Happy Birthday Betsy

Today is my wife Betsy's birthday. Happy birthday honey!

New Morning

This is a brand new morning filled with promise. What magic will unfold today? What opportunities will arise to better oneself? What choices will be made today? Will you live or be lived? Are your emotions in charge of your will, or are you driving? Hmmmm? These are the questions I ask myself today, since I am so easliy swayed by my feelings. I am making a conscious effort today to see the glass half full, and it's working so far. I am leaning on God's grace to get me through.

I need the lenses of my soul polished and focused, and the blinders discarded. Open up and bloom!

Tonight's Gig At Ron Jon's

The gig went Well. Good crowd. Good sound. At least 5 or 6 new old songs covered, plus a few of mine, which makes it all worthwhile.

The original material is all I am interested in, in the scheme of things. That's what I'm about.

Lay Down

lay down

your misconceptions

your pre-conceived notions

your attitudes

your moods

rest here a while

savor

the flavor

of now

Off To Charlotte

Betsy and I are off to Charlotte to see my mom. She turned 81 on the 20th of July. She is currently visiting my niece Cathy, who hit the big 4o yesterday! Wow. The persistence of time.....

Ron Jon's/Birthday People

The gig tonight was a great one. Rex Alan Polk, my old pal and bandmate in a few bands is in town and sat in on djembe tonight. Djembe is a hand drum with many sonic textures. Rex laid it down for us and we rocked as a trio. It was cool being onstage with my dear friend again. Rex brought Chris with him, whom we call Elvis, because he knows everything there is to know about the King. Chris also does a mean Ed Sullivan impersonation and has introduced our bands countless times in the past. It's too bad that not everyone knows who Sullivan was anymore, but I suppose that just shows my age! It was also Wayne's birthday who is a friend of ours and happened to be partying at Ron Jon's. After a while there were three birthday people sitting with Wayne and Andi, his lovely bride. This just happens to be my Mom's 81st birthday as well!


It was a great night.

Yale Brothers Show #1

The first Yale Brothers podcast is up. Click the link above to go to the show page, or go here for a direct link to the show mp3.

I hope you guys enjoy.

Podcast #3

Podcast #3

A rainy and hot evening in Myrtle Beach.

Direct link by the show here.

Tonight's Gig

The gig tonight was cool. The first set had a couple of low points, the second set was good, but the third set really rocked! The crowd was great. We tried out a few new covers tonight. Mr. Jones by Counting Crowes went well. So did Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon. I like that one. Creep by Radiohead went over well. Of course the original music is what I'm about, but playing some fun covers is, well, fun. Rog says I should enjoy them more. Me, I dig the original shit, with respect to the other shit.

BTW, I've been delving deep into Dylan. As always.

Currently listening: Infidels By Bob Dylan Release date: By 01 June, 2004

Drink Deeply

Drink deeply from the well of life
Be rude
Be gluttonous
Gorge yourself with its sweet nectar
for it will not last
it dribbles down the side of the face
so fast

Tubing Accident

Katie had a tubing accident down in Charleston yesterday afternoon. She and her friend Grace were thrown into an oyster bed and cut themselves up pretty badly. We went down and got Katie out of the hospital ER in Mount Pleasant. Katie has a couple of big lacerations and is not allowed to go into the sun for six months, so her scarring will be diminished. Oyster cuts are bad cuts. They are jagged. Her outdoor summer activities are pretty much shot as far as beach or swimming or tanning are concerned. The girls had to have a resident plastic surgeon come in to fix them up. Katie’s friend Grace has the worst injuries. She has some pretty bad tendon damage in her shoulder and had to stay in the hospital for surgery. It turned out worse than they thought for her as when she went in to surgery, the doctor found shell fragments and tendon damage and had to do a lot of work on her. She is a dancer and as it turns out she will not be able to do any dancing all season so she will be able to heal.

Both of these two wonderful young ladies are beautiful. It could have been a whole lot worse. They could have had their faces severely damaged or shredded. The Lord spared them, if you ask me. Don't get me wrong. It was a horrible thing for them. They had just gotten down there that day and had lots of cool activities planned with Grace's aunt and uncle. It was to ba a five day affair. That was not to be.

43

Roger, my twin brother, and I, turn forty-three today. Wow. Weren't we fifteen a blink of an eye ago? Unbelieveable.

Gig

Great night at Ron Jon's last night. We had fun trying out a few new old songs (covers) , and got through 'em pretty well. I got to play a few more of my tunes as well, which were well received.

See you next week at Ron Jon's.

Podcast #2

I have posted up a new podcast. Check it out here.

Unholy Sadness

Holy sadness could be considered a lament; unholy sadness a self-righteous chasm of dread. Not a great place to be mired. The quicksand of despair always looks like an easy highway until you are too far into it to turn back. See it for what it is and don't go there. That asphalt is soft and it will hold you fast. If you struggle, you will be pulled in deeper; the weight of your remorse will be your undoing. Enervation is not a vacation. Don't pitch your tent there.

Yale Brothers on MySpace

Check out the MySpace page I made for Rog and I.

Maryannaville

Maryannaville

Check this out. Especially the post entitled Narcissism, Corruption, & Politics

Whoa!

GO

Here's a song. It sums up my mood. I wrote this a few years ago. It's called Go.

