Hello. We went to my sister-in-law's wedding last weekend. It was the second time around for both contestants. I think the vows for a person's second marriage should be different than the first. After all, if it's your second trip to the alter, "til death do us part" should be replaced by "til my spouse does something really stupid, do us part." And they should probably just leave out all of the promises.

There is a reason Sioux Town has a smaller population than it did 100 years ago. The people are content to celebrate in mediocrity. What the locals consider a success, would be considered a failure in most communities. They would rather complain about business being slow, or nothing cool happening than to do anything about it. When they are presented with an opportunity to change things they slunk off into the corner and rub their nickels together.

It's sad when the area proclaimed by the local spin doctors to be the "entertainment district" of Sioux Town is shut down 2 or 3 days a week. Drive through Historic Fourth Street, previously known as Lower Fourth Street, on a Sunday or Monday. You'll find most of the businesses closed. Of course this is true after 11:00 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as well. Yet when these entrepreneurs are presented ideas to improve their traffic flow, they grumble, "things are so slow, I can't spend any time or money right now." Well, before long, you'll have plenty of time.

Another sad statement in town is how poorly many events are supported. When entertainment choices are brought to town, the majority of the citizens decide to sit at home and huddle around their favorite reality show. Apparently these people don't want a real life of their own, so they live through some washed up celebrity learning to ballroom dance, or trying to lose more weight than the other washed up celebrity. Maybe you should try to lose weight yourself.

Our friends and family are the only thing that has kept us here all these years. Unfortunately that doesn't keep the wolves away from the door. I can't sit back with the others and watch the tumbleweeds blow in. It might be time for me to take the next stagecoach out of town.

Welcome. Lately, I have witnessed quite a few adults acting like 12-year-olds. Personally, I stopped passing notes and making up stories about someone "that made me mad", in grade school. If I have a bitch with someone, I meet with them in person and lay the shit on the table. No phone calls, emails or word-of-mouth. Some people don't have the cahonies! They tell tales behind people's backs, hiding behind the mask of "he said, she said, I didn't say that, blah, blah, blah." How do they shave both faces in the morning?

I have realized recently that I need to deal with my own problems the same way. When I have an issue with me, I need to confront it head on. I'm not going to tiptoe around my feelings just to make me look good to myself. I have to throw the shit in my face, deal with it and move on. Life is too short to play games. We are human, therefore we make mistakes. We become less human if we can't admit that.

As I mentioned a while back, life's situations separate acquaintances from true friends. Over the last few days, our friends have stepped up, and shown what friendship means. Trust, support and understanding. They renew my faith in humans. I hope that I am able to repay them many times over.

Hello, and welcome to a cloudy mind. Between health-related events, drinking events and more health-related events, I've basically missed the last ten days or so. Mix a few days off from work, one of our notorious road trips and drug-induced naps from the doc, and I feel out of whack. I'm just trying to focus on one thing at a time today. Trying to re-align my thoughts.

Versed is a strange drug. They tell me you are not completely under, but I lost half of the day yesterday. One minute I hear a nurse say, "you're going to feel a little stick...". The next thing I know, I'm waking up to a whirlwind of voices in a different room. I had a really nice nap once I crashed in my sleeping chair at home. Thank God, the test went as expected and the results were good.

I had a discussion with a friend the other night. It was based on this question. Is life a journey, or a destination? He thinks that if you believe in God, life must be a destination since heaven is the ultimate destination. Now, I must tell you, he considers himself an atheist. I have certainly lived my life with the emphasis being on the journey. I have not lived my life worrying about the end. I never planned for tomorrow or the distant future very well, let alone the after life. That being said, I do consider myself a man of faith. Faith in something. Faith is a way for me to live with my weaknesses.

"We all need something to lean on."

Hello, I'm back amongst the living. My body was invaded by aliens. They crawled into my nose, hung out in my sinus and slimed my throat and chest. After 2 days of drugs, sleep and more drugs, I think they have started to run off. I've been spitting them into the sink all morning. Nasty little buggers they are.

Thankfully I feel better today. I was weak. It's strange how you go from feeling great to awful in a matter of hours. The good thing about getting sick is that it makes you appreciate feeling good. If we never got sick, we'd start to take our health for granted. We should say thanks, every morning for good health. Some people deal with health problems every day, my heart goes out to them.

Speaking about feeling great to awful in a matter of hours, I want to clear up some confusion about my involvement with the Chesterfield. I no longer have ownership in the Chesterfield. I released my shares, about 9 months ago. Because I still want the bar to be successful, I continued to help with the radio, print and internet marketing. I also booked a few bands in the Chesterfield during that time. Unfortunately, my pay for this has been false accusations and public ridicule. So, with a mix of regret and pleasure, I have decided to stop donating my time.

Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Hello. It's BEAUTIFUL outside! What a great way to head into the weekend. Maybe Spring is finally here. Warmth and sun have a way of making a bad day better. Now I can start walking and biking again, yeah!

Well, these creatures stumbling around this planet that we refer to as "humans", continue to make me scratch my head. What motivates people? Why do people say and do mean things? I have generally taken things with the "proverbial grain of salt". Never giving mean statements a second thought. But I'm trying to listen and "feel" things on a deeper level. Boy, does that sound sappy! It's just not me. I think I should, but when I do, I just get pissed off. It's so much easier to say, "oh well, they didn't mean it."

I have always believed that everything will work out in the end. Now, I'm wondering when the "end" is. I mean, I want to enjoy it when these mean people get their justice. If I'm just dust in the wind at the "end", I still want to giggle a little and say, "See, I told you so." I have found that it really blows mean people away when you're nice to them. Most of these people think they are really sly. SURPRISE, you're not fooling anyone!

I've been the mean person myself. Maybe more often than I know. I don't want to be that guy. I'm keeping a close eye on me. I have seen a t-shirt that I must have. It simply states in large block letters... MEAN PEOPLE SUCK!

Hello. I'm SO MAD! I have recently heard of people telling lies about something I supposedly did. Now, I've done plenty of bad things in my life. If someone chooses to slam me as a result, I deserve it. But, when I'm being accused of things I didn't do, I get very pissed off! I don't understand why people talk about others behind their back. When it's not true it makes even less sense. I've always felt that if someone has a problem with something I've done or said, they should come to me in person. That's how I try to handle things. Some people just aren't strong enough apparently. It's easier for them to spread lies to others than to face me.

I've been on this planet for almost 50 years, so obviously, this is not the first time this has happened. I doubt if it will be the last. I deal with these things head on. I confront the person, or persons face to face. It can become very uncomfortable. You know some people thrive on this crap. Some people live through other people's life issues. I guess it's because they don't have a life of their own. The last thing I need is to involve myself with other people's problems.

Over the years, I have bitten my tongue, to avoid making someone else look bad. I don't think it's my place, or anyone else, to make derogatory statements about other people. Unfortunately, some of the people I have "protected" are the first ones to slam me behind my back. Sioux Town is a small town. Word travels fast. I think people tend to forget this. They say or do something, and then realize..."Oh shit, who was looking or listening?!" I'm guilty. I've done this a lot less in the last 25 years or so, but every now and then I slip. Sometimes I make a huge slip. I've really been making a conscious effort lately to think before opening my mouth or making a decision. It's definitely better to say nothing, than something you'll regret later.

I don't look forward to dealing with these things, but I have to make my position known. It generally puts a strain on the relationship I have with the person. It could even end the relationship. But, over the years, things like this have separated acquaintances from true friends. I know who my true friends are.