Yea.. It's been a while..

I know. I know. I've fallen off the face of the earth when it comes to blogging... And really and truly, nothing has been going on that is other any interest... No, really. This summer has been really boring ever since my trip in May... I stayed home most of June and did summer school all of July...

The only interesting that did happen since may was, I did see Ben again... Yes, more pictures of Ben... He surprised his fans with, the way he called it, a "Record Store Tour"... Him and some of his friends loaded up in a pick up truck and hit the road for about two weeks..

Yes.. They are "special"... But that's why we love them... despite their odd ways of making tour happen...

Ben's friend, Scott Taylor,
opening the show

They did get a bunch of pink "fuzzy" cupcakes from two fans, though I am not naming any names.. hahaha... just hoped they enjoyed them... 2 AM and three dozen cupcakes... sigh.. Guess we are special too....

By now, I think that there is no need for me to go on about how good Ben and his friends did.. so I am just going to post my favorite pictures...

This is one of my favorite pictures of Ben from these shows... and yes... I made him pink... because he is in the band Pink Fuzzy Animals... hehee.. yea, very lame...

But I thought it was funny....

Peace and Love.
<3

The "New" Guys for the "New" Band

So as I said in my last post, 100 Monkeys are no more. This was a devastating blow to all us so called Monkey Junkies. I personally couldn't really react to the news; I was filming on a movie set for my second day in a row. I couldn't cry. Couldn't react at all. And after I got home (at like 3 am), I went straight to sleep. I didn't even let myself process the news of 100 Monkeys.

Rest in Peace
100 Monkeys, Summer 2011

I have to admit, I was numb for a while. I couldn't listen to the guys' music. I couldn't even look at the pictures I had gotten signed the summer before, which might have been the worse part. All of the pictures from last summer are framed and I couldn't avoid seeing the guys.

This phase passed pretty quickly. I started listening to the music again on my way to school and while I did my school work. Life seemed to return to normal.

Until the name got taken away... Which I will not say anything about--it's none of my business anyway.

Luckily the Bens, as we called them, had already found new members to fill the spaces left by Jackson and Jerad. And they had announced a show date along with the live stream.

I remember watching the live stream. I had just gotten home from a day spent in New Orleans-- I had giant ass blisters on my feet, which had bled and caused enough pain for my mom to justify buying me a pair of new shoes that cost way more than any pair I owned. I was slightly sunburnt and in need of a shower. And quite honestly, I had forgotten about the live stream of the show.

Until my friend texted me and told me to tune in... As exhausted as I was, I grabbed my Mac and logged on.

I was expecting much. The guys had gone through hell the week prior to this show and I wasn't sure how that would come across on stage. They really surpassed our expectations-- they totally rocked the show! But something was off.. Mainly with Ben G.

As small as his face was on the screen of my computer, I could tell he wasn't happy. I remember texting my friend, asking her was she seeing what I was. Her reply was as what I expected; she agreed with me, saying that he didn't look happy. Which broke my heart.

He is one of the sweetest guys I have ever met and is usually a very happy person. But that particular night, he looked so sad; I just wanted to reach through the screen and give him a hug. We could all tell that what had happened that week really affected him. And it was coming out on stage, no matter how hard he was trying to hide it.

Rob and Mat
Spencer Bell Legacy
Madison, WI
2012

This was also the first show with the new guys-- Rob Coonrod and Mat Black. And they totally rocked the show!

I was very pleased after watching the show online; I also got very excited because I would be seeing a show with these guys very soon. And though they did not have a name at that time, I was starting to look forward to it.

Then the day came that they announced their new name-- Pink Fuzzy Animals. That was the first thing I saw when I woke up that morning. A random text from my friend with three simple words. "Pink Fuzzy Animals." She followed it up with a "Lord help us."

At first I thought she had hit her head at work that night. Then I realized what she meant. WTF?! Pink Fuzzy Animals? Really.. that was the best they could come up with? 100 Monkeys to Pink Fuzzy Animals. I just couldn't wrap my brain around it. And by no means did I want to be a pink fuzzy ANYTHING.

But like everything else, I got use to the idea. The name, I decided, actually fit the guys and their style of music. With that, I became excited to see the show again.

