End of an era.

Silver Creek has retired. Last Saturday, December 13, 2008 we played our last gig. We officially retired October 18, 2008, but still had two contracts to honor, so we played them and now it's over. I have been in several bands over the course of 30 years, and the band life has given me a lot of stories, a lot of friends and a lot of money. But, as everything does, the times are a-changing. It will be good to have the weekends to do whatever I want. I will keep on picking and grinning, but at home, and no more bands. Fare well, Silver Creek!

Cockroaches

Sometimes a picture IS worth a thousand words...

My Wife

There are places I'll remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever, not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life, I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers

There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life, I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life, I love you more

In my life-- I love you more

The Beatles

Midnight

It's Midnight again, and I find sleep has eluded me. I am not sure how much sleep I need, but I average 4 hours a night. When I rise from my bed, I plunge into the Midnight darkness that is my mind. Edgar Allan Poe would be proud....

My Life-long Friend

My heart was soaring higher

Than an eagle could ever fly

I was meeting my life-long friend

That hot summer day in July

But the flowers in my hand all wilted

As the hot dusty wind did blow

I turned away from the setting sun

My life-long friend didn't show...

30 Year High School Reunion

My wife and I rode 900 miles round trip on the Harley to the 30 year high school reunion. Essay got an Ultra Classic and rode it there too. Pete, me and Essay visited Skip and cussed him out for getting shot over a worthless woman, and cried a little.

The reunion was blah, with the same people who always show up - - where are the others? We could not even locate some of the class of '78, and the some of the ones we contacted didn't want to come. We are all getting grayer and fatter, but over-all, we are still good looking!

Nothing profound. The ride with my wife was the high-light. I love her so much!

It was good to be home though.

Now I will let the next 10 years flow over me, and I will go back and see if anything has changed...

Death by Hertz

The unthinkable happened to me. After 20 years working my way up the ladder to a nice salary, benefit package, 401k, pension plan, I was layed off. I hate starting at the bottom when I am nearly 50 years old, and with the economy depressed, the chances of landing a similar job with similar benefits are remote.
Personally, I could get by. But I have responsibilities: my folks are old and disabled, and live on my property. My wife depends on me. I just refinanced the house and land and I have a huge mortgage. I am worried...
I suppose getting laid off was not the worst. The worst were my superiors who never called, wrote or e-mailed me to say 'Good job for those 20 years' or something along those lines. They have turned into cold, corporate people and have lost touch with humanity, and I am glad I am not like them; but it's people like them that are killing America.
I will find another job, and I have seen more years than I am going to see in my life, and I can look back at it all and say: "IT'S BEEN ONE HELL OF A RIDE!!!"

Cyclone Nargis

The travesty is the circus of the United States political primaries, spending millions of dollars for an eventual election that has strayed so very far away from the concept of 'Let the best man win' that even the voters are forced to vote along political lines. Why don't we give that money to those in Myanmar, who critically need it in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis? We continue to play baseball, eat hot dogs, and watch the political circus with blinders on, so we may NOT know the world is hurting. Clinton, Obama - - show your TRUE leadership skills and donate the rest of your campaign fund to Myanmar...

Cool Hand Luke

It is nearly impossible to choose one 'all time favorite' movie. One has to choose a favorite in each genre. But of all movies, this is my all time favorite.

Bananagrams

This is such a great game! It's called Bananagrams. It's kind of a free style Scrabble with no board, pencils, paper. You can play by the rules or make up your own, as we did. CAUTION! Very addicting...

Jesus Christ

'I am blinded by the light of God and Truth and Right, so I wander in the night without direction...' -- Paul Simon

The Twilight Zone

Rod Serling was so profound. He taught me to love the unexpected.

Hoyt Axton

The earliest music I can recall hearing was Hoyt Axton singing Green Back Dollar. He inspired me through all my years of playing guitar.

The Harley

This is El Ligardo, a model year 2000 Harley Road King. Has not been very nice for riding, and as I get older I get more scary about riding in the rain and at night. Two bikers killed this weekend in accidents. Fast way to get to Heaven or Hell.....

Homer Simpson

Homer Simpson has been a very important influence in my life. I have known him for a long time, and often I think he and I are brothers.

Skip

This year is our 30 year High School Reunion. Some won't make it....

Life's Highway

The sun is up, the time's at hand;
There's a stir across the land.
So begins another day
On Life's Highway

From city streets, down country roads
Like a stream the people flow;
There's bread to win and tolls to pay
On Life's Highway

There is hope in every turn;
A bridge to build, a bridge to burn.
Here's hoping you never go astray
On Life's Highway

We are young then we're old;
Passing through then passing on;
Like the roses bloom and fade
On Life's Highway

Step by step, round and round,
Never knowing where we're bound;
From the cradle to the grave
On Life's Highway

There is hope in every turn;
A bridge to build, a bridge to burn.
Here's hoping you never go astray
On Life's Highway

Steve Wariner