Hey Everyone!!!
I am just reeling right
now. I'm starting this column on January 15, 2001.
(You'll be getting this later though.) It is 9:12 and
about an hour ago exactly, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by
our boys was played on KZQZ 95.7 FM San Francisco
here in California. It was played on "Hella Hot, Hella
Not." For those of you out of the area, it is a big
thing for this station because it puts it in the hands
of the listeners to vote whether or not they want to
hear it on a regular. Well, they played it about an
hour ago, almost exactly. The first time I called in
this guy picked up the phone and I told him that it
was "hella hot" and I'd cry if they didn't play it.
The second time I told him I'd do ANYTHING to make it
permanently hella hot. And, well, you get the idea. I learned
the method of "fast fingers" on the phone. I was
happy that I couldn't get through for a while. I knew
that everyone was voting hella hot for the guys! The
end results you ask? 98% HELLA HOT, 2% hella not. Of
course we all are thinking that the 2% was either one of
the 2 A) A miscalculation by the phone people at the
Z, or B) Some people were so excited to call in that
they accidentally voted "hella not." You should've
seen me, I was pacing back and forth like a madwoman.
I was nervous of course but more thrilled. When
Micheal Mann (Bless his soul) started talking about them,
my hand was over my mouth. Melanie and I were in the
room together and both of us were just sitting there
going "wow." My dad was standing at the door smiling
and we woke up my mom who had started napping to hear
it. I was thrilled. I called and voted and called and
tried to call till the lines shut themselves down to do
the final tally. My heart skipped a beat when I heard
that it was officially Hella Hot. I was totally and
completely thrilled. I was running around the house and we
were all happy.
I have been sick the past
weekend and this entire night was EXACLTY what the doctor
ordered. I was feeling pretty gross today and this was it.
All I needed. At about 8:25 I jumped on my phone and
did the only thing I could, call my Big Bro. I called
him up, it basically was one ring and the first thing
I said was "Big Bro, it's your Lil Sis." And as
soon as he said "What's up Kristen" you just could
feel his smile. There was a lot of noise in the
background and I totally could hear the phones ringing and
people talking. There was commotion but I could hear
Todd loud and clear. He told me that it was quote
"ghetto" basically Z 95.7's online listening function
wasn't working so they called up Rye's parents and they
held up the phone to the speakers so the guys could
listen to it on their speaker phones. (FYI: Townsend's
in LA for their school tour for QSP.) Then I was put
on hold since Todd's dad (Trex as you guys know him)
called So basically now they have to convince their
promotional director that it needs to be played on a regular
rotation. I told Todd that my hand was on my mouth the
entire time. I didn't keep on the phone with him very
long but long enough to be completely healed of
whatever was making me sick. The icing on the cake? Before
I hung up my big bro told me he loved me. I'm
officially healed. I think I'll call him whenever I"m sick.
After I hung up I cried. I had been going through major
Todd withdrawls especially. At school in my Spanish class everyone seems to
have a biological brother except me and everyone was
talking about how their big brother taught them how to
throw a football or got protective of their sister when
boys came onto the scene. I didn't have that and it
bugged me that I missed it, then I heard the stories
about wedgies, noogies, and all the stuff that comes
with the territory. It was the story of my two oldest
cousins. This whole conversation meantime was in Spanish.
Senor Wallace asked me about any of my older sibs. I
told him that I had a brother. I showed the class a
picture of Todd. Everyone who didn't know about Todd had
the most confused look on their face. Everyone got it
after I explained. I missed Todd and hearing his voice,
yeah, it made my day. I can honestly say I felt pretty
icky for the past couple of days and he cured me.
So now it's up to you guys. I just want you to keep
callin and emailing! I have to say that if it weren't
for a lot of encouraging fans and some special
emails, the song would've never made "hella hot, hella
not."
Ok so was that "fix" enough for you? Seriously my
mind is reeling right now. I think it will be the rest
of the week and I can't give you a fully focused
piece of writing right now. But I'll try. I had one
planned out and I'm going to try and focus up for the
sake of practice. I know I won't be able to focus
tomorrow so this is practice for my never ending geometry
class tomorrow.
Actually, I think that I
should've put the whole Todd call story after this column
because of what I had set to write about. One of my
mini-new years resolutions this year was to be organized
and to have a set plan more often. It'll benefit me
more in the long run in school and life if I stick to
it. My set topic was to write about something that
has been particularly bothering me for a while now.
Well, it hasn't been bothering me, it's been more in
the corners of my mind. Lately, I have been recieving
emails from some people who are questioning the guys'
personalities. I know I've touched on this subject a couple
times but it seems like once the dust has been settled,
a situation or something like an email kicks it all
back up again. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. In
fact I encourage any questions to be asked especially
if there is some way I can help answer or repair the
situation in any way at all. No names of course are going
to be mentioned. In fact some of the emails were
from non-members. Anyways, the email is in regards to
the guys and whether or not they have changed and
their personal lives and such.
First off let me
tell you this. If Townsend wasn't exactly who they
were to me over a year and a half ago, I would be long
gone from this picture. I have the priviledge and
honor of calling them friends, just exactly they way
some of you reading this can to. It's one of the great
qualities, the guys have more friends that are fans than
fans that aren't friends. They touch us on a very
personal and candid level. To me they are a big extended
part of my life and I cherish them very
much.
