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Jun. 28th, 2009 @ 01:16 am Review: Ed Gerhard at The Bow Lake Grange Hall
Current Mood: touched
Current Music: Night Birds, Ed Gerhard
Tags: ,
BPAL of the Day: Witching Time of the Night with an underlay of Pontia.

It always seems so strange. I have been anticipating this show for months. Especially at and before all the other concerts and etc. I've been to since March 28th. I'd think; 'It's a month and a half until I see Ed again!’ Or, 'Just a month until The Concert.' I remember one Wednesday afternoon driving on our way from one of our many Ossipee-Wakefield-Barnstead foreclosed house tours it just HIT me that it was less than a month away. It used to be like that in the olden days of Tour too. Although I have a lot more interests now than I did then, and my head is most often on BJDs, ancient cultures or plotting bits of story, there is a delightful sweetness when there is something that exciting to anticipate. The only trouble is that when it gets here it goes by so fast! It seems unbelievable that it is done now. In the Golden Age of Tour we'd go to 15 or 20 concerts on a tour- that lasted a lot longer!

Since the concert wasn't very far away I got up at my usual time... and spent a ridiculous amount of time getting ready, as usual. It takes longer here than it does when I'm petsitting for some reason. But all was well and even my experiment with my hair came out pretty well. I recently got a pair of Tour age non-sensible shoes and put them on with the silk top I got in Concord and for a minute it was 2001 again... too bad I can't be the size I was then that easily. :P Deciding this venue would be a bit too casual for the non-sensible high heeled platform sandals and silk top, I came halfway back down to earth in a pair of mid heel black sandals and my Chico's loopy flower poncho. I was still destined to look like I took a wrong turn going to the Opera House in Boston. But it is pretty and I need all the confidence help I can get... maybe I'll wear the other outfit to Portsmouth in August.

(Bloody hell that was a lot of girly nonsense. :P)

My brother was still snoozing in the chair and an assortment of kids was wandering about the place when I finally got out of the bathroom, but they all dispersed pretty quickly. We went to McDonalds and apparently got out of town just in time as a very nasty thunderstorm was snapping at our heels as we headed down the road.

It is funny, although we have been all around that area of the state I really can't recall ever having been in Strafford itself before. I guess it isn't a hotbed of foreclosed homes and isn't on the way to anywhere. It is a very pretty area, though. The Bow Lake Grange Hall was a small venue, but it was nice and I got a front row center seat, so I was happy. My mother and niece decided to go to Concord instead of to the show.

I was there an hour early so I read my Astronomy magazine until show time. It was just so wonderful to see Ed again. It had been too long! He looked great, as always, and definitely tanner from his time in Italy. The sound was mostly very good, with only a few minor glitches; very clear and crisp and better than many of the much larger and fancier venues I have been to. He played a few songs I had never heard before, which was very nice. He also did a lovely tribute to Michael Jackson- a song he said he'd never played live before. The whole show was very intimate, unpretentious, and exquisitely honest. Ed's talent is unadorned by attitude or flashy antics. He's just himself, and his talent is 100% real. After nearly 300 concerts and performance events, I've seen a lot of great shows, but it is a delight not quite like any other to listen to and watch Ed play.

My mother and niece came and listened from the porch at the end. My niece reportedly told my mother that she thought he was really good. The kid has good taste after all. Afterwards, having been put in an uncharacteristically magnanimous mood, (which I may yet come to regret.) I let my niece come with me to get my CD signed and give Ed the guitar string flowers I had bought him. I knew he'd be good to her and I thought she might help keep me grounded. Both Ed and his wife seemed to really like the flowers... I hope so! He has always been a lot kinder to me than he has to be, and I appreciate it deeply. I wasn't a total flake, even if I wasn't exactly brilliant... I didn't make a COMPLETE ass of myself. He was lovely to my niece and Ed has a new seven-year-old groupie. lol.

A wonderful show and a delightful experience in every way.

****** Stars.

I see him again in a little under two months on August 23rd. That's the day after I see the Moodies again. I also have another petsitting job in Outer Joggerville at that same time. It will be interesting to see them both one after another like that.
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Ed Gerhard
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Jun. 26th, 2009 @ 12:48 am Review: Girls' Night Out, and etcetera.
Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: Howl, Ed Gerhard
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BPAL of the Day: Ides of March 05

I got tickets to this show primarily because there were front row center seats available. I absolutely cannot resist front row center tickets to anything, so I thought 'why not?'

We actually got to the restaurant early, for a change, and got to downtown concord with an hour and twenty minutes to spare. I went to see if Pachamama was still open (It was about 6:40 by then) but they were closed, despite the email I got from them saying they would be open until 7pm throughout their liquidation. I peeked in the windows and it looks like they still have a LOT of stuff. It might still be worth a trip to check out what they have.

I continued on up the road to see if anything else was open. The Capitol Craftsmen was, and I poked around in there a bit and ogled the gorgeous tooled leather purses. They're a bit pricey, but I managed to get a couple little things. Continuing up the road I was disappointed that the NH Craftsmen shop was closed. I still remember that wrap I saw in there in December. I was going to buy one today if they still had them. The Chandler Shop was closed, too. Just when I was going to head back I spotted a rack of clothes outside a shop and went in. It was great shop with lots of hand painted silk and batik boutique outfits. They were even playing a Neil Diamond CD. (I am affected by the music played in a store. If I like it, I'll stick around a lot longer than if I don't.) I bought a hand painted silk top highly reminiscent of the one I had during the golden age of Tour. It has a tropical-type print. Really pretty. And the lady was very nice.

By then it was getting very late so I headed back to the car to stow my finds. I got a ticket for my mother because I thought she might get more out of it than I would. When we got in the theater it was disorienting to see almost NO MEN at all. The volume of the chatter was a lot higher than usual because all the voices were female. Women were all using the men's room because there were no men there to use it! I don't think I have ever been anyplace where the crowd was all one gender.

The show was a lot of fun. It is about a group of girlfriends celebrating the engagement of the daughter of a friend who was killed twenty-two years ago falling off a moped. The 'dead' friend appears as an angel narrating the show with her little white wings attatched to her very '80's white jean jacket. Between all the late '70's - mid '80's songs (Very well sung and performed, I might add.) the ladies chatter about their husbands, men in general, childbirth and naughty jokes. It was all a bit too... normal, I suppose, for an introverted geek who never had that kind of gaggle of girlfriends who go out to clubs and talk about their sex lives kind of thing. It was fun and well performed, just not really my style. My mother OTOH, LOVED it. She is really hard to please, but she had a great time. She even went up to buy a CD and get it signed. She NEVER does that. They were all very nice to meet. :)

From a technical standpoint it was a well performed show and the ladies had really lovely voices. The songs they chose couldn't have been more perfect for the theme. The sound was very good and all the songs sounded just fine with no muddiness.

