R.I.T.: "Gotta Let Go"

The latest random iTunes track is the 1984 #94 U.K. hit single, "Gotta Let Go," by Lita Ford. This final single from her sophomore album, Dancin' On The Edge was her first charting solo single. Her next single... the #12 hit "Kiss Me Deadly." So you can say that this paved the way.

R.I.T.: "Ray Of Shine"

With iTunes set to random, we return to my favorite band... the Jean-Paul Sartre Experience and their 1993 single, "Ray Of Shine." It's the third single from their final album together and I just adore the "How Soon Is Now?" pulse of the guitar on this track.

R.I.T.: "Love Is Alright Tonight"

As part of my random songs that play on iTunes... Rick Springfield. His 1981 single, "Love Is Alright Tonight," was a #20 hit in the U.S. and #26 in Canada. Still sounds great live.

R.I.T.: "Fairytale"

Decided that I'm going to post random videos here and there that pop up when I shuffle songs on the iPod. This video for Alexander Rybak's "Fairytale" is a fun one to watch with the kids. The performance is from the 2009 Eurovision contest which he won for Norway with this song. Now if only I can get my niece and nephew to play it on their violins. Oh, I know. You are probably thinking this is some obscure song but it was a #1 hit in Norway, Russia, Finland, Greece, Sweden and Denmark (as well as Top 10 placings in several other countries.)

iTunes Has Failed Me, You And 34 Recording Artists

The picture you are looking at is real.  Just saw it a few minutes ago.  Sounds like a great deal, huh?  You can see a listing for it here at the iTunes page.  But the whole concept of a collection of '80s One-Hit Wonders starts to unravel quickly.  I've written about it, talked about it ad-nauseum on the show and, for some reason, someone missed the lesson.  So, I'm going to take a deep breath and calmly explain for those uninitiated.

I've always loathed the term "one-hit wonder."  Let's break the phrase down to its components, shall we?

• 'One' -- meaning less than two and more than none.  It's specific.

• 'Hit' -- meaning to impact.  Which is so much less specific (I actually dedicate a section of the upcoming book to this as well.)  In music, it often refers to charts but this is also ambiguous as there are local, national and international charts for a multitude of genres for radio airplay and sales.

• 'Wonder' -- meaning to be curious about, to marvel or to be filled with amazement, admiration or awe. 

So, what does that leave us with?  To 'be curious or filled with awe at a recording artist's only (one) charting song.'  One could try to derive that it is being amazed at one artist having a hit but... that would be most musicians.  We'll dismiss that idea entirely.  Yet, there are many examples of true 'one-hit wonders' that fit that previous description.  I don't plan on listing them here.

What I will do, is bring you back to that link I started with above.  '80s One-Hit Wonders, a collection of 35 songs for sale at iTunes for 69 cents each.  I'm not upset about selling songs cheaply.  But I am upset about cheapening songs or the artists themselves.

We'll narrow our scope a bit.  To start off with the first track, we could excuse the listing of Nena's "99 Luftballons" if we were to say our criteria were based solely on the U.S. charts (but it is notable that she had this #1 and two #2 singles in Germany off her debut album.)

Track two is Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning."  Using Billboard's U.S. charts, the band scored 3 hits from that album on the U.S. Hot 100, U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks and U.S. Modern Rock Tracks charts.  Let's give iTunes a break here.  Let's just count the most accepted and universal of the charts, the U.S. Hot 100.  "Beds Are Burning" was a #17 hit.  The preceding single, "The Dead Heart," went to #53.  Just boggles the mind doesn't it.  They even scored a #47 hit on that chart in 1990 with "Blue Sky Mine."  But, the collection is about the 1980s, so we can exclude that one.  We may even have to give another break to the compiler as maybe they are only considering the Top 40.  Heck, that's what Casey Kasem used to count down, right?

