Version 21 of Within Demise

I've finally gotten around to finishing the new look for the blog. Eventually I'll do a new layout, but for now I like how things are set up.

I'm still working on The Immortals, slowly. I've been reading a lot lately. I read Divergent by Veronica Roth. It wasn't a bad book, but not exceptional. A decent story with ok characters. Some of the plot is a bit eh at times. I'm not a fan of the special snowflake syndrome, but Roth handles it decently for most of the book. Sometimes it really sticks out and makes you roll your eyes, but luckily that is few and far between. I am looking forward to reading the second book.

I started reading The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones the other day. Having seen the movie, all I can say is that the changes made were sometimes good and sometimes bad. There are parts of the book I prefer to the movie, but only barely. The writing is so sugary. Cassandra Clare makes the mistake of using food to describe skin tones. Who the hell has maple colored skin? No one, CC, no one. She also uses metaphors way too much and the ones she uses are so overdone. The main character, Clary, is an ok character. A lot of the supporting characters are cliches, and even Clary is a lot of the time. The clumsy, yet super special girl trope is far overdone. I think if CC reeled it back a bit, Clary would be a much better character, but constantly having it harped on that Clary is so special, but she's so average and clumsy just makes me roll my eyes. It's cliche and overdone. It's not a terrible book, like I was expecting, but it definitely could have used a heavy hand in editing to make it less cliche and it could have been a good book worthy of praise. Of course, none of that even touches how terrible of a person CC has turned out to be, but that's another story.

I went to Columbus earlier this week to see Kamelot, Delain, & Eklipse. The concert was amazing. I had such a good time. And I got to meet the singer for Delain after the show! This is Delain's first tour in the US, so it was really nice to be able to see them finally.

Still trying to figure out ways to get my book out there. One of my brother's friends has bought a copy and has been getting his friends to buy copies as well. I'm just waiting on the money and then we'll see how many I've sold so far. It's tough to get my name out there. I don't have a built in readership and I just can't convince people to buy it.

I'm doing what I can though. Maybe it'll turn around soon.

Getting Caught Up

Ok, so...where have I been?

Let's see, on August 22nd, Marine Chick (my sister), and I went to see Rush in St. Louis. It was AWESOME. LIKE HELLO. IT'S RUSH. OF COURSE IT WAS AWESOME. I still can't get over it. Rush was pure amazing. Being able to see these guys I admire was just fantastic.


Geddy Lee <3

I had a nice little weekend with my sister and her family. Sadly, later that week, a friend out in St. Louis died of a heart attack. It's still quite shocking to realize next time I go to St. Louis, I won't see him. I feel so bad for my nephew, who really liked the guy. These are the shocking reminders that life can be short. You never know when it will be your time. Live your life with vigor and love. Don't hold back.

My Aunt was so kind to sign me up for a membership at Ballys. I still haven't gone in to work out. I know, I know. I just have a real aversion to working out in front of people. It tests my patience and it kills my self-esteem. But starting next week, I will be going twice a week to start (in addition to riding my bike at home and other workouts at home) and as I get more comfortable, I will go three times a week.

So, next up was Blackguard and Leaves Eyes in Cleveland. Orginally, it was Blackguard, Leaves Eyes, and Kamelot. And I wasn't going to go because I didn't want to spend that much money and the closest show was Cleveland, blah blah blah. But then the Kamelot singer got sick and Kamelot cancelled the tour. So I was going to go to Detroit to see Blackguard and Leaves Eyes. But then they announced they were still going to do the Cleveland show, so I went up to Kent to stay with my bff and then only had to drive half an hour to Cleveland.

I met up with a couple of friends, one whom I had met, one whom I only knew online. So this was very cool to spend some time with them. I'm a HUGE Blackguard fan so seeing the guys walk around outside was really excited, though all I could do was smile like a dork, haha. It ended up that only about 30 or so people showed up. Mike, Eric and I were front row.

Blackguard was AMAZING. FANTASTIC. PERFECTION. AWESOME. I had an amazing time during their set. I knew all of the songs, so I was really excited and screaming and the guys seemed to love it. Especially during their last song, This Round's On Me. I was completely singing along and Paul, the singer, LOVED it. He was smiling ear to ear and he kept singing right in front of me. And near the end of the song he grabbed my hand and kissed it. Needless to say, I was quite happy at their reception of me.

