2007 Christmas Letter

It seems more and more, people send some sort of Christmas letter with their Christmas cards. I know some people hate them because, as they claim, all they do is showcase how great their lives are. I did a tongue-in-cheek Christmas letter about 10 years ago, with the same name as this blog. I chronicled the not-so-positive events of that year... an investment club with capital losses, playing on a losing softball team... you get the idea. But I think people really want to update those who they don't see very often of what has been transpiring in their lives.

2007 started just like any year for us. But about 3 weeks into it for me I suffered from a bout with the flu. Of course, that's when my new 32 track digital recorder finally arrived, so I'd have to wait to play with it. I have since used it over the past year to record music. Some of which you can hear at my MySpace page.

One of the high points of 2007 was in May when Beth and I drove across country on America's Mother Road, Route 66. It was a 16 day odyssey following a path taken by millions of others before us to the Pacific coast. We saw some interesting and bizarre sites, met very nice and very strange people and had a great time. Once in California, we stopped to visit Tom & Kim Stevens. Luck would have it, Tom's band Midnight Sun was playing. We stayed an extra day so we could see them. I was even invited up on stage to play a couple of songs. I hope I didn't do the band any damage. The trip was blogged about right here, so feel free to check the past posts for our misadventures along Rt 66.

The low point of 2007 was in March when we finally had to say goodbye to Trixie. At 12 years old, she was still energetic and playful. Fortunately, no arthritis or hip dysplasia. However, a tumor emerged which caused her spline and liver to enlarge and there was nothing we could do for her. Luckily, she was not in pain; maybe a little uncomfortable. 2007 was not a good year for the dogs of our family and friends. Beth's friend Jennifer Brackney lost Lexie, Beth's sister Pam and her husband Bill lost Rutherford and just in the last couple of days, we hear Beth's sister Kerri and her family's dog, the Muffin dog, has been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis is not good. Of course, Dennis and Shari continue to lose their cats to coyotes. A moment of silence please...


The band Nootril Drop had a number of good gigs this past year. We actually hit gig #30 this past September. We did probably 3 or 4 benefit shows in all, but still a good year and playing better all the time. Concerts I checked out this year include The Police at Wrigley Field. I heard that this was the 2nd concert ever held at the stadium; the first being Jimmy Buffett. I also got to see ZZ Top for the 2nd time... and from the center 3rd row. I also saw John Mayer, Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan.

And if playing in a band and driving a sports car is not enough for my mid-life crisis, I'm now coloring my hair blond. It really hides the grey hairs and I get a lot of comments on it.

Beth has been keeping busy with her new hobby... sewing... if you can believe that. Mom has been doing well. At the start of the year, we were under the impression that she would need to start kidney dialysis. Turns out she doesn't need it, yet anyway. Keep your fingers crossed. Jack is now 7 years old and in the second grade. Dennis and I have been going into business together more and more. This time in the field of property management, becoming landlords of commercial property. Good livin' thus far. We hope to keep it that way.

Anyway, hope all is well to whomever is reading, have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2008!

Have A Wonderful Christmas Time

Wishing all Happy Holidays, I wanted to post Tom Petty's Christmas All Over Again. Apparently, there is no 'offical' video for it. Paul & Wings will instead wish all a wonderful Christmas time.

What's The Deal With All These Lists?

For the past few years, I've noticed several networks, especially all the music and entertainment channels, running programs counting down something. You could call this debacle "When Kasey Kassem Goes Bad."

Sure, it was somewhat amusing at first. We got to see William Shatner count down the top 100 one hit wonders. Some other network informed us of the top most-shocking moments in rock and roll. But any more, these lists are getting ridiculous... and I should know something about lists. I spent a good part of the 90's writing David Letterman-style top ten lists for the Peoria Jaycees newsletters.

The latest countdown I've seen was the Top 40 Softlicious Soft Rock Songs of All Time. I don't remember what network brought us this informative program. It listed things like America's "Horse With No Name," 10cc's "I'm Not in Love," and REO's "Can't Fight This Feeling." Many of the songs were from the 1970's. I could only stomach about 30 minutes of this crap until I had to turn it off.

And another question, who are the judges who decides on this shit?

Anyway, it's been a while since I composed a top ten list, but here we go:

Top Ten New Countdown Shows For '08

10. Top 70 Oddest Celebrity Baby Names
9. Top 20 Lindsey Lohan's Fave Things About Rehab
8. Top 60 Wildest Hillary Rodham Clinton Pant Suits
7. Top 100 All Time Greatest Spam E-Mail Messages
6. Top 33 Lame Reality Series
5. Top 12 Really Bad Hair Bands
4. Top 5 OJ's Other Crimes
3. Top 30 Lead Filled Toys From China
2. Top 20 George Bush-isms
... and the number one New Countdown Show for '08...
1. Top 69 Sex Positions

Heather's New Hat

Peoria, IL (RLO News Service) - Heather Zech is at it again. This time she wants to set the new trend in hats... maybe better explained as an old trend in hats.

At a recent holiday event, Ms. Zech was sporting a black feather hat, reminiscent of a 1940s era style. "Yes, I'm bringing it back," exclaimed a jubilant Zech, who is no stranger to attempting to start new trends, not that she's exactly successful at it. "The 70's is so old school, 80's is overdone anymore, the 90's is way to soon," Zech explained, "so I'm bringing back something we haven't seen in a long, long time." Zech's current boyfriend, Chuck is preparing to launch an "old is new again" line for men's fashions with the 1950's zoot suit.

Heather Zech became a follower and disciple of radio personality Art Bell and began an extensive campaign to educate the public about a 1947 UFO crash in New Mexico and ensuing government cover-up. Zech is a staunch proponent of uncovering the government's knowledge on the event. Odd, the hat she was wearing that day could have come right out of 1947.