Hello Wisconsin!

Yeah, I've been gone for a month, or whatever. I've had a lot going on. I have officially moved in to my old room, which still had my sport trophies from my past life. Sadly, I have moved those trophies into their new home, a rolling suitcase that rests in the back room of my basement. (For the Californians, a basement is a floor underground.) Seeing as I'm not in a band currently, I've tried to get back into photography. Being in 13 Killings kind of stifled my photography for those 8 or so months. Randomly, I received a friend request from someone I had no connections to, but being the adventurous person that I am, I accepted this person, who shall not be named. Long story short, I was used for my photography. Granted, I didn't mind in the long run, it offered me some practice, but the principle is what bothered me. I have taken the photos off my flickr, and will probably not be any help to this someone in the future.

Just now, I finished making a sync cable from Scratch!

Radioshack can suck it.

Last night was a crazy night.

It started getting weird about the same time that I started noticing some things weren't quite right.

Goodbye California

The time has come...

As I type this, Nate Mead, Nate Burke, and I are listening to Selkies whist making our way to LAX to drop me off.

I leave at 7am, Marty (my brother) and I are meeting up at 5 at the AirTran terminal.

Tonight was such an amazing night, words cannot describe, so I will describe it with a symbol.

!

I'm not one to drag things out;
Goodbye California, its been fun. I'll see you later.

P.s. Check out all of my new friends in 'Take Notice', an amazing band from Michigan I had the pleasure of spending a weekend with before I left.
www.myspace.com/takenoticemi

Later.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Moving on...

I am moving back to Wisconsin.

You may say "I saw this coming", but you know what,
Even I didn't see this coming.

I leave on September 21st.

My final count will be;

Living in California
2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks

Living out of a backpack
2 months, 2 weeks

If you'd like to know more about this decision, please feel free to ask me.
I don't think I want to divulge upon this topic at the moment.
Enjoy your nights, I will see you soon.

Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Adaptation

Being a person who has several tattoos, I get this a lot;

"Are you sure you're going to want that when you're 80?"
"That's going to stay there forever."
Or
"I don't think it was a good decision."

When you were a teenager, when you first got your braces off, you didn't look at yourself and say
"Crap. Well, I hope this changes so I don't have this smile forever."

You said

"This is me now, I will grow into it."

Same thing with me and my tattoos. Rocky Morgan today is a guy with a few tattoos. It is who I am now. I am already used to it, although not everyone else is.
In life, you must be able to adapt to things you can not change. When you sprain your ankle as a child, you limp. You don't stop trying to walk because it hurts.

I wish I shaved my leg more. I only say 'leg' instead the plural form 'legs' because my right leg isn't anything that requires shaving quite yet. Yes, soon it shall be, but as for now, it will remain manly. I wish I shaved my left leg every other day so it would remain in its prime condition, or at least the way I like it.

I still love when I wear my cut-offs and get off color stares from old women, parents, and children. I get looks from teens, but a look isn't the same as a stare, if you follow me..

I realize Tonight's entry doesn't have much weight to it, compared to others, but you can't expect every firecracker to go off.

See you soon world,

Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Achievements

This is me.
This is my first ever serious band promo shoot. (Persia)
Party Shorts, sans tattoos.
MidWest Hardcore.

Nothing Else Like It.

I am in a listing mood right, and this is my page, so why not list things relating to me?

As I sit here, across from Main Place mall, between the Coffee Bean and Mother's Market, I ask myself

"What have I accomplished?"

For solace, I am going to annotate to myself what exactly I have achieved. This has a very wide interpretation, as you may find out by reading..

1. I have been the lead in a school play
2. I have performed a dance routine in front of my entire school
3. I have visit 25 out of the 50 United States
4. I have seen the white house
5. I have been to Yankee Stadium, Camden Yards, Wrigley Field, County Stadium, Shea Stadium, Comisky Park, Angel Stadium, and then some
6. I have successfully gotten sunburned nearly every time I go to the beach
7. I have seen both the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean
8. I have made and sold 350+ shirts proclaiming people "Hate" me.
9. I have not eaten a hamburger since 2003.
10. I have made friends that I will never lose.
11. I have found out where I stand in life and what my morals are.
12. I have stayed the same weight for 4 years.
13. I have had photoshoots with some of my favorite bands.
14. I have opened up for August Burns Red
15. and He Is Legend
16. I got a bible verse tattooed on my body.
17. as well as a Jewish Shark.
18. I have never thrown a punch.
19. I haven't had a girlfriend in 4 years.
20. I can successfully grow facial hair (not quite a mustache yet)
21. I got paid to take photos of a band.
22. I got accepted to art school.
23. I've never smoked a cigarette.
24. I haven't gotten fat.
25. I went 80 days without washing my hair...
26. I made underoos with my name on them.