A very solid **** stars. I'm sure my mother would give it 5.

Otherwise...

I am anxiously awaiting Soom's Water tinies. I know they shouldn't be taking time to put up MORE dolls when they are having so much trouble getting the current ones out to people. I myself have no idea when I'll see Heliot and Amber, let alone the others. But... I just can't help but get excited to see what's next! I'll also need to know if I want one or both of the water tinies before I decide on getting Souldoll's Sydee: http://souldoll.com/shop/step1.php?number=1796 from their new Tarot card set, or Iplehouse I or Tatiana. I can only add one right now, so I need to choose carefully!

Take a look at her!

http://www.iplehouse.net/board/view.php?board_name=DREAMBOARD10&choose2=&choose1=&pagenow=1&CB=&ID=37

What an amazing body! I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the head, but I need one of those bodies for Acacia, at least. I'll look forward to seeing the future EID ladies.

I'm planning to go to the annual ancient mysteries conference at the Edgar Cayce Center in Virginia Beach in October, if I can.

Light From the Secret Chambers: New Discoveries in Egypt, Atlantis, and the Cosmos

Explore ancient secrets and hidden knowledge and hear the latest research direct from the Giza plateau and Bimini from top experts and researchers. Join explorer and Technology of the Gods author David Hatcher Childress, Beneath the Pyramids author Andrew Collins, sacred sites expert Freddy Silva, Ancient Egyptian Mysticism author John Van Auken, researcher Lora Little EdD, plus astronomer James Mullaney, Istvan Fazekas, and Ellen Cayce"

It sounds really interesting. I hope I can make it!
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Gone Frotzing
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Jun. 21st, 2009 @ 05:12 pm Happy Summer!
Current Mood: rushed
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BPAL of the Day: Litha

Happy summer to the northern hemisphere! :D

Happy winter to the southern hemisphere!







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Sun 1
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Jun. 20th, 2009 @ 01:40 am Review: Don McLean
Current Mood: content
Current Music: The Irondune Castle, Zork Nemesis Soundtrack
Tags: , ,
BPAL Of the Day: Sea of Glass/Kingsport

I saw Don McLean once before in Lebanon in 2006. This show was at the Capitol Center. It was quite well attended. As before the show was for the 'Concerts for the Cause' to benefit NH Children and Family Services. I think some of the tickets in the center may have been held for charity sales, as I had to sit a lot farther over in the 2nd row than I usually have lately.

There was an opening act. A pretty blonde NH country singer named Kimberley Dahme. Unfortunately for her the sound for her part of the show was awful. Too much bass, too loud, too sharp and nearly unintelligible vocals. My mother left because she said the booming bass was giving her a headache. One always feels bad for performers when that stuff happens. The whole purpose of opening for someone is to hopefully attract new fans; something very hard to do when the audience can barely hear what you're singing.

I saw them furiously fiddling with speakers and sound boards at intermission. It was better when Don McLean took the stage, but nowhere near perfect. Being a professional with 40 years of experience, he kept the sound people busy replacing equipment and fiddling with cables until they had it right. Then he told them not to touch anything. That took about 5 songs to fix, but once they had it right it was exceptional. As good as I have ever heard the sound be at the Capitol Center. There is frequently a tendency toward muddiness, especially for the vocals, at the Capitol Center. It was a real treat to hear them crystal clear like that.

The show was great, of course. He did a different show than last time. The concert started at 8 with the opening act and it had to be at least 9 when he took the stage. As such it was a shorter show than last time with no intermission and no encores. (I think he did two or three encore songs last time.) However it was 11pm when he finished and he had agreed to do a signing after, too! I thought he seemed a little tired, but very polished and professional, even with the sound issues. 'Vincent' was the highlight. It sounded GORGEOUS! He is one of the few singers who I have seen that sound exactly the same as he did on the record. His voice was in exceptional form tonight.

An excellent show!

**** 1/2 Stars (I had to dock the half star for the sound... But Don's performance was certainly 5 stars.)

Althamal is home! He poses gorgeously, but he still doesn't like to stand very well. He was a bit moody yesterday anyway... I don't think he appreciated the cross country trips. He wouldn't look at me at all. He seems a bit mellower tonight. (Yes, I am nuts. :P) It is nice to have his beautiful face back on my shelf. He is sitting with his mother now.

Here are a few more pictures from March:





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Althamal 1
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Jun. 18th, 2009 @ 03:22 am Review: From the Ashes of Angels, by Andrew Collins
Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: The Mask and Mirror, Loreena McKennitt
Tags: , ,
BPAL of the Day: Ides of March 05

I finally finished this book Monday. I think I started it around the beginning of May! I bought it on April 14th and I started it after finishing ‘The Language of Bees.’ For a long time I just read it over dinner- often just a page or two at a time. Over the last week or so I have been reading it a lot more and made much more progress.

There is a lot here to talk about. I found this book in the rather 'disreputable' (aliens, conspiracy theories and the like.) end of the new age section at Borders. As such I approached it as inspiration for my fiction, but nothing I was likely to take very seriously. At the beginning it is a little hard to tell just what PoV the author is coming from. I was surprised at the very thoughtful, matter-of-fact treatment of the material. It was obvious that the author was serious about his research, no matter what his purpose for this research turned out to be. From the synopsis I knew that he was tracing the myths put forth in the Book of Enoch about the Watchers of Eden and their 'fall' through revealing the secrets of Heaven to humankind. His goal was to attempt to prove that they were a real advanced race who existed in antediluvian times. But, at the beginning, it was not 100% clear as to what he thought them to be, exactly. Was he trying to prove that they were real life 'sons of god?' Or was it that they were simply an advanced human race that was devastated by catastrophe and disappeared, only to be later remembered as mythological beings? The book's presence in the new age section pointed to the former, but it turned out to be the latter. I'd have taken the book more seriously at the beginning had that been clear earlier.

( Because this went a lot longer than I expected... )

I have read a few books that made me look at the world a little differently afterwards and I have to number this one as one of them. I feel some of the conclusions the author came to may have been reaching a little too much, but he certainly made a case for some kind of advanced race in the Middle East region around the time of the last Ice Age. It is certainly more than enough to make one seriously think about it.

**** ½ Stars.
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Jun. 14th, 2009 @ 02:50 am Review: Beatlemania
Current Mood: content
Current Music: In Durin's Day, Broceliande
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BPAL of the Day: Lilith and the Jarocho

I had planned to go to eat @ 4:00, then heading to Pachamama's 75% off store closing sale, but of course it didn't work out that way. We got to the restaurant at 5; barely before it got swamped, and obviously never made it to the store. My niece wanted to go to Toys 'R Us. There wasn't time to do anything else, so I poked around in there and got a stuffed mountain goat for my bed to go with The Leather Man, ragdoll Agnes Dreary and the white platypus. I also got a super clearance Barbie Speed Racer set.

