Bluka Firsts

I brought my sweet little girl home in January and she was only 4 months old.  She blossomed into a spaz with a personality 10 times her little 7 pound body.  Now she’s a little over a year old and has had quite a few Firsts this year.  Her first loves are these pillows.  I don’t know what it is about them, but she will do circles around them chasing the milk jug rings.

She has turned into quite the little hunter and brought in mosquito eaters, bugs and has a love for lizards (I found so many dead and half alive ones in the house).  This weekend, she had her first snow.  I had to laugh at her on Friday night as she was trying to dodge the snowflakes that were landing on her and when she figured out it wasn’t going so well, she went back in the house.  We hunkered down for the night then Saturday morning I had to throw her out in the snow.  She was not happy and stood there for about 5 minutes glaring at me.  Then she tried to eat it and spit it out really quick. 

 

 

 

She sat in the window most of the day Saturday wide eyed as the snow fell from the trees.

Saturday night I decided it was time to put up the tree.  I popped in Christmas Vacation, poured a glass of wine and drug the tree out from the closet.  Bluka was very excited as it was something new to investigate and play with.  Fabio could care less, but he is older and used to these things now.  After I got the tree up, it was time for the lights.  Not sure if it was the pretty colors or because I was untangling them, but she fell in lust with them.  I had to keep her from chewing on them while I was putting them on the tree which became quite the chore.  But afterwards it was worth it.  As I was putting the bulbs on the tree I came to the conclusion that she will be Aunt Bethany’s cat from the movie and waste all her 9 lives chewing on the lights. 

 

But she’s so stinkin cute

Weekend Snow

I love the snow.  I just don’t like it when it sticks to the roads makes them slushy then freezes.  It started Friday night and I woke up Saturday morning to this.

Part of my backyard

He's my special upside down snowman

 

It’s so peaceful when it snows.  Like the world it taking a time out and is just being still, I love it.  I parked at the bottom of my driveway Friday night so I didn’t go sliding backwards when it all stopped and froze over.  I built a few snowmen, made a snow angel for my Aunt and Uncle and then decided to shovel off the driveway so that I can park on it. Well now my driveway looks like glass from it freezing over and I’m anxious for it to melt so I can park in it again.  Until that time comes, I will just park at the bottom, cover my windows and pray that I don’t ski down the driveway in the process like I did when I went to cover my windows.

The weekend snow has turned to black ice on the roads and it makes for scary driving as there are those who do not know how to slow down and leave space between cars.  I would rather get to my destination safe than not at all, so I was driving cautiously this morning.  And shaking my head at those who were not. 

Oh what list to start with

Last Wednesday night I decided to compile all my music lists that I have for bands to check out into one neat little spot. And holy cow did I have lots of lists.  Lists from work, lists at home, lists in my purse, lists in the glove box of the car, lists in my lunch bag and even a few on my coffee table.  I even found my wish list.  So after compiling all my lists into yet another tablet, I started going through my wish list to see what I still wanted and what could be crossed off.  I got about halfway done with the first page and then lost all interest yet again.  I kept thinking about all the other things I could be doing.  Like cleaning the house, cleaning out my drinking glasses which I have way more than I need, organizing my pots and pans, regrout the tile behind the kitchen sink and that’s just to start on the inside of the house.  The outside of the house list is getting long too.  I am trying to keep all my lists in one spot so I don’t lose them.  I just keep adding to them.

Also since this is December, the list of all lists come out.  You know the ones I’m talking about:  “Top 20 albums of 2013”, “Top 100 Movies of 2013”, “Top 100 songs of 2013”and those lists go on and on.  But for a person like me, they are really fun to read and aggrevating at the same time.  As they are always criticized and you wonder who made those lists, what were they thinking when those lists were made and why didn’t they choose that one instead of this one.  So to make myself feel better, I will make my own which starts yet another list to add to my pile.  Craig will find them one day and then the questions, then I will just smile and say “It’s my madness.”

