About Me
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Weekend Update On The CruiserMel Broadcasting Network
Alas, there is a Boy Toy J story to be told. It's not exactly romance and roses, either. I guess it had to happen, but so soon? Then again, J doesn't do things in moderation....he's pedal to the metal most of the time. We've discussed that in this here blog already.
Sooooo - I invited him to join me and some coworkers for happy hour Friday and he shows up with a bag? A BAG? No subtlety there. Aw, what the hell, he may as well have clean clothes since I was probably going to invite him to stay anyway, so I rolled with it. That night was fun - we had someone there who we used to work with and had fun catching up on her life. My first words to her were "Wow, you look like an American Idol," and come to find out - she's now singing! In public. Yikes, maybe I'm a little psychic. I mean, I never knew she sang. Pretty cool.
Then Saturday was a nice day of just running errands and hanging out with J. It was nice. Nothing special. Nothing un-special.
The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend is my favorite day in motor sports. I mean it's like my Super Bowl or Final Four. I plan this day. First, there's the Indy 500 and then Nascar's longest race of the year, the Coca Cola 600. It's 1100 miles of left turns, baby. And I pride myself on usually watching as many of those 1100 as possible. Until I can't stand up without getting dizzy.
I thought J knew this. I'm certain I covered this in our interview, um first date. And he played along nicely for the Indy race. But then he decided beer was his drink of choice, being a sporting event and all. So he picked off at least 7 or 8 of MY beers (okay, I don't drink beer, but I was the one who bought it!). By about lap 50 of the Nascar race, J was pretty buzzy and not as interested in the roar of the engines as he was earlier in the day. (I, on the other hand, had sat through hours and hours of Spanish soccer the day before and didn't complain even once, though I really wanted to do so.) He thought this was "ridiculous" and was stunned when I wasn't interested in going out or *gasp* changing the channel. So he left.
I admit I was pretty perturbed and miserable for awhile, but in the grand scheme of things, I got to watch my race in peace. So, it was a win for both of us, right?
Um, yeah. I hit the bed around midnight, only to be awakened at 3:14 by the phone. J was drunk and lost, but clearly closer to my house than his own. I gave him directions. (stupid? crazy? sucker? I'm not sure yet.)
He showed up 1/2 hour later, very drunk, and with a friend I'd never heard of or seen before. Excuse me?! The friend looked like someone you'd find on a bench, passed out at the bus station. I kid you not. There would be no further sleep for CruiserMel that night/morning, fo sho. I mean I've got some nice things in my house and I kinda like to keep them!
I'm standing there in my robe and slippers, just dumbfounded. Then J starts doling out MY beer and MY Weller. And I lost it. Totally lost it. And one thing you need to know is CruiserMel RARELY IF EVER loses it. And it was like J thought this little bitchfest was a game, egging me on. And you know once that dam is broken, it's balls to the walls, folks. I am a redhead after all.
I hated the person I became at 4:00 am Monday morning. I still hate that person, but I do feel a bit justified. Am I wrong?
The friend got a ride home finally, but it wasn't over. At 6:30 I had to start showering and dressing to help set up for the neighborhood party, right? OH HELL NO, J wasn't having any of that. But he was still helping himself to whatever booze he could find in the casa.
I was able to swipe his keys and hide the liquor without him seeing. When I left for the events, I told him to sleep it off and I'd be home in a few hours. It may have seemed like I was holding him captive, but honestly, he would've been calling from jail if I didn't do something drastic.
Fast forward until 3:00 in the afternoon - I came home and he was indeed sleeping it off. When he got up, he had the hangover from hell (and it looked like it, too - heh) and I didn't even offer an aspirin to him. Heh, heh. He felt rather sheepish and ashamed of his behavior and though I can't say I was warm to him, I wasn't the cold bitch I'd been a few hours earlier. Hat trick heh! I think I just didn't have the energy, to be honest. I sent him on his way, tail firmly tucked under his butt.
