Ups and Downs

Last night, I went to see Regina Spektor at the House of Blues. She plays piano effortlessly. Her voice is amazing and her lyrics are offbeat yet beautiful. Her ensemble band was really good as well. Two young asian men playing bass and violin and Matt Chamberlain (drummer) who has drummed for Tori Amos in the past. Dinner at the Red Pearl was excellent. Their dishes are asian yet you would not be able to duplicate by eating anywhere else. I just have to say I love going out and having fun. Downtown wasn't busy at all, it was great to walk around without worried about the craziness of traffic and groups of people. This was my up.

Tonight is my down, lethargic evening puts me to bed at 7 pm. Throat scratchy, sneezing, getting up every few hours to put benzocane on my toothache. The seasons decided to change overnight. I am feeling a bit better, but it seems so hard to think of productivity when you are feeling like this. Life is funny like that I guess.

My picture with Chris Brogan

We are were some crazy San Diego Tweeps in the right place at the right time. I look forward to reading the book "Trust Agents". Love ya BWE09, looking forward to BWE10 - I am pictured far left.

Jack's 4th Show

Sat. Nt., I took my 7 yr. old to the Jack's Fourth Show (concert) at the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine. Jack is a popular radio station in the LA area. I got tickets through a promotion so I thought what the heck. So E and I drove up to see Missing Persons, RATT, Eddie Money, George Clinton, Joan Jett, B-52s, Foreigner. It ended up we only say 4 of the 7 bands but for being an outdoor show, not bad. This was not her first concert, she had been to two prior concerts. When she was 5 yrs. old, I took her to see Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus and last July I took her to see the Idols Live. Both of those concerts were in her age range, not so sure this was but we went had a good time and I survived. Wasn't sure what I was thinking taking her to see a bunch of bands older than I was. But she knew some of the music from Joan Jett and the B-52s (from playing the Rock Band video game) so I wasn't too worried about her being bored. Here is my recap:

I knew Missing Persons and RATT were the first bands to come on so I took my time getting to the concert. So we ate quick dinner at a restaurant called Harpoon Henrys along the Dana Point Harbor. I had a clam chowder bowl and she had the grilled cheese. Ok for restaurant food, there were probably better places to eat out there but I was not familiar with the area.  After eating, we continued onto Irvine. When we got there and RATT was just wrapping up the song Round and Round comes on and E says I know that song. Ok, I am thinking...so much music from Rock Band and Guitar Hero is overlapping this generation it is crazy. I have tix to lawn seats (free for all in the top level, you bring your own blanket and sit wherever there is a space), we sit in front of a wall in the back, pretty much the only space for a blanket left. No one in back of us so that is good. There were a few kids I saw walking up to the lawn area so I am thinking..this concert is kid-friendly (relief in my mind). I drove an hr. and a half and I am not turning back. It kind of was kid friendly, I just wasn't sitting in that area. E and I sat where in front of us were nice people drinking beer and having a good time. We got settled at about intermission time and then Biz Markie came out and did a guest appearance which was great. He say his one hit wonder "Just a friend", old school rap and some beat-boxing. Those were memories. Then Eddie Money came out, he has some good hit songs, I totally forgot that was him that sang...Two Tickets to Paradise, Baby I'm in Love, Take me Home Tonight. But he looked and sounded like crap- the songs were good though.  E was having a good time noshing on her pretzel and cotton candy. Next up was George Clinton, he comes out and starts singing "Flashlight"- I start smelling skunk, so glad E didn't notice. George is one crazy guy, his dreads were out of this world plus one of his band mates comes out in an adult diaper. Laughter from E. "Ha ha, the guy is wearing a diaper", she alerts me. I am thinking well at least he is clothed or better yet is wearing more than a sock. E enjoys the guitar and blues riffs. I heard the people around me praising the guy in the rastafarian beanie. Great, I am thinking, he also proceeds to light a "cigarette" and I give him an evil eye- someone points to E telling him there are kiddos around. He then goes a few steps up to hide his smoke.  I am glad she didn't notice. Then is Joan Jett. She starts singing some of her unknown songs and goes into her classic songbook Crimson and Clover, Heartbreaker, finally E's favorite I love Rock and Roll. I myself can't believe I am singing this with my 7 yr. old, I remember singing this very song on the bus in first grade "put another dime in the jukebox baby". Ahhh the memories. Joan Jett was probably the best performer there and she is a rock goddess which made the trip up to Irvine well worth it. Lastly, we the B-52s came on they looked the same as in their Love Shack Video, just a tad bit older, same hair-dos. But they started with old, old songs ones I didn't recognize at all. Got to the point where E was coming down from her sugar high (or perhaps a contact high).  She did want to stay for the song Roam but it wasn't meant to be, we did hear it from the parking lot as well as my fav. Love Shack. In the sea of cars luckily, I found mine. We got home about 11pm a decent hr. considering it was out-of-town concert. Beat but glad I went so I can cherish memories reliving the 80's with my 7-yr. old daughter.

