The Jo Dee Messina Show...

What a weekend in Ellsworth, WI

Friday: June 27, 2008
My day starts at 2:00pm
Gather final items needed for show and tickets with Tommy - DONE
Verify stage construction and audio set-up is on-time – DONE (in record time I may say)
Lower stage roof and wait for Jo Dee's stage items to arrive Saturday morning- DONE
Finalize Saturday staff & crew responsibilities – DONE
Verify for final time power supply is secure and ready for Saturday- DONE
Listen to Ellsworth Boy Scouts complain about the Popcorn machine…. Oh yeah.. If we let them use the old time popcorn machine and warms no show Sat.. - DONE
Listen to Ellsworth planners tell the Boy Scouts they will get there money back for the vendor spot.. PRICELESS!!!
Finally leave grounds for the day 12:00am

Saturday: June 28, 2008
Day starts at 5:00 am after getting about 3 hours of sleep
Return to grounds for the day 7:30- DONE
Verify stage is still standing and crew arrives at 8:00am to prepare and wait for Jo Dee Messina and crew - DONE
Jo Dee Messina arrives at 9:15- DONE
Breakfast catering arrives at 9:30 which is 30 minutes late- DONE
Messina crew sits down for Breakfast 9:35 – DONE
Ship two band members in limo to local gold course for 18 holes at 9:30- DONE
Ship bus driver to local hotel in limo for a day of sleep 9:30 - DONE
Messina semi truck doors open for unloading 9:55 – DONE
Start setting up 400 chairs for VIP seating at 10:45 – DONE
Catering arrives with lunch for crews 11:45 – DONE
Thunderstorm rolls into area with heavy rain, winds, and funnel clouds… ohh and LOTS of rain 11:45 – NOT PLANNED but everything gets covered in time. No damages.
Messina management concerned with stage stability 12:30 - DONE
Meeting planned and takes place to correct issues 12:45- DONE
New stage stability finished as stage is finished being set- for the show 3:00 - DONE
Sound check takes place with Jo Dee on stage 4:00 - DONE
Final stage prep takes place and final check of equipment is completed 4:30 – DONE
Volunteer and security meeting takes place giving final instructions 4:30 - DONE
Opening act arrives for set-up and line check 4:45 – DONE
Set-up complete for opening act 5:30 – DONE
Security staff meets with Messina's road manager 5:30 – DONE
Security staff in place 5:55- DONE

The moment of truth hits as the gates open at 6:00 - DONE
Catering arrives with dinner 6:00 – DONE
Tommy & I hit stage at 6:00 to intro opening act and use t-shirt cannon… Ohh yeah and I get mobbed by people as I give away four backstage passes - DONE
Opening act hits stage at 6 to 6:45 – DONE
Opening act returns to stage 7 to 7:45 – DONE
Stage hands mop stage and final prep takes place for Jo Dee Messina to hit the stage 7:45 to 8:15 – DONE
Jo Dee's Meet and Greet – 8:00 to 8:30 – DONE
Tommy & I hit stage to intro and interact with crowd, then into Jo Dee Messina 8:55 – DONE
Jo Dee Messina finally hits the stage at 9:00 – DONE
Run to front of the stage on the ground to handle security for the show 9:00 - DONE
Jo Dee Messina leaves the stage and loads bus at 10:40 – DONE
Local crew who are all volunteers return to take down Jo Dee's equipment and front of house 10:50 – DONE
Jo Dee Messina's crew finishes loading semi and leaves the stage at 11:50 – DONE
Arrange final local crew who can still walk to help take down remaining stage and audio at 11:50 – DONE
Escort Jo Dee Messina's bus to main road at 12:15 AM – DONE
Finalize remaining staff and close-out remaining issues then leave grounds for bed at 2:00 AM – DONE!!!

Sunday: June 29, 2008
NOTHING BUT SLEEP!!!!

OK… That's the most I remember…. But what a great weekend.. I learned a lot and can't wait to do it again next June in Ellsworth, WI at the Cheese Curds Festival!!!

2008.... The Year of Dan

Well here we are another year has begun and I only hope it’s better than 2007?
Some of you know that 2007 was not a great year for me personally… I lost friends, love, and even my home, and the worst yet…. Confidence in myself. I will NOT let 2008 be another 2007!!!
When it comes to friends I’ve lost a few, reconnected with others, and even made some new friends.
The Tuesday Crew was a group of friends I spent just about everyday with for just over two years. There are individuals I miss seeing and sharing a drink with, but others I don’t and they are the reason I have walked away. I’ve always said every rock band needs to take a break from the road to re-group, so I left the road and the Crew to re-group and take control of my life. There are times I wish I was still on the road, but then I realize this is the best move for me.

When it comes to the love I lost…. WOW… This is a tougher thing to put down in words..