I will stop at 26, because that is my favorite number.

"Why is 26 your favorite number?"

It was my first football jersey number.

I was on the packers, 3rd grade, Wide Receiver.

Later!

-Rocky

714-717-0681

Nights

One of the things I certainly miss about Wisconsin;

Nights.

The quite, serene nights of Wisconsin are like nothing I have experienced anywhere else I have ever been. Sure, the summer nights are hot and sticky, but even so, when you're there you realize that its worth the slightly damp feeling.

My trip to Wisconsin in early June reminded me of this fact. While kind of just sitting around at my father's house, I decided to pull my bike out from the top of the garage and go for a bikeride, which is something I have not done in years.
I made my way up the Westwood hill to the path to parker high school. A trip I have done hundreds of times. Going up the hill made me remember how I would walk to school every single day of freshman year. And how every single day, no matter what, I would listen to the song "Glass to the Arson" by Anberlin. Everytime I hear that song nowadays, I am transported back to freshman year;

Its winter out, so I'm wearing my army jacket with blue hoody under, I put my hood up because I know how cold it is out. I get my headphones in my ears, standing on the front step of my mother's house on Waveland ave. I then put on my raccoon mittens, press play and start walking to school, crunching my chuck taylor's in the snow as I walk through the path to my locker.

The next year, my sophmore year was a little different. I had moved to an apartment across town, so walking to school wasn't really an option. Luckily, I had a car! A 1995 Chevy Lumina, it was white and it lacked a front bumper. If anyone from Janesville is reading this, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Even if I was in a car, the winter mornings were still COLD! I had a parking spot in an underground parking structure, so I never had to worry about scraping the frost off my windshield (suck it californians), but even with that, it was still very cold. I would have a jacket and hoody on, hood up of course (it made my hair the way I liked it) and my Old Navy mittens. I would blast the heat and pick my daily driving music, not Anberlin anymore, it would vary by mood. As you would expect with an older car, it would take a bit for the heat to actually kick in and slowly I would take off my mittens, and maybe put my hood down.
For the entire year, I would pick up my buddy Jacob Ruffin and take him to school with me. I would always call him when I got to a certain intersection that we decided upon, and would say "I'm at that one place.". He knew exactly where I was, because this location was far enough away that if my phone call had woken him up, he would have enough time to get ready in time to get in my car when I pulled up. Granted, his house was maybe 3/4 of a mile from school, it was not really out of my way to get him, and it was easier for him, so why not pick up a friend and help out.

Sophmore year wasn't the year of a thousand best friends for me. I had a handful of friends at Parker, but none of them were any that I would spend much time with outside of school. Maybe 3 or 4 nights out of the week, I would go after school sometime to Family Video and get 2 or 3 movies to watch, then camp out in my room and just watch the movies. In retrospect, I really enjoyed that portion of my life. I would also have band practice every so often, and work as well (at Coldstone). Reading it now, you'd think that I was a total shut in. Not true at all. I had actually gotten the lead in one of the plays at school, which was a surprise to me and my mother, so there was something you may not have known about me. 'Fools' by Neil Simon.

Yet another chapter of my life put into words, the very short version of it all.

Subscribe to my blog if you enjoy this, and hopefully you'll all get a chance to know me a little more each entry. In return, I would absolutely love for anyone reading this to send me feedback, email, text message, phone call, anything. Its all appreciated.

You ma-ma-ma-make my happy for reading..

Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Wood

Sometimes I'll find myself with no place to go.
Not necessarily a bad thing, just a thing.
Oftentimes I will find myself outside/around Santa Ana, just aimlessly walking.
The worst is when its super hot out. Like today.
I finally got a chance to go to my storage unit today,
I got a different pair of cut offs,
My piercing supplies,
A pair of socks,
Some purell,
And sunglasses.

Random little items that I can live with or without.

I am fairly excited for our show Sunday,
It has been too long since I played a show...two weeks maybe?
Its refreshing to know that we have a bunch of shows coming up in the future..
I remember when I moved to California I had gone about a year without playing any type of show.
That's the closest thing to having withdrawls I will probably ever experience.

I'm also considering trying out a new 'diet', not a typical diet, just something stupid to try.
I want to see how long I can go with only drinking coffee..
Eating foods of course, but the only liquid I can drink would be coffee.
I can't tell how sick I might get, but I think it will be a nifty little experiment.

I have attached a photo of me from the end of my junior year. I did this because it is interesting to see my legs look like that..boy do things change!

I wore my retainer the other night, woo.

A message to all the fellows reading this;
Treat women like queens.
Never raise your voice to them,
Hold the door open for them,
And never hold a sneeze in.

Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Cinnamon coffee at the Coffee Bean!

Great things never last forever.

Cinnamon coffee - great thing.