Desert Wanderings

I feel like it's my time for another lap around the desert. Parched and thirsty for truth. Hungry for sustenance beyond the mundane. Tired of this emptiness that has been plaguing me of late. Bearings lost. Is the compass faulty, or is it just that I have lost the ability to read it? The jackyl of doubt is gnawing at my bones. I am itchy under my skin, and restless-legged and restless-hearted. I am in need of refreshment of mind, body, and spirit. I am in search of that which would restore me, yet I question my motives. I question everything about myself in the state I am in. I am ill-at-ease and burned out. I need a change, but the changes I am seeking money cannot buy. Does God really engineer circumstances? If so, then I'd better make the best of it. If not, I have wasted a whole lot of time. I have not lived lately; I have been lived. I am aware of the passage of time, and it is starting to make me think. Then again, I think too much.

The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip

I just got through watching The Mayor of Sunset Strip. The film is about Rodney Bingenheimer, one of the most importand DJ's on the planet. He has been influential in the careers of many of rock's most famous people. He has hung with everyone, and has seen it all. Yet he is a quiet, private person. Very humble. The epitome of cool. When I was growing up in Hollywood, the man was everywhere. Whenever I was at a concert or any cool happening in town I almost invariably ran into him. There was a local Denny's that has since been demolished in the heart of Hollywood (Sunset and Fuller) which was nicknamed Rock and Roll Denny's because it was the late-night hang of choice for creative types, rockers, wierdos, and various Hollywood miscreants when the clubs and bars shut down. There was nothing like it. It was the scene for me of many wonderful, crazy times. You could run into anyone there.

I must say I am missing my old stomping grounds very much. Despite the weirdness of it all it was home. In my heart it always will be.

Where To?

Where to from here?
Not so sure
Questioning motives
are they pure?
Man in motion
God knows where
A broken soul
in disrepair

Gig

The Ron Jon's gig went well last night. Rog and I will be bringin' in a new batch of tunes next week. We're gonna keep it fresh. Hope to see you there.

Billy Preston

I just found out that Billy Preston has died. He was a wonderful musician and a very nice guy. I had the pleasure of working in the studio with him once. I was doing some drumming on some demo tracks and A guy walks in with a keyboard under his arm. It was Billy. I was watching this from the tracking room through the glass. I saw him set up in the control room as I was finishing up my tracking. I hung around for a while to meet him and to hear him play a bit. The man was absolutely incredible, and so unassuming and cool.

God bless you Billy Preston.

SUMMER

Yesterday was the last day of school for students in Myrtle Beach. My daughter Katie is enjoying a well deserved sleep in this morning.

My brother Roger and I are playing our second gig at Ron Jon's this evening. I am going to re-arrange the set lists and add a few fun songs to the repertoire. It should prove to be an upbeat night.

It's getting busy at the store again as usual in the summer. Now that the kids are out of school, it will be a zoo! I am pretty much in auto-pilot as far as the retail thing goes. I take it one day at a time.

Sometimes I wonder about how busy we all seem to be. All this activity and so little contentment. I see urgency usurp importance every day. I've got to think there must be a better, simpler way to go about our lives, with less stress and less running around like maniacs. All for a vague future that we squander our present moments for. I'm personally feeling like a change would do me good. A reevaluation from the ground up. Perhaps a retreat is on order, because I certainly would like to contemplate a few things and set my priorities straight. I want to get away for a while, but summer rarely affords me that luxury. I am certain I can find at least a couple of days.

"If You Walk Away" Video

"If You Walk Away" Video
This video was compiled from footage of my former band, Rogue Alley from performance footage at Camp Pendleton in 1991, and outtakes from the filming of another video, City Of Pain. Created and directed by my Rogue Alley bandmate, bass player Richard Klotz. Richard was kind enough to give me permission to post this for your enjoyment. Thanks Rich!
Vocals - Chris Yale
Keyboards/Vocals - Roger Yale
Guitars - Mark Cerneka
Bass - Richard Klotz
Drums - Jim Alden

YO YO

Sometimes I am such a yoyo. If my emotions could have their way, I'd be bouncing all over the place. I am looking for a place within myself where I am not ruled by emotion. I am so easily tempted to fall into a funk for no reason whatsoever. For instance; last night I was watching The Bourne Identity with my wife, having a nice, relaxing eveing, when out of nowhere I was beset by nagging little thoughts that blossomed into low-grade anxieties. I find that if I dwell on them they only get worse. I decided to just let them pass through my mind without focusing on them and ride them out. What a ride. It almost ruined my evening. I realize that thoughts are just thoughts; I have no control over what passes into my mind. I do, however have total control over what I focus on. Unfortunately I don't always focus on the positive. I am bent towards dark imaginings. I don't like it. I am trying to change that fact.

Hope Springs Eternal

I am grateful to be alive today. I all too often overlook the blessings in my life. I tend to be a bit of a pessimist, but am I really, or is that a facade I hide behind? I think it's because of my past failures and shortcomings, disappointments and shattered dreams that I have crafted a tough little shell with a bit of an "I couldn't care less attitude". I have been given much insight in the past several months. I am coming back to myself. I am coming into a place in my life where I am getting out of my own way and letting God take control. My destiny is in his hands. It feels like God is restoring the lost years that the locusts have eaten. Hope has most definitely been restored. I am awake. I am alive. I dwell in the present moment, but I embrace eternity. I will go forward unafraid and excited about the future!

Gig Update

The Yale Brothers show at Ron Jon's went over very well, and Rog and I will be playing there weekly, hopefully all summer. We had a blast, and it was nice running in to some old friends, and meeting new ones. See you there next thursday!

It's Showtime!

