Angels and Demons

Well it's no secret I've had a shitty week and it's going to be a shitty week next week too - no I'm not being a doomsayer, I wish it wasn't going to be a shitty week - I don't ever want to have a shitty week, or day, or minute. But because I have zero money to speak of, which means I have no gas money to get to work, I have to borrow from my mom - which I really hate doing - but that will only go so far. I will have no money for cigarettes - which is just going to suck some serious ass. So I'll probably end up pawning something to get some money. The only good news I've gotten today is from the most unlikely person - a contact at Graveyardrecords.com - where I found two Iron Maiden Eddie figures that I've been scouring the world for on the Internet and they are cheap too. But since I'm not getting paid when I thought I was, I thought for sure that I had missed my chance to get them, but Jen, was kind enough to put them on hold for me until I get paid - so if you're reading this, don't even fucking think about trying to buy them out from under me, because we have a secret way of knowing that it's me and only me that is contacting her about the figures and if you don't know the "password", you aren't getting shit - besides, if anyone took this away from me after the shit I've been through this week and about to go through next week, I'll hunt your ass down and cram a nice big Eddie up your ass!

Get Used To Disappointment - After 38 Years, I Live It, Damn It

After looking forward to finally getting my motorcycle when I get paid, I am once again forced to delay my dreams and suffer through another month of wasting money driving that fucking truck to work! It's expensive with the kind of commute I have, at least 50 miles if not more, in a big '94 extended cab with a 350 engine, no A/C and in dire need of front brakes. I've already had to replace the rear brakes, have the radiator repaired and suffer without A/C for almost 4 months now and it's getting old.

What really pisses me off is that my mother - who never offers to do anything of the sort - offered to co-sign on a car for me, of course it wasn't one the that I wanted, but she refuses to co-sign for me on the motorcycle - simply because she doesn't like the idea of me driving one. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize this was about what you wanted mom. Pardon me. The shitty thing is she thinks that just because she has to suffer, everyone else should too - especially me.

I tried talking to her about my frustration or at least voice it to her - maybe get some sympathy, empathy - anything! But as always, she just retorted about all her financial issues completely ignoring what I said and didn't even bother to fucking to comment on anything I said - nothing, nada, zilch.

And that's just what I'm left with for another fucking month - nothing, nada, zilch

Don't tease me bro!

Man, talk about a bummer. I was scouring the net last night, trying to find those Eddie figures and came across a site of a store in Cleburne, close to Dallas. And they were cheap too! So, I emailed them today to see if they still had them and wouldn't you know it - they didn't! Argh!! Why, don't these stores update their sites?! I have found so many online stores that haven't updated their inventory or still list things that they are out of stock - what the fuck is up with that? If you don't have it - don't list it - isn't that simple?

So now I'm back on the hunt for the figures again - I really don't like it when they discontinue items - if they are so popular, why stop making them? Hello? More money! Duh!

What really ticks me off are these guys who are selling these $15 and $30 figures for $100-$150! Now that is just whacked. Take advantage of people much?

I did put a bid in on the 18" Eddie figure from The Number Of The Beast album cover - it's pretty cool, but the ones I really want are the Somewhere In Time 7" and 18" and The Live After Death figure. Those seem to be the most valuable and rare and of course the most expensive. Fuckers.

On to a brighter side - only a few more days and I'll be the proud owner of a Ninja 250R! Oh man, I can just feel it now! I'm so excited! I'll be even more excited once the graphics wrap gets put on - that is going to be so kick ass! Just in case you missed it before (like anyone reads this shit), here is what the wrap is going to look like -

Is that not tight or what?! It's definitely going to be one of the sweetest looking rides around if not the sweetest!

I'm also going to put blue neon accents lights throughout the bike, within the chassis, so it will look like it's glowing at night and the blinker will look like Eddie's eye! So yeah, it's going to be tight!

Its like Christmas!

Today was awesome! After waiting for almost 2 weeks, I finally got my Iron Maiden t-shirts and Phantom Of The Opera Eddie figure - they are just absolutely awesome - especially the figure!

Isn't that sweet! I ordered the McFarlane Killers Eddie figure too

- it should be here in a week or so. I can't wait to get that one. I used to have it but some ass stole it from my apartment when I was moving and all my stuff was packed up. It was actually my neighbors - white trash, losers - they stole all my Marilyn Monroe shit that my mom got me - really expensive shit that you just can't replace, because it was limited edition shit they don't sell in the stores at all. But anyway, it just makes me so pissed off because I have lost so many valuable and irreplaceable things in the past and it's not going to happen anymore - I don't care if I have to shove all my shit up my ass, I'm not losing anything anymore.

I'm going to be getting the other figures too, but they are going to be hella expensive - which sucks. These are the ones I'm getting when I can find them at a good price - The Trooper, Piece Of Mind, Somewhere In Time, The Number Of The Beast, and Live After Death.

Here we go, another week, another dollar...

It's the start of another week and its paycheck week! Woot! And you know what that means? A motorcycle! Yes, that's right, I'm getting a motorcycle when I get paid. Unfortunately, I haven't taken my riders class yet, so I won't be able to drive the damn thing home, but I will take my class next weekend and get my license asap! So needless to say, I'm extremely excited, even though there are so many depressing things on my mind.

I did get back in touch with my best friend from Junior High and High School - Benjie Butler. He has always been an inspiration to me, because he followed his heart and did whatever the fuck he wanted, no matter what his parents or anyone else said. Of course, he did have some very supportive parents, unlike me, so it was probably easier for him to have the confidence to follow his dreams. My mom constantly crushed my dreams, calling them stupid or unrealistic, so I didn't grow up with a great sense of self-worth or self-confidence, which is why I spent so many years drowning myself in drugs and bad relationships that only increased my self-loathing.

Even today, it's the same with her. Just about everything I want to do is shot down with some negative response or lecture about how wrong it is or why I shouldn't do it. Getting the motorcycle is a prime example. She won't even talk to me about it. She doesn't even want to hear about it. It's a shame we can't pick our parents. It's a shame when some parents can't get over themselves to support their children. I always swore that I would never be like her towards my own kids, sometimes I catch myself slipping, but for the most part I've done pretty good.