Finally, after months of planning, packing, and saving money, we were on the plane to see the Pink Fuzzy Animals play at the SBL in Madison. And again.. they totally rocked it!!

Mat
Spencer Bell Legacy 

Not only did they rock the show but I also got to meet the new guys. And I can say that I don't think the Bens could have found a better fit with Rob and Mat. Both the guys are extremely talented and extremely nice.

Now I am can say that I am a fan of a band called Pink Fuzzy Animals...

Jodie. Mat, and I

Rob and I

             

Peace and Love.
<3

Happy Birthday, Ben Graupner

Back in February, I posted a special birthday message for the one and only Mr. Ben Graupner. And about a week ago, I finally was able to give him his birthday presents... only three months late!!

I first gave Ben his birthday card. I made it myself,  complete with a "pink fuzzy" on the front (I know I never mentioned it on here, but 100 Monkeys is now Pink Fuzzy Animals). Ben absolutely loved his card; said it reminded him of some book he use to read as a child, but I have since then forgot the name of the book.

The next picture is of us talking while he's holding his birthday card, though I have no idea what we were talking about in this picture. I do however love his face in this one.

The first thing I gave to Ben was a My Little Pony color book (yes.. Ben is a Brony). He started laughing when I gave it to him and then smiled. "Would it be bad if I told you I already have this one?" was his question. I figured he did (which is what I told him) but I had picked up a long time before we left for the SBL show and wasn't sure what else to get him.. Ben is surprisingly hard to shop for. 

Ben also got a My Little Pony "surprise pony pack" thing. The fun in this type of pony is not knowing which one you will get until you open the pack. Sort of like trading cards but instead of being full of cards, there is an actual pony toy inside. This seemed to be a good present because Ben opened it right away, using his teeth. He asked me what pony it was but I had no clue; why would I have opened his present? I love this picture just because Ben seems so interested in figuring out what pony is in there, that he actually stopped smiling.  

Ben opened the pony and let it fall out into his outstretched palm. Surprisingly enough, he had no idea which pony he had gotten. He pulled out the little paper inside and announced "It's Twilight Sparkle!"

My first thought was "SERIOUSLY?!" Out of all the damn ponies out there, it had to be the "Twilight Sparkle" pony. And secondly there was the "oh crap" moment. I debated for a few seconds on what to say... should I apologize to him, saying that it was a complete accident? Or should I just pretend like nothing happened and hand him the next present? 

Apparently Ben wasn't bothered by the name of the pony because he wrapped his arm around me and turned to my friend who was taking pictures. 

This is Ben, Twilight Sparkle, and I being silly.. well mostly it's just Ben being silly but then again, he always is. 

I had more presents for him but we didn't get pictures of me giving them to him because some rude girls came over and interrupted Ben and I's conversation. After they had left, I handed him the rest of his presents, put the pink Mardi Gras bead around his neck, and gave him a hug. And he walked away to put his stuff up.

It was only about a five minute exchange but it was worth making him smile for a few minutes. After all, it's better to give than to receive, right?

Peace and Love.
<3

Mechanical People inspired bracelet

I have a 12 year old cousin.. She just made 12 last week.. A while back, she picked out some friendship bracelets that were inspired by the band Mechanical People.. I told her we weren't going to buy them because we would never wear them..

I had a secret plan.. Little did she know.. I wanted to get them for her birthday, which was a few weeks later.. So.. I did!

I didn't know if she would actually give me one.. I mean, I am her older cousin.. Which I was okay with.. She's 12 after all.. Boy was I surprised..

"You want to put mine on and I'll put yours on?" she asked me.. Let's just say.. I love my little cousin!!

This one is mine.. Hers is pink.. And as soon as we get together again, I'll get a picture of them together.. 

Peace and Love. 

<3

I have been

Thinking about sharing this piece that I wrote for my Philosophy class on free will and determinism.. My teacher was very impressed by my writing skills and my storytelling abilities.. I had to laugh to myself because I am a creative writing major.. Storytelling skills are a must.. Or at least one would think that..

Anyway.. Here is my piece.. Hope everyone enjoys it!!