You get the idea, today's flavored blend at the Coffee Bean is Cinnamon. Last time I was in when they had Cinnamon coffee was back in the third quarter of school, I was here with Sophia, as we tended to do about once a week or so. Cinnamon is my favorite spice, and I love coffee, so naturally, I LOVE cinnamon coffee.

Almost as much as I LOVE Mark Ruffalo...

It may be destiny...

On a more serious note,

Four Year Strong has released an entire album covering some of the 90's most popular alternative hits, and I feel everyone should take a listen. you're guaranteed a great time with it.

My adventurous life has been good, it keeps me on my toes, and things are never too dull.

Here is the show schedule for 13 Killings, if anyone got a chance to come see us, I'll make sure you have a good time.

August 23rd Hermosa Beach Guitar Center BOTB

August 31st Orange, CA @ the AFL with We Are The End

September 14th Hollywood, CA The Key Club with Suicide Silence

Later!

-R

I'm on a plane

I have not taken off yet, don't worry. I always turn off my phone once they ask me to. (Ipods are a different story.)
I am seated in seat 12D, and because of my extensive flight knowledge, I know that I have the aisle seat, which is my favorite seat. While I am walking down the fuselage, I notice no aisle seat is open.
...Peculiar I say, very peculiar.
I notice there is some middle aged woman in my seat.

(Please turn off phones)
I'll make it quick.

Thanks to the sharply dressed gay man sitting in the window, we got our seating issue rectified, and I am happily in the aisle.

Dunkin donuts coffee!
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Dead men have no tails

The other day I had downloaded (not paid for) a text message tone.
'Oh hello, Kermit-Thee-Frog here. You've got a new text message.'
Quite funny, I must say. Although I just can't muster the strength to change my message tone from the typical blackberry's two tone 'light speed' noise you all have known to love and adore to this newcomer tone. I guess it all just goes to show that frogs really don't have it as easy as we all thought.
Remember those budwieser commercials, with the three frogs,
'Bud'
'Wies'
'Er'
I really hope the I before E rule applies to that brand name, because I'm not sure how it is spelled.
Speaking of that rule, last night there was a band called the 'Feisty Pirhanas'
I guess proper nouns don't have to follow any rules.
Work early.
Don't smoke meth.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Lantern Power

If you have either talked to me recently, or read my previous blogs, you know about how/where I live.
You have maybe been asking yourself some questions about it, and I'm going to try and describe the pros and cons of living out of a backpack.

Do I miss my family?
Well, I actually haven't lived with any of my immediate family since September of 2008, so I have gotten used to living without them. Having said that, yes of course I do miss my mother and sister. My brothers and I don't really keep in contact all that much nowadays.

How do you decide where to say?
Sometimes it just happens, if I'm with a friend and we're hanging out late, I'm more than likely staying with them that night. Sometimes I'll figure it out in the afternoon so I don't have to worry about it. Sometimes it starts to get late and I don't have a place lined up yet, but luckily I have great friends AND a list of friends that wouldn't mind me staying with them.

What's in your backpack?
In my backpack I have pants, a few shirts, my computer + chargers, underwear and a few pairs of socks, gum, a bag of all my toiletries, 2 external hard drives, a hair straightener, a mini notebook, a ard reader, a lighter, gym shorts, cut-offs, and an aluminum water bottle.

It certainly isn't for everyone. I get a lot of interesting oppertunities, as well as miss out on a lot.
Not having a room means I don't get much privacy, ever. Luckily, I never need much privacy so that's all good.
I haven't regularily slept in a bed since I moved to California back in July of '07, so I am used to sleeping on couches, floors, and air mattresses.
Some things will start to get difficult, such as getting to work when I need to. That will be figured out in time.
I have yet to spend a night on the streets, but I feel it will be a good experience that I will take for what it is and see what happens.
My backpack rules, everything is always neat inside it and it is very sturdy and rugged. Thank you Electric.

Time to leave you,
Also, if you've been wondering why all my information is on many of my posts, it is because I update my blog through my blackberry..

-

Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Don't Let This Win Over You

Last night I cut up a mango the really fancy way that you see people do when it makes it look like the shell of a passive turtle.
I hate walking, much less running on sand. Okay, maybe the beach view is worth it for some, but not to me.

I have a fear of guns.

I'm going to a skate park today to attempt to tear it up.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Values

I am Straight Edge

I choose to refrain from smoking, drinking, or doing drugs

I am Vegan

I choose to refrain from eating any product that is made by taking advantage of animals

I am Posi

I decided to keep a positive outlook on life in the rough times that we all face.

I will not, nor have I ever preached to anybody about what they should believe in, what they should think, or what they should do. Its not my place to do so. I feel it is extremely invading to tell people what they should do, assuming their choices are inferior to my own. Having an opinion is what makes us human.
Family is very important to me. Although I rarely ever get to see any of my nuclear family, those people aren't my only family members. My closest friends have become my family in the last few weeks of my life. If I didn't have friends/family like I do, I wouldn't be where I am today. (I mean that in the good [posi] way).

