IT'S TIME...

TO MAN THE FUCK UP AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. TURN DREAMS INTO REALITY, NO STOPPING ME. ITS TIME TO FLY. FLY SO HIGH THAT NOTHING CAN BRING ME DOWN.

SOME PEOPLE JUST KNOW WHAT IT TAKES..

DEVOTION AND DESIRE

YOU GET ONE CHANCE IN LIFE TO MAKE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF. SO DONT STAND OFF TO THE SIDE AND WATCH A WORLD FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES PASS YOU BY. MAKE IT HAPPEN. I AM AT THE POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I CAN DECIDE WHAT I NEED, WANT, AND GET. ITS MY TURN TO MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF. GAME ON...

LOOOVVVEE YYOUUUU,
BEN


P.S. THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE ME THAT NEEDS TO BE LET OUT

GAME PLAN!

FIRST OF ALL ITS MY DAY OFF SO PLAYING GUITAR ALL DAY!
I GOT THIS FREE SQUIRE STRAT (WHICH IS A RIP OFF OF A FENDER STRAT) AND I DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING EPIC. I DECIDED TO REBUILD IT. I'M EITHER GOING TO GET A LEGIT AMERICAN MADE FENDER TELECASTER NECK OR A CUSTOM MADE ONE. THEY ARE ABOUT THE SAME PRICE. THEN I'M GOING TO GET SOME NEW BALLER PICKUPS ON IT, THROW ON A BLACK PICK GUARD AND I SHOULD BE PRETTY EPIC. ALSO I DECIDED THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BUY A MAC BOOK PRO. IF I DID I WOULD BE SPENDING ABOUT $2,000. SO WITH THAT MUCH CASH I COULD PRACTICALLY BUILD A RECORDING STUDIO IN MY ROOM. I ORDERED A HEAD FOR MY STACK WHICH SHOULD BE COMING SOON. FUCKING STOKED! ALSO I'M SELLING MY BASS TO GET A DIFFERENT STYLE SO IF YOUR INTERESTED LET ME KNOW AND ILL GET YOU THE DETAILS. ON A NON MUSIC NOTE I AM GOING TO ALSO START BUILDING A BICYCLE, HOPEFULLY ILL HAVE THAT ALL FINISHED BY NEXT SUMMER. WELL THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.. AS ALWAYS, LOVE YOU....

-BEN

TIS THE TIME...

OF THE YEAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS! I LOVE IT! THANKSGIVING! MY BIRTHDAY! (DEC. 13TH) AND OF COURSE CHRISTMAS! THEN NEW YEARS! HOPE YOU SEASON BRINGS YOU JOY. I KNOW MINE ALREADY HAS STARTED. TODAY I ORDERED MY SWEET LINE 6 HEAD FOR MY STACK. I CANT WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE ELECTRIC GUITAR. AND I GOT APPROVED FOR FINACING ON A NEW MAC!! ITS NOW TIME TO START MAKING IT HAPPEN!


LOVE YOU,
N BE

FUCK RIGHT!

IT IS FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS.....

1. LAUNDRY =(
2. BIKE RIDES!!!
3. BAR WITH SHOTS OF SAILOR
4. HOUSE PARTY.
5. PLAY SOME GUITAR


HEART YOU!!

SAD FACTS OF SINGLE LIFE

NNNEEWWWSSS!!!

WELL TO START I THINK I MAKE THE BEST DAVID BOWIE FOR HALLOWEEN EVER. ILL HAVE PICTURES UP ON MY MYSPACE SOON (MYSPACE.COM/NEBNOTELPATS). BUT NOW TO GIVE THE UPDATES. I MOVING HERE IN A FEW. ONLY UP 5 FLOORS BUT THAT COMES WITH A GREAT VIEW OF THE CITY IM GROWING TO LOVE MORE AND MORE. OH AND MORE SPACE. HALLOWEEN IS HERE WHICH MEANS JUST A FEW THINGS. ITS ALWAYS A KICK ASS TIME. CLOSER TO THANKSGIVING. CLOSER TO MY BIRTHDAY. CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS. CLOSER TO A WHOLE NEW YEAR. THE ONE CHANCE TO START FRESH AGAIN. WELL I GUESS I COULD RANT MORE BUT IM GOING TO DO SOME MINOR PACKING.

