Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City

Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City

I started this show on Monday morning, but I think it's time to finish it. Paul is easily one of the greatest musicians and songwriters to ever grace this planet, and the man can still perform with the best of them. This is a hell of a great show, and one not to be missed by any fans of Paul's, The Beatles, or of music in general.

Coheed And Cambria - From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

Coheed And Cambria - From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

This album has been a staple in my playing rotation since it came out in 2005. Such an amazingly brilliant disc, with not a bad moment in the bunch. The songs are powerful, the lyrics are thought provoking (if a bit disturbing at times), and the story is just incredible. Close it all off with one of my favorite epic pieces of all time ("The Willing Well"... all four parts), and you have a disc that I imagine I'll be playing at least once a month until the day that I die.

Enchant - Tug of War

Enchant - Tug of War

With the new Enchant album on the horizon, I figured that I really wanted to hear this one. When I first started getting heavily into Prog Rock, Enchant were one of the first bands that I really dug into. This album, as well as all of their other releases, are some of the best Prog Metal albums out there. I suggest you check these guys out. You won't be disappointed. 

5 Albums I'm Loving Right Now

Transatlantic: Kaleidoscope

Release in January of this year,the fourth studio album from this super-group to end all super groups is as strong as anything else in the bands amazing line up of album. With two huge epic pieces, and three shorter tunes, this album is anything but ordinary. A prog fans dream come true, once again Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt, and Pete Trewavas prove that you don't need years to make a great album, just some really great ideas.

Rush: Vapor Trails Remixed

When Rush returned with their first new music of the new millennium, way back in 2002, it was with an album that proved just how great these aging masters of conceptual metal could be. Unfortunately, an album that should have had fans focusing mainly on great music, had the majority of their fans complaining about the terrible sound quality. In late 2013, these issues were corrected and re-released in a new package, that made this already great album shine through as the masterpiece it truly is.

The Beatles: Let It Be

To many rock fans, The Beatles are a no brainer in their collection. Their songs have stood the test of time and keep proving to people just how amazing these four musicians were. Although the sessions for this album were wrought with drama, the songs assembled on this album are easily among my favorites in this legendary outfits catalog. I hate to single one song out as a favorite, but "Get Back" may well be my favorite Beatles moment.

Ace Frehley: Space Invader

Release in late August, the once Kiss axe-man and "Space Ace" followed up his "Anomoly" album with yet another outstanding piece of musicianship. Ace has really crafted a great collection of songs, and it far outshines the last couple of Kiss albums. His guitar playing and vocals are just as good as they have always been, and this album is something that no fan of Kiss or their past members should be without. 

Neal Morse: Songs From November

Neal Morse is one of those artists that seem to turn every single project they touch into pure gold. It's been a while since Neal has released a singer/songwriter project, and it is a nice change of pace from his incredible prog albums. Some really beautiful songs on this album, with Neal and company in fine form. Neal has once again penned some amazing pieces and I'm sure I'll love this album more with every listen, as do all of his amazing discs.

RIP Jimi Jamison

Playing this one in tribute to Jimi Jamison. RIP sir. Too many great ones have passed away this year :(

The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic

The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic

(09/02/2014 - 02:17 AM)

I've been a fan of "Weird Al" since "Off the Deep End" was released. I suppose some may call this a "guilty pleasure", but I've never liked that term, because if I like it, I don't care what others think. "Weird Al" is a fantastic artist, as evidenced through his many original tunes. I can't say these are the exact songs that I would pick for a compilation (though I might choose many of these), but this is a fairly pleasing compilation, and one that is sure to bring a smile to my face (even if the chronological ordering of the songs is somewhat annoying).

Ian Anderson - Thick As A Brick - Live In Iceland

Ian Anderson - Thick As A Brick - Live In Iceland

Finally, here it is, the classic Prog Rock masterpiece, "Thick As A Brick" live and in full. Beware though, this is definitely not the 1972 Jethro Tull tearing through this amazing album, but instead band leader Ian Anderson, and a group of very talented musicians backing him up. I do admit that I would prefer to get Jethro Tull doing the album on the '72 tour in an official release, but this really is the next best thing in my opinion.

