we are scientists

dangit… I was just having a conversation Eric at the CAMHS show last week & in reference to what we were talking about (the first band that night) he said “we are scientists”, but I corrected him and said “no, it’s We Are Invisible” (who are f*ing amazing and I loved their set so much that if I was a label I’d have signed them on the spot!!) – but then asked him if he liked We Are Scientists, and said something about my seeing them on a bill but not knowing them that well… BUT now that I just listened to them, I’m like duh! I totally know they’re music – thanks to Ted putting it on a compilation or playing it on his station or something – but it’s one of those bands that I know the song better than I knew the artist title (happens here & there, but the good ones rise to the top & make me finally say, “alright! who is this? i must know!”). Then, because I thought I’d seen them on an upcoming bill, but turns out I was going to see them open for Biship Allen back in March and for some reason I didn’t and now I’m super bummed!

Ok, that’s the end of my story.

In other rock news, I heart Tapes ‘n Tapes SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. (if you’re not listening to them right now, you’re missing out! Oh & if you live in NYC – go see them this week!!) I want to marry them. Oh, but I also want to marry Spencer of Wolf Parade. Holy shit is that man HOTTTT. Photos are coming soon! Ali wrote up a kick ass post about the show that was simply so damn good we came away on a serious crack-buzz. Wolf Parade CRACK!!

*sigh*pitterpat* so much music to love! :)

Lastly, I have a LOT to blog about. and photos and videos to post… but it’ll happen, eventually.

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Happy Birthday to my awesome brother Max!!!

Max & I share the same Father, and although we grew up living only 20 minutes away from each other (in neighboring towns), unfortunately we didn’t end up actually meeting until I was 21. But I’m not sure I would change that, because since then he’s moved to Santa Cruz and we’ve been able to get to know each other, and in the process have made many VERY fun memories! It’s been SO AMAZING to gain a brother (my one & only!), a new family member and a friend for life!

Big birthday wishes to one of my favorite people in the whole wide world! I love you, buddy! xoxo

P.S. Max also owns his own business, and has been doing great!! Check out his store: OmGallery.com

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music calendar updated!

FYI to all you local music fans, I updated my music calendar lastnight & wowie, 2006 is starting off with a bang!! I have 2 shows this week to hit (maybe 3 if I hit the punk shows in Berkeley this weekend), and about 14 for the whole month! wooohooo!!

I’m super stoked for this week’s shows. First up is Wednesday night: Bagel Ted & Mezzanine’s January California Homegrown Music Series. And, despite the unbelievably kick ass line-up, it’s a FREE show! Come on down!

It even got written up in this week’s Flavorpill – check it out:

“Bagel Radio’s California Homegrown Music Series offers discriminating indie kids a treat tonight: a triple-threat bill in the exceptionally well-appointed Mezzanine. Elephone’s PiL-meets-Bauhaus sound is replete with synthy keyboards and a heart-sleeved frontman — that soft/loud, ’80s new wave/garage-psychedelia aesthetic just never seems to get old. Love Is Chemicals have the quietly seismic, underground-darling routine down to a T, while sisters Jennifer and Rebecca of We Are Invisible make emotionally harried prog rock that suits the grassroots dynamic of the night’s lineup just fine.” (JS)

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Then Thursday is Wolf Parade & Chad Vangaalen @ the Independent. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (x a million more exclamation points). HOT DAMN!

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In other random news, can I just tell you how incredibly ADORABLE my snuggly wuggly kitty is? omg… this morning we had a snuggle session to die for. He came to wake me up and ended up cuddling and sleeping in my arms for over an hour. If any of you have had kids and/or have been around babies that leave you trapped (in a good way) because they’re sleeping in your arms, that’s how this was. It was dreamy.

How cute are these snowmen cookies!?

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Happy New Year!

Our New Years was SUPER fun! I have a lot to post about, actually.

One thing that I’ve been wanting to post about was my lunch date on Saturday, at Savor with my dear friend Lyne. We had such a great talk and it was just a really nice visit. She had even brought these Tarot cards that her Mom gave her, and it was just fun to pull a Past, Present & Future card out & see what they had to say. It was a way more powerful experience than I thought it was going to be! And then after we’d had this big conversation about how I was feeling about my creativity and my art and stuff, I thought it would be cool to pull out one more card, (since I’d been holding the stack through that entire talk, I thought it might have something it wanted to say back) and wow… it was another really powerful message. Very neat and although I silently I rolled my eyes when I first heard she was bringing them, I am really SO happy she did. It was really cool. And again, a wonderful closure of 2005/kick off for 2006 talk with my good friend. xoxo

Saturday afternoon I did a gym (Legs) workout with Becca that has left me so incredibly (and awesomely) sore today that I can hardly move!! Literally every single movement is painful. And tomorrow’s going to be even worse! yikes! But we’re going to do some cardio to get things moving. I love feeling sore, but wowie zowie!

