Rock & Rich

Concerts always seem better when you're stoned. You start feeling the music and tasting the colours, and all of a sudden you're having a really great time.

That's not to say I plan to get stoned when I go to a concert, but out here in BC, at many concerts, all you have to do is show up and breathe and you're done. You might be feeling pretty good, but the guy behind you (and four seats to the left, and two rows ahead, and across the isle, and...) must be pretty out of it.

There is probably too much pot at concerts out here; it keeps alot of people away from events. But alas, that is another post.

So, last night a few friends and I went to the Emerson Drive, Terri Clarke and Big & Rich concert. Emerson Drive were pretty good, Terri Clarke was awesome and Big and Rich were... entertaining.

Big & Rich are a strange bastardization of country and hard rock and rap. They came on to the stage wearing mad hatter top hats, rhinestone studded wranglers and cowboy shirts and of course, floor length fur coats. They looked ridiculous, but they looked Rich. They also brought their friend Cowboy Troy; a black cowboy rapper who has gotten a little chunky and could stand to buy a bigger pair of pants. During the concert, they dropped streamers and confetti from the ceiling, and threw dollar bills out into the crowd. The finale included burning and smashing guitars, as well as their dancing midget mascot; Two-Foot Fred. Yes, he really is two feet tall, but they give him his very own throne.

I went solely to see Terri, who put on an awesome show. She played all her hits as well as a couple new songs from her upcoming album. She had a great dialogue with the audience and a wonderful stage presence. Her guitarist was fantastic. I would have paid the same to see just her.

Big & Rich surpassed my expectations, if not in talent, then in showmanship. They were truly entertaining. Or maybe that was just all the pot smoke I breathed in.

Eat, Medicate and Be Very Merry!

Yesterday was our quasi-Christmas. We got up early, opened presents (I've been spoiled), ate brunch, then back to the grindstone! Sean & I both tidied up a bit in preparation for our guests, and the place looks great. I also cooked for 2 days straight, so it sure smells like Christmas.

Dinner went very well. We had my parents, brother & sister over, as well as several friends, for a total of 10. We had to borrow a card table and some chairs to accommodate everybody. We had a turkey and a ham, Brayford & Quinn stuffing (which Sean said was just about perfect except not enough sage- who would've guessed?), potato, cheese & bacon tarte, sweet potato & apple casserole, green bean casserole, pureed squash, peas, homemade cranberry sauce, homemade mustard, and of course gravy (which I am not in the least ashamed to admit comes out of a box. There you have it.). God I love to entertain. We have sooo many leftovers, but I'm fairly sure the stuffing will be gone by the end of the day.

Woke up this morning with a cold. You know, the wonderful kind that makes you leech goo from every facial orifice and feel pretty generally shitty. Though, I would not, at first, admit it was a cold, and insisted I must be allergic to something. So, I took a couple anti-histamines and am now as high as a kite. So I guess I have a cold because I'm also still leeching goo.

Tomorrow we both start our diet. Sean has insisted we follow it to the letter (no doubt to punish me for getting him to diet in the first place) and so for the next two weeks (at least!!!) I CAN'T HAVE ANY COFFEE OR PEPSI! Should make for an interesting couple of weeks.

Very Quick, Super-Abreviated, Update.

Sean & I had a very nice Christmas with his family in New Brunswick. We split our stay between his Sister & Brother in-law's place in Fredericton, and his Parents' place in Stickney. Sean got to see his family, whom he misses very much, and I got to know my various in-laws better, and hone my cribbage losing skills (I promise to practise for next year Don!). Of course, hanging out with our nephew was a blast too, and I have to admit I still find myself humming the Backyardigans theme every once in a while.

Getting home was tricky; our first flight was canceled, and it sounds like we might have been the last flight out of the airport before the next storm hit. The plane for the main leg of the flight was awesome, and made the hours whiz by.

Today, I've been shopping and cooking and cleaning in preparations for our Un-Christmas dinner. I'm trying to do all the sides today, so I only have to worry about the turkey tomorrow. I'm trying out a dish from the cookbook my Sister in-law gave me for Christmas- should be a crowd pleaser- there's lots of bacon in it.

A great big thank-you to all our family out in NB- thanks for putting us up, and putting up with us! It was a wonderful Christmas.