Saint NIck

Hi Friends, I live in the suburbs of New Orleans; and this Saturday night there's a RUSH tribute band called Driven playing at Rock & Bowl. My nephew is a senior pitcher for his high school baseball team. We play Thursday afternoon, and if we win, the State Championship game is Saturday night; before the show. The game is 3 + hours away from home. "I'm not missing out on the..." chance that Shane & his Rummel 'Brothers' could win a State Championship. If we lose tomorrow, I'll be at the show.

Hi Friends, For those of us who celebrate this Holiday, what's y'all's status on shopping. I haven't started; I've got nephews at 19, 17, 14 & the youngest at 5; and his baby sister at 1. When we had Toys 'r' Us, I'd take the 3 older ones on a $100 each shopping spree. It was so cool; they'd each grab a cart & roll. Now, pretty much cash/gift cards. With the two little ones, a different toy store; and probably Walmart. Y'all know, what a RUSH of a feeling.

I'm on vacation down in Disney; ONLY to help my sister, who's a single mom of a 5 & 1 year old. I cannot say a word, or express myself; she questions nearly every move, gesture, question i may have. She doesn't stop. I'M EXHAUSTED. I love her & her children VERY DEARLY. There's no way she could've driven from New Orleans, and done Disney Springs, Jurassic Park, Universal, Sea World, Magic, Animal and back at Magic tonight. We leave Saturday. GIVE ME STRENGTH. I'm trying.

After a great day at work, I get home and receive a text message from my parish priest Father Chris: "...Hey Nick I flipped on the radio and switched stations and ran right into the middle of RUSH - Tom Sawyer. Well, naturally I thought about you instantly...". Many, if not all, of my friends know how obsessed I am with RUSH; they always tell me '...when they hear RUSH on their radio, they think of me...'. Even in the sadness, when we all learned of Neil's passing; many posted onto my FB page, telling me '...you're the first person I thought of...'. No, I'm certainly not the biggest RUSH fan there is; I've only gone to 13 shows since PRESTO; I have the albums, the cd's, the dvd's & blu-rays and will get whatever they choose to release in the future. Yet, being a drummer, everybody knows how much Neil means to me; and not just his drumming, but his words and his philosophy that will live on forever. My loved ones = relatives & friends, love to bash me about RUSH 'cause they know how much Geddy, Alex & Neil have meant and always will mean to me.

Not gonna spoil it; it's good: some comic & very brutal but I was a bit disappointed in the musical score.

Hi Friends, Hopefully I won't get into trouble with this topic. I'm a Catholic; and attending mass this morning, in our church it's the Feast Day of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel & Rafael. I got to immediately thinking of the tremendous song Workin' them Angels. Though, I haven't listened to that song in a very long time, I still think very highly of it. For that matter, Armor & Sword and The Larger Bowl are amongst favorites from that collection. Ironically, FAITHLESS is my favorite from Snakes & Arrows. Again, didn't mean to cause any problems. Take care.

In relation to the 40th Anniversary of Moving Pictures, I'm very much hoping for a big, deluxe edition to the concert tour that became EXIT...STAGE LEFT. I know there's a Moving Pictures post regarding this, but 'EXIT' was really my entrance into RUSH; both the album & ESPECIALLY the video. I can't tell you how many times I've watched this video concert since first seeing the MTV Saturday night concert in December of 1982. I've said this before, just hoping for the lost footage to be found; for a complete video concert.

Hi Earl, I WANT RUSH !!! As you already know, I'm really hoping for all the footage of EXIT...STAGE LEFT, GRACE UNDER PRESSURE & A SHOW OF HANDS to be released...someday.

Hi Earl, I WANT RUSH. I'm really hoping that all the footage for EXIT...STAGE LEFT, GRACE UNDER PRESSURE & A SHOW OF HANDS to be released...someday.!

Might be a bit early to talk and/or speculate, but do y'all think we may get a box set of new audio/video for Christmas time this year.!? I'm certainly hoping for the next two years of Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures/ EXIT...STAGE LEFT.

Hi Friends, I flashback to two years ago when on this day we held a memorial mass for my Dad. Y'all were so very supportive to me during those days, & I thank y'all so much. I think of my Dad all the time; hence, time stand still. What a beautiful song that is.! Once again THANKS & LOVE to Y'all.

Hi Friends, I've been a Saints season ticket holder since 1999; and they've been some bad seasons. Even with the bad, irritating seasons, we've had some very, very good seasons; and yes, you gotta deal with fans of all behavior. I've been in section 130 in the endzone of the Superdome since the 2006 season, and have no plans of re-locating my seat. I'm the first seat of the last row at the top, so I can stand the whole game if I want; and sometimes have to stand to see 'cause many times, especially when the action's by us, Everybody in front of me is standing, going crazy. What happened yesterday, a woman bumped into another woman, and just kept going. I think security/ushers saw it, but didn't do anything; perhaps didn't catch her in time. Like I said, I did see, and just wanted to do something nice for another Saints fan. I especially would've done it for a Buc fan. With all that said, security/usher personnel know me; not so much by name, but by face. They know how I get; I don't misbehave or get rowdy...I don't drink. HOWEVER, I do say a few bad words. If it's a close game, kinda like Houston & Dallas, they know I get into a nervous-breakdown mode. It's all good.

