When I was born, I was given the gift of logic and the knack of criticizing everything and everyone under the sun. Sadly, I was not given "ambition". I blame two people in my life for that, but I won't name names. I just saw a post on the EVIL social networking site I like to play on. A person who has no skills to speak of, no smarts to speak of, and has a few "problems" has managed to build herself a business and make a ton of money and was flying Business Class and holding a glass of champagne. One thing bothers me, besides the obvious. How was she taking photos with her iPhone and posting them while the plane was in the air? That's for SURE a huge no no. See what I mean? No common sense, no marketable skills, but she's laughing and I'm crying. It ain't fair!
Alas, I have no ambition as mentioned above. I also have no marketable skills but I at least have half a brain. Too bad that's not enough.
I was trawling around on various sites earlier and found a photo of an actress I used to watch on a TV show "way back when". She's joined Priscilla Presley and Marie Osmond, and had a BAD plastic surgery experience. She's totally unrecognisable in a scary kind of way. Then there's the idiot woman on that show about Beverly Hills rich bitches with the duck face. Don't these people look in a mirror..ever? I guess when someone else does your hair and makeup, you don't have to. YIKES. Between that, and reading papers here and seeing the tarts out last night in the snow in their towering high heels, mini dresses and spray tans and not a coat in sight. I give up. No wonder I have no ambition and don't care about anything! Everybody's gone loopy.
Call out the National Guard! Oh crap, wrong country. The entire nation or whatever this is, is panic stricken today because of a forecast of a possible 4 inches of snow. Heathrow has already cancelled flights..for tomorrow and all HELL is breaking loose as we speak. Roads are closed, blah, blah, blah. Like I always tell them here...stand out in the cold waiting for the school bus in Tiona, PA with an actual temperature of -20F with your bare legs turning purple and THEN, and only then can you panic/have a fit/say you're cold. Of course, we didn't wear hats then because it would have mashed the hair we (I) spent hours creating. We had to wear skirts or dresses because, this was the "old days" after all. Then, after the bus finally showed up, we'd usually get stuck in a snow bank when we turned around way up the Six Mile. We had to turn around on a dirt logging road because there wasn't anywhere else. Sometimes, we'd get all the way to school and the furnace wouldn't be working. Yay! Were those the good old days? Not sure, but I do not understand it when people panic over a tiny bit of snow. I mean, WTF peeps? All I can say is, it's a good thing my friend isn't flying into London THIS weekend. Here's hoping that next weekend isn't a disaster of epic proportions and everybody can get where they need to go. The End.
"Following two calls from the “Team” and a “factory re-set”, the phone is switching itself on more than ever when emails or texts come in. Also, I cannot load Facebook as I lost it in the re-set. The icon loads but the programme won’t work. After three tries this afternoon, I decided it just isn’t worth the aggravation. I don’t know yet if it has issues in certain venues or on the train because I haven’t been anywhere to find out.
I have come to the decision that since I’m stuck with this crappy phone until October, I’ll forget about Facebook, and shall delete my Yahoo mail account totally, keeping only the Blackberry mail address which no one mails me on, hence..the phone will not switch itself on. (supposedly)
I can only say that when the contract is up, the Blackberry will be tossed in the bin and I will not be signing up for a new phone with you. Not that you care, but it made me happy to tell you that."
Notice how I "Britished that up" to send? I said BIN instead of garbage can and I said "shall delete". Ooohhhhhh, don't I sound all fake and stuff?
On a day where the headline on one site reads "Kim Kardashian Tells Why She Dyed Her Hair". PATHETIC! I guess that put me in the mindset to fire off another email. When they call here, it's so loud, I have to hold the phone about a foot away from my ear. Ah well. Let the games begin I guess. It'll take them a good 2-4 weeks to bother calling and I'll get the usual "It's doing what? I've never heard of that". Uh huh.
We went into town today for our DAY OUT, and we actually didn't spend a lot of time slamming the locals. I think there was only one woman with a HUGE ass that John said a few choice words about. *Yawns* For the second week in a row, beer has given me a headache. How can I be a functioning member of CAMRA if I can't drink beer with the guys? Dunno, but certain kinds have that effect and others don't bother me at all.
