Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Back from Hawaii
Dom and I had a great time on our Hawaii trip. We went snorkeling with turtles, dolphins, and thousands of fish. We went 100 feet under the sea in a submarine to get waved at by a green sea turtle. We went to a Luau and saw lots of traditional, and non-traditional hula dancing. We played water volleyball at Hawaii's famous sandbar, got laid 3 times, & saw the famed Nu'uanu Pali Lookout. We enjoyed the world's best cream puffs, had shaved ice at Waikiki, & found Dom's Pineapple Daiquiri. We went on a dinner cruise around the island and watched the sunset.
We faced our fears on the North Shore by going in a shark cage and seeing 3 types of sharks: Galapagos Sharks, Sandbar Shark, & a huge Tiger shark. We were especially happy about seeing the Tiger shark as we were told ahead of time that they are very rare to see. Only 7 were seen last year and Hawaii Shark Encounters website says they only show a couple times a year & they are very shy. Our tiger was far from shy and kept coming back for more photos & video. Here is one video of the tiger shark:
Here is a video I shot of a swimming turtle. You can tell I got ran over by a few other snorklers. Funny!
Here are some pictures of our trip:
We faced our fears on the North Shore by going in a shark cage and seeing 3 types of sharks: Galapagos Sharks, Sandbar Shark, & a huge Tiger shark. We were especially happy about seeing the Tiger shark as we were told ahead of time that they are very rare to see. Only 7 were seen last year and Hawaii Shark Encounters website says they only show a couple times a year & they are very shy. Our tiger was far from shy and kept coming back for more photos & video. Here is one video of the tiger shark:
Here is a video I shot of a swimming turtle. You can tell I got ran over by a few other snorklers. Funny!
Here are some pictures of our trip:
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Hawaii Day Two - Dolphins!!
It's day two of our Hawaii vacation and today Dom and I went on a snorkling trip in search of dolphins. We saw TONS of them!! They were so amazing. Diving in the air, flapping their tales, swimming around and under us. It was way more amazing then I could have imagined. We also saw a bunch of sea turtles and tons and tons of fish. It was a great day. Here are some of our photos from the trip. We have some video as well - including a swimming turtle. I didn't catch the dolphins with the video camera as I was too busy watching them to figure out the camera. Sorry folks, but the pictures are wonderful thanks to the photographer who went with us. She rocks!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Girl Power - Indie Mix
Sometimes my choice of music drives my husband crazy and I'm afraid lately that is the case. I've been needing a break from the usual - AKA music we both agree on - and have turned to music he can't stand. For some reason I need to mix it up way more then he - sometimes hip hop, sometimes punk, and even sometimes country. The last few months it's mostly indie music and punk tunes. It all started when I pulled out my old Belle & Sebastian album and found myself really liking it for the first time. Big thanks to Diana who gave it to me in the first place about 8 years ago- I think she wanted to toss it in the trash. ;)
Anyway, here are a few of my current favorite girl songs to try out that Cody isn't fond of... just in case you too want his disapproval for listening to them. Let me know if you like & I'll post some cool boys bands too. And if you have any music that I would like and you know Cody would hate, let me know. I'm always looking for that kind of music. LOL!
Tegan & Sarah: Nineteen, Walking With A Ghosts, Where Does the Good Go
Cat Power: Sea of Love
Adel: Chasing Pavements, Hometown Glory
Kate Nash: Foundations, Pumpkin Soup, Merry Happy
Tristan Pettyman: Madly, Love Love Love, Shy That Way
Sia: Breath Me
Sarah Bareilles: Bottle It Up, Gravity, One Sweet Love, Fairytale
Rilo Kiley: Silver Lining, Close Call
Kimya Dawson: So Nice So Smart, Tire Swing, Tree Hugger
Girl In a Como: Their Cell
Feist: My Moon My Man
Colbie Caillat: Oxygen, Realize, The Little Things
Anyway, here are a few of my current favorite girl songs to try out that Cody isn't fond of... just in case you too want his disapproval for listening to them. Let me know if you like & I'll post some cool boys bands too. And if you have any music that I would like and you know Cody would hate, let me know. I'm always looking for that kind of music. LOL!
Tegan & Sarah: Nineteen, Walking With A Ghosts, Where Does the Good Go
Cat Power: Sea of Love
Adel: Chasing Pavements, Hometown Glory
Kate Nash: Foundations, Pumpkin Soup, Merry Happy
Tristan Pettyman: Madly, Love Love Love, Shy That Way
Sia: Breath Me
Sarah Bareilles: Bottle It Up, Gravity, One Sweet Love, Fairytale
Rilo Kiley: Silver Lining, Close Call
Kimya Dawson: So Nice So Smart, Tire Swing, Tree Hugger
Girl In a Como: Their Cell
Feist: My Moon My Man
Colbie Caillat: Oxygen, Realize, The Little Things
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A little 90's nostalgia
I decided to copy Diana & Ang and blog about my favorite music from my high school days. I would like to be as cool and say that I've gotten over the 90's, but I think my heart is still rooted with 90's music. I still listen to most of the artists I did back then. Most just on occasion, but some quite often. And although I probably should be, I’m not ashamed at all. I love 90s music!
During the 90’s I was a big fan of the current grunge music, but I also listened to a lot of old rock and roll like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Eagles & Jimi Hendrix. But that’s not to say that I didn’t listen to my fair share of TLC, Coolio, No Doubt, Nelly or Montel Jordan's This is How We Do It. There was a lot more going on then grunge in the 90s.. but like most when I think "90's" I think grunge. Anyway, here are my top picks:
#1 PEARL JAM
They are by far my favorite band of the 90's. In fact, they are one of my favorite bands of all time. Simply put, I ♥ Eddie Vedder & I ♥ Pearl Jam. I think I can even thank them for falling in love for real at one of their concerts.. to my hubby Cody. It was the Yeild Concert and I was 15... good times! I will even admit to almost joining Ten Club to get their free LP each year - yep I looked it up online. That's how much I love them.. they ROCK! I've seen them 3 times in concert and they never disappoint.
My favorite PJ story is that one year Cody and I were really really broke, so we only bought each other one present for Christmas. We both didn’t wrap the present, so we held it behind our backs and presented them at the same time – and they were the same thing! We had each bought a DVD of the same Pearl Jam concert.
Favorite Songs (Too Many to List Um All): Wash, Yellow Ledbetter, Better Man, Off He Goes, Jeremy, Black, Wish List, Footsteps, Last Kiss, Given To Fly, Nothing Man, Daughter, Elderly Women Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Low Light, All Those Yesterdays, Let Me Sleep It’s Christmas Time.
And when I think about hanging out with my pal Todd, I need to hear Release (his favorite song back then).
#2 ALICE IN CHAINS
If you want me to zone out and stop talking, do what Cody does and put on Alice in Chain’s album A Jar of Flies. That album is amazing. I have never gotten tired of it and I can tell you that I’ve listened to it a lot. They are the ultimate in grunge for me and it’s such a shame that the world lost Layne Staley. If I want to go back to my teenage angst years, I can put on Dirt or Facelift, but nothing brings me back as quickly as JOF.
Cody and I went to see Alice in Chains at a reunion show when they played at Konocti w/ a different singer and it was awesome. Best concert I’ve ever been to at Konocti by far.
Favorite Songs: Nutshell, Would?, Rotten Apple, I Stay Away, Don’t Follow, Down in a Hole, Rooster, & Man in the Box
#3 BLIND MELON
I think Blind Melon is either a band you love or hate. For me, it was love at first song. My favorite album was Soup and my favorite song was Mouth Full of Cavities. Shannon Hoon was so messed up that I couldn't help but relate during my teenage years. This is another band that I haven't gotten over and like all Blind Melon fans, I'm still very sad when I think about Shannon Hoon dying. He was so talented! And it was an end to Blind Melon... almost.
tried hard to get over Blind Melon, I even became a fan of Unified Theory after seeing them at a concert, which had bassist Brad Smith and guitarist Christopher Thorn from BM, but it wasn't the same.
