Confessions

Jumping on the next great bandwagon, here. I've only listed the ones that apply

[x] I listen to political music. (Floyd baby)
[x] I shut others out when I'm sad
[x] I open up to others easily
[x] I watch the news
[x] I own over 5 rap CDs
[x] I own something from Hot Topic
[x] I love Disney movies
[x] I curse regularly.
[x] I have a job
[x] I am in love/like with someone.
[x] I am self conscious.
[x] I like to laugh.
[x] I have many scars
[x] I've been out of this country
[x] I believe in ghosts.
[x] I am really ticklish
[x] I love chocolate.
[x] I bite my nails
[x] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored
[x] Saw a shooting star.
[x] Gone out in public in your pajamas
[x] been in a fist fight with the same sex.
[x] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator
[x] Made out in an elevator
[x] Swore at your parents
[x] Broken a bone.
[x] Played spin the bottle.
[x] Bitten someone
[x] Gotten the chicken pox.
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Ridden in a taxi.
[x] had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
[x] Gone on a blind date.
[x] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
[x] Been married
[x] Saw someone/something dying
[x] Driven over 400 miles in one day.
[x] Been on a plane.
[x]Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[x] Been skiing.
[x] Been ice skating.
[x] Met someone in person from the internet
[x]Going to or have gone to college.
[x] Taken painkillers.
[x] Been hurt so bad you'll never forget the pain.
[x] Wished somebody would die
[x] Lied to your girlfriend/boyfriend

The Countdown

My beautiful wife and I (and James) are leaving for New York in nine days. U2 in Madison Square Garden is just 11 days away!!! Interestingly enough, I found out today that I should get a call on Thursday in regards to a possible job opportunity and that interviews for that job are supposed to take place on the day we leave.... I'm trying to figure out how that is supposed to work. I'm hoping that they will be able to interview me on a different day. We shall see!

Mmmm....Date night.

With all of the crud going on in our lives right now and all the struggles we're having, it's been really easy to lose focus on what truly matters in life. Melissa and I miss each other, even though we see each other every day. Our last date was sometime before James was born, and since we have no discretionary funds in existence, paying a babysitter and paying to go out just isn't in the cards anymore.

Thank God for family! Abby will be going to the Angels game on Saturday night (i'm slightly jealous) with my sister and her family and my mom and dad will watch the boys for us, so that we can go to Disneyland. Free entertainment. Time alone, together. I can't even begin to explain how much we need this. Plus, Moe won $50 playing bunco last night! So we're going to take the kids to the drive-in on Friday night ($5 for a carload!) so we get to see Corpse Bride. Ironically, we've seen two movies in the last 4 month, and they're both Burton.

We have about $100 bucks in cash from moe's winning and taking all of our change into the grocery store. It netted us about $85 bucks and we're using it for little things that we can't fit into the budget. I got a haircut with it. We also took the kids to disneyland a few times and we can get a big ole loaf of Sourdough bread at California Adventure, which is enough to be dinner for all of us. We pack a bottle of water and we can manage a very cheap day together.

Secretly, I'm hoping to save some of the cash, so that I can buy Mel a birthday present (Nov. 5th). Shh. Don't tell her. =)

Must. See. U2. NOW.

Check out the set list from Night One in Chicago. The boys are finally mixing it up a bit.

Discotheque has gotten some play.

Bad closed the show!

Walk On made it's first appearance (finally)!

Yahweh moved into the middle of the main set.

The First Time!!! Zooropa makes a HUGE cameo.

I'm only a little distressed that I Will Follow has disappeared again.

Marty Casey - The True Winner

Sorta like American Idol, where the competition winner is forced into a slavery-esque contract, I think Marty actually pulled out ahead in Rock Star: INXS. Will he be the lead singer for THAT band, no. Will he be the front man for an amazing band? Absofreakinglutely. I now have no vested interested in INXS as a band (never did before), because I just don't like J.D. Fortune's personality. I will want to get ahold of the official release of Pretty Vegas, though.

