a new hope

I can honestly say I'm going to bed tonight, with a genuine feeling of hope. Since 9-11, I have been afraid. Really, honestly, genuinely afraid. I have felt disjointed from my government. I did not feel safer. I was inundated with fear. At this moment, I have a pre-911 feeling of hope. A feeling that things are going to be right in the world, if only until I wake up tomorrow morning.
Growing up, I was considered Generation-X. We were made fun of, laughed at, never taken seriously. Equality for all was always important to us. Although many of our parents were influenced by racism, we refused to tolerate it. Tonight, I finally feel our government is going to work for us. All of us. For Generation X and beyond.
Tonight we have captured the eyes of the world. Everyone within earshot of a television or a radio across the globe knows the US is headed in another direction. I can only hope the dictators wait and see. The radicals take a moment to pause. The wars take a moment for peace. I pray that Obama chooses the right people to fill the important cabinet positions that will soon be vacant. I hope he selects people from both sides of the aisle, and includes the fiercely independent.
Tomorrow the sun will rise, and with it I believe a new hope for a smarter, safer planet!

Voting feels good

I just had to pass this on. Yet another reason to vote!

********WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT********

Babeland Rewards Voters with a Silver Bullet or a Maverick


"If the Maverick rhetoric in the presidential campaigns is doing anything, we hope it’s motivating everyone to get out and vote. Which is why we’re giving away a real Maverick, absolutely FREE to all voters. All men, not just Joe Six Pack, love the Maverick sleeve ($20 value). He’s always there to lend a hand, he works for every man, and he bucks the status quo.
Wait, it gets better. We’ve got one more enticement. A free Silver Bullet ($15 value), because that’s what our country needs right now, a magical solution to difficult problems. Babeland’s most popular compact mini-vibe feels fantastic and is a great stress-reliever during these troubled economic times!

Bring a voter registration card, ballot stub or your word of honor that you cast a ballot on November 4th and we’ll give you either a free Maverick sleeve or a Silver Bullet. This offer is good at any Babeland location in New York and Seattle November 4-11."

Store Locations
In New York City
Babeland Brooklyn, 462 Bergen Street
Babeland LES, 94 Rivington Street
Babeland SoHo, 43 Mercer Street
In Seattle
Babeland Seattle, 707 E. Pike St.

After an earthquake

Sometimes song lyrics hit home. Names those songs!! As my dear Billie says:

"This is a public service announcement, this is only a test
Emergency evacuation process
May Impair your ability to operate machinery
Can't quite tell just what it means to me

My heart is beating from me
Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts
The world is spinning
Around and around
Out of control again
It's comedy and tragedy

I am standing all alone
Stepped out of the line
Like a sheep runs from the herd
Marching out of time
To my own beat now
The only way I know

Nobody likes you...
Everyone left you...
They're all out without you...
Having fun..."

ch ch ch ch changes....

Some are good some are bad. I'm sitting here furious because the web site I live at has undergone a face lift today. I don't just dislike it, I HATE it! And I know hate is a very strong word, I rarely use, if ever.

They added a live chat component, which is great, but everything else I do there is now significantly more difficult, and I don't have time for more difficult.
I'm going to leave the community. Truth be told, it's for scrappers, which I am not. My creative outlet is more and more assemblage and altered art, which is not their focus. So why do I feel like I just had my left hand cut off? I am hosting a few swaps there which will end soon, and then I have a bunch of trips planned, so I'll be too busy. I shouldn't spend that much time there anyway. Do you hear me justifying???

Well, that means that YOU, my handful of readers, will be able to participate in swaps right here! woo hoo! and I can put my energy elsewhere. All things happen for a reason. Let's see where this leads me now......

Don't vote!

Vote early

Vote often.
(I couldn't resist, I'm from Chicago)


But seriously, get out there and vote! Don't wait until Tuesday, do it today.
Remember:
If you are registered, you have the right to vote.
Do NOT allow them to give you a provisional ballot.
Do check your work! After using the touchscreens be sure to check the paper printout in the machine to make sure your choices were recorded correctly.
Do Bring your driver's license for identification.
Do ask for help if you need it.
Don't rush. Take your time.

