Category: Communications


The A-Hole Relativity Theory and Driving Lessons

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February 15, 2017

I have a theory – call it the a-hole relativity theory. The number of a-holes in any given area is relative to the total number of people in that area. Hence, more people, more a-holes. This of course includes many varying degrees of a-holism.

Some of them don’t actually know they have this social disease. They are oblivious of the fact that they are disturbing a very large number of people. Then there are those who are chest-thumping proud of pissing people off. Some are in between – most of the time they are considerate of the people around them. Until something hits their switch and they became flaming lunatics.

What they all have in common is a serious lack of driving skills. They have the inability to see that everyone is passing them on both sides and they are slowing down. And they were not going the speed limit to begin with.

To do what I feel is my duty, I thought I would jot down a few rules to help these poor demented souls survive yet one more day. Some are just common sense – something most of them do not possess.

If you are already in the turn lane while coming to a stop, there is no longer any need to turn on your blinker.

On the other hand, if you are not yet in the turn lane or left lane, please turn the damn thing on.

If you are turning right at the corner, don’t turn the blinker on until you’ve passed the parking lot entrances. People coming out of the parking lot will think you’re turning there and will try to pull out in front of you. Turn on your blinker when you pass the last entrance. You can begin slowing down, however.

Being in the middle lane going forty miles an hour is not the best time to whip out the phone and post a selfie on Facebook and/or Instagram.

If you get a phone call when you are driving in rush hour traffic, let it go to voice mail. You can check it at the next red light or at your destination. If you are lying in the road dead or dying, letting them know you are running late is not going to matter.

Whether you know it or not, the mirrors are on the car for a reason. Use the freaking things!

Please feel free to add others in the comments. The ironic thing is, if the people I refer to read this, it probably won’t occur to them that it’s about them.

Peace be with you.

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Reach for the Stars Talent Review Contest – Week 6

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Music, Talent Contest, writing — Leave a comment
February 13, 2017
David Conger

David Conger

This past Friday, February 10, at Harbor Point Club and Grill in Richardson we had week six of the Reach for the Stars competition. With Pete Cormican having a Party with Pete gig, Lonny Schonfeld, Dan Roark, and Tanya Houston were the judges. Several people who were to perform were taken ill. It’s been that kind of season for a lot of us.

Tanner Usrey, first place winner from week 5, who was to open the show, was one of those under the weather. The rules of the contest state that if a first place winner it unable to open the following week, he forfeits entry into the semi-finals. However, with illness being a valid reason for missing, Tanner will still advance. As will Joe Watson, second place winner from the previous week, who stepped up to come and open the show.

,Joe started the show with four songs, a mix of originals and cover songs. Ordinarily, it would be three songs, but with few competing performers, more songs were needed. Fill-in acts were Cheryl McGuire and Tomas Pineda, Jr. The judges even got into the act, as it were.

Lonny did a Louis Armstrong impression with What a Wonderful World. The only thing missing was the

Anthony and Cindy Lewis

Anthony and Cindy Lewis

handkerchief to wipe away the sweat on his brow. Comedienne Tanya got up on stage for a few routines. Dan closed the show with a few of his songs on ukulele and harmonica.

With only three competitors, David Conger came in first place, Cindy Lewis was second, and Sonja Wade was third.

Anthony and Sonja Wade

Anthony and Sonja Wade

Come on out Friday night for week seven. There is always a lot of good talent. Great music, good food, reasonable drinks,  and a friendly staff. If you would like to play as a fill-in performer or compete in the contest, call Anthony at 214-660-4799. There are spots open for this week. Come show us your talent!

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

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Brother Antonio, Nearsighted Monk of the Brotherhood of the Necessarily Significant, Pt. 3

Filed under: Books, Brother Antonio, Communications, Fiction, writing — 1 Comment
February 12, 2017

[Read part one and part two]

“Everyone be quiet and stay calm and no one will get hurt,” the gunman commanded. “The shot was an accident. No sudden noises.”

Antonio knew that if the police were not outside by now, they would be soon. He also knew the gunman was becoming more nervous by the minute and he did not want to get caught in the middle, which was now an increasingly likely situation.

