Mental Schmutz

Rev Jim benefit Show Number One information!

2012-01-06T18:00:00.001-07:00

Next Thursday! Be there or be square... Well not square but you will be missing out on some really cool stuff.

I have been helping ZetaKaye House and Vinny Cheap work on this event (and the three more that follow) and I have to tell you... it is sooooo ON!

For those that are unawares... Jim Norris venerable host and Denver Music Scene empasario last month was bit by some heinous spider that basically almost killed him. Not knowing the full details is fine by me I have to say because honestly... even seeing the spiders on the flyers freaks me right the f' out. And knowing that one bit him and was nearly that devastating absolutely creeps me out.

What should be explained is that Jim like so many others is without health insurance and a week in the hospital is costly... so the community is pulling together and helping him with the what could only possibly be catastrophic bills.

If you have ever been fortunate enough to spend one minute with Jim you know how wonderful a man that he is. How his family and friends and business are so very important. He is really an amazing guy....

SOOOOOO.... last night I went down to the gallery in 3 Kings and saw some of the art that is being curated for sale and auction. I have pulled some pieces in as well. But know that this is top notch artwork by some of Denver's artistic community that is rallying around and giving up of themselves. It's absolutely beyond amazing to me.

There will be some amazingly affordable art work available ... get your bids in at the shows ... they are happening every Thursday night starting next Thursday to Feb 10 2012. I know that there are two pieces of art you may have to fight me for! There are pieces by Vinny Cheap, Rich from Boss 302, Tony from Boss 3o2, gift cards galore, I want to go on and on and on but there is music to talk about too!

This Ain't No Cowtown Vol III will shortly be available for your download and donation pleasure. It's going to be epic... super secret songs, unreleased gems and other treasures... watch for me to update the moment it's uploaded to BandCamp.... and ALL donations will go to Rev Jim's medical bills.

I personally want to thank all the artists, retailers, restaurants, businesses and musicians who are so selflessly giving to this benefit... you ALL are so amazing and I am really so very impressed with how brilliantly this community has rallied around these fundraisers!

Here are links to the bands that are playing next Thursday!

Glass Hits - Battleground States

Hi-Strung on Facebook (there are videos here)

Allout Helter on Myspace (you can listen to their music here)

Ross Etherton and the Chariots of Judah on Myspace (you can listen to their music here)

I hope very much to see you at the show... come find me...it's going to be a great show!

I don't make resolutions...

2012-01-04T16:34:00.001-07:00

BUT... that being said... I have some things I would like to accomplish in my personal life this year...

Read more - this is an easy one... I have a ton of books that I have bought with the intention of reading and just haven't gotten to them... sooooo this is very exciting for me. So far I have a couple on deck and look forward to turning off the tv in the evenings and read. I also include actually reading the Vanity Fair and New Yorkers that I get before I get the new one in the mail. I tend to let them pile up to about six months worth and then I can't really process everything that I have so just put them in the recycling bin. If I don't read the magazines right away I am actually going to cancel the subscriptions. I don't read Interview anymore... it's done. I don't read some of the other magazines that I have let the subscriptions slide. I love magazines but seriously if I don't read them why subscribe?

Save more - so how am I planning on doing this? I mean in all honesty I am pretty frugal. I don't want to say I am cheap, because I am not that at all... but I am pretty frugal. So how to I put that frugality into something that actually will financially make a difference? Ok so here goes. And this was a really really hard decision for me to make. But with everything the way it is now in the world... I am no longer contributing to my IRA. Last year I lost over $3000. Which is basically what my contribution was. So sure I broke even. But that is not the point. So I have decided that I am not contributing in 2012 but will use that money to pay off even more of the principal on my mortgage. This potentially increases my home value 25%. That is much better of a return than my IRA at this time.

My friend L has this thing she posted on line that in even numbered years she doesn't buy new clothes. Ok so this might be really really difficult for me, but I love and adore the idea so I am going to actually think about adopting this model for the year. It's really funny because I have lots of clothes in my closet and dressers that I should wear and don't. So now I will... L said that it's like shopping in your own closet. I have to add for me it will be like shoe shopping too!

In addition to this... I used to fill my fridge with food that I don't eat. So that is a tremendous waste. I am actually going to plan out meals. Yep... plan out meals. And well rounded meals too. Not just pasta. Ok pasta with chicken. But something with some protein. I will bake more. I will try new recipes and share. I want to have dinner parties.

I want to reach out to my friends more. I am not a real fan of the phone so much anymore. Funny how as an adult the phone isn't as important as it was when we were teenagers! So because I have bought over 100 postcards in the past year that are gorgeous to look at but won't they mean more in the hands of the people I like? I do believe so....

Make these last days and months (hopefully) of Herschel's magical and comfortable. I know that I have limited time but its so very important that he has a great life and in this last chapter I have to face all the challenges that face us with the dignity that he has shown me for the past 15 years.

Take pictures! Take more pictures! I am so in love with photography that I don't know why I don't take pictures everyday of every little thing. So I am going to be far less judicious and just shoot away. It's the only way I am going to learn more about my cameras and their functionality. F bought me a camera to replace the one that was stolen when we were in California and honestly it's lovely. But it wouldn't hurt me to learn to love the camera that I bought to replace it right? I don't like the way it handles but learning to love it is a goal. And also with my frugality... I can't buy anymore camera apps. I have about 40 on my phone now and really only use the hipstamatic and sometimes the Camera+... both GREAT apps but there are 38 more that I haven't used but maybe once.... so I will use them more.

Keep a clean and less cluttered home. Which means no more magazine piles. No more paper piles. No more buying soaps and just putting them in the linen closet to use later... use what I have ... make room. (again pointing to the frugality....)

Turn off the tv for at least an hour every night. I have a dvr so I really do not watch live tv anymore so I have to turn off the tv for at least an hour. I figure this will give me time to read, write, clean and be productive!

So all these are things I should already be doing. But I don't completely actually do full on.

Its really important to set some goals and make some plans for sure, and nothing is better than sharing with the world. So make a plan... put it in writing... put it out in the world because to share yourself with others is a gift in and of itself!

Ok off to finish the latest batch of bacon jam and clean a drawer and finish The Wednesday Letters .

So Herschel has seizures and a brain tumor... now what...some advice I suppose

2011-12-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would post a little something about what I have and what Herschel has been going through since April when he had his first seizure (that I was aware of at least).

This is IN NO WAY to offer any medical, veterinary or advice... just a little solace in knowing that there are other people out there whose pets have this issue and keep coming across the same articles and websites over and over and over again and don't see anything new out there. This also in NO WAY is an effort to discredit those other sites or say what they have posted and what they offer isn't helpful... trust me that first night when I had no f'n clue what could be happening and what to expect ultimately they were helpful. But their advice hasn't been beneficial in the long term for our situation and everyone's situation is different... this is mine.

Several years ago I had a neighbor whom I loved dearly have a serious head injury and was plagued with seizures. So in April when Herschel had his first one, I really knew ultimately what I was looking at. The episode lasted about 10 minutes start to finish and I thought it might be a "one off" situation.

This sometimes can happen. This wasn't our situation. About two hours later Herschel had another seizure. So I picked him up and took him to our local Emergency Vet. If you live in Denver or have ever watched "Emergency Vets" on Animal Planet you know where we went... Alameda East. They happen to be Herschel first vet when I adopted him and saved his life a few years back when he ate De-Con... so I love them. To say that they are amazing and kind and wonderful people would be an understatement. They kept Herschel overnight for observation and kept him through the next afternoon just to gather if this was a "one off" situation or not.

Because Herschel is the older statesmen of the house (17 years old) their suspicions were that he was afflicted with a brain tumor or something neurological and that they would happen again. They told me to be calm, to not worry and gave me the following advice:

1) Do not worry or panic.

2) DO NOT WORRY OR PANIC

then Herschel's doctor told me something very valuable... it seems like they are in alot of pain, they are not... it's completely neurological and the brain firing a lot of information all around and the signals have to go somewhere. Do not worry or panic. Just watch to make sure he doesn't seize into a wall or anything that could possibly hurt him and do not try and hold him down or put your hands in his mouth. Dogs will NOT swallow their tongue (people won't either by the way... that is an old wives tale...).

All this information was very familiar as my neighbor always said the same thing.... make sure if I see him having a seizure to take what ever he is holding out of his hand and don't try and stop what is going on.

I felt really prepared.

I was prescribed medication for his seizures and his heart murmur (he has a pretty pronounced heart murmur and they wanted to lower his blood pressure to eliminate undue stress on his heart for the long term). Double whammy but I was confident we were on the right page. I asked a prognosis because if it is a brain tumor what time do we have. They didn't want to sedate him to scan him so there really is no answer. So for this we are living day by day. It is a joy everyday to wake up, take him for a walk, see him thriving and living with this by the way. I don't know how long I have but we are living every day to the fullest.

The neurologist prescribed Herschel phenobarbital. NOW... this is where my advise comes in... from our experience....

Let the medicine do it's work. Yes Herschel was totally wonkie and out of it. There was one afternoon I came back home from running errands and he was standing in the middle of the living room and I could just see him thinking "I am so high right now". Keep that in mind... your pet is basically high.

Phenobarbital is a complete sedative. It slows down the brain from firing like crazy. It's taken MONTHS to get the right dosage. Be patient. Don't be discouraged if there are more seizures... they are going to happen. It's just the way it is. Track them when they happen, take video on your cell phone.

But don't panic, don't be discouraged and don't think there is a loss in quality of life because let me tell you from experience... it's just a different way of life.

The day before Herschel had the seizure, he would jump up on the couch and sit next to me and chill there for hours. Now ... he can't stand it. At first... it made me really sad. But knowing that he probably needs something a little harder and solid to lay on... I watch him sleeping on the rug by the base of the couch and I know he is happier there, so I have to be happy with it.

Things will change. The personality of your pet may change a little. I watch his little mannerisms and know that he still is completely sweet and loving and happy, it's just in a much different brain space. He still kisses and still wants treats and still plays (although not as frequently and for as long... but he is still "in there" you know?). He still loves getting his picture taken. He still wants treats.

But there are the downsides. He pees in the house like crazy. I have put towels down and he usually sometimes will remember to go on them. He pees about 20 seconds after he wakes up. I have a VERY small window in which to get him outside to tinkle. I have very old carpet so this isn't a huge deal for me... I clean the carpet about once a week with the steam cleaner and Nature's Miracle right after he tinkles. I wash a lot of towels (ps the $4.99 Ikea towels are awesome...NOT soft but absorbent and they almost look like area rugs... or that is what I am trying to trick myself into thinking). We have tried diapers... but Herschel always seems to get them moved around enough that they don't do what they are supposed to do. I have seen him move the diaper material down so his little schmeckel can be out of the diaper (if I call them nappies with a British accent doesn't it sound less awful? I do think so.... and I do). I need to try and catch it on video because it's really pretty amazing. So he pees in the house. Nature's Miracle and puppy pads and towels are fine by me. They may not be for you so this is not advise... just telling you what we have dealt with and decided on.

About 3 months ago the vet decided to put him on a steroid. I am not quite sure what the rationale was but we are now tapering him off of them. He seems to be adapting well. He gets a little dizzy after just waking up but that is ok. He has some heavy panting episodes but I have been assured that it's nothing to be concerned about.

I am finding that Herschel is still "in there". He finds his way through the paths in the snow. He knows what treats he wants and still barks the syllables out for what he craves. Finds gloves to be the best toys in the whole wide world occasionally. Sure he sleeps alot... sure he is not as energetic but the good far out weighs these little things.

The vet didn't really give me a prognosis for how much time we have when we got the diagnosis back in April.... and honestly I didn't really want one. Every day is such a gift and I am happy that we have them. I never thought that I would have to give my furry baby medicine on a schedule twice a day, change so much in my life but it is very much worth it. Travel can wait. New carpet can wait. And wait a long time I hope.

Occasionally Herschel has a seizure... we know how to deal with it and let him come through them in comfort. The medicine keeps them from happening as much as if he wasn't on the phenobarbital. And I am fine with that... it's not the answer for everyone. But it is for us.

There is more joy right now and we are so very glad to have Herschel in our lives.

I hope that if you come across this in your search for answers on seizures in dogs you at least find that you are not alone. Understand that it isn't (at least in Herschel's case) life threatening. That it is ok to be scared. It's also ok to admit it. My only true advise would be to find a veterinarian that you trust and who is willing to establish a line of communication that suits your needs and your pets needs. Please know that there is some trial and error getting medicines right and it very much worth working through.

Don't be overwhelmed. I was at the beginning and now our lives are just different now... give yourself time to get used to it. And every minute is worth it.

Product review...

2011-12-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

I got very excited last week when a client brought me pre-made cookies, wrapped in box for gift for the holidays. I was so excited because the descriptions on the box sounded amazing.... really.

Now I know that cookies do dry out and there is a shelf life of like 5 days from being baked to when it's over... but at 6 days after I figured that my client got the gift to when I got them... these were like little hockey pucks. TERRIBLE and dry and disappointing big time.

The box of 6 cookies and four brownie/blondie bars were $25.00... !!! That is some serious bread for less than a dozen cookies.

Sorry CookieGood (whose motto is "everyday should be cookie good") your packaging ... delightful... your product was terrible.

Last night I even thought huh... let me see if I can take this cookie out of the plastic ziploc baggie that I put them in to try and soften them up and pop in the microwave for like 10 seconds would work. I bit into the Red Velvet cookie... and want to know what I tasted? Red Fucking Food Dye. These were not cocoa flavored like Red Velvet is supposed to taste... this tasted like Red. Terrible and completely disappointing. So much so I actually spit it out in the kitchen sink.

Then noticed... the red stain quickly appearing on the enamel of sink.... not so nice.

The Clorox Soft Scrub would have tasted better and definitely been softer.

Trust me everyday IS in fact cookie good in my world but these made baby jebus cry just a little.

2011-12-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

I am on vacation today for the holidays... I will have Monday off too but today is officially my vacation day. I woke up a little later than normal and will proceed to clean the house (maybe even top to bottom). It snowed big time yesterday so I need to shovel an area out for Herschel as well... it's hard to describe how frustrated I get when the landscaping crew doesn't read the sign asking them politely to not put the excess snow in the walk between my porch and the stairs.... but it's easy and a quick dumping spot and I can't get too mad when really they are out shoveling at 6 a.m. so we have clean walkways. I did shovel all night so their job was a little easier and took them out hot cocoa at 6 a.m. but they still didn't see the sign. Or ignored it.

My goal every Christmas/Holiday break is to give myself the present of organization. And by organization I mean less piles of papers everywhere so I have to get tot that as well through out the weekend. F will watch tv and I can clean like a maniac and let him have control of the remote. So it's very much a win win for us all.

Great gifts for the season:

I haven't worn shoes all day

Nuns of Brixton play the Bluebird tonite (and didn't last night which would have been miserable because of the temperature and snow)

Herschel made it to Chanukah... now we are hoping he will see New Years! He is my little miracle

Hope you all have a happy holiday season, get everything you wished for from Santa (because you have been very very good I am sure!), build great memories and have a safe NYE!

Links

X O Jane - So I recently discovered Jane Pratt's most recent foray into our minds... xojane... is just the fluff my mid day reading break will want
Cam to Watch Herschel during the day - He has seizures and since I work so close I can watch the cam on my phone in case something happens... and so far nothing has which is really amazing and great!
Creature Comforts Blog
EVOO Marketplace - I am looking forward to cooking great meals in 2012 and this is going to be a GREAT resource
Punchfork - see above about cooking in 2012

Items wish listed

Porceline Chalk Paint - I want to make chalkboard mugs....
Lavendar Soap - L'Occitaine doesn't sell these square block soaps anymore which made me sad until I found a substitute
Toriani Almond Syrup - Cost Plus doesn't seem to sell it anymore so internets here I come!

Items bought

I actually bought a camera that my parents gave me the money to get for my birthday way back in July. I will uncrate it on Saturday! Very excited.
Holiday presents galore - mostly gift cards because that is what people actually wanted but still something really stupid to open up...
Oh candy and cookies from Costco... I made it on time this year! (Last year I was too late and ended up having troubles with office gifts)

Movies and TV watched

Found that Southland is starting up again so I have set Steevoh up to record
Found out today that the Tom Waits episode of Austin City Limits is airing here on NYE... set Steevoh up to record
Bad Santa - yeah for a first time watcher... I found it really pretty sad actually... can I make you a sandwhich?

Books read:

Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants - yep Jill Soloway is pretty damned funny

Things I have cooked

Bacon Jam
Chicken with Italian dressing, carmelized garlic and sage with pasta and tomato sauce

IPhone Apps Added
(this is one of sites I go to / have in my reader and get the pointers and freebee alerts- http://lifeinlofi.com/)

Punchfork

Concerts

Nuns of Brixton

PS I totally have stolen this idea from the Pugly Pixel website and blog, whose design skills and tutorials are amazing! I don't know where she finds her energy but obviously it's incredibly inspiring!

2011-12-13T15:16:00.001-07:00

I haven't visited you in a while little blogger and for that... oops.

I think that it's because honestly I am totally overwhelmed by the better content out there.

I subscribe to a gabillion blogs and find so much more valuable information out there than what I could even pretend to want to provide. I am not a crafter - so I can't share those things, I cook - but barely remember to take pictures of what I make, I take pictures - but post to flickr (see that sidebar... check it) so what really is there to share?

Not going to go into details of my personal life so..... huh... that leaves me at this MAJOR crossroads right? What to do what to do?

So... I will try and remember to post I do promise that. I have that adorable list that I ganked from Pugly PIxel (ps I wish I could adopt her templates but I don't have domain) so that might be the best I can do for a while. And believe me it isn't because I don't have something going on... I just don't know that it is worth taking up valuable webspace with you know?

Vintage Cameras Turned Into Nightlights

2011-11-15T16:19:00.001-07:00

Vintage Cameras Turned Into Nightlights:

Photographer Jason Hull has a hobby of taking old cameras from the 1950s and 1960s and turning them into beautiful nightlights for his house. He writes,

I’m not modifying cameras if they are in pristine condition or if they’re rare, I’d rather they stay usable as cameras in those cases. The ones I’ve chosen are lightweight plastic, produced in huge numbers and easily found for sale at flea markets/garage sales/ebay. [#]

You can see more photos of his creations in this Flickr set.

nightlights (via Gizmodo)

** Just know y'all.... I have emailed Jason Hull and want one... bad.... PS this would make an AWESOME CHANUKAH PRESENT!!!!! **

~~ edited to add he has an etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jayfish ~~

not much inspiring on ye olde home front but heres what I have been upto!

2011-11-11T13:16:00.001-07:00

So it's been a really slow and uninspired couple of weeks. BUT I think (and this might just be the caffiene pulsing through my system at this very moment) that things are looking up. I am actually looking to pick up my cameras and go and try and push myself to think outside the box... any assignments I should consider? Within reason of course.

So it's 11:11:11 (Nigel Tufnel Day... get it? ) and I hope that this magical day finds you all well and taking advantage of this most exciting of days. 11 is my friend Suzettes's favorite number so I just know she is bounding up stairs and dancing in her chair at work. She doesn't live here or I would send her 11 cupcakes. But oh well.

Links

Rue Magazine - this is online and available through ISSU and at this site - really great design sources and ideas!
Google Chrome - the Firefox wasn't working and updating at work properly (I was using the portable version because of my company's firewall) so I have moved onto Chrome. At work it's great at home it sucks. Totally weird.
Of a Kind - limited edition artisnal items... there are great items here to be discovered
One Pretty Thing - actually it's a link aggregation of some really lovely projects and stuff

Items wish listed

365 Facts that will scare the shit out of you desk calendar - I dont' really need this but I want to read it's facts
Patti Smith: Camera Solo - you will see a trend building here
Thrifty Links Meat Wallet - I just think this is awesome

Items bought

Got a couple birthday presents for F (which obviously I can't exactly post here now can I?)
2012 Nuns Having Fun Calendar (for my office)
Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living with Artists and Outlaws in New York's Rebel Mecca (see the trend)
Patti Smith: Dream of LIfe (wait even more so)
Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants (this looked cute and I got it used)
Albertus Swanepoel purple and brown felt hat - I don't know why but this spoke loudly to me... not at ALL my style but I love it... hard

Movies and TV watched

Castle (when they use Super Bon Bon by Soul Coughing with Castle walking around in an Elvis Jumpsuit, this just proves... yeah pretty awesomely great show and great music supervision to put those two together.... -- ps. the link goes to the blog for the music supervisor for the show....)
F and I watched a couple movies... but I can't remember what they are now... crap
Boardwalk Empire - Spoiler Alert... there will be blood
Dexter - no spoiler alert here ... there was blood (not really but some splashing about) and sorry to see you go Mos.

Books read:

Stopped reading Goodnight Steve McQueen - certainly when I started reading it I read it with a British Accent in my head but it got annoying and the story really didn't seem to go anywhere so I stopped reading it and put it away.
Started reading But Enough About Me - her story is similar to mine only in that I worked interviewing and working on a music video program called Teletunes and that I met some amazing and interesting people and artists... it's slightly gossipy and incredibly EASY to read... I will be sad when it's over I think...

Things I have cooked

Bacon Jam (again)
Tacos
Pasta with Pesto (made with peas and spinach and basil)