4th of July 2008

Emily held the flag for a few seconds that day.

The boys are back

I'm so excited! And I want to Congratulate Mike and Brittany on their newest addition Brixton, born September 11th. New baby & studio time?? Good luck with that Mike!

Vote here Vote here

Click on this link!!!
VOTE HERE VOTE HERE

I think I wet myself a little watching the video attached to the link! already I'm disgusted with the amount of money spent on this campaign. How many people could have been fed? How many people could have health care? How much could our gas prices have dropped if a fraction of the funds were given back to us in a useful manner, rather than blasted through the tv box???


Ahhhhhhhhhh calgon take me away!

Don't give up!

Yesterday was a HUGE day for my family!!! Emily, the youngest, has been blind all her life. Everywhere we go, she keeps her eyes closed, because she has nothing to look at. She keeps her head down, with no reason to hold it up. People always comment, "Awwww, she's sleeping". 'No, actually she's blind, but she can hear you' has always been my response, then they shudder away in some asinine attempt to avoid catching blindness.
I took her to yet another vision doctor, one who specializes in muscle disorders to get a final opinion, and hopefully some therapeutic advice, or the final confirmation of her diagnosis. Well, apparently, the other doctors wrote her off so quickly, they didn't bother to test her for nearsightedness. They looked for a medical anomaly to explain the lack of vision, always blaming it on Optic Nerve Atrophy, or Cortical Visual Impairment (Translation: I dont know why she can't see). Yesterday an incredibly patient, intelligent doctor took a look at her, asked me if we had a history of nearsightedness in the family, and when I said 'Yes, very much' she smiled and said "Well, she has some random muscular movements, but she is also very nearsighted!"....... WHAT?!?!?!
She said she wasn't going to guarantee glasses would help 100%, but she was sure that without them, there was no doubt Emily wasn't able to see!!!!
As if a miracle happened, my little babe put on her glasses, opened her eyes WIDE and started looking around and smiling!
The moral to this story: Don't give up! Unless there is no heartbeat there is hope! Things change, the brain begins to repair itself, people heal, emotionally and physically! This news couldn't come at a better time!

Let the games begin

There is so much to say, but I can't sensor myself very well, so I'll just post the fotos here for you to look at and discuss. 2 months from today it will be over! I hope everyone registered to vote does, and if you are not registered, you should do so! This year, more than before, every vote will be important. You need to stand up for what you believe, and vote for the candidate that will protect your beliefs.
Vote for the person that will protect the rights you already have, without compromise. Don't vote for color or sex...that's crazy. Vote your mind, vote your freedom and vote for change! Oops, it slipped, see I can't help myself!

Hillary was my girl, now Barack is my guy. I just don't believe McCain has any idea what my life is like and wouldn't know how to begin to help me make it better. I don't want to see anymore war, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea... no more. I don't think that's really a choice, looks like we're headed into Afghanistan, hopefully there is a real objective and plan. I don't want women and girls to lose the right to abortion. I am not pro-abortion, but I also believe children should be brought into homes that want them! I want to see America as a team player, not a bully. I want health insurance...for me! I want to see wind energy, solar power, energy independence. We should be encouraged to recycle and do what we can.

Only time will tell what this election uncovers, but come November I ask you to vote your beliefs. That's really all we have.

Back to School, 2008

Swingtown

It's like the accident you can't help but watch eventhough it makes you feel all creepy. I'm loving the 70's music...all remastered and digitized for our listening pleasure, no pun intended. The jury is still out if I'm in favor or not of the show, but since it's set in a town next to ours, and I was too young to know what was happening at the time I'm gonna stick around and see where it goes...ooga ooga ooga cha kha....

I've gone to see about a mouse...

See ya real soon!

3rd annual dance party!!!!

