Unfortunately, I’ve being hearing this too often. A doctor determines a prescribed medication or treatment for a patient, only to be turned down by the insurance company. A surgeon schedules a cancer patient for tumor removal on Tuesday. However, on Monday, the doctor is told that the surgery cannot take place, and the needed operation is put on hold. So, WTH is going on and who exactly is in charge of your health? Your doctor or a board of civilians who only have one priority: their profit margin. Does it scare you? It should.

As many of you know have heard by now, Brian Wilson, the musical genius of Beach Boys fame, passed away earlier this week. Rest in peace.

Growing up, I’ve always appreciated Brian, his songs and his voice. I remember getting my first Beach Boys album, courtesy of a very kind neighbor in Detroit. One of the songs that always stood out – God Only Knows – the lyrics, the melody and those soaring, spiritual harmonies. Goosebump material. Hearing it again this morning evokes the same feelings, except now, it’s even more intense.

It appears that I’m not alone in my assessment, for hearing numerous interviews with fans and artists, it seems that many feel this is THE PERFECT SONG! I know I will never tire of hearing it. I’m including it on my desert island. Bring on the Coronas and lime…

Today is the day when you just have to say, NO! No, to the sale of acres of our national pride. A half million there. 2.5 million here…And if you turn your head for a single moment, public lands could disappear in the blink of an eye, and that’s what several senators and members of congress are hoping will happen. And once they are sold, folks, they are gone FOREVER!! Slip in a few obscure paragraphs in the gargantuan spending and tax bill, that’s already been passed by the House, that’s on its way to the Senate and the next thing you know…

You see, public land sales are introduced as PORK or pork-bellying. Let me introduce you to the concept if you’re not already familiar with it…

The avian gods shone their light upon me, allowing me the delight of witnessing four new house finch fledglings. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I was sitting at my dining room table, when I looked out on the deck and saw this adorable bird. Hmm, what is that? At first, I thought it was a wren, due to the way the tail was flipping up. Then I thought it was a young grosbeak, but after watching it for a while, then seeing its siblings with a parent, there was no mistaking them. Adorable house finches…

Watching Rick Beato this morning made me think of fateful days that changed the course of my life. Most seemed inconsequential at the time but led to amazing things. For Rick, it was the dates 11-15-94 and 12-15-25. Insignificant then, but due to stopping off to call a friend in Atlanta and then later posting an innocent one-minute video on FB regarding his son’s perfect pitch, well… here he is today with 5 million subscribers, with me being one of them.

What were some of the events in your life that altered history for you? Where were you? What did you do or didn’t do that changed the road you were on? For me, it was being coerced into attending a party that a friend was hosting in the apartment building on campus at the University of Eastern Michigan. It was a Saturday night, and after a long week of classes and studying, I was burnt out. The only thing I wanted to do was listen to music and chill. I had already informed my buddies on the first floor that I was being a no-show. “Oh, c’mon, it will be fun. We got a keg and…” Sorry, guys, maybe another time…