But Blind Melon lives on! I'm so glad they are back together again as Blind Melon with new singer Travis Warren (who I approve of) and doing great. I really like their new CD and Cody and I saw them live in San Fran – great show! We had a great time!!
Favorite Songs: Mouth Full of Cavities, Skinned, Tones Across The Floor, Walk, Life Ain’t So Sh*tty, I Wonder, Change, Wilt, Wishing Well, Cheetum Street, Hypnotize
#4 TORI AMOS
What respectable music lover of the 90’s didn’t love Tori? Ok, so maybe a lot of people, but for me she was THEE Top Female Artist of the 90s. She was so unique, so talented, and so freakishly strange that I adored her. Little Earthquakes was my first Tori Amos CD and I used to listen to it every night before bed along with Pink Floyd's The Division Bell. I sometimes have trouble listening to it now as it transports me back to my immature high school days of feeling misunderstood and unappreciated or it makes me sleepy. However, I am amazed at how talented she is and that out of all the crap in the 90’s I stumbled upon this gem of an artist and was able to appreciate her. My favorite Tori Amos albums are Little Earthquakes & Under the Pink.
Favorite Songs: Past the Mission, Winter, Girl, God, Silent All These Years, Cornflake Girl, Crucify, A Sorta Fairytale, Precious Things, Little Earthquakes
#5 SISTER HAZEL
How can you not like Sister Hazel I ask? Upbeat and fun with songs like “Happy” they didn’t easily fit into my classic dark and grungy CD collection. With so many great 90's bands like Primus, Soundgarden, The Chili Peppers & STP they seem a somewhat strange choice even to me. But never-the-less they were my good friends during those teenage years and even beyond so here is to Sister Hazel. Thanks goodness for you & Big Head Todd and The Monsters or I may have never gotten over my dark ways.
Favorite Songs: Cerilene, All For You, Just Remember, Happy, Change Your Mind, Your Winter, Champagne High, This Kind of Love
MORE SHOUT OUTS FROM MY 90's YEARS:
Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Tonic, Candlebox, Everclear, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, Mother Love Bone, Janes Addiction, Primus, Green Day, Live, Nine Inch Nails, Cake, Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Weezer, Sublime, Phish, Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, TLC, Counting Crows, Alanis Morissette, U2, Offspring, R.E.M., Collective Soul, Garbage, Oasis, Bush, Goo Goo Dolls, Ace of Base, Portishead, Aerosmith, Rage Against The Machine, Lauryn Hill, Guns N Roses, Wildflowers, Creed, The Pixies, The Cranberries.
During the 90’s I was a big fan of the current grunge music, but I also listened to a lot of old rock and roll like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Eagles & Jimi Hendrix. But that’s not to say that I didn’t listen to my fair share of TLC, Coolio, No Doubt, Nelly or Montel Jordan's This is How We Do It. There was a lot more going on then grunge in the 90s.. but like most when I think "90's" I think grunge. Anyway, here are my top picks:
#1 PEARL JAM
They are by far my favorite band of the 90's. In fact, they are one of my favorite bands of all time. Simply put, I ♥ Eddie Vedder & I ♥ Pearl Jam. I think I can even thank them for falling in love for real at one of their concerts.. to my hubby Cody. It was the Yeild Concert and I was 15... good times! I will even admit to almost joining Ten Club to get their free LP each year - yep I looked it up online. That's how much I love them.. they ROCK! I've seen them 3 times in concert and they never disappoint.
My favorite PJ story is that one year Cody and I were really really broke, so we only bought each other one present for Christmas. We both didn’t wrap the present, so we held it behind our backs and presented them at the same time – and they were the same thing! We had each bought a DVD of the same Pearl Jam concert.
Favorite Songs (Too Many to List Um All): Wash, Yellow Ledbetter, Better Man, Off He Goes, Jeremy, Black, Wish List, Footsteps, Last Kiss, Given To Fly, Nothing Man, Daughter, Elderly Women Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Low Light, All Those Yesterdays, Let Me Sleep It’s Christmas Time.
And when I think about hanging out with my pal Todd, I need to hear Release (his favorite song back then).
#2 ALICE IN CHAINS
If you want me to zone out and stop talking, do what Cody does and put on Alice in Chain’s album A Jar of Flies. That album is amazing. I have never gotten tired of it and I can tell you that I’ve listened to it a lot. They are the ultimate in grunge for me and it’s such a shame that the world lost Layne Staley. If I want to go back to my teenage angst years, I can put on Dirt or Facelift, but nothing brings me back as quickly as JOF.
Cody and I went to see Alice in Chains at a reunion show when they played at Konocti w/ a different singer and it was awesome. Best concert I’ve ever been to at Konocti by far.
Favorite Songs: Nutshell, Would?, Rotten Apple, I Stay Away, Don’t Follow, Down in a Hole, Rooster, & Man in the Box
#3 BLIND MELON
I think Blind Melon is either a band you love or hate. For me, it was love at first song. My favorite album was Soup and my favorite song was Mouth Full of Cavities. Shannon Hoon was so messed up that I couldn't help but relate during my teenage years. This is another band that I haven't gotten over and like all Blind Melon fans, I'm still very sad when I think about Shannon Hoon dying. He was so talented! And it was an end to Blind Melon... almost.
tried hard to get over Blind Melon, I even became a fan of Unified Theory after seeing them at a concert, which had bassist Brad Smith and guitarist Christopher Thorn from BM, but it wasn't the same.
But Blind Melon lives on! I'm so glad they are back together again as Blind Melon with new singer Travis Warren (who I approve of) and doing great. I really like their new CD and Cody and I saw them live in San Fran – great show! We had a great time!!
Favorite Songs: Mouth Full of Cavities, Skinned, Tones Across The Floor, Walk, Life Ain’t So Sh*tty, I Wonder, Change, Wilt, Wishing Well, Cheetum Street, Hypnotize
#4 TORI AMOS
What respectable music lover of the 90’s didn’t love Tori? Ok, so maybe a lot of people, but for me she was THEE Top Female Artist of the 90s. She was so unique, so talented, and so freakishly strange that I adored her. Little Earthquakes was my first Tori Amos CD and I used to listen to it every night before bed along with Pink Floyd's The Division Bell. I sometimes have trouble listening to it now as it transports me back to my immature high school days of feeling misunderstood and unappreciated or it makes me sleepy. However, I am amazed at how talented she is and that out of all the crap in the 90’s I stumbled upon this gem of an artist and was able to appreciate her. My favorite Tori Amos albums are Little Earthquakes & Under the Pink.
Favorite Songs: Past the Mission, Winter, Girl, God, Silent All These Years, Cornflake Girl, Crucify, A Sorta Fairytale, Precious Things, Little Earthquakes
#5 SISTER HAZEL
How can you not like Sister Hazel I ask? Upbeat and fun with songs like “Happy” they didn’t easily fit into my classic dark and grungy CD collection. With so many great 90's bands like Primus, Soundgarden, The Chili Peppers & STP they seem a somewhat strange choice even to me. But never-the-less they were my good friends during those teenage years and even beyond so here is to Sister Hazel. Thanks goodness for you & Big Head Todd and The Monsters or I may have never gotten over my dark ways.
Favorite Songs: Cerilene, All For You, Just Remember, Happy, Change Your Mind, Your Winter, Champagne High, This Kind of Love
MORE SHOUT OUTS FROM MY 90's YEARS:
Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Tonic, Candlebox, Everclear, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, Mother Love Bone, Janes Addiction, Primus, Green Day, Live, Nine Inch Nails, Cake, Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Weezer, Sublime, Phish, Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, TLC, Counting Crows, Alanis Morissette, U2, Offspring, R.E.M., Collective Soul, Garbage, Oasis, Bush, Goo Goo Dolls, Ace of Base, Portishead, Aerosmith, Rage Against The Machine, Lauryn Hill, Guns N Roses, Wildflowers, Creed, The Pixies, The Cranberries.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
My Grandpa's Green Thumb
Cody and I got home the other day from our Trinity Alps trip and my aunts Ruth & Jan were in the kitchen. They asked me if I noticed how nice the backyard looked for which I said I thought it looked great. They then pointed out this tree that had been looking rather dead while I was gone. It was now a bright vivid green. Being without my glasses and not very sharp at the time (I'm sure due to the 28 miles we hiked on our trip - check out http://bearacondabeware.blogspot.com/) I was amazed at how revived the previously "dead" tree looked and almost couldn't believe it was the same tree. They laughingly told me how he just soaked and soaked it and it was now quite healthy. I wasn't sure why this was so funny, but I was happy for the poor tree who I had long ago given up as dead and had even tried to tell my grandpa to get rid of it.
