Um. I wanna fly somewhere! Southwest Airlines has some really great airfare deals but the sale only goes until midnight tomorrow. Also, travel has to be between December 2 – December 16 or January 5 – February 10. Okay, where shall I go?

From Minneapolis/St. Paul
o To Albany for as low as $75 one-way
o To Albuquerque for as low as $75 one-way
o To Amarillo for as low as $75 one-way
o To Austin for as low as $100 one-way
o To Baltimore for as low as $75 one-way
o To Birmingham for as low as $75 one-way
o To Boston for as low as $100 one-way
o To Buffalo for as low as $75 one-way
o To Burbank for as low as $100 one-way
o To Chicago for as low as $25 one-way
o To Cleveland for as low as $75 one-way
o To Columbus for as low as $75 one-way
o To Dallas for as low as $75 one-way
o To Denver for as low as $75 one-way
o To Detroit for as low as $50 one-way
o To El Paso for as low as $100 one-way
o To Hartford for as low as $100 one-way
o To Houston for as low as $100 one-way
o To Indianapolis for as low as $50 one-way
o To Jackson for as low as $75 one-way
o To Jacksonville for as low as $100 one-way 
o To Kansas City for as low as $50 one-way
o To Las Vegas for as low as $100 one-way
o To Little Rock for as low as $75 one-way
o To Long Island for as low as $100 one-way
o To Los Angeles for as low as $100 one-way
o To Louisville for as low as $75 one-way
o To Manchester for as low as $100 one-way
o To Nashville for as low as $75 one-way
o To New Orleans for as low as $100 one-way
o To Norfolk for as low as $100 one-way
o To Oakland for as low as $100 one-way
o To Ontario for as low as $100 one-way
o To Orange County for as low as $100 one-way
o To Orlando for as low as $100 one-way
o To Philadelphia for as low as $75 one-way
o To Phoenix for as low as $100 one-way
o To Pittsburgh for as low as $75 one-way
o To Portland for as low as $100 one-way
o To Providence for as low as $100 one-way
o To Raleigh/Durham for as low as $75 one-way
o To Reno/Tahoe for as low as $100 one-way
o To Sacramento for as low as $100 one-way
o To Salt Lake City for as low as $75 one-way
o To San Antonio for as low as $100 one-way
o To San Diego for as low as $100 one-way
o To San Francisco for as low as $100 one-way
o To San Jose for as low as $100 one-way
o To Seattle/Tacoma for as low as $100 one-way
o To Spokane for as low as $100 one-way
o To St. Louis for as low as $50 one-way
o To Tampa Bay for as low as $100 one-way
o To Tucson for as low as $100 one-way
o To Washington for as low as $75 one-way

My puppy is ONE YEAR OLD today! Man, time flies when you eat stuff off the counter, dig holes in the backyard, mock people at the dog park & give puppy kisses!

Zeppelin the Dog, This Is Your Life

His first photo, taken outside of the Humane Society


He was so scared and never walked on a leash before so we had to carry all 30 lbs of him

Sleepy Puppy


Silly Puppy


Fast Puppy


Pretty Puppy


Zeppelin the Dog & Lucy

Bare with me here.

I am slowly getting my photos up and edited from my trip to Virginia. So, let’s take a moment and fangirl Ryan Star: • Amazing live
• Nicest guy
• Total Twitter-whore
• Drunk
• Huggy
• Fangirled my pictures at the bar, flipping through my camera
• Hot
• It’s Ryan Star, bitches.






( What I call  )

On Tuesday I took Olivia (who I fondly call my American Idol Beard) to the American Idol concert in Minneapolis. I will post the concert pictures later but for now I give you “Meeting Some Idols at Some Buses”

Olivia & Me


( More pictures here... )

Lucy rocking out at the Idol concert

So, I have been mia. I know that. You know that. Hell, my mom knows that because she follows my whereabouts via my blog!

BUT, I was on vacation (no, not for 2 months – smartasses) but it takes a lot of mental energy to plan and execute a successful vacation. Well, it takes some drinking, a couple maps, a plane ticket and my Sidekick (cellphone). Let me recap very briefly.

