En Vogue Fashion Show

 
I still can't hear the name En Vogue without remembering that fabulous female quartet of sexy, sultry singers of the same name circa 1990 (my college years) - - but this blog and fashion show is about the annual fashion and charity show benefiting the Orthodox Greek society and churches of San Diego and Southern CA. (It still beats me why they call it that and don't call it by some just-as-ethnic chic Greek word or title.)

That said, the show was last May at the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel and our wonderful producer, Lucinda Mediema, sent us some pictures yesterday. Well, since I am all for documenting my runway career (he he he) and the lovely Trina Turk gowns we got to showcase (sigh), I am here to boast, er post them. Of interest, the Greeks attending this show also included several Orthodox priests whose presence led to a quick stir of double-sided sticky tape backstage on a certain extreme-cut gown on a certain model with a lovely "enhanced" bosom. (Evidently last year there were some scandalous complaints of some of the fashion being too sexy or revealing.) Although if they are funding a real fashion show with real models and not a community or church fashion show, they should expect to see some skin or leg, right??? :) (Well, this models conscious is clean - I boast neither bosoms nor bum...)

Click on picture below for slideshow of model blog regulars!

En Vogue show

Where are the Pretty Ponies??

I am filing a major complaint with NBC network television as well as all the stations- - WHERE are the horse competitions???! I even am paying extra mula (a whopping $5) to our cable package to get the Olympics - and I have YET to see an equestrian event.

For those who know me - I grew up owning and competing my gray Arabian gelding, Torino, shared with my sister Sara. I am still a huge horsey fan and it is with major disappointment I haven't been able to view any events yet.

This year, especially - is noteworthy for the oldest-competing Olympian is an equestrian - Hoketsu, aged 67, from Japan - see picture above of him astride his mare, "Whisper." Hoketsu has played down the fuss about him competing at 67 although he has referred to himself as "the hope for old men". Work it out!

Also, the first professional black horseman, from Brazil is also competing - in this traditionally 'affluent white-man's sport'.

But aside from it all, is just the utter beauty of Dressage (rhymes with massage) - which is essentially ballet for horses. Admirably, my beau Patrick used to compete in Dressage on his horse, Sam, as a kid back in Ireland. Although I rode a good 10 years, I never got to learn this true art on horseback. It is extremely focused and difficult to train a horse in Dressage - and I adore watching it.

Aside from that is the show-jumping - another sport Patrick partook in, and the cross-country show jumping. Owning an Arabian breed of horse - they do not tend to be natural jumpers, such as Thoroughbreds, so my sister and I didn't partake much in these events but focused on what we and our horse were trained specifically in.

Still, I get a rush watching it on TV and can honestly remember and feel what it is like to have a massive animal underneath you that you somehow have earned its trust and respect so that he performs for you and with you. For a horse can show a man that, in comparison, he is very, very small and weak. It is amazing how well-trained and focused these animal athletes are!

WHERE ARE MY Olympic HORSE EVENTS?????!!!!

Youtube, I am praying you will be my salvation....

I heart The Olympics!!

Okay, okay - my college friend and fellow blogger, Heather, beat me to posting an Olympic blog. But I swear right here to her and all of you that I planned on all along blogging about my beloved every 4-year world sports event. (And, Heather, I also SWEAR that I always planned on using the very similar title - hahahah!)

Ahhh- the Olympics - where do I start? Well, there is the comment that my beau, Patrick, made on Sunday when announcing to me that we could spend the extra $5 to get the regular basic channel cable so that I could watch it these couple weeks. Oh ho ho - doesn't he sound so sweeettt, so thoughtful??? "You mean, for a lousy $5 and a quick phone call to the cable company I could have watched the Opening Ceremonies on Friday night???!!!!" I bellowed. I mean the man gets ShowTime seasonally in order to watch "Dexter" or, before that, "The Sopranos" - and after hearing me talk excitedly about the Olympics all summer he NOW tells me that we can pay a little extra to get NBC???? CHEEENGADDOOOOW!