"Who needs enemies when you've got friends like these?"

[The photo attached is of Me and my beautiful friend Carissa Payne, in 2005]
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

CD is officially "Released"

We just got done playing our CD release show.

It was a great time, I believe most everyone there had a good time, as did I.

I stood up on a box for a second or two.
I actually wore cutoffs while playing today, which is something I don't often do, but it was a good idea seeing as how I sweated a little.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Rat poison for dinner!

I just discovered a new rip in my jeans. It is about 1 1/2 inches long, and diagonal. This is very disconcerting to me, because I have already been on the brink with getting a new pair of jeans, now I have to. This news is very upsetting.

Also, I have been wondering;

Where did all the souvenir shirts go for all t

World;

SoyJoy bars taste dry.

Wells Fargo can go die.

I love the priceline commercials.

I've had a headache for two days straight.

Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Mind your P's and Q's

Every so often I will think to myself, "I wonder if things will work out the way I'd like them to."

But you know what? It really doesn't matter how things work out, because whatever happens, I've still got what I need;

• My band
• My friends
• My mind

Recently my father had his appendix removed, routine prodecure. My brother and I both got ours out back in 2001. His didn't go as routine. He had the initial procedure at 4pm, and would be staying the night in the hospital to be monitored, then released the next day.

At midnight, they rushed him into the OR because he had been suffering massive internal bleeding. He had to have 4 units of blood put back into him.

In case you wondering why I put a picture of 4 glasses of beer at the top, I wanted you to visualize how much blood my father lost from an appendectomy.

Needless to say, he isn't doing as well as he could be, but everybody goes through rough times, no matter who you are.

Kelly's Coffee

I am sitting here today inside Kelly's Coffee & Fudge. Yes, that ampersand is crucial and absolutely necessary.

I always, always make it a point to be extremely nice to anybody working anywhere, whether it be at Denny's, IHOP, or any place where people have to deal with asshole's on a daily basis. Even if I am in a terrible mood, I won't take it out on an employee of anywhere. I know how it is, and just one person being nice can make someone feel a lot better, not about just life, but humanity as a whole.

side ramble; A man walks into the coffee shop, asks for a 'ristretto espresso', which is an espresso, made the usual way but pressed faster than normal which reduces the caffeine to the tasty coffee oils. Okay, let me make it clear, he asked "Do you make ristretto espressos?" That is not a ridiculous act, but after hearing that they didn't make them (rather, not know how) he left. If you want an espresso, get an espresso. It's 10am, you could probably use the caffeine.

Today is day 20 of me living out of a backpack, and I must say, in retrospect, I am having a great time. Some things aren't going as swimmingly as they could be, but c'est la vie..

My band, we have shows coming up, Please come support us, we want to entertain you all. You have probably noticed by now, I put the flyers on here for you to indulge.

13 Killings

TTFN,

Rocky

As I Sit Here pondering...

I autographed two shoes tonight. Hmm!
Tonight, we opened up for august burns red.
Bless The Fall, Enter Shakiri, and Destroy the Runner also played.
Twas a Sold out show. There was an enormous line around the block an hour before they even let anybody in so, when it was our time to go on, we went to full blackout, they started our intro, and we slowly walked to the stage. To my surprise, at the moment we got on stage, we received a great deal of applause.
I didn't exactly expect that, but it was a great way to start our set.
We played, we perspired, we had fun.
(Which is what is really the goal)
After the set, after loading our stuff in the trailer, I went to the merch table to hang out. By the end of the night, we sold a surprising amount of CDs, especially because every single band tonight had a new CD out.
Things are starting to pay off for 13 Killings. We have been putting forth an enormous amount of effort, and its great to know that people are enjoying our show.
August Burns Red - phenominal. 'Nuff said.
Tonight is not over, I must celebrate the way a straight edge kid should, eat a burrito and drink OJ!
www.myspace.com/13killings
Listen and smile!
13 Killings, a band that you can take to meet your parents.


OUR CD IS OUT NOW!! $10




Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

ABR tomorrow

Get pumped.

Here's a photo of Kyle at a pool.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

You're not 19 and you're not named Brandy, but I bet you really do have a child..

