Upon attending yet another concert tomorrow (Britney Spears), I’ve decided to write down what I think is vital to bring to both one day ventures, and overnight concert ventures! These are my concert necessities, and you can edit them as you wish with what you would need and what you wouldn’t need. Males, these items may or may not apply to you, so my apologies in advance!
One night ventures in town, or close to home (not staying overnight):
If I’m attending a concert and returning home the same evening, I pack pretty lightly. Here’s my necessities for the road:
Wallet with ID, insurance (health and vehicle)
Camera (digital will always be the best for the simple fact you don’t have to bring rolls and rolls of film, thanks technology!)
Make up for touch ups (if necessary, I usually just bring a lipgloss or longwear lip color)
Small purse that will hold your necessities
Money, of course! What if you want a drink, or some merchandise, or to go out to eat after the show?
Breath mints — if you’re drinking and plan on meeting anyone, you don’t want to be breathing beer all over someone. It’s never attractive, and your concert-going friends will appreciate it. Never gum; gum creates more saliva which will make your breath smell worse — plus it’s pretty vile stuff, and nobody wants to watch you chew like a cow. Sorry!
A tiny wrist purse that fits your camera, a lipstick, powder (optional, I rarely bring one), your ID and money! I hate walking around with a purse when I go out, and I have this tiny purple Liz Claiborne that I take with me when I go out even just to the bars. It’s less to keep track of and super easy
MUSIC! You’ll need something to listen to in the car, so make sure you pack your CDs, your Zune, or your iPod to boogie down.
Concert ventures out of town, returning the same night!:
This is mainly what I attend; I live in a town in Iowa which has but one real concert hall downtown, and other than that it’s just small ventures at bars. I typically have to drive anywhere from 45 minutes to 5 hours to attend the shows I’m going to, and I fully support anyone who wants to do the same.
Repeat items from list 1.
Bag with comfy clothes for the return home.
Snacks & beverages.
If you’re going to be driving for a few hours, a blanket and a pillow are nice just in case you want to pull over for a nap, or if you’re alternating who will be driving.
MAKE UP for touch ups. I often do my make up in the car or at a rest stop before the show if it’s a multiple hour drive.
Clothes for the following day (days), pajamas. Don’t forget socks, other shoes if you want, and undies of course! A bathing suit, just in case your hotel has a pool and you want to go swimming.
Snacks & beverages.
Your own blanket and pillow for a comfy car ride.
Shower and bathroom supplies! Hotels often have low quality shampoo and conditioner, and you’ll of course want to bring your face wash and facial moisturizer to make sure you’re lookin’ good! www.specialtybottle.com is great, you can purchase small travel sized bottles for to put some of these items in so you don’t have to take the whole bottle. I think it’s a huge necessity to invest in. They’re great for vacations and any trip you go on! A razor is great for leg shaving if you plan on going swimming in a hotel pool, or wearing something that exposes your legs. Ew to prickly legs!
Cosmetics. Get a small case from your local beauty store to put what you know you’ll use: foundation, concealer, mascara, eyeshadow & base, but don’t overdo it. Just bring your necessities and your favorites! I have a small train case I keep packed with the stuff I need and it fits nicely on the floor on the back seat of the car, and keeps my stuff safe!
Of course, for any of these, don’t forget your tickets (unless you’re at will call, or on the guest list, and even then you’ll need an ID and the card you purchased the tickets with)!
I’ll take some pictures and upload them to TwitPic as I’m going to Britney Spears tomorrow so you can see what I’m taking. We’ll be driving 4 hours to Chicago and returning the same night!
I was completely afraid of what would happen with the “Nightmare On Elm Street” remake, especially considering it’s produced by the same fools who did “Friday the 13th,” which was mostly terrible. But, I’m pleased to announce is Jackie Earle Haley. Yep, Rorsache from “Watchmen.” Realistically, I didn’t like “Watchmen.” The only character I felt anything for was Rorschach, and everyone else lacked depth that was showcased in the graphic novel.
But, he got himself another great role that he will definitely bring justice to. Freddy Krueger! The Nightmare series is probably my favorite slasher series of all time (with “Halloween” at a close second), and I feel considerably less afraid than I was a couple of months ago prior to this announcement.
Now we just have to wait and see who they pick for Nancy. I’m still slightly shaking in my boots!
I’ve heard it’s going to be a lot darker, and they’ll be filming in Chicago. Maybe I’ll try to sneak my way to the set to see what happens!
I put up my research blogs right over there in a Blog-Roll in the right-hand column! Check them out freely, and they will be updated as new research is exposed!
I’m watching Tyra Banks, as I often do when I’m home in the afternoon, and learning that many teens are peer pressuring their friends into having sex — to lose their virginity at an absurdly early age.
I’m 24, and while I enjoy sex, I wish I would have saved my virginity. Sex may be appealing, but it doesn’t create a relationship, and it definitely doesn’t build self-esteem.
