So last night we stayed at Abby's house in Lynchburg, VA right off of Liberty University's campus. I got to see Lee (music friends for four years) and Jesse (Massachusetts bro from Purple Door several years ago). I realized yesterday that I didn't bring a sleeping bag, and within a few hours of this mini-tour, I lost my pillow. Dalton said that there would be extra sleeping bags in the trailor, but he was wrong. Nevertheless, he is still a good friend and just because I don't have a sleeping bag doesn't mean I don't love him.
Emmy graciously offered a blanket to me last night as I slept on Abby's floor. But between that and my sweet Russian coat that can double as a blanket, I couldn't get comfy enough to get more than four hours of sleep. That's ok though because Abby made delicious potato fries and eggs and bacon for us. We ate it over an intense conversation concerning Corey's approach to the typical western church.
We then drove four hours to Lincolnton, NC to Macedonia Baptist church or something like that. There were only two bands (Aneirin and Flynn) and I was the merch guy and stuff. I run this band. They're nothing without me. Aneirin needs me because I'm awesome and make incredible decisions to benefit them.
So basically the show went well and I did my job as a musical capitalist and went around asking people if they'd buy a CD or a shirt and I made them lots of money because I'm the most important and successful member of this band.
But the real highlight besides my genius business work and administrational duties was the fact that this show was Dan Garcia's first show as Aneirin's front man. He was awesome and did all of the posi frontman moves that I love (super-punching, chest beats, jogging in place while gripping the air, etc).
The brotherhood around me has been so intense and when the guys try to convince me to drop out of college (like Dan did) to tour full-time, I almost consider it. But then I don't.
This has been one of my favorite traveling vehicles. Makes me wonder why my family ever sold our old conversion van.
Road conversations have been so intense and so good in so many ways: theologically, emotionally, even physically.
I haven't spent any money on food. I'm trying to keep that up. I also told myself I wouldn't ask anyone to buy me or give me any food. I've been snacking off of doughnuts (that Kate and I got) and muffins (leftover from my family's house). Also, I took leftover fruit from the venue and Corey unexpectedly bought me a McChicken sandwich for which I am thankful.
We drove to Spartanburg, South Carolina tonight where we are staying in Taylor's house. The members from Flynn and Aneirin are all here, including some other friends. This trip south has been much more about meeting people and having conversation then it has been about traveling. In fact, I haven't really looked outside at much at all.
This is where my relationship with Christ became deep. The hardcore scene is where I belong.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Kate
Kate Wolfkill is a wonderful person and I like to be around her because she's absolutely transparent, and I think if we all were like her in that way, earth would be a far "better place" as they say.
Tuesday:
I went to chapel and then waited around campus until Kate was back from her final snowboarding class. Then we left and ate steaks at my family's home. Delicious. The highlight was Dunkin Donuts though because we got like 50 free doughnuts on account of closing time.
We got a few hours of sleep (I slept on the sofa because my brother was in my bed haha), and then we departed for Baltimore, where we parked and caught a train to DC. Train stations are sweet because you see many kinds of people all doing the same thing together. You see so many stories being lived and so many pasts having an effect on the present.
I told Kate I would teach her guitar if she taught me how to nap more efficiently, but despite her wonderful advice, I was relatively unsuccessful and when we arrived at the station to switch to the Metro, I was still pretty exhausted.
I won't give my thoughts on the Holocaust Museum, because you should really see it for yourself. For one, it is free. Also, it's just grand and effective. In fact, genocide today is more relevant than ever before.
We ate Knishes which was a great experience.
Kate's twin/triplet brother who goes to George Washington took us to a local burger joint which was an early dinner. Then we got on the college's bus and got to see both parts of the campus.
My Krislund friend Biz who teaches middle school English picked us up in Alexandria, VA to see her home and eat delicious food in a local Mexican restaurant. I like the food Mexicans create because you can put it all together and that's when it tastes good. For OCD people like myself, it doesn't really matter if the different foods get combined with each other and stuff like that.
We took the Metro and the Marc Train and my station wagon back to Kate's home. Her parents graciously stayed up to welcome me and Kate showed me around and I slept in a big comfy bed. Then I got twelve hours of sleep and Kate woke me up violently with pillows and made me very wonderful scrambled eggs and put my day off to a good start. In fact, we saw the reservoir and we visited her dad's work/business and I met her friend Emma which were all fantastic experiences.
So then I drove home, quickly packed the station wagon, and drove to Dalton's. Then he drove to Wise and exchanged his change for cash ($14). Now I'm typing this and listening to Aneirin practice. So tonight we will leave around 9 PM and arrive in Lynchburg, VA after a four hour trip. From there, we'll drive another 3 hours to Lincolnton, NC for a show Aneirin has.
I noticed many of my depression symptoms arise in the past 24 hours and I'm trying to limit the relapses. It's been awhile (a month and a half) since I've taken my pills and I kinda wish I had brought them back from Messiah. Maybe all of this testosterone around me will help.