The show was very good. They had a screen as big as the stage that played video clips from the Beatles' start on the Ed Sullivan Show straight to the end, along with video clips on the cultural and world events that were happening at the time the songs were hits. They played the songs chronologically, making the show an excellent introduction to The Beatles for the uninitiated, but more than that it clearly showed how they matured as songwriters and as people. The increasing complexity of the themes of their music echoing so perfectly the increasing strife and change and weird juxtaposition of destruction and violence with flower children and the summer of love that was the late 1960s. They went from being a fluffy boy band to musicians with immense talent and a lot to say in their songs. Even kids like the teenybopper girls that were running around the place know who The Beatles are. As a show it was awesome, and really helped renew my appreciation of The Beatles.

The musicians themselves certainly captured the look, costumes and musicianship of the Beatles, though they were not terribly close vocally. I thought the 1964 tribute was closer in sound, but 1964 also stuck to the earlier, less challenging material. Beatlemania certainly did a good job.

**** Stars.

I have spent the last couple of nights uploading pictures to Photobucket. Here are a couple from my March excursion to Outer Joggerville. I was using one of my father's old cameras for these and there is a huge quality difference, but I do like the way some of them came out.

But first a couple of Aldessa finished!





It is always such a feeling of accomplishment when they're finally DONE! She needs her arms restrung tighter, but that is something very easy for me to do myself when I feel like undressing her again... her outfit is a bit challenging to put on.

From March:





Damn but he is beautiful. Even my unexceptional photography skills and a duct taped camera can bring out his awesomeness.

I have a lot more, but that is probably enough for now.
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Althamal bjd 2
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Jun. 1st, 2009 @ 01:01 am Review: Willie Nelson
Current Location: Outer Joggerville
Current Mood: content
Current Music: The Universe, Am I, Donovan
Tags: , ,
BPAL of the Day: Litha

An unexpected review tonight. On Thursday I received an email from Meadowbrook offering us free tickets to see Willie Nelson as a membership perk. They had tickets starting in the 17th row back to the lawn. I didn't know if we'd go, but I took them anyway because I find it hard to resist free tickets, and I do know some of Willie Nelson's music.

We did end up going. I am well and truly spoiled when it comes to concert seating, but it is a bit hard to complain when the tickets are free. The good thing about these seats is that they were right in front of the big screen on the right side of the stage. When it got dark enough I could watch the show there comfortably.

The show was very good. He performed a number of very good songs in his trademark way. There really isn't anyone else like Willie Nelson out there. I love 'On the Road Again.'

The only problem came from the annoying audience members who chatted on their phones and yakked about texting during some of his best songs. That is a problem more likely to crop up in the back rows, especially in an area where they were giving away tickets.

It was cold and windy tonight! By the end I was half frozen. It took two cups of tea to warm up.

Still, it was more fun than hanging out at the office all evening.

*** 1/2 Stars.

Next event, barring anything unforeseen, will be Beatlemania on June 13th.

I rather miss Legend of the Seeker. Even when it wasn't stellar, it was always fun to watch and never boring.

Hopefully I will get my Little Chrys tomorrow. His head will be going off to China for his face up ASAP, but it'll be nice to actually HAVE SOMETHING for all the money I have been throwing at BJD companies lately. Amber will be paid off next week, the halfway payment on Haiti and Skoll will be made and I'm in a split for a human Chrom! I really do want all the Soom elemental gods in some form as long as I can think of a use for them... and as long as I can afford them. This will be my last job for the foreseeable future. My clients don't go away as much in the summer. I need to plan more carefully now.
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Little Chrys in trouble
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May. 28th, 2009 @ 02:37 am Review: LotS Episode 22 'Reckoning' Season 1 finale and doll rambling.
Current Location: Outer Joggerville
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Weeping, Josh Groban
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BPAL of the Day: Pontia and a bit of Gulukprikos= sexy androgynous lavender

I did end up watching 'Reckoning' on channel 5 on Sunday. I also learned Sunday that I was starting petsitting a day earlier than I expected so between all the packing and housecleaning (I hate coming back to a messy office and bedroom.) And all the UNpacking here last night, I didn't get to post my review until tonight. Hopefully I haven't forgotten half of it.

It was entertaining, if a bit rushed and awkward. It starts with everything going swimmingly for our heroes. They have the boxes, Kahlan is ready to confess Richard (As per last week's revelation that only a Confessor's touch could temper the power of the Boxes of Orden... and vice versa.) Zedd is there to oversee the proceedings. Yes everything goes quite well until the Mord Sith and Darken Rahl show up and mess things up. The combination of the Mord Sith's agiel, Zedd's magic, the power of Orden and the Confessor's touch cause a massive explosion that kills Zedd, tosses Richard and one of the Mord Sith about sixty years into the future and allows Kahlan to be captured by Darken Rahl. Bad times.

( It went a little long so the rest of the synopsis is beyond the cut... )

All of this is done reasonably well. It is an interesting enough tale, and the end isn't terrible, if more than a little contrived and rushed. (I could say the same about several of the books.) It tied things up, while still leaving it open for a new season. I thought the episode lacked the subtlety and style of 'Fever.' (Nicki Paluga (sp?) is easily the show's best writer.) But it was very representative of the series as a whole.

I would have liked a stronger finale, but it wasn't a bad episode.

*** 1/2 Stars.

Now (hopefully) on to the next season! I read earlier that it was green lit for a new season, but lately there seems to be some question. Bridget Regan said something in a recent interview about taking some time off before returning to filming the second season this summer. I hope she knew what she was talking about! Somewhere in next season will (likely) come Nathan Rahl. And, barring them screwing him up horribly, I have been anticipating seeing him on the show since I first heard it would be made.

Ha! I managed to almost write this review only refreshing the new Soom Monthly Doll, Chrom's page once! It took quite an effort. Here is the angular beauty: http://www.dollsoom.com/shop/step1.php?number=3560

I LOVE his face! Beautiful eyes, nose and elfy angles! Not so sure about the furry bits. He'd have been my Remus had he come out in 2003.

My Iplehouse Ryan (Little Chrys) is already shipping. He shipped the same day I finished paying off his layaway, even though I added six wigs, a pair of underwear and eyelashes to his order! One needs a basic Iplehouse doll or two to intersperse with the Soom monthlies that take forever.

My beautiful Aldessa is all face upped and blushed and nearly on her way back to me. Her outfit is on its way, too. I am anxiously awaiting word that my precious Althamal has arrived safely for all his 'body work.' Gods how I miss him! I never thought I could miss a doll this much.