I've changed the presets in my truck, so those old songs don't sneak up
But they still find me and remind me of you
I've never been know to order new things off the menu, that I never tried cause you didn't like them, but two drinks in you were by my side
I've talked to friends
I've talked to myself
I've talked to God
I prayed liked hell but I still miss you
I tried sober
I tried drinking
I've been strong and I've been weak
and I still miss you
I've done everything to move on like I'm supposed to
I'd give anything for one more minute with you
I still miss you.... I still miss you baby

We still share time together as friends, and we even agreed NOT to fall in love again with each other. I’m sorry to say but I think we have both failed at this promise. Are the good times worth fighting for??? Only time will tell if she is ready for that and if she’s ready to fight for my heart and love. Does my heart have walls around it??? YOU BET!!!! If someone walks into my life do I go for it?? YOU BET!!!!
Jude, I love you but it’s time for you to step up to the plate and take a swing… If not; it’s strike three and the game is over. Swing away!!!! I know you have the power and strength to fight.. Please look deep down inside..

Now the living situation… I’m pre-approved and I’m ready to start applying for the different programs I need to make the offers I want. I hope to be in the new home but mid March. The town home I was renting from my sister is getting ready to hit the market, and I’m still held up here at the parents place trying to live life and prepare for the next bachelor pad. J

Here I sit....

Well here I sit stuffed on all the Thanksgiving trimming's for a second straight day..
I hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day?
Let me just start out by saying... I'm not much of a writer.. This is something I have never been good at.. The writing down of my feelings and thoughts..

The last few weeks have been up and down to say the least. A few weeks ago after a failed relationship of 10+ years my sister and two kids moved into the townhouse with me. Being the good younger brother, I gave them all the rooms, and I have been sleeping on an air mattress in the living room. This really kills my bachelor pad I had going. :(
I went from just me to three more and a second cat. I really need my sleep..
This current situation has also caused me to have to start looking for a new home to purchase and move into meaning even more stress and less sleep..
That reminds me... I better find the air pump so I can re-inflate my bed.

So you ask what I'm looking for... I'm looking for a nice home in the No.St.Paul/Maplewood area that's at least 2 bedrooms. Of course there needs to be a basement so I can set up the DJ equipment and sing karaoke every night. I was born and raised in No.St.Paul and would love to be closer to the parents. Besides.. It's nice going to the parents and getting my ass kicked in Wii Bowling by my Dad.

Other than that... I finally got to sing with a band for the first time this past Wed. at Sgt. Peppers. City Vibe was nice enough to let me join them, and sing lead on September by Earth, Wind & Fire. I'm just happy a family member was there to see it so I can brag to my family.. Guess you could say this karaoke guy is starting to gain confidence on stage. Watch out world!!!! ;)

After singing I had to fly and rescue the ex-girlfriend from the bar next door. I just couldn't let her sit there all alone on Thanksgiving Eve.. I'm still not sure why I have feelings for her but I do.. Talk about two people trying their hardest to destroy each other. That's us!!!
But I must say things have gotten better and for the first time she realizes what she lost. Well.. that's what she claims.. I love her and always will but I must do whats right for me, and move on in life. She always says when she turns 30 she wants to marry me..
Well that's 5 years away and I will be 44 then and still older and possible 6 feet deep. Oh yeah.. Yes.. There is a 14 year difference in age. For those of you who figured that out on your own.. that's simply means you never went to school in district 622. :)

OK.. Well for only the second blog I will stop here... I will keep you all posted on the move and life. Who knows things might just turn out for the best this time around.

Love ya all...
Dan
aka Homie DJ Dawg

The life of a nice guy

It's amazing that assholes can get girls.
Actually, now that I think of it, it's not that amazing. They are assholes at heart, but to meet girls they lavish their undying love. IT'S A CHARADE. They act nice, friendly, and they listen… until they get into what they're after. Their prey thinks they are in love with them, however when they realize what assholes their predators really are, they pretend like the asshole is really nice inside. The girl tries to change the asshole into a nice guy, but assholes will always be assholes. She gets upset and goes to the nice guy to complain about the asshole. But she claims to love the asshole… now this is where the theory begins. She doesn't want to look like she is easy so she wont dump the asshole right away, instead she will stay with the asshole. Girls are idiots. They don't realize that the nice guy has been there all along. He never had to pretend to be a good guy to get girls because he is naturally like that. However, girls don't see it for some reason or another. They look at the nice guy as a friend, a trusted companion to whom they can tell their sad story to about their asshole boyfriend. But the nice guy isn't THAT naïve. He was trying to score with the girl he listens to all along. The problem is that since he is a nice guy he keeps listening. Since girls get attached to things that pay attention to them, they think of the nice guy as a friend. A FRIEND. They don't say, "Oh he's hot" or "I want to have his children" about the nice guy, they just want the emotional support. When they get the emotional support from the nice guy, they don't need it from the asshole. The nice guy gets the shit end of the stick while the asshole gets all the action. I am starting to wonder if being a nice guy is really the route to take to get action…..
Women complain that there are no nice guys in the world. Right. They are obviously not looking hard enough because there are nice guys EVERYWHERE!!!! Girls aren't looking for nice guys… they say they are but they're not. They are looking for the perfect asshole, but there is NO SUCH THING as the perfect asshole. All in all, the nice guy gets the shaft. To all the girls out there with boyfriends that don't treat you with respect, that don't listen to you, and that don't care about you I say this; look next to you. The guy that has been standing next to you the whole time is the guy you have been looking for. He is what you want your asshole to be like. He knows more about you than you know about yourself… because he has listened to it all...