Lastnight, a COMPLETE blast… omg. I had some really funny drunken conversations, one really hilarious one with an ex-boyfriend no less, and even made out with a random stranger! haha! awesome. Actually the random stranger make-out session is funnier with the story as to how it even transpired: Deal was is he knew all the words to the Lovemakers’ songs, and so I of course in my silly-drunkenness thought that was pretty hot. So somehow we started dancing and singing the words and then making out. In between songs was like whatever, no big deal, chatting with our other friends, but as soon as another song kicked up – we were back in action. By the end of their set we were like, “Hi, what’s your name?” hahhaa. Not sure who this guy is in real life (aka when I haven’t forgotten to eat dinner & then had 5 stiff drinks!), but looking at the photos, I may give him a ring & see if he wants to go for a drink. Ya just never know. I have had good luck w/ NYE boys before: I met my boyfriend Matt on NYE and we dated for 4.5 years! And then Rick & I’s first NYE together was at a Lovemakers show, too, and was one of the funnest nights of my life.

Oh ya, I could probably talk about the bands & stuff, too, huh?!! Oy, I have a lot to update you on… and you know me, I like to wait to have some photos to accompany my stories, but Holly was my “camera keeper” lastnight & still has it till tomorrow afternoon. And since for some reason after going to bed at 4am, I woke up at 10am this morning – I’m absolutely beat & must crash now. So, more soon… but for now: Goodnight!

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attitude adjustment

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

I am SO looking forward to the brand spankin *NEW* year. 2005 has been tough for me in a lot of ways, but just when I thought it was going to start getting better, the last few months took me down to a whole new level. Between working my ass off, not working out, and then the holidays: ak! I felt like I became a big fat GROUCH! I was feeling un-motivated, un-inspired, and a bunch of other ugly not-very-willo-like feelings that were just plain bummin me out! I’ve known I need to do something about it, but isn’t it crazy how when you’re in that hole, it can feel like you’ll never get out? Well, I’m happy to say, now that I’ve had a few days to relax* and feel like ME again, I am ready to make a change for the better! I mean, the last thing I want to be is a victim about what I’ve self-imposed on myself, ya know? I need to remind myself I HAVE CHOICE! I don’t want to be someone who pushes people away (especially when I could use a little pulling someone towards me, if you know what I mean). I want to be a fun, open, loving person, who is thoughtful and patient and isn’t afraid to take care of herself!! HERE! HERE!

*I took this entire week off and have been in this big de-stressing period and I swear, I thought it was never going to go away, but *finally* TODAY I have started to feel re-energized! I’m on the upswing! wahoo!

I usually don’t like the whole New Year Resolution dealio, but this year it hit at the perfect time for me to get my shit in gear and start taking care of myself again. I won’t go into all of them here, as honestly there’s a bunch of stuff I’m working on for myself, but here’s a few simple ones we can all relate to:

– Drink more water! I’ve always been a huge proponent of this, but the last few months I’ve noticed what a serious lack of water I’m drinking. Like we’re talking hardly any at all. That’s gotta stop… I’m not sayin it’s gotta be some crazy 8 glasses a day regimen, just more than 1, for chris’sakes! :)

– Work out more. As I’ve said before, this is for my mental health more than anything. Talk about becoming a hermity un-motivated grouch… not working out was not helping me at. all. I definitely could use a little mind-body connection/balance happening and I know that working out helps me in more ways than I ever even realize. Not to mention it helps me get out of the house & *move*, considering I literally roll out of bed, turn on the computer & SIT all frickin day. Like I can’t justify an hour a day? jeeshk! Anyone work out at the 24 hr fitness at the Potrero Center, and want a gym buddy? :) Don’t stalk me there though, ok? Might not be the best first impression to see me with unwashed hair, no makeup & sweatin like a pig. hahhaa.

