Despise my best intentions, it has been entirely too long since my last blog. The actual reason (laziness due to lack of inspiration) is far more common and uninteresting than the underlying problem: I think I'm having a mid-life crisis. No, I'm not having an affair, I don't plan to buy a sports car (we have one, thank God!), and I'm still genuinely in love with my husband and family. So it's a little hard to explain, and it's a lot hard to understand.
Like most people today, there is a loosely accepted definition of "mid-life crisis" that I've always just accepted and didn't give much thought to. For one thing, it was usually something that affected men. For another, it almost always involved adultery and embarrassing behavior, two things that I don't have much respect for. However, about six months ago, I became acutely aware that something was happening to me, both inside and out, that I had no explanation for. I was aging, and while I was intellectually aware of the ramifications that come with that, I was a lot less able to comprehend some of the other ways it was affecting me.
I don't remember the exact date, but I was surfing the internet for some long lost friends and when I typed in the name "Ty Westerhoff," I got back a hit that included the words "date of death." I was flabbergasted. Not just because he'd died, but because he'd died in 2005! He'd been gone for four years and I was just now finding out about it. I was sad but I was also angry. I'd last seen him around 1994, just before I moved away from Los Angeles. He'd been tall, blond, talented, kind and drop-dead beautiful. I mean, he was so good-looking it was kind of embarrassing. He was made me laugh, he kissed like an angel, and he was probably the only guy I ever dated that never once made me cry. He was honest, easy-going and neither of us was in love. We were friends, often lamenting about the people in our lives who hurt us, and though we drifted apart, there was never an unkind word between us.
In the end, my tears over him were because it was such a tragic loss at such a young age (he was 42), in such a painful way (stomach cancer) and without saying good-bye. If I was being honest, I would admit that most of my tears for him were really for myself. My lack of closure, my worry that maybe I hadn't been a good enough friend, and my disappointment that there isn't even one picture of us together. For a week, I cried in the shower and said good-bye to my friend. Then I printed a picture of him, put it on my window sill in a little frame, and started thinking about all the things I still want to do that I am not doing but could be doing. Maybe they were some of the same things the Ty wanted to do but never got the chance.
A few weeks later it occurred to me that, for the first time, I could empathize with all the men in the world who'd gone through the proverbial 'mid-life crisis." I don't necessarily condone their behaviors, but I absolutely understand their motivations. The thing is, I'm having a lot of those kinds of thoughts and behaviors, and it's starting to frustrate me. Why am I thinking about good-looking men all the time? Why am I pulling out all my favorite rock and roll CDs, buying new ones, watching rock videos on YouTube, and spending a lot more time putting on make-up? Why did a few new gray hairs freak me out? And why on earth was I putting together a bucket list?!
The sad truth is that I've been surrounded by death the last few years. Losing my grandparents in their 80s and 90s was sad, but not life-changing. That is the order of life, after all, and living to be 93 is a decent run, but dying at 42 is another matter altogether. When someone who's larger than life dies, it's even more jarring. Michael Jackson, in his prime with a young family and all the money he could want, did something stupid and never woke up. I know there's a lot of controversy about his death, and that's neither here nor there because I have no idea if it was a homicide or not. What made it hit home for me is simply that it can happen to any of us. We all know, intellectually, that we could get hit by a car right now, today, on the way to the grocery store, and die. We simply don't dwell on it because it would probably immobilize most of us.
The problem comes when we become emotionally aware of death. There's something disturbing about your contemporaries dying. No wonder there's a huge amount of depression in the elderly! People who hit "middle age" (regardless of the exact age this is defined as) are suddenly acutely aware of it and it's scary. For example, there are three people in my life right now with cancer; one of them is almost 80 years old and though he doesn't admit it, I know his time is limited. Another is just 40. She's beautiful and vibrant and fighting for all she's worth. I know she's doing her damnedest not to give in, but it's spreading, and deep down I'm terrified every time I don't see her on Facebook for a day or two. The last is my 70-something Uncle who refuses to acknowledge it and tells everyone he's fine even though he's barely alive.
So everyday I look at my children and think, I could be next. They could be without a mom. My husband could be alone, my parents would lose their only child and all the things I want to do would never be done. It's terrifying enough to send you right into the arms of a long-haired bad boy with flat abs, young enough to be your kid! I haven't done that, mind you, but there's no doubt that it has some appeal... thank God for the bright red 2007 Mustang in the driveway that moves that second you touch the gas and has a decent stereo system. There's something exhilerating about the movement, the wind in your hair, the music playing. When I'm in our mini-van, I fade into oblivion; when I'm in the Mustang, truckers often honk and men with wedding rings lean out the window and wave. In the past, I thought they were idiots who didn't love their wives. Now I understand that most of them are just like me; human beings whose contemporaries are fading away, leaving the rest of us to ponder our own existences. Acting "young" (or at least younger than you actually are) makes you feel alive again--because aging is related to death, no matter how much you try to think otherwise.
That's not to say there aren't assholes out there, men who cheat because they can, women who drink because it's something to do, and teens who do drugs because they don't have the sense to realize what they're doing to their bodies. There are bad, stupid and/or misguided people everywhere, but they're not the ones I'm talking about. I've just been thinking about regular people, like you and me, who aren't so much afraid of death as they are afraid that their lives aren't what they should be or could have been. What I'm most afraid of is to be lying on my death bed thinking not about my wonderful family and the memorable moments of years past, but about all my regrets and how I would never get to do this, that or the other thing.
And so, as I ponder the days and weeks to come, I've suddenly started thinking about doing, as opposed to hoping or wishing. I'm going to take that trip back to my home town to see a few friends, even though I could probably pay off a bill with the air fare. We're planning the details of how to affordably visit my in-laws even though I despise the drive and we can't afford to fly. Mostly, I've stopped automatically telling myself no, I can't, I shouldn't, it's not possible. Everything is possible. The world is there for the taking. I still believe in moderation, in practicality and in saving for a rainy day, but there are always going to be rainy days, both now and long after I'm gone. So I'm going to start pretending that a few sunny days are actually those proverbial rainy days, and dip into my savings. It's got to be better than a mid-life crisis.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Fiction, Part I, Section 2*
Sam was following behind Liz, thinking about whether or not her hips could handle a mid-night breakfast when an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her to the side.
"Sammy, I gotta talk to you," a soft but deep voice, with a faint mid-western edge, murmured in her ear.
Sam sighed, her hand on her heart. "Jesus Christ, Ty, you scared the living crap out of me!" She glared up at him, and momentarily blinked in surprise. "Dude, what is up with you? You look like hell!"
"I need you to let me hang at your place for a couple of nights," he breathed against her face. "Please, Sam, something's going on." He pulled her around the corner, away from the busy dining area and into the darker and quieter bar.
"Ty, what did you do?!" she demanded, looking up at him in dismay. She loved the tall, lanky musician from Minnesota, though they were not romantically involved. Modern vernacular would probably call them "friends with benefits," but the "benefits" went far beyond just the occasional roll in the hay.
"It's not me," he protested, shaking his head. "It's just, well, I think Johnny's trying to kill me."
"Johnny." She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a dirty look. "The same Johnny that's your led singer?"
"Well, yeah." He frowned down at her, his incredibly blue eyes currently so bloodshot she could barely make them out.
"The same Johnny Haynes that's been your best friend since before puberty?" She pursed her lips now, waiting for his response suspiciously.
"I know, it sounds crazy." He ran his hand through his long, wavy blond hair and blew out a long breath. "Sam, I mean it--I think something is going on with him and I really think he wants me out of the way."
"For what?! You're not even finished recording your album! For all you know, Geffen is using you guys as a tax write-off!" she finished, referring to the large record company Ty's band had their deal with, who had been rumored to have done just that over the years. Young bands signed contracts with them, got a million dollars or more, put out one record and then the record company suddenly lost all interest in promoting the band or the album. No one knew why exactly this happened, but it happened often enough in the industry for people to have a lot of opinions.
"If we could just go back to your place, and I could crash for more than two hours at a time, I could explain everything," he whispered. "Please Sam, I really need a friend right now."
In all honestly, he looked like he needed a friend. His long, normally gorgeous hair looked oily and was somewhat matted to his head. His eyes weren't just bloodshot, but there were bags under them the size of actual luggage, and she'd never seen him look so thin. In fact, in the three years they'd known each other, she'd never seen him look so uncertain and downright sickly. With a scowl, because she knew he would be underfoot for at least the rest of the weekend and she would fall way behind on her writing, she dragged him by the hand.
"Okay," she said. "My car's about four blocks down, right near Doheny, so--"
"No!" He looked startled. "I can't walk that far--someone might see me!"
"Ty!" She gave an exasperated grunt. "How do you expect me to get you home then? Invisible spray?"
He gave her a weak smile. "You got some?"
She rolled her eyes. "Ty..."
"Okay, look, how about you get the car and--"
"There you are!" Liz stood there, arms across her chest, a frown on her pretty face. "Girl, I've been looking everywhere for you! What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm sorry!" Sam gave her friend a knowing look. "Ty needs some help, okay? We need to get him out of here incognito--can you help?"
Normally, Liz got irritated with Sam's choice in loser boyfriends, crazy musician friends, and the overall nutty music business types she hung out with, but something about Sam's voice and Ty's desperation must have been obvious, because she shrugged her shoulders and nodded. "Of course! We can be a threesome!" She grinned then. "I always wanted me a skanky white broad with big tits and a long-haired rocker with a small penis!"
Ty opened his mouth to protest, but Liz and Sam were too busy laughing to hear him anyway. "Not fair," he muttered as they dragged him out, one on each arm. "My dick's not that small!"
*****
Forty-minutes later, they were seated on Sam's couch, take-out boxes in front of them. Ty was eating as though he hadn't eaten in a week, while Sam picked at hers, wondering how many hours at the gym would compensate for so many late-night calories.
She let him eat for a solid ten minutes, and when he finally leaned back, closing his eyes and resting his hand on his stomach, she leaned over and moved a stray lock of hair out of his eyes. "Talk to me," she said softly.
His eyes opened and he looked at her with a sad smile. "Sammy, I really think Johnny's gone off the deep end. The whole group, actually, but mostly Johnny."
"Like how?" She thought of the times she'd hung out with Ty and the band, both at rehearsals and shows, and Johnny, Rex the drummer and Clay the guitarist were always friendly, fun-loving and as easy-going as any musicians she'd ever met. Johnny, as lead singer and one of the band's two main spokesmen, was by far more gregarious and outgoing, but she'd never gotten the vibe that he wanted the spotlight all to himself. Of course, it was hard to take the spotlight away from Ty, because he was not only a talented bass player with great stage presence, he was also incredibly good-looking and could sing lead when the need arose.
"Well, technically it started about eight or nine years ago, before we moved here." Ty stared up at the ceiling. "It was the beginning of our senior year in high school and Lynn and I had broken up." He referred to his on-again/off-again high school sweetheart whom he still occasionally carried a torch for, despite the fact that she'd left him, Los Angeles and their impending marriage nearly four years before.
"Oh, boy." Sam leaned back on the couch next to him, almost mimicking his position, but instead of staring at the ceiling, she turned her head just slightly so she could look at his straight, angular profile. "Anything to do with Lynn is sure to be trouble."
"You can say that again." Ty hesitated. "She wanted all that traditional senior year stuff, like Homecoming tickets with the tux rental, all the senior skip days and the other crap that, as you probably guessed, I had no interest in. So I told her to forget it, and we had a fight and broke up." He glanced over at Sam and grinned. "Now, the one thing you have to remember is that I was the only one of our gang that was gettin' any on a regular basis. Johnny, Clay and this other guy we hung out with, Brett, had their share of girls when we played live, but we were all underage, so there weren't that many girls at school that put out. Lynn and I started sleeping together our junior year, and of course the guys knew that. So as soon as I put out the word that Lynn was no longer in my life, Johnny moved in on her. You know how 17-year-old boys are--all about gettin' laid, and he saw the writing on the wall. He also had money, something I never had, and he bought her Homecoming tickets, rented a limo, the whole thing. Told her he was just being her friend, because we'd all known each other for years."
"So he put the moves on your girl?" Sam blinked at him. "Just because you broke up for a while? I mean, weren't you guys together from like 8th grade?"
Ty nodded, shaking his head. "But I was mad, you know? I told him to go for it! I didn't care about anything but music, and she was driving me nuts, talking about college, a 'real' career, getting married... babies!" He chuckled. "I think my dick shriveled up just thinking about it! But Johnny, he didn't care about her, he just wanted someone he could screw whenever he wanted, and he was good at saying what she wanted to hear. So they got together, and she thought it was great to flaunt it in my face." He paused. "Anyway, in the end, he really screwed with her and of course, she came back to me, but the point is, that was the first time he went after something that was mine. And now he's doing it again."
To Be Continued...
*Disclaimer: This story is pure fiction. I'm writing it because I love fiction and mysteries and writing and all that goes with it. I'm going to write installments no more than twice a week (sometimes less) until no one is interested in reading it anymore. No outline, no pre-conceived plot or characters. I'm writing this soap opera style, with an ongoing storyline and characters that "build themselves." I will be using my experiences in the music business, the legal business, as a writer, as a mom, celebrities I've met, etc., but none of them will be real. I will also be using some of my favorite names, but they do NOT represent REAL PEOPLE. I know at least 8 or 9 musicians named Mark in real life--but the Mark in this story is not any of them! Names are names, nothing more. If you don't like the story, that's okay, but please don't get up in arms if I make a reference about Mick Jagger being too skinny or Pamela Anderson's breasts being too big--this is all for fun. Thanks for reading!
"Sammy, I gotta talk to you," a soft but deep voice, with a faint mid-western edge, murmured in her ear.
Sam sighed, her hand on her heart. "Jesus Christ, Ty, you scared the living crap out of me!" She glared up at him, and momentarily blinked in surprise. "Dude, what is up with you? You look like hell!"
"I need you to let me hang at your place for a couple of nights," he breathed against her face. "Please, Sam, something's going on." He pulled her around the corner, away from the busy dining area and into the darker and quieter bar.
"Ty, what did you do?!" she demanded, looking up at him in dismay. She loved the tall, lanky musician from Minnesota, though they were not romantically involved. Modern vernacular would probably call them "friends with benefits," but the "benefits" went far beyond just the occasional roll in the hay.
"It's not me," he protested, shaking his head. "It's just, well, I think Johnny's trying to kill me."
"Johnny." She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a dirty look. "The same Johnny that's your led singer?"
"Well, yeah." He frowned down at her, his incredibly blue eyes currently so bloodshot she could barely make them out.
"The same Johnny Haynes that's been your best friend since before puberty?" She pursed her lips now, waiting for his response suspiciously.
"I know, it sounds crazy." He ran his hand through his long, wavy blond hair and blew out a long breath. "Sam, I mean it--I think something is going on with him and I really think he wants me out of the way."
"For what?! You're not even finished recording your album! For all you know, Geffen is using you guys as a tax write-off!" she finished, referring to the large record company Ty's band had their deal with, who had been rumored to have done just that over the years. Young bands signed contracts with them, got a million dollars or more, put out one record and then the record company suddenly lost all interest in promoting the band or the album. No one knew why exactly this happened, but it happened often enough in the industry for people to have a lot of opinions.
"If we could just go back to your place, and I could crash for more than two hours at a time, I could explain everything," he whispered. "Please Sam, I really need a friend right now."
In all honestly, he looked like he needed a friend. His long, normally gorgeous hair looked oily and was somewhat matted to his head. His eyes weren't just bloodshot, but there were bags under them the size of actual luggage, and she'd never seen him look so thin. In fact, in the three years they'd known each other, she'd never seen him look so uncertain and downright sickly. With a scowl, because she knew he would be underfoot for at least the rest of the weekend and she would fall way behind on her writing, she dragged him by the hand.
"Okay," she said. "My car's about four blocks down, right near Doheny, so--"
"No!" He looked startled. "I can't walk that far--someone might see me!"
"Ty!" She gave an exasperated grunt. "How do you expect me to get you home then? Invisible spray?"
He gave her a weak smile. "You got some?"
She rolled her eyes. "Ty..."
"Okay, look, how about you get the car and--"
"There you are!" Liz stood there, arms across her chest, a frown on her pretty face. "Girl, I've been looking everywhere for you! What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm sorry!" Sam gave her friend a knowing look. "Ty needs some help, okay? We need to get him out of here incognito--can you help?"
Normally, Liz got irritated with Sam's choice in loser boyfriends, crazy musician friends, and the overall nutty music business types she hung out with, but something about Sam's voice and Ty's desperation must have been obvious, because she shrugged her shoulders and nodded. "Of course! We can be a threesome!" She grinned then. "I always wanted me a skanky white broad with big tits and a long-haired rocker with a small penis!"
Ty opened his mouth to protest, but Liz and Sam were too busy laughing to hear him anyway. "Not fair," he muttered as they dragged him out, one on each arm. "My dick's not that small!"
*****
Forty-minutes later, they were seated on Sam's couch, take-out boxes in front of them. Ty was eating as though he hadn't eaten in a week, while Sam picked at hers, wondering how many hours at the gym would compensate for so many late-night calories.
She let him eat for a solid ten minutes, and when he finally leaned back, closing his eyes and resting his hand on his stomach, she leaned over and moved a stray lock of hair out of his eyes. "Talk to me," she said softly.
His eyes opened and he looked at her with a sad smile. "Sammy, I really think Johnny's gone off the deep end. The whole group, actually, but mostly Johnny."
"Like how?" She thought of the times she'd hung out with Ty and the band, both at rehearsals and shows, and Johnny, Rex the drummer and Clay the guitarist were always friendly, fun-loving and as easy-going as any musicians she'd ever met. Johnny, as lead singer and one of the band's two main spokesmen, was by far more gregarious and outgoing, but she'd never gotten the vibe that he wanted the spotlight all to himself. Of course, it was hard to take the spotlight away from Ty, because he was not only a talented bass player with great stage presence, he was also incredibly good-looking and could sing lead when the need arose.
"Well, technically it started about eight or nine years ago, before we moved here." Ty stared up at the ceiling. "It was the beginning of our senior year in high school and Lynn and I had broken up." He referred to his on-again/off-again high school sweetheart whom he still occasionally carried a torch for, despite the fact that she'd left him, Los Angeles and their impending marriage nearly four years before.
"Oh, boy." Sam leaned back on the couch next to him, almost mimicking his position, but instead of staring at the ceiling, she turned her head just slightly so she could look at his straight, angular profile. "Anything to do with Lynn is sure to be trouble."
"You can say that again." Ty hesitated. "She wanted all that traditional senior year stuff, like Homecoming tickets with the tux rental, all the senior skip days and the other crap that, as you probably guessed, I had no interest in. So I told her to forget it, and we had a fight and broke up." He glanced over at Sam and grinned. "Now, the one thing you have to remember is that I was the only one of our gang that was gettin' any on a regular basis. Johnny, Clay and this other guy we hung out with, Brett, had their share of girls when we played live, but we were all underage, so there weren't that many girls at school that put out. Lynn and I started sleeping together our junior year, and of course the guys knew that. So as soon as I put out the word that Lynn was no longer in my life, Johnny moved in on her. You know how 17-year-old boys are--all about gettin' laid, and he saw the writing on the wall. He also had money, something I never had, and he bought her Homecoming tickets, rented a limo, the whole thing. Told her he was just being her friend, because we'd all known each other for years."
"So he put the moves on your girl?" Sam blinked at him. "Just because you broke up for a while? I mean, weren't you guys together from like 8th grade?"
Ty nodded, shaking his head. "But I was mad, you know? I told him to go for it! I didn't care about anything but music, and she was driving me nuts, talking about college, a 'real' career, getting married... babies!" He chuckled. "I think my dick shriveled up just thinking about it! But Johnny, he didn't care about her, he just wanted someone he could screw whenever he wanted, and he was good at saying what she wanted to hear. So they got together, and she thought it was great to flaunt it in my face." He paused. "Anyway, in the end, he really screwed with her and of course, she came back to me, but the point is, that was the first time he went after something that was mine. And now he's doing it again."
To Be Continued...
