Checkmate

Breaking the Silence

2009-01-01T23:43:23Z

I know I don't post much here anymore. Nor do I think I will be doing much in the future. But I felt I needed to communicate en masse to those who may read this.

Recently, there have been misunderstandings with some people. Some I was aware of, others I apparently was not. The one I was aware of is continuing to grow. There are elements of truth in the stories circulating, and downright incorrect information as well. However, because there is only one side circulating, everything is being taken as truth.

It has also come to light that some people have issues with me. They speak to my face and tell me all is fine. Then they tell others about how terrible I am. I ask this to all of you who claim to be my friends. If you have an issue with me, talk to me about it. Don't smile to my face and then jab a blade into my back.

If you don't want to speak to me, nor have me speaking to you, just say so. Comments here will be screened. Feel free to comment and say "Hey, I think you're a jerk. Leave me alone." Of course, a reason why you feel as such would be appreciated, but I know some people dislike confrontation.

I have no problem with people who dislike me and tell me so. I have a big issue with those who claim to be my friend, yet don't want to be. Or who spread rumors or listen to rumors about me. Being in the limelight as a performer, I am a target. I have had my share of rumors about me. Some are true, others are not.

If I have offended you in the past, I am sorry. If you are currently offended yet want to be my friend, tell me what I have done wrong and I will make amends. If you are offended and want nothing to do with me, tell me and I will fade out of your life.

Just let your words match your feelings. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But if I say or do something that offends you, and you do not tell me, then I may say or do it again.

I wish my friends and enemies alike a healthy and prosperous 2009.

HUGE REMINDER!

2008-11-14T04:52:19Z

If you havent seen on the BDB, or FaceBook, or talked to anyone who knows me, or you are just forgetful . . .

Tomorrow night is the show!

Molotov - Then & Now
An Evening of Comedy, Magic, and Mayhem!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Showtime at 7 PM

The Cultural & Civic Center of Round Lake Beach
2007 Civic Center Way
Round Lake Beach, IL 60073
For maps and directions, please visit www.rlbciviccenter.org

Tickets:

$12 at the door
$10 in advance

Tickets are general admission, and seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Please note, this show is rated PG-13, and is not recommended for young children.

For (the exact same) details, and to order advance tickets, go to www.OnlyOneMolotov.com.

Just . . . WOW

2008-10-16T00:34:34Z

This is one of the more unusual acts I have ever seen. Bloody Brilliant.

HalfTime Basketball Creighton University Omaha Nebraska - Watch more free videos

Mystery Meme

2008-09-16T04:23:03Z

OK, here's the scoop. I don't normally do these things, but since I kept popping up in peoples' answers, I had to find out what it was all about.

So here's the deal. These are answers to questions. I'm not posting the questions; you have to post a comment and promise to post your own set of answers before I will send you, via private transmission, the questions.

1. lifeonwry
2. mrsmolotov
3. terrencechan
4. mythic
5. p_padfoot
6. lex_of_green
7. scarletcurls
8. keillt
9. p_padfoot
10. laurajg , alloriana , lifeonwry , mrsmolotov , of course
11. scarletcurls
12. Holy cow. So many. mrsmolotov (duh!), alloriana , boskokitten , athena_altera , lylyan , ilumen8 , napoleonkomplex , mythic , siofra86 , phooka104 , moxie_raqs , pretty much everybody i know
13. keillt , lylyan , gyacomo
14. theduramater / fencermatt
15. spridco , but only cuz I've already seen her do so
16. lifeonwry
17. keillt
18. scarletcurls
19. mirandabunny
20. runthebear
21. I don't know what this question means
22. Or this one
23. otbs (cuz he technically is)
24. docdetroit
25. scarletcurls
26. mrsmolotov
27. williamnilly
28. me_actor_ug
29. mrsmolotov
30. I dunno. "I'm too sexy for my shirt?"

Football - Week 2

2008-09-10T17:56:00Z

Here are the games for Week 2 of the NFL.

Green Bay @ Detroit - Green Bay

Oakland @ Kansas City - Oakland

NY Giants @ St. Louis - NY Giants

Indianapolis @ Minnesota - Indianapolis

Tennessee @ Cincinnati - Cincinnati

New Orleans @ Washington - Washington

Chicago @ Carolina - Chicago

Buffalo @ Jacksonville - Jacksonville

San Francisco @ Seattle - Seattle

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay - Atlanta

New England @ NY Jets - NY Jets

Miami @ Arizona - Arizona

Baltimore @ Houston - Baltimore

San Diego @ Denver - Denver

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland - Pittsburgh

Philadelphia @ Dallas - Dallas

My record for last week: 6-10 (yuck!)

