Weekly Randomness

Gooodbye, Love
So last week was the week of the rock-opera. It began by seeing The Who's TOMMY twice. It ended last Thursday when I went and saw the final Broadway performance of RENT. (it was filmed and shown at a few movie theaters around the country) So many emotions went through me. After 12 years and 5,124 performances, the curtain closed for good.

This has been so much a part of my life for the last, well I guess TWELVE years. (doh) A honestly can't tell you how many times I've seen this show. I do, however, remember the first time...it was New Year's Eve 1997 and my mom and I went and saw on it ON BROADWAY. It couldn't have been more perfect. (thanks Momma) The story of how it came to be and the show's story itself inspired me (way back when) to not take a single moment of this life for granted.

Forgive me as I share my favorite lyrics from the show:

The Heart May Freeze Or It Can Burn
The Pain Will Ease If I Can Learn

There Is No Future
There Is No Past
I Live This Moment
As My Last

There's Only Us
There's Only This
Forget Regret
Or Life Is Yours To Miss

No Other Road
No Other Way
No Day But Today

This (to me anyways) is exactly what Seizin' the Day is all about.

Next...


Saturday...Stars played and won...hardly anyone was there to see it.
Sunday...Cowboys played and lost...to the REDSKINS (grr)...and a TON of people saw it.


Monday... Mavs Media day. I love this day. Why you ask? Because this means that the NBA season is just around the corner (hazah!)...and I get to put mics on "the boys" (as i like to call them). :)


Monday night...I ventured over to the Palladium (aka used to be Gilley's) and saw The Swell Season. This band is headed up by the two leads in the movie (one of my favorites of last year) Once. (see it if you haven't already)

Besides that, they were great live. Some people/groups/band touch you in such a way that you're heart (and soul) is filled with goodness. This happened tonight. Glen Hansard is just so passionate about what he sings and the violinist kinda made my heart melt. He is also a big fan of the sing-a-long, and hence the audience joined in on most of the songs. (we didn't sound too terribly awful either lol) Loved it all! (really dark in there and i was pretty far back so the picture is not the greatest)



The "added bonus" was near the end of the set when they broke into an acoustic version of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River". Brilliant! lol (this wasn't from Monday, but from the night before at ACL in Austin)

Tuesday...was a pretty chill night for me...but my sister-in-law, Pam, was in a pretty bad car accident. She's still in the hospital with a broken arm and a fractured neck bone...but other than that, looks like she's gonna be ok. SOOO thankful!

Wednesday...got some pictures from Iraq. My brother-in-law, Mikey, is stationed there (for those who don't know) for the second time. I love hearing from him or hearing that my sister, Nena, has heard from him. Take a look ...he's the shortest Mexican :) Hopefully he (and the rest) will come home SOON! ...

After watching the season premier of Pushing Daisies (still brilliant)...I headed out and did something pretty silly/dumb (which I won't go into here) but it did make things (that I already knew) quite clear. I also had a great phone conversation (pretty much venting about weird/stupid people) with a new friend. (what up Son of a Preacher Man!) :)

...life (in general) is still pretty good.

much love

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Rebels of the Sacred Heart

If you haven't noticed by now, I am pretty diverse (some might say random) when it comes to music. Last night I headed back over to the House of Blues and saw Flogging Molly...Definitely one of my favorite bands to see live!

I was first introduced to them back in 2001 (I was living in Los Angeles) when they opened for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the Whiskey on Sunset Blvd. That night I was immediately hooked!


Their music is Irish/Folk/Punk/Rock-ish...and I dig all the instruments that you don't see everyday (i.e. banjo, accordion, fiddle, tin whistle, etc.)

The crowd was never quiet and never stood still. My favorite spectator sport was alive and well...Quality people-watching!! The mohawks, the extreme piercings, the hats, the ink, the kilts...all of it fabulous! ...much more entertaining than the Hanson crowd ;)


I decided to skip out on the opening bands (as I really wanted a nap before the show...I am SOOO hardcore lol). Anyways, I got there and secured my spot at the top of the stairs. Don't know if you realize this, but I'm what some would call vertically challenged (read as short). If I did not stand where I was I wouldn't' be able see a thing. "Well why didn't you get in the pit against the stage Carolina?" The answer is quite simple....I have been there, done that, got the shirts...OH and I'm too old (and short) to handle concussions (from people falling on/kicking me in my head) like I once did...also, I like being able to breathe. :) Those were good times. (ahh how I miss you Gyspy Tea Room) *Fun fact: Flogging Molly was the last show I saw there...I think...but maybe it was The Roots. Whatever....My point being...all good things come to an end (right?) and my era of pits and being crushed ended awhile back.

