Reel Big Fish Interview!!

Me: How did you guys all form together?

RBF: Well, it’s been years in the making, some sort of process.

Me: How did you guys meet each other though?

RBF: I knew this guy in high school. He played trombone.

Me: Did you play together in a band in high school?

RBF: Yeah, we played in marching band.
We starting playing rock music together, too. For fun, in a bedroom and a friend of ours played drums.

Me: So, how did you name the band?
RBF: Well, the band name, its not a very exciting story, but the band name originated from the guys who first started the band. Aaron barrett, Matt wong, the two founding members. They wanted to call the band The Fisher Kings because there was a movie called the fisher king with Robert Williams, Jeff bridges.

That dreamy jeff bridges!

But they had made a demo, the very first demo for the band was called Reel Big Fish. And the more demos that started circulating around orange county, people just thought that was the name of the band, so they kind of got stuck with the name. and…

Its worked out okay!

And so here we are...

Its much better than the fisher kings!

So the name was a happy accident....

Watch the rest of the interview here. There are even some inherently awkward moments that make the interview just that much more interesting! So, check it out!!!!!

Reel Big Fish Concert- January 20, 2011

Hey Guys!

Tonight was an event composed of rowdy crowds, crazy people and lots of loud music. Although it's not the experience I am used to- I loved it. The energy that each of the four bands brought fourth was incredible to say the least.

First, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, which I have to admit is a new favorite of mine, came out playing a song which sounded something like a "rock'n' roll" alphabet. With the 4 members of the band wearing matching black sweatsuits, they were adorable! The crowd loved them even more when they threw out a huge circular rainbow pad which blanketed the crowd. Koo Koo Kanga Roo's take on child's music made for a time of dancing, screaming and jumping.

Next up was Suburban Legends. While they were both loud energetic, the songs were slower than Koo Koo Kanga Roo's which downed the overall mood. With that said, most of the crowd had no problem slamming themselves into each other and screaming on the top of their lungs.

After a bit of a break, the favored Aquabats took the stage upon all fans flashing up their Aquabats hand sign. Wearing matching purple spandex shirts and black shorts with grey belts, the Aquabats made the fans wild. At this time, I decided I needed to escape the madness in the center of the pit.

After much, much anticipation, Reel Big Fish took the stage. Aaron Barrett, lead singer, took the stage in a colorful Hawaiian shirt and sported his famous sideburns. Standing from up above, it was clear to see how pumped up the crowd was over RBF. The energy they brought to the stage was incredible and made me want to dance!

Oh, and before that I got to sit down and talk to a few members of RBF, but to read that, you guys will have to stick around and wait for the great answers they gave us. Let's just say that we spoke about babies and Hannah Montana came up. It was very interesting.

( Pictures coming later, too!)

Overall, Koo Koo Kanga Roo and Reel Big Fish were my two favorites, and I think the crowd's favorites as well. All the bands brought energy to the stage and left a mark in my mind. For anyone who is considering seeing any of these bands in the future, I give you two pieces of very helpful advice: 1- Wear closed toe shoes, 2- Prepare to dance and have an AMAZING time- singing and screaming AND dancing!

Congratulations, you survived the first week of school! (:

Lets face it, school can be a drag. Especially the first few weeks when you have to get back into the school routine. Congratulations, you survived the first week of school! Now its getting through the next 170 days that will be a challenge. Here are some of the many tricks I use to help me get into the school routine.

1. Try to get ALL of your homework done on Friday. That way you won't have to worry about it for the rest of the weekend and you can party and relax without worrying.

2. Do ALL of your homework so that you don't make enemies with your teachers. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot!

3. Even if you really really dislike a teacher, don't let it show. You don't want a teacher you dislike to dislike you.

4. Don't go to bed too late! On the weekends TRY to go to sleep at 1 AM and wake up at 10 AM at the latest. This way when your alarm clock goes off at 6 AM on Monday morning you'll be prepared.

