11. Yay

So today I woke up with a soar throat and a runny nose. I'm definitely in the beginning stages of a cold. Im stoked about that... not. 

Yesterday I pulled a "triple" at work. I worked the shop, then the station, then the shop till 2:ooam. I am super tired, but Shinedown's stuff is almost done so that is good.

Tonight was my last night at the Station. Which is awesome! I did make a

 lot of great friends there though, so best of luck to all of them.

I haven't talked to Joel lately which is kinda strange. Im a little worried about him. I hope he can come down this weekend. That would be sick. 

Me and Alex jammed for a short time the other day and it felt amazing. Again, Alex amazed me with his shred technique. Good stuff man. 

I got some bunk beds in my room now if anyone wants to come stay the night.... I call top bunk!

I have been writing a slower song lately, it's actually starting to come together which is cool. I can't wait to finish it up. 

Lastly, I just started reading Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. It's gonna be a goody!

This is me right now! haha 

Love,

Koontz

10. Koontz Update

Nothing much has changed... still working my buns off.

9am - 4:30pm Me and alex were at the shop building cases for Shinedown... haha

5pm - 10:00pm I worked at the Station cooking... it sucked again.

10:30pm - 12:30am Went back to the shop to finish up some cases for Shinedown... haha 

Also, I found out some bad news... one of my cousins in Tennessee recently punctured his eye while at a friends house. He hit a tree and a stick went through it. I know that sounds gross, but I ask that anyone down with the GOD, please keep him in prayers. This happened three weeks ago and he is still in the hospital. The doctors don't know if he will loose his vision or not yet, but again, please remember him.

I think im gonna go to Tennessee and visit the family while everyone else goes cam

ping. But i will still be attending the Life in Your Way show on the 11th... STOKED!

Oh... i have some bass cabs for sale still... i have to sell them or i don't get my new drums. So someone just buy them out of pitty. haha.... sike.

Get em' while they're hot!

Love,

Koontz-a-million

09 - Thursday Morning

So I woke up today from the weirdest dream of my life............ 

I watched Cloverfield last night(which by the way is amazing) and I guess it got me thinking weird. So the synopsis, I wake up one morning and look in the mirror and discover I have gangrene in my mouth, which by the way is glowing green. I guess I just pictured it as green its really black or purple. So then I go to this shopping center and there is a red cross camp there......Just like in the movie. I really don't remember much except my neon green mouth, but it got me thinking that it may be a sign for me to go the doctor for my toe. What if my subconscious knows I may get gangrene and its letting me know! that would be some shiz. 

I have a new favorite drink too its real good

They are my breakfast every morning.

Monster Russian, Its pretty much a white russian that won't get you wasted.

Buddy has fleas.

Roxy is a hussie.

I am shaking from this drink

And I am off today from one joarb!

Oh yea and I found a digital camera. I know who is the previous owner so don't say it's yours!

Sincerely, Samuel Alexander Blackwell IV

08 - Ramblin' Man... not like the song.

So today at work we finished up some cases for Brett Michaels' drummer. It seemed like it took forever, but they turned out nice. Tomorrow we start on some stuff for Shinedown! Also, I was offered a full time job building road cases with Mental Case Inc. It's an amazing job that still allows me to tour and what not. If everything goes as planned I believe I will take the offer!

I then found out at my other job (cooking at a local restaurant that the owner is trying to sell the place and there is a ton of turmoil going on there, so everything seems to be coming at the right time.  

I have been attempting to piece together a song on my own lately too. Lyrically It's kind of a more personal song to me, but I think it will make a good addition for recording.  

And lastly, I currently feel like vomiting. I'm going to bed.

Love,

Koontz

07 - Random Stuff From Chadwick

firstly, (if that is a word) Koontz never numbers his entries. so if you are reading this please send him a message on MySpace encouraging him to participate in the orderliness that numbering entries brings to the appearance of this blog.  direct all mail to... www.myspace.com/mkoontz.  don't we all love him?!

thank you. can i also mention that i really love matthew koontz? and that he makes me smile? hopefully i can mention that because i just did. 

on another note, i have been getting turned upside down over the last week due to what i've been reading. (Claiborne.) and it has inspired so many new ideas for me as far as lyrics go. at first i wanted much of the lyrics to be spiritual, but metaphoric. but i am beginning to think that the lyrics for this full-length should be more focused on how to live out this thing called justice, and equality, and liberation. focused on taking a stand against an Empire that values it's own personal growth more than the growth of those less fortunate. an un-comfortable message to those who live lavishly and are ignorant to international child slavery, genocides and the domestic poverty we all ignore. they won't be preachy, and that's for dang sure. but they sure as hell will be filled with meaning. and real, genuine feelings and emotions. 

it's time for us to bring something raw to the table. of course it will be emotion-filled, but it will also be devotion-filled. devotion and hope to bring change to this scene. more importantly devotion to our Lord, who is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path as individuals and as a band. 

in his book, Jesus For President, Shane Claiborne describes one of his experiences with slave labor: 

"Years ago, some folks from our communities attended a rally against overseas sweatshops. They had not invited the typical rally speakers (lawyers, activists, and academics). Instead, they brought the kids themselves from the sweatshops to speak. We listened as a child from Indonesia pointed to a giant scar on his face. 'I got this scar when my master lashed me for not working hard enough. When it began to bleed, he did not want me to stop working or to ruin the cloth in front of me, so he took a lighter and burned it shut. I got this making stuff for you.' "  

intense. but a reality. 

i've also been doing some research of turning our touring mobile to run off of vegetable oil! i haven't discussed this with anyone, by the way. but i think it would be a nice eco-friendly thing to do. :) 

83 days until I am back in the Carolinas, with my friends and family.

167 days until we go to First Street. 

i love widgets. 

i have got to get to bed. its nearly 2am over here in oz. 

goodnight everyone!

Chadwick

06 - Im not sure what to call this one...

Well, 

I was attempting to sell some stuff on ebay in hopes to pay off the rest of my new drum kit, but that didn't go as planned. No biggy though, it's just gonna take a bit longer.

Alex started building road cases with me this week. He's doing great so far, we are gonna build so much cool stuff! Im stoked. 

Last I heard, Joel's van is still not fixed, Im hoping he makes it up this weekend so we can make some tunes. 

Chad and myself have been pondering a few different ideas for some songs and some vocal parts. I can't wait to get in the studio and create the most amazing songs ever. I've never had so much confidence in the line-up of the band as I do now. I almost feel like we are unstoppable now... as cheesy as that may sound. As Alex said in his last blog, some prayers have been answered this week for sure, which is always a reminder of who's in control.

Chad, Alex, Joel even though I probably just talked to you or will talk to you soon, love you guys. I can't wait to see where this thing takes us!

Devin and Elyse, love you all as well. You are some of the few that have stuck with us through all this and I hope that one day we can repay you for the favors you've done us. By the way I think we still owe you like $300? haha

Love,

Koontz

05 - Moving Along

So this weekend has started off great. The eyesore that was once our beloved shuttle bus has now become a home, or storage space. I never even had to put it on Ebay or Craigslist. She simply just walked up into my yard and asked how much it was. I moved rooms downstairs to be closer to everything and finished tons of painting, staining, and re-arranging. So now the upstairs floor is stained and officially a practice space and live sound room. I am really happy that this house is manifesting into what I pictured and I love my Mom, Scott, and Elyse for helping me with everything. 

Koontz and I are going to practice Sunday for awhile. Joel is helping his brother move in this weekend so we will see him next weekend.

I really feel more than ever that there is such thing as "Divine Intervention." Several prayers have been answered this week for sure.

Love, Alex