The Pixies and Gang of Four on tour!

Two of my old favorite bands are on tour this year and I won't be able to see either one of them unless I am willing to travel.

And as I tell my daughter when she pleads to go to Disney World, adopt a tiger or help the homeless pets, 'Not until we pay off the kitchen'.

If I still lived in the Detroit area I would be all set. This is a show I could go to by myself as I love this band and would be dancing and jumping around so wildly it wouldn't matter if anyone was with me. Although I sure had a great time at what I thought was their final tour about five years ago with my great friend Diana. She didn't even know their music but she had a blast too. That tour they came to Florida and I only had to travel five hours to Tampa to see them.

Here is the Pixies Tour Schedule:
April 9: Metro Centre, Halifax, NS
April 10: Centre – Casino Moncton, Moncton, NB
April 12: Salle Albert-Rousseau, Quebec City, QC
April 13: Metropolis, Montreal, QC
April 16: Civic Centre, Ottawa, ON
April 17: The Center in the Square, Kitchener, ON
April 18: Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
April 20: Wentworth Room, Hamilton, ON
April 22: Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI
April 23: Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
April 24: Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
April 27: Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, MB
April 29: TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK
April 30: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB
May 1: Shaw Conference Center, Edmonton, AB
May 3: Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, BC

I got the above set list from an 80's music blog:

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/

Cool blog if you are into that sort of thing.

Meanwhile I will listen to KEXP streaming since I won't be attending any cool shows in the near future. If you want to listen too, they are at:

http://kexp.org/Default.aspx

They are out of Seattle and they are advertising their Sasquatch fest on Memorial Day with Death Cab for Cutie among others... Anyway they archive most of their shows so you can listen to any of them that way and I guess they stream live. I haven't figured that out yet. Here is where I found KEXP (again):


KEXP.org: Mellow Online Radio for Work and/or a Super Bowl Hangover
February 2, 2009 at 8:18AM by Meryl Rothstein
"Easy listening" is usually an insult. But KEXP is easy listening in the best possible way. KEXP.org, the Web site of the Seattle-based, listener-supported (and therefore commercial-free) radio station is what you should listen to at work when you realize Pandora still hasn't quite figured out which songs you like. Or when you're extremely hungover and exhausted, like you undoubtedly are after last night's Super Bowl.
The site offers almost all of the station's content, from its blues show to its electronic show, for free. But what you should really listen to, no matter the time of day, is the 6 a.m. morning show. Mellow without being Lite, alternative without being painfully hip, it's distracting enough to keep you entertained, but not so distracting that you can't get your work done. It'll remind you of that half-asleep hour after your shower but before your coffee. And that no matter where you are, the weather's probably worse in Seattle.Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/endorsement/kexp-music-at-work-020209#ixzz1DqVoxgg6


Here is a Gang Of Four quote found on Slicing Up Eyeballs, regarding the new Gang of Four tour supporting their new album.

Gang of Four reconnects with ‘intensity and aggression’ Greg Kot interviews Jon King, co-founder of the U.K. postpunk act, which currently is touring the U.S. in support of Content, the band’s brand-new album. [Chicago Tribune]

Northern Florida is not the mecca for new music.

That's all I'm saying

I Like Dark TV

I am currently watching Shameless with William Macy, and it is among the darkest of the dark tv shows I watch. It's about a drunk alcoholic dad whose wife left him with 5 or 6 kids. The oldest girl takes care of the family and I find it strangely compelling.

I grew up with two parents who drank, but they weren't as slovenly as this character. He's this guy you hate, but love to watch. Mike won't even watch any show with unsypathetic characters (Like House for example), so this is one of my guilty pleasures I watch on demand.

Other TV shows I like are also filled with dark story lines that include more drunkeness (Californication); Drug addiction (Nurse Jackie); Mental Illness (United States of Tara); Serial killers (Dexter) and Hollywood Excess (Episodes).

Most of these shows are so gritty and realistic it makes me appreciate my mostly orderly, peaceful life.

I really think TV is better now than it has ever been in the past.

