!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday's Truth - I put my speakers in a blender.
I am listening to this 8-Bit Muse track as I am writing this so keep that in mind.....
OK so onto the truth of the week.
I bought a juicer a few months ago. I saw an infomercial on TV about the Montel Williams Power Juicer or something. I was on a get healthy kick and thought, sure I can do that! I can buy insane amounts of fruits and vegetables and blend them up and drink them. I can add random things like carrots and beets to make it taste better. I already drink Naked Juice and Jamba Juice so how hard can it be? It will be delicious. I will lose weight. Yada yada yada.
I bought the juicer from Target and paid a whopping $200ish for it. It must be good if it were that expensive, right? I hoped so. After Target I went to Whole Food and spent a crap load of money on organic fruits and veggies. If you are going to shop at Whole Foods you have to go the whole way - can't buy anything less than organic. Am I right again?
I got home and put everything away and put the blender together.
It was gigantic. The biggest blender I had ever seen.
It was huge. It was ugly.
It had Princess Leia bits coming out of the bottom.
I hated it.
I wanted it to go back to Target. The shoppers remorse had set in. I spent $200 on a freaking blender? What the hell was wrong with me. Shit. I thought, well it's here now so I may as well use it and make some delicious juice like in the infomercial.
They made it look so easy - like you could just throw in whole carrots and the amazing super sonic 100 year warrantied motor would easily blend it up. Um no. I put in some veggies and tried. Nope. Didn't do any blending at all - just moved the stuff around. Well what was the point of that! I yelled at the blender. I spent $200 so I didn't have cut the stuff into pieces you stupid blender! I took out all the fruits and veggies and cut them into small Health Master sized portions. (lame).
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I blended everything together to make the amazingly healthy and delicious drink I had been waiting for.
I poured the concoction into a cup.
I drank.
I realized how people lost weight on that diet.
Shit tasted awful.
I looked at the $200 juicer and had an idea.
I turned on the hot water and got the dish washing liquid ready and a few minutes later there was a good as new Health Master in a box on my kitchen floor. There was a problem. I had all the packaging but the machine would not fit back into the box like it had come out. I put it in as best I could but I had the top open as I put it in my car. I wanted to get the thing back to the store as soon as possible so no one would ever know I wasted $200ish on this machine. I put the box next to me on the passenger side. In doing so I had to move some things off the seat. I put my speakers I use for the Danny game when I am working resting on the blender container. I arrived at the store and I was in a hurry so I shut up the box the best I could and went to return the blender. I don't like returning things. This thing was totally used so I didn't like to return it at all. They asked me if everything was OK with the blender. Yeah it was fine, I just changed my mind (because the juice tasted like shit). And with that they returned my money and took the blender. I went back to the car, happy to be rid of the blender and the whole stupid blender ordeal.
When I sat in the car I paused.
Where were my speakers?
Oh shit.
I had packed them in the blender box!
Someone who buys the $200ish blender was going to get some nifty speakers too.
Oh well. Served me right.
I considered it to be the stupid tax payment and left it at that.
Every time I go to that store and I walk past the aisle I wonder who got the bonus prize.
At least they can listen to music when they are drinking juice that tastes like shit.
OK so onto the truth of the week.
I bought a juicer a few months ago. I saw an infomercial on TV about the Montel Williams Power Juicer or something. I was on a get healthy kick and thought, sure I can do that! I can buy insane amounts of fruits and vegetables and blend them up and drink them. I can add random things like carrots and beets to make it taste better. I already drink Naked Juice and Jamba Juice so how hard can it be? It will be delicious. I will lose weight. Yada yada yada.
I got home and put everything away and put the blender together.
It was gigantic. The biggest blender I had ever seen.
It was huge. It was ugly.
It had Princess Leia bits coming out of the bottom.
I hated it.
I wanted it to go back to Target. The shoppers remorse had set in. I spent $200 on a freaking blender? What the hell was wrong with me. Shit. I thought, well it's here now so I may as well use it and make some delicious juice like in the infomercial.
They made it look so easy - like you could just throw in whole carrots and the amazing super sonic 100 year warrantied motor would easily blend it up. Um no. I put in some veggies and tried. Nope. Didn't do any blending at all - just moved the stuff around. Well what was the point of that! I yelled at the blender. I spent $200 so I didn't have cut the stuff into pieces you stupid blender! I took out all the fruits and veggies and cut them into small Health Master sized portions. (lame).
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I blended everything together to make the amazingly healthy and delicious drink I had been waiting for.
I poured the concoction into a cup.
I drank.
I realized how people lost weight on that diet.
Shit tasted awful.
I looked at the $200 juicer and had an idea.