Have a Six Flags Day...

I can't tell you how many times I heard that phrase yesterday at Six Flags when Alex and I went for Father's Day. It got a bit annoying after the first time we heard it. But other than that and the heat - it was a fun day.
Alex actually tricked me into riding the Runaway Mountain roller coaster - I don't do roller coasters - at all! They scare the shit out of me - even the small ones. Yes, I know it's rather wimpy thing to admit to, but what can I say - they scare me. I've always had this fear that the cars would fly off the tracks or something and all that up and down and dives that put your balls in your throat and your stomach on the floor - no thanks. The Runaway Mountain was pretty fun though - it was a pitch black ride, completely inside and no light whatsoever, so you had no idea where you were going. Ironically, I had my eyes closed through much of the ride - don't ask me why.

I got some neat video of riding the Log Flume and the Aquaman ride, I will post them up tomorrow. Alex got her picture taken with Marvin the Martian and I also got video of the Glow in the Park Parade. That was pretty neat - you will have to see the video, because I could never explain how neat it was with all the lighted costumes and floats.

We both wore our Iron Maiden concert shirts and along with all the stares we got - why I don't know - a lot of Maiden fans gave us props for being fans and going to the show, including a couple of girls that liked my shirt and shoes - I wore my Powerslave Vans. I took them off and wore my flip-flops during the Aquaman ride and I'm sure glad I did because I got soaked. Even the video camera got wet - but nothing damaging. Alex kept saying "the camera is going to get wet" and was freaking out that I was shooting the ride - but it was worth it. You can probably hear me telling to shut up on the video. lol

She went on most of the roller coasters there and tried to get me on more but like I said. When we got to the Runaway Mine Train, there was this family group of Mexicans and this black couple fighting over seats in one of the cars! We couldn't believe it - we were just standing there laughing in disbelief that they would be fighting over who gets to sit where and who was there first! I mean don't they have the gates and cattle walk for that sort of crap? It got so bad they were holding up the entire ride and a supervisor came over and took a report! Can you believe that shit? It had to be one of the stupidest things I've ever seen - ever! The black couple left before the supervisor came and of course the family just had to escalate it to prove they were in the right or something ridiculous like that - they even got to get back on the ride and cut in front of all the people that were waiting while they pitched a fit over a fucking seat on a ride!

I won a Kenny (South Park) plush but only after I blew $20 bucks losing at these other games. If I had just spent the $20 bucks on this one game, I could have won the whole fucking cast of South Park - they had Cartman, Kenny (obviously), Kyle and Stan. Oh well. They had these really awesome electric guitars you could win, but they were hard as hell games and I swear those things are rigged somehow - I don't see how anyone can win those big ass stuffed "things" and shit. They had a fucking rasta banana bigger than a friggin person! It was HUGE! You could buy the guitars for like $80 bucks in the stores - which was cool. If I had the money I totally would have bought one, even though I don't even know how to play, but that would have inspired me to do so, maybe I will get one anyway - just so I can learn how to shred some Maiden tunes - especially since I can't really play the drums anywhere - like in an apartment. But I know how to play drums and I really like playing the drums, but they are much louder and don't have a volume control like a geetar.

We stayed until closing, because I wanted to see the parade. Alex liked the parade too - they had all the characters, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Joker, The Riddler and even the Batmobile.

Schwag - good to get

I love getting schwag from work. I just got a pirate eye patch and a pocket etch-a-sketch. Like I need more distractions at work. I also got 3 2 pound bags of coffee! now that is the mother load. I had 5 but I shared - reluctantly I might add.

and now...for something a little different - RUSH!

Yes, Rush - positively the most influentual band in history, no matter what you're opinion on the matter is. Wired did a nice review of their rockumentary, Beyond the lighted stage, out now and coming to cable June 26 and BluRay June 29. I've seen Rush in concert twice and they are truly the masters of their instruments, even if they run around on stage or get the crowd moshing - they will hypnotize you with their music.



Check out the article.

The Final Frontier

No - believe it or not this isn't a write-up about the new Maiden album, actually Alex and I were just outside talking about aliens and the endless wilderness of space. It's absolutely mind boggling - beyond words even - that space is endless. Literally - it never ends - never! How is that shit even possible? How can we even imagine that? It's enough to drive someone insane. It twists your mind in ways you didn't think were possible. So anyway, so much for being beyond words.

We also talked about aliens, or other beings in space - it's impossible that in all that infinite endlessness, there isn't anyone else out there. There has to be, just absolutely has to be another race of beings out there. It's ridiculous to think that we are the only ones in all this - space.

What I can't figure out is why are they hiding from us? Do we scare them bad? I know if I were observing this planet, I would be pretty scared to approach humans, with their beat the shit out of them and shoot first, then ask questions philosophy, while they video tape it for Youtube. And its a fucking shame its that way too - because we are such a barbaric and ignorant people, we are missing out on a wealth of knowledge that could quite possibly save us and most certainly give us the ability to join them in the vast exploratory regions of space. But, no, we have to be the white trash rednecks of the universe and trash our planet, the space around us and even ourselves.

Pity.

More Iron Maiden videos from the Dallas show!

Now this is badass! I wish I could say I made these videos, but I didn't and I'm glad too, because I think I can see myself in the first one! Now how cool is that?!




I found myself! There's really no way I could explain it - but I'm like raising my hands up to the lyrics and doing the ever so popular devil sign with both hands, its close to the end. Yeah, I know that's a pretty generic description, but hey - I know it's me! LOL

WTF?! Iron Maiden Nikes for six grand!

Now this is just messed up - a pair of Nikes for $6,000! Gimme a fucking break, this guy needs to get a fucking life - I don't care if only 24 pair were made - if anyone buy these shoes they are stupid! If I had the money to throw away - I would buy them! In a heartbeat!

