Home Again

So its Halloween night and I am debating on what scary movie to watch. Its a yearly deal for me and since nobody else I know other than Brad Igers likes scary movies. I remember when him and I went to see the Blair Witch Project in Wausau at midnight on Halloween. The movie theater was packed and we barely found 2 seats together. Bad part was that there was no "gay safety seat" between us. Although I think throughout the movies we both kind of moved closer and closer together. We both walked out of that movie that night scared absolutely sh+tless. It was great. We had to go have beer at a local establishment in order to chill down. Thinking of going to see Saw IV. If you haven't seen the first one it is a must see. It is a movie that you will NEVER figure out. The ending is so great its not even funny.

Well we are finally settled in again and I start work/new job on Monday. I have been off all of this week working on home stuff and transition stuff. Kind of looking forward to just getting back to work. Heidi has a possible job already lined up. Second interview tomorrow. Working from home for 20-30 hours per week. Just perfect for her. We are both pumped.

That's really about all the info I have tonight. No music. No deep thoughts. Just Halloween. One of my most favorite nights of the year.

Trick or Treat Smell My Feet
Give Me Something Good to Eat.

Miss My Wife/Child

I think I have found true love. I just got back from watching The Brave One. It was a good revenge movie about a husband and wife that were seperated by things of this sick world in which we currently reside. I miss both my wife and only child and can not imagine living too much longer with out them in my life. This house is quiet and tears fall down my face while listening to this song. It hurts the most when you can hear it in your childs voice over the phone. What hurts more than anything is that I still feel like I brought this onto our lives by stupid mistakes. Heidi wasnt happy here but it would have been nice to do it on our terms. I guess we all make them sometimes, it just sucks when people close to you feel the same pain. Music isnt always just hate, revenge, and rock for me. I found my self ripping this song today and its just funny how lyrics can pull you at the exact time when you need to be pulled. Could be pulling you up from the dumps, pulling you through the swamp, or pulling you to decide what you are all about. Find this song and listen to it with the lyrics. Sara Mclachlan. Do What You Have to Do.


What ravages of spirit
conjured this temptuous rage
created you a monster
broken by the rules of love
and fate has lead you through it
you do what you have to do

and I have the sense to recognize that
I don't know how to let you go
every moment marked
with apparitions of your soul
I'm ever swiftly moving
trying to escape this desire
the yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
the yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
but I have the sense to recognize

that I don't know how
to let you go
I don't know how
to let you go

a glowing ember
burning hot
burning slow
deep within I'm shaken by the violence
of existing for only you

I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
and I have sense to recognize but
I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go

Testify

Here is song one from the RATM show. As you will see the crowd, myself and Brad Igers had waited 5 very long years for the reunion. Enjoy. Mic Check!

Beginning

Here was the start to the show!

Holy Moses

Here is a very small taste of what I experienced in the music realm last weekend. Brad Igers and I went down to Alpine Valley to see Rage Against the Machine and Queens of the Stone Age. I started the day by driving down there around 10 a.m. in order to get a decent parking spot thinking that we could just camp out in the back of the truck for the night. Igers started his day at 3 a.m. getting up in Seattle in order to catch a 5 a.m. flight that would take him from Seattle to Phoenix and ending up in Milwaukee where he would catch a rental car and be to Alpine Valley by 4 p.m. Doors opened for the show at 5 p.m. We stood in line to get into the show at 5 p.m. and they decided not to open the doors until about 6:45 p.m. While we were standing in line it began to pour. Luckily Luke was smart enough o bring rain jackets, but needless to say we still got soaked. We had a great time and saw two of the best shows I have seen in a long time. PJ is always good but nobody on this planet can match the intensity of Rage. Unreal is all I can say. Pics will follow below and only a teaser of Rage will be seen below (stage). Videos will be coming as soon as I can figure out how to post them off my camera.

This is the first picture of the Mud Kings that were directly behind us. These freaks would slide straight down the hill (which was all mud) directly into the hands of the rental pigs that would drag them out by their ears. Then the crowd would chant vulgarities at them which was always good.




This would be a picture of Queens of the Stone Age. Along with the next 2.





Here is where the real show starts. This is the set for Rage. It only gets better from here.

The "real" summer vacation

Intense

This is exactly what I was talking about on my other blog. Look at the face on both of these guys and tell me that they are not serious about what they are singing about. The audio is a bit loud, but you get the picture.

