turn the radio up, push the pedal to the ground...

So.  HANSON.  Where to begin???


My lifeblood, AKA, my 2 sisters and travelmates for this trip.   We made a "no negative energy" pact for the trip and I think we were quite successful.  I think I may put this into action for any future trips I take.  I think we forget how much stress comes with driving, driving instructions, meeting hotel check-ins, finding restaurants, getting to places in-time, and all in a strange city.  And we're supposed to be having a good time?  Luckily there was very little of that, and for what we did have, one of us would say "stop.  Stay positive.  it's HANSON!!!".

We are the three best friends that anyone could have...

 

Casino Regina had an actual show room, versus Winnipeg's Casinos, which just utilize the bingo stage (and close it off from the rest of the casino) for their shows.  Say what you will about a band you love having to play a casino instead of a music-specific venue, but think of the pros:

• Lots of security on-site
• new venue=great sound
• non-sticky floors
• CLEAN BATHROOMS

Security told me ahead of time that if I wanted to stand/dance, I'd have to do so on either side of the stage as to not block anyone's view.  Well, as soon as Rach and I got up to dance, a few people at a time joined us until we kind of spilled out to the center of the room, and then all rules were thrown out the window.  Despite starting the dance party, R and I didn't end up quite at the front.  Rather, we were behind two flippy-hair girls--you know, those girls with mid-back length hair that instead of pulling back their hair, rotate their entire head as to hit the person behind them?  Yeah, those girls.


As part of Hanson's Musical Ride Tour, fans were given the chance to vote on what Hanson album they wanted to hear live...and Middle of Nowhere was chosen.  Though I did want to hear Underneath, it was still awesome to hear MON, in its entirety!  With You In Your Dreams?  A Minute Without You?  Thinking of You!  that's Gold, Jerry!


Here are the keepers:

I just don't like moustaches.

See shirt: done.

portrait!

squee!

 Solid other awesome Regina activities:

• Riding in H's friend's retro VW Bus
• Meeting new babies and kidders
• Brunch --with Eggs Benedict--and  Free Bird (Brewster's--they like playing classic rock, even at 11am on a Sunday!)
• "Swag Swag" and Troll sing-alongs

We've gotten word that Wide Mouth Mason will be in Regina in November...anyone in???

waiting for this

Ok, yesterday was just weird.  I did manage to squeeze in some extra special nail polishin', just in time for the weekend. 

Cute, huh?  My toes are the same--though my right hand is not.  I've learned over the years that my left hand is just not as steady at stuff like painting tiny designs on the opposite hand.  See here for my reference point: That's right.  Hanson.  Live and electric (or at least for most of their set), TOMORROW.  the fangirl inside me is squeeing so hard right now.

Anyways, back to yesterday:  So I'm a pretty fairweather commuter cyclist, but since I only bought bus tickets (vs. a limitless bus pass) I was determined to use as few as them as possible, and decided to bike to work despite the pretty crappy weather--rained all night, bike was soaked, and it was super humid and muddy.  But it wasn't quite raining, so I put my rain jacket (that I've barely even worn--oh yeah, we've pretty much had a drought all summer!) in my basket and away I go.

Well, luckily I keep a towel in my work desk drawer to wipe my face down after a ride, because I also needed it for my legs which were covered in little gobs of mud.

Fastforward to leaving job #1 for job #2 and I realize that I don't remember bringing in my jacket when arriving at work.  Which means it was lost in downtown Winnipeg on busy commuter streets.  Which also means there is no way in hell I am getting it back.  I considered riding up and down the streets I took on the way to work, but with the murder of crows (read: bumbling drunk downtown dwellers) that were congregated by one of my intersections, I said farewell to my jacket and came home.

This terrible experience did have a silver lining (not white, like my jacket's lining): attached to my bike basket was a note, scribbled out on an old cigarette package saying "just wanted to let you know that your front wheel's forks are backwards" with an illegible signature.  Since I have no idea what forks on a bike are, I asked another cyclist that happened to be unlocking his bike at the same stand--my WHEEL has been on backwards.  And since I haven't changed it since purchase, that means Canadian Tire put the wheel on that way.  I managed to change it around right then and there, and it seemed to ride much better after that.  Boy do I feel like a n00b.  But how awesome is it that some stranger took the time to write me a note to let me know about my wheel?  Friendly Manitoba comes to life.

