With March being womens history month, I had originally chosen to write all month long about my history with women. After waking up from the delusion that it was a good idea, I instead chose to write about women who have had a significant impact on my life. There are obvious women that I could have chosen from, but have decided to touch only on very significant ones. Today, I am going to write about Lisa Thomas, at least it WAS Thomas when she was my teacher and Newspaper editor in high school.

Ill never forget on the first day of class, "Mrs. T" as we called her, came up to me and handed me a note to give to my mother. I was petrified. Before giving the note to my mom, I opened it, and it said "The circle is complete." I figured that it was safe enough. I handed it to my mom after getting home, and she then explained that she had been Lisa's teacher. Mrs T. was not only the cutest teacher at Bloomington High School, she was also one of the few teachers that taught us to expand our minds, and think outside of the box. NO, she did not hand out reefer between classes, she taught us how to think.

One year later, Mrs T. taught my creative writing class, and that is where I learned to transfer what was in my mind through my fingers. Not only did I learn how to transfer it to paper, but also through my hands when I give someone a backrub, or through my fingers when I play the bass. Of course I didn't learn those things in that class, but it was at that time that I learned how to express my feelings.

I worked closely with Mrs. T. through all 4 years while on the school newspaper staff as the photo editor, so she was a major source of inspiration, and really taught us to follow our hearts and dreams in life.

Im not sure where you are today Lisa, but thank you.

I have a song in my head that I cannot for the life of me think name... This is incredibly sad. I, on the other hand, am completely filled with the good stuff. I wonder what the fates talk about during their spare moments.... Do they look down and laugh at us??? Do they play little games with our lives, not unlike movie directors??

2003 is officially my year of transition. This is such an exciting time for me. For the first time in many moons, I can stand back, look at my life, and say with confidence, "Yeah, that is gooooood." I have made a concious decision to leave much dead weight in 2002, and be on with new things. The last thing that is holding me to the past is my house. Everyone please send me good thoughts, prayers, or whatever you practice to bring about good things. I really need that place to sell.

I have been remiss in posting, and I apologize. Life has been full of beautiful and wonderful things as of late. I am really blessed this year!! After 2002, I wondered if the stars were aligned against me. 2003 has taken off with a bang! As DJ Roman would put it, life is gooooooood.

Recently I re-took a personality test, and found that although my world views have changed drastically over the past year, that my personality type, ENFP, has remained in tact. The E is MUCH closer to and I, within 3 points, and I feel that on a daily basis.

It has recently been made known to me that ones music collection speaks volumes about the individual. I had never taken a moment to consider this before, but I agree. I MUST go home and throw away a lot of music. Don't worry, no Zeppelin, but the Def Lep, Poison, Ratt, and Motley Crue is all meeting Mr. Garbage man. That Michael Jackson Thriller Album on Vinyl will also meet an untimely end. I am embarassed that I have ever owned this vile and disgusting blend of auditory torture.

April knew just how badly I have been lusting for a new Modulus Bass, and I'll be damned! I knew that if there were anyone out there capable, that April would hook me up! Another absolutely wonderful, beautiful, birds chirping kinda day here in Normal. Life is so goooood! It is truly wonderful what spring can bring to our lives, and while I am usually a fall guy, no pun intended, this spring is an exceptional one!!! Changes abound everywhere, just the way I like them. This weekend promises to be wonderful, and I hope to have exciting and adventuresome stories to tell on Monday. No promises, but I'll try.

Who knows, I may even post some pics again sometime soon. Miracles never cease.

This weekend, I have an assignment for all of you..... Call someone who would not expect it, but does deserve it, and tell them that you love them. I would love to hear of mended fences or fresh beginnings, so please share your results!