Track three is Warrant's "Cherry Pie."  Which was a #10 hit... in 1990.  Ooops!  A bigger 'ooops' is that it wasn't even their biggest hit.  In 1989, "Heaven" would go to #2 on the U.S. Hot 100.  And, if the criteria is Top 40, then Warrant's 1989 #27 hit, "Down Boys," would disqualify them from 'one-hit wonderdom' for that decade.  Yet, they didn't even include a song from the '80s.  Sad.  But, again, let's adjust the criteria in hopes to help iTunes out.  Maybe, they think the decade started with 1981 and went to 1990.  Let's humor them.

Track four is Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" which was a #9 hit on the U.S. Hot 100 in 1983.  Doing pretty good so far.  Until their 1986 #1 single, "Venus," rears its ugly head.  (Nothing can feel more contrarian than putting Venus and ugly in the same sentence.  "Goddess of beauty and love...")  Heck, even 1987's "I Heard A Rumour" went higher at #4.  I don't know how much more I can stretch the boundaries of '80s 'one-hit wonder', do you?

Track five is Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died In Your Arms."  The 1986 #1 hit seems like a safe bet.  But, if we are thinking Top 40, it fails.  That doesn't hold up even if we said Top 10 as their 1987 single, "I've Been In Love Before," went to #9.

Track six was a #1 hit and safe choice with Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy."  The follow-up single, "Thinking About Your Body," only went to #46 in the U.K.

Track seven is The Human League's "Don't You Want Me."  The 1981 #1 hit seems like a safe choice, right?  If we are looking only at Top 10, (even though the aforementioned "Beds Are Burning" didn't achieve that height) it seems to overlook the group's 1986 #1 hit, "Human," and 1983's #8 hit "(Keep Feeling) Fascination."  'One-hit wonder', just say it with me for a moment.  The whole concept fell apart awhile ago here but I think we can sink the idea around song 7.  But let's belabor the point a little longer.

Further tracks on the album include:

• Men At Work's "Down Under" (a #1 hit that followed up another #1 hit, "Who Can It Be Now?, and also saw them score a #3 with "Overkill" and #6 with "It's A Mistake"... kinda like this list)
• Paul Young's "Everytime You Go Away (Single Version)" (a #1 hit but had other hits going to #8, #13, #22 and #45)
• Irene Cara's "Fame" (a #4 hit but had a #1 hit with "Flashdance...What A Feeling" in 1983, a #8 with "Breakdance" the following year and 3 other Top 40 hits)
• Tom Tom Club's "Genius Of Love" (a #31 hit and only one on that chart but have 3 other Top 5 hits on the U.S. Dance chart)
• Ray Parker, Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" (a #1 hit but he also had two #4 hits with 1981's "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" and 1982's "The Other Woman" as well as 6 other Top 40 hits)
• Fine Young Cannibals' "Good Thing" (a #1 hit but, then again, so was "She Drives Me Crazy")
• Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now" (a #3 hit but also had a #6 with "Lay Your Hands On Me" and #8 with "King For A Day" as well as 4 other Top 40 hits)
• A Flock Of Seagulls' "I Ran (So Far Away)" (a #9 hit but also had singles go to #26, #30 and #56)
• Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy" (a #62 hit but had a #77 in '83 with "Do You Wanna Hold Me?")
• DJ EZ Rock & Rob Base's "It Takes Two" (a #36 hit but 1988's "Joy And Pain" went to #58)
• Club Nouveau's "Lean On Me" (a #1 hit but had a #39 with "Why You Treat Me So Bad" in '87)
• The Dream Academy's "Life In A Northern Town" (a #7 hit but had a #36 with "The Love Parade"
• The Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way" (a #44 hit but 1986's "Pretty In Pink" went to #41 and 1987's "Heartbreak Beat" outcharted them both going to #26)
• Toni Basil's "Mickey" (a #1 hit but she also had a #77 with "Shoppin' From A To Z")
• Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Arguing the merits of Rick Astley is painful.  Sure, this is a #1 hit but, Hello!, so was 1988's "Together Forever" and he had 3 other Top 10 hits)
• UB40's "Red, Red Wine" (a #1 hit but also had a #28 single with "I Got You Babe" featuring Chrissie Hynde in 1985)
• Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science" (a #5 hit but had a #62 and #67 hit)
• The Tubes' "She's A Beauty" (a #10 hit but also had a #35 with "Don't Want To Wait Anymore" in 1981)
• Corey Hart's "Sunglasses At Night" (a #7 hit but 1985's "Never Surrender" went to #3)
• J.J. Fad's "Supersonic" (a #30 hit but they also had a #61 hit with "Way Out" in 1988)
• Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" (a #1 but also had a #23 with "No More Words")
• Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" (a #1 but also had a #34 with "Holding Out For A Hero"
• Martika's "Toy Soldiers" (a #1 but she also had a #18 with "More Than You Know" in '88)
• Bananarama's "Venus" (hello again ladies... hmmm... funny how they can list a 'one-hit wonder' twice!!!)
• Toad The Wet Sprocket's "Walk On The Ocean" (1992 #18 hit... ooops)
• Katrina And The Waves' "Walking On Sunshine" (a #9 but had a #16 with '89's "That's The Way")
• The Romantics' "What I Like About You" (a #49 hit chosen over the #3 hit "Talking In Your Sleep)
• Loverboy's "Working For The Weekend" (hmmm... so the other 5 songs that charted higher than this #29 hit didn't count).