I kind of talked to him inbetween the sets. I told him they put on a great show and he thanked me for coming and singing along. Their set list was: Allegiance, In Time, The Sword, Cinder, Scarlet To Snow, Farewell, and This Round's On Me. The Sword is my favorite Blackguard song, and Scarlet To Snow and This Round's On Me are also my favorites, so it was really nice to be able to hear those three songs. Of course, I also love Allegiance, In Time, Cinder, and Farewell! So basically, Blackguard plays an awesome set!

So then Leaves Eyes came on and OH MY GOD. Liv Kristine is simply gorgeous. She is stunning. Alex was awesome. Very fun and very hilarious. Leaves Eyes is amazing to see live! Go if you have the chance! During one of the last songs, I forget which, Liv reached for my hand. SHE TOUCHED ME. YES! She was standing in front of me for basically the whole show, so it was really nice. Their set list was: Intro, Njord, My Destiny, Emerald Island, Farewell Proud Men, Take The Devil In Me, Solemn Sea, Leaves Eyes Rick Rolled by Blackguard, Northbound, Ragnarok, Elegy, Froya's Theme & Outro. It was a great nice! Blackguard rick rolling Leaves Eyes was hilarious! Great fun!

After the show, I went to buy a Blackguard shirt and as I was waiting for Terry, one of the guitarists, to find the shirt I wanted, Paul reached out his hand and was saying thank you, and we started talking. It was very cool for me to be approached by someone in the band. Paul was really nice and he kept thanking me, shaking my hand. He hugged me at one point. We talked about the show, we talked about touring, we talked about Mutiny Within (And he and Terry gave me such depressing news!), and we talked about hockey, which was funny. I got Paul and Terry to sign my album, then I got a picture with Paul (and I'm such an idiot, I forgot to get a picture with Terry!), which was such a cute picture, I think. He really was just so nice. He also convinced me to see them on tour with Nevermore, which I will!


Paul and I

I also met Justine, Blackguard's drummer and Etienne, Blackguard's bassist. Kim, the other guitarist had disappeared.

And I also met Alex and Liv from Leaves Eyes. Alex was hilarious and Liv was so sweet! I adore her.


Liv and I

All in all, it was an amazing night! I can't wait to see Blackguard with Nevermore, Warbringer and Hatesphere! I'm a bit nervous about going to a show like that by myself, but I think I'll be fine.

So now I'm just trying to figure out how November is going to go. I have to go up to my Alma Mater to talk about applying to the Secret Service, so that should be fun, lol. I think I'll also go up to Detroit to see family while I'm up that way.

And that's my life for the past month.

So sometime in October, I'll be seeing Blackguard again. In November, I'll be up in Detroit and Tiffin, and then in late November, I'll be seeing Blackguard, Scar Symmetry & Epica in Louisville, which I am REALLY looking forward to!

Oh Hello

I've been gone for so long. I will try and update better.

On the 18th, I saw Dommin and Volbeat in Flint. OMG AMAZING. Like seriously, amazing. I totally and completely recommend both bands. I haven't stopped listening to Dommin's CD 'Love Is Gone' since I bought it. Soooo good.

I got to meet Volbeat after the concert, which was AWESOME. I got pictures with them and they signed my Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood album. They're all sooooo nice!



So my new theme for now is Dommin. My favorite song from their album is I Still Lost, which are the lyrics up top.

Tomorrow morning I'm driving to St. Louis to see my sister. We're going to see Rush on Sunday!! SO EXCITED. Then I'm coming back home on monday. Hopefully I hear from the secret service soon! I'm starting to get worried!

Take care!

EPICA! EPICA! EPICA! EPICA IN FEBRUARY!!!

Well, as if my year couldn't get any better! Epica just announced they will be headlining a tour in the U.S. with Blackguard as their opener! Shitastic!! They will be in Cleveland on February 3rd. Either I attend that show or truck my ass down to Atlanta on February 28th since I'll be on Spring Break. I suppose it's possible, as long as CPAC isn't going on, that my parents might let me go to Atlanta. Although I fucking hate the Masquerade and would like to avoid that place like the plague.

Ugh, I'm not looking forward to standing outside in the fucking snow. Ah, fuck Cleveland. This show will be my first time to Cleveland. Fuck, if I can survive Atlanta, I think I'll be golden in Cleveland.

I'm so excited! I'll be ordering my Volbeat/Metallica ticket within the next week or so! Oh, my loves!! I can't wait to see Volbeat again! I hope Rammstein plans a US tour soon!! And Flogging Molly needs to get their asses back here!

I am now addicted to concerts! I wonder if anyone I know will be in Cincy over the next four weeks...hmm...

I'm home in three days!!!