Colorado Shootings, Hugs & Mike Huckabee

Ok everyone else has a take on this horrible shooting and about gun control and when I am not so busy I will respond to the comments made by some, but not right now.

I just want to take a second and remind folks, as I do often on this page to go and tell your loved ones what they mean to you... you may not have that chance latter 

Go hug a loved one, I promise you be glad you did.

“Ultimately we don’t have crime problem or a gun problem or even a violence problem… What we have is a sin problem.

And since we’ve ordered GOD out of our schools and communities, the military and public conversations.

You know we really shouldn’t act so surprised when all HELL breaks loose.”

Spoken by Mike Huckabee, on his show last night

Jimmy Fallon Video Fun Call Me Maybe w Carly Rae Jepsen

How much fun is this .... So want to do this ....
It just makes me smile, hope it made you grin also

.... I think he has the life I was suppose to ....

Well that is if I had any TALENT ...


Me thinks I could ROCK that KAZOO or maybe the Triangle ....

Have a great  TUESDAY

Scott Shelby Part 4

Ok its time that I finish the story behind the 1^st Scott Shelby trip considering I am sitting in The Tracking Room Studio as Scott is recording another set of five songs…ON THE SECOND SCOTT SHELBY TRIP

It truly seems like it was years ago now, even though it was only month ago, life really does move when your having fun….

Well the story goes we arrived in Nashville at five in the morning, talked our way into a single bed motel room, Matt and his fiancé took the bed, Scott offered me the couch but I, being the nice guy I am opted out and took the floor after all Scott was the talent.

After a few hours of sleep we awoke to the realization we REALLY were in Nashville, now we needed to make something happen.

After a few phone calls to those people who were friends of a friend, it quickly became apparent that folks talk a good game but really we didn’t have a inside track on anything!

I could feel an uneasiness in Scott, It was very apparent he wasn’t…. lets say confident, in what direction to go next…

Ok, where to go or what to do…. Well, we knew we wanted to get some songs of Scott’s recorded and for that we knew we needed to employ a studio…

How hard could it be, there are 37 recording studios in NASHVILLE, so…. What may be the most pivotal moment in getting Scott’s career started was left to GOOGLE….

Yep, that’s right Google, how crazy is that…. up until this point, Scott and I had just been killing time, not wanting to admit to each other what had just became painfully clear over a plate of ribs…This is nuts, we don’t know a sole, we drove 12 hours and have NO IDEA what to do… We are going to look like morons what ever we do, and no one wants to look stupid….

SO

While sitting around a local Nashville hot spot, with BBQ sauce on my shirt, I said a prayer and typed in “Recording Studio” in Google on my iPhone…

… My New saying …”When in doubt, Google.”  You may feel free to use that line the next time your in a like situation.

The place that came up in the closest proximity was called the Tracking Room.

Now, I know not everyone believes, or has faith the same as I, but everyone does believe in a universal karma. I believe there was more to it then just the luck of Google, call it what you want but what, or maybe more importantly who we found at The Tracking Room was pretty dang special.

I guess we just expected where ever we went to have musicians and time to fit us in…. wrong, most studios only have open recording sessions once maybe twice a month, the rest of the time they are booked out to complete bands or groups, or set empty until the next time they have a big session.

Well the day we happened to roll into this studio, they just happened to be having a full day, (full day meaning they had all the needed musicians) they already were recording, 23 songs, Scotts five songs would be a new recorded number, and honestly more than they wanted to do…. With a little monetary encouragement we were able to have them agree to fit us in.

What a top notch bunch of people, they were great musicians, and the man in charge was Buddy Haytt, a very talented well known and perhaps more importantly very connected man around Nashville, who has worked with most of the industries greats.

I guess part of the reason why I think this deal is so special because of all the places we could have walked into, we could have literally walked in cold to all 37 studios in Nashville and not had anything happen, and hardly could have found someone who would devote the attention Scott needed.

About three fourths of the way though the day, while Scott was in the sound proof recording booth, Buddy and I had the following conversation.

Me “OK, he is doing this deal, he is going to cut these five songs, and we think this kid is really good, but you hear thousands each year…. So, I guess what I am asking is how does he compare, how good is he?

(Just like a livestock person wanting to evaluate his talent in a competitive manner.)

Buddy, “The kid is good, REAL GOOD! I see hundreds of folks come to Nashville to try to make a go of but, out of 3000, 300 may be able to stay in key and sing in tune and have the right pitch……. 100, out of those, might really have the work ethic to make it, of those who have the talent. Off those 100 maybe half have a “look” that Nashville can get behind… So far this kid is meeting all the qualifications!

Me, “Ok, well then what do we or can we do to assist him?

Buddy, “Well 1^st off we need to get some more NASHVILLE type songs in his play list, not covers but real top notch songs that he can make his own, and if you guys are open for it, I would LOVE to work with you guys, helping this kid get the right songs and then get him up in front of the right people.

Well, I have stated I was just along to help, to get some behind the scene footage for the guys, and be a sounding board, and another set of eyes. The decision was Scott & Matts, and they were all up for any help they could get.

Well I said as I write this, I am in Nashville, back in the tracking room with Scott, Buddy and Matt as Scott records these, more Nashville type songs….They are quite a bit different than the Red Dirt / Americana / Texas Country, Scott has a love for. Buddy tells us, and we agree, they give another dynamic to Scotts portfolio… Email me or leave your email in the comments section & I will send you the songs to listen to (they are ruff, yet to be mix-mastered) … But the guys would love to have your feedback on them.

