Today was the first day of Spring. So, I was lucky enough to have everyone together to go for a very,very, long walk through cleveland park, falls park, and downtown greenville. It was fun for a bit. Then, the phone goes off with the texting, I turned mine off, and then I get asked, “when are we going to the car?”. That right there kind of ruined it for me. So I came home, ate dinner alone, watched tv alone. Everyone did get together to watch a horrible movie, paranormal activity, then immediately after, disbanded. So, I am typing this alone, lol, and hating the fact that I picked that movie to have “quality time” with people, because I feel I ruined it. Today however made me realize a few things. A. I hate cell phones, I hope I never find mine. B. I hate Ipods even more, C. People are instinctually wired to be alone. I guess its the only comfort zone we all have. Can’t let yourself down now can you? Stuff to think about I guess, looks like it’s going to be a long summer.

This weekend I had the unique opportunity to go down to Atlanta to see a brand new band recently signed by Capitol Records called TADDY PORTER play a showcase at Smith’s Olde Bar for radio programmers from all over the eastern United States.  The band was kind of a throwback to retro-styled rock meets modern alternative.  Not bad.  The bassist even had long, red curly hair like myself (it must be a bass player thing)!  My best friend, Kenny even came out for a few minutes to see the band and to catch up with me for a few since we don’t see each other much since I moved back to Greenville after my brief stint living in Atlanta.

After Kenny cut out (which was rather early since he had to work early the next morning), a number of us hit a place called the Clermont Lounge, a place rather notorious in town as I ended up being subjected to a lap dance from a 63-year-old stripper!  She kept lifting her skirt and showing me her nether regions while referring to it as ‘peach cobbler’ – I just threw up in my mouth as I am writing this, by the way!  Thank God the tequila was flowing even though I HATE tequila!

From there we made our way to the Tattletale Lounge of MOTLEY CRUE fame (“Rockin’ in Atlanta at Tattletale’s” from “Girls, Girls, Girls”).  Thankfully the dancers were much nicer….and much younger!

After Tattletale’s, I was done!  I got back to my hotel room and slept off the tequila for a few hours before having to get up and check out since I lost an hour of sleep due to Daylight Savings Time.  I hit the MARTA train station and rode back to my car and went home.

Monday morning I got up at 7 which is SUPER early for me and went to go work out at LivN Nsidout in Simpsonville.  My first rodeo was jumping right into their new Group Power class which is an hour long class that works EVERY muscle group in your body.  Needless to say, I was about ready to cry like a little bitch (thanks GODSMACK!) and walk out but I was determined to make it through!  I survived but just barely and I was in tremendous pain for the next few days but I returned to the class yesterday and I intend to keep it up until I feel ready to venture out and work out on my own terms.

Monday night was the first official jam session for me and the guys.  We worked for a couple of hours on Burket’s arrangement of KENNY LOGGINS’ “Danger Zone” and made it sound great with the exception of a few changes we (or I rather) need to work out.  We then talked for about another hour about our ideas for this band.  Although we all like the name DETHRO TULL, we unanimously agreed that no one would take us seriously with that name.  Granted we don’t want to be a super serious band, but we still want to be taken seriously and not seen as a schlocky gimmick band.  So we will continue without a name until we can think of something better but it’s still early in the game!

Wednesday, of course, was St. Patrick’s Day and I was stuck running board for the live broadcast of The Rise Guys Big Ass Draft P1 St. Paddy’s Day Party they had at Indigo Joe’s.  The broadcast ran smoothly (for the most part) and I ran out to Indigo Joe’s for a few after the broadcast was over.

Now another weekend is upon us and I am planning on trying out a Yoga class tomorrow morning then hanging out with Burket and a friend of his from out of town for a majority of the weekend.  I’m sure there’ll be something worthy to write about next week concerning this weekend!

Wow! gotta say, this weekend was very eventfull. Wife’s birthday dinner was Saturday night, wrestling with Lewis Neal and the guys was Saturday night. Trying to juggle everything, including a diet, lol. As I’m sure you have heard by now, I was crying like a baby when I went back to my old high school. Just haven’t actually been on campus in years. Sitting in front of old buildings I use to gather by every morning, but if I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t want to go back. I think it would ruin what memories I had and besides, we all get older for a reason, to appreciate the times we had in the past. Thats why I’m afraid of my girl growing up. She will be fifteen this October and moving out before I know it. She will get married and I won’t be the only man in her life anymore. It’s hard to accept as us parents know, but you gotta let loosen the grip sometimes to let your kid live a healthy productive life. At least I gotta few more years left with her, I love you #10, in case you are reading this. In spite of all that, I’m feeling pretty great, summer is almost here. lol.

