Why I can't sleep.

For some reason I can't stop my mind and get some sleep.  Since I lost my job and am now trying to figure out at the age of 53 what I want to be when I grow up, I have all of these thoughts running through my head.  It would be a lot easier if we didn't have any debt.  Oh to be one of the few that don't have any outstanding bills.  Wouldn't that be fantastic?  Anyway, here I sit at 4:00am trying to figure out life and where do I go from here.

Believe it or not I've come to the conclusion that I hate sales.  I've studied it almost my whole life, know all the techniques, tie downs, Ben Franklin close, the first on to speak owns the product, build value, know your product.  I've studied Tom Hopkins, Zig Ziglar and more.  I just don't care for sales anymore.  When I was selling when I was younger I loved it.  Now I don't want to do it anymore.

How about computers?  What could I do in the computer field that would support my family?  I love computers and know Microsoft Office really well.  Have my Associates in Computer Technology and enjoy troubleshooting and programming.  Problem is, no ones willing to even look at me until I have a Bachelors Degree.  I designed, wrote and implemented a CRM tool for the auto industry and no one cares.  They want that degree.  What a bunch of ........ well, you know.  Problem is I'm still about two years away if I go for my Bachelors.

Entertainment!  Yeah that's it, I'll be an entertainer!  What does that pay?  Well, if your Jeff Dunham or Terry Fator it pays really well.  Problem is, I'm not them.  I get a few gigs here and there but not enough to support my family and it would take some time to get that going to where it might be profitable.  Cost money to make money in this industry.  Mailers, business cards and the like.  There is no easy answer.

So what to do?  I guess I'll just be happy that I can go back to bed and know that God is still in control and everything work on his timing.  I'm listening and hoping that he shows me what the right path is.  Sometimes it's really tough but I have to remember Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." And so I wait.

Still waiting........

Hey God, how about an answer already!

2014 Rock Hall Nominees

Well, it's back.  The list I wait to post about every year (and usually it gets flagged by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and taken down because they act like a bunch of little children).  The 2014 nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  This years list is pretty interesting in the fact that many bands on this list should have been in long ago and again we have a mix of rap, disco and pop that doesn't belong in the Hall.  Here is my list from least favorite to most favorite excluding Link Wray, The Replacements, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and The Meters because I just don't know enough about them. 

12. Chic - Really? Chic?  LaFreak? I remember never missing a Chic rock concert back in the 1980's because .... Oh, wait. I never went because Chic isn't rock!

11.  Linda Ronstadt - While not a least favorite of mine as far as singers are concerned, I don't think that Linda belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Especially since there are so many others that could be nominees that are actually rock and roll.

10. LL Cool J - I'm pretty sure this is the second time that LL Cool J has been up for nomination and my thoughts haven't changed.  LL seems like a fun guy (not like moss) but still is not rock and roll, unless the concept has changed. Still, I like some of his music and his acting ...... kinda.

9. N.W.A. - If you look them up in Wikipedia it says Hip-Hop, Gangsta Rap not Rock and Roll. Are these individuals talented?  I say yes but some would argue.  Do they belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  Maybe, but not now.

8. Hall and Oates - While many would argue the fact that Hall and Oates belongs in the Hall there are many acts that should be put in before them.  With songs like Maneater, You Make My Dreams Come True and Sarah Smile, they are more of a pop band than anything else.  Love their stuff and if they had been a band in the 60's there would have been no doubt they should be in the Rock Hall.

7. Cat Stevens - We are now getting in to the I would put them in the Rock Hall list.  While Cat Stevens is one of my favorites singers, he would be the last on my list that I would actually put in the Rock Hall.  Any other year he might rate a lot higher but this year there are just too many groups that would be placed before him.  Still, Morning Has Broken remains as one of my all time favorite songs.

6. Peter Gabriel - OK, before you all get bent out of shape as to why Peter Gabriel isn't in the top five at least hear my theory.  If you get nominated in with a group (Peter was with Genesis) you're already in.  They should put you in as a solo artist as well.  In other words, Peter should already be in as a solo artist since he got in with Genesis. Look at the Beatles, they took up four inductee spots alone. If you wonder why it wasn't five, Ringo has not made it in as a solo artist yet. Poor Ringo.  Even though Shock the Monkey and Sledgehammer are fantastic songs, let's keep the slots open for other acts.  Don't be greedy!