Though Ian has some obvious troubles singing the older song, he really shines on the sick to "Thick As A Brick". With the help of a background vocalist, the band do these albums beautiful justice, and are not to be missed! Some of the best prog moments of all time can be found on these two discs. And the sequel is one of my favorite albums, and is a great companion piece to the original. 

September 1st & 2nd, 2014

(This picture is my "angry/confused" face. Although I am not angry or confused.)

So, this begins the second night of my work week. Weird, since I usually work six day work weeks, this would generally be my third day of work. Yay for two day weekends! Am I right?

After the huge success of yesterday's post... which I can neither confirm nor deny anybody having read it, I decided to keep up with my exciting posts of random thoughts in a list form. The reason for this is that... well... bacon? Yeah, I think bacon is probably the right answer. So, below is a lost of random thoughts that occur to me over the next nine or so hours. Enjoy!

1 - Midgets do make me want to buy a new blender. Just further proof that television has never lied to me. Thank you so much television, I love you.

2 - My carpets used to match my drapes, but over the years, as the carpet has stayed very ginger, the drapes have started to get dark and aren't always recognizable as ginger. But don't worry, I'm still a damned dirty ginger. And that is all that really matters.

3 - Any ladies wanna go all the way with me... to the gas station. And maybe buy me a drink. Cause I'm thirsty, and it would be very polite of you.

4 - So, I just read some very important news that is trending on Facebook. It would seem that... hold onto your hats folks, because this one could be the turning point of the entire world as we once knew it... Carrie Underwood is pregnant. Whoopty-fuckin'-doo.

5 - Wow, you like beautiful.

6 - I'm sorry, but I fucking hate the song "I Will Survive". It's just not good.

7 - My sun-tanned muscles gleam like a bronzed god. You know you want a piece of it.

8 - My left knee is killing me. I think maybe I should kill it before it finishes the job!

9 - I could not sleep at all today. I tossed and turned for hours, but just could not shut off my mind so that I could get some sleep. And now that I'm working, I feel like I could fall asleep right this second and sleep the perfect sleep of a beautiful coma. "Dear Irony, Fuck you!"

10 - I think the new Doctor on Doctor Who raises a very good question... "Am I good man?" I'm not sure I can answer that in a positive way when it comes to myself.

11 - I think I'd like to be a hermit... someday.

12 - I am so freaking tired, I could sleep a horse. Or sleep with a horse. Either way, I am tired.

13 - Sometimes all you really need is love... and crack, lots of crack. Ooh, and a few tins of spam. And a bucket of chum. And I guess a pound or two of ear wax couldn't hurt, in case of emergencies. And maybe the helping hand of Chuck Norris. On second thought, fuck love, just give me all of this other really cool shit!

14 - Nobody does love songs like "Weird Al" Yankovic. Fact!

15 - I sued Ben Affleck... do I even need a reason.

16 - "Recuva" is some pretty damned good free software. I got the file I deleted on accident, and some is right with the world again... not "all", but "some".


I guess that is all of the riveting conversation that I have for today. I'm happy to have had all zero of you read this post. Tune in tomorrow as I do the same thing by writing more, and you do the same thing by reading none of it.


...did I mention the drive-thru?

Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City

Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City

(09/01/2014 - 06:12 AM)

I have been on quite a Beatles kick lately, so I thought I would pull this one out for listening. It's quite a damned good show, and one of my favorite live Beatles related performances. Amazing, seeing how old Paul is, and he can still put on one hell of a show!

