666........

Bare with me while I dork-out on music for a sec…

Tonight I watched VH1 Classic Rock Docs: Iron Maiden Flight 666 documenting the first leg of their 2008 Somewhere back in time tour. I was never a big fan of theirs in high school (although I acted like I was because all of my metalhead peers would’ve ostracized me if they knew). Boy, did I miss the boat. This 2 & ½ hour rock-doc proved to me that they are the most talented metal band ever. I think the most impressive thing was the camaraderie, and positive energy that was infectious even after all these years touring together. There wasn’t one time in the doc where there was exhaustion, drama, or any kind of negative transaction. Another thing that blew my mind is that for the first time in rock history, the entire world tour packed onto one airplane including the band, the management, the entire crew (70 ppl), and all of the equipment! Oh BTW, the plane is owned by Iron Maiden (see pic) and is piloted by the fucking lead singer Bruce Dickinson! There were 91 shows on this tour, and they played for around 2 million people. The work ethic of this band is unprecedented. For example, here is an inexact quote from a commentary lead singer quipped in the doc as they were heading to Latin America:

“We are so excited to play in the Latin American countries. There is an energy that you do not get anywhere else. It’s similar to the shows in Liverpool in that the fans have this certain anxiety and excitement that is born from their upbringing and living conditions. I am concerned that the fans will outshine the band. It’s because of this we have to bring 150% to the stage. We have to validate our existence to the fans.” – Bruce Dickinson

I think that you find that the majority of the rock bands out there, especially these days, that do not bring that kind of energy to the stage. It’s a digital musical world. I miss good rock-n-roll shows on a commercial level. I think you can still find some of that energy in local bands that are still hungry. I saw Kings of Leon recently. I’m a big fan of theirs from way back. I gotta tell ya, I was slightly disappointed with the performance I got live from them. Musically they were good, but no stage presence.

I am definitely a fan of Iron Maiden now.
If you are a fan of theirs, I highly recommend you watch this doc.
Run to the hills!

Sunshine State...

So, gotta tell ya...I feel pretty good today. I dont know why really. But, I broke out of my funk. Feels good. I was sorting through some old CDs yesterday and broke out some Eric Clapton. I was listen to his version of an old blues classic "Nobody knows you when your down and out". Thats all I got to say about that....

Got a job interview on Friday. Its back in the cell phone business and not really what I want to do....but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. I gotsta get dat pay-pa! I really want to be back in the wine business. I think. Who knows. I really have enjoyed not working up to this point, but now Im getting a really bad case of cabin fever and the down-n-outs. Took way longer for that to happen than I thought. Of course, I need the scratch also.

Im gonna try to attach a video of that song. I found a great version of it by Carla Bruni. She is good 'n stuff.



<3

CB

If the ocean was whiskey....

So for the first time since I started writing these, I just deleted a long rambling blog that I just wrote. I swore to myself that I would be completely open and honest in these blogs. I lied. I simply don't think I am a good enough writer to be that open to people that don't know me very closely. I don't know if you will "get it". Here's the deal, I am at rock-bottom. See, that sounds so dark! But I am. I have been reflecting on what I have/have not done with my life....and its pretty fucking depressing. Seriously.
Ok, with all that said let me also say this...I am capable of accomplishing so much more. I have to move forward. Instead of looking around me in comparison at my peers, I need to be a fucking man and stop living with a defeatist attitude. Sounds so serious when I write it out.
I feel like something good is going to happen for me in the near future. Something is going to give. I just have to be ready. And that's what I will be, for the first time in my life...ready.

I don't know how this will read, but I promise I'm not ready to jump of a bridge. Just a little down and out right now. It doesn't help that I've quit smoking again and I'm a little irritable also. Grrr.

This is me smiling at you..
Love you. Really.
C

P.S.- The pic has nothing to do with anything. I just liked it :)

Attica!.........Attica!!

