Bucky's 2019 Year in Review

As I write this, there's only a few more hours left in 2019. It was another challenging year, full of ups and downs. I learned a lot, experienced some frustrations and smashed the shit out of some goals. I went new places and tried new things. I also had some great experiences with some great people along the way. Here's a breakdown of some of my favorite moments from this year:

I didn't go to my first concert until February...in Florida! My friends in St. Pete had been asking me to visit them for a while, and I was finally able to during the first week of the month. I flew in on a Monday afternoon, and met my friends. We were happy to finally meet in person, and were anticipating the Sevendust show at Jannus Live the next day!

A bunch of us gathered outside the venue for the pre-show meet and greet. Some of us were lucky enough to catch up with Sevendust lead guitarist Clint Lowery while we were waiting in line. After the meet and greet, we met for dinner at a local restaurant before heading back for the show. We also ran into drummer Morgan Rose before the show. We gathered in a nice suite for the concert, where we were able to converse and enjoy the music of Cane Hill, Lullwater, Kirra, Tremonti and Sevendust. It was an incredible night with great people!

The next day, I joined my friends for a relaxing afternoon at Madeira Beach. I said goodbye to some of my Midwest crew that day, and didn't mind that I got my first-ever February sunburn. I joined my Florida friends for my first NHL game the next day. Even though the host Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the visiting St. Louis Blues 1-0 in overtime, it was still a fun game. I went out again the next day with my friends before heading back to the frozen tundra later that evening.

I didn't get to another show until a friend's birthday bash in the Cities in April, but spring and summer were busy. I drove down to Milwaukee on Mother's Day weekend for my 25th Sevendust "family reunion" at the Rave. I stayed just down the street from the venue and had a great time at the show with friends. I would see the guys again 10 days later in Mankato for another show with In This Moment. This time, I managed to chat with ITM guitarist Randy Weitzel before the show and snagged one of Morgan's drumsticks that he tossed into the crowd after their closing song "Face to Face."

A few days later, I went to Route 47 Pub and Grub in Fridley to catch up with friends and see my friends in Eaon, Cold Kingdom and Emergent perform. This was Emergent's only show of the year, and they only have one more left next year before calling it a day. It was my first time seeing the new group Eaon, and I thought they did well. Cold Kingdom rocked the house with their new lineup, and plenty of fun was had by everyone in attendance. Another great local show on a beautiful spring night in Minnesota!

In early June, I returned to Route 47 to see Otherwise for the first time in a couple of years. I attended the pre-show meet and greet, where I and a few other fans got to hear some new songs from their upcoming album and watch the guys play a few acoustic songs for us. Local group Nuisance kicked off the show, and both bands did a great job! Afterwards, the remaining crowd was invited back to the merch tables to watch Otherwise perform an acoustic version of "The Ballad of Ivan Patrick."

At the end of the month, I drove to Iowa for the first of three trips there this year. This time, I was meeting up with some of my friends to watch John, Morgan and Lajon work on a new Sevendust song at QC Rock Academy in Davenport. The guys had some instrumentals already recorded, and myself and a couple dozen other spectators got to hear them lay down additional guitars, drums and write and add vocals on the spot. It was a unique experience that I'd definitely do again! Afterwards, my friends and I caught up with the guys at nearby Jumers Casino.

I took a little downtime during my birthday month to take in a Twins game (they beat the visiting Texas Rangers 6-4 on July 6th) and enjoy the birthday with family before returning to the concert scene in August. I stayed over at a friend's house in Wisconsin the first weekend in August as we attended Sevendust's headlining show at Route 20 in Sturtevant. My 28th Sevendust show would occur a day later at the Cavalier Theater and Lounge in Lacrosse. Both shows were excellent! I enjoyed Sevendust's headlining sets as well as openers Burden of the Sky and Alborn. It was also great catching up with old friends and making new ones in the process.

The next weekend, I went down the road to see my friends in VIA and Cold Kingdom play the Red Carpet in St. Cloud, just a few miles from my home. While it would have been nice to see more fans in attendance, I still had fun. Another week and a half later, I made my second Iowa road trip, this time to the historic Surf Ballroom and Museum in Clear Lake to see Sevendust and Pop Evil in support of Skillet. There were plenty of references to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper in town. Lajon even referenced them during their set, as he stared out at the portraits of each legend hanging up across from the stage. It was another fun show, and I had a great time catching up with friends during Skillet's set, including a chat with Morgan for a bit outside the venue afterwards.

