July 4th Week-end with Seether and Blue Oyster Cult,
Current mood: ecstatic
Category: Life

What a terrific July 4th Weekend. Weather was fantastic,
as was the company. July 4th was spent with long time friend
Toria and her family.

Me and my baby boy on our way to firework fun..


Our shadows....sister....boy.....me


The Maclin food booth


Great friend Toria...


My son and Penn Jr.


son on "private" call.....


Then, the next day I traveled back up to the Cities to
take in the Seether free show at the Taste of Minnesota.
Great show...and I got cracked in the mouth
by some guy's flyin head during mosh. Lovely.

Overlooking Taste from Wabasha Bridge, St. Paul, MN


tons of pics taken, and all we got was this one of us.. duh...


Watch me get clocked in the mouth...at about :40





Some of the show/pit:




He wouldn't look at the camera..
.


Beautiful St. Paul from Harriett Island


Lafayette Bridge


To top off the week end.. Sunday night Blue Oyster Cult in freakin Rochester MN!





Go Go GodZilla!


The Legendary Buck Dharma...


I caught Buck's pick after they played Don't Fear the Reaper.


And the setlist....


Rudy Sarzo...


So there you have it, a fine weekend indeed!

1:22 AM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

stalking 93x guy
Current mood: amused

How to win......

1.  go there.
2.  don't win.
3.  avoid po-po.
4.  go again.
5.  stalk.
6.  WIN


Number ONE:


Number TWO:



Number THREE:
 

Number FOUR:
 

Number FIVE:

 

Number SIX:
 

6:43 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Holy fucking shit...I’m a WINNER
Current mood: jubilant
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Holy shit man......  this just in......   so, local Minneapolis radio station has this rockin promotion going on right now, giving away free gas to listeners.  The way to win is by listening for the location and time where the 93x van/vehicle will be and driving around that area with your 93x bumper stickers prominently displayed.   They pick your license plate, read it off on air, you call in, you win.  Thursday, I go.   They are not only giving away one years supply of free gas, but also 100 pairs of tickets for the Kid Rock concert to the first 100 cars/people showing up at a Jimmy Johns restaurant in one of our lovely suburbs.   So I go...and boy was it a madhouse!!  Hundreds showed up....cops felt the need to patrol the lot....it was crazy fun!  I get the tickets no prob...(don't really super like Kid Rock but....fun), but....don't get the gas.  As a matter of fact, the plate they did read off was a dude I was chattin with, wishing good luck..etc. And the dude never called in!!!!  Dunno what happened, but sol dude. 

The next day, Friday (yesterday) I try again.  This time, another suburb..but, $500 free gas with meet and greets to the big Kid Rock concert next Saturday.  No meeting anywhere, just cruisin up and down the particular street they identified and crossing fingers you run into the 93x van.  I found him fast..as did a handful of other cars.  Before too long a little line of 93x bumper-stickered vehicles were dutifully following the 93x van in hopes of being the one picked.  I leave the cruise after about 40 minutes...had to work.   At 4pm, they call off the plate...and....and...and.....IT'S MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, the moral of the story is this....I am told so many times how 'lucky' I am...I win alot of radio prizes, fun shit...but, my whole belief is that luck is 99% perseverance.   

Meet some great guys during the Thursday madhouse....shout out to Zach and Jesse!!   Dudes.....I FUCKING WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Good news, but, unfortunately I won't be using the tickets we got from Thursday so I won't be seein ya's at the show.  

Pictures to follow soon............................ 

Currently listening : Rock and Roll Jesus By Kid Rock Release date: 2007-10-09

11:45 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Men.
Current mood: drained

For the life of me I will never understand men.  At my age, you would think that I have had enough life experience and interactions with men that they wouldn’t be as much of a mystery anymore. 

However, once again I am defeated by the sheer randomness of the male psyche. 

I received an email the other day from an old ’boyfriend.’   I say that loosely as we didn’t date very long and the time we had together wasn’t exactly lovely.  Nice guy, but with issues.  The usual, you know.  And I was very fresh from a divorce at the time, with issues of my own.  But no biggie, so it didn’t become anything that serious and we went our separate ways. 

Fast forward three....has it been four....years?    I get this email.   Hello.  How’s it going? 

I reply cordially.   Light chit chat for a couple emails.   Then, his life unfolds within my inbox.   A new dad, with a new home, new job, and marriage on the way......Mexico in November.   And a very cute picture of his new son tucked within. 

So I can’t force my brain to refrain from the question of why?  Why, after all these years, with no contact, communication, friendship.......does he share?   I know it does not matter to my life in the least bit.  But I remain curious.

My other unbridled thoughts were purely negative and self-defeating.  I could only view it as just another way Life skips merrily by, kicking me as it trots along. 

