4/29/02 ~ Luke

I'm happy to report that Dave Mattews is officially the best fucking band in the world! I was completely blown away by the sheer collective talent that lies within the force that is the Dave Mattews Band. But enough about that, everyone already knew that. I know what you all want, details on the downfalls of the trip. Ian and Rob arrived at Central to wake my ass and get under way towards MSU to pick up the final gatekeeper, Steve. We made our way out of Lancing in quite possible the most inefficient route imaginable thanks to the wonderful people at mapquest. Finally finding the correct freeway we were temporarily enroute. Enter the enigma...we're driving along the now divided freeway with a grass median in-between when suddenly we all noticed a car parked in the grass and a man standing right in the middle of the median. From our ever increasing proximity to this man, it genuinely looked like he was standing there taking a piss. As we passed, however, we learned he was not taking a piss but rather just standing there in extreme bewilderment. Leaning into the wind as if trying to be held up by it, staring, endlessly into the horizon. Baffled by this we drove on perhaps another 200 yards when we saw the answer....his dog was running freely down the median. The dog had somehow gotten out of his car and was now making a break for it, I've never seen such a happy dog in my life. At the sight of this we just lost it, it was so funny for we all knew that this dog was going to be dead any second, yeah, we're twisted. Thanks to my amazing art skills I now present to you a rendition of the events just described. . .

Shortly after this occurred we found our exit to get onto the next highway we needed, in this midst of this event we found ourselves stopped at the flashing red lights of a rail road crossing. Steve informed us that the trains here go on for at least 10 minutes and are extremely fast. That the trains here are quite possible the longest and fastest trains we'll ever see. Then the one train engine slowly meandered across the crossing, Steve didn't say much after that. We gradually made it out of Michigan, through Indiana and into Illinois. Other key events were as followed: two dirty kids fighting at a gas station, Luke's Amish farmer hat, almost getting clipped by a semi, etc. And that was just on the way there. We finally arrived at the arena and after a short wait the doors opened and we were let in. Finding our seats we quickly befriended an usher of which proved very useful later on. To simplify the Dave concert it happened like this: Dave came out, played an almost 3 hour set of pure genius, I creamed my pants, and we went home.

After a much deserved night's sleep we ventured out into downtown Chicago with no real plan in mind, and that soon became very clear. Also, we were no longer in the mighty buick, for we had ascertained my mother's big red station wagon, true pimps we are. We determined that walking around downtown would hold our interests for the day, but due an all day rain parade that idea was quickly ruled out. We found ourselves at a museum of some sorts and upon learning of the hefty $9 per person entrance fee we decided the museum was not the answer. We left, but not before trying to sneak in, the attempt failed so we piled back into the wagon and were on our ways. We finally found the highway and headed back to my house. After reassessing the situation we came to the conclusion that it was pointless to get up early tomorrow morning and make the drive and that we should just leave tonight. Now there is one thing you must understand, there are multiple exits off the highway that will get you to my house. Unfortunately I went one exit too early, an easy fix, let's just get back on and go to the next exit. <the plot thickens> However, a toll booth lie in our way, and nobody in the car had the fucking quarter to pay. It was a totally automated tollbooth and as such we were fucked. This is where the true man spirit entered in, I figured I'd just find a back way around to the next exit. Anyway, when we found Lake Michigan we knew an error had occurred. After some colorful language and my crucifixion we turned around and tried again, an hour and a half later we were home, all because nobody had one quarter. My father took us all out for dinner and then we were, at 10pm, on our way back to Michigan. Arriving at MSU around 3am, we kicked Steve out while Ian urinated in the bushes. Making it back to CMU we decided sleep was not the answer and went gambling. Like everything else on the trip, Rob failed while Ian and I succeeded. The moral of the story is Ian and I ended the trip with more money than when we had started. An all around good time for a bunch of angry teenagers. Peace out my children, soberness is closing up shop in a few minutes.

4/22/02 ~ Luke

Well kids the day grows near, this Friday myself, Rob, Steve, and Ian are all rolling to Chicago to see the Dave Matthews Band in concert. This should prove to be a great trip indeed. We're driving to Chicago on Friday and catching the concert that night. We're going to be crashing at my parents house which is conveniently located just north of Chicago. Saturday holds in store for it much gallivanting around the Chicagoland area doing all the things you'd expect four college students to do while in one of the coolest cities in this hole of a country. Sunday brings a little more gallivanting, and then the drive back to Michigan just in time for finals on Monday. We had all planned on going to a taping of the Jerry Springer show while we were there but as it turns out that will no longer be possible due to a failure in logistics which is out of our control. I think I remember somebody telling me you could bring cameras to DMB concerts but I'm not sure. If so you can expect me to get some pics for your enjoyment. Actually, if anybody knows the answer to that would you please drop me a line and let me know, I'd appreciate it.

As glorious as our AOL shrine on the ceiling was, all great things must come to an end. Today I took down the armada of AOL CD's that for months now have lived happily on my dorm room ceiling. They now reside in a ordinary brown box until next school year when they will make a triumphant return to the ceiling. As vindication for our hours of toiling on the ceiling we won best room in our hall. Even though we get nothing, it still proves we're the best. And if that wasn't enough we also had the best picture in the little second floor year book they're making for us. I'm off to save the world, I'll talk to you later my children.