Getting Ready for another Consignment Sale

Yes I know today was Super Bowl Sunday, but for me it was Super Tag Tuesday. Our spring Consignment sales is come up in less then two weeks so I decided it was time to get with the program.

I tagged over 90 pieces of clothing and about 12 other objects. Hope to get at least a couple hundred dollars back from Jamie's clothes that don't fit or don't fit her fashion requirements.

For example - She doesn't like elastic on her arms, doesn't like tennis shoes, doesn't wear shorts EVER. Until this winter she wouldn't wear jeans, but apparently jeans are now cool at her preschool. Jeans and boots have joined the skirts and mary jane shoes she has been wearing since she turned two.

My living room is trashed with hangers, and clothes and toys all over.

Mike stayed down in the den and kept an eye on Jamie all day so I could get a lot done.

He is a good man.

I copied this from Lauri over at Leap of Faith, not a very stirring testimonial LOL
1. What is something mom always says to you? Listen
2. What makes mom happy? If I listen
3. What makes mom sad? If I don't listen
4. How does your mom make you laugh? when she is funny
5. What did your mom like to do as a child? I don't know
6. How old is your mom? 16?
7. How tall is your mom? 40 feet
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Go on her computer every time
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? I don't know
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? When you go to a restaurant
11. What is your mom really good at? Drawing
12. What is your mom not very good at? working
13. What does your mom do for her job? work, goes on her computer, talk to people
14 What is your mom's favorite food? basketti
15. What makes you proud of your mom? When she works good
16.. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? A bee
17. What do you and your mom do together? Go somewhere like Chuckee Cheese, museums
18. How are you and your mom the same? we both like to go places like the museum and the store
19. How are you and your mom different? we don't have the same hair.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Home
21.How do you know your mom loves you? because I am funny
22. What makes you happy? Suck and hold Waddy (Suck her fingers and hold her lovey)

Wow

The other day we were cuddling before getting up for work and school and I said, "I wish I didn't have to go to work today!"

Jamie just said, "Wow."

Winter blahs

Ok I know Florida isn't having the kind of winter most of the country experiences, but we have been getting more than our share of cloudy days and cold temps. I can't believe I have only been back to work for four days from being off for 2 wks.

I just wish I could be independently wealthy and have the time and money to do whatever I wish.

It was Jamie's fifth birthday Tuesday - and all we did was go to Chuckie Cheese with a couple of her friends. It was going to just be Emmie, but then Emmie was off with her dad so I had to go get her (Tuesday is usually a night that we take Emmie while her mom works late). Anyway because I knew I couldnt get Emmie there til 6:30 I put out the call on FB to a couple of her school friends parents and one of the dads brought Chayse from Jamie's school.

I wasn't really pleased with Jamies behavior as she latched onto Emmie and kind of kicked Chayse to the curb when we got there.

Chayse wouldn't speak to Jamie at school the next day but they are friends again today.

I hope Jamie learned something.

We hope to have a party later in the month, but I have yet to call around to make that plan. Either a jump house place or a pony party at a riding stable (that also has a jump house). Jamie has a list of about 10 kids...

Its at least $350 for a party, just what I cant really afford right now.

BLEGH!

Typhoid Martha

I came down with a bad sore throat the other day and was lucky enough to get right in to the Dr.
They did both throat and nose swabs and ran cultures. I have both, Strep throat and the Flu. I am thinking it's H1N1 as he prescribed Tamiflu. I am in Day 3 and still don't feel good. Mainly head, throat and body aches.

I miss my boy. He was always right there with me, especially if was sitting or laying around which I am doing alot of right now.

I sent Jamie to daycare the last two days as per the Dr's suggestion. I guess the thought was she would less likely catch what I have if she wasn't sitting with me all day.

Mike has been taking her out on her bike every day - he got both of our tires pumped up and we all went out on Sunday.

She loves her bike. And her Unicorn Pillow Pet, her Tangled doll and tower and her games. Not so much for the Walking Dog she HAD to have. and the FinFin was fun that one night but she hasn't asked for it again. FinFin is this cute little fish in a fake aquarium that swims around and makes little noises. It is supposed to be trainable and interactive. (IT IS SO BLOODY LOUD!!)

