Saturday 6 AM

Im up way too early for a Saturday. I had some nosh already and I think I may either go for a ride or go to the gym.

It's rainy out here in the land of wind, big buildings and the voting dead. But that never stopped me from hitting the mountain bike.

I may just go for a walk with the fox.

Last night was particularly restful for a change. Just chilled at home, and relaxed. It was very needed.

Gotta keep going with the to-do list. I have a number of concerts I need to get my tickets for, one being NIN and the other being Motorhead with Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy.

I love the Rev, and saw him last year with Nashville Pussy and Backyard Tire Fire.

If you haven't seen the Rev, it truly is a must see. This man gives a high voltage performance every time he steps onto stage. With Nature Boy Jimbo slapping that stand-up bass by is side, the sound is swingin'.

Nashville Pussy does NOT disappoint. If you want some good ole rock n roll with some stink of the south on it, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS BAND.

Now I have never seen Motorhead, and honestly, would never before go out of my way to go see them, but I'm glad I'm getting the chance to. I keep remembering from the movie Airheads "Lemmy is God" so I figure, why not right. Full review coming after this show.

Back in May NIN was here in Chicago (sans Jane's Addiction) on their NINJA tour. I unfortunately missed ticket sales, and had to miss the show. It was at Northerly Isle (which is one of the ONLY outside venues I actually like). I wanted to go SOOOOO bad, but the concert was run by Live Nation who has a new way to do tickets, which makes it a tad harder and a tad more expensive to get after sales tickets (aka from a broker or a scalper). And truth be told, I HATE getting tickets from a broker if I dont have to.

Much to my surprise yesterday, NIN is coming back to do an intimate show. Presale is going on in a week and you can bet your ass Ill be online refreshing as much as I can to get my ass to that show. Im not missing this one, because this will probably be the last time NIN is in Chicago for a very long time if not forever.

I was fortunate enough to see NIN last year at Lollapalooza, and Reznor was just as I remembered him. Except now, he isnt some skinny guy, he cut his locks and the man is PUMPED.

Watching him on stage was something else. He did all the old favorites off of Pretty Hate Machine and Downward Spiral. He did my favorites Burn, and Gave Up, as well as some off of Year Zero and the Slip.

I'm sure this concert will leave me fulfilled. I do wonder if he will be here with Jane's though, considering, Jane's is playing Lollapalooza this year, and they do have the "NO SHOWS IN CHICAGO 2 months prior or post LOLLA if the band is performing in the festival"

I know so far 2009 has been a disappointment on the concert front. I did get to see Cornell up close and personal, and saw him in a full show at the Riv, but all in all, I lost Musink this year where Mr. Ness was supposed to be. I had Rev cancel out on 2 shows, and have yet to see when SxDx will be back here.

KMFDM will be back in their hometown in October, and I do have my tickets for that. I'm COMPLETELY jazzed for that. "feel the hunger inside, don't lose your trust" Cannot wait for that show.

Alrighty catz n kittenz, thats enough for now. Time to get off my ass and do something.

The dream is over... or has it just begun

"There's a place I like to hide, a doorway that I run to in the night.
Relax child, you were there, but only didn't realize it and you were scared.
It's a place where you will learn to face your fears, retrace the tears,
and ride the whims of your mind. Commanding in another world
Suddenly, you hear and see this magic new dimension"

–Queensryche, "Silent Lucidity"

I know I haven't blogged in a while, partially because of life being life, busy.
But during the hustle and bustle of life there are things I have been learning about others, about myself, and truly finding my place.

I have big plans, and for some reason, I have gained this amazing sense of confidence.

This is something that I have been lacking almost all of my life. No Im not on some Stuart Smalley kick thinking "dog gone it, I'm worth it"

I'm getting older, I'm learning from my past, my mistakes, and observing everything around me.

I'm learning about love again, I'm learning patience, tolerance, and most importantly determination.

Tonight as you can see I'm on a Queensryche kick. This particular song Silent Lucidity is something that always struck a cord with me. It always meant a lot to me.

My health is slowly improving, my endurance, and my stamina is growing, and not to say I am feeling invincible, but I'm ready to take a lot on right now.

My passion is coming back, honestly I thought I had lost it, but there it is.

My creativity is flowing again, and even when bad things happen, its not getting to me like it used to.

I am sure the weather has something to do with it, its relatively nicer outside, and I am a lot more active. Going to Starved Rock, climbing, hiking, riding my bike a TON more.

I like this direction.... the past is over.

Meh

Discontentment is the feeling that has been overwhelming me and I just don't like it.

Usually when I get like this, I sink into a cocoon and try to heal from the inside out. While on the surface, I put on a smile, I over-think things, I over analyze and drive myself crazy.

Certain situations that I am going through right now, have me second guessing myself, as well as others, and I hate that.

Concert front has been quiet, I got my KMFDM tickets today for October's show, and I'm really looking forward to it. On the opposite side of this, the Lollapalooza schedule has come out today, and I'm less than thrilled. To the point that I am considering selling my 3 day pass (got it for $175 if anyone is interested).

It sucks that the only bands I want to see there are the headliners, and the ones I really want to see, are playing at the same time as the others I want to see.

If you know me, you know that music is my passion, and to make me choose between bands I want to see is like choosing a child. I just can't do it.

I'm still thinking about it, and who knows what will happen between now and August.

Maybe I'll approach the "healing from the inside" in a different manner. I do know this, I am back to focusing on myself, because then is when I will be truly happy.