– Face my fears. I’m not sure how to sum this up, because it’s a big one for me, and we can all probably relate to some area in our lives that needs some attention. Some area that you need to stop escaping from the fears around it and/or avoiding facing it and seeing it for what it really is. I feel like I have been becoming someone I don’t want to be lately, and I owe it to myself and the people around me to take a good long look at that & figure it out. Gaining more balance in my life, and allowing myself to put some more structure into place, de-stressing, etc… all these things can help me become less caught up in the negative cycle in my head. Bring in more compassion, humility and empathy, etc. This area is almost the hardest to work on, because, in my efforts to improve, I have to remember it’s not about perfection or getting it right. It’s almost like firing the perfectionist in me because truthfully, she isn’t serving me any more! So ya, I know that’s a little vague, but maybe some of you can relate in some way, shape or form. Let’s hear it for being willing to look at our shit & do something about it! :)

OK – my friend Holly just arrived & it’s time for the first drink of the night! Let the party begin!!! Hope you all have fun tonite! HAPPY NEW YEAR! xoxoxoox

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our first christmas in san francisco!

My Momma joined me out here this year, and I’m so glad she did!!! After growing up in Colorado, and spending almost every single Christmas there (xcept for last year) in freezing cold and snow, I *LOVE* that this year I didn’t have to travel anywhere and my Mom got to join me out here where there’s sunshine and green grass & trees. It was such a relaxing little vacation together!!

So I already blogged about Friday night, but here’s a few photos:


Mom & I downtown, after a *yummy* dinner @ Fly Trap and drinks at Kate O’Brien’s!

On Saturday we went to see Polar Express on IMAX 3D and it was *SO AWESOME*!!! When was the last time, if ever, you saw a 3-D movie on IMAX!?!?! Holy sh*t, all I have to say is: I am going to see every single IMAX 3D movie from now on!! It’s incredible!!! I hope I get to see “MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON 3D” because I have always thought it would be SO AMAZING to be in outer space, and seriously, for the low low price of $15 you can feel like you are! :p That one might not be showing here, or may have passed already, but in the trailers we saw a really cool IMAX 3D movie coming out called IMAX DEEP SEA 3D and I’m SO THERE, too! It’s like going diving!

So anyway – that was so fun and my Mom & I came out of the movie just high on life. Everything was brighter and we were feelin’ the Christmas spirit. :) We did a little shopping till all the stores started closing (since it was Christmas Eve), and came home to rest. But we realized after chillin on the couch for awhile, we were too beat to go out to dinner, so we stayed in & I fixed my mom up my specialty: stir fry with brown rice! I put in Bottle Rocket, but I don’t think my Mom got the humor :p as she ended up falling asleep while I watched the rest of it. I love that movie!

Unfortunately because we failed to go to the grocery store the day before, we woke up on Christmas morning to realize we didn’t have the fixin’s we wanted to have to make a nice breakfast here, and so we set out to see if there were any places open and quickly found that hardly any were! In hindsite, we should have just stopped at a corner store for some eggs and been satisfied with that, but we ended up finding ourselves at Mel’s diner and my Mom actually totally LOVED their eggs benedict, so that worked out! I’m easy, so I was just happy she was happy & that we were together.

After breakfast we came back here, packed up & headed up to Napa! I’d made us reservations to stay at the Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville and massage appointments, too! We were running late, so we rescheduled our massages & settled into our room drinking the bottle of wine they gave us before getting ready to go out for our nice Christmas dinner. While my Mom got ready, I texted people Merry Christmas wishes :) considering I was too swamped this year to do Christmas cards (sorry peeps!). Texting Christmas notes is such a sign of 2005, eh? But it’s a great way to tell people you’re thinking of them, without interrupting their relaxing day. It was really fun to hear back from friends & I even got a few sweet phone calls, too. I’ve been so damn stressed & overworked this last month or so, that Christmas was a painful stress on top of it all. Many of my friends won’t get gifts from me until 2006. :)

Our Christmas dinner was at none other than the luxurious Auberge du Soleil and it was AMAAAZINGLY GOOD!!! It was a pre-fix and every single course was absolutely breathtaking and mouthwatering!! You know a meal is good when you’re at the end of it & your mouth is still waterin thinking about the first course! I highly, highly recommend it!!

My Mom & I had a ton of fun at dinner and went back to our 5-star room (with fireplace!) satisfied and ready to watch a movie! :) We watched Must Love Dogs, but it was just ‘OK’. My Momma called it when she remarked that it seemed like they were rushing the plot too much & therefore the acting seemed really bad. I totally agree! It wasn’t as good as I would have hoped, especially being that I heart John Cusack so much… but oh well.

