Friday, October 31, 2003

the .mp3 / .mpga problem

Hey there - if any of you (like me) have had some problems listening to mp3's online - such as:

• When you Save Target As.. it tries to save it as an .mpga file instead of a .mp3 file
• When you click an .mp3 file it downloads it to a temporary folder, but than gives an error message saying "Can't find specified file"

Then, here's your solution!!

I've been wrestling w/ this for awhile and finally today decided to take some time to fix it & thought I'd share my results w/ you. First I'm on Windows XP and usually listen to music in the Real One Player, which I really like for the most part except for these problems.

The first problem (.mpga instead of .mp3) was solved by updating my Real One Player to the newest version (v.2). If you use the Real One Player and think you need to upgrade, here's how you can check for updates. If you don't have it and want to download it for the first time, click here to download the free player (hit cancel if you need to select the mac version instead).

If you're having the 2nd problem where you click on an MP3 and after it downloads it, it gives you the cursid "Cannot find the clip" error message... then all that's happening is your Temporary Files folder is jam packed*. Just go into internet options & under the General tab, hit "Delete Files". Or here's Real's support answer for the problem (their way is a round about way getting to the same panel via the Real player)

Also in the I.E. (internet explorer) options, you can change your settings for temporary files. I just lowered mine down to 300MB... I'm not sure if that will help or hurt me... either way before it was at 615MB and I can see how that would bog down my system a little as it got full!!

* You also may find you can no longer "View Source" on web pages if your temp files folder is full.

I was testing mp3's on these pages if you wanna try it out to see what your system does...
The Unicorns, Jellybones MP3 here:
http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~abatko/unicorns/music/

and the "Slow Night" .mpu on Metric's site here:
http://www.ilovemetric.com/music.html (don't try the first couple songs, they don't seem to be working due to their site error)

Hope this helped some of you! :) If you want some other "How to maintain my PC" basic clean up info < read that article. It's not the best, but a good basic start for any of you who are total newbies to keeping your PC in tip top form.

happy halloween!!

I should be posting some spooky little goblin character (I'll work on that). Actually I should be carving pumpkins already did that, eating punkin pie and maybe even *binging* on those delicious mellowcreme pumpkins... those are my favorite.

Instead I'm just writing to say, Trick or Treat! (vargas girls style, mind you)

::::::
while I'm posting Vargas girls work, check out J-Lo!
Esquire has a nice site - there's a lot of beautiful photos in this section. I love Kirsten Dunst, Britney Spears (hot!) & and Charlize Theron, too.

Somehow I think I'm off the topic. Anyway - happy halloween!

here's my pumpkin from last year - he's scared of all the other pumpkins!!



and for a repeat - here's my punkin from this year's punkin carving party!

Thursday, October 30, 2003

gifts from the *oh my gawds*

I was STOKED to get a few very *AWESOME* gifts lastnight...

Ya know how I posted about those Vinyl CD-R's? Well, I was surprised lastnight with a whole set! wahooo!! Not to mention the new Mando Diao CD and Ted Leo, too! Damn.... Life is so so good. :)

Lastnight's BAM meeting went great - we had a sushi rolling party!! I did a huge shopping spree at Sunset Market in Irving and got us lots of fresh tuna, seaweed, cucumber, avocado, miso soup and more! We even had edamame, too! I thought the rice came out horribly myself (toooo sticky), but they all loved it so much! yay!! It was a total hit - and now I can't wait to make it again as no doubt I'll be better than lastnight. Any respectable sushi lover would have laughed at mine big time! But thats kinda the cool thing about sushi - it's hard to mess it up & it's still so tasty!

Afterwards we hit the Hizz (?) for Dealership. Jee, Berndt, MJ, Rick & I all went to check em out. We know Chris & Jane - and I had seen Chris play in his other band, Citizens Here & Abroad, but hadn't yet seen this one, with Jane as the lead singer. It was good, but different than I expected - I think I thought Jane was much more of a front woman in it - louder w/ more presence - but instead Chris Groves (the other lead singer, also in Citizens) really was more the front man. But Jee said Jane wasn't feeling that well after just getting back from NYC... so it's possible that another show would be different.

The Like Young opened and they were really good & so cute! A couple - the guy was the lead guitar/singer and the girl was backup & BANGED on the drums somethin fierce! It was fun.

Alright.... I'm off to take a walk now & hit the P.O. before 5pm (hoping I don't freeze on the way over there). Then I'm off to the first Halloween party of the weekend. Well not sure what I'm doing tomorrow night actually.. part of me wants to bag all the hurry-think-of-a-costume-quick-and-then-go-to-a-party-only-to-deal-with-mass-crowds-of-crazy-people and just go to a movie instead.

But tonite should be fun... Kat & I are finally meeting Jason! It's about time! :)

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

music list updated

Hey you music lovin babes and hotties (and the rest of you stinkers too), I just updated the [local] music list on the left. Not everything playing here locally, mind you - just live music that I've chose I'd like to go see - and I'll probably be going to most of them, actually! It's a jam packed music month! Well.. I guess last month was too.. and next month. Oh alright - it's all I do!! eat. sleep. design. go see live music. (and a little laughing, drinking and petting my kitty, too)

Remember you can also look at all the events on the calendar too...

