Aqua Globe! Obsession!

Have you ever seen one of these? Not the plant - the blue item sticking out of the plant...It's an Aqua Globe. I'm sure you haven't ever, ever seen a human who actually owns one of these...if anything, you have seen the commercial for them. My son, Finn, has literally wanted these for over a year. His aunt, Caver, has been highly interested in them as well. Finn finally received some of the treasured, truly treasured, Aqua Globes today.

The funny thing is that he earned them as a prize at my nephews' (Cade and Tuck) birthday party. He told me at the party: "All the other kids keep asking me why I want these." He held them throughout most of the party. He asked me several times during the party if we could go purchase a plant in which to put the globes. Dennis left the party and immediately went to the store and purchased him a plant.

We carefully read the directions, filled one globe and put it in the plant. When done, Finn had to sit near it. He looked at it throughout the day and evening. He was concerned that he will wake up tomorrow and all of the water will have left the globe and be in the plant. I told him it should take at least more than a day.

His last moment of Aqua Globe obsession was when he took his second globe to bed with him. Now, not only did he take it to bed and have to have it on the nightstand next to him, when I got up after getting him all tucked in, he had to watch me to make sure I didn't knock the Aqua Globe off the table.

I thought I'd close with this reminder from Finn exemplifying his obsession with both the globes and the commercial: "If we call, mom, we can get more Aqua Globes." Yes, the commercial has completely indoctrinated this kid. He's obsessed with Aqua Globes.

The Happiest Place On Earth?

Our Disneyland trip was November 6-11th. I want to document it for my children, but I hate to be negative.

Caver had been twice before with her boys, and they really like it there. She invited us this time. We met up with my sisters-in-law and nephew and niece one day, and that was SO nice. We don't see enough of them. Caver's extended family came. It was a fun group.

l to r - Cousins: Alex, Ashe, Giulia, Finn (Aunt Megan's pretending to be a dorky tourist in the background)


Ashe and Cade

My children didn't like it that much. They were just not that into it. They asked things like "Can we go back to the room?" "Do we HAVE to ride on another ride?". Astounding. My friend Yvette said: "Your kids like hotels too much. They think the hotel IS the vacation." She's right.

It was great to be together as a family. Dennis and I have a great time together. I think we had more fun at the actual theme parks than the boys. The boys definitely had their moments. Random observations :

1. Ashe said Splash Mountain was his favorite ride.
2. Finn's were Hollywood Tower of Terror and Space Mountain (Below - boys waiting for the Twilight Zone-themed Tower of Terror. This ride was set up like an abandoned, haunted hotel and you rode in an elevator that dropped several stories at a time.)

3. The boys were not the least bit scared of anything, including big roller coasters (California Screaming at California Adventure and it's loopty-loop did not even phase them).
4. They were both obsessed with getting characters' autographs - especially Ashe. They got VERY lucky. They got the "prize" ones - like Mickey and Minnie. Finn got Donald, which we understand is hard to get.
Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean was the most interesting. He had attitude like in the movie. We followed him for a long time, practically begging him for an autograph. He then spit on Finn's pen. He signed Finn's book on top of Finn's head. It was entertaining.

5. There was a Jedi Training Academy that was every boys dream. On the first day we were there, Ashe, Cade and Tucker got chosen to be in the Academy and Finn did not. The rest of our trip we tried to get Finn chosen, and he never did. It was so cute, though, because Finn was just so taken with the (truly cool) Darth Vader, he almost didn't care that he didn't become a Jedi. This is Ashe training to become a Jedi.

Dennis wasn't that into the characters, but he was a bit smitten with Elastigirl and wanted his picture taken with her.

On Friday, Nov 7th, we went to Goofy's Kitchen for a birthday celebration for Cade and Tucker. There were a few characters there and the boys were able to get some autographs. The first picture below is Goofy signing on Tucker's head. Ashe is dancing with his cousins and Goofy, when Goofy messed up his kitchen.

