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7 Hours in San Francisco - A Trilogy

As many of you may or may not know, the KISS army is a strong and devoted group. We have lived, breathed and grown with them. For most, this started off early in our childhood. Many of us have the Paul Lynde Halloween special to thank for this. I can still remember how glued to the TV I was when it came on. Not ONLY was Pinky Tuscadero from Happy Days on it….but these 4 Comic Book/Super Hero/Gods of Thunder. My friends and I talked about it the whole day the next day. We bought the albums, the notebooks, the lunch pails. We played the pinball games and painted our faces and knew every song. (I think you get the idea at this point)

So, upon hearing of Paul Stanley solo tour to support his new CD Live To Win, I instantaneously knew I had to go. I missed the first time he went out on his own due to living in the middle of nowhere.

I also took into account that this would be much like a typical pilgrimage to a KISS show. It is important for you as a reader of this blog (who may not know what this entails) to understand the thinking of a KISS Army soldier: You have to be there early to get the best seat/standing area. If you are in the back or the nosebleed sections, you are hereby stripped of all your KISS Army stripes and you are now outcast to the bowels of hell and become a John Tesh fan.

This show, being at The Fillmore in San Francisco (a legendary place in its own right), it would be a small 1,200 or so seat/capacity venue. This means, a possible autograph possibility! So, I busted out my Paul Stanley Signature Model Washburn guitar as well as a special silver sharpie I had used for my first encounter with the band.

And with that preface, let me take you through my journey that was :

San Francisco in the Rain for 7 Hours.

I took the day off from work. I knew that I could, in no way, try to get there after work. The traffic is too horrendous in the city. I was trying to pace myself to leave Sacramento around 10AM. I felt more than confidant that this was going to put me on the tail end of all (if any) traffic. I was right. Smooth sailing the whole way. With the exception of one crucial factor; The Weather! I had checked the weather starting Friday for the weekend/Monday forecast. Sure enough, Murphy’s Law gives your hero a swift kick in the dick and laughs about it; RAIN for Monday!! Rain on Sunday? No. Rain on Tuesday? Oh Heavens No! Rain on the Monday that I have to stand in line for one of the iconic events of a KISS Army members life? Oh it has to be!

And so it begins……..

I do want to take this moment to thank whomever invented the GPS system and more so to the person who thought “hey, lets make GPS accessible by cell phone so directionally-challenged people like Wade can get to point A to point B with as little miles driven in vain as possible” They are pretty damn accurate. It takes a little getting used to “letting go of the boat” (a term that I coined for my wife with her semi fear of swimming one night…that’s a whole entirely different blog entry ~ but a tear-induced moment) and letting the GPS dictate where you should go.

Preceding my arrival to The City by the Bay, I did some research as to where I would park as well as possible eating places so I can make my plan of attack! Right on the cusp of Japanese Town, there was a parking garage for a theater 8 complex. This was going to be home base. I arrive around noon. Just in enough time to hear on 107.7 The Bone (ironic, don’t you think ~ LOL), that Paul Stanley was going to be a “guest DJ” and they were going to be giving away Meet & Greet passes. So, I decided that since The Fillmore was a mere block away, I would go there, scope out if a line had started yet, and then listen and try to win the M&G pass. First thing, always being first, I had to equip myself with an umbrella. As luck would have it, right across the street was a 99¢ store and after a minor investment of about $7.99, I make my way to The Fillmore. A quick recon of the area showed no ascertainable lines. The big 18-wheeler was in place but nobody was loading in any equipment. I spot the first of a myriad of security/doorman/Neanderthals. A short, burly black man in multi-layered garb and a nonchalant tunic points to a flag pole in the front of the post office located about a half a block away. “We are going to have the line start there” he grunts. I chuckle thinking ‘oh lookit the little gruntling being funny’. “No, really, where do we line up?” I ask again not wanting him to mess up my very crucial schedule. In the classic response he looks at me deadpan. 10-15 seconds pass, but they may have well been 10-15 minutes, “Over by the flag pole in front of the post office”. I smile and say “oh….ok….”

(at this point…..I have to leave you with a cliff hanger……I want to post this and get some work done….stay tuned and spread the word to your friends about my blog!)

Royal Court Dancers

IMG_2641
Originally uploaded by jiten.a.