I wish I have said it out loud: I've thought for a few weeks that whoever finished second would be asked to be the opening act on the world tour. What a great opportunity for Marty. But will Dave Navarro play guitar on his first record? It depends on whether or not he's too busy cheating on Carmen Electra with "sweet" Suzie McNeil. He'll definitely be collaborating with her, too.

Here's to Marty and here's to seeing him have an awesome rock and roll career. Bo Bice, who?

Cy Young?

Congratulations to Fat-olo Colon, the first 20-game winner for the Angels in 31 years. Nolan Ryan in 1974 was the last guy to do it. Here's to hoping the Halos can hang onto the AL West and make it further into the playoffs than last year.

I'm a Pop Sensation

The Bloodhound Gang has written a new song called "Ralph Wiggum". The lyrics consist entirely of Ralph quotes from the Simpsons (except the chorus is part Cheif Wiggum). Check it out HERE.

It'll be you and me, up in the trees

Dude. Rock Star has taken a serious turn this week. There is a new front runner, and although I used to think he was the worst of the bunch (so much drama), I'm actually ok with him winning this thing. It'll also keep me from being compelled to see them live, which will save money that I don't have for concert tickets.

Suzie - I thought last night was pretty lackluster for her, even though the audience and the bandmates seemed to enjoy it. She faltered during What's Up, a song I love (because I can play it).

J.D. - Absolutely hit a home run. The band gave him Pretty Vegas again, I think to proof to the guys that he can nail the same song night after night, which is what touring is all about. And then he goes and does a great job with Money. One of my top-three favorite Pink Floyd songs. It didn't hurt that the house band does such an amazing job with so many songs.

Marty - I freaking love "Trees", no matter how ridiculously cheesy the lyrics are. And he nailed Creep, too. I love that he didn't hold back from his "screamy" thing, even though the band has told him they don't like it. It worked perfect for this song, and he isn't completely selling himself out. Only needed the crazy conductor.

Mig - Melissa thinks that he got the short end of the stick on song selection, because the band wanted him to falter and get into the bottom three. Controversy aside, I thought he did a mediocre job with the songs. I LOVE Paint it Black, but it just didn't work for me. Kiss from a Rose is a good song, but terrible for this competition. Only Seal gets away with making it sound like anything but Karaoke. If that song is to be covered, it has to have a dramatic change in style to work. It didn't and Mig didn't. Mig is wearing thin on me and I don't want him to win. He has this creepy gay-stripper look to him and he reminds me of a "nice-guys" Perry Farrell.

It's too hard to say who might be going home this week, between Suzie and Mig. I can only guarantee that JD and Marty will stick around. They have two potential hit singles for the band. J.D. is the front runner at this point and he has the charisma, voice, songwriting and leadership to be very successful. And with a song like Pretty Vegas, INXS will easily get back onto radio, both in the KROQ and STAR type of worlds.

I still like Marty the best, but I want him to front his own band (why not the house band from the show?) I want Suzie to win over J.D., because I would personally be more interested in the band. No matter what happens, it's been a fun show to watch!

Live Music: A Reflection

With the upcoming trip to NYC to see U2 at Madison Square Garden, which might amount to one of the best concerts ever, and with The O.C. Supertones hanging up the horns next month with a final show at Biola, I've been thinking about live music and all of the concerts I've been to over the years, and some I would LOVE to see live.

Tops on my "Wish List" is Garth Brooks. Now that he's possibly coming out of his semi-retirement, I'm hoping I'll get a chance to see him. I also want to see McCartney. I've never seen the Rolling Stones or Elton John. I also want to see The Killers REALLY REALLY bad. And now I want to see INXS on their next tour.

I've seen U2 eight times. All of them were memorable and wonderful and rank towards the top of any list I would do. The best two shows for me were the PopMart show at Jack Murphy, because it was my first U2 show ever (Rage opened and was cool, too) and the post-9/11 show at the Pond on the Elevation Tour. Not only was it a cathartic and worshipful experience, but No Doubt put on the best opening act I've seen at any U2 show.

