When I took a shower yesterday, that was the last time I worn the patch. So I have basically went a little over 24 hours without wearing a patch. Dispise seeing all the cigarette available at my fingertips, haven't picked one cigarette up. So I guess that's pretty good.
Spend most of my vacation time outside, woodcutting different projects my wife and her best friend design for their seasonal decoration with woods. Which the woodcutting itself is actually a fun hobby I enjoy doing. It what some of us can consider as "therapy." Amazing how clean you can keep your mind when you find that therapy that works the best.
Doing research on the aftermath of quitting smoking, most every result revealed that after 15 years, a former smoker risk of a conorary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker risk is. At that time I'll be 46, my wife will still be 21 years young, and only god knows what the future holds. Research also shows that after 24 hours, my body would have rid of the nicotine in my system altogether. So, just these 2 knowledge can, in my opinion, show us just how it's never really is too late to quit the "cancer stick."
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Kick Butts day 4
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Kicking butts Day 3
I quit smoking July 13, 2017. A few years before that, I was able to quit "cold turkey" for 500 days before picking it back up again. I tend to ask myself everyday why I decided to put that nictine back into my system again. Maybe it was because the people I was around were smoking and I was feeling left out. It could be I didn't really care anymore. There could be so many reasons why I started back up again. Couldn't really blame anyone specifically, that would've just been childish.
In any case, it's truly a great feeling when we let go of things we've held onto so tightly thinking we need them. When in the end, they're really just worthless. Many people have reason they smoke, I truly don't. It just a waste of my time and energy. Those who do quit, stated they want to be healthy. Others, want to save money. For me, I just wanna quit. Period.
In my opinion, you really shouldn't need any real reason to quit. Other than just to quit. Whatever other's reasons are to quit, I'm just glad I did. I'm using Equate brand nicotine patch (paid for by my company. The starter package anyways), and so far they're helpful. Except when I had a few drinks. This battle shall be won in the end nevertheless. May y'all have a blessing day.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Clay Walker
A man who doesn't really get much recognition these days, yet been active since 1993, has been performing for over 20 years. Has over 30 singles released, but only 6 became #1, "What's It to You" (1993), "Live Until I Die" (1993), "Dreaming with My Eyes Open" (1994), "If I Could Make a Living" (1994), "This Women and This Man" (1995), "Rumor Has It" (1997). If you recognize any of them, then you know we're speaking of Clay Walker. He was formerly married to Lori Jayne Lampson until 2003, married again, and currently has 5 children. In 1996, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, inflammatory disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cords are damaged.
Clay Walker is believed to get his singing style by rhythm and blues music due to growing up in a largely African-American neighborhood. Clay original name is actually Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker, Jr. and was born on August 19, 1969. Walker received his first guitar at age 9, and begin entering talent contest at age 15. What's cool is he graduated high school in 1986. Which is the same year I was born. Walker began touring as a musician at age 19. He was 23 when he was discovered by James Stroud.
Things didn't take long for Walker as his debut album was released under self-titled (using his name as the name of the album) in 1993. As you can come to the conclusion, his 1st #1 hit was also his debut single, "What's It to You". Then, one after another, hits after hits took place for him. Again how many artist can say that? Of course this all took place in the 90s, to where country music artist knew what they were doing. Now these days it's tougher. In any case, Clay Walker was a promising Country Music Legend. So what happen?
In 1996, he was playing basketball with his friends when the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) introduced itself to Clay Walker. which caused him to change his lifestyle a little. After his 6th and final #1 hit, "Rumor Has It", he still received hits but just wasn't receiving the recognition he should have been receiving at the time. It seems ever song Walker recorded, was just the same thing over and over again. Like he was afraid to take it up a notch.
So when will Clay finally get that recognition he's been waiting for for all those years? Will this year, 2015, be the year Walker finally see his 7th #1 hit? That's right, This year, Clay Walker is due to release, "Rock the Radio" as his next single. Visit Clay Walker home website to stay tune on when the release will be. One final note, Clay Walker was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame on 01/16/2015. With this, I bid you farewell.
