gritty musings...Bright Shiny Pennies

Look, I promise that the very next blog will be about something other than my damned recuperation. This is a bit morbid and frankly not so bright or bloody shiny. That being said I would be a callous dickhead if I didn't point out the people in my life that worked tirelessly while I was dreaming of hunting lodges and bright blue bathtubs. If you haven't had the misfortune to experience propafol, it is unlike any drug that this old hippie ever inhaled, ate or swallowed. The hallucinations experienced were honestly, the only things I remembered from my time completely unconscious. This leaves a whole lotta life happening around the sedated and unconscious me. Some really important decisions had to be made to keep me "from pining the fiords" as it were. Those decisions were made by the two heroes of my life story. The beautiful girl. My rock, my best friend and my protector and my cousin, known only as "Doc". She stood next to Cindy explainin

We start this tale with the loss of the sole inspiration for the last blog. Laughter and distain for all things political, all things restaurant related and even old age and driving, shared with my best friend. Ted up and dies and with him goes the course for this last blog. "Bright shiny pennies"...how can I describe this next chapter in my sexagenarian life. The intention is to challenge myself to provide, positive, life affirming observations. I really don't know if that's possible and frankly the name might change to "dark, slimy underbelly" quite quickly. Those that know me know that this year has not been a great year for me. I was sick at Christmas and that malaise hung around well into the new year and resulted in a seemingly endless barrage of tests, that found nothing. By late March I had lost 50 pounds( a diet I do not fully endorse) and checked myself into the hospital on April 10th...I awoke on May 2nd. What transpired

Today is your memorial service.  Today your friends gather at historic Gracie's to tell tales, laugh and drink to your memory.  I worked for Gracie, thanks to you, sneaky Pete and Steve.  Its fitting, a legendary spot, to pay tribute to the man that inspired me and unknown others to go chase our dreams.  I loved when we cooked together and I found my passion, standing next to you.  You shared your love and unfathomably incredible knowledge of music with me.  I found Jason Ricci, Eric Lindell, Los Lobos and David Migden in our "MO, wait till you hear this moments".  I endured your love of all things Zappa and I survived Zappa torture.  To those unfamiliar with this, it involved the can, copious amounts of inhaleables and song after song of your archives. Songs stopped only by you, translating the nuances that a rookie like me, most certainly missed.  The only rescue was SuSu and her, "honey enough! his eyes are glazed over and he has to drive up the hill". We s