The kids definitely had moments of enjoyment, and they love to be with their cousins. Overall, though, they wanted to be swimming and/or eating at the hotel.

Boys waiting for Jedi Training.

Riding on California Screaming




l to r - dennis, megan, finn, ashe - finn wished he would never die.

Sleater-Kinney Essentials

First, let me say that I turned 39 today!! 39. Ack. Sorta scarey, but it's my last birthday. It's all o.k., since I will never have another one. Keep that in mind: if you want to celebrate my birthday - celebrate this one, because I won't be having another. :)

Sleater-Kinney. What can I say? I used to say Elliott and Kathleen were my "favorite, all time, fall-down-and-die" bands. Over the years, though, I have to say it's become Sleater-Kinney. Although Elliott was surely an amazing musician - he played many, many instruments, played music for most of his life, and was a musician's musician really - I think S-K are the most fully realized of my favorite bands. It might be a tie between Elliott and S-K if he hadn't died early in his life. That fact, by definition, to me means he will never realize his full potential.

S-K did their work with such professionalism. It seems like they didn't make a wrong move. They made really solid albums. They got the mainstream recognition (Time Mag's Best Band Ever) that gives them cred to some people - brings them down to others...They were classy about everything they did. And, again, it's about the music - they made solid, solid records. Every. Single. Time. I have to admit, there are two that I don't ever listen to really, but I still recognize their quality.

Since this is my last installment of these filler posts about my fave bands...I will add this aside: It's very bizarre to me that I have met the lead singers of my top three music acts ever (yet, it makes me happy, don't get me wrong) - Elliott Smith, Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney. I know. So weird, right? Another weird thing - they all have very strong Portland connections. It's not by design either. I liked them and knew them, regardless of this. They are all considered national acts and sold out venues all over the nation - the world really - but I happened to meet them all. I feel VERY, very lucky.

Although, if my favorite acts happened to have been Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin, odds are I would have never met the leads...so, it helps that they were smaller/independents who happen to live here. :)

Song	Album
Good Things	Call The Doctor
I'm Not Waiting	Call The Doctor
Little Mouth	Call The Doctor
One More Hour	Dig Me Out
Turn It On	Dig Me Out
Dance Song '97	Dig Me Out
Don't Think You Wanna	Sleater-Kinney
Be Yr Mama	Sleater-Kinney
The Day I Went Away	Sleater-Kinney
One Song For You	The Hot Rock
Get Up	The Hot Rock
A Quarter To Three	The Hot Rock
Entertain	The Woods
Modern Girl	The Woods
You're No Rock N' Roll Fun	All Hands On The Bad One
Milkshake And Honey	All Hands On The Bad One
Step Aside	One Beat

Kathleen Hanna Essentials

I love Kathleen Hanna. I love my life, but tease that if I could come back as any one person in the world, it would be Kathleen. I wanna BE her. She's incredible.

Her music made such an impact on me. I don't know why. It did not have the empowering impact on me that it had on so many women at the time it came out. I was lucky in that my parents were always empowering me. My family was huge into equal rights, so I was raised thinking there was nothing I couldn't do. I guess Ms. Hanna impacted me by being her. She's so confident and amazing, I was inspired by her. So, in a sense, yes, she made me feel empowered, but not because of her supposed radical band's lyrics.

Anyway, I love this woman - in all her incarnations. I loved her in Bikini Kill the most and that is when I was so taken by her live performance. There is no other person who can draw me into a live show. Then, she did Julie Ruin...then Le Tigre. All some of my favorite acts.

Again, enjoy another one of my heroes.