I feel that our society is based so much on technology; we watch the television while eating dinner as opposed to having conversation and spending time with loved ones and our family. The people who build our self-esteem often seem preoccupied with other things involving personal issues and business.
Every little girl needs to be told they’re beautiful, whether necessarily are. Beauty is more than skin deep, true beauty radiates from within, and we need instill these thoughts into our friends and our children (not that I have any; children, that is). Why are women made out to be such sex objects?
I’ll admit — I’m a slight feminist. I don’t run around with signs or protest, but I do believe women should have equal rights, and nothing bothers me more than watching a man disrespect a woman. We have just as much to do with a relationship as anyone, and are often the backbone just because of our reasoning skills and compassion — something many men lack until they have children (learning patience is definitely not a forte to anyone, but men have less emotional thinking than women, and seem to learn it at a slower rate). Plus, we bare the children, we carry them for nine months, and I can’t believe that men would be so disrespectful.
It saddens me that many women think that a man will respect them if they have sex. Jumping into the sack with someone is often just that — jumping into the sack. Sometimes sex is just sex, and if you’re using sex as a way of seeking attention, it’s likely you’ll get the wrong kind of attention — if any at all.
Think of your friends, and yourself; how many people do you know who have had sex with someone, to only be treated poorly, and that is if they even get a phone call (or a phone call for something other than sex)? It seems to happen more often than not. And I think it happens because women don’t have self-esteem instilled in them early on in life.
As a human-being with civil rights, we have the right to say “NO.” Maybe we should practice saying it more. We have the right to feel beautiful. Why is it that a women who is secure, knows their self-worth, and feels beauty is often seen as arrogant, or cocky? Having value of yourself does not make you a bad person, it makes you a strong person who should be sought after as an equal partner.
Sex seems to deplete self-esteem more than make it — with the lack of respect and/or returned phone calls. It leaves girls too often wondering, “Was I not good enough? Why didn’t he call me? Am I not pretty enough?” When more often than not, the reasoning is irrelevant to you — the guy wanted sex, was willing to jump on it, got what he wanted, and is off doing his own thing now. Sex doesn’t mean he will respect you, and he should earn your respect before sex.
If he’s not willing to be your friend and bring you chicken noodle soup when you’re sick, or hold your drink while you’re in the bathroom, and not comment to you consistantly about other women, then he’s not worth sleeping with. Sex is sacred, and is really for people who are in love. If you’re looking for a one night stand, fine, but it’s often best to leave it at that (and please, use a condom). Emotions because of sex will just muddle things up, emotions before sex just make the sex that much better.
I am reminded at this moment of RuPaul’s Drag Race, at the end of every episode was the quote: “If you don’t love yourself, how in the Hell are you going to love anyone else?” I find this extremely true, you can’t look for your self-worth in someone else, and if you have children, please teach them that they are worth more than just a one night stand.
Separation of church and state is a political and legal doctrine that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent from each other.
I’m a little livid today, I must admit. After Miss USA’s Carrie Prejean commented that she “thinks” marriage is between a man and a woman, there has been a backlash against equal rights for all United States citizens. Celebrities including Miley Cyrus and Heidi Montag have backed Perez Hilton in saying that all citizens should have equal rights. These two are devout Christians, and some Christian churches are retaliating.
There are so many arguments against same-sex marriages as of late, but do they really hold their stance?
I was raised Catholic, going to church every Sunday and attending CCD on Wednesdays (no, I’m not aware what CCD stands for). We were taught that the majority of the Bible are stories that are to teach us how to live our lives, and the morals we should stand for.
Never, upon my years attending church, did I ever hear anyone speak out against same-sex relationships, let alone same-sex marriage.
Everyone who pays attention in any Bible study knows that Adam and Eve is not a literal story; it didn’t actually happen (most churches will even admit this). Just by reading it, it’s obvious to tell that the story is that they are born with the innocence children are born of today — they don’t know about what’s right and wrong in society, they just see things how it is. Once they consume the apple (apple being knowledge, and also the fruit that has been known to be given to teachers. Coincidence? I think not), they begin to realize how society feels about many things, and are made to feel guilty regarding the nudity, among other things. Because the apple represents society. Next, of course He picked a man and a woman to build first in the story, duh, they have to make children here to make our population, right? Would our society be bore of these two if it wasn’t written that way? No. Logic seems to evade people, as of late. Hate and bigotry must be getting in the way.
What happened to religion influencing our society? Instead, our society is making a feeble attempt to mold and interpret religion to fit their beliefs, as opposed to following the beliefs that are in the Bible.
If God made us all, then God made homosexuals. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say that God doesn’t make mistakes, but if I had a nickel for every time I’d probably be a multi-millionaire. So, if God doesn’t make mistakes, and God made homosexuals, then he wanted them that way. You don’t choose your sexual orientation, you’re born with it. And if God loves all of his children, then he loves homosexuals just as much as heterosexuals.
There are even insinuated same-sex relationships in the Bible, three to be exact. Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathon, and Daniel and Ashpenaz.