“The police are going to be here soon, if they aren’t here now. I’d like to help you if I can,” Antonio said in the most calming voice he could muster with his nerves on overdrive.

“Why would you do that?

“Because I’m a preacher and it’s my job to help people with their problems.”

“So how can you help?”

“I have a cell phone with the number of the sheriff and he will listen to me.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I helped his family out. Like I said, it’s what I do.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“I’m a preacher, for God’s sake! I don’t have an ulterior motive.”

“A what?”

“A reason for lying to you. Just let me call him. If you don’t like what I say you can shoot me. And I wouldn’t give you a reason to do that. But I need to know why you’re doing this. Are you here to rob them?”

“I’m not here to rob the place. I’m not sure how things got this far. Make the call.”

Antonio could sense desperation in the man’s voice. He hadn’t always been a preacher and he knew the difference between an evil man and a desperate one. He pulled out his phone and called Sheriff Martinez.

“Hello, Antonio. I’m a little occupied at the moment.”

“No more than I, Oscar. I’m in the restaurant with the gunman’s arm around my chest.” He felt the gunman relax his hold a bit.

“Was anyone hurt by the shot?”

“No, someone dropped something in the kitchen which surprised him and he reacted. The bullet went into the counter after going through a chair.”

“What does he want?”

“That’s what we’re trying to ascertain. If you’ll let us get to the chapel, we’ll try to resolve the situation without involving the people in here. We’ll be coming out the main door.”

“You got a line on this nimrod?”

“So far anyway. But remember, he’s one of God’s people.”

“But not one of the chosen, Antonio. Call me when you’re in the chapel.”

“First chance I get.” Antonio hung up the phone and returned it to his pocket.

“What’s the chapel?” the gunman said in his ear, tightening the grip on his chest.

“The semitrailer in the parking lot. I’m surprised you missed it.”

“I wasn’t looking for a chapel.” He pushed Antonio toward the door between the two rooms.

“Point taken,” Antonio said as he reached out with his hand and unlocked the door.

The gunman put the pistol in his pocket and stayed behind Antonio. Antonio nodded slightly to Fred as they passed the cash register. The two men walked out the front door of the truck stop and headed for the trailer. Police cars were parked in front of the restaurant. A group of officers gathered behind the cars watching the two walk toward the chapel. .

As the two men walked up the steps of the trailer, Antonio glanced toward the restaurant. A couple of deputies were coming out of the door looking toward the chapel. The gunman  followed Antonio into the chapel and locked the door behind him. Antonio walked over to his desk, swiveled the chair around, and sat down facing the gunman.

“So now that we’re here alone, what do I call you?” Antonio asked him.

The gunman held the gun on Antonio and looked confused. He was trying to get straight in his head the significant turn his original, albeit on-the-fly, plan had taken.

“I’m Jason,” he said finally.

“Well, Jason, I’m Antonio. Brother Antonio. Sheriff Martinez is expecting me to call him shortly and have the answers to some questions. Why don’t you tell me your story and let’s figure out how to wrap this thing up, whatever it is. What brought you to the truck stop with a gun?”

“A flat tire, an escapee from jail, a woman, two barbeque sandwiches, and a few bad choices,” Jason said with a sigh and look of resignation.

[Peace be with you.]

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Valley View Mall Saga Part 3 – The Mall Opens

Filed under: Communications, Current events, writing — 4 Comments
February 10, 2017

regular-parking-place[Read part one and part two] The summer Valley View mall opened, a lot of teenagers – myself included – spent way too much time there. Conveniently, there were balconies a couple steps down from the second floor walkway spaced around the center of the mall with the food court. They had benches to sit on and rest from shopping or just watch the people on the first floor – who would occasionally look up to see if anyone was watching.

A group of girls would huddle on one side of a balcony pretending to completely ignore the group of guys on the other end. The guys were busy “ignoring” the girls. Both groups watched the people on the first floor. Then they would watch the good looking members of the opposite sex. When the person being watched looked up, the trick was to not get caught looking.