Come check out The Yale Brothers at Ron Jon's tomorrow evening from 7-10PM if you're in the Myrtle Beach area. This is our first show of the summer!

3218 Waccamaw Blvd
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-8001

map link

NUTS!

I was rehearsing at my brother's house this evening. We were about to wrap it up when there was a knock on the door. It was one of Roger's neighbors saying that my car was being towed away! I parked right in front of his house on the street like I always do. I was not aware that there was a rule about not parking on the street. It's not like I was out in the street; I was just in front of the house. Luckily (I guess), I was able to catch the towing guy, but my car was already attached to the truck, and I had to pay the dude 95 bucks! It turns out that one of the members of the homeowner's association happened to be driving by, and instead of telling me to move or warning me, he just calls it in to the towing service they have a contract with. What a jerk. He just did it because he could. I don't know, I smell a RACKET! That has to have been the most expensive rehearsal ever. Rog felt bad because he says there's a sign up at the entrance to the community. I never saw it. I've been parking out there for a year and I've never seen this happen.

I get so worked up sometimes about stuff that doesn't matter much in the scheme of things. Even with goofy stuff like this going on I need to realize how incredibly good God is to me, and that he has me safely in the palm of His hand. If this was some sort of test I didn't see it coming. I might have cussed a little less!

Rant over.

God Is Love

Eternity is wrapped around time.

I need you Father, like never before.
I rest secure in your love.
I take confidence in your strength.
Bind up the brokenhearted.
Give victory to your saints.

We are responsible for what we know. Walk in the light you are given. Watch this principle transform your life like never before, rooted and grounded in Christ.

God of Wonders
You amaze me.

Love covers a multitude of sins.
Love is so woefully misunderstood and
so cheaply counterfeited by the flesh.
Perfect love casts out fear.
God is Love.

How can we argue with love?

Perfect love is expressed through obedience.

God is proactive. He is seeking us now.

He wants to be with us more than we want to be with Him.

Live in the light of the perpetual prescence of the Living God. His plans for you are good.

Practice the Presence

To practice the prescence of God, one must be continually aware that God is with us always. He sees all we do. He knows all we are. There are no secrets to Him. Everything is laid bare and completely known. There will be no hiding, but rest easy; He knows our frame. He knows we are dust. The beauty of it all is that He loves us completely and passionately. He will not let us go. Respond to that love.

Rally Pics

Here are what few snaps I took of the Zippo tent and stuff. That would be Betsy at the booth, and yours truly, looking a bit ready to get out of dodge.

Knackered!

Man I'm knackered!
The bike rally ended today and I just got home from loading out the Zippo tent. Wow. It sure feels good to be home. I'm glad to say that it's done!

Like the Oregonians say when you cross the border from California....

You are now leaving California.
Please resume normal behavior!

Light Rain

It's raining this morning. That's always uncool for those riding. I don't know how it's going to impact business today. Probably a slow morning. When it's slow, time crawls, needless to say.

Winding Down

The spring bike rally is winding down. Tomorrow (Sat) should prove to be a very busy day. Sunday we get to load out. It's been a long week, but its had its share of good times. A sea of Harleys by the sea.

Bike Week

I have been quite busy due to bike week down here. I am in a vendor tent (Zippo) at the main Harley dealer in town. Now through the end of the week should be the busiest time. It's loud, but colorful. I like bikes, but after a while they all seem to blend in and bleed in to one. In such numbers they lose their individuality. There are many cool sights to see, and many I wish I could get out of my head! Such is the wonder/horror of the spring rally.

If I didn't have my iTunes on party shuffle, I would go completely bonkers sitting there for ten hours. Not to worry; I've got about six thousand songs on my pc to keep me occupado!

Busy Week

This is going to be a very busy week. The annual Spring Bike Rally begins this weekend, and I'll be working in a vendor tent with the Zippo guys over at the Harley dealer for the entire rally. Our store, Tinder Box, is doing a few other out of store events which should keep everyone hopping. This time of year used to stress me out because of all the extra work and hassle, but I've learned that it's just a thing and it'll be history in a week or so. The thought of how something is going to be is almost always worse than the actual reality of the situation. Besides, I can only be in one place at a time and I am most definitely not going to sweat the small stuff anymore. Things used to drive me bonkers, but not anymore. Usually I end up having an enjoyable time. People are a trip!

I was hoping Rog and I would be gigging by now, but it didn't work out that way. We are ready to go though, which is a real plus. We'll be playing out real soon. Time to go out and get some work. The music's fun; getting the gigs is the work part.

Saturday Morning

I love the morning. Things are always new. The promise of a brand new day is before us. Saturday morning is nice, because Betsy and I only work a half day at the store, and we can actually get out and enjoy the afternoon together. Katie slept over at her friend Brittany's house as they were going to House Of Blues for the O.A.R. concert last night, so Betsy and I just hung out last night. We saw Pulp Fiction. I never saw that film all the way through before. I enjoyed it. I think it was very well done. Is there any movie that Steve Buscemi isn't in? He seems to pop up everywhere. He was the Buddy Holly waiter at Jack Rabbit Slim's. He's been in every movie we've seen lately, like Fargo, and The Big Lebowski. Not to mention The Sopranos. Guy's got a good career.

Have a great Weekend.

AAARGH!

My clutch has just burned out on me! AAARGH! Car trouble is even worse than computer trouble, in my opinion. Both pretty much suck when they occur.

