I am so not cool

You know what's embarrassing? When you hear a song you instantly love and you hear it *first* from a car commercial. How did this happen?

It's always the opposite. My favorite bands sell out to commercials, and I sit there going, wow, I can't believe they sold out like that. But now, I am on the other side. I don't like it.

However, the song totally rocks, so thank you Honda for choosing a bad ass Music Supervisor who clearly has amazing taste. Kudos to you!  Take a listen:

Honda Commercial

Sit in a shoe! Take Your Clothes Off!

Would I normally sit in a red shoe? No! But, I was in Las Vegas. And guess what? I love the shoe and the shoe loves me.

While in Las Vegas, I finally got to experience the Qua spa at Caesars Palace
I have been wanting to go for years, but it is very pricey and hard to justify when I can get massages at home for a lot less. I noticed the Internet specials online and my husband and I both wanted to go to the fitness center. The fitness center at Caesars comes with a fee, as does the Roman Rituals. We wanted to do both and they are included in a massage so with the Internet Specials, why not?

This spa is unlike anything I have ever experienced. From the moment you walk in, it's pure bliss. Not pretentious like most spas "try" to be. If you are in Las Vegas, do it!

Walking up the stairs to the spa, I realized that I didn't bring my bathing suit. Oh well, if I felt I needed it, I would go back to the room and get it. I knew I wouldn't need it for the massage or the saunas. Upon check in, I was told this was a "clothing optional" spa. How crazy! I have never been told that before. I was gonna go for it.

Ladies! Stop caring what others think and take it off! My husband told me that on the mens side it's a total sausage fest. Not one man was wearing a bathing suit. On the ladies side, most of the young ladies all had their bathing suits on. There were a few nudies. The European women and some older ladies (and myself!) Just let go and stop caring what others think. The guys don't seem to think twice about it. Just do it!

Open Letter to House of Blues

Dear House of Blues,

I used to really like you, but now I feel it’s time to reevaluate our relationship. And yes, possibly break up. You’ve done me wrong, and you’ve done me wrong twice. I was excited for Flogging Molly, even did early entry by eating at your restaurant. I was hoping to score a bench to sit on, as I know you are very selective about these seats. No such luck, I had to lean up against the wall for general admission. I stood there for hours waiting for the show to start. I sacrificed the necessities in life, such as drink and bathroom, in order to not lose my semiprecious spot. When the show started, Flogging Molly did not fail me, but House of Blues, you sure did. Even though moshing is contractually “not allowed”, you still allowed it to happen. A girl stood in front of me and threatened that she was going to “elbow in” my face, and then ran into the mosh pit that slowly made its way to me. I did not enjoy feel scared of being smooched, punched or trampled, and I didn’t think my Dad who was with me, would appreciate it either. I went to see Flogging Molly, not to feel unsafe in my concert environment. Will I be back? What do you think? I should mention that since the show was sold out, there was nowhere to move to escape.

I did have to go back though, because I already had tickets to see Modest Mouse two days later. I chose to arrive a little later, so I could have a little drink in me, and get the bathroom out of the way, since this was also a sold out show. Although still getting there well before Modest Mouse took stage (an hour before), there was no place to see them. We looked everywhere. We stood by the stairs, but with cross traffic that was impossible. We stood in a corner that quickly filled up. There was a TV above us that would have been a good alternative, however the TV was either off or broken. Many TV’s were not on that night. We had to move to the less crowded upstairs. I would think for the amount of money I paid for my ticket, the least you could do is provide me a location in which I could see the show. The back of heads and the occasional peak at the stage when someone moves their head does not count.

-Rachel

New Kids On The Block Cruise!!!

How crazy is this? If this is a sign of what 2009 is going to look like, then bring it on! I get an email on Tuesday at 1830 that informs me that New Kids on the Block are going on a cruise in May. The tickets go on sale the NEXT DAY! WHAT?!?! Very limited details were available. Nothing important like the price! I knew that it was sailing out of Florida, which is good for me, because I live in Florida. Before you know it, I am on the phone with my NKTOB partner in crime, discussing if we can go, and what is our price limit. Not only were the details of the cruise not available, but the web site link that was provided in the announcement email, was not working. It was either deactivated, or all of the fans crashed the site with high traffic. Panic started to arise. The email said tickets were on sale the next day, yet the web site was down, what were we to do? I contacted my travel agent, who only books cruises, and she did not have access to it. The next day, when I was in despair and was expecting an email to announce the delay of the sale due to technical difficulties, the web site was up and running. At the same time, I received a text on my phone that said tickets were on sale. So I am going! AHHH. Time to diet! Time to tan! Wow! Stay tuned for more crazy details.

Shazam! I have an iPhone!

Shazam! I have an iPhone!

It’s hard to admit it, but all the hype about the iPhone is not only hype, it’s all true! This little gadget is amazing! I have never been one for technology or feel that I need to be the first to own something, or have the best of everything. So when the iPhone was announced, I figured I would wait it out and see how it works out for others. One of my coworkers was quick to jump on the bandwagon. He dropped his current cell phone service, to get AT&T and be on board. He came to work with all his music and photos, showing off his new phone. That was cool; however it didn’t impress me much. I have an iPod, and I store all my photos online, so big deal. What sealed the deal for me was a little program called Shazam. It’s an application for the iPhone that allows the user to hold the phone up to any song, and within a few seconds, the application recognizes the song, and not only tells the user the artist and name, it also allows you to purchase the song immediately through iTunes. Wow. I am a music person, so for me this is huge. I went home and told my husband, who was NOT impressed. He was making comments like, “Is that really going to change your life, knowing what song is playing in the background” To which I answered “YES!” He still didn’t understand. He kept asking me “Are you going to be in an elevator and need to know a song and hold your little phone up?” I still insisted “YES.” Although I couldn’t help but to think how funny this was, as if they ever play good music in the elevator. (I think that is what he was getting at). So while with my co-worker, there were many times I needed to know what the name of the song was, and he would impress me with his iPhone skills. The application Shazam got it every time!