I can’t know the motivation, and even perhaps there was none.  Just a simple thought.  Innocuous. 

8:23 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Brandon????
Current mood: amused

Does this dude look like Brandon Flowers (frontman from the Killers)?????





The "real" Brandon from Google search.....


And finally,  my pics of Brandon from MPLS concert in 2007....





OK, just a thought.  I’ve seen this dude on campus and don’t wanna become a stalker.............

5:50 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Anderson Brothers
Current mood: melancholy
Category: Life

The Anderson Brothers drove their bicycles around our small town.  Of course we always made fun of them because they were old men and neither had ever married.  They lived together; didn't bother no one. 

Everyone knew who they were, and didn't bother them.  They liked that.  They kept up their deceased parents home, which sat kiddie corner to the home they had purchased and habitated.  It was very easy to keep an eye on the old house, not that it was urgently necessary to do so.

We still made fun of them.  Never out loud, never mean or vile, we just thought it was funny and peculiar that they never married and lived together.

What did they talk about to each other?  They certainly didn't talk to anybody else.  Two quiet old men, not alot to say to the world or about it, for that matter.  Maybe in what they didn't say, is what they really spoke the loudest.  The world wasn't very comfortable it seemed, to the Anderson Brothers. 

They liked each other though, because they knew each other for so long.  And when you know someone that long you can pretty much say anything to them, or not. 

When they rode around the town they rode on old bikes even.  They rigged up the metal shelf on the back tire, and attached an old milk crate to it to haul whatever purchase they made that day. 

Funny I remember them going to auctions.  They liked auctions.  I wonder why.  They never really did anything with the auction finds, like those ones who scavenge for lost treasures to take in for the highest appraisals.  But not the Anderson Brothers. 

Sometimes it was an old mower that needed repair.  The Anderson lawns were emaculate, and very tidy.  The houses were tidy.

We broke in one day, to the Anderson parents old home.  We lived right across the street and soon enough the temptation was overwhelming for a group of bored teens.  I'm not even sure if the doors were locked.  The place was as it always was it seemed.  A bit dusty, but not intolerable.  A bit musty smelling, but not overly.  It was tidy but dim. 

I took the metal elephant cigarette dispenser.  It seemed old and almost exotic.  The top of the elephant opened up to house small hand rolled cigarettes.  I knew this because my modern day Marlboro's didn't fit the storage area.  With the crank of the elephant's tail, a trap door in the elephants belly opened up and dispensed a cigarette.  I didn't take it to any appraisal house, my treasure.

I'm not sure if the Anderson Brothers ever knew that we broke in.  If they did, they certainly didn't do anything about it.  They continued on in the same daily routine as always, while we watched for any sign of discovery.  No signs ever came. 

The Anderson Brothers just lived on, not saying much.  I think they knew.  But the Anderson Brothers didn't bother no one, and no one bothered them. 

8:08 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Karma Revisitied
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

On the radio today a guest psychic made the statement that karma is coming back to people faster than it ever has before.  He also said that "willing" out negative energy was very powerful lately, and shared a few stories about how some of his clients had "willed" bad things to happen to others who had upset them.  The problem is that their bad-willing had come true, very true..to the point that the people they were upset with all died.

Point being, put out positive energy.  And put out lots NOW.  And that positive energy will come back faster than it ever has before.  That's what he said.

So, I tried.  I walked to school and in front of me was an overweight girl who was smoking.  I noticed her when a big puff of her cigarette smoke filled my nostrils; I immediately spotted the ciggy in her right hand.

I willed her to quit smoking.  Not for myself, but for her.  I focused all my attention on her as we walked, attempting to direct some positive energy toward her in hopes that she would get a vibe to finally be done with her dangerous habit.  I also attempted to direct positive energy toward her to drop weight.  And I wasn't thinking about her in a bad way, I just know that with the two readily observable habits she has, she is not taking care of her health in the best way and I wanted to will positive energy so she could improve her health and longevity. 

Soon enough something did happen.  She took a step onto the snow covered sidewalk and her foot completely slipped up and out from under her, taking the other foot with.  She fell full weight onto her backside, in the middle of that sidewalk.  I was first on the scene of course, being that I was following right behind her and willing her positive energy.  I asked if she was ok, it really looked like it hurt.  She said yes.  I asked if she hit her head, she said no.  She brushed it off pretty well, stating she should have seen it coming.  I should have too, maybe. 

7:53 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Lauscha
Current mood: sad
Category: Pets and Animals

The only known physiological purpose for tears is to lubricate, and wash debris out of one's polluted eyeballs.  Then why do we cry when saddened?  Is there some dissipated ick of sadness that hangs in the air, clouding our eyeballs so that tears must fall and cleanse?  Do we create a matter-bound body of lingering sad?  I do not know the answer or reason, but I known why I cry today.  Saying goodbye to my friend...

http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/lev011/?action=view&current=DSCN1280.flv

11:08 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

We Could All Use A Simon In Our Lives Now and Again
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

Another season of American Idol is upon us.  Millions wait, watch, and vote; following every contestant, becoming emotionally attached in strange and mysterious ways.  There are some that hate the show.  They believe it is the sign of an imminent American cultural collapse.

