The Rules Of Life According To Jodie Platz

1. Never be ashamed of your music collection or what you like to listen to.

2. Buy the pants that fit you TODAY. Not the ones that will or won't fit you in ten days.

3. Travel now because you can... don't make excuses.

4. Have the career you want - not the job that you need.

5. Never stop dreaming, wishing or hoping for your life to be better than it is now. Never give up on yourself that YOU can be better than you are right now.

6. Never stop learning. You're never finished and even though you're the best at what you do today, someone will be better than you tomorrow. (This applies to EVERYTHING.)

7. Open doors for strangers. Also, smile at strangers. Once in a while, pay a toll or a coffee for a stranger. It's amazing feeling to give and also to get.

8. Give your heart away. You don't need it... someday someone will give you theirs.

9. Do what makes you happy today... it could all disappear tomorrow.

10. Tell the people that you love that you love them today... they could disappear tomorrow, too.

11. Don't use people, but also, don't be afraid to ask for someone's help if they have something special to offer.

12. Listen to your music loudly. Yes, you may eventually lose your hearing, but do you want to die deaf or do you want to die wishing you listened to "Sabotage" by Beastie Boys as loud as it would go...? Exactly.

13. Never stop thinking; question everything. Learn from those around you. Let others learn from you. Speak up.

14. Be original. There's a reason people say "dare to be different"... because everyone is afraid of doing something out of line from the "normal". Go against the grain.

15. No one is normal; only the crazies will survive. The people who think "weird" are the ones who create art, run this country and make a dent in the universe. Be known.

16. Everyone must constantly prove themselves to the world. Unfortunately. Yes, this includes you.

17. Make art. You don't have to be an artist to express yourself on a canvas, through a lens or on a guitar.

18. Jealousy will not get you anywhere. We are all jealous of someone or something for some reason... but you need to learn to get past the act and be happy for people for what it is that they have that you want. Chances are they worked really hard to obtain it. Show them you are a bigger person and can applaud them for their successes and not that you're bitter.

19. You get what you give. The world works in a karma system for the majority of life and all of it's lessons... if you're bad - bad things will happen... if you're good - good things will happen. Be good to people. It's much better than the alternative.

20. Every day changes your life. What may be today will not be tomorrow. If you don't like the path that you're heading down - CHANGE it.

21. Don't eat cheap BBQ, drink cheap whiskey, wear cheap mascara or buy cheap memory cards.

22. Never let anyone tell you that you don't have the right to use the bathroom.

23. Never have a breakdown in public. Excuse yourself... people will think higher of you and less of you if you don't.

24. Be honest, but not to a fault. Sometimes people's feelings should be spared, otherwise you're just being cruel.

25. Don't force your religious views on others. Your religion should be private and something just for yourself.

26. Treat people as you would like to be treated. Also, remember that we all were born the same, we all have the same obstacles in life to overcome, we all bleed when stabbed, we all cry when we have a broken heart and we will all face death one day. No one is above any of that - so treat everyone as they are: HUMAN.

27. Never apologize for your accomplishments.

28. If your friends can't be proud of you and supportive of your life, accomplishments, goals, etc: then they are not your friends.

29. Be kind to animals... they have thoughts, feelings and souls.

30. Build walls. This will not only help you keep people out, but it can help you keep people in. Those who will scale the walls to be near you are extraordinary people. Those who constantly leap out of the walls are doing so for a reason...

31. If someone picks apart your life - there is something seriously lacking or wrong with theirs. Don't let it bother you and say a quite thought for them that you hope they find what they're searching for to make them happy.

32. Don't pick apart others lives. *See above.

33. Don't lie or exaggerate to children; they believe everything.

34. Never give away all of your secrets.

35. Take more photos. Let the world see what you see.

36. Scream and sing loudly. Also, dance how you feel without care.

37. If you ever find yourself saying "that's something I would never do", then you know the perfect reason why you should do it.

38. Believe in love and happiness, but don't believe everything that everyone says. I'm a unicorn. Did you believe it? No. Remember that... It's easy for people to tell lies. On the other hand, sometimes you just have to BELIEVE... and those things that you believe in may never make sense. I'm a unicorn.

39. Live life with no regrets. (See all above.)

40. Don't listen to anyone else's rules except your own. (See all above.)

Here's some pretty for you to look at.

Whalebone

"Twenty-five years and my life is still trying to get up that great big hill of hope..." 

Yes, yes, yes! New 100 Monkeys tour dates! :) www.100MonkeysMusic.com to check them out.

Fuck yes.

So... after such excitement this morning, Jennifer and I were talking and discussing and we found out something pretty interesting about ourselves that I never thought about before.

Jennifer and I have never been to Florida or California together.
When Jennifer went to California she didn't see the ocean.
When I went to Florida I didn't see the ocean.
Therefore, Jennifer has only seen the ocean from Florida and I have only seen the ocean from California.

Fucking interesting and awesomely backwards ironic, eh? :) Made me happy.

Of course that will change...

You know... another funny thing... back in February when I went to LA to the Hermosa Beach show with Willow, I know that we were fuckclose to the ocean - I could *feel* it and *smell* the difference in the air, yet we didn't see the ocean when we were there together.

So much to see... so much to do... plans. are. set.

You know... today makes 48 days since I've seen the boys. All I needed was a date to look forward to... a time to know WHEN I would see them again. I am glad that I have new dates to look forward to.

Annnnnnd... I am so fucking READY to put my new camera to use! Should be good. :) Good, good times.

Picture of the Day:

Someone @'d that at me a while ago. :) Made me so fucking happy... they said it reminded them of me. There are worse things in life than that reminding someone of me.

*happy*

xx

Ain't No Way I'll Be Lonely...