My only local show in September was the Fire Fight CD release concert at the Dog House in Maplewood, MN. It was good to see some familiar faces and the debut peformance of Favor the Fall. The next weekend, I went back to Davenport, Iowa with a friend to attend a Three Years Hollow show. We ran into Jose and Morgan Rose before the show, who had both worked on new music from Alborn, one of the evening's performers. Morgan and Jose joined my friend and I during Alborn's set to talk about the recording sessions and critique the band's performance. All four acts were very impressive, and Three Years Hollow sounded better than ever. Another night that I'll never forget!

I started taking on more responsibilities at work in October, just after I attended the Alter Bridge/Skillet show at the Myth in Maplewood. I got there early for the Alter Bridge meet and greet and caught one of Mark Tremonti's guitar picks after their sound check. My friends and I stayed on the front rail for Dirty Honey and Alter Bridge's performances. A great show on a balmy October Minnesota evening.

My last show of 2019 would come a few weeks later, when I decided to go see Cold at the Fine Line in downtown Minneapolis. It was my first time seeing the band in 15 years, and even though the lineup was quite different, they couldn't have been any nicer. They even brought their friend Sierra Swan, who lives in the area, up onstage for the songs "No One" and "Suffocate."

I worked a lot the last few months of this year. I didn't really get out much, except for a little get-together in early November with some old coworker friends that I used to work with starting when I was still in college. Even though some of us hadn't seen each other in years, we picked up right where we left off. We met at one of our old hangouts in St. Cloud and are planning to get together again in the coming months.

Looking back at these pictures and experiences, it kinda seems like the year has just flown by. Going into the next year, I'm planning on building on my successes and trying not to let the little things in life bother me. I'm also planning on visiting my friends in Florida at least a couple more times in 2020, helping out at my hometown Friends of the Library book sales, attending my 30 year high school class reunion, my 30th Sevendust family reunion (with plenty more to follow, I'm sure) and more shows by bands that I've seen recently and shows by other groups that I haven't seen in years.

No year is perfect, but there's usually plenty of fun, positive experiences in every year. Can't wait to see what this year will bring me! Until next time, Happy New Year, everyone!

The Lost Art of the Stolen Base

There are many reasons why I enjoy watching major league baseball. Diving catches in the field, strong pitching performances and grueling extra inning games are just some of the things that I look forward to every spring and summer. Even though the off season is only a couple of months old, I'm already anticipating watching spring training games. They give me something to distract me from the brutal cold winter temperatures.

My Minnesota Twins set several team records this year. It was fun watching them lead the division for almost  the entire regular season. They even set a major league record in hitting 307 home runs as a team. On the flip side, they also had one of their lowest stolen base totals (28) ever. There were eight players who stole more bases individually than the Twins did as a team. The Twins leading base stealer, Byron Buxton, swiped 14 bases in an injury-plagued season. That total still put him in the top 50 basestealers in the majors.

The stolen base is one of the more exciting plays in baseball. There's just something about watching a runner get a lead off of the pitcher, and advancing on a pitch. It's part of the game's strategy. Unfortunately, it's something that isn't done nearly as often as it used to. Stolen base numbers as whole have been declining in the majors for years.

There are several reasons why we're seeing fewer stolen bases:

1. Chicks dig the long ball. Stolen bases aren't sexy. Towering home runs are impressive, and home run hitters have always been featured during sportscasts. Some home run hitters can steal bases, but most of them either can't or rarely try for fear of injuring themselves. Home run hitters in the American League can also extend their careers as designated hitters, while basestealers' careers have been shortened more and more in recent years.

One of my favorite Twins players to watch was Ben Revere. I'll never forget seeing his somersault triple in a game against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field in person on my birthday a few years ago. He always went all out on defense and on the base paths. He was a considerable stolen base threat, but he hasn't played in the majors in a couple of years. He's in his early 30's and can still be an asset to a team, but he just doesn't seem to be given much of an opportunity. The same has been true for other speedsters. They are sometimes seen as being one-dimensional, even if they play great defense or can hit a few balls out of the park from time to time.

2. Managers play the numbers. Years ago, managers and coaches were much more likely to give base stealers the green light whenever they wanted. There's a lot less of that nowadays. Managers play percentages. They use statistics and video replays to determine whether or not a player can steal off certain pitchers and catchers. This usually leads to fewer stolen bases, especially when one of their power hitters is at bat.

