Who Is Tom Mix?

There are times when I hear / see / am exposed to something odd more than once in a day. Today was one of those days.

A quick breakfast in front of the TV. On WQED, a show about interesting places in Pennsylvania. During my few seated minutes was a segment on Mix Run. Having grown up in the middle of nowhere, PA, and having traveled nearly all of this great state, I was intrigued because I don't recall ever hearing of Mix Run. During the segment, a name was mentioned: Tom Mix.

Having consumed it as a semi-interesting point in PA lore, I went about my day and stored it for later.

During a mop break (heavy-duty summer cleaning going on today), I turned on the TV for some quick learning. Completely different channel - this time the History Channel. On was a show about cereal and the Kellog brothers. During an interview, a gentleman spoke of "listening to the radio, and hearing Tom Mix tout the benefits of cereals". There it was again. Tom Mix.

Second time around for something strange like that, and at that point it becomes less Tom Mix and more Tom Marvolo Riddle.

So who is Tom Mix? I hit up Wikipedia for the answer - turns out he was an actor in the 20s and 30s. Go check it out, learn something new!

Tom Mix as provided by Wikipedia

Food!

Yesterday was a big day.

Since the nasty bruise from my IV drip has faded into a lovely combination of Crayola's Chartreuse and Bittersweet, and my appetite has been ravenous for a couple days, I decided to give real food a go last night. It worked!

Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done, but I indulged in a steak. Fillet, to be exact. I've been out of the food circuit for several days and I wanted a bit of a treat.

Everything went down fine, but I did discover a few interesting things:
1) I can't eat anywhere near what I used to consume. In fact, I can only eat about a third as much at this point.
2) If I don't chew my food into oblivion first, it hurts when it lands.

Point one I'm a-okay with. I get to have delicious steak for lunch today.
Point two is strange. I've always been a slow eater. Now I'm even slower.

I guess it will all come back in time. I'll be nursing this one for a while. My pants don't fit the same.

On a more interesting note, the boy and I went to see Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix last night. Three words: wow, awesome, and DARK. We've seen them all, and personally I think this is the best so far.

We were discussing afterward how the movies have really progressed - the first ones were pretty kid-friendly for the most part. This one, I'd say not so much - it really was dark, and using the word sadistic wouldn't be out of line. Sick and twisted, but now I'm even more excited for the final two.

I'm going to forage for breakfast foods and chew them very very thoroughly.

Sometimes I forget.

Sometimes I forget things. Important, life-changing things. I get stuck. And every once in a while, something happens to turn me back around.

I spent the night in the ER on Monday. As a matter of fact, 11:30 pm on Monday to 7:00 am on Tuesday. We'll take it easy with the horrible in-depth descriptions and call it an inflamation of the stomach lining. Spending a night there will certainly bring one back around. At this point it's nearly Thursday, and I'm still tired. It's gotten me thinking.

I don't want to be lost anymore. I want to start doing things I've wanted to do for a long time. And why the hell not?

I'd really like to have more fun. I've been so focused on being so serious for so long, I've made a permanent habit of putting things off. Things I want to do to keep *me* happy.

I need to get away from holding myself back.

Your Beating Was Acoustically Pleasing!

Back! Tired! (Really, really tired...)

Let's just say the Buffalo trip was a blast.

We started out early and got up to Buffalo with plenty of time (but not plenty of leg room - it's a good thing I have no problem curling up in a car!) Since we were so early, the boys were awesome enough to drive just a little bit farther north and take me up to Niagra Falls. In all my 29 years I've never been there. It's amazing, breathtaking, and mind-boggling. Water, rushing water - and the earth just... stops. Incredible.

From there back to downtown Buffalo and the Town Ballroom for Against All Authority, Streetlight Manifesto, Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake! Amazing, amazing show. I've been a fan of Reel Big Fish for many years, and very recently Less Than Jake has started to crowd out some of the older music in my iPod that's been kicking around in there for far too long. The entire show was nothing short of stellar! I'm quite positive Streetlight Manifesto will find their way into my iPod shortly. I hadn't heard much from them previously, but last night they were fantastic!

What I lost in the pit last night:
* 5 pounds
* (almost) a bracelet

What I got in the pit last night:
* something that felt at the time like a cracked rib (but is thankfully just fine this morning!)
* 2 kicks to the head
* 3 elbows in the face (sometimes it pays to be short, other times not so much)
* bubbles in my eyes
* a bunch of confetti

The Shout It Loud tour will hit Pittsburgh in August - we'll be there!

I managed to haul my camera phone and a notebook around for everything but the show - photos on flickr.

Some brilliant quotes from the crew:
* "You're talking over Hall and Oates, my friend."
* "Falls and mysteries ahead!"
* "You'd be falling for a while, I'd probably laugh before you splatted."
* "And the bunny on the paper towel will come alive someday."
* "Your beating was acoustically pleasing!"
* "It's been on you my friend, it's goddamn lucky."

Three others from (overheard) outside sources:
* "You better watch how you talk to me or you'll find that ice cream over the falls!"
* "I'd trust Mythbusters before I trusted you."
* "A tattoo. They put ink in your dermis." "What the hell is a dermis?"

And while I'm at it, I tag M, M (YES, YOU, stop your whining!) and Tracy for 5 Things About the Real You. Go for it, kids.

I've Been Tagged!

I'm in a perpetual state of "behind". Anything else new?

I was tagged by Evo several moons ago for five things about the "real" me. Sorry it's taken me so long! You'll understand the quotes on "real" after you peruse #5.

1) I grew up in a very rural part of northcentral Pennsylvania. My definition of rural: Population est. 2,000, closest neighbor 1/2 mile away, 20 minutes outside of "town". A full hour away from a mall of any flavor. Growing up there and moving to New York City immediately afterward was a bit of a shock. (I'm back in PA now, albeit in Pittsburgh.)

2) When I was 17, I toured 6 European countries in 5 days, in the backseat of the smallest diesel Renault on the planet. Countries visited, in order: France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Germany. I slept in the Louvre, and visited the Postage Stamp Museum in Vaduz.

3) I was a radio board op / DJ / ad programmer / ad and news writer /producer for the local radio station in my hometown during my high school years. Amazing job. So amazing, in fact, I proceeded from there to college where I took up Communications as my major, with my focus in radio. Where, oh where is radio headed now?

4) I had an emergency appendectomy in 1998. I was sick, sick, SICK. The doctor told me it was not only punctured and leaking, it was green and "growing something" when they removed it. Green. "Growing" something else. That's just terrifying. I spent a week in the hospital, and consequently nearly failed a couple of my college courses that semester. Some professors just won't take a stapled, 5 inch gash in your stomach as an excuse.

5) I have been described by multiple people as being "an onion".

And there you have it. A few of my "grey" secrets.

I'm not sure who to tag for this, but when I come up with my list, I'll post them.

By Now, It's Interesting

Well I've been at it for a couple weeks, so there's enough there now to make it mildly interesting. Check out my flickr photos.

Front and Center

Bring it on... Let the summer concert series begin!

Last night's concert at Mr. Smalls Theatre was nothing short of phenomenal! The Pietasters were amazing!

Important notes from last night:
* When the lead singer almost steps on your hand, you're really close.
* Millvale is creepy, but I'd go back.
* Eat 'n Park's midnight breakfast buffet does not always open at midnight, and the mob once it does open is not that much different than a mosh pit.

A road trip to Buffalo next weekend for Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish awaits...