Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday Video
or come take a ride with me
Okay, so y'all know by now I live in Pittsburgh. Most people still think of my town as a smoky, backward hovel not worth an hour layover let alone a multi-day visit. They could not be more wrong.
The thing I love about our not-so-little Hamlet is it has a big-city mentality with first-rate hospitals, universities and cultural amenities contained in a very manageable, small-city confine. There are tons of fun things to do here. Lots of river-related fun, family-fare, music and bars galore. Plus, not to be partial or anything, but Pittsburghers are some of the most, if not the most friendly folks in the US of A. No lie. Within minutes you'll be like family.
AND it has the most amazing entrance via the Fort Pitt Tunnel.
It's a huge "WOW!!" factor, which I get to enjoy each and every day. Driving through that tunnel is like a magic trick.
Nothing up my sleeve. Presto!!
That vista is like finding the prize in a box of Cracker Jack. 47 years later, the sight still makes me smile. I'll never tire of it.
Oh and I hope you all took note... the song playing was not Rhett or Old 97's, but Frightened Rabbits. It is part of a mix CD I'm making for my Internet bud, Tami from San Fran. One of these days I'll get to meet her... and Leslie... and Jess face to face. Won't that be fun?
In the mean time, don't worry. Once I'm through critiquing my work, my boys will be back in player. I know. You were worried I had a fever, right?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Flowers For Claudette
or why is it so hard to be humane
Okay, so every city has a homeless population. It's a sad truth of the human condition. There are many heartbreaking reasons why someone ends up living on the streets... mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, unexpected financial misfortune.
There but for the Grace of God...
Anyway, sadly many times those of us who are lucky enough to be healthy and financially sound stop seeing those unfortunate few, desperately living minute to minute. It's so easy to ignore them. To turn away from the ugliness that makes us uncomfortable.
I was clearing out the veritable ton of photos on my phone, when I stumbled on this...
It's a memorial to one of our more colorful homeless people, Claudette. Claudette was a 6 foot 4 inch black man who chose to live his life as a woman. He was never mean, always respectful, pleasantly greeting passersby from his make shift cardboard apartment which he stocked with books, flowers and other niceties he could find cast off throughout the city. Summer or winter, Claudette would be where he always was...alongside the CVS, living his life the best he could. Gracefully.
I walked past Claudette several times a month. At times I'd make eye contact and smile at him, but like everyone else, most times I didn't even see him and his large frame in my haste to get on with my business at hand.
Claudette passed away last year. I don't remember if it was by a violent hand or natural causes. His part of the street alongside the CVS is empty now.
For someone who didn't see him most of the time, I find myself looking for him now...
or why is it so hard to be humane
Okay, so every city has a homeless population. It's a sad truth of the human condition. There are many heartbreaking reasons why someone ends up living on the streets... mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, unexpected financial misfortune.
There but for the Grace of God...
Anyway, sadly many times those of us who are lucky enough to be healthy and financially sound stop seeing those unfortunate few, desperately living minute to minute. It's so easy to ignore them. To turn away from the ugliness that makes us uncomfortable.
I was clearing out the veritable ton of photos on my phone, when I stumbled on this...
It's a memorial to one of our more colorful homeless people, Claudette. Claudette was a 6 foot 4 inch black man who chose to live his life as a woman. He was never mean, always respectful, pleasantly greeting passersby from his make shift cardboard apartment which he stocked with books, flowers and other niceties he could find cast off throughout the city. Summer or winter, Claudette would be where he always was...alongside the CVS, living his life the best he could. Gracefully.
I walked past Claudette several times a month. At times I'd make eye contact and smile at him, but like everyone else, most times I didn't even see him and his large frame in my haste to get on with my business at hand.
Claudette passed away last year. I don't remember if it was by a violent hand or natural causes. His part of the street alongside the CVS is empty now.
For someone who didn't see him most of the time, I find myself looking for him now...
Monday, July 26, 2010
My Awesome Adventures In The Steel Shitty..er, I Mean City
(a guest blog from a Southern visitor)
Okay, so today I give up my blog space to a new friend who visited with me for a couple of days last week. Take it away GG!
Hi, y'all! My name is Ghetto Gumby, but my friends call me GG. My Mom, the beautifully boozy and uber talented Shauna Glenn, whipped me up one night on a bender and decided to send me on a three month vacation to visit all her Internet gal pals. To be honest I think she's a little pissed at me because I drank the last of the Pinot and didn't tell her.
Anywho, I spent last weekend in the lovely little Northern town of Pittsburgh with my new friend, Murray. The only thing I knew about this place is they're crazy about their football team and have a gorgeous, super talented young man named Sid leading their first-rate hockey team. Or so says Murray. Between you and me, she's a bit of a hockey freak. She gets all gushy about him and his luscious lips. It's kinda scary.
Anywho, she took me to work with her at the Special K. It was pretty cool. I got to help her switch the local news cut-in, help the weather girl, Ashley choose what maps to use and I got to hang out on the set with the news anchor, Brenda. That Brenda's a ton of fun. She fed me brownies and let me chill with her between shows.
