Breaking Benjamin - The Diary of Jane - Music Video

There is an acoustic version of this song on the "Phobia" album, but only if you purchased the physical CD. I downloaded from iTunes, and missed out. I did get the song since, it's good, but I prefer the heavier metal version.

Breaking Who?

So, I've discovered a new band. Now, they aren't a new one by any stretch of the imagination, they do have three albums (that I've found). There was a local radio station FREE 94.1 - WYSP "The Station that Rocks" that I used to listen to all day. They used to have Howard Stern in the morning, then the Barsky Show midday, Matt and Huggie for two hours, and finish with Kidd Chris on my way home. It was an all talk format from 5 AM until 7 PM during the week, and I loved almost every minute of it while driving from site to site (Matt and Huggie were annoying). Well, it started with Stern leaving then being replaced with the god-awful David Lee Roth. They then brought the Opie and Anthony (blech) syndicated show back for a few hours in the morning, but that didn't last. In one week, they fired most of the on-air talent, and "Brought the Rock Back" and made it a rock station again. Which basically means they started playing really bad rap/metal fusion or pop/rock stuff that passes for what I consider rock these days. In all of this, my radio station listening moved to the sports radio station WIP - 610 AM on your Philly radio dial. That's really unacceptable, since all they talk about is the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and Sixers - and bag on the Redskins.

It appears that I've gotten too old for that "dang kid music" of rap, rap fusion, and that type of vibe. I sometimes will get to a store, and there's inevitably some white kid from the suburbs in a track suit three sizes too large for him, baseball cap turned sideways, really scruffy hint of a beard, earring, inevitabling blasting some urban garbage at a decibel level that shakes my window from the new row over. It's really annoying, and I just don't get it. So, in light of that fact, I've shunned a lot of the newer music in favor of remaining securely in the late '80's Hair Metal era, or the early 90's grunge that I'm comfortable with. I'll include RUSH in this, as Jim Jardine turned me onto them while we were roommates in Virginia, even thought they don't really fit in the hair metal or grunge music. So, in light of these facts, I was out of the loop for any new music probably since we've moved here back in 2001.

So one Wednesday, I was listening to 93.3 WMMR - the other rock station in town that actually plays Queensryche still, and heard this song that I just couldn't get out of my head. I was lucky enough to have that song be at the end of a 3 song set, so they named the artist and song. Breaking Benjamin "Breath" . I went home that day, logged into iTunes, and listened to the song clip again still loving it. I then decided to check out the album it was on "Phobia" and ended up using 10 bucks of my iTunes gift card (perfect birthday gift for me - March 24th) to buy the whole album. I didn't know there were groups putting out this heavier type of music that I like. I was under the assumption that 3 Doors Down and the like were what was passing for my type of music. Boy, was I wrong. There are still some really good heavier metal bands, nothing to the like of Metallica, Megadeath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden from my youth, but good enough for me to actually download some current music. In the end, I now own all three of Breaking Benjamin's albums - and the kicker is that they are from the Philadelphia area, so they come around here when they can, apparently. They are on tour with Seether, and some other band I've never heard of, or you can always watch their videos on YouTube. I recommend "Breath" "Diary of Jane" or "Polyamorous" for your listening pleasure. I have some of their videos posted on my Facebook page as well. Finally, something to drown out the freakin' people who keep bothering me while I'm trying to work. I can't wait for them to come local, so I can see them in person.

My latest

Today's post: Something that I really hate. (shocker, huh?)

Rachel and I have been married for almost 9 years now, so far we've lived at Mom's in Fairfax, in Manassas VA, and Pennsylvania. We've met a good number of people in that time, and made some lasting friendships. We've also made good friends, who turn out to totally snub and forget us once either they or we move. Some history first.

I never was really big on keeping in touch with people, not that it wasn't important to me to do so, but I just didn't think about it. I complained a lot when the house in Fairfax broke up, with Jim moving back to Pittsburgh and I ended up at Mom's again, about friends not keeping in touch with me. I complained all the way up here to Pottstown, as the people I thought were my friends never called/emailed/visited me. I realize now that some of this was my own fault, as I didn't make the effort to keep the lines of communication open with them. That being said, with Rachel's help, I am a ton better at keeping in touch with friends and family than I ever was before.

Which leads me to my current issue. I really hate it when friends move away. No matter if it's the next county, or across the nation, the result is the same. "Let's keep in touch" or "I could never lose you guys" or "You're too special to forget" or some amalgum of these sentiments is invariably uttered by one or both parties. I hate that, because in my own experience, this never happens. I've lost countless friends to the wind, all promising to keep in touch -- but emails go unanswered, phone calls and voice mails ignored, and these people I let into my heart STOMP on it with their callous shoulder turned to me. I would much rather someone tell me, "Look, we had a good run. I like you a lot, but let's be honest, I'm moving away and will never see you again. I'm going to be making other friends, and I really don't have the time or effort to keep in touch with you." That would be honest, and refreshing for once, rather than telling me how much I mean to you, and then completely ignoring when I try to keep in touch. I take that stuff personal. So, to the Edwards, the Ecks, the Smiths, the Abels, and now the Hassels, amongst many others - - goodbye.