Football - Week 1

2008-09-06T18:18:09Z

In the past, otbs has posted the upcoming NFL schedule so we could try our hands at picking the winners. I know he has his hands full these days with stuff, so I figured I would get it going.

Here are this week's games, with my picks in bold. Choose your winners and post in the comments. We can keep a running tally. (I won't, you have to. Be honest.)

There was one game this week already, so that is a freebie.

Washington @ NY Giants - Giants won (I woulda picked them anyway)

Detroit @ Atlanta - Detroit

Seattle @ Buffalo - Seattle

NY Jets @ Miami - Miami

Kansas City @ New England - New England

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans - New Orleans

St. Louis @ Philadelphia - St. Louis

Houston @ Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh

Jacksonville @ Tennessee - Jacksonville

Cincinnati @ Baltimore - Cincinnati

Carolina @ San Diego - San Diego

Arizona @ San Francisco - San Francisco

Dallas @ Cleveland - Dallas

Chicago @ Indianapolis - Indianapolis

Minnesota @ Green Bay - Minnesota

Denver @ Oakland - Denver

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

When Rabbis Attack

2008-07-03T19:28:57Z

Last night I did a gig for a group of 250 jewish teens for some jewish camp thing. I was hired by the rabbi.
The finale of the show is the legendary bullet catch, which I perform using a paintball gun. As soon as I asked for a volunteer, the entire group began drumming rhythmically on their desks, chanting "Rab-bi Pol-stein!" clap clap clapclapclap.
I figured "What the heck. If you can't trust a Rabbi, who can you trust?"
So, the Rabbi got to shoot a gun at my head. I survived, the crowd went wild, and a good time was had by all.

The End.

So very awesome

2008-06-13T06:11:51Z

Wednesday night, I went to see Iron Maiden for the 5th time. I don't think I can see them live ever again, because I don't think they can ever do a more awesome show. Anything after this will just be a let down.

You have to understand; for me, this was almost a spiritual experience. Iron Maiden was my favorite band in high school, and many of the major moments in my life have had some sort of "Iron Maiden" significance, meaning whatever happened triggered a Maiden song in my head.

These guys are Rock n Roll legends. Their first album was released in 1980, and last year they released their 14th album. This tour is the "Somewhere Back in Time" tour, meaning they are only performing their earlier stuff, and they brought back some of the old stage sets and such. In fact, the newest song they did was from their "Fear of the Dark" album, which was released in 1992. They even did their song "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (and yes, that is the correct spelling of "Rime". It is based on the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.) I had never seen them do it live before, cuz the song is 13 minutes long!

One of the coolest things about this band is this. One vocalist, one drummer, one amazingly talented bass player, and THREE awesome guitarists. That means LOTS of UNBELIEVABLY WICKED GUITAR SOLOS!

All in all, an amazing show. I can't believe these old guys still have it. They are still having fun, and still full of tremendous energy. Not brain dead like Ozzy or decrepit like the Rolling Stones.

That's the old backdrop theme for their "Powerslave" album from 1984.

More awesomeness. The guy in the front is Steve Harris, the band founder and minor deity of the Bass.

Words simply cannot describe the level of awesome.

They always end the main show (before the encore) with their title song "Iron Maiden." The gold head at the top splits open and a huge mummy comes out. Cuz the "Powerslave" album was all egyptian and stuff.

That's Eddie, their mascot. Every concert, an incarnation of him comes out for a stroll. That is the Eddie from their "Somewhere in Time" album. Yes, he is about 15 feet tall.

*sigh* so cool.

Mother lied

2008-06-05T05:30:44Z

I guess Mom lied. Sometimes cheaters DO win.

Here is to the 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.

And to the most valuable player, who was most instrumental in leading the team to victory . . .

. . . the Referee.

March of the Penguins

2008-06-03T04:58:07Z

Once again, the forces of Light have defeated the forces of Evil. The strategy of cheating, slashing, goalie crashing, and just generally trying to pound the Penguins into submission backfired on the Detroit Red Thugs and allowed the Penguins to win in Triple Overtime.

Game 6 is in Pittsburgh Wednesday night.

Long live the Penguins.

Bored

2008-05-17T17:53:32Z

OK, so, I am out doing shows all day today. I have a few hours till my next show. So, I figure I'll go have lunch at Panera and use their free Wi-Fi.

But, there is a problem. There are NO TABLES. Anywhere. So, I am out in the parking lot in my car, windows rolled down (cuz it's a beautiful day), siphoning off of their internet without buying food. I WOULD be in there giving them my money, but I can't. So, I'll continue to leech for a bit longer, then go find a place I can actually get into to eat.

I know. It's been forever since I posted here, and I give you this lame, content-free post.

Deal.

Attention BBF and stage fighters!

