Food for thought

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""disclaimer.....Monkeyshyne in no way uses or endorses the use of any drugs including marijuana""""""""""""""""""""



One of my good friends has not been able to enjoy the benefits of marijuana for some time now, almost 15 years. This friend is ready to give it a try agian. I'm proud of my friend for making a decision to get back on the horse. My friend was a little hesitant until I told my friend a little story. It changed my friends life and I think it might be able to change yours. So I will share the story with you that I told my friend on that glorious evening.

"Well ya see, my friend, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of marijuana, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of marijuana eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after smoking a few bowls."

I hope all that read this take it to heart and do your job to share this story with others. Together we might be able to enlighten the non-smokers and then the world would be a peacefull place. Thanks for your time and have a wondefull day.

Living a Dream

I think sometimes we get caught up in the illusion of failure and success. Most musicians would say success is signing the record deal, touring the world, being on TV, and being rich and famous. Those same people would clasify anything less than that a failure. That's where I disagree. Success to me is doing what you love to do. If you happen to make some money doing it cool. If you manage to make a living do it great. If you are able to become the biggest thing out there then awesome. Those are your rewards. That is not success. Success is doing what you love to do. I love to play music. There is nothing on this planet including recreational drugs and sex that I want and need more than playing music. Now most people would say my carreer as a musician has been a failure by their standards. Agian I would have to disagee. I played my first show in a band when I was 14. There was no looking back after that. From my first show ever this is a small list a pictures of some of the rewards
I have been granted for my success.



I have logged over 60,000 miles in tour travel.




I have had the opportunity to play
in front of large crowds.







I got to play at Six Flags.







I was able to party on the beach all night after a show with my best friends.







I have been interviewed on various radio stations.





I have even been on TV more than once. I was able to be in a St. Patty's day parade.







I have had an oportunity to share the stage with national recording artists. My drumming is on over 15 CD's. I have been able to meet some of the most incredible people in the world. I have forged friendships that I would never had to opportunity to befriend. The best part of my success though is not things I have done, but the brothers I found. I have played music with alot of great musicians and great people period. There are a couple that stand out though.

Yep you guessed it, Chris, Oz, and Keith.





Chris and I have been playing together for 8+ years now. I have been playing with Oz for 6+. Keith for a couple years. The thing is that most of things that i have been able to do wouldn't had been possible without those gentlemen. We have had some great times, long road trips, screaming matches, fist fights, indian wresting matches, monkeyball tournaments, floating rivers with guitars, getting speeding tickets, consuming enough whataburger to feed a third world country, lighting congas on fire, blood stained hotel rooms, and delirious driving just to name a few. So bottom line is I'm successfull if you disagree then F-off ;)

P.s. Chris, Oz, Keith......you guys are the greatest brothers I could have ever asked for...let's take over the world :)

Off this weekend

Yep we are off this weekend. I will be leaving tommorow to go hang out with a lady friend of mine this weekend. So I will not be blogging this weekend so everyone have a safe weekend and stay cool. Peace love and duct tape.

The Best Idea!!!!!

Ok ladies and gents I have a novel idea. I went and spent about 2 hours washing my car tonight. I'm assuming that alot of you like me have the bad misfortune of having your freshly washed car get rained on within a day or two of washing it. Well here's my theory.....If we all band together and wash our cars before the week is over then it has to rain. We all know how bad we need the rain so lets make a collective effort to anger the rain gods by all of us washing our cars. Just think Native Americans danced in fields, Irish folks drink lots of beer, Pigmy's light themselves on fire all for rain. Us Americans are much simpler people because all we have to do is wash our cars. It is the way we pray to the rain gods. Ok let's get praying...get out there and wash those cars cause we NEED rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awww poor Yankees.....

They think they got it bad...awww poor northerners...haha

Americans Try to Cope With Oppressive Heat
By NAHAL TOOSI (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
July 17, 2006 3:29 PM EDT
NEW YORK - Temperatures in the 90s gripped parts of the country on Monday, prompting heat advisories, altered routines and calls for electricity conservation.

On the streets of New York, where the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the day, a spot in the shade competed with a parking slot as the most valuable commodity. Men and women made their way under narrow awnings, lounged under trees and took breaks under the large umbrellas of hot dog stands.

But the heat was on.

"It feels oppressive and sticky," said Laura Shaffer, a 30-year-old from Manhattan.

She wasn't walking in the shade. But then again, she was sipping a Diet Coke on her way to work.

In Cleveland, 22 outdoor pools that are normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays were being opened as Monday marked the second 90-degree day of the year. Temperatures throughout Ohio are expected to hover around 90 the rest of the week.

Tony Godel, working on a remodeling project at a hotel in downtown Cleveland, was already sweating through his brown Corona Extra T-shirt by 10 a.m. He planned to drink a lot of water to cope.

"You get used to it after a while," Godel said. "You know what you're getting into. You're paid to deal with it."

With the hot weather expected to continue, calls also went out for electricity conservation.