This is absolutely up my alley!!! I'll be dancing, where will you be dancing??? Shyne Like a Star is a great little site. Not much there...but there is! She's got something, and hopefully you haven't turned your volume down, so I know your feet are moving and you're shakin' what's behind you!

If not today....please do so on May 1st! If you send me a foto of you in action (link in the comments) I'll send out a few something specials....promise! Haven't you learned by now...I send good stuff......

Ectomo...wierd, bizarre, addictive

formerly Table of Malcontents...


Well, I stumbled across this little beauty on the web tonight, and had to put is someplace safe. Very safe. What an awesome collection of the bizarre, creepy, interesting, gotta watch even though you want to turn away blog of random stuff. Beware you will waste hours here!

The blog is called Ectomo

I hate arrogant people!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I just needed to get it out.

AAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

NOW you can buy the album

click on the flashing vinyl

Happy Earth Day!

Do something good today. Not just because it's Earth Day, and you might be feeling the pressure, but because it feels good. We have one chance here, what we do may not affect us, but it changes the world for everyone else. If you don't know what to do...just smile at a stranger, pay someone's toll at the toll booth, buy the person behind you a coffee, pick out a mug to drink from, plant a flower, call your mom...it's endless, really.

It's a Foxboro Hottubs Day!

Hurray! The album is officially released today on Amazon.com.

Here is their official site, so you can see the album, and here is the link to myspace where you can hear snippits. Amazon.com put up previews of the entire 12-song EP for the Foxboro Hot Tubs. Current price for the album is $10.49 (though who knows if that'll change).The actual (physical) CD will be released late April, Amazon currently has that listed for April 29th. You can click here to Pre-Order the album.

Did I mention, I love and adore this band? If you haven't figured out by now, it's the latest persona of Green day members. We know Billie Joe is fronting, and hear Tre in one intro, but no visual confirmation of Mike or Jason yet. The Bass is so similar to Mike, but nobody has picked his voice out. As for Jason, we know he and billie usually share side projects, so one can assume he's involved.
What type of music you ask? They were listening to a lot of 60's garage rock preparing for something, and this album was the first to be released. The song playing right now (If I haven't changed my player) is the Pedestrian, from the album. Well, why are you still reading this? Go get it!!!!

US economy booster rebate

See, I told you last year what needed to be done!

***************************
I'm gonna get a bit political here. These words of wisdom just came to my attention, so I wanted to bring them to yours, the viewer:

Our president said each one of us would get $300.

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, stocking up on cleaning supplies, all the money will go to China.
If you spend it on gasoline(which is ridiculously inflated), it will all go to the Middle East or Hugo Chavez.

The way I see it, we need to keep that money here in America, so the only way to keep that money here at home is to invest in California wine or spend it on prostitution. These are the only businesses still in the U.S.

Have a Good Weekend!

Scottish eye candy

I am such a sucker for half-naked boys with eyeliner and a guitar!

Happy Birthday Billie Joe!

The boy is 36 years old today. We hope you are doing exactly what you want, where you want to be!

Valentine's Day

Emmy & Ally on their way to school. Thanks Grandma for the clothes!

You Tube can't own everything

Billie Joe, you are my hero! After announcing Pinhead Gunpowder would be playing 3 shows this year, Green Day fans flew in from around the country to see Billie and Jason go at it. The first 2 shows were apparantly bombarded with cameras and videos, and you tube went nuts with poor quality video, while I imagine a bunch of people stood around and taped the show, ignoring the music and atmosphere and memories. Finally, at the 3rd, and final show our dear Billie let everyone know how he felt:

"Speaking of memories. Uhm. How many people out there got digital cameras? And cell phones? Let’s put em away. You know what, You Tube can’t own everything, and its nice to have our own f**kin memories, *pointing to his head* something that goes into our brains, *pointing to his chest* and our hearts and our spirits. So we have this one opportunity, and let people misinterpret anything they f**kin want. I mean, f**k, ya know…"-Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie, you rock! How great was it for him to go back to the garage days in a smelly little club packed so tight you can't move, while the band on stage is singing their heart out. Unfortunately, I think he crossed over the threshold of 'too famous', and that blows. No wonder he refuses to take credit for Foxboro Hottubs. He's trying to make music for music sake, and everyone is trying to get the photo of the year.

