The Real Memphis Mike (don't settle for imitations)

If you know me at all, you know that I can talk to just about anyone. It's a gift really. In my life, I've discussed Sartre with Hell's Angels, beer & fishing with a Royal, poetry with schizophrenics and music with the deaf. If I've learned nothing else, I've learned that everyone has an opinion...and 99.9978% of the time, that opinion is valid. I have a dear friend who I've known for over 15 years. When he moved here to the US back in the mid 90s, I befriended him. Being a white guy from Africa, I found him to be intriguing. As I personally am not allowed to visit most of Africa (due to my work in the 80s with A.I.), I found hearing his firsthand accounts of growing up there fascinating. While I openly disagreed with many of his native culture's views on race, women, etc., I took it all in stride. I always threw in my 2 cents worth...and we began a great friendship. Over time, he would roadie for my band and we would hang out a lot. My friend's se...

Being unemployed, I think the Presidency would be a fun job. Too bad it's only a temp gig...but it'd keep me occupied for a few years...My campaign slogan? That's right! You COULD do WORSE!!!!!!! So, you're probably wondering just where I stand on the issues. Glad you asked! Here's some starters: Unemployment : This is a BIG issue! Too many companies outsource AMERICAN jobs overseas. That will end. If you can't hire American, you get taxed 99%. You will not be allowed to import or export ANYTHING. In short...you're finished. HIRE AMERICAN! Gay Marriage: It's not an issue! If 2 consenting adults want to be miserable and get married...FINE! Let them get married. While we're on the subject of marriage, let's make DIVORCES harder to get! No more alimony. No more pre-nups. If you're foolish enough to think you want to spend the rest of your life with the same person, then you should stick to it! Period! Healthcare : We're all gonna need it a...

R.I.P. Frank My friends Karla & Duo had to say good-bye to their dog Frank today. I can tell you that as dogs go, Frank was a king. A gentle giant. Frank was a massive mastiff with a heart as big as his bowling ball head. His time had come and he was ready. Karla, Duo & Lovie, I'm sure, are feeling the loss of his four-legged love. Remember friends, part of love is eventually saying good-bye. You will meet again. Man's best friend waits patiently never uttering a word. Man's best friend knows true love is never absurd. This friend understands and shares in your pain this friend knows fun will come again. A pat, and a rub and a bowl full of food is the only reward needed for being good. To run and jump and hunt and smell hardwired behaviors we all know so well. But how did this friend this four legged beast come to be family and share in our feast? Through time we have walked your side by mine with kings and queens and paupers divine. Good-bye dear friend your time h...

Yeppers kiddoes! It's that time of year again! Will the jolly aging fat man with the white beard visit YOUR house this year? Better put out those plates of donuts and beer...JUST IN CASE!!!!!!!!!! And while you're waiting for the magic of Mikesmas...here's everyone's fave Mikemas classic...TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE MIKESMAS! "Twas the night before Mikesmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even the cats; The beercans were flung on the floor without care, In hopes that a french maid soon would be there; The cats were nestled all snug in the couch, While each had visions of fricassied mouse; some bimbo in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, were each taking turns giving the other the clap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen rain Gave the lustre of Yuengling...

I'm not usually one to drink and write...but hey...sometimes one just has to go with the flow. Tonight has been odd. Not bad...just odd. It was a close friend's 48th birthday. He's 2 years and 4 days older than me. It's been a bit of a running joke for the past 20+ years. Anyhoo, his band was doing a show tonight and some of us old farts went out to help him celebrate. Sadly, not as many of the old farts as there should've been. So many people seem trapped in their own worlds. They want/expect everyone to drop everything to celebrate THEIR big to-do...but they don't show at other's. If you've followed this blog, or know me at all, you know who the young'un is. As usual, she was great about me having a night out with the guys. We both knew it would be finished relatively early (most of my friends can't quite handle the late nights like I still can) so we met up around 12:30. We met with some friends for a drink and came on home. She went upstairs ...

A close friend sent me this video via email with the message "They wrote white pride, not white power. Please keep this going." Semantics...really? Let's get down to reality here. The black kid in the video stated that the words "White Power" were used. They were not. The white kid who was behind it, chose to inflame the situation by wearing a shirt with a confederate flag on it...considered by NORTHERNERS to be a sign of racism. (In my time spent in the south, I've seen black AND whites fly the stars and bars...they know the reality of it's background) Needless to say, if you know me at all, you just KNOW I had a response to this...and here it is, verbatim: "Good Lord..... OK, you know I have to speak my mind on this. First off, "White Pride" "Black Pride" "Yellow Pride" "Plaid Pride" is ALL stupid. Hear me? It's ALL stupid. We're all on this planet together. We have differing beliefs. Differing back...

Are you doing your part to help with the current " outrage/rise to action involving as little work as possible in order to make you feel better about yourself " cause? People are starting to sicken me...again. Case in point, a school program in Westerville, OH having their 1st Annual Day of Rememberance to fight bullying via their "Spread The Word To End The Word" campaign. The word in question? "Retarded". I've spent the past 25 years working in the MH/MR field. I have worked with adults as well as kids...and let me tell you, the 'special needs' bunch can bully with the best! In fact, if you want to hear the word "retarded", spend some time with people who live with retardation (or developmental delays or whatever this year's feel-good term is). These folks bandy the word back and forth bullying each other like a Klansman uses the word "nigger". Just to make it clear, I don't like either word. But...they are just wo...

First off, to everyone who has checked out the new video , THANK YOU!!!!! From the feedback we've been getting from you, it appears ya like it! You may have guessed, the band is heading in a slightly different direction. I've always loved raw, primitive blues stuff and have been incorporating more and more of into my writing the past couple of years. The biggest problem was figuring out how to arrange these songs for the band. Well...I decided NOT TO! I decided to make the band fit the music...and did so on this single. I'm not sure how we'd ever play "Bye Bye" live...I'd need at least 3 guitarists to even attempt to cover the sonic ground in that song. A number of you have asked just WHEN the new CD is coming out. Well, here's the kicker: at this time, I have no plans to release a CD of this material. Yeah, I've toyed with the idea for almost two years now...but with the music sales market where it is, it would seem to be a waste of money to do so...