Never Forget to Celebrate!

sitting here at the ol' puter thinkin' of our vows ceremony on Hilton Head Island and the after party in Bluffton............lots of nerves all around before this all took place......but everything worth while, it seems, has involved me being a little "chicken"............but man it was worth it!

I love my wife, my children and my life.........and always have!  I wanted to let as many people know as possible what my feelings were about all of that..........so blessed to have such great friends and family to share it all with!

each and every time I set down and think about something I want to do in life, I have a bit of a mind struggle inside (is it gonna be hard? is it worth the work? will I be laughed at?), but you know what? sometimes there is a yes to those questions..........but does that really matter? NO!  I have worked hard for everything in my life, I have been laughed at many times too, but it is MY life and I will live it on MY terms not someone else's...........

so as I reflect on all the cool things I have either done or accomplished, I can honestly say without any doubt........every pain, every worry, every embarrassment was worth it! and I can sit back and celebrate that.

I celebrate the fact that God has given me the imagination to dream it all up, He has given me the drive to try to attain it all, He has always surrounded me with people that have helped me in all these things, He has been there with me when I fall down and He has been there with me when I can shout "VICTORY"!!

Never forget to celebrate, take a break and a breath, count your blessings and CELEBRATE!!
All trials and obstacles are just getting you ready to do the victory dance!

Go ahead and dream it up and get ready to celebrate!

Cheers!!

listen from within, but look outward

I always preach to listen your inner voice.........and that is how I have lived my life completely, for better or worse............as I have said before, I have done so many things that I wouldn't have if I had not listened so closely, but while those things were great and still are today, I think the real focus in our journey while we are here is to use that inner voice for the better good...............yes look inward for direction for your dreams and goals and all, but look inward so you can look outward and see what needs to be done with your own bare hands to make this place a better place.........maybe focus your dreams and goals in a way that will effect many people in a positive way (the right charity to support, the right person to help, the right place to live so you can be more effective)............also focus your dreams and goals so that when you are gone, you will leave one hell of a legacy.......that for me, is my kids...........for instance my inner voice has led me in music and I will leave that legacy for my children to carry on the torch for me and they can do even more with it and bigger/better things......so while I have tried so hard to uplift people with my musical talents, my hope is that my children will do AMAZING things with what I have left them.

whatever you are led to do, do it well, do it with passion and don't let anyone tell ya you are crazy, just maintain your focus outward towards others and you will know deep inside that your life was worth living..........your life will have been worth something to someone else.

Cheers!

it all depends on how you look at it.............

sittin here thinkin bout my life..........as with all folks, we make lots of mistakes.........sometimes we learn from em, sometimes we don't...........I have made more mistakes than most I think, but I have absolutely no regrets!  whether it was marrying my jr. high school sweet heart that ended up in divorce, or being a dishonest person in my early years.....it really doesn't matter...........I tell my kids to "try" and never let someone tell them they "cant"......and if they fail or make a mistake, then try again and try again and try again.........eventually I got everything right and so will they.......God knows my heart and He knows what He wants from me...........so all opened doors or closed doors were fine with me............people have mentioned to me from time to time "what the hell were you thinkin?".......I say "hell if I know! I just know I made it work eventually"  It all depends on perspective and your heart.......so, its ok to listen to others as far as guidance, just remember they are looking "in" and not "out" and they do not know your heart or anything...so take that all with a grain of salt and remember to make your "own" decisions.............in the end you don't have to answer to "them" and remember to think of what their motives are behind telling you these things........I realize I am rambling here, just trying to reign in my thoughts.............

I guess I just wanted to say that its ok to follow your dreams, no matter how wacky they are!  You NEVER know where something will lead you really.....so if you hear it in your heart, it probably is the right thing to do (no matter how hard or strange it may sound at the time).............

get alone and listen close, amazing things can happen!

Cheers!

RocketnFoxx..............hold on for the ride!

When I was diagnosed with this wonderful cancer, one of the first things I did was create a bucket list to help me stay focused on living..........and it has done that!  I have completed many things on the list, but one of the most important to me was my first tattoo...............

some think the idea of a tattoo is stupid or even disrespects God......whatever......its my doing not theirs and it is between me and God.......really all that matters.........the one thing that really mattered to me was to have tattoos that held a heavy meaning in my heart..........I will attempt to explain my first tat..............