Ok, the fact that I went through all 35 tracks on this collection could be overkill but I wanted you to see how insane even trying to call some of these songs 'one-hit wonders' would be.  I'd love to say that if they called them '80s U.S. Top 10 One-Hit Wonders that it would be alright but no matter what criteria you use, this list is a fails on too many levels.  Maybe calling some acts 'one-hit makers' sounded too dull, drab and discardable that they needed to spruce it up a bit.  Then it became hard to fill the category.  It has often been said that 'history is written by the winners' but I would go so far as to say that history is written by the people that write history.  If you pigeon-hole an artist as a 'one-hit wonder', people start focusing on only that hit.  Time will do the rest.  It's sad and disturbing.  And now you know why I avoid the term entirely.

Happy 30th, MTV!!!

So, with that announcement out of the way last week, I can talk about how numerology plays a part in things.  MTV was launched 30 years ago today.  Last week, I turned 40.  Meaning, I was 10 years old when Music Television came into being.  Yes, I spent over a decade celebrating, researching and sharing news and information about that decade.  It only makes sense that I would have to finish work on the book about the decade before the end of the year... I mean, just look at all those 'zeroes'.  They speak volumes to me.  I digress.  This was supposed to focus on a birthday.  So I'll share my experience with the channel. 

I discovered MTV late.  Well, not really late.  I really was 'raised on radio'.  Yet, I was spending the night at a friend's house (I think his name was Matt W. but I won't condemn him) when I first glimpsed a music video.  I was in awe!  I begged my parents to get cable.  That didn't work.  They were late adopters.  I mean, we didn't get our Atari until Ms. Pac-man came with it.  Anyhow, I'd have to steal moments at other people's houses until we finally got Music Television.

I've told listeners before that I was an avid Casey Kasem listener.  There is something about countdowns related to charts and the battle for the top spot that thrilled me.  Ok, it was mainly the trivia that came along before Casey would play the song.  So, watching MTV's weekly countdowns became just as important later on.  But, none more than what happened on July 13, 1985.

Summer vacation was in full swing.  We were on our way up to Idaho to spend time with my grandparents and aunt.  Actually, it wasn't so bad there in their little town as they had this funky dish pointing at the sky with hundreds of channels... including MTV.  (Where I first caught the premiere of Falco's "Jeanny" video.)  Anyhow, here we are on this trip.  For some reason, my family decided to stay a day or so in the itty-bitty town we kept blowing through on every trip to Idaho.  But, I'm content... they have MTV in the hotel.  My brothers and sister were down playing in the pool and I was glued to the television screen watching something called Live Aid.  I don't know how I got away with watching that much uninterrupted TV but seeing some of my 'radio' heroes on stage trying to make a difference meant something... means something to this day.

