Amandastarr21781's Journals

Criss Angel, Jason Siska, and oh a state named Florida Part One

Well I am back from my vacation. It wasn't long enough. I don't think anyone wants to return back to work after their vacation. Sigh.

I had an amazing time. I visited my second home, Clearwater Beach, Florida and then hung out in Orlando. The first night I got into Clearwater I got to meet and see Criss Angel. I learned he was there to film an episode of his Mindfreak show that was to occur the next day. My mom and I went walking the beach that night and saw all these people swarming barricades and cops all around so we walked up and thats when we learned about Criss Angel being there.

At first there was like 40 people huddled around. By the end of the night there was like 10 of us. It was around nine at night. Criss was going to escape from the Spyglass Hotel that was going to be imploded to make way for ugly, big, hideous condos. The Spyglass was a very nice hotel. Anyway, he started jogging shirtless back and forth from the hotel to his trailor. It was the night before his stunt. We all followed him and chased him through a section of the barricades.

He did this several times teasing us fans until more then the 40 of us showed up and he then got a golf cart to caddy him back and forth. I got a picture of him but it is just of his arm and part of his head. I had a perfect shot but some idiot dude pushed me and almost knocked me into a cop as I snapped the picture. After about 2 hrs of him doing this mom and I got bored and she ran into Criss' brother and got a picture. Across the street Criss team and production crew were meeting and dining at Britt's cafe so mom and I headed there but really not to see them but to sit and have drinks and watch all the crazies chase Criss down. They have a nice deck area that overlooks the beach but this night was blocked by all the trailors and such.

After we finished talking and having our drink we walked back over to the barricades to where Criss was. He came by briefly shaking hands then ran to the hotel. This is where the dissapointement came in. For those who don't want to know how Criss does his tricks don't read the rest of this.

By now there was 10 of us left because it was a little after midnight. Criss production team said they were doing a run through but it was really him filming all the crap that went on inside the hotel when it was supposed to implode. I filmed it the best my camera could. He was supposed to be out of the hotel in 3 mins because thats when the building would come down but my camera filmed him not popping out until 4 mins on the roof where a helicopter was waiting for him. So right away me and mom new that something was up and that he wasn't going to really be in that building when it imploded. And sure enough later on when the actual event went off the next night he didnt pop up on the roof he popped up coming from beside the rubble. I felt stupid for cheering with all the other 10 people when Criss popped up on the roof during his supposed "run through" after I realized this.

So by 2 am I headed back to my hotel nervous how he was going to pull off this dangerous stunt because at this time I wasnt really sure how he would pull it off until the next night when the building did implode. Well, the next night mom, my brother, and me made it back in time after our visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa. They had the roads closed at the beach so we were stuck on the causeway that leads from Clearwater into Clearwater Beach. We made it to a restaurant in Island Estates and parked the car. The valet was nice enough to let us park there to watch the Spyglass event. Even though we weren't on the beach to witness the event you could still see the Spyglass Hotel all lit up from the Causeway. There were cars everywhere. So anyway we walked over to the docks beside the restaurant and talked to another lady who I think says she saw a figure jump from a balcony which I think I have on film which was him and how he escaped. There was all kinds of news helicopters and of course his helicopter that was supposed to pick him up off the roof was there.

The building blew up and a young guy behind us was on his cell. He was talking to a friend who was there at the beach and he says, "It's good! Criss popped up in the crowd beside the building." to everyone cause we were all like well?

Shortly after I started to fit pieces together and my grandmother was watching it on tv as it was live in the hotel room and she started to tell us what she saw and I was like sure enough everything she saw of him in the hotel trying to escape was what he filmed the night before. Plus I looked it up and one of the Tampa news stations already debunked from what they filmed of how he escaped. It kinda just ruined it all for me. But I decided I am going to post my videos so if there are die hard Criss Angel fans, please do not watch. I am warning you now.

I have lots more vacation news but I think this is a long enough blog. lol!

Criss Angel Mindfreak

Ok so I was taking my annual vacation in Clearwater Beach, Florida and who do I learn is running around the city? None other then Criss Angel, Mindfreak. He was in town to do is stunt of escaping the imploding Spyglass building. At first I thought hey this is cool until I realized and learned how he did it based on my footage I filmed of him the night before the implosion around 1 am. I am still a fan but I am disappointed on a few things. I have a pic I will post of him when I get back from vacation in the week but my videos I am unsure if I want to post. For those who are a major fan I don't want to offend so for now I am choosing not to post my footage but that may change idk. I do have footage of the building imploding to make way for condos I can post when I get back too.

On a lighter note, my vacation has been wonderful so far and I am now in Orlando, Florida about to do Sea World and Aquatica Waterpark. I did Ripley's museum tonight with the Pirates Adventure Dinner show. But for now this is all I can blog about because I am so tired. It is 11:24 pm but I have much to blog about my trip.

Finally A Vacation

Well after a setback and scare, I am able to leave tomorrow morning to Clearwater Beach, Florida at 5am. I would have left today but my grandmother who is traveling with me is in the hospital right now and they hope to release her sometime today. She went in with chest discomfort but the doctors believe it is due to her broncials after all her tests came back fine from her heart. They decided to keep her one more day and do a stress stess and if that showed up fine, she is free to come home. I haven't been able to finish packing or sleep much since she went in on Friday night. Edit- She just called wanting us to pick her up that they are releasing her, yay!

On a lighter note, I am finally on a freakin vacation! lol! It's been a year. I need one. I'm sick of all the stress from my crappy job. I can't complain much though because it is a full time job which I should be lucky to have with all the crazy crap going on in the economy but I dont get paid enough to deal with all the bs that occurs.

