Mother's Finest

This was an impromptu 'Ladies Night'...Mother's Finest was in town and the girls wanted to check it out.

I saw the posters for this band when Terry and I went to the Kammgarn to see Lez Zeppelin. I called Claudia and asked, "Why do I think I know this band?"

This is one of Claudia's favorite bands and she saw them years and years ago. When I told her that I was more than happy to go with her, she lent me a CD so I could get familiar with the music. We listened to it in the car and it sounded slightly rocking, more funk than hard but really good. Terry had no interest.

When we got there, the place was packed. Claudia and Carmen saw bunches of friends. We wormed our way towards the front and then they started to wail...

Iam not joking. They ROCKED. HARD. I did not expect this whatsoever, but completely enjoyed it. Watching the lead singer, Joyce "Baby Jean" Kennedy, was like watching Tina Turner perform on crack. The guitar plays were out of control. This was the first concert I really got a rush off of the bass players AMAZING 5 minute solo...he totally killed.

As they rolled on, Carmen and I made our way more central front and at the end, the rhythm guiartist, John Hayes, leaned over and handed me his guitar pick (the pick of destiney) and gave me a kiss!! A few encores later, it was off to the bar in the lobby for a beer and some souvenir shopping.

The girls and I were chatting when I had to make my move..."I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere!" I headed to the side of the stage and asked the "bouncer" if he would take my T-shirt to the band to have them sign it. "Uh, lady...They are right there" and pointed just beyond my shoulder - COOL!

I talked with the drummer...nice guy. John Hayes came out and we just started chit-chatting away...kids, touring, why haven't I ever heard of such a rocking band that is American? And why does everyone in Germany seem to know them like they were the Rolling Stones?

Talking, talking, talking....I had to get back to my posse at the bar...."Want a drink?" So, John and I were headed back to the bar where I very proudly introduced my new posse member to the rest. A few vodka shots later it was time to get John to have the rest of the band sign my shirt -- the girls were getting snacky.

And so...the shirt was signed...I was totally buzzed (by rock guitarist celebrity and the alcohol) we went for Mexican food and the posse finished off what I consider one of THE BEST concert experiences I have ever had.

Check out their site....get some of their music and if they ever come 'round your part of the world....check them out. They are totally worth losing one's voice over!

Mother's Finest
Saturday, March 24, 2007

Spring brings SNOW?!

Indeed...this year it has.

This was our only real accumulation of snow this "winter" (ha ha ha) and it only lasted a few hours....

This is my forsythia bush starting to bloom (and our backyard) at 7.30 am .....





And the same bush at 6.00 pm. Crazy!
By mid-day, the rain came, washed all the snow away and then the sun came out. Is winter really over, or is Mother Nature playing games with us?

Man's Night

"Journey in Concert" - the purpose of this 'Man's Night'

You know...people tend to talk smack about 80's bands, and Journey is one of the biggest of them, but let me tell you what: They kicked ass!

Neil Schon was everything I imagined in a guitar player. The band was tight, songs were incredible, and due to the size of the venue, the show had an intimate feel to it.

Now, people have talked about the former lead singer, Steve Perry. Yeah yeah, he was good. But the new singer, Jeff Scott Soto, was as good, if not better. I had the luck years ago to see him perform when he was with Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, and remember being impressed then. Like a fine wine, his voice has only improved with age.

So, when you are out, looking at the lights go down on the city, hoping to be loving, touching and feeling your girl, and wondering why the girl can't help it, remember you owe it all to Journey!!

~ Terry

Saturday, March 17, 2007

7 7 07

check it out... here ... this has the potential to be incredible!!!

Emilyn the Artist

Okay...this work is just way totally cool. My friend's daughter, Emilyn did this and when I saw it, I was blown away. Still am. I'm totally diggin the whole mask/dragon thing that's going on. Honestly folks...how seriously awesome is this scratchboard???


Click here to view Emilyn's other achievements and her little brother Allen (the cutest little one year old I've seen).

Jennie, Emilyn's mom, and I were friends way back when we were in pre-HS. Eons ago, ey Jennie? I just couldn't resist sharing this photo of Emilyn's work. I am really digging it...especially since she is only 8! COOL!!

Spring has Sprung?!