Iron Maiden themes for your iGoogle page

FINALLY!! Google was kind enough to finally add my themes to their index - so go check out my Iron Maiden themes here. I know this will sound pretty narcisstic, but I really do think my IM themes are better than the others posted. Only because I used much higher resolution images and created much better compositions - but hey, you decide for yourself.

What a shitty way to start the day!

You might think that this is only a blog about Iron Maiden, but it's really not - I'm just in a fanatical phase I often go through about anything - this time it's Maiden.

So I'm on my way to work and about halfway there (it takes me an hour and a half) I get a call from my mom - she proceeds to ask me a question in a not very nice tone and didn't like the answer I gave so she got irate and bitching about how she's going to miss a day of work because her tire is flat and I have the portable air pump with me in the truck. Knowing my mom and how she blows everything out of proportion and acts like it's always the end of the world - I turn around and proceed to go home to give her the air pump. About halfway home, I get stuck behind an accident that just occured moments before and had to sit there for 20 minutes, while I watched the other side of the street get through the intersection, while we just sat there - with a frustrated thumb up our butt. After getting through the interection, I nearly get caught speeding if I didn't have a watchful eye out for the cop car sitting on the side of the road - a 70 in a 60 in Princeton would have been a very bad thing.

I finally get home and guess what? She isn't even THERE! Oh the horror, the anger, the bullshit of having to listen to her cry and blame me for something that wasnt' even going to happen! Miss work because of me, my ass! When she will ever talk to me like a human being is beyond me.

So I went ahead and left the air pump on the porch, because I was going to have to work late anyway to make up for being late. So off to work I go.

It was a fairly breezy trip - a lot smoother and less traffic than I usually get but only because I was now an hour behind my usual time. Whew, only an hour, that isn't bad - I can live with that.
Oh hey there is my exit to work! YAY!! and it's only 9:30 - good time and it should be for driving 85mph down the tollway.

BLAM!!

What the FUCK! Aw shit, you gotta be kidding, a fucking flat tire NOW!?

Well this is just great, so I call the roadside assistance people, because I don't have a jack in the truck- this is my mom's truck by the way- and wait 45 MINUTES, waiting for them to get there, while I'm staring at my work building the whole time - what fun.

I must say though, when the guy got there - he was totally kickass - he should have been in the Nascar pits or something, because he had my tire changed out in 5 minutes. Literally. So you can bet this guy is going to get a good report from me on the comment card.

The last time I used them, some dumbass came out to help me and you would think he'd never changed a tire in his life - he was definitely a rookie. I had to do it for him he was so bad at it - he even stripped one of the lugs, so i had to get a hammer to get the wrench on. He got a bad report.

So now here I am at work, writing in my blog - mainly because I have got to get this out of my system so I can actually focus on my work that I'm already behind in.

NOT a good way to start the day - something good better fucking happen today to make up for all the bullshit I had to deal with - maybe my mom will learn how to be nice and talk to me like a person, instead of a dog. NAH, never happen - so I'll settle for getting my t-shirts in the mail! YAY!

The Eddie Cam!

Here is some awesome footage of Eddie on stage on the latest tour for The Final Frontier album. You can see at Ironmaiden.com - but just for my blog's sake, I'm posting it here as well. Because I LOVE Iron Maiden!



I can imagine that the guy in the Eddie suit is just the luckiest fucker alive! I would LOVE to be that guy - I wonder if they have tryouts or something or if it's just one of the roadies. Lucky bastard. I love how he plays the guitar and really interacts with the band this time. The last time I saw him on the Somewhere On Tour, tour, he didn't seem to do all that. But it's very cool. He did the same at the Dallas show - we all went so freaking wild when he came on during the song Iron Maiden - which of course is a staple event during an Iron Maiden concert.

They really changed the look of him this time - he almost doesn't look like Eddie at all. But hey, it's Iron Maiden and they can do whatever the hell they want and we are going to love em for it anyway!

New banner

Well if you hadn't noticed, but I'm sure you did - I mean come on its at the top of the page - right? :)P I snagged the Iron Maiden banner from their website lol - sometimes it's so cool being a web designer/geek (daughter suggestion) because then you can do stuff like hack your favorite bands website and steal their banner. If you refresh the page you will see a different Eddie artwork, 32 in all.

Eddie and Me back in the day!

This is me and Eddie back in 1989 when he did an appearance at some local record store here in Dallas. I actually thought I lost this picture, so you can imagine my excitement to find it - yes, I did a happy dance. :)P

Here are some more pics from that appearance - sorry for the quality, they have been through a lot these past years.

More Iron Maiden pics!

Yeah well, these are actually from the IM website, but if I hadn't been a dumbass and neglected to bring my camera, my pictures would have looked like this! :D

Yeah, I was that close at the show!
You will also notice my blog banner, I ripped it from the IM site! :D How clever is that? I also added a widget for the new album!
I'm also pretty pissed about these guys on eBay selling IM stuff from the concert at such stupid ass prices. They are selling shirts that cost $35-40 at the show on eBay for $100 or more! I admit, I paid $80 for a shirt that I was going to buy at the show, but double isn't so bad, yeah it's still high, but I wouldn't have gone higher than that - especially when you can get the same shirt from the IM site for $25, just without the Texas show dates on the back. Some guy from Oklahoma is selling the picks that were thrown out by Adrian Smith for $200!! He didn't even belong there! Fucking Okie! Just kidding - I would have driven all that way too, and have actually considered going to see them again at the July 18 show in Chicago. But I won't have the money after I buy my Ninja at the end of the month. But just the same, any true fan wouldn't take advantage of other IM fans like that.
Seriously. These are people that are just preying on the zealousness of true IM fans and trying to make a fast buck and it's bullshit. Call me a pussy or whatever, but if I had truly wanted to share with other IM fans, I would have gotten several of the Texas shirts for those who couldn't make it and just charge $20 more than what I paid - seriously. Why, because I'm not a dick and wouldn't have done it to take advantage of a situation and make money off people. Whatever happened to being a community of fans who share a common interest? It's sad to see that we, as a society have come to just being nothing more than a bunch of capitalist predators.
At the show everyone joined in to sing the songs and cheer, but other than that, it was like, "fuck you". Music is supposed to bring people together. That's what I enjoyed about the club scene, well the house music club scene anyway, because people shared and came together for a common interest and everyone was friendly and not just because they were on X.
So come on people, don't let your personal bullshit get in the way of sharing and caring about your fellow fan - would YOU like it if someone stuck you for a shitload of money for something you really wanted? I doubt it and don't give the bullshit excuse, "well, they should have been there." You don't know their situation! Maybe they couldn't for medical reasons, maybe they couldn't afford it, whatever the case - it's not up to you to keep something so treasured out of reach for them.

