The Other Elvis

ELVIS COSTELLO-Pump It Up

My son was watching this with me and seemed perplexed. "That doesn't look like Elvis," he said. "Honey, there is more than one Elvis, it's just a name. Isn't this Elvis fun?" He watched for awhile and then asked, "What's wrong with his legs?"

Wouldn't You LiKe To Be A Pepper Too?

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS-Fight Like a Brave

I can never decide how I feel about the RHCP. There are things I like about them, and things that I am not so excited about. For instance, I love their goofiness, but have a hard time with them because they are so "LA." I definitely liked their original guitar player, Hillel. Sadly, I don't think he liked himself very well. Anyhow, I submit to you vintage Peppers for your viewing pleasure. One last comment, Flea is awesome!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNICK-Love Missile F1-11

Wow. That's about all I can say. A major label actually funded this. What were they thinking.

80's-O-Riffic

The future seemed so much more interesting then. What happened?

Holy Crap! Nothing Has Changed!

So I had the great fortune of spending time with one of my mom's dear friends this past weekend. We talked for quite some time. We reminisced about old times. We used to vacation in the previously mentioned cabin in Wisconsin with her and her family for years when I was growing up. I had a mini breakdown when we were on vacation, as being there was another "first" without my mom. It was always a source of such fond memories and now it seemed somehow changed. Anyhow, back to mom's friend. We recalled all the silly times we spent together. And then she started recalling my less than stellar behavior that reared its ugly head during my teenage years up there.

Before I know it, she starts telling me how she was so worried about me because I was so enthralled with music. Apparently, I forced her to listen to some of my music (who knows what it was). She said she told me at the time that I should not make music such a focus in my life. I know the undertone here is that I should always have God at the center of my life. She must have looked at me on Friday night and thought she saw a respectable adult woman who had "turned her life around." I am afraid to say that I don't think I have really changed that much. Generally, I no longer ride around with driver's who pull over to puke, but I still like my music and I like it loud. Perhaps it is an addiction, but it really has brought nothing but happiness and a bit of hearing loss to my life. I didn't think it was wrong then and I don't think it is wrong now.

Video of the Day

WALL OF VOODOO-Mexican Radio
Remember the early days of MTV when they actually occasionally played cool videos? I would stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning to wait for something they announced 3 hours before they played it. Wow, I had a lot of free time.

Get Lucky Lines From Hell

I was reading Coaster Punchman's blog and thinking about the various reasons I dumped people. But then I got to thinking, what about those that really didn't make it to full "dumped" status. Those few and proud that gave you a line that pretty much just ended it right then and there. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. "Smile, honey. You look much prettier when you smile."
This was an idiot in South Carolina who clearly mistook me for some southern belle who would be fetchin' slippers for him. Yeah, no.
2. "Don't worry, I'm Catholic."
What? Don't worry? You don't believe in birth control? Time to zip up the pants.
3. "Do I have to write this down as the week I didn't get any?"
Yes, you do.

Music Video of the Day/Week (MTV my way)

NAKED RAYGUN-Vanilla Blue
New fun for my few readers, the new video of the day/week. It was hard to choose at first, so I went with what has been near and dear to my heart, but not necessarily to my hearing ability. Hope you all enjoy!

Summertime Blues

Unlike The Who, I do think there is a cure for the summertime blues. It's called vacation. After being pounded relentlessly by work, we are leaving for a week in northern Wisconsin. Not an exotic destination I know, but exactly what I want. We stay on a small lake that only has homes on one side, the other is the Nicolet National Forest. Mostly, it's just us and the loons, which there are a lot of on this particular lake. They have freaky red eyes if you ever get the chance to see one up close.

The best part about this lake is the fact that no matter how much you try, your cell phone doesn't work. If you drive into the nearest town, which has a small grocery, a bar, a hardware store, a mechanic, a post office, and a cafe that is only open until lunch, you will still only get about two bars. Enough to check messages. There is not a whole lot to do besides swim and fish and lay in the sun with a good book. I'm a little bummed, because their brochure said they recently put a TV in the cabin. Why? I've been going to this same cabin since I was a kid and I never missed TV then, and I certainly wouldn't now. Too many supper clubs to go to in the evening. Oh, and local dirt track stock car races, the water ski show, and the coolest go-kart track I've ever been to. Why the heck would you need a TV? Even when it rains, there are games and puzzles and a great rec room (at the main lodge up the road) with air hockey, bumper pool and indoor shuffle board. TV has no place in this mix. Although it is worth it to try and catch the local news at least once for a good laugh.

Oh, and Lulu knows the best part. If you drive into the "big" town of Eagle River the candy store has the most awesome cinnamon ice cream ever!

Get Your Own!

