Rock and Roll is Here to Stay

This past weekend I went home and attended the final year of Rock Around the Clock. Rockin' is the annual fundraiser that after 24 years has come time to retire. Lead by 50’s & 60’s rocker Bobby Vee, this event was one of great joy and love for a classic form of music that has stood the test of time. With groups like Danny & the Juniors, The Shirrells, Tommy Roe, and The Crickets the night was filled with rock n’ roll in a spirit that will never die. With Bobby Vee and his sons (The Vee’s) the night was one to remember.

So as this annual tradition comes to an end, I would just like to salute Bobby Vee for his efforts to keep alive a tradition of music that has influenced and shaped so much of my life.

(Heading lyrics - Rock & Roll is Here to Stay by Danny & the Juniors)

If 5% Should Appear too Small, Be Thankful I Don’t Take it all

Ok, so I missed the 15th for this entry, but tax day is a major holiday for the United States government. (Also I have only gotten my state return back so the season of giving will continue till I get that Federal check in the mail.)

However, as look to the future for a vehicle that will return me equity, I don’t think of taxes. Collecting my Social Security in particular is a concept that is laughable. I guess we shall see what the future holds, but I won’t hold my breath.

(Heading lyrics - Tax Man by The Beatles)

I Wanna be a Rockstar

For the better part of the last 10 years of my life I have wanted to be a rockstar. Unfortunately due to an extreme prepossession for responsible planning I have never achieved this desire. As the oldest son, I have often made the choice to put aside pipedreams for more standard pursuits like a degree and a profession. On a whole I am happy with these choices, but from time to time my mind will drift to what could have been.

This past weekend I was able to live a little of that dream. My brothers and I played a short rock show on the farm back home. With one brother on bass, one on drums, one on keys, and our cousin on lead guitar we rocked out. I sang and played acoustic to fill out the group. Don’t get me wrong we aren’t great or anything, heck we aren’t even all that good, but we had a good time and so did the crowd.

So with that I will quote the immortal words of AC/DC, “For Those About to Rock… I Salute You.”

(heading lyrics – Rockstar by Epic Hero)

Money, Money, Money, Money... MONEY

It beginning to become the standard on Monday’s entry to recount my weekend’s auction exploits, and this week will be no different. (Okay, back to the topic at hand)

MONEY - It's the motivator of our economy and too often the focus of our lives.

This weekend my father and I raised money for the POW-MIA balloon teams that are based in St. Cloud Minnesota. We oversaw the registration and clerking of the silent and live auction items. We were also able to do a special fundraising push called Fund-A-Need. The need in this case was a new trailer for the balloon team. To be completely honest, I didn’t know what type of response we would receive, but the results spoke for themselves. We raised the $4000 we needed by just asking the people in the room to put their hands in the air and say yes to a small contribution.

Once again the power of a professional Auctioneer was apparent as my father did what even I believed wasn’t possible. Now that’s a good salesman.

(Heading lyrics – Money, theme song from the TV show The Apprentence)

I Will be A Fool for You

Yes, it's another one of those crazy holidays. This is the day we spend crafting practical jokes, while still trying to keep our guard up. Shows like Punked have made serious cash out of these little games. I personally don’t have many good experiences with this holiday. It seems as though I never really think any plans through. From my Dad coming upstairs and saying we don’t have school today, to having the girls from the neighboring floor put vasoline on all the faucets in the guys bathroom in college, I have not ever been on the delivering end of these jokes.

Perhaps the day will come with I will be able to plan and prepare for such a victory, but until then I will have keep chewing this gum that tastes like motor oil.

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." -Mark Twain

(Heading lyrics - Fool by Lifehouse)