5. Nirvana - With the lights out, it's less dangerous.  We belong now, so vote in us (I know vote us in but it doesn't rhyme).  Yes I really believe Nirvana belongs in the rock hall and, according to the voting page (CLICK HERE TO VOTE!) the people agree. Nirvana's music is catchy and they have definitely had an influence on rock and roll.

 

4. Yes - Yes? Yes. Roundabout, Owner of a Lonely Heart, I've Seen All Good People and Rhythm of Love. With awesome keyboards by Rick Wakeman and some of the most recognized music ever, Yes is a band that's been a long time coming in the Hall.

3. The Zombies - Apropos for today's society of zombie loving people.  With World War Z as a big screen hit and one of the most watched shows on TV being AMC's The Walking Dead what better time for The Zombies to be inducted in to the Rock Hall. With hits like Time of the Season and She's Not There, The Zombies deserve a spot in the Hall.

2. KISS - WAIT! WHAT'S THIS? A list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that Dan Robison put together and KISS is not number one? While I do agree that KISS has had one of the biggest influences on Rock Music and they should have been put in a long time ago, you will see why I put them at number two in a minute.  There is no doubt that they belong in the Rock Hall.  Maybe the Hall is finally waking up.  In their short article about KISS the R&R HOF said,  "Few bands short of the Beatles inspired more kids to pick up the guitar than KISS." Shoot, they should have their own wing and, if they finally do get inducted, Gene Simmons may make sure that they do.  Nevertheless, nobody would argue the fact that they do belong and since this is their second nomination their chances just went up.  Besides, how many other 60 somethings are still jumping around on the stage in make-up today?

 

1. Deep Purple - Seven years after I graduated the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio began inducting artists.  Ten years after I graduated Deep Purple should have been in the Hall.  Almost anyone that picks up a guitar for the first time plays Smoke On the Water and Deep Purple has had a major influence on many of the rock stars from the past and today. Wikipedia says They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock. Pioneers!! To quote another line from Wikipedia - The group has influenced a number of rock and metal bands including Metallica, Queen, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Bon Jovi, Rush, Motörhead, and many New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Def Leppard. Many of these bands are already in the Rock Hall before the people that influenced them.  Shameful!

Who am I, Why am I here?

That is the question we all ask ourselves. God put us here for a reason and put people in our lives to mold us and make us who we are but we always as, "Who am I, Why am I here?!"

Personally, I love the majority of people God has put in my life. Great friends and a fantastic family. But still. What is my purpose in this life? Is it like George Bailey in ,"It's a Wonderful Life." To just have an influence on others or is it to leave a legacy?

What can I do today to leave the world just a little better than it was yesterday? Hold the door for a person? Stop and help someone who needs it? Call someone I haven't talked to in a while?
Will we ever have the answers to these questions? Today I just thank God that I still have a state of mind to ask this question and truly be concerned about the answer, whatever it may be.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Daniel Robison

United PEOPLE of America (September 12, 2001)

I think back to September 12, 2001. To the day after. I think about how united the people of the United States were. At this point in history there was many different emotions going on. Fear, frustration, anger, confusion and doubt. But one thing was sure, we were all united. On this day we didn't see race, religion or difference in politics. The majority of the nation was in constant prayer and were hoping that the casualties were minimal.

I remember looking in the sky and seeing no streaks left from planes flying by. I thought how odd that was because since I was a child they were always up there. How the day before changed our lives forever. NEVER FORGET was our new motto. But have we forgot?

With elections coming up just look at the political ads on the TV and listen on the radio. We are back to business as usual. Let's blame others, let's not take the bull by the horns and steer (pun intended) it in the right direction. Let's quit our bickering on facebook and blocking people just because they have a different belief than we do. Let's get back.

