Good news, sportsfans.  I found out today that I get some MUCH needed time off from work.  Yep, starting August 13th yours truly will be off work for an ENTIRE week!  Oh I can't wait.  I can't put into words how brain fried I am with all the extra hours I've been putting in and how it will be SO nice to not even think about work for a full week.  So what are my plans?  Well for one, I'll be out of town for a while.  And the days that I am in town one goal I have is to do nothing but watch movies for an entire day and eat a gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.  I can't wait because I desperately need to recharge my batteries...which would be a truthful statement if I was some kind of cyborg but you get the point.  Work and all the other stuff has me drained so much that over the last few weeks I've found myself doing nothing outside of work but martial arts training, and then coming home where I watch a movie or play a videogame and end up avoiding other people.  It's almost like my "free time" has become extremely self-centered and I don't want to talk to anyone...it's quite strange.  I've rarely even been on the internet at home the last week or so for some reason...I don't get it.  All I know is that week off will be a true blessing and I can't wait because I need to recharge my batteries.

Now some band news.  Don emailed me the cover for the DVD the other day...and I couldn't believe how incredible it was.  All I did was come up with a simple layout to show the idea I had...he gave it to a guy named Steve Gumm who's done all our other artwork...and when I saw the cover I was floored.  It came out EXACTLY how I envisioned it.  It just SCREAMS metal.  If I was in a store and saw this DVD I'd buy it just because the cover is so cool I would know the music couldn't be that bad...that's how much the cover rocks!  I'll post it once it's finalized...we still have to add some text to it.  Honestly this cover completely blows away most of the band DVD's I see in the stores.  To describe it would drain the vocabulary of superlatives.  Yes, it is that good.  Impressed by that line I used?  It's from a voice-over I did for a Riverdale High School video yearbook back in 1994 when they won the state title in football.  Granted it's put together from some stuff I heard on NFL films, but it's a great line and I'm proud of it.  That video yearbook was incredible.  I was working at TV 27 in Murfreesboro as the play-by-play announcer for the Friday night high school games, and most of the games we did were for Riverdale.  They went undefeated, won the state title, and with all the footage we had we made a video yearbook.  Now this was back in 1994 before 95% of the world had home video editing stuff on their PC's.  We had music, slow-motion, and my incredible voice narrating the saga of the Riverdale Warriors as they defeated everyone to win the title.  I'm still extremely proud of it.  Doing those broadcasts was some of the most fun I've ever had.  In fact, a couple of years later I was actually considered for the job of color commentator for the Atlanta Falcons.  Yep...it's true.  I was working as a DJ for a country station (I HATE country music but it was a job) and was flipping through a trade magazine.  In the back there was an ad for a color commentator position in Atlanta.  The Falcons had just signed a new contract with a radio station and were looking to put together a new broadcast team.  I put together a tape of my work...and by that time I had done high school and college broadcasting...and sent it to them.  I followed up a few days later with the station director and he told me he got my tape and loved it.  He was telling me they didn't want to go the typical route of bringing in an ex-player for the position and wanted someone new and exciting and I definitely fit the bill.  He gave me a rundown of the job and how I would have to go to practices and sit in on the coach's press conferences and all that...like that would be work.  I made it down to the final five based on my tape and talking on the phone with the station director.  I honestly though it was my destiny.  But that fateful day came when he called to tell me that Bill Fralic got the job.  Fralic was a former player, an offensive tackle with Atlanta for many years, and the director told me it wasn't his choice and how the station manager wanted to play it safe.  As much as it sucked not getting the gig, for several days I was honestly able to think I was about to land my dream job...and that was pretty awesome to know I got that close when I was an unknown.  Hey, at least I took the chance...and it's stuff like that which keeps life exciting.  Seriously, I didn't think I had a chance at all...yet made it to the final five and was able to dream about it because I took a chance.  That's why you can never let anything pass you by.  If I hadn't taken that chance I'd be sitting here today wondering "what if" and I refuse to do that.  Wait...wasn't I talking about the band?  Yeah, I was.  Sorry for my ADD acting up...hahaha.  Anyway, by the end of August we should have the DVD and new CD ready to be unleashed.  Now about the new CD...I honestly have to say that this thing rivals ANYTHING that ANY metal band is putting out there.  I know all bands think their stuff is good...but based on what people have said and the reactions these new songs are getting...we truly have our own sound.  I know that sounds arrogant as crap, but I really think it's true.  Each song has a different vibe...a different hook...and a different sound to it.  When it comes out you'll have to judge for yourselves.  I'm happy with every song from start to finish which is something I can't say for the other CD's even though I dig them.  To think we're about to release our third CD blows me away.