Tonight was the show with he is legend, drop dead gorgeous, and others in hollywood.
The show went surprisingly well, and I felt like we sounded spectacular. The venue had a great sound system which made the drums sound like a million bucks.
I ended up, for the first time EVER, breaking a string while playing. Woo!
Afterwards, we made a 'killing' (get it?) Selling our 13k carribeaners to everyone. And now, the singer of He Is Legend has a 13K carribeaner. Stoked!
These 3 girls wouldn't leave us alone at the merch booth. Kinda funny, I gave one a PB+J sandwich which apparently, like a homeless cat, made them never want to leave. At the end of the night, one girl confessed her love to me. Oh dear.
Also, right after we played our set, I went to the merch booth and these two girls asked me if I would sign our newly pre-released CD.
Really?
For Sure!!
Felt like a rockstar for a split second..then it went away. In summation, the show tonight is the beginning of things to come.

I am now at Ryen's grandmother's house on the floor, without my backpack of life, about to fall asleep.
Goodnight neverland..
-R.M.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Let the Games Begin!

Well, Tomorrow 13 Killings has a show at the Key Club in Hollywood with He Is Legend, who happens to be one of my favorite bands.
I am beyond stoked. And the cherry on top is that we're opening for August Burns Red on Saturday at the glass house in Pomona. We're going to be selling our CDs there, but our CD release show is in Anaheim at Chain Reaction on the 31st.
Lately most of what I've been doing is band related, and it rules.
Rocky Morgan
714-717-0681
rockymorgan@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/rockymorgan
www.myspace.com/rockymorgan

Tomorrow it begins

Tomorrow we play our first show of six in the span of 12 days. I feel it will be grand. Tonight is beer pong night at the Brammer household. We get our CDs tomorrow, and we have our CD release show on the 31st at Chain. Everyone Come!

A Sewing Kit and a good eye

It has been two days since I have posted, and I apologize.

Lets start things off by telling about my dream.

I was at my old high school back in Wisconsin, it was on their last day of school. I was wearing only a shower towel, but that was fine because so was everyone else. I was walking down a hallway and some lady stopped me by calling out my name. I did not know her, but she knew me. She asked if I wanted to be a fruit model, and I of course asked "Would I get a banana costume out of it?"

"Well of course."

"I'm in."

Then I flew over a barricade and that was the end of my dream.

The other night, I was at my buddy Alex's house when I to mend my jeans, so I took a needle and red thread, and put my pants back together like a pro. Then we proceeded to play Left 4 Dead the next day (sensing a theme there?)

After that, some bandmates and I went to LA to get tickets to our Hollywood show. [flyer]

Here is the overview of shows my band has coming up.

July 19th - Hermosa Beach BOTB

July 21st - He is Legend, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and 13 Killings at the Key Club in Hollywood

July 30th - Show at the Brea Hot Topic

July 31st - 13 Killings headlines show at Chain Reaction

New tattoo

Stardate 23.9

Their throats are open graves;
Their tongues practice deceit.
The poison of vipers is on their lips.
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Ruin and misery mark their ways,
And the way of peace they do not know.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.

You sound like you're from Lon-Don!

Coming to you live from the Coffee Bean at the Tustin Marketplace!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to Los Angeles with my friend, Jodii-Lee. Jodii is from Australia, and naturally that is a hot topic when having common conversation. I have known her for two years, we had an acting class at OCHSA Junior year, and we sat right by each other all year in Gov/Econ. Yet we never did get to know each other until yesterday. Ends up, we already are great friends by default. We had gone to LA to pick up her friend, Claire from Missouri. [She was at a film/acting camp in Hollywood]

A few days ago, my buddy Luke from a band called Protest The Hero, and they're going to be using some shots I did of them a while back for their upcoming DVD. Stoked for that. Last night I made an appearance at a random party filled with people I did not know, they introduced me to a new drinking game called "Baseball". Not the most exciting of the drinking games I have watched, but I guess its all about getting smashed, right? Until tomorrow;

Portal

Yesterday I got word from the Music Buyer for hot topic that he is down to get our CD into regional stores. I also booked a show on the 29th of July at the Brea Hot Topic. It will be a free show, and afterwards we will be selling our new CD as well as some swagger for the kids to enjoy.

I also applied for a job at Zumiez, figuring that I would fit in well at a store like that. I guess I'll wait and see what happens with that.

We are also working on opening for August Burns Red at the Glass House, we are just waiting on the Tour Manager to approve us. I don't know what that exactly means in terms of music, but I guess we're close.

And if that does not go though, we might play at the Key Club with He Is Legend and Drop Dead Gorgeous sometime in late July I believe.

Last night I stayed at Sean Kelly's house, and we played a lot of Left 4 Dead, and listened to some tunes. Currently, I am laying on the carpet and he is playing Portal, which by the way is mindblowing...

If I put a photo in here, you will be interested.

(Susan G. Komen cancer walk, last year)

Coffee shops are great places to think, work, relax, or just sit in. But when people take that too literally is when you want to just slap someone in the mouth.

