I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey...

Day 2 of CrabbyFest. Get your tickets to the freakshow now.

JHC, I never have a Day 2. This is new. And I dislike it. 

I’m feeling so raw, if someone so much as blinks I may just lose it.

Gonna have a good cry tonight, about what I have no idea….fucked up hormones.

And my electrolytes are low. So I’m downing copious amounts of sugar-free Powerade in an effort to rebalance.

What. The. Fukc.

On a positive note,  I slept ridiculously well, perhaps because I stayed up way past my bedtime.

Saw “The Sessions” with my friend G last night at the late show. His friend warned us about how much nekidness there is in the movie. Nudie shots galore. LOTS of pretend sex.

NOT SO.

I’ve seen more nudity in an episode of Nip/Tuck than I did in this movie. Helen Hunt looks like any woman her age should, save for her unmoving, lineless forehead. She undresses, and gets in bed. Very tasteful, swift shots. Nothing lingering, and nothing that was out of line with the plot of the story.

No big whoop.

It was a sweet and moving film about intimacy and illness and coming to terms with physical, spiritual and emotional limitations. It was an awakening for many of the characters.

So go. You’ll probably like it.

I also learned today that someone bought me a ticket to see Bon Jovi come March, which is the last of my 80's bands I have yet to see. Yipee! Merry Christmas early to me!

That, coupled with my recent purchase of tix to see Silversun Pickups and Grouplove will make tomorrow a big, bright happy Saturday.

The only thing that has made me happy so far today has been this:

TMI, Cheese Toasty & Feet

I am so crabby I may just punch myself in the face.

Most of the time, it's awesome being a woman. It ain't today.

BTW, doesn't that toasty cheese sandwich looks awesome?

Seeing it is the only thing that's made me the least bit happy today.

I would totally promise that guy a footrub if he shared it with me.

I'd also offer to brush his hair.

Mantras in my head

Ford As I embark on my goals for 2013 (yeah, not waiting until New Year's Day, that's lame), I find that the following quotes give me strength, keep my eyes on the prize and just kinda make me happy...

• Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.  ~Henry Ford

• You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures.  ~Charles C. Noble

• Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.  ~Art Linkletter

• Excellence is not a skill.  It is an attitude.  ~Ralph Marston

• Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. ~Kongzi

• Put your future in good hands - your own.  ~Author Unknown

• Promise yourself to live your life as a revolution and not just a process of evolution.  ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

• It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.  ~???

• You have brains in your head.
  You have feet in your shoes.
  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
  You're on your own.
  And you know what you know.
  You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
  ~Dr. Seuss

Double doses, revelations, and wishes

This morning, whilst getting ready for work, I turned on the television to one of my favorite movies, In Bruges. It stars Colin Farrell as a hitman crippled with guilt over having accidentally killing a little boy.

I adore Colin, his eyebrows that have a publiscist of their own and his wicked Irish ways.

Tonight, after getting home from a bike thingee I turned on the television and, what's this, Ondine is on. It stars Colin Farrell as an Irish fisherman who catches a woman in his net. The movie uses music from my favorite band, Sigur Ros, in such a way that it gives much of the movie a dreamy, fairy tale-like feel.

So, my day has been bookended by the loveliness of Colin Farrell, with a twist of Sigur Ros.

Heaven.

In class Monday I learned of a new diagnosis - covert narcissism. Very interesting stuff.

My wish as I prepare for another day - to always remain as steadfast as I feel tonight about my plans for me, in the new year.

The HH in "HH Gregg" stands for...

Holy Heck.

On the urging of my brother, we checked out HH Gregg a while back.

We were curious. It looked.....weird. Maybe it was their signage. Or the clunky name, which turns ou is an amalgam of family names.

Once we were inside, we quickly realized we may have stumbled upon a cult hiding behind the guise of a wholesale store. And as soon as the doors slid shut behind us, much like a carnival funhouse ride  we were locked in for the walk through. There was no turning back.

We instinctively (I kid you not) inched closer to each other as we tried to pick up the pace. The place was so spacious and bright, and it housed the most random selection of products divided into "pods" throughout the store.

Treadmills to the left and recliners to the right welcomed us on the beginning of our Willie Wonka journey. Had an Oompa Loompa jumped out and started singing to us I would not have been surprised in the least. I actually may have welcomed the singing, as the din from the extreme selling going on up ahead made it difficult to think.

