Different Strokes for different folks

Actually same Strokes and some different folks at the now House of Blues owned, Gibson Amphitheater. (will always be Universal Amphitheater to me) I just love this venue. I have enjoyed many a show here and the place is not ginormous so every seat is good and they have big screens on both sides of the stage for that up close and personal view. The most important part, the sound, has always been consistently great all these years. Julian (singer) also remarked that it was his favorite place to play in LA, so
I guess it works well from that side of the stage too.
As for the show, much better than the OC show. The whole place was bopping to the
music and screaming their guts out so today I have that slight hearing loss thing going on
but it was worth it. Have a great weekend even if it does rain on your parade and your
mascara runs, it’s a look.

Strokes and Jokes

I escaped the evil job and met my friend Scott for ½ price wine and appetizers at The Belmont. It was great to finally catch up and laugh with him. We have plans to get together more often. I was especially intrigued with his Perricone diet and the will power it must take to maintain (he dropped 25 pounds and his skin looks amazing) but I don’t think I will be signing up for this one. Crazy as it sounds, I can do the liquid cleansing fast any day but a strict daily regiment involves too much planning and not enough options for me as I am not a huge fan of salmon but I did take away some good tidbits of healthy eating information that I will use. Thanks Scott!
Saturday was a pretty lazy day. I pretty much knit all day until around 5:30 when I was scooped up and along with Ryan, Nora, Lena and Tommy, were on our way to The Strokes concert (behind the Orange Curtain) at the Anaheim Pond. On the way we laughed about celebrity gossip, the inventions on that new show and discussed which chain restaurant we would eat at in Orange County. We arrived at 7:00 and hit the Chili’s next to the arena. Not much to choose from for a non-meat eater so I ended up with a black bean burger and after a couple hefeweitzens to wash it down, we were off to the show.
We skipped the first act but got there just as The Strokes hit the stage. We had different seats as Ryan bought up the cheap tickets on Ebay so I sat on the side but close enough to see the band clearly and they put on a great show. They played all my faves and the highlights:Lena's ladies room celb sightining of Drew Barymore, (dates drummer) the cover of Ramones “Life’s A Gas” and front man Julian smashing his mic stand into the monitor, killing it dead! Now that’s Rock and Roll!
Sunday I was in pain from that crappy Chili’s food so what else would make me feel better but to go have great food at Al Gelato,Yay! I joined the usual suspects and we did a great lunch that pretty much stuck in my gut all day and I skipped eating dinner because I figure I just didn’t require any more food ever. After lunch I managed to ride stow away with Lori and Tristan so that I could watch their east coast feed of The Sopranos while getting those knitting tips from Lori on how to finish my sweater. It won’t be long now!

Hair She Is

Yesterday was so warm and gorgeous, so I soaked it in between going to one bank to close an account and opening another at AFTRA credit union. I don't know why I didn't think of that 17 years ago, duh. I had lunch and got in some shopping too and got home with the intention of going to see my pals at Stitch n Bitch but I looked in the mirror and decided I couldn't leave the house again without a refresher of color on the hair. No wonder nobody knows I am a licensed hairdresser, the way I let my mop go! I am in transition from a life with black hair (yes my real color is super duper dark) and then the semi permanent black to cover the greys for a few years so my top is more red than the ends but you can't tell so much unless I am in the sun as the picture shows. It is kinda punk rock, yeah! Maybe not but one day I will be all one color....maybe.
I am looking forward to another fun filled weekend. Happy hour tonight with the boys, tomorrow night THE STROKES concert, (Yay) and Sunday is all about more friends and food at Al Gelato! Yummmmm, I'll have some creme brule gelato for you too.

High Fashion 70's Stlye

Look at these coolio mags from the 70's that Ellen gave me! We had a good laugh looking at some of the high fashions of the time and I found a couple cute things that I would actually wear. I see another knit along in my future, that is whenever Lori has time, sometime in 2009 maybe!

I love looking through old magazines for the advertisements. Hey, remember those soda candles and look who I found, the crying Indian, I think he drowned in his tears because the environment hasn't gotten any better and if this administration has it's way we will be drilling and killing what has remained untouched all these years. Not Good at all.

Happy Birthday to me!

