Xyon's Rambles

2005-03-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

03.04.05.

Think about it.

2005-01-12T09:42:00.000-05:00

R.I.P. Damn Art Diary

Damn Art Diary
2001-2005
R.I.P.

The King is Dead.

Long Live the King.

2005-01-03T11:44:00.000-05:00

The Nightmare THAT IS Christmas

And so another Christmas is in the books.

The calendar flips as we start preparing for another yule tide cheer.

Except cheer we, or at least I, dont.

Another year to prepare for a hetic season of what to buy for who, who buys for who, and can I afford it yet again.

Growing up looking forward to Christmas year after year spoils the child into thinking Christmas is the best time of the year.

Then we grow up and realize, "Holy shit - I have to buy all this crap..." and what for who, etc.

The weeks leading up to this wonderful day are hampered with loads of traffic trying to find that one thing that can show that person just how much they love each other.

Rude people slamming their fists into the air and cursing an elderly person, trying to get to a doctor, because they have to wait a few minutes more to buy this love.

And that is what it is - buying love.

Having your teeth pulled seems easier during this time of the year.

Please doctor, admit me to the hospital for the first 25 days of December.

Another reason to plan a party.

Hell, when did anyone need a reason?

"Let's drink tonight"
"Ok"
"What are we celebrating"
"The fact that I didn't have a hangover this morning?"
"That'll work"

Buy this, no that...give this, take that.

Even the most dysfunctional families stop being dysfunctional for one day to say Merry Christmas.

I suppose that is at least worth something.

But the media, the shopping media, presents the idea to the nation, nay to the world, that we need to buy more this year because the numbers were down the last.

How many stores would shrivel up and cease to exist because they floundered around all year expecting the holidays to make up their losses during the year?

Prolly a good few.

A friend of mine decided not to do Christmas this year, opting to stay from buying and celebrate Festivus instead.

Is that what we should go to?

Be patient, I have a point here somewhere.

Oh yeah, I remember now.

This Christmas was actually not as bad, but each Christmas seems more and more forced.

Mindless people doing what they have done for years and years.

I had to sit this year and watch someone open gifts with the giver sitting right there telling them how this was the most expensive kind and supposively the best on the market.

That is not what Christmas is about.

It is about giving a token to show that you are thinking about them this year.

Whether that token is part of your love you have broken off and offered or a meaningful gift that you know they will like.

It could just be money to help pay the bills that are inflated during the Christmas season.

It is about the children who need to learn the lesson of what Christmas really is - whether it is the birth of Christ - or just the simple lesson to love thy neighbor.

Not about how much we gave or spent.

I urge our generation to stop the meaningless practice of greed and start teaching just to be good to one another.

For the record, I am just a guilty as the next person. In my defense, I try to give from the heart.

Gluttony is strangling America..

2004-12-09T01:24:00.000-05:00

Maine and Back: Day 4, part two

From the Journal of Dobbah
5-31-04

I was a little sad to leave our little room 17 at the
Days Inn.

We headed back to Acadia, and hit a few choice spots
for one final time before the trip home.

We decided to head back to Portland a little
differently than the way we arrived, and since we were
still on the lookout for the elusive Maine Bucket, we
stopped at Gift shops and General stores alike.(I was
starting to wonder if Xyon's mom was hitting the crack
pipe)

Since the turbo had blown on our trip up Caddilac
Mountain, I was leaving a lovely blue trail of thick
smoke in our wake, and the hills were sucking the life
right out of my poor saab.

We started seeing signs for Bangor, and couldn't pass
it up. Seeing Stephen King's house was at the top of
Xyon's list.

“Excuse me, do you know the way to Stephen King’s house?”

It was a simple question. No hidden agenda to slight anyone’s attitude or to cause trouble. A question, one would think, that would be common to anyone living in Bangor, Maine, especially to a convenience store clerk. But you would be wrong and so were we.

The drive from Acadia National Park to Bangor was beautiful. The road, for the most part, was a two lane highway that traversed some of the oldest fringes of the Appalachian Mountains and led straight to Derry…err…Bangor.

The small, rolling hills were very similar to places in Tennessee and Xyon commented on this fact many times during the ride. In his mind, Xyon tried to picture what this drive would have looked like from above: The view rising above the car to reveal the tops of the Spruce/Fir trees, a bit farther out showing the ocean, East just a bit more but too far to see from the car, would be crashing into the rocky cliffs where the land ended; while, farther inland, the farmland stretching out with patches of forest blotching the green, rolling hills at selected intervals to the west. The Saab, represented on the sky map as a little speck, would be moving at a brisk pace Northeastward with a rose representing the final destination, the Tower of King Manor.

The road finally merged into a four lane highway and soon the gray SAAB glided off on the Bangor exit.

“Stop at that gas station. I would say just about anybody who lives here has to know at least the general direction of Stephen King’s house.” Goddess said as she was pointing to the store.

“Sounds good to me,” Dobbah said from behind the wheel of the car, “just don’t let me hit anyone while trying to get across this damn busy road.”

The car, safely pulled in the parking lot and came to a stop in front of the little store.

“I think Xyon should go in and ask directions.” Dobbah said with the utmost conviction.

“Me?” Xyon questioned as he was afraid that he would be nominated for this task. A task that had “let the tourist be embarrassed” written all over it. He was in no position to argue this point as Dobbah had graciously played an exceptional host over the past few days and, more importantly, they wouldn’t have been sitting in Bangor, Maine trying to find Stephen King’s house without her.

“Come on,” Goddess said, “I’ll go with.” The two headed inside leaving Dobbah dialing someone backing Portland on her cell.

The store was not impressive as far as convenience stores went. It was an old store with lots of open room; a look that many stores like this one had gone to in the late eighties with no hurry to update. The girl behind the counter was in a fierce conversation with her boyfriend or possibly one of her girlfriends talking about her boyfriend. She didn’t seem too pleased when Xyon interrupted her phone call.

“Excuse me, do you know the way to Stephen King’s house?” Xyon politely asked.

Being polite with a southern accent had gone a long way since Xyon’s arrival a few days back. One lady, in another convenience store had picked up on this right away. “Where are you from? Definitely not from around here.” The lady had said when Xyon had asked if they the cappuccino machine – which probably came out as caaapucheeenooo. Xyon, while working the coffee machine, had politely said, “Yes ma’am, I'm from Tennessee. I'm up visiting a friend in Portland. Your state is quite beautiful (beeauuuutifuuuul).” The lady had smiled and looked over to her co-worker, who had pointed out where the cappuccino machine was, and said, “Isn’t his accent cute!” They were both giggling as Xyon paid for his sweet coffee and as he was heading out the door said, “take a paper, they are free this morning.”

But this girl, she looked barely sixteen, was not so easily charmed. Instead, she continued with her conversation like no one had spoken. Goddess, who was waiting an answer as well, finally said, “Look. We are looking for Stephen King’s house. Do you know where it is?” It was all she could do to hide her irritation. The clerk, now irritated, finally looked up, said, “no I don’t,” and picked right back up with her conversation like she had never been apart from it.

The two got back in the SAAB, told Dobbah what happened, and they decided to go on to the next store they found to ask again. This was when a bit of clairvoyance was vividly shown from Dobbah. They had just passed a giant Paul Bunyon (and Babe) statue when Dobbah pulled in the left turning lane. The “Where you going?” question came from the shotgun position. It was one of two gifts that Xyon possessed – state the obvious or ask quick questions. “I just have a feeling I need to turn left here,” Dobbah said, not irritated in the least (or at least she hid it well). After they did so, they drove into a residential neighborhood and saw a guy riding his bike at the next intersection. “Ask that guy!” Goddess said as she pointed to a guy riding his bike toward the car at the intersection.

From the Journal of Dobbah
5-31-04

We gave up asking, and continued down the strip. I saw
a car turned left and followed. I usually have pretty
good intuition, so I went with it and headed up the
hill. I figured if I were Stephen King, I'd want to
live at the top of a hill like this(if I wanted to
live in Bangor at all).

Halfway up the hill, enter Sketchy Biker Dude. Gawdess
suggests we should ask him for directions, so I pull
up beside him at the curb.

"Excuse me, dude? Can you tell us how to get to the
King House?"

Not only did we find out we were on the right track,
we got a little history from the dude with his long
hair, and bundled up in his flourescent jacket.

He was born in Spain, and used to party his ass off in
that house. of course, that was when Jimmy so and So's
parents owned it before they sold it the King of
Horror. The guy even had King as a teacher in high
school, and we found out that Mr. King passed him with
a 70, even though the guy should have failed(his
words, not mine)

We were too stoked to sit still, so we said our thank
you's and good-byes as we watched Mr. Sketchy Biker
Dude pedal off. We continued up the hill and found the
house exactly where the dude had said it would be.

After a good five minutes of listening to this kind person, who looked like he hadn’t done a lot since high school, the trio headed through the intersection and over the small hill that hid Stephen King’s house. The car came to a stop just in front of one of his iron cast gates that had iron spiders mixed in with the house number. Xyon jumped out of the car to get a couple of pictures while the gals waited patiently in the car. Xyon crossed the street to get a wider and farther out view of this beautiful house. After a couple of shots he started thinking what he would say if Sai King were to come outside and ask why he was taking a picture of his house. It looked like someone was home as the side gate was open and a car was visible near the house.

Xyon was trying to frame up another picture a when a loud horn sounded from the SAAB. Xyon thought to himself that he would have a lot to explain for if Stephen King came out and found him taking pictures of his house. At least he thought he would be a little upset about it. Seeing this, fairly big, bald headed guy taking pictures would cause anybody to get a little nervous, especially a person that achieved the popularity that Stephen King has. Xyon, who is nervous now and a bit bent out of shape, calmly but quickly walks back to where the SAAB was parked.

From the Journal of Dobbah
5-31-04

Xyon steps out of the Saab, armed with his trusty
digital Camera. Goddess and I opted for staying in the
car, where we proceeded to lose our shit. Xyon got
pictures of everything but the man himself. At one
point, I spotted him heading to the driveway, and I
half expected him to walk right up and knock on the
door. This caused me and Goddess to start frantically
waving him back, all the while laughing hysterically.
I sunk low in the driver's seat, and banged my head on
the steering wheel. HOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNK.

Not only did we smoke out Stephen King's quiet little
street, we honked the fucking horn. I could picture
him shaking his head from some window on the second
floor.

I think I even left a little rubber on his quiet
little street.

After a good laugh was had, the trio starts the long trip back to Portland. The stretches of silence kept growing as they progressed back to where they had come from.

Months before Xyon made the trip to Maine, his mother had made a simple request. She asked that he pick up a Maine Bucket. Apparently they were popular in Maine and Xyon figured that he would have no problem finding such a bucket. The trip thus far not only had not produced a “Maine Bucket,” but not a singular person Maine had the slightest idea what he was talking about. The day before the gang had searched every flea market, yard sale, and antique store they had come across with no luck. Xyon had one hope left – LL Bean. On the trip to the east coast of Maine, the group had passed through a small town called Freeport. This happened to be the home of LL Bean and they had almost stopped on the way but had elected to stop on the way back. Now that it was time to make that last journey on this long road trip there was almost a problem.

The long road trip was working on the group. The only thing keeping Xyon going was his excitement of being in Maine and the previous few hours. The other two were spent. The trip back was especially hard because the sun beat into the car the entire way back. Dobbah poor face got extremely red and Goddess didn’t sleep particularly well the previous night. When Xyon looked over at Dobbah as they neared Freeport, he noticed that she giving the good fight just to make it back to Portland. This made the request to stop in Freeport at LL Bean that much harder. Freeport was just outside of Portland for it to be a little longer than the trip to the store and Xyon knew that if they didn’t stop now, odds were that they wouldn’t make it back up the next day and which was his last in Maine.

From the Journal of Dobbah
5-31-04

The journey was winding down, we still hadn't found
the Maine Bucket, and the little grey Saab was ailing
horribly.

We were on the highway now, for the last leg of the
trip. Xyon saw a sign for Freeport, and mentioned that
he would like to stop at L.L. Bean.

I'm afraid that Gawdess and I had Portland on our
minds, and even tried to dissuade him a little. But
stop we did, and dropped him off at the door, deciding
we would wait in the car. The poor guy was actually
going to try to cram all 3 floors into 5 minutes, and
I started to feel guilty. Gawdess and I headed inside,
stopping at a hot dog cart on the way in. The hot dog
sucked and the lemonade was worse. I was dumping my
waste of money in the trash when we spotted Xyon
heading back towards the car. We apologized for being
shmucks, and headed back inside, telling him to take
all the time he needs.

We split up at one point, and while Gawdess and Xyon
were in the shoe department, I headed to homegoods.
First thing I spotted was an unstained pine bucket
with a rope handle. No. Couldn't be.
I pick it up and see "Maine Bucket" stenciled on the
side.

HA!

I head back to my friends and tell them to guess what
I was holding behind my back.

"Maine Bucket?!" Gawdess was correct, and I was
gloating I was so proud of myself.

Gawdess and I laughed at how we never even thought to
check Bean's, since by now it made all the sense in
the world it would be here, of all places.

I went with Xyon to the service desk while he shipped
his purchase back home. Mission accomplished.

We took some pictures of the B.A.B(Big-Ass Boot) on
the way out, and set out for Portland. Gawdess was
asleep in minutes.

With the Maine Bucket in the mail, the groups second wind almost used up they arrived back in Portland. Dropping Goddess off was the first line of business and making a beer run was the second. After the last two errands were complete, Xyon and Dobbah arrive back at her apartment famished. Xyon ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut and after it arrived, they get a call from Randy, Dobbah’s brother.

“Yea, we’ll be over in a little bit, “ Dobbah tells Randy, “ we just need a few minutes to eat and unwind a bit.” All good intentions were there to make it over to Randy’s apartment but their bodies had had enough. The two passed out before 9pm and they didn’t care.

2004-12-06T08:54:00.000-05:00

Maine and Back: Day 4 - Part one

The one thing about Maine that is the hardest thing to get used to is the fact that the sun rises earlier there than any other place in the United States. Dobbah, who should be used to this, squints as the early morning sunlight pierces the hotel room window and lands directly on her face.

“Ugggnnn…Wha? …Christ al’mighty. What time is it?” she says as she holds her head. The hangover is not as bad as she has had in the past, but a hangover is a hangover.

“Go back to sleep,” Goddess says from a sleepy haze on the right side of the bed, “it’s only 5:30.”

Xyon, in the meantime, is snoring soundly on the left side and is unaffected by the light.

By 6:30 Goddess is in the shower, Dobs is upright in bed fiddling with her purse, and Xyon turns, opens an eyelid, and then is back snoring soundly..

Xyon finally stirs around 7 o'clock. He opens his eyes surveying the empty room. He rolls off the bed and the floor thumps as his knees and forearms catch his fall.

“Uggh…what time is it?” he asks the empty room. As he makes it to his feet, he looks around for the clock that says 7:04. He peers outside and is knocked back by how bright everything looks. “It’s one or the other in Maine…” The previous days, except the day before, had been cloudy with off and on (more on) rain. The day before had shown the true beauty of the state and this day looked to cap it off. Xyon was still too asleep to look at it though. Limping to the bathroom he starts wondering where everybody had gotten off too.

Soon Xyon, packing his sunglasses and binoculars, is walking the property hoping to see some interesting northern birds. He runs into a group of sparrows and IDs one as an American Tree Sparrow which is a pretty rare bird where he lives in Northeast Tennessee. Soon he has exhausted the birds on the property, which he thought was relatively few, and spots the two gals walking down the sidewalk toward the room.

“ What’s up,” Xyon said hoping to come across more chipper than he felt.

“The sky of course!” Dobs says bubbling over with happy awake oozing out of every syllable, “you fruitcake!”

“Food. That way. Continental breakfast.” Goddess says and points to the motel’s lobby.

“Thanks.” Xyon mutters as he heads towards multiple coffees with some hope of being awake soon.

The room where the breakfast was served was like any typical room at a motel. One table had the orange juice and coffee, one had cereal and milk, and one had bagels and many types of pastries. Xyon immediately grabs a coffee cup and tops it off with a splash of milk. After setting the coffee on the table he grabs three Frosted Flakes boxes, the milk flask, and a bowl. He sits down to enjoy his food and immediately remembers that he has forgotten to get a spoon but is still too tired to get up for one. Instead, he proceeds to eat the dry cereal with a dose of milk after every bite. Sometimes he would even mix the two together in his mouth.

“This will work fine, “ Xyon thought as the person running the counter / breakfast was out of sight and there wasn’t anybody else in the room. He raised the milk flask to his mouth again and noticed a family walking toward the breakfast area from their room. Scrambling now, he grabs a spoon and acts like he is finishing the second half of a small box of cereal by dumping it into the bowl. The family look at him weird as they head to the pastry table staying clear of the cereal.

As Xyon made it back to the room, he thought it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to tell the gals about breakfast because he figured it best that they not know just how hillbilly he could be. Soon they all had finished packing up their stuff, checked out of the hotel, and were driving back to beautiful Acadia National Park.

Xyon didn’t know if it was possible, but today was actually more picture perfect than the day before. The deep blue skies looked like something out of a picture off the Internet. The first order of business was to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain which overlooked the park, the small islands, and was the highest peak inside the park (1530’ at summit). As they traveled up the mountain there was very little vegetation blocking the breathtaking views. Xyon kept getting more and more excited and almost got whiplash from looking out all the windows in the SAAB.

“I just can’t get over how beautiful it all is!” Xyon exclaimed as the vehicle kept ascending upward. “The sky and the water are the most blue I have ever seen! Jeez! When we get to the top I’m going to take pictures and videos of all this shit!” This last statement got a rise out of the gals. “That is the quote of the day!” Dobs pronounces. “’I’m gonna take pictures and videos of all this shit!’” she repeated. After the laughter died down, Xyon turned and looked out the window. He couldn’t help himself, it was times like these that he lived for. All tremendously beautiful and new to his eyes. He would take as many pictures and videos with his own eyes as he ever would with the camera.

Once at the top, the wind started whipping around the vehicle with a high pitched hum. It was all Xyon could do to wait until the car came to a stop before opening the door to get out. While scrambling out of the car he asked, “You’all coming?”

“You kidding? Too windy and too cold! I’ll just stay here and write in my journal.” Goddess nods in agreement with Dobbah. Xyon, realizing that he’s flying solo on this one, heads out in search of high elevation birds.

From the Journal of Dobbah
5-30-04(7:45am)

gawdess and i are journaling in the saab as xyon
searches diligently for a boreal chickadee. the wind
is cranking up here on the summit of cadillac
mountain, and the gulls are gliding dangerously close
to my open sunroof. we went out to taste the nightlife
of bar harbor last night, and found a club with a
small, yet eccentric menu. smoking inside was an added
bonus, and we made the most of it. we passed out drunk
in the king size bed of room 17 at the days inn.
i was the first one up and out the door, in search of
the elusive continental breakfast. the sun on the
water at the ferry terminal across the street was blinding.

i hope xyon didn't blow off....nope, he didn't; he's
back and is now downloading pictures onto the laptop.

*quote of the day*
"this is so cool, i'm going to get pictures, and
videos..ALL THIS SHIT." ~xyon

Xyon is standing on the edge of the mountain. The wind is cutting through him like a knife, but it is worth it. Eye level, peripheral to peripheral, shows nothing but crisp blue skies and below him the little islands are beautifully dotted green on a deep blue northern Atlantic Ocean. Small little scrub trees are littered all over the side of the mountain and the birds are, for the most part and because of the wind, non-existent. A Common Yellowthroat was the only bird to be found which proved to be tougher than it need to be because it was only chipping instead of singing. Xyon fills up his camera with many videos and pictures from this picturesque place. The scrub trees offered many great frames as their trunks and limbs were twisted and angular with spectacular views within them. After he fills the memory on the camera, Xyon heads back to the car to download the camera (on his laptop) and make more room for “all of this shit.”

The trip down Cadillac Mountain was just as breathtaking as the ride up. Once at the bottom they take the left turn that takes them through the park to Jordon Pond. From the parking area there is a path that leads to the pond and then splits into two directions. This path is the Jordon Nature Trail which leads, in one direction, around the rim of the pond through a heavily covered mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees, and in the other direction, it leads away from the pond through a tall, grassy field to Jordon House. Dobbah and Xyon tackle the trail while Goddess uses this time to catch up on the sleep she lost the previous night. When the two reach the pond’s edge, they see “The Bubbles,” on the far side of the pond. These are two small mountains which are relatively the same size, robust, and sitting side by side. Xyon immediately shouts out, “Big Tittie Mountains!” Dobbah, seeing what he was referring to, jabs her elbow into his ribs but can’t help to laugh. After the pond is photographed they tour the area thoroughly and completely, trying to give Goddess time to rest and Xyon time to bird as much as possible. He did get some good warblers migrating into and through the area but nothing of extreme significance to his life list.

The next stop in the park was similar Jordon Pond and there was a great natural bridge made out of rock with vines and moss growing on the side of it, but it was the stop after this one that will be detailed. Following the stop that looked very similar to Jordon Pond (minus the Big Tittie Mountians) the trio drove (unknowingly) out of the park and to the small town of Seal Harbor. Here they found a great open beach like area where the girls decided to turn over every rock they could find in search of neat looking rock and sea glass. Xyon, in the meantime, finds a trail on the other side of the small highway they were parked next to and decides to explore it. The trail started out a gravel driveway but soon veered off the gravels and turned into a grassy path that seemed to be readily maintained. A couple of big, beautiful trees seemed out of place in the open area of the path but also enhanced the character of the landscape and the big pond that was just a bit farther ahead. As Xyon neared the pond, he saw an unexpected sight as some sort of duck was swimming, long ways, across the pond. As he neared the waterfowl, the sun, which was midway up in the sky, beamed light seemingly through the duck’s red bill making it appear translucent. After he got a bit closer he knew immediately the waterfowl in question was a Red-breasted Merganser when he noticed the “messed up hair” on the head which is a trademark of the bird. Farther up the path was what looked like a house boat. When Xyon reached this boat, it was securely moored to the multiple posts along the shore. Thinking it was private, he started to veer clear, but then saw public restroom signs pointing toward the houseboat. Deciding to investigate, he walked onto the deck and tried to access where the bathrooms were and, of course, they were locked. Finding a bench, he sits down to rest and enjoy the beauty of the Maine lake. After all the beauty he could take (and nary another bird) he decides to cut across the grassy area between the trail and the road and walk the gravel road back. He finds Dobbah and Goddess, sitting a good bit away from each other, sifting through the small rocks that littered the beach.

“What’s up?” Xyon said.

“Still the sky, but nothing much else.” replied Dobbah.

“Find anything?”

“Not really – a bit of sea glass, but not much. Let’s see what Gawdess has found.”

“Alright”

The two head over to Goddess’ pile and find out that she had had about the same luck searching the beach area. The group agrees to head back over, one final time, to the beach area they explored at the end of the evening on the previous day before starting the quest on to Bangor and Stephen King’s house.

To Be Continued…

2004-10-08T16:03:00.000-04:00

One Last Visit With an Old Friend

Part 4(of 4)

KA-SHUME

The title of the this essay, one that has gone on longer than intended when I first decided to write this, One Last Visit With an Old Friend - probably should have been plural - friends - as that's what I consider the KA-TET I have been following behind for so long now. The story is still getting deeper and more complicated, the back story is still unfolding, and KA-SHUME - the sensing of an approaching break in one's Ka-tet - has set in.

A few hours after The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower arrived on the bookshelves I had a copy of it in my hands. KA-SHUME was about to begin and had already begun.

Cryptic but true, this story had been breaking for some time now and this book, for good or ill, will be the end. That is the real fear here. Being so wrapped up in these characters and knowing that they were relatively "safe" until this book, this book where there are no more guarantees. One has already fallen - sacrificing their life so the others can proceed toward the Dark Tower. I am approaching a point where KA-SHUME is possibly happening again and it make me afraid to read. But I cannot help myself, I MUST.

I stopped reading on page 361 to type this before I break palaver and drive home. 19 squared. KA.

I am starting to see the clearing up ahead, only 484 pages left. KA-SHUME will be throughout the rest of this read until the final breaking of the KA-TET when I close this last, final book. I do, however, have a few books loosely relating to the Dark Tower I still have to read.

So I take this last visit with my old friend, Roland and his (my) KA-TET and hope the read is a good long one. Even though I never made it past KA-TEL, I will always look to Roland as the DINH of the KA-TET.

It will be hard saying goodbye to this fantasy world that has inhabited my subconscious for over have of my life.

Roland is twirling his finger, letting me know I have gone on long enough. Onward to The Tower...

[end]

2004-10-08T11:37:00.000-04:00

One Last Visit With an Old Friend

Part 3(of 4)

AN-TET

After Finishing Wizard and Glass I knew, from past experience, that it would probably be at least 2 years before the next book would appear. I was right on the mark with this one as about a year and a half later I read on StephenKing.com that the next installment, The Wolves of the Calla, would be coming out soon.

I also read that six months after Wolves that the next book The Song of Susannah would appear and six months after that, the final installment, The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower would be published. I was excited and saddened at the same time because this was my first glimpse of the end. But that was still 1.5 years away.

I picked up Wolves of the Calla on the day it came out and was once again walking on The Path of the Beam which seemed to be starting to fail. This was a bit hard to start with the dialogue in the first few chapters tough to follow. Soon though I was hard pressed to get out of the story, which got compounded near the end with all kinds of tie-ins to previous King material and even King himself! (The tie-ins had been happening over a gentle tone since a few books previous, but in this novel it moved from subtle to, OK here they are, relish in them - starting with the return of Father (Pere) Callahan from 'Salem's Lot!)

So I turned the last page of Wolves knowing that in only 6 months the next novel would be out and I soon would be reunited again with my AN-TET.

KA-MAI / CHAR

Song of Susannah, the penultimate novel in the Dark Tower series, was released in the spring of this year. Picking up right where the last one left off - Susannah(MIA)[KA-MAI] had gone to New York of 1988 to have her "Chap" [CHAR]; Roland, Eddie, Jake, and OY, after beating the "Wolves" have realized Susannah is missing and are formulating a plan to hopefully find her before her (demon?) "Chap" is born. All of this while still trying to move towards the Dark Tower.

From start to finish, I read through this book with true alacrity, not so much an wanting to know what was happening, but having to know. Whenever free time allowed, I was reading this surprisingly smaller novel (by Stephen King standards) than the last few.

By the end of the book a whole lot and a whole little had happened all at the same time. A whole lot with Roland (and Stephen King of 1977), Eddie, and Susannah (in New York of 1988) and a whole little with Pere Callahan, Jake, and OY (Jake's pet Billy-Bumbler). But the small part WITH Pere Callahan and Jake was crucial for the set up of the 7th and final novel.

Callahan and Jake (not to forget OY!) had tracked down the last place Susannah had been taken to in New York of 1988 and were getting ready to enter this location (Dixie Pig) knowing they were outnumbered by many monsters that habituated both in our world and that of Mid-World. The novel ended with Callahan about to face off with Type One Vampires (like the one from 'Salem's Lot), Jake about to face off with everything else (all to save Susannah), Roland and Eddie trying to get to New York of 1988 (from Maine of 1977) after one last problem concerning the Rose in the Vacant Lot (New York) was dealt with, and Susannah / MIA[KA-MAI] in the final stages of labor with their "chap" [CHAR].

An ending for the record book was placed in the Writer's Journal, but again, it would only be for six months.

[end part 3]

2004-09-28T08:26:00.000-04:00

One Last Visit With an Old Friend

KA

Part 2(of 4)

One good thing about forgetting about something is when you remember, especially when it's a surprise remembering.

I was flipping through a Diamond Previews ordering catalog (this is a monthly phone book for comics, books, and specialty toys) when, near the back, my heart fluttered. I was looking at the next Dark Tower book available for preorder. My eyes floated down to the price and I about choked on my gum. $50. I had never paid more than $20 for a book. The reason this was listed in the Diamond Preview catalog was because well known comic book artist, Dave McKean, was producing the visual images that would accompany this next book in the series.

I noticed that this was a special edition hardcover (I had heard about these before) that come out before the mass marketed hardcover. Now was my chance to own one and it just wasn't any special edition - it was The Dark Tower IV. The past 5 years were soon forgotten (actually it was 6 if you take in account when The Waste Lands was actually published and when I bought mine) and I was back in step on the Path of the Beam. Some unknown force came over me and I had to order this Wizard and Glass.

The book finally came to my comic book dealer (I had installed a payment plan to have it paid off by the time it did) and soon I was holding it in my hands. I gingerly opened the book a couple of times inspecting every detail when it dawned on me that there was no way I could read this book. Not the one I was holding in my hands. This was the limited edition and I could do some serious monetary damage to it just by reading it(like breaking the spine, ruffling the pages, etc...). So I sucked up the price of keeping something in mint condition and went straight to the bookstore and bought the mass marketed trade paperback. This version was the only one at the normal bookstores which made me feel better about my decision not to read the hardcover.

It was a bit hard, like I expected, mainly because over the time I had forgotten small details that make the stories so rich, but once again I was fully engrossed in this new tale - again a silent observer into the quest of Roland of Gilead for his Tower. Soon I realized that most of this tale was not going forward but backwards. After a bit of traveling (Eddie Dean had solved Blaine [Blaine's a Pain] the Mono's deathly riddle), we were all sitting around a campfire in Mid-World listening to Roland tell a tale about his only true love, Susan Delago. In a story that reminded me of one of my other all time favorite Stephen King books, The Eyes of the Dragon, I was once again pulled back in to the quest, bags packed, and destined not to look back.

KA.

[End Part 2]

2004-09-26T22:30:00.000-04:00

One Last Visit With an Old Friend

KA-TET

Part 1(of 4)

In 1988 I met Roland Deschain of Gilead. The first meeting with The Gunslinger was almost a brief one. He seemed interesting enough, but his adventure across the desert of this strange world, chasing the Man in Black, seemed fragmented with lots of loose ends. His story, for me, was strained, hard to get really interested in, and a little confusing. But the storyteller of his travels was someone not to question, so I proceeded reading his tale with great alacrity and vigilance.

A year later I finished Roland's first chronicled adventure on his way to the Dark Tower Taking so long to read such a thin novel - thin for Stephen King anyway - the chances of me continuing this series seemed slim, Stephen King or no Stephen King.

Some might call it KA that I picked up the second novel, The Drawing of Three where The Gunslinger's tale continued. This novel was ever bit three times the size of the first which would, if I completed it, would by far be the longest novel I had ever read. That was strike two against it. The first being the memory of how much trouble I had with the first one. But KA would have its way as I timidly opened the first page and began reading. This time, however, it would only take a week to finish this far superior tale. What this second part did for me was to either tie up loose ends from the first part or, the ones it didn't tie up, make them make better sense. So I took up stride on the path behind Roland, Jake, Eddie, and Odetta/Detta/Susannah as a willing observant to their quest for this Dark Tower.

But then the stories stopped.

After finishing the second part of Stephen King's story, inspired by Robert Browning's poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, I eagerly went in search of the third book. When I could not find it I started to panic because I was so ready to continue and thought if I had to wait I would never get back into the story. One again I failed to realize how strongly I was tied to this KA-TET. Two years after reading the second tale the third finally appeared on the shelves and I fell back in step like I had never left as we continued our journey across The Waste Lands of Mid World.

And the stories stopped again.

This time I knew the series would continue. I knew this because: The popularity of the series had grown, the bookstores couldn't keep many in the stores, and the story was so damn good. I thought this time it wouldn't take as long, that Mr. King knew he had a hit and would churn out this series like he did most his other works, one after the other after the other... After a LONG three year wait, I, and thousands of other readers who were waiting for the next installment, wrote Stephen King. We all have the hope of getting a letter back saying, "Next month Constant Reader!" Instead, what I got was a postcard in the mail directing my further inquiries to an address where his fan mail is requested to be sent. This was because I had inside information give me his personal address in Bangor, Maine. Down below the the last typed word was a handwritten assurance that there would be a fourth part. Had Stephen King written this? I wasn't sure because there was no signature, but I HAD mailed my letter straight to his house. It was with great anticipation that I read that assurance over and over. Next month? Six months? It never said when, but it had to be soon. Sometime during that next year I lost my postcard and during the following year I had all but forgot about the KA-TET of Gunslingers.

This had become way more than a simple story. It had become a drug. And like all drug addictions, my withdraw symptoms were strong at first but lessened over time. After five years, all the symptoms had seemed to pass, my life had changed directions a few times, and I had grown up a bit. Would I still want to grab my gear and follow the Path of the Beam again?

I wasn't sure...

[End Part 1]

2004-09-23T01:36:00.000-04:00

Coming Soon

Coming soon are a couple pieces I will be finishing writing the next couple of days. I've taken writing in WORD first to avoid blog mess-ups, grammer, and spelling errors (for the most part).

