Things to do at a country music concert when you're not a country music fan...

So my friend, Marci, won two tickets to a country music concert and asked if I would go with her. I'm not a huge country music fan, but it was free and we got to take the train, so I said, "Sure, why not!"

I had never heard of these people but it turns out I actually had heard a few of the songs on the radio before. We walked around and hung out and goofed off before the music started, here are some pics and the list of things to do at a country music concert when you are not a country music fan:

* get attacked by vendors to sign up for "free" giveaways such as pick-up trucks, boots and guitars signed by a singer you don't know

* collect as many "gimmes" as you can; I got a bag from GMC, a boot shaped glass from Sheplers, a koozie from Sheplers and 2 hand fans, one of which is shaped like a cowboy boot from Justins

* spend $16 on 2 bottles of water and a small Pepsi

*bring back empty Pepsi cup for free ice

*empty ice into boot-shaped glass and give empty Pepsi cup to friend so she can get free ice, too

*eat tacos

*put a moustache sticker on the back of a concert chair

*take pictures of "cowgirls" wearing Daisy Dukes and boots

*sing along and dance to songs you don't know

*watch drunk hootchies try to dance

*walk 5 blocks to get to the bus stop so you can get to the train, change trains then get to your car and drive home to take aspirin for your headache

eating tacos

"cowgirls" in Daisy Dukes and boots

where a moustache sticker goes!

waiting on the train to take us to Fair Park

me and Marci with our gimmes 

concert goers on the lawn, the Texas State Fair ferris wheel in the back

well I WAS dancing!

Roger Creager singing the Everclear song

Montgomery Gentry singing "what do you thing about that"

how DOES paint taste?

I was sitting in the break room at work yesterday when I opened up the USA Today that was on the table. I saw a picture of a painting and thought "What the hell is that?"

Turns out, a chimpanzee painted it....with his tongue, and everyone was all excited about it.

The only words that would come to my mind were: "Are ya fuckin' kiddin' me??"

Yes, I am in art school and I'm an artist, but most of the time I don't understand what someone calls art. I am beginning to understand brush strokes and color choices and how an artist decided what to do with them and most of the time, I can see the emotion used to paint or draw something. That, to me is art.
But I don't like being duped. I'm not saying a chimp doesn't have feelings, but come on! This?
To top it off, he won a contest! WTF? I can't even get a scholarship and this furry sub-human is winning fucking painting contests!

The only way I can rationalize this to make myself feel better, is the fact that the money went to his Primate Sanctuary to help other chimps and apes.
FML...here is the whole story:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/29/chimp-paint-contest/2726163/

"Brent is a natural," said Cathy Willis Spraetz, president and CEO of Chimp Haven. 

What's your dream?

Because it's the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march on Washington, I feel I need to say something profound about Dr. King or the movement itself, but the only thing I can think to say is that I'm glad these courageous people took the risk to move humanity forward - not just for the sake of black Americans, but for all future generations. Is there less racism today? Maybe. I guess it depends who you are and where you are. Being white, I can say that I have run into more than a few white people that are still quite racist and think they can express their beliefs to me because we have skin color in common. They are wrong.
I think judging someone on race is stupid. I judge people on how they act. If you act like a fool, I'm going to treat you like a fool, because why else would you act like that? If you act like an insensitive asshole, I don't feel the need to associate myself with you. I don't feel I need to waste my time on inconsiderate dickheads.
I remember when Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie and everyone was talking about how Elvis would be turning in his grave. I just didn't get what all the fuss was about until I was standing in line at a grocery store and saw a picture of Michael and Lisa on the cover of a magazine. That's when it dawned on me: Oh yeah! He's black and she's white. That must be what everyone is talking about.
Would Elvis have disapproved of that union because of race or ridiculousness? I vote the latter because it was. They were "in love"? Seriously?

Now please enjoy this video by the late Mr. Jackson:

Black or White video