"keep you in the dark you know they all pretend..." 

I was going to pick some random icon about love or art... but then I decided since I'm bored, I'll make a few new icons... So... then I did, and then I finished writing this blog. XD

This has thus far been the longest week of my life.

Isn't that funny how when you want something to go by quickly it takes forever and when you want something to slow down (saaaay... a week with your favorite primates...) it goes by in the blink of an eye. Heh. One of life's little mysteries, I suppose.

I am trying to scoot the week along quickly so that Friday will get here... I cannot wait to hold my new camera. :)

[Watch. Something tells me I am not going to get it until Saturday... just a feeling. I guess we'll see.]

"Downfall" by Matchbox 20 just came on my iPod... Please go listen to that song right now. It's how I feel about so much.

Monday Jennifer and I are getting together with our friend Megan. We met Megan, oh... I guess about 2 years ago at an Ingram Hill concert in Lawrence, KS. There are so many things that we have in common and then so many things that we don't... (I suppose that's true with a lot of people...) But I guess I always figured that "girls like Megan" wouldn't be friends with a "girl like me"... then again... you get someone that IS Megan and they surprise you.

Megan is the kind of girl who is cheerful, has gobs of faith in her religion, popular, beautiful and has amazing morals... you know... the opposite of me... but she clearly has a good heart and soul... she isn't an "ugly girl" that ignores the "girls like me" because I'm fat and... you know... gross... I am rarely cheerful (if you know the real me), have very little faith, but believe in so much, was never popular, only beautiful on occasion and who has very questionable morals.

I really admire Megan; she's such a good person to her core. I could really learn and earn so much for my life from her.

Anyhow... We're getting together Monday... I haven't seen her since before we went to Las Vegas for the boys in January!! (I saw her just a few days before we were leaving and I was supposed to come home and give her the details...) ...Megan is ultra supportive of me and so on Monday I am going to give her details of the past several months. :)

You know... insane fact... I see these boys and my "Monkey friends" more than I see my friends that live in Kansas City or my family for that matter. Crazy... but I love it. XD

I was thinking the other day... and I was trying to roll my mind around enough times so that I could word this without hurting anyone's feelings. Let's see if I can do that. Over the past few months I've acquired a bunch of new friends, many of whom have changed my life... some I have cut ties with once I found out their motives, some have a great facade and I haven't caught onto their intentions yet - they will hurt me and I will learn from it, and some are genuine good people who don't want to use me for where I walk or who I take photos of.

But...

There's just something to be said about the very small (when I say small - I mean SMALL...) group of friends I've had with me for the past few years. (Or ten... years, that is.)

Friends have come and gone quickly in my life over the last ten years -- I have been used and re-used, I was naive and gullible -- I was eager to be liked by all, so I let people walk on me and take advantage of me. I am not without guilt here, however. When I realized a few people using me, I used them back. I cannot say that I am proud of those things, or that I would do the same thing if given the chance to do over again. However, I am not going to lie and let you think I am pure, honest and good -- or that I have been my whole life -- I am trying much harder to be that person today. I think that's what counts. Everyone makes mistakes in their life. We are human.

Back on topic... There are a few friends... Jennifer, Kristi, Gemma, Rae, Megan & Willow (no specific order...) that have been there for me before I was "anyone"... who supported my multiple dreams... all of them wanting me to be genuinely happy -- all of them pushing me to succeed in whichever field would do that for me.

Now... although only 3 of them live in the KC area (one lives in Europe (!) and one of them lives with me...), the distance doesn't make us any lesser of friends. I see Willow more and talk to her more than any other person... (and I do believe that I even talk to her more than I do to the person I live with...)

I am not saying that any of my new friendships are less because they're new, but I am saying that I have a new found appreciation for these people that have been in my life, just waiting for my call... I guess I took them for granted and I regret that.

No one should be taken for granted; I often times feel like I am taken for granted and that I would not be missed if I were to disappear... that it wouldn't effect anyone on a deep level besides perhaps Jennifer and Willow -- the two people on this earth I talk to the most. So... to be taken for granted is a terrible thing and I feel badly that I have done that to anyone.

Now that that is over... did I hurt anyone's feelings? Did I manage to get through it smoothly? I do hope so. Please remember it was never my intention to hurt anyone in this post.

I think I'm done for today.

Picture of the day:

Jerad Anderson, 100 Monkeys, Birmingham.

Fucking love this photo... captures the hawk beautifully.

By the way, you got this photo before anyone else has even seen it. Go you!

Rock on,

Jodie

Long Time No See...

"So here's to all the ties we've tied..."

I know that it's been a long ass time since I've actually blogged here... I've attended many shows since the last time we last saw each other here. Don't worry. I am about to catch you up on ALL of them. (Edit... I only have time tonight to make it through HALF of STL... I am so sorry... I will do the best I can to get everything else to y'all soon... comments might help motivate me. *wink*)

I hope that you have a fucking comfortable seat. Grab yourself a cup of coffee or your preferred beverage and enjoy the read; I hope I don't bore you too much. If you do, however, make it through the entire thing, I would love to hear from you and read some of your feedback.

I have been called out twice on the fact that my posts here are no longer passionate and that they don't seem "genuine". I have to agree with you there. I am sure that y'all (who are perceptive) have noticed a difference in my writing style from when I saw the boys in Nashville (November) to when I saw them in Tulsa the first time (January) and then I am sure the ultimate changes in my writing style came around the Las Vegas time... (late January)

I could actually give you one very specific reason for why that is... I am not going to say it aloud, but if you're smart, you'll figure it out.