I didn’t think music burn out was possible

Not too long ago I read an article on NPR about “The Good Listener: Is There Too Much Music?”  A gal had written in about wanting to take a break from buying all the records, stop the playlists, stop constantly hunting down new music and artists.  She was pretty much burned out.  She said that what started out as a passion has turned into a job.  As I read the article, I thought “this is totally me right now!” and I can completely relate to this.  Once it becomes a job, it’s no longer fun.  Like the woman who wrote in, I have listened to many albums only once and exclaimed “that is a great album” and then moved on to the next one to say the same thing.  Only to put it on the shelf with all the others and never be touched again.

I do have many great albums in my vast collection but have never really gone back to listen to them because I was always looking for the next great album, afraid I might miss one and then be disappointed that I missed it.  As the article goes on they state that the sad truth is because there is so much out there, you are going to miss something.  It’s pretty much a given.  So I have decided to cut back the hours on my passion; aka second job and dust off the older stuff and give them the respect that they deserve.  What’s also going to be fun for me is to try to figure out the mood I was in when I purchased some of them.  Like Emilie Autumn who is classified as Victorian Rock.  She’s definitely not for everybody, yet she was intriguing enough that it caught my attention and then lead me to Rasputina of the same genre.

On occasion when I didn’t have my list of artists to pick up at my beloved Dimple Records, I would just casually walk through and check out the bands that caught my eye or had a unique name like Starfucker or Owl Paws.  I laughed at the name and was then was pleasantly surprised that they were good.  I have only been disappointed a couple times and those were promptly returned for store credit.  I still keep my lists at work if I read about a new band or hear one that I like on the radio (which is rare).  But as far as researching that band and checking out their discography is becoming rare these days.  So I just pile up my lists and know that one day I will get back into like I used to be.  Don’t get me wrong, I still dabble, just not devoted.  My binder is getting full as is my tablet of bands to delve into deeper.  It remains safe and even has a designated spot.  My copied cd project has been put on hold as well.  I lost interest in going through them and writing down the songs.  I even started a lovely little Word document that is all set up and formatted for this project, but there it sits on my computer desktop and hasn’t been touched for months.

What’s really great about my passion is I have my nieces now asking me to take them to Dimple so they can get a new cd as they want a collection as big as mine.  I have to remind them it didn’t happen overnight and it’s been years in the making.  A lot of time, reading and listening has gone into this as well as talking to lots of people.  They are turning into quite the little music connoisseurs and I love it.  I do take them and show them how their Auntie shops for new music.  I browse with them through the sale bins and we look for those treasures of old.  They get just as excited as I do when they find something they really want.  Then they start to argue about what to listen to first in the car, so we have to compromise.  I also tell them if they know the words to sing them loud and proud which they do.  When at home or at my house, we usually bust out and start dancing while singing.  So I’m hoping that they will be just as musically rounded as the rest of the family is and also hope that they will pass along their musical knowledge to their own future children.  I will still read my music magazines, websites and play on the “others recommend” sections of iTunes and Amazon though.  You never know what will relight the flame.

Fantastic Weekend

I don’t know where to start about the exciting weekend that was just had.  So if it seems I’m jumping all over the place I do apologize.  I will try to keep it contained and on one subject at a time.

Clairy Browne and The Bangin Rackettes

Love this woman.  She’s bluesy, gritty, rock a billy, rock-n-roll and dresses like a pinup girl from the 40’s.  The Rackettes do too.  I bought her album last year when it had to be in an import and she was signed in here in the States this year.  They’ve already toured once earlier this year but the closest they came was San Francisco.  I wanted to go, but it was the middle of the week so I pouted but silently prayed that they came back.  Sure enough they did so I jumped on those tickets.  I’m sure glad I did, because her show was sold out.  She was playing at the BuBinga Lounge in Reno, Nevada.  I asked Craig if he wanted to go, but he wasn’t sure what time he would be getting off of work as the concert started at 7pm and it takes a couple hours to get up to Reno.  As I was thinking about who I wanted to join me in my concert adventure, I thought my sister and I haven’t done our sister weekend yet this year and this would be perfect!!

It just so happened that the seafood buffet was right next to the BuBinga Lounge, so we ate seafood until we were full and happy (oysters on the half shell were just delicious).  Then we went over to BuBinga, listened to the sound check and watched people.  Before I knew it, there was the band.  Standing right there!!  I felt like a little kid, got really excited and a little star struck.  Watched them walk into the very buffet that we had been in about 30 minutes prior.  I didn’t talk to them, just watched and stayed star struck.  Roxane was laughing at me and I was kind of laughing at myself too.

The lounge opened at 6:30pm, so as soon as we were able to we got the table we had scoped out earlier and settled down for a great time.  Ordered some drinks watched the cheesy lounge singer guy as the opening act and then they came out on stage and killed it.  It was great.  They are just as good live as their cd.  I cannot wait to go see them again.  I had purchased a couple pictures of the band and brought my cd with me to get autographed.  We got to talk to them a little bit while they were signing the pictures to the nieces and my cd. I did go purchase another cd, so the autographed one does not get ruined.  It’s getting framed along with the ticket stub and will be hung somewhere in the house.

Waiting patiently for the concert to start

Up on stage just killin it. I would see them again in a heartbeat

There she is walking about out of the buffet with a Rackette

 

Casinos

The Hotel room at Circus Circus was reserved (way cheaper than at the El Dorado Casino) and the countdown began to the big weekend.  We got up to Reno, checked into our room (that was on the 19^th floor and I hate elevators) and decided to go play for a bit before eating and concert going.  We wandered around the casinos for a little bit and decided to finally play a couple machines.  It was exciting to know that they still give out free drinks.  So we ordered our drink and settled down to play the penny slots. I know, big spender, but your money lasts longer that way.  The machines we sat at were okay, so we decided to cash out what we had left and wander around some more.  We settled down again at the Wizard of Oz machines, they looked fun and fancy.  I was watching Roxane play for a bit then decided what the hell, I will play too.  Well, I activated the Ruby Slipper feature and hit a decent amount.  I almost cried as that is the most I had ever won.  Last time I played and won anything I was my 21^st birthday.

Roxane and I wandered back over to Circus Circus and walked the midway; she chose a basketball game to play.  We gave the gal the money, we each got a basketball and holy cow we both made the shot and got a nice little stuff flower.  We decided it was time to call it a night after that.  So we went to our room.  The next day we thought we would hang around for a bit before leaving, so we checked out, put our stuff in the car and went back in for more fun.  Played a machine called Buffalo, now, my uncle loves this machine because if you hit it just right you get free spins and can possibly get more free spins from the free spins you won the first time.  He’s hit decent jackpots playing this particular one.  So we thought we would give it a whirl.  Settled down to our machines and I was excited as I got free spins.  Then more free spins, and even more free spins.  I cashed out my winnings as soon as it was done free spinning and it was about time to head home.

I had to tell Craig about my luck and he told me to go buy a lotto ticket, but I haven’t yet.  Probably should.  Overall, it was a great weekend.  I could care less if I won anything or not.  I got to see Clairy Browne and spend time with my sister (which by the way had no idea who the band was, but really enjoyed herself).  To me that was all that mattered.  The rest was an added bonus.  I would do it all over again too.

 

Our lovely flowers from playing basketball

Random

Emily and Autumn were excited to get their autographed pictures.  April and I went over to Michaels and picked out the perfect frames for them and they received them Monday night.  Emily was a little more excited than Autumn.  They both could not believe that they each had their own signed to them.  I told them all about it and showed them the pictures that were taken.  Told them that I talked to Clairy a little bit and hopefully they will be able to come with me next time she comes around for a tour.  I know I will definitely be there.

Becks Bits

Wine Hoard

My beloved twin was at Hospice Thrift Store one day and called me about a wine rack.  She said described it to me and figured it would hold about 67 bottles.  Told me how much it was (or so she thought) so I told her to go ahead and get it, I would pay her back.  Turns out it was only $22!!  Talk about a score.  I couldn’t wait to get home to check it out and finally get my wine out of the hall closet.  As I got to work filling it up, it turns out I have a lot more than I originally thought.  The rack holds 5 cases and I still have 2 more in the closet. I kept one of the empty boxes for any new wine that happens to come home with me.

 

Backyard Cleanup

My other beloved sister and awesome brother in law came up to help me trim up a couple trees and take one down.  After much cutting and trimming my backyard looks a little naked, but it looks great.