Another year, another Birthday cake, well a birthday triffle at my fave, King's Head. Fish and Chips delish as usual, triffle not so much but I was honored to spend Sunday with Michele, Mark, Lori and Tristan and we ate and got some culture at the Ashes and Snow exhibit down at the Santa Monica Pier and hit another favorite, Lush at the 3rd Street promenade for some bath goodies too. A beautiful day and lots of laughs, thanks guys! I actually spent my birthday on Monday running errands and doing laundry so it was a good thing that I got all the fun in over the weekend. I also went to happy hour with my neighbors and had a quick visit with sister too.
For a good laugh here are some past Birthday pics from way back when I had no hair and if I grew any, my Grandmother made sure to chop it of crooked so I ended up at a barber to even it out, alas ending with none! Could my cousins look more bored or what? I however, still get as exited about cake. MMmmmmmm cake.

Is Eddie Eddie?

Oh Eddie, you were once a guitar playing God and cute in a goofy cute way. How I loved watching you play and I even forgave Valerie Bertinelli for stealing you away from me but alas, that
too came to an end. I find it truly disturbing that you have let yourself go so much that you have now become the fragile shell of a man and in fact you are looking more like Eddie, the mascot for Iron Maiden. Even David Lee Roth looks better as I caught him in the Soprano's last season, now that has to chap your hide a bit! I am still a fan, (not for any of the Sammy the squealer years, but that isn't your fault) so damn it man, get a haircut and eat something, would ya! If all the other old rockers can pull it together and breathe new life into their almost forgotten careers, you can do it too. Go Eddie!!
On another note, I still look as young and fab as I did back then...Monday is my Birthday, work with me people! Thank you and have a pleasant weekend.

Rumplestiltskin Awakes!

Actually this is Christopher Robin, named many years back by the first mechanic to get Chris up and running smoothly. It is a 1979 MGB roadster made in England and I have had it for almost 20 years. This little convertible has moved to Arizona and back and really has been a great car. No really! I paid about $1,100 back then and after all these years I have maybe spent $3,000 in repairs and now I just had a major brake repair to get him back on the road so that would bring it up to $3,600 (We won't count my stupidity for not filing as non operational with DMV so alas I get to pay $500 instead of $200 to re-register Ouch!) but I am still way ahead of all those who purchase new cars or are still making payments on older models. I love my car and even though I am not allowed all the sunshine on my skin (I do have a hard and a "bikini" top too) I will probably never get rid of it.
You might ask why I haven't repaired Chris sooner, well I have been taking Metro and if I really needed a car to go out of town or do a floral design job, I would rent and write it off. I take the short bus to work that is 10 minutes from my door to office versus trying to find street parking as my office only has parking for patients (yeah lame) so by the time I drove and parked it would be around 20 minutes at least, that is 10+ minutes less sleep!
Though I am not looking forward to paying for gas, parking, insurance and the stupidity of those who think their cell phone call is more important than driving safe but I will again enjoy not planning my day around the bus schedule and all the wackos that go with it. I can easily park in compact spots and go anywhere on a whim and if I feel like just driving nowhere in particular, that is where Christopher Robin will take me. (Um, that is, when my garage door is finished being repaired so I can get it out! Yeah, my life makes me laugh till I cry too)

Chex Mix

You know it's cold when you wake up to find your cats are using you as an electric blanket. I literally had to peel the little one off my stomach so I could get up. Imagine if they weren't wearing fur coats!
Lucky for them the first day of Spring is next Monday and lucky for me as it will also be my 31st Birthday, yeah I said 31st and that is what I'm sticking with for like 20 more years and then I will be 40.....Have a nice day.

Obvious and not so obvious beauty

These lovely roses were a gift from a patient that had attended a fund raiser and took them home but decided to bring them for us to enjoy since they were going out of town and couldn’t enjoy their beauty. How thoughtful! People can be so kind.
I also thought this picture was beautiful, so it’s a newly discovered species of bug from Borneo but beautiful nonetheless, (as long as it isn't trying to steal my sandwich) more than I can say for the giant cockroach also discovered. (funny how a “pretty” bug doesn’t bother me) Let’s see how long these creatures can survive in a shrinking rainforest….This reminds me of a line in a song my parents had on eight track a million years ago, “I don’t like spiders and snakes and that ain’t what it takes to love me, like I wanna be loved by you” and yes I must agree, please leave the creepy crawly critters to their happy habitat and bring on the flowers (and don’t forget the chocolates) anytime! Enjoy the weekend and don't let a little rain bug you!