Its hard to bring this series of stories to a close… in part because all that happened in those 48 hrs, and all the sub-text stories that have transpired since ….but on our next installment I will try to bring it to a close

Sound Track to MY LIFE ...4th Of July

With all that goes along with the 4th of July, BBQ's back yard picnics and general good times I had to ad a song for the season on my life soundtrack...
Enjoy

Video fun...

Yep its been a few days but heres just a little something for you to chew on....

Was checking out a video the other day on YouTube and it just blows my mind what you will find..

I Farm and I Grow It
Love this parody to the song "Sexy & I Know It"

Along those same lines here was one from back from Christmas Time from KEY OF AWESOME

Really hate the song these are patterned after but hey every cloud has a silver lining...

Abe Lincoln VAMPIRE HUNTER 

REALLY this is a REAL MOVIE coming out this summer..... REALLY WHAT THE HELL?

Who was the crack head that thought this would be a good Idea? and who was the guy who said yes to the funding of this movie???? I bet everyday during production someone was asked if this was a REAL movie or a joke.
 They folks at Craft Services who takes the meals to the folks on set "Hey we need lunch for 32 staffers on set of Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter." and the response "Yeah, What ever, where do they really go?"


Here is another one from the Key of Awesome.... I want these guys jobs.... they have to much fun...

love a couple of the lines in this deal..... Key of Awesome has a funny one with Katy Perry but I won't post it here... if you google and watch it, you understand...

Again this is a real movie coming out WARNING, Violence and inappropriate langue

God Bless America. 

Ok, the point of this movie is wrong, or at least mis-guided ......but I like


Ok as you surf youtube every once in a while you see something, like this movie trailer, that you really WANT TO SEE
Machine Gun Preacher.

Based on a real story, and if i went on a Sudan mission trip, this is how I would want it to go....


Thanks for stopping by ...

WAITING ON THE REST OF THE STORY?

Ok I have been covered up with my real job as a livestock marketer but will resume the Scott Shelby Story this week.... and I have some other exciting blogs topics to cover but today I will share a little video recap of what Scott has been up to since our Nashville trip...Along with some of him playing at our friends ranch in Wyoming.... Please feel free to share and pass the SS Story along...

The Scott Shelby Story Part 3

2:06 AM somewhere on a exit ramp in one of those “fly-over states” on our way to Music City, Scott pulls over and informs me that I have to drive, that he has been up and going since 4:00 AM and just needs a break…. I’m can’t believe he hasn’t wanted to switch-off before this, I would think I would have wanted all the sleep I could get if I was going to be in Nashville looking to become a star the next morning……

 

Sounds pretty far-fetched don’t ya think? …Kind of plum crazy…. We don’t know a single soul in Nashville; well there were some friends of a friend’s sort of a deal, but nothing concrete, and when I called a really good friend to get a telephone number for a someone who might have a contact who may help us…..

Well, he laughed his butt off at me,…us,… The whole trip….

I’ll be honest, and I bet Scott would agree… We both might have been thinking….”What are we doing?…How crazy is this?....Don’t know a soul, and we are one of literally tens of thousands of folks who show up in Nashville each year to a dream…. And maybe 1 out of 10,000 get a real chance to break out in the game.

Now we don’t dare say it, we know there is absolutely no place for even a hint of negativity …. Everything about this trip was and had to be positive, when you roll with our friend Matt you can't help but to stay positive !

Nashville is a town where the guy or gal who seats you at the restaurant maybe the next Faith Hill, or Keith Urban…. That the guy who is sitting next to you while at lunch might living off his song royalties of his top twenty hit for Clint Black from 1998 …

(last spring my girlfriend at the time & I was eating at Jimmy Buffets and I am pretty sure I was sitting next to Craig Morgan “Redneck Yacht Club”)

Everyone is just so crazy talented…. And here we are…. We are farm kids from no where Texas, Iowa, and Ohio…. And were going to Nashville to make Scott Shelby a STAR!

Really is funny, now that I think about it…. Hilarious…. I don’t blame my friend for laughing at me…. If the roles were reversed, I might have hung up thinking he was in need of medication and was delusional.

Now really we did not expect to have the mayor with the key to the city, nor a ticker tape parade welcoming us as we arrived, sure would have been nice however…

Perhaps the reason the trip was so successful is we didn’t know or pay any attention to the fact what we were dong was so far fetched.

Well as I was driving, I expected Scott to take a nap and get some rest…. NOT SO… This guy got more amped when I started driving… We talked about all the songs he has wrote, and he started playing some he had on recorded at his apartment on his guitar and his wall-mart laptop, and honestly the more songs he played the better the stuff got…. I mean I had heard him play about 10 times & guessed I had heard all the stuff that he had wrote that was any good…

WRONG… then He played me Rule #1 I would hope my excitement and my encouragement  for the song was part of the reason he recorded it…

Ok, if you know me, you can picture me bouncing like a kid waiting in line to see Ole’ St. Nick at the Ben Franklin on Black Friday…. I am up in his ear, tweaking,

“Scott, you just gotta do this song….. Ya gotta, please man, I love this song, you really just have to do it…Please do it… I love this song, ya gotta do this song.....

Scott may have chose that as one of his five songs to record so I would shut up but it is pretty easy my favorite song that he recorded in Nashville… I am so excited to hear the final mix when it hits on iTunes….