Watching a US crime show with a Brit narrator which sometimes cracks me up. Why they can't have the original US people's voices is beyond me. She just said "issiew" for "issue" and it made me laugh. Sometimes, they REALLY blow the pronunciations on the US cities. Oh well. In a couple weeks, I get to venture down to London and hook up with some actual Americans. Should be a good time, eh wot?
Nothing going on here except the weather people are pretty much predicting a snow disaster, they THINK we MIGHT get...MAYBE...POSSIBLY. (and then again, we might get nothing) Such uncertainty and doubt. No wonder I'm nuts.
Makes me think of the Beatles song of the same name. When you dare to critique someone/something here, they don't answer you, hence..NO REPLY. Virgin Media responded to our email sent a month ago, after I sent them two more and was very sarcastic. They basically said it's "our fault" my phone doesn't work. They then give you a helpline you have to pay to call. I don't be thinkin' so dudes!! The Nursing Home I got mad at didn't bother to humor me and reply at all. Stupid bastards!
It's been an interesting couple of days with more drama than I care to have. I'll just leave it at that.
I ordered some hair stuff here that costs $30 a bottle in the USA...IF you can even find it. Got it for less than half that, and it was delivered in less than 48 hours. Places over here tend to send things out a lot quicker than they do in the US of A. Although, how would I know as I don't live over there anymore? Twelve years is a long time to be out of your country of birth. I don't know WTF is going on over there these days, except please don't elect that religious geek freak named NEWT!!!! That is all.
UPDATE Of Sorts: Virgin Media called and got me out of bed today and we "discussed" my Blackberry. It has now been set back to factory settings and we're all holding our collective breath(s) to see if it's fixed. I vote "no", but then that's just the way I am. I talked to a nice little girl with a horrible accent, as in "Hi ya, muh name is KELLAAAAIIY". Oh dear. Almost as bad as the TV ad for PANTENE where they have Liv Tyler pronouncing it the way they do here as "PANTEN". Just makes ya wanna barf. The end. I got nothin' else.
I think it is in extremely POOR TASTE that you sent me a happy little card telling me that I can have a jolly old time if I put my "Mum" in one of your facilites. For your information, my mother DIED in 2003, in America and I couldn't be there because I was stuck here applying for residency. It is something I can't forget.
You really shouldn't send out advertising to households like the one I received this morning. It was very upsetting to say the least. I would never take anyone up on an offer they sent in the mail. In otherwords, if I require a service, I'll call YOU. DO NOT send me any further crap about your "services" please!!!
P.S. I wouldn't send my elderly cat to live in your "facility".
I dont want a woman though. I want Dr. Feelgood to prescribe me some Happy Pills that apparently most people here are taking , and I feel left out. Happy Pills would account for the idiotic braindead "overly happy" people on TV. I tried to watch a show on "Crime and Investigation" and all I did was end up taking the piss out of the woman from Scotland who really should have had subtitles...ha ha ha. I just can't stop it seems. Pain does that to a person I guess. My right knee has been killing me for days and nights, and the more I walk, (which is GOOD FOR ME), the more it kills me. It's killing me right now and I'm sitting here typing FFS. I can't win. White wine, is a total waste of my time, but it came in the delivery with the wine I got "for a good price". White wine has no flavor to speak of and only makes me madder, so I guess that's a "wash" as we say in the US of A where I am FROM. What to do, what to do. I concocted some wicked Bombay Potatoes that'll take the skin off the roof of your mouth,and I'm waiting for the football/soccer to be over so I can cook the rest of the crap we're having tonight. I'm also wearing sparkly purple shoes I got ages ago and trying to cheer myself up. SPARKLY......oooooh.
OH MY GOD, someone on TV just said "zed" for "Z" which tends to make me livid. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WTF is wrong with people here???? ZED? So that means that you all call that well known American band...."Zed Zed Top"? I COULD go on and on and on and on, but what's the point?
I've mentioned this before numerous times, but am still scared by all the people I used to know who have gone HOLY. It seems I'm in the vast minority everywhere because I don't throw JESUS into everything, and don't post GODLY things on Facebook. Whatever. I don't have time for all this nonsense. Do you REALLY think Jesus reads Facebook and cares what you post or how HOLY you pretend to be on social networking sites? I vote a resounding "no" on that one. How about trying to be a better person and stop trying to impress people with your new found religion. Social networking sites are not the place to spout religious beliefs in my opinion. It's like being convicted of murder and suddenly "finding God" to get a lighter sentence. We all know how that works out.... That's all I got.