Deep As the Cut

Danger in the face of those you love
Questions hidden in their answers
Never breaking up the shadows from above
Decisions made by corrupt believers

Anger painted on with beauty
Thoughts arrested in a timeless space
Giving in to silence early
The agony is written on your face

And the war you can not win
Is the fight you've lost again

Pain inflicted on a dying soul
If there's beginning must there be end first
A thousand choices must soon take their toll
Before they lead us to a new rebirth

And the war you can not begin
Is the fight you make within

The rage as real as the ache inside
The pain as deep as the cut you've made
The despair is something you can't hide
The bruise so deep it will never fade

Confusion in the face of those you love
Answers hidden in their questions
Shadows take you down from above
Believing all the pain in your decisions

09/01/2014

Pink Floyd - Meddle

Pink Floyd - Meddle
(09/01/2014 - 04:49 AM)

"Meddle" is perhaps the first album that really showed the direction that Pink Floyd would take in their most popular years. Although they had experimented and had hinted at their "classic" sound leading up to this album, this is the one that paved the way for albums like "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Animals".

Though there are only six songs on this album, for the most part, they are amazing tracks. With the biggest standouts being the (mostly) instrumental opening cut "One of These Days" (with a brief vocal contribution from Nick Mason), and "Echoes" There are three other great songs ("A Pillow of Winds", the beautiful "Fearless", and the jazzy "San Tropez"), and one song that I think of as my absolute least favorite PF track, and a huge downer on an otherwise brilliant album ("Seamus"... what the fuck were they thinking?!?!).

September 1st, 2014

So, I've heard from several people that I post too much on Facebook, and that it fills up their news feeds at an annoyingly fast rate. Now, at first thought, I wanted to say "Screw you people, if you don't like seeing my posts, just delete me from your friends list", but some of these folks are family, and I wouldn't want them to remove themselves from the one place I have the most contact with them. So, I've decided that using this long abandoned and much neglected Blog would be the best way to go.

Personally, I can't say that there will ever be anything of real note here, but I'm going to keep a running post throughout the night, of different things that I would have normally posted on my status update there. That being said, if you don't want to read what I post here, then just don't come here. I got to get my annoying remarks out somewhere!

1 - How much masturbation is too much?

2 - I should like to buy me a supersonic fighting cock.

3 - Is it weird that a lot my lyrics are inspired by one subject these days?

4 - Step 1: Buy Pop Tarts and Butter. Step 2: Put butter on Pop Tart. Step 3: "Is it good?"

5 - I rather like "Seasons" on Diablo 3. It makes the game seem fresh again. Which is a good thing, since I've played these exact same quests elevety-twelve billion times. I especially like that you can start off in Adventure Mode right from the get go. Much easier to level a new character.

6 - Clause Nine (or so): You have to go down on me in a theater... at least twice in the first couple of years.

7 - I will be the father of a teenager in 22 days. This makes me really old. But quite a distinguished old, as I'm hot as hell, and even I can't keep my hands off of myself (this post got weird quickly... seems to be a pattern for me).

8 - I can't say for sure, but I don't think Zoltun Kulle is going to turn on me this time. Call it a hunch, but I think he has turned over a new leaf. It's time to find out.

9 - Looks like I was wrong. Once again Zoltun turned on me yet again. Why does it break my heart every time?

10 - I don't generally drink coffee, but I made a pot tonight. I kind of like it. May have to drink this more often. I like to see sounds and hear all of the pretty colors.

11 - Phil Collins.

12 - I decided that we needed a duck face selfie at the top of this post. And this is where I took one. Not only do they look bad-ass, but they make me remember a simpler time, when we were all just ducks in a cool pond.

13 - I'm your program. I am yourself.

14 - You would think that after getting me finger stuck in me bum time after time, that I would maybe just stop putting it up there. But you would be wrong. It feels so right... so so right.

15 - I don't have to kill Maghda, but I want to. She brought this on herself... the bitch.

16 - I love my family so very much, but without music my life would be so very boring.

17 - WANDL (Don't worry, it makes sense to me. That is all you need to know.)