Then we all went out to a local diner to get breakfast and dine al fresco in the newly renovated piazza. Boy, these TV types sure do like to eat! That's pretty much all they talk about. That and drinking. They'd get along really well with Momma Glenn. Ha Ha!
After a quick run up to Mt. Washington to check out the spectacular view of the Golden Triangle, we went home to get all dolled up for my first concert ever! The uber fabulous Rhett Miller and Old 97's!!!
I had no idea what to expect, but after one song I was hooked!! They are exhilarating to watch perform. Everyone was singing and dancing. What a great time! We were so close I got splattered by what Murray refers to as "Rhett Sweat". I understand now why she loves these guys. They are so sweet. Rhett and Murry said hi to us as soon as they took the stage. Here I am enjoying the music ... and the view, if you know what I mean.
Best of all, Rhett came out afterwards to say Howdy! I got a little snuggle. *swoon* And then he signed my heart. Hope Mom likes my new tattoo.
How about those blue eyes, huh? WoooEeee! Be still my non-beating heart. So now, thanks to Murray, I'm an FOB...friend of the band.
Thanks for the great time, Murray!! You rule!! Now pass me my Jameson, Bee-yatch. ROCK 'N ROLL, BABY!!
(a guest blog from a Southern visitor)
Okay, so today I give up my blog space to a new friend who visited with me for a couple of days last week. Take it away GG!
Hi, y'all! My name is Ghetto Gumby, but my friends call me GG. My Mom, the beautifully boozy and uber talented Shauna Glenn, whipped me up one night on a bender and decided to send me on a three month vacation to visit all her Internet gal pals. To be honest I think she's a little pissed at me because I drank the last of the Pinot and didn't tell her.
 |
| Sid & his luscious lips |
Anywho, she took me to work with her at the Special K. It was pretty cool. I got to help her switch the local news cut-in, help the weather girl, Ashley choose what maps to use and I got to hang out on the set with the news anchor, Brenda. That Brenda's a ton of fun. She fed me brownies and let me chill with her between shows.
 |
| I got to switch maps during weather!! But tell me the truth, does this fader bar make my butt look big? |
 |
| Picking maps with Ashley |
 |
| I got to cue the so-called "talent", but really...I'm the talented one! |
 |
| Hanging on the set with my new best gal pal, Brenda. They called us Ebony and ...Paisley? |
 |
| Can you tell I really, REALLY liked Brenda? Her decolletage is so warm and cozy. Wait...what? That sounds effed up, Dude! |
Then we all went out to a local diner to get breakfast and dine al fresco in the newly renovated piazza. Boy, these TV types sure do like to eat! That's pretty much all they talk about. That and drinking. They'd get along really well with Momma Glenn. Ha Ha!
 |
| sucking down some morning bubbly |
After a quick run up to Mt. Washington to check out the spectacular view of the Golden Triangle, we went home to get all dolled up for my first concert ever! The uber fabulous Rhett Miller and Old 97's!!!
 |
| What a view! |
 |
| KDKA-You are here |
I had no idea what to expect, but after one song I was hooked!! They are exhilarating to watch perform. Everyone was singing and dancing. What a great time! We were so close I got splattered by what Murray refers to as "Rhett Sweat". I understand now why she loves these guys. They are so sweet. Rhett and Murry said hi to us as soon as they took the stage. Here I am enjoying the music ... and the view, if you know what I mean.
 |
| "In front row at the Mr. Small's Show!!" Is there a better view? I think not! |
Best of all, Rhett came out afterwards to say Howdy! I got a little snuggle. *swoon* And then he signed my heart. Hope Mom likes my new tattoo.
 |
| Grabbing a snuggle with the Lovely Blue-Eyed one |
 |
| Baby's first tattoo. Way cooler than the bacon band-aid |
How about those blue eyes, huh? WoooEeee! Be still my non-beating heart. So now, thanks to Murray, I'm an FOB...friend of the band.
 |
| ROCK 'N ROLL, BABY!! |
Thanks for the great time, Murray!! You rule!! Now pass me my Jameson, Bee-yatch. ROCK 'N ROLL, BABY!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Smashing of Pumpkins, Gnashing of Teeth and Bleeding of Ears
or Uncle Fester takes his kids to work day
Okay, so last night my work gal pal, Sue and I shuffled off to Mr. Small's (site of last Sunday's uber fabulous Old 97's show) to catch a sold out Smashing Pumpkins show. Billy Corgan, channeling Uncle Fester in an unflattering striped Brian Zatabatik shirt, is touring with a newly formed band of unknown youngsters half his age which he procured from an open audition call. It literally was like take your kids to work night.
I'm not a Pumpkins enthusiast, but there are a number of songs I find brilliant, and I've never seen them live before so I thought I'd bite and tag along. Should be cool, right?
My twitter feed says it all:
"Well..that was a self-absorbed, over indulgent, atonal piece of shite gigantic waist of $50."
Outside of the three hits, "Today", "Killer in Me" and "Tonight, Tonight" the rest was just a bunch of monotonous, grinding guitar and bore-me-to-tears jamming. The sound system is horrible at best in this building anyway so lyrics are downright unintelligible, especially when they insist on cranking everything up to 15. All that added up to every song sounding almost exactly like the last. I swear there was absolutely no variety of tempo, melody or beat.
