Rebuilding the Mainstage

I biked 17 miles in less than an hour and a half this afternoon.  Never mind that I have only biked 2 miles at a time so far this year.  Never mind the wind was pushing me for the first half of the ride.  It was the 20+ mph winds on the way back that absolutely killed.  May I sleep well tonight and hope I can stand without wobbly legs tomorrow.

I don't think I'll be doing this again for awhile.

I love a good prank.  As you may remember, I, along with the help of Becca, pulled a great one on my dad a few short months ago.  That was probably the greatest prank I'll ever pull off.  I enjoy a few others now and then at work with unsuspecting co-workers.  There's always the hole in the pop can gag that goes over quite well.  The grease in the ear piece of the phone and then calling the person to warn them of the grease.  Then you can have them paged over the loudspeaker for an outside phone call after they've been in the crapper for about 30 seconds.  Turning a pop tab around and snapping it off before the can has been opened.  Oh, there's a bunch more.  And you sometimes have to be careful of who you pull the prank on.

Chris and I have a pretty good run going right now (along with humorous insults hurled back and forth).  For example:

Chris:  *Flipping me the bird*

Me: Hey, I don't deserve that.

Chris:  Aww, do you need a hug?

Me:  Go up to him to get a hug before pulling away at the last moment

Chris:  I always knew you were gay.

Me:  Nah, I thought you were a woman.

Today, he paid me back for a previous prank (and then some).  I warned him that it would not go unpunished.  But, I wanted to get him in a way that he wouldn't soon forget and would probably piss him off more than just a little.

What is the prank flavor of the day?

The next time I work with him I'm going to steal his truck keys when he's not looking.  I'm going to put them in an envelope that is marked "KEYS".  Then I'm going to put the envelope on the driver seat of his truck and lock the doors.  Hanging from the sideview mirror will be a coat hanger.

Good luck, Chris.

And Chris, when you read the extra little note inside the envelope (once you get in your truck) you'll see that I left the key to your pickup tucked safely behind the windshield wiper.

What?  Was the last one a bit too much?

Where do I sign up? There are so many jokes. I don't know where to begin.

"Get in line to service the Savior!"

A piece for the Prince of Peace!"

What? Were Escorts for Eternity and Call Girls for Christ already taken? "Love your Lord!" Seriously, shouldn't it be Jesus for Hookers and not the other way around? I think this is sending the wrong message. Then again, Jesus had his followers but He was the one to hang out with the thieves and prostitutes...

Beware - extreme obnoxiousness ahead...


If she wasn't so obnoxious and a little more genuine this wouldn't be such a bad idea. As it is, it's a little over-the-top ridiculous.

Nearly two months ago I was at a friend's house just shooting the breeze.  We talked a lot about music because that is something that we both love.  He is the drummer for a local band that is just starting to play shows consistently despite the band having been around for eleven years.  Such is the way of a screw-off punk band.

He was talking to me about the upcoming struggles of the band with family issues taking root.  He and his wife are expecting their first child this fall. The rhythm guitarist and his wife just had their first child. It's a struggle I'm sure to keep priorities straight while also keeping the dream alive of playing live music. He said that he absolutely hates having to cancel shows because of the future repercussions.

"You know who we'd have to fill in if one of the guys has to miss a show don't you?"

"No. Who?"

"You, dude."

I've been loving the band for the last year or so and really, I'm honored to even be considered for the emergency fill-in duty title. I have plenty of practicing to do in the meantime to get ready. Not to mention, actual jamming with the band to learn the songs as well as possible. I've never been so close to this little dream of mine. Even though it's not my own music it's still punk rock. The first genre I really loved.

Check em out!

 

It occurred to me this afternoon.  The name.  The ex-girlfriends.  It couldn't be coincidence could it?

Each of my last three girlfriends dated a guy named Mike immediately preceding me.  And in each case they were considered absolute assholes.  A fourth girl (somewhere in the middle) that I had the hots for also had been dating a Mike.  He was a bit better but not by much from what I could tell.

And then there is the biggest asshole I've ever known - my brother.  Mike.

I have a hard time believing there is anyone worth a damn who is named Mike.  But why do I keep finding girls whose previous boyfriend all had the same name?

This isn't meant to annoy you (sorry if it does). It's just a look into my musical loves and maybe you will discover something new...

A simple point be it spiritual or political.

Even Jesus would've been considered liberal by the Pharisees.

Sometimes I teeter on the brink of being real... of feeling... of being vulnerable... of weeping.

It is impossible to plan a life.  It is impossible to be unaffected by life.  It is impossible to have never lived.  It is impossible to never experience things you could have never imagined as a child.

We, collectively, bear burdens as one though we do it individually.  You are not right.  I am not wrong.  You could see with my eyes if only for a moment.  I could see with your eyes if only for a moment.

If only your eyes were still open.  Not closed.  Teetering me on the brink.

A day short of one decade - the first time I experienced death.  I still see it in front of me like yesterday.  I still see the sky from the wrong side of the window.  I still remember growing up spiritually.  I still had to tell her I'd see her soon.  I kissed her goodbye.

Keep waiting, I'll be right on time
Keep waiting, I'll be right on time

It's beautiful once you're out here

I'm not there yet and I'm only still learning how to wait.