Dec 30, 2016

We slept in and got up to make a tofu scramble eventually. It was really tasty, but the sweet potatoes are always the best part.

We sat around being lazy for a while, which was quite nice. The cats joined in.

We decided we should go for a run so we went to South Vineland Park to do a couple of laps. I did a little over two miles but it felt nice to be outside. We tried playing disc golf, but after being sweaty we both felt cold and not really in the mood for it.

Later Omarey met me at my house and we drove up to Starland for Thursday night two. We had a great chat on the way up about a lot of things in life and travel and inspiration. It's great to be able to have deep conversations with friends I don't see too often. Thursday was amazing just as last night, but I prefer the other setlist. Tonight's was themed towards more hopeful songs and they did a great job with the theme. The crowd was a little more crazy too so that played a part. Along with everyone in the crowd being excited it was apparent that Geoff was having the time of his life. It's great to see the band back together like no time has passed. Definitely worth the long wait.

Dec 29, 2016

I went to Ryan's in the morning for the second two games in our Koopa Bowl showdown. We played Super Mario 1 first and Ryan won as I struggled in the last world. In the event of a tie, we play Super Mario World and if that doesn't provide a clear winner there's a round-robin All-Stars match. But really we just played Mario World for the win. We were again very close but I got to the last castle faster and won. It was a lot of fun playing it that way.

I went home for a little while before going to Becca's where she surprised me with an amazing vegan chocolate cake with ice cream in the middle. It was so good. I had a little slice before we got ready to leave for the night.

We picked up Tracy and went to Starland where we sat in the car for a little bit to have a couple beers before the show. Diana sent me this wonderful little graphic to say happy birthday that made me smile.

We went inside and the show was running late, which is predictable for Starland, but we got settled on the side of the crowd and Nathan and Chanel came in and found us for a little bit before the lights went out. Thursday came out to For the Workforce, Drowning, which is one of my favorite songs and my favorite opener of theirs. The set was dark and incredible and it was so great to see them back on stage like they never left.

After the show I saw Omarey and he came to chat with us while those of us without jackets shivered outside. It was great to be with so many friends for my birthday and see one of my favorite bands. We had a nice long ride left home, but it didn't seem so bad.

May 9, 2012

I wasn't able to get a job again during the day so I tried to be productive with photo stuff. Not sure how successful I was. I met Ryan at the rock climbing gym in the afternoon and we spent a couple hours climbing and trying to do harder routes. I feel like I'm getting better. We went to Iron Hill for dinner and I got an amazing black bean burger.

I headed into Philly to Gunner's Run where I met Omarey and waited for the show. Nick from a band called Victory in Numbers played a few songs first and I really liked his songs. He also did a cover of "Shoulder to the Wheel" by Saves the Day and a Lifetime song. I need to look him up.

Geoff Rickly came out next, seeming shy. It was odd seeing him on his own, but he held it together and played an interesting variety of Thursday songs including "Cross Out the Eyes" and "Standing on the Edge of Summer" before taking a short break.

The songs were really good quiet and fun to sing along to. I was excited to hear him play "How Long is the Night?" and then finish with "War All the Time" into "Turnpike Divides." It was a really nice set, albeit shorter than I had hoped, and he's a great guy. I really hope to see the full band again one day.

I was in a strange mood and felt like walking and listening to more Thursday songs so I grabbed my iPod from the car and took a walk around the city in the rain. It felt good to walk somewhere different.

I was pretty beat when I got home and I passed out quickly.

Dec 30, 2011

I met up with Jen in the morning to take a walk around Parvins and catch up in person before she headed back to London. We walked to a bench and sat there discussing our options for online employment and becoming authors.

After leaving the lake I went to Ryan's to head up to the rock climbing gym in Cherry Hill. We were there and hour before they opened, but the guy was there and he was nice enough to let us come in early and climb. We had the place to ourselves.

We did the bouldering section without harnesses. They are lower and have pads below. Even the easy paths were really hard. We spent an hour or so climbing around all the different walls. Some I couldn't do at all, but I was able to get up a few of them. I have a lot of work to do before I'm good at this it seems.

Tracy and I went up to Philly and checked on set times then headed to Manny Brown's for some drinks. I had a sour ale and tried a few others. The Lagunitas Sucks is an awesome holiday IPA. And a great name.

When it was show time we left the bar and headed back down to the TLA. This is the last time I'll see this name on the marquee. (maybe?)

mewithoutYou was great and fun. They played a lot of new songs that I don't know as well, but there were plenty of old ones mixed in. They played for a good long while.

Thursday began their last US show ever playing the same set list as the other night except they added in "Paris in Flames," which I actually said I really wish they had played before.

The rest of the set went as it did at Starland, but it was great to hear the songs one more time for their last show. I have seen them probably around thirty times over the last ten years and it has been amazing almost every time. The holidays won't seem the same without them playing a show.

It was a sad but amazing farewell show. I will remember the intensity of their live shows every time I listen to them turned up loud in the car.