I am smiling big today!!! It has been a wonderful week, and things are really good for the Brochman!!!! Other than little spots of sunshine throughout this past year, I haven't really had a day like today. I don't really care to go into details, but I like my life, and like it a lot. When we choose to live our lives with a blank canvas, we are allowed to paint freely, and change designs at will. I guess that I look at my life like I look at my blog. No, I'm not going insane, I just see many parallels. Ok, maybe I am a little crazy =-)

Things come and go in our lives, and I could probably write a book about it. One of the things that I have decided, is that nothing is guaranteed to be forever, so treat what you have like gold. Being able to look back with no regrets is quite freeing. It also lets us look toward the future with bright eyed optimism, and an open heart. Every chance occurence in life happens for a reason. We have to learn to take from each encounter something that makes us better people.

Roadtrips are again becoming a part of my life, and as the weather is getting nicer, it is so enjoyable. Take a walk down an unfamiliar street. Take that staircase to an unknown place. Maybe even sit down and talk about if for awhile. Take my hand, and we'll make the trip together. I want to see new places this summer. Cockeyed optimism prevails.

Come on life, rain down on me.

Moments ago, the president declared war. As Forest Gump said, thats all I've got to say about that.

Today has been a little hectic, but I'm holding it all together. Ironically, right now, Im listenig to that song that rocks my soul SOOO hard. When the world ends, by DMB.... Yeah, Im groovin' now, and feel much better about life. The right tunes, the right atmosphere, the right mood, and I am set. I am pretty much able to flip my mind like a switch. After the past year, it is a wonderful ability to be able to do it. I am a firm believer that we each have the power to choose happiness, and to put ourselves in the place we belong.

Where am I going in life? I still haven't a clue, and I wouldn't want it any other way. The future is a blank canvas, and I can paint it any color that I choose!

Rock On!

I often take for granted that I can pick up a phone, dial 7 digits, and have someone deliver a pizza to my house without too much thought. There are children in your country, your state, and even in your town that go to bed every night having not eaten today. I often rationalize that I cannot possibly make a dent in the problem. Is one life a dent? I sure as hell think that it is! Ok, let me ask you this.... If that one life just happened to be you, or God forgive me for saying it, your child, would it be a dent then????

Where would I be if I could be anywhere right now??? I think that would have to be someplace that is about 50 degrees, on the side of a mountain, sitting by the fire, and looking at the starts. Mmmm, I need a vacation. Where would you all be right now???

This blog has never been about winning a popularity contest, nor would I want it to be. Some of you are invited readers, some of you have stumbled upon my site. Nobody wants war. Here is the reason why: Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Husbands, Wives, Boyfriends, Girlfriends and Children are all going to DIE!!!!!! That makes me sick to the pit of my stomach. I want world peace just like you all do. It is now quite evident that this war IS going to take place. The thing that I would like for each of you to consider though, is that it is not because George W. is a bloodthirsty warmonger. It does pain me to say that, as I am not a supporter of his. One thing that I am though, is a patriotic citizen of the United States. As a nation, we have elected our leaders, and need to keep from polarizing with our fellow Americans. I would like to say this as well, If you do not vote, shut your pie hole.

Does anyone remember September the 11th, 2001?? We united as a nation that day. We cried with each other, held each other up, and wiped the tears from each others eyes. We need to live like that always, not only when faced with adversity.

My political views have greatly changed over the years, and I am far left of where I used to be. Please don't thing me a heartless bastard, as I am quite the opposite. I just want people to turn off their emotions for a second, and to really use their minds. With great power comes great responsibility.

I love all of you, and pray with you that our soldiers all come home safely to their friends and loved ones.

Well, another potential buyer for my house down the drain. So, I called my realtor and put the place back on the market. If I didn't laugh, I would, well, take prozac. Maybe I should anyway. TGIF, and the weekend is almost here. Just a small 8 hour shift, and I am free for 2 days. Thank God that I had found that inner peace, it is carrying the load right now.

Ok everyone, if you have never heard of Deep Forest, download Deep Forest, by Deep Forest. Great Tunes!!!

Happy Friday.