I suppose it's about time. I've had this 92 Escort LX wagon since 1999. It's been a reliable little car for years, and since it's well paid for I intend to drive it into the ground. I only hope I can get several more years of service out of it.

It's just a thing. I try not to let stuff like this ruffle me.

The Yale Brothers

Here's a shot of my brother Roger (left), and I, after rehearsal yesterday. It's been a lot of fun being back together, and we're excited about playing live together again.

Let Go

How far will we go to see victory in our lives? Are we willing to pay the price of obedience? Are we desiring the things of God, or the applause of men? What is occupying the throne of our lives? Let go. Surrender is never easy, but the Christian life is impossible without it. Abide as a branch in the vine, and you will abide in the will of God. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. He also rewards obedience.

Honesty with oneself is essential to discovering God, and who you are in Christ. It's not pretty sometimes when we discover our intents and motives. Is seeking God an end in itself, or are we after something else? Meaning perhaps to enrich ourselves in the physical realm (praying to win while your brother dies in his sins). As Keith Green sang, "bless me Lord, bless me Lord, you know that's all I ever hear". Do we seek God with an eye to personal gain, or do we really just want more of Him? Tough questions demand honest prayer, thought, and study.

Ponder the honest truth. Strive for transparency in prayer and meditation. Love with everything you have. Live like you mean it and on purpose; God's purpose for you is rich with meaning and beyond your wildest dreams. Dream God's dreams and you will always be in wonder. Real life will shine with meaning because He means everything and His name is Wonderful!

Quiet Sunday

It's quiet and early Sunday morning. I enjoy the silence and this cup of coffee. I'm sitting at my laptop and thinking about life. It's good to think, but I have a tendency to overthink. I tend to focus on what is not happening in my life, rather than the good things that are. I need to be conscious of the fact that I am blessed, and to remember to be grateful. I am learning to grow, but I am frequently beset by the things which only impede that progress. This is a process. I need to learn how to enjoy the ride into unfamiliar desert terrain, and to thrive while not clinging too tightly to the tenuous. I am a pilgrim, just passing through.

Travel light along this road, and you will not be weary and bogged down when you reach your destination.

New Morning

It's a new morning, and the possibilities are endless. What will we make of it? What can we do today to bring us closer to where we want to be tomorrow? Hold the vision in your heart, and do what you must to realize that vision. Dream God's dream for your life, and move ahead with purpose and joy.

Lamentations 3
²²Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"

Fallow Ground

I still feel destined for something that I must reach out for and grab. Something just over the horizon. I think the directive is get ready. Be strong and be not afraid. Work what is given you to work and the outcome is certainly sure. Hold up your end of the bargain. Plow up the fallow ground. The same God that brought Israel out of Egypt is able to bring you out of your spiritual Egypt and into your personal Canaan. The Canaan that God has personally designed for you. I have never been good at obeying. I feel I have mostly given God lip service for over twenty-five years. I am a good liar, especially when it comes to lying to myself.

Perhaps there is a deeper meaning to the musical aspirations God put in my heart. Perhaps there is a purpose I am overlooking; I can only hope to do what is put in my hand to do, and leave the rest to Him. I’m determined to live what I believe and to seek His face with all my being. I will judge no man again, but love and value and cherish each human life as Jesus would.

I seek a higher path. The way of love. I know cool things are on the horizon but they don’t just drop out of the sky complete. Work the field that you have been entrusted with. Be a good steward for once and be consistent. I want the rest of my life to have deeper meaning. Simple yet profound meaning. Under the shadow of the Cross. Living under the shadow of the cross my blessed Savior hung from and died on. I seek balance and completion. A new creation pressing forward and not looking back.

HAPPY EASTER!

He is risen! If you as a Christian do not believe that, your faith is in vain, and you of all people are most to be pitied.

LIVE

Our greatest asset is time. Sounds simple but it's true. Time is pregnant with potential; The potential for change. The potential to reach for our goals and live our God-given dreams. Each day we wake up we are given a new beginning and a new chance to go for life with all that is within us. Do it! Live it. Quit talking and begin now to do what you know you were born to do.

Baffling Love

It may be hard sometimes depending on circumstance to actually praise and thank God for everything he allows, but praise definitely has a way to take the focus off of ourselves and on to Him. If we can only raise our eyes to Him. Shift the focus and, hard as it may seem, the scene will change. It will be bathed in a different light. I imagine things are very different from God's perspective, but yet He Himself is fully acquanted with grief. Amazing that God condescended to take on human flesh. The human experiment indeed. To see through human eyes and feel with a human heart. To have that very heart broken. And yet that was not the main motivation. He knew it had to be that way for the sake of His beloved humanity. The cross beckoned, and its shadow reached back to the manger, and forward, to the resurrection and the redemption of creation.

He remains to me as compelling as He is baffling. Help my unbelief.

HEART

Oh, to get to the heart of it all, to the place where artifice is stripped away, and it all falls into place as a whole. Where there is no longer any fragmentation, and we see everything with a clarity of insight only previously hinted at. A place where integration takes hold. A place where we can truly be free to be ourselves. A place where we can be kids at heart, and not take everything so morbidly seriously. That is what I long for. That is where we belong.

Nineteen

Yesterday Betsy and I celebrated our nineteenth anniversary. Wow! The concept of time is a mystery to me. Chronology. This place is crawling with mortals! God help us one and all.

The Struggle

The struggle goes on daily. Flesh and Spirit. One person divided right down the middle. Crawling in the dust. Reaching for the clouds. I am a failure and the chief of sinners. A ragamuffin. One sorely in need of God's grace. Every single day.