Now it is time for bed whether Chrom is up or not!
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May. 24th, 2009 @ 01:38 am Drat channel 9!
Current Mood: annoyed
Current Music: A Moment Lost, Enya
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BPAL of the Day: April Fool

I was all ready for the Legend of the Seeker finale but they ended up playing last week's episode instead! Grr!

I'll try again tomorrow. At least channel 5 and 9 both have it on in the 11pm hour tomorrow. If 9 craps out again, I can watch it on 5.

The whole day was like that. I was supposed to go to Hampton and visit [info]babydraco but my mother said she wouldn't go there with the massive crowds. I had to admit that the weather wasn't great for photography anyway.

Blah.
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Grue
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May. 21st, 2009 @ 03:09 am Review: Angels and Demons
Current Mood: good
Current Music: Mummer's Dance, Loreena McKennitt
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BPAL of the Day: Ides of March 09

We started the day going up to Ossipee to check occupancy on two of my mother's new listings. Since we got started early enough I got to pop in the Ossipee gift store and I got a new ring and a fairy statue. Then we swung by the venue Ed Gerhard is playing in October in Wakefield. I find it absolutely hilarious that I'm going to an Ed concert in *Wakefield* of all places. It is something of a running joke that we are always going to Wakefield or coming back from Wakefield to look at some house. I used to use it an example of just how dull life has gotten since the end of the Age of Tour. It just proves that the fates do have a sense of humor at times.

After the long ride back from Ossipee we went to eat at the Red Blazer in Concord and then off to the movies.

I saw the critics sniffing at it, which boded well. It turned out to be a fine movie. It can be harder to watch a movie when one has read the book and see it objectively. I seem to remember this one a little too well and therefore the movie had a feeling of being too linear-a common fault with adapted movies; but is it the movie or merely expectation? Some of the book's subplots- like the sadism of the assassin- were not necessary to the plot and would have taken too long to show. However I rather missed the bit about Robert's parachuting episode and the explanation of Patrick's parentage. The latter in particular added depth to his character and reason for his actions. Ewan McGregor was great in the role, though. I'm not so sure about Tom Hanks. I thought he was alright in the Da Vinci Code, but here he seemed to just be doing it by rote a lot of the time. He recited Robert's symbology knowledge without the natural passion of someone encountering treasures in their chosen field. I missed some of the intensity and impact of the book.

My mother enjoyed it quite a lot.

It was a good movie, if not a great one. It was very watchable and a good night's entertainment.

*** 1/2 stars.

Dolls:

My Althamal is away getting blushed, wired and sueded! He just left Tuesday and I miss my most beautiful muse already. :( Aldessa is still away, too. It is almost funny that I really only have... two BJDs at home that I am completely happy with. I have ten and two halves that are either away getting worked on, are yet to be shipped or on layaway. I also have four here that need different bodies or something. @_@

It is a very sloooooowwwwww hobby!
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May. 20th, 2009 @ 12:22 am Review: Annie
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Promised Land, Ed Gerhard
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BPAL of the Day: Ides of March 05

I ended up staying an extra night petsitting because the plane my clients were supposed to take broke down and it made them have to rebook their entire flight the next day. (They went through the Bermuda Triangle in a TINY nine seat plane! *shudder*)

They thankfully didn't disappear and it worked out very well for me as I got to spiff up the house a bit more and made a little more money; something much needed after my faire spending.

I had a good seat at the theater, or so it seemed. My favorite seats for a number of reasons are the seat in the first row on the sides. They give a great view of the stage with no one in front of you. When I got there I saw there was little kid in the seat next to me. No big deal. But then the kid proceeded to cough and cough and cough the whole frigging time. It is hard to focus on the play when all you can think about is how many germs you're breathing. That was bad enough, but after intermission they moved to the empty row in front of me and the kid sat in front of me and continued her constant hacking.>:( If your kid can't stop coughing for more than five minutes then the courteous and SMART thing to do is LEAVE HER HOME!! Other people do not go to an event to be coughed on by somebody’s kid for two hours. Somewhere near the middle of the second act the mother took the kid on her lap which at least took her out from being in front of me. Grr.

The play, when I could focus on it, was good. The actors were very good, especially considering how young some of them looked, and the story was cute and sweet. The timeliness of the Depression era commentary and goings on were spooky. The dog was much better trained than Toto and the sets were gorgeous. There was a scene in Warbucks' house when the lights all went down and rain and snow were falling on the windows 'outside'. The effect was beautiful.

It was a very good little play. I just wish that kid had been elsewhere!

**** Stars.

The next Capitol Center season has been announced. CATS is coming! I always wondered why they didn't get CATS. It turns out that it was because their stage doors weren't big enough for one of the major props to fit through. They've now made the prop so it can be taken apart making the show available to smaller venues. It looks like November will be the busiest Capitol Center month. From October 30th to November 12th I'll be going to five shows varying from an ABBA tribute to Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse factory. There will be three in February and a couple in March, then CATS in April. It'll be nice to get my ticket envelope full again.
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Memories of Tours past
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May. 17th, 2009 @ 01:02 am Review: LotS Episode 21: 'Fever' & a day at the faire
Current Location: Center Joggerville
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Apassionata, Secret Garden
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BPAL of the Day: The Witching Time of the Night

I woke up today at 9:30, which was a little too early so I went back to sleep... only to wake again at 11:50, which was too late. I took care of the dogs and got ready in about an hour and fifteen minutes. Pretty damn good time actually. We ended up getting to the faire at @ 3:00, which was an hour later than I wanted, but still enough time to look around and buy lots of pointy objects (including a unicorn horn so I can match my Heliot!) and etc. ;) I would have liked more time for the demonstrations, though. It was a lot nicer than it was in the end October. I think the date change is definitely positive. There were more vendors and more people, too.

We stayed until a little after 5. Unfortunately we had to go out to dinner with family so I couldn't stay for the Beltane celebration. They had a huge pile of branches for the bonfire and a maypole festooned with ribbons. I'm sure it would have been fun.

Dinner out with the family was... dinner out with family. It was fine, though I wished I'd brought a book. I suppose I really should try to learn how to be sociable and small talky someday.

On to the review!

(SPOILERS, if anyone cares.)

Gods how I WISH I could watch the finale on this TV. For the first time they had channel 9 in high definition for the show. WOW! What a difference!

This was a pretty exceptional episode. It starts out with Richard's sister, Jennsen, running away from D'Haran troops with the Boxes of Orden. When she knew she couldn't escape she threw the boxes in a lake. She was then captured and beaten senseless by the D'Haran captain.