So, it seems that I had best better STOP mentioning Robert Plant all the time, because everytime I mention Robert Plant, it goes on Google and comes up in a search when someone searches for...Robert Plant. Got it? Didn't think so.
Some idiot, moron, jerk of the world is outside in the DARK sawing and pounding and making all kinds of noise. No lights on anywhere, so how can "they" see what "they're" doing? The mind boggles. I say it's the crazy guy next door whose obsessive compulsive disorder chased his wife away. He's probably making a coffin or something. (I think I watch too much TV).
OK, so there's a disgusting show on PBS right now about some IDIOT who tried to train dogs to attack Japanese soldiers during WW2. The dogs were beaten and abused and the US government went along with it and gave this idiot funding. We now get PBS..kind of and John is fascinated with this show, even though it's all about American crap. Go figure.
So, I wonder when the news people here, who obviously don't research ANYTHING, will figure out that ROBERT PLANT didn't fly all the way over from Texas to attend last evening's debacle? Twitter went crazy when he was spotted at the game, and one report had him flying in from "Mexico". Guess it doesn't take much to be a journalist these days?
Internet Explorer has decided it doesn't REALLY wanna work anymore, so I've had to come over to the Dark Side and start using Firefox again. I hate it because my Bookmarks, which I've imported, are now not in the order I'm used to because they're now in "alphabetical order". I couldn't find the link to update this page and quite frankly..couldn't be assed to try.
It's 25 here and colder than a ..well it's damned cold. JB has actually put the heating on so he doesn't freeze off any major body parts when he goes up to the third floor. I think Abigail is asleep up there in a pile of brown wrapping paper. She's been such a BAD KITTY lately and she seems determined to hurt herself. I know kittens like to climb curtains, but this one has an obsession with it. She's made it to the top twice, and then fallen down to the floor. Wouldn't you think by now that she'd see there's "nowhere to go" once she gets up to the top? I even got out a spray bottle and sprayed her. (she liked it)
I broke down and ordered a Kindle yesterday. I think I deserve one and I just got on Amazon and ordered the thing. HA! You'd think I had money or something. Too bad the Kindle Fire and the Kindle Touch aren't available here in the downtrodden UK. It's also too bad how much more they cost here, which I've mentioned before, but they have you right where they want you. Nothing you can do except moan and whine I guess. (and pay the extra money) It would help if the UK and USA were on the same voltage and all, but that's too much to ask.
Guess that's all I got! Toodles and all.
Called the Warren County Courthouse at 9 AM their time and talked to a very nice lady who believed me when I said I was "here". I would imagine though that the caller ID came up as something like "WTF" when I called there. EVERYONE in the USA has caller ID, it's sort of standard on newer phones with a display. On my brother's phone, I come up as "unknown caller", and on others it comes up as "out of the area". (ya think?) Anyway, that's all fixed and shouldn't happen again. Now if only someone would respond about my Itinerary in March. They're possibly as confused as I am. I thought I actually had it figured out today, but I was wrong.
Still haven't decided WHERE I want to eat for our anniversary. There's a Chinese Buffet that we've never been to, but it's pricey and I've read rather varying reviews. When you have to spend the National Debt to go out, you sort of want it to be good and not "crap". We also need to seriously make a run to Ye Olde Pound £££££ Shop, but who knows when that'll all take place? On that exciting note, I shall now watch something on TV that isn't football.
So, this morning as we're reclining in bed, we hear a horrible noise coming from the top floor and JB sits up just in time to see "something black" go hurtling from the third floor and heading at warp speed for the 1st floor hallway. It was my new kitten, Abby. Not sure WTF she actually DID or how she did it, but she's one lucky feline. Had she fallen at a different angle or from a different spot, she wouldn't be around anymore. She COULD have hit the top of the open kitchen door or any number of things. As it is, I think she's OK..She's been very very quiet all day and hasn't gone up to the top floor , which is usually one of her favorite places. Two of the older male cats have been taking care of her and making sure she isn't alone. As a result of all this excitement, we went food shopping and I forgot everything I needed. I don't plan on leaving the house at all this week, so I'll just have to go "without".