I was listening to a Twins game on the radio a few months ago on my way home from a concert. The play by play announcers were recalling a Twins game in 1968 when the team stole five bases in one inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers that season. Four bases were stolen while their primary power threat Harmon Killebrew was at the plate. This included two steals of home (by Cesar Tovar and Rod Carew, respectively). Carew stole second, third and home during that at bat. An astounding feat that probably won't happen again any time soon.

3. There's more focus on defense. There are a lot more defensive shifts in both the infield and outfield during big league games now than ever before. While pitchers are making fewer pickoff attempts, their catchers are compensating by improving their moves and throws behind the plate. Some of today's catchers have played other positions or more sports, making them more mobile at their position. They aren't the lead-footed dinosaurs that older fans may be used to.

Stolen bases are still part of the game, but to a lesser degree. There's obviously more swipes in the National League which lacks the DH, but a stolen base can still be crucial in a close game. We may see stolen base totals increase eventually, but that probably won't happen until home run totals either level off or decline.

Well, those are my thoughts for today. It's been nice to take a day off and think about baseball on a cold, snowy weekend. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!

Politics Ain't For Me

I've written hundreds of articles over the years on a wide variety of subjects. There are very few topics that I won't touch. One of them is religion. Another is politics.

I'll be honest: I don't like Donald Trump. I made this decision long before he ever ran for office. I just don't like how he treats people at times. It's disrespectful. However, I have no problem with people who voted for him. He has done some good things like improve relations with North Korea, sign legislation that helps musicians make a better living and restoring funding for the Special Olympics. However, he has also done and said things that just defy common sense and logic.

I try to stay out of political discussions whenever possible, but I do get sucked in from time to time. Earlier this week, I made the mistake of presenting a rational argument against a couple of die-hard Trump followers. I stated that most illegal immigration in the U.S. is due to people coming here legally through travel visas and then overstaying their visa periods. I supported my argument with five articles on the subject from national news organizations. The Trump fans called me "stupid" and an "idiot," and dismissed my articles as "fake news" (keep in mind, they were from NBC News, NPR and other sources). I stated my case in a calm, rational manner and didn't stoop to their level of ignorance, insults and name-calling. Those are bullying tactics that only make bullies look bad.

No politician is perfect, but I can't remember ever seeing such division over one president before. I hate seeing political arguments in my social media news feed every day. I also see repeated stories from people in other countries who feel bad for us as a nation in having Trump as our leader. I also don't understand how people can be so blindly loyal to Trump. I mean, this is the person who stated that windmill noise causes cancer! It really doesn't seem like he thinks before he speaks a lot of times.

After this week's effort, I decided that politics just ain't for me. People are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter what someone else may say or do. I just wish that politicians would work together to address problems like homelessness, affordable health care, quality education, protecting our environment and living wages for everyone. There's too much disparity. Politics is the only industry I can think of in which it's socially acceptable to bash your opponent, and they spend millions of dollars a year doing this every campaign season. Oh well, I'm out. Besides, I'd rather rock, anyway!

Until next time, have a great week, everyone!

It's Not Easy Being A Star Wars Fan

For us Star Wars fans, seeing the first preview for Episode IX was the highlight of our day yesterday. We can't wait to see The Rise of Skywalker when it reaches theaters on December 20th! One thing I've noticed in the Internet age is that for every positive reaction, there are always a handful of negative reactions. I've seen this more and more with every movie that's come out since the prequels.

I was five years old when the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977. It was the summer before I started kindergarten, so I was really too young to appreciate it. I didn't get into Star Wars until 1980. My mom bought me my first Star Wars action figures for Christmas that year: Chewbacca, Yoda and C-3PO. By then, I was hooked! My dad took me to see The Empire Strikes Back for the first time the following August, the day after my brother was born.

I was eleven when Return of the Jedi came out. I remember seeing some mixed reviews by movie critics. Some of them thought the Ewoks were silly, and roasted George Lucas about having a second Death Star. As an adult, I can see their points. Back then, however, I was so enamored by Star Wars that I just didn't care. I proudly wore my Star Wars shirts to school and played with my action figures and read the Marvel comic books at home.