Just for the record…. I really expect that in about five years when he sits down to do his interview with Barbara Walters as one of 2017 most fascinating people, he says something like

“Well Miss Barbara, I really owe a lot to my dear friend Kevin Mears, he just stayed on me to cut Rule #1 which was the original name of - Fall in Love  - as a single…. That song stayed number one on the Billboard Country charts for a record 76 weeks…. and from that song came the concept for the movie that Channing Tatum stared in where he won his Oscar. Which let to the line of western clothing, the restaurant chain, fragrance line, The NASCAR team, the Friday Nite Varity show that airs weekly on Fox the and untimely enabled me to purchase the NFL franchise of the Dallas Cowboys.”

----Ok, that may be delusional but if your going to dream… DREAM BIG! ----

Matt and his fiancé are pretty private folks, and I know really would rather me not talk much about them but…when Matt believes in something, he might be the most passionate and determined guy I have ever been around. Matt’s belief that you make your own luck in this world is proved in his own business, and as we traveled he muti-tasked between keeping five crews on the road with his semen company, brainstormed ideals with Scott and I, he networked with our web designer, and bonded with his fiancée’ Michele Thorpe, and talked about her new venture into fashion retail sales… again this group of farm kids have some pretty diverse interests.

I drove for a few hours, but it really only seemed like twenty minuets, listening to Scott talk about his past and music really is a very interesting story but I let CMT tell that story when the time comes.

I will continue the story with the inside scoop on how things transpired behind the scenes in Nashville in Scott Shelby Part 4

www.kevinmears.blogspot.com

 Tonight the music video will post on youtube for Young and Invincible 

Scott Shelby Story Part 2

Ok for those of you who missed the video early when I posted it, let me shared it again... Now while most folks might think this is embarrassing, me. it may be the only time time I get to sing with a Hall of Fame country super star...

Now back to the Scott Shelby Story..... 

After about 20 or so Socials where Scott would perform cover tunes as well as some of his own original songs folks would ask if he had some stuff on iTunes where they could download it, and the great thing is it mattered not if there were five or fifty at the socials he treated it like the most important thing in the world, Scott is great with a crowd, very likable and can make up a song about anything at a seconds notice....

Folks started noticing his talent and requesting him to perform graduation parties and wedding receptions. 

Now last week when the rest of the world was waiting to see who the next American Idol would be

Scott, Matt, Matt's fiance' and myself were driving to Nashville to make our own American Idol!

I had been held up in a motel in Columbus, Neb. working on customers pictures and videos to ensure I would stay on target, and was thinking about where I would go the next few days to see some cattle and make impromptu stops and herd visits before I headed east for some booked appointments. 

The phone rings and Matts on the other end, 

Matt: "Mears, get to Adel, Iowa ASAP. We are going to Nashville leaving at 5:00PM, Whereare you anyhow?" 

Me: "Well, in a motel in Columbus, Ne." 

Matt: "Good thats a 3 hour drive, you'll have a hour to spare." 

Me: "Is this a joke?'

Matt: "No!" 

Me: "Do we have a plan?'

Matt: "We will make one on the way, see ya in a few hours......CLICK.......

To be honest, I really wasn't that surprised by the call. I don't know why I wasn't.... It was almost like I knew it was coming... I know it sounds strange, but so much about this trip, the way it came together, the contacts and folks we met in such a small amount of time seem so unlikely that anyone of faith would have to believe there was a much greater power at hand....

Ok, We gather in Des Moines, Iowa and pack way to much stuff in Matts very dirty SUV and head off to Music City....But wait, before we get to nashville we need to have a ScottShelby.com website working.... with one phone call our web designer was in for a UP ALL NIGHT task. How ever she needed needs some content, some nice pictures, maybe a video recording or two of Scott performing, she needs all this, AND we are driving to Nashville, it needs to happen overnight!!!! 

Before we ever get out of Des Moines we find a very small musical instrument shop in a out-of-the-way part of town that we were randomly driving though...We pull in and they just happened to have a  very small sound-proof teaching room that was going to be empty for about 10 minuets, which was just perfect for us to get video with acceptable audio to put on Scott's website... 

                                 

Next we need some high quality photos for Scott's Web sight, now while I download the recored video the other head off to find some rail-road tracks to get a few shots for the web-site.... all this happens in less than thirty minutes and we are back on the road again.....

TO BE CONTINUED...

STAY TUNED TO PART 3 ... THIS WHERE THINGS GET GOOD...

Important information about SCOTT SHELBY

The Scott Shelby Story Part 2 will post tonight.

But before we get there let me share this now...and may I clarify, I in no way speak officially on Scotts behalf. 

Scott and I have joked that I could be the president of his fan club, if anyone votes for me......LOL.

I was honored to be asked, and be a part of what I'll call history in the making! I am a big fan of this young man and his talents.

With that said, I have had several text msgs, and Facebook msgs. asking if it would be ok to share my blog posts or his videos and the like. 

HELL YES!!!!!

I said in Scott Shelby Part 1, that Scott was going to be a big star but would need your help! 

By help I'll ask if you like any of this stuff share it, YouTube videos, Facebook posts, Tweets, please share it!!! 

He has a billboard in Nashville, Tennessee  no one is trying to keep his talent a secret.

In to todays social media driven world, one video post going viral to a million people and the next day your a household name....don't believe me? check out Rebecca Black and her "Friday" video that went viral. 

While I don't know anyone in the radio station game, I bet I l know some who does and if that person forwards Scotts story on and they that person likes his music and wants to give his music a try on the air, that might just be the break he needs. 

