Montserrat means "Mountain of Teeth" and it surely looks like it. I have to say that this was the most invigorating part of any of my trips to Spain.The Montserrat Benedictine monastery and church is nestled in the lower reaches of the Pyrennesse mountains that separate Spain from France. The area offers you some of the most spectacular mountain views of Catalunya. I was able to visit the holy grotto where visitations by the Virgin Mary were reported. I got hear the Montserrat Choir boys recitals and take some mountain hikes with breathtaking views. I also took a funicular (one of those steep … [Read more...]

It hasn't been very long since the last time I was in Europe. However, it has been a couple years since I was in Spain. I always enjoy Spain because of its temperate climate, great history, beautiful architecture, and friendly people.I was really lucky this trip. I barely made it out of Nashville before the heaviest snow hit. The trip from Nashville to Atlanta was really bland and fortunately only 35 minutes. However, I totally lucked out that my flight from Atlanta to London was upgrade to business class. Can you see how much leg room there is in the photo on the left?Day One in Barcelona, … [Read more...]

Check this out - http://kevan.org/johari?name=zebraman076. I've posted 5 or 6 words that I think sort'a describe me. You can post 5 or 6 of your own. Then I'll have an idea of where I'm accurately perceiving myself and where I'm waaaay off base. Oh, and sorry, the word "butthead" is not one of your choices. -KevP.S. The previous post is called "Valentime's Day Brick" because Katie Jo calls today ValenTIME'S Day instead of ValenTINE'S Day. And the choco-brickerrific gift came from my mom. … [Read more...]

We were surprised yesterday to get a nice big box from Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Chuck. It's almost staggering to me to think that my mom is going to be 70 soon. But then again, I'm going to be 40 soon and she was 30 when I was born.Grandpa Chuck is a senior Olympia and, despite terrible back problems, is in great shape. He's gold medal'ed many times over the years. My mom is very active and has the blessing of good genes. I think that they both look really young and healthy for their age. Now don't they look like the kind'a couple you want to be when you're hitting 70?Emily was the one who … [Read more...]

Scott Moore, a longtime buddy of mine from my days at Deloitte & Touche, sent me a quote about the music business in Nashville from gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson:"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."From all I've heard from friends who moved to Nashvegas to make it in the music biz, this sounds about right to me! And now for something completely different:A True StoryEarlier this year, the dazed crew of a Japanese Trawler was plucked out of the Sea of … [Read more...]

Okay, so it's Tuesday not Monday. Whatcha gonna do, fight about it? I was sick all day yesterday and today, though better, I'm still not 100% PLUS I get to take care of two sick little critters. Yes, Katie Jo and Anna Lynn are under the weather.Being sick means I fall behind on everything - work, chores, phone calls (sorry to everyone I failed to call back), etc. But I'm thankful that I'm still gainfully employed, that the laundry and dishes can wait, and that I have friends and loved ones who care enough to call.So today's 'Membrance Monday theme is my 12-yr old blessing - Emily Kay Kline - … [Read more...]

Well, if you've been reading my blog for any time now, you know that Mondays are the time I like to recollect past times. These are usually remembrances that have made me smile or were related to whatever I was feeling at the time I was writing that post.I'm doing the same thing today. Yesterday, I flew out of Nashville for a week of Quest business in California. Quest does a yearly kick-off meeting to train on new products and talk about strategies in the new year. Travel was its usual glamorous self - rainy airports, delayed flights, and worse...I'm not sure if you can tell by the picture, … [Read more...]

Ok, now I'm starting to wonder. I'm in one of those periods where know something is just not right. It's as if my stars are out of alignment, my fortune cookie is cruel, my horoscope is frightening, and my tarot cards came up ugly. In my case, it's when I had to make nearly a half-dozen trips to the doctor's office and/or ER in one week.Of course, it started with Dylan's grievious injury to his finger, which I already told you about.Then, my beloved little Katie Jo, came down with a urinary track infection. I've come to learn that little girls cannot have bubble baths twice a week. I should've … [Read more...]

Ok, the heading is overly dramatic. But something weird is definitely happening to me. I now crave chocolate ice cream and have no interest whatsoever in vanilla ice cream. I've lived for 39 years loving vanilla about all others, but no more. Now I wants da choklat! Strangeness indeed!-Zebraman … [Read more...]

A SNOWY TUESDAY NIGHT It seems like global warming has certainly taken it's toll on Nashville winters in the last few years. Every winter seems milder and milder. This winter, at least, we can claim one good snow fall.Katie Jo and Anna Lynn had the BIGGEST TIME frollicking in the snow on my back porch. The snow melted quickly if it hit bare ground, but it also accumulated quickly if it landed on something that didn't touch the ground such as the roof and hood of your car, a exposed table or chair, or a wooden deck. So it turned out that the deck on the back of the house was perfect for this … [Read more...]