One week already?

Left: I swear, the picture was NOT all about me. Despite me taking up 2/3rds of the frame. We were just sticking to the thirds rule of photography....o.O?

So We've been together for a week. Needless to say, it's been a freaking great week. November 4th was the first day of my awesome week. And seven days later, i'm still happy. That's not a very long while, true, but it's been the happiest seven days i've had in a very VERY long while, so i want to appreciate them for everything that they're worth. Let's start with the morning shall we...?

Today, i woke up and, by force of habit, i looked at the iPhone lying next to my face and tapped phone and touched "Bae!" to call Elizabeth. She answers sleepily and i finally look at the time, which displays 8:38, to the appeasement of Liz. She had woken up a few minutes earlier to her flashing alarm clock and i woke up to...my internal clock ticking? I have no idea. Anyways, i tell her that i'll get ready in a few hours and see her after class. She has a break from 11:45AM to 4:30PM. Yeah, fairly substantial break. So i spend the morning assuaging my uneventful morning by painting a Munny. It's still in the works so i won't describe it yet. But meh, i was trying to get to 11:45 with something to do. Despite it being a holiday, CRC decided to take their holiday yesterday which makes it not Veterans day on campus. Psshaw. However, Liz calls and tells me that her class at 1030 is canceled so i hot-step it on out of the house as soon as i was finished getting ready. And by getting ready i mean, eating, then playing Magic Online for an hour and a half, then taking a quick shower, then breaking for like two seconds, then getting gas and finally driving to CRC.

I get to CRC and we conversate with people until i decide that we should check out the dying star that is the failing Mervyn's near-ish CRC. The whole time driving i tell her that she looks pretty. Meanwhile, she is fussing with her hair because it is upsetting her that it is not the way she wants it to be. I still think she's freaking pretty. We do a little shopping in Mervyn's, i get a pair of Levi's and we talk about being hungry. She eggs me on to finish and just buy the jeans that i've been holding for twenty minutes. I ask her if she likes shopping and she says yes. *Shifty eyes* Lolz. So i eventually stop shopping like a girl and we get outta there. We see Janelle and her boyfriend on the way out and i intro Liz to Janelle and she tells me that she thinks Janelle is pretty. Then i inform her that her and i used to go out...Yeah that was totally the "not awkward" thing to say. STUPID. I then defuse the situation by reminding her that she's totally pretty and not insecure at all. ;3

Right: I totally plant one on her and she writhes in disgust because she realizes that the camera is online. Or maybe it's because i'm kissing her cheek. I don't know which one caused the scrunching of the face.

Meh. So we're in the car and i ask her whether she's been to Mikuni's before. Of course she has, you fool. Lolz. So i take her to Mikuni's and remind her while we're waiting for space that it's the 11th and, therefore, seven days since we first went official. She smiles, i smile, and we both smile.

Left: This is the random beeper that they give to you when you're waiting because it's totally inconvenient to just say that you have space so come over here so we can give it to you. Oh wait, they didn't even light up the beeper ANYWAYS because they DID yell out my name. Oh well...So much for customer consideration?

So yeah, we eventually get our seats and we're talking about how happy she makes me. She is seriously a super-duper-joy-causer. I'm not sure how gay that sounded but she does make me very, very joyful. We have a chef named Andrew when we sit at the bar. He's cheerily having a conversation with the guy next to us, who is, strangely, speaking in a different language. Perhaps Japanese? I have no clue. What i do know is that i didn't understand him. The waiter came and told us that we could order now, like i totally didn't already know that. So i order Liz and i a Peter 2 roll and a Train Wreck, which coincidentally is what she wanted. We talk about how fast this week has gone by and how our relationship feels like we've been together for a long time. There is a word for that, bae, and that word is Comfortable. :D

We get our food and have a grand old time with the sushi. She concedes to me that she likes my pick better (Go Peter 2!). It's funny watching her eat because the pieces are really big, perhaps too big for her mouth? Furthermore, it's even funnier because she is slightly inept at chopstick usage. ;3 And even more, we get Miso soup and it's too hot for her! Oh, POOR baby!

