Stairway 2008: a Parent’s Perspective

I took this from a bullitin posted by S2S, probably Larissa.

"...to ALL of the bands yesterday!

And to those of you who are bummed about the competitive aspect of yesterday's show, if you think that placing in the top three is what Stairway to Stardom is all about, then you should visit the MySpace pages for bands like MALEVOLENT, STD, LETHAL INJECTION, VESUVIUS, and RED WIRE ARMY.
They're all still bands on the scene today, who originated in Stairway to Stardom, but didn't place at the final Stairway show. But who cares? They managed to stay together and create even BETTER music after the fact, because they realized that it's what happens AFTER Stairway that matters most.


So, if you made new lifelong friends this summer, created some killer music, and enjoyed the hell out of yourself on stage yesterday, then you got the point, and you took the first step.
The world awaits you!

We're very proud of you all.
Tear up those recording sessions!

-S2S"

She's absolutely right.  My son is in the band Vesuvius she names in the post.  He did Stairway in 2005 then in 2006.  Vesuvius is comprised of my son, his bass player from the first band he was in, Paradise Radio, and his drummer is from the second band he was in, Rampart.  The boys got together to jam a couple years ago and they have been making music ever since. 

Larissa asked Vesuvius if they could volunteer to help out at the show yesterday.  They were thrilled to be a part of it all again, but in a new capacity; Roadies!  They guarded equipment, answered questions, and broke up bandmates having sword fights in the green room (not real swords).  They only took a couple small breaks to eat and to watch my daughter's band, Risk 13, play.  They also got to hear a lot of disgruntled comments from parents whose kids didn't "win".  That was frustrating to them since they know how much work goes into those eight weeks and particularly into that one day for the show. 

Skip said, "These kids are all winners," but I don't think some of the parents were listening.  I'm afraid parents sometimes forget it's about the experience, the friendship, the fun, and not about the gold medal at the end of a lot of hard work. 

As for my daughter's band, Risk 13, oh they're sticking together after all this.  They have made lifelong friends this summer, and so have us parents!  It's been so cool to meet a group of people who are as enthusiastic about their kid's as I am. www.myspace.com/risk13band   

And the boy's, VESUVIUS, have a show on the 28th at Club Retro.  Tickets at the door are 10$, you can buy advance tickets for 8$ from them.  It's a school night, but they're playing early, so you've got to come out!  They'll have EP's for sale 5$ and cool Tshirts for 10$  Free stickers when you buy either a T shirt or an EP!  Rysa from Risk 13 will be there manning the merch table.  It's gonna be a blast! Isn't that what it's all about?    www.myspace.com/vesuviusband    

9:01 PM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Beltane and Hot Rods
Current mood: blessed
Category: Friends

The weather was perfect for a park outing, as long as there were lots of big trees, and there were at the park formerly known as Goethe Park.  It was our first Grove of the Oak gathering (besides Faerie Fest) and we felt so welcome.  April is the sweetest friend in the whole wide world, introducing us (all 9 of us) by name to everyone.  The ritual was an open circle with cedar smoke and a led meditation.  We looked at our shadow self and explored embracing both our halves.  We jumped the Beltane fire and assembled a little pouch of seeds.  The maypole was a total kick.  I took a video while some of our kids danced the maypole dance and others played the music to dance by.  We had yummy BBQ and there was this stir fry brown rice with bacon and egg mixed in that we have to try making.  Super food, super people.  We can't wait till Faerie Fest in June.

Saturday we went to car shows.  First, we drove past the Asparagus Festival in Stockton  and headed for the Mustang Car Show.  There were more than a hundred cars there, and NO SHADE unless you went into the buildings.  The guys wanted to hear all the cars start and drive off at the end.  I do love that sound, but I also like to not pass out from too much sun.  I didn't last long so Rysa and I went and sat in the car with the air on for a while.  We were parked on the street so when everyone was driving away, 9 out of 10 Mustang drivers put the pedal to the metal and peeled off down the street.  That was cool.  The guys had a blast. 

