Some new titles

Periodically, I like to write about some new music that I have been listening to. I really am into real good melodic rock music lately. Like Journey but harder. Here are some of my new choices. Note, most of these groups are from overseas, where it seems music is more wide open and melodic rock is much more accepted...

1. W.E.T.--A new group featuring vocalist Jeff Scott Soto. Soto was the temporary singer for Journey about two years ago before Arnel Pineda was brought on board. This album reminds me of all the things I love about music. Great songs, great hooks and great vocals. Not a bad song on the record.

2. Praying Mantis--The new album from this group is also a stunner in terms of production and song content. The shame of alot of this is that these records are only overseas so you can't really get them to often.

3. Saint Deamon--A new album from these prog rock newcomers. These guys remind me of Dream Theater. Very melodic and very talented.

4. Sonic Boom--This new album from Kiss is one of the best albums I believe they have made in at least a decade. Finally, an attempt to be Kiss and Kiss only.

5. Ace Frehley--A solo album 2o years in the making. I really enjoy this record. It really shows some serious growth by an artist who I thought was way passed his prime.


On another note, I wanted to send along my condolences to the Jeckavitch's, the Pitzarella's and the Noonan's. Each of these families have suffered deaths in their immediate families. I have been to the funeral home for each of you and my heart goes out to each of you. I have known loss and I am there for whatever each of you needs.

Lastly, Anna Sothergill, a young 39 old, with whom I worked with passed away recently to breast cancer. It was a long and valiant fight by Anna. My heart hurt when she went but I was very thankful that her suffering had ended. See you later on up the road my friend.

Holla

Update City

Well here it is September 13th and I am excited that fantasy football has started. Also, it is a very big time because Penn State is 2-0 to start the season. They have been inconsistent but they have been good and that is all that matters. I am almost 40 days away from getting married. I honestly can't believe it. I am truly excited but I am very nervous too now. I wasn't nervous at all for the longest time but I have to admit I am getting nervous now. Not because I think I am doing the wrong thing but because I know I am doing the absolute right thing. I just hope I can always be the man that Karen wants and needs. I will give it my best. We have gotten a lot of responses and a good amount of people are coming to celebrate with us.

I am like 99% recovered from my shoulder surgery. I feel really good and the achy pain has finally gone away. I really noticed it when I went to the beach. Yes folks, I went to the beach this year with the family. We went to Emerald Isle, NC. I used to go when I was a kid. It was better than I remember it. We had unbelievable weather and the kids had never seen the beach before so it was a special time for all of us. I spent so much time in the water that I got swimmers ear. That was a bummer but I have no complaints. I have some video of the event that I can share with everyone in due time.

Last week, we will able to throw my mother a surprise birthday party for her 60th birthday. It was great. She had no idea. It was an emotional time for all of us...I loved it...I hope to keep updated a little more. If you don't read this here you can see it on my facebook page...Holla!

Hot Leg - Cocktails

Periodically, I post when I think there is new music out there that is worth taking a listen to. This new band is one of those bands if you like 70's rock and 80's glam rock. Formerly, the lead singer of The Darkness Justin Hawkins went on to form Hot Leg. This band has a lot of the things that I think made The Darkness so enjoyable. Do I think they will be super or even moderately successful? I doubt it because radio doesn't support this type of music anymore and there really isn't a record industry anymore. But if you want to have a good time kicking back and just listening to music then check these guys out....

Another Update

Here we are in April and believe it or not it is snowing up here today...What a frickin joke!!! It is spring for goodness sake. On the upside, major league baseball started up today and the Pirates won a game. They won't win many more so I had to be happy with what I got.....The recovery from the shoulder surgery is going slow but we made a major jump today in that I finally was able to add some resistance to my exercises. It may seem small but it is a large step in my recovery. Of course just when I was feeling real good I tripped walking up the stairs to the house and landed directly on my shoulder. I am such a turd...Only I could be so graceful that I could trip going up the stairs. Sometimes I wonder how I haven't hurt myself worse. Softball looks like it is going to be a bust for me this year. The recovery is just taking so long that I don't know if I am going to be able to regain strength in time to make any sort of contribution. Maybe this is a sign. 3 of the last 4 years I have not been able to participate or finish a season. I just can't seem to let it all go. Over the weekend, Karen and I and my parents took the 4 youngest kids to the circus. It was the first time for them and it was exciting to see their faces. I have some great pictures and when I get a chance I will post them. Easter is right around the corner so it is close to putting on the easter bunny outfit for the year...Each holiday is a new experience for me, Karen and the kids. I love it. The wedding is close to six months away and right now I feel great about it. No nerves yet. I am sure they are going to come. I am too high strung for them not to. But I have never been so sure about anything in my life. Most days are fantastic..Sometimes we have disagreements but most times we are of like minds. That makes for a strong team I think. I am going to wrap up now and I hope to post again soon. I am back in the rhythm of posting on this damn thing so holla if you heard that!!!!

A New Update

I am sitting here in my daddy chair in a ton of pain because about 12 days ago I had my left shoulder operated on. I guess I had a lot of years of damage built up in that baby....I think it is safe to say that I will not be playing softball this year. I was hoping that I would be getting some games in but I just don't know if I am going to be able to build up enough strength to play and not undo what I just had fixed. I have to be smart and careful. Karen and I have been doing a lot of prep work for the wedding. We have been truly blessed because my mom and dad have been so awesome in doing a lot of the leg work for the wedding. Because of their help, we have locked up a hall, a pastor, a caterer, a dj, the wedding cake, the flowers, etc. We have decided to go to the Bahamas on a cruise for our honeymoon. We are going to go on November 1st thru the 8th. We are really looking forward to it. In between that we have a trip in late August planned to Emerald Isle. We got a house on the beach and will be there for a week. So you can see why I had the surgery now. I can't and won't be messed up for our wedding. I love Karen way too much to be messed up. Can you believe I am actually getting married? I can't!!!! After all of those years of believing that I would never want to get married or be in a position to get married I am so thrilled that I found my true soul mate and am settling down.

On a lighter note, if you get a chance to get to the movies take the time and see the movie "Taken". Fantastic story, fantastic action and fantastic acting. If you have a chance to go to the movies please don't waste your time and see the Friday the 13th remake. I was very disappointed. As an out of the closet horror fan, people know I love horror movies and was a tremendous Jason fan. That is why I am so disappointed in what I saw. No imagination and no groundbreaking stuff there. The kills were very predictable. They had some interesting things with how Jason got the mask and the fact that he actually runs was new but other than that they should have saved the film. Well anyhoo, I have said enough. I will try and be more active in keeping up with this baby and as we get closer to the wedding I will definitely keep the updates flowing. Holla if you hear me!!!!

So many things have changed

I wanted to take some time to update my blog and realized that I haven't done it since November....Holy crap that is a long time. So to recap...Had a busy and plentiful thanksgiving...Christmas was holy cow busy at work and at home but Karen and I came thru it relatively unscathed. New Years was a memorable time for me and Karen. I proposed to her right at Midnite and thankfully she accepted without too much hesitation...lol...The weird thing is I never really thought about what was going to happen next after she said yes...I never figured that I had to set a date or anything like that...what a dummy....But we worked thru my ignorance and we set a date of October 24th of this year. I am really excited about this day coming up but very nervous at the same time. We picked out a wedding cake last nite so that was very cool....I am going to have a lot of friends coming from different parts of the country to visit this spectacle. I think that is way cool....As we get closer to the date I will post more and keep people up to date. I can't wait for the bachelor parties....!!!!!