I've been out enough lately and seen too many minging sights. I can't take many more. I'll tell you about Elizabeth Taylor and her MINGER daughter now . I'm surrounded by shoe polish black hair and it ain't pretty. Fake bake faces, huge false eyelashes and hooker clothes. (and this was at a pub that doubles as the Snooker Club. Posh, it ain't) Stupid, they WERE and I kept laughing everytime they tottered past me. OH and I forgot, the daughter has this little high voice that grates on your nerves too! what fun! She looks 45 and is maybe 20? She had her hair on top of her head in a "poof" that looked like a bottle scrubber brush and piles of makeup. I mean, the hair was scraped off her face totally and was sitting in this dog turd/scrub brush on top of her fat head. Her mother also had jet black hair and clothes like I've never ever seen before. Actually though, the mother looked better than Miss Tacky did. I even took a picture of her with my Blackberry, but as I was taking it on the sly, it isn't great. I honestly can't understand how anyone can look in a mirror and think they look "good" made up like a Drag Queen. Can't they see that 99% of the other people out there DON'T look like they do? Aye Carumba. Oh well. I'm sure no one likes the way I look either and that's why I plan on staying in the house as much as I can. I'm gonna post the blurry picture I took so you know I'm not making this up. If you're a friend or relative of this person, you have my deepest sympathy.
Last night, we went to a CAMRA social event. As I am now a member of the "Campaign for Real Ale" here in Darlington, it means I can hang out with men who are boring and tedious and dress really funny. Topics of conversation heard were "the difference between Porter and Guinness", and "what kind of hops went in"...something or other. There were a couple women there, but of course they didn't talk to me and were OLD. I got laughed at on the way in by the illustrious Landlady, who thought my hairdo "looked a bit windblown" and apparently..quite hysterical. John said I looked like I should be in Bananarama. That's me, single handedly trying to bring back the 1980's. One difference between this country and mine is the fact that in MY country, no one makes fun of anyone because of the way they look. I would never laugh at anyone's hair, even if I thought it looked like worms. I might go home and laugh about it privately, and wonder "WTF?", but would never say anything to them personally. Sooooo anyway, we had lots of food and a free beer, and then had to walk about a mile and a half BACK home in the cold and the dark and the wind. Was it worth it? Dunno. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
Today, the farthest out I got was across the street (in the rain) to the Post Office where the ATM refused to give me money from my account here. Second time that's happened lately, and there actually WAS money in the account. Oh well. They had lots of marked down stuff because of the holidays, and I snagged a nice bag of salad for el cheapo and some tomatoes for my evening munching enjoyment. They reduce the prices on stuff there that is 100% perfectly "OK". No one laughed at my wild hair at the Post Office, but they DID look at me like I had Leprosy. Blonde curly hair just is NOT the done thing in this country. You have to have straight dark hair to fit in here. So sad, too bad. I look horrible with either one of those options. And away we goooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. OMG, a new show called "Obese, a Year To Save My Life". Jesus, what next??
Just read the Warren Obits, which is sad, but the only things I read in the online version of my hometown paper are the Obits and the Police Report. I was struck by this Obit, which sort of tells you "what kind of place" my hometown is. I know I'm as cynical as they come and all that, BUT..this takes the cake. Please oh please let me write my own Obit? Ahem: (and I "cut and paste"/quote) The name shall be changed to protect the poor person this was written for..
"Britney's faith and love of God was at the core of her being and she lived her life as a daily example of Christian love. Spreading her positive outlook wherever she went, Britney always put others first and had the gifts of helping others and hospitality. Her servant heart was filled with kindness and compassion. Caring deeply for the less fortunate, she supported many charities. One of Britney's greatest gifts to her children was raising them in the church and setting an example of a Godly life. Over the years, she was very involved in Covenant United Methodist Church, holding many different positions, and for years she decorated the church bulletin boards."
Now I'm sure "Britney" was a fine example of a human being BUT isn't this a tad overboard and flowery? I mean...really folks.
My other complaint for today are the moronic masses who insist that you "loose" weight and "loose" football games. Uh, no. It's LOSE you pathetic LOSER!! Thank you and have a marvy day. (I didn't) Off now to brew up a cup of something with my loose (not lose) tea "chemistry set" .
