After all these years, I’ve finally immortalized my old friend, Norman Thornhill, in a song—‘OD Norman packing heat.’ He got the nickname because whatever he was into, it was 110%…drugs, relationships, you name it. After band practice, we’d drive home on the most obscure Kansas backroads, imagining which one would be best for losing a cop in a chase. RIP, Norm.

Somebody WAS calling me in the middle of the night for months, and I suspected my brother-in-law Frank, who was that kind of guy.  Or it could have been a case of mistaken identity which prompted the “Big Lebowski” reference.  All things must pass, and after Frank did, so did the calls.  Coincidence?

“If I could get a session with the famous Dr. Freud, would he dose me, diagnose me, schizophrenic-paranoid?  I don’t think so.”

I once traveled to Boston for a convention, and my first two nights were eerily quiet—just me and a nearby liquor store selling New England microbrews. But on the third night, I wandered a block over to find a bustling scene: cafes, music, crowds, and boutiques! That vibe inspired the final verse of this song.

The city passing by is slumbering The driver takes another right And suddenly there’s neon beckoning The throb of music fills the night

This song was inspired by the lakes near my home, where I kept seeing “Marina” signs. I imagined a guy mistaking it for a woman’s name, leading to some funny confusion. Eventually, the lyrics shifted to capture the feel of the lively outdoor gigs at the marinas—crowds dancing by the water, music echoing across the lake, and the energy of summer nights. Party on!

Dancing by the water
Singing that refrain
From the streets of Big Easy
To the shore of Pontchartrain

The phrase “Don’t wait too long” had been stuck in my head, reminding me of my unfinished projects. But when we transformed it into a song, it naturally shifted to a relationship theme. Doug added the perfect touch with, “You better take a FRIEND’S advice, or else a FOOL will pay the price.” Perfect!

I grew up loving the Beach Boys and their iconic harmonies, and this song is a nod to that classic style. I was thinking about what happens when the sun dips below the horizon and the surfers ride their final waves. Each verse describes different imagery that comes with that golden hour…surfers sharing their experiences from the day,  sailboats heading for port, and a final wave they can catch together. 

She sits on the beach, and stares past the reef
Where the surfers all gather to wait
For a mystical ride, that feeling inside
That you get just before it’s too late

You said you were going out for smokes That was 2 years ago!

Mortality rides overall Not a lot of time left to leave stones un-turned

Guest guitarist: Brent Mason
Vocals: Tina, Nicole, and Theodore

Buzz in my ear, a dead biosphere, this could be almost a movie set; dust on my shoe, a blue world view, take just another small step