2009 Remembered

Well heck, it's been one hell of a ride this past year. We polished off the first decade of the 21st century with a handful of fine adventures, proving that the art of adventuring, much like fine wine, improves with age. So fire up the traditional slide show music as we take a look back at all that 2009 had to offer!

Not a bad year for adventuring. For the rough decade that it was, there were certainly good times to be had. I got a good feeling about 2010, and the second decade of the 21st century. Let's go find us some adventure!!

Bowling Season: Round 1

Haven't been posting much these days. That isn't to say there ain't plenty to write about... Just hit a lull in the motivation department. A life of adventuring, coupled with a recent transition to HD at the ol' shop, has had a tendency to drain whatever excess creativity I may have. But here's a quick adventure to recap, just so I don't end the year on a dull note-

Home in the Bay Area for Christmas. Enjoyed some family time and dressed the family dog in his traditional garb, which he can't seem to figure out how to get off:

For further adventures with Jasper and his garb, don't forget to enjoy last year's holiday classic!

While in the area, some fellow adventurees (former sidekicks from the Cancun adventure earlier this year) were kickin' around SF and wanted to get together for a few drinks in the city. While looking for something to do, we stumbled upon this year's Emerald Bowl at the SF Giants' stadium. USC vs. Boston College. Mind you, I have been a longtime despiser of USC... but hey, they've got beer, so why not.

I figured I consider myself a Pac-10 fan, so why not go and cheer on my conference. First off... turns out it was pissing down rain in SF that day. And one of our attendees was a local weather person... good call.

However, I've spent plenty a day getting rained on at football games, so it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. The USC fans, however, were a different story. Just the site of the red and yellow logo made my blood begin to curdle. Every time ol' Pete Carroll showed up on the Jumbo-Tron, I wanted to start cussing like a sailor. But that is all easy to brush off when you compare it to the hoards of douchebaggy fratboys that filled the stands, many of whom insisted on going shirtless despite the rain and frigid temps. You ain't at the Rose Bowl no more, jackasses. Get used to it.

In the end... apparently USC won. I couldn't tell you for sure because we left after the third quarter to head to a bar or two. It was cold, it was raining, and none of us cared about either of the teams. Oh, and they stopped serving beer after halftime. I guess it's a plus that USC won, since many of the Pac-10 Bowlers have failed to do so thus far, but I'm not about to call myself a fan... or even a mild supporter.

Heading to the Rose Bowl on Friday. Finally, a real football game!!

The Boys are Back in Town

Yeah I know, I just saw them last December. I scored a photo pass for their hometown show, and it was awesome. I realized that I would not be able to top this adventure, so when I heard that they'd be playing in Sacramento a year later, I decided that perhaps I could pass on it. Heck, the tickets were $80, and in this economy...

Plus the tickets went on sale in March (for a December show?!), just a few months after I saw 'em. I didn't need to go again, and as the responsible adult that I have become, I regretfully decided to pass.

Then I started hearing about it on the radio. Then friends started talking about going. Then I realized that it was inevitable. I've seen them play in both a sold-out stadium and a small theater. I've seen them play an all acoustic show. I've seen them play with the San Francisco Symphony. And yes, I had no choice but to see them play in Sacramento. I was off to see Metallica in concert... for the 7th time.

It didn't come without a bit of adventure though, which I'll recap briefly: As I mentioned, tickets went on sale nearly a year ago, so by the time I jumped on the bandwagon I was left with the scraps of nosebleeds. I was willing to settle, since I just saw 'em not that long ago, so I grabbed two.

A few days before the show, the sidekick that was supposed to tag along decided he would be unable to attend. I scrambled to find a replacement, but was unable to do so on short notice. I had other pals sitting elsewhere, but I was unhappy about having to eat the cost of a second ticket. So... cutting to the chase (and leaving out a side story of an attempted scamming), I swapped the two nosebleed tickets to a scalper for a single floor ticket. Expensive and unfortunate, but damnit, I was gonna enjoy myself at this show. And I did.

The beautiful (and brilliant) thing about this tour is that the stage is set up right in the center of the arena, meaning that even the worst tickets in the house aren't that far away from the stage. It's a perfect setup for a high-energy band like Metallica, as they run from side to side of the 360 degree stage, surrounded by a sea of fans. Plus, a floor ticket gets you amazingly close to the action without having to be battered and bruised through the opening acts just to guarantee a money spot (I almost didn't survive trying to see Pantera back in high school... I gave up after 2 opening acts because I decided I valued my life over being in the front row). A great setup, and a great show.

The setlist was basically the same as when I saw them a year ago... unfortunate, but being that it is the same tour I can't really complain. And I certainly don't mean to... heavy on the old stuff, with the new album mixed in here and there (a plus in my book). Only one song from the Load/Reload albums (Fuel), which personally I find regrettable because I liked those albums, but I suppose many purists would prefer to forget them. Nothing from St. Anger. A cover of Breadfan and the speed-metal classic Fight Fire With Fire were really the only strayings from the "must plays".

Personally, I like to hear the more obscure and "fan favorite" songs, but given that it's a sold out arena show I can't complain that they stuck to a textbook performance, which is really what the whole show felt like. These guys put on a damn good, high energy show, and the audience was fairly decent as compared to previous Sacramento concerts that I've been to... but last year's Oakland show seemed like they were more excited and having more fun. It was at the start of the tour, and it was their home town, but this show didn't quite have the same energy. Still, an excellent performance. Even though Hetfield is looking a little old these days, they could still kick any other band's ass when it comes to a live rock show. Oh, and I managed to nab a Robert Trujillo guitar pick that was tossed into the crowd. It makes a fine companion for the Jason Newstead pick I caught back at the '99 show with the SF Symphony.