I thought I had at least an hour to get ready to go to the only important party we go to all year. I was wrong. I was taking my sweet old time trowling on the makeup and hadn't even started on the disaster I laughingly refer to as "my hair", when JB yelled up and told me our train was cancelled and we needed to leave in 15 minutes to catch the earlier one. SAY WHAT? I wasn't even sure WTF I was wearing, etc..and I had to throw on clothes and leave here basically half ready. We walked the 1/2 mile to the station in the freezing cold and wind and I had on a coat that looked nice but that was all. (One should always wear a WARM coat and not a pretty velvet thing that someone gave you that looks nice but isn't warm at all.) No gloves..didn't have time to find them before we left. Get to the station and we stood for 35 minutes (outside in the cold) waiting for the earlier train. Shock Horror. Here comes the announcement: "All trains, both north and south are delayed due to something or other". So, we stand around even longer in the freezing cold and finally the train arrives. We get on said train and there is no heat. We rode the whole way to London, which is close to three hours, with no heat. The cold I'd had for over a week was destined to get worse. We got to London and I looked down at the new black jeans I had thrown on hastily, and saw that there were three apparently bleached out spots from "something" being spilled on them. I have no clue how that could have happened since I'd barely worn the stupid things. Woe is me. Add to that, the hair which is always a mess anywho, but was a much bigger mess because of the wind gusts and the fact that I didn't have time to do anything with it. Am I having fun yet?
The party was fine and I stood around and pretended I was someone. One woman asked me if I was an actress and I nearly burst into hysterical laughter. (I was afraid they'd throw a net over me, so I resisted the urge.) And so it goes. Off to Facebook to read all the idiots talking about baking and wrapping and all that happy crap that people call "Xmas". Meh!
OK, last night I listened to a husband snore AND a grey cat snore even louder. I was still awake at dawn's early light and then somehow magically..fell asleep. I proceeded to have a dream where I actually DROVE in this mad country, parked my blue car at the supermarket (which looked more like a movie theater), and walked in. Upon entering said theater/market, I was directed to stand in line while my arm was scanned. I set off buzzers because I didn't have a microchip in my arm that allowed the Brits to track my grocery shopping habits. A nice man (?) told me to sit down and he would install the implant in my arm...sans anesthetic. Nice eh? I sat there a minute and then thought.."run, run like the wind!". I started running, only to hear my name being broadcast on a loudspeaker telling me I had a "broken ulna in my right arm". I stopped, looked at said arm..and said "Nyah ,nyah nyah, no I don't" and I kept on running. WTF? That's when I woke up. I think I slept about five minutes and I woke up with a huge ass headache. That could be because my "good" pair of varifocals with the scratch proof coating, managed to get a huge scratch across the entire right lens, while I was in Warren. I always keep said varifocals in the case when I'm not wearing them, ie: at night, and have no clue what happened. I went into the shop in town which I wrote about earlier....I then emailed and got no reply. Ah well. Who needs to see anyway? Amazing how a pair of expensive glasses purchased in July have become non wearable. So much for customer service. I think...if I was in the USA, I could get SOME degree of satisfaction, but alas. I'm stuck in the country with no free helplines and no real customer service. They just don't give the proverbial "shit". Thank you for listening.
After over twelve hours sleep, I still feel like doggy doo. You see, we went on a famous "self catering" holiday for a few days. Let me explain this concept to you. Apparently, one has to takes one's own towels, toilet paper, soap, coffee, tea, sugar, milk, and whatever else one needs. (Note:the owner would have provided towels for roughly $16 and I could go to Walmart in PA and BUY a set for that...) One is also paying MORE for this privilege that one pays in the USA for a hotel room, with all the ammenities included. Oh and they joyfully and proudly advertize here that this camping experience includes your OWN bathroom! Wow,stop me before I burst with joy. I said "camping experience", because to me...that's basically what it is. (I don't DO camping people..I'm way too high maintenance) So anyway, the room we were in had a shower with one of the famous "handheld shower thingies" which is all you can get in this country. I've only seen fixed showerheads in 5 star hotels in London. I decided to wash my hair because it felt like stuck together gum. Turn on the shower and all I get is ice water. Send out for the resident expert in all things British, and even he can't get it off "icy". At this point, I'm approaching livid, but I'm too tired to bother screaming. I fill up the tiny sink with hot and cold water and proceed to wash my hair and rinse it using a water glass dunked into the water. During this process, which left me with soapy hair and no way to really get it out, I also managed to "wash" the walls and entire floor of the bathroom. Keep in mind that the bathroom was smaller than most closets...All my makeup stuff and hair stuff, and anything else that happened to be on the floor (because there was nowhere else to put it) was soaked.