Suddenly a small hoard (yes, hoard, because it's a negative term and accurately describes the scene) of matchy-matchy sales drones floated our way from all directions, encroaching on our personal space with a cacophany of "Welcome to HH Gregg, can I help you find anything?"

I'm pretty sure we didn't look like we needed help finding anything other than the quickest way out of CreepyWorld. Perhaps the apprehension and bewilderment on our faces were mistaken for questioning. Who knows.

Whatever the case, they wouldn't stop coming. It was like the Walking Dead zombies had donned matching polo shirts, kahkis, and horrible, horrible pasty evil clown smiles, the promise of many bad things to come were we to stay a minute longer in this house of horrors.

There was one young man who followed us from afar on our entire, very LONG three minute HH Gregg excursion. I'm convinced he was assigned to us, observe us, record our weaknesses (me - memory foam mattresses, my brother - 72 inch flatscreens) and use them against us before we were able to escape to the safety of the parking lot.

Oh yes, let's visit the mattress room, shall we? It was a separate room off of the far right corner, the promise of pillow top sleep and layaway luring unsuspecting humans into its evil depths, where weary people seeking the comfort of a good nights sleep go to disappear...

As I sat down on a memory foam (my weakness, remember) a look of panic crossed my brother's face. I've seen this expression before - when my mom was about to run over his Chewbaca action figure. It's not a face I like to see (it kind of bums me out, truth be told) and I knew what had to be done.

I jumped up, made up an excuse, beelined it out of the mattress room and stepped it up towards the front doors - the promise of freedom.

We could feel all matchy-matchy eyes on us, and I wondered what trick they would play, what trap they had in store for us as we speedwalked towards the exit. We agreed, under our breath, not to look back or make eye contact with anyone and if one of us fell behind, the other should JUST KEEP GOING, GET OUT AND GET HELP!

As the large automatic doors (obviously the matchy-matchys aren't too bright or they would've had manual doors) slid open and the cool night air hit our faces, we knew we'd made it to safety. Once in the parking lot, we weren't very quiet about how relieved we were with our escape. We could not peel out of the parking lot fast enough.

As the bright lights of HH Gregg grew smaller and smaller in my review mirror, I realized just how attractive and seductive consumerism can be. And how creepy the whole experience can feel. I also realized how much fun my brother and I have together, and how thankful I am to spend time with him.

Sure, to many the facade is appealing - large balloons pepper the parking lot, the signage is bright and seemingly innocuous, but once inside it's an altogether different feeling.

Is HH Gregg a haven for Scientology expats who couldn't cut it with the aliens but still yearned for world domination? Perhaps. Is this "megawholesale store" a cover for a Jim Jones-type operation, using fridges and flat screens and batteries as flashy, modern-day candy to lure the masses into a Heaven's Gate operation? Probably not.

But I will tell you this. The whole thing felt creepy, and I'm stickin to it.

My loyalty will now, and forever be, with Target.

Brave and engaged

It's been an interesting weekend full of wonderful time with family and friends, and also of signs.

I am a believer in signs. I don't look for them, and sometimes I don't recognize them until it's too late to do anything with them, but in that case they serve as great reminders for how incredible the universe can be. But when I do recognize them, in the moment, I do my best to understand what they mean and act accordingly.

I've had many signs over this holiday weekend and in the weeks leading up to it, and they all pointed me to an "a ha!" moment that happend earlier today.

After my run this morning I turned on NPR to catch what was left of "On Being." It's a wonderful show hosted by Krista Tippett. It used to be called "Speaking of Faith" and I'm glad they changed the name because On Being feels more encompassing and less limiting...to me, anyway.

Brene Brown was the main guest, and she discussed her research on shame and wholeheartedness and how courage is born of vulnerability.

I found that as the segment went on, I wasn't hearing anything I didn't believe in or find to be untrue. In fact, some of the things Brown discussed were things I had thought about often, but had difficulty putting into concise thoughts.

It was a truth I'd not heard expressed in this way, and she put words to a feeling that many struggle with every day.

How often do we let shame get in the way of our progress? Too often. As humans, we hold onto past hurts, done by us to others or by others onto ourselves, and we let them fester and hold us back. This is a learned behavior, it's a practiced way of thinking that I truly believe can be challenged and changed.

