The Morrissey Houston Trip

Back on April 11th, Dawn and I went to Houston to see Morrissey at Jones Hall!!!

We managed to make a whole day of it. We made lunch reservations at Nelore and had a wonderful meal. Last time I went there it was by myself during my MTP week there for Lowe's. I think we tried every type of meat there and on top of that, before we left I was going to buy a can of brazilian soda and they gave me one for the road at no charge!

We then went to the Galleria, which is a huge mall shopping center in Houston. We bought the girls some Easter Dresses! Then went to the Apple store. Dawn is now in love with the Apple and Garage Band! We will one day have this in our home. The one we saw had a piano keyboard attached to it and we played around with the whole track creation. She loved it. We also went into the Hot Topic. We almost bought these Hello Kitty Hoodies. They were cute.

We then found a Fiesta Mart. Dawn had never been to one, and I went last time I was there in Houston. It was fun. She bought some type of milk product for Daniel, and she found some curry powder and some spices and I bought my Brazilian Soda again.

Then it was time to make our way to the show.

We bought the tickets about a month and a half before the show. Looking at the location, we knew we were in the balcony section. What we didn't realize was, how high it was. Our first realization was when we had to take a elevator up to the top. Then I got a picture of how high we were in the building. Dawn, is very fearful of heights. I didn't realize how bad until we got to the top. Dawn couldn't look over the rail of the balcony and I felt a little fearful as well. I took my phone and took a pic over the rail. WOW! We were up there.

Then we had to figure out where our seats were. We were on the front row, but there wasn't anything but the rail and wall in front of us. Dawn was freaking out! She managed to sit down in her chair. But she was like a mom driving with her child in the next seat. Every time I would move she would grab my arm and make me sit back in the seat. But after a while she began to relax a little. But not a lot. But look at the picture and this was pretty much our view. I really felt bad for her. I have never seen Dawn be so overwhelmed. But she did try her best to deal with it. Once the show began, she did seem to calm down a little.

One thing I really like when going to concerts, is the opening acts. It's really a chance to find something new. And here were the Courteeners!!! They had a really good set. Each song seemed to be stronger and stronger until the very last one. By the time their set was over with everyone in that theater was impressed and the response was very evident. Dawn and I looked at eachother and we were impressed. We both looked at eacheother when that last song was over and we were kind of shocked! I went after the show and bought their import CD. It's signed by the band!

They began setting up the stage for Morrissey and were showing some videos of various things. One thing that caught our attention were these songs from Shocking Blue. We really liked them. There were some things from the New York Dolls, of course. And some other things. But it was a good way to pass the time between groups.

And then it was time. The lights went out and everyone was going crazy and there were these faint lights in the back of the stage shining through the backdrop and the opening to a Nina Simone album was playing. It created this morning dawn setting and it looked like the sun was rising on the backdrop. And as it got brighter you could see a silouette of a guy flexing his muscles. And then Morrissey came out and went right into "This Charming Man!" Then you could see that the backdrop was a shirtless Sailor with a cigar in his mouth and the word REFUSAL across his chest.

I've always like Morrissey since I really discovered him just out of High School. I heard the album Bona Drag. Dawn didn't care for him too much, but I just took to it. And I've stuck along with him since. So I was really happy to see him live! My friend Brian, got to see him open for Depeche Mode in Kansas City and I was so Jealous of him. But now here Dawn and I were and there he was on stage. But I do realize that I don't like being so far away. I like being up close to the act. Up in the balcony is not the place to be for me.

But tonight's show was GREAT! He was in prime form. He voice didn't waver once during the whole show. What you hear on the CD's is what you hear live!

He was funny too! Everything he said was done in this poetic fashion. And of course at one point in the show he was trying to invite people in the front to "attack." He wanted people to come on stage. Someone tried and got pulled away. He spoke to some of the people up front. And at one point, he took off his shirt during "Let Me Kiss You," but his shirt wouldn't come off his arm. He even at one point laughing at himself, told everyone that "it won't come off!" He finally got it off and gave it to someone up front. Later it was said that the cuff links kept it from coming off easy. Lucky girl got his shirt with all the stuff still on it!

One of my favorite moments was when he sang the Smith's song "ASK." There was this really awesome vibe going on through the whole hall. Everyone there was singing it word for word! Everyone had this head bob thing going and you could really feel this, for lack of a better description, 80's feel going on. It was AWESOME!!! You could really hear everyone singing and I think he let them be louder than himself. It was great.

He also did some of my favorites through out the set. "Crashing Bores" was a highlight for me when it came to my alltime favorites. He also did some of the songs from the new album. Then of course there was "How Soon Is Now." Everyone was going crazy for that one. Even Dawn liked that one. She didn't realize that this was a song he did. She only knew it from "Charmed." Funny.

