I bought a new laptop! I had promised myself this as a gift for finishing college and postponed that due to my job layoff, but with getting a new job.... I took the plunge!
Lots of things going on lately
- Received my diploma! I am officially a college graduate! Yay me.
- Started a new full-time job after being laid off in January. (Still working the part-time gig)
- Joined a gym. Yikes.
- Trying to decide if and when I should start grad school.
- (Still) trying to figure out who I am and where I need to go.
- Striving to be better.
April 16-21, 2009 I went to visit my friends Tim and Dave in California. As you can see from this photo, Tim and Dave live in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. I had such a great time!
We started off visiting the Winchester Mystery House located in San Jose, CA. This house was built by the heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune and is famous for it's stairs to nowhere, the repeated theme of the number 13 and many innovations.
We then traveled to Capitola and Santa Cruz where we walked along the boardwalk and had dinner.
We also spent an evening in San Francisco where we saw "Beach Blanket Babylon" a musical that has been running for 34 years! It had many topical references, many of them political, and I will always remember the character of Larry Craig in blue sequined hot pants. LOL
On one memorable day we visited Muir Beach, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, The Castro Neighborhood and Coit tower! I think I left some things out.
Anyway, I took lots of pictures with my new camera (which I LOVE). Its a Canon A1000 IS and it takes great pics! Especially when Dave is holding it!!
Hope all is well in cyberspace. If you click on this picture, it will take you to my flicker page where you can see other pics.
Peace.
Quiet Sunday night, still catching up on the tv I missed during the week. I have been working 7 to 11 pm, so I miss primetime during the week.
My big news? I have completed the coursework for my degree! Still waiting on a grade for my final project, but it's over. I have such a feeling of relief. I started college in 1980 and should have finished 25 years ago... whoa. That's a long time. I am really proud of myself that I finally did it. I am not upset that it took me so long, just proud and grateful to finish.
Not a lot to say. Fighting feeling down. Family and friends help. When life sucks, that's when you find out who you can count on. I hope that I am as good of a friend to others as they are to me. I have a feeling I'm not, but I'll keep working on it.
I am still recovering from having my wisdom teeth removed last week, and still on pain killers, so I spent the day in front of the tv, drifting in and out. This has made for a surreal and not unpleasant day.
Inspired by a high school friend, who has actual musical talent, I decided to make my own list. Some disclaimers, these reviews are based on a purely surface level enjoyment. With music, I am a pretty average listener. I love it though. I like most different kinds and have few hard and fast rules about what I will not listen to. Ok, here we go.
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things - Jason Mraz
A note. I love Mraz. My daughter and I saw him live when he was touring to support his first album. I loved that album, and I found that he is one of the few performers that actually sound better in person. If you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend seeing him live. As I write this I am listening to one of his live albums, Tonight, Not Again recorded in 2004.
He is always shaking things up and this album was no exception. He released three acoustic EPs containing acoustic versions of songs from the album prior to the main release. I bought the whole shebang on iTunes.
Favorites include both versions of “Butterfly”, a sexy, dirty, funny song. One version is a definite homage to Earth, Wind and Fire, while the acoustic version is great too. “Coyotes” is another upbeat favorite, and includes very cute backup from some kids.
This album makes me happy.
Funhouse - P!nk
This album deals a lot with P!nks divorce. Personal heartbreak always seems to be good for the creative process, and this is no exception. I have a weakness for upbeat songs that will break your heart if you listen to the lyrics and this delivers. “ So What”, the single fulfills that requirement, but my favorites are “Sober” and “I Don’t Believe You”. P!nk sings the latter sounding like her throat is bleeding from crying and shouting. Glorious and touching.
Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog Soundtrack
Created by Joss Whedon and family during the writer’s strike, this musical is an Internet experiment. I would say they have succeeded. Sales of the musical on iTunes, DVD and soundtrack sales have more than met expectations. Watch the video, the DVD is only $10 bucks on Amazon. If you don’t like it you don’t have a heart, so there!
808s & Heartbreak – Kanye West
I have been enjoying the album quite a lot. Most of the album seems to be concerning the breakup of Kanye’s engagement and the death of his mother. Mostly the engagement though. One song, “Welcome to Heartbreak” deals with an examination of his life and the fact that while he has lots of material possessions he is alone. No wife, no children. I also think “Heartless” is a very good track. We have all felt like this, stunned, “how can you be so heartless?” “Pinocchio”, a live performance is very moving. I guess a lot of his regular fans don’t enjoy this album, but for me, it’s a gift.
Christmas, in some ways, has not been very merry for my family the last few years. Seems like someone always ends up in the hospital or sick or both. This year, Ted was hospitalized Monday and Tuesday but made it out for Christmas. One of my daughters is pretty sick today so we ended up staying home to take care of her instead of going to our other daughter's house for dinner. But that's OK. She will be OK, and we are all alive, here and (mostly) together.
It looks like the sky is ready to cry.
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