I've seen Bob Dylan four times. The first time sucked, it was with Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell at the Pond and we were way the heck back up top. Van Morriscon didn't even play Brown Eyed Girl. Second time was ok, but our seats sucked. We were on the floor at the pond, way the heck back. Paul Simon opened and was cool. Third time was great, we were in the back at the Sun Theatre in Anaheim. Great seats, great set. No opening act. Fourth time was at the Pantages a few months ago. Not the best Dylan show I've seen, but it was still a great experience. Amos Lee and Merle Haggard were both a lot of fun.

I've been to three Acoustic Christmas shows and among the acts I saw (and liked) were Beck, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Blink 182, Fiona, Bush, Janes Addiction, Depeche Mode, Billy Corgan solo (and awesome), Garbage, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Cake, Matchbox 20 (actually acoustic). Of course, a ton of one-hit wonder and other crap bands were there, too, like the Sneaker Pimps, Everlast, Powerman 5000, Tori Anus, Soul Coughing and, of course, Chumbawumba.

I've seen the Pumpkins once, Corgan once (plus the Acoustic Christmas) and Zwan once. The Pumpkins show was BY FAR the best of the group. Seeing Billy with his new band and new album in July was pretty sweet, too.

I saw Roger Waters at the Universal Amp. Very cool show. I also saw Kirk Franklin there with my mom. We were some of the few white people in the audience. It was awesome.

I've seen Counting Crows three times. All good shows. One with Live opening, one with a reunited Toad the Wet Sprocket.

I've seen the Supertones at least 30 times. Great memories. In HS and at Biola I had some very memorable experiences. I'm sad that I can't go to there final show at Biola next month (I'll be in NY for U2!).

I've seen Styx!

My very first concert was a Beach Boys/Chicago concert with my dad in the late 80s. I had been trying to win tickets all week (I was a HUGE beach boys fan) and never won. Pops suprized me with tickets the day of the show. I've seen the beach boys two other times.

When I was huge into the Ska scene during college, I saw The Aquebats at the Barn at UCR. Crazy fun.

I've had a ton of great experience with other christian bands, local "Biola Bands" and bigger. I saw Jars of Clay a few times. At Biola, I saw Holy Cow, Mike Barnett, Thee Spivees, Plain Jane, Wonderlove, Vinegar Joe, RC and OF COURSE, Mars Hill, more times than I can count. And I can't leave out Soul Kilter, featuring two members of Mars Hill in the pre-Biola days (Kenny and the Hungry Samoan).

Opening for the Boys

With the third led of the tour rapidly approaching, I'm shocked that there haven't been any official announcements from U2.com as to the opening acts for the tour. Some info has leaked on the web and we know some opening acts for some shows, but nothing has been officially announced.

The Thrills and Dashboard Confessional are doing 8 dates in Toronto, Chicago, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Arcade Fire is doing some Canadian gigs as well. Other rumored acts for the tour are Kanye West, Keane and My Chemical Romance.

It's starting to look more and more like there won't be a single opener for the entire leg (like Kings of Leon), which is rare for U2 in the U.S. They usually have no more than three bands doing longer stints (such as Garbage and No Doubt splitting duties on the Elevation Tour's third leg).

I'm kinda bummed, because I had heard early rumors that Switchfoot might open and I REALLY want to see The Killers.

Suzie's gunna win

After watching another flawless performance and seeing a strong original song from Suzie McNiel, I believe that she will end up as the winner of Rock Star:INXS. Mig is still the logical front-runner, but he is starting to show a few kinks along the way. Marty is still my favorite and he was FLAWLESS last night. I love "Trees" and can totally hear it being played on Star 98.7 next week. He just doesn't quite fit in with the band and won't win. I can't believe that J.D. is loved so much. I can't stand him. There is no way he's going to win this thing. And poor Jordis. It's just time for the girl to go home. She's to this competition what John Stephens was to the third season of American Idol. She's just to young but hopefully this experience will help propell her own solo career.

I also had this thought last night: Marty should join up with the "house band" and form a group. They would rule.

I think Marty will be getting the original encore for tonight and I think Suzie will get the cover encore.

Checking in with Rock Star

Although I was pretty disappointed to see Ty go home before JD, it really doesn't matter, since neither of them have a legitimate chance at winning.

