Ahmad Bell is back again with a new single titled “Love Worth Living For,” featuring Joshua Bridgewater who is also a Gospel Hip Hop artist getting the word out that Jesus lives and loves us all. Both men talk to both the youths and adults about staying away from drugs and the wrong crowd and living a life that is pleasing to our father in heaven.
I am adding some links for those of you who would like to know more about Victorious and his passion for Christ to visit my post about this phenomenal man of God. I sure hope each of you get something out of the lyrics and music.
I would like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas!
This year is winding down and we will soon enter a new one. I pray 2021 will be a great year for my family and yours as well. Stay safe and may our father bless each of you beyond measure!
This cute poem was written by one of my 9-year-old grandsons and myself. He doesn’t like vegetables and was having a hard time one weekend day eating some broccoli that his dad, which is my son wanted him to eat. After struggling to take a bite of broccoli, he stated, “I don’t like veggies,” that’s when I said to him, “Joshua, why don’t you sit down with grandma after you finish your food and we can write a poem about you not liking veggies.” He agreed and we wrote this poem using many of his own words as to why he doesn’t like veggies. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!
The band “Van Halen” was a huge part of my teenage years. I don’t have cool stories of going to any of their concerts as most people do, but I can say with all honesty that they were a huge part of the teen years, not only of mine but many of the people I grew up with. It’s sad to have to say goodbye to Eddie, but I am so happy he is leaving us a huge collection of some of the greatest music of all time. R.I.P., Eddie, and Rock On!
Edward Lodewijk “Eddie” Van Halen (Dutch: [ˈɛdʋart ˈloːdəˌʋɛi̯k fɑn ˈɦaːlə(n)], /vænˈheɪlɛn/van HAY-len; January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was an American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. He was the main songwriter and lead guitarist of the American rock band Van Halen, which he co-founded in 1972 with his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen, bassist Mark Stone, and singer David Lee Roth. He was well known for popularizing the tapping guitar solo technique, allowing rapid arpeggios to be played with two hands on the fretboard. In 2012, he was voted number one in a Guitar World magazine reader’s poll for “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Eddie and his brother Alex formed a band in 1972. Two years later, the band changed its name to “Van Halen” and, at the same time, became a staple of the Los Angeles music scene while playing at well-known clubs like the Whisky a Go-Go. In 1977, Warner Records offered Van Halen a recording contract.
Upon its release, the band’s album Van Halen reached number 19 on the Billboard pop music charts, becoming one of rock’s most commercially successful debuts. It was highly regarded as both heavy metal and hard rock album. By the early 1980s, Van Halen was one of the most successful rock acts of the time. The album 1984 went five-times platinum a year after its release. The lead single “Jump” became the band’s first and only number-one pop hit and garnered them a Grammy nomination.
The band won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocals for the album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. In 2019, the band ranked 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists with 56 million album sales in the United States and more than 80 million worldwide. Additionally, Van Halen charted 13 number-one hits in the history of Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock chart; meanwhile, VH1 ranked the band seventh on a list of the top 100 hard rock artists of all time and, in 2007, Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Individually, Eddie received acclaim for his guitar work in the band.
Eddie was also an inventor on three patents related to guitars: a folding prop to support a guitar in a flat position, a tension-adjusting tailpiece, and an ornamental design for a headstock.
Eddie’s 1978 instrumental solo “Eruption“, which was voted number 2 in Guitar World‘s readers poll of the “100 Greatest Guitar Solos”, showcased a solo technique called tapping, using both left and right hands on the guitar neck. Although he popularized tapping, he did not invent the tapping technique, which had been used by flamenco guitarists for at least a century, as well as the likes of Western virtuosos like Paganini on both violin and guitar. According to MusicRadar, Steve Hackett – lead guitarist with Genesis in the 1970s – is “widely credited with inventing two-handed tapping” and was an influence on Eddie. When asked about this, Hackett said, “Eddie and I have never spoken about it, but yes, he has credited me with tapping… Eddie is a fine player, of course, and he’s the one who named the technique.”
George Lynch said in an interview that he and Eddie saw Harvey Mandel tap at the Starwood in the 1970s. Eddie named Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin as an influence, saying in one interview with Guitar World:
I think I got the idea of tapping watching Jimmy Page do his “Heartbreaker” solo back in 1971. He was doing a pull-off to an open string, and I thought wait a minute, open string … pull off. I can do that, but what if I use my finger as the nut and move it around? I just kind of took it and ran with it.