I will try to be as honest as possible... I don't mind sharing some of my memories with y'all, however so many of them are so large and special that I wish to keep them to myself and share them with my close friends. (Some of them I don't even share with my close friends... if that tells you anything...)

Memories are something very different for me. I have mentioned before that I don't have the greatest memory. Almost as soon as something happens to me, it leaves me... so I have enlisted my best friend Jennifer to help me out with the details for these previous shows I am about to recall. (Save for Louisville, she wasn't able to attend that one.)

But while on the topic of memories... those that I do remember I can recall perfectly; every touch, scent, emotion... the way a voice rings perfectly in my ear... the words said... sometimes *those* things are what sustain me... what help me press on until my next whatever.

You know... if you go back into my blogs far enough (I believe I started this shit back in 2008...) I was once so blatantly honest because I knew that no one read it. Now, I unfortunately have to censor myself for so many reasons... but like I said, I will try to be as honest as I can and divulge as much as I am comfortable with. ;)

I believe we last left off in St. Louis... oh lord, St. Louis.

STL is a four hour drive from Kansas City and we arrived there around 10ish... right across the street from Vintage Vinyl was a Starbucks... Lord, I have never been so happy to see a Starbucks in my life. :) Hello, Venti Iced Coffee...

The performance and meet and greet was at 1... they were a sight for sore eyes when they finally got there. :) Got a pretty awesome high-five from the BFF upon his arrival and got smiles and "hello"'s from the rest of the boys... the set was short and sweet...

I hadn't slept the night before, I didn't eat that day and the only thing I had had was my Venti Iced Coffee... while standing in line for the meet and greet, I nearly passed out. I managed to distract myself, thankfully, by looking at Zeppelin records and taking pictures of The Shins gold record mounted on the wall... by the time I got up to the boys the moment [of exhaustion] had passed. Thankfully.

Lisa went before Jennifer and I to give the boys their gift, she gave Jackson a little monkey dressed up as a vampire and he laughed, he was about to sign it and she said, "no, that's for you!" He said "Oh, well I could always autograph it to myself," and he chuckled... I chimed in and said, "To Jackson... Love, Jackson," and he laughed.

Lisa gave Jerad a sticker for the van of a guy in a mohawk spanking a monkey. (In the literal sense.) Jerad fucking ADORED it and Jackson said, "Jerad loves to spank his monkey..." I facepalmed. XD

So... then it was our turn... Jerad was first. I was sooo ready to give him his special present. :D

I had made bracelets for Jay and Jerad with special little charms on them. Jerad's was a friendship bracelet, Jackson's had a charm in the shape of Texas.

I gave the bracelet to Jerad and he said, "I have been waiting for this moment for SOOO long!" I giggled my ass off.

Jay's reaction to the bracelet was just as adorable, however, one that I am keeping to myself.

(I have the left piece to the bracelet and Jerad has the right.)

The boys wore the bracelets for the next four shows after that. :)

So I was basically the happiest girl on the planet for a while... :D

Gave Jay some plaid duct tape. Thought he was going to spontaneously combust from happiness. Gave Johnson a slinky. He is now prepared to be awesome.

So we went straight to the venue after that... we didn't get lost this time around. Jennifer and I have a knack for getting lost in STL... so we were prepared to spend hours trying to find the venue... I don't know what it was, but thank our lucky stars, we were the first ones there. :D

Tin Tin Can arrived shortly after we did and I almost fangirl'd out on them. (As I type this I am wearing my Tin Tin Can shirt that I got in Nashville... Fucking love them like a fat diabetic loves cake smothered in ice cream and topped with rainbow sprinkles... They ARE my rainbow sprinkles.)

They were having trouble getting into the venue to set up... I felt bad. Eventually Lisa asked the venue where the boys could load in and then I went over to TTC (who was across the street playing basketball... all four of them... just over there alone... *hyperventilates*) to tell them. I nearly fell down in front of them. Twice.

They thanked me and I gushed at them, telling them how stoked I was to see their set that night. Later they came out and took pics with us.

BEST PICTURE EVER:

FUCKING ADORE.

I wish I could have rainbow sprinkles daily because they are so awesome.

Meanwhile, I actually hate sweets, but I digress... (*Willow*)

I hate to leave y'all hanging there, however I have to meet a friend for dinner... so I will see you again soon. I promise to not let it go as long as I have. Also, I am almost done editing Tulsa photos. Kansas City was just loaded up to my private Facebook acct... will load them up to my pages in a day or so. I am sure that you'll be able to catch them on Jackson Rathbone Online soon however.

Rock on,

Jodie

Gimme Stitches

"My faith ain't been no friend to me, 
And the way I've sinned, it hanging off of me, 
And I'm sorry, you can't take me anywhere,
Pretty soon we're almost there baby one more night,
It's been a long, long drive, 
And I'm way, way tired, 
I don't need no backup plan, 
I said I don't want nobody, 
Nobody don't want me, 
I'm so sad, so lonely, 
But I'm always landing on my feet..." 

I don't know what's wrong with me why I haven't updated my blog yet since I've been back from seeing the boys.

I actually learned something new... that apparently I have a lot of readers on my blog. I refuse to put a hit counter on here though, or a tracker... because then I'll just become obsessed with the numbers. To all who read and never comment: thanks for reading -- I hope that I'm not too boring, I hope that I provide you some sort of entertainment. That's all I've been my whole life; an entertainer. ;)

Des Moines is a short drive from Kansas City. Three hours. The time passed by fairly quickly, however, in my last blog I explained that I wasn't feeling anything. Willow and I figured out why I wasn't -- that's not something I'm at liberty to discuss here on the public medium. Those close to me may ask me why.

