This is me and the guy I'd have to say was my best male friend for a long time -- most of 1996, actually. I've known him for a year-and-a-half now (since Feb. 1996), but I only really met him on July 2, 1996.

Sei helped me a lot -- probably more than he knows. He may as well have been my therapist. He's way too busy now to keep up any kind of real "friendship," so I don't know what to call him. I still care about him a lot, and that will never change, but I feel kind of ignored. I don't know... I'm probably just being neurotic and stuff. I understand his situation, though, so I'm letting it go. It's happened before, so I'm used to it by now -- becoming close friends with someone who values their career/music over all else, that is.

I can say that when we did keep in touch, It was really nice to have someone who cared enough to really listen; who I could rely on to give sound advice and trust to have my best interests in mind; and who was able to communicate openly, intelligently and authoritatively without actually being involved in the situation at hand. It's hard to explain our relationship any other way than that. He made me consider why I thought and/or acted the way I did, rather than just nudging me along to a decision. He helped me make decisions and take actions based not on his own assessment of my particular dilemma, but on his ability to help me assess myself -- incidents and circumstances aside -- and consider a much bigger, more complex picture. He quite literally added a whole new, different dimension to my life, and he even let me rant and didn't cut me off in the middle or make me feel stupid, like a lot of people tend to do.

Anyway, I could go on and on about this guy, but I'll spare you. Suffice it to say, I can only hope that I contributed nearly as much to his world as he has to mine.... and his music kicks ass.

Photo by Ryan.
Taken outside The Fenix in Seattle on July 5 at about 3 a.m. I don't always look this solemn.... Seibold and his bandmates were getting ready to leave and I'd only had the chance to spend two evenings with them. I decided that my first picture with a rock star might as well be with a friend.... You know: Kill two birds; Get your money's worth; etc. etc.