... and for the record, that's pronounced "chunky." Apparently I made both the sound of a chicken and the sound of a money today. The combination of these is "chonky."
(sorry for mistakes in here. my eyes need a break)
It's been a long time. I've wanted to come in, but I've been really busy. When I haven't been busy, I've been too sleepy. I had a nice cup of coffee just a short time ago, though, and I'm ready to go.
It's been back to school for nearly three weeks now. Wow. Only two-and-a-half weeks to go! Some days in the past eight months have dragged on and on, but overall it's gone extremely quickly. A year from now it's off to the "real world." Ahhh!
I got over that horrible cold I had, and was back to being sick this week. I have no immune system, I'm telling ya. I've been feeling fine today so I'm thinkin' this one's over. My goal is to not get sick any more before the end of the [school] year.
There's really not much that's interesting to share, until I get to the Casino Rama talk.
Rose and I went to the school last Saturday for the VIP Day. That's the day when students who will be attending the school next year can come to check things out. Generally this is done duing the highschool March Break, but that fell on strike time this year. Talking to these students was my original college connection story idea but I had completed and submitted another story already. I did take photos, though. Crappy photos... but photos.
As can probably be seen, I got my computer back. The most difficult part of having it gone for me was the last week I was missing it. That was the first week back in classes after the strike. Being here and having no computer drove me insane. But it's back now. I love it! I'm not too sure what was wrong or what was done. It really wasn't explained to me. I do know it was under warranty, so I didn't have to pay. It's back and I hope nothing goes wrong ever again.
Eleven days until I'm 20. Yay! However, due to a mistake I made on BirthdayAlarm.com, everyone was sent an e-mail notifying them that my birthday was April 3. I guess I'll be celebrating for the full 20 days.
Okay, I guess that leaves Rama... goody! I'll try to make this as short as possible. Warning: It'll be long!
Yes, I had to miss nearly the whole first Friday back after the strike. I don't really like missing classes... but it was totally worth it. Two concerts - involving my favourite artist (Aaron Lines, for those who may not know already... haha) as well as his fan club party. Oh yeah!
Friday afternoon my mom and I picked up who friends at Peason Airport and headed to Rama. When we got there, we dropped our friends off at their hotel and went to our own -- where we met with the three friends we'd be staying with. We went out for dinner, and then to the casino to await the show.
Time... went... slowly. Mikelle was the first artist up. She's 16 and a very new artist. She may have a strong voice, but her show was, in my opinion... and that of everyone else I've spoken with... just plain ol' bad. She's so staged that it's nearly sickening. I really wasn't upset when she was done and left the stage.
Next was Aaron! I know I sound like a freak for being so excited, but it was the first time I had seen him in eight months (and that's the longest I've ever gone without one of his shows). I know I'm biased, but I loved it. Loved it! Ten songs seemed to fly right by. Everyone needs to see Aaron perform. I demand it! Haha. I really can't say more without driving anyone crazy.
The final performer was Jeffrey Steele. He's a songwriter/singer. He's written songs performed by artists such as Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins. I know most people who will see this aren't into country, but here's hoping at least one of those names rings a bell. Jeffrey was really great. He was having fun up there. So much fun, in fact, that he didn't know the red light meant he was to stop singing and he went on for nearly two hours!
The show was four hours long in all.
After it was over, my mom and I, and our three friends/roommates decided to go to the bar (at the casino) for a while instead of going right back to our hotel. We we joined later by the two friends we had picked up at the airport.
Not too long after we sat down, Aaron came down. He came over to us to chat for a couple minutes. I thought that was really nice. Instead of just a greetingin passing he actually stopped.
A while later, Jeffrey Steele came down. He said "hi" to us when he arrived. A lot of the band members also came down. We talked to Aaron's guitar player for a while. I wish I could remember his name, but I can't. I do know he said he's going to be the new guitar player for Hot Apple Pie. People may know their song "Hillbillies."
Before going back to our hotel, around 3 am, we went to say a quick "hello" to Jeffrey Steele, as the bar was pretty much empty by this time. We didn't want to bother him. Like I said, just a "hello." I didn't spend long enough with him to form a full opinion, but he seems to be a very nice person.
Friday night: an hour and a half of sleep.
Saturday was fan club party day. All five people in our room were up and ready by 11am... the party was at 1:30pm. By noon we were heading to the casino (that's where the party was held). Time to kill. My mom showed me how to lose money to slot machines... haha. I don't gamble, though.
One-thirty. Yay!