I now believe that Mig will win hands down and at this point it looks like it will be a final-two showdown with Suzie. Where the heck did she come from!?!? She's been complete nails lately.

I still love Marty and he is still my favorite, but I don't see him as the lead singer for INXS. The lead singer for a rock band for sure, just not INXS. And he NAILED Wish You were Here, by the way...freaking phenomenal.

As for Jordis I hope she outlasts JD, but she also has no shot at winning. She's just too young and "I just don't think she's right for INXS".

Still Alive

I'm Still Alive. Life is pretty crazy and hectic right now with work and the growing family. Please pray for us right now as we are seeking some guidance and wisdom from the Lord on multiple issues!

Spawn of Askew - The Countdown

T-Minus 19 hours until we are supposed to be checking into Hoag for our induction tommorow morning. It's sort of bittersweet right now, though. We were supposed to stay at the Crowne-Plaza in Irvine tonight, so we'd be close by in the morning. Abby is sick, though, so we don't have a sitter for this evening and we're stuck at home. It sucks because it was going to be our last date for a LONG time.

THANK GOD, though, that my sister is still willing to watch the kids all day tommorow. It would have been crazy without that help. We are blessed with some wonderful family around us!

How I came to love a Britney song

Rock Star: INXS (8/16)

Tonight was an interesting night for Rock Star. The band hand picked the songs for each performer for a stripped down, acousticy night. Three performances rose above the rest. Also, instead of JD being on the bottom of the top crew, he's now at the top of the pile of crap that has no business being in this thing anymore. If it weren't for the fact that we get more performances from the top four, I wish they would just cut ALL FOUR of the crappy people now. The following is a ranking of the performances from last night:

1. Mig (Baby I Love Your Way) Played with just him and the piano, with him playing. Flipping unbelievable. He pulled off one of the best performances of the competition.
2. Marty (Hit Me Baby One More Time) He turned it into sort of a Violent Femmes feeling slow, angry ballad and it worked. It was still silly and when you strip away the pop in the background, you can truly get a feel for how insanely stupid the lyrics of this song are, but Marty did it in an incredible fashion.
3. Jordis (Knocking on Heavans Door) This would have tied for second, if it weren't for her slipping up on a lyric to a BOB DYLAN SONG!!!!! How do you do that?!?!?!? (editors note: I thought the lyric was "it's getting dark, too dark to see". Jordis sang "it's getting dark, too dark for me". The Dylan website says the line is "it's getting dark, too dark for me to see". While I've never heard it like that, we'll call it a wash).
4. Ty (Maggie Mae) He did this the only way he could pull it off, turning it into a Motown style song, tamborine and all. Not bad. Not a home run.
5. Suzie (Bring it on Home to Me) Not bad. Not Great.
6. JD (As Tears go By). Bad. Not terrible, but I was longing to see Mick Jagger come rip the mic out of his hand and punch him in the teeth.
7. Jessica (Torn). Bad. Really Bad. Karaoke Bad.
8. Deanna (I Can't Make You Love Me). Proving that she actually can't sing with ANY range, she turned a good Bonnie Raitt song into complete and utter drivel. She's a one-trick pony vocally, with her sultry/smokers voice. Not good enough to lead a band.

Overall Rankings (Last Week)
1 (1). Marty
2 (3). Mig - My wife's favorite. He's great and could easily lead this band.
3 (2). Ty
4 (4). Jordis - The bottom of the group that should even be considered to win this thing.
5 (5). JD - I'm so sick of him, but he's miles ahead of the next three
6 (6). Deanna - Someone has to sit on top of the crap heap.
7 (9). Suzie
8 (8). Jessica - The older Avril might skate by again....

The bottom three this week should be Deanna, Suzie and Jessica. I predict that Deanna will be going home, after proving that she just can't sing well enough.

I was wrong on my Encore prediction last week. I'm even more certain this week that Mig will get asked to sing Baby I Love Your Way again.

Call me Miss Cleo

I predicted the bottom three AND I predicted that Brandon would go home on Rock Star last night. I rule! Of course, I didn't realize that Brandon would be going home because he forgot the lyrics to the INXS song he had to sing....OOPS!

