It just dawned on me….many of you don’t know what kale is. That’s OK. I did’nt until I met my wife, Melissa.( and moved to Vermont) Long story short: Kale is a “superstar” leafy green. It has all the good stuff in it (calcium, potasium, etc.). There is purple kale, Russian kale etc.. It is a bitter plant and is best when cooked and served with something sweet ( carmalized onions, for example). I believe it grows better in cooler climates and is even frost tolerant. I’m no expert really. Google KALE if you want more info. EAT MORE KALE, you’ll be better off for it.

I like Music….listening to it and playing it. My taste, I believe, are diverse: The Animals, Elvis, Jimmie Rodgers, Cat Stevens, Public Enemy, The EEls, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Neutral Milk Hotel, Smoke, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Phish, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Code Talkers etc etc etc et.

That said, I always come back to John Denver. Nothing will make me madder than when I hear people joking about his death. They say “oh he was drunk, right?”. NO NO NO, he was not. He was flying sober in an experimental plane. Sure, he was an alcoholic. A lot of us are alcoholic ( I’m a recovering alcoholic, by the way, sober for four years). Why does HE receive so much shit for it?
We need more people like John. His respect for nature, peace and the poor should be inspiring to us all. His acting was great and his shows with the Muppets were the best. My favorite tune of his is POEMS PRAYERS AND PROMISES. A line or two go a little something like this: Lie there by the fire, watch the evening tire with all my friends, my old lady we sit and pass the pipe around, and talk of poems and prayers and promises, things that we believe in, how right it is to love someone how right it is to care, how long its been since yesterday, what about tomorrow? what about our dreams and the memories we share? Are you shitting me? That’s great stuff. The list goes on and on. Did you know that childrens books are now being published in which the stories are John Denver’s song lyrics. I have one for my baby girl named SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS. The drawings in it are wonderful. All profits go to charity. I wish John Denver, Bob Marley, Jaucqe Coustuaeu and John Lenon were still here. The world could use their contemporary voice.

FALSE45TH is a very interesting blog. Google FALSE45TH to get there. Especially if you are into contemporary music that falls below the the mainstream radar. The blog’s brain is a guy called Flatlander ( he has a real name, I’m just keeping it a secret), he’s a smart cookie. Really, if you are into blogs at all, check it out.
( to any other local bloggers; I like your stuff too, I just happen to be talking about FALSE45TH today)

If you know ANYTHING about me…..you know I love t-shirts. That is, soft, simple and quality t-shirts. Well, I think the folks at “Life Is Good” make great shirts. They make a shit-load of them too. I’ve read a little about the brothers that started the company. They began by selling shirts door to door around East coast colleges. They now sell $28 million worth of t-shirts and “Life Is Good” stuff. Wow! If I had to hand-screen/stencil that many shirts a year, by myself…….my arms would fall off. Don’t worry about me though, I can make as many as you want me too. Along those lines, if YOU like “Life Is Good” you’ll probably like my t-shirts as well.

If you haven’t heard of Hannah Teter ( if you are into snowboarding, you already have) , well you soon will.
First, let me admit…Hannah is my cousin. My StepMom is one of Hannah’s aunts. Hannah is one of five children. She’s the only girl of the family. Her Mom and Dad ( my aunt and uncle) Pat and Jeff are wonderful, unique and down to earth folks. Hannah’s brothers are; Amen, Abe, Eli, and Josh. Amen is a globetrotting extreme sports manager. Abe, the Gentle Giant, is a world class snowboarder and artist. Eli is a multi sport, pro snowboarder with many world class wins. And Josh can catch two frogs with one hand, quicker than you could with a net.
Long story short….check out the movie FIRST DESCENT. or check out FirstDescentthemovie.net or google Movie/First Descent. Hannah, with only 4 others world class (all male) snowboarders do the impossible in Alaska. It’s MINDBLOWING. I really can’t describe how amazing it has been to watch Hannah’s journey to this point. She’s a star.
That said, the entire Teter family is a picture of Peace, Love, Support and Adventure. They are all reaping what they have sown. There must be something in their well water. All of Vermont should be proud of Hannah.
Look for Hannah at the winter Olympics. If all goes as planned, she will compete in Women’s Half pipe snowboarding. Abe might be there as well. Elijah, due to some recent injuries will have to watch. ( Glad your doing so well, Elijah)
Google Hannah Teter, TeterVision, Abe Teter or Elijah Teter to see mind blowing pictures and stories. Go see FIRST DESCENT now.