With all that said, please go to www.scottshelby.com and sign up for his fan page to keep up with the latest happenings and info about upcoming shows 

Why Scott Shelby Is going to be a STAR

Ok I'm gonna take a break for a few moments and share why I have such faith in this young man that I have only known for a very short time....

I could tell you about how all seems right with the universe when he sings, or how the stars seem to line up for him, I could tell you of the the struggles he has worked his way though to grow into the man he is today but all that is irrelevant when you hear him sing.....

The video below was of him warming up before his vocals were recored this past week in Nashville.... I'll be honest as he finished this song he smiled as I turned off the camera from recording as he asked if I liked it. I looked up with tears rolling down my face and could only say "yes".

When a person can evoke tears in man like myself, well thats a rare quality, If your honest you will admit there have been a song or two that you have cried when you heard it....

Alan Jackson - Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning 

Tim MaGraw - Live Like You Were Dying 

(after loosing my mother to Brest Cancer this song still kicks my ass)

Lee Greenwood - God bless the USA

Brad Paisley - When I Get Where I'm Going

Clay Walker - Where do I Fit In the Picture

Clay Walker - Chain of Love

Reba - If I Had Only Known

Reba - What Do You Say

Elvis - Kentucky Rain

Garth Brooks - The Dance

Ok, you get the point it takes the right song lyrics but its the vocal performance you can't forget... I could sing the songs above and you are gonna throw things at me, but with the right feel and texture in ones voice, it is truly as if heaven opens up and shines down on you. 

I know as humble as Scott is, he would have rather me not put him in the same article as these crazy talented people, but I know he has the same qualities in him as they have....Hopefully you will recognize it also. 

Now there is a good chance I have over-hyped Scotts performance on this video and you won't find is a emotional as I do but thats ok, I think you'll still enjoy it.

The Scott Shelby Story Part 2

Ok for those of you who missed the video early when I posted it, let me shared it again... Now while most folks might think this is embarrassing, me. it may be the only time time I get to sing with a Hall of Fame country super star...

Now back to the Scott Shelby Story..... 

After about 20 or so Socials where Scott would perform cover tunes as well as some of his own original songs folks would ask if he had some stuff on iTunes where they could download it, and the great thing is it mattered not if there were five or fifty at the socials he treated it like the most important thing in the world, Scott is great with a crowd, very likable and can make up a song about anything at a seconds notice....

Folks started noticing his talent and requesting him to perform graduation parties and wedding receptions. 

Now last week when the rest of the world was waiting to see who the next American Idol would be

Scott, Matt, Matt's fiance' and myself were driving to Nashville to make our own American Idol!

I had been held up in a motel in Columbus, Neb. working on customers pictures and videos to ensure I would stay on target, and was thinking about where I would go the next few days to see some cattle and make impromptu stops and herd visits before I headed east for some booked appointments. 

The phone rings and Matts on the other end, 

Matt: "Mears, get to Adel, Iowa ASAP. We are going to Nashville leaving at 5:00PM, Whereare you anyhow?" 

Me: "Well, in a motel in Columbus, Ne." 

Matt: "Good thats a 3 hour drive, you'll have a hour to spare." 

Me: "Is this a joke?'

Matt: "No!" 

Me: "Do we have a plan?'

Matt: "We will make one on the way, see ya in a few hours......CLICK.......

To be honest, I really wasn't that surprised by the call. I don't know why I wasn't.... It was almost like I knew it was coming... I know it sounds strange, but so much about this trip, the way it came together, the contacts and folks we met in such a small amount of time seem so unlikely that anyone of faith would have to believe there was a much greater power at hand....

Ok, We gather in Des Moines, Iowa and pack way to much stuff in Matts very dirty SUV and head off to Music City....But wait, before we get to nashville we need to have a ScottShelby.com website working.... with one phone call our web designer was in for a UP ALL NIGHT task. How ever she needed needs some content, some nice pictures, maybe a video recording or two of Scott performing, she needs all this, AND we are driving to Nashville, it needs to happen overnight!!!! 

Before we ever get out of Des Moines we find a very small musical instrument shop in a out-of-the-way part of town that we were randomly driving though...We pull in and they just happened to have a  very small sound-proof teaching room that was going to be empty for about 10 minuets, which was just perfect for us to get video with acceptable audio to put on Scott's website... 

                                 

Next we need some high quality photos for Scott's Web sight, now while I download the recored video the other head off to find some rail-road tracks to get a few shots for the web-site.... all this happens in less than thirty minutes and we are back on the road again.....

TO BE CONTINUED...

STAY TUNED TO PART 3 ... THIS WHERE THINGS GET GOOD...

The Scott Shelby Story Part 1

Ok, I guess those of you who are friends with me on Facebook have noticed the last few days posts from or about Nashville..... 

Seems like my city friends really don't understand what I do...other than its something with cows and sometimes I do something with bull semen. So the last week has had folks really wondering about my recent Nashville connections 

Let me start by saying this.... 

I have a friend named Scott Shelby and he is going to be a star... but he is going to need your help.

In a nut shell let me share what I can as it pertains to this event.

Scott Shelby is a second year vet student who has been doing a spring/summer internship with Matt Lautner Cattle. MLC  is a customer and also has been a great asset as we bounce ideas to help our customers, off each other....

Matt Lautner has a great mind for marketing and customer service, let me share some back story with you. A year ago Matt started traveling around the country putting on "Socials" for his customers. Now Matt started his business of selling semen on some of the best show quality beef bulls in the country a few years back and each spring travels thousand upon thousands of miles delivering semen right to producers door steps.

