The Journey

A pictoral summary of my words on this page, to date. Ratio proportionate to word frequency. From Wordle: http://www.wordle.net/

SWEET!

In Austin, Oct. 3&4 at Cactus Cafe.
In Houston, Oct. 11, at Warehouse Live
in Denver, Oct. 18, at Soiled Dover Underground
In Dallas, Nov. 21 & 22, at House of Blues.

Ahhh...sweet college day memories of crushing on Jack O'Pierce with Sandra.

Warm gentle Texas rain brought this JoP song to mind tonight:

Silent rows of strength the men stood clear
The fog clung to the ground
To the sounds it could hear
The footstep, the hoof beat, the steel under sky
The whistle, the birdcall, the severe look in the eyes

He's nineteen years old, he's got a gun at his side
The more he looks around he knows the president lied
Seduced him, reduced him appealed to the man
With vivid colored fliers and bright arm bands

They will meet them in the trenches
But they won't meet eye to eye
Looking down the barrels the opposition will cry
There's hatred in the morning, blood flows in the day
They will all return home and
The skies will give way for

Rain, it flows down
Cleansing, freedom, children
Rain

Last time I heard this in person was in College Station, and they played it at the end 
of the show, as the sky opened into a deluge.  It was awesome.  =)

I'm *hoping* there are more dates that just aren't published yet, that are closer to TX.  But if not, does anyone wanna buy me a ticket to NYC for May 21 or 22?  =)  I would say Tampa in June 1, but I have to be in CO the next day...

DREAM THEATER'S “PROGRESSIVE NATION 2008”
featuring OPETH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and 3

North American Tour Dates

Please note that the Progressive Nation 2008 show in Richmond, VA will begin at 7pm (doors at 6pm) - which is an hour earlier than the current tickets state.

Date		Location	Venue
Tue	Apr 29, 2008	Mexico City, Mexico	National Auditorium *
Fri	May 02, 2008	Los Angeles, CA	Gibson Amphitheater
Sat	May 03, 2008	Oakland, CA	Paramount Theater
Mon	May 05, 2008	Seattle, WA	Wamu Theater
Tue	May 06, 2008	Vancouver, BC	Orpheum
Fri	May 09, 2008	Calgary, ALB	Macewan Hall
Sat	May 10, 2008	Calgary, ALB	Macewan Hall
Mon	May 12, 2008	Minneapolis, MN	Myth
Tue	May 13, 2008	Chicago, IL	Rosemont Theater
Wed	May 14, 2008	Detroit, MI	The Fillmore
Fri	May 16, 2008	Columbus, OH	LC Amphitheater
Sat	May 17, 2008	Cleveland, OH	Time Warner Amphitheater @ Tower City
Sun	May 18, 2008	Albany, NY	The Armory
Tue	May 20, 2008	Boston, MA	Orpheum Theater
Wed	May 21, 2008	New York, NY	Terminal 5
Thu	May 22, 2008	New York, NY	Terminal 5
Mon	May 26, 2008	Washington DC	DAR Constitution Hall
Tue	May 27, 2008	Richmond, VA	The National
Wed	May 28, 2008	Atlanta, GA	Tabernacle
Fri	May 30, 2008	Miami, FL	The Fillmore
Sat	May 31, 2008	Orlando, FL	Hard Rock
Sun	Jun 01, 2008	Tampa, FL	Ruth Eckerd Hall
Wed	Jun 04, 2008	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Coliseo of Puerto Rico *

* the Mexico and Puerto Rico dates will be Dream Theater with special guests Between The Buried And Me (Opeth and 3 will NOT be appearing on these 2 dates)

New York progressive metal pioneers DREAM THEATER are set to unveil their maiden voyage of "PROGRESSIVE NATION". A package tour they will headline that will also feature the talents of OPETH, 3 and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

The tour is the brainchild of DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy who explains: "I've been wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the festivals and package tours that go through America, I've been talking with our manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk"

While DREAM THEATER co-headlined 2005's GIGANTOUR along side MEGADETH, as well as embarking on previous co-headlining runs with both QUEENSRYCHE and JOE SATRIANI, they have primarily built their 22 year career on the road playing solely to their own audience. Portnoy comments: "I've always prided myself on personally hand picking new and exciting opening acts for DREAM THEATER in the past. Bands such as PORCUPINE TREE, SYMPHONY X, SPOCK'S BEARD, FATES WARNING, PAIN OF SALVATION and KING'S X. In all of these cases, it was important for me to pick bands that I admire and respect but also ones that I know our fans will enjoy. And I think playing with DT has helped expand all of those band's fanbases as a direct result. I am hoping PROGRESSIVE NATION will continue to do the same thing in offering an audience for more daring and experimental acts that otherwise may not get the mainstream exposure they so rightly deserve."

