Dallas Cowboys Release Terrell Owens
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Dallas Cowboys Release Terrell Owens
The move to cut Owens comes a season after the team gave him a four-year, $34 million extension that included a $12 million bonus. When asked about now cutting the receiver, one Cowboys source said, “It was the right thing to do,” alluding to the fact that the team is trying to create a more harmonious locker room..
A more harmonious locker room? With that amount of cash, who wouldn’t be harmonious?
These type of stories just amaze me, with the nightly news being filled with stories of folks loosing their homes, unable to feed their kids, yet, there is this amount of cash swirling around the locker rooms across the country.
I continue to wonder, how we got into such a crazy mess…
Is this type of mess all because of ego?
What makes one person worth a 12 million dollar bonus? And another person worth only 50,000 a year? You can only live in one room, so why is it that over the last decade people needed 30,000 square feet of living space?
I would really like to understand how these salaries can be at such a premium when so many are struggling. I’d also like to understand how at these salaries, why people can’t get along and why they continue to screw up such opportunities.
Where Have All The Men Gone?
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Where Have All The Men Gone
anonymous
Where have all the men gone? I see plenty of woman, youth and children, but fewer and fewer men.
Who will guard the camp?
Who will teach the youth and children?
Who will provide for family, the elderly, the disabled, the future of the people?
Who will fight the battles and right the wrongs?
I see what are supposed to be ment. They look like men, but sadly, they act like the youngest of our children. Instead of children’s laughter or tears, I hear these men children crying that they did not receive their due, receive enough praise, be fed when they decided they hungered, have what they desired.
I hear the whining, complaining, cursing, bemoaning, gossiping, and aggravation coming from them. I witness others being embarrassed, hurt, pained, torments by their actions. I watch our Elders praying for a little peace, our woman beg for a little comfort, our children become confused.
How are the children and youth to learn anything from men whose temper tantrums and actions show them to be children themselves? Something is wrong, very wrong. Something here can do more to destroy our people that all the other problems combined. If we allow this to continue, we will loose another generation. They will not know how a man is supposed to act or how a man truly conducts himself.
What example do they have to follow? What men do they have to look up to and admire and patter their life after? Our young men need this. Our small boys need this. Our elders need this. Our young woman need this. Our little girls need this.
Are there any men out there? If so, please join our few, protect our camp, teach our youth and children, listen and learn from our Elders, accept what Grandfather bestows on you and remember our teachings. What you need will come. What you desire will be bestowed, if deserved. What you accomplish will be seen by all without puffing of chest, strutting, demanind, cursing or acting like children. Consider that maybe if it did not come, it was not meant to be.
I got this out of a Native American Newsletter, several years back, it still stands true, when you turn on the nightly news, and governors, senators, and people in the public eye are whining, crying because they were wronged, when in actuality it is their actions that brought on the wrongs.
We have service men fighting, defending and wishing they were home to enjoy their families… the brave, the warriors…
Lead by example, teach and be taught, and put your big boy pants on!
Stir Your Creative Juices
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Inspiration that has grown wings – that’s how I view Danny from Guitar Players Center
I’ve gotten to know Danny through our passion for Stevie’s Music.
One of the most unique traits about him is his dedication.
We all have angels that sit on our shoulders, and I did this drawing of Danny with two of his musical angels, because I believe that somewhere in a cosmic way, Danny had to have crossed paths with the essense of Stevie & Jimi.
Somehow these two immortalized musicians feed his ability and he continue’s to write and help others that have not obtained the level of knowledge on guitar repair and playing.
Finding something that feeds our ability and stirs the our creative juices is a healthy way of living. Living for what and who we love is lacking in our society, that was pretty evident last night as I flipped channels and the only thing on were reality shows, when in reality, they are not reality at all.
People striving to be like the so called “reality stars” when in real life there are so many people that we could idolize much easier and with greater returns of self improvement.
A strong backbone in Danny’s life are his parents, oddly enough my parents are as well to me. As grown adults we can still learn from our parents. My parents apparently have done something right, they raised 4 kids, all of us married, to our first and only spouse…. my parents will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary in May.
That reality creates a strong bond – dedication to family and to keeping the basics on track. The Bachelor or The Bachelorette – who really thinks this can make for a strong marriage?
Finding yourself in Muddy Waters
By · CommentsMuddy Waters is considered “The Father of Chicago Blues”
Following suit of some of the greatest Blue’s Artists, Son House, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters was playing guitar at the yearly age of 17.