I haven't done much, glad I cooked like a fiend last weekend, we have been eating leftover Lasagna, chili, ham, bean soup from the ham and Beef burgandy. I think we pretty much finished everything off yesterday so I will be cooking some Shrimp and Pasta today I think.

Yup, mainly just resting. I think this is God's way of forcing me to rest. Yup, just get me sick so I will sit.

Happy New Year to you!

A Game Player is Born!

Yes Jamie has been playing Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Memory game and Hi Ho Cherry O!

Those games are ok once in a while but I have to say they are pretty monotonous. She really excels at the Memory Game, as she beats me most time we play. (this is the game where you play out all the cards face down and pick two at a time trying for pairs). I guess her little brain is fresher at remembering.

A friend had gotten Blokus from a friend, who suggested it for her child who is Jamie's age. She sugggested it as a game that could be enjoyed by parents as well as almost five year olds.

So I bought it as a 'Santa' gift to the whole family. And my Mom bought her 'Go Fish' and "War" Yes these are both card games that can use an actual regular pack of cards, but these are cute with the Toy Story characters as the numbers.

Jamie LOVES playing all three of these games! And me and mom LOVED playing them with her.

Try Blokus for a fun simple strategy game even a almost five year old can play. It's a strategy game that I hope will give her the background knowledge and skills to progress to playing my all time favorite Strategy game Settlers of Cataan someday. In Blokus all you need to know is to put your next piece on the board touching corners of their own color.

Jamie caught on immediately.

Fairy Tales can be Scary!

Christmas is over, the houseguests left this morning. Photos are forthcoming, I need to download from both cameras.

I got a lot of library books last week - mostly picture books to read Jamie. One of them was a beautiful edition of 'The Little Match Girl'. I had forgotten the ending of the story and set about reading it to Jamie a couple nights before Christmas.

When I came to the last page I decided not to finish it...

Do you know the story?

It's about a poor little girl out selling matches shortly after Christmas Day. She is barefoot and afraid to go home to her father who will beat her for not selling any matches. She sits down to rest and lights the matches one by one for warmth and imagines various scenes including a warm stove, a loaded holiday table and Christmas Tree and her loving grandmother who died recently.

She goes into her grandmothers embrace and begs not to be let go.

Then on the last page she is dead.

Wow talk about morbid.

Then because Jamie recently saw Tangled and got Rapunzal doll and tower for Christmas we found the Grimm fairy tale version. Also pretty morbid, but ends more happily.

Here is the final paragraph:

"Thus he wandered about miserably for some years, finally happening into the wilderness where Rapunzel lived miserably with the twins that she had given birth to.
He heard a voice and thought it was familiar. He advanced toward it, and as he approached, Rapunzel recognized him, and crying, threw her arms around his neck. Two of her tears fell into his eyes, and they became clear once again, and he could see as well as before. He led her into his kingdom, where he was received with joy, and for a long time they lived happily and satisfied."

I can see why they were referred to as the Brothers Grimm.

Why is our 1900 sf house so crowded with only four people in it?

My mother and brother in law (s?) arrived yesterday and today I am having difficulty with wrapping and doing the last minute stuff. We have the old crib mattress in our room on the floor and had the gift wrap stuff in the guest room.

I knew I would need to wrap today and there is a large open desk in the guest room. I didn't count on my motherinlaw being out of sorts and needing to lay down.

And Uncle Bruce is 'Skyping' with his new fiance from China in the dining room, but some of the gifts are for Jamie that I am wrapping so that wouldn't have worked anyway.

So we moved the pallet in our bedroom (Uncle Bruce is staying in Jamie's room) and put up a caard table so I can wrap.

Mike took Jamie out to ride her scooter and get her wiggles out and get her out of the way.

So One Peep is sleeping, 2 peeps are scootering, 1 peep is wrappping and 1 is 'Skyping' all through the day!!!