The Love Project: Puppy Love

2011-10-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

The Love Project: Puppy Love: So, I've been a busy little bee.... hehehehe.... The LOVE Project continues with Phase II, "Puppy Love" a series of one minute photo shoots ...

~~~~
This really is such an amazing thing by an amazing photographer. Go see the adorable pups by Denver's greatest ... I am biased though.

Herschel and I are in there and I have to order my print and make a donation still... but this is such a worthwhile project just looking at the slide show will give you good vibes and make you smile.

The week....

2011-10-10T14:00:00.001-07:00

It's been a pretty slow week... on the internet front. I did rock through my reader though last night and now have some seriously huge un"starring" to go. I subscribe to WAY too many feeds.

Did you subscribe to Ready Made? Did you hear that you can call for a refund:

I will link to that number in the comments when I find it.

So here we go!

Items wish listed

a pair of lug sole boots from Target to replace the worn out ones I currently wear nearly daily (PS there is a buy one get one 1/2 off sale going until October 15th too!)

Items bought

We went to Urban Outfitters looking for a couple of items and came up completely empty and in my case feeling REALLY old.
Towels at IKEA for my floors instead of rugs (easier to clean) (which was helpful on Sunday when Herschel upchucked)
Cinnamon rolls at IKEA for the weekend
I didn't really buy it but got a really bad ass clock from my dad made of computer parts - it's awesome

Movies and TV watched

Series finale and final 8 episodes of Rescue Me
the final episode of this season of The Closer
Started to watch the Colbert Report and Jon Stewart again (I go through phases where I have the time and when I don't... I am finding their information incredibly valuable and interesting -masked in comedy-)
Suburagtory (Hi I'm Billy... )
Anderson - ok seriously I have to admit I have a little crush on this show. And the view from his studio is AMAAHZING.
caught up on Boardwalk Empire Season Two - to Episode Two - it's honestly worth having HBO again... this show is so multifaceted I want to watch the shows again just to make sure that I didn't miss anything.
Watched our dear Denver comic friend Adam Cayton Holland order the bejesus out of sandwich on Happy Endings (which was a happy surprise, I watch the show regularly and what a weird thing to see him in his comic brilliance ordering a sammich in flip flops - ps he might have thought about a spray tan, his legs were really not tan... 303 represent!)

Books read:

Finished up the Jonathan Ames book
Started: The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York

Things I have cooked

Bacon Jam
Onion and Bean dip

IPhone Apps Added
(this is one of sites I go to / have in my reader and get the pointers and freebee alerts- http://lifeinlofi.com/)
Didn't really add anything this week.

I did buy the October hipstamatic hipstapac with the new lens (it's hard to really tell what it does but then again I haven't really played with it too much)

Concerts

An Evening with X at the Summit Music Hall
- they screened X The Unheard Music (which was really weird in a standing room venue) then played the album - Los Angeles in it's entirety - I have to say it was really a great show. Such a pleasure to see them and they all looked amazing. John Doe, my girl crush is STILL in full effect, your shirt was awesome. Exene you looked great, Billy Zoom... what can I say... DJ Bonebreak.... so played like it was 20 years ago. Bravo crew Bravo.

Wynkoop Brown Palace Rooftop Honey Saison.

2011-09-29T15:17:00.001-07:00

I am not one to forward press releases... But this sounds too amazing to NOT share...

I like a good honey beer, I wonder if I can buy a growler????

We are now serving our latest custom, ultra-small-batch beer, Brown Palace Rooftop Honey Saison.

The beer features loads of local terroir and terroof: it's made with 75 pounds of honey from the three beehives atop the iconic Brown Palace Hotel here in Denver.

This very rare honey features a unique mint note due to the bees foraging on the linden trees that line the streets of downtown Denver. In addition to this honey, the beer was built with pale malts, wheat, and European hops. It was fermented with a blend of four strains of saison yeast.

The beer features aromas and flavors of sliced pears, pale malt and white pepper, with a creamy body, herbal notes and a dry finish. It's 6.7% ABV.

We made just 10 barrels (20 kegs) of this beer and it's available on draft in Denver only at the Brown Palace's Ship Tavern bar and Wynkoop Brewing Company.

Rooftop Honey Saison was a hit at its release party at the Brown yesterday. Thirty members of the press enjoyed it and three other Wynkoop Brewing beers paired with a one-time-only menu prepared by the Brown's acclaimed chef, Thanawat Bates.

How did this beer come about? Management at the historic hotel (opened in 1892) was looking for ways to elevate the Brown's beer list, get more involved with our pioneering brewpub, and be a bigger part of the beery joys surrounding this week's Great American Beer Festival.

So we brainstormed ideas for a beer that matched the elegance and great taste of the hotel, and showcased the Brown's bees and their unique honey. This beer is the result of our efforts.

One more thing: this beer is also the first tag-team brewing effort between Wynkoop Brewing and our allies at Breckenridge Brewery. Our head brewer Andy Brown created the recipe and brewed the beer at Breck's original brewpub in Breckenridge, CO with its head brewer, Matt Darling. (The pub there has four kegs of the saison.)

There are more Wynkoop/Breckenridge collaborations in the works.

For more info on the Brown Palace visitwww.brownpalace.com .

Sent from my iPhone

I have a pinterest sure... but here are other things I found awesome and worth sharing

2011-09-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

Links

Popular lists on Google+ - this is a really outstanding resource (thanks @photojack)
How to Make American Cheese - seriously.
How to Hide the News Ticker on Facebook - I hate the new layout and stuff - so I am formally moving my allegiances to Google+ but for those sticking around...there it is.
TomHaverfoods - congratulations Parks and Rec for your return to the airwaves!

Items wish listed

One or 400 things that I didn't actually wish list is the Missoni line at Target, jagged stripes aren't my thing... I like solids (I officially played NO part in crashing the website)
Leather Lug Sole boots- to replace last years
a couple of books on Amazon (again when they go under a buck in the used... I am on it)

Items bought

BEHÖVD coffee carafe - It isn't my favorite but it was $8.00, I may not ever use it since it doesn't pour well

Lillhomen towel rack for my kitchen or my bathroom, I haven't decided yet. I really wanted the four hanger one but they were out. This will do.

Movies and TV watched

Didn't really watch any movies but did marathon the first half of the first season of Wilfred with F
Working on getting Boardwalk Empire Season One watched before Season Two Starts
Currently also catching up on Dexter before it's new season begins as well

Books read:

Still working on the Jonathan Ames book. I hope to finish it this weekend and start another one that I was loaned.

Things I have cooked

Swedish meatballs (from Frozen IKEA FOOD) - sadly I found them kinda not good, but Herschel LOVES them so I am happy to give him a couple every morning
Thai Noodles with chicken
Chipotle (the spice not the brand) Chicken Burritos with black beans
Macaroni and Cheese (ok I microwaved it from Trader Joes... I didn't actually cook anything)
seriously, I made the best damned Grilled Cheese with Swiss of my life this week
Thai noodles with tofu (totally underwhelmed on my tofu cooking skills)

IPhone Apps Added
(this is one of sites I go to / have in my reader and get the pointers and freebee alerts- http://lifeinlofi.com/)

Grungetastic - it was on sale - I think it's slightly overrated (I will delete it probably)

Camera 360 - free on the day that I bought it

Snapseed - free on the day that I bought it

TtV PS - Photo editing again... guess what ... free

TTV Camera - Multiple options for retro camera viewfinders - ok this one I paid .99 for... looks neat

Nabit - for multiple exposure action shots (much like the Tate's Muybridgizer)

Forkly - another fun social networking app using the twitter or facebook API and a love of food (PS they are Denver guys.... ) we eat out and I have no shame pulling out my phone... so lets see how long I remain interactive on it!

Concerts

Psychedelic Furs and the Tom Tom Club - Summit Music Hall
TV on the Radio - Ogden Theater
Dwarves - Bluebird Theater
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - 3 Kings

2011-09-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Because so much has changed and because so much seems to be the same, I thought that I would post along with the other people in the world about my recollections of 9-11-01.

Alot of what I remember honestly is tied to: Here is New York. It was my touchstone to what was happening all around the world (and in a way still is because I have the book and some pictures that I printed). I found that there was more truth in each and every one of the photographs that I looked at posted online on this site than what the mass media was posting. It made me pick up a camera after 10 years or so.   I found the website about a day after the planes hit the towers, I don't remember how but I remember thinking holy shit this is AMAZING. And this is exactly what the internet is about. .

A year later, when the book published. I bought it. I haven't opened it. Not once even to this day. But I wanted to have it just in case the site ever went down and so that I could explain just how this tragedy and act of terrorism effected the world and me at the time.

But here is my story.

Living in Denver anything internationally you were either going to hear about on tv or in the papers at that time, there were no instant feeds on your Treo back in those days. Imagine it....! Its true! The Treo had the interwebs but not at all remotely close to what we can do now. Not even remotely close. You could text. That was about it. Ok you might be able to synch your calendar with outlook but there were no newsfeeds. There was no Twitter. There was no Meetup. There was no Facebook. Think about that. A lifetime right? And then the world completely changed. On a dime. And this is going to sound really odd... but I think we all are a little better for it. We have instant access to information. Photography has completely changed. Our information is immediate. So while odd to say... and certainly all these things that we have in the palm of our hands (literally) were all in the making, now everything is different.

But this is now and the post is about then.

It was a normal day, a normal morning. Woke up, took Herschel out for a walk. Undoubtedly drank a cup or two of coffee. Probably thought wow what a beautiful morning.... then I did the weirdest thing ever. I turned on the tv in my bedroom to set the vcr for the Oprah Show. Now if there is anything you should know about me, there is this one thing in the world.... I might watch the Oprah Show if it was on but I would NEVER actually take the time to tape it. Set the VCR and all that stuff... but I remember clearly thinking "I should tape Oprah today". I turned on the TV to see the second plane hit. At first I wasn't sure what I was seeing. A trailer for a movie maybe? Not sure. Then Diane Sawyer if I remember correctly said that this was the second plane to hit. Huh. I sat on the edge of my bed just a little flabbergasted trying to take in what I was seeing.

Then I realized that my boss was on a plane, he was scheduled to depart about 10 minutes from when I turned the tv on, so I got on the phone and called him. Back in those days you could have your cell phones on all the time. SOOOOO.... I call and ask if they have departed, he said no. So I say "you might want to get off the plane". Now get this, he was heading out of town to meet with a key client and it was a HUGE deal for the company. For me to tell him and the the other guy that I worked for at the company (who was sitting next to him - and more on that in a minute) to get off the plane was huge. I didn't want to panic him or freak him out as he had family in NY and honestly at the time I didn't know anything about where Manhattan sat in NY so didn't know what was going on, and no one really did. So I say that there is an emergency and I didn't think planes are going to be going anywhere and if they haven't closed the door. Get. Off. The. Plane.

I then told him to call me when he was in the terminal. So they get off the plane. He calls me and I told him that the World Trade Centers were actually collapsing right now (which they were as he was calling me). He asked me if I was joking.   I will never forget this. I stood there completely silent, then leaned over and dropped the phone. It just was so massive I couldn't comprehend. It took a second to regain my composure and I picked up the phone and my bosses were now in the bar at this point or lounge or something. I said I would be in the office in a bit and would bring my little tv. They said they would meet me there.

So there were four planes that were hijacked at this point. FOUR. That was incomprehensible to me. I just wanted to get my bossess off that plane incase something else were to happen.

So found out later that four hours later they let everyone get off the plane. Those that didn't get off before the towers went down had to sit on the plane for four more hours before they were allowed back into the terminal.

We get into the office, put the tv in the conference room and watch for a bit and all go home. I mean what could you really do here in Denver? I came home looked at the sky above me (I live under what used to be, but is no longer, a flight path to DIA from California and Nevada). It was tremendously weird to not see planes flying in for a week. A week of no planes.

My other boss who was on the plane heading out for the meeting was on the phone with his wife who was not able to tell him what was going on exactly. So here is the kicker, his brother worked for the President and he had another brother who was at the time working at the Pentagon (which is probably why his wife couldn't really talk since at about that time is when they were explaining that the plane had hit the Pentagon and the other plane was down in Pennsylvania). So I was listening to him trying to talk to his wife and telling them to get off the plane. At the time I didn't have a clue about his brothers and the potential peril they were in. And by the by, a couple days later we got the news in the office from our bosses, that everyone in DC related to him was fine, ok and no worse for wear. Which was great. All the family in NY was accounted for safe and sound and everyone was relieved.

I actually remember thinking about F and where he lived in NY and I was hoping that he was ok. Certainly it was 5 years or so since I had last seen him, but when you know someone is living in NY and you don't know the landscape of NY it makes it topical to wonder. So there that is. And all these years later when we walked through Brooklyn and we walked by where he was that day and stood on the hill in the park where he was that day, I am grateful that he was far away. I am glad that he didn't go to Ground Zero. I am glad that he didn't because it made him safe.

I didn't watch tv, the endless hours of watching Anderson Cooper standing around talking about it. I couldn't do it. I looked at the pictures online instead a couple times a day. But I made sure that I tempered myself and didn't spend all day watching the days unfold because I know myself, I can and could have especially at that time got caught up in the tragedy and become totally tormented.   So a couple times a day I would go to the news sites online and go to Here Is NY.

The instant nature of the site was unbelievable to me at the time and still is. The pop up gallery (which they posted about and blogged about) was truly amazing too, that just out of nowhere they could print and have a gallery in an instant.

I did try to contact someone about having access to their works/photographers to try and do something here and do some fundraising for their charity so that there would be a central location for people to go and see what I was seeing and experiencing but understandably they were overwhelmed and didn't return my phone calls or emails. So instead I told everyone I could about the site.

A year later on the first anniversary, things were back to normal. Normal morning, normal work, normal. About 8:00 I hear the tell tale rumble of jets. Jets flying over my house. I freaked out. Right over the house. Loud. I thought holy shit... it's happening here today right now. Then I remembered that one of the pilots is buried in the cemetery near my house and the Air Force was commemorating the day with the flyover. But still I think for those who didn't instantly figure it out it was really pretty scarey.

The political landscape has forever changed. How we travel has forever changed (remember when you didn't have to get to the airport a minimum of 1 hour before your flight?). And honestly I think how we live day to day has forever changed. I am not saying that the terrorists won (which I have heard some pundits say) but I know I have changed. I think that the world was woken up to the evil that exists in the minds of men. I think that the world now understands that people inherently aren't always good. I haven't given up on that idea just yet but it's in the back of my mind.

I know that yesterday we didn't watch a minute of television. We just wanted to be as far away from the coverage as possible. I was though extremely surprised that there wasn't a fly over in the morning. Perhaps that is economical that taking the F10s is too expensive. I dunno. We kept waiting for it though.

Things that I did this week:

2011-06-26T20:45:00.001-07:00

Seems that this is a great way to wrap up what is happening and is far more easy to deal with than a normal entry - Sad I can't even be motivated to post a blog entry but phew... just not feelin' it... so here is the template o' joy:

Things I did this week:

finalized artists and framing details for the Jockey Full of Bourbon (the show) and got some new artists to be involved from out of state... phew.... nothing like the last minute
drove upto Vail and yes there was still snow on the ground... check my twitter or flickr feed I am sure there are pictures there...
Pissed off a coworker to the point that I think they won't talk to me every again, which in all sincerity, it's not a loss at all. Ask me a stupid question that I have answered four or five times and you will get the stink eye from me if I even care to turn around at all to look at you... go away and figure it out on your own, you are an adult and I am not doing YOUR work for YOU anymore.
Set up a serious art show and realized artists are nuts. Completely out of their gourds nuts, but I love them and what they do so I dealt with it.
Had a great show can't wait to do it again in a year!

TV and Movies that I watched:

Please Give - I actually have seen this once before but didn't realize it until I had already got the instant watch going and decided to just roll with it anyways.
Beautiful Losers - I was needing a little inspiration and motivation to remind me that Friday's show is going to be worth it even though the only art that I have to hang on the wall is the work that I have curated for myself. It's annoying but telling and knowing that I helped at least 5 artists at one time was nice. Plus I really do dig Ed Templeton and Barry McGee's work.

Tommy Metz (iuengliss) live @ This Ain't No Cowtown, Vol 1 (A Colorado Comp) Residency at Lost Lake

2011-06-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

Tommy Metz (iuengliss) live @ This Ain't No Cowtown, Vol 1 (A Colorado Comp) Residency at Lost Lake: "

Come down to Lost Lake this Thursday night to celebrate the "This Ain't No Cowtown, Vol 1" compilation featuring tons of amazing colorado artists. And pay what you want for the comp here: http://thisaintnocowtown.bandcamp.com/album/this-aint-no-cowtown-vol-1-music/

2011-06-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

Things I did this week:

Was completely embarrassed the U2 caught me in their fan cam not being classy at all.
brushed Herschels teeth and he didn't like it at all (it isn't the first time nor will it be the last), dealt with Herschel's third seizure in as many months. This time I wasn't as petrified as in April. Awaiting word from his neurologist to get the word on what we need to do next
Finished Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him
Moved all my books out to the living room to encourage me to read more and it's working, I just started Tender Bar
Went to an 80s party and DID NOT rock my look from the 80s as Mr. Smith from the Cure would want his hair back.Nor could I pull of the mohawk I had for like five minutes then. I did however consider wearing lace gloves as it wasn't something I would remotely have even considered because it was a costume party after all.
hyped and promoted the Jockey Full of Bourbon show and was inspired by my friend Baxter and his innate ability to network (he is amazing at that ... I had no idea).
was all set to change my flat tire but this gale force wind happened and prevented me from being awesome...I was wearing a dress that was about to blow up around my head ::darn you nature::
had a nice weekend relaxed and realized that I am really truely not a fan of the red bull.

Movies that I watched:

Serge Gainsbourg - A Heroic Life - we went to see it at the French Film Fest at Denver Film Center
Princess Bride
Middle Men

Things I cooked:

Macaroni and Cheese
chicken picatta with goat cheese sauce
Iced Tea (ok that one is just sad but I did do that so I wanted to add it)

Concerts and shows I went to:

Peter Gabriel at Red Rocks - yes we got rained on and yes it was amazing
This Ain't No Cowtown Part I - music stylings part two at the Lost Lake (Chella Negro is who we went to see)
Westword Music Showcase - Yo La Tengo was amazing....

Jockey Full of Bourbon (a Tom Waits Tribute)

2011-06-15T09:58:00.004-07:00

June 25th - 3 Kings Tavern

Be there. Art. Music and Good times.

The week in links....

2011-06-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

In an effort to try and post something that I might find interesting one day when I go back to read this in the future... I am going to give this a try I think I saw it or something akin to this style on Popptalk.ca or somewhere in my reader feed. Thought it might be worth a try - :

Things I did this week:

Enjoyed the Memorial Day holiday by waking up with F and going to Lucille's for a Carlin County, some fabulous Iced Tea (and a bite of Pain Pardu with the magical caramel bourbon sauce)
Started a new book - One Day (in earnest actually, it's been on my nightstand for weeks being read a couple of pages at a time...I am hunkering in to finish it). *finished it and will not see the movie... I can't imagine either of these actors as the characters... sorry Anne Hathaway you are not who I would picture as Emma.
Finished A Visit from the Goon Squad (which I thought was boring)
Made a list to use my gift card from Twist and Shout that my brother gave me like two years ago...
Downloaded a game for my IPhone and played it - Stupid Zombies (my brother had it on his google tablet and I fell hard-it's pretty awesome) (there is a cheat sheet that I am not going to use, I want to figure it out myself, but someone actually did this which is nuts)
Made some amazing steaks to complete my steakkaytion
cancelled two credit cards, one I haven't used since I bought my appliances a year ago and the other which I haven't used in three years and the name for the department store has changed since then, which I thought was closed but wasn't - called up my credit report and saw it was still open... ooopsie daysie... zonk that one is goners too.

Cleaned off my dvr of any upcoming tv shows that would have recorded re-runs that I have already seen:

Real Housewives of New Jersey (not in reruns but I just can't take it, it's really an awful show besides Vulture is recapping which is a better use of my time and probably much funnier)
Grey's Anatomy (yeah I am done, it's over for me sorry but it's annoying)
Damages was still on there but I think it's over
Law and Order (no new episodes, it's time to come off the dvr) (oh and actually all the subsets too)
Perfect Couples, yeah I recorded that, it's embarrassing, but it was kinda funny
Mr. Sunshine - it was ok but I don't think it's coming back, so donsers from my dvr
Shows I will add back when the new seasons begin: Mike and Molly, The Closer, Rescue Me, The Thursday shows on NBC, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings, 60 Minutes, Castle

I did add to my dvr though:

Extra Virgin with Gabrielle and Debi (I have followed the show since the online version... and they are both hot) - I am going to admit that this is the only scheduled recording for the next four weeks on the dvr! Sweet Bliss! - I am excited to have some time not watching tv!

Things I cooked:

Chocolate balls
Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
spinach salad with baked crispy prosciutto and herbed goat cheese
an amazing salad with fresh snap peas and a sesame ginger dressing with the remainder of the goat cheese
pizza bagels - a guilty pleasure
sourdough bread toasted and grilled with olive oil with a avocado and parmesan tampenade type thing (it's all I had in my fridge that sounded good at the moment and was delish
tried to make dulche de leche but sadly failed... I will try again

Concerts and shows I went to:

John Doe at the Lions Lair
Bright Eyes at the Fillmore Auditorium
This Aint No Cowtown Vol 1 Residency Night One at Lost Lake

The Short of It: U2 at Invesco Field was amazing...

2011-05-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

So yeah, last night F took me to see U2. It's been over 20 years since I last saw them live. And it was pretty amazing. Not just for the spectacular-ness of the show production but being there in a stadium with over 70,000 people all there for the same thing was really pretty amazing.

It was a good set filled with deeper catalouge hits and just a few of the newer songs that I had never heard. The last record that I bought from U2 was the Joshua Tree, so hearing everything I hoped to was really great.

F treated me to an amazing show and I am lucky enough to be part of seeing alot of shows and this was absolutely spectacular. There is some grumbling out there that it was more about the production, but I will say to those folks saying it was just fair to suck it up and realize that this was a great spectacular and everything was put out there for our entertainment and it worked! I was entertained and can actually say that thanks to F I am a renewed fan!

I will wrap it up again with some other pictures on Blathercakes but I want to just make it of note: U2 was really pretty amazing!

Hello criminals in Santa Monica.... I am glad you had our date!

2011-05-03T22:34:00.000-07:00

I want to say hello to the thieves that stole my purse. I say this in all sincerity. I am glad you had the date that F and I potentially would have had.

I am really glad you made it from Malibu to Santa Monica safe. I am glad you had a kick ass date.

Ok going to the California Pizza Kitchen for dinner is a little cliche' being that you are actually IN California and Santa Monica probably has better places to dine, but I get it... I like the salads there, so I hope you did too. I am glad you went to the Santa Monica Pier and rode the rides. I have to say, I thought it would be romantic as hell for us to go at sunset on Friday night when we decided to drive further up and go to Malibu where out paths intersected.

Please please tell me you took some awesome pictures of you and your friends with my camera and that your gems you bought at Sears were cables for the camera to hook up to your (probably stolen... ok that was a low blow) laptop.

A special shout out goes to the American guy probably working at the offshore call center who took my escalated call this afternoon.

And hey I would really really like it, since you have my mailing address... could you send me the card from the camera? No questions asked. You can keep the camera and my favorite purse and all that ... the camera card though would be awesome though. I know it's asking a lot but it would be nice since you got a romantic date out of it all.

Cinco de Mayo is for Lovers...and Music Fans also....

2011-04-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo is for Lovers...and Music Fans also....: "

Check out this Cinco de Mayo Blowout!

Malaikat Dan Singa

Aenka

Positive Visualization

Bongo Fury

Rhinoceropolis

Thursday May 5.

Get it done!!!

All the Love in the World

dvzl.

Iuengliss - Magnetic Empires Video

2011-04-20T19:51:00.001-07:00

Iuengliss - Magnetic Empires Video: "

Watch all the videos and dowload the album for free here:

http://plasticsoundsupply.com/release/iuengliss_-_blank_matter/

Josh Cain's fucking birthday May 1st with Wire Faces, Port Au Prince, Tommy Metz and Patrick Lee

2011-04-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

Josh Cain's fucking birthday May 1st with Wire Faces, Port Au Prince, Tommy Metz and Patrick Lee: "

Come celebrate Josh Cain's old ass with a birthday party at Hi-Dive on May 1st. Here is the line-up:

Wire Faces

Port Au Prince

Tommy Metz

Patrick Lee

So I am back from LA and saw Big Audio Dynamite!

2011-04-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

After the muddy walk to the terminal we got on the plane and arrived in LA to warm weather (after departing in snow... that was a first for me... never flown out of Denver in a snow, in April....) and sunshine and palm trees.

Picked up the car and drove through Manhatten Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and down to San Pedro. F went to college there so it was fun to see some of the sights. Stopped at In and Out burger, which I guess you have to do when in California... we decided that there are definitely better burgers in Denver.

We checked into the hotel which sad to say... kind of a dump, we were supposed to have a "king suite"... um.... not so much. That was a disappointment, nothing in the picture I saw when booking resembled the room that we got. Now don't get me wrong, I could have been a huge bitch, said we are out of here and moved on, but I think the overwhelming smell of bleach maybe got to me. F laid down to take a little nap and I thought I will head out and take a little walk, I needed to find someplace to get toothpaste and shampoo so thought I will just walk up Sunset and see what I can find.

Walked in front of Hollywood High. The architecture on the building was amazing. Stopped and took some shots, some kids came up and asked me what I was "shooting" and I said "cornices" and one of the kids took me to the side of one of the main parts of the building and showed me some carvings that were deco and cool and unreal. He said "we have a very cool school huh?". Yeah you do. I said, I went to high school in a big brick and metal box pretty much. Then I said I was from Colorado. Then I was a tourist and person non-grata. It was very typical and funny I have to admit. Walked up a little bit more, found a Rite Aid got my supplies and headed back. Stopped in this really great garden shop and fell in love with this planter tree that was intricately shaped and so beautiful. Too bad you can't carry that stuff on a plane!

Hung out poolside once I got back to the hotel. There was this group of guys who were talking in french about cheese sandwhiches. One of them got up and came back with this giant bottle of rum. They called out to me and said I could join them and watch the Montreal Boston hockey game and have a drink with them. It was very nice, but I declined. F texted me that he was napped up and we headed out again.

We drove up Sunset looking for a pre show bite to eat. And this is where my memory totally failed me. I thought for sure that the restaurant that I wanted to go to was on Sunset. It wasn't. So we finally looked up Barney's Beanery and found we were close but it was off Sunset and not at all where I though it was. Walked in, got a table. We ordered. We had the divine pleasure of listening to this SUPER loud girl just blather on about absolutely nothing important. I was so annoyed with her and feel badly that her friends have to listen to that all the time, we only had an hour... they have a lifetime. The food was almost even like I remembered. Almost. I think I built it up in my head as being so much better because it was so much fun the couple of times we were there... but it wasn't bad. Two beers, a bowl of chili and a fried chicken was almost 50 bucks though, which I totally was surprised by.... it used to be so cheap. Different times I suppose.

We drove over to the Roxy and got in line to get into the show. There were these two guys behind us. One who spent about 10 minutes complaining that the show started too late and he had to work the next day and blah blah blah... there was a guy behind him who was looking to buy tickets (the show had been sold out about a month at that point) so finally they pulled the trigger and sold their tickets. Now here is the really impressive and nice thing... he sold them for face value. I was really surprised by that. I really expected that he would have sold them for more, he certainly could have, the scalper guy bought a ticket for 150 bucks just a couple of minutes before from someone. Anyways... nice move there dude.

Doors open, the line is moving along and we get up to the front door, get our IDs sorta looked at... I say sorta because there is NO WAY the door guy knows where to look our drivers license for our birthdays right? It was a mere glance, stamp and in we go. We see the drummer for a rock band that rhymes sorta with The Smelly Schleppers (oh wait am I bitter?) standing out front, who looked really really super skinny to me. Then we go in. The place is really small, maybe the size of the Larimer Lounge with a stage in a semi circle curtained in the front. Fun and really neat. The music is this crazy 80s mix of Depeche Mode and stuff. We walk over to the left where there is this elevated area. Since I am short I thought this will be a great vantage point for me, I will be about half a head taller and totally be able to see.

F goes over to the merch and I order beers. Now here is where LA obviously differs from Denver. They had PBR on tap... ok not so different, but then I asked about if they had Heineken or Stella and the waitress said no but they have something that began with a P that is Italian (she said the name, I just can't remember it, searched under italian beers... thats what came up... could be, I dunno). Italian beer on tap? What? Really. Weird. So I started a tab and went to talking to the people around me as I am known to do in these situations. Talk to this guy who is super cool, friends with the guy who got him a ticket for knowing someone in the Clubs management and who is a pro skateboarder. Don't know who it is for the life of me so don't ask, he came over and shook my hand though. Very nice guy who ever you are.

I then have to go to the bathroom because apparently Italian beer is like Coors light and doesn't stick around long. I walk back over to where we were standing and the guy tells me it's VIP. Oops. Yeah we just totally walked into VIP and stood there like we belonged I guess. Not our intention for sure. So I told him I was sorry, I would find the waitress and close out my tab and we would move down to the other area. He was very cool about it. Then this other waitress came over, now she was kind of rude about it, I get it, it's her job, I explained that it was totally our mistake, not intentional and we were just waiting to clear our tab, the bouncer guy then came over and said he knows whats up and to leave us alone until we could pay and said we could stay there until the show starts. Which was NICE but we needed to get down and get a spot where I could see. He said he would get us a spot up front. He motioned to the other bouncer guy who let us up on the side area that he was clearing out and not letting people stand. It was really super cool of them. The waitress shot me this look... hey we didn't know. We weren't trying to do anything nefarious. I don't care about standing in a VIP area with actors whose names rhyme with Phenico BelJorro or Mon Musak or the bass player for the Smelly Schleppers or Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols (his radio show was sponsoring the show and he introduced the band... lamely I might add... sorry Steve.... it was lame..."ladies and gentleman...BAD?" that is the best you can do? For fucksake man. Anyways I just wanted to see Big Audio Dynamite and not the back of someone's head the bouncer dude understood and was cool... too bad she wasn't... got our tab from the original waitress who was stressing about it and was sorry she didn't tell us it was VIP, I said it was ok, we just assumed the tables were VIP and the other was standing room and not to worry about us. She genuinely seemed worried I was pissed. I wasn't at all.

The show was great. We were right in front of Don Letts who was a machine and amazing. He was really into the show I think. He seemed like he was having a great time and at times during the show came out and interacted with the crowd. I was really surprised how integral what he was doing was to the overall band. I never really knew. So that was a real treat to watch. And it was so cool to see him so close. I wish I could have 20 minutes to talk to him, about London during the 70s, his filmmaking, his music career, his musical taste and stuff, but obviously not going to happen, so I had to enjoy watching him perform. Mick Jones was terrific. He came out in a silver suit like a total gentleman and rocked it for 90 minutes. He seemed like he was having a great great time, just like how I felt when I saw him at the Bluebird and he played with Carbon/Silcon. There seemed to be real joy there. Sure there were songs I wished they had played but it was all good. I took some pictures, F took the helm of the camera for a while and we genuinely had a great time at the show.

On the way out we stood out front of the building talking with some folks, went to the side of the building and thought maybe we would wait to see about them coming out. Stood for a while and saw Smilly Scruffy from a band that played the Ogden back a while ago that rhymes with Smult. I don't know why I am making all the "famous" people's names rhyme and be non-sensical because really I don't care. They are real human beings. I guess I don't want to to be about seeing them as much as seeing Big Audio Dynamite right? Anyways... we are standing there and the bouncer at the Rainbow looks like Trent Reznor but with a bad bleach job. It was amusing. The band's van eventually came up and we realized they weren't going to come out and great the small crowd standing outside, so we headed to the car and back to the hotel.

Crawled into bed with the reverberations of Big Audio Dynamite rocking through our heads... it was pretty awesome.

Woke up to a bright and shiney day. Decided we would go over to Echo Park and Silverlake and do some shopping of sorts.

Our first stop was the Echo Park Time Travel Mart. Yes this is a real place. And yes it is a fundraising outlet for the 826Valencia children's writing program for LA. It was a fun little store and the guy at the counter was so endearing. This young boy kept bringing things up to the counter and asking him what it did and the clerk was creative and wonderful in his answers. It was wonderful. I got some fun little tchokes and we headed to the next street over and got lunch at this restaurant called Masa.

The vibe was really cool. We ordered a pizza and set in to wait our 40 minutes for the pizza to be delivered. F ordered the Suppli which were amazing. I haven't had suppli in so long so I was really super pleased that that was the appetizer he picked. I need to find a good recipe and make them myself. But they have absolutely set the standard for what I aspire to. The pizza was delivered and it was really terrific. A nice cornmeal crust with some amazing sauce peppered with garlic and fresh basil and delicious tomatoes. It was totally worth the wait! Our waiter was a total hipster and nice to see that hipsters are the same everywhere. He was attentive and not in our faces...I would hire him if I owned a place.

We drove over to to a store that showed that they sold eyeglass frames that F was looking into getting. The place Mohawk General Store was really cool. Full of vintage treasures and clothing. But pricey...whoa nelly .... no offense, but $75 bucks for a candle is pricey....F didn't see the frames he wanted so we cruised out. The people in the store couldn't have been bothered to even say hello so that was telling. I wish them luck.

Went to La Luz de Jesus and Wacko. This was like mecca... the store was HUGE compared to what I remembered. Almost too much stuff and totally overwhelming but we had fun shopping. I got the 3 gun vase I have been coveting since I saw it in Pheonix. Picked up some postcards. And a Monkey Wearing a Fez cookie jar that was too cool NOT to buy.

When we were standing out side the building we saw Keith Morris walk by! Our quintessential LA rockstar moment for us! Didn't say anything because he was on his way somewhere and really it would have been rude to interrupt whatever he was doing... but we saw him and it was cool.

Went and headed over to Silverlake to an optical store to see about the frames there. We got to the store and the gals in the place could not have been nicer. One of the gals gave F a pair of frames that certainly were cool to try on but were a little weird on him. But he definitely tried.