The most expensive t-shirt i own - now

I've paid for a lot of mistakes in the past, the most recent one, was not purchasing the limited edition Texas Tour Shirt for the Iron Maiden show. So I paid double what I would have paid at the show. The crappy thing is, I had that shirt - in my hand - and was going to get it, but talked myself out of it and got different ones! Why, because I'm stupid! That's why! Never, ever, ever, EVER go against your first choice or instinct! You will regret it every time!

War On Snakes

We've been having trouble with snakes eating our eggs, so tonight I wanted to keep an eye out for them and sure enough Alex and I went out to check on the chickens and I opened the door to the henhouse and there were 2 bull snakes about 5 foot long each! I had already brought the BB gun but didn't think that was going to do the trick so I asked Alex to go get my mom - after some deliberation - she went inside to get her gun, but came back empty handed because she had no bullets - are you serious, mom? So it was going to be the BB gun after all and to town I went.

The first shot was at a pretty good distance, about 4 feet or lesss - straight to the head. That got one of them riled up pretty good, the other one just laid there - probably wondering if he just had his last supper - he would have been wondering correctly. I continued to lay into the smaller one for a little while, firing about 4 more shots at him until he stopped moving. Then I moved onto the larger one. He had hidden his head (smart fella) and I had to give him a body shot to get him moving. He finally poked his head but only by moving the rest of his body to get into striking position.

I took several shots at him, but he was a tough cookie and wasn't going to go down easily or quietly. He continued his little hiss fest at me, trying to slither out of the henhouse, so I threw a cinder block on him to trap him. With him trapped and his head exposed, I had a chance to pop him in the head at point blank range a few more times. It was a little nerve-racking at first, pumping up the BB gun between every shot, now I know what it must have been like in the Civil War having to reload your gun between shots, that's a lot of time to get shot yourself or in my case, bitten.

I know this sounds bad, but I actually had fun killing them - not because I'm some kind of redneck psycho killer, it was just gratifying to get rid of them. Believe me, I've tried to get my mom to do more humane things to keep the snakes out but I was met with opposition at every suggestion and it wasn't like we had time to debate the issue with the snakes sitting in the henhouse feasting on our hen's eggs. So, the inevitable happened and they were killed on the spot.

Inequality in the workplace - still!

I'm so sick of females getting special privelages, just because they whine the most about shit. I guess thats why they get to wear flip-flops to work and guys dont! That really makes me mad - they can get away with wearing just about anything, from punk hairstyles, short skirts, abnormal piercings and yes, flips-flops!

Iron Maiden Concert! First show of U.S. Tour, Dallas, Texas

Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter!

The Iron Maiden concert was AWESOME! I never thought that I would be so close to them, we could have gotten closer, but since it was my daughter's first Heavy Metal show, I figured I would save her from getting crushed by the horde of fat, drunk, wannabe headbangers. Being in the pit was the best choice for "seats", even though it was standing room only, for two hours, I would have been sorely disappointed if I had gotten us actual seats. My only complaint - well, the biggest complaint were the fat, drunk assholes that kept standing in front of us. Hello! Can you not see us standing here? Can you not see this little girl is only 5 feet tall and you are 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide!? But aside from those jerks, we had a really great view - how can you not have a great view when you are only 30-40 feet from the stage!? Unfortunately, the eye-candy was slim to none, there must have been the largest collection of the fattest, ugliest headbanging heifers ever assembled. There was only about 5 girls I saw that got my blood flowing. It was definitely not the best example of a headbangers heaven for females.

I do wish I had brought an actual camera instead of relying just on my phone, the pictures would have come out so much better.


They started out the show with some songs from their latest albums, Factor X, Brave New World and of course Final Frontier and closed the show with Iron Maiden - the staple show ender with Eddie coming out in full force. I must say though, Eddie out on a few pounds - for he was alot heftier than usual. I liked how they changed the backdrop for each song - every one of them an awesome piece of artwork - I wish I could have taken them home. They had some tapestries there for only $20. I used to have one for Somewhere In Time, sure do wish I still had that - man, so many things I lost that I wish I still had. I had pins, patches, shirts, all kinds of shit you just can't get anymore, hell, you could barely get it then! But we had an a really kickass store in town called Bill's and he specialized in rare and hard to get items and he had a buttload of Iron Maiden stuff. I still have most of my posters though, even though they are ripped or drawn on, I still have them. :) Some asshole on eBay is selling old Maiden concert shirts for $100-$900! That is just all kinds of wrong, if you ask me.


I was surprised though that I only saw two people with Iron Maiden Vans, some guy had the Piece Of Mind slip-ons - they were pretty beat up and as we were leaving my daughter pointed out this guy in front of us wearing the Powerslave Hi-8's like mine - but mine were cleaner - of course! LOL It was just weird that out of 12,000 people only 3 of us had Maiden shoes?! I know they don't make them anymore, but they aren't extinct! But at the same time it was cool, because how many people can say they have Maiden Vans? :) I expected alot of compliments or "dude, where did you get those?!", but no body said a word - to my dismay.


It wasn't until the encore that they played some classics, starting out with The Number Of The Beast then Hallowed Be Thy Name and finishing the set off with Running Free, as always. You could tell they were expecting to do an encore - as usual - because when they began to play Beast, the demon goat came rising up from behind the stage. That's the cool thing about Maiden, is that they give an awesome performance for being so fucking old and always give an encore.


