Tales of Transition

I remember being in Riviera Maya on my honeymoon nearly 5 years ago, getting a massage, and the masseuse would lean down every few minutes and ask: “Sir, How is the pressure?”  If I were being honest, I would have told him that it hurt like a acupuncture treatment of bee stings but it felt just awkwardly relaxing enough to where I didn’t utter anything but “Good!”  

But now I am thinking about a whole different kind of pressure.  A pressure washer!  There is something ’bout a machine that spits water out so forcefully that you could easily take Rupaul’s makeup off with one pass.  Now that’s power!  I am going to take on the project this week of pressure washing my fence in preparation for staining and I have decided to buy a pressure washer.  I mean it serves many purposes: cleaning the fence, house, cars, patio, cars, fence……..oh ok, so I am digging for a good reason as to why I should be buying a $300 machine that I will only use a couple times a year.  But even still it sounds so appealing.  I am reminding myself of a rerun of “Home Improvement”.

For many years now, I have had a strong desire to write songs.  Yet no matter how many times I sit down, pen in hand and try to place my creative thoughts on paper, it just doesn’t work.  It’s not that I get stuff on the paper and I don’t like it…I can’t even write anything on the paper!  I know good music, I am gifted musiclally (by some standards) but I am an incredibly logical and realistic thinker.  These attributes war against each other to the point of chronic mental block.  So I am asking you, my friends, to help a brother out!  Tell me how you do it.

“Two blogs in one month…” I know what you are thinking….”this must be special.”  Well here it goes:

Jess and I found out on Mother’s Day that we will be having a baby in January!  We are very excited and would have told you sooner but we wanted to make sure we told the grandparents first.  God continues to bless us in amazing ways and we couldn’t be more thankful!  I suppose this will give me even more “Tales of Transition” to write about.  

F.Y.I- I really do want to get better at this blogging thing.  I will try to update more often.

Daddy-to-be,

Eddie

I have often started this blog, erased it and pushed these comments under the rug. 

I am here in Michigan this weekend visiting the family and as we drove around town today I was reminded of some great memories that I had with friends growing up.  Naturally, as my friends and I got older, we went several different ways and entered into different seasons of life.  But my question is this:  Why is it that there is no effort made to at least stay in touch with those who you grew up with?  It was never a toxic situation. We aren’t better, for the most part, for not having each other in our lives.  Now I am not naive  enough to think that we would always spend countless hours at the mall together with our grandchildren, but I guess I never thought there would be a day when people would ignore a phone call or text message, purposefully not call you when you told them time and again, “CALL ME!”  Maybe I am unique in the fact that when I said that, I meant it.  Now I know this:  Some friends chose paths for their life that I wouldn’t chose, but that would not (should not) prevent them getting a hold of me.  Despite our differences, couldn’t we still reminisce on old times.  Are we now that different?

Now let me say this:  These thoughts that I have shared with you do not monopolize my time.  Like everyone, I have different friends now, great friends!  I have new memories, unforgettable memories!  I just can’t help but wonder if our lives would be further enriched by the deep, firmly planted roots of long LASTING friendship.

This may or not make sense to you!

Can I just say how glad I am to no longer have an obligation to the “highly criticized” and “over-hyped” world of Southern Gospel Music!  While there are some great people in that industry and although I hate to burst anyone’s bubble……there are so many bigger things to be a part of.  You never quite realize how much “unintentional” stock you have placed in such a thing until you step back for a few months.  Quite thought provoking for me anyway. 

This blog is not intended to be offesive, just transparent!

I am still learning how to keep up with the fast-paced blogosphere!  It seems like a lot of blogs I read are updated once a day, if not several times a day.  This  is puzzling yet it opens a whole new school of thought for me.  What does it take to be a serious blogger?  Well I have determined it takes several attributes, of which I posses none of them. First it takes a thought.  So many messages and thoughts pass through our 3 pound brains that we often take them for granted.  To take a ordinary, everyday activity and make it a paragraph worth reading takes an immense amount of creativity and manipulating.   Secondly it takes focus.  The ability to sit down and hash through those thoughts takes concentration that surpasses that needed for……………………………………………………….Sorry, I got distracted! Where were we? Oh yeah, thirdly it takes……well……not really sure what else it takes but when you got it, you got it! I hope that I have provided a lens, a telescope, a window into the life of a blogger.  This, of course, comes from someone who is not even close to being a serious contributor to the economy of blogging.  In all seriousness though, check out these bloggers who are definitely a giant leap ahead of me in the blog “chain of command”.   http://spencesmith.typepad.com/ - Spence Smith/ Good Friend and Artist Relations Rep for Compassion International.  http://blissfullykrissy.blogspot.com/ - Krissy Thomas/ Good Friend and Staff at Compassion International.  http://www.blogmaverick.com/- Mark Cuban/ Owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.   

Talked to tax lady today.  She used the word “refund” several times in her ramblings about my 2007 tax situation.  I vaguely remember hearing this term used 6 or 7 years ago, so it seems somewhat familiar.  As fate would have it, Uncle Sam is writing checks to a chosen number of people.  Must be a reward for being an outstanding citizen.   

It’s hard to put into words how much I despise tax season.  I feel like a complete idiot when it comes to all the jargon and lingo associated with paying my yearly government dues.  The ads make it look and sound so easy…..”buy this little cardboard box and all your tax woes will vanish”……….yeah…right!  I am still looking for that box!  However I did recieve news today that there is a tax benefit of $1,200 for a married couple who files on time.  It’s something to do with boosting the economy.  Well I can guaruntee $1,200 will boost my economy……thank you Uncle Sam!   

We have just launched a website for vocal training called www.vocalive.com.  This is a great resource for anyone wanting to become a better vocalist.  Video Vocal Lessons will be posted twice a month.  There are also tons of vocal exercises being added all the time, vocal health tips and much much more.  You can give it a try for 7 days if you want to but more than anything we want you to help us spread the word.  Tell everyone you know!

I am amazed at the number of clueless guys you will find in the floral department of Kroger at 5:00 pm on Valentines Day!  With some dudes, if it aint got NASCAR written on the side of it, their not sure what to do.  C’mon guys, get it together!