From there we drove the canyon roads, went over Laurel Canyon, Mulholland, and Coldwater Canyon. It was really fun and beautiful. But the amount of honking at the second a light would turn green is maddening. It was unreal. There was a guy behind us in a SUV that actually yelled at us. And we actually yelled back. As we were getting close to the PCH I actually considered along with F getting out of the car and saying I can't make the light change any faster and honking isn't going to make it happen any quicker or peacefully? Fuck off asshole. Finally the light changed and he sped up and went on the side of us and ended up in a turn lane that took him to a side road and not the PCH which I guess he actually wanted to go too. It was humorous.

We drive to Malibu and go to Zuma Beach to watch the sun set. It was beautiful and really nice. Nice soft sand, nice rolling waters.... great view.

We went back to the car, drove to Jerry's Deli. This is where the tide turned. Ok pun intended. I open the trunk to get out my purse. Its gone. So I spend the next 20 minutes or so calling my bank, my credit card company and dealt with that. It was gross and awful and I felt like an idiot for leaving my purse in the car, in a locked trunk in a rental car. Dumb move. We got back into the car, F drove since my license was in my wallet in the purse. I made mental notes of what I had in the wallet and then I realized.... how the hell am I going to get on a plane to go home tomorrow? Plus my camera with all the shots from our drives, stops and the show were gone, not to mention the camera, which I was just learning to love. But it's a thing, and replaceable... how the hell am I going to get on a plane without ID now?

Too bad our trip to the Echo Park Time Travel Mart was not something that was real right? Irony and humor could be found in that moment for sure! It was kind of funny. Sad and annoying but really funny too. What I wouldn't have done to go back in time to go back to 7PM and take my purse with me down to the beach.

Fuck.

We get back to the hotel. I do a quick google search and realize the best thing will be to file a police report and at least have that piece of paper explaining why I don't have a driver's license. I call the Malibu sheriff's office and they direct me to file the report at the West Hollywood station. So we head over there. Two hours of waiting later the report is filed.

It was the most frustrating wait I have ever had. I cried. I was violated and had to sit and wait for two hours so that I could get home.

Got back to the hotel finally and tried to relax and took a shower in what was the most ghetto shower ever. Both the spikets leaked something fierce. I just was not in the mood and that made it nearly tragic to me. I wanted to break down, I honestly did but it wouldn't make anything better. I went to dry my hair and the hair dryer didn't work. It was absolutely unreal. I wanted nothing more than to have F just give me a hug and say it will be ok but he was asleep. I was frustrated and honestly hearing this party going on in the room next to me just made the capper on my night. I seriously almost got dressed and went over there to tell them that I wanted to just have them give me a drink so at least I could try and deal with this better, but just laid there annoyed. Finally at 5:30 they went to bed. I slept maybe an hour or so and then I got up and went to the front desk to get a copy of my copied drivers license we gave when we checked in. So at least I have a picture of my picture ID. Came back to the room and tried to call the TSA to find out if that would be enough.

No answer just a recording talking about what to do to file a complaint about a screening and to report a concern. Very very frustrating.

F woke up, we got in the car and headed to the airport. Wanted to make sure that there was enough time to deal with any situation should one happen to occur. We turn in the car, I tell the guy the locks don't work on the car, he couldn't have cared. At all. Not one bit. Thanks Budget Rental car... it seriously was disappointing your check in guy couldn't be bothered.

Get to the TSA check in. And here is where the tide turns. The TSA was AMAZING. The agents were so kind, polite and one of the guys even said "wow this is the fifth one of these". So good to know I am not the only one. I was congratulated for being so prepared and was sent to the xray machines.

My bag gets checked because of the vase and the plastic ray guns I got from the Echo Park Time Travel Mart. I got two ray guns (one which was missing, so they got my purse and a toy.... hope they enjoy). So the TSA screening supervisor Gillan I think was his name was really funny. He said he couldn't imagine what it was that was shaped the way it was, they knew it wasn't a real gun but they were curious and wanted to see. Then we talked about the 826Valencia store and he said he might have to take his grandkids there. He pulled out the bottle of "Old Medicine- Leeches" (which are plastic worms... in a jar....) and laughed a little bit and then apologized because I don't know that they are allowed to show humor. I explained what happened to us and he said he hopes we had a safe trip home. It was really completely surprising how kind everyone was. They should be commended. It could have been awful but it wasn't.

We got a little lunch, watched a LeFemme Nikita on my IPhone (thank you Netflix! We were just talking about it when we went through Venice Beach and talked about Point of No Return which it was a remake of) so that killed some time considering we had two delays. F ran into a friend and he chatted with him for a few minutes. It was nice for him to run into him I am sure. It made me smile to see them talking.

Finally got home, got a quick bite to eat at Viva Burrito (came home to get Mexican food which was really funny!). Watched part of a movie and F scrambled home for the night.

Today I called all the credit bureaus and put credit freezes on my identity... I will be damned if they steal my identity in addition to my purse. Tommorrow the adventure begins, I get to go and get a new driver's license, go to the bank and get a new checking account and reassign all my automatic payments. Great. It could be a lot worse but still a giant pain. I want to hope that the people or person that broke into my car will send me my stuff back and I know that doesn't happen, but it would be AMAZING if it did. OR even if the camera showed up on Craiglist (like F thinks it might) because I might be able to get the sd card but that is wishful thinking. Oh Echo Time Travel Mart... you mock me with your not being real... oh how you mock me....!

It was an amazing trip and obviously one full of adventure. But I won't have to go back to LA for a while, a long while now! Happy to make plans to go some place else next... bring it anywhere else.... bring it....!

Thanks Big Audio Dynamite for a great show... thanks Wacko and La Luz de Jesus for the treasures.... thanks Echo Park Time Travel Mart for the humor in the situation... and thanks seriously F for making the gooooooood stuff happen. Seriously.... thanks for bringing the good!

Updates

2011-03-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

It seems like cupcakes and cakes in a jar are the new "thing". In my reader this morning there were at least 8 posts about it in different food blogs all about cupcakes in a jar. I am though really impressed by this recipe (and I have added it very quickly to my pinterest). Now if I could only find the stupid jars. F and I were at the Mercury Cafe for Gorinto one night and spent a good little bit talking about and looking at sites for pie in a jar (and here is Not Martha's recipe, I trust Megan's recipes by the way), apparently there was lots of talk about it at a meeting at his job. Couldn't find the jars then and still can't find them now which is maddening. Now because of all the nutso cupcake behaviour in this town it is going to be worse. This adds a layer of of more frustration to the "want to do" baking craft.

I haven't really had all that much going on. I have really just been laying low and trying to get motivated to clean for spring, clean for pesach and clean because I am starting to get cluttered again.

The other night I took Herschel out to tinkle and ran into the gal that shares a wall of her unit with mine in the dining room area me. She is a really nice lady, quiet, minds her own business and an elementary school teacher. So in my world .... saint.

Anyways. We were talking about our neighbors past and present and she said that she had recently redone her interior. Like kinda gutted the kitchen and redid it, re-carpeted and painted. I had no clue. See what I am saying about quiet. I didn't even hear any thing. I don't really think in terms of her taste level for what she did but the work that was done was great. I am very seriously considering hiring her interior decorator to come in and do her magic on my kitchen which desperately needs a step up into non-buildergrade cabinetry. My neighbor had her cabinets refaced, the drawers redone and the lighting updated. Her counters are fixed and a new sink was put in. I don't know about appliances but I got that covered over the summer myself last year.

I really have to say it was lovely, totally not to my taste but really nicely done and classy. And now that I know there is someone that did the work, knows the intricacies of our units and designed for it already, I might just save a little bit. I think it is going to not be an inexpensive project but in the long run it might make my condo more sellable. I am not looking to move but certainly I will at some point so why make all the updates and not be able to enjoy them. I mean why shouldn't I have nice counter tops? I am though thinking about staying away from the granite and going corian or silestone. I think the whole granite slab counter tops are played. When I was in the "business" I saw some really amazing rock slab available but now, I don't have access to that and besides at retail it would be WAY too expensive and silly to spend that kind of money for my tiny little joint. So I am happy to say it's not even an option.

My June event is coming along pretty well. I am still looking for artists to submit their Tom Waits related artwork so if you know anyone that would be interested, send them my way. As I get closer I am thinking about commissioning some work from Etsy artists but that may just be my desperation planning that far in advance.

So thats about all I got. What about you?

Man Man Announce North American Tour

2011-03-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

So I am seriously excited about not only a new record but a tour.... holy shit. And Denver is on there!

From Anti News:

Man Man Announce North American Tour: "The celebrated avant-garde rock outfit Man Man will be taking their brilliantly orchestrated sonic feast on the road as they embark on a conquest of North America. The Philly outfit is renowned for their high energy emotionally cathartic sound utilizing an assortment of instruments and styles, from soulful honky-tonk piano to experimental jazz and an entirely new form of propulsive pop music.

In addition, Man Man is nearing completion of their much anticipated follow up album to last year's heralded Rabbit Habits, an album which inspired Paste Magazine to proclaim of the band, 'They are what rock 'n' roll is meant to be and, frankly, what most rock bands have forgotten altogether: These songs are fun.'

Man Man Tour Dates:

19-Mar Austin, TX Auditorium Shores / Ground Control Touring SXSW

28-Apr Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

29-Apr Charlotte, NC Visulite

30-Apr Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse

1-May Birmingham, AL Bottletree

2-May New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks

3-May Houston, TX Fitzgerald's

5-May Austin, TX Emo's - Outside

6-May Dallas, TX Sons of Hermann Hall

7-May Oklahoma City, OK Academy of Contemporary Music

9-May Albuquerque, NM Launchpad

10-May Tempe, AZ Clubhouse

11-May San Diego, CA Casbah

13-May Los Angeles, CA El Rey

14-May San Francisco, CA Bimbos

16-May Seattle, WA Neumos

17-May Vancouver, BC Rickshaw

18-May Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

20-May Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue

21-May Denver, CO Bluebird

22-May Omaha, NE Slowdown

23-May Minneapolis, MN First Ave

24-May Chicago, IL Metro

25-May Pontiac, MI Eagle Theater

26-May Toronto, ON Lee's Palace

27-May Montreal, QC Caberet Mile End

28-May Boston, MA Paradise

29-May Danbury, CT BOMB Fest

31-May New York, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg

3-Jun Washington, DC Black Cat

11-Jun Manchester, TN Bonnaroo"

Bluebird Theater Announces Pure Sunshine: Rick Kulwicki Celebration & Benefit, Friday & Saturday, March 25 & 26, 2011

2011-02-28T12:38:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2011

Marketing Contact: AEG Live – Rocky Mountains

Darlene D'Agostino

ddagostino@aeglive.com

720.224.9200

BLUEBIRD THEATER ANNOUNCES
PURE SUNSHINE: RICK KULWICKI CELEBRATION & BENEFIT

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 25AND 26, 2011

Pure Sunshine: Rick Kulwicki Celebration & Benefit – Friday & Saturday, March 25^th and 26^th, 2011. Doors 8pm, Show 8:30 pm. ****Advance tickets for both shows are $15. Two-day passes are $30.

AEG Live formally announces "Pure Sunshine," a two-day benefit concert celebrating Rick Kulwicki, guitarist of Sub Pop recording artists and seminal Denver rock band The Fluid, on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26, at the Bluebird Theater. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 5^th at 10 a.m. Please join the Bluebird Theater in supporting the local rock community.

Rick Kulwicki was a longtime and beloved member of the Denver music community. In addition to his groundbreaking work as a guitarist of legendary Denver band The Fluid, he also contributed to the Frantix and the Buckingham Squares. He is survived by two teenage twin sons, two sisters, and his mother. Pure Sunshine is a celebration of everything Rick achieved and everyone he influenced. As plans for Pure Sunshine began, word leaked and the response has been overwhelming. What was once a single-night event has evolved into a two-night event featuring some of Denver's best bands! Below is the tentative line up, subject to change:

Friday March 25

The Swayback
Bonnie Situation
Pitch Invasion
18 Wheeler
Ill Cativo

Saturday March 26
The Overcasters
Buckingham Squares
The Omens

The Genuises
Git Some

Tickets for the Bluebird event will be $15 per night. A 2-day pass is available for $30 and includes a commemorative event poster. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are available without service charge at the Bluebird and Ogden box offices on show nights and at the Ogden every Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. All proceeds from Pure Sunshine will be donated to a memorial fund to benefit Rick's twin boys. Additionally, donations can be made to the Richard Kulwicki Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo bank. Each ticket purchased to Bluebird Theater shows in July and August will also include a 25-cent donation to this memorial fund.

The memory of Rick's spirit will continue with the Pure Sunshine BBQ at Larimer Lounge on April 24. James Irvine at Larimer Lounge is currently booking the BBQ, he can be reached at james@larimerlounge.com.

TICKETS ON-SALE SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2011, AT 10AM!

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.COM, AT ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS. TO CHARGE TICKETS BY PHONE, CALL (800) 745-3000. visit WWW.Ticketmaster.com/outlets for a list of Ticketmaster outletS.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITES

www.aeglive.com – www.bluebirdtheater.net - www.myspace.com/myconcertsdenver - www.facebook.com/bluebirdtheater

_________________________________________________________

Darlene D'Agostino

Club Marketer, AEG Live Rocky Mountains

p: 720.931.3914 c: 720.470.9875 f: 720.931.3913

930 W 7th Avenue

Denver, CO 80204

2011-02-28T00:35:00.001-07:00

Blogging the Oscars seems like the "in" thing to do...Lets see if I can do the whole 3 1/2 hours.

The intro montage was really really funny.

Watching Helena Bonaham Carter lean into Tim Burton when Alice in Wonderland won for Cinematography was really so very sweet.

So I am going to say Kirk Douglas is pretty damn funny and honest, Anne Hathaway is something really nice to look at.

Ethan Cohen looks like Tim Burton.

I like that Kirk Douglas drug the award out. I want to give him an award. And seriously how gorgeous is Melissa Leo. And that fantastic woman just dropped the F Bomb. Holla. Her portion about the Academy is tear inducing for me.

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake look kinda of pissie. And their banter is bad considering who they are. And don't say Shrek is going to be there if he doesn't show... the kids are going to be sad. But I really do think someone should actually run a festival with the Shorts in Animation here in Denver. Why don't they do that? Cough Cough Denver Film Society.

Ok Animated Feature. It will go to Toy Story so I am fast forwarding. The Illusionist was so amazing but not available in three d so it won't win... too old school. Why doesn't Pixar come up with something besides Toy Story. Look I was right.

Oh Steve Jobs was part of Pixar and their initial funding? Huh. Nice to see he does something with that apple dough besides hanging out with Kathy Griffin (who I would kill to hang out with by the way... that isn't a dig).

Commercials. Oh wait I don't have to watch this. And here we are back from the commercials. Hi Penelope Cruz looking all dear at your husband Javier Bardam. Eeek. These white tuxes don't translate well to tv.

Adapted screenplay... 127 hours will win. I mean the guy cut off his arm. (ooops spoiler alert). Winter's Bone was a book? Might have to read that since it will be months before it comes up on my netflix cue. Whooooooaaaaa.... I was wrong. Aaron Sorkin is amazing, he is really so brilliant I have to admit, I lived for the West Wing and he is really very talented. Did you that he trained to be a Broadway actor? He did. Just a little trivia for you. Man those white tuxes are bad. Best Screenplay... I haven't seen any of these movies...I like when they superimpose the script up under the action. And they show edits and notes... very cool graphics kids. Kings Speech makes sense. That was supposed to be a play by they way. And Seidler is funny. He seems like a nice man, I am glad he won and he used to stammer... I was rooting for him. Screenwriting sucks by the way.

Commercials. I am taking a little drinkie break... Just homemade cream soda....

Hi Anne Hathaway, you look all fancy in that tux. And your shoes are kick ass. Oh you said jack ass. But your shoes are amazing. James Franco is wearing heels by the way. This is really creepy that he is wearing a dress. And not so much Marilyn as much as Scarilyn.

Oh because of Arthur. That is the only reason why Russel Brand should be on that stage. Helen Mirren speaks better french that Russel Brand speaks English. I know low but I don't get him at all. But Arthur. My heat just kicked on. Thought that would be more interesting to you that my saying I liked the dress color on the winner from Denmark.

Reese Witherspoon is classic. Her stylist gets an A. Best Supporting actor.... I bet Christian Bale wins. I haven't seen the Fighter yet. But I heard that Christian Bale is unbelievably good. But Mr. Rush. Sorry. Christian Bale just said Bloddy Hell... you would think they would have bleeped that out... huh. I think Mr. Bale is terrific. We watched American Psycho recently and he just killed it. Get it? Oh he looks brilliantly sharp in his tux. His wife is pretty.

If Trent Reznor wins for score I will pee my pants. He won't. But just saying. Commercial.I hope James Franco isn't wearing a dress when we come back.

And we are back. Oh the president ... I will skip forward through this. I will let you know that I was a seat filler. That was fun.

Anne's dress is better. And her hair is rad.

God this is a lame ass intro to the Music Awards. I do dig the dolby thx buzz. I sat in a theater once while they tuned it for a new Dolby system. I heard that buzz for like three hours and each time... thrilling. Lets move... Live performing the score is pretty cool though. From hearing this, I am betting Inception wins. It's pretty "scorey" Whoa.... seriously. I am totally shocked. I am totally shocked. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Academy Award winners.

Why is Mathew McConahey there? Presenting? Huh. Achievement in Mixing. I know what goes into this work, so it will be interesting to see which wins. Inception. Which I haven't seen but it makes sense from what it looks like. Mixers are an awesome group of people. These winners look cool and they thanked their crew which is killer. Sound editing now.... Inception again. Now I want to see it. Moved it up on my queue.

I can't do this for another two hours.

This blogging an awards show is hard.

Look at those Scientific award winners!

Cate Blanchett.... is so pretty. Why are they still playing music over her? She makes gross sound gorgeous.

Costume design - Alice in Wonderland is absolutely right. That was a creatively brilliant work. Her speech was boring and her gloves are weird. And you could see the tag on her dress as she turned around.

Music montage with every day people singing? Hey there is the President! And Kevin Spacey. He can sing actually. Introducing Randy Newman. He wins this I already knew. I heard about it already. Spoiling that for you. His uncle was really so nice to me and he wasn't but he was recovering from being sick so I forgive him and congratulate him. Now I fast forward.

Oh all the songs all at one time. Huh. I am still fast forwarding. Wait only two songs.

Amy Adams is from Colorado. Her hair is kinda meh. Best Documentary Short Subject, this is something anyone should and aspire to do, everyone has a story, go and make your film. You could get your project on HBO too. One day I may actually get there. Short Live Action. God of Love.... that looks like a filmschool project... not that it's a bad thing.... yep NYU Tisch. that screamed final project, just for the few sections I saw. I am jealous as hell. Our final project was shit. And unwatchable now.

Oh Anne Hathaway's next dress is dangling. And I love her hair. It's decided, I need to take a picture of the tv so that I can take this to Stacy and say... I want to grow my hair out to look like this.

REally? Autotune? This is lame. Fast Forwarding.

Oprah. Meh. Documentary. Figures. I wonder if she actually saw these. Even Ethan Cohen is bored. Thank you director of the show for showing that moment. Exist Through the Gift Shop better win, because if we get to see banksy I would pee again. Nope. Bummer. Banksy is always going to be a mystery now I suppose. A documentary about the financial collapse? Wow like I need to watch that? Not academy award worthy I think. But what do I know? I just think showing and documenting what we all are living through still isn't award worthy?

Billy Crystal... he's kinda creepy. Always has been to me. I am fast forwarding through this, I don't really need to see the ode to Bob Hope. Fake voice introducing Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, that is awful. Jude Law... you are totally an asshole. I don't care who scripted this but it's terrible. Lets give Alice in Wonderland another win shall we? Oh wait Inception will take it. I typed take tit. Hah. I am bored. Inception. Makes sense. Glad I moved that to the top spot in my queue. Oops almost fast forwarded through the editing award, which I also totally "get". Social Network was edited really well I agree.

An hour and 20 left to go. This is really really hard.

Anne Hathaway ... red dress not so good.

Two songs and I am skipping through. PS Jennifer Hudson, your boobs look weird. Florence and the Machine are weird and awfully orange. I am skipping through. Gwynth in FFWD is a blush flesh colored blur.

I told you who won, so lets move on shall we?

Commercial and showing of the in memoriam? Seriously... gunna skip. Oh Celine.... my heart will always go on but I can't watch you.... Wasn't she pregnant? Still fast forwarding....Why hello Halle Berry you look pretty but it's so cliche to have you talk about Lena Horne. Oprah would have actually been better. Should have booked that differently. Boring.

Anne is now in blue. and it's shiney. And her hair is awesome again.

Hillary Swank you still look like your ears are really big. Kathryn Bigelow... your dress is kind of gross and you are totally underwhelming. Directors... this is what I was waiting for. Tom Hooper. This doesn't surprise me. His press around the release of the film made him seem like such a super super nice nice man. You need that in a great director.

I have heartburn now. Stupid awards show.

Hi Annette Benning. You are hot. That dress is killer.

I wish they would air the Governor's Awards instead of this now. That looked fun.

Performance Awards.

Natalie Portman - deserved for sure. Her speech was lovely.
Colin Firth - again, totally deserved and very much expected. And Colin was very funny and I am so glad they didn't orchestrate over him.

We are in the home stretch... Man... one more award... phew.

Anne Hathaway's last dress.... slinky.

Speilberg? Meh. I am glad he didn't self congratulate. Raging Bull never won? Wow. I learned something from Mr. Speilberg, never thought that would happen since his production company was mean to me I shut down against him. So now I can get over that.

Best Picture..... Kings Speech. The little movie that could. I am excited to see it I have to say. Haven't seen it yet, we couldn't get to it over the past couple of weekends and tried to see it this afternoon but it wasn't showing downtown when we were there.

Ok .... so.... that was that. I won't live blog (via the dvr) again probably, that was hard and I pooped out. BUT I am glad I comitted to this awards show and not the Independent Spirit Awards because all I would have done is call for drinks everytime someone kvetched about the cold... so this was much better.

Dad? I think they are singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just for you.

I really have to say the "ClassPicture" thing is really rad. That was pretty special.

Shout out to the writer Paula Pell.

Just turned off my dvr and came across some on the Red Carpet coverage thing... and BAM! There is Denver's very own Mondo! What a crazy cool thing to see. Mondo your glasses are bombdiggity! Congrats on the National TV coverage! You are terrific!

Sleep well y'all.

Pinterest is my fave right now...

2011-02-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last week and a half or so totally enamored with Pinterest. Hold the phone and saddle up because seriously... this is really a neat site. I wish I had thought of it but am loving that someone did. I used to use Wist alot to save things that I wanted to buy or bookmark for later, but Pinterest is even better than that and builds on the strengths of that site (at least in my opinion).

It's like an online inspiration board with interactivity built in.

Here is what I have so far (and I haven't found the time to peruse many other boards actually but I am planning to very soon).

The whole thing started when I saw a link to this cake and then I saw that the site was in public beta and invitation only. I was bummed actually. But then I thought... why wouldn't I just email the developer, tell him that I was interested and why and what I would conceivably make a good contributor. And I was given an invite.

I have to tell you how really cool this site is. Not only do I have a visual resource for all the links and feeds that I have bookmarked in my google reader now but there are so many other things that just make me ooh and ahhh that people "pin" as well. It's really amazing. I am in the process right now of "pinning" my favorites from my reader and bookmarks right now and then I hope to re-pin and share what else I find out there on the web.

Take a moment to get out and check the site out, it's garnering quite a bit of buzz and it's worthy of it. The interface is gorgeous, there is a bookmarklet even to facilitate easy "pinning" it's really awesome.

Now as part of my membership, I do have five invites to share... so if you are interested ... give me a jingle!

12 Stepping Family Guy Style.

2011-02-15T15:54:00.001-07:00

12 Stepping Family Guy Style by M Dougherty.

I post this not because it's whittie or anything more interesting than back say like ::cough cough:: 1997 when I was making my fabulously amazing and whitty Swoon online profile (remember Swoon? I do and fondly, that is when the online singles sites were NOT creepy), I put that I was a teatottler because I thought it sounded like I was cute. Cute and stupid more. I didn't know what that meant. I kept it up there though once my friend at the time Sarah actually told me what it meant, I thought "huh, I can't change it because I like the way it sounds". Not a single person I met even questioned me. SKMCD (hey my friend, I miss the crap out of you... and am listening to Ben Folds right now to prove it) and drank ourselves silly once.

So there you are. Nothing great nor important or even interesting, other than I am listening to Ben Folds and thinking of SKMCD and how fun and innocenst those times were.

12 Stepping Family Guy Style.

2011-02-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

2011-02-10T12:35:00.001-07:00

Not that you are looking for my review of Catfish (besides here is a pretty great one - even with spoilers which are treated perhaps in the best way spoilers should be treated) or anything but it is worth seeing.

I don't know if it is because in 2005 I was involved in an online charade being played out on a friend and a group of about 10 other people (me more indirectly than the other people involved for sure) and walked away kind of in a similar fashion. I don't want to give anything away if you haven't seen the movie because it is a very good lesson about trust and online social media perceptions. BUT I rather liked the movie. I know that there are some controversies about how it was played out on screen that how naive were these guys? Did they manipulate the situation (which I think in editing they do, but they talk about that in the commentary)? Was the situation even real? Well for the naive comment...They were at the time 24. That is young. Really young. And facebook is "real yo". And they are film makers and photographers and media kids in today's day and age in NYC. Why would people lie on their facebook profile? So after the movie there is this little interview with them. It was very enlightening. It's only about 20 minutes and they do answer some interesting points that come out in the film.

These are really sweet guys. The story is actually pretty sweet. Sad certainly and they don't really hide much of the sad stuff, just deal with it and move on. They admit that they were all lonely and looking for exactly what they got out of the relationships which is honest as hell.

Remember when the movie came out they were playing it out to be this "HUGE SURPRISE"/ don't give it away. I guess because I have seen it happen first hand, that I didn't think it was shocking or tremendous or unbelievable, like the media played it out to be at the time. Perhaps to the reviewers it was, but I have seen it. I lived it in a way. I didn't show up on anyone's doorstep and say hello, but I certainly saw (along with the other main person involved) the kinks in the armour and rips in the veil. We quickly figured it out for what it was before the potential for it to get really out of hand happened.

And in my experience personally we too fell for the story, hard... we fell for the mythos and the information presented to us because we wanted to believe the guy's story. We wanted to believe that he rescued this gorgeous girl and turned her into his well adjusted and talented muse. We wanted to believe that you can buy a building in Seattle (cheap) and make a co-op of artists and photographers and bakers and cooks and live an idyllic and creative existence. We wanted to believe that they loved our work and photos and paintings and our creativity.

I wanted to believe that someone I didn't know thought I was a talented photographer. I believed so much in what he was doing with "his co-op" that I actually encouraged the people that I worked for to allow an art co-op to move into a pretty shitty building on Platte Street, and, do exactly what this guy was doing in Seattle in a way. I saw it happening and believed it was true and could work. And for the record here in Denver, it was and still is a real co op with great and amazing and talented people coming in and out of it. The building is still filled with artists and was probably one of the best real estate deals that I ever was fortunate enough to work on directly. But because of "bauhaus" I was able to push for that here in Denver, I don't know, had I not seen it work in this "online world", that I would have pushed KingPin and Dr Evil as hard as I did for it.

But in the end the guy we were interacting with wasn't really who he said he was at all, I think he might have been a photographer, he definitely was a writer (and said that he was working on a novel and would be using what he learned and our reactions in his book, which also never materialized).

But I believed.

I picked up a camera for the first time in 10 years or so because of the pictures he put up in livejournal of his "friends" that "he took" or his "friends/lovers/whatevers" took and his and their encouragement. At the time I was happy that I was naive enough to believe. Perhaps I am still naive enough to look at it all and still be glad. I got alot out of those few months. I know that there were a lot of people that were really really hurt. But it was feelings that were hurt. There was no money exchanged, just wishes and dreams. And putting your aspirations out into the world isn't a bad thing, because that makes them real and allows them to manifest.

But it's a word of warning in this over saturated and media filled world, things might not always be what they seem. One of the protagonists in the commentary made a very true statement...(and I am totally editorializing here) you don't but up pictures on your facebook profile that you don't think you look bad in, you only put up the good things, you put your best foot forward online, what you WANT people to see in you, see about you, not your warts and bad days and things you don't like about yourself. So really you arent telling the whole truth anyways. Which is very true.

And for that and the pretty tender way that Caffish dealt with the subject matter I have to say I did enjoy it. I also learned that sometimes people do just want to reach out for attention and will do what ever it takes. I liked the way they didn't treat anyone in the family badly, they were kind. There was mutual kindnesses that they showed. Behind the scenes maybe not but in front of the camera, they were all nice. And that was the best shocking surprise that I had. And a very good lesson too.

2011-02-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

The one good thing about my Google Reader is... I can maintain a very distant relationship with Blogs and Sites that I like, without having to actually click through and actively participate in that if I don't want to.

Now another thing I really like is that I can just unsubscribe from the feed and I forget the site even existed. I used to find great pain in this. What if I loose out on some very valuable information, what if there is a cuter than cute post about a craft that I will never make, what if there is an amazing recipe that I really may think about but never actually make posted? Well I got over that this morning. I un-subbed from about 25 blogs and feel a little lighter about it. I had no hesitation and no regret. People's tastes change and I am sure that seriously... yours have too over sometime right?

So... I am going to unsub all y'all. I am moving on in some ways and perhaps maybe you all should too. You can update your links to include this but I am deleting the Feedburner/mail link probably tomorrow. It aggregates terrible, I learn nothing about the people that subscribe and seriously that is a bummer. The information is just too vague to understand anything about anyone that reads this actively outside of one IP address and that is my brother for the most part I believe. So if I am to interact properly... you will actively have to participate even if just for one moment. Sorry but there it is. You can subscribe through any rss feed. That is the way to go. There will be no more email feed. It's creepy not having good feed information and if I am going to be posting I should have an idea of who it is hitting.

so with that I am also going to, when ever I add a feed to my reader, I am going to email the person and let them know that I am now subscribing and am interested in what they are sharing. It's just the polite thing to do. See... here is the deal, I bought this piece of art from a great guy in London and I wanted him to know how much we love it and the only way that I could find to contact him was through twitter. So... I got to thinking, it probably would be best to know who I am reaching and how. So buh bye old feedburner feedl. Everything else I can drill out.

In other news, work is killing me softly right now. There has been a change in our staffing model in my department and I am stuck with the clean up from a past employee who just jacked shit up beyond all seemingly easy repair. It's simply amazing how this woman got away with such a half assed fucking job for three years. But she has moved onto greener pastures in the company and I hope that position serves her well.

I have moved onto my second book of the year. Just Kids was great. Lush Life should be too. I am sticking with the NYC theme it appears. It certainly isn't on purpose, it was just the most recent book that I bought. I really should be reading the books that I have bought but it's hard to remember. I gave up completely on I Was Told there would be Cake. Sloane Crosly ain't no Sarah Vowell. I find it insulting to Sarah Vowell the comparison actually.

Ok back to planning Work Prom.

Such an amazing morning

2011-01-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have to say...

So F and I went over to Second Spin and finally (FINALLY) dropped of my cds for sale. I say finally because in November they sat by my front door for like a month then they moved to the trunk of my car. We walked in and they were playing Nathaniel Rateliff. That bodes well for them buying all my stuff. Or at least I hope most of it! I am not looking for the big cash in but certainly it's a relief to have them out in the world for someone else to have them for their very own, to love them like I did when I did. I am so glad that F finally kicked me into gear. The cds would have stayed in my truck for another couple of months I am sure.

I am home while I am waiting to get the call they are done going through everything. I have cleaned the house, I am watching Law & OrderUK. I have loaded some credits onto ITunes. I am getting used to the new Firefox layout (I signed in to beta test the new version).

We came up with a name for our project in June.

We have gotten two more bands to at least give their interest in playing our little show. Holy moley! Sooooo very exciting. And one of them will be a huge draw, plus I j'adore him very much, so it's just this little bonus. It was almost worth being back on facebook for the ability to have the exchange and have him say he would be willing to play. I have to admit I can not wait to get my stuff together enough to actually get my artists lined up completely.

I am not back on facebook for anything outside of communicating in relation to this project. I barely check it anymore and I am all the better for it I have to admit. I do though appreciate the quick and down and dirty aspect of Twitter. And dirty indeed. I got a seriously dirty private message, but what was really embarrassing was that the tweet wasn't meant for me at all. It was probably some teenage boy trying to reach his friend zoe and not really meaning me. But it was really filthy and sooooo amazingly funny. I treasure it and am bemused by the fact that it wasn't really meant for me.

2011-01-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

Monumental day and monumental time in my life... lots of 11's today. My friend Suz is in heaven. It's her favorite number. In fact she did send me a text ... as if I didn't remember... she is magic. So today is going to maybe be my favorite day this week because it is a little bit all about her in a way.

Somehow not saying that it was monumental yesterday was a good thing because I think that would have freaked out certain someones in and around me, so better to keep any pressure off the situation. People already think I am a little batshit so easier to just lay off the ooooohhhhh isn't this cool rheteric and just keep it all in my head.

In other news, I have found a fantastic graphic artist that is willing to help my quest in making a call for entry flyer for my project. He totally pointed out that I don't have to actually decide on the name for my event for the call for entry flyer which is very true. I just need to come up with the basic details, determine the submission qualifications and I will be off and running. Ok so I totally already know him and heart him so it isn't like I had to go too far. In fact, he made the amazingly rad flyer for the Bocumast Hi-Dive Breakfast (which is this Sunday by the way, should you be so inclined) I j'adore as much as I do. It's super cheery and screams breakfast right? He is so freakin' talented my mind explodes thinking that someone could just do something like that in the time he said that he did it in.

I was going to cross post this everywhere but realized that this really isn't something postable everywhere else. So lets get a little more personal shall we?