Couple happenings of late - I've been hired as part-time/temporary employee at ETSU in the long distance education department. I am a behind the scenes guy who runs the remote controlled cameras that allow the offcampus sites to view the classrooms on the ETSU campus, although I am stationed at an off campus site (but still in JC).

Tonight (last night since it's after 12am) Rex and myself spent a long evening editing Snapper Revenge which fits the title of this entry as well.

Goodnight/morning - It's been too long a day.

2004-08-25T14:32:00.000-04:00

OK, It's now Official

Well, it's now official. The latest entry in my Excursion to Maine is now over 1.2 months over due. I will get to it sometime (promise to myself and those who actually want to continue reading it.)

But since I started that writing project (and the reason it has been delayed so long) is a few small things that I needed to mention.

1st, I graduated last week from ETSU. Yes, The BS (literally) degree has been handed to me from the good secretary in the graduating office. There is no graduation ceremony in the summer, but if I want, I can walk in the fall with the 1,000+ other graduates. That is precisely the reason I probably won't. It has been a long haul (way longer than needed) and already is worth it for no other reason than a personal goal I set for myself. I am still "working" on campus with the engineer in the Broadcasting division as a way to continue to learn Internet broadcasting using web designs and editing filmed projects. This will look real good on my resume, when I finally update (which means do a new one from scratch.) This fall I will probably be working with him (and getting paid a small amount - what I call funny money) doing more Internet broadcasting from the Innovation Center.

2nd, Lennon Murphy has come and gone through Johnson City with her latest tour. She was fresh off the Warp Tour and getting ready to start a few shows for Heart. I tried to help heavily promote the show which fell very, very flat. I wrote a big press release that was put on both big local Internet boards (one has since been put on hiatus for awhile), published in The Loafer, and, of course, on Team Rock. I also put in efforts with the club owner to make and label 150 sample CDs which we gave out at the Earshot (Saliva cancelled) show. As I said, the show was a bust (about 50 people turned out) but the performance was still good. Lennon got a little drunk before the night was over, but most of the staff and band partied at the after party which was held at Fuzzyholes until the wee hours of the morning. Consequently, I had to miss work the next day and pretty much ruined the rest of my weekend. I still haven't really had the urge for any alcohol.

Those were two of the bigger small things that has gone on and I could prattle on about more stuff, but I won't. I won't mention the kick ass Monsters of Japan show I went to or camping out at Rockin' on the River. The latter had a few controversies I could go into, like the bikini contest fiasco (from what I hear) and it being held one too many days because everybody went home early on Sunday, but as I said, I won't.

It has been a crazy 1.2 months and the end is not in sight yet. My friend, whom I visited in Maine is coming to visit at the first of October, but before that I am heading back to DragonCon a week from tomorrow. I know that both will offer up more stories and pictures for me to get behind on. So, if you are waiting (which a I know a lot are! ;) ), just hang in there, I will catch it up soon. (I hope.)

2004-07-13T01:35:00.000-04:00

To Maine and Back - Day 4: Subtitle Announced

LOL, in the spirit of Harry Potter, I am announcing the subtitle for the forthcoming To Maine and Back - Day 4...it is entitled --- "A Visit to the King's Manor"

Stay tuned...it is a work in progress....

btw - Happy Birthday to me belated and to Particles, Atoms, and Molecules, also belated.

Xyon

2004-06-28T17:58:00.000-04:00

Maine and Back – Day 3

Editor's Note - The entry is very long. It has been subdivided if you don't want to read the whole entry and you see something that catches your eye. Also, there will be picture added real soon if you just want to scroll and see the pictures - enjoy...

Acadia and Back
Part one
Day 1

I. The Long Morning

1.
Stewardess School

Sometime around 2am…

I had woken up with no immediate hope of falling back to sleep. Hoping a glass of water would help, I make my way in to the kitchen, and open the ‘fridge for some light. The two parakeets (the happiest gay couple in Portland) stir and I stop immediately, not wanting to make one or both of them squaw in the middle of the night. I make my way back to the living/bed room and find a comfortable spot on the floor.

The same tape was playing in the VCR and I recognize Ralph “The Mouth” from Happy Days as a lead role in the movie that was playing. It had just started and before long the title appears on the screen - “Stewardess School.” Somehow this early ‘80s film had eluded me so I started watching. It was suppose to be a comedy but was falling a little thin, but it had just enough interest to keep me watching.

Of course at this time a night, the only thing it would take to keep me interested would be a pretty face and the hopes of seeing some boobies. This had the potential for both as the plot involved two guys who were rejected at flight school enrolling in stewardess school – for the women, no doubt…

I watched this movie until my eyelids started closing ever so slowly and finally reached up and turned off the set and crawled back into bed.

Sometime around 6am…

When I woke again, I found myself wanting to find out what happened in that stupid movie, so I get up and turn it back on. I knew Dobbah would be sleeping at least until 7 because we were supposed to pick Goddess up around 8. Sometime later, Dobbah awoke and we both started getting ready for the trip up Route 1…

This trip would be after a few errands were taken care of first…

2.
Dude

Sometime around 8:30 am…

After talking to Goddess, finding out that she had been out most of the night, and would need a little extra time to get ready, Dobbah’s phone rang. It was The Dude. The Dude was at one time her boyfriend until he had broken up with her a few weeks earlier and who now wasn’t sure that was what he really had wanted to do. According to Dobbah, he had been calling and stopping by just about as frequent as he had when they were together and he thought they were back together. That was neither here or there for me so I was just hoping there wouldn’t be a quarrel before we left. It turned out that he only wanted his sunglasses and Dobbah told him that we would drop them by after we picked up the Goddess.

After we had picked up Goddess at her pad, we make our way on to The Dude’s place. Dobbah grabs the sunglasses and heads up to give them to him. I half expected him to come out, wanting to meet Dob’s friend from Tennessee, but no Dude. I actually think I sighed a bit of relief when Dobbah came back to the car alone. It is not that I necessarily didn’t want to meet Dude, it just would have gotten more and more awkward, and even though I had been up for awhile, it was still too early in the morning to deal with something like that.

After Dobbah was back in the car, we headed toward our next errand...

3.
The Hat

An important thing we had to do before we could start our trip was to find a place to get snacks and some cheap sunglasses. We first hit Rite-Aid that supplied us the snacks, but the sunglasses there were too high for the quality of sunglasses they carried. We try the Family Dollar store and hit the jackpot.

Dobs elected to stay in the car, but Goddess and I went on our lastest quest near Portland that day.

“You know, I also need a good hat to protect my bald head.” I said as we started to enter the store.

“I bet they will have something here.” Goddess said.

“If not, at least some sunscreen. That sun is really bright today, but I am not complaining…not complaining at all!”

We immediately saw the cheap sunglasses we were looking for and after picking them out; we took a quick tour of the store looking for hats, and found none...

At the check out lane Goddess asks the girl at that counter if they sell men’s hats. She points to a little stack to the right of the entrance doors. After Goddess pays for her glasses, she makes here way to the hats as I finish paying. I made my way over to where she was and that was when we saw it. A light tan fisherman’s hat had my name on it. I tried it on and it fit reasonably well. I figured it would be $10 or more, but the price tag said it was $3. That hat is sitting on my head as I sit here typing.

While Goddess and myself are in the store, Dobbah makes a quick entry in her journal while waiting on us:

walked down to the bakery this morning for breakfast,
and we finally were able to watched 'winged migration'
from start to finish. almost en route to baah haahbah.
gawdess and xyon are on the prowl for cheap sunglasses
in the dollar store as i write this in the saab,
jamming to 'heaven'.
dropped off skeeter's glasses- check
borrowed a gazetteer- check
illegal trash run- check
roadtrip munchies- check

all we need now is my bank and a shitload of fuses
before heading out on a mad search for warblers and
witch stores.

awww....there back and xyon has a boat hat. atta boy.
let's hit it...

One last errand had to be run as we inched our way further out of town…

4.
Erik The Gray

Sometime around 9:30am…

We pull into NAPA Auto Parts to get some fuses for Erik’s windows. For the past couple of days, Erik the Gray’s electronic window fuses kept blowing. Dob’s gets two packets (each containing 5 fuses) and we proceed to change the fuse (again). I had forgotten to mention that she had done this the previous day and it had lasted less than an hour…but unlike that time; she now had 9 more if needed. This time she cleaned out anything that could cause it to short out. I checked Erik’s oil and saw that we needed to add about a quart.

At last, all errands completed as the gray SAAB pulls out to get on the Turnpike and then to Scenic Route 1…

5.
Yard Sales and Flea Markets

Sometime Around 10:45am…

Looking back now (and after reading ‘Salem’s Lot upon my return to Tennessee) I realize that the small fictional town of Jerusalem’s Lot, where the vampire story was set, would have only been a few miles off north of the Turnpike just before we exited on US 1. It is too bad I didn’t think of this while I was up there…

After we travel a ways toward our final destination of Bar Harbor, we pass through many small towns on scenic Route 1. Scenic Route 1 snaked along a northerly path up the coast and would eventually take us to our only turn off, which would lead to Bar Harbor. In one particular town we passed through (I couldn’t even begin to come up with a name), we stopped in front of a house that was having a yard sale. I had already put my binoculars around my neck and climbed out of the Saab. I made my way over to the table of junk (one person’s junk is another person’s treasure) and was greeted by, “I’ll give you $10 for your binoculars.” I looked up and saw owner of the voice looking at me and smiling. He was one of the people holding the sale in the yard. I just smiled and said, “Nope, sorry.” He went on to talk about a pair of binoculars that he owned and I just nodded and let his voice drift to the back of my mind as I scanned the items for sale.

“…You know what I mean?”

I looked back up and without missing a beat said, “oh yeah” and he accepted that and didn’t go further with the conversation. That made me happy as I really had no idea what he was talking about except that it had started with my binoculars. I looked over my shoulder at where Dobbah was looking. She had come across a stack of National Geographic magazines and was thumbing through one. Goddess had already gone to the end and was starting to head back to us. Dobs tossed that magazine back in the bin and I pick it up and turn to the binoculars guy. I ask how much and pay the twenty-five cents required to make the purchase.

A few minutes later we are back on Scenic Route 1 heading north and then, just as suddenly, we are pulling off the road again at another yard sale. When I get out this time, I immediately see DVDs for sale and begin looking them over. Save for the DVDs, this yard sale had even more junk than the last. I decide to purchase the 2-disc set DVD Freddy VS Jason for $5. Dobs makes a DVD purchase as well and we again are traveling north on Route 1.

We get a bit of traveling time in on this next leg before our fearless leader does a quick U-Turn to stop at what looked like a Antique Flea Market. We all head in and, after a fast run through, I decide to step back outside and investigate the patch of woods behind the almost broken down building. I hear my first bird of the day singing in the trees behind the antique dealer. I recognize it as a Chestnut-sided Warbler (please-please-please-ta-meet-cha) and shortly later find it with my binocs. With no other bird movements or songs I head back to the car and arrive at the same time as Dobbah and Goddess. We pile in the car and make it to the next stop which is a more traditional flea market where we split up. We find a few items here – most notably Dobbah finds cassettes to play in the car as we have lost all radio stations, except of course, Country. The cassettes consisted of Jimmy Hendricks (Best of Part II), George Michael (Faith), Cher, and Jethro Tull. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to Cher, but the rest I could deal with. I just would have to grit my teeth and bear it when that tape would be played.

The next stop was at a glorified candy store. This place was pretty awesome. It had just opened for the season that day, but had a variety of souvenirs along with some of the absolute best homemade candy I have ever eaten. But as good as this place was, it could touch our experience at lunch…or at least the way it started…

II. Afternoon Bliss

1.
Jed’s

Sometime around 1pm…

By this point we were all famished. Snacking will only quiet your stomach for so long, so we all decide it is time to stop and eat. That is when we saw Jed’s Place. Looking decent enough from the outside, we decide to give Jed a try.

The 10-minute wait to see a menu should have been a clue. Finally I get up and order drinks from the bar that was located across the room, near the entrance. Dobs and I get a beer while Goddess has a Diet Coke and Vodka. These are brought to us with (finally) the menus. It seemed that there was only one man working the tables and running the bar. This guy (Jed?) really had his hands full. This should have been another good sign. We order our food and head to the salad bar to fix the first portion of our meal. I get up last to go to the salad bar. That was when the smell hit me, like a rotten egg hitting a brick wall, but in this case I recognized the stench. It was sewer. It seemed to be blowing out of the kitchen and the sound of the fan was big. It was all I could do to breath as I made my way back to the table. The girls were looking at me like I was responsible for the odor. Giggles then, “Did you fart before you got up a minute ago?” I was asked. I grinned but said no. If had been responsible for something like that I would have claimed responsibility and I said so. At fist I don’t think they believed me but I mentioned the fan and how it was worse over at the salad bar that was right across from the kitchen door. “Part of my job duties as a land surveyor,” I started, “is to get inverts – measurements of depth – of sanitary sewers.” Blank looks from Dobbah and Goddess as I finish, “That smell is exactly what comes out when we pop the lids. Something in there must have backed up big time.”

Even though the smell was pretty bad, the salad of the small salad bar was actually quite good. I even got up and snuck seconds for more spicy/sweet pickles, cottage cheese, and peaches. Again my hopes were high about the fried clam dinner I had ordered. Little did I know that this would be the last thing that was good in the Diner.

When the dinner arrived it looked good enough but the clams were too tough to eat and the mashed potatoes w/ gravy was like eating semi-soft glue. I left most of the plate for Jed. Goddess had ordered a fried clam plate as well, and Dobbah had ordered a fish I had never eaten (and cannot think of the name either) and it was OK. The rest of her variety plate was just OK as well. The hot sauce I asked for came in a Texas Pete Wing Sauce bottle but looked about 10 years too late to use. All in all it wasn’t pretty at Jed’s, but we knew the guy was working about as hard as anyone could under the circumstances so we tipped him too well and left.

2.
Faith in Penobscot County

Johnny Smith is traveling down the two-lane highway; his fiancé is waiting on him to rejoin their perfect life together. The rain hitting the windshield is like gigantic eyes smashing the glass and the windshield wipers will not go faster. As he rounds the next curve, seemingly out of nowhere, a truck appears in the lane in which he is currently traveling. Only seconds late, he is unable to swerve out of the truck’s path. The inevitable happens (one might say his ka) as the truck and car meet violently. In a great fireball, the car is flipped over and over until the car finally comes to a rest off the side of the forested bank.

When Johnny wakes up, he is lying in a hospital bed. His doctors are trying to tell him that five years had passed but it all seemed like a great blur. He reaches out, trying to get his hands to project what his mouth can’t seem to say and grabs the nurse next to his bed. The next thing he sees with perfect clarity.

A bright flash hits Johnny’s eyes. He looks around and sees a little boy crying as he watches his house burn around him. He is crying out but no one is there to hear or help him. He crouches in the corner of his room and cries. As Johnny is watching this scene he sees a picture of the boy and his mom – this nurse he is grabbing in this new life – and the bright flash returns.

Johnny starts screaming at the nurse about a fire and her little boy. That is the only thing he really remembers. All he really remembers except for the extreme urgency that is not too late to save him, but she must move now, NOW!

Sometime around 2:30pm…

This scene from The Dead Zone, a series on the USA Network that is based on the book by Stephen King, flashes through my mind as I see the sign at our final stop before we arrive at Acadia National Park.

The sign is for Penobscot River Crossing in Penobscot County. This is the same county were the series takes place (granted the series took place more toward Bangor, but it is the first time I have seen a sign with this county on it).

I had gotten Dobbah to pull over at this scenic overlook to take my first pictures in Maine.

A few miles before, Dobbah had put in George Michael’s Faith tape. It had been years since I had listened to this tape. Way back when George Michael hadn’t approached the undercover cop in the bathroom and, at least from his videos, he projected a lifestyle that every teenager would’ve liked to have – beautiful women and all the money he would ever need in this life. We all were on perfect key as we sang along to the lyrics we all knew by heart. After another few songs, Dobbah rewound the tape and we again all sang along to the lyrics. That was when we decided it was time for some Hendrix…

3.
Tom Gilbert

From Dobbah’s Journal, Dated May 29, 2004

my dearest tom gilbert,

something made me pull into that flea market on route 1 that fateful saturday morning. i thought i just
needed to stretch my legs, but as i started pawing through the vast amounts of trash and treasure, i knew
i would find something just for me. i had wandered away from my friends, as usual, and
into a small shed filled with antique swords and chinese stars. the old box of cassetttes looked a little out of
place, but seeing as i had a tapedeck in the saab; i thought i could find some music for the trip to acadia.
george michael, cher, and jethro tull had nothing on the jimi hendrix with the handwritten jacket.
gawdess had asked to look at the case, and it was then that we found the small cutout of a naked woman
wrapped in cellophane. you must have masturbated to that picture while listening to 'the wind cries mary',
i'll bet. i was a little disturbed that you felt the need to personalize it, but hey, to each his own.
either way, it was the score of the day, and i tank you for it.

much love, dobbah

p.s. you don't know where i could find a maine bucket,
do you?

4.
Mount Desert Island & Acadia

Sometime around 3:30pm

We finally turn off Scenic Route 1 and take the next highway across Mount Desert Island to Bar Harbor (Bah-habaah) and Acadia.

This leg of the drive felt like going to the beach when I was young. We would turn of the main interstate and hit the 2-lane roads that would eventually take us to somewhere near the middle of the east end of North America, except it looked like it would be just over that next little hill. One hill would turn into another hill and another until finally I would just sit back in my seat disappointed as the trip continued to take forever. I didn’t mind the length of this trip at all, on the contrary, I had been thoroughly enjoying every minute, but at the same time I was also getting a little tired. I continued to take everything in, commenting on little things here and there when Dobbah (remember Dobbah? This journal is about a trip to see Dobbah - end lame Arlo Guthrie reference…) exclaims – “Ah Zoo!” with building excitement and her foot automatically goes for the brake. “Ohh, I want to go to the zoo.” she says again but eases up on the brake as she eyes it all the way past. It was like she knew it wasn’t in the cards this trip, but still she wanted to go really bad. I could understand her feelings because she was a veterinarian assistant and she really loves animals. “Maybe we can tomorrow on the way back,” Goddess says from the back seat knowing it probably wouldn’t happen then either but sympathizing with her best friend and ex-roommate. “Yeah, maybe…” Dobs says and speeds the Saab back up to the speed limit.

sometime around 4:30pm

We finally arrive at Acadia and head first to the Park Headquarters/gift shop. I find a few small items I normally get when I visit a new national park (pin with Acadia written on it, bird checklist for the park, brochures about the park, etc..) and the girls pick up a few items as well.

Not wanting to waste any of the day remaining, we start down the one way park loop and pay the entrance fee of $10 that would be good for a week if we had that long to stay (I wish!). Our first stop is Sand Beach. We pull in the parking lot to see lots of cars. It was more populated than I would have normally liked, but it was the fist nice day in about 2 weeks for most of the state, so I got over it pretty quickly. And besides, most of the people were starting to leave as we made out to the small sand/pebble beach.

After you leave the parking lot there is a small, wooden walkway leading to a set of stairs through a small patch of trees that take you down to the beach. Having my binocs around neck and my camera on my belt, I am ready when I hear some bird activity. Here I see American Redstarts, a (Northern) Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Phoebe, Great Flycatcher, a few unidentified empidonax flycatchers, and other warblers that I never could quite get my binoculars on as they were in some pretty big thickets.

When you first walked out onto the beach, the cold, North Atlantic Ocean greeted you with small waves coming in on the shore. To the right there was a rock face which marked the beginning of the rocky shoreline with a small area you could climb up to if you wished. To the right the small beach extended until another, but smaller rocky shoreline started. On a day warmer than today (the temperature was in the upper ‘60’s) you could go swimming in this small section of beach. By the time I get down to the beach, Dobbah and Goddess has already split up, one to the left and one to the right. Goddess, to the left was looking for neat stuff in the pebble/sand and Dobbah, to the right, was sitting on a small outcrop of rocks enjoying the view. I headed toward Dobbah and sat down next to her and took the shots below. We marveled at the beauty of this place until Goddess made her way over to join us marveling. We sat there for as long as we could, not want to leave, but knew we would have to shortly. We watched a cute Japanese couple climb down from the rocks above us. Her timid steps to start down started only after she knew he was down in front of her to help. He reached up and grabbed her around her waist and gently brought her down to the sand. The next couple to come down was so American it was funny after seeing the previous couple. He hopped down pretty easily and started back to help her, but she shoed him away with her hand before sliding half way down and jumping the rest.

So far, this place on my trip to Maine was the most scenic and we wished our time here wouldn’t end. Finally Dobbah got up and started toward the stairs that led toward the parking lot. “Let’s go…” This was the most beautiful place I could remember visiting in a long, long time. How was I to know that the place I would see the next day would make this place seem ordinary, could such a thing be possible? Yes, it could.

We make it back to the car and leave to find a place to stay for the evening. Hopefully on the outskirts of Bah Hahbaah…

III. Night In Bah Haabah (Bar Harbor)

1.
The Gas Cap

Sometime around 6:30pm…

We travel out of Acadia and stop first at a convenience store to gas up and get much needed supplies (like beer) for the night. I get out to start pumping the gas as Dobbah opens the gas lid. Dobbah comes around the car to help and open the gas lid the rest of the way. “Ah – what? Where’s the lid?” she asks looking at me. I had been the last person to gas the car up the previous day in Portland. I look dumbfounded (just plain dumb) and say, “oh, shiiiit…” Dobbah laughs it off and says, “Don’t worry about it, I will just get the one on Sven.” (But I did worry about it, the whole rest of the trip in Maine, the plane ride back, and after I had returned to Tennessee. So much that I found an online parts store that sold gas caps for SAABs and purchased one to be sent to her address. But I get the wrong apartment number on the package, and she still hasn’t gotten the package as of the date of this writing, which is of course a few weeks after the trip…) I mutter a few more choice curse words and pump the gas. We all go in to get some stuff and walk out of there with supplies, ready to find a hotel room somewhere to get freshened up and rest just a bit before going to eat.

2.
Days Inn

Sometime around 7pm…

Driving through Bar Harbor was like driving through a globe you shake and watch it snow. Except, of course, there was no snow. Just a classic New England town that looked like it hadn’t changed in a hundred or more years. Yet it has, which is the beauty of the town. Much like Camden 60+ miles back toward Portland, Bar Harbor has been kept up in a classic style to favor tourism but not lose it’s New England/European quality.

Just outside of Bar Harbor there is a ferry over to Nova Scotia.
[INSERT PICTURE OF FERRY SN HERE]
Right across from the sign pictured above was a cozy little Days Inn where we stayed for the evening. Earlier at the store I bought a six pack of local to Portland beer I popped one open while the girls started freshening up and writing in their journals. The letter to Tom Gilbert earlier was written here while Goddess showered and I sat in outside the room on a chair, drinking a beer, and looking at the bay. This would have been fitting ending to the day, but it wasn’t over just yet.

3.
Batteries

Sometime around 8pm…

It’s Dobbah’s turn for the shower and I need batteries so I borrow Erik the Gray and head back to a convenience store. I had one of those those exclamation moments – like ‘I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque’ – when I turned right, instead of left, and headed back toward the town of Bar Harbor instead toward the store we had been too earlier. But, I am heading towards town, there’s gotta be another store selling batteries…right? Wrong. At least wrong when you think about the town of Bar Harbor, Maine. The whole downtown area is buildings lined right next to each other, so it is a set up for walking. Sure I would have found batteries in many of the stores there, but just after 8pm, I would have to park a half-mile away and walk.

But I get lucky and see a little grocery mart and, [GASP], a parking spot right in front. I swing the SAAB into the parking space and run in. What do they say when something is too good to be true? Something like, ‘If it is too good to be true, then it probably isn’t'…no truer words have been spoken. If I had only read the name of the store, I would have never gone in for batteries. I only saw the stuff on the shelf and darted in. Once inside I saw organic food all around me. Now what organic hippy would sell batteries that would eventually end up sitting in a land fill forever? There isn't one that would, but I ask anyway. I figure…what harm could come from asking. Well, after asking, the lady behind the cash register looked at me like I was crazy and simply said, with no emotion, “No. No batteries.” So I finally just head back to the first convenience store we stopped at and bought 4 batteries. A trip that should’ve taken ten minutes now had taken damn near 35 minutes…

4.
Smoking Inside, Live Music, and an Ostrich Burger

Sometime around 9pm…

When I return with the batteries I download the day’s pictures as fast as I can so we can leave. Of course that turns into showing the pictures downloaded and taking the picture of the present left by Tom Gilbert for future purposes (including this journal).

We all pile in the SAAB and head into the heart of Bar Harbor…just as most everything was closing. We did find two nightspots and chose the one with the menu outside (since we were looking for dinner and not just drinks). As the day has gone so far, we were late enough to have to pay a small cover, but that was not a big deal. We find a place to sit in what looked like a porch with plastic windows (a tarp of plastic wrapping the outside of the “porch” against weather elements). This seat turned out to be perfect as we could hear the music without it drowning out the dinner conversation and because they were going to open a part of the plastic and make it a smoking section. This is big because all of Maine has a no smoking policy in public places and, at least for the girls, this was HUGE. It wasn’t a big deal to me because here in Tennessee we can still smoke in most bar establishments. The lady comes and we order: I get barbeque ribs, Dobs gets yet another seafood dish, and Goddess orders an Ostrich Burger. I meant to try this bird burger but forgot to ask but Goddess reassures me that it was very tasty. The live music was of a modern punk/rock variety and sounded good from where was sitting. I never did find out the name of the band but I guessed it was of a local flavor.

Before and after the meal we picked over the days events, being particularly critical to Jed. Dobs and I even wrote in Goddess’ journal our point of view which I will post here as soon as she sends me what I wrote. The meal was great – the best of the trip so far (the best meal of the entire trip would come later and would involve lobsters – dum a chick, dat a chum) When the check of the night came I quickly grabbed it up and took care of it. I figured they wouldn’t have been up here if it wasn’t for me and dinner would be on me.

5.
Phone Tag or How the Day Finally Ends

Sometime after 11:30pm…

We finally pile in the SAAB and get back to the Motel. It already looked asleep as we pulled in the parking space and very soon we would be assimilated. We pile in the king-size bed (Goddess on the right side, Dobbah sandwiched in the middle and me on the left side). The last thing I remember about this day was Dobbah playing text message tag with a friend in Jersey. Lights out.

2004-06-09T21:21:00.000-04:00

To Maine and Back - Day 2

Sometime during the night the sky cleared. The sun shone brightly through the window, piercing anything it came in contact with. A certain annoying crow joined the merry circus of the morning and was "caaaawing" non stop at what seemed only two feet away from the open window. Looking out the window, one would have seen the full sun up over the horizon and crawling back from the bathroom, it seemed the clock had to be lying as it read...

"5:30!!!??? Holy shit I could have sworn it was past nine..." As soon as I said it I wished that I hadn't as the full impact of the night before reached my brain. It screamed back as I sat back down to hopefully calm it down. I reached over for my bag and, after a bit of rummaging, found my "Morning Relief." I get water and watch as the two caplets dissolve into the liquid. I quickly down the medicated water (which makes me light headed again) and pass back out.

After we re-awoke the rain had moved back in and the temperature was a chilly 48F or so. After we got going that morning we call Goddess to see if she wants to eat some breakfast buffet. After picking her up we leave Portland and head toward an old school that had been converted to a restraurant. This place is a good thirty to forty-five minutes away. After we get there we realize that they are only open for breakfast on the weekend and Friday morning didn't qualify. We notice, however, that they will be open for the lunch buffet in thirty minutes. So we head to a jetty of rocks extending out into the ocean that is used for a fishing pier. The rain is steadly falling but we don't let that stop us. We all head out to the jetty and go off on our own for a little bit.

I have my binoculars around my neck and find some sea duck to identify. Turns out the ducks were a couple families of Common Eiders. This was a new bird for my life list. There was also a bunch of shorebirds on the rocks behind the Eiders but they were too far away (that mixed with the rain fogging up my binocs) to identify. Soon we wre heading back to the school buffet. Here was where I had the best fried clams on the whole trip. Many plates of fried clams were taken out here.

We get back to Dobbah's apartment and we realize the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" started that day and we decide to go to the early afternoon viewing. The theater that best matched our schedule was out of Portland a few miles.

"Sven is up there, " Dobbah said as we passed through the rural suburb outside of Portland. Sven was the SAAB before her current SAAB, Erik the Gray. We take a moment of silence even though parts of Sven are in Erik the Gray. As we pull in to the theater parking lot another heavy shower moves overhead. We walk into the small shopping mall the theater was located in and notice the glass door is pulled at the entrance to the theater. We look at the time the movie started and notice it had been on for forty-five minutes. Somehow in our morning of fog we got the times mixed up.

Leaving the theater and back into the rain brought back a bit of the hangover as we ran to the car. As we are heading back into Portland, we are almost taken out by a car that pulled out in front of us suddenly. We were in the straight lane going through a red light. The lane turning left had cars backed up waiting to turn and as we were going by them, one decided that they would rather go straight instead of turn. Their timing brought them almost into us. Dobbah swirved into the emergency lane, narrowly missing the idiot driver. As we collected ourselves after the narrow escape (meaning after we stopped cursing the driver and realized how close that was), Dobbah said, "I need a smoke."

Next we stopped over at her mom's house and they went over the items for the silent auction they were putting together for the following Thursday. Dobbah, Goddess, and Dobbah's mom were helping out a friend whose son had died a few days previous. She couldn't afford the funeral costs and the trio had asked for donations from all over town to help relieve some of the funeral costs.

We leave her mom's and run a few errands (bird food, snacks, etc..) and head to her brother's apt. There I meet some more friends and neighbors of Randy while we start drinking.

The rain at this point had stopped for about an hour or two. Birds and squirrels were playing in the trees and the local chinese restaurant had started its evening shift. Horns were blaring down the Forest Avenue as rush hour was picking up and the Chimney Swifts were getting lower overhead. The wind started picking up and the clouds overhead were getting thick again. It was about that time that it started to...

"...raining again." I heard someone say as I was pulled back into the conversation. Randy took off to get more beer and Dobbah and I go in the apt just before the deluge came.

The rest of the evening we drank beer. Leaving just after nine, we head back to Dobbah's apt to get ready for the road trip on Saturday. Dobs crashes almost immediatly and I rummage through her video cassettes and finally put in the first Indiana Jones movie. It was going to be an early day the next day to pick up Goddess and head to Acadia, but it was only 9:30pm so I stayed up another 30 minutes before I crashed out.

End Day 2

2004-06-07T15:32:00.000-04:00

To Maine and Back - Day 1

Well, made it up to Portland, Maine and back without incident...well major incident.

I had all good intentions to keep a detailed journal on my laptop while I was there, but with all the drinking that went on, I found it hard to write anything while up there. I am going to have to rely on my memory to fill in the gaps.

OK Day 1 --

Before I can even leave the Tri-City area, there is trouble. I get an automated call from US Air Saying that my flight has been delayed. I call the airline and they tell me the plane has been grounded and I will get the next flight available. The next flight available would make me miss my connection flight in Pittsburgh and that had to be changed. I am already cussing and I haven't even made it to the airport yet.

In the interim, I go to eat and get a mocha at the Coffee House in downtown Elizabethton. As I am heading to the airport, I get another automated call saying the flight has once again been delayed. At least this delay won't effect my connection flight. But what was a 3.5 hr trip (with no layovers) has turned into a two hr wait at Tri-Cities Airport and a 2 hr layover in Pittsburgh. Instead of arriving in Portland, ME at 2pm, I get to arrive at 5:30pm.

While I was waiting at the Tri-cities Airport, I talked to an elderly couple who were flying to London (via Pittsburgh) and then on to Normandy for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day. The gentleman was British and had moved to Kingsport in the mid '60s. He served England in the British Airborne during WWII and was a survivor of D-Day at Normandy. It was real interesting talking to him about D-Day and his experiences there. Worth the delays to listen to such an historic event by someone who was an eye witness. The sacrifices there were tremendous.

I get on the prop-jet and it is really small. So small, there are no overhead compartments for carry on luggage. Only place to put stuff is under the seat. I was lucky that it wasn't a full flight as I ended up using 3 chairs to stuff my carryon under. Sitting in a wing seat, I get mesmerized by the propellers. Flight was surprisingly good, but not even complimentary drink.

At the Pittsburgh Airport I have plenty of time so I decide to go eat. I go into the Original Oyster House and order a beer(Yuengling Amber)on draft. My burger is good, but not worth the price I paid. Then it is on to the hard chairs (that they try and make soft) at the terminal. It was pretty full and I ended up sitting within clear earshot distance from the automated voice to be careful getting off the moving walkway, over and over.

