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!!    

My friend, Lynn, had a slumber party for her 6th birthday and invited a bunch of girls that I didn't know. 

We had a lot of fun playing with "Jem" dolls and watching cartoons, but the fun soon ended.   Two girls were putting on makeup in the other room.  I remember they looked really silly, and I told them that they looked even prettier without makeup on.  That was a very stupid thing to say, but I didn't realize that at the time. 

Anyway, they chased me around the house and made fun of me.  I remember it was really late at night.  I decided that I was going to walk home, since it was only a block away.   But the girls kept getting in front of the door.  They wouldn't let me out.

Lynn's father woke up and scolded the girls.  He told me that it was WAY too late for me to go home.  So I, reluctantly, stayed the night.

The girls decided to spread a really nasty rumor about me.  When the next school year . . . Read More..

I had a HUGE crush on a boy named Patrick Shephard.  He had blonde hair, blue eyes and the cutest freckled face.  I used to chase him around the playground everyday.

One day, he said. "I know you like me.  If you want to kiss me, meet me in the teacher's lounge after school." 

Well, I met him in the teacher's lounge and we kissed.  It was just a peck and it was very awkard.  Neither of us said a word, and after we kissed, we went on our way.

I don't remember whether or not I continued to chase him around the playground.  Maybe I realized that it wasn't worth it afterall... ha!

I have attached a class picture...  Patrick is top/center.  He's wearing a turqious shirt and he's right next to the teacher.  I'm on the bottom left.  I'm wearing a red and white dress w/ a ruffled collar.

I was a big nerd in junior high school, and I desperately wanted to "fit in".

In an attempt to make friends with the cool kids, I decided to tell everyone that I was going to be on Star Search.

It worked for a while...  But the lie started to spread like wild fire.  Even the principal knew about "Star Search".  One day he saw me in the hallway and congratulated me for getting on the show.  I knew that I would, eventually, be found out.

One day, one of my "new" friends came to the house.  She was talking to my brother.  She said, "Aren't you proud of your sister for making it on Star Search?"  My brother was confused... He said, "What are you talking about?  Beth's not going to be on Star Search."

I pleaded with her.  "Please don't tell anyone."  She promised that she wouldn't say anything, but I have a feeling she told some people.

Then a while . . . Read More..