<wordsimageslife>

A Short Word on Michael Jackson

Although some suspect, cynically of course, it to be untrue, the death of Michael Jackson sent shock waves throughout the entire world.

Some friends at the pool were grousing about how much attention he was getting compared to the recent, and also tragic, losses of Ed McMahon and Farah Fawcett. These are also people with intense emotions around his status as a possible pedophile despite his being found not guilty of that charge. But honestly, I think they miss the point.

Michael Jackson was more then American television star or poster boy, Michael Jackson moved an entire genre of music, made MTV what it really is, and inspired an entire world and multiple generations with his music. And the outpouring of grief on such a large scale, is certainly appropriate. Yes, it is sad that it overshadows the deaths (in the public eye) of McMahon and Fawcett, but honestly, I don't think that's what matters most of their families. So in hindsight, the tragic loss, and shocking, of MIchael, may have afforded them the privacy they needed during their period of grief. Obviously, Michael really never was able to stay out of the spotlight, whether it be positive or negative.

As a former musician, I can only fathom the depth of talent Michael Jackson had. And only be glad that I was there from the very start, still remembering from a very young age, the Jackson 5 performing "ABC" on TV.

Yes, Michael like all of us had his flaws. Only he never had the chance to hide them like the majority of the world. In a sense, Michael was bigger than life. And in death, may he be ever bigger still.

A Rainy Night in Baltimore

It is a rainy night in Baltimore. And as I switch back and forth between reruns of Green Day on SNL and Sleepless in Seattle (I am a romantic at heart), I chasm internally on our current struggles, and more specifically, my seemingly inability to get the cards to fall my way.

Ever since being laid-off four years ago, I've never found the career traction I need to feel the way I want to in the world. I teach part-time, work retail part-time and help take care of the two best kids in the world yet something is still missing. And I don't mean just because of the financial struggle

I honestly believe I have something of value to add to someone's business at a fair wage. I'm just not sure why I haven't found that job yet. Why it's taking so long and so painfully, and I don't mean painfully, slow. It's so hard to keep a good attitude about things when all one gets are silent rejections. How can you figure out what you might be doing, or not doing, if you don't get any feedback?

Originally I was going to write about change, or more about change. Why is it so difficult to change things even when they are going badly. And even when you try and change circumstances, they seem stuck in a vise grip. It makes no sense to me and as you can imagine is nothing but frustrating. And honestly, I don't intend to make this blog a whine-fest for my current issues, but I guess I just need to write these things out to start getting things going in a different direction. A new direction is what needs to come. And come soon.