2009: A PASSION = TRUTH Retrospective.

End of an old year. Beginning of a new. It's retrospective time. PASSION = TRUTH style. The following highlights aren't PASSION = TRUTH highlights as much as they're highlights in my life over 2009. Just click on the colored links and you'll be whisked away to the post as it appeared in PASSION = TRUTH...in no particular order.

1. Dear California: I'm dumping you. My letter to the state of California upon my departure mid-September and subsequent move back to Wisconsin.

2. Best thing about California. My best friends in California - Donovan & Maria McCann-Glover, and their daughters, Grace, and my goddaughter, Gwyneth.

3. Jeff named "Godfather" to Gwyneth McCann-Glover. First time I've been chosen to be a godfather - and a very proud moment for me.

4. Concerts, concerts and more concerts. The Zombies at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, Cali., Terri Nunn and Berlin three times in 2009 and Gordon Lightfoot at the Canyon Club. Can't tell you which one was a highlight 'cause they were all highlights. Top-notch performances by every artist. And I got to meet with Terri Nunn. One of the most engaging solo artists (apart from her band Berlin) I've ever witnessed (I'd toss Minnie Driver in that category but I saw her perform three times in 2008).

5. Keeping with the live performance theme theme, I saw Brian Wilson perform at the Hollywood Bowl in late 2008 and then again in Milwaukee a couple months ago. In between that, I met one of Brian's back-up singers, Taylor Mills, via Facebook - then I met with her personally at her husband's gig (Todd Sucherman of Styx) in Manhattan Beach. I got to introduce her to my brother, Jason, at her Milwaukee gig. Very nice person and a great singer.

6. My award-winning, 10-minute play, "Pass the Salt, Please." was performed at festivals in Miami and Seattle. Very, very successful runs in both cities. If you're bored, you can type in "Pass the Salt, Please.", in the search box in the top left corner of the blog and all the related posts will pop up for you, including reviews. You can also type in that search box, "Grace Notes from a Bohemian in Wanderlust" and every post associated with my 3-week vacation in May will pop up.

Above: Me, Bo and brother Jason, day before I moved from California, September 2009.
7. Jeff knows Bo. Had the pleasure of striking up a friendship with actor Bo Svenson, "North Dallas Forty", "Walking Tall II", "The Great Waldo Pepper". Very, very nice gentleman.
8. Brett Favre signs with the Minnesota Vikings. The Ironman. The Legend. The future Hall of Famer. 19 years in the NFL. Owns every meaningful QB record that is and has never missed a start all that time. After one season with the New York Jets, Brett signed with the Vikes, who sit at 11-4 and are in the NFL playoffs this season. Like #6, type in "Brett Favre" and every post I've ever written, including this season, will come up.

9. My visit with Tina in Chicago. I usually visit my best friend from high school a couple times a year. Our time is meaningful and priceless.

10. Walleye fishing trip. This happens every May in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Going on...well, it's over 20 years. For some reason I can't find the actual fishing post but I found the golfing post.

11. "Dia duit, Eire!" Visited Ireland at the end of September. 3rd trip. Visited Galway, Ardfinnan, Cork, Waterford, Dublin and Cahir among other towns. Good food & drink great weather and as hospitable people as you can get. FYI: I set this particular blog up separately from PASSION = TRUTH.
12. Santa Barbara. My favorite spot in California. We have family there (by marriage) so I try and spend some time up there. I don't have a post here, but if you're on my blog, go to that search box in the upper left and type in "Santa Barbara", "Tom or Greg Nowak", "wine tasting", "Solstice" or "Fiesta" and you'll find a few posts. Beautiful country up there. And good wine (hiccup!).
BONUS: 13. Notes from Lost Man's Lane by Richard le Breton. I took a trip to Nashville, Indiana to visit my friend Katie and we had a ball. This is the first post in the series and, though the trip occurred in November 2008, it was a cool series of posts so I'm including it anyway. Again, if you type "Notes from..." in the upper left search box, the entire series of post will pop up.
There it is...2009. A lot of shit happened. These are just some of the special ones. You can check out the rest of the blog by searching topics toward the lower section of the right panel. Been doing this since March 2007 - with over 2,000 posts, you're bound to find something that's of interest. Happy New Year and a better 2010 for us all!

