If you ever asked me why I was laughing

I would say something along the lines of this quote "Sometimes I laugh because it's funny how much I hate you." "Which is why I'm always smiling at you"

Oh Hi 2012, you've started off amazing

So this year is shaping up to be amazing. So is this month to be honest.

Although I'm stressed with getting into Dental school so much so that in all honesty I want to crawl under a rock and forget about the whole thing, this past weekend has been super amazing.

First there was the TOOL concert. (FUCKING AMAZING) and then Giants win the Super Bowl against the PATRIOTSSSS. Homg it's like a dream come true people.

I've never been a big fan of the Giants but I like them, and they have Eli Manning (Hey boy hey) My favorite team will always be the Eagles and then the Ravens and then The Giants but honestly, I would have cheered for any team that plays against Tom Brady's team.

I loathe him. I loathe the Patriots. If there was one team I could get rid of, it would be them. So basically if any team had gone into the super bowl against the Patriots I would have cheered for them all the way because I hate Tom Brady. And I can't stand it that he's been to 4 super bowls and won them.

I guess Giselle telling people to pray for her husband to win didn't do so well.

Clearly God is a fucking Giants fan (obviously)

Missing BiSC Again

So for a while now I've known about this Bloggers in Sin City conference and I've always wanted to go. But I never did. Why?

Because I wasn't 21! And who wants to go to Vegas when they're not 21? Exactly! No one. Because it's absolutely pointless.

Never the less I always promised myself that I would keep blogging, even if no one ever read it. And that in 2012 I would sign up to attend said conference.

As you can see, both have not worked out for me in anyway shape or form.

I have not kept up on my blog at all. Every now and again I'll wonder in here with some random rant and then I'll saunter off for months on end leaving this place to collect cobwebs as real life and school and worrying about whether I'll be accepted into any university gets me down.

(the Uni portion will be in another blog soon to come)

Thus with that being said I see why people have stopped reading my blog. Who wants to constantly check back only to be horribly disappointed at seeing the same old 2 month old post? Exactly, no one.

I don't blame those who were once my readers for wandering off and finding greener/funnier/more often updated blogs.

That's my fault. Just like it's also my fault that I didn't visit Nicole's blog (Nicole is Better) sooner. Because if I had I would have been able to see that the registration for the event was on the 16th of January.

And for those confused, it's currently the 23rd. FML.

Now of course the event if full because, as you can read in detail on Nicol's Blog, who doesn't want to hang out with fellow young bloggers who jump randomly into fountains and go private desert tasting and drink endless amounts of alcohol and HELLO VEGAS?! It's like going to Europe only everyone speaks English and you don't have to exchange your money for Euros.

It's perfect for me. It's fun open minded people, in Vegas with alcohol and even though I'm socially awkward I love nothing more than to leave the state(preferably the country) only to then thrust myself in a large group of people where I am forced to speak to other individuals and make friends.

99% of the time I find most of the people are quite friendly.

It's all rather liberating.

and yes I know that the site says there's a waiting list so I should stop whining but did you not see that there's a space for Twitter?

Yeah, I most definitely don't have one of those and I don't want to get one because I don't like twitter in anyway shape or form.
And, I don't blog. Except for right now when I'm telling you/no one this.

never the less I am horribly unhappy about this ordeal and am going to have to yet again, wait another year and PRAY that Miss Nicole decides to yet again throw another conference in Vegas. And that they get to stay in the Flamingo hotel.

TOOL! pt.2

So This morning I woke up at 8:15, had my breakfast and my dad and I were prepared with laptops in hand and wallets in back pockets.

We left the house at 9:20 and got to Starbucks by 9:30. My dad created his account and I logged into mine and we waited...and waited...and waited.

I was poised over the mousepad at 9:59. And by 10am exactly I refreshed my page, told my dad to do the same, and we both went head first into battle.

I told him to go for the most expensive ticket and then to hit best available.

I did floor seats only.

He found MEZZ seats.

I found nothing.

So I tried again, and again, and again.

Still nothing, until I changed my search to 1 seat only, with best available at the most expensive cost.

I found MEZZ seats. We compared, he had row 17 or something, I had row 9. I bought mine and accepted my fate.
70 out of pocket.

But then, out of nowhere I decided to fuck about and try the search again, for best available 1 seat most expensive.

FLOOR SEATS ROW 10 popped up in section A. I about pissed myself with fucking excitement.

I grabbed them without hesitation. I've been in a pit ten people back and I've gotten AWESOME pictures. Yes, first or second row would have been amazing, and clearly positive thinking did not help me here, BUT I got floor seats, pretty fucking close to the stage and I'm honestly stoked at can be.