Now back to these socials, but before you know more on that, you need to understand those in the cattle production part of agriculture have a grueling couple of months in February and March, during calving season. Farmers and Ranchers spend about 20 hours of a days' 24 hours in the calving barn, checking cows fixing to calve or that have just calved. Take it from me if you have not experienced this its wonderful but very tiresome. You eat, and sleep in the calving barn and sometimes you may go a few days between showers. Doesn't sound glamorous but its the truth, theres not much time to go and hang out at the coffee shop or the feed mill to catch up on the local news.....

This is where the "Social" comes into play, last year Matt thought what a great idea it would be in April and May, after calving season slowed down, to, as he was traveling across the country to offer his customers a night on the town. Nothing fancy, a nice meal some drinks and a chance for all his customers in a area to shake the dust off there boots and come to town, a great way to visit with other area cattlemen, and enjoy a nice meal and maybe a few beers.

Marketing is my career and this idea is genius, in my humble oppion and I can't believe it hadn't already happened.

Ok Fast forward a year to present time, Matt hires a intern to asset him selling semen and driving each spring and this year he found out about a young man who had full ride academic scholarships all they way at Texas A&M who was taking time off from vet school to earn some money to finish his education. After about a ten minute phone interview,  Scott was hired....

Scott is a singer and musician, and someone thought it would be fun if, during the socials he would pull out his guitar and play a little and sing a few songs......Now remember he was hired to sell semen and drive the truck......None of us knew just how gifted he was...

Little did anyone know where the road would lead us.........

Stay tuned for more tomorrow night....... with a never before seen video of a a performance by Scott Shelby that left this writer very emotional......

Memorial Day / Memorial Weekend

Memorial Day / Memorial Weekend

It hasn’t really been until the past six years that I had started taking part in the whole Americana experience that is this extended early summer party weekend.

I honestly never remember much ado about Memorial Day and all the festivities that go with it when I was younger… As a kid growing up on a working farm it was more time to work around the farm. Perhaps we may have taken some time to go and decorate a love ones grave.  At times over the years we could go enjoy a jackpot steer or pig show.

Families across the country make quite the ordeal out of this weekend, gathering for BBQ and fellowship…. I have at times went to, and got invited to these events, with a serious case of jitters thinking of all the work that could be getting done rather than sitting around eating, even years after production ceased at the home farm I would be at these functions thinking…. “If I was home I could be spreading manure” or “Today would be a good day to clean out that fence row we didn’t get to last fall.”

Perhaps is jealousy that all these people have the TIME to KILL…. Oh, I know that time with family is a great thing but what I am saying is shouldn’t we put more effort in to loved ones and family members EVERYDAY???? While there here on earth rather that covering there grave with flowers on Memorial Day or picking a few holidays to gather.

With that said shouldn’t everyday be Memorial Day, should we honor our love ones memory every day living our lives to the fullest, live a live filed with love and honor, and the greatest way to honor there memory; In service to others?

I see piles of folks out on motorcycles; I think bikers are the kings of the slackers… I know I will have at least one friend maybe two (Karen & Tom) who will give me grief over saying this but, I don’t get it…

I have a friend who, with some buddies just rode bikes all day, they will ride motorbikes all weekend, never going anywhere, not seeing really anything different than the last time they rode, just riding there motorcycles around. I see these folks and just want to ask….”Really? Don’t you have shit to do?” I guess it must be nice to be so simple minded that spending the summer holidays on a bike is all that it takes to curb or satisfy your minds desire. Some will say “Now B.S. Kevin, you just said you live your life to your fullest…. Didn’t you?”  Yes, I did say that but this looks more like a way to squander the precious time given to us, enough of my ranting.

As you enjoy your FREE day of fun and relaxation, please remember the reason behind it is to serve as time to give thanks to the Men & Women of the U.S. armed forces who gave their life in service to this country where you can squander a whole day… and your life if you chose.

Thank you for stopping by and God Bless

Some Sights from the ROAD, Wyoming Vlog

I am so lucky and blessed that I have a career that allows me to travel, see interesting parts of the US and DO WHAT I LOVE....

However, being on the road and living out of a car and Holiday Inn's for almost three weeks does get really old and when, OR IF, I every have a family it will cease.....

Until then, I get to play cowboy everyday, well most days..... Now it may be out of a rental car with a cell phone....Not quite the Ole West cowboy days but... "Times they are a' changing"

Had to pull out the Flip camera the other day and get some footage of where I was at...Enjoy

Brought tears to my eyes

Ok, I get to see some incredible things as I travel and most times I don't have the time to truly enjoy them but the other day I was with in 10 miles of this staple of AMERICANA and I had to stop!

Truly a sight to be hold, I will post more on this latter but had to share a quick pic....

Honestly, as I stood there thinking about the sacrifices those who have built this country has made, the young men & women who have died fighting for freedom around the world, the men who stood for what they believed in to build this democracy.... when you think about it, they did something never before done, there was no template on how to build and run a free society... so with all the problems our government has (and there is a LOT) when you think about what we, as Americans have achieved for not only our country but for other countries aournd the world it's pretty overwhelming.... As I thought about these things tears ran down my cheeks, we truly are blessed to live and work in the U.S.A.

Kevin sings .... Sort of...

How fun is this, about a month ago I posted a blog on music to our lives and featured the song Wagon Wheel... then a few weeks later I got to ..."help" out the talented song writer and recording artist Scott Shelby in this impromptu perfomace @ a customers ranch in Torrington, Wy.

In case you missed it on facebook I had to share again...