5. And finally, pray that a tropical storm comes so we get a few days off of school!

Avoidance does Bring Deliverance

             So everyone and your mother thinks that they can tell you about how to meet the perfect guy, how to keep him, and even who your perfect guy is. I don't want to do that. If you're reading this blog, chances are I don't know you personally. (If I do, let's pretend I don't, alright? Thanks :D)
             Almost exactly two years ago, I was sick and tired of guys. I'd dated a couple, done the whole "are we or aren't we" dance, and found it all too drama-filled for my lifestyle. It's exhausting, right? I decided that boys were no longer a priority, and I'd just focus on being with my friends and having fun.
             Giving up on love/lust, depending on what you're looking for, may seem like the antithesis of getting it. In reality, it actually is the way I found it, and believe that anyone can. When you are "trolling" for a significant other, every single potential mate is scrutinized by your eye and their attributes are weighed the instant you get a glimpse. Any potential flaws are deal breakers. To tell you the truth, you may learn to love that crooked smile, or go crazy for the out-of-control waves in his hair.
              Less than a week after my male-free declaration, my friend I hadn't seen in forever invited me to the movies to save her from boredom. When I got there, a ton of people I didn't know were there, including this guy who I immediately forgot about. We went out to dinner after, and we were all in different tables, but this guy wouldn't stop staring at me! I whispered to my friend, who I was engaging in a talk-as-fast-as-we-can-to-catch-up-on-everything-we-missed-athon with, that he was scaring me. She said it was no big deal, but then he started to follow us while we talked. I was ignoring him, and just kept chattering away.
              After I left, he finagled my number and started texting me. This guy was so odd, but it seemed like he knew everything about me. He knew exactly what made me laugh, and even almost figured out my biggest secret I had told one person in the world. I was so confused about him, because he would say I was beautiful but that he didn't want to date.
              Fast-forward to now, and I've been dating him for 23 months today. We've had our roller coasters at times, but to be honest, it's been mostly smooth. He gets me, even if that is as cliché as can be. All my friends love him, and he takes care of me better than I ever could. Had I been looking for someone, he would've never even begun to register on my radar. He was NOT my type at all, so different from the guy I had dated previously. But when I thought about my perfect guy, my boyfriend Matt did meet every single requirement without me ever realizing it.
              What I mean to say is that guys (or girls, if the opposite applies) notice when you are checking them out. At the same time, you checking them out may be misconstrued by your facial expression. Have you ever seen a guy look at like you as if you were an alien creature, or a girl who looked completely uncomfortable and awkward? Chances are, you weren't attracted to them or inclined to start up a conversation with them.
              So STOP being on the prowl for a new boyfriend or girlfriend; It's way too much work, stress, and is unnecessary. It may even act as a deterrent at times. Love or like will hit you at the most unexpected moments, that's the way Mother Nature planned it. And she's one mother I always listen to.

Do you guys know that feeling you get when you see a scary movie (and I'm talking about a REALLY scary movie: like, one that you can't stop thinking about for the next couple of days) and it freaked you out so much that you're scared to go to sleep because you're afraid of what you're gonnna dream about? Well, I'm having that feeling right this second: but it's not because I just saw a Goosebumps Movie (not gonna lie-those are the scariest movies ever) it's because I went on my first Ghost Tour. I've never been on one before but I've seen ads and they seemed kinda cheesy but I figured, I'm in New Orleans- why not? Dear Lord, this city makes Goosebumps Movies look like "Playtime with Barney"! Every single building has like some sort of haunting to it: it's the creepiest thing ever! Ad our tour guide, unfortunely,looked a little creepy himself (little bit like Charles Manson)and had like this deep, throaty voice that just listening to him talk about the weather would give you the chills, let alone ghost stories. So for anyone that hasn't been on a ghost tour yet, let me explain to you what it was like. First everyone on the tour gathers around in a circle and the Charles Manson tour guide gives you a sticker and takes a head count in his creepy voice. Oh and by the way, the whole tour you're standing and walking around in the pitch black because the streets are lit up only by these spooky lanterns. So we start following the tour guide and he comes to his first house which is like this red brick apartment and we stand outside of it as he tells the story of this lady who died in the attic and now haunts the place. And after that he moves on and we visit, like, eleven buildings and everything is just a tad eerie as goes on and on in his creepy voice, but I wasn't really scared until we were about three houses from the end of the tour and we came up this huge, empty mansion and launchs into the scariest story I've ever heard in my whole entire life. I'm not going to go into details right now on this blog and make everyone pee their pants out of fear but if you really want to know the story, just google "The Lalaurie Mansion". You won't be able to sleep for a week. The house is for sale, too, if anyone's interested in moving (actually, Nicholas Cage owned the house before he went into his whole bankrupcy thing. It was bankrupcy, right?) Also, it wasn't just the story that scared me out of my mind, it was the house. Has anyone ever passed by or entered a house where they just got an overall creepy feeling? Almost like a pins and needles feeling in your limbs. Well, that feeling was pulsing through me when we came up to that house. I don't know what it was, but there were definitely creepy vibes coming from inside that house. And since it was a part vampire tour as well, the tour guide brought us to like two houses that were supposedly haunted by vampires, and I'd just like you to know that those houses have made me a true believer in vampires. Okay I have to stop writing about this because my arms are covered in goosebumps now and there's this really scary closet right across from me that's all dark and I kinda want to go to bed so I don't have to look at it anymore.