I'm currently trying to sell my other ticket now. Plus there's the off chance that I'll win (probably not) the front row seats on FM99. (that would be fucking awesome)

But I'm overjoyed with what I got, I call this a success people. a true success.

Now all I have to do is not get injured or die before the concert. So people, don't drive like crazy people. I need to live to see this concert. After Friday Feb. 3rd 11:59pm. It's fair game.

TOOL!

IS COMING TO WHERE I LIVE!!! (at first I typed "Hometown" and than quickly squealed with disgust and deleted it. This is NOT my hometown, thank fucking god)

So My ultimate dream concert lineup would be TOOL and A Perfect Circle (yes I would want Maynard to sing and scream for two sets! I am greedy in my fantasy world, shutup) with Deftones, Slipknot, Sevendust, Metallica, KORN (maybe, I've seen them twice and this last show was pretty horrible) KITTIE and Lacuna Coil (and Drain STH if you know, they were still around.)

But I have a feeling this line up will never happened.

1) Because Maynard would never tour with both his bands at the same time, that's really just cruel to ask a man to sing for one band for an hour or so, and then to take a short break only to return back out there with another band for a headliner. (Because TOOL would obviously be the headliner. DUH)

2) Because as far as I know, KITTIE know longer really tours (they came here but that was like...two years ago) and Drain STH is gone. :( Sad times I know.

3) I just don't see any of these bands agreeing to tour with each other. Especially if Metallica wasn't the headliner.

But it would be an awesome show would it not? I mean you'd have badass chicks on stage doing their thing (KITTIE is fucking..amazing) and than you'd have Deftones, Sevendust, KORN and Slipknot for like..the younger crowd I guess, and than right after that you'd have TOOL (and APC), Metallica for the older guys.

I'm not saying that only old people like TOOL and Metallica but Metallica is kind of the grand daddy of my generations metal and TOOL...their like the respected father (imo)

But I would be happy with TOOL toured with just Deftones and (Slipknot, Sevendust or KITTIE) I would probably jizz in my pants if that line up came anywhere near the East Coast. Fuck, I'd travel far and wide to see that line up, and why? because it's awesome and because Deftones could perform their song "Passenger" with Maynard and I could die a happy camper.


-------

But Deftones aren't touring with either of Maynard's bands, in fact,they're not touring at all.
BUT BUT BUT

There's something so much more important to say. I stated it in the first sentence of this post!!!

TOOL IS COMING HERE ON THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY!!!!!!

I've never been more excited you guys. Honestly I'm bouncing off the walls here. And I have been bouncing off the walls every since my friend Collin told me about it on the 19th of Dec. So you can imagine what I've been like for the past month.

I checked their website and at first they announced it was like....a rumor and the date was left as (TBA) and I was like.... -.- seriously you guys? Really?

The next closest date was the 4th in Charlottesville NC. and honestly I'd drive there if they weren't coming here, but...who wants to drive all the waaaaay there? Exactly no one.

so I spent my time checking Toolband website everyday to look for updates, and how about, the one day (the 4th? of Jan) the one day I DONT look for an update online 96x announces that TOOL is coming and that they're giving away tickets right then and there?

Yeah I was like..WHOAWHOAWHOA WAAAAT?

I tried to win the tickets but I didn't. But who cares. I've entered myself in (as you know) into FM99's front row seat contest (which I probably won't win, but homg if I do)

And I've devised a plan with my parents for our attack on ticketmaster.com tomorrow morning.

At first I was going to have my mother at Starbucks finger on the trigger waiting at 10am and then I would be at the box office waiting in line (if there was a line, hopefully I would be the first there.) But now that I know that it's all on a first come first serve basis I've devised another plan. It still involves my parents, plus the computers and the phones. But it's a little less stressful for everyone.


Clearly I want front and center row seats but...honestly, do you think I'll get that? No

I'd be happy with second row seats in the center. I NEEEEEED to be on that floor people. Even if it's to the side, I need to be in one of the first three seats. I can't stand being far back.

Which is why I'm currently seething at the fact that there isn't a pit. Honestly why not? No one sits down during a rock show. NO ONE! except maybe the unfortunate parent who had to bring their child. They might be sitting down, knitting, with earplugs in. But the rest of us are on our FUCKING FEET! Jumping around and screaming and singing and and and wishing to god there weren't any seats in our fucking way so we could rush the stage and mosh and be packed in like sardines, passively letting out our anger and aggression by pushing and punching complete strangers in the face. And cursing at crowd surfers that kick us in the head and laughing at them when they get carried out of the venue by angry bouncers.

But Hampton likes to piss on my parade so I'm stuck sitting in a seat. fighting for front row. Or second. I don't believe in prayer you guys, or god, but feel free to start praying, worshiping, wishing for two front and center seats or second row center seats for me people.

I want this. No, I NEED this.
In all honesty I'd be happy with second row

Radio DJ's

So for quite some time now I've had this thing were I talk to radio DJs and befriend them; and most of the time, they're kind enough to befriend me. Even though they're technically working.

I've been calling my local radio station DJs since I was about....maybe 11 or 12. And I always had a favorite two from the two stations that I called.

The first station I ever called was 96x, and I would talk to Nick PapaG. (sp?) Who sadly as come and gone from the air, which is unfortunate because he had an amazing voice and awesome happy personality. I mean no matter how shitty your day was going if you heard his voice and called in, he would always pick up the phone and he would always always ALWAYS play your song. Which I find seems to be a bit rare these days.

My second favorite DJ to call on 96x was the Mike and Bob Show. (yes I count them as one person because when you called, you spoke to the both of them, not just one[ unless one was working the weekends which sometimes happened])

But the best DJ's I've found have all been on FM99.
I mean I prefer the music on 96x just a tad bit more than I do on FM99, and I have found that some of the skits their (FM99) morning show (past and present) have been really offensive, but I swear they have quite possibly the most easygoing/personable/helpful and patient staff of DJ's EVER.

Shane G. (who has been gone for quite some time) was always very funny and patient with me when I called him on the weekends, and also very honest. I remember I once asked him if he could fit in a song for me, and he said maybe. He told me he thought he could, but he wasn't sure because his slots were filling up. And he also told me he might be able to play me...was it Drain STH? or Kittie, one or the other, he (I think, I'm pretty sure) told me that he wasn't sure if they even still had the band that I was requesting and that he would have to go and look for it. Swear to God y'all.

I mean really? How honest is that!? Most guys just sit there and say, "Oh yeah sure I'll get that right on for you" and then you wait and wait for hours only to never hear your song because they never played it. This, gave me a light into how the stations worked. Which was helpful to my sanity.

My All time favorite DJ though would have to be Scott N. He was quite possibly the nicest and most patient person. He worked the graveyard shift (12am-5:15am) on weekdays and sometimes he'd work the holidays and weekends. And literally every night/morning I guess, or every time I couldn't sleep I would just call him and talk to him. AND HE WOULD TALK WITH ME! For hours people, I'm mean hours, I think once I talked to him on and off for his ENTIRE Shift, or damn near close to. And he never once said a thing about it. He never complained, he never said "Look I'm sorry I can't stay and chat all the time, please stop calling" nope. He would just work and chit chat with me, and when he had to go on air, he'd put me on hold, do what he needed to do on air and off, and then he'd pick back up the phone and we'd continue our conversation.
And it would be about everything and nothing all at the same time. Politics, religion, music, you name it we most likely talked about it, joked about it, argued about it. I'd even call him on his birthday or email him on his birthday sometimes. And then he got a promotion to producing the morning show and that was it. I never talked to him again. That was quite possibly the saddest and happiest day ever. Happy because he got a promotion that I believed he deserved, (because anyone who put up with me as a kid deserves a fucking raise dude, [unless you requested it lmao, just to get away from me, which I could see, I was kind of annoying I'm sure])
and Sad because...I couldn't talk to him anymore.



BUT the main reason I made this post is for Shelley. (also an FM99 DJ)

I never talked to Shelley, ever. I never called her when she took over Twitch's spot after he quit, mainly because I just...didn't really care. Plus she kind of scared me, what with all of her Tats and love for metal (like..Real metal, not that pussy shit that's been being put out nowadays). The closest I ever got to talking to her was when she was hosting this local metal band live over the radio, and she would play their songs and shoot the shit with them, and they were all promoting the bands upcoming show. So I called, because the band fucking kicked ass, I wish I could remember their name, and I called, but I never got Shelley, in fact, I got the lead singer from the band. (who was also ridiculously nice, maybe it's something in the water that they all drink there) Anyhoo I ended up talking to the lead singer and all I could hear in the background was Shelley giggling, and I asked what she was laughing at, was it me? and he said no, she was saying what a great voice you have, and how your voice would be good for radio, I was flattered, because I was 16 at the time, but also slightly wary. Was she lying? Was she being Sarcastic? Or possibly she was being completely honest, I didn't know because I didn't know her. So with that harsh judgment, I never really took the initiative into doing so.

Until now. For a while Shelley has been part of the morning show, which I'm guilty of listening to on my way to class in the morning because of their news reports, their video game reports on Fridays (which is strange because I dont even play video games, unless you count the Sims2) and most importantly, their "Ask Shelley" section on monday mornings.
I'm in love with this portion of the show, mainly because the things that people ask are just so astounding sometimes I just...her poor computer history...I don't even want to know what sites she's had to go to. haha.

But recently because of this portion of the show I decided that I, yes me, was going to submit a question, actually two questions, that had been on my mind for a couple of years now.

