Well another Christmas time has come and passed – and even another year.
This month Tesco Productions was invited once again to provide sound for the annual Christmas In Our Hearts program presented in downtown Omaha at the Double Tree Hotel. A number of musicians gathered to share songs, memories and joy for over 300 attendees from nursing homes and assisted living facilities hosted by Community 360 (formerly Desert Ministries), and the Christmas Story was splendidly recited by an elderly gentlemen in addition. My good friend Allyn volunteered his PA system and trailer, and took a couple of days vacation to setup and be part of the crew bringing this program to some folks who probably had no other Christmas.
Before the celebration began I greeted a number of people waiting and met one lady in particular that has stuck in my mind. She said she was 95 years old and had the greatest smile. When I asked her what the secret was to being 95 and having such a smile, she said “Just live each day to the fullest!”. What I could learn from such advice. Maybe when I look back on 2013 I’ll see just a glimpse of remembering this wise counsel.

Well the studio is shut down at the moment, and for good reason. I’ve said the past several months that Tesco Productions was planning a major rework. I don’t actually remember tearing the studio down this far since I transitioned to computer-based recording in 1994. I’m going to greatly appreciate my good friend Allyn’s help in putting this all back together. As you can see there’s going to be a lot of changes. Preamps, compressors, additional cable runs, etc. – all to make you sound even better. More next month.

This past Sunday Carlene Crom had her official CD release event on Veterans’ Day in conjunction with the Rommel–Conklin VFW Post #7064 at the Fremont-Mills School in Tabor, Iowa.  Last summer Carlene wrote a song called “Hear Freedom Ring” for the dedication of the Veterans’ War Memorial Wall in her home town.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of her latest CD A View From The Porch Swing are being donated to the VFW in support of this display, and Carlene was able to present the VFW with a check from sales to date.

As part of this day of appreciation, I was also honored with a plaque from Carlene in appreciation for work and time put into her CD.  I was greatly humbled to receive this surprise recognition.  I’m glad to have contributed some part to the value and enjoyment of this musical work and hope many people are blessed by hearing it.  It was also a privilege to be a small part of helping Carlene support her local VFW and those commemorated by the Memorial Wall and other services the VFW provides.