I know I upset the Brits here when I tell the truth BUT..when I go to Cleveland in eleven days but who's counting, I will have a hotel room for a night, that's considered "downmarket" by posh people. (it's a Best Western FFS) I will, however, have a bathroom that would fit me and about three other people, a fixed shower head and plenty of hot water, a coffee maker, a hairdryer, electrical outlets in the bathroom so I don't have to go into another room to dry my hairdo, a large room with TV, free breakfast in the morning, and a king sized bed.
I think this about says it all.
WHY do people fondly remember things that happened in the Past and why as people get older do they want to LIVE in the Past? I'd love to be able to go back for a day and re-live some things and see certain people, but I know for fact that everything wasn't rosey back then. Why is it then, that we all think it was? When I was a kid, all I ever wanted to do was get out of Tiona/Warren. Now, I'd give anything to be able to go back there. Growing up out in the sticks seemed like a death sentance back in my misspent youth, and now, I can see how lucky I was to live outside a town and to have the wide open spaces to hang out in. Teachers teased me (cruelly), and didn't add me to groups because of where I lived. They were afraid I wouldn't be able to get to rehearsals, etc. They may have been right. The last thing my mother wanted to do was get in the car and drive me into Warren, which was probably a whopping ten miles. We had to be content with living outside and entertaining ourselves. Funny thing is though, I don't recall ever being bored out of my socks. The only real problem I can remember was the fact that three girls couldn't hang out together and it seemed like there were usually two of us. The second person varied sometimes and changed from Connie to Heidi and very rarely did all three of us hang out together. WHY??? Other times, large groups of us (and it was both sexes), would play softball in the field across the street . In the Winter, we would sled ride down the small hill that was in said field. You'd wax the runners of the sleds with a bar of wax I "borrowed" from my Grandfather's workshop, and try not to break some body part. Cheap entertainement. I recently started a page for my High School class on Facebook, and it's full of "remember this and remember that". Funny how at the time, people weren't so friendly and willing to talk to "anyone", and the class system was firmly in place. I wasn't allowed to hang out with the people my mother considered to be the Dregs of Society, and that pretty much included everyone where I lived. The kids she thought were worthy of my company, wanted nothing to do with me..for reasons unknown. Maybe because I was skinny and kinda geeky? Sadly, part of the problem was that I was "Tiona Kid" at my father's insistance, and that wasn't good enough for the fancy people.
I shall go back the kitchen and my baking banana bread now, and count the days until I can almost go back in time, and relive my sad youth...and TRY to make more out of it than I did the first time around.
San Diego Copley Symphony Hall
June 8th, 2011
Photo(s) By Me
Band of Joy
Band of Joy In Action
Us Before The Show.(God Bless Airbrushing)
My Ticket Stubs
My T Shirts
Wednesday was a day like any other day EXCEPT for the fact that I was once again seeing Robert Plant and the Band Of Joy , and this time...with a friend and not alone. We made the road trip from the desert to San Diego and went to eat at a place famous for fish. Hold on..I hate all things fishy. Yeah well, this place has the best Bloody Marys in town IMHO, so we went there and I drank a lot.
We left the aforementioned restaurant which I will have to look up to get the name correct, and proceeded on our merry way to the venue. Good thing I was with someone who used to live in San Diego and knew her way around. We went on the long and winding thingy up into the parking garage for the Copley Hall, and ended up God Knows Where. (and even he/God was confused) Found a BAR and proceeded to have a drinkie. I was struck by the obese women sitting at the bar salivating over Mr. Plant and planning on how to “get him”. Hey, they made me look good...well, they made me look positively THIN.
The time came for us to make our way downstairs to the Hall. All the signs said “ no cameras”. I had artfully concealed mine in my flowered makeup bag. The “bag searching dude” said “and what is in here”? Since we all know I’m way too honest, I told him it was “my camera”. he then pulled out a sheet and compared it to the verboten ones that were pictured and said “Oh, that’s OK”. HUH??????? “YAY”, thought I...I can take photos this time!!!!!
Made our way into the Hall and were shown our FRONT ROW SEATS. (did I mention we were in the FRONT ROW???) Soon, the lights dimmed and all Hell broke loose as the Creepy Creeps took the stage. I was fascinated and LOVED them, but my friend hoofed it outside to “get a drink”. I love punk music and these guys were awesome. The dancers were hysterical and very energetic, and the band thanked RP many times for the opportunity to open for him. I loved it....some people...not so much. Their problem and their loss.