I liked Brandon well enough as a southern fried rocker, but he clearly wasn't going to be a good fit for the band. OF the people I like the best, only Jordis, Mig, Ty and Marty have a shot at actually winning. I think Mig is the front runner, simply because he's Austrailian. Ty and Marty, I think, are the best two, though. Jordis would be killer, but she's too young and too female. I just don't see the band picking a chick.

Rock Star: INXS

I gotta tell ya, I love this show. I was pissed when they moved the monday episode to VH1. This week has been a great one and I'm excited about tonight's elimination show. Last night wasn't the most solid all around performance night, but perhaps the best performance of the entire competition thus far was by Marty, doing a solo acoustic version of Mr. Brightside. It was simply phenomenal and will be a no-brainer to recieve the "Encore" tonight.

Last night's performances:

1. Marty - Mr. Brightside
2. Ty - No Woman No Cry
3. Suzie - Losing my Religion
4. Brandon - Rolling Stones song
5. Mig - All Right Now
6. Deanna - Long Train Somethin Somethin
7. Jordis - Layla
8. JD - Crazy (the Seal song)
9. Jessica - Come as you are (she simply BUTCHERED it).

My overall rankings

1. Marty
2. Ty
3. Mig
4. Jordis
5. JD
6. Deanna
7. Brandon
8. Jessica
9. Suzie

I think Brandon will be going home tonight, OR both he and Jessica (who will be in the bottom three for the third time).

On the right side of a bad beat

Best. Tournament. Ever.

203 total entrants, I finished 16th. My goal was to make it into the money, which was the final three tables and I did that. Once we got down to 30, I was pretty short stacked and knew that I had to make a move in order to get higher. spots 22-30 all paid the same, so it didn't matter if I went out quick, I needed to try and build my stack to get to the final table. I went all-in a few times and stole the blinds, went all-in again (for about 11,000 in chips) and got called, all-in from a guy with 10,000. He had aces, I had sevens (good ole sevens, like the quads I had at MY tourney last month). Long story short, I ended up sucking out a straight with the turn and river and knocked out the aces. HUGE. I'm up to around 21,000 in chips and one hand later I knock two people out with an A-8, all of a sudden I'm up to 42,000 in chips. We condense to two tables and I'm the second biggest stack at the table. I then proceed to make a RETARDED mistake. Board comes K-A-K, three of us check around. Turn comes seven, I have Q-7, so I pair my sevens. The guy with the big stack, in first position, comes in for ten grand. I read him wrong, thinking he's trying to steal. I go all-in, he calls immediately and I know I'm hosed. He had a King and tripped up to knock me out. Still, the best I have EVER played. It's nice to know that I really do have a little skill. Maybe someday I could make a living at this.

Oh, and I lasted longer than Brian, which I had never done before, so that was nice!

My friend Brian bought me a Pechanga entry for my b-day and we're going tonight. I have only done the weekday tournaments there, so it'll be interesting to do a night-time one. The day ones usually have a little stiffer competition, since it's all the poker players who don't work. The evening game might be a little better, with the guys who work for a living and play on the side. Here's to live cards and pocket pairs!

For my birthday I got the Michael Buble album. He's a crooner and on his new album he has a few songs that aren't classic "Sinatra" type of songs, that he covers in that style, including Can't Buy Me Love by the Beatles. It got me thinking about genre-crossover covers, the good and the bad. I love almost anything turned into the Big-Band sound. This morning I bought eight songs from the above pictured album. I also like Matt Dusk's version of Two Shots of Happy.

The ones I HATE are when Punk/Ska/Hardcore bands cover songs, usually 80's songs. Songs like Smooth Criminal come to mind. I do like P.O.D.'s version of Bullet the Blue Sky and I loved it when bands like Unashamed and Focused did mosh-out versions of worship songs like Awesome God.

I also can't stand country-fried covers. Oddly, I can't stand the Dixie Chicks, but I can tolerate their version of Landslide. I'm a model of contradictions, I guess.