The Empire Strikes Back is still my favorite movie of all-time. It has great themes of hope and betrayal. It also gave us Hoth, Dagobah, Cloud City, carbon freezing, Lando, the bounty hunters, Yoda, and "Luke, I am your father!" I refused to believe that Vader was Luke's father until Return of the Jedi. I see a lot of the parallels between Vader and Luke in other personal relationships at times.

Star Wars isn't the only science fiction series that I enjoy. I remember watching the original Star Trek series and some of the movies with one of my cousins when we were kids.(I could never get into the Next Generation or any of the other Star Trek series that followed, though.) I also enjoyed Gil Gerard's Buck Rogers show and the miniseries and TV show V. I read the Marvel Star Wars comics and the ROM: Spaceknight and Micronauts series that were based on toy lines. The writing and artwork were what captivated me.

I went to the special edition screenings of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and was excited to hear that the prequel movies were happening. They weren't as great as the originals, but they did give us some cool things like Jango Fett, Yoda wielding a lightsaber and Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. The Gungans were kind of annoying, and the whole Trade Federation was confusing for a lot of viewers. Hayden Christensen wasn't that great as an actor, either.

A lot of people have heavily criticized The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I didn't like the fact that Han and Luke died, respectively, but I also knew that these movies were part of a nine-movie series that has to end eventually. They're setting the stage for new generations of heroes, just like Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council set the stage for Luke, Han, Chewie, Leia, Lando, the droids and the Rebels to be the focus of the original movies.

I've also heard a lot of people complain about the stand-alone movies Rogue One and Solo. Rogue One was one of the best Star Wars movies ever, in my opinion. It sets the stage for A New Hope nicely. Solo wasn't the best movie in the world, but it was a fun movie that was nicely done by director Ron Howard. It helped us establish how Han won the Falcon from Lando and how he met Chewie, among other things. That's what us diehards care about more, anyway.

I'm eagerly anticipating Episode IX. It was great to see Billy Dee Williams back onscreen again in the trailer, and a lot of us are wondering if the insidious laugh at the end means that Emperor Palpatine will be back. I'm also wondering how they will incorporate footage of the late Carrie Fisher. I take all movies with a grain of salt: they're an escape from reality for a few hours that we all need at times. I'm sure I'll see this one at least a couple of times in the theater so that I can absorb all of the nuances and pick out favorite moments. I'll do the same when I buy the movie on DVD too.

Well, that's all I have for now, so until next time, have a great week everyone - may the Force be with you!

Bucky's Top 17 Sevendust Songs

Hi everyone,
I've been on a bit of a writing kick lately. As some of you probably already know, I started doing some freelance writing a few months back. I've written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics. Some of them have involved music and coming up with a greatest hits list of songs by different artists.

It's always hard for me to narrow down an artist's work to just ten songs, because there are so many other deserving tracks that just narrowly miss the cut. When it comes to my favorite band Sevendust, there's no way I could possibly pare my list down to just ten songs! I decide to come up with this list of 17 songs for the following reasons. Enjoy!

17. Waffle - Home. A gritty song with another positive message. It makes me think about how important it is to have something to keep me going when I'm going through a lot in life. It's also a killer track when played live!

16. Dirty - All I See Is War. Producer Elvis Baskette helped the band continue to evolve their sound, and this was the first song that most of us heard that showcases that. It's not aggressive as some of their older albums, but it still rocks hard. This tune really gets all five members of the band involved in the vocals and put all of their musical talents in the spotlight.

15. Pieces - Next. This one usually gets the people in the pit riled up at their shows. It's a fast-paced, fun song that has also been used to open their sets at different times. I love the energy that the band and their fans give off when this one's played live!

14. Hope - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow. Some people have panned this album as being Sevendust's weakest effort. I enjoyed this one just as much as all of their other albums. This song in particular really stands out for me. I love the contrast between Lajon's soulful vocals and Morgan's intense screams. They really balance each other out rather well and handle the different emotions that the song encompasses.

13. Too Close to Hate - Sevendust. This was one of the first Sevendust songs that I really started to enjoy. The dark undertone of the guitars and lyrics really kept my attention after listening to the album a few times. It's been one of my favorite tracks for well over a decade.

12.  Decay - Black Out The Sun. This album took Sevendust in a new direction musically, and it was one that a lot of us fans really enjoyed. The percussive style of the guitars meshes seamlessly with Morgan's drums. Even the lyrics have a bit of percussion to them.