Resource:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_Walker
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis
- http://www.claywalker.com/articles.html?n_id=3307
- http://www.claywalker.com/articles.html?n_id=3465
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
"This Woman and This Man"
Divorces sucks! I really don't know it by experience, except as a kid, but, that's pretty much what this man tries to tell his women before he signs the paper she wanted him to. Begging she take the chance one more time, before everything becomes final. "This Woman and This Man" was something a lot of people have gone through back in the mid-90s. Co-Written by Jeff Pennig and Michael Lunn, the single provided Clay Walker his second #1 off the album, If I Could Make a Living, and spend 2 weeks as #1 starting week of March 18, 1995.
If I Could Make a Living was Clay Walker 2nd album since his start in 1993. The album was released on September 27,1994, and released 3 singles. Two became # 1, the self-titled track, and "This Women and This Man", with the 3rd single peaking at #16, "My Hear Will Never Know". "If I Could Make a Living" has a legendary country music artist as a co-writer, Alan Jackson. Which gave Clay Walker his 4th #1 hit single out of 6.
Jeff Pennig written/co-written a lot of great songs starting back in the early 1980s. Some of the well known country single were, "Killin' Time" by Fred Knoblock and Susan Anton (1980, no not the same one as Clint Black), "Them Good Ol' Boys Are Bad" by John Schneider (1981), "If It Ain't Love" by Lacy J. Dalton (1985), and Hal Ketchum 1995's, "Veil of Tears". Just to name a few.
Michael Lunn was Jeff Pennig partner in writing Clay Walker # 1 sing, "This Woman and This Man", but has also written/co-written other songs as well. Such as, "Love Needs a Fool" found on Chris LeDoux 1994 album, Haywire. From what can be known about Lunn, is he started playing the guitar at age 12, and it wasn't until 1994 when he decided to focus his songwriting chance with the Nashville market. before hand, he wrote for Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Johnny Lang, etc. Afterward, his songs can be found recorded by Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Kershaw, Diamond Rio, etc.
Clay Walker did go hiatus for awhile, but came back years later. Seems a lot of 90s artist are making a comeback, or at least attempting. some have already such as Clay Walker and Garth Brooks. That's a story for next time. Until then, farewell.
Resource
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Woman_and_This_Man
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_Walker
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Could_Make_a_Living
- http://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Jeff+Pennig&tab=songaswriterchartstab
- http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Michael-Lunn/1191271898
Monday, March 16, 2015
You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody
As the second single off of his 15th album, Lead On, George Strait scored another # 1 hit. What single was it? "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody". So true to its word, "You can lead a heart to love, but you can't make it fall". The single was written by Steve Clark and Johnny MacRae and was released on December 5, 1994. It spend one week at #1 starting week of March 11, 1995. What else? It gave Lead On a back-to-back #1 starting with the lead off single, "The Big One".
Lead On was released November 8, 1994 with only two #1 hits (as mentioned earlier), "The Big One" and "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody". Two other singles were released, "Adalida" and the self title as well. All four made Top 10 single list. The album also peaked # 1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums. What's cool about this album, is the title track, was written by Teddy Gentry. Sounds familiar? At the time, Gentry was a member of the former country band, Alabama. George Strait might have the most # 1 hits, but Alabama has the most consecutive # 1 hits. Put these two together and what do you get? A feeling like a nuclear bomb just ended the world because they are that good. Don't believe me? look at both of their records. These numbers cannot lie.
