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Driving to work, I was tired and feeling blah. Almost to the parking lot, I get a rock chip in my new car's windshield...right in front of my face. Great.
Entering work there's a 20 page fax from my boss waiting for me, incomplete with vague instructions; a new task I need to do immediately, if not sooner. Should only take hours and hours; I can just work on it between my other myriad tasks...no lunches for me for a week or so, I'm guessing.
One employee goes home sick, one is just in a cranky mood (and why couldn't they be the same employee?). Bad hair day, tired, red eyes and a blemish on my chin...feeling ugly today, for sure.
I had a big case of the Mondays.
However, it was impossible to stay miserable. I received texts from 2 of my favorite MOGGERS that made me smile, laugh, and respond in like. I spent a good 20 minutes of my drive home talking with Lizzieness (and Mum) and THAT can brighten any day. But that's not even the best of it.
In the mailbox was a manilla package of goodness and love. Dale, that awesome man that I love more and more every day, found it in his heart to send me a ton of cookies (snickerdoodles and chocolate chocolate chip--and is that a hint of mint I taste?) and although baked goods wins me over everytime, I am more excited to sample the TWO DISC mixes!
I'm not sure which will be more sweet; Disc one is about the magic of summertime and disc two a gentle ribbing about the lack or rain in So. Kansas (compared to Seattle maybe? heh). Featured: JAMC, The Cure, Primal Scream, Swervedriver and 37!!! 37 other artists! That's right folks, I have 41 songs, selected by our infamous EMCD. You think I'm a happy girl? You'd be so right.
Thanks Dale...you ROCKED MY MONDAY! I <3 you big time, brother.
You remind me of home, the paint cracks when the water leaks from the rusty pipes that are just beneath my feet...
I have an older house. 8 years ago, temporary insanity overtook us and we purchased a house built in 1934, added onto in the 50’s and filled with indoor/outdoor carpet, wallpaper, and pepto bismol pink wall tile. While the house was structurally sound and had good bones, it was ugly with a capital U and needed tons of cosmetic surgery. The kicker? Dan and I could barely change a light bulb. To say we weren’t handy is an understatement of epic proportions.
The past few years have been interesting. There’s no more wallpaper. One bathroom is astoundingly beautiful, with handcrafted tiles and vintage pedestal sink (we got the pros to help with that project, although I did the demo--just hand me a sledge hammer and a crowbar and I have a PARTY), the kitchen has gotten a facelift although it still needs a total rehaul.
This this weekend I attacked the hallway.
Out went the stinky, stained brown commercial grade carpet. Up I pried the really disgusting tack strips. Underneath? Asbestos tiles. Hmmmm….Paint it? Nah. FLOOR TILE!
I’m still not handy but I have discovered that if Home Depot makes a how-to book, I can do almost anything. Saturday, after 14 hours with only breaks for a sandwich and to use the bathroom, my back is killing me, my knees are bruised, even my butt feels like I’ve been booted in it several times. Sunday has been about the grouting and finish work and it's not complete, yet. But the floor is looking good. Not great, but good, better. And I did it all myself. (My husband actually took a bubble bath while I grouted. A BUBBLE BATH! ).
Now, I contemplate that wall that makes my kitchen sooooo small and claustrophobic. I wonder if it’s a weight bearing wall…It would really open up the room if it were gone.
Where’s that sledge hammer?
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when your fibromyalgia sister comes to visit for the first time - she will be ever so impressed with what you've done & help you create more by drinking a lot whilst you work ;)
But older housed have so much character(easy for me to say, my back doesn't hurt - just steal some meds from work!)
Oooh...let me know if you decide to take the wall down, I'll make a demolition mix for you!!
Oh, the wall is coming down...it's just a matter of time. And money. And convincing Dan it's a good idea.
With all the hoopla of Coachella and Bonnaroo, with Virgin and APW and Lolla, we tend to forget the small music festivals. I, too, have been remiss about touting the greatness of local block parties; despite the lack of huge name headliners, there is often such lovely aural goodness to indulge in.