Baby needs a new pair of snowshoes!

People have often asked me if it gets cold in Vegas. My response, it gets freezing. I know it is not an obvious cold but more subtle, like ice on the sidewalks and frost on the grass and (what I hate the most) the freezing wind that feels like little razors cutting at your face. Brrrrr Yes, the desert is cold and Las Vegas is usually too low or just too cold to get any of the white stuff and if flurries do happen, they disappear as soon as they touch the earth. Sure, we had gone on vacations to the mountains and played in the snow but never would we have expected it to snow in our own backyard, not in Sin City!
It did and I remember. (though I was an infant, ahem) It was the first and only time in my life that the snow fell and stuck. It was January 1st, 1974 (not July as pic says, wishful if you have been there in the blistering summer) and it was magical. We bundled up and ran outside. The sky was glowing and the night air was somehow warm as if insulated by the moisture as the soft flakes gradually floated to the ground. I remember running around trying to do what every kid does and catch snowflakes on my tongue. It was eerie, no noise at all, like we were somehow sealed in a snow globe just after it had been shaken. My mother finally told us it was time for bed (buzz kill) and that the snow would be there in the morning. I don’t know that I slept much but I can tell you we were up and outside making snowmen ( I mean, I watched from my stroller….) and having a great old time for that one day, because the snow pretty much turned to black sludge by evening and then the evil wind returned and sludge was once again ice.

$ doesn't = time wasted

How lame is my job you ask, well for starters, I have been here for 3 years and just today my boss decided to give me a petty cash account so I don't have to ask him for change when that occasional patient pays with cash. Oy. I am wasting away here but I promise you it won't be long until I make my move to a job where I can use my creativity and if I have to do the office thing again, it will certainly more rewarding, like a non profit. Amen.

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent.Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic DesignerIllustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's" Your Ideal Career?

GOT GETTY?

I had invited Lori to The Getty Villa and how great was it that the sun came out on Saturday just for us! The view was spectacular and I was so happy to revisit one of my 4 favorite museums. (#1 is the Ufitzi in Florence and #2 Louvre in Paris and #3 Van Gogh in Amsterdam) J.Paul Getty had the museum built to re-create a first-century Roman country house and I have been waiting 9 long years
to return to The Villa. (Restoration started 1997)
They have done a great job and have built so much more on the 64 acre site, like an amphitheater and cafe.
The collection at the GettyVilla has many artifacts dating back to 600 BC!!! We managed to see the whole collection at an easy pace and I was surprised that there weren't tons of people but was definately not complaining!
Lori and I ended our day at the cafe for some pizza bianca and a cocktail as we looked out over the ocean and pondered the history of past civilizations and what they would wear to the Oscars or if the coats of the now extinct creatures they tended would be more like wool or baby alpaka? I know, we are not well!

M & M's

Yesterday I went to help Michele unpack her and Mark's unmetionables but aparently Michele had knomes to help because they moved in Wednesday and everything was already put away! That is impressive. I still have a couple boxes to put away from when I moved into my place in 1997...I guess I really don't need and am really scared to find out what is in those boxes, so I will just leave them to take up space and hide fuzz bunnies. M&M's place is about double the size of their old place and has a loft with a nice view from the hills to Century City but Lori already knows this as it was her apartment until she and Tristan made the move to a lovely new Condo that they are now the proud owners of. Can't wait to see their place too. If I have it my way, I would keep my apartment forever so I will never have to pack and unpack again and when I am fortunate enough to buy, I would still keep my apartment just to avoid the dreaded move, seriously.

I am so excited that the Getty Villa in Malibu has re-opened after years of renovation. The Getty has an amazing Greek and Roman collection and the grounds are gorgeous! The Getty is free to visit but you need tickets and no tickets are listed available until after July!! I have been checking back daily as they tend to release extras sometimes and I got lucky. You have to snatch them up quick so click on the link and I hope to see you there this weekend!