......GO, FIGHT, WIN.........*lift that top about another 3 inches?* hahaha

Kings Game - 12/10/06

Kings Game - 12/10/06
Originally uploaded by MistaBone.

Team Lucas IMix

update, update where is the update?

Hello everyone!

sorry to have laxed on the posting. Life has been rather busy for yours truely.
Stay tuned for updates on the Paul Stanley show at the Fillmore in San Francisco as well as the cruise!

much love y'all

 

o0oooohh ohhh What's That Smell.......

This is pretty damn cool. When I first heard that KISS was going to come out with a "fragrance" I feared that it would be something cheesy (not literally....lol....that would just be gross) and cheap and smelled of Old Spice meets a pile of old leather pants that Gene Simmons wore. But, surprisingly and thankfully, it is not any of these.....it is a really good smell. The KISS For Her smells just as good (of course your Hero had to buy both gift sets....My OCD for KISS items in full effect) and Ashley likes it a lot (how nice to have her not want to stop nuzzling in my neck because "DAMN, honey, you smell SOOOoooo good")

More on KISS ~ I think I am going to the Paul Stanley show!...but, like Paul, I am going solo...(LOL....I crack my happy ass up)....

Paul Stanley of KISS has a new solo CD out as well as starting his new tour. He is playing at The Fillmore in San Francisco (a kick ass venue with a ton of history in the music scene). I am wanting to go, but it's on a Monday (blaaahhh!). So we will see........

Musings of a comedy fan......

Can someone please....PLEASE....for the love of humanity.....explain how this is now one of the most top rated shows out there?? Oh, I know....maybe because it is actually SMART television and people can't handle that? It's made by the same people as The West Wing for the love of Thor's Hammer!

From DSD Yosemite ...

Is your Ipod telling you what to listen to?

When you turn your Ipod on "Random" or the "Shuffle" setting....is it TRUELY playing songs at random or is it programming you the programmer??
Click here for an interesting insight!

Last 5 Songs played (on random) on The Bone's 'pod:

Touch, Peel, and Stand - Days of the New
Decadence Dance - Extreme
You Better, You Bet - The Who
Use Me - Hootie and the Blowfish
Slutsy Tipsy - Love/Hate

Well....I have to now tell you, my dear readers, of a new addiction.....you can keep your crack, you can keep your pot, you can keep your David Hasselhoff records....I am hooked on Grey's Anatomy (now with clickable goodness).

I feel odd....I mean...it is more of a chick show.....but the drama is the thing is what keeps bringing me back like the proverbial moth to the flame. I mean hell....first there is Izzy...who fell in love with a patient (that ended up dying) and is now perplexed because (in so many ways) she killed him by cutting the wires to his heart machine....then there is the intern who wanted to straddle her surgeon of a boyfriend, only to have the mother walk in (his not hers). Then there is George who is a MESS....can't decide what he wants, even though he has Dr Torres who worships the ground he walks on....(In my opinion, Dr Torres is a hottie that ABC very much under uses on the show!!). Then you have Meredith.....and her whiney attitude......who can't pick between McDreamy and McVet.....

If you get a chance...tune in....it's on Thursday's! You will get hooked!

The Final Curtain ......

.............thank you ... good night............ The Full Monty is OVER! Man, o MAN...what a hellacious run we had. We kicked the proverbial ass and then some with this run at Runaway Stage Theater. Here are a couple great shots!

Sake To Me

I told Drunk Drama Queen that I was just going to put up a picture and give the punch line....but the story is ENTIRELY too funny not to tell:

It was DDQ's surprise birthday party. Now, my dear reader, as you may or may not know, your hero is not a big fan of Japanese food. However, since it is her favorite, I went thinking I should be able to find SOMETHING I could possibly stomach. Zen Toro in downtown Sacramento.....I highly reccomend it!

We make our way to the resturant, and the waitress, Megan, says the most beautiful words in the English Language: "Can I get you a cocktail, Mr Lucas?" (ok ok, so she didn't say Mr Lucas....but I was feeling very retro just now).... I perk up and say "why, yes you can Megan!" As I begin to go through my mental rolodex of tasty beverage concoctions, I see across the way, a couple drinking out of what seems to be a pine wood box. I exclaim with a childish curiousity "What is THAT!?" Megan says "Sho Chiku Bai Sake, Mr Lucas" (I'm on a roll, just flow with Me won't you). I say, "well bring Me a bottle! I want to drink out of that box too!!"

