Hey, everyone. Please visit my new blog "The Drummer's Almanac". It's for drum nerds, but I would like you to know you may see some things of interest. Or maybe you'll be bored to tears.
On it you will see some cool videos, great drum links, get free lessons from me, or hear a review or two. You may just get hooked on drumming.
Three years have passed and once again it's time to test my skills and "figure out" the new Rush album. It's called "Snakes and Arrows". Why? I don't know, but I think it has something to do with directions and winding life roads that lead to unexpected places. The journey. Probably some kind of new age thing. 
Now, I know some of you don't like them, but for me, it's a musical highlight that I can't dismiss. I know they aren't commercial. I know it's hard to identify with their music. That's not why I like them. I like them because I just like them. The music hits me and I fall for it.
It's like hearing Justin Timberlake's new track, "What Comes Around". You can't help but want to sing along. No explanation, you just start to groove with it.
I've also noticed my taste is changing. I like more soulful singing and less aggression. Songs like, "Hey" by the Chili Peppers, "Vultures" by John Mayer, and "American Baby" by the Dave Matthews Band.
Rush isn't quite like that, but they have a special place in my heart. Being able to escape in their music helped me through the roughest time in my life. I still almost come to tears when I hear "Time Stand Still" or "Losing It". 
Anyway, I am very excited to get my hands on the next Rush masterpiece and push my drumming to a new level.
As a perfectionist, I like to work on such things as precision and effortless playing. So, when I hear something new I am inspired to be able to duplicate it and maybe use it for something else. It may not even be a new technique, but just a new way of playing that I haven't thought of. So I try it and if it feels good, I keep it and sometimes expand on it.
On the other hand, I like the satisfaction of playing something as good as a seasoned, legendary, drummer. Even though I didn't make it up, I still "figured it out".
Well, you probably know what kind plant is featured in this pic.
Yep. I got it.
It's not fun and has become quite painful.
I'm not sure how I got it because I have been doing so much outside.
I planted flowers for Casey on Mother's Day and weeded our flower beds in front of the house. They looked really good until we had rain and now they are infested again. It's just a little frustrating, but I love to work in my beds. Especially when I see the fruit of my labor. Our flowers are in full bloom and our hostas are coming up bigger than when we planted them last year.
Casey and I took the boys to Clifton Gorge last weekend. It's a beautiful place to go hiking and "GET POISON IVY!!!" I don't know for sure , but that is the most likely place. Anyway, Clifton Gorge was a lot of fun and the boys loved it. They like to throw rocks into the river. We walked about a half an hour into the gorge and then the boys started getting tired. So, we went to Young's Dairy and got ice cream, pet cows and goats, and watched jet fighters scream over our heads at a local airport. It was an awesome day. If you get a chance, check out the little town of Yellow Springs. A little lost in the sixties, but quite ecclectic. I bought my djembe there a few years back and Dave Chappell lives there.
No matter where I got this affliction, I am in agony. I bleached the blisters, which has helped, but their not gone yet. I even got it down..... there..... Yep, I bleached it too. Not the most genious plan. I don't think even fire can burn that bad.
So be careful the next time you go hiking or pull something from your flower beds. Wear gloves or use a shovel.
The two day debacle is over. For those of you who don't know, my choir had to perform at a dedication and grand opening ceremony for the new women's wing. We sang in front of State Representative Tony Core and was even featured on ONN.
I was impressed with my guys because they sang so good it brought tears to a few eyes and we received a standing "O". Very cool!!!
I rewarded them for their hard work at Dairy Queen and rented Deja-vu for them to see. They enjoyed it very much and so did I.