I'm not sure what to think or do yet. He's admitted that he's got issues with getting enough sleep and blames his A.D.D. or hyperactivity or whatever. (He was working on about 5 hours from Saturday night.) And introducing a day (and night, too) of non-stop alcohol consumption into that equation just isn't a pretty picture, no matter how you turn your head to the side or hold your mouth just "so." I'm pretty sure I should cut this one loose, like a fish that's just not quite right, but for some reason, I'm buying his story. (Note to self: he IS in retail and this could all be a sales pitch, so beware CruiserMel.)
I just don't know what to do, how to react, where to turn, aw hell, I don't know ALOT right about now.
There you have it. Another Boy Toy J story. You didn't say you wanted to read just the fun ones. Be careful what you wish for.
Hmmm. Interesting line there, huh? Maybe I should listen to my own advice.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Any Requests?
Lindystars and (Not-So) Pregnant In Texas have all asked for more Boy-Toy J stories. I am nothing, if not accommodating, so here's what's happening:
Remember how I said I was trying terribly hard to overlook the things that have, in the past, caused me to turn-tail and head for the hills? To be honest, I'm doing my level best, but every now and then one of those stupid little things rears it's head and I have to stop myself from doing a U-turn.
But this one trait has me verging on the edge of crazy at times. He's hyper. I mean, H-Y-P-E-R. I haven't used that word to describe a human being since I was perhaps a pre-teen, and then it was usually in regards to my friend, E. Rather, "hyper" is usually used to describe a miniature poodle, tap dancers or fleas. Certainly, I have never used that word to describe a guy. Guys are usually described by me as "that lump on the sofa that eats every bite of food in my house" or "the one who farts."
Boy-Toy J is just plain hyper. Maybe it come from being in retail / sales. Maybe it comes from a high metabolism or too much caffeine. I suppose he could actually have undiagnosed hyperactivity disorder. Whatever the reason, there are times he absolutely must be reined-in and told to shut the F up already!
I've found just the best way to shut him up and chill-him-the-fuck-out. Sex.
No, really. There is scientific proof this works. I've learned to buck up and offer my services at any time. I'm helpful that way.
It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. That last sentence wasn't actually written to be funny. Let me explain.
I found myself slinking into my own home at 3:00 in the morning today. I say "slinking" because I had of course, left practically every light in my house on, including a very bright front porch light, that if anyone knows my routine, I usually turn off by 10 or 11, even if I'm not calling it a night. As I pulled the CruiserCar into the driveway, I felt as if there was a neon sign with a big red arrow pointed at me that said "A Slut Lives Here."
But back to the real sacrifice - I have to wake up for work by 6:30 or 7:00 to be on time. You do the math. Scratch that; I already did the math for you - that's like hardly any sleep at all! So, I've been draggin' ass all day at the office. I lingered over the composition of a simple 3 paragraph letter for at least 20 minutes, and even complained that my teachers in 8th grade probably should have never passed me along to 9th grade.
However, if it can help out my fellow human being, I am willing to face this challenge head on to provide this service to hyper Boy-Toy J. Don't say I'm selfish, because obviously I'm the most selfless person I know.
Monday, May 21, 2007
A Very Good Day, Indeed
I was feeling like it was time to post a new blog entry, but what would I write about, I asked myself. I could write that directly after posting the pictures from my most recent concert, I took to my bed with tonsillitis and my boss actually asked me "What are you, thirteen?" I could write about how I have to get up in front of a mess-o-neighbors tonight and present our neighborhood association's budget for 2007. I could write about boy-toy, J. I could write about how Jessica and John have broken up (FINALLY).
But none of that seemed too blog-worthy.
Then I got home and to my utter glee I found a couple of packages containing some swwwweeeeet bootleg copies of concerts done by T the G from a mini-tour he did on the east coast in early May, before heading out with The New Cars. This was a last-minute tour that included Jesse Gress, Tony Levin and John Montagna (not sure of the spelling), that if I'd known further in advance, I would've certainly cashed-in some miles and flown cross-country to witness. A rare treat, indeed for my east coast Toddhead friends. Lucky sons-of-guns.