11.Sickness - All I See Is War. The first song from the newest album that I was drawn to. Everything about this song is sick: the lyrics, Morgan's screams. and that incredible guitar solo during the bridge! Another subtle message about people who have done others wrong.

10. Live Again - Animosity. Another powerful song from Animosity with an inspiring message. One of only two songs on the album that I haven't heard the band play live yet. (The other is T.O.A.B.) It gives hope to people who are at their lowest point. LJ's extended vocal during the outro is amazing, too!

9. Corrected - Scorpion King soundtrack. Vinny's opening bass line is what initially drew me in to this song. It's a soundtrack song that could have easily been included on Animosity or Seasons. A rare gem that would be wonderful to hear live one of these days.

8. Driven - Alpha. Alpha is such a heavy, aggressive album and "Driven" is a prime example of that. It's been a very motivating song for me when I've been stuck in a rut. It keeps me going and moving toward my goals.

7. Shine - Animosity. I love the positive message in this song. I'm glad the guys have brought this tune back into their sets in recent years. "Trying to find myself" really has been "the hardest thing I've ever done" sometimes. Another tune that flat-out rocks from my favorite Sevendust album, and one of my favorite records of all-time.

6. Gone - Time Travelers and Bonfires. The original version on Seasons is good, but the reworked acoustic version is my TTBF jam! I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it. Lajon's vocals are crisp and I love how they mixed in some electric guitar. After I heard it for the first time, I thought to myself, now,  THAT's how you rock an acoustic song!"

5. Thank You - Kill The Flaw. I've heard this song at my last 11 Sevendust concerts in a row, and I'm perfectly fine with that. It brings me back to the Kill The Flaw listening party I attended at Architekt Studios in Butler, New Jersey a few years ago and the magnificent weekend I had, getting to see the guys play live three times in three days on the East Coast. It also reminds me of all the great family members and friends that I'm very fortunate to have in my life.

4. Face to Face - Seasons. A great "fuck you" song that's a big middle finger to anyone who's ever screwed you over in life. Lots of anger in this song, and Morgan's lyrics are brutal. I usually sing along to his lyrics alone when I'm rockin' out to this song in my car. The "swing batta batta swing" lyrics also remind me of all the times I've talked baseball with Morgan after shows. It's a perfect track for those days when you're pissed off by what someone did to you, no matter if it was today or ten years ago. It's no wonder that Sevendust usually ends their encore with this one. It epitomizes the pent-up feelings that a lot of us have had at one time or another.

3. Angel's Son - Animosity. The song was written as a loving tribute for their fellow musician Lynn Strait from the band Snot, whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident several years ago. The song took on new meaning for me at my first Sevendust show. That was the night that LJ's brother lost his life. The guys continued on with an abbreviated but powerful set that included this song. Since then, this has been my go-to song every time I hear of a friend or family member who has passed away. I can't help but get goosebumps when Clint sings "I know you never said goodbye, I had so much left to say" during his second chorus. An inspiring song that gives me hope and strength every time I hear it.

2. Denial - Home. This is unquestionably one of the best metal drum songs ever! Morgan kills it on the kit, which is why I was upset when I saw that the official music video for this track cuts his spectacular solo. The lyrics "the more you spit out your mouth, the less I believe" also remind me of certain people that I no longer associate with. A very heavy song that should be in any Sevendust playlist.

1. Black - Sevendust. This is the first song off of Sevendust's self-titled 1997 debut, and was also the very first song that I heard them play live back in 2002. The band sometimes leads off their sets with this tune, and it's very easy to see why. The iconic guitar riff and rhythms throughout keep me banging my head along with every note. The lyrics "I'm minding my own business, I ain't doin' nothing wrong" are also how I try to live my life.

These are my top 17 Sevendust songs right now. The first four are set in stone, but the rest vary depending on the day and the kind of mood I'm in. I could have easily listed another 20-30 songs or more, but I wanted to keep this list relatively short, because I didn't want to bore you guys. I may do a top list of Sevendust moments, but that'll have to wait until after my next Sevendust concerts this spring. May is shaping up to be a busy month!

That's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!

Advertising is Everywhere

In the civilized world, it's very difficult to go a day without seeing some sort of advertising. Ads are on TV, radio, at the movie theater, on billboards, in magazines, newspapers, and comic books. I graduated from college with a marketing degree, so I understand why advertising exists. It can be a great way to reach your target markets, and there are some ads that win local and national awards for their messages and creativity.

