Monthly Archives: September 2008

Throw it Overboard & See if it Can Swim: Squeeze @ the Orpheum

Killer show.  Killer Seats.  Of course, not having even looked at the tickets, I didn’t realize how good they were, so I didn’t bring my camera.  At least this time around I had my own blackberry handy to take a couple of (crappy) pictures.

The show itself was incredible.  I don’t know when I last went to a concert where I danced so much.  This was the kind of show that reminded you why you used to go to concerts back when you were younger.  The energy of the crowd was great and everyone was up singing and dancing.  Just awesome!

Squeeze @ The Orpheum 9.10.08

Squeeze @ The Orpheum 9.10.08

Next concert, whenever that may be, I’ll have better photos.  We finally ordered my camera upgrade and we should be getting it shortly.  It should actually have some low light, image stableization abilities which will be great for shooting during shows (with a basic point & shoot).  Can’t wait.

Special Report or Blogging Tip of the Day?

So I finally got around to writing my “special report” to use on my biz site.  I love how I fought myself for hours days weeks months, yet when it comes down to it, I was able to write it up in under an hour (if you rule out twitter and blogging breaks and well, all sorts of procrastination shenanigans in general).

I even managed to avoid writing it to take a break from writing this up to actually write and submit an article on some things I learned about being a solopreneur in response to a pitch.  Go figure.  I’m actually avoiding writing, by well, writing – did I mention that this is a pre-dated post that I wrote while avoiding writing my other stuff?

Anyway (or as they say in Jersey, anyways…).  The more that I think of it, the more I think that it (the first, original article I was writing this post about) might work better as a tip of the day or audio clip sort of thing.  I have seven tips, so I can easily break it out over 7 days.  Or I could add three more tips and it could be a two week e-course sort of thing.

Which would you be more interested in receiving a bonus…a 3-5 page “special report” on x# of ways to improve your blogging, a 5-7day, tip-of-the-day sort of email (audio? email?), or a 10 day e-course in either audio or email format?

And just because I think it bears repeating…please keep in mind, this is my personal blog and I do not practice what I preach.  It’s just for me, not for business.

Why Isn’t Sushi Bite-Sized?

No really?  I don’t get it.  In all honesty, I’m not a native Californian gal and never even had sushi until about 6 or so years ago.  Even then it was only California rolls (I love those things!).  I slowly progressed to spicy tuna rolls. Yes, still rolls.

To be totally and completely honest, I just can’t get into the whole chunks of raw fish on a wad of rice.  It’s not that I’m repulsed by the raw fish (I love raw and seared tuna), but well, it’s just too big.  There’s just now way that I can take a bite out of the fish to make it more manageable and we all know that there’s just no knives when it comes to sushi.

Last night I met up with a LWL gal friend and she was craving, what else, you guessed it, sushi.  I told her that I was fine as long as she knew that I only ate rolls.  All was good (though my CA roll was pretty lame) and as expected, the conversation was great.  But all in all, it still makes me wonder…why isn’t sushi bite-sized?

What Magazines Do You Read?

Which of course, in my case includes those magazines that you get but never actually read.

I try to keep my magazine subscriptions to a decent, readable limit.  Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case.  I still have about 4 months of back issues of Marie Claire.  And of course, some of my subscriptions won’t be getting renewed this time around.

I currently have subscriptions to the following:

  • Redbook (actually love it & read it cover to cover)
  • Marie Claire (rarely read it)
  • Weight Watchers (like the recipes)
  • Budget Travel (usually read it cover to cover)
  • Glamour (great fluff magazine, easy to read & great for traveling)
  • Pink (awesome business mag & I’m not just saying that because the blogged one of my articles)
  • Venus (does absolutely nothing for me since I’m not into indy-music or funky, indy-crafting – it sounded cool at the time)
  • Mac | Life (great mag for all things Mac & I usually read what pertains to me)

Then there are the husbands many subscriptions to music magazines, vintage guitar magazines, sound engineering magazines and his Photoshop magazines and whatever music industry ones he gets at work.  Yeah, it’s a bit much.  The good news, I tend to recycle my magazines at the local hospital.  So at least more than one person is getting something out of it.

What magazines do you read and why?  What do you subscribe to and don’t read (for me that’s Marie Claire and Venus)?

Face It, I’m Getting Older

I was watching the VMAs earlier and realized that lord help me, but I’m getting older.  I didn’t recognize half the performers.  I thought most of the nominated songs sounded like crap.  Hell, I tend to think that most music out there today sounds like crap (makes me a fun date for a concert – Speaking of…Squeeze show is on Friday..woohoo!).  And well, I just didn’t get half the outfits or the odd hairstyles.  I did happen to love the host Russell Brand (but I also noticed no one else in the audience seemed to enjoy his humor or his politics or thoughts on promise rings).

And don’t even get me started on the guy who kept grabbing his crotch.  What the fuck was that all about?!?!  I mean what civilized human would do such a thing?  In public?  On an internationally televised broadcast???  And who the hell wears a hoodie to an awards show when you’re actually up for an award or two?!?!

Maybe I shouldn’t have been watching a Cribs marathon leading up to the VMAs.  Maybe I shouldn’t have gone out to eat at some trendy new place on Sunset where all the women were wearing far too much eye make-up and the men were wearing more product than I was.

I guess we should just face it…I’m at that point where I’m becoming my mother (or in my case, my grandmother since she’s the one that raised me when my mom passed).  I never would have seen that one coming looking into my future.  So very sad.