Next we see Richard, Kahlan and Zedd are on their way to retrieve the boxes from Jennsen. Richard has discovered in the Book of Counted Shadows that for him to wield the power of Orden he must be confessed by Kahlan while under the influence of Orden- the power of love nullifies the destructive aspect of Orden, while the power of Orden nullifies the destructive aspect of Confession. It was more elegant in the books, but this works. Only when they reach Jennsen's village they find her gone and the whole village infected with a magical plague in retribution for harboring Jennsen.

Meanwhile Jennsen is being tended by a healer in Darken's tower. It seems his captain was overzealous in his use of Jennsen as a punching bag and she has lost her memory. Actually the thuggish captain probably saved Jennsen's life by beating her up. He certainly saved her from monstrous torture. When Darken learns that Jennsen isn't fooling about her lack of memory he decides to woo her with his best 'Father Rahl' act. He treats her with patience and infinite care. He confides in her, he tells her how the awful Seeker had her beaten and killed so many of his people. How he just wants to help his people, and if only Jennsen can remember where she hid the boxes he will bring peace to all the land. He is sorrowful, even tearful, and beset with grief at the terrible things 'Richard' has done. In one of the many 'heart to heart chats' they have he tells a bewildered Jennsen that he is her and Richard's brother(!?(1)) and how Richard got all their tyrannical father's bad genes while poor wittle Darken was abused from childhood. He even gives her a cat to keep her company. You might think from reading all this that it was laid on way too thick, but it was actually very effective. It was creepy as hell and almost mesmerizing to watch the predator reeling in his prey with 'kindness.' Infinitely creepier and more effective than watching him torture her.

When Richard is off searching for Jennsen, Zedd attempts to heal as many villagers as he can. When he can only do so much the desperate villagers start to riot and attack him. The plague is passed on by touch so when they all start grabbing him at once he gets more of the plague than he can heal himself of. In order to protect Zedd, Kahlan confesses the main instigator, but he too has the plague and she immediately gets it herself. When Richard comes back he finds both his beloved and his grandfather on the edge of death with no cure in sight.

Richard goes off to get the boxes to compel Darken to give him the plague cure. (He figured out where Jennsen hid them.) But at the same time Jennsen remembers where she hid the boxes and tells her ever-loving big brother Darken.

The resolution is a good one. It bodes well for the finishing off of Darken. However from the teaser for next week's finale, things don't turn out so well. We'll see how it goes.

(1) Darken is Richard and Jennsen's FATHER in the books! Darken does look too young to be Richard's father, but it still feels strange. He could have been lying, but somehow I don't think so.

Easily one of the best episodes of the show so far.

**** Stars.
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May. 10th, 2009 @ 02:24 am Review: LotS Episode 20: 'Sanctuary.'
Current Location: Center Joggerville
Current Mood: impressed
Current Music: The Water is Wide, Pete Huttlinger
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BPAL of the Day: Sea of Glass

I'm petsitting tonight for a new client next door to my usual Center Joggerville clients. It is a nice old house with lots of ticking clocks. Unfortunately their TVs are even smaller than the one at home, but at least I got to see the show.

With only two more episodes this season the plot has finally turned back to the vague direction of the books. It starts off with Richard & Kahlan racing Darken Rahl for the Book of Counted Shadows which lies hidden in a (very cool) library. The librarian, whose husband was murdered by D'Harans, is hard at work seeking out the book. While James, a painter with a crush on the librarian is hard at work painting his masterpiece where, using a very specialized kind of magic, he plans to literally transport his beloved and himself into the painting to live Happily Ever After. Of course the arrival of Darken Rahl doesn't bode well for Happily Ever Afters. When James transports the library into his painting he brings Zedd and a bunch of D'Haran soldiers with it. Richard goes into the painting and kills all the D’Haran soldiers, and he and the librarian, Kahlan and Zedd find the book. When Richard and Co. wants to go back James refuses, saying they're all better off in his beautiful painting world. But that argument is cut short by Darken getting hold of the painting and plotting to get rid of the pesky Seeker, Kahlan and Zedd once and for all.

It was a good episode with interesting concepts. But it also creates a glaringly easy and obvious way to get rid of Darken Rahl. Just paint him into a painting, destroy it and viola! No more pesky evil overlord. Even if they didn't end up able to do it, someone should have thought of it.

The next episode looks quite angsty and interesting with lots of Darken. He was really good in this episode. I am curious to see if we get the big reveal about Richard's parentage in the next episode.

*** 1/2 Stars.

I found an awesome site last night with dozens upon dozens of links relating to world building: http://hiddenway.tripod.com/world/ On that page I found software for the creation of worlds that positively makes me squee in delight: http://www.profantasy.com/. It is intended firstly for rollplayers, but also for worldbuilders of any stripe. You can create entire planets, map out cities, create castles, etc, etc. It is AMAZING! I NEED it! :D

I'd best think about bed. I have to get up at a dismal hour tomorrow. :P I just spent an hour reuploading all of my music into iTunes since it decided to delete everything. The music was still in my computer, but iTunes was wiped clean. Grr.
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May. 8th, 2009 @ 02:38 am Review: The Language of Bees, by Laurie R. King
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: The Village Lanterne, Blackmore's Night
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BPAL of the Day: Sundew

I really shouldn't finish books so quickly. I will often start slow, but by the middle I'm reading 200 pages (or more) at a sitting. I got this one last Wednesday, started it Thursday and finished on Sunday night. That doesn't sound that bad but I only read a few chapters over dinner on Thursday and Friday. I read the majority of the book in two nights. When it can take two years in between installments, one should really prolong the pleasure.

Laurie King's books are one of the few lasting effects of my foray in HP fanfic. (The other important one being writing original stuff.) They were recommended by a fanfic writer I was following in the early, early days of my involvement in that fandom. I think I said in the last review I did of a Laurie King book, that THIS is what fanfic should ALWAYS be. This book is another stellar example of that statement.

The book picks up not long after Locked Rooms left off. Holmes and Russell are finally returning home after a long and tumultuous year. Russell feels she is looking forward to a little peace, but her husband is getting edgier and more irritable by the mile at the prospect of inactivity. Holmes needn't have worried. Immediately upon arrival, however Holmes' estranged son Damian Adler, is there to greet them. It seems Damian's wife and young daughter have disappeared and he has no choice but to turn to his illustrious father for help. The last time Holmes saw his son he was about to be tried for the murder of a drug dealer, but he was acquitted of the crime. After a long sojourn to Shanghai where he fell in love with and married Yolanda, a former child prostitute with a passion for religion. Damian and his wife came to England to start a new life. He is now a rising star Surrealist painter known as 'The Addler' while his wife still flits among an eclectic mix of religious establishments. However one's past is often not so far away as one would like. Damian's paintings have a decidedly dark, disturbing quality. And the 'church' Yolanda attends has some very unsavory 'beliefs.'