Sound Track 2 Your Like; Rock Me Mamma Like a Wagon Wheel

I have a page on this blog dedicated to one of the best things... MUSIC 

The soundtrack to my life where now its not current but give me a week or so...

Come on, who doesn't wish for those special times in their life they could have a little Grey's Anatomy music playing softly in the back ground as they did the voice over where they could say just the right thing, at just the right time...

Who hasn't had a night go perfect with someone, that led to a special kiss, who will be transported back in time, even years latter when you hear that song, your mind drifts back to that night, the song will trigger other senses, you are able to smell the fall in the air, taste the sweetness of the night, feel that persons embrace.... all because of the image that song conjures up in one's mind.... Who that reads this won't related to the song "Brown Eyed Girl" to that Julia Roberts movie "Sleeping with the Enemy" 

For guys, I know others will relate to going back to college in the fall and hearing the song "The Boys are Back in Town" .... Yeah every guy with their bud's have had a TOTAL ENTOURAGE moment with this song.... memories become burned into your permeant memory with certain songs....


Guys, everyone has bought the Sarah McLaughlin album because some chick they were interested was just SOOOO into that "Arms of a Angel" song... 


Well these are the reasons I have to share the sound track to my life on this blog... Todays song ....
comes from a recent experience in Nashville, Tennessee... 


I have been to Nashville a couple of times now, but never there to experience the "NITE LIFE" and last month I planed a night out... and it was was amazing however it could have been my guide of the city ...

My lovely friend Casey was a great host and showed me all the hot spots and what made this night memorable and slightly magical was the the atmosphere in the town this night, now my guide lives close to Nashville and informed me that most nights were pretty much the same, if you chose to enjoy a laid back style and enjoy the city it was a blast...Now their was more then a fair share of DRUNK college girls with body parts fixing to make surprise appearances, and more then enough guys with big muscles in graphic tee's looking for a fight like the cast of Jersey Shore looks for tanning lotion....

"Broadway" The main street in on "Music Row", where all the hot spots are, just shuts down and folks roam the streets, if your a people watcher... this place is a paradise for you.

Both of us are people watchers, so she taught me 

a new game (....Now don't worry I am getting to the music, but if you have been reading this blog long you know you must indulge me some leniency in getting to the point.....) This game is called "Who's Getting a Deal" .... You'll love it, we all have seen those couples in public, they seem to be most prevalent at the mall around Christmas and at the local fairs and festivals. One is much more attractive then the other, and we have seen it both ways, a very attractive girl and a very average looking, maybe even slovenly looking guy, or the really handsome fellow and the plain below average girl.... The smart beautiful girl with the drunk slacker with no goals... Ok, I am probably sounding like a ass as your read this but you've all done this, you have judged the outward appearance of a couple and thought, hmmm they really don't look like they "fit" together, Well in this situation, some one is getting the deal.... 

The game is played by picking out a "Mutt & Jeff" Looking couple, and playing pretend... You imagine the scenario that brought them together..... just make stuff up and the more wild and outlandish the story, the more fun it is..... but I will warn you, if you giggle to much folks might think your KRAZY. 

~ On to the song ~

Well the song ends up on my soundtrack from this night is most defiantly just a great, feel good song..... That night we seemed to hear the song covered in every bar, by every band and it was Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.... Love this song... Now not really being a drinker, I was stone cold sober and was high just on the atmosphere that surrounded me. The song has the "Sway" to it, you just can't help to just "Sway" to the rhythm to it... just side to side, but your arms around the people next to you and just..... Sway....

Now looking for the video to put on here, I discovered the Old Crow music video is well Sucky ... but I did find find this young man and his band below that I really think just captures the magic of the song and the festival atmosphere that I enjoyed that night...

This young man is Nate Hall from Ontario,  Canada 

I am a strait man and can say with out a homophobic fear, these young men are beautiful, could be there boyish charm, the fact that they are so at ease in this video, the tone and texture of his voice, his sprit comes across like he is the type of guys you could visit with at the gas station or would come to your picnic with a guitar and sing songs all night by the campfire and dance with all the children letting them stand on his toes.........

I love the camera work, very nice, with the guys coming in and out of foucs but that gives it a dream "like" feel ...... Just love it ....  

Poor Elvis, he was loving every second of this.....
By the way..... that night as far as our game went, she was so getting a deal... She ask me and that was my answer ..... wouldn't you agree?

Earth Day 2012

My real job is as a Livestock Marketer and as of late I have one client who is all about Guerrilla Marketing and my creation of viral videos to promote his company.  I am really enjoying it... Well, I had this Idea for a special video promotion showing farmers as the 1st environmentalists... well it misses the mark and if I had more free time I would think this could be a very worthwhile project... one I hope to revisit .. but here is a 1st cut... and you can get the feel as a person can build off of it....Kevin Mears 2012 Earth Day Video

Healthy Cooking; Tonight Steak and Vegetables

I'm a carnivore, and my passion is a good steak. I honestly think I could eat steak every night. I know that some say red meat in excess isn't really "Heart Health" and my favorite cut is a Ribeye and maybe I should switch to a leaner cut like a filet... but the cost of a Ribeye for the favor you get... Oh my...

My doctor put me on a diet plan for weight loss.... nothing like getting your butt chewed and told you were at risk to have a Heart Attack before your 40 to get your attention... So... We (I should say "I" but I prefer to say "we" as in my stomach and I...Kinda nice to know I'm not in it alone)  have cut out all soda's, all breads, all candy.... All Starchy foods like potatoes.... I really thought that would be tough but hey, its not near as bad as I was afraid....