I am still not back on facebook and honestly... don't miss it y'all. Not one bit. The only sucky thing is I think I might have to get "back on" when the project rolls because I will have to have a way to post and invite in the social media format. But I will do so under duress, protest and under GREAT annoyance that this is the only way people communicate anymore. Seriously y'all.

I really need to go and run some errands before it gets so cold that I am miserable outside. All I know is it's really cold here and I am not just loving it at all. Extra blankies on the bed and I actually wore a sweater to bed for a bit last night. I am hoping if I go and buy some tea tonite I won't have to do that.

Bocumast SXSW Brunch this Saturday with Wire Faces, Flashlights and DJ Savior Breath

2011-01-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

Bocumast SXSW Brunch this Saturday with Wire Faces, Flashlights and DJ Savior Breath: "

xcross posted because hey... this is cool:

Hey I will be there... if only because I haven't actually been to Sputnik in months. I haven't seen my bocumast kids in a while... I mean at least a week. Plus they have really nice music and make up a really kick ass flyer don't you think? And coffee provided? I might just get my six dollars worth of admisson in coffee alone... then look out South Broadway!
Anyways, Sunday... Sunday.... Sunday!

2011-01-08T19:51:00.001-07:00

I was talking to Mom tonite and she totally floored me with some nice nice news. It's hard to be mad at someone when they come through and do the right thing. I am not saying its all smooth sailing and butterflies in our footsteps but things are nicer and better and we are both trying really hard to make everything work. I don't regret talking to him, I don't regret having the feeling that I did and certainly I don't regret that we are on this ongoing journey in this thing. Which is what it is all about I guess. AND it is what I hoped for.

And in really super rad exciting news.. art project #1 is in full effect. I will post more about what I am planning and doing soon, but there are some little things that I have to flesh out. But it's going to be very cool and really amazing for me. I talked to the gallery owner the other night and he is totally in and could possibly be more excited about this than I am. I am so lucky to have really talented people that I know who are ultimately going to help me pull it off. And I am going to be grateful to each and everyone one of them.

F is off to the land of the tree hugger and fancy shopping in Boulder tonite to see Jeff Tweedy do a solo show for the Boulder Theater anniversary. I am pysched that he was able to get in considering it sold out like a minute after the tickets went on sale. So I am working to get some things done around the house tonite which is like a bonus night for me.

I am going to head out in a little bit to go to an art show. We thought it was last night but it was a different set of artists hanging so tonite I have to get back there to support the guy that I actually know that is hanging tonite. The guy last night that was in charge of the show who I was talking to was such a player and was trying so hard to work me to buy this one piece that was pretty nice but I don't like being "worked" to buy. It was obnoxious. I think he then thought that I would give him more of an in on this project I am working on. Sorry dude. I am the curator not you and no one but the artists and a charity get a cut of sales. You can suck your hard sale because it totally turned me off and anyone who you might send my way are sadly tainted unless their work is completely unreal, which is possible but dude... you are out.

Hope your weekend is shaking out well!

2011-01-06T15:53:00.002-07:00

I am sitting here at my desk at work, contemplating a day where I am notcompletely baffled and dumbfounded by some of the same stupid shit thathappens all... the... fucking....time. Seriously. It's maddening and makesme mad. I don't know how many times I have to tell someone, ask even in apleading manner to do something and then they don't. Seriously... trust me,I am only asking you to do this one thing this way because seriously it doesmake the outcome much quicker and must much cleaner.
But noooooo that isn't what happened and the little switch called "bad pottymouth filter" got turned off. No doubt I offended someone, but seriously, Ido not care. I work my ass off to make their lives easier, I do so muchmore than I am supposed to be doing and for these kittens to not follow myinstructions and requests is pathetic and yes... loserville tenant like. Idon't largely have contempt for my cow erker but man today, just hit anerve.
I sit here also thinking and wanting to note that F was a trooper last nightand nice. We went to see a movie, and then we went to get dinner. It was anice little evening. Until the lady on the other side of our booth acrossthe aisle kept staring at us and then peed. Ah Colfax Avenue, so bring outthe bright moments and well... bring someone in to pee on them.
I am also noting publically that I am nearly a week facebook free. yeah...don't miss it at all. Not at all. I was tempted last night after I posteda picture for this deal that I am doing to log on and post something to thisgroup that I made and at least had the common sense to make anotheradministrator before I broke up with facebook... because the group really isall about posting things just to torment this one guy. But I will leave thatup to the others. I really am done I think and I don't miss it. But now,right now in this moment of boredom at work... I do want to log back on...but I won't, I don't think it's worth the hassle.
Also for the record a bowl, a giant bowl of pistachios does NOT a meal make

2011-01-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

What no facebook? Yeah um I am off the face book. and normally on a day off like today I would be tied to my laptop constantly checking it, wanting to know and see and check. And I haven't missed it at all. Nope. Honestly. I was talking about my reasons for getting rid of my account and a friend said to me that I am "so brave". Brave? Really? Not brave. I just have better things to do with my time, thankyouverymuch. The people that I really give a shit about are going to call me or email me anyways so really I don't need to play this game of communication via a public website. I walked away from LiveJournal lo' those many years ago and didn't look back and honestly I don't think that I will look back to facebook and wonder "should I log back on and make a new account?". Nope really I don't think that I will.

So I bid you aideau fair facebook. You were fun. And yes I was super addicted for a while. But now... I ripped that bandaid right off and it wasn't all that painful actually. I was an early adopter, found about you right after you went public post university system. It was really interesting. Congratulations for all you successes and I appreciate your employing my cousin, but I think your world domination stops with me. I am really really most looking forward to the time that I get back.

I plan to read books instead.

This week I will be reading:
I was told there would be cake by Sloane Crosly

The reviews are slightly tilted towards this being a self indulgent fairly dull book but really what I am looking for is light reading. Short chapters based on essays is fine by me. I will NOT review or post an opinion about anything I read, you can just assume that I will enjoy what I am reading for the sake of enjoying reading something that entails more than 140 characters (re: twitter) or 350 characters (re: facebook's character limit).

I am happy to break up with facebook. I am sorry that D, Rocky and Jerri will be miss me (according to what facebook told me when I deleted the account, and seriously... I very much doubt of all the people I have listed as a friend on facebook that Jerri will miss me at all, not that she isn't lovely, she is, but she won't miss me on facebook for a hot minute). I look forward to having real relationships and real communication.

My heart goes out to those in Queensland Australia who are dealing with the tremendous floods and the aftermath that have hit them. When you are sitting in front of your computer, looking at facebook, reading about someone's latest event... think of those people who may have lost their homes. Don't forget Haiti. Don't forget those in Afganistan that have their villages torn apart by a war that no one will win. Then reconsider how you are spending your time and step away from the computer and do something to better yourself and thus I am going to guess... better the world.

2011-01-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

so today's blog entry begins with the idea that burgers are good food. And burgers from Freddy's are really good food. Even though they totally made my burger wrong it was delicious. I could have taken it back to the counter but there was a time limit on what we had so I just at my burger as is. Compromise is good right? So after talking to W & L and getting really different takes there is one thing that I have learned about myself, that I can't hold F completely responsible in the communication thing. I need to step up to the plate and not hold things back either, which I do tend to do. So this way we both are working on this but we will be working on this which is what is the most important.

I don't know what the final outcome will be but I do know that I WEPT while watching the season finale of Six Feet Under we watched last night. I knew what was happening, I knew what was coming and still I wept like a baby. F didn't. But he isn't so much an emotional person as a stoic one. So that was good to see in action. But that is under out belt. Also for the record I don't think that I have to compete with Angry Birds anymore, he finished the game. I pray and beg that the people that are making the game do not offer up a new set of levels because I apparantly cant compete with it.

I am taking two more days of vacation time. I didn't accomplish anything the last week that I wanted to. So I have to cram a whole mess of stuff into Monday and Tuesday for sure. I have a plan. I swear I have a plan. I also have to get a call in to the gallery this week too. Oy... it's a great idea I have (which exponentially got better with a fundraiser idea that I came up with in the shower the other night) and will be very very cool... Making the call though is completely nerve wracking to me. I am asking a huge favor but not alot of income for the gallery owner so that is the problem. I want to fundraise for the School of the Arts here in Denver. Had it existed when I was a kid I might have been more active as an artist perhaps. I didn't pull my camera out at all today besides my IPhone but I am working on something with it, so that is something.

I am enjoying Necco Wafers today.

2011-01-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

After the talk I can't say I feel much better than I did but a little more comfortable in knowing that F knows where I am coming from and what I need from the people that I care about.

I am watching the Royal Tennenbaums for the second time today. It was on earlier when I was leaving to go met GLove for coffee and conversation and now I am watching it before I leave to go and see F play. I was invited to go so I will go. I have to say watching this movie about damaged people makes me realize that their coming to terms with that damage to a soundtrack that includes Nico and Nick Drake isn't all that bad.

GLove and I met for coffee this afternoon and honestly there was the most interesting people watching ever. Watched a couple go to the bathroom together, probably do a bump and then we watching him rearrange his dreads for like 15 minutes. It was really amusing.

I really wanted to take a picture but doing so without their permission would make it unpostable so what is the point.

Tomorrow I go and sell all my cds. Finally.

2010 in photos from the Boston Globe

2011-01-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some amazing photos for the wrap up of the year that was 2010 in the world. Far more interesting than anything I could have posted from my year of 2010.

Be amazed by the photo journalism of the photographers out in the world, they truly are amazing and inspirational.

2010 in photos from the Boston Globe: "

A visitor stands on the artwork - Floor - created by South Korean artist Do Ho-suh at the Hong Kong International Art Fair on May 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

As we ring in the new year, now is the time to look back at some moments in 2010 that summarizes some events that captured the attention of the world. As per their tradition, the Boston Globe published a photo recap (Part one, two, three), some art related like the image above from Art Hong Kong (covered).

In this Feb. 16, 2010 photo, the work Ants, by Colombia's artist Rafael Gomez Barros, covers the National Congress' facade in Bogota, Colombia. According to the artist the ants symbolize the people displaced by the continuing armed conflict in Colombia. . (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill washes ashore in Orange Beach, Alabama, Saturday, June 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Spanish matador Julio Aparicio is gored by a bull, its horn piercing his throat, during a bullfight at the San Isidro Feria in the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid on May 21, 2010. Aparicio underwent surgery and is out of critical danger. (AP Photo/Domingo Botan)

A tremendous sinkhole caused by the heavy rains of Tropical Storm Agatha in Guatemala City was estimated to be 30 meters wide and over 60 meters deep. As the sinkhole formed, it swallowed a clothing factory about three miles from the site of a similar sinkhole three years earlier. The clothing factory had closed only an hour before it plunged into the Earth. (REUTERS/Casa Presidencial)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son, heir apparent Kim Jong Un attend the massive military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

An Israeli motorist runs down a masked Palestinian youth who was standing among a group of youngsters throwing stones at Israeli cars on October 8, 2010 in the mostly Arab east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. (ILIA YEFIMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images)

A frame grab shows some of the 33 miners trapped underground in a copper and gold mine at Copiapo, Chile on September 1, 2010, as rescue operations were underway. (REUTERS/Chilean Government)

Pilot Capt. Brian Bews parachutes to safety just as his CF-18 fighter jet plummets to the ground during a practice flight at the Lethbridge County Airport for the weekend airshow in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada on July 23, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Lethbridge Herald, Ian Martens)

Resolutions are for suckers

2011-01-01T04:38:00.001-07:00

So it's 3:31 on New Years Day! Happy New Year. This missive comes more as a statement than a resolution or as "a year in review post". It comes more as a follow up to the past few days.

With the cold and snowy weather that Colorado finally got I also finally got something that I have been waiting for I think for a very long time.

Certainly it was something that I needed. My ticket to the clue bus finally came.

I sit here and wonder, why did it take this long? Did it take this long because I have been walking around with blinders on? Have I been wishing for something that didnt exist? Was I thinking that I had more value? Yes and so much more.

Here is the deal. It's now about 3:30 in the morning, it's January 1 and I am sitting here in bed. Awake, alone and actually not as sad as I was say 10 hours ago. I think I will begin the mourning process in a while but for now, I am putting this into a blog post so that I put it out there in the world. I am not looking for a reaction or comments or anything. I just can't... I am not hiding from my feelings or insecurities any more. I just can't. I have had this delicate dance for the past 3 years and I guess.... I am done.

What may seem like such a little stupid thing has escalated for me and I can't let it go because I haven't been able to even talk to F about it. And posting here and making decisions without talking to him isn't exactly fair but because this is how I feel, and I do feel like my eyes are wide open (I mean I certainly am awake) I don't want to dismiss this at all.

Thursday night would have been our only actual night for "us" for this New Year's. I am hugely sentimental and this should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that either knows me in real life or even through the far reaches of the internet. So it was the one night of this season that we would have to just us. I asked him if he wanted to come over, I would make dinner and we could have some time. He "pass(ed)". I actually let it go Thursday night because the snow had made the roads a little slick and being understanding and caring about him and his safety I thought at the immediate moment... "ok makes sense" but really... as the night went on and the words "I think I am going to pass" mulled around in my head, I thought... well fuck you then. Fuck you and your angry birds game on your IPhone which is what you are finding more important to you right now and fuck you and your "pass" because this was the only night that it would have just been us wrapping up what up until that moment was a pretty great year in my mind.

I woke up yesterday, Friday, morning really sad actually. It was about 10:30 and I knew that F wouldn't be awake just yet so wasn't expecting a call just yet but when I didn't hear from him until 10:30 in the evening...to find out if I was coming to the show or not, I have to say I was a little disappointed.

I would have thought and this might just be me being a girl and more attached to the sentimentality of it all, that he would have wanted to spend at least part of his day off from work and New Years Eve with me. His band played a New Years Eve show and has a New Years Day show. Now I understand the gigging part of the weekend. This is what you give up when you are involved with a musician, so I am not at all disappointed by the shows being planned, this I understand and honestly up until Friday morning I was really looking forward to them. But that all changed when I sat and marinated in the feeling that I am of absolutely no consequence or value in this relationship. That it's one sided and I am more fuck buddy than girlfriend.

Christmas dinner was mentioned to me that morning. There are way too many "oh by the way tonite" things that happen that make me think that I am not really of value to be included at all. Someone that is valued and included knows about things more than hours before they happen.

I still to this day can honestly say I think that F cares about me, I really do think that he does, but he hasn't ever actually said it. But it's what I think. OR is it what I WISH. I really don't know. Honestly. I really don't.

In September when I laid it out for him and gave him the opportunity to say it out loud, he actually said "you don't know how I feel about you? You really dont?" which I can't for the life I me understand, why he would be surprised by that. Nope. And I still haven't heard you say it aloud. I didn't then, I don't know and certainly I am very curious.

I have made plenty of excuses but it's really sad that after this long... I can't really say I really know.

I got four texts tonite after midnight wishing me a happy new year and not one of them was from F. He might think that the reason why I didn't go down to his show was because the roads were really icy and it was below zero, which is certainly a good excuse and even partially true but had he listened to me, I mean really heard what I said, he would have heard me tell him that this was the first time I had heard from him all day and I am sad. So not getting a text or a call or even an email after the show says alot. I didn't go into the whole thing when he did call at 10:30 tonite because to lay that on him before his show isn't fair. I would have hoped though that he would have had the common fucking sense to know that when I said I am not coming and in a tone that doesn't exactly bel anything but
sadness that he should call after the show. After three years the "emotional shorthand" should be there for him. This is why I just am unsure of where I stand, my value to him or the status of what this is.

So there will be some tears shed over the next few days. I am not exactly starting 2011 out like I had anticipated. I mean it's 4 a.m. and I am posting to a blog right now. But there will be resolution in this and completion in that I have for too long made excuses for him and will not do it anymore.

I do promise to post more. I promise that I will do better. I have wanted to post more happy things but this, sadly, has been in the works since I said that I loved him (which I do) and basically got a blank stare in return. I think that is why I took so long to post the pictures up to flickr of our trip to NY, because while I said what should have been sad aloud, in the light and face to face a long time ago, to him there, I didn't get much of a response. And I am a fool to think that walking hand in hand from Rockafeller Center for a couple of blocks means I love you. I am a fool to have thought so. I have been thinking realistically maybe I have made this to be much much more than it really is. So.... I am putting THIS out there, but from the darkened confines of my bedroom with no lights on. There is safety in the dark. And honestly I would have much prefered to be telling all this to him instead of the internet but he chose to not call. He chose to not reach out. So. I put this out there because I can't sleep if I don't get it out.

I also have two art projects in the works, one a curated show, but calling the gallery owner is an issue right now because I don't know if I can say "hey (guy who owns the gallery), you know me I am am F's girlfriend" or do I say I am his "ex girlfriend". I just don't know right now where I stand or where the relationship stands so I am holding off on that until I know for sure. The guy that owns the gallery is friends with F so it is dicey in that regard on that part of the pitch. But not at all in the execution or the idea. It might just be the most awesome thing I do all year if I can get the gallery owner to agree, I will post more when I am more solid in those details for sure.

I also am working on a couple of photography ideas and might take up painting/drawing/knocking about again. I watched this documentary today that has me just totally beyond inspired. I wish I had even a box of crayons handy. It would help me loads. I doodled in my journal today for the first time in over 15 years. I mean actually doodled. It was tremendous.

If the roads are even halfway decent during the day tomorrow like they were today I am thinking that I am going to channel some of this sadness. The track record is that I won't hear from F until the evening at least so I have the entire day. I just hope that it warms up a little to melt some of the ice and I can safely drive somewhere.

So at 4:30 a.m. on New Years Day I am awake, and contemplating alot. I hope that 2011 brings you everything your heart desires and deserves. I hope that 2011 is a bright big ball of joy that you can hardly contain. I will think the best thoughts, I will keep hoping for love and kindness and joy. I am not going to give that up don't you fret.

Happy BDay Tom! Hoist that Rag!

2010-12-06T16:50:00.001-07:00

Looking for something to do to Celebrate Tom Wait's birthday tomorrow?

I thought I would put this out there for any Chicago denizens that may or may not (and I am sure it's more on the may not) read this blog. Looks like tomorrow night there is a cover band at Lincoln Hall called Big T1me (Frank's Wild Years) ORRRR there is a typo and they are playing Big Time the movie. Not quite sure and can't really tell which is completely and unbelievably apropos! The ambiguity is completely awesome.

Sadly it seems that this is the only venue in the US that is doing anything to mark the date.

F and I are trying to come up with something ourselves. The joy of being in Denver though is that we are able to actually go to some places, well some locations that warmed Mr. Waits either with liquor or with soul. We are thinking about starting the night off at the Terminal Bar, which is now Jax Fish House. The Terminal used to be a dive bar on the edge of lower larimer here in Denver. Not a safe or good part of town for sure. Of course that has all changed. Jax owns the building, they have a television star on their staff (some guy who went on Top Chef and won I guess????), and the place is cleaned up. Honestly the last time I was in there the place was a dump with broken bar stools, regulars drinking dollar shots of whiskey from heavy bottomed shot glasses that you can only find in bars where the weight of the glass steadies the patrons while they are at the bar. It was a postal service hang out. People who worked at the Terminal Annex of the Post Office would go in off shift. We would go down there because we didn't get questioned about anything and being in film school, having been inspired by Bukowski, Kerouac and all that it seemed only right. Now it's an amusement park to oysters.

Never-the-less. Tribute must be paid so we will possibly go and have $10 whiskey shots walk up the street and go to the 7-11 where Ebbetts Field used to be where Tom Waits would play (and sometimes sleep) when he lived in our fair city.

I wish that our Downtown wasn't as gentrified as it is. Certainly it's great for the economy because the bar scene is lively and active, but it's kind of boring. I mean there is a Titled Kilt for goodness sake. Disney Irish bar. It's like Fridays for those that drink black and tans.

Denver has a little slice of history so I am so very much saddened that there isn't anything commemorating Tom Waits birthday in this town. Oy well... we will make our own fun I do hope. Either way...listen to some "SwordFishTrombones" or "Black Rider" tomorrow and take a moment to celebrate the birthday of Tom Waits. He would for yours. You never know... he might already.

so what really can I say outside of ...

2010-12-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

I don't want to sound racist.

But.

So here's the deal. Last night I came home from work, no different than any other day actually. Took little HI for a walk and came in. I turned on the tv, which was on Channel 9 which is our local NBC affiliate. I was going to actually sit down and do something that I never actually seem to do anymore.... watch a news broadcast. So I am watching our local news and there is a report on a sentencing for a drunk driver at court today (which was actually yesterday) for a drunk driver.

So this makes news... good I think... drunk drivers should be called out on tv.... wait....screeeeech. The guy was involved in a vehicular homicide. Ooooohkay. I get why this is a bigger deal. Then I look at the people that they are showing leaving the courtroom in the video. I recognize them. Thank gawd for Steevoh because honestly I would have freaked had I not been able to rewind live tv and see what was going on.

So last year on September 9, 2009 this sentenced criminal, was driving drunk, hit a car, sped off at what they are reporting as Interstate level speeds, hits another car and displaces it 80 feet. The second car that was hit was being driven by what I can only explain to you dear reader as one of the most kind people to me.

Valentine will remember this time in my life.... I was working for Dr. Evil and we had just moved into our new office building and while we were waiting for our offices to be built out we shared an office space with a law firm. Now we were completely embraced and enveloped into the culture and family of this firm and Leah and TM (initials only please because she is realllllly super private) were integral into that. We were included in office events, lunches, trainings... you name it it's like we worked for the firm. It was amazing. Leah and I sat next to one another and I can honestly say she taught me more about law firming than I ever thought, so when I was offered the position working at a different law firm and accepted it the first people I called were these two amazing ladies. Leah took me under her wing, gave me some amazing pointers that to this day, to THIS DAY.... I still think about all the time on how to do my job. I will always remember her bringing me fried green tomatoes on a paper plate that her Dad made special for me with tomatoes from his window sill (seeing him on tv last night talking about her never coming back just broke my heart into a million little pieces). I honestly can say that everything said about how great a person she was, is honestly the truth and only a glimpse into how wonderful she was.

So I am stunned that last year I didn't know about it. So I am sitting there absolutely gobsmacked hearing that the fucker that killed her because he was too drunk to drive like a sensible human being was only sentenced to 12 years in prison. He is a repeat offender. He is a repeat offender (twice convicted... CONVICTED ALREADY) who was deported by the Immigration System due to his illegal status and he fucking came back and killed someone that absolutely made a difference in this world. A mother. A friend. A daughter. A mentor.

So I don't want to sound like a racist, but ... deported. Snuck back in. Doesn't speak enough English to plead his case without an interpreter. Leah's family may forgive him eventually (seriously they are amazing and kind people) but fuck if I will. Deport his ass back to Mexico. Sorry. He doesn't deserve to live in the United States where he can join a prison gang and all that entails with living outside after he gets out. Let him detox on a nice truck ride back to ohauca mexico. This is not what Leah would say. Leah would say everyone deserves a chance to make things right. Well he had TWO FUCKING CHANCES and drove drunk, hit two cars and killed someone.

NOW I am not saying that we were amazing and great friends once I left the law industry... because we weren't. But sometimes people just stick with you and make a difference and no matter what, their passing is a shock. I mean I didn't even know about this until yesterday. Still I am deeply saddened and honestly I wish the guy had just stayed in Mexico after he was sent back. I get that America.. land of opportunity and stuff. But come legally, live by our rules, laws and ways and for fucksake call a cab.

So... there it is. I am crushed because I wish I had known. I would very much have liked to have paid my respects and now reaching out might seem so much the "afterthought". All I know is the world is just a little dimmer.

Here is the coverage in case you want to read about it:

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=167194&provider=top

2010-11-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a magical and lovely Thanksgiving! I did for sure! Wednesday I left work a little early so that I could come home and bake some pies. I really do enjoy baking and cooking so the opportunity to bring desert to F's Mom's for dinner was a thrill. I had such a great time in my kitchen. I wish I had made better preparations because I was on such a roll I would have and should have made cookies or a cake or something, but two pies it was.

We went to my parents for dinner too which was fun as all get out and I just have to say my parents are simply amazing. Really they are and I am seriously the luckiest girl in the world.

It is now Saturday and I didn't post yesterday... ooops... Herschel and I are on the couch sitting here waiting to decide if going to Target is worth it right now. I have this piece of hair that is like a unicorn horn in the front of my face but much much less magical and I need to get to Target to get a straightening iron and honestly I am trying to decide if the torture of the holiday shopping traffic over there is worth it or not. Oy.

I don't think that it is. When did I become the shopping party pooper? Man oh man. I used to LOVE Saturday after Thanksgiving, the insanity of the mall.. the sillyness of it all? Ah... how times have changed. I will just sit here and watch tv.

Not too shabby.

Os Mutantes

2010-11-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

Heading out in a few minutes to meet F and see Os Mutantes. I didn't expect to get that invitation tonite. In fact I actually totally forgot that they were playing tonite. So what a pleasant surprise.

I am not sure if we will stay for Ariel Pink or not. I heard an interview with him on World Cafe a few weeks ago and the guy while probably a musical something or another sounded like an ass... sure he played a bunch of shows with the Flaming Lips... but that really isn't enough to have me stay probably.

I was planning on baking pecan pies tonite but since I was thrown this musical curve ball I might have to delay by a couple hours. It's alright to delay that a bit. Besides there is always tomorrow afternoon to make pies.

Also I am trying desperately to get over this cold. It's been about a week and a half and I am really tired of being a little mucus factory. Gross I know but I am living it which is worse than reading about it.

I hope that you have had a little magical surprise come your way tonite like me! It's really pretty cool!

Heartwarming Message of the Day: Pixar Animation Studios...

2010-11-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

Heartwarming Message of the Day: Pixar Animation Studios...: "

Heartwarming Message of the Day: Pixar Animation Studios employees would like LGBT teens to know that it gets better.

[disneyblog.]

"
Ok so Dan Savage... here is an open comment to you. You know what? As a straight woman... it gets better. I think this is a universal message. Honestly it's not just about being gay. I am sitting here thinking... crap... I just posted this rant about how thankful I am about snowflakes and then I see this video. Damnit.

You know to anyone watching any of these amazing videos and stories... it isn't just about being gay I don't think. I think you could easily substitute any personal issue you have and or stereotype into the videos and the message would AND SHOULD be just as effective.

My highschool years SUCKED. Horribly. I mean bad. I was tormented by a group of girls that I called my friends. They treated me like total crap. They made me distrust people and honestly there are still hangups that I deal with because of it. But I think those idiosyncracies are ok now. So I drive everywhere myself. Oh well. My best friend would leave me EVERYWHERE we went together and I would have to call someone (usually my Mom for a ride) and the one time I went out on a date and didn't drive myself and meet at the location... (sorry Bro this might be too much information) I got tied to a car door and raped. This jerk who treated me terribly and made me second guess EVERY SINGLE relationship I had until F (even when we dated before F broke through but that is another story for another time) made me second guess being in a car even more. So even now... I drive myself everywhere. At the time... My "friends" were not even trustworthy enough to tell them about what had happened to me and I dealt with it in silence, which is beyond wrong. But it got better.

To those kids that are watching the "it gets better" videos and thinking... this doesn't have anything to do with me... wrong. It has EVERYTHING to do with you. Just know the message is universal. No matter what. It does get better. Fuck it ... it gets AMAZING.

I often think about the rainy night in August 1986 when I very seriously contemplated taking my Mom's car over the Cherry Creek Dam road (there weren't barriers then). I mean I really seriously considered it. I think I drove the thing back and forth for about four hours. You know what made me NOT do it? I haven't a clue. You want to know something else? I am really beyond glad I didn't.

Years later, I got to confront those bitches and realize that they haven't changed one damn bit. They are still awful people and sad. I got to confront the asshole that raped me and tell his wife (in anger certainly, because he grabbed my arm) why he wasn't allowed to EVER touch me ever ever ever again. It got better. It gets better. Those girls who called me fat and ugly and stupid.. yes that is what really hurt the most, being called stupid... aren't living their dreams. Sorry but I am. Nearly. OK I am not producing films like I wanted to, but there is an off chance with the technology at hand there may be something on the You Tubes within the beginning of the next year. Give me 24 hours and we are making a short. I may not be married with 4 kids, but gawddamnit, I have the love of my life.

So Dan Savage... thank you for making me say "it gets better" and thank you Pixar for letting me put my own perspective on it.

It gets better. The music gets better. The fashion gets better. The food gets better. The boys (and or girls) get better. The Parents get better. Trust me on that one. The parents? They get amazing. The brothers, the sisters, the friends... it all gets better and you have to stick through it to realize. Gay, straight, bi, transgender, skinny, fat, smart (or as I was called stupid), punk, goth, preppy, jock, nerd, short, tall, jewish, muslim, black, white, hispanic, indian, rape survivor, dog parent, someone that likes the color yellow, whatever you are being called...... it gets better. really really better.

And to the gentleman that talked about walking up those nine steps to your mate.... you made me cry with joy for you, sobbing tears. And without your story I really honestly don't think I would have thought about this from my perspective as much as I have tonite. And I thank you. I really thank you.

getting ready for thanksgiving...

2010-11-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

In many ways.

I am getting thankful for everything in my life right now. Everything is so magical and wonderful and I have just about anything and everything that a gal could want. I have a great family, great friends (near and far) and great love. I really am very fortunate. The job is good, the co workers (maybe for the first time in as many years) are really good. I have cable tv and online television at my fingertips. I have email instantly at my phone. I have a great cameras. I am thankful for every thing. Every moment in my day. Every flake of snow that falls. Every pixel online. I am really very fortunate.

I will be baking pies tomorrow which is really exciting for me. I love baking. I really do and I love baking for people that I love. It's like love in a pan. And it is amazing.

2010-11-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Just got back from Target. Ran into an old friend who said I looked really great. It's always awesome (beyond awesome actually) to get a compliment from someone, but this was actually special. I am really great. And in the middle of Target tonite I guess I was wearing it all over my face and I am glad I look really happy because I am.

It's a funny thing this happy feeling. I am really glad I can be walking through an aisle picking up holiday cards and some Hanukah presents and someone just can see it.

I have an amazing man.

I have a friend who is launching a chocolate business in the next couple weeks. Watching the enterprise grow into fruition has been a divine pleasure and honestly I can't wait for his new venture to launch. Once I have more information I will certainly share!

That's about all I got for today.

Joe Strummer Biopic in the Works

2010-11-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

Joe Strummer Biopic in the Works: "

While directors Julien Temple and Don Letts have already paid homage to the great Clash frontman with documentaries, Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten and Strummerville, respectively, an iconic rocker of Strummer’s stature deserves the biopic treatment as well, I’d say (provided the film actually does the late legend justice). Well, as The Playlist reports today, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll scribe Paul Viragh has been hired to write a screenplay for just that possibly forthcoming biopic.

Details about a director or production schedule are scarce of course, as the film, tentatively dubbed Joe Public, is in the very early stages of development, but let the rumor mill begin about who might play the lead. CoS is begging James Franco to steer clear of the role, to which I’d agree before throwing one potential name into the ring: Dead Man’s Bones’ Ryan Gosling. I mean, the guy can sing at least.

"

This news kinda made me go "oprah's favorite things audience member".

It's National Un-Friend People Day today...

2010-11-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

I will admit it, I use Facebook big time. I decided a week or so ago I was going to try and work my way out of it. It's too much and now that there is this whole big communications integration I really want out. So, I deleted about 45 people that I barely know, totally don't interact with and don't really feel like I am missing anything by not seeing their updates. Good for Zuck and his domination of the media but I am actually ready to try and break up with facebook completely. Or at least for the most part.

So in honor of national Facebook unfriend day I did so. Sorry to those gals from highschool that I don't know anymore but guiltily added. Sorry to those cousins that are so far removed that I don't know the name of your kids - if I don't know the names of your kids, I deleted you, obviously there is a gap there. Sorry to the friends of my brother's that I added but um... who are you again? We had beers at one of his parties... oh... sorry ...bloop... gone. So there are 110 people or groups that I actually do know and have regular interaction with either off line or on... still seems like a little much for me. I want it under 75.

I still have a couple hours.

Snap! from World of Wonder dot net

2010-11-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Snap!: "

David Bowie performing as Ziggy Stardust on a TV in a room at the Delmonico Hotel in New York, 1974. (Photo by Henry Diltz)