Bruce Dickinson was running around the stage, for being nearly 50 years old this guy could run circles around me! Dave, Steve, Adrian, Nikko all kicked ass too. I always forget the third guitarists name, especially since he isn't part of the original lineup, but he been around for 10 years or so, so I should know his name - shame on me, I know.


I got four shirts and damn have prices gone up. When I went to the Somewhere On Tour show in '86 at Reunion Arena, a concert shirt was $20. I sure as shit wish I still had that damn shirt - it ended up with all my other Iron Maiden shirts at an ex-girlfriend's house - oh the dumbass things we do for tail. My daughter got a shirt that had a comic-style version of the Final Frontier graphics, I tried to talk her into getting the "Sexy Beast" shirt, but she wasn't having it. I got a sweatshirt and a t-shirt and another t-shirt for a friend of mine who got me a couple of shirts at the Rush concert a few years back.


So, on a scale of 1-10 -this show was a 100! A must see and not to be missed event!

Iron Maiden TONIGHT!

Yes, tonight is the big concert! I've been waiting for this night for years! Not only to see Iron Maiden, but to share the experience with my daughter. Though she is not into the heavy metal scene, she can appreciate their music. It reminds me of when I bought my mom tickets for the Pink Floyd concert, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason for Mother's Day. It was an extraordinary event, being held at Texas Stadium, the place looked to be sold out and I can't remember if it was or not, but for a band that old to still pack and entire stadium is incredible. Iron Maiden is pretty much the same and without even had any radio air play in the U.S. Unfortunately, tonights show will not be held in a huge arena like it was the last time I saw them in 1986 for the Somewhere On Tour concert, which was held at Reunion Arena. I didn't have all that great of a seat back then, stuck somewhere in the middle of the floor, it was hard to see, especially since security made you stay in your seat. I tried to get closer, but was ousted by the actual ticket holders of the seat I snagged next to my friend.

This time I got pit tickets, so we will be right up on the stage, which is just going to be so freaking awesome! I can't wait!! I will be posting pics tomorrow of the show, maybe even tonight! :) Since they will taken with my phone, dont expect awesome quality, but since I will be right there - they should be some pretty good shots.

Iron Man 2 Computer becomes a reality...

Aren't you sick of seeing really cool things in movies that you know we have the technology to make, yet they aren't available to the public or even a product at all? Well, I am, but this time such a dissapointment is not one you will have to get used to. Yes, the totally sweet and kickass computer that Tony Stark uses in Iron Man 2 is actually a real computer! Sony has made such a computer and you can even see some video of it in action!



In the movie, "The Day The Earth Stood Still" you will again see this sweet technology being shown off, but that is a Microsoft product. But since Microsoft loves to make vaporware a part of their global marketing scheme, it is highly doubtful we will see anything from them in the marketplace anytime soon. The killing of the Courier, was a major upset in the geekdom. True, there are many of us who despise Microsoft for their Gestapo-esque rampage to buy-out and destroy all their competition and their incessent whining to Congress to make Windows the be all-end all of operating systems to rule the world, the Courier was indeed the best thing to come from the MS braintrust - ever. I, myself would have gladly purchased one over the iPad in a heartbeat!

What the...

Star Wars does it old school

Star Wars was the movie that changed the world, from the way people looked at movies, to how movies were made, especially when it came to special effects. Even at 6 years old, when I saw Star Wars, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the magic behind the scenes that made everything on the screen so believeable. It was like watching a documentary it was so real. Below are some of the tricks they used to make those wonderful effects, but they are so cheap and homegrown that it's hard to believe it's how they actually did it - but that's all part of the miracle of George Lucas and ILM.

To pull off the trench run into the Death Star, effects artists sculpted a miniature Death Star surface out of urethane foam and cardboard and shot it using a high-speed camera mounted on the bed of a moving pickup truck.

The Ultimate Job!

Pixar is no doubt the best movie and animation studio in the world and in the history of film making. Since their first feature film release of Toy Story in 1997, Pixar has racked up 24 Academy Awards for just nine films and grossing at least $550 million per film internationally - that's an achievement very few, if any, can boast. Check out this great, but somewhat lacking article from Wired, about the making of Toy Story 3.

When I got my Associates degree in 3D animation, Pixar was where I wanted to work, but unfortunately I chose a different path and have regretted it ever since. But I'm still young and full of talent and ideas, so I will once again pursue the dream of working for Pixar and continue my education getting a Bachelors in 3D this time and making the most kickass demo reel possible.What animator wouldn't want to work at a place like this?!

My Entry to Win The Ultimate AT-AT

This is a true story: Being an Army-Brat, it was by pure luck, chance and destiny, that I was in the States with my parents on leave - when I heard the wildest, most fantastic sounds to ever grace my ears - coming from inside a family friend's house. I ran inside to find out what those incredibly unique "space" sounds were and there it was on the TV, the trailer for the new Star Wars film - Episode 4. I was hypnotized by the action, the creatures, the ships, the droids, Darth Vader! Before the trailer was even over, I was screaming at the top of my lungs that "..we had to go see this movie!"

That was May 1977 - I was 6 years old and by June, we were back in Germany, just in time for the Sears Christmas Catalog to come in the mail. Of course, they were scant on the toys for that year, but I got everything that was offered for Christmas 1977. And just as religiously as Christmas was celebrated, every year following, I got every Star Wars toy available until 1985. That was the year our family was split in two from a divorce and left me with a mom and her single income and no more Star Wars toys.

I held onto my all my toys through the years, packed in boxes, and they came with me no matter where I went. Some were lost through thievery when our storage unit was ransacked while in Germany one last time, but the majority I kept, closely guarded. When I got married, the toys came with. When I had kids, the toys stayed - but never to be played with by infant hands. Even when we barely had money to eat, the toys stayed, knowing they could bring a nice chunk of change for a fine kingly feast or even pay the rent for a few months.