Robert and his Band of Joy were all of a sudden..just “there” on the stage. No intro as in Gateshead, no pomp and circumstance, they just appeared... I was so in awe of the whole thing I can’t even tell you WTF they played first. I’m such a loser baby... I’ve been waiting and looking for a review from one of the San Diego papers and possibly a set list, but so far..nada. I managed to snap over 60 photos and some of them actually turned out OK. I had told my friend about the gospel songs and the harmonies and the nearly complete coverage of the “BOJ” CD. Apparently, I lied. This show featured many more Led Zeppelin tunes and was heavier by far than the show I saw in October 2010 in Gateshead. The audience was on it’s feet for much of the show and people were totally in awe of the man and the band and the talent. They had added “Ramble On” to the equation and it was awesome. What can I say? I was left even more impressed than I was the first go round in the UK. Oh, and I am now the proud owner of both a European Tour shirt AND a US Tour shirt. The man has talent and the band members have talent, and if you get a chance...just go and see them. It’ll be the best show you’ve ever seen!!! If it isn’t, please go bury your head in the sand somewhere because you obviously don’t know real talent when it slaps you in the face. I’ll shut up now.
Review By Lynn
I hate the word "amazing". It sounds so blonde and airheaded. I must have used that exact word about fifty times last night to describe the music I was hearing and the sheer professionalism of the musicians playing that music.
Robert walked on stage at the Sage in Gateshead with the rest of the band and right on cue. He sort of shook his head and looked slightly bemused at the uproarious reception he got when he first came into people's sight. I was fortunate enough to be sitting in the third row and had a great vantage point. I was sandwiched into between two men who were total strangers, but I had a running conversation going with the man on my right.... between songs. The man on my left was very quiet and reserved, but even he kept saying "wow".
The band started off with "Angel Dance" and then went into one of my favorites songs from Robert's solo career, "Tall Cool One". My opinion of Patty Griffin went up about a million notches during the show, and she's so tiny, a gust of wind could possibly blow her away. She has a very powerful voice which I didn't appreciate on the "Band of Joy" CD. You truly have to experience her "live" to get the full impact. Where Alison Krauss has a very dreamy and angelic voice, Patty has POWER and isn’t afraid to show it. In short, she ROCKED! The “Please Read The Letter” rendition last night didn’t appeal to me as much as the Plant/Krauss version which sends chills up my arms, but it was certainly well done. It’s the differences in the female voices that changed the “feel “of this particular tune for me. “Rich Woman” was also performed admirably, but once again I prefer the Alison Krauss vocals from “Raising Sand”.
Buddy Miller...what can I say? The man is a genius and has a great singing voice. At one point, he broke a guitar string, and I can't even remember which song it was. He immediately re-tuned his guitar to compensate, and never missed a beat. I've never seen anything like that in my life.
When Darrell Scott took his turn and stepped up to the front, I didn’t know what to expect as I actually had never heard of him until he joined "Band of Joy". The man has an absolutely beautiful voice and the crowd was mesmerized by him.
I’m trying to find the set list from last night but so far, haven’t even read a review online. I thought the show would be shorter than it turned out to be and was surprised they played so long. The talent that was together on that stage is something even the most jaded person had to appreciate.
I gave up trying to remember what songs were played during the show, but I know there were a few Led Zep covers, such as “Tangerine”, “Gallows Pole”, and “Rock and Roll”. Of course the evening was made complete by the usual idiots yelling “Led Zeppelin” and shouting out Led Zeppelin songs they thought Robert should sing. Thank GOD, no one called out for “Stairway To Heaven”. I was waiting for it...
The three song encore was performed with the entire crowd on it’s feet...Robert came back out for the encore and said “why are you all standing up?”
I won’t say “amazing” again because it annoys me when I say it. How about awesome, unforgettable, and dare I say... magic?
Band Of Joy Onstage in Gateshead
Robert Plant, On Stage at the Sage
These candid shots by yours truly ain't going anywhere soon, so live with it...obsessed much? Ya think?
I was this close ....
Robert And His Washboard
The Absolute Closest I Got!
Knew The Picture Would Be Dark...didn't care!
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