Christmas ain't the same without a bbq in the snow

Just sittin' and thinking about Christmas and what it means. There is so much to it....As a Christian I remember the birth of CHrist and what that means to me...and as well just Frankie I think about my friends, family and people that I miss.

We would hold a Christmas party back in spokane at the house...food, beer, snow and friends. Pretty much all were welcome and I miss that. All I can do is let my friends know they are all in my thoughts.

Last Christmas my dad was not home for the holiday and it was my first Christmas back....Dad will be home this year and that makes me happy. Beths mom is in England which made tonight a bit odd (oh yeah Notre Dame beat Hawaii today!!) for beth, the kids and Beths dad.

I guess what I am trying to say is this.....If you are not a Christian remember it's all about family, friends and loved one....if you are a Christian well it's about the same things plus remembering the birth of Christ.

This goes out to all my friends and family all over the country....God Bless you guys and have a great Christmas!!

Cheers
Frankie

Gone but not forgetten

On December 16th 2004 I had just moved to Washington, my birthday had just past (12/14) and I receive a phone call from my friend Chumly with news I was not expecting....On December 16th 2004 my friend Ernie Cortez passed away after a battle with cancer. I along with a bunch of others did not know he was sick.

The last time I talked to him was shortly after Thanksgiving in 2004 just to let him know beth, myself and the kids were doing ok and adjusting to living outside of California.

All I am really saying is that I considered Ernie my friend and always looked forward to him coming into Fresno from Oakland

I still think about him....hope I will see him again someday!!

And so the show goes on.....

Saturday December 6th was kind of a big deal. "Why?" you ask. Because saturday was the first show I have done since coming back to California...let alone Dinuba!!

The bands were All Or Nothing (from Hollister), Your Pain, My Victory (Sacramneto) and two locan bands (Throne of Agony and ICATCHFIRE).



I went into this show with no real expectation....I mean come on it's Dinuba and to my suprise we had over 60 kids show up and have a good time!! Even Lindsee had a good time. She helped hand out fliers around the high school for me.

Ever since the show added Lindsee keeps telling me everyone wants to know when the next show is going to be. You know how crazy that really is and what is even crazier that my child who a year ago would have nothing to do with dad's shows was there helping and hanging out with her friends (sniff sniff)

There was one thing about the whole night that was a little of kilter and that was some of my friends were not there to enjoy the night with me....Alicia, Marshall, Thomas, Gus and some of the others but that was the first people to come to mind.

The great thing about this night was that we collected toys that were donated to Open Gate Ministries which is a battered womens shelter....So there are some little kids that are going to get a little somethin' somethin' for christmas!!

I wish people understood that this show probably meant more to me then it did the kids in the comminuty.....I am pushing 35 and the truth is sometimes this is all I know!

Number 1 question I have been asked this week is "When is the next show?" I am not sure I can promise there will definitely be another on!!