Left: Elizabeth, aka Bae, is having some trouble with her Miso soup. Seriously, she took like five minutes taking this first sip and i got to center the picture, make it my background, take it off my background, take another picture of the same scene, then make THAT my new wallpaper. That is serious babe.

She was seriously in some trouble when she tried to take a sip of the Miso. Like she looked like she was trying to figure out which way to take a sip because, as she confessed beforehand, she doesn't drink soup from the bowl, only with a spoon. So i suppose that it's fair that she feels awkward about going headfirst into a bowl of Miso. xD She even called me out when i poured soy sauce into mine. But it's ok, for i am a weird person with strange tastes. So midway through our meal, i start to go paparazzi on our plates of unfinished rolls. Here is the product of my mayhem:


Left:This is Lizzy's side of the Sushi bar. As you can see it is tidy and space is being taken up by the platter of Train Wreck. And of course my hand is rooming in with the Miso soup adjacent to the Platter of Train Wreck.






Right: And of course, this is my side of the Bar. Meh. Sloppy and unkempt. Random plates of soybeans and a platter of eaten Ebi tails. At least the smeared sauces look tantalizing, even after they've been partially eaten. The Miso soup is once again encroaching on the platter's space. Peter 2 Platter PARTY!





Left: This is Liz, once again taken due to her inability to go gung-ho on her Miso. She does a little giggle while i take the picture because i blew on it so now it's no longer hot due to my crazy Iceman powers. Take that, heat, I'm cool like Jack Frost.





So a lot of mayhem ensues and we drive back to CRC. I've got class at 215 however and i rush into class after she walks me to the auditorium. I get out at 3 because i just want to see her and we go to a barbecue at my friend, Boog,'s house. There are people playing NBA 2k9 and supposedly the Kings rock out against the Cavaliers in a nail biter. There's chicken and rice and a whole bunch of other meats, and even some vegan love because i spot a Gardenburger box. Empty too. So i regret to inform them that we just ate and are going back to class because Liz has a class at 430, which i then escort her to. I meet up with her after my 530 class, which gets out at 7; unfortunately she also has a class at 7, so i rush out of class to meet her. We have a little chat before i take her to her last class.

I tell her that she makes me ridiculously happy and i'm lucky to be with someone like her. Too bad that also sounds like a line to her and tells me about her past. I retort back with some, "Then i won't be like those guys then, will i?" I also state that we're going to be together for a really long time, and she says oh really? YES REALLY! I can really see myself with her for a very long time. She makes me happy, and she understands my needs and wants. She's an amazing, beautiful, woman whom i would be glad to spend many days with just chatting and walking, hand-in-hand, as the sun sets or rises or is just high in the air. I am very, very happy.

Happy one week bae!
-Matt.Abero

One of the Best Days in a while?

Election Day, November 4th, was a very great day for me.
Obama was elected with a landslide victory of 364 electoral votes to McCain's 162.
I got to eat sushi with Eevee.




I got to eat Tacos (Taco Tuesday FTW) with Eevee.






I got to ask Eevee out.











I got to go to class late, with the only consequence being that i had to sit front and center of the auditorium and i was taken photos of with a flash, then those pictures were cast across a screen in front of the class. I tried to take a picture of the picture but it was extremely dark in that auditorium. I looked like a creepy pedophile, and i had just kissed Eevee, so my lips had an awkward sheen that the professor pointed out, as well as the sheen coming from the oil on my nose. Thanks prof. On the bright side, i didn't stop smiling.

I got to spend a lot of time with Eevee that day, even skipping English class to just stay in the car with her and talk about the past and about life in general and what her favorite things were.
I got to have a tickle fight w/ Eevee. I won. She let me win.
I got to talk to John about life, crammed into the span of ten minutes (15 whatever.)
I got to breakdance that day with Exclusive. I love sessioning with my crew. They're my other other family.

So basically, i'm no longer single, Obama was elected president, and i'm excited for the change that is going to happen in my life. I'm no longer really looking to the past for what i need to do anymore. Now i can just let things happen...spontaneously.
Like this.

Halloween is FreeCandyDay

My iPhone is dead, so i'm going to post my thoughts on Halloween, but without pictures, unfortunately.

I spent the day working from 7-3:30pm. I was Dave, from the Office. Jim was Dave for Halloween. Enough said.