So, yes, we NOW have NBC and I have since been taping day and night coverage - and LOVING IT! I don't understand how people don't get into the Olympics. Patrick and his daughter could care less - - and I informed them that for this 2 weeks they are going to have to share the TV with me. He he he. For my part, I can say that, to me the Olympics represents more than a major sporting event showcasing the best athletes in the World, but also world and cultural unity, and respect for one another's strengths and talents.

Since I can remember my huge family would gather around the TV to watch the Olympics. I am the least sporty of them all, along with my mom, but that wouldn't stop all of us from watching, cheering and crying through the soccer, swimming, track and field, gymnastics and the equestrian competitions for my horsey sister, Sara and I. Oh..yeah - the above are must-sees for us - but in reality, I will watch anything of the summer Olympics.

I told Patrick - "Every 4 years I essentially cry for an entire 2 weeks of TV coverage."

And oh, how it's true! I simply adore the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.(Coming from a theatrical and performing arts background - how can I NOT???) I can respect the amount of rehearsal time, people involved, choreographers, lighting directors, set designers, musicians, dancers, costumers, etc etc that it takes to pull off such a massive performance. I cry throughout the whole thing - and I love how the hosting city incorporates their particular culture and traditions into it.

Then I continue to cry and be fascinated by all the countries' marching entrance into the Stadium. I cry even more when I see the smaller or poorer countries who can only send 1, 2 maybe even 5 athletes and delegates as compared to the massive, almost obnoxious and entitled number of North Americans - sigh-.

Quick editor's note - to see more coverage of less stellar countries, tune in to spanish-language television channels - it's a whole different scene as they show bits of EVERYONE - stellar or not... :P

Ahhh, yes - I cry and cry and I am so moved by the beauty of the athlete's talents and determination and training motivation and then I cry more and more. Then I see the Medal Ceremonies and I see athlete's sing their national anthem and I cry even more. (By the way, I commented to Patrick last night watching superstar USA swimmer, Michael Phelps, not sing while bronze medalist American DID - that one should be ashamed to NOT sing or mouth the words of their respective anthem.) Although, Phelps is just winning so many and then jumping in the pool 20 minutes later for yet another race that I guess he is just not really taking it in like some others - phew! God Bless him...

I also totally cry when they do those human-interest stories on certain athletes coming from especially-difficult backgrounds. Those just kill me.

Also, Patrick can attest to my crying at several Coca Cola and Johnson and Johnson commercials featuring the more photogenic athletes with beautiful smiles. But the absolute best commercials hands-down this summer are the Morgan Freeman voice-over VISA commercials - - wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh so well-done and moving!!!

So, yes, the Olympics make me nostalgic for my youth and all my siblings being at home together and then doing gymnastics and horsey stuff in the yard and scoring each other. I even remember winning a gold medal at a horse show that took place during the Olympics in which they awarded it as 1st place instead of the normal trophy.

I think it would be a sad, sad day for me to ever not get excited and watch hours of the coverage and...you guessed it: cry some more tears of joy and respect. I simply cannot imagine it. And you can be sure that I will be watching my missed Opening Ceremonies on youtube, meanwhile!!!

The Best Interviewer EVER

I found this Comic Con video on MSN a week ago and HAD to post it. Firstly, it deals with one of my favorite TV shows ever: ABC's "Pushing Daisies" - I'll blog about it some other time. Secondly, I now consider myself a HUGE fan of MSN correspondent Dave Hill - who is absolutely hilarious. He comes off aloof and unprepared while kind of talking to himself while interviewing - but I consider him a breath of fresh air compared to the ultra suave/ultra glam E! TV red carpet and award show arse-kissing interviewers. Plus, if you are familiar with the show - it is hilarious to see the cast react to him!


