And so it begins once more

And so...

Two breakups.  One out of necessity, one out of stupidity.  A nasty falling out with my best friend.  The death of my grandfather.  The loss and gaining of new friends.  It's these things that pretty much summed up my 2010.  It seems like I have bad years every three years.  In 2007 my wife left me for someone she had already been seeing a couple of months prior.  2004 was when my clinical depression was officially diagnosed.  2001 was when 9/11 happened and I was deployed for seven months.  Here's hoping that 2011 turns things around for me.  Normally it would be these things and more that have done the best of us in.  Me, on the other hand?  I'm still standing.  I'm still around.  I'm a survivor.  And nothing will ever change that again.

Recently I have been wrestling with the idea of maybe leaving Florida, and moving to Ohio for good, within the next couple of years.  Don't get me wrong, Florida's been really good to me, but I have to face facts at this point.  There's nothing...no one...keeping me here.  I had one final tie here, and that went away in late October.  I've voiced my displeasure about things here, and how I perceive myself to be viewed upon by friends, and people who I thought were my friends.  On one hand, I have somebody to tell me to just "stop bitching" in a pretty blunt and brutal way.  Aaaaaaaaand that only served as a reminder as to why I hadn't talked to that person in over a year.  Thanks, precious, I appreciate it.  On the flipside though, I've had a few people to tell me to stop beating myself up, and to stop doubting myself because they "fucking love" me.  It's things like that I appreciate, and it's things like that that make me reconsider things a little.  Would I still wanna move to my homestate within a couple of years?  Hell yes I would, but it would be for more noble reasons than me thinking I'm nothing more down here than a walking, talking, "Don't Be THAT Guy" ad.  Thanks everyone.  I love you guys too.

It seems like trips to Wing House for WWE pay per view night every month, as well as monthly trips to Universal for TNA are looking to be regular things now.  Every time my friends and I go it's always a great time.  The end of this month will be no different, as we head over to the Wing House for WWE's Royal Rumble pay per view.  The Royal Rumble has always been my favorite wrestling show of the year.  It's pretty much pro wrestling's equivalent of an All Star Game.  This year, instead of 30 wrestlers fighting it out in the main event, it's gonna be 40.  Chances are that night, I am gonna end up eating a shit load of food, getting quite drunk, and my voice will likely be gone.  Yep, it's gonna be a fun one to be sure lol.


2nd Chance CD of the Week
Rush
Icon (2010)

Tracklist

Working Man
Fly By Night
The Necromancer
The Twilight Zone
Closer to the Heart
Circumstances
Freewill
Limelight
The Analog Kid
Red Sector A
Marathon
Force Ten


Icon is a series of greatest hits albums started up by Universal Music.  Musicians that have already gotten the Icon treatment include Hoobastank, KISS, and Nirvana, among others.  Next on the list is one of my all time favorites, Rush.  I know that Rush is a band that I have already written so much about, but once I picked this CD up (for a cheap $7.00, no less) I had to include it here, as my first blog of 2011.  This compilation includes one song from each of their first twelve albums, released under the band's time with Mercury records.  The tracks span from their self-titled debut in 1974, all the way up to Hold Your Fire from 1987.  It's not a perfect compilation, by any means, but the music that IS included on this disc is still quite good, and in my opinion, the perfect way to introduce Rush's early years to any new fan.  The only real, bonafide hit included on this CD would have to be "Limelight" from their 1981 classic Moving Pictures.  I have some personal favorites that are on here as well, such as "Force Ten," a karaoke Killer favorite in "Closer to the Heart," and the twelve minute epic "The Necromancer."  Now, "The Necromancer" I only heard the first time about a year ago, when I saw a video of Dream Theater covering it live.  Hearing the original version on the Icon album, I have to say they pretty much stayed faithful to the song by the very note.  I was quite impressed.  Besides that, knowing that I'm really digging the whole progressive rock/metal scene these days, it's not really surprising.  Like I said this CD is NOT a perfect compilation.  You won't hear "Tom Sawyer."  There's no "2112."  No "Subdivisions" and no "Between the Wheels."  But like I said, what they DID decided to put here is still quite impressive.  I recommend picking this one up.

Thumbs up.

Lessons Learned, CD of the Year, and a whole lot to say...

It's been a pretty fun month, really. Last month saw my first time attending a wrestling pay-per-view, in this case TNA Turning Point 2010. The atmosphere was electric in a way I have not seen in a very long time. I was reminded that night why I'm such a fan of pro wrestling. So much in fact that I'm looking to attend another pay-per-view soon...namely WWE's Extreme Rules in May. That trip to Tampa should be a pretty good one. Other than that, Thanksgiving came and passed, and as it goes every year, there were no survivors as far as turkey is concerned lol. There goes that weight loss lmao. Seriously though, losing 50 pounds this year was pretty awesome. I'm just hoping I can keep the weight down, finally. Thanks you Jarred and Kayla of course. Without them, I probably would have ended up spending Thanksgiving alone. All of my family's in Ohio, and there would have been no way for me to afford flying up there. That trip will be coming up in March, and should be a week of reunions, drinking, and an overall good time that's long overdue.

