Oh July

It's July! And the weird weather that was so awesome to keep us cool (but sopping wet!) has turned into the summer we all know. The hot, sweltering heat one. Yeah that one. It hasn't been terrible, per se, but it's not the nice 70 degrees it was just a short time ago, with no break in the heat on the horizon. But that's okay. I love summer.

I miss being in school (not college, that's not real, they have classes over the summer!) and being able to loaf all day or when I was kid, the smell of fresh mown grass and heading to soccer practice. One of my more vivid childhood memories is just that. Playing in the backyard with my brothers after getting done with a soccer game, and waiting for the cherries to get ripe, and wishing my dad would wear a shirt to mow the lawn. And we wonder why people think he's a native american. Well, I don't my friends.

In an effort to create my own happy times as an adult, we bought a cherry tree. A baby one. Once we had it home from the nursery, everyone and their grandma told us that trying to grow cherries is best left to farmers with incredible insecticides or superman. There is no inbetween, and eventually we'll have to chop it down because the bugs, people, they will freak you out. I am not afraid. Our cherry tree will never bear fruit. At least, not if we don't ever plant the thing. It's been sitting in the backyard, for more then a month, in it's black pot, falling over in the slightest hint of a breeze. I don't think that being horizontal is good for trees. The only ones I've seen try it were all dead.

Cherry tree notwithstanding, we also have a tiny little raspberry twig. It's only one twig, but it's an investment in our future. At my parents house were had a whole corner of the yard dedicated to raspberries and the spiky bushes that grew them. Man, I love raspberries. I would pick a few raspberries, some cherries and some strawberries, squeeze out the juice into a cup, add water and then sugar. I was already practicing to make sugary, fruit-tasting juices. It was delicious. I put lots of sugar into it. And I wouldn't want my daughter to miss out on that kind of thing, and also they make raspberries without the thorns! So far the raspberry twig has produced a few tiny raspberries which I ate the millisecond they turned anything close to red. They were oh so sweet, but I think it will be a while until I can fill my palm, let alone a small bowl, where I can smash them, add water and sugar and make my own punch.

And did you know that raspberries has a P in it? You did? Oh, well aren't you smart.

33 Months and Counting

It feels like I see less of you, even though I'm getting Friday's off with the later work schedule. We are so busy most weekends, it doesn't seem like that much of a break.

Just when I am ready to give up on trying to potty train you, you decide that the potty is for you. Mostly. This last week you've been able to wear underpants almost the whole day, there were a few accidents, but on the whole, this is progress. I had decided that you weren't ready and I was tired of trying to train you, since it felt like trying to keep a snow flake from melting in my hands. But look at you! You can do it! I think buying new stickers were very helpful. Although you aren't playing with them the way I thought you would. We used to put them on your hands or your shirt, but you LOVE to put them on others. Mostly you want to put your new sticker on daddy's tummy, but there is also something about putting them on a chart. You are so proud of your chart with all it's little pink stickers, and honestly, I am also ridiculously proud of that.

Going through my monthly newsletter, it's funny to see how proud I was of you when started talking, and now you are singing and talking all the time! You know the ABC song, but there are some interesting variations you've got there. J is absent, but K usually makes at least 2 if not 3 appearances. You're not going to be winning any competitions just yet, but I think it's the cutest thing. I would give you a prize.

I think everyone is displeased with the way you eat or rather, the way I feed you. Meaning, I don't get too fussed if you don't eat very much. Apparently I'm suppose to make you eat somehow. Well I do my best, but my best is usually trying to offer you food that you will eat, and hope that somehow you get some nutrients out of the air. I figure if you're hungry, you can eat. I usually only stop you from eating junk food. You can't eat chocolate goldfish forever, child. I'm hoping that with some of this maturing, you'll learn that not all food is disgusting and some of it, while some potatoes are not in fry form, they are still palatable. Okay #2 is still a problem so I may sprinkle Metamucil on your cereal. Sorry kid, but I'm just as tired of the tummy aches as you are and if you wont' eat vegetables, I should probably find some way to get you some fiber.

You're getting close to 3 and that's really freaking me out. I shouldn't be a 3 year olds mother. I'm not mature enough. I'm sure I'm still 21, so the math doesn't add up at all, either.