~~~~~~~

There are so many things that I just adore about this photo above. One... it's Bowie and then there are four different layers of light captured here. Honestly it just makes me happy. TV blues are usually not "warm" colors the blue is harsh, but the undertone of the green (probably because this is shot on film and not digital) makes it pleasing to the eye.

This might actually have to be my calendar picture for December. Henry Diltz... you rule. Ok seriously... he does. Just check out what he has done. I liked the photo just for itself and not because of who shot it, which stands for something, but holy moley... his work really impresses and inspired me this morning.

I want to be a better photographer more than anything. Saturday when we were at the Bad Luck City show I was getting very frustrated by my Canon Rebel. It just wasn't shooting like I wanted and I switched to my XSI which I am getting more comfortable with. Saturday I was having so much frustration with the light that I nearly just picked up the IPhone and started shooting with it, but then I couldn't find it which is a whole 'nother story. Now it is a GREAT camera and lots of attachments and toys with the Iphone camera for sure but there was something that just challenged the shit out of me on Saturday. I wish I could have figured out what was happening but I just couldn't get past nothing being focused where I wanted it to be. I think I was close on a couple but meh... nothing great. F took my XSI out of my hands for a while and I am sure his shots are much much better than what I was getting. I had to just hand it off. I couldn't take how I wasn't getting what I wanted. I have to be really honest, I haven't even looked at the shots. Haven't even looked. What is that? I am being stubborn because I was so frustrated.

Then there are the shots like the one above that make me want to power past any of those feelings of ineptitude and just take the Rebel with me and deal. Practice I am sure will help.

So thanks Henry Diltz for the inspiration, lets see what I can do with it!

Yep... no weekend posts... just ain't gunna happen

2010-11-15T16:02:00.001-07:00

So it looks like Weekends will be my posting downfall. Sorry NaMoPoBloBlah whatever... weekends just don't seem like they are going to happen. Maybe it's because I have more time at a keyboard during the week day. Perhaps.

So this was super interesting, it is a map of Colorado and it shows Locals Vs Tourists and the photos taken in the Denver Business District (IE: downtown). It's a pretty interesting map, I just wish and this is because I know that the internet actually can do this because it is magical... would be to show the pictures referenced in the guys graph. But oh well. See if your city is in his sights!

Had a fantastic weekend. Music, films, family, friends and the F... I mean what more could a gal wish for? Man. I really don't know.

The only bummer was not getting a chance to see my uncle and cousins who were in town for the CU game in Boulder, but they were rockin' busy and didn't call which I totally understand, but it would have been awesome to see them. Maybe the next time they come in for a game, which is an annual thing, so yay! This weekend was just so busy it would have been really hard anyways. So it all worked out but still is a bummer.

I got a cold from F and today it is kicking my bootay. Whew something fierce. But I will go home, take some meds and pass out. I had plans to actually get some errands done but really it is probably in my best interests to stay in the house, in a blanket not giving anyone else this cold. I actually told a co-worker to leave my cube earlier because she totally invaides my personal space to begin with but I said that I am full of germs. I have to remember that when I don't want anyone around me... "hey why don't you back off because I am all sorts of germie".

Crazy thing though yesterday. I met up with G after F and I got breakfast. We were at the favoritest of places... City o' City, having Sugar Cookies, Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes and coffees and talking about our trips, mine to NY and hers to the mountains with Brits. Fun enough for an afternoon certainly. Went next door and picked up a mother's day card for F's Mom since yesterday really was HER mother's day (it was F's birthday) where I got some postcards, cute little pens and a clown dia de los muertos statuette. THEN if that wasn't enough, we walked next door to that and went into Buffalo Exchange. I am far from hipster enough to "get" the resale fashion/clothing market. Really I just can't do it. I think alot of it comes from the fact that I might not fit most of what is sold there. So we are walking around, eyeballing the racks and it's interesting for sure. Then we go into the side room and I see it... a brown/black Persian Lamb with Mink collared coat. yep. If you were going to tell me that yesterday afternoon I was going to buy a fur coat that once belonged to someone else's grandma and that I would love it as much as if it was from MY grandma's closet I would have called you a fool. But yep. There it was and I did. And please don't lecture (not that you would) on the cons of wearing fur. I am not down with the over politicized nature of that argument. I really am not. I hate those nut jobs that stand on the corner of 2nd and Fillmore with their really graphic signs begging you to "honk for the animals"... oh puhleeze. It's annoying. I love animals but sorry this coat is probably older than me. Animal was long gone a long long time ago. And I love it. I would wear it to work but seriously... no.

Wow I just coughed so hard I got dizzy. I have an hour left and I can get home. I also want to note that Saturday afternoon after a movie at the film festival, I coughed so hard I puked. Yep, this cold is a doozie. At least now it is all in my sinuses and not in my chest anymore. I loves me my F but seriously.. this cold that I picked up from him... not so much. But on even a grosser concept... his germies are in me.

This is going to be one long hour today until I can leave. I don't have any music because I forgot my hard drive at home so I am really sitting here trying to decide if I should listen to a pod cast on my Iphone or not.And why I haven't is that I have to put in earphones and I am told it makes me "look anti social". Huh. So I don't. But I might have to. I think a little NPR is in order!

Yeah I just discovered listening to PodCasts on my Iphone.

2010-11-12T15:33:00.001-07:00

I know I know welcome to the 21st Century there Zoe... what can I say. I never really loaded music onto my Iphone. It's kind of lame I know but I am not really an Ipod user. But because we can not stream at the office anymore off of NPR or any online radio I had to find something to take over the misery of cubeville. I usually bring in a hard drive filled with music, but now I have to encrypt all external data and password protect anything that goes on our network (it's a GIANT pain in the ass, but understandable so it's easier to not until I find a way to work around it... a la my firefox workaround). So I loaded up my IPhone with podcasts from All Songs Considered.

So this morning I am listening to a Belle & Sebastian show at the 9:30 Club in DC from 2007. I am starting at the beginning of their archive and working to the current shows. Its official, I have always liked Belle & Sebastian but haven't had the pleasure to see them live ever. They sound absolutely hilarious and this has just been a divine treat for a Friday morning I have to say.

It's a really nice diversion. Now if only the World Cafe would podcast the entire show each day I would be in complete and utter heaven but that would be super pricey (residuals and pay per play being what it is these days... I get why they don't and only air originally recorded music) but for me? It would be lovely.

Le' Sigh... podcasts of live concerts from years ago... will... honestly be just fine!

Chef Doesn't Quite Appreciate Reviews From Inbred, Jobless, Bored Yelp Users

2010-11-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

Chef Doesn't Quite Appreciate Reviews From Inbred, Jobless, Bored Yelp Users: (I removed the silly Kitteh at a computer picture- I don't think that it adds anything so poof just like that gone) -

Some people don't like to be criticized, especially when the criticism comes from amateurs and when said criticism can have an impact on their income. Just ask the chef at a restaurant in Denver who has kicked up a crap storm after unleashing his true feelings about Yelp.com reviewers.When asked what he'd like to see less of in Denver from a culinary standpoint, the chef replied:

Amateur instant online restaurant critics -- specifically those who write reviews for a website that rhymes with 'kelp.' Think about it: They review a McDonald's and then turn around and review Mizuna. I just imagine bored, jobless layabouts with not many friends who are convinced that they're going to have a bad time before they even step through the door of a joint. The kicker is, you can't respond to these inbreds and try to educate, or at least explain, why some things happen the way they happen. Have a little fun, for chrissakes. Loosen up when you go out, and let me be the stress ball in the kitchen busting my ass for twelve-plus hours trying to make you the best food I can. Fuck you!

If he thought the Yelp reviews were harsh before, we have a hunch they might get a little nastier over the next couple days.
Table 6 exec chef Scott Parker on hunger, eating a deep-fried rosebud and inbred amateur restaurant critics who frequent a site that rhymes with 'kelp' [westword.com via eater.com]
Thanks to Raphael for the tip!"