I left promptly at 3:30 because i was excited to go trick or treating. There were actually a lot of festive state workers in the building. There was a Druid lady in the elevator as i went to go get a donut. There was a ballerina on the 10th floor. And of course, I was the only dressed up one on my floor. Everyone else on my floor was a disgruntled state worker. Fairly good costumes, i think.

I left the building and saw no other people dressed up. Just some kids with their parents who had their costumes on already, waiting for the nighttime so they could celebrate Free Candy Day.

I saw a guy riding his bike with Red Spiky hair and piercings. I guess it's totally rad when you're 20, but fucking pathetic when you're 33.

I get home and my brother is not in the mood to go receive free candy. I tell him its a Celebration of Free Candy! How can you NOT be in the mood?

I eventually talk him into it after thrashing him in some heads-up Poker. Fair enough. He's 11. I'm old.

I go upstairs and talk to Liz about plans for Halloween night. We're going to take the kids trick-or-treating around 6 or 7ish. We text for a while then Joseph says that he doesn't have a costume. OH SNAP.

I rummage around his room looking for some hope of awkward clothing choices in order to find a costume. I find a small white T shirt and a suit jacket. I guess he's going to be Michael Jackson (?).

We meet up with Elizabeth and do some crazy Trick-or-treating with her siblings/cousins and it rains on us semi-frequently. But i guess that doesn't stop people from wanting their Free Candy. The only thing that did prevent us from getting candy was...the houses running out of candy by 8:30ish. Meh.

At least i got to spend time with Liz and her family. And Joseph. Overall, a pretty hectic night, but well worth the effort spent. Free candy fills my heart. And so does Liz. ;D

Speaking of Liz, she's the light of my life right now. I'm happy to have her and i can't wait until she's really mine. I haven't been this happy in a while. Kind of reminds me of "Stuttering" by Ben's Brother. Look that up when you get the opportunity. Imeem.com works wonders.

;D
Keep Smiling,
Matt.Abero

My heart is full right now.

Some good times have arrived in my life.
Breakdancing is good to me right now, and it's made my heart full with happiness.

I mean, that playlist i was working on to the right really had me jumping for joy. I literally hopped out of my seat and danced. Dancing is fun to do when there's no one around because you can be who you want to be. Seriously. My heart is so full right now.

Despite me going through some weird times, i'm having good ones too. This is really strange(r than fiction). But, i think that i'm out of my slump.

Wow. I said it. I'm out of my slump. I'm no longer in a deep valley with no end in sight. The drum and bass beats really make my heart beat. BEAT BEAT BEAT!

Go and be merry people! Let your heart out of your chest and GO!
Let things happen! Let spontaneity get the best of you!
Make your life better! Make everything better!

Ok, enough optimism, i'm going to finish this stupid paper.
Thanks for reading my offbeat blog.

-Matt.Abero

That would be referred to as, "Shitty."

My car was "SMOKIN'!"
And by "SMOKIN!" i mean, its engine really was overheated and was smoking and was probably on fire for a quick second.

Yeah. I did get the irresponsibility tirade from the parents.
I need a new car by...
SOON.
Damn.
Now i know how people who have no means of transportation feel like...again.

On the bright side, i just rediscovered a lot of friends with blogspots.
And they're freaking funny. Thanks Jodz. Those .GIFs really made my day. Especially the freaking Palin one...

She is such an idiot.
I was watching the Daily Show yesterday and they were trying to discern the difference between "Real America" and "Anti-America."
Since when was reality an issue of Infinite Crisis?
Daily Show 10/20/08


I absolutely loved his bashing on Right-Wing propaganda and useless tactics to sway middle-class voters. And Wasilla. Damn, that was good. Alaskan Independent Party!? Wow. That's absolutely hilarious.

Well, that's fair and dandy, but i've got to solve my car problems soon. Anyone got a hookup on a fairly cheap 240sx or anything of that quality? I've got 3k to spend and i'm willing to spend around that.

Meanwhile,
I've been bored as hell at work. Someone save me from that 6 square foot prison with something amazing to look at on their blogs or whatnot. My iPhone is my only source of sanity in that hellhole. Please help.

