Monday, October 25, 2010

It's been a hell of a week

This weekend was Halloween Fun Night at The Boys' school. So the last week was a blur of prepatory activities, and associated drama. I may write more later, but I really need a nap.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Tableau Tuesday is on the way

In the meantime, I am completely in love with Glee, and last week's show has been viewed a few times, for these two songs alone:

River Deep Mountain High:
Embedding was disabled, so you will have to go HERE to see it.

And the Tina Turner version:


Happy Days Are Here Again / Get Happy:
This has the screen reversed, but still beautiful.


And the Judy Garland / Barbara Streisand version:

Monday, October 18, 2010

Music Monday - Who Are All These Old People?

Alternate Title: Can't They Turn Down The Music?

Last night was the 25th Reunion of my High School class. For those who cannot do the math, we graduated in 1985. I was a Band Buddy (as I have already attested). What this meant in 1985 was that I was not well known among the class of 250. Only about 75 of those were at the reunion last night, and only 5 people from the band. It was really great seeing the people I remembered, and talking to people I normally wouldn't have. It was also very flattering to have one of the cutest guys from then actually remember me, and say hi to me when we first got there.

Some hints for people planning these events:
If you are going to print name tags, PLEASE make them in a font larger than 12 point. May I recommend 48 or 72. We are all in out 40's, most of us need corrective eyewear, and none of us want to go around invading personal space to read nametags placed on people's boobs.
If you are also going to place yearbook photos on nametags, consider a photo larger than 1/2' square. If you think reading small print is bad...
Reconsider location. I wanted to spend more time talking to people, and less time shouting over Lady GaGa. I do love her music, but with a few hours to visit, I felt a bit cheated.
Please work on drawing more than the stoners, jocks, and cheerleaders. While I can appreciate the diversity of such a crowd, I felt NEARLY as invisible as back then, and I'm WAY cooler now. I submit as evidence, the fact that I am a blogger...

The good points:
I won a bottle of good wine as a door prize.
I was thanked for donating door prizes (not the wine).
I had dinner at a friend's restaurant - the food was really good, and the dessert was better. If you are ever in downtown, I highly recommend the Limoncello Tiramisu.
I didn't get drunk, and therefore had no hangover today.

The less than stellar points (not bad or good, just stuff):
I missed the Jimmy Buffett concert for this. Of course, the Buffet tickets were at least $120, and the reunion was less than $30, but still. I could have been exceptionally drunk and watching people in varying states of undress.
It rained, limiting access to the outdoor patio where the music wasn't deafening.
Many of the people I really wanted to see weren't there.

Feeling every inch ofthis song. Even though it is WAY before my time, we still danced to it at The Edge back in the 80's when Mod was in.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thank-you to the Universe

On Monday I had a REALLY crappy day. All around BS from The Dude, work, parents at The Boys' school - you name it, it was all hitting the fan. I was angry as all hell, and ended up writing 10 pages of brain dump in my journal before bed. I woke up on Tuesday with a completely jacked up neck and shoulders and feeling like I hadn't released my anger from the day before. There was a bright spot during my day - having lunch with two good friends.
I awoke to one of my daily affirmations - you can sign up to receive these, and mostly they just make me refocus on happiness, and my long term goals, but occasionally one hits the nail so greatly on the head that it becomes an a-ha moment. The Oprah kind:


not the 80's pop band kind:


This was the message that greeted me from The Universe:
By the way, dear Jeannine, the world doesn't need fixing.

Neither do you.
And dreaming for more, bigger, and zippier, doesn't mean you can't be happy today.

Tallyho,
The Universe

Then I visited my friends around the Internet, Mark had an especially fitting post, which you can read here.
Well then - I suppose The Universe is really trying to tell me something. That I am unhappy in all of these things because I choose to be and/or, I am unhappy with myself for some of these things as well... Back to self reflection, navel gazing and over processing...

Oh and then today, this was put up - FINALLY a new post that made me truly laugh out loud AND cry with laughter. All this, AND Naked Jen is in town - I need to go eat with her and that involves Saturn Cafe and FLTs....  I'm drooling already!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Wicked Wednesday #6

Trying to continue my Wicked Wednesdays. I'm getting ready to attend my 25th High School Reunion this weekend, so another story from this time in my life.
Wicked Wednesdays all began with this post. I'll regale you with another night of drinking that went horribly, horribly wrong. If you are under the age of consent for wherever you live in the universe, take these as cautionary tales. If you are like me and have had your share of poor judgement moments, then we can laugh together. Yes that is a picture of me with a lampshade on my head, doing the shimmy. I will not be posting the names of my cohorts in these wanton ways, but for clarification, will identify them by an initial of their names.
In High School, one of the places I worked was Shoe Town, a shoe store in a strip mall between a luggage shop and a Rainbow Records. There was a store manager, an assistant store manager and about 5 workers. I was one of the youngest workers, and going through an Imelda Marcos phase of life, so it all worked out fine. My managers were young too - maybe 25? And as such were extremely understanding and helpful should I show up to work on a Saturday morning just a tad hung over. Through the manager, I met and had a crush on the manager from another store. He was really funny and sang karaoke. One night, he invited me to listen to his karaoke, so I hoped in my Mustang II (white with burgundy shag interior - a mini pimp car) and hauled myself out to Fremont. This is not a long drive by any means, but after ordering tequila sunrises (3), and not even being blinked at, I was feeling less able to drive myself anywhere. I didn't, but my not driving actually entailed having one of this guy's buddies drive my car, while I rode with the cute singer to another party in the South San Francisco/Burlingame area. I was drunk, and have no clue other than it wasn't too far from the San Mateo Bridge. I only passed out at the party (I think), and when I awoke at 3AM, I decided I should drive home. The San Mateo Bridge used to have a lighted center divide, and at no time were all the lights working. As a result, the skipping rhythm was nauseating to a bleary eyed teenager. I had to pull over for fresh air once I got back to this side of the bridge, and happily puked my guts out from the stress, alcohol, and acidic orange juice. I shakily and safely drove the rest of the way home, and never drank another tequila sunrise again.

