RIP: Ronnie James Dio

So on Sunday, March 16th Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer.

Most people don’t know of Dio as he’s not one of the biggest names in music, but he’s part of the original set of heavy metal musicians, being the first replacement for Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath and following that with several bands (Elf and Rainbow) before settling with his self-named band Dio.

Overall, he was an amazing singer and one of the greats in the metal world. He was the one who popularized the “devil horns” sign that has become a staple of metal concerts everywhere, turning the Italian folk superstition into the international symbol for metal fandom.

He may have been before my time, but my one time seeing him live (opening for Iron Maiden in San Diego) is part of my favorite concert of all time.

He left behind many friends and the entire metal world is completely heartbroken and thoughts of consolation go out to his manager and wife Wendy Galaxiola who chairs “Children of the Night” which is an organization devoted to trying to rescue American children from careers in prostitution.

She said on his official site: “Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”

On a much more personal note, his passing is definitely felt very deeply. Not many people know this, but his song “Rainbow in the Dark” is my own personal Pride song. It’s what I turn to when I’m frustrated about some sort of LGBT fight not going well or when I want to swell up with pride about being a member of a community that always gets back up no matter what.

It’s for all outcasts really, but to me, it’s been more of a queer anthem than any light-hearted disco piece could ever be (though I fully appreciate that this is a very peculiar personal taste).

In a very odd way, the song is home to me.

But that said, there’s only one song that’s at all an appropriate send-off for the man.

Thank you so much for what you gave us, your music will carry on for eternity and continue to inspire those who come after you. May you rest in peace.

They say this cat Cerberus is a bad mother-

I am a Mistress of Science!

As of minutes ago, I successfully defended my thesis, acing it out of the park without even half the nervousness I had even last night. I have officially completed my Master’s Degree in Biology and will soon return to the United States rich in the spoils I have earned through blood sweat and semi-frequent breakdowns.

And hearing the praise coming from my advisor and the censor, well, it was all worth it. I may have struggled, collapsed, fell down to the deepest ditches, bloodied and mangled, but I fucking came out of it and proved my worthiness.

Today, I am awesome!

Now, the sun is shining, the trees are fully flowering and starting to do the floating cherry blossom scattering that happens in Japan, and life is good.

This section of grad school is over. In a couple of weeks, I’ll start my repatriation to the States.

In short, I rock.

Can you dig it?

The Beast is Slain

The thesis is written, final draft.

Not quite through all the hurdles yet. I have to print it out tomorrow morning after I get more color ink and race to turn it in by noon, but the final draft has been polished to a mirror-like shine and I am feeling completely emotionally and spiritually drained, but in a nice pleasant way. And I will have to go defend it in two weeks, but…

Regardless of all that, I am officially finished with the writing of my master’s thesis and am now literally a handful of mostly administrative steps from having my master’s degree.

It’s been a long, often mind-breaking slog, but I’m through the woods. I wonder when it will hit me that I’ve got my life back again?

I can do things like sleep, have fun, and post long-winded blog posts again.

Well, that and finalize my repatriation back to the States. But for now, huzzah to the conquering hero and all that jazz.

The beast is slain.