Like my profile says, I am really not an arrogant person.  However, sometimes I do feel the need to sing my own praises when others don't.  And I'm not really boasting, it's just my blog so it's all about me and stuff that goes on in my life.  But when I really stop and take a look at what's going on, I am absolutely baffled sometimes about how I got to where I'm at.  Granted, I am no HUGE celebrity or anything and probably never will be, but my life is an adventure that's filled with all sorts of cool stuff.  Like the old ad used to say, I don't want to grow up I'm a Toys R Us kid.  So here's what's been going on -

I am busier than I ever have been.  Seriously, I am.  I am averaging about 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night during the week because of my Senate campaign.  During the last two months I have received SO many emails from people that I spend a lot of time answering them...plus the need for staying up to date on the issues and the news.  When I filed to run for the U.S. Senate, I really never thought I'd get as far as I have.  This past week I did two pretty big radio interviews.  I did an interview with a station in Chattanooga and was also on Steve Gill's show which goes state-wide.  As it stands right now, I'm still being considered for the televised state-wide debate in two weeks.  Can you believe that?  Me...a regular Joe...and I might be on TV state-wide debating the other two clowns.  Two weeks ago the Mason-Dixon poll came out, and I was the ONLY independent candidate to be on it.  I was blown away.  Here I am, a guy that has maybe spent $500 on my campaign and yet I made it onto a major poll.  That hardly ever happens.  All I do is speak from the heart and express what I believe, and I've heard for a TON of people who feel the same way giving me praise for taking the stand I am.  You know what?  I'm no one special...all I did was take that step and people got behind it.  I can't imagine what kind of impact I would have in this election if I had the MILLIONS that Ford and Corker have to work with.  I can say one thing...there is no doubt I would win if I had that kind of backing.  Sadly there are two many people who have been enslaved by the two party system and they don't want to take a chance voting on their beliefs...they would rather vote on the lesser of two evils.  I know this is a fact because this one guy named Frank Cagle who is a conservative writer for a Knoxville newspaper endorsed Harold Fraud this week.  He said that by voting for Ford people will send a message to the Republicans.  Well someone emailed me after they contacted Mr. Cagle informing him that there was a TRUE conservative in the race.  Cagle said he wasn't ready to cast a protest vote yet.  WHAT???  So a guy who is a conservative is going to vote for Ford, who I think is a moron, and call me a protest vote when his whole BASIS of voting for Ford is to protest.  Do you see how ridiculous the mentality of those "in the know" is?  Whatever, the dude made the headlines for a couple of days and was on some talk radio shows so I guess he got what he wanted.  Now allow me to get a little deep here...and jeez I hate using that term.  Over the last year or so that I've been doing this campaign, I have learned a lot.  I've not only learned a lot about our government, laws, tax codes, and all that boring stuff...but I've learned a lot about myself.  Oh I know...I go from writing a review of the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre last week to me doing some kind of deep reflecting of my life...hahaha.  Hey, I know I have A.D.D. if such a thing really exists so give me a break!  Over the last several months I have made speeches and done radio interviews, and every time I have been asked some tough questions that not only test my knowledge of the government, but also tests my values and whether or not I am truly willing to speak out about what I believe.  Now this may not sound like that big of a deal, but when you put yourself in a position to be scrutinized over what you say in public, you have to be prepared to deal with the backlash and stick to your guns.  You know how candidates in any election are treated and how what they say gets thrown around with a ton of name-calling...it's not like just saying something to several people and having it thrown back at you.  I get emails and read political blogs that call me a racist, a scumbag, immature, and many other names I'm sure you can imagine.  And you know what?  I honestly don't care.  When I was being interviewed by a radio station in Chattanooga last week and the topic of gay marriage came up, the host seemed to want me to say I hate gay people.  I told him I don't hate gay people, I just don't think that gay marriage sends the right message to kids and that this country should not say it's ok for a deviant behavior to be accepted as normal.  Of course I also said that it's not a federal issue but a state issue so according to the Constitution I would have no authority to legislate anything on it regardless of my personal beliefs.  But Constitutional history is a topic for another day sportsfans...haha.  Now what was funny was when I asked about my hatred for the ACLU.  I stated that any group that would support the rights of NAMBLA should never be supported because NAMBLA does nothing but saying having sex with kids is ok and it's perverted and disgusting...not to mention illegal.  Anyway, the host then brought up the fact that I'm the lead singer for a metal band (someone did their homework...haha) and said that there might be people who think THAT'S a deviant behavior.  So I had to inform him that playing in a metal band isn't illegal or perverted where saying having sex with kids is.  I mean I know the guy was trying to just approach things form different angles for a good interview, and that's cool, but I think I really showed I'm a candidate in this Senate race that isn't going to mix words and offer explanations that make no sense in an effort to appeal to everyone.  I'm really no one special in this regard...there are many of us who speak this way...so why is it politicians can't just be who they are?  I have NO respect for someone who doesn't take a position, and that's why I can't stand politicians.  This is the reason I'm still fighting to get on the state-wide debate in two weeks.  I may come across as a jerk or whatever, but I will definitely give viewers one of the most entertaining debates they have ever seen...and that's probably why I won't get on it.  Now anyone who reads my blogs knows I never hold back...could you imagine me debating two "serious" candidates for the Senate?  One hour wouldn't be enough time for me to call these jokers out on their bs.  We'll see what happens.  I haven't heard a "no" yet so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

So how's the band doing?  Quite good, thanks for asking...hahaha.  We played two gigs last week and I had a blast.  Now to give an example of my typical week lately...we played a gig on Thursday night at The End and I got home after midnight and of course took forever to unwind so I go to sleep after 1 in the morning, then got up to call into Steve Gill's radio show at 8:00 for an interview, then go work an 8 hour day and play another gig that night.  Seriously, the last 2 months have been hectic as crap.  Trying to do gigs, practice, work a regular job, contacting people for interviews about the campaign and then actually doing the interviews, and also answer all the emails I get about the campaign....it's been a whirlwind.  However some cool results will be new NoiseCult songs.  Yep, I have a few songs I've been toying with due to the frustration and everything that I think will end up being quite good.  As much as I've really enjoyed the experience of running for the US Senate, part of me is looking forward to the election in a couple of weeks so I can take a break.  Oh, it won't be long of a break because I plan on running again in 2008, and I'll use the number of votes I get this time around as ammo to get on panels and events that I was denied the last time.  I would love to win this thing, don't get me wrong, but it would take a miracle for that to happen.  I guarantee that if I get on this debate I would make a HUGE impact, but I doubt it will happen.  That's why I'm making tons of notes for a book.  I want to write a book about being a regular Joe that decides to run for office and all the bs that comes along with it.

Ok, that's it for now.  OH!  Did everyone see who responded to my last blog?  Yeah...the man who played LEATHERFACE!  So be jealous...it's ok...hahaha.  Maybe next time Jill Wagner will realize I'm the most unbelievable guy in the world and take me up on my dinner offer if she ever makes it to Nashville.  Yes, last year's "Babe of the Year" is on myspace.  So of course I sent her a dinner invite if she's ever in Nashville.  Now come on, how many of you guys can actually say you asked out your dream girl?  Just another mark on my checklist.  Let's see...write and make a horror movie...check, be a pro wrestler for a night....check, be a lead singer for a metal band...check, be a football broadcaster for TV...check, be a radio DJ...check, ask out your dream girl...check.  Run for the Senate and make it onto a major poll...check.  I'm a regular Joe who keeps taking chances.  You have to keep life interesting sportsfans!