I'm not exactly sure where these bootlegs actually start - but they are board recordings and they are clear and wonderful, full of lots of Todd on guitar, digging deep into his vast catalogue, and there's even some fantastically clever, typical Todd banter. Good stuff, I tell ya.
Toddheads are a sharing bunch. We believe in paying-it-forward. We don't trade stuff that could actually make Todd money, but if it's something that cannot be bought, it's fair game among the network of like-minded fabulous folks. Today I got a total of 5 shows on cds from my friends S in New York and S in California. (4 Todd shows and 1 Kasim solo show) All this for the price of sending out a couple of copies I had in my collection. And so it goes on down the line.
Toddheads rawk. And some even read this blog. So, if you recognize yourself here, I'm sending out a virtual CruiserHug to ya.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
You Asked For It......
I love this picture of Todd in darkness with a single spotlight on him. I think he was singing "Drive" here, usually sung by Kasim when he's not off gallivanting in Europe with Meat Loaf.
Awwwwwww, this one's cool with the colored lights. Love me some Todd. Can ya guess?
This lefty is Elliot Easton - one of the original members from way back. After he broke his collarbone last summer in a close-shave bus incident, he actually played a couple of shows before they pulled the band off the road so he could have surgery. They hit the road again after a few weeks and he played like nothing had ever happened. Now, if only my elbow would bounce back that well....
If you've ever attended a sporting event (usually baseball), you have probably heard a song that goes "I don't want to work, I want to bang on the drum all day...." No, it wasn't a Cars song. Guess again. I'll wait. ...... It is a Todd song. Uh huh. This is the band playing it on ukuleles and conga, Hawaiian style.
Todd wails it a little later on in the show. Red is a good color on him, donchathink?
This is Atom Ellis, filling in for Kasim, quite well, thankyouverymuch. It's been said he looks quite a bit like original Cars member Benjamin Orr....and he does. Sorry the pic is so dark. As he said to me after the show "Yeah, I step in wherever I'm needed." ....and my mind went off to a dirty place.
Here is a laminated sign we got from a shuttle bus that moved people from the casino/hotel to the performance arena. It makes me mad that they air-brushed Kasim's image from the promo photo, but the least they could have done was photoshop Atom's picture into it. No worries, Atom did a quick scribble of himself, carefully avoiding where Prairie Prince had signed previously. Also - Todd's autograph is on the left side, but it's in ball-point - so you need to take my word for it.
I just realized I haven't posted any close-ups of Prairie Prince (drummer) or Greg Hawkes (keyboards), but let me brag here for a second - I was too close to the stage to see over the monitors, so my pics of them are weird. But they're in the pictures from the other day's posting.
And......this is my prized vintage handbill from a 1978 Utopia show in Austin. Yeah, I was just a kid then, but I had great taste in music. 1978 was when I first saw Todd live (at the Dallas show) with Kasim playing bass. And we know where that's led. Check out the ticket price: $6.00!!! The good ole days! When Todd was signing this, he said "I see Kasim's been here already". Yeah, catch up, Todd.
I think that's enough for y'all. Believe me, I could go on and on, but it might be akin to having to sit through hours of someone photos of their baby. You can thank me later.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Travel Ghoulies and The New Cars
Well, hiya! How was everyone's weekend? I missed you so!
Friday morning came and I was almost too excited to be driving because I knew in 12 hours I would be seeing my Todd Rundgren with The New Cars. It had been since November since TNC had toured, and frankly not many expected they would tour ever again, after the lousy management last time around. But they've switched companies and perhaps they might get a little more PR in '07. I've had Todd up on a pedestal since I first heard him singing "Hello, It's Me" on my radio as a kid and though I've come close, I've never actually met him, but let's just say I was determined to change that, this time.
