Yeah, so last night I took my 15 yr old--going on 27--daughter to her very first "official" rock concert. Thanks (good God Almighty...am I actually saying this?) to a videogame called Guitar Hero or Rock Star or something like that....my kids actually are getting to know certain classic rock songs. Well, my daughter is. As I told my wife tonight, the wife has introduced Kelly to a bunch of classic rock artists that she never knew: Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Van Halen, etc etc. The video game introduced Andy to....well, it pretty much introduced Andy to another video game.
So Van Halen was coming to town, and Kellie had been lobbing the hints left and right that she wanted to go and see them, mainly because boyfriend de jour Cory is into them and thinks their awesome and all that. He went to the show last week--she didn't.
Our friends Amanda & Will had gone out and gotten tickets (with nary a thought about Jeff & Kim by the way, but I digress) for the show last night and were all set to go....when fate popped up in the form of a disgruntled neighbor, who went last week and told them that the concert....ya know....sucked. So now their wondering if they really want to go, since they have the two toddlers at home and going out on the best of occasions is a huge hassle for them and do they really want to do that and....ah screw it, lets just sell the tickets to Jeff & Kim.
2 for 1 mind you. You have to teach your greedy friends a lesson.
Oh I'm just kidding. They were incredibly gracious and sold us the two tickets for the price of one. Now Kim has always been all about your Styx and Journey...and never really gave a hoot about Van Halen, and whether or not the band was better with Diamond Dave fronting the group, or if they really had completely pretty much sold out when Sammy Hagar was with the band or.....well, you pretty much get the idea.
So she didn't really want to go. Now my friend Greg, the one that got me the Springsteen tickets for the concert that takes place in April....I had to give him a call and see if he had any interest, since I know that he's always been a big fan...even though he's sort of an older guy and all. (hehe) But Greg told me that he was going to be out of town on business....and that left me one choice for a companion for the evening.
Yep.
Dad and his 15 yr old....going to rock out. Going to bang their heads. The way I looked at it....it would either be an incredible bonding experience between a Dad and his daughter---or one of the worst evenings in my life. Hey, let's roll the dice people!!!
And ya know....just for the record...I don't wanna seem like I'm Mr-Hip-Dad here or anything...but I don't ever, ever, EVER recall my Dad taking my sister to see the Rolling Stones or Led Zepplin or anything like that. So...ya know...I got THAT going for me.
So we head over to the Bank Atlantic Center--home of the incredible-choking-dogs-that-they-are Florida Panthers....but that's another story for another time....and after paying a reasonable $20 for parking (cue the roll of the eyes), we make our way towards the building. I cue my daughter in on all of the, hmm, ya know.....IMPORTANT things that you should know when going to a rock concert.
About how the guys walking up to you holding up two fingers are not peaceniks, but ticket scalpers....about how tonight will be a night where she will see a lot of women roughly her mother's age in black jeans at least one size too small, wearing black boots, and showing off what can only be described as an ample amount of....um....boobage.
And that it was because it was a rock concert...and that the next day, they would be back in their normal clothes and wearing a normal amount of makeup.....and without all the tattoo's showing.
As we walked into the building, I pointed out the merchandise table. The one that had all the Van Halen shirts for $40 and up. The same shirts that she would be able to get at the mall next week for ....ya know, around $15. And then she went to the bathroom, and I stood there wondering what in God's name I was ever going to do if we somehow got seperated and I couldn't find her....but that's how I get sometime. I'm a worst-case-scenario-kind-of-a-guy. And then she reappeared and we made our way to our seats, and I asked her to walk in front of me.....so she wouldn't see me looking at the women in the hot pants, heavy makeup and boots. Hey, I didn't want to ruin her image of me as Mr. Wholesome, ya know?
So we get to our seats....and the opening act is one of Bob Marley's kids. Hey, how cool is that, huh? And he played covers of songs like "No Woman, No Cry" and "I Shot the Sheriff"....and it sounded just like his old man. Pretty cool stuff.
