I've been listening to The Flaming Lips since junior high. Since "She Don't Use Jelly" and "Bad Days." I've always been a fan (but truth be told I haven't really gotten into Embryonic). Jacob and I have seen them at least three times and mine and Jacob's song is Do You Realize?? - a sweet and honest look at life and death. Jacob has also been a long-time fan, even more so than me.
So a few months ago we bought tickets to last night's Edgefield show. They are one of the very few bands we will fork out more than 30 bucks a ticket to see. They played there in 2009 and, as expected, it was a spectacular spectacle. They always put on an amazing show. You definitely get more than your money's worth of entertainment from them. Lights, glitter, people in costumes, lasers, Santa, aliens, Wayne in a giant inflatable bubble walking around the crowd. It's always amazing! They embrace the freaks of the world (for real, be who you wanna be!) and people go all out to show their "freakdom" at these shows...even before the show starts you get some good entertainment just looking at how people dress for the shows.
It never disappoints.
But last night disappointed. To say I left the show wanting for more is an understatement. The opening band, Wild Ones, was actually quite good - a solid sound with a stellar drummer (I love me a good drummer!) But the spectacle we've all come to expect from a Lips concert wasn't there at all besides a handful of concert-goers all decked out. While the songs they performed were awesome - they did a good job there - it just wasn't a Flaming Lips production. There was a little bit of confetti and I liked Wayne's suit, an I am pretty sure he was wearing the blue fuzzy gloves that comes with the Tickle Monster book that Roman owns, but the lights and props and frenzy were mediocre at best compared to the usual.
And the set was undeniably short, which is the worst part. I can actually do without all of the other stuff if their set is top-notch, but they were done far before the Edgefield Noise Ordinance time of, what? 10, 10:30? They stopped playing at 9:15! After only playing MAYBE an hour and a half, which means their set left a lot to be desired. No "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot?" No "She Don't Use Jelly?" (and so on) And I definitely wasn't the only one who thought this. They just seemed to stop so abruptly. Everyone at the concert kept waiting for them to come out for an encore. And they did. One song. Most encores of the bands we see are basically another set. After that one song they left again but no one from the crowd budged. I have never seen that before. Usually it is pretty clear when the show is over but the house lights and music never came back up. There was no "Thank you and goodnight" or anything. We all just stood there in disbelief that the show was over. For a good 10 minutes no one left. We all just kept waiting. A few times the band just came out and waved but never played another song for us. Man, at least throw us a bone for persistence!
So again I ask, are you getting tired Wayne? If so, maybe it's time to go out at the top of your game instead of charging $50 a ticket and then not delivering to your adoring fans. We know what we want and expect of your shows, and we've never had to be hopeful for those things before, it was just understood what we'd be getting. You don't want your fans to feel such disappointment and frustration that they are hesitant to go to another show, do you? I mean, after the tickets, the babysitter, the merchandise and the beer, we spent upwards of $300 on this one waa-waa of an event. I hate that I'll have to think twice before doing that the next time they are around.
I will be interested to hear how their Seattle show was. Maybe someone from the band wasn't feeling well. Maybe Portland wasn't giving them enough love? Well, we'll always love the Lips, even if THEIR heart wasn't in their performance last night.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Leisure
I feel a little jealous of the people who are sitting in the coffee shop all leisurely-like at 7:45 in the morning. Leisure has become a rare thing for me in the past couple of years, but the coffee-shop sitting used to be a big thing for Jacob and me. In fact, we met at D&M Coffee in Ellensburg and spent a large portion of the first five years of our marriage there, just being leisurely, sitting around reading, doing homework (okay, NOT leisurely) or having meaningful conversations with our friends. Here is D&M:
Anyway, back to the leisure. The people I see sitting around today at coffee shops being leisurely - I always just assume they do something artistic with their lives, which means their schedule allows for such relaxation in the mornings. They must not have to be at work until at least 9 or 10. I guess that it could also mean they don't make much money, but they can't be too poor or they wouldn't be there (not always true - we were pretty poor when we were married and in college but always found funding for coffee....) I am sure the artistic thing is just a ridiculous assumption and that most of them have lives just like mine.
To be honest, the only place I really do have any leisure time is in the shower, and that is only because the kids are asleep by then. I don't even like taking showers all that much, actually, so it's kind of lost on me. I always have the intentions of getting up an hour earlier than I need to so I can have some quiet time where I don't HAVE to be doing anything, but during the school year that would mean getting up at 4:00 am and I just don't have it in me to do it. I wish I did. In addition to people who are leisurely at coffee shops, I feel very jealous of people who have enough leisure time in the morning to go for a jog before work and not have to get up at 4 or 5 am to do so.
