Man, I’m feeling very sentimental and in some ways sad today. Justin, your words on Bettie really hit me. Like I said the other day, it will hurt me to see Bettie without you and Lars. I feel like I will be committing a sin by going alone, which I might have to do because Tracey’s parents will be in town and she will not just leave them alone at home, although she wants to come to the show. All day I have been reliving old memories. The first time I heard Tomboy on 89x I was done. I spent months trying to find their cd. I didn’t even know if Bettie Severret was a band or the name of a solo artist. I didn’t have the internet resources we do now to research these things. I remember being in Chicago for some reason and I think I finally found the cd, but it was like 18 dollars as an import and I didn’t have the cash for it. I love that band. Then I read Dad’s blog and those words from Rich Mullins almost made me cry, seriously. Not so much because of the actual words, but because I thought about how he is dead, and how short life is, no matter how good or bad you are. He was such a great soul, and God took him. And I just thought about how selfish I am, how I want everything and to do everything my way. Am I actively pursuing what God wants me to do with my life? Don’t think so. Am I actively pursuing what I want to do? Probably and definitely. Wow, I’m getting a little too emo for a blog. I need to move on.

I wish this weekend was going to be relaxing, but I’m still stressed about my large work project. The deadline was moved back a week because of the layoffs, so I still have a lot to do, but after next Friday, I will be much more relieved. I will still watch the final four of course. Hey, Jim Rome is coming to Cincinnati in May for a tour stop, Ohio people should check it out. Last night I read an interview from one of the guys in Alkaline Trio and the interviewing asked him about their new record getting leaked to the internet, and he said not much he could do about it, so I couldn’t help myself, I got on Kazaa and got it, and it’s as amazing as I was hoping for. I will still buy it but I needed to hear it. Anyways, a shout out to riding Huffy town. And to the Break Up, R.I.T. (Rest in Turmoil).

And here is some lyrics from an Ataris song that makes me feel nostalgic about how things used to be:

Our last day of summer, 1979.
Gotta live it up one more time before it's over.
We will make history tonight.

Out at the drive-in,
all of our closest friends well be sneaking in.
You'll be spending your whole night
trying everything you can to get that girl to notice you.

"We are the Champions" playing loud on the radio station.
Everyone sing along with these anthems of our generation.
Cruising down Pacific Coast Highway,
put the top down, crawl into the back seat.
Let's create anthems of our own tonight.

Down at the roller rink
all the cool kids crowding around the air-hockey table.
"Hey, my best friend likes you!"
I hear you shout at me as you go skating by.
Sneak out of your window, darling.
Let's live like outlaws, honey.
We'll never look back.

Climb out on this rooftop.
And stare at the city lights below us.
This world belongs to us tonight.
The kids will keep raging on and they ain't ever gonna stop.

The second week of June is going to be a good one for me. I will be seeing Alkaline Trio live for the first time and that Friday Dumb and Dumberer comes out (Mary you’ll be into it), check the trailer here: http://www.apple.com/trailers/newline/dumb_and_dumberer/trailer/
I also bought 3 Travoltas cds that I don’t have, the Travoltas are pure pop punk with a perfect mixture of the Beach Boys and the Ramones. There are a lot of bands out there who attempt this mix, but these guys are the real deal, they are just pure California fun and sun music. Funny enough, they are from Holland, but have a serious obsession for California. This Friday I might try to go see Spun, a new indie movie with Jason Swartzman in it. Its about drug dealers and addicts. I saw a preview of it before City of God and it looked really good, but weird, but not as out there as Requiem for a Dream, wow, that movie was messed up. Then the final four is on Saturday, its just going to be weird watching the games while the sun is still out, I hope Texas pulls it off. Wish I could watch the games with Dad and Justin down at Downtown. Nice job Mary on the April Fools thing, classic and good. Justin, have you heard of Postal Service, an electronic spin off by the singer for Death Cab for Cutie? I saw Notwist has a new one and has gotten some awesome reviews out here. I’ve got Bettie Severret next Sunday. They got a good review for their new album by Rolling Stone, I’ll pick it up at the show. That’s one show that I should be seeing with Justin and Lars, man that will hurt. Wish I could hit that Upright Citizens Brigade show tonight in LA, oh well.

Only one more day and it would have been a whole week without blogging, catastrophic. Last night Tracey and I finally got a night of peace and quiet. All our visitors are gone and we have our messy apartment back to ourselves. We had such a great time this past week, so fun. Friday night we convinced Stevens and Mccan to stay an extra night and we went up to Encinitas and surfed, ate lunch and layed on the beach all day, it was awesome. Then we came home and Tracey made shrimp tacos, which were excellent and then they left and drove all night so they could get to the Grand Canyon by daylight. Wish you could have seen their car, the back tires were like 2 inches from rubbing on the tire well. They had so much crap in that car. But I don’t envy them having to drive all those hours and then end up in Ohio.

I am very happy with Texas getting into the Final Four, disappointed in Kentucky, but I had a feeling they were going down. Baseball has finally started, and that is a good thing. Saw highlights of the Indians playing in the snow, nice job on losing too. The NBA playoffs are about to start, does anybody care? Nope. Congrats to Justin on the Crutches win, I watched it yesterday, clutch. Wish I could watch Texas with you. I can’t make it up to LA for Upright, but I wan to. 2 ½ weeks till a Mighty Wind, sweet. And the Flaming Lips are coming soon to SD, I will be attending that for sure.

Tracey and I are now thinking about going to Ireland this summer instead of Seattle. Our friends Stevens and Mccan are going to live on the southern coast for a month and a half, so we would have a free place to stay. Tracey’s parents are coming to visit in two weeks. It’s Tracey’s spring break, so she will be showing them around this great city, should be tons of fun. Hey Mary, sorry I was so out of it on the phone last week, I was so tired and trying to figure some computer problem out at the same time, sorry, lets talk this week.