;D
-Matt.A

Pains in the Body and Mind

I love breakdancing.
I hate breakdancing.

Ok, today was an eventful, yet uneventful day.
I've got aches and pains over my shoulders and arms and hands and hips and calves. etc.
I've also got a sore mouth.

I hate braces.
I obviously don't love braces.
I have rubber bands now.

Practicing for breakdancing is wholly fulfilling and entirely painful in the following hours and days. Despite feeling progress happening, there is a lot of tumultuous agony in the following.
I don't feel like writing entire paragraphs, the way i am wont to do.
I blame it on the unpleasant soreness in my mouth due to a visit to my local orthodontist.
Ahhhhhh. Is the sound my mouth makes.

Another pain arises and makes itself known: the pain of emotional torment

My mind has been suffering lately and no, not because of midterms.
I put myself through excruciating distress because i am in love.
Though torturous and harrowing, i take in this pain because it is so near and dear to me.
It is so hard, yet so enticingly easy to fall in love, and then you realize.
You realize that, no matter how painful or agonizing, when that love is one-sided, you cannot fall out of love. No matter how hard you may try.

I miss the feeling of love.
It grips me at night, in the solace of my pillows and tears me to shreds. Every single night of loneliness.
I may not look the part, but i am a hopeless romantic and a horrible Romeo.

It's an offbeat thought, i must admit, especially following my weekend of extreme excitement; but alas, the person who i wished to share it with, whom i told of my escapades later, really wished she could've accompanied me.
I felt a pull on my heartstrings when she said that. Not only because i'm madly in love, but because i'm madly in love with her.

Sheesh.

One song encompasses what i'm feeling right now:
Details in the Fabric.

"If it's a broken part, replace it
If it's a broken arm, then brace it
If it's a broken heart, then face it..."
-Jason Mraz.

And sure enough, i will face it. Friday. My heart is broken in more ways than i can mend, maybe even in more ways than any person can mend. But i know who i am. I can hold my own. I know that, despite the agonies of life and love, everything should be fine.

But nothing is fine. Nothing is alright.

"I'm signing myself up for suicide,
So take a ride, Yes, just take a ride on,
The roller coaster of life and love,
We'll be looking down while looking up,
Our Hearts are below but our hands are above,
And neither of us knows...What's up."
-Matt.A

FOXY [DTF!!!] or "I Opened for Dashboard Confessional and All I Got Were These Awesome Pictures!"

So here's the story. In it's entirety. Of the most amazing night I've ever had, in my entire life, basically EVER.

It all started Saturday evening, with me being at a debut practice. I get a text from my friend with the awesome Mohawk in the above picture.

Ian "Hey How You Doin'!?" Finch: Dude! Call me asap. Super ugent! Lol. Nothing bad. something super exciting. Call me!!

And sure enough, a couple hours after receiving the text, i am curious enough to call. I call around 6 or 7ish because i was in practice. He asks me what i'm doing tomorrow, Sunday the 12th. I answer the penultimate answer of boredom, "Nothing." He cracks my weekend wide open, telling me that he's got tickets to the Panic! at the Disco/Dashboard Confessional concert. Plain White T's and the Cab are also performing. Obviously, i'm a total crazy freak for Panic! and Hands Down is one of the best songs on acoustic guitar that i've heard, besides Wonderwall, Wonderwall, More Than Words, and Wonderwall. I say, "Hell Yes, Muthaeffer." I wonder if he wants to wear the outfit that we both coincidentally happened to buy at American Eagle, on the same night, complete with matching banana boxers. I also ask him if i can bring a friend, because after hearing that a certain person had fallen deeply in love with Chris Carrabba and Dashboard Confessional, i wondered if an offering of an amazing night with her future husband would allow her to spend time with me.





In the mirror at American Eagle in Natomas.
Me: This is not awkward at all.
[Borat voice]: "This suit is-a NAHHHT GAY!"





I am excited the whole night, for the next night, and bring my brother with me to my friend's house to chill till' 11, watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall drooling over Kristin Bell and Mila Kunis. I return him home at 11, as promised to my parents, and attempt to find something late night and spicy.