Comic-Con 2008: 'Pushing' the Party Bus

Birthday Shout-Out: my P

 

Never thought I'd fall in love with a tatooed ex-Navy, ex-punk from Ireland he he he. Here's a swell picture of Patrick undoubtedly pondering the meaning of life at his ripe old age of 42!!! Felicidades, Mi Amor :P

Comic Con 2008

 

Okay, I know I am incredibly back-blogged but I AM finally getting out my Comic Con blog. It did take me a couple days to recap from working the sun and humidity of it - this year, I was outdoors, unlike other years when I worked inside at the booths. That said, I had great friends and company working the circus-like atmosphere that was continuous on the outside of the SD Convention Center throughout the 4-day weekend.

 

I worked all day long for 2 different companies and jobs - G4TV and for Midway and their highly-anticipated video game of Mortal Kombat vc. DC Universe - essentially they are combining a fight-game with Sub-Zero, Mortal Kombat character against Batman and other DC Universe Comic book characters. (Evidently, it is an insane idea to bring the 2 together and people were crazily commenting that, "Batman can be killed???!!!NOOOOOO!!" And just to plug it a little bit more since they paid me so handsomely: the game comes out November 17 and will be for the PlayStation3 and XBox360 game consuls, thank you very much.

 

I am not a comic book reader although I respect it tremendously for it's artistic drawings, and cliff-hanging story lines that bring readers back for more year after year, decade after decade, even. That said, the Comic Con has evolved so much more than just comics. It is a Hollywood event now (shoot - even Paris Hilton attended - ugh!) with casts, producers, writers and directors of movies and TV shows attending and giving sneak peaks and Q&A's to the fans. Thank God, I don't lose it around celebs and working actors hehehe - - but I sure wouldn't have minded meeting Lee Pace from the fabulous and quirky TV show, "Pushing Daisies"...

 

Of course the best thing about Comic Con (for me, anyway) is people-watching and seeing all the costumes. At this point, folks in their 40s who grew up like my family worshipping Star Wars, Transformers, Star Trek and Battlestar Gallatica are now parents themselves and are introducing all the fabulous OG (original) SciFi characters to their kids. To see 2 generations all dressed up was awesome - although I know the parents enjoy it even more than their over-stimulated, tired children.

Yup storm troopers, Bobo Fett the Bounty Hunter from Star Wars, and "V" (from the movie of the same name) masks were probably the most repeated costume I saw. Then you have the cute, petite Asian girls in their sexy schoolgirl animae costumes. It is simply so much fun to see that for one 4-day weekend, geeks and nerds, especially can just enjoy it and dress up and discuss and schmooze to their hearts' delight!

And, yes, of course - my Trekkie nerd, 42-old-brother Gabe attended, once again, and for the 2nd year in a row breaking in our nephews to the glories of sci fi imagination and creativity :) Bravo!
Click on pic below for slideshow!

Comic Con 2008

Christian the Lion brings out Christian Spirit

Meet the ‘hugging’ lion’s owners --(Click on the headline to view video)


Yesterday I found out that my beau, Patrick, is the last person on earth who has NOT heard of nor watched the utube video phenom of 'Christian the Lion' that has swept across the globe, prompting tears of joy and happiness in millions.

I first came across the video 6 months ago, myself, but for whatever reason the past 2 weeks it has really blown up in popularity and views.

Watching the video shot on grainy film in 1969 and showing the love and devotion of the former lion cub to his original owners I almost threatened Patrick stating, "If this video does not make you cry...you have NO HEART!!!" Sadly, there is a slight chance my P be one of the few who does NOT cry - although he earns bonus points for having cried and boozed up when he had to put his sick cat down a few years back...

Watching the footage of utter happiness and expectation on the smiling faces of the young men when they first glimpse their previous housepet approaching them down the cliff is truly one of the most beautiful and perfect demonstrations of love that I have ever seen in my life!

My only critique on this gorgeous-themed video between man and beast is the pretty but cheesy background music of Whitney Houston's version of "I will always love you" (especially its cued-for-dramatic-impact drum beat that accompanies the lion's ultimate recognition and rush into the arms of his previous owners).

This particular MSN video gives greater insight to where the owners are now and what they are doing since this video. I also think and wonder that instead of the cheesy end-subtitles of 'looking up an old friend - and being glad you did' - - sounding entirely too much like a Hallmark card - - they should have posted the website for their animal preservation organization that they talk about in the interview. I believe many would donate to it since it all started with the magnificent baby lion cub for sale in a tiny cage in the London department store of Harrods....

For those of us who are pet owners or animal lovers, the video is truly a treat - - watch it again and be reminded of God's greatness in nature and love - - sniff sniff - and keep those tissues handy, Patrick!!!

Ahhhhhh. shucks!

  Really, I have a list of things I'd like to blog about and/or pictures to post. But I am working like a donkey right now and am too busy (read: tired) to keep things up to speed. Please, forgive. Last weekend was Pride, I already worked all day at Comic Con and will continue another 3 days, and next weekend is my San Diego Opera callback... I'm hoarse and worn out !

Vivir, Amar, Ser: Pride 2008

Pictures to Follow. Had such a great time!

Tonight I Walked Alone down a Dark, Ghetto Alley...

To know me is to know that I relish words and phrases. Short ones, especially. Remember this ditty a couple years back? Click here.

I am known to underline them in books, magazines, cut them out, sometimes write them in the back cover of my written day planner - (No, I don't and will never have one of those Blackberry or Ipod planner gadgets, I will always write things out by hand.)

That is, unless I am typing thoughts in my blogs here or in the literally hundreds of bound pages I have of typed and bound journals that I've been keeping since the tender age of 14. I can admit, sometimes typing can be groovy for I can get a lot of those thoughts and phrases floating around in my head out quickly and not sloppily as when I used to furiously jot them down by hand.

For they all want to come out of my head and conscious, you see.

Wait - I feel some pouring out through my fingertips right now, let's see what I come up with:

- Like a tongue to a broken tooth: I've come full circle.

- Tonight I walked late at night down a dark ghetto alleyway - several times. Risking fate and danger? Well, stubbornly (more like 'stupidly') I've always done things like that. I remember back in college worrying my roommate, Diana, by walking a couple miles alone late at night with no street lights and many trees far up to the deserted track to go jogging. Or walking alone after midnight from my old studio in Hillcrest to the 24-Hour Fitness gym to work out. I remember a onetime gay friend and neighbor worrying about my taking walks or runs (before my bad knees) late at night alone and insisting I carry my phone with me and that he would be calling the police if I didn't return within 45 minutes. Even in Mexico, while living and studying there several months at the bright age of 21, I would naively return home alone the dark, tiny cobble-stoned alleyways ("callejones", they were called) late at night - even once getting followed and grabbed by some young psycho high on drugs whom I had seen follow me and stare at me from a distance for weeks. The ironic thing about tonight is that I even have pepperspray - but it broke off my keychain a few months back so I went at it alone in the alley tonight, clutching a key in between each knuckle shining brightly as a weapon - should the need arise.

- "Do you dance?" The tall, dark stranger asked as the Ragtime band played a jig. "You look like an Arabian princess..."

- I've noted before that sometimes my real-life dialogues play out in smart cliches like a carefully-scripted screenplay.

- "I hope I don't drive you to madness like Rodin did to Camille", read the back of the Parisian postcard featuring a photograph of the famous doomed lover's delicate nude statue with flowing tresses. I think both me and my boyfriend-at-the-time, Mark, knew full-well that his haunting words would inevitably come to fruition. Alas, being utter romantics and aching inside as artists are (and must be) we instead preferred to silently marvel and focus on how ironic, insightful and...let's face it: how painfully true his words could and did turn out to be (!)

- Te amo, mi Vida.
Te amo, Cobarde!

- If Love is a Red dress: well, then, do me a favor and, please, hang me in Rags.

