It'll take some getting used to...

So I googled my husband's name in conjunction with his "new boss", and came across a site where the members were discussing the Tampa Bay show last Sunday.

They were surprised at the addition of the songs August sang, but the guy who went to the show said he did a "respectable" job.

If anyone says anything negative, I might have to make up a login ID and verbally kick some butt. So far, that doesn't seem necessary.

And as an added bonus, the guy posted these really, really good pictures!

I call this one, "August, this here is a guitar..."

August really likes his new friend, Jimmy.

And that's a wrap!

He said whaaat???

Dennis' feedback on last Sunday's show, as told to August by Tim, the manager:

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I just spoke with his mgr (Tim) for about 30min, and he said Dennis really enjoys my “child-like enthusiasm”..he told Tim that at the show, he kept looking over at me and seeing how much fun I was having, but also picked up on the fact that behind my perpetual grin was the thought bubble “HOW did I get here!?! Is this really happening to ME?!”

Tim also said Dennis told him “I sang really well tonight, for Tony (LaRussa, his longtime friend and show host)…and for August”…he wanted to impress me on the first show. Me!? Haha…this IS priceless J

SO thankful!!!!!

And so it begins...August's fantastic adventure

January 17, 2010 - St. Louis, Missouri - Stars to the Rescue, a benefit concert for ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation). Dennis was scheduled to perform a 6 song acoustic set with his guitar player, Jimmy Leahey.

But he insisted that August come, too.

August met Jimmy and they had an instant rapport. His first show was a success...


Obviously I better come to a show and get some close-up pictures, eh?

Here is Dennis with Jonathan Cain from Journey. (Styx, Journey...two out of three tributes bands are represented right here!)

Jimmy, Suzanne (Dennis' wife of 40 years), Tony LaRussa (manages/owns? St Louis Cardinals), Dennis, and my happy, happy husband.

Did I mention happy, happy husband? And so...the journey begins....

He will be rockin' the paradise...stay tuned!

Welcome 2010

I am proud of my husband.

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2010 will be a big year for him musically. Playing music is his passion, it's been his paying hobby, but certainly he has always wished for it to be his livelihood.

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He's not quitting his day job, but he finally got a project where he can showcase his talents in a BIG way!

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He will be touring. He will be seeing cities he's never seen. He will be singing and playing guitar. (With a VERY accomplished singer/songwriter...I am in awe of the magnitude of this.)

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He will be awesome.

I say ROCK ON

September...full of birthdays, school, and rock and roll.

This is August's new guitar. That he got for FREE.


Somehow or another I managed to make it to quite a few shows in September. Here is August on his birthday. He had a show that night, and a fan brought him a dozen DELICIOUS cupcakes.

One of my favorite parts of the show is seeing August & Vic (the keyboard player) interact.

The next weekend, we went to the Sagebrush Cantina. This was an "all ages" show, so the family went and had dinner first.

So many of our friends attended, what a surprise!

Here are the girls....

Have I mentioned how much I love our school? Well, some teachers came out for the show. Here is Brooke with her Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Mac.

Here is Brooke with her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Diehl.

and to complete the set, here is Brooke with her second grade teacher, Miss Davis!!!!! Can you believe this? Also, our favorite babysitter/member of our family, Emily came out, as did Stacy and Josh, Joddie and Brooke, and Cathy, her husband and her sister! Lots of friends.

Last weekend was a show at the local rock dive, Paladinos.

Woo hoo, I'm partying now! Stacy came to this show and took this funny picture.

September was full of fun...I still haven't posted about the first day of school or our fun trip to Big Bear, so stay tuned!

The Wheel in the Sky is turning tonight

My guitar hero is playing in a new Journey tribute band called Lights! Tonight is their first show in Huntington Beach.

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I pulled up their Myspace page. They sure do have a lot of gigs planned which will make him a happy guy (disregarding the lost sleep due to late rehearsals/gigs/preparation which makes him a wee bit of a cranky guy) .

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But he's so hot with the guitar, and he does dishes, so I forgive him the occasional crankiness.

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So, which show are YOU coming to???? Because really, who doesn't like a little Journey?

