12.24.2009
11.12.2009
Remember September the day
Since I saw the Danish Band Mercenary at ProgPower back in 2006, I fell in love with them and kicked myself in the ass for not knowing about them earlier.
I loved the contrast of vocals in the music and at times I felt the lyrics were written just for me. At that point it had been a long time since a bands lyrics moved me the way Mercenary's did.
Last night on twitter I read that the band had broken up. Devastated I navigated my way to their web page on my shitty LG Shine. I could only read the first statement on their page.
I was in disbelief. I know that a band breaking up is always harder for the band than it is for the fans... but it still feels like a huge piece of me is gone. Mercenary wrote so many things that I was feeling and found a way to express them both lyrically and musically.
Even now as I read their website the fresh would has not healed and I feel like I'm reading a Dear John Letter. I can't bear to read more, but I can't help but read what happened.
... During the last year we have been working on a new album and it has become clear that we no longer share the same vision and enthusiasm about the direction and the future of the band....
Does this mean that Mercenary is totally dead? I hope not. I loved their heavier stuff as well, but loved the melodic vocals that Mikkel brought and Mike was such an incredible drummer. I can't imagine not following their music careers no matter what band they are with.
I've met all of the guys in the band a handful of times. They are amazing people, but I don't want to bombard them with emails.
I have to say that although I don't agree with this decision, I can only help but to support it.
While I did love the individual song of Architect of Lies, the finished product seemed forced. I was never able to listen to the album as a whole. After reading their press release, it seems it may have been the beginning of the end.
I'm not saying I didn't like Architect of Lies, but I felt that it wasn't as powerful as The Hours That Remain or 11 Dreams, which is where my disappointment came in. Had it been their first album instead of their last I think I would've felt differently about it.
I fell in love with the heavier sound again on their release Retrospective (which isn't listed in any discography). It was a lot of old songs redone in pure metal style. Listening to it now, it should've been a hint or a foreshadow or something....
I'm sad and happy at the same time. Re-birth always comes from death and I hope the guys find more joy and happiness in what shall become of this. It still sucks and I'm deeply hurt... Although I know that I personally wasn't even a thought in their departure.
I have to find the silver lining in this looking at that it's better that we be disappointed that they walked away on (hopefully) good terms, than to be disappointed with each new album wishing they'd end it.
I know that I'm not the only person they touched musically... but honestly, this is the first band that I've felt regret for when it ended. And I can only say there would ever be a handful of bands that could evoke emotions from me if they ever quit.
I hope that Mercenary continues in a newer heavier form and I wish only the best for all of them in their future endeavors.
Don't take my soul away
My world is ending
-MetalRose
11.02.2009
10.31.2009
10.30.2009
10.26.2009
10.01.2009
An Open Letter to the Man who Created me.
*A little back story. I chose to walk away from my father quite a few years ago. I won't get into the reasons now. He emailed me on my birthday and said he was sorry I had so much anger and that I should figure it out before he dies. It was very passive agressive and a finger pointing. So I had to email him this. Those of you who know me, know I'm very guarded with my deepest and rawest emotions. Here's a very raw side of me that little if any get to see, but I feel I have to expose it for the whole world... Good bad or indifferent.*
[Redacted],
I don't have any anger towards you what so ever. In fact I'm very apathetic towards you.
Over the last 30+ years you have done things and said things to hurt me. The worst started when I got pregnant. When I wanted to speak to you, you were unwilling to listen to me. I was either informed that you were X years old and not going to change or I couldn't guilt you into things. I was treated as a pest rather than the adult I came to you as.
I log ago accepted that you are getting older, and long ago accepted that you wouldn't change. So instead of allowing you to hurt me, I chose to exclude you from my life. A choice I feel was the right thing to do as you have made not even a slight attempt to contact me over the last few years.
I think that perhaps you need to take a look at your life and find out why you have chosen to treat me the way you have.
I won't get into the blame game, but I can certianly site examples that literally ripped my heart out and then was expected to treat you with respect only because you are my father- no other reason.
The way I see it, if I can't be treated with basic human kindness, then I will not have that person in my life.
As it stands now, if you passed on tomorrow, I would not attend your funeral, because I just don't care. I don't have hate for you. I don't have love for you.
I think perhaps you need to look at how you've treated me in the past to see why I feel that way. If you are not able or willing to figure it out, or ask me, then I will have no regrets on the choice I made to exclude you from my life.
However, if you'd like to start a relationship back up, then the ball is in your court, but you need to be aware that I am very fragile and in order to restore a "proper" father daughter relationship I'll need quite a bit of time.
As it stands, you owe me and provide me nothing as a father, and I owe you nothing and provide you nothing as a daughter. I've washed my hands of this and accepted that I cannot change you.
[Redacted],
I don't have any anger towards you what so ever. In fact I'm very apathetic towards you.
Over the last 30+ years you have done things and said things to hurt me. The worst started when I got pregnant. When I wanted to speak to you, you were unwilling to listen to me. I was either informed that you were X years old and not going to change or I couldn't guilt you into things. I was treated as a pest rather than the adult I came to you as.
I log ago accepted that you are getting older, and long ago accepted that you wouldn't change. So instead of allowing you to hurt me, I chose to exclude you from my life. A choice I feel was the right thing to do as you have made not even a slight attempt to contact me over the last few years.
I think that perhaps you need to take a look at your life and find out why you have chosen to treat me the way you have.
I won't get into the blame game, but I can certianly site examples that literally ripped my heart out and then was expected to treat you with respect only because you are my father- no other reason.
The way I see it, if I can't be treated with basic human kindness, then I will not have that person in my life.
As it stands now, if you passed on tomorrow, I would not attend your funeral, because I just don't care. I don't have hate for you. I don't have love for you.
I think perhaps you need to look at how you've treated me in the past to see why I feel that way. If you are not able or willing to figure it out, or ask me, then I will have no regrets on the choice I made to exclude you from my life.
However, if you'd like to start a relationship back up, then the ball is in your court, but you need to be aware that I am very fragile and in order to restore a "proper" father daughter relationship I'll need quite a bit of time.
As it stands, you owe me and provide me nothing as a father, and I owe you nothing and provide you nothing as a daughter. I've washed my hands of this and accepted that I cannot change you.
9.29.2009
9.22.2009
9.20.2009
Multimedia message
-MetalRose
9.19.2009
8.16.2009
8.15.2009
7.30.2009
7.13.2009
7.10.2009
7.09.2009
7.02.2009
6.29.2009
Saying Goodbye to a personal idol.
Unless you've literally been living with the Masai tribe in Tanzania, you've heard that Michael Jackson passed away on June 25th, 2009.
It's no secret I'm a devot and die hard heavy metal fan, but I owe it all to Michael Jackson.
I was very young when I started listening to Michael Jackson, I was only about 4-5 years old when Thriller came out on tape. Yes, tape. I don't remember who or how or why I started listening to Michael Jackson, I just knew that he was my favorite singer.
I recall seeing a picture of Michael Jackson in the newspaper before I could even read... but I knew who it was. He was surrounded by a large group of police officers, and I asked my mom, "Why did he get arrested?" After her laughter subsided, she told me they were watching him for his protection.
When my mom told me that Michael Jackson was burned during a filming of a Pepsi commerical, I cried. She told me he'd be ok and I felt better, then again I was only 6. I had such hopes of marrying him one day, forget the 20 year age difference.
When my mom told me that Michael Jackson was burned during a filming of a Pepsi commerical, I cried. She told me he'd be ok and I felt better, then again I was only 6. I had such hopes of marrying him one day, forget the 20 year age difference.