Birthday Shoutout: Dad!!

 

My dad actually thinks they made a typo mistake at the hospital on his birth certificate. (!) He is of the opinion that the tired nurse wrote the incorrect year. (!!) In any case, today is my father's birthday. It is 71 - or 70 if you ask him. I love you, Dad - you have always been more than anything: a dutiful son, father and God-abiding example of a Christian. I am proud of all you've accomplished and only regret that you do not fully believe how much my siblings and I truly appreciate you and all you've done for us all these years.

An Araiza 4th of July

click on slideshow below!

4th of July 2008

Patrick's daughter has been singing "Amazing Grace" off and on all day - it touches me and she doesn't even know it. We just got back spending the lovely 4th of July afternoon at my Uncle Alex and Aunt Peggy's beautiful home in Mt. Helix, La Mesa. We were there last year as well (see blog here) and had such a great time that we made it a family reunion this year. Thus, the Northern Cal Araizas all flew down and we started it off by 15 of us meeting at a lovely outdoor wine bar in Point Loma last night. I love my cousins so much and am so proud of all of them - they are truly beautiful inside and out. To see where they are now, after growing up and spending so much time with them as kids and teens really brings warmth into my heart.

 

Today, I spent the first 45 minutes of the party muddling, preparing and passing out mojitos since I announced I really know how to make them (I also don't cook much, so I opted to bring the booze - sigh). The food was as usual amazing - with scrumptious feta-cheese dips, pasta salad, green salad with fruit and for the carnivores - grilled carne and pollo asado. Ummmm....

If all the talking and laughing and eating wasn't enough we also spent a lot of time at the pool where the kids, especially, spent about 6 hours straight before they were made to come out, wrinkled as prunes.

 

Having my cousins, their spouses, my Uncle Al and Aunt Peggy who drove out from Oklahoma, not to mention my dear cousin Leslie who is 4 weeks away from having her 2nd son (and still can manage to look stylish and gorgeous) - - it was truly a happy day for me. I am always so proud to bring Patrick and Ciara to the Araiza clan, and everyone is so good to Ciara and makes sure she fits in with all the nieces and nephews.

 

That is love, ya'll. That is decency... Even in this year of religious scandal and hype present in the War and in our Presidential race it is very encouraging to me to know that God still lives in and does right by many in America. May God Bless our beautiful country, the USA. :)

The Bikram Yoga Experiment - The Conclusion

If you read my blog last week, you understand that I was going to take a week worth of classes of the very hot Bikram Yoga since my knee and hip injuries were acting up and I couldn't do regular exercise.

Well, I completed 6 days out of 7 of the Bikram classes at the Kearny Mesa location. I only took off Friday because I was working a lot like that day and my injured left leg was feeling weak and needed a break.

These are my results - a loss of 5 pounds of water weight. A definite toning of the stomach and lower back area. My knee is doing much better and I feel fabulous over all. It was hard work - it takes a lot of time being a 1.5 hour class and I hate feeling that sweaty over all, and, yes, the room smells of musty, stinky sneakers... but I cannot deny how awesome I feel after 1 week. I really do believe it is the best kind of yoga out there, the heat just allows your body to stretch further than I've ever been able to. It's hard work, no doubt, but I am so glad I got through it.

Runway is "All About the Kids"

 

Even with my bad knee injury I've managed to limp through several Spring Runway shows. I decided to document some of them in my journal/blog since one day as I'm older and gray(er) I figure my kids (or cats) might want to know about some of the colorful things I've done in my life.

This particular show last March was for the charity, "It's All about the Kids" - that helps 600 disadvantaged youth in San Diego. My teaching for several years in poorer areas of SD definitely has made me aware of just how disadvantaged these kids are in comparison with so many of their peers - although they all have top of the line cell phones and IPODS that I don't have - shoot.

