Jul 30, 2011

I got dropped off at Randy's Bike Shop in the morning and grabbed myself a brand new road bike! This is her. I love it.

About a dozen or so people met up in front of the shop and we got ready to go out for a group ride. We stopped across the street at the fountain for a group shot (which hasn't been posted yet or that would be here.)

Junior led us on a leisurely ride through Bridgeton. It was slow because we had all kinds of people with us so not everyone was trying to ride quickly. I wanted to see what my bike could do but had to wait it out.

We stayed on the road and went to Mary Elmer Lake to take a break. It was a perfect day to ride since it wasn't so hot and humid.

We sat down at the picnic area and ate our lunches that we brought. Peanut butter & jelly, mmm. I talked one of the guys that came with us about getting together for a ride sometime in the future. Junior took a couple of us on a ride through the dirt trails and I soon learned the limitations of a road bike. I didn't get stuck for too long.

After the fun ride I dropped by my mom's house to show her my bike and talk for a bit. I spent some time out back shooting this dragonfly. I rode home, finally able to get some speed. It felt nice to pedal hard and feel the difference between that bike and my old one. I'll be cutting some time off of my previous rides.

Dave picked me up and then we got Chuck and traveled the PA turnpike to Allentown, grabbed some slices of pizza, assumed our usual parking spot at the bottom of the hill, turned on the music and cracked open some beers.

We hung out down there for a while as we waited to go into the Croc Rock for the show. We had several beers and drank a bottle of Dave's wine between the three of us. It was the first time I'd had his red wine and it was really good.

We entered the bar and hung out having a beer until Streetlight Manifesto came on. It was insanely hot inside the venue so we were happy to find they opened the side walls and the outside lot so we could go cool off while still enjoying the music. I found Tracy and Mandie out there so we hung out and danced where it was much more comfortable. Streetlight was good; I should really listen to them some more.

We went and got another beer and another slice of pizza between bands and then hauled back up front when the Reel Big Fish took the stage. I don't know how to describe their shows anymore. They were great.

We had a lot of fun in the pit even though it was almost impossible to dance with the crowd packed from wall to wall. It was so amazingly hot in there I almost had to take a knee between songs to catch my breath.

They played a few songs that they almost never play. It was kinda cool to see a change up in the set (though they refuse to stop playing the many versions of "S.R.") The last few songs were a lot of fun and I got to dance with Tracy and Mandie, before she leaves the mainland for Hawai'i to live! Hope we gave her a good sendoff!

Completely drenched in sweat and exhausted, we left the show, drinking as much water as we could get our hands on. Dave got us home in record time and with almost no point where I was worried. It was another wonderful experience with the Fish. I've never not had a good time.

Jan 30, 2011

I had to get things done in the morning time so I got up and dropped off my car at the shop to get an oil change and then got pizza with my grandmom at Little Caesar's. I ran four miles on the treadmill then showered and got ready to go pick up my car from the guy who was smoking a pipe while working on it. I picked up Shannon and we headed up the PA Turnpike toward Allentown.

We got there early and walked through the cold and snow to the Croc Rock and hung out in the bar for a little while as Foxy Shazam was playing on stage. We met some guys from Vineland somehow!

We hung out and talked to them before we went into the show and watched one of them try out the breathalizer machine... he kept blowing a .25 somehow......

Anberlin was up first tonight, opening with "We Owe This To Ourselves" and going into an awesome set of old and new songs. The crowd was great and a lot of fun.

They played "The Unwinding Cable Car" which is one of my favorite songs of theirs. They played for quite a long time and closed with the popular songs, which are still on par with the rest.

I walked outside for a bit to cool off and take photos, enjoying the re-entry policy of this venue, and came back in for Circa Survive to start. They played an awesome set too. Hometown shows are always more energetic it seems.

Anthony got the crowd pumped up as always, opening up a wall of death that didn't really go the right way but got through an intense set including "Through the Desert Alone," which is probably my favorite song of theirs. They closed with "Get Out" as the encore. Great ending.

The drive home seemed pretty quick and, after I dropped off Shannon, I came home and fell asleep watching Due Date.

Jul 12, 2010

I started the day with a nice, long bike ride around town past the race track and back home. It was a good day for it; not too warm. I need to fix my brakes. Ever since I got my tire fixed, they don't work very well.

I came home and threw the frisbee to Sketch for a while and then headed to the gym to do some arm and ab exercises since I knew I'd be using my legs again later.

It's that time of year again: haircut time! Yes, I actually got my hair cut quite short. I was tired of it being the awkward length so I couldn't do anything with it so I figured it was time for a summer cut.

After my cut Jeff picked me up and we got Moe's before heading to Allentown to the Crocodile Rock. We met Jimmy and Dave there and had a few drinks at the bar, watching Jeopardy and answering clues with the bartender.

We walked down to the car to have some of Dave's homemade wine since drinks weren't cheap in the bar. We did head back in and had some more drinks and some garlic knots before the show though. The guys from Reel Big Fish came out to the pizza shop and got slices just before their set.

We went into the stage area as the lights were going out and the Fish were taking the stage. They played a great set from beginning to end.

I was dancing for their entire set and I was soaked with sweat. It was so much fun.

It sucks that this picture is blurry but I kinda like it anyway. It was great being there with everyone like the old days. We all had a really good time.

The drive home wasn't too bad. Jeff and I listened to old MxPx most of the way and talked about old shows. When I got home it felt so good to get a shower and change. After a sandwich I was ready for bed.

Feb 5, 2010

I had to be up pretty early to get to work on time but luckily the nature of my job helped me out a little by offering me an easy day. I had the first block off so I went home and did some laundry while catching up on Important Things with Demetri Martin. I had to go back for a class with another teacher for second block and then I had another two hours off between classes and for lunch. I went to my grandmom's and had spaghetti with my sister and Aiden before going home to shower and pack some things up for the weekend. After all that I went to the Senior High to finish my day in health care class with very friendly and inquisitive students.

After a failed attempt to get lunch with Katie, I met up with Joanna, got a veggie burger and vegan chicken patty for the road and headed to Allentown. The big crazy storm that had been predicted had yet to show any signs yet so the drive up was fine.

The Swellers opened the show. They were a lot of fun, I need to listen to them. This Providence played next and were good to listen to but hard to look at. Well... depending on who you are I guess.

Set Your Goals played next and the crowd actually started moving around. It was the first time I had seen anyone really do anything but nod their heads with the music all night. I stood off to the side since my knee was hurting a bit. I wasn't trying to re-injure myself. At least not before Motion City.

Speaking of.. Motion City Soundtrack came out (finally) to the opening track to their new album and played a whole bunch of great songs, new and old.

They were funny and energetic as always. They played a lot of new stuff and we were right up front for most of it. They played a two song encore and then people fought over the drumsticks. I had one for a second but I let it go when someone else tugged. I'm not wrestling someone for a drumstick, I'll just buy one.

It was barely snowing when we got out to the car but shortly after we got on the highway the storm revealed itself. Armed with Dunkin' Donuts white hot chocolate and a bagel with cream cheese, we braved the storm slowly down the PA Turnpike to get home. It was hard to see most of the time and ice was forming on my windshield wipers. We carefully made it home, even though many roads, like 55 (above), were unrecognizable.

So what should have taken less than two hours took about twice that to traverse. Oh well, I plan on staying inside for a while now. It seems like Rowan actually decided to start plowing this time instead of letting it pile up. How forward thinking of them.