Over the years that followed, I remember dancing in my room to Billy Jean and putting on dance concerts with Thriller. I remember my mom taking us to the beach and I would bring my radio and turn it all the way up in the hot summer sun. In the 4th grade, I even went as Michael Jackson for Halloween. And among my collection of Jem Dolls, was my Michael Jackson Doll. The highlight of my weekends really were having Michael Jackson and Jem on the pink key-tar tape deck stage putting on their own shows. I'd alternate between Michael Jackson tapes and Jem tapes.
I was so enthralled by his owning Bubbles and his many exotic animals. Even back then I thought it was odd, but it was so rockstar at the time. Even back then, even being young, I knew that he was a so alone and misunderstood. A part of me felt so sad for him, he'd rather spend time with animals then with humans.
Right around the same time, my mom took the family to Disney. It was the same year that Captain EO was released. I'm not proud to say it, but I was a brat until I got to see "my'" Michael Jackson playing such a killer role on stage. I don't recall much of the movie other than a portion of my dream coming true... and my brother mumbling under his breath the whole time about wanting to leave. To this day I still have a figurine of Fuzzball.
I was so enthralled by his owning Bubbles and his many exotic animals. Even back then I thought it was odd, but it was so rockstar at the time. Even back then, even being young, I knew that he was a so alone and misunderstood. A part of me felt so sad for him, he'd rather spend time with animals then with humans.
Right around the same time, my mom took the family to Disney. It was the same year that Captain EO was released. I'm not proud to say it, but I was a brat until I got to see "my'" Michael Jackson playing such a killer role on stage. I don't recall much of the movie other than a portion of my dream coming true... and my brother mumbling under his breath the whole time about wanting to leave. To this day I still have a figurine of Fuzzball.
Shortly thereafter, we got cable, and the launch of MTV- back when it played actual music. One of the first videos I saw was of Bon Jovi, or Poison, or Def Leppard... I saw men with long hair and leather pants wearing eyeliner, and yes the music was heavier, but not by much compared with the song Beat It. And considering that Eddie Van Halen was the mastermind behind the guitar riff, it's only logical that I drifted apart from the pop style music.
I followed Michael Jackson much into my Jr High years, but sadly keeping it in the dark. I wanted people to think I was too cool for Michael, but would secretly go home and put his albums on at least for a couple of years. My Jem and Michael Jackson Barbies went into storage, and my old kids tapes were replaced with the likes of Warrant in Jr. High then Alice in Chains by High School. Secretly, Michael held a special place in my heart.
Even in 1991, when I was 13, I recall watching the Dangerous video on the TV. Four years later, I couldn't help but sneak away and watch the Scream Video. Not very cool for a 17 year old die hard metal head... But my love for Michael Jackson far surpassed the uncool urges to supress him...
By the time I hit 25, I was over the whole metal only image, at least in part. I grew to accept my love affair with Michael Jackson and his music and even outting the fact he is responsible for my love of metal, if only in image. I posted it on message boards, talked about it frequently with friends, I had to give credit where credit was due. I even downloaded metal covers of his songs with such a love in my heart. I currently have Raintime's version of Beat It on my ipod.
Thursday, I was on the phone with my mom when her co-worker came in and told her Michael Jackson died. The only thing I could mutter was "No!" She then comforted me and told me to wait until it was confirmed. She tried getting online to see if any news reports could be found, but the internet was so slow, she couldn't get on. "Just wait to see if it's confirmed..." she kept whispering.
Fifteen minutes later her co-worker came in and confirmed it. My mom saw on the internet that the news story was updated 20 minutes ago... I was one of the first to learn of his passing. My mom could only say, "I'm so sorry..."
It's hard to say goodbye to someone who unknowingly shaped me into what I am and who I am. I spent all Friday night packing and listening to Michael Jackson on the radio. Even after 20 years (give or take) I could still remember all the words to his songs, and I too sang along.
It's sad that the younger generation missed out on the true Michael of the 1980's, not the Waco Jacko that is being shown now... Before all the crazy surgeries and allegations. It's sad that todays pop music is nothing more than regurgitated bullshit to be paraded around as good music. Michael was talented, he spanned not only race lines and gender lines, but age lines. It's a shame that there hasn't been another entertainer like that since Michael.
So Michael, it's a shame you never knew how much you meant to people while you were alive, but know that for how ever bad it got for you, you had people who stood by you, supported you, and cherished all that you were willing and able to share with us. I hope you are finally at piece with yourself, because you of all people deserved it.
-MetalRose
6.20.2009
6.16.2009
Born Free
When I started my new job just over a year ago, I had bright red hair that was half way down my back. During the interview I wore a wig.
Since I was hired wearing a wig, I've been wearing it every day since. Mostly because this is a small company and I see both the CEO and the SVP and other upper level managment on a daily basis. They all know that I wear a wig to cover my odd colored hair, but all understand I do it to show that I can look like I belong.
Now most people who've worn wigs are those have worn them only at Halloween. Those are poorly made and itchy and I wouldn't be able to wear them all day. Most of the time it's like wearing a hat. Granted there are days it bothers the day lights out of me... But most times it's so much easier to never have a bad hair day... and if I didn't get a chance to wash my hair on Monday after a weekend of not washing it, well no one would be the wiser. Just throw the wig on.
Sunday night I re-did my hair to a burgandy.* A "normal" color. Normally I shy away from doing that but because my hair was horribly faded and looked like shit, I had to re-do it. I could've gone green like I planned, but with my sisters up comming wedding... It made more sense to do a natural shade and then play with it in a few weeks when I get back home.
Monday, I came into work wigless. My co-workers about dropped their coffee. The reaction was great and I've gotten a lot of compliments on my hair color.
It just feels really odd to be at work with out a wig. I feel almost naked and my head feels very light. It's just odd.
Morning duties, shower, get dressed, put hair in a pony tail, put on wig cap, put on make up, brush teeth, put on wig, pin in place, leave. Now, it's shower, get dressed, put on make up brush teeth leave. Not that putting on the wig takes a long time, but it does take about 5-10 minutes.
I kind of like not having my fake hair on... but I think I like coloring it more.
-Metal
*Yes, I do color my own hair and have for the last 4 years or so. To get the color I have I used 5RV and a 7IR, I mixed 1/3 5RV with 2/3 7IR with a 20 developer.
Since I was hired wearing a wig, I've been wearing it every day since. Mostly because this is a small company and I see both the CEO and the SVP and other upper level managment on a daily basis. They all know that I wear a wig to cover my odd colored hair, but all understand I do it to show that I can look like I belong.
Now most people who've worn wigs are those have worn them only at Halloween. Those are poorly made and itchy and I wouldn't be able to wear them all day. Most of the time it's like wearing a hat. Granted there are days it bothers the day lights out of me... But most times it's so much easier to never have a bad hair day... and if I didn't get a chance to wash my hair on Monday after a weekend of not washing it, well no one would be the wiser. Just throw the wig on.
Sunday night I re-did my hair to a burgandy.* A "normal" color. Normally I shy away from doing that but because my hair was horribly faded and looked like shit, I had to re-do it. I could've gone green like I planned, but with my sisters up comming wedding... It made more sense to do a natural shade and then play with it in a few weeks when I get back home.
Monday, I came into work wigless. My co-workers about dropped their coffee. The reaction was great and I've gotten a lot of compliments on my hair color.
It just feels really odd to be at work with out a wig. I feel almost naked and my head feels very light. It's just odd.
Morning duties, shower, get dressed, put hair in a pony tail, put on wig cap, put on make up, brush teeth, put on wig, pin in place, leave. Now, it's shower, get dressed, put on make up brush teeth leave. Not that putting on the wig takes a long time, but it does take about 5-10 minutes.
I kind of like not having my fake hair on... but I think I like coloring it more.
-Metal
*Yes, I do color my own hair and have for the last 4 years or so. To get the color I have I used 5RV and a 7IR, I mixed 1/3 5RV with 2/3 7IR with a 20 developer.