I was born to be on their music video-related game show, Remote Control.  Never got the chance.  I also waited anxiously for MTV Music News with Kurt Loder.  The man knew his stuff.  Heck, that could be a reason for me taking music journalism seriously.  Hmmm...

There was also something called 120 Minutes that seared a place in my skull.  Alternative music was defined differently back then.  You see, 'alternative' was what wasn't being played on the radio -- making it the alternative to what was out there.  Many genres filled this area (of which some became favorites of mine) but it could all be lumped into the college rock banner as well.  Heck, where else would bands like Public Enemy, Morrissey, Mudhoney, Public Image Ltd., the Ramones, 3rd Base, They Might Be Giants, the Replacements or many others be seen?  It was 120 Minutes that gave me variety and view of what was beyond 'pop.'

I dedicate part of a chapter of the upcoming book to MTV for taking a bunch of musicians and making them bigger than a radio wave.  Breaking artists that wouldn't normally get heard, breaking some that probably shouldn't have been heard or prolonging careers that maybe shouldn't have been -- the network did more to change the trajectory of music than any force during the decade.  It may have also been it's worst enemy.  Many imitators arose (many a local UHF station was launched under the guise of a 'free' music video channel, weekend video shows like Friday Night Videos and Night Flight, Canada's MuchMusic and scores of others) and eventually they changed what the M in MTV stood for.  But, what a run it was.  A history worthy of singing a little "Video Killed The Radio Star" or "Money For Nothing" to celebrate a 30th birthday for it, isn't it?

Decades

I guess it can be viewed as odd when one categorizes things in decades.  Of course, this is coming from someone who spent more than one decade focused on a particular one.  So, I guess it makes it more notable when I experience my own new decade.  Today is the big 40.

I can sit here and babble about all that I've learned and all that I've accomplished and how, looking back, I feel fulfilled.  That isn't happening.  I can say that I am inspired each and every day to do more, accomplish more and fill every bit of my life (and the lives around me) with as many great experiences as possible.  My circle of family and friends branches and becomes bigger every year and makes me that much more in awe of what I have.

Anyhow, that off my chest, I promised listeners of the show and readers of the blog/newsletter that I'd make an announcement on July 26th.  There was a reason.  What better way to announce my celebrating a decade in writing than when I become 4 decades old.  Heck, this is also the third decade anniversary of MTV's debut.  But, yes, I've been doing a lot of writing and hope to finish the book by the end of the year.  As soon as work on that finishes, we may be launching a new video series.  But, let's tackle these things one at a time.

Attending A Peepshow

Went out with the Hennessy boys (Dad and brothers) last night.  Had a great dinner at Strip House before going to see something called the Peepshow.  Tremendous show but I figured that, if anything, people walk in with no real idea what to expect other than Holly Madison.  So, why not take a moment and share it with you.

The show is a mix of burlesque, musical and Cirque Du Soleil.  Take a young overworked woman that comes home to her dog after a long day.  Bring her into the world of nursery rhymes in a mix of escapism but also trying to find herself.  Great music, a beautiful cast, sensual moments with many laughs, Peepshow is not what you think from the title.  (Instead think Little Bo Peep mixed with ummm... a peepshow.)  One of the major parts that you walk away astounded by is a spoiler that I can't reveal but you have to see to believe.

Overall, Peepshow is better than I expected.  Visually entertaining and something for everyone.  Ok, not everyone.  Actually, I was amazed at how many young women were dressed to the nines there attending (as if it was a girls night out.)  There is a lot of toplessness and sexual connotations made but if you have no problem with that (and are old enough) go check it out.

She Blossoms

Growth takes a lot.  Let's take a moment and think that somewhere a seed sinks deep enough into the soil to take root.  Of course, that wouldn't happen without enough water, sunlight, nitrogen, carbon dioxide... well, I think you get the point.

Next month will be a sort of anniversary for my wife.  She took a bad situation and planted a seed.  That seed was an education in the field of medical coding.  She fed that seed a lot of her time, energy and passion.  That nurturing allowed it to sprout recently in the form of a certification by completing her coursework with flying colors.  That sprout has matured over the last few months and today... it bears fruit.