And then we had about a 30 minute wait for the main event of the evening. And then the lights went to black.....the stage lit up....Eddie Van Halen kicked in the opening chords to "Eruption"....and then they launched into "You Really Got Me". And Kellie got to look over at her Dad...and watch him wail on the air drums. Somehow I can't picture a scenario with MY DAD doing that...but again, I digress. A couple of songs later, they kicked into a great version of "Running With the Devil"....and it was the first Van Halen song that Kellie had really heard of....and there we were......our heads bopping back and forth like Wayne & Garth in the car in Wayne's World....flashing the hand sign for heavy metal or hard rock or whatever the hell it is......and she was laughing and enjoying herself as she watched her Dad turn into a goofy kid again....and I realized that this wasn't going to be one of the worst nights of my life, but one of the best.
Well, except for the two guys in front of us that lit up a joint.
Did I mention that? And my daughter....MY DAUGHTER...turns to me and says:
"Do you smell that?"
YES. Yes I smell that Ms. Wisenheimer.
And it was back to the show. Back to watching Eddie VH make amazing sounds come out of his guitar, reminding me in a way of Jackson Pollack in front of a canvas, creating a free form masterpiece with every movement. Back to watching Alex VH pounding the drums with amazing timing and endurance, especially when you consider that the guy is going to be 55 yrs old in a couple of months. Back to watching Eddie's son Wolfgang (yep you non-rock fans, he named his son WOLFGANG) try to hang with one of the greatest rock bands ever on bass, and not being too bad at it either. And finally, back to watching Diamond David Lee Roth, back with the band after an absence of over 20 years....and proving himself to be one of the alltime front men in rock history. What time has taken away from his voice he has maintained as a showman of, dare I say, Jagger-esque proportions.
It was a truly great show and Kellie loved every minute. Even though, as she said walking out of the building:
"My ears are ringing because the music was so loud."
Welcome to Rock-N-Roll my daughter.
While we were driving to the show, I asked Kellie if there was anyone else that she would rather NOT be going to the showwith than me, figuring that going to a rock concert with your Dad had to be a major bummer. She thought about it a second and said....
"Well, maybe Andy....or his friend Nick."
And after a couple of minutes she looked at me and said:
"Ya know, actually your one of the people I think I'd want to most go to the concert with....because I figure even if the show was bad....you do something to make me laugh and I'd end up having a good time anyway."
And I figured that it was about the nicest thing she ever said to me.
Later,
Jeff
Thursday, February 21, 2008
2/21/08---Me, my daughter....and the Brothers Van Halen
2/21/08---A rough couple of weeks
Unfortunately, I've had a rough couple of weeks---hence the lack of an entry.
I'm very sad to inform those of you who may have heard me mention him that my nephew Matthew Karie-Fenton passed away a couple of weeks ago after a long and courageous bout with skin cancer. The melanoma was not picked up until very late because it was basically in the middle of Matt's back and he didn't see it. When his father Mike saw it, he took Matt to the doctor....who told him that it was all ready a stage #4 melanoma. For those of you who don't know what that means....its not good.
Over the course of the last 8 months or so, Matt went to receive different and varying types of treatment...and anyone who's known anyone who had a type of cancer knows that its a grueling experience on the best of days. My mother and sister are both breast cancer survivors, and my father survived a bout with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
That's 3 out of 5 of my original family. I won't lie to you...its something that I think about. So Matt would go to the treatments, taken by either his father or his step-dad Steve..or maybe by his grandmother Mary. Everyone tried their best to put up a good front and stay positive--but I'm sure it is mentally and emotionally exhausting.
Matt finally lost the fight....or, as his Uncle Brian said so eloquently..."he fought the beast that lived inside of him for as long as he could...until he couldn't fight anymore."
I went to Matthew's funeral and I'm ashamed to say that I was worried. I was worried because I wasn't sure how my ex-wife's family would react to my presence. As if they had nothing else in the world to concern themselves with but me being there.
Luckily for me....it took me all of about 4 seconds to get the hell over myself and realize that the day was about Matthew, and not whether or not someone still had lingering bad feelings about me and how my marriage to Matthew's aunt had ended---10 years ago.
Not my best moment.
I went to the casket to pay my respects...and I saw Matthew's Uncle Brian. Smart ass Brian. Wise cracking Brian. That guy wasn't there. He had been replaced by serious Brian. Respectful and mourning Brian. He walked me over to the casket. The casket was still open so that family members could pay their final respects and place different items (flowers, momentos, etc) in with Matthew. Itwas the first time I had seen Matthew in almost 6 months....and I was thunderstruck by his appearence. By what this insidious disease had done to him. I didn't recognize him. It has forever altered my memory of him. When I see Matthew's face now, I won't just see the crazy kid that I knew...I'll see the image of the young man I saw in the casket. And I will never be able to forget it.