18 - I'm just going to say... David Gilmour is one of the greatest guitar players to ever pick up the instrument. So much emotion behind every single note. Give me that over inane shredding any damn day.

19 - I'm writing some new lyrics. I can't say that I'm necessarily any good at it, but I do enjoy writing lyrics. They are so much easier than longer stories, but no less potent.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery 

(09/01/2014 - 03:37 AM)

I was watching old episodes of "That 70's Show" on Netflix (hmm... aren't they all old episodes, since that show is over), when they started playing a bit of "Karn Evil 9", and I immediately stopped the episode to listen to this amazing album. Not a bad track on this disc. A definite Prog classic. From the opening of "Jerusalem" until the final repeating fade out of "Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression" this disc is damned near perfect. They certainly don't make 'em like this any more! 

Best Wishes to Mr. Tony Iommi

Recently it was announced that Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma (a form of cancer). This news comes after the more positive announcement that the original members of Black Sabbath were reforming to record a new studio album, and tour for that album. My prayers go out to Tony in his time of need.

Here is a statement that Tony released on his website:

My fans, friends & colleagues -

I just want to say how overwhelmed I am with all your messages of support, thank you so much.

Well it’s not what I wanted for Christmas, that’s for sure, but now I can’t wait for the test results to come in and get going with the treatment.

It’s really good that the guys are coming over so that we can continue working on the album as things are going great in the studio.

Well, not much else to say at this time, so thanks again.

Bless you all,

Tony

Top 10 Albums of 2011

With 2011 coming to a close it is time to list my favorite albums of the year. Note I did not say "best albums" as that is a bold statement, and one I can not make for everyone. These are just the albums that ended up being my favorite (Note: I allowed no re-issues, and generally don't allow live albums, but the one live album that did make my list was just too good to pass up.

10 - "Weird Al" Yankovic: Alpocalypse

I've always been a huge Weird Al fan, and I thought that his 2011 return was done in great fashion. While the songs he parodies here fall in my most disliked list, the parodies themselves are winners! How can you lose with songs like "I Perform This Way", "Another Tattoo", "TMZ", and "Party In the CIA". The original tunes are finely crafted gems themselves. Songs like "If That Isn't Love" (a style parody of Hanson, a favorite band of mine) and "Craigslist" (a style parody of the Doors) are among my new favorite Weird Al tunes. Overall, this is a great album, and fine addition to any year end list.

09 - Disturbed: Lost Children

After the upsetting news that Disturbed were calling, at the very least, a prolonged hiatus I was very pleased to learn that an album of B-sides and rarities was being released. Many of these songs I have never heard, but could be lifted off any album by this incredible band. People may say that all of their songs sound the same, but personally I don't hear that. I hear a great band who have a distinct sound and some damned good music.

08 - KoRn: The Path of Totality

This album is not only totally KoRn, but also a completely different sound. Sure the crunch of the KoRn we all know and love is there, but this time around the band employed the help of several "dubstep" artists to craft an album unlike anything the band have ever done. Songs like "Get Up", "My Wall", and "Sanctuary" are among some of the bands best songs. I love this album and am happy to see that KoRn still got it!

07 - Sixx AM: This Is Gonna Hurt

This album has been kicking my ass all year. I loved the bands first album ("The Heroin Diaries"), but this album is much better. The songs have more punch and the delivery is better this time around. The songs "Oh My God", "Smile", "Are You With Me Now", and "Skin" are beautiful pieces of work, while the title track, "Lies of the Beautiful People", and "Live Forever" are classic metal tracks. This is a great album, and one I highly recommend.

06 - Anthrax: Worship Music

2011 saw the return of one of the so called "Big 4", and in a very big way. "Worship Music" may very well be my favorite album in the bands vast back catalog. This album also marks the triumphant return of Joey Belladonna, my personal favorite Anthrax front-man. It is hard to pick just a few favorite tunes from this one, but hard pressed I would go with "Earth On Hell", "Fight 'Em Til You Can't", and a tribute to Ronnie James Dio "In The End" (my new favorite Anthrax song). All in all, this is one that no thrash fan should be without.

