So i wasn't gonna write anything about my trip to niagara falls to see the guys because i didn't think anyone would care but the more i sit here and think about it the more i have to get it out. afterall, no one gets sick of positive energy right!!

i had bought the meet/greet tickets a couple months ago and had been waiting on this day for what felt like forever. i decided to take my friend jeff along on the 6 1/2 drive as staind is his favorite band as well. i had previously met aaron by total chance in huntington wv 11/20/08 so i felt as though i knew what to expect. there we were in line for the meet and greet and i was so excited i could piss myself. just being in the presence of those you have enjoyed listening to and who have helped you in one way or another in the past 11-12 years is something words cannot describe. even though the time went by so fast i enjoyed every second with the band. they were in such a great mood and you could tell they really appreciated us being there as much as we appreciated them. so now its show time and we had phenominal seats. middle section, front row baby. i could see the veins in aarons neck, the hair on his face, mike going crazy to my left, johnny puttin it down on my right and jon rocking it in the back. it was a m a z i n g. i was pleased to hear some old stuff as well as some new stuff from IOP. probably one of my favorite songs is so far away, hence the lyrics i have tattooed. that was the 3rd song they played and it touched me in a way i could never imagine. the tears flew in the moment. don't know if it was the fact i was right there up front and center around the best band ever, maybe it was hormones, hell maybe i'm just a pussy but i think it affected me in the way music is supposed to affect someone and for that i truely thank everyone on that stage. the end was much more than i expected when aaron came back out to sing 'intro' without the use of a mic. he's so talented and never fails to amaze me. overall it was just a great weekend and i wish everyone had/has the oppurtunity to engage in something like this. it really makes life grand and lets you appreciate things you might have forgotten. oh and that water fall thing was pretty cool too lol. thank you to aaron, mike, johnny and jon for doing what you do. thank you for the words and the music. thank you for taking the time to let your fans have their little dream come true. here's to another 12 years.