• Landed in Philly.
• Picked up my rental (a glorified Peugeot but without the funness of saying “Peugeot”) and stopped at every Sonic I could see.
• Drove to Delaware.
• Ate some crab cakes from a roadside stand (I am hardcore).
• Went to Delaware State Fair.
• Saw Gin Blossoms and made a prolific statement that they did not age well (sorry…they sounded good though!!!). Slept in shady motel notell (no, it didn’t rent by the hour.)
• Went to Maryland.
• Visited family.
• Met the famous Metsgrrl.
• Sat in sweet seats at the Orioles vs. Royals game thanks to Metsgrrl.
• Took a ridiculous amount of pictures of Grienke pitching.
• Ate the World’s Best Pretzel (in the shape of an O too).
• Realized that I have an accent.
• Met with friends
• Headed to Pittsburg to meet up with Sarah from Those Girls.
• Pretty much fangirled all things related to the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Went to Musikfest and pretty much dorked out with The Dirty Dozen
• Sang karaoke
• Flew home to Minneapolis

So, let’s take this one step at a time.
Let’s talk about Pittsburgh for a minute (since those are the pictures I have ready to post)!!! The City of Bridges!!! Home of the Super Bowl Champions Steelers and Pirates.

Let’s keep with the abbreviated theme - Things that sum up my trip to Pittsburgh:
• PNC Park
• The coolest mascot!
• Friendly staff
• Beautiful city
• Food
• Beer
• Build Your Own Slushies
• Fantastic seats
• Scoreboard graphics
• Garrett Jones
• Duct Tape Jerseys
• Hot Dogs launching
• Giveaways
• Free country music concert
• Hand Dipped Ice Cream
• Smorgasburgh
• Yingaling
• Vegetarian sandwiches with your choice of roast beef, ham or turkey
• Beer cheese dip
• Sarah

It was an amazing experience and I think Sarah and I fangirled/flailed/oooh-ed/awww-ed enough to have our own travel show – or at least a Visit Pittsburgh.com commercial. I’ll let these pictures tell the story!



( The 'Burgh )

Music yo!
Hey, are you a fan of live music? Do you want to support keeping smaller bands on the road?? Well, check this out!
I am a fan of this band called Burn Halo. Actually, Vee introduced me to them about…a gazillion years ago. He kept sneaking Burn Halo songs on mixed CDs (that’s soooooo 1999) until I finally admitted that “YES I LIKE THEM!” and went out to buy a copy of their new self-titled CD (which is rad by the way). I know, I know…I usually fangirl Adam Lambert, American Idol, and other random music BUT this band is pretty badass. It’s rock. Harder rock. Like, headbang, turn it up loud, won’t be embarrassed to be stopped at a light in South Minneapolis singing along – rock. Well, they need our help. A series of unfortunate events is hindering (not to be confused with the band, Hinder) their tour. They are asking for monetary support to get themselves back together. Check out their Myspace Blog here – it’s legit yo!

Help Burn Halo, please donate

Also, if you are in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area you should check them out on Thursday, August 20. They are playing at The Rock in Maplewood. Now, y’all know how I feel about the fucking suburbs but I am hauling my city-girl ass out there to check this show out. A.) It’s Burn Halo B.) It’s the Rock which seems pretty awesome and tiny and cool and character-y C.) I am going to this show solo – I am a brave toaster and I can do it!!!

Music of the Day – ch ch check it out
Burn Halo – Dirty Girl

Some of you may have seen some of these before but I wanted to make a Best of My Own Personal David Cook Concert post.

Brief recap: David Cook rocks.

Warning: This is gonna be huge (that’swhatshesaid) - as in “photo heavy”

Yo! David Cook!


( can you honestly tell me you aren't going to click on this link? )

Rocking hard!


( mad guitar skillz )

As some of you may know, I fangirl this guy right here - Neal


( An apple a day what??? Fuck that. )
Andy


( See the boy with the shiny hair )



This dude made me laugh so hardcore. He was like a drunk hyper dude (plus purple hair)


The lead singer from Needtobreathe – I really loved this band and I hope to catch their show in Minneapolis.