After Stockton, we had the local Florin Fat Fender show to check out back in Sac.  Grampa Buck and his buddies were all there with their hot rods.  They play the oldies and sit around enjoying the cars and it started cooling off perfectly out doors.  Vesuvius should be playing a gig there this summer because Grampa Buck is their biggest fan and they're learning a bunch of oldies covers.  That's something to look forward to.  The food at Burger Junction is super good.  They have various burgers and this beautiful BBQ chicken salad Tiff ordered that I have to try for myself next time.  Or I'll just make it at home.  We ended the evening with thick milkshakes.  Mine was chocolate, of course.

I love weekends like this one.  I never want them to end...   

11:36 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Family Day at Family Values
Current mood: happy

Korn was AMAZING!!!  I've always enjoyed their music, have their cds, watch their videos, but last night was my first KORN concert, and WOW, what an energetic front man Jonathan Davis is.  You can feel passion rolling from his lungs and flooding over the crowd.  He loves his music and appreciates the audience.  I know close to nothing about his personal life, he's probably a complete jerk, but when he's singing his songs, he makes you feel...something special and strong and happy?  Well, I couldn't help but smile.  Unforgetable! 

Evanescence was lovely, though I didn't really know what to expect since Amy is always so pale and corpse-like in her videos.  She hit every note and never lost her breath as she twirled across the stage in her red tutu and tall black boots.  All her fans came to the show just a white as her, and left a nice bright shade of pink sunburn.  Should have worn sunblock like me. 

Trivium rocked; I love that hair thrashing harmonizing thing. 

The other bands were good and fine, but it was hotter than two suns and we spent a lot of time dumping water on our heads and searching for shade. 

No great drunk stories except for the woman who puked on Austin's girlfriend's feet and passed out in the bushes and had ants all over her.  All before Atreyu even hit the stage.  Atreyu, by the way, did a terrible cover of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name".  They gave that song a bad name, for sure.       

Currently listening : Korn - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 By Korn Release date: 05 October, 2004

11:02 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

it did not suck...
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Friends

I'm talking about the Simpson's movie.
Check it out.

And I finally finished HP7.  I swear I am not a slow reader, I just get eye strain if I read too much at once and that 20 pound book nearly gave me a concussion while trying to read in bed, but I survived.  I won't add any spoilers but I am looking forward to getting back to work ONLY to discuss the book.   

That reminds me, is the book club at Janae's and is it this Sunday?  Does anyone else want to substitute discussing HP7 instead of the Nerd book?  I'm not afraid the Nerd book will bonk me in the head while reading, but I don't know if my eyes can take it. 

Currently watching : Into the West Release date: 04 October, 2005

11:58 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

I'm A Little Weird
Current mood: amused
Category: Games

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 7 weird things about themselves.  People who get tagged need to write a BLOG of their own 7 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 7 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog..

1. Apparently, I can't stop using enormously huge and useless words in everyday conversations.

2. I have a strange obsession with PINK which led to the nick name of Pinki.

3. I once donned a yellow chicken suit and danced on the side walk for the grand opening of the new KFC.

4. Accuses husband of not kissing her goodbye when he actually has.

5. I only want to watch shows without commercials (who has time for them???).  I love Tivo.

6. I can touch my nose with my tongue.

7. My husband proposed to me at Kentucky Fried Chicken and we got married in a bowling alley.

I'm tagging - Bunny Destroyer, Slushie Queen, Angel, SciFiBookCat, Elisa, Shelly, Tiffermom

Currently watching : Criss Angel - Mindfreak - The Complete Season One Release date: 26 December, 2005

11:15 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

moshing in my mind
Current mood: blah

I have a headache and nothing is helping.  Of course watching a VH1 special about Nirvana on the tube and listening to the bunny destroyer playing bits of everything he knows is probably not helping.  He also just informed me that the day Tesla is releasing their cover album reel to reel, Poison is releasing their own cover cd.  So which one do you think I'll be buying?  I'm hoping to get the promos, but if not, I'll pick them both up.  The Ocean (Led Zeppelin) cover is apparently not going to be on the Tesla album, but that's ok. 