It's Your Future

Resist negativity
Leave your past
Step into a whole new reality
Identify your stumbling area and
find a way
to walk around it
Move into your destiny.

Life is shuttling by! Step out into your destiny. Your past certainly is not your future. You are not locked into your old patterns of failure. All things are made new for you in Christ. His promises for you are YES and AMEN!

Appropriate God's power in your life by yielding to His prompts and obeying.

Seek Him hungrily; wholeheartedly and you will not be disappointed.

God's mercies are new every morning!

PARTY!

Boy I'm partying tonight! Two Advils and an iced-coffee. Maybe a good cigar .Woooooo Hoooooo! I'm gonna listen to some podcasts and RELAX!

MAJESTY

God is robed in majesty, yet we take Him so for granted. We think we know all about Him, but I dare say we hardly know Him at all. He is so beyond the scope of our thinking; our attention span spans cannot encompass His complexities. Yet there is also the danger of over-intellectualizing and thinking ourselves out of faith as well. Dichotomy? You bet! God is so above our human reasoning that some write Him off as unknowable. We who believe understand that that is not the case, but we tend to become too familiar, too smug. Even so, we abide. But if God were to manifest even the smallest portion of His glory we would be undone. We have cute little pigeonholes for everything we cannot understand. To admit that we doubt is not sin. We have become so conscious of our own sins and shortcomings that we are blinded to grace and the opportunity to walk in authenticity. God gives us immeasurably more freedom than we allow ourselves. The freedom to be human. That is, after all, what we are..

I've said this somewhere before but it bears repeating; To run God through the filter of our understanding is to look at a large object up close with our noses pressed against it, not realizing that it is a whole lot different if we would just step back and try to take it all in.

Sometimes the answer only comes when we're not trying. But sometimes it does.

GYM

Betsy and I finally went back to the gym today. We woke up early and headed out. All I have to say is that it's been a long time, almost a year, since we've been there. The sad thing is that the place is just around the corner!

Needless to say it was an eye-opening experience to my out of shape self.

They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step? I guess I'm steppin' out.

God's Answers

A new morning's meditation
Stillness breeds contemplation
* * *
Sometime's God's answers are not what you'd expect. Occasionally they are downright baffling. Don't let that shake your trust in Him. Move on ahead. He knows the end from the beginning; you don't have to. Just trust. And obey. And move into realms of glory only hinted at. Jesus will prove to be all you ever really needed. All you could ever hope to desire is in His character, in His person. Mercy at the heart of justice.

Christ inhabits the very edges of the universe. He wraps the folds around Himself and yet cannot be contained. Motivated by endless love, He has as long as mankind has existed been wooing us and calling us to Himself. He bids us, come. I forgot who said it but, He bids us come and die. Get out of God's way and let Him make a symphony of your life.

A symphony
A dance of love
A tapestry
of vivid life-colors
A wondrous miracle
of restoration
and regeneration
Redemption
and grace

ABLE

The Lord is able to make all grace abound toward those who fear Him.

"When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul"
Ps.94:19

I'm gonna build my house on the Rock. I don't want to walk in the old ways anymore. God's in charge. I am more content than I have ever been and that has freed me up to live and work under God's provision. Oh, to get a glimpse of the things God has in mind for us.

Abba, I bask in your love. You are enough. I long to see your face; the face of eternal love. It amazes me that you seek us out, that you are proactive in your love for mankind.

Press into grace. You're gonna need it. Your tired soul needs refuge, ragamuffin man!

PODCAST

Hey guys,
Check out my Podcast page. This first one's just a quickie, but I hope you'll enjoy it, and consider subscribing or at least checking it out from time to time.

Rehearsals Improving

Roger and I are coming along well in rehearsal and will be ready to play out in a few weeks. It's cool to be playing with my brother again after such a long time. It seems we have put aside things in the past that have created tension in our relationship and we are way more at ease and comfortable around each other. I suppose it took a little while to get used to being around each other on a daily basis again.

It's going to be a fun season for the Yale Brothers. We're excited about getting back out there and sharing our music.

In The Quiet

In the quiet of the morning things come to light.
Time to reconsider.
Time to abide.
Time for grateful reflection.
Blessings are all around, and God longs to reveal Himself to the searching heart.
Availability of the seeker is key.
All too often I am blinded and befuddled by the dust of this age.
Shake the dust off my feet Lord, and off of the lenses of my soul.

CONSTANT GARDENER

My dad was from South Africa. I was always intrigued by the beauty of the place. I was also totally offended by the inherent racism of the place. I am totally offended by the inherent racism of this place. Watching the movie now freaks me out. It reminds me of horrible racism that plagues us even in the land of the free and the home of the brave. My dad loved this country. Grew up in London but busted his butt to get here. Go figure. SA has its issues, but hopefully it'll get better and better without apartheid. That is not where I wanna be. Take me to the Algarve. Portugal.

DLR

David Lee Roth Radio. Good stuff. The man has got it going on. Literate and well read. Interesting guy, interesting guests, interesting content. You know Dave. Give me a break......One break coming up......

So, umm, I've been a bit lazy about posting lately. I've really been digging listening to a ton of music. I've been in the process of putting my collection on my computer, and I have to say I have been rediscovering some tunes I'd forgotten about. It's just easier for me to fire up my laptop and access my music than to turn on the stereo and load cd's and blow the house away. It looks like I'll probably have enough HD space to load most of my cd's . This will almost certainly enhance my musical enjoyment and productivity. I want to harness the technology for efficiency. It's about freedom and easy access. It's not about getting bogged down. After all, isn't all this stuff supposed to make our lives easier? Frequently it does not, but in this case it's working out ok.

