Currently Listening Blue on Blue By Leigh Nash see related

I miss having friends

There were a few years of my life during which I really felt that I was with a group of people to whom I belonged.  It was really the first time I had felt like this in my life and I loved it.  They are all wonderful people; the sad thing is that things change.  People change and things are just not as simple as they were in high school and college.  It isn't that I wouldn't be friends with these people.  There were no big friendship ending deals.  I mean there were some personal conflicts, but nothing that makes people stop being friends.  I just don't see any of them anymore, except maybe when we run into eachother around town or something.  I don't know.

I guess the issue is that some things just don't stay the same.  You trade your position in life for another and things are altered.

Beyond that, I simply do not have peers.  I'm 22 years old yet I'm at least 10 years younger than most of my coworkers and at least 30 years younger than most of the people at my church.  Of course there is the youth group, in which there are some awesome kids- but they still aren't peers.  There are some people who are closer to my age, yet they don't do much more than come for worship on Sunday.  I hardly know them.  I guess I should reach out to them more.  That would probably be good for everyone, especially the well being of the church at large. 

But aside from that, most folks my age (and even a bit older than I am) are not at the same stage of life that I am.  They are probably in college or slacking off with little focus in life.  They're not trying to get a start on their career (multiple ones to boot!).  I just don't have much in common with those folks, either.  I don't relate to my coworkers, church members, or generation.

I wouldn't change or trade anything.  I loved my prior stage in life.  I'm just not there anymore and things change.

I am happy where I am in life, currently.  I'm especially grateful for Hannah.  She's spectacular.  I'm at a very loving and supportive church.  They're honestly more than we could ask in those areas.  I'm just at a loss for peers there, which is difficult.  I'm very glad with my other work, too.  I should have my own class room next year, and I'm only 22 years old.  So when I'm 23, I will have had 3 years of substitute teaching, 1 year of regular teaching and be certified (I'm currently "highly qualified").  I was licenced as a minister at l9 or ordained at 21.  Plus, I've got a Bachelor's of Science in Christian Ministry (and suspicions that I may also have the credits to have a Bachelor's of Arts in Religion), with which I graduated Summa Cum Laude.  I'm also working with a great record label, with whom I could hardly be happier, on a serious album, let alone all of the indie stuff I've done.  And this is nought, but for the glory of God.  I can honestly say I've accomplished a bit- but I want to do so much more!  I really want to do more with writing, especially in the comic medium.  I've also cowritten, edited, and illustrated a Christian health activity/comicbook for children, which was used last summer at 7 different San Antonio locations, every day.  It has not yet been published, however.  I'm not sure when and how that will work out.  But, I have had short comic stories printed by the Megazeen and published by Antarctic-Press, who is the number 10 publisher of comics in the US, let alone other work I've done for them.  I also know many wonderful people all around the ministry, music, and comic worlds- all of which I love.

I just want to do more and I want friends.

If you're reading this, know that I love you and would like you to be my friend.  Feel free to call me at (210) 300-1457.  (having 1457 as part of my number is interesting since I did not choose this number and "1457" is the way I have often counted out before starting songs with former bands of mine such as Forgive 490 and the Uprights)

Currently Listening Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002 By Cranberries see related

Hi everyone! 

This is a post about how wonderful my wife is.  I hope that you are all able to find some one as special as she.

I love my wife so much!  Right now, she's at work and since I've got some time off, I'm getting stuff in the house in order that neither of use have been able to do since we moved in here.  Our apartment is so small!  But I think there's something indie and romantic about having a small apartment filled with books and such.  We've got alot of books.

I love you darling!

Dan

Currently Watching The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra By Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson, Brian Howe, Dan Conroy see related

I'm listening to MxPx's Life in General, remembering how that CD defined 7th grade for me.  As i look at the cover, i realize that in High School, I've been the punk, nerd, and now teacher.  But at least i've never been the bully.

Teacher=best, because when the kids make fun of me, I can get them to stop by sending them to the office!  Hooray!  I sent 15 kids to the office today, in only two periods to boot!  It's ridiculous.

Currently Watching Doomed to Die see related

What style of music do i play?  I really don't know anymore and i can't seem to identify with any style which is currently in existence.

I would say that the band I have the most in common with is, of course, Calibretto 13.  But even that isn't too similiar.  I sing more horror stuff than they did, more akin to Calibretto [sans the 13 + organ on records], but I still sing the Christian stuff they had previously.  I also do not use the electric instruments, so there is another clash there.