Oh well. These faces make the lack of leisurely me-time worth it. Man I love them.
PS - by my count I used the word Leisure 12 times, including in this sentence and in the subject line. I tried to fit it in as much as possible.
Anyway, back to the leisure. The people I see sitting around today at coffee shops being leisurely - I always just assume they do something artistic with their lives, which means their schedule allows for such relaxation in the mornings. They must not have to be at work until at least 9 or 10. I guess that it could also mean they don't make much money, but they can't be too poor or they wouldn't be there (not always true - we were pretty poor when we were married and in college but always found funding for coffee....) I am sure the artistic thing is just a ridiculous assumption and that most of them have lives just like mine.
To be honest, the only place I really do have any leisure time is in the shower, and that is only because the kids are asleep by then. I don't even like taking showers all that much, actually, so it's kind of lost on me. I always have the intentions of getting up an hour earlier than I need to so I can have some quiet time where I don't HAVE to be doing anything, but during the school year that would mean getting up at 4:00 am and I just don't have it in me to do it. I wish I did. In addition to people who are leisurely at coffee shops, I feel very jealous of people who have enough leisure time in the morning to go for a jog before work and not have to get up at 4 or 5 am to do so.
Oh well. These faces make the lack of leisurely me-time worth it. Man I love them.
PS - by my count I used the word Leisure 12 times, including in this sentence and in the subject line. I tried to fit it in as much as possible.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Ding Dong the DOMA's Dead, the Wicked DOMA's Dead!
I am so glad a few more folks have removed their heads from their asses and that civilization has taken another couple of steps in the right direction. Now for the rest to get on board....
Some of my favorite quotes from the day about it:
"Remember when #DOMA was around and gay people couldn't get married in California? Crazy right!?" — Jesse Tyler Ferguson
"DOMA and Prop 8 should get married." — Seth Meyers (love him!!!)
History in the making here. I am so glad to witness such monumental things!
Some of my favorite quotes from the day about it:
"Thank you #SCOTUS, good riddance DOMA, and hello to my Mom asking me once a month why I'm still not married." — Greg Berlanti
"Don't wanna traffic in stereotypes but let's be real: I'm gonna love a gay wedding." — Lena Dunham
"DOMA and Prop 8 should get married." — Seth Meyers (love him!!!)
History in the making here. I am so glad to witness such monumental things!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Jacob and Macklemore Should be BFFs (Which Would be AWESOME)
By now we have all heard of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (thank God for them!!!) and especially their hit Thrift Shop (if you live under a rock and haven't heard it yet, you can listen to them here and thank me for it later) (P.S. - I actually usually do live under a rock and never have heard of anyone everyone is talking about, but because I listen to KEXP I was actually on the ball with this one, before a lot of folks, which makes me glad).
ANYWAY, the last few times I have listened to Thrift Shop I have actually really listened to the lyrics. Just the name alone tells me that this could be the song for Jacob. But when I REALLY listen to what it says....OMG, practically word for word this is Jacob's song. Especially the part that says "they had a broken keyboard/I bought a broken keyboard" and "I wear your grandad's clothes/I look incredible" and all the stuff about spending $50 on a freeking t-shirt. And pretty much everything else in the song. Okay, it's kind of my song too, but anyone who knows Jacob knows that he is alllllllllll about the thrift stores.
Makes me smile. :)
ANYWAY, the last few times I have listened to Thrift Shop I have actually really listened to the lyrics. Just the name alone tells me that this could be the song for Jacob. But when I REALLY listen to what it says....OMG, practically word for word this is Jacob's song. Especially the part that says "they had a broken keyboard/I bought a broken keyboard" and "I wear your grandad's clothes/I look incredible" and all the stuff about spending $50 on a freeking t-shirt. And pretty much everything else in the song. Okay, it's kind of my song too, but anyone who knows Jacob knows that he is alllllllllll about the thrift stores.
Makes me smile. :)
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Here's what I CAN Do...
A quick list of the goings-on and comings-up since February:
February 10 - my darling baby Josephine was born, putting me in labor a day before I was scheduled to go in for a c-section. Glad to have had the experience of going into labor on my own, even if I still had to have the c-section.
February 27 - I am very proud of the fact that Jacob and I went out to a concert this evening, a mere 17 days after Josephine was born. No surprises here, we saw Starfucker and it was every bit as wonderful as I had anticipated it would be. I also drank a beer and it was DELICIOUS. We met the band and they signed our record and all is well!