Holmes and Russell part ways early on in the book. At first Holmes runs off with Damian on the hunt for Yolanda and his daughter while Russell is left behind to sort out Holmes' beekeeping issues. The arrangement lasts for a few days before Russell decides to do some investigating on her own. Russell doesn't entirely trust Damian and the question as to whether he killed his wife (and maybe might want to kill his father) is foremost in her mind. She eventually finds Holmes, but Damian has now disappeared without a trace.

Much of this book is concerned with following Russell around on her investigations from the clubs of 'free love' Bohemian artists to the meetings of Yolanda's religious group 'The Children of Lights.' (Yes that is 'Lights' plural.) Mary Russell has matured and has become more competent with every book, and here she must take the objective role as Holmes' involvement is too personal.

The investigation wanders into the dark side of alternative religions and the war and drug-darkened mind of a young, profoundly gifted painter whose art can range from sublime to gruesome. The story of Damian, Yolanda and their daughter, Estelle is revealed like the careful assembling of a great puzzle. As a simple mystery with no other considerations, it works beautifully. But even better, it builds on the Sherlock Holmes canon with elegance and finesse. Nothing is out of place or unbelievable. Nothing is overdone. Just as it has always been in the eight books before it.

Mary Russell is among my VERY short list of favorite female characters in fiction because, despite what it would seem in a novel of this type, she does NOT exist to merely be a foil to or lover of Holmes. She comes to Holmes with her own life and she maintains her own life. Something incredibly hard to find in any novel. (Or maybe I just read the wrong books.) I think the reason why I number few female characters among my favorites is that they too often exist strictly to be someone's mother, whore, love interest, wife or dependent. Any 'life' they have is inconsequential next to who they have sex with or who wants to have sex with them; something spectacularly aggravating and incredibly refreshing on those rare occasions when it isn't present. Holmes and Russell have a very natural and understated relationship that works very well for the independence of both of their characters.

This was an excellent book that envelops one completely while being read. No matter where I read it I was completely involved the moment I opened its covers. Unlike any of the others it ends with a cliffhanger. I hope LRK doesn't take two years like she usually does!

***** Stars.

Right now I'm reading 'From the Ashes of Angels' a mythology book relating to the Nephilim and the mysterious 'Watchers.' I find these myths fascinating and very inspiring for my Epic. I could use a little inspiration that doesn't lead to long layaways! After that I may read Jack Vance's 'Dying Earth' books, as I recently learned they influenced the Zork universe. That is why I read Tolkien in the beginning! Then ‘Witches Incorporated’ as soon as it gets here from Australia. I never said I wasn’t eclectic.
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May. 3rd, 2009 @ 02:01 am Reviews: Get the Led Out & LotS episode 19 'Cursed'
Current Mood: excited
Current Music: No. 11, Ed Gerhard
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BPAL of the Day: Host of the Air

A double feature tonight since I got too involved with reading last night to review 'Get the Led Out.'

I almost decided not to go to the concert Friday night with al the flu scares and 'probable cases' in Concord. But then yesterday I stopped looking at news of any kind and, taking all precautions and tons of hand sanitizer, decided to go anyway. I got in ten minutes past the start time due to delays at the restaurant, but they didn't start until a minute after I got into my seat. It was very nice of them to wait for me. ;) jk.

The concert was very poorly attended. I walked in and wondered if all our clocks and watches were wrong. I got my very nice front row side aisle seat about a couple of months ago (They've been on sale for a year.) so I don't think it was the flu scare. It is a shame because the band has a great deal of talent... perhaps the most raw talent of any of the tribute bands I have seen. They were fantastically versatile and talented musicians and their singer had a voice that was eerily similar to Robert Plant's. He was not at all hard to look at, either, I must add. Not hard at all. :D

These guys played their hearts out for three hours without an intermission. You could tell the performance meant a lot to them. While I will never name Led Zeppelin as among my favorite bands, I really appreciated the passion, integrity and skill of these men and I truly hope they win the audiences and success they deserve.

**** 1/2 stars.

LotS Episode 19 'Cursed.'

A much darker episode than last weeks, for sure. It starts out with a woman running away from a hideous monster... and failing to get away.

Zedd, Richard and Kahlan are called to a kingdom that borders D'Hara that have fought and won many hard battles against the enemy. While they have been recently left alone by the D'Harans, they are under siege by the aforementioned hideous monster. It turns out that Shota, the witch woman who lives next door to the kingdom, has, at the king's request, cursed the king to turn into a monster every night to protect the people from the D'Harans. He appropriated a Rada'han (A collar that suppresses magic.) to keep the monster in check when he isn't ravaging D'Harans, but the collar can't contain the beast, allowing him to rampage through the woods killing his own people every night... eventually including his own wife. (The woman we saw in the beginning.) The only thing that can kill him now is the Sword of Truth. The king, (whom is normal during the day and does not remember the monster's rampages) tells Richard to kill him when he turns into a monster at night, if Zedd can't convince Shota to remove the curse. That night the king escapes his confinement and Richard is forced to kill him, passing the kingdom and the curse to his daughter. Eventually they discover there is a D'Haran mole in the castle that is scheming to nab the throne and give the kingdom to Darken in exchange for promises of power. It turns out the Rada'han does work, but the mole drugged the king and removed the collar before his transformations. A badly planned battle with the D'Harans ensues. The day is, again, saved by Zedd, (with Shota this time) and the young queen in her monster guise.

All of this is done pretty well, for the most part. Kahlan goes into the Con Dar blood rage when Richard is cornered by the beast king, and has difficulty snapping out of it. She then goes on about how she is a monster and snaps the Rada'han around her own neck in a fit of stupidity. Richard does redeem himself somewhat from the previous episode when he tells her that this power is a part of her and she should learn to embrace it. It was very book!Richard like advice. I'd like to see more of that Richard and less of horny-teenager-in-a-tv-show!Richard in the future. There were a few oddities and canon twisting, but it worked reasonably well and was one of the stronger episodes.

*** 1/2 Stars.

We're coming down to the wire now. Only three episodes left to go this season. I'll be petsitting next Saturday for a new client for just the one night. I hope they have a good TV to watch the show on. I am petsitting the next weekend as well. Unfortunately I'll be home for the finale, though. I would have liked to see that on a larger, nicer screen.

It should be a good mail week coming up. I got a flower head wreath for the faire and a new cloak if it is cool. I have a couple of doll wigs and a pair of eyes, too.

