Sick sux...

Home sick today...yuck! Took the kids to their 8 year old cousin's birthday party last Saturday at Peter Pipers...aka kiddie germ fest. Guess what boobie prize I apparently came home with???? BOGOs had a lot of fun though playing Wack-a-mole and Skee ball. Chloe was not a big fan of the rides, however. Good to know before the State Fair blows into town as I was wondering whether or not to take them...now I know...wait til next year!

BTW - Kleenex brand with lotion SUCKS!!! Stick to Puffs Plus for true comfort and consideration for your nose. Just sayin'...

Busy busy weekend...

Had a great time this weekend with Hon and my sister. She's moving this Thursday for Oregon ... still working through that one. I purchased tix for the Fall Frenzy for our anniversary and Pink tix for Hon's b-day. When I asked my sister what she was doing she said she was seeing Rob Thomas on Friday and Pink, Sunday - what were we up to. So I said we were doing the same thing. "Really!?!" So for her last weekend in AZ we got to hang out...which was probably the most we spent time together, ever. Except when visiting my mother...maybe.

Anyway, the show Friday night was great fun. It was held outdoors at Tempe Beach and started at 4pm and went to midnight - the weather was perfect! Colbie Caillat started the show and was wonderful to hear live. Gavin Rossdale took the stage after Colbie and did some Bush tunes as well which I totally appreciated. The B-52s, whom I do enjoy, perhaps overstayed their welcome. They played more obscure (or new?) stuff that just didn't fair well at all ... considering the line-up I think they were just a bad match.

Jason Mraz re-started the crowd and did an amazing job...OMG...he was a pleasure to watch and made me a fan. "Dynamo of Volition" is by far my favorite song of his and as everyone said, he's a great live show!

Rob Thomas was the headliner and closed the evening with what felt like the quickest set ever. His set was cut short due to them running late and the city closing the stage down at midnight. So that was a bummer although, he did actually play for an hour but I suppose it just flew by. Hon and my sister swooned when he stepped up to the mic, along with half the crowd. All in all it was a very nice evening.

Saturday was Jo's b-day so we chilled around the house and then Sunday night met my sister at Westgate for the Pink concert.

Ting Tings opened - they were fun but nothing substantial. Retro pop sound with a nice up-beat party feel, they've had some airplay with "That's Not My Name" and "Shut Up and Let Me Go".

We scored floor tix - I bought them back in May - and met up with some friends near the stage. We were just left of the catwalk about four people from the stage. I would have really appreciated being taller but fortunately most of the crowd were near my height so it wasn't too bad.

The lights dimmed, a carnival-muscle-body guy came down the catwalk and began cranking this box. Suddenly, the stage floor opened up right beside us and Pink is being pulled up on this harness covered in an overly large feathered pink boa. She began making her way towards the stage by the time I got my cell phone snapping...DRAT!

Can't say enough about her performance. She was amazing; far exceeding any expectations. She sounds perfect live; danced beautifully, and even with a dislocated shoulder - she put on one hell of a show.

Her cover of Divinyls "I Touch Myself" was hot - slithering around a chaise lounge with hands coming through the fabric to "assist" her while she sang the lyrics...hmmmm.

Then she really opened up her Rock Chops when she sang Zeppelin's "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" which was OUTSTANDING! Her lead guitarist, sorry - don't know his name, was spectacular. The crowd was obviously unfamiliar with this song as they certainly didn't respond in kind. He was robbed the gratitude his performance deserved. Great job, Pink and if by some odd chance this blog should reach you - YOU NEED TO PUT THIS COVER ON A RECORD!!!

She also covered Bohemian Rhapsody, which Meyers brought back to fame with Wayne's World which is why I think the crowd responded as well as it did. She did a great job on that as well, and then covered Crazy, which the younger crowd knew...I did not. She sounded great and I actually prefer her version to Gnarls Barkley's.

The performance overall was very well executed and I'd compare it to a Cirque du Soleil in many aspects; the costuming and makeup, the choreography, and the style. I would recommend her show to anyone - she's a fantastic performer who you can see still enjoys performing and sounds even better live than in the studio - HOW RARE!!!! And her body is slammin...some of the costumes she wore really showed off her hard work.