So what sort of thing drives you crazy nowadays that never used to?  Are you any closer to becoming your parents?

Just Some Thoughts on Palin as VP

I’ll admit it.  I’m not the most politically aware, and I’m certainly not the most politically active. But when I feel strongly about something, well, I just can’t help it.  And right now, my biggest issue with Sarah Palin (who I actually accidentally called “Sarah Plain” as in Sarah Plain and Tall, the other night *yikes*) is the fact that she has a newborn child at home (don’t even get me started on the fact that she’s not leaving him at home or backstage where it’s quieter so he can sleep).  And not just any newborn, but a newborn child with special needs.

A little background on me…I spent three years in my former, pre-blogger, post-teaching life working with children and adults with disabilities.  In particular, most of my clients were in residental facilities (many of which no longer had any parental or familial involvment).  While I don’t know the challenges of raising a child with disabilities firsthand, I do know the challenge of teaching a child with disabilities as well as working with parents and caregivers to help them work with their clients and children. In fact, I was the person that was consulted for training and behavioral therapy and modification as well as treatment.

It’s hard work.  Really hard work.  The kind of work that doesn’t go away.  I mean, everything you do, every plan you make, every single decision involves and revolves around that individual, that family member with special needs.  There’s no escaping it.  There’s no avoiding it (short of putting that individual in a residential facility of sorts).  And from what I understand working closely with parents, it’s even more invasive, more pervasive when it comes to raising that newborn with special needs – especially when it comes to language and communication skills.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t think this is the right time for Sarah Palin to run for VP.  Let this child grow and develop before taking on such an all emcompasing task as oh, running as the second in charge of the US.  Try again in a few years maybe.  But now is not the time.  Something will have to give in her life (and the fact that there’s yet another new baby on the way makes that household even more insane – has nothing to do with family values, I’m talking strictly about the actual family dynamics of the household since I’m assuming the teenage daughter will still live at home with her newborn and her parents for a few more years).

I have not raised a family member with special needs.  I am not a mom (outside of being a loving mom to my pets).  But I am someone that has direct experience and has had direct influence in the treatment and behaviors of individuals with special needs.  I know quite a bit about this subject.  But if you want to hear from someone with real experience, both as a mom to not one, but two children with special needs, as well as a career woman, then check out Penelope Trunk’s thoughts on this issue.  It might help to put a little perspective on the issue.

Now back to my regularly scheduled blog about random and mundane thoughts and activities and well, nothing that’s regularly scheduled at all…

Pinkberry Event: Calling My LA Peeps*

Apparently, I know more people than I realized I knew.  Not only was I invited to all that MTV VMA stuff as a blogger, but my blogging also got me an interview (asking about my “freelancing”), and now, I’m invited to a special Pinkberry blogging event (thanks for the invite Tara!).

Man, blogging is good and offers some pretty cool rewards.  Maybe I should start doing some beauty and spa blogging 😉

Any local folks care to join me at this event?  Rumor has it they’ll not only will they have a DJ spinning and happy times mingling going on, but you’ll also get to taste the newest flavor.  Did I mention the goody bag? Sound pretty exciting if you ask me.

Care to come along?? It’s Tue. Sep. 9, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

*did I seriously just say PEEPS???

Ireland is IN the Bag!

I just got back from visiting with the travel agent.  Turns out we’re good to go.  Finally.

Things were looking a bit iffy there for a moment and it was looking like we weren’t getting a decent hotel in Killarney.  But then i woke up this morning to an email from our guy and lo’ and behold, the hotel we wanted (that he wasn’t able to secure, as it was unavailable) just became available.  He booked it and proceeded to exclaim that I’m charmed.

Personally, I think it’s one more example of how the whole 20 Gifts things and the power of positive thinking works.  When you set the intetion and think happy thoughts (*grin*) good stuff happens baby!

Now I just need to continue this wave of goodness and book our B&B in Galway and all is good!

Funny Stuff from the Good ‘ol Days



Remember when game shows were good?  And funny? All of these jokes were surely wasted on my childhood viewing habits, but damn, they’re funny as hell now.

Q.  Do  female frogs croak?
A.  Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q.  If you’re going to make a parachute jump, at least how high  should you be?
A.  Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q.  True  or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000  years.
A.  George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q.  You’ve  been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A.  Don Knotts: That’s what’s been keeping me awake.

Q.  According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party  and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he’s married?
A.  Rose Marie: No; wait until morning.

Q.  Which  of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A.  Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.

Q.  In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say ‘I Love  You’?
A.  Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.

Q. What  are ‘Do It,’ ‘I Can Help,’ and ‘I Can’t Get Enough’?
A. George Gobel: I don’t know, but it’s coming from the next apartment.

Q.  As you  grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A.  Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I’ll give you a gesture you’ll never  forget.

Q. Paul, why do  Hell’s Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

Q. Charley, you’ve just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley  Weaver: Of course not, I’m too busy growing strawberries.

Q. In bowling, what’s a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

Q.  It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul  Lynde: Tape measures.

Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose  Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I’m always safe in the bedroom.

Q. Can boys join the  Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty  Allen: Only after lights out.

Q. When you pat a  dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose  do?
A. Paul  Lynde: Make him bark?

Q. If you were  pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.

Q.  According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A.  Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.

Q. It is  the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A.  Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn’t neglected.

Q.Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A.  George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?

Q. When a  ouple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A.  Charley Weaver: I’ll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.

Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A.  Charley Weaver: His feet.

Q.  According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?

A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh