As our country moves forward today, I think the most important thing to remember—regardless of whether your candidate won or lost—is that a quarter of a million people cower in fear in the city of Aleppo as we speak. They are being bombed and ruthlessly exterminated by Assad. Coalition forces close in on the city of Mosul...the closer they get, the more mass graves of decapitated people they find. Inside the city, brainwashed teenagers with automatic weapons continue to torture and kill.
In the city of Chicago the death toll mounts as gangs solve their differences with bullets. In Mexican border towns, from California to Texas, families patrol their own communities with guns. They have instructed their own children to shoot the drug cartel members, because their government, and for way too long, our government, has turned a blind eye to their struggles. They don't want their towns over-run by drug lords, they don't have anyone else to turn too.
In Africa, the terrorist organization Boko Haram, rides into villages on motorcycles, shooting men raping women, stealing children...have you heard of them?
All through-out south and central- America, children and their mothers embark on a treacherous journey—they are coming north to America, fleeing their oppressive regimes, only to die in the Mexican desert. The wind blows across the bones and skulls of these lost voices. They all wanted what we have, and they died trying for it.
It is my hope, that moving forward, we can set our differences aside and turn our attention to those who really need us to do it the most. Today I love my country more than I ever have. The joy I take in this victory is the hope that we will help each other heal, we won't turn our backs anymore, we will pick each other up and get this "human race" back on course. Thank you for lending me your ears, can we all smoke the peace pipe now? It's LEGAL!
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Musician's Manifesto
My best advice for all you lazy young aspiring musician's, who sleep until noon, dreaming of being a rockstar one day...sleep in a little later, take it a little easier, and don't feel an ounce of bad for doing it. A time will come soon enough when life's demands have you running on empty and searching for the will power to stay the course. Long hours at work, sleepless nights with kids will happen, and you're going to need the extra rest that you won't get then. Aspiring, doctors, lawyers, etc. sacrifice countless hours of sleep, and social life to secure their future's in their chosen professions. This is not you, but when life happens, and you need to put your game face on and take the stage at less than one hundred percent, your fans won't be your fans very long if you can't find a way to get it done son. The world needs talented, hardworking, dedicated musicians. The world doesn't need musicians who can only be possessed by their egos instead of the drumbeat and thumping bass. When all those doctors, lawyers, etc. finally get a break to get out and spend their hard earned money on a cool band they heard about, playing at a local club, this is your chance rock them so hard they won't ever fucking forget it, this is how your success is measured, and maybe sell a few cd's. So rest up, dream big, then work hard and be ready...we're all counting on you!
Thursday, May 7, 2015
The Lego Solution
Managing multiples throughout the day is a true juggling act. Often the balls come crashing down and the circus tent with it. Working harder is a given, working smarter is a must.
As the twins have graduated to smaller legos, and the collection builds to insane proportions, I've found myself getting swallowed up in hours worth of building, teaching how to follow the instructions, and eventually just telling them to look at the pictures. This is the age of questions for my twins, and I mean a lot of questions. Kids, just like adults are visual learners. Out of one of my 'question induced headaches', I finally started working smarter toward a solution that will allow dad to get a break from the lego tractor beam(cuz I do love me some legos). Hopefully this can help any of you in a similar lego boat. It took all of ten minutes to make, hopefully you haven't thrown out those boxes with the cool pictures! So far it's worked, maybe one day we'll graduate to the hardcover edition!
As the twins have graduated to smaller legos, and the collection builds to insane proportions, I've found myself getting swallowed up in hours worth of building, teaching how to follow the instructions, and eventually just telling them to look at the pictures. This is the age of questions for my twins, and I mean a lot of questions. Kids, just like adults are visual learners. Out of one of my 'question induced headaches', I finally started working smarter toward a solution that will allow dad to get a break from the lego tractor beam(cuz I do love me some legos). Hopefully this can help any of you in a similar lego boat. It took all of ten minutes to make, hopefully you haven't thrown out those boxes with the cool pictures! So far it's worked, maybe one day we'll graduate to the hardcover edition!
Sunday, May 3, 2015
The Daily Californian
So April is over and you can all go back to eating red meat! Thanks for your support, I bet we shut down an In and Out for, well...okay even I cheated. I was in Minnesota, and I always eat a big greasy breakfast with corned beef hash when I go home,so that doesn't count, but I also ate some braised tri-tip I made for Tj-jr. I didn't want it to go to waste. The point being, everyone knows by now the insanity of the drought facing California and if you did any investigating, you would know how ridiculous it is. So again thanks for any support, I'm setting more realistic goals and taking the last two weeks of May off from red meat, instead of the whole month. I'll leave you with this fun fact.
20% of California's water goes to Alfalfa production. The majority of which is shipped off to...anyone? You guessed it! China!
