Many times my friends Jeff Sandzick and Tim would light off farts in the dark at our cabin at band camp. It was pretty funny and the farts would get pretty high too.

I remember that there was always this table full of latino gangsters in the cafeteria. For some reason, my friend Todd didn't get along with one of them. His name was Franko and we called him "Franko De Muerto" which is something like "Franko of death".

His name evolved. It became "Franko De Muerto Espierto" which totally doesn't make sense but it rhymed. I think it means Franko of Death Hope. Then it became "Franko De Muerto De Espierto Vash" or something. I think we thought that it meant "Franko of Death of Hope Cow".

Anyway, I remember that there was once a confrontation. I don't know if we threw food or what but they approached Todd and our preppy table and then followed Todd out into the commons area and surrounded him. Nothing happened though - maybe the bell rang - I can't remember clearly.

Band Camp was tons of fun for Dan, Dave and I. Band Camp '96 was a great time cause that was the first time love bloomed between one of the Renee boys and I- Dan (Dan the man is what my family still calls him). I remeber having an awesome cabin of girls and we'd sneak out everynight and smoke cigarettes because we were cool. The guys used to sneak over from their side of the camp and hang out with us. Dan and I just kind of fell right into, I liked him and he liked me, there really wasn't any discussion. Unfortunately it didn't last long because of stupid Kim, my best friend, and her green envy issues. And I was easily influenced by her, so of course I turned into a bitch and we broke up. I was saddened for a long time about it. Then I think Dan started dating...shoot I can't remember her name...Melissa Bugg that's right. I was PISSED. It was my own fault though. Young love, full of mistakes. But we got over it, and no matter how far apart we are he'll . . . Read More..

In my senior year in high school, I was the section leader for our trumpet section. It was pretty big. I think we had like 35 members or something. I was pretty outgoing. I would jump around and swivel my hips and say "can you feel it?" like Ace Ventura. At our Band-O-Rama event awards were given out based on student votes. I received the "Spark Plug" award nearly unanimously.

At our state competition, we did a great performance and it was now the time when the awards were announced. They got all the way to 4th place and we got nervous. In 1995 we had received 4th place. In 1993 we got 7th and we got 8th in 1994. Finally, they announced that we got 3rd place. It was so exciting, being my senior year and getting the best placing we ever received. (In Michigan you can't really get first place because Plymouth Canton does every year because they spend tons of money and do totally untraditional things - but that's a different story).

Anyway, I . . . Read More..

Me and my friends enjoyed going to coffee houses back in high school.  It was kind of when they first started appearing, before the massive onslaught of Starbucks.  There was one called Gotham City Cafe in downtown Ferndale that we heard about.

So we went.  I think it was Jeremy Davidson, Dave Belch, Justin Harris and me.  Dave and I were in our band varsity jackets and Justin and Jeremy were wearing leather jackets, Jeremy was looking particularly preppy.  It turned out that Gotham City Cafe was a total Goth hang out.  It was very dark and strange in there and people were just kind of sitting on the floor.  I can't recall if we got coffee or just decided to leave.  At any rate, I think that people might have chuckled at our preppy appearance.

We left and drove around the block in front of the Cafe.  I think I yelled "fags" out the window and before we could think, some big guy jumped in a truck and started driving after . . . Read More..