Another music topic - The Donnas.  September 18th is the date of their new CD and I can't wait!  This is the only new band I've gotten into over the last few years.  Oh sure...someone might say that the only reason I like them is because they're hot...but man do they ROCK!  I may have arrived late on the scene because I never heard them until I bought the DVD for the movie "Detroit Rock City" back in 2001, and one of the bonus clips was them doing a cover of "Strutter" by KISS.  Then in the Fall of 2002 they released one of the best rock CD's of all time - "Spend The Night".  No lie...this thing rocks harder than just about anything I've heard in years.  Full-on rock from start to finish.  I bought it based off one review I saw online where someone said that if this CD doesn't make you want to play air drums, then something is wrong with you.  I went out during a lunch break and got it...popped it in and the opening track "It's On The Rocks" just JAMMED!  I've been a Donnaholic ever since.  I picked up their previous releases, and even really dug some tunes of "Gold Medal" which came out in the Fall of 2004.  Granted it had a different vibe, but it still had some great songs.  Yes, being a male with a staunch record of heterosexuality I can say that The Donnas are some awesome women.  If Allison, the guitar player, wasn't married I would pursue her with the energy of a stalker...hahaha.  Oh MAN is she hot!  Not only is she a really good guitarist, but she's so damn sexy when she's playing.  I love her...I really do.  And then there is Torry, the drummer.  SO cute, and such a sweet voice, yet plays the drums like a madman.  Yep...infatuation.  September 18th is marked on the calendar.  I've heard one of the new songs on their myspace page and really dug it.  I can't wait for the whole CD.

Now if someone told me that there was a horror movie that combined clowns and zombies, I would instantly think it was a possible masterpiece and want to view it endlessly.  Well such a movie was released on DVD this past week called "Dead Clowns"...and it SUCKED!  It would take some kind of mongoloid to screw up a movie with zombie clowns that want to eat people.  How in the heck can someone have the money and resources to make a movie about zombie clowns make such an incredible piece of crap?  The only entertainment I got out of this movie was when I picked it up at Blockbuster the other day.  The one closest to where I live has a manager that is quite happy...as in gay.  How do I know?  I think the term is "flaming".  You hear him say three words and it's quite obvious.  Yeah I know...me being a conservative means that I should boycott the store because I'm such an intolerant homophobe.  But because I'm a Christian that takes the Bible literally, I have to go in there every now and then to scream at him about what a sinner he is because I'm so perfect...hahaha.  Anyway, I take the movie to the counter and he's scanning it and starts singing "Here come the dead clowns with the funny outfits and big bulbous noses" in some made up melody.  I was quite shocked at this unexpected tune and looked up at him.  Now I have no idea what look was on my face, but it must not have been an approving look because he goes "Oh I'm sorry...I'm just having a weird day".  I told him it was no problem...I'm just not used to people making up songs about a movie I'm renting and actually found myself starting to laugh.  And no, the story doesn't end with me getting his phone number or anything...I basically just took the movie and left.  It was just an amusing anecdote I wanted to share.  Man that movie sucked so bad.  Although I also got "Pathfinder" which was pretty good if you like a tale of revenge where the child of a Viking is raised by Indians and as an adult helps fight off a band of invading Vikings that like cutting people's heads off.  The funny thing about that one was I watched "300" again this week since it came out on DVD, and I remember critics talking about how bloody it was...which is complete crap.  Considering the amount of kills done in the battle scenes, the blood was nowhere NEAR the level of "Pathfinder".  I honestly think the critics who didn't like "300" gave it a bad review because it actually depicted good and evil...right and wrong...and taking a stand.  I remember reading crap like "this movie doesn't come out at a good time with the turmoil in the middle east" because "it plays on the stereotypes of the savagery of those people and could inflame people in the middle east".  Well boo-hoo.  Now here's my question...and I really think it's an honest one the should be answered by the people with the above mentality - Why is it when a movie comes out depicting a white Christian American as an intolerant racist bigot that no one gets all upset wondering how it will impact white Christian Americans?  However, I think I may know the answer, and that's because the white Christian American won't probably blow up a market in the name of God or slice someone's head off because they are an infidel.  After all, we can't offend people who want to destroy us, right?  It's like the photo that was called "art" where a cross was submerged in piss and no one was too concerned about offending anyone, yet you draw a picture of Mohammed and members of that "peaceful religion" are blowing stuff up.  Exactly when will it sink in with some people that we have an enemy that truly wants us destroyed and is not capable of rational dialogue?  Those that think we can simply be appeasers are either complete morons or traitors...plain and simple.  And if those idiots like Sean Penn and Rosie O'Donnell went to the middle east to meet with terrorists, those cockroaches would have ZERO problem sawing their heads off.  How in the heck did I go from talking about zombie clowns to terrorists?  I guess my ADD is going strong...hahaha.  Ok, so the zombie clowns sucked and "300" is still an incredible film...probably better the second time I saw it because it was too awesome to fully absorb the first time I watched it.

And now for the part where I cram religion down your throat...hahaha.  Seriously though, I've had some experiences and seen some things over the last couple of days that, in my mind, are the work of the TRUE God...not allah.  One thing I haven't really mentioned before is my grandfather.  A couple of weeks ago he was VERY sick...and I honestly thought his days were numbered.  My mom moved my grandparents close to where my parents live right before Christmas from Virginia so she could be closer to them and help take care of them.  I hadn't seen them in about 20 years...very long story...so I've been spending time with them.  A couple of weeks ago my grandfather went to the hospital and the doctors thought he had pancreatic cancer...which is basically a death sentence.  I went to go see him when he was released and it was sad.  Because they can't make the trip of about an hour to come see my house and dogs, I shot some video and took it down there.  I hooked my camera into their TV to show them, and waited literally ten minutes for my grandfather to move from the kitchen to the living room.  For me, it would take about 10 steps, but for him it took 10 minutes using his walker.  It was one of the most depressing things I've witnessed because mentally he's still all there...and I could see the frustration on his face because his body just wouldn't do what he wanted it to do.  So over the last couple of weeks I've been praying for him a lot...and for my mom too.  My mom just went through breast cancer a little over a year ago and to now deal with this was just too much for me.  She suffered enough already, and to know that she spent so much of herself getting her parents down here to deal with this was eating me up.  Well this weekend I made the drive to see my parents and my grandparents.  My grandfather is like a new man.  No cancer, no sickness, no nothing.  The doctors found out it was just a huge surplus of potassium in his body.  Yeah I know...amazing what kind of effect that can have.  He was moving around just fine and everything...honestly it was a miracle even though someone might just say "well I'd call it a coincidence".  I don't see it that way and thank God for answering my prayers.  And to hear my mom's voice on the phone the other night telling me what the problem was, and how my grandfather is like a different person now that he's feeling so much better was an answer to another prayer because she sounded so relieved.  And my mom told me something else when I was talking to her the other night...my dad has quit smoking.  My dad has been a hardcore smoker for about 50 years, and last week just stopped.  It's been almost two weeks and he still hasn't smoked which is honestly a miracle.  I thank God for all His work in my life and the lives of those close to me.  It's all pretty incredible.

And finally, oh yeah, it's time for FOOTBALL!!!  Ah...the Hall of Fame game was this past weekend, and it felt so good to have a live NFL game on TV even if it was just preseason.  Did you see Michael Irvin's speech Saturday night?  In case you don't know, Irvin was a wide receiver for Dallas on all the Super Bowl teams of the 1990's and was inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.  Up until Saturday night, I honestly thought the guy was an arrogant jerk.  All of this was because of how he acted several years ago when he was arrested in a hotel with hookers and cocaine.  His words to the cops were, "Don't you guys know who I am?" and he even wore a mink coat to the trial.  I had no idea the change that took place in his life later on.  His speech was incredible, and if you get some time, type "Michael Irvin speech" into Google and read it.  He opened his speech with a prayer, and went from that.  He had no notes, no statements prepared, no nothing.  He just spoke from the heart.  He broke down in tears towards the end when he was talking about his two sons and said that his job was to now raise his sons so they could get married and be better husbands than he is, and to be better fathers than he is.  He really poured his heart out, and told a short story of a broken man who was given a second chance from God when he decided to look to Him.  He concluded his speech by saying "Look up, get up, and never give up" which I thought was a great line.  Irvin's speech was the talk of a lot of sports radio and TV shows, and really seemed to touch a lot of people.  Contrast this with a "peaceful" religion whose followers fly planes into buildings and blow up markets with innocent people.  When you see true Christianity, you see someone like Michael Irvin admitting what a broken man he is and how much he wants to be a better person and have a positive impact on the lives of others.  When you see true Islam you see hatred of other faiths, oppression of women, people with bombs strapped to them, and the beheading of infidels.  Ask yourself this when you hear someone say that Muslims have their way to God and Christians have theirs - Why would one faith as a whole result in a greater appreciation of life and the other as a whole result in spreading their views by killing people and mutilating women if the same God was being worshipped?  Exactly, it makes no sense.  Ok...back to football now...hahaha.  All I know is Atlanta has their first preseason game Friday night and I can't wait.  Yes, they will be Vick-less...and probably will be for this year if not forever...but I don't care who wears the uniform, I just can't wait to see my beloved Falcons play.  Every weekend from now until February will have football...and that, sportsfans, is completely awesome!

Like I said, I'll be out of town for a while and have no clue when I'll post again.  Until then...LATER!