My ex-wife came up to me and greeted me, thanking me for coming. It was awkward, which wasn't really surprising I guess. I then made my way over to see Matthew's grandmother, my former mother-in-law. It was the first time we had seen one another in over 10 years, since Kelly & I seperated. I went over and paid my respects, unsure still how she might react to me. I told her how sorry I was about Matthew and gave her a hug. She couldn't have been more gracious. I was again upset with myself for wondering how my presence would cause people to react.
And then Kelly gave the first eulogy to Matthew. She was almost overcome with emotion a couple of times and I silently tried to give her the strength to finish for Matthew. She made me very proud by collecting herself and speaking about her nephew. Kelly's brother Brian then got up and spoke about Matthew and his love for cars. He was what people my age used to refer to as "a gearhead". He spoke some words that were written by Matthew's brother Ian. Their mutual love of cars and racing drew the brothers closer together and Ian wrote that he & Matthew had always wanted, just once, to race one another on a track. Ian wrote that he realized the night before that they never would because "you crossed the finish line ahead of me".
The service was over and people were beginning to go to head over to the house of Matthew's mother Colleen. I've known Colleen for almost 25 years. There are times when she can almost be a stereotype of the fiery Irish woman, quick with her temper and mouth....and yet with a great sense of humor. So the funeral home is clearing out and I'm waiting directly outside the room where the service was held, waiting to see if she or her husband Steve need me to carry anything back to their house. I look around and I see that she is by herself...alone with her thoughts. Its a very personal moment and I almost feel as though I'm intruding just watching. She walks alone over to the casket that bears the body of her 21 year old son. And she lightly places her hand on the casket. I had never seen her look so alone.
Matthew Karie-Fenton was 21 years old and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
Later,
Jeff
I'm very sad to inform those of you who may have heard me mention him that my nephew Matthew Karie-Fenton passed away a couple of weeks ago after a long and courageous bout with skin cancer. The melanoma was not picked up until very late because it was basically in the middle of Matt's back and he didn't see it. When his father Mike saw it, he took Matt to the doctor....who told him that it was all ready a stage #4 melanoma. For those of you who don't know what that means....its not good.
Over the course of the last 8 months or so, Matt went to receive different and varying types of treatment...and anyone who's known anyone who had a type of cancer knows that its a grueling experience on the best of days. My mother and sister are both breast cancer survivors, and my father survived a bout with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
That's 3 out of 5 of my original family. I won't lie to you...its something that I think about. So Matt would go to the treatments, taken by either his father or his step-dad Steve..or maybe by his grandmother Mary. Everyone tried their best to put up a good front and stay positive--but I'm sure it is mentally and emotionally exhausting.
Matt finally lost the fight....or, as his Uncle Brian said so eloquently..."he fought the beast that lived inside of him for as long as he could...until he couldn't fight anymore."
I went to Matthew's funeral and I'm ashamed to say that I was worried. I was worried because I wasn't sure how my ex-wife's family would react to my presence. As if they had nothing else in the world to concern themselves with but me being there.
Luckily for me....it took me all of about 4 seconds to get the hell over myself and realize that the day was about Matthew, and not whether or not someone still had lingering bad feelings about me and how my marriage to Matthew's aunt had ended---10 years ago.
Not my best moment.
I went to the casket to pay my respects...and I saw Matthew's Uncle Brian. Smart ass Brian. Wise cracking Brian. That guy wasn't there. He had been replaced by serious Brian. Respectful and mourning Brian. He walked me over to the casket. The casket was still open so that family members could pay their final respects and place different items (flowers, momentos, etc) in with Matthew. Itwas the first time I had seen Matthew in almost 6 months....and I was thunderstruck by his appearence. By what this insidious disease had done to him. I didn't recognize him. It has forever altered my memory of him. When I see Matthew's face now, I won't just see the crazy kid that I knew...I'll see the image of the young man I saw in the casket. And I will never be able to forget it.