We arrived in Des Moines and followed the directions that I got from Google Maps to the "venue"... except the venue wasn't there... Turns out the venue has the wrong zip code posted for their address on their website, and so consequentially, the Monkeys website.

After being lost for 2 hours we finally found the venue. Fuckers.

Talking to The Bens later (and bitching that there are about fifty 4th streets in Des Moines...) they said they got lost as well but it wasn't as bad as Minneapolis. Dude.

We weren't first in line... six people before us... but it was fine that we weren't first - the girls before us had never been to a show, so I kinda took a backseat, plus I got to talk to the boys before the show and I don't think I would have been able to do that if I was first in line. (Except Jerad... didn't get to see BFF before the show.)

When talking to The Bens, Jennifer asked Johnson if they would play "Twenty To One" since they didn't get to in Vegas. He said they were going to but you know, "Vegas was Vegas..." Later on we heard them soundchecking the song and got very excited.

Even though Jennifer and I were 7th & 8th in line we still got front row. (Which surprised me for what a small stage it was...) I was right in front of the keyboards and right by the speaker. (Never been in front of the keyboards before, always in front of the guitar... *shifty eyes* Can't tell you why...)

The opening band was good and eccentric. Everyone else just stood around with their phones in their hand or their arms folded. No smiles. Not enjoying the music or anything. Jennifer and I were at least grooving to the music...

The boys came on and I adored the look that Jerad gave me when he saw me. :) Like he was actually happy and surprised to see me there. He kept looking at me throughout the whole show... my guess is anticipating when I'd request my high five. XD He's such a good BFF.

Jennifer nudged me and said, "get your high five," and I told her it wasn't time yet. After that song I put my hand up and I said, "high five time!" And he smiled huge and smacked my hand the hardest he ever has... it was like he was saving up all that awesome to give to me. ;)

So... if you're a reader of my blog you may have read the post where I put up this photo of Jay:

In my post I said that I had titled the picture, "why do you never wear a tie when I see you" and I said that he should wear a tie in Des Moines because I think he looks so handsome in them...

Well...

Jackson wore a tie.

I really wish you all could have seen the look on my face. O_O I'm pretty sure he saw it and grinned. LOL

My next mission? I noticed that Jackson switched his Spencer bracelet over to his right wrist. Well, my friends and I think that the bracelet should be worn on the left wrist... so hey, Jay... move your bracelet back to your left wrist. ;)

My 10th show was definitely a success. The venue had a curfew so the boys had to cut their set short. Jackson broke his pick after rocking out too hard to "Reaper"... and then he gave it to me. :) I had to look for it though since he tossed it to me instead of putting it in my hand... and it didn't help that the pick was, you know... half the size of a regular pick... and CLEAR.

After the show the boys were so nice to stick around and do a few photos for us... Jennifer's photo is better than mine... I made the boys laugh. :) Meanwhile, she couldn't get my camera to work, so they all had to stand there smiling for a while in mine. :(

My photo with the boys:

Jenn's photo with the boys:

I am glad that I made them laugh... but I must say that I'm very jealous of her photo. She went to Johnson's side and then I couldn't get Jerad in the frame so I said to him, "Jerad. Scoot." And this was the end result. XD

As we were leaving I told the boys that I would see them in St. Louis... Jerad was the last one I told, I held up my hand for a high five and said, "One more for the road..." he smacked my hand and smiled. I said, "I'll see you in St. Louis," he said, "Perfect."

Adore it.

I didn't get to give him his special gift in Des Moines. (It wasn't the right time.) So I'm going to give it to him at the meet and greet on Sunday. (May have another something special for another certain boy...)

I set up my Facebook Photography page per request of Twitter followers. You can join that here.

2 days until the next Monkey show. :)

My desktop. :) I need to make a new wallpaper from the Des Moines show photos... but my little countdown in the right corner underneath the calender? Yep. Epic.

"Only two days until awesome high fives!"




I'm not even going to have time to change the calender again before going to Louisville Monday. So, so stoked for that show. And that's when I get my new phone too! YAY!

Here's a few favorites from the show in Des Moines. Enjoy, bbs.

I posted more than I had planned to... ;) Perhaps I'm feeling generous today. Am loading up photos to my photography site today as well. Don't forget to fan the Facebook page!

Rock on,

Jodie

Whenever I Want You All I Have To Do Is Dream

"And all this time oblivious, 
To what you made so obvious, 
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before..." 


Last night was a good night. :) First off, Jennifer brought home Cabin Fever 2, which we had been trying to watch for several days now... I loved the first one - Jennifer isn't into all the gore and stuff... but Cabin Fever 2? 


Oh let me see here. I have so much to say about this film. 


First of all, in the description for it, it says that it picks up right where Cabin Fever left off, which it does... it also says that Rider Strong is in it... which, errm... 


The movie was shot back in Spring 2007, but shelved and held up forever in post... (Read the IMDb if you care to know why...) 


Anyhow, I was really looking forward to seeing a sequel where one of the leads from the first actually stayed in the movie, however... (*SPOILER*, but the movie sucked and you shouldn't see it anyway, so keep reading...) Rider Strong literally gets killed DIRECTLY after the opening credits. Srs. I was so disappointed... 


Not to mention that the "special effects" and makeup in this thing were horrendous. Beyond fixable. I literally could have made a better gore movie with my digital camera. True story.  I hated it. We so wasted a dollar on it when we could have just rented Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs again. 


After that mess of a movie, we decided to watch the St. Rocke show that I got on DVD from a very lovely Twitter follower. :D It was my first time seeing the show in it's entirety since actually being in LA. 


*breathless sigh* 


I wish there were a way for me to put into words how much it meant to me that she sent me this DVD... All of the moments I loved while at the show were on the DVD... Not to mention a few things that I missed while at the actual concert, like the cutest little giggle from a certain Monkeys mouth as he took my hand. 