With a Brazilian Carnaval theme, the party took place at millionaire Jonathon Schiff's ocean side mansion in La Jolla. Being in a home, we did not have a normal catwalk, but had to model down a flight of stairs (ugh - how DO beauty pageant gals DO that without looking down??!!) and then onto a small elevated square room that was open on 2 sides so the crowd gathered to watch us.

 

A Brazilian-themed party meant teeny/tight swimtrunks for...thank GOD - the boys -- and not us women (phew!) Seeing the smoothly-waxed Wade and Scott strutting it without a care in the world brought back memories of when I brought my ex-Italian boyfriend Mik - lover of his own physique and teeny speedos - to LA to watch me in a runway show and he ended up being cast in it last-minute by the same gay producer, Leonard Simspon, who did this show. Leonard made Mik (who didn't flinch) strip to his bikini undies to study his body (oh yes he did-gay snap!) and after having him turn around and stared a bit he cut him from the speedo portion of that show (to Mik's chagrin) because he wasn't tanned evenly and he wasn't waxed - la la ha ha! Poor Mik, he's actually not that hairy, but one doesn't want to see soccer-short tan lines, nor nipple or under-belly-button hair on the runway. :P

 

My smooth-voice friend, Stephanie June, a host and producer of ShindyTV was there and got great coverage of the show. To check it out, click on link here.

And click below for slide show of runway pictures!

"It's Alll About the Kids" Runway

Jordy Spreads the Love

  My tabby cat, Jordy - whom, on a couple occasions I thought would be the only living thing I could count on loving and staying by my side no matter what (ha ha ha) has easily transitioned to Casa Merritt.
  A cat that used to run from children, Jordy in his older age has submitted to Ciara - well not every time she wants him, but once in a while he'll actually sleep on her bed with her - giving her a thrill.
  But who he loves even more than Fred-the-Bassett is my beau, Patrick. Or rather, he loves Patrick's lap and penchant for wearing jeans. Perhaps it's also the fact that P sits a lot at home: on computer, watching his political shows (Fox news - blehh) or playing 'Halo' against my brother (also in his 40s) Gabe.
  So as you can see by the pictures, there are plenty of lap time opportunities with P - who I must admit, isn't totally thrilled with his new duty. But when Jordy is happy - I am happy. And that cat deserves so much for my dragging him around to 6 new homes in as many years.

The Bikram Experiment

  Unfortunately last Friday I re injured my bad knee injury from January that has been responsible for me being able to hardly work out the past 6 months and a 6-pound weight gain - not to mention having a lot of pain and limping.  It seems I can't ignore that this reoccuring injury is fairly serious and I need to rethink my exercising (again). So since I can't do cardio I decided to try an experiment and do a 7-day round of Bikram Yoga. Now, I have gone on 2 occasions before over a year ago to Bikram yoga - see blog here. It is the 1.5 hour class (which is hard enough just being that long) and executed in 120 degree heat and humidity.
  Having said that, today is #3 and I feel like a million bucks having sweat and stretched out bad toxins, aches and stiffness. My knee does bother me on some of the poses in class - that I have to manipulate a bit, but I am amazed that it's holding up as well as it is for the difficulty. I highly recommend yoga and pilates to anyone - the 2 have changed my life in the last 7 years of reducing/annihilating stress and chronic pain. The mental benefits of strength and relaxation have also been beneficial to me and my up and down lifestyle. It's not cheap, but I highly recommend it and hope it to be something I can do all the while through my old age.

P loosens up at STIFF Concert

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While I have music and concerts on my mind, I decided to blog about a concert Patrick and I went to a few weeks ago at the House of Blues. It was one of his favorite Punk bands, Stiff Little Fingers, from his region of Northern Ireland.

The evening started out on a good note - while we were waiting in line to buy tickets there, a gal suddenly came up waving 2 and said, "I've got free tickets!" We were too slow (probably from shock) and the 20-something kid in front of us snatched them to find out a couple minutes later that there were 2 concerts going on that night and he was attending the other one. So his friend turned to us and said, "You can have them, they aren't for our concert." But the taller one who first snatched them literally held onto them for a few seconds and we could just see him greedily adding up in his mind how much he could sell them to us for. Please - the concert was around $20 bucks. And not selling out, so he wasn't going to make anything from us. The shorter friend read his mind, and ordered, "Dude - just give them the tickets!" Which he did - begrudgingly.

So we happily entered and ordered a drink while people-watching before the show started. One could see a few aged punks in the crowd of dressed-in-black alternative kids and T-shirt wearing men like P in their 40s. (note - I wore jeans and a dark t-shirt too, but I am sure I stood out by a mile he he he). There weren't many women there, let's just say.

I love Patrick's stories from growing up in Ireland and he commented to me that when he was about 12 or 13, the older boys about 16 would come up to all the young boys and demand to know if they liked and followed "Stiff Little Fingers". And if the 12 year old was naive or for some reason didn't like punk and answered, "no", then the older boys would punch and slug him. Let's just say that the Irish (especially those in Northern occupied Ireland) seemed very loyal of their region's great punk band.

At last the band came out and started - P, had, of course seen them a few times previously. I have to admit for some older guys they could strum some seriously quick guitar licks but it was not without raised eyebrow that the band looked vastly different than their heyday - see video above. The lead singer Jake even joked about it, "Now we're fat and 50!"

Still, the crowd really enjoyed it, and I am not above enjoying the music and atmosphere. Very interestingly was P pointing out the dynamics of the mosh pit. As the concert first started there were about 5 guys center and up front who were doing the 'pogo' jumping-up-and-down dance that punk invented. Halfway through the concert and with the alcohol starting to be felt they switched to moshing on the popular songs. As I commented to P having seen one mo-hawked, angry-looking 40ish punk, 'That one punk has been waiting all night to start moshing."

It was true. And here was where P pointed out the dynamics of the pit. He noted how no one really was pushing or slamming into Mo-Hawk because he was obviously OG (original) and not there to play. He was violent and probably wouldn't care if he hurt someone or got hurt himself. That said, the younger boys and 1 girl who were also moshing on an adrenaline high were running around in the small circle pushing each other excitedly - but not out for blood. Meanwhile, the rest of the standing crowd - like us - served as a barrier and anytime anyone fell out of step of the mosh circle, the barrier would just push them back in.

On the final encore of the night, SLF played P's favorite song (the video above) and in the blink of an eye he disappeared from my side to ....join the pit!!!! I was half-screaming and half-laughing as I stood on tippy toes desperately trying to keep an eye on his bobbing head in the circle of violence. "NOOOOOOO!" It was hilarious to see him do something I'd heard stories about when he was a teen but to see my man at 41 pushing and slamming into others and then eventually losing sight of him altogether was just awesome!! he he he

When he returned to me triumphantly he was breathing heavily, and soaked with sweat - I hate to admit that it wasn't just his sweat on him. When we got home Fred-the-basset was intrigued by all the different smells of sweat on his owner and heavily sniffed him from head to foot, thus also partaking in our entertaining evening of fine Irish punk music. :P

I heart George Michael

4 Words: He's still got it. Last night I attended George Michael's kick-off American tour at the Sports Arena. With my friend Richele in tow we joined the many gay men and older crowd of 40-50 year olds. We never saw anyone younger than us - which amazed us - I mean, I wasn't expecting 20 year olds to be there- but definitely some more 30-somethings like us...he he he.

But let's get to the real details. Just who is George Michael in my life? Well, he is a pop icon whom I have consistently admired since 7th grade and the uber-smash Wham! "Make it Happen" debut album of George and partner (err, musical partner) Andy.