I should've taken heed in the fact that of the 4 of us who had bought our tickets together, two had to cancel. But CruiserMel was determined to make it to a place named Kinder, Louisiana at a casino, and L was still going to drive in from Houston and meet me there. So yay!
I dropped CruiserDog off at his Aunt CE's and hit the road. Then the A/C in the CruiserCar acted up - but I was still not daunted. Thirty miles outside of Dallas, I saw the flashing lights of one of Texas' finest. She wasn't stopping me for speeding, a broken taillight, or a dead body hanging out of the trunk. No, she stopped me for not having a front license plate. Lamelamelamelamelame. Wench. And I didn't mean to laugh when her trooper hat blew off and she had to chase it into a ditch. The giggles were about to give me a stitch in my side as I drove off with my written warning.
To add further stress to the situation, something was wrong with the starter on the car, so every time I stopped, I was faced with the question of "is there a rental car place or mechanic nearby?" It happened 3 times in the six-hour drive. But CruiserMel was still undaunted.
That's Prairie, L, CruiserMel and Atom. Cute, huh? Ummm, hummm. *okay, J will never ever know about this blog, just sayin.*
This is Greg & CM. Fantastic man! The sounds he pioneered in the 80's with the keyboards still send shivers up my spine. And I told him so. He probably thinks I'm a nutball. And he would be right.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Talk About Shooting & Scoring! Wow!
That being said, let me share with you what I've been watching for a few years that fascinates me to no end.
I don't fancy myself much of a sports girl, but I do happen to like car racing and the NBA.
Last night I was watching a playoff game - Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs, to be specific. I'm not picking sides - so chill out my little San Antonio readers - because frankly I like both teams, but truth-be-told, if the Dallas Mavericks were still in the hunt, I'd be their biggest cheerleader. But that's for another year.
Trying to do some ironing while the game was on, before too long, I found myself enthralled by Steve Nash's playing as usual.
Have you seen this guy in action? He's like a little Energizer Bunny, if you can say 6'1" is little. Once you train your eye on #13, you will practically see contrails coming off Mr. MVP. He's all over the place! He hops. He ducks. He skips. He is amazing!
And kinda cute. Just my opinion.
Next game Saturday night. ABC. 7:00 pm central time.
Annnnnnnnnnd I'm outta here to go see The New Cars (natch with Toddly) Friday night, somewhere in Louisiana. And there will be a casino involved. And my friends S & L. I'm doomed. But what a way to go!
Happy early weekend y'all!
Monday, May 07, 2007
A Couple of Updates
Okay, enough about ducks.
It's time for braggin' on the new guy, J. Um yeah, I'm still blushing over here. I find that funny for me to be like that. I guess it's just so refreshing to not have to listen to a bunch of life-draining hum-drum like "My day at work sucked, I hate it there" or "So let's talk about how crappy George Bush is doing." I hate that.
J is a very positive-thinking person. He leaves all negativity outside when he's talking to me. I mean, we've only dated a week or so, but other guys I've dated early-on seem to want to just have someone to vent to, and since I don't see a PhD behind my name, I don't really want to be that person so early. Am I wrong?
He actually talks about stuff he knows interests me. Like music, which tickles CruiserMel completely pink. (Oh come on, you didn't guess that I happen to live and die by music?) We have fun trying to convince eachother to the other "side" of popular music. He is more old-school hard rock and though my tastes range from 80's new wave and pop all the way up through current Grey's Anatomy-ish music, I left my hard rock days behind me in high school, where they belong in my opinion.
But I must say it makes for lively debate. And he's trying, really trying to be open-minded about some of my stuff. Like John Mayer. Completely on his own, he went online and got some of J-May's songs because he trusted my opinion (and telling him Johnnie is wicked on the guitar didn't hurt). Unfortunately, after giving 5 songs a listen, he wasn't convinced. But he gave it FIVE songs before he gave up! Oh well, you can't win 'em all. But he is diggin' The New Cars, with my beloved Todd manning the helm, and as you know, that is the way to my heart.