I met my wife Dee Dee on the internet over 15 years ago in an old school chat room, it was cool, I was a bad boy, I was still married while I chatted with her..............that being said, it was all meant to be.......whether you think of me as a heathen horrible sinner for this, that is up to you, I am just telling my story...........my screen name was Rocketman, hers was Foxx

the nice thing about our relationship was we only talked and chatted....and we opened up to each other........because of this I had this incredible feeling, that this was gonna be something wonderful......
one thing led to another and we met, it wasn't odd at all, we knew each other, we really did..........

now to move past the boring specifics.............................

I told Dee I was a dreamer, a big dreamer............told her of some of my ambitions, well she was little spooked, but....................

from that point in time, she has been along for the ride, for good or bad, better or worse...........
I have tried to give the love of my life the ride of her life........so when you examine this tattoo.........you can see why I think it is the perfect tat to illustrate our life together!

She held on to me for dear life and has had the time of her life, sometimes not too sure about what is gonna happen next, but none the less..........she held on without fail, and she still holds on today.

let your heart do the steering

so many things run through a cancer patients mind..........how long will I live, can I bear the treatments, am I strong enough, do people really care, what will happen when I die, how will my family make it when I die..............lots of negatives come and go

but so many more positives are there as well, if you let em come through the crap............
like.............I am blessed to still be alive, the fact that people really do love me, the treatment is really worth it to live longer, maybe there really will be a cure, God loves me, God can heal me, my family is strong enough to make this journey with me..........a ton of positives as well...........

I suppose it may be easier to listen to the cons, but I choose daily to hear the pros...........

all that negative bullcrap wont do me ANY good, so why listen to it or focus on it........I agree these thoughts are only natural, but to me, it is my logical brain getting in the way of my drive and my heart......my heart steers me and my drive moves me along.......it has moved me along a crazy and awesome life so far, so I will let it continue to do the same today and tomorrow............

my hope is that everybody I come into contact with, will catch "fire" of this drive I have and life their lives by letting their hearts lead them through each obstacle and into each every journey that comes their way...........to me tell you, it is the only way to live!

Cheers!!

something comfortable......a challenge

sitting here reflecting on my experiences while writing and recording over the years........so many challenges  and frustrations, but.......with each and everyone of them, came a feeling of victory......I have learned so much from so many people, that no matter what was thrown my way, it was all worth it in more ways than one! 

so many good times and good melodies came along the way......

to this day, I use all of my experience I have built up over all these times to excel in my home studio, whether it be recording techniques or writing and altering songs on the fly......that some times it seems to just come to me by second nature.....

now when I rig up my gear for recording, I remember all the people who have helped and challenged me.....and I say a big thank you!  I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with them, it has been a massive blessing.

with this being said, I am now working on new material for a new album....I am combining former times with todays times and some interesting things are coming about.......there are still challenges each and every day, but I know from experience that these challenges will bring forth celebrations!

so as you read this, don't really focus on my comments here as a musician, but as a human here on earth, taking each struggle, each obstacle.....and then turning them into opportunities and triumphs......triumphs way back then and triumphs into the future and beyond!!

Never back away from a challenge!!

LIVE LIFE WITH WILD ABANDON!!  CHEERS!!

more than one blessing

sitting here thinking of what is important to most folks.......on the surface people may say their family, God or even the home.........these things are all important to everyone....a home is where you build your family and regenerate, so that is very important and that really isn't a physical place as they say "home is where the heart is".......family is very important as well, you share your entire life's existence with them, they laugh and cry with you, your children are an important part of your legacy.......God is extremely important as well (whatever God you serve)........

things can be important as well.....but some folks say "things" are temporary....well I suppose so, but anything is temporary if you look at it in certain ways........my music for instance is just as important to me as most things..........it is another part of my legacy, I will leave it here when I am gone, I am blessed with the tools and abilities to write and record my thoughts and melodies for people to experience many years from now.....but that too is temporary in a way.....my music will stop being created at some point and it will just be memories to look back on......

memories fade away at some point......so I try as hard as I can to document or log as much of my life as I can......so it wont fade away as quickly......

in the end my most important thing is my wife Dee Dee.......so many reasons here........I came back to knowing God on a personal level (prolly wouldn't have done that without her), I have great kids, she has encouraged me constanstly (music, business, church, emotionally, the list is endless).........without her, most things for me would have very little meaning......

i guess in my rambling here, I just hope to stir you up, to think about not just the "one" most important thing in your life..........but to take stock in everything you have around you and everything you have experienced.....and smile.....because we all will leave this place at some point, so enjoy it while you are hear and (most importantly) help others to enjoy it as well!