Lessons Learned 2010
Looks like it's that time of year for another one of these, huh? This has been a hell of a year for me, probably one of the worst since 2007, with all that has occurred. Starting from my breakup from Sabrina in April, to severing ties with my best friend Alex in July, my grandfather's passing in September, to a senseless breakup with Valerie in October. Three years ago all of this would have most likely been the end of me. But over the years, I've grown as a human being, as a man, and I've learned to cope with such things. Does it still hurt? Hell yes, it does, but sometimes that's a part of life, and it's how you deal with such things that defines you as a person. I've also learned that sometimes, to move on with your life, you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've made a few mistakes over the past ten years. But then again, what person hasn't? But I've since learned to forgive myself. Forgive others, on the other hand? I'm still kinda working on that one. All things considered, given the circumstances, I'd say that I've come out of everything pretty graciously.

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that women these days are either crazy, stuck up, just plain stupid, or a little bit of both. Sorry, but it has to be said. Sure, they ALL complain about being with a guy that's not treating them right, but yet they still stay for some ass reason. Sure, they ALL say that they want a good man that's going to treat them right. I say this objectively, and I say this honestly, and I say this with a to-the-point attitude...BULL. SHIT. They're into that materialistic bullshit. They want it to be all about them. They want a guy with money and a nice car. Well guess what? I came to Florida with nothing to my name, and not much has changed since then. Sorry, but my heart, soul, and character is all I can offer these days. I've seen it so many times over the years, a “good” man will finally come along, that “good” man that is precisely needed (no, no me, per se, I'm generalizing here), and guess the fuck what? They get passed by. They get ignored, or eventually forgotten altogether. And then they go straight back to the douchebags that are out there. That pretty much forfeits all your rights to complain as far as I am concerned. Yes, I have been that good guy on occasion, but let's face it, I too have been one of those guys that have been passed by as well. Why? Cuz I don't pretend to be ghetto? Cuz I won't smack a bitch? Cuz I haven't done prison time? Or because I don't have a damned pharmacy's worth of drugs in my system on a regular basis? I'm sorry, but women, I've noticed, have become fickle, vain, and sprinkled with just a tad bit of conceit. They complain about all of this, and they're pretty much lost their right to do so. So my advice? STOP BITCHING! You're the ones complaining, yet you won't do a thing to change your situation. So either fix it, or shut up. Since the divorce, I've encountered some of the most pretentious, short-sighted, close-minded, self righteous, selfish women that a man can find. And I'm sorry for saying this, but after everything I've been through in the past couple of years, I deserve nothing less than the absolute best. Hell, I'll even go so far as to say that I deserve nothing less than the entire world in the palm of my hand, because I know that I would give that back in return if given the opportunity. A lot of my friends at work tell me “Hey Scotty, you're 30 and single, you should be out there right now fucking anything that moves.” Sorry, but I'm not like that. I never was and I most likely never will be. Everyone knows that when I get involved with someone, I am WITH them. I am in it for the long haul. But I guess these day's that's okay just as long as I have a shitload of money in the bank and a sweet ride sitting in my driveway, right? Gimme a fucking break. Ironically enough, I've only encountered these issues since moving to Florida. I wonder if that's a coincidence. So that's my stance in the whole thing. Anyone wants to prove my ass wrong, feel free to do so. But I don't really see that happening anytime soon.

At least not here in Florida.

2^nd Chance CD of the Year 
Iron Maiden 
The Final Frontier (2010)
 
Tracklist
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier 8:40
El Dorado 6:49

Mother of Mercy 5:20

Coming Home 5:52

The Alchemist 4:29

Isle of Avalon 9:06

Starblind 7:48

The Talisman 9:03

The Man Who Would Be King 8:28

When the Wild Wind Blows 11:00

It is official, Hell has frozen over, as I've actually bought an album from British metal legends Iron Maiden. I mean, sure, I've heard a few of their classic songs here and there, and I would think, you know, this ain't too bad. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw the music video for “Satellite 15...The Final Frontier” on VH1 Classic, and I thought it sounded awesome. I'm like, thinking “OK Bruce Dickinson is in his early 50s and he STILL can sing like that? That's pretty impressive.” Anyway, I felt compelled to buy the new album, and holy shit! This year's 2^nd Chance CD of the year was going to be Faith No More's 1992 classic, Angel Dust, but hearing this just completely changed that in a heartbeat. Bass player Steve Harris is the only original member of the band remaining, and with this album he had a hand in writing every song on the tracklist. The Final Frontier has been described as the most ambitious album that Iron Maiden had ever recorded. It's also been almost unanimously praised in reviews everywhere. I heard so many great things about this CD that I just had to hear it for myself. And I'm sure as hell glad that I did. The lyrics of the album go far and beyond those of conventional songwriting. Elements of sci-fi and fantasy are prevalent here. What you hear are basically, stories, put to music. Some pretty kickass music to boot lol. What you get are songs about being lost in space (“Satellite 15”), being involved in fighting a senseless war (“Mother of Mercy”), and a man on a journey of some soul searching (“The Man Who Would Be King”). Hell, in most songs on here, Harris's bass parts are as loud, if not louder, that the guitar section of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers. Yes, three guitarists, when most bands only have one or two at the most. That alone is enough to add something new and different to the table every time. I never was a huge fan of Iron Maiden, to be honest with you, but I always understood the greatness of such a band. And after hearing this, I still would most likely not be fan enough to buy their older stuff, but I know a good album when I hear it. And this one is a sure fire classic. And I have a feeling that I'll still be cranking this up ten years from now and STILL be amazed by it.

Thumbs up.



I'm not sure if I'll be posting another blog by the end of the year, but if I don't, I hope everyone has an outstanding holiday. I know that I will. I hope lol

Thanks

Miller