Couldn’t possibly think of a better way to start the year.
Auld Lang Syne —> DWD
ACHACHAY!!! (Ah-chah-chai)
On Saturday night, during “Snowstorm ‘09,” I braved the inclement weather to check out an old friend’s band, Achachay. One of the only people I know who is actually living out their life-long dream, my friend (the drummer) and his band drove up the east coast playing shows in 14 cities on their way from Austin to New York.
The band was fun and funky, I had a blast dancing with my friends, but most of all, it was just so great seeing someone doing what they love.
Check out Achachay here: http://achachay.com/
Somebody call VHI ‘cause I just had the BEST WEEK EVER!
It can be so rough getting back into the groove the week after a vacation it can sometimes make the break not worth it. Not this time. Thanks to my place of employment, great friends, my a little bit of luck I just had what may go down as one of the best weeks of my life… ever.
Monday: Nothing too special, but I got to enjoy some quality time with my real faves and TV faves of the upper east side. Felt great to be back in NY.
Tuesday: Celebrated a friend’s b-day at Max Brenner (known for chocolateeverything) for dinner and then went back to her place for a vanilla cake - felt like it was my birthday.
Wednesday: Phish night one. Went with a longtime friend who was in town and staying with me just for the shows. He was one of the people that first got me into the band and we had sweet seats about 8 rows back behind the stage. What Trey saw, we saw. Greatest hits type set, similar to Bonnaroo night 1 and good warm up for what was to come.
Thursday: Cupcakes at work. Early dismissal at work. Delicious dinner at fancy restaurant. Phish night two - floor seats. I was in heaven. Went to this show with friend from night before, his father (who is like a second father to me) and a girl who is from TX and will surely be a new friend for me in NY. Dad #2 hooked us up with some amazing seats on the floor about 10 rows from the stage. Set (especially set #2) was incredible, band was on, lights show blew my mind and the icing on the cake: they played the Talking Heads cover, “Cities.” Hell Yes.
Friday: Massages at work. Phish night three. Had standing plans to go to night #3 with an NYC bff and one of the coolest people I know, so had been looking forward to this one for a long time. Setlist was superb, band rocked the house down and the crowd was going nuts. The entire Garden was shaking, everyone (myself included) was dancing their asses off. Check out the video for a sneak peak.
Saturday: First NY snow of the year. Day at the movies. Made some dough. Longhorns *barely* secure spot in BCS Nat’l Championship Game. Couldn’t think of any better way to return to earth after a nuts-o three nights than to chill at the movies with my friend (from night #3) while it snowed. Spent the night babysitting to make back some of the dollars the phishies ate. Hook ‘Em!!
Sunday: Beatles covers @ Brooklyn Bowl. Took the L on over to one of the coolest venues I’ve been to in a while, Brooklyn Bowl. Spent the afternoon with night #3 friend drinking beers from Brooklyn Brewery and listening to some halfway decent local bands covering the entire Beatles discography. It was supposed to be a Ukulele fest, and I saw a lot of people carrying them but no one playing them. Oh wells.
Now, back to real life.
Giving thanks for old friends and new family
This was an extra special Thanksgiving holiday, and maybe the best I can remember. I got to hang out with the two newest additions to our family: My brother’s wife-to-be who is kind, intelligent and an absolutely perfect second half for my brother; and *surprise!* our new dog Charlie. (Due to his dire need for some major orthodontic work, he was given the name “Dracula” by my long-time BFF, and he will be referred to as such from now on.)
I knew having a dog around the house would be great for my mom - he will be her loyal companion, entertainer and defender - but maybe the best part was seeing just how genuinely happy Drac. makes my Dad who really deserves to have that kiddish smile on his face more often.
My week was also highlighted by getting to spend quality time with old friends, and the best a girl could ask for. Although we spread to cities all over the country, some got engaged, some got new jobs and some I hadn’t spoken to in more than a year, it felt like nothing had changed. We got in some great nights out, two Spitz house sleepovers and post Thanksgiving kitchen time (the best kind). All in all a great success, but I miss all you Houstonians greatly.
A shout out to all the g-parents, uncles, cousins, significant others, friends and especially my parents who made this week incredible.
Thank You!!
I Prayed to the Luck Gods and They Laughed at Me.
Anyone want to buy 12 Phish tickets?
I can’t say I wasn’t warned. When I told my friends I was going to enter myself into the automatic-buy Phish lottery for all four nights of the Miami run, they told me to be careful. But really.. contrary to previous post re: Blues Traveler, I just don’t win stuff. Plus, the odds of me getting all 16 tickets were just not in my favor.
I went to the bank today to pull out some cash, but BofA kindly notified me that if I did so I would incur overdraft fees as my account was -$420. (No really - I did not choose that number because I’m trying to be funny or ironic. I had NEGATIVE $420.23.)
Panicking, I checked my latest transactions only to find that I was now the proud holder of 16 - count ‘em - 16 Phish tickets.
Thankfully I pulled cash from another account to put me back into the green for a day or two. Gods of luck willing, I’ll be able to make a profit on my extra tix to pay for that trip down to Miami-ami.
I got some intel that says these tix may not sell for as much as I hope. But right now, all I can think about is PHISH, NYE, MIAMI! Oh, and did I mention we’ll be sitting in level one, row 11?
BLUES TRAVELER covers SUBLIME
Last week I won something for the first time… ever. Thanks to Twitter I snagged free tix to a Blues Traveler show at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza. Fun times all around, but mildly disappointing show. Blues Traveler sounds the same as they did when they made FOUR, but I don’t know the lyrics anymore. Highlight of the show = cover of Sublime’s “What I Got.” (Video not from performance I witnessed)