LOVE,, BEN




OH WAIT I FORGOT TO GIVE YOU THE FIRST DRAFT OF MY WINTER LIST...
1. A BALLER PEACOAT
2. ALWAYS MORE SCARVES
3. SALOR JERRY TO KEEP ME WARM ON MY LONG WALKS HOME
3-A. IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT THAT IS IT'S DELICIOUS RUM!
4. SOME NEW MITTENS
5. A BIKE TO RIDE THIS WINTER WITH FENDERS
6. A HEAD FOR MY HALF STACK
6-A. SEEING HOW IM GOING TO SPEND MOST THE WINTER JAMMING NEW TUNES




AS ALWAYS... TAKE CARE AND STAY IN TOUCH.

PROMISES

PROMISES, TO LOVE TILL TIME ENDS AND BEYOND.. YOU MAY BE GONE BUT THE INK IS PERMANENT. THE CRACKS IN THIS ROADS ARE DEEPER THAN EVER BEFORE. SUCKING ME IN TO THE BLACKNESS OF MY OWN SOUL. LIGHT CONSTANTLY FADING BUT THE INK STILL SHOWS. THIS IS THE WAY LIFE GOES. PROMISES NEVER KEPT, HEARTS NEVER MENDED. YOU DO THINGS.. YOU DONT DO THEM.. YET STILL YOU FACE THE CONSEQUENCES..




TO ALL THE TIMES WE HAD.
FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE TAUGHT EACH OTHER.
THE LATE NIGHTS IN BED.
RUNNING IN THE RAIN.
PICTURES.
SEEING THE SUN RISE WITH SIGOR ROS IN OUR EARS.
WARMING EACH OTHER ON THE COLD COLD NIGHTS.
TO MY APPLE BLOSSOM.

HELLO AGAIN,

SO IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I POSTED ANYTHING.. I HAVE BEEN SLACKING. THERE ISNT REALLY ANYTHING NEW TO SAY. I HAVE A GOOD FEELING THAT THE NEAR FUTURE HAS SOMETHING BIG IN STORE FOR ME. I WILL BE MOVING IN OCTOBER TO A BIGGER PLACE SO IM PRETTY STOKED ON THAT. ASO I THINK IM GOING TO BUY A IMAC HERE SOON. WELL IF ANYTHING EXCITING HAPPENS YOULL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW..

-BEN

NEVER DIE!

LIFE COMES QUICK, WHICH MEANS ONLY ONE THING.
NEVER LET GO OF THE ONES YOU LOVE.
NEVER STOP CHASING YOUR DREAMS.
NEVER FORGET WHERE YOUR HEART IS.
NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.
NEVER LET YOUR GIRL CRY.
NEVER DIE.

IT'S SUMMER

SO IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE I HAVE GAVE ANY UPDATES. I DONT THINK MUCH HAS CHANGED. I RECENTLY TOOK A TRIP BACK HOME AND WHEN I SAY HOME I MEAN EASTERN WYOMING. SPENT THE FOURTH WITH SOME GREATLY MISSED FAMILY, AND INTRODUCED HEATHER TO ALL OF THEM. ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GOOD TIME. WHILE ON THIS TRIP I GOT SOME NEWS THOUGH. THIS ISNT NECESSARILY GOOD OR BAD NEWS. IT THE KING OF THING THAT JUST PUNCHES YOU IN THE FACE AND AND LEAVES YOU STUNNED PERMINATLY. WELL ILL STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUSH.. I FOUND OUT THAT MY SO CALLED "FATHER" ISNT REALLY MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER. MY REAL DADS NAME IS STEVE CRAIGHTON. ITS NOT THAT I WAS ADOPTED OR ANYTHING. WHEN MY MOTHER WAS PREGNANT SHE WAS WITH MY SO CALLED "FATHER" AND THEY BOTH KIND OF SECRETLY NEW I WASNT HIS REAL KID, BUT REGARDLESS HE DIDNT WANT TO KNOW WHOSE IT WAS. HE WAS EXCITED TO HAVE ME AS A SON. I WAS BORN DEC. 13TH 1989 AND ON JAN. 13 1990 STEVE CRAIGHTON WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCENDENT. EXACTLY ONE MONTH AFTER MY BIRTH. IT IS STRANGE FEELING GROWING UP THINKING OF THIS "DAD" THAT IM GOING TO GAIN ALL MY PHYSICAL FEATURES FROM. ALL THESE FAMILY MEMBERS MET AND ARE NOT REALLY FAMILY. THEN AT THE SAME TIME NOT KNOWING ANYONE OR ANYTHING ABOUT MY REAL SELF, AND NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO FIND THIS OUT. THROUGHOUT THIS SITUATION I THINK I HAVE GROWN TO LOVE AND APPRECIATE MY "FATHER" MORE. HE HAS CARED FOR A ME WITH KNOWING THAT IM NOT HIS REAL SON, THAT I WILL NEVER LOOK, ACT, OR BE APART OF HIS FAMILY. THAT SHOWS TO ME WHAT REAL HEART IS....

-BENJIMAN JAMES STAPLETON


P.S.-I RODE MY BIKE ACROSS THE SALT LAKE CITY VALLEY YESTERDAY... KILING CHRIST MUST BE IN MY BLOOD.

NEWS UPDATE!

SATURDAY AT 5:30 I HAVE A THREE HOUR TATTOO APPOINTMENT TO START MY SLEEVE!!

ON A SUNDAY,

SO I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF THE DAY WORKING, DOING A LOT OF THINKING ALSO. I DECIDED WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HEATHER THAT NEW BIKE TIRES, FOOT STRAPS, BOOKS AND CD'S ARE COMING BEFORE I GET MY SLEEVE STARTED. I DO BELIEVE I WILL START IT NEXT WEEK. I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT MY FUTURE A LOT TODAY. I'M ONLY 19 AND HAVE A LOT OF LIFE LEFT AND YET I HAVE SO VERY LITTLE GOALS SO I DECIDED TO START MAKING SOME. A) I WANNA HAVE A FULL SET OF ACOUSTIC MUSIC BY ME WITH VOCALS. B) I'M VERY SHY ABOUT MY SINGING VOICE SO I AM TRYING TO IMPROVE VOCALS AND ALSO LET EVERYONE HEAR THEM. C) LEARN AT LEAST 10 WHITE STRIPES SONG ON ACOUSTIC WITH VOCALS AND ALL. D) SHOW MORE LOVE TOWARDS THE ONES THAT MATTER AND QUIT WASTING TIME ON POINTLESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE. E) START WRITING A NOVEL OR AT LEAST EVERY THOUGHT I HAVE AND THEN MAKE IT INTO A NOVEL AT SOME POINT. F) TRAVEL. G) BE A BETTER ALL AROUND PERSON.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY

-BEN STAPLETON

SLEEVE

SO I AM REALLY HOPING WEDNESDAY WILL BE THE DAY TO START THE SLEEVE!!!!!! CROSS YOUR FINGERS THAT LADY JAY WILL HAVE SOME TIME AVAILABLE! SUPER STOKED TO SEE JASON AND CORY TONIGHT. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW...


<3'S

FOREVER AND EVER?

LIFE WORKS IN ODD WAYS. YOU SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME LOOKING FOR JUST ONE PERSON TO CALL YOURS. TO START A FAMILY, BE SUCCESSFUL. I GUESS THIS IS WHAT YOUR SUPPOSED TO DO. I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I WANT. I WANT KIDS THAT LOVE ME AND A BEAUTIFUL WIFE THAT ADORES AND SUPPORTS ME BUT HOW DO I KNOW WHEN SHE IS THE ONE? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PUT OURSELVES THROUGH TESTS TO SEE HOW STRONG OUR LOVE REALLY IS? OR IS EVERYTHING JUST SUPPOSED TO FALL IN PLACE. THE SHITTY THING IS I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN SAY THERE ARE IN LOVE OR MEANT FOR EACH OTHER, IT MAKES ME THINK THAT MAYBE LOVE IS JUST A BULLSHIT FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION. IF TH ATS SO THEN WHAT ARE THESE FEELINGS I GET? WHY DO I FEEL I CANT LET GO OF THIS GIRL FOR HOURS LET ALONE MONTHS OR YEARS? WHY DO I FEEL DEPRESSED WHEN I SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR HER? WHY AM I SELFISH AND STUBBORN, AND LASTLY WHY AM I EVEN FREAKING OUT LIKE THIS WHEN NOTHING IS EVEN DECIDED YET? YOU KNOW, I'M EITHER A SHITTY PERSON OR FUCKING INCREDIBLE.