Ok, i got Taco Bell, and brought Bam Bam back to his house. I ended up playing Bioshock till 6, not falling asleep until 7:33. Yes, i realize that was ridiculous. At least it wasn't Call of Duty 4. ;3

I wake up to some commotion in the kitchen and everyone is cooking breakfast. I look at the clock and i had been asleep for 3 horas. Great. Bambino gets a call on his house phone, and it is BeTo, asking if Bammers could accompany him and two others for some Rock Band tournament action at Best Buy; Winner of the tournament would get a limo ride to, coincidentally, the Dashboard/Panic! concert, and would furthermore play a set on Rock Band 2 onstage, in front of thousands of people. Unfortunately Bam was unavailable to do it, by way of him not being of legal age. T_T However, i was presently very willing, despite the fact i had tickets already.

Notwithstanding, the whole previous night i attempted to send texts to the person i wanted to bring to the concert, being luckless at the attempt and receiving no texts back. Meh.

I meet up with the rock band....band(?) at 3:20 and we discuss tactics. We agree on doing flips and being really cool. That's a good tactic, i hear. We proceed to do a practice game and we do The Middle, by Jimmy Eat World. I hold back, but everyone else goes crazy getting 90s and i with a 78%. I said TONE IT DOWN! lolz. But we hang back before the competition starts and we decide on playing Linkin Park's One Step Closer. We perform as Mom's Favorite, the name created by BeTo. We get on and i am the singer, getting ready for the flips and the song. The song starts and when the drums come in, i do an aerial from stage left to stage right, which is how small the area is...Even with moving the drum set like All the way into the corner, i still almost got a foot in the big screen tv. ;D But it still felt good. And when it came time to the "Shut Up" part of the song is when we decided to set up me flipping over the guitarist's back. Yes, it was amazing. I must admit. We get a 100% a 99% a 94% and a 91%, which is great, and we get 175 style points, which i am slightly steamed about, because the maximum was 200. What!? Jumping over your bandmates and maintaining a 99% isn't good enough for awesome, huh? Our score is 562 and we have to take it. The next band is named Hoopty Doopty and the Dump Trucks. Yeesh. Their drummer looks like Dwight from The Office, their bassist looks like the illegitimate child of the 70s and Hawaii, wearing White slacks, white platform shoes, a red Hawaiian shirt, and for the piece de resistance, a black painter's hat. If he had the goatee of the singer, he'd be rocking the 50s look even HARDER. But apparently, doing well in the game and doing tricks while performing is menial compared to looking like David Bowie or Disco Stu. I was on tilt. When it was all over, we were second because Hoopty and the Dump got the maximum amount of style points. Yeesh. Ok enough of a segue, let's get to the nitty gritty.

I was pissed and left the tournament screaming at the social injustice that had just ensued. That's MY DREAM!!!
i wanted to play on the same stage as Chris Carrabba and Panic! at the Disco!!! All over some horrible looking shoes.

So i proceed to ask Bam to come, which he happy obliges to accompany me. We drive to Arco Arena around 6ish, and we meet up with Ian, and other friends, Drew and Tyler. I'm telling them the heartbreak that is life, explaining what had happened at Best Buy and the stupid 2nd place. They're like, it's ok dude, we're here and we're going to watch them anyways. Mid-sentence, i stop them and look to my right after we're all inside Arco. There's a sign that says, "Rock Band 2 Experience! Audition and get a chance to perform onstage live!"

Thank you! THANK YOU GOD!!!

I announce that God has given me a second chance and convince the guys that we can do this. Obviously, we all play Rock Band, so there was no second thought. Everyone knew that this would be an awesome thing whether we won or not. So, we signed up for a practice round first. And guess what our band name was?

DTF!!!

hehehehe.
Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. No, you don't have a dirty mind for thinking it.

Anyways, so Ian comes up with the name and we play a few practice games. Just some boring things to get used to the game before we go for the real deal. I'm just getting my head back into playing after the devastating loss that happened earlier, still wearing the lanyard i got from best buy that said, "Rock Band - Musician." So we go up to do the actual live audition, and we get one practice song before we've got to perform the real song for them. So, i convince them that we should do Linkin Park again, because that's the only song i like to do. They're like, but dude, Lit makes a good song too. FUCK, I REALLY DON"T LIKE THAT SONG.