Having an appetite for all genres of music, blues, jazz, rock and country gave this blue’s man a fully rounded arsenal for music.
When you “Muddy the Waters” so to speak, you are making a situation less clear to yourself and to those around you.
When you need help, do you ask? When you screwed something up, do you come clean? These situations can be two-fold, but are necessary in your own success.
I read and learn from experience, and have stumbled upon many people in the online communities as well in our every day lives, that are willing to help and willing to teach. But, there is a flip side as well, there are many that do not have the tolerance for questions or do not understand if you make an error. B
Let us imagine if Son House, Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters would have been unwilling to teach and to inspire. Muddy Waters had a hand in getting Chuck Berry’s first record contract, because he was willing to help, teach & inspire!
If such greats allowed attitude and ego to get in the way, would we be minus “Johnny B Good?” if so what song would Michael J. Fox have jammed to in Back to the Future? Would the inspiration chain have been broken? Great inspirations, can lead to great success.
From it’s original release in 1958 to 1985 in Back to The Future - Johnny B Good is a great example of the inspiration chain and how other’s can lend a hand in history.
Ask for help when you need to, and admit when you made a mistake, it will be more easy to be corrected. If you are on the flip side of that, what is it going to hurt you to give 10 minutes of your time and or, give an empathetic ear?
Judging a Book by Its Cover
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We have all done it… that’s for sure. Here is a quick 10 minute sketch of Alice Cooper, who could sum up, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
I simply was amazed to learn, Alice Cooper has been married to the same woman for over 30 years. By just looking at the cover, I would not have guessed that.
Known for his fake blood, electric chairs and goth before it even had a name.
30 plus years with his wife. In the rock standards, that’s a flipping miracle. Alice Cooper has entertained us for over 5 decades, some of which I was a wee one, but none the less, his appearance can be a little daunting.. but it doesn’t change the fact that he is a heavy metal icon. Have you stepped out of your realm lately and listened to anyone’s music that by chance you wouldn’t have because the cover wasn’t appealing.
How quick do we form an opinion, solely on appearance?
I shutter at admitting this, but one day last week, in the wasteland of winter blues, I worked with my laptop from bed, that’s not what I am shameful to admit….. I watched Oprah..yeap..Oprah, will I again, not until Palm Tree’s Grow in Chicago Naturally.. “I’m just not into Oprah”
I sat sadly though, for the teens that were on this show, struggling with weight issues, quite an eye opener to how quickly opinions are formed on appearance. Struggling through school to make friends, to gain self confidence.
How quickly we judge the book by the cover, I am guilty of it myself. If we took the time to get to know the person behind the cover, we may find a unsuspecting friend, companion or even a great piece of music.
Steve Marriott – Go On My Son
By · CommentsSteve Marriott would have turned 62 tomorrow – January 30th.
A musician, singer, songwriter and guitar player, known from Humble Pie and Small Faces.
When I think of Steve Marriott, I think of 30 Days in the Hole..and I also think of the Lukas Clan.. mainly Jack. A guy whose life blood is the volume switch on the stereo.
One year, Jack invited us to a Marriott Memorial Birthday Party.. my son, thought this was awesome! Any reason to get together and listen to old rockers joke, laugh and give each other a rash of shit about times gone by and concerts they have seen together.
These are for Carol – Jack’s niece – who requested it! Rock on Little Sister, once the hair grows back, I know you will be tossing it around in that head banger fashion that I’ve grown to love!
In April of 1991, Steve Marriott lost his life at the age of 44 – having been born pre-mature and weighing in at 4 pounds 4 ounces..
I know of one person that will question those numbers after reading this.. I’ll wait for your 4:44 call! And I’ll love ya for 44 years
Having played in Moments, Small Faces & Humble Pie, his life intertwined with many names that we all know. Whole Lotta Love by Zeppelin bares a similar sound to Marriotts version of a song originally written by Willie Dixon – apparently harboring no ill feelings for Plant, Marriott is quoted as saying.. “Go On My Son”
Achieving greatness should carry with it a sense of “humble” – we don’t get places with out inspirations, we don’t get places without learning from someone.
No matter’s whose path you cross, you can learn at least one thing from them.
Here is a single line from “As Safe As Yesterday Is” by Humble Pie – I was in a meeting yesterday and there was a topic of the “fear” how our news broadcasts and how reading the daily paper is like an emotion blizzard-put on some good music today and eliminate a bit of your fear.