I better go take something and go to bed.  Maybe that will help.  Yep, there's a yawn.  G'night. 

Currently reading : California Demon: The Secret Life of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom By Julie Kenner Release date: May, 2006

11:46 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

reality check

I had a hard time sleeping last night, so I finished this arc that was very good and female empowering (comes out on the 30th, I'll review it soon). I had to get up early for the opening shift at work, and when I did, I felt really crappy.

So I resolved to feel better, put on some mascara and get my butt to Micky-D's so I would have some sustinence in my body, even if it is scarf and barf.

I get to the job just as my coworker pulls up and the cleaning man is waiting for us. My coworker goofed and thought she had to be in at 7, so she has already been doing errands and is ready to go. I can't help but feel a little better, I love working with her and we're going to get a bunch of stuff done on this Sunday morning.

I get inside, turn off the alarm, start to check my email, get connected to my walkie-talkie, and my boss walks in. He doesn't work on Sundays.

So I ask, "What are you doing here?"

He replies, "I don't think you are supposed to be here."

So I run to the schedule posted on the wall, and sure enough, I had the WHOLE FREAKING WEEKEND OFF and I didn't even notice it.

So I went back home, climbed into my warm down filled bed next to my hubby and got the sleep I needed.

I need a vacation.

Currently reading : The Sunday List of Dreams By Kris Radish Release date: 23 January, 2007

9:25 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Exellent Holiday!
Current mood: content
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

I had a great day!!!  Hope you did too!  I found I can still throw a football...catching it, not so much.  It was cold and it kept jamming my fingers, ok? 

I highly recommend seeing Night at the Museum.  It's an educational and comical movie.  Ben Stiller cracks me up and Dick Van Dyke giving him a round house kick is right up there with Bob Barker kicking Adam Sandler's butt  and calling him a bitch in Happy Gilmore.

I also got to share the movie Little Miss Sunshine with the Family, and got all thumbs up.  They're such a disfunctional family in the movie, and so like every "normal" family I have ever known.  Really good stuff, it will make you alternately cry and put a huge smile on your face while you absently sing a Rick James' song.  

And now we're listening to Educated Horses by Rob Zombie for our bed time music.  Sickeningly soothing?  He's so wild, I love his music and his show was full of energy (way more than Godsmack, but Sully had the flu, and I do love them too).  I'm a total fan of John Five, Zombie's guitar player.  He's so talented and can play any type of music.  He even played with Bonnie Raitt.

Bed time, and a book to read.  It's the beginning of some trilogy where the horses are gods and mages abound.  Not sure if I'll finish the trilogy, but at least it does have a promise of an end, unlike the Robert Jordans of the world.   

Off work tomorrow.    Beth wants company, so that sounds great, no shopping except for a quick pick up of photos from Costco and maybe a return to Target, but I doubt it.  Oh yeah, and leftover turkey sandwiches with avacado.  Yum!!!

Currently watching : Little Miss Sunshine Release date: 19 December, 2006

1:56 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Beautiful Weekend
Current mood: satisfied

 I've decided to spend every minute of the rest of my life like I'm on vacation.  I don't care where I am, what I'm doing, I will enjoy my life as if I'm only visiting, seeing the sights for the first time.  I love vacation.  I'll send you a post card!

Currently watching : RV (Widescreen Edition) Release date: 15 August, 2006

12:39 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

It's 2:33 am???
Current mood: awake
Category: Life

What the heck am I still doing up???

Go to bed, you freaking night owl.

The day was too good, I want it to go on forever.

I desire a Slurpee; flavor COKE.  

We heard Rob Zombie is playing with Godsmack???  Is it true???  Who's going with us? 

We want to see the Nuge and Tesla at the State Fair.  That should be cool.

Everyone put this date on your calendars... August 13th... FREE concert for the Stairway to Stardom program.  BJ auditioned today so we'll know more by the weekend.  But you have to come and cheer on all these kids who rock!!! 

I'm done now, nite nite!

Currently listening : Past, Present & Future By Rob Zombie Release date: 23 September, 2003

2:24 AM - 5 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment