More of What You Haven't Seen

There Is No Arizona...

But there's a hot desert about a days drive south of here. Last weekend we took the family for a drive and ended up in Phoenix. Just so happens we have an accumulation of relatives down there in the heat. By the way, it's not snowing everywhere. We were all reaquainted with sunny weather. Man it's nice down there. So, why do I live in Utah?



I know you don't recognize this person... neither do I. While we were down there we bumped into a t.v. commercial shooting for some mexican bean something-or-other. That was cool... cuz after that it was an all-you-can-eat MexFest.


It was good to get the kids excited again about being outside with the better weather. Talk about wound up... those kids just couldn't settle down. It's a good thing our camera has that fast mode to stop the action otherwise all the pictures would be blurry.


We got to visit Herman and Jamie and daughter Alyssa. And "Wow", does

Jamie look good. Check out this photo... you can't even tell which is the daughter and which is the mom. Tell me Alyssa doesn't have her mom's

eyes and nose. And hair, cheek bones, smile... and knees and toes.

Can you believe she's had two kids? Oh yeah.

Confessions of an Addict

Hi. My name is Paul, and I'm a pianoholic. It all started when I was in elementary school. You never think it'll happen to you. I mean, you hear of other people who have that problem, and you think "That'll never be me". Your friends are all doing it, and they're razzing you telling you that "It's not a big deal. It's not gonna kill you just to hang out...what, are you better than us?"

"No."

"Okay then, come on." So before you know it your'e listening to it and you start justifying it to yourself. I mean, it's not like I'm playing the piano, I'm just listening. What's the harm in that?

Then your best friend's parents are out of town and he invites you over to party. You get there and everyone's playing the piano. Even people you thought would never go near a piano are there. People you thought were cool, they're pounding the keys just like everyone else. So, you think to yourself "Well I can just stay over on this side of the room and just listen. I don't have to go over there and do anything". But before you know it, you're over leaning on the piano and it seems like everyone is so outgoing, and friendly. Friends that were usually shy, and not very social were playing the piano like it was nobody's business. So you play a note. It feels good. So you play another.

Then the next day at school you hear the piano everywhere. You hear other people playing and they seem so happy and with it. You start dreaming about the next time you'll be around a piano just to play one note. You find yourself sneaking into the band room to get a few notes in and then you're out of there before anyone knows. And this is how it starts.

A few months go by and you feel like just a few notes a day is'nt enough anymore. You're wanting to lay down a whole chord. And then that's not enough, and you're now playing several chords in a row. You find yourself saying to your new friends, "Hey one note's not gonna kill ya". Now your whole life is consumed by playing the piano, and not just the same 'ol chords... now you're getting creative and figuring out what other chords might go good with the chords you already play.

This is the point of no return. You're not only playing the hard stuff, but now you're coming up with your own, recording it and selling it to others. You're not selling your stuff legitimately. You're independent. You're peddling your own compositions to your friends and neighbors... kids... work associates in the underground parking garage. You don't even know who you are anymore. You live from gig to gig, always anticipating the next big fix.

As an adult, it seems like the big excitement over the piano is gone. Now people bring up piano like it's a five-letter word. And where are all my high school buddies who used to play? It seems they all either quit, or are dead. And to think it all started with just one note.

I should have learned the guitar.

Falling Off The Wagon?

What are 3 non-drinkers doing at a local bar? Answer: Having ice water, Dr Pepper™ and checkin' out the Hoodoo Blues band. Yeah, I was a bit shocked too to see my parents at a bar. You've heard of "a fish out of water"? Well this was even worse... they didn't know to bring there I.D. and couldn't get in on their first attempt. But, apparently they wanted to see the band that night really bad, so they drove back home to retrieve their proof of age and back to the hoppin' bar. Yup... to see me perform with my band, Hoodoo Blues.

It's all about good times spent with the ones you love... and of course, spreading the good news of Jesus. You should see the looks on the faces of some of the bar patrons when they're just yappin' about whatever and I interupt and say, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great'n all, but do you know Jesus?"

Here is yet some more good times. Today we all went to Maggie Moo's for ice cream. There's nothing like a nice cold winter day and some ice cream to cool things off.

2007 Photologue

Seeing Past My Nose

Most know already that in 2003 I was diagnosed with oral skin cancer (scuamous cell carcinoma). About a silver dollar size of my lower mouth and cheek were surgically removed (first pic) and then went through some major reconstructive surgery (second pic) so my mouth would function semi-normally. Besides my mouth being extra small and having no feeling on that side of my face, life has been great cancer-free.

However, in November I noticed some pain whenever I opened my mouth to eat. I have recently had this looked at by my Oncologist and after a biopsy and cat scan have been diagnosed again with the same cancer. This time it has formed a large tumor against my right lower jaw bone and has attacked my lymph glands on the right-side of my neck. This Friday, the 28th of December, I am scheduled for emergency surgery.

So what goes on in the mind of a Paul Berg when cancer returns? I have learned to trust in God for my provision. Tiffany and I did not know where the $100 deposit for the surgery would come

from, but then on Christmas morning an anonomous gift of $100 and change was left on our doorstep.

I believe in the apostle Paul when he said "I

have learned to be content in all things". Christmas looked different this year for me. Instead of lots of toys under the tree, we got to just spend time together as a family.

Priceless!

Tree In Forest

Hello.... I'm a first-time blogger, long-time person.

My beautiful wife talked me into starting this blog and I'm not sure anyone will ever see this. Like the tree that falls in the forest, will anyone ever hear it? I know I'll have at least loyal fan... her. By the way, that is a picture of her, not me.

So, what can I say on my first blog that no one will probably ever read? I think I should only talk about things of interest to other people. Like, music, piano, Jesus, my wife, my kids, my 1965 AC Cobra, my velcro collection, collector coffee mugs, dolphins, spotted owls, candy canes, wicker baskets, laundry tips, things to say that will shock people, political candidates from third world countries, zip-loc technology, chinesse imigration laws, cowboy poetry, light refraction, heat transfer coefficiencies, baby butterflies, and......, me.

Oh, here's a good shot of me. Gotta go, you'll have to wait for my next interesting post.