You are the One

Ventured out last night for the first time (for me) in years to a live concert.  I have chosen to no longer drink or smoke and frankly going out to a club reminds me of how old and married I really am. A Place To Bury Strangers blew me away on SiriusXM so I knew I had to see them live.  The opening DJ Xoanon set, Little Bull Lee and Hunters all kicked ass.  The DJ Xoanon set had lush, rich floaty noise.  Little Bull Lee had insane bass and a petite, but hot male singer.  The pastel pink haired chick in Hunters kicked major lady ass. APTBS went off into their beloved 10+ minutes of eardrum shredding feedback (the band sells APTBS earplugs in a personalized case) and between that and the heat a lot of people were threw in the sweat soaked towel that point. However the trippy light and image show and their signature sound was spot on.

With that being said the venue had a creepy abandoned slaughterhouse vibe and absolutely no air conditioning.  Being at an amphitheater is not the same as being trapped in a cinder block building with no AC.  I innocently asked the bartender, in my Jersey accent, if the AC was broken and he laughed out loud and said that the venue is too costly to cool, but that they have fans and if you stand near them it isn't too bad.  That's like comparing apples to oranges buddy.  Frankly I was a bit embarrassed for the bands and for Charlotte, NC.  I mean sure these bands are touring in their Dirty Donnie 1970's vans and probably playing other shitholes all over the U.S., but there are other venues here in town that could have hosted them.  The other issue was the turnout.  This is, after all, the town of suits and banking, it was a Wednesday night, it was 90 degrees out and this band is pretty under the radar for most folks, so the crowd was painfully light - probably about 50 people if that.

It was a grueling evening heat-wise to persevere from 7pm until midnight but well worth it to see these bands.

Choose Your Own Adventure

My beloved Mr. Munchie was diagnosed with diabetes yesterday.  I'm still angry and suspicious that the arthritis medicine he is on is forcing his body to emit false signs of diabetes, but the sudden cloudy eyes, continual weight loss, his constant need to drink and pee and his blood glucose level of 419 is stacking up the real evidence for a positive diabetes case.  It's a sticky situation to be in - holding the fate of someone else's life in your hands - every decision is critical.  Do you stop the arthritis meds for 2 weeks in hopes that the symptoms will go away and demand that the Vet indulge me by retesting the blood? If you choose this path you risk Munchie's quality of life by letting the arthritis aches and pain come roaring back.  The information online is dizzying as far as diabetes  - expensive and lonely hospital stays, curves, needles, numbers, hypoglycemia, possible death from improper monitoring. This is heady stuff to consider.

I'm stuck in limbo as far as decision making goes right now and the steamy, rainy weather outside isn't doing anything to lift my spirits. Everything in life boils down to money and I don't want that to be a factor in keeping Munchie comfortable and vibrant.

Munchie has taught me so much about life in the 8 short years since he came to me - patience, unconditional love, how to put someone else's needs ahead of your own when that other person has no voice.  While Munchie has bestowed all these invaluable gifts, at the same time I just don't know if I could ever find the strength to share my life with another animal again - I hate thinking like that because there are so many animals in need and Munchie truly makes life worth living. 

I guess our little Trinity will be setting sail for a new adventure together.  The saddest part is that we will set sail as a trinity, but at the end of the journey return home just Herc and me.

Friday, July 13th...

Happy 96th Birthday to my Naniels.  I'm sure they'll have a birthday cake for you today at the home, but you won't know who or what it's for.  Don't worry - we'll celebrate for you.  Dug up this old pic of the 3 of us at the Morikami Japanese Gardens as taken by Aunt Judi.  I believe this pic was taken the early 2000's (not really sure because I am bad at writing dates on pics just like Nan was). We ran amok there and you had your black umbrella that you thought would shield you from the sun, but instead it created havoc and almost poked us all in the eye! Crazy Naniels! I miss cutting up with you. Happy Birthday. You may not have realized it but, in a roundabout way, you taught me a few things about life - it's not easy and you may have to live within your means (which can be incredibly hard at times) but you trudge ahead, you persevere and along the way try to be as nicely dressed as possible and most important - wear your lipstick!

Digging Rod Serling's Night Gallery paintings

Muppet Movie enchantment

Scenes from T-day 2011...

You can be clsssy and kill the earth all at once!

My attempt at a spicy, vegan pumpkin pie...

My Niece Zoe with another brilliant rainbow turkey she drew!

My Niece encouraged me to make a turkey too!

Don't judge a book by its cover, eh?