Good Bye 2008 ~ Hello 2009

This night is the one night when one can determine their age of maturation. For some, it's EVERY Saturday night. But when you get to be a certain age, you stop defining your self by what new years eve plans you have. If you are home and in bed by 10pm, you're a real loser. (If you're in your early 20's) If you're older and happy; tomorrow is just another day. One you'll be able to appreciate if you wake up without a pounding hang over. Or heaven forbid, you wake up in the drunk tank at the county correctional facility. Now all my life I've managed to avoid the latter. (Not because I didn't deserve to be there) I owe my guardian Angel a great deal of gratitude. Fortunately I never did anyone any physical harm and I again I thank God and His angels for that.

These days, I'd rather stay home and watch reruns of CSI and Law and Order than risk being pulled over into a check point only to find a fume of C6H208 on my breath. I don't think I could pass one of those drunk tests while sober, let alone after a couple a beers.

Tonight I pray that nobody gets killed by a drunk driver. I pray that nobody I know gets pulled over and thrown in the tank. (as that changes your life forever) I pray that those that I love and care for, have boring New Years Eves like me. And like me, will wake up tomorrow like any other day with a clear mind, body and soul.

While we're at it, I pray that SONY decides to send me the following email:

Dear Ace Andres,

We've been watching your development as an artist and would like to fly you to Los Angeles to discuss a long term recording deal. You'll be staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey where our A&R team will meet you and discuss your needs.
Please contact the Monterey airport ticket counter for your first class accomidations.

We Look forward to meeting you in the coming week. Have a safe and Happy New Years Eve.



Sincerely,

Howard Stringer
CEO, SONY USA

Now THAT would be a Happy New Year.


Ace out............

This Broken Heart (and my broken foot)

I sprained my ankle in the making of this video.

Christmas/Boxing Day Message

Two important Ideas I want you to keep in mind for the New Year and for Years to come. I learned these Ideas from Bob Proctor. They're very simple. Some would say just common sense. My favorite speaker Stephen Covey would say, common sense is rarely common practice.

Idea #1.

I can't be free until I can be ME. Then Bob goes on to say, not the ME my Wife wants me to be. Not the ME my kids or friends want me to be. But the ME I want me to be. How do you discover WHO that ME is? Another one of my favorite speakers is Matthew Kelly. Matthew talks about doing what you love. And that is something that you do that puts you into a state of "Timelessness". A Time Warp.

For Me, it's playing and singing guitar. I've been told that when you watch me play, you can feel the enjoyment I'm feeling from playing.

Don't spend your physical life experience dreaming about what you enjoy doing.

Idea #2.

Everybody is in this "Life Experience" for themselves. As in "WIFM" (What's in it for Me?) When you approach others with that expectation, you'll see that you not only get along better, but they admire you for having their best interest in mind. I know it sounds greedy and self centeredd, but it's true. If we don't take care of ourselves, how can we add anything to others?

So keep those 2 simple principles in mind.


Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day Canada.



Ace Out..............

Another Elvis Tune?

A Tribute to Rockabilly and Sun Records~Ubangi Stomp by Ace Andres & The X-15s

Belleau Wood

This is a song about a self-imposed Christmas truce in 1914 during world war I.

The Hitlers I've known

Whether it is a megalomaniac that has a title, or the moderator of a cheesy chat board, Hitlers are Hitlers.

I had always thought that it was myth that the Germans and Allies in Europe stopped and ceased firing during Christmas. There's a song by Garth Brooks called Belleau Wood. The lyrics are cheesy as well until you realize they are true. In 1914 The German and French Armies laid down their rifles and actually played soccer with each other. They sang Christmas carols.

This made a young private Hitler burn with anger.

I've known many Hitlers. They are still out there. They will do their best to seize opportunity to wreak havoc and control anything or anyone they can get their hands on.

Don't think it can't happen. It didn't take Hitler very long to go from a young private enlisted man, to the Furor of the third Reich. And he didn't come in the form that we remember him as. Hitler came to power as a charismatic answer. He probably would have been a good insurance salesman. He saw opportunity and he took it. Like Saddam Hussein, he seized power and killed the opposition within his own ranks.

I've known Hitlers. They run surgery centers and retail stores. They compete in sales. They fight for the family inheritance. They take all they can when they divorce their spouses.

I've known Hitler.