Upon reflection I am grateful that this guy wasn't a scumbag, and didn't try to get laid, as I likely would have gone along with that plan. Hey, I was young, drunk and horny - don't judge...

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Tableau Tuesday

Well, now I'm 2 for 2 - but I don't want to jinx it, so I will merely say, Please to enjoy:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
All were taken over the last week, at walk to school day, and at Rock City.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Music Monday

The Boys were watching Shrek this weekend and I'd forgotten this song was in it. Hearing this reminded me of how much I love The Proclaimers:


I'm also putting together some door prizes for my High School reunion:, which brought up music memories:

And:


Had to love the 80's!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Wicked Wednesdays #5

It's been OVER a year since I posted a Wicked Wednesday, time to start again, I think. I'm getting ready to attend my 25th High School Reunion in a couple of weeks, and boy does THAT bring up some memories!
Wicked Wednesdays all began with this post. I'll regale you with another night of drinking that went horribly, horribly wrong. If you are under the age of consent for wherever you live in the universe, take these as cautionary tales. If you are like me and have had your share of poor judgement moments, then we can laugh together. Yes that is a picture of me with a lampshade on my head, doing the shimmy. I will not be posting the names of my cohorts in these wanton ways, but for clarification, will identify them by an initial of their names.
In High School I was a Band Buddy. This is likely why I adore Glee today, but I digress. We used to drink Mickey's Big Mouth and go ice blocking at Castlewood Country Club - upper course:

View Larger Map
Looks like kids are still doing this as the area we rode shows up brown in the satellite imaging (far left, middle of the image). OK, so, on this one night, S, R, C, K, maybe M, and I were all sitting under the trees, on the downhill slope, drinking and getting ready to ice block. I was the only Junior in the crowd, the rest were Seniors, and we were there because R lived very close by. When the security forces, or police showed up, we laid low on the hill, and the searchlights missed us, but we knew they'd be back. Deciding on a hasty retreat, we rode down the hill which banked into a cart road at the end. Because we were running from the law, we didn't return to the road, but beat it through the brush to R's house. I think that was also the night we all bleached our 501s, though given the frequency of the ice blocking it really could have been another night. I do recall it was a school night, and the next day, M, R, C, S and K were all in trouble because they all had poison oak and their parents knew who exactly had been ice blocking. I am immune to poison oak and claimed innocence until this very day ;-). I really wish those jeans still fit, and every time I hear this song I think of those times and smile:
And who remembers Marilyn McCoo and the Solid Gold Dancers?

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Tableau Tuesday

Welcome back to Tableau Tuesdays - it's been a while, but now that we are in the school groove, I might actually be able to participate in my own weekly photo post, and maybe, just maybe, join back in with my other weekly photo challenges.
These were all taken on a field trip with The Boys last week to the Dublin Heritage Center:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

And that final image is The Youngest being a bit of a pest to the camera. My kids are far too camera aware!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Music Monday

This song has been going through my head this weekend:


And because no one asked nor likely cares, here was the play list from my iPhone shuffle on Saturday while I did laundry:
Poker Face - Lady Gaga

Benny And The Jets - Elton John
Goin' Up - Great Big Sea
I'll Take You there - The Staple Singers
They Might Be Giants - They Might Be Giants

Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba
Brick House - The Commodores
Love and Luck - Jimmy Buffett
Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sundays

Stop! - Erasure
In My Life - Jake Shimabukuro
Life of a Sailor - Corsairs
Uptight - Stevie Wonder

The Wino and I Know - Jimmy Buffett
Shop Around - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Presents to Send You - Jimmy Buffett
Barflies at the Beach - Royal Crown Revue

Only You - Yaz
If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' On It - Women of Blue Chicago
Deadbeat Club - The B-52's
Superstition - Stevie Wonder

Dear Home Town - Great Big Sea
With a Little Help from My Friends - The Beatles
Blow Ye Winds - Corsairs
Dammit - Blink 182

In the Midnight Hour - The Commitments
You Keep It All In - The Beautiful South
Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles
Goin' Up - Great Big Sea (Live Version)

Saved - LaVern Baker
Love child - The Supremes
Fallin' - Alicia Keys
Lady Madona - The Beatles

TheDark End of the Street - The Commitments
Jolly Roving Tar - Great Big Sea
Stories We Could Tell - Jimmy Buffett
Rum and Coca-Cola - Professor Longhair

Take It Back - Jimmy Buffett
Anybody Seen My Girl - Keb' Mo'
Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
The One I Love - R.E.M.

Inside Out - Eve 6
My Baby Don't Tolerate - Lyle Lovett
The One I Love - R.E.M.

Slap and Tickle - Squeeze

Women and Men - They Might Be Giants
Bold Riley-O - Corsairs

Sunday, October 3, 2010

This guy gets it

I've quoted him before, but you just need to go read this now.

And to anyone who is feeling like an outsider, I say this to you:
You are NOT alone. We, the outsiders welcome you with open arms, homes and hearts. It is in the edges and the fringes you will find yourself. You will find your way, your life, your love. I want to be there when you do. I want you to be here when you can shake your head about those stupid kids you went to school with, and their narrow minded little lives. And I want you to be here to forgive them. At some point you will forgive them because your heart can hold only love and light and laughter.