Brother Thelonious: The Theory of Jazz

I was joking with my physical trainer on Saturday when she was getting on me for making my exercises up. I told her that I was just practicing Jazzercise!

If I could describe my life in musical terms it would be "JAZZ". Improve is the key to jazz, a true American music form, and improve is the key to living a full and meaningful life.

The theory of Jazz applies beautifully to the making of beer. Last night I enjoyed the embodiment of a jazz beer, when I poured the 9.4% "Brother Thelonious" Belgian style abbey ale, brewed by the North Coast Brewing Company in northern California. Brother Thelonious is part of their American Artisan Series.

http://www.northcoastbrewing.com

The brew is dark, strong and innovative, just like its namesake, jazz great and Improve King, Thelonious Monk.

Thelonious Monk, also known as the founding father of "beebop", was a giant in the American jazz music movement, and his improve skills inspired legions of musicians to be truly innovative. To learn more about Thelonious Monk, visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelonious_Monk

So, today sharpen up your Improve Life Skills and Carpe Diem Vita Brevis, as the slogan on the Brother Thelonious bottle says!

Sir Hook the Improve Monk of Warrick

The Best Defense is Offense...Unless You're Driving

You'd think that after driving for 37 years I might be able to get it right. However, during that time frame I received about 50 speeding tickets (actually, I've lost count), totaled three cars and one motorcycle, been in the hospital twice...once in a comma and the latest breaking my back, all my ribs, my left collar bone and shoulder.

Today, I am finishing my online "Defensive Driving" course for the 8th time in Indiana. In fact, as you can see above, they have finally changed the name from "Defensive Driving" to "Driver Improvement".

Perhaps that change in title will finally stick? Well...I doubt it!

You see, I believe that the best defense is offense...and that carries over into my driving habits. Hell, I even made Sir D want to have "freakin' kittens" while driving in England last summer.

OK, I admit my limitations, and in this regard, it is that I refuse to let a few "rules of the road" get in my way. Stupid?...perhaps, Bull-headed?...hell yes!

Face it, I should have been a Formula One or Indy driver, Fighter Pilot or Tank Driver for Patton.

I have learned this time; however, that if your engine begins to overheat, you should turn on your heater to full to draw the heat away from the engine.

Now, back to class.

Sir Hook (Who Was Known in Fairfield in His Teen Years as Hot Wheels Wells) the Professor Extraordinaire of Driving Improvement of Warrick