6.14.2009
6.10.2009
The house of dreams into the house of nightmares.
I've been looking at getting out of my white trash neighborhood for a while now.... and after the bullshit my neighbors pulled a couple of nights ago, I'm done.
When we first started looking at houses, I found one that was awesome. It was built in the late 1800's and added on in 1930's. Well kept, move in ready, beautiful. We worked on the deal, but the seller was being a total asshole about it. We asked them to leave the washer/dryer and they argued with us about $1000 for them. I told them to shove the $1000...
Anyway, the Friday before memorial day, we were sending the ernest money and I talked with the real estate agent and there were no other offers. Feeling secure, we went about the weekend.
Tuesday I got a call from my mom and we lost the house. Someone had come in and looked at the house on Sunday and by Monday they had put in their offer and earnest money. I was shocked. We had an agreement. Not happy, I called our real estate agent and asked what happened. Apparently it was a "good ol' boys club" thing. And the reason the seller was jerking us around was because of the person hemming and hawing about wanting to buy the house. If they planned on selling it to her, they shouldn't have put it on the market. The girl that bought the house was the daughter of the guy that did all the work on it. The priced it low so she could buy it, not for the average market. Douche waffles.
Last night we looked at and fell in love with another house. It was a gorgeous 3 bed, 2 bath with massive rooms and the price was right. It's out of the neighborhood I'm in and it had the coolest bathroom I've ever seen.... The repair work was minimal. Repair the two hardwood floors in the upstairs bedrooms, spackle the cracks in the roof, trim some of the windows and doors, and do a nice cleaning of all the cobwebs in the house.
So I discussed it with my folks and my mom suggested that I call the police department to see if I can get information on that area as it is still close to where I live. We drove around the area and it seemed to be a nice neighborhood.
Today I did a search for the address and it turns out that there was a shooting (an near murder) and an attempted sexual assult in that house. Ugh. I won't get into details, but the owner of the house had a drinking buddy who worked with one of the roommates living there. Drinking buddy was fired for drinking too much, got pissed and tried to shoot coworker and rape the other roommate just because, well he was drunk and she was there.
It sounds like he was there hanging out with Owner of said house and then lost it.
Now, houses and apartments and such have violence in almost every neighborhood. However, I'm trying to get out of it, not right in the pit of it. The guy was sentenced to 25 years in prision, however, I'm concerned that if he gets out early for good behavior, would he come to the house looking for the people that put him in jail? Considering the temper, I bet he would.
I don't know if I could put a restraining order on the house, or if there is anything I could do to protect us should we stay there... Or is it even worth worrying about all the time. Or if I'm worrying unnecessarly.
I'd like to go back to the house and check it out by myself sometime. Leave the kiddo at home and leave the agent at the door. I didn't see any woman's things in the house, and the main bedroom smelled "man"...
But all that happened there certianly explained the new carpeting through out the entire house. Is new carpet worth my piece of mind though?
Sometimes I hate my googling abilities.
-MetalRose
When we first started looking at houses, I found one that was awesome. It was built in the late 1800's and added on in 1930's. Well kept, move in ready, beautiful. We worked on the deal, but the seller was being a total asshole about it. We asked them to leave the washer/dryer and they argued with us about $1000 for them. I told them to shove the $1000...
Anyway, the Friday before memorial day, we were sending the ernest money and I talked with the real estate agent and there were no other offers. Feeling secure, we went about the weekend.
Tuesday I got a call from my mom and we lost the house. Someone had come in and looked at the house on Sunday and by Monday they had put in their offer and earnest money. I was shocked. We had an agreement. Not happy, I called our real estate agent and asked what happened. Apparently it was a "good ol' boys club" thing. And the reason the seller was jerking us around was because of the person hemming and hawing about wanting to buy the house. If they planned on selling it to her, they shouldn't have put it on the market. The girl that bought the house was the daughter of the guy that did all the work on it. The priced it low so she could buy it, not for the average market. Douche waffles.
Last night we looked at and fell in love with another house. It was a gorgeous 3 bed, 2 bath with massive rooms and the price was right. It's out of the neighborhood I'm in and it had the coolest bathroom I've ever seen.... The repair work was minimal. Repair the two hardwood floors in the upstairs bedrooms, spackle the cracks in the roof, trim some of the windows and doors, and do a nice cleaning of all the cobwebs in the house.
So I discussed it with my folks and my mom suggested that I call the police department to see if I can get information on that area as it is still close to where I live. We drove around the area and it seemed to be a nice neighborhood.
Today I did a search for the address and it turns out that there was a shooting (an near murder) and an attempted sexual assult in that house. Ugh. I won't get into details, but the owner of the house had a drinking buddy who worked with one of the roommates living there. Drinking buddy was fired for drinking too much, got pissed and tried to shoot coworker and rape the other roommate just because, well he was drunk and she was there.
It sounds like he was there hanging out with Owner of said house and then lost it.
Now, houses and apartments and such have violence in almost every neighborhood. However, I'm trying to get out of it, not right in the pit of it. The guy was sentenced to 25 years in prision, however, I'm concerned that if he gets out early for good behavior, would he come to the house looking for the people that put him in jail? Considering the temper, I bet he would.
I don't know if I could put a restraining order on the house, or if there is anything I could do to protect us should we stay there... Or is it even worth worrying about all the time. Or if I'm worrying unnecessarly.
I'd like to go back to the house and check it out by myself sometime. Leave the kiddo at home and leave the agent at the door. I didn't see any woman's things in the house, and the main bedroom smelled "man"...
But all that happened there certianly explained the new carpeting through out the entire house. Is new carpet worth my piece of mind though?
Sometimes I hate my googling abilities.
-MetalRose
5.29.2009
Explorers Log Day II 4-29-09
Explorers Log Day II 4-29-09
Our troops are disheartened by the loss of Kathy and Lyn; however we did get word from our West Coast troops late last night. Their search proved unfruitful as well and they plan on joining on our search this morning in the early hours.
This morning, the fearless leader was the first to hear the calls of the phone, not once, but three times. Our worries yesterday were unfounded, the phone sickness was not so much a sickness, but our own delirium induced our unsuccessful searches.
Still no word on Kathy or Lyn and our troops are starting to wonder if leaving them behind was the best method considering it was our insanity and not theirs that left them for dead. Alright, maybe not dead, we left them for crazy.
Finding cases today seems to be easier, although the elusive phone calls are still hiding. It appears, the larger the group the more mysterious the phone calls are. I wonder if our expedition would be better if we broke off into small groups.
After poising the question to the troops, we decide to split into smaller parties. Luckily both Lyn and Kathy have found their way back to the group. We’re still not sure how they made it back as we tried to lose them late yesterday afternoon, but the hunger of finding a phone call seems to have brought them back to us.
Each split party split into separate groups. I aptly named them Empower, Tech and Business. The Tech pod was kept as a fairly large group still to keep the other two search parties to a very low number.
Our early morning search proved uneventful, however the afternoon proved successful for the Business Group and the larger Tech Group. The Empower Group didn’t have a lot of luck locating the phone calls even though they were a small group.
Thankfully our luck was better than yesterday. With tomorrow being the weekend, I think that we shall reconvene on Monday to continue our search.
You fearless leader
Our troops are disheartened by the loss of Kathy and Lyn; however we did get word from our West Coast troops late last night. Their search proved unfruitful as well and they plan on joining on our search this morning in the early hours.
This morning, the fearless leader was the first to hear the calls of the phone, not once, but three times. Our worries yesterday were unfounded, the phone sickness was not so much a sickness, but our own delirium induced our unsuccessful searches.
Still no word on Kathy or Lyn and our troops are starting to wonder if leaving them behind was the best method considering it was our insanity and not theirs that left them for dead. Alright, maybe not dead, we left them for crazy.
