The Russian's at an auction tonight. I contemplated going for a haircut but I guess I'll do that next week. Right now I'm on Jeep duty in case he buys something too big to fit in the Toyota. May be going to Lincoln later.
So in the meantime the doggies and I are hangin out, it's nice enough out that we could go to the dog park but for some reason there seem to be a lot of mosquitoes today. Weird. Maybe we'll all take a trip through the BK drive-thru and get some cheeseburgers :)
The Fleece Project v. 2 kicks off Saturday. I'm a little nervous about how it's all going to go, I *think* I'm more organized this year but anytime you get that many sewers together it's kind of like herding cats. Need to go through the list of what to take again. Cutting boards, extra rotary blades, need to decide which machines I'm taking.
Also need to go purse-shopping. :)
We were down yesterday, so if you sent any emails I didn't get 'em. Network Solutions has had the wrong address on file for me for almost 7 years, so I never get the re-up notices. It's taken care of, and we're good to go for 2 years this time. I hate commitment. Heh.
The weekend was pretty boring and long. Drove to So IL, got on a bus bound for St Charles, MO. Spent the (very hot) day there wandering around looking at junk, and then bussed it back to Carrier Mills. Got up the next day and drove home. I'll be back at my Mom's this weekend, we're taking a shirt-making class on Saturday.
That's about it. Dave Navarro is directing porn now (and I'm not talking about a Panic Channel video). What has this world come to? I'm hoping that he and Perry will both sink low enough to make nice, but at this point I'm not sure there's any good music left in either one of them.
I need a vacation.
I'm at my Mom's.
I miss Carl. :(
Happy birthday sweetie.
He's 39 today :)
Since I'm going out of town tonight, I gave him his birthday presents last night. He's been ordering a bunch of shop equipment lately, but I wanted to get him something just from me. So...I ordered a bunch of political t-shirts, I think he likes them! One has a quote from Ann Coulter (his favorite), one has a pic of Ronald Reagan, one has the Mecca forecast (which ends in doom), one says something about the ATF being a convenience store instead of a government agency, and the last one is a Fred Thompson shirt. Very entertaining. :)
And, it looks like we're going to see Van Halen in Chicago. Neither one of us are huge fans, but we figure they're slightly amusing and at least we'll be able to say "we saw them before they croaked". Still miffed at Perry over the SP cancellation, but I think I'll just skip seeing him at the next Lolla or something. Stupid Perry. *sniffs*
Otherwise, I'm headed to St Charles, MO tomorrow for a little shopping. I finished the paper piecing part of some placemats I've been working on last night, but I'm not happy with the colors in the last one. I don't have a lot of pink fabric and the last block called for that color. I'll probably end up remaking that part of it if I can find something suitable at the quilt shop there. And I need to figure out what I'm going to use on the backgrounds to finish them out. Probably green of some kind. Since she doesn't read this, I can talk about it...these are going to be Mama K's Christmas present from me this year. I'm trying to decide on what color/fabric of napkins I should make to go with.
Happy Friday!
That is all.
Satellite Party cancelled their Sauget show. Perry sucks.
I have to eat $16 in Ticketmaster fees. I think I've just booked my last show through them. Maybe ever. And that means I'll miss out on Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but this really sucks. I hate them. And I don't hate anybody. Except maybe moe. because that's why SP cancelled...so they can play at moefest, or whatever it's called.
Oh, and email is down at work, so if you're trying to get through, I'm sorry. I'm sure there'll be a flood when it comes back up.
Getting ready to head out to church in a few minutes, if I can get Carl up. I had a 4 hour nap yesterday afternoon, which helped tremendously. Apparently I am no longer 19.
We hit the fair Friday night, Carl wore his don't blame me shirt and had some comments. I see a lot of people laughing and getting a kick out of it. We went out to dinner and the cashier wanted to know where to get one. I finally have made up business cards with the link, sales are doing pretty well. :) It's a little weird that, the longer we don't have a budget, the more money I make. I think my next one should be a picture of Blago with the phrase "does not play well with others" underneath.
I got up to check the Utah miners' status this morning. Nothing new yet. I'm pretty sure that they're not alive, but, like everyone else, still hoping for the best possible outcome. I wish Bob Murray would just be quiet and let the rescuers work. I kind of wish they'd get the mine examiner on and quiz him. It's actually his job to report on conditions, and if they were unsafe, he should have had opportunities to tell that. I know Murray is known for firing people who don't act like puppets, but there are laws that would protect an examiner in that instance. Just curious what their thoughts are, I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash. In the meantime we keep watching and praying for their safety, and for their families to have peace with whatever the outcome is.