While we were in the midst of watching the Monkey DVD they released their next slew of dates. :) Much to my surprise and approval, of course! Annnnnd... KANSAS CITY!!! EEEP! It was a perfect moment. Also, happy to see them going back to Tulsa. :) Tulsa was my favorite show thus far on the tour... and it was my first for this tour... I had to talk Jennifer into going back to Tulsa, but it wasn't that hard. Yaay! 


Also!! They're playing the Beaumont Club! I *knew* this is where they would play and I kept checking their official site, KNOWING this is where the Monkeys would play. There are many "pros" to playing this club, but I'd like to keep my advantage, so I'm not going to name them here. I'm happy that the boys will be on home turf. Now instead of driving 3-8 hours to see them... I have to drive 15 minutes.


Talked to Willow today for 2 hours. :) I love doing that... when we get on the phone we're always on it for like, fuckever... I digress... (see what I did there?!) I'm officially STOKED to go to Louisville. Totes. Stoked. Of the released dates for Monkey boys I'm planning on attending 6 of the posted shows. (Not counting Dallas. Cuz then that would make 9... meanwhile, I've been to 9 Monkey shows... so that would mean that by the time Dallas is over I will have been to 18 Monkey shows. O_O ...if they don't add anymore that I can get to... my god. *rubs plastic Jesus*) 


We had planned on going to Ohio, but shit happens... Detroit was supposed to be my 15th show... now... Kansas City is my 15th show. Gaaah, that worked out perfectly. Remember how I was just saying that shit happens for a reason?!?! ...Well?! *holds out hands at example before you* 


Alright, enough about those boys... swiftly moving on. 


After we watched St. Rocke I suggested we watch something on Netflix... I wanted to watch something scary and I was naming off the horrors it listed and casually mentioned Interview With A Vampire, to which Jennifer replies that she's never seen it before... we tried to watch it then and Netflix was apparently having a bad day and didn't wish to accommodate us with that particular movie... 


I then suggested Nightmare On Elm Street (the first one) and she said that she had never seen that one either! Oh, well snap!! So we watched it, she got scared... 


I saw it for the first time when I was in 6th grade. I had asked my parents waay back in the day (when I lived with my father) if I could see it and they vehemently disapproved. (I lived on Elm street for the majority of my childhood... yeaaaah, kinda glad they didn't let me see it. I would have cried.)  But of course when I moved in with my Mama I immediately wanted to see it... It was very scary the first time that I saw it... but watching it back last night? I didn't jump or flinch... 


However! 


I'm very fucking stoked to see the new re-make! Just saw the new released trailer. Looks badass. I can't wait! 


Picture of the Day:

It's been a while since I put up a photo of any of the boys, and this one has a purpose... love this pic, by the way... props to the chick who took it. 


When I saved it I titled this picture "why do you never wear a tie when I see you" because out of the 9 shows that I've been to, Jackson has never worn a tie... meanwhile, I think he looks beyond handsome and so sexy in ties. *nudge, nudge, hint hint... Des Moines.*


(Now I'll stand there with my mouth agape if he wears a tie in Des Moines... You know I will.)

Where Things Just Come To Die

"I was born a unicorn, 
I coulda sworn you believed in me, 
Then how come all the other unicorns are dead?"

Today was a good day. Had a weird start, but I abruptly woke up at 8a... strangely, I was in an excellent mood and have been awake for the whole day - no naps... Jennifer and I pittered about, I read some... we watched Aladdin and talked.

You know, I haven't seen Aladdin in probably ten years and I somehow own it on DVD. I have no idea how that happened.

We watch a movie together every night before bed... sometimes we make it onto a second movie, some nights we fall asleep before the first one is over. (Most nights we watch Twister or Wanted.) We've been through nearly our entire DVD collection several times. (I won't watch the Heath Ledger movies; she won't watch the Brittany Murphy movies...)

So today we found Aladdin, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Fargo. I said instantly, "FARGO!" I love Fargo. It's fucking hilarious... but, I guess you have to have that sense of humor for that sort of thing... she persuaded me into Aladdin, said we could watch Fargo together when she got home, but I really do believe that I'll probably end up watching it before she gets home from work.

Speaking of Jennifer and work... yesterday she was supposed to get off work at 7p... she called me at 6 to say that Marcus, the other manager "didn't want to close" and so he offered her the rest of his shift plus $50 out of pocket to take it.

I was aggravated with this because I was looking forward to her coming home at 7... But she said she would stop by the store, get some things for mexican and margaritas and that we'd have a night together when she got home... at like 130a.

So I decided to take a shower about 11ish and towards the end of my shower I felt really sick like I was going to throw up, felt really dizzy and didn't even bother rinsing my hair all the way. My vision narrowed and I stumbled out of the shower and onto the bed. (Yep, naked and soaking wet.) I guess that's what I get for not eating all day... funny, my body has never had reactions to it like that before.

After laying down for a while I felt better, Jenn got home and we watched Idle Hands, had mexican and margaritas as planned. :) Win.

Alright, now this is the part of the blog where I out someone for something they did to me without outing them... because I know they read my blog and I'm not the type of girl to put another one on blast. So... here goes. Today someone made me upset. If you know me for two seconds you know a few things that should be named "The Untouchables"... these are things that are mine or will be mine someday... plan your life accordingly. Apparently, this chick didn't get the memo... and tried to take one of my Untouchables. I promptly rerouted her to her previous destination... The intersection of In Your Dreams St & Please Go The Fuck Away Cir.

