2008 Guitar Center Drum-Off

Tonight I participated in the 2008 Sioux Falls Guitar Center Drum-Off. I was one of three contestants in this first round of three preliminary rounds leading up to the store final competition on October 14.

In spite of my best efforts I wasn't among the two drummers who will advance to the finals. I have to admit I'm kind of blown away by that considering the quality of my performance relative to that of at least one of the other drummers. But the important thing is I had fun, gave a good performance, and was a good sport. When I didn't hear my name called among those advancing to the store final, I congratulated the other two drummers on their success and wished them success at the next tier of competition.

I'm sure there will be another drum-off again next year, and I plan to take part once again if I'm able.

Before I forget...I want to thank my buddy Dan Merchant for tagging along with me tonight and shooting the video of my performance.

Lucky to be alive

This past Thursday afternoon on the way home from another trip to Northern Ontario, my vacation took an unexpected turn. That is, my 350Z took an unexpected turn - into a ditch and then into a farmer's field.

I was driving down Chippewa County (Michigan) road H-40 as I have so many times before. Light rain fell from the grey sky as I traveled down the highway, which features lots of long straights and several sharp 30-mph and 45-mph curves.

As I approached one 30-mph corner, I slowed, turned the wheel, and gently applied the throttle after passing the apex of the turn. I must not have applied the throttle gently enough because the car oversteered on the wet road surface and I soon found the car sliding toward the ditch at roughly 50 mph. The car's nose hit the ground and the Z then rolled two or three times before finally coming to a rest on its wheels in some farmer's field. None of the Z's airbags deployed. And while the car's body sustained a lot of damage from the first impact and from rolling, the passenger compartment was pretty much intact. The Z had effectively "given its life" to save mine.

Once the car stopped moving, I checked myself for injuries, unhooked the seat belt, and searched the car for my cell phone. Failing to find the phone, I forced my door open, stepped out into the field, and walked through tall, thick grass toward a nearby farmhouse. No one was home, but a pickup passed by about that time and I was able to flag the driver down. He went to a nearby town to get help as I made my way back to the car so I could recover my luggage and any other valuables from the car.

Police and paramedics arrived within 10 minutes and an ambulance took me to a hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The ER doctor and a team of nurses started an IV, X-rayed my neck, spine, and pelvis, and later did a CAT scan of my lower abdomen to make sure nothing was broken. Fortunately my injuries appeared to be limited to a "rope burn" on the left side of my neck and to some bruising on my lower abdomen. The burn and bruises were caused by contact and impact with the seatbelt when the car hit the ditch and rolled. Apart from those minor injuries and some sore muscles, I'm in good shape and am very lucky to be alive.

The Z now sits in a body shop in Sault Ste. Marie awaiting inspection by my insurance company; I expect it will be totaled. After taking care of business with the insurance company and renting a car yesterday, I am now back at home in Brookings resting from the trip and recovering from my injuries. I'm also reflecting on how lucky I am and how grateful I am that no one was in the car with me and that no other vehicles were involved in the accident.

I hope this story will remind others, as this experience has reminded me, of what can happen on the road when we're not as careful as we should be and of how fragile and precious life is. Please be careful out there.