Until it expired in 2005, Eddie held a patent for a flip-out support device that attaches to the rear of the electric guitar. This device enables the user to employ the tapping technique by playing the guitar in a manner similar to the piano with the face of the guitar-oriented upward instead of forward.
Guitars
The “Frankenstrat”
Eddie used custom equipment throughout his career. His original choice of the guitar was a Gibson Les Paul, which he replaced the original P90 pickup on the bridge with a humbucker in order to sound like Eric Clapton. He is most associated with the Frankenstrat, a custom guitar he built from parts. The ash body and maple neck cost $130, while the body was bought for $50 as the wood had a knot in it. The tremolo arm was originally taken from a 1958 Fender Stratocaster and was later replaced with a Floyd Rose arm. The guitar had a single Gibson PAF (patent applied for) bridge pickup from a Gibson ES-335, which he enclosed with paraffin wax to prevent feedback. The Frankenstrat was originally painted black but was recoated with Schwinn red bicycle paint in 1979.
For Van Halen’s 2012 tour, and early 2015 television appearances, he used a Wolfgang USA guitar with a black finish and ebony fretboard. For the 2015 tour, he used a white Wolfgang USA guitar designed by Chip Ellis, featuring a custom kill switch.
Pickup selection
Eddie used a variety of pickups including 1970s Mighty Mites, which were made by Seymour Duncan and were copies of DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups. Eddie also used GibsonPAFs, one of which was rewound by Seymour Duncan in 1978.
In an interview with Guitar World in 1985, Eddie stated that his guitar sound style which he called “brown sound” is “…basically a tone, a feeling that I’m always working at … It comes from the person. If the person doesn’t even know what that type of tone I’m talking about is, they can’t really work towards it, can they?” In an interview with Billboard magazine in June 2015, he stated that with the expression “brown sound” he actually tried to describe the sound of his brother Alex’s snare drum, which he thought “…sounds like he’s beating on a log. It’s very organic. So it wasn’t my brown sound. It was Alex’s.”
In 1980, Van Halen met actress Valerie Bertinelli at a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, Louisiana. They married in California a year later and had one son, Wolfgang. In 2005, Bertinelli filed for divorce in Los Angeles after four years of separation. The divorce was finalized in 2007.
The following year, Eddie proposed to his girlfriend, Janie Liszewski, an actress and stuntwoman who was Van Halen’s publicist at the time. The two married in 2009, at his Studio City estate, with his son Wolfgang and ex-wife Bertinelli in attendance.
Health and death
Van Halen struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse. He began smoking and drinking at the age of 12, and he stated that he eventually needed alcohol to function. He entered rehabilitation in 2007 and later shared in an interview that he had been sober since 2008.
Suffering from lingering injuries from past, high-risk, acrobatic stage performances and crashes, Van Halen underwent hip replacement surgery in 1999, after his chronic avascular necrosis, with which he was diagnosed in 1995, became unbearable. He began receiving treatment for tongue cancer in 2000. The subsequent surgery removed roughly a third of his tongue. He was declared cancer-free in 2002. He blamed the tongue cancer on his habit of holding guitar picks in his mouth, stating in 2015: “I used metal picks – they’re brass and copper – which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer. … I mean, I was smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything. But at the same time, my lungs are totally clear. This is just my own theory, but the doctors say it’s possible.”
In 2012, Van Halen underwent emergency surgery for a severe bout of diverticulitis. Recovery time required due to the surgery led to the postponement of Van Halen tour dates scheduled in Japan. Van Halen was later hospitalized in 2019 after battling throat cancer over the previous five years. He died from the illness on October 6, 2020, at the age of 65.
Through your darkest hours, can you see the light?
During your trials and tribulations, can you see the light?
Doors slammed in your face; those around you don’t think you are good enough. Do you see the light?
When you have realized your dreams and accomplished your goals. Can you see the light?
You’ve climbed many mountains and moved those stumbling blocks. Can you see the light?
All no’s turned into yes’ a direct result of the goals you set. Can you see the light?
Soar like the Eagle, the eagle has a bold, conquering spirit, believe in yourself, don’t run from trials, trust, stand, and conquer. You will become that Light!
