.

I am fortunate enough to live in an area with several parks that include walking trails. These trails are mostly paved and tend to be about a mile or two in length. The hills are not too demanding and I do not find myself needing to forge any surprise bodies of water. I am just able to have a pleasant walk among the trees, prairies, streams, and mostly man made ponds or small lakes. These are a far cry from the trails available in our state or national park system, but I enjoy them.

These details are important, because I don’t want anyone to get the mistaken idea that I am a “hiker”. I labored under that misbelief for a while myself. I have been on hikes in both the Smoky and Rocky mountains-but, again, on short trails labeled “easy” to “moderate”. I would trudge along these trails (some of them NON-PAVED!!!), take in a beautiful vista or play in the river a while, even enjoy a lovely waterfall. I would then make it back to the trail head, drive back to the hotel where I could shower, take a nap, and watch television for a few hours until eating dinner in a local restaurant. Then when I got back home I would actually tell people I went “hiking”. With a straight face and everything.

This was my definition of hiking. I lived happily under this delusion for quite some time and then I met some real, honest-to-goodness hikers. I mean, I didn’t actually join them on a hike or anything (whew!) but we had discussed hiking in casual conversation. Then I saw their Facebook posts-and the pictures they posted for proof positive of their adventures. The hikes these people went on left me in awe of what they had achieved-it was truly admirable.

It was also nuts. They’d do like seven miles-or more. At one time. In a row. Up solid rocks, over rope bridges, through caves, forging rivers and through gorges they went. And sometimes-get this-they would actually camp out at the end of the hike, and go backwards the next day, doing it all over again. This is absolute craziness-lunatic behavior. But admirable nonetheless.

Now, I’m sure the views and experiences are worth the effort. And to be fair, these people are quite fit, whereas I am…not. Hmm. Perhaps I could use a little more “communing with nature”. Nah. I’m good with what I get, thanks.

So. Hiking I do not recommend. BUT-a gentle walk in the woods, or even a well maintained city park-can be quite pleasant. Wonderful, even. A simple stroll can help clear the mind, refresh the spirit, and help one feel a little bit closer to nature and the Almighty. I enjoy experiencing the change of seasons out in the woods-except for Winter, that I do from my easy chair. It’s nice to spot some small wildlife, or perhaps a deer across the field, and feel centered for a little while during a hectic week. It also gets me out and moving, which is good. In short, a walk makes me happy.

Therefore I encourage you to give it a go and see if it doesn’t start to lift your spirits a little bit once you start doing it regularly. You don’t necessarily have to go all in on the hiking thing, but find some small parks where you live and get moving. This can be a great way to bring a little more peace, contentedness and happiness in your day to day.

P.S.-Just so you don’t think I’m totally soft, while out in the woods in the Smokies, I did see a bear once. I got my phone out to take a quick video and was a little too close for comfort since the bear turned, look straight at me, snorted and pawed the ground as if to say, “Back off, Man!” So I did what any red blooded American man would do.

I charged the bear and wrestled it to the ground! We fought tooth and nail for an hour, and when I finally got it in a submission hold it sank its head low and whimpered, signifying that I was in fact its Master. After gaining its respect I pulled the flask from my back pocket, shared a drink of whiskey with my new comrade and sang it to sleep, stroking its muzzle and singing old Willie Nelson songs.

OR

I put the phone away, put my hands up, backed away slowly and rejoined my family at the side of the road.

You can believe whichever version you’d like.

Well, here we are. The new blog is up and running. It’s been a long time coming, certainly. There was a time when I was blogging on a regular basis. My creativity levels have always been high and used for varied projects from blogging to songwriting, poems, my stand up career in the 90s, and all sorts of output in between. There was seldom a time when I didn’t have some sort of project happening to throw myself into and feed that creative need. Even if it wasn’t particularly successful, or if everything else in my life was on the skids, creating helped fulfill me and brought me happiness.

And then, something happened. No, not the pandemic (although that didn’t exactly help). Somehow I lost the spark. I lost my ability to come up with ideas, or to see through what few ideas I had. I’d convinced myself that what I was doing wasn’t any good, that my words and ideas had no impact, no value. Somewhere along the way I’d lost belief in myself. I lost my happy.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t depressed or anything. I still had joys in my life through family, friends, my sense of spirituality, and the enjoyment of other people’s art, I was just mostly unable to make any art of my own. This has been going on to one degree or another for about four years now, give or take. I’m not really sure why it happened, either. Maybe I just hit a wall and was all used up. Perhaps I just needed to recharge my batteries and it took a lot longer than expected. Maybe I let life get in the way more so than is healthy for a guy like me. Could be that the whole country/world went absolutely bonkers for a while and I just couldn’t figure out how to deal with it in a constructive way. I guess it was a combination of all of those things.

Here’s the thing though, during that time I did try. There are a few bits and pieces of things that have yet to see the light of day. I tried a few short stories . Very short. Like, this blog post is about the same length as a few of them kind of short. Turns out long narrative and descriptive detail isn’t really my thing. I’ve had a few song ideas, wrote a couple of projects for kids, I mean I really did make an effort. Just not very often and half-heartedly. I was used up-but I didn’t give up,

Because, every once in a while, someone would comment bout how they wished I was still doing stuff. One friend called me an “excellent communicator”. She said it passingly, but right when I needed to hear it. Others have asked when they’re going to hear more music from me. Another told me that I have a “unique perspective” that I should share more often. “Unique perspective” being code, of course, for “loopy as a loon” but I’ll take that as a compliment.

So that brings us up to date. Over the past few months I have felt the creative juices stirring. More ideas are coming, I’m getting excited about the creative process. I think it’s finally time to jump back in to all the projects I have left sitting fallow and breathe life into them once again!

This blog is where it starts. Phase one, if you will. Why now? Why not? Why Mondays? Well, if the point of creating is to joyfully connect with others (and I believe it is) then what better day than a Monday to bring a little happy to your week? Also. Mondays are my day off from my “real job”, and since my wife is no longer working from home I can have access to the computer. But that doesn’t sound as cool.

So I’ll be checking in with you all every Monday until I run out of ideas or just plain forget. But I’m fired up-and I can’t wait to see you next week.

Spring is coming near. It is bringing change along with it. Can you sense it? Something’s in the air…

Do you feel it? Can you smell the change on the wind? Go ahead, breathe deep. Take a good strong whiff. Do you know what that smell is?

Wait.

No. Ew. Not that smell. That’s not what I was referring to. That’s uh, that’s… something else.

Alright, step over this way a minute. Okay now take a whiff. Got it? There you go. Know what that smell is? That’s the smell of Spring, my friend, the smell of newness. The smell of life returning to this desolate area. New ideas, new experiences, new thoughts and feelings to share. That is what is on it’s way to you here in this space.

Monday’s coming soon…see you then…