They then directed my notice to the table to point out something else that was "new" in the backyard. Being far away and without my glasses on I was only able to make out something that looked like a can from the kitchen window and when I asked them if it was a can of some kind they started laughing quite hysterically. They then asked me what color the top of the can was. "Green??", I replied hesitantly.. is this some kind of trick question?? My slow brain was taking FOREVER to realize that something was a bit off here. And then it came to me... my grandpa has spray painted the dead tree green!!! He cracks me up!! I never know what odd thing he is going to be up to. I love it!
They then directed my notice to the table to point out something else that was "new" in the backyard. Being far away and without my glasses on I was only able to make out something that looked like a can from the kitchen window and when I asked them if it was a can of some kind they started laughing quite hysterically. They then asked me what color the top of the can was. "Green??", I replied hesitantly.. is this some kind of trick question?? My slow brain was taking FOREVER to realize that something was a bit off here. And then it came to me... my grandpa has spray painted the dead tree green!!! He cracks me up!! I never know what odd thing he is going to be up to. I love it!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Tales from RT.
I just now downloaded some of the pics from the Romantic Times Convention that I attended in Pittsburgh last month with my mom, my aunt Renee, my sisters Dom & Manda, and my brother Brian. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, RT is a writers convention put on my Romantic Times Magazine. You see published authors, editors, readers, aspiring authors, booksellers, publishers, and members of the press there. There are lots of workshops and fun events like the vampire ball, fairy ball, and more.
We had a jolly good time at all the events we went to, especially the 1920's party that we hosted. We had tables for Texas Hold'em, which us girls had to learn to play (Brian already was a master).
I also loved getting ready for the fairy ball with aunt Renee (AKA the "batty" aunt - due to her wings of course).
We got to stay in the presidential suite (1st time for me), we got taken to the airport in a stretch limo (another 1st) & we got to ride 1st class on the plane (not a 1st!). It was all grand fun, especially seeing mom's red face when the stretch limo pulled up - that was too funny!
Anyway, We basically lived the high life (or what I imagine the high life to be) having strawberries with whip cream when ever we wanted and being really silly. Me and Renee tried hard to watch Juno on the plan at the same time, but my audio was all messed up and kept making everyone sound demonic. By the time it worked I only got to see 1/2 the movie. Grr! However, I did read a nice book by Mary Balogh who I met at RT- she was very nice - and I got to laugh at Renee who kept crying during both films she watched. It was very cute!
So overall, not bad for a weeks worth of work!
We had a jolly good time at all the events we went to, especially the 1920's party that we hosted. We had tables for Texas Hold'em, which us girls had to learn to play (Brian already was a master).
I also loved getting ready for the fairy ball with aunt Renee (AKA the "batty" aunt - due to her wings of course).
We got to stay in the presidential suite (1st time for me), we got taken to the airport in a stretch limo (another 1st) & we got to ride 1st class on the plane (not a 1st!). It was all grand fun, especially seeing mom's red face when the stretch limo pulled up - that was too funny!
Anyway, We basically lived the high life (or what I imagine the high life to be) having strawberries with whip cream when ever we wanted and being really silly. Me and Renee tried hard to watch Juno on the plan at the same time, but my audio was all messed up and kept making everyone sound demonic. By the time it worked I only got to see 1/2 the movie. Grr! However, I did read a nice book by Mary Balogh who I met at RT- she was very nice - and I got to laugh at Renee who kept crying during both films she watched. It was very cute!
So overall, not bad for a weeks worth of work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