Hi Friends, some of Y'all may know I'm a New Orleans Saints season ticket holder. Yesterday during the Bucs game, I saw one fan come running up the steps in my section, bump into another fan and one of her drinks dumps all over; the 'guilty' kept going, didn't stop. I talked with the 'victim' and then gave her funds to replace. No, I can't do that for everybody; but definitely, if I cause a fan to lose their food and/or drink, I'm gonna replace it.! Would y'all do the same.!?

Hey RUSHHEAD, you are so correct; for my eyes & ears there will never be another band to EVER come close to musical, as well as the humble/morale quality of Geddy, Alex & Neil.

As we all know Neil's words from Open Secrets "...time will do its healing..."; it's working in my life. What a difference from just over a month ago. Be that as it may I've been praying, and it must be working. The friend I wrote about has her boyfriend back in her life; she's happy. With that, she & I have texted, talked, had dinner & hung out. I'm not gonna mess things up. I know for this to work, I'm gonna proceed with cautious optimism; not gonna cross the line. Actually, I've been feeling really good; just knowing I have her friendship; I know she cares about me as a friend; NOT HER LOVE INTEREST; I'm good with that. In less than 48 hours, I'll turn 50; I have the love & care of family & friends, my house, my truck, my job, my Catholic Faith & my favorite music of RUSH; which brings us together. Thanks for your time & take care.!

Hi Friends ! Got some good news; we're talking again, and even visited for a little while last night. She has her boyfriend back in her life, and seems very happy. I'm not gonna do anything to mess things up; respect & give her space; knowing in confidence & assurance that we're friends. Thanks & take care.

Been in a 'grace's phase; listening to the CD in the work truck, and in awe of just how TREMENDOUS Geddy. Alex & Neil were back in '84. By that time, they were for sure master craftsmen musicians; and this tour video is of top notch performance. If they could only locate and, of course, release the whole show. What was still to come...from 1984.!

I'm going through a 'Waves' phase; in particular Different Strings and especially Natural Science. For my ears, all six songs are what I call, brace yourselves, SATMs...SUPERB ABSOLUTE TREMENDOUS MASTERPIECES of the craft of songwriting; both lyrically & musically. Absolutely love Different Strings, and Natural Science is mind-blowing monumental.

Hi Friends, believe it or not, I still have Walkmans that work; that I bring to the Saints games to listen to the radio broadcast. Actually, security did question me a couple times.!

Hi Friends, it's been a long time since I posted in here; and, I'm not sure if this is the right forum; yet, I need to vent. I met a younger lady a few weeks ago; her sons play baseball with my nephews, and we hit it off pretty good: starting talking & sharing plenty of laughs. I have 15 years on her; she likes the night life & partying, not I; but we still share some times together. She's never asked for money, yet she did ask for help in getting a furniture purchase home; and so I did, and probably saved her a chunk of change. We've texted and/or talked practically every day...up until this past week. I know she has other interests in perhaps younger men, and is still communicating with one she met about a couple months ago; and she does have some admitted baggage. Last time we talked was Wednesday evening; and later I texted & called to no response. Thursday morning I sent a text, telling her '...I'm very sorry if I did something wrong...' and she answered '...it's not you, just thinking about a lot of stuff...; I text '...we are friends...' and she replied '...yes...'. Some good texts Thursday evening, but come Friday morning very quick, plain, replies. I tried calling Friday evening and just got sent to voicemail. YES, I know I may be persistent, and I haven't text/called since. I'M SO FULL OF ANXIETY & WORRY; I don't want to lose her friendship. It hurts not to communicate with her, but I'm gonna give her space. Again, I never meant to cause any problems. YES, I was & still have feelings for her, but she doesn't see me as boyfriend type. Yet, she knows I care, and most importantly wanna remain friends. Thanks for y'all's time. Take care.

Hi Friends, went straight from work to the Palace, and after $ 25 of admission, popcorn, large Coke and nearly twenty minutes of trailers, the main event came on. I think it's TREMENDOUS, and the music certainly helps.

Hi Lucas & Friends, Beginning in April of 1988, I started doing the yardwork at my grandparents home; granddad wasn't up to it anymore. I'd go through quite a few lawnmowers over the years; and weedeaters as well. It was a task I took pride in, in helping my grandmother & aunt ( the one who was placed into nursing home in 2016). Yep, so do the math; I worked that front & back yard for 25 + years. Until other relatives took over the house. My yard is a work in progress; I mow it just-about weekly, and I know I need to do a lot more as for other weeds, tree branches & other debris; and I will. Great topic of discussion Lucas !

The other day I started a topic of Hold Your Fire; mentioning that I think Tai Shan is a beautiful song. Albeit very unpopular with many, many fans, and from what I've read even Geddy and Alex don't like it. So I guess when the time came for the Hold Your Fire tour and they put a setlist together, this song about 'China' didn't stand a chance. I've been in a big-time HYF groove lately, and as I listen to Lock & Key, it's not only so cool it made the setlist, it also made it onto the laserdisc; but why not the VHS copy, which I actually still have. I may be beating a dead horse, but do you think one day we'll see the whole show on a dvd and/or blu-ray.!?

I've been listening to Hold Your Fire a whole lot lately; just about all the songs I consider ABSOLUTE TREMENDOUS MASTERPIECES including Tai Shan. I know a lot of Y'all are gonna bash me for it, but I think this 'China' song is beautiful.

I know I'm a couple months early for this, but what do y'all think are the chances of having a 40th anniversary edition of Hemispheres being released around the Thanksgiving -into-Christmas Holiday season.