I turned on the hot water and got the dish washing liquid ready and a few minutes later there was a good as new Health Master in a box on my kitchen floor. There was a problem. I had all the packaging but the machine would not fit back into the box like it had come out. I put it in as best I could but I had the top open as I put it in my car. I wanted to get the thing back to the store as soon as possible so no one would ever know I wasted $200ish on this machine. I put the box next to me on the passenger side. In doing so I had to move some things off the seat. I put my speakers I use for the Danny game when I am working resting on the blender container. I arrived at the store and I was in a hurry so I shut up the box the best I could and went to return the blender. I don't like returning things. This thing was totally used so I didn't like to return it at all. They asked me if everything was OK with the blender. Yeah it was fine, I just changed my mind (because the juice tasted like shit). And with that they returned my money and took the blender. I went back to the car, happy to be rid of the blender and the whole stupid blender ordeal.
When I sat in the car I paused.
Where were my speakers?
Oh shit.
I had packed them in the blender box!
Someone who buys the $200ish blender was going to get some nifty speakers too.
Oh well. Served me right.
I considered it to be the stupid tax payment and left it at that.
Every time I go to that store and I walk past the aisle I wonder who got the bonus prize.
At least they can listen to music when they are drinking juice that tastes like shit.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Grown Ups
I was a bit unsure about seeing this movie. I had seen the trailers and I was kinda hmmm. The last movie I saw at the movies with David Spade in it was Dickie Roberts. Waste of money. I used to love Adam Sandler but now I find him annoying. I hate Rob Schneider. Period. Nothing will ever change that. I do like Chris Rock ever since I saw him perform at the Gibson Amphitheater a few years back and I have a thing for Kevin James. I think he is really cute. I can't explain it but I just want to give him a big hug.
Here is the preview for the movie. It looks really corny and lame doesn't it?
Guess what? It was shockingly OK. I mean it was full of stupid Sandler humor but I found I could really relate to the characters - probably because now I am a parent and a grown up. I even liked the Sandler character. That hasn't happened in a long time. Still wanted to shoot the Rob S one in the heart and not in the foot during Arrow Roulette.
It made me think about the way that our kids spend their free time and now I am really working hard to making their lives more outdoors and play oriented. This weekend we went to the parade, played at the park, played soccer and brandy, painted, played with toys and the Wii and the DSi's were put away. We are planning on going to Arizona in a couple of weeks for a mini vacation. I am really excited about traveling as a family now as we are going to show the kids the best time we can afford that doesn't involve spending a lot of money. It's going to be fun and I am looking forward to it. It has been a long time since the four of us have been on a vacation together but now everyone is old enough so we can do it.
Bring it on.
So go and watch Grown Ups. Don't take it too seriously. It's a good movie - although not as good as Hot Tub Time Machine but that goes without saying. Watch the preview but be warned - its totally R-rated with swearing. Don't say I didn't warn you. LOVE this movie!
Here is the preview for the movie. It looks really corny and lame doesn't it?
Guess what? It was shockingly OK. I mean it was full of stupid Sandler humor but I found I could really relate to the characters - probably because now I am a parent and a grown up. I even liked the Sandler character. That hasn't happened in a long time. Still wanted to shoot the Rob S one in the heart and not in the foot during Arrow Roulette.
It made me think about the way that our kids spend their free time and now I am really working hard to making their lives more outdoors and play oriented. This weekend we went to the parade, played at the park, played soccer and brandy, painted, played with toys and the Wii and the DSi's were put away. We are planning on going to Arizona in a couple of weeks for a mini vacation. I am really excited about traveling as a family now as we are going to show the kids the best time we can afford that doesn't involve spending a lot of money. It's going to be fun and I am looking forward to it. It has been a long time since the four of us have been on a vacation together but now everyone is old enough so we can do it.
Bring it on.
So go and watch Grown Ups. Don't take it too seriously. It's a good movie - although not as good as Hot Tub Time Machine but that goes without saying. Watch the preview but be warned - its totally R-rated with swearing. Don't say I didn't warn you. LOVE this movie!
Look at these crazy people
As a friend of mine said: "Isn't it funny that the foreigners are on the front page of the paper celebrating the 4th of July!" Here is the full story here on The Signal.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
I got my hashtag - cue Weezer
If you know what this means you know what it means.
The Twitterz are golden when they are not broken.
The Twitterz are golden when they are not broken.
Listen:
Newhall Coffee Summer Party
On Friday July 2nd I had one of the most fun nights ever. Mitch and Lisa and the Newhall Coffee crew invited literally all of Santa Clarita to their location in Valencia to celebrate Coffee for a Cause and Newhall Coffee as a whole. It was so much fun because I got to hang out with all my amazing friends. I sat outside, listened to music and relaxed. It was super fun.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday's Thoughts - Music and Me
(This is a total rant so it may or may not make sense)
What is music to you?
I'll try to explain what music is to me.
What is music to you?