My ex-wife came up to me and greeted me, thanking me for coming. It was awkward, which wasn't really surprising I guess. I then made my way over to see Matthew's grandmother, my former mother-in-law. It was the first time we had seen one another in over 10 years, since Kelly & I seperated. I went over and paid my respects, unsure still how she might react to me. I told her how sorry I was about Matthew and gave her a hug. She couldn't have been more gracious. I was again upset with myself for wondering how my presence would cause people to react.
And then Kelly gave the first eulogy to Matthew. She was almost overcome with emotion a couple of times and I silently tried to give her the strength to finish for Matthew. She made me very proud by collecting herself and speaking about her nephew. Kelly's brother Brian then got up and spoke about Matthew and his love for cars. He was what people my age used to refer to as "a gearhead". He spoke some words that were written by Matthew's brother Ian. Their mutual love of cars and racing drew the brothers closer together and Ian wrote that he & Matthew had always wanted, just once, to race one another on a track. Ian wrote that he realized the night before that they never would because "you crossed the finish line ahead of me".
The service was over and people were beginning to go to head over to the house of Matthew's mother Colleen. I've known Colleen for almost 25 years. There are times when she can almost be a stereotype of the fiery Irish woman, quick with her temper and mouth....and yet with a great sense of humor. So the funeral home is clearing out and I'm waiting directly outside the room where the service was held, waiting to see if she or her husband Steve need me to carry anything back to their house. I look around and I see that she is by herself...alone with her thoughts. Its a very personal moment and I almost feel as though I'm intruding just watching. She walks alone over to the casket that bears the body of her 21 year old son. And she lightly places her hand on the casket. I had never seen her look so alone.
Matthew Karie-Fenton was 21 years old and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
Later,
Jeff
Sunday, February 3, 2008
2/3/08---Who ya got??
Well its that special day here in the United States...that unofficial holiday known as Super Bowl Sunday....or, as I call it....the day before I really go on my diet. I say that because I know I'm going to totally go nuts eating all day, getting ready for the big game.
Before I give you my expert (cough, cough) prediction...a couple of other sports related items....okay, some of you might want to leave.....how about my Florida Panthers?
Having seemingly spent most of the season finding a way to lose games in the most agonizing ways possible, the Panthers finally won 2 straight games in come-from-behind fashion....first of all against former Panther legend Roberto Luongo, who onetime G.M.//complete idiot Mike Keenan traded to Vancouver for a cup of coffee....and we defeated him in a shootout. The next night, we traveled up to Tampa to play our longtime rivals and defeated them by coming from behind and scoring a goal with about a minute and a half left in the game.. Mind you, the Panthers were not exactly known for their prowess in back-to-back games. Let's hope things can continue on an upswing.
Also, how about a small round of applause for the Notre Dame basketball team which, after defeating Depaul yesterday (33rd straight home victory by the way) is now standing at 16-4 and in 2nd place in the Big East? Who'd ever thunk it? The Irish are lead by Luke Harangody, who is sorta like a white Charles Barkley. He's just a load.
And, of course, this Wednesday, Feb 6th...is another unofficial holiday in the U.S....particularly if your a college football fan. Its National Signing Day!!!
Its the first day that high school seniors can sign national letters of intent to play football for the college of their choice. Notre Dame is looking good and hoping their going to finish up with a #1 class. Fingers are currently crossed.
Okay, so tonight its New England going after NFL history by having a perfect season.
The New York Giants are on one hell of a run over the last month and are praying that QB Eli Manning doesn't have the brain freeze that most experts have been waiting for him to have.
My call? New England shakes hand with destiny and is perfect.
New England: 35
New York: 17
Later,
Jeff
Before I give you my expert (cough, cough) prediction...a couple of other sports related items....okay, some of you might want to leave.....how about my Florida Panthers?
Having seemingly spent most of the season finding a way to lose games in the most agonizing ways possible, the Panthers finally won 2 straight games in come-from-behind fashion....first of all against former Panther legend Roberto Luongo, who onetime G.M.//complete idiot Mike Keenan traded to Vancouver for a cup of coffee....and we defeated him in a shootout. The next night, we traveled up to Tampa to play our longtime rivals and defeated them by coming from behind and scoring a goal with about a minute and a half left in the game.. Mind you, the Panthers were not exactly known for their prowess in back-to-back games. Let's hope things can continue on an upswing.
Also, how about a small round of applause for the Notre Dame basketball team which, after defeating Depaul yesterday (33rd straight home victory by the way) is now standing at 16-4 and in 2nd place in the Big East? Who'd ever thunk it? The Irish are lead by Luke Harangody, who is sorta like a white Charles Barkley. He's just a load.