I ordered the new Soom Monthly dolls Hati and Skoll on layaway. I just couldn't handle having a layaway that ended in September so I made it four months instead of my customary five. Heliot's layaway is coming tantalizingly close to done, Amber has two left, Iplehouse Ryan has one left, and Glot and Glati have three. By the middle of June Heliot, Amber and Ryan will be paid for. I can't wait to get everyone home!
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Apr. 26th, 2009 @ 03:20 am Review: LotS Episode 18: Mirror, etc.
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Learning to Fly, Tom Petty
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BPAL of the Day: Ides of March '05

Today's was the first episode after a month long hiatus. One would expect something with a bit of oomph after so long away, but it was a pretty lightweight little episode that was primarily comedy. Two thieves and a sneaky barmaid and her lover discover a mirror that allows the thieves to look just like Richard and Kahlan. With it they rob a few villages blind and genrally enjoy themselves pretending to be the Seeker and Confessor. (Bridget and Craig seemed to be enjoying themselves, too.) The girl thief gets it into her head to steal the real Sword of Truth when they find out the real R&K are in the area. Faux!Kahlan seduces Real!Richard and drags him away for a little skinnydipping. Real!Richard being a horny young man, falls for Kahlan's complete change in personality immediately and unquestioningly, allowing Faux!Richard ample opportunity to make off with the real Sword of Truth. (I sincerely doubt Book!Richard would have been so gullible and brainless.)

Of course when Real!Richard meets up with Real!Kahlan he realizes his mistake. They go off to get back the Real!Sword, but in the end both real and fake R&K run afoul of D'Haran troops. Zedd finally comes back and ends up saving the day cleverly and amusingly.

Yes there was plenty of bone throwing to those who want to see 'Richard and Kahlan' get it on, (The thieves were all over each other.) but they were so OOC for the real R&K that it didn't annoy me too much. Real!Richard's foolish randy teenager act was the only thing that vexed.

It was a fun little episode that I doubt will remain graven in my memory for very long.

*** Stars.

Not too much going on. I have a new HUGE computer monitor. My mother had to get a new computer for work and the one she chose came with this enormous 26 inch monitor that wouldn't fit on her desk, so I got it. It is wonderful for pictures, but not quite as good as my Dell monitor for text.

I also got a brand new camera of my own. I was sick of begging cameras off people. I'm quite happy to have my own now. It was not the priciest camera, and the zoom is a bit weak, but the resolution is amazing. I've taken a few pictures of my dolls and I swear the photos bring out face-up details I didn't see holding them in my hands.

Other than that it's just the usual doll related stuff. Trying to finish off layaways to make way for new ones and the like. I have an assortment of wigs, boots and eyes on their way to help towards finishing up the boys and girls I have (and those on the way... and those still in the planning stages.)

My next event is 'Get the Led Out' a Led Zeppelin tribute on Friday. I also managed front row tickets to the Moodies on the 22nd of August. Not bad for being half asleep when I got them!

Laurie King's new book 'The Secret Language of Bees' comes out Tuesday, so I'll definitely be reading and reviewing that right away.
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Apr. 6th, 2009 @ 04:25 am Review: Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Current Location: Center Joggerville
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Atlantis, Donovan
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BPAL of the Day: Witching Time of the Night

Yesterday was my last full day of petsitting so last night (Saturday) was the big clean up night. I have been here for two weeks so that requires a longer, more thorough clean up than a few days does. I didn't even sit down until 4AM.

Surprisingly I was, in fact, able to walk today after all that up and down and twisting and turning into unnatural positions. (Sounds rather exciting, doesn't it?) I got out my concert boots for what will likely be the last time this season. I had thought this performance was Saturday, but it turned out to be Sunday so I got my mother a ticket. Our seats were front row center; something all too easy to get used to.

The performance started out with a demonstration of different jazz dance styles from the past. It was very interesting and the dancers had a lot of talent. I really liked the '60's style dance. It was very intricate. After intermission came a exuberant and beautiful set of three modern dances each with a very different theme, but all with plenty of talent and passion on the part of the dancers.

A very nice evening's entertainment.

**** Stars.

It has been a great two weeks here. The work itself has been peaceful and the experiences wonderful. I hate going back. I'm glad I get to come back soon.

I'd ramble more, but I really need to get to bed now.

My Chrys came home from getting his face-up. He looks fabulous!
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Mar. 31st, 2009 @ 03:34 am Review: The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice
Current Mood: satisfied
Current Music: My Damsel Heart, Sally Oldfield
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BPAL of the Day: Glukuprikos

I figured I might as well make use of the nice big TV while I have it and decided to watch the latest Librarian movie tonight.

It starts off with Flynn in the midst of a girlfriend crisis and embroiled in acquiring the Philosopher's Stone at an art auction at the same time. He manages with as much flair as Bond in the acquisition of the Stone, but decidedly less in the girlfriend department. He has something of a meltdown as he's told to think of himself as a celibate monk working for the library. He is allowed to take a vacation and is told in a dream to go to New Orleans. There he is drawn to the sexy French girl of his dreams. (Literally.) And he is immediately embroiled in her quest to protect the Judas Chalice from the Russians who want to bring Dracula back to life. After taking a roll in the hay with the (fast) French woman he goes on to search for the Chalice himself. Along the way he finds out that his new girlfriend is really a vampire. Together they find the Chalice, fight the Russians, fight Dracula and Flynn is shown his true destiny.

I found this 'Librarian' to be a little more serious and have a little more depth than the last. Flynn is a great character. He’s a wonderful unconventional hero with brainpower over brawn. He is no longer hapless like he was in the first movie, but he is still himself. I thought they headed a little too much for a Indiana Jones Lite feeling in the last movie, but not so here. Flynn was Flynn. This adventure played to his strengths very well.

I heard that this was originally supposed to be the last Librarian movie, but that Noah Wyle would love to continue the series and will as long as it can get funding. (I understand they had a VERY tight budget with this movie.) I hope the series does continue. It is a lot of fun and they could do so much with it.

**** 1/2 stars.

P.S. Is anyone planning on coming to B&N this Thursday?
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Mar. 30th, 2009 @ 01:35 am Review: LotS episode 17 "Deception" and a bit of this and that.
Current Location: Center Joggerville
Current Mood: content
Current Music: Anticipation, Carly Simon
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BPAL of the Day: still Ides of March 09

To be honest I didn't expect much from this episode. From the preview it seemed to hearken back to the earlier non plot advancing filler episodes from the beginning. I was very pleasantly surprised. It was not a particularly strong plot advancing episode, but it provided some very important character building. I am definitely seeing Craig Horner growing into the role of Richard a little more every week. In this episode Richard and Kahlan come upon a village of resistance families that was completely annihilated by dark magic. Dead kids strewn all over the village was a harsh reminder of the monster Darken Rahl really is. Richard and Kahlan then meet up with a band of resistance fighters fighting Darken's soldiers and Kahlan confesses one. They learn what the weapons are and Richard decides to infiltrate the camp to get some of them to use on the D'Harans. Richard manages this, of course, and he gets to see that even D'Harans have families and kids. Meanwhile Kahlan learns that not all of the resistance fighters are paragons of virtue. Richard and Kahlan both have to make some hard decisions and in the end are made better for it.