Pic of the Day:

I love Twitter, I love my phone. But I fucking guarantee you that's going to be the last thing I'm worried about in this moment of my life. My future husband, please slap me if my cell is even on... and I'll slap you if yours is as well. ;)

Rings Of Smoke Through The Trees

"Well I'm drawn in the smoke, 
And I'm starting to choke, 
As I put on my coat, 
With this lighter I hold, 
Oh it's the flame that's delivering another fine dose, 
Of that sweet, sweet smoke..." 

Today would be what all couples call "Valentine's Day". As I posted on my Facebook status earlier today: "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? If you are single on Valentine's Day, do you need to acknowledge it's existence?" 


It is something to think about, isn't it? Today is just February 14th for me. You know what else? Up until about 10 minutes ago, I thought today was Saturday. Apparently Saturday fell off the map. Today is Sunday. Plan your life accordingly.


"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye." - Miss Piggy

I used to want to be Miss Piggy so badly. I adored her relationship with Kermit, although I really felt like she loved him waay more than he ever loved her back. Pity. She's a catch. ;) [[Fun fact about Jodie; for my 7th birthday party I had so many helium balloons that I went around pretending I was Gonzo from The Muppet Movie. #winatlife]]

Kermit: "Gonzo! What are you doing?" 
Gonzo: "About seven knots!" 

I think I'm dehydrated. 2 days ago I drank half a gallon of water and 3 cups of juice... yesterday I drank another half gallon of water and after having to pee every ten minutes I decided I was done drinking, even though I was still thirsty.

Now I'm sitting here... thirsty. Again.

My dreams have been very lucid lately. Every morning for the past several years I've always woken up with a song in my head... don't know how, don't know where it comes from -- it's not like it's the same song that I heard the day before or anything like that, sometimes it'll be a song that I haven't heard for years and it'll just pop into my head in my sleep... anyways, for the past few days I've meant to Twitter the song that I wake up with, but I can never find my phone with my eyes closed...

Perhaps I'll try and remember to do that tomorrow morning.

Back to my dreams... about a week ago I guess it was, I had a dream in which I lost a tooth. I texted my friends and said, "in true Reaper form, last night I had a dream where I lost my teeth..." 

Now, for those who know me or know me well, know that I take excellent care of my teeth, that I've had extensive dental work done in order to correct my massive overbite as a child.

This is a picture of me from 1992 with my facemask, this was post hyrax, pre-braces... I had a massive overbite and in order for them to correct this before puberty, I had to have extensive dental work done. I had spacers for my hyrax before I even entered kindergarten.

The hyrax stretched across the roof of my mouth and it had a tiny key that my dad had to crank three times each night before I went to bed - this stretched the roof of my mouth wider. (With an overbite, you bottom jaw goes over your top teeth, making you look like a pit bull instead of your bottom fitting inside the top like it should... the hyrax was making the roof of my mouth wider than my bottom jaw. Had they waited until puberty hit I would have had to have some of my bottom jaw removed in order for it to fit correctly.)

After that I had the facemask (pictured above) and that pulled my front teeth forward, pushing my bottom jaw backwards. I was lucky that I didn't have to wear it during school -- I only had to wear it 6 weeks and then I slept in it for 6 weeks... It wasn't so bad, actually. I didn't mind it much.

Next was standard braces. I didn't need a full set; top four teeth, bottom four teeth... I can't remember how long I wore those for but I do remember always picking out fun colors for my rubber bands. (When I would have dance recitals I would put pink and black bands on there since those were my dance team colors. ^_^)

When I got into a car wreck in 2002, I nearly went through the windshield, I got completely smashed up, broke three fingers, was carted away on a stretcher and had to go through rehabilitation in order to move my neck correctly; but the only thing I cared about seconds after the wreck was if all my teeth were still intact. I literally checked them before I even noticed I had broken anything.

So for me to have this dream that I lose my teeth... it's... graphic. What one could consider a "worst nightmare" situation. Dream Moods says that losing your teeth is a sign of fear or anxiety. Also since teeth are a sign of power, it could be the feeling of losing your control and power over a situation... since this dream happened right after my return from LA - it definitely makes sense. All my worries... all my anxieties... most of which cannot be quelled for another 16 days.

Picture of the Day:

Speaking In Tongues

"To the center of your heart, oh Cleopatra is the only one you love..." 

I have learned so much today. :) I learned that I am not only old, but I am also very young in comparison. Funny. Swiftly moving on...

17 days until I see Monkeys again... I was so spoiled in Vegas/LA... I had just seen them two weeks before in Tulsa and then I went to Vegas... few days later turned around and went to LA... now I am "forced" to wait it out 17 days until I can see them again. Then again... it could always be worse. They are fucking addictive. I should alert them of such.

I've been writing down my improv ideas so that I don't catch Jay too off guard again. ;) All of the ones I've written down thus far are G and PG... of course I just know that at the next show I'm at they'll ask for an improv and Jay will look at me and be like, "from anyone but you." XD

Oops...?

I'm pretty stoked for these 17 days to pass... I have a kick ass gift to give to my BFF.

I reckon I do have something pretty big to tell y'all... of course I've been cry, cry, crying for a new DSLR for the longest time... every time I almost buy a new one, something happens and I can no longer afford it... my Canon 780is point and shoot has been getting me by for a while now... and we all know when I went through my Nikon D60 phase... and then the downfall that was the discontinue of it... :(

So now I'll try to tell you something without telling you anything... I've been hired to do a big photography job, something that I *need* a DSLR for and I seriously cannot ask to borrow my Mama's again without her killing me... so I've been back to my DSLR research... and... well... I have decided.

I was going to get the Nikon D5000, but after I held others, shot with others, looked at features and specs... I have decided on the Canon XSi.