Dec 26, 2011

Ryan and I did the gym early. There were more people there than we were used to later in the afternoon. We did back and arm exercises mostly. I went to Chili's with Kate to have lunch with her dad and brother later before he headed back to Florida.

Shannon and I headed up to Starland Ballroom and sat in the parking lot having our Golden Monkeys while we waited for the show to progress. We got up there earlier than we planned. Shannon was very emotional about this being her last Thursday show.

We went in and caught the end of mewithoutYou and then waited for Thursday to come on. They started with a new song, but the second was "For the Workforce, Drowning." I always love hearing that song live. It's so powerful.

They played a long, amazing set. The new songs were great and there was a great mix of older stuff. They were very thankful to everyone for coming out all these years to the holiday shows and everything else. They played "War All the Time," which made me very happy. They ended with a heartfelt message before playing "Stay True" (I cried a little) then their closing pair of "Jet Black New Year" and "Turnpike Divides."

The show was amazing and a nice ending, even though I have another show this week. Shannon really enjoyed their last show through tears though. I don't blame her. All good things must end.

Jul 16, 2011

I went to my mom's for lunch with her and Larry. She made a summer pasta thing with red peppers and mozzarella. Really good. We spent some time going through the photos from the trip. We looked through them on the big screen since the Wii reads SD cards. Who knew?

I went down to Sam's after a while to join in the BBQ festivities for a little while. She made me a portabello sandwich almost immediately after I got there. We had some great food and I caught up with her, Ali, Jordan, and everyone I haven't seen in a long while.

We got into a game of horseshoes that took quite a while. Somehow Jeff and I won the game though! I got a couple of ringers. It's always so much fun there, I wasn't happy that I had to leave.

I picked up Diana and drove to Baltimore, parked and went over to Mex. The bartender that we had last time I went with Dave was there and remembered me so that was cool. We had some drinks and food and talked to her. She did a shot with us for good measure.

We had some time to kill before the show so we enjoyed our time there. We did another shot before going in. Still not as inebriated as when I drank Dave's wine.

Thursday played first and opened with a new song followed by "For the Workforce, Drowning." It feels like it's been so long since I've heard them play that. It was just nice to not hear all of Full Collapse again!

The set was great and the slideshow was a nice addition. The new songs sound so much better live in my opinion. I just can't get into the vocal effects on the album though the music is great. It fits in just fine live. They closed with "Turnpike Divides" after "Jet Black New Year" and it was a perfect closer. Worth the black eye.

We went out to the bar and got some water in between bands. We came back in as Taking Back Sunday was already playing. If I ever had a problem with them before, it's official: they're back. They are so good live and they play a great set of songs.

I will say that Adam talks so much that they could have played another two or three songs if he would shut up. Otherwise they play a lot of old stuff and the new stuff is so good live as well as on the album. I want to see them again already.

We got some more water after the show and considered what else we could do. We ended up just going home. Baltimore is a fun place to be at night though; I need to stay down there sometime.

Feb 19, 2011

Alex was the chef in the morning and cooked me some eggs over easy. Not over hard. They were delicious and very filling. We took our time getting ready to leave, but then finally headed out.

We went to the 4th Street Cafe in Ocean City to see Michelet's photos that were on display there. She was there having lunch with her family too so we got to see her as well. Unfortunately, the photos were set up on the walls directly behind where people were sitting and eating, making it extremely awkward to view any of them. It was a very uncomfortable, cramped setting. I didn't get to enjoy many of the photos because of that.

We went down to the boardwalk after leaving the gallery, where the wind was pretty insane.

The boardwalk was pretty empty on the far end. We walked into the wind, stopping in a little shop and a fudge store so Alex could talk to people for a photo project she's working on.

We walked out to the jetty and the sand was blowing all over the place. It looked really awesome, but it was a bit obnoxious.

Alex took a bunch of pictures out on the jetty while I sat with Cait and took photos of her and tried out my neutral density filters in an attempt to get the sand blowing across the beach. It didn't work that well. I need to learn.

After a half hour or so of sitting on the rocks shooting photos and getting sand in our eyes and cameras we decided to climb off the rocks and head back to safety.

Since Alex had never been to Ocean City, we had to play ten cent skee ball. I'm not very good. I think I got into the 100 hole once. We got a bunch of dimes and played a lot of games though. Alex surreptitiously took photos of us playing with her remote... sneaky.

We went to Mack and Manco's for pizza of course so Alex could try it. Again, this is a face of approval. She liked it. The place was really busy actually. They do well in the winter. We headed home after eating and stopped for Shamrock Shakes when we got close to Glassboro. Delicious.

Shannon picked me uplater and we headed into Philly for the Thursday show. They played Full Collapse entirely once again. That makes three times for me. That's enough times. Maybe War All the Time next time? I could go to that show way more times. They were good, but I was disappointed that they didn't play anything after the full album. Not even Jet Black. Really?

I joined Shannon in the balcony for Underoath's set. I didn't really know any of their new stuff but they played some older songs that I knew. Regardless, they played really well. I was kind of surprised.

Great day. Lots of fun on the beach in the winter and at the show in Philly!