The next morning we woke up to have a quick bite in the hotel lobby (their champagne breakfast), and then we were ready for our massages!! They were wonderful & we even spent some time in the steam room afterwards. Aaaahhh, steam rooms are so awesome! It’s like a facial for your whole body.

We spent the rest of the day driving around Napa, doing a wine tasting, and SHOPPING (yes, some more… it’s what we do best!! :) My Mom got me a new towel set (that I have so desperately been needing), a new bathroom cabinet (Just from Target, but it was inexpensive and is nicer than the stacked crates I’ve been using! :p), and a floor rug (for soaking up the rainy/muddy shoes that walk through my door!). I bought myself a few new clothes I’m stoked on, too!

Overall it was a VERY relaxing and nice Christmas with my Momma. She teaches me so much all the time about being patient, loving and kind. I’m very lucky to have her!! xoxox

View all the photos from my Mom’s Christmas Visit

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local band lovin

I haven’t made my top 10 lists for 2005 yet, and it’s going to be hard, but I will try to narrow it down. Bagel Ted posted his Top 10’s of 2005, and considering Ted knows what’s up, you must check em out! Speaking of Ted, the next CAHMS (free show!) is on January 4th & it’s an awesome line-up!

OK, so on to my local band lovin’ post… I posted a few show photos before Christmas, but didn’t get a chance to post about it, so here it goes. First up: Trevor’s awesome end of year line-up @ Hotel Utah last Saturday night (12/17). This show was great! Tired from the raucous night before, Holly & I rallied (Ali never made it, the sleepyhead :p) there around 9pm and both found ourselves hungry for some warm soup, fries and for me, a tasty Hotel Utah cheeseburger. We listened to the first performer, Anamude from the bar while we ate, but she sounded great and I look forward to getting her CD’s. The next band up was Cold War Kids (from LA) and I LOVED their set!! They’ve got that bluesy folk/rock dirty sound and great energy. And I have to admit, the lead singer’s perfectly muscular tan arms were sending me over the edge. hi. yum!

Holly & I sat out most of the next band set, Empty Rooms, but I went in for the song that made Ted’s top 10 Bay Area songs of 2005 list and it was great!

Hijack the Disco ended the night & RULED as always. It never ceases to amaze me how I can see them over & over & over again and still enjoy every single second of their kick ass sets! HELL YES!


Holly, Ted, me & Trevor


Cold War Kids


Hijack the Disco

View all the photos from this night

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Then Sunday night (12/18), Ali & I hit the long awaited Rogue Wave show at GAMH. Their new one, Descended Like Vultures is EXCELLENT, and we were stoked they were coming through town (or rather *home*, considering they’re from Oakland!) to play. Plus, I’ve been going to see this band for a couple years now and they’re always SO fun live and they’re such nice guys! I was really glad I got a chance to say hi to Zach, Lisa and Gram before the show, too, just to personally congratulate them on such a kick ass follow up release (on Subpop no less!), and for a packed headlining show at GAMH. They rule & I’m so proud of them!


Rogue Wave @ GAMH


Ali & I @ Rogue Wave – one of our last shows of 2005!
What a great year it’s been with fellow show ho pro Ali at my side! woohoo! xoxo

View the Rogue Wave Photo Album

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Added 12/28: A timely article was written up in SFGate about some of the excellent albums that have come out of the SF music scene!

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It’s Christmas Eve!

Lastnight my Mom & I had so much fun. After going downtown and shopping a little (and popping in to say hi to Ali @ Banana), we went & had an awesome dinner @ Fly Trap: it couldn’t have been more perfect! We even went to Kate O’Brien’s afterwards for a couple drinks! aww yaa, Mom & Willo! hahaa Seriously, it was so fun. We drank, we laughed, we cried. Good ol’ Mother/Daughter bonding.

Now we’re off to see Polar Express on IMAX 3D, get mani/pedi’s and go grocery shopping for a yummy Christmas Eve dinner: Salmon, my favorite! :)

btw – if some of you are confused as to why I’m not in Cozumel, I’m not sure if I ever wrote it out here (it may have all been done in comments), that the diving trip is postponed due to the hurricanes. So tomorrow my Momma & I are driving up to Napa and spending the night in a beautiful Inn & Spa to make up for it. :) I am looking forward to my massage!!

Hope you’re all having a wonderful day! xo

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Happy Holidays!

Hopefully you all are already on vacation (like me! yay!!) or that yours is beginning in a matter of hours. I am so completely ready for a few days to chill!!