Hope all you cats n kittens are doing well. Keep swingin' and make sure you hit me up with the concert and band tips. I need more shows!!!!

Another year come and gone...

So I'm 33 now, and honestly, it doesn't bother me one bit.

I feel fine, I got to spend time with my friends down in Wrigleyville, got lots of well wishes, 3 dozen roses, a beautiful bracelet, Wii Fit (YAY) and my mom made an awesome red velvet with cream cheese icing birthday cake for me.

Im just all in all a happy girl as of late. Work seems to be going well (knock on wood) Im starting a 5 day vacation and it's beautiful weather outside.

I still have to get the podcast going, its on the list of things I really should do, and one of these days Ill get around to it.

This has been an interesting year, I had people leave my life, and new people come into my life. Some really awesome friends I reconnected with that I am soooo glad are back in my life. You ladies and gentlemen are the best and am having SUCH A BLAST with you all.

I had a breast cancer scare (all is well) Had some mom scares (I mean my mom, I didn't think I was pregnant). Still on the endless house search, which I am determined will find one before october of this year (DAMMIT).

Yep, just a happy girl.

NOW is the time that I start going to endless concerts, so more pics and updates to come soon!

There's a sucker born every minute

For the length of this blog you can call me charms.

In my effort to get healthier, lose some weight and tone up, I have bought Nutrisystem, and have been increasing my goings to the gym. You have all recently read with my new found addiction to 5-hour energy shots and sugarless Redbull.

One Saturday morning as I lamented over my bland NutriSystem powdered eggs, I was flipping through channels and happened upon an infomercial for the Ab-circle.

Witness the gist here

NOW, the last time I saw an infomercial for an ab machine, it was around the same time of year. I bought it, and I actually lost around 100 lbs. YEAH, that much!

This thing looks ridiculously easy to use, and actually looks kind of fun.

NOW according to the infomercial, you use this thing, that is like a "treadmill for your abs" 3 minutes a day.

THAT I don't buy, so I'm sure I will be using it for a good 15-30 minutes a day.

I'll post some pics when it arrives, and let you know my true review of it.

My hope is that this ab machine will work just as well as the original one I got so many years go :)

5 HOUR ENERGY... and things that give you wings

Lately I have found that I have become addicted to those 5 hour energy shots. I drink a max of 2 a day, once in the AM once in the evening. They actually work. I was just as shocked by it. You don't get a "jittery" feeling, and you don't crash, which is the most important thing to me.

But I have also gotten another similar addiction, Sugarless redbull. Im sure its not good for me to be drinking one of those to bridge the 2 5 hour energy shots I'm doing per day.

I know when the time comes I am going to have to ween myself off of them, but for now, its giving me the energy I have been craving as of late.

Once it gets warmer, it will totally come in handy when I'm biking in the morning again.

Latest music likes. I have shockingly become enamored with Lady Gaga. Something about her whole CD puts me in a good mood. I know lots of people think she is extraordinarily strange, but eh so be it.

Totally a guilty pleasure listen to me, but I don't care. Whatever makes you feel good, go with (is my theory).

Oh I do want to interject into this pleasant and somewhat sterile blog for a bit of a rant.

WTF is with the people who work downtown, who feel the need to have a PULLEE briefcase? I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Those people who have their briefcases, or back packs on a little miniature dolly that they pull here and there, everywhere they go, trailing a good foot and a half to two feet behind them.

They are, for the most part, completely inconsiderate of anyone walking around them. They will trip you, not realize it until it is too late (I've seen this happen, and thankfully it has NOT happened to me). And then these people have the NERVE to look at the person they tripped as if it is their fault and problem.

ALRIGHT, lets break this down. IF YOU ARE TOO WEAK to carry a damn briefcase or backpack normally, you either need to remember to LEAVE things at work and NOT carry so much back and forth, or be considerate of those around you.

These people rank right up there, with the able bodied people who WONT shovel in front of their house, or take an elevator ONE floor. Ofcourse I am speaking purely of ABLE bodied people.

SIGH.... I must have too much energy.

Send me an angel..... right now

It happens every couple of months it seems. My mom's a diabetic, she has been for the past 15 some odd years at least. But it seems in the past couple of years she has been having more episodes where her blood sugar plummets out of nowhere.

The doctors say that there is no way to control it, it just can happen. I dont like that answer, but its not like I can go out and prove them wrong.

I seem to be blessed in the fact that every time her sugar dips, Im around or able to find her just in time. But that scares the shit out of me. Because, I wonder, what if I cant be there.

I know I cant live my life thinking that she cant be alone, but the fact of the matter is SHE CANT BE ALONE.

This isnt me, I dont like drama, I dont like being a "downer" but I want to know what I can do, to keep this shit from happening.

I know, there is nothing I can do, I know she has to take care of herself and be responsible for her health.

Its so fucking frustrating. All the times, Ive found her, and by some miracle was able to bring her back around.

I guess im just scared that one of these times, I wont be available. one of these times I wont be able to get her back.

Sorry, just had to vent.

Time to turn this shite around. SO I got my ticket to Lolla for this year, and IM jazzed about that. Going to see Chris Cornell again in a week with Cappy and his lovely lady Sara!! UBER excited about that, oh yeah and THE REV in August.

Im sure Ill be going to more shows between now and then as well.

Oh well, hope the easter bunny drops some yummy stuff in your baskets.

Talk at ya soon! ~G