Anyways, before we're about to do the actual audition, the auditioner(?) comes up to me and says, "Hey you performed at Best Buy earlier didn't you?" and i just thought it was some chill comment like, hey that's cool. But actually the intent was much more sinister. I answer, yeah, how did you know? It's because i'm still wearing the lanyard and it's swinging around like an elephant trunk or a badge of honor. He says that because i auditioned earlier, i can't do another audition!

FUCK!

What the hell! No freaking way is this happening again. He's explaining that if i did audition earlier in the day, that i can't do another, because then EVERYONE who auditioned earlier should get another chance to perform. I'm begging him that this is my dream man, don't break it into thousands of pieces! So he goes away for a second while we're contemplating what the FUCK the rest of the band's going to do. They need another singer, who is as crazy as me, with the freaking passion. Unfortunately Bam STILL can't do any entertaining because he is still a minor. Freaking fracking frackcaloo. But sure enough, Mr. Rock Band Roadie comes back and tells me, "Alright, here's the deal. You hide that lanyard, make sure i don't see you wearing it, and you can audition again."

TOUCHHHHDOWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNN BROWNNNNNSSSSS!!!


Lolz. After a sigh of relief, i throw the lanyard to Bam and we continue our rampage of rock through the audition. More jumping, more screaming, more Linkin Parking. Etc. We wait in anxious expectation, because a lady will be back with the results. I'm like hopping in anticipation of what the results are going to be because after that heartbreak at Best Buy, and not being able to bring that certain someone, I'm totally down for some amazing news. Sure enough, the lady comes back with a whiteboard and some writing on it.

The Band that will play onstage is...
*flips whiteboard*
DTF!!!

*uproar from us in the crowd*
I'm jumping everywhere and running around like i'm Speedy Gonzales, or a hyperactive child that is learning that peeing in the bushes in much more fun than peeing in a toilet. Or something like that. We get briefed on what will happen later when we're going to perform. Behind us, though, Plain White T's is already doing their set. Oh well. I didn't really come to see them anyways. So we wait around for the main backstage person, while i'm breaking in the pavilions to get rid of my extra energy. Hehehehe. Plain White T's is playing a song i recognize, which is very appropriate to the situation...


FINALLY IT"S OUR TIME NOWWWWWWWWW!!!

Yeah, that's pretty funny. We can only take one person backstage with us, so we bring Ian's sister, whom he has to take care of. I say sorry Bam, but you're not meeting Chris today.
While we're waiting around for more briefing, i notice that the band that freaking beat me today is playing on the audition stage, without a singer. I motion to the band telling Ian, Drew, and Tyler, "That's Fucking Them." We're dogging on them because their singer is nowhere to be seen, the guy is STILL wearing those freaking David Bowie platforms, and Dwight still looks like Dwight. "They're horrible, dude they actually kind of suck." and etc.
Finally, the coordinator comes over and tells us to gather, both us and Hoopty Doopty. He tells us what the protocol will be; we're going to follow him to the service elevator and we're going to get even more briefing there. So we're walking and i'm excited and anxious and nervous as hell. But i don't want to betray those feelings to my bros. We get downstairs and it's really the downstairs of Arco. Wow. It's big down here. This lady has the final explanation of everything and tells us what the exact protocol and regulations that we have to follow. Just because we're backstage doesn't mean we get to go willy-nilly and greet every artist we see. We can't stop them for pictures or autographs and basically we're only backstage so that we can segue into the mainstage. Meh. So we're walking to the actual stage and we're hugging and jumping and getting all excited trying to get the butterflies out. Dude. We're going to have fun, and we're going to be rock stars. Holy jeez. We see the cab's dressing room and pass by, uneventfully. So DTF gets backstage first. They ask us what DTF stands for and obviously we say, "It stands for Drew, Tyler, and Finch. I'm just the exclamation points because i'm the energy!"

Right. ;3


We're waiting backstage while Plain White T's is finishing up their set and we're just taking it all in. The enormity of the situation is absolutely breathtaking. This is the silhouette of the backstage while we're trying to swallow our fear of choking.
i remember us just hugging and being brothers, just reveling in the moment of success, and the fact that we're here. We've made the big time. Finally it's OUR time now.