One night, I was going through my old VHS tapes’, looking to what was worth transferring over to DVD. A really old Walt Disney World 4th of July special from 1989 was on there. I love to watch this special, for a variety of reasons. While watching the special, a song came on as the background music for one of the segments. I had wanted to know what that song was since 1989!! Once, at the mall, I heard it playing in a store, and asked the clerk was song it was. She did not know, and pulled out the CD just to discover is was a mix of songs burned just to play in the store, with no artists or titles attached. I had quite the challenge for my friend and his iPhone. My husband thought that no way no how that phone would be able to identify the song. I had no doubt. I brought the tape to work, found an empty conference room, and started the challenge. Shazam knew the song! Of course it did! I had no doubt!! I went home, bought the song on iTunes, and told my husband all about it. Guess what? Shazam! Just like that, I had an iPhone the next day. Early Christmas present from my husband! ;)

The New Kids on the Block are back!

The Kids are back y’all!

I am a New Kids on the Block fan, and darn proud of it! I would not say that I was ever not a fan. There was the moment when they were so big that the kids I was babysitting for became fans, and then they tried to get tough with Games and I lost interest, as did most of my friends, and shortly after, they broke up.

Over the years, I still kept my cassette tapes, and eventually purchased the CD’s and their music made its way into my iPod. Occasionally a song would play and I would ponder, “What are they doing now?” “Why don’t they get back together and play a reunion tour?” The thought seemed far fetched. Getting all 5 members of a band back together, hoping they would all be interested in going back to sing Hanging Tough one more time? I kept telling myself “why not?!?” Surely they would not mind the extra cash once again?

Then, it started to happen. I saw my favorite gossip web site announce that rumors were starting to float around about a reunion. Sure enough (after a lot of denials) they were back! The NKOTB web site was re-launched, and press photos were being posted. I was so excited. They still looked good! A little more mature, but nonetheless, pretty darn good. Besides, I am in my 30's now, if they were younger than me, that would be creepy, right?

I recorded their first television appearance since they got back together. A bit surreal for me, and it did not manage to raise too much excitement in me; perhaps it was too early in the morning. Their new CD was released, and I waited awhile to purchase it. Then it was time to gather my peeps for a New Kids on the Block hype session. Wait, where were my peeps?!? My friends (all but one) had a dwindled interest in the original boy band. What?!? Why???? I started to question my loyalty. Was I being silly? I knew other ladies interested in seeing them again. My co-workers wife, my husband’s co-workers were interested, yet my close friends did not seem to care. Why would they pass on the chance to dress like fools and relive some great childhood memories? My husband gave me the look of I rather have a tooth pulled without Novocain than see the New Kids in concert. So I had my doubts. I must be crazy if none of my friends are interested. Then, bless my favorite gossip web site, for posting this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rjJa3nspZw

The rest is history, as they say! I was still a little unsure, but as we walked into the arena, the ladies around my age all had on their NKOTB gear, and I felt as if I were at home. Once the show started, the opening video really stirred back the old memories, and they were onstage once again, and their I was, screaming and jumping up and down like I did when I was 12. It felt great. The show was amazing, and I am ready for more! I can’t stop talking about it. I did not have YouTube when I was a kid, I sure do enjoy it now.

The best part is, I remember when I was teenager, and all that life threw my way had me down and depressed. And I could turn on my radio or VCR and watch 5 cute boys smiling my way and life seemed better. And here I am 20 years later, with my corporate job, husband, life’s problems, and I can listen to NKOTB on my iPod in my fancy new car with 8 speakers, and smile and remember to not take life so seriously and be a kid again! Thank you New Kids on the Block. We all thank you!

I will take my bored husband!

Years ago when I believed that men should ride up on white horses and rescue women from the fate and tragedy that is their parents, I believed it was “cute” and “romantic” that men went shopping with women. Men traditionally, don’t like to “shop.” Although, my Dad, can out shop the best of them. Now, I am not a big shopper. Perhaps if I had endless dollars to spend, the killer body for the cute clothes, and stores that sold things with a remote sign of taste, I might be interested. So, for the most part, I run in, grab a few items, run out. (Repeat). I should mention that the foresaid habit has me returning a lot of items since I don’t try anything on. ANYWAY . . .

There I am shopping at the local JC Penney, which has a great section for work clothes for petites like myself (not a shameless plug, just a reality!). Now, I was on a mission, I had to find some work pants and a dress or two. While I am trying to super shop and get it over with, I am fighting through the tight rows of clothes with men. What are men doing the petite women’s section at JC Penny? Why, they are picking out clothes for their women. What? Yes! Problem is, the women are also shopping a row or two down. Not only do I have one shopper getting in my way, now I have two! And, I have to hear the arguments between the two about the garments they have picked out. The woman insulted that her man picked that out for her, so he runs me over between racks of clothes to pick out something she will approve of (I won’t even begin to discuss what happens if he might have picked out something that could make her look fat) Gasp! I look over at the bench near the dressing room with one man sitting there looking bored and I thought “smart man” for getting out of my way so I can shop. Oh wait, did I just think that? If my husband were here, I would be so annoyed that he was sitting there looking so bored asking “when can we leave?” On the other hand, do I want my husband picking out clothes for me? Examining a pair of pants deciding if my ass would fit in those? I think not. Would I want my husband getting in the way of another women’s mission to shop and he is scanning clothes having no idea what he is doing? You know what? I will take my bored husband over the shopping husband any day.