A big fat UGH!!
You can tell I was less than thrilled. I only recorded one song for Pete's sake! Thankfully it was early on and a good one. The crowd was singing along to "Today" full force.
I should have been tipped off to the monotony to come from the opening act, Killing Hanna's screeching, Howler Monkey, ear bleeding, angsty anger. Two thoughts kept crossing my mind during Billy fest:
1. Will you finish up already!
and
2. Tell me again how these people are so popular and Old 97's aren't!?
And to top it all off it was like 1000 degrees with suffocating humidity in that dump. Every time someone walked past they rubbed a fresh layer of clammy slime on my arm or back. Once in a while there was actually a short breath of cool air...or maybe it was just some yahoo breathing down my back. Whatever. It was a sweet, brief reprieve.
Look at us. We look adorable, but we're glistening with sweat. I mean my yeti-stache was dripping. Seriously. ICK!
Okay, a couple high points, one literally. As Richard Dawson would say...
"Show me ... GANJA!!"
Dude, there was more sickening sweet smoke swirling around all up in my nostrils than in Ziggy Marley's garage. Alas, there was not enough Mary Jane in the building that could have made me enjoy this concert, but the contact high was rather nostalgic.
The other positive point of the evening was the drummer. This kid was amazing!! Hammering out the beat box like men twice his age with twice the experience. This tender tot of 20 has gone from working at McDonald's a month ago to pounding the skins on tour with Billy Corgan.
Only in America, right? You gotta love it.
So there you have it. Billy's tour is not the brightest bulb in the musical pack. Unless you're a died-in-the-wool Pumpkins fan or have access to kilos of weed, save your money and just pop your favorite SP CD in the player.
You're welcomed.
or Uncle Fester takes his kids to work day
 |
| Okay. The set was cool. I'll give him that much. |
Okay, so last night my work gal pal, Sue and I shuffled off to Mr. Small's (site of last Sunday's uber fabulous Old 97's show) to catch a sold out Smashing Pumpkins show. Billy Corgan, channeling Uncle Fester in an unflattering striped Brian Zatabatik shirt, is touring with a newly formed band of unknown youngsters half his age which he procured from an open audition call. It literally was like take your kids to work night.
 |
| Uncle Fester looking resplendently off kilter in Brian Zatabatik |
I'm not a Pumpkins enthusiast, but there are a number of songs I find brilliant, and I've never seen them live before so I thought I'd bite and tag along. Should be cool, right?
My twitter feed says it all:
"Well..that was a self-absorbed, over indulgent, atonal piece of shite gigantic waist of $50."
Outside of the three hits, "Today", "Killer in Me" and "Tonight, Tonight" the rest was just a bunch of monotonous, grinding guitar and bore-me-to-tears jamming. The sound system is horrible at best in this building anyway so lyrics are downright unintelligible, especially when they insist on cranking everything up to 15. All that added up to every song sounding almost exactly like the last. I swear there was absolutely no variety of tempo, melody or beat.
A big fat UGH!!
 |
| Uncle Fester and his band of children |
You can tell I was less than thrilled. I only recorded one song for Pete's sake! Thankfully it was early on and a good one. The crowd was singing along to "Today" full force.
I should have been tipped off to the monotony to come from the opening act, Killing Hanna's screeching, Howler Monkey, ear bleeding, angsty anger. Two thoughts kept crossing my mind during Billy fest:
1. Will you finish up already!
and
2. Tell me again how these people are so popular and Old 97's aren't!?
And to top it all off it was like 1000 degrees with suffocating humidity in that dump. Every time someone walked past they rubbed a fresh layer of clammy slime on my arm or back. Once in a while there was actually a short breath of cool air...or maybe it was just some yahoo breathing down my back. Whatever. It was a sweet, brief reprieve.
 |
| Smiling through the beads |
Look at us. We look adorable, but we're glistening with sweat. I mean my yeti-stache was dripping. Seriously. ICK!
Okay, a couple high points, one literally. As Richard Dawson would say...
"Show me ... GANJA!!"
Dude, there was more sickening sweet smoke swirling around all up in my nostrils than in Ziggy Marley's garage. Alas, there was not enough Mary Jane in the building that could have made me enjoy this concert, but the contact high was rather nostalgic.
The other positive point of the evening was the drummer. This kid was amazing!! Hammering out the beat box like men twice his age with twice the experience. This tender tot of 20 has gone from working at McDonald's a month ago to pounding the skins on tour with Billy Corgan.
 |
| This tyke is pinching himself everyday |
Only in America, right? You gotta love it.
So there you have it. Billy's tour is not the brightest bulb in the musical pack. Unless you're a died-in-the-wool Pumpkins fan or have access to kilos of weed, save your money and just pop your favorite SP CD in the player.
You're welcomed.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Running On Empty And Lovin' It
or the 23 1/2 hour day I spent with Jack Johnson
Okay, so yesterday after waking at the unGodly pre-crack of dawn hour of 3AM, I traveled to Blossom Music Center with my friend, Sheila and her girls to see Jack Johnson perform on a very toasty summer night. We all were excited because Mr. Johnson-THE perennial Hawaiian surfer boy-NEVER tours close to here. I've wanted to see him since his outstanding first album, Brushfire Fairy Tales. It's been a long wait, but well worth it.