Only really down time for the show was during "Disco Dancer." I understand that it was for him to take a break, but by the time it was over, it was just this loud overbearing mess of notes and sound that really wasn't what I wanted to be hearing at that moment.

The band was awesome for the show. They really did a great job. One thing they would do once in a while, that I really got a kick out of, would be for them to take control of the stage. They would all line up and Morrissey would take a step back and let them have their moments up front. He did some funny things too. He got on his back and would stick up his legs on a speaker and would hold it there for a minute in a contorted position. It really looked like he was having fun during this show! And everyone there was having fun too.

For the encore he tried to perform "First of the Gang." I say try because he was attacked seven times from people on stage. They would climb up and try to hug him. Several did succeed very well and some wouldn't. The crowd really got into that. If someone made it they would cheer. If security got them, they would awww. He even would tell them something like, "good try." Some he would step back on the stage and give them a try at hugging him. But so many tried that he was having to improvise and scat the lyrics of the song. It was rather funny. The last person to grab his hand though, he didn't let go. He pulled her up to the stage and she just let him. She got up and they turned to each other and they graciously bowed to eachother. It was a very classy move. He led her back to the crowd and he thanked everyone and left. The band finished and gave up their picks and set lists and stuff. And that was it!

This was a really Great SHOW!!! I really had a fun time there. I think Dawn did too. She eventually was able to not be too scared of the height. I think she began enjoying it more as it went on. Overall, I'm glad that we were able to have the chance to go to see this Legend of Alternative Music. I'm sure that this is something that I'll not have a chance to do again, so I'm really glad we got to go.

Just next time, we're going to have to stay on the ground. But that's okay. We got our tickets for U2 in October. We're going to be right on the floor for this one.

Thanks Morrissey for the great time in Houston, Texas!!!

Went to Lafayette this weekend

This weekend was my Daughter's 12th Birthday! The family and I went to Lafayette, Louisiana to be with the Aunt and Uncles there and have a meal as a family to celebrate! We went to a place called Deano's Pizza, which is a terrific place to go for some original pizza!
But while there, we saw a rather shocking site that actually made my sensitive daughter cry. There was a cute little family that had two boys, a little baby, and mother and father. And in the waiting area there was a bar. Well, they walk right up to the bar and order two beers and start drinking and hanging out waiting for a table. The mother really seemed to have a I don't care vibe going. The father seemed to be the one taking care of the kids. And at one point they pick up the baby and place the car seat on the bar stool. And keep on drinking. The mom was also chewing her gum and sitting all perched up on the stool with her knees in her chest. It was a really odd site and the nine of us all were looking at eachother rather disgusted. Why? I know that people drink. But do they do it so openly in public with their children with them? This of course bothered our daughter. She was sad and wanted to go. We had to sit with her for a minute and talk to her. We do not drink alcohol. As members of our Church we follow this Word of Wisdom. We explained that others don't follow this. This is that couples choice, but it doesn't mean they are bad people and it's their choice to do these things. We choose not to. It is sad and a little concerning that two adults, if you can call two people doing that while out, with three little ones, were consuming alcohol. They drove there, and they would have to drive back. Is that concerning to anyone else?
Well, we had a great time and had some really incredible pizza. The highlight was a pizza with, Shrimp, Craw fish Tails, and shredded Crab Meat!!! IT was amazing!!! Everyone got what they wanted and we had a fun time together as a family.
We went to the mall and Kim got some really neat outfits for her Birthday. I had a chance to walk into Hot Topic. Oh the humanity of Hot Topic. I really felt sorry for the parents that were there. They had this Death Metal music blasting the whole time. I really felt sorry for everyone there. There definitely was a poor spirit there. Ugly shirts, ugly music, and just plain ugly all over the place. Only cute thing I saw was a Nintendo Hoodie. But to get anywhere near it you had to walk through ugliness. No more Hot Topic for me.
Then we went to the Aunt's house and had Cake from a good bakery there in Lafayette. Oh, and Kim got a really nice haircut from a place there in Lafayette that her Aunt Jessica recommended. It looks very nice.
The girls love going to their Aunt and Uncle's place. I really don't know why. Once the initial excitement wears off, it's rather dull. Nothing to play with, and they just kind of hang out until it's time to leave. But I guess if it makes them happy. Note to Aunts and Uncles, have things for the nieces and nephews to do when they come to visit.

ALWAYS USE PROTECTION!!! ALWAYS!!!

Just the other evening, while at work I made an awful mistake. Normally I will take my keys and put them in my left pocket. My right pocket carries only my iPhone. Nothing else is allowed to go in there for fear of damage. Well, in my haste to free my hands, I placed my keys in my right pocket and walked around for a little while. When I sat down, I noticed my pocket seemed really full, and then I realized I had put my keys in there. I quickly emptied my pockets and pulled my phone out so see three deep scuff marks on it. ARRRGHH! But the day I purchased my phone I went to the AT&T store, and purchased a case from CASEMATE. It came with a protective screen that I put on it the day it came to my home. The screen protector has three gouges in it. But when I took off the protector, the screen was not harmed in any way!!! AMAZING!!! So I rushed over to WAL MART and purchased some more screen protectors. CASEMATE has a very nice thick screen protector and I got some more. Moral of the story, ALWAYS USE PROTECTION!!! See ya!!

Everybody look at me! I got 3G!!!

YES! This is my new iPhone 3G!
I got it shortly after I got home from Missouri.

Now, you might ask, "Rick, how did you manage to get an iPhone?"

Or the better question would be, "How did you get Dawn to agree to letting you get an iPhone?"

Okay, here's my secret... You give up all of your financial rights to your wife! She has control over all of the finances. It does work.

what have I done?

I've sold my soul for my iPhone... It's okay. I'm going to go play some Tap Tap Revenge...

ON MY iPHONE!!!! YEE HAWWW!!!

Caffine FREE RICK!!!

As of today, I am now 15 days free of any caffine in my system. I started the day after I got home from Missouri. I was reading an article about this whole caffine deal. And I realized that I really was drinking way too much of this stuff. SO I decided to stop. I now have been free of it for fifteen days! If I drink a soda, it's orange soda or sprite. There've been a couple of times I've almost had a coke or pepsi, but I've been good. I really see the differences in my behavior and mood. I'm actually tired and feel sleepy now. But, after putting in a 11 hour work day, by the end of that day, I'm worn out. But this is a good thing. I'm putting more water and less bad in my system. I'm not stopping now!

It's a new year!!!

WOW!!! IT's been a while since last getting on! Sorry about that. But all is well here! We've started off into the new year! I went to see my mother and grandmother. I flew up there this time instead of driving like I do normally. IT was only $200 to go round trip! I figured that I would have spent that much just driving up and back and getting meals. Plus It ment that I wouldn't have to get up super early to try to get to Missouri. I left here at 8am and drove to Houston. A three hour drive. Got there with plenty of time. I ate some pizza at the airport. Went and sat down and listened to Coldplay on my ipod and read an entertainment weekly until it was time to board. The flight was alright. Had to share my row with a little woman. There was supposed to be some man sitting next to me, but when he got on the plane and saw he had to sit next to me, he began complaining to the stewardess. So she switched some seats. I like flying on the three seat planes. The left side of the plane only has one seat. I like that. I get a window to look out of and no one bothers me. It was only a two hour flight. I got to KC by 3:30pm. And Mom was there! AND IT WAS COLD!!! The high was only 23 degrees. Just two hours ago it was in the 50's in Texas. I brought my "winter" coat with me. It helped.
It was good to see family. Spent some time with my grandmother. Spent lots of time with my mother and her cats. We also celebrated my father's birthday. I flew up just as his birthday would have been. It was fun to sit and think and miss him.
I also got to see some of my friends from home. Josh and I had lunch together one afternoon. And I also saw some of my co-workers from my last job. It was good to see them.
I had some Casey's Pizza. I never miss out on a trip up here for that. We all think it's the best pizza out there. Really cheesy and delicious!
It even snowed while I was there!! It stayed on the ground for a whole day before it began to disapear the next day with better temps.
I flew back home on Sunday. Once again, it was really nice to just get up and not have to really rush. Said bye to my Grandmother, and Mom and I had some waffle house for breakfast. I broke a shoe lace and had to go to walmart to get another. Then Mom dropped me off at the airport. It's kind of pointless now a days to stay and wait at the airport now. They cut you off as soon as you walk through the gate. I remember when we all could just sit there and wait for a plane to come in or leave. They didn't have all these gates and check points. It's sad.
So Mom and I said our bye for nows and I checked in. We took off a little before 12:30 and got to Houston ahead of time. I got to sit in that single seat. I like that seat much better.
Made it to Houston and then got in my truck that I had parked in a park and pay lot, and drove home. I did find a really nice Chinese Buffet in Humble. East Cafe!!! It's really good. And has a great selection.
So I made it home in three hours!!! What a way to travel. I really like doing that. It's a really relaxing way to travel. When I drive what ends up being over 13 hours, it's a very hard thing to do alone. So I think I may do this more often than drive on my own to Missouri. It was a neat experiment that really turned out to be good.
Enough of this. IT's late. But I do want to leave you with this video!!! It's really funny and it's from one of MY favorite bands, that I just happend to see LIVE in November! See YA!!!

PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR MIND BLOWN AWAY!!!

This was way way too strange to not show you! We endured this for like forty minutes and lived to tell. Mind was blown away. Wish it hadn't been but Sleepercar warned us Jon Hopkins would "blow your mind away."

But Seriously. Doesn't this sound like CSI music when they process a crime scene or go to the lab to do some DNA testing?