Its Tuesday once more and Monday passed us by before I could post an update. I did manage a decent practice with Brandon on Saturday and we got down the demo for a new song called, “Carried By Angels.” As soon as we can get all 3 guys together at some point I’ll make a quick video of it. Grant had, as he put it “mechanicin” to do on Saturday, so he didn’t come jam with us.

I’ve recently watched just about every program featuring celeb chef, ex drug addict, social commentator and drunkard, Anthony Bourdain available on Netflix. Of his shows, and he’s had 4 or 5, my favorite is “Parts Unknown.” The typical format of the show is the host walking around this or that distant country and sampling the food and booze with a sympathetic host, usually to the point of getting drunk and in some cases passing out. It’s at once funny and sad to see this admitted former crack and cocaine addict disavowing the AA approach to sobriety and being apparently fine with getting stoned and drunk as a recovering crack addict. Of course the fact that he’s probably still using isn’t lost on me. Then he’ll make funny commentary over the video. He’s pretty funny in the moment too, like a liberal comedian. Notice I’m not calling him “Bill Maher-like.” I said he’s funny.

I think he’s a lucky chef who was in the right place and the right time and by some miracle didn’t overdose himself to death. He basically admits as much in the show. Talk about a craggy old, rough looking dude. He’s lucky to be where he is and it seems like he knows it. And for any smokers, take a look at that guys face and THAT is where you are headed. Smoking is not kind to the skin my friends.

Moving right along, when I discovered that I’ll have a lengthy layover in Raleigh town again this coming weekend, I decided to make sure I wasn’t stuck in the car, waiting on check in time again. I reached out to some friends and now have a micro short film project to shoot on Saturday night. Yeah! This one is based on a story by Jason Wheeley and I penned the very short script. I intentionally kept it small and manageable. This will be my first time handling all aspects of lighting, shooting and editing. I’ve ordered some new lights, since this will be shot indoors in simulated moonlight for the most part. It may fall short of any level of quality whatsoever, but I know we will have fun with it and it’ll be great practice. The cast and crew will consist of Jason, Jeremy Mulis and myself, so I know that it will be low key and fun.

Nancee will be back taking another class at a training center up there in her every expanding quest for continuing education. She’s dedicated to giving her customers the best, I’ll grant her that.

I got into the Wells Fargo 3 at 7 am this morning and will be heading off to Rock Hill to return ANVIL to it’s creator for some repairs. It has sucked being deprived of my main work machine for weeks now. Yargh!

Yesterday was Liam’s 15th birthday. To celebrate he decided to get up and intentionally miss the bus. Things just went down hill from there and he wound up losing his iPhone, losing in the sense that I took it away from him after about 6 months of warning that his laziness, lack of dedication to his studies and ill manners would result in the same. I hated to do it but some kids cannot handle the constant connectivity and access to the internet and he’s one of them. If I could go back neither of my kids would have access to a personal cell phone or the internet until they were at least 17.

Hopefully, we can course correct Liam and get him into some more productive hobbies. On that note I have to remember to cancel Microsoft Live this month.

Even though he acted out poorly all day, we took him out to dinner that evening at the local Mexican restaurant. To be spiteful he’d went and bought an iPod right after school and he just kept his face in that and literally didn’t even eat his food at the table, instead taking it home in a to go box. The nice folks at the restaurant brought him out a birthday desert and started to sing but thought better of it. She did slip this hat on his head and he still never looked up. I never in all my days acted so poorly as he routinely does now. Praying he grows out of this soon because it’s no fun for anyone to deal with.

Kids these days have a profound sense of entitlement and a total lack of appreciation for what they have. I remember hearing my dad say the same thing about my generation but in the case of both of my kids, it’s extreme. Summer as just now at the age of 20 started to see the light. She’s not entirely seeing the big picture but just starting to see it. Liam is so clueless as to what the real world is about. Could we all have ever been some naive?

I really think that this country should have a 2 year mandatory military service. It could only help our young work force cope and even excel. Of course there are way too many bleeding heart liberals in this nation for that to ever become a reality. It’s certainly proven to work for many other countries though so we should take note.

I should mention that Nancee took a jaunt to some Salt Cave spa in Asheville. Some of her buddies treated her for her birthday. If ya’ll haven’t heard yet, Nancee’s birthday is basically the month in which she was born. The hits just keep on coming. I’m just happy I didn’t get this weekend sucked up as well. Snark, Snark, Snark!