I had a blast and even saw Ronnie, my friend/favorite bar owner/bartender, there. Even though I'm totally fine with going to shows by myself...it's kinda cool to see people you know and like, enjoying the things you enjoy. :)

The music also reminded me of my time in Ireland (over 10 years ago, sheez) and made me quite nostalgic. I love the Irish and pretty much all things Irish. If I wasn't Texican (Texan + Mexican) and I got to choose my background...might next choice would definitely be Irish. lol


Oh, and I saw The Who's TOMMY again on Tuesday...what can I say, it's simply amazing!


much love

"Ever since I was a young boy...

...I played the silver ball."

This is how my favorite scene of The Who's Tommy Musical begins. Back in 1993 (when it came to Broadway) I officially became TOMMY obsessed. I wanted to know everything about it. I had the original cast recording (on tape), rented the 1975 movie repeatedly (I was 12 and didn't really own anything thing other than Disney VHSs at the time), had the book, saw the tour when it made it's way to Dallas a year later, had a hat (momma wouldn't let me buy the shirt as it said "touch me" on it lol) etc...OH! I even remember when the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas had the Tommy pinball machine in the restaurant...it played Pinball Wizard and everything. I wanted THAT machine like you couldn't believe.

I had always loved musicals but I knew after the first time I saw it that my heart lied with the Rock-Opera.

Friday I went to the Dallas Theatre Center and saw their production of it and fell in love with it all over again. I found myself singing along to every word. (which was totally fine since it was super rockin' loud and the audience was encouraged to be loud as well) It was AMAZING! Of course the score is absolutely brill ant...but the cast they chose here in Dallas was phenomenal! I have seen tons of shows in this space and even preformed on it back in the day when I went to theatre camp there...but I have never seen the space look as cool it was Friday night. Wow! Is basically all you can say when the floor fills with water and then rain falls from the "sky" as well. Another thing that rally made the production was the band they had...they didn't just play, they were a huge part of the show. Oso Closo (the band) is from Denton and they ROCKED...hard! I don't know if you can tell, but I enjoyed it immensely...if you're in the Dallas area you show most definitely see it before it closes on the 28th...and I'll totally join you if you'd like. ;)


Saturday was another most beautiful day in the neighborhood. :) I am a member of First United Methodist Church in Downtown Dallas, and have been for something like 16 years...but I've been pretty M.I.A. for the last year or so (mostly due to work conflicts, but also from plain laziness...shame on me). Anyways, I got an email on Friday morning saying that they needed volunteers to help out at the Crossroads Community Services Center making food packages/bags for the people they serve in the area. I jumped at the chance to help out and possibly meet some new people...that also like to help out others. There was about 22 of us that showed up from FUMC's UrbanLife group. (I guess I can say I'm a part of this now) And for about 2 and half hours we worked hard. (see shelves in background) I know what we did wasn't much...but I'm definitely looking forward to doing much more.

Sunday morning I was inspired to head back to church (shocked many a face there for sure). I was glad I did, as they were talking about how important music is to our Church and how much it adds. (don't know if you could tell but I kinda dig music lol)

Afterwards, momma and I met for lunch and did a bit of shopping (I should never do this, as I will mostly likely buy things lol ). Lovely afternoon for sure.

That night I headed next door to the House of Blues and saw a group who's songs just plain make me happy. Hanson. Yeah you read right. About 11 years ago they came out with MMMBop and have continued to make music ever since. I liked them way back then, and I (and the rest of the packed floor of the HOB) still do. They are truly great musicians on stage and also pretty great people off stage through a ton of charity work they do. (i.e. buying shoes for kids in Africa) Go ahead and laugh for liking them, I've gotten used to it lol...and yes at 10:45 they played MMMBop and the crowd went wild!


That was about it this weekend...

Oh! Wait!... how 'bout them COWBOYS!

much love

This Week-ish...

Saturday: So last weekend was pretty darn rough for South Texas thanks to that force of nature called Ike. Most of Houston's power was knocked out and well Galveston was left under water. As far as my family and friends. Everyone was fine (physically). Lots of power lost. One roof lost. A tree on one house. And one house that was split in HALF by a tree. The main person I was concerned with was my great aunt Marlene. She recently had hip surgery and was moved to a hospital-ish type place during all of this. Luckily power was sustained by a generator. But it was so weak that she could not even move her bed up and down to get comfortable. I just glad every one's ok.

In Dallas we got some nasty rain Saturday but that's about it...and my mom and I had tickets to see Mamma Mia! the musical in Ft. Worth...so we went.