The flight up to Portland, ME was OK. The plane was bigger and no propellers found (full jet service - Wahoo!). I am wanting another drink, so when the beverage cart finds its way to my isle, I order a Jack and Coke. (Something I didn't mention earlier was the Tri-City Airport is now a dry airport. I went in search of a nerve killing beverage when I arrived at what used to be the bar. They told me that the contract with the business that used to be there ran out and is now being run by the airport. They have not sold alcohol since Jan 31.) When I order my beverage on the plane, I am informed that US Air has stopped serving alcoholic beverages. With US Air about to file for bankruptcy again, I suppose they decided to make a few cuts. This made no sense to me as they had to make a killing on the beverages they could sell. If you have ever flown, you know what I mean about the prices... So I got a Coke and a smile instead.

Meanwhile...in Portland, Maine

From Dobbah's journal - May 27

it's 5 pm and i just made it to the little bar in the
airport. i guess i didn't realize how much 33 oz of
beer can be. GAWD help me, this thing is ENORMOUS.
xyon will be here in less than a half hour. YAY!
james taylor is singing about fire and rain from the
speakers in the ceiling, and i look around wondering
who is coming and who is going.

i blew the window/sunroof fuse in the saab today, and
i just blew another one as i was pulling in the lot.
what's up with that?

i had started drinking around noon with gawdess, and
when brooks showed up around 1, i drank some more. we
parted ways, but not for long. met up with gawdess
around 3 for another drink(or 2).
fucking lushes.

5:07 now. a big beer makes time fly i'm thinking.
so does a good buzz.

looks like rain out there. maybe i should try and fix
the fuse before we leave the garage?
making mental note to pick up 'winged migratin' and
bird food.

maybe i'll remember.
something tells me i'll still be working on this beer when xyon touches down.
5:11 and barely dented.

YES!!!! creedence is on. i think i'll move seats and
freshen up on the shipyard story.
moving onto the next page.
don't wait, flip the page to find out!!!
----------------------------
next page

cliff notes, shipyard ale

in 1992, fred forsely, a real estate consultant with a
talent for putting together successful business
relationships, was hired to explore new options for a
troubled retail development in kennebunk, maine.

i give up, although it does seem like an interesting
story.i think xyon is here, maybe even sitting beside me.
maybe not,
this guy doesn't appear to have an accent.

drink another one, dobbah.
about 5:15 now, is that him or what?
this guy has bags.
fuck, i wish i had bothered to look
at his picture now.

damn, i am buzzed.
i'm feeling like i am going to be drunk very
soon. maybe he's calling me.
nope, wasn't him.

maybe i'll draw and think about it.
End Dobbah's Journal

After I arrive in Portland...

...I make my way to the baggage pick up and find my baggage with amazing ease. I call my friend (who was in the airport bar). She and I leave the airport and head into Portland.

Earlier that day, the clouds moved away that had plagued the city with rain for over a week. The city had been stuck in a weather system that had brought chilly temperatures and a lot of rain. That needed to be said as the first thing it does after I arrive is...

Rain. Rain. Rain. As soon as I get there and make it down to the waterfront, a dense fog rolls in and it starts raining. The temperature had made it into the '60s earlier in day and was plummeting fast.

We make it to her apartment and get the luggage up to her third floor attic apartment between showers. I made reference to her living in Greg Brady's room more than once. I meet Cyrus, her African Parrot (a Senegal Parrot). He is talking immediately, which is a good sign and kinda unusual. It is a good sign because it means he liked me and it was unusual because Dobbah had said that he may or may not talk the entire time I was there. (By the time I left I was telling him to shut up!) It was neat hearing him say human words that he had previously learned and some he learned while I was there.

From there we head to her brother Randy's apt (he also lives in the attic apartment in his building. It also needs to be mentioned that the "building" is a house that has been converted into apartments for rent.) to commence drinking. We had stopped at a store and was fully prepared. After a couple hours there (and a very competitive round of jeopardy) we leave to walk down to Chappie's. At Chappie's, the house band was playing and we shot pool for about an hour or two. Here I meet one of Dobbah's best friends, Goddess (keeping with online nicknames).

A group of us leave, Dobbah, Goddess, one of Dobbah's brothers, and another friend) and down to the Old Port. Here we bar hop until we all had enough.

I had been the most conservative drinker that night ( and that is not saying a whole lot except that I wasn't walking on a slant...) and drove Dobbah's car back to her apt. After we make it to the attic level, I realized that I had forgotten my camera bag and the beer and head back down to retrieve them. On the way back up I went to the wrong door where I am greeted by someone I didn't know. I am holding a camera bag and a brown bag while being looked at suspiciously by a fairly young lady. She seems more amused than irritated (so I am thinking that I didn't wake her up). While I am talking and apologizing, I am scanning behind her to make sure that there were no steps up behind her. Finding none, I apologize once again, explaining that I am visiting from out of state (like she couldn't tell) and I had come to the wrong door. A few steps on down the side of the building (it seemed awfully long) had me entering the correct door and again making my way up to the attic level. After getting back to the apt, my phone starts ringing. I think I said, "now what?" and retrieve my phone. I notice Dobbah's number and then see that Goddess has borrowed Dobbah's phone and was in the bed giggling. After that, a cassette got put in the VCR and we all crash.

It had been a long day and an even longer evening, but it all ended on a euphoric note. Helluva first day.

end Day 1

2004-05-18T09:24:00.000-04:00

Layered Nightmares on Elm Street

Last night I fell asleep on the couch watching CSI:Miami. It was the crossover episode where they introduce the cast of the new CSI:New York premiering in the fall. I wake up around 11:20, cursing myself for missing the ending and perform my nightly ritual before getting in bed.

Some time later I realize that I am having trouble falling back to sleep and notice a bit of wind blowing the little bit of hair on my freshly shaved head. It felt like millions of tiny bugs crawling over my cranium and down my back. Suddenly there is something in the bed with me - around me like a vice.

What I can only describe as arms and legs were tightly around my torso, crossed, and allowing me little movement. I start fighting it, struggling to get free. What now seemed like some type of insectoid appendages close the vice tighter securing me further.

My cell phone brings me back to some sort of reality. Ringing only once, it was enough to make me grab it off the nightstand. After unlocking the phone, I notice that there is no missed call. I fumble with it further, knowing I had heard it ring and wondering why the caller ID didn't capture the call. I dose back to sleep and the creatures return on my head. Now it feels like there are even more. Unsuccessfully I try and capture one of these little bastards.

Then I sit straight up in bed. I think of my phone and try to locate it in the bed. I move the covers around but can't find it. I figured it would turn up and decide to go ahead and get up as sleep was not working. It felt like it was time to get up anyway. As I step out of bed I notice the clock - 2:45...damn.

I stumble into the living room, turn on the TV, and fall onto the couch. That was when I noticed the phone on top of the bookcase with the charger plugged in. Revelations explode in my head upon the thoughts of layered nightmares. At least I had heard the phone...

My curosity got the better of me as I want, I need, to know who called. As I pick up the phone, before I even unlock it, I notice that there are NO MISSED CALLS.

Damn, what a night on Elm Street in Elizabethton, TN.

2004-04-12T14:15:00.000-04:00

Journal Catch-up Part 1

April 2, 2004, 2:30 pm

I am leaving work early today to go and get my niece in Clinton, South Carolina and bring her back to Bristol during her Spring Break. It has turned a bit cold again (Bradford Pear Winter????) and are calling for the possibility of snow in the higher elevations. I am wanting to get back across Sam's Gap before it changes over.

3:30 pm

I reach the top of Sam's Gap and it is already snowing. Just a few flurries, but I am worried what it will do while I am on the east side of the mountains and if, by the time I get back, it will be a problem returning. We shall see. There is a little snow on the very tip top rocks. Sam's Gap missed the 6-8" of snow that fell the previous night in Western North Carolina but more on the Roan Mountain Side (Avery County, NC).

5:30pm

An uneventful trip has me pulling up to the House that my niece lives in at her school in Clinton,SC. Clinton is inbetween Columbia and Greenville and is far enough into the coastal climate to have numerous Live Oaks around the campus and the town. I love these trees. Anyway...my niece is surprised for me to be there so early, but is for the most part ready and we leave shortly thereafter.

7:30pm

Nearing the place where I lose cell phone signal because of the mountain pass, I decide to call my bowling partners to see if they would mind my niece coming along. I didn't think it would be a problem but wanted to ask to make sure. I hang up and notice that it has started snowing again..ever so slightly.

8:15pm

There is a blizzard coming down . Probably the hardest snow (or a least tied with one earlier snow squaw - but this earlier one only lasted 5 minutes) I have driven through all season. It is dark and the wind is creating votex of snow tunnelling by the car. Turning on the high beams is mesmorizing. The road continues to be be good though. The new road (on the NC side) is continuing to be just wet and everything is still going smoothly. As long as I can hear the hum of tire against asphalt under the car, it should be alright.

8:30pm

There is no more road. Everything is white. Even through the darkness, the white snow is visible on the road ahead of me. I am at the very top of the mountain. Sam's Gap has gotten very bad, very quick. Snow is still falling like it is being sifted out of the sky through a broken sifter. I start bracing for a long and stressful trip down the Tennessee side of the mountain when the road clears completely and it quits snowing. Shew...

9:15pm

We arrive at the bowling alley and stay long enough to bowl 2 games. Tonight was not one of my better nights bowling. We leave around 10:45 for me to take my niece on to Bristol.

11:30pm

I help my niece carry in her stuff to my parent's house. They are already asleep and we are real quiet. As I am pulling out of the driveway I remember the call I had gotten earlier from my friends at school about going to Halo. I think about the long day that I just had (600+ mile round trip) and decide to go home. That is until I remembered that a group I really wanted to see again, The EverybodyFields, was playing there. Then it made perfect sense why my friends were down there - one of them dating the slide guitarist. So instead of heading to Elizabethton, I exhale deeply and head to downtown Johnson City.

April 3, 2004, 2:45am

The show was great. I relieve one of the group from having to drive the rest back to where they came. I volunteer to do it because I had only one beer. I even had an unexpected visitor stay in the guest bedroom because of other family issues (like too late to go home to their parents house) which actually helped me have someone to talk to during the trip back from JC to Betsy. Even though I had one beer, it had been an extremely long day and it was nice to have someone riding shotgun.

End Journal Entry

2004-04-12T13:49:00.000-04:00

RED ALERT

2004-03-24T23:47:00.000-05:00

Comments

The comment section is back up and running. I have decided to go back to YACCS commenting system after a brief change to a new system that had lots of eye candy, but over all were hard to keep up with the flow of the comments. Welcome Back YACCS!

2004-03-23T15:31:00.000-05:00

27 - Tremendous Band / Tremendous Show

Orginally Posted at Team Rock

Monday Feb 22 - Heather's HideAway

First Dana Seals and the Robots started off the show. I personally thought she did a wonderful job. It was just her on her acoustic guitar and one other on a snare drum. She gave tremendous effort and reminded me of the girl in the movie Chasing Amy.

Neverbefore came on the stage next. They did an abridged set and they sounded better than anytime I have seen them before. They picked up the beat and jammed out the 8.5' monster song to wrap up their set.

27 went on next. Where to begin? Wow. First let me back up a bit. When I arrived I wandered over to their merch table and began browsing over their CD's for sale. They had all their albums I mentioned in the other post. I couldn't decide which ones I wanted - so I just got them all. The total of my purchase was $27, go figure. Those that know me will note that I usually do not buy this many CDs at a show, so now I won't be buying anymore for a few weeks. They also had some free sample CDs they were giving away and Ayal gave me another sample CD that had Isis, the group taking them to already sold out shows in Japan in about a month, just so I could get a sample of them. Thanks Ayal!!

One of the CD's they were signing for me was mostly black (Songs From the Edge of the Wing) and I dug out my silver sharpie. This was the first time any of them had seen a silver sharpie and they kept commenting on it. After they finished signing the CDs I told Maria that they could keep the sharpie. She was so appreciative they she got me to sign the pen with my black sharpie. When they took the stage the first song was The Cause (one of the songs in the download section of Team Rock). The third song she dedicated to me - for the silver sharpie - from the new release Let the Light In and the song was Every Day. The rest of the set was filled with both new and older songs that each had their own unique style. One minute it would be hypnotic and serene and the next they were blistering the guitars. They even had the crickets accompanying the song off their second album Animals. After the show Maria still wanted to so something for me giving her the silver sharpie and told me that she would send me some of their posters that they forgot to bring to the show. This was going well beyond anything I had meant to come about for giving a $1.00+ silver sharpie. What a great group!

Descolada out of Asheville was next. They agreed to go on after 27 because the show got off to a late start and 27 had traveled so much in past few days. This show was fantastic! They have a really progressive sound and great musical sounds mixed in with hard and heavy riffs. My favorite parts were the violin powered over the other sounds. The violin gave their music a bigger than life quality and really set the other music off nicely. Bravo!

At this point there was still one group left that I didn't know was on the bill but I couldn’t stay any longer.

If you missed 27's show make sure you catch them when they return. They said they definitely would be back.

2003-12-25T01:56:00.000-05:00

Her 2003

Stunned silence as I looked to where she stood across the bookstore. There she was, still the same person she always had been. I knew her instantly. I remember my thought leading up to this moment. I had things all planned out to say, things I wanted to do, things I needed to know. As I stood in line all these preconceived ideas went right out the window. She went back into an isle and I was starting to sweat. Should I talk to her? Should I just let it be? This was the first time I had seen her in many, many years. Rex's voice was in my ear now - "She's still in your system," he said, "Still there and you've stopped admitting it." This was during a particularly gruesome beer fest. Fifteen or so Miller High Life beers drunk and many still yet to go. "I am over her - WTF, I have to be over her by now." That was three years ago. As I continued toward where she was looking at something in the middle of the isle, I heard Harry Chapin's voice singing now. "Half the time thinking what might have been and half thinking just as well." She crushed me twice. Why in the hell would I want to talk to her ever again, let alone now? This was a pit stop at Exit 7 in Bristol to kill some time before the final stop in Abingdon to see Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. I had just had a nice meal at Ruby Tuesday's and it was my idea to go the to book warehouse. Now, as I stepped closer, she still hadn't noticed me. Of course I have changed dramatically since the last time I saw her. My head is shaved and I, unshaven for a few days looked like shit. Closer still, the seconds were like hours walking over to her. My left hand started quaking with a nervousness I had forgotten. Butterflies in my stomach with just the thought talking to her were almost unbearable. Fuck. What has she done to me? My next thoughts before I said the first words to her in almost nine years were of another girl I went out not too long ago. She knows her too and had told me I was still hung up on her. It may have been partially the reason we did not work out. I apparently had placed this girl, in the direction I was moving, on a pedestal that was so high and casting a shadow so large that was overwhelming to our mutual friend. She had mentioned this indirectly many times. At the time I thought she was nuts. Now I am not so sure. "Hey You," I said as I finally reached her. She looked up to see who had spoken (God, she hasn't changed) and, after a few seconds, I saw recognition in her eyes. Harry Chapin sang to me again - "And the look on her face as she opened the door was like an old joke told by a friend. It had taken ten more years to find her smile and I watched the corners start to grin." Not to say she hasn't been happy these years - I am glad to find out she had. She had a little version of herself running around the store and, luckily, her husband was in another isle away from our reunion. I am not sure it was all good and definitely know it wasn't all bad. I did find out I am in a lot of trouble because it suddenly seemed like yesterday and not eight years later. What is the pull? I still am not sure. I didn't get to meet her daughter and that might be good too as it might have made it even worse for me. Maybe this was a kick in the pants I needed. A wake up call for me to get off my ass and get a family, if that is what I want to do. When I am with someone else I don't even think of her, but now, being alone again for the holidays and seeing her and her perfect family, it makes me sad to think about what could have been. It could also be the wine buzz talking as well. Merry Christmas, such as it is....

2003-12-15T11:03:00.000-05:00

Memento all over again

Recently I watched Momento again. This film still blows me away for its style and direction. Christopher Nolan - with this film - definitely proved that he is here to stay. I just hope he pulls off his Batman project because 1) I would love to see a Batman film done right and 2) I would hate him to have to work out from under the 'Batman Curse'.

Seeing the film again reminded me about a paper on the film I did for one of my film classes. I wrote this paper...then put all the paragraphs in reverse order than they originally appeared. It worked surprisingly well. I am gonna post it here...
__________________________________________________________________________-

Backwards is Forwards: A Unique Style
By Rob Biller

Some viewers will not like this new kind of technique, for the most part because it betrays the traditional style of narrative that they are used to. Others, like myself, will watch the movie over and over, picking up something new every time, and tell anyone who will listen that Memento is quite possibly the best film ever made.

While you watch Memento, things are definitely happening to your mind and emotions. Audiences get to stretch parts of their movie brains that they haven't had to for a while. They have to get used to a different way of perceiving a movie narrative. This kind of storytelling demands the closest kind of attention and is highly rewarding to the viewer. The scrambled-up film noir Memento proves that audiences do not need to be babied and that it's okay to confuse them by raising questions that will only be answered at the end. It is a movie that is best appreciated not while you are watching it, but while you're thinking back on it later.

By presenting events in Memento backwards, Nolan allows us to get into the mindset of the main character. Every scene starts the way it does for Leonard, with a sense of where am I confusion. Like Leonard, we don't have a clear indication of what happened before the current segment of time. We know some things from the past, but not the recent past. Like him, we are presented with numerous cryptic clues, some of which may mean something other than what they initially appear to represent. After throwing the audience in the middle of things, the film takes a step back to show the context for the action that we have just seen, in effect giving us the information that Leonard has forgotten. And, although it might seem that such an approach, which reveals the story's conclusion in the first five minutes, would lack tension, that's far from the case.

In addition to telling the story backwards, Nolan makes use of an ingenious narrative structure. He starts at the end and finishes near the beginning. The main narrative is presented as a series of three-to-eight minute segments, each of which ends where the previous one began. A second thread, which starts at an unspecified time in the past and moves forward to intersect with the main storyline, is used to buffer the "reverse" segments as well as to provide background information. Although this approach might at first seem confusing, it doesn't take long to get used to it, and to understand how well it works with this film.

Memento begins with a scene that summarizes what is to come. A man is looking at a just developed Polaroid picture. The picture begins to undevelop and goes back into the camera, the bullet goes back into the gun, and the victim is alive and talking. The film's plotline moves backward from that corpse on to the floor to reveal the series of events that led him to be there. We learn all of this in fragments.

Director Christopher Nolan tells the story subjectively in a way that mirrors Leonard's point of view, which creates a despairing backwards thriller. He creates a dystopia for one man that sends shock waves rippling toward anyone that he has contact with. Some see his problem as a handicap while others try and take advantage by manipulating him as a mean to their end.

The man, Leonard, was an insurance salesman and after a blow to the head he lost the ability to create short-term memory. Ordinary life would be tough enough with this handicap, but Leonard is trying to find the murderer of his wife. The catch is that even if he gets justice for his wife's murder, he won't remember it.

Memento, Latin for remember, means a reminder of the past, something that can be used to stimulate the memory or warn about the future. This title sets the stage for a thriller about a man who can remember nothing at all.

The film technique used in Memento is quite unique. Memento is a straightforward narrative told backwards. It is made up of color and black and white scenes. The color sequences are told in short, forward sequences, chronology arranged in reverse order; where each color sequence begins is where the next color sequence ends. The black and white sequence is actually the first sequence in the film that has been broken up into smaller segments and inserted throughout the film in real time. When the color sequences, at the end of the film, reach the beginning, the ongoing black and white sequence switches to color to reveal that it was indeed the first sequence in chronological order.

All people are at different levels of what we can remember. Some of us are able to instantly recall whatever we did yesterday or last week while some can't remember what they had for lunch. Forgetfulness can be a problem, but imagine if you can't remember what you did fifteen minutes ago. To have any distraction make you forget what you were thinking, who you were talking to, and to lose complete memory of any related events. Complete loss of short-term memory. Christopher Nolan tackles this subject in his movie Memento. Hang on for it will be quite a ride.

Have you ever forgotten to do something that you had been meaning to do all day? Remembering all day but still managing to forget? Have you ever forgotten what you did a previous day or evening? When someone asks what you did sometime in your recent past can you remember what that was?

2003-12-08T15:32:00.000-05:00

Behind Blue Eyes

The biggest writing project I have done to date was turned in today for my Writing for Radio and Television class. It is a screenplay that I collaborated on with another student. He kinda vanished at the end so most of the ideas are mine and all the writing is mine. He was a poor pledge to a fart -- err.. I mean fraternity so his time was prioritized somewhere else I suppose. It is the pilot episode for an "upcoming" television show that had to be a continuing series. We chose the horror genre and was given a plot about a shapeshifter who is attending a college campus. When someone see them shapeshift - that person died. That was all we had to come up with -- after a few brainstorming ideas - and approving it with our teacher (the wonderful Candi Bryant and her assistant Yasmeen), this is the story that was produced. It's long (damn near 5,000 words!) and it will probably dominate the blog...if it screws it up I will make two posts...
_______________________________________________________________________
Final Screenplay Dec 8, 2003

BEHIND BLUE EYES

SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

SCENE 1 - MEETING SHERYL DAVENPORT

FADE IN

AERIAL LS EXT CAMPUS...THE SHOT BLENDS IN CLOSER TO THE CAMPUS. MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE WALKING TO CLASS. THIS SHOT BLENDS IN CLOSER AGAIN TO A MEDIUM SHOT OF A STUDENT WALKING SLOWLY ACROSS THE CAMPUS. SHE LOOKS UNSURE AND TENTATIVE. SHE DOES NOT KNOW ANYBODY AND PEOPLE ARE STAYING A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY FROM HER. HER DRESS IS A DARK SHIRT WITH LONG SLEEVES, SKIN TIGHT GLOVES, BLACK JEANS, AND WHITE ATHLETIC SHOES. SHE HAS VERY LITTLE MAKE UP WHICH MAKES HER HAVE A PALER THAN NORMAL COMPLEXION WITH DARK HAIR THAT IS SHORT TO THE SHOULDER BLADE. STRIKINGLY BLUE EYES STAND OUT. SHE STOPS IN FRONT OF A BUILDING AND LOOKS UP. CUT TO CLOSE UP OF NAME ON THE BUILDING WITH A BIG OUTDOOR CLOCK

ENGLISH BUILDING
Sine qua non

CUT BACK TO SHERYL (CLOSE UP)

SHERYL: (READING AND SPEAKING TO HERSELF) Something absolutely indispensable and essential...I can think of a lot of things more essential than English. (LOOKS BACK DOWN AT A SCHEDULE THAT HAS BEEN PULLED OF BOOKS BEING CARRIED. IN A PANIC YOU SHE BACK UP TO THE CLOCK ON THE BUILDING THEN TO HER WATCH. SHE MUTTERS A CURSE AND RUNS INTO THE BUILDING.)

SCENE 2 - LATE FOR CLASS

INSIDE THE ENGLISH BUILDING. LS OF THE HALL EMPTY HALLWAY. SHERYL ENTERS, RUNNING DOWN THE HALL TOWARD THE CAMERA. SHE STOPS IN FRONT OF A CLASSROOM AND LOOKS UP AT THE DOOR NUMBER [13].

CUT TO CS OF THE DOOR SHOWS IT TO BE SHUT AND LATCHED. THE SHADE IS ALSO PULLED DOWN OVER THE BIG WINDOW IN THE DOOR.

CUT TO CS OF SHERYL LOOKING AT CLOSED DOOR

SHERYL: (DISGUSTED AND TALKING TO HERSELF) So much for making a favorable first impression in English Lit...(SHE SLOWLY WALKS UP TO THE DOOR AND TRY TO LISTENS INSIDE. SHE HEAR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TV PLAYING. SHE SLOWLY STARTS TO OPEN THE DOOR)

SCENE 3 - THE PROFESSOR

LS FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM. STUDENTS SIT IN A DARKENED CLASSROOM WATCHING A CAMPUS POLICE VIDEO ABOUT CAMPUS SAFETY. THE TELEVISION IS HELD FROM ABOVE IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. THE DOOR SLOWLY STARTS TO OPEN ALLOWING LIGHT TO FLOOD INTO THE ROOM

CUT TO CU OF THE DOOR SLOWLY OPENING AND LIGHT PIERCING THE DARKNESS OF THE ROOM

SHERYL: (SHE SLOWLY ENTERS THE ROOM TRYING TO BE AS QUIET AS SHE CAN WHILE HER EYES ADJUST TO THE DARKNESS)

CUT TO MEDIUM CU OF CLOSING DOOR

SHERYL: (GETS THE DOOR SHUT QUIETLY BUT SHE MOVES TOO FAST AND RUNS SQUARELY INTO THE KNEE-HIGH, METAL GARBAGE CAN THAT IS JUST INSIDE THE ROOM. THIS CAUSES HER TO FALL DOWN AND LOSE HER GRIP ON THE BOOKS IN HER HANDS. THE BOOKS FALL TO THE GROUND AND LOOSE PAPERS GO EVERYWHERE)

CUT TO MEDIUM LS AS THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS TURN ON

SHERYL: (SHE IS STILL ON THE FLOOR DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET HER PAPERS PUT BACK INTO HER NOTEBOOK. SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE THE PROFESSOR APPEARS)

PROFESSOR MACKEY: (WALKS BARELY INTO VIEW) Ms. Davenport I presume.

CUT CU OF SHERYL SLOWLY LOOKING UP

PROFESSOR MACKEY (CONTINUING VOICE ONLY, SARCASTICALLY): Glad you could join us.

CUT TO PERSPECTIVE OF SHERYL LOOKING AT PROFESSOR MACKEY FROM THE GROUND. THE PROFESSOR IS QUITE TALL AND THIN WITH COLD, DARK, BEADY EYES. HE HAS A SMIRK ON HIS FACE. HE CONTINUES TO SPEAK BEFORE SHE CAN GET UP

PROFESSOR MACKEY: You are in college now Ms. Davenport and I would appreciate you getting to my class on time. If I was your employer... I would fire you on the spot...but I am not your employer...only your professor...but you will show me the courtesy of being on time.

CUT TO MEDIUM SHOT OF SHERYL AND PROFESSOR MACKEY. SHERYL IS FINALLY GETTING TO HER FEET. SHE IS STANDING IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM. HER PAPERS ARE STICKING OUT OF HER BOOKS

SHERYL: (HER FACE IS DISTRAUGHT AND SHE IS TRYING TO APOLOGIZE) I am so sorry sir...my watch hasn't been set for...

PROFESSOR MACKEY: (VERY IRRITATED AND PACING; INTERRUPTING): Ms. Davenport...I think we should be well past petty excuses. The fact of the matter is that you are late and I will not have my time wasted with excuses. There is a strict attendance policy at this university and I feel that tardiness is kin to absenteeism. (HALF TURNS TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS IN THE CHAIRS) So let's make that a rule...shall we? For every two times a student is tardy...that will be one absence.

SHERYL STARTS TO MOVE TO TAKE HER SEAT BUT BEFORE SHE CAN GET FAR

PROFESSOR MACKEY: Ms. Davenport? Did I say you could sit down?

SHERYL STOPS IN PLACE - PROFESSOR MOVES CLOSER TO SHERYL

CUT TO CU OF SHERYL

SHERYL: No sir.

CUT TO MS PROFESSOR MACKEY

PROFESSOR MACKEY: Although I'm not interested in excuses... but I do think that it's only fair that you tell the class why you were late on the first day and responsible for our first new rule of the semester. Don't you?(MOTIONS TO CLASS)

CUT TO CU OF SHERYL LOOKING NERVOUSLY AT THE IRRITATED CLASS

SHERYL: I...

FADE OUT AND THEN TO INTRO OF SERIES

INTRO OPENING SEQUENCE OF PROGRAM

A MEDIUM LONG SHOT OF SHERYL DAVENPORT THAT SLOWLY MOVES IN TO A MEDIUM CLOSEUP. HER INTENSE BLUE EYES STAND OUT AS HEAVY FX GENERATED MORPHS BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE. SHERYL'S FACE MORPHS INTO OTHER PEOPLE ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ WHILE THE BLUE EYES STAY THE SAME AND DO NOT MORPH. THE WHO'S BEHIND BLUE EYES IS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND. THE SONG HAS BEEN CUT DOWN AND EDITED TO ONLY THESE VERSES:

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad one
To be the sad one
Behind blue eyes

No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be...

I have hours; only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

FADE AUDIO - FADE OUT

SCENE 4 - FLASHBACK SEQUENCE 1

FADE IN

CU SHOT OF SHERYL DAVENPORT STRUGGLING TO GET FREE. SHE IS TIED, GAGGED, AND BEING PUSHED INTO A WHITE, STERILE ROOM WITH LIGHT FIXTURES AROUND THE PERIMETER BY TWO MEN IN WHITE LAB COATS. HER HANDS ARE IN GLOVES THAT GO MIDWAY UP HER ARM AND THE REST OF HER IS IN A REVISED HOSPITAL GOWN THAT COVERS HER ENTIRE BODY. THERE IS A SINGLE TABLE IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.

KRIS: (IMPATIENT) All you have to do is help me get her secure on the table.

DOUG: (AGGRAVATED) Don't forget these little favors...I should turn you in for these little experiments of yours.

KRIS: (RUSHING) Listen...I don't have time for this right now. We have got to get her secure on the table so I can administer this last dose. If it is not done soon...the results could be disastrous.

DOUG: (QUESTIONING) What the hell are these tests you've been...

AT THIS MOMENT - SHERYL GIVES OUT A BIG KICK TO DOUG'S CHEST. HE IS SENT BACKWARD VIOLENTLY INTO THE WALL. HIS HEAD HITS A LIGHT STRUCTURE AND HE LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS. SHERYL'S LEGS FALL TO THE FLOOR. THIS SUDDEN ABRUPT FALL CAUSES KRIS TO LOSE PARTIAL GRIP. SHERYL'S TORSO TWISTS AND FALLS HALF ON THE TABLE AND HALF OFF. HER HEAD HALF CLIPS THE SIDE OF THE TABLE AND HER GLOVED HANDS GETS CAUGHT ON THE GURNEY BEFORE KRIS CAN ESTABLISH A BETTER HOLD. AS HE IS TRYING TO GET HER SECURE ON THE TABLE, A GLOVE TEARS - EXPOSING ONE FINGER. WHILE RE-SECURING HER FEET TO THE TABLE HER HAND SLOWLY COME TO KRIS' ARMS AND SHE SLIGHTLY TOUCHES HIS WRIST. STILL NOT REALIZING WHAT HAS HAPPENED, KRIS TURNS BACK TO SHERYL, BUT NOW IS LOOKING AT A REFLECTION OF HIMSELF AND SEES A HEAD RAPIDLY MOVING IN HIS DIRECTION. NOT ABLE TO MOVE FAST ENOUGH, THE KRIS DOUBLE SLAMS HIS HEAD INTO KRIS SENDING HIM BACKWARD TO THE GROUND. HE STAGGERS BACK UP AND IS LOOKING AT A DOUBLE OF HIMSELF EXCEPT THE DOUBLE HAS BLUE EYES. HIS DOUBLE PUNCHES KRIS IN THE FACE AND IS ABLE TO GET FREE. DURING THE FIGHT WITH KRIS, THE DOUBLE OF KRIS IS ABLE TO GET THE SYRINGE AND PLUNGES IT INTO HIS NECK HOPING JUST TO STUN KRIS SO THE DOUBLE CAN ESCAPE. UNKNOWN TO THE DOUBLE OF KRIS, THE SYRINGE WAS NOT CALIBRATED YET AND A BIG AIR POCKET WAS STILL BETWEEN THE NEEDLE AND THE VIAL. WHEN IT IS PLUNGED INTO HIS NECK AND INJECTED IN, IT KILLS HIM. QUICKLY DECIDING WHAT TO DO - THE DOUBLE PULLS THE DEAD MAN UNDER THE TABLE AND COVERS THE TABLE DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITH THE SHEET FROM THE ROLL AWAY BED AND PUSHES THE ROLL AWAY BED OUT OF THE ROOM, AND TENDS TO DOUG WHO IS STARTING TO COME AROUND

DOUBLE KRIS: (CARING) Hey...are you OK? That looked like a nasty fall.

DOUG: (DAZED) What the hell happened??

DOUBLE KRIS: (HELPING KRIS TO HIS FEET - JOKINGLY) She kicked your ass...that's what happened!

DOUG: (LOOKING AT KRIS) Where'd she go?

DOUBLE KRIS: (MOVING SOMEWHAT BEHIND KRIS AND ANGLING HIM TOWARD THE DOOR - AVOIDING EYE CONTACT - DODGINGLY) I sedated her and took her back to her room...then I came back here to see how you were. You had best get to the infirmary and have that head checked out.

DOUG: (STILL DAZED AND CONFUSED) Yeah, I suppose you're right...Hey! what am I supposed to say? That some crazy bitch kicked me into a wall? I'd be questioned for hours!

DOUBLE KRIS: Just come up with something and I'll back whatever you say. Let's do our best to keep this under wraps...