PJM Interconnection, which operates the electric grid for all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia, asked people to use electricity prudently, especially between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

PJM suggested closing curtains and blinds to keep cooler air inside and limiting use of stoves and other appliances.

Officials at New York's Department of Environmental Conservation and Health Department issued an air quality health advisory for the entire state because of ground-level ozone, a major component of smog.

Still, people outside the state Capitol in Albany were taking the heat in stride.

"It's not bad in the shade," said construction worker Alan Reynolds. "We got our briefing in the morning to take more breaks and drink more liquids. You just have to pace yourself."

The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging on Monday activated its "heatline" hot line, staffed with nurses to answer questions and give advice about coping with the heat.

The city Health Department also was sending outreach workers - as it does during excessively cold weather - to help the homeless and elderly. Managing Director Pedro Ramos said workers would help them get hydrated and out of the heat.

Temperature-wise, New York City's record for the day was set in 1953, when Central Park recorded 100 degrees, said John Cristantello, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. On Monday, the mercury reached 90 before noon.

Record or not, people were making adjustments: Sunglasses, T-shirts, miniskirts and sunscreen. Iced coffee instead of the heated brew. At least one man carried a towel to wipe his brow.

Shaffer, who studies how corporations deal with environmental issues, decided to buy her lunch at a fast-food restaurant before heading into work so she didn't have to come back outside.

"I think that it's a precursor of what we could be experiencing on a daily basis if we don't do something about global warming," she said near Pennsylvania Station.

But she didn't skimp on the spices for her rice and tomato burrito.

"They actually help keep you cool," she said.

---

Associated Press Writer JoAnn Loviglio in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Pics from the Skynyrd Show

Here are some of the pics that I took with a cheap ass digital camera at the show last weekend. I thought I would share them, so enjoy.

Excitement time

Yes that's right we are getting ready to get back into the studio to record our new CD, "Colin is the Sh!&"(its a working title) The next couple weekends we are not playing any shows and we are working hard on getting the pre-production finished. Chris definitely has the most work in the pre-production side, bless his heart. Tomorrow we are going to start recording so we can listen through and figure out what we need to change or not change before we get in the real studio. Now when it comes to studio time it is exciting but also very tedious. When you have to play the same riff, chords, beat, fill over and over and over again it can get pretty tedious. The payoff is listening to the finished CD and going wow we actually sound pretty f'ing good. So the entire month of August we will be knee deep in the studio having a good time and trying not to kill each other(jk). You know what the best part is??? I will be able to get Keith HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He will be out of the Air Force officially by then. So everyone keep reading the blogs as studio time approaches for I will try to post studio pics like last time. Much Love.

I got Lynyrd Skynyrd Autographs

Yes I got one of my old crash cymbals signed byt the whole current touring band that is Lynyrd Skynyrd. I know I probably should keep it and cherish it for years but I really really need some money for some new drum toys. I have decided to list the cymbal on ebay.(yes im an ebay whore) I will put the link here for anyone that might want to bid on it.

http://cm.ebay.com/cm/ck/1065-29296-2357-0?uid=73128553&site=0&ver=LCA080805&item=180006653390&lk=ItemDescriptionANDimage

just copy and paste it and it should work.


It was a great show, I even got to see them and 3 doors down from the front row. Good times.

Gay or Strait???

*warning*: the following blog is meant to be light in spirit and semi-funny and NOT meant to offend anyone in any way, shape or form, and we in monkeyshyne respect everyone on the planet Earth, regardless of race, religion, nationality, age, and pickle size.

Ok now we have had the discusion within the band of whether Keith is gay or not many of nights.(period) I have seen him with many of hot young women that are out of my leauge and he was passionatly kissing them and at least acting like he enjoyed it.(period) On the other hand does get pretty "chummy" with Chris when they are drunk.(period) I mean look this picture of Keith from when he was stationed in Europe, ummmm GAY!!.(period)



Now it doesn't matter to me whether he is gay or not, he is still and will always be my bassist
...........................................................................................................................................................................................This part has been edited by the Air Force Intelligence Dept........
.........................................................................................................................................................................
The time is counting down. Soon the world will know and then we can sleep at night.(period) Until then we wait..............

Jagger

Well Friday we were in Wichata Falls and the Jager poured like it was steriods in Major league Baseball. Cliff brought an iced down bottle in the van with some redbull and then the Iron Horse had a monkeyshyne special. Drink Jager then drink more Jager and then more. I really do believe this band would be happy if we could just rig up an IV bag of Jager. So if anybody works for Jager then we would love a sponorship deal...hint hint The rest of the weekend I was either enjoying some down time or working. I did get to goto the Ringo Star all star band show and it wasn't bad. The 4th we had friends and family over and my roomate smoked a brisket, some ribs, and sausage. So I had a decent weekend but I'm looking forward to playing at Curtain Club agian this weekend. We haven't been there for awhile and it's my home and it is my favorite stage to play on. So I hope to see our Dallas fans and friends out there Friday.