Happy Friggin' Holidays!

Maybe it is the holidays that have me feeling sour, but lately I feel like crawling into a hole and not coming out until spring.

I feel like I am under so much pressure from school, work, the band, and my boyfriend, that I would love to just pack up and leave it all behind (I would have to bring my cat with me, of course) and start over. One of the reasons is I am an introvert. It stresses and wears me out to have to be nice and chipper all the time to total strangers. Then, when it comes time to hang out with loved ones, I am a total bitch and anti-social. Most mornings I do not want to get out of bed. Then I think to myself, "At least I have a bed to get out of," and that helps. Then I start thinking more Republican and sometimes think to myself, "Screw everyone else. It is their own problem they don't even have a bed to get out of. They have the ability to get a job and buy their own bed to get out of!" Then I hate myself for thinking that. It makes me sick to think that way.

I have always had this desire to save the world, and then I remember that charity begins at home. It bums me out that I do not make enough money to fulfill all the wishes on my adopt-a-family list, yet. I believe, though, that by reaching out to one's community and helping a few families who are no different than mine and providing presents along with a holiday meal for these families, that maybe, when the kids and their parents open their presents this Christmas morning and they get everything they asked for, they will want to "pay it forward," when they realize that total strangers, their fellow man, cares about them and is thinking about them this holiday season.
That is how to save the world.

Coca-Cola's Best Un-Signed Band Award

I would like to congratulate some friends of mine, who were runners up in this competition, in which the winner plays live at the American Music Awards.

Congratulations to Clint Wilson, who is the guitar player for the band Just Add Water. Clint and I played together for almost four years in Radiogram and did two DOD tours together. He is a swell guy and can make any guitar sing. Yes, Clint, I know, "you and I are gypsies and more people hate us than like us."

Congratulations to Tom Wehrle, who was in high school show choir with me and was blamed for toilet-papering the sleeping choir director while in Chicago for a competition. Tom comes from a family of talented musicians. Okay, Tom, "step-touch, step-touch...."

I was pleasantly surprised to find both of you on the runners up list at the American Music Awards site.

I think I will throw an entry in next year.

"Peter"

Fellas, please do not rub up against my leg when you talk to me, unless you are someone hot, like Vince D'Onofrio or Hugh Laurie, okay? Gross! If you are on my list of actors who I deem to be hot, then it's okay, but make sure you are on the "list" first, okay? If you think you might be on the "list," you are not, so do not bother.

*Some names have been changed so that the stupid do not file a lawsuit.

Men, when you are desperate to pick up a chick in a bar, it is never a good idea to break the ice by saying, "So, what's with the hair?"
"Peter" made this grave error. I no longer feel like a bitch when an idiot comes up to me, looking to score by throwing his income in my face, especially when he is as socially inept as "Peter."
My pick-up lines for men in bars are, "Hey baby, what's your tax bracket?" and "So, do you file on time?"
Funny, I have not had to use one of these lines yet.
If I were not in a five-year relationship, I would go back to looking for my deaf-mute man. I am still young, though, and there is still time.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah--"Peter."