Mine began yesterday afternoon with me driving down to Santa Cruz to pick up my brother and his darling girlfriend, Samara, and then drove us all back up here. We promptly went straight to Emmy’s and drank lots of wine & ate forkfulls of their tasty spaghetti! yumm!! And then we went on a little driving adventure in my new ride… driving them up Clipper to where it intersects with Market, and then drove all the way down so they could see that beautiful view of the city. Then, as luck would have it, I realized I was near the Tom & Jerry decorated house!! And, seriously, by an absolute Christmas miracle I drove straight to it! I couldn’t believe it! I thought I was going to be like 6 blocks off either way, and that we’d never find it… but there it was! woohoo!

After many holiday drinkies we even broke out the ol’ mini-party standby game, Taboo! That’s always fun after many glasses of wine. You either magically get it after like 2 words, or you get a ton of clues and don’t get the most obvious of answers. ha! Max played us some guitar (of which, mental note, I have GOT to start recording his random songs he makes up on the spot! so funny!). And then this morning I drove them over to the Emeryville Amtrak (Train) Station where they’re off for a romantic 24 hour adventure to kick off their holiday break. sweet! It was so great to see the two of them before they left. Especially cuz Max’s bday is in January & I probably won’t see him for another month!

Anyway…. I have to go now cuz I’m picking up my Mom from the airport & I want to go get my car* washed!
*my car is now officially named “SMOOOOO!” lovingly derived from part of the license plate :p

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

May you get to sleep, eat and play all day long! xoxo

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who is the awesomest?

Watch this awesome video to find out. The director is awesome! (Steve, you will love his illustration!)

Speaking of awesomest, I had a pretty fun night lastnight! My good friend (and ex-boyfriend of 4.5 years) Matt came over around 6 and we had a present swap! He gave kazoobie some yummy treats and brought me a bottle of wine & some iPod socks! yay! Here’s him modeling them for me. I also had him model the funny t-shirt that I gave him & a stuffed donut! ha! Yes, hot dogs & donuts. I know this man well. He *loved* the shirt! yay! :)

We had such a nice visit and I’m sooo happy that we’re such good friends now. It’s such a nice feeling being around someone who knows you so well, like Matt does me. Right now I have some stuff going on that I don’t feel like I can talk to many people about, and it was really nice to talk to a good old friend. xoxoxo

Oh & Matt had brought me a bottle of wine, too – so we decided to have a glass & ended up killing the bottle by the time he left. :p Shortly after, Ali came over & immediately made herself a stiff drink while I made us some yummy tofu/veggie stir fry w/ brown rice and poured myself another glass of wine. Holly arrived and we made more drinks, figured out our plan & then called Lyne to come & pick us up!

Lyne came to get us & took us hostage! :p She insisted taking us to go see something before going to the bar, but we were wanting to get to the show, so we complained the whole way to the point she made us say “i trust in lyne” and do the “trust in lyne sign“. haha!

Well, we were glad we did! As soon as we turned the corner we saw what she was wanting to show u: this house with huge Christmas decorations all over like you’ve never seen before! It was so fun!


Ali, Holly, me & Lyne looking merry in front of the elaborately decorated tree

The rest of our night was a blast. We hit The Knockout (the old Odeon) for The Cuts & The Sermon show and I ended up seeing a bunch of people I haven’t seen in a long time: Molly, Missy, Eric Shea… and I actually had thought I knew someone in The Sermon, and turns out I was right – I know Greg & Dave from the SF indie list & their both being in the Hut Dwellers. Running into people always makes the night so much fun.

We played video games & even took photos in the photobooth they have there. So fun! The real ones are in Lyne’s car so I’ll have to get them from her & scan them in… but we also took a few of our own with my camera. :)

Afterwards we hit Courtney’s birthday party and got to see Lane and a number of others dressed up accordingly for their theme: “Mr. Rogers & Mrs. Robinson moon goddess birthday spectacular”. I ran into more friends – worlds colliding between my Adaptive Path/blogger friends & Becca/Jonathan/Thor/Moses friends! So great!

Finally Holly & I left, walking the short distance back to my house – and we even stopped and played a random tetherball game on the way! hahaa! I just remembered this afternoon that we did that. It was about 3:30 in the morning by that time, but we happened to pass a guy walking past us shortly after and he was like “who won?” and we both exclaimed defiantly “we both won!” hahaha. Such a fun night!!

» View the photo album

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Of course tonite we’re kickin up the trouble again & hittin a great lineup at the Hotel Utah: Anamude, Cold War Kids, Empty Rooms and our favorite local boys: Hijack the Disco! yay!

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