I am stumbling around but all is good. Hope my mother in law feels good enough to come to church with us tonight for the Christmas Eve service.

RIP Truman

Truman wasn't quite 3 yrs old. He was part of a group of three littermates that we adopted from Animal Care and Control when they were a couple months old right around Mothers Day 2008.

He had blocked with FUS (Feline Urological Syndrome which is where their urethra gets plugged up with crystals) about a week ago. After all night catheters and a couple of days at the vet we brought him home last Saturday. This is the third male cat I have had out of four to develop this evil syndrome. I think it must be something in the food water or litter lately. WTH?!

Anyway after picking him up, I was dosing him everyday with pain meds, antibiotics, prednisone and valium. Apparently he is the one kitty in a million with an adverse affect from the valium. He got glassy eyes and was staggering a bit but I figured it was from the pain meds and didn't think anything of it. He stopped eating Sunday and assumed the 'position'. Cats who are in miserable pain tend to hunch themselves up in a bit of a crouch into themselves. He also stopped eating and when I dosed him he vomited up the pills and some bile. That was Sunday late afternoon and we thought he would be ok until Monday morning. We were wrong. The doctor thinks the valium caused liver damage that we were unable to reverse. He stayed at the vet all day and last night and died about 4am. Which was shortly after Mike and I got up to see the eclipse.

My poor sweet boy.

Eclipse was pretty cool

Mike and I both woke up and made it out there to see the Lunar Eclipse tonight. Glad we didn't take Jamie, it was pretty cool, but she wouldn't have appreciated it. And it was COLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDD BRRRRRRRR!

In memory of my great Aunt Pat

My mothers Aunt Pat died last weekend. She was the family matriarch and loved by us all, especially my mom. My mom talked with her often on the phone and had a close relationship with her. She was my Grandmothers youngest sister and lived to be 85 yrs old. She did not die of old age. It appears she was choking on food at the table at the nursing home and they weren't able to dislodge the obstruction in time. What a terrible way to die. She lived a long and happy life and had four beautiful daughters two of which are pictured here. She was always so kind and loving and I so enjoyed her company. I love you Aunt Pat!

At the Speed of Life

My post title is stolen from my pastors sermon yesterday which really touched a chord in me.

My weeked was very chaotic with my cat Truman plugging up Thursday and having to be rushed to the kitty ER. $1100 later and now I have my cat on $50/bag cat food. Third of my four males cats I have owned to get this Feline Urological Syndrome. *Sigh* He is home now and very neurotic and needy and not liking getting 12-15 pills a day shoved down his throat. Either am I.

Jamie had a Build a Bear event for her BFF's Birthday party, this is her second BAB event and she had a great time with Mike while I picked up and soothed kitty.

Not at all ready for Christmas. Have 2 VERY large gifts in mind for Jamie and Mike, not sure what to do when to get, how to hide etc.

Then there is gifts for coworkers and accounts. I really can't afford this now...on top of teh kitchen and the cat, but I am being told that even if my company has cut back on gifts for our accounts we still should do something...But what?

Four days left til my WONDERFUL 2.4 weeks off for the holidays.

HO :0 :) :0 :) Ho Ho!!!

Whoa I didn't see that coming!

Jamie just made this remark a moment ago (Whoa I didn't see that coming) and like many things she says in recent days it took me aback. This is my four year old! Where is she coming up with this stuff!?

Thankful for 5 days off!

My company sent us all an email memo to us all about four weeks ago announcing that we would all get Friday off after Thanksgiving. I have worked at this company almost 18 years and this the first time they have ever done this before.

Then the sales division set a goal for us to meet and we met it so we all got to leave on Wednesday for a half day. And if you made your private goal you had the whole day off!

Wow it's been nice. Our house has not been this clean and orderly in a long time. I even scrubbed the laundry floor on my hands and knees. Mike is vacuuming and 'smartening' up the house daily.

