Perspective...

Have you ever had a light bulb moment? One of those times that isn't necessarily an earth shattering event but things just seem to become clear. This morning that happened to me. With a fresh eight or nine inches of fresh powder on the ground, I went out to clear the drive so Kim could get the car out to go to Church. Dressed in a flannel and a sweater, I decided that the 25 degree weather wasn't that bad so I stayed out to do the walk also. After about 20 minutes I stopped, leaned on my shovel and looked up. I saw smoke drifting from my chimney and a wave of peace came over me. Missing Christmas in Minnesota was hard on us and Kim's family. Carole sent a lovely package that arrived a couple of days ago. I have an incredible collection of unique Santa's that has been growing mainly thanks to my Mother in Law. Why should this year be any different? I received a stunning Father Christmas in the most perfect colors.


Our Niece Kellie Beth joined in this year and provided me with a new nightlight that has floating sparkles that move as it heats up...


What does some smoke and a couple of Santa's have to do with my moment? Everything. Seeing smoke means my house is warm. I am thankful for that. A couple of amazing Santa's means we are loved and I'm really thankful for that.

Many many people don't have such luxuries. We are fortunate indeed.
I always try to live by the adage "You can't always control what happens in life but you can control how you react to it" Time to see what 2010 brings...

The first post of 2010

Well I guess I should put a few things down to start this year off...

Not gonna lie, 2009 sucked...sucked pretty hard.
Thank goodness for love and faith. Kim and I have been challenged like never before but our love for each other and our faith in God has not wavered.
We wonder what 2010 will bring. I am already in the habit of saying 20 10 not two thousand ten just in case you were curious. I have four part time gigs with no benefits at any. Kim and myself are flying without an insurance net. I am hoping this year brings a full time gig.
Job one....the bar.
Yes, I am still tending bar. I must admit I really love 90% of the social aspect of the place. Meeting new people and winning them over with a few jokes and a well made drink has people coming back. Each of the bar tenders has a few regulars and then there are the communal regulars that we all get and wish would leave...ha.
I also LOVE the sommelier aspect of pairing beer or wine to what people are eating. The look of enjoyment at my selection gives me an indescribable pleasure. There is a course you can take to become a beer sommelier, to be Cicerone certified would be pretty cool. Would it make me more money probably not. Would it make me more beer geeky? Absolutely. Being the old guy at the bar, working with an entire server staff that is as old or younger than my daughter has been interesting and I even got invited to my first party being thrown for a few of the girls birthday's. I'm not going but it was nice to be asked. Being at the bar, I get to eves drop on a slice of society that I have found pretty interesting. I will continue to do my job there with as much passion as I can muster until something comes along. The bar...not much money but I am grateful for every shift I can bring home a few dollars.
Job two... The Church
Each of our eleven campuses has a person called an "Arts Director" I am filling that position at our down town Naperville campus for the next four months or so. It is a no training job so being thrown into this position is confusing and frustrating at times.
leading the bands, organizing the services, tapping into the talents of our particular congregation is my job. At times I feel like I am begging for people to participate. I don't like that. So one of my biggest prayers lately has been for God to bring the right people to me. We are moving into an amazing facility in March/April and we have to bring an "A" music game over there, right now? a strong "C/B+" Getting to see the inner workings of Community Christian
has been very interesting. I admit I have taken what goes on in the background for granted, what an operation! I'm sure future "rants" will be coming from this job...ha.
Job three...photography
My hobby of taking pictures has branched out a bit. A few cd covers and such has given me a boost to start marketing myself a bit more aggressively. A digital signage company has been sending me to different locations to shoot display demos of their work. Pay? well they financed my new camera so I'm totally cool with that.
Here are a few examples




A few more examples...









So far in my photographic career I have brought in a whopping 250.00 to the family coffers. I am feeling better about charging. I have a band and another food shoot coming up in the next few weeks.

I have a photo club I belong to, here's my page
My Folder

Job four....piano tuning

Yes I am also still tuning a few pianos. I would like to get more. We dug out my old books and are going to start calling a few people. It's been 8 years since the books have been used so most everyone has wither died or moved on to another tuner but who knows we might dig up a couple.

So what does 2010 hold for work? No clue. I just hope and pray the marketing dollars are released from companies so I can get back out producing shows. Sorry for the long windedness of this but what else do you do when it's 5am and you can't sleep?

Christmas Day...

After playing the 11pm service on Christmas eve, I got into my car at 12:20am Christmas day. A very surreal 20 minute drive back home, deserted streets with no commerce establishments open, always a special time for me. Since our Minnesota plans crumbled like a house of cards because of the weather, we had no plans for Christmas morning. We did presents with the kids a few days ago thinking we weren't going to be here.
Kim made her way too rich and way too good cream cheese coffee cake so after sleeping in a bit Kim and myself shared a nice slice. My Mom and Dad were having all the kids over to their retirement home around 2, so we cleaned up a bit and crashed that party on the South side. Some nice food and family catch up time...very nice.







Seven of the Eight Grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa, Missed you Jen!




John explaining that the present this year from he and Donna was a donation in all our names to a foundation that fixes cleft pallets for kids, enough for a surgery, ones of the coolest gifts I have ever seen...




Donna on post knee surgery Vicodine pretty much says it all...


After leaving, Kim, Evan and myself caught the Christmas day release of Sherlock Holmes. A well done flick.

Christmas 09 didn't quite go how we planned, we terribly missed having Christmas with Kim's folks but were thankful my family was doing something so close.

Merry Christmas!

Bitter sweet...

Seems like this has been an odd year for us, why should Christmas be any different?
We were supposed to leave today to spend Christmas with Kim's folks and Sibs.
Why does the the worst storm in years have to hit Minnesota/Wisconsin/Iowa on Christmas Eve?
Kim's folks and Kim made the call to postpone our trip over to see them.
We are pretty bummed, Kim's family is fun to hang with AND Kim's Dad, Paul makes the best ham on BOTH sides of the Mississippi! One thing that can make a sad situation better is a wee one. Kim gathered her cookie making supplies and grabbed Amelia for an afternoon of baking.









A good way to spend an afternoon...

Eve...eve

Tonight was our Christmas Eve, eve service at our potential new venue Wentz concert hall at North Central College. I didn't have to do anything but show up and take a few pictures...a very nice evening, nice job Carson on producing.

The Dark Side...

Wow, that a night I had last night. If all my bar nights were like last night, I'd have to find another job.
My bar partner Mary and myself had more than our fair share of drunks and nut jobs stop in and stay too long. I can't describe how uncomfortable our shift was. Not a great night at all.

Bar Tending - Helping the socially challenged become more challenging...

Le' Poop...

Pardon my French...

It seems I have been thrown into the deep end of a shit pool with the new PART TIME Church gig.

What a mess...