20% of California's water goes to Alfalfa production. The majority of which is shipped off to...anyone? You guessed it! China!
Friday, April 17, 2015
Uncle John's Band
"It's the same story the crow told me, it's the only one he knows,
like the morning sun you come, like the wind you go,
ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait,
oh oh, all I want to know, where does the time go?"
- "Uncle John's Band" Grateful Dead.
It's been a fear I've dragged around for years that one day my extended family would need my help, at a time when I couldn't give it.
A few days ago my brother called and broke the news that our uncle John passed away from a heart attack at the age of forty-eight years old. A rock formed in my throat and the tears rushed up immediately. Growing up in Minnesota my uncle John was a central figure in my life and I can't imagine a kid having had a cooler guy for a playmate, sitter, big brother, etc...
Jon was into models, Star Trek, Star Wars, classic cars, you name it and he built a model of it. I used to sneak into his bedroom at Grandma and Grandpa's house when he was gone and play with Corvettes and fly the Enterprise around the room, until something broke. Then I would set it down and leave, but instead of getting in trouble when he found out, he would always just repair it and nothing else came of it. Jon was eleven years older than me and as he started growing into more grown up stuff, I marveled at how cool everything was that he was discovering. I remember after he got his first car, he purchased a siren that attached magnetically to the roof of the car. He took me along with him for a ride and before I knew it, the siren was blaring and we were scaring the shit out of kids all over South St. Paul. Then came the first fuzz buster I had ever seen, and now that I think back, everything in that car was like a new treasure to me. Not only did I hear my first Guns 'n' Roses and Beastie Boys cassettes in that car, but the very stereo systems and speakers they were played on became a new discovery. Jon was an electronics guy and he was constantly ripping out one system and replacing it with something different. The wires would be hanging out and I would hold the tape decks and examine all the parts.
When John enrolled in the military and left for Virginia, I lost my childhood hero and was pretty bummed. When he returned I was excited but things, as they always do, had changed. John had grown and found a relationship. Our lives often intermingled as I also grew and changed, and we still enjoyed each other's company. John had a big loving heart and never had anything but a smile to greet me with. When he was working as a security guard in the early nineties he brought home a big baby German Shepard one day. He was an intimidating looking guard dog except when he tried to bark all that would come out was a bunch of little squeaks. The security firm couldn't train him to play the role of mean doggie and from that day on, John and "Squeaks" were the epitome of man and his best friend.
As I grew and left home for college and eventually California, John and I saw each other only a few times, but as I think back, all I can remember was his smile and a hug before we said goodbye. Now that I no longer have you to hug uncle John, I'm left with some regret that I didn't see you more.
As I mentioned earlier, I've been dragging around a bag of fears for years that a time would come when my family would need my help, and I wouldn't be in a position to do so. That time has come. Uncle John and his big heart extended to his family, he cared for his sister, my aunt Anita. Without his support, the future is uncertain, and suddenly a fire was lit under my ass to do something about it.
For the last fifteen years I've been a struggling musician in so-cal. I'm in a band and I have a couple of albums out there in the world, but as of yet, it hasn't exactly brought home the bacon. I've written prolifically over the years and the notebooks of songs to-be-recorded have piled up in the garage, wondering if they will ever see the light. A few months ago I finally began typing up everything I thought worthy, in an attempt to create some organization in my music life. After I received the sad news, and the tears had finally subsided, I began, finally, dealing with the fear.
You have been a true angel in my life uncle John, and I'm sure it was your inspiration that sat me down at the keyboard and put my hands to work. In the last few days I've been typing, editing, and formatting, while my sons not-so-patiently for dad to pay attention to them. Seventy songs later, I'm happy and relieved to announce that I have published my first volume of songs in a book format. I need to step up and pick up where John left off and in an effort to do so, I'm donating a portion of every book sale to help care for my family. Here is the link, it is available on amazon and kindle. http://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Songs-Sad-Child-Luhrs-ebook/dp/B00WA8SGLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429297689&sr=8-1&keywords=tristan+songs+of+the+sad
Thank you for the support. John, you've been a true angel in my life, rest always in peace, the world is a better place for having had you in it!
like the morning sun you come, like the wind you go,
ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait,
oh oh, all I want to know, where does the time go?"
- "Uncle John's Band" Grateful Dead.
It's been a fear I've dragged around for years that one day my extended family would need my help, at a time when I couldn't give it.
A few days ago my brother called and broke the news that our uncle John passed away from a heart attack at the age of forty-eight years old. A rock formed in my throat and the tears rushed up immediately. Growing up in Minnesota my uncle John was a central figure in my life and I can't imagine a kid having had a cooler guy for a playmate, sitter, big brother, etc...