And, of course, this Wednesday, Feb 6th...is another unofficial holiday in the U.S....particularly if your a college football fan. Its National Signing Day!!!
Its the first day that high school seniors can sign national letters of intent to play football for the college of their choice. Notre Dame is looking good and hoping their going to finish up with a #1 class. Fingers are currently crossed.
Okay, so tonight its New England going after NFL history by having a perfect season.
The New York Giants are on one hell of a run over the last month and are praying that QB Eli Manning doesn't have the brain freeze that most experts have been waiting for him to have.
My call? New England shakes hand with destiny and is perfect.
New England: 35
New York: 17
Later,
Jeff
Friday, February 1, 2008
2/1/08---Big night for Andy tonight....he's a black belt!!
So tonight we went to a ceremony where Andy was officially presented his lst degree black belt in tae kwon do. It was a very nice event, complete with a speech from his sister, introducing her brother and talking about what Andy has meant to her.
Triple hanky warning!! His mom had mascara running all over the place.
Kellie stepped up to the podium and spoke:
"Andy, what can I say about you? I know that you have changed a lot over the years.
We started Tae Kwon Do together at Park's and felt like we were learning so much.
Then, we left and came to Self Defense America. Turns out we didn't know all that much about Tae Kwon Do. Master Doty & Master Baldwin taught us so much.
I've seen how Tae Kwon Do has changed you physically and emotionally. I never thought in all my years of living with you that you would ever be able to do everything that you do. I never thought you would be able to push people to keep going like you do now. I never thought you would be able to teach people and help people, in Tae Kwon Do and the real world.
Tae Kwon Do has made you grow as an individual. I've probably seen you grow more than anyone else because I live right across the hall. I know I've never said this, and if you tell anyone at school I said this I'll be very mad at you,....but I look up to you.
Not just because your a good 7 inches taller than me, but because of Tae Kwon Do.
I go to you to help me with my forms and because your good at Tae Kwon Do.
You've turned out to be a lot better at Tae Kwon Do then I ever thought you'd be.
You're leaving in less than a year to go up to college in New Jersey. I know that you will take all that you've learned in Tae Kwon Do mentally and physically and use it wisely.
Andy, you've learned a lot and grown so much. I'm so proud of y;ou, Mom & Jeff are proud of you and I know Master Doty & Master Baldwin are proud of you.
Mom & Jeff love you, and I know I don't say this a lot, but I love you too Andy."
Kellie then turned to Andy.....and bowed. That's what Tae Kwon Do students do to black belts. Even little sisters.
Later,
Jeff
Triple hanky warning!! His mom had mascara running all over the place.
Kellie stepped up to the podium and spoke:
"Andy, what can I say about you? I know that you have changed a lot over the years.
We started Tae Kwon Do together at Park's and felt like we were learning so much.
Then, we left and came to Self Defense America. Turns out we didn't know all that much about Tae Kwon Do. Master Doty & Master Baldwin taught us so much.
I've seen how Tae Kwon Do has changed you physically and emotionally. I never thought in all my years of living with you that you would ever be able to do everything that you do. I never thought you would be able to push people to keep going like you do now. I never thought you would be able to teach people and help people, in Tae Kwon Do and the real world.
Tae Kwon Do has made you grow as an individual. I've probably seen you grow more than anyone else because I live right across the hall. I know I've never said this, and if you tell anyone at school I said this I'll be very mad at you,....but I look up to you.
Not just because your a good 7 inches taller than me, but because of Tae Kwon Do.
I go to you to help me with my forms and because your good at Tae Kwon Do.
You've turned out to be a lot better at Tae Kwon Do then I ever thought you'd be.
You're leaving in less than a year to go up to college in New Jersey. I know that you will take all that you've learned in Tae Kwon Do mentally and physically and use it wisely.
Andy, you've learned a lot and grown so much. I'm so proud of y;ou, Mom & Jeff are proud of you and I know Master Doty & Master Baldwin are proud of you.
Mom & Jeff love you, and I know I don't say this a lot, but I love you too Andy."
Kellie then turned to Andy.....and bowed. That's what Tae Kwon Do students do to black belts. Even little sisters.
Later,
Jeff
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