Joining the bill for this inaugural run is Sweden's legendary OPETH who have been enjoying an ever-growing and expanding audience of their own for many years now. DT's Roadrunner Records label-mates will be ready to unleash their new album come next spring and PROGRESSIVE NATION should be a great launching pad for their next World Tour cycle. Guitarist/Vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt adds: "We're very excited about this upcoming tour with DREAM THEATER. It will be the first tour that we're doing in support of our upcoming record, and also somewhat of a dream come true personally as I've been a fan of theirs for a long time. It's quite intimidating to be on the bill with such amazing musicians but obviously we'll try and give them a run for their money and pull out a few nice licks of our own. I guess we'll need to practice a little bit for this....how boring! Yet, I can't wait for this tour to start and I'm sure we'll have a blast with the DT guys as well as together with the other bands on the bill!"

Also on the bill with their unique blend of pop, funk and hard rock is upstate New York's 3 who issued the following statement: "3 is very pleased to announce its participation in the PROGRESSIVE NATION tour. For well over a decade DREAM THEATER has been the vanguard of progressive rock and we are completely psyched to flex with these heavyweights, playing much of our new record "The End is Begun". This package will rock and awe fans everywhere as one of the most important tours of the year. It's a progressive way of music, a progressive way of life....welcome to the PROGRESSIVE NATION tour."

North Carolina's BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME are enjoying rave reviews and critical acclaim for their latest CD "Colors" and are looking forward to sharing the stage each night with both DREAM THEATER and OPETH. Vocalist/Keyboardist Tommy Rogers comments: "We are very excited to be touring with two bands that have been such an integral part of our musical upbringing. It is a wonderful opportunity to have our music heard by new ears."

DREAM THEATER are currently in the middle of their "Chaos In Motion" World Tour which has already traveled extensively throughout Europe and North America in support of their latest Roadrunner Records CD "Systematic Chaos". The World Tour will continue throughout 2008 hitting Asia, Australia and South America before concluding with PROGRESSIVE NATION returning to North America in April/May 2008.

Portnoy hopes that this first venture of PROGRESSIVE NATION will prove to be a success that can enable himself and DREAM THEATER to continue the package into future years and begin a tradition that musicians and fans alike can count on for quality musicianship and artistic integrity on future tours.

ONE NATION, UNDER PROG...
www.progressivenation2008.com

~squee!~

Which means that I have 5 months to read the last two books of the Baroque Cycle.  I had just started the second one in 2005 when everything went upside down.  And it turns out I need brain cells to read Stephenson. 

I am *so excited*!
September Stephenson
November climbing in Mexico

If you can't climb a mountain, climb a hill
Anything's better than standing still
Wherever there's a way there's a will
Little by little, you get there.

Not sure who it's by, but Sifu Cory told it to me.  (Thanks, Cory!)

If you haven't seen it, this is the lecture given by Dr. Randy Pausch.  When diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, he gave this final lecture to his Carnegie Mellon students:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7420438128338127129

So one of my favorite fellow-students, a young lady with all sorts of attitude and style, gave me a high compliment when she sent this email to me today:

http://www.bookmooch.com/

"Meaty" Vegan Lasagna

Tofu filling: 

3/4 lb. firm tofu 

1/2 T onion powder 

1/2 t. salt 

1/2 t. basil 

1/4 t. garlic powder

 

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) Filling:

7/8 cup boiling water

1 cup TVP granules

1 t. olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t. basil

1/2 t. oregano

1 T soy sauce

 

4 cups Marinara Madness or regular spaghetti sauce

12 uncooked lasagne noodles (1/2 lb.)

4 oz. Rice Dreams rice mozzarella cheese, grated

 

*You can use low-fat tofu and soy/rice cheese.

To prepare the tofu filling, blend all the ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.

 

To prepare the TVP filling, pour the boiling water over the TVP granules, and let stand for about 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, saute the onion, green pepper, garlic, basil, and oregano in the olive oil.  Add the hydrated granules and soy sauce, and stir-fry for a few minutes.

 

Prepare the oven to 350 degrees.  To assemble the lasagne, boil the noodles according to the directions on the package, and drain. 

1. Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce over the bottom of a 9"x13" pan.  Cover the sauce with 4 cooked lasagne noodles.

2. Spread the tofu filling evenly over the noodles.  Cover with 4 move cooked lasagne noodles.

3. Spread out about 1 1/2 cups sauce, then spread the TVP filling evenly over the layer of sauce.  Cover with 4 more noodles, and the rest of the sauce.

 

Cover and bake for about 30 min., the uncover, add the rice cheese, and bake for 5 more minutes.

A friend posted this on a bulletin today:
~~~~~~~~~
so i was listening to NPR this morning and apparently it's world ninja day!!!

so get out the black and KILL KILL KILL!!!!! (but be very sneaky about it)
~~~~~~~~~~