-BEN

SESSIONING MY BODY!

SO FINALLY IM GETTING STARTED ON MY TATTOOS, SEEMS AS IF IT HAS TAKEN ME A LONG TIME TO GET IT GOING.. THREE HOURS TOMORROW!


-DOMINATIOUS



P.S. IF YOUR READING THIS I <3 YOU..

STOKED!

IM SERIOUSLY STOKED ON WHERE MY LIFE IS!

IM SERIOUSLY STOKED ON MY NEW TATTOO!

IM SERIOUSLY STOKED ON MY NEXT TATTOO APPOINTMENT!

IM SERIOUSLY STOKED ON THIS WONDERFUL APPLE BLOSSOM THATS IN MY LIFE!

IM SERIOUSLY STOKED ON LIFE!

PROGRESS?

IT HAS BEEN HALF A YEAR SINCE I LEFT MY HOME ON MY ADVENTURE THROUGH LIFE. IT SEEMS THAT IT HAS BEEN A LIFETIME. I MISS LOTS OF FACES. I THINK I KEEP TRYING TO REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ONES, I DON'T KNOW WHY I DO THIS. I GUESS AT TIMES I FEEL EMPTY WITHOUT ALL MY DEAREST FRIENDS THAT HAVE MADE ME WHO I AM. WHICH MAKES ME WONDER, WHO I AM WITHOUT THEM? HAVE I CHANGED? AM I STILL THE SAME PERSON I WAS 7 MONTHS AGO? HAVE I CHANGED FOR THE BETTER OR THE WORST? IN MY MIND I AM THE SAME PERSON I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. I'M HAPPY WITH MY LIFE AND WHERE I'M AT AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN IT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NOT AS NEARLY AS MANY PEOPLE THAT USED TO BE. MAINLY THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT I ACTUALLY FEEL THAT CARES FOR ME IN THIS CITY. I GUESS I JUST WANT ALL MY FRIENDS TO KNOW, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE YOUR GOING THAT I HONESTLY STILL HAVE A PLACE IN MY HEART FOR YOU. IF I HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU IN A LONG TIME ITS NOT THAT I DON'T CARE. IT'S NOT THAT I HAVE ABANDONED YOU OR HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL OF OUR MEMORIES. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER RAISING HELL WITH ALVARO, LUCASS, AND GEO. WE SAID THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE WOULD BE FRIENDS FOREVER. I KNEW EVEN BACK THEN WHEN I WAS YOUNG THAT WE WOULD ALL GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS IN LIFE, BUT I FEEL LIKE I ABANDONED YOU GUYS AND IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A SHITTY FRIEND. YOU GUYS GAVE ME THE STRENGTH NEEDED. I LOVE YOU GUYS AND I NEVER WANT YOU TO FORGET IT. NO MATTER WHERE WE ALL END UP. AS FOR JASON DEMPSEY, THANKS FOR ALL THE INFLUENCE YOU GAVE ME, YOU TREATED ME AS A BROTHER. YOU SHOWED ME THAT NOTHING CAN HOLD ME DOWN, THAT I MAKE MY LIFE WHAT IT IS. FOR THE BETTER OR WORSE. MACK, YOU SHOWED ME SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF THAT I NEVER KNEW WAS THERE. GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO BE MYSELF. I COULD GO ON FOR DAYS ABOUT HOW EVERYONE OF MY REAL FRIENDS HAVE HELPED ME GET TO WHERE I AM AND I THANK ALL OF YOU. REMEMBER THAT. REMEMBER THAT WE ARE OURSELVES AND NO ONE ELSE. OTHERS CAN ACCEPT THIS OR FUCK OFF. WE OUR STRONG. WHAT I HAVE CAME TO REALIZE IS THAT GROWING UP IN EVANSTON MAKES YOU HAVE A SOLID FUCKING SET OF FRIENDS. EVEN WHEN SOMETIMES YOU FEEL ABANDON BY THEM OR YOU HAVE ABANDONED SOME. TONY DEMPSEY, DON'T THINK THAT I WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. YOU SHOWED ME HOW TO BE STONG AND PROUD OF WHAT I AM AND WHAT IM DOING. PLAYING TERRORIST WITH YOU IS REALLY THE GREATEST HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE. SO I HAVE RANTED FOR QUITE A LONG POST TODAY, I HOPE ALL OF MY FRIENDS GET A CHANCE TO READ THIS SO THEY KNOW HOW I FEEL. I WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT I ALWAYS HAVE A COUCH WAITING FOR YOU GUYS TO COME SLEEP ON. I DON'T EVER THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN ANY OF YOU. YOUR THE REASONS I HAVE HEART.