My thoughts on hate

 This is a rant.

I have seen many news stories lately on hate, religion and war. History repeats present in many forms. Wars because of religion. Hate because of religion. Wars because of Hate. Religion based on Hate. It is this cyclical mess the world cannot get out of. I tend to shy away from the news, CNN or any other source that brings news because it just isn't positive anymore. Everyone is fending for themselves. It seems the only time people come together is when there is a catastrophic event or a fundraiser/marathon/ awareness month. Right now, there is a war on what kind of healthcare America should provide. The reason why we don't have the healthcare system France, Spain or Sweden has is because there is no compassionate care in America, it is all about the bottom line. TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy are basing story lines on this, Seattle Grace can't give a test because it is $5000 and who is going to pay when the patient cannot afford? I understand that there are costs associated with healthcare and it is a business like anything else, but to be afraid to go to the dr. because of affordability scares me. I have seen bills from my son's checkup on a region and it wasn't pretty. I could of bought a used car with the 5 hrs he was in the hospital (most of the time waiting) and there were no operational procedures done.

I am no expert on War, Religion or Government Affairs, but what I do see is Hate. I have seen it when gay marriage wasn't granted legal in CA when it was already legal for that time window. Isn't LOVE of another person regardless of their gender enough?  LOVE is so hard to find these days, I myself have been through the struggles of finding LOVE. Religion has made these guidelines that it has to be between a man and a woman, because the bible told us so. I am all for religion, free belief system, that is why America has the freedom they have, but when any hate of another is involved it makes me sad.

My conclusion on hate is we live in this divided world. I am not so sure how long it will take to bring us all together but we cannot let a catastrophe or casualties in our system bring people out of their bad reasoning of the world. 

Halloween Preview

Went to Target this evening, spent about $75 on 3 halloween costumes. One complete Witch Costume and two doggie costumes. This is great (hint of sarcasm) with $75 I could get a weeks worth a groceries, but I am settling for one month of joy. You cannot buy pictures of your dogs dressed up as Frankenstewie or Lola the Princess. E is a witch this yr.

I should be sleeping

I blog best in the middle of the night or just before bed. I seem to think more openly, possibly something I wouldn't say if I was not half asleep but cannot sleep. Perhaps, i have things on my mind. Today, I slept in and didn't feel guilty, I had a massive headache so I was technically sick. If I mope around without being sick, I am unproductive but if I am sick and mope around it is alright. I guess there is logic to this, but I would like to mope around and not feel guilty about doing so being perfectly healthy. Right now, I don't even watch Oprah when it is scheduled, nor do I tune in to The Priee is Right. I would love to watch Plinko in HD and scream at the TV but I don't. I don't even schedule trips to the beach and pretend I am in Hawaii. I love my computer too much and my twitter friends. Can't afford the iphone service, so until that time comes I am glued to my home wi-fi and leave only for hour-long trips jogging around the lake or climbing the mountain. My dogs Stewie and Lola,  like my company and I like their company as well. They follow me around the house, they know when it is treat time. Lola likes her daily greenie and Stewie likes his dried chicken wrapped rawhide. Lola also likes drinking out of the hose when I am watering my plants currently on life support. This is a great partnership the dogs and I. Anyways, I really should be sleeping because right now I am just ranting.