Song	Album	Band
Feels Blind	The C.D. Version Of The First Two Records	Bikini Kill
Outta Me	The C.D. Version Of The First Two Records	Bikini Kill
Rebel Girl	The C.D. Version Of The First Two Records	Bikini Kill
Tony Randall	Reject All American	Bikini Kill
Reject All American	Reject All American	Bikini Kill
Strawberry Julius	Singles	Bikini Kill
Stay Monkey	Julie Ruin	Julie Ruin
Apt. #5	Julie Ruin	Julie Ruin
Love Letter	Julie Ruin	Julie Ruin
Deceptacon	Le Tigre [Bonus Tracks]	Le Tigre
Eau D'Bedroom Dancing	Le Tigre [Bonus Tracks]	Le Tigre
Les And Ray	Le Tigre [Bonus Tracks]	Le Tigre
TKO	This Island	Le Tigre
Tell You Now	This Island	Le Tigre

Elliott Smith Essentials

I will have a new vacation blog for you when I am back in town, but until then, I did these music-related posts to hold you over while I am gone.

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As some of you may know, I'm a HUGE Elliott Smith freak. I saw him 10's of times (25? 30? - I keep ticket stubs, but many of his shows were pay-at-the-door) during his lifetime. I went to the memorial show in Los Angeles that Beck, Rilo Kiley, and others did for him early in November 2003, after he died. It devastated me - his death. It's been only recently that I can listen a little bit to his stuff. He's so talented and it makes me sad that his music always has a taint on it. I will never really be happy listening to him. I still adore him, though.

I put together my favorite Elliott songs. I have his entire catalog. I can say this for very few artists. I know any person putting together this list would have their own take on it. This is just my personal choice Elliott listening. I started with the album I first heard of his - either/or. From there, I just put them in the order of their impact on me.

Enjoy.

Song	Album
Rose Parade	Either/Or
Angeles	Either/Or
Say Yes	Either/Or
Division Day	Ballad of Big Nothing
Clementine	Elliott Smith
St. Ides Heaven	Elliott Smith
Christian Brothers	Elliott Smith
Roman Candle	Roman Candle
Condor Ave.	Roman Candle
Waltz #2 (XO)	XO
Bled White	XO
Thirteen	New Moon [Disc 1]
New Monkey	New Moon [Disc 1]
Everything Reminds Me Of Her	Figure 8
Junk Bond Trader	Figure 8

Still Surprised

Happy that Barack was elected. I hope he does an amazing job. I'm a little hesitant, but he's at least inspiring. He's new, different, SMART and competent. That is, he's a competent human being, unlike our current President. Time will tell if he's a competent President. He certainly couldn't be any worse than the VERY incompetent George Bush.

I keep repeating this: my mom couldn't eat certain places - she fought for Civil Rights. My Great-Grandfather was a slave until he was three. This truly is historic. I never thought I'd see the day. My children will grow up in a world where they see a black man can do anything, even be President of the United States.

When I'm 64...O.K. I'm Only Turning 39...

So I'm getting all melancholy thinking about turning 39 next week. It's funny because I will always tell my age and maintain that every year gets better...I guess not at this moment. :)

Maybe that is why this music blog of today is older stuff. I even subconsciously called it Oldies but Goodies. Yes. I am feeling old. So enjoy my latest music mix. The iMix is also below if you prefer that.

Song	Band
Into Temptation	Crowded House
Jah Live	Bob Marley
Cloudbusting	Kate Bush
Pet Sematary	The Ramones
Goody Two Shoes	Adam Ant
Stand By Me	Ben E. King
All Dead, All Dead	Queen
Don't Stop Believin'	Journey
Over The Hills And Far Away	Led Zeppelin
Sexual Healing	Marvin Gaye
Be Near Me	ABC
Can't Live Without You	Scorpions
Rainbow In the Dark	Dio
Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns	Mother Love Bone
Where Did You Sleep Last Night	Nirvana
Love Is a Battlefield	Pat Benatar
Troy	Sinéad O'Connor
Seether	Veruca Salt
Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me	Susan Sarandon
Bad Boys	Wham!
Friends	Whodini