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| Monday, February 23, 2009 |
| A Reunion is Brewing |
WARNING - this is a very long post
A week ago today I was going through the music related bookmarks in my browser. I do this occasionally just to see what is up with various bands that I am interested in. I checked out Stavesacre's MySpace page to see if there was any more news about their upcoming EP. While I was there I remembered that I had seen a MySpace page pop up for my old faves The Crucified, so I hopped over there to check if they had any updates.....not really expecting much.Friday, January 30, 2009
It's Official
Current mood: rejuvenated
Category: Music
Cornerstone Confirmed!!
That's right... we are playing Cornerstone!!
Friday, July 3 @ Midnight
You gonna be there? Oh my heck YES!
So I send an email to the old gang: chief, Mike, Danny, and Jason. I send them the link to the Cornerstone 2009 Lineup page and point them to the "C" section. I then quip "Gah I hate getting old and having responsibilities," again not expecting much other than a lot of reciprocated groaning and moaning about how we were going to miss it.
The first response is from chief with a simple, but accurate, "holy crap." I send out a couple more links, one to the Cru's new official page and I also note that Stavesacre has also been announced and will be playing as well, with Jeff Bellew on guitar again.
The following is a recap of the next few emails:
Mike:
"Oh. My. Goodness. I'm actually speechless, which sucks because I have a class at 11. This is unbelievable. Let's do it. Holy Mother of Pearl let's do it."
grinder:
"Dude.....I am afraid my brain will be hard pressed to do anything for the next several weeks other than concoct scenarios wherein I could participate in this monumental event."
chief:
"um, yeah. that has been my preoccupation since your initial email.
i had a pretty packed summer already but this is over the top kinda stuff. it's an event that causes one to reconsider things."
chief again:
"word of caution. your 'planning' about 'if' you can make it happen will be MARKEDLY affected when listening to Path of Sorrow streamed off that site.
just sayin'.... "
Mike:
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to lecture while you're mentally rearranging your summer to the tune of Mindbender?"
Danny chimes in:
"Dang it! I wonder how my coverage is in Bushnell?"
The next morning, the email barrage continues:
Mike:
"I announced to my wife last night that this is a distinct possibility and to be ready."
Jason comes out of his stupor:
"smells like awesome. man, i would love to go.... this is going to take some serious planning."
grinder:
"If we're really serious about this, I will make it happen on my end. I think it would be a blast, but yes......it will require some planning to make it work out.
I told my wife yesterday:
'Honey....I have some bad news for you'
'What now?'
'The Crucified are doing a reunion show at Cornerstone this year'
'What?! I guess that means you're going then huh?'
'Well....I'd like to....we'll see'"
Mike:
"That's how mine went too:
'Babe, guess what.'
'What?'
'The Crucified are going to be at Cornerstone!'
'How long will you be gone?'"
After a few more emails, it really starts to sink in that we are actually trying to plan this and make it work. We all agree that going for the full week is just too much. We need to limit it, and also figure out the transportation and sleeping arrangements once we get there. Over the course of the afternoon, it pretty much gets decided that we can all meet in Dallas and make the roadie from there. Staying at a hotel in Macomb seems to be the favored option for our arrangements once we get there.
A couple of lines from those emails that I thought were funny:
grinder:
"Is this really happening....I need to be pinched."
Mike:
"Man o man, this is getting exciting. I'll have to practice staying up past 10pm."
So by 7PM Tuesday evening, we're all in full-on giddy schoolgirl mode and really feeling like this is something that we may be able to pull off. In the back of my mind I am excited, but cautious. This is still a big commitment for this Summer, especially considering it had been unplanned to this point. I want it to happen but am still not sure if it really will. Then I get a phone call from Jason.
Jason called and told his brother Jonathan about all this, which I am glad he did. I would have included him on my initial email except I did not have a current email address for him. Anyway, Jonathan is pumped. Excited. Stoked. He is so stoked that he just makes a decision right there and goes and books two rooms for us at a motel in Macomb. After getting this info from Jason, I alert the group to these developments:
grinder:
"Ok guys this just got more official.
Jason called Jonathan and he is STOKED. Stoked enough that he used some discount he has and booked us 3 nights for 2 rooms at the Rodeway in Macomb. We need to decide if we think we'll need/want that extra night. One room has two doubles and a rollaway cot and the other has a king and a rollaway cot. I assume Mikey and I will reprise our roll as the ones who will sleep together on the king.
So anyway.....start making your plans. Let's road trip!! This is going to be epic."
chief replies:
"Oh yeah, dude it's on. We must make this happen. Beyond just the fact that it's the Cru (and Staves, maybe), it's also a chance for all of us to get together and that's rare enough anymore.
I'm listening to Pillar right now I'm so pumped!"
Jason:
"funny thing is that Jonathan told me he had been working out to Pillars over the past couple of weeks so as soon as I mentioned this possibility to him, he was in. Not really any questions about it. Yes, God be the glory, ITS ON!"
And thus it became official. We're going back to Cornerstone this year!!! Also at this point, Jason posts a link to the Shoney's web site suggesting we need to hit one while on the road just to re-live our amazing Corpus Road Trip from 1994. At this point, the emails predictably turn to potty humor:
Jason:
"clam chowda - clam chowda - clam chowda."
Jonathan:
"I want to thank you guys in advance for allowing me to take part in the trip. I am so pumped to see you guys and collectively lose our minds and voices at the downbeat.
Finally, I refuse to ride with Greg after he has had 'clam chowda.'"
Mike:
"I concur. I feel we need a C-Stone Migration Resolution barring Lowery from any sort of chowda as well as a full medical examination of Chief's bowels before setting out. That or we need a sponsorship from Glade."