DOUG: You really owe me this time...I think that bitch broke my head. (HIS HANDS ARE RUBBING HIS HEAD AS HE LEAVES THE ROOM)

ZOOM TO EXTREME CLOSE UP OF DOUBLE KRIS' BLUE EYES

SCENE 5 - PRESENT

EXTREME CLOSE UP OF SHERYL DAVENPORT'S BLUE EYES.

SHERYL: (SITTING UPRIGHT IN BED SCREAMING)

LEONA: (ROOMMATE - HAVING BEEN WOKEN UP - GROGGY AND CRANKY) Jesus H. Christ Sheryl! What's your problem?

SHERYL: (CALMED HERSELF) I'm sorry...just not used to having a roommate...I guess.

LEONA: I hope that's all it is...(NOW AWAKE)...you should just drop Mr. Mackey's class...He can be such a prick.

SHERYL: (DISAPPOINTED) That's just it...I can't. He is the only professor that teaches honors English and I won't give him the satisfaction of making me quit.

LEONA: Well...you'll have to do something.

SHERYL: I have a meeting with the campus psychologist today after class.

LEONA: Just great! I'm living with a crazy person...perfect...and for God's sake don't be late again!

SHERYL: That is not what a psy...oh... never mind.

SCENE 6 - PSYCHOLOGIST'S OFFICE

CUT TO PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE OF DR. CANDI BRYANT

DR. BRYANT'S OFFICE IS SMALL BUT VERY NICE. IT HAS AN ADJOINING ROOM WHERE HER GRADUATE ASSISTANT YAS MEEN WORKS. IT HAS LOW, WARM LIGHT AS SHE USES SMALL LAMPS INSTEAD OF THE STRONG LIGHTS FROM ABOVE. THERE IS AN INSTANT COMFORT ZONE INSIDE THE OFFICE. A SMALL COUCH IS ALONG THE RIGHT WALL AND HER DESK IS ON THE LEFT. A CHAIR SITS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DESK. A BOOKCASE ROUNDS OUT THE OFFICE WITH MANY BOOKS, CDS, AND FILES IN IT.

MEDIUM SHOT OF DR. BRYANT SITTING AT HER DESK LOOKING THROUGH SOME FILES. HER SHOULDER LENGTH BLOND HAIR IS PINNED BACK AND SHE IS WEARING HER READING GLASSES. HER PERSONALITY IS INSTANTLY LIKE-ABLE BUT SHE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS ON HER MIND. YAS MEEN HAS LONG, WAVY, JET BLACK HAIR AND IS TALLER THAN AVERAGE HEIGHT.

DR. BRYANT: (OUTLOUD BUT TOO HERSELF, DISGUSTED) They told me when I was hired that I would only be in this office for a couple of months. It's been two years and I still can't find anything! GRRRR! (TURNS TO FACE THE ADJOINING OFFICE BEHIND HER) Yas...is the file for Sheryl Davenport in there?

YAS: (OFFSCREEN) Yes...it's right here. Do you need it?

DR. BRYANT: Yeah, could you bring it in here please? Ms. Davenport will be here shortly and I haven't been able to review her file yet.

YAS BRINGS THE FILE INTO THE OFFICE, PAUSES, LOOKS AROUND AND COMMENTS TO DR. BRYANT

YAS: This office just wouldn't be the same without you in here. I'm glad you didn't take the office that was offered to you.

DR. BRYANT: (STUNNED AT THIS DEVELOPMENT) What office?

YAS: (HANDS THE FILE TO DR. BRYANT AND CONTINUES AS SHE HAD NEVER LEFT OFF): Because if you had, we wouldn't have been able to continue to work together. (HAPPY AND SMILING, SHE TURNS TO LEAVE. ON HER WAY BACK TO HER AREA) I'm glad you stayed.

DR. BRYANT: (STILL STUNNED AND SAYS TO YAS, BUT MORE TO HERSELF AS YAS HAS ALREADY LEFT THE ROOM): We need to have a serious talk.

SCENE 7 - APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED

CUT TO FRONT OFFICE IN THE PSYCHOLOGIST DEPARTMENT- NORMAL OFFICE ENVIRONMENT. A SECRETARY IS SITTING AT HER DESK TALKING ON THE PHONE. SHERYL DAVENPORT WALKS INTO THE OFFICE HOLDING HER BOOKS. MEDIUM SHOT OF SHERYL ENTERING THE OFFICE, SHE WALKS PAST THE CAMERA AND IT FOLLOWS HER TO THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY WHERE SHE WAITS PATIENTLY. THE SECRETARY, A SHORT, DUMPY, HARD LOOKING WOMAN IS TALKING ON THE PHONE. SHE HOLDS UP A FINGER TO SHERYL WITHOUT LOOKING UP. A FEW MORE SECONDS PASS, THE SECRETARY FINALLY HANGS UP THE PHONE AND LOOKS UP AT SHERYL.

SECRETARY: (AGGRAVATED) Can I help you?

SHERYL: (NERVOUS) Yes, I have an appointment with Dr. Bryant. My name is Sheryl Davenport. I can come back later if this is a bad...

SECRETARY: (INTERRUPTING) No...no... that won't be necessary. (FLIPPING THROUGH APPOINTMENT BOOK) She is expecting you...go on in.

SHERYL: Thank you.

SCENE 8 - PSYCHOLOGY SESSION 1

CUT TO INSIDE DR. BRYANT'S OFFICE - DR. BRYANT IS SITTING AT HER DESK LOOKING AT A FILE. IT IS A CLOSE UP OF DR. BRYANT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK LOOKING AT THE DOOR. DR. BRYANT IS IN FOCUS WITH THE DOOR FRAME OUT OF FOCUS. WHEN SHERYL DAVENPORT APPEARS IN DOORWAY, THE FOCUS POINT BLENDS TO HER.

SHERYL: Dr. Bryant?

CUT TO MEDIUM SHOT OF BOTH SHERYL AND DR. BRYANT FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF THE DOORWAY INTO YAS MEEN'S WORK AREA.

DR. BRYANT: Yes?(LOOKS UP) Ms. Davenport...please have a seat.

SHERYL WALKS INTO DR. BRYANT AND SITS DOWN IN THE CHAIR NEXT TO HER DESK. SHERYL IS A LITTLE DOWN BUT WARMS UP QUICKLY TO DR. BRYANT.

CUT TO MEDIUM CU OF DR. BRYANT

DR. BRYANT: (HAPPY DEMEANOR AND SINCERE, CARING) How have your first few days on campus been?

SHERYL: OK...I suppose. Mr. Mackey hates me.

DR. BRYANT: (TRYING TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD) Well, no one really likes Mr. Mackey...M-KAAY...

DR. BRYANT AND SHERYL: (LAUGHING)

DR. BRYANT: Seriously though...how are you adjusting to life on campus?

SHERYL: To be honest...it's harder than I thought it would be. I don't fit in anywhere. I can't get my schedule straight...Most of my teachers are understanding...except for Mr. Mackey of course. If he hadn't humiliated me in front of the class it wouldn't have been so bad. But he didn't even give me a chance to get up after I fell over the trashcan. He just started yelling!

DR. BRYANT: OK... First thing is to try and forget out what happened. Try and make a fresh start to his class. Leave extra early to make it to his class on time.

SHERYL: (QUESTIONING) I'll try...

DR. BRYANT: I want you to do more than try. Has you ever heard K.I.S.S. formula? Keep...It...Simple...Stupid. (FLASHES HER MILLION DOLLAR SMILE)

SHERYL: (SMILING) Yeah...I like that...Keep it simple stupid. Makes sense.

DR. BRYANT: Alright. (SLAPS HANDS TOGETHER) I think that we need to schedule some more sessions so I can help you adjust better. Take this form and fill it out. Bring it to me tomorrow at...umm...(FLIPPING THROUGH HER APPOINTMENT BOOK) how about 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

SHERYL: Yeah, that sounds OK. What's the form for?

DR. BRYANT: It is just your basic information for my records. It is like the form you filled out when you registered...but provides a little more information about your family. All information will be held confidential...but important for our sessions.

SHERYL: (SUDDENLY HESITANT) Why do you need more family information? I thought this was about me.

DR. BRYANT: We will be talking about you...but if you would rather...we can fill out this form later if you would like...(TAKING BACK THE FORM)

SHERYL: I would appreciate that. Thank you...

DR. BRYANT: OK... see you tomorrow then.

SHERYL GETS UP AND LEAVES. AFTER SHE LEAVE THE OFFICE...DR. BRYANT MAKES A FEW NOTES IN HER FILES AND CALLS YAS MEEN BACK IN THE OFFICE.

DR. BRYANT: Yas...would you come in here please?

YAS: (ENTERS OFFICE FROM HER WORK AREA) Yes ma'am?

DR. BRYANT: I need some background information on Sheryl Davenport. Something is going on with her.

YAS: How in-depth should I be?

DR. BRYANT: As in-depth as you can...

FADE OUT

SCENE 8 - FLASHBACK 2

FADE IN

CAMERA SET IN THE FIRST PERSON VIEW FROM THE EYES OF THE PATIENT. WHITE WALLS AND CEILING GOING BY AS SOMEONE IS BEING PUSHED ON A GURNEY DOWN A HALL. THE GURNEY GETS PUSHED INTO A ROOM THAT LOOKS THE SAME AS THE HALLWAY. THE PERSON IS LOOKING UP ... THEN TO THE LEFT WHERE A SINGLE MIRROR SITS. WE FIND OUT IT IS SHERYL AND SHE IS DRESSED IN A HOSPITAL GOWN. A PERSON DRESSED IN DOCTOR'S SCRUBS MOVES INTO HER VIEW AND EXTENDS HER ARM OUT. SHE SEES A NEEDLE MOVING TO HER ARM. WE HEAR MUFFLED NOISES AS SHE IS TRYING TO SCREAM BUT HER MOUTH IS GAGGED. THE NEEDLE GOES INTO HER ARM AND BLOOD FILLS THE SYRINGE. THE NEEDLE IS REMOVED AND BANDAGE IS PUT OVER THE WOUND. THE SAME PERSON PUTS HER ARM BACK INTO A SECURE STRAP. ANOTHER PERSONS FACE IN A SURGICAL MASK COMES UP TO HERS AND LOOKS AT EACH ONE OF HER EYES WITH A LIGHT. SHE IS THEN WHEELED INTO ANOTHER ROOM. THIS ROOM IS A NORMAL HOSPITAL ROOM. SHE LOOKS TO THE RIGHT AGAIN AS AN I.V. IS STARTED IN HER ARM. AFTER THE I.V. IS STARTED ANOTHER SYRINGE IS BROUGHT TO THE EXTENSION OF THE I.V. AND A DRUG IS ADMINISTERED. AS THIS DRUG IS SENT INTO THE TUBE HER EYES DROOP...ONCE, TWICE... CLOSED.

SCENE 9 - CONFIDING IN HER ROOMMATE

MEDIUM SHOT OF SHERYL QUICKLY SITTING UP IN BED...STARTLED AWAKE FROM HER DREAM. SHE DOESN'T REALIZE IT BUT SHE SCREAMED JUST BEFORE SHE WOKE UP. SHE REACHES UP AND RUBS HER EYES.

SHERYL: Damn it!

LEONA: (SLEEPY - WOKEN UP AGAIN - OFF SCREEN) Jesus...(MEDIUM SHOT OF HER SITTING UP IN BED) just one nightÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦just one night I wish you would sleep the whole night.

SHERYL: (MEDIUM SHOT IN BED) Oh God...I...I'm so sorry.

LEONA: (MEDIUM SHOT LYING IN BED) Oh...I know that...now tell me what these dreams are you keep having.

SHERYL: (CLOSE UP) No...Go back to sleep. It's late and all...

LEONA: (CLOSE UP SITTING IN BED) Too late already up. Now spill it.

SHERYL: (CAMERA PLACED LOW POINTING UP. CU OF SHERYL AND MEDIUM SHOT OF LEONA) Just between us?

LEONA: Of course...

SHERYL: (MEDIUM SHOT SLOWLY MOVING IN TO HER FACE) I'm not really sure what they mean. (AS THE CAMERA REACHES HER FACE IT CIRCLES SLOWLY FROM ONE SIDE OF HER FACE TO THE OTHER) They are like memories coming in flashes in my dreams. I don't remember what I am seeing...but I remember everything after I wake up like it has awoken something in my memory.

LEONA: (CLOSE UP) What do you think happened?

(PROFILE SHOT) I think I was tested on with experimental drugs...but am not sure. Something about my hands...that is why I am always wearing my gloves. (CAMERA COMING AROUND TO THE FRONT OF HER FACE - HOLDING UP HER HANDS) I know I was restrained. (CAMERA STOPS AT CU OF HER FACE) I'm... I'm really scared.

SCENE 10 - TROUBLE AT THE PIZZA PARLOR

THE INSIDE OF THE PIZZA PARLOR IS OF RECTANGULAR SHAPE WITH A BAR AT ONE END. THE REST OF THE MAIN ROOM IS TABLES. ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROOM AWAY FROM THE MAIN ROOM IS THE KITCHEN. THERE ARE TWO WAYS IN TO THE KITCHEN - ONE THAT IS VISIBLE TO THE CUSTOMERS AND ONE THAT IS IN THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BUILDING NEAR THE RESTROOMS.

CUT TO SHERYL AND LEONA SITTING AT A TABLE. DOUG IS VISIBLE TO THE CAMERA WALKING PAST THE WINDOW AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. MEDIUM SHOT

SHERYL: Class today was rough. Mr. Mackey kept us the entire time. Can you believe that crap? At this rate we will be done by mid terms...

LEONA: (INTERRUPTING) Listen...I've sat here for thirty minutes and heard you bitch about everything. Christ...I didn't think there was that much stuff to bitch about...shut up and drink already!

SHERYL: Sheesh... If this were how you treat your friends...I would hate to see how...

THE CONVERSATION BECOMES BACKGROUND CHATTER AS THE CAMERA MOVES TOWARD THE BACK ENTRANCE OF THE KITCHEN. IT ROUNDS THE CORNER AND ENTERS KITCHEN COMING TO A STOP AS A CU VIEW OF THE LOCK ON THE BACK DOOR. IT SLOWLY TURNS AND THE DOOR OPENS. A BODY MOVES THROUGH THE DOOR

CUT TO MEDIUM SHOT OF SHERYL AND LEONA STILL SITTING AT THE TABLE. DOUG IS NOW SEATED BEHIND THEM WATCHING THEIR CONVERSATION.

SHERYL: ...So what about Richard from Geography? He's cute...

LEONA: Richard? The guy with the long hair and so many freckles it makes him look sick? No way!

SHERYL: Like you will find anybody in here.

SHE GLANCES AROUND THE ROOM AND STOPS WHEN SHE SEES DOUG. SOMETHING IS RECOGNIZABLE ABOUT HIM BUT SHE CAN'T PLACE IT.

MEDIUM CU OF DOUG WORRIED THAT SHE RECOGNIZES HIM.

SHE TURNS BACK TO LEONA

SHERYL: Hey...See that guy sitting at the table behind me? Do you recognize him?

LEONA: (LOOKS OVER SHERYL'S SHOULDER) No...But I would like to. Damn...he's hot!

LEONA STARTS TO GET UP TO GO TO DOUG'S TABLE WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN THE BUILDING. THERE IS A SCREAM FROM THE KITCHEN AND A LOUD ANIMAL GROWL COMES FROM THE KITCHEN. THE OTHER CUSTOMERS GET UP AND RUN TO THE DOORS AND FIND THEM LOCKED. THE GROWLING GETS LOUDER - CLOSER. SHERYL FINDS HER WAY IN THE DARK TO THE BACK ENTRANCE OF THE KITCHEN. SHE IS SCARED BUT CONFIDENT THAT SHE CAN DO SOMETHING. SHE HEARS SOUNDS OF THE KITCHEN BEING TORN UP AND CAN SMELL FRESH BLOOD IN THE AIR. SHE SEE THE CHEF LYING IN A POOL OF BLOOD. THERE IS A LARGE CREATURE STANDING ON HIND LEGS JUST PAST THE DEAD MAN RUMMAGING THROUGH ALL THE PANS WHILE SNIFFING WILDLY. THE CREATURES HEAD IS JUST OUT OF SITE BUT THE ENTIRE BODY SEEMS TO BE COVERED IN HAIR. HER IMMEDIATE THOUGHT IS WEREWOLF...BUT SHE KNOWS SUCH THINGS ARE FICTIONAL. SHE TAKES OFF ONE OF HER GLOVES - BEING CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING. SHE SEES A BUTCHER KNIFE THAT THE CHEF THREW DOWN BEFORE HE RAN OUT OF THE KITCHEN. SHE GRABS IT AND SHAPE SHIFTS INTO THE BIG CHEF. (FOR THIS SCENE THE CAMERA SHOT WILL BE A CLOSE UP OF HER GRABBING THE KNIFE THEN CUT TO A MEDIUM CLOSEUP OF SHERYLÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢S FACE AS IT CONTINUES TO ZOOM IN. AS IT IS NEARING AN EXTREME CU OF SHERYLÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢S BLUE EYES WE SEE SPECIAL EFFECTS OF HER FACE STARTING TO CHANGE. AT THE POINT OF EXTREME CU OF HER EYES THE CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL HER IN THE FORM OF THE CHEF) STILL HOLDING THE KNIFE THE CHEF CHARGES THE BEAST. SWINGING WILDLY - THE BEAST TAKE A SWIPE IN THE CHEF'S DIRECTION. NOT BEING ABLE TO DODGE QUICK ENOUGH THE CHEF IS HIT AND SENT FLYING ACROSS THE ROOM. THE CHEF LANDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOUGH TABLE AND ONTO THE FLOOR. THE BEAST RUNS OUT OF THE DOOR AND BACK INTO THE NIGHT. THE LIGHTS FINALLY COME BACK ON AND SHERYL IS FOUND BY LEONA (IN HER NORMAL FORM) LYING UNCONSCIOUS ON THE FLOOR.

LEONA: Sheryl! Oh God! Sheryl!

SHE RUNS TO HER AND CRADLES HER HEAD IN HER ARMS. SHE SEES A GLOVE, GRABS IT AND PUTS IT BACK ON HER HAND BEING CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE UNDERSIDE OF HER HAND.

LEONA: Help! I need help here!

DOUG RUNS INTO THE KITCHEN AND HELPS LEONA GET SHERYL TO THE HOSPITAL.

DOUG: Here...let me help.

LEONA: Thanks...What the hell happened in here? Did you see?

DOUG: No...I didn't. What was the growling?

LEONA: Beats the bejezus out of me...We had better get her to the hospital.

THE DOORS SHUT AS THEY TAKE SHERYL...IN DOUG'S ARMS... OUT OF THE PIZZA PARLOR AND TO THE HOSPITAL.

FADE OUT

SCENE 11 - RECOVERY

FADE IN

SHERYL WAKES UP IN THE HOSPITAL. A DOCTOR IS LOOKING AT HER AND CHECKING HER PULSE. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLS HER ARM BACK AND NOTICES HER GLOVES ARE BACK ON HER HANDS. DOCTOR DRAKE...A YOUNG...ATTRACTIVE...MID 20'S DOCTOR IS SMILING DOWN AT HER.

DR. DRAKE: (MEDIUM CU) If you are wondering how your gloves got back on your hands...your roommate was quite insistent that you keep them on...said you have a thing about your hands. Since it was your head injuredÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦and not your hands...I didn't see a problem with letting you keep them on. What happened to them?

SHERYL: (DEFENSIVE - CU) Accident when I was a kid. They are scarred.

DR. DRAKE: I can take a look if you li...

SHERYL: (TOO FAST - MEDIUM CU) No! (SLOWING DOWN) I mean...no thank you. (FORCES A SMILE) I have been to many doctors...too many...if you know what I mean.

DR. DRAKE: (SMILING - MEDIUM) Of course...I understand completely. You have a mild concussion and you will be fine. I am going to let you rest and I'll be back in a few hours to check on your condition.

SHERYL: (MEDIUM CU) A few hours?

DR. DRAKE: (MEDIUM) You took a nasty fall. I am still not clear exactly what happened but you're fortunate for it not to be any worse than it was. After a few hours of rest I think you will be ready to go home.

SCENE 12 - DOUG

DOUG AND LEONA ARE MAKING OUT ON THE COUCH IN THE DORM ROOM. THE DOOR OPENS AND SHERYL WALKS IN. IT IS A CLOSE UP SHOT THAT PANS OUT AS THERE ARE FAINT SOUNDS OF KEYS OPENING THE DOOR. AS SHE ENTERS THE APARTMENT SHE IS FIDDLING WITH THE KEYS AND SPEAKS TO LEONA WITHOUT LOOKING UP.

SHERYL: (MEDIUM SHOT) Thanks a lot. I had to take a taxi back here. It cost me fifteen freaking dollars. Where have you be...

SHERYL LOOKS UP AND SEES THE TWO STILL MAKING OUT ON THE COUCH. DOUG HAS HIS BACK FACING THE DOOR.
SHERYL: (MEDIUM) Oh...I'm sorry. I didn't know you had company. I see you have been keeping busy.

THEY STOP KISSING AND LOOK OVER TO SHERYL.

LEONA: (BACKPEDALING AND LOOKING AT WATCH - CLOSE UP) Oh crap! I can't believe I've let time get so far away from me. I'm so sorry!

DOUG: (TURNS TO FACE SHERYL - PAN FROM SHERYL - HOLD CLOSE UP) Hello Sheryl. How are you feeling?
SHERYL: (CLOSE UP) I'm sorry...do we know each other?

DOUG: (MEDIUM CU TO MEDIUM OF BOTH DOUG AND LEONA) I don't think so. I helped Leona get you to the hospital.

LEONA: (HOLDING MEDIUM SHOT OF DOUG AND LEONA) Yeah Sheryl...He was great. He picked you up and carried you to the car like is came natural to him. He is such a natural at helping others...

DOUG: (INTERRUPTING ON PURPOSE - CHANGING SUBJECT - MEDIUM CU) You may have seen my band play before. Have you ever seen the group Downbleed play? It's just Dawg...our lead guitarist...and me right now. I play drums and sing. We are looking for a bassist if you know anyone.

LEONA: (SLAPS DOUG ON THE ARM - MEDIUM SHOT OF DOUG AND LEONA - HOLD THROUGH THEIR CONVERSATION) Hey! I play the Bass!

DOUG: (SURPRISED) Too freaking cool! Wanna play sometime?

LEONA: Hell yeah!

SHERYL: (CLOSE UP - NOT SOUNDING CONVINCING) That must be it...

DOUG: (MEDIUM SHOT - GETTING UP AND HEADING TOWARD DOOR) Well, I must be going. I will give you a call. That is just too cool you play the Bass.

LEONA GIVES DOUG A LONG PASSIONATE KISS AT THE DOOR. CLOSE WIDE ANGLE SHOT WITH SHERYL IN THE EDGE OF THE SCREEN WATCHING.

AS THE DOOR CLOSES DOUG MAKES EYE CONTACT WITH SHERYL AND SMILES - A CREEPY SMILE (CLOSE UP OF SHERYL'S FACE REACTING TO THE SMILE. SHE TILTS HER HEAD IN CONFUSION AND FEAR.)

FADE TO

SCENE 13 -FINAL TEASER

THE CAMERA SHOT IS SKIMMING ALONG THE TOP OF THE GRASS AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT TWO FEET THROUGH A PARK. AN OPEN MANHOLE COMES INTO VIEW AND THE CAMERA DROPS DOWN INTO THE SEWERS. IT MEANDERS ITS WAY THROUGH THE BIG, OPEN SEWERS THAT ARE BIG ENOUGH TO STAND IN. AROUND ONE MORE BEND AND THE CAMERA EYE PICKS UP SOMETHING MOVING IN THE DISTANCE - JUST AS THE BIG ANIMAL MOVES OUT OF FRAME - IT TURNS THE CORNER. AS SOON AS THE CAMERA HAS TURNED THE CORNER THE VIEW IS REALLY CLOSE TO THE ANIMALS FOOT - A DOG STARTS BARKING - GROWLING AND ATTACKING WILDLY AT THE LARGE ANIMAL. THE CAMERA MOVES SLOWLY UP THE BIG ANIMALS LEG AS IT IS SLOWLY RAISED UP. IT STOMPS DOWN AND THERE THE SOUND OF THE DOG SQUEALING - THEN ABRUPT SILENCE. THE CAMERA STILL PANS FARTHER UP THE CREATURE UNTIL WE SEE THE FACE OF KRIS FROM THE LAB - THE BLUE BLINDING BEHIND HIS EYES.

FADE TO BLACK

XXX

2003-11-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

Remembering the Past

The first science fiction movie Xyon can remember going to at the theater is Return of the Jedi. He remembers standing in the longest line he had ever seen at the time, and thinking how strange to have a line this long for just a movie. Wouldn't it be playing there tomorrow night? Next week? For a few weeks in the future? What was the big deal about seeing it on the night it came out?

The answer to that question would be answered after he saw the movie. So began Z02 quest for science fiction and fantasy. But before even this he liked Science Fiction and just did not realize it. Some of his favorite shows had been Buck Rogers, Space Giants, Shazam, Planet of the Apes, and The Incredible Hulk.

When he was 15 he started collecting comic books. Web of Spiderman #7, by Peter David, was the first comic book he ever read. More fantasy than science fiction, but off to a good start. For the first few years he was content to read Spiderman, a little X-Men, and the a new independent comic book - a little known comic book that was drawn in black and white - called Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles. When Sandman exploded on the scene, it was only after the local comic book dealer gave him a copy of Sandman #11 did he take notice of this series and is still reading it today (Newly published Hardcover Sandman Graphic Novel Endless Nights).

Finally Star Trek: The Next Generation came out and he had his first real dose of Science Fiction. But after watching the first few episodes, he lost interest until the end of the third season, he had been looking in the TV Guide, and it listed an upcoming episode called "Best of Both Worlds" as must see. He was working at Food City at the time and had to set his VCR to record it. Later that night he was watching the episode when the cliffhanger ended the season. He yelled at the TV, screaming, "What?!?!" -- and that was that. Future installments of Star Trek would be the main crux of his sci-fi knowledge.

The main movies he has been drawn to are sci-fi related as well. "Aliens" (then backtracking to see "Alien" while wondering how the hell he could have missed this one) to "Total Recall" - All the "The Terminator" pictures, Stargate, and all the Star Trek movies just to name a few. X-Files was a big hit with Z02, as most other sci-fi shows were and still are (such as Stargate SG1).

He is an avid reader of the Star Trek Books, owning all of Peter David's books and citing him as the "written Star Trek Master." He has attended several conventions - San Diego Comic Con in 1995; Heroes Convention in Charlotte - 1996, 2002, 2003; Knoxville Sci-Fi Toy Show 2002,2003; and DragonCon in Atlanta 2003. His autograph collection has grown quite large in the past 2 years - the time he has gotten back in to attending conventions.

2003-10-26T17:33:00.000-05:00

VOLS take BAMA out in 5th OT

Picking up in the 4th quarter, just over 2:00 to go, and the score 20-13 Bama.

3rd down and Alabama needs ~8 yards for a first down. They get 7 & 7/8 yards - short by a few inches. They try a little trickery by acting like they are going to go for the 1st down, then a the last minute they run on the punting unit. This almost get TN a penalty for 13 men on the field, but before they snap the ball - the last guy gets off just in time. What this does do is prevent TN from being able to return the punt and they fair catch it on the 24yd line.

Tennessee, without any timeouts left, puts on an impressive drive of 76 yards and scores to tie the score (20-20) with ~26 seconds left on the clock.

Tennessee decides to "pooch" kick the kickoff. The Alabama player returns the ball just past the 50 yard line. The player to start slowing him down is the kicker and he gets called for a facemask penalty. If he didn't do the penalty, the player might have run for a winning touchdown. So tack on 15 more yards and Alabama has it 1st and 10 on the Tennessee 35. One quick running play, to get the ball in the middle of the field, is all 'Bama have time for and try a 45 yard field goal to win the game. A high snap and being partially blocked prevents the ball from going through the uprights and it falls short.

20-20 end regulation

OVERTIME

1st OT -

Tennessee Scores Touchdown without too much trouble and kick the extra point.

Alabama drives down to the 8 yard line. The next 3 plays are failed attempts to get in the endzone and they are faced with 4th and goal from the 8 yard line. A perfectly thrown pass later and the Tide is kicking the extra point to send the game on to the next OT.

27-27 - end 1st OT

2 OT -

Alabama has the ball first and drives down and scores a touchdown with an extra point (kick) and then it is the VOLS turn.

Tennessee gets sacked on first down - pushing them back 9 yards. The second and third down plays fail and they are looking at 4th and 19. The down starts and they pass the ball down to the 6 yard line securing the 1st down. 1st and Goal, the VOLS pass the ball over the middle into the endzone where it is tipped by an Alabama player and lands in the hands of Tennesee (Martin). After Tennessee kicks the extra point they go to the 3rd OT.

34-34 end 2 OT

3rd OT - Now the teams have to try a 2-point conversion after making a touch down instead of kicking for 1...

Tennessee come out first and completes a 25 yard touchdown pass but miss the 2-point conversion.

Alabama also scores a touchdown and is forced to go for 2. Alabama passes the ball over the middle trying to win the game but it is intercepted by the VOL defense sending it to a 4th OT.

40-40 end 3rd OT

4th OT -

This overtime has BOTH teams getting field goal to send it to the final overtime period.

43-43 end 4th OT

5th (Final)

Tennessee drives toward the endzone. After a couple of running plays, the Vols are looking at 1st and 10 from the 10.2 line (still possible to get a first down). After a 3 yard pick up, the VOLS get a break as 'Bama is called for off-sides. Now it is 2nd and 4 yards to a first down - 4.2 yards to a TD - Claussen (VOLS QB) is uncharacteristically running around the right side and when he gets near the sideline he dives for the endzone. The ball goes on the inside of the marker at the endzone and barely crosses the line. It should have been a touchdown, but was a 1st down. The next play the VOLS score AND get the 2-point conversion.

Alabama is finally stopped as it looked as if their offensive line collapsed on a few plays allowing the TN defense to stop the running game. The last 4th down play of the game had TN successfully defending a pass into the endzone.

Final Score 51-43 (5OT)

SHEW! Great game to watch. The best football was during OT - and most of the football during regulation was very, very sloppy.

I have to give nods to the Alabama QB - he played with shoulder injury all day and night. Every time he was hit he had pain and continued to play on - ALMOST leading his team to a win. I thought that Sean Williams would be the TN's biggest threat (and he was a big threat) but the QB was the real threat.

Go VOLS!
_________________

2003-10-25T13:46:00.000-04:00

Some More Picture at the Neil Gaiman Reading

2003-10-22T08:55:00.000-04:00

Gaiman Reading

This past Saturday I travelled to Charlotte to attend the Novello Festival of Reading with featured author Neil Gaiman.

My mother joined me for the ride to Charlotte saturday morning. We enjoyed a great lunch at a brewery in the downtown area. Mom had a Atkins power salad and I had pork chops with white cheddar mashed potatoes, grean peas (unshelled and sautéed in olive oil and herbs), with a garnish of cranberries, apples, and cinnamon delight.

After lunch we headed to the Concord area to find a store for Mom. We were told that that a strip mall there might have a Nordstroms (sp?) store where she thought they would have Bobbi Brown makeup which I learned more about than I would have normally have liked... Anyway, there wasn't a store there like we had been told so we turned around and went back to find out hotel. Our hotel was off I-77 on the south side of Charlotte. After we had checked in, we asked the helpful lady behind the desk about a Norstroms (again sp?) and she said there was one just up the road (at this exit!) but with one problem. It wouldn't be open until 2004. Mom sighed and we "gave in" until she went on to say that there was a mall - South Gate Mall - up there as well.

After relieving my alchohol infested bladder we darted up there to see if she could find the Bobbi Brown makeup. She found it at Parks Belk. This wasn't just any Parks Belk, but it was GIANT Parks Belk. I suppose this is what they are like when you really visit one. The son of a bitching store had 4 levels and would be heaven to most women in this area. But then again, they had all the nice stores that would be attractive to most anybody (most that we don't have here and when we do get them, they are scaled down dramatically). Anyway - Bobbi Brown make up and a Down Comforter later (this was from another department store that I forget), now Mom is happy, and we head back to the hotel to get ready for the nights reading by Mr. Gaiman.

We reach the The Neighborhood Theater and are the third people in line. Mom, who I figured would not want to stand in line went to the restraurant next door, drank wine, and read her book Mystic River. After a couple of hours waiting in line we were finally ushered into the theater at about 6:30 or so. We got great seats (second row, fist and second seat)

The reading was great. He first read a essay on himself - where he got certain ideas, brief biography, and a bit about the theological ideas that pops up in his works from time to time. He ended up, after a few wondeful poems, with a short story that he had written early on in his career and had pull out of the "bottom drawer" where it had apparently sat for a couple of decades. The editors he had proof the piece, way back when, said that they were not really impressed so he just shelved it. Apparently they had no idea of what they were reading, because it was great. It had been put into digital form and will be used in an upcoming anthology concerning goth.