I share the same belief that vulnerability and truth can bring about courage and progress. I've talked about transparency before, but that's not the same thing as vulnerability.

To say that you don't go out much because you aren't very social is being transparent - you're admiting a fact, but not getting to the heart of it. To say that you don't go out much because you find it fearful to interact with new people because you feel judged and it makes you feel bad is admitting vulnerability. To then go and do the thing you fear or that might hurt you while owning the truth behind your reluctance is courageous. It's brave and engaged.

I watched a couple of movies over the weekend that, looking back, were a sort of precursor to Brown's segment in that they were wonderously moving examples of letting vulnerability out for the world to see, regardless of the impact, because the truth is unavoidable.

"Wish Me Away" is the story of country singer Chely Wright's coming out as a lesbian. She lets it all hang out in the documentary, and I was very moved by her admissions on-camera of how she felt about her family, her image, her relationship with the church, and her fans. She embraced who she was and moved forward, but throughout the story was honest about her fears and her pain. I'm not a country music fan, but I am now a fan of Chely's.

I also saw "Silver Linings Playbook", starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Dinero. It was a beautiful movie about family, mental illness, loss and being truthful. I so enjoyed how the screenwriter let the characters speak the truth so much throughout this movie. They owned it!! Cooper's character talks a lot about rebuilding, being broken but getting whole, and finding the silver moments and silver linings. The characters dole out one honest blow after another, both metaphorically and physically, and while they looked like they hurt many times, these blows of honesty helped get everyone on a fair playing field. I highly recommend this movie - typical Hollywood ending, but everything that leads up to it is raw and funny and warm and right.

Going back to On Being, another thing that Brown mentioned was how she'd met people who accepted their shortgivings and didn't struggle with shame. They engaged from a place of worthiness, and knew they were worthy of love and belonging and that it was on the table and non-negotiable.

I absolutely love this. Belonging is on the table and non-negotiable. Words to live by.

Unless you give them the power, there isn't anyone who can tell you you're not worthy and have it mean anything. You are in charge of your self-worth, no one else.

And it all goes back to gaining courage from the truth of your vulnerability.

So be brave. Be engaged. Hope it gets you far.

Testifyah...

A trickling down...

...can bring about spilleth.

I think a lot. Most days, I make a concious effort to live in the moment, because you cannot rely on the future and the past isn't an option.

I do my best not to overthink, which I find to be exhausting and a waste of time, and the challenges I encountered this year helped me to realize my ability to and the beauty of spending mental energy on things I have (some) control over and not to worry about that which I cannot control.

Lately, usually during the wee waking hours, thoughts creep into my mind relating to my purpose. Thoughts of how to live a fulfilling life, give back, realize the value of time and kindness and act accordingly.Forgive myself and others the pitfalls, mistakes, and wrongs which were done not out of malice but of ignorance and move forward in a positive way.

So on this day before Thanksgiving, I decidedly take a moment to pause and reflect upon that for which I am grateful:

1. Family - near and far, here and gone. I'm gthankful for the time I've had with them, and for what time remains.

2. Really, really good health. Aside from the not-quite-perfect vision which makes me bespectacled towards the end of the week, I take no medication, I have no pains, and I am clear-headed. And it's about time I started appreciating that on a larger scale...

3. A job in which I'm thanked almost on a daily basis for how much I contribute, and I know I'm a cog in the wheel of making a difference for generations to come.

4. My many years of education. My most recent degree, in Professional Counseling, was not only an education but almost three years of therapy due to the practicum, the research and generally being a guinea pig for my classmates and vice versa.

5. Straight teeth - thanks to my mom and two years of orthodontic hell.

6. My best friend, Oliver. It's all about timing, and the April day when we found each other is the day I, for the first time, invested wholly in another being. I will only have a few years left with him, and I will strive to make each of his days as happy as can be.

7. Friends - mine are amazing. The most amazing on the planet. And I strive to be equally amazing for them. My friends come in all shapes and sizes; they were made during my childhood, my college days and my adult years at work, in play and in passing. Some are brand new, others were on my 2nd grade kickball team. From wherever, whenever, I hold them dear.

8. Love - I have been blessed to have known true love a couple of times in my life. It's an amazing feeling, and my memories of the good times I shared with these people have taught me the importance of being in a relationship built on trust, respect, deep friendship and shared values. Shared musical taste is a bonus.