No matter, Billie, we know your heart is in the right place. Maybe next time, you shouldn't announce the show, and have the crowd checked for camera phones!

Great Quotes

I wanted a place to put my favorite quotes, so here it is. Some inspire, some make you think, some are just rebellious, and some pure humor. I will be adding more brilliant snippets as I hear them.
1. Don't make me unleash the flying monkeys!
2. Everything good in life is fattening, illegal or immoral.
3. It ended for me when the wierd striptease started!
4. The world is spinning around & around out of control again.
5. Cheer up Emo kids!
6. Don't Insult the Alligator till after you cross the river.
7. Were it not for the Clash, punk would have been just a sneer, a safety pin and a pair of bondage trousers.
8. It is the eye of ignorance that assigns a fixed and unchangeable color to every object; beware of this stumbling block.
9. Nobody like you, everyone left you, they're all out without you, having fun!
10. There is no better investment than yourself!
11. Motor vehicle accidents aren't much fun for anyone. But when a 27-foot-long tube-steak spins out on a snow-covered highway, it's bound to generate some grins. (when the wiener mobile had an accident 2/12/08)
12. I'm the needle in the vein of society.

Please leave your own favorite quote in the comments!

Dolphin photo taken at Sea World, Orlando

Billie Joe is blond again

I don't know if this is a good thing, but I'm not one to judge hair color. Fotos from the Pinhead Gunpowder show February 1st in CA (it's a show when there are 200 people, a concert when there's thousands) show Billie sporting longer locks in blond. I know this may not be earth shattering news to you all, but in our house it makes our cornflakes a bit sweeter! There are some snippets from the show on you-tube, but just enough to really make me want to see them live again!!!

ps-If you've been following my hair color journey this year, we switched from Pink to blond for Christmas, so don't even think it!

I was tagged

Ok, I rarely do these, but here you go:
A. Four jobs that I have had in my life,,,
* Public Relations Manager
* SCUBA instructor
* line cook(desserts & salads)
* Asst. Manager in a record store

B. Four movies that I would watch over and over...
*The Notebook
*Bullet in a Bible
*Sound of Music (I turn it off b4 the Nazi part)
*Young Frankenstein

C. Four places I have lived.....
*Glenview, Illinois
*Upland, Ca
*Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
*Cozumel, Mexico

d. Four TV shows that I watch.....
*Biggest Loser
*Late Night with David Letterman
*Late late show with Craig Ferguson
*Survivor

E. Four places I have been on vacation
*Mexico
*Disney
*Sanibel Island
*South Carolina

F. Four people who email me regularly......
*Mom
*John
*Lynn
*Kim

G. Four of my favorite foods.....
*Crab Vermicelli from Bob Chin's
*Icy cold, raw oysters...bite size not big ones
*bloody as hell rib-eye (prime or choice only)with horseradish whipped cream!
*Banana split with real whipped cream, tons of hot-hot fudge, crunchy toasted nuts, just ripe bananas, and french or vanilla bean vanilla.

H. Four places I'd rather be right now.....
*Disney
*Greece
*Basking in the sun
*Hanging poolside with mom

I. Four things I would like to accomplish in the next four years....
*Get a job I love
*Get my artwork published
*Write a book
*Start my own business

Another year comes to an end

As this one closes, I'm thinking back to all that happened. Thank god I bought a camera in February, or I would have forgotten all the little events I snapped 'just because': making cookies instead of Valentine's for classmates in Preschool, Beginning Kindergarten, the first flower of Spring, the necessary leaf pile in Fall...

