My Heart is Racing

So yeah just in case you were wondering I work downtown and I love it.  There's a lot that goes on downtown at lunch and after work but today I just read something that put me a little over the moon about being at work downtown this summer.  Cars & Guitars  -finally a reason to care about IndyCar -a music festival that is showcasing some of the best Rockabilly acts around.

The act I'm most excited about is Hillbilly Casino.  Crazily enough I first heard them on Lisa Freemont Street's You Tube Channel but there is also going to be Los Straitjackets, Lee Rocker, Paul Pigat & Cousin Harley, The Pontani Sisters, Alberta locals  Eve Hell, and Raygun Cowboys and the best part is it is all free!  If I didn't live here I'd be jealous. 

I live walking distance from it all (read I can stumble home no parking problems, no DD issues).  All in all it kind of made a rather bland Friday extra special and I can't wait for things to get going.  Right now the Works is on in the Square but coming up is my next favorite festival because it is all the local restaurants out in the Square making me mini lunch things!  Eek summer you are finally here!

Dear Internet

Dear Internet - it is time I confess.  I have been collecting dishes like a mad woman for a while now.  It started as harmless browsing and progressed into hmmm I need to have a dinner party to justify this collection.

So, I'm coming clean.  I the Scarlet Slpper collect Franciscan Oasis and yes I think it is cooler than Starburst.  Please feel free to go and buy all the pieces I am stocking on ebay I don't need anymore.  Except the crescent plates -would sell my baby sister for some more crescent plates.  I think if Franciscan hadn't designed crescent plates I might never have started collecting the dishes in the first place -not to mention the giant coffee cups, those spoon rests, that covered casserole dish...can I get a Hallelujah?  Jimbo?

My dream is someday I will live in house with coved celings and a built-in china cabinet and there will live my Oasis and my Eva Zeisel Harlequin (opps you aren't supposed to know about that) we will eat off of everyday except well you know the extra minty things those I will keep in the cabinet for holidays ;)

Did I mention that Oasis can go in the dishwasher and micro?  Incidentally, that's what  made me give up on the Zeisel well that and I could never win any at a reasonable price.  So yeah I never wanted china.  I never cared about dishes I thought pottery was for hippies but then a I saw Oasis and am going to have to rid myself of my magazine collection so I can justify lugging around these dishes for the rest of my life.  Don't tell anyone okay?  And avert your eyes or refer me to a 12 step dish program in my area :)

Travel Log Part 2

Post script to Saturday.  On Saturday I got asked to dance by a guy named Jose he was drench in sweat but friendly enough.  I think it was a bet to see if I would and normally I would have jumped at the chance regardless but my feet were killing me from standing on my new shoes.  However, he convinced me and then was sorry as I kind of blew him away.  It was fun and funny and since I am recording this for my own senility I thought I better not forget that detail.

Sunday.  On Sunday things were calmer on Sunday and slightly melancholy as approaches the end but those who remain really area all about the music and this is a good thing.  I had been waiting for Sunday because I wanted to see Kim Lenz more than anything and I really enjoyed the All Stars last year and was excited to see what this year held.

K. wanted to get out so we got up on Sunday and went to the Strip.  We visited the gardens at the Bellagio and loitered about Caesar's Place before returning in time for a retro slide show tour of DisneyLand! with Charles Phoenix it was awesome and made me green at the thought of being able to visit Disneyland as day trip kind of attraction.  Living in Canda it is the story of most kids elementary school lives to get to go to Disneyland.

Next up was the jiving contest.  It was packed in the ballroom but I found a place to capture the scene -however the energy seemed to be kind of stalled. It was not at all what I was expecting but from what I understand things this year were rather atypical and that usually it is more exciting.  The couple who won were super cute though and we saw them later when we came downstairs to see Kim Lenz.

That night I wanted to be comfortable so I put on my good old black halter dress and some sparkly accessories.  We were meeting up with a guy we met on Friday night but he was way more interested in talking to K than me so I was mostly worried about getting downstairs late.  However, we were early and K. was less than impressed but it was all worth it.  Kim Lenz is as awesome in person as she is on her CDs and look at that cute skirt!