Now I'm off to get some stuff for tonite's BAM meeting.... we're having a sushi rolling party!! It's practically my first time - I'm nervous about the rice!! Actually I'm most nervous about leaving here at 4 to get everything bought & there by 6 - eek! BYE!

Homepage stretch...

I downloaded Mozilla (a new browser replacing netscape, for those of you who don't know) yesterday & realized my homepage is all whacked out on it, stretching like 105% or something ... I'm thinkin it has something to do with the PHP Include - my friend said it wasn't like that on her netscape/mac before, but it is now, so maybe it's one of my recent posts is tweaking things out...

I've tried making all the table widths exact, but that's not doin it either - so it must be the include/recent post thing - but what!? you all have any idea whats up?

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

JP in da house!!!!!!

My friend Johnny CRACKS ME UP!!!! I mean, I got a few emails about my "injury" - but this one takes the cake!!

Johnny writes me this morning saying, "wow, I think I saw that movie" (view movie poster)

and then check out this awesome VIDEO of me at the Peaches concert! (2.6MB, quicktime) haaa!!!!!!!

I'm totally *ROLLING* - laughing out loud over here. That's just classic!

Monday, October 27, 2003

a whole new meaning to the term "fuzzy pants"

Oh my gawd - I want one of these RIGHT NOW!!

kazoobie and his box

I can't recall what came in this box - but Kazoo loooooooves boxes. Plus this one had all these crumpled up newspapers in it and he just loves diggin around in there, like he's looking for burried treasure. I took these a couple weeks ago & am finally posting them. Kazoo has been long overdue for some blog lovin :) I have some videos of him freakin out on the box too - I'll get around to posting those at some point & letcha know.

weekend update (w/ photos!)

The Peaches show was OFF THE HOOOOOOK!!!!!!! It was crazy fun. We were 2nd row - and the crowd was sooo nuts, we were soooo squeezed in and everyone was pushin to get closer - it was almost moshing (moshing with tons of agro sexual energy!!!) I even have a bruised foot to show for it! aww yaa!



We came out DRENCHED in sweat from head to toe - no lie. Hair was soaked, everything. It was KICK ASS!!!!!

Saturday night we went & saw Ben Lee & Phantom Planet. You've GOT to check out Phantom Planet - they are soooooo good!!! Great live too - totally rockin & the lead singer (who's so hot) totally crowd surfed - still singing!! - all the way back through the crowd. It was awesome. Also - in case any of you are wondering... Jason Schwartzman is no longer the drummer. However, we didn't know that before the show & I totally thought the guitarist was him - and my friends thought the new drummer was him... HA! Anyway - apparently he's pursuing his acting FT instead... which is fine cuz they definitely can hold their own!! They rock!

Punkin Carving 2003

Lastnight we went over to Jane's & carved punkins!!! Jane is such a lil' Martha Stewart... she grilled up some delicious veggies: zucchini, pumpkin and butternut squash, and served a yummy spiced cider too! We had so much fun carving punkins... check em out!



awww yaa, let's hear it for ROCK-N-ROLL BABY!!!!!

Mr. T's lookin pretty tough huH!? The resemblance is striking!

We were all shakin in our boots!!

Well, except for "The Punk-ins" cuz they were busy rockin so damn hard!!!



update: photos posted

Sunday, October 26, 2003

reviews in review

Ok, so I owe you (err, am compelled to eventually write) reviews of the 2 shows I just went & saw: Friday night's RAAAAAAAWK HARD Peaches show (insert one more OH MY GAWD here) and a review of lastnight's AWESOME show: Ben Lee/Phantom Planet (who I'm in LOVE with now).

However, fresh (& sweaty) back from my Sunday morning hike w/ Rachel, I only have time to shower & then get to work. I had my fun in the (gorgeous 90°) sun today and now I've got to take care of bidness!!

I'm on a major deadline this weekend - so between my bouts of all out unabashedly dancing my booty off at shows, I am coming home & working all the hours of the day on this quick 3 day flash project. It's fun!!

So - reviews and great stories coming soon...

Friday, October 24, 2003

camera happy

WOW! I have SUCH AN AWESOME CAMERA!!!!!!

I'm so psyched! I had placed a huge order from my FOTKI albums (the best photo site ever by the way) the other day and I just got them in the mail. They're BEAUTIFUL!! It says a lot about the digital world that I got this camera over a year ago but that I have hardly ordered any prints! I may have - but it's been a LONG time... and so for me to get the package in the mail today with all these terrific photos of my awesome friends and all the good times I've had over the last couple months, and to have them here in my hands, in all their glossy glory - it is STOKING me big time!! It makes me want to just have a big wall of photos!

I actually do have a ton of frames around my house w/ outdated photos. Granted some old pics you wanna keep around... but there's some in here that instantly will replace the old. I'm so excited!!

If you've been to an event with me & there's photos of you in my albums (which if you've done the former, there is no doubt the latter) - then go order yourself some prints!! I'm not even getting paid to say this I swear... I just think people forget how god damn good it is to have these printed puppies in your hand. Not to mention how frickin GREAT my camera takes photos!

Ok, back to work before I head out the door for another music filled, debaucherous evening :) mmm, debauchery.

update: you people and your active imaginations.. :) which is fine, I support that - but just so ya'all know - my debauchery is VERY PG13 these days!!!!! a little bit does a lot for this girl.

ok, now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

before I forget...

I need to begin this post before all of a sudden I work the day away and then do my "oh-shit, it's-already-7-and-I-haven't-showered-yet -but-I-can-get-ready-in-10-minutes-and-do-my-makeup- in-the-car-and-still-get-across-town-by-7:30!!!" thing I always seem to do.

Tonite is PEACHES!!!!!!!!! aaawwww yaaaaaaaa or should I say: huuuuh? whaaaaat? riiiight. uuuhh.

Now, *don't* go to the following links if you're a small impressionable child (or if you're a big left-winged tight-ass), but if you're not familiar w/ Peaches and you just want a little taste of her, here's some lyrics and an article (she's on the cover of Paper Mag this month) for you.

It's bound to be a nipplicious good time.

what's heaven like?

I don't know - but I do know it's a beautiful day here on earth! 80 degrees here today - DAMN we've got it good in SF! Now if only I didn't have to work all day and instead I could go out & play!!!!

On my way for coffee this morning I was trying to think of a way I could be all lubed up w/ suntan lotion, laying out in the sun in my ittybitty bikini - AND get work done. Sans laptop is my first obstacle which pretty much killed the day dream... oh well. It makes going down & changing my laundry a really enjoying little jaunt! I've never been so excited to go put the stuff from the washer into the dryer.

Oh ya, that title q about heaven was inspired by what Margaret Cho wrote about Elliot Smith's recent "departure". I love what she wrote... it gave me chills. (I also updated my R.I.P. post with a link to it.)

Thursday, October 23, 2003

A Mighty Wind

Great movie - but are they really touring?

update from brendan: yes they apparently are.

busy bee

I had a crazy day yesterday - but got caught up on everything I needed to do (besides laundry) and feel really good about where everything's at.

Around 3:30 I left for a few errands:

• grabbing my first cup of coffee for the day (I'd gotten stuck at home earlier w/ work and hadn't gone out for it yet)


• making copies of BAMboozled flyers to set out at the For Youth By Youth: 4x4 Community Dialogues panel they participated in lastnight. At the same time mailing out some bills and a small package.


• while I was up on Cortland I stopped at Good Life for butter and bought a new kind of deodorant at the store (I don't like the deodorant though)


• rushed down to the SF Public Library to drop off the BAM copies. I miraculously made it just in time, got a right spot out front, met sonya and helped w/ a sign, welcomed dexter, talked to jake & told zinmar where it was via phone and flew back outta there within 10 minutes.


• rushing home to eat something quick cuz I hadn't eaten anything all day, then showering/getting ready for the memorial (thank god I literally take 15 minutes to get ready!! low maintenance baby!)


• coming home and working till about 1am or so.

:::::::::::::::::

I didn't go to lastnights Rock n' Roll Spelling Bee (to benefit National Novel Writing Month) show w/ Citizens here & Abroad. I actually went to a memorial service for a friends baby who was born preemie... and only lived a couple months. Very sad, and lots of tears shed, but overall the most touching and amazing thing I've ever been to. You can make donations here.

So Jane and a bunch of other people did go to the spelling bee lastnight... And chatting w/ Jane lastnight she was telling me how the first speller up got his word wrong... what was it?

dumbbell

hech hemm....

vinyl CDR's

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

RAWK = the strokes show

For those of you awaiting my review of The Strokes show with baited breath - did you doubt that I would say anything less than how much it RAAAAAWWKED!!!!!???!!

Keep in mind, if you go to a show w/ me - I *WILL* have a good time. Well, that's not always true, but the ingredients that made this show fantastic, whipped up one hell of a great time.

Unfortunately (insert big huge grumpy smirk here) we missed Kings of Leon. And they had beards & mustaches!!!!!!!!! DAMNIT!!!! Rick had a class till 8, and yes we saw that the tickets said show at 7:30, but who the hell starts a show at 7:30!?!? Anyway, we're trying to forget that it happened... and we'll just have to see them play a smaller venue next time they pass through town - which will probably be better anyway, right?

So, on to the good part.... we got there just in time to get a drink, match up w/ Jem, Tania and even ran into Trevor & Dave, too. With no time to kill though we busted through the crowd as much as possible (it was totally packed!!) to get ourselves to atleast the 15 row. The show was at Bill Graham Civic, (which I've only been to for a Flash Forward event) so being in the 15th row, almost in the center was a feat to get to through the thousands of people.

The Strokes were excellent live... They absolutely ROCKED and it was AWESOME to be in a sea of Strokes fans. We were especially psyched to be so "in-the-know" on their new CD and be able to enjoy those songs to their fullest. They played a great mix of old and new - and the bands presence on stage was tight and totally rockstar :) The lead would disappear & sing from who knows where, but it was all still rockin so hard, nobody even really noticed. We were the "out of control, jumpin' up & down, SWEATING our asses off" crew, if you were there - you probably remembered seeing us, right?. The one's not sparing an *ounce* of fun - we're FULL FORCE baby!!!!

They made us beg for sooooooo long for the encore, which was great when it finally happened... especially cuz we'd worked our way up to 3rd or 4th row, dead center and ran into some other rabid fans that were just as psyched as we were. What are fans like us doing in the 15th row? duh!! Rick was trying to pull me up through the crowd to get closer the entire time, but we'd already encountered some serious attitude, so I just didn't want to push it. And literally that's what we'd of had to do cuz there was NO room. Anyway - the *one song* encore was rockin up there - but all 6,000+ of us could have used 3-5 more songs! They said this was the LAST encore they'd be doing on this tour cuz they hate doing them... so now we're supposta feel lucky I guess. :)

It all got out at around 11 or so, so we hit Victors (best. pizza. ever.) to share a slice and then the Hemlock for a drink. We ran into my friend Rob there & even a girl I know from H.S. who lives here now. I'd seen her a couple weeks before the reunion, so it was fun to see her again & tell her some stories. She keeps saying she's going to email me and then doesn't. Gotta love people who say one thing and do (or in this case, don't do) another.

Anyway, after that we called it a night. I actually got to sleep rather early lastnight, but still skipped working out this morning in exchange for sleep instead. I haven't been getting enough of it lately! Sleep is good.

R.I.P. Elliott Smith

So sad... Elliott Smith commited suicide. Such a beautiful artist... his tortured meloncholy lyrics brought so much joy to so many. Apparently this is how he felt it was best for him to go out... may he rest in peace. xo

update: Margaret Cho posted a very touching note to Elliott...

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Is this It?

Oh my gawd, this is IT!!!! Tonite I see The Strokes LIVE!

It's my first time seeing them live, and I've been rampin up listening to Is this It over & over this week... and the new one, too (lucky me, I scored it before it hit the shelves - aww yaaa!! Thanks Ian!!)

I'm also way into the Kings of Leon CD lately, so I'm psyched to see them open tonite, too... Let's hear it for those Nashville boys! I hope I see some beards... or at least a mustache!!

Tomorrow night Jane & I (and a few others) are gonna hit our friend Chris' band, Citizens Here & Abroad at El Rio..... and then Friday night we're playin all our avenues to get into the Peaches show - wish us luck!! :) That'll be a rockin crazy sexy show. I've never seen her either - but I heard it's an experience... and I just know Rick will get such a kick out of it too... it'll be soo fun!!

We were debating going to the East Bay for some Ani DiFranco & (seperate shows) The Lovemakers < since they were so damn hot last Friday night! But we're bankin on the Peaches xxx experience now.

Saturday night is Phantom Planet - WAHOO!! I'm psyched on this one cuz Jane is coming and is really psyched on the band. Shit, I think this is the first time Jane & I have been back at The Bizz since our "first date" to Rosie Thomas/James Mercer (of The Shins) back in February!

OK, Room on Fire is blastin' & I'm jumpin in the shower. I'm excited to see Jem & Tania tonite too - they're a fun little team of fellow music freaks. See ya in the front row!!

p.s. If you DO see me, you probably know what I look like more than I know your mysterious face - so don't be shy & say hello! I'm quite friendly if you haven't noticed :)

Monday, October 20, 2003

go for tapas

once again, going for tapas proves to be an affordable and pleasant way to spend a birthday celebration.

Tonite it was Cody's birthday. Cody taught the first Flash class I took years ago... and we quickly became friends because he was the only other person I knew who loved Flash as much as me! He almost still is (or atleast out of the friends I actually see every once and awhile... strangely I don't hang out w/ any other Flash Developers!)

His darling girlfriend Laurence arranged it all, and it was awesome to see him completely FLOORED when he realized that this little restaurant that was practically empty (except the large mass of people congregating around the bar) was actually FULL of people he knew and all were there to celebrate his 30th!! :) yay!

We went to La Bodega in N. Beach and ate lots of yummy tapas, drank sangria & wine and out of almost 20 people we all put in maybe $18/piece - what a deal!! There was a fantastic flamenco show and most everyone got up & danced. The cake Laurence got was beautiful, and it was delightful to meet his friends and family.

I was going to go out & meet Kat & Jane for a drink tonite, but I've actually got to finish up a few things for a client, so I thought it best I just get home. Plus I have to rest up cuz tomorrow night is the STROKES!!! YAAAAAHOOOOOO!!!!!

4 bars + 15 friends = 6am.

If I could only post about the debauchery that went down on Saturday night I would... but since I musn't, you all must just use your imagination. I will say that it was the MOST fun I have had in a long time. Actually, I suppose I've had a few of these fantastic Saturday nights here lately in my new single lifestyle... but this one was truly memorable.

Some highlights were:
1. Manifesting Hai - as I was sitting having a drink with Kat, I was telling her about my friend Hai - and right that second *Poof!* there he was!! It was too odd.. you had to be there.
2. Discovering RAZ w/ Kat
3. Meeting Rick's friends
4. Seeing Jason who was in town just breifly, from Alaska
5. Ok, sorry... that's all the G-rated stuff I've got for ya.

It's probably best that I don't spill any more, so that I'm not shipped off to "the Betty" (as my friend Michelle calls it). But for the record - WHAT A NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, October 18, 2003

Anyone else subscribe to Heavy?

I had a bunch of CD's stolen a little while ago, and one of my favorite Heavy compilations was in there, HVY.5.SUMOSONIC. Does anyone out there have that?

It's a total longshot that any of you do... but I thought I'd try since this was one of my favorite CDs and they're not sold through stores. The first 2 songs by Masterminds & Apani totally got me going. If you ever saw a white girl in her car at the stoplight, singin and groovin her little heart out to some kickin new school beats, that was me.

Anyway, lemme know if you have it.

happy hour + the lovemakers = excellent friday night

Lastnight was a blast. We started our night by meeting up w/ Michelle & Brigette in the Marina for happy hour (yes I know, "gag, marina" but my friend michelle is worth it! :)

After a few drinks there we decided to skip our original plan of hitting the opening night party at Yerba Buena and instead went straight over to Route 101 to pick up w/ Brendan & Stig on our way to the show. (however, they ended up staying there)

Rick & I arrived at The Hemlock in time to see the Stilletos open... who were just ok... great that it's 4 chics in a band, but I wasn't feelin it. But then the darling Lovemakers came on! Oh my gawd is this band AWESOME. They first rocked out about 7 or 8 Cure covers and I was LOVE LOVE LOVING it!!!! (I was so surprised I remembered all the words - and it took me back to some wonderful memories of listening to them in H.S.) The Hemlock is small, and we were probably in what constitutes as 2nd row, so it was all so terrifically intimate. We were all jumping and sweating and singing right along with them.

Then they broke into their own songs and totally rocked us.... and MAN are they sexy!!! Just like their site & reviews have said, they are so hot and you won't leave their show without being drenched in sweat from dancing the entire time... not to mention being turned on as hell from watching the singing duo dance around in their skivvies in pure sexual energy bliss. mmmmm!!!!!! LOVED IT! Go see them!!

Friday, October 17, 2003

log-in .... login

nice to know that login (all one word) is officially in the dictionary. now I don't have to worry about spelling it wrong w/o the hyphen!

Thursday, October 16, 2003

I am feeling so much love today....

First I must once again say how lovely it is to be told how beautiful I am every morning, just minutes after waking up. Today it was actually even after I'd gone to work out, and he still looked at me like I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Boy, if that isn't a reason to *not* buy my own coffee machine, I don't know what is :)

I am so in love with Kurt Halsey's paintings. I'm sure the fact that I'm fresh out of a relationship is whats making it hit home so hard.... but overall the tenderness each of his paintings and sketches hold, is sooo touching and lovely.

This one is especially true in the case of our buddy boy. But the good news is that Matt does come back and see him. He just came over yesterday, in fact - and STOKED Kazoobie on some new kitty grass and a toy mouse that Kazoo went absolutely NUTS for. He growled at us if we tried to go near it and he carried it around and played with it all over the house for a good hour or so.

Matt is heading to the east coast soon... and then to Italy! *so lucky!* So, I helped advise him on a digital camera to buy - and he brought it over yesterday for me to check it out & show him a few things. It's really awesome!! Read DCResource.com's review of the Canon PowerShot A80.

selective hearing/reading

Sometimes I think I hear what I want to hear.

Recently I've had several glaring times of realizing I've read something wrong. Funny enough, today's misunderstanding is still a mystery to me... but I think I get it now. Initially my reaction was "Whats that supposed to mean?" and I got a little defensive, like their response was in effort to dismiss the conversation. However, instead of simply asking what was meant by the comment, instead I just said ok and stirred it over and over in my head.. what I said... what they said... what it meant.

Now I realize it actually wasn't a response to dismiss the conversation or make light of the situation at all... but in fact I think it was a compliment! And here I was getting all defensive!

*sigh* but maybe my interpretation now is just how I've spun the conversation to make myself feel better. sorta selective hearing after the fact. hmm...

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

home page updates

MUSIC/EVENTS LIST UPDATES: I've updated the events list & calendar on the left - WAHOO! More great music comin our way peeps! Note that these are (selfishly) mostly just shows that I'm personally into going to see. I try not to tout too many bands that I don't even know... which brings me to my next update:

I've published my friend Rebecca's GREAT music list she sends out to her friends.. She's got great taste in music and has turned me on to a few great bands already! I hope she doesn't mind I've posted this (I'm emailing her now, so who knows maybe you won't see it mid-day tomorrow!)

She also put together an awesome venue info thing on how to buy tix directly from SF venues & try to escape the fees. Damn straight! You'll see both of those becca links over there in the left hand column. If you're local & into the music I am into - check it out!

Also I made the events archive open in a pop up window, too - way easier for me to maintain! :)

RANDOM UPDATES: I added a (info) link next to the "Stay Tooned" newsletter sign-up box. I suppose I should start a new list for those who want updates beyond my portfolio... one for music or blog updates? hmph. I'll have to work on that - so for now, just so you know: I only send out news when something major on the site gets updated, new illustrations are added etc. It's barely every other month or so really. :)

Feel free to give me feedback if you desire those updates to be more frequent.

BLOG TALK: Also, I know I need to seperate my love for music out... I've been talking about creating a music site - but honestly I don't need a bigger project... doing this right now works just fine... although the music stuff could use it's own page (?) hmm. Blog wise I know it's music heavy (with some fun 'what happened at the bar' stories thrown in here & there). I have friends that just wanna hear (read) my juicy stories - and others that probably love the music aspect.

Oh! And I can't forget true fans of Kazoobie who totally get *5 stars* in my book for emailing me to say they demand more posts about the fuzzy pants! Aww yaa supa star kitty w/ all your fans!!

Anyway - guess ya can't please em all. Personally I'd love to divulge all my fun little party stories but a girls gotta have her secrets! Plus, not only do ex-boyfriends, mothers and complete strangers read this but clients might too - so it's pretty PG rated for now (with some hard core music fanatic thrown in, of course :)

For the record - I LOVE staying up late. But alas, it's late & my eyes are pretty tired. G'night!

Monday, October 13, 2003

Satiated cravings for fancy dinners out...

Saturday night I tagged along to a birthday dinner with a friend. We started at the birthday boy's (protecting the innocent) loft, which is located right downtown in an awesome redone building. As soon as we walked in the door we were greeted with a menu of our options from the bar. However, as we looked a little closer we found that it wasn't as fancy as we thought, but instead geared for nothing but fun. First, the appetizers were nothing more fancy than bagel bites, and salami & cheese cubes (yum!). For drinks they had a whole list of mixed drinks, beers, shots, juice and more. I chose the Bacardi Silver that was on the menu and found it actually was the only one he had. Someone had left it at his house, so he put it on the menu. ha!

Now let me set the scene, because really this is the only reason I'm posting about this place - it was fascinating. The birthday boy is a bit of a fanatic collector, to put it lightly. Of precious coins, you ask? Stamps, maybe? (well actually I'm sure he has those too seeing as how he had mini-collections of everything under the sun!!) But what anybody will notice just stepping into his huge loft are mini-shrine collections of: Star Wars memorabilia, Don Mattingly paraphenelia, a Laura Dern wall of framed/autographed photos (among quite a few other on the same wall), Belinda Carlisle & the Go Go's, Morrissey/Smiths and more..... and that's just downstairs!! Upstairs we found mini-collections of 80's buttons, trophies, animaniacs toys and the best most over the top part: The Scooby-Doo bathroom where EVERYTHING is Scooby-Doo.

Every guest got their photo taken with the i-zone camera and then set down to make a mini happy birthday card for the birthday boy. We insisted our photo be taken by the cardboard Princess Leia in the bathroom. (oh ya, the downstairs bathroom was completely decked out with Star Wars stuff).

Overall it was great and to me it showed great signs of creativity and passion - way better than a cookie cutter pottery barn house any day!! (plus I have my fare share of toys and stuffed animals too - so I certainly can't knock it!)

The night progressed on to us all sitting down to an amazing dinner at Butterfly on the Embarcadero where the pre-fix menu for our large party left us all stuffed! Very good food though - hard to stop eating delicious food, especially when you wanna try it all! yumm! The rest of the night was hilarious... meeting this new group of people was very "entertaining" to say the least - but they were all so warm & welcoming to me, which was darling. Also, note that Butterfly makes a special "lemongrass" mojito where they use vodka instead of rum - and add lemons! Very yummy!

Sunday night...

Sunday night I had yet another birthday dinner out - this time a surprise bday for our friend Ewa. She was surprised! We ate at Andalu, where the food (small plates) was delicious! We ordered a ton of food and between about 13 of us turned out to be only $33/each!! Take your big groups there!

Oh - and our waiter was H-O-T (you have to spell that out for the full effect) and if I weren't a big chicken I would have given him my number for sure! His eyes were dreamy and he seemed very sweet (in a "oh my gawd you're so hot" kinda way) :p. But enough of that...

Today I've been working my booooooty off and made some good progress with clients. Tomorrow night I think I'm gonna go see a friend's band play around the corner from here.. I've seen her old band, but not her new one - so I'm psyched! I'll be sure to report/tell you the details.

Saturday, October 11, 2003

afterthoughts

This weekend is fleet week. Those really fast top-gun-looking-planes that make an ANNOYINGLY loud sound as they flight like maniacs over the city. Oy.

I've been invited to 3 different roof parties! It'd be cool to go to one or all of them, but I think I'll be staying home working. I have so much to do I wish I could hock a few hours to sleep. Bargain w/ time anyone? NOPE. It's a fixed force that only mentally speeds up as we inch closer and closer to death.

Friday, October 10, 2003

funny stuff (a.k.a. hahhaaa)

Tonite Eric & I went to see Dave Attell - LIVE! It was so cool.

I met Eric in 2000, when I worked at Spunky. Eric was the background artist. We haven't seen eachother since then! He is an amazing painter and has been showing quite a bit lately in galleries and winning awards. What a superstar! He deserves it - he's truly so talented.

We met up at First Crush for a quick glass of wine, hello & some appetizers. We hadn't made a reservation, but we found a table anyway. It's very nice, I'd like to go there again for a full meal - I'm really craving some yummy dinners out. I think I've cut down on that a lot - but I have had some delicious meals in this city - we have the best restaurants! Tomorrow night my crave will be satiated.

We headed to the Warfield just in time and worked our way to the seats. There were 2 openers + Dave Attell & Lewis Black / total of 4 comedians - but I was only there to see Dave!!

He was funny... the funniest for sure. I love how much he talks about sex and drinkin'. So foul and yet so funny.

When I got home tonite I thought of all the funny people in my life. I have so many great and hilarious times. SO I figure, if I attract funny people in my life, that MUST mean I'm funny, too right? But I'm not so sure... I mean, sure I have a great sense of humor, but does that mean that I am funny? Do people say, "Oh, you gotta meet my friend Willo - she's so funny! She cracks me up!"

Ya, if they were making fun of me maybe! *flashback ripple*
I think this spawns from having these roomates one time when I was little - and the little boy was a year or so younger than me - and he'd always be really silly and funny and made our mom's laugh... but I could of sworn when I did something funny they were laughing 'at' me instead.
*

And actually come to think of it, I once did get the fine compliment that I was a "kick in the pants" from my friend Krissy. SHE's the kick in the pants! But I am thinking all this funny around me is wearing off! And I believe I am funny! Not only that but I have a great sense of humor, I'm surrounded by funny people, and I laugh all the time!! I'm a party in a bottle, baby! (there's gotta be a song called that, right?) Don't worry - I'm not going on the road anytimes soon though... I think I'm more of a great sidekick to someone really funny.

Ok, now I'm just babbling, but if you haven't been laughing enough - go getcho'self some comedy!

flying hand-made machines into unsuspecting bodies of water

I've got to make sure I go to this on Oct. 25: Red Bull Flügtag!

I'm gonna be updating the calendars on the left soon - I'll be sure to put this there too! :)

tokyo video

This site is hilarious.. I only watched one of the videos under 'Interviews' but it's pretty funny

NOT too cool for school

All I have to say is I can't stand it when people act "too cool for school" (and no, I'm not talking about edjumacation). I mean like when people are at a show & they're all too cool to be dancing or just in general when people act all better than other people. I like to think I give everyone the benefit of the doubt - and often the weirder the better with me. Be who you are and don't be so damn worried what other people think - who cares!! I'm gonna make t-shirts.

Hai, Matt, Rick & I hit the Hizz (Rick & I's new nickname for the Bottom of the Hill*) for the Rogue Wave show - and it RAWKED!!!! They are atleast 2x as great live as on the CD (which is really excellent in itself). Seeing them live was so great - and we loved that all the musicians rotated around, drummer hopped on guitar and the keyboardist jumped on the drums - all over the place! It was fantastic!

The Thermals came on after them and totally jammed!! I am psyched to get their CD. After hitting so many indie-rock/emo shows lately, it was nice to get some good ol' fashioned punk rawk in the mixx.

Unfortunately by the time Mates of State came on, all my drinkies had given me a dose of A.D.D. and I felt like chatting it up at the bar more than standing there staring at the stage. Luckily my peeps were down w/ that too and so that's just what we did! By the end of the night we'd rapped w/ the Rogue Wave peeps, complete with Pat (another Ohio boy!) hearing of my total lambchops & afro envy (ranking up there with my penis envy I so forthrightly admitted. TMI for Pat I'm sure! Come to think of it that conversation even led to discussing how great boobs are too, though. ha!) and my telling Sonya the bass player how cute I think she is. Zach, the lead, and his wife Lisa were cool too. (boy I sure hope that's her name, as I promised I wouldn't forget her name.. me and my buzz explicitely expressing (after asking her a second time) that I wanted to remember it as "why would I ask her if I was just going to forget!?" oh boy. this goes under the same category of logic for thanking taxi drivers effusively for their safe and sober driving)

I also chatted it up with the cutie bass player chic from The Thermals. They're from Portland and somehow they spawned thoughts of The Red Bennies I had seen with Birdsaw there about a year ago. So we talked about that - and how we both dig Ted Leo (reminding me how lame I am for not going out to see him play this last Sunday). At the end of our conversation, Rick bought their CD which I'm psyched to hear - but I'm sure part of it was him thanking them for listening to my chattiness. hahaaa I'm such a nerd.

After closin down the Hizz we started walking for a Taxi and popped in the Parkside to see what was goin on there.. Well since everything was closing down it was hard to tell what had gone down - but we grabbed our water (!) at the bar and sat down to ride out our buzz for a few more minutes, not wanting our fun night to end.

----

*Runners up for the new name for BOTH were:
- The Bizzy of the Hizzy
- Bizatch Onna Tonna Hizapizatch
- The Bomb On The Hong
- The BO Thrill
and - The Bedonk On The Hisonk

Hilariously when Rick arrived lastnight he was all "Check out the sign outside! It says Bottom of the Hizz!" I laughed as it was actually just the fonts making the L's look like Z's. Thus "The Hizz" was born!

Thursday, October 09, 2003

grrrl

and you thought MY site was pink and girly! check this out.

Wednesday, October 08, 2003

bang. rumble rumble.... BANG.

Oy, I worked hard all day and hardly scratched the surface. Positive problem, I suppose.

Tonite I had BAM and then headed to the grocery store for some long overdue re-stocking of my fridge & cupboards. Oh ya, and you can bet your ass I got me some pop-tarts. mm-hmm!! I even got myself a donut!! They just looked so damn good.

Tonite coming home I had to deal w/ the horrible mess of construction out front our house. UG! Not only are they waking me up at the crack of dawn with their hard core drilling into the ground with their gazillion ton CAT machines - but the metal slabs they lay down to cover the hole at night make a big rumbling noise every time someone drives over it. Most of which shake the whole house. It's making me tired just thinking of waking up to it again tomorrow morning. This morning I actually had to get up & move my car - but tonite I'm gonna go move it now so I can just throw a pillow over my head & sleep the extra hour in peace.

Speaking of moving my car, we've had this construction going on for 2 weeks an in that time I've gotten 2 parking tickets!! GRR!!! We're totally displaced on our parking - AND the damn street cleaning machines aren't even sweeping our street because of the construction and we're STILL getting tickets! CURSID DTP!!! Tickets are such a waste of money - and on our 2 block stretch of street we don't have street cleaning, however since we're kicked off that & left to park on these streets a couple blocks away it's totally thrown me off. I saw a good 10 cars with tickets on them today in the same situation as me. So frustrating.

Welp, off to move my car to a ticket-free parking spot... and then to put the rest of these groceries away - and clean! Just so I can think straight tomorrow & continue tackling my long list of to-do's! :)

oh & p.s. I want one of these. Maybe with "BERNAL GIRL" on it or "WILLOTOONS" ... hmm... I'm trying to think of something else that has to do with music - maybe "LIVE MUSIC JUNKIE" or "SHAKE IT"

p.s.s. I wish my cat would figure out that jumping up on the desk, and sticking his ass in my face and leaving his enormous-fuzzy tail right in front of my screen, swishing back and forth tickling my nose, ISN'T making me want to pet him!!

UPDATE/11:40pm - crap, there was no place to park - so I'll have to get up really early again to move it. HMPH!

some more bad news

I was surprised I just saw this and it's been two months! Odd that it took this long for the word to get out - maybe I just don't read/watch the news enough. Anyway, in case you didn't know - a girl named Heather is missing. Keep your eye out. It's horribly sad :(

good news and bad news. very bad news.

The good news is I got a lot done today, felt great & had a good time tonite.

The bad - very, very bad - news is *sigh*... well I don't even have to tell you now do I? If you haven't been living under a rock, then you know the bad news. It's official: Our nation is FULL of IDIOTS! God damn idiotic Bush in the White House - and now a fucking Austrian body-builder/actor as a Governor? THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING!

Well God bless him if he really thinks he can do well for our fair (in-dept-and-obviously-full-of-imbiciles) state.

Alright, since that's really so depressing... let's talk about my good news some more. Well it's not really anything spectacular - it's just sorta a list of news from today - and it's all good, compared to the very baaad news.

So - I went to the SFMMUF meeting and saw some fellow Flash Goddesses and even ran into some old contacts and familiar faces from previous Flash events...

Then I went over to meet Rick & Hai for a show at Bottom of the Hill (Mat and a friend showed up, and Jem & Tania met us there too). Mellowdrone was playing when we walked in - not bad. The Decemberists were great - the lead singer has one of those mouths and ways that he sings that makes you (uh, and me and jem & tania) just want to watch him. Very cool. I liked his jeans (Jem liked the way he looked in em) and his nice geeetars. And he actually reminded me a ton of my friend Liam, for some reason.

Alright - so the even COOLER news is that today Rick gave me the new CD from The Gossip!! WAHOO!! He bought it & it totally surprised since I've been wanting it so bad. He was funny about giving it to me - like never admitting he didn't know that it was going to totally stoke me. He's shy I think :)

So I listened to it on my way home, and in addition to it's hard core rockin' punk chics