I grew up in a small farm town in Ohio, population 500. We didn't even have a traffic light. In Haskins, we either played in the cornfields or the ditch where the farmers fields drained. My parents own a collectibles store in the neighboring historic canal town of Grand Rapids . Their store, Dandy's Lane, is home to the world's most fudge flavors and I learned how to make fudge at the age of eight. They gave me a suitcase for my high school graduation. I haven't looked back since.

I've lived in countless sublets in New York City, amongst the cafes of North Beach in San Francisco, a garage (I like to call a bungalow) in Hollywood, a shi-shi gated complex in Florida, and I even spent a year living in a professional baseball team's clubhouse -my mattress crammed on the floor of the equipment room behind the deep freeze where water pipes and spickets jutted out over my head. I have a 72 Mustang convertible in storage that I drive when I'm back in Ohio. A chromed out motorcycle waits for me in LA. At present, I'm living in a 1970 VW Bus.

Long ago I decided I was done being practical.

Throughout my rambling adventures I've continued to write - both music, scripts, and books. When I was very young my father whispered in my ear, "Anything's possible, Matthew." I took that to heart. I'm a trial by fire kinda guy. After I graduated college I moved from Ohio to California on my bicycle. It's the best thing I've ever done with my life. We're all destined for greatness if we only take a chance and believe in ourselves.

Life is a trip and I'm on it.

Peace, Palka