Ramble Ramble

Well, we finally caved to the siren call of the iPhone. After lusting after the damn thing for a while, we finally gave in. Since we’re already AT&T customers the decision came down to: do we change carriers or stay with AT&T so we can get the iPhone? Spoiler alert: the phone won out.

Of course, due to poor planning on our part, getting the phones meant we had to deal with the Apple store, the Genius bar, and the specialists there. I’m not sure, but they might include advanced douchebaggery in the training for the specialists. The hour we spent at the Apple store is one I don’t wish to repeat anytime soon–I swear, they feel the need to treat customers like they’ve never even heard of a computer or phone, much less that they may know a little about Mac products.

Anyway, after the fun hour we spent there, we walked away with new toys…errr, I mean phones. I’m pretty stoked myself–I’ve already fallen in love with the thing. First, since N.C. works at home, it can be hard to find time for me to be on the computer, so it’s kind of cool to have internet access while he’s on the computer. Secondly, given the amount of time I’m attached to the kid, it’s a great to be able to check email, write blog posts, catch up on my reader, etc., while I’m nursing him. It’s a great thing at three in the morning in particular!

But I have to ask…is it sad that we’re both sitting here playing with our phones rather than interacting with each other?

Next week is my wedding anniversary, and because I am an awesome wife, I got my husband an awesome anniversary gift…

I got him tickets to see Nine Inch Nails/Janes Addiction this past Saturday, since he’s a huge NIN fan and I knew he would have an amazing time. But more importantly, I got him tickets to see NIN/JA with his best friend, and not with me. Yes, I got my husband an anniversary gift that included a night out without me. N.C. hasn’t been to a ton of big concerts, and I really wanted him to totally enjoy it, not worry about whether I was having fun/comfortable/etc.

It got me thinking about all the big concerts I’ve been to over the years, and the list is sort of…well maybe not what you’d think for a 29 year old female. But each concert was amazing in it’s own way. Here, then, is today’s list–7 (well really big arena concerts I’ve attended over the years:

1. Debbie Gibson was the first concert I remember going to as a pre-teen. I had really wanted to go to the NKOTB concert, but my mom couldn’t get tickets. I think she felt bad, and so got us tickets to see Debbie instead. We had horrible seats, and the shrill screaming still echoes in my head, but I remember being so excited that my mom would take me to a concert, and having a great time with her. Oh, the memories of denim jackets and aqua netted hair!
2. Paul McCartney was a bit of a surprise to me. My parents got tickets to this concert when I was probably 13 or so, and I “had” to go along. Not that that was the end of the world–I grew up listening to the Beatles, and went through a period in 7th grade where that’s almost all I listened too–but I wasn’t convinced the concert was going to be that good. I mean, Paul was so OLD (ah, the stupidity of youth) and he wasn’t the Beatles anymore, it was Paul McCartney and Wings, so how good could they be? To this day, this is one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen in my life. And his live version of Live and Let Die in the middle of the concert was so good that I immediately (and still) proclaimed it better than the Gun’s and Roses version. Everyone should see a concert where a rock song gives you chills.
3. Harry Connick Jr. Ahhh, Harry. I had such a crush on Harry when I was in high school, and getting the chance to see him was such a dream come true for me at that time. Of course, there was a little disappointment, because he was touring for his “rock” album, and so didn’t play many of the jazzy songs that I adored him for, but that didn’t matter–he wore jeans and a wife beater, and I actually got to stand right next to the stage! Swoon. And even though his rock album isn’t his best, I still contend that he’s an amazing musician and performer that is somewhat underrated.
4. Dave Matthews Band. I’ve seen Dave in concert twice, once in college and again last year. I got turned onto DMB by someone I dated and have never looked back. I know a lot of people don’t like Dave’s music, but you have to admit, he’s a music machine–they tour constantly, and because of that, their live performances are an examination of how a group of musicians can “talk” to each other on stage. They riff, they improv, they solo, and it pretty much always sounds as good if not better live than the studio albums. If only there weren’t so many douchebags who go to DMB concerts.
5. Billy Joel–ah the piano man. I went and saw him in college, with perhaps the worst seats I’ve ever had at a concert (we were 3 rows from the top of the arena, behind the stage, and the angle was so steep, we literally couldn’t anything that didn’t happen on the front 1/3 of the stage). But damn it sounded good.
6. Fleetwood Mac. I saw Fleetwood Mac with my mom and a few of her friends when I was about 23. I was actually really excited about the concert (another group I grew up listening to), but unfortunately I hurt my back on the way there, which meant that I was drugged up on painkillers and muscle relaxers during the show. Which, come to think of it, might be more appropriate for FM than being stone cold sober.
7. Dixie Chicks. My best friend from high school and I got ourselves to the Dixie Chicks concert (this was before all the brouhaha with them) one summer in college, and proceeded to have the best, most girly time. It was a great concert, with great musicians playing on the road with them. I love watching musicians who are super skilled at their instruments, and there was no lack of that at this concert. But perhaps the best part was enjoying it with my friend, and being so silly and giggly and into it together. What better way to see a concert?

