I admit that I have purchased VIP tickets for some concerts this past year.    While initially I thought it was great for hardcore fans,   after experiencing all the special little Made IN China swag that is given out,  the only thing of value is getting a ticket right in front.  Below is a generic list of the shit fans are given.  Don't even get me started on "limited edition" swag....you know and I know that shit is mass produced and stocked in a warehouse somewhere.  

 So here is a snapshot of what you get for your hard earned money: 

• One premium reserved ticket in the first 15 rows of the reserved seating sections
• Early entry into the venue
• Collectible photo
• Specially designed, limited edition ini statue (with custom box)
• Exclusive Festival Zippo lighter
• Collectible tour poster (limited, numbered)
• Official set of guitar picks
• Official meet and greet laminate
• Commemorative VIP ticket
• Exclusive tour gift item
• On-site VIP host
• Limited Availability

Wait a minute -   A ZIPPO lighter?   Who in the fuck uses a ZIPPO lighter?  I dont even smoke cigarettes!   Official set of picks?   The picks are so generic you could barely strum an acoustic guitar with these.   Only biggie is that the bands logo is stamped on it.  Nothing special here.   What is really a joke is the shit that is listed that isnt even anything....like the On-site VIP host.   At Van Halen,   there didn't seem to be anyone that was a host except for the food and beverage servers -  We literally had to stumble around because nothing was labeled.    Is this how VIP's are treated?   Seems to me that this is another rip off....essentially you are paying for the reservered ticket...all of the other fabulous gifts are nothing more than vaporware...or shit that will just end up at the Goodwill someday. 

And to bands out there who dont even hold a meet and greet....I wont' be buying anything else with your logo on it...as well as music.   You clearly don't give a shit about your fans now that you are a rock star.   Ugh.

I reflect on this year's mother day with a great deal of joy.   My mom has been there for me whenever I have had problems in life.  We may not have always seen eye to eye on things...but her loyalty and hard work has enabled the successes I have had in life.   After my parents divorced,  I chose to live with my mother since my dad had already had another women waiting in the wings -  typical behavior for a man who

emotionally needed that virtual breast to feed upon as he dealt with his own demons.   My mother never once had any affairs, physical and mental, on my father -  a feat he never seemed to either understand or his self absorbed brain didnt want to deal with.    My mom worked as a waitress during this time and prior to the divorce, and always made ends meet for us kids.    Every Tuesday she drove me to Miracle Music to my guitar lessons.   Often times the sessions would boil over past an hour and I would be sitting on the edge of my chair while my guitar teacher seemed to maunder on and on about all the girls he was meeting at concerts.   Amusing as his stories were,  I often had to guide my guitar teacher back from these stories so we could focus on songs I wanted to learn.   My mom waited and was there every single time.  I thank mom so much for making sure we had the basics for survival.   I know she was depressed for a long time....and enduring that and making ends meet and not giving up is something I will never forget.  

Here's to you momma!!!  I love you.

I picked up some trading cards from a local mini mart....you know those Korean type of mini marts that sell fighting knives,  ephedra,  scales and laser pointers?    I love these types of stores as they have some of the most interesting things for sale.   In Anacortes I bought a plastic 9 mm handgun model.   Not wise.....a little kid buys toys like that and it could lead to. 

Anyhow,  its interesting how other cultures define stereotypes such as things "white trash."    10-4 Dumbass!  A reference to CB'ing?