So, Peter comes up to me in my 1980s garb and 1980s style blonde wig and asks, "So, what's with the hair?" I said, "What do you mean?" Peter said, "No, really, what's with the hair?" I replied, "No, really, what do you mean?" Peter said, "Is that hard to do your hair like that?" I said, "No. Not really. I just take it out of the bag and put it on." Peter said, "Oh, so that's not your real hair?" I answered, "Well, underneath the wig is my real hair, but no, it's a wig. So, what's your excuse?" Peter took the burn well. He went on to tell me that he works for Monsanto. I said, "Oh, cool. Do you genetically engineer plants or do you do other bio-tech type of work? You guys do good things over there." He said, "No. I'm an architect. My friends were supposed to meet me here, and they never showed up." "Your co-workers?" I asked. "No," he said, "I just met them at another bar and they said they were leaving to come here." Poor Peter. I was very irritated at this point, because I was vocally tired from lack of sleep and I did not feel like screaming over loud subs, plus I could not hear him unless I got real close. Moreover, my co-workers did show up and I was trying to visit with them, only Peter took it upon himself to sit with all of us and would not let me speak to them. He said, "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to talk to you." I explained the whole vocally tired thing and said I try not to talk a lot on breaks. I have to mention, too, that my stalker was there and saw me talking to Peter. Well, he had to come over and say something, too and let himself be known to Peter, like Peter has competition or something. I finally got up and moved closer to my co-workers. The whole pretending to be a lesbian thing did not work on Peter, either, I have to add. Before I got up to move, Peter asked, "So, do you like the ocean?" Do I like the ocean? What sort of question is that? Which ocean? I searched for some smart-ass remark, with no avail. The best thing I could come up with was, "Yes. I like all of them. I like the Red, Adriatic, and Aegean seas, as well."
My co-workers and I watched Peter make several failed attempts at picking up other chicks, or anything that walked. It was depressing. He said he was married at one time, to a beautiful woman, but she left him. I wonder why? I am sorry, guys, all the money in the world can not make up for lack of personality. Maybe he could design a personality? It is too bad my transvestite friends were not there that night. My friend Amy said she wanted to remember Peter and tried to get his picture. At least I got a Heineken out of him.
To "Peter": May you find a gorgeous, gold-digging wife, who will sleep with you from time-to-time and never leave you.
Here, here!

Happy Birthday, Blog & You Know You're a Rock Star When...

First off, I want to wish my blog a happy belated birthday. I did my first post on November 10, 2004. Little did I know that night I would have a run-in with the Karaoke Queen-Nazi and the stage mom from hell. Actually, it was my friend Heather who had the run-in. I just sat there and bit my tongue and thought evil thoughts. Now, just to spite the girl, I encourage sing-alongs at every show.

2005 continues to be a crazy year. The band started going more glam by wearing wigs, and everyone has just about perfected his or her rock god/goddess attitude. We learned that if we think we're "it," everyone in the audience is fooled. Gig after gig keeps coming our way, and we have quite a diverse following, from all age groups. The band was voted St. Louis' Best Cover Band 2005. (We're not a cover band, we're a tribute band! Just kidding.) It is time to step up our game, though, and between the day jobs, school, and playing three to four nights a week, we hope to find time to add to the stage show. This gig has been and continues to be so good for me as a performer. My only regret is that it takes away from my song writing. I have a feeling that on my next day off, my soul will explode and all these lyrics and music will come pouring out--Or not. Gross!

I also miss my friends. I did not get a chance to get out to Los Angeles or San Francisco to see two of my best friends, Kim and Scott. I did, however, get to catch up with Kim while she was in town.

I went back to school full-time in January of 2005. I enrolled in Lindenwood University's LCIE program, where I earn nine credit hours in a twelve-week period, only I go to school for four hours, one night a week. I LOVE IT!

My five-year relationship has been on the rocks this whole year, unfortunately. My boyfriend and I have really worked at our relationship, though, and I am amazed at all the changes that an unmarried couple, who does not live together,can go through in five years. We did take a wonderful trip to New York City in May and I bought us tickets to Spamalot. We watched the show from eight rows back. What a high!

I bought my own domain, jeniharris.com, but I am still developing the site. I also bought a piano and wrote many new tunes. I managed to lay down some scratch parts on some tunes, as well. I also bought a new laptop and it has been a big help when doing homework. I need a high-speed connection, now. I have also been condo-hunting, but I guess it all boils down to the fact that I do not want to live here in Missouri for much longer.

I accomplished many goals this year, learned some valuable lessons, and improved my public speaking skills. I learned to function and be sociable on less than five hours of sleep. I failed to accomplish other goals, but such is life. The grass is always greener, but I am where I am supposed to be, I suppose. I look forward to what new joys and pains 2006 will bring. AND NOW...

You Know You're A Rock Star When...

-Your relationship(s) is on the rocks

-You have your own stalker

Yes, I have my own stalker, now. Isn't that wonderful?--NOT!

My Heart Sank Today

Deadly explosions rock Jordan hotels Explosions hit three hotels in the Jordanian capital Wednesday night, and at least 18 people were killed. http://g.msn.com/0MN2ET7/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9979747&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Amman, Jordan for four days in December of 2000.

