Checking in

Being utterly bored at work today, I just went on Wikipedia to see what they had to say about my favourite band, Einsturzende Neubauten. Nothing I didn't know already, natch. But I noticed they talked about some production, web-design, and financing as being the responsibility of lead singer Blixa Bargeld's wife, Erin Zhu.

I met Erin online in the summer of 2000. She IMed me to chat one day, because we were both on the Neubauten mailing list, and we had a lot of common tastes. We talked a few times over AIM, and one day, she was complaining about not being able to see this guy she was dating very often because he lived in Germany and she was in California. She said, "I feel like I need some excuse to go see him, because we're seeing each other, but it's not like we're exclusive or deeply involved, but I REALLY like him." I suggested she should find out the next time Neubauten was playing in Germany (which they do more often than in the US), and use that as an excuse. I got an LOL, or a *giggle*, or something like that in response. Inquiring what was so funny, she said, "I never mentioned who this guy was, did I?"

Turned out it was Blixa, and if Erin hadn't been such an entirely sweet and friendly person, I'd have been majorly envious! They continued to date, and Erin and I continued talking over IM. When the band came to Boston later that summer, she got me a backstage pass, and we hung out with them on the tour bus and backstage.

One day when I was back at school for my senior year, she called me early in the morning, all excited. Apparently, they'd decided to have an exclusive relationship and to stay together forever. Not long after that, they got married, and I saw the wedding pictures. I decided she looked too happy for me to kill her. :) For a while, they kept it quiet, so it seemed pretty cool that she'd trust me enough to show me those.

I sort of drifted apart from Erin around '02, since I stopped using AIM and that was pretty much the only way we talked. But it's really good to hear they're still together. Musicians with an international following (even if it's a small one) are not known for their ability to remain happily married for very long. This is cool. I hope they're doing great. :D

Reposted at the request of bittercat

Anyone near West Jersey?

The West Jersey Animal Shelter is closing at the end of this month. The Pennsauken, NJ shelter had it's license revoked due to unkept and dangerous conditions for the animals. There are currently 31 dogs and 5 cats on the premises that are in desperate need of adoption. If these animals are not adopted by the end of the month, they will be euthanized.

The West Jersey Animal Shelter is open for adoptions Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Phone (856) 486-2180.

Even if you can't adopt an animal, please repost this. Eventually it will reach someone who can. Even if only one pet is adopted, that's still a big difference for that animal's life.