Dear Evil Edward Lusters,
While we do recognize the need for Ed fixes, we suggest a better alternative. Get a load of these kitties! Yes, you too could be the proud owner of one of Ed's brothers or sisters. And aren't they gorgeous? Raised in verdent Oregon at Dragon Heart Cattery, these are nature's finest. Enjoy.

Signed,
Edward and his owners

P.S. The offspring of Lord Duncan and Lady Gwenivere are his "peeps."

My Daughter Kicks Ass

My sweet delicate flower apparently had an encounter that could only occur within the walls of a middle school. Being the smart child that she is, she has learned to avoid those nasty girls who gossip and bully. She has become a "creative" dresser. I say this because she does not like to be labeled at all. She says it makes her feel like a soup can.

So, she came home the other day and told me she had an encounter with one of the queen bees at her school. Apparently, from what I've been told, this was the exchange.

Queen Bee: You're weird.

Sweetness and Light: Yeah, well you're stupid.

Queen Bee: (Referring to Sweetness' killer knee-high punk boots) Those boots are for sluts.

Sweetness and Light: No they're not. They're for kicking your ass. (Sweetness stomps off in boots.)

At this moment I could not be more proud of my offspring.

Slacker

I hadn't intended to be a blog slacker, but I guess I became one. One week became two and now a whole month. What happened? I don't really know. It started with celebrating Emma's 12th birthday and ended with my annual IEP (Individual Education Plan) season, which is a lot like tax time for a CPA.

Actually, I lie. It ended with a fabulous trip to Jamaica where the weather was perfect and my only complaint is that I got some bug bites (they are awfully itchy). The most fun and interesting part of the vacation is when we left the resort property and went to a local reggae dance hall on the beach one night. I can only liken it to a wild west saloon. Think of all the lawlessness and stereotyped figures there. Now insert a fabulous rasta beat and you've got the picture. I was especially impressed with the local ladies......I did not know that go-go boots could be silver AND have silver fur. I felt so underdressed.

So, I think I'm officially back. I know I owe the kitty lust club some pictures, but you sickos are just going to have to wait. Ed ain't goin' anywhere, so his fabulousness will have to wait for another time. I have big plans this weekend to take the middle school posse to an all ages gen-u-wine punk rock show. No booze. Ouch.

Scrambled Eggs

If you have ever wondered what happens when you add a pile of hormones to the brain of a 12 year old, I can tell you the answer. You get scrambled eggs. It is entirely possible that scrambled eggs have a higher IQ than a middle school child. It doesn't matter how smart they have been or how well behaved they have been. They hit puberty and all bets are off. It's kind of like watching molasses drip from a spoon. That's what it looks like when they are thinking. And often, like today, they are not thinking at all. Last week my lovely "forgot" to call and check in before leaving where she was about 20 minutes after I called specifically to remind her to call me. Today, even though being told to exit the passenger side of the vehicle, our neighbor boy opened my driver side rear door into traffic, only to have it bent in such a manner that the whole thing has to be replaced now. I now understand why my parents were always so exasperated looking. I guarantee I did the same stupid stuff.

Birthday Fabulousness

Stay tuned for the photo memories of Edward's first birthday. He will be one tomorrow!

Delinquent

I realize that I am severely delinquent (as noted by the title) in "publishing." I have also been told by a couple of people that I have not been very available lately either. I assure all of you that I am not out having enourmous quantities of fun and not including you. What I can tell you is that taxes are done and work has hit an all time high for most nerve shattering. There have been days where were it not for the laughs I get from everyone else's blogs, I would lead a humorless existence. Well, except for the daily Emma-isms, which keep me going. I, however, will soon be living in abject poverty, as I discovered today that they are opening a Hot Topic at the Lincolnwood Mall. I told Scott to lock his money away. That, or buy stock in the Tripp clothing company. The child is obsessed with the chain, zipper, pant things. She already asked if she could go work there. I reminded her that you must be 16 to work. What, is she crazy? Why the hell would you want to start working any sooner than absolutely necessary? I'm constantly trying to figure how to get out of it!

So, as I dragged Emma around the mall today, I began to think of my inner being. Weird, I know, but I think I am secretly a 13 year old skate punk. And I don't think I'm a girl. I really want a pair of Vans and some loose long shorts, a great skateboard and a reason to listen to loud music without having to excuse myself in one way or another, and possibly to be in some bad garage band. I'm not sure what this means, but Emma said her inner child was a seven year old and she didn't know what that meant either. I do know that I am dangerously addicted to cargo pants and hoodies and someone needs to stop me. I can find them in any store. They call to me. Well, those and any shirt with a skull somewhere on it. Yup, I bought one today. You can never have too many "show" shirts. I classify my wardrobe that way, you know. I have therapy clothes (which gratefully are just regular casual clothes , meeting clothes (which are nicer adult clothes), and "show" clothes (because you must look cool when you rock out). Biggest problem here is, I don't think I ever look cool at 41. I think it all has to stop soon. Well,at least the clothes part. OK, that's enough for now.

