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So I'm at WalMart with all four kids Friday night. I just picked them up from Katie's and was on the way to my apartment. But I needed some groceries for dinner.



I only had ten items, so I made my way to the 10-Items or less line... the one that WalMart has set aside to sell the cigarettes on now. Get people in and out faster.



At any rate, a hispanic gentleman in front of me has two carts full of electronics. A TV in one cart. The other had a couple DVD players, a stereo system. Maybe another item or two. On the cashier's counter, he's already placed two nice shirts, two pairs of pants, a couple ties, some socks, etc. A deadbolt doorknob. Two bottles of NyQuil and a bag of cough drops.



It's all rather nice stuff, and surely more than 10 items I'm thinking to myself. But I deal with it. Not my place to argue with his stuff. I just calmly placed my ten items, all food to make pizzas and have some juice to go with dinner.



His total bill comes to just under $520. Blows me away. He sees me and my kids happy and oblivious. He's said Hi to Alexandra, and heard JJ tell me he loves me. (A sweet treat to hear from the three-year old... he's usually very gruff, but lovable.)



As he's taking out his money, and the cashier moves the bar separating our items, he tells the cashier he wants to pay for my groceries. As the cashier begins to pick up my loaf of bread, I stopped her saying, "That's mine, not his."



He turns to me and says, "It would be my honor to buy your groceries for you."



I'm shocked. I stutter out, "Uh, no.. um, it's fine. You don't have to do that."



"No, I insist. It would be my blessing to you," he continues.



"Really, no thank you sir. As nice a gesture as that is, I really can't accept," I said.



"No strings attached," he continues, "let me please bless your family with this. It would bless me to do this for you."



Now I fell like crap, but still something just isn't right and I finish with, "I accept your blessing but I cannot accept your money. Thank you. Save your money or donate it to the jar up front for the tsunami victims."



He simply smiled and nodded, and handed SIX one-hundred dollar bills to the cashier. As she is checking them out, as she has to do, a black gentleman comes up behind me and excuses himself, then gives the hispanic gentleman FIVE music CDs to add to the bill. His bill is now under $575!



The bill is paid, his change received and the two men go on their way. Once he is out of earshot, the cashier apologizes to me and I said, "I guess someone had a good Christmas." She laughed, scanned and bagged my groceries, and I paid for my groceries.



Then I looked at my total bill. It was not much more than $25. The amazing thing is... he probably could have paid for my groceries with his change.



I am still scratching my head over this. Was I wrong to not accept his offer. I do not need charity. I do quite well for a man separated and already practically giving half my paycheck to my soon-to-be-ex-wife.



I am sure there must has been strings attached. I feel bad when I immediately assumed there was an ulterior motive, or some illegal reason behind his windfall.



What kind of world do we live in? How jaded have I become?

I have to admit that I love musicals; they're a guilty pleasure of mine. Everything from The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Chicago. Moulin Rouge is one of my all time favorite movies because of how the modern music was crafted into the tragic turn-of-the-century Parisian romance.



I have never been to a stage play however, save those I saw in high school. There are many I only know by their soundtracks. I'd love to see Rent if it makes it's way back to the Valley. It may soon end up on the big screen before that happens.



Coming to town in the summer is Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. It's only January and it's already sold out! I was very disappointed for I absoultely love the soundtrack and have wanted to see Phantom for a very long time.



About a month ago I saw the movie trailer for the Warner Bros. motion picture version based on Webber's Phantom. I swear to the Gods that I got chills. I had high hopes based on the trailer alone. Well I finally saw the movie last night. I was NOT disappointed.



Would it be an unfair statement that you aren't "goth" it you don't experience Phantom of the Opera in some form? Perhaps that is unfair. Nonetheless this movie definitely triggered everything I love about the gothic genre... with Showtunes! Rapture!



The music was delicious, the costumes were exquisite, and the settings absolutely divine. The acting was on-the-mark and the singing was wonderful. I have a newfound respect for Gerard Butler. Yes, Dracula 2000's Gerard Butler. Sure he's no Michael Crawford, but I never would have guessed Ewan Macgregor could sing either. I like being wrong sometimes.



At any rate, if you love Phantom of the Opera and fear it may not live up to the hype, or may not be as good as the stage play, I would recommend it. You might just be surprised. If you've never seen the play nor heard the music... if you love a good gothic tale of the tortured love-triangle, go see this movie.



It was funny. It was beautiful. It was tragic. It is.. the music of the night.

Elder's Log - First Entry



OK, so I have to admit, VampireRave has been a unique and amazing site since the beginning. I have been a part of it since it's inception as well. Graced with being one of the first users blessed with Master Vampire status.



What started as a database to catalog all things vampiric, along with a profile center, has continued to expand beyond this idea.



I've seen it grow to include a popular, if often prurient, message forum. It has created a place to show off a photography portfolio.



Now this. A journal system. More than just a diary or a public journal, Cancer has created a place to post personal writings of poetry and stories, even potions and spells!



I do not have enough words of praise for what Cancer has done here. I can only look to the future again and see what he will do next.



Happy New Year everyone!

Enjoy the Rave!