Earlier, you read the name Steve Clark. If you're like me, you probably didn't think much about the name. In fact, there are so many other people name Steve Clark, "Steve might just be shorter to say than, Stephen, Steven, Stevo, etc. Then, you see the picture above, and think, "no way!" Well, your eyes are not deceiving you. Yes! That is in fact, the very Steve Clark, the guitarist from Def Leppard! Now, the song was release in 1994, Clark died on January 8, 1991. So how is it possible that this is the same Steve? When it comes to songwriting, there's a lot more to publishing the song than just writing it and having someone record and release it the next day. In fact, a lot (and I mean a lot) of songs usually take days, weeks, months, years, and even decades after being published before they even get recorded. So it's very possible this is how the amazing Steve Clark is the co-writer for, "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" and it not be released until years later. Due to Steve Clark is very famous in the music world with Def Leppard, I really couldn't blog about him in this section. It be paragraph after paragraph after paragraph about him. However, if I had to pick what to write about him when it comes to country music, I'd write this:
Steve Clark, the co-writer for George Strait, "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody", has also written songs for many other artist such as Bill Anderson, Waylon Jennings, Doug Stone, and Confederate Railroad. If your mind not blown by this, you're either that kind of fan of Steve Clark, or you've done your research on him as well. One way or another, it safe to state, Steve may not be country, but he is one helluva awesome writer for any genre. May he rest in peace.
Who in the world would not want a funeral for them? Believe it or not, there are people out there. Johnny MacRae was one of them. Passing away on July 3, 2013, MacRaes' wife stated he requested there not be one for him. Johnny have also written many great hits such as, "Goodbye Says It All", "Pinebox (I'd Be Better Off)", "Tonight's the Heartaches on Me", "Whiskey, If You Were a Women", and many more.
Both of these man have lived a life full of awesomeness. It's amazing what comes to being conquer when two of the greatest minds comes together. As proven in just about every single one of my blogs. Can't wait to hear my blog on George Strait? Possibly things that you might not have known about him? I can't wait either. Until next time, farewell.
Resource
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can%27t_Make_a_Heart_Love_Somebody
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_On
- http://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Steve+Clark&tab=songaswriterchartstab
- http://www.marymacrae.com/aboutjohnny.htm
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Wade Hayes
Wade Hayes actual name is Tony Wade Hayes, and the first official record company he signed to that kicked his career off was Columbia Records. Where in 1994, Hayes debut album, Old Enough to Know Better, produced his debut single, the self-titled track, which also became his one and only #1 hit. The only other singles that ever got close to #1 were, "On a Good Night", found on his 1996 album of the same name as the single. His other singles have also reached the Top 40, except for a few. One of the worse one was from 1999, "Tore Up from the Floor Up", which only peaked #57.
Remember Glenn Campbell's 19968, "Wichita Lineman"? Hayes did a cover on his would-of-been-released album, Tore Up from the Floor Up, however, since the single had failed to chart top 40, The album was put on hold. Nevertheless, Hayes released his 1997 single, "The Day That She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy)", which peaked #5. Bringing Hayes third album to finally be released, but as, When the Wrong One Loves You Right, and "Witchita Lineman" was omitted from the album.
Hayes had a few other singles and albums released up to 2001, then went on a nine-hiatus (a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process). When he came back around 2008, he joined Alabama former member, Randy Owen's road band as a lead guitarist. n the meantime, also tours on his own. In 2009, he released, Place to Turn Around. Then in 2012, he released his latest single, "Is It Already Time" through RPM Entertainment. No album released with it yet tho.
Hayes latest single (as just mentioned) was written after Hayes was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer (development of cancer in the colon or rectum). in December of 2011. In the same month, was successfully operated on. His last tumor was removed in 2012 of March. Hayes currently (2015) is working on the album, Go Live Your Life, and according to http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/wadehayes, as of March 11, 2015, the project should be release sometime this year, but no sign rather or not, "Is It Already Time" will be found on it. Hayes mentioned how he doesn't like to sing the song due to it being too sad for him to sing. So who knows. You can still find the YouTube video and download the song on iTune. Hayes wrote nine of the ten songs that'll be found on the album.