That exciting activity would last quite some time. Then both groups would wander away ignoring each other. They would proceed to the food court and start the game all over with different people. Except with food and drinks.

The picture above shows the parking lot at the entrance where my friends and I always parked. The building on the left, I believe, was a   regular-entrancePenney’s store. It was not there when the mall opened. It was added later when the original theater was built. To the right is a closer picture of the entrance. The first store inside on the right was Sound Warehouse. Upstairs to the right down by Sanger-Harris was McCord Music Company. In the food court, one of the eateries was Famous Ramos Hot Dogs. All three would be the sites of interesting stories of me and the mall.

Feel free to leave comments as to memories you have of Valley View mall – both on the blog and on Facebook.

Peace be with you.

 

 

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Valley View Mall Saga, Part 2 – Before the Mall – Target

Filed under: Communications, Current events, writing — 5 Comments
February 8, 2017

target-on-montfort-3Now that I’m past the pesky winter cold that thousands of us had to varying degrees over the past few weeks, I can continue the Valley View mall saga – read part one here. First of all, thanks to Andy Merritt for calling my attention to the Shell station that was on the corner next to the McDonalds that I didn’t mention in part one.

It occurred to me when I was thinking about the Target being there before VV mall that it was arguably one of the first super Targets. From inside Target, you could walk through a small cafeteria area to the grocery store on the other end of the building. At one time – or another – Target owned the grocery store. At other times, it had different owners.

When it stopped being a grocery store, it was the original site of the Chuck E. Cheese that is now down the block – connected by concrete to the ill-fated VV mall. It was a few other things over the years, but they escape me. I’ve slept since then. But it was an experience in that grocery store that led to my song Supermarket Wreck of ’75. Which I still end a lot of my shows with.

But back to the issue at hand, it could very well have been one of the first super Targets by design. An experiment, as it were. If you were around then, you remember there was always a sense of change when you went into the store. People greeted you cheerfully and there always seemed to be something new or different. But at the time that sense of change was felt a lot.

The irony of this post just occurred to me. I’m writing about the Target being one of the only businesses there before the mall was built. And it will be there after the mall is gone.

Peace be with you.

 

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Reach For the Stars Talent Revue Contest – Week 5

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Music, Songwriting, Talent Contest, writing — Leave a comment
Tanner Usrey

Tanner Usrey

Last Friday, February 3rd, at Harbor Point Club and Grill in Richardson, was week five of Little Anthony’s Reach for the Stars Talent Competition. Regular judges Pete Cormican and Dan Roark were present, along with guest judges, Rev. KM Williams, and Drew “Spider” Minshew. Regular judge, Lonny Schonfeld, had a previous commitment.

Rev. Williams opened the show with his cigar box guitar blues. And he can play the blues. Darren Rozell,

Joe Watson

Joe Watson

winner from week four, followed the Reverend. Competing on Friday were Tanner Usrey, John Willis, Curtis McCullum, Linda Stone, Joe Watson, Cindy Lewis, and Renee Sheffield. Fill-in performers – other than Rev. Williams, were Spider Minshew, Felix Estrada and Tomas Pineda, Jr. First place winner was Tanner Usrey. Second and third place were Joe Watson and Curtis McCullum, respectively.

Come out this Friday for week six to see Tanner open the show. It’s always a great show and a fun time with great music, good food, reasonable drinks, and a friendly staff.

Curtis McCullum

Curtis McCullum

If you would like to perform or compete, call Anthony at 214-660-4799. I’ll be back to playing this week. I’m breaking out the ukulele and harmonica. Come on out and join us.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

 

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Brother Antonio, Nearsighted Monk of the Brotherhood of the Necessarily Significant, Pt.2

Filed under: Books, Brother Antonio, Communications, Fiction, Theology, writing — 2 Comments
February 6, 2017

[This is the Sunday post, but there was this game…] Read part one.

Immediately upon spotting the gun, Antonio felt the man’s left arm come around and clamp his chest under his chin, reclaiming his vise grip on Antonio’s right shoulder. Although he  had an urge to turn his head to see where the pistol was pointed, the preacher decided instantaneously that it would not be the wisest choice he could make. His heart was beating so fast that it seemed determined to fly out of his chest. At the same time his brain struggled between telling his eyes to close tightly to feel the barrel of the gun should it be pointed at his head, and telling them to remain open to eliminate the element of surprise.

