The 'Burgh

PITTSBURGH  BAR  NOV. 1998

This picture was taken a couple years ago.  I'm really trying smile in this one.  We were in a bar in the burgh after my brother's graduation from college (GO BRO!).  I had just returned from Morehead State University and one of the deepest depressions of my life.  I kissed the ground of my home town of Wadsworth apon returning, something that I never thought I would do and will never do again.  I escaped the hell soon enough to go to one of the nation's top conservaoties.  I'm quite a bit happier now.  Although I may not smile a lot here in Cincinnati, I am at least smiling.  It is also important to note that following this bar celbration that we followed my dad's enthusiasm and went to the HOLEY fish market.  My mom and I, who were not so excited ajourned to the Starbucks, while my dad found himfelf in a world a fish beyond his wildest dreams.

CHRISTMAS 1999

By this year, I finally perfected the art of eggnog.  The trick is to just make it below flamable.  In this picture I have just consumed a great deal of it.  I'm not really thinking as you can see  (a minor side-effect).  However, I did manage to get my number one girl, Dawn to come along.  Nice to see her doing something for Christmas.  She's the master of photography that took this shot.  I can't say I like it too much, but I think it was better than many.  By the way, that backdrop for this photo is the beloved Aunt Francis' house.  Who moments before this photo was taken, accepted an engagement. The best of luck to her.

"THE PIT-SHOP BOYS"

One of the greatest experiences in my life was marching drum corps.  I spent three years (1995-1997) with the Golden Lancers drum & bugle corps.  Through it I met some life-long friends.  Pictured here is (from left to right) Dave Frye, Mike Riddles, and ME!  During the summer of '95 we used to sleep in our triangle of death, only to be put to sleep with classic and tasteless dead baby jokes. To the outsider, it's difficult to understand why someone would pay $700 to sleep on a gym floor, take cold showers, eat terrible food, and get sun burnt to hell. The real secret is the friendships.  And they do seem to be enhanced by the pains of living on the road.  Now the Golden Lancers no longer exist.  No more Mike Hobler screeming "LANCERS".  No more Dan McGrogen saying "Fire 'em UP!." Those days are gone, but the friendships still remain.  With that I can say now....   H    U   B   S    H   E  !

Click for the Les Bien drum & bugle corps tribute