Over the weekend I along with my younger sister traveled to West Texas to visit Family. While there, we stayed with one of our older sisters and I tell you, we had a great time. When another sister drove in from Austin, the fun was on. We got up that Saturday, ran errands for our Mother, came back to the house. I needed a drink, so I walked over to her kitchen sink to get a drink of water, and happened to look out the window and spotted this beautiful red flower. I asked my sister what type of flower it was, but she said she didn’t know and thought it was just a weed. She then said she has always allowed her lawn man to mow it down.
One of our nephews volunteered to take pictures of it, and we took to Google to see if we could find out what it was. I also asked friends on Facebook. It was so neat, I was getting answers like Naked Ladies, one friend said I don’t know but it looks like some type of lily, another friend said Amaryllis, someone asked if the leaves were fat or skinny. My reply was that it doesn’t have any leaves, two friends stated that they call them Surprise Lilies because after a good fall rain, they just pop up with no leaves or warning and it’s always a surprise. The answers were all good answers but when I found the true answer on Google, the Red Oxblood Lily or also known as the Schoolhouse Lily. Although I have never heard of this flower, I find it strange looking with no leaves, but at the same time beautiful, and can see how its name came to be.
I told my sister not to let the guys mow it down and I will help her create a flower bed and replant it there. We hadn’t been out in the backyard at that time, but I happened to open the back door so my grandson and my nephews could take the trash out for their aunt, that’s when I noticed two more lilies. They were just in various places in her yard that you couldn’t see when looking out the kitchen window. One is in the middle of the yard, which is the one I saw first, the second one is right at her back door so when she opened the door she wouldn’t miss it, and the third one is over near her fenceline. It sure is funny how you can stumble upon some of the most fascinating things in your own backyard or a family member’s backyard. 🙂
Congratulations to Ahmad Bell aka “VICTORIOUS” on his new album titled “ENDzone.” The album is scheduled to drop on Friday, 08/07/2020, and will be available on music.apple.com.
Here’s a quote from his Facebook page:
“Hello, Fam! Everything that has a beginning has an End. I am excited and honored to be sharing my LAST albums with you guys #ENDzone Volume 1 will be out Friday and Volume 2 will be out the 21st. Please rock with me this one last time and cop the records! Ministry is present and if I do say so I made some timeless music! #Wearevictorious
What do you fear? Could it be open places, height, the unknown, of failing, approaching someone asking for a date, crowds, germs or maybe just fear of living in a world of complete uncertainty? Below are 53 of the best quotes on FEAR!
Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. ~Les Brown
The first and great commandment is: Don’t let them scare you. ~Elmer Davis
I have accepted fear as a part of life – specifically the fear of change…. I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back. ~Erica Jong
Do not let your fears choose your destiny. ~ Unknown
Fear is never a reason for quitting; it is only an excuse.~Norman Vincent Peale
Ultimately, we know deeply that the other side of every fear is freedom. ~Mary Ferguson
Where fear is, happiness is not. ~Seneca
Fear is a habit, so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, and resignation. You can eliminate all these negative habits with two simple resolves,” I can! and I will!”
Do what you fear most, and you control fear. Tom Hopkins
Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the ‘someday I’ll’ philosophy. Denis Waitley
Fear is faith that it won’t work out.
There are four ways you can handle fear. You can go over it, under it, or around it. But if you are ever to put fear behind you, you must walk straight through it. Once you put fear behind you. Leave it there. ~Donna Favors
Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow.
Confront your fears, list them, get to know them, and only then will you be able to put them aside and move ahead. ~Jerry Gille
Fear isn’t an excuse to come to a standstill. It’s the impetus to step up and strike.~Arthur Ashe
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ~Dale Carnegie
To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don’t worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest.
Always do what you are afraid to do. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind. ~Dale Carnegie
Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will. ~W. Clement Stone
Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it…that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.”