Yep. Canon. Here I was going "Oh how badly I want a Nikon... please, please, please!" And then I shot with both of them and easily was swayed back over to Canon... Heh. Funny. Hoping to get the new camera by the end of March... of course, those damn Monkeys... *shakes head, smiling* (You know I love my Mnkys.)

Do you ever write something knowing that someone will read it...? I mean, someone in particular...? I feel that way a lot lately.

I need a new computer. Hardcore.

Need, need, need... I'm almost sick of that word. Can't imagine how y'all feel hearing it from me.

I waaant a new tattoo... Hopefully in May... that's bad when there's so much going on that I have to plan out tattoos and extracurricular activities like that... May... so close, yet so fucking far.

The other day Jennifer and I were at the mall when she mentioned that I needed new jeans... yes. Yes, I do. I finally had to retire my poor pathetic skinny jeans (after wearing them about three times after they SHOULD have been retired...) after Nashville. So I've been stuck with icky boot leg jeans, which do not flatter me... I know that bigger girls should always be conscious of what they're wearing, and trust me when I say that no one is more conscious of that than I am -- but skinny jeans actually look better on me than anything else.

I hate when big girls wear clothes that they swim in -- listen, I get it; you're fat... that doesn't mean that you can't be attractive, sexy, desirable... with a figure and a shape! Trust!

So we go into this store and Jenn mentions that they have layaway... I say, "what? Nowhere has layaway anymore..." and so she goes up and asks the sales person and apparently they were having a special for layaway, too... I was like, "DUDE!" So I picked out four pairs of skinny jeans to try on... the first one was the size I usually get and they didn't fit. (Too small.) I was like, "Oh shit. No, no, no... please tell me I didn't get fatter..." #iwouldcry

Next I tried on this pair of really cute ones that were a size smaller than what I usually wear, but it was all they had - and they fit! Yay! #winatlife So I definitely had to get those... didn't like the third pair; too dark. And the fourth pair had like rips and tears in them... too cool for school... had to get those... both of the jeans were a size smaller than what I normally get! :) Don't know what was up with the first pair I tried on, but fuck em.

I haven't even been consciously trying to lose weight, but I reckon all the travel and the Mnkys has something to do with it... never have time to eat; always run, run, running. (Running to terminals, running to hug friends, running away from Twilight fans... etc...) Of course now I am consciously trying to lose weight... 17 days.

Pic of the Day:

Dear 100 Monkeys Fans

I am beyond moved by the reaction to my blog I posted earlier about 100 Monkeys. Your unwavering loyalty and support for the boys has floored me. It did not surprise me, but it floored me.

I am so proud for how much everyone has taken up for the guys; it truly was unfair that they did not get to finish their set and that they were asked to leave. They (The Hard Rock Las Vegas) conducted their practices unfairly and unprofessionally. However, I believe the boys handled the situation well and gracefully. (I would have thrown things... just sayin'.)

The feedback that I've gotten through comments on my site, my Facebook, the Chatter and my Twitter has been extremely overwhelming to say the least. I've been busy all day responding and replying. Someone (I'm unsure on if she wants to be named, so I won't say her name here) mentioned to me that the boys are not disrespectful and the Hard Rock Cafe of Las Vegas made them sound that way. I completely agree.

I have never before met 5 men who are more gracious, giving and downright RESPECTFUL than 100 Monkeys. They constantly look out for their fans, they take excellent care of their equipment and are beyond grateful to get to play the shows they play in the cities that they do.

I really hope that all of this can get put behind us as soon as possible. I am glad that everyone is now aware of what happened and how the boys were mistreated, but I'm sure that it's not something that they want to dwell on, so I'm thinking that if we all just get it out not -- bitch and moan at the Hard Rock for an apology and then move on to focus on the boys' amazement, that we'll all be happier Mnky fans. ;)

This is a memory that makes me upset when I think of it -- I get upset at how they were treated, how the staff treated the fans, how the staff treated their equipment, how the staff treated the boys... HOWEVER, there are a few other memories from yesterday that immediately make me *beam* when I think of them, so I do believe that I'll try and focus on those now.

I'm not saying that I'm "over" this, that it's all better and fixed now - I'm just trying to look ahead to the future. I know that RIGHTNOW this is such an important thing that 100 Monkeys fans ALL OVER THE WORLD want to deal with head on.

Here's a list of places that I am aware it's been posted:

Ten Gossip, as written by the ever-fabulous, Willow Raine.
Team j.action Facebook
Monkey Business 
Team Jacksper
Jackson Rathbone Online
Jackson Rathbone Source (from Brazil!)
100 Monkeys Chatter

If you know of a website or blog that has posted a link/my story, let me know so I can add it up here! Overwhelming, yes?!

My blog post has been RT'd countless times on Twitter - I don't have an exact number of how many hits that I got, but I know that it's been a lot. That is actually a really scary thought, if I can be honest with you. I know that by now, with how many times my Twitter name has been mentioned along side @100MonkeysMusic that they boys have read the blog. I just really hope that they're not upset about it, I hope that they're also thankful that someone put the real life account of what happened. I really tried to make it as accurate as possible.

(Jackson said that he wanted people to know and be aware that the Monkeys did nothing wrong in this. Well, I guess I did my part then, didn't I? I think this is one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations.)

I really just want them to know that I support and love them. Isn't that what we all want? We all want to support and love them and show them our undying gratitude for giving us their fantastic music and face melting shows.

