RUN!! RUN!!!

PROJECT RUNWAY is on this second!! GOOO!!! WATCH IT!!!

DEF LEPPARD JOURNEY CONCERT PART 2

Here is a close up of the stage for Def Leppard (the greatest band known to mankind.) I was so excited I couldn't even control myself. I had been looking forward to seeing them since the last concert they had at the Saint's stadium last summer.

Here is a good picture of the band rockin' out. SO they come out right, and the crowd is like hyper as hell and screaming their guts out for them. (I being one of them) They start out with "Let's Get Rocked" and I was all like, "Ok! - Anything for you, hottie men." So I proceeded to get rocked. When Joe Elliott sings for you - you listen. Ya know?

This is a picture of Rick Savage or otherwise known as 'hottie man' playing a solo to the beginning of some tune. I can't tell you the song they were playing because I was in a euphoric trance dancing my butt off while screaming at the top of my lungs. (Probably why I have a cough today...)

I can tell you that they played some seriously rockin' tunes like, "Rock Brigade", "High N Dry", "Foolin'", "Rock of Ages", "Photograph", "Rocket", "Love Bites", "Hysteria", "Armageddon It" and encored with "Pour Some Sugar On Me". They actually encored with two songs but I can't remember which of the above it was. Why? Because I wasn't in my right rational mind. I was Def Leppard-ized for the moment and wasn't paying attention to the order of things.


This is still earlier in the concert but I was getting tired of holding a camera phone and getting anxious to dance some more. I put it away and rocked my butt off. All I can say is I'm ecstatic that I went and I seriously,CAN'T WAIT until they come to town again.

I love my boys. I love them.

2 DAYS LEFT!!!!

Did you hear that?? Two days left! Seriously!!!

WOO HOOO!!!!

DEF LEPPARD JOURNEY CONCERT PART 1

The empty stage prior to Journey coming out. I took this picture and the lights dimmed not two seconds later. !!! I was so excited !!!

The crowd is going crazy and we hear this solo electric guitar being blasted through the speakers. It's the national anthem being played by Journey's Neal Schon. It was breathtaking and dare I say - WAaAAYyy better than the Jimi Hendrix version done so many years ago. I realize by saying this I open myself up to serious hate mail but it's the risk I'm willing to take.

He seriously did a great job - I had chills, goosebumps AND tears. It was the PERFECT opening to a fabulous night of rocking out! Some of the songs they played were "Open Arms", "Faithfully", "Any Way You Want It", "Wheel In The Sky" and "Don't Stop Believing". Songs I actually knew!

Prior to me going to the concert, I have to admit I wasn't all that aware of what they sang. I have a habit of knowing songs and singing them all the way through without knowing the name or band of the song. (Unless of course it's Def Leppard) I guess when I was younger it really didn't matter who was on the radio - just as long as the radio was on ya know?

Mark on the other hand was the type of dude that taped all the songs off of the radio, learned every song, band name, band members names, bands origin, bands quirks and any other kind of weird music trivia information known to the human race. That is, only if it was between the years 1970 and 1992. Basically, the man is hung up on any type of 80's rock.

Mark was in his 80's glory of course and knew every single word to every single song (even the more obscure ones). He rocked out most of the concert and as you can see here - he was quite happy. It's not often you get to see an actual smile out of the dude that is unless it involves a woman (preferably dressed as if she just step out of a time machine from the 80's era), 80's music, or a Oldsmobile W25442.

All three of those things could possibly send him into a frenzy and he'd have a cardiac arrest. I mean, the dude is getting up there...(you didn't hear that from me...)
This is the most clear picture I got of Journey playing their tunes. I wasn't all that far away from the stage but my camera phone wasn't the most optimal picture taking device. Oh well, you get the idea...

Anyway, the lead singer Steve Augeri was sick with some throat infection and they replaced him with some dude that acted like Ricky Martin. Although he sounded really good and it was nearly impossible to tell it was a different singer - the dude wouldn't stop flopping around the stage like a lunatic. He was WAY to young for that older band. He was distracting although very hot looking.

I swear though, that dude was totally gay. (I've hung around too many not to know - wait does that mean I'm an official Fag Hag? It is possible I'm wrong and the cheerleader jumps and posing on stage was all just a figment of my imagination...)
Before we knew it Journey was over and Def Leppard was next. Here is the holy ground of their stage....

Stay Tuned....

Losing Me

 

This week I have lost 2 pounds for a total of 15 pounds through Weight Watchers.  That makes the complete total of weight lost 32 pounds since October of last year!  It’s nothing compared to what I have lost in the past or what my extended family members have lost but it’s a good start and I feel good.

