Thunderbolt

This is the centerfold of the Journey "Frontiers" tour program. This image is identical to a poster we had hanging on the basement wall in the old North Olmsted house. I spent many nights with Journey playing on the stereo and staring at that poster.

Tonight I was given this Journey tour program from their 1983 "Frontiers" tour. I went to this concert with my friend, Matt B., who passed away nearly 12 years ago. We went to the show with his mom and sat behind the stage. That was fine by me because I got a better view of Steve Smith playing drums. Bryan Adams was an up and comer and the opening act. Matt's brother gave this to me. I will treasure it.

This was written soon after the death of my brother-in-law, Seann. It' been five years since he left us. The void of his loss still stings. -- SM I could sense a presence at the foot of my bed; someone standing there, waiting for me to wake up. Raising my head, my eyes fought their way through the haze caused by the alcohol and turkey I’d consumed the night before. It was my brother-in-law, Seann, dressed in his motorcycle jacket and his backpack hanging over one shoulder. His mouth curled into the cocksure smile that never seemed to leave his face. The night before, Thanksgiving, he’d joined us for a feast at my brother’s house. We hadn’t seen him in a while and it was a pleasure to catch up. All in attendance came from my sister-in-law’s side of the family and I always found it beautiful that Seann could effortlessly fit in with them.   Just as they had welcomed Julie and me into their lives many years ago, they did the same with Seann. It helped that he was so personable an...

The Indians are about to begin the American League Championship Series, and I've been listening to a lot of Coldplay for something I'm writing. Whenever I hear the band, I instantly think of "Fix You" and this post I wrote for Popdose 5 years ago. Here are two phrases I never thought I’d say in this year: “The Indians swept the Red Sox” and “Cleveland is in first place.” Hope  springs eternal each spring when Major League Baseball begins its season. We fans are optimistic even when our team is mid-market and does not have the gargantuan payroll of ESPN favorites like the Yankees and Phillies. A scrappy group of aging vets and wet behind the ears youngsters can show the world that you don’t have to be the richest team to succeed; you can develop talent in the farm leagues and make savvy trades. Yeah, that’s what we fans of smaller market teams tell ourselves each year before the first pitch is thrown. Springtime is a season full of hope in our household, no...

The Waco Kid has ridden off into the sunset. RIP Mr. Gene Wilder. Thank you for the decades of laughter.

The Shot.

This violence HAS to end. There must be a place for commonsense gun control. How many more of our brothers, sisters, friends and children have to die before someone does something? Prayers to the LGBTQ community and the people of Orlando.

Making "King's Highway" in 2001. (from left) Ryan Johnson, Geoff Stults, me, Villamor Cruz

Hi. The Valencia Great Strides walk for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is 10 days away. We're inching toward our fundraising goal, but we still need help. I know what you're thinking, because heck, I've thought it myself at times. "I don't have a lot of money to give, so how can it possibly help." My friends, every bit helps. I will use Bernie Sanders as an example.  Not his politics, because this is definitely not about that, but the success of his campaign. Regardless of what you think of Mr. Sanders, he has raised A LOT of money through small donations. People with limited means believe in his cause and give what they can. THAT is what I'm talking about. Most of the money that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations takes in goes directly into research. So... every bit counts, no matter what the amount. This year, Julie's school held two bake sales, selling cookies and Rice Krispie treats. They sold for a buck each. She doesn't work at a large school an...

In one week, the family and I will be spending St. Patrick's Day with the E Street Band. The kids have listened to Springsteen their entire lives (not by choice, but they like a lot of his music) and this is a dream come true for me. Seeing the Boss and this band is a such a communal and spiritual experience and if I never see them in concert again that would be okay. Why? Because on this night I'll be standing and singing and cheering and possibly even crying next to the three people I love most in this world, listening to my favorite artist performing some of his greatest songs.

My favorite track from the entire Beatles Anthology collection is this recording of the string arrangement for "Eleanor Rigby." It was written and arranged by George Martin, the Beatles producer. Martin passed away last night at the age of 90. The song's melody is present and the strings do their job of providing accompaniment to Paul McCartney's vocals. As the are the only instruments on this essential Beatles song, they stand on their own as a haunting, melancholic composition. https://youtu.be/6W774VU8zW4

If a Peter Gabriel bio-pic ever gets made, the producers would be wise to cast Freddie Highmore.

Ducks at the park this morning.

Dinner with Sophie during a rare night just the two of us.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of Sophie. Still as beautiful today as she was back then.

This guy.

Jacob's new Blue Beetle figure is pretty freakin cool.

Dinner tonight.

Lunch with my favorite filmmaker, Villamor Cruz, today at the Story Tavern in Burbank. Hard to believe our friendship has spanned over 25 years, from Bowling Green to Southern California.

Jacob, Jacob and Hannah at Vasquez Rocks today.

Triathlon training. Today after a 15 mile bike ride with Super Dave Osburn.

Hearing "Young Americans" in the back of the red van as my parents drove through the heartland of our country. Discovering the message of "Under Pressure" and playing the song for a 7th grade class presentation on "What is Horror?" with Matt. Watching the "Let's Dance" video in the basement of a friend's house. Listening to "China Girl" and discovering SRV. "Space Oddity" while cruising the Metroparks on Classic Rock Saturday Night (thanks MMS). Might as well include "Transformer" in this mix. Speeding down I480 screaming "wham bam thank you ma'am!" "Blue Jean" - a most underrated song. The summer paint crew at the height of the classic rock revival and hearing the best of Bowie on endless rotation (Cleveland has long ties with Bowie, you know). "The Last Temptation of Christ." "Sound and Vision." "Heroes." "Fame 90" (a killer remix, just listen ...