Long Road

Back. Tired. Still sweating. I guess I will be the first to blog about our experience in Chitown. Heidi, Brooke and I had a good time at Six Flags. Rode some rides, watched Spy Girl and had a good family time. We then drove downtown checked into the hotel and drover over to the aquarium. Had a very cool time there seeing the largest aquarium in the US (Who knew?) Then we had dinner on the Magnificent Mile that evening and crashed in the hotel. We stayed at the Congress Hotel which was a very cool old hotel right downtown. The next day we got up and proceeded to the Museum of Science and Natural History. It was a bit over Brooke's head but I learned a crap load of stuff. Saw T-Rex and various other flying dinosaurs. Pretty cool. Heidi and Brook left that afternoon and the "concert" weekend started. Pictures of the family vacation will come later. I will start with Night 1 of Lollapalooza.



Ben Harper was the main attraction that night and he rocked it out. First time I had seen him before and he was probably the 3rd greatest live performance guy/band I have ever seen. Eddie came out and played a very intense Masters of War with him.

Night 2 saw nobody, but did see one of the oldest and greatest baseball parks in the world. Wrigley Field. Something I will never forget.

Night 3 was every emotion I have in my body. It started at 1 p.m. when we walked from the hotel over to Lollapalooza. We loaded up with 2 bottles of water (needless did we know it was not near enough) and proceeded up to the stage that PJ was playing on. We were only able to get about what would be equivalent to 20 rows back but our thought process told us if we hold out people would leave in between shows. We waited. Some rap dude came out and I had flashbacks of when I saw Run DMC and they sucked just as bad. We waited. Finally our first bad we wanted to see. Kings of Leon.


>

Remember now this is at about 4:30 or so and its 90 degrees outside and I have been standing in what was equivalent to a 2x2 foot box. Could not sit down could barley crouch down like a catcher. They actually made the previous 3.5 hours of standing worth it. There were a few people that left after that and I think we were able to shuffle up about 10 feet closer. We waited, still standing. We were at the point where this was a close as we were going to get. We staked out that ground like it was the California gold rush. Nobody was getting inside my 2x2 box. My Morning Jacket comes out. I think I could get used to if I saw them by themselves. Nobody left. We waited. MMJ finishes. Now its about 7:00 and we are working on 6 hours of standing still. This is where it really starts to get crammed. Everybody is pushing and shoving trying to get as close as they can to the stage. We hold firm. Getting close to PJ and Josh looks over and says "Hey you might want to put your back pack on because when PJ comes out there is going to be a huge push towards the stage." Ok now I am starting at this point to get a bit spooked. My 2x2 box is about to turn into a 1x1 box and there are dudes around me that are way more wasted than I wish I would have been. Not to mention we have all sweat through our shirts, we are exhausted, out of water and might not make it out alive. About that time Brad Igers who was standing next to me just about lost his lunch. Some older ape in front of him finally decides to take of his shirt and display the rug of hair on his back directly in his face. I thought he was taping out at that point, but the trooper he is managed to maintain. That was the other side note....it was like the abyss. If I was to leave my 3 other friends there I would not see them ever again. There was no way to get out and no way to get back in. Finally PJ.



They rocked as usual, played some cool songs I had not heard as well as all the usual. Concert done. Something in us allowed us to never give up. What was it? I saw this deal on 60 Min. about one of these Extreme Fighter guys. He was a famous guy and had his own Dojo (where they practice for you people that have not seen the Karate Kid). He had only one picture in his Dojo of himself and it was a picture of one fight that he will never forget. It was a fight in which his opponent had him in a hold that actually broke his arm. Something that was in him told him to no "tap out". He didn't quit after he watched this guy put him in a hold and physically break his arm. Adrenaline? Man whatever it is I wish I had an IV of it in my arm everyday.

The Monster....Detox take 2

Well here we go again starting off on a Monday and not working. Played B-ball again this morning at 5 a.m. I am really starting to get back into the groove. I can hear Coach Brannon now..."Luke, you gotta get in his jock."...."Quit jackin with the cones, whistle dick.". Great times. Should be a sad yet happy day on Thursday. Brooke's Kindergarten graduation. Video tape will be running for any that want to see it when you come up. After that we are off like a prom dress to Des Moines to visit friends for the weekend. Was already planning this before the work stuff happend only bad thing is that now its not paid.

The monster in the title I am finding out is work. The worst thing about this mini work vacation is that I think I am actually starting to miss it. Not all things are missed but I do miss the challenge everyday. Makes it more fun than not. After about a month when I first got to Wausau everybody told me how nice it was because there was no stress in the office. Kind of like it was all on my shoulders and I just allowed them to perform and do their jobs. I have had numerous people tell me how stressful the office has been over the past week and cant wait until I get back on/in the saddle. I guess they get to enjoy that for one more week. All I can say is look out on June 11th, because I am coming back with a pretty big chip on my shoulder.

What do you do with the monster inside? Do you let it eat you from the inside out, or do you get in its jock? I dont know about most, but bring it on and lets rumble. De-tox take 2 has gone from juice diet to the new thing.....Steam Room. I would recomed it to ALL. Get you de-tox iMix all set up and sit in that puppy and just sweat. It feels great. Really gets the shit out of your body and you feel a new when you get out.

This is the pain that never leaves.
This is the tounge that whips you down.
This is the burden of everyman.
These are the screams that pierce your skin.
This is the voice of silence no more.

These are the weights that hold you down.
This is the YEAR THAT WILL NEVER END.
This is the voice of silence no more.
We the people....
Are we the people?

Some kind of monster!

De-Tox

Well for most of you that dont know I am now at home eating bon-bons and wondering what in the hell to do with my life for the next week or so. For those of you that had not heard, Heidi and I also embarked on a cleansing of our bodies that started Monday morning by shaving my head. Juice and liquids only. The plan was to go for 3 days with liquids in order to get rid of the toxins in our body, then we would proceed to re-build our system with fruits and vegatables for the rest of the week. Monday morning was fine no problems. Monday night was severe. Between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m. it might have been a minor miracle that we didn both kill each other. We made it through the night went to sleep and woke up yesterday morning still on the mission. I went and worked with my local production staff for the day and damn near passed out. But I stayed with it and drank a ton of water and liquids in order to not let my crew learn CPR the hard way. That was when I got he call from the seceret agent. Brooke. She called and asked if we could have pizza for the night and I told her to put her mother on the phone. I told her that we have to stick together through this and to not have her cronies call to seduce me. She got Brooke some pizza sticks and brought them home. Her and I were both on the brink of doing something deadly to each other. We had made it almost 30 hours without anything solid in our stomach. I will save you the drama that transpired when I got home to tell you that we threw in the towel last night around 5 p.m. Like fighting in the UFC,we tapped out. Filled our bellies with whatever we could find that tempted us and felt great.

Was this so bad? Probably, but who gives a shit. Things were not going well and we had to adjust. A lot like life. You make adjustments no matter what anybody throws at you. You dont sit around and mope and make everybodies life miserable. You get off your ass and make changes. Grow a set if you will.

I/We are on our last nerve with this city and this job that I still have as of today. The toxic levels at that place are through the atmosphere. We thought our bodies were bad but we have nothing on that place. Is that my own fault? Probably as the manager I have to manage people, attitudes and anything else I get hammered with. Pride. Really, that is what I have learned in this whole process is that you have to give up your pride a bunch. I am pretty prideful and have always wanted to do everything I can and do by myself. Cant happen any more. Have to give things up. I am out for today, but I am sure as the week progress more blogs will come daily. I will end today with lyrics. If you want you can check out my iMix on iTunes called De-Tox. Out.

Conversion, software version 7.0
Looking at life through the eyes of a tire hub
Eating seeds as a pastime activity
the toxicity of our city, of our city
New, what do you want to own the world?
How do you own disorder, disorder.

Teeth-less

Brooke update: 4 teeth gone already, 2 front teeth hanging by a thread, her mama's mouth (yes small and mouthy), a trip to the dentist, 2 teeth pulled, 2 front teeth bumped out, about $300, a trip to the mall for a "Troy" locket and new shoes, ice cream, a phone call to meme Delinda to see how many Cousin Colin lost (again competitive like her mama), last but not least a visit from the tooth fairy! All in a days work!!!!

Too Much Fun!

Ok, Luke has been blogging lately and things have gotten a little DEEP so I am going to bring us all back to the important things in life. This weekend we celebrated Brooke's birthday and Easter. The birthday was celebrate with dinner at Sam's Pizza (kind like a Wausau Chuck E Cheese) and a kid party at the bowling alley. All in all it was great fun and I feel older than ever! I just can't believe my little baby is 6 years old, it might be the perfect age. She is so kind and sweet and the joy on her face when she saw that the Easter Bunny left eggs to hunt was priceless. She REALLY believes! The cutest thing was that she was hunting eggs and found the last one by the window and said "of course, that is the way he got out!" In closing my advice to you is to try and BELIEVE in the Easter Bunny! Life really is more fun if you can look at it with a child's eyes.