Ok clear and honest disclosure... my boyfriend works for said paper, I don't post comments very often there because I think it's not appropriate to do so, but I love watching it unfold. It really doesn't keep me from constantly checking in online to see what folks are posting comments to because Denver has its share of constant commenters who tend to be very active and opinionated. It is usually completely awesome to watch unfold sometimes (see the following about Leroy Jenkins and Rave Babes... just a few of the real gems). This exchange above is a beaut. See I use yelp and got TOTALLY SLAMMED by the owner of the Big Fat Cupcake who slammed me and my review and was really quite nasty to me about the fact that I dared to critisize her selling my pre paid for cupcakes and not being willing to refund/return my credit card charge. So I know how Yelp can get out of control and it's nasty business that people take WAY WAY too seriously. I personally hate it, but they throw kick ass parties and in order to get invited you have to be active on the site and I am getting ever so much closer... closer to being invited to the elite events sans knowing the dj. Seriously they are great parties. I post for the potential free booze.

There I said it.

But watching the flame war happen off Yelp? Priceless.

I like reviewing places that I go and nearly ALWAYS (sans big fat schmupcake in ::cough cough:: Schmery Chic) post something positive. But I am no critic. Just opinionated and I think maybe the chef forgot that but the commenters certainly haven't. It's something and NUTS that it is reached the outer limits of the webverse (Eater and Consumerist). Impressive.

Lou Donaldson Quartet: Live At The Village Vanguard | http://t.co/KAMCddv

2010-11-10T23:59:00.000-07:00

Lou Donaldson Quartet: Live At The Village Vanguard | http://t.co/KAMCddv

So the first night F and I were in New York I was treated to quite an amazing thing. The Village Vanguard. So any Jazz Fan knows that all the greats played this room and still continue to do so. What really struck me the most was the fact that as we sat there about mid way in the room I was sitting there in history man. Dig? It was totally nuts that I was there. My first night in the city, I was there. With F. In the Village Vanguard. Seeing Lou Donaldson. Seeing the Lou Donaldson Quartet with local to Denver Hammond player Pat Bianchi who was just coming off a couple shows the weeks before in Denver at Dazzle.

It just blew my mind when F sent me the email about it this morning.

Lou Donaldson was terrific and this show recorded the night before we went to see him was spot on for the set we saw with the fine exception of "What a Wonderful World" that had I heard it the night we went I would have burst into tears because seriously... What a Wonderful World I am living in that this is my existence right now. I am so fortunate. So unbelievably lucky and blessed. It was amazing to see this lovely man (he really was so amazing at 84 walk the room, tell jokes, play his alto like a man half his age and just play the history). He played with Jimmy Smith for goodness sake! Amazing enough that I got to see him and amazing that this recording is available for anyone to hear!

There is this recording out there too which will always remind me of how brilliant a weekend we had and how special a night it was that we had. I kicked it off at the Village Vanguard with (almost) this show. Pretty unbelievable that there is this proof. Pretty unbelievable that I was at the Village Vanguard.

So thank you Lou Donaldson and NPR for providing this little audible back up for me! And thank you F for making that magic happen. I am forever indebted for this experience.

oops... missing the everyday thing... but I have a good reason!

2010-11-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

Oh crap. Yeah this everyday post thing in November? Yeah that didn't work out so good. Traveling to NY got in the way. I didn't even think about finding a way to post to Blogger every day. Ooops. Probably should have thought that out a little better.

But here is the deal... I went to NYC, had an AMAZING time. I can't even put it into words just yet. I will save that for a little later I guess. Just know that we walked allllll over and covered some incredible ground in a few days and nights. And I got to see the Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway. It was fun. The show I mean. Pleanty of current funny asides but it was pretty much the HBO special which was comforting as heck because I knew what to expect once it started. We were walking out and saw Michael Musto walking up the aisle. Eep. Legend.

Also saw Wallace Shawn on the street. He smiled and looked just like I would expect him to. He just looked soooooo nice. I said "hey". F thinks I am a dork. But that was a fun quintessential moment for me.

Here is the run down of everywhere we went area wise from F's run down: "East Village, West Village, Chelsea, Soho, Nolita, Lower East Side, the Bowery, Midtown, Times Square, Upper East Side, downtown Brooklyn and Ft. Greene. That's pretty impressive it was mainly by foot. "

We ate so well, hit a couple of trendy places, and went to some amazing off the normal path as well.
I am really lucky to have had such a great tour guide. I will post pictures up on Flikr here in a bit, but I have over 2000 pictures from my camera and phone to go through. Once I post that I will get a proper wrap up online too.

But the big picture wrap up?

Possibly the best trip. It certainly was a great vacation. I haven't actually left town in over 5 years for a vacation. I have gone out of town for work trips and one night road trips for shows but this absolutely was a true vacation. It was lovely.

So... back to the real world tomorrow and work and all that goes with that, but I love my job and am glad to go back!

Thank you F for the great time, the great tour of your city and I am thrilled that I got to go there with you! We will have to go back and I promise that we will make it to the observation deck at Rockafeller Center... although it was nice going over there at Midnight!

Exposure Music Lounge Lineup Announced ::: Starz Denver Film Festival

2010-11-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

I want to add that while I was planning to totally post about this today, Enrique totally beat me to the punch. Thank you Enrique! I have known about at least parts of the lineup for a couple of weeks and have been super excited. There are a couple reasons why: 1) Bad Luck City! 2) Bad Luck City at 721 Sante Fe Drive!

721 Sante Fe Drive holds a VERY special place in my heart, I grew up running around that building. Right next door was my Dad's meat packing plant (the door is still there) and 721 was the food distribution portion of his business. I developed film and printed pictures for the first time in a small room up the top of the stairs to the right of the office on the main floor in that building. My brother and I ran around upstairs and played hide and go seek maybe once or twice in that building. And for Bad Luck City to be playing there is really so uber neat to me. I haven't been in the building in about 20 years sadly. Every time I would want to go something would go awry with the programming or something that I just couldn't get in and see a show. So color me super thrilled when I was talking to the volunteer programmers (THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT SERIES) about who they were booking.

There are some great shows to see Iuengliss is my friend Tom/Josh who I just adore, he is a magical being on this planet. So we will be there too!

Plus there are some GREAT movies this series too. We are planning to see many many movies next week.

Here are just a few:

William S Burroughs a Man Within

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone

Black Swan - This is also a fundraiser opportunity but I am not sure if this night is or not, we will look into that!

Norman Mailer : The American - a side note, my Mom told me when he passed away he was married to a relative, he was married to alot of ladies, note that she was NOT the one who stabbed him with a pen.

So there is a little list of four movies that we are thinking about seeing... I am sure that there is something that you can find to see! OR if you aren't in Denver, something that can possibly add to your NetFlix queue.

Here is the link about the Exposure Music Lounge LineUp!!!:

Exposure Music Lounge Lineup Announced ::: Starz Denver Film Festival: " from Cause = Time

The Starz Denver Film Festival is around the corner and it seems to get bigger and better with every year that passes. What would a film festival be without a little music and partying? Check out the Exposure Music Lounge for the duration of the film festival for your music needs. The festival this year will be dedicated to Denver Mayor Hickenlooper’s late cousin, George Hickenlooper who passed away suddenly this last weekend. He was to have had his latest movie, “Casino Jack“, starring Kevin Spacey to be in this year’s festival.

Snake Rattle Rattle Snake-Hastily (luengliss Remix)

Exposure Music Lounge Lineup

Pawn Ticket Trio, Paean, Chris ‘Sandman’ Sands

Friday Nov 5th at 7:00pm

Denver Open Media, Denver, CO

200 Million Years w/ Bela Karoli & Achille Lauro

Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:00pm

El Centro Su Teatro, Denver, CO

Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Bad Luck City

Friday, November 12, 2010 at 7:00pm

El Centro Su Teatro, Denver, CO

Pink Hawks, uengliss

Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Denver Open Media, Denver, CO

2010-11-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

So it's NaBloPoMo. I may be able to keep up with the daily update, I might not. I will give it a serious try.

So...

I leave to go to New York in a few days. What has me the most concerned is the fact that I think I am wholely unprepared for... get this... what to wear. I know what I will wear to Pee Wee Herman on Broadway. That is all good, figured that out. Classy black dress but the rest of the trip? I have NO clue and it's making me crazy. But... I know that most of the time we will be super casual which is bonus.

Tomorrow is the election and I have to say... this doesn't seem like the result will be good. BUT I will be THRILLED to have this whole thing over. The five robo calls tonite alone will come to an end, the commercials can go back to pharma erection advertisements. I have never thought that I would actually look forward to a Cialis ad more than now. But the political ads are beyond frustrating. And I am over them.

Had a great Halloween, didn't really dress up big time for the days but tried. Sorta. A Pink Wig was about the best that I could do.

Also during November I am going to attempt heartily to read at least an hour before I go to bed. That might be a goal that is better attempted than posting all month. Either way I am on a journey which is awesome and so very exciting and I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.

Currently Reading: Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett

Every Painting in the MoMA- I am excited to see at least a few soon!

2010-10-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

So I have a trip to NYC coming up! I am very excited. F is taking me for my birthday which was in July. Why the delay? Oh because he got me tickets to see Pee Wee Herman on Broadway and we had to obviously wait for the show to open. Those two things Pee Wee, MoMA and maybe some really good eating (well that is for sure) are the only things on the agenda. I plan to take it all in through his guidance. I am very very excited that my first trip to NY will be on his arm. Seriously. This is HUGE for me.

I will be on a plane longer than a couple hours (the last time was the fateful trip to Toronto in 2000 which was awesome but a long time ago), I will be gone for more than a couple nights (I will miss my little Herschel), I am actually taking time off from work, and I am very excited.

I am trying to remain calm and carry on. I don't want to totally freak out but holy crap... NYC with F... nuts. Who would have thunk? What a completely great thing!

Type in Motion - What's he building in there? - Animation

2010-09-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

cross posted just about everywhere I post... because this is really really cool.

2010-09-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

Denver has a burgeoning food truck scene. It seems that this gastronomical phenomenon is country wide. You can see the Food Truck Race on Food TV and the Cooking Channel. It's the "in thing" right now. It will pass, food fads always do, but in the meantime it's always a pleasure to happen across Denver's great chef's cooking out of trucks. I have to admit, I totally love it.

We have partaken in the Waffle Brother's yummy sugary waffles (at their storefront actually but it started on a cart), the fabu burgers from Stuebens at the UMS this year, walked by but talked to Dylan Moore of the Orange Rocket from Deluxe (we weren't into the idea of ceviche at the time...) and had a GREAT conversation,picked up a loki moki from the Steamin' Demon from Watercourse and City O'City, picked up cupcakes from the Cupcake Truck at Jazz in the Park a few weeks back, and I have gotten a cheese steak or three.

What I found today (via Cafe Society's blog on Westword) a fine gentleman in Denver has built an entire website that will closely follow the trend and the vendors and their locations....

Please to enjoy: From Denver with Fries !

Shhhhhhhh! This concert isn't a library but it isn't your living room either...

2010-09-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

There seem to be quite a bit of complaints by the reviewers about shows over the weekend. Both the reviews from the Westword Backbeat blog for Wilco and Vampire Weekend pointed out and made it at least noteworthy the amount of talking going on during performances. It has long been one of my pet peeves. Me? For the longest time I think it sucks, is obnoxious and rude to those who actually give a shit about the performers and the fact that they are up there pouring themselves into it. If you aren't interested in seeing them perform and for you... go home, put the cd on in your stereo with ear cans on and talk them ok?

Even a few weeks ago I was at a show at Dazzle and in the main room to boot... one of the performers girlfriends chatted away for the ENTIRE second set of the show with her gal pal. I have it on video. Seriously, I know you may have seen the band a bunch of times, but seriously to sit in the front row the entire set and talk? In Dazzle where it is pointedly a "listening room" blows my ever living mind. Shame on you... you should know better. I even gave MY gal pals the stink eye when they pulled out their cell phones and started posting to Facebook that they were there. There is a level of decorum and it annoyed me.

Everywhere I moved to at the show on Friday (we were at Wilco) there seemed to be distracting conversations everywhere. I wanted desperately to go up to this gaggle of boys and ask them how much they paid for their ticket. See this is actually what I would have said: you paid $70.00 for the pleasure of seeing Wilco in their only Colorado performance of the year, drove 3 hours probably, are staying at a hotel for $100 bucks tonite, or camping even perhaps and for that estimated $200 bucks (not including all the beer and food you have eaten and drunk) you insist on standing here, yelling at one another about fishing and drinking beers. Really? Couldn't you do that maybe further back in the beer tents or something? Why must you do this in the middle of the field.

Now... there were some chicks doing the whole hippy sauce dance that was distracting, but they were having a hell of a good time, they would break to sing along with Jeff Tweedy, they would break to hug one another, they would break to look over to make sure that their bags were still on the recycle bins, but damn those girls barely spoke two words the entire time they distracted us. THAT was a pleasure.

I am guilty of a little talking during shows too... mostly and even on Friday night I did lean back and pull F to my side and ask into his ear what one or two of the songs were. They were songs off the first album that I just couldn't place. But pretty much.. that was about it.

The security dude held a conversation at one point with two chicks that was wholely sidetracking, he even chatted with some chick whose flask he took away. It just seems rude.

These little parking tickets exist (and yes I own a set because they are in fact really funny) but I think I am going to have to design a set of concert tickets / show tickets /performance tickets and have them at the ready. Because I am seriously very much ready to try and take on the monster. I can make them in little tear away booklets from the company that makes the "parking tickets" or less expensively at Vista Print. Either way... I am going to do it. I might not hand out my business cards at shows as much as I thought I would, but that is because I really am not a photographer and taking pictures of stuff at shows is a hobby, but this might just be a new avocation.

And I totally get the fact that sometimes things just have to be said. Seriously I do, but an entire conversation should be moved out of earshot of those there to hear the music.

I will never forget being at the Calexico show at the Gothic theater maybe a year and a half ago or so... and some girl stood there, said she is so "flippin" excited to be seeing Calexico and then proceeded to talk about her weekend the entire time. We moved to the other side of the room, where there were much shittier views but the people there around us were enjoying the show.

I guess the point really came across at the UMS this summer when in between songs at the HiDive, when I was seeing Munly and the Lupercalians (WHO ARE AMAZING & will be at Benders next week), while Munly was tuning his banjo, this really drunk (but very happy to be there guy turned around and started talking to me, asking me when I last saw them, if I knew about 16 Horsepower, how much did I love Slim Cessna's Auto Club... and ON and ON and ON). At one point (and this totally could be a coincidence but.....) Munly stopped talking, sat there for a second and I swear to gawd, glared in our direction. Trust me Mr. Munly... I never want to see that face again because you looked PISSED, trust me I was too. I wanted to hear you and your group play, not listen to this bro, I mean I ran across Broadway doging traffic to get in there and not miss it, giving up a spot at 3 Kings (gladly I have to add). That look alone put the fear of gawd talking at shows in me let me tell you. I wish I could have captured it because I would have put it on the cards... it was scarey as hell and totally appropriate. I thought Munly was going to curse me forever... at one point I mouthed "I am so sorry". I hope that he saw it because I was mortified. I had to move again, from my prime picture taking and show hearing spot because the guy wouldn't quiet down.

So... the point is: Please be considerate, if you have something to say... certainly say it, but quickly and relatively quietly... but should you want to have a chat, a conversation or dialouge move it away from the main area, there is always room in the back of a venue, near a bar or something where it is much more appropriate.

Oh! and if I hand you a "shhhh card", I am trying to not be rude.

hmmmmmmm wonder what this is all about????

2010-08-25T16:44:00.002-07:00

It was fun by the way even though I am not all that complimentary....

2010-08-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

So my friend and I went and took a cooking class last night. We went to this place near the house, but I have to say it was hidden. I thought that the class would be held in a retail store front but it was actually in the first floor of an office building. Had I not called to get better information I would have totally still be driving around looking for the thing.

My friend S and I decided a few weeks (maybe a month or so back) that we because of our love for food would take a cooking class together. So here is what I had in mind, that there would be an instructor who would walk us through step by step of how to make some item and we would learn something new and wonderful to do in the kitchen.

So S left me to chose the class to take, I chose a tamale making class. Why? Oh because tamales are delicious. I have always wanted to make tamales at home and have always been completely overwhelmed by the idea because masa isn't just ground corn (this much I knew, the whole making of the masa, the correct consistency the whole thing... very intimidating, and when there is a place as yummy as La Popular litterally a 15 minute car drive away... why bother... but sometimes you (well me) want a tamale with chicken or less spicy pork. So this was a great class to take and S agreed.

I walked in and sat at the table and waited for our class to start.

The first thing we were told is how to walk with a knife. Ok there are a lot of people (20 of us) in the room and no one wants to get knifed. Ok I get that. Then we are told how to hold the knife while chopping. No actual hands on here is how you best hold a knife to chop just a visual display. It was weird. We were then told where all the supplies were and then the instructor began. Now our instructor was a darling lovely lady but not really all that good with explaining what she was doing when she made the first batch of masa. She talked alot about where to buy chilies in Pueblo though (which isn't bad information but not really what I went there for).

Alot of people in the class did have questions on the technique but I can't really say that I remember alot of detailed explanation of what she was doing. There were a couple of great pointers given out though... like how to tell what the correct side of the corn husk is to use, how to dry out and reuse corn husks you may not use and how to prep a dried red chile. I did take very diligent notes.

Then we were put to work to make tamales. Our group was responsible for making the in class tasting tamales (the other groups made tamales for everyone to take home), so the pressure was on for us to churn these babies out so that there was enough time to steam them to eat before the class was over.

I was thrilled that I got to make the masa for our group. It was the one thing that I wanted to do so thank you dear ladies for letting me get that started and learn the feel and all that. Now I will know what I am doing from here on out. I appreciate you letting me take the lead on that. The other ladies in our group made the filling and set everything up. We got to making the tamales, spreading the masa, filling them and getting them folded up. It was fun actually. We then started making the salsa for the class. Here is where things go hinkie. There were no knives to chop with except these little paring knives. Had I known that the knife situation was such a joke, I would have brought my own. Man it was awful. I am doing this fine herb chop with a pairing knife and nearly took off my finger because it was so awkward. I will remember that the next time I take a class.... bring your own knives. I have great knives so why not be a snot and bring them? Then we are chopping the cilantro and the company leader lady comes over and chastises us for using too much. Then wants us to make the salsa with Roma Tomatoes instead of the beef steak tomatoes also on the table. Given the choice, I am using beefsteak tomatoes for salsa honey. Sorry.

Then gives us this palm sized onion to use. It was odd. And told us we could only use two of the beef steak tomatoes. Sorry 2 tomatoes and one tiney little onion seems really skimpy for 20 people. But because our team / table were really awesome, we made it work. We made sure to have two batchs of salsa one with cilantro and one without. Asking for that second serving bowl though was really strange.

The course provider seemed really really under prepared. Sure alot of the things were already prepped but ask for an extra knife or bowl and you are screwed.

Our team was shredding cheese and didn't have anything to put it in... I grabbed two glass pie dishes from under a counter (one it was close and two easy to use) and you would think I had spit in the woman's eye. She was very upset at me. But hey we were making for the class and had to make it work.

We beefed up the filling for a little side salad since there was so much left over and the instructor gave us this knowing little nod that it was good. We all liked that very much.

So all in all it was really fun. I made myself really proud because I really would have thought that I would have been a little control freak and want to do everything... but I asked if I could make the masa and then once I got the feel for it let a couple of other people in our group try it too. One lady didn't want to but I told her she should get a good feel for it. She said she was glad she did.

I would definitely take another class but would probably do it someplace else. Not that this wasn't lovely and fun and probably really GREAT for team building... it just was a little too chaotic for my tastes. For the same amount of money I probably could have hired someone to come over to my house and show me and S how to do it. I might have to think about that next time for sure.

I would like to continue this journey because I would really very much like to try and learn a new technique or skill maybe monthly or something. I would imagine that there is a chef or even a student out there that might want to teach a lady new things every now and again and get paid for it????

All in all it was fun, I did in fact learn what I went in there for, I was a little confused by the whole teaching process went down, but we got what we needed out of the whole thing so it's ok.

I look forward to doing it again!

I am leaving out the name of the place because S asked if she could take pictures because she was going to blog about it and the owner lady was not too happy, so in order to follow suit... I will also not name names. I will answer off list though.

Tom Waits - Poor Edward

2010-07-09T18:31:00.001-07:00

Here is information on the real Poor Edward. Just because Tom Waits is amazing and it was so totally random how this came up while I was on the phone with F just now. I couldn't NOT post it you know?

Warning: New photo app LOMORA, read carefully before buying

2010-07-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Being a big time photo app user on my IPhone (ps I love you Hipstamatic) I am always on the look out for new and fun ways to use my camera on the IPhone. I found this very interesting review of another app on the Iphoneography website and found the information valuable enough to share: see.... the app is $1.99 then every 36 shots it costs you another .99 cents. Don't get me wrong, I have a fridge shelf full of expired traditional film which I roll into a rolliflex and take standard photos with but to pay 99 cents for the pleasure of doing so digitally is a little wonkie. So... read on and make sure to read allllll those descriptions on those apps when you by them kiddos!

(and for the record, this wasn't an app that I bought ever... but wanted to push the information out in the world).

Warning: New photo app LOMORA, read carefully before buying: "Today my attention was drawn to a new photo app that appeared in the AppStore, but for all the wrong reasons. I'm not going to post the apps description, because I want to draw your attention to the following key elements of this app.

First off the app is described as 'a revolutionised lomo camera app. Basically this app is in between real film lomo and digital lomo. The way you interact with this app is like you will never get from other camera app'. This last part of the statement is very true, as you will discover by reading on.

The description then goes on to say 'LOMORA provides it's own store, which call the LOMORA Store', in other words, in app purchases, where 'Each film is just sold at $0.99. The film will run out after 36 taken photos'. Now it is this section that you should read very carefully, as you will discover as reader SCW did, that each film you buy for $0.99 will only let you shoot 36 photos before running out, just like real film, and just like real film, you will have to buy it again and again, now if this is not a money making opportunity, then I don't know what is.

The developer then goes on to say 'Actually, the selling of film is not all about earning money only' (which it clearly is), adding 'Imagine what's the benefit of selling film just like in real life. You might own films that your friend doesn't have, you can either share to them, or discuss with them about what film is good to capture what scene or you can also show off to them'

The developer then finishes off by saying 'For those who don't have enough budget to play lomo in real life, this app is definitely your next best choice', which at $1.99 for the app and endless $0.99 per 36 exposure films, is far from a cheap alternative to the real thing, and as SCW pointed out, the resolution of this app is only 681x1024.

My advice is avoid this app like the plague, but if you do buy it, beware of what you are buying in to.

UPDATE @ 18:00 GMT on 8th July 2010: I just got word that Apple are investigating this app, so let's hope the do the right thing.

AppStore Link: LOMORA

[Posted from my iPad using iBlogger for iPhone]

Emmett Malloy Preps Nick Drake Documentary

2010-07-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

Emmett Malloy Preps Nick Drake Documentary: "

As anyone who’s seen last year’s The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights knows, putting a beloved artist’s legacy in the hands of director Emmett Malloy is a wise choice. (Don’t think I’ve mentioned it here, but that White Stripes doc was stunningly well worth the hype.) Now Malloy has been given permission by Nick Drake’s family to go forward with his next epic undertaking: a documentary, book, and album about the late, great singer/songwriter.

Billboard reports that though Malloy has already tapped Andrew Bird, Matt Costa, and Brushfire Records partner Jack Johnson to pay tribute to Drake, the addition of many more musicians is in the works. “I know that with that name, we’ll get some great ones,” Malloy said. “I’m just fighting my way through to get the artists I feel will do it justice.” I, for one, can’t wait for this, but here’s hoping someone gets a Jackson C. Frank doc or biopic going, as well.

via 24bit.com"

x-posted all over

2010-06-17T16:02:00.001-07:00

I am sooooo happy. That is all.

Ok in all fairness here is a few reasons why:

Lets see, the first thing would be YOU
Summer is here

Big Time concert season is upon us
I have a brilliantly connected wireless router: yeah I am a dork and no wonder it's been JANKY for years (expect mucho pictures from here after)
I have a lovely group of people in my life, whose pictures ENSURE I will never be sad or unhappy again
My family makes me happy
I didn't come in last at the Westword Music Knowcase

I look forward to sharing adventures of the summer with you!

Putting a better face on things - Roger Ebert's Journal

2010-05-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

I am doing a deep dive cleaning of my walk in closet. I have talked about this for lets say (just to be kind) going on two years now. Actually isn't it more like five years? Tomato, Tomatoe... whatever.

I was going to turn on the tv and thought I would rather catch up on things in my reader and just went from the top of the latest posts and came across this:
Putting a better face on things - Roger Ebert's Journal
(Posted using ShareThis)

Let me tell you... it puts so much into perspective. How we should look at life in a way, I think. I find that Roger Ebert isn't anything but incredibly lovely and his heart far outweighs what anyone should look at in any physical way. It is an amazing read and one that I wanted to share because seriously the man in amazing and deeply beautiful. His Twitter posts sometimes are way prolific but he has so much to share, and this is really worth spreading around I think.

I will go back to my cleaning and reorganizing and clutter purging and I think I will have warm thoughts for a while knowing that there is in fact good things in the world.

F is on tour and out of town and on the road touring with aenka this weekend so left to my own devices I am cleaning which isn't a bad thing. It needs to be done. I am overrun with stuff. So this is a great launching point to get my act into gear. I have lots of things I can get rid of. Things that will make other people really happy I think. Great clothes, some of course that I have never even worn with tags still on them. Its been my previous normal. My new normal. Keep what I use and don't accumulate. One day I will have to move this stuff and I am not wanting to have it be a tremendous ordeal.

