Last night, Mark and I met up with Kristin and Kevin at the small sins show at The Double Door. I loved the set, and, no, I'm not just saying that because Kev's in the band. At one point, I turned to Kristin and said, "Um, this could be really big." The live show is way more energetic than the cd shows. Cincinnati, they're coming your way tonight, and Baltimore, get ready for their show on the 27th. I'm a fan.

All right. I have to go do laundry, pack and get ready for a week on the road. I'll be in Dallas tomorrow night through Wednesday and then am flying up to Green Bay, staying overnight, and then driving 2 more hours north on Thursday to begin vacation near Iron River, MI to hang with my best friend, Liz, and her family.

All I know is, it's a lot of fucking traveling to go and "relax." I WILL RELAX.

What'dja'all do this weekend?

If anyone wants my Intonation Fest ticket for this Sunday's set of shows, just let me know, you can have it. I think I'm going to take a pass.

Last night I met up with my friend, Kristin, who is in town from Toronto. She is so funny -- I really miss her around. She is staying in Wrigleyville, so we followed the sound of frat boys (ugh) over to Bar Louie for dinner and then headed over to Lincoln Tap Room before ending the night at the Lennox Lounge, where her friend was DJing.

Kristin's husband, Kevin, is in a band called, "Small Sins," and they are playing at the Double Door tomorrow night, so Mark and I are going over there to say "hi" and check them out. I haven't seen Kev in like, 900 years, so I'm excited.

This week has been a tad out of control, but fun. I will sleep when I die.

Could things slow down here for one god damn minute, please? God!

So, Austin was pretty great. You know, for Texas. (I keeed.) My boss and I were down there to send our client (who quit) off in style. The client's a real girly girl and everything has to be top notch. Therefore, drinks were had at the Four Seasons, fancy lunches, dinners, etc. Our client returned the favor by "treating" us to BBQ tacos at 9:30 in the morning. Cause apparently that's just how things are done down in Texas. Um, for the record, coffee and BBQ do not mix. I do not recommend it.

Anyway, that night, I was able to con Charlie into meeting me out at about 11 PM for a couple of drinks. We coordinated our outfits and then screamed like 11-year-old girls when we finally met up. We went to Red Fez, this cool Morrocan-themed bar for a couple of cocktails. Charlie is seriously one funny dude. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting him, make him tell you the story of the car coffin. We made a half-assed attempt to take pictures, but every single one of them we vetoed, since we had like, 9 double chins in every one of them. Not suitable for internet exposure.

Ok, three paragraphs in one post is almost too much for anybody to handle. I'm assuming I've already lost 95% of you. Things have been high stress around here because I found out next week Mon. - Wed. I have to go to Dallas for work and was pressured to postpone my vacation up north. Not a huge deal, but a bummer. The good news is, I'll be around this weekend to meet up with old friends, Kristin and Kevin, who are in town this weekend from Toronto. I think they're going to get to meet Mark...

I'm back, y'all.

More later.

xoxo.

I headed home to Sheboygan this weekend to surprise my dad for his retirement party #2/his birthday/Father's Day. There must be at least three reasons for us to get together or we won't travel to see one another. We're German and efficient.

Gin and tonics were had. I literally woke up from a 2 hour nap and the first thing my mom said was, "Want a cocktail?" Mom, let me get the sleep out of my eyes and I might consider it. Ok, I'm ready.

Anyway, tomorrow, I'm heading to Austin for work. I am hoping to meet up with Charlie, which I'm really excited about. More to come later...

I don't know what y'all are talking about....but hominy is good.

The date with Mark went really well last night. I walked in and the skillet-made corn bread was already done, black eyed peas were soaked and on the stove, the peach cobbler was in the oven and he was about to make the hominy and heat up the honey baked ham. I freaked out when he told me you can buy hominy in a can. From Jewel! Did all of you know this?! I wonder if it's in the international foods section, because seriously, I can't believe it's available in a can at a regular grocery store.

Apparently, I need to get out more.

He did a really good job putting it all together, I was definitely impressed.

If I ever want to return the favor with Wisconsin cuisine, I think I'm pretty much screwed. Meat products just don't have much...panache. You can't class up knockwurst, folks.

So, I found out that I have to go to Texas for work sometime next week. In other news, someone asked me to go with them to the Slayer show on July 7th.

I will give you my undying love and devotion if you can figure out how I think these events are related.

All hail the Queen.

Ok, that might be a little much, but it really was a great show. She did turn off the AC, but it turned it more into a dance club atmosphere (if that's possible) in the United Center. I do recommend wearing summer-like clothes, if you go. The show started by Madonna coming out of this giant disco ball that unfolded and launched into "Get Together." Retro hits she played included, "Like a Virgin," "Lucky Star," "Live to Tell," and "La Isla Bonita." My favorite song was the mash-up she did of the '70s song, "Disco Inferno," with her song, "Music" (which included the roller skaters/breakdancers). It was definitely worth the money.

I learned how to do the pony dance (coming soon to a club near you) and how to appropriately pull off a leotard at age 47.

Someone at work is currently playing "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys very softly at their desk.

I CAN STILL HEAR YOU BEING A LOSER.

Tonight's the Madonna Show!!!! Betty Rocker and I will think of each of you while singing along to "La Isla Bonita." Hopefully it won't be as hot in the United Center as it was at her show in LA. I'm not really in the mood for a Bikram-yoga Madonna show.

Greetings, kittens.

Things have been crazy busy lately, but in a good way. Last Friday, I had a first date with this guy, Mark. After my stupid little aura reading, I'll admit, I had low expectations. We agreed to meet at Poag Mahone's for dinner (GQ magazine named Poag's as having one of the top 10 burgers in the country, so I was on a mission...if you're in the area, it's worth the trip). Mark's a really cute, nice guy and we met up again briefly at the Chicago Blues Fest on Sunday. And now he's offered to make me dinner. I think it's a little early to be making me dinner, but the gesture is nice, so I'm up for it. Mark's from the South, so when he heard I never had a black eyed pea or hominy (I'm still not quite sure what that even is - wait, now I know), he said he was going to make me a traditional Southern meal. Thode told me if he makes me mac and cheese that I should marry him.

There will be cobbler.

Did anyone else catch Dane Cook's "Tourgasm?" If I had to give it a one word review, it got an old man "Meh!" from me. Two minutes of jokes and 28 minutes of grown men whining and bitching. Dane, you're hot and all, but bring on the funny.

Dance! :: shoots pistol at feet :: Dance, muthafucka!

Guaranteed to be the most random post ever.

So, I went to a psychic/aura reader last night with my co-worker and another girl, and then we went out for a couple of beers to discuss. Incase you were wondering (I'm sure you were), here is a picture of my aura.



I didn't know she was taking it, so I think I'm asking her about the aura machine in this shot.

And here are my chakras.


I know, pretty hot, right?

I never met this woman in my life, but she was pretty spot-on. Here's a few things she said:

- "You've been a little two-faced recently." (there actually was a major incident this week and I apologized to this person and feel badly about it)

- The yellow glow surrounding me means communication and green glow(above my head and down the sides of me) mean wisdom. The little green spikes coming down from the crown of my head means that I'm creating unnecessary drama in my life, and that I know the right thing to do, but I'm choosing to completely ignore it. (true and true).

- A large majority of what she told me was about my job, but I'll skip over that for obvious reasons. (Betty Rocker, might be a good time for us to start that business together - hee). Apparently, there are 7 angels looking after me to help me out. Either shit is about to hit the fan, or I don't know what.

- She said that I take on way too much. That I'm the most extroverted, yet introverted person she's ever met (meaning extroverted, yet alone). That I don't know how to say "no," because I want to make sure everyone's taken care of, and if I don't change my behavior soon, I'm going to get sick. (good times!) Funny enough, a friend of mine recently told me that my "no button" is broken. I guess I should work on that.

- She said that doesn't see any relationships on the horizon at the moment (fucking sweet, man), because I don't let anyone in. The weird thing is, if you look at the photo, you can actually see the green color creating a wall around me. I'm meeting up with a new guy tonight, I guess I should just forget about this one right off the bat, huh? hee.

So, that's that.

Ok, seriously, stop staring. My aura feels you, and is creeped out.

Photos and a quick explanation of my aura to come soon.

This girl I work with called me last night and invited me to some psychic's house to get my aura read tonight. Now we'll find out if my aura really IS black. A girl that sits next to me did it a couple of years ago and the psychic told her she was pregnant, and she actually was 2 months pregnant, but hadn't told anybody yet. Apparently, they take a headshot photo of you and read the colors that surround you. Then they take a full body shot and check your chakras. Thank goodness, because I've been meaning to get my chakras checked, I am WAY overdue. I wonder if you can buy that camera at Walmart. They have everything.

If you've ever had the experience of having to go to a Babies R Us to pick up a shower gift, you will know why I went home, drank a beer, and punched my ovaries. Ok, just kidding about that last part.

I joined a book club (God, just hand me some pleated jeans and "mom hair" already) and the group picked my suggestion as the first month's book, Honeymoon With My Brother, by Franz Wisner. Since my book was picked, I had to pick the restaurant where we would discuss it. Too bad I'm a slacker and have about 80 pages to finish before 6:15 tonight. Nice book club leader, Megan.

If you ever have the pleasure of going out with Tequila Red like I did last night, you better be damn sure to bring a bottle of Aleve with you.

My god. My head.

I forgot my camera, natch, but I think there were pictures of my cleveage taken at one point....which I'm afraid she'll post. We were all celebrating Tequila Red and Concert Josh's cameos in the movie, "The Break-Up,"...which none of us had even seen yet, so we're not quite sure if their scenes made it in or not. I don't know what time I finally went to bed, but I had to do the "Cab Ride of Shame" home from her place this morning in my party dress. It was really great finally getting to meet TR, CJ, Front Row Annie and Hot Married Boyfriend (all people from her blog). It makes me wonder what my moniker might become on her site? Leave your suggestions after the jump!

P.S. My vote is for "Tits McGee."

Tonight, I'm going out with the former Sikh's ex-wife to Rumba with her friend. Against the advice of my dear readers, (sorry, it was too late and I had already given him permission to give my contact info. to her) I've met up with her twice before and she's hilarious, super fun, and gorgeous. No wonder why he didn't scoff at the idea of an arranged marriage! I wouldn't either if I was forced to marry the equivalent of a male Calvin Klein underware model. Twist my arm, oppressed society!

Thank you, Dlisted for this gem:

Anderson Cooper Quote of the Day


"I TiVo a lot of shows on MTV—stuff like My Super Sweet 16 that's jaw-dropping and mind-numbing—and I'll watch it on weekends. Now I like Tiara Girls. Oh, my God. On the second season of Super Sweet 16, all the really horrible girls had seen the first season and were trying to top them in horribleness. On Tiara Girls, there's a fresh level of horror."

The fact that Anderson Cooper watches it makes me feel better about my own guilty pleasures. By the way, a special "thank you" to MTV for premiering "The Hills" last night. I'd like to think that was a special bday present from you.

I had a really nice birthday - got a really thoughtful card from my parents, was in touch with a lot of great friends throughout the day, had a great dinner with a friend at Redstone (NUM), and ended the night with nightcap with Ken and Carla at the glorious Beacon Pub. Twenty-nine is looking good. I do need to stock up on my "29 forever" supplies, though.