Francis dropped the coffee pot, which shattered, sending hot coffee and shards of glass onto her shoes and legs. Her fear of the man holding Antonio and the gun offset the pain in her legs. That, and she was praying harder than she ever remembered praying. She wondered if it would matter to the gunman if he knew Antonio was a preacher.

The instant the coffee pot shattered, Fred Martinez, the owner of the truck stop who was still at the cash register, stepped on the floor alarm under the register that signaled the police. He always had unruly customers, but he had the alarm installed when a late night birthday party got  out of control. With the use of credit and debit cards, the truck stop never had enough cash that he thought someone would rob the place at gunpoint. Especially with all the glass and traffic.

“Pull down the shades, and turn the sign around!” the gunman demanded, pointing the gun at Francis – who fought hard against the fainting spell, which along with her fear, was turning her legs to jello.

Francis was not sure how her legs kept moving, but she moved toward the windows as quickly as she dared. As she reached up for the shade on the last window by the door, she spotted Steve Striden at the pump putting gas in his blue Ford F150. He looked around toward the restaurant. Francis tried to catch Steve’s eye as she pulled down the shade. She turned the open sign around in the window, glancing again toward the pump.

“Lock the door,” said the gunman, who had backed up against the wall dividing the restaurant from the store. “Now this one,” he said after she locked the front door, nodding to the door to his right.

The gunman still held Antonio in front of him. Antonio had said so many prayers they had turned into one long prayer. When the gunman had relocated – pulling Antonio with him – the preacher nearly lost his balance. He was sweating buckets and knew the gunman was, too.

Antonio was struggling to keep his bladder in check against the fear and coffee. But that did not keep him from noticing that the man with the gun and arm around his chest was getting nervous. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Which was when someone dropped something in the kitchen, Antonio felt the gunman twitch as he pointed the gun toward the kitchen, the gun fired, and Antonio’s ears rang.

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Reach For the Stars Talent Review Contest – Week 4

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Music, Songwriting, Sound, Talent Contest, writing — Leave a comment
February 1, 2017
Darren Rozell

Darren Rozell

Last Friday, the 27th of January, was the fourth week of Little Anthony’s Reach for the Stars Talent Review competition at Harbor Point Club and Grill in Richardson. Regular judges, Lonny Schofeld, Pete Cormican, and Dan Roark were in attendance. Tin Man Travis, winner of week three, opened the show. Deano Isaacs, winner of week one, followed.

Contestants for the evening were Barry Healey, Darren Rozell, Jordan “Copperhead Taylor” Bearden, Linda Stone, and Sonya Wade. Fill-in performers were Joey Alcatraz and Tomas Pineda, Jr. with Dan Roark closing the show.

Darren Rozell won and will open the show this Friday. “Copperhead Taylor”came in second, with Sonya Wade coming in third. Darren performed original songs, as did the first place winners of three of the four weeks. After the winners were announced, Tin Man played a couple more songs with Brad Blackwood on harmonica.

The show this week promises to be as good as the previous weeks. Come join us, eat some good food and hear

"Copperhead Taylor"

“Copperhead Taylor”

some great music. The staff is friendly and there are shuffleboard and pool tables.

If you want to compete, call Anthony at 214-660-4799. There might be a couple of spots left.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

 

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DSA 3rd Saturday Showcase – Formerly 4th Sat.

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Dallas Songwriters Association, Food, Music, showcases, Songwriting, writing — Leave a comment
Host Dan Roark at Angela's

Host Dan Roark at Angela’s

After we moved to the 3rd Saturday due to Thanksgiving and Christmas, we decided to continue on the third Saturday rather than the fourth. The February showcase will be on February 18th. Ireland Casteel will open the show at 7:30. Buck Morgan will follow at 8:00. Don Wall will perform after Buck at 8:30. Host Dan Roark will come on at 9:00, followed by Young & Rusty (Sue Young and Rusty Nelson) at 9:30. Young & Rusty are members of the Austin Songwriters Group and are driving up from Austin to perform for us.