Bread, well thats another story... I have found these whole grain, bran wheat thin deals that I can cheat with, they seem to tame the bred hunger beast, also the occasional pretzel helps (not really allowed, but you won't tell will you?) I can have dairy but not milk..... even fruit is limited because of the sugars...

With all this said I really have got to be a big Meat & Vegetable guy..... That really is all that is left to eat... LOL

So I will enjoy being a carnivore, at my doctor's orders.

Ribeye cooked Medium with Broccoli and Cauliflower steamed with a garlic oil
lightly salted and sprinkled with mild cheddar cheese shreds.  

Love this iPhone app

Since this diet has been in effect I have dropped from 305 lbs. to 270, at one time I was down to 265.... With all my traveling its hard to stay faithful on a strict diet plan but I try...

I have found all kinds of neat iPhone and iPad apps to get acceptable meals and recipes....The Spark Recipes app pictures at right is a great one...I found a great Sloppy Joe recipe that I have to share soon, as well I LOVE CABBAGE SOUP... which is a good thing cause I always end up making way more than I think....


My Kitchen is always a mess and with my new forte into to the world of healthy cooking, it looks like a train blew though it most nights ... but you know there I really believe that cooking is one leisure that everyone should engage in... If I ever have a family I would plan to spend lots of quality time in the kitchen eating drinking while getting lost in authentic communication

Easter Post ... The Cross

I’ve got some good stuff to get to in a second but we need to tell a little back-story first…

Good Friday, the day that Christ was crucified, with out this we cant have Easter, as a child growing up Baptist I know I heard the story of the crucifixion at least a hundred times. As adult maybe another hundred times I’ll promise you sometimes of the telling of this event were particularly horrid… I know its wrong for me to think that some of the preachers or teachers receive some twisted pleasure on seeing just how much frightening imagery and appalling detail they can conjure up in the telling of the story.

We know it’s a tool they use to portray the sacrifice made for Christians to have salvation. It works quite well, like I’ve said I have heard the telling of the story hundreds of times and as adult who now understands a little bit about life and how precious life is, its not a far stretch for tears to come to my eyes.

I remember when my friend “April” (Coming Attractions) who I will be talked about in a future blog, told me, or tried to tell me of the horror, that was played out on the big screen, in the movie The Last Temptation of the Christ, with tears just streaming down her face, for what seemed like forever, describing in vivid detail how he was treated….

To me it just sounded horrible, unbearable and perhaps unwatchable. I remember being mid-twenties and thinking “Huh, my mother wants to see that, I don’t know I want her to see this, might give her nightmares….”

I always thought it was egocentric of me thinking it was my call to say a movie would be to “graphic” for a parent to watch, not just my parent but for any child to tell a parent what they could or could not watch.

If you have seen this movie you know what I am talking about its hard not to be overtook by grief, to turn your head away from the screen, to reluctantly admit to ourselves the price paid, then you have the disgust and distain for those who persecuted him.  

And honestly some misunderstanding as to what the heck happened and who was doing what, to whom and why…

Ok Let me get back on track, this isn’t about a movie review or to retell the story of the crucifixion…this is about a question that came to me during Ash Wednesday service, the question stirred when the pastor talked about how the cross has became the symbol of Christians the world over…  I thought to myself how true… that USE TO be… as a kid I was afraid if I wore a cross and I did something wrong it might burn my neck…. I never have wore necklaces, therefore I have never wore a cross, then lots of the things I’ve done I felt wearing a cross would be terribly hypocritical.

Now it seams a the cross is more of a fashion accessory than a declaration of Christianity, There is a Bling’ed – Out cross on almost everything that a woman could buy, purses, wallets, belts, boots, ear rings, the pocket of $120 “Miss Me” jeans…. You can get diner plates, electric light switch covers, doorknockers, … and hundred of other knick-knacks with crosses on them. The other day while loitering in a southwest furniture store, I saw these fifty gallon barrels filled to the top with metal crosses to use as decorations in a home, there were even table chairs with the Cross branded into the chair-backs….

A ex-girlfriend, got me a cross to hang as peace of wall art ….It is the cross pictured above… she thought I should have a cross…. she thought it was odd that I did not have a cross anywhere in my house…. Me… I thought it was odd that she looked to see if I had across in my house… no better that I pay attention some days… Heck I would have never noticed that I didn’t have a cross in my house…. I am glad she got it for me… its one of my favorite things.

I guess what I am getting at is that the cross’s image is or has became less effective…

My other thought is WHY?.....Why did it become so popular?  The cross was the ultimate form of humiliation; it was not something to be looked up to… to be admired….

No one would get a tattoo of an eclectic chair? Or wear a emblem of one around ones neck?....Would they?

The cross was punishment, it was again a sign of humiliation, where you would be poked at, spat at, and ridiculed…. then it became glorified…. Or at least it was…. Don’t get me wrong I understand, why it was glorified as a holy symbol… the stained glass in old churches with Jesus hanging from the cross… as a kid it was quite scary… least for me it was… In Catholic Churchs they have crosses who still have Jesus hanging from the it… My mother use to have a some kind of problem with that… not sure why… I don’t know if it matters.

I don’t have a real solid closing to this blog, I guess most times I start with a Idea… and by the time I get done traveling down what ever path I seem to let my mind wander…

I end up with some form of conclusion…

Not this time…

Well maybe…

On the other just might have.

I do, I have a parting thought,

“What if folks in society stopped using the cross as a decoration and started useing it as a declaration”.

Hope you had a great EASTER....