Finding cases today seems to be easier, although the elusive phone calls are still hiding. It appears, the larger the group the more mysterious the phone calls are. I wonder if our expedition would be better if we broke off into small groups.
After poising the question to the troops, we decide to split into smaller parties. Luckily both Lyn and Kathy have found their way back to the group. We’re still not sure how they made it back as we tried to lose them late yesterday afternoon, but the hunger of finding a phone call seems to have brought them back to us.
Each split party split into separate groups. I aptly named them Empower, Tech and Business. The Tech pod was kept as a fairly large group still to keep the other two search parties to a very low number.
Our early morning search proved uneventful, however the afternoon proved successful for the Business Group and the larger Tech Group. The Empower Group didn’t have a lot of luck locating the phone calls even though they were a small group.
Thankfully our luck was better than yesterday. With tomorrow being the weekend, I think that we shall reconvene on Monday to continue our search.
You fearless leader
5.28.2009
Explorers log 4-28-09 3:25pm
Explorers log 4-28-09 3:25pm
It’s an over cast day here on the east coast. It's unseasonably cool, but the hunting is just right. The troops are bright with anticipation...
Today we are tracking the elusive phone call. If we sit very still and listen very quietly, we may be able to catch one in it's rarest of form. Be careful of the shrill sound it makes... It may scare you into hitting your ear and saying "Hello!"
Oh no! We are down an explorer. It appears that Kathy has heard the rare sound of the phone bird. Sadly, they are poisonous and she seems to have been caught in the trap. You can hear her crying out from the tell-tale warning signs, "How can I help you?" and "What seems to be the problem?".
While in hot pursuit, another phone rings, but who's? Oh no! It's the fearless leader. Her sickness begins, "Customer support, how can I help you?" Her strong will takes over, "Hello are you there?" A brief moment of silence before she regains her full strength. "I'm sorry I can't hear you, please call back." Her struggle was brief, but she overcame the sickness. Unless it decides to come back again. Let’s hope not.
We continue our search for the cousin to the phone call; the email and a far distant cousin, the "case". In our prior journeys we’ve found that "cases" tend to be a sickness that builds up fast and lingers for a while. However today, everything is eerily silent, a calm before the storm if you will.
Suddenly a buzzing is heard. We quickly turn around. We hear "Lovely" , before Ben was able to fend off the phone sickness. His recovery was quick, but not withstanding. Sadly, appears that Ben may suffer all day with sporadic re-occurring fights with the phone sickness.
Off in the distance we hear Lyn besieged, "Let me hop over and take control." The poor girl is delirious. Her laughter fades in the distance as we try and forage on. We contemplate what the future holds for her. We pay our respects by leaving gray yarn, knitting needles, plastic eggs and cat nip. May the knitting be with you Lyn.
Well, adventurers, we did manage to find a couple of phone calls today, even if the cases seemed to elude us with every step. The casualties are at 50% today with the loss of Kathy and Lyn.
Perhaps our search will do better tomorrow for that ever elusive phone call and perhaps we will hear from our search party in the west as we have not heard word from them in days now…
Your fearless leader
5.14.2009
5.10.2009
Multimedia message
-MetalRose
5.08.2009
Volbeat again
-MetalRose
Volbeat Images
Joey Sky with the bass player of Volbeat.
This was a test as I'm trying the mobile blogging thing. Looks like more to come!
-MetalRose
5.04.2009
Bringing the house down
On Friday night, my son and I went to the Webster Theater (gag) in Hartford to see Nightwish and Volbeat.
I've never been a big fan of Nightwish. Musically they are great, but I didn't like Tarja's voice and although Annette's is slightly better, she's still not great. And the down side to her... I don't know if the band took away her mirror or what, but she looks really really rough. Her extensions were horrible and her roots were showing big time.
Regardless, enough of the personal attacks.
Joey Sky and I arrived at the venue at about 8:00, give or take. Kim called me and let me know that parking was a bear. Normally I park on the other side of the parking lot on the street. It took us about 20 minutes just to find a spot. The line was wrapped around the venue and I ended up parking about 3 blocks away.
On the way into the venue it started to sprinkle and Kim was already inside with our tickets. Since Joey Sky and I didn't get a chance to stop for dinner as I promised, we were in line to get a quick bite at the venue. As we were in line, Kim tapped my back. I asked if we'd missed Volbeat and she said, "no, their stuff didn't arrive though..."
Knowing it was the first night of the tour, I freaked thinking their gear didn't arrive and they wouldn't be playing. Turns out it was their merch that didn't turn up. Right at 8:30 we heard the crowd start getting a little roudy. Joey Sky and I walked into the venue and found a good place right on the stairs. He stood on the top one so he could see above everyone's heads. I stood one stair down so I could see as well.
I don't recall the order of their songs, but they played: The Gardens Tale, Sad Man's Tounge, River Queen, Radio Girl, Soul Sweeper , We, I only Wanna Be with you, You or Them, A momnet forever and The Human Instrument. I was sad they didn't play Caroline Leaving. That was the one song I wanted to hear. *Disclaimer, I may be missing a song or two, but I was in such a state of eurphoria I'm surprised I even remembered one song.
It's been a while since I've seen a singer have such fun with the crowd. And every time I turned around Joey Sky had a huge smile on his face. It's been a long time since I've see him have that much fun at a concert.
After the last song, the crew at the Webster tore down Volbeats gear so fast. Even though the crowd was chanting their name, there was no way they'd be able to come back on and play. The speakers and amps were off the stage even before the singer said "Thank you Goodnight!"
Since their merch wasn't there I didn't think they'd be at the merch counter, but I had hoped to get a chance to talk to the band.
The change over from Volbeat to Nightwish was unreal. Even though all the gear was changed over, all the instruments were tuned, they didn't come onstage until almost 10pm. A good 30 minutes later. Now I understand there are only 2 bands and they want to fill time, but that was not the way to do it. The crowd chanted NIGHTWISH at least 4 times, and there were several false starts....
When they finally came on, they came on with an instrumental piece. While it was pretty, my patience was wearing thin. I really like the music of Nightwish, but never have been into the vocals. I wanted to give it a shot live to see if there was a difference. After Annette came out looking like she just walked off the street corner, we listened to about half a song and then decided to take off.
On my way out the door, I noticed Volbeat's guitar player by the bus chatting with some people. I nudged Joey Sky and said, "Guitarist" and we went over to talk to him. After a few minutes, the drummer came out, then the vocalist. Joey got an autograph from all the memebers of the band, but was itching to talk to the bass player. When Michael the singer asked him why, Joey said, "I'm a bass player and I want to ask him some questions."
Michael asked how old he was, Joey Sky said, "Ten." Micheal then said, "If you work really hard, when we come back, and in 5 years, we'll call you up to play on stage with us. How does that sound?" He then handed him a guitar pick and said, "Take that as our word." Joey Sky's jaw hit the ground, we then went and talked with the bass player and he confirmed the same thing. Practice hard and come play on stage with us. I think his poor little fingers were bleeding yesterday....
I spent a good deal of time chatting with the vocalist and the bassist. The bassist had us all in stitches. He was re-telling a story about their tour manager and the airport. Since the tour manager is from Puerto Rico, he's got darker skin. He said that everytime the tour manager would sneeze they would all point and yell "PIG FLU" and run away.
While he was telling this story, Joey Sky and some girl were in front of the tour bus on the side walk singing Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast and reciting Spaceballs.
At the end of the night I did invite Volbeat to hang at my house that night or the next time they were in town. I gave my phone number to the bass player and we headed home.
