Today I bought a piece of land. Next year we’ll begin construction.

1. The Wicker Man ‘Brave New World’ 2000
2. Ghost Of The Navigator ‘Brave New World’ 2000
3. Wrathchild ‘Killers’ 1981
4. El Dorado ‘Final Frontier’ 2010
5. Paschendale ‘Dance of Death’ 2003
6. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ 2006
7. These Colours Don’t Run ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ 2006
8. Blood Brothers ‘Brave New World‘ 2000
9. Wildest Dreams ‘Dance of Death’ 2003
10. No More Lies ‘Dance of Death’ 2003
11. Brave New World ‘Brave New World’ 2000
12. Fear Of The Dark ‘Fear of the Dark’ 1992
13. Iron Maiden ‘Iron Maiden’ 1980

As for the encore, well, if you haven’t heard these songs then you’ve got some problems.

1. The Number of the Beast ‘The Number of the Beast’ 1982
2. Hallowed Be Thy Name ‘The Number of the Beast’ 1982
3. Running Free ‘Iron Maiden’ 1980

So, overall, this was a good show. At times Bruce Dickenson’s age (51) betrayed his enthusiasm as his voice was lacking at times. Nicko McBrain did (as usual) a great job on the drums. Dave Murray’s face was continually on the big video screen during the concert. I’ve never really paid much attention to his guitar style but it really struck me more like a blues-rock player than Janick Gers who is a straight-up heavy metal guitarist. Gers just acts like a heavy metal rocker on stage. Of course Adrian Smith and Steve Harris were their typical great selves. Can’t go wrong with Steve Harris galloping through the notes on his bass.

Arriving yesterday at 6:00 p.m. after a long flight from Alaska I was confronted with another horrific example of the frailties of human life. He lay there, barely able to breath on his own, with eyes partially open. He just came out of surgery – a craniotomy – and was very tired. He smiled and was able to squeeze my hand in his. He was orientated to both time and place. He needed rest so we left for the night.

A 2:30 a.m. phone call woke me up. The ICU nurse told me he was having trouble breathing on his own so he was intubated. After a quick shower we drove over to the hospital. Asleep, a propofol drip running into his left arm. One of several lines attached to him; feeding him, hydrating him, giving him oxygen. All day spent at his side. I learned that it wasn’t all that uncomfortable sleeping in a chair with my head on the plastic bed rail propped up by my crossed arms.

Hours passed. An attempt to let him breath more on his own the oxygen in the ventilation tube was reduced. The result was not encouraging. A few hours later they raised the oxygen levels back up. The propofol drip was turned-off so he could be better monitored. Pain developed.

Other family showed-up so I went to his house to check the mail and newspaper. Cleaned-up a little bit. Then it was back to the hospital. Now here I sit typing in the dark. Nurse shift change is soon. He wants his propofol drip turned back on. Soon we will go home for a few hours after the nurse shift change. We will come back; perhaps again at 3:00 a.m. or maybe just at 6:00 a.m. and begin this anew.

I feel really awful for the Matos family, for Edwin’s girlfriend, and for his kid.

Now I’m working on my next trial – a lengthy series of armed robberies and thefts perpetrated by two defendants. Got some really good defense attorneys on the opposing side and I’ve been allowed to have a second chair sit with me. She’s a younger prosecutor stuck toiling in the misdemeanor unit because we don’t have the same amount of office movement right now that facilitates promotions to one of the felony units. This will be great to have her working with me because, frankly, she’ll have more time to prepare the witnesses and (more importantly) will be a great resource to bounce ideas off of for opening, closing and protective orders. Two minds are always better than one in my book.

As for the snow; we’ve been stuck in 40 degree temps for the past week and a half. The slopes are nasty and icy so I’ve not been downhill skiing for a month now. Took up skate skiing instead. Finally dusted off last year’s purchase of Madshus skis and had a lesson on Saturday. Went out yesterday too after work by myself (not go well by the way) and have another lesson tomorrow. Super psyched about it.

Getting over the whole thing by drinking White Russians and watching The Big Lebowski with good friends tonight.

“Mark it 8 dude.”

I’ve been working very long hours this week preparing for a trial next week (not the one originally scheduled to start this week which required me to miss a trip to D.C.) along with a rather difficult change of plea proceeding which occurred today. Some aspects of the job are so emotionally draining to deal with and walking the dog or commiserating with colleagues brings some solace I do wish I could just drink two or three drinks and fall asleep early. That’s not an option tonight because I just started two weeks of being on-duty after hours. Since someone in the recent past got drunk and was unable to do the job we’ve now been fully advised that drinking too excess or close to excess will not be tolerated.

That’s just too bad in my book. Friends, good food and drinking to slight excess is quite fun for a Friday or Saturday evening.