Crusher here.  (Actually, my real name's Curtis, but most of my friends call me "Crusher".  It suits me.)  Hope this finds y'all doing well.

I'm still playing my music; music is my world.  It's what I live for.  God gave me the talent, so I'm gonna persue it as best as I possibly can.  I've played music since I was a little kid, but it wasn't until I was twelve when I really started to get serious about it.

I live in Buena Park, California, with my family:  my mom and dad, and my kid brother, Ian (he's twelve).  I get along with my parents just fine; my brother, on the other hand, is always rubbing it in my face about how great he is in sports (and he IS!), and I get jealous because I can't play sports, thanks, in part, to my bad eyes.  (I'm legally blind.  I'm also an albino.)

I get annoyed at the other kids 'cause they call me names like "Blindy-Boy" or "Ghost Boy", and it really burns me up.  I didn't ask to be born like this:  I might be Italian, but I look Nordic with my ice-blue eyes, fair, pale skin, and nearly-white hair!  (If I get in the sun for too long, I burn like nobody's business, and I end up with a nasty sunburn.  If I'm not careful, I could develop skin cancer or sun poisoning, so I try to avoid the sun at all costs.  If I need to get out, I wear long sleeves, wear my shades, and wear a hat.  I also slather on the sunscreen ... TONS of it.)

My band, "The Trolls", and I still gather in my garage, where we play the loudest, rowdiest music ever.  Some of my bandmates like death metal; I can't stand it.  I like hard rock, but death metal is where I draw the line, especially since I happen to be a born-again Christian.  :)  I want to play music for people, but I mainly want to play for God's glory.

If that isn't bad enough, the kids teasing me about my looks or my bad eyes, I also get teased because I'm a Christian.  Well, bully for them.  I see nothing wrong with being a Christian.  If it were not for God's grace or mercy upon my life, I wouldn't be where I'm at today, especially in terms of my music!  I now play on the worship team every Sunday at church, and I dig it.  I love playing for the congregation, and the soul-stirring music causes my soul to fly heavenwards!  I get such a blessing whenever I play for Him (and for the congregation)!

I can't imagine my life without God.  I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart when I was twelve (Ian's age), and I haven't looked back.  

I am in the tenth grade at the local high school, and I do well in my grades.  My parents have one stipulation: that is, for me to keep my grades up.  If I can keep my grades up to a C or above, then I can play my music; if not, I have to work to bring my grades up.  Simple rule, yes, but highly effective.  :)

I had a good Christmas; spent it at my grandpa's house with the fam, and got a lot of nice things, including money, new clothes, new guitar strings for my guitar, new sheet music, new CD's and an mp3 player (that was my big gift!), and much, much more.  (Grandpa is my mom's dad; he's in his seventies, and he has arthritis really bad, but he is still a ton of fun!)

We had Valentine's Day yesterday, but Valentine's Day really doesn't float my boat: don't have a girlfriend; looking, but just haven't found the right girl yet.  Oh, well ... hope springs eternal, as they say.  God will bring her to me; I'm in no hurry .... :)

Well, I gotta get ready for school, so I have to run along.  I also have to eat breakfast and see if there are any auroras in the skies outside.  There's a chance we can see them here.  That's another thing I'm into: the skies.  I love to skywatch; I love looking at God's infinite creations and marveling about how He made everything around us!  Now that is real Talent, if you ask me! :)  Take care and God bless; this is "Crusher" (aka Curtis) signing off!

~Curtis ("Crusher") Patriucci.  :)