Quite possibly the worst part of yesterday (there's more?)  was my shift at a certain witchy musical.  One person in particular happened to take the name of the musical to heart in her dealings with Ticketmaster, which was most unfortunate.  No, you cannot pick up your husband's tickets, because that is technically credit card fraud.  I don't care if you can use it online to buy stuff, it is still fraud.  Oh, he is coming tonight, just parking the car?  Well then hang tight for 10 minutes.  She did hang tight for 10 minutes alright, but her husband never came to my window.  She stayed there, ranting and raving, filling up the air around us with negative energy and threatening me.  Luckily everyone behind her heard EVERYTHING and were especially nice to me!

So I'm hoping that my weekend ends up a bit more happy than yesterday, and how can it not?  Being with my 2 sisters=2 best friends that anyone can have, one of my favourite bands, road trip, EAST SIDE MARIO's.

Have a good long weekend, friends!

Wish List

Concerts:
Hanson - Once is not enough for this band, and seeing a band alone is very different from going with friends, especially those who are also fans of a band. Not to mention I was under the weather in a strange city (Vancouver). and OH MY GOD I JUST FOUND OUT THEY'RE PLAYING REGINA. REGINA, of all places, in September! Road trip with little sister???

Wide Mouth Mason - Last show was June, 2010, and I need a live renewal from these guys at least once a year! I have trouble listening to all of their recorded stuff, especially the Live @ Montreaux record, without knowing when I will see them again, just so darn GOOD!

Miscellaneous:
Merlotte's T-Shirt - Oooooh yeah.
Basket for my bicycle
Euro Trip - I'm thinking, next spring? before the 2012 Olympics? We'd be beating the rush!
more blog ideas!

Don't have use for words anyway...

Has it seriously been 3 months? I do actually go to my blog several times a week, to check if my friends update their blogs, but I haven't had the motivation to update my own.

I am graduated! well, convocation is on June 2nd, but I passed everything and I tentatively have my B.Comm (Hons.). Whoohoo!

These last few months have been a whirlwind of activity, from finishing up this term (which was one of the toughest of my school career), working 3 jobs at a time (Teaching Assistant, Karaoke Host, Box Office Agent), seeking full-time employment (still looking; it will come!), and joining a Rolling Stone cover band (as backup singer). It has been a nice change to be able to focus simply on the cover band, finding a job, working a single job.

Yesterday marked an epic evening in terms of GREATEST SOCIAL EVER! All the golden oldies we like to hear, live bands, parents dancing (specifically, my own), and lots of great get-down dancing. Erin, you missed a goodie: I'll just have to try to repeat its epicness at a future social.

This summer is shaping up to look really good: Danko Jones tomorrow, ZZTop (with WIDE MOUTH MASON!!!) in June, Rock on the Range (Arkells, Trews, Danko Jones) in August, and HANSON in September (going to Vancouver!)

I am landlocked

Darn you, Hanson, for only coming as close as Minneapolis in your fall tour! if I had SOME money right now instead of being up to my elbows in debt, I'd totally hit that. Here's hoping they decide to add some Canadian dates: specifically, Winnipeg. I bought tix for JET, who are coming to Winnipeg--going with all my in-laws (mother, father, brother), but curiously not the boyfriend.

The first week (Well, first day) of school went about as good as could be imagined...except for my room mix-up for my first class--luckily, I realized it was the wrong room before the prof closed the door! I think I'm on track with the readings so far, even though it takes me a ridiculous long time to read anything as I'm distracted with Doogie Howser, M.D., How I Met Your Mother, and keeping up with my other stories. Though,I haven't started reading my textbook for Computer Usage 2 yet...I bought it new for $122 and then discovered I could use an older edition, hello $38 on Ebay! I didn't want to wrinkle any pages knowing I'd be returning it. I have started reading the notes for the class though. Whoot for Powerpoint and secure FTP sites.

I lucked out with my TA shifts and I only have to be in the labs on the days I have classes (Tue/Thur), which maximizes my chances for shifts at TM. That is excellent, as I have to maintain/increase my hours in order to eliminate my debt. Sigh. Hopefully, the number of events in October, November, and December will be good to me.

Time for bed, second day of school tomorrow! Rise and shine at 9am