For friends/family/potential stalkers: I put the link to his band's Myspace page on the right for future reference. Perhaps one of these days he'll have his own Myspace or Facebook page. We are a bit behind the times on that one!

Patient Update

Update: I think things are looking up! He's in less pain today, as long as he's careful not to do anything to aggravate his back. He even made it (with some help with the heavy lifting & driving) to band practice last night!

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Some friends of ours gave us a tube of homeopathic gel - Arnicain, which is the same base as the arnica pills that another friend loaned us. August is believing in the Arnicain gel, it seems to be the first thing that actually helps (that's not vodka-based)...so if you have muscle or bruising issues, give it a try!

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So, perhaps each day this week will be markedly better than the one before! Keeping fingers crossed...

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And no, I'm not even going to explain the photo, but I will tell you...that's not Eddie!!!

Magnificent!

August sent me this photo from a girl that he works with. What your eyes will behold is a magnificent work of art that I feel compelled to share.


Each year, his office has a "bake off". This is rather competitive in nature. "Rather competitive" is an understatement of the grandest nature, I assure you. August himself has participated a few times...last year was the Jack Daniels pie. However, August does not have the drive, the fierce determination, or the frenzy to compete with the others in that office with respect to...baking.


But what they turn out goes way beyond a little extra sweets for the season. What they turn out is a coma-inducing sugar fest that I, myself, am jealous not to be able to partake in sampling.


August's word which preceded this photo: GAME OVER

Lucy's write-up:

Let me present my labor of love….. Eight Layer Holiday Tree Concoction

Layer 1: Delicious Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie
Layer 2: Scrumptious Brownie
Layer 3: Cake mixed with holiday sprinkles
Layer 4: Rice Crispy Treats with a festive touch of M&M’s
Layer 5: Pastry Wreath with a light touch of pecans and chocolate
Layer 6: Ginger Bread Muffin
Layer 7: A cup cake (to represent the dream of a girl from Reseda)
Layer 8: The piece of resistance a delicate Sugar cookie

Bon Appetite and good luck cutting it…. As they say I can’t have my cake and eat it too.

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Lucy, I submit my vote for you based on this picture alone! Good luck!!!

Thank god it's Friday...

I've been home all day, most of which I've spent a) cleaning up barf, b) holding child's hair back while she barfs, or c) holding sick child because she is sick and wants her momma.



I narrowly escaped having my FACE barfed on once while looking at sleeping child, who suddenly awoke. And barfed. That was close, and something not even a mother could possibly be okay with.


Brookie is sick today.


And August is here:
This is in Florida.

Which is all the way on the OTHER side of the United States from me.


I will miss him.



I would also like to note that LAST weekend, Rick Springfield played at this place. One weekend earlier and August could have totally met Dr. Noah Drake! Why I still remember his name on General Hospital from, like, 1980 is a mystery to me. Gasp! I just googled him to try and entertain you with a picture, and I saw that he was 59 years old. Dang! So then I thought to myself, "He's almost as old as Sammy Hagar!" (Just learned that he just turned 61...impossible.)



So, in my google search, I find this bit of trivia on my favorite informational site that no one is allowed to REALLY use when writing reference papers, Wikipedia: After a break of several years to do some acting, Springfield returned to music in 1981 with the album Working Class Dog. Most notable on this album were the singles "Jessie's Girl", which went to #1 on the Billboard charts, and "I've Done Everything for You" which was written by Sammy Hagar, and reached #8 on Billboard.



Did you see that? Rick Springfield and Sammy Hagar collide! Unbelievable.



But I digress. Now, I truly do hope that August has a rockin' time in Florida. There is no way he could have timed his gig to not be the exact same weekend that Brooke catches a stomach flu. But if he'd gone LAST weekend, and I'm just saying...he could have met Rick Springfield AND would have been here this weekend to boot! :)



But if he'd gone last weekend, we wouldn't have gone to Disneyland with Joe and Lulu, so I suppose all things happen for a reason!

And I've learned...do not lean in and watch a sleeping child with a stomach bug too closely. It might not end up so great.

And happy belated birthday to Sammy. Click here for a youtube goodie, if you are so inclined. So NOT 61 years old, I say! Sammy will be rockin' forever!!!