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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.