Gas and Go

So, I'm driving down a street in my town heading off to work. I come to a stop light, and with nothing better to do, I survey the scene around me while I wait. I've stopped in front of a gas station and this is where the "what the heck?" occurred. I notice this vehicle pulling away from the pump. What happened next was something I never could have predicted. Apparently the oblivious person driving the vehicle has not noticed that the nozzle from the pump is still in his gas tank. He drives off. The nozzle and hose break free from the pump, whip towards the car and instantly shatter his rear window into a million little pieces. This is when I begin laughing so hard I'm about to pee. He was driving a BIG RED SUV!!!! Ah, Karma.

Done!

So, today I completed my application for graduate school. After grappling with the how's and why's, and believe me, there were a lot of those, I decided to go for an MS in Psychology to be followed by my BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). I can do it all online, which was a huge factor when I started thinking about the kids and the amount of work I already have. I also had to consider what I really wanted from this. At first, I was afraid to choose this path because it involves relying a lot on referrals. But the more I thought about it, I have built a good reputation for myself and now have a nice base of references. I think I'll be OK. Being a consultant has its drawbacks, but I think I can handle them and the perks ended up outweighing the drawbacks.

So, hopefully they will want me. I got a little nervous when I saw my undergrad GPA, hence the new byline for my blog. I really blew it academically a few times, due to my "lack of focus." But I have to say, I welcome the chance to redeem myself. Gratefully, most online universities do not have radio stations.

I Think I've Figured It Out

So, I've been feeling kind of lame for wanting to go see so much live music. I've wondered if I'm having a mid-life crisis. I've actually wondered if something is wrong with me. I've spent way too much time worrying about why I seem to be obsessed. Then it slowly sank in. I've basically spent the past twelve years raising kids and not going out much or seeing any shows or listening to what I want to listen to. Now they are are older and more self-sufficient. Now I finally have some of my freedom back. So, I'm back to doing what I've always loved, listening to music. It's not new or different. I have been somewhat obsessive about music since high school. My obsession just had to take a ten year break and now it's back with a vengeance.

I'm not going to apologize to anyone about why I feel compelled to turn it up too loud or why I want to see tons of shows. I figure soon enough I won't want to, so why not enjoy it now? I still love my old favorites and am loyal to them, but I've found lots of new stuff, too. At one point in my life, I wanted to make a career of working in the music industry. Then I found out how completely slimey it is and gave up. It always made me a little sad that it never came to be, but I've never regretted the choices I've made regarding work. All this is to say, yes, I probably am a smidge more obsessive about music than most people, but I think it's part of who I am and I'm OK with it.

As for my very specific interest in The Bomb, it's pretty simple. Naked Raygun was one of my favorite bands "back in the day." They were incredible trailblazers, setting the table for success for so many that followed them. While they had a good ride here in Chicago, they never really achieved the level of success that many critics feel they deserved. Jeff Pezzati was their frontman and now fronts The Bomb. I'm there to show support for the years of amazing music he produced and to support his band in their efforts now. I consider him a hometown hero. Not only has he had his own bands, but he has been instrumental in supporting other local artists through his label. This guy is invested and is for real. I learned in college working at the station how important it is to support your local scene. It's kind of like buying books at the independent bookstore or from a small press. It allows for more variety and for different voices and styles other than the commercial mainstream to be heard. So, yup, I go to all their shows and invite everyone I know. Come if you like, stay home if you want. I fully realize that not everyone likes what I like, thank God.

Scarier Than Halloween

Hold an image like this in your mind. It's what gets a parent through the day. This is a picture of a moment where everything is right. That doesn't happen often in parenting. Being a parent is only a part of who I am, but in many ways, it has changed me forever. It's not cool, it's frequently not fun, and it is thankless most of the time. I only hope that when we release these two into the world, that they will give back to our world. In this job, though, there are no guarantees. I often feel like I am leaping into an abyss.

It was so much easier when they were babies. Everyone complains about all the work it takes when they are infants. I would gladly take a day of diapers at this point. It was much easier. This is the part where it gets hard. Trusting is difficult and easily messed up. I know all about it, because I screwed up bigtime when I was young. Maybe that's why I get scared. I get it now. No matter how many times I try to help them avoid the same mistakes I made when I was growing up, they probably will have to figure it out for themselves. It is a bizarre existence right now. I can almost feel my childhood experiences being erased from history as a new generation begins to make all the same ones for the "first time." There is no Vulcan mind meld that I can do to pass my knowledge to them. I just get to watch them flounder and hope they listened.

Take This You Evil Edward Lusters

Poor Edward. Stalked relentlessly by anonymous kitty freaks. Kitty is scared!