So, in that vein, I give you a belated post on Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party. Late July finds 4 blocks on Seattle’s busy Capitol Hill filled with people and stages and vendors. This year’s event ran 2 days, and for a paltry $34 you could go both. With headliners like The Hold Steady and Vampire Weekend and DeVotcKa, it really was a bargain.
I actually attended only one day (I was leaving for Lolla the next week, and the guilt trip my family sent me on kept me close to home for the 2nd day) but it was well worth it.
First up was Kay Kay and his weathered underground. I’ve posted about these guys before but hadn’t seen them perform, so I demanded we arrive early enough to catch them open the main stage. One great thing about block parties is the wealth of local talent, and Kay Kay is one of my favorite newish local discoveries. Quirky and lighthearted they didn’t disappoint.
Then…I had to leave. I had forgotten my sunglasses and my head was splitting. My family and I slipped through the barricades and drove to the in-laws. Funny thing..after some time, some ibuprofen and a couple of glasses of wine, some ibuprofen and time, I felt much better so I traded my kids for my nephew (who is 15, plays guitar, LOVES music and doesn’t get out much) and we returned to the street scene.
In the 3 hours or so, many many many more people had arrived. As we wove our way to the main stage, we could hear the end of Fleet Foxes set. I bet my nephew thinks I’m nuts because we dove into the crowd, maneuvering and dodging for a good vantage point in the masses. Nick asked me how close do I think we’ll get? "Up front" was my answer and he looked doubtful…ah, youth. So skeptical.
The next band was Chromeo and while I hadn’t heard of them, the canned music while they set up (and the crowd waiting for them) lead me to think they were hip-hop, dance mix, or techno and I was correct; they were all three. Not my kind of music for the most part but a completely enjoyable 50 minutes. The audience was into it and the lead singer had a killer smile. Nothing wrong with that combo.
Now…we made our move. As the techno kids with the crooked hats made their way back to their suped up Honda Civics, we slithered and shifted to the front for The Hold Steady. (faith in aunt Amber restored).
Last time The Hold Steady was in Seattle they played at the University of Washington HUB…the worst venue in a city full of music. It was like seeing them in a cafeteria, complete with fluorescent lighting on the ceiling. And it was NO DRINKING ALLOWED! WHAT? At a HOLD STEADY show? Terrible. This time was perfect. The boys came out and proceeded to dazzle. The sun set during their set…always a magical time for music. Ah, yeeeeaaaaahh.
So…moral to this story? Go to the block parties, the local fests, the good times. Seriously.
BTW...as I wrote this, I watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Forgive me if it doesn't flow well, if there's a few misspelled words. :)
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im so used to dropping 100s of dollars for a festival that $34 for 2 days sounds so nice...maybe the small fests are where its at
and i seem to recall your post about the last Hold Steady show and its....policy
glad you could get all liquored up this time :-)
Did you mention Ferris? I own it. Heck, my first love was a guy that could have been Ferris. It's the 2nd time today I've mentioned him...hmmmm?
Nice picts friend.
L: When coachella put me back almost $300 and Lolla approached $200 presale...$34 for those 2 days made me almost feel guilty. Although nothing can compare to a big fest for the sampling of music possible, you can really dig into a smaller party. And it isn't so much whether I can get liquored up, but the band! The Hold Steady is a bar band that's outgrown the bar venue, but not the attitude. :)
Annie...I adore Matthew Broderick but my first love looked exactly like John Cusak. I save Cusak movies for special occasions.
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YOU GOT SNICKERDOODLES - I WANT A RECOUNT ;)
I taste a hint of mint as well & had to share with Mum - she's trying to take the larger package & I am standing FIRM - that's MY BRO'S COOKIES FOR ME - STEP OFF OLD WOMAN ;)
Glad I could make your day a better one - lawd knows you helped me with mine :)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO & tons of SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
That's a mint flavored hash cookie babe... enjoy! LOL!!! It will make _any Monday look like a Friday night...!
Van
If you knew our Dale - you'd know we only get high off the love in them - but if you're willing to send me a box of hash cookies Van - I will gladly pay the shipping charges ;)