I love how much you love. It never ceases to put a smile on face to see you after a long day at work and you see me and exclaim and throw out your arms in the biggest, best hug. It makes me think you appreciate me, even when I'm not there. Heavens knows I miss you when I'm not there!

Kisses,

Mama

You Better Bring Your own Sun

About a month ago Tori Amos came out with a new album. Abnormally Attracted to Sin. I was apprehensive, the reviews were mixed with good and bad spots but it sounded similar to the last album, American Doll Posse which took more than a while to grow on me. Matter of fact, it’s not a go to album, and neither is the album previous, the Beekeeper.
I decided to buy the album, which came in a deluxe version with a DVD of the visualettes for each song and a fold out poster of our girl, Tori. I listened to it online at work, but I was neutral. I neither liked, nor disliked it.
Went my shipment from Amazon finally got to me, I popped the DVD into TV and watched the visualettes until I got kicked off the TV by Husband. Since then the CD has been living in my car (with a brief respite to rip it at work) and I am LOVING it. It has some throw away tracks, but the ones I was expecting not to like, I really do.
"Give," which is reminiscent of To Venus opens with lots of synth. Tori has gone fairly electronic on this album and it is usually a good thing. I’m digging "Welcome to England" and everything up until "Not Dying Today," which it better with the visuals, but not enough to save it. The next 3 tracks get standing ovations from me, "Maybe California" and "Curtain Call" are both really raw and beautiful and "Fire to Your Plain", I might not know what it’s about but the chorus keeps me singing along. "Police Me" is another I would toss. Nothing special about it. "That Guy" seems very cabaret, musical to me, I’m sure Erika would disagree, but I think this one at least, is influenced by what she’s doing on the musical for the West End that she’s working on. After that the album gets a little muddled, the title track and "500 Miles" are fine, "Mary Jane" is one I don’t think I’ll ever like. It’s about pot, it doesn’t seem very clever to me and I’m bored, but others have said they just love it. I’m sure it will be funny live. "Starling" is okay but then we get to "Fast Horse," which I didn’t think I would like on first listen. She’s changing vowels and has some weird accent but after a few listens, I adore it! I also like the New York reference. It feels like it could slip onto Scarlet’s Walk and be right at home. It has that same feel, and of course that album is in my top 5 records. "Ophelia" is great, it starts off sounding a lot like "Gold Dust," which I don’t love, but then we get a thumping chorus and it bring the whole thing to awesome. The album finishes off with "Lady in Blue," which is fine. I swear she says “black” instead of “blue” but Tori hadn’t been taught her vowels very well. It show cases her piano playing well and at the end when it’s just the instruments it’s brilliant and makes me continue to start the CD over again and listen more.
Over all I give it a B+. I think that might be a little high because I was expecting to not like it and have to really try to get into it, so even though there are songs I don’t love, there are plenty of songs that I really can’t get enough of, and it’s been a while since I felt that way about a Tori song.
She’s coming to our little valley July 20th! I’ll be there.

It's a Cruel World, But I'm a Lucky Boy (Girl)

I'm back from a 3 day weekend. This particular 3 day weekend saw me hitting the road for some Matt Nathanson so as to Rock. Erika and I left wicked early Friday morning and she drove all the way to her brother's home in Denver. The drive was pleasant and let me tell you, iPods with hundreds of random songs is the way to road trip. You never know what you're going to get, it's like a box of...well you know.

That evening brought us to Casa Bonita. For you Utah folk, it's the original version of the Mayan. The food is a little crappier but there's more entertainment and weirdness. Arcades and "scary" caves and a little ballroom/bar. We went with Erika's fam and her nieces loved it. We went through Black Bart's cave about 4 times before I bailed on that. They may have gone more. I kinda blocked that from my memory. The thing about Casa Bonita is that they give you endless sopapillas, which if you've ever had them, you know they are awesome. Fried dough with puffy hollow centers that you can drizzle with honey. Unless you are me, then while you are squeezing the honey, you will make the bottle top explode off and cover the table and everyone at it, in a sticky mess. Twice. Okay not everyone was covered in honey, just me. It was rather embarrassing especially the second time. I must have like He-Man grip or something, since even Erika's brother had no problem acquiring honey for his sopapillas. I think it's because I've been working out. I'm freakishly strong.

The food was sub-par, but the sopapillas were amazing (I had 7) and the cliff diving and general goofiness of the place were nice.

The next day we had some time to kill. We wouldn't leave for the festival type show until late afternoon, so Erika decided to go see a movie with her bro and I decided to go to the flea market with Shelley, Erika's sister-in-law and the nieces. It was sunny day, but windy but other than that, it was lovely. I'd never been to a flea market, so it was cool to see the stuff, although after a while a lot of the stuff looked really similar. I kind of wanted a old steamer trunk, but it was $200 and what would I do with an old steamer trunk?

After some lunch we prepared to go. We printed a google map and started the hour and half journey. Shelley had gotten herself a ticket and came with us, so she would finally understand why we have such unholy devotion to Matt. We had a lovely time on the way and made it to the exit in record time. We followed the directions on the map and ended up...nowhere. In the middle of a little city. Not at an outdoor amphitheatre. We pulled over and asked directions. Google maps had failed us again. We needed to hope back onto the freeway and then we'd be right there. We didn't know exactly where it was, but traffic was a nightmare, so we parked at a hotel and illegally crossed under the freeway trying to avoid getting squashed. We headed up a hill and we were there. Apparently the venue did sell out, but I was expecting something large like our outdoor amphitheatre here, which is huge. It wasn't tiny, but it definitely wasn't the size I was expecting, but this is Fort Collins and I guess there aren't as many people to accommodate here.

We missed the first act, which I think was a local Colorado guy named Josh Hodge. Next was Eric Hutchinson, and he was so fun, playing the piano and then his guitar, he was just as good as the songs on the radio suggest he is, and I like that his album is called "Sounds Like This" which I think is pretty clever. We snagged some spots way stage right but had an okay view of him. Most people were set up on the grass on blankets.

Next came out We the Kings. I was immediately struck by just how ugly the entire band was. The lead singer was a red-head with long hair and they all looked like they could just a good scrubbing. They seemed really full of themselves and they employed a great deal of feedback on all the songs. I spent most of the set looking like a smelled something bad and texting nasty things to Erika. Like: "They do realise they aren't Pearl Jam and this isn't 1994." Even the songs I liked from the radio were ruined in their presentation of them. They did play Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle" and I love to play that on rock band, so I forgave them and bopped along to that, but mostly it was awful. They should have just played the songs from the album over the PA, then I wouldn't have had to watch the singer take off his shirt and display his nasty tats. But during the set I saw Jon and Konrad on the side of the stage and waived to both of them. It was awesome.

Then it was time for Matt. We were able to move closer to the middle of the stage where I was behind an 8 year old girl. The median age of the crowd I would say was about 13 or 14. Mostly really young kids and some with parents and few older people. There were even some toddlers. It was beyond weird. Maybe because in Utah we have such large families were can't afford to go to concerts and my parents didn't know contemporary music at all, so my perspective is a bit different.

Matt was suppose to start at 8:00, but it was more like 8:20 when his set kicked off. Playing "To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts" and then jumping into "Princess" with Jessie's Girl. I was glad that Shelley would at least know this song, she was rocking out. "Wedding Dress" was incredibly intense and there was a little banter between songs, but mostly things felt a little rushed. Despite this the band was tight. "Pretty the World" and "Still" and then coming out early was "Come on Get Higher" to which everyone sang along. It was impressive to see the crowd sing along to every word. He's definitely getting the attention he deserves.

He announced the last song of the his set. He wanted to play Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" which we had just watched the pilot for Glee with Erika's family the night before, so it was really fun to hear it and Shelley was excited to hear it. I was a bit disappointed with the length of the set, but now was our chance. The other bands had said they would be back by the merch booths to sign and meet people, so I figured Matt would do the same, but he didn't say that he would. That worried me. We jumped out of the crowd and headed to where the other artists were. The crowd was massive. We asked the merch girls at Matt's table what the 411 was, and they told everyone that Matt was sick and wouldn't be coming out, but since they hadn't been there until right before his set and they didn't have any shirts or CD for sell, I wondered if they knew that for certain. Shelley is kind of a punk, so while we were debating where to stand and what to do we walked passed a gap between the metal barricades and the orange netting to keep people out. I had glimpsed Aaron from another angle and Shelley told me to just to walk through and go talk to him. I only deliberated a moment and went for it. I walked in with purpose and while Aaron chatted with someone from the crew, I waited. I wanted to go back and get Erika, but security wasn't far and didn't want to get nabbed. When Aaron was done with his chat we said hello, I reintroduced myself and reminded him of our exploits on the headlining tour. He said he would remember my name next time and I told him not to worry about it. I asked him how long they had been home between shows. 2 days. They are freaking machines. We talked about if the set was short and he told me not that he realised, but they didn't go by the set list at all. They played what Matt was deciding on the spur of the moment. I asked if Matt was sick, and Aaron said he had been but just thought Matt was tired, but he was being the strong leader. We told him we thought the band had been in excellent form and he explained that since they hadn't played together in a few days, everything was fresh and exciting and reminded them how much they all liked playing together. I asked for a picture, we took one and he asked to look at it. He said he wasn't happy with it and we should take another. I told him he had to smile and he said he would try to look pleased. We got Erika a picture with him and he said he was going to go to the trailer. We stood awkwardly around. Konrad was just over the way, but between us was the security guard. He soon realised what we were up to and made us leave. I think he may have waited until Aaron left, but it could have just been that after that we just looked too conspicuous just standing around. We should have tried to walk around and look busy. I decided that next time, I'm getting a lanyard and just having colored paper in every shade so we can look more official.

We debated what we should do, since now the guard was actually guarding and keeping people out of the back. I saw Matt come out. He was talking with someone and we called for him and when he turned I waved. he waved back. and we waived back and forth for a bit. I think he was hesitating whether he should come over or not.

He came over and I asked him where his belt buckle was, I figured this was a good way to remind him who I was and see if he had an comment about it. Wrong question. He responded harshly that he just flew in and didn't have anything on him. He needed to get to bed since they were flying out to Canada soon. He also said that he felt like he hadn't been home in 2 years. Which really he's spend most of the last 12 months on the road and from now until October, he'll be out playing shows. I probably should have told him that my husband spent a year in Iraq and to suck it up rockstar, but he wasn't in a good mood. I had loved his blog about "finding" Depeche Mode and he was quick to say that he'd put up an addendum that he'd liked Depeche Mode since he was a kid but he had really found his love for them recently. I asked about Black Celebration since he said that the production didn't get "sexy" until Violator, and he said that Black Celebration was his favorite, which is mine as well. He was signing and taking pictures with others while we chatted. It wasn't a happy chatting, it was a bit tense, but I was unwilling to let bail out now. I had driven 8 hours to see him play for about 30 minutes, I wanted some kind of appreciation, I guess. He asked the name of the girl who handed up her shirt to be signed. Her name was Willow! This was the first time I'd met someone with my name! She was about 13, I told her it was my name too. Matt said that it was a cool name, she said thanks, and I said Thanks, and he leveled at me: "I know." Ouch! I had the booklet for his last CD in my hand. He asked if I wanted it signed. I said something to the effect of "that's okay" I told him looked really tired. I wanted to say how he should get some rest, I wanted to thank him for coming over at all. But the words wouldn't come and he was dealing with the crowd of tweenage girls that were collecting autographs on their t-shirts from all the bands. I felt like maybe he was just trying to gain some more fans out of people that may not have come to see him, since that's been his habit for the last 8 years, charming crowds as an opener and while he was not in the mood, he understood that was part of his shtick.

Erika said I had my pouty face on. I don't know where she was I was trying to concentrate on not interrupting Matt with other people, but I wanted my picture. That's what I live for. I love the autographs, but it's the pictures I treasure. He looked at me and rubbed my arm and asked if I was okay. I said I was and I departed. The crowd was seething, people had figured out that there was a rock star over here. I watch him talk to people and get photos, only smiling when he posed for a picture. The security guard had to get in front of him twice to help him get out. I thought it was sweet that even when he had that first opportunity to leave, he just went to people on the other side.

I tried to watch Plain White Ts, but I was distracted. The reason I had come was over. Matt had left. I didn't have a picture and I hadn't said anything that I had really wanted to. I was a bit disappointed. We drove home, it was late. I'm glad that we had the other activities with Erika's family, because if it had been a quick pop in and then out to the show and then leaving the next morning, I think I would have been really disappointed in the trip. As it was, I was disappointed in talking to Matt, but the show had been good. I had talked with Aaron after sneaking backstage and while most the of interaction with Matt had seemed forced, I appreciated that he had asked me how I was and I guess I'll have to take what I can get. He's a pretty big star now, I can't pretend that he needs me to help spread the Matt-love anymore, since he finally has radio on his side.

We spent breakfast with Erika's family and then headed out. I had the drive back and it was a pleasant drive. Even after 3 full days with Erika we weren't getting on each other's nerves ( I think) and I was glad that we'd come. The timing of the date of show was perfect and getting to know Erika's family and especially Shelley was really fun. It was nice little mini vacation. All in all, I'd do it again, just maybe not with such high expectations.

32 Months of Twinkle

I realised after the last post, if I don't have pictures taken and ready to go up here that if I post, they will never be done, so yes I'm late, but pictures are better then no pictures.

I think it's a mark that you're getting older, that I have to make a point to take your picture at all. I used to follow you around with the camera waiting for something cute to happen. Or perhaps it's that I'm used to your cuteness, so I'm desensitised to it.

I realised yesterday that we're been trying to potty train you for longer then I realised. 9 months almost, and though some days are worse then others (see how I didn't say better?) and I'm feeling really defeated, as there has been little to no progress from where we were 3 months ago. And now just getting you to sit on the potty is a trial. I don't know what to do at this point, I'm kind of giving up, so if you're going to college in diapers, this is where that all started. Sorry about that, but it's your own fault.

The last few days you've gone from your miniature appetite to actually eating food. And you act like I'm starving you. Like I don't offer you food at all the proper intervals. You had your first picnic of the season yesterday and I think the clean air made you extra hungry since you finished your plate of food and kept going. Asking for more hot dogs, more yogurt and finishing what I gave you. I'm enjoying the hungry you, even if you are more demanding, but I'd rather you demand to eat rather then proclaim that dinner is for the weak. Then after your big lunch you ate a ton of food for dinner. I was so shocked I didn't even know what to feed you! Luckily there was plenty of food that day. It was a BBQ full of jello and veggies and ice cubes! You ate chips and carrots and even raw broccoli and cauliflower (double-dipped in the ranch dressing.)

You are loving the nice weather. You want to be outside constantly. Which is all well and good, since it helps me get the weeding done in the garden. Our backyard finally goes with the front yard (meaning there is grass and it's even green.) Last year the backyard was nothing but knee high weeds and dirt, but somehow it's turned into a lawn with a garden. Of course the trouble now is keeping you out of the garden. You steal our shovels and use them with abandon. I never know when you will strike at vegetables or weeds alike. I've tried to give you your own little patch of earth, but your not buying it which means there may be more broccoli with missing leaves in the future.

You're going through a weird phase were you don't want me to leave you. Not at school, not at nursery. You want to go, but you don't want me to leave you there. You actually cried today as I left you at school. You're being very clingy, but then if I was to come and get you, you would cry that you have to leave. Make up your mind little girl! Of course now, it's daddy's turn to pick you up so that I can work late, then we'll be able to have Fridays to ourselves. I'm excited that we'll be together another day. maybe we can get this potty thing worked out.

Kisses,

Mama

Somewhere Only We Know

Exactly 4 years ago on May 12th, 2005, Keane played in Salt Lake for the first time. I was there with Niki and we had a blast. When I found out Keane was going to be back I knew we needed to be there. I forgot about it the day they went on sale, so it wasn't until they had been on sale for hours that I got us some tickets, they were decent and since the show was at Kingsbury, I figured there wasn't a bad seat in the house.

What a day. Picking Niki up and trying to get onto the freeway was crazy. Construction forced us into one lane, and when the person in front of us decided to turn left even though there was a "No Left Turn" and that also meant that no one behind them would get through the light, so I laid on my horn. Several times. The guy in car was obviously irritated and looked like he was going to get out of the car and "have words" with me, but didn't and they pulled forward just enough that I could get around them, but if I'd had a bigger vehicle I couldn't have. There are never cops when you need them.

We headed to dinner at Rumbi's downtown and the food was super yummy. I'm not going to find out how many calories were in that salad, I'm going to pretend that it was good for me because it had lettuce! After finishing we were excited to get going. Too excited apparently. I backed out of the parking space, looking over one shoulder to watch for oncoming parking lot traffic and heard the tell-tale crunch. Great, now I was going to have to pay for someone else's bumper. Again. Maybe this will teach me not to really look. I thought I had already learned that lesson. I got out of the car with insurance in hand and the guy driving the other car looked at his bumper, which was cracked and smudged with my paint and told me not to worry about it. The crack had already been there and he wasn't concerned about the cosmetic damage. My bumper is probably a little more dinged then it already was, but I could care less about a shiny car at this point. I thanked him and we took off, more carefully this time. Looking for parking for Kingsbury we found this parking lot that had a cop and sign that said "Kingsbury hall permits only" so I was going to ask said cop where I should park and he said just to pick an empty spot in the lot. Score! We waltzed into Kingsbury and they must have started promptly at 7:30 because at 7:35 when we got there, the opening act was already there. Helio Sequence, they were good. The drummer was completely nuts. Making crazy faces while playing the throwing his head around. I need to check out their myspace and see what they sound like un-live. They coming back to Salt Lake next month for a show at the urban lounge, so I should know if I want to go to that.

Next came on Mat Kearney, who I am fond of, and after a bit of research found out he has had 4 songs on Grey's Anatomy. That show is a career starter! He was good, he played some new stuff and I debate whether I should get a few more of his songs. He played "All I Need" which was amazing and beautiful, and always melts my black, little heart.

His voice was so crisp and clear and exactly as it is on the recordings. He oozed confidence and his voice soared. He also rocked a cool hat, so another plus for him.

Then it was Keane! The boys came out and played "The Lovers Are Losing" which is off the new album. The one I don't have. I've listened to it many times online over the past few days. I love some of the songs. the rest leave me a bit cold. I was hoping that seeing them live I would get more into them, but the first song was a keeper. And then I remembered why 4 years ago I decided that Keane was the best show I'd ever seen. The lead singer Tom, is a force of nature. He doesn't just sing the songs, he's a real performer. He engages the crowd and jumps around and emotes all the passion in the song. It also helps that his voice is like that of an angel. Then it was some songs from the debut album 'Hopes and Fears' which were a real crowd pleaser. Everyone knew all the words, and at this point I realised I couldn't see a single empty seat. Well, sort of. We were all on our feet, vacating our seats and rocking out. Tom even thanked us for leaving our seats and really getting into the show. I didn't know we even had this many Keane fans in the whole state.

When they started a song from the middle album, "A Bad Dream", I was pleased. I've had this one for years and felt I knew it well. Of course I usually listen to it at work, so I didn't know the words except the chorus, but it was still really good and also made me want to listen to this album more, since I should know it better than I do.

Tom was dancing and playing guitars, he had more guitar changes then Morrissey has shirt changes during a show. This was the first tour and album with guitars. Keane has always been a piano-based band, since Tim Roce-Oxley, the pianist, is really the creative force behind the band. That is what thrust them into the spotlight, being a band that didn't have a guitar. I liked the added element, but unfortunately for several songs, it also muddied the melodies and completely drowned out not only the piano, but also some of the vocals. It could have just been the mix last night, but it made me wish they wouldn't also have the guitar or bass in the background, these songs don't need it, they rock out hard enough without them.

And speaking of rocking, Tim was so intense. He really should have whiplash. He plays the piano with his whole body. That was one of the reasons I loved Break and Repair Method, Paul's piano playing, but Tim take it up to a whole different level. He's head banging his way through the songs and playing up the crowds. He was so fun to watch. Also fun to watch was the 60-something year old man in the crowd. He was tall, which is why I probably noticed him, but he was rocking the air-drums and dancing and singing along to it all. I hope when I'm that old, if my face hasn't caved in, that I can still rock with the kids and enjoy music that's played loudly at 11.