Jason:
"suh-weet... let the potty humor begin. i do recall lowery having digestive issues post-chowda. i suggest we bring a few bottles of febreeze and soak anyone fouling up the car air."
grinder (my wife will love me for posting this):
"these days its not the chowda you have to fear. i have added flax seed and wheat germ to my diet. holy crap! it pretty much smells like dog diarrhea when i fart."
Danny seems excited at the thought of the highly powered grinder trumpet:
"YES!!"
Jason:
"flax seed and wheat germ are great for your diet but(t) i think you need to do a full colonic before the trip to remove whatever filth is adding your doggie 'flavoring'."
So yeah, its like we were never apart. |
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| Sunday, November 02, 2008 |
| My son loves Star Wars |
Setting: the bathroom, minutes ago, after having watched Star Wars Episode 1
I am "indisposed"
Reece enters the bathroom with his hands behind his back
Reece: "I don't have a lightsaber. I have to go get one at the lightsaber store. They have lots of them."
Me: "Oh really?"
Reece: "Yeah. And there's this guy with a red face....he has two of them, and they are red."
Reece pulls out his lightsaber from behind his back and slings it open
Reece: "I have to go get him!"
Reece runs out of the room to slay the evil man with the red face
Me - laughing on the inside and so proud |
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| Monday, October 20, 2008 |
| Fishing is always fun |
Went up to Big Sam this past weekend with Jason. We had a good time enjoying the great weather and catching a few fish. Saturday morning was our best haul. We caught a dozen or more and had 4 keepers, one pushing 4 pounds. Believe it or not, we caught most of them on crank baits. In fact there was only one fish caught on a worm all weekend. Considering that I am a high percentage worm fisherman (almost to exclusivity barring top waters) it was definitely a watershed weekend.
The Witch did bite us a little on Saturday evening as she decided to swallow the prop from our trolling motor. I still have no idea how the thing came off in the first place. All I know is I lowered the motor into the water, hit the button to make it go, it didn't go, I pulled it out of the water and the prop was gone. It was kind of a Chriss Angel moment, but with a lot more internal cursing. |
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| Thursday, September 18, 2008 |
| Ike |
| Well we left last Wednesday (9/10) to get out of Ike's path. We have been staying with Scott and Stephanie ever since. As of this afternoon we finally got power back on at the house. We are packing up tonight and heading home in the morning. Hoping that there hasn't been any major leakage into the house due to missing shingles. Also hoping the fridge and freezer are cold enough that the cleanup will be a little less gross. Many many thanks to Scott and Stephanie for hosting us over a week. They are great people and we love them dearly. Also thanks to all our friends who have called to check up on us and who have also checked on our house. We are blessed beyond measure. |
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| Monday, August 25, 2008 |
| First Day of Kindergarten! |
Today we sent our little girl off to kindergarten. She is SO excited about it! Cyn did really good and did not cry.....yet. Here are a couple of pictures of our little learner (click each image for slightly larger version in new window):
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| Thursday, July 24, 2008 |
| Wasp Killing: Raid vs. Ortho |
Raid wins in a landslide! I bought a can of Ortho wasp killer a few weeks ago because the little critters like to build nests under our gutters and under the eves of our house by the fish pond. I don't need tons of wasps hanging out by my front door waiting to sting me, my family, or my guests.
I honestly don't know why I bought the Ortho, possibly because it was cheaper? I really don't even remember. Anyway, one day as I was walking out to get the mail I spotted their nest between a gutter and the facial board. I grabbed my Ortho spray and let them have it. Three flew out and away. Three more fell on the ground, flailing around. I watched as one started to fly off again, I hit him with the spray again and covered him in foam. I went ahead and covered his buddies on the ground while I was at it. It took a solid 30-45 seconds with them COVERED in the foam for them to die. This one "extermination" used the whole can of Ortho.
The next time I was out, I grabbed a can of Raid wasp killer, because I knew the little turds that got away would come back and try again.
Today I found two nests. One in a corner under the eve. This one was easy to hit from a distance so I grabbed my Raid and shot a blast at the nest. All three wasps on the nest fell to the ground immediately and were dead within 10 seconds. The other nest was again between the gutter and the facial board, but this time it was back in a corner where a direct assault would put me right under the nest. Instead I stood a good distance away and just nailed the facial board under the nest so it would bounce up into it. Again, both wasps on the nest fell immediately and were dead within seconds.
Two nests, 5 total wasps, and only two short sprays.
RAID RULES! ORTHO DROOLS! |
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| Thursday, June 19, 2008 |
| Some updates |
I went to San Antonio a few weeks ago to see Jeremiah since he is running sound for the DH/LS tour. It was a blast! It was awesome just getting to hang out and chat with him for quite a long time. Still one of my favorite people who I wish I got to hang out with more often.
Received an email out of the blue from John Olivier the other day! He's married now (one year anniversary coming up) and things seem to be going pretty well for him. He's up on the north side of town so I am hoping that we can hook up for dinner or something in the near future.
Basim will soon be coming home for about a week. We're hoping to get a chance to see him and catch up....he's another one of my favorite peeps.
Speaking of favorite peeps....if my rememberer is working properly, I think Dovie is coming home soon! WOOHOO!!!
I have been having old friend withdrawal lately. I think this was mostly brought on by my trip to see Jeremiah. It's one of those great dichotomies in life: it totally sucks to grow up and get all the extra responsibilities that come with it. But the payoff is that the things that cause the responsibilities are freaking awesome, i.e. spouse, kids, etc. The old saying "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" doesn't have to apply just when someone dies. It seems to happen over and over again throughout the course of life. The cool part is that when He giveth, He usually giveth pretty good! |
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