Late February/Early April - I finally have my Rock & Roll hallway in progress! We painted the hallway to our bedrooms and bathroom PINK (actual color, pink flamingo. Wonderfully retro) and have hung up all of the vinyl and CD sleeves we've had signed by bands we have loved throughout the last 11 or 12 years. We have been working on framing these artifacts, including all of the accumulated concert ticket stubs, and finally have them on display. I am THRILLED and can't wait to keep adding more. My pride and joy of my home decor.
April 3 - We went to the coast! In and around Astoria and Seaside. We had a great time, a fun little family outing, just the four of us. It was the first time to the beach for both kiddos. Roman loved it! I think he is ready to start surfing.
April 8 - Back to the mines. Work seems to have picked up very nicely this year, I am happy to say.
April 21 - Went to see dub pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry. Or at least we tried. Note to self: never go to the Refuge for a show. It's like going to the damn Graceland (or, I guess, El Corozon now). Had I known there would be 5 bands before the guy we wanted to see even came on stage, I wouldn't have bothered going to the show in the first place. EFF YOU, Refuge. I hate you for not disclosing this fact AND I hate you for not even responding to my request for a refund. Seriously. By the time Lee Perry got on stage it was 11:45 pm. We listened to two songs and then had to leave because we have things like kids and jobs to think about and babysitters to relieve. I'm still kind of bitter about the whole thing...PS - Lee Perry is freeking awesome - he is older than old, likely higher than high, and still rockin' it.
April 27 - Mariners game with Jacob, Roman and Josephine. Again, a first for the kiddos. AND, the Mariners won! AND it was bat night, so Roman got himself a bat! Just the thing for a two-year-old, right? So far so good :)
May 6 - Roller Roman! We took took the kids to Jacob's school's skate night. Look at this genius invention the roller skating world has finally come up with! Roman had THE BEST TIME EVER.
June 10-12 - We took a weekend trip to Ellensburg to see the Wright family. A lot of them hadn't met J yet and over all we had a really good time seeing family and friends. I am always happy to go for a visit. Roman had a big adventure himself! He and his uncle Isaac dug a big hole - deeper than 5 feet. Then all of the kids (there are lots of them in this extended family. Over a million, probably) were shoveling the dirt back in with their hands. In Roman tumbled. Poor guy...but we told him it was fun and then he agreed. Kids will believe anything...
February 10 - my darling baby Josephine was born, putting me in labor a day before I was scheduled to go in for a c-section. Glad to have had the experience of going into labor on my own, even if I still had to have the c-section.
 |
| Josephine at Easter, about a month and a half old. |
February 27 - I am very proud of the fact that Jacob and I went out to a concert this evening, a mere 17 days after Josephine was born. No surprises here, we saw Starfucker and it was every bit as wonderful as I had anticipated it would be. I also drank a beer and it was DELICIOUS. We met the band and they signed our record and all is well!
Late February/Early April - I finally have my Rock & Roll hallway in progress! We painted the hallway to our bedrooms and bathroom PINK (actual color, pink flamingo. Wonderfully retro) and have hung up all of the vinyl and CD sleeves we've had signed by bands we have loved throughout the last 11 or 12 years. We have been working on framing these artifacts, including all of the accumulated concert ticket stubs, and finally have them on display. I am THRILLED and can't wait to keep adding more. My pride and joy of my home decor.
April 3 - We went to the coast! In and around Astoria and Seaside. We had a great time, a fun little family outing, just the four of us. It was the first time to the beach for both kiddos. Roman loved it! I think he is ready to start surfing.
April 8 - Back to the mines. Work seems to have picked up very nicely this year, I am happy to say.
April 21 - Went to see dub pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry. Or at least we tried. Note to self: never go to the Refuge for a show. It's like going to the damn Graceland (or, I guess, El Corozon now). Had I known there would be 5 bands before the guy we wanted to see even came on stage, I wouldn't have bothered going to the show in the first place. EFF YOU, Refuge. I hate you for not disclosing this fact AND I hate you for not even responding to my request for a refund. Seriously. By the time Lee Perry got on stage it was 11:45 pm. We listened to two songs and then had to leave because we have things like kids and jobs to think about and babysitters to relieve. I'm still kind of bitter about the whole thing...PS - Lee Perry is freeking awesome - he is older than old, likely higher than high, and still rockin' it.