I'll try to explain what music is to me.
When I listen to music I feel like I am drinking water after being really thirsty or drinking coffee when I am tired and cold. I feel it. It makes me feel alive. I feel it inside. It can change my mood instantly from crazy to absolute calm. Not everyone feels this way and I just can't understand that.
I listen to songs in different ways and it is rarely the lyrics that interest me. This might come from the fact that I spent years in Japan listening to songs that I didn't understand the words to. I always listen to the bass and the drums. That totally comes from literally spending hours and days and weeks and years as a teenager listening to my boyfriend practice bass for his band. We listened to a lot of Primus and RCHP (Flea) and Bootsy Collins. He was very talented but just never got his act into gear. One of my very best friends Tim was the band's drummer. He was extraordinarily talented too. Give him any instrument and he was good to go. Then there was Pete who was incredible at everything but particularly in song-writing. He is the only one still playing and still plays in an experimental music band back in Melbourne called Chotto Matte. (It's not for everyone but they like to mess around with sound.)
In high school I would sit back, smoke and listen to The 73 Bob Bob play. It really was a great time in my life and the boys helped shape my ear for music.
As a younger kid (a tween I suppose) I liked teenybopper stuff but that kind of stopped when I bought my first LP - Faith No More - The Real Thing. Epic was my favourite song and from there I went into Guns and Roses, Metallica and all those hair bands.
The greatest thing happened to me was when grunge hit Australia. I adored everything about it. I wore the docs. I had the flannel shirts and the jeans with the holes in it. My boyfriend had the long hair in a ponytail and we were all very angst ridden. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana. Stone Temple Pilots, Spiderbait, TISM - you name it we listened to it.
We LISTENED to it. For hours. We would drink and listen to music outside in the Australian sun or under the stars. That was what we did. We didn't get into trouble because we were literally doing that. I worked to save money to go to gigs and concerts.
As a younger kid (a tween I suppose) I liked teenybopper stuff but that kind of stopped when I bought my first LP - Faith No More - The Real Thing. Epic was my favourite song and from there I went into Guns and Roses, Metallica and all those hair bands.
The greatest thing happened to me was when grunge hit Australia. I adored everything about it. I wore the docs. I had the flannel shirts and the jeans with the holes in it. My boyfriend had the long hair in a ponytail and we were all very angst ridden. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana. Stone Temple Pilots, Spiderbait, TISM - you name it we listened to it.
We LISTENED to it. For hours. We would drink and listen to music outside in the Australian sun or under the stars. That was what we did. We didn't get into trouble because we were literally doing that. I worked to save money to go to gigs and concerts.
The annual highlight for me was the Big Day Out - have a look at the band line up by year here.
The first one I went to was in 1994 and it was amazing. I saw Bjork, The Breeders, The Celibate Rifles, The Cruel Sea, Def FX, Dave Graney, The Hard Ons, The Mark of Cain, The Meanies, Powderfinger, Primus, The Ramones, The Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Teenage Fanclub, TISM. Urge Overkill and You Am I.
It was amazing. I was years 17 old. It changed my life and the way I listened to music. Music was no longer something that I listened to on the radio. It was something to experience. Pretty Noose is still one of my favourite songs. Turn it up to 11.
It was amazing. I was years 17 old. It changed my life and the way I listened to music. Music was no longer something that I listened to on the radio. It was something to experience. Pretty Noose is still one of my favourite songs. Turn it up to 11.
1997 was a good one too. I remember my new favourite bands after that one were The John Spencer Blues Explosion and Shoenen Knife.
1999 was super fun as it was the one where Marilyn Manson was all crazy on stage and cracked the shits at the crowd. That year was also Hole (who sucked), Korn, Regurgitator, Manic Street Preachers and Fat Boy Slim.
When I was in college my life was spent hanging out with my friends and listening to the boys playing gigs all over Melbourne. It was a great time and we heard a lot of other cool bands.
I left Australia in 1999 and headed to Japan where I was stuck listening to J-Pop. I had a giant case full of CDs from Australia that I listened to in my room to feel less homesick. I was lucky enough to find some Japanese gems in there that kept me sane. Love Psychedelico is still one of my favourite bands and Last Smile just gets me in the heart. It is a great song. I used to sing it poorly at karaoke but noone else seemed to mind.
The other band I loved was a hip-hop band called Dragon Ash.
These days I like everything and anything. Except reggae and any form of Christian rock. I can literally sit in my room for hours and hours and hours and just listen to music. It's not very practical being a mum but when I have time alone that's what I do. I listen to music. If you have any to share with me please do. I will lap it up. I would have to say that one of my favourite bands right now has to be Sigur Ros. If you have never just 'listened' to music before they are a great place to start. Big thanks to Jason for sharing them with me. I am now sharing them with you. Watch. Listen. Drink it in.