Now that we've gotten that said, it won't come to a
shock that I say, yes they have changed. Ok ok let me
explain this more and quickly so you don't get the wrong
idea okay? I have a feeling that either you're
spazzing out or you're in disbelief that I'm saying it and
condoning the situation that I have been put in to make
this judgement.
Let's analyze them one by one
okay? I think this might help since I've always talked
about the guys as in this light as a group rather than
five individuals. First up, my Big Bro. Why do you think I've
called him my big bro? He is. I wouldn't call just
anyone family like that. Todd changed? Besides the color
of his lips? (haha) Yes I think he has. In the sense
that he's grown into the mold of a polished artist.
He's become a better performer and a better artist
with every flow and every show. (Hey that rhymes...)
But one thing hasn't, him as a person. He's still
Todd, I don't know of very many singers who still have
no shame to sign autographs with blue lips and to
just be so incredibly loveable. He's Todd but singer
Todd. Nothing has changed him and nothing ever can.
It's his foundation, it's where he came from that
makes him special and still does to this very
day.
Batter up, Matt. Our sweet little, Saint Matt. Yes he's
changed. Let's face it, he's gotten a nice Californian
tan. Yeah, I can honestly say that's it. Period. He
came in with an awesome voice, it's still incredibly
awesome and he still is an awesome dancer like before. He
looks good with a sufer boy compection don't ya
think?
NEEEEXT...Nick. Yup, that twin, no not that one, the one that's
four minutes younger. Yeah, he's changed. He told me
that he changed admittedly. He told me that he's
closer to the guys and has a greater appreciation for
this show biz gig. He's told me of all the stuff that
they had to do. Next time you see Nick ask the guys
what their means of transportation was, besides the
van and how THEY got around. K?
Dun dun
dun....Dom...(don't you love how this all gets cornier and cornier?)
Yes this boy has changed. It seems like not that long
ago this guy was sitting in front of me and telling
me about his qualms of the industry. It brought a
certain look on his face that a child has going into
kindergarten. Well congrats, Dom you have graduated kinder
care. He's taken on to show biz beautifully. Of course
Dom seems to adapt to any situation easily and
conforming to it. Here's another to go on the
list.
And last but not least, our sweet sweet dear Rye Rye.
This guy has changed the most to me by far. I noticed
this a while ago though, I think the originals can
back me up on this one too. Everytime I saw him, his
popularity had increased just a bit more. And everytime it
did he was more open and less shy. His "warm-up" time
took less and he seemed to be more and more out there.
Although he's still very shy at times, he's always putting
himself out there with the guys. He's never as quiet as
he was and he's always more and more willing to say
something. Shy yes, but no. Get it? Let's face it, he's
always been a ladies' man, now it's just showing
more.
It's hard to explain but there IS a very very vast
difference to a performer and a person. They're similiar,
they even start with the same first 3 letters. But
what you see on stage is kinda what you get off stage.
When you're put on stage, the focus is on you and you
have no choice but to put yourself out there because
if you don't, you're wasting everyone's time.
Basically, Townsend isn't wasting your time. They feed off
of each other's energy and simply GO. What you see
on stage, a group catering to a very large group of
people screaming their names, singing their songs, and
taking part of the lovely hysteria. What you get off
stage, are five very personable guys. They can talk to
you on an equal level. It isn't about the time they
have. I've talked about this with a couple people
before. It isn't about the time they have for us, it's
about the friendship that the effort and the love,
trust, and loyalty has been put into. And when it's all
returned by a simple action (because actions speak louder
than words) it makes it ALL worth it. I can tell you,
this trip has been worth it, and I'm ready for
whatever ups and downs are going to be coming at us in the
future. Luckily I have all of you to ride with. Next order of buisness. This whole "Faker"
incident. Holly and I have been angered by it and I
personally have been bothered by it. I have spent a couple
sleepless nights staring at my ceiling (Holly knows how
those nights go) trying to figure out what we can do to
make it better. I've gotten a couple amusing ideas to
rid the situation but they seem more entertaining
than productive. Within the emails I was asked if I
was "worried" about actions of the faker herself. Ha!
No way baby. Holly and I took on this club, whatever
trials and tribulations there would be. We have
benefited so much and this is simply a simple pebble in the
shoe. Let me put this out now to the faker if you're
reading this. I still don't know who you are. I've gotten
an idea but I still have no way of being 100% sure.
But if you're mad, be mad at us, the co-founders that
put out the statement. In no way should there be any
retaliation because that's merely childish. If you're angry
and want to talk about it, I'd be more than willing
to sit down with you face to face and tell you why I
have been on the brink of asking for your user name so
I can delete you. You are lucky to have someone
that you are harassing care so much about privacy.
Holly and I have a level ZERO of tolerance for any of
this and if we had your user name, you would've been
long gone for consistently bothering another member.
Time has enabled me to cool down and to realize that
if I deleted you, it would've been too easy for you.
We recently got a new member and she reminded me why
Holly and I love this so much. This faker is merely a
speed bump and don't think we won't drive over it and
get past it...just like we can get past the
situation, if this faker intends on stopping.
Stay
Safe & Stay You
Love,
Kristen
xoxoxo
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