You Rock, PINK!!!! I've even more respect for you!

Tough decisions

Almost three years ago (Christmas 2006), my Hon bought me the car I always wanted ... a Saab.

I blogged about it, showed of pics, detailed her regularly, and now 33 months later, I still adore this car. Now this really says something. I, once upon a time, blew through cars every year. Not that it was economically wise but I would trade in my car for a new one just about every year. If I was over 50K miles it was time to go shopping. Once I cleaned my rims and the cleanser permanently scarred the finish ... time to get a new car. I would get bored, miss that new car smell, want something completely different (i.e. Jetta to 4x4 Tracker convertible).

Sad thing is, she's not feeling well. The engine light has returned, a couple of window motors have become fatigued, and she's some cosmetic issues both interior and exterior. The sun is damaging her vinyl touches and rubber moldings, and most importantly, she's jerking around on some morning and losing her pep; her zeal!

I've been eye-balling this Lexus IS250 with a/c seats, bose stereo, and shinier components...but I'm just riddled with guilt. In the past I've always had that pang of guilt when trading in the car but this one is different. I really want to keep her to maintain her, to retire with her. She holds a lot of sentimental value to me and I truly have not grown bored or tired of her but economically I may need to let her go. I don't know that I can do that.

Ideally, this transition won't occur for at least 6 months or more. I have that time to really get to compare the pros to cons list and figure out what's best for both of us. I'd like to think she would end up with someone who loves and appreciates her as much but there's never any guarantees of that. I'm her second owner - 2 is my fave number - that says something, somewhere, right? Yea, not so much but there's still this connection. I knew the moment I saw her at the end of that lot I was taking her home - she would be mine to love and cherish. Yea, I'm not sold on giving her up - everyone's telling me it's time to let her go but I'm not convinced...not yet anyway.

When we get on the open road and I'm using the manual shift, the moonroof open, and the stereo pumped, I can tell she's excited. Even Hon can tell when she's in the mood to run. That's the sweetest feeling...absolutely no hesitation...I actually have to hold her back! Tough decision indeed. Glad I've time to consider.

Santa Monica Pier - 100 YEARS OLD!!!

On September 09, 1909 the Santa Monica Pier opened to a crowd filled with anticipation. What was originally built as a public utility service, the SMP has proven to be an icon worthy of all the visitors and community that play and enjoy all that she has to offer. The 1,600 foot long pier began in 1908 and took 16 months to finish. The purpose? ... to carry sewage out to sea. How wonderful!?

Fortunately, the imagination and interest of the community squashed that idea. Fishermen began flocking to the edge since opening day. Popeye, the famous cartoon character, is thought to be created after Olaf Olsen, a retired sailor that frequented the pier.

People would come to enjoy the outdoors, stroll the pier, spend time with family, and within a few years plans were drawn to add an amusement park.

In the 1920s the Ferris Wheel was erected and the landscape remained the same ever since, despite efforts to tear it down in the early 70's for a resort. The community rallied and protested and created a historic preservation for the pier. Tragedy struck again in 1983 when storm after storm left the pier missing a third of itself - donations and determination allowed the pier to make a comeback.

It's a wonderful vision - after 100 years - to see that ferris wheel in the sunset. Just down the road apeice is my favorite locale, Venice Beach home to Muscle Beach - and other eccentric sorts of afternoon frivolty. What a spectacular place to go - now that summer is over it's that much more magical, in the autumn weather with the season over, to stroll the boardwalk and mosey down the pier.

On this day...

1996: Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas (he died six days later)


I'm not a huge fan of rap - especially now that it is used in EVERY SINGLE SONG on the radio (which I also find not very worthy) but "back in the day" there was some really true talent.


Tupac's personal life was very shady at best but his voice - don't know what it is but he had the most incredible sound - must have hit some chakra for me?
He had this bounce to his rhythm and the flow was insane. Controversial to say the least but his music lives on and on. He would flash that smile and those big brown eyes and you'd just appreciate his "California Love" but my favorite is "How do You Want it?"