Birthday musings 2005
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Life

I can now retire from MySpace after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.

Actually I was born a few months after she died.

Did it ever seem untimely to have a birthday this close to Christmas? Nawww, I've always enjoyed having the two celebrations together. Plus it makes for a convenient and apropos occasion to reflect on another year of my life gone by as the calendar also nears the closing weeks. Another click over on the age odometer that is barely felt, and if for some reason I did not know how old I was I would still sense right now that I'm at a very good period indeed. Gratifying how experience and attitude will do that for you. Oh, and did you know that sex keeps getting better too?
Passion in what you do is always worth the effort. There are times in this journey when something comes along and you have to lock onto it and go for the ride. I've had that kind of year, and probably the most significant event was the finalizing of my divorce. Very sad but also a great relief. To take my mind off that and get my mojo back I went to so many concerts this year, each seemingly better than the last.

Amy, Pia, Lindy, Domonique (Slutpop extraordinaire for my trips back home. Thanks for the romantic? gift pack. Don't let the movie screen fall on you)

Sabrina (No, you rawwwwwwk. Brains and leather. Can't wait to see how your career develops. Breakfast with you was the quintessential Hollywood experience)

Robert (Long after Zeppelin...you go man)

Shannon (Your audience does not hate you. Keep smiling)

Tommy, Nikki, Mick, Vince (Crazy circus of mofos)

Robert (Cool rockabilly. Classy wife)

Sarah (Emotion and strength that gets me deeply)

Billy (Scream. Fists up)

Annabella (Still want some candy)

Terri, Mitchell, Carlton, Chris (Best always. Thanks for the friendship and leading me to MySpace was a bonus)

Jenny (Great to see you back in Tulsa)

Taylor, Isaac, Zac (Ditto)

Joel (Another Mayfest highlight)

Eve (I'm in awe of your talents. You did come up with the best CD inscription...such wit)

Cruefest Bands (Great cause, kickass music, party on)

Traci (Sweetest of them all. Thank you for the shout-out from onstage and all the hugs)

Jeff, Noah, Steve (Old synths or jumpsuits never die)

Bif (BC girl on endless tour. Thanks for stopping here. The Roxy dress was smokin')

Liz (Bob Wills' ghost wants you to sing about women's underwear)

Amber, Sarah, Julia (God bless the rockstars and their Mom)

Alison (Style to die for. My fav Limey)

Let me also apologize now to my co-workers and anyone within range whenever I broke out into raucous song while listening to the growing assortment of artists I've found here who occupy a special digital place on my mp3 player. Daniie and Natalia, I'm sorry I didn't make it to your shows this year but soon.

I truly appreciate all the friends who've amazed me with their love/luv/unwarranted grudging admiration/mild curiosity/insane compliments/genuine kindness, and who in one way or another opened my heart and mind more than ever.

10:00 PM - 5 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Places I went to just for the hell of it
Current mood: excited

For a while there,  I kept a logbook (other than my pilot logbook) of all the flights I went on as a passenger from the time I was a few months old.  That kind of fell by the wayside along with my photo albums (I swear I've got all the boarding pass stubs in a box so I'll get around to it someday),  but here's a little review of some of the places I went to (other than to visit family or friends) and what possibly possessed me to go there.  Some of these were solo trips,  some with companions.  I may have left out a few,  but that's how it goes.  Oh,  and I'm intentionally keeping it clean.  Bonus:  if it inspires you to fly somewhere,  so much the better.  Maybe I'll be able to keep my job  

In no particular order,  but let's start off with -

San Francisco 
I was 15.  Told my parents I was going to the airport (which was pretty routine for me).  Just didn't tell them which one.  Got on a TWA 707 at LAX,  flew to SFO,  then PSA to Fresno,  and back to Orange County Airport on an Air California Electra.  Been back several times since.

Las Vegas
Many times.  Do I need a reason? 

London
To see the Queen?  No.  I liked her jewels though,  and Harrod's.

Geneva
It wasn't that far from London,  so I figured I'd check out the Swiss.
Got the impression in the French-speaking region they preferred talking to me in English rather than German.  Stayed one night in a very small hotel.  Room about the size of my closet,  but ooo lala when the maid woke me up in the morning with a fantastic breakfast. 

Honolulu
Some other Christmas plans fell through,  so I went here.  The stewardesses didn't seem too happy to be working that day.  On another trip (honeymoon) also spent time on Lana'i and Kauai. 

Montreal
Wanted some French immersion and smoked meat.  Saw a guy walking down Saint Catherines in a striped prison costume with a ball and chain.

New Orleans
French Quarter during Jazz Festival.  Lovely.  Bizarre.  Cool.

Reno/Lake Tahoe
For the Air Races.  Scored some pit passes from friends of the Blue Angels.  The lake area is gorgeous.  Lots of twisty roads.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix.  Didn't think I'd need earplugs.  I did.

Caribbean Cruise on SS Norway
I chose to go on this ship because as a child I had seen it in port as the SS France,  one of the last great transatlantic liners.

Stockholm
There was a poster of the harbour in our cafeteria.  Decided to go there for a weekend and sleep on the old sailing ship.  Fun bunkmates. Early winter when the sun just barely creeps across the horizon.