And you know what he did? He went to the Heaven & Hell concert Thursday night. I had no idea who that was, but apparently it's Ronnie James Dio (he's alive?) with the original members of Black Sabbath. He went alone, though he said he'd get me a ticket. No thanks. I would've been painfully miserable and would probably be found in the parking lot cutting myself with a broken beer bottle to avoid sitting through that. But here's the kicker: the guy was thinking of little ole me and bought me a tshirt. Have you priced tshirts at concerts lately? It's a really cool shirt too, and not the biker girl baby-doll tank top, because we all know that would've just ended up on CruiserDog after I sweetly said thank you while rolling my eyes into the back of my head in my mind. He's figured out my style in 3 dates? AND - he made me six, that's six mix cds of music he thinks I'd like. Not just what he likes, but what he thinks I'd like. "I wrote down the song names because I can tell you're a track girl." On the nosey! Some of it is actually very good and some not-so-much, but geez, what effort. Seriously adorable.
You're out there thinking "Cruiser, who the F have you been dating all your life that this all comes as a breath of fresh air?" And I would have to say to you, "Apparently guys that don't get me."
I offered up cooking dinner for him in exchange for hooking up a VHS to DVD recorder that was giving me fits. I mean, you know we girls don't have that gene. He came over and got horribly dusty crawling behind my armoire and untangling cords and got the mutha working. My hero. My duck. AND he liked my cooking and had seconds. (Of course, Central Market did the cooking, but hey, I was busy holding the flashlight and watching his backside as he worked electronic miracles. Heh.)
Now, if I can just not F this up. I wonder if Central Market gives a discount on buying ready-prepared meals in bulk.
*Sassy Blonde: Yes, he's got a brother, but he's taken. And doesn't live here anyway. Phooey.
Friday, May 04, 2007
We Won't Call It A Meme, Okay ThatGirl?
So here's the thing:
A - Available or Single? Pretty much.
B - Best Friend? Several, just call me blessed.
C - Cake or Pie? Pie. Chocolate, lemon meringue, apple, pumpkin.....oh doesn't matter.
D - Drink of Choice? Diet Coke, with or without Weller.
E - Essential Item(s)? Photos, iPod, flat-iron, hair dryer.
F - Favorite Color? Green.
G - Gummi Bears or Worms? Never had a gummi anything, but I'd choose bears. Worms are gross.
H - Hometown? Dallas, Texas.
I - Indulgence? Airfare, concert tickets, cruises, blackjack, pizza, cds, single-malt scotch.
J - January or February? January, so I can get over the holidays.
K - Kids? Not that I'm aware of. Heh.
L - Life is incomplete without…music.
M - Marriage Date? No, I don't think I'd take a date to my marriage.
N - Number of Siblings? One, a terrific older brother.
O - Oranges or Apples? Apples served with cheese.
P - Phobias/Fears? Being murdered, flying.
Q - Favorite Quote? All the world's a stage and we are merely players. (or something like that)
R - Reasons to Smile? Friends, puppies, cute men, blogs, Fridays.
S - Season? Summertime.
T - Tag Three? Lindy, Dezdemona, Williebee -please? For me?
U - Unknown Fact About Me: I'm a fantastic housekeeper - the reason it's unknown is because it isn't true.
V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? I don't discriminate - I'll eat almost anything.
W - Worst habits? Drinking, smoking (shhhh, don't tell), taking naps, too much television
X - X-rays or Ultrasounds? Dental, elbow, shoulder, some female stuff you don't want to know about
Y - Your Favorite Foods: Pizza, patty melts, Tex-Mex, Triscuits, Wisconsin cheddar
Z - Zodiac: Cancer / Moon Child
ThatGirl, there ya have it, my San Antonio blog-buddy. Happy Weekend, everyone!