Kevin Mileski: Journal

What a rush. Yesterday, I was playing in front a HUGE crowd of people with Andrew Ripp in Boston, MA. To say the feeling of being on such a large stage in front of such a large audience was fulfilling would be a gross understatement. There's something about sitting behind the keys of a grand piano on a large stage that makes you think 'I've arrived'.  Fifteen minutes -- that's the time we had to make an impression and I hope we did just that. The trip was quick -- 20 hours on the East Coast. There wasn't time to look around the town and there wasn't time to get absorbed in the scene of Boston; but there was time to enjoy that original high of a listening audience. I'm blessed to be able to play and sing and I'm blessed to have family, friends, and fans who have always moved me to bigger and better things. So, when I think I have it bad because of one thing or another, I can rest easy knowing that's never the case. I have reason to celebrate all of these things.

One of the biggest questions a musician can ask is, "Am I good enough and smart enough to make a living playing music?"  There's never a concrete answer because you never ask the proper people who will give you the objective answer you probably don't want. Search out the no's and filter the yes so you can know for yourself. In that process, remember to ask yourself that same question and base it on the same criteria you would when you say something along the lines of, "How the heck did these guys make it big?"

I played music as my sole living for a few years and now I have a day job to help financially.  I've put a hefty responsibility on both aspects of my life. One of the perspectives I've gained over playing professionaly for 12 years is this: Remember to love it.

We're all guilty of it. We're all looking for the magic button to press to have millions of albums out there circulating and millions of dollars easily rolling into the bank account. However, during that process, I've seen many musicians including myself fall prey to the business and lose track of the art. Is any business worth victimizing your love of music? my personal oppinion is no. I stepped away from music because my drive for making a living at it showed up on stage when I would beg people, literally BEG them to buy a CD or buy this or buy that. What I forgot to do was love what I was doing. I was foolish for not seeing that; but I was called out on it.

Look up the formula for writing the perfect hit song and you'll find it. You can even attend 20 seminars in a week on songwriting and see where it takes you. It's confusing! That's the business end. It is as confusing as you want it to be.

If the only thing you're worrying about is money, you will forget your music. That's a tragedy. You're bumping up the sales team and destroying the factory. How can you sell what's not there anymore?

I'm not saying the business is mean and brutal and cruel; but it can be if you let it effect the way you write, what you write about, or what seems like the big seller at the time. As literary artists, we SHOULD embrace all the feedback we receive. Perhaps our idea of what our song was about is completely misconstrued because of one line that could help really get that point across. As an artist, I want my music to be interpreted. I want there to be a little hidden puzzle of metaphor from time to time. Most of all, I want to tell a story. I used to beg people to listen to me and now I have the honor of people actually PAYING to listen. That is an honor and a priveledge; but it's certainly not owed to me.

When you're in search of that big record deal, remember to love the music you compose. Remember to look people in the eye on the stage. Remember that, even though there's a lot of business to it, there's a heck of a lot more art. They share a bed. Art cannot sustain itself without a little business to go with it. Business of the arts cannot sustain itself without the art itself. The truth is, we NEED both.

Just remember to love it.

So, i've finally decided that "Hunger Feeds Itself" is going to be the new album title. We're almost done with this and it's unbelievable that, within three weeks, we've recorded, mixed, and mastered 13 Songs. It's the most I've ever put on an album and, frankly, even after a fair amount of "why did you put so many songs on it?", I realized folks are going to want more music when they buy an album. 

Another thing I've decided to do is to keep this green. I was initially going to put the lyrics in the CD; but I've decided it makes a lot more sense to have folks come to the website to see them if they so desire. Personally, i think my mumbling is only due to my inability to remember stuff.

Hmmm....what was it I was going to say next?...

Yes! so, in an effort to keep it green and use less paper, you'll see a possibly different packaging and that excites me as my one-man team of designers has informed me this is going to look really friggin good.

So tired, so happy, so curious to see what comes of it all.

As cool as it is, bluetooth has apparently done away with natural face-to-face smalltalk.  The digital age has made us go from "how ya doin'?" to "are you talking to me?"

I've made the mistake of bashing something and then saying I want it before. So, with that in mind, and a bluetooth nowhere near my budget, I will simply say I am jealous and I will rebel on that jealousy until I can afford one.  At which time I will probably write another entry that will ask everyone why it doesn't work correctly for me.