I often hang out at the coffee bean across the street from Main Place mall in Santa Ana. Its a great place with an awesome staff, but every so often I'll be here in the morning, one like today, and it looks just like an office building in here. Currently, there are 5 people in business attire with their IBM notebooks, padfolios, and their phone attached to their belt by some store-bought contraption that makes them looks that much more square.

The people on the other side of the room, a team of 3 adults, of course dressed to a T, have their computers, their mouse, and come sugary type of tea drink. They have already cycled through 2 'clients', or at least that's what they are from my observations.

I feel this is extremely inappropriate, get an office. I mean sure, I'm sitting here on my computer with some coffee, but its just me, not my entire firm squeezed into a small 4 person table.

Last night, after a little hang up, I ended up staying at Lauren's house. I've been in California for 2 days now, and I'm glad I came back early. Band practice was more than needed, and now today I am going to LA to watch my Uncle's singing group, Forever Plaid do their red carpet thing. It should be really fun, and I'm going with some cool guys.

On another note, while on my trip, I made a point to get a cup of coffee at pretty much every gas station I went to to experience as many tastes of coffee as I can.

The most obscure one that I found was more than likely not intentional, but coincidental. I was driving to Beliot, Wisconsin late one night, and stopped at this rest stop in the middle of nowhere pretty much. I went through the motions and got a cup of coffee. After waiting for it to be a drinkable temperature, I took a drink, and noticed there was something funny about it. Upon more careful inspection I realized that this cup of coffee had a pretzel after taste. The coffee itself did not taste like a pretzel, but after you swallowed your drink and put your tongue back to its normal position you got a slight burst of pretzel taste.

My backpack is heavy. I feel that I can get ride of more things so I'll have the bare minimum...

LOOK OUT!

“Wisdom is in the beard and not in the head”

If you have never found yourself flipping through an online gallery of the many different variations of facial hair men (and occasionally women) sport, then I suggest you take a few minutes to take a look here.

Although I am not able to grow a full Grizzly Adams beard yet, I still "try".

My technique to growing my type of facial hair is as follows;

1. Don't shave

2. Keep not shaving

(Results may vary)

After a few months of using this technique, this is what I get:

Like I said, it isn't quite the grizzly adams, but it's me, and I enjoy what I have.

Today is Day 8 of my "Rocky in Wisconsin" adventure.

If you are not aware of my current mission, it is to simulate the understanding of cultural traditions while attempting to adapt to the local weather and maintain homeostasis in a foreign environment.

We've traveled back in time to save an ancient species from total annihilation. So far, no signs of aquatic life, but I'm going to find it. If I've got to tear this universe another black hole, I'm going to find it. I've GOT TO, MISTER! *blohoop*

Things I have done in Wisconsin;

• went to a zoo
• went to a brewer game
• went to Perkins
• perspired immensely
• saw my cat, Mike
• met an old friend from Germany in an underground karate dojo
• chewed gum
• went to a Wal-Mart

I have not ever walked into a Wal-Mart in California, and I do not plan on doing so.

America...You've got to stop this..

Talk about looking like a complete goon.

Alright, that's all for tonight, I've gotta get back to watch the rest of Ed TV

-R.

We're Signed...

As of tonight, 13 Killings is signed to Acropolis RPM / Hacksaw Records. At first, before I had signed the contract, I wasn't too sure about being on a label, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that all I care about is playing music. The money aspect of things really doesn't matter to me, as long as I enjoy what I'm doing.

It is night 2 of my nomadic adventures, and I am again at Lauren's house. I had planned on going to Allee's, but the drive would have longer than I wanted to scoot this late at night.

Tomorrow I have a show at Chain Reaction, opening for Sky Eats Airplane amongst other bands, it'd be nice to see everyone's beautiful face there, but more than likely, you won't go. Your loss!

I hate the smashing pumpkins...

Today...

(get it?)

Is the first day I am on my own, and it is going great. I stayed at Lauren's and now we're watching the benchwarmers,

band practice today, then a meeting with Acropolis RPM about signing with them, then we'll see where I end up!

Until next time,

-Rocky!

Its Crunch Time...

Moving Day!

Not for me, but for my grandparents. They are moving back to where they came from...not that far back you sick person, but they are moving back to Wisconsin...rather Ohio, then Wisconsin.

I'll admit, moving can be a rather daunting task for some people, depending on how much stuff you have.

The last time I moved, all it took was a truck bed, now I have consolidated all of my belongings into a backpack and what I can fit in my moped trunk. I rule! On a less-pompous note, I am outside of the Coffee Bean enjoying a nice cup of coffee and the chilly weather. (my favorites)

Well, my night is about done, so I will be heading out to sleep in an empty house with only the bare essentials - let the games begin!

She Is Legend

Is the name of my moped. Some people may look at it and laugh, but I get 73 mpg...how about you?

It takes me less than $2.00 to fill up my tank and I've got a super awesome horn to boot.