So Megan proceeds to pour yours truely a box of sake......and boys and girls, kats and kittens, rockers and ALL the mutha truckin rolla's.......this is the SHIZNET!!....I could not believe how good this was.....

Now...as in most resturants, the wait staff wear a uniform of sorts.....and by about my 3.5 helping of sake, I am in RARE form....I think I made some reference to her mom gettin jiggy with it or something to that effect.....whence, from the corner of My eye....I a uniform....."MEGAN!!" I cry out......and to my shigrin (how cool of a word is shigrin anyway?!) a strapping young MALE lad appraoches [insert the screaching tire brakes sound effect please]. Now....read My words very carefully on this next chunk o' fun:

"HEY! You're not Megan! You know how I KNOW you're not Megan....Cuz I'm drinkin SAKE"

Thankfully, I was not asked to leave the resturant.....so....here's to you My fellow co-horts in cocktail consumption........CHEERS

Obsess Much?

I have an undying love of music…..all styles…..all genre’s……this is no mystery to those of you who know your faithful Superhero…..

I also fancy myself a music trivia aficionado.

Lately for the last few months, there is a bit of trivia I just can’t shake…

I can’t find the answer anywhere and it is one of those OCD moments where I just HAVE to know…..

               

                        Let me bring you into my hell:

The pre-chorus in the song “I’m Alright” (featured in the film classic, Caddyshack) by Kenny Loggins, there is a line

Gotta catch you later
No, no, cannonball it right away

It is on the “cannonball it right away” line that I SWEAR it is Eddie Money singing. Do not mistake this….when I say I obsess over this…I am talking listening to it on my Ipod over and over…rewinding to the :47 second mark and listening to it…..hands over headphones….eyes closed…..trying to see if there are any Eddie Money hints that I have not caught yet……….

In the words of Dave Buttatinsky from The Full Monty:

“…….and how was YOUR day?”

going The Full Monty....

Hello you rockin' web surfers......thanks for swingin on by.....it's not everyday that I have a full blown (no pun intended) picture of a group of saucy guys in uniform....but I DO have a purpose (and not the "special purpose" you are thinking of ya perv)....the opening night for the show The Full Monty is this weekend. The show is really good plus the theater is one of the best in Northern California. Click the picture to head on over and check it out.......

Rehearsals have been good but tech week has been HELL.......and lets REALLY not get started as far as the aromatic buffet that is the mens dressing room....I am not sure what more than 3 hours of sleep is like yet, but hope to find out soon.....

Also coming up when I have time, my reviews of the REO Speedwagon, Journey, and Def Leppard shows I have been to.....good reading folks, you won't want to miss out!!


~Signing off ~
The Bone

Fugitive Hunter

New update on the movie I did some stunt work in and a lot of my friends were extra's in!

Friends from Work

Some of my "crew" from work........

Marlene, Me, Michele (bad picture of her), Raquel, Tiffany........

What's up......went to an audition tonight for a small part in a show called The Full Monty. It's a funny musical about a bunch of out of work guys who decide to undertake a SPECIAL job to make ends meet. I think the audition went well and am looking forward to working in a show again. Maybe it will take my mind off of shit that is bothering Me
pics by LucasImages©

....Lake Yankton..........

  

Brian R and Rhonda S. with yours truely......

pics by LucasImages©

Ok Ok, I know it’s been a while since my last posting. A LOT has gone on in these last few weeks. Most notably, my trip back to Yankton, South Dakota and my 20 year high school reunion. Yes, I said it loud and proud: 20 friggin years ago, I finally walked out the hallowed walls of YHS thinking I was going to have the world by its collective cojones! Through the many years of working in a weekend warrior band (and that alone is another tale to tell) or odd jobs and then finally landing the bartending/manager/stripper hire-er all the way to me in beautiful Sacramento, CA…..what a loooong strange trip it’s been!