Pseudo Purpose

Well today I think I realized what part of my purpose is on this planet. I went to Brooke's classroom today for parent/teacher conferences. I think Heidi had been to one before, but I wasn't able to make it. Let me preface this by telling you that this week Brooke was the "star" (every student in the class gets one week). So for the star of the week the parents get to come to part of the class, hang out, tell the students what they do for a living, bring goodies, etc. I wasn't able to make it due to this thing called a job. I was able to supply the class with some well needed Graebel pins and notepads. I guess one of Brooke's classmates dad worked for me. Well, yes he worked for my packing contractor. Bad news is that she explained to the class that her dad was in jail. Well, yes he was thrown in jail for too many DUI's (go figure in WI). So if you can envision 30 some odd 5 year olds going home today and explaining to their parents that Brooke's dad works for Graebel and they employee convicts. Not the best marketing plan. Needless to say my marketing theory of getting to the parents through the kids backired.

Back to our parent/teacher conference. We sat down with Brooke's teacher and she couldn't find one bad thing to say about her. She complimented about everything she could think of with Brooke. It was truly amazing as a father and I have to say I don't really have much to do with it, its pretty much all Heidi working with her on reading and everything. Truly inspiring. I realized that it is one of the sole purposes for me to be on this earth and the sole purpose of me working everyday. You all know we bitch about work/Graebel but they have done quite a good deed for all our families. Our wives dont have to work unless they want, they help put food on the table, roof over our families, etc. Yes it was a struggle eating nachos, lentils and rice, etc. while we were growing up. But I think we all would have turned out worse if mom had to work. You think? Did they make stupid financial decisions? Of course(WCA/Eastwood/TCA), but I am sure our kids will say the same thing about us. You think?

Other than that we have had a ton of snow, bought a way too expensive TV, painted every room in the house, and I think that's it.

Here is the song lyric of the week. Only problem is that you have to guess who sings the song. Happy guessing. By the way I am not sure what the other purpose is just yet for me to be on this planet.....


Its my work he'd say
I do it for pay
and when its all up...just a pseudo on my way to paradise
where the trout streams flow and the area is nice
and ride a horse along the trail
but then they took him to the jail house
where they tried to turn a man into a mouse

The Drives

As I see everybody has started to blog about the "younger years" I thought I would throw my two cents in with some of the historic drives I have been on in my life.

First historic drive that I was on was the night of the flood. Dear god, all I remember is having to sleep in the back of probably a 1979 Chevy Station wagon. Man was that a sweet ride. Probably one of the first cool family cars where you could sit int he back of it and not have to face your parents. They had no clue what we were doing, or at least we thought that. Who would have known that cars have rear view mirrors. Anyway, that was one early wake up in the middle of the night to attempt to cram all of our worldly possessions into the wagon. I think all we ended up with were animals and human beings. A decent first attempt. I would have preffered my GI Joes to Ripper, but not my call. That drive ended up parked at a gas station which was the highest point we could find that would not wash us away. One crazy drive that was.

Second most historic drive was the first long auto ride that I was on with Jim and Jayne. For all of you that know Jim and Jayne there were more historic rides that we were on together, but this was the first. I think it was the first time since we had been married (after my ass was chewed by them both for even attempting that) that we went out to visit them in San Fran. We were on our way to a game for the Oakland A's. Was going to be sweet. About an hour drive or more with traffic from their house and I was pumped to see the "Bash Brothers" or now maybe the Roid Brothers in action. McGwire and Canseco. We get in site of the stadium and boy did we hit the traffic. Dead stop. It all happened so fast that all I remember are a ton of F-bombs, shits, damns, and then we were headed back to the house. Didn't even make it all the way. Needless to say it was a long quiet ride back to their house and needless to say I was worried about our marriage.

The third most memorable drive was the drive we took with mom and dad up and down the east coast. Very long drive, but it was a very memorable one. We saw it all from D.C. to downtown NYC and everything in between. Very sweet, wish I could have remembered more of it at the time. All I remember was that it was the first time I had seen so many bums int he street begging for money. All new to us from T-Town. Good drive.

Lastly and I wanted to name this blog for this song, but I am sure you all remember the song dad used to sing that would make us all cry we laughed so hard on these drives.

Down in the west Texas town of El paso
Where little Ricky had a bugger in his nose

Down in the west Texas town of El paso
Where little Joshy had crusty underwear

Down in the west Texas town of El paso
Where little Micah had his finger in his butt

Great lyrics for great drives.