The Magic of Movie Making Through the Eyes of an Extra

My job has its ups and downs. I started writing this essay while sitting on a movie se; by the point that I started to write, we had been on set for about 10 hours. There was marching band playing some song that I don't recognize while the cheerleaders danced. We had been there since 10 AM this morning; total amount of time spent on set was over 12 hours. Now I'm tried. And my throat hurts from screaming at the world’s longest basketball game, ever.

Sometimes I wonder why I ever decided to start working in movies. Why? Why do I want to get up at like 2 in the morning, only to drive a few hours away for around 100 bucks? Is it really worth it? Is it really worth me almost falling asleep on the way home? Will this increase my dependence on caffeine and coffee? And for today in particular, will it affect my schoolwork?

Movie making is an awesome process to watch. The process that the directors and crew use to get the right exact shot that they need is almost magical, even if we have to shoot the same shot over and over again. Sometimes it feels like the crew has OCD, shooting the same scenes over and over until they have the scene just perfect.

Even when I do complain about the hours, when we have to film the same scene for two hours or more, or even when they wait for over five hours to actually feed us lunch. I enjoy the process. I enjoy meeting new people and getting to go places where I might have never gone before. And even if it does seem like I’m complaining now, I’m really not. I try not to complain about it because I choose to do it. I choose to get up at like 2 in the morning and drive a few hours away for only like 100 bucks. I choose to almost fall asleep while driving on the way home. I choose to do it. No one makes me do it. It’s my choice. And I choose to do it.

Some people do complain on set. That’s when I want to go over to them and be like, “You didn’t HAVE to take this job. You made the choice to be here. Now suck it up!” But I never do. I never tell anyone that because it’s not my place to say anything. It is funny to think that some people act like some outside force, like an invisible hand, made them to take the job. They, however, are like me. They chose to be there.

I don’t know about the rest of them, but I will still choose to make movies. Only because I love it. It’s what I am meant to do.

© Natalie Davis 2012

Peace and Love. 

<3

Been sick

Jackson Rathbone, circa 2010

I know I haven't posted since... well I don't know when is the last time I actually posted.. last week was horrible.. I had the flu Saturday night through Tuesday and then it turned into bronchitis.. so needless to say, I was pretty much useless last week..

I missed about a week of college, which could be considered self suicide by some standards.. for those of you have never been to college before, missing that much of class time in one week is never a good idea.. if you get that far behind in classes, it is almost impossible to catch up.. so I am going to be working on that during my spring break, which starts Thursday, and I am going to start getting ready for my trip in May..

Uncle Larry, Liquid Zoo Tour, 2011

I'm going to Wisconsin.. I know.. weird place to go for a vacation.. but we are going for a good reason, my friend and I.. we are going in support of adrenal cancer.. in support of a friend of Mr. Jackson Rathbone and the guys of 100 Monkeys who died in December 2006 from the disease..

His name was Spencer Bell.. and he was an amazing artist and musician, who died way too young.. I'm not going to type the whole story of Spencer here only because I do not think I could do him justice.. I never had the chance to meet him.. so IF you really want to know the story, you can check out http://spencerbellmemorial.ning.com/

The story is there, along with his music and some artwork.. and if you want to know about the SBL concert that is taking place in May.. that info is on there too!!

We are looking forward to this.. my two favorite bands will be in attendance.. 100 Monkeys and Mechanical People.. so to get pumped for this trip, I decided to share some pictures.. Best of 100 Monkeys (2010-2011).. I included Jackson.. Only because that is my favorite picture of him..

Ben G, New Years Eve, 2010-2011

Peace and Love.
<3

The Glam Life of a Lazy Kitty

Previously, I have posted pictures of my kitty, named Lili (pronounced Lilly). Lili, or Lilly if you prefer, is extremely lazy, sleeping most of the day away in our front yard or throwing up all over the driveway.

Here is Lili/Lilly sleeping in her favorite flowerbed, next to green frog and a clay flower pot. If you look closely enough, you can see that the ground has a hole where she is laying. That's because she is always sleeping in the same spot!

Here are two more pictures of the kitty sleeping in the flowerbed. It looks like she saying, "Geez. You had to wake me up to take pictures?! Why?!?"

Needless to say, I love my kitty no matter how annoying (she meows CONSTANTLY) she may be. Sometimes I do wish that I could trade lives with her, just for a day, so I could just sleep, eat, and poop the day away!!

Peace and Love.
<3