-NEB NOTELPATS


P.S. MY PHONE NUMBER HASN'T CHANGED SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL.

FUCK RIGHT!

TODAY I GOT A TATTOO APPOINTMENT FOR THE 13TH!! GOING TO GET A REALISTIC BLOODY GRUESOME HEART ON MY CHEST! THATS ALL FOR NOW.



SINCERELY, BENJAMIN JAMES SAPLETON AKA NEB NOTELPATS





P.S. HEATHER AND ME LEARNED A NEW TRICK SHE CAN SPIT GUM ACROSS THE ROOM INTO MY MOUTH!

FUCK YOU!!!

I MADE A NEW T-SHIRT

Life Is Where It Needs To be

Okay, going back to a wonderful Thursday afternoon spent laying in the grass at the Galivon Center, then going to Broadway shops and creeping items to be purchased. There was a moment during all of this where my friend Angel dragged me and Heather into a photography shop called Saams, or something similar. Anyways, i was sitting across from Heather not saying a word but just staring intensively into her eyes and it gave me a uphoric feeling that i have never even thought of being real. This shop is an incredible enviroment. There are three chairs in the middle of the room and nothing else. The walls are white with small photos on each. Sitting in this place was probably one of the best days! Then there was this vintage furniture store and i found these two wicker chairs that i want, the downfall is that i have no where to put them. I think i need to move into a bigger place soon. I feel cluttered. Well thats all for now im off to work.


MR. STAPLETON


p.s. i wish it was nicer so i could ride my bike

HAPPINESS

THE WORLD COULD BE SET TO FIRE AND I WOULDNT HAVE TO WORRY

Up With Hope Down With Dope!

So i have heard numerous things about being heartless. When i say this it does not mean i cannot love or care for one, It simply means that i don't give a fuck and will wreak shit till the day i die!
On a different note, for those of you who don't see much of me my hair is fucking long and life is incredible. I have met a certain person that makes me happier than i have been in years and i dont think this feeling is coming to an end anytime soon. I do miss lots of my friends that i havent seen in months, You guys are my heart, sole, and gave me all the inspiration i needed to get to where i am now and there is no way i can repay that. I have a feeling that some of us are going to become more and more distant in our futures but i want you ALL to know that you have a special place with me and i always have a couch for you to sleep on.
Well i guess the last thingi have to say is you all need to buy a bike and come rage with me

<3 life

NEWS!

So last night about 10:45 pm i was heading home from work on my bike. All the sudden both of my tires were flat. So im like what the fuck. It turns out that i ran over like 1,000,000 little jagged and sharp plat things that got lodged in my tire which is forcing me to not only get new tubes but tires too, so instead of getting a new tattoo i get new bike tires. Also there is only 12 days until i hit the road for California. This upcoming Friday is Set Your Goals/Bayside in the venue. My five gallons of wine i have been brewing should be done by the end of next week. A Day To Remember is on the 15th and im way stoked for that. Oh and i spent $70 at urban outfitters on $250 worth of clothes.


-Ben Stapleton (lovin life/slayin krukas)

SUMMER

I can't wait for it. Twas so nice out yesterday it got me pumped. Although it is snowing today =( But i feel summer coming and it's just right around the corner. On a different note. Fuck the economy. My manager whose a bad ass got laid off and so did the other employee, so now it is just me and the owner(who is a dick) working in our store. I know my time is coming soon also. On a lighter not there are tons of good shows this summer can't wait. Well that's all for now,


sincerely,

Benjiman James Stapleton

TIME TO SOCIALIZE

So i do believe I'm going to go out right now and make some friends. Catch you on the flip side.



P.S.-Always remember you are in control of what happens. If you want nothing you will receive nothing. GET SOME!

HEART WHAT YOU HAVE

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."

Killin It!

I'm getting stoked for summer.

We All Have Needs

1) a new camera.
2) more scarves and mittens
3) someone to care for
4) a warm soul to stand by my side

LOVE LIFE