Here's the story behind my username.  I think it was Derek Conrad that started calling me "Nalel".  Then it turned into "Lel".  And now Dave calls me lellel.  I used to call Kevin "Keevinalel".

Kevin and I used to make weird noises.  We used to say "yiyiyi".  We called this the Dane Fife mating call.  Dane was my childhood bully so it was our dorky way of getting back it him (behind his back).  We used to make this weird noise that happens when you smack your tongue against your bottom lip and make this distorted face.  I will have to find a picture of one of us making the face - I know they are out there as we did it often.

Recently I started using the word "Nalel" again.  It cracks my friend Sabrina up every time that I say it.  I say it like this "Naaaalel" and make a funny face.

When Dan and Dave used to live in Waterford, there was this party store within walking distance of their house.  We used to walk up there all the time and load up on candy to eat as we stayed up all night playing video games.  On one occassion we went there and I don't know why but I stole some Bubilicious gum.  It is strange that I remember that to this day.  I can still see the interior of the party store in my head.

One of the few memories I had with Dot was the time that she left these really cool Ninja Turtles Drinking containers at our front door.  she tried to stop by but we were gone or something.

I really liked mine a lot and I might even still have it.  

I think this was the first time I really appreciated a gift.  Its really strange.  I was pretty young.

But shetotally didnt have to buy us gifts because she wasnt even our real grandma  .

I am sure she did a ton more with us.  But I can barely remember her.

Frank Mantooth was a genius of the 20th century that most people never even knew of. People remember a Miles Davis, or a John Coltrane, or a Charlie Parker... but "people" don't remember a Frank Mantooth; and that, I assure you, is a very sad thing.

I was very fortunate, my time spent in the MTU Jazz band (despite it being a tech university) allowed me to meet/play with some amazing heroes of mine in Jazz. Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Wynton and Branford Marsalis. However, in february of 2003 I played with a name I had never heard before.

The Frank Mantooth quartet with guest Byron Stripling (one of the jazz masters of michigan) rolled in to town; and unlike some of the other performers we'd host, they immediately wanted to go out and hit the bar and hang with the band. We raided The Library (one of our favorite local pubs) and took it over for a good 4 hours. I feel bad for not remembering the drummers name, but Frank and Kim Park (the saxophone player) were a . . . Read More..

One day at recess, these boys were taunting me and my friends. 

They had built a fort out of snow and were throwing snowballs at us and calling us names.  I decided that I was going to be brave and run over to steal some of their snowballs.  I started to run and one of the boys ran after me.  He started beating me up pretty bad.  The lunch lady saw this and decided to tell on us.  I ended up getting in trouble.  I don't remember what my punishment was, but I remember that it was very unfair..  Besides, HE started it!!