Kerry isn't the type to pat herself on the back, shout out her accomplishments to the world or bring them up unless pressed.  That's her husband's job.  Speaking of jobs, that's what she starts today.  Of course, you really never know what you are going to accomplish until you put your feet in the right direction and start pushing forward.  You will never know how proud I am of her.  (That Bee Gees' song "More Than A Woman" is hard to get out of my head right now.)  She's a true fighter and is more than deserving of my awe.

Anyhow, a few hours from now, I'm going to make her a nice breakfast as she prepares for her first day at work.  As anyone would be, she is a little nervous.  Here's hoping that with a few nutrients and the sunshine on her (as it always is) she will have an amazing day and continue to blossom.

Independence Day 2011

I don't expect anyone to celebrate this holiday in Canada, Mexico or the U.K. -- especially there as it would be like celebrating the ex-fiance's wedding anniversary.  But, many people forget that July 4th is Independence Day (after the date written on our Declaration of Independence.)  Heck, most think of it a celebration of BBQ, fireworks and cold beverages.

It was on the 50th anniversary of that aforementioned document that the only two signers to become president (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson) passed away.  President James Monroe also died on a 4th of July.  Not to leave things on a downer, President Calvin Coolidge was born on the holiday (as it was made a federal unpaid holiday 2 years before his birth.)  All in all, I'm just thankful to have this moment to reflect on a small country's determination to become "free and independent states."

Happy Independence Day, folks!

Deep Dental Disturbances

Went to the dentist yesterday.  Sometimes things just go through your head while sitting in the chair waiting for their exploration.  I was hungry.  I got up late, brushed my teeth and casually considered having something to eat on the way there.  So, I had to ask the dentist:

"What percentage of your patients didn't brush after eating prior to their appointment?"

I mean, it was on my mind.  You don't really have to speak out what is in your head but for some reason, I had to.  She didn't take long to think about it and said 65%.  Which is a bigger number than I thought.  She then said, "The early appointments have less as most brush right after breakfast.  After lunchtime is another story."

My lesson for the day was that most people figure that a dentist is already going in looking for decay... might as well surprise them with something freshly chewed.

Yes - Fly From Here

Yes have returned with their first new studio album in a decade, Fly From Here.  The release also marks the debut of new vocalist Benoit David as well as the return of former keyboardist Geoff Downes and producer Trevor Horn.  Yes' sound is unmistakable and trace it back to vocal harmonies, arrangements, instrumentation or what many just call mysticism.  Many of their albums can be seen as growing things... let's go with the multiple limbs trees with a solid base.

Fly From Here is no different.  It is also the title of the 6-part trunk supporting a stand-out track like "We Can Fly" which branches off and reaches onward and upward for a bit more sun.  A direct extension of that melodic limb is the breathtaking "Sad Night At The Airfield."  I get chills from that one.  "Bumpy Ride" is frenzied and exactly as advertised -- taxiing you back to the "We Can Fly (Reprise)."  "The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be" is a solid song that someone could build a treehouse on.  "Hour Of Need" just fills the room and is quite a distinct path from the other tracks.  You could even call it a meandering branch.  "Solitaire" is a stunning little instrumental leading to the full-throttle "Into The Storm."

You may notice that I didn't cite specific stand-out performances by the band members.  I have to say that I just can't here.  This is such a cohesive Yes release with each piece so vital that I wouldn't want to pull anything apart and hear it as less than the whole.  No parachute nor Dramamine needed for this flight.  Fly From Here is a steady ride that soars!

4 out of 5

The Future Will Be Visualized

I have to say that the time I've had since ending Talking 80s Music has really given me a chance to step back and look at things.  The OCD spiral of news writing and hosting the show had to come to an end.  It was either going to be clean or messy.  One of the things that I've concluded is that my future with podcasts may be minimal.