Today we put up the artificial tree and got it lit. It took a LONG time, I wanted lots of lights and even made a trip to Walmart for some more. One of the sets was a dud though so we just need one more set. No ornaments up yet but that's ok. Last year we didn't get the tree up til about 10 days before Christmas. This year we are going to enjoy the lights and decor the whole month.

Our street is almost all decorated. Our house and a couple others are dark. Thinking maybe we should hire someone to hang the lights. We have no ladder (it got stolen) and Mike is too old to be up there doing that anyway. There is a guy down the street that is just crazy about decorating (Ken from the Halloween House). He has quite a light show going in his yard and on his house and roof. And I know he isn't done. He will be adding stuff right up to Christmas week. He is great about it. Wonder if he might want to do another house while he is at it!

The Routine is becoming routine!

Because of T-ball Jamie missed 6 weeks of her Rythmic dance class and they are preparing for a production for next week. She only has had 2 classes and is catching on pretty quickly. I went ahead and paid for a private session yesterday with her teacher just so she could get the extra attention and work out the kinks. Then they let us borrow the ball for the week and we have practiced here at the house a couple of times.

She will be fine. She is so happy and so much better at this than at T-Ball!

"The Mountain" or is she ready to move on to a Bike!?

It may not look like it but we have a bit of a steep hill right by our house. Jamie calls it 'the mountain' and begs to ride her bike or scooter down it. As we typically get home from work at dark and need to get her fed there is very little outdoor play during the week.

So on the weekend we make sure to take trips down 'the mountain' often. She is getting a bit big for the big wheel.

So last night during some Black Friday shopping she tried out the 2 wheeler with training wheels and I was amazed that she took right to it. (Oh and it was late in the afternoon, and believe or not there weren't that many people at Walmart - hope that isn't a sign that the economy isn't getting better).

Anyway, is a 16" bicycle silly to buy for a almost five year old? I wonder how long it will be usuable til she needs to go to the next size? I don't want to get her something too large for her and this size seems to fit her perfectly. Any ideas out there?

Tis the Season to be Baking (and eating)

Jamie loves helping me bake, well lets say...she loves cracking the eggs, helping to stir the batter and licking the beaters.

We just saw a commercial for Sugar Cookies, and you know they look so decorative, and I am sure they are fun to make (are they fun or just tedious?)

I just really REALLY love my Regular Toll house cookies, loads more then traditional Christmas cookies. Wonder if maybe I sprinkle some green and red sugar on them?

The other thing I really love as a traditional Holiday baked item is my Homemade Coffee Cake. It is made with sour cream for moistness and has a streusal stripe of cocoa, sugar and cinnamon running through it and on top. It's so yum.

But Mike doesn't like cake and Jamie doesn't like cinnamon. So I need to make it when I know there will be others around.

Think I could serve it for desert on Thanksgiving? I am really wanting me some Homemade Coffee Cake!

Gratitude List for my Job

In these challenging days I am very grateful for my job as stressful as it can be. Here are some reasons to be grateful for my job which I have had for almost 18 years:

1. I am so glad I have so much vacation time! After 10 years with my company they give you 3 weeks vacation added to the 7 personal days. I also get an extra day off for donating an hour per month to the United Way. Yes folks that adds up to 28 days of paid time off! (Not to mention the sales contests where you can win a half day or 2 hours off as a prize which I have been able to do a few times)

2. I am so happy that I don't work in the retail world. I worked as an assistant mgr in a Swimming Pool store for a while. UGH. working 6 days a week isn't for me; not to mention having customers angry about not getting their pools installed in time to enjoy the summer days, and the others angry that we didn't stock every part ever made for any pool pump ever made.

3. I love to sell advertising. It provides a ROI (Return on Investment) to my customers, so if it works they get paid and I got paid, and my company makes money. We all win. :-)

4. I have learned that I am a pretty good public speaker during the course of my job. My main accounts are real estate businesses, and I often have to talk my talk in front of 50 agents at a time at their weekly meetings.

5. There is some flexibility to being an outside sales rep. Yes some days I am still working at 8pm, but when Jamie's school has a presentation or a mommy's tea I can usually break away for an hour and be there for her.