Love Boat Captain

Well its my anniversary today and the woman that I am supposed to be enjoying it with is not with me. Sad but true. I cant get her a card (not that my dumb ass would remember) so I am going to write a blog about her. I am having a reality bites week. I am truly realizing that the woman I love is the real driver of this ship. Not only does she take care of a lot more than I realize, I am also realzing that without her I would go absolutly nuts. There is no no doubt in my mind that I cant handle life without her. Not only the home life, but work life as well. I am finding out that without her support at home, my work life falls apart as well.

We have been married now for 9 years and I think (dont quote me) have known each other for probably another 4-5 years. I always remember her being this girl in high school that didnt really give a shit about the outside world stuff. She made it through the begining of life basically her own and she was going to live it on her terms. I cant wait to be with her on this ride through the rest of her life. I always think of my wife when I hear these lyrics. I think this song was writen for some people that died at a concert and talks a lot about love. For me when I hear these lyrics I think more about what we ask our wives to do on a daily basis and how amazing they are for doing all that they do. I love you Heidi!

Is this just another day
this god forgotten place
first comes love, then comes pain
let the games begin
questions rise and answers fall
insurmountable

Love Boat Captain
take the reigns
steer us towards the clear......

Hold me, and make it the truth
that when all is lost there will be you.
cause to the universe i dont mean a thing
and theres just on word that i still believe and its love

WOOOOO

I just got done making it through all the banter of our family. From Bro 1 ranting about some political crap, and looking at the first woman that will possibly ruin a nation built by stong males. Can you imagine what is said behind doors when these women meet with heads of other countries? I can already see Tony Blair whispering to Kim Jong "Would you?". Dont get me wrong I love a stong woman, shit I am married to one. Just dont really have the desire for them to hold the highest power in the world. Next was him bumping moms "jesus nerve". Oh boy.

Then I got to read mom's comeback to Bro 1. Get it out mom, get it out. We all know you are sorry, but I hate to tell you that you werent alone in those churchy decisions. All I know is that if there is a god that wants us to punish our kids by spanking, I dont want any part of that god. Whew, did I get my ass beat sometimes. Ouch. Then dad responds to mom's rants with a "corporate worship" comment. Classic but very, very true. Like Marilyn Manson says "welcome to the freak show."

Next and not at all the least I get to see Bro 2's blog and holy shit. I felt like I was actually in the room with you guys. Who would have ever thunk that I would live 2 states away from my brother and get to go to a doctors appointment with him to see his next sibling. Weirded me out big time. My vote already for the best blog of 07.

So then you get my blog for the day. I have started to read a book that dad turned me onto called The World is Flat. Good read for you people that like to read. Not going to blog about it until I finish, but I just wanted to put that out there for discussion. Not for long folks until we are not the super power in this world any more. Just a heads up. Sometimes I really wish that there was something we could do in this world to change things, but serioulsy what needs changing? Would you really rather live in another place? Dont you think we americans are just spoiled rotten and think we deserve much more than we probably do. That will be our demise. Song quote for the day:

My tapeworm tells me what to do
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey

F-ing Funny

Bush

Happy Holidays

Well we got it, we shoveled it and we survived almost 24 hours without power, it was touch and go at times. Festivities are in full force here. All of the advent calendars have been updated, cookies have been baked and reindeer food prepared, by all accounts we are ready for Christmas Day. Luke and I have been busy in the kitchen preparing the Christmas Eve dinner to include green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, Jayne's stuffing, potatoes, dinner rolls and last but certainly not least Luke's goose! This should be interesting. Needless to say he will be the only one eating goose tonight but at least I know that if ever the world comes to an utter disaster "my man" will be able to kill me some food! We even have homemade fudge which may be shocking to some of you but yes this year I mastered a fudge recipe. I am woman hear me roar!!!!! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Warm Wishes

I love being a parent! I had the pleasure of taking Brooke to see the Nutcracker for the first time this weekend. The excitement was huge. Our seats were only four rows back from the stage and Brooke was right on the isle. At first she was a little nervous, just not knowing what to expect, but then it began. The excitement and joy on her face was priceless and worth all the sassy moments! My role as a mother was narrator as Brooke had lots of questions, "why aren't they talking", "when are they going to talk", "what does the Nutcracker have in his pants" (that was my favorite.) So on this occasion I leave you all with a bit of advice have the curiosity of a child, laugh like it is always the funniest thing you ever heard and run like you are being chased. Childhood is a Great Thing!