Afterwards, both sick and tired from reading, Mr. Gaiman did a signing for over 500 people who had formed a really long line. Having great seats proved to be our downfall as the there was only one way out to the autograph table - through the back of the theater. When word was given that there was going to be a signing - people began rushing back and by the time we got up and stepped out into the isle, we were in line.

Mom didn't want to stand in line for 2 more hours so I walked her out the back exit (to the back parking lot) and we walked around to the front of the theater. She went down to the restraurant where she had her wine earlier and I went back in and took a few pictures. I talked to one of the people who was working the event and he assured me that I could go eat and get back in time to get an autograph. So a chicken strip appetizer later I get back to the theater and find my way in line. Mom had finished up and agreed to come in and get another one for me as well (only 1 autograph per person) - so between Mom and me we got Sandman #1 and the new hardcover Endless Nights signed. Endless Nights I got personalized to me.

We made our way back to the hotel for the night and made it back to Bristol the next day in time to attend my nephews birthday party. Great weekend!

2003-10-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

New Squawbox Comment Section Put In Place

I have switched comment providers. After visiting TOYS' blog I think that the one she uses offers the best feedback possibility in the comments.

In effect, I am giving you the ability to get as creative as you would like to be. If you want you can create your own post with the same coding for blogger - add emoticons that are referenced on Squawbox or reference from your own server - reference pictures - or just leave a simple comment.

I have copied the comment fromt the last 4 posts and put them in the comment box so not all the past comments are lost.

Also, I will keep my other account with Rate Your Music active until I see that the new ones are working good.

Enjoy and be creative!

2003-10-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

Gaiman Reading

I will be attending a reading that Neil Gaiman will be doing in Charlotte, NC Saturday night, sponsored by the Public Library there. It is called "A Novella evening with Neil Gaiman. Other big name authors have done appearances over the summer during this series, but Gaiman's is the only one that has sold out.

I have no idea what he will be reading - I am thinking "Wolves in the Walls" his new childrens/all age book - with Dave McKean.

Should be an interesting evening. He has just returned from a European Tour/Signing. I am not sure he will be doing a signing, but I hope he does as I have a couple of things I would really love to get signed.

His books, but more importantly - a collector's edition of the 1st issue of Death - The High Cost of Living and Endless Nights.

The best thing I have of his signed, well actually 3 things (I can't pick) An original page, oversized artist panel page - with the words pasted on the page ready to be inked and sent to printers. It is signed by both Neil Gaiman and Jill Thompson (has Delirum on the page) - Sandman #44, Page 14.

the second is the award winning issue of The Sandman #19 -"A Midsummer Night's Dream" - signed by both Gaiman and Charles Vess.

Both are framed and hanging on the walls at my apt.

The 3rd thing is The Sandman #8 (1st appearance of Death) signed by Gaiman and protected in an acid free mylar sleave.

A good runner up and probably more rare - is his short story "Snow, Glass, Apples" that Charles Vess provided the illustrations for. Again, prose with the beautiful style of Vess to enhance the read. This was a limited edition ashcan sized booklet signed by both Gaiman and Vess. (I know Charles Vess - He lives in my region)

I'm such a geek....

2003-10-12T20:26:00.000-04:00

Kill Bill vol 1 - the fourth film by Quentin Tarantino

Just got home from a dinner and a movie all by myself. It was quite wonderful actually - spending time with myself after the past couple of weeks was a welcomed treat. But that is another story for another topic.

Warning - even though I don't give away the plot, there may be places in my commentary that might give away a certain something you might want to experience at the theater. If that is the case - come back and read this post after you have seen the movie. Proceed with caution.

This was a very simple film about revenge, compounded exponentially.

After an exploding beginning sequence, we are propelled back into the film world of Quentin Tarantino. In Kill Bill, Tarantino uses the same "disjunct time" style of story telling to weave the viewer back and forth from present to past and hinting toward the future much like he did in Pulp Fiction. Starting in the middle of the story and stitching the plot together by piece by mis-timed piece, Tarantino does give parts of the plot away before it is seen but makes up for it by doubling, tripling, and quadrupling the action to unbelievable proportions. But if you go by the current theme in the film where the UBER action is taking place(Japanese Samurai sequences) the action it is totally believable along with fantastical jumps from all the henchmen.

The jump to black and white during the big fight sequence was masterful as it served two purposes. First it toned down the bloodbath for the audience that was rapidly rising and, second, it was a defense mechanism for our protagonist to keep the matters at hand (survival) in full focus.

The cinematography was beautiful as was the use of silence to emphasize the severity of some situations.

The anime sequences which were very powerful, allowing the already extreme violence to be taken up to the next level. This was another audience saving technique as extreme anime violence is a more accepted format and the film's violence level was already over most other films standards.

Kill Bill vol 1 is a must see. Most of the movie is void of realism and if you are expecting to see things that could really happen, you will be disappointed. So going into this movie check your realism at the door and enjoy the ride. 5/5.

2003-10-09T13:21:00.000-04:00

Enterprise, Angel, Smallville fall 2003 - So Far...

My take -

1. Enterprise - I continue to like the 3rd season of this show. They have stepped the action up, the stories are leading to a ultimate point but are still self-contained and well written, and Bakula's Archer is finally getting comfortable with the character.

I thought last nights episode was excellent. It started strong and never slowed down. At one point it was like Night of the Living Vulcan.

Only 2 complaints so far - the first few episodes of the season had Archer almost too bitter. Last night's episode he finally started showing balance (which he needs) and the special effects are either the best I have ever seen or the cheesiest. The angle of the Enterprise entering the massive astroid field was amazing but the shuttle pod landing on one was as if they used up too much money before they filmed it. The T'Pal half nude shots are bothering a lot of people this season, but I think it is an natural progression that Star Trek has taken - the original show pushed the envelope with those real short skirts...

2. Smallville - The first 2 shows have been good. The legend of Superman has always been fantasy and they are playing it well. One thing I am real tired of: Get Clark and Lana together or keep them apart for good. I said to myself last night, if they don't get together after this episode - I will have a hard time with this whole season. When it fell back into the same ol same ol as the past 2 season with these characters, it almost felt like a good stopping point for the show. They need to trust each other more by using each others strengths. They only see their weaknesses.

3.Angel -Angel is continuing to be good, but it is still missing something. Over the summer I rewatched the entire first season and realized what I had been missing. When Angel started out, it was small group with huge stories. A closeness came from the group because they were overcoming huge odds. As the seasons have progressed, the group has continued to grow and the stories have not. I am not saying they are not good, they just don't have the impact that they used to. The fate of the entire world in the balance (most of last season) - is HUGE, but it has been played too many times to be effective.

This season they seem to be getting back to the roots a bit - bringing in characters that are familiar, if not annoying - Harmony has always annoyed me, but I think I like her bitter more than lovey dovey. She does have a right to be pissed at Spike (as much of a right as a dead vampire has) because he just used her and she knows this.

Adding James Marsters to the cast this year was really needed and welcomed. It will be fun to watch him and Angel spar it out. ("I had to get in a few shots, didn't I?") The story last night was really good with all the twists and turns. Spike's character is wide open right now and it seemed like Spike was walking a fine line of good and evil and thought he could possibly take a couple of steps off in the wrong direction. I don't think we will see Spike as a ghost for too long. He revealed last night that he was on a one way track to Hell and if something wasn't done he would be going sooner than he wished. Then they really he really shocked me - he showed weakness to Fred. Totally out of character for Spike (unless it was the slayer), but it was done beautifully and will add more depth to his character.

Well... there you have it. Long enough now to effectively make no one read this far. But it was a lot of fun to write. :) It took me the time for Vaughn Armstrong's Enterprise Blues to play twice (only 5 songs) to write this. Vaughn Armstrong is Admiral Forrest off Enterprise (and a host of other characters (mostly villians). His music is an ukulele and harmonica and was recorded and sung in his living room. Very limited edition.

2003-10-08T20:33:00.000-04:00

Sandman and Endless Nights

I don't know how many of you are Neil Gaiman readers - but if you know his name then you know it is synonymous with The Sandman from the Vertigo line of DC Comics.

This was a masterfully written series about Morpheus, the king of Dreams, and the other Endless - Desire, Destiny, Delirium, Despair, Destruction, and Death.

Gaiman wrote The Sandman comic book for 10 years and the combined total of all his stories in this series are over 2000 pages. He helped mold the minds of people, who thought of comic books as childish, to see what a powerful and adult medium it could be and helped open the eyes of many women readers who previously hadn't had a big impact in the comic book industry. It won an award that had never been won by a comic book before and never will be again thanks to new rules put in place after Gaiman and Company took the trophy home.

The Sandman stories are a rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy. He uses contemporary fiction, historical drama, and legend/myth to weave his tales and bring new perspectives to old tales using haunting, bittersweet, nightmarish, and even erotic styles.

His new work, Endless Nights, a 160 page hardcover comic book is by far the best layout and style that I have ever seen in a comic book. It is sleek in design and has a multitude of majestic, abstract art to welcome you as you begin the adventure back into the world of the Endless. These wonderfully crafted images are by Dave McKean, long time collaborator with Gaiman and the one responsible for all of the tremendous covers during the 10-year run of the series. The artists Gaiman has picked to draw his stories in this book are some of the best in the industry right now (comics and books). They include: Glenn Fabry, Milo Manara, Miguelanxo Prado, Frank Quitely, P. Craig Russell, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Barron Story. Gaiman says that returning to these characters was like going home.

Who are the Endless?

Gaiman says it best in his introduction, "...the Endless are not gods, for when people cease to believe in gods they cease to exist. But as long as there are people to live and dream and destroy, to desire, to despair, to delight or go mad, to live lives and affect each other, then the Endless will be there, performing their functions. They do not care a jot whether or not you believe in them."

I have just picked up my copy and have read the first of seven tales - one for each of the Endless. It was a death story. It was sad and oddly symbolic to the current events that are in our lives. One down, only six to go as they may take awhile because I do not want for it to be over too fast.

Welcome home Mr. Gaiman, it has been too long.

2003-09-30T09:33:00.000-04:00

How Many Vegetables Had To Die For Your Stupid Salad OR An Evening With AntiTrust and Downbleed

This is a post from over at Team Rock about a show I went to about 2 weeks ago. I wanted to post it over here so my archives would collect it....

One would think that with the Rock City Cafe due to close next weekend that the mood would be somewhat depressing. Not the case when AntiTrust and Downbleed are there! A favorite place of both bands, Rock City Cafe will be remembered well by both bands(even if I was only able to make it this one night). This past Saturday night marked both bands final, full performances there. I had been on top of a mountain in Mendota, VA all day (hawk watch) and decided to head on up and catch the shows.

DownBleed

The night before, Downbleed blew the top off the 7th Street Cafe in Bristol and Saturday night was no different. The ability to draw the audience into the bands world of rock with their hard and heavy music has become Downbleed's trademark (at least for me).

The Band:

Dawg - When you talk to Dawg, his is one of the nicest persons you could possibly talk with. The thing not to do though, is get between him and his guitar. He blisters through each song while making it all look so easy. Don't let his nice guy charm deceive you because he is meaner than hell on the guitar.

Leona - She is the Bassest extraordinaire. Her red hair only fuels her passion as she makes the bass contort to her wishes. She has fingers of steel that whip over the strings and sometimes applies so much pressure that they snap every now and again.

Doug - Drummer and Lead Vocals. Doug's heart and soul downbleeds onto the stage with every song. His intensity on the drums are matched with his equally intense vocals. He is only upstaged on stage by his son...

...which happened Saturday night. During their 3rd song, "Bleed For Me," Gunter, Doug and Leona's 7 year old son, grabbed a microphone and accompanied his dad on vocals. He had complete stage control as he danced around (moshing for kids 101) and singing. Like father - Like son.

AntiTrust

After a brief intermission, AntiTrust came on stage and matched Downbleed's intensity on stage, if not surpassing it a few times. But first I should back up a bit...

... when I arrived, I ate dinner then went into the concert area and sat far in the back. I was hidden in a deep booth. Being both worn out and sunburned, I wanted just to sit and gel a bit. AntiTrust was busy setting up their stuff and getting the sound tweaked right. They were worried that Downbleed was not going to show up (who had the Amp they share) and, to say the least, the tension was high. Between, as they put it - "PMSing" and thinking they would have to run their sound through the board (and not the amp) the tempers were running short. It was pretty amusing scene to see (sorry Chris, I had to put it in!). Also add the fact that they had to replace the drummer recently and he only had one real practice session with the band (Friday night). So they were a little on edge, but that is ok because it showed me how much they care about their music and doing things right. In the end it all would come together pretty nicely.

At times using the whole concert area as their stage, AntiTrust's set was composed of mostly original with a couple of covers. They played everything from their "slow down" song, which was a cool original that reminded me of a Type O Negative kinda of song, to their "Moshing" song with was pure, hard metal through and through. Chris' (lead singer) stage performance was top notch and I couldn't find the flaws with the drums (I am sure they could tell you though), in fact, he put on a brilliant drum solo. If this is what JB is like on his first show, with only 4 hours of real practice, he will be that much better when he is able to really learn the songs. Adam's (lead guitar) guitar playing ability was really amazing (the last song in particular). I had moved to the front of the stage (right side) and watched as his hands flew over the guitar at tremendous speeds. I almost felt sorry for the guitar! Ferg (bass) and Bob (guitar) did a great job as well. The were both running around on stage and off, keeping the audience trying figure out what would be next. Expect great things from AntTrust in the future.

The only flaw in the show, that I could really tell, was a little difficulty with the sound and the microphone. Keep in mind, they were doing it themselves - at times having to adjust the board while they were in the middle of a song. They seemed to work through it all pretty good considering.

In this day of bands being thrown into the spotlight before they are really ready and one or two people emerging as "leader(s)" of the band, it is really refreshing to see bands like AntiTrust and Downbleed that have equality amond the ranks (or lack of ranks). Both bands have an all or nothing attitude toward their respective bands with the whole band involved with the decision making process. In my opinion, for what it worth, this style will keep them together for a long time. Let's hope anyway. :)

Do yourself a favor and make one of these shows soon!

I need to thank Downbleed and AntiTrust (espically Chris - you freakin' rule!) for making me feel like the guest of honor. I truly am only a bloke who writes at length about shows I go and see and didn't deserve all the praise. Just keep your shows rocking and often. Thank you all for a tremendous evening and one I hope to repeat real soon!

Xyon

2003-09-16T08:43:00.000-04:00

They could have at least warned me....

So I am reading this article on the Emmy Awards. I think, "Shit, I didn't know it aired - well, let's see who won." I read the entire article - seeing who won here...there...read the big suprise emmy...all of it and then came the last sentence.

"The Primetime Emmys will air on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX."

WTF! Pre-recorded! Those bastards, they could have mentioned that in the article....

2003-09-15T14:31:00.000-04:00

So I went to see Type O Negative…

Son of a Bitch, where to begin? So much happened –

Ok, Rock and I head to Spartanburg, SC to a place called Ground Zero for the Type O Negative show with Lacuna Coil opening on Friday night. After an uneventful drive and a quick dinner we still arrived earlier than we thought we would. They have just finished the section of I-26 between the TN/NC border and Asheville. Hell of a difference than what it used to be…

We arrive 2 hours early of the club opening and get in line. As luck would have it, there were only about 30 people ahead of us. As soon as we get in line, the cars steadily start entering the parking lot and the line quickly grows behind us.

From way on the other side of the parking lot I start hearing some one yelling. It gradually started picking up volume and I turn to look and I see a guy running across the parking lot, screaming about how Type O Negative rules and waving his arms about. I immediately think, “What kind of drug this guy is on?” I may have even verbally said it out loud, not sure. Then I see the camera he is running toward. The crowd starts laughing at the poor individual whom is apparently a fan doing something to get something free. We hear the “director” tell him to go back and do it again. As soon as the parking lot dust clears (from the last car to drive in) – the guy goes again.

“GRRRRR…YEAAAAH! TYPE O NEGATIVE FUCKING RULES! YEAH – OOOOO – TYPE OF NEGATIVE FUCKING RULES! YEAAAAH! GRRRRRR – OOOO – TYPE O NEGATIVE! YEEEEAAAAAAH!”

This time the crowd gives him a big cheer and applause. The “director” looks at the crowd while the poor guy is catching his breath and says: “Please – quiet on the set during the action. We are trying to film here.” He then turns to the guy and says – “One more time.” As the guy, who is not a small fellow, walks back across the long, gravel, parking lot, he turns to the line and says with a slight chuckle and grin, “Anymore noise and I will fucking kill you all!” So once more he runs across the parking lot screaming.

Then the director turns his attention to two chicks who were dressed somewhat Goth that had been leaning up against the Type O Negative bus watching the guy sprinting and yelling as he ran toward the camera. The camera gets shoved in their face and they have to scream for the camera. After it was over, the participants walk back over and get in line.

It turned out they were filming for the next Type O Negative DVD. They must do something similar at every show. Must have an idea that people will do most anything to have a “chance” to get on the DVD (and get a free copy if they do). But I digress…

Anyway, Rock and I don’t have tickets but were sure that because of our place in line, we would definitely get them. The sun had finally gone down over the horizon and it was starting to cool down. I was already ready for a beer and still had to wait on the people with tickets to go first before we could buy them. Then someone came up and said that they had an extra ticket and I could buy his extra. I cleared it with Rock, (he wasn’t going to be drinking and knew I was parched) bought his ticket, and went straight for the bar.

After Rock re-joined me up front (4th row back, left center stage) we patiently waited for the bands to start. I had 3 beers in me and was already talking to everybody around. We realized were standing next to Adam, who is the bassist from antiTrust (a local band from SW Virginia) and his girlfriend (sorry, I never did catch your name ;) ).

Lacuna Coil started and was real damn good. I had no idea what to expect. They had duel lead singers – one male and one female. Their music seemed to draw from both the Goth Metal Underground Scene and from Classic Rock. At one point they could have been a Heavy Metal version of Heart. Hailing out of Italy, Lacuna Coil signed with an International Label in 1998. They have toured with everybody from Anthrax to Type O Negative. A band that has recently made it big that they could be compared to is Evanescence, although Lacuna Coil has been together for a few years longer.

End promo.

Ok, so they kicked @ss. After Lacuna Coil, the crowd was pretty damn compacted into the stage and was able to relax a bit before the Type O started. A good 30 minutes before starting the main show, they started playing circus music - circa 1920’s Big Band Era. When it first started, everybody thought it was seemingly the start of the show, but after 30 minutes of this, the crowd was ready to fight. As the band started, the first fist was thrown.

So as soon as the band starts, a guy and girl start pushing and throwing fists. The big push of the crowd toward the front acted as a barrier between the two and, like an idiot, I step backwards and angle the girl in front of me to help prevent the two from getting back within fist range. Luckily everything worked out until another girl got within hair distance.

As Type O Negative started to really rock the place, I notice the girl I had got in front of me. She was bobbing her head to the music, really getting into the song when a hand reached in from behind and snatched her long, brown hair. Her head snapped backwards as she was drug back through the crowd to my right. I decided to just stay focused on the band this time. I am not sure what happened to her after that…

Near the end of the show, the lead singer stops and informs the crowd to give him a couple of minutes because he has to shit. He leaves the stage in a hurry and we all think he is trying to find a bathroom. After about a minute he comes back and says there is not one back that way he can use and continues for a couple of more songs. Nobody knew if he was serious or not.

For the most part, the rest of the concert was uneventful. The band had the crowd really pumped up. On a few songs, some of the crowd tried to mosh. This seemed to happen right behind me and I got shoved forward into other people. Determined to hold my ground, I steadied myself until the idiots were done. Luckily the majority of the crowd was not into flaying themselves around like idiots. The next thing these idiots started doing was trying to crowd surf. This didn’t work either. They would get up and instead of going over people they got stuck on top of one person and just pushed back and forth. As in, “Fuck no, don’t bring them my way…” I was able to avoid these imbeciles until the last one.

The whole set, I was looking forward to one song in particular. “Black No.1” Type O ended on this song and I was really into the song and didn’t notice this girl going up in the air right behind me. This bitch had been annoying me the whole concert anyway. She would push her way up in front of me, stand there for a few minutes and then push her way back again. So when I found her on top of my head, shoulders, and back, I was not pleased. I tried to move her over to somewhere else but nobody else wanted her either. If it hadn’t been Rock, who had her legs, she would have already fallen. What I should have done was just move out from under her and let her fall, but I suppose I am just too nice to do that. Keep in mind, this was not a small girl – not huge – but not small either. At one point I was I felt like being stuck under ice and not able to find the way back to the top. Finally I just started bringing her down as best I could. I didn’t really want her to split her head open on the concrete floor. Yes, there was some groping on the way down (I had to have some reprieve from her ruining the song I had been waiting to hear). After getting her back down, she looked over at her guy friend and said how she didn’t go anywhere. He just said, “Nobody wanted you.” The look on her face, at that moment, was priceless.

So now the song is halfway over and I am pissed off. I decide, “fuck it” I am getting a beer. I had gone without one since the first band. I go back to the bar. After getting my beer, I try and enjoy the rest of the song when I feel another pair of hands on my back, almost steadying me. I whip around to see what fool has grabbed me now, when I realize it was a Sheriff just letting me know he was passing behind me. Glad I didn’t swing before I looked…

After the show we hang out for autographs at the end. I heard Lacuna Coil was pissed off because they didn’t like the club. When they played, it took half of their set to get the sound to sound decent, so I could see how they would be upset. But most of them had locked themselves up in their tour bus.

Over at Type O Negative’s tour bus a huge crowd had gathered and some bitch (blonde and looking suspiciously like the one who landed on top of me) was banging her hand on the bus door. I have gone to some big shows before, but never have I seen fans banging on the tour bus door. It was amazing. We wandered back around to Lacuna Coil’s bus and quietly waited to see if they might come out and sign a few items. I wanted to buy a CD but never saw a stand set up anywhere. Finally they came out, and even though they were upset with the venue, managed to be real nice and sign for the small group that wanted to meet them.

Shortly thereafter, their tour bus leaves and we head back over to the Type O Negative bus where the crowd has thinned considerably. After another long wait, Peter – the lead singer – comes off the bus and signs a few items. I was able to get my “Bloody Kisses” CD signed and Rock was able to get all of his stuff signed as well. The highlight of meeting Peter was that he was hilarious. He would fuck with you before he signed. I was the first person he signed for and our conversation went something like this:

Peter: “Hello, how are you doing” – reaching to shake my hand
Me: “Doing pretty well and yourself?”
Peter: “Pretty Good, then I was born.”
Me: “Shit happens I suppose”
Takes my CD and signs it
Me: “Thank you, Great Show Tonight!”
Peter holds up his hand like Spock from Star Trek
Peter: “Live Long and Prosper”
I return the gesture
Me: “Peace, Long Life”
Peter: “Yeah, but can you do this??”
Peter now starts moving his fingers around in all sorts of funky ways
Peter: now looking at the rest of the people: “OK, who is next?”
The crowd gets silent as they are not sure they want to be next now

After Rock gets his stuff signed we head back to Johnson City and arrive roughly at 5am. I tried my best to stay awake for the trip back, but somewhere around Asheville I started nodding off. Great Trip!

2003-09-09T14:51:00.000-04:00

Reworking the Blog

Sorry for not posting much lately... I am working on revamping the blog. I am a little tired of the look of this one (although I am keeping all this code, because I really do like its look). Hopefully soon I will have it all done. I will post a few more picture here to continue some filler space...

A few Dragon Con Pictures -

These two were whipping people

The lovely violinist for the Goth group CruxShadows

2003-08-14T19:59:00.000-04:00

Flood Picture Related Entry

The pictures were a combination of pictures that various city employees took. I was in the Excursion when that picture was taken. We were placed there to block off that point of the Downtown Loop. We watched horrified as our tax dollars were wasted when the firetrucks arrived, the extention ladder extended to the 30 something guy, and the resources wasted on someone stuck in 3+ feet of water with little current. Oh well, good practice for the firefighters if a real emergency presented itself... So, yes it was work related - as we couldn't survey very well in that kind of rainfall so we had free time
that day to help.

2003-08-13T14:22:00.000-04:00

Shaka and the Rains Came

On August 8th, Johnson City received over 5" of rain in under 24hrs. Here is the results of such a deluge. Keep in mind, that Johnson City has previosly broke records for both June and July for precipatation for those months, so everything was really saturated.

Before Dawn, the Rains Came

Buffalo River (Where it runs past the golf course)

Downtown Loop - Our Surveying vehicle (Excursion) can be seen in the distance.
We used it to close the road off from all the idiots who thought their cars could float

Submerged Van - This guy had to be rescued from 3' of water with little current and his van towed

State of Franklin Lake

Another shot of State of Franklin Lake

West Watauga @ State of Franklin

Idiots

2003-08-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

Mikey

No - I haven't gotten the pictures worked yet. I went to BMS (Bristol Motor Speedway) today with ROCK and watched a little testing by a few teams. Most notable moment was shaking Michael Waltrip's hand and wishing him good luck this weekend in Michigan and next weekend in Bristol. Oh well, time to head in - gotta sleep, long day tomorrow. Since payday is Thursday, I have to come up with a way to get money to see dOWNBLEED and company tomorrow night at Poor Richards. Appropriate - 'cause right now I am poor. Try to get the pics soon.

2003-08-11T08:32:00.000-04:00

Flood Pictures - Coming Soon

I can almost feel the anticipation because I finally have some pictures of the flood. I will post them later today, when I get them uploaded to my storage space. I have to rework the pictures so they are not so friggin big - that is the delay. Also, I have a bunch, so I will just post the better (worse) pictures for now and may add a few later. Everybody hold a collective breath as they will be up soon.

2003-08-07T21:23:00.000-04:00

More pics from Chicago

Yes - this is some more filler material. I am going to put some EXCLUSIVE pictures from the great flood of Johnson City tomorrow (hopefully) - and get back into a rhythm of sorts in my posting of my "rambling" through life - Until then, enjoy these...taken with my digital camera in my binoculars...

Rex and Dave outside the Pickwick

Lighthouse from boat taxi

Big sailboat from boat taxi

Another big boat from boat taxi

The original Uno's - the birth of deep dish pizza

2003-07-31T08:45:00.000-04:00

UBER Dweeb (or Damn, My Dogs are Really Barking Right Now)

A Chicago picture with the UBER dweeb! Ha! Thanks to my Jaded partner in crime through downtown Chicago for sending this picture of me in my utmost dweebyness!

2003-07-28T13:17:00.000-04:00

It is good to be from an American Family

I found this piece of weird news while browsing the INTERNET. It is from our favorite place these days, Iraq.

On May 25 in the town of Baqubah, Iraq, Ms. Iman Salih Mutlak, 22, was gunned down by U.S. soldiers, who said she relentlessly charged at them, despite orders to halt, intending to explode the 10 grenades she was carrying. While some Iraqis treated her as a courageous martyr, her family in Zaqaniyah, Iraq, was disgusted with her, not because they are pro-American, but because she shamed them by leaving home without permission. Said her father, to an Associated Press reporter in May, "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood." [Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle-AP, 5-31-03]

2003-07-16T17:21:00.000-04:00

Weekend Road Trip to see Lennon

Rex, CroMag, and myself left Saturday morning to venture into the unknowns of Kentucky to see Lennon Murphy play in Richmond, KY. The trip went pretty much uneventful until we stopped in Corbin, KY to eat at the original KFC. That is when the debacle began.

It all started out innocently enough. We were walking into the Kentucky Fried Chicken and Cafe and Rex wants to get a picture taken at the KFC monument. . (Rex and CroMag)The place was suprisingly modern on one side of the cafe and on the other it was pretty much a museum with tables. Rex got laughed at by a bunch of young boys for reading all the plaques and pictures. After we ate lunch, Rex said he wanted a picture with the Colonel. A life size statue of the Colonel was placed on a bench and Rex sat down next to it. An elderly lady was walking by as Rex started patting the Colonel's leg (in that special way) and gave a look of disgust that I have only seen a few times before. I almost couldn't take the picture I was laughing so hard. After we left the KFC cafe we headed back toward I-75. We noticed how our area wasn't that bad after all as we noticed Corbin for seemingly the first time. We kept trying compare Corbin to somewhere in this area "Elizabethton? No. Erwin? No. Unicoi? Maybe. Stoney Creek? Yes!" At least the part of Corbin we saw didn't look to promising. Now before I have all the Stoney Creek people mad at me - Stoney Creek is not a corporated city, it does not have the first KFC, and Stoney Creek has some beautiful countrysides with the Hoston Mtns reminding us why our mountains are called blue ridge.

When we reach Richmond, KY (Home to Eastern Kentucky University),we head over to the side of town where MF Hooligans is located. Of course the club is closed and does not open until 8pm (at this time it was roughly 5pm). We take a stroll around the block scouting where to go before the club opens and notice (from first glance) what looks like a good place to shoot pool (more on this place in a bit), great beer specials (happy hour) at The Buddha Belly, and a small little dive that had the best sign of the trip. I am not sure who John Worley is, but someone was suprisly glad to see them play at the little bar. After the small walk , we head to the Motel and check in. We get settled and realize that we are all getting thirsty. Richmond is a half wet and half dry town, so we had to drive to the campus side of town to get some tasty beverages (and also to save money [we think] at the bar). We find the liquor store (only place they sell beer there) and all come walking out with a six pack, a bag of ice, and a smile. I notice a worker bitching as I am walking out. He said, "Damn Drunk - He has been through this drive through 20 times today!" and of course, I had to ask, "Is there a limit?" He replied by saying, "Until you get too drunk to drive through, I suppose not." He must see just about everyone and everything being one of the only places to buy beer to take home. His flunky (behind the counter) looked like he was wired up on some kind of drug. His eyes were wide and jittery, but his demeanor was lethargic and spacy. We head back to the Motel and line up a CAB to take us over to MF Hooligans.

After we there, the club is still closed so we decide to shoot some pool at the place we had seen earlier. We walk in the CroMag says "Mel's Diner!" This place looked great from the outside, but inside is was a greasy spoon (but this place looked like it hadn't been cleaned in quite sometime) with pool tables in the back. We decide pretty quickly that we do not want to stay here and head over to the other side of MF Hooligans - to The Buddha Belly! Now I was thinking that The Buddha Belly was going to be this sit down oriental type of restraunt. I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in to this pretty neat and clean bar that has live music as well. They were getting ready for a bluegrass band to play. We sat down at the bar and immediatly asked about the happy hour specials - a sign outside had clued us in. The bartender said it had just ended 5 minutes ago (we got there at 7:05pm). So ask what good local microbrews they have and he hands me a bottle of Kentucky Ale made in Lexington. Damn Fine Beer! As the three of us are drinking the local microbrew when I see a huge bottle of beer that I don't reconize. I ask the bartender to show me the beer and it is a 20oz beer for the price of regular (and it is an import too - looked japanese- and I cannot think of the name). So I try it for my next beer and we start talking to this cool guy who works as a slow motion technician for huge sporting events. He is the guy queing up all the instant replays and works freelance for ESPN, CBS, FOX, etc...

After we leave The Buddha's Belly we head over to the ATM for a quick splash of cash and head back to MF Hooligans. Being there early we are able to get choice seats (like we would use them after Lennon started - which we didn't) and started the rounds of pitchers. We drank them dry of Killians Red (which was 1.6 pitchers) and drank Amber Bock the rest of the night. I spotted Lennon over by the pool tables and had to go over and say hi. She was a little upset and told me that her guitar player had been out last night with someone who had gotten a DUI. He had only called 1hr previous to her tell her this (which would have been around 7pm) and said he could not make it to play.

Now let me back up a little bit. I had seen Lennon twice before and both times TECH was her guitar player. So I didn't even know who this guy was. Lennon goes on to say that TECH would be filling in for him (and Thank God he was around). I then ask her about the new album. I had looked for it where their stuff was for sale and didn't see it. :( She said that she had gotten word that they had finished mixing the last song (earlier on Saturday) and they now had to figure out if they were going to try and find another label or try and do it themselves.

After going back to the table and telling Rex and CroMag about the conversation, Rex asks me to take his art CD over to Lennon. She tells me how great the cover and inside art looks tells me to thank him. I let her know that she will probably meet him a bit later as he will be getting a shirt and will want her to sign it. After Rex got a little more liquid courage we go back over, she signs his shirt, and she thanks us again for making the trip up. Rex tells her it was our pleasure to make the trip to see her play and then quotes Harry Chapin. He said, "and as my favorite musician says - 'Go Do Something'" She then informs us that Harry Chapin is her favorite artist too. TIME FROZE (to people who know me - that will be funny ;) The music from the club was blaring and I wasn't sure I heard her correctly. Then she starts talking about the song 'Sniper' and shows Rex her tatoos on her wrist.