SQUEEAAAALLL!
So we piled in the car and two hours later were driving for what seemed like for-effing-ever to get to parking lot E. Blossom is HUGE! The performance shed is located in the middle of hundreds of acres of beautiful woodland.
The structure is very organic and sits unobtrusively in bowl of a hillside. There are plantings everywhere. No other shed venue comes close to the park-like surrounds of this original.
Check out these jump pictures!! They were both captured on the FIRST TRY! I love this new camera! It used to take me at least eight tries on my old beast just to get the timing right. This Panasonic rules!!
Moving on...
Johnson is a big environmentalist, so to that end there were booths of charities and foundations present to talk with everyone as they ambled to take their seats, as well as water bottle refilling stations in an attempt to cut back on plastic usage.
In the middle of the tents, G. Love (sans Special Sauce) set up and played for about 30 minutes to a fairly large crowd. It seemed odd that G. Love who Jack Johnson wrote for before he became all that, would be relegated to the stage equivalent of the kid's table at Thanksgiving. Seemed kinda rude, you know? Aaaa, but turns out Mr. Sans Sauce was the second opener for the evening at the adult table stage.
I'm not that familiar with his work outside of him being bluesy, but boy can he generate a BIG sound with just his telecaster and harmonica, getting the crowd all fired up and singing along. I was pleasantly surprised. Later he joined Johnson on stage to interject some of his high energy for a couple songs.
Johnson took to the stage in his breezy, surfer boy style and launched into three old favorites right off the bat before crooning a couple new tunes. The crowd stood from the start and remained on their feet for the majority of the ninety mellow minutes.
He played most of my favorites including Taylor, Bubble Toes and Flake. Here's Bubble Toes from last night. Okay, most of it. My battery died towards the end, but still how great is it to hear thousands of people sing your song back to you?
See? Isn't he the grooviest? How could you not bop around and feel happy listening to him? Plus, seriously. How great is this camera, huh? We were way in the back, for Pete's sake.
The encore was him, alone with his acoustic treating everyone to exactly what we'd come for...a couple moments chilling with one of the coolest guys in music. He called everyone on stage to sing the popular "Better Together", musically summing up his philosophy that together we can make the world a better place.
Oh yeah, and in keeping with my whole Summer of Cover Lovin', Ole Jackie pulled out a cool as ice, surfer rendition of Steve Miller's The Joker. And the streak keeps going.
So, 23 1/2 hours later I pulled into my driveway completely exhausted, happily humming a cheerful little ditty as I drifted off to slumberland...
Okay, it was more like a dizzy drunk passing out after downing about 20 shots of Yager, only without the pee-stained pantaloons as the mark of shameful excess and questionable hygiene practices. I could barely drag my sagging ass out of bed this morning. No matter. It was worth the fatigue today.
Maybe I'm getting too old for this. Pfffft!! No way! Outside of the fact that I'm looking more and more like the Crypt Keeper, I'm having too much fun to stop. Like our friend says, I can sleep when I'm dead, right?
or the 23 1/2 hour day I spent with Jack Johnson
Okay, so yesterday after waking at the unGodly pre-crack of dawn hour of 3AM, I traveled to Blossom Music Center with my friend, Sheila and her girls to see Jack Johnson perform on a very toasty summer night. We all were excited because Mr. Johnson-THE perennial Hawaiian surfer boy-NEVER tours close to here. I've wanted to see him since his outstanding first album, Brushfire Fairy Tales. It's been a long wait, but well worth it.
SQUEEAAAALLL!
 |
| Being our dorky selves outside the gate Sheila, Abby, Sheila and Moi (humidity-not a good friend) |
 |
| The original Shed venue in its lovely surroundings |
 |
| Look how cool the inside is. |
The structure is very organic and sits unobtrusively in bowl of a hillside. There are plantings everywhere. No other shed venue comes close to the park-like surrounds of this original.
 |
| Embarrassing the teenagers Nice air, Sheila!! |
 |
| Not to be outdone, the girls FINALLY show their stuff |
Check out these jump pictures!! They were both captured on the FIRST TRY! I love this new camera! It used to take me at least eight tries on my old beast just to get the timing right. This Panasonic rules!!
Moving on...
Johnson is a big environmentalist, so to that end there were booths of charities and foundations present to talk with everyone as they ambled to take their seats, as well as water bottle refilling stations in an attempt to cut back on plastic usage.
In the middle of the tents, G. Love (sans Special Sauce) set up and played for about 30 minutes to a fairly large crowd. It seemed odd that G. Love who Jack Johnson wrote for before he became all that, would be relegated to the stage equivalent of the kid's table at Thanksgiving. Seemed kinda rude, you know? Aaaa, but turns out Mr. Sans Sauce was the second opener for the evening at the adult table stage.
 |
| G. Love Sans Sauce playing at the kid's table How cute are those kids with the hats? |
 |
| Mr. G bringing the love one song at a time |
I'm not that familiar with his work outside of him being bluesy, but boy can he generate a BIG sound with just his telecaster and harmonica, getting the crowd all fired up and singing along. I was pleasantly surprised. Later he joined Johnson on stage to interject some of his high energy for a couple songs.