05 - Yes: Fly From Here

Finally, a new studio album from progressive rock masters, Yes. Sure Jon Anderson may not be in evidence this time around, but Benoit David makes up for it in spades. This is the album I've been waiting to hear from this amazing band for a very long time. Obvious elements of the 1980 masterpiece "Drama" are in evidence, obvious signs that Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes put their touches on the album. The title track, a six part prog rock tour de force is the definite highlight here, but "Into the Storm" and "Hour of Need" are also personal favorites.

04 - Within Temptation: The Unforgiving

I just discovered this band this year, and by a complete whim. When I saw the disc at the store, something about the album cover intrigued me (plus, the ginger is kinda hot, wink wink). The music contain within has kept me coming back to this album over and over since it came out. Tracks like "Faster", "Iron", "Shot In the Dark", and "Lost" make this album an obvious choice for a 2011 favorites list. This one has also made my top 100 albums of all time list. Great stuff!

03 - Rush: Time Machine, Live In Cleveland

Generally I do not include live albums in my top 10 of any year list, but this time I had to make an exception... kinda figures that Rush would be that exception. Their "Time Machine" tour was nothing short of magical, and this 2 CD live set represents it beautifully. Forgetting that the entire "Moving Pictures" album is played from top to bottom here, the band also broke out a favorite of mine, "Presto", as well as a few other recently ignored gems such as "Stick It Out", "Marathon", and "Time Stand Still". Also of particular note are the two new tracks, from the upcoming "Clockwork Angels" albums, "Caravan", and "BU2B". The coolest thing would be the alterations to "Closer To the Heart", the polkarized "La Villa Strangiato", and the reggae "Working Man".

02 - Dream Theater: A Dramatic Turn of Events

When Mike Portnoy announced his departure from Dream Theater I must admit that I was a little bit worried about where this would take the band. When Mike Mangini was announced as the replacement I was a bit less worried. When I finally heard the album I was floored. This is the best album from Dream Theater since "Octavarium" in my opinion. The songs here are pure progressive metal, and I love every minute of it. From the single, and lead cut, "On the Backs of Angels", to the album closer, "Beneath the Surface", there is not one dull moment here (okay, truth be told the intro for "Bridges In the Sky" gets a bit boring, but I can forgive that). My favorite song here would have to be the killer "Breaking All Illusion", which has everything I'm looking for in a prog song.

01 - Neal Morse: Testimony 2

My number one album of 2011 was a no brainer for me. From the first time I heard Neal Morse's "Testimony 2" I loved it. Such a beautiful story, and such incredible progressive rock music. Once again Mike Portnoy and Randy Geroge join Neal for the ride as we are treated to a lot of new material, a few recurring themes from the first "Testimony" album, and just as much orchestration as the first album. Favorites include "The Truth Will Set You Free", the vocal reunion of Spock's Beard on "Time Changer", and album closer "Crossing Over/Mercy Street Revisited". Also of note is the bonus disc, featuring one of my favorite Neal Morse songs of all time, "Seeds of Gold", a 26 minute progressive rock, epic masterpiece. Neal Morse is my favorite musician of all time, and this is easily one of his best.

Honorable Mentions
Here are few albums that almost made the cut, but missed out because there was so much great music released this year:

Adrenaline Mob: EP (I left this one off only because of the fact that it is just EP. I'm sure the full length will make my list next year.

Foo Fighters: Wasting Light (I know, this should have made the top ten, but it missed out... just barely. I've always loved these guys, and bringing back Pat Smear was a very wise decision. Great songs on this disc. Another home run for the Foo)

Megadeth: Thirteen (I wanted to put this on the list... in fact it almost beat out "Weird Al", but in the end I put this one down here. Don't know why, such a great album. Probably their best in years. Long live Ellefson!)