I've Been Rocked....

It's Coming...

Lajeanne Runnels is preparing for another great year at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and she wants all of you to come and see her. Having volunteered my time for Lajeanne for three years myself as an appointment setter I have seen some pretty amazing things. She is an amazing soul that provides many with comfort and knowledge they would normally never have.

If you have ever, ever wanted to see an Pyschic and just didn't know if that person was on the up and up, I'm telling you that she is. As an observer and as a past client, I have heard things that send chills throughout your body. She is the real deal and you will not be disappointed.

As an appointment setter, I got to spend time with Lajeanne's client prior to and after the reading and some of the client share their stories with me. Things I have been told would bring you to tears, fill you full of laughter and lift you with joy. Some people have been going to Lajeanne's for over 15 years. (I'm sure it's even longer) The point is that she is worth any amount of time you have to wait and any amount of money you have to spend. (which isn't much considering you get a tape of the reading, a handwriting analyze and a free follow-up question to use up to a year after the reading)

Listen folks, how many people will tape the reading for you? There are some people out there that have started to do it but Lajeanne's been doing it for years. Why? Because she wants you to be able to access it after the reading and really listen to what she says. When you are in a reading, you sometimes can focus on only a portion of what was talked about. You try so hard to remember everything but it's nearly impossible. With a tape - you can listen to it 100's of times and also check for accuracy through the year as things happen to you.

What do I have to gain by telling you this? Absolutely nothing. I'm telling you about Lajeanne Runnells because I truly believe that if you are looking for an accurate pyschic that really does care about her clients she is the person to contact.

What have I gained by volunteering my time to help Lajeanne? I have gotten access to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival as more than a patron of the event and had some great fun. I have gotten to know the world of the paranormal just that much more than the average person. Lajeanne also teaches you how to access your own intuition and helps you listen to your own thoughts. I have gotten to know and help a kind and gentle soul of a woman so she can make a living for herself and her family. I have gotten to meet hundreds of different people and hear their stories.

Their stories are about many different things - Births, deaths, closure with a loved one that has passed, their careers, their families, financial responsibilities, their health and so much more. You can ask Lajeanne anything and she will tell you what she sees. If she doesn't see anything she will tell you that too.

So if you are gonna head out to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival this year and want to get a reading, stop by and talk to Lajeanne!

Tell her Jacque sent ya!!

August 19th through October 1st, 2006
Weekends, Labor Day and Friday, September 29th
Open 9:00 am to 7:00 pm • Rain or Shine

THE TICKETS!!

Notice how grundgy this photo looks? Yup. I do too.

Probably should have noticed that the eye for the camera on my phone was full of dust and crap. Oops.
Looks much better now...

I'M GOING TO DEF LEPPARD TONIGHT!!!!!!!!
NA NA NAAA NAAAA NAAAAAAAA NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

THE JEEP PART 2

This section on both the driver and passenger side has had some serious rust damaged on the floor boards. Why is this bad? Well, this is where the seat attach and you wouldn't want anyone falling through now would you?

Just for the record, when J first got this jeep we took it out for a spin. Being we were out in the country on the back dirt roads of no where land I brought my freshly opened can of beer with me. I mean, I wasn't driving so don't be freaking out. J went over a large rut in the road and we all went flying, including my full beer. Beer was all over the floor and I was the very first to christen the jeep with alcohol.

In redneck country, that's an honor....

So anyway, Mark went to work fabricating a piece that would fit into that particular spot. Here you can see him hard at work heating up the metal so he could bend it.

Here he is heating and pounding to create crisp corners. It was loud and hot.

Here is the finished product. Notice how accurate all the corners are? He did a great job. Both J and I were amazed how good it looked afterwards.

Here the two are cleaning up after two full days of working with torches and scorching metal in 100 degree weather. It wasn't cool, I'll tell ya that much.

Good job guys!

I Need Your Opinions

The red background or the black? Which is better and why?

HELL YES!!!

7:30pm
July 18th
Target Center

Just like old times, the boys and I will meet again....

THE JEEP PART 1

One of the main reasons I went out of town this weekend was to bring Mark to my sisters place so he could help rebuild a jeep they purchased to plow snow in the winter. The jeep needed a ton of metal work and fiberglassing which are things that Mark can do well and my brother in law J knows little about.

This is a picture of the jeep in it's tore down state. J spent a lot of time prepping the jeep getting it ready for Mark's arrival. Here he is grinding something on the front grill...