Johnson took to the stage in his breezy, surfer boy style and launched into three old favorites right off the bat before crooning a couple new tunes. The crowd stood from the start and remained on their feet for the majority of the ninety mellow minutes.
He played most of my favorites including Taylor, Bubble Toes and Flake. Here's Bubble Toes from last night. Okay, most of it. My battery died towards the end, but still how great is it to hear thousands of people sing your song back to you?
See? Isn't he the grooviest? How could you not bop around and feel happy listening to him? Plus, seriously. How great is this camera, huh? We were way in the back, for Pete's sake.
The encore was him, alone with his acoustic treating everyone to exactly what we'd come for...a couple moments chilling with one of the coolest guys in music. He called everyone on stage to sing the popular "Better Together", musically summing up his philosophy that together we can make the world a better place.
Oh yeah, and in keeping with my whole Summer of Cover Lovin', Ole Jackie pulled out a cool as ice, surfer rendition of Steve Miller's The Joker. And the streak keeps going.
So, 23 1/2 hours later I pulled into my driveway completely exhausted, happily humming a cheerful little ditty as I drifted off to slumberland...
Okay, it was more like a dizzy drunk passing out after downing about 20 shots of Yager, only without the pee-stained pantaloons as the mark of shameful excess and questionable hygiene practices. I could barely drag my sagging ass out of bed this morning. No matter. It was worth the fatigue today.
Maybe I'm getting too old for this. Pfffft!! No way! Outside of the fact that I'm looking more and more like the Crypt Keeper, I'm having too much fun to stop. Like our friend says, I can sleep when I'm dead, right?
Monday, July 19, 2010
Old 97's Return to the Burgh
or my love of all things Old 97's/Rhett continues...ad naseum
Warning: Epic blog post alert because clearly I'm in need of a good editor
Okay, so last night my favorite, hard-charging band of all time — fronted by my fantasy husband — cruised into town on a big black tour bus to blow the roof off a desanctified church known as Mr. Small's.
And boy, did they ever!!!
More on that later.
Geo decided to stay home (I know, right? What?!) so my Old 97's virgin friend, Yoko, came along with me. We met up with our friends from New York, George and Maria to nosh a bit before the show. Pittsburgh was the last stop of George and Maria's three-day Olds adventure. They started in Chicago for a freebie at the Navy Pier, then hit Detroit and ended in Pittsburgh.
So get this. When we got out of the car at Mr. Small's, a lovely woman from Youngstown, Noreen approached me saying she recognized me from this ole bloggity blog and Twitter. (Hi Noreen! Thanks for reading!) How weird is that, huh? That's a first for me. The world is a very interesting place now.
And then we met up with another fan from the area, Cindy, who Geo and I had met in Annapolis, of all places. So we all hung out and watched the show together. I have met so many nice people because of this band. It's true what they say --whoever the Hell "they" are. Great bands have great fans, and Old 97's fans are quite an amazing community.
The guys finally hit the stage after 9pm. Rhett gave a nod of recognition my way and Murry said hi to me as he took his place in front of his mic. (be still my beating heart) Then they launched right into Streets of Where I Live, getting the crowd moving on Ken's first guitar lick.
They bulldozed through their 24-song set list in a little over 90 minutes, elevating the audience of their faithful with enough energy to power a nuclear plant. Seriously. If you could harness their energy output, you could supply an entire town with electricity for a week.
They left out a couple of standards, mainly Roller Skate Skinny and Big Brown Eyes, but treated us to two new songs Champaign, Il and Every Night...
Crazy Headbanging New Song: Every Night
as well as several lesser played chestnuts like 504, Can't Get a Line (their homage to the Monkees), Melt Show, Here's to the Halcyon (I've been waiting a long time to hear this one!!) and my beloved Bel Air! I tweeted a request for that tune which they played as the encore opener.
SQUEEEEEEAALLLL!!
My favorite songwriter playing my beloved Bel Air
Check it out. He's looking for me. *swoon*
Thank you, Mr. Miller! I just love that song. I mean listen to these lyrics:
"Drowning in the back seat of a 61 Bel Air/ I got a mouthful of your hair/a handful of skin./Oh, I ain't suffocating/I'm just sick and tired of waitin'/Stop this pointless hesitatin'...and pull me in!"
Whew! Hand me a cigarette already.
I think I love Bel Air so much because it transports me back to a time when it was all about passion and urgency and all Geo and I had was a car, if you know what I mean.
