Euphony in the desert

August 22nd, 2007

I just saw that Jake Shimabukuro is going to be performing October 21 at Joshua Tree campground.  How AWESOME is that going to be?!  An ukulele wizard performing in a magical place… one of my favorite places.  Hm.  Maybe a camping trip is in my near future.

Also, a couple of days ago, I read online that Morrissey and Kristeen Young are going to be playing at the SB Bowl September 29.  I immediately searched the Bowl’s web site and Ticketmaster, but neither showed the concert.  I called the Bowl today to ask if, in fact, they were performing and, if so, when do tickets go on sale.  The woman said she was unable to confirm the show.  I don’t trust, however, she really knew anything.  I’ll have to call back tomorrow.

The KC show in May was a.maz.ing.  I’d totally see ‘em again.  Totally.

Give this mom a cocktail

August 22nd, 2007

Firestone IPA and Tandoori Chicken

Firestone Double Barrel and Lamb Chops

Tim and I went to Lazy Acres last Friday for the Firestone Walker Brewery Beer and Food Tasting. (Special thanks to our Sofiesitter, Auntie Kerri!) It was yum. Six courses yum. Well, actually, only 5 of the courses were yum. Dessert wasn’t.

Dessert was a Walker’s Reserve float. Yep, beer and ice cream. A tragic meeting for McConnell’s vanilla bean and beer. Looking around at the tables, you could see everyone’s glasses were left filled at about the same level; just enough was consumed to have eaten all the ice cream.

Everything else was great though. My favorite was the tequila roasted shrimp with a chipotle aioli… super meaty and delicious.

We were guided through the dinner by the David Walker. He was full of great information and wit (and a dashing English accent).

David Walker

Tim and I became instant fans of the Firestone lager. Sadly, Walker went on to tell us that the lager we were drinking was to be meeting the same fate as the Dodo bird (Walker’s reference)… They are no longer producing it. Great, whet our appetites only to tell us this is probably the last time we’ll ever get to have it.

Oh yeah, one of the courses was tri-tip and Firestone Pale Ale. How Santa Barbara is that? Deliciously SO Santa Barbara.

Firestone Pale Ale and Tritip

Speaking of booze… I saw this on Wired today. Brilliant. Although, Jeanie was making due long ago with her Office Desk Drawer Bar, filled with tiny airplane-serving-sized bottles of miscellaneous adult beverages. If I recall correctly, they were a gift from a work-study student. As fate would have it though, someone found the stash and replaced the liquor with water. Brilliant bastards.

I am also reminded… Dr. K. had no time for the minis. He kept a full size bottle of port in his desk, pulling it out on occassion for himself and company whenever the conversation was good and the afternoon begged to be lingered over.

Which in turn reminds me…

When I dropped Sofie off at daycare yesterday, I was given an invitation to a party this Friday. Kind of a goodbye to preschool-aged graduates, hello to newbies mixer. It was printed on paper with a border of little yellow school buses and the words, “The wheels on the bus go round and round…” Potluck dinner. This Friday. 5pm.

Another element of life with a baby? 5pm is no longer happy hour but dinner time? Say it isn’t so.

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It still totally takes me by surprise that I’m a mom. Me. I was saying to someone today that I don’t feel like a mom… Sofie is so much her own little person, she really is just a third voting member in the household. I don’t feel like a parental authority figure. I feel like the same ol’ geeky goofball I’ve always been.