4/15/02 ~ Luke

I went to a strange land today. I saw things I'd only heard about previously in tails from afar. This virgin isle was knows as out...side? I know it sounds strange, but the natives told me I was outside. More specifically Island Park was today's destination, in this land the football and hacky sack were plentiful, as well as the soccer balls and stupid shirtless men with tiny dogs. This whole outside thing spawned the idea of a cookout tomorrow afternoon. And that is where it sits, tomorrow the whole crew is rolling out to grill burgers, brats, and steaks. But aside from being inspired for another day, we entertained ourselves by doing all the normal outside things one does in a park. Currently we are in search of a frisbee before tomorrow's festivities begin. I'm sure I'll have some pics of that tomorrow night, but for now you'll just have to enjoy today.

4/10/02 ~ Steve & Luke

Hey everyone, I returned from this weekend only to hear an interesting story from some friends of mine. Rather than give you a hear-say version of the story I went directly to the source. So here he is in his virgin post, Steve.

While my posting and bitching abilities run shallow to the almighty Luke, I shall do my best with this newest installment at Luke’s Domain. Anyway, what up all, this is Steve here updating on some recent events in our small and pointless existence – for those of you who don’t know who the hell I am, I am Luke and Ryan’s friend from high school (in the ass-rammingly pointless situation that is Cadillac.) I’m not getting into that though. Anyway, on to the crux of this post…

For those of you who have seen Ryan since this past weekend, you may have noticed a few new colors on his face. Hopefully Luke will have some pictures up. Anyway, I am here to explain the rather unfortunate occurrences that led to this black/purple eye on our friend Ryan. It all started rather innocently with a planned weekend for a few of the boys down at Michigan State, full of drinking and merrymaking. Friday night took this plan and implemented it perfectly. I have trouble as I sit here even remembering where we were or what the hell we were doing, so that is a good sign of a positive night. Anyway, I digress. So I’ll set the scene for Saturday night. After a night spent drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon out of several kegs at a local frat establishment known as DKE (For those of you who have seen “Animal House”… you get the idea..) Ryan, Trevor and I all finally fall back home into my dorm. This is where the fun starts. Unbeknownst to me, Ryan decides to, at 6 in the morning, get out of his top bunk and take a little stroll down the hall. On his walk, he sees a closed door. A thought enters his hollowed out cranium, not unlike a single BB rolling around inside an empty tuna fish can. “Hey! This must be a bathroom!” So Ryan walks into this random room, takes down his pants and just starts doing his thing all over the room. All emptied out, he continues his walk down the hall and sees another room. Now the BB starts rolling around again… “Must be back at Steve’s!” Ryan then proceeds to start banging on the locked door until the occupant gets out of bed to answer it. When the door opens (Enter the BB again..) Ryan pushes past this person, ignoring the blatant fact that it isn’t my room or anyone’s that he even knows for that matter, and proceeds to fall asleep on the couch. So, finally we reach the point of the story that explains the colorful marks on Ryan’s eye. As he is laying on this couch, absolutely refusing to get out of this kid’s room, I have to resort to more violent techniques and hit him a few times while dragging him out of the room and back down the hall. Once in my room, he decides he isn’t QUITE done yet and wants to continue being a belligerent and obnoxious drunk, so I have no choice but to deck him in the face to quiet him down. But honestly, I really didn’t think I hit him that hard…

So, in conclusion, Ryan managed to piss all over someone’s room he didn’t know—and with his luck, all over a $500 leather coat that was on the floor (Honestly.. what are the chances..? How many people have 500 dollar leather coats..? And even if they DO have coats like that, what are the chances it would have been sitting on the floor..? Any other room in the hall and he would have pissed on nothing more than an empty beer can and a pizza box…But no, not Ryan…) No charges are being pressed and hopefully the coat isn’t completely ruined by Ryan’s confusion over what the hell a bathroom looks like. In the future, and for the sake of leather coats everywhere—along with Ryan’s eye—we all need to consider locking our doors at night to stave off a freak 6AM urination attack. That’s all folks, peace.

Well there you have it, unfortunately Ryan won't participate in giving me any pics. Fuck if I know why, take it up with him. Peace out my children...

4/5/02 ~ Luke

Time to talk Half-Life. This Sunday the -=WsF=- will be having a clan battle against the notorious [*V&M*]. This should be a very good fight so check out the detail in the -=WsF=- News Page! One final thing, I'd like to show you guys a nice pic I took during one of my games the other day. Just in case you didn't already know, I am -=WsF=-daXXon. You'll have to click on it to get the full effect, enjoy!

4/3/02 ~ Luke

There has been some stir lately that today is national kissing day. What the fuck is this bullshit! What kind of panic and hysteria will this unleash on the general public? I predict grave consequences for this foolish exploit of a self-indulging instant oatmeal society! Kiss me now bitch, it's national kissing day! What about all the bums in the America, will they be getting their kisses tomorrow? Most certainly not! Damnit people go kiss a bum! Ok, back on track. I present to you our war face. It's a simple slogan which reads, "DOWN WITH KISSING!" Think about it, it's so perfect. If there were no kissing, then there would be no national kissing day. Which means this post would have never taken place, think of all the time I could have saved. Ok ok, maybe I'm being a little too cynical. I like to kiss, just as everyone else does. But seriously, national kissing day, ooooooooo. Maybe they should hold ceremonies for this event on the giant pile of rubble that once was the trade towers, we could all stand around kissing one another while big men ramming croquet mallets up our asses. Shit, Hallmark could sponsor the whole thing. Think of the syndication this could spawn, think of the subsidiary rights. Damn, think of the T-shirt sales. "Orgy kissing > World Trade Center" The possibilities are endless. So I say bah to this national kissing day bullshit. Don't kiss anybody tomorrow, boycott kissing and it's sponsors. With that I say good luck and good night.