I have great tunes on the mp3 player, two really great music docs that I might pop into the dvd player while I document the donations and then hopefully before 11 tonite I will pack up the car and get this project completed so mostly all I have to do tomorrow is drive to Goodwill and drop everything off. I thought it would be harder to get rid of somethings but truthfully... it's nice to see some of it go. I tried on every piece of clothing I thought I might really really want and if it fit it stayed. If I couldn't zip, button or get it on... it's in the donation pile.

Ok back to it. Sit down take a little read at Roger Ebert's amazing thoughts and I hope that the weekend brings you all great joy. If you need me I will be in the walk in closet reveling in it's cleanliness and organization!

2010-04-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Lots of stuff happening and goings on since I last posted. Work is good and I am super grateful for the chance to walk in there every day. Certainly that is an understatement. If anyone knows me they know I glom and on about this great job. Everyday ... I appreciate it and am so happy to walk in the door.

I have made some strides in lots of things personally which is great. And I can't get over how lucky I am in my personal life. F is delightful... he makes me laugh and think and well ... there that is. Can't go too crazy with personal information because you know... details aren't my forte' here.

So ifn' you would like to come and see what makes me really happy... stop at Dazzle next week!

More info can be found here

And if you are wanting to say hi... I will be the one snarfing up the amazing onion strings having my mind blown by some amazing free jazz played by some of my absolute favorite people.

Finally inspired by boredom to update... it's a been a while.. I know I know...

2010-04-02T11:13:00.001-07:00

So... here is the deal. I haven't posted much. No drama and nothing to report really which is amazing. So boring is exceptional. But since I am sitting here at work completely and totally overwhelmed by some rescheduling I need to do, which means begging for mercy because this is a challenge in the first place... I decided to put of the misery and actually update this here blog.

So what have I been doing? yeah so here is the deal. I have been listening to Lady Gaga. Yeah. I know I loose some serious cool points and a shit ton of punk rock cred but here is the deal... I like it. I am not shedding $240 bucks for one ticket to see her at the Pepsi Center in a few months but considered it for like a minute and realized two tickets is a refrigerator, which I would rather have thankyouverymuch. I even told F not to inquire about covering the show to get tickets. If I really want to go I will get cheaper seats. But I really don't want to go that bad.

I have had a cold phelgm crud thing for now going on almost five weeks. I am over it. I lost my voice for most of the week last week. I think I picked up the virus at a work thing at this hotel at the end of February. I was cockie and thought I don't need to worry about germs. Wrong. Not only couldn't I get the shower turned on and had to call maintenance to have them come and fix it at 10:00 at night but I got this stupid virus. And there ain't nothing you can do but ride that infection pony until it gets tired and surrenders.

Other news... I decided that instead of spending 40 bucks here or 50 bucks there on new accessories (meaning new purses all the fucking time) I am going to save up and get a real official statement bag. Even though I did buy two pairs of shoes and a purse and some jewelry at True Love (they are AWESOME by the way....) a few weeks ago... but that didn't count because I wasn't really thinking this way until today.

I don't know what I am looking for yet, but I really think that might be a better investment than pleather somethings or anothers... or I could actually just make the jump and order the appliances my house needs. My dishwasher hasn't worked for a year or so nearly (remember the great Mousecapade of 2009? yeah that was part of it).

Took some pictures at some shows, go click on the flickr to catch the scoop. I do have to post my pictures that I took last weekend at the Bottesini Project Recording show last Saturday night. I just want to actually clean them up a little bit (which I NEVER actually do) and then I will post them.

Didn't get ANY pictures at Nuns of Brixton at what may possibly be the last punk show to ever happen at the Merc (nor for any reason other than the vibe has changed there) in the middle of March, which is a bummer because I was trying to shoot some video which got marred by a young man verrrry happy it was St. Patricks Day and that there was a video camera present so you will have to rock your socks off through my Lions Lair one:

Lets see what else? Um.... two years man. Good times. Fun times. I can honestly say with that I have made some pretty major changes almost all for the better actually. I am a very fortunate chickadoo. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because seriously ...

So Spring is starting to happen round these parts which is glorious thing because I really delved the last month or so in the winter blahs, no posts, very few photos, largely uninspired for most of it so I am looking forward to the upward swing of not only having longer days, but busier at work, more amazing shows to see and the like. Its gunna be great I can just tell!

Have a happy weekend....

2010-03-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, late night dinners of grilled cheese with F and my hipstamatic could possibly make for the nearly perfect evening.

Come on Up to the House

2010-03-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

I know that I have been VERY slackadasical in posting here. It is sheer laziness I assure you. It isn't that I haven't had anything to post about because things are good. Work is good (not that I would discuss it here anyways), my personal life is amazing. My family is great. My puppy is warm and cute and dear. F is warm, cute, dear and magic. I just haven't really had anything to post. But tonite whilest scouring the internet because I have cold that I am trying to get over and chilling out at home I came across this video and it is lovely and beautiful:

Thank you World of Wonder blog (and Steven Saban who I will always remember from the days of Details magazine when it was really cool and yes Miss Lisa for sending me the very first issue I ever saw when you were working in Pheonix... see I really don't forget ANYTHING of value) for bringing this pretty into my universe tonite.

Saving money right now so that I can do a little traveling I hope soon. Yep, that is me stating aloud that I am preparing to get on a plane and go some places! I have a trip paid for to visit my niece I just have to pick a weekend, F and I want to go to New York (meaning I want to go to New York and have him show me around), and I really really want to go to San Francisco. Lots of bubbling around the office about how I need to go to San Francisco. So that is the order and that is how it's shaking out. Then I will get my passport taken care of and perhaps G and I will get OUR acts together and do that Parisian museum tour we have talked about for a couple of years already.

So thats about it.

If'n you are in Denver and looking for something to do this weekend... Sunday at the Hi-Dive... Bocumast is sending the label mates to SXSW and doing it in style with a farewell brunch... we will be there so you should be too. Tell them Zoe sent you, they will find me and I will buy you a mimosa... you can buy your own tshirt though.

2010-01-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

I just rocked through the Golden Globes from last night on my dvr in like an hour and a half ok seriously like two. Thank you Steevoh for saving me the time and energy it would have taken to watch it live.

There are a couple of comments in case you missed the show, here is what I think and probably would have said aloud had you been sitting on the couch next to me. Meryl Streep was wearing earrings looked like Eiffel Towers at first but were amazing! Tina Fey's character is the head writer for a show called TGS not AGS. Christina Hendriks is unbelievably hot. Stanely Tucci is hot. For the record Michael C Hall is going through chemo give him a break on the cap ok? He is amazing. Thank you Drew for taking out the tongue stud for the night you looked absolutely gorgeous and classy. Quentin Tarintino freaks me right out with the constant weird smirkie smirk. Martin Scorsese is a total mensch. Suzy Amis ... brush your hair, you once were in the movie Twister your hair shouldn't look like it was too. Ok that was harsh. The Hangover? Really? Huh....No I still haven't seen Avatar. I would like Kate Winslet to read the phone book to me. George Clooney? I get it now. Toby Maguire looked pissed he didn't win... sorry brother Jeff Bridges IS the Dude remember? The Dude abides indeed. Toby wouldn't have thanked his stand in. That is another mensch. Jason Reitman looked man too... but what did you expect? Of course Avatar won. Start your Oscar campaigns now.

In other little things going on... Denver Restaurant week is coming up in a month or so. I am excited because there are a couple places we will go to that offers a great bargain for a great meal. We haven't chosen exactly where but I am looking forward to it.

Saturday we went for Brunch to Colt and Gray. The place has gotten some great press and lots of props, that they do brunch is a bonus for us since it really has become one of my favorite meals. We walked in and the first thing that struck me was how absolutely lovely the room was. The chairs were sexy as hell. I want a set...bad. Our waiter came and took my coffee order and returned with a french press and a hourglass timer. Nice touch. Then we had a waitress which was really weird to switch servers halfway through the meal I have to admit. Our waitress took our order, I could hear the line call our order since we were sitting right by the kitchen door. Then fourty minutes later our french toast and panckes came out. My pancakes sat on the pass bar for so long my plate nearly glowed it was so hot. The syrup was absorbed into the pancakes and actually crystalized in the cakes. The orange compound butter had a peice of paper still stuck on it. I understand how a compound butter is made and wrapped in wax paper traditionally but having to peel it off hot pancakes while it was melting nearly took the bloom that the nice coffee service put on my morning. F's french toast stuffed with apple and marscapone was lovely and the apples were slightly crisp. I personally would have liked them a little crisper, but it's a good idea. I would also probably add a little vanilla to the marscapone. Our friends got the french toast and the sausage breakfast. The sausage was room temp. The foie grois fat fried potato triangles were delightful, but deep fried I think. All the flavor of the liver fat had cooked off which is a shame because it would have been an amazing compliment to the spicy and herb induced sausage. Our meal ended and we cruised out. I totally over tipped ... WAY over tipped. Oops. I didn't check my math... learned a lesson there. But maybe because of that over tip I will get better service off the line next time we go in... hey there is that chick that tipped almost 18 bucks on a cup of coffee (which basically is what I did almost) lets make it right this time!

We also went to dinner at Marco's Coal Fired Pizza. Ordered the spectacular lemon wings. The onions, those sweet sweet onions could easily be my favorite thing in the whole world. There is something about them acting a bed for the wings. F ordered the Toscana Napoletana pizza, the crust was thin and chewy and hot. The grape tomatoes were sliced in half and scattered across the top and were like little bombs of yum. But the shaved parm, salty and placed on the tongue just melted. But seriously the best part of the pizza was the thinly shaved Prosciutto di Parma. Oh ma gaw. It just melted. And when F let me have the last couple of slices that had fallen on the plate of the cheese and meat, I knew in that moment that he really does like me. I wouldn't have been so nice I don't think. Ok I would have but I would have been sad about it. F is super sweet and knows just what it takes to make me fall just that much more for him... prosciutto.

And Sunday we went to Zorbas for breakfast. We like our breakfasts what can I say? A plate of gyros each was enough food for a family of five. I have left overs which is a great thing for the rest of the week! But the highlight I have to admit was the Kotosoupa Avgolemono. I initially was a little turned off by the idea of chicken soup with lemon and rice and egg... but I thought what the heck I will try anything. I seriously am so glad that I tried it because it was amazing. It was an authentic treat that unexpectedly knocked me out it was delicious. I almost asked for a to go order.

So much for the New Year's diet. I fell off the wagon and hit my head and realized that is a dumb move to even try it. I might have to try the work out route instead.

I am ending the night watching Anthony Bourdain in Paris (again... I want to go to there) and Tunisia. I am making a goal to enjoy the simple pleasures and watching this great travel show about food makes me happy to have such great options here.

It might not be lamb's head kabobs in Tunisia but I have really enjoyed my eating opportunities of late. The company of course is always great too. I am lucky to have a great boyfriend, great friends and all available to join me!

"My Life" Project

2010-01-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

My beautiful friend Lucia’s absolutly beautiful project…

Lucia is entirely too inspiring and an amazing human being. If you can, please consider making a donation for photo prints for the families… please do… it’s a worthwhile donation to begin the year. Here is a link for the website for more information (please feel free to forward and share the link…it’s a beautiful video) and more pictures.

I am honored by her friendship and honored to share her project with you.

2010-01-02T14:16:00.002-07:00

I was on the phone talking with W and I started to think about all the really terrific things that have happened in my life over the past year. Today seems to be a reflection for a lot of people and I think, I just think that I am going to add my two cents (even though I posted show shots last week...).

One of the things that made me the most happy was becoming an aunt. I certainly had nothing to do with any of it and it was something that I certainly can not take any credit for, but it was the most darling, most heart opening thing that happened over the past year that I was not in control of whatsoever. My brother and sister-in-law have a beautiful daughter who is hilarious, active, darling and yummy I can't believe how endeared I am to her. I might be 600 or so miles; away from squeezing her everyday but I am able to Skype with them (which I also did for the first time this year - which was fun) and touch base which is a lovely thing.

This summer I was able to hang out for a little bit with my first love. He was in town with his daughter for a reunion and I am amazed by how not weird and uncomfortable it was. We are very different people from when we were 17 for sure, but absolutely it felt like only a few years had passed since we saw each other last. The advent of the internet has helped us keep in touch but lo' those many years ago had I thought seriously that I would be sitting at a restaurant in Downtown Denver having dinner with him, his daughter and my boyfriend as an adult I would have said "no way". To have both of my loves comfortably talking about music made me so happy.

One of the things that excites me the most was collecting art. I had always wanted to and when I was a property manager of an art co-op I never took the plunge. I felt like it just wasn't something that I was able to afford and do. Yet this year I bought three pieces. Nothing was overly expensive. Each piece was bought at a club. A club that I wouldn't have necessarily known about had F not been in my life I have to be honest. Well at least one of them. I enjoyed talking with the artists, realizing the amazing talent that Denver is filled with. I sometimes don't "see" the art anymore but when I take a moment to see it I am so more than pleased with my purchases it makes me really excited to be considered a "collector". I am surrounded by such talented people that I find inspiration too which is a glorious thing. I have a few spots that are still awaiting the perfect paintings/photos/art and I am very much enjoying looking and determining my taste. I have Pappie and his lovely bride to help me pull the trigger on my first big purchase.

I saw some amazing concerts. My favorite show would have to be the Flaming Lips at Red Rocks. It was the most amazing spectacle of sheer joy that I have have been witness too and able to take part in. I really am taken by how great the band is to their fans. I was standing on the side and talked with some great people that were around me. They were kind. This is a community of people that get it and they shared water and things and it was really nice. Next up would be a tie, and I can't decide between Leonard Cohen or Wilco (again at Red Rocks). Both are so different from one another but each show was totally amazing. Wilco ... oh Wilco... how I heart thee and Leonard Cohen was like being enveloped by warm cocoa. I can't think of how else to explain it. Next up would be My Bloody Valentine at the Fillmore. That night I learned that earplugs are mandatory, I learned some settings on my camera, enjoyed Tuaca, and had fun. The largest surprises were Sonic Youth, Pogues, The Wheel opening for Frank Black, Iengliss, Cougar Legs (the things I heard that night still have me in stitches), aenka (I am biased of course, but I learn something new and magical about free jazz everytime they play), so many other shows that I can't even begin to contemplate.

I spent time with a great group of people that absolutely make my heart sing with their warmth, creativity, kindness and humor.

Now that 2010 has begun I am already counting my blessings and realizing how amazing my life is.

I am making some goals. Along with getting in better shape (I have never been this heavy...but that is fixable), I want to read more (my bookshelves at home are out of control), listen to great music (friends bands count because they are amazing...), take better pictures and not just concert photography either (I have so many talented photographers that are friends who are willing to give me some lessons), cook more and live this wonderful life that I have in front of me to the fullest.

2009-12-21T20:47:00.002-07:00

So there are lots of year end lists out there. There are alot more people that are far more talented than I am out there writing funny or sentimental or serious lists more than I could.

I am sitting here on my couch listening to American Routes Tom Waits/Dave Brubeck episode. For the second time in as many days. I really do love this show and today even more so. Its a terrific convergence for me this evening. It's a top 20 moment of the week for me. How about that.

I should be working on thank you notes, cleaning, editing photos, signing up to get a photo of F and I taken for our dear friend's photo project (but I am totally chicken to ask him... so F when you read this... tell me yay or nay... hi ... can't ask you face to face but totally publically on my blog. What the hell is that? Oh yeah I am a dork) or something other than playing online. But my tv isn't on... top 20 moment too.

I have had some amazing meals in the last year as well. Being in a relationship with someone that enjoys food as much as I do is a treat for sure. There were some highlights! We have visited Larkburger (both in Edmonds and in Boulder) and truly the highlight is their Truffle Parmesan fries in my opinion (besides the totally compostable front of house accoutrement and sustainable furnishings). Friday night we were sitting at the perfect angle to see into the kitchen and watch them prep the slivers of potato goodness. It's next on my list of things to try and make.

We have been fortunate enough to have a sorta anniversary dinner (it was more important to me than F- which was fine- I just felt so lucky to be able to be anywhere with him for a a year at that point I had to go someplace special) at Frasca Food and Wine. We sat at the bar waiting for our reservation and the bartender treated us to some of the finest vermouth I have ever tasted. Straight off the bottle with a little twist of lemon rind oil to bring out the flavors. Everything there is so divine but I have to point out that I had the absolute best risotto of my life that F was actually willing to share with me and he shouldn't have because I wanted to eat the whole thing.

Many of our weekend breakfasts include some on the beaten path favorites. But I have two favorites... the newly opened Toast in Cherry Creek, their Sante Fe French Toast is amazing and sharing a side of pancakes always opens up the day for goodness.

I am also of course willing to wait as long as it takes to have breakfast at Lucilles. For some reason their grits are better than anything, the biscuits are only more amazing with their homemade strawberry rhubarb jam and the buttery (almost burbouny) syrup for the french toast is divine. Their source for their Andouille sausage is my next quest! Just the right amount of smoke and heat. It made me happy on Sunday when we were there. And happy this morning eating the leftover link.

Another favorite breakfast place is also Argylle for their weekend brunch. What actually got me in there over the summer was the enticement of bottomless mango mimosas. I don't drink in the mornings usually but thought it would be interesting to try, but seriously I never actually got past the coffee. This summer (as they have seasonal menus) the fresh french toast had a chantilly whipped cream blushing with a taste of lavendar and strung with fresh fruits and basil I was in heaven. The fall/winter pumpkin french toast is also as divine. I substituted the sausage for the maple bacon which is absolutely heaven on the tongue... crispy fatty salty and sweet and chewy on the ends. This is one of my favorite weekend jaunts.

I got to see some amazing shows and hang out with some really fantastic people:

This certainly could sum up my entire year:

There are other highlights of course:

I was saved by Slim Ceassna's Auto Club twice!

Went to the Oddity Faire and saw lovely ladies play accordians

and perform the burlesque

I was saved by the Reverend Peyton much more than once

I learned that a good night at the Hi-Dive includes a wall of tabs covering the mirrors
(this was at the d.biddle show by the way)

I saw an amazing human cartoon show called Peelander Z

Nearly lost my hearing but loved every second of My Bloody Valentine

Saw some Midget Violence

Mike Watt and the Missingmen made me wish for more of the Midwest Rock

Trent Reznor closed out his Nine Inch Nails

Perry made me remember that Ted Should Just Admit It

We were lazy and didn't walk the ramps to the Red Rocks Amphitheater to see Leonard Cohen and this lady was disappointed by us too:

I saw Git Some play their rock under a mirror ball (at the Westword Music Showcase)

Wilco at Red Rocks (thanks to the Tweedy boys for the camel... priceless)
(if not really blurry)

Saved by The Reverend Peyton (again)

Black Francis made me feel it at the Walnut Room

I got to see Juliette Lewis for work

I fell in love with and at the Flaming Lips

The Happy Mondays and Psychedelic Furs made me wish for 1985 all over again

Cougar Legs made me want to give up my arms for magic

Two Words: The Pogues

Saved on Halloween

Seeing the Pixies play on both nights in Denver made me realize how fortunate a girl I am
both nights were amazing!

Saved by the Nuns of Brixton

and wrapping up the year with aenka at the Mercury
playing under the lovely Marilyn doves
made me happiest of all

I wish you the most amazing journey of the next year! I can't wait for you to join me on my next set of adventures!

So the holiday season is upon us.

2009-12-05T15:34:00.004-07:00

Photo from Last Year at Mezcal

Hanukah is in a week, Christmas at the Vaughans tonite and for the rest of the world seemingly in a few weeks. New Years then Winter. It's all a little overwhelming I have to admit. I am stuck in this world of crappy gift giving because I dont' have much money, there is some job security but after the last four months I am not so sure (although the problem in our office has gone away, but that doesn't mean anything...really) so I am trying to play it low key, but with low key comes crappy gifts.

Keep those expectations LOW my friends and family because this year the magic ain't happening.

But I do really enjoy seeing the Christmas Tree lots popping up all over the place and people driving cars with trees tied to the roofs and wreaths placed on the grills (that really is my favorite, which is weird, but it does make me smile...broadly).

I have had an exhausting few weeks. But everything is better now. Much better. I skype'd with my niece which was all sorts of adorable and very exciting since this lady hadn't ever actually done it before. I was brave and spoke my mind about something that was bothering me and everything was ok in the end. I survived some serious sad insanity at work and walked away feeling much more pity than the anger that most people feel about the situation. I didn't go out much the last few weeks because I wasn't just "feeling" it and to force myself to be out at shows wasn't my idea of fun. I did see my friend's band play two weeks ago but it was so crowded all the pictures I got were blurry and not good. I ordered a couple of lenses for my camera so hopefully I can get inspired again.

The good news, the very good news, is that I am seriously surrounded (some close by and some further away) by the most amazing and interesting and consistently creative people I have been since I was in college. And some of those people from college still are around which is so neat. I have an amazing family. I have a really great boyfriend. I find myself wanting to yell how lucky I am but I can't because I don't want to be a braggart about any of it. I don't take it at all for granted. Not for one single minute.

2009-11-09T13:38:00.001-07:00

...had an interesting brunch yesterday. F and I went to the Squeaky Bean. I have heard really great things about their food, we had some friends that went a few months back and raved. It's an interesting place. And before I come off being too critical, you go to their website and you would get the vibe that they have a full kitchen able to make the gamut of cooking styles from boiled to grilled. Nope. They make it sound like they live for the food, certainly that is what I was hoping for.

It was gorgeous inside. Warm. Friendly. European certainly. When we walked up there were people sitting on the patio (yes, that is the joy of living in Colorado, you can actually sit on the patio of a restaurant in November-!!!-! the weekend after a miserable snow storm that shut parts of the school systems down less than 14 days before) and their dogs had bowls of water set out for them. Not just some ramshackle steel bowl from the kitchen. Actual pottery bowls. Nice Touch Squeaky Bean.

The bar is gorgeous, the wood work is gorgeous. The chair covers are gorgeous. The place is lovely.

I ordered the biscuits and gravy with duck confit and F ordered the benedict. Now I was excited because I like a good biscuit and gravy and I do really like duck. I did ask if they could scramble my eggs though as poached eggs kinda give me the wilies. Nope. Can't do it. They were very nice about offering to poach the egg hard though. What I don't understand if you can make a custard for french toast and you have a skillet you can scramble an egg. But maybe I make my scrambled eggs in a non food appreciation way, one bowl, crack egg, scramble with a fork, pour into pan, cook and serve... maybe they would do it another way.. I don't know, seemed really weird to me that they wouldn't even check.... But I am not really thinking I wanted a hard boiled egg with my breakfast which is what a hard poached egg basically is... but agreed to not seem crabby. I also said to F what kind of self proclaimed foodie am I if I can't accept that they won't scramble some eggs on the grill or in a pan for me. Whatever. I watch the food come out of the kitchen to the tables surrounding us. It looks beautiful, but what food doesn't normally coming out on white bistro plates?

Our food comes out. I wanted to like it. I really really wanted to like it. I liked the slightly cured duck confit but it just tasted of a little salt and oil, the duck was flavorless. Duck shouldn't be flavorless right? That is where my disappointment comes in, I stil had high hopes, it was a beautiful plate of food. But the gravy was thin, runny and had no taste. Not even a sliver of anything from the salt and oils of the duck confit and it was supposed to be "duck gravy". It just tasted "white". A little flour could really have obviously built up the gravy to be gravy and not 'sauce'. The "herbed" bisuit was tasteless as well. And dense and hard. It was more like a very thick flour cracker than biscuit. Now don't think I am being overly critical here. Even F had trouble with is muffin on the benedict. It too was very dense and he struggled to cut through it with the knife. Sad, because there was such promise in our order. We got a side of grits style polenta with proscuitto. The problem here being that they weren't grits style the polenta was integrated into a cheese sauce it seemed. But the small diced proscuitto bits were a really nice smokie and salty touch.

Not my best brunch ever. I would definitely go back for a European style afternoon coffee or cocktail, but due to the limitations of the menu (I ate one of the poached eggs by the way as to NOT look like a chump, but the other one sat like decoration on the plate) and their inability to make substitutions or alternatives (a lady next to us asked for her sandwhich without the ailoi and the waiter laughed and very friendly like said "no... we can't do that") is a disappointment.

Sorry Squeeky Bean. I tried, I really did. But for the record their coffee was really really HOT. I really wanted to like you I really did. I will go back for a drink and maybe a salad but brunch? Notsomuch.

Had a terrific weekend also.

Went to both the Hearts of Palm farewell shows. Friday night we were there for the whole show and the openers... I was blown away by their energy, their joy and it was hard to believe that this was the end of the road for the band basically. Here is a link to the final show Saturday night (recorded by Denver's Friend in recording and mine too...Lance). It was great and dare I say... even better than the night before, which I didn't think was possible. We got there 2nd song into the set on Saturday night and missed our beloved Bad Luck City which was a shame but went to a wine party at a friends and then out to walk down memory lane and see the work of Denver's Finest in their finest hour (more on that later). My pictures totally suck from both nights. Just very blurry. Not good. But I tried. And my excuse could totally be that it was very crowded... or just couldn't stand still. Thanks for the shirts and the CD Hearts of Palm.

Last night saw Grant Hart also. Seeing him standing there on the stage of the HiDive, just a man a guitar and an amp was really so very cool and completely unexpected. I actually thought he would be there with a band but it was just him. Sad though because it was sparsely attended which just didn't make sense.... but I was lucky to have been there. It was just him so there wasn't anyone to watch a merch table so there wasn't anything to get, but there is a new cd and some news. He stood outside and talked with some people from the crowd after his set, which is always incredibly cool to see an artist do. He did play a couple Husker Du songs, and Green Eyes has always been a favorite, but broke my heart with some of the other songs. I am glad F texted me and reminded me because I got so sidetracked with my evening I would have totally forgotten and really missed out.

Hopefully everything is good with you and here's to hoping for a great week all around!

