Music, guitars, pianos, songwriting, photography, Latin American Politics as they relate to eastern hemisphere politics, film, but mostly guitars.
I am a product of the 70s and 80s and their music...my earliest musical memories where of my mother listening to Julio Iglecias 45s when I was 3 and 4 years old, while living in Tampa, FL...
During my early years my father worked as an oil driller and we lived in many parts of the world,like Africa and Europe, I was exposed to a lot diversity in cultures and their music...ironically, through tapes that my father would bring home while living in Africa, I also learned about latin music...
it was during this phase of my life that I heard Surfing USA by the Beach Boys and Kids In America by Kim Wylde...my life would never be the same...
oddly enough though, it was at about this time that I saw Superman (the original and at the movie theatre) for the first time and fell mesmerized by powerful orchestral music...I remember singing the superman theme in my head for weeks after that...
The bands and artists that have influenced me the most in my music life would have to be....(in no particular order other than the first one) Dann Huff, Jude Cole, Chris Rodriguez, Terry McMillan, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Toto, Steve Lukather, Def Leppard, Michael W. Smith (old school), Amy Grant (old school), Petra (old school), Reb Beach, Richard Marx, Ratt and Warren DiMartini, Winger, Skid Row, Warrant, Motley Crue, Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades, Night Ranger, Damn Yankees, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Eddie Van Halen, Bruce Hornsby, Don Henley, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Jimmy Lee Sloas,
I do however appreciate the modern stuff more and more everyday...I like, Linkin Park, LOVE Nickelback, Chris Daughtry, Pink, Fergie (her solo record is AWESOME), Black Eyed Peas (I can do without the political statements), I can't stand Kanye West or anything that smells of him, Usher is pretty awesome, love anything breathed on by Dr. Dre, No Doubt, Gwen Steffani, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Pilgrim...etc.
I am loving the trend of "realistic" CGI integrated with a VERY GOOD story...the return of the good script is welcome from me! A couple of movies that got bad reviews I think were misunderstood....Syriana (As much as I can't stand George Clowny) and Romeo and Juliet with Dicaprio (do you know how hard it is to READ Shakespeare, let alone act it?
24 is about the only commitment to TV that I have, I am tempted to boycott is altogether as well as Hollywood because of the crybabies that are keeping us from getting 24 until next year...Also was a HUGE Jericho fan till they did away with it...but it was a good ending...other than FOOTBALL!!! of course.
I don't read enough, though I have made a commitment to myself to read my bible more often...
All of the modern day martyrs around the world who are in one way or another persecuted and often killed for their Christian beliefs...
Also our American Military troops...they sacrifice so we can stay free, remember "The defense of freedom is not a series of actions,it is a methodology...we could spend the rest of our lives trying we'll NEVER repay them and their sacrifices, I am humbled and think of you and your families everyday, I teach my children love, respect, and passion for the defense of this Nation! ...
My father for overcoming his demons and becoming the man I want to be someday, my mother for sacrificing more than any woman should while believing that my dad would someday change, Roy Rogers who romanced Dale Evans till the day he died, and anyone who stands up to the condescending...the butterflies are gone after the first punch, aim for the nose and say it loud!!!