 I'm not going to argue either side.  I happen to be one of the 'fans' of the show, but I am not so obsessed as to feel an intimate attachment to the show in any way, shape, or form. And comments regarding this matter are strictly prohibited from those who know me. 

I would rather discuss the issue of Simon Cowell, and the purpose that I believe he serves.  Whether you love him or hate him, he is the personification of that little voice we all should have in our heads.  And I stress 'should.'  That little voice many of us used to have, that somehow jumped ship and no longer resides in our neural recesses.  Sadly enough it seems that we are raising new generations without so much as a whisper of that voice.  Instead we are grooming our children to have voices telling them that they are number one; no matter their motivation, talent, or capabilities.  So when cold hard reality walks by and says "no your not number one and never will be," it topples our little munchkins as easily as the wolf blowing down a house of cards.  

 Now enter American Idol.  A 'talent' show.   There are a few different types of contestants on this show.   Some who think maybe they can sing, but also have some hesitation regarding their vocal prowess.  While auditioning, these self doubts are validated by the judges and they take the critique with honor and acceptance.  There are the Warhol contestants.  They know they cannot sing but go for their 5 seconds of potential air time.  Of course there are contestants who truly can sing, and make it farther than tryouts.   And my favorite, contestants who are so bad vocally, that they can make ears bleed.  Yet, these warped individuals truly believe that they are so talented they will be the next American Idol.  Who groomed this belief?  Nobody can tell them differently, as they truly believe that they are destined to be famous, it is their dream, and they refuse to hear anything else.  They say things like, "it's my lifelong dream" and "it's just your opinion."   They truly cannot accept that they are not destined to attain their singing career dream. 

 Are these people delusional, or is it that they were never gently provided with that little voice that lets them dream, yet allows them to choose many paths instead of only one?  It is so curious a phenomenon, and whether you love or hate American Idol…most will admit to enjoying the train wreck contestants who make the "worst of" show at the end of tryouts. 

 While we laugh at these people, we can also take a good lesson from them.  I did just this.  I put myself on a path to follow a dream that I had.  I felt this dream, more so than any other idea I had for my future.  It felt right; I felt that I fit perfectly well on this path.  I finally felt like I had found my future path and would stride down it with the ease of Sunday stroll through a flower garden.    Some call it an epiphany, and I read a book just like that.  So of course, I chose to believe that I had my epiphany so it must be right, right?   RIGHT?   Well, epiphanies are manmade.  I now realize this.  An epiphany does not come from the cosmos, god, or otherwise.  An epiphany happens when a person comes to a point in their lives where they are completely open to listening to what's within them already.  And it happens to people who have that voice inside that gently corrects the outrageous ego we are all capable of nurturing. 

 Now we have a name for that voice, we shall call it our Simon.  My Simon just spoke up, not too long ago.  On my path of my dreams, I started to trip a bit.  First on some little pebbles scattered along the path.  Not enough to completely trip me up, but enough for me to start getting frustrated with the unsmooth path.  Then, some rocks got kicked up.  Pretty soon, I ran into boulders.  And do as I might, I could not move them.  I tried everything, but they were just too big and I didn't have the skills or knowledge, or tools needed to move them out of the way.  My dreams were beyond the boulders, blocked, so close, but yet so far.  I could see them beyond; I continued to push and push and push and push but the boulders did not budge an inch.  I also began to notice other little paths, springing from the main I had chosen.  I didn't feel like looking down those paths, but with the boulders in my way, it seemed like my only options.  And then, Simon spoke in my head.   He said, "find another dream luv, you just can't sing."  I argued a little, but in the end I just couldn't get to Hollywood.  I accept that now.  Although I will not be applying for medical school, I have found other paths.  Paths that don't have the boulders; paths that I can walk without tripping so damn much.  I have chosen another path, and I like it.  It's not deviating so much, it's in the medical field, and I will be able to fulfill my ultimate goal of helping people heal.  Saving lives.  Giving back to the world.  

 I do not know where this path is taking me or of its ultimate destination.  I will continue to walk it and listen to my Simon along the way.  And maybe that's the way it should be. 

5:34 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Anatomy of a Disaster
Current mood: quiet
Category: Life

*I wrote this last year, after the 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The healing has begun, and the new bridge is being built.  I would just like to share this with everyone, even if it is not the 'winning' entry for:

 

8:24 AM - 42 Comments - 62 Kudos - Add Comment