EDIT: I wasn't talking about Jim and Jessica in my post about the house breaking up and not staying in touch. They've been solid on that count.

Family Portrait

I worked on Saturday, and was checking our work schedule for this week. I completely let it slip that Monday was President's Day, and it's one that is observed by Safeway for backstage employees. There are seven "corporate" holidays that Safeway observes for their backstage staff, with President's Day being an odd pick for one of the seven. I mean, you have New Years, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas as the big six. I just don't get how President's Day made it over Martin Luther, or Columbus Day. For most of the office is off, but Field Services is required to have staff in the field of some sort. Checking the schedule, Paul was scheduled, with Kris and myself having off. I was fully prepared to take the shift, to make some extra money - until I got called out for a sev 1 on Sunday. So, after calling Paul to apologize for not taking the shift, it turned out I was off.

Rachel and I decided it would be pretty fun to get a family portrait done, since we all had matching shirts (another story, I'll tell it if you want later). We got in touch with Picture People early, thank goodness, and were able to secure an 11 AM appointment. We had already washed and dried out outfits the night before, just in case, and headed to the mall. After all was said and done, here's how the picture turned out:

For some reason I love the Product (RED) items from the Gap. I'm not sure if it's the cause it represents, or the colors, but I just love them. I ordered a shirt from Gap.com, along with Allison, Ryleigh and Linday's, as the girls shirts were on sale for 4 bucks each. Rachel bought her's on Monday at Gap in the mall. The salespeople were all looking at us, and thought it was pretty neat we decided to go with their product for our family portrait. I am even wearing two Product (RED) leather bracelets, as you can see. I think it turned out great, and we got the chance to use the shirts we originally bought for something else (again, if you want to know, ask again later).

Happy Valentine's Day

Today we take the time to honor those loved ones in our lives. For their love, their sacrifice on our behalf, and to let them know without a doubt how much they mean to us. Apparently that means flowers, candy, and jewelry.

I have long held the belief that Valentine's Day is a Girl Holiday. What I mean by that is nothing more than this: I've never expected a present, or flowers, or candy on this day from my significant other. I grant you the following facts: First, that before I was married to Rachel, I never had a girlfriend on this holiday, so thus - I never got anything. Second, I have low expectations on for gifts on any day - besides my birthday and Christmas. Third - I always hated Valentine's Day growing up, because the kids at school always butchered the spelling of my name and I never got the "Love" valentines from the girls. So, in my own little world, Valentine's Day meant very little to me, until I was married. Even now, I'm happy with a silly card, or a picture from the kids. Low expectations is the key to happiness.

So, to all my friends, family and others who read this blog - Happy Valentine's Day from the bottom of my cynical heart. I love you all, some more than others.

p.s. If you really want to make me happy, four little words: Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts. You can even wait until the middle of next week when they are 75% off at your local drug store/grocery store.

Avenue Q - It Sucks to Be Me - Tony Awards

Allison has been watching "Johnny and the Sprites" for a little while now, it's on Playhouse Disney apparently. Well, the story goes something like this: Johnny finds out there are magical creatures are living in his backyard, and so he sings with them for the at home audience because apparently that's what you're supposed to do when you find there are magical creatures living in your backyard.

Nancy let me listen to a CD she burned of the Avenue Q Broadway musical a few years ago. She had been to see the play in New York, and loved it. It's won Tony Awards, and has since been playing not only in NY but made the trip to Las Vegas. It's a very irreverant, adult version of Sesame Street for those of you not in the know. I freakin' loved it, and laughed so much when I heard the songs Nancy played for me. It's now in iTunes, and on my and Rachel's iPods. I just love how very taboo subjects are poked fun at and sung about, with no regard to if people are offended.

To tie these two very different subjects together, I present Allison. Rachel noticed how she thought the voice of Princeton (main character in A.Q.) sounded like Johnny from the Sprites show. Well, after an assist from www.imdb.com we found that John Tartaglia was indeed the voice of not only Princeton, but also Rod from Avenue Q. He also was tapped to start his own kids TV show on Disney, and that's where "Johnny and the Sprites" was born. After reading his biography, he apparently grew up around the puppets on "Sesame Street" so it wasn't a huge stretch for him to be still working with puppets. He also was appearing as Lumiere on the Broadway "Beauty and the Beast" cast. Just a wonderful talent to watch and behold. Well, Allison also figured out that Johnny is the singer for a lot of the A.Q. songs, and sings along in her car seat after wearing Rachel and I down to listen to it again. I gotta tell you, listening to Allison sing along to "Everyone's a little bit Racist" will make you cry laughing .... trust me.

Love to all.

Okay, FINE!

Happy, Rachel? I moved you up on the list of family sites.