I remember sitting in a conference room listening to a great keynote speech by Gary Vaynerchuk a few years back.  Of the many nuggets I got from him was in the form of a question, "Why aren't you doing video?"  If you are honest, personable and have a working knowledge of your subject, people would like to see you.  That thought sat in the back of my mind for years.

Recently, I started thinking about the future of 'the show' and know that it will never be back in that same form.  It was an amazing time and an unforgettable journey.  Yet, if CNN or USAToday ran a poll asking people what a 'podcast' was... it'd stump 80% of the readers.  Of the 20%, not all of them are regular listeners and many focus on niche markets.  Even as I type this, the word 'podcast' is showing up in my spellcheck as an error.  Heck, the word has been around for 7 years... get with it people.

So, I ask myself, why try to push into an area that is self-limiting.  Sure, changing the terminology from podcast to talkcast or blogcast can affect the numbers but we are innately visual beings.  During the last few months, I've been tinkering with video projects and in the future... it very well could be the path for a new show.  I can see it clearly but I have another goal in sight and I expect to talk about it next month.  Back to work for me.

American Pride

I mentioned several video projects in the works before.  You are going to have to get used to seeing them pop up here and there.  This Memorial Day, my assistant videographer woke up early with me to catch the sun rising over Veteran's Memorial Cemetery.  It was all part of the plan for creating a video for a terrific song called "American Pride" co-written by my friend Geno.  So, despite a few technical issues (that I see more than some others,) it went pretty well.  Hope you enjoy.

Night Ranger - Somewhere In California

Energy.  It's something we all seek in one form or another.  Sometimes it's from a restful sleep, a caffeinated drink, a second wind or pure inspiration.  Night Ranger have definitely found the latter for the release of their upcoming album, Somewhere In California.

The disc leads off boldly, yet brilliantly, with the keyboard-heavy first single, "Growin' Up In California."  The chorus is pure bliss and it reminds you of everything you liked about Night Ranger to begin with.  Not an easy feat.  "Lay It On Me" with its scorching guitars showcases their rock roots and begs to be heard live in an arena.  It'd be easy to mistake the slow build of "Time Of Our Lives" as a just some ballad.   Make sure you hear the whole song as the guitar solo here rips just after an emotional blues run -- stamping this as something special.  "End Of The Day" has some beautiful layering on what becomes a love song of perseverance. While those are some amazing stand-out tracks, there are some terrific journeys on songs like the thumping and wailing of "Follow Your Heart," past romantic reflections of "Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)," the high-flying "No Time To Lose Ya," the very catchy and possessive "It's Not Over," the rock tribute-laden "Rock N' Roll Tonite" and the slick closer "Say It With Love."

This is the album Night Ranger fans have been waiting for... no matter in which decade they loved them most.  It's also a great place for the uninitiated to dive in.  Somewhere In California is crammed full of catchy choruses, determination, self-aware production and it just rocks throughout.  Now, if we could only just bottle what Night Ranger has.

4 out of 5

And The Future Will Write Itself...

Lots going on over here. Some of it is even along my current direction... some not. I don't think that I'll ever be able to walk away from my love of music and my quest for knowledge surrounding many acts. So, while it looks like I've gone underground, I've been formulating a way to combine everything. As of now, you'll see more and more music-related posts from 'Classically Martin', reviews and other meanderings. There are multiple video projects that are in the works, some written work and I'll mention that in the future. But, I figured I'd need to prepare you for seeing CD reviews surface here at MartinHennessy.com (a.k.a. Rantings Of An 80s Nut.)

The Bella And Tulip Show: Caught In The Act

So, I've been spending a lot more time messing around with my video projects during my musical hiatus.  Today was a chance for me to test out some new software.  But I knew that I'd have to have something to work with as subject matter.  One thing we've been confused about is the mess we sometimes see in the kitchen when we've been gone for a little bit.  It's hard to punish one dog over the other without evidence.

Around noon, we set up a camera and left a banana peel and part of a PBJ sandwich in the trash.  We left for just over 11 minutes.  The video above is what transpired.  Hope you enjoy.  It was fun editing.  We've put velcro on the door in hopes to avoid this kind of incident again.

