As I sip a cup of morning tea (one should never have an afternoon tea before noon at the risk of being labeled a "shhtupid" American, in terms of having your tea, of course), I can't but ponder the question the pagan holiday only one day away begs me to ask: Is the carved out pumpkin face known to us all as Jack O'Lantern any relation to the Irish outdoor chair and table (with matching sun umbrella) set? You know who I mean ... Patty O'Furniture! May your "tricks" be her "treats", and vice versa (add perverted giggle in at this time, thank you). Good luck. Take care. Later, Butch

Just a quick update to the status of the new cd: drum tracks completed for 10 tracks, as are bass and rhythm guitar. Lead guitar finished for 6 tunes, as well as a few harmonica parts done. Still a ways to go. Acoustic guitar under everything (I learned that from the Stones), all vocals (both lead and harmony) still needed, as well as tamborines, shakers, B3, pedal steel, etc. All the "little" stuff. I'm also going to add 2 or 3 more tunes so Woody will have to come in to lay more drums down; Chris the bass parts. I'll also record an all acoustic tune or two, and remix an acoustic tune already finished. I'm thinking 14 or so tunes on this one, and why not? Who knows when I'll be back in here. I might as well get a lot done. I don't even have an idea yet for the title or "look" of the cd. I always let that just come to me during the recording. I trust something will surface, it always does. So, as you can see, I'm in the middle of it, with still a bit of road ahead to travel. I figure the "Video Diary" will be in three parts (the first one is up on the website). Once all the guitars are done, part 2 will be edited and posted. Part 3 will include everything else. Hope you're enjoying. Thanks for the read and the listen. Take care. Later, Butch

It's not the money ('cause at this level it ain't much), it's not the fame ('cause at this level nobody knows who the hell you are), and sometimes it's not even the sheer pleasure of playing your music (though that is really really where it's at), it's the people you meet ('cause at this level playing the types of places that go hand in hand with the pay and the lack of fame, you meet all sorts). This past weekend I met the antichrist. Yep, that's what I thought too. He came in the form of a small, round, drunken (no way), blonde American Irish Texan named Mick. Who knew? He told me he was the antichrist but not to worry. Later that night when I saw him again at a Denny's I worried a little bit. He told me he was really a nice guy, never hurt no one (although he did once hold a gun to the head of the mom of a guy he knew had raped his sister... or something like that. Let's just say the story was a bit murky). He was born in New Orleans and has two birthmarks under his blonde hair (crew cut) that resemble horns. I refused to touch them (or even check to see if they were really there). I guess that's what makes him the devil... but he's a nice guy. He ended up partying with Tommy Lee at the Playboy Mansion one night and woke up with 15 playmates... not one or even two, 15!!! David Allen Coe wrote a country song about him. I got all that and a slurred more in 5 minutes. I guess when you're Beelzebub things like that go your way, yet why was he hitting on me? That was the consensus after I laughed and acted busy. He wanted to party party, hmmmm. Yep, the people you meet. Think Bowie or Jagger ever got hit on by a swinging bi-demon? Who needs the fame and money, I'm a friggin' rock star! Even the devil wants to party with me. Guess I'm up to par with Tommy Lee, David Allen Coe, and 15 Playboy Playmates. Who knew? Take care. Later, Butch

Salvador Dali said "to look is to invent" (he said it in Spanish though). Anyway, I agree, but not only in an artistic way. You have to believe. You have to "look" at your hopes, your dreams, and then find realistic ways to "invent" or make them come true. But you have to "look", or believe, first. If you don't do that you're done from the start. Nothing worth while comes cheap or easy. It takes dedication and hard work, faith and gumption to stay the course. One must keep looking and therefore inventing. Nobody is going to give you anything, your cards will never fall right into place. You've got to make it happen, you and nobody else. The road is often long and rocky but if you keep on looking and inventing you'll see light at the end of the tunnel. You will invent your own future, your own happiness. At least that's what I think. Sure, it may not work out exactly as you hoped but in the end you'll at least be satisfied with the fact that you tried. And who knows, hope springs eternal. In the end you may die happy for looking and inventing, and living life as you dreamed. Thanks Sal. You were a genius. There's nothing surreal about wanting to be happy. Take care. Later, Butch

When asking why, maybe the question should be why not. Maybe things need to be looked at from a different angle when answers don't come from asking the first question. Maybe most things DO have an answer it's just that we don't ask the right questions. Perspective, point of view, all of it is important. The need to have answers compels me to such thoughts. Maybe by asking something different or differently, new light will be shed. It's the only thing to do. Accepting there is no answer is unacceptable. One must always continue to seek answers, especially if the questions being asked (and not being answered) are huge. One must never give in for in giving in , a certain sure death will occur. Much will be lost, much more than what will be lost if you give in to never finding an answer. Hope must spring eternal, and in that hope is the possibility of finding a new question to an old problem, and better still, an answer! Keep on keepin' on. Take care. Later, Butch