SO I set off to visit my dear friend Jen for her birthday and attend a Social Distortion concert in Buffal. I left Cleveland at about 3:50 and arrived at Jens' house at 6:30. She lives right near the Peace bridge in Buffalo near the border. I was using my GPS but wound up in the wrong lane headed to Canada. Shit. I got to the Canadian side of the bridge and made a U turn. Now I had to go through immigration. I get to the booth and present my Passport. This was the convo:
Guard: What was your bussiness in Canada?
me: I didnt actually go. I made a wrong turn and went a corssed the bridge but turned right around.
guard: And you just so happen to have your passport?!
me: I am going there on Thursday but I am headed to a friends house in Buffallo.
guard: Have you been to this friends place before?
me: Yes. Twice. But its been a while.
guard: pop your trunk
Guard: what do you do for a living?
me: I am an AV engineer. I install Audio, video, TVs, video conferencing security etc.
guard: and you happen to carry wire and tools with you?
me: Um, yes. Its in there from work.
guard: oh, well I guess that makes sense. get out of here.
Seriously. Whey is it that every time I cross the border, I get molested? Is it because I am by myself? Because of the Russian Visa in my Passport? My nerves in pressure situations? I don't know. But I hope its not like this every time I cross a border. Or this trip will be quite stressfull.
Anyway, I arrive at Jennifers' house around 6: 30. We headed out to a bar that she hangs out at, I drank a miller lite, we had some shots (I had Straight Jager, she had a Jager bomb) and then we headed to the town ball room for the show. We headed inside, picked up our tickets and VIP bracelets. Jen had 2 extra tickets which she went outside to sell. We bought some beers and went in to watch the opening bands. Both were pretty good. I didnt catch their name.
At about 9 pm the lights went down and Social D came out. At the time I was feeling really bummed. Some things didn't go right for me and I am still bothered by it. There is nothing I could have done differently, I know that, but nonetheless, my life isn't all peaches.I have just as many bad days as good one. Then suddenly Mike Ness said something that really made me think. I have such a great oppertunity right now. And I can't let the past ruin my future. So fuck it. I am going to enjoy this.
Later when the band left the stage, we went up front to get a closer look for the encore. There was suprizingly a lot of room up front. I took some videos and pictures.
After the show was over, We went to the Merch table and I bought a Tee Shirt, Jen bought a Picture, a bandanna and a poster. As we walked out she said she wanted to get her stuff signed. The Merch guy said " All I can say is go out by the buses. So we did just that.
We waited probably 10 minutes and the Drummer ,David Hidalgo Jr., came out. He was really friendly. I took a Picture of him with Jen and we talked for a few minutes. She told hiim I came all the way up from Pittsburgh and he said "Oh yeah, we are playing there" I replied "Yeah but I will be in South America then" He said " Oh yeah why are you going there?" I replied " I quit my job to travel for a while. He then said " Well good luck to ya" He was a really nice guy. He chatted with just about everyone that was waiting outside.
Next came the Guitarist, Johnny Wickersham. He didn't say much but I took a picture with Him and Jen and then he walked down the street to a bar.
After that the Basist,Brent Harding came out. He signed a few autographs I told him he played a great show and we each took a picture with him.
Last, out Came the lead singer Mike Ness. He is one of my all time favorite musicians. I shook his hand, told him he played a great show and that I was a huge fan. He replied" Thanks man, thanks for coming out" I siad that I was from Pittsburgh but am going to South America so I wouldnt be around for that show. He asked where all I was going. I said "Machu Pichu, Galopagos Islands, Bolivia, Argintinaand Brazil. He said " Go to Rio De Jeniro. Thats my spot." I said " I certainly will. He replied " Good luck to ya, safe travels, and I'm Jealous" Um what?! Mike Ness.... Is Jelous?! of me?! That made my night!
After all that I definately couldn't go to sleep yet. So we went to this bar called " The pink" and had an awesome steak sandwhich. We had a few beers anc talked for a bit before heading back home. At about 4:30, we finally went to bed. Great day.