2009-11-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to a friend's house for a birthday party slash halloween soiree slash taco fiesta de los muertos. I had a really great time and met some fun people and actually took some "non- show" people pictures. I realized that I don't do that enough. SOOOO... big whup right? Most people went to a Halloween party and took people pictures at them.

Why is this so incredibly monumental in my little universe?

Because the friends house was SO lovely. It was clean and minimal and everything I would like my home to feel like.

I am so inspired to get my act together and limit my clutter. I know same old story same old song, but still... this was a serious kick in the butt. I have found myself very inspired to remove items that I don't use or need. I am taking small steps but I am working slowly to make my home clean, zen and decluttered. It's very good for me.

I have always wanted to have a very simple place with small little collections (my ginourmous and stored Pez collection not withstanding) put out, but over the years it had gotten out of control. So today I continue to clean and work on this. I will not be able to do this overnight or quickly and I know that I have a very big job ahead of me.

I thank my friends sincerely for inspiring me to move ahead on this!

Ok seriously... this is annoying me...

2009-10-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Denver Film Festival...

I want to post this open letter to you stating my discontent with what is going on in regards to your festival coming up.

Your event is less than three weeks away... how about posting a schedule at least. I was planning on submitting for press credentials but seriously if you can't even get your act together enough less than one month out from your festival how am I supposed to know if I am going to want to even review anything? How am I going to know as an active blogger with more than a passing interest in film whether it is worth taking time off from work to go and "festival properly". I have to put in my time off request soon... like today... and I can't tell. You are messing me up with this.

Last year was kind of a bummer and with all the tumult in your ranks I have a feeling it might be the same is that why you are not posting a schedule? I want to know what is up with you dear film festival.

You have Ed Harris coming to get an award and Push (not sorta not) the film version of the very controversial for the time that it was published book by Sapphire... but that is all I can find. Big Whup. By now I have my days and evenings plotted out somewhat. I buy a pass, and those aren't even available, just a 6 pack? What the hell?

Get you act together.

I can't be the only one wondering about the offerings.

You have made me sad.

Yours, zoe

Mylarism Vol I by Aenka

2009-10-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Mylarism v1 by Aenka. from Bocumast on Vimeo.

text from Bocumast:
new aenka music video:

Mylar-ism v1
Mylar-ism v1 is a meditative exploration of traveling water, ocean currents, and speed of movement. Audio dynamics are applied to the ring, which acts as a conduit between the natural and digital worlds. In a way, the music becomes a bridge between the two, allowing them to communicate, much like music in general. By using music as the medium we can both converse without speaking, while simultaneously using music as the format for which the conversation is made and the subject for which the conversation is about. Music or sound rather, becomes more powerful than language, the traditional form of communication. It is suggested that the properties of sound replace language and adhere to visual stimuli as an advanced method of communication. Much like mylar, music and sound have many uses that we need only to embrace and explore to diversify cultural understanding and communication not only across language barriers, but across boundaries of space and time.

witness this philosophical message live this friday (oct23) night at meadowlark bar (27th & larimer, denver co) when aenka takes the stage (10p). 21+

~~~
I will add that with full disclosure F is part of Aenka. BUT I would still post the video because it is hypnotic. And blows me away.

In other parts of my world I am cleaning out the pantries and the cupboard where my pots and pans are housed. I found cake pans I didn't know that I had, pyrex pie pans in the dozen, and a few pots that I didn't ever use. Tomorrow I will drop them off at Goodwill and try and get my chaos of the clutter under control. Why am I waiting until tomorrow? Well because I need boxes and I can get them from work. It feels really good to clear some of this out. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I have made any room because I still don't have enough room for everything (still) but I am getting there.

I got so stressed out at work last week I got hives! HIVES! I looked like a tiger (Mad Tiger RWARRRR) with pink and white raised stripes. If it wasn't so awful and uncomfortable I would have figured out a way to take pictures, but it was really bad and I had to go the clinic to get fixed up (since my throat felt like it was closing up I thought that might be the best place for me to go versus sitting on my couch not doing anything about it). It was a first for me, I have never had hives, but I have discovered the Benadryl (or generic in my case) and it's nature for being magical. Saturday night the second I started to get a little itchy, took one and slept through it like a baby. Woke up, worried that I talked in my sleep (I didn't but I do wonder what I would have said and what F would have heard- I hope that I would have said things about elephant shoes but probably not), but wasn't itchy anymore which was glorious. I have also decided that taking the seizingly hot showers might contribute to the itchy so I have stepped it down a little.

Finding things good, getting ready to hibernate a little for the late fall early winter, hiding away some of my nuts and looking forward to turning on the fireplace and making s'mores.

Max at Sea a novelization of Where the Wild Things are from the newyorker.com

2009-10-15T12:13:00.001-07:00

I honestly am so very excited about this movie. There are parts in every single trailer that just make me want to weep with joy that this movie exists.

Max at Sea: newyorker.com

Shared via AddThis

2009-10-10T08:27:00.001-07:00

Yikes has it really been over a month... oops. I guess that real life business of not having much to share has gotten in the way with posting online. Lets see...

Started to read The Death of Bunny Munro then got freaked out when I was reading it that I would hear it as in fact Nick Cave was reading it to me in my head. It was a little disconcerting to go through that before I would go to bed so I put it down a couple of weeks ago and haven't picked it up again. Perhaps I will get to it soon, it wasn't bad, not great but certainly worth finishing.

I saw my very first Fellini movie in a theater. Wait that is confusing. I saw a Fellini movie in a theater, which is the first time seeing a Fellini movie on a screen larger than 42". Ok that makes better sense. It was early on a Saturday night and we were thinking of something to do. I was thinking about dinner and a movie but it turned out just to be Amaracord. In true Fellini fashion it was beautiful, disconjointed and delightful. I really can say it was better on a theater screen. One of the trailers before the movie was for the TV show "Modern Family" (which I am finding delightful to watch by the way)... there was an older gentleman in the theater that very loudly said "that looks like a comedy, I am not going to watch it". It was so funny. We giggled about it all night.

Later that night we went to Karaoke. Yep. I swear my little mind was blown. I just can only say F can sing... daymn. He got some ladies to clear the dance floor of tables and dance. It was amazing to see. Didn't know about this skill of his. Just thinking about it makes me smile a little. Ok... OK... alot.

I got over some of my issues with Jack White freaking me out after seeing "It Might Get Loud". He still creeps me out a little bit but after watching this movie about the three guitar giants play and talk about playing I respect the begebus out of the guy. And it was cool to see a little closer up than I ever have or will the set up that The Edge uses. Technology is is friend and it's neat to know a little bit more about how he makes his sound so uniquely his.

Finally placed an order for one of the many jars in the Vices Jar Collection from Jonathan Adler. It was such a disappointing mess that the delivery took nearly two weeks to arrive that sadly I don't think I will ever go to the effort to order again. I adore (no j'adore) the aesthetic that Mr. Adler has there is something truly lovely about the 60's Hollywoodchic design style but I am done. NOW... that being said they did me right, by crediting the shipping charges and offered me a discount on any future purchase, but sorry. The Prozac Jar will have to be my stopping point.

Got a miserable cold that lasted for a couple weeks. Cracked a tooth, possibly from grinding my teeth and am in the starting process of getting it fixed (part one of the initial root canal is done... and I can finally close my mouth completely and chew... its fantastic).

I met a lovely little girl that makes my bro and sister parents and me an aunt. This was the highlight of September I have to admit.

Memorable shows include: The Flaming Lips at Red Rocks,the Happy Mondays and the Physchedlic Furs at the Boulder Theater, Jen Korte and the Loss at the Walnut Room, David Cross book signing at the Tattered Cover (for a couple reasons....F was there, it's all I can say) and then the standup at the Paramount (even though because of my tooth and the ensuing bone infection, oh I didn't mention that above? Yeah... I was miserable), Aenka in a parking lot and Derby on the Rocks Western Regional Championships.

It has been a great month hope that it has been for you too.

Senator Kennedy... I actually have something to add....

2009-08-27T16:21:00.005-07:00

Ok so there has been alot of talk and coverage of Sen. Edward Kennedy's passing. I didn't really give it much thought except, what a loss for this nation that we lost a great politician (personal transgressions aside - I remember the trial of his nephew as I followed it with great interest for personal reasons).

But this morning as I was walking into work I remembered something really crazy that happened to me when I was working at this law firm in regards to Senator Kennedy.

Normal working day. Sitting at my desk, answering phones, doing calendaring stuff, doing my j.o.b.. The phone rings.

Of course I answer it, it's my lead's incoming line and I answer professionally and I hear on the other line: Good afternoon this is Ted I am calling for (my attorney's name). Um ok... So professionally I say, (My Attorney) is out of the office can I take a message? So "Ted" continues, and here is where I am paraphrasing....tell him Senator Kennedy called and would like to personally invite him to this event taking place in Denver and I would like him as my guest. Oh by the way ... would you like to join us at our table?

I totally freaked out.... calmly I said that I would pass the message on, got a phone number and then became the most giantest of giant policitcal nerds ever. I said... I never expected to ever hear your voice on the other end of the phone and this is a real honor sir, I met your families Aunt Eunice Shriver at blah blah blah.... for a fundraiser for blah blah blah and that was a highlight sir, but this is really is very exciting for me to talk to you on the phone Senator. I think I said Senator 10 times in one long run on sentence.

He was so nice. He confirmed asking me to attend this politico thing and told me he would like me to join the table...again. I actually look at my calendar and I can't go. Damnit. I tell him I am sorry I can't attend and so very much appreciate his invitation, Senator. He says if I ever make it to DC to call his office and arrange for a lunch.

Who am I? Just some dumb ass political geek Legal Secretary answering the phone and he is a mensch and says he invites me to his office? Certainly he has better things to say certainly... but he is saying this... to me.

It was really cool.

I hung up the phone and freaked out and this morning remembered this is what our nation mourns. Someone that actually gave a shit. Someone that radically worked for change back when it was actually more than just a buzz phrase.

I hope that he has found peace by his passing and his family finds peace too at this time of mourning.

Flaming Lips show update coming soon...

2009-08-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

I have tons of really great pictures and a little video to share from what easily could have been the highlight of the summer shows for me. F bought the tickets and we ended up having our mind blown from the far edge of the 5th row.

More to come later, but I wanted to have you put your postit on the calendar for tomorrow so you can move the reminder to about maybe Wednesday....if I can get my act together...

Just know it was awesome and I can't wait to try and share with pictures....

2009-08-21T18:07:00.001-07:00

(thank you Blessed Are the Forgetful (and Charlie Kaufman ultimately)

Friday night when we are chilling out at the hotel we decided to try and watch the movie on Netflix Instant View. Unfortunately our internet connection wasn't fast enough and it kept stopping and starting which was frustrating. I have a copy of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind buried somewhere and what is really crazy is that F loaned me a copy too. I remember the first time that I watched the movie I thought about him and how much I wanted to have the re-meet without the baggage.

Funny that it happened in a way. I certainly remember our relationship before but it is so much better now. So much better and honestly I will cherish this every moment because I am lucky to have this wonderful guy in my life.

At this work thing there were a couple of funny situations and he handled it like a pro.

I love that this is one of his favorite movies because it always was one of mine. I am glad that I haven't seen it with him ever actually. But the fact that we tried says everything.

2009-08-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

I want to make note of something. When I was 18 I worked at a record store called Music Masters here in Denver. The gentleman that owned the store was a great teacher to me. He gave me a music education outside of what I was listening to at the time, which was mostly new wave and punk rock. He totally made fun of the fact that while I was working at a record store (and one of the first in the state outside of Listen Up that sold cds by the way... yes they were a new format at the time... and yes I am that old) I would spend the money that I made at Wax Trax. I would actually call for the guys at the store to hold things for me from the work phone, at the time it was funny... now I look back on it and think it was obnoxious. He understood maintaining what little punk cred I had by doing that. BUT... I would get all my jazz and classical records at work (and some conventional pop and new wave too... but mostly jazz).

One day I walked into Music Masters and I heard Bach playing. But on a piano. It was divine. I bought the record: John Lewis Preludes and Fugues Vol 1. As far as I knew there was only one volume. I played it when ever I worked. There was something really magical processing and sorting and realigning the Top 40 Billboard singles weekly to this music. I didn't really realize at the time who John Lewis was (the band leader for the Modern Jazz Quartet) I never really put it together until much much later. I had no clue just how special the recording was.

I think my Mom and Dad have my record somewhere at their house. I have thought about that record for years. Everytime I go to Twist and Shout to see what used records there are I look for it, but I haven't found it. So Friday when F and I were sitting at the Irish Snug eating dinner, before the Sonic Youth show, I was talking about how I really wished I had that record still. F got this little smile and said he has the volumes. I was thrilled. So he shared them with me.

I have to say there are so many reasons why I just melt when I think about him. But this was so weird. He just got them himself a couple weeks ago. I swear we haven't talked about it. That is just how in line we are sometimes about some stuff. It is spookie cool.

So today when I am wrapping up some show stuff, mostly shots from my last week or so out, I am listening over and over again to how great this is. I really am so thrilled. I swell with appreciation for everything F does for me. This is a huge gift. I don't think he really understands (he will now when he reads this I am sure).

I have had a great weekend...I am almost sad at 2:00 on a Sunday that I know it is going to have to end. Friday we went to see Sonic Youth (he got a photo pass and will review the show) then went to the Bluebird to see Akron Family (where I met a cool guy who I might enlist for some marketing work that I am going to be doing not income-work related) and to see our friend Dave sit in with them. Had a terrific brunch yesterday at the new Snooze location on Colorado Blvd. We watched Basquiat last night after coming home from seeing (500) Days of Summer. It was a great night. We talked about Junior High School (we new some of the same people even.... but didn't know each other) and Junior High romance, I made apple pie after the movie (well sorta) when we got back here. I woke up this morning and realized how great a weekend I really have had. Despite spilling an entire bag of popcorn at the Mayan last night. I am totally fessing up that it was me who made the mess... what can I say I am totally spastic when I am nervous (which I was for some reason last night at the movies with F).

Moving along... I am setting up to clean a bit this afternoon and maybe hit the stores to look for a dishwasher and new fridge (both need replacing... the dishwasher not so much but the fridge is old old old and has seen better days). Hope you had a magical weekend as well.

2009-07-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

Lots to think about. I have some milestones coming up. I think sometimes birthdays do that to people. Not me usually, but this year it is all very different.

13 years ago tomorrow I was sitting at a Starbucks with my Grandma having a frappacino and met F. I never actually thought I would ever be able to say we would know each other now, which thrills me no end. When our relationship ended 12 years ago, I really thought that would be it. In fact I remember distinctly telling him that. There will be no friendship I said. I couldn't do it then. It wasn't something I ever anticipated. Then everything changed on a dime last year. Certainly I thought about him during those years apart, googled him (if you haven't googled or facebooked an ex or admit it... I call you a liar... ), seriously compared boys I dated to him (yeah I am talking about you Shrug...) and hoped we could at some point touch base and catch up, never EVER thought our lives would intersect. I didn't anticipate walking into the Bluebird and seeing him and having the balls to talk to him, much less give him my business card. I would fall for him all over again and be with him again... which is so magical and wonderful. This man... just is so good. And I am lucky as all get out to have him in my life.

25 years ago I was a silly teenage girl flirting with a guy in the dinner line in Israel. Little could I have ever imagined that next week... all these many years later I would be re-meeting him and his daughter when he comes to my town for a reunion of the school that we were at that summer (I wasn't really invited to the reunion which is fine by me, I mean I don't know these people, so I am good with it...). That being said, he thought he would stay at my house but because I have lots of work I have to do Wednesday he is staying at a hotel, which makes me much much more comfortable. I think F is releaved too. He would NEVER say anything but when I told him they wouldn't stay here he looked almost releaved. I know that I am.

3 years ago my Grandma D went into the hospital for heart surgery. We had the highest hopes and wished the result would be different. The result was not good. I certainly miss her everyday. It was 2 1/2 years ago Grandma P passed away. That was a bitter nut to crunch too. I miss her everyday. There have been times that I hit play on my answering machine to hear a message she left me about a month before she passed away. It is why I keep a land line and that answering machine. I think of them both and wish they were around to see and take part in our families joys right now. Grandpa B is still good, we are lucky to have him and honestly we are truly lucky there, but ... not the same and my Grandmas.

A year ago I bought a really good camera. I have still yet to really use it to all it's potential, but I am learning.... slowly and am more happy with my photography than I have been in the past. I am getting better at the concert photography and am branching out even to urban landscape more and more. I took pictures for a cd album cover for a fringe friend which was a HUGE honor.

I am working very seriously to declutter my house. This is huge for me. I am an avid "collector" meaning "clutterer" and I have piles of things everywhere. I have memories tied to every little tchochke and it's hard to let go, but I am learning to get rid of the controlled chaos. I don't need 100 of something. One will be just enough thankyouverymuch. I am learning this finally. I took 10 large bags of things to goodwill yesterday and tomorrow I will spend my birthday hopefully continuing the trend and cleaning cleaning cleaning out drawers, closets, shelves...I am happily motivated.

I can't remember simple things like, "did I get the mail today" or "how old are those eggs in the fridge" but those are little minor things that I am chalking up to the fact that I am freakishly busy. If the date on the egg carton is way out of wack they can be replaced so its all good.

I am also hoping that in the next little bit I can learn to turn off the tv and break out some books. Oh and actually read them....

2009-07-14T21:40:00.003-07:00

I got bit on the face last night. It was not sexy. It was not welcomed and now I have a bruise. Its a little one but gesus it hurts. I am a little annoyed with the dude that did it. He is a friend from the wayback machine (and sadly that is all he talked about was the past). He had enough alcohol in his system for him to think it was fun. It was not. I am a little (alot) annoyed.

We went to the Westword Music Showcase which was great fun last night. I hung out with some great people, learned a new cocktail, saw some friends win awards, watched F hand out a couple awards and had some fantastic barbecue from Moe's.

Tonite I have stuck to home and gotten some things done which was nice. I wish I was a little more motivated. Watched The Aristocrats and tried to watch Anthem (wow was that suckie... sorry girls, but your criss cross across the nation was boring...). I got a couple of drawers cleaned out last week and would have liked even more to have done that even more tonite but ended up doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen. I was in dire straights for some chocolate and really came up empty. But my kitchen is a little cleaner.

So it isn't a complete wash.

I have alot going on, on the personal front that I am not wanting to talk about publically in this forum at all. Lots of old memories coming back up and continued worries about loved ones. Please think good thoughts on the vagueness and I will be grateful.

Odds and Ends....

2009-07-05T16:57:00.001-07:00

Mad Men New Season promos are out.... new season starts August 16 but all the trailers are cuts from Season Two which is more than slightly disappointing. I wanted a slight glimpse into what is coming up you know? Oh well... I will be patient.

Watching a documentary on Arthur Russel l can't say before this movie I ever heard of him, so it's rather interesting and weird. But this guy really worked with some of the most interesting contemporary and interesting musicians of his time.

Listening to the fire trucks roll up Alameda all morning. There is some excitement somewhere.

And the cherries at Sketch get their due (again....). Funny that we haven't been back... we should.

Finally making an effort to go to the market today. I wouldn't even mind taking a nap on the couch but that wouldn't be a very productive end to the weekend now would it?

Home Home Home to a thunderstorm

2009-07-01T23:25:00.002-07:00

BUT while I am awake I figured I would make a little quick post. I had a great little evening.

The rain is filling my house with a smell of freshness that is unbelieveable I can't explain it but it is really glorious. The flashes of light and ensuing thunder which happens right away is a little freakish and I probably should turn off all the electronics, but I am addicted to the internets and am falling behind on some reading... anyways.

Went and got my Cooking Dirty all signed and stuff tonite. It was really fun and seriously Katie Mullens is quite the joint. The Guiness was amazing I have to say... worth it. Our food service was merely meh, but I am not going to kvetch. Just not worth it. I will have to go back down there and give them another chance... I don't know what the problem was but I can't imagine it is normal. When our food finally did come it was actually quite delicous. The mashed yam,carrot concoction on the side of my shepards pie was freakishly good I have to say. I want to find out what that was all about because I want to go and make that and serve it for a desert, brulee that mound of orange goodness UP.

Went to Twist and Shout and picked up a couple records. I was really REALLY good. I went for the one record I wanted - Wilco (the album) (I have had it digitally for a while, but wanted the vinyl), and said I would only get three more records. I stuck to my guns. I got a Clash rarities record (yay... I didn't hesitate one minute to pick that sucker up and certainly didn't pay that much for it), Book of Love (shut UP, it was uber cheap) and the Cat People Soundtrack. Mmmmmm sweet sweet vinyl. I got some other drek too, I pez that I don't have, oy... those crazy pez....a notepad with a pen (seriously F I don't hate you for pointing that out to me, but why why why? Ok it will go on my desk at work, BUT THE PEN IS STAYING AT HOME, that is the real treasure.... basically we are talking a strippy pen from the Uplift Mofo Party era... for me to buy that thing, proves I am not bitter about that situation anymore... anyways) and some postcards... got a great one for you Ms. Valentine!

I was planning to go to see Jonathan Richman but why ruin the streak of NEVER actually seeing the man play live? I mean really... it is quite a streak, this will make the what 10th or 11th time I have had the chance and not gone for some reason or another? So it is a record and I am thinking seriously... I am going to maintain it. I mean it was a choice, quaility time with F or standing in a potentially packed and squished Lions Lair with 150 of my nearest and closest not yet friends? Guess what won?

Work is freakishly insane right now. I am treading water people. They fired one of the admins on the floor and I am now splitting the job with the Office Supervisor. She is a treat and keeps me going but between the two of us right now we are doing the jobs of four people. It is quite a task for both of us to be quite honest. People are getting impatient and pushy and I am getting bitchy and pushing back. Seriously... I love my job and don't want these folks to make me hate it because they don't get that I am up to my earlobes in the mishegas right now. Chill. You must chill. So I slam on the headphones and press ignore actually. It is very passive agressive but seriously I don't have much of a choice because I have a hard enough time saying "no" that prioritizing the work load is getting really hard. F asked me tonite if I am going to make it (until they hire a new admin) and I said that I think I will actually but it's going to be hard. I plan on drinking alot to drown my sorrows I said. I thought I was joking but I might not have been.

The storm has passed over, the rain is starting to subside and I have a busy work day tomorrow! Sweet dreams dear internet...

****
Edited in the bright sunshiney, non-thunderstormie a.m. to add the review from the Jonathan Richman show last night at the Lion's Lair... is it like I was there? Well no not really I have to admit, but I am glad I made the choice I did to hang with Mr. F. I had a better time and did a little dance in a parking lot and got to test my R&B chops. For the record I was wrong twice. But that is a pretty good track record.

Mental Schmutz

Rev Jim benefit Show Number One information!

I don't make resolutions...

So Herschel has seizures and a brain tumor... now what...some advice I suppose

Product review...

Vintage Cameras Turned Into Nightlights

not much inspiring on ye olde home front but heres what I have been upto!

The Love Project: Puppy Love

The week....

Wynkoop Brown Palace Rooftop Honey Saison.

I have a pinterest sure... but here are other things I found awesome and worth sharing

BEHÖVD coffee carafe - It isn't my favorite but it was $8.00, I may not ever use it since it doesn't pour well

Things that I did this week:

Tommy Metz (iuengliss) live @ This Ain't No Cowtown, Vol 1 (A Colorado Comp) Residency at Lost Lake

Jockey Full of Bourbon (a Tom Waits Tribute)

The week in links....

The Short of It: U2 at Invesco Field was amazing...

Hello criminals in Santa Monica.... I am glad you had our date!

Cinco de Mayo is for Lovers...and Music Fans also....

Iuengliss - Magnetic Empires Video

Josh Cain's fucking birthday May 1st with Wire Faces, Port Au Prince, Tommy Metz and Patrick Lee

So I am back from LA and saw Big Audio Dynamite!

Updates

Man Man Announce North American Tour

Bluebird Theater Announces Pure Sunshine: Rick Kulwicki Celebration & Benefit, Friday & Saturday, March 25 & 26, 2011

Pinterest is my fave right now...

12 Stepping Family Guy Style.

12 Stepping Family Guy Style.

Such an amazing morning

Bocumast SXSW Brunch this Saturday with Wire Faces, Flashlights and DJ Savior Breath

2010 in photos from the Boston Globe

Resolutions are for suckers

Happy BDay Tom! Hoist that Rag!

so what really can I say outside of ...

Os Mutantes

Heartwarming Message of the Day: Pixar Animation Studios...

getting ready for thanksgiving...

Joe Strummer Biopic in the Works

It's National Un-Friend People Day today...

Snap! from World of Wonder dot net

Yep... no weekend posts... just ain't gunna happen

Yeah I just discovered listening to PodCasts on my Iphone.

Chef Doesn't Quite Appreciate Reviews From Inbred, Jobless, Bored Yelp Users

Lou Donaldson Quartet: Live At The Village Vanguard | http://t.co/KAMCddv

oops... missing the everyday thing... but I have a good reason!

Exposure Music Lounge Lineup Announced ::: Starz Denver Film Festival

Exposure Music Lounge Lineup

Every Painting in the MoMA- I am excited to see at least a few soon!

Type in Motion - What's he building in there? - Animation

Shhhhhhhh! This concert isn't a library but it isn't your living room either...

hmmmmmmm wonder what this is all about????

It was fun by the way even though I am not all that complimentary....

Tom Waits - Poor Edward

Warning: New photo app LOMORA, read carefully before buying

Emmett Malloy Preps Nick Drake Documentary

x-posted all over

Putting a better face on things - Roger Ebert's Journal

Finally inspired by boredom to update... it's a been a while.. I know I know...

Come on Up to the House

"My Life" Project

So the holiday season is upon us.

Ok seriously... this is annoying me...

Mylarism Vol I by Aenka

Max at Sea a novelization of Where the Wild Things are from the newyorker.com

Senator Kennedy... I actually have something to add....

Flaming Lips show update coming soon...

Odds and Ends....

Home Home Home to a thunderstorm