Cruising The Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise-line's newest ship, The Epic, truly exemplified its name.

Dining whenever and wherever was a breeze, and not worrying about dressing fancy was quite perfect. The views from the very top of the tallest cruise ship in the world were simply incredible, and the lovely animal shaped towels placed neatly on our beds were just so welcoming. A tight squeeze it was, but a cozy one, indeed.

Late night strobe lights lit up the sky, making any passing ship envious. The oceans largest T.V. attracted the guests' attention, especially during the

FIFA World Cup Finals. Can't forget the worlds largest LED chandelier ever created!

Heads turned as the Bahamian pilot guided the massive ship into the island's port, careful not to hit the much smaller cruise ships only feet away. The parade welcomed The Epic, for it was its first time in the Caribbean (This was actually only its second voyage after being constructed in The Netherlands). The entertainment was just spectacular and the crew members were top notch. Not one day at sea was at all uneventful; the entire week was a blast on The Epic!

The Epic's size (on the far right) compared to the size of the other three ships.

A Day In The Life Of A Dog

Have you ever wondered what your dog does on a daily basis but were too busy to observe every second of his or her life? Well, luckily for you, I took time out of my busy schedule to do exactly that.

My dog, Biscuit, (pictured above) usually wakes up around the same time as my mom does. You should be informed that my dog and my mother are attached at the hip, so it would make sense that since they sleep together, they would wake up together as well. After my mom musters up enough of her strength to get out of bed in the morning, she takes Biscuit for a long walk around the neighborhood, where Biscuit eventually meets up with a couple of her furry friends, namely Millie (an adorable mutt) and Jazzy (a gorgeous dachshund that lives right around the bend). After roughhousing with her canine companions, it's time to head back home.

Biscuit grudgingly and reluctantly goes back into the house and immediately forages for her manila toy bone and her favorite tennis ball. After about a half an hour of playtime later, Biscuit's ears start to perk up as she turns her tiny head in the direction of the kitchen. She knows it's time for breakfast and, judging by the symphonies of cans being unscrewed and paper bags being pried open, it looks like Biscuit will be having the usual: liver-flavored wet food and just a handful of dry kibble. She rushes over to the kitchen counter and can barely stifle her yelps of excitement as she watches my mom back away from the metlic food bowl that has now been placed on the floor within Biscuit's reach.

After Biscuit gobbles up her first meal of the day, she knows it that time of the day again: relaxation time. Now this is the part where everything gets a little boring. She cuddles up in her favorite spot on the couch and begins to take a nap. Hey, whoever said it's a dog's life wasn't lying. Not long after Biscuit wakes up from her catnap (oh, the irony) does she have to go to the bathroom yet again. After a quick walk, it's time for my sister, Sage, to come home from camp. As soon as Sage walks through the door, Biscuit excitedly runs up to her, tail wagging, and starts to lick every inch of Sage's face clean. After the initial shock of Sage coming home from camp starts to wear down, Biscuit cheerfully frolicks nack to her couch and continues sleeping until dinnertime.

For dinner, Biscuit enjoys a nice chicken-flavored kibble while a much more appetizing dinner is being seved for the rest of the family. We all gather around the television after dinner has been eaten, Biscuit inluded. Before we know it, almost three hours has passed us by and it is almost time for bed. Sage and I get ready for bed and soon fall asleep, all the while Biscuit lies down with my mom and dad until they fall asleep as well, Biscuit anticipating what tomorrow will bring for her and her family.