The party started off with just the fans in the room. We got to say "hi" to old friends we hadn't seen in a while, and meet new faces as well. It was really nice. After a while, Aaron came into the room. He joined in the mingling, walking around and talking with everyone.
A game was played called "How Well Do You Know Aaron Lines?" I'll admit that I knew every answer. Not because I'm "obsessed" b\but because I'm sick when it comes to trivia and facts and a lot of things. I remember things without even being sure where I heard them. Three attendees had their names chosen out of a bowl to play. I wasn't chosen, but it was a thrill even to watch the others compete.
After the game, there was a gift presentation for Aaron. Being that it was April 1, we had an April Fool's Day joke to play. One of the fans and her mother brought a very, very ugly shirt. It was wrapped and given to Aaron, said to be a gift from the fan club. He was told, before he opened it, that we would all be honoured if he wore it on stage that night for his performance. Then he opened it. As he was trying to find something to say, we all yelled "April Fools!"
The real gift was then presented. It included a digital camera and an engraved bowl for Aaron's new dog.
CMT Canada was in attendance, doing filming for an upcoming episode of their Top 20 Countdown. The show will air on April 21-23. At this point during the party, CMT wanted to do some filming with Aaron. We all sat behind Aaron and the host, Casey Clarke, as the interview was done. Near the end we were all standing right behind them. I was pretty much between Aaron and Casey back there, so who knows... I could make it to TV. That's frightening.
When CMT was done taping, Aaron performed four songs for us... and four new songs at that. The first was called "Let's Get Drunk and Fight." Aaron wrote it, but Tim McGraw actually performs it. It was a nifty song. Another, Somebody's Son, was amazing. Aaron said he wrote it after seeing a news story one night where a soldier had been killed. In the song, the narrator talks about that soldier being somebody's son and then going upstairs to see his own son (the narrator's son). It was heartbreaking. The other two songs were There Are The Days and You Still Love Me. Both nice songs.
The party ended with a meet and greet for all. Pictures, autographs, getting to chat with Aaron a bit more. He asked me if the teachers were still on strike, haha. He had heard about it from me when I e-mailed him during the strike to ask a question for the CD review I was planning to write. It ever got finished though.
I got to talk to Casey Clarke, as well as Tiffany. I had heard that Casey has a tendancy to be a bit rude, so I was surprised when he was really nice. Somehow the conversation got into me being away at school and in Journalism-Print... which is what Tiffany took. When I mentioned that I was frightened about the "real world" Casey looked me right in the eye and said, "You know what? You'll be just fine." It's amazing how great that can make one feel.
After going back to the hotel for a very short time - long enough for a drink... haha - my mom and I went back to the casino where we met up with some friends/fan club members. Our three roommates were going to another show in the area that night. We had dinner... but not before I had another drink (you'll see where this is going). Y'see, I didn't have breakfast or lunch and I dare say, for the first time in my life, that I was drunk. I nearly fell over when I took one corner while walking with my mom after dinner. Haha. Oh man. I have a low tolerance, apparently.
The show that night was the same - except Jeff Steele's set was shorter - so I won't go into that. I'll just say "yay!"
After the show a number of us met at the bar. We took up three tables and were really jammed in. Our three roommates came back from their show to join us. They had mentioned the bar to the artists they had gone to see - Gil Grand and Jake Matthews - and the guys showed up. Aaron came down as well, and chatted a bit again before going back with the other artists and band members (they had their own section this night). Jeff Steele came down later too, and Mikelle (16 and in a bar...?)
This night ended at 4am. We got to say goodbye to Aaron as he was leaving, because it happened to be the same time we were leaving.... coincidence, I swear.
Saturday night: an hour and a half of sleep.
It was a wonderful weekend. The best weekend I can ever remember. I had so much fun with friends and concerts that I will smile every time I think back to this weekend.
I guess all that's let is to share some photos:
Aaron and I at the party. Note the hockey jersey... it's my birthday present:
Casey Clarke and I at the party. He had been wearing a shirt that said "Aaron Lines #1 Fan" but changed before I got this pic:
Me wearing Aaron's shirt. We bid and won it at the party (proceeds to the Red Cross). I now have his socks and shirt... haha:
Aaron on Saturday night:
Jeff Steele on Saturday night:
All Aaron on Saturday: http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brcpammy2001/album?.dir=fa97&.src=ph
All Aaron Fan Club Party: http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brcpammy2001/album?.dir=852a&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brcpammy2001/my_photos
All Jeff on Saturday: http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brcpammy2001/album?.dir=59c3&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brcpammy2001/my_photos