The next morning I spoke with my mom about Joey Sky playing with Volbeat in a few years. She pointed out, "For all the people you know, you can set this up anytime." While I agreed with her, I think it means so much more for a band to reach out to a fan and invite him on. Even though I'm a rock and roll mom, how cool would it be for him to say, "Dude I'm playing with Volbeat... yeah my mom set it up." Having your mom set up gigs for you is so not rock and roll.
-MetalRose
I've never been a big fan of Nightwish. Musically they are great, but I didn't like Tarja's voice and although Annette's is slightly better, she's still not great. And the down side to her... I don't know if the band took away her mirror or what, but she looks really really rough. Her extensions were horrible and her roots were showing big time.
Regardless, enough of the personal attacks.
Joey Sky and I arrived at the venue at about 8:00, give or take. Kim called me and let me know that parking was a bear. Normally I park on the other side of the parking lot on the street. It took us about 20 minutes just to find a spot. The line was wrapped around the venue and I ended up parking about 3 blocks away.
On the way into the venue it started to sprinkle and Kim was already inside with our tickets. Since Joey Sky and I didn't get a chance to stop for dinner as I promised, we were in line to get a quick bite at the venue. As we were in line, Kim tapped my back. I asked if we'd missed Volbeat and she said, "no, their stuff didn't arrive though..."
Knowing it was the first night of the tour, I freaked thinking their gear didn't arrive and they wouldn't be playing. Turns out it was their merch that didn't turn up. Right at 8:30 we heard the crowd start getting a little roudy. Joey Sky and I walked into the venue and found a good place right on the stairs. He stood on the top one so he could see above everyone's heads. I stood one stair down so I could see as well.
I don't recall the order of their songs, but they played: The Gardens Tale, Sad Man's Tounge, River Queen, Radio Girl, Soul Sweeper , We, I only Wanna Be with you, You or Them, A momnet forever and The Human Instrument. I was sad they didn't play Caroline Leaving. That was the one song I wanted to hear. *Disclaimer, I may be missing a song or two, but I was in such a state of eurphoria I'm surprised I even remembered one song.
It's been a while since I've seen a singer have such fun with the crowd. And every time I turned around Joey Sky had a huge smile on his face. It's been a long time since I've see him have that much fun at a concert.
After the last song, the crew at the Webster tore down Volbeats gear so fast. Even though the crowd was chanting their name, there was no way they'd be able to come back on and play. The speakers and amps were off the stage even before the singer said "Thank you Goodnight!"
Since their merch wasn't there I didn't think they'd be at the merch counter, but I had hoped to get a chance to talk to the band.
The change over from Volbeat to Nightwish was unreal. Even though all the gear was changed over, all the instruments were tuned, they didn't come onstage until almost 10pm. A good 30 minutes later. Now I understand there are only 2 bands and they want to fill time, but that was not the way to do it. The crowd chanted NIGHTWISH at least 4 times, and there were several false starts....
When they finally came on, they came on with an instrumental piece. While it was pretty, my patience was wearing thin. I really like the music of Nightwish, but never have been into the vocals. I wanted to give it a shot live to see if there was a difference. After Annette came out looking like she just walked off the street corner, we listened to about half a song and then decided to take off.
On my way out the door, I noticed Volbeat's guitar player by the bus chatting with some people. I nudged Joey Sky and said, "Guitarist" and we went over to talk to him. After a few minutes, the drummer came out, then the vocalist. Joey got an autograph from all the memebers of the band, but was itching to talk to the bass player. When Michael the singer asked him why, Joey said, "I'm a bass player and I want to ask him some questions."
Michael asked how old he was, Joey Sky said, "Ten." Micheal then said, "If you work really hard, when we come back, and in 5 years, we'll call you up to play on stage with us. How does that sound?" He then handed him a guitar pick and said, "Take that as our word." Joey Sky's jaw hit the ground, we then went and talked with the bass player and he confirmed the same thing. Practice hard and come play on stage with us. I think his poor little fingers were bleeding yesterday....
I spent a good deal of time chatting with the vocalist and the bassist. The bassist had us all in stitches. He was re-telling a story about their tour manager and the airport. Since the tour manager is from Puerto Rico, he's got darker skin. He said that everytime the tour manager would sneeze they would all point and yell "PIG FLU" and run away.
While he was telling this story, Joey Sky and some girl were in front of the tour bus on the side walk singing Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast and reciting Spaceballs.
At the end of the night I did invite Volbeat to hang at my house that night or the next time they were in town. I gave my phone number to the bass player and we headed home.
The next morning I spoke with my mom about Joey Sky playing with Volbeat in a few years. She pointed out, "For all the people you know, you can set this up anytime." While I agreed with her, I think it means so much more for a band to reach out to a fan and invite him on. Even though I'm a rock and roll mom, how cool would it be for him to say, "Dude I'm playing with Volbeat... yeah my mom set it up." Having your mom set up gigs for you is so not rock and roll.
-MetalRose
4.09.2009
Nightwish Volbeat Party at Metal's place.
So I know this was talked about before, but for those of you coming up to Hartford to see Nightwish/Volbeat on 5-1-09 - worry about hotel's any more!
I'll be having a BBQ/ get together either RIGHT before the show or after the show. Those wanting to hang out for the night or drink to much are more than welcome to crash at my place.
There'll be Beer and BBQ (both meat and meatless options available). I do have 2 air mattress and a futon avail at my place, but if you plan on staying bringing your own sleeping bag/pillow/air mattress is greatly appreciated.
Saturday is open for options, but I am only about 25-35 minutes away from 6 Flags New England and about 5 minutes from go cart racing and mini golf. Anyone coming up is welcome! PM me for directions/ phone number, etc.
With stories of my car rolling backwards, roaming abandoned warehouses, etc... how can you go wrong hanging out at my place for the night?
-Metal
4.07.2009
Ten months, two graves
I talked to my mom last night about my sister and her upcoming wedding and home purchase.
From what she said there was a snag in the house buying process. My mom asked me to keep my sister in my thoughts.
Before bed, I was on the phone with a friend. I had gone into the kitchen during the call and noticed a battery operated latern had been turned on. My son was in bed and asleep before I was, and it was pitch black when I went into my room. In reality, I had no idea why I even went into the kitchen. Even more odd, how or why the lantern was on.
It was odd, really odd. All of my doors were locked and dead bolted and I had recently smudged my house. I ended the call to my friend, checked the doors, turned the latern back off and put it on top of the fridge. I locked my son's door behind me and went to bed.
A little before 2pm, my cell phone was ringing. I saw it was my sister. I thought that perhaps she had some news on the house. I went to hit end to the call, and hit the pick up button. I stared at my phone for a minute contemplating hanging up on her and sending her a text letting her know I couldn't talk.
I put the phone to my ear to just tell her I couldn't talk. She then said, "Will you call me right back?" I told her I'd call her back on break, but I could tell something hit her hard. So I asked, "What's up?" She then said, "Do you remember Bob Jeske? Robert Jeske?" My brain scanned, I knew the name, I knew the face, but from where? Ah, yes, Downside of Truth.
The first image that came to mind was Bob and his long brown hair, smile and the bounce he had in his walk. I recalled seeing him at almost every show I'd been to. He'd have nothing if he didn't have a beer, a smile and a hug for every single person in the room.
"Bob, yeah what about him?" There was a brief silence and she said, "He commited suicide last night... From what I understand he got drunk went out in the alley way and started shooting. When the police arrived, he shot the dog and they emptied ten to fifteen rounds into him..." All I could get out to her was, "I'm at work, I'll have to call you later." The words echoed, they emptied ten to fifteen rounds... Those words made it sound like a video game.
I'm still in disbelief, of all the people in the world, there were no warning signs, at least back when I used to see him on a regular basis. The world was his stage and he loved it.