Repetition is key to getting your message across, but sometimes companies take things too far. It seems like we're inundated with ads. Even videos we watch that are only a minute or two long have ads embedded in the middle of them. This leads to burnout. People get tired of being advertised to. That's why people switch to satellite radio and streaming television and movie services. They're well worth the price for those who don't like to be advertised to.

Advertising has increased more and more on social media in recent years. A couple weeks ago, I was on vacation in Florida. I woke up one morning looking forward to spending time with friends. One of the first things I did when I got up was check my Facebook page. I was annoyed to see that every third or fourth post was an ad. Even with my settings set to very restricted levels, I still usually have at least one day a month where I get an influx of ads on my Facebook news feed. When it happened again a week later, I decided to check my account settings.

It turns out there were over 1,400 companies that acquired my contact information. Many of them were realtor offices and automotive dealerships that are not anywhere close to where I live. I spent the better part of a day hiding ads from them or blocking them. I even complained on a few of their pages. Some of them offered an apology in response. Ever since, I've still had about 30 new companies a day to block or hide ads from.

I'm not going to delete my social media pages, but I have been a lot more careful about my settings and the information that I post. Even though advertising is everywhere, I take intentional steps to limit my exposure. I'm at a stage in my life where I'm content and don't want to be annoyed by things that just don't matter.

Advertising rarely ever affects my buying decisions. I usually know what I want to buy and where I can purchase items for the best price and value. I've been watching more movies on DVD, listening to music on CDs and off of my computer and reading more books. I've always loved reading ever since I was a child. If they start putting ads in books, I don't know what I'll do!

I do write for some sites that may contain ads. That's beyond my control. If this blog site ever starts running ads, I may move it to another site. I want this to be fun and as enjoyable for both myself and you readers out there.

Well, that's all for now.  Until next time, have a  great week, everyone!

Bucky's First Spring Break

When I was younger, spring break was a foreign concept. It didn't exist when I was in grade school or high school. There were spring and other semester breaks in college, but I was usually busy working at the time. Last week, I had the opportunity to take my first spring break and escape the wintry confines to visit my friends in Florida. It turned out to be one of the best vacations I've ever had!

I flew to Tampa last Monday night, where my friend Scott was kind enough to pick me up from the airport. From there, we went to a nice little Italian restaurant in Saint Petersburg where my hosts Michelle and Joe (aka "Uncle Rudy") were dining. It was nice to finally meet them and see our mutual friend Christina who had just come off of the ShipRocked cruise.

We went back to my friends' place to talk and get settled in before the first fun event: an outdoor concert featuring our friends in Sevendust on Tuesday night! I was happy to be there, and that I was able to enjoy the warm weather. I was finally going to wear shorts in winter for the first time!

On Tuesday morning, a few of us went to the local Waffle House for breakfast and started to decompress before the Sevendust show. Another Sevendust friend Misty was making her way to St. Pete after having been in Fort Lauderdale the night before for Sevendust's show. Once she arrived, we made our way to downtown St. Pete for the show.

We had to arrive at the venue early for the pre-show meet and greet with Sevendust. Joe and Michelle brought her 84 year old father to the meet and greet. While we waited in line, lead guitarist Clint Lowery walked by after the guitar clinic, so some of us got to stop and say hi and pose for a few pics.

Before too long, we were allowed into the venue for the meet and greet. We were treated to a two-song soundcheck. The songs "Dead Set" and "Reconnect" were played by the band before we were able to get a group photo with the band and a signed commemorative poster. When it was my turn for the photo, the first thing that bassist Vinny "The Boss" Hornsby said to me was, "what the heck are you doing here?" He was used to seeing me at their shows in the Upper Midwest.

Afterwards, a bunch of us gathered at a nice Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the venue. It was good to catch up with other social media friends that I got to meet in person for the first time. It was a beautiful night for an outdoor show.

Shortly after 6 pm, my friends and I returned to the venue. On our way, we ran into the infamous "Mosh Pit Jesus" and Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose. We stopped to talk with Morgan for a bit and of course pose for photos before the show.

Once we got in, I made my way with my traveling companions to the venue entrance for the suite that was reserved for us. It was in the back of the concert hall, and gave us a prime viewing area for all the action. It was also very well-stocked with food and beverages for the night. We had plenty of time to chat and connect during the sets by opening acts Kirra, Lullwater and Cane Hill.