So the Plain White T's finish singing Hey There Delilah and they start to come backstage. Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to get autographs or pics so we just say, "Great Job, Guys!" They're very humble and just say, thanks guys. Wow. We just said what's up to Plain White T's. I'm already feeling like a rock star.So we finally get our chance to get on stage. Holy jeez. It's bright as hell up there. We're getting familiarized with the stage. Damn, that drum set looks CRAZY! We walk around the Rock Band Kit, and i look into the crowd.
Oh. My. Savior. Thousands of faces of people standing shoulder to shoulder on the floor and hundreds more in the seats. I'm blown away. And even more, when we've picked up our instruments and get ready to Rock Band it up, multiple girls in the crowd scream and yell, "Oh SHIT, those guys are HOT!" I oblige the comment with a wink to the girl and a wave to the crowd. The girl and the rest of the crowd screams. I feel like a Rock Star. Oh S#!7. So the announcer is talking and his name is "Ridiculous"... Meh. I've heard worse. *Cough*HooptyandtheDump*cough* So we choose One Step Closer, by Linkin Park. We choose the difficulty. Oh my God, this is really happening. [I'm shaking in my seat, right now as i'm typing this into the Blog. Even just thinking back and recalling how i felt is making me shake with nervousness and anxiety. I was living my DREAM.] And the song starts...


[Enter Awesome Pictures Mode (Thanks Megan!)]

DTF!!! *SCREAMS*

This is us getting situated. Onstage. Opening for Dashboard Confessional. Supposedly we're hot. I do a little toprock to let some butterflies loose. I get a cheer from the crowd. ;D
"I Cannot Take This Anymorrrrreeeeeeee..."
"All These Thoughts They Make No Sense..."

"Just like beforeeeeeeee."

EVERYTHING YOU SAY TO MEEEEEEEE!!!!

We're finally comfortable on stage and rocking it.

I, uh, got really into it and threw my hat. That's what happens when you're a rock star.

I Find Bliss in Ignorance!

SHUT UP WHEN I"M TALKING TO YOU!!!!!!

[/Awesome pictures mode]

All in all, our dreams came true. We saw the rest of the show. No one liked the band, Hoopty Doopty and the Dump Trucks, that came on after us. They were WACK comparative to our stature in the audience's eyes. And i felt amazing. So did the rest of DTF!!!. We walked off feeling like effing HEROES. Well, i did anyways. I gave some lucky girl my hat. And we performed in front of thousands of people. And we opened for DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL!!! OMG. I feel like a rock star just saying that.

Well, thanks to the guys in DTF!!!, Ian, Drew, and Tyler. I couldn'tve done it without you guys because then we wouldn't be DTF. We'd be something stupid.
Thanks to the auditioner guy who let me audition anyways, you're a beast.
Thanks to BeTo for calling me a couple hours before the Best Buy tournament. What a pal.
Thanks to Bam Bam for letting me play Bioshock until 7 in the morning. I got to see the sunrise.
Thanks to Arco Arena for being a "Foxy" place to be. Chris Carrabba says Foxy when describing Sacramentans.
Thanks to Rock Band 2 for making our dreams come true.
Thanks to the Cab, Plain White T's, Dashboard Confessional, and Panic! at the Disco for coming to Arco to play for everyone in the area. You guys are swell.
And Thanks God, for letting me play onstage with my friends and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I had fun. A whole lot of fun. This is perhaps the greatest moment of my short life and i'm going to live it UP until people forget that i opened up for Dashboard Confessional. A lot of newfound confidence and emotions have sprung up that i wouldn't have tapped into if it weren't for this. I am so amazed and blessed by what had happened that night, and i know i'll NEVER EVER forget it.

-Sincerely your Rock Star,
Matt.A [DTF!!!]






P.S.
I love you, Jo(h)n for renewing my love for Dashboard Confessional. Hands Down, you are one of the best persons I know. Besides Jesus. Jo(h)n, i don't know if you know it, but you're my hero. And i don't know if i care how you feel, because i know how i do. *sigh* Never fall in love with someone who doesn't love you.