Recently, while in an elevator, I had the unfortunate experience to share that elevator with a gentleman wearing a bluetooth headset. The phone was neatly tucked away in his shirt pocket with its little blinking light while the bluetooth earplug was nestled perfectly in his ear with a comforting little blue light blinking only when I looked away.  Kind of like trying to catch the red light blink on the smoke detector above your bed in a hotel.

I usually don't have a problem with the bluetooth headsets -- they seem to serve a good purpose and allow people to simultaneously type things out while they're driving.  This time it was a little different. This time, the guy was looking right at me while seemingly talking to someone on the phone. I figured it had nothing to do with me because he was talking about finances or a meeting or something like that.  But the truth is that he was looking RIGHT AT ME. I'm not talking the occasional glance -- I'm talking the full-blown-might-as-well-have-been-sitting-at-a-coffe-table-with-his-hands-on-his-chin looking at me.

Needless to say (but i will) this made me feel awkward. So, as is custom when something is awkward, I grinned and spastically looked away. then back...he was still looking.  Then away.  When I got out of the elevator, I looked back and he was STILL looking at me which was really creepy now; but he looked more surprised that he had stopped on a floor he hadn't pressed.  He didn't follow me out which was nice; but I felt like a ghost he looked right through.

My theory? My theory is that bluetooth headsets now have the built-in option to make people around you disappear...or at least become amazingly inconsequential.  Now that I think about it, I REALLY want one.

I'm convinced that short people, when given the extra boost of height from cowboy boots hit their heads more often than tall people.

I'm wearing cowboy boots today and I've successfully slammed my head into four different stationary objects. I was worried that there could be something wrong with me or my equilibrium was off or my peripheral vision was closing in on me; but it's not. I'm just used to being short.

Whereas tall people are constantly aware of objects above them, I've spent the better part of my life worrying about what's coming up from below. So, change that by 2 inches and it's all over. I'm slamming into things like shelves that I really didn't worry about previously. Perhaps safety socks would be a better option for me.

MAN my head hurts.

So, like many musicians these days, I hold down a day job with a reputable insurance company with NO bailout funds available.  Not bad.  Not great though.  With the insecurities and securities come fears.  Today, I fear one thing...

My chair

There are a series of levers on both sides of the chair that will contort every single part of the chair.  On those levers are 23 different ways to chop off a finger, pinch your own leg, or pierce your ear.  Not one of those options sounds good or desireable.  My biggest problem is that, despite all of these options, I am amazingly uncomfortable.  I've tried what the "ergonomic team" has advised which is to make small adjustments on each lever until it works for your body style and hand placement.  The trouble with that is the placement of the adjustment levers themselves -- they have been conveniently placed under the chair completely out of reach in a normal sitting posture.  The only one I'm comfortable with is up and down.  the others are debateably useful.

1. Seat back height - doesn't go high enough for me
2. Seat bottom shift - That's a lot
3. Seat back angle to seat bottom - seriously?
4. Seat bottom angle to seat back - yup, that's a different lever.
5. Mysterious immoveable shift lever - mysterious and immoveable.

Now, the biggest issue with all of this is that I've driven semi's with fewer levers.  I was very comfortable. I'm working on a way to get this to be comfortable; but I'm afraid the chair wants nothing to do with it -- I've asked it.

I was listening to some music today and was blown away at how quickly a song can take you back to other times in your life.

When I was younger, I was very fortunate to have the ability to go to summer camp every summer pretty far away and be on my own. I think I was 6 or 8 when I first went. But, here I am, twenty some years later, sitting at my desk working on some things when, out of the blue, a Led Zeppelin song comes on right at the right time.

It's one thing to hear a song and say, "oh, wow, that reminds me of..." It's an entirely different experience to have that same song come on at the right time and completely transport you back to where you were all those years ago. I'm not looking at myself in the airport in Banghor, Maine waiting for a puddle jumper to show up -- I'm IN my 8 year-old body staring at my walkman listening to Led Zeppelin staring out the window on to a little airport in the middle of nowhere. What's amazing about music is that, not only does it remind you of a time, it can sometimes put you there and remind you of what you were THINKING at the time. That's powerful.

I just remember thinking of very little that day. It was raining hard and I was caught up in the raindrops for a while. Are kids allowed to do that anymore? Are they allowed to just look out the window and stare at the raindrops? Oooh, that's a good line for a song. I'll have to write that.