While I was out taking pictures and seeing the progress, of course Mark used the opportunity to teach me a little about metal work. This floor panel under the gas pedals was originally made for the passenger side. This meant that all the flanges on the end of the metal were facing the wrong way. They all had to be reversed.

He taught me how to straighten the metal and slow bend the metal back the other way. Once that was finished I had to use a ballpin hammer on it against a existing corner mold to get the sharp fold. My hands have blisters because of this and my forearms are killing me yet but I did it. I made it work for the jeep.

Cool huh?

Once I got that finished I guess Mark felt he had a little helper he could utilize. I suppose he did for a little while but it didn't last much longer - trust me - metal isn't my forte so to speak.

Anyway, I did help for a little while. This rear driver side quarter panel was attached by brazing the metal and welding the two pieces together. I had to quench the metal with a wet rag to make sure the metal didn't shrink while cooling off. To counter this problem, quenching the metal is the answer.

At least, this is how I understood it. All I know is that there was fricken fire coming out of that metal and I was afraid to put my rag over it while he was working. I mean, I could have gotten burnt or something.

I'm sensitive people. I am...

Getting Ready For The Party

The weekend was full of lots of things as you can tell but nothing was as fun as getting ready for the sleepover birthday party 'E' was gonna have Sunday night.

You can see here that I wasn't welcome taking pictures of my two sisters planning their cleaning attack. I pretty much took them anyway. It's what I do I guess.

Here you can see N working hard with L in the background working with her...

I'm sitting at the dining room table watching them. Perhaps I should help?

Naw.


The birthday girl in pink is helping her younger sister button up for the upcoming social event...


Here M is in her dread lock braids that I did for her. She is growing up way too fast. They all are. I mean, I was there when little L was born and she is 6 already! (gonna be 7 in a few weeks...)

What happened to the time? What happened to me having baby nieces? Now I have young lady nieces.

Ugh. This means I'M old...

Because I knew I had to leave early on Sunday before her prime time party - I bought her a tiny little cake of her own to celebrate with me while I was there.

She is 9 now - so grown up. Next thing you know she will be 80 years old and won't even remember she had an Aunty like me. All she will care about is if her peas are hot if can she chew her mashed potatoes...

Ugh......MY BABIES ARE GROWING UP!

Here she is making a wish....

BEFORE & AFTER MURAL PART 2

This is before...

This is after...


This is the before....

after....

I'm glad I did it but I'm also glad it's finished. E is just turning 9 so I have 2 more years before I have to try and tackle another project like this again.

CNN's Money Magazine Top 100 Places To Live 2006

Ok people. I’m just shocked at what I found when I looked at this list. Why? Well for one – my hometown in on the list! Check this out…

#10. Eden Prairie, MN – Eden Prairie is a place where very wealthy people live – keep in mind is NOT my hometown but wouldn’t mind l. I have been here before but only for pretend. I mean, it’s not like I shop there or anything. I have driven through it and gone to lunch there a few times. Oooo la la – Call me privileged…

#12. Eagan, MN - This is where two of my close friends live. I don’t want to call out who incase they would like to keep their living location super secret and out of the blogging public’s eye. I have been there 100’s of time and find that it’s a very nice area. Maybe I need to think about moving to the east side?

Naw.

#54. Blaine, MN – This is where I grew up and went to high school. I’m usually not all that proud of that fact being when I grew up there it was like growing up in a corn field - there was not a whole lot there and not much to do. I was constantly teased by my friends in Coon Rapids (where I went to private school 1st-9^th grade) about how I live in B.F.E (Bum F**@!# Egypt –I lived far away). I was considered the girl that lived ‘up north’ to anyone I met that didn’t live north of me - which is just funny when you think about what ‘up north’ in Minnesota is really about.

In recent years however, the place has boomed into this bustling suburb. It’s sad really because when I visit the places we used to hang out, they have changed so much its hardly recognizable. I mean, they have cut down so many trees in the name of progress. ‘Dead Mans’ – the bike trails we would race around, jump and hurt ourselves at has been bulldozed for a road that leads into a new neighborhood. It was heartbreaking to see but I realize I’m old and gray now – life happens.

So maybe I finally have something to be proud of huh? Maybe…naw…

#67. Rochester, MN – This is the town were my ex-boyfriend moved too for another chick while we were dating when I was sick. This is also the town where I had to go in order to feel better since no one here in Minneapolis could help me. (I got issues – physically that is…) It’s the home of the world renowned Mayo Clinic. It’s no wonder this place is on the list, I mean if you are hurt – you’re gonna get fixed up right. Ya know what I’m talking about?