There's so much more I'm thankful for - French cinema, live music shows, cycling, running outside in any season, guiding my yak through various waterways, mediation - but there isn't enough time or room to list it all.

I leave you with this - whether you're celebrating big or small, alone or with many, here or away, I wish you a safe, celebratory and savory Thanksgiving.

What thousands of steps afford...

With races officially on the calendar for 2013 and training starting up in a week, I was asked by a few people what made me decide to take on the challenges and what my goals are.

In no particular order, the reasons why:

1. I can. Physically and mentally. There is no question - it's happening. I just need to train.
2. I want to meet make new friends who enjoy doing the same thing. I did that this summer with kayaking and it was a blast.
3. I'm interested in seeing how far I can push myself, safely, when it comes to endurance. Not in this for speed, but to finish standing up and smiling and looking forward to the next race.
4. I might want a new sticker on my car with a large number on it. That would make me feel good to see.
5. It's a solid way to let go of stinky ol' 2012 and slide into the new year with strength, mental fortitude and happiness.

Goals:

1. Get ripped. I want to look good, on and off the course.
2. Lose weight - no brainer.
3. See how far my hypnotherapy certification can take me in my training so that I can eventually help others in the same way.
4. Become a viable member of the racing community, whether it's through volunteering, chairing, or partnering with a newbie so I can say "been there, done that, and you can too."
5. I've been holding onto a pair of jeans from 1986. Size 3. Getting there will be fun, and if it doesn't happen I can say I tried.

I'm really looking forward to the challenges, the training, the people, and learning everything I can. I've been inspired by so many people I know, and the encouragement I've received has made my decisions very easy ones to make.

Feels good.

It's all happening

Busy week. Busier weekend, but sometimes that happens when you don't make solid plans.

Had homemade red ale at my SVP's house - he and his wife are from Lebanon so my smattering of Arabic came in handy. Lovely couple, lovely home, and extremely lovely beer.

Also, pulled the trigger on some race registrations and training with Fleet Feet.

I am prepared to kick 2013's ass.

It will be my year.

And it all begins 11/26.

What Gets Me...

There are certain movies that, when I stumble across them while perusing through the channels, I will watch through to the end:

1. Shawshank Redemption - I do believe that of everyone I've asked the question, "What are your Top 10 movies?", this movie always made the list. Highly entertaining, moving, and what a powerful ending.

2. Lost In Translation - this movie just feels good to me. I believe it has everything to do with the pace, the soundtrack, and Bill Murray. And that end scene, in which Bill's character catches up to Scarlett's character and whispers in her ear, inaudibly...it's one of the best darn endings in movie history, imo. In fact, I'm watching it right now and it inspired this post.

3. A League Of Their Own - great characters, the history of it all. It also makes me think of my grandparents and what it must have been like to live through such a life-changing time.

4. Love, Actually - such a fun movie. Huge cast - Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney. Lovely, bittersweet stories that take place at Christmastime. Never fails to put me in a good mood. I consider myself an optimistic realist, and a realistic romantic, and I appreciate that not every storyline is wrapped up in a perfect, pretty bow.

5. A Walk To Remember - yes, a sappy story of young love in the face of impending tragedy, as scribed by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook), but I love Mandy Moore and how Shane West's character stops being such a douche and discovers that doing right by someone is life-changing and rewarding. I gush, but it really is one of the sweetest movies and I cannot resist.

6. Pretty In Pink - Yes, I am a teen of the 80's. I don't deny it, I embrace it.

7. Some Kind of Wonderful - the movies of all one-liners. Brilliant. Eric Stolz was at his peak here, as was Mary Stuart Masterson, Craig Scheffer and Lea Thompson. I wanted to be Watts and for Keith to be my artsy, blue-collar boyfriend. The soundtrack was fabulous - Jesus and Mary Chain, Flesh For Lulu, Stones, Charlie Sexton.

Metaphorical extension

Lee Moses. It's turning on my table today. Perfect music for a windy, recovery Sunday.

Weird little coincidences...