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TGIF! Friday presents...Berlin's "Metro" (2002)!

OMG! To see Wang Chang, Cutting Crew, and ABC LIVE! is wayyyy different then hearing their hits on the radio. Fucking awesome concert at Universal Ampitheater...with the cherry on the cake = Berlin. Teri Nunn is in better voice than she was in 1983. The 3rd time I've seen her in a year! 'Effing awesome. By far her stage presence and voice are in the tops of ANY female artist I've seen.

Special thanks to Jay & Susie for treating me to this most excellent concert. Damn! I wish you all could've been there, particularly if you grew up on 80's music.

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Please...no public displays of dissatisfaction (PDD), OK?

GIRL
You're driving me nuts with this obsession, Dieter! Please...you asked me and I told you! I'm sorry I said anything.

GUY
But you are wrong, Heidi. There's no way. It's a lot bigger than that. This can not be.

Photographer Simon Hoegsberg's "We're all gonna die. 100 meters of existence." is a composite of 178 people shot in the course of 120 days from the same spot on a railroad bridge on Warschauer Strasse in Berlin in the summer of 2007. I captured one section of it - see the row of pictures on the bottom?

As you observe the folks Hoegsberg caught in his lens you can't help but imagine what they're thinking. My take on this couple was the first thing that popped into my head. I mean, what else could they possibly be doing? Germans...sheesh.

See for yourself. Go to the post on my friend Tony's site, tuesdays. The photographer's site is linked there.

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Susie and Jeff see Berlin at Hollywood Park.

My friend Susie (left, below with my friend Maria) and I saw Terri Nunn and Berlin at Hollywood Park Race Track last night. God - what a concert. I met Terri the first time I saw her at The Canyon Club (see October 25 post) - but Susie and I were closer this time to see the show (20 yards). I've said this before but Nunn's voice is even better NOW then when Berlin was at its peak in the 80's. Seriously, I would fly across the country just to see Terri perform. The connection she makes with her audience is something I rarely see. And she's so damn cute!

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Women Celebs I Love #5 - Terri Nunn of Berlin (@ The Canyon Club last night!).

FLASHBACK. 1983. The US Festival. A free, 3-day concert. 640,000 in attendance. Terri Nunn and Berlin performs on Day 2 with Los Lobos, Quarterflash, U2, Missing Persons, The Pretenders, Joe Walsh, Stevie Nicks and David Bowie. Their hits include: "The Metro", "No More Words", "Sex (I'm A...)", "Masquerade", and the #1 hit, "Take My Breath Away".

LAST NIGHT. Terri Nunn and her latest incarnation of Berlin perform at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA. Same place I saw Gordon Lightfoot last weekend and The Zombies in June. It's a helluva venue. Same Terri Nunn. Same songs + new ones. Same voice (actually, I thought she sounded better now). Same charm. Same everything. And I was there - as if 1983 were stretched out over 25 years (me with Terri above). Click on READ MORE!

(WAIT! There's more pictures of Terri, Berlin, a couple videos you won't wanna miss and shots of last night's show.)


Terri Nunn of Berlin fame epitomizes the ultimate rocker chick. Her swagger on stage - to me, her defining trait - is unmatched even by a guy. She was in full voice...honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between her voice in the 80's at Berlin's peak and last night. And the band was right on the money - just younger. Nunn embodies everything sexual and carries a confidence on stage like no other. Had I the invitation from Terri, I would've jumped on stage and made love to her in front of everyone. I'm totally fucking serious.

Here's a couple Youtube video links: "The Metro" in 1983 at Showtime at the Palace in San Fran. - back in the day. I have to laugh - watch the patrons and the bartenders dance. Yeh - that's the way EVERYONE danced back then, people. And "The Metro" today, at Hollywood Park earlier this year (catch out Terri's dress). You may wanna pause the Imeem jukebox on the upper right if you watch these. By the way, "The Metro's" my favorite, can't you tell?