April 27 - Mariners game with Jacob, Roman and Josephine. Again, a first for the kiddos. AND, the Mariners won! AND it was bat night, so Roman got himself a bat! Just the thing for a two-year-old, right? So far so good :)
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| At Safeco Field |
 |
| It was actually a rather exciting game... |
June 10-12 - We took a weekend trip to Ellensburg to see the Wright family. A lot of them hadn't met J yet and over all we had a really good time seeing family and friends. I am always happy to go for a visit. Roman had a big adventure himself! He and his uncle Isaac dug a big hole - deeper than 5 feet. Then all of the kids (there are lots of them in this extended family. Over a million, probably) were shoveling the dirt back in with their hands. In Roman tumbled. Poor guy...but we told him it was fun and then he agreed. Kids will believe anything...
 |
| Before.... |
 |
| After... |
 |
| A little freaked out! |
That basically brings us up to date. All the while, Jacob has been working on his masters degree but in just another couple of weeks will have the summer free from school and school and can just play with his kiddos! Looking forward, we have tickets to another Mariners game to go to with my parents, a Flaming Lips concert and another STRFKR show in the fall. I am looking to start in on some yoga this summer. I think I will go to my first class next week and I am SO looking forward to it!
Here's to more adventures!
Here's to more adventures!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
D Day - 10 Days and Counting....or less....
As of my 36 and 37 week appointment (last week and this week), this kiddo is breech! So it is looking like another C-section unless it finally decides to flip (because I had a previous C-Section as well they can't do that external manipulation thing they would normally try to do). They did give me some ....exercises.....to do but this particular position is one I have been in plenty of times in the last few months (it's the only "comfortable" way when your belly is huge! ) and if baby hasn't turned yet with all of that, I don't see how it will make a difference now.
So anyway, I have the surgery scheduled for Monday, February 11th, and unless I go into labor on my own before then, it looks like I'll have my wish of Jacob, Roman and baby all having birthdays on the 11th day of a month! And all of our birthdays will be in monthly succession (December, January, February and March).
The time has flown by so fast this time. It has been the last few weeks that have felt the longest, which is probably usually the case because you get more and more anxious for the kiddo to be born AND you get more and more uncomfortable as time goes on. All things considered, though, this pregnancy, as with my first, has been very kind to me. No stretch marks. I can still wear my rings. My feet and legs aren't swelling. Spider veins are very minimal. I've only gained about 20-22 pounds (an upgrade from my first pregnancy, where I gained 40!). I didn't miss the booze and sushi as much this time. Other than feeling bigger for a lot longer this time, and having the same leg cramps and heartburn I had in round one, this has been another enjoyable experience. I love feeling the kicks and hiccups and other movements this kid is making all the time (ALL THE TIME in the past week, especially) and I'll be a little sad to never feel that again (while they have me all cut open for the C-section they are going to tie my tubes right away. Just doing my part to help control the population!)
Now all we need to do is put the car seat in the car and clean our house. Oh, and pick out some damn names already!!! Seriously. We don't have names yet.
Photos: About 8 months
So anyway, I have the surgery scheduled for Monday, February 11th, and unless I go into labor on my own before then, it looks like I'll have my wish of Jacob, Roman and baby all having birthdays on the 11th day of a month! And all of our birthdays will be in monthly succession (December, January, February and March).
The time has flown by so fast this time. It has been the last few weeks that have felt the longest, which is probably usually the case because you get more and more anxious for the kiddo to be born AND you get more and more uncomfortable as time goes on. All things considered, though, this pregnancy, as with my first, has been very kind to me. No stretch marks. I can still wear my rings. My feet and legs aren't swelling. Spider veins are very minimal. I've only gained about 20-22 pounds (an upgrade from my first pregnancy, where I gained 40!). I didn't miss the booze and sushi as much this time. Other than feeling bigger for a lot longer this time, and having the same leg cramps and heartburn I had in round one, this has been another enjoyable experience. I love feeling the kicks and hiccups and other movements this kid is making all the time (ALL THE TIME in the past week, especially) and I'll be a little sad to never feel that again (while they have me all cut open for the C-section they are going to tie my tubes right away. Just doing my part to help control the population!)
Now all we need to do is put the car seat in the car and clean our house. Oh, and pick out some damn names already!!! Seriously. We don't have names yet.
Photos: About 8 months
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I'm a Hater
Okay - I know that the subject of my post is no surprise to anyone who knows me...I am a hater. I'm a hater of a lot of things. Besides crappy drivers, do you know what is THE WORST in my book?
Family stickers.
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HATE them. They are tolerable if it is something like storm troopers or the Mac logo or aliens or something...somethng that somewhat mocks the family stickers (I'm all about mocking family stickers). But the worst of the worst:
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Family stickers with mouse ears.
To perk things up a bit, here are some funny ones that came up in a Google images search:
This last one is my favorite :)
Family stickers.
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HATE them. They are tolerable if it is something like storm troopers or the Mac logo or aliens or something...somethng that somewhat mocks the family stickers (I'm all about mocking family stickers). But the worst of the worst:
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Family stickers with mouse ears.
To perk things up a bit, here are some funny ones that came up in a Google images search:
This last one is my favorite :)
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