Next up were the All Stars which was MC'd by Big Sandy. I was thrilled to hear Clyde Stacy sing Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor, Al Hendrix looked cool in his fedora and I really enjoyed seeing Young Jessie, and Roddy Jackson.  The thing that made it even better though was all these performers were back by what they call the "house band" which also includes some of the best players in the hotel that weekend all of whom appeared to be as excited and happy as the crowd.  It was cool to see Deke Dickerson playing saxophone (like what can't he play), Ashley Kingman, Bobby Trimble from the Fly-Rite boys up there as well .  I was pretty wore out though at this point and closed up shop at this point in favor of getting some rest.

Monday, was gorgeous but my feet were in severe need of rehab at this point.  I did a pretty good job of not getting them blistered (I am predisposed to this) but it was like they had carpet burn or something.  I had soaked them in cold water in the hotel room but that didn't help enough.  The real solution came when I put on my new favorite summer sundress and headed down to the pool where after finding a shady spot in the deserted paradise I soaked my feet in the lovely cool water for the better part of an hour waiting for K to come downstairs.  It seems she was not feeling well though and never made it.  I had been all set to do some power shopping that day but in the end we ended up going back to the strip late in the day and seeing the northern part of the strip up to about Circus Circus where it gets all creepy.  From there we caught the bus and I finally got to see Freeemont Street! which was awesome we stopped on the way back to get some food and made it back to the hotel at last to crawl done the long hallway one more time.

We checked out and left for home the next AM.

Travelogue VLV 14

So finally this is what I did on my trip to Vegas.

This year I stayed at the Orleans from Wednesday to Tuesday AM with my friend K.  The flight was uneventful we went through customs in Vancouver this year which was different and flew with Air Canada instead of Alaskan Airlines (last year).  We arrived Wednesday and took the shuttle from the airport to the hotel.  All was fairly quiet and we went down to Brendan's for a drink before calling it a night -this was not my preference but I played along.  We faced out to the strip from the 18 floor which was awesome but our room was pretty much at the end of the hall and it was a long trip to our room from the elevator.

Thursday morning we took the bus out and about as I did not rent a car this year.  We went to Trader Joes and Target and I got Hot Sticks finally as I had not been able to locate them in Canada.  Waiting for the bus however I sunburned my purse straps into my arms.  It took a while but we got our supplies for the week and we were glad to get back to the hotel.  Las Vegas is incredibly windy and this year it was also hot.  K. really wanted to do some outlet mall shopping since she was low on summer clothes so we then headed over to the mall.  I did not enjoy this part of the trip but I owed it to her to as she was a sport about staying at a hotel that was completely over run with people. 

When we finally got back to the room K. was wiped out but we got our wristbands and looked around at the vendors and then I walked her back to the room and got dressed up.  I decided to wear jeans my first night and a pink western shirt.

I didn't intend on seeing them but I got upstair in time to see Pacho Jose -I was really in awe of how many people were on stage it was a sight to behold.  I then headed over to Bienville and caught Lauren Marie who I really enjoyed she was backed by the Horton Brothers so that was also cool.  I can't remember if I saw anything after that though because I was pretty burnt out from all the activities earlier in the day.

Friday arrived and I was excited to go and get our tickets for the Burlesque Show.  I had breakfast in the room and was ready to roll.  The line up was insane and wound around the casino and out the doors by the pool but in the end we got in to the show we wanted to see and all was well.  After we got our tickets we got some refreshments (K was all about the pre-mixed Clamato & Beer and I found the most delicious pina colada mixed drink at the Coast Liquor store which we ended up making a regular stop).  Next on the agenda was the movie Deuce of Spades - I picked doing this because I knew K would never be up for the Jiving Class.  It the movie was okay and very cool that it was done all independantly but I would also like to mention that the theatre had some of the best real butter popcorn I've had in my life and we used our coupon so it was a super deal and they had refills!

Next up was The Charles Phoenix slideshow it was awesome.  I caught it last year by accident on Sunday and was determined not to miss it this year as it is the funniest most relaxing thing to do at Viva.  Shortly after that I ran back to the room we got ready and headed for the Burlesque Show.  It was my first time seeing the Show and K. was excited to catch it.  I must admit it was very entertaining and I was glad we made time for it. 

After that we caught part of the Medallions, Jessie and the Orbits,  Joe Bennett, Big Sandy, and the a bit of the Sureshots & Ezra Lee before retiring.

Saturday was another big day and I was not about to slow down.  I got out to the car show around 10 and went through the vendors and came back to have lunch with K. then we went back out to the cars we came back in just before 2 and caught Cash O'Riley (who's CD I bought), and Jinx Jones both acts were a welcome retreat from the afternoon heat.  After that I rested for a bit before hurrying out to see Jerry Lee and capture a few more pictures before heading to Deke's Guitar Geek Show.  Jerry Lee was awesome and it was truly the coolest thing to be there to hear him in person -he definitely still has it.  Deke's show was hilarious and awesome it was cool to see the different performers and guitars and it was something I regretted missing last year.  After that though I didn't get back to the shows until it was time for the Roy Kay Combo.  I was really sad I missed Gizzelle but alas there's really only so much you can fit in a day and Saturday was my fancy dress day so I felt like I need some time to shower & dressed after all the car show dirt and sunscreen. 

After Roy Kay it was back to the main showroom to catch Deke Dickerson and what I can only call the crazy hooligans.  It was amazing and hilarious.  Then came the Caezars who's music was great and who it was cool to see around the hotel all weekend but I must admit I like better on CD than I did live.  I think it is because one of my favorite things is how much performers normally smile and these guys don't (except for the drummer) they reminded me of a Morissey album cover with all the posturing going on but hey the music is great and they are all young so cool if you are not old like me ;)

I will follow up with Sunday later and maybe some of the odds and ends I bought.  The collapsible cooler was awesome I think next year I might bring two as it will leave more room for random things and beverages.  This is me on Saturday in my favorite dress of the weekend and the gold shoes I bought on a whim for $30 from a vendor that day!

Flashback

I have wanted to post but things have been a little out of whack with me since I got home from Viva.  We flew back on Tuesday and after arriving home I set about connecting with my best friend who I had been texting all through my adventures in LV.  We have been friends since we were in our teens and his mom was told she was terminal right before I left.  They had given a timeline but it turned out to be wrong and the day I came back she passed away.

It is hard to explain but it really knocked the wind out of me.  She was an adult that I spent a lot of time when I was transitioning into the real world.  We both got jobs at grocery stores in the same year and while I was best friends with her kids it never seemed to wrong that she was my friend too.  A fun loving, bright personality that seemed unlikely to ever diminish.  So that's where I've been - went with another friend on the 13 hour drive to her funeral on the coast a week after Viva.  Then came back and had to say good-bye my best local gal pal as her husband got restationed to Ontario.  I have not been myself but things are getting back to normal and I intend on capturing my Viva travelogue soon.

In other news I was thinking about CDs today after reading the Rockabilly Socialite's post and it made me smile and wonder to think back on when my tastes were more easy to find and that lead me directly to Columbia Records & Tapes 13 for 1 cent plus bonus plus this and that and 7 purchases of $20 for a crappy tape later you might be done with your membership but don't forget to mail in that card every month!  I must now admit that I was a member into the early 90s and it is actually where I got my first Social D tape -yes it was a tape.  As things progressed though they had less and less to offer me and so after replacing my favorite tapes with CDs I eventually forgot all about them.

I bought an Ipod photo in 2005 and this lead me to finally putting my music on the computer but I've never been much for buying music online as it just seems annoying and pointless.  I now have a Ipod nano which I bought last year (the one with the video camera & radio but no touch screen 'cause my fingers are dead) but I still proudly buy CDs and display them proudly in my shelves beside my stereo that has a CD player still.

Columbia probably still exists and quite frankly I don't think I ever would have been able to afford my music collection start up costs without them but thinking about explaining what it was (and how the ads were in every magazine you picked up to my 13 year old niece) made stop and consider how things have changed and yeah I guess I'm old but hey I never had any 8-tracks so take it easy on me okay ;)