I went to the suite balcony with my friends to watch Tremonti's performance. This was my third time seeing the Alter Bridge lead guitarist's solo band live, and they put on another impressive performance. Most of his set featured songs from his latest album, A Dying Machine.

Shortly after 9:30 pm, it was time for Sevendust to arrive! They started their set with another awesome performance of the hit "Black." Although they only played one song ("Dirty") from their latest release All I See Is War, my friends and I agreed that it was a great set full of just some of the many songs we've all grown to love. I was also kind of glad that I wasn't in the pit for this one, as a fight broke out during the song "Angel's Son." Afterwards, frontman Lajon Witherspoon commented that he'd never seen that happen during that song before.

Sevendust finished their set with the encore songs "Splinter" and fan favorite "Face to Face." Venue staff didn't let us linger too long, but we were able to buy a few souvenirs and catch up with some friends before heading back to my friends' place. There we got to relax and share our favorite moments of the show.

The next day, I returned to the Waffle House with my friends for breakfast before we went to bring Christina to the airport. We had such a fun time, it was hard saying goodbye. After a few hours chilling at my friends' home, our remaining group headed to Madeira Beach in St. Pete for the afternoon. I ended up getting some sunburn, but it was worth it. It was a magnificent weather day, perfect for walking in the water from the Gulf of Mexico and a great opportunity to collect a few sea shells and soak up some rays. After a while, we retreated to a nice seafood restaurant. We ate outside with a perfect view of the water.

Later that evening, we returned to Michelle and Joe's house before bidding our friend Misty goodbye, as she was heading back to Fort Lauderdale to make her return flight home on Thursday morning. I ended up relaxing with my friends and their dogs, eating pizza and watching NHL hockey on TV in anticipation of attending my first hockey game with them in Tampa the next day.

Thursday began with a walk with my friend Michelle to the park near their house. It was great exercise and a wonderful way to start another glorious day in Florida. We even saw an alligator in the water on our way around the park trail. Later on, we went with Joe to Clearwater, Florida. We stopped at his job site for a bit before finding a nice outdoor restaurant to eat at.

A few hours later, we were on our way to Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa to see the hometown Tampa Bay Lightning take on the visiting Saint Louis Blues. Joe had attended Tuesday's game, a tough shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and had brought back a T-shirt for me to wear.

After going through security, we made our way to the second floor's gourmet buffet. There Michelle, Joe, Scott and I feasted on steak, crab legs, turkey, mushroom-stuffed pasta, fresh fruits and veggies and many more delectable selections. They even had a dessert bar full of tempting treats and ice cream made with nitrogen.

I was introduced to some more of Joe and Michelle's friends along the way before the 7:30 pm tipoff. The game was a defensive battle, and the teams matched up against each other rather well. During the first period intermission, I headed downstairs to guest services where I received a complimentary pin and certificate for attending my first Lightning game.

Following another scoreless period, I met up with my friends for a photo op. I've followed hockey for a while, but attending my first game really helped me appreciate the sportsmanship and work ethic of the players on the ice. It also helped me root against the refs when a penalty was called against the home team.

Although the Lightning eventually lost on a lone goal with a minute left in overtime, I still had a great time at the game. Many of the home team fans were disappointed, but the Lightning is one of the best teams in the league. They have a ton of talent, and just need to work on finding more opportunities and playing the game the way that's allowed them to excel. We returned to my friends' home and got to chat for a bit more before calling it a night.

On Friday, I got to spend some time at my friends' home watching their dogs scamper about before I went back to downtown St. Pete with Michelle and Scott. We hung out at the Canopy, which is a very nice bar/restaurant that overlooks the water and the city. Joe joined us later, and we got to enjoy another spectacular day in Florida before it was my turn to fly home.

I arrived home from the airport and airport shuttle in the wee hours this morning. After weather in the 70's and 80's, coming home to below zero temps and a bunch of snow on my car was quite an adjustment. I had a great time in Florida. I got to enjoy some fun activities, eat some great food and enjoy amazing weather. The thing I enjoyed the most was how nice everyone was. All the people I met were very friendly. I got to make new friends, meet some social media friends in person for the first time and get to know some friends a lot better.

This was my first spring break, and if all goes well, it may even be an annual occurrence. There's so much to see and do in Florida. I've barely scratched the surface. It was easily one of the most enjoyable and memorable trips I've ever had in my entire life. Can't wait to do it again sometime soon!

That's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!