Cheers!!

stayin positive at ALL times!

as i set here and write this post, i am mentally drained.  my emotions are all jacked up and i am exhausted.  my cancer for some reason keeps on advancing......not always in the same areas, but none the less it keeps growing..........this next treatment is something i have been on before and it did stop growth for a while before and that is what the hope is here by going back on it..........i have no other options at this time........that being said, i still do not plan on dying or going anywhere.......this crap pisses me off on a daily basis and where ever the hell it came from can take it back!

through all of the treatments, operations and procedures i have remained positive and to this day i still remain that way in my thinking.

so if i (a person with a terminal illness) can remain positive and not let things get me down........then why not the hell everybody else?  I know it is easier said than done, but life is not fair and never easy.

so do whatever you can, to look your obstacles in the eye and say "STICK IT!" and keep pushing through.....i promise you, that you will be better for it and so will your family! 

take that chance, overcome that fear and knock that sickness in the dirt!!  if not for you, then for your family!!

LIVE IT PEOPLE TO THE FULLEST!! through everything.............Cheers!!!

Its quiet in the house tonight, all are asleep but me.....peaceful. i can sometimes think better at times like this, but those aren't always the best ones. Trying to think positive all the time can drain ones energy. The secret to me is learning to not really try but release yourself into knowing that you have done all you could have done with the moments given to you and to focus on the fact that each day you are alive is a blessing and not a chore. Pains come and go, happy times come and go......but focusing your energy on blessing those around you helps you stay on an even keel. So yes living for yourself is good, but living for those around you is better than good......for you as well as them.....its therapeutic and has a bit of a calming effect.......Cheers!

Each Moment is Precious!

An old post from Facebook on April 10th.

Once you take your life for granite, then your end has started.......make each moment, interaction, friend and loved one in your life count.....and hold it all precious!

Stay Focused on the Good

An old facebook post from February 5th.

As I set out on my back porch in the sun on this lovely day, some would say I got it made......and in a lot of ways i do.......lots of family time, plenty of quality time with my wife.......but some times its too much.....it can be hard to stay busy and keep my mind off of my problems........I miss working, but I love being blessed with all the time I have.......remember to always take all good from whatever gets thrown your way........just a simple thought that could easily change your life and it better.

True Blessings!

An old Facebook post from April 15th.

I am not sure which of my best lifes blessings is better......finding and falling in love with my beautiful wife Dee Dee or having two beautiful daughters to share my life with and to help raise in this world.........both are the best things I have in my life....... I guess I should not even try to make a guess at it, because I am just plain and simply blessed...... my life is fullfilled with them in it!

The Start of Expressing Myself Through A Blog

I have been asked on many occasions to start a blog, so here goes.  For some reason God has given me the ability to express myself very clearly, whether it be through my music or my words.  I seem to have the knack for showing the positive in ALL situations.  Some folks would look at recent events in my life and say that I have been crapped on in a big way, but I don't see it that way.  I have said it many many times before that I have been given second chances numerous times in my life and being diagnosed with stage four cancer is just another example of this.  I am not dead yet, I am still alive and kicking...........being given the chance to show that it is ok to hurt, cry and even get ticked off at ones life and in general the way things go.  In this same train of thought though, to show on a consistent basis that even though it is ok to show these feelings, one can NOT dwell on them or they will surely lie down and die.

For these reasons I am writing this blog.  It is my hope that many people from all walks of life will read what I have to say and either be lifted up or (pardon the expression) get off their ass and live life like it is supposed to be lived...........with WILD ABANDON!!

You will read the occasionly swear word here and maybe even an opinion that you may not agree with, but hey! isn't that what is so great about this country we live in?  Don't dwell on a specific word or sentence, but instead take the entire post for what it is and either use it or move on.

As I always say............LIVE LIFE and NEVER LOOK BACK!! Cheers!