When Berlin first made it big (1982-83) I was a freshman and sophomore in college (Terri's two years older than me). 'Course I remember it and enjoyed it, but I took their music for granted back in the day. Perhaps that's not uncommon - I was living in that moment. As I look back, there was great music in the 80's.

I met Greg and his wife, Sheldon, in line for a meet & greet with Teri. Very nice people. She's an actress from Cleveland and he's a sound dude in the industry from Seattle. Sheldon told me that I look like rocker Tommy Lee...my friend Nicole in Iowa has been saying that for years. Huh - looks and personality, I guess. I need to find a decent picture of Tommy Lee, I guess. Thanks for taking that shot of Terri and I, Greg!

With a glass of wine in hand, Terri was very gracious in signing CDS, posters and taking pictures after the show - as giving as she is on stage. She made a point to thank the audience for, if it weren't for them - you and me - she couldn't do what she loves to do...and that's perform.

She told the audience about her daughter whom she adopted from Russia; so when I met and talked to her, I related my high school buddy's experience of adopting two children from Russia (the 2nd child this year). The sparkle and love in Terri's eyes upon hearing my story made me realize what a special person she is. As a matter of fact, she dedicated, "Take My Breath Away" to a lady in the audience who just got the word that her adoption of a Russian orphan had been OK'd.

When Terri goes "acoustic", the shoes come off and stay off. This "Women Celebs I Love" piece has been a regular feature on PASSION = TRUTH; I originally began #5 Terri Nunn back in July but just never got back to it. Last night's concert was the impetus to get it finished.

Double vision Terri. Can it really get better than just one?

Commonplace in every concert, Terri jumps on the back of a security dude and sings amongst the audience.

A genuinely appreciative Terri Nunn. She's a perfect example of why I love musicians. They're real. It's the whole PASSION = TRUTH thing (like my blog). You know how they feel and where they stand. Yeh, you might think Keith Richards looks and acts like he thinks he's 22, but he can still play and there's no bullshit about him. He's the way he is. What you see is the truth. Same with Terri.

The book, Cherry Bomb: The Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Better Flirt, A Tougher Chick, And Hotter Girlfriend, And Living Life Like A Rock Star, hit the market recently. Author Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna has tips from such girl rockers as Blondie, The Runaways, Pat Benatar, Veruca Salt, Amy Winehouse and Terri. Here's the author and Nunn doing what rock chicks do, I guess.

Berlin today. If I haven't stated it directly, "I LOVE Teri Nunn"!

The original Berlin. In 2003 the members of Berlin's Love Life era lineup got together at the behest of VH1’s Bands Reunited show, resulting in phone conversations between Crawford (far left - main songwriter and ex-lover of Terri's) and Diamond that Crawford credits with inspiring him to begin writing again. Funny how their former manager said VH1 would never get them together (in-fighting) and that the biggest hurdle was getting Nunn and Crawford to agree - then getting Diamond to agree. Well, they did, and every band member was glad of it and couldn't believe how well they played and sounded after so many years of not playing together. Of all the bands featured on VH1's show, the Berlin segment was my favorite - re-inspiring me to their music.

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Speaking of Tommy Lee...Separated at Birth? Me and T. Lee?

I alluded to this in my post about the Teri Nunn/Berlin concert, primarily because it's not the first time it's come up.

I met this couple at the show and the girl says to me immediately, "You look like Tommy Lee". I almost choked on my beer because my good friend, Nicole, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has been saying that for years. And I vaguely remember another person saying the same thing once.

Now, obviously Nicole knows me fairly well and, though perhaps I resemble Lee a tad (my thoughts...plus I'm not a fan of his), Nicole is adamant that my personality and his are very similar. She has a feng shui business on the side, so she should know, right?

What do you think? And by the way, I'd take Teri Nunn over Pamela Anderson on Teri's worst day.

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