The Black Dahlia Murder 08/20/17—The Crown Uptown, Wichita, KS

I've been a Wichita resident for eleven years, and a metal fan for considerably longer. Until recently, those two things—being a metal fan and residing in Wichita—rarely intermingled, as live bands playing anything but country or classic rock were few and far between (Steve Miller Band, anyone?). There  was the occasional metal show here andContinue reading "The Black Dahlia Murder 08/20/17—The Crown Uptown, Wichita, KS"

I Love a Horse(man)

It seems like it's been a while since I've talked about TV. I guess that's partly because my viewing habits have changed so drastically over the past year and a half or so. Once upon a time I wrote a post giving 3 Reasons Why Man Can't Live on Netflix Alone. Oddly enough, reading back over it,Continue reading "I Love a Horse(man)"

How Exactly Does One Become a Buff?

It's weird. People who are into music are called audiophiles, people call themselves a geek or a nerd about whatever subject they're into, but it seems like I only ever hear two types of people call themselves 'buffs': film buffs and history buffs. I've been a self-proclaimed film buff for years—I know there are tonsContinue reading "How Exactly Does One Become a Buff?"

Chaos with a Smile: Andrew W.K.’s The Power of Partying Tour

In  the pantheon of great motivational speakers, certain people come to mind: Saturday night, thanks to an overwhelming sense of curiosity and a girlfriend who's always up for something new, saw me at a venue normally associated with rock performances, hosting a rock singer. This, however, was different. It was a spoken word appearance byContinue reading "Chaos with a Smile: Andrew W.K.’s The Power of Partying Tour"

So It Goes; Russian Circles

So, August turned out to be a pretty shit month for me and a lot of people I know. I try not to be one to complain, but...just wow. Talking about it here, in a (relatively) public forum, may seem to some people like I'm oversharing or not keeping something private that others may notContinue reading "So It Goes; Russian Circles"

Scene From a Waiting Room

Two of my favorite hobbies have always been people watching and eavesdropping, long before I declared myself a writer and could claim such behavior as "research." In fact, if I watch people long enough I'll usually give them names, and sometimes even backstories. For instance: I have a neighbor I named Jim, who I decidedContinue reading "Scene From a Waiting Room"

Stull Cemetery: Of Course Kansas Has a Portal to Hell

I'm a sucker for urban legends. Ghost stories, haunted houses, monsters, you name it. So when the chance came along to visit a somewhat famous "haunted" cemetery touted as a portal to Hell frequented by THE DEVIL HIMSELF, I jumped at it. Stull Cemetery is located in the postage stamp-sized town of Stull, Kansas--approximately 10 minutesContinue reading "Stull Cemetery: Of Course Kansas Has a Portal to Hell"

Hi, I’m a self-indulgent hypocrite

There might be a little bit of hyperbole in that title, but not much. I've been busier so far this year with creative/artsy stuff than I have been in my whole life up until now, and I have to say it's been pretty cool. So get comfortable while I talk about myself and clumsily humblebragContinue reading "Hi, I’m a self-indulgent hypocrite"

A Somewhat Verbose Shout Out to My Fellow Dispatchers

I've always been hesitant to talk about my job on here. I work directly with law enforcement and people are extremely passionate about the issue on both sides. Discussing it (as with many other political or hot-button issues) doesn't really interest me. I'd rather debate which was the best season of Buffy The Vampire SlayerContinue reading "A Somewhat Verbose Shout Out to My Fellow Dispatchers"

What is this? Is this a cusp?

I'm not a huge sports guy, but when I think about my 2015, the most fitting term I can think of to describe it is a sports metaphor: It was a rebuilding year. I know vague Facebook and blog posts are annoying, but I'm also somewhat guarded about my private life—I'll go into a littleContinue reading "What is this? Is this a cusp?"