Having, collecting and hoarding

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Let me clear some things up for you. It may be hard to believe, but as much as I talk about ABBA, it is simply fun for me now, not an obsession. And I don't collect ABBA stuff either. But back when I was  a Pat Benatar fan, I was young, had no friends and was back then, looking for something to belong to. I was obsessed with Pat Benatar back then, not in "I will kill you if you don't like me", but in the stupid sense that I wanted her to be my friend. 

I have long since realized that famous people are not your friends. They are just people who do things you may like. And if you must know, Pat Benatar was the one that woke me up to the reality that they are not super heros, and you don't know them personally. 

I had followed her to concert to concert in my area for years. I had a personalized licence plate that got her attention me being 5 rows from the stage the first time she noticed me. Several concerts and years later, she was spotting me every time I showed up. 

But here is where I fucked up, and looking back at it now, I understand why celebrities like to keep their distance. 

Her fan club President noticed me after a few concerts, and invited me to meet Pat Benatar back stage at one concert. That fan club president warned everyone when they went back stage not to try to hug her. I DID. On top of that Pat let her kids come out and dumbass me kept repeating to her kids, "Aren't your parents great" Kids don't want to hear that shit. And the other rule I broke was that their drummer Myron Grombacher had left the band prior, and they didn't want fans asking about it. I DID.

So almost a year after making a fool of myself, I was at another concert in which she opened up for two other bands. It was still light out, and nobody was standing dancing in my section but me. In front of what must have been 20/30k she shouts into the mike to me, "SIT DOWN".

Prior to that moment, I had been star struck by lots of famous people needlessly. But that was the moment I realized I wasn't a part of anything, and humans have their own private lives. 

Yea, I harp on ABBA, but not in the same way. Now my "fandom" of anything is just fun, not life or death. I will raze anyone who hates ABBA, but I won't kill over any dissent. I would have taken it personally back then if someone had picked on Pat Benatar. Nor do I collect anything like that for any artist, not even ABBA.

So, you were a stalker?

Yeah, I was going ask if the restraining order was still in effect.

That’s not normal behaviour, Brian.

Boru

[Fireball]

I'm not telling you how much ammo I have, but nice try.

I own a 200 year old cannonball - does that count as ammo?

Boru

That would be a count of one.

[onlinebiker]

I own a 200 year old cannonball - does that count as ammo?

Boru

That would be a count of one.

Not really...

It's a reloading component.

[Ranjr]

"Sir, I see you have finished your coffee.  Have you decided on a tissue du jour?"

"Yes, Albus, my schedule is quite heavy today.  Something in a 3 ply with ample cushion."

"Ah, yes, Quilted Northern Ultra Plush it is.  Excellent choice sir." 

That's having a toilet paper collection.

[onlinebiker]

I loved my Saturn. That company should have stuck with what it knew and they would have sold me another one. It was a shame that they tried to glam up the name. I think they pinched themselves out of the market between their perceived image and their exorbitant prices with no social proof that they deserve the change in image.

What model/year?

[Brian37]

So, you were a stalker?

Yeah, I was going ask if the restraining order was still in effect.

That’s not normal behaviour, Brian.

Boru

HA HA HA , I have never had a restraining order put on me. 

I was obsessed, but but not in the "If I can't have you nobody can" sense.  I am not obsessed in any physical sense, and never was. I simply back then was young dumb and full of idealism and emotion and wanted to be part of something. 

I won't lie, I wouldn't turn down meeting any member of ABBA at this point in my life. But no, I don't follow them around or collect their wears, nor see them as friends. ABBA are simply artists who play music I like. I am not their personal friends, nor was Pat Benatar.

[arewethereyet]

Yeah, I was going ask if the restraining order was still in effect.

That’s not normal behaviour, Brian.

Boru

HA HA HA , I have never had a restraining order put on me. 

I was obsessed, but but not in the "If I can't have you nobody can" sense.  I am not obsessed in any physical sense, and never was. I simply back then was young dumb and full of idealism and emotion and wanted to be part of something. 

I won't lie, I wouldn't turn down meeting any member of ABBA at this point in my life. But no, I don't follow them around or collect their wears, nor see them as friends. ABBA are simply artists who play music I like. I am not their personal friends, nor was Pat Benatar.

Please, do tell us more about your heavy metal lifestyle.

Do you think Jethro Tull should have beat out Metallica in that category at the Grammys?

[Mr Greene]

You have a 'toilet paper collection'?

 That' d be flushing your money down the toilet, wouldn't ya say?

So would having a beer or wine collection...

Personally I'm a wargamer, I started with Games Workshop and though I haven't played any of their games in several editions I still have the miniatures (Can't quite bring myself to part with models I worked on).
These days I play with historicals and the minis compete with books for shelf space.
To me they are a collection, to certain other parties they are 'clutter'.

[Brian37]

HA HA HA , I have never had a restraining order put on me. 

I was obsessed, but but not in the "If I can't have you nobody can" sense.  I am not obsessed in any physical sense, and never was. I simply back then was young dumb and full of idealism and emotion and wanted to be part of something. 

I won't lie, I wouldn't turn down meeting any member of ABBA at this point in my life. But no, I don't follow them around or collect their wears, nor see them as friends. ABBA are simply artists who play music I like. I am not their personal friends, nor was Pat Benatar.

Please, do tell us more about your heavy metal lifestyle.

Do you think Jethro Tull should have beat out Metallica in that category at the Grammys?

Ha ha ha, I had many stages. 

In the 70s I was into disco, Charlie's Angels, 6 Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman, Gilligan's Island, Love Boat, CHIPS. In the 80s I was into Family Ties, TJ Hooker, Rick Springfield,  Journey, Buck Rogers, Hunter, Moonlighting, Blondie. In the late 80s I was into the Ramones, Metallica, Megadeath. Living Colour. I in the early 90s I got into Manhattan Transfer, Harry Conic Jr, David Sanborn and Candy Dulfer. 

Is it impossible in old age, to look back at one's entire life and value each part of that journey and value all of it, even with the changes?

YES I love ABBA, and Pat Benatar, and The Bee Gees and Metallica and the Ramones and even this classical music song.

---

I had a couple of years in High School where I would mix camouflage military issue fatigues with white collared shirts and argyle vest sweaters.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Please, do tell us more about your heavy metal lifestyle.

Do you think Jethro Tull should have beat out Metallica in that category at the Grammys?

Ha ha ha, I had many stages. 

In the 70s I was into disco, Charlie's Angels, 6 Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman, Gilligan's Island, Love Boat, CHIPS. In the 80s I was into Family Ties, TJ Hooker, Rick Springfield,  Journey, Buck Rogers, Hunter, Moonlighting, Blondie. In the late 80s I was into the Ramones, Metallica, Megadeath. Living Colour. I in the early 90s I got into Manhattan Transfer, Harry Conic Jr, David Sanborn and Candy Dulfer. 

Is it impossible in old age, to look back at one's entire life and value each part of that journey and value all of it, even with the changes?

YES I love ABBA, and Pat Benatar, and The Bee Gees and Metallica and the Ramones and even this classical music song.

---

I had a couple of years in High School where I would mix camouflage pants with white collared shirts and argyle vest sweaters.

Thank you for that repetitive insight into your likes and dislikes that no one asked for.

Ah, Debussy. Music to drown kittens by.

Boru