Antigua
I'm a sucker for Royal Navy/pirate places so I had to see English Harbour and sleep in the Admiral Inn at the dockyard.

New York City
US Open Tennis at Flushing Meadows during the Steffi Graf/Jimmy Connors era.  Have yet to see the rest of the city.  REVISED:  Finally did make it to Manhattan during Christmas season. 

Rome
Saw "Gladiator" - had to check out the Colosseum.  Felt eerie to stand in the spot at the Forum where Julius Caesar was stabbed.  Vatican was awesome.  The nuns at the convent I stayed at could learn a thing or two about hospitality though.

St Louis
This is the only one I actually drove to.  I hate driving long distances.
One summer night the power was out in my Tulsa apartment,  so I got in my air-conditioned car and drove here.

Toronto
The first time I went here I wanted to go up the CN Tower.  The Hermes space ride at the bottom was cool too.  It's not there any more.

Bermuda
Another one of those Royal Navy/pirate things.  Also had to see if businessmen really walked around in Bermuda shorts.  Lots of rum products.  Lots of banks.  One great beach resort I saw.  Don't know the name,  but I definitely want to stay there sometime.

Milwaukee
Spent about an hour here,  then flew back.  Just added it on to a Chicago trip to kill time.  Saw an old brewery near the airport.

Hong Kong
1997.  Three weeks before the handover.  Had to see the place while it was still British.  Had to stay at the Peninsula at least once in my life.

Kyoto
Stopped here on my way back from HK.  Love the history.  Couldn't read the signs,  but found my way around just fine.  Mostly on foot.  Ran into a real geisha.  Slept in a ryokan.

Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise/Emerald Lake
Elk and bears walking down the streets.  Lakes with incredibly coloured glacier water.  

San Antonio
Went to meet Kittie at a record store signing.  Also to remember the Alamo.

Berlin
Several times.  Both before and after the Wall was torn down.  Best department store in Europe - KaDeWe.  More nightclub variety than any place I know.  Ich bin ein Berliner.

Grise Fiord,  Nunavut Territories
On a whim,  I wanted to fly as far north in Canada as you could possibly go on an airline and this was it.  They told me they don't see many tourists.

Saint Barthelemy,  French West Indies
So I saw this picture in a magazine of a DeHavilland Twin Otter making a crazy-ass diving approach over a hill to the airport here and that was reason enough.  The food and nude beaches weren't too shabby either.    

Currently listening : Held Over! Today's Great Movie Themes/Leaving On a Jet Plane By Percy Faith Release date: 13 April, 2004

6:03 PM - 8 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

What happened the year you were born?

In 1962 (the year you were born)

John F. Kennedy is president of the US John Glenn becomes the first American in orbit when he circles the earth three times in the Mercury capsule Friendship 7 Cuban Missile Crisis occurs when Soviet offensive missile build-up is discovered Cuban Missile Crisis is averted when President Kennedy and Soviet premiere Krushchev agree to remove missiles Maryiln Monroe is found dead in her Los Angeles home The drug thalidomide is recalled when it becomes linked with severe birth defects in thousands of children worldwide Pantyhose becomes available for sale in U.S. department stores Jim Carrey, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi and Tom Cruise are born New York Yankees win the World Series Green Bay Packers win the NFL championship Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley cup Lawrence of Arabia wins the Oscar for best picture The Beatles release their first recording: the single "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You" Johnny Carson debuts as host of The Tonight Show

12:03 PM - 6 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

First DJ gig
Current mood: productive

Being a music fanatic, I've had this idea floating around in my head for a few years now that I'd love to try some kind of DJ action. Back when I was 19 and running around with my punk friends, I loved going to this raunchy basement nightclub called Chaplins to hang out in the DJ booth, play around with the light system and dance along with the live bands. Now that it seems some of that music is back in vogue, I decided to liven up the party scene here at another basement club and made all the necessary arrangements to make it happen. It also helped that Terri Nunn was kind enough to give me some tips on how to set the mood. So, on a Friday night this month I finally did it! I remember being impressed a few years ago at a club I used to go to when they would play songs while projecting various videos on the wall, and I went with that kind of format. I brought along some suitable CDs and music videos from my collection, and as the hours went on I had people pick out some of their faves as well. I had some requests for bands I didn't have with me, so I encouraged people to bring in some of their own CDs next time as I'm sure to run out of fresh stuff if I continue this over the next few months or years. Overall, I'm encouraged by the response I received :-D
If anyone reading this wants to leave me some other advice, feel free!

11:28 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

What comes around, goes around

Respond to this now (or at your leisure)
and I'll respond likewise should you post
the same queries in your blog...

1. Who are you?

2. Are we friends?

3. When and how did we meet?

4. Do you have a crush on me?

5. Would you kiss me?

6. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.

7. Describe me in one word.

8. What was your first impression?

9. Do you still think that way about me now?

10. What reminds you of me?

11. If you could give me anything what would it be?

12. How well do you know me?

13. When's the last time you saw me?

14. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?

15. Are you going to put this on your blog and see what I say about you?

6:38 PM - 5 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment