Our last day at ACL was FANtastic. We started the day at Ryan Shaw (where we also left a chair to stake out a spot), then popped over to The Broken West. They announced they were going to be signing autographs over at the Waterloo Records tent. So we ran over there and got the CDs and got in the line and while we were there we also were able to catch Robert Earl Keene.
The guys from Broken West were really sweet. After Robert Earl Keene, we took a look at all the people coming in and decided to pass on Lucinda Williams. Instead we went back over to the stage where we had left our chair. While we were waiting for My Morning Jacket, we had to listen to Common. Didn't like that one bit. Really disappointed that Rodrigo y Gabriela weren't there because we would have been listening to them.
The best part of My Morning Jacket was that Andrew Bird sat in with them! HG had to leave right after so she took the chairs and I moved up front for Dylan. I shared my blanket with a jetski couple from Florida while we waited for Dylan to begin.
He doesn't sing the way he used to. In fact, it took some time for me to figure out what the song was. But it was a great set. Definitely worth waiting all day in the crowd.
Thank you ACL. See you next year!
16 September 2007
ACL Update
I have spent two days so far at ACL and the last day is today. We have been having a fantastic time!
We started out seeing Pete Yorn (with Minibar, of course). Walked past Peter Bjorn & John on our way to the Crowded House stage. Sat and listened to Blonde Redhead while waiting for Crowded House to begin. Met up with the Minibar crew just before CH started. Decided against walking back to the stage where Pete had played to see Spoon so stayed put and heard LCD Soundsystem, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Kaiser Chiefs.
The lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs climbed up the scaffolding and injured himself when he jumped down, spent the whole set hopping on one foot. It was so PUNK!
Headed out before The Killers cuz Handicap Girl was exhausted. She'd had a Vicodin and fairly slept through the Chiefs.
Day Two was a bit more low key. Got there in time for Steve Earle, then planted ourselves for the remainder of the day for maximum band-age with minimum move-age. Saw Blue October, Andrew Bird, Arctic Monkeys, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Arcade Fire. Really bummed that I missed Damien Rice, but he was playing on the stage where Pete had played on Friday and there were just TOO MANY people to wade through.
Today we hope to see: Ryan Shaw, The Broken West, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, My Morning Jacket & Bob Dylan. Well, at least I plan to see all of those. Handicap Girl has a slightly diferent agenda. But we will be in touch by cell (if we can get a signal!)
More to come - including pics, hopefully.
We started out seeing Pete Yorn (with Minibar, of course). Walked past Peter Bjorn & John on our way to the Crowded House stage. Sat and listened to Blonde Redhead while waiting for Crowded House to begin. Met up with the Minibar crew just before CH started. Decided against walking back to the stage where Pete had played to see Spoon so stayed put and heard LCD Soundsystem, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Kaiser Chiefs.
The lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs climbed up the scaffolding and injured himself when he jumped down, spent the whole set hopping on one foot. It was so PUNK!
Headed out before The Killers cuz Handicap Girl was exhausted. She'd had a Vicodin and fairly slept through the Chiefs.
Day Two was a bit more low key. Got there in time for Steve Earle, then planted ourselves for the remainder of the day for maximum band-age with minimum move-age. Saw Blue October, Andrew Bird, Arctic Monkeys, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Arcade Fire. Really bummed that I missed Damien Rice, but he was playing on the stage where Pete had played on Friday and there were just TOO MANY people to wade through.
Today we hope to see: Ryan Shaw, The Broken West, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, My Morning Jacket & Bob Dylan. Well, at least I plan to see all of those. Handicap Girl has a slightly diferent agenda. But we will be in touch by cell (if we can get a signal!)
More to come - including pics, hopefully.
13 September 2007
Austin City Limits
I'm so excited! My trip to ACL is finally here! So many bands to see. Time with my family. It should be really fun.
I will try to post during the trip. Don't quite know what the internet access availability will be.
Bands I am hoping to see include: Pete Yorn (with Minibar naturally), Peter Bjorn & John, Crowded House, Spoon, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, Steve Earle, Andrew Bird, Damien Rice, Arcade Fire, Ryan Shaw, The Broken West, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Wilco or My Morning Jacket (they are on at the same time), and Bob Dylan.
I have my map and my schedule so I am all set.
Yay!
I will try to post during the trip. Don't quite know what the internet access availability will be.
Bands I am hoping to see include: Pete Yorn (with Minibar naturally), Peter Bjorn & John, Crowded House, Spoon, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, Steve Earle, Andrew Bird, Damien Rice, Arcade Fire, Ryan Shaw, The Broken West, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Wilco or My Morning Jacket (they are on at the same time), and Bob Dylan.
I have my map and my schedule so I am all set.
Yay!
10 September 2007
Diet Update
Everyone who knows me knows that I have struggled with my weight for my entire life. Largely due to a medical condition I have had since childhood and the lifelong treatments, my growth was stunted and my metabolism and liver suffered damage. On top of that is my genetic pre-disposition to be overweight. So it's not been easy to try and lose weight.
When I turned 40, I decided that I would stop depriving myself and instead decided to focus on improving my health. I started walking regularly and I also started cutting back on all things fried.
I also threw out my scale, only getting weighed once in awhile - at the doctor's office or at the studio nurse. I hadn't gotten weighed since being laid off in January, but this weekend I weighed myself on my new roommate's digital scale.
I have lost 25 pounds since last November. That is approximately 2 pounds per month. I am very proud of myself and just had to toot my own horn by posting it in my blog.
The great part is that it hasn't been that hard because my friends and family are so supportive. My softball coach invited me to join his "good health pool" which I did. I tied for 1st last month and split the jackpot! My walking buddy called and said she missed walking with me after work (since the layoff) and could we try it and meet on weekends or a couple evenings a week. A co-worker shared her before pics with me, told me how hard it was for her to lose weight, but how she persisted and had managed to keep it off.
So thanks to all of you and to my determination, I have this small victory. Onward!
When I turned 40, I decided that I would stop depriving myself and instead decided to focus on improving my health. I started walking regularly and I also started cutting back on all things fried.
I also threw out my scale, only getting weighed once in awhile - at the doctor's office or at the studio nurse. I hadn't gotten weighed since being laid off in January, but this weekend I weighed myself on my new roommate's digital scale.
I have lost 25 pounds since last November. That is approximately 2 pounds per month. I am very proud of myself and just had to toot my own horn by posting it in my blog.
The great part is that it hasn't been that hard because my friends and family are so supportive. My softball coach invited me to join his "good health pool" which I did. I tied for 1st last month and split the jackpot! My walking buddy called and said she missed walking with me after work (since the layoff) and could we try it and meet on weekends or a couple evenings a week. A co-worker shared her before pics with me, told me how hard it was for her to lose weight, but how she persisted and had managed to keep it off.
So thanks to all of you and to my determination, I have this small victory. Onward!
23 August 2007
My trip to New York - The Beginning
My trip out to New York was pretty uneventful. My flight even landed a few minutes early. I met Katya and we got the bags and it all went very smoothly. We stopped at the A&P to pick up a few things and then headed over to the house. We got there and the air conditioning was so nice that Katya suggested I stay at the house rather than in the flat (with no air conditioning). I agreed!
We had a lovely little noshy dinner avec vino and when Hubby came home, we even sang karaoke until the wee hours (or so it felt with jet lag involved).
I was awakened in the night by the most furious thunder & lightning storm I have heard in some time - and yes it was also raining.
The next morning, Katya drops me at the station on her way to work and I head into the City. It is approximately 8:30 am when I board the train. The conductor apologised that the train was delayed by water on the tracks. No worries for me, right? I'm on vacation.
I get off the NJT at Penn Station and NYPD's finest are blocking the subway entrances - no subways running due to rain.
I am planning on going to Cloisters up in Harlem. I know the M4 bus goes there, but where to board? I head outside. I finally find the stop at Herald Square. Luckily, it's near the beginning of the route and there are few people lined up so I get on AND get a seat!
I get off the bus at Cloisters at 12:30pm - that's right! Including my train trip in, this adventure has taken 4 hours! Ridiculous, but I console myself that I am not trying to get to work or school or to an appointment. I am on vacation.
I enjoyed the museum and had lunch in the cafe (Katya had packed me some squash pie!) but while I'm admiring the view along the Hudson, I get an urgent text from The Little Dutch Girl who will be joining me tomorrow morning. She's heard about the subways being shut down and is a bit agitated about our schedule the next day. We go over all of her options and I tell her to phone when she lands tomorrow.
Upon leaving the museum, I discover that the subways are indeed running again and grab the A train downtown. I hop off and catch the crosstown bus to 5th Avenue and manage to squeeze in a quick visit to the Met before meeting my Hillsides Gal Pal for drinks after work.
On the downtown bus, a VERY handsome doctor (think McSteamy & McDreamy put together!) sits near me and answers pages while reading a Leica magazine. Everyone's got to have a hobby, right? The morning tranportation woes seem to be a hazy memory.
Something else that's relegated to the past: The Plaza Hotel. It has gone condo! It's all covered in scaffolding and leads me to the mantra for this trip "I guess you can do anything if you have enough money".
More later...
We had a lovely little noshy dinner avec vino and when Hubby came home, we even sang karaoke until the wee hours (or so it felt with jet lag involved).
I was awakened in the night by the most furious thunder & lightning storm I have heard in some time - and yes it was also raining.
The next morning, Katya drops me at the station on her way to work and I head into the City. It is approximately 8:30 am when I board the train. The conductor apologised that the train was delayed by water on the tracks. No worries for me, right? I'm on vacation.
I get off the NJT at Penn Station and NYPD's finest are blocking the subway entrances - no subways running due to rain.
I am planning on going to Cloisters up in Harlem. I know the M4 bus goes there, but where to board? I head outside. I finally find the stop at Herald Square. Luckily, it's near the beginning of the route and there are few people lined up so I get on AND get a seat!
I get off the bus at Cloisters at 12:30pm - that's right! Including my train trip in, this adventure has taken 4 hours! Ridiculous, but I console myself that I am not trying to get to work or school or to an appointment. I am on vacation.