Someone punked the band with a giant lobster

In conclusion: I <3 my camera so hardcore

Once upon a time I declared “No Daughtry in the Car” and now I stand corrected
Like two years ago I was driving through Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama with my friend Foley. After realizing that every other song was a Daughtry song (who I didn’t have a clue about) I became FED UP with Foley singing along to each and every one of his songs so I declared “NO DAUGHTRY IN THE CAR!” The rest of the trip was full of 80’s music and Justin Timberlake (I could only veto one person/artist). Anyways, it kind of ruined me on Daughtry and I hated him on principle…you know, just ‘cause. However, once I had been home and away from the NO DAUGHTRY Car for a few months I heard a song called “Feels Like Tonight” and I went “oooh, I like this song. I wonder who sings it.” AND then started months of ridicule and mockery. I got a copy of his CD and realized that yes, I do like daughtry.

The point of this ramble trainwreck of a story?

It was announced that Daughtry would be playing a low-key show at the Cabooze bar in South Minneapolis (my stompin’ grounds, yo!) AND I may have squealed. You see, the Cabooze is awesome. It is tiny, kind of dive-y, a great venue to see some rock music – and it is like 10 blocks from my house. So, tickets go on sale next weekend and the show is on Sunday, August 9. I am going! I don’t care if I have to go solo but I wanna be there!

First I find out Ryan Star is playing at First Avenue and now Daughtry at the Cabooze? The only thing that would make top those shows would be David Cook playing Whiskey Junction or Adam putting on a concert at Lucy’s school. Win-win!

I Love Lucy
Just because it’s been kinda quiet and seething on my journal here are some fun pictures Stacy snapped of Lucy and me last night. We went out to celebrate Al Franken’s rightful victory as the next MN Senator! Lucy had ice cream and I had a margarita.

Pretty Pretty Picture Day

Here are some random photos to make me smile (and maybe you too)

Zeppelin the Dog can haz ice cream
Took Zepp to The Dairy Queen last night where he partook in his very first doggie sundae


( Yep, there are seriously more pix of Zepp eating ice cream... )

Evidently genergic dog food is into BDSM


Yep, Non Con. I giggled and took a picture.

Did you read my facebook/twitter about how I fangirled over Star Trek waffles?


Yeah, so I bought some Star Trek waffles when in fact I don’t like toaster waffles. I just wanted to be able to say “I ate Kirk’s face”. Yes, I am a 14 year old boy.

Adam Lambert is the sassiest of sassy bitches


Happy Birthday VEGAN JOE!!!


VJ is 30 today!!! We are going to The Local to celebrate by sitting on the patio drinking beer/whiskey.


Music of the Day – oooh I remember that Edition
Howard the Duck

Quick drive by for some frivolity before I get all angsty again (you’ve been warned)

Lucy <3s Adam Lambert

Evidently Lucy is at a very impressionable age and she really pays attention to what I say. As Stacy says, with great power comes great responsibility. (I think she’s plagerizing Spiderman or something.) So, me fangirling Adam Lambert has rubbed off on Lucy (he’s her fave!)




This kid rocks my world!



making American Idol cookies

I am a proud, proud Auntie!

I gots a shiny new camera and it takes pretty pictures
Last night I ventured to the dogpark with Zeppelin (what a glamorous life I lead) and I attempted to take some pictures. Alas, the sky was grey and the dog was A.D.D. So, here’s what you get!





This is a bad picture (as in poorly taken) but Zepp looks like a complete dork so I love it!




Music of the Day – I still <3 Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert – Mad World (Regis & Kelly Live)

Locked and Loaded
I am thinking of locking down for the Flist! If you are one of my 10’s of blog readers and are not “friends” for “Flisted” with me you’ll probably miss out of 10’s of awesome/trashy/boring/random/crazy/lame/drunken entries! Join now for fun! Just comment or add me!

Weekend Recap
Friday
6-for-2s = The Spins. The MNHH (Monday Night Happy Hour) Crew headed to The Eagle for 3-for-1s (which we fondly call 6-for-2s). That means three drinks (or six) for the price of one (or two). It is dangerous, delicious, and delightful! We then skip across the street to Harry’s for fancy food and fancy drinks. Then we trudge down to the Gay 90’s for the drag show and dancing. Ouch.