*Disclaimer: This story is pure fiction. I'm writing it because I love fiction and mysteries and writing and all that goes with it. I'm going to write installments no more than twice a week (sometimes less) until no one is interested in reading it anymore. No outline, no pre-conceived plot or characters. I'm writing this soap opera style, with an ongoing storyline and characters that "build themselves." I will be using my experiences in the music business, the legal business, as a writer, as a mom, celebrities I've met, etc., but none of them will be real. I will also be using some of my favorite names, but they do NOT represent REAL PEOPLE. I know at least 8 or 9 musicians named Mark in real life--but the Mark in this story is not any of them! Names are names, nothing more. If you don't like the story, that's okay, but please don't get up in arms if I make a reference about Mick Jagger being too skinny or Pamela Anderson's breasts being too big--this is all for fun. Thanks for reading!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Fiction, Part I!
Disclaimer: This story is pure fiction. I'm writing it because I love fiction and mysteries and writing and all that goes with it. I'm going to write installments no more than twice a week (sometimes less) until no one is interested in reading it anymore. No outline, no pre-conceived plot or characters. I'm writing this soap opera style, with an ongoing storyline and characters that "build themselves." I will be using my experiences in the music business, the legal business, as a writer, as a mom, celebrities I've met, etc., but none of them will be real. I will also be using some of my favorite names, but they do NOT represent REAL PEOPLE. I know at least 8 or 9 musicians named Mark in real life--but the Mark in this story is not any of them! Names are names, nothing more. If you don't like the story, that's okay, but please don't get up in arms if I make a reference about Mick Jagger being too skinny or Pamela Anderson's breasts being too big--this is all for fun. Thanks for reading!
It was a dark and stormy night... It really was, and Sam, short for Samantha, Weber, was happy to be snuggled in her waterbed, a glass of wine next to her, a good mystery book in her hands. She was just beginning to doze off when lightning struck outside her window that made her jump. Then the phone rang and she almost knocked over her glass of wine.
"Yes, hello?!" she gasped, trying to mop up the wine with her nightshirt.
"Girl, where are you?! It's after 10 and you should have been here an hour ago!" Sam's best friend, Liz, was trying to shriek over the background noise.
"Supposed to be where?" Sam demanded, getting up to find a towel in the bathroom.
Liz sighed dramatically. "Girl, sometimes I swear you'd forget your ass if it wasn't attached to your backside! The Rainbow--helloooo.... video shoot at midnight on the dance floor. Anyone who was here by 9 gets to stay!"
"Oh hell." Sam groaned as she sopped up wine from the night table and the carpet. "Liz, really, I was just about to fall asleep--I've been in bed for almost two hours reading!"
"Well, get up!" Liz said in disgust. "You promised! I'm sitting here by myself for over an hour, and I am not giving up this spot!"
"And how do you propose I get in?!" Sam demanded. "It's way past 9:00. There's no way I'm getting in anyway."
"I already told the manager you went to get some money because we both ran out--he was fine with letting you back in, so get your ass in gear and get down here!"
"Liz, I'm exhausted! I've got three deadlines on Monday, which means I cannot be hung over tomorrow and--"
"La la la la la!" Liz sang. "I can't hear you! I'm not listening! My best friend wouldn't leave me here alone! I am the only black woman in this hard rock hell, and your butt better be here in 45 minutes or you're going to be black and blue when I get over there tomorrow!"
Sam sighed. There was no fighting Liz when she was in this kind of mood. She'd hoped Liz would bail--she hated going to the Rainbow. It was full of musicians and Hollywood types that Liz normally couldn't stand, but she'd always dutifully tagged along when Sam begged her to go with her. So tonight, with Liz actually excited about being there, Sam felt a twinge of guilt.
"Damn." She got up and looked in the bathroom mirror. How on God's green earth was she going to make herself presentable in 30 minutes or less? Finding parking on the Sunset Strip on a Friday night would be almost impossible, and it would take at least 15 minutes to get there. Making a face at herself in the mirror, she pulled her wavy hair back into a ponytail and stuck some toothpaste on her tooth brush. This was going to be a long night.
She arrived at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, a popular Hollywood night spot on Sunset Boulevard, sometime after 11:00. She told the bouncer at the door that she'd gone to get cash and the manager had said it was okay. He'd given her a look like he didn't believe it, but in the end--whether it was her push-up bra and low-cut tank top or the five-inch stiletto heels that accented her calves--he let her in. She found Liz the moment she went up the stairs--she was the only six-foot black woman with platinum blond hair in the place--and Liz silently handed her a drink.
"'Bout time you got here!" she muttered, her eyes slanted dangerously. "I was about to give up on you."
"I was ready for bed!" Sam shrugged. "You're lucky I'm here--so what's going on? What is this video you're up in arms about?"
"It's for LL Cool J!" Liz's eyes glittered. "And you know I am going to have that boy's baby!"
Sam rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. So does everyone we know!"
"And he is going to spot me tonight!" Liz said with a flourish, swaying her hips from side to side.
"Like he did the last five times we put ourselves in his air space?" Sam chuckled.
"The stars weren't in alignment those times," Liz pouted. "My horoscope today said that I was going to have an encounter with a person or distinction that will change my life."
Sam forced herself not to roll her eyes again; Liz did not appreciate it when people made fun of her love of astrology! "So, is he here?"
Liz eyed her. "Of course not! He won't arrive until he can make an entrance."
"Okey-dokey, then." Sam gulped down the entire glass of wine. "Get me a refill!"
The video shoot was over almost before it began, without any sign of LL Cool J. Apparently, the shoot was only for footage of people dancing at a night club. The star himself had never even been on the bill for the festivities. Of course, it had been almost 1:30 a.m. before Sam managed to find someone to give her that information, and she'd almost dragged Liz out by the hair. Of course, Liz had been so disappointed she didn't have the heart.
"I'm really sorry," Liz sighed as they made their way through the crowds towards the exit. "My friend Sasha--"
"This isn't the Sasha who told you that Mary J. Blige was staying at the Roosevelt Hotel? But it turned out to be some woman named Mary J. Blig from Duluth, Minnesota?"
Liz wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, that's her. But she's not always wrong!"
Sam refrained from making the comment on the tip of her lips. "Well, on the bright side, you owe me one!" she laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Liz had just reached the door. "You want to go for breakfast?" she asked. "My treat--" She whipped her head around. "Sam? Where are you?!" She stepped back into the main dining room. "Sam?!" She called as loud as she dared, but her friend was nowhere in sight.
"What the hell?" She scanned the room. 'Where the hell did she go?!"
It was a dark and stormy night... It really was, and Sam, short for Samantha, Weber, was happy to be snuggled in her waterbed, a glass of wine next to her, a good mystery book in her hands. She was just beginning to doze off when lightning struck outside her window that made her jump. Then the phone rang and she almost knocked over her glass of wine.
"Yes, hello?!" she gasped, trying to mop up the wine with her nightshirt.
"Girl, where are you?! It's after 10 and you should have been here an hour ago!" Sam's best friend, Liz, was trying to shriek over the background noise.
"Supposed to be where?" Sam demanded, getting up to find a towel in the bathroom.
Liz sighed dramatically. "Girl, sometimes I swear you'd forget your ass if it wasn't attached to your backside! The Rainbow--helloooo.... video shoot at midnight on the dance floor. Anyone who was here by 9 gets to stay!"
"Oh hell." Sam groaned as she sopped up wine from the night table and the carpet. "Liz, really, I was just about to fall asleep--I've been in bed for almost two hours reading!"
"Well, get up!" Liz said in disgust. "You promised! I'm sitting here by myself for over an hour, and I am not giving up this spot!"
"And how do you propose I get in?!" Sam demanded. "It's way past 9:00. There's no way I'm getting in anyway."
"I already told the manager you went to get some money because we both ran out--he was fine with letting you back in, so get your ass in gear and get down here!"
"Liz, I'm exhausted! I've got three deadlines on Monday, which means I cannot be hung over tomorrow and--"
"La la la la la!" Liz sang. "I can't hear you! I'm not listening! My best friend wouldn't leave me here alone! I am the only black woman in this hard rock hell, and your butt better be here in 45 minutes or you're going to be black and blue when I get over there tomorrow!"
Sam sighed. There was no fighting Liz when she was in this kind of mood. She'd hoped Liz would bail--she hated going to the Rainbow. It was full of musicians and Hollywood types that Liz normally couldn't stand, but she'd always dutifully tagged along when Sam begged her to go with her. So tonight, with Liz actually excited about being there, Sam felt a twinge of guilt.
"Damn." She got up and looked in the bathroom mirror. How on God's green earth was she going to make herself presentable in 30 minutes or less? Finding parking on the Sunset Strip on a Friday night would be almost impossible, and it would take at least 15 minutes to get there. Making a face at herself in the mirror, she pulled her wavy hair back into a ponytail and stuck some toothpaste on her tooth brush. This was going to be a long night.
She arrived at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, a popular Hollywood night spot on Sunset Boulevard, sometime after 11:00. She told the bouncer at the door that she'd gone to get cash and the manager had said it was okay. He'd given her a look like he didn't believe it, but in the end--whether it was her push-up bra and low-cut tank top or the five-inch stiletto heels that accented her calves--he let her in. She found Liz the moment she went up the stairs--she was the only six-foot black woman with platinum blond hair in the place--and Liz silently handed her a drink.
"'Bout time you got here!" she muttered, her eyes slanted dangerously. "I was about to give up on you."
"I was ready for bed!" Sam shrugged. "You're lucky I'm here--so what's going on? What is this video you're up in arms about?"
"It's for LL Cool J!" Liz's eyes glittered. "And you know I am going to have that boy's baby!"
Sam rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. So does everyone we know!"
"And he is going to spot me tonight!" Liz said with a flourish, swaying her hips from side to side.
"Like he did the last five times we put ourselves in his air space?" Sam chuckled.
"The stars weren't in alignment those times," Liz pouted. "My horoscope today said that I was going to have an encounter with a person or distinction that will change my life."
Sam forced herself not to roll her eyes again; Liz did not appreciate it when people made fun of her love of astrology! "So, is he here?"
Liz eyed her. "Of course not! He won't arrive until he can make an entrance."
"Okey-dokey, then." Sam gulped down the entire glass of wine. "Get me a refill!"
The video shoot was over almost before it began, without any sign of LL Cool J. Apparently, the shoot was only for footage of people dancing at a night club. The star himself had never even been on the bill for the festivities. Of course, it had been almost 1:30 a.m. before Sam managed to find someone to give her that information, and she'd almost dragged Liz out by the hair. Of course, Liz had been so disappointed she didn't have the heart.
"I'm really sorry," Liz sighed as they made their way through the crowds towards the exit. "My friend Sasha--"
"This isn't the Sasha who told you that Mary J. Blige was staying at the Roosevelt Hotel? But it turned out to be some woman named Mary J. Blig from Duluth, Minnesota?"
Liz wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, that's her. But she's not always wrong!"
Sam refrained from making the comment on the tip of her lips. "Well, on the bright side, you owe me one!" she laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Liz had just reached the door. "You want to go for breakfast?" she asked. "My treat--" She whipped her head around. "Sam? Where are you?!" She stepped back into the main dining room. "Sam?!" She called as loud as she dared, but her friend was nowhere in sight.
"What the hell?" She scanned the room. 'Where the hell did she go?!"
Monday, August 10, 2009
CHA Summer 2009, Part II: Review THIS!
Okay, so there's a lot of stuff out there and it's coming out in the near future. I didn't get to see it all, I didn't get to play with even half of it, and I only got samples of a fraction of it, but I did get enough information to talk to you about them, so here I go. Please remember this is not an a sales pitch or a lynching party. There are products I liked, products I disliked, and a handful of things I loved. Art, regardless of the medium, is extremely subjective and personal, and this is just my taste, my preferences, and my opinions!
A Few Things I Liked:
*Jillibean Soup: This company was new to me up until a few months ago, and when I got into their booth, I saw two lines that I really liked. The first was by far my favorite, "Alphabet Soup," and is a school-themed line, but although there are distinctly thematic papers, there are also more generic patterns that could be used for anything. I love that kind of thing, because normally I won't use one line to do multiple layouts of one theme, so I could use the school houses, the report cards (my absolute favorite!) and the letters for school layouts, and then the other sides for anything from boy pages to heritage and anything in between! A+
My second favorite was called "Talk Soup," and although it's definitely not as colorful or thematic, it caught my attention because it wasn't any of those things, but it wasn't boring either. I also liked the owls, because that's the mascot of my son's new elementary school, but the more I looked at it, the more uses I found for it, and as you can see in the picture, their samples are pretty variable too!
*Scrap Within Reach: I don't know much about this company, but really like how they are both subtle and overt at the same time. "Carnival Ride" is young and busy, but the colors are a little softer, so the circles and stripes and ferris wheel designs don't scream out; instead, they kind of gently nudge you to look at them. My favorite line is probably "Paper Boy," with a navy blue, sage green, mustard yellow and white color scheme. Really cute stuff.
*Upsy Daisy: Another one of those companies that has suddenly caught my eye, I was introduced to them in my AC Bailey Kit of the Month club package for July with their "Man About Town" line. Great masculine papers that can also be used for heritage, wedding, and many other things depending on color scheme. My current love is a line called "Vroom" that is all boy, no doubt, but cute as heck!
*Graphic45: This company is, in their own words, for "unique papercrafting." Although a lot of their stuff is heritage-esque, whimsical and even over-the-top old-fashioned, I just love some of it. From cards to layouts, there's a lot you can do with this stuff. I got a few interesting samples that I'm going to work with, and when I do, I'll post them here!
*7Gypsies' Binderie: This is one of those products that I liked a lot, really, but not enough to say I LOVE it. It's cute as a button, works very well, and is extremely accurate and easy to use! Unfortunately, for something that basically punches some symmetrical holes, it's expensive ($39.95) and I'm not sure how much I would use it. They were using them just this past weekend at Archiver's for make n takes, and although everyone thought they were very convenient, I didn't see or hear anyone interested in buying it for that price. It DOES match my office/scrap room decor (red and black) so I might have to have it, but I will definitely wait for a coupon! In general, though, there's always something interesting from this company, and I was incredibly inspired by their products and the new "Victoria" display pictured below...
A Few Things I Didn't Like That Much...
*October Afternoon: Bo-ring... they only had a couple of new lines, and one of them didn't even arrive until part way through the show! I have loved this company in the past, but the summer/fall releases weren't all that special. I was disappointed, and am hoping for more next time!
*Karen Foster: I'm a big fan, but this time, she had very little to offer. It was a disappointment for scrapbookers, although her catalog has some interesting Canning and Gift Label Kits... maybe January 2010 will be more exciting!
*Chatterbox: After their incredible "Fabulous" line, I was expecting a lot, and obviously I was disappointed. I really didn't see anything else that was new or interesting in the least. They had their own "brad maker" but weren't really pushing it or demonstrating, so I'm guessing either it's not selling or something else is going on because I don't think they're competing with the i-Top.
*My Mind's Eye. Before I talk about the negative, let me make it clear that I normally LOVE this company! They are always coming out with something cool, and their summer "Breaking Free" release was all that AND the bag of chips! Unfortunately, that came out BEFORE CHA so the magic was already gone, and the other stuff, like "Penny Lane," "Abbey Road" and the seasonal stuff was just not that exciting. "Ooh La La" is cute enough, but honestly, how many pages like that can one company possibly come out with? "Free Bird" and "Maggie May" aren't bad, by any means, but again, except for color scheme, it's all starting to look the same to me. "Spider's Web" (pictured below) is probably the only line I may buy, but there's so much competition for Halloween products, I'm not even sure about that. I do like the muted color scheme (bright orange gets old sometimes), though.
A Lot of Things I Loved:
*Craf-T Products' new Metallic Rub-ons kits! These little paint-like products are awesome; they come in sets of 7 colors each, are incredibly versatile and dry quickly! You can use them with an applicator or your finger, with stencils or freehand, and on a large variety of surfaces! Just dab them on for a layer of color on its own, or let it dry (which is almost instantly) and then edge it, layer it, emboss it, glaze it and more for another color! Really easy to use for someone like me who's not all that artistic when I'm working freehand, and the colors, texture and variety is impressive. Can't wait to use these on some upcoming projects!
*Laser engraved 12x12 Albums by Harmonie. Oh my gosh, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these albums! In fact, I love so many things by this company, I should probably buy stock in it and get it over with! Holy guacamole, I wish they weren't in Canada (which means it's going to be hard to get retailers here in the U.S. to deal with the tax and shipping issues) because I want some of this stuff NOW! Their Christmas and Halloween lines are to die for, and frankly, if I was a serious rubber stamper, I would be in stamp heaven!
This 8x8 Canvas Flip-Flop Book is going to be a cute little project!
How pretty is this?! Large canvas done up scrapbook style... wow!
* Little Yellow Bicycle: Yeah, I know, I sound like a broken record, but this is by far the best new company to come out in a LONG time! Not since Basic Grey have I seen a company come out with better products each and every time. Not everything is my personal taste, but you can't say anything bad about the quality, selection and price! I just want some of everything... for now, though, I'll stick to talking about "Autumn Bliss." This line is starting to show up now, and the pictures honestly don't do it justice. In person, it's elegant, catchy and simply gorgeous. My favorite paper in the line is called Pumpkin Patch, and it's "thermographed," or embossed, if you want it simply stated... what do you think?
I don't expect to see blues in a Fall papers/colors, but this works, and when you see the foil-like parts of the paper, you will be absolutely entranced. Trust me on this--run, don't walk, to buy this line!
*Helmar: Adhesive isn't that exciting, we all know it, but when you find some that works, is versatile, and rubs right off of your hands with no mess, you have to take a second look. After all, without adhesive, none of our projects would be very good, right? So I'm always interesting in new stuff, like Helmar 450 Stainless Adhesive and the Helmar Gemstone Glue. The 450 is liquid that dries clear on all sorts of materials--from fabric to cork!--and doesn't bleed through. It also dries really quickly, which is a bonus when you're working on mini-albums or projects that have a lot of different pieces. The Gemstone Glue is also really great because you can use it on clear buttons or other see-through products and it dries 100% clear!
Here I am at CHA with Helmar's Design Team Coordinator, Tracy Weinzapfel Burgos and the AC Bailey Girls! Left to right: Dee (standing), Julianne, Gail, Tracy, Erica and me (standing).
A Few Things I Liked:
*Jillibean Soup: This company was new to me up until a few months ago, and when I got into their booth, I saw two lines that I really liked. The first was by far my favorite, "Alphabet Soup," and is a school-themed line, but although there are distinctly thematic papers, there are also more generic patterns that could be used for anything. I love that kind of thing, because normally I won't use one line to do multiple layouts of one theme, so I could use the school houses, the report cards (my absolute favorite!) and the letters for school layouts, and then the other sides for anything from boy pages to heritage and anything in between! A+
My second favorite was called "Talk Soup," and although it's definitely not as colorful or thematic, it caught my attention because it wasn't any of those things, but it wasn't boring either. I also liked the owls, because that's the mascot of my son's new elementary school, but the more I looked at it, the more uses I found for it, and as you can see in the picture, their samples are pretty variable too!
*Scrap Within Reach: I don't know much about this company, but really like how they are both subtle and overt at the same time. "Carnival Ride" is young and busy, but the colors are a little softer, so the circles and stripes and ferris wheel designs don't scream out; instead, they kind of gently nudge you to look at them. My favorite line is probably "Paper Boy," with a navy blue, sage green, mustard yellow and white color scheme. Really cute stuff.*Upsy Daisy: Another one of those companies that has suddenly caught my eye, I was introduced to them in my AC Bailey Kit of the Month club package for July with their "Man About Town" line. Great masculine papers that can also be used for heritage, wedding, and many other things depending on color scheme. My current love is a line called "Vroom" that is all boy, no doubt, but cute as heck!
*Graphic45: This company is, in their own words, for "unique papercrafting." Although a lot of their stuff is heritage-esque, whimsical and even over-the-top old-fashioned, I just love some of it. From cards to layouts, there's a lot you can do with this stuff. I got a few interesting samples that I'm going to work with, and when I do, I'll post them here!
*7Gypsies' Binderie: This is one of those products that I liked a lot, really, but not enough to say I LOVE it. It's cute as a button, works very well, and is extremely accurate and easy to use! Unfortunately, for something that basically punches some symmetrical holes, it's expensive ($39.95) and I'm not sure how much I would use it. They were using them just this past weekend at Archiver's for make n takes, and although everyone thought they were very convenient, I didn't see or hear anyone interested in buying it for that price. It DOES match my office/scrap room decor (red and black) so I might have to have it, but I will definitely wait for a coupon! In general, though, there's always something interesting from this company, and I was incredibly inspired by their products and the new "Victoria" display pictured below...