Let’s keep in mind that the Bible was not written in English originally, and has been re-written and edited by churches across the world to fit what they think is right and wrong — not what is directly written in the Bible. Translating these original texts is also tedious, and things always get lost in translation.
There are two words specifically that get mistranslated from the original Hebrew writings. (source)
If God was so against homosexuality, why is there no passage in the Bible where Jesus speaks against it? If he speaks for God, then why is there nothing about it coming from Jesus’ lips? He has hundreds of instructions and prohibitions, and not one is against homosexuality. You would imagine that if God didn’t think that it was right, or that these people were not to be treated equally with equal rights, that there would be a passage about it.
The story of Sodom even has nothing to do with homosexuality, even though that is what it was believed. (Read more about that here)
The words “homosexual” and “homosexuality” do not even appear in the Bible, at least not in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Again, more proof that we interpret the Bible to fit society as-is, what we’re afraid of, our personal beliefs, as opposed to trying to make society fit the morals that are explained in the Bible.
Next, where do we have room to judge each other, or what would be considered right and wrong in God’s eyes? If someone wants to profess their love in religious marriage in front of God, isn’t it up to God as to whether or not He honors this union? It is not our decision, it shouldn’t be, nor should it ever be.
If for nothing else, where do we as human-beings have the right to take away someone else’s right? We should not have that power. Marriage is a basic right that should be available to all of us, we should be able to profess our love to the one we care about and want to spend the rest of our life beside. If lying is a sin, then I’m sure God would rather them live their life in honesty and be at peace with who they are than be scorned for something that they cannot choose and live their life hiding their true feelings. Marry someone they do love and they are attracted to, or marry someone of the opposite sex because that is what our society thinks is right? I think I know where God would stand on such an issue, because He wants love and equality for all. Just as we should want for each other.
By saying that there should be no same-sex marriages, you’re saying that homosexuals are second class citizens that do not deserve basic civil rights. I would like to know who has the right to make that judgment call.
At this point I’m reminded of a previous civil-rights movement. Back in the day, blacks couldn’t marry whites — this would rid me of some of my future cousins from my impending marriage (to a male, mind you). I wouldn’t have these cousins who are amazing people. I wouldn’t have one of my good friends (who was ironically raised by two lesbians). How is gay marriage any different than we banned interracial marriage?
Which is slightly amusing, since Jesus would have been a dark-skinned middle Eastern man. Yep, I said it. Though that should be rather logical given in the area he grew up in.
There is the argument that, “Well, they can’t have children.” Well, they can adopt — and being gay doesn’t make them incapable of raising children. There are plenty of heterosexual couples who should not raise children, they do not teach love and understanding, yet we are trying to keep someone who could teach them and show them the love that our society needs away from raising children? It makes no sense to me. There are many heterosexual couples who are incapable of having children for health reasons, should they not get married as well? We can’t choose our health issues anymore than we can choose our sexuality.
There was an argument that was commen when Proposition 8 was being publisized — saying that by allowing same-sex marriage, we were going to teach students to be gay. Being gay is something that you’re born with, you’re made that way, it’s not a choice. Many gay individuals are raised by heterosexual parents and had heterosexual teachers — that in and of itself should show that it is not a choice for them. What about heterosexuals that are raised by homosexuals? I know a few, and guess what — they’re straight as ever, and are fully supported by their parents.
Think about it. Just really sit there and think about it for a second.
I’m not asking anyone to think that it’s right or wrong, I’m asking you to realize that by allowing same-sex marriages, no one is depleting you of your rights. You’re trying to destroy the right of someone else that should have deserved them from the beginning. They want a chance at 50% success rate, a meager 50%. They want a shot at what we have a shot at — ever-lasting love with someone who they care immensely about. I care immensely about my soon-to-be husband, and I would not want someone to take my option to marry away from me, so I wouldn’t want to take it away from anyone else. If a same-sex couple wants to profess their love before God, who are we to say that they can’t? Isn’t that God’s decision? And why are we attempting to take away God’s decision for Him based on our own judgment? Isn’t He the only one who can really judge us?
I feel there is a division between God and between religion, they don’t seem to be one in the same anymore.
I may add and edit to this as time goes on, my mind has been racing about this and my heart has been broken by those who have been oppressed their basic civil rights over something they cannot choose. Someone wants to live their life with honesty and dignity, yet we want them to hide and live a lie. So disappointing.
Due to the separation of church and state, we should not be able to vote on someone’s rights based on our religious views. There shouldn’t be propositions to vote on based on neglecting someone else of their rights. This issue has nothing to do with religion, but with bigotry and twisting the words of God to fit what you want them to, not what they literally mean. It saddens me that our society is still practicing hate, bigotry, and intolerance for things that we do not understand when we should be trying harder to accept them and understand them.
I leave you (for now) with a couple videos, and some links to different religious sites that support same-sex marriages — including a group on Facebook for Christians for Marriage Equality.
This next video is incredibly important, and I agree Keith, if you respect your God then SPREAD love. That is what He would want.
