May 292015
 

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I didn’t want to wait until #mcm (MAN CRUSH MONDAY) to post this, so let’s pretend like today is #fgf (FAVORITE GUY FRIDAY).

When I first started dating Henry, I was 21 and he was 35. A LOT of people were like, “Ha-ha, say goodbye to your life. Have fun listening to country music and drinking IC Light.” Because that’s what all 35-year-old men do? And I guess I was a little worried at first, because I loved road-tripping for concerts back then. My friend Wonka and I would drive all over to see our favorite band at the time, Cold. In the first few months we were together, Cold was playing in Hershey, PA and Wonka wanted to go. I was worried that Henry would be like, “YOU ARE NOT DRIVING THAT FAR AWAY WITH ANOTHER MAN.” But Henry understood even then how much these things meant to me, and he was OK with me going.

(I mean, I totally would have still went anyway because that’s the kind of selfish, arrogant, solipsistic fucking bitch that I am!)

But then Wonka started dating the future mother of his children, and our roadtrips came to an end. I had no idea that Henry would ever want to do these things with me, because I was so used to having completely separate lives from every boyfriend I ever had. But by that May, there we were, driving to Wisconsin to see Cold. And there have been many, many more concert-spurned road trips since then, whether he liked it or not!

Wednesday night, I was watching music videos on YouTube, because that’s just what I do, when Henry said, “Look.” He was holding up his phone to show me that this year’s Riot Fest line up was finally announced. I ran over and snatched his phone from him and immediately started freaking out because FAITH NO MORE. I had a feeling that they were going to be there so my eyes were blind to everything else on the list but that for the first ten minutes. And then the more I looked at the lineup, the more I freaked out. THE NOSTALGIA FACTOR IS OFF THE FUCKING CHARTS.

I started freaking the fuck out and chanting PLEASE CAN WE GO PLEASE CAN WE GO PLEASE CAN WE GO CAN WE CAN WE CANWECANWECANWE over and over but I was pretty sure the answer was going to be no because we kind of broke the bank when we went last year. But you know, I’m immature, head-in-the-clouds Erin and I don’t think about things like RENT and GROCERIES and BILLS. I was just about reaching Veruca Salt levels of brattiness when Henry got up from the couch in a huff and said, “Don’t start!” So I sat there, staring at the lineup and crying because these are things I cry about, when I got a text from Henry, who was in the kitchen. IT WAS A SCREENSHOT OF THE TICKET CONFIRMATION OMG CAN I KEEP THIS MAN FOREVER?! I guess he knew for awhile that going again was inevitable, so he was prepared.

And it’s a good thing, because I’ve had the days requested off from work since January.

I know I bitch about him being a killjoy a lot, but even though he really doesn’t like these things at all, he still does them because he is an A+ kind of guy. And I am super lucky to be with someone who maybe doesn’t  share the same passion for music as I do, but he understands that it is a necessity for me, like food and water. I crave this stuff! I can’t tell you how many times I have gone back and looked at pictures from last year’s Riot Fest because it puts me in a good mood. That weekend was so close to perfection, and I can’t wait to do it all over again with my frowning sidekick! #blessed

(Snoop Dogg is performing Doggystyle in its entirety. My 1994-self is FUCKING FANNING HERSELF with her Snoop lyric-doodled science folder.)

I am going to be so nice to him for the next several days months. Take all the naps you want, Big Guy!

***

I can’t wait for another 3-days’ worth of frowns! 20140914-090121.jpg 20140914-090052.jpg 20140914-085958.jpg

So yeah, naysayers: 14 years later and I’m having fun listening to whatever music I want while Henry drinks craft beer.  

  7 Responses to “Favorite Guy Friday”

  1. He loves you! He really loves you!
    That lineup makes me dizzy! What a 90s time warp, I love it.

  2. OHMYFUCKINGGOD BILLY IDOL?!

    Holy shit, that lineup is phenomenal. That’s going to be an amazing weekend. What a good dude Henry is.

  3. #FGF, Tolhurst so bad!

    “But Henry understood even then how much these things meant to me, and he was OK with me going.”

    That IS a gift. To allow you to be yourself. A rare and beautiful gift.

    “(I mean, I totally would have still went anyway because that’s the kind of selfish, arrogant, solipsistic fucking bitch that I am!)”

    Being yourself is never any of these things.

    Wait. How have I been friends with you this long and I never knew we both liked Faith No More?!?!? Oh dear, we need to have yet another conversation. First The Cure. Then Faith No More.

    And wow, Babes in Toyland? I had no idea they were still around.

    “IT WAS A SCREENSHOT OF THE TICKET CONFIRMATION OMG CAN I KEEP THIS MAN FOREVER?!”

    Wow. Big, big points, Henry!!!!!!!!! <3

    "but he understands that it is a necessity for me, like food and water."

    A gift! Because that's exactly what music is to you. It's blood. He gets it, or gets it as much as he can, and he doesn't shit on you for it. The rest of the world may never be so #blessed, Tolhurst!

    "So yeah, naysayers: 14 years later and I’m having fun listening to whatever music I want while Henry drinks craft beer."

    My middle finger is right up there with yours. I especially like you, Henry.

    • We actually have had several Mike Patton conversations over the years! I remember telling you that I had the Midlife Crisis cassingle when I was in middle school and I used to listen to that and “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men constantly, lol!

      And no, being myself doesn’t mean I’m those things, but A LOT of people sure make it seem that way. God forbid, a girl should have the audacity to do what she wants!

      Babes In Toyland recently reunited. I’m really interested in seeing them and L7! And Dead Milkmen! Henry GETS it!

    • Another fun fact: FNM is one of the few bands that Henry and I BOTH agree on!

Say it don't spray it.

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