So yesterday was Memorial Day, but it was a day I'd rather forget.
I was laying around the house and my friend Michelle invited me to another friend of ours place in Winter Park for a Bday pool party in the afternoon. I didnt eat very much and guzzled beers the whole time sprinkled with a couple vodka drinks as well. Michelle lost a contact in the pool and had drank a bit too much to drive, so I did. Going down Fairbanks in Winter Park and got pulled over. Long story, short: They made me perform a field sobriety test. Holy Shit. Ya know, follow the pen with your eyes...arms out, walk hell-to-toe for 9 steps back and forth. I was absolutely positive that I was going to jail last night. Well, I remained calm and did the tests. There were about 4 or 5 cops on scene. The officer that pulled me over informed me that I passed the test! She told me that she smelled the booze on me but will let me off with a ticket for going 50 in a 35. I will take a $236 ticket any day over a trip to the pokey and DUI charges!
Unfortunately, I celebrated this by getting completely retarded and pissing off my friend, leaving my cell phone behind, and leaving my keys and wallet in my friends car. I gotta get it together, man.

Dragging the anchor....

It aint there. Much as I wanted it to be. Delusional. Im not sure why I stared this long at it. I swore I was looking right at it. Its like one of those weird pictures that people look at for a couple minutes and see the sail boat. I have been staring at the same picture for months and have been telling everyone that I see it, but deep down all I see is nothing. The sail boat IS there, just for someone else other than me to see. So, I will have to move on I suppose..

I probably should stick to watercolors.

But Im sure I will still look back at it in passing and want so bad to see the boat..

-C

I'm on the list...

So. I really dont have shit to say. I just feel the need to write something on here. So, I will randomize.
- I am enjoying less time than usual inside of bars.
- I am in love with my roommates dog (see pic).
- I need to find a fucking job. Soon.
- I need to find my way back to the gym. Soon.
- I am starting to hate the taste of ciggs. Now if I can just beat the craving.
- I suprised my Granny with my presence and flowers on Saturday. Love that old lady.
- My love affair with the beach is starting to rekindle.
- I am really looking forward to the Kings of Leon show in a few weeks.
- Im gonna get the iPhone in June. Im sold.
- I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for people like Ryan Marshall. I highly recommend you read/follow his blog. (Pacing in the panic room)
- If you are a fan of oysters, go to Lee & Ricks if you havent before.
- I dont know whats going on, but whatever it is, I like it.
- The A/C in my xTerra is broken. If I dont get it fixed soon, its gonna make for a really miserable summer.
- I want to cook more. Or at least actually USE the stove.

Fin.

The Breakfast Club..

So I had some shit I wanted to write tonight, until I checked my email. Now I am redirected to just copy & pasting someone elses words. I love my sister very much. She has been dealt some bad cards in her life and has never folded. In the words of Paul Newman, "sometimes nothin' is a real cool hand". She is the mother of the millenium. I wont bore you with her life story, but jumping forward...she is currently a single mom raising 3 beautiful girls (one with special needs). It is beyond my realm of understanding how she does it so gracefully. I hope she doesnt hate me for posting this as I know she reads this stuff.

Her email:


The girls received their 3rd quarter grades today.

Lindsey Lee, 8th grade, ALL A's and B's!!!!! Yeah, she's the shit.

Laney Kay, 3rd grade, ALL A's!!!!!! Girlfriend does not even have to TRY. NEVER, EVER, EVER STUDIES. She hears it, she knows it. Fucking freaky-okay?

But you know what? They HATE school. hate. hate. hate.

I remember hating it.

But not until I was a sophmore in High School.

(I was uber-smart like Laney Kay)

In High School, the teachers could care less, whether you slacked & slept, whether you maybe actually wanted to learn (GOD-forbid you ask for help on a problem).

Unfortunately, God I fucking hate to even type this, but in our country we covet, the country
we love......we could care less the education we are providing.

I am routing my girls in the direction to make a difference.

I listen to them.....what they say about their teachers....I understand....I tell them that
I BELEIVE them......not the grown-ups.....but they have to reach beyond what some
random grown-up wants to invest in them.

I tell them that I wish that ALL teachers truly had the childs best interest in mind.

But we all know------so many people----whether it is teaching....corrections...whatever....it's
just a paycheck for so many people.

So, anyway, I teach these clever little ladies that they have to want it for themselves.

And no matter what is set before you.......

you will dig, and uncover.....

......and find your way to enlightenment and education.

And the world will be a better place in the end,

because they endured.

I just hope that when/if I ever sucker a girl into letting me knock her up, that I will have the same love & resolve that she does.

Who am I kidding..