Ska Fest

Last night I ended up going to Ska Fest with Paul and a couple of friends. Ska Fest is exactly what it sounds like–a fest of ska music. I wouldn’t say I listen to ska often, I like a lot of new wave music, and I would say that ska falls under that category, but I’ve never thought, Hmm I really feel like listening to ska right now.

We saw Blitz the Ambassador perform. Never heard of them? Yeah me either, but it was actually really good and fun to dance to. I was pleasantly surprised because I’m one of those people who goes to concerts to listen to music they already know. I don’t like discovering new bands live. For some reason I reserve live shows for bands that I love and respect. But it’s weird because every time I end up going to a show of a group that I’ve never heard of, I fall in love with them.

Blitz the Ambassador

The best part, as per usual was the crowd. So many judgments were made! It was hard for me to concentrate because my head was spinning in the midst of all the freak shows!

First of all, you know how concerts always smell like booze, cigarettes, and sweat? This place reeked of weed and the worst B.O. I’ve ever smelled. And we were OUTSIDE. You would think all of the odors would be carried away by the breeze, but nope. It was a cloud of smelly pot. But I could look past it because everyone was having so much fun.

80% of the crowd was sporting dreadlocks. It reminded me of high school. I think I would get frustrated having my hair being a tangled, matted mess. BUT it would be nice because you could use them as a pillow. I bet people who have dreads sleep really well because they have double the head-padding. Double the pleasure, double the fun.

I distinctly remember this one girl who was kind of off to the side of the general audience and she was dancing like no one was watching. And I don’t think anyone besides me was watching. I was transfixed. She literally stretched out before the band started playing. Whenever she would turn her head, her gigantic earrings would come around a whip her in the face. She had no shoes on so her feet were black. So beautiful. She was like the Black Swan of Ska Fest.

Overall, Victoria’s 13th Annual Ska Fest was a success (for me, anyway). I’m glad I went! Next week is Victoria Buskers Festival…so expect a blog on street performers and how creepy they are!

4/20

For some reason the date April 20th is National Pot Smokers Day. Who decided this? Why do pot smokers need their own day? They get to relax all the time! Seems unfair.

I never smoked pot. I tried to smoke cigarettes but I couldn’t really figure out the whole breathing smoke into my lungs thing. How are people so good at harming their bodies?! I feel like I should have been given this gift, but alas, I have not. So I didn’t even try smoking pot because apparently it makes you cough even if your doing it right.

I went on a run last night (I know) and I could smell someone smoking weed around me. The only two people I was approaching were this older, well to do couple. It had to be them. Unless one of them likes Eau de Cannabis, I’m pretty sure they were tokin’ like a pair of teenagers. During this part in my run, I was getting pretty exhausted (5 minutes in) and I had to cough, but I didn’t want them to think that I was coughing because they reeked of pot and that was a way of me telling them that they’re gross. So I held in my cough until they were far enough behind me that I felt safe. Should there be an age limit on pot smokers? I feel like once you reach 40, it’s seems kind of desperate. Like, grow up dude. Although I’m 24 and I still say dude.

I guess you could say that people in my high school were into weed. And by into weed I mean they dressed in patchwork clothes and talked about jam bands. Those kinds of people. But I loved them. They were always super nice and appreciated my sense of humor. Although I think they appreciated any attempt at humor.

Always havin' a good time.

My friend went to Hawaii a couple of years ago and she traveled for hours to go see some natural wonder that I’ve forgotten the name of. While she and her family were deep in the Hawaiian jungles (does Hawaii have jungles?) they saw Woody Harrelson smoking a doobie. He saw them and literally ran away. That’s how I remember the story being told. I feel like a lot of celebrities do this. Remember when Miley Cyrus was caught smoking pot and her publicists made up a drug that “definitely wasn’t marijuana.” So Miley just happens to be the only one into salvia right? And salvia has all of the same effects that pot does except that it’s not illegal? Look, my spell check doesn’t even recognize the word salvia. I don’t know what kind of fast one her publicists think they pulled, but they weren’t fooling anyone. Miley should have taken the Woody Harrelson approach and booked it outta there.

I feel like I’m on the island of misfit tokers over here. Everyone does it. The oldies, the young ones, and everyone in between. Why is it so prominent here? Are they better at growing it? Someone please give me answers!

Why are people like Bob Marley and Willie Nelson considered pot smoking gods? Both of these men severely freak me out. Not Bob as much as that inbred Willie. Celebrities are definitely into the ganja. It’s probably so easy for them to obtain. Michelle Phillips from The Mamas and the Papas said in 2001 “Marijuana should definitely be legalized. I think we should let everyone smoke it without fear of being thrown in jail. It’s the greatest drug in the world!” Oh Michelle you messed up creep. Anyone that was married to John Phillips, destroyer of Mackenzie Phillips’ life is not someone I would take advice from.

Barf.

So whats the consensus? Weed–good or bad? How are you going to celebrate 4/20? I’m going to celebrate by watching Finding Nemo on mute and listening to Dark Side of the Moon. And surrounding myself in tie dye. So trippy.