But, it wasn't until my wife, of 9 years by now, started to pressure me to get rid of "that junk" - the Dark Side reared it's ugly head. I protested, of course and she pushed, of course. I protested more, she pushed more, for months. I soon had my own battle for the Star Wars galaxy in my own house and it wasn't looking good for us Rebels. The Dark Side of my wife came down hard and fast and before I knew it - an entire Original Kenner Star Wars Collection (1977-1985) was gone! Yes, she sold it one day while I was at work - to a rather unscrupulous character/collector, who knew he had hit the galactic motherload that was about to net him a fortune that Jabba The Hutt would have salivated over.

When I got home after work that day - I was clueless, even when I wasn't greeted with the usual, "..when are you going to get rid of that Star Wars sh*t?" but a calm, "How was your day?" It slowly began to dawn on me, something was up. It didn't take long for her to tell me what she did for a whopping total of $75.00! A collection that, today, would have been worth an easy $20,000 or more - was lost forever for $75.00 and because, "..we needed the money...", she said.

I divorced her soon after. Literally and seriously.

To this day, I still cry over that horrid moment I was betrayed by the Dark Side of the woman who was supposed to love and cherish. I have since tried collecting those missing pieces and haev even begun collecting different Star Wars collectibles, simply because I cannot afford to replace everything that dissapeared from my life that day.

To own this magical machine would not only bring back some of the best years of my life - playing with my original AT-AT on Christmas morning in 1980 - it would be an important win in my struggle to regain what I lost and most certainly a prized item to never be lost to the forces of the Dark Side or anyone else again.

"Do or do not, there is no try"

Read More http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/05/celebrate-empire-strikes-backs-birthday-win-a-killer-at-at/#ixzz0oadnk2Jb

Friday on the Rocks!

Cool Star Wars item(s) of the day - Funny T-Shirts - Solo on the Rocks! LOL

Man this was a week that I wanted to be over all too fast. Monday I was sick, Tuesday wasn't much better, but went to work anyway and sat in a training class that was rather boring but necessary. Wednesday was another meeting with a developer and that was just downright humourous, if not inane. Developer's - sheesh - far too many of them just think they are the Universe's gift to the computing world - sure they make stuff happen - designer's make it look pretty and can make stuff happen too. So it really makes me mad when a developer thinks he is some kind of designer as well and takes on the tasks of a designer - all the while, doing a pisspoor job at it - but they get all pissy when a designer, develops and does a great job at it! I think I just answered my own question. Better check the ego at the door, fellas - if designers didn't do as much development as we do - you're job would be just that much harder! Think about it. If a designer gives you a design, that hasn't been coded yet - who has to do the code? YOU! That's who. I learned a long time ago, it was better to code my designs to make sure they work before giving them to the developer - that way he doesn't have to do as much coding or any at all!

Obviously, not all developer's are proma donna's - this guy sure was. First he tells me that CSS and DHTML can't be used due to the restrictions of the CMS - we're talking about simple rollouts, popups and ALT tags, guy! But he's already got rollouts in place! HUH?! Then not 10 minutes later, he tells another developer - on his team - that he can use CSS and DHTML to achieve the results they wanted! Do what?! Did I not just ask that?! I hope his sock sandwich tasted good. Blah!

The beauty part came when he said if he has his way, he would develop a Flash application to do everything that was needed in a single shell. I gladly and quickly pointed out that I had already made one and that was why I was in the meeting in the first place - of course, I was immediately shot down - of course! May the Earth shatter if someone else came up with it first!

Ugh, Developer's!

Yesterday was pretty uneventful, just stuffed envelopes and worked on a shell design and goofed around alot. Today will probably be much of the same. But getting to work was all too eventful, what is with these people that drive 30 miles an hour down a clear freeway and then look at you like you've lost your mind because you want get around them so you can go the speed limit?! Fucking cow! It's called a gas pedal people - you'll find it on the right, next to the brake, but that doesn't mean you use the brake with the gas pedal! Idiots!

jeans on thursday!

yes, today we get to wear jeans to work! this special privelage came to those who were willing to help with the preparation for the tradeshow in New Orleans - too bad they weren't letting us go to N'awlins too.

On the tech side; I thought i lost my bluetooth earpiece, i couldn't find it for over a week, well, i found it and let's just say - it's the cleanest earpiece around. yup - i found it in the dryer when i took out my jeans this morning :( but the red light came on when i stuck it on the charger, so maybe it still works :)

There must have been something in the coffee this morning - there was a wreck on 35 and george bush! needless to say, i didn't get to work before 8 :(

Rush To See This!

It's about time the mainstream got hit with the knowledge of the greatest band in the world! From the director's of Iron Maiden Flight 666, comes Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage.

"Rush has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and garnered untold legions of devoted and admiring fans. According to the RIAA, Rush’s sales statistics place RUSH fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band."

For a band that little to no radio airplay, that is an extremely impressive track record. If you don't know about Rush or have never heard their music - which would be hard, with all the cameo appearances on movie soundtracks and current radio airplay they get now - then I strongly suggest you check them out! I've seen them in concert twice and for three guys, they really know how to put on a show. And Neil Peart's drum solos are a not to be missed incredible flurry of drum pounding that can only be described as an unparalleled plethora of percussive phenom.

Next to Iron Maiden, Rush is truly one of the great rock-n-roll fantasies that came true for a group of nerdy and unpopular guys that refused to adhere to the mainstream and chose to do it their own way, proving to the world that it doesn't take gimmicks, radio airplay or green, foot-tall Mohawks to make it in rock-n-roll.

SO do yourself a favor and go see the movie, coming to a town near you!

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday Folks!

For all you Star Wars fans, here are some cool and unique items that every fan should not be without!