When someone hops in their car and says, "I'm in Chicago, I think now would be a good time to drive to Montana.", usually, they're right. However, let's add some details to the scenario.

1. It's Winter
2. There's a winter storm warning for the entire country except California.
3. They have a 10-year old Jeep.
4. They have one headlight.
5. They had a show that ended one hour before they were supposed to leave.

Now, given those details, there might be some rather harsh thoughts regarding the protagonist's sanity. I completely agree.

That person was me. It really was! Here I am trying to caravan with my sister, my brother-in-law, my nephew, and their friend in another car. (Is it really a caravan if there are only two vehicles?) A 1999 Jeep doesn't keep up with a 2008 Durango. I found this out at night going through what seemed to me to be a whiteout with one headlight through a mountain pass known as Homestead Pass. The first of two deadly passes on my way there.

Now, most of you know that I have driven trucks before. I have told many a story from the road. I've written many songs about it; but the truth is that I think I'll take the train next time.

Okay, so, with the exception of the 80's which still seem to be okay in a small part of my mind, music is timeless.

I was just listening to Neil Young singing "Comes A Time" and I remember a winter road trip to New Hampshire with my good friend Meeche. Even though I have a particularly foggy memory of the trip, it remains with me that, if Neil Young were to be released today in today's market, he'd actually go over pretty damn well. It's good to know we've made good decisions on the music we make popular for the most part.

I guess it can all be debated.

So, I came in early today and found an email from a very close friend of mine, rob Drabkin out in Colorado who is absolutely killing it on pretty much everything where music is involved. It's always pretty crazy to think that lots of friends of mine all over the country are doing so well. The original is Dayna Lane of course who is signed to a division of Sony records. Then there's Rob Drabkin who has been by far the most generous person when it comes to sharing shows all over the place. And there are countless others.

Something I've realized over the many years I've been playing live is that I love to play live and couldn't care less where I do it as long as I'm honored enough to have people listen. So, it gives you two options when you find out about the successes of your friends. You can freak out and say, "WHY NOT ME?!" which usually gets you as far as the question mark. OR you can sit back and say, "Ahhh, there's justice in this business." which is much more likely for me as jealousy has been out of my vocabulary for many years now.

The truth is that we all have our successes and we take with those successes some failures. The thing that keeps me going is that I am proud to be a little part of others' moments to shine. I'm proud to know that fans have been supporting music for this long and are this willing to help out musicians.

So, to my famous friends (and those who soon will be), congratulations. There is justice.

Until next time.

So, Brittany and I will be hopping on a plane tonight to head to Colorado where I'll be playing three shows with Rob Drabkin, Reed Foehl, and Gregory Alan Isakov. I can't wait. it's good to be playing so much lately.

In fact, I've been listening to a lot of musicians lately who are touring and releasing albums all over the place. the funny thing is that I continue to hear songs about how they don't like it -- songs about being on the road too much, having too many fans, having too much money, having too much time to write music, and not enough time to work. Hmm, boy I could think of worse things. Either way, I'm looking forward to heading to CO tonight. I wonder if it's going to be cooler there than in Chicago?!

So, I'm sitting here today listening to XM Radio and I've got the Loft on. Now, I've been making Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah a staple of my set list for a long time -- it's one of my favorite songs of all time.

Well, I've been humbled. Ari Hest did a version of this tune that absolutely blew me away. Now, you can't really change anything about Jeff Buckley's version of the tune out of respect; but Ari did a really really really great job on this and I will scream it from the rooftops.

Okay, I've put it out there.

Listening to the song "Remember When The Music" sung by Bruce Springsteen. It's a song about the purity of music and what it represents, how it brings us all together, and seems to have somehow lost its footing along the way in a world that has pushed musicians to be totally independent of each other and independent of their fans.

One thing I can say is that it is a powerful thing to be able to write and sing and tell stories. Of course, what good is it if no one listens? Music has always been something that brings people together. It solves problems and puts some perspective on what you might think is your own issue. That is one thing art lets us do. It lets us tell stories and enjoy the stories no matter how old, personal, or uncomfortable the subject.