The band got to some more new songs, new songs that I didn't love or even like that well, and I was hopeful. But they didn't come through for me, they sounded a bit Keane-by-numbers for me, in that they sounded like other Keane songs, but without anything to really make them special. At this point I decided that I would download the songs I liked, and leave the ones I didn't. Bless this age of technology where you don't have to spend $15 on an album for 3 or 4 amazing songs.

They finished there set with "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Crystal Ball" and the crowd loved it. They left and people chanted "Keane Keane" and clapped and screamed. It was soooo loud! They came back on, clearly gratified with the crowds appreciation for the show. They played "Is it Any Wonder?" and got the energy going again. After that song I didn't know if they were going to leave or play us one more, but I crossed my fingers and then followed "Bedshaped" which they used to close there last show, and there's a reason. It's beautiful and intense. We walked out the door right by our seats and saw they had a little caution-line barricade in front of the buses, so Niki and I stopped to wait. Stalking rock stars is slow business.

Then we saw my friend from the Travis show, Robert. So we waited by him and his friend at the barricade. There were probably 30-40 people waiting and it was starting to get cold. We only had thin hoodies and the winds were gusty and chilly. Tom came out and I got him to sign my CD booklet and a picture with him. I asked him about whiplash and he said his neck does get soar and sometimes he also gets dizzy and then he just pulls back on the headbanging. He suffers so in the name of Rock. Then we waited. It seemed like they could only come out one at a time, and it was a long line for them to get through. But they were gracious and talked to everyone and took pictures when asked. Next the drummer Richard came out wearing a Utah t-shirt. He was really nice and I told him this show was better then the first one and then when he asked if I had been to the show 4 years ago everyone around me was all "I was there! Me!" but I guess people go nuts when rock stars are around.

Then the bassist/guitarist came out. I was going to have him sign my ticket, since I didn't really want him to sign and he might not have wanted to sign an album that he didn't play on. But he was nice and chatted for minute.

Then we waited more. It was late, after midnight, and I had 2 of 3 signatures on my CD case. I almost wanted to give up. I was shivering and feeling generally like I wanted to lie down, but we persisted. Then Tom finally came out. He said he would go down the line and sign things and THEN come back for photos. I didn't want to wait forever, so I got my CD signed, told him he was such a ball of charisma and we took off. Although I did have to stop and take a picture of his shoes, I didn't get a great look at them but they looked like winkle pickers, which was the rock star shoe of choice in the 60s and has a very pointy toe. The heater in the car worked surprisingly well and we got toasty soon. Very pleased with my most recent encounter with rock stars. I'll definitely see Keane again when they come, and I have already downloaded 4 songs from the new album. And you should too.

The fruits of my labor. The perfectly signed CD.

Smooth Like Dolphin

Combobulations Elizagerth

That's right folks, I'm taking a cake decorating class. And I'll tell you something they don't tell you in the brochure, it's a costly endeavor. You think the class costs $25 which isn't bad. But come to find out, that pays for the person to tell you have to make icing. Not the actual icing. Or the cake. Or the stuff you use to put icing onto the cake. So I think I'm in for $100 right now. I needed a new cake pan. The teacher had a 3" pan and I totally wanted one! It's cute, so no worries and I tested it out for this weeks lesson. It worked like a dream. The cake almost popped itself out of that sucker it was so easy to remove! But then there was the frosting. Lucky for me I have a partner in my crime, the best ever Niki who helped me make enough icing to ice about 4 cakes in a myriad of pale colors that would help me make the best cake ever. And it was a good thing too, because making that much icing took about 3 hours that i wouldn't have had if I wasn't at someone else's house, spilling powdered sugar all over someone else's floor.

This was Stars week, as you might be able to tell from my cake. We also worked on the base of your Wilton™ rose that we will perfect by the end of class. It's suppose to look like a white Hershey's kiss. We did well. We are amazing. Then we worked on writing and lines and whatnot. Let's just say that Niki and I are the stars of that class. Really. Everyone wants to be us. And I can't blame them. I only ate small amounts of frosting and my mouth didn't even get stained blue! I'm excited to go back next week, and that's a good sign.

And then after my class I found out I'm a new auntie again! It was a sweet day.