I started looking on line and found a couple of articles. I didn't want to believe it. He had left two suicide notes on his computer and changed his myspace page to read: Mood: DONE and a message stating "I love you all.... goodbye.... I'm sorry." He wanted to end it, but was too afraid to do it on his own. It's not suicide if someone else pulls the trigger.
I can't claim to be Bob's best friend, not on the least, regardless Bob was a friend to all. He never had a bad word about anyone.
Shortly after my break, Gensmer from Epicurean sent me a text, "Did you hear about Bob?" When I talked with Gensmer last night at about 11pm my time, nothing was ever said about Bob being gone. His name must've been released today. Fuck Bob, you know how you felt about T...
The part about getting older that scares me is not my death, but watching those around me die. Last year in May, Earl Root passed away and less than a year later, I have another grave to visit when I return to Minnesota.
RIP Bob. May you be starting a band with Earl, where ever you are.
-Metal
From what she said there was a snag in the house buying process. My mom asked me to keep my sister in my thoughts.
Before bed, I was on the phone with a friend. I had gone into the kitchen during the call and noticed a battery operated latern had been turned on. My son was in bed and asleep before I was, and it was pitch black when I went into my room. In reality, I had no idea why I even went into the kitchen. Even more odd, how or why the lantern was on.
It was odd, really odd. All of my doors were locked and dead bolted and I had recently smudged my house. I ended the call to my friend, checked the doors, turned the latern back off and put it on top of the fridge. I locked my son's door behind me and went to bed.
A little before 2pm, my cell phone was ringing. I saw it was my sister. I thought that perhaps she had some news on the house. I went to hit end to the call, and hit the pick up button. I stared at my phone for a minute contemplating hanging up on her and sending her a text letting her know I couldn't talk.
I put the phone to my ear to just tell her I couldn't talk. She then said, "Will you call me right back?" I told her I'd call her back on break, but I could tell something hit her hard. So I asked, "What's up?" She then said, "Do you remember Bob Jeske? Robert Jeske?" My brain scanned, I knew the name, I knew the face, but from where? Ah, yes, Downside of Truth.
The first image that came to mind was Bob and his long brown hair, smile and the bounce he had in his walk. I recalled seeing him at almost every show I'd been to. He'd have nothing if he didn't have a beer, a smile and a hug for every single person in the room.
"Bob, yeah what about him?" There was a brief silence and she said, "He commited suicide last night... From what I understand he got drunk went out in the alley way and started shooting. When the police arrived, he shot the dog and they emptied ten to fifteen rounds into him..." All I could get out to her was, "I'm at work, I'll have to call you later." The words echoed, they emptied ten to fifteen rounds... Those words made it sound like a video game.
I'm still in disbelief, of all the people in the world, there were no warning signs, at least back when I used to see him on a regular basis. The world was his stage and he loved it.
I started looking on line and found a couple of articles. I didn't want to believe it. He had left two suicide notes on his computer and changed his myspace page to read: Mood: DONE and a message stating "I love you all.... goodbye.... I'm sorry." He wanted to end it, but was too afraid to do it on his own. It's not suicide if someone else pulls the trigger.
I can't claim to be Bob's best friend, not on the least, regardless Bob was a friend to all. He never had a bad word about anyone.
Shortly after my break, Gensmer from Epicurean sent me a text, "Did you hear about Bob?" When I talked with Gensmer last night at about 11pm my time, nothing was ever said about Bob being gone. His name must've been released today. Fuck Bob, you know how you felt about T...
The part about getting older that scares me is not my death, but watching those around me die. Last year in May, Earl Root passed away and less than a year later, I have another grave to visit when I return to Minnesota.
RIP Bob. May you be starting a band with Earl, where ever you are.
-Metal
4.03.2009
Reappear and speak your final peace
So now you speak to me in perfect silence
With your divided tongue all tangled up
You try to explain to me
The answers that you hide
I scream to come back to you
Touch my face and set me free
Is it really you?
I want you to be near
I'm all alone here
So now I crawl to you
With my divided soul distorted
Stretching I cannot see you clearly
Am I losing you?
Feeling Fragile and confused
Your absense will make me choose
And you wanted to play the game
Of my bittersweet feelings
I raise my hand and try to
Speak but I
Feel so numb
Holding onto shades of something
Bleeding on the road I walked before
Embrace what's left behind
If you could see me now
As I really am
Would you believe somehow?
It's never good enough to be real
And don't you dare to pretend to care
About my new-found meaning
Forgive my sense of lost reality
And, I will set you free
So hear me now
This weakened voicing
Listen one last time
Don't you rescue me
I found my real salvation
Losing all you have in life
Will teach you nothing
My friend it's ending now
There's nothing left to say
*Note: Sometimes when you can't find the words to say what you are feeling, you search for someone to help you. These words were borrowed from many different songs of the Danish Metal Band Mercenary. I only re-arranged them to say what I don't have the words for.
With your divided tongue all tangled up
You try to explain to me
The answers that you hide
I scream to come back to you
Touch my face and set me free
Is it really you?
I want you to be near
I'm all alone here
So now I crawl to you
With my divided soul distorted
Stretching I cannot see you clearly
Am I losing you?
Feeling Fragile and confused
Your absense will make me choose
And you wanted to play the game
Of my bittersweet feelings
I raise my hand and try to
Speak but I
Feel so numb
Holding onto shades of something
Bleeding on the road I walked before
Embrace what's left behind
If you could see me now
As I really am
Would you believe somehow?
It's never good enough to be real
And don't you dare to pretend to care
About my new-found meaning
Forgive my sense of lost reality
And, I will set you free
So hear me now
This weakened voicing
Listen one last time
Don't you rescue me
I found my real salvation
Losing all you have in life
Will teach you nothing
My friend it's ending now
There's nothing left to say
*Note: Sometimes when you can't find the words to say what you are feeling, you search for someone to help you. These words were borrowed from many different songs of the Danish Metal Band Mercenary. I only re-arranged them to say what I don't have the words for.
3.20.2009
1.29.2009
I do my own stunts.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a new car. Not a brand new car, but a new-to-me car. The image at the right is the same year make and model, the color is hard to see, but it is sea-foam green. I call it the Booger-mobile.I didn't pay a lot for it, but it runs well and looks nice. Considering what I paid for it, I expected that there are a to be a few issues: One, the windshield fluid doesn't come out. Yes it's full. Talk about annoying. Two, the blinkers work on an infrequent basis. My car likes to PMS. Three, there is a connectivity issue with the battery at times. Four, the gears don't line up to what is matched. For example, to put the car in neutral, I have to line it up with the R. So obviously there are a few things wrong with the car, but considering I was driving a car that I thought would literally fall apart at the slightest bump... I'm ahead of the game.
Yesterday was the first test to see how it would handle on ice. Schools were closed yesterday as well. When that happens, my son goes to my Aunt's house for the day.
The roads home weren't as bad as I thought. Save for the ass-wipe who thought the safest way to drive was right on my tail with their brights pointed directly in my rearview mirror. It only took me about 15 minutes longer than normal to get home. (I'll go off on a tangent another day about how CT plows it's roads...)
Instead of going directly home, I went to my Aunt's to pick up my son. We stayed for about an hour chatting and what-not. I had my aunt look at my head where I slammed it against the staircase on Sunday night. She said she felt the bump, but didn't see any discoloration. Before I heard one more "I'm bored" sigh from my son, I decided it was time for us to leave.
The drive a few blocks to my place wasn't that bad, but I realized that I had forgotten something at my aunts house. I sent my son inside, had him lock the doors and told him I'd be home in about 10 minutes.
Upon reaching my aunts house, her driveway was not shoveled or plowed and decided that parking on the FLAT street would be a better option. I put my car in park and waited inside the car for a half a minute to make sure that it wasn't going to go anywhere. I saw what I had dropped on the driveway. I got out of my car, closed the door, walked three feet, picked up what I forgot and turned around to go back to my car.
