Here We Are

I didn't proof read this entry....deal with it and love me for who I am - a drunk with slight brain damage.

Well, I think today is now the second day back in the United States and I'm just now caught up on sleep. On March 10th we started our quest back home around 8:30am London time. Our plane landed in New York City 7pm east coast time. That was more than enough traveling for me but we still had to go out to Long Island to pick up our cars and then head out for home in Rochester/Syracuse, New York. However, before we did any of that it was absolutely necessary that we find a Taco Bell. It had just been way too long! The closest Taco Bell eatery apparently was in a very seedy part of New Jersey. Not too sure of the exact city but stepping out of the car I immediately felt like I was now in Hamsterdam. After being asked for change by three different individuals, eye fucked, and made to feel like I was whiter than Chris Browne, I finally felt like I was home. There's nothing like a threat against your life to really bring you back down to earth.

Twenty three hours of travel time later, I was finally home. The futon was ready and the shower was empty. I figured I hadn't showered in five days, why start now? Hell, that could wait another day. So here I am now, finally clean, and reflecting back on the whole trip. Financially, we're all fucked. Obviously, there are bills to pay and those come first. PBC was able to pay off some debt owed to Bridge 9 but each of us were unable to walk away with even a little money to pay a bill or two. It's not a big deal because none of us are in this to pocket cash. However, it would have been rad to make a monthly payment on one of my four credit cards.

So...was it worth it? Absolutely. For me, this is the only chance I would ever have to go overseas. I've always been poor and will always be poor. So, thanks for PBC for dragging me along with them. And they better fucking drag me along again when they go back at the end of May (dates apparently are up at the Positive Nuisance myspace, oh boy!) . Polar Bear Club was able to perform in front of huge crowds with The Gaslight Anthem and smaller, more intense crowds on their headline dates. All of us met a lot of great people who often went out of their way to help us. I'm terrible with names but thank you especially to Chrissie from Positive Nuisance for booking such great headline dates, Tom for being awesome in general and helping out with merch, Saker for hospitality and talking hardcore with Goose, Stanley for being the best and sometimes grumpiest driver of all time....eh, and everyone else! Listen, you all know I drink too much so I can't remember everyone! Please know you were my first.

Getting back to The Gaslight Anthem for a bit, while everyone in the band are wonderful dudes, the crew they take out with them are even sweeter! Hopefully, we'll all run into each other again soon. In the meantime, check out Gunner Records. Gunnar drove and sold merch for Gaslight and hopefully will be putting out PBC's ep on vinyl in Germany. Gunnar and I spent a lot of nights behind the merch table making fun of Frank Turner, people in the crowd, and drinking beers.

So here I am now, sitting on the couch, 12 pounds overweight (who knew drinking and overeating everyday for a month would have a negative effect on and old man) , and watching The Devil Wears Prada just like any straight male would. I'm already bored to tears and I'm ready to get the fuck out of here. I haven't had a drink or cigarette in a couple days and yet I feel fine. I felt it was a good time to detox to gear up for the Have Heart dates. I figure it will be disrespectful to mosh hard during their set whilst drunk. In case you didn't know, on the Have Heart/Trapped Under Ice dates I've designated myself pit boss aka the master of the pit. That means I'll be policing the pit, windmilling, and moshing harder than kids half my age. Hopefully, I'll be doing all of this with my Trapped Under Ice Stay Cold football jersey. Ah, the possibilities.

Edit: Dammit, I forgot to express my love for Frank Turner. I love him. He's like my younger, drunk off one beer, more talented, skinnier, smarter, uptight brother! I've also nicknamed him The Gay Lion. Why? Well, he looks like a gay lion. Swoon.

So, here's to getting out of my hometown in a couple days. And here's to the cable tv my parent's recently subscribed to. Lastly, here's to Anne Hathaway for being my latest celebrity obsession. Now on with the weekly list of favorite PBC members -

1. Goose - We both loves Scrubs, he hugged me before we departed, and his girlfriend loves Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He's Turk and I'm J.D. Minus the hair.

2. Nate - I don't know. Not really sure what more I can muster up about Nate. He's like a Volvo. Boxy and reliable. Wish he didn't shave that moustache. He looked like the perfect pornstar with a drinking problem with that thing.

3. Emmett - Emmett didn't buy me Taco Bell but he bought almost everyone else Taco Bell when we stopped in New Jersey. Basically, he left me and Browne to fend for ourselves in the inner city. It was like that movie Judgement Night without the rap/rock sound track.

4. Chris Browne - In a shocking turn of events, Chris Browne has climbed out of the basement. Anytime I need any information on past or present PBC dates, I ask Chris Browne. He knows all sorts of little details about everything. He's like Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man with a guitar. I think that's a compliment.

5. Jimmy - I'm a jealous, angry, resentful person. This is one of the reasons I don't have sex. It's also the reason Jimmy is last today. Basically, Jimmy wrote a guest blog and received more comments on his entry than I've ever had. I don't know who I hate more right now - you people or him.