From youth to veterans (music-wise), this show has it all. Come on out and hear the good songwriting and performances. Angela’s has good food, great desserts, reasonable drinks and friendly staff – as well as a down home atmosphere. Come join us. You won’t regret it.

Ireland Casteel

Ireland Casteel

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

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Brother Antonio – The Nearsighted Monk of the Church of the Necessarily Significant Pt. 1

Filed under: Brother Antonio, Communications, Theology, writing — 3 Comments
January 29, 2017

Brother Antonio opened the chapel – a 52-foot semitrailer in the parking lot of the Traveler’s Treasure Truck Stop – at 6 a.m. as he did on most mornings. He liked to be available for the truckers who were getting an early start and wanted to pray before heading out. As he walked up the wooden stairs and unlocked the wooden door in the wooden wall that replaced the metal doors of the trailer, Antonio recalled the pain of opening the original doors which would swing around and bang against the side of the trailer, knocking a few pictures off of the wall.

Leaving the door open, he flipped on the two window air conditioning units installed on the left wall. The units were a welcome benefit of the redesigned entrance. Taylor Perkins, a long hauler for a lumber company, donated a batch of leftover lumber to the chapel that the company did not want to pay him to haul back. Fred Mullins, the truck stop owner, paid his handyman, Jeff Purvis, to build the steps, the rear wall with the door in the middle, and add supports under the trailer.

Purvis, a deacon at the Community Christian Church, painted The Church of the Necessarily Significant on both sides of the trailer as a favor to Brother Antonio. He also was a handyman for the Restful Traveler Hotel across the road from the truck stop. The hotel had upgraded from window unit air conditioners in the past year and the owners were happy to donate two of the units to the chapel. Jeff Purvis attended Brother Antonio’s Thursday night Bible study.

The Mothers of Miracles group at the Community Christian Church sewed blue tarps together to cover the underside of the trailer. The women added crosses alternating with the words Jesus, Forgiveness, Redemption, Faith, and Love. Mavis Monahan, secretary of the group, was the waitress/manager in the evening at the Food and Plenty diner in the truck stop.

Antonio walked out and closed the door behind him. He straightened the sign hung on a nail in the center of the top of the door. “I’m in the restaurant, 406-224-5893 (ask for Brother Antonio) or stop in.” When he was in the restaurant the waitresses would call him to the phone.

Which was where he headed after straightening the sign. He entered the truck stop through the main entrance – saying “hello” to Fred at the cash register – and turned left toward the restaurant.

“Good morning, Antonio.” Francis smiled brightly as she served his coffee – one sugar, one cream – while he settled into his usual corner booth.

“Good morning, Francis.”

“Do you want the usual on this beautiful morning?” She went ahead and wrote special on her order pad anyway. He had only been in town for four months, but the order had not changed.

“Yes, thank you. It is a good day that the Lord has made, isn’t it?”

“Better than yesterday.”

“Nature has a mind of her own, so to speak.”

Francis smiled, topped off Antonio’s coffee, and headed to the kitchen to turn in his order, stopping along the way to refill the coffee cups of other patrons. Antonio glanced around the restaurant, smiling at everyone who caught his eye, and nodding to the regulars. He pulled out his phone and checked the Church of the Necessarily Significant’s Facebook page. It was not a church, per se, although that was Antonio’s goal. The church had begun…

“Here you are, Antonio. Two eggs over easy, bacon, toast, and grits.” Francis slid the plate in front of him as he raised his hands to give her room. She filled his coffee, smiled, and walked to another customer.

Antonio bowed his head and said a quiet prayer. He added butter, salt, and pepper to the grits, stirred them, and tasted a spoonful. Then he cut a piece of an egg, broke off a piece of bacon, and put them on the corner of a piece of toast and took a bite. As he was preparing his second bite, Antonio felt the rush of air as the door to the restaurant opened behind him. He was chewing the second bite when he was suddenly jerked out of the booth and to his feet by a vise grip on his shoulder. While he was regaining his footing he saw the gun.

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