Remember that night...

Mood: Wistful
Music: Perfect Orange

Three years, five albums, and four cross country tours later, Perfect Orange has decided to call it quits. They, like me, are preparing to graduate and move on to bigger and better things.

Last night was their final concert. It was amazing. Over 200 people showed up to say farewell and hear the guys play one last time. Though the show was great, the evening was an emotional experience for everyone, especially the members of the band and the fans, like myself, that have been following them since day one. I'm really going to miss them.

Perfect Orange was one of Knoxville's most successful and popular local bands. Amongst their many achievements were getting to play a show at CBGB in New York and being voted by readers of the News Sentinel as "The Best Rock Band In East Tennessee."

I love these guys. I practically grew up with them, and we've been friends for a long time. All of the original members went to Powell with me, and most graduated at the same time. I even remember being in kindergarten with Ben their trumpet player.

Seeing them be so successful has been an amazing experience. They really were one of the best bands I've ever seen, and though I probably saw them perform over a hundred times, I looked forward to every concert with excitement and I never tired of their music.

Zac - You are an amazing singer and guitarist and a person couldn't ask for a better friend.
Ben - You're a great guy and a phenominal trumpet player. Good luck at Florida State!
Doug - You've been a great friend Doug. Even though you've only been playing half as long as me, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that your a better drummer than I. Keep up the chops, bro.
Travis - The best saxophone player that PHS ever produced. Period.
Doug #2 - You're a great bassist and an all around good guy. Thanks for carrying PO through the last year, man.

Guys, you've been amazing. I don't really know how to sum up except to say congratulations. I love you guys and your music will be missed.

Carpe Diem.















Update: I've poseted several pictures from the final concert on my photojournal. Go check 'em out if you're interested.

Halo 2 is cathartic

Mood: Content
TV on in the background: Halo 2 introduction video on loop as I forgot to turn off my XBox before I sat down.


I think it is well established that I love video games. I was practically raised on them. While the rest of you were soaking up MTV, I was immersed in violence and death wrought by my own hands. I don't even think I ever watched MTV until my junior year in high school when I discovered Daria, one of the best TV shows ever.

Anyway, when I've had a stressful day or even just a completely boring day when nothing happens, I jsut can't wait to come home and pick up that controller and pound out a level or two of Halo 2. It is, without a doubt, the best first-person shooter ever made. The game has been out almost a year now, and I've probably beaten it over three dozen times, but it's just so fun even now to sit down and play one of those levels for about 30 minutes or so before I get right back to work on homework or writing a column or working grad school stuff. Just that thirty minute break each day is enough to keep me going.

When I have the time, of course, I like to play a great deal more than those thirty minutes. But I find that smashing an elite in the back of the head with the stock of my Battle Rifle or getting those two perfect head shots on a Brute with the Carbine (one to knock his helmet off, the other to lay him out for good) or just opening up on a mass of Grunts with two bullet hoses that are the SMGs, even for jsut a few minutes each afternoon, can really make my day that much better.

I'm not a violent person. I never have been. For example, I don't recall ever getting into a fight in my life. I do like to go out to the range and shoot some occasionally, though I got my fill of that this summer that's for sure. But in general, I've never really done anything violent.

Speaking of not having a transition...

This has been a particularly hard week for me. An ex of mine that subsequently ruined several friendships out of sheer malice has been causing trouble again. Nothing I couldn't deal with, but the simple knowledge that she just can't move on over six months later is stress enough. But it was nice to know that Cortana and Master Chief would be waiting on me when I got home to take all of the day's struggles and help melt them away before I dove right back in to the work that still lay ahead.

~Peace

Falling Behind

I'm falling behind in keeping this thing updated. Oh well. I've just been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to think about anything.

Sorry.

I guess if you're really that interested in my personal life, you can just ask me. Otherwise, I suppose you'll have to wait 'til I find something interesting to talk about, and the time to do it.

~Peace

The Truth About Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics

Surfing the Facebook again. Friend of mine had this posted on her profile. Pretty damn funny.

10 TRUTHS BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE KNOW, BUT WHITE PEOPLE WON'T ADMIT:
1. Elvis is dead.
2. Jesus was not White.
3. Rap music is here to stay
4. Kissing your pet is not cute or clean.
5. Skinny does not equal sexy.
6. Thomas Jefferson had black children.
7. A 5 year child is too big for a stroller.
8. N' SYNC will never hold a candle to the Jackson 5
9. An occasional BUTT whooping helps a child stay in line.
10. Having your children curse you out in public is not normal.

10 TRUTHS WHITE AND BLACK PEOPLE KNOW, BUT HISPANIC PEOPLE WON'T ADMIT:
1. Hickey's are not attractive.
2. Chicken is food, not a roommate.
3. Jesus is not a name for your son.
4. Your country's flag is not a car decoration.
5. Maria is a name but not for every other daughter.
6. "Jump out and run" is not in any insurance policies.
7. 10 people to a car is considered too many.
8. Buttoning just the top button of your shirt is a bad fashion statement.
9. Mami and Papi can't possibly be the nickname of every person in your family
10.Letting your children run wildly through the store is not normal.

10 TRUTHS WHITE AND HISPANIC PEOPLE KNOW, BUT BLACK PEOPLE WON'T ADMIT:
1. O. J. did it.
2. Tupac is dead.
3. Teeth should not be decorated.
4. Weddings should start on time.
5. Your pastor doesn't know everything.
6. Jesse Jackson will never be President.
7. RED is not a kool-aid flavor, it's a color.
8. Church does not require expensive clothes.
9. Crown Royal bags are meant to be thrown away.
10.Your rims and sound system should not be worth more than your car

If you're offended by any of this, well then I suppose you need to develop a sense of humor. If ya can't laugh at yourself (or how ridiculous these sterotypes are) then how do you survive?

~Peace

The Catcher in the Teen Melodrama

I was browsing the facebook and one of my friends had this posted on his wall.

The Catcher In the Rye By J. D. Salinger
Ultra-Condensed:

Holden Caulfield
Angst angst angst swear curse swear crazy crazy angst swear curse, society sucks, and I'm a stupid jerk.
THE END

This is the best synopsis of one of my all-time favorite books that I have ever heard. I dunno the person that wrote it, but she's some kind of genius.

Nietzsche

"Nietzsche is dead."

-God