Queensryche: Dedicated To Chaos (It almost hurt to leave this one off, but in the end it had to be an honorable mention. Another solid release from one of my favorite bands of all time)

Hell Or Highwater: Begin Again (I saw these guys play on the Uproar Lineup and immediately loved them. Such great musicianship and songwriting. This album would be my #11)

Chevelle: Hats Off to the Bull (This was a late album this year and missed the cut for the top ten, but that doesn't mean I don't love this album)

Art of Dying: Vices and Virtues (I feel like if I had put just a few more spins into this album and it could have made my top 10. Great stuff here)

Emphatic: Damage (Great effort for the major label debut from this band. I've seen them, and I've loved them for years. A definite up and comer for me)

Anvil: Juggernaut of Justic (Another album that I had to regretfully leave off the top ten, but such an amazing work of art. I love Anvil, and this album is further reason for that adoration)

Chickenfoot: Chickenfoot III (Anything with Sammy is going to be an instant classic for me, and I would have loved to include this one in the top ten... but it would definitely make the top 15)

Evanescence: Evanescence (I love Amy Lee, so it is obvious that I love this album. Just wish I would have spent a little more time with it)

Top 10 Movies of 2011

Insidious
Hangover, Pt. 2
Source Code
Priest
Super 8
I Am Number Four
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows, pt. 2
The Adjustment Bureau
Red Riding Hood
Battle: Los Angeles

(Honorable Mentions: Sanctum, Scream 4, Cars 2, Pirates of the Caribbean:On Stranger Tides)

(I haven't seen the following, which may have made my list, had I seen them: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men First Class, Thor, Fast Five, Conan the Barbarian, The Green Hornet, Cowboys & Aliens, Season of the Witch)

In A Flash: Chapter 1

01.

"What in the fuck was that," I thought, "What in the blue fuck just happened?" I struggle to grab some piece of knowledge about what was going on, but I'm drawing a blank. I try to open my eyes but my lids seem to belong to someone else. "What in the fuck is happening here?" A very brief memory comes to me, not a visual memory, but an audible one. As if it is happening from miles away I hear the sound of a truck skidding to halt. I know it is a truck because the sound is far too loud to be a car. It sounds like one of the giant eighteen wheeler jobs. For the life of me I can't seem to remember what had happened.

I try again to open my eyes, but no dice, they seem glued shut. I hesitate to try moving anything else but I know that I have to. Very slowly I raise my right arm, but like my eye lids I don't get so much as an inch. "What in the fuck is going on?" I scream inside my head.

A flash before my eyes and I remember that I was driving, very slowly because of the bitch of a thunderstorm that had started only a few minutes ago. Visibility was shit and I had my car going no more than ten miles an hour. I'm not exactly a great driver, but when the road conditions aren't so good I like to play it safe and slow it down. I've always said that there was nowhere I needed to be that was more important than my life. A memory tries to surface about where I was headed being very important indeed, but I lose it before the damn thing formulates an entire coherent thought.

My head hurts, quite badly in fact. It feels like one of the worst headaches that I have ever had, a real doozy, but the weird part is that it is not pounding like most headache, but like a swimmy sort of unconscious pain. Once again I ask myself what the fuck was going on, and once again I ignore myself. My thoughts aren't a blur so much as they seem to be completely non existent. The driving in the rain thing seems to be the only clear memory that I can dredge up.

I'm starting to feel nauseous, I need to take a moment and try and compose myself. A quick inventory tells me that my eyes are useless, my body won't move, but I can hear something, something very faint, as if from miles away. At first I have no idea what it is, but after a few moments it dawns on me. The sound is approaching sirens.
"Have I been in a wreck?" I ask myself. As if only needing the question an answer comes to me. I have indeed been in a wreck, and a pretty nasty one from what the situation is telling me. But why? Where? When? And the most important question; Am I going to be okay?

Doctor Who: Lets Kill Hitler

Okay, I must admit I didn't really have high hopes for this episode. It was the title that worried me, this could have been a cheesy piece of crap, but in the end it turned out to be a pretty damned good episode.