The first question I asked was about the aforementioned DJ's, an the second was about why radio stations don't give their listeners a heads up when they change their formats and/or DJs. (the latter really really bothers me) Now usually these questions are answered over the air Monday morning, but I requested that they be answered via email because I was on break from class and would miss the answer if she chose to answer it at all.

Within a day people, A DAY, she wrote back to me a long and detailed email with every question I had answered. I was stunned. Mainly because 1) I figured some of the questions she might legally not be able to answer (I have no idea how radio and DJ relations work) And 2) because her response was quick! And not quick in the sense that she just skimmed the email and bullshit her way through it. But quick as in the professional "I have to do this quickly and thoroughly"
I felt bad for not responding with a "Thank you" email but I'm honestly bad at those things, and the holiday season was running me ragged.

But then I asked her another question, a question about TOOL (which is a whole other post HOMGSOEXCITEDDDDDDD) coming to town and whether the tickets would be general admissions or would they be reserved seating, with a pit.

I tried calling the DJ's, Christy M. and James S., on 96x but no one picked up so I quickly emailed Shelley hoping that she would have the answer and also would be able to respond to me before Saturday. I sent the email Wed. at around 6pm, when she wasn't in. By Thurs. (the next day) 47 minutes after her shift was over on the morning show and her other shift from 10-2 as just a DJ began, she emailed me and this is what she said in a nut-shell.

"Rebekah I called the Box Office at the Hampton Coliseum and they said it was reserved seating only, no pit whatsoever. The station is having a front row seat contest if you want to enter it (here's a link) and there's also other ways on our website to win tickets. Let me know what you get. -Shelley."

Everyone, I would like you to all re-read this email and tell me what stands out the most to you....Go ahead I'll wait.

Was it the part about her CALLING THE BOX OFFICE? Because that is what stuck out to me! I mean, I had no intention that she would do such a thing, I could have done that, but I figured she would probably know because she works for the station and is giving away tickets, plus she's been to more concerts than I'll ever dream of going to so I figured she would be the person to ask.

But to call? How awesome is that? I mean, she didn't have to, she could have just said, "Hey I have no idea, but usually if they say reserved seating it's reserved, with no pit" or she could have said "Oh I don't know you should call the box office" Or "Well we're giving away seat tickets so my guess would be reserved seating with no pit"

But she didn't! She took it a step further and the time out of her work day to CALL the box office to find this information out. and then she told me about the contest (that I had no idea was going on) on FM99's website. I'm just utterly baffled by her selflessness and her patients with my questions and with her quick responses and and and...

Words really just do not describe how utterly grateful I am. She's slowly pushing poor Scott N. from the top spot on my "Favorite DJ's EVER" list.

Seriously though, FM99 has the best DJ's.

I really fucking hate Adele

Actually that is a bold faced lie. I'm sorry.

I don't hate Adele, I don't hate her as a person, or her music. I love her, both as a person and her music. Everything about her is perfect.

What I hate is the fact that every station and their mother happens to be playing her nonstop. I talking Alternative stations, classic rock stations (actually not so much), adult alternative stations, hip-hop stations, rap stations, pop stations. And not just once every three hours, like, twice every forty-five minutes. Multiple stations sometimes will be playing her songs. Actually song, because everyone is bored with "Rolling in the Deep" so we've moved onto "Someone Like You"

WITH A FUCKING VENGEANCE! I can't get away from it. And the sad thing is I used to really love that song. I used to sing with every part of my being, because it spoke to me. It was one of my top three favorite songs by her and now, NOW I fucking loathe that song.

When I hear it on the radio I scowl and roll my eyes and grumble and curse and change the station quickly and dream of scooping out my eardrum with a spork.

It's terrible.

On the other hand I guess this is what I get for wishing the US would play Adele; God what if they had done this with her album 19 and they played "Hometown Glory" nonstop. I'd probably shoot someone. (No not really, stop panicking!)

Be careful what you wish for right?

Yeah, I understand that now.

It makes me happy that Florence and the Machine aren't played that much anymore. At first it seemed like they would be, what with her first album and everyone playing "Dog Days are Over" but now you hardly hear that song, and with the release of her second album she's put out two singles and both were played only on 96x (Yes I'm still listening to them, STOP YELLING AND THROWING TOMATOES AT ME!) "What the Water Gave Me" was hardly played, when it was it was like Pomegranate season had struck early. (for those who don't know you can only get Pomegranates during the fall, so for like three months and then they disappear) And then they released "Shake it off" Which is an amazing song and makes me want to sing and dance, but only 96x plays it and they hardly play it at all. They play it more than the latter but still not that much.

THANK FUCKING GOD! I can't resent hearing Florence Welch's voice too now!