Well folks...I know a lot of you had quite a winter season...but we all lucked out here. We did NOT have any sort of winter whatsoever! We had ONE dusting of snow that lasted all of about an hour...then the rain came and washed it all away. Sure we have had a couple of frosty mornings, but that's about it. Nothing else.

And now...I whole heartedly believe that we have entered spring. It was been blue skies and sun for the past 4 days with the forecast predicting more of the same. Trevor and I have been out every day since Saturday enjoying the sun and warmth. I am loooooooooovin' it!! Although, Trevor isn't so happy with sun in his face, but he'll get used to it - I hope!

But it leads me to think back to the movie I saw and this whole global warming thing. How can it not be true when I just experienced the LACK of an ENTIRE season. Seriously, it was like going from a really long fall to mid-spring. How can this be?

I've been following Terry around flipping off all the lights and living without them for most of the day. I have cut the heat and hand Terry a sweater when he indicates that he's chilly. I unplug every unnecessary plug that isn't being actively used and actually cut off my bruners before my cooking is done, as I know they will take a while to cool down and will continue to cook my food. I have become obsessed with recycling and go through everything that has been thrown away to make sure that it can in fact be recycled. Terry says I have become a crazy person.

Hey...if it'll help any, then I'm doing something good. Anyway.............

Things with the Garbo Gang couldn't be better. We are all happy and doing well...Trevor is crawling and experiencing everthing the house has to offer...the dogs are outside for a large portion of the day now, bathing in the sun and we are all feeling good. The sun shines and we are all the better for it.

I can't wait to see what the summer has in store for us!

I AMsterdam

Augh! The next morning after Fasching, I was at the Frankfurt Airport waiting on a plane to take me and Laura to Amsterdam. It was not a pleasant morning.

Especially when Terry called me to tell me that he was having all sorts of problems with a tooth and had to have surgery and was in pain and didn't know what to do with Trevor. (This was my first time away for more than just a couple of hours from home since Trevor was born.) I was worried. I considered canceling. But I didn't.

Laura and I made it to the city (with a delayed flight and some missing luggage) with minor siutations and got our weekend getaway underway. Dinner at an italian resto, yellow shots and didn't stop appearing...the red light district...a stolen wallet.

Yep...somewhere along the way, my wallet was stolen. On the first night there. What a total and complete bummer. Phone calls to Terry at around 4 am to cancel everything and to figure out what to do next.

Saturday was complete with returned luggage (Laura was very relieved to get her stuff) and I went to the Police station to file a report. Funny...he gave me a map of the city (so i knew what other police station to go to) and I used that map all weekend. It's was strange to use the police stations as landmarks...

Sunday was culture day with the Anne Frank house and a canal tour. We happened upon a killer mexican resto off the beaten path and there we had a delightful dinner before heading to the disco.

We had relatively decent weather...a bit overcast and a little bit chilly, but considering it was the middle of February, I think we totally lucked out. We walked the city again and again and I was getting pretty good at navigating around. It's actually a pretty small place, surprisingly. Which was nice since we hoofed it.

Monday back at the airport and back to our real lives. Terry was fine, albeit on mega amounts of antibiotics and pain killers, Trevor was great and Cheyenne was here for her carnival week vacation.

As Laura put it, "I AMsterdam"....I was happy to be home!

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Altweiberfasching

Or "Old Woman's Day" is one where women have free reign all day. Men wear old ties as the german ladies run around with scissors and cut up the men's neckwear. This is a day where there are no rules and no consequences. No questions asked. It's no wonder this doesn't exist in America!!

Women tend to gather and socialize in groups...traditionally dressed as old witches. But this is a carnival type event and each little village hosts Altweiberfascing parties. We all went as celestial witches (actually we only wore the same kinds of hats) but people were dressed as all kinds of things. There were groups of Dorothy's, School Girls, Fairies, Nuns...anything you can think of. The men got into it too....there were some guys dressed up as Tarzans, Fussball Players, Cowboys...again...anything you can think of, there were at least one of them.

We (Laura, Claudia, Carmen and myself) had a really good time, although I think I was the one who imbibed the most...augh! (I definitely made up for being the pregnant DD at last years festivities!)

And...scarily enough, I met a women who I am fairly certain was exactly me in a different body. Both groups of friends (hers and mine) were a bit concerned we'd get into trouble hanging out together, so our respective friends were very good and separating us when we did run into each other.

Good times, good times. Thank god it's only one night a year!!!

Thursday, February 15, 2007