Some people had asked, "well did anything good happen yesterday?" The answer to that is YES! The second show was so fucking incredible that half of my face is still missing from being melted off. They. Rocked. HARD. It was amazing. Yesterday I experienced shows 5 & 6 and last night's show was one of the best that I had seen - regardless of what happened, regardless of them not being able to hear themselves (I've been there boys; nothing frustrates me so much...) they still melted my face. I can't speak for everyone who was there, but I know that Jennifer, Crystal and Alissa and I all LOVED the show and we all said that we had never rocked that hard before in our lives.

So in closing - thank you 100 Monkeys fans for the support you give to the boys each day and then in turn, for coming here to read my blog, post your thoughts and retweet about it. You're insane in the best way possible. You're fucking amazing and you know it. I want you to know that I read and appreciated EVERY single time you commented the blog and every word that you took the time to say. I read every single tweet and if I missed replying back to you I deeply apologize, but know that you were not overlooked. Not in the slightest. You are incredible people.

Please keep rocking,

Jodie Platz

PS - I'm going to party tonight in Vegas for my BFF's 25th birthday celebration, tomorrow I'm spending the day in Vegas but I'm editing photos. I didn't get as many good ones as I did in Tulsa. Along with the sound equipment sucking major ass, the lighting was wretched, go figure. But! I will be seeing the Monkeys again soon... ;) Always an opportunity for new photos. I really liked setting my camera down and just rocking out, singing their words back to them last night...

My Massive To Do List

"I wish you'd known me when I was alive..."

I woke up this morning feeling like P. Diddy. Funniest thing in the world. Laughed my ass off.

My to do list for the day... It's so close. Tomorrow I won't have much time to do anything in the morning before my flight to The Vegas. I'll have time to straighten my hair, do my make up and throw up a few times, maybe get something to eat (so that I have something to throw up, that was my mistake in Tulsa - not eating).

[[This list will be edited throughout the day so feel free to check back later and see what all I've completed or added to the list -- comments of encouragement earn you gold stars.]]

-Go see Dread!

-Get a coffee

-Update iPod

-Put confirmation numbers into iPod

-Call Hard Rock. For the 6th time. Literally the 6th time.

-Finish packing.

-Find my concert outfits.

-Do my nails. (I have electric orange and navy blue... opinion?)

-Pack BOTH pairs of sunglasses

-Bring meds

-Chargers, batteries, BOTH cameras.

-Sharpies

-Burn DVD for boys & Willow.

-Burn CD for boys.

-Dye my hair Came out a lil redder than I wanted it to. Oh, *this* is why you're not supposed to wait until last minute to do things! #lessonslearned

-Remember what else it was that I was supposed to do...

More to be added... gotta go.

Pic of the Day:

#ROFLACOPTER

Probably

I probably should stop where I'm at now.

I probably have two choices ahead of me and I probably have to choose the one that you do.

I probably won't be happy with the decision.

I probably will get my heart broken by the end of this.

I probably don't remember what it's like to breathe without you.

I probably will want to hate myself forever for even starting this blog if you ever find out how to Google.

I probably will have to explain myself to you someday.

I probably will then want to kill myself because I have a very large mouth and tend to word vomit all over you.

I probably do all of this because I am so fucking in love with you that I can't see straight.

I probably will scare you away because I don't know how to hide my feelings.

I probably should stop loving you...

I probably can't, so I won't.

Leave The Light On

"...the kinda morning that lasts all afternoon..."

Niiiine days! Wewt! Mnky, mnky, mnky!

So... we *finally* got a fridge... Dude. We've only been living here for fucking two months. Yo. Still no stove, which is irking me because I'm so tired of eating like Hot Pockets and shit out of a can... At least now we'll be able to buy more than just a days worth of food at a time. Ick. And ice! Yo! We've been buying a BAG of ice a day and of course, the left over melts and we have to buy another bag each day... but dude... no longer.

We have a fridge.

Now... now we just need to work on getting a stove.

Man, this landlord is like, super slacker of the year. Does that mean he wins? I don't know.

So... VEGAS!

Willow, Jenn and I are fucking MAYJAH excited about The Vegas.

You see, [imagine me with glasses, this works better if you think I'm wearing glasses...] Vegas is so proper, so refined and mature (not premature... very mature) that Vegas (or the city of "Las Vegas") must be referred to as "THE Vegas".

You must RESPECT The Vegas. You must UNDERSTAND The Vegas. You must never underestimate The Vegas. The house always wins. You will never kick The Vegas' ass... it will ALWAYS kick yours... And you will LOVE it. ;)

Things I'm stoked to see in The Vegas:

-McCarren.

-Monkeys.

-Willow.

-Patty.

-Copious amounts of alcohol.

-The MGM. (The greatest place on earth.)

-Dollar margaritas.

-My convenience store!!

-The Bellagio fountains... again...

Willow and Patty have never been to The Vegas... meanwhile this is me and Jenn's 7th time... *counts on fingers, then nods* Yep. Lucky number 7. :)

ALSO!

This will be the very first time that we're going to The Vegas NOT for Justin Timberlake.

*INSERT LOUD BREATHY GASP HERE*

...Dude.

I know.

Shocked the fuck outta me, as well. But... we always have October... No worries, Justin. Howeverrrr... we WILL be in The Vegas for Justin's birthday... and Jenn's. Lordy... uh... how old is he? *hangs head in shame that I actually have to THINK about that...* 29? Lord almighty. 29.

We have a kinda system going with Justin and Jenn's birthday... Since his birthday is January 31st and hers is February 1st we do two shots... One at 11:59 and one at 12:01 --- celebrate his birthday, celebrate her birthday -- all at once.

Now. Justin has a habit of going to Vegas for his birthday... so... uh... hey, Justin... Don't.

So mah chickas... what are you most looking forward to in The Vegas? It can't be seeing The Monkeys... like, duh. ;)

Picture of the Day:

Plan your life accordingly.