Instead of being able to walk back to my car to get in, I saw it slowly rolling backwards on the street. I did the only logical thing, I yelled, "Hey wait!" It didn't take me long to realize that it wasn't going to stop. I quickly thought what my options were: let it roll away and potentially cause an accident or to chase after it.
Before the thought even finished I started to chase after my run-away car as it was going backwords, on a flat surface, on sheer ice... I had no other options.
I started to carefully chase after it as fast as I could trying to both save the car and save myself from falling. About the time the car got to the neighbors drive way, I had tried, unsuccessfully, to open the passenger door 3 times. On the 4th try, it opened and stayed opened!
Now the trick was at it's most dangerous. I had to enter a car, while it's rolling backwords, on top of sheet ice WHILE finding the path of least resistance to get the car to stop in the fastest way possible...
I swung the door open, jumped in and reached out with my left hand and slammed the parking break as hard as I could. I couldn't tell if the car was still moving or not. I could tell it had slowed down, but just when I thought it stopped, I felt it start to roll back again slightly. I pushed the parking break harder and the car came to a final rest.
I needed a minute to comprehend what had just happened. The interior light of my car was on, and I lay face down on front seat, my feet still sticking out the open passenger door. I slowly lifted my head and saw I was parked in front of a drive way. The only drive that happened to have a person in it, shoveling.
Embarassed, I sat up, slammed the passenger door, hopped into the drivers seat. The guy shoveling the snow just stared at me. I took the parking break off and peeled out of there as safely as possible. I could only imagine him running inside to tell his family about the crazy blue haired girl he saw running down the icy roads chasing after her car that backed away from her as if she was a repelling magnet.
On the drive home, I couldn't help but giggle. No one or nothing was hurt or damaged. As I told the story to my son, he literally broke down laughing and decided to call everyone he could think of. The story was almost more funny when he told it, "But then *laugh* she turned around and *laugh laugh laugh* her car was rolling away with out her! *laughing so hard he almost can't breathe* And the guy *laugh* was looking at her *laugh laugh* like, what are you doing lady? *laugh*"
Next time, I'll add a banana peel to the perils that I have to face while chasing my car. I think my good friend Colleen is right: I do live in my own little sitcom.
-MetalRose
1.12.2009
Infiltrated by Rock stars
"You can't park here," A woman in a brown parka and a bright yellow cap tapped on my car window. "You'll have to move over there." Her gloved hand pointed to some arbitrary point in the snow covered parking lot.
It was 12:30 am Saturday night/Sunday morning. My car was stopped just outside front doors of the "bathroom building" of a CT roadside pit stop. I was only about 10 miles from home, even living in Minnesota for as long as I did, the snow in CT was enough to scare me. It's not really the snow, it's the lack of good plowing techniques and the idiot drivers.
As I mumbled something about other cars being parked there, my son started to giggle in the back seat. I was surprised he was still awake. I put my car into drive and circled around the parking lot a couple of times, and then pulled up next to the side walk just a little further down.
I sent a text to the guys in Epicurean, "Roads aren't bad, but the blowing snow and lack of plowing makes it hard to see. Be careful! -MetalRose"
Earlier on Saturday morning, Epicurean's tour bus pulled onto my street and parked in front of my house. I went outside to meet them and saw someone get out of the drivers side of the bus. It was Laramy, the singer. When I moved closer I noticed his stance. I apologized and turned around to head back to the other side of the bus to greet the rest of the band.
Gensmer, the drummer, got off the bus first and gave me a huge hug and introduced me to the remainder of the band. Their line up had changed quite a bit since I left Minnesota, but it was great to see both Johns- Gensmer and Laramy. The new line up was very gracious and the fill in guitarist was on the same label as the last band that stayed at my place. Brian from Luna Mortis was filling in, Eli and Jeremy rounded out the band.. and of course the merch girl, Hanna- who was very much like me. I later found out she loved Asian horror and made a lot of her own clothes. I offered to make her a corset after I found out she'd been looking at $300 custom made ones.
After introductions, I invited the guys and girl inside and we cracked a couple of beers. Laramy offered to leave money for the booze, but I declined. We settled where everyone was going to sleep and set up air mattresses and folded out the futon. Just after 6 am we decided to turn in for the night, well morning. I told the boys that if they got up before I did, there were clean towels on the washing machine and the coffee pot was ready to go.
At 9 am, I woke up to use the bathroom, I had left the living room door unlocked for those who needed to come back into the house. A couple of the guys felt more secure sleeping in the van/bus, I offered a space heater and after they objected. I put it next to the door and told them to grab it if they needed it.
While I sauntered to the bathroom, I saw a figure standing in my living room. We smiled and groggily waved. By the time I came back out, he was gone. Sleep came so easily.
An hour later, I heard Brian talking on the phone. I got up and started the coffee. I had toyed with going to the bus to see if the boys were up yet. I know I had seen Jeremy up earlier, the dilemma was to accidently wake them with coffee or not.
I brought Brian over a cup of coffee, but he said he was good. I dumped it back into the coffee pot and started to put away the dishes while jumping over the air mattress laying the middle of my kitchen floor. I didn't mind them lying there as it was right next to the heater, but I had hoped that the coffee would wake them up.
The hot brew didn't wake them the commotion got them to arise; Laramy opened his eyes and thanked me. He said the club they played at last night was so cold that when they were at the merch booth, you could see the steam rolling off the lips of the people as they spoke. He was so grateful to be warm. Gensmer walked in and headed toward the bathroom. He opened the door and asked where the towels they could use were. I told him they were on the washing machine, he turned around and saw the stack and hit himself in the forehead.
While the griddle warmed up for some home cooked pancakes, Eli ran into the kitchen while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, "Did I hear that right? Pancakes? I heard Brian talking to his girlfriend on the phone and he said, the girl we are staying with is making pancakes! That woke me up! I was like, pancakes SWEET!"
As fast as I could make them they were gone, pancakes, coffee and a couple of glasses of milk. It seemed like chaos in the house as all 5 guys and one girl tripped over each other for the bathroom and to make sure all their stuff was packed. Brian had asked if I would mind hosting Luna Mortis should they be in the area. I told him that as long as I knew at least one person in the band, then my place was open. We exchanged phone numbers for a later time.
I stepped outside to get out of the bands way as they packed. Jeremy, who had turned in early last night and missed the festivities was standing out side. It was nice to finally get to chat with him for at least a few minutes. He thanked me up and down, I told him it's my way of saying thanks for putting us on the guest list.
As fast as they came, they left. I gave them all a hug goodbye and told them I'd see them in a couple of hours. My heart sank as I went back downstairs to my apartment, I half expected to see it looking like a tornado hit it. When I opened the door, the place was just as it was before they came. That always makes me so happy. The worst of it was a pile of towels and a pile of dishes. I sighed and rested on the couch.
After my son's basketball came, we came home, showered and took off. It had lightly started to snow. Driving in CT was very slow and it took almost 20 minutes longer than I thought to get out of there. Once I hit MA, the roads were perfectly clear. It was like night and day. I drove like a bat out of hell to get to the Palladium as fast as possible. The venue was an hour away, and with the roads being crappy, we were behind.
At the Palladium, we walked to the box office, "Hi, we should be on Epicurean's guest list." The woman there shook her head. "Only one band gave me a guest list, and they only had one person on it... and they are in already..." My heart sank, I asked where the merch area is and left Joey Sky as a lien while I grabbed Hanna. She came out and vouched for us, just as we hit the middle of the last song. *sigh*
We stuck around for half of Rotting Christ's set. I peeked out and could tell the roads were getting bad. I told Gensmer that if they didn't think they'd make it to come back to my place. I'd rather see them safe and warm then cold and at the side of the road.