 

Ready for Fall

I love this time of year.  The leaves are changing colors, the weather is cooler and it’s time to “winterize” the house.  So the trees are trimmed, barbeque is in the garage, water spickets have been disconnected from the garden hoses and covered with frost caps.  Next up is to clean out the gutters which will be this weekend.  It’s also time for my favorite day of the year.  That’s right, Halloween.  The neighborhood kids came over to help set up the tombstones and hang stuff from the trees.  The yard looks great.  Now to stock up on candy for the onslaught of kids looking for candy on Halloween night.

Upcoming concert

Last year I hunted down a cd by Clairy Brown and the Bangin Rackettes.  Since it was an import, I had to special order it.  It was a very exciting day when it arrived and it has been a staple cd in my car since.  Earlier this year she started touring here in the States and I hoped and prayed she would be coming close to my area.  Low and behold she is!!  So I bought tickets, booked my hotel and am going to get my groove on the weekend of the 19^th to Ms. Clairy Brown and her lovely Rackettes.  I am beyond excited and cannot wait to see her live.

 

So angry

Just to clarify, it takes a lot to really make me angry.  It’s not very easy to do but it was easily done yesterday.  I received a misguided interoffice message stating “all Becky does is just repeat what her dad says”  pretty much implying that I don’t think for myself and my father’s word is golden.  I saw that and was fuming angry.  Whether or not the sender was looking to pick a fight or just accidentally sent it to me without paying attention as to who it was actually going to.  Personally I think it’s jealousy of the close relationship I have with my father. Which seems to be the case a majority of the time.

First of all, I am very close with my father as my sisters are too.  We each have our own special relationship with him and are very protective of him.  Second of all, he’s a very smart man.  He pays attention to what’s going on around him, what’s going on in the news and actually listens.  He’s always been there for us when it seemed nobody else was, is my sounding board and in some cases my confidant, has been into politics way more than any of us has and I do value his opinion a lot more than others.  BUT I also do have my own opinions, think for myself, do my own research and yes depending on what is talked about will repeat what he says.  Because it makes sense and gets people thinking.  I DO NOT think his word is golden.  I’m very opinionated when it comes to certain things in life and thanks to my childhood feel very strongly about certain things and make it known.  That does not mean that they are my father’s opinions.  He does, however, feel very strongly about the same things that I do thanks to the hell my sisters and I were put through growing up.  So we do share certain opinions.

To the sender of the misguided message, I do feel sorry for that person.  I feel sorry for them because they felt the need to belittle me to make them feel better about themselves (that’s fine I have thick skin).  I also think it’s very childish and pathetic of that person to start talking shit that early in the morning.  I’d like to say it was fun watching them squirm their way out of it.  If they are miserable in their own life, then be miserable; leave everybody else out of the misery or fix whatever is making you miserable!  But it’s easier to wallow in the misery than to actually do something about it.  My father has been a mentor to many of the people who have come in and out of my sisters and I’s life.  He’s a strong man with much patience and has the morals and values that are really lacking today.  I’ve been called old fashioned and do have those values and morals which I learned from my father that yes DO DATE BACK TO THE 30’S because of my grandparents.  I’m rather proud of my old fashioned morals and values.  Because that just means that I DO NOT in any way feel entitled, feel the need to be included in everything all the time, know the world DOES NOT revolve around me (as the sender of the message once told me), am happy doing things alone, value a great work ethic that is extremely lacking in today’s society and also value the friendships that I do have as they have been carefully selected for those I want to keep around.  I have no time for drama nor do I welcome it in my life.  Not saying my life is drama free, but there is very little of it.  And if I do not want you in my life, you will be excluded rather quickly.  I’m excellent at that as again, lessons learned from childhood.  I do not need a hundred friends, do not need everybody to like me and actually work for what I have.  I am not fake nor do I need to be. If you like me great, if not I'm okay with that too. 

OH and since this is MY BLOG.  If you don’t like it, don’t read it.  It won’t hurt my feelings.  One last thing, if you don’t have anything nice to say then keep your mouth shut as I don’t want to hear it.