More House Pics

Here's a view of the living room now...



Here's another view...



Here's an old shot. Katie and I are sitting in the corner where the bookcase is now...


More to come...

PODSAFE MUSIC NETWORK

Hey Y'all! I just registered on the Podsafe Music Network, which is a community of podcasters and indie recording artists united for the purpose of promoting podcasting and indie music. Search for me on the homepage. I've got three songs on so far, and will be actively posting more!

Rock on!

Grateful

I try to remember to be grateful, but sometimes I get caught up in the day to day dealings that I lose sight of the beauty and blessing we are inundated with daily. I think it begins with my attitude in the morning. I need to focus upon awakening on the majesty of God. Oftentimes I am not in that space automatically, so it's a matter of getting myself into that zone, so to speak, and allowing the Spirit to calm me and envelop me, and energize me for the coming day.

Sometimes I'm such a putz I just go on blindly into the day in a reactive mode. I'm here to tell you that most certainly doesn't do it for me. I want a new and living way.

Kitchen now and then pics

Here are some views of the kitchen...now and then...Please excuse my laptop, sushi, TP, etc on the table (we haven't had a kitchen table in 12 years. I used to have my pc set up in the corner behind the table. The middle pic is a before shot. We tore out the bar to make more room.
I'll be posting more pics soon.

Summerville

Betsy and I are in summerville, which is just about twenty miles outside of Charleston. We are here meeting up with my buddy Mark Weisman and his daughter Monika. Monika is here for a soccer match. It's really nice to see them. They live in Nashville now, but I've known Mark since 1988 when we were still living in L.A. We are going to take a jaunt to Charleston to show them the town, and to eat some lunch. There's some really good eating in Charleston. It's a nice, sunny afternoon. A great afternoon to do a little sightseeing. I wish I was set up to do a podcast. I'd give you all a soundseeing tour. Maybe nextime, huh?

NEW LAPTOP!

I finally bit the bullet and bought a new computer. I found a good deal on a Compaq at Circuit City in the price range I can afford for now. It's nice and portable and it contains the features I need for the time being, although I'll most likely be upgrading the RAM if I run into any snags. Compared to my old PC, this ones blazing! My old desktop is nearing eight years old and was slow and out of room. It was (is) running Windows 98 and I couldn't run any new apps on it at all. I wanted a Mac Powerbook but in reality it's out of my price range at the moment. Also, as you may know, Mac just came out with an awesome Intel dual core processor laptop which I think is going to probably replace the Powerbooks. I know some Apple stuff is probably going on sale soon, but even so, I have decided to postpone making the switch to Mac. I am still quite interested in that prospect and will consider it in the future.

Roger and I are finally getting back into some serious (but fun) music woodshedding. Right now we're in the process of building our songlist and thinking about sets. It feels good to be moving forward again. I seem to have been in a bit of a slump since well before the holidays with the remodel and all. I was heavily stressed out for months. Thank God things are turning around and I am coming into some sort of clarity again. I think settling back into the house helped a lot (Christine, I'll have some pics up as soon as I can). I have not been online regularly at all and it's good to be back.

I hope all my friends are doing well. I look forward to re-connecting...

I'm Baaack!

We're finally moving back into our townhouse. There are a few odds and ends to take care of as far as touch-ups and minor corrections, but we're back in thank God. I will post some pictures when I get my stuff out of storage. Man, it's good to be home.

Offline

Sorry I've been a bit incommunicado but I have been offline for the last few weeks. I am staying at my in-laws for the next week or so and hope to be back home and online before Christmas. The townhouse is looking brilliant and we can't wait to be settled in.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Ugh

I want my space back! Ok, I'm done ranting. If I feel just a bit displaced, I can only imagine what the hurricane and tornado victims are and have been going through. This thought brings me back to reality. I am very blessed indeed.

Further on Down The Road

Things are moving along nicely. I am beginning to capture the vision of my wife Betsy as things roll along. I begin to see where she's going with all this. I am , however, stressed out and exhausted. I'm sure It'll all be cool.

Happy New Month!

It's November already? Wow! Carpe Diem everyone.

It's early and the guys that are working on our house are here finishing up gutting the kitchen. The new cabinets are due to arrive sometime today so we're rolling along according to plan. So far.

I helped with some wallpaper removal yesterday. Wallpaper. What a concept. Looks nice but it's a bitch to remove. Surely there must be a better way to git'r done!

Have an excellent day and start the month in a positive way!

Uncomfy

I had to do it! I had to set up my PC in Katie's empty room. I'm too old to sit on the floor in my room with the pc by my side of the sleeping mat.

They gut the kitchen tomorrow. Yikes.

Also, Unforch... I must've packed away the HP specific usb cord for the bloody camera. I wanted to post the before pics of the kitchen. No worries, I'll do it later, but I'll get Kate to do some stuff with her good camera, although we'll have to put the pics off until later....

Hip to Podcasts?

Daylight savings is over and I woke up early anyway. I was up before seven, which is rare indeed, but it feels good. I went to bed relatively early after a nice grilled pork chop dinner.
Right now I’m catching up on some Daily Source Code Podcasts with Adam Curry and getting fired up about Podcasting. I can tell you now I’m gonna need some new gear like a new pc or Mac and either an Ipod or some other portable device. What a great excuse to upgrade huh?
Today is a beautiful day and I’m pumped up. We’re going to Hot Stacks for breakfast.

