Ticketmaster can BITE ME HARD!

They're like this evil dictator that rules over concertgoers and turns awesome, reasonably-priced $15.00 tickets into $23.00 tickets. UGH!

Can someone explain to me the difference between a "convenience fee" and an "order processing fee"??? And why, exactly, it costs Ticketmaster $4.00 to process my tickets when I print them out my own damn self 30 seconds after paying for them???

*sigh* I'm going to see Bell X1 in June at The Ark. They're a band that I probably wouldn't go out of my way to see under other circumstances, but I love that venue so much, I'll see just about anybody there! It's a non-profit music venue in Ann Arbor, really small and intimate, great atmosphere, and just a really chill and lovely place to see bands! They host a lot of folk music, and smaller less-well-known bands. The Ann Arbor Folk Festival I went to back in January was a fundraiser for this venue.

I probably should have asked my friend who's going with me to go down there and buy the tickets in person to save some fees, but she's in the last few weeks of her grad school program and quite busy. (Also, she's a notorious procrastinator at the best of times, and I don't want the tickets to sell out! Bell X1 is a larger band than they usually host at The Ark, and they don't have a whole lot of seating, so I wanted to be safe.)

Anyway, I think it will be a great show! And by the time I go, I will have forgotten all about how Ticketmaster ripped me off. D:

In other news: DAMMIT I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE DECEMBERISTS! (I was supposed to see them in February, but the show was snowed out and rescheduled for this last Friday--the night I had tickets to see the Pixies!) Becca was telling me all about the show, and it sounded like SO MUCH FUN! And she recorded seven minutes of video of them playing The Mariner's Revenge Song, complete with audience participation/roleplay, and guh--life is not fair! Whoever rescheduled that show for Friday is seriously on my shit list!

And now I will stop complaining about my Very Hard Life, going to concerts and spending money I don't have. :P HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

An actual nice, non-ranty entry where I get a bit sentimental.

My parents left yesterday for their cruise, but before taking off, my mother made me an Easter e-card to be delivered today. I opened it, viewed the ridiculous video of the talking cat with the bunny ears, and discovered that my mom had hidden an Easter surprise for me in the piano bench!



My mom is so sweet. :D

Also putting me in the Easter mood, my friend and I dyed Easter eggs last night:

( Hippity, hoppity... )

And then, reading everyone's messages about Easter and Passover on their journals. Now, it's well-known that I am not a religious or spiritual person: but I will say, I am always touched by sincere faith. Not so much faith in a god, or any sort of supernatural force or presence: but faith that life is worth living; that every person is capable of redemption; and that love makes a difference. Perhaps this is not faith in the truest sense of the word, as it's not always blind: I can find proof of these things if I choose to look for it. Perhaps it's not faith, because just believing is not enough. Part of being an atheist is understanding that belief is inherently meaningless: that life happens the same no matter what you believe about it.

What belief does influence is actions, deeds, and the choices we make: and those things can change the world, if only just a little bit. I do believe this: that life is worth a shot. Sometimes it's horrible, but it's worth pressing on, so long as you can find something to love. Love is a choice you make everyday. I don't always choose it--sometimes I choose complaining, or sarcasm, or anger. But today, I choose love: and I choose each and every one of you. You make me smile. And if I've ever caused you sadness, or anger, or aggravation--know that I am truly sorry. I'll try to do better in the future. In the meantime, please accept my sappy philosophizing for what it is: a metaphorical stash of hidden chocolate, and a great big virtual hug. ♥