What concerts stand out in your memory? What makes a concert stand out for you–is it the music, the atmosphere, who you see it with, or some other element?

As always, more lists can be found over at abdpbt:

I will be doing a post about my weekend later, as there was much excitement and adventure, but I’ve got to download the photos to properly tell the story and I was too tired/lazy/wrapped up in the god-awful-Emmys last night to take care of that.

Today, however, is a full-fledged Monday, complete with computer problems, emergencies, irritation…and more! It doesn’t help that my brain is foggy, my back is killing me, and I think my arthritis is acting up. To those who say 29 isn’t old, today I say…

Get off my lawn sonny!

Anyway, since my brain is all foggy, and the rest of me is in pain, it’s bullet-point post time! Yay for you!

• I’m loving that color is a part of fall fashion trends. I look great in color, and it tends to make me feel better about myself, but it’s been a struggle for a few years to find vibrant colors in fashion, rather than muted washed out shades. Not that I have much money for clothes shopping, but at least I know that I’ve got some options for those few pieces I will be buying.
• How awful were the Emmys last night? Not so much in who won/lost (though I think it’s criminal that Hugh Laurie hasn’t won an Emmy yet for his portrayal of House), but the actual production. The hosts were horrible, the bits weren’t funny…bleh. I don’t know why I couldn’t stop watching…
• They opened new “commuter” lanes on the freeway today, and guess what? Traffic was WORSE than usual. I’m pretty sure that counts as irony.
• One of my least favorite things about my job (or any job), is the death of good design ideas by committee. Being married to an artist makes it worse, but it just KILLS me when a designer comes up with a great look, and the committee picks it apart to leave only the rotted carcass of horrible design. The worst part is that I can’t say  “you people have no taste, no vision, and no idea what constitutes good design. Step away from the layout and no one gets hurt.” To any designer who has to work with me, I’m sorry, it’s not me, it’s them.
• I think it’s time for some itunes to perk me up. Or a Vicodin. One of the two.

Tonight I’ll write all about the bloodweiser, the bruins and the black eye. For now, I’m going to go be surly to my coworkers

I watch waaayyyy too much tv. So the fall tv season is both a blessing and a curse to me–I get entertainment back after the drought that is summer television, but I now also have a “real” reason to stay home and watch tv rather than attempt a social life (what? My Tivo can only record one show–double booking is hard!).

So now, all my friends start to come back (well most of them) and we get to catch up and fall right back in that comfortable relationship. There are new shows to meet, and see if you’re on the same wavelength. Some of those end up being a great addition to the group. And some, it’s kind of like dating…you give it one, maybe two tries before you realize that while they’re perfectly nice, they’re not doing much for you in that way. Others, you know just from looking at them that they’re that obnoxious douche-bag at the bar that you’ll never be willing to spend even a second with.

Of course, just like with your real relationships, there are those in the group that are known for being fun but without much substance, those that just straight up make you laugh, those that make you examine your relationships, and those that are way smarter than you, but you still like hanging out with them cuz they’re kinda cool under that layer of dork.

Right now, I’m sadly excited about the return of all my little friends, with all their personality quirks, dramas, insane stories, and beautiful people.

I obviously need a life.