A Few Things I Didn't Like That Much...
*October Afternoon: Bo-ring... they only had a couple of new lines, and one of them didn't even arrive until part way through the show! I have loved this company in the past, but the summer/fall releases weren't all that special. I was disappointed, and am hoping for more next time!
*Karen Foster: I'm a big fan, but this time, she had very little to offer. It was a disappointment for scrapbookers, although her catalog has some interesting Canning and Gift Label Kits... maybe January 2010 will be more exciting!
*Chatterbox: After their incredible "Fabulous" line, I was expecting a lot, and obviously I was disappointed. I really didn't see anything else that was new or interesting in the least. They had their own "brad maker" but weren't really pushing it or demonstrating, so I'm guessing either it's not selling or something else is going on because I don't think they're competing with the i-Top.
*My Mind's Eye. Before I talk about the negative, let me make it clear that I normally LOVE this company! They are always coming out with something cool, and their summer "Breaking Free" release was all that AND the bag of chips! Unfortunately, that came out BEFORE CHA so the magic was already gone, and the other stuff, like "Penny Lane," "Abbey Road" and the seasonal stuff was just not that exciting. "Ooh La La" is cute enough, but honestly, how many pages like that can one company possibly come out with? "Free Bird" and "Maggie May" aren't bad, by any means, but again, except for color scheme, it's all starting to look the same to me. "Spider's Web" (pictured below) is probably the only line I may buy, but there's so much competition for Halloween products, I'm not even sure about that. I do like the muted color scheme (bright orange gets old sometimes), though.
A Lot of Things I Loved:
*Craf-T Products' new Metallic Rub-ons kits! These little paint-like products are awesome; they come in sets of 7 colors each, are incredibly versatile and dry quickly! You can use them with an applicator or your finger, with stencils or freehand, and on a large variety of surfaces! Just dab them on for a layer of color on its own, or let it dry (which is almost instantly) and then edge it, layer it, emboss it, glaze it and more for another color! Really easy to use for someone like me who's not all that artistic when I'm working freehand, and the colors, texture and variety is impressive. Can't wait to use these on some upcoming projects!
*Laser engraved 12x12 Albums by Harmonie. Oh my gosh, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these albums! In fact, I love so many things by this company, I should probably buy stock in it and get it over with! Holy guacamole, I wish they weren't in Canada (which means it's going to be hard to get retailers here in the U.S. to deal with the tax and shipping issues) because I want some of this stuff NOW! Their Christmas and Halloween lines are to die for, and frankly, if I was a serious rubber stamper, I would be in stamp heaven!
*ClearScraps: This company just has so many fun little things, it's hard to choose just one! The picture below was one of their display walls with just a sample of the great stuff to come--how cute is a stocking-shaped acrylic album?! So many things to choose from, I dont' know how I'm going to come up with classes for my customers!
*Quick Quotes: Holy projects, Batman! This company is so friggin' cool I don't know what to talk about first! Seriously, people, if you go to conventions anywhere in the country, you've got to take one of their classes to see what the fuss is all about! Just looking at the projects on display was enough to get my gears spinning for class ideas, and I am so excited because they are working on a deal with AC Bailey to distribute certain products--and that just rocks! I also have become interested in working with canvas, which I never really thought about before. Now that I've used it with a make-n-take, I see just how unlimited the possibilities are, and I'm about to move into new territory... the pictures below are just a tiny sample:
This 8x8 Canvas Flip-Flop Book is going to be a cute little project!
How pretty is this?! Large canvas done up scrapbook style... wow!
I don't expect to see blues in a Fall papers/colors, but this works, and when you see the foil-like parts of the paper, you will be absolutely entranced. Trust me on this--run, don't walk, to buy this line!Their Christmas line will blow you away, too, but I'll save something for another day!
*Helmar: Adhesive isn't that exciting, we all know it, but when you find some that works, is versatile, and rubs right off of your hands with no mess, you have to take a second look. After all, without adhesive, none of our projects would be very good, right? So I'm always interesting in new stuff, like Helmar 450 Stainless Adhesive and the Helmar Gemstone Glue. The 450 is liquid that dries clear on all sorts of materials--from fabric to cork!--and doesn't bleed through. It also dries really quickly, which is a bonus when you're working on mini-albums or projects that have a lot of different pieces. The Gemstone Glue is also really great because you can use it on clear buttons or other see-through products and it dries 100% clear!
Here I am at CHA with Helmar's Design Team Coordinator, Tracy Weinzapfel Burgos and the AC Bailey Girls! Left to right: Dee (standing), Julianne, Gail, Tracy, Erica and me (standing).There are a handful of products on which the jury is still out because I haven't really had a chance to use and/or watch them in action. I like the Unibind PhotoBookCreator. You buy a machine that will make those bound books that have been all the rage in the last year or two. There are size, color, and even sound options, so it seems like it might be on the cutting edge, but I'm not sure about costs and ease of use, so I'll reserve judgment for now.
Hot off the Press has some interesting CDs--1000 Card Quotes, 11,000 Alphabet Tiles and 500 Ephemera Art Pieces--for just $14.99. I didn't see the actual contents, so again I'm waiting until I see more, but that's a great price for so much ready-to-print artwork!
GlueArts has the latest in Glue Gliders, a smaller one than the trendy ATGs that everyone seemed to need last year (myself not included). I have one on order, because it looked like it might be something I can use all the time, with mindless cartridge changes, so I'll let you know if it lives up to its reputation! I also got a sample of their Wall Art Adhesive, but haven't had a chance to try it yet, so I'll keep you updated on that as well.
So that's it for now... I have a few other things that I'm going to talk about in more detail, along with samples and other information, but for now, you're going to have to wait! I have lots of surprises planned for you, including a giveaway, but I'm going to make you work for it, so stay tuned!
Happy Scrappin'!
--Kathy
Hot off the Press has some interesting CDs--1000 Card Quotes, 11,000 Alphabet Tiles and 500 Ephemera Art Pieces--for just $14.99. I didn't see the actual contents, so again I'm waiting until I see more, but that's a great price for so much ready-to-print artwork!
GlueArts has the latest in Glue Gliders, a smaller one than the trendy ATGs that everyone seemed to need last year (myself not included). I have one on order, because it looked like it might be something I can use all the time, with mindless cartridge changes, so I'll let you know if it lives up to its reputation! I also got a sample of their Wall Art Adhesive, but haven't had a chance to try it yet, so I'll keep you updated on that as well.
So that's it for now... I have a few other things that I'm going to talk about in more detail, along with samples and other information, but for now, you're going to have to wait! I have lots of surprises planned for you, including a giveaway, but I'm going to make you work for it, so stay tuned!
Happy Scrappin'!
--Kathy
Sunday, August 2, 2009
CHA Summer 2009, Part I: Recap, Review and Remember
For those of you who don't know, CHA is the Craft & Hobby Association's industry-only vendor fair. Craft manufacturers from literally around the world congregate to show off their wares and convince retailers of all kinds to order their products for the upcoming season. It happens twice a year, in January and July, and although the summer show is undoubtedly smaller than its winter counterpart, there was something particularly quiet about this show. Some booths had no lines at all, and even the most popular companies had shorter lines than usual. Although it's always a thrill to be there to see new products before they're even available, there was something missing in this year's CHA summer, and I have yet to put my finger on it.
One thing that was strange was the absence of quite a few large manufacturers, including Fiskars, K & Company, Xyron and Pazzles. There was a lot of talk about moving the show from Chicago, where it's always been, to Orlando. It was hot, the overall exhibit was smaller, and according to veteran attendees, attendance wasn't just down--it was almost embarrassing. Not having been to a summer show before, this is all hearsay, but since almost everyone said the same thing, I'm inclined to believe it. Personally, I was disappointed that K& Co. and Xyron decided not to attend, but there were still a lot of wonderful companies, both old and new, as well as incredible products...
On the bright side, there was still more than enough to see and do over three days. We started bright and early Tuesday morning and went right up until 4 p.m. on Thursday. I could have used one more day, personally, but the truth is that three days is plenty. In fact, it's overload, so it's not conceivable to imagine another day, though most of us wished we could have had just that!
Day One consisted of a lot of perusing, getting our bearings, collecting catalogs, talking to new vendors, and checking out the best make and takes. Day two was more of the "meat and potatoes" of the show, doing as many make and takes as possible, figuring out the best deals and trying to make sure you don't miss any cool contests or giveaways. Day three, of course, is all about getting to everything you missed, getting business cards from people you didn't get a chance to finish up with, and trying to figure out how you're going to lug everything home. Just as a point of reference, this was a relatively small show but I still managed to bring home FIVE large tote bags of products, catalogs and make and takes!
Here we are, the "ACB Girls," having appetizers and drinks at one of the hotels... from left to right: Julianne, Dee, Gail, Erica, and Kathy.
As an overview, I decided to give out my own 'awards' in categories of my choosing--in Part 2 I will do specific reviews of products and manufacturers--with the Top 3 in each:
* Best Make - N - Takes:
Third Place: Kaiser Craft - We made a wooden mini-album with specially printed embellishments that read "CHA Summer 2009, Florida" (from the new "Pina Colada" line).
Second Place: Diecuts with a View - They had one of those novelty photo booths where you go in, take 6 pictures (with or without hats and props), print them, and then use them to make a mini album featuring their new papers.
First Place: Provo Craft. They had SEVERAL going on each day, including a beautiful silk screen frame, another frame with etched glass, a Disney-themed paint bucket, an altered recipe tin, and more.
* Best New Product(s):
Third Place: The i-Top Brad Maker from Imaginisce, a hand-held tool that will let consumers make brads out of any paper or fabric they have handy. Although it's an expensive initial investment, you'll save money in the long run by not having to buy the expensive brads manufacturers product exclusive to specific lines.
Second Place: Provo Craft's "Gypsy," the new hand-held design studio for the Cricut that lets you store Cricut cartridges with a wealth of amazing features. Cool product, but will retail for $299 and you have to own a Cricut or Expression to use it, which can be a deterrent to some.