The mid season cliff hangar was painful, leaving me sitting in suspense all summer long as to where the series could go from there. River Song was revealed to be the baby of Amy & Rory, and thankfully the new episode didn't jump completely off the map, but rather flushed that story out further.

The strange bounty hunting justice robot was a bit out there, but I've seen cheesier bits in this show, and I'm sure there are even cheesier bits to come.

One thing the new episode still has me wondering about is the death of the Doctor. It is still a continuing thread that the Doctor will die last April. I'm sure a way out will be found, and I can't wait for that reveal.

I can't say this is one of my favorite Matt Smith episodes, but it is a hell of way from the bottom of the list, and for that I thank the creators and cast for a great hour of phenomenal television.

Getting Older

As the day of my 31st birthday grows closer I've been thinking about some of the more significant moments of my life, and some not so significant, but great memories anyway. I've been wondering how much longer these memories could possibly sticking around. I mean lets face it kids, I'm not getting any younger and my memory is not what it used to be (and it was never particularly very good). I've started my life story many times in the past, but I'm thinking it might be time to start putting the pen to paper (or finger tips to the keyboard, as technology has done away with my necessity of using the dreaded paper).

I've had a lot of good times in my life, particular fond memories include playing with the He-Man collection with my brother Nick. "Santa" had brought us many over a few short years. Nick would get all of the good guys ("Santa" must have though Nick to be a better person, what with his hair being "stupid blonde" and me being a "soul stealing ginger"), and I had a nice sized collection of the bad guys. There were the lip syncing to Poison jam sessions that I used to have with Dereke (my youngest brother)... ahh yes we were major dorks, but I loved both of my brothers... still do to tell you the truth.

School was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I remember elementary being a great time. I had a lot of friends, I was the class clown, and the bullies were few and far between. The transition into Junior High kinda sucked. Suddenly some of my best friends from before didn't want anything to do with me as they transitioned into the cool kids and I turned into the geek (remember kids, I can't be a nerd cause nerds are overly smart). High School really sucked. Namely (without naming them) there were 2 boys and 2 girls that tried to make my life miserable. I did have a few great friends in High School, but have grown apart from most of them by now. School started me out as a popular kid and left a shy, paranoid, and nervous to be around people.

After High School I didn't really do so much with my life. I hung out around my parents house, and worked, and that was about it. I met a girl online in June of 1998, an event that changed my life. Not because I was with her (the whole thing was a bit odd and left my handing over most of my paycheck every two weeks to my dad to pay for the high phone bill), but because I gained some confidence through talking to her, and as a result was able to ask a girl our in this state (rather than Minnesota). This girl I was able to ask out turned out to be the love of my life. Janae, the woman I would have 3 kids with, and hopefully spend the rest of my life left.

I feel like I'm only missing one dream fulfillment in my life, to write and sell my first novel. I have so many great ideas jumping around in my brain, but have never been able to finish anything. I hope to one day to fulfill that goal.

Anyhow, I didn't mean this to go on so long (its not really the life story that I will one day write), but just a few random thoughts and memories. I am still that shy, strange, nervous to be around guy that high school made me, and I suspect I always will be. But with 3 great kids, a wonderful wife, a few good friends, and a great family... I think I'll do alright.

So until next time remember... school does really shape who we will be, so you kids in school that are bullies... fuck off!

What Up Yo?

So, what is going on ya'lls? I feel as if I've been gone for far too long and you all have missed me a lot. You know what we can do about that, well not much really. The thing is I have been very busy with things that don't involve blogging. Things like Minecraft, Facebook, and other things of a geeky nature. Well, work also. A lot of work. I actually have very little free time.

Like usual I have another new idea for a book and we'll see how this one pans out (probably much of nothing like all of my other writing projects).

Anyhow, I'm listening to Neal Morse's "?" album, and must get back to it. Later