Good Friday

Today is good Friday of  passover week and that was the day of the crucifixion of Christ... and well that means for Christians, all the rotten stuff you do that you know isn't right, all the bad things you thought all the ....

Well you know what you do...

Now wether you admit those things to yourself, well thats a whole other item all together...  

But today is a very important day, because of what happened today we can have GRACE...


Hope everyone has a great day... I have a NEW POST that goes up tonight

The Last Super

It’s Holy Thursday of Easter week and I have had blog Idea’s, and theme’s just pouring out of my head for weeks, on all sorts of topics that I hope to find time to explore and expand on…. and a few of these will tie together for a Easter series  

Remember I have no agenda to my blog, it’s just a way for me to do a little self-discovery and if someone grabs something to think on, or about, that helps them… cool.

With it being Easter, several things I would like to write on but… I don’t want to focus on the things you might think would customary not wanting to sound “Churchy” or more honestly… hypocritical, but with this season, no way I can keep from expounding on certain things…

Today I would like to share a story, which was one of my mother’s favorites, which she would share around Easter. 

The story of The Last Supper, which would have, took place today,  Holy Thursday of Passover week.

No, not Jesus predicting his betrayal or the apostles denying him, not the first communion, but; The painting of The Last Supper, by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan, Italy commissioned Da Vinci for the work. The paining represents The Last Super from the final days of Jesus as it is told in John 13:21. The work was painted on a wall 15 by 29 feet; this was a major undertaking and is some have the event recorded to have taken better than seven years to complete…

Think about this, if you or I told a client a project would take seven years to complete… We would never get the chance… Folk’s back then must have had way more patience that we do as a society now.

The story goes that Da Vinci searched personally for live models to represent each of the12 Apostles and Christ… Di Vinci had the models sit in the hall where the mural was panted. For each person in the painting a model would have set for about six months while his likeness was created to represent someone in the painting.

The first person Da Vinci sought out was a model of Jesus, who, the story tells was quite difficult to find…Because of the artists desire to find a model who was not only beautiful to represent the Son Of Man, but someone who was pure of heart, and whose life was not scared by sin, the story goes that hundreds and hundreds of men were carefully viewed before the young man who would serve as the model of Jesus was decided on…..

Kind of like the modern day casting call…guessing none of them had 8x10 glossy headshots however….

Da Vinci found who he was looking for in a young man, 19 years of age whom he models Christ’s likeness off of. For six months he stared upon his face studying the shape and contour of his face to transpose it to the mural.

After the likeness of Jesus was complete the artist continued the process of painting each the twelve apostles, one by one until the last to be completed was the image of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, for thirty pieces of silver.

Da Vinci wanted a special model for Judas just like with Jesus, he searched at length for just the right model whose image would allow for a likeness that would show the soul of the man who would betray his best friend, then sink into state of madness, and who would take his own life for the evil he committed.  The search was for a man who was hard of heart and callous, whose face would be marked with scars, whom had deceit and treachery written on his face.

Word came to Da Vinci the man he sought was murderous, drunkard whose life was filled with crime and evil acts and was imprisoned in Rome, and that he was to be put to death soon for his crimes.

Upon arrival at the dungeon, the monster he had heard about was lead out for him to see, bound in chains and heavy guarded. In a glance the artist saw what he had envisioned, this was the person who he was searching.

This prisoner was dark and swarthy, he possessed cold, dead, eyes, long and unkempt hair partially covered his face, which cast the image of man whose life was in complete and utter ruin.

With permission from the king and under heavy guard the prisoner was taken to Milan and sat in the hall where the mural was being painted. Armed guards watched over him every moment in fear he might try to escape his fate. After six months under Di Vinci’s eye fixed on him as the master spent this time replicating the mans face and transferring his likeness to the painting, he took his last brush stroke and proclaimed he was finished then the artist turned to the guards and instructed them to remove the prisoner….

The prisoner suddenly broke lose from his bondage and the guards control, and rushed to Da Vinci crying and speaking for the first time  “Oh Da Vinci Look at me! Do you not know who I am? ….. Da Vinci look him up and down, the artist was taken back and perhaps even in fear for his own existence. We might imagine that his mind raced as he strained to remember who this was or how he would have ever known this monster.

Da Vinci Shouted  “No, I have never seen you in my life, until that day in Rome where you were led from the dungeon”

The prisoner fell to the ground weeping…. And said “O God have I fallen so low?” Then lifting his head to the painter he cried out “Leonardo Da Vinci, look at me again for I am the same man you painted years ago as the figure of Jesus Christ.”

This man who just a few years prior had been perceived and painted as the likeness of Christ had turned to a life a crime, had became a cheat a drunkard and a murder was now resembled the perceived likeness of the most notorious character for that time, in the known world….

As I said in the being my mother loved this story… or should I say she loved telling ME this story. She was a preachers kid, and well, I don’t doubt she knew full well the trouble her son could get into if left to his own accord… It was for sure a cautionary tail meant to detour me from trouble…

You can look on the Internet and find articles calming this to be a true story and others denying its truthfulness…. But you can find claims online that will convince you Elvis, John Lennon, and Amelia Airhart are alive and well playing cards in a shared Cabana somewhere in the Caribbean….

Just as the man in the story fell into a life of trouble and trials, wrong decisions and taking the wrong path that can happen to us… but because of the events we celebrate at Easter a person can change the road or path their on…

This reminds me of a poem I heard in High School that I have never forgotten…. 

The Touch of the Masters Hand 

'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
Myra Brooks Welch