"We're just a two-man novelty band"

So a couple of months ago (when we still had money to spend somewhat freely), Bon and I purchased tickets to see Flight of the Conchords. It was last night, and it was awesome.

For those of you who aren't familiar with them, let me introduce you:
"Flight of the Conchords is a Grammy Award-winning New Zealand comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Billing themselves as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo accapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo", the group uses a combination of witty observation, characterisation and acoustic folk guitars. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series, which premiered in 2007, also called Flight of the Conchords." (source: Wikipedia)

We've watched the first season of their HBO show (season 2 is on now, but we don't have HBO, so we'll have to wait for it to come out on dvd) and have their cd. Both are hysterical. The two guys are so clever and funny!

Anyhoo, the live show was just as awesome! It was basically just the two of them - sitting on stools with their guitars, surrounded by some synthesizers and keyboards - fiddling on their intstruments and playing songs. It wasn't stand-up comedy or a full-out concert; it was a beautiful blend. After a song or two, they'd take a break and just go back and forth with some pithy banter (although, the crowd was obnoxious and would keep yelling out - stupid drunk people who think it's a one-on-one conversation between them and the preformers) and then go back to their songs. I think what I liked best about it was that, even though we were the second-to-last row in the whole place, it still felt like they were there just to hang out and have fun. A couple of times, Bret forgot his lines in the middle of a song and Jemaine would tease him and get him started back up - no pressure, just two guys having fun.

Anyway, Bon and I loved it! We were cracking up the whole time. On our way back out to our car, we saw a queue of people gathered outside of the tour buses out back - so we went and joined them. We stood out there for about an hour, waiting for Bret and Jemaine, but they had already escaped out a different door. Alas. But it was still a super fun night!

I'm including two videos - one is from their tv show and the other is from one of their live preformances (they did this one at our concert last night - it's kind of long, but it's worth it).

This is not the post I had intended to write...

The post I had intended to write was going to be humorous. But about an hour ago, I got some news that knocked the wind out of me and wiped all humor from my mind. Bon's hours at work just got cut down to 20 a week.

I really don't know what to do. I'm just stunned. For the past 9 months, Bon's been working 32 hours a week and fitting classes in around it. This is his last week of classes for the school year and then he was going to be going back to a full 40 hour work week. Even though it wouldn't cover all the bills, we were anxious for the extra money. If we would still be short on money with 40 hours a week, how will we survive with just 20??

And poor Bon has been trying so hard ot balance school and work, and now that he can focus on just one thing, they cut his hours. And he's been working there for almost four years now (and doing an amazing job!) and his co-worker who has only been there for two years, didn't get a single hour cut!! And Bon's boss KNOWS that I lost my job! Why would they be so unfair to him after all he's done for them?

I've been looking for a job, but no luck yet. Bon and I had even started to talk about me possibly going back to school (and still working, of course). Well, this totally ruins that. It breaks my heart.

Why? Why is everything falling apart all at once?

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

On this Mother's Day, I am compelled to use my blogging powers to broadcast my love for my dear mom. She was the best mom for me - patient, gentle, patient, "lady-like", and patient - she was exactly what was needed to balance out everything I wasn't. I'm so grateful to her for everything she did (and continues to do) for me.

A month or so ago, she was the featured recipient of her ward's Relief Society "Friendship Basket". The lady presenting it to my mom did some reconnaissince work and emailed me some questions about my mom. Here are just two of the questions and my answers for them:

Your fondest memory of her as a mom?
(Two things)
My mom would read to me. We would sit on the couch, in my bedroom, or out on the patio swing and she would read books to me for hours while I would sit and draw. We read The Secret Garden, all the Anne of Green Gables books, all of the Little House on the Prairie books, and all of the American Girl books (well, all the ones that were out at that point - now they have like 20 more girls!) - before I was even 10 years old.

Also, my dad would travel a lot for his job when I was little. At least one night per absence, my mom and I would snuggle up on the hide-away bed from our couch, order Pizza Hut pizza, drink orange pop, and watch either Pollyana or The Parent Trap (the Hayley Mills version).