First off, let’s discuss the flight. Your fearless and weary hero was picked up by shuttle bus at 4:15AM. Took a little puddle jumper to San Fran in which I board one of THE largest planes I have EVER been on (2 seats, then aisle, then 5 seats, aisle, then 2 seats). Well the writing on the wall should have been the pilot asking for our “kind patience” when we were forced to sit on the tarmac for almost an hour for equipment issues. NEVER a good sign. We finally are on our way to Denver, CO…..I am lucky to get a pillow and watch a little of King Kong on the personal TV the seats were equipped with. With the late departure, and the fact the gate I needed to get to was on the other side of the concourse, I missed my connecting flight into Omaha. The attendant says she will TRY to put me on the next flight. I explain in the most gracious of ways, that it was not my fault that I was late, that their airline held us up and I was SURE she would find in her heart that she would help; she was less than happy. Perhaps it was the tone of my disdain and frustration. Or the fact that there were approximately 20 people behind me that was scheduled to get on that very flight (which we missed by about 15 minutes I am later to be told….oh joy). The United Airlines “stand-by lottery” was in my favor and I am chosen to make the very next flight. When landing in Omaha, I go to see if my luggage was there waiting for me…..and I waited…and looked…and waited some more…….no luggage for me. I go to the United Airline baggage claim. They can’t see where it has been scanned since Frisco and asked if I would like them to Fed Ex it to me when it comes in (it is Thursday afternoon and I would be getting it at the EARLIEST, Monday). I naturally didn’t even PONDER my decision and said “NO! I want my bag NOW before I leave for my week long trip”. I was compensated with a $7 voucher to any of the eateries of my choice in the Sky Lounge (Taco Bell, KFC, or Pizza Hut…be still my aching arteries). After my food, a few cocktails at the bar, playing some of my PSP games, and trying to sleep fetal-position on a chair, I get my bag; 3 hours later. I get to my rental car (which was actually a bright part of my trip….a souped up Dodge Charger that just INSISTED that I went at least 80 mph all the time in it……) and head to Yankton.

Now, as some of you may know, my friend and usual partner in crime, Drew, is living in Sioux City with his beautiful wife and I am pretty sure my daughter and son (ok ok …so MAYBE they are his….or so he says) as well as his Chef du jour / nephew, Jason. We decide to meet at a neutral place so that he can guide me the rest of the way. I was in luck and found a Hardee’s restaurant (one of my first real jobs was slinging burgers at a Hardee’s in Yankton) and was able to enjoy a Mushroom and Swiss burger which was just short of awesome! Getting to the Casa de Drew, I get to meet the many pets as well as see my great kids, Emily and Drew Jr. and am pleased to see that Drew Sr. has Jason trained to get us cocktails at a moment’s notice. Ally is weary and looped on her meds, but pleasant and charming as always. Emily and lil Drew are trying their best to keep my OCD in check by keeping something interesting on the TV in the background of our talk.

After 2 Irish Whiskey’s on the rocks, I am heading to Yankton. One more hour til “home”. Now, I am not going to exactly Yankton. My parents moved to a little (I think they would call it a suburb) town called Tabor. Czech capital of the Midwest I think. Don’t blink my faithful reader, for you may miss the booming town of 100 or so people.

Friday comes with a call on my cell phone. It is Drew. His father passed away. I can’t even fathom the feelings and emotions Drew was going through and said that as soon as I could get out of the festivities tonight, I would be there for him. That afternoon, I go to the Cockatoo to see what the talent was for the weekend and general catching up with people I knew…..which accounted to two people; Mick and Linda R. Mick and I go way back….very close friends who have shared many cocktails, stories and adventures together. Linda, however, was a fellow graduate from ’86. She was not planning on going to any of the festivities. Pishaw I say! “Follow me to the bar” I bellow, and begin to talk with her about why she should go! I order up a Southern Comfort shot with a 7 back and she has a beer. We laugh at the various stories we come up with regarding our legacy in our high school years. I tell her that for the life of me, I can’t recall her talking very much to me or in class or anything, but that I am having a great time catching up on memories we have never made together.

It’s now about 6pm and the evening’s festivities kick off around 9pm. I should get home to get cleaned up. After primping and preening as best as I can, I make my way to the Hugh Glass Bar. I am greeted by Jeff Reynolds. A long lost fellow drummer from the high school band days. He and his wife are well and looking forward to a drink. We enter the bar to find that the A/C is out and pretty close to standing room only. We find a bar in the middle of the fray and order a round of drinks. Usually beer will chill you out well, but my medium cold Heineken is not doing the trick. We notice that we can recognize quite a few faces, but can’t put a name to them. This makes for the occasional odd moment of “hey……you……ummm….what’s up?” followed by the moment or 2 of odd silence/weirdness. Then, it was almost comical about how the conversations would go.