I don't need to look manly or put on a tough guy facade. I'm awesome, my moped is awesome, you're awesome.

David

I met a guy today who had lost his pants...story soon.

Denny's

Nate was taking the photo.

Winding Down...

As I sit here, I am preparing for my last "Monday" ever. No more struggling to wake up on time after a long and exhausting weekend, no more forgetting what class you have to go to, or how bad it will be that you didn't do any homework. Some say they won't miss this feeling, but some people are dirty liars...

Now that it is the end of the year, I also can safely say that I know who I will talk to after high school and who I will not, which makes things easier because I don't have to be Mr. Nice Guy to all those who I have never liked. This year all the seniors have dropped their cliques for the most part and became friends with everyone.

Devil's Playground: Revisited was a big part of this. I think everyone went into it wanting to just have a great time, and they did because they were all open to new things/people.

I'm not much of a sentimental guy, but OCHSA is a great place..

An Old Book Misread...

The other day I was asked if I could get some Zanax for someone. I am not friends with this person, nor have I even had a real conversation with them, just the casual hello here and there. I told him I had nothing to do with that stuff and he left it alone.

It got me thinking, is that what younger kids think of me? Because I have tattoos and piercings, that means I do drugs? I am not saying I am opposed to drug use, I could honestly care less. I am just marveling at how fast people these days seem to judge a person solely by their appearance. If you actually know me, or have at least had one good conversation with me, you probably know that I am straight edge, and I have never drank or smoked anything in my life.

On another note, today I was sitting outside of the Starbucks at Cinema City in Yorba Linda when a homeless man walked up. He sat a few chairs down from me, and we started having a conversation. I invited him to sit with me and he accepted the offer and had a seat at the table with me. He offered me a gingersnap cookie, which I politely declined, explaining that I was vegan and the cookies were most likely not. He asked what a vegan was so I started explaining veganism to him. He understood and didn't question my decision, just realizing it was how I wanted to live, and knowing there was nothing he could do to change that. We got to talking about films, the Scorcese film Taxi, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and V for Vendetta. It hit me that this man, named Stan, was just a normal person, just like any of us. Society looks down upon him just because he does not have a home. He talked about how he lived in Ireland until he was 12 years old and then his parents deceived him into moving to America, which they both knew he openly opposed. He didn't explain why or how he got to being homeless, but I can only imagine it has something to do with being in Jail, because he briefly talked about his experiences whist in jail. For the most part, Stan was a very nice guy. Sometimes he was very crude in his actions, but for the most part he was completely lucid, sober, and felt alright with his circumstances. He makes money by recycling, not begging. That says a lot because it is not easy to do that, but it is easy to stand on a curb and ask for change. I feel he shows real character and courage, and today's youth could learn a lot from2 Stan.

"Gee Rocky, how'd the music video shoot go?"

I know you were thinking it, and thank you for asking inside your head.

The shoot went very well, we had a good turnout of people, everyone had a grand time, and we went all out every single one of the 7ish times we played Bridges of Eldin.

Are you done shooting?

Nope.

Can I be in your music video?

Nope.

Can I come to your show at:

Hermosa Beach - June 14th

Chain Reaction - June 19th

Anaheim House of Blues (CD Release Show) - June 23rd

Yes.

Are you hungry?

Yes, thanks for asking.

Are you watching Grey's Anatomy?

Yes.

Goodbye!

See Ya!

My Childhood Pt.1 (Birth to Kindergarten)

Some of you may know the basics about me, I was born in Wisconsin, I moved out here to go to OCHSA, and I'm left handed. Maybe you didn't know that one, but I digest..

I was born on a lovely Tuesday Morning, May 3rd, 1990 was the date. My father skipped out on a track meet to be there. Thanks for that, by the way. I popped out into the world at 8:07am, and as most of you do not know, I was peeing. Yep, definitely was already a peeing machine the second I came out. I am the youngest of four children in my family. There's Jeremy, Katy, and Marty. (oldest to youngest)

While growing up, I often got the short end of the stick when it came to car trips - riding in the middle, clothes - occasionally a hand-me-down here or there, but it never really got me down. I was treated relatively nicely by everyone besides my brother, who is 20 months older than I am, so that is expected. We would fight all the time, and him being the older brute, would always win. I was a whiner when it came to those moments. Looking back at it, I think it was just a clever defense mechanism to get my brother in trouble. Even as a tot I had genius in me...

