So it goes...

A couple nights ago I attended another book launch. I've been doing my share of this these past few years, as it seems many of my writing friends have reached the point of completion for their novels, memoirs and poetry books. I can confess that writing a good book takes years, especially if you're trying to hold down a full time job to boot. The whole "write a novel in a month" thing, well, it doesn't quite happen that way, I'm afraid. Anyways, Friday night was the launch of an adventure memoir titled,  Paddle For A Purpose , by Barbara Geiger.  It was an especially cool event for a number of reasons. When Dirty Shirt was released, I did a reading from it at a local event here called Friday Night Free For All. After my reading, Barb approached me and mentioned how she'd enjoyed the book, but also mentioned that she was working on her own outdoor paddling memoir. She went on to say it was about a trip down the Mississippi River with her husband in a h...

Thursday mornings have become my favorite morning of the week. Much like Saturday mornings with my wife, Thursdays start with coffee and conversation at a local coffee shop. Unlike Saturdays these are spent at Cafe De Arts in downtown Waukesha, home of the best cup of coffee in Waukesha, in my opinion. The owner Ayhun is a wonderful proprietor and always has my coffee ready by the time I get to the register. "I saw you coming," he says. He is also the one who offered his place for my book signing on June 21st, completely catching me off guard. I like to support businesses like his because he really cares about his customers and has a heart for his community as shown through his suspended coffees program. (A sort of pay it forward coffee program for the homeless.) Anyways, I meet between three and four other men there on Thursday mornings before work every week. Occupationally, we are a diverse lot. There's a metal worker, an engineer who works for GE, a youth pastor...

is not the money you make - Doesn't buy love or the person you're holding a grudge against, - Resolve it! or the car you drive (or long to drive) - Your kids will drive it when it's crushed and recycled or the house you live in - Soon to be occupied by someone else or the clothes you wear - They'll look good on that third world person soon enough or the job you have - Someone's waiting in the wings for it anyway or what party you belong to - For every Democrat there's a negating Republican and vice verse. or the iPhone you have or want - Seriously? Please. or any other hand-held or electronic gadget - A new version that will make yours obsolete WHAT DOES MATTER IS: Faith, Family, and Friends in that order. Relish each day. Life is a vapor. Live, Love, Dance, Laugh. Blogging off...