*sigh*
Anywho, they did a terrific, passionate cover of David Bowie's "Five Years" then closed with another balls-to-wall rendition of Time Bomb. I know I say it every time, but the first chord of that song is so bittersweet. I never want an evening with the Old 97's to end. EVER!!
 |
| Time Bomb head bang-how does his brain not hurt? |
|
| Rhett proving what a good sport he is |
|
| nestling with GG |
 |
| Yoko, Rhett-actular and ... nice bra chippie. |
A night very well spent indeed.
 |
| in the rain with Murry |
 |
| Love the mood of this shot |
 |
| he looks so angelic here |
 |
| one for my girlfriends |
Melt Show now with groovy spit take
Here's to the Halcyon
The energetic 504
His skill at story telling is all over this one
4 Leaf Clover
You can tell this is the finale. Jesus! There's more water pouring off his nose than a waterfall! No one can ever accuse Rhett of dogging it during a performance. Come here, honey. let me wipe you off.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Random Crap From My Dresser Mess
or cleaning for company
Okay, so by now you all know what a lousy housekeeper I am. My surroundings are, um.... cluttered to say the least. June Clever I am not. Every time I clean, I mean really CLEAN, I vow to keep things in order and not let the mess pile up into a beast large enough to consume me and Geo in one gulp.
For the first couple of weeks I keep my promise to myself by conscientiously keeping my digs tidy, especially my dresser top which is a magnetic catch-all for the multitudinous scraps of paper generating forth from my being. Alas. By the second week the inevitable happens and my dresser becomes an unrecognizable mound of notes, coins and expired coupons.
And then I start to hate myself a little...
*Sigh*
Major FAIL!
Anywho, I invited friends from work to come over tomorrow for drinks and snacks on the deck. So, naturally I wait until the day prior to start the gargantuan task of making the house respectable. I decided to clear my dresser first. I don't know why. It's not like we're going to be hanging out in my bedroom or anything. Still, this is what I found stashed on the right half:
Lots and lots of worthless little scraps which mock my very existence. Here's the bounty this month:
Overheard in the control room: "Can't you just punch him in the box?" (that still makes me giggle)
and the beginnings for a past, never written blog about Take Your Imp to Work Day I jotted down while in the car that's kinda funny. I might actually write it posthumously so act surprised when you read it some time in oh...late 2020.
So the big question is why are there so many tidbits scribbled on torn pieces of paper scattered all over the dresser. Isn't that what the Moleskin notebook and recorder are for?
I know, right? But try telling my psyche that. She just won't listen. Between me and you, I think she's a little S-L-O-W.
Now if you excuse me, I have to go mine the other "Catch-all Hell" known as our sofa table. If I'm not out in 30 minutes, send a search party.
or cleaning for company
Okay, so by now you all know what a lousy housekeeper I am. My surroundings are, um.... cluttered to say the least. June Clever I am not. Every time I clean, I mean really CLEAN, I vow to keep things in order and not let the mess pile up into a beast large enough to consume me and Geo in one gulp.
For the first couple of weeks I keep my promise to myself by conscientiously keeping my digs tidy, especially my dresser top which is a magnetic catch-all for the multitudinous scraps of paper generating forth from my being. Alas. By the second week the inevitable happens and my dresser becomes an unrecognizable mound of notes, coins and expired coupons.
And then I start to hate myself a little...
*Sigh*
Major FAIL!
Anywho, I invited friends from work to come over tomorrow for drinks and snacks on the deck. So, naturally I wait until the day prior to start the gargantuan task of making the house respectable. I decided to clear my dresser first. I don't know why. It's not like we're going to be hanging out in my bedroom or anything. Still, this is what I found stashed on the right half:
 | |
| copious collected crap |
Lots and lots of worthless little scraps which mock my very existence. Here's the bounty this month:
- receipts from purchases at Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy's for things I HAD to have only to realize later...meh, not so much. I have been frantically looking for these by the way.
- Not one, but three expired free Cheesecake Factory cheesecake cards, expired MacDonald's game prize monopoly piece (from February), expired Kohl's 15% coupon (also from February), expired Cultural District membership card
- missing Kohl's charge card AND Kohl's merchandise credit card! Double Word Score!!
- Couple random email addresses/website addresses - for which again I've been searching
- song titles by the Weepies and Gugenheim Grotto I wanted to look up on iTunes
- notes about what to pack for SXSW (from March)
- Christmas list from my Card Club grab bag recipient (pathetically from last year)
- several notes about new electronics from our Latest Technology segment on PTL
- directions on how to plot an arc on the robotic cameras (I should probably keep this somewhere safe, you know... like on my dresser)
- Two words: Willie Nieswonger (*snort* Come on. That's just funny)
- Notes of random thoughts that pop into my skewed mind such as:
Overheard in the control room: "Can't you just punch him in the box?" (that still makes me giggle)
and the beginnings for a past, never written blog about Take Your Imp to Work Day I jotted down while in the car that's kinda funny. I might actually write it posthumously so act surprised when you read it some time in oh...late 2020.
So the big question is why are there so many tidbits scribbled on torn pieces of paper scattered all over the dresser. Isn't that what the Moleskin notebook and recorder are for?
I know, right? But try telling my psyche that. She just won't listen. Between me and you, I think she's a little S-L-O-W.
Now if you excuse me, I have to go mine the other "Catch-all Hell" known as our sofa table. If I'm not out in 30 minutes, send a search party.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
In Which Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition Especially At The Gas Station?