Whatever the case may be, maybe the soon-to-be-release album will give Wade Hayes just what a lot of us could be hoping. Maybe another #1 single? MAybe a #1 album debut? Who knows? Anyways, the answers will soon be found. With that, I leave you with his latest single, "Is It Already Time". Farewell.
Resource:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Hayes
- https://books.google.com/books?id=LdxCPLZAExsC&pg=PA332&lpg=PA332&dq=Don+Hayes+professional+country+singer&source=bl&ots=nR5AoKGsPi&sig=G7CSeRoTTlrp9K331N3qWCOEJ7I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8w0AVY-0CYapNtKygOAP&ved=0CEYQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Don%20Hayes%20professional%20country%20singer&f=false
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichita_Lineman
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorectal_cancer
- http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/wadehayes
- http://www.wadehayes-woww.com/wadehayesnews.html
Monday, March 2, 2015
Wade Hayes - "Old Enough to Know Better"
Ever had to tell someone you were old enough to know better, and then right when they begin to reply, you tell them that you still feel too young to care? Exactly what Wade Hayes and Chicks Rains had in mind when, "Old Enough to Know Better" came to be written. Wade had it recorded on his debut album under the same name. He released the song on November 14, 1994, and hit # 1 for two weeks starting February 28, 1995. Hayes has indeed recorded other singles, and for awhile, also released other albums. However, "Old Enough to Know Better", is his only # 1 hit.
Hayes album, Old Enough to Know Better, reached # 19 on the Country Album chart, and has 4 singles display. Each one did make it to Top 10, "I'm Still Dancing with You", "Don't Stop", "What I Meant to Say", and of course, the title track (which is currently the topic of the blog). Ever noticed how Don Cook name seem to appear a lot? Well, it seems his name is going to keep appearing even more. Back in those days, Don knew exactly what he was doing. More about him in the future. In the meantime, Cook also produced Wade Hayes album, as well as written/co-written a few of the songs on the album such as, "Don't Make Me Come to Tulsa", "Kentucky Bluebird", and "Steady as She Goes". By the way, Brooks N Dunn also co-wrote, "Steady as She Goes" (both members, not just one). While on, "Kentucky Bluebird", you can hear a well known 90s country artist in the background, Patty Loveless. The titled track single was released first, then the album was released on January 3, 1995.
Earlier I mentioned the name of Chick Rains. Yes, I know. Who the heck would give a kid that kind of name? Especially if he's a guy? Now these days it seems to be normal. However, This guy is a legendary, Oklahoma Hall of Fame songwriter. So he is no stranger to the music industry. In fact, He's worked with various collaborators from late 70s and onward. Some of them were, Michael Martin Murphey, "Harley", found recorded by Johnny Cash on his 1990 album, Boom Chicka Boom. Another was with Harlan Howard, "Somebody Should Leave". Sounds familiar? Reba McEntire recorded it and released as a single in 1986. Before the 70s, Rains played in various location in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California starting from 1965. From there, he received a contract for Capitol Records. During the late 60s, Rains also served in Vietnam of 1969 and 1970. His first songwriting break came when Eddy Arnold recorded, "I Wish That I Had Loved You Better", on Arnold debut album (of the same name) in 1974. After Oak Ridge Boys recorded, "Easy", in 1977, Rains moved to Nashville in 1978. From there he's written many other singles and # 1 hits for various artist. Currently, Chick Rains resides in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he hangs with his wife and kids, and continues to write music.
So, what about the other co-writer? Lucky for Wade Hayes, he gets a whole blog to himself. After all, he recorded the song, and it still gets played even today. Until then, Here is the #1 hit of 20 years ago, "Old Enough to Know Better", by Wade Hayes.
Resource:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Enough_to_Know_Better_(song)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Enough_to_Know_Better
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chick-rains-mn0000110412/biography
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somebody_Should_Leave
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_Chicka_Boom
- http://omhof.com/inductee/chick-rains/
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-wish-that-i-had-loved-you-better-mw0000973747
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