After we get back to the table, I ask Rex what she was saying about the tatoos on her wrist and, where the music was real loud, he didn't really catch it either. But I could not let it rest. I head back over and ask Lennon. She motions me back to the back area so she can tell me. She shows the tatoos again. On one wrist it was the letter "I" and on the other wrist it was the letters "AM", which were done nicely in some kind of pattern. She goes on to tell me that the song 'Sniper' (from Harry Chapin) is her favorite song. She says, "Remember when, in the song he is up in the tower..." and proceeds to quote lyrics from the song. This sends chills up my back because 'Sniper' is probably my favorite song as well and I tell her so. At the end of the song - just before the sniper is shot, he screams I AM - to her that was it and I agree. She also said that "somehow, someway - I will cover that song!" I can hardly wait to hear her do it.

Just after 9pm, Sway took the stage and put on a suprisingly strong performance. I suppose it is surprising because usually the first opening band (of 3) is local and still trying to find their way. These guys were local to Lexington but they have found everything as they rocked the club. Next was Circle Four. These guys were good too (sorry guys, I don't have a picture of them scanned). They only thing about them was I think the lead singer was trying too hard. He had a strong voice and the band played really well, but there was something I can only describe as not quite there yet. I see them only getting better though and they will be playing at the Sophisticated Otter again soon. I look forward to seeing these guys again and hope that they bring Sway with them!

Lennon exploded onto stage around 11pm. Rex, CroMag, and myself had moved to the front of the stage (the only times we left was the occasional beer run, which thankfully, was done by Rex.) Her first song was Property of Goatfuckerand as she went through songs I knew by heart and new songs I will know after her album is released, I couldn't help but think how much I had missed seeing one of her shows. During the breaks between songs she would talk a little, but while she has no problem singing in front of audiences, she is a little shy when she has to talk. I understand this perfectly.

During one of her songs, she knelt down on the side of the stage where I was standing and sang to me a little. I was floored and everybody else around me fizzled out until it was just the two of us. This lasted, oh about, 10 seconds, but it could have been an eternity.

The rest of the set was awesome. The only thing I missed was the keyboards. Afterward she told me that it had broken a few nights ago. (so there was no 5:30 Saturday Morning). Also afterwards she let me get a picture with her. Rex had to get just right angle from the camera so it took a little time extra - needless to say, I did not mind at all. Thanks Man! I was also waiting on the inevitable screaming from the bouncers that I heard last time I was at MF Hooligans, but it did not come. Finally at around 12:20am a person comes up to me and says that they really have to get everybody out and could we please wrap it up (which is the way it should be). I told them sure and started to leave. On the way out I go over to Lennon one last time and say good-bye. I figured by now I was starting to bug her, so I put up my hand to wave, but she reached over and gave me a long hug (which will not be forgotten).

Xyon

2003-07-13T18:31:00.000-04:00

Sign of the trip

Just returned from Richmond, KY to see Lennon in concert. More space will be filled soon, but first the sign of the trip...

2003-07-08T23:39:00.000-04:00

Revision of a previously written Poem

This is not for Pam, but I will wish her a happy birthday anyway - I am hopeful that she is happy and her baby healthy. :)

This I did back in 2000, and decided to revise it - this is the new version:

Light in the darkness
By Xyon

Breaking like waves of an ocean
Calming the stormy seas
I see your light in the darkness
And it carries me

When the darkness falls
And the tide comes in
I see your face
And it carries me

When the oceans are dark
And the sand is course
I feel you breathing on my neck
And it carries me

Breaking like waves of an ocean
Calming the stormy seas
There is your light in the darkness
And it carries me

When you are so far away
My past comes to life
Remembering your light
Carrying me

Just knowing your there
Just knowing you care
Letting your lighthouse steer my course
And it carries me

Breaking like waves of an ocean
Calming the stormy seas
There is your light in the darkness
And it carries me

(inspired by the song "Dante's Prayer" by Loreena McKennitt)
6-4-2000 / 7-8-2003
Xyon

2003-07-08T12:18:00.000-04:00

Comment Section having issues - trying to debug the Situation

Having troubles with the comment section working with the new blogger. Leave your comment - I will have it worked out soon (I hope) - I should still get the comment when I get the code corrected.

2003-07-07T22:36:00.000-04:00

Birthdays and such

Yay - I have lived 31 years, but the LONG weekend started Thursday. I should as well....

Last Thursday I started my long weekend. With the 4th of July being on Friday this year - and my birthday falling on a Monday (two holidays that are given to me from work) - I decided to take Thursday off work as a vacation day. So I had a 5 day weekend ahead of me.

Wednesday night and Thursday night were spent at home - I had friends over and a movie was watched. Lone Star State of Mind was pretty interesting. It took every stereotype imaginable from Texas and threw it into one movie. The result was a damn funny movie. If you want a good laugh, pick it up.

Friday was the 4th. I went to see the PopTart Monkeys. They played their free show outside O'Charleys and there were loads of people there. REX rode with me over and we met ROCK. We ate dinner and before we finished, CroMag showed up. We sat and talked and drank our beers while waiting for the show to start. Ansley Roberts came over and let us in on a few upcoming shows that he was working on for the area. It looks like more good shows will be coming to the area (hopefully) - stay tuned to TEAM ROCK for more details as they become available!

This was the first time I had seen the Poptart Monkeys so I was really looking forward to the show. I was not disappointed as they rocked the stage. Their entire performace was mainly covers (which I would have rathered some more originals than the 3-4 they did) but I warmed up to them by their second set. I am sure the beer helped as well as they seemed to get better as the night went on. Good show though and I will see them again. Too bad I wil be at Dragon Con on the weekend they are scheduled to return.

Saturday night was spent with REX at the Sophisticated Otter watching the Running With Scissors and West Mary. I thought West Mary was pretty good, but Running With Scissors sounded like many college bands I had heard before. Not saying they were real bad, just not my cup of tea. I did appreciate the good looking women they seemed to draw. I had heard that the Blacksburg band were a big draw on lots of women and they did not disappoint. Earlier that day I spent at my folks as they had there annual 4th of July picnic (with overtones of my impending birthday thrown in). Good times were spent there as well.

Sunday was not real exciting. I stayed home most of the day until the evening. I watched The Wizard of Oz on the TCM. I recorded it with another classic that I will fill in the blank to when I remember it (and see it) and the original Invisible Man. Good viewing coming up. That evening I wandered back to Bristol and had dinner again (leftovers) with the folks. I made it back home just in time for my weekly bird chat on AOL. As I am going to bed (early Monday) I put in a tape to record South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut on Comedy Central. The reason I did this was because it was actually UNCUT. I think, for that reason alone and not so much the movie content, that it actually warped my fragile little mind.

Monday - me birthday and last day off - I meet ROCK and my former neighbor (whom I call Michael Waltrip, even though he is not) at Duck Duck Goose in downtown Betsy. This was a wonderful little place to eat. It is only open on during the week and Saturdays from 11am - 3pm, but well worth the trouble to make it there. Rock picked up my lunch (thanks man!) and they dropped me back off at my apt. I then headed in to JC to take care of some banking. My Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Mike sent me a nice check that I got to cash to help fund the Dragon Con Weekend! They are awesome! Before long I found myself down at the Sophisticated Otter drinking on some Michelob Ultra while waiting on the time to meet rock, Scott and Brea, one of our TEAM ROCK GIRLS, and her sister at Motos. Thanks go out to our Team Rock Girl for buying me dinner! That was anothe unexpected surprise and was greatly appreciated (as I have enough left for lunch tomorrow as well). After dinner Rock and I drifted over to Real to Reel theaters to see 28 Days Later the British film that set records at their box offices. The film was good from a story point of view, but was not real scary as it was promoted to be. But still a good film. When I returned home I found that I had stained my new shirt that my Mom got me for my birthday and have to put it straight into the laundry. Jerry Lewis' Noisy Eater comes to mind. What a classic album that was!

Just before I got to Motos, I went to Mr. K's used everything store and picked up the new Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods named Dirty Work. So I will end my birthday by laying in bed reading my new novel as my eyes slowly start to fade. I get to go back to work tomorrow which will be hard. C'est la vie.

Oh, speaking of birthdays, I let my blog's one year anniversary slip by without even mentioning. Happy belated birthday Xyon's Rambles! You have seen me through a lot of shit over this past year - here is to lots more!

2003-06-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

This past weekend - Powerman 5000 came to town

Hell of good show Friday night at Rafters (even though it was at rafters) with Powerman 5000, Shinedown, and Reach 454. I have never been so sweaty and wet after a concert before. Here is what happened:

During the first show - Rex, CroMag, Hippy, and myself were at a table most of the set. These guys were ok, weakly ok. Shinedown came on and the place started really rocking -- we all moved over to the edge of the crowd ebbing from the stage and started making our way in. After about half the set, Rex and myself move back out - just too damn loud - real good, but too way too loud (this is a major drawback at Rafters). At the start of PM5K, I was near the back and moved back up to where I last saw Rex and company. After I could not find them, I got to the edge of the crowd again and saw a friend from SW Virginia (near Blacksburg) whom I had met at the Saliva concert. I kept seeing opening to move foward and I, uncharacteristly moved my way foward. Before I knew it I was 3 rows back from the stage. There were 2 ladies in front of me and they were looking like they were having a bit of a hard time with the crowd. Then a mosh pit breaks out behind me and every so often I am pushed into these ladies. After many apologies, I decide to hold my ground and form a barrier with my arms around the ladies. I do reasonably well as the mosh pit stays just behind me. After a particulary big surge, one of the ladies gets moved on forward while the other one stayed put. I stay where I was - still helping protecting this one lady. On the very last song, she turns to me red faced and wet from sweat, "I have got to get out of here!" I turn, extend an arm to her (and she latches on) and plow my way out. She was suffering from heat exhaustion and I get her to the back room for some air. The heat in that place was up to all time high standards and it was amazing that anyone didn't pass out.

One funny moment from the show was when someone from the crowd made it on stage and sprinted across the stage. The security tackled him on the right side of the stage, punching him as they shoved him down, stage right and quickly yanked in out of view.

Hell of a night.

Saturday I was a zombie around my apartment - with no energy to anything. I had planned a big rant about Rafters $2 re-admitting policy but decided not to waste the space. Fucking Rafters!

2003-06-23T14:55:00.000-04:00

Down with the Sickness

Hell of a weekend. After the Saliva concert at the Otter I come down with a helluva sore throat and head cold that has kept me down the entire weekend. I managed to get out and see Endo at the Otter - but left shortly thereafter (and the only drink was a warmed bourbon mixed with lemon and honey that Jimmy the bartender said would help ease my throat - and it did somewhat :)

The first nice weekend in about 2 months and I am sidelined at home. Why doesn't that surprise me?

2003-06-18T07:58:00.000-04:00

My spare time has been used over at Team Rock

Seems all my spare time has bee going into doing updates and sprucing up the Team Rock site.

I haven't forgotten about this site though. Since my return from Nashville, I have been to Charlotte for the Heroes Comic Book Convention and spent some good quality time with my family in Bristol. I will be back here to update happenings and thoughts soon.

OH, huge concert in Johnson City tonight - SALIVA outside the Sophisticated Otter. Hope to see everyone there!
Visit Team Rock for more info.

2003-06-11T14:39:00.000-04:00

Past Weekend Rambles

Last weekend my buddy Rock and I rambled to the Nashville area to see the Trace Adkins Chrome 300 Busch Nascar race. The Nashville Superspeedway is located between Lebanon and Murfreesboro. We headed straight to the track was able to see a little bit of practice before the rains came. When the rain started around 3pm (cst) everything at the track was put on hold - the rest of practice, qualifying for the 300, and the ARCA race that was suppose to be later that night. After a few hours the rain let up for a few minutes. At the time I was huddled under a souvenir trailer watching qualifying for Winston Cup in Pocono, PA. They souvenir trailer had a satellite hooked up, so it was not a total washout - I got to see qualifying from Pocono at the Nashville Superspeedway :) . When we found out qualifying at the track was cancelled and the ARCA race signifigantly set back, we decided to leave and head back to the motel where we had reservations.

We decide to travel the 30+ miles on into Nashville and to 2nd Avenue. The rain picked back up on the drive and would be with us the rest of the night. Luckily most of the rain in downtown Nashville was a steady to moderate drizzle so we didn't get too wet. Nashville had their country fan fair that weekend and parking ranged anywhere from $5 to $15. Luckily we found a $5 dollar garage. We made our way to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and then set out to find a place to go after dinner. We were hoping for a non-country bar with live music - but we were in Nashville. We found an bar with alternative music near an Irish Bar on 2nd avenue but decided to pass as it was pretty crammed packed for a little "hole in the wall." We decided on a dance club called Hurricanes. Inside Hurricanes we were treated to some close female action that more than paid for the $5 admission price. These women didn't care who saw them dancing and making out. They were up on one of the risers groping each other with full intensity. Of course they quickly attracted a crowd with guys surrounding them yelling and whistling at them. When the scene would get a little too hot for the club, they would douse the dance floor with the fake smoke, making it nearly impossible to see (and a little burning to the eyes.) Just before we left, the DJ announced that they had prizes to give away and the first 5 ladies to prove to him that they deserved the prize (movie ticket) would get them. A line formed around the DJ booth of women bound and determined to prove this to him. Most would dance extremly close to him and show him a little skin. One of the before mentioned girls lowered her mini-skirt down just past her upper thigh to reveal a thong she was wearing. Afterwards, she got back to the dance floor with thong still showing and her "friends" surrounded her and began groping at her @ss. Interesting night to say the least.

The next day we had time to kill so we hit the local Wal-Mart and the Outlet Malls. After lunch at this neat little place called Steak and Spagetti Factory we headed back to the track. I got in line to get a Sterlin Marlin Bobblehead that was exclusive from the Nashville track for the for 4000 people in while Rock went to get his autographs. I was able to secure 3 bobbleheads - one for Rock, one for me, and an extra one. After securing the bobbleheads I decide to just wander around until time for the Trace Adkins show (come on - it was free ;) .

I hear a band playing that sounded similar to No Doubt but heavier. I wander over to the where the band is playing and watch their entire show. The bands name is Mink and it was a tremendous show. I find my way to an ATM to get $10 for a CD.

This is post I put at Minks website:

What a damn good show! It was really a pleasant surprise to discover Mink at the Nashville Superspeedway. They were set up outside the track in the parking lot. My only regrets was that I had to leave the show before they finished to get some money from the ATM to buy their CD. I was worried though that if I didn't go before they finished, that I would miss getting them to sign it.

I am glad they got Budweiser promoted them there to give another flavor to the track's music (instead of purely country). After the show, I got marked by Jonda. She was elated that I had an extra bobble head of Sterlin Marlin that I gave to her. Everything got a little blurry after that and I don't remember much.

Thanks again for a wonderful show and we gotta get you guys to Northeast TN (Johnson City) again soon! Here is the website for Ansley Roberts Productions, who books shows in NE Tennessee . Ansley Roberts Also here is the link for the web page that I co-author for NE Tennessee shows. Team Rock. Hopefully I will see you guys sometime soon! Good luck on the rest of your tour!

After all that I get into the race track and find my seat just before Trace Adkins starts. I was surprised by his show. I liked it more than I thought I would have. After the show, the 2hr pre-race show begins. Rock finally made it to his seat about five minutes for the race began. The race was great - my favorite driver in Busch series (Scott Riggs) dominated the race - leading more laps than anybody had previously done at Nashville Superspeedy in the four years it had been open. After the race they were going to run the race from the previous night that had been rained out, but it was already 10pm there (11pm our time) and we decided to leave and begin the 4.5+ trip back. Great weekend - and check out the Mink website!

2003-06-10T14:47:00.000-04:00

New Short Story

I have a lot to type from last weekend. I will get to this shortly. First I wanted to post a new short story I have written. This story is using the themes from another set of short stories that my friend Raieth (over at Lost Inside) is writing. I proposed to him that he do an anthology of these stories in journal form written by people he knows. In his stories, Lucifer has quit Hell and has totally moved out. I figured that now he all kinds of free time on his hands, he might as well keep a journal. I have set this up as the first entry for the series, if he decides to try and do it. If he does, he may redo the order of things. I hope this does not offend anyone. It would fall under the heading of FICTION - remember that. :) You have been warned.

JOURNAL OF LUCIFER; LORD OF FLIES AND FORMER MASTER OF HELL

ENTRY 666 - number 1

I love women.

Women are the best things that SHE ever created, truly after HER own image. I suppose my love for women stem from my first encounter with Eve. She was so gullible that I almost felt guilty. She was the perfect woman too. Her body was in perfect proportion and her lovely breast would rise and fall when she ran through the garden. I would watch her day and night. But being only a lowly snake, I couldn't really appreciate the true nature of women. The day I got her to bite that apple - what a day that was! I royally pissed HER off and at the same time, they were kicked out of THE garden.

That opened up a whole new world for me.

After Adam and Eve took up residence outside THE garden, I went to eve the first time as the Master of Hell. Hell then was quite lonely and I knew I could always count on her for a laugh. To my surprise, she didn't want me around. She blamed me for her mistakes and said that she never wanted to see me again. One time she started throwing rocks at me. I was still in snake form, mainly because that was the most recognizable form that she knew, and made it out safely enough.

I quickly realized that SHE wasn't protecting them anymore. SHE had given them full power of choice. Either they could worship HER or not, it was truly up to them. What I hadn't realized was just how much they would come to like the process of procreation. I needed to explore this further.

When Adam would go away to hunt food, I would slither to their property and watch Eve as she worked around the house. I noticed that everyday, now that we had them, she would take a nap during the afternoon. One day hiding carefully, so that Eve would not see me, I waited until she fell asleep and silently slithered into her bedroom. She would twist and turn as she slept and had this little snore that was so cute. When she turned the right way, I would take my tail land move it up between her legs. That was when the real fireworks began. I knew she would probably squash my head if she woke up, so I was real careful.

After the first time with Eve, she woke up in an extremely good mood. The look on her face as she realized that she was wet was truly perplexing to her. She knew what it was, as her and Adam was already going at it like rabbits, but to wake up with fluid down her legs was apparently a first. She didn't seem to mind though as she made her way over to the small stream they used as their water supply and washed her off.

When Adam came home with their meal, she quickly took it over to the fire and started the process of the evening meal. Later in bed, Adam wanted to satisfy his needs and turned to his mate. She knew the look, but tonight it was different. Instead of welcoming Adam to her, she turned over facing away from him saying nothing. Adam reached out, putting his hand on her shoulder, and she moved away from his touch saying something about her head not feeling right. I missed what she exactly said as I was too far away to hear them fully.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Knowing that I was responsible, I gave a slight chuckle to myself and went back to Hell. I realized that I could use this for centuries and the variations were endless. This was truly the beginning.

end.

Ok, now to everyone who says I am going to Hell for doing something so offensive and blasphemous, I say this: I hope you can realize what is fiction and what is not. This story is really on more levels than what it appears to be..

2003-06-04T10:56:00.000-04:00

Rock's Swimming Pool / Grill Out in Jonesboro

It has been a busy couple of days since my last Blog. (When is it ever not busy?)

Monday after work I head out to Rock's place on Boone Lake. We get his Coleman rafts and head down to the lake to have some rest and relaxation on the water. Once in, we paddle around the bend to a more narrow section of the lake. This corridor has trees on one side and houses on the other. Also, paddling the rafts was not that easy of a task. In order to get out of the way (of a boat) you have to be ready. Knowing this I decide to stay closer to one side.

The first boat that went by us was flying with a uber wake. I was already out of the way when it went by and braced for the incoming wake. Rock was paddling in his raft next to me as the wave approached. I started yelling, "Turn it into the wake! Turn it into the wake!" I just got the raft turned around when the wave rolled under my boat. The first one wasn't bad. My raft went up and then down twice the distance up. My immediate thoughts were, "Oh shit this is gonna be fun." It didn't let me down as I picked up speed going down and almost thrown up the next wave catching some air as I go over. When I hit back down I start wheezing - "eeee, oooo, eeee, oooo" Rock was looking at me like I had lost my marbles. I manage to get out...."water...cold...down my back..." and Rock starts laughing.

We row back over to the dock side (far enough away from the speed boats to not worry about big waves) and just sit and twirl in the water. A short time later, Endbringer (Hippy) shows up and get in the paddle boat. After the lake, Rock shows Hippy the DVD of Super Joint Ritual (Lead singer of Pantera, Hank III) and we go to Logan's to eat. Another one of our Team Rock girls comes to join and we stay there until 10:45.

Tuesday night I spent with former neighbors of mine when I lived at Bart Green Apartments. I had heard about a grill out that they had planned but one of the Logan Duo couldn't get off work. So I suprised to hear from them that afternoon saying, ok, the grillout is on! 7pm BYOB. I stopped on the way to get some Michelob Ultra and then it was on to Jonesboro. The houses they are renting was great. Two story country house with a font and back porch, trees everywhere, and the only sounds (besides the occasional car on the road) are the cows. After the sun went down and the rain let up the lightening bugs were everywhere. That is something that you don't see much anymore in the city. I make it home around 11:30 and pass out on the couch watching Animatrix - which is damn good.

2003-06-01T21:13:00.000-04:00

Slackerness Ad nauseam

My blog slackness is reaching heightened stages again. I am constantly thinking about things to write down but just can't get myself to do it. I have even sat down a couple of times to blog and found myself saying (sometimes out loud), " I just don't feel like typing right now..."

Instance 1

A week ago last Friday night I went to Roan Mountain with my family for a dinner at my Aunt and Uncle's place in Burbank. Wonderful evening - topped off with a well-timed thunderstorm after dinner. We sat out on the front porch by the stream and, talking over the sounds of the river and rain had a great family discussion. My Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Mike were in from Oregon and they were telling us about a "White Trash Party" that they were involved with in Portland. Instead of me rehashing the story, I will let you read her own words as they sent an email a couple of weeks ago. This from my Aunt Jeanne:

Hey Guys.

Well, we went to a party last night that will be in our dreams, or should I say our nightmares for a very long time. Our "White Trash Party". We're in this gourmet club and we decided to just do something a bit outrageous this time. We all dressed for the occasion and brought dishes that would be appropriate for the theme. I took garlic/cheese grits, a mess of greens, a pot of pinto beans, cornbread, and a soda cracker cake frosted with cool whip and topped with canned pineapple, marchino cherries and pecans. Others brought deep fried dill pickles, country fried steak and gravy, pork rinds, Velveeta cheese dip, mashed potatoes, vienna sausages, and Spam. The outfits were just amazing. Dad [Uncle Mike – Xyon] wore an Elvis wig, flip flops, orange parachute pants, a T-shirt with "Jesus Is My Homeboy" written on it with Tabasco stains down the front. He wore that cap of Dad Stringers that says "Hole Captain". I wore a fuchsia pink sleeveless, short house dress, knee high support hoes with the big toe cut out so I could wear my jelly flip flops, my hair was teased out all over but not combed, I had a rose tattoo on my arm, and bloomers that hung down below my dress. We were the tame ones! Brenda, showed up barefoot and pregnant carrying a little black baby she was nursing, David had this outrageous mustard yellow sport coat with sleeves too short, a little short tie, and pants above his ankles, and white socks with sandals. But he had this very long, very stuffed penis hanging, not so descretely, just inside his pants, down the side of his leg! All night we were referring to it as his "johnson" and grabbing hold of it. Dick Kirwan was the most realistic and down right scary! He had on a "wife beater t-shirt" with mustard stains, this very authentic mullet hair wig and a cap with a real tacky caption, and these "Billie Bob teeth" that were all rotten looking and stuck out. He just looked too real to be funny. As the night progressed we all took turns trying on the Billy Bob teeth and having our pictures taken with them on! Lynn had on a hot pink house robe and a red halter top with little dangle pompoms decorating the front, blue toe socks, and a home made corsage! After dinner and lots of wine, we decided that we should go out for one last drink. We all got in the elevator and walked down to this very snooty wine bar called "Vinge". It's the stuffiest place in the Pearl. We all bellied up to the bar and ordered wine. The stares were unbelievable! A couple of times, someone would come to the door and look inside and saw us and backed back out! It was fun to watch the reaction to us! We had a blast, as you can imagine. It was a great idea for a party.

Freakin' hilarious!

The storm ended and I was headed back to my apartment in Elizabethton. I ran back into rain going down the mountain. The closer I got back to Elizabethon, the harder it would rain. Around Hampton, it was raining as hard as I can ever remember driving through. I was down to 30mph in a 50mph zone and probably should have been driving slower. I finally made it home in only 1.5 hours after leaving Burbank. Roughest drive I have ever made from Roan Mountain.

So where was I? Oh, yeah, my blogger slackness. I am not sure why I go through these phases. I am blessed with so much constantly going on in my life and have a seeming endless list of things to talk about. Sometimes I make myself type something and shorten stuff down so I can be done with it. Then there are times when I want to blog so much, I get caught up and have no stories to tell and force stuff.

Instance 2 –

After I returned from Roan Mountain, I call Rex to see what they are doing. I find out that he, Cromag, and Sky were going to the local karoke bar called Dixieland. They told me to come on down so I go and they do a great job. Rex did a great job with Harry Chapin's Taxi and Sky did an Elvis tune that was a remake of a Sinatra song. Most of the other singers were struggling quite hard to carry whatever they called a tune. I drank bottled water all night (because of a modified Adkins' diet I am on) and it was a quite an enjoyable time.

It has gotten to the point that I have to do quite long blogs to catch up on all the stuff that happens between when I post. I think one thing that is contributing to my slackness of blogs lately stems from last semester of school. I had a lot of classes (mainly film classes) where I had to type a lot of papers. This, combined with school now being over, has to be part of the reason. Burned out from an overload of typing for school.

Instance 3

Last Tuesday, Rex and I were supposed to watch one of the hockey games at my place. If you have been reading his blog, you know he has been quite sick. He called and said he couldn't make it, so I ended up going to the movies to see Bruce Almighty with Rock. Going into the movie I was hoping that Jim Carey wouldn't push the religious envelope too far. Of course he did, but it was all right, because the end of the movie justified why he did what he did and was a really uplifting. Uncommon for Carey to have a morally uplifting theme in his film but it was welcomed. I came out of the movie in a good mood and had thoroughly enjoyed the movie. After the movie we met another friend at Chili's for a nice dinner. Then I walked over to Barnes and Noble to browse the books where I ran into Angelman. We walked and talked until I had exhausted my usual haunts at the bookstore.

Well - I seem have found my voice again. I am typing tonight like I haven't in quite awhile. Today was interesting. I get up (after 12pm - which is unusual as of late, I am usually up by 9am) turn on the NASCAR race, fix lunch, and fall back to sleep midway through the race. I wake up to my cell phone ringing. It was Rock. I had missed a dinner I was invited to go to and he told me about the end of the race. Then it was time almost time to host my bird chat on AOL. I fixed a protein shake and hosted my hour-long chat.

Instance 4

Friday night my parents come over and to help install a ceiling fan I had gotten back on memorial day. They had come down for breakfast and my step-dad went with me to Lowe's to help pick out a good fan for my living room. I fix dinner (back to Friday night) and we install the fan. It is perfect for the living room. Then we watch Adaptation with Nic Cage, Nic Cage (he played the twin brothers Kaufmann), and Meryl Streep. Tremendously good movie and I highly recommend it. After they leave I go to Bailey's to meet my buddies who are in from Rogersville. My buddy Jonesy has been going through a hard time and I wanted to see how he was doing. Because I couldn't get there until pretty late, and because they had already been there for a few hours ahead of me, they to leave for RogVegas shortly after I arrive. I understood perfectly and we make plans for Saturday night.

Saturday came pretty quickly as I was up at about 8:30 to meet Rock to go to Knoxville. We were going to the toy show where a bunch of has been sci-fi celebrities were going to be. I saw the likes of Lou Ferrigno, Erin Grey, Dirk Benedict, the original Lois Lane, the guy who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the midgit who played Cousin IT and the robot in Buck Rogers the guy who played Michael Meyers in Halloween II, etc... Rock wanted to get their autograph and I just wanted to see what they had become. I would have gotten their autograph as well if they didn't want $20 and sometimes $30 for their autograph. Good Grief!

After we left the toy show, we headed to Seveirville to eat at TGIFriday's. TGIF is probably my favorite place to eat and since we don't have one in the Tri-Cities, I try to eat there whenever I can. After Lu-Dinner (3:30pm) we head to the Five Oaks Outlet Mall where I buy an outfit from Tommy Hilfiger. I got quite a deal on a great pair of slack, shirt, and belt. We get back just in time for a nice hard rain and have to wait to unload the car until after it ends. I go home and fall asleep after eating some left overs from TGIF's. That night I go down to the Sophisticated Otter to see a pretty good band. Rock and my buddies from Rogersville are already there. Our Teamrock Girl finally made it down (she had called earlier and said she was coming). I had a few Michelob Ultras (2.3 grams of carbohydrates a beer) and make it home around 2:45am.

As I sit here finishing up my blog entry - (the posted time will be a lot earlier than the time it is now because I started writing this earlier this evening and then posted it without publishing it...sorry tech talk) - I am hoping I will be able to go to sleep because of all the sleep I have had today. I will sit here and watch Law and Order: Special Victims Unit hoping I will get tired enough to go on to sleep. Hopefully I will make myself blog a bit more instead of having to make such a long entry. Whew.

2003-05-21T08:32:00.000-04:00

Some More Stuff From Film Class

Hollywood and Hong Kong
A Genre of Style

The dominant form of Hollywood film is the big blockbuster. The popular genres of the past (drama, melodrama, comedies, musicals, etc…) that were popular in the Classical Hollywood period have taken somewhat of a shift to more action adventure and science fiction blockbuster film. This is not saying the before mentioned genres of the past are not made anymore, just that there is a demand for what was the B-movie with new and improved special effects.

Hong Kong pictures, on the other hand, cannot afford such luxuries as the budget for those films are significantly lower than that of Hollywood. These pictures rely on pure, unadulterated action to keep the audiences coming back. The type of action that does not have fancy computer screens to shoot in front of (blue screens / green screens) and action that is more human centered.

Generally speaking, Hollywood first set the standards of making special effects in a priority with George Lucas’ Star Wars (1977). The movie was rewarded with being the most successful movies of all time at the box office (at the time) and spawned two sequels and 3 prequels (the last due in May of 2005). This success also led to the formation of Industrial Light and Magic, a special effects studio created by George Lucas, which has become one of the most successful special effects studios of all time. As the movie continued to appear, the American audiences were left with a hunger for bigger and better things. Hollywood had begun the shift into special effects and there was no turning back.

The late 1970’s showed a new direction for Hong Kong films as well. A “New Wave” of action films had begun to try and profit off of extreme violence. While not worried too much about the story, Hong Kong films started focusing on extreme forms of kung-fu and traditional weapons that had there own form of mass destruction. These new films were made by people who were no longer immigrants into a British Colony, but citizens where were born there and worried about the nearing re-incorporation back to Mainland China.

These fears proved to be jumping point for Hong Kong film as they revamped a failed style of Cantonese cinema from the 1960’s. Many of these new wave directors trained at vocational schools in the West and returned to make their films that had Westernized settings with glorified violence from gangs and technical competence. These films would become the staple element of how people would view Hong Kong cinema. While the money was not available to pay the stars that compared to Hollywood standards the industry moved forward at a constant, but slow pace.

During this time of popular bloodshed in Hong Kong, Hollywood was continuing its course into special effects by making ultrahigh money producing films in the 1980s. Stephen Spielberg ventured in with George Lucas for the highly successful Indiana Jones trilogy (1981, ’84, 89), Robert Zemeckis made Romancing the Stone (1984), the Back to the Future trilogy (1985, ’89, ’90), and Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988), and Ridley Scott offered Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), and Legend (1985). These movies fueled the fires that were raging in the movie industry’s special effects departments.

During this same time there was record breaking box offices receipts in Hong Kong, but at only a fraction of the total in Hollywood. Names from Hong Kong slowly started to turn up in conversations in America as imported movies started becoming popular. Director Tsui Hark, John Woo, and Ringo Lam exploded onto the scene with vivid gunplay and martial arts sequences so intense it was dizzying. These films were made with shallow pockets compared to those of Hollywood (2-3 million as compared to 30 million dollars [1980s]) so they focused on the action scenes, leaving the plot to suffer. Also, they could not afford stunt doubles. Most of the Hong Kong films made in the 1980s have the main actor doing all kinds of dangerous stunts. These stunts would range from the wirework to jumping through glass windows (using real glass in some cases), and running through building on fire. The actors and actresses worked through all the hard times and for a few, it paid off. Names like Chow-Yun Fat, Michelle Yeow, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan starting showing up in American movies. Director John Woo, in the early 1990’s, would move to America and bring his action style of directing to the West. His movies had to be a bit watered down due to the Americans more conservative attitudes to violence in films.

