THE JOY & PAIN OF CLASSIC ROCK

Did you ever go on a trip or vacation and nothing went as planned? You spend all this time researching, figuring out what to do, where to go, and how happy you'll be for every waking minute of your time, right? And then, through no fault of your own (or maybe it is your fault, but that's not really the point here :) things begin to unravel. Here is my story on the high- and low-lights of this past weekend's trip to a concert in another city... the first trip Joe and I have taken by ourselves, by the way.

Problem #1 - he was late!!!

ok, so the car rental place had some issue where they didn't open on time, and then they didn't have the car he had reserved, but I have a personal problem with lateness - it annoys the bejesus out of me!!! This leads to...

Problem #2 - we "don't have time" to go to an early dinner with my friends who live there!

Us getting started late + him wanting to be at the concert venue super early = him telling me we aren't going to get to meet up with my friends with whom I'd made said plans weeks earlier. I got really pouty and a little bitchy about this because I never get to see them, they live out of town!!!

Problem #3: we had to wait almost 2 hours outside before they let us in and it was HOT!

Don't ask me how we didn't have time for an early dinner, but had to get there that early, because I do not have an infinite understanding of the male mind. One thing I will say is that by this time I was not in the mood to stand out there while sweat and make-up drip off of me in front of 100's of strangers. I don't like to sweat in the best of circumstances -- I'm not Jillian Michaels or some other such exercise fanatic!

Problem #4: they only had very icky food!

Nachos?? Hot dogs?? There were better choices at the gas station/truck stop place we had to stop at because someone doesn't realize it's going to take more that $15 dollars gas to drive 200 miles. Needless to say, I didn't eat anything, even though I knew...

Problem #5: We have to drive back the same night

We were supposed to stay in a hotel and just relax after the concert, right? Well apparently he had to go in to work for a few hours the next morning and we drove back AFTER MIDNIGHT -- getting home at 4:30 in the morning was not cool!



At this point you're probably thinking "what a whiny, complainy bitch!" and you know what? You'd be right, I was cranky and insufferable, frustrated and sticky, and felt like very frown face until I looked back on the events and saw the following;





Good thing #1: the drive was actually pretty fun

We talked a lot (when I wasn't pouting and texting my friends). And the car he rented for the drive out there was really, really nice. For some reason on the way there I started just busting out singing along with the radio -- 80's songs, country, it didn't matter what if I knew the song, I was going to be singing it at the top of my lungs and enjoying myself in the process. He even joined in a few times which was truly silly. We did this on the way back too, it kept us awake :)

Good thing #2: he apologized for messing up my dinner plans

He apologized for not making time for dinner, saying it was his fault and that we would try again soon. That was pretty sweet, considering that part of the reason I was so upset about it was being embarrassed about cancelling after asking them in the first place.

Good thing #3: he let me sit by the fun people...

ok, we had 2 tickets, but they were not next to each other but 1 behind the other (weird!) and he gave me the seat that was next to some super fun older ladies that I got along with instantly. **SIDE STORY -- the one lady's husband called because their teenage daughter went out with a bunch of her friends to watch an eclipse and didn't tell him where they were watching it and acted like he 'should just know' but the lady was all like 'No, she's going to a movie called Eclipse, not watching one in the sky, moron' it was too funny, we laughed for 5 minutes on that.**

Unfortunately, his seat-mates were not so great. The guy was loud and clapped off-beat (a lot!) and the girl had to get up every 5 minutes to go do whatever.

Good thing #4: it was a really great show

the show was very, very good! If you ever have the burning desire to see thousands of middle-aged men play air-guitar and drums, then a sold-out classic rock show is where you need to go! You can practically feel the nostalgia and good 'ol days in the air. But it is fun, and everyone is having a good time, and the fact that this time around they're all old enough to buy alcohol doesn't hurt, I guess.

Good thing #5: the drive back was a goofy adventure...

This all happened between 1-5 am, so it had a fuzzy quality to begin with -- we stopped at a cool truck stop/store/food place and there were some weirdos that were parked next to us, but we didn't think anything of it, just went in and ate and looked around. Then when we came out, the weird people had friends that had joined them, and it was creeping us out because it really seemed like they were staring at us! I felt less nervous at the hauntingly quiet rest stop 50 miles down the road.

