Here is an amusing sign, which I found on the blog, A Stellar Life.

Miramar Airshow

On Friday, October 2, I attended the annual air show at MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Miramar for the third year in a row. It was just as thrilling this time as the other times. There is always something exciting about the roar of jets overhead. As usual, the show was full of amazing aerial acrobatics. I didn't see every performance, but the ones I did see were well worth it. Among the performances I saw were, The Oracle Challenger, The Red Bull MIG jet, a legacy flight of an F-16 fighter jet and the P-51 Mustang fighter plane from World War II, The Patriot Team whose jets trail red, white, and blue smoke as they perform their stunts, a helicopter that performed some amazing stunts, such as loops (I had never seen a helicopter able to do loops, and have never seen one able to go upside down), and the AV-8B Harrier jet. It is always a sight to see a jet fighter take off and land vertically. But, the headliners of the show are the Navy Blue Angels. They put on another spectacular show. The excitement builds as the Blue Angels start up their engines and then start their slow taxi in pairs past the viewing stands and then they take to the skies with a roar. As usual, their performance was a spectacular demonstration of great skill and precision, The planes fly so close together at times that it appears that they might crash into each other or touch wingtips. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see the Blue Angels. I look forward to seeng them next year.

Dave Matthews Band

On Saturday, September 12, I saw Dave Matthews Band in concert at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Chula Vista. I have been a big fan for years, but this was my first time to see them live in concert. My seats were very good. They gave me an unobstructed view of the stage. It is great that they accomodate their wheelchair-using patrons very well.

The opening act was Switchfoot, a band out of San Diego. I had heard of them before, but had never heard any of their songs. They turned out to be a pretty good band. They performed a lively set which was well worth watching. During the opening act, the seats were sparsely filled. A lot of people were more interested in the main act. After Switchfoot left the stage, the seats started to fill up with eager fans. As we waited for the show to start, a large white sheet was hung from the light rigging. It hung down in front of the stage. Once everything was set up, the lights went out, and an incessant roar of cheering fans filled the air. The lights came on and the band members took the stage. As the band members took the stage, their distorted silhouettes were visible behind the sheet like shadow puppets. They started to play the opening notes of Funny the Way It Is, and with the first drum beat the sheet ripped away. The crowd went wild. After that they played, Spaceman, Don't Drink the Water, Proudest Monkey, Satellite, Shake Me Like a Monkey, Lying In the Hands of God, Seven, Crash Into Me, You Might Die Trying, Why I Am, Lie In Our Graves, Squirm, Alligator Pie, You and Me, Jimi Thing. They left the stage, and then came back for a three song encore of My Baby Blue, Grey Street, Time Bomb. They played almost all the songs off their new album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, but they also played a good number of songs from their other albums. They played one great song after another. The two and a half hours just zipped by.

The performance was energetic and upbeat from start to finish. Dave and his bandmates enjoyed performing for the fans, who enjoyed the performance as well. They are a band that loves to play together. They complement each other well. Dave Matthews unique vocals and acoustic guitair along with the awesome violin playing of Boyd Tinsley, powerful drumming of Carter Beauford, and the rhythmic bass playing of Stefan Lessard makes for a great sound. They were joined by a fine group of touring musicians: Tim Reynolds on electric guitar, Rashawn Ross on trumpet, and Jeff Coffin on Sax. Jeff was filling in for LeRoi Moore, a founding member of DMB, who died last year. It is a shame that I never got to see him perform with the band. But, Jeff did a fantastic job filling in. At one point he played an alto and a tenor sax at the same time. They did some great jams and Boyd had some great violin solos. The band is great on their albums, but they are even better live. It was a memorable concert and they are a band I would like to see again.

Quotes

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. "

Bob Marley

Alan Adams 1966-2009

This morning started off on a sad note. I received news that my friend, Alan Adams died last Wednesday in the hospital. Alan, like me, had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a disease that has taken away so many people. This news rudely slapped me in the face with my own mortality, and has increased my wish for a cure. It also shows that you must take every day as it comes and to enjoy life; because you never know when that bell will toll for you.

