Benazir Bhutto, first female Prime Minister in a Muslim Country (Pakistan, 1988) in modern times
This woman gave her life to try and bring fairness ("democracy" is such a charged and mis-used word, anymore) to Pakistan. She will be missed, and she should always be remembered.
(Reuters TV/Reuters)
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto waves as she leaves a rally in the city of Rawalpindi in this TV grab December 27, 2007, shortly before she was killed in a gun and bomb attack.
Read more!
It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, 'Hey, mamacita, let's do Weeweechu.'
Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!' said Rosita.
Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time,' Pedro begged.
'But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon.' replied Rosita.
Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me.'
Rosita looked at Pedro and said, 'OK, one time, we'll do Weeweechu.'
Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....
'Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.'
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Dave says Merry Christmas, too. He's a very jolly fellow. 
Read more!
Because when I try to function in the real world, I find out things like my goddamn exercise bike, which only had a few miles on it when the flood hit in August (assuming a stationary bike can accumulate miles) only looked like it still worked at the time. Turns out the electronics up top are ship-shape, but the mechanics behind the resistance are shot.
But they can fix it! If you count the house calls, new parts and labor, it should come in around $1500. Of course, the bike when new cost about $599. Sure, I got a warrantee, but it only covers the damage if I prove that Second Wind Exercise was somehow responsible for the flooding of Columbus.
Given the facts, arriving at a response to their quote was really quite simple.
Read more!
You won't believe it, but I got a few of my new friends to make a
video card with me. L to R it's Chris Cornell, Myles Kennedy, Dave Grohl, and me.
Hope you have as much fun watching it as we did making it!
Nancy's Christmas Card
If you let the window sit there for a second when it's over, Dave adds a nice twist to it. I had to pay him extra for that--but it was worth it.
Read more!
Brian, Myles & Mark of Alter Bridge, 12/07/07
I think I have found the way to regain my sense of humor and adventure after sitting for far too many hours in front of a computer writing emotionally draining stories.
Go out and meet more rock musicians.
Last night my sister and I went to our third Alter Bridge and Another Animal concert in three weeks, and it topped them all. Robbie Merrill (Godsmack/Another Animal bassist) was fantastic, chatting with us before the show, giving nods and smiles to us in the front row throughout the set, and then after the show (when I accused him of stalking us since he kept running into us) walking us backstage to meet Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti. It was above and beyond his call of duty, and we were MOST grateful. My sister and I have been trying to meet Myles for years.
Roadie "Meatball" plays air guitar with our main man, Robbie
They say Dave Grohl is the nicest man in rock--and I'm not one to argue with that--but all these guys are amazingly friendly and genuine. Myles was absolutely captivating to talk to--hard not to freeze up while staring at those incredible blue eyes and that unbelievable smile--and not once made us feel like we were keeping him from anything more important. He was shaking hands and movin' in nice and close for pictures--fucking incredible. Just a super nice guy that is indescribably easy on the eyes. Not to mention a smokin' set of pipes. What a voice! His set was amazing, and he sang, played guitar and danced like a man intent on seducing the entire audience. He succeeded.
Before Robbie took us backstage we caught Whit Crane (Lead Singer of Another Animal, formerly of Ugly Kid Joe) outside and he stopped for a picture and a sig. When I told him I loved his voice he got all shy and said, "You're nice." (Well, it's no invitation to the bus, but it's better than nothing.)
Whit and me (It's cold!!!)
He has limitless energy on stage and is a blast to watch. The show got even more electric when a large bat started flying around the stage. Between songs he named it Ozzie. Watching Whit duck repeatedly and Shannon wave his sticks at the bat as it dive-bombed them was extremely amusing.
Lee, Robbie, Whit and Shannon
And kudos to my sister. Sarah may be smaller than me, but she has a great set of lungs because she got Whit's attention on-stage and asked him for a drumstick for me, which he promptly delivered from Shannon. (Did I mention he's the kickass drummer for Godsmack?!) I'm telling you, NOTHING beats getting there early and being front row center.
Nothing, that is, except meeting them face to face after the show. I think Sarah will back me up on this.
Sarah's smile threatens to engulf the Universe as Myles reaches out to give her a hug for the camera.
Sarah then slips into shock as Myles begins to doubt my photographic abilities.
After some polite talk, I asked for a little piece of Myles for myself. (And no, I'm not telling you which piece I asked for.)
From the pictures, you can see that I STILL can't stop talking while having my picture taken with a gorgeous and talented musician. Must learn to relax and just smile!
Myles smiles as I stammer and drool
For more pictures from the show, click "Read More." And I promise I won't flip you off this time.
See? Only nice pictures!
Me, Sarah and Shannon's drum stick
Robbie and Whit
Whit watches his roadies sing the chorus to Jimi Hendrix's "Fire" 
Myles melts hearts
Myles smiles
Is it hot in here or is it just Myles? 
Sarah with Mark from Alter Bridge
Read more!
[Cornell teaching his daughter, Toni, to ski.]
And now it's time to pay the piper. It was pretty easy to sell my 300HP snowblower back in September. It was still pretty warm, then, and I was staring at a concert ticket to see Chris Cornell in Seattle. I just needed to justify the plane ticket.
So I sold the snowblower. Then I consoled myself with the thought that every time I shoveled, I would think of Chris. Today I got to put that theory to test. Turns out, they aren't such pleasant thoughts on this end of the shovel.
Ironically, Chris is headed to South America for a few gigs now, and he won't have to do any shoveling for some time to come--assuming he ever does. When you live in a penthouse in Paris, you probably don't do much shoveling. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It is enough that he shares the gift of his amazing voice with us all.
You know, that would sound a lot less like bullshit if I didn't have another hour of this shoveling to do. (I'm on a break after 90 minutes of the same, trying to dry off and get my heart rate back under 160 bpm.)
On a good note, I won a ticket to use for my next big concert to see Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters. That's a good thing, since I was starting to look at my air conditioners and wonder what they might be worth on Craigslist.
You never learn.
Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the Foos, expresses his opinion on shoveling.
Read more!