Saturday
Took Zeppelin the Dog to the dogpark where he proceeded to play with two giant wolfhounds and then he geeked out and sat in the carseat (for Lucy) whilst I ran into the coffee place.
 
 
In the afternoon I headed to my mom’s for a bbq. The evening brought me farther into the suburbs where I enjoyed the musical stylings of a 50’s & 60’s band. It was there (where all the professional ballroom style dancers) I realized when I am dancing amongst Ginger Rogers’ & Fred Astaires I look an awful lot like Elaine from Seinfeld. I embraced my dorkiness and Footloose-ed the hell out of that dance floor!

Sunday
“Ran some errands” – man, I hate saying boring shit like that. In the evening I headed to Steph’s for a neighborhood bbq. Mostly gossip, American Idol talking & Coronas.

Monday
Ry’s annual “First Pool Party of the Season” which translates to Ry being pissed we won’t get in his fucking 60 degree pool. I sat out in the sun and ate a bunch of fresh springrolls and drank Grownup Smoothies (fruit & Malibu).

I just want to high-five Summer for being AWESOME!

Music of the Day – Just in case you forgot that I <3 Adam Lambert Edition

Adam Lambert – No Boundaries (the “winners” song)

Ah, Rilo Kiley really translates me feeling right this very moment.

Because I am on the edge of posting/saying/writing something very bitchy and irrational (and no one is available to talk me out of it) I am going to focus on things that don’t make me roll my eyes and bite my tongue.

A couple of pretty (and fierce) things for you to look at today:

Zeppelin the Dog


Baby Lucy


Adam Lambert


David Cook



Right! On that note – I am off to enjoy 3-for-1s at this gay biker bar (don’t ask) and then to oogle the pretty guys/gals at the drag show!

I am not gonna lie…I don’t envy Stacy for having to break the news of Adam not winning to Lucy this morning. She was so stoked to see him last night. If you want to see proof of her fangirling Adam: Raising Lucy blog

My thoughts – for what they are worth

( Nothing of great importance (just one last dig at Blind Guy & that chick I don't remember) )
The Adam moments
• The outfit! You know the one – when he sang with KISS. OMG! The shoes, the handcuffs, the wires, the hotness, the attitude! I died!
• Queen! Are you kidding me? That was my runner-up dream performance! (Bowie being first).
• KISS! How often do you think he had to pinch himself when planning that?
• What a sweet, humble, hot man he is. No doubt. No DOUBT he is going to be amazing and make SO MANY new fans on tour!!!
• Adam and Allison are adorable! I really do hope a duet comes to fruition. It would make up having to sit/drink through some of the other horrible people (not to name names *cough*Sarver*Jasmine*Scott*Lil*cough*)

A brief rant
( I get it, a lot of you wanted David Cook to win again - well, it wasn't gonna happen )

Here’s what’s happening via photos

4 yr olds>>>>grocery shopping
Tools to survive grocery shopping with a four-year old: iPod & bribes of ice cream and Adam Lambert videos.
 

Hey, I asked for it!
I told Lucy to pick out any CD she wanted at Best Buy. Here’s what she chose:


Stitch ‘n Pitch
I am teaching my co-worker to crochet (easier to do whilst watching baseball) and we brought our projects to the game this week. Mine is on the left, hers is on the right. I don’t think I am a very good teacher. 
 

I flove my friends!
Ry added these pics on Facebook. I would just like to state for the record that this picture was taken about a billion times before HE was satisfied by the results. I had/have no say.


It's no secret
I came into the office to this on my desk! My co-workers are crazy/awesome/freaky.



My Consumer Letter of the Day

Dear Olive Garden,
Stop with your friggin’ tasty, appetizing commercials. They made me go “Mmm, I should go to Olive Garden”. WTF is wrong with me? As a rule I mock the chain-family-restaurants (and suburbs) and now I want to go to the friggin’ suburbs and eat a chain-family-restaurant. Humpf. Well, I WON’T GIVE IN!

Music of the Day – Adam Lambert is AWESOME Edition
Adam Lambert – Cryin’

Let me start this out by proclaiming that: no I did not watch Idol live because I was at the baseball game BUT I did youtube the whole performance when I got home.