Anything else to share?
My mom is the sweetest, kindest, most patient person I know. She has set such an example ot me of how a "lady" should act. She's always put herself second to those around her. Most importantly, my mom has been the best mother - and best FRIEND - that I could ever imagine. She's been patient with me when I was more than aggravating and immature; she's listened to all of my heartache about school, boys, friends, boys, my future, boys, my fears, and boys; and she's always been there for a laugh or hug when I needed it. Being here in Arizona with her in Minnesota is very hard, I miss her SO much, but I know she's always thinking of me and praying for me - so I never feel too far from her.

I love you, Mommy!

How Cute Is This!?

I found this on Etsy (I'm addicted ot this site!) and totally want a set!(if you can't see, there's little numbers below each letter - they're Scrabble pillows!)

Some Odd New Characteristics Have Developed...

I've taken to cleaning things that don't need to be cleaned.

Wednesday night, I organized all our board games in a new (to them) cupboard. For the past two years, they've been stuffed in the trunk that stores all our blankets and this cupboard (well, it's a gutted jewelry armoire that Bon painted a lovely rust red for me and resides under a mirror in our hallway) has been mostly empty, sans a few odds n' ends and a tape-measurer from time to time.

Then, yesterday evening, I reorganized the trunk that had the blankets because the board game removal had freed up a lot of space. Now all of our extra blankets, sheets, and pillowcases are easy to access and nicely stored until such an occasion.

Oh, and yesterday morning (this was possibly the most unnecessary act of all), I swept our patio. Yes, I swept the outdoors.

There is a logical explanation for this, I swear. You see, we have a small patio off our bedroom (it's maybe 5' x 6') and it has a little closet that houses our washer and dryer (our apartments are weird like that: every unit does indeed have it's own washer and dryer, but they're outside - it really annoys me). Well, as you might imagine, it's very dusty in a desert. I was getting tired of my feet getting dirty every time I went out to do laundry, so I thought I'd sweep up the debris (yes, wearing shoes might have been a more obvious solution). It's actually nice to have a freshly swept patio.

The rest of our house is also unusually clean and I am all caught up on laundry and dishes! I keep telling myself how great this opportunity is to catch up on housework and really savor the joys of domestic bliss. I'm also enjoying getting to all the little arts and crafts projects that I have started over the past few months.

...I need a job.

Oh Universe, you've done it again!

I'm sure I'm not alone in the sentiment that I hate not knowing what the future holds for me; most everybody hates that feeling. Well, lately, I've been feeling very unsure of what the future (or even the present) holds for me. I don't know what the Universe expects of me!

*perhaps I should become an Actor!

I remember hearing a story one time (it was used in a metaphoric way) about a guy who had missed his college team's big football game against their rival. He had the game recorded at home, but just had to know the final results, so he asked someone and found that his team had won. He went home and watched the game anyway. His wife noted that he was so much calmer watching the game this way; though it was all still very exciting, he didn't go ballistic when the opposing team got the ball or scored because he knew that, in the end, it wouldn't matter because his team won.

Oddly enough, this football metaphor has stuck with me. I wish I could know the final score, going into the game (I'd also appreciate some better looking jerseys, if we're in negotiations here...).

There is a reason for this annoyingly cryptic post.

A few weeks ago, I got laid off (yes, AGAIN. this is getting ridiculous really). Yesterday, as I went to dip my toes in the putrid waters of job listings, the first job (that looked like I was even remotely qualified for) appeared to be from the very place that I was let-go of for the very same job I was doing. It was a slap in the face. I was distraught and wrung my tear-and-mascara-soaked hands at the Universe. (I came very close to blogging about it, but ate my feelings instead.) To torture myself a little further, I emailed my resume to them saying that, what do you know!, I just got done working at a rheumatology clinic in this exact capacity! I expected that I wouldn't hear anything back from my assumed-previous-employer.

So I got an email back today, from a totally different rheumatologist, asking for more information about me! Yeah, it wasn't my old boss after all - Oh how I aggrivate myself! - and I'm looking nicely qualified for this new job. So, by waiting to post about this incident for a mere 24 hours, the whole tone of the story has changed.

Moral of the story: record your football games for later viewing.

It's Coming.

Summer.

*Yes, this post is about "boring" weather talk; but it is important, nonetheless, because this weather will dictate my living habits for the next six months. ("six months?" you say, yes, that is how long summer lasts in Arizona)

When I lived back in Minnesota, I remember seeing those weather maps, from time to time, with the continental U.S. where different colors spreading across the country signified different temperatures. No matter the season, Minnesota usually had aqua blues and neon greens for the cooler temperatures. I always noted that Phoenix, Arizona usually had the "hottest" colors that the scale went to - bright reds and purples. Never did I think I would have to LIVE in those colors. Oh, and so you know, a color hasn't even been invented yet for the temperature inside your car after it's been sitting in the middle of a parking lot all day.