Thank you Kate/Wolfkill family. Thank you mom for letting me borrow the Subaru (I parked it in Thurmont, and it's all locked up). Thank you Dan Garcia for joining Aneirin and doing politically incorrect things with your life.
Maybe I'll get some reading done in the van tonight, but more likely I will spend time catching up with old friends, who are all priceless.
To Messiah friends: I miss you.
Tuesday:
I went to chapel and then waited around campus until Kate was back from her final snowboarding class. Then we left and ate steaks at my family's home. Delicious. The highlight was Dunkin Donuts though because we got like 50 free doughnuts on account of closing time.
We got a few hours of sleep (I slept on the sofa because my brother was in my bed haha), and then we departed for Baltimore, where we parked and caught a train to DC. Train stations are sweet because you see many kinds of people all doing the same thing together. You see so many stories being lived and so many pasts having an effect on the present.
I told Kate I would teach her guitar if she taught me how to nap more efficiently, but despite her wonderful advice, I was relatively unsuccessful and when we arrived at the station to switch to the Metro, I was still pretty exhausted.
I won't give my thoughts on the Holocaust Museum, because you should really see it for yourself. For one, it is free. Also, it's just grand and effective. In fact, genocide today is more relevant than ever before.
We ate Knishes which was a great experience.
Kate's twin/triplet brother who goes to George Washington took us to a local burger joint which was an early dinner. Then we got on the college's bus and got to see both parts of the campus.
My Krislund friend Biz who teaches middle school English picked us up in Alexandria, VA to see her home and eat delicious food in a local Mexican restaurant. I like the food Mexicans create because you can put it all together and that's when it tastes good. For OCD people like myself, it doesn't really matter if the different foods get combined with each other and stuff like that.
We took the Metro and the Marc Train and my station wagon back to Kate's home. Her parents graciously stayed up to welcome me and Kate showed me around and I slept in a big comfy bed. Then I got twelve hours of sleep and Kate woke me up violently with pillows and made me very wonderful scrambled eggs and put my day off to a good start. In fact, we saw the reservoir and we visited her dad's work/business and I met her friend Emma which were all fantastic experiences.
So then I drove home, quickly packed the station wagon, and drove to Dalton's. Then he drove to Wise and exchanged his change for cash ($14). Now I'm typing this and listening to Aneirin practice. So tonight we will leave around 9 PM and arrive in Lynchburg, VA after a four hour trip. From there, we'll drive another 3 hours to Lincolnton, NC for a show Aneirin has.
I noticed many of my depression symptoms arise in the past 24 hours and I'm trying to limit the relapses. It's been awhile (a month and a half) since I've taken my pills and I kinda wish I had brought them back from Messiah. Maybe all of this testosterone around me will help.
Thank you Kate/Wolfkill family. Thank you mom for letting me borrow the Subaru (I parked it in Thurmont, and it's all locked up). Thank you Dan Garcia for joining Aneirin and doing politically incorrect things with your life.
Maybe I'll get some reading done in the van tonight, but more likely I will spend time catching up with old friends, who are all priceless.
To Messiah friends: I miss you.
Monday, January 26, 2009
New Beginnings
New beginnings are lies. We are shaped and formed by past experiences, with or without our own will.
My return to Pennsylvania did not leave me without gratitude. But if my belief that the human heart yearns for adventure (a belief that in my life has not been disproved) is true, I might as well not stop simply because I've returned "home."
Mostly, I just miss journalism.
Again, I am bound to agenda. But although I am not a free man, I will still be content with and appreciative of opportunity. Here's what's goin down:
Jan 28: DC, Holocaust Museum, Kate's home
Jan 29: to be announced, just how I like it: open and unplanned (arrive at Dalton's house to depart for Aneirin tour in evening - spend night in Richmond, VA)
Jan 30: Lincolnton, NC
Jan 31: Spartanburg, SC
Feb 1: Winchester, VA
Feb 2: Classes begin (and maybe I'll start a new blog at that point)
I don't know if I'm going to publicize this blog to my friends or family yet, but either way, I will mostly write for the sake of documenting my experiences. It's fun to go back and read stuff I've done in the past.
My return to Pennsylvania did not leave me without gratitude. But if my belief that the human heart yearns for adventure (a belief that in my life has not been disproved) is true, I might as well not stop simply because I've returned "home."
Mostly, I just miss journalism.
Again, I am bound to agenda. But although I am not a free man, I will still be content with and appreciative of opportunity. Here's what's goin down:
Jan 28: DC, Holocaust Museum, Kate's home
Jan 29: to be announced, just how I like it: open and unplanned (arrive at Dalton's house to depart for Aneirin tour in evening - spend night in Richmond, VA)
Jan 30: Lincolnton, NC
Jan 31: Spartanburg, SC
Feb 1: Winchester, VA
Feb 2: Classes begin (and maybe I'll start a new blog at that point)
I don't know if I'm going to publicize this blog to my friends or family yet, but either way, I will mostly write for the sake of documenting my experiences. It's fun to go back and read stuff I've done in the past.
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