My Ipod is a very schizophrenic place. I listen to a little bit of everything. Everything from Sonic Youth to Billie Holliday to the National (thanks Jenks) to Eric Clapton and back again. But there are some signposts that become iconic in your musical lexicon. I've never been too concerned with being cool, mostly because I was never very good at it, especially when it came to tunage. Listen to what moves you.

In my early teens, it seemed like everybody has a copy of Hotel California, Rumors, Led Zeppelin number 2 and 4, Who's Next, you get the idea. When I was 13, 14 is when I started venturing to shows and the first significant one I attended was when Bruce Springsteen played Shea's Buffalo (I know this was before most of you were born for as (e:Drew) pointed out recently, I am really old). It was one of those holy shit evenings. I had two one or two other shows at that point and they were fun. My best friends big brother knew somebody so somehow the four of us were in the third row off to the right hand side of the stage. No opening act, just three and a half hours of musical bliss. You walked away going, "Okay, I get it now. They should all be like this." I was sold, that undescribable something something played out in front of me. I had a used copy of Born to Run that I liked a little but seeing it live sealed the deal. Got Darkness on the Edge of Town when it came out the following week and never looked back.

When he came back two years later to play the Aud, we returned. Same thing at the beginning of the hype for Born in the Usa and so on. I don't make a big effort to make repeated viewings. Other favorites like REM and U2, I've seen three times but I didn't do much work. Either Bruce's records have come around at the right time in life to nudge me to the shows or the shows themselves have fueled interest, or the occasional, now increasing amount of downloadable boot legs have made it a prequisite to see where things are when the man comes to town. I know that's not cool, but fuck you, do I mock the amount of Journey you have on your cd shelf. See, bugger off then.

So, it's a little bittersweet. I went to the last show he did at HSBC arena and had godawful tickets, only to have a "Man in black" come up and to my party and relocate us to the front row on one side of the stage. How you can not like that? When he played Darien Lake, I nearly went without, only to find Ticketmaster releasing good seats the day of the show, so off I went. I go with the trust the art, not the artist. Actually did meet the man at a book trade show(?), bought him a beer and we chatted for a few minutes about the Yankees for a few moments (see, I'm not starstruck, just have favorites) before mutually moving on.

I blame the bittersweetness on my automobile. I had to deal with over $800 in car repairs since January, an automotive clusterfuck of epic proportions. So, the discretionary income, which is never large, took a huge hit. First ticket price I paid was $5.00. This year's price was 95.00. Given car repairs and the upcoming birthday mad rush, I had to say no this time around. The arena now charges a $15.00 convenience fee. Convenient for who, exactly?

Number one son's birthday is next week and he doesn't charge that much, but the windmills are tilting in his favor.

Sorry, boss, I have to sit this one out. I'll wait for the download. It's been a nice run, but you're charging too much this time.

Thanks for the fun along the way.


UPDATE at 5:30 Friday: An Acquantice calls with a ticket with no strings, by 6 I'm in the Arena lobby, free ticket in hand.

UPDATE at 11:30 Friday night: post concert afterglow, it was sooo good, one of those events you can just lose yourself in the hugeness of it all. Wound up dancing a couple numbers with some anonymous woman, high fiving some new freinds and just letting the tunes take you away, that for a few hours, "It's alright." Definitely had a time.

Still grinning.

This is pretty dumb, but it made me laugh. Explains why it might be sticky in those places.

It was actually a pretty decent weekend. Had Friday night to myself unexpectedly so no drastic plans were hatched. Chinese takeout and my new Across the Universe DVD had to suffice, and did just fine in that regard. Guess the week left me a little spent. Grabbed the kids Saturday morning to make some stuff for my mom's upcoming birthday (The big prize is a piggy bank painted up to look like my Dad). We repaired to the Lake Effect Diner for dinner where high hilarity ensued. Darling Daughter Number 2 wanted some alfredo and they served it with potatoes as a potential side. I like carbs as much as the next guy, but that seemed a little exhorbitant. Poor waitress was hung out to dry by the rest of the staff. Lake Effect has always had an extensive list of milk-shakes as desert options. She was whipping up a batch of either strawberry or raspberry when one of the cups gave way and sent a rainbow of shake straight at her. Darling Daughter and I both got a good look and to our eternal credit kept reasonably straight faces as the poor waitress managed to avoid yelling "FUCK" at high volume.

It did make me a little apprehensive about us getting a round. I was a little concerned at the color possibilities that a mint oreo shake and a chocolate coffee shake could combine, but she kept them under control and our shakes didn't arrive ahead of the cups to hold them in.

We made it to church and met up with their mom on time yesterday. It's the Ex's birthday (got to think of a better name than that as we are all still family) today and to celebrate her mom invited us all over for cake and more importantly homemade chicken and dumplings. Oh my gosh, how toe curlingly good. Nothing like giving your digestive system a nice warm loving embrace. I was in afterglow for dessert.

It was a good weekend in that regard. Nothing significant happened, just a good easy going time, just what the clan needed to recharge our collective batteries. Now, if I could score a Springsteen ticket, the week would be rife with optimisim.

In need of a trim, I was thrilled to see Chick, formerly of Elmwood, has his barber shop open for business on Hertel now. He always did a nice haircut and was fairly cheap. He offered to trim the beard and got a little to into his work as my chin is making a rare appearance. Watch out when the barber is a little too glad to see you

Takes a few years off I guess

Fun night last night. My Dad has been doing some volunteer consulting for one of the labs at Roswell. So the physician in charge left him hockey tickets for last night's Sabres game. Dad calls me up to offer the seats on Thursday with the addendum that the good doctor has Harbor Club access to go along with it, so we're going to eat dinner there.

I had actually been to the Harbor Club for non-hockey functions and thought it pretty vile. Turns out they are saving themselves for the Sabres crowd. We get there last night and get seated. Our waiter appears and announces that everything has been taken care of. HELLO! Dr. Paul has everything set, so enjoy. Suddenly I felt like I was in that Seinfeld episode where he was enjoying first class. Every sports event should start with sapphron chicken, roast garlic potatoes, assorted veggies and a heineken bottle that refilled itself the moment I got to the bottom. Said waiter said we could keep the table for the game, so we did. At the end of the first period, we came back and I found a generous slab of chocolate cookie cake and a cappucino waiting for me. Absolutely awesome. And the end of the second period, one more heiny was awaiting.

And the game wasn't too bad either. Felt really nice to be spoiled and know that it didn't cost the old man a penny. We split a tip with the knowledge that everybody should have their butt kissed to a fine sheen like that at least once.

If you have the means, I highly recommend it.