Category Archives: A Couple of Things…

A Couple of Things…

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The Predator (the cat, not my daughter Sydney)

The Predator (the cat, not Sydney)

1.  It’s the first day of June.  How did that happen?

2.  There’s something magical about that moment when two strangers acknowledge with “the head nod” that they both just saw something weird.

3.  Final grades for the semester in, I am jazzed to report that I am maintaining the “A” average.

4.  Sydney Rose’s final grades in, 3 A’s and 2 B’s.  She killed her semester in Culinary Arts at Santa Barbara City College.  But I may be more pleased with the fact that she now makes some pretty awesome bread from scratch!

5.  I struggle internally when I see people support someone they know behaves poorly to another or others.  I understand there is such a thing as freedom of choice, but unfortunately it shows their true colors.    It makes me a bit sad. No, make that disappointed.

6.  I hate to use public bathroom facilities when there’s a woman in another stall speaking on her cell phone. I get gun shy. She could be speaking to George Clooney for all I know!  TMI?

7.  I saw a book recently called, “Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making you Fat.”  So I guess I’m allergic to Cake, French Fries, Doughnuts, Bread and Snickers candy bars.  Who knew!

8a.  I so rolled my eyes when I found out recently that Sydney Rose had her grandpa come over to handle a “HUMONGOUS” moth the cat had been batting around in the house.
8b.  Glad Grandpa was around to handle the lizard the cat dragged in this week.
8c.  The recent baby snake eating incident was hard to witness.
8d.  Sydney and I have decided that the cat is NOT offering up gifts to us when she brings in the occasional bird, Humongous moth, lizard or baby snake.  If she were, she’d leave them for us.  Instead, she maims, tortures, and then devours her prey.
8e.  We may have to feed the cat more often.

9.  My friend just went in for reconstructive surgery after her mastectomy earlier this year. Now just recovery time.

10.  Ventura Music Week is less than a week away now.  It’s all a volunteer activity.  No one is profiting.  Actually, I think our community is profiting.  This year will be solid.  Next year off the hook!!!

11.  From my Favorite Facebook Posts file:  “Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.”  Jack Handrey

Thanks for listening.

A Couple of Things…

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Eve, Me and Kat with members of Mandex

Eve, Me and Kat with members of Mandex

1. I’ve been holding my breath waiting on my final grades for the semester.  Why are they so important?  Why do I place so much value in them.  Either I know the material or I don’t.  It really should be pass or fail, no?  Education is a privilege I don’t take lightly.

2.  So far, I got an “A” in Photography.  Neener Neener Neener!!!

3.  Another semester done.  It always feels slightly weird that I no longer have to encorporate studying into my regular schedule.  Kind of afraid my mind will turn to mush.  But it’s funny how time is like a vaccuum.  I clear up four nights of school, and immediately it’s filled with webwork.

4.  As you can tell by the photo above, I’ve been working very hard on making this music scene happen here in Ventura.  It’s really a tough gig to have sometimes!

5.  When asked what my favorite decade of music is, I’m always quick to say the 90s. But after seeing Mandex (above), I’m leaning towards the 80s more and more.  Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, the Crue.    Good times!

6.  I’ve been putting in mucho hours toward making Ventura Music Week a success this year.  But I have to be honest, I’m so tired of whiners!!!!!

Oh wait…Was I just whining?

7.  I’ve been crazy busy.

8.  I recently had the singer of a band come up to me as I sat at a wine bar, he seranade me as he rocked me gently with his arms around me from behind.   I was very flattered until I heard he was a player…then not so much.

9.  I’m proud to say I’ve never read “50 Shades of Grey”.

10.  My father was hospitalized recently for dehydration while away on vacation in another state.  It wasn’t critical by any means, but there is nothing worse than feeling helpless.

11.  Today is Memorial Day:  “We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them.” — Francis Amasa Walker.  WORD

12.  From my Favorite Facebook Posts file:  Audrey Hepburn quote from the movie “Charade”:     “I don’t bite, you know…unless it’s called for.”

Thanks for listening.

A Couple of Things…

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Mother's Day dinner with Nancy, Dad, Syd Rose, me, and Staci Brown

Mother’s Day dinner with Nancy, Dad
Syd Rose, me, and Staci Brown

1.  Mother’s Day was great fun. Felt the love for sure!

2.  I hate falling for someone’s social veneer.

3.  Alright, I admit it.  I love a man in a uniform!

4.  If a cup of coffee costs $2.00 and the same sized cup of hot chocolate costs $1.50, then how come a cup of half coffee and half hot chocolate cost $2.50?  When a coffeehouse charges me more than $2.00 for the combo, I never return. EVER!!!

5.  VenturaRocks.com is really becoming a mover and a shaker here in Ventura.  Plus I have to admit, I love the hugs I get when I go out.

6.  I’m in the middle of finals.  I have just two this semester.  One down, one to go.  Confidence level remains moderate.

7.  I hate being mean, even when it’s warranted.  But sometimes you have to let the other person know enough is enough.  It still leaves my stomach in knots.

8.  When I was married, Chris and I started what we affectionately called, “The-Kevin-Costner-Movies-That-Matter video collection”.  Really, the only ones that really continue to matter in my book are Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, both about baseball, odd.

9.  I’m now on a quest to spot my first owl in the wild.

10.  I’m not a fan of the accordian.

11.  From my “Favorite Facebook Posts” file:  “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!  Hell, who am I kidding? I hope you fall down the fucking stairs too.”  Yeah, it’s been one of those weeks.

A Couple of Things…

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Last year’s Bike-to-Work day

1.  Bike-to-Work week starts Monday!!!

2.  Is saving $20 worth it for a used wet suit, knowing someone most likely has peed in it? The gal at Play it Again Sports said, “Well you can wash it!”

3.  Mother’s Day has always been a tad bittersweet for me because I miss my mother so much, on the other hand as a Mother I get to celebrate being Sydney Rose’s mom, which has been the greatest adventure of my life.

4.  I absolutely love the sound of a basketball swishing through a metal net. Especially those 3-pointers!

5.  I wrote a blog for VenturaRocks.com on The Worth of an Artist and was promptly attacked for supporting RAW which does in fact require their Artists to sell tickets to their events. I’m going on the record as saying that RAW actually offers a great service when done correctly to all artists. And I’ve heard nothing but great things about our Ventura chapter. That being said, I’ve asked Sara from RAW to remove VenturaRocks.com from their posters because technically it is Pay-to-Play. We’re still listing RAW, just not a sponsor now.

6. The other morning at work as I was trying to wrap my mind around why Sergio Albarran listens to Hall and Oates all the time, I asked him how old he was and he said 27. It just doesn’t make sense! And then he said and I quote, “Hall and Oates are gangster.” Life is a mystery. Some things are just not meant to be understood.

7.  Just learned that Hall and Oates are playing the Ventura Fair this year.

8.  I found an old aircheck from when I worked weekends on B95.1. No comment.

9.  All spiders are Brown Recluses to me

10.  I’m not a big fan of Westerns, western music or rodeos. But man, certain cowboys make me swoon!

11.  From my “Favorite Facebook Posts” file:  “When one door closes, another one opens. Or you could just open the closed door, that’s how they work.”

Thanks for listening.

A Couple of Things…

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Playing with lifesized Tonka Toys

Playing with life-sized Tonka Toys

1. There are few things worse than giving up on a person you really care about.

2. Being served dinner by handsome firemen has been added to my Highlights in My Life file.  Thanks again Christine!

3. I love hot weather, hot salsa, and a hot man.  Definitely not in that order.

4. We have a small-time business entity here in Ventura County that has done nothing successful, continues to steal ideas from their competitors and undermine the efforts of those who are trying to make this music scene happen by serving their own self-interests.    You know who you are.  We do too.

5. I’ve never been a fan of Starbucks.  Instead, I support the mom & pop doughnut shop whenever possible.  The only problem is getting out without a doughnut…with maple frosting, or crumb on raised glazed, or an old-fashioned, or double chocolate cake, or…

6. WARNING!!! Flashback moment:  That moment when it hits you in the fifth grade.  You still have a minimum of seven more years to go.

7. Can you believe, I use to hate sports?

8.  I get that I need to get the mechanics down for taking a good picture, but I find my photos suffer when my attention is on how…instead of what.  I shoot what inspires me.  I do know in the long run that I will be a better photographer once the basic are second nature and again, I’m shooting what inspires me.

9. My next photo assignment is simply entitled “Addiction”.   Crazy fun!  Not.

10. If someone “friended me” and then they never comment, like or post…it kind of feels like they’re a creeper, no?  Of course, one has to consider that they may have a life and rarely check in on Facebook.

11. I worked in Construction Management for a couple of years and towards the end of one of the jobs we were overseeing, the Construction Foreman asked if I would like to try out  one of the big pieces of equipment.  I was floored!!!  Of course I jumped at the chance. It was amazing! (see photo above)

12. Sometimes the rumors are true! So often when I attend a festival of music I’ll hear rumors that “so and so” is expected to show up and jam. I had heard the rumors earlier in the week and because of past disappointments, I gave this one no weight. It was Moorpark College for Christ’s sake!  Well this past Saturday at the Ventura County Blues Festival, George Thorogood was heard to be on the grounds, and did in fact join Johnny Rivers on stage for about four songs. Too cool.

13. From my “Favorite Facebook Posts” file:  “Due to the recent budget cuts, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.”  author unknown.

Thanks for listening.

A Couple of Things…

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Boys playing in the ocean.

1. Saturday in Ventura was picture perfect!  Sunshine, Earth Day celebrations along the promenade at the beach.  Boys playing in the ocean (see photo above), music at the fairgrounds. Marty Party up at the ranch behind Two Trees.  Life is good!

2. Ventura has so much amazing talent. VenturaRocks.com is doing our share of helping to promote this scene.  Now we just need to get more people out supporting it!

3. I saw fireflies in person (in flies?) for the first time in my life five years ago in Louisiana.  They are freakin’ cool.  I thought Disney was pulling my leg on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride all these years.

4. From my “Little Did They Know” file:  I’m a sucker for sardines on saltines with onions.

5. I’ve never had a fast food drive-thru error in my favor.

6. I love music and I love live radio, but I especially love that sense of community when the two come magically together once in a blue moon.  The staff, from the owner to the PD to the on-air crew definitely have to share that vision.  I was lucky to be a part of one once.

7. On the flip-side, I don’t like corporate radio shoving their playlist down your throat.  I don’t like voice tracks. I’ve been unlucky to be a part of one once..for about three months. Sucked the life out of me.

8. WARNING!!!  Flashback moment:   I have to say, I really miss eating Trix and watching Bugs Bunny on Saturday mornings.

9. Clipper Nation Baby!!!

10. From my “Favorite Facebook Posts” file::  “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

A Couple of Things…Boston Marathon Bombing

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Ventura, CA Pier

               Ventura, CA, Pier

1. When something horrendous and unthinkable occurs and I start to lose my trust in humanity, I know then at that point it more important than ever to find the good in the world and rejoice in that; otherwise the enemy wins.

2. Now let’s get that mofo.

3. I’ve been seeing some of the worst images imagineable from the Boston Marathon bombing, and I’ve been seeing some of the most heroic patriotic images as well.  I’m preserving the latter in my psyche.

4. I’ve always wanted to, and it’s been on my To-Do List, but now more than ever I’m determined to visit Boston.

5. Beware and defeat them:  Fear mongers are everywhere.  And they’re not just the blatant terrorist, but they are the neighbor who points out everything that is bad in their community, yet doesn’t lift a finger to help; they are the media who thrive on bad news and roll that footage over and over again; they are the politician who feeds on citizen fears; they are the friend, co-worker or acquaintance who is forever critical and negative; they are plenty and they are abound.  Do not succumb.  Spot them, then feed them zero energy.

6. Patton Oswalt is one of my new heros.  He wrote this on the very day of the Boston Marathon bombing: https://www.facebook.com/pattonoswalt/posts/10151440800582655

7. Set a good example.  Be the change.  All those small things you do to help?  I notice them.  They make a difference.

A Couple of Things…

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Me and Staci Brown

Me and Staci Brown

1. On my last “A Couple of Things” post I mentioned I hadn’t met Mr. Right, but that I had met Mr. Married.  Cute story really.  Mr. Married is not a Friend on my Facebook page, but I see him from time to time in the community because he is a musician.  He sat down one evening at my table and said, “I’d like to take you out to dinner,” then he added, “Once I get a divorce.”  I was speechless.  He doesn’t even know me, he’s still married and he’s lining up dates?  Ok, maybe not such a cute story.

2. Happy Birthday Staci Brown!  (See picture above)

3. You know, I thought surviving Valentine’s Day was a big deal.  That was nothing.  Try surviving Staci Brown’s birthday!!

4. Yeah Baby!  Clippers swept the Lakers 4 out of 4. That’s four burritos from my man Sergio at work.  Clipper Nation Baby!!

5. I have outlived my mother by almost 15 years.  That just blows my mind.

6. Being a civil servant in this climate is quite the challenge.  Isn’t it weird that people who choose to serve their community become targets of all things wrong with government?   A simple thank you would be nice every now and then.

7. I thought hash marks only applied to Twitter #DumbAsses

8. I can’t roll my R’s.  I really suck at being mexican.

From my Favorite Facebook Posts file:

“The biggest coward is a man who awakens a woman’s love with no intention of loving her.”  I was surprised and grateful it was a man who said this, and a very cool one:  Bob Marley.

A Couple of Things…

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Pam and Tina, 4th of July

Pam and Tina, 4th of July

(Originally posted on Facebook April 5, 2013)

1. No, I haven’t met Mr. Right yet, but I have met Mr. Married, Mr. Crazy, Mr. I’m-old-enough-to-be-your-father, and, Mr. I’m young-enough-to-be-your-son;  all, by the way, very nice men.

2. I’m a sucker for babies, puppies and Lemon Drop martinis.  Not necessarily in that order.

3. I have recently been invited to a friend’s home for an intimate dinner for eight where dinner will be served by firemen.  Have I mentioned that I love my friends?

4. Looking back and sharing some stories with Sydney from time to time, I know that I am one lucky son-of-a-bitch.  I survived my youth!  I did some really stupid
things…95% of which still makes me smile.

5. My email was hacked this week.  Bastards! Looks like they sent out an email from me to anyone and everyone I have ever emailed or replied to before.  So
they didn’t email to just my Contacts List.  I really tried to send out a warning email to not click on link.  Sorry about that!

6. On the up-side, it was nice to hear back from people I hadn’t corresponded with in years!

7. Okay, now it’s getting ridiculous; I’m not even allowed to speak during the Vampire Diaries.  Like they’re going to miss some trite dialogue that will alter the course of history or something.

8. Is there really such a thing as a GOOD cry?  I’d rather just be happy.

9. The only celebrity that I couldn’t look in the eye when I met him was Gavin Rossdale from Bush.  He was one good looking man!  Which leads  to my next item…

10. Matt Cooper, may he Rest in Peace, made it a quest to get me to say “I love Bush” on-the-air.   Of course he was referring to the band.  He was trying to record it and use it as a  “drop in” during his morning show to be taken completely out of context… Yeah, he was devious that way.  You had to love him!

11. From my “Favorite Facebook Posts” file:   “It’s OK to disagree with me.  I can’t force you to be right.”

This photo is of myself and Tina Bettiol, my old roommate when I lived in Fullerton.  This is in my dad’s backyard in Whittier, CA, on the 4th of July.  I think we were around 23 years old.

A Couple of Things…March 30, 2013

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Self Portrait

Self Portrait

(Originally posted on Facebook, March 30, 2013)

1. Happy Easter!

2. Every year around Easter, buying a bag of jelly beans seems like a good idea for about 10 minutes after I eat the first one. Then, not so much.

3. Peeps are only as good as they’re stale.

4. I kind of miss hiding Easter eggs for Sydney Rose and then never ever remembering where we hid them all.   Good times.

5. Speaking of Syd Rose, I’m sorry to report that my daughter has been sucked into the Vampire Diaries. Much more unfortunate is that Staci Brown has too.

6. Back down to three women in one household…but if you include the cat and dog, we’re actually five.

7. I’ve made my Facebook page private, only for my Friends.  I don’t know why.  It’s not like I have any, make that much to hide.

8. Could you imagine dating a person who never listens to music?  I had a hard time just typing out that sentence!

9. From my “Favorite Facebook Posts file”:
“A smart woman knows how to love, but an intelligent woman knows who to love.”
I’m shooting to be intelligent someday soon!

Working on my self-portrait.  I don’t even have to actually be in the shot, but it is suppose to represent who I am or what I love.  Did this one today.