Progress

We have removed almost everything from our house in anticipation of major work to begin monday. Whew! I have set up a little communications/entertainment center upstairs in our bedroom for the time being. Katie has temporarily moved in with her grandparents while the work commences. I'll post a few pics over the weekend. It aint pretty...

Onward Towards Remodel

Talmadge, our contractor pulled up a huge 17 foot trailer in front of our townhouse this morning. We are going to move most everything out of the house to prep for the remodel. They are pretty much gutting the place. I'm planning on posting some photos pretty soon, for those of you who would like to take a gander.

Yikes, my back already hurts, and I shoulda been in training for this kind of schlepping! It'll be well worth it I hope!

Lorrie Morgan

Lorrie Morgan came into the store yesterday and I waited on her. I was pretty sure it was her and when I rang her up I knew it for sure. She was very nice. She was in town to play a show yesterday. I didn't talk music with her; I'm sure she didn't want to be bothered, but it was a pretty interesting moment. My daughter was there at the time and of course she had no idea who she was, being the little rocker that she is. I myself was unaware of how famous she really is and how many music awards she has recieved over the years. I would have loved to pitch her a song then and there but you know what they say about hindsight being 20/20 and all. Such is life...

Good Morning

It is almost indescribably beautiful here this morning. About seventy degrees and clear as a bell. I like the way the air feels on days like this. It's like the sky is more expansive. I am energized. I am also grateful to God for such a fantastic morning. Mornings are among the litany of things I usually take for granted. Not today. Not anymore. Betsy and her Dad are off to Charlotte today, so I'll be working alone this morning (Betsy and I usually work together at the store). This time of year it's pretty quiet in the retail gig. I wouldn't wish a solo stint on anyone in the summer! Yeah, this time of year you have your regular customers and friends popping in. Nothing I can't handle. On a good day. When I am feeling anti-social, I don't want to know anybody. But I'm a good actor. I always have been. I really need to get a handle on things from an interior standpoint, because sometimes I am my worst enemy. Well, about all the time I guess.

Today is a good day.

Cabinets

We're actually moving forward with the remodeling plans. Betsy ordered the new kitchen cabinets this afternoon. They should be here in four weeks, and then we begin the home makeover....

I'll keep you posted.

Happy New Month

4:53 AM
I am up very early with the girls. Katie has got a swim meet in Columbia today and Betsy is making biscuits and gravy. I’m up for moral support and, of course, to sample some of the biscuits and gravy! It's awesome this time of day, but usually I see it at the end of a day, not a beginning, but I'm probably going to take a little lie down before I go to work at ten. Right now, though, is a perfect opportunity to read the Bible and commune with the One who wraps light around Himself as a garment, and who , despite our imperfections, wraps us in a blanket of grace every moment, and speaks love into our hearts.

God is amazingly proactive regarding our redemption, which makes a ragamuffin like me leap for joy. There is absolutely nothing I can do to deserve this great love, and that in itself is quite a liberating truth!

A Saturday Off!

I can't even remember when I last had a Saturday off with my family. Betsy and I both took the day off (we work together at her father's store, the Tinder Box). Katie, our daughter, has a swim meet this afternoon and we thought it the perfect excuse to bow out. We have both been working six days a week through the summer which is our busiest time of year. I almost don't know what to do with myself! Almost, that is. Here's an idea....chill.

Early

I love the morning. The sunlight has a special quality to it. It's almost like it's filled with promise. If I would just take off my spectacles of gloom once in a while I'd see more of this...

I am learning to focus not on what I lack, but what I have already been blessed with. Sometimes, for me, it's not natural, as I have always seemed to have had a bent towards discontent and longing. I need to learn to truly embrace the now, and not some distant ideal of a future or past perfection. This is a major stumbling block for me. Life would be tremendously easier if I didn't get in the way of the flow and question everything.

Rainy Sunday Evening

What started out as a sunny day has become a rainy afternoon and evening. Betsy and I walked her parent's dogs just now because they are up in Charlotte at the Panthers/Patriots game. I don't follow football, I just like the sound of a game on TV in the fall, especially around Thanksgiving. Don't ask me why, I just dig the ambience.

There was a little let up in the weather and off we went. We had a nice walk around their neighborhood. It was quite relaxing. I wouldn't have minded walking in the rain. It clears my head to walk. Perhaps I should make a habit out of it. It recharges the mental brownies.

Ophelia

Sheesh, we are in a hurricane watch now. That's all we need. Get thee to a Nunnery, Ophelia honey, you're never gonna make it as a Playboy Bunny!

Seeds of Something Cool

It's a nice morning in Myrtle Beach. My favorite time of year around here. I'm pottering around the house this morning.

My brother Roger and I jammed a bit last night mostly on my songs, but we did a few fun covers as well. We are going to be playing together a whole lot more these days. eventually we will get out and play live again. It's been a long time since Rog and I have played out together, and I'm looking forward to it, but we've got a lot of ground to cover in rehearsal. I see the seeds of something cool starting to happen...

Up Early

I was up early for no particular reason, so I stayed up. I read the Bible a bit and wrote in my journal. I like everything about the early morning except dragging my lazy butt out of bed. Once I'm up it's all cool. I liked the experience so much, I may repeat it again real soon!

Betsy and I have decided to hold off on moving into a new house and just tough it out in our townhouse for the time being. We put a lot of thought into moving, and actually had paperwork drawn up for construction to begin soon, but it is not to be. I have concluded that doing so would plunge us into a huge financial black hole, even though it would be a good investment. I could see myself going ballistic when the first power bill comes in or anything unexpected comes up. This townhouse is paid for and it just makes more sense to stay put, even though we are a little tight on space. There is just the three of us, and in a couple years Katie will be going to college, so I'm thinking stay put and sock as much dinero away for her as possible. Lord knows she's going to need it.

A mortgage is something I really don't want to be tied down to. I sure don't miss one at all.

PEOPLE ARE CRAZY

Generally speaking, I'd have to say that people are off their rockers! I am amazed daily. Hell, I amaze myself daily.

Expansive Pondering

It’s not cooler yet but there’s something about this time of year that I can actually feel. Somehow I feel the sky opening up and a heaviness dissolving in my spirit. At times like this I dream of a place that has more of this feel of expansiveness of the horizon. What a great day to be alive.

GAS!

Unbelieveable!
Playing into the hands of the greedy again! Where are the alternative energy sources? Bought out or squelched by the corporate oil giants. The same ones who you can blame for the demise of the red electric streetcars that once graced Los angeles. Assholes! I realize the situation in the gulf, but gimme a break! Now I suppose we have a great excuse to steal some oil from Iraq. Yep. As if W really needed an excuse. He's only profiting from this mess anyway, at our expense.
Tirade over.

De-Junking

I'm going through some old vinyl records and having a wonderful time. I'm going through the old collection with a mind to archiving them on cd. Betsy and Katie are out doing a bit of back to school wardrobe shopping for Katie and I'm listening to the Brandenburg Concertos by J.S. Bach. Right this minute I'm into Concerto #1. I'm loving it and almost caught up in a reverie. I could swear even the cats are into it. I have tons of old vinyl and cassettes and have only begun doing some format conversion with an eye to further de-cluttering of my life. There was a time when I wouldn't even consider getting rid of the precious old outmoded mediums, but I guess you could say I am a changed man. I just don't want stuff to tie me down. I am evaluating just about everything of a material nature and questioning its worth or the purpose it serves in my life. Is it a weight or is it a joy? Is it a burden or is it a tool for increasing the quality of life? Sure, I love music, but I also value organization up to a point, and getting rid of stuff and simplifying life has become a bit of an obsession for me, not only on the material plane, but on the spiritual and mental as well. Boy is this fun! Let the games begin!

The End Of Myself

Sometimes the darkness overtakes me
Like a long lost lover or a friend
Unlike the daylight that forsakes me
At the journey’s end

I am seeking transparency
I delight in the truth
And I want it to motivate me
To higher pursuits

Idealism vs Reality

I get so sick of myself. I am amazed by my inability to turn ideal into reality, the sound in my head to the sound on record; the ideals of my life into reality. I am constantly disappointed with reality but maybe I’m being too subjective.

I’m listening to “Devils and Dust”, Bruce’s new record. It’s good. He has a way of totally inspiring me to write and record. He usually restores my faith in the power of Rock n Roll. He is a huge influence on me. He always has been, even before I could stand on my own as a writer. That was a long time ago, but I am still grateful for the lessons learned.

The record came on a dual disc. It has CD on one side and DVD on the other. Now I need to think about getting with the program and actually buying a DVD player. Yes, I’m still in the dark ages with a VHS machine that’s twenty years old. Oh, and 5.1 surround would be cool to get familiar with as well. It’s high time!

I saw Alejandro Escovedo on Austin City Limits last night. It was very cool to see him playing and writing so very well. I’m glad he’s feeling better.

I have my ups and downs, but I’d rather have these then the in-betweens.

Martin

I got my Martin back from the repair shop today. Eight new frets and it feels and plays like a brand new guitar, only better, because it's got some years on it and it's aging well and sounding great. It's amazing to me how an instrument that is in great playable condition inspires one to pick it up and spend a whole lot of time wearing down the frets again! Put me in, coach!

Sunday Hangin'

I woke up at 8:00, which is odd for me on a Sunday or any day for that matter. Had a wonderful quiet time with the Lord. Betsy brought us some McDonalds breakfast sandwiches in lieu of going to Hot Stacks today. I threw out a lot of crap in our bedroom. I’m talking about tons of stuff. It’s amazing what you can cram into a room. I must have thrown out ten big bags of trash. We have tons more to go as we are in de-cluttering mode.

My Martin has finally been re-fretted and it’s ready to be picked up from Chestnut Mandolins in Conway, the local factory authorized Martin repair facility. I am giddy about having my “baby” back and I’m looking forward to fondling and cradling her once again! I have been out of sorts lately and haven’t played much music at all. Then again, when your axe aint right it’s hard to get motivated.

I must be so high strung. I’ve been anxious about so many things. I do cast my cares on the Lord, but I need to learn how to leave my cares with him. I always seem to take them back and work myself up into a lather. I don’t know why…things have a way of working out in spite of myself, and I thank God for that daily.

We’re having Mom and Wes and Taylor over for our weekly dinner. Off we go…

Unchained

Certain things don’t apply anymore. I am different somehow; not so much evolved, but no longer poured into the world’s mold. Not so much transformed but transforming. I am no longer a people pleaser. I am no longer hungry for approval from anyone. This feels good to me. Breathing the air of freedom gives me even more clarity to lose more shackles. Unchained and free to be me.