And it was pure fun and greatness! (as a musical based on the music of ABBA should be). Every time I go to see a show it makes me remember how much I LOVED doing theatre. The music, the dancing, the costumes, the cast that became family for a short period of time...I miss all of it. Unfortunately, the whole sports gig completely conflicts with me partaking in such greatness. (grr)

Moving on...

Sunday my mom and I and friends, Debbie and Monica, decided to try something different for lunch. We ended up at the House of Blues for their Gospel Brunch. The food was pretty great...but the massive amount of it was a bit overwhelming. The band and singers were excellent and Monica even got on stage with them at one point. Good times....but definitely a once a year thing. (like I said MASSIVE amounts of food)
Monday night I worked the last ever MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL game at Texas Stadium. It was a great game! Up until the very end you weren't sure who was gonna win. "How bout them Cowboys!" (Grandaddy would have been proud.)



Tuesday wasn't too special but it was new music and dvd Tuesday and that meant I took a trip to Best Buy during lunch and made a couple of purchases. (don't know that I've ever been in Best Buy without making a couple purchases lol)


I got the new Darius (don't call me Hootie) Rucker country album, Learn to Live. I really like it. I saw him (and the rest of the "don't call us Blowfish") not too long ago and loved them live. His voice is HIS voice and I don't think he's trying to BE country...there was most definitely country already in that guy. :)

Next up was the new Buckcherry CD, Black Butterfly. There last album, 15, was about my favorite Rock album of the last couple of years, Track 1 to Track 11. Yeah they're not really "kid" friendly...but as I have no kids...I'm good. ;) I was super excited when this hit the shelves (yeah it wasn't available on iTunes). And so far, so good. I dig it. I think it sounds best when driving down the highway with the windows down in this gorgeous weather we've been having. (You see here in Dallas, we only get about a week of actual "fall" weather.)


And last but not least, The Complete First Season of Pushing Daises on DVD. (yeah I'm not cool enough for Blu Ray yet). This by far was my favorite new show of last year. I can't wait to watch 'em again before the new season starts...I better get on that. ;)
Wednesday...see post below.

Thursday night was great fun. I went with Michael, Monica, Eric and a couple other chicas to play TopGolf. (go here if you care to know what it is www.topgolf.com) I had a great time. I was pretty awful at the beginning (as my golfing past consists of the miniature variety...again thoughts of Grandaddy) but I think my "swing" (hack) got slightly better by the end...sorta. :) They also had killer sweet potato fries and yummy blood orange sorbet. Can't wait to go back!



So yeah, it was another good week of living life ...and I leave you with this...idiot...

much love

I felt OLD...this Rarely happens.

Last night I had the pleasure of having dinner with my youngest sister, Brenda (17), my 2nd youngest sister, Lisa and her husband Eric (both 20). Everything was cool and we were goofing off by my truck as we were leaving...and then it happened. There was a moment in the conversation where I felt super old. LOL We had been talking about stealing things. (which we did not) and i used the word "gank." And my sisters totally just stared at me in confusion like I was crazy. "What's that mean?" And I proceeded to tell them that back in the day that's the slang i would use for to steal And Brenda was like, "oh you mean "jack."" "Exactly," I replied. And we said our good-byes.

Then last night I questioned myself. And wondered if I had made this word up. But this morning I went to urbandictionary.com and EUREKA! There it was...the definition of GANK:

1. gank
To steal or take something that does not belong to you.
"i didn't have money so i ganked it"


So I'm not crazy...maybe slightly old-er...and ok a little crazy but that's besides the point.

I even got back up confirmation from a friend of mine (thanks Jordan). This might be a Southern thing though as another friend (same age and ethnicity as Jordan) had also never heard of it. (thanks anyways Todd) :)

So I ask you...are there any words that YOU use/once used that Youngin's (as I like to call them) today might look at you strange for?

much love...as I go gank a piece of candy from the break room ;)

Do You Ever...

...try to communicate (phone, text, email, etc.) with someone (friend, one time friend, boy, girl, even family member) that you know will never respond? I do. I don't know is me just wanting to get things out...or a form of masochism (the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself). Not sure why I do this but, I think it's the part of me that always wants to try and still has hope. Or maybe just wanting to stay on someone's radar (even if it's probably best if I didn't). Maybe I should just totally write people off. (but that's a very hard thing for me to do)...but this can be done...all you have to do is focus on all the negative things about the person...but who wants to spend their time doing that? I sure don't. :)

Yeah this is a slight departure from the normal happy travel, concert, sporting event blog but not every day can be sunshine and lollipops. Just something (for me) to think about. Anyways, enough with the negativity :)



much love