As a young boy, my father, brother, and sister worked at a water park in the Wisconsin Dells called Family Land (now Mt. Olympus so that entitled Me, Marty, and my amazing mother to spend just about every single day at the water park. I used to not be too keen on wild and crazy water slides, so I would spend hours on the kiddie slides The Comet and The Little Dipper. these slides were very tame, very slow, but still had the slight rush that I needed to gain confidence in water slides. I remember the first time I ever went on one of the big slides, the huge slide, the slide to end all slides, the kamikazee. We were at the park with our family friends, the Koeblers, and I was hanging out with Danny. (I felt cool because he was much older than I was) Danny and I made a deal that I would go on this huge slide if he caught me at the end. Sounded like a good plan to little 'old Rocky, so I went for it. As I approached the bottom, I see Danny watching me from the edge of the pool, he wasn't even going to try and catch me! I had been tricked! Regardless, that is where I made my step into manhood, being a little kid going on a waterslide.

We moved around quite often before I even started Kindergarten. I do remember some places, and I don't remember some. You can expect that much. What I do remember most is my grandparents' house on Somo Lake. They had an enormous house (I wonder how big it is now...) and family would be up there all the time. My grandfather had a 4 wheeler named Charlie that he would let us ride on in his lap. I would put my hands on the inside of the handlebars and it would feel like I was driving! Christmas was always an amazing time at their house, everybody in the family, regardless of how far away the lived, came and stayed there. My grandmother made a stocking for each member of the family, and they would hang on the wall under the balcony of the second floor. My stocking had a snowman on it. (It was the best one)

I played sports, sports, and more sports. As a young kid I played basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, and swam all the time. As soon as I was old enough to play tackle football, I jumped at the chance. I never dreamed of becoming a professional athlete, I didn't even really enjoy the idea of competition, I just enjoyed playing and having a good time. If I were to go back in time and had the choice of taking sports more seriously, I wouldn't. I was a kid, it didn't matter if I won or got a medal.

My father, to my surprise, actually help set some of my morals. He always told me I shouldn't smoke because its harmful to your health. Thus, I have never smoked anything in my life. I don't recall him every saying anything about about consuming alcohol, but I do the same with that as I do smoking, I don't do it. (That will be elaborated upon in the next entry) But then again, he also told me tattoos were stupid and for bad people... well, look at me now...

That is all I will tell for now, and in the next few days I will continue on with my life story...

I will be the next big thing

Today in the shower, I had an epitome...

I can not say what it is, but I am going to develop the next big thing,

it will be used by nearly every single teenager in the United States, and even more around the world.

It will take a lot of preparation and effort, but it will pay off..

A Shadow can tell more than a story..

Nomadic Adventures Ahead!

My band, 13 Killings is filming a music video this Friday night, and everybody is invited to come, the scene being filmed is the "House Party" scene, I don't think there needs to be any more of a description for that. Everything you need is in the flyer, here are the lyrics to the song, for those who are interested;

let me start off by saying "you don't stand a chance"

my moves are so precise and so advanced.

supplies fall from the skies, an item i specialize (first come first serve)

I'll let you think its your but once it hit the floor i knew it was mine.

you, you try to run.. but your just not fast enough to receive this gift.

i come out of nowhere, strike you with such force and speed. (pick up the sword)

oh fuck you're done now! you're not looking to good as it is and your standing on unstable ground.

let the games begin for i will not show a sign of weakness nor pity to those enemies who once were called

a "friend". i stick to the plan from the beginning to the end. and we all know what that is now don't we...?

now shield as i try to attack...

say goodnight....

it's sudden death my friend. that means your just one hit away. my heart will outlast yours(x2)

there is no one else. it's just one on one. as fair as it gets. show me what you got! I'll teach you a thing or two. oh it's so much fun.

(i fall to the ground) how could this happen. i was so prepared. i was so prepared.

no i will give up. don't you dare consider over. (rise to my feet) get up! get up!

rise to my feet I'm standing strong. i see you there across the stage, time for revenge.

there's only one life. I'm not gonna fall again i swear I'll make my come back!(x2)

I'm going to attempt to blog once a day, if I am able to do so. Oftentimes I will not have my computer for an entire weekend, thus for those times I may not be able to share my findings with everyone. I wonder what restaurants / stores / etc. have free wi-fi around where I'll be..

So, After Graduation I plan on leading a nomadic lifestyle. I will not have a California home as of the 15th of June, so I feel it is the ideal time to start my adventure. When the news of my roommates moving came about, I panicked and thought, "Who am I going to live with? I don't have a home, so I can't live out here anymore." Not true in the least bit. I've decided that I'll be staying a night or two here, another night there, a few days in a treehouse, basically wherever I end up. As of this afternoon, I have successfully packed up all of my things to be moved with my roommates back to my hometown, with the exception of

• My scooter
• A Backpack filled with the essentials
• A small duffel strapped to my scooter with some clothes and toiletries

I look forward to starting this journey, although I won't be traveling to far away lands, it will still be a new experience regardless.

If you wish to have me as a guest in your house, I would be more than honored,

Just know a few things;

I am vegan, I am straight edge, and I love hot tubs.

So Let's party.