Okay, so there are these things called "Fuel Perks". What it is is --wait, that looks really weird, doesn't it... "it is is"? Anywho-- What it is is for every $50 you spend at a certain grocery story, i.e. Giant Eagle, you earn 10 cents off each gallon of gasoline. The more you spend on groceries, the more you save at the pump. It's just another way to lure mindless lemmings like me to shop in their store. Honestly I think free cocktails dispensed at the checkout would work just as well on me. Besides, how fun would that be? Seriously. Somebody should get on that.
But I digress...
I needed gas...and my tank was empty, too. Budda Bing! It's all self-serve here in the lovely Commonwealth, so I drive my bad self on up to the pump and start the process, following the prompts on the read out:
Gas Pump: Do you have an Advantage Card? yes or no
Me: Yes
GP: Please swipe your card
Me: *swipes card*
GP: You will save $.50 per gallon today. Would you like to use your fuel perks? yes or no
Me: Hellz yeah!
GP: Please insert payment card
Me: Okay, but that's gonna hurt a little. Ha Ha! *Snort!* I crack myself up. *slides debit card*
GP: Debit or Credit
Me: Credito Muchacho
GP: Do you want a car wash? yes or no
Me: *sigh* No, thank you.
GP: Would you like a sandwich from our "Made to Order" counter? yes or no
Me: What? *bigger SIGH* NOoo
GP: Hot enough for ya today? yes or no
Me: ???
GP: Is that your real hair color? yes or no
Me: Wait.. What did you say?
GP: Does this handle make my pump look big? yes or no
Me: *blink blink* Well, now that you mention it--
GP: Do you REALLY believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone? yes or no
Me: No, not at all, but...what the HELL does that have to do with filling my f**king tank?!?
GP: Nice. Do you kiss your Mother with that mouth? yes or no
Me: *gasp* Maybe I'll kiss the side of your metal ASS with that sledge hammer I have in the back of the car!! (don't ask) What do you say to that, Smart Shit? huh?
GP: Ooooo. You're a feisty one. I like that. Would you like to go out for coffee? yes or no
Me: Wha..Grrrr.. DUDE! I just want to get some effing gasoline and get the Hell out of here before I turn 100!! Besides, pah-LEASE, you are totally NOT my type. Pffft!
GP: If I said you have a nice chest, would you hold it against me? yes or no
Me: What the EFFF?!?! Are you retarded? Did you not just hear what I said. What is with all the questions anyway? I've been standing here so long, I have cobwebs growing off of me! Come ON! You got my flipping credit card number, just start the damn pump already before I---
GP: Shhh! Shhh! Shhh! The manager's coming. Just act natural.
GP: Please choose grade and begin refueling
Me: * blink blink * (looks around in disbelief ) What the?!
GP: I said... PLEASE. CHOOSE. GRADE. AND. BEGIN. REFEULING...NOW
(that last word was spoken through its little pointy, brown, rotting teeth. and dude, you need a breath mint--badly)
Me: *gives my best sideways skunk eye* You are one evil, evil bastard.
I am not making this up. Okay, maybe a little, but I swear to God by the time you pass the IQ test and get to the part where you can actually start filling your gas tank, you've taken another trip around the sun.
Ain't modern technology grand, and oh-so-convenient.
Okay, so there are these things called "Fuel Perks". What it is is --wait, that looks really weird, doesn't it... "it is is"? Anywho-- What it is is for every $50 you spend at a certain grocery story, i.e. Giant Eagle, you earn 10 cents off each gallon of gasoline. The more you spend on groceries, the more you save at the pump. It's just another way to lure mindless lemmings like me to shop in their store. Honestly I think free cocktails dispensed at the checkout would work just as well on me. Besides, how fun would that be? Seriously. Somebody should get on that.
But I digress...
I needed gas...and my tank was empty, too. Budda Bing! It's all self-serve here in the lovely Commonwealth, so I drive my bad self on up to the pump and start the process, following the prompts on the read out:
Gas Pump: Do you have an Advantage Card? yes or no
Me: Yes
GP: Please swipe your card
Me: *swipes card*
GP: You will save $.50 per gallon today. Would you like to use your fuel perks? yes or no
Me: Hellz yeah!
GP: Please insert payment card
Me: Okay, but that's gonna hurt a little. Ha Ha! *Snort!* I crack myself up. *slides debit card*
GP: Debit or Credit
Me: Credito Muchacho
GP: Do you want a car wash? yes or no
Me: *sigh* No, thank you.
GP: Would you like a sandwich from our "Made to Order" counter? yes or no
Me: What? *bigger SIGH* NOoo
GP: Hot enough for ya today? yes or no
Me: ???
GP: Is that your real hair color? yes or no
Me: Wait.. What did you say?
GP: Does this handle make my pump look big? yes or no
Me: *blink blink* Well, now that you mention it--
GP: Do you REALLY believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone? yes or no
Me: No, not at all, but...what the HELL does that have to do with filling my f**king tank?!?
GP: Nice. Do you kiss your Mother with that mouth? yes or no
Me: *gasp* Maybe I'll kiss the side of your metal ASS with that sledge hammer I have in the back of the car!! (don't ask) What do you say to that, Smart Shit? huh?
GP: Ooooo. You're a feisty one. I like that. Would you like to go out for coffee? yes or no
Me: Wha..Grrrr.. DUDE! I just want to get some effing gasoline and get the Hell out of here before I turn 100!! Besides, pah-LEASE, you are totally NOT my type. Pffft!