Nature and our interaction with it seems to be a theme of my photographs. This year I'm proud to say we switched from plastic bags to reusable canvas totes to help the environment, lowered our energy usage, and began to conserve water. Hopefully we'll embark on more planet-friendly habits in 2008!

As Allison helped co-pilot at Disney World this year, we are reminded It is a Small World, after all! We wish you all a happy, healthy, safe New Year!

Emily left me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a terrible week! My children are leaving home!

Emily went off to her 'new' school today without a hitch! I wasn't as teary as I thought I'd be, but we did the tears and little yellow school bus last year...which drained all emotion for a week and I know she's in a good place where they'll take great care of her! When I asked if she wanted to go to school, she stopped, smiled ear to ear and let out a sigh. She loves school, and I love it when she's happy! Have a good day princess!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Allison went to school

Ok, everyone told me parents cry the first time the kids get on a bus by themselves, but not me! I'm so excited NOT to have to drive in the rain, sleet, snow, ice. I get an extra hour a day to myself! No traffic, no getting dressed at the crack of dawn, no emergency stops at the gas station....

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....I'm such a mess! She ran down the driveway, her messenger bag behind her, and jumped on the bus without looking back! No hug, no 'bye mom', no wave...nothing. Joan, her driver, told her to turn around and wave, then up the stairs she went, buckled herself into a seat, the door closed and they left.....seriously left! Left me behind!

They grow so fast!

Adeline clothing is back!

Woo Hoo A&B are back in business! I have to say I've been getting anxious, hoping I wouldn't spend my 'back-to-school' clothes money before the site was up. Wait, you have no idea what I'm talking about do you?

Here's what they say about themselves:
"Adeline Street is the cooperative project of Billie Joe of Green Day, his wife Adrienne Armstrong, and Steady Clothing. Named after his record label, Adeline Records, the men's and women's alternative/punk inspired street-wear continues to take root and grow. Since it's debut in 2005 Adeline Street has been worn by many alternative spot-lighters in the music and film industry. From the militant/rebel design prints and cuts to the street punk styles, both men's and women's, Adeline Street continues to produce fresh ideas and unique apparel to fashion minded underground individuals."
I say they make great, fun, rock & roll clothes for the fashion minded 'punksters' out there...personally I think that's a huge contradiction, but I don't really care, I love their clothes and bands from their record label. They have great colors, fun graphics, and unmistakeable Skully! From skull caps to panties....don't you love to use the word panties...they simply rock, and carry clothes for kids! Sadly, the kids stuff isn't up yet, as I type this, the site just went live this afternoon, but I'm sure they'll have their kids line soon.

So, go get yourself some clothes the kids will envy and pay attention to the music! The current song playing is from a little-known band called The Network (nah, they just look and sound like Green Day, wink wink), The Living End (woo hoo Aussies), AFI (why do I always think AFI-liner?-thanks guys) and Jesse Malin to name a few.


I gotta go shopping, I was promised I'll look like this if I buy the panties!

(And an airbrush!)

a guilty pleasure

Go Dick!

Go Dani!

***********************

Dick won!!! woo hoo! I still think I would make for good Tv watching! hahaha

Back to school

Wow! I can't believe it's only a week away and my little darlings begin Kindergarden! From the first bus ride they will now begin to have vivid memories of school. It starts here! The first playground fight, the first detention, making friends, learning to read and write. It's amazing they are ready to go off into the world, on their own, without me to discover their own way. They will begin to find what makes them tick, what drives their creativity, what diversity the world offers. First love, first heartache, first report card, first forging of mom's signature. Where will the road lead? What will they become? Ah my little monkeys off you go. It's a huge day for you, but I think it's gonna be bigger for me.

Think! How to change a habit!

By now, everyone who knows me knows I HATE plastic bags!!! It's been almost 6 months since I made my own canvas bags for shopping, and they are holding up brilliantly! It took a bit to get used to keeping them in the car, and then to bring them into the store, but I finally have the new habit. For produce, although I feel bad watching dozens of apples rolling around on the counter as the checker tries to get them all on the scale at once...I don't bag my produce either. There is something fun about coming home with a big basket full of fruit and veggies, not covered in obnoxious, useless plastic bags!