Jon was into models, Star Trek, Star Wars, classic cars, you name it and he built a model of it. I used to sneak into his bedroom at Grandma and Grandpa's house when he was gone and play with Corvettes and fly the Enterprise around the room, until something broke. Then I would set it down and leave, but instead of getting in trouble when he found out, he would always just repair it and nothing else came of it. Jon was eleven years older than me and as he started growing into more grown up stuff, I marveled at how cool everything was that he was discovering. I remember after he got his first car, he purchased a siren that attached magnetically to the roof of the car. He took me along with him for a ride and before I knew it, the siren was blaring and we were scaring the shit out of kids all over South St. Paul. Then came the first fuzz buster I had ever seen, and now that I think back, everything in that car was like a new treasure to me. Not only did I hear my first Guns 'n' Roses and Beastie Boys cassettes in that car, but the very stereo systems and speakers they were played on became a new discovery. Jon was an electronics guy and he was constantly ripping out one system and replacing it with something different. The wires would be hanging out and I would hold the tape decks and examine all the parts.
When John enrolled in the military and left for Virginia, I lost my childhood hero and was pretty bummed. When he returned I was excited but things, as they always do, had changed. John had grown and found a relationship. Our lives often intermingled as I also grew and changed, and we still enjoyed each other's company. John had a big loving heart and never had anything but a smile to greet me with. When he was working as a security guard in the early nineties he brought home a big baby German Shepard one day. He was an intimidating looking guard dog except when he tried to bark all that would come out was a bunch of little squeaks. The security firm couldn't train him to play the role of mean doggie and from that day on, John and "Squeaks" were the epitome of man and his best friend.
As I grew and left home for college and eventually California, John and I saw each other only a few times, but as I think back, all I can remember was his smile and a hug before we said goodbye. Now that I no longer have you to hug uncle John, I'm left with some regret that I didn't see you more.
As I mentioned earlier, I've been dragging around a bag of fears for years that a time would come when my family would need my help, and I wouldn't be in a position to do so. That time has come. Uncle John and his big heart extended to his family, he cared for his sister, my aunt Anita. Without his support, the future is uncertain, and suddenly a fire was lit under my ass to do something about it.
For the last fifteen years I've been a struggling musician in so-cal. I'm in a band and I have a couple of albums out there in the world, but as of yet, it hasn't exactly brought home the bacon. I've written prolifically over the years and the notebooks of songs to-be-recorded have piled up in the garage, wondering if they will ever see the light. A few months ago I finally began typing up everything I thought worthy, in an attempt to create some organization in my music life. After I received the sad news, and the tears had finally subsided, I began, finally, dealing with the fear.
You have been a true angel in my life uncle John, and I'm sure it was your inspiration that sat me down at the keyboard and put my hands to work. In the last few days I've been typing, editing, and formatting, while my sons not-so-patiently for dad to pay attention to them. Seventy songs later, I'm happy and relieved to announce that I have published my first volume of songs in a book format. I need to step up and pick up where John left off and in an effort to do so, I'm donating a portion of every book sale to help care for my family. Here is the link, it is available on amazon and kindle. http://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Songs-Sad-Child-Luhrs-ebook/dp/B00WA8SGLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429297689&sr=8-1&keywords=tristan+songs+of+the+sad
Thank you for the support. John, you've been a true angel in my life, rest always in peace, the world is a better place for having had you in it!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
The Fighting Parents
I took a nap with my youngest son today. I wasn't the least bit tired, and both his mother and I got good sleep the night before. About half an hour into his nap the eczema woke him up and he was ripping apart the skin on his elbows and fingers with his eyes closed. I laid down with him and started our routine of grabbing whichever spot he goes for and massaging it with aquaphor, vaseline, cortisone, and every other thing natural or man derived. He would fall back to sleep for ten minutes and then start up again. After an hour or so of this I just started falling asleep and waking up with him.
After the twins woke up and the day kicked back into gear, I soon found myself bribing the twins with snacks, chocolate milk, and the i-pad. The deal was to let me off the hook from being dad for awhile because Tristan's eczema was running wild after nap time, and all my attention was directed toward putting the fires on his skin out.
It's not always like this, but these days mommy and I are put face to face with a reality that any loving parent probably doesn't want to deal with on a daily basis. That is the fact that you would forget yourself for your child's well being. I'm not trying to sound heroic though because it's an ugly process that happens the opposite of smoothly. My ego doesn't want to let me go. It wants me to feel sorry for myself, it wants more sleep, less stress.
My hands cramp, my shoulder aches. I've been doing this in my sleep for the last year plus. The massaging soothes him and sloughs off the dead skin. It's all about keeping the wounds cared for to avoid infection. When I reach my breaking point, after he ripped off the gauze, and starts crying because I start forcing his hands away from each other, I have to step away for a minute and let my neck unclench. I'm dehydrated, I didn't eat lunch, the house is a mess, but the itching won't stop.
When I walk back to the fight I see a new sight that makes my heart come crashing to a daily low point. He's moved off to the corner and he's hiding his hands from me so I can't see him scratching.
I need to write because I'm a writer, I need to golf because I'm a golfer, I want to drink because I'm a drinker. I need to relax because my nerves are fraying. I grab a glass of water and decide to fill up the pool outside in the hope that it will distract him. His discomfort becomes my energy, we'll get him through this...it's just a tough fight.
After the twins woke up and the day kicked back into gear, I soon found myself bribing the twins with snacks, chocolate milk, and the i-pad. The deal was to let me off the hook from being dad for awhile because Tristan's eczema was running wild after nap time, and all my attention was directed toward putting the fires on his skin out.
It's not always like this, but these days mommy and I are put face to face with a reality that any loving parent probably doesn't want to deal with on a daily basis. That is the fact that you would forget yourself for your child's well being. I'm not trying to sound heroic though because it's an ugly process that happens the opposite of smoothly. My ego doesn't want to let me go. It wants me to feel sorry for myself, it wants more sleep, less stress.
My hands cramp, my shoulder aches. I've been doing this in my sleep for the last year plus. The massaging soothes him and sloughs off the dead skin. It's all about keeping the wounds cared for to avoid infection. When I reach my breaking point, after he ripped off the gauze, and starts crying because I start forcing his hands away from each other, I have to step away for a minute and let my neck unclench. I'm dehydrated, I didn't eat lunch, the house is a mess, but the itching won't stop.
When I walk back to the fight I see a new sight that makes my heart come crashing to a daily low point. He's moved off to the corner and he's hiding his hands from me so I can't see him scratching.
I need to write because I'm a writer, I need to golf because I'm a golfer, I want to drink because I'm a drinker. I need to relax because my nerves are fraying. I grab a glass of water and decide to fill up the pool outside in the hope that it will distract him. His discomfort becomes my energy, we'll get him through this...it's just a tough fight.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
April is End the Drought Month!
Make no mistake, I'm a meat guy. There are few who walk the planet that appreciate a cheeseburger in paradise more than me. The fact is that paradise is in deep shit and if we don't wise up quick a hard rain is gonna fall. I don't mean the kind of rain you can drink.
As California heads into it's fourth year of extreme drought it's time to face up to the truth. Forget global warming, and forget nature all together. All you have to do is drive around in a circle for a few miles and count how many burger joints you see.
Mc Donald's(oh wait that's not real beef)
Carl's Jr.
Burger Lounge
Smash Burger
Five Guys...and many more. Now do the math. Every half-pound of beef produced requires about a thousand gallons of water to nourish, slaughter, and put that cow in your watering mouth. Almonds are another killer. Did you know it takes more water to feed California's annual almond crop than L.A., San Francisco, and San Diego drink in a year, COMBINED! Not only that but most of the crop is shipped out of state. Google it.
Last week our illustrious incumbent old fogie Jerry Brown signed a water reduction plan into effect. The changes are coming but we residents are going to get squeezed while business as usual continues in this desert. Residents use a fraction of the water compared to Cattle and agriculture. It's unsustainable and as a concerned father and citizen I'm taking action.
I'm allergic to almonds so no worries there. I'm swearing off beef for the month of April. It's been four days, and guess what...no cows here! Please pass this message on and help the cause. I'm not asking you to hug a tree or buy an electric car. Just stick a fish fillet between that bun for awhile!
As California heads into it's fourth year of extreme drought it's time to face up to the truth. Forget global warming, and forget nature all together. All you have to do is drive around in a circle for a few miles and count how many burger joints you see.
Mc Donald's(oh wait that's not real beef)
Carl's Jr.
Burger Lounge
Smash Burger
Five Guys...and many more. Now do the math. Every half-pound of beef produced requires about a thousand gallons of water to nourish, slaughter, and put that cow in your watering mouth. Almonds are another killer. Did you know it takes more water to feed California's annual almond crop than L.A., San Francisco, and San Diego drink in a year, COMBINED! Not only that but most of the crop is shipped out of state. Google it.
Last week our illustrious incumbent old fogie Jerry Brown signed a water reduction plan into effect. The changes are coming but we residents are going to get squeezed while business as usual continues in this desert. Residents use a fraction of the water compared to Cattle and agriculture. It's unsustainable and as a concerned father and citizen I'm taking action.
I'm allergic to almonds so no worries there. I'm swearing off beef for the month of April. It's been four days, and guess what...no cows here! Please pass this message on and help the cause. I'm not asking you to hug a tree or buy an electric car. Just stick a fish fillet between that bun for awhile!
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