And how are you this morning? Sleep well? Yes? Oh, good.
Me? Stayed up a little late last night with a bunch of lovely women who made me laugh and feel good about the state of women in the world today. Made me long for more time with women like that. There are a lot of good people in the world. I like that I get to know a few of them.
In the office this morning, wrapping up some straggling things. Heading out to the airport in a few hours. Thinking about downloading a few episodes of Lost to my iPod. Or Grey's Anatomy. You know, to watch on the plane ride home. I'd like to be more excited about it, but let's face it, with the airing of the reunion show of Rock of Love, there ends the best show on cable television, so how can I even care about TV anymore. Really.
I'll be home for less than 17 hours, then heading out for my date with Dan and Neil in Chicago.
Be back next week with more riveting posts just like this one, for your blog reading pleasure.
Ah yes… I come to you in peace, from the earthling domicile known as The Cubicle, with large coffees, and bigger pants.
Getting ready to go into the Hand Off Meeting for the September/October issue of Simple, and archiving a few back issues of the magazine as I type onto a new portable external drive that I'm taking home with me to have greater access to all files Simple. (Isn't the orange kind of sexy?)
So a long day of meetings ahead. I'm very happy to see my sweet friend Emily today, who's in town and will be HERE at the office while I'm here. So cool. Also going to see Tara tonight because she's in town for a session. And, the icing on the cake? Margie RA will be there, too. What are the chances?
I'm going to see Neil this coming weekend. Sunday, to be more precise. I know. You can HARDLY wait, right?
Last weekend at Jesus Christ Superstar I was having flashbacks to the Crowded House show (held in the same venue). The flashbacks were slighty hazy on account of all that wine I drank (at Crowded House, not at JCS... I generally don't get smashed on family outings to the theater to see our Lord and Saviour belt out the tunes), and I remembered how friggin' cool it was to walk right down to the front. I remember handing the usher my ticket, and how she smiled, and how I heard this gathering of angels singing, "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh," and how each successive usher simply continued, well, ushering us to the very front. They all just smiled knowingly. She's in the front row. Look at her. It was like being part of a secret club, you know? I would imagine it's what sitting in first class on a plane must be like.
My point, however, is that at this coming show, it's general admission. There is no special ushering of the Zielskes down to the front. No. At this show, I'm going to have to fight my way to the mosh pit on my own. I will do what I must for closeness to Neil.
And speaking of closeness to Neil, my friend and fellow Neil devotee Krista, linked me up with a video of the dude who's opening for Neil and Co. on this brief but glorious American tour, Don McGlashan. I have a link to one of his songs on the YouTube sidebar, but I never know if anyone gives a wild hoot about the YouTube sidebar on this blog. So I'm going to post it here. Because if you like music, you need to check this Kiwi out.
As I'm trying to explain this guy to Dan, Dan accuses me of being one of those people who, if you like one thing, you're going to like EVERYTHING that has any relation to the original thing. He compared me to a dear friend of ours who, when he was into R.E.M. back in the day, was also into everything and anything else from Athens, G.A. Every single band that came out of that small southern town in the late 80s and early 90s. And as Dan pointed out to me, "Dumptruck just wasn't that good."
So here's me. Loving Neil. And loving Liam. And yes, I'm quite certain if his dog put out a CD, I would like that as well. That said, Don McGlashan is from New Zealand, and is apparently quite an NZ music icon himself, coming from a few different seminal NZ bands, but I swear to God, he could be from Nebraska, and I would still be absolutely mesmerized by his music.
So take that, Dan Zielske.
You can hear a few more tracks on his My Space page, and his album, Warm Hand, is available on iTunes. One song is a must hear: Toy Factory. It is one of the most haunting songs I've heard in a long time, and the story that goes with it is true and devastating. I know. Sounds like a real party album! But honestly, if you like music, check it out.
I'm heading to Utah tomorrow, will try and post from the road. Until then, please for to enjoy.
And may I just say as I return fully to the written form and leave behind National Scrapbook Day-related video blogging, that from the 20th row of the Orpheum Theater, it didn't really matter that Jesus was 64 years old. Dude can still sang! And I was a bit nervous. I'll admit it. We saw him in a production of this in 1993, and I can still remember Dan shooting me a few glances during the show, then afterward, saying: "Jesus has lost a bit of his upper register."
But not on Saturday night. Jesus rocked. (That would make an excellent bumper sticker, no?) Took both Aidan and Cole, along with my two sisters in law and one corresponding husband. Cole totally dug it, as you can see by his excited expression in the photo below, which can also double for constipation:
He's reached that age. That magical age where he will barely tolerate the carefully trained lens of my camera. Sigh. Knew it was coming.
But not Aidan! She has entered a new phase, the one that says: I look REALLY good, will you take a picture?
Hi Cathy, I am so hoping I'll get lucky. You know what I mean. I've had a great time viewing your video blogs this week.
(Paula Harrington—i think that's the last name—email me at czdesign@comcast.net to hook me up with your address so you can take this giant box off my hands, cool?)
And yeah, i KNOW what you mean. ; )
Thanks to everyone for participating. And now go forth and scrap.
PS22 Sings Crowded House At one of their NYC shows last week, Crowded House opened with this. These kids are just cool.
Don McGlashan | I will not let you down So my friend Krista tips me off that this guy, who is also the lead singer of the New Zealand band The Mutton Birds, is opening for Crowded House on their short tour. Maybe it's the NZ vibe, but I am mesmerized by this song. And the whole album.
Pilate's Dream | Barry Dennen I just love this song from JC Superstar. But wouldn't you love to hear this done by Hedwig? I can totally hear Hedwig singing this. Anyone? Who's with me?
Neil Finn & Sinead O'Connor In honor of my forthcoming date with Neil & Co., it's time to amp up the Neil-related posts. This is one of my favorite Neil songs. Sinead…sigh, she is so beautiful, no?