GP: If I said you have a nice chest, would you hold it against me? yes or no
Me: What the EFFF?!?! Are you retarded? Did you not just hear what I said. What is with all the questions anyway? I've been standing here so long, I have cobwebs growing off of me! Come ON! You got my flipping credit card number, just start the damn pump already before I---
GP: Shhh! Shhh! Shhh! The manager's coming. Just act natural.
GP: Please choose grade and begin refueling
Me: * blink blink * (looks around in disbelief ) What the?!
GP: I said... PLEASE. CHOOSE. GRADE. AND. BEGIN. REFEULING...NOW
(that last word was spoken through its little pointy, brown, rotting teeth. and dude, you need a breath mint--badly)
Me: *gives my best sideways skunk eye* You are one evil, evil bastard.
I am not making this up. Okay, maybe a little, but I swear to God by the time you pass the IQ test and get to the part where you can actually start filling your gas tank, you've taken another trip around the sun.
Ain't modern technology grand, and oh-so-convenient.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
UGH!
or just.. Ugh!
Okay, so I've been really lax around this here blog 'o sphere. Sorry. Or maybe you've been enjoying my absence and I should say you're welcomed.
Anyways, a couple of Saturdays ago I went to a concert featuring local favorites, The Clarks. Salim Nourallah--of Old 97's producer fame--refers to them as the Beatles of Pittsburgh. He produced the lead singer, Scott's last solo effort. The band are regulars on our little dog and pony morning show, PTL. They're great guys. Always pleasant, usually on time, unflappable when things don't always go correctly.
What? You're surprised there are snafus at work? We don't call it the Special K for nothing.
Anywho, I've never seen them perform in front of an audience, or in this case a ginormous mass of adoring humanity spewing heaps of unconditional love. These mild-mannered gents hit the stage like rock stars! It was fabulous. You could feel the love emanating from the eager crowd. Everyone (except me) was singing along to every song, so much so that in at least five songs Scott just stood back and let 'em sing it. They were putty in his hands, man. These folks were rapt. Hanging on his every word. Cheering & squealing to his every strut. Crowd surfing.
Yes. Crowd surfing. At a pop concert.
(Note to self: Young people's heads are very hard, both literally and figuratively)
Turns out they're kind of a big deal. A REALLY big deal. Who knew?
They are HUGE FUN! The evening was terrific. The pre-concert deluge of hair-ruining rage ended at the exact moment The Spring Standards (you know, my fantasy hubby's little project) took the stage and it remained gorgeous all through the night until the last cheer echoed off Mt. Washington.
Sounds like a well spent evening, right? So what's with all the Ugh at the top of this mess of a post you might ask. You may. Go ahead. Ask away. I'll wait...
Well, it happened during one of the last songs from the penultimate band, Good Brother Earl. I was recording GBE when I heard an altercation between the Cougars to my left and an obviously drunk kindergartner behind me.
Cougar: Oh no you are NOT standing in front of me. I've been here for two hours. That is NOT going to happen. (shakes her head sideways in a girlfriend gesture)
Drunk Chip: witshoyehlso soeihsoe blah blah blah!?!!! *@$#
C: I am not kidding. Get back or I will call security to drag your boney ass out of here. (sound of Wolverine claws springing out)
DC: Wha?! You cahn't do that, bitch. I cahn be wherev--blah blah blah yap yap yap
I really don't know what she said there. She was so incoherent she was speaking in freaking tongues.
Then all of a sudden I was knocked forward. Okay. I gave DC the benefit of the doubt and let her have a pass. She's drunk, right. Her busting into me was probably an accident.
Then the wild-ass bee-yatch reared up and gunned it for my back, sending me into the kid in front of me. WTF?!?
And that's when it happened.
Me: STOP IT! RIGHT NOW!!!
* Sigh *
I am officially 50.
To make it worse, I looked her 15 year old boyfriend in his scared, saucer eyes and said, "You need to remove her NOW!" Cowering, he replied "I'm trying, Ma'am."
Ma'aM...
Double UGH!
I went from hipster doofus to crusty octogenarian in ten seconds. That inebriated idiot brought out my Mom-i-tude, and I have been trying to shove her and her f*cking Mommy jeans back in that steamer trunk ever since. You're not taking me alive, Sucker!!
(gun cocks *BLAST*)
The funny thing is when you crank the volume you can hear my spiral into June Cleaver territory at the end of this video.
in which I become my Mother *sigh*
The Spring Standards working their multi-instrument magic
The Clarks big time sing along (On Saturday) See...They ARE kind of a big deal.
True Believer
How about a little BadFinger, Scarecrow?
True to form at my summer concerts this year, they ended their set with a cover. This time it was Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World
It was an exhilarating evening filled with booty-shaking tunes and good karma, you know, once the drunken adolescent was escorted out.
As for Mrs. Mommy-Jeans, I think she's safely tucked away for now. I lured her into the basement with the smell of tequila and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. She should be good for awhile.
But be forewarned...Don't be violating my space at a venue or I will unleash the ugly-ass hound that is my Mommy-tude. She bites.
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