Show your hunting prowess with this great livingroom piece -
http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?topcatID=293;product_id=1320778&rid=EMAILC-298

And no one should be without a way to carry all their essential belongings -
http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?product_sku=SWCIBC3PO&rid=EMAILC-298

Scare off those pesky little garden droids with this friendly little garden protector. Makes a nice addition to any moisture farm -
http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?product_sku=SWLFLGGJW1&rid=EMAILC-298

And who can resist eating their favorite chinese dishes with these killer chopsticks? May the force be with your pork fried rice -
http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?product_sku=SWKTCSDMMW&rid=EMAILC-298

Quiz Of The Day! How Neanderthal Are You?
www.wired.com/underwire/2010/05/alt-text-neanderthal/

Dumb Invention Of The Day - A Folding Belt for $750?!
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/05/750-folding-hermes-travel-belt-features-multiple-flaws/

Now, even cars want to social-network! As if we needed another way to wreck our car and then tweet about it -
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/05/ford-american-journey/

How To Of The Day -
How To Avoid Paying Late Fees - http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Avoid_Paying_Late_Fees

And for your viewing pleasure or disgust, whichever comes first, the ugly website of the day -
http://www.dokimos.org/ajff/




Well, thats all I have for now - Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Cartoon of the day

I made this cartoon after reading my fortune cookie message, Moses and his 40 days, etc in the desert was the first thing I thought of.

Mini Margarita

They always say "Don't Drink and Drive", but to drive your drink? Here's something you don't see everyday:

You Call This Work?

Well, it was a pretty typical first day at work, couldn't login to my computer, didn't have the right software, much less any software that I needed installed on my computer and I met a bunch a people I will probably never talk to, but at least I'm getting paid.

With only 40 minutes left of work, I figured I would kill the time and write my blog for the day so I wouldn't have to do it at home, because when I get home I don't want to do anything. Unfortunately, I got an email from a client that they want more changes done to their project, a project I really don't want to work on anymore and most certainly do not want to even look at anymore, especially after spending all day at work. I guess the only good thing that is coming out of this is that i will be getting paid extra to make these changes, but in the "sick of looking at it" state of mind that I'm in about it, it isn't about the money. In fact, after the client sent me a flaming email that would make a stone cold killer tear up, I told him he could keep his "damn money" after I made the corrections he listed. Not only was he in the wrong for sending me such an email, he actually apologized after I proved him wrong in his accusations of "cheating and taking advantage" of him. I've never cheated a client, nor have I taken advantage of their good will, when and if I ask a client for special favors (i.e. getting paid early), I return the favor by going the extra mile for them, but this client in particular certainly did not warrant such favoritism, even when he did fulfill my request, because his attitude was one of complete barbarism and pig-headed ignorance about his own project.

So enough about clients, I certainly did not write this blog today to talk about that ordeal. Just those few short sentences about the situation has brought me down and I want to be happy because I'm about to go home after my first day of "work"!

After not working for a year, it feels good to be back in a cubicle. The irony is that after 6 months, I'm going to wish I were spending my days at home, although in today's job market, maybe not so much. At my last job I was still pretty happy that I had a job even after a year of putting up with their insanity, but I also had my own office. So I will most likely still be pretty happy working in a cubicle after 6 months here. After all it can't be any worse than my last job, where I got into trouble for coming in early or for being ambitious enough to come up with new projects that would save the company money or help other employees perform their jobs better or even for doing the job I was hired for! Yes, it was indeed the strangest work environment I had ever worked in - ever! Not that I have anything against gays, but the two queers that owned this company definitely had issues! They would sit in my office and argue and fight about advertisement mockups like they were sitting in their living room fighting about whose cat peed on the sofa! I had one tell me that they wanted me to come up with more cutting edge advertisements and the other would want me to rehash the old ones and then they would both get mad at me, because I wasn't do a good enough job!

If I ever have to face another situation like that, where the company is owned by two individuals in a relationship, I think I will have to pass. Thankfully though, I don't expect to run into too many companies like that after I get my bachelor's degree for 3D Animation - which I will begin going to school for next year. My goal is to either work for ILM, Pixar or Dreamworks or maybe even Stan Winton Studios. I have also considered gaming, considering the level of detail and story that goes into today's games. God of War III was by far the best game that I've seen for the new generation console gaming platforms - I have the PS3. After watching the bonus features behind the scenes, it was clear that a new era of gaming has been reached and just as life-changing for the industry and it was when the Playstation first came out.

Monday, Monday

Well, I begin my new job tomorrow! I'm excited and also scared. Even though they thought I was the best interviewee and wanted to make me an offer immediately after my interview, it's not a permanent position - only contract until December - so I don't have the security of a permanent job and they could decide at any moment to cancel the contract. While I will do everything in my power to not let that happen, sometimes there are forces beyond our control at work.

On the flip-side, I am glad it's not a permanent position, as I plan to go back to school next year to get my Bachelor's Degree in 3D animation and pursue the dream job I set out to get when I went to college the first time - creating special effects for movies and hopefully the creme de la creme of all jobs, working for ILM (Industrial Light and Magic). I know I have the imagination to work for such a place, now I just need to see if I have the skills.

I know all it will take is a killer demo filled with lots of imagination and unique effects, so I'm going to research every school in the nation and even Canada and choose the best one. Until then, I'll be saving as much as I can from this job - after I purchase all my transportation needs, of course. First will come the motorcycle, a 2010 Ninja 250R and then will come the Lexus IS300 - notice a (colour) pattern? Both of these vehicles I've wanted ever since I laid eyes upon them and now is the perfect time to get them, since I have no major bills to pay - thanks to living at home with mom. Yeah, I know it sounds pathetic, especially at my age, but considering human beings have been living with their parents, often for all their lives and usually in the same house or hut (made of sticks and dung), I don't really feel so bad. Just because we've decided in our "modern age" that living with your parents after a certain age is pitiful, doesn't mean that it is.

Shit, why not take advantage of the situation as long as possible? If you have a good relationship with your parents - mine is 50/50 - then milk the possibility for as long as you can! Seriously, why pay a huge mortgage or rent payment and all the utilities, car payment, property taxes and so on, when you can give your folks a little bit of your money each month to hold onto most of your paycheck each week or in my case, each month. I still can't get over that I'm getting paid once a month - it's a very new concept for me, as I've never been paid that way and have not heard of getting paid that way other than the military.