Last night, whilst the rest of the world (minus the 20,000 people at the Twins game with me) was watching Idol and getting their fix, I was at the Metrodome watching baseball and trying to act like I really wasn’t sad about missing American Idol. I used my Twitter-fu, AIM & Texting connections to get recaps of the performances AND the dial numbers. Then it was On Like Donkey Kong!

( Dear Judges, )
Now, the contestants…be warned – I use a lot of (parenthesis) and “quotation marks” to show the side-conversations I am having in my head.

( You can probably guess by now that I <3 Adam )

Okay, so in theory the first rock concert I would want to take Lucy to would be along the lines of AC/DC, Steve Miller Band, or Green Day BUT I am totally okay with her first concert being…

AMERICAN IDOL 2009

Yup, y’all read that right. Lucy is going to go with Olivia and me (who no longer needs to use Olivia as a beard) to rock out to the Idols! Oh, and Stacy is coming too but I am not sure if she’s ready to be ousted yet :P

I can’t wait to see her face when she opens her card tomorrow and finds her “ticket” to the concert. She’s been hinting (and by “hinting” I mean “demanding”) to see American Idol and Adam Lambert for weeks now. Okay, let’s be honest…I am just excited to go with her and dance and sing and fangirl.


Me and Lucy @ her birthday party, looking at a bucket full of worms. She never fails to make me look pasty white.

Happy Birthday Lucy!
And queue sappy music! There are two scheduled times of the year that I turn into a sappy/reflective mess. One of them is Lucy’s birthday. (The other is her Coming Home Day Anniversary.) I can’t believe that three and a half years ago I met this tiny baby coming off an airplane!
 

My “Lucy Age 4” Resolutions
• Go to a rock concert together
• Learn some new songs by Prince, Michael Jackson and Heart
• To teach her to dance to Thriller (which in turn means I have to learn it)
• Start a Sunday Movie Brunch tradition in which we eat popcorn for breakfast at the movie theater

Lucy – fashion maven or fashion trainwreck?
What better way to celebrate her birthday than with a picture spam!




( Ah Lucy! She's a sassy kid! )


Our own Internet Sensation, Lucy singing some of her favorite songs
Lucy - I’m Yours (Jason Mraz cover)


( Lots of proof that she's a rockstar! )

This is…American Idol
Thank the sweet baby jesus that I have humoring understanding friends. Last night we gathered at Steph’s house for a Cinco de Mayo celebration and my only demand request was we could watch American Idol. So, we did and I didn’t even have to censor myself like when I watch with Lucy. (And by “censoring” I mean “muttering the swear words a little quieter than normal so that I can cover it up if Lucy or Stacy questions what I just said.”)

First thing is first, I <3 Slash. I always have and I always will. In my mind I picture some of my rock friends (*cough*EV*cough*) watching just for Slash sightings. I also picture a bunch of teenagers going “Who?” and then me smacking them on the back of their head and saying “Turn off fucking KDWB.”

( clickity clack, don't talk back! )
In conclusion, I am now going to for sure purchase the MN State Fair Grandstand tickets to see Reo Speedwagon, Styx and .38 Special.

Look what just popped up in my email!


Non-American Idol Related
Fiesta!
Last night I celebrated Cinco de Mayo the good old fashioned way – beer and chain-Mexican food.


Zeppelin the Dog Eats Polly Pockets for Breakfast




Music of the Day – check those pants out Edition
Adam and Allison – Slow Ride

Here’s my weekend via photos!

Friday
aka drunken happy hour with past and present co-workers


Saturday
Zeppelin the Dog and I ventured into nature, which wasn’t as life-altering as I thought it would be


( He's just too damn cute sometimes (even if he hates Stairway to Heaven) )

Sunday a.m.
It is a sad day when the highlights of baseball are a banana clip & a “that’s what she said” moment


( Sometimes I mock, it just means I am not paying attention )


Sunday p.m.
Flight of the motherfucking Conchords!




( they make me laugh so hard )
Music of the day – just makes me chuckle Edition

Flight of the Conchords – Most beautiful girl in the room