Michael has been my friend since 1988. We have since remained friends and very good ones at that.  In 1994, we jammed together, along with some high school buddies of mine, every Sunday no matter how good or bad the weather was.  I remember driving in a snow storm just to get together to play.  And, Michael, being the wonderful host and cook, prepared a meal for us that kept me nice and warm.

To me, Michael is Santa Claus.  He gives with all his heart.  He loves to dress up for the holidays for the kids.  Kris Kringle, the Easter Bunny, and whatever else he can come up with.  And the kids love it, which is his whole intention.  Everytime I go to his house, he always wants to feed me, and he always has something he wants to give me to take home to my kids.  He is a wonderful man who has worked harder than alot of people I know to get to be such a jolly person.  And he deserves it.

He knows he can get on my nerves,too, and I am sure that he loves to do it.  No doubt about it--which is really an endearing thing about him.  He laughs about bugging me all the time, which, for some people, would drive them crazy.  But, for me, I can't help but laugh, too.  At gigs that he has gone to with me, I have had to sit at another table and pretend I don't know him, because he loves to be the heckler.  It can be funny, but I truly do get embarrassed if I am sitting with him.

Michael is a tasty drummer.  He enjoys blowing out the eardrums, but he loves jazz and jazz fills the most.  I think it finds itself directly proportionate to his personality, wouldn't you think?