Back to the parents; because I'll be getting paid once a month, my checks will be pretty big, much larger than I'm used too, even when I was getting paid $40/hour. I sure do miss those paychecks. But even at $26/hour, my checks will be enough each month that I can pay the rent and personal loan money out and still look like I just cashed my check. So within 2 months time I'll be able to pay cash for my motorcycle and still have a considerable amount left to live on for the rest of the month. The only thing that blows is that after one month, I'll have 90% of the cost of the bike, and have to wait a whole 30 days more just for the remaining 10%, so that's a little annoying. SO during that time, I'll just take the motorcycle training course and splurge a little bit for the Iron Maiden show.

That is going to be a great show - especially with the VIP box seats. That's going to be the most money I've ever spent on a night out, but it will be so worth it. Sharing one of my favorite bands since I was a teenager with my teenage daughter - it's cool that Iron Maiden is still touring so that could happen. I really wish there was a way that I could let them know that and be recognized at the show.

Well, I'm off to get some work done.

Peace

Alex @ Prom 2010

Well Alex had her junior prom tonight, little bugger didn't tell me until after the fact and her senior prom is next year but I still wish she would have told me ahead of time. With her living in California, it's hard to get involved as much as I would like too, but next year I will try to go out there for the senior prom and get her a limo and all the cool things I didn't get to do. Even better, rent her a Ferrari and let her drive it to prom - that would definitely get the other bitches climbing up the envy tree for a peak!

Here is a pic of her in her dress:

Isn't she gorgeous? I really wish I had been able to go to prom, as stupid as it is sometimes, high school is supposed to be the best years of a young person's life and well mine just plain sucked!
So I want to make her years in "hell school" way better.

She told me today that she's met a new guy - well not exactly, new - but they just started dating and while they didn't hookup prior to prom she thinks he is a winner and will hopefully be around for senior prom. I hope so for her sake.

We are in the final preparations for Alex to come out to Texas for a summer visit. Unfortunately Cole decided he wanted to stay home with his mom - why he only knows. but anyway, I'm glad Alex is coming out - I haven't seen her in so long - if we didn't have cell phones, computers and internet, we would be such strangers to each other by now. But we text everyday, all day, so I feel as close to her as when she lived here.

She will be staying a whole 2 months, splitting the time up with her mom's mom and me. Of course, I don't care for my ex-mother-in-law, but hey - who does?! Alex told me that her grandmother is going to drive Alex back to California, so she can visit her daughter - my ex-wife - so i kinda feel sorry for Alex to have to deal with her all that way. Eesh! I couldn't do it - even when she was my mother-in-law, I couldn't do it.

Alex and I are already planning to go to the Iron Maiden show June 9. It will be our first concert together and to be able to share one of my all time favorite bands with her and her actually wanting to go - is just an awesome feeling. Unfortunately tickets are hella-expensive, like $250 for center stage and $300 and up for VIP!! I figure what the hell and I'm going to get the VIP tickets, though we won't be as close to the stage as I would like, we won't have to deal with the moshpit or drunk idiots. They always ruin a show.

The only crappy part about Alex coming out is that I will be working. Though I'm thrilled I got a job, it will suck that she will be at home alone most of the day with only the animals and PS3 to keep her company. But she says she will be okay, so I will trust her on that.

The Job

Well....I GOT A JOB!!!

YAY!!!

It's been a grueling year these past 12 months without a steady income. The freelance jobs dried up, the job offers a distance memory of a time when my talents were vigorously sought after.

I knew I had to do something different in my life and do something different I did. I changed my name! Aside from not liking my name since the first day I remember my mom screaming it at me, the name Christopher had been flooding the job boards and recruiter's lists for years and it was probably as well known more than I care to admit or even like to think about. So I began using my middle name, Michael and within days, the job offers - real job offers - came flowing in. Quite reminiscent of the good old days when Christopher was a wanted man.

Within a few weeks, I had a bonafide offer - not just some baited hook thrown out into the unemployment pool to see what kind of bottom feeder could be caught.

I know I interview well. I know I have the skills. I know I can do anything they throw at me, with ease and efficiency.

Long story short - I got the job and start Monday, May 3. The only thing that threw a wrench into my beautiful inner workings, was the once a month paycheck! Do what?! Once a month?!

I have never been paid like that before, so it's going to be interesting. While the fat check at the end of the month is going to be nice, the 30 days leading up to that glorious check-cashing celebration will be tough. But I'll manage. I won't complain and I'll see it through to the very end, doing my best all the way there.

The Iron Maiden Ninja

After 20 some odd years of waiting and waiting and hoping and wishing and praying and trying - I finally, finally get to buy a motorcycle!! I've wanted one ever since I could remember, but something always got in the way. Not anymore, brothers and sisters, the time has finally come! But as they say, good things come to those who wait - right? Riiiight. Now since I've never really ridden a motorcycle before, I'm going to be starting out small with a 2010 Ninja 250R. It will be blue and will have the raddest graphics ever on it! Thankfully, I have a good friend who has a print shop that does vinyl vehicle wraps - so I've been up all night designing those graphics for the wrap. Now I didn't exactly "design" the images, since they are of Eddie from the Iron Maiden album covers, I simply just chose from the numerous images I have of Eddie that I got from this awesome website: Iron Maiden Wallpapers. They have the most extensive and exclusive collection of Iron Maiden imagery I've ever seen! And being an a devout Maiden fan for over 20 years, I've seen my fair share.

So anyway, this is what I came up with:
Isn't it beautiful?! This bike is going to be the sickest thing around town! I can't freaking wait!! I can't stop staring at it, it's so gorgeous! It's going to be really cool to wear my Iron Maiden Vans while riding this gorgeous machine.

Now the rear will be modded with the hidden fender aftermarket parts, and the mirrors will be blue LEDs. I will have the wheels painted to match the body color as well. It's hard to believe that this bike brand new is only $4,000! It looks a lot more expensive - Kawasaki really knows how to deliver the goods for very little coin.

I should have the bike in a month or two - hopefully not two :) but I will be sure to post the pics of the final wrap when it's done.