2008-03-25T19:11:32Z

I am going to be performing at a small renaissance party (not really big enough to be a ren FAIRE) up in Wisconsin. The organizer, who is an old friend of mine, is also looking for a small fight cast to do some fights, and a group to perform/teach some dances and maybe do a mummers play. The event is May 3, so this does not interfere with Bristol or any of the other local festivals (that I am aware.) This would be a paid gig, but I also know she is working on a very limited budget.

If you are interested, please respond here with your email address and phone number. Also, some of you I may only know by your LJ name or Bristol name, so please include your real name. All responses are screened, so your personal info will not be made public. However, please note that I will be passing your info onto the vent organizer.

grumble

2008-03-09T03:54:32Z

Being sick f^%#ing SUCKS!!

Hey Steve!

2008-03-03T05:28:09Z

I kept forgetting to post this. The other day, I was sitting with Anastasia on my lap, telling her about some of the new Ren Faires we will be visiting this year.

Her response?

She got all bright-eyed and said "Maybe OTB will be there!"

Miss ya, bud.

Finally!!

2008-02-14T04:48:29Z

It finally came! I am officially edumacated!

A record for my madness

2008-01-28T23:17:05Z

I do not think this will possibly come true. But just in case it does, I wanted to have a record of it. Cuz otherwise, nobody will ever believe it.

I had a dream the other night. I dreamt that the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Final score was 35-10.

Naaaaaaah! Just dreamtime delusions.

Heavy Metal Rules

2008-01-15T08:38:02Z

I realized i hadnt posted in forever and a day. I have things of substance to post about, but right now, I just dont feel like it. Instead, I thought I would share some hilarity.
Those who know me well, know that I am a metal head at heart. I have seen Iron Maiden in concert 5 times, Queensryche, Metallica, ya boy!
I also really like the old 80s and 90s "Bodybuilder Scandinavian Guy with a Guitar and Flowing Blonde Hair" type of metal.

Anyway, was pointed towards this on YouTube. Man, I love music sometimes.

It's good to have fans with too much free time

2007-12-14T07:45:05Z

My pal k_t_cat AKA Kitty the whore from Bristol put this together for me. I hope it embeds properly.

Clearly, she has far too much free time on her hands.

Wiiiiiii!!!

2007-11-22T04:40:12Z

So, I have officially cancelled Black Friday. For the past 2 years, I have waited in line overnight to take advantage of super-low prices. However, since nobody is really doing a sale on Wii this year (cuz they sell out WITHOUT a sale), I got one today.

So yeah, Michelle and I have been playing, and now my arm is sore. Merry Christmas to the fam, this is all we get.

In other news, check out the new userpic.

What do inquiring minds want to know?

2007-11-14T21:42:21Z

My lovely wife will be interviewing me and writing an article about me for a Renaissance magazine. She would like to know what questions people may have about me. So, I am posting this here and on the Bristol Board.

Wadda y'all wanna know?

Pretty Wild

2007-11-12T21:51:07Z

Was surfing the web, and stumbled across this article.

This is pretty wild

2007-11-09T19:07:07Z

(Cross-posted to BristolBoard)

I did a minor update to my website today, which also includes an online form to sign up to receive my quarterly newsletter. So, if anybody wants to sign up, you can go to www.molotovthegypsy.com and do it.

If you already signed up manually by signing the list at a faire this summer, then you are already on the list, and should have already received the first issue.

Are we live?

2007-10-27T04:07:02Z

Yes, we are.

The Molotov website is finally up and running. It is not 100% done, as I need to upload some video and pictures and such, and get my webstore taken care of. However, it is, at the very least, functional.
Check it out at www.molotovthegypsy.com or www.onlyonemolotov.com

Both lead to the same site.
Comments welcome.

Waaaaahoooooooo!

2007-10-24T22:59:56Z

I just got confirmation that all of my transfer credits, Prior Learning Assessments, and other miscellaneous stuff have all been accounted for. What does this mean? It means that
I'm FINALLY done with school! I'm getting my degree!!!

I know, some of you are like, "Errrrr . . . been there, done that." But I graduated High School 15 years ago. I started taking college classes again just after my son was born (he is now 6 years old.)
Soon, I will have an extremely expensive piece of paper that says I know something about marketing and business. (Of course, what I learned in school has very little to do with marketing and business in the REAL world, but ya know how it is.)

So anyway, that just made my year. And after the crappy week I have had, the news comes at a great time.

Fun with Photoshop

2007-10-17T15:17:42Z

Now, I am not an uber-expert at Photoshop like some folks here are (scarletcurls and unmei74 ,I am looking in your direction.) But, I am pretty happy with this little creation of mine.
Special thanx to Chris Muetz for the awesome original photo.