I've been very fortunate to have met some very selfless musicians recently. Of course, the one person who comes to mind is Dayna Lane my sister in law. She's always giving and sharing music. Although she's in the big studio and will be on tour this fall, she just loves music. There is no exception. I find the same thing in Rob Drabkin who has taken it upon himself to get me out to Colorado at the drop of a hat to play a couple of shows. Then there's Dave Tamkin who has shared his contacts with me that has allowed me to play more often than I did even before Brittany and I moved to Colorado. There are many more; but this tells me the music business is bad enough being a business - it doesn't have to be a competition on top of that to be successful.

I can only hope the music business keeps that in mind...they're getting better.

So, life is wonderful. I have just returned from my honeymoon with my wonderful wife. What a wonderful wedding we had. All of the close friends we could reach were there. Thank you! Talk to you all soon.

Listening to Gregory Alan Isakov - That Sea The Gambler.

I can only speak well of a few musicians at a time. The indication of a great artist is how the art influences art. In this case, I'm writing. Nicely done, Gregory. I wish him some great luck with what is in front of him

One of my favorite songs by Gregory is a song called "The Stable Song". I heard it first when he performed it while I was next to him on stage and it was something important. One of the lines is "Turn that diamond back into coal." Yeah, that's something good right there. I enjoy the purity of music more than anything. It's not always necessary to rock the house and blow the roof off. It is always necessary to be honest with the music.

I have a little book of quotes John Faust gave me and one of them is:
"Music is everything that war is not."

I love that.

Collector. The word used to mean someone who collects things. Now, it seems more

appropriate to define them as "people you don't want to speak to, don't answer calls

from...etc. " Yes, to collect is to gather.

Today, I received phone calls from several of my collectors. They're funny. No matter

what I say, they still try to get me to give them money I don't have. This isn't

something that I'm proud of -- it's simply something I have very little control over at

this moment. I explain my situation: that I've just moved and I'm very short on money

for the time being. Perhaps it would be easier to paraphrase my most recent

conversation:

"Hello"
*silence*
"Hello?!"
"Hello, may I speak with Kevin Mealewnski?"
"Do you mean Mileski?"
"Yes, Mr. Mealewnski..."
"Mileski"
"I apologize, sir, my name is Ed and I'm calling from Citicards regarding your accounts

with us?"
"Uh huh"
"It appears that you're a payment behind and we wanted to know if you'd be prepared

to make a payment today."
"I don't have any money right now so probably not at this very moment."
"Would it be possible to make a small payment?"
"As in Nothing?"
"Well, anything would help."
"So, nothing will take care of this then?"
"Sir?"
"I really don't have money, Ed. I wasn't kidding."
"Well, it looks like you're going to be two payments behind by the end of next month

which will make it more difficult to pay the amount due on this account."
"I'm aware of that stipulation."
"So, are you able to make a payment with us today?"
"Wow, that's weird. I really haven't made any money since I last said something, Ed.

I'm not proud that I don't have any money; but, if it comes to rent or my one remaining

credit card, guess which one I'm going to pay."
"I would assume the rent, sir."
"Right on, Ed. Can we talk arrangements in a week or so?"
"In order to make an arrangement, we would require a payment today."
"Ed, how much do you think I've paid you all over the course of the 5 years I've had

this balance?"
"I don't know, sir, I dont' have access to that information."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Mr. Milewnski..."
"Mileski"
"I apologize; but yes. We do not have access to that information in this department."
"Ed, the way I look at it is that I've paid the total amount plus quite a bit of interest on

this card. What do you think about giving a guy a break and saying this is paid in full."
"Well, that's not the business we're in."
"Right, so, Ed, here's my dilemma today: I don't have enough money to pay this right

now. I'm not saying I won't. I'm just saying I can't today. You want the money today;

but I can't supply that. Next week, I should be better and will make my payment on

time as usual. It just so happens you caught me at a bad time, Ed. I'm sorry I can't

help that."
"So, are you saying you CAN make a payment today?"
"Holy shit, Ed. Are you serious? No, I cannot make a payment today. But do keep

calling me but not until next week, okay?"
"I'll note the account, Mr. MealiewnskwfyhiE FAOI FJADF"
"It's Mileski, Ed. Can you note the account that my name is Mileski?"
"I apologize, Mr. Mealiwenski..."
"Just call me Kevin. Tell everyone to call me Kevin."
"I can note the account."
"Thanks, Ed. You have a good one."

So, how could one not be frustrated when they're trying to move halfway across the country on a budget that allows for shipping one box at a time through UPS. Well, I'm planning on getting back there by July 20th and there's just a LOT of stuff to work on right now that I can't even fathom.