The key to change….is to let go of fear. ~Rosanne Cash
Somebody should tell us…right at the start of our lives…that we are dying. Then we might live to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. ~Michael Landon
Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop. ~Usman B. Asif
Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death. ~Author Unknown
A cheerful frame of mind, reinforced by relaxation… is the medicine that puts all ghosts of fear on the run. ~George Matthew Adams
To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. ~Katherine Paterson
He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them. ~Brendan Francis
Panic at the thought of doing a thing is a challenge to do it. ~Henry S. Haskins
Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them… they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight. ~Orison Swett Marden
I’ve got more energy now than when I was younger because I know exactly what I want to do. ~George Balanchine
You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith. ~Mary Manin Morrissey
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ~Dostoyevsky
I am kind of paranoid in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy. ~J.D. Salinger
I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the best. ~John Keats
Go back a little to leap further. John Clarke
I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the best. ~John Keats
I failed my way to success. ~ Thomas Edison
To use fear as the friend it is, we must retrain and reprogram ourselves. We must persistently and convincingly tell ourselves that the fear is here–with its gift of energy and heightened awareness–so we can do our best and learn the most in the new situation. ~Peter Williams
“Fearless” is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. ~Taylor Swift
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain. ~Frank Herbert
Start a huge, foolish project like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you. ~Rumi
To live in the world of creation—to get into it and stay in it–to frequent it and haunt it…to think intently and fruitfully, to woo combinations and inspirations into being by a depth and continuity of attention and meditation–this is the only thing. ~Henry James
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon
We are all of us failures–at least, the best of us are. ~James Barrie
Wherever fear shadows…. that always means there is a light shining somewhere. ~Jonathan Santos
That feeling isn’t fear, it’s just telling you to MOVE!! ~Rancid
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. ~ E Hubbard
Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. ~ Bill Cosby
A mind focused on doubt and fear cannot focus on the journey to victory. ~ Mike Jones
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home, and think about it. Go out and get busy. ~Dale Carnegie
If you need to make a change and fear is holding your back, ask yourself these 3 questions:
What is the best outcome that can happen?
What is the worst outcome that can possibly happen?
This is one of my favorite songs. When I am having a bad day, I listen to this song and it puts me in a much better place. Gordon Lightfoot’s voice and his Canadian accent truly compliments each lyric and makes me feel as though I am actually there bearing witness to what he is singing about. This man is such a great story teller and this song tells a story. It carries me away to a place so lovely, filled with soft, gentle breezes of fresh air…somewhere in time! Timeless, beautiful, sad, yet tasteful, and will always be a huge part of my life and listening pleasure.
One of Lightfoot’s most personal songs, this is about the breakup of his first marriage – a common theme in many of his songs. In the liner notes of his boxed set “Songbook,” he describes it as “A song about the failure of marriage.”
Written in 1969, the song has been recorded more than 100 times, first by Lightfoot himself for “Sit Down Young Stranger.” The album was not a commercial success, but after the song reached #5 on the US singles chart in 1971, the album was renamed after the song and re-released, reaching #12 in the pop charts.
This song was used in the Canadian feature film “Paperback Hero” in 1975.
Other recordings include those by Carroll Baker, Glen Campbell, The Bells, Johnny Mathis, Liza Minelli, Barbara Streisand and Andy Williams. Instrumental arrangements have been recorded by Herb Alpert, John Arpin, James Last, The Boss Brass and others.
This song is part of the Series 1 soundtrack for Channel 4 TV’s Trigger Happy TV which is a quick-fire comedy show featuring prank calls and celebrity gags.
Johnny Cash covered this song on his last album before he died: American V: A Hundred Highways.
SONG LYRICS –
If you could read my mind love What a tale my thoughts could tell Just like an old time movie About a ghost from a wishing well In a castle dark or a fortress strong With chains upon my feet You know that ghost is me And I will never be set free As long as I’m a ghost you can see
If I could read your mind love What a tale your thoughts could tell Just like a paperback novel The kind the drugstore sells When you reach the part where the heartaches Come the hero would be me Heroes often fail And you won’t read that book again Because the ending’s just too hard to take
I walk away like a movie star Who gets burned in a three way script Enter number two, a movie queen To play the scene of bringing all the good things out in me But for now love lets be real
I never thought I could act this way And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it I don’t know where we went wrong But the feelings gone and I just can’t get it back
If you could read my mind love What a tale my thoughts could tell Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well In a castle dark or a fortress strong With chains upon my feet The story always ends And if you read between the lines You’ll know that I’m just trying to understand The feeling that you left
I never thought I could feel this way And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it I don’t know where we went wrong But the feeling’s gone And I just can’t get it back
A LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART 
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