Hey!
First of all your question is not stupid, it is ok to ask about things that you don't know.
The seeking of aid, as a request, call, praise, speech, or as a question in Islam is allowed but it is not called prayer. It is called Duaa.
Ibn al Qayyim (d. 751 AH) defined it as, “Asking what is of benefit to the person, and asking the removal of what is harming him, or (asking) the repelling of it (before it affects him)” [Badā’i al Fawā’id 3/2]
U can do that any time you like.
For detailed information about Duaa click on this link:
http://www.jannah.org/articles/duah.html