The mid 1990s would see an end to the “New Wave” films in Hong Kong, but they still make films using a lot of the same themes. As they are starting to catch up with technology that American film has perfected, they have started incorporating elements of American films into their own. In Jackie Chan’s Armour of God (1986), the opening scene plays out very much like Raiders of the Lost Ark but the tone is less assured and more comedic. Also, in Tsui Hark’s Time and Tide (1999), the special effects at times are very similar to The Matrix(1999).

Hollywood and Hong Kong have gone through some pretty big changes from how they were before the late 1970s and early 1980s. They paralleled each other only in the aspect of getting movie audiences back into the theaters. Hollywood made it clear that it was willing to spend whatever it took to get audiences interested and Hong Kong had to be more innovative and cunning with less resources to draw on. It also seemed like whenever Hong Kong got an advantage with a certain director that looked like he would be the next Stephen Spielberg, Hollywood would step in an lure that director away with its mighty wallet. Hong Kong and Hollywood have both made significant strides in the film industry but Hong Kong will more than likely stay the underdog.

2003-05-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

Crash and Burn

Blogging at work as my home computer crashed and burned Sunday night.

Sunday Night

I was loading the full version of Easy CD Creator from Roxio and didn't get the patch 5.02 loaded correctly and it blew up my computer. I go to bed with my computer silent for the first time since I have owned it. Something about 5.0 version of Easy CD and Windows 2000 that is not compatible without the patch. (Windows 2000 users note: If you install Easy CD 5.0 -- DO NOT RESTART YOUR COMPUTER UNTIL YOU INSTALL 5.02 PATCH! THEN RESTART). I had thoughts of my hard drive being corrupt (because of the error message I was getting at start up (It said, Inaccessable Boot Device). I was a little panicky Sunday night.

Let's Back Up 6 Months

When I put on Windows 2000, 6 months ago, I was replacing Window Millenium (which sucks big time) which had screwed up. I couldn't access any of my files so I decided to put 2000 on as a secondary Windows (which meant I had to choose which version of Windows to boot up at every restart). I did this because of my files on my computer had school stuff and other misc movies and clips that I didn't want to lose. I really hated having two verstions of Windows on my computer but I did it out of necessity.

Monday Night

I bribed by ex-roomate, Hippy, to come over and see what he could do. I offered to cook Pork Chops and give him beer. He tried a few things but nothing worked. So I did lose my hard drive, I just didn't have to buy one. We had to re-install Windows 2000. I could have installed 2000 again like I did before but that would have meant having 3 versions of Windows on my computer and well - screw that. So my hard drive is now clean and like new. I lost all the stuff I had - but I believe most can be replaced. My personal stuff is gone too, but luckily most of the stuff was not important and I am sure I will be collecting stuff to store away soon. What is left to do is to get my router and cable modem set back up and reload my aresenal of programs. Happy Happy Joy Joy.

What if you hard drive was wiped tomorrow - do you have everything you need backed up?

2003-05-16T21:33:00.000-04:00

Blogger (Blogspot) having troubles today?

Well - it looks Llike blogger or blogspot has had trouble this week as earlier today I could not access the blogs - now my blog is messed up (the right side seems to be justified wrong) - Over at Team Rock all seems to be good. I will give it a little more time before I dive deep in to blogger code. Looks like this Friday will be spent at home. I had a nice dinner with Rock and Blondie at the Olive Garden (Chicken Caesar Salad for me thank you) and I will post a report about the Jimmy Thackery concert at the Down Home a little later as I just don't feel like typing anymore right now.

2003-05-15T13:06:00.000-04:00

Well That was Fun

I just spent quite an enjoyable lunch and didn't even eat. I was doing an update to my page and upon refreshing the page to see if the update went through I noticed a new comment (well 6 new comments but it was the same one as the comments section has been cranky lately). I clicked on it to find that my buddy Toys had just left a comment. Then I thought, hmmm...I wonder if she is reading more things? So I refreshed the page again...and sure enough a little farther down the page was her comment on another entry. As the lunch time went by, I watched her read my blog and then shot an instant replies back. Hope you didn't mind having lunch with me Toys and me looking over your shoulder. I had lots of fun. :)

2003-05-15T11:36:00.000-04:00

News Link Added to Site

Shots Across the Bow out of Knoxville. And I agree with your comments to my Angel entry Rich, about loss of Conner can only be a gain for Angel - I just hope they don't find him again. Looking forward to next season's Angel. But first we have to get past next weeks series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as it looks to end its seven year run on the ol' boob toob (after my Uncle Tal :) ).

2003-05-15T11:32:00.000-04:00

You'all Could Have Told Me

I just realized that in the introductory section of my blog I have had Chronicle misspelled for damn near a year now. Man o man, how many times have I looked at this site. LOL

2003-05-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

Matrix Reloaded

Went as watched the early showing of the new Matrix last night. That movie is on so many different levels it is mind blowing. But in a good way. I won't say much, as I am still digesting the movie and I don't want to ruin it for anybody. Just see it. At one point I was shaking my head as it was almost an overload to the senses. Kind of like getting on a roller coaster - nonstop until the end....

2003-05-13T23:15:00.000-04:00

Travolta to play 'Punisher' Villain in New Movie

Just saw this at coming soon.net

I just hope this Punisher movie is better than the previous attempt.

John Travolta is The Punisher Villain!
Tuesday, May 13, 2003 9:33 CDTM

Variety says that Artisan Pictures and Marvel Studios have cast John Travolta to play the lead villain opposite Thomas Jane in The Punisher, with Jonathan Hensleigh directing his own script.

The comic book adaptation is the tale of an FBI undercover agent who, just as he's completed his last mission that will lead to a cushy desk job, sees his family slaughtered. He becomes single-mindedly determined to exact revenge. Travolta plays Howard Saint, a former underworld figure who goes straight but returns to old habits after his son is slain. The two men square off against one another.

In related news, Superhero Hype! has scored a first look at the new teaser poster for the film which is hitting theaters this week. You can check that out here! Also, the site has learned that filming will begin in Tampa Bay, Florida this July for a summer 2004 release date. Details on where they might be shooting there are here.

2003-05-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

New Blog

I have gone into a joint venture with my buddy Rock to co-host a new blog. This blog will chronicle our various 'excursions into madness' as we travel across the region to see concerts and get autographs. There are a bunch of really good links to keep one informed of the local and regional concert scene + links to highlight various bands and a few NASCAR links as well.

Team Rock

Check it out - leave comments - make it your home page - whatever tickles your fancy.

I will continue to run this blog as well - so don't forget about this one! As I am sure this one will supplement that one.

Xyon

2003-05-08T22:27:00.000-04:00

Changing to Netscape

Well I have finally done it. I downloaded and installed Netscape 7.02. I have been a big hold out concerning Netscape.

I am not sure why.

I suppose it is because I know IE and how to work it. I had to use a pop-up blocker (program seperate from IE) and it was working alright, but I always had a bunch of error messages generated by IE.

Today I find out that Netscape has a pop-up blocker (pop-ups are the scourge of hell) and I said, "Screw it, I am going to download that tonight."

So far it is pretty damn good. I like the format of the browser and everything seems to be working ok. As I wander through new waters I will be probably bitching or praising here about my Netscape experience.

Oh, today, after I downloaded Netscape, I find out that one of the updates of IE has a scourge of hell blocker to add to IE. Well, screw it (again) - I am going to stick with Netscape and see how this goes. Ok so far...........

2003-05-08T17:41:00.000-04:00

...And they are back up

oooook, I drive home (Johnson City to downtown Elizabethton) and they are mysteriously back up....

cool.

2003-05-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

Errors on Comments Section

What have I done? Dunno. Guess I will work on it tonight.

Crap.

Xyon

2003-05-06T07:59:00.000-04:00

Angel the Early Years

Last night I was watching Angel season one DVD. From 7:30pm to 1:30am, I did an eight hour marathon (the first 2 discs) [also if you consider that 8 episodes without commercials is really about 5 3/4 hours the time works out]. The last time I watched these was when they orginally aired during season 1. While watching these I noticed how much I really liked this season. This was when the show was trying to establish its own flavor as a detective show. In this case, a detective who was a vampire (Angel), a good demon who has visions of people in trouble courtesy of the powers that be (Doyle), and a snot nosed, self-absorbed, above everybody else, and former resident of Sunnydale, California - Ms. Cordelia Chase.

Each episode would be a stand alone episode that had small ties (to make it a continuity). There were no long, multi-episode story arcs. Fresh ideas, fresh scripts. It established bad guys (Wolfman and Hart, Attorneys at Law) that would be a returning threat of some compacity. They made no bones about it (or ash for that matter) that they were connected strongly with Buffy the Vampire Slayer which is where the show spun off from and where Angel and Cordy spent the previous 4 years fighting the Hellmouth. Even into the 3rd episode of the series, you had Spike (at the the time a major nemesis for Buffy) and Oz (at the time Willow's boyfriend and resident werewolf of Sunnydale) come to town. What Whendon did was no less than brilliant. Instead of trying to get as far away from the parent show as possible, he incorporated the show into this one. What he didn't do was copy the format - Buffy was show about high school from a vampire slayer's perspective. Angel was about a 200+ year old vampire who had a soul (see Buffy season 2) and trying to help people with the aid of Doyle and Cordelia.

As the show has progressed over the seasons, the Angel universe has grown closer and closer to the parent show that it could almost be called "Angel the Vampire, Vampire Slayer," instead of the show that started as one askew to Buffy but not the same. Before long Gunn (a vigilante of the streets) joined up with Angel (after Doyle died) to provide muscle and Wesley (former watcher to rogue slayer Faith) migrated over as well. Soon the show was not a detective agency (like it started) anymore and was just a group fighting the paranormal (which is what Buffy turned into after high school and a failed college storyline). And yes, bringing Wesley over to the show futher shows the strong tie to the Buffy universe, but the changing the format of the show from the detective angle to another group that stops Apocalypses was too similar to the overall storyline from Buffy.

Then there is this season - and while I am critizing this season, let me first say that there have been a number of really well written episodes that were a tremendous watch. What I am tired of is the super long story arcs that this season was full of. The last aired episode (last week - a week before finale tomorrow night) they had to show so much catch up material before the episode aired that if you haven't been following the long story arc you would have more questions than understandment.

I hope that with the new direction Angel is heading with tomorrow night's season finale that they get back to the stand alone episodes. The kind from season one where everthing is related, but you don't have to follow a six week storyline. Angel is a tremendously good show with wonderful characters that are both funny and chilling at the same time (well, not Conner - Angel's implausable sorry and implausable excuse for a son). If Angel is not picked up for another season (which I think it will be on somewhere, but in case not), it has been real fun ride and hopefully we will see the gang in the movies sometime - but let's talk about that if and when it is not picked up by someone.

2003-05-01T09:34:00.000-04:00

Violence a Trademark in Hong Kong Film

Thought I would post a few things from film classes.......

Violence is a trademark in Hong Kong action films. The violence is partially responsible for the popularity of the genre. Starting with Hong Kong audiences, the audience could escape into a world of violent gun battles and unbelievable fight scenes. When Hong Kong audiences finally reached the United States, the violence again was a big draw for the films as American audiences had only small samples of violence on such a large scale.

In John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow, there is combined machine-gun violence mixed with religious themes of redemption and morality which are truly compelling when choreographed on such a violent level. But instead of celebrating the violence, Woo uses it to represent nostalgia for a code of honor that has been lost but now found and a chivalry necessary for human survival.

These moments of excessive violence are represented as beautifully choreographed and made almost desirable. The technique of soft focus, slow motion, and subtle colors almost make it look romantic, as the heroes seem to somewhat dance through the violent shootouts. It is not the violence itself, but the way the violence is portrayed. In A Bullet in the Head, Woo shows violence for what it really was (brutal and ugly) and audiences reacted by making it one of their least favorite films.

A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled make it clear that the boundary between justice and crime us such a blurred one that it is hard to know the enemy’s true face. It would be safe to say that Woo’s use of violence is his release of his feeling toward Mainland China.

Since Woo's transition to Hollywood, he seems to lose a bit of himself as he is conformed to Hollywood style. It took seven times for his first U.S. release, Hard Target, to pass the ratings boards, as the violence has to be continually toned down. Clearly the acceptance of his earlier films show the audience is ready for his style but it seems that Hollywood is not ready to accept the responsibility. Chow-Yun Fat has found success in Hollywood to the tune of toned down violence as well. The only justification of violence on such a high level in film in America may be on import status only

2003-04-16T14:01:00.000-04:00

Last Nights Buffy: The Vampire Slayer

Here are the comments I posted on Peter Davids Blog site concerneing last night Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Very interesting discussion going on over there. This past episode had a new BAD Preacher that reminded me of a movie I watched in my class Film Criticism... here are my comments from over there intertwined with quotes (in bold) from the 1955 movie Night of the Hunter that starred Robert Mitchum.

I had read somewhere about the new "Preacher" coming to town, but hadn't expected for him to be played that good and be so bad. There is a movie that came out in 1955 called The Night of the Hunter where Robert Mitchum plays a southern preacher with violent tendencies toward women (He liked to stab them). I couldn't get that character out of my mind and kept looking for L-O-V-E and H-A-T-E to show up on Caleb's Knuckles. I am not saying Joss and Co. ripped off that character (if anything paid homage to) but Preacher Caleb seems just as sick and twisted.

The Lord blinded mine enemies when they brought me in this evil place...I come not with peace, but with a sword...This sword has served me through many an evil time

Xander's eye-popping scene caught me off guard. I have been used to the main cast taking a beating, but generally always getting up and limping out - but generally being all right. I think it added a bit of much needed reality to the show. (I was on the edge of my seat yelling, "Oh my God, Son of a Bitch!")

Lord, I am tired. Sometimes I wonder if you really understand. Not that You mind the killin's. Yore Book is full of killin's. But there are things you do hate Lord: perfume-smellin' things, lacy things, things with curly hair.

Of Course this preacher is not praying to the Lord (technically neither was the other preacher), but the First looking like Buffy manipulating his needs by reliving his other conquests for him. I thought this was brilliant move to keeping him deeply in his mood of Evil. And didn't the First/Buffy ask him if he liked her hair?

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. Neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Wherefore by their fruits, ye shall know them.

I think Willow will not turn badass again, For if she did, she would be evil again and that is too much to resolve in 4 episodes. I think she will play a pivotal part in the end shows, but not like she was at the end of last season.

No, no. No little lamb. Don't touch it. Now, don't touch my knife. That makes me mad. That makes me very, very mad.

I found it interesting that Caleb said that he had ruined a very good knife in the potential slayer he stabbed in the truck. Goes to show that he thinks he is invincible - and from the strength he showed in the battle he very well may be damn near. Nathan Fillion (in an interview over at Zap2it.com) said THE fight scene in the show took them 4 days to film because it had to be perfect. I'd say they got it right.

Oh, them poor little lambs. To think I never hoped to see them again in this world. No, dear Madam, if you was to know what a crown of thorns I've borne in my search for them stray chicks.

Caleb and Co. may not have to search as hard as the Preacher in The Night of the Hunter but I felt it wonderful episode and it just proves that they haven't forgotten how to make a good show. I am a film studies minor and watched Mitchum's movie about a month or so ago. I recommend it highly.

What is the deal with 2 more friggin weeks??? That sucks, man.

Xyon

2003-04-05T03:00:00.000-05:00

One More Try

Ok --

The link I have been trying to post is for the band who will be playing at the Sophisticated Otter on Thursday April, 17. Here I go again...

Hot Action Cop

Hopefully that worked. You can sample some of their music at that site. It should be a good show.

2003-04-05T02:56:00.000-05:00

JEEEZ

Two times now I try and make a post with a html link and I forgot one simple thing...BUT instead of being able to delete the post, the edit button is now the link I was trying to post with everything else from the rest of my written blog...I will try ONE more time for this specific link, which now seems not that important, except that is driving me crazy.....shit fire and save the matches....

2003-04-05T02:49:00.000-05:00

Somehow I screwed up the last post -- I had put this ---

Hot Action Cop will be playing at the Sophisticated Otter on Thursday - April 17....should be a pretty good show. Here is the link to their website -

2003-04-04T14:37:00.000-05:00

hotactioncop.com

Hot Action cop (

2003-04-04T13:19:00.000-05:00

www.lennonmurphy.com

Lennon Murphy (her band name is LENNON) - has a new web site. It was lennononline.com but they are converting things over to the new site lennonmurphy.com. I recommend everyone to look at this site. Lennon is one of my favorite artists that hasn't made it big yet, but she is working hard at it. If you join the membership on the site (which is free) you are able to get to sections that you can't if you don't. One of the things you are able to do by signing up is to be able to download her new song "Nothing Out of Me" from her forthcoming album "I Am".......check her out...

2003-03-07T13:36:00.000-05:00

Iraq 2003

Here is a letter I composed to a professor at ETSU concerning the Iraq situation.

This past week has been one of turmoil and worrisome for my mind. With the prospect of war looming over the country and the immense evil of Saddam Hussein stringing along the puppets of the once great United Nations, my attentions have been wavered from what my responsibilities are suppose to be focused on. I find myself listening to the radio all day to stay current in hopes that something good will be brought forth from something with such world, if not biblical, implications. Even the President of our great country is showing signs that he his being worn down by the past few months. As I listened to most of the press conference Thursday night I could not help think that, with the help of the press, George W. Bush was going to be highly criticized and belittled as he was subjected to, at times, intentional questions that ambushed his intentions to be as honest and forthcoming with the nation as possible. It is hard to believe that one person could rip the world leaders apart to the degree that Hussein has. As I write this I am listening to the United Nation security meeting where the inspectors are reporting their latest findings and it doesn't look like they are not going to side with Washington, yet again. It is very troublesome to me to see the possible lives that will be lost to stop the most evil person since Adolph Hitler and for most of the world to be against it, but I feel it must be done. It is equally as troubling to me to see the value of money and/or political affiliation over that of human life. I am constantly thinking about World War II and whether or not after the bombing of Pearl Harbor if the American People at the time would have as easily have forgotten that attack as apparently most of the Hollywood elite and the other protestors have seeming forgotten 1993's attack on the World Trade Center or more importantly the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001. I believe that our President is working in the best interests of the security for the citizens of the United States of America and the citizens of Iraq that Hussein is holding, for the most part, in fear. One of the greatest freedoms in our country is the right to free speech and opinion. I just hope that these rights are not being abused to leak stories that could bring potential harm to our soldiers that have been sent to protect our great nation.

On that down note -- See you Monday.

Xyon

Xyon is a student at East Tennessee University who is currently humming comedic Tim Wilson's tune.."It's a Sorry World" and is trying to figure out why Hussein was giving chemical weapons in the first place (instead of traditional weapons) to defend his own miscalculations when he was losing to Iran in the mid 1980's.

2003-02-27T10:51:00.000-05:00

Inspirations to My Slackerness

The new blog obsession exploded on the scene and I found out about it from my good friend Rex. At the time I couldn't understand it because I never pegged him for doing much with computers. He surprised the hell out of me when I found out and what a wonderful surprise it was. So with his help l created this blog which will be a year old in June. I raced out of the gates blazing, posting everyday, and really enjoying every minute of it (which I still enjoy posting). But I found myself getting burned out of posting every day and that l led to not posting for weeks then months at a time. I then realized that, like anything else, this is a commitment of sorts. Even Rex wasn't immune, going day and sometimes over a week without a post. The one person I have been extremely impressed with is Skycry's dedication to his blog. Ever since I have been blogging, his blog has been constant and consistently updated which is a hard thing to do. Keep up the good work Sky, because you keep the inspiration going for the rest of us slackers.

2003-02-27T10:35:00.000-05:00

Some things being said over at peterdavid.net

In the post just below this one I mention I have been reading and posting a lot to Peter David's blog recently. Here are some excerpts of what I have been reading and my replies...

Italicized words are Peter David (PAD)

Concerning Buffy the Vampire Slayer....

Although there's one unfortunate relapse into Buffy "People are going to die!" speechifying, tonight's ep was more emotionally driven than plot driven. We get a quick overview of Sunnydale High's Most Horrifying Hits, including a wonderful riff on the Invisible Girl episode from season 1 that rewards long-time viewers with a reference that only they will fully appreciate. These days where some people expect comic books to cater to fans with the attention spans of fruit flies, it's nice to see a long-running series that doesn't hesitate to exploit its own rich history, sometimes in almost throwaway fashion.

Andrew finally grows up a few notches, forced to come to emotional grips with the evil he's done. Plus his Rashomon-esque turns on his time with the Evil Trio are a hoot. Yes, granted, we've seen that kind of thing before (including an entire Jonathan-centric episode, "Superstar"), but it's always fun when done right. From the deftly edited redo of last season's climactic blowout with Dark Rosenberg (took me a minute to realize all the Willow material was unchanged) to the deliriously insane "We are as gods!" that almost makes you wonder if that's how terrorists imagine the eternal award that awaits them (serve 'em right to be stuck with Jonathan, Andrew and Warren. You wanted virgins? You got virgins) proves that it is possible to write eps of BTVS that can capture some of the old charm.

The Spike/Wood subplot is starting to bubble over. I give it one, two eps at most before Spike has *got* to realize the principal's out to kill him. And considering Spike's characterization seems to have dead-ended, I'm *really* worried about his longevity. Damn. If he gets dusted, I hope the coat doesn't go.

I'm really starting to think the main reason Kennedy was introduced was to make Dawn less annoying in comparison. And I thought Buffy was just a little too blase about a student's head exploding. That *is* what happened, isn't it? I know she's seen a lot, been through a lot, but a studen'ts HEAD EXPLODED. And she's commenting he should've had a foot rub? Maybe she really has been doing this for too long.

PAD

my contributions -

I think the Spike / Principle Wood storyline is all a set up for Spike to go evil again. I think Spike killing Wood would sent him over the edge, causing his new soul to snap and not in the losing ones mind way. Espically if they plan to keep him around next season when Sarah Michelle Gellar is reported to leave the show. I've read reports where Eliza Dushku (Faith) is rumored to take the lead role next season. IF the show stays around it will be interesting to see how they step up the gang as well.

Also is it just me or is Willow acting a lot older than her age? I know they all have grown up and matured, but she is seems to me as already an old witch.

Posted by Xyon @ 02/26/2003 10:40 AM ET

Concerning my comments on Willow -

Willow has always been on of my favorite characters and it is disconcerting to me for her character potrayed in this manner.

Posted by Xyon @ 02/26/2003 10:45 AM ET

and concerning Smallville - there was a lot of discussion about this show while still in the Buffy thread because Peter David hadn't commented on the show yet - the jist of if was how good it was and how much everyone liked the use of the John Williams score from the Christopher Reeve movies (incidently Mr. Reeves was a guest star on the episode last Tuesday, which will be repeated on Sunday afternoon at 5pm on WB) and I contributed this:

Agreeing on all points concerning Smallville. What about that Superman theme? Wasn't it fantastic! The crisp sound of the trumpet sent chills down my spine. That show is continually suprising me. It is by far one of the best shows to ever be on and for it to be about one of the legends of the comic book world just gives comics even more credit as a viable medium.

It will be interesting to read the good Mr. David's comments about this week's episode.

Posted by Xyon @ 02/26/2003 02:58 PM ET

So - Peter David commented on the show early this morning and he wrote this:

02/27/2003 Entry: "SUPER DUPER (SMALLVILLE)"

I was planning to discuss "Smallville" anyway; just didn't want to do it the same time as "Buffy." But a Smallville discussion seems to have broken out over there anyway. Maybe I should just start doing double BLOG entries after Tuesday nights. (Hey, Glenn, any way to move the "Smallville" related posts over here?)

Anyway...one hell of an episode. Spoilers to follow...

Mythic. That's what this episode was. Mythic. And what made it work so well is that we've had a season and a half of a young, "earthy" Clark Kent trying to comprehend a series of adolescence-related changes that make zits and voice cracking look sick in comparison. The producers brought Superman down to our level. And now, for the first time, Clark gets a big heaping glimpse of his potential. To truly comprehend where you're going in life, you have to know where you've been. Clark now has an inkling, and the future is beginning to open up. Except teens don't live or for the future; they tend to dwell in the "now." The fact that he was staggeringly overwhelmed just from the slightest inkling of the truly stupendous destiny that awaits him rang incredibly true.

People keep comparing best moments. Was it the brilliant concept of having Chris Reeve effectively pass the torch in a role that I personally would love to see recurring? Was it the wholly unexpected and deft use of key Superman signature music--the Krypton fanfare when the Kryptonian lettering is revealed, the echo of the main Man of Steel theme minutes later?

For me, no. For me, the best moment is Clark's concern that he might succumb to the precept of power tending to corrupt, and absolutely power corrupting absolutely...his father's subsequently embracing him...and then the look on Jonathan's face as it becomes clear that he is thinking, "What if this kid really IS supposed to conquer the world? Am I the equivalent of Hitler's father?"

A daunting prospect indeed.

PAD

It is very neat and fun to be able to interact (somewhat) with someone you have great respect for and wish you had just a little bit of the storytelling fiction talent that I think he has...

2003-02-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

Been Reading and Posting on peterdavid.net A Lot These Days

I have been neglecting my blog as of late. I have been blaming work/school/work schedule somewhat unjustly. Granted, yes, I don't get home until 10pm most weekday nights, but I do have access to computers/internet at almost all locations. I suppose I am still in a funk about doing a lot of writings these days, but I have been reading and posting to Peter David's blog site as of late.

Everybody who knows me, knows that I am a big fan of Peter David's books. Whether it is his tremendous Star Trek books, Sir Apropos of Nothing books, comics I used to read religously, or other books he writes. About the only Peter David stuff I don't read is his Babylon 5 novels and it is not because of him, it is just me not getting into Babylon 5.

Starting last TV season, I have started overloading myself on TV. I am not sure how or why, because I used to watch only a very little TV. I suppose I am in one of those periods of TV where I am enjoying a lot of the shows. They have finally made some connections with my interests. I have found out the two of my favorite shows, Smallville and Buffy The Vampire Slayer are two of Peter David's favorite shows and he posts his opinions about the weeks episdoes and allows and encourages fans of his to join on the discussions. So that is where I have been lately. Playing fan boy, which is ok but I am enjoying it.

2003-02-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

no harm no foul

great nothing at all happened. that is not entirely a bad thing either....going home from ETSU --- Lights out...

2003-02-20T21:37:00.000-05:00

Let's see how bad I can screw up this blog. Gonna try something - see if it all goes to hell.

Hopefully it will all go well....but usually that is not the case....

2003-02-20T07:48:00.000-05:00

It's a Wonderful Life

Mon - Fri --7am - 3:30pm --- Regular Job (City of Johnson City)

Mon - 4-6 Teacher's Assistant (TA) work
6-8 Natural Resources Class
8-10 TA work

Tues - 4-7 Film Critism Class
7-10 TA Work

Wed - 4-7 Special Topics in Film (Hong Kong Action Directors)
7-10 TA work

Thurs - 4-7 Film Genre (Film and the Great Depression)
7-10 TA Work

I am ready for Spring Break in a major sort of way. Hopefully I will add more here soon.

But I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Twilight Zone Episode that this entry is named after. The one with Bill Mumy ("Danger Will Robinson") -- well, they did a follow up episode last night (It is Still a Good Life). I have it on tape and am eager to see it. I hear it is one of the best new Twilight Zones. It has the real life daughter of Bill Mumy (played by Liliana Mumy) as his daughter on the show. I hear there is also another follow up episode to a classic one that aired on the second half of last night's episode but I forget which one. Maybe after I watch the episode from last night it will jog my memory.

2003-02-06T20:59:00.000-05:00

Wet Snow

Wahoo! It is snowing again and i am sitting at my computer staring off into the church parking lot's street light mesmerized. I love the snow. Espically when I am safe at home, not having to brave the weather until the morning...grozt, why couldn't it be Friday night.....

Today was not a bad day. It was cold, but not COLD like it was a couple of weeks ago. Flurry or two throughout the day. Then all Hell broke loose. I head to class and it starts snowing pretty hard. Looks like Knoxville is getting hammered as well. We will probably be 2-3 inches when it is over because I don't think it will keep the pace up it is currently at. Nice East Tennessean there ending that sentence with a prepostion.

I may be heading to Chattanooga tomorrow night to see a 4 band line-up at a club there. I will go on these long way down and back in one night if I am not driving, and I will not be driving. But the 2 headliners sound prettty good from what I have downloaded(Chevelle and Trust Company). The other 2 I have not remotely heard of, nor do I remember their names.

In my film class, Film and the Great Depression, we watched Blonde Venus, 1932, directed by Josef Von Sternberg. On of the 7 movies he made with actress Marlene Dietrich. It also starred a very young Cary Grant playing an atypical immoral role. He hadn't quite made it big yet, but soon as he did he was not allowed to play charaters like Nick Towsend; a self absorbed millionare playboy who falls for the luscious Helen Jones/Faraday(Dietrich) and pursues her even though she is married. I didn't think they did that in the 1930's! LOL!

I thoroughly enjoyed the black and white classic. I would like to find a second / third rate theater to see these classics on the big screen, they could do these from a DVD projector or something. I am seeing all kinds of old movies being rereleased cheaply on DVD.

That was the day - will have another one tomorrow if I am able to leave here in the morning...As of now I don't believe that will be a problem.

2003-02-06T00:54:00.000-05:00

Edited Out Story

Last night I wrote a long piece about what happened last week. I mentioned in my last blog "...after last week, it was peaceful," speaking of last week. I have decided to take what I wrote out for now because of legality reasons. Suffice to say, my brother has a crisis on his hands and I really believe it will all be solved before long, but I don't want to write something here detailing his situation until it is resolved. So I will repost what I have taken down later. If there is the slightest chance that what I put here could be used against him (because it involves the law - what I believe to be false charges - he said / she said domestic dispute) it is too great.

2003-02-03T00:34:00.000-05:00

Weekend Happenings

And so another weekend comes to a close.

The terrible tragedy that has befallen our nation this weekend is again reminding us of our frality as we tip toe into space. For another space shuttle to be strewn through our skies is as terrible of a tragedy as the first. One I remember far too well. Columbia, with all your problems, you were just not able to be fixed. May you and your passengers live on in the minds and hearts of those who loved you and in my mind as well.

This weekend was a pleasant one. After this last week, it was a peaceful.

Friday after work I made it home and put in my Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and played it until my friend Larry came over to watch Miracles and a few other programs which I had on tape to watch. Miracles is a darkly intriguing show. Kind of a X-Files meets the Catholic Church and ending on a twisting point that might have something to do with borderline evil. If it is evil - then it is a subtle evil that will come out over time. Using the same plotline from Stigmata, an investigator sent by the Catholic Church to investigate (and usually disprove) religous phenomena. Add in that the faith of this investigator is shaky and the fact that after he files his first "true" account, the Catholic Church discards the incident out of hand...and the twist of evil? That is near the end after we see visions of what could be demons and a crafty individual who gets the investigator to work for him at the end to set up the rest of the show. According to this show, miracles apparently may not be always the result from something good. My Monday night at 10 o'clock(ABC) is now taken.

Another show we watched is Veritas:The Quest. (Monday at 8 - ABC) also looks promising. Think the 'Jones' family trying to to rewrite evolution. High tech Archeology with a hot little tamale (Cobie Smulders) as the tutor to the "misunderstood" son of the head archeologist (Alex Carter) who is continuing his wife's work after she mysteriously disappears some 10 years before. It also has The Mummy's Arnold Vosloo as basically a body guard to the archeologist. It's a bit of a stretch for the plot, but was fun to watch. I will give it a few episodes.

Then we stopped the VCR tape to watch the show Fastlane. Ok I admit it. I watch this one because of the women which are usually not wearing that much. This show is a pretty shallow cop show, aka, race 'em and shoot 'em up - but dammit - it is fun to watch. Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up about a show actually meaning something that we forget what television is all about. About fun. This show is just fun. Hot women, hot cars, and lots of action.

After Larry left I put back in Vice City and played until I was tired and went to bed.

Saturday I lounged. I haven't been able to do that in quite a while. Vice City all day (with the occasional break) until I made myself go to Wal-Mart to buy a new microwave. After 15 years my old one finally wasn't working well enough to justify having it burn more popcorn or burning edges of food while the middle stayed cold.

Sunday -- well Sunday was full of suprises. My friend Johnny came over late Saturday and took advantage of my guest bedroom so the drive on Sunday to Roan Mtn would not be quite as far. After he had gone to bed I got a terrible case of insomnia. I played Vice City until I was about cross-eyed so I go to bed only to toss and turn for about 30 minutes. I figured I would go watch something and get tired that way. It is about 3am and with no sleep in my immediate future, I put in the movie Boondock Saints. I had been meaning to watch this movie for months. I really enjoyed this movie and recommend it for anyone who has not seen it. I had forgotten what it was like to watch something recommended but not know anything about it. Anyway, I liked it so much, it will be that movie that I do my next paper, a paper on humanism. I think premediated murder of "evil" people is pretty humanistic.

Later I ate a new Japanese restaurant, went to the flea market, and visited with my now ex-roomate Hippy. Not too shabby of a weekend.

2003-01-28T10:28:00.000-05:00

Right VS Left

One thing more and I will shut up about this topic (at least for a while :)

The thing is -- the report I submitted for your thoughts is really no better than the other ones that confuse you into believing that ALL their money goes to where they say it goes.

It is the opposite side of the coin.

Mighty Righty vs Clefty Lefty.

I try to stay in the middle as much as I can. Trying to look at both sides of the coin and figure out what it is that I choose to believe. (Everyone probabaly thinks I am wishy washy now, but that is ok...because most of the time I think I am wishy washy.

The thing is I want to see the data and make judgements for myself. It is hard to choose what you like and dislike when all you see is overly exaggerated truths hidden within very Crafty Lies.

2003-01-23T14:57:00.000-05:00

RE: GIVE A HOOT! POLLUTE!

The next bit of information comes from "Getting Rich - The Environmental Movement's Income, Salary, Contributor, and Investment Patterns -- with an analysis of land trust and transfers of private land to government ownership." It was a report from The Center For The Defense of Free Enterprise.

Some Interesting findings in this report -- information is kind of dated, 1993 or earlier....maybe things are different....

The Nature Conservancy (founded in 1951)
Annual Budget - $278,497,634 (1993)
Staff - 1150 total employees
Members - 708,000 individuals, 405 corporations
Fiscal Year 1993
Revenue $278,497,634
Expenses $219, 284,534
Assets $915,664,531
Fund Balances $855,115,125
Excecutive (as of 1993) John Sawhill, President and Chief Executive
Salary $185,000
Benefits $17,118
Expense Account None
Four Year Direct Lobbying $3,352,135
Four Year Grassroot Lobbying $12,508
Fundraising $24,791,449

National Wildlife Federation (founded in 1936)
Annual Budget - $82,816,324 (1993)
Staff - 608 total employees
Members - 4,000,000
Fiscal Year 1993
Revenue $82,816,324
Expenses $83,574,187
Assets $52,891,144
Fund Balances $13,223,554
Excecutive (as of 1993) Jay Hair, Executive Director
Salary $242,060
Benefits $34,115
Expense Account $23,661
Four Year Direct Lobbying $2,334,138
Four Year Grassroot Lobbying $486,947
Fundraising $3,994,986

World Wildlife Fund (founded in 1961 - predecessor in 1948)
Annual Budget - $60,791,945 (1993)
Staff - 244 total - 172 Professional; 72 support
Members - 1,000,000
Fiscal Year 1993
Revenue $60,791,945
Expenses $54,663,771
Assets $52,496,808
Fund Balances $39,460,024
Excecutive (as of 1993) Kathryn Fuller, Executive Director
Salary $185,000
Benefits$16,650
Expense Account None
Four Year Direct Lobbying $7,069
Four Year Grassroot Lobbying $76,792
Fundraising $4,447,034

National Audubon Societey (Founded in 1905, precursors in 1886 and 1896)
Annual Budget - $40,081,591(1992)
Staff - 315 total
Members - 542,000 1993
Fiscal Year 1992
Revenue $40,081,591
Expenses $36,022,327
Assets $92,723,132
Fund Balances $61,281,006
Excecutive (as of 1993) Peter A. A. Berle, President
Salary $178,000
Benefits$21,285
Expense Account None
Four Year Direct Lobbying $1,732,047
Four Year Grassroot Lobbying $549,012
Fundraising $4,338,227

Environmental Defense Fund (founded in 1967)
Annual Budget - $17,394,230 (1993)
Staff - 110 total - 80 Professional; 30 support
Members - 250,000 (1994) [Source - telephone inquiry)
Fiscal Year 1992
Revenue $17,394,230
Expenses $16,712,134
Assets $11,935,950
Fund Balances $5,279,329
Excecutive (as of 1993) Fred Krupp, Executive Director
Salary $193,558
Benefits$17,216
Expense Account None
Four Year Direct Lobbying $624,030
Four Year Grassroot Lobbying NONE
Fundraising $3,168,754

Natural Resouce Defense Council (founded in 1970)
Annual Budget - $20,496,829 (1993)
Staff - 1128 total - 83 Professional; 45 support
Members - 170,000
Fiscal Year 1993
Revenue $20,496,829
Expenses $17,683,883
Assets $,30,061,269
Fund Balances $11,718,666
Excecutive (as of 1993) John H. Adams, Executive Director
Salary $145,526
Benefits$13,214
Expense Account None
Four Year Direct Lobbying $246,526
Four Year Grassroot Lobbying $182,821
Fundraising $2,158,637

And the list goes on and on and on...this report was made in 1994..

The least amount the Executive Director gets at one of these non-profit organizations is $65,000 at the Greenpeace Fund (there is an other Greenpeace organization called Greenpeace, Inc - and that executive got $82,882 annually in 1993). Other Executive fees included $77,142 (Sierra Club), $90,896 (Wilderness Society), $74,104 (Friends of Earth), and $106,507 (Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund). Granted these figures are 9 to 10 years old but I seriously doubt if it has changed any. Probably just got worse.

This packet has lot more stuff..but you get the idea. All these groups I am sure do some great things, but it is hard for me to look at these figures and not say, being a birdwatcher and nature lover in general, "I'm a friggin' Friend of Earth!"

2003-01-22T15:30:00.000-05:00

Movie Review

First - since the last blog -- It did snow. I hear Johnson City had more snow than here in Elizabethton. I had Friday off and went to Charlotte and Winston Salem (That is another story I will share soon). We got roughly 3" in 'Betsy...

For my Film Critism class we had to watch a film / movie that we hadn't seen before and write a review - Here is mine:

Triple X - All Brawn, No Brain

Vin Diesel’s latest visual extravaganza, XXX, is what you have come to expect from the actor – not a lot. Vin Diesel’s character looks like “Mr. Clean” on steroids, thinks he James Bond, and acts like Sly Stallone. The plot has the standard “one person save the world” theme and is filled with as many explosions as the projected $50 million budget would allow, minus the actor’s fees, of course.

The movie is from the same director, Rob Cohen, that made Diesel a house hold name in The Fast and the Furious.

Vin Diesel plays X-ander Cage, an extreme (hence XXX) junkie with a lousy attitude and lots of adrenaline. The first big action scene in the movie has X-ander stealing a senators high priced car, strapping cameras all over it, and jumping it off a bridge that is connecting two mountains while he hangs on until the last minute. He then pulls out a parachute and glides to safety. There is mention that the senator is against something that the X-treme crowd likes and his is being punished, immediately showing X-ander is representing a larger crowd of angst. Mental note to studio – retain your lawyers now, imitation freaks are at an all time high and you will probably need them.

The plot has a grungy guy (X-ander) going “undercover” because other agents are spotted too easily. He is sent to Prague to spy on anarchists. These guys, as it turns out, have a biological weapon that they plan on unleashing on the world. His mission is to gather information and report it back to the NSA agent who recruited him (Samuel L Jackson). Of course, after he finds out that they have a biological weapon he has to stop them, but not for the reason that should be obvious. He has given his word to his romantic interest (Asia Agento) that she will be given immunity if she will gather more information, but she is not able to get out before he is ordered to leave. It is “forget the world and save the girl” attitude and if the world gets saved too then so much the better.

Unbelievable may be not a strong enough word. The audience is suppose to believe that a fresh off the road X-treme junkie with no training is sent to underground Prague to spy on terrorists planning to kill the world? Then they are to believe that this same untrained person can stop the terrorists, defuse a bomb, and save the world all based on his Playstation skills? X-traordinary.

Well, he did pass his test.

XXX shows off a bit too much while exploiting the action scequences. There is a scene where X-ander, straddling a motorcycle, leaps a burning building with the “money shot” being repeated three or four times from different angles. Later, he out races an avalanche on a snowboard that goes on a little too long. These are fun to watch but fuel little for the worth of the movie.

What we are given is not a totally bad movie, just not a good one either. It is filled with high power explosives, good vs. evil, too many ties to James Bond, and just about as much forced dialogue from Vin Diesel and I care to hear. Action movies are fun but action sequences can only carry a movie so far and XXX goes way beyond the limits.

After many re-reading since I turned that in, I think it could have been written a little better. Kinda vague in places if you haven't seen the film. Oh well..next time.

2003-01-16T08:57:00.000-05:00

To Snow Or Not To Snow

Well - everything at work is on hold because of the impending snow that is forcasted to come today. Let's see, what is the latest....Winter Storm Watch / Heavy Snow Warning -- 4-6 inches (as of 8:44am from weather.com) expected. Everybody at the city is scrapping whatever plans they had for today and racing to get the snow trucks ready, loading them with salt, and putting the scrapers on the front.

What that means for me is that I sit here on hold.

ok - Let's see my alternatives. Freezing me ass off as we lay out a retaining wall on West Oakland (near the new Chili's, Barnes and Noble [opening in March!} and the Cheddar's [opening ???]. Right now it is 23 degrees F and nice steady 8 mph winds. Thank the Lord for small favors. I'd rather wait.

I have something here that is interesting. It is a report about the various 'environmental friendly' organizations and their expense / payroll sheets. Some crazy stuff here. I will get into this soon. If I have enough time today I will get into this - if not today soon. You won't believe some of this stuff. Makes me think twice about giving to these organizations - and I am a very environmental friendly guy, being a birdwatcher and all.

As for now - I sit and do office chores. We have a lot of maps that need to be organized better and that is my task at hand. I had best get to it. Of course, since I wrote something about snow it probably won't do nuthing but flurry....but then again, since I put that, everybody better head to the STORE! Ha!

2003-01-13T11:40:00.000-05:00

Sit Patton. I said SIT!

Oh, boy. The shit has really hit the fan now. Here is a headline from last Thursday from CNN...

Video shows police killing dog

Ok, granted this is not too bad of a headline because we don't know the circumstances, but let's go a little deeper....

Here is the sub headline....

Family considering legal action against police, highway patrol

Uh, oh - something has happened...but what??

Then you see the article's orgin...

Cookville, TN

--- in Tennessee...this is going to get ugly in a hurry....

Then you read the bold synopsis of the article...

Police Video released Wednesday showed a North Carolina family kneeling and handcuffed, who shrieked as officers killed their dog -- which appeared to be playfully wagging its tail -- with a shotgun during a traffic stop.

As Rex says, Blimey

Highlights of the rest of the article...

"The Smoak Family was pulled over the evening of January 1 on Interstate 40 in eastern [just barely] Tennessee by officer who mistakenly suspected them of a carjacking. An investigation showed James Smoak had simply left his wallet on the roof of his car at a gas station, and motorist who saw his money fly off the car as he drove away called the police."

The Family was driving through eastern Tennessee on their way home from a New Year trip to Nashville. They told CNN they are in the process of retaining a lawyer and considering legal action...."

"In the Video released by the highway patrol, officers are heard ordering the family, one by one, to get out of their car with their hands up. James Smoak and his wife, Pamela, and 17-year old son Brandon are ordered onto their knees and handcuffed."

'"What did I do?' James Smoak asked the officer."

'Sir, inside information is that you was involved in some type of robbery in Davidson County, ' the unidentifed officer says."

"The Smoaks told CNN that as they knealt, handcuffed, the pleaded with the officers to close the doors of their car so their two dogs would not escape, but the officers did not heed them.

"Pamela Smoak is seen on tape looking up at an officer, telling him slowly, 'That dog is not mean. He won't hurt you.'"

"The tape then shows the Smoaks' dog romping on the shoulder of the interstate, its tail wagging. As the family yells, the dog, named Patton, first heads away from the road then quickly circles back toward the family."

"An officer in a blue uniform aims is shotgun at the dog and fires at its head, killing it immediatly".

"Y'all shot my dog! Y'all shot my dog!' James Smoak cries. 'Oh my God! God Almighty!'"

"The officers bring him to the patrol car, and the family calms down, but they ask the officer for an explanation. One of them says Patton was 'going after' the officer."

B"randon Smoak told CNN that Patton, was playful and gentle -- 'like Scooby Doo' -- and may have simply gone after the beam of flashlight as he ofted did at home, when Brandon and the dog would play."

"...and investigation is under way.'"

For the complete article...go to Video shows police killing dog

Warmest happiest New Year wishes to the Smoak's from Tennessee.

But I digress....

2003-01-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

Always, I mean Always Make Sure You Have Clicked EVERYTHING You Need To

I learned an important lesson today.

The thing I learned was that ETSU nothing but a money hording bastard institution.

Well, I knew this all along but it really hit home today.

As I stood in line to pick up my financial aid check today, I was amazed at the amount of people that were having problems getting their check. One person said, "I had twice this amount listed on the INTERNET are you sure this is right?" And sure enough, after they looked again there was a second check for them to pick up. Another person's check wasn't there at all. After 10 minutes they were finally referred over to the "troubleshooting window" and the line again flowed freely. After about the 6th person to have trouble I was getting tired of waiting. I kept thinking - all they had to do was make sure everything was in order BEFORE they got here and all this waiting could have been avoided. I was also cursing ETSU for waiting until the first day of classes, like they always do, to give out financial aid checks. They could have started Monday (yes, the employees have been back since Monday) and made it much easier.

I finally make it to the window and have out my ETSU ID so I can be done as quickly as possible. I smile to the poor lady who has to stay there all day tediously going through all the envelopes looking for people's names and hand her my ID. She looks here, looks there, and then looks here again. After a few minutes, she says, "I am sorry it is not here. Please step to the next window and they can tell you what has happened."

Well I am slacked jawed and shocked. I immediatly stop caring how long the line is behind me and proceed to ask what has happened. I had everything in order and ready to go. Again, she says, "Please step one window over and they can help you, sir." Disgusted I step out of line and head for the other window. Luckily their was only one person there and I get to the window quickly. First thing she says is "You did go THAT line didn't you??" As she said that she pointed to the really loooong line. I said, "Yes, ma'am" and handed her my ID. After a few keyboard strokes, she looks back up at me and politely says, "You didn't confirm your financial aid and registration. [how I heard it was -YOU DIDN'T CONFIRM YOUR FINANCIAL AID AND REGISTRATION] All your classes have been purged for non-payment {ALL YOU CLASSES HAVE BEEN PURGED FOR NON-PAYMENT} The words sounded like a thunder clap in an empty warehouse building as they echo through my skull to my so-called brain.

I dumbly ask, "It is fixable isn't it?"

She tells me I have to re-register again and come back to this window - TODAY. I race to the registrars office and get everthing back on and head back to the window I just had left. When I get there I am again fortunate (at least I think at the time) that there is only one person ahead of me. 10+ minutes later, after phone calls the lady had to make on the GA's account and five trips from her chair to who-knows-where to do or get who-knows-what I finally get to the window. It takes all of 30 seconds for me to get my stuff straightened out. I saw the figure the check would be written for and then she said, "You can pick up the check tomorrow after 2pm." I say ok and leave.

On my way out, it dawns on me that I had to pay a $100 late registration fee. $100 FREAKIN' DOLLAR mistake! I was almost sick. Then I was mad at ETSU for such a greedy freakin' rule. I remember when they put that fee in place. I thought it was inappropiate then - and really do now. That seems wrong that they are allowed to do that shit. All over not clicking on the freakin' button to confirm. I, apparently, am in the wrong business.

No, I am not bitter at all.....

2003-01-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

What Were They Thinking Would Happen

As posted sometime ago, I am a Star Trek fan and was super pumped when the new movie came out. Over all it was a decent story and great special effects by Digital Domain (Digital Domain, by the way, is the special effects company that my cousin Jeff Stringer works for in L.A. - visit their page at Digital Domain).

The big stink right now is that Star Trek:Nemesis only made 14 million opening weekend and then took a nose dive to the cellar the next weekend. Well, DUH - Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers opened that weekend (the Wednesday following Star Trek's Friday premier.). If I was a big wig at Paramount and had seen that the movie was 1/2 week before the second part of Tolkien's Trilogy (which broke all kinds of records when Fellowship of the Ring debuted in 2001) I would have made sure the picture had been moved to another opening date.

Good movie - lousy, stinking, really, really bad release date.

2003-01-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

I'm Back

Wow. When I posted that last blog on 10/28/02, I had no idea it wouldn't be until January 3, 2003 until I wrote my next blog. A lot has happened since I last wrote you blog. I have a lot of catching up to do. As I sit at work thinking where to begin I think I will hit the highlights and write more details in future blogs. There should be future blogs now that I am settled. It has been a turbulant couple of months -- and now by (and in come cases despite) popular demand (Thanks Skycry and Rex!) let us see how long I blog this time.

Here is a chronological listing of what has transpired over the 2 months absence.

1. My now ex-roomate decides to move in with his girlfriend. (1st of November)
2. I can no longer afford to live at current apt - but cannot just up and move either I decide to stick it out until Christmas break from college.
3. Most of November and early December I have 3 paychecks coming in to pay for rent in December and college finals start rearing it ugly head.
4. Early December I find a GREAT place in Eliizabethton and secure it with a deposit.
5. Most of December I move from one apt to another and lose internet (because I had phone turned off).
6. Decide not to have home phone at all and use cell phone as primary "home" phone with cable modem.
7. Finally get everything moved and transferred in my name.
8. Bracing for a fight with ex-lanlord for the deposit at the now ex-apartment in Boones Creek.
9. Gonna be in debt to my parents for the rest of my life after all the wonderful help that they have been during all this
10.Spend my first night in my new place just before Christmas.
11.Spend my first New Years at my new place with good friends Scott and Brea Garland.
12. Spending the beginning days of 2003 unpacking and setting up.

That was the quick version. I will probably get in to more detail as I get back into blogging again.

I hope everyone had a GREAT New Year!

Here is this for those who keep up with this sort of thing....

200 Elm St #2
Elizabethton, TN 37643

Rex --- call me....

2002-10-28T13:14:00.000-05:00

LENNON

Damn - It has almost been a month. I didn't realize it had been this long. Lately - My schedule is super busy these days. Sky - yes, If it was possible I could use an extra hour or two in a day...

This past weekend I went to Richmond, Kentucky to see Lennon on her new tour. I wrote up something that I posted on the message boards at Lennon Online. I figured I would go ahead and copy and paste what I wrote here.

Road trip from Johnson City, TN to see Lennon in Richmond, KY

An impromptu road trip by 3 of my friends and myself had us roughly 250 miles away from where we live to see the 3rd show on the new Lennon tour in Richmond, Kentucky.

While Lennon's show was great, I felt that the night seemed rushed. MF Hooligans has to follow strict city ordinances saying that they can't sell alcohol after 12am and, according to a bouncer there, everybody has to be out of the building by 12:32am (according to my source, this includes employees as well). I am still trying to figure out where :32 figures in to the equation - leave it to city governments to be seriously fucked up.

Anyway, we arrive at MF Hooligans at 8:30pm thinking the show might have already started since there were three bands. After talking to some people in the club we find out the first band was scheduled to begin at 9:30 -- After some quick calculations on our fingers, we figured between the time it would take to break down and set up the stage that each opening band would only have roughly 30 minutes to play with Lennon having an hour at best.

The first band, Generation, had some familiar faces (go Techie!) but the lead singer seemed to have an Eddie Vedder complex. The way he sang and sounded wys too Vedderish. At first it was interesting to watch - but by the third song it was getting old. I did like the music though.

The second band, Lucid Grey, kicked ass! I think these guys will break it big. They had great prices on their CDs for sale -- I ended up getting 2 CDs and a band sticker for only $8. I wish they could have played a few more songs as their set seemed like it needed a few more songs.

Ok, now was about 10:45pm. With only 1 hour and 15 minutes left until the bar closed - Lennon had to get their stuff set up and do a quick sound check. They do a a great job rushing to set up and start playing about 11:05pm. It seemed that the microphones were having trouble because from where I was (on the main floor where the tables are) I couldn't hear Lennon's voice real well. So I make it down to the floor and before long I am right up on the front row. Best seat in the house.

Lennon's show was awesome. It still seemed that the microphones were having trouble but it sounded better (looked too) from up front. The new material is great and I eagerly wait the release of the CD.

I am glad she got away from Arista Records because it didn't seem that they appreciated her for the artist she is. I am not sure how long her show is normally - but she squeezed in every song she could in the time that was left.

As soon as she left the stage - the lights immediately came up and bouncers started screaming, "GET THE FUCK OUT!" Very subtle.

I loved Lennon's show - Her new music is awesome - Lucid Grey kicked ass - I even liked the little dive location -- BUT if they have such strict laws in the city about drinking and club hours, they need to start the shows earlier so everything is not so rushed.

Xyon
Johnson City, TN

"Only living for what had been and will never be again" - Lennon 5:30 Saturday Morning

2002-09-30T08:07:00.000-04:00

24 / Laundry Day

Yesterday I spent the entire day watching the TV show 24 (with Keifer Sutherland) and doing laundry and other household chores. What a waste to a beautiful day. I didn't realize just how good the show 24 was. I was one of those didn't give it a chance on TV because I knew I wouldn't be able to commit to watching the entire season of anything (Star Trek excluded, but it is on twice a week) because of night school and having just a little of a social life. So I never turned it on AND I am thinking it was on during the same time as Enterprise. I was at the flea market in Bluff City (or thereabouts - indoor/outdoor flea market just off 11E) and found a killer deal on the entire season of 24. Now I am watching it. Just over half done. See? What a waste of a perfectly good day, but I suppose my laundry has to be cleaned and other menial things around the apartment would add up if not nipped in the bud. So that was my Sunday. (Sat held VOLS football -- Rally in the second half to beat Rutgers [wahoo] --jeez what a long seaon this is going to be). Now its Monday ---Back to work and school. Happy Happy Joy Joy.

2002-09-23T08:58:00.000-04:00

Conversion Process - Part 6 (Bonus)

I almost didn't put this here....this I did in 1994. Some will know, but most will not - that is ok...because I do. Quite lenthly too...

Blinded by Love
By Xyon

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PERSON
IN YOUR LIFE
WHO YOU WILL STRUGGLE FOR
THROUGH THE PAIN AND STRIFE.

I.

I met this girl in the seventh grade,
who I fell in love with on the same day.
She had a beauty I had never seen,
which I thought was "peachy keen."

The pencil sharpener was behind her wonderful chair,
so I would dull my pencil just to be there.
I liked the feeling my body had sampled,
taking a chance, hoping not to be trampled.

But, I was still too young to fully comprehend,
What the feelings were I was trying to extend.
So it seemed something so special was not to be,
at least not with a money back guarantee.

II.

During the summer I strained to see,
The beautiful girl, where I longed to be.
Many of the faces that I thought were her,
Turned out to be no more than a blur.
Thoughts of her were always on my mind,
I was just learning how love could be unkind.

III.

The new school year came no sooner than last,
and I was not in a hurry to repeat the past.
I went all day, but it seemed we were not to pass,
Until sixth period - Science Class.
I saw her sitting in her chair,
and all I could do was just stare.
I had this meeting all planned out,
for my fear to snuff it out.
The whole school year we did not talk,
though, sometimes, right beside her I walked.

IV.

French Class of my freshman year had started,
when I saw here again my heart was targeted.
Scared and nervous was be got,
hoping I had not been forgot.
We talked that first day,
for the first time since the fateful day.
Sparking a special friendship in ways,
that I cannot even say.
Good times and times spend together,
is about all that kept me together.
At last the courage to ask her out,
she said, "Yes," and I did shout.

V.

We went on a movie date,
a horror flick if I remember straight.
In the theater I had a chance,
to spark a little romance.
When it came down to it my nerves were not steel,
instead of making a move, I only sat still.
If I could take back a piece of time,
I would change that night like a prisoner a crime.
Our friends would ask us if we were together,
Because we were as close as a bird to a feather.

VI.

Sophomore year started alas,
Knowing not how it would pass,
Expectations peak so high,
Reality makes me cry,
It was like déjà vu,
Of those eighth grade blues,
For one day during that year,
She brought to my eye another tear,
She stopped talking to me all together.
Plucked from the bird, the feather.

VII

Midway through our junior year,
I had a sense that she was near.
I went into the office and there she sat,
Typing her memos..tic.tic.tic.tat.
As I looked down into her eyes,
I saw a sadness that took me by surprise.
Over the next year our friendship came back into bloom,
Although it had to be carefully groomed.
For the boyfriend who had caused all the pain and strife,
Still twisted and turned the knife.
I finally made here understand,
that she was not happy with this man.
It was if pain had made her blind,
Another instance how love can be unkind.
Ultimately, it was for her I made her see,
But I wonder, how much of it was for me?

VIII.

It came to be our senior year.
Giving everyone reason to rejoice and cheer.
Our friendship still strong,
but not what I so very much longed.
I always envisioned a time when we would never,
think twice about saying forever.

IX

A.

As our senior year came to an end,
and with college just around the bend,
We had dinner at my house,
with no one home except the mouse.
Afterwards we sat and had a drink
a little scared and nervous, not knowing what to think.
She asked me if I would care,
If she did something that she wanted to share.

TIME FROZE

B.

Before I had a chance to reply,
we were almost eye to eye.
Our lips came together,
Sweet, succulent, always, forever.
She said just what was on my mind,
"I've wanted to do that for a long time."
I took her securely in my arms,
doing my best to dust off the charm.
We kissed and hugged, longing for more,
but not feeling the time to do anymore.
I slept that night with amazing peace,
Life had finally renewed it's lease.

X

After that night, we had another chance,
to be intimate with that wonderful word romance.
But that fate was not to be,
because I was not ready to proceed.
Through all the storms we had weathered,
It seemed the bird had lost most of it's feathers.

XI

I saw her a few days later,
At a party celebrating our graduating papers.
After being blinded by love, I finally started to see,
because she told me that we were not meant to be.
Time slowly started to heal,
All the emotions I had strained to feel.

XII

College - freshman year,
A new life started here.
She in her world and I in mine,
but I was still blind.
I called her to see if she wanted,
to come see the new life I had started.
When I saw here again all my feelings came back,
she was still able to open my concealed little sack.
If I had proceeded in a different direction,
maybe there would have been more detection.
Nevertheless she was content to stay,
in our same friendship way.

XIII

A.

There was something still I had to do,
something I figured she already knew.
It was at Pizza Hut that I chose,
to reveal the purpose that I had enclosed.
It was going to be harder than I thought,
to tell her the feelings I had brought.
She knew that there was something on my mind,
because she could read me blind.
I looked straight into her eyes,
As the words , " I love you," caught her by surprise.
TIME FROZE for the second time in as many years,
and I was on the verge of tears.

B.

As time began to slowly tick,
She raised a piece of pizza she had just picked.
The fork with the piece of pizza never made it to eat,
instead it landed over at someone's feet.
She looked at me for a long moment without a blink,
then we talked more and she said she needed time to think.
Now, I am at the mercy of time,
hoping that it will not be unkind.

XIV

I saw her a couple times later,
within spaces that seemed like forever.
I called her one night,
only to find my ultimate fright.
TIME FROZE once again,
as her grandmother told me what had began.
What her grandmother told me,
I could barely believe.
She had gotten married without even a single word,
Alas, the last feather plucked from the bird.

XV

EPILOGUE

In all my live and all my travels
Down broken pavement and sometimes gravel.
I have not been sure of many things,
Always trying to do the right thing.
But there is one thing that I know,
Only to one woman have I let myself be exposed.
Through all the good and bad times spent together,
I still feel as if the bird has a few feathers.

AFTER YOU HAVE SAILED YOUR SEA
YOU WILL FIND
NOT ALL LOVE IS UNKIND
THROUGH MY EXPERIENCES I STRUGGLED TO SEE
BE WHAT MAY, LOVE WILL ALWAYS BE

Afterthoughts:

"...From the journey between Heaven and Hell.
Half the time thinking what might have been,
and half the time thinking just as well."

Harry Chapin
Sequel

"Open the door, come in.
I'm so glad to see you my friend.
Don't know how long it's been.
Having these feelings again.
But I see your so happy.
And oooh it just sets me free.
Because I'd like to see us as good of friends as we used to be..."

Wilson Phillips
Your in Love

Xyon
1994

2002-09-23T08:23:00.000-04:00

Conversion Process - 5.4

This is the last installment of this story (I just heard everyone's collective sigh of relief) that I have written now...this installment has a pretty decent set up to tell the backstory of our suicidal, undead friend...maybe one day I will tell it.

Dreamscape - Part 4

Thinking about things, I realize that I am wrong. There is a God. S/he sitting in the almightly throne with a wicked sense of humor.

I have not entered either heaven or hell. I figured it would be the latter because, after all, I took my own life. Or at least I thought I had. But this is different than I had expected. Instead of seeing the pearly gates or the fiery inferno, I find myself in my own body - my own body after an autopsy.

I am not breathing, which is good because my lungs are currently breathing air for someone else. I don't understand it, but I feel no pain. I do, however, feel the cold floor beneath my feet and feel the shock of looking down and seeing the long scar that has been stitched up dowm my front side. Most of my other organs have been disconnected as I feel them jiggle as I walk out of the morgue.

My current state of appearance is that of a extremly white and naked man with half of his brain blown off. Other than the obvious defects I feel fine.

I remember, when I awakened (awakened?), I kicked a poor priest that looked vaguely familiar, in the nuts and stole his cross from around his neck. Problem is that I didn't care that I had done it. He was in my way, talking gibberish, so I got him out of it.

I found bangages in the next room which I carefully wrapped around my head, stragetically, so it looked like just a bad head wound instead of...well..instead of what? A fatal one? I don't know. I can't explain any of this but right now I just have to figure out how I am going to get out of this hospital without anyone seeing. Then, hopefully, I can figure out what the hell is going on.

For some reason my head starts to tingle, then throb, then pound. I find a wall to support my body and slide over to the corner, holding my head tight. I slide down the wall and slip into what I used to think of as a dream - and I remember...

End - Part 4

2002-09-23T08:07:00.000-04:00

Conversion Process - 5.3

Dreamscape - Part 3.5

I used to have one heart, one soul.
One providing life, one providing meaning.

One has faultered,
Can my heart live without a soul?
Living without a soul, showing no remorse,
without any honor or compassion;

How long until everything is shoved into a pile,
A pile so high that the weight will crush any hope;

How many lives will it take to reach that point,
Reach that point where my soul cries for redemption,
How long I find my breaking point;

I only have one heart, no soul..
God help us all.

2002-09-23T08:02:00.000-04:00

Conversion Process - 5.2

Dreamscape - Part 3

The priest looks over the body on the table and says a silent prayer. He turns to leave and is struck by a thought - or maybe an afterthought. His eyes widen and he his face distraught.

"Did I just see a finger move?" he says outloud without realizing he has done so. "Impossible." he continues, "Complete autopsy. Major organs removed. Lungs donated, liver damaged beyond further use, imbalming fluid replacing the blood in the veins..."

As he slowly turns around, he is struck by a foot directly in the groin. As he goes down to one knee, his bible tumbles across the floor. A pale hand reached out and breaks off the cross that is draping down from his neck.

"Why did you let them do this to me..." the body says, although all the priest heard was "wy id uuuuuu lat em uuu ssss o eee."

The priest, still down on one knee and dumfounded, starts frantically trying to move away from the table. In his haste he hits the next table square with the back of his head. Stars float in front of his eyes for a brief moment and before he blacks out he sees the body get up off the table and walk out the door.

"But, you did this to yourself..." the priest manages to get out as his conscienceness fades to black.

End Part 3

2002-09-22T23:13:00.000-04:00

Conversion Process - Part 5.1

Dreamscape - Part 2

I now know the face of death. You are led to believe that death is a mythical creature. Whether you believe that she is a beautiful pale girl with an ankh around her neck or he is a skeleton in a hood with a sickle is up to you.

But now I know.

I know that it is neither.

Nothingness.

Blank out of existence.

That is how I know I am not dead. As I continue to rise upward I know this - I just do. Myth of God and Satan - the enternal battle that has raged for ever is just figment working overtime. Planted there by scared little people who are afraid to look at the real meaning of life. That we just are and that is it. I am looking at nothingness -no Heaven, Hell, or even Hades.

Imagine a blank screen on your television set. Then imagine being in the blank screen and seeing another blank screen. That is what is like whhere I am. Ever so slightly you see a light in the middle of this screen and you are drawn toward it. Pulled might be a better word. Drifting, falling, swimming - you do what you can to get there. Half way there you are all of a sudden flying beyond you comprehension of travel. That is what just happened to me.

I see my body now. It is on the medical examiners table waiting to be dissected to officially determine not what happened in my life, but what ended it. I am being drawn to the shell that was my body. The last thing I see is the blade coming down on my chest to take the first incision as my soul plummets back into my body... I scream out NOOOOO! It is too late and the knife cuts deep down into my sternum...

End Part 2