Puscifer and Whales Vagina.

Got back from San Diego yesterday and what a great quick trip it was. Puscifer was dead on, as always. The music is they type you can really feel and not just hear. Its more of an experience than just a show. So many sounds from different instruments blend to a point of perfection with the hint of lyrics from two sycronized and complementary singers.

Some of the down sides? The fans. From waiting in line seeing all the Tool shirts to shouts of "Maynard!" during brief moments of silence. Some of these fans seem to be the loyal "Maynard" followers that don't seem to understand the differences of each endeavor of his. Let it be said that I am also a Tool fan, an A Perfect Circle fan and I'm even a fan of the many wines that Maynard James Keenan produces. It seems what ever he touches he puts his heart and soul into ensuring a quality product, whatever that product maybe, but when I am at a Puscifer concert I'm there for Puscifer. Not to gush over the "lead singer" but to enjoy the entire experience which honestly, is bigger than he is.

Some up sides? I met and got autographs not only from Maynard James Keenan but also the opening band Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival. The one I got from Mr. Keenan was part of the "Meet and Greet" ticket I bought which was interesting but something I won't be doing again. It wasn't as much a meeting or a greeting but more him signing a CD and handing it to me. I was grateful, thanked him and as I did so I did my nervous little bow to which he said something I was to nervous to remember and bowed back. He was very polite but as I was standing in line I started getting nervous, not because of who I was gonna meet but because I was in line with strangers about to meet a stranger...If you know me, I don't do well around strangers, hence the nervous bow.

Meeting Brother Ed and Brother Ant of Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival was not included in the ticket however, it was just a chance we crossed paths. I first saw them last time I saw Puscifer and was enamored but at that show I couldn't find there CD for sale so before the concert started this time I found it and bought it. As the concert came to a close I went over to find something to buy at the Pucisfer merch area. I was standing there and Tony, my friend that was nice enough to accompany me on this adventure, pointed behind me and said "Look" I turned around and saw them. I told them about first seeing them, how much I enjoyed them and then asked if they would sign my newly purchased CD to which they did. They were also very polite and appreciative of gaining a new fan.

All in all a great night with a great friend.

WTF?

I haven't been writing much lately for a few reasons but mostly I have been super busy and things have just been pissing me off lately. I try not to write as much when I'm angry or down (or drunk) because its just a lot of nonsense and it honestly gets old when people just continually bitch and moan. Hopefully things get better post haste, the plays will soon be here and gone and the stress that brings will be lifted and free up some of my time. I will say one of the things that helped me relax during the week was my pool league. That has now changed.

I look forward to the beer on Tuesday nights now more than actually playing pool. Two reasons for this, first off my team has begun the season playing teams that far surpass our skill level. This isn't that big of a deal because like I've said before I just enjoy (or enjoyed) playing pool but to constantly get beat hard core has an affect on you. Second, this Tuesday night league has become so political in nature it's effing ridiculous. I'm not sure if we're playing pool or if we're recanting rules, regulations and watching every game with a microscope to show off how much we know and understand the rules, instead of having a good time. So this will most likely be my last Tuesday night year.

Now before you say "But Chad, it IS a league and rules are there to clearly define legality of play because the top winning teams get prize money and the winning team gets to go to Vegas and play. You are just mad because you suck at pool." To that I respond, agreed, but I believe that having a good time about it is important as well. I have placed in a position to win money and honestly, that money ain't gonna change my life and if I did place high enough to go to Vegas I am sure it wouldn't last long.


Anyway, like I said, this bitching and moaning stuff has got to go and be replaced with better commentary on the finer side of things...Like the concert I'm going to on the first! Puscifer has become a new favorite of mine. I think it has to do with the complexity of the sounds generated and the changing nature it has. It's clearly hard to define as a genre and even harder to explain the inherent beauty I find in it. The last show I saw of theirs, which incidentally was their first, was amazing. It's a mixture of moods, music, friends, videos, comedy and wine. This should be fun and hopefully let me regain something of my soul.

Holy crap I've been busy.

So I got back from Vegas and just kinda hung around the house with the kids playing video games. I talked to the kids about Christian and I and after a look that could only mean "Dad, you're a dumbass." I talked a little more specifically about our differences and how she wanted Children in the future and I didn't. Audrey asked me "Why?" and with a little confusion I said "Well, I have you guys. I don't want to share my love with anybody else." With out a drop of a hat Jeremiah said "Well, I wouldn't mind." to which Audrey replied "Yea! I want a little Sister...Or a nice Brother." Andrew didn't seem interested all that much and was just playing video games. Teenagers, what can you do huh? So now I have no idea where I'm at. My decision of no children was mainly based on the children I have now, but they may have a point. I love children and its not like Christian wanted kids tomorrow. So we will see what the future holds.

The kids went back to their moms and I went off to Albuquerque to help move my brother and his family back there. It was a long drive because I followed his truck and going mostly 65 mph but on the plus side, I got 60+ mpg from Flagstaff to Albuquerque. We didn't do really anything while we were there, just unpacking and getting stuff together. We did go as a large group, my brother Shays family, my sister Raeshas family and I, to Turtle Mountain Brewery for a dinner. I had their signature Mac & Cheese, sooooo good and I got a growler of T.M.B.C. I.P.A. (that's Turtle Mountain Brewing Company's India Pale Ale) The day before I had taken a break to go see my Brother In Law play hockey on the Ice Skating Rink I spent many hours on as a child. It was a lot of fun but I had to leave early to meet with a guy for a possible movie role. I met this guy at a Denny's, he seems passionate about films but I'm not quite sure I'm gonna go for it or not. Something just feels off about it, nothing major, just not sure I'm the guy for this project.

I left Albuquerque and stopped in Flagstaff to spend the night with a friend of mine. I got into town and we went to Beaver Street Brewery for lunch. I had a Meatloaf Sandwich that was amazing and I got a growler of their Nut Brown Ale which made the trip back to RC with me and is chilling in the fridge. After lunch we went back to the house to wait for her boyfriend to get off work and when he did he had to help a friend of theirs install some plumbing so we just kinda hung out and watched him work.

The next morning I headed off to Jerome, AZ. A four hour side trek, two hours there and two hours back to where I needed to be. The drive was incredibly breathtaking. When I got to Jerome I immediately had a feeling of deja vu. The town is literally on the side of a mountain and driving on its streets is a dizzying experience due to its switchbacks and hair pin turns. The longer I spent there the more I realized I had been there before, maybe twenty years ago or so. The feeling of meeting back with myself is a strange yet calming, satisfying experience. I went to Jerome for two reasons, the Puscifer store and Caduceus Cellars. I got myself a Puscifer belt buckle and some wine and wine paraphernalia. The stores, the town and the 30 or so minutes I spent in them, were very much worth my four hour add on.