Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Twelve Days

Holy crap I had no idea it had been twelve days since I posted. Of course there was a 3-day weekend in there too but dang! So sorry!

For those of you still checking in on me, things are looking up (which I say with some caution). I have....a job interview on Friday. It's with a law firm looking for a legal assistant with the litigation and intellectual property experience that I have. Well, color me qualified, and hopefully hired!

If you don't mind, please wish me luck, cross your fingers, and pray to your personal deity. I will be doing the Dance of the Job Hunter, which goes something like this:

Friday, May 15, 2009

Face to Face

One of my Mother's Day presents was tickets to the Billy Joel/Elton John concert (or Elton John/Billy Joel - depending on where you live).

It has been a long long time till touchdown brings me round again... sorry, got a little distracted there. Anyway, I like to go to concerts where I know at least half the songs. Sometimes you go see an act that is promoting a new album, and that's usually when all but the die-hard fans go get a drink and use the facilities. Not last night. I knew every song and so did 99% of the audience.

The piano men took the stage around 7:45, and played and played, ending around 11:15. They started together, did a few songs, then Elton John took over for about 45 minutes more. The lights went down for probably 5 minutes, then Billy Joel came back and played for about an hour. The lights went down briefly again, and then they played the final songs, ending with Candle in the Wind for Elton, and Piano Man for Billy. They also threw in some Beatles with Birthday Song and Back in the USSR.

The songs brought back so many memories for me. I remember my babysitter bringing over her Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album (yes, album - those big black round things), and playing it while I memorized the lyrics. Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting was my favorite - we would dance around the living room and act like we were tough. Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Levon, Yellow Brick Road, I'm Still Standing, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues...all made an appearance last night.

I wasn't into Billy Joel too much at first, but once he started dating Christine Brinkley, we all wanted to be Uptown Girls, Keeping the Faith and hoped some day our guy would Tell Her About It. An Innocent Man was my first Billy Joel record, and remains one of my favorites.

As I got older I began to appreciate the earlier Billy Joel songs. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant always reminds me of me and my friend Heather (Bottle of red, bottle of white...). Only The Good Die Young - well, that's got a whole new meaning for me now. I was hoping for New York State of Mind, but it was not to be.

All in all, wow. Just...wow. They still can rock out, they sound fantastic, the light and stage show is fabulous, but never overwhelms the music. And at the end, when it's just Elton, Billy, and the pianos - that's when the talent of these men really shines through.

If you have a chance to catch this show, do it. You will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Gone With The Schwinn

A couple of years ago, I decided to buy a bike. And by bike I mean a pedal bike. I have a motorcycle license but that's another story altogether.

There are some awesome bike trails around me, and I've always wanted to bike the Great River Road. Maddy and Kelli used to ride their bikes all over the neighborhood. I recently found out that Kelli took Maddy on a pretty long ride once upon a time, involving ice cream and riding where I told them not to. But hey, what am I supposed to do now, ground them?

Kelli and Maddy's bikes have gears and hand brakes and pegs and all kinds of whatnot. I wanted a bike - wheels, pedals, handlebars, and maybe a basket for my water bottle. I found a very lovely little red basic bike, and was told in no uncertain terms that if I rode that, they would not ride with me. I would be an embarassment and all their friends would point and laugh. I'm sure they meant they would point and laugh. I was also called Pee Wee. Pee Wee had a pretty cool bike, as I recall.

Anyway, things happened and I never bought the bike.

Now that we've moved, Maddy is tearing around the neighborhood on one of her three bikes (hers, Kelli's, or Craig's old Dyno). She asked me when I was going to get a bike, and I said, soon.

Apparently "soon" came on Sunday. It doesn't have a basket yet, but we'll get one. Perhaps also a horn and a lion's head light to complete the ensemble. It's not red, but a lovely shade of turquoise blue, with fenders and whitewall tires.

I love it. It's one of the best Mother's Day presents I could ask for.


Friday, May 8, 2009

Judgment Days


The civil trial date has been set for October 19-20, 2009.
The criminal trial date has been set for November 2, 2009. Here is the article.
The day I will be this happy again is yet to be determined.




Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I Could Get Used To This

This week starts my third month of unemployment. I've had a few interviews, sent out scads of resumes and online applications, met with temp and placement agencies, and....well, here we are.

The weather is starting to be more sunny and warm, less rainy and cool. I was thinking about last year when I would wake up, drive to work with my sunroof and windows open and think, "I wish I didn't have to work when it's nice out." Looks like I've got two wishes left.

As much as I miss working, this time off has some upsides.

I was able to go on Maddy's class field trip last week. She had been asking me for weeks prior, and at first I had to say no, because I couldn't take off work. Then I had to tell her I'd go unless I got another job. As we got closer, I didn't want to commit, in case I had an interview. Of course, on the Tuesday prior to her class trip on Thursday, I got a call about a job I was really interested in. And of course the only day I could interview was Thursday. It did work out that I could interview at 9, then run home, change out of my suit, and meet up with the class just in time for lunch. She was so thrilled I was able to go.

Last week she had a half day, and after I picked her up from school, we enjoyed a nice lunch out before going to see The Hannah Montana Movie. (Which was actually pretty cute). We were two of eight people in the theater. Then we hit Kohl's for a little summer shopping.

Right now I'm sitting on my couch in my sweats, watching the Today show, typing on my blog. After I wrap up here, I'll go put on my tennis shoes and take a walk around my neighborhood. Then I'm going to meet a friend for lunch, do some grocery shopping, pick up my baby from school, and make some chicken enchiladas for dinner.

Life ain't so bad.