Fighting the Fight . . . with My Credit Card

Cancer has touched my life in several ways in the last year.  I’ve lost two family members, and a third was diagnosed and is fighting multiple myeloma.  It’s depressing to think about, and I worry about it.  I worry about my family.    I’ve got a strong connection to my family, I think, and I always want the best for them.  I think the feeling is mutual.   They are all just about the most important thing I have in the world.

The simple fact is, though, that there is not much I can do.   But I have to do something.  So this afternoon, I busted out the credit card for a good cause.

Today, I sponsored my cousins in The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

And while I was at it, I also sponsored my friend Hill for the AIDS/LifeCycle.

So if you’re feeling gifty . . .

And if you’re really broke, maybe there’s something you can donate that’s free.  I started a few months ago by donating my hair to Locks of Love.

Just sayin’.

Movies With Stuff Blowing Up

I don’t normally go for action flicks so much. I do go for John Cusack, though. So, I may just go and see this one. It seems like a redux of his character from Grosse Pointe Blank, as he’s playing a hit man. His handler is even being played by sister Joan, again. And then there’s Hillary Duff, who I have a weird affinity for, even though I shouldn’t. Does it make it OK if I’m also drawn to Ben Kingsley, who also stars.

Anyway, the movie is called “War, Inc.” and it’s due in theaters this July.

Here’s the trailer.

Cinderella

I’ve alluded to the fact that I’m working on a play. It’s Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, put on by Contra Costa Musical Theater at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. I’m the sound assistant, which basically means that I’m prepping the cordless mics for the cast before the show, and collecting them at the end. I also am on standby during the show, in case anyone’s mic goes out, which thankfully hasn’t happened yet.

I also get to help out a little backstage with some special effects and quick costume changes. Now when I say special effects, it’s not like we’re making the Millennium Falcon fly, or anything. I’m not going to give anything away, but let’s just say it’s a lot more impressive than I expected.

Anyway, the funniest thing about the job, by far, is the part where I have to put the protection on the mic packs. The packs need to be protected from all moisture, and since they’re being worn by human beings who perspire, this means they need to be shielded somehow. In my kit is a huge bag of ultrasound probe sheaths. Really, they’re condoms. It’s a zipper bag of lubeless rubbers. I am getting pretty good at handling prophylactics. And I leave the theater every night with my hands reeking of latex.

I hope no one gets the wrong idea.

Phenomenauts’ CD Release Party – March 29th

What do you need most when life gives you the finger? Friends. And if those friends happen to be the best intergalactic rock and rollers and their cadets, well even better!

Maldroid opened the show. I tried to get some good shots of them. Tried is the operative word here.

 

They get better every time I see them. I just got their new self titled album last night. I have been enjoying it and The Phenomenauts’ “For All Man Kind” all morning.

Next up were The Lovemakers. I don’t know any of them. They were less than inspiring. I didn’t take any pictures.

P-H-E-N

O-M-E-N

A-U-T-S

PHENOMENAUTS!

I did my best to help get the chant started and then they took the stage.

 

I love the new opening.

Commander Angel

Angel Nova

I love this trippy red shot.

Red Phenomenauts

 

I didn’t get any good shots of Joebot, but I bet Agent 99 did.

Agent 99 Shooting

 

It was a great show. The bands were good, the club was packed. But most of all, it was good to be with friends, making new friends, and celebrating the success of some hardworking guys and everyone who’s behind them.

 

Science and Honor!

And People.

 

How Much is It Worth?

“They” say a picture is worth a thousand words. I’m not sure this one is up to par, but I think it certainly says a lot about the state of my life.

I can’t keep anything alive. I’m subsisting on junk food and juice. I spend all my free time at Cinderella and seeing as many of my friends’ bands as possible. It’s all kept together with safety pins and financed with spare change.

It’s a complete still life of the last two weeks of my life, while I’ve been trying to get back to me. The summarized version of recovering and healing and an insane schedule.

I’m just sayin’.

I *Heart* Fiona’s

I have not always been the biggest fan of the new office, but there’s a silver lining to the cloud, and it even has a name – Fiona’s.

Fiona’s Sweet Shoppe is around the corner.  They sell all the best British candy and yummies.   Including, my favorite.

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My friend took me to get dim sum for lunch, and then we walked around China Town a bit.  Eventually we were headed back to the cube farm by way of Sutter Street.   The most charming man works behind the counter, too.   There’s nothing bad that can be said about the place.   It’s purely delightful, and it reminds me of Grandma Peggy herself.

What Would I Do Without You?

At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I love Honda. My car is in the shop having it’s service done. I take it to the Honda dealership because I have the extended warranty. I just got a call from them. There’s a problem with the strut and engine mount. It’s covered by the Honda Care warranty. Gotta love Honda.

Three years ago, when I bought my car, it was slightly used and well loved. I was offered the extended warranty, and I’m glad I took it. It cost me just a little more each month, I think $10, but it sure has been comforting. Well worth the cost. I’m not sure how much this repair would be today without the warranty, but I’m sure I would have a hard time coming up with the ducats.

My financial worries are far from covered, though. I just got a bill from the hospital for $113, and it looks like I’m going to have to go back for more blood work and what not, too. Too bad my internal organs aren’t covered by Honda Care. I’ve got a motorcycle that was given to me as a gift that I still have to get registered and insured, not to mention learn to ride. I have no idea what it’ll cost to keep it.

So much for

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I think I really need a

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But it is really good to know that my car’s taken care of. Love Honda. Love them to pieces.

Update – So, I got the bill, and the Honda Care saved me $505 on the repair.   Whew.

The Same, Except Completely Different and WAY Better

It seems that half my office went and saw The Black Keys at the Warfield last night. The cube farm was all atwitter with it this morning.

The Black Keys are a blues duo from Akron. I first heard about them a couple of weeks ago. I looked them up on MySpace, and they have two tracks there. Now, you can’t really tell much about a band from two tracks, but based on those two tracks, I wasn’t very inspired to go looking any further. I was underwhelmed, to say the least.

The very tiny place in my heart reserved for a guitar/drum blues combo has long been held by Two Gallants. I am slightly biased. They recorded their first album at the studio where I worked in my early twenties. They earned a nickname from our mastering engineer, Tom Carr, that I smile to think about still to this day. They’re also a local group, and we all know the soft spot I have for local musicians. ::cough:: ::cough:: Maldroid CD release Friday. ::cough::

Two Gallants is more akin to my taste due to their more melodic style. They’re more of a folky, indie blues. Their tracks are a lot cleaner than what I’ve heard from The Black Keys, who seem to be all about the distortion. I’m not such a fan of the distortion. Well, at least not since I O.D.ed on it in the 90s. I also think that The Black Keys sound way too much like stuff I’ve heard too much before. I know that’s an odd critique coming from a girl who spends the majority of her time listening to throw back ska and reggae, but it is what it is. Two Gallants remind me of other things, too, but it’s more like the last wisps of a dream I had once, rather than a smack over the head with a 1970s KFOG skillet.

Plus, Two Gallants are named after a short story by Joyce.

Same Rant, Different Day

Here it is, 3 o’clock.  I’m in the office.   I’m doing nada.   Serious amounts of nothing happening right here, right now.  I could be off dealing with a bunch of theater related stuff, or theater induced time management issues.  Instead I’m sitting in my cube, staring at the internet.

I mean, don’t get me wrong.  Love doodling on my blog, and all, but it’s not like I really can sit here and give the proper rundown of my life in the last few days, ’cause there’s a lot to tell.   Also, I’m so distracted by the all the things I have to do – I can’t really focus on reading blogs or anything.

If I left now, I could go home, get my car, and drive my happy ass to the theater instead of taking BART.

Just sayin’.