I hope that caught your attention. That is Sam. We've been friends for about eight years, and in bands for about six years. Why would I post a picture of a beardy man eating ice cream and wearing a Cheesasaurus Rex shirt, you ask? Well, right around noon central time tomorrow, I'm leaving to start new. I'm leaving behind a life that took twelve years to get to where I am now, and risking everything. At this point, it would be stupid for me not to.

I've been wanting to leave Wisconsin badly for right around four years now. Originally, I began planning to move with the guitarist of The Nom (if you don't know about that yet, refer to previous blogs) Ben (who happens to be the older brother of the fine young chap in the image above) out to the west coast somewhere. Those plans fell through when I lost my job. Shortly after, we played our last show, and since then, Ben refuses to talk to me. He has quite the grudge against me, and it's mainly because I was the only person who would say what I didn't like in the band. But, that's a different story for a different time.

So, late last year, I began seeing my best friend Stephanie. We weren't dating, just really close. We'd both do something with Sam (beard boy above) on Friday and Saturday, and she'd come to my house once or twice a week. It was great. I did really really want a relationship, but it didn't work out, unfortunately. It was upsetting, but we worked past it. Around January, we both promised each other that we would move out of the state by November of this year. It was a large enough gap to give us enough time to both raise money. Did we ever plan on trying to move together? It was brought up, yes, but ultimately, my choices made it almost impossible.

So, what drove me to changing from November to April? Well, I am glad you asked.


Sam, myself, and Steph doing what we usually did.

My dad lost his job back in late December. A job he worked at for twelve years, since we moved up here. He walked in the snow for the first two months because we didn't have a vehicle unless my mother came up from Green Bay. That's as far as I'll go into it because it's a longer story than I'd like to say on here. He was denied for unemployment because of one little problem that included no personal calls, a bill collector getting snappy with him at work, and him getting pissed off when he boss told him to get off the phone and get to work. With that, he also went from body shop manager when it was owned by the previous owner, to body technician to detailer to car washer/janitor. It was a major slap in the face and hard on us. So, the $500 I had from a lowball sale which was to go towards moving went to doing everything we could to stay afloat since January.

In mid-February, one of my best friends on CAG, Squarehard, told me his friend in Davis, California had an open room. I called her, and it sounded great. I had convinced Sam in the span of a few days to take a chance and go with me. So, we had about ten days to March 1st to plan, pack, and leave. The roommates at the house ultimately decided that they didn't want two people sharing the room unless we were dating (ehh, yeah...) and so it was time to look for a new place. He slowly lost hope, and by March 1st, I was on my own. I wanted to get out of Sturgeon Bay as quickly as possible... I know if I stayed until the snow was gone and it was nice out, I'd find reasons to not leave. So, I set March 25th to April 5th as my MUST LEAVE BY date. I start planning everything on my own. I sell a majority of my possessions, including my car to my mother.

In early March, my dad wakes me up at 6 AM telling me he called an Ambulance because he has horrible pains in his abdomen. He goes to the hospital, and I get a call later saying he has a kidney stone. He comes back the same day. Wednesday, our neighbor comes over to take him back. He stays from Wednesday until Friday again, when they find two more stones. I take him back Saturday night for pain, and they believe they find one more. He's been fine since, but he has been pretty sick and hasn't had much energy. He's the kind of guy who gets out and does stuff no matter the weather, because he hates being trapped. He's unfortunately been glued to Netflix and figuring out Facebook, since he's looking to (AKA forced to since this house it a money pit and we're losing it) move as well. So, come Tuesday, my uncle is coming up from Illinois to help my dad pack up whatever they can take and we're leaving the house.

The house I grew up in for over a decade. It sucks, but it doesn't really affect me anymore. The house has always been a piece of shit, even when he did everything he could to improve the little things when we had the money to. We're both starting new.

So, I haven't really filled in the details on what I'm gonna do when I get to Davis. I could talk for thirty minutes and have anybody see it from my eyes, but any less and the details become hazy and you'd probably think I'm crazy. All I can say is that Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin's economy is based 60% off of tourism, 30% off of manufacturing, and 8% off of retail, and 2% of miscellaneous. The winter months are pretty brutal, as we get pounded with snow (Green Bay received 22.3 inches of snow since March 1st, and 87.7 inches of snow since July 1st, 2010) and most places run off of a skeleton crew, so a decent number of jobs up here are seasonal. There is a Target and a Wal-Mart, two grocery stores, a video store, and lots of bars and restaurants and hotels. I've already worked at the Target doing truck, which I enjoyed, but was let go from.

My dad has been searching for a job since January, but there's close to nothing. He's checked most of the dealerships with a body shop from Sturgeon Bay to Appleton, but there's nothing that would make the drive worth it. So, essentially, he's stuck broke. At least he'll get down to Illinois, live with his brother for a few months, and then hopefully get everything straightened out to move out to Colorado.

So, yeah. Here's a happy picture to turn the tables!


180 nuggets. Strell knows our damage.

I've sold pretty much all of my collection on CAG and to local stores. I'm keeping around ten PS2 games and that is about it. I'm going out there on the bare minimum, but it will help me out. I won't be lugging around seven bags of shit. In all reality, I'm taking more of a risk here then doing what I'm doing; moving 2100 miles across the country. Out there, there's a bigger job market, which is quite a bit stronger than here (since June 2009, Davis' job market increased 19%; Sturgeon Bay's declined 42%.)


I am the new Chuplayer.

I've had so much support on CAG, and I honestly can't thank you guys enough. Strell, TooShorty, TLP, DV8, and Amblix all have donated more than I could ever ask. Many more members have bought items which I appreciate so much, because it's helped me get to where I need to feel better. If you don't see your name, then I thank you so much for even reading this, or talking to me, or listening to me argue with myself to figure out how I will work this out (TLP gets the award for hearing the most of that! )


Mason, singer of Phenomenecronomicon. He's a man's man.

So, in 48 hours, I'll be on a plane for the first time. I'll be on my own for the first time. I'll be outside of Wisconsin or Illinois for the first time. I'll see part of the world for the first time. I'll have to fend for myself for the first time. Last night also was probably the last time I'll see my friends, either for a long time or possibly ever. Since my dad is moving, if I completely fail, I'm not coming back to Wisconsin. My mom and brothers both live in Green Bay, but... I cannot stay with them. I just can't.

So, there it is. I've had so many great years on CAG, and the Trade Forums especially. There was such a sense of "friendship" there a few years ago, but that seems to be fading. I hope next time I get to a computer, I'll see a bigger sense of a community again. There's so many great people there that you shouldn't even hesitate to get out there. I've yet to have a trade or purchase go bad, so if you haven't tried it out, get to it! It's an amazing tool, and the only online place I'd buy or trade games, ever.


The Nom, doing what we do best.

Lastly, I released my second CD about a month and a half ago. I'd be in debt if you could check it out. You can download it for free, as well! Here is the link to it:

http://oceansnextvictim.bandcamp.com/

I'll have to unlink the paypal account, as it won't be running for a little while. It's free music, and if you enjoy it, then you made my day and found something new to listen to! Here's a sample, in case you want to give it a taste:



I do implore you to watch it in HD though, as the sound quality is a bit horrid in SD.


And finally, for you angry guys, the last Nom show ever:




Au revoir, CAG!


- Kirby (Vulgarism)