A surprisingly nuanced and well written episode featuring shades of gray in a previously black and white universe.

**** 1/2 Stars.

The next new episode isn't until April 25th. There will only be five episodes left. I would imagine that they would be shown without any more interruptions. I don't really know how TV works so I suppose there could be another break right before the end.

Etc...

Soom has put up the story behind their Monthly Dolls. http://www.rosettedoll.com/soom_img/md/MD_story.html

It is a little awkward in spots due to the language barrier, but it is a pretty neat little story with those nice world building elements I am so fond of. As for the dolls we know there will be pairs of what appear to be tinies interspersed with (probably) Super Gems that are the gods of their continents.

There is so much to think about and dream about there! It looks like Fire, Light & Earth will be male Super Gems while Darkness, Water and Air will be females, but we won't know until next month what order they will appear in. I definitely think they need to lay off the hooves for awhile. Everyone loved them, but there have been four months in a row with hooved dolls and people are getting restless to see something new.

I love the new http://dollsoom.com/shop/step1.php?number=3372 'God(dess) of Dark Kind' Cuprit, but I am REALLY overwhelmed with layaways this month and next. I just don't see how I could manage to get her. :/

After a very busy March I have a high and dry April. (Edit: I just got a ticket for the Giordano Jazz Dance show Saturday... So I do have at least one thing in April.) No concerts until I go see 'Get the Led Out' a Led Zeppelin tribute on May 1st. Other things in May are Macbeth and Annie one day after the other on the 17th and 18th. Because these things do seem to like to cluster at the same time, the NH Ren Faire is the 16th and 17th. I guess it will be the 16th at the faire for me. I also have the sneaking suspicion that I may be petsitting here again then, too. I don't have that info on my laptop. I'm petsitting again in Outer Joggerville from May 27 to June 6th. I also have Beatlemania- a Beatles tribute on June 13th and tomorrow I will be getting tickets for Don McLean on the 19th and Girls Night Out: The Musical on the 25th. I will at last get to see Ed again on the 27th of June. I was the first one to get tickets for that show!

I am sure there will be more coming up, too. We're members at Meadowbrook so we're free to get tickets there if anything good comes up. And I am impatiently awaiting the tour list for Donovan who is supposed to be on tour this year. We will see how it all comes out.
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Mar. 29th, 2009 @ 05:58 pm Review: Ed Gerhard & Pete Huttlinger in Arlington, MA, TourTales (tm) edition
Current Location: Center Joggerville
Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: Homage, Ed Gerhard
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BPAL of the Day: Ides of March 09

On Friday I woke up first at 10:30AM, fell back to sleep and didn't wake up again until 12:30PM. That could NOT happen Saturday, since any time you go near Boston you NEED to leave extra time to get where you're going. Getting ready on these truly important concert days is a long and drawn out affair. I can't decide if it is tedious or if I secretly enjoy it. I think I do enjoy parts of it; the opportunity to indulge one's girly side to the max. I was fortunate that the hair and make up goddesses were kind to me these past two days. I got these two beautiful tops for these shows. They're hand-painted silk and really lovely.

Saturday I first woke up at 9:30AM. It was still much too early. I need more than five hours sleep if I expect to have ANY chance at proving that I am not flighty ninny all the time. I fell back to sleep only to wake up @ 10:15, I fell back to sleep again and woke up at 10:45. I again fell back to sleep and when I was just on the vague edge of wakefulness the church bells in the village rang three times. I woke up in a bloody hurry thinking in utter horror that it was 3:00! Thankfully it was only about 11:15. I got up then. Whatever sleep I had would have to serve.

After a half hour or so sorting out the dogs and about... erm... three hours getting ready. *blushes* I was ready to go. My mother was there to pick me up right at 3:00 and we had no major trouble getting to the venue. We had to turn around a couple of times, but no big deal. They weren't giving out the tickets until 6:00 so we went to a little used bookstore that was next to the theater. I actually found three interesting looking books there before it was time to go.

There were a few people waiting there when we got in. I wasn't worried about it but my mother was in one of her snarky moods commenting on the vagueness of the line, snarking about people who worked on the show going in first to save seats and talking about how much she hates Boston. It was worrisome, but when the kids in wheelchairs started to arrive (this concert was put on for charity.) she changed her attitude a little.

The theater was a little shabby and in need of refurbishment. It is sad to see these old theaters in disrepair. They are a very important resource for everyone and should be treated with respect and care. I was able to go straight to the front row center and get my seat. For a long time I was the only one in the front row. It was very close to the stage and I suppose people thought it wouldn't be as good a view. IMO they were quite wrong! I admit that I was grateful when a couple of people sat at the end of the row. No one was anywhere near me, though. I was front row center by myself which gives the neat illusion of a private concert.

The opening act was a blues singer/guitarist who played a few pieces. I'll confess that the blues have never been my favorite kind of music. There are a few exceptions to it and I have an open mind, though, and I thought his performance was good and it was very interesting to hear the cigar box guitar and ponder the cleverness of those who had to make their instruments from scratch out of whatever materials they had on hand.

Pete Huttlinger performed next. He is another fingerstyle guitarist. He used to tour with John Denver. (My mother was a bit interested in him, considering she had a huge crush on John Denver.) He did a little singing, too. His style is completely different than Ed's. I found it to be a little 'sharper' for lack of a better word. Their styles complimented each other very well and neither was 'better' than the other- just different. I prefer the elegance of Ed's style, but Pete Huttlinger was very good, too.

Ed was up after the intermission. I was directly in front of him; the perfect vantage point to enjoy his gloriously graceful style, which was one of the things that drew me to him at the beginning. The sound in this theater was tremendously better than the night before, thankfully, and everything sounded wonderful. One really has to be there to appreciate how beautiful it is to listen and watch him play. My only complaint is that it was too short!

He came out after and I got to talk to him a little. I said what I wanted to say for a change. I hope I redeemed myself a little by not acting like a complete flake.

It is going to be a whole three months until the next show! It is the longest it has been since I discovered him. Yes I remember the many months it often was between tours in the Moody days, and yes I lamented about that too. I'm just not used to it any more. I'm trying to think of it as the same length as an Iplehouse layaway. That didn't seem THAT long.

It was an absolutely wonderful pair of concert experiences and I greatly anticipate seeing him again on June 27th.

I'll be back tonight after seeing the latest episode of LotS.
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