This is the only weekend in August that I'm at home. I'm headed to So IL next weekend and the following, and the weekend after that we're going to STL to see Satellite Party. And of course, last weekend we were at Lolla. I can't remember if I posted it before or not, but Regina Spektor is just the cutest thing ever. She was absolutely adorable live, and I'm not sure but I think she still has stagefright. She really interacted with the crowd and was a lot of fun. I'd like to see her again sometime when she has more than an hour to play.
To head from Lolla straight into the state fair? Last night was opening night, Carl did not accompany me (I think he was embarrassed to be seen with a "Don't Blame Me" shirt). I mostly hung out in the Miller tent, with another shirt and some friends. A great time was had by all, natch, the fair is never a bad time! Lisa Madigan liked the shirts, I think...she pointed and said something like "now THERE'S where the party is". Interesting :)
I had lots of comments on the shirts, all were positive. I think this has really struck a nerve with some folks. Within 5 minutes of being on the grounds, some guy was following me around telling me all his opinions on our current guv (things like: I don't think he has any brain cells left, or he's planning on copping an insanity plea after he's indicted). Heehee!
Anyway, I'm probably headed back tonight after work to make the rounds, I need to print up some more cards to hand out for the shirts, I gave away all that I had last night.
BTW, if any of you are watching the news regarding this mine collapse in Utah, you should know that the guy on tv (Bob Murray) is the owner of the mine I used to work in. I never worked for him, it was still owned by Kerr-McGee at the time, but my Dad did work for him. He's nuts. There. I said it. He's plain crazy, and if it weren't for the fact that Southern Illinois needs jobs more than anything else, I'd say they were better off without him. They might be anyway. If you aren't familiar with this guy and want more details, message me.
It's the state fair!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!
The Topinkatorium continues to do pretty well. Fair starts tomorrow night, presuming no stupid politicians try to stop it. Word on the street is that Blago may not actually show up. Heh. Either way it's cool with me. I plan to wear my new shirt. :P BTW, we've expanded to include magnets, which I am visualizing on state office filing cabinets. That always makes me smile. :)
I'm still going through Lolla pictures and remembering all that happened. BTW, Amy Winehouse wasn't that great. Her sound was ok but she didn't interact with the crowd AT ALL, and I'm pretty sure that the sole reason she waited to do Rehab was because she knew the entire crowd would walk off after it. (It was the next to last song, Valerie was last.) But at least I've seen her so I can cross it off the list, and I'm almost sure that in another year (or two at the most) she'll be nobody again.
It's looking like we're going to catch Satellite Party in STL on the first. Woot.
Heading home, I've got 3 tons of laundry to put away.
Jiggety jig. or something like that
We're back from Lolla. A little sad that it's over, but so tired I'm not sure it's a terrible thing. There's a little (tiny) rumor that Radiohead will be next year's main headliner. I am so there.
Perry Farrell is everything I thought, and then a little. Pete DeStifano came out and rocked with Satellite Party for a few songs, and of course Perry had to kiss him, which Carl maintains had him losing half the crowd. I didn't care, they flat out ROCKED and played a bunch of Jane's and PFP. I'm really hoping that the reconciliation door will open between PF and Dave Navarro. I am the beacon of eternal hope. Anyway, they opened with Stop, and closed with Jane Says, and in-between Perry was his usual insane self. :)
Daft Punk was worth waiting for, and I'm so glad we got the chance to see them. I'd heard so much about their pyramid show, but I tried to stay away from all the YouTube videos, so it wasn't really what I had envisioned. They were still awesome and between them and LCD Soundsystem it was like a giant rave in Grant Park. I'm hoping that next year the electronica genre doesn't get shut out now that there's been this success...I'm thinking that the Chemical Brothers would be an excellent fit here.
The Spree was so great, even Carl liked them. I'm glad they played early in the weekend, because I was so disappointed when their set was over, but I was able to get past it because there was so much other stuff to look forward to. If they had played later in the weekend I think I might have actually been a little depressed.
My Morning Jacket performed with the Chicago Children's Orchestra, and it was cute, they did a really good job. I wish we'd walked down to the opposite end of the park to hear Modest Mouse, but I got the schedule mixed up and by the time I figured it out I decided we'd just hang where we were. We had a decent spot for Pearl Jam, up on the hill. We were down front for DP and Muse (also excellent, I overheard a guy walking out saying "I'm only saying one word for the rest of my life...Muse." And then he'd say it again. LOL), and I was pretty sure the PJ crowd might be a bunch of frat boys, and Carl was pretty sure Eddie would go off on some anti-war rant (which he did), so we wanted to be able to make a getaway if necessary. Fortunately he waited until the 2nd hour of their set before he brought out the veteran in a wheelchair (and I did feel for the guy, but I did NOT pay $330 for tickets to a political rally). We left as soon as he started in on that, and from what I hear we missed some decent sounds after that, but the whole weekend was so excellent I really didn't want it to end on a sour note. (ha!)