Went out with my friend Jarrett tonight. First dined at Ya Hala, a very delicious Middle Eastern restaurant off of 270 and the Rock Road. Who knew such flavor resided in NoCo?  Then, hit up a dive punk bar called the Waiting Room on the Rock Road. Very cool venue. Great music, hung out on the patio out back with a fire pit (no smoking near me so I'll be able to run well tomorrow). Met a really rad couple, Andy and Michelle. Andy plays in a do-wop/rockabilly band, and Michelle is a fellow therapist like myself.

We had a very detailed, deep conversation about all things music - the greatness of Ike & Tina Turner, Misfits, Fleetwood Mac before they got big and apparently were a bluesy band (??), Rock N Roll Hall of Fame trip to Cleveland, etc. We also got into a very interesting discussion about what EXACTLY makes a music fan a true music fan - do you have to own the most albums, or do you have to know yourself and the music you dig well enough to discuss but maybe not own it all? Andy and I believe that you don't have to OWN everything, but rather have a monumental appreciation for genres and gravitate to what makes you feel something, but you don't necessarily have to own it...due to the wonder that is YouTube and Pandora, you can virtually call up any song you want and listen at your own convenience. It's the gravitas you bring to the conversation. The passion. The knowledge. The respect.

So, after all of this amazing music talk, I headed home so I could get some sleep before the long-ass run tomorrow. I had Siruis on the radio, on some alternative station, and I could not believe my luck. There were three songs that played, one after the other, and each one had deep significance to certain times in my life:

1. Closer To Fine - this Indigo Girls tune was the soundtrack to most of my college years. I saw them live at Mississippi Nights, front row, and this song played in the background during some very important evenings. So good to hear, just out of the blue. Took me back to simpler times. Good times. Obliviously uncomplicated times.

2. Tempted, by Squeeze - again, part of my early years soundtrack. Such good memories, I don't know where to begin. Ahh....

3. Lost Cause, by Beck - first heard this on a late night ride down to the Venice Cafe when the album dropped. It was the start of what would eventually be years of infatuation, both bittersweet and mindblowing. It brings to mind a fond memory of a time when "what if" was constantly running through my mind on endless repeat.

It's been a long week, for many reasons. Tonight was a good night. And I know for a fact that tomorrow will be even better.

Bust a move

Had a decent run this evening, save for the darkness that came on too soon. Ran five, 11:35 pace. Happy with that, especially after slowing down a couple times to mess around with my iPod which was skipping...how does that happen?? I was in the zone, Sigur Ros soothing my every step...

Switching out between my older Brooks and newer ones for each run to see what feels better. So far, no difference. But really loving my new wool socks. Super cushy comfy.

Still love running. Love. It.

Looking into longer multi-sport races for 2013. Ran across a comparison website that tracked the least/most difficult 70.3 - Branson came in at #5. I may very well skip that and move up the calendar to Kansas. Flat, flat, flat. Me likey. Plus, one of my best friends lives in Wichita so he can come and cheer me on. It's in June, which isn't too far from now but I've got something like 30 weeks to prepare. Doable.

As I begin my training this Sunday, I want to give something up that I can reward myself with once I finish. Perhaps Hoegaarden? Or extra dark Kakao chocolate w/sea salt and white pepper? It's gotta be good...those are two things I can live without for a few months...

And in tonights episode of "American Horror Story"...

Decapitation.

Nazis.

Homosexual aversion therapy.

Masturbation.

Tumescence.

Alien abduction.

Skin removal.

Needle in the eyeball.

Prostitutes. Alcoholics.

Sex on a mental institution kitchen counter with an ax murderess.

Concentration camp atrocities.

Dismemberment.

Torture.

Anne Frank.

Seriously.....how many storylines, atrocities and history lessons can one television show pack into an hour-long (actually 47 minutes) program???

If you know me at all, you know I love a good horror movie/series. But this...well, this is just out of control.

I think I'm over this show. The first season was genius, but this is just overkill.

Yay yay!

When my cousin Mandy was little, she used to say "Yay yay!" when she was happy. I'm saying it today.

Mom is much better, and going home soon.

Her favorite nurse came by tonight to say she wouldn't be at work until Saturday and wanted to say goodbye. I thought that was so sweet.

In other news, the trip to Baltimore was a success. Very nice EP docs, lots of good info sharing. I didn't get to spend much time with my boss, but he's in the office all next week so very much looking forward to that.

A couple good concerts coming up this month - Over The Rhine and Japandroids. Again, yay yay!

