I'm a notoriously late sleeper, sometimes not waking up until 4 in the afternoon. I'm a little embarrassed to admit there have even been times when I'd go for days without even seeing the sun. Thankfully the rest of the people in my life tend to keep the same odd hours, so it works out.

Serge: "Good morning, sweety. Did you sleep well?"
Markus: "Like a baby!"

This is Serge, my life-partner of 7 years. I'd been working second shift at a factory in a nearby town and had gone to the Xenon after for some drinks and a little unwinding before heading home when I met him. I don't mean to sound cliche, but I spotted him from across the crowded room and knew he was something special. We spent the whole night just talking and have hardly been apart since. I think part of our success comes from always being open and honest with each other. It's not something we even think about, it's just the way we've always been.

Serge: "Why don't you take a shower and I'll go make us something to eat."
Markus: "You spoil me, Serge."
Serge: "No, Markus, I just love you."

I still remember what it was like for me growing up in rural Georgia- the daily pain of being an outcast everywhere I went weighed me down for a long time. I found it difficult to keep a job for any period of time, and forget about having any sort of real social life. The only time I found real solace was through drumming, which I picked up while still in junior high. Finally I decided it wasn't worth wasting my life away because of other people's problems. I packed my bags and moved out west to start life over with a clean slate. I can't remember what exactly drew me out to Deception Pass- it was as random as picking where to live by throwing a dart at a map, but it was the best decision I ever made.

Serge is the best cook I've ever come across. Even his grilled cheese sandwiches are out of this world. He likes to joke that the special ingredient is love, but I'm sure it has more to do with growing up in France with his father who was a gourmet chef.

Serge: "So what's happening today? Are you guys doing more demos?"
Markus: "We've got that interview with The Sanity Assassin scheduled for this evening, but yeah I think we'll have some time to do some more work on those demos. I shouldn't be out that late tonight."
Serge: "More demos means more shows, right? I'm still sorry I had to miss your last one!"
Markus: "It's not like you chose to be sick that night. We'll have more coming up soon- probably in the next couple of weeks. What about you, got anything going on tonight?"
Serge: "Not until Friday- they have me covering some film premier in town."

Serge's work as an entertainment reporter often times has him traveling a lot. I was glad to hear they weren't sending him to LA again.

Markus: "I gotta get going, I'm already running late."
Serge: "I'm so proud of you, Markus. I always knew you were destined for greatness!"

Markus: "Are you trying to make it impossible for me to leave?"
Serge: "Ahh, my plan has been foiled!"
Markus: "We can always pick up from here when I get back tonight. I'll see you soon."

Andy: "Hi Markus, how're you doing tonight?"
Markus: "Pretty damned good, actually. Is everyone else here already?"

Andy: "Yeah, they just got here a few minutes ago. We're still waiting on the journalist from the Sanity Assassin. I'll let you all know when she gets here."

Andy is our manager and he's been doing very well by us. The man's a genius- sometimes I wonder if he isn't psychic with the way he always seems to be in the right place at the right time to land a deal and make boatloads of money off it. He's very disarming and can put just about everyone at ease- a very useful trait to have in his line of business I'd guess.

Tristan: "Hey Markus, you ready to be asked some really stupid questions?"
Markus: "As ready as I'll ever be."

I've known James & Tristan for nearly two years now. I remember placing the ad in the paper like it was yesterday - 'Drummer Seeks Band'- and wondering if anything would come of it. I couldn't believe it when I was called the very next night. We all met up at the Xenon a few hours later- the whole thing felt like destiny.

James: "Personally I'm planning on making up some really unbelievable answers just to see how much I can get away with."

I couldn't believe anyone like James actually exsisted- you hear so much about people who are larger than life, but I never really knew what that meant until the night we all first met. He carries himself in a way that commands attention- he's someone who knows how to live life to the fullest and manages to pull in everyone else around him.

Tristan: "I wonder how long it'll take for them to ask what our favourite foods are, as if the answer holds the secrets of the universe."
James: "Ten bucks says it's the first question."
Tristan: "I'll go with the second question, right after 'favourite colour'."
James: "You're on."

Tristan is the yin to James' yang- he wasn't as easy for me to get to know at first since he tends to hang back and let James be the center of attention. He's got this quiet intensity that you can't ignore, though. In fact, he reminds me a lot of a cat I used to have. Once I got to know him I found him to be a great friend, someone who will always have your back. Sometimes I worry about him, there's a deep darkness in him that he always seems to be just about to fall into.

James: "Hey Markus, last night we came up with some new music we want you to hear. You up to playing for a bit while we wait?"
Markus: "Sure thing."

The new set is shaping up really well- James & Tristan have managed to come up with music that's dark but not to the point where it became a parody of it's self. I'm still amazed by how quickly they come up with new things, it's like they have years of stuff already done and they just wait for the right time to bring it out. We all have fun with the band, not taking ourselves too seriously, and I think it's working out. We're pretty popular regionally, which is fine by us. I don't think any of us plan on being 'the next big thing'.

After a couple of quick songs, Andy came around and let us know that the reporter had arrived and was ready to get started.