Yesterday it went up to 94 degrees. It's April. Do you know what that means? By May, we'll be in the 100's. And then, of course, there is the 120 heat. If you have not lived in 120 degree heat, let me describe a simple day of running errands for you:


When you wake up, the temperature in your house is in the mid 80's (you try to save on electricity bills) and you're drenched in sweat. You turn the thermostat cooler, but your house is still too miserable for you to put clothes on. So you take a shower - you have the water turned to what would have been frigid in the winter, but now it's refreshing. When you turn the sink faucet on to brush your teeth, the "cold" water scalds you and you have to wait a minute for the water to cool down...it's still very warm after 2 minutes of running the water, so you relent and brush your teeth anyway. You can never fully dry off after the shower because you keep sweating; your fresh clothes get hot and sticky before you finish your hair and makeup (which will melt off before you get to your first errand, so don't worry about perfect application).

Okay! You're ready to head out and be productive! You open your front door and step outside. Instantly, the air is sucked out of your lungs and evaporates within nanoseconds. It's a shock every time. The sweat that rushes to your skins surface evaporates as well and you feel like you're in some sick furnace (you were tricked! the outdoors looked so pretty from inside the house!). Once you get your bearings and catch your breath, your first instinct is to RUN to your car for shelter. But, you rationalize, the last thing you should do in this oppressive heat is expend more energy. Either way, all you can manage is a slow, hulking walk; try to keep your thighs from rubbing together and your arms from brushing at your sides - no sense in making more heat with the friction.

You finally lumber up to your car. Wait - you didn't plan on how to OPEN the door! That is shiny metal that has been sitting out in the sun for hours! Suck it up, grab the handle and yank the door open. Oh, if that first step out of your house was bad, it is nothing to the heat your car exhales. It's like a monster out of the pits of hell, breathing its foul stench onto you. You whimper as you get in and struggle with grasping the melting seat belt buckle (you debate on how important safety really is). You try to steer with only three or four finger tips because the steering wheel seems to be on fire. And though you have the AC cranked all the way up, you aren't able to start breathing again until you pull into a parking space at your destination.

Of course, you face the same struggle and debate as you get out of the car - do you run or crawl to the store entrance? Once you finally cross the threshold - oh sweet cold air! You think it's the most glorious feeling and you consider how much extra time you can spare in this Wal-Mart. But don't think you get off this easy - the sudden, drastic change in temperature gives you a stabbing headache; your dear refuge comes with a price. Though you enjoy the refreshing temperatures of the store and want to take your sweet time, you know that with every second ticking away, your car is getting hotter and hotter in the parking lot. You can't believe yourslef, but you're actually rushing to get back to your car!

But it's no use, the same firey monster awaits you in the parking lot. You debate how productive you really want to be this day. And can you do any of these tasks after dark? It's a little bit cooler then...

So. That is why I DREAD summers here. The (fleeting) winters always seduce me, but then I'm brought back to the hellish summers. All I ask for is pity; after all, I am not one to suffer in silence. ;)

Um, I hope I haven't scared off any visitors!

Back!

I haven't written here for a while. I don't know why. I always have ideas or experiences where I think during or afterwards, "ooh, I need to blog about this!" But I just can't seem to get the words out when I go to type them (if I go at all). But I really want to get back in to the blogging habit; it was nice to document my "thought-release".

Let's see, just a real quick rundown of some February/March/April highlights:
*sorry, no pictures*

Feb - I turned 23.
- Bon surprised me with a romantic dinner at The Melting Pot (the yummiest fondue place!)
- my mom and aunt flew out here for a long weekend

March - Bon turned 26.
-I took Bon (and his immediate family) to Benihana
-we spent an AWESOME weekend at Disneyland!

April - had our friends, the Collinwoods, stay with us from Utah


I'm determined to be better at this! Now that I'm "mini" caught up, I plan on staying that way! Please continue to check back in!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who called, emailed, texted, or in some way contacted me to wish me a happy birthday. I had a very lovely day indeed and thoroughly enjoyed my DiGiorno pizza!

Stains and I have much in common.

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