To my dismay our local farmer's market is inundated in plastic bags too! Next time I go there, I will bring reuseable baskets for my berries! Not to mention a plastic bag is the fastest way to make puree out of yummy ripe raspberries!

During the LiveEarth concert, the Sundance Channel played a number of shorts regarding the environment. Here is the link to the short titled "How to change a habit" regarding plastic bags. I really encourage everyone to make your own bags, or if you can't sew, let me know! I'll only charge you materials and shipping. Hell, send me the material you want and I'll only charge shipping! It's a small thing we can do, but it is do-able for everyone!

Madeline

I originally posted this on the other blog back in early 2007. this story still sticks in my mind and makes me sick. If you know anything, please tell someone, send an anonymous note, do something. It is so sad when the ones that need our help the most are victimized!

*******************************

This story rips at my heart, if you know anything, please please please contact your local police, no matter what country you live in! It is rumored she is missing somewhere in Europe or Northern Africa. Her hair has probably been cut, but her right eye is very distinctive. She was abducted in Portugal almost 2 months ago, but believed to be alive. Possibly kidnapped my a pedophile ring or illegal adoption ring.

Allison in print again

Check out the "At Play" section of today's Chicago Tribune. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm told she's in there...maybe we should look into this 'child modeling' thing? I mean she's hit all the major papers and magazines locally, and I didn't even know? Then again, almost every child actor ends up in rehab, so maybe not.

Billie Joe & Elvis Costello "Allison"

The first album, YES ALBUM AS IN VINYL, I owned was Elvis Costello's Armed Forces. I still listen to it, and think what a brilliant songwriter he was and still is. Not to mention his tour last year 2006 was fantastic!!!
When I found out I was having twin girls, I knew I would name one Allison. I toyed with the idea of naming the other Veronica, but never really liked the name, so she became Emily, after my Grandmother.
I digress...So, the other day I'm playing around on Greendayauthority.com and what do I find? A video duet of Allison with Billie Joe! I sat Allison (an absolute Billie Joe fan) down to see the video, knowing she would like it and the strangest thing happened. As soon as it started she had a smile from ear to ear (she knows she was named after the song) BUT when they sang "Allison...." and Billie Joe looked right into the camera, she turned bright red and burried her head in my lap! I couldn't get her to look up until after the song ended, and asked her what was wrong??? There was a ton of nervous laughter, and finally she said "He sang to me. Billie Joe knows my name and he sang my song to me!" Since she's almost 5 I don't have the heart to tell her the truth. So Ally, this song is for you, afterall you were names after it!

Allison in print

Allison made it into Chicago Parent magazine with a 3/4 page color ad, for Kohl Children's Museum. I'm a proud mommy!

Working class hero

*Update* Here is the tape from the American Idol finale of Working class hero. I bathed in the joy of seeing the boys again, it didn't hit me until this morning how bizzarre to see them on such a pop show, but then read they weren't allowed to do it live.. hehehe, can't trust 'em eh? Allison played her guitar, while Emily sang and kicked.

The Official pre-recorded video, taped earlier this month, will debut on MTV Tuesday, May 29, and play every hour. Yeah!!!

The single is available and amazing!!! ...but don't be cruel and rip it off! The single is available on i-tunes now, and the entire cd, Karma: The Campaign To Save Darfur, sponsored by Amnesty International, will be released June 12th. BUY THIS CD once it hits the stores, download it when it becomes available. Green Day lend their talents to the latest efforts to help out raising money for Darfur with a cover of John Lenon's "Working Class Hero". It is fantastic, haunting, thought provoking and sobering. Billie Joe's voice echoes, as if pleading to help. I'd link to it here, but I believe in purchasing music, especially when a few pennies can help so many. Check out this link to a fun GD site Greendayauthority and a preview of the song. *Song contains profanity*