With his fabulous smile, thick mane of dyed dirty-blonde hair and thick horizontal wrinkle that was already present between his dark Lebanese eyes at 19 - George, along with Michael J. Fox, Harrison Ford and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran helped me through puberty. Oh... and the cute guy from "16 Candles"...hehehe.In any case, this man has had a string of hits throughout the 80s with Wham and then as a solo artist continuing through the 90s with his thought-provoking album, "Listen Without Prejudice". Yes, I admit to teasing along with siblings Sara and Benjy at his incredibly gay video, "Wake me up before you go-go" - - which is ironic, as I mused with Richele over some champagne cocktails before the show - - that it is so obvious that he showed gayness (and I am not just referring to those 2-toned Dove short shorts he wore in the video), since the beginning - and yet, he was, IS, so sexy, with sexy, intimate ballads and sensual videos that me and most women easily joined the troops of international admirers and fans.

As far as the show last night. It started a half-hour late which caused me concern for George that he might have been stressing out - - he's had a tough last few years with alcohol, drugs, relationships, coming out and depression. But then the show opened with a superb stage complete with a visual multi-media setting of 3 screens that alternated between video clips, him singing in present time at the concert, and stunning filmwork of nature, space, stars, lights, and, models, fashion and dancers - beautiful men and women graceful dancers. I...loved....it. Had he an image of a galloping Arabian horse in there somewhere it pretty much would have encompassed almost everything that moves me.

As for the man? Well, pushing 50 - he still looks (bite the hand) damn good! His jawline is supreme as usual and whether or not doing his spirited one-hand clapping against the microphone or dancing his sensual moves - this man has STILL GOT IT and then some. And when I say that - - I say that with the respect and admiration that he earns from me for taking some serious hits personally, physically and mentally, and even risking alienating many of his fan base by coming out.

George Michael looked sincerely happy. Like he was truly enjoying himself and truly appreciative of the supportive crowd. And even more so appreciative of "those of us who still knew his work after his "Faith" album" - which was wildly successful and the height of his popularity and sexuality.

As much as I love and loved hearing his earlier work from the 80s and the flood of nostalgia of my feelings of torment as a younger teen; I have since truly admired his skills as a songwriter and singer in his last 3 recent albums. His perfectly named, "Older", as well as "Patience" are full of jazz-inspired, quietly sensitive and thoughtful ballads along with danceable tunes for fans half his age - - just showing how much he'd grown and how many genres of music and styles he could sing and write in.

Hands down, this was tied for first the best concert I've ever gone too. The crowd stood and danced almost the entire time - yes, even to his newer gay-club music - - who can resist those beats??!! And the quiet moments where he sat on alone on a stool and sang, "Careless Whisper", "Father Figure" and "Kissing a Fool" where absolute sentimental and gorgeous gems of live performance.

Mentioning that he saw on "the teley" that day that gays can marry now in California he landed the largest amount of thunderous applause of the entire evening. I am so pleased that I got to see him, since he hasn't toured in America in 15 years and he says this will be his last tour period. Not only a pop icon of my beloved 80s music, but a true singer/songwriter, my hats off to him. I remember years ago my older sister, Sylvia, commenting that few pop singers actually have good voices. Truly good voices. And then she went on to think about it and said, "George Michael can really sing". In today's world of pop singers whose careers last 2 years and lip sync in their concerts, George Michael's integrity as a true musician stands clear and still sets him apart from so many.

E is Jonesin'....

 That is right. I am seriously jonesin' for a trip, a getaway, a little time with Mother Nature. I haven't had a trip since April's quicky road trip to Death Valley and I feel my life-force dropping low as here we are almost in July and although I keep pitching great, or cheap trips to my man - - we've got nothing set in concrete.
  None of this should surprise loyal readers or people who know me - as the only thing I do spend money on is taking trips out in Nature.
  Here are some pics that P barely sent me from his camera on our most fabulous road trip last summer up the California coastline to the Big Sur.
  What you see here is an illegal fire, after-hours on the beach - we were all alone - making this gorgeous evening one of the most magical memories in my life...

Jordy and Fred: BFF

 

Merging two families can have its challenges. But Jordy-the-Cat and Fred-the-Basset are doing just fine.... :)