And you can’t be diseased by what you fear
Happy Birthday Steve Marriott!
When It Just Ain't Right
By · CommentsI’ve got wood..but not the type Frank is talking about over at Tech Jaws.
This is a piece that I knew was BAD.. and just wasn’t right. I beat myself up for 24 hours, knowing I totally missed the deal on this as well it being an unjust to my favorite subject.
This is a piece of work that will be auctioned off at a charity event coming up in February. My husband did not understand my angst over it not being correct, but graciously spent several hours sanding it off for me.
I even asked my brother-in-laws opinion, and he said if I had to ask him, I knew it was not right! He always has an opininon.. most often times one that’s larger than he is. I am not proud of this one, and it just pissed me off.. reworking pencil on natural wood is a pain in the ass. I erased, re-drew, erased, re-drew and nothing, I just could not connect this time.
I highly suggest number one, if you are going to sketch on wood, as I have in the past, go lightly. I mean that literally, it would have saved me time as well as Buck, but determined to get the darker shades down, I laid it on thick.. and the wood just soaked it up..and no matter how I tried, the mistakes could not be corrected.
There has to be a lesson in it right? What makes us good? Going back at it and trying again. Not wanting to butcher another guitar biting sketch, I opted for another favorite pic, really which one of them is not one of my favorites. To many pictures of Stevie, too little time!
Walking away from a project or re-grouping early on is the best way of fixing something that is not going as you had planned. We can all be off our game on any given day, I took a breather and with wood had clean fresh slate which is now turning into something that I can with confidence sign my name to.
Not all the work we do is perfection, not all the projects we are involved in can be “spectacular”, walk away with a lesson & a plan for the next one.
The Sag Awards – Knock 'em Dead Mickey Rourke
By · CommentsThe Sag Awards, or Screen Actor Guild Awards, could have taken on a new meaning from one of the nominee’s tonight, the sagging career of Mickey Rourke seems to have gotten a face lift.
Being nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Best Male Actor in a Leading Role as Randy in The Wrestler, Rourke may yet again, walk away with another little bobble to put on his fire place.
I say rock on Rourke, it’s good to see someone pick themselves up by the bootstraps and get back in the game, no matter the rumors that have flown around for years. The daunting pictures of a not so well preserved Rourke.
It was obvious at the Golden Globes he was stunned to have won, I thought he was quite gracious, stating he was not a good speaker in public, acknowledging the Director that had to fight for him to be in this role, since his name was not worth anything.
Bad Boys & Underdogs, I guess I am a sucker for both, bruised, beaten and almost a has been in the film industry – let’s hope Rourke knocks ‘em out again. He may not be pretty, but he’s still got it!
Return to Innocence
By · CommentsEnigma said it best in their song called Return to Innocence
Don’t be afraid to be weak
Don’t be too proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself
We have in the news, Rod Blagojevich – we all know why. Britney Spears for a song with “nasty” connotations as well as Plastic Surgery for the Dead?
Perhaps I just don’t get it…. any of it….Blagojevich needs to trade his jogging suit for some big boy pants and let the state start a recovery effort.
Driving the tollways, his name is plastered all over the I-Pass lanes, if, he is guilty – I do not claim to be a “politician” or a “political junkie” so, I won’t weigh in on that one, but if he is guilty, how much money will be spent alone on removing his name from these signs?
The manpower, hours & money to do it?
Honoring people when they are gone is one thing, a dedicated highway for someone who has made a difference, or a street named after a famous ball player. I get that..but I do know where we have gotten so much helium to inflate the ego’s that exist in our society.
Returning to innocence – when will reporters report on those that make a difference other than those that are bringing down the moral fiber of the human race?
Plastic surgery for the dead? Do you think that King Arthur needed plastic surgery before they sent him afloat on his funeral pyre? Do we really need to have a revival of Britney Spears and her Memoirs? She was born in ’81, does she really have memories worth sharing after the age of 17?
What about those that have truly suffered tragedy? Just look into your heart my friend, that will be the return to yourself.
Take a day, turn off the tube, relinquish the remote control and find a story in your own life that will be good for someone unsuspecting. Return to Innocence, where you did things because they were fun, you learned, you made people laugh…..
Prompting this post was an inquiry that I had about a sketch, the subject of this inquiry is a driving force behind my passion for drawing, I was asked a price…I am finding it impossible in my heart to put a price on it…..most likely, I will be giving it away!