I ask everyone, today, to remember how you felt on September 12, 2001. Let's be united again. Let's not just be the United States of America and become what we were on that day, the United PEOPLE of America. Say a prayer today for our country and our people, we can be the melting pot we were that day. As in the words of John Lennon,"I hope someday you'll join us, and the world can live as one" The world starts in your own back yard.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Terry Fator Experience

I love going to Las Vegas. There is just a certain excitement going on there and even though they call it "Sin City" I think you can have a lot of fun without sinning at all. One such types of fun is The Terry Fator Show at the Mirage. I had the opportunity yesterday to experience Terry Fator and his vast array of characters.

My experience started at around 7:00pm where I met Terry's assistant Randy outside the theatre where he handed me a backstage pass and took me through the back of the stage where we came to a door with Terry Fator's name on it. As I walked in to the right was Terry and his beautiful wife, Taylor and her mother. Behind Terry were small boxes built into the wall with various ventriloquist puppets in them. On the side wall were various picture frames including an autographed Bill Cosby record and other autographed items and pictures.

It was great talking to Terry, if even for just a few moments, about ventriloquism, the conventions and his passion for ventriloquism. As I talked to Terry I mentioned that I've been doing ventriloquism about as long as he has but haven't yet made it to the level he has (as if I ever will!) To which he replied, "Well, America's Got Talent really helped me get to the level I am today." Very modest. I know many ventriloquist's but Terry is not just a ventriloquist, he is also a great impersonator and singer. I think, somehow, even without AGT, Terry would have made it.

After a couple pictures and an autograph Randy took me to my seat which was about 7 rows back right in the center. As the show started I knew I was in for a treat and I felt blessed to be at the show and have the opportunity to meet Terry and his family. I will not go into detail about the show just to tell you that I have never been to a show where so many people in the audience said things such as "WOW!" and "HOW DOES HE DO THAT?" You would think he was performing magic with the comments that were being said and, in a way, he was!

About three quarters of the way through the show Terry said he wanted to recognize a few people in the audience. "Not very often", Terry started' "Do we have a ventriloquist in the audience but today we have a ventriloquist visiting us, Daniel Robison where you at." WHAT?! He had me stand. After verifying how to pronounce my last name he said, "Daniel runs the website ventriloquist.org so when you get a chance be sure to check it out." Then he recognized all of the troops and mentioned that a percentage of all merchandise sales goes to our troops.

Near the end of the show Terry sang a song he wrote called Horses In Heaven. If this song does not become a hit I would be surprised. This song is now available by going to the website http://www.horsesinheaven.com Terry also mentioned that the proceeds of this song will be going to Saint Judes Hospital.

As Terry concluded the show and thanked the people that participated in the show he looked my way, pointed at me and smiled as if to say thanks for coming and I love what I do. I thank Terry for affording me the opportunity to see his show and get together with him as well as his recognizing me in the audience. Terry is first class, talented and above all, humble. If you're ever in Vegas be sure to catch Terry's show at the Mirage. You will laugh as well as be awestruck and will be happy that you just had a touch of The Terry Fator Experience.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Las Vegas,United States

Blaming the Rich

I guess I'll never understand why anyone wants to blame someone else for their misfortune. Especially in the US of A. Right now we have people protesting Wall Street. Wall Street? Really? What has Wall Street done to any of these people? They blame the banks, the government, the last adminstration, this administration, their neighbors, their spouse, their parents, their schooling (or lack of it), their last employeer.

Really, look in the mirror. Where you're at and where you are in life is your choice. Whether it is a conscious decision or an unconscious decision, it is a decision non the less. I have 5 people in my immediate family and they are all employed (and don't you dare throw the minority card at me because I have an answer to that as well.)

The big problem is laziness in this country. I'll bet almost half of the unemployed have, at the least, cable and a game system. Probably are fans of Meet the Kardashians and never forget to vote for the "Next American Idol". Yet they complain because they can't find a job. Like cousin Eddy in Christmas Vacation, they're holding out for a management position.

I would think that if the people that are protesting Wall Street right now had jobs they wouldn't be protesting Wall Street or even have time to do it. With the likes of my favorite people Michael Moore and Susan Sarandon, these unbathed folks complain because Wall Street and banks are ruining their way of life. I've got news for you, the only ones ruining your way of life is you. Change your attitude, put in some applications, and get started on your new and rewarding life. The only person holding you back is YOU!







- Posted using BlogPress from iPad

Location:California Ave,Boardman,United States

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