Amman is a great city and the people a super friendly as well as diverse. I remember taking a cab down to the city center, where my band mates and I got to climb all over a Roman (most likely) amphitheater. It was the Muslim holiday of Eid, the end of Ramadan, and kids where everywhere. Kids came up to my band mates and I and wanted to touch us and hug us. A few little ones came up to me, shook my hand, giggled, then ran away, then came back up to me again. Maybe they thought I looked like Queen Rania? (In my dreams, maybe.)

There was a great Irish pub there where the bartender let my friends and I have a tab for several days. He did not not know us from Adam, but he trusted us just the same.

The location at the Grand Hyatt where the bomb exploded was near the hotel lobby, in an open bar/restaurant area. The guys and I ate breakfast in that area, which had an enormous picture window and a magnificent view of the city, on several occasions. The bartender made great "breakfast" Bloody Marys. To give an idea of how the lobby is set up, when you walk in the revolving doors, the bell stand and reception desk is on the right. There are some shops to the left (which sell beautiful dishes). I think the meeting rooms are to the left as well. Straight ahead is a beautiful, open sitting area, where we sat many mornings and evenings, waiting for our ride to the Embassy.

(I started the above post on November 9)

I remember our representative from the US Embassy in Jordan telling us to avoid large crowds and my band mates and I were always vigilante when on the Middle Eastern tours. This was in 2000, long before the World Trade Center, but we were the first band out since the attack on the USS Kohl (forgive me if I spelled that wrong), so all bases and embassies were on high alert.

Amman was one of my favorite stops on that tour. I am having problems posting some pictures of our room at the Grand Hyatt and of me outside my favorite schwarma stand,but with some luck the pics will be added by the time anyone looks at this entry.

Kudos to the Jordanians for rallying against terrorism!

My Date for the Rocky Horror Picture Show

I had the best time on Saturday, out on a date with--Guess who--ME!

Saturday morning I had to go on a field trip for my Natural Sciences cluster. We went to the Weldon Spring Site. The site is an area that once covered four small towns, including Toonerville and Hamburg, Missouri. The towns were bought out and a WWI TNT and DNT manufacturing site was built. Then, a Uranium plant took its place when the war was over. One day in the 1960s, the Uranium plant was abandoned. For thirty years, the site stood empty, potentially contaminating the ground water source of St. Charles, MO.

A huge cell was built to store millions of tons of hazardous and radioactive wastes. The area around the cell was restored, natural prairie grasses planted, and a museum dedicated to helping visitors understand what once stood in that location, was built.

That night, I went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show by myself. I had a great time. The show sold out all four-hundred and fifty seats at the Tivoli theater. I sat by myself near the back, but the folks who ended up sitting by me were cool. I never found Jenn, but I learned later that she got auctioned off. I had no idea she was a virgin! The virgins out numbered the non-virgins, by the way. It is so cool that a thirty-year-old movie can still sell out every Friday and Saturday night. I cannot think of a more fun movie to see. The virgins' reactions like, "That was weird," and "I've never seen anything like that before!" are always great to hear. I know when I saw the movie for the first time last year, I thought to myself, "This is the greatest thing I've ever seen!"

There is something just spectacular about a fifty-foot Tim Curry!

Photos:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/guitargirl63376/album?.dir=108f&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Going "Stag" to Rocky Horror

The older I get, the more I love to go places by myself.

Due to my boyfriend getting a wonderful gig with Bob Kuban, I will be attending the RHPS by myself, this weekend, except I won't totally be by myself. (Do you hear that, stalkers?)Besides, it's not like I am going some place where I have nothing in common with the folks around me, right? I have met a lot of cool people from my single outings.

Actually, it turns out a gal who always comes to my 80s gigs with a ton of friends is going on Saturday, as well. I got her cell# and I said I'd look for her. She and her friends who come to my shows are a few years younger than I am, but they are super cool. I used to hang out with folks who were older than me when I was twenty-one. It's just odd that I am the elder, now.

Now, what to do about my Magenta costume...