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.

Perhaps many RUSH-fans on here who follow the NFL may be aware that New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton announced his retirement this afternoon.

As a life-long Saints' fan, and season-ticket holder since 1999, from 2006 to 2021 have been/will always be known as our Glory Years. When Coach Payton arrived here in January of 2006, we had no idea what to expect; what was to come.

What was to come were amongst the best days of our lives as for Saints fans.

For those unfamiliar with the Saints: started playing in 1967, and wouldn't have a winning season until 1987: play-offs in '87, '90, '91 & '92.

We wouldn't win a play-off game until 2000.

Coach Jim Mora was the very best; until he 'burnt out' and resigned in mid-season 1996; we'd finish 3 & 13.

Owner Tom Benson hired Mike Ditka, and it was absolutely ridiculous: 6 & 10, 6 & 10, and 3 & 13; that was in '99 when Ditka traded the whole draft class to Washington to pick Ricky Williams; an absolute bust.

Coach Jim Haslett came in, and his one highlight was the play-off win.

Meanwhile all that time, a young offensive, assistant coach was working in New York, I think Philly and Dallas for sure.

Mr. Benson hires Coach Payton and we'd make the play-offs in 2006, '10, '11, '13, and from 2017 - 2020.

Oh, we'd win the SUPER BOWL in 2009.!

To my RUSH friends who are Dallas Cowboy fans, I'm thinking, and if I were a betting man, I'm thinking Jerry Jones wants Sean Payton.

Jerry basically gets anything he wants.

We'll see.!?

Oh, and just so y'all know; all those who call the Saints the 'Aints; that was only one season in 1980 when we only beat the Jets in an end-of-the-game New York snowstorm. There have been a few other teams that only won once: Dallas, Detroit, Carolina, New England, Cleveland, New York Jets and maybe more.

THANKS SO MUCH COACH PAYTON !!!

Hi Friends,

I'm a Saints season ticket holder since 1999; and attended the game last night in the Superdome.

Our 'Dome can hold about 70,000; y'all may know the 'Dome has three levels of seating: lower bowl is the plaza, middle is club, and upper bowl is terrace; and with my seat being in the lower bowl, top row of the endzone (when you watch tv on your right side; Smoothie King Center side), Dallas was very well represented last night; my section, for that matter, the lower bowl was big-time blue & white. From where I sit, I cannot see the rest of the 'Dome.

From what I've been seeing this season, the Cowboys are playing very well; and should easily take the East.

As for my Saints, last night we were basically on life-support for play-off chances; and it's not looking good for the rest of the season.

Just over a month ago Halloween night, we were in great shape: 5 & 2...at the time.

The next week: all we had to do was play deep, keep everybody in front, and we beat Atlanta; nope.

Then, two missed extra points cost us tying up in Tennessee; and WHO knows.

Philly, never in that one to begin; same as Buffalo on Thanksgiving night.

Then, having to play Dallas.

We were only down by 10 heading into the 4th quarter; just couldn't make the plays.

Injuries aside, I was, of course, hoping for some inspiring play from our next guys up; again, didn't happen.

Again, the Cowboys are in great shape as post-season approaches; the Saints may have dug themselves WAY TOO BIG of a hole to get out of.

Oh, one more thing; the Saints are not THE 'AINTS; that was only one season in 1980 when we went 1 & 15. Saints fans have been ABSOLUTELY SPOILED since 2006 when Mr. Benson hired Drew Brees to become our quarterback.

Over the past couple or so seasons, though we had been winning enough to get into the playoffs, our offense WAS NOT running/passing on all cylinders; Drew's arm was declining big-time in strength. Sean Payton's 100 page playbook was down to cliffnotes' version.

To my Dallas/RUSH friends, good luck with your Cowboys; the playoffs should be entertaining; especially in the NFC.

As for my Saints, we'll have to see what happens; again, it's not looking good at all; but that's why they play the game.

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.

Being a Saints season ticket holder since 1999, I'm seeing a lot of red at the Superdome today.

San Francisco's here for a kinda big game.!

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.

My Friends, just got home from the Superdome, and this one's gonna hurt for all of off-season. No, we didn't have one of our better games on offense, and our defense did almost enough to stop LA. Almost enough. The very first thing I did as soon as the game was over was shake the hands & congrad the 3 remaining Ram fans in my row. Again, we didn't make enough plays to win this game. AND YES, that was a blown call near the end of regulation. One more, WE ARE NOT THE 'AINTS; that was one season back in 1980 when we only won one game. Yes, we've had some very terrible teams, especially during the late '60's & '70's, and since then had some REAL HEARTBREAKING LOSSES...ESPECIALLY THIS ONE. With that, there are many other teams in the NFL, that have struggled as well. We have a top notch organization, and NO, you're not gonna win all the time. Yet, we have PRIDE. That's why they play the game. Y'all take care.

To my RUSH-Cowboy friends, Y'all deserved to win this game; Y'all made the plays when you had to, and kept Brees off the field. When he was on the field, we couldn't get anything going. And classy move by Garrett & Prescott to take victory formation at the 1. Maybe we'll see Y'all down the road; and again congrads. !