Suggestions for me to consider next year: take full LITERS of water, not pints. More sunscreen. Get the laminated schedule every day first thing. Try to do fewer split sets, it's hard to get a feel for a band based on just a couple of songs. Find the Best Western Hotel (never did see it...the Congress is RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PARK. Rooms were not fabulous, but it was so close!).
All in all, it was a great mini-vacation and I'm sure I'll be checking out some of the new bands we saw. I'm hoping that a couple will be back next year but we'll see. As soon as I find out the dates I want to book a room. The train is definitely the way to go, we ended up paying $68 round trip (yeah, that was for BOTH of us), caught a cab to and from our hotel, cabbed to the aquarium (which wasn't necessary at all) and took the trolley back after we did the aquarium and the planetarium. We'd done both of those things a few years ago, but it was fun to give our eardrums a few hours off and check out the fishes. My Mom and I are going up in a few weeks to hit the aquarium and maybe the architectural boat tour.
There's so much more that happened, and a thousand times I wished it didn't have to end, but like all good things, it did. Now I've gotta figure out how to get back into the groove at work tomorrow. Cya next year Lolla buddies :)
Lolla burnout has not set in. And this is the last day. Either it's a good sign that we want to come back next year, or it's going to be really sad at the end of the day when we don't want to leave.
Saw Muse last night, they were excellent, Daft Punk was MOST EXCELLENT Friday night. If they're coming within 500 miles of you this summer, get tickets. It's pretty rare for them to even be in the US, and I promise you won't be disappointed.
On tap for today, we've got White Rabbit playing right now behind me, Amy Winehouse coming up along with Lupe Fiasco, Paolo Nutini, Kings of Leon (wish you were here Toby!), Iggy and the Stooges (that's a conflict...I'm hoping to catch half of each), !!!, Peter, Bjorn and John, Modest Mouse (or My Morning Jacket, right now I'm leaning towards MM), TV on the Radio and we're closing up with Pearl Jam.
We just about just got trampled at DP the other night, but it was sooo worth it. Everyone was going crazy, poor Carl couldn't decide whether to laugh at the robots or cry, but I think he was at least entertained. :)
We've caught some really good new bands (i.e. ones I've never heard of), and I can't wait to get home and check them out further. This place flat out ROCKS.
Seriously, get here if you can, it's not too late! I promise you won't regret it.
Yep. In the AT&T digital oasis or something or other. Carl's outside standing in a mist machine. So far it's pretty awesome, our hotel is right across the street, the weather's been beautiful (hot, but breezy). We're right on the lake, we saw the Polyphonic Spree, Bang Bang Bagn (briefly), Son Volt, Silversun Pickups and completely missed Slightly Stoopid.
Next up is Satellite Party and then DAFT PUNK. Woot!
They have these plastic souvenir cups, but the only way to get them is to drink a bunch of bud lite. Carl is up for the challenge :) I smell a new set of glassware at the Kimble household.
If you're not here, you should be.
‘twas the night before lolla
and all through the crib
peoples was packin
and that ain’t no fib
the backpack was bulging
the suitcase was packed
the schedule was printed
and, oh what the hell. I really suck at rhyming.
We’re ready!
My musical mind is about to be blown. This time tomorrow night I'll be going crazy to Daft Punk! Daft Punk, people! Muse! Modest Mouse! Amy Winehouse! The Spreeeee!!!!!
Oh yeah, I started a CafePress shop, we're selling "Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Judy" paraphernalia. Go buy some, you know you want to. :) It's selling pretty well so far. I'm hoping to see some of my shirts at the state fair for the parade.
Leaving for Lolla in the morning. I have a list of junk to get done today, mostly stuff like "pick up cat food, pack car, make sure I have the train and hotel confirmations" blah blah blah. Still trying to find some Neat Sheets to take along to sit on. Toys R Us says they have them.
I also need to print out the band schedule, there really weren't that many conflicts for me this year, so we should be able to see everything. And, on the plus side, it looks like the Polyphonic Spree is going to be able to make it after all. Yay!
Making up the notebook for my mom, the pet sitter. This is more complicated than I thought. I'm on page 4 of instructions, and haven't gotten to bedtime yet.
Still no budget. I'm almost afraid they'll come up with one while I'm out of town.
Oh yeah, I set up a cafepress site. Go here and buy stuff, make me rich. Ha.
The Topinkatorium
I'm leaving the laptop at home this weekend, so I'll answer emails when I get back unless I hit wifi with the pda sometime.
Have a good weekend :)