First Place: Making Memories' Slice. Although the machine itself isn't brand new, the upgraded ('Think Pink') version with its new features and accessories are amazing. One machine will cut shapes as well as their mirror images and shadows, emboss, de-emboss, draw and trace! Incredibly affordable too...
* Best New Company:
Third Place: Kanban, a British manufacturer who is branching into the U.S. with a unique set of card-making supplies as well as non-traditional scrapbook papers that are absolutely gorgeous!
Second Place: Helmar, an Australian company that makes some interesting new adhesives, including a 'liquid' pop dot, spray vellum adhesive, and more! I'm psyched to see it in some stores!
First Place: Harmonie, a Canadian company with paper, embellishments, rubber stamps and, my favorite, 12x12 acrylic albums that are both customizable and affordable!
Best New Paper Lines:
Third Place: "Home For the Holidays" by Websters Pages. Although this is a bit more traditional than some lines, this is by far my favorite holiday-themed line because it's incredibly both different and versatile. I can't wait to get my hands on these double-sided papers, as well as the coordinating embellishments.
Second Place: "Teen Angst" by We R Memory Keepers! This company has just exploded in my opinion, and I can't get enough! I don't love every single paper in every single line, but I really love this one... of course, I'm a "closet" rock star, so papers like "Rock" and "Rebel" really speak to me! The embellishments are amazing too...
First Place: If you love Halloween, you won't be able to resist 'Trick or Treat' from Little Yellow Bicycle. Seriously, folks, this company never fails to impress, inspire and get me eager to scrap. This line has everything from incredible double-sided paper, lace-cut card stock, decorative edge card stock and overlays to chipboard, journal tablets, brads, stickers, vinyl... the list is simply endless. You won't be able to resist either!
*Note: I could add half a dozen "runners up," but don't want to bore you, so I'll hit a few of my other faves in the next post!
* Best Overall Booth:
Third Place: Kaiser Craft! I know these guys were one of my favorite make n takes too, but I have to give credit where it's due, and they were prepared, friendly and full of information, products and surprises! They had a great (and generous) make-n-take, as well as plenty of their catalog/idea books to give out (without being stingy, like some others who shall remain nameless!). I'm really happy that they're releasing ALL of their products in the U.S. now, and not keeping some just for release in Australia. Lucky us!
Second Place: Quick Quotes! I always thought of this company as "that company with all the vellum sayings and the great classes." I had no idea they were so incredibly talented, versatile and inspired. Their make and takes were gorgeous, fast and inexpensive (to re-create for customers). Their staff is knowledgeable and interested in customers from every aspect of their business, from store owners to bloggers to regular old customers!
This is the beautiful make-n-take we did at the Quick Quotes booth--it only took about 10 minutes and is adorable. I can't wait to put pictures on it and hang it up somewhere! It's a canvas back with actual flip-flops
First Place: PROVO CRAFT! I really hated to give first to the booth that seemed to spend the most money, but there's just no way to deny the make and takes, the giveaways, the party, and the products themselves. This booth rocked and rolled from start to finish, whether they were taking pictures, giving away Gypsies or just talking about their products. Their staff was informed, interesting and genuinely excited about everything they're doing. Even upper management was approachable and available. I can't say anything negative about the booth, the company or the employees we spent time with--way to go, Provo Craft!
This is my friend Julianne and I digging into our Provo Craft Goody Bags and finding brand new Cricut cartridges, a new book about crafts from author Faythe Levine, and vouchers for a brand new Gypsy when they are released this Fall!
Part II of my CHA review coming in a couple of days!
Keep in touch!
--Kathy
One thing that was strange was the absence of quite a few large manufacturers, including Fiskars, K & Company, Xyron and Pazzles. There was a lot of talk about moving the show from Chicago, where it's always been, to Orlando. It was hot, the overall exhibit was smaller, and according to veteran attendees, attendance wasn't just down--it was almost embarrassing. Not having been to a summer show before, this is all hearsay, but since almost everyone said the same thing, I'm inclined to believe it. Personally, I was disappointed that K& Co. and Xyron decided not to attend, but there were still a lot of wonderful companies, both old and new, as well as incredible products...
On the bright side, there was still more than enough to see and do over three days. We started bright and early Tuesday morning and went right up until 4 p.m. on Thursday. I could have used one more day, personally, but the truth is that three days is plenty. In fact, it's overload, so it's not conceivable to imagine another day, though most of us wished we could have had just that!
Day One consisted of a lot of perusing, getting our bearings, collecting catalogs, talking to new vendors, and checking out the best make and takes. Day two was more of the "meat and potatoes" of the show, doing as many make and takes as possible, figuring out the best deals and trying to make sure you don't miss any cool contests or giveaways. Day three, of course, is all about getting to everything you missed, getting business cards from people you didn't get a chance to finish up with, and trying to figure out how you're going to lug everything home. Just as a point of reference, this was a relatively small show but I still managed to bring home FIVE large tote bags of products, catalogs and make and takes!
Here we are, the "ACB Girls," having appetizers and drinks at one of the hotels... from left to right: Julianne, Dee, Gail, Erica, and Kathy.
As an overview, I decided to give out my own 'awards' in categories of my choosing--in Part 2 I will do specific reviews of products and manufacturers--with the Top 3 in each:
* Best Make - N - Takes:
Third Place: Kaiser Craft - We made a wooden mini-album with specially printed embellishments that read "CHA Summer 2009, Florida" (from the new "Pina Colada" line).
Second Place: Diecuts with a View - They had one of those novelty photo booths where you go in, take 6 pictures (with or without hats and props), print them, and then use them to make a mini album featuring their new papers.
First Place: Provo Craft. They had SEVERAL going on each day, including a beautiful silk screen frame, another frame with etched glass, a Disney-themed paint bucket, an altered recipe tin, and more.
* Best New Product(s):
Third Place: The i-Top Brad Maker from Imaginisce, a hand-held tool that will let consumers make brads out of any paper or fabric they have handy. Although it's an expensive initial investment, you'll save money in the long run by not having to buy the expensive brads manufacturers product exclusive to specific lines.
Second Place: Provo Craft's "Gypsy," the new hand-held design studio for the Cricut that lets you store Cricut cartridges with a wealth of amazing features. Cool product, but will retail for $299 and you have to own a Cricut or Expression to use it, which can be a deterrent to some.
First Place: Making Memories' Slice. Although the machine itself isn't brand new, the upgraded ('Think Pink') version with its new features and accessories are amazing. One machine will cut shapes as well as their mirror images and shadows, emboss, de-emboss, draw and trace! Incredibly affordable too...
* Best New Company:
Third Place: Kanban, a British manufacturer who is branching into the U.S. with a unique set of card-making supplies as well as non-traditional scrapbook papers that are absolutely gorgeous!
Second Place: Helmar, an Australian company that makes some interesting new adhesives, including a 'liquid' pop dot, spray vellum adhesive, and more! I'm psyched to see it in some stores!
First Place: Harmonie, a Canadian company with paper, embellishments, rubber stamps and, my favorite, 12x12 acrylic albums that are both customizable and affordable!
Best New Paper Lines:
Third Place: "Home For the Holidays" by Websters Pages. Although this is a bit more traditional than some lines, this is by far my favorite holiday-themed line because it's incredibly both different and versatile. I can't wait to get my hands on these double-sided papers, as well as the coordinating embellishments.
Second Place: "Teen Angst" by We R Memory Keepers! This company has just exploded in my opinion, and I can't get enough! I don't love every single paper in every single line, but I really love this one... of course, I'm a "closet" rock star, so papers like "Rock" and "Rebel" really speak to me! The embellishments are amazing too...
First Place: If you love Halloween, you won't be able to resist 'Trick or Treat' from Little Yellow Bicycle. Seriously, folks, this company never fails to impress, inspire and get me eager to scrap. This line has everything from incredible double-sided paper, lace-cut card stock, decorative edge card stock and overlays to chipboard, journal tablets, brads, stickers, vinyl... the list is simply endless. You won't be able to resist either!
*Note: I could add half a dozen "runners up," but don't want to bore you, so I'll hit a few of my other faves in the next post!
* Best Overall Booth:
Third Place: Kaiser Craft! I know these guys were one of my favorite make n takes too, but I have to give credit where it's due, and they were prepared, friendly and full of information, products and surprises! They had a great (and generous) make-n-take, as well as plenty of their catalog/idea books to give out (without being stingy, like some others who shall remain nameless!). I'm really happy that they're releasing ALL of their products in the U.S. now, and not keeping some just for release in Australia. Lucky us!
Second Place: Quick Quotes! I always thought of this company as "that company with all the vellum sayings and the great classes." I had no idea they were so incredibly talented, versatile and inspired. Their make and takes were gorgeous, fast and inexpensive (to re-create for customers). Their staff is knowledgeable and interested in customers from every aspect of their business, from store owners to bloggers to regular old customers!
This is the beautiful make-n-take we did at the Quick Quotes booth--it only took about 10 minutes and is adorable. I can't wait to put pictures on it and hang it up somewhere! It's a canvas back with actual flip-flops
First Place: PROVO CRAFT! I really hated to give first to the booth that seemed to spend the most money, but there's just no way to deny the make and takes, the giveaways, the party, and the products themselves. This booth rocked and rolled from start to finish, whether they were taking pictures, giving away Gypsies or just talking about their products. Their staff was informed, interesting and genuinely excited about everything they're doing. Even upper management was approachable and available. I can't say anything negative about the booth, the company or the employees we spent time with--way to go, Provo Craft!
This is my friend Julianne and I digging into our Provo Craft Goody Bags and finding brand new Cricut cartridges, a new book about crafts from author Faythe Levine, and vouchers for a brand new Gypsy when they are released this Fall!
Part II of my CHA review coming in a couple of days!
Keep in touch!
--Kathy
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Coupons, School Supplies and Other Embarrassing Hobbies...
Recently, I've noticed that some of my friends and family members seem to find the fact that I'm always looking for ways to save money quaint, a little hobby that apparently entertains me. Somehow, instead of seeing it as a smart way to be frugal, make ends meet and even have a little financial peace of mind, I am portrayed as a bored housewife with no life, no interests and lots of time for my 'fascination' with coupons. So instead of spitting back some interesting four-letter words, I thought I'd tell a little story...