Ok, it’s been a while since I sounded off on my less-than-desirable date the weekend before last.  Thankfully, last weekend was much better as I went out to the Handlebar Friday night to see an old friend and former DEAD AT DAWN bandmate Steve who was in town catching INSIDIOUS DEMISE play with ANTISEEN.  I didn’t get to stay for the show because I was pooped and had to be in Boiling Springs fairly early the next day.

Speaking of which, I was at the grand opening of the new O’Reilly Auto Parts in Boiling Springs.  Conveniently, my friend Mike Burket, formerly of GHOST IN THE MACHINE lives right in behind the store as we were meeting up to discuss jamming on a new project he’s been working on with Leman, formerly of TEN GRAND LEG and a new kid named Jessie.  So Burket came out to our tent and we were talking some music geek talk with our metal show host Diesel when he mentions JETHRO TULL yet Mike and I both misheard him and thought he said DETHRO TULL.  I immediately doubled over and blurted out, “That’s the best band name EVER!”  Needless to say, it is the working title for our project as it now stands….

After our ‘meeting of the minds’, I met up with my friend from York, SC Heather and we went to go see Alice in Wonderland in 3D.  The film was astonishing and was everything I expected and then some.  Tim Burton proves himself yet again and I was surprised to see the equally strange Crispin Glover (“George McFly” from Back to the Future) play the Red Queen’s knight.  A bit dark for a Disney film, but what would you expect from Burton?

Alice in Wonderland  \m/  \m/  \m/  \m/

While I was on the air Monday, my friend Kyle called me and asked if I wanted to catch The Crazies that night.  I was a bit broke, but I figured why not.  Carpe Diem!  So I met him at his apartment and we caught the 9:50 showing after my broke ass had eaten some dinner at home!  Granted I haven’t seen George A. Romero’s 1973 version, but I thoroughly enjoyed the remake starring Timothy Olyphant (Hitman, Live Free or Die Hard) and Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, Man on Fire).  Again, it was what I expected plus more.  A good horror flick!

The Crazies  \m/  \m/  \m/  \n

Tuesday night was the first night Burket, Leman, Jessie and I all got together for the first time to discuss the project and jam a little before Leman had to head out.  Everything went well and everyone seems excited about the potential this band could have.  You know me, I definitely thrilled to get back into action!  More to come!

Hey guys, I’m not what one would call tech savvy, but have been a 3D fan since I saw Jaws in 3D. Also I loved seeing full frontal nudity in 3D in last year’s cinematic classic “My Bloody Valentine” in 3D. Are you dying to be the first on your block (or the first in America) to get a new 3D TV? Sears and Amazon are taking orders for two Samsung 3D-ready LCD TVs the $2,600 46-inch and the $3,300 55-inch models.

For those who had predicted that 3-D TVs would cost loads more than regular models, the prices may be a surprise. The new 55-inch model costs the same as Samsung’s least-expensive LED-backlit LCD of the same size, the UN55B6000. And its new 46-inch set is priced exactly between its least-expensive and middle-rung LED-backlit TVs of the same size.

While the TVs require active-shutter glasses to see 3D (when 3D television becomes available — it isn’t yet), neither model, at least now, bundles glasses with the TV. So expect to shell out at least $50 more when you need the 3D specs.

Both Amazon and Sears are charging the same price for each model, and Sears says the TVs will be in their stores in about nine days. But in most states, Amazon.com doesn’t charge sales tax and is offering the sets with no shipping charge; so a purchase through the online merchant could save as much as $300. Which might be enough to buy one of those new 3D-capable Blu-ray players when they become available.

Should you buy a new 3D-ready television now? If you’re in the market for a new set, I’d hold off. Other 3-D models from LG, Panasonic, and will be available within the next few months. Once those sets come to market, you’ll be able to compare prices and performance.

But the real question I have is when will we have X-Box 360 3D? Orrrrr will it be in 3D because the TV is? That may make the difference to me if I buy one. I mean, we can’t all be like Paige and have $10,000+ home theaters but if I can play Grand Theft Auto in 3D I may dive into Grace’s college fund a bit early. Pissy.