The best part of this whole thing though is that I'll be heading back to my future wife and you just can't argue about that!! I can't wait for that. Basically, you realize that life is a lot easier in pairs. Ah yes and then there's the music biz. What a ball that is! I believe I'll figure this out someday; but until then, I'll be content to play for the folks who come to live shows and Brittany and Bryan at home. Purity! I'll be back. Oh, wait, I have a lot to say all of the sudden.

LOUD TALKERS!! I'm not talking about folks you can hear because I'm a notorious mumbler; but I can't stand folks who are in, let's say the coffee shop I'm sitting in right now where it's pretty quiet and they're talking a bit too much about some pretty personal things. Yeah, and the other thing is that they've decided to sit down right next to me and I really wish I could take a picture of where they are with reference to me and how many other seats are available. I wonder what John Stewart would say about this? Talk to you all soon! Thanks for all the comments on these, by the way.

So, I'm driving down the highway today and I'm cruising at about 72 mph. I get passed v-e-r-y slowly by a minivan with a mother and her son in the front seat. Not a problem, noteven that big of a deal; but I noticed something on the slow-motion drive-by. I noticed the mother had a blue tooth earpiece in her right ear and the son was playing video games while listening to his i-pod.

Now I remember growing up when the car ride was not only something you enjoyed for the first two hours; but it was something that you feared and had to pay attention to because, if you didn't, the Pinto might very well catch on fire and then EVERYONE would have to pile out the windows because the doors didn't function correctly in an effort to escape the possibility of death by burning. Of course, we didn't go anywhere without fire-extinguishers; but that's the way it was then.

I was having a conversation with my neighbor Derrick about how cars have changed over the years. I still own my '69 VW Van which has it's own sounds and smells that let me know it's alive and breathing albeit not that well. If I were to smell or hear what I do in the bus in my current car, I'd flip out and spend $600 on filters, spark plugs, tires, a bad-ass grease gun, and ear plugs. But cars today are quite different and much more complicated and more computer-literate than the average 5th grader with a degree in computer science. I suppose that's why no one really pays that much attention to their cars anymore. If the car isn't running well, it tells you and sometimes emails you with the specific problem. If not, you hit a button that calls the people at On-Star and they diagnose the problem before you get to the next gas station. I suppose it just goes along with the whole idea of not speaking to the person you're riding with. I mean, why bother with an intelligent conversation when you can simultaneously see where you're going, get yourself to the level 50 elf-killer, and listen to death metal?

Hold on...I have to take this call.

It's official. I do not drive a big SUV anymore. I'm still driving the same car I always have; but it appears that it is not considered oversized. The good thing is that I save $5 at the carwash; but now I feel slightly inadequate. Do I really need to go out and buy that darn Dodge 3500 diesel duelie with the mega cab and a small country in the back? Naah.

I just seems that, while other countries are trying their hardest to meet the environmental needs of the world, the US keeps getting bigger and bigger vehicles for fewer and fewer things. Every time I think of getting rid of my Jeep for something smaller, we get hit with four feet of snow at which point I drive my neighbors to the local coffee shop because we "can't get to work". Perhaps the Hummer isn't that bad of a choice.

The Colorado Springs Utilities Office is a wonderment to society altogether. Why, just today, I headed on over to their office to pay a bill for the compay here. They have this very convenient drive-through (or "drive-thru" which always pisses me off) that is good for dropping off payments without getting out of the warmth of your vehicle.

Yes, the drive-thru -- where they cannot issue receipts, accept payments without your bill, or talk through a correctly-functioning speaker. Somehow, they've not only managed to do this with unbelievable efficiency, they've also managed to get you to come in to the office to get a receipt.

huh?

So, after I peeled out of the drive through, around the corner, looked for a spot to park in downtown Colorado Springs during lunch hour, I decided to actually walk in the door...which didn't open. They have the handicapped doors; but these won't open at all until you press the button which is a good 15 feet from the door. Now, the catch is that, when you do press the button, the door opens all the way, stays there for less than three seconds and immediately closes without resistance. Now, tell me how someone in a wheelchair can make that time? Brutal. Well, that's not even the point. As I'm walking in, there's a guy waiting inside who, as soon as the door opens, comes barreling through it right into me. Doesn't say "excuse me" or anything. Again...brutal...and that's not the point either.