Anyway, once I adjusted my attitude and really looked at everything, I realize that we had a really good time, just not the time I had mapped out in my head.


**SIDE STORY -- I totally fell and busted my butt at the Sunday night show!! (there were 2, besides this story, though the 2nd was uneventful) Shoes flying in one direction, drink flying in another - sooooo embarrassing, I cried (silent tears, but still).**

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE...

My first recap of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE! I'm so excited! Well, Cat (host) looks amazing, and its great that she's not one of those bony-skinny people on tv, that is just so nice to see. Unfortunately Mia is one of the judges tonight, but even though she's yuck, she's not as bad as she used to be (someone must have had a chat w/her -- thanks Nigel)
Dance #1 - Christina and Pasha - they were so HOT! Helps that they both have those smoldering looks (hers all exotic and his all intensely male w/nice pecs) toss in some fringe and you can't miss. OOH LA LA - judges liked them too :)
Dance #2 - Adechike and Alison - that dude can move, ok? I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary, but he makes it good to watch. And he was trying really hard to put his emotions out there (not his strong point according to the judges last week). Mia was only mildly insulting so altogether, nice job!
Dance #3 - Alex and Lauren - Last week he was supposed to be a crying wreck for his performance and he did a masterful job of it, so I had my doubts that he could pull off the super-sexy-cool he needed to portray this week but he did it! (Cat has a big head! lol) The judges did not agree with me so much, but it's safe to say they know a bit more about Fossey style than me, thanks god! Definitely entertaining.
Dance #4 - Ashley and Mark - all I really want to say is TRAVIS WALL RULES! And i really miss the Mohawk -- i miss it!!! Jazz hands!
Dance #5 - Billy and Comfort - um, the most delicate guy I've ever seen doing krunk was just as hard as i thought it would be to watch. It was okay in a Disney tv show kind of way, and not the complete hot mess I expected, but he just doesn't seem like he can be mean enough.
Dance #6 - Robert and Anya - TANGO! Even though he was a bit fruity in the rehearsal footage, he KILLED IT during the performance! And of course his superman hairdo was super macho ;)
Dance #7 - Melinda and Ade - Very story-centered and all, but like I've said before, contemporary is not my fave genre. Judges just gave it an 'ok' too.
Dance #8 - Jose and Katherine - That was a really cute bollywood routine, but they all look the same to me. Still, it was fun to watch and he did way better than I thought he would. Really cute.
Dance #9 - Lauren and Dominic - Hip hop does not usually make me get teary-eyed but I got caught up in the story (domestic violence) and it was just so emotional! The judges had some comments on technical aspects, but were just as taken with the story as I was. Most memorable performance of the night probably.
Dance #10 - Kent and Courtney - Let me just say, Kent (think a young, cuter Doogie Howser) plus sexual tension don't add up in my brain! Don't get me wrong, he danced surprisingly well, but it was almost embarrassing and very awkward watching him try to get his groove on. Yuck!

Well, we'll see how America voted last night, I have no idea who might be leaving. What did you think Jess?
I LOVE GLEE!

AT FIRST I WAS AFRAID,

Last night we watched a show called 'Dual Survivors" ( I think that's the name, it's on Discovery Channel). Seeing that show, combined with my recent interest in "Lost" (I never watched it when it was on but in fact started Netflix-ing it the same day the last episode aired -- it was a dare, but more on that at another time), and i have come to the conclusion that I would be one of the first to die in a plane/boat/kayak/or other type of crash or something that'd require survival skills (natural disaster? nuclear war?) I am not a nature girl. It doesn't hurt my feelings when people don't invite me on camping trips (even a cabins too rustic for me), and we don't own a sleeping bag, lantern, or those sticks that you make s'mores with. Even the 'woods' around where I live give me the creeps and make me nervous. These are the kind of woods with cement paths that rich old people walk their large fluffy dogs on. There are many ways in which I am not prepared to spontaneously live in the wilderness; I don't know how to make a fire without matches and even then, it's iffy, I would freak out/faint/vomit over any injuries on myself or others, and I'm just in no way a nature girl or comfortable in that environment. People say "oh, you'll eat bugs or whatnot if you have to" but I seriously doubt it, ok? Even the one guy on the survivor show was like, 'that is an absolute last resort' . Oh jeez, I can't go there, I'm starting to make myself woozy just thinking about it.