Tickle It Guys,
-Maffew-

TickleItGuys.com
facebook.com/themaffew

Thought I would blog for a second before I rest up to go to Performance QSA later. Spring is upon us I see, as I left the station today, I rode home with my window down without freezing to death. Allthough I big hairy guy like me, sometimes I ride to work at four thirty in the morning with the window down, to wake up, since I’m not a coffee drinker. My girl’s first softball game is today, GO KNIGHTS, so let’s hope they win. Its been a quick year so far and the show is flying by. We got big things coming up, St Pat’s Party, Big Ass Draft, Cruise. I can’t wait to see how the year progresses. Til then, I’m off to workout in a bit, down to 297, the march to 215 continues.

FB..

I regret to report that, no sooner had I written my last blog, I found myself flirting with someone on facebook who had obviously found me because of being on the Planet staff because of our mutual friends Dex and Intern Tyler (the latter of whom has also had an unfortunate run-in with this crazy individual who we will call Spam, Spamela Wain).  It started out innocent enough as I was just making funny comments on her status which was talking about her wanting to beat Adam Lambert’s gay emo ass.  Well comments turned to messaging and the rest is history.

Well, we made plans to meet on Friday and go out or just chill but then she contacts me on facebook on Thursday telling me her car has broken down in Anderson so I agree to ‘rescue the damsel in distress’ when i got off work later that evening.  So I go and pick her up and we go hang out at my place.  Now, over the years I’ve learned to pick up on certain signs from women and, when she sat down on my couch, she sat in a spot that left just enough room for me to sit right next to her so our legs were touching.  So I got cozy with her as we watched Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.  As we watched the movie (which we both have seen), she confided in me that she has trust issues with men.  Respecting that I didn’t try too many smooth moves so not to set her off.  I did, however, ask if I could kiss her once the movie was over and she said I could.  So we started making out for a few seconds then she started freaking out.  I pulled back but she continued on a tirade so I took her home giving her my two cents worth on the way.

When we pulled up at her place, we sat in the car and talked for an hour or so and somewhat cleared the air.  I then walked her to the door and managed another quick kiss as we said goodnight.

The next day came and I texted her to see if she still wanted to go for round two despite the rocky night before and she said she did and told me to pick her up at 8:30.  Still skeptic from the first round, I dragged ass leaving to pick her ass up and arrived around 8:45 or so.  The night started out ok as we ran by Blockbuster to see Reverend Jim and rented The Hangover and Zombieland on Blu-ray and then ran by the grocery store and Wendy’s to grab some snacks and some grub.

We started with Zombieland since Spam hadn’t seen it yet and I wanted to see it a second time.  I gotta say I enjoyed just a bit more than the first time back in the theater, but the deleted scenes sucked so they were deleted for a good reason!

Zombieland  \m/  \m/  \m/  \n

Next we watched The Hangover which I hadn’t seen and she wanted to watch again (so it worked out overall).  I was skeptical about the movie because, honestly, the previews were NOT funny.  However, I have to admit the movie was pretty funny but still didn’t meet the hype.

The Hangover  \m/  \m/  \m/  \

During the movies, we got a little cozy on the couch, but as soon as the last movie was over she wanted to go home very abruptly.  Granted it was already after two but she had expressed no desire to be home at a certain time all night and was rather rudely insistent on going home so, instead of fighting with her, I hopped up and got ready to leave with as much urgency as her to go – only mockingly as I was obviously perturbed.

On the way back to her place, I remained fairly silent as she went on and on about random crap I honestly no longer cared about.  Finally sensing my agitation, she started on this lecture about how she’s too busy for relationships with her upcoming schoolwork and that I obviously was too because she knew I had just put in a 55 hour work week.  Refusing to let her try and pull a fast one on me I asked her what she was trying to say and pointed out what she undoubtedly already knew: I didn’t care!  Irked by the fact she was trying to get the upper hand on me, I told her it would probably be better if she never called me again and let her know how rude I thought she was to accept my courtesy and then so quickly throw such an icy shoulder.  She agreed that she was rude but showed little or no true remorse and, as she got out of the car she unconvincingly said she was sorry to which I replied, “No you’re not!  F#%k off!” and sped off.  Outside off sending a few pissy text messages later that night, I haven’t heard from her since.  Good riddance to bad rubbish!