I enjoyed the museum and had lunch in the cafe (Katya had packed me some squash pie!) but while I'm admiring the view along the Hudson, I get an urgent text from The Little Dutch Girl who will be joining me tomorrow morning. She's heard about the subways being shut down and is a bit agitated about our schedule the next day. We go over all of her options and I tell her to phone when she lands tomorrow.
Upon leaving the museum, I discover that the subways are indeed running again and grab the A train downtown. I hop off and catch the crosstown bus to 5th Avenue and manage to squeeze in a quick visit to the Met before meeting my Hillsides Gal Pal for drinks after work.
On the downtown bus, a VERY handsome doctor (think McSteamy & McDreamy put together!) sits near me and answers pages while reading a Leica magazine. Everyone's got to have a hobby, right? The morning tranportation woes seem to be a hazy memory.
Something else that's relegated to the past: The Plaza Hotel. It has gone condo! It's all covered in scaffolding and leads me to the mantra for this trip "I guess you can do anything if you have enough money".
More later...
18 August 2007
I love New York!
I just got back from a long weekend in New York. I have several new favourite spots. I met some great new people. I had the fun of being in the city the day the rain stopped the subways from running.
I will try to post some little tidbits about my trip in the next few weeks. But in case I don't, here are some places to try next time you are in the Big Apple:
The Cloisters & The Metropolitan Museum - $20 price is SUGGESTED so you can tell them what you would like to pay and they have to take it. Plus your admission is good for both places on the same day.
Dos Caminos - Park Avenue between 26th & 27th. Pretty decent margaritas and excellent guacamole but the menu is a bit too "nuevo" and the prices a bit "mucho". $70 for two for one drink and one appetizer each!
Kettle Of Fish - just north of the Christopher St station at 7th across from Sheridan Square. A classmate from Emma owns it now. If you had a bar in your living room, this would be the place. A comfortable watering hole with much more reasonable prices.
Pour - 74th & Amsterdam - a great wine boutique with free tastings, excellent staff, and great selection.
Josie's - 73rd & Amsterdam - an organic cafe with the best menu and most reasonable prices I saw on the whole trip.
Museum of Modern Art - free after 4pm on Fridays but make sure you are in line by 3pm.
Angus McIndoe - 44th across from the Majestic. A Scottish steakhouse? but the menu is excellent and the house wine (which MUST come from a box - vino collapsivo!) is excellent. Everything on the menu was fabulous and the best service I have had in a while. They even came to remind us that it was 7:30 in case we were on the way to the theatre!
Them's the highlights. Details to follow.
I will try to post some little tidbits about my trip in the next few weeks. But in case I don't, here are some places to try next time you are in the Big Apple:
The Cloisters & The Metropolitan Museum - $20 price is SUGGESTED so you can tell them what you would like to pay and they have to take it. Plus your admission is good for both places on the same day.
Dos Caminos - Park Avenue between 26th & 27th. Pretty decent margaritas and excellent guacamole but the menu is a bit too "nuevo" and the prices a bit "mucho". $70 for two for one drink and one appetizer each!
Kettle Of Fish - just north of the Christopher St station at 7th across from Sheridan Square. A classmate from Emma owns it now. If you had a bar in your living room, this would be the place. A comfortable watering hole with much more reasonable prices.
Pour - 74th & Amsterdam - a great wine boutique with free tastings, excellent staff, and great selection.
Josie's - 73rd & Amsterdam - an organic cafe with the best menu and most reasonable prices I saw on the whole trip.
Museum of Modern Art - free after 4pm on Fridays but make sure you are in line by 3pm.
Angus McIndoe - 44th across from the Majestic. A Scottish steakhouse? but the menu is excellent and the house wine (which MUST come from a box - vino collapsivo!) is excellent. Everything on the menu was fabulous and the best service I have had in a while. They even came to remind us that it was 7:30 in case we were on the way to the theatre!
Them's the highlights. Details to follow.
21 July 2007
Scofflaws Beware! You Have Been Warned!
I am inspired on this new series in my blog by an editorial in the New York Times. I have decided to make it my mission to record every incident of a driver who does not respect the rights of pedestrians as well as every violator of the recently enacted City Water Ordinance.
When available, I will snap photos of the offenders with my digital camera so I can illustrate their offense.
Today, we inaugurate this series with The Slut in the White Mercedes (partial license plate 5LZ) who turned left from California onto Maryland while I was in the crosswalk and couldn't even wait until I was on the other side of the yellow line before encroaching on the crosswalk. Next time I see this B@#$%, I will have my camera ready to snap her Ugly mug as well as her license plate.
When available, I will snap photos of the offenders with my digital camera so I can illustrate their offense.
Today, we inaugurate this series with The Slut in the White Mercedes (partial license plate 5LZ) who turned left from California onto Maryland while I was in the crosswalk and couldn't even wait until I was on the other side of the yellow line before encroaching on the crosswalk. Next time I see this B@#$%, I will have my camera ready to snap her Ugly mug as well as her license plate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)