I took my new toy along for a test drive, and the pictures weren't bad for a cell phone camera. The video turned out pretty damn good too, although the audio that accompanied it left something to be desired. Here's a little clip of Fuel, although you can barely make it out...

Hopefully they don't come through town again too soon... because I could really use a break, but know that I'm going to be unable to refuse another performance. Hello, my name is Duff, and I have a problem...

The RRU and Religious Rap

The car I drive at work, "Unit 4", did not originate with me. For that reason, I cannot be responsible for all the programmed radio stations that it contains. Once my first- and second-string stations go to commercial, I start pushing buttons until I come across something I can handle (assuming I don't want to switch over to the arsenal of CDs, including Zakk Wylde's early Pride and Glory album... if you've never heard it, check this track out, it'll blow your mind. A banjo in a metal song? No way.) But I digress...

So I'm punching buttons on the radio until I find something manageable. But after a few minutes go by, I start to listen to the music and say "Wait... What station is this?" The positive, loving nature of the seemingly hard rock is confusing me and making me feel uncomfortable. Upon further investigation, I once again discover that I have stumbled upon The Fish, Sacramento's religious music station. "Damn you, Fish! You fooled me again!" I proclaim as I skid off the road and search for a real rock station.

Yes, religion has tried to rear its ugly head into all aspects of life, including rock and/or roll (everybody knows that all the best bands have already signed with Satan). But I was shocked and appalled when the following link was sent to me, displaying in all its glory what has become known as "religious rap":

Yes, promoting the "Christian Side Hug" (in order to help prevent the "risk of two crotches touching"), this group has blasted onto the scene, claiming religious rap as their own.

I don't care about their message... No, what really upsets me is that these clowns claim to be the pioneers of religious rap, when everyone knows that religious rap originated with a little group called The Rocky Road Underground.

If you're unaware of their back story, you should get caught up before we continue.

Anyway, everybody knows that Rabbi Rap was the origin of religious rap, and to prove it, I have published a (very) rough cut of something I started to cobble together years ago but never got around to finishing... a documentary on the legendary Rocky Road Underground. So here's a little clip from that failed experiment...

With a little luck, this will spark my interest once again, and perhaps one day the world will finally see a completed version of "The Rocky Road Underground: Behind the Money". But I've said that before... so don't hold your breath.

At the very least, I may release a book of motivational quotes from singer Seamus McGoy.

Losing Streak

Lately, I seem to have a knack for betting on the wrong horse. At least in person.

First, my Ducks go down to an unranked team in an embarrassing defeat.

The following night, I go to see my hometown Warriors take on the not-so-good Sacramento Kings (by way of $10 seats). Turns out the Kings are on a "hot streak", despite losing a few key players. Again, I am crushed.

To make up for it, I head out on the town with some pals and... lose a game of Battleship to some chicks at a bar. I am humiliated.

So when the offer came across the table to go to another Kings game, I had to think twice about it. I didn't know if I could handle another blow to the ol' ego, but the tickets were free, compliments of the station's cross-promotion with the Kings and the TV show Glee. I figured I couldn't argue with free tickets, so I put on my Kings hat and headed out. Turns out the seats were a whole hell of a lot better than the $10 ones. However, that just meant that I was able to see my newly adopted team get their asses kicked from up close.

One thing's for sure... I ain't headed to Vegas any time soon. At least not until this losing streak finds an end (hopefully before the Ducks go to the Rose Bowl!).

Not all of us at the game were losers though. A certain mustached tape-about-town was seen hanging on the court after the game with Glee actor Matthew Morrison. I've never watched the show, so I've got no idea who he is, but Alfonzo was a fan, and the two got along swimmingly.

Movin' the Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a mound of grass amidst the UC Davis campus.

Humpty Dumpty had to be moved because they were building a new law school.

All of Davis' horses and all of Davis' men...

Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty on a stupid steel pole atop a mound of dirt before I had to get to my next story.

I'm sure your bizarre egg statue looks great in its new location. Try sticking to your schedule next time, and perhaps our viewers will get to see a glimpse of it.

The Great Stanford Heartbreak

Coming off of a big-time USC ass kickin' last week, the Oregon Ducks were ready to huff it on down to Palo Alto and offer up a similar helping to Stanford and that stupid dancing tree mascot of theirs. I sure as heck wasn't about to miss out on this, as I love me a good ass kickin', so I hopped aboard the Sactown alumni party bus and we rocked all the way down to the bay.



With a crew 75 strong, we set up shop and brought a lil' bit of Autzen's notorious drunken numbskullery to the fine folks of Palo Alto. We drank some beer...

...talked some sports...

...and yelled at some stupid Stanford fans...

Oh yes, we had a powerhouse team, and we were ready to start kickin' some ass!! If these stupid Stanford fans only knew what they were in for! Woo!!!

So how'd the game go? Well... not good.

Turns out Stanford showed up to play today, and Oregon's defense... well... they didn't. It was embarrassing. It was painful. It was a 51-42 heartbreak. Damn you Stanford, and your stupid dancing tree.

It was time to drown our sorrows and pain. On the bright side, we did have a party bus to return to!

We drank some more beers, yelled at some more Stanford fans...

...and hey, even Green Man showed up to wallow in our misery.

It was a long 3 hour bus ride back to Sac. Oh well, at least it wasn't pissing down rain like last year's Bay Area loss.

And we're still #1 in the Pac-10! Well, for now, anyway. So long as that holds out, there just might be another Ducks adventure in the Photocalypse forecast.