Going to chill at the beach for a few days and then head to Orlando. There, I am doing the Pirates Dinner show because I mean come on, who doesn't love a pirate? Haha. Then we are doing Sea World and their new water park Aquatica where they have black and white dolphins I have never seen before. I didn't even know those types of dolphins exist and they are my favorite animal.

While in Clearwater, we will also be hanging out at Bush Gardens in Tampa. Love that place. I am a roller coaster fanatic. I love the Montu coaster. It's my favorite at that park. And I hear there is a new coaster since the last time I was there, so I am anxiously awaiting to check it out.

Somewhere in the mix Downtown Disney is thrown in because I have to say goodbye to my favorite club there as they might be closing in September which is The Adventurers Club. Sigh, everything good always closes down. And eating of course at Planet Hollywood because I love a drink called Sweet Death Becomes Her. It's got Rum in it, need I say more?

Universal's City Walk is cool too. I love eating at the Hard Rock. Even though I have like tons of Hard Rock shirts from here, I always buy another lol! It's like a collection thing. But I do collect them from every Hard Rock I visit.

So pics and blogs aplenty when I get back in two weeks because I always run into something unexpected. Last year I found Hulk Hogan's house, this year who knows?

Cobra Starship 6-12-08

So on Thursday, Jube 12th, I saw Cobra Starship with We The Kings, and The Secret Handshake.

We the Kings were awesome. It was so hot inside headliners and the place was packed full. Before the show as we were all standing in line, Vicky T was filming some sort of skit with Gabe and Alex who took off in a girl's car and took forever getting back. You can see the video on Cobra's Friends or Enemies page. It is hilarious.

Then Gabe got on top of the car and started posing. I was able to meet Alex who took a picture with me and was very sweet. Then we waited in line again. My brother and I had arrived around 530 pm. The doors didn't open until 7pm.

When Cobra came on, everyone was up dancing and jumping around. When they sing the song, "Bring It", they brought it. I was able to meet the band after the show for a meet and greet inside the club. Everyone was nice including Gabe who told my brother to jump into our picture together. Gabe is very good at taking pictures when he is in the picture. haha whereas I can't shoot myself like that for anything.

I wish I could see them again on Warped Tour but we are taking our annual family vacation when they come close to Louisville again. I do hope that they return here soon after though. I saw them on the Honda Civic tour last year with Fall Out Boy but tonight with more songs I got to hear and see live, I think this show gave them more justice for me. Have fun on the Warped Tour guys and here is to you all hopefully returning again to Louisville.

My Top Three 2007 Concerts of The Year

Since all my other friends are doing it, I should join the band wagon. Here is my favorite top three concerts out of all the concerts I attended and will miss from 2007.

Top Concerts of 2007

1. Honda Civic Tour 2007/May 21st

Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is, +44, Cobra Starship, and Paul Wall

2. Hawthorne Heights/ June 14th, 2007

W/Powerspace, Brighten, and From First To Last

R.I.P. Casey

3. Lifehouse/ July 12th, 2007

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas friends. Those traveling stay safe and I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas. :)

In Memory Of Casey Calvert from Hawthorne Heights

Wow! Words cannot express how I am feeling right now. Sad, Shocked, and confused.

I cannot believe that Casey Calvert of one of my favorite bands, Hawthorne Heights passed away last night in his sleep. I met him three times when I saw the band here in Louisville. He was always smiling and nice to his fans. Hawthorne will not be the same without him and will be missed.

This is taken from their website for those who did not know:

http://hawthorneheights.com/

Today is probably the worst day ever. Its with our deepest regrets that we have to write this. Casey Calvert passed away in his sleep last night. We found out this afternoon before sound-check. We've spent the entire day trying to come to grips with this and figure out as much as possible. At this time we're not sure what exactly happened. Just last night he was joking around with everyone before he went to bed. We can say with absolute certainty that he was not doing anything illegal. Please, out of respect to Casey and his family, don't contribute or succumb to any gossip you may hear. We don't want his memory to be tainted in the least. Casey was our best friend. He was quirky and awesome and there will truly be no others like him! His loss is unexplainable. As soon as we know more we will let you know.

Sincerely,

Hawthorne Heights

Eron, JT, Micah and Matt

Happy Turkey/Thanksgiving Everyone!

Well, I have alot to be thankful for. I have awesome friends and family, a roof over my head, and food. I hope others that do not have this can find these things and have something that they are thankful for.

As I am writing I am one stuffed girl. I ate way too much dinner. Haha. I hate turkey so I ate tons of ham along with all the other fixins.

So as we stuff ourselves I hope everyone has had or is having an awesome Thanksgiving Day and I challenge everyone to reflect on at least one thing that they are thankful for in their lives.

Peace!

Amanda

Dancing Backstreet Boys Bird Is A Must See!

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

This little bird is so adorable and only dances to Backstreet's Back. I thought that these people deserved a shout out. You should check it out when you people have the time. It is amazing how he just starts dancing on his own and to the beat at that!

Hopefully he can raise awareness to bird sanctuarys and rescues.

Lazy Me

Wow, I haven't written anything for awhile. Work sucks and I have been looking around for a new one. And besides working, not much has been happening lately since my last post.

I am looking forward to seeing Chevelle on the 6th of November if I can come up with some extra money and then on Dec 7th I am going to see The Starting Line at Headliners. That pretty much sums up what I have to say for tonight.

Stay safe friends and if I dont blog for awhile, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!