Caring 4 Kids

My friends and sister-in-law have been involved in a charity called Caring 4 Kids for quite some time.  I had been there a few times to help out but, this week, they needed it.  As you'll hear in the video, a local church donated 21,000 pounds of food.  (You may want to increase the volume on the video as it drops a little in the middle.)  It's amazing how much there was but more astounding is the work entailed to just organize the items.  Funny, as I had mentioned the charity the day before in a Facebook post.  I went with the wife to help sort for a few hours.  It's a bit of a blur but I also took a day off of work to help with the bagging and today helped hand out the food to the kids.

It isn't often that I'm able to help but I found myself wanting to get the word out a bit more about what they do.  So, here it is in a little video.  If you'd like to help them out by 'liking' their page on Facebook, you can do so here.  But, if you also happen to be in the Las Vegas/Henderson area and are looking for something positive to do for an hour or more on a Thursday around 6pm... call the people mentioned at the end of the video.  That's when they bag a lot of the items.  If you can imagine about 400+ bags being filled with 9 items or so and the assembly line that it takes to make it happen, you can understand why I mention it.  But, I can see myself spending more time helping them out.

Breaking Open Some Boxes For A Cause

Back a bit ago, I mentioned my wife's mission to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation through the 3-Day For The Cure event.  She's been doing great (although the moving did interfere with training a little but we are finding new routes.)  She has raised 17% of her goal so far (which she needs to accomplish by around August.  It also happens to be a big garage sale happening within our new community and... well, it just makes sense to use it to raise money towards her goal.  So, on Saturday Apr. 16th, you will find me behind a table maybe with a stereo going.  The location could be found here. 

Funny thing about moving is that we've been going through a lot of boxes recently and found that I still have an odd CD or two, some DVDs, lamps and other stuff gathering dust for the sale.  Here's the interesting part.  I know that not everyone has money to donate to a great cause like breast cancer research.  But it amazes me how we can all find junk we are close to throwing away (as we don't all have time to hold a garage sale... especially for just a few items.)  So, if you'd like to help me, help Kerry, help the Susan G. Komen Foundation by donating those items for the sale, we'd love to have them and would cherish your support.  Most of you have ways to get ahold of me (especially via Facebook) and if you'd like to drop something off (old plates, appliances... heck, this could be a long list) just drop me a line.  If you are in the area that day, feel free to stop by as well.  Kerry will also be selling some pink rubber-like wristbands (think LiveStrong meets boobies) and some bracelets specifically for the charity.

During the week, we heard from a member of our family that went through a breast cancer scare.  One of the hardest things about dealing with the disease is that it's hard to talk about when you are waiting just to find out how test results are.  Since starting this journey we've also found more and more family and friends that have fought this disease.  So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for contemplating or even reading any of this.

Moving Can't Be Painless: Part 2

I have to say that after all that previous drama, it got kinda boring with the relocation.  We're starting to feel a bit at home.  Sure, you set one thing up and then break something else and now have to replace it... but that's the fun of organizing a new abode.  Put together a lot of shelves, ceiling fans, a television stand and set up the computers.  I'm sure that I'm forgetting something else.  We also started organizing the garage (which cleared out a lot of the boxes stacked taller than the wife... no, it wasn't intentional.)  The dogs are enjoying the new running room.  Our son is enjoying his new-found freedom to explore (it seems like his room isn't dangerous enough for him anymore.)  If his grades stay above water, he'll be picking up a new bike next week.  Kerry is back to reading (for enjoyment.)  And I'm getting closer and closer to starting a project that I expect to announce in July.

We still have a few home projects to finish (computer networking issues, a ceiling fan and a dishwasher) but there are less and less boxes stacked up and tools lying around (because at any moment... aha... needed that screwdriver.)  I think the only thing we really need right now is a bit of rest and a start on our new routine.  Probably going to start that by exploring the nearby restaurants and walking routes.