On a hot, humid evening last August, we got a fax from our realtor with an offer on our home in New Hampshire. It was less than what we'd been hoping for, but it would mean the end of 12 months of paying two mortgages, and still leave us enough money to pay off the home equity loan. So we signed the papers and went to bed thinking things were definitely looking up.
The next morning I sent my older son to school and had barely settled in front of my computer, coffee at my lips, when the phone rang. It was my husband, Kevin. He was on his cell phone, and he sounded kind of funny. "They let me go," he said.
"Let you go where?" I asked, my caffeine-deprived brain unsure what we were talking about.
"My job!" he spat out vehemently. "They let me go! I got laid off!"
There was silence. My peaceful morning routine was shattered and the previous night's relief was gone. Nothing like this had ever happened to either of us, and after eleven years together, we had no idea what we would do. Although he had ten weeks of severance pay, we had nothing to fall back on. We'd moved to Georgia because of a great job opportunity, but they only paid a fraction of our moving expenses, and we hadn't had a lot of savings anyway. Although he made good money, we'd been paying two mortgages the entire time we'd been here. Our savings was gone, we had two young boys, and I hadn't worked outside the home in nearly a decade. It was a sobering time period.
However, like always, I stopped thinking about it and started doing something about it by finding ways to make this work. We negotiated a few more thousand out of the deal on our house, overhauled out budget, and I sat down at the computer determined to figure out how all those people on TV got $485 worth of groceries for $22.17 out of pocket. I would get there if it killed me--and trust me, it almost did.
As my husband, Kevin, spent his days on the phone networking, updating his resume and going to interviews, I read money-saving blogs, clipped coupons and did research. Name brands were thrown out the window and replaced with generic everything. Our family "entertainment" budget was immediately terminated, and with gas prices through the roof, when I went out I had a list, a plan and a stack of coupons. If it wasn't on my route, then it wasn't getting done until the next round of errands. It was serious crunch time.
It was a long, hard autumn season, but by the time Kevin started his new job on December 1st, I'd learned a lot about saving money, shopping, and in some ways, survival. I've discovered that you often get what you pay for, nothing in life is truly free, and everything is what you make it. I made some new friends, discovered what I'm really made of, and actually learned a lot.
It's been 11 months since that day in August, and it's been almost eight months since Kevin started his new job. The benefits are better, but he took a $10,000 pay cut. We got rid of that second mortgage, but our Homeowners Association fees almost doubled. Kevin's job seems stable and he enjoys it, but he's on the road four days most weeks, which leaves me a single mom about 75% of the time. Life is good, but it's far from perfect and I'm the first to admit that I am always looking for ways to save money. Being a single mom, even part-time, is a LOT of work and being able to afford little extras to make my life easier is just as important as making ends meet.
Consequently, I've spent hours and hours scouring all the information that's out there, searching for deals and steals. Believe it or not, they exist, but you have to be willing to exert some time, energy and, unfortunately, some of your "cool" to do it. A lot of my friends laugh at me--even the ones who subsequently tell me they don't have the money for girls night out or tickets to Bon Jovi. Well, here's an example of why I do what I do. This is what I've spent for school supplies so far, and how I did it:
2 Spiral Notebooks -- "FREE."
*Last year, Walmart had spiral-bound, wide-rule notebooks for five cents. I bought ten of them even though my son only needed one. This year, when I saw that he needed two, I already had them in my cabinet. Since they came out of last year's budget, I consider them free. You could say "10 cents" if it makes you feel better.
2 Packages of Wide-Rule Notebook Paper -- "FREE."
* Do you shop at CVS? Well, if you don't, you should. What they do is offer something called Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) and in this case, they put the paper on sale for $2.00, but then gave me $2 ECBs to spend on anything else in the store. Essentially, FREE, since I always need shampoo, conditioner, contact lens solution, etc.
2 boxes of #2 pencils -- "FREE."
Another CVS deal!
6 3-prong folders -- 96 cents at Walmart
* Currently on sale for 15 cents each (plus 6% tax)
1 24-count box of Crayons -- "FREE."
* Last year, I bought clearance crayons for 10 cents a piece and put them away for when I needed them. Again, these were already bought and essentially cost nothing now.
1 box Highlighters -- $1.06 (at the Dollar Store)
2 Packs of Dry Erase Markers -- $3.18 (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
2 Reams of Copy Paper -- $5.30 (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
2 bottles of Elmer's glue -- 42 cents (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
1 package Crayola colored pencils -- $1.00 (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
1 roll paper towels -- "FREE."
* I buy these in bulk when they're on sale, so there's always plenty in the pantry!
1 box tissues -- 94 cents (Walmart, tax included)
1 pair Fiskars scissors - ZERO (saved from last year)
1 pencil box -- ZERO (saved fromm last year)
There are only two things left on my list: 1 bottle hand sanitizer and two 4-packs of 3x3 Post-It notes. I know CVS puts hand sanitizer on sale all the time, plus I have ECB's I can use, so it will definitely be free. Depending on the ads in the coming weeks, I can most likely get the Post-Its free also, or no more than $1-2.
Grand total for Back-to-school Supplies: $12.86
Retail Cost without deals (it's not exact, but close): $40
Having the Last Laugh (as I schedule a pedicure using my savings): PRICELESS!
P.S. There are many web sites and blogs that have all this information available in one place, many of which are free, as well as printable coupons and other deals!!! Have fun...
Rainy Day Finances
Southern Savers (for people in the southeast)
Cool Savings (nation-wide)
Coupons (print right from your home printer, redeemable everywhere so far)
On a hot, humid evening last August, we got a fax from our realtor with an offer on our home in New Hampshire. It was less than what we'd been hoping for, but it would mean the end of 12 months of paying two mortgages, and still leave us enough money to pay off the home equity loan. So we signed the papers and went to bed thinking things were definitely looking up.
The next morning I sent my older son to school and had barely settled in front of my computer, coffee at my lips, when the phone rang. It was my husband, Kevin. He was on his cell phone, and he sounded kind of funny. "They let me go," he said.
"Let you go where?" I asked, my caffeine-deprived brain unsure what we were talking about.
"My job!" he spat out vehemently. "They let me go! I got laid off!"
There was silence. My peaceful morning routine was shattered and the previous night's relief was gone. Nothing like this had ever happened to either of us, and after eleven years together, we had no idea what we would do. Although he had ten weeks of severance pay, we had nothing to fall back on. We'd moved to Georgia because of a great job opportunity, but they only paid a fraction of our moving expenses, and we hadn't had a lot of savings anyway. Although he made good money, we'd been paying two mortgages the entire time we'd been here. Our savings was gone, we had two young boys, and I hadn't worked outside the home in nearly a decade. It was a sobering time period.
However, like always, I stopped thinking about it and started doing something about it by finding ways to make this work. We negotiated a few more thousand out of the deal on our house, overhauled out budget, and I sat down at the computer determined to figure out how all those people on TV got $485 worth of groceries for $22.17 out of pocket. I would get there if it killed me--and trust me, it almost did.
As my husband, Kevin, spent his days on the phone networking, updating his resume and going to interviews, I read money-saving blogs, clipped coupons and did research. Name brands were thrown out the window and replaced with generic everything. Our family "entertainment" budget was immediately terminated, and with gas prices through the roof, when I went out I had a list, a plan and a stack of coupons. If it wasn't on my route, then it wasn't getting done until the next round of errands. It was serious crunch time.
It was a long, hard autumn season, but by the time Kevin started his new job on December 1st, I'd learned a lot about saving money, shopping, and in some ways, survival. I've discovered that you often get what you pay for, nothing in life is truly free, and everything is what you make it. I made some new friends, discovered what I'm really made of, and actually learned a lot.
It's been 11 months since that day in August, and it's been almost eight months since Kevin started his new job. The benefits are better, but he took a $10,000 pay cut. We got rid of that second mortgage, but our Homeowners Association fees almost doubled. Kevin's job seems stable and he enjoys it, but he's on the road four days most weeks, which leaves me a single mom about 75% of the time. Life is good, but it's far from perfect and I'm the first to admit that I am always looking for ways to save money. Being a single mom, even part-time, is a LOT of work and being able to afford little extras to make my life easier is just as important as making ends meet.
Consequently, I've spent hours and hours scouring all the information that's out there, searching for deals and steals. Believe it or not, they exist, but you have to be willing to exert some time, energy and, unfortunately, some of your "cool" to do it. A lot of my friends laugh at me--even the ones who subsequently tell me they don't have the money for girls night out or tickets to Bon Jovi. Well, here's an example of why I do what I do. This is what I've spent for school supplies so far, and how I did it:
2 Spiral Notebooks -- "FREE."
*Last year, Walmart had spiral-bound, wide-rule notebooks for five cents. I bought ten of them even though my son only needed one. This year, when I saw that he needed two, I already had them in my cabinet. Since they came out of last year's budget, I consider them free. You could say "10 cents" if it makes you feel better.
2 Packages of Wide-Rule Notebook Paper -- "FREE."
* Do you shop at CVS? Well, if you don't, you should. What they do is offer something called Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) and in this case, they put the paper on sale for $2.00, but then gave me $2 ECBs to spend on anything else in the store. Essentially, FREE, since I always need shampoo, conditioner, contact lens solution, etc.
2 boxes of #2 pencils -- "FREE."
Another CVS deal!
6 3-prong folders -- 96 cents at Walmart
* Currently on sale for 15 cents each (plus 6% tax)
1 24-count box of Crayons -- "FREE."
* Last year, I bought clearance crayons for 10 cents a piece and put them away for when I needed them. Again, these were already bought and essentially cost nothing now.
1 box Highlighters -- $1.06 (at the Dollar Store)
2 Packs of Dry Erase Markers -- $3.18 (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
2 Reams of Copy Paper -- $5.30 (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
2 bottles of Elmer's glue -- 42 cents (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
1 package Crayola colored pencils -- $1.00 (on sale at Walmart, tax included)
1 roll paper towels -- "FREE."
* I buy these in bulk when they're on sale, so there's always plenty in the pantry!
1 box tissues -- 94 cents (Walmart, tax included)
1 pair Fiskars scissors - ZERO (saved from last year)
1 pencil box -- ZERO (saved fromm last year)
There are only two things left on my list: 1 bottle hand sanitizer and two 4-packs of 3x3 Post-It notes. I know CVS puts hand sanitizer on sale all the time, plus I have ECB's I can use, so it will definitely be free. Depending on the ads in the coming weeks, I can most likely get the Post-Its free also, or no more than $1-2.
