Redding Royalty: George Lopez style
2010 -
08.09
I experienced what it’s like to be Redding royalty, or what I imagine was about as close as you could get.
The setting?
Redding Convention Center, more like a basketball gym without the baskets.
The characters?
Lots of women with permed mullets.
Lots of Mexican couples.
This is where I come in:
Look down to the second row, front and center and you’ll see me eagerly awaiting a George Lopez concert. He’s a Mexican-American comedian of more than 30 years. His career stemmed from growing up poor and working comedy clubs, taking off now to cross-country tours, a sitcom and a syndicated stand-up TV show.
This wouldn’t be something I would normally pursue on my own. A comedy show? I had never really listened to George much and had only been to see Patton Oswalt’s standup routine once in San Francisco a few years back.
I went in with little expectations and didn’t feel let down. I had a great time with constant belly laughs and was gasping for air. It’s something I hope to do more often.
The one responsible for my Redding royalty hookup? Clyde.
His dad (also named Clyde!) owns a security company that monitors all of George’s concerts. Clyde has been working for George for four years. He invited Sara, Briana (the birthday girl!), Dave and I to complimentary seats for George’s first ever show in Redding.
It was nice to see Clyde all dressed up in a suit, tie and an ear piece. He looked so professional and important.
(Apparently the ensemble has gotten him mistaken for the Secret Service in the past! Haha.) Part of his job was to make sure people weren’t taking photos or video of the show. So sadly, my paparazzi habit was stifled for the night.
The opening act as a guy called Bryan Kellen. He was hilarious. Maybe even funnier than George. I would love to see him again. George was funny, but he seemed kind of bored with the audience. The last 20 minutes of the show seemed to drag on in a sloppy way.
I got a pink tank that says, “La Mas Chingona.” It roughly translates to “the toughest female” or “the top dog.” I think I can rock it despite being a white girl who speaks a very primitive version of Spanish.
Our night of VIP treatment ended at the Red Lion Hotel in Redding. The dance club was fantastic. A couple in chacos and khaki shorts were shaking it to Beyonce. An older red headed woman in a blue wrap dress owned the dance floor. Some of us were summoned when a woman sang a cover of Lady Gaga. We line danced to Lady GG. It was fantastic. Well done night and excellent adventure.
I was able so squeeze in some family time with my sister’s clan, too. Lost to an epic game of Sorry and won an even more epic game of Memory Match.
The only downer? I got my first speeding ticket ever on the way home. Got a little carried away on the curvy road listening to Spice Girls with Sara. The cop was super nice despite it all, probably the best run-in I have ever had in the whole three times I have ever been pulled over. Yeah, it sucks he gave me a ticket, but he was very fair in letting me off on a lesser speeding charge. I was shaking a bit. He said, “I’m not going to hurt you!” We laughed. Only Sara would say “Thank you so much. Have a nice day!” after the cop handed me the ticket.
We giggled about that all the way home.
Battle of the Sexes
2010 -
07.28
“Nobody will ever win the Battle of the Sexes. There’s just too much fraternizing with the enemy.” ~Henry Kissinger
Six hours and 22 bug bites later…success!
2010 -
07.26
Thanks to Dominic and Jeanne for filming the awesome video. Music cred: Empire of the Sun “Standing on the Shore.”
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After leaving Willow Creek by inflatable mattress around 2 p.m., eight brave souls made it to Hoopa.
We floated down the Trinity River for about 11 miles. Warm water. Tree speckled hills. Nudists. We saw it all. Our group thought we would be floating down white water rapids and calm streams for a mere two hours or so. When the sun started going down, we realized we were wrong.
I’m beginning to think we may have made better time if we had walked. But, that wasn’t the point. The plan was to tube and enjoy the scenery and scorching weather. Deep breathes in, deep breathes out. Silly stresses and worries melted away.
Dominic and I missed the boat (pun intended!) on buying tubes. Apparently Humboldt County stops stocking them EVERYWHERE after July. So, we decided to get air mattresses. Why not?
Well floating was fun, until we got to the rapids. The mattresses had a way of getting sucked in and flipped. I think I flipped at least four times. The possible fifth time was avoided by walking along a shore.
It started to get dark. The sun was going down and shadows covered the warm river waters. I was worried. I tend to be sort of a cautious adventuress despite the many adventures I attempt. Being out of my element and not being able to stop or say no really scares me sometimes. I like to be in control. I was not in control. I depended on the river and the strength and knowledge of others to pull through.
I slapped ’squitos off my arms waiting in the parking lot. I loaded my mattress and hopped in the car. Coldplay sung sweetly to me on the ride home as I looked up at the full moon. It was a beautiful day and night.
Yard Sale
2010 -
07.26
This past weekend, I was part of my first last yard sale.
Dominic was kind enough to lend his downtown residence for a one day extravaganza of haggling.
The good news: My big sis, Lori, and I netted 120 bucks! Bad news: All six of us sellers suffered sunburns. We had a lot of extra items to haul away, too. Dozens of people and two thrift stores later, no one wanted an old leather ottoman? Humph.
“We could have been spending that money we made if we weren’t at the yard sale,” Lori reminded me.
So optimistic, Lori was right. I did save money by participating in this yard sale. It’s profits paid for a great girl’s weekend of dinners out. It was just so time consuming to get rid of my “precious” junk. I really can’t see myself going through all the trouble again. Boxing and labeling. Lifting. Organizing. Waiting. Every time a woman picked up a pair of my shoes, I strolled down memory lane (out loud).