Despite what I felt was a city of betrayal at first (how dramatic of me right?) it turned out that in the end it was my savior city and without it I would have been doomed. Kudus to Rochester…

BEFORE & AFTER MURAL PART 1

Here you can see the rough outline for the mural I started back in April for my Niece Megan.

Here is the finished product. I guess the picture isn't that great but my camera phone is fading

I had to leave my signature for her. Every artist must sign their work huh?



Here is 'Megan' doing a trick for us. She picked out the colors and she co-designed the hat and board. Can you see the sign she stole from the ski hill she goes to up in the sky?




Remember this??

I'm on to something, huh?

Are you better off single?
By Dawn Yanek

Attention, unmarried people of America: You can splurge on a fancy new wristwatch without having to explain yourself. You can stay out till 3 a.m. without having to phone home. You can leave the toilet seat up. In fact, there are many, many ways that single life rocks, though you may forget that fact when your relatives are grilling you about settling down.

Not only do you have the freedom to do anything you want—it’s also the best time in history to be flying solo. The marriage rate has declined nearly 50 percent since 1970, according to the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, and right now, there are approximately 100 million singles in the U.S. And there’s strength in those numbers: “Today’s choose-to-be singles differ from the poor-me singles of past generations; there’s less of a stigma attached to being single, ” says Jerusha Stewart, author of The Single Girl’s Manifesta. “Singles are traveling, buying homes and doing everything they want to—you don’t have to get married anymore to live your life with style.”

Want more specifics on why you should celebrate being single? Here, 10 fascinating benefits to being unmarried:

Reason #1: You have a better body.We’ve all been there—you get into a relationship, and suddenly you’re trying out new recipes all the time and cuddling instead of exercising. Well, things tend to get worse with marriage. A recent Cornell University study found that women generally gain five to eight pounds in the first few years of marriage and unhappily married women gain an average of 54 pounds in the first 10 years. For the unmarried, though, the motivation to stay slim remains: “Singles look at themselves through the eyes of others and want to be attractive to potential partners,” says Susan Davis, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in New York City, “so they’re still ‘working on themselves.’” In short, being single is way better than any New Year’s resolution or exercise DVD to motivate you to stay in shape.

Reason #2: You’re more likely to achieve great things.It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you have the time, the quiet and the lack of familial responsibilities. In fact, your premarital motivation to excel in life may be biologically programmed. According to a study conducted at the London School of Economics and Political Scientists, male scientists who stay single longer peak in their careers later in life and tend to be more productive than their married counterparts. Researchers theorize that men, in general, may show off their talents to win the interest of women and then, once they’ve won a wife, get comfortable and do less. In fact, studies have shown that testosterone levels, which boost action, decrease after a man gets married and has children. So single folk should know they are primed to achieve — whether that means turbo-charging their careers or honing their rock-climbing skills — and get out there and work it!

Reason #3: You do less housework.You know that saying about a tree falling in a forest and there’s no one there to hear it? Well, if you leave a sock on the floor but there’s no one else there to see it, does it really need to be picked up? If you’re a single woman, you can contemplate deep questions like this one because you have more free time. According to one study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, women do less housework when single than when married. Men, on the other hand, do more housework when unmarried (that’s probably because there’s someone picking up after them once they’re wed…). So the message here is for unmarried women to enjoy their less chore-filled life; fill those free hours with classes, good books, blabbing with friends—whatever makes you happy.

Reason #4: You can do what you want with your money—including keep it.Go ahead: Splurge on that pricey moisturizer or that obscenely large plasma TV you’ve been lusting after. You don’t have to justify your purchase to anyone but yourself. Once you mix money with marriage, though, things change—and fast. According to a survey by SmartMoney magazine, 40 percent of women and 36 percent of men have lied to their spouses about a purchase. “When you’re single, your finances are your own,” explains Phyllis Chase, a Los Angeles–based psychologist and co-host of the radio show Shrink Rap. “When you’re married, you have to deal with different styles of spending and saving, and you may take on your partner’s debt.” And a marriage that doesn’t make it for the long haul can also have a major negative effect on one’s wealth. According to researchers at Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research, during a divorce, men and women generally lose three-fourths of their personal net worth. Double ouch.

Reason #5: You have better sex.Married couples may have more sex (approximately 98 times a year vs. singles’ 49), but singles have better sex. According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, married women are significantly more likely to report problems with their sex lives than single women. “People who are dating have better sex because it’s novel,” says Davis. “Married people have to relearn how to play. It’s natural for singles because that’s the nature of a courting relationship—they tease, they experiment, they explore.” Nature lends a helping hand, too. According to researchers at the University of Pisa in Italy, raging testosterone levels in both men and women makes the sex hotter during the first two years of a relationship. After that, other hormones take over—most notably, oxytocin, a bonding chemical, kicks in. While getting connected and comfortable is a positive step in a relationship, long-term lovers have to work harder to keep things hot in the bedroom. Singles, however, sizzle just the way they are.

Reason #6: You’re better rested and smarter.While snuggling up next to a warm body can be pretty fantastic, according to a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, your bedmate can cause you to lose an average of 49 minutes of sleep per night. Sleeping two-to-a-bed just isn’t as restful as snoozing solo. Other studies confirm that singles generally get more rest — seven to eight hours of sleep a night — than marrieds, which enhances memory, mood and concentration, as well as allows your immune system to recharge. And, according to scientists at the University of Luebeck in Germany, creativity and problem-solving may directly correlate with getting enough sleep. In the study, participants were given a math puzzle; those who’d had eight hours of sleep or more before tackling it were three times more likely to get the right answer than those who slept less. So, singles, revel in the fact that you’re alert, rested and have that extra brain-power edge.

Reason #7: You’re less depressed.Although the media often perpetuates the image of single people being down in the dumps, overall unmarried people tend to be happier than their married counterparts—if you’re a woman, that is. One report by the World Health Organization indicated that married women, especially ones with children, have a higher risk for depression than single women, and researchers at the University of London found that single women generally have fewer mental-health issues. “Marriage, in many ways, seems to benefit men more than women,” says Davis. “For women, there’s more of a loss of self.” And, of course, today’s women often feel like they need to do it all—have a career, take care of the kids and perform other traditionally “female” responsibilities. “People who aren’t married are still investing in themselves,” says Davis. “It’s not selfish—it’s giving to yourself, and that’s something married people can learn from single people.”

Reason #8: You have better friendships.Significant others are a wonderful thing, no doubt, but friends count, too. And on that front, one study found that, when women get married and have children, they spend much less time with their friends—less than five hours a week, down from 14 hours. Singles, however, often have the greatest sense of friendship and community—which can actually decrease stress levels, according to researchers at UCLA. Here's another way to look at this: “Singles don’t rely on just one person to meet their needs. You don’t automatically know who you’re going to spend Friday night with,” says Sasha Cagen, author of Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics. “The plus side is that you have a lot of different people in your life and potentially a greater sense of social possibilities.”

Reason #9: Your travel tales are enviable.Marrieds take the most vacations, dominating the market with 62 percent of all trips taken, but singles arguably go on more interesting trips. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, singles corner the adventure-travel market, engaging in activities like whitewater rafting, scuba diving and mountain biking. Being single and relatively footloose certainly allows you to expand your geographical — and personal — borders. “I have lived abroad, backpacked for close to a year, have been in love three times and much more,” says Courtney Davis, 27, a media-relations manager in Boston. “With every place and every person, my world has expanded.”

Reason #10: You know yourself—and what you want out of a relationship.You’re a better catch now than you were at 20. You may have signs of, ahem, experience etched on your face, but that’s OK because you’re more interesting and more self-aware. Not only have you grown as a person, but you’ve probably been through the ringer a few times in matters of love and now know what you want—and what you don’t. Experts say that bodes well for future marital success and may actually decrease the likelihood of divorce. “When people get married young, they often feel like the other person will complete them, and they have trouble moving past that Hollywood myth,” explains Chase. “But maturity brings so much, because if you’re able to communicate who you are and what you want, the better your chances of having a successful marriage.” And that’s a wonderful message: Your single self is great... and should you find the right person and decide to marry, you’re more likely to thrive in that stage of your life, too.

Dawn Yanek is the author of How to Find the Right Person in 90 Days and Women’s Best-Kept Secrets. She frequently appears on VH-1, MSNBC, and other networks as a commentator on relationships, celebrities and lifestyle trends.

15 YEARS

CONGRATULATIONS Lisa and Joe!

I Love Johnny....

This is a movie that I am anxious to see. I mean, hello??? Look at this man!

He is beautiful.

I have had nearly a lifetime crush on him ever since 21 jump street. Remember that show?? He is so hot.

I'm content with just oogling him for a while this afternoon. I need something to keep my mind occupied before I leave this joint and go home to pack. Seems I don't know the meaning of staying in town lately.

Oh well.




*sighs*

I'm such an idiot....

In the past when I have used blogger I had to have a separate server to house all of my pictures. I just realized today that since google has purchased blogger that they changed that option and I can upload my photos directly through blogger and post them that way.

Sometimes, I can be so goofy.

Like the crazy concertina picture?