Super Bowl 44, Kelly Cutrone and stupid people at the Box Office

So much has happened in the last month that if I don't write it down and capture these wonderful moments, I will never forgive myself. So here goes:

First of all, the impossible has happened, the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS HAVE WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!! WHOOO HOOO!!!

I was completely amazed, overjoyed and proud all in a matter of minutes. I cried. This wasn't just another win. This was THE WIN!!! The one we had been waiting for for 43 years. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I know I am only 32 and never witnessed the "early years" of Saint history, the "Manning Years". But missing the first 11 years, doesn't mean that I am not a true fan. My daddy taught me how (among other things) to bleed Black and Gold. For this, I am truly grateful because it made this win even more delicious.

Without the first 11 years, I still have so many Saints memories. There is a great picture of my dad and my godfather walking up to the Superdome when I was like 2! Growing up, and going to games, were so exciting. I remember the Bum Philips years, who for me WAS the Saints. Because I was so young, I didn't realize that coaches come and go. He wore a HUGE cowboy hat, and at the game, we would scream, "Hey Bum, take your hat off!"

I recall the Jim Mora years, the Ditka years, the Hasslet years, and finally the victorious Payton years. All these years, with all these coaches, there are so many memories that run through my mind, and throughout all of them there has only been one thing that has stayed constant..... my dad. My daddy is the biggest Saints fan that I know. Which makes this win, even better since he is going through a pretty rough time right now, recuperating from his operations. This victory gave him a few moments of joy and happiness. It's true the Saints have done alot for the city of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana. But just on a personal level, I appreciate the Saints so much for putting a smile on my daddy's face. After the win, Momma said he was grinning from ear to ear and just kept saying, "I can't believe the Saints won the Superbowl." It might have been just a game for some; but for my dad, the win made him forget about his pain at least for a little while. And nothing, not a parade nor a party, not even the Lombardi trophy, could ever compare to the gratitude in my heart that I feel for making a great man feel great!

Now onto other things that I am obsessed with in the world: namely, Kelly Cutrone. So if Bravo is my crack, their new series, Kell On Earth, is my beer back. Right now, I am ADDICTED to everything Kelly. For those who don't know, Kelly Cutrone is a PR fashionista. With her no nonsense approach and straight talking attitude to everything, especially her business, Kelly Cutrone is who I want to be when I grow up. Though she is very nurturing to her 7 year old daughter and most of her employees, she says what she wants and means what she says. But if you cross her and you're wrong, she doesn't sugar coat anything! She'll call bullshit on you In. A. Second. HOORAY!!! FINALLY!!! A woman with balls, who I can relate too. No walking on egg shells, no candy coating, just down right heart-of-the-matter brutal honesty, who will ream you when you make a mistake, so you won't ever do it again! Another thing I love about Kelly is her style. She often wears all black, hair in a ponytail or looking dishevelled, and no makeup. THE WOMAN IS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY!!!! But she makes it ok to go to work DRESSED DOWN AND (wait for it) COMFORTABLE!!! Truly, can anyone say, "MY HERO!"

So I bought Kelly's new book, entitled "If you have to cry, go outside" (FAB!) and can't put it down. Kelly Cutrone proves that there IS a way to balance work, (and be successful) and home, namely motherhood (and, you guessed it, be successful!!). In someway, I think she is my fairy godmother. In case you haven't figured it out, we HEART Kelly Cutrone!

Last, but certainly not least, it's been a while since we heard great stories from the box office. Since we opened our two new venues uptown this year, our season never really stopped. Usually, the concert season runs from about March thru October. But Kyle (my new bestie) and I have been working throughout the year and now business is really starting to pick up again. With that comes, LOTS of stories from idiots, er, I mean patrons, who come to see the shows. So here are a few good lessons that I wanted to share:

1) I HATE SCALPERS!!! : Ok, so I get it. Times are tough. The economy sucks and we are in a recession. But this DOES NOT give you the right to scalp tickets that you either a) got for free through a friend or b) you bought on sale for $10. And you can't sell it cheaper than the box office, IN FRONT OF THE BOX OFFICE!!!! WTF?!?! Last week, I walked up to this huge guy (who was 3x's my size and could easily squash me with one hand) and said, "Dude, seriously? You are not trying to scalp tickets right in front of my box office, are you? Take it across the street." And to emphasize my seriousness, I did my best teacher-snap point and pivoted on my heals to walk away before he could catch, I mean, um, argue with me. Point made. My cajun mouth is SOOO going to get me in a whole lot of trouble one day.

2) Is cussing at me really necessary? It's a regular occurrence, in any service industry, that every now and again you're going to get unhappy customers. I understand and accept this concept. But does that really mean that you have to, or have the right to cuss ME out?!!!?!? People I don't set the price of tickets, and I DEFINITELY don't see any of the profits. But it never fails, there is always someone who complains about the price of a show. You see, when you check ticket prices online, it shows the base price of a ticket, then (even though it is in small print) it say "plus service charges". Even when we advertise a concert on the radio or phone message, it gives the base price of tickets, and at the end it says, "Plus applicable charges." So when people come to the window thinking they are going to pay one price, and are told a different price, I TOTALLY understand their frustrations. BUT TO CURSE ME OUT??REALLY? Think about it, when you buy a car, the sticker price doesn't include tax, title and license, do you curse out the salesman? When you pay a credit card bill, you are paying for your items, plus their service charges, do you cuss out the credit card people? Even when you go to Walmart, the sign may say 99 cents, but when you get to the register, you still pay for tax. SO MANY of the every day things we pay for are never really the price on the sticker. Yet I, the one who works with children all day, get called every name in the book by you, the "child" who is throwing a temper tantrum at my window. I deal with children all day. They cuss me out too, but in most cases, they don't know any better. You on the other hand, do. So STOP BEING A DOUCHE BAG!!! Oh, and have a great day! *smile*

3)Name droppers: Ok, so you know "people". Good! You are friends with people in the band. Great! You are a family member of the artist who is playing tonight. Wonderful! So if all this is true, then why do you get upset at ME, when your "people" don't give you "the hook up"?!?! See, I get a list from the band of people who are considered their "guest". This could range from people in or associated with the band, production crew, and/or record label. Contrary to popular belief, I don't know any of these "important people". All I get is a list. A list which tells me the "freebies" (All Access passes, Meet and Greet passes, free tickets, etc.) to give out and who to give said "freebies" to. Basically, I just do what I am told. I don't personally know "Bob", "Carol", "Crusher" or "Mike". So if you don't get the specific "freebie" you want, telling me that you know "Bob", "Carol" "Crusher" or "Mike" does not help. "Crusher" and his entourage could give a rats ass about the little cajun girl selling tickets in the box office. As much as I would like it to be true, I am a nobody. VIPs don't know my name and I don't know theirs. So while name dropping may work in the "real" world, it doesn't work in the world of the box office. Now a few Benjamins slipped my way just might change that rule..... but that's a whole different story. *smiles*