“Those pink jelly shoes? I was 13. They were a ‘get well soon’ gift. I broke my nose playing softball.” Or the beautiful woman with dred locks wrapped around her head who picked up my clothing. “That pink shawl? It looks great over dresses.”
I even managed to snag more junk to replace the junk I got rid of. A VHS copy of Pulp Fiction, a how-to crochet set and an espresso maker. Consider me wrapped in a scarf, drinking an Americano and watching Pulp Fiction? Great combo!
Photo credit: Jeanne Selden. Thanks, girl!
Typewriter
2010 -
07.21
Musty smell. Keys that stick. Heavy as hell. I love it. I bought my new (old?) typewriter at a thrift store a couple weeks ago for 20 bucks. Briana looked it up on the internets. Turns out it’s the same traveling model used in the ’40s by folks in the Army. It’s in great condition – just needed a little elbow grease.
It’s awesome in all it’s glory, but you probably won’t see me lugging it around town anytime soon. I can only imagine the dirty looks I would get in a coffee shop pounding away on the keyboard. It’s so loud, but it makes writing more passionate and aggressive. I’ve already been getting back into writing some poetry.
I’m hoping to find someone locally that has a love for the old things. I want to take care of it. I wonder who owned it before me? Did they write an epic novel? The loveliest of love letters? Or did it just sit in it’s box, a status symbol? I have it displayed prominently in my home for visitors to play with or for my own moments of inspiration.
Outside Lands Music Fest Sampler
2010 -
07.18
I spent a ridiculous amount of time making this playlist. Then uploading it. Sounds easy enough, but not the case. Outside Lands is a music festival happening at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco next month. I’ve been to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass there before, but this will be my first Outside Lands. I compiled a short playlist of the bands I’m going to see and new ones I’m trying out. Hence, “sampler.” I hope this will convince even just one person to go. Or at least you will have a more “hip” addition to your iTunes. I’m pretty sure this link is only good for like a week so DOWNLOAD now. Click “regular download” and then scroll down to the bottom of the following page to find the download link. Pretty easy. I’ve got some Beats Antique, The Temper Trap, The Devil Makes Three, Pretty Lights and more! Don’t forget my man, Al Green <3
“Fader” The Temper Trap
“Walking On A Dream” Empire of the Sun
“Rome” Phoenix
“Roustabout (Bassnectar Remix)” Beats Antique
“Velvet Snow” Kings Of Leon
“All Hail” The Devil Makes Three
“When My Time Comes” Dawes
“Here I Am (Come and Take Me” Al Green
“I Can See It In Your Face” Pretty Lights
“Erase” Beats Antique
“Breakneck Speed” Tokyo Police Club
“Start Wearing Purple” Gogol Bordello
“Wordless Chorus” My Morning Jacket
“Woman” Wolfmother
“12:51″ The Strokes
“Janglia” Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
“Colors” Amos Lee
Zombies in Sacramento
2010 -
07.15
Um, 99 degrees? Full face makeup? No thanks.
That’s the only reason why I didn’t become a zombie last weekend. (I also avoided being bitten, a top rule of surviving zombie attacks)
Hundreds of people mobbed the streets of Midtown Sacramento on July 10 dressed like zombies. Bride zombies, soldier zombies and even Beetlejuice! It was the Second Saturday of the month, an art walk/fair kind of thing. The zombies paraded in full force in honor of a film festival happening that night. I was just in town for the weekend, visiting my friend, Karen. We were totally going to dress up, too, until we realized how HOT it was. It worked out though. We danced with them as they passed by and took some great photos and video. Check it!
Big Bar: My second home
2010 -
07.07
Great outdoors, home-cooked meals and a nice warm bed to sleep in. What else could you ask for?
Big Big has been a popular summer spot for me. It’s a small town in Trinity County, about an hour and 15 minute drive (depending how fast you go) east of Arcata. My friends Briana and Dave work and live there. I don’t know what I’m going to do if/when they leave. It’s my get away from my regular life. No cell reception. No reason to watch the clock. I’m away from everyone I know and can have time to think to myself.
Briana is a fabulous host. She always cooks fresh, wholesome meals. Many of the ingredients are from her garden. We never run out of things to talk about and always make our own fun. There is always a new movie on the table, waiting to be watched. The crowd of dogs on the property mob me as soon as I walk in. They make me realize how much I love being around dogs and their wagging tails.
And of course, we always break open a bottle of bubbly as I walk in the door. I add some strawberries, take a sip and a breathe of relief and relaxation. It’s like a celebration every time I visit.
I feel a certain calm when I am in Big Bar that I haven’t found in too many places. We do crafts, listen to NPR and watch movies (most recently, a documentary about a famous horticulturist named Pearl). The main house sits just above the Trinity River. I’ve been there in the rain, sun and snow of Big Bar. It is so beautiful to me. I sleep so well there, too. I’ll just be having a hard day at home or feeling restless and at a moment’s notice, I hop in the car. I take the curvy, rural road along the river. I sing at the top of my lungs. It’s so freeing. I feel so lucky to have this place (and these people) in my life.
Humboldt Summer: The River
2010 -
06.26
There’s something about that sun-scorched feeling on my fair skin that just makes me feel alive inside. I go for a dip in the clear, cold water. I take a sip of a light beer and a bite of watermelon. No cell service. No concept of time. Silence. All you can hear is the current. It’s the most relaxing thing in the world. It’s what I look forward to every summer. The river. We are lucky in Humboldt County to have a handful nearby. I’ve been getting out at least once a week. I encourage everyone to get maps of their local areas from a visitor center. It never hurts to be a tourist in your own town. You never know what “staycation” adventures are awaiting.