So, I make my way in to the clerk area where usually you might expect to wait in a short line. But it appears that they've complicated the system to a degree that I'm completely unfamiliar with...ooh, sorry about that dangler there. When you walk in the door, there's a police officer waiting there to "greet" you. That'd be nice if he actually said something or even looked at you. Nope, he was playing some kind of game or something on the computer. AWESOME! I can see why though -- there wasn't a soul in there. Literally not one soul. So, I make my way up to the counter where the clerk says, "Did we call your number?"
"Um, no?"
"You need to take a number, sir."
"There's no one here." At which point, the guy looked like I just pulled a gun out of my pocket.
"Well, it's required, sir." Now, I gave him my biggest what-the-fuck look I could muster and turned around to grab a number. Now comes the surprise. Before you get a number from the computer, you have to tell them what you want to do. Now, keep in mind, there's only ONE CLERK. So, i pick "other" and sit down in one of the 20 empty chairs because...again...there's not ONE person in there. And I laughed...out loud...because they started calling numbers that weren't there. I can deal with maybe one number; but this was about 5 or 6. Isn't that great?! Oh, so, I finally get to the counter and the guy has the nerve to say, "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"You're kidding right?"
"No, at least the wait wasn't that long." And I tried my hardest to see the sarcasm in his face and pulled up that same look again.
"No...I guess."
"What can I do for you?"
"You can take my check and give me a receipt."
"OKay, did you go through the drive-thru? It's usually faster."
"I needed a receipt and they wouldn't give me one."
"Well, that's understandable. If they printed receipts for everyone, the line would be out to the street."
"Yes, the banks really have a hard time with that too."
"I know. I know. You're preaching to the choir." At that time, he took the check from me, pulled up the account on the computer, entered my check amount into it, printed a receipt and had me out of there in less than 1 minute.

A perfect model of efficiency.

Well, I have to say I was thrilled with the show at the Walnut Room in Denver this past Thursday. I had the opportunity to share the stage with some really talented guys and it made for a wonderful night. Not only were we able to keep a perfect listening crowd listening; but we all had a great time as well.

I find it hard to understand why it is that I honestly knew three people out of the whole audience. I guess I can say that my home is on stage. Regardless, it was really nice to feel the absolute NEED to play.

More to come on this for sure.

Kevin

Okay, that's in quotes because I read it on Ms. Joey's page today. She was talking about all the killing that's been going on lately. School shootings, war, you name it -- it's all very surprisingly normal.

Makes you want to go out on tour in your '69 VW van, doesn't it? Maybe I will. Are there any potential drivers out there?

it's my newest thing. It's called a vehicular bitch slap. Basically, you know, when you're driving, and the guy getting on the highway SLAMS on his brakes because he doesn't know if he'll fit in that big ass hole you left him and he's half way in? Well, if you manage to get around that guy, you can just wave your hand from side to side which inadvertantly makes the steering wheel jerk to the right while you're bitch slapping. It works and I usually don't see the person again. THIS DOES NOT WORK IN MONTANA! EVERYONE KNOWS YOU THERE.

Well, I'll tell ya, friends. It's been a rough ride here in Colorado. I don't know what to think of the music scene here. I've seen some truly amazing artists out here who seem to be struggling quite a bit; but that doesn't mean anything. Perhaps there's something I don't know about that I should.

The other day, we had our first snowfall here and it was absolutely beautiful. You see, I live on what's called the "front range" which means we get the foothills of the biggin's . During the summer, it looks a lot like...Nevada; but the winter really makes it truly a spectacle here. I love that part of it here.

For right now, I'm working. I've written a few new songs that I'm really excited to play for the Chicago crowd on October 7th. Can't wait.

See you then!

Hey, friends. Wow, it's been a long time since I added to this journal. Lately, it's been pretty tough getting music rolling in Colorado. Turns out it's not the scene I thought it should be. Of course, I'm generalizing about Colorado when I should be just including right where I live. Brittany and I live at 7200 feet and love it. There are photos of the view from our front porch on the photos page. Yup, I finally posted new stuff on this new site. It's so much easier for me. I have to get the link to Tricia Muelbauher's site. She's the photographer who took the pro shots. All the ones that look weird are mine. So, I'm looking forward to another show at Lamplighters in Palatine on October 7th. Mark it in your calendars!! Okay, well, that's about it for now.

Now that it's so much easier for me to write in the Journal, I think I'll probably do it a lot more often.

Until next time!