Tonight would be the last dvd for season 1 of Lost, but 'So You Think You Can Dance' is on so that's where I'll be. The only thing that I can say for sure about this season of SYTYCD is that a dude will probably win it, but who knows? It's good to see some of the dancers from seasons past on there, that was a nice surprise for this one, right?

I'M OFFICIALLY A SOCCER MOM!

Hold on to your fanny packs, ladies, I have an announcement. I AM A SOCCER MOM! Today was the first day of soccer camp, and though my 9yr. old daughter has never played before, I truly felt that there was some change in me when I dropped her off today. All I need is a minivan or SUV, a brand name visor of some sort and ankle socks to wear with my really clean tennies.
Seriously, it was really fun today and the ladies I met today were super sweet... we already have an invitation to a play date, which i thought was just a phrase made up for tv, but now I realize in the world of stay-at-home moms its a reality, maybe even a necessity? Anywho, at the very least tomorrow I'll be much better prepared (didn't realize that bug spray and an umbrella would be so important, but now I know, right?), and the whole group is going to the pool after, so that should be interesting. Is it too awful of me to be happy that I wont be the chunkiest (or oldest!) mom there? Because I can live with that, really, it doesn't bother me at all :)

On a completely unrelated matter...
To the lady who drives the champagne colored Lexus SUV that somehow manages to end up in front of me everyday (I've had plenty of opportunity to learn the plates) please use your turn signal!!! I am soooo tempted to come up and knock on your window one day at a red light and show you where it can be found in your car. Checked out the Lexus website, and your model does come with one, so please, please, please use it. Or quit making random turns and lane changes, ok? You are making me nutso.

WALGREEN'S THERAPY

The orange and yellow stickers didn't always mean so much to me. There was a time i could go into the drugstore and not be affected by the lure of a sale price (yellow!) or clearance item (orange!!) but I don't remember when that was, when it all began. I just realized one day while a friend of mine was over helping me with my closets that i have an abundance of make-up, skin, and hair care products that i don't even know about let alone need! I had to buy crates to just go through and organize it all! This is beyond ridiculous as i might, maybe get fully made up about once a week but i probably have enough mascara, moose, and nail polish for a drag show in Miami Beach. Who can pass up a buy one get one free? Or a 50,60,70% off deal? Doesn't matter if its fake eyelashes, teeth whitener, oatmeal bath or (seriously!) bikini wax. It makes me feel relaxed somehow... going up and down the brightly lit and cleverly displayed aisles. I've been known to go on my lunch break from work when i was having a particularly frustrating day just to unwind. Because there really is a time when you want to go where everybody knows your name, there will always be a special place in my heart for Walgreen's. :)

DRIVE-THRU DRAMA

Oh. My. Goodness! Jessie and I just spent a ridiculous amount of time at the drive-thru at lunch! We got in line. We ordered our food. Things were fine up to that point. When we pulled up to the first window to pay, however, things began to go awry. She handed the guy my card and when he handed it back the receipt was for twice as much money (and food!) as it should have been. Apparently it was the total for the minivan full of boys (all w/J-starting names according to the various 'team' stickers proudly displayed on the back window) that was in front of us. Unfortunately for me neither the guy at the register nor his manager had any clue why i didn't want to pay that amount at first or how to do a refund once they did understand what the problem was. While they were figuring that out (which means staring at the computer screen and pushing random buttons from what we could see) the car behind us began honking and gesturing and being rude in general. The rest of the line was not doing much better! Cars were trying to turn or drive up into the parking spaces along the side... crazy! Finally, as chaos was starting to take over around us, the manager just gave me a cash refund and we could pull up and get our food. Did this stop the bitchy tirade of the lady behind us? Not so much, but what the hell, we were finally out of there... driving down the road eating french fries and coming up with random blog titles and ideas. All I wanted was a cheeseburger w/mushrooms