I have a lot on my mind tonight. I can't sleep to save my life. At just after 2am, I am unable to sleep, and figured that I just needed to write. This year has been one of transition for me. Former goals have been assessed, new goals have been set, and I am trying to decide where they all lead to. I guess that this has caused my inability to sleep. I know that 2003 is in full swing, and I wonder where I will be when 2004 begins. I fully well imagine that I will live in central Illinois, but where will my life be. Career wise, I don't doubt for a second that I will still be a technology consultant, but that is such a small facet of my life. Will I continue to fall asleep alone and unfulfilled every night? Will I finally have the studio set up that I have dreamed of? Will I still be in this house? I guess that the direction that I am consumed with is a culmination of my skills, previous education, and experience. I just don't know how it will be utilized, and if I am going to begin to make my mark in the way that I desire to.

For those of you not in "The know," I graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas in 1991 with a focus on sound and video production. At that time, the necessary multi-media studio complete with sound production, video production, and other multimedia production equipment would run in the neighborhood of $250,000.00 The same quality can be obtained today in the neighborhood of $10,000.00 I would be willing to lay out this amount for a project studio, never expecting one dollar on return of investment. The recent re-design of dooce.com has my mind reeling. The things that people are now empowered to do amazes me.

Well, good night all, sleep well.

I had an interesting discussion about blogging with a friend today. The core of our conversation was that you just can't be sure who a person is based on their blog or personal website. I never really thought about it, because being a mid-westerner, (or maybe I am from Prague, for all you know) I was brought up to take people at face value. For all I know, the people that I regularly converse with could be a couple of 16 year old kids in their parents basements. It really is scary!!!

At this point, there has only been one online person that I have truly questioned as far as their motives and story. A few postings on their blog confirmed to me that they were of far less character than boasted. I have always trusted my instinct on this type of thing, and have never been disappointed.

As online communities expand, and as more and more people become netizens, this is something that we are all going to have to keep in mind.

Pretty good weekend, but I'm tired, and ready to get back to work! This has been a developing trend! I get more freetime during the week than I do on the weekends! I guess that I could look at the bright side of it, I have a relaxing 5 days every week! Next weekend I am going to help my friend Crutch move, and seeing that he got his wife knocked up with twins, she will be about as useless as... Ill let you insert your own thought here...

Ugh, I have stuff to get done this week. Bank stuff, house stuff, clothes stuff. I wish I could add to the list fun stuff.

SOOO, how was everyone elses weekend? I take it that none of you died, boy I would feel like an ass if anyone of you did!!!! Plus, death comes in 3's, and 3 have already died in the past month, so I think that we are safe! If any of you likes to do things that are ridiculous and stupid, this is the month to do them! Not included would be activities that could bring about death at a later date, such as, iv drug use, sex with prostitutes in bangkok, or inhalation of powdered plutonium. These things are still on the bad list.

Ok, I have found another item that my yuppie-scum-sucking hedonistic self wants. I have wanted this for a very long time, but it was WAY cost prohibitive. Now, it is only MILDLY cost prohibitive. I want the 23" Studio Display from Apple. Oh, God, it is gorgeous! If only the house were already sold! Mmmmm.

So, what does your yuppie-scum-sucking hedonistic ass want today???? Christina Aguilera is out, so FORGET IT!!!!

Today is blah. I had to spend $300.00 on my truck. That was 300 that I didn't really want to spend, on the truck that is. I wanted to spend it on designer eyewear. The whole bald bass player gig just isn't good enough anymore! I now need the "Bald bass player with designer eyewear" gig. On top of THAT all, I still think that I need a new Modulus bass. Hey, why stop there.... See, consumerism at its finest. And yes, the whole its -vs- it's thing is still bothersome to me. Its shows ownership, it's translates to it is.

Wants, they are never-ending. I still think that this is the way to go. Have I turned into a granola eating, birkenstock wearing, tree hugger?? Well, maybe I am on my way there, but I am tired of feeding into "American" consumerism. I am tired of being measured by the yardstick of the media.

Ok, well, I still want my Modulus bass, and some fricken designer eyeware.