        Dialogue of a Reunion

                The same things will be spoken by both parties: Hey, how’s it going? You look great! Where are you at now?              What are you doing there? Any kids? Great! Good to see ya, Bye!

It was as if I wanted to just write everything on a 3x5 card and hand out to people. Jaded? Possibly. I actually did have a really good time. It was just one of those things that make ya go hmmmmmmmmm………..

One of the first to REALLY recognize me was Dave Gannon . I recall just being so stoked because his blog was so well put together and yell out to him “BEST BLOG ON THE NET GOES TO DAVE GANNON!” He snaps a great picture of the moment:

 (thanks to DG for the picture)

I jumped ahead of myself…this happened on Saturday.

But I want to get this published and will finish more of the adventure later.

                                *currently listening to Foo Fighters – Times Like These

LATE!

~The Bone~

This is looking in the direction of the sand bar that my folks would take us to when we were young….

<<547841.jpg>>

Ok, I know that this may seem weird. Personally, I put 90% blame on my ipod….the other 10% on me because I sat here like a dweeb and listened to both intro’s just short of 50 times:

Take the song Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden….listen to the intro riff …..then IMMEDIATELY listen to the intro riff in Burning for You by Blue Öyster Cult

Which will lead me to my thoughts on the “shuffle” function on IPods in a later rant……

~OUT~

The Bone

I have a GREAT idea!

…although it isn’t very original…I think I am going to post lyrics of a song that comes on my ipod that “moves” me in whatever moment I may be in at the time…..whattya think?

Feel free to leave comments to my posts…would love to hear from you!

~The Bone~

24 days left!

This is so cool!! 24 days left, then I get to go home. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love California and ALL that it has given me, but always in my heart, Yankton is HOME.

The itinerary looks full with ample time to visit with those that probably didn’t give me the time of day when I was in high school. Not that it matters…but it does in some ways….but being in a movie (although it was a small, grunt-filled role) will be a good point of interest. Also, the KISS tattoo….

WAY back in the old days......gotta love the hair, right?

pics by LucasImages©

I am SO glad the week is going by fast. I have really been enjoying playing Texas Hold Em online. I think I do pretty damn good. .... Not much exciting going on.....I hate California Drivers...they ALL are so stupid and unsafe....currently listening to Stone Cold Crazy by Metallica
pics by LucasImages©

going to Matt's today.....poker and BBQ.......should be a blast!!

Matt's poker party was great. We went and picked up my friend Jason to give him a ride. Jason and Matt and I all act in the murder mystery dinner theater together. Matt's place is pretty cool. In fact, Matt and his father were on American Inventor together for this device kind of like a bidet [spelling] that attaches to your toilet.
The poker tournament went really well....I lasted a long time.....but eventually, Jason and Ashley split the $400 1st place prize.

I am pretty tired today...we didn't get in til 2:30...........

Ashley and I with porn star Jeanna Fine

pics by LucasImages©

Winery again....

pics by LucasImages©

Coppala Winery in Napa

pics by LucasImages©

Sign of the times? This is Night Ranger playing at a dive bar in Worthington Minnesota......

pics by LucasImages©

Another pic of Slaughter during sound check

pics by LucasImages©

Hey there...here is a picture of when I got to do some photography for my folks. Slaughter was in Okoboji Iowa...the band was great, especially Dana Strum [pictured] but Mark Slaughter was an ASSHOLE

pics by LucasImages©

Hey everyone…..thanks for swinging by to see how I am doing….
Today had been kinda mellow….the rain and overcast weather
make for laid back times….energy level is low, but mentally am
on about a 8.
Here is a picture of me with my new rimless glasses……..kinda stunning aint I ? ;-)

Me and Drew.....one of the best friends in the world to me.....soooo many things he and I have gone through.......(remember driving REALLY really fast in Gayville and you saying 'hey man...the sign says 30mph....the sign might be serious").....and don't even get me started on the plethora of drunken nights together.........(no, not in the brokeback ways, ya pervs).....

to my brotha from anotha mutha......thanks for being you........

This was taken while doing a commercial shoot in San Fran......it was POURING outside....I stayed at this funky hotel and walked to get some chinese food....I just stared out the window....then snapped this pic with my phone camera.......