Zippy Josh and the Rag Tag Band is the next closest, and all they have  is acoustic music.  The lyrics surely are Christian, yet there is the lack of horror/comic book/nerd aspect I have.

Then we have Blaster the Rocket Man, comic songs-check, horror songs-check, Christian songs-check, symbolic horror/Christian songs-check, acoustic- nocheck. plus they are a full band and use distortion a bit, creating a large distinction in shound.

The Louvin Brothers were a really cool acoustic country/bluegrass Christian mountain murder song duo.  I think my stuff is similiar to theirs, but MUCH more aggressive.

Then there are non-Christian bands such as the Aquabats, who i have been listening to alot lately.  They definitely have the nerd/comic/horror stuff down,  but despite many very positive messages, they are not Christian.

Then there are psychobilly bands- I scene I like to be a part of.  Horor themes-check, comic themes-a few, demonic themes-major check!  So there is a huge clash there, plus although my music and psychobilly have many of the same influences, i.e. country, rockabilly, punk rock, hardcore, horror movies, etc. i do not play in a full band, nor do i have distorted electric guitar, and surely not an upright bass.  I sort of would consider my stuff an AOA (or reinterpreted) psychobilly.  Had it followed the path of solo acoustic guitarists, especially with Christian roots, instaead of full bands with uprights, it would be exactly what I do.  in some sences I would consider my music a different type of psychobilly, but a very different type. I wouldn't claim psychobilly, necesarily.  I list on myspace as psychobillly because they don't have a horror music section and i cannot list as "punk, country, and horror"  my music is clearly punk, country and horror and is psychbilly anything but "punk, country, and horror" as far as its basic elements?  I just combine the punk, country and horror equation differently.

The Misfits and other horror punk bands, I have a connection to as they have the horror influence which has inspired me, yet we are not alike on terms of faith, practice, sound, or my being a solo artist.

The term "camp fire core" would describe the music I play, as i have used for a few years, but it is not a term that others use, and could be a little confusing.  It describes the a harder, more aggresive and extreme style of acoustic sing along songs which would be sung around a camp fire, hence camp fire core.  It can also encompass horror lyrics as they fit perfectly around a camp fire.  "Extreme acoustic roots music" perhaps.  I don't know that camp fire core encompasses the nerdy aspects of my music, but then the whole concept is quite nerdy, anyway.

I guess i'll stick with "camp fire core" as well as saying that this is a "Age of Apocalypse (i.e. alternate reality form of) Psychobilly"

Currently Listening Satan Is Real By The Louvin Brothers see related

As most of you may know, Hurricane Katrina has hit the United States.  Some authorities, such as Rise Above's Cecil, have claimed that this was an act of God's wrath and judgement on New Orleans for their sin.

Many people have cited New Orleans and Las Vegas as two of the most sinful cities in America.  New Orleans, of course, is suspect to more hurricanes than is Las Vegas as it is a located on water.  As a result disaster, in the form of Katrina, has striken the "Big Easy."  I do not, however, hold to the idea that New Orleans faced judgement due to its watery location.  Instead I theorize that it is due to the large population of vampires which resided in its lairs of lust.

Any random fan boy (comic book reader) or occult novel reader (as in Anne Rice books) will tell you that New Orleans is the American capitol for the undead.  It is a center for voodoo, zombies, blasphemous Mardi Gras orgies, and lude sexual clubs all throughout the French Quarter.  Anyone who knows anything about vampires knows that this is the hot place for vampires, west of Eastern Europe, to be.  It is sad that the dwelling of creatures of the night has brought judgment upon the innocent inhabitants of the region.  What other than the pure evil of the nosferatu could entice such a punishement?

For those of you who are left wondering what has caused such a devastation to our nation, remember to look no further than the vampire.  They, and those living who have allowed themselves to be influenced by vampires, are the culprits.  Look no further.

For those of us who live in areas in which people have been evacuated, be on guard for an increase in vampiric activity.  I know that San Antonio is said to receive 2,500 evacuees.  I encourage all of my fellow San Antonians to be on guard, especially as they are outside at night.  Many vampires will probably congregate at Atomix, which is the former Sin 13 as well as San Antonio's resident goth/dance club.  Please guard yourselves carefully.

(Danny's note: the above is not to be taken seriously.  please do not be offended if you or anyone you know has been affected by Katrina.  Unless, of course, they were vampires, too.)