Joey Sky and I followed Gensmer backstage to say our goodbyes. It was really really good to see some home town faces. On our way to the car, we ran into Brian and Jeremy, the last two in the band. Their grinders from Woosta Pizza were exposed to the falling snow and becoming more and more soggy. They didn't seem to mind as we chatted for a few minutes about touring and hanging out. They gave me another hug, shook Joey Sky's hand and told us to drive safe. I turned on my car the clock read 10:30.
The drive from Mass wasn't bad. About half way in, we stopped and grabbed something to eat and a fresh tank of gas. We followed behind snow plows which made the driving go so smooth. Just before the CT border, the snow plows turned off and the roads turned ugly. Cars passed me doing 90 miles an hour on unplowed and untreated roads. The blowing snow made the visibility almost nothing. I couldn't tell where the hills were or where the turns were, after hitting the rumble strips a couple of times, I knew I had to get off the road for a little while. Besides, my bladder was screaming at me.
I pulled off at the first rest stop I could find. I saw three cars parked along the walk way just a head of me. I pulled up behind the last one, it was covered in snow and had been there a while. I figured we'd be ok for a quick pee break. I had just put the car in park when I got a knock at the window. "You can't park here."
-MetalRose
It was 12:30 am Saturday night/Sunday morning. My car was stopped just outside front doors of the "bathroom building" of a CT roadside pit stop. I was only about 10 miles from home, even living in Minnesota for as long as I did, the snow in CT was enough to scare me. It's not really the snow, it's the lack of good plowing techniques and the idiot drivers.
As I mumbled something about other cars being parked there, my son started to giggle in the back seat. I was surprised he was still awake. I put my car into drive and circled around the parking lot a couple of times, and then pulled up next to the side walk just a little further down.
I sent a text to the guys in Epicurean, "Roads aren't bad, but the blowing snow and lack of plowing makes it hard to see. Be careful! -MetalRose"
Earlier on Saturday morning, Epicurean's tour bus pulled onto my street and parked in front of my house. I went outside to meet them and saw someone get out of the drivers side of the bus. It was Laramy, the singer. When I moved closer I noticed his stance. I apologized and turned around to head back to the other side of the bus to greet the rest of the band.
Gensmer, the drummer, got off the bus first and gave me a huge hug and introduced me to the remainder of the band. Their line up had changed quite a bit since I left Minnesota, but it was great to see both Johns- Gensmer and Laramy. The new line up was very gracious and the fill in guitarist was on the same label as the last band that stayed at my place. Brian from Luna Mortis was filling in, Eli and Jeremy rounded out the band.. and of course the merch girl, Hanna- who was very much like me. I later found out she loved Asian horror and made a lot of her own clothes. I offered to make her a corset after I found out she'd been looking at $300 custom made ones.
After introductions, I invited the guys and girl inside and we cracked a couple of beers. Laramy offered to leave money for the booze, but I declined. We settled where everyone was going to sleep and set up air mattresses and folded out the futon. Just after 6 am we decided to turn in for the night, well morning. I told the boys that if they got up before I did, there were clean towels on the washing machine and the coffee pot was ready to go.
At 9 am, I woke up to use the bathroom, I had left the living room door unlocked for those who needed to come back into the house. A couple of the guys felt more secure sleeping in the van/bus, I offered a space heater and after they objected. I put it next to the door and told them to grab it if they needed it.
While I sauntered to the bathroom, I saw a figure standing in my living room. We smiled and groggily waved. By the time I came back out, he was gone. Sleep came so easily.
An hour later, I heard Brian talking on the phone. I got up and started the coffee. I had toyed with going to the bus to see if the boys were up yet. I know I had seen Jeremy up earlier, the dilemma was to accidently wake them with coffee or not.
I brought Brian over a cup of coffee, but he said he was good. I dumped it back into the coffee pot and started to put away the dishes while jumping over the air mattress laying the middle of my kitchen floor. I didn't mind them lying there as it was right next to the heater, but I had hoped that the coffee would wake them up.
The hot brew didn't wake them the commotion got them to arise; Laramy opened his eyes and thanked me. He said the club they played at last night was so cold that when they were at the merch booth, you could see the steam rolling off the lips of the people as they spoke. He was so grateful to be warm. Gensmer walked in and headed toward the bathroom. He opened the door and asked where the towels they could use were. I told him they were on the washing machine, he turned around and saw the stack and hit himself in the forehead.
While the griddle warmed up for some home cooked pancakes, Eli ran into the kitchen while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, "Did I hear that right? Pancakes? I heard Brian talking to his girlfriend on the phone and he said, the girl we are staying with is making pancakes! That woke me up! I was like, pancakes SWEET!"
As fast as I could make them they were gone, pancakes, coffee and a couple of glasses of milk. It seemed like chaos in the house as all 5 guys and one girl tripped over each other for the bathroom and to make sure all their stuff was packed. Brian had asked if I would mind hosting Luna Mortis should they be in the area. I told him that as long as I knew at least one person in the band, then my place was open. We exchanged phone numbers for a later time.
I stepped outside to get out of the bands way as they packed. Jeremy, who had turned in early last night and missed the festivities was standing out side. It was nice to finally get to chat with him for at least a few minutes. He thanked me up and down, I told him it's my way of saying thanks for putting us on the guest list.
As fast as they came, they left. I gave them all a hug goodbye and told them I'd see them in a couple of hours. My heart sank as I went back downstairs to my apartment, I half expected to see it looking like a tornado hit it. When I opened the door, the place was just as it was before they came. That always makes me so happy. The worst of it was a pile of towels and a pile of dishes. I sighed and rested on the couch.
After my son's basketball came, we came home, showered and took off. It had lightly started to snow. Driving in CT was very slow and it took almost 20 minutes longer than I thought to get out of there. Once I hit MA, the roads were perfectly clear. It was like night and day. I drove like a bat out of hell to get to the Palladium as fast as possible. The venue was an hour away, and with the roads being crappy, we were behind.
At the Palladium, we walked to the box office, "Hi, we should be on Epicurean's guest list." The woman there shook her head. "Only one band gave me a guest list, and they only had one person on it... and they are in already..." My heart sank, I asked where the merch area is and left Joey Sky as a lien while I grabbed Hanna. She came out and vouched for us, just as we hit the middle of the last song. *sigh*
We stuck around for half of Rotting Christ's set. I peeked out and could tell the roads were getting bad. I told Gensmer that if they didn't think they'd make it to come back to my place. I'd rather see them safe and warm then cold and at the side of the road.
Joey Sky and I followed Gensmer backstage to say our goodbyes. It was really really good to see some home town faces. On our way to the car, we ran into Brian and Jeremy, the last two in the band. Their grinders from Woosta Pizza were exposed to the falling snow and becoming more and more soggy. They didn't seem to mind as we chatted for a few minutes about touring and hanging out. They gave me another hug, shook Joey Sky's hand and told us to drive safe. I turned on my car the clock read 10:30.
The drive from Mass wasn't bad. About half way in, we stopped and grabbed something to eat and a fresh tank of gas. We followed behind snow plows which made the driving go so smooth. Just before the CT border, the snow plows turned off and the roads turned ugly. Cars passed me doing 90 miles an hour on unplowed and untreated roads. The blowing snow made the visibility almost nothing. I couldn't tell where the hills were or where the turns were, after hitting the rumble strips a couple of times, I knew I had to get off the road for a little while. Besides, my bladder was screaming at me.
I pulled off at the first rest stop I could find. I saw three cars parked along the walk way just a head of me. I pulled up behind the last one, it was covered in snow and had been there a while. I figured we'd be ok for a quick pee break. I had just put the car in park when I got a knock at the window. "You can't park here."
-MetalRose
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