I met Alan, five years ago, on the internet in the group DMD Pioneers. We would chat on Yahoo Messenger, or talk via the internet. Sometimes we would play on-line games as we talked. Often, we invited a fellow DMDer, Jeff Petrie to join us in the fun. I never met Alan in person, since he lived in Pennsylvania. He was humble, kind, good-natured, and had a love of life. I always enjoyed talking with him, and he was glad to talk to me. My thoughts go out to his family on this day that he was laid to rest. It was great to have known you, my friend. You will be missed.

41st Birthday Party

Last Saturday, July 11 was my forty-first birthday party. This year, I decided to keep it small, and simple. I just invited close friends and immediate family. It was a low-keyed affair. We hung out around the pool at my parent's and my house, socializing and having a good time. My best friend Alex painted a portrait of me with oil paints in twenty minutes (check out his blog post about the portrait). It provided an interesting diversion as my guests watched the portrait take shape. The final product was very good.

As I sat there visiting with my friends and enjoying the day, I felt blessed to have the friends and family that I have. Everyone truly enjoyed spending the afternoon in celebration of another birthday. Sometimes the simplest celebrations are the most enjoyable. My fortieth birthday party was so wonderful that there was no way it could be surpassed. Everyone still has fond memories of that day. In homage to last year's celebration, the cake was decorated with butterflies (a reference to the release of monarch butterflies at last year's celebration), and said Happy 1st Anniversary of Your 40th Birthday. Towards the end of the party, my niece, Dallas sang a song for me from the swimming pool (an interesting choice of venue). That was very thoughtful of her and a special touch to end off an enjoyable afternoon. A nice day spent with my family and friends is the best present I can ever receive. Everybody left the party in good spirits. A sign of another wonderful party.

41 Years Old

Today I am forty-one. For most people forty-one is just another birthday, but to me every birthday is a milestone. When I was first diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy around the age of six, the doctors didn't expect me to live past my mid-teens. Thankfully, they have been proven wrong. So, every birthday for me is a celebration of life. Here's to life!

4th of July

The annual Fourth of July parade in Rancho Santa Fe is always a nice way to celebrate the holiday. This year was no exception. It seemed like the whole Ranch was there. The community really gets into the spirit of the day. There were many people in red white and blue lining the sidewalks on either side of the main street, Paseo Delicias. Many people were also waving flags as the procession moved along. The singing of the National Anthem was the signal for the parade to start. As is customary, the procession was led by the Marine Corps color guard, then the fire engines of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department with sirens blaring rolled through. After was the procession of classic cars, tractors, children on decorated bicycles and other modes of transportation, and people riding horses. My niece and nephews took part in the parade. My nephew, Stetson was with his Cub Scout troop riding a skateboard. In some of the cars were some of our politicians: our Congressman, Brian Bilbray; Assemblyman Martin Garrick; County Supervisor, Bill Horn; and the new Sheriff of San Diego County, Bill Gore. After the parade everyone gathered on the village green for food and music by an orchestra playing patriotic music and other American Standards. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon. The whole event has a small town feel to it, and brings the community together. Events like this remind me why this is a great community to live in.

In the evening, my sister and brother-in-law came over with my niece and nephews for a nice dinner outside on the sun deck. After that, I watched the annual Fourth of July concert from Washington, D.C. Since I wasn't able to go see fireworks, it was nice to see the fireworks over Washington, D.C. on television. It is not the Fourth of July without fireworks.

Sunday Quotes

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

15 Year Anniversary

This month marks fifteen years since I was trached and vented. Being trached and vented gave me a new lease on life. If I didn't decide to have this done, this would have been the fifteenth anniversary of my death. Choosing life was a no-brainer; I wasn't ready to cash in my chips just yet. At twenty-six, I still had a lot more living ahead of me, and a lot to live for as well. Being trached and on a ventilator has it share of challenges, but it sure beats the alternative. No matter how tough things can get, I never for a moment regret my choice to live.