Grand total for Back-to-school Supplies: $12.86
Retail Cost without deals (it's not exact, but close): $40
Having the Last Laugh (as I schedule a pedicure using my savings): PRICELESS!
P.S. There are many web sites and blogs that have all this information available in one place, many of which are free, as well as printable coupons and other deals!!! Have fun...
Rainy Day Finances
Southern Savers (for people in the southeast)
Cool Savings (nation-wide)
Coupons (print right from your home printer, redeemable everywhere so far)
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Royal Court of China--Still Rockin' More Than 20 Years Later!
Every time I hear my friend Joe Blanton sing, I fall a little bit in love with him. Yes, yes, I'm happily married (and so is he), and our spouses are friends, blah blah blah. I'm talking about music, people. Rock and roll, to be more specific. At the risk of stealing Joan Jett's line, I love rock and roll. I loved it way back when my Dad took me to see Tanya Tucker at the Dade County Youth Fair in the early 1970s, I loved it in high school in the 80s when Ratt and Motley Crue posters covered my walls, and I still love it today, whether it's Nickelback or Carrie Underwood or Katy Perry. Music that moves you, in a general sense, is all rock and roll--I don't discriminate between country and R&B or metal and pop. I love it, and seeing it live literally and figuratively rocks my world.
A few years back--okay, it was probably more like 21 years, give or take a few months--I was an intern at the A&M Records promotion office in Miami, FL. A&M had signed a band called the Royal Court of China and they were coming out with their second album, Geared and Primed. I listened to it all the way through just once and decided I was in love with this band, especially the lead singer. His voice moved me. It sucked me in the first time I heard it in 1988, and listening to it 21 years later, it still makes my stomach do one of those little flip-flops... you know the kind, like when you're first falling in love? It's trippy, and frankly, I'd rather have great music than drugs or alcohol any day.
The first time I saw RCC live was in Tampa in either late 1988 or early 1989. I'd memorized the words to all the songs on both of their albums, and hearing them live blew me away. As we partied before and after the show with friends and record company executives, I remember thinking that this band epitomized rock and roll; they were talented, accessible and genuinely grateful for their success. 21 years later, while a lot of things have changed, the basics have not: They're still incredibly talented, they're still accessible, and they still get a charge out of playing for their fans.
Walking into the Exit/In in Nashville on a Friday night in July was like stepping through a time machine in some ways. Rock and roll venues just haven't changed that much over the years. They're still dark and dank, with not enough chairs and somewhat spartan decor. Despite the ban in smoking these days, the room still looked and smelled a bit musty, the ghosts of rockers past lurking in the shadows like sentinels overseeing the continuance of tradition. Downright eerie, but in a good way!
First up was another band that had me dancing by the stage once upon a time, the Rock City Angels. This is one of many bands that was, in my humble and unsolicited opinion, signed by a major record label (Geffen) and then used as a tax write-off. These guys had it going on, and their lack of major distinction is both questionable and unforgivable. Say what you want, but after 20 years, a new line-up, and a new album, I was impressed with how good they sounded. And trust me when I tell you that the Exit/In is not a mecca for sound engineers; between too much bass and not enough guitar, a lesser band might not have even been capable of melody, much less a hard rockin', gritty, energetic set!
Lead singer Bobby Durango is older, but in a lot of ways, I think he's better. His voice was rich, his body language sensual yet energetic, and his interaction with the fans was unmistakable; they liked him and he liked them. What more can you ask for?
Even newcomer Adam G (bass) brought something tangible to the table with both his stage presence and his background vocals. I enjoyed their entire set, but it was their finale that sent it home for me: I still knew most of the words to "Deep Inside My Heart" and hearing it after so many years brought me back to a small, smokey club in L.A... but I digress.
By the time RCC took the stage, I was pretty geared and primed myself, moving down to the floor to cheer them on, despite the ache beginning in my feet, since they are no longer accustomed to spending more than a few minutes in four-inch heels. Yet the moment they broke into "It's All Changed," my painful feet were forgotten and I had the strangest experience where I was seeing them live in front of me, while simultaneously seeing them in my mind's eye back in the early 1990s...
Freaky, isn't it?
Although I'd stayed in touch with Joe over the years, I hadn't seen Drew (bass), Chris (drums) or Jeff (guitar) in a long time, but I recognized their style, musicality and stage presence immediately. This was RCC at its finest, and there was a vibe in the air that made me happy. Not just because it was fun seeing a band from back in the day, but because this was really good music that I could listen to all day. From older songs like "Geared and Primed" to brand new stuff ("Blowing Sunshine") and even recycled music from some of Joe's other projects ("New Machine"), this wasn't a group of bored, middle-aged men trying to recapture their youth. The only discernible difference between now and then was basically the length of their hair; everything else looked, sounded and felt the same.
Despite some technical difficulties that held up the show a good ten minutes, Joe did his best to engage the crowd and crack some jokes. Luckily, once they figured it out they let loose with more great music that made everyone forget the delay. A true high point in the evening came as Joe asked the crowd, "Guess what I've got?" And most of us knew the answer: SIX EMPTY BOTTLES! Their somewhat unlikely anthem is undoubtedly a crowd favorite even though it was never even a single, and there's nothing like watching even the smallest audience sing a song word-for-word.
From the moment they struck the first chords to the last notes of their "Man in Black" encore, the energy was palpable. It wasn't the biggest club, the most crowded audience, or even the longest set, but this was rock and roll the way it should be--with a band that plays hard, an audience that knows most of the words, and music that reverberates long after all the instruments have been put away. Personally, I think a new album is long overdue. So, what about it, boys? Got anything up your sleeves for us?!
For more info on the Rock City Angels, visit their MySpace page here.
If you'd like to check out more about the Royal Court of China, you can visit their site here.
A few years back--okay, it was probably more like 21 years, give or take a few months--I was an intern at the A&M Records promotion office in Miami, FL. A&M had signed a band called the Royal Court of China and they were coming out with their second album, Geared and Primed. I listened to it all the way through just once and decided I was in love with this band, especially the lead singer. His voice moved me. It sucked me in the first time I heard it in 1988, and listening to it 21 years later, it still makes my stomach do one of those little flip-flops... you know the kind, like when you're first falling in love? It's trippy, and frankly, I'd rather have great music than drugs or alcohol any day.
The first time I saw RCC live was in Tampa in either late 1988 or early 1989. I'd memorized the words to all the songs on both of their albums, and hearing them live blew me away. As we partied before and after the show with friends and record company executives, I remember thinking that this band epitomized rock and roll; they were talented, accessible and genuinely grateful for their success. 21 years later, while a lot of things have changed, the basics have not: They're still incredibly talented, they're still accessible, and they still get a charge out of playing for their fans.
Walking into the Exit/In in Nashville on a Friday night in July was like stepping through a time machine in some ways. Rock and roll venues just haven't changed that much over the years. They're still dark and dank, with not enough chairs and somewhat spartan decor. Despite the ban in smoking these days, the room still looked and smelled a bit musty, the ghosts of rockers past lurking in the shadows like sentinels overseeing the continuance of tradition. Downright eerie, but in a good way!
First up was another band that had me dancing by the stage once upon a time, the Rock City Angels. This is one of many bands that was, in my humble and unsolicited opinion, signed by a major record label (Geffen) and then used as a tax write-off. These guys had it going on, and their lack of major distinction is both questionable and unforgivable. Say what you want, but after 20 years, a new line-up, and a new album, I was impressed with how good they sounded. And trust me when I tell you that the Exit/In is not a mecca for sound engineers; between too much bass and not enough guitar, a lesser band might not have even been capable of melody, much less a hard rockin', gritty, energetic set!Lead singer Bobby Durango is older, but in a lot of ways, I think he's better. His voice was rich, his body language sensual yet energetic, and his interaction with the fans was unmistakable; they liked him and he liked them. What more can you ask for?
Even newcomer Adam G (bass) brought something tangible to the table with both his stage presence and his background vocals. I enjoyed their entire set, but it was their finale that sent it home for me: I still knew most of the words to "Deep Inside My Heart" and hearing it after so many years brought me back to a small, smokey club in L.A... but I digress.
By the time RCC took the stage, I was pretty geared and primed myself, moving down to the floor to cheer them on, despite the ache beginning in my feet, since they are no longer accustomed to spending more than a few minutes in four-inch heels. Yet the moment they broke into "It's All Changed," my painful feet were forgotten and I had the strangest experience where I was seeing them live in front of me, while simultaneously seeing them in my mind's eye back in the early 1990s...
Freaky, isn't it?
Although I'd stayed in touch with Joe over the years, I hadn't seen Drew (bass), Chris (drums) or Jeff (guitar) in a long time, but I recognized their style, musicality and stage presence immediately. This was RCC at its finest, and there was a vibe in the air that made me happy. Not just because it was fun seeing a band from back in the day, but because this was really good music that I could listen to all day. From older songs like "Geared and Primed" to brand new stuff ("Blowing Sunshine") and even recycled music from some of Joe's other projects ("New Machine"), this wasn't a group of bored, middle-aged men trying to recapture their youth. The only discernible difference between now and then was basically the length of their hair; everything else looked, sounded and felt the same.
Despite some technical difficulties that held up the show a good ten minutes, Joe did his best to engage the crowd and crack some jokes. Luckily, once they figured it out they let loose with more great music that made everyone forget the delay. A true high point in the evening came as Joe asked the crowd, "Guess what I've got?" And most of us knew the answer: SIX EMPTY BOTTLES! Their somewhat unlikely anthem is undoubtedly a crowd favorite even though it was never even a single, and there's nothing like watching even the smallest audience sing a song word-for-word.
From the moment they struck the first chords to the last notes of their "Man in Black" encore, the energy was palpable. It wasn't the biggest club, the most crowded audience, or even the longest set, but this was rock and roll the way it should be--with a band that plays hard, an audience that knows most of the words, and music that reverberates long after all the instruments have been put away. Personally, I think a new album is long overdue. So, what about it, boys? Got anything up your sleeves for us?!
For more info on the Rock City Angels, visit their MySpace page here.
If you'd like to check out more about the Royal Court of China, you can visit their site here.
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