Lyrics to one of my songs. [VERSE 1] They say our kids are priority number one, That's what the politicians claim under the sun, But when it’s time for budget cuts, look away, Education funds vanish, just like the day. They strip funds from programs, the hungry stay sore, While we cry for more teachers, they slam the door. [Chorus] Oh, they claim to care, but the truth’s on the run, With each broken promise, we see what they've done. Our children are lost in the budget debate, They’re taking their futures, isn't that fate? [Verse 2] My daughter pours her heart into what she can earn, A fifth of her paycheck, for blessings to churn, They said the lottery funds were meant for the schools, Well, we’ve learned a lesson, and they’re playing us fools. [Refrain] They lied to us, just like they have before, Said our children are number one, but it’s just a chore. [Bridge] All their clever rhetoric, strategies they use, It doesn’t change the fact, it’s our kids who lose, Thinking they’re being clever with every move, But let me tell you, there’s nothing clever, nothing to prove. [Verse 3] Bureaucratic child abuse, wrapped in red tape, Promises broken, yet they escape, They parade their concern, but behind closed doors, It’s the future of our kids that their greed ignores. [Chorus] Oh, they claim to care, but the truth’s on the run, With each broken promise, we see what they've done. Our children are lost in the budget debate, They’re taking their futures, isn’t that fate? [Verse 4] The boardroom discussions, while the classrooms fall, They spin their tales, but their claims stand tall, Money flowing through political ties, But when it comes to our kids, it's just a disguise. [Refrain] They lied to us, just like they have before, Said our children are number one, but it’s just a chore. [Outro] So let’s rise up, let our voices be heard, For those who are silenced, we’ll be their word, For our kids’ futures, we’ll fight until dawn,

That phrase, "Time flies" is so true. Some days, or weeks, it just flies right past you. That's how the last week or so has been for me. So much going on and to do that it has been difficult to just stop for a moment and write down a thought or two. There is a great quote from Jim Rohn that says; "Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waist it, kill it and spend itr rather than invest it." You know, I've spent a great deal of the years I have lived doing just that. I'm sure I am not alone on that statement. Recently I decided to invest it rather than any of those others. So, I have been busy doing things that are helping me do just that. I'm putting the hours in to make more and better music than I have before. I'm concentrating on the dreams and aspirations that can make a better and more profitable future for my wife and myself. I'm moving forward toward my life-long dreams. In that regard, I just finished a 16 hour (eight hours per day) seminar this weekend with one of the top, if not THE Top mangement agency in the entertaiment industry on how to go from Dreaming to actually Doing the business of being an actor. That's just one of the multitued of activities I have been doing the past week or two. I may, technically be retired in the government's eyes, but I am far from being done!!! Hear me now...One day you will be watching a TV show or movie and say to whomever is with you; "Ya know, I can't recall that actor's name, but I always love his work!" That'll work for me. And by the way, if you remember my name, that's cool too.

(a special excerpt from the Challenge to Succeed Seminar with Jim Rohn) "Motivation is a mystery. Why does one salesperson see his first prospect at seven in the morning and another salesperson is just getting out of bed at eleven? I don't know. it's part of the mysteries of life. Give a lecture to a thousand people. One walks out and says, "I'm going to change my life." Another walks out with a yawn and says, "I've heard all this before." Why is that? Why wouldn't both be affected in the same way? Another mystery. The millionaire says to a thousand people, "I read this book, and it started me on the road to wealth." Guess how many go out and get the book? Very few. Isn't that incredible? Why wouldn't everyone get the book? A mystery of life. My suggestion would be to walk away from the 90 percent and join the 10 percent who do."

I have been absent from here for several days. I won't be prideful enough to imagine that many of you even noticed. The reason is a time for sadness. It seems that in all of our lives, if we are caring and reasonable people, there are times that some of the sad and heartbreaking moments in our lives come flooding over us and we have to take a moment. Well, my moment lasted several days this time. Not looking for pitty here or anything like that. Just letting you know. We have a friend who lost her spouse many years ago, and who seems to be sad most of the time. I'm not saying she shouldn't be sad. I guess I'm just wondering if we should allow the sadness to go on forever. The music group, The Yardbirds recorded a song back in the 60's called: Turn, Turn, Turn. The premise was that for everything there is a time and a season. Seasons don't last forever, they have a specific period of time and then there is the next season. There definitly should be a season for sadness when we are faced with great loss in our lives. But i'm not sure it should be forever. My recent bout with sadness came on me when I was looking at photos posted on Facebook of the WC Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival in Henderson, Kentucy recently. My older brother, Larry was one of the original folks who helped put that festival together years ago. This past February marked the 13th anniversary of my brother's passing and the festival pictures, while giving me a feeling of joy for what Larry loved and helped create, also made me sad for my loss. The loss of a sibling, spouse, parent, child or a dear friend can cause a sadness that seems to go on forever. After several of these losses in my own life through the years, I am starting to learn to do what people have said so many times, to remember all the good moments. I suppose that is supposed to cover up or take away the sadness. Not fully, but sometimes, it helps a little. I guess what I'm trying to say is that sadness should not take over our lives, and we should and can move on with with all the good there is in today and every day ahead of us. There is a time and season for sadness and also for happiness and joy. From now on, I'm choosing to hold the seasons of sadness to a shorter time and let the happiness and joy seasons go on forever.

"For more than 45 years, Jim Rohn focused on the fundamentals of human behavior that most affect personal and business performance." A statement taken from the introduction of one of the books of inspirational quotes by Mr. Rohn. Under the catagory of Personal Development, this is one of my favorits. "The most important question to ask on the job is not "What am I getting?" The most important question to ask is "What am I becoming?" I feel like that is a most valuable question to ask oneself weather at a job or not. What am I becoming? For that matter, what are you becoming? We should all ask ourselves that question from time to time and dig deep to ascertain that answer. Am I becoming a better friend, a better husband, a better son/daughter, and so on. Am I becoming more tolerant? Am I becoming more understanding? In general, am I becoming the kind of person that other folks want to be around? The kind they feel they can turn to for wisdom or a shoulder to cry on. I guess I feel like, if not for our own sake, but for the sake of all those with whom we come in contact, each of us should strive each day at "BECOMING" a better version of who we are today. My hope for each of you is that you are becoming the very best you can be.