I've got my eye on a big tri next year, and I'm going to officially start my training on Sunday. Haven't been swimming for a couple months, will be nice to get back to it. And I've got all my cold-weather biking gear so it's on. Nothing like a good, hard workout to elevate the mood...throw in some chilly weather and you work even harder to stay warm.

Finally, scheduled my monthly visit to Dana, my super cool massage therapist. He gave me some really helpful stretching techniques last time, and they've helped me limber up better before my runs. An hour with him feels like half a day. He's fantabulous.

Small blessings

In Baltimore for an electrophysiologist group meeting. I've been to most of the large NE coastal cities but not here - it's got a nice waterfront.

In the bar last night I got an earful from the local and visiting patrons about the impending election results. I was feeling apathetic about the whole thing, in light of recent events. It was fun watching local results come in...

I took a short, fast run this morning along the waterfront and downtown. Even though it was daylight, I had the distinct feeling that I needed to be extra alert to my surroundings. Lots of random sketchy folks meandering around. The view of the larger ships docked in the port made for a nice change of pace from my usual subdivision course.

Hoping my flight leaves on time as I have a tone of work to catch up on and want to make it up to the hospital for awhile. Apparently a nor'easter is rolling in. This is a truly boring post. Will make sure my next one has some levity.

Integrity

I'm crampy, inwardly-grouchy/outwardly-smiley, worried and chilled, but for some reason my hair is behaving today and looks darn good, so it all evens out, right?

;-)

So I just saw this amazing quote in my friend Amy's feed on FB and had to share it:

"Living with integrity means not settling for less than what you know you deserve in any of your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe." - Barbara De Angelis

Feels good to start out what could (not, hopefully) be a rough week with a reminder as to what's important.

 

Best laid plans

Did not race this morning, but did make it down to wish my friends well and watch the start. From all accounts it was a superb day to run - cool, sunny skies and beautiful weather to tackle those Forest Park hills. Looking forward to seeing the results. I'm not too bummed, the Frostbite long series is weeks away, and there's always the Go! race in the spring.

Darn pulmonologist came in the middle of the night, of course, after we'd all gone home to get some sleep. Diagnosis is chronic and inoperable condition, but second opinion is forthcoming.

Have to travel for work this week, dislike being away when this is going on.

Weekend

It's difficult to see a loved one struggle with so much pain, especially just to take a darn breath. Hopefully the specialist will have an answer. Everyone is so very nice here at the hospital - our family has spent many hours & days here over the last couple years but the care and kindness from the employees make it less terrible.

Thankful for good friends at times like these. The support and positive thoughts are mighty appreciated.

Keeping tomorrow morning on the books. My head is there...and showing up is 99% of the battle, isn't it?

Punk show

Lots of aging, hangdog punkers and frenetic noobs showed to pay respects  to punk rock royalty last night at Fubar for the Double Negative/Spits/OFF! show.

This triple bill served up a heavy dose of new and old-school punk, and the crowd was aptly appreciative.

Double Negative was very decent - stripped-down bare-bones punk that primed the crowd for what was to come.

The Spits stepped it up with a relatively light show (pun) complete with an overly-agressive smoke machine and grim reaper regalia. I'd seen them a decade ago in NYC, and while a few too many brews may have clouded my judgement then as to their true talent, they brought it last night.

Finally, the main event took the stage - Off! They are a superpunkgroup made up of former/current members of Circle Jerks, Black Flag, Burning Brides, Rocket From The Crypt and Redd Kross. Their performance was clear, raw evidence that punk never dies - it just gets older and better. Hopefully the young'ns took a lesson from these masters - they were truly outstanding.

I got to introduce my good friend Maggie to live punk rock, and she ponied up proper - but then, she's quite fearless so this was expected...and appreciated. Bill took me up to the pit for the start of the Spits, and the front row at any future concert will never again be as good as it was last night. I could only take a couple minutes of the slamming but the energy was worth it.  He also ventured into the Off! pit and stayed a good long while. He's my hero.

Saw some good 'ol friends at the show, made some new ones, and near everything in between. Me & the boys finished the night off at Crack Fox reminiscing about our favorite all-time shows. Theirs - Beastie Boys/Public Enemy/LL Cool J, Bowie - totally outrank mine (will not divulge for fear of looking lame.)

All in all, a very good night.