don't flush the tp?

A friend & I headed up from LA to catch George Jones live at the beautiful Paramount theater in downtown Oakland. We stayed in a nice old hotel, walking distance from the theater. Upon my inspection of the hotel room I notice the note on the toilet paper holder. Being a woman of bleeding age, I am accustomed to signs asking that 'feminine products' not be flushed. But a sign asking that the toilet paper not be flushed as well? So silly. Oh & I flushed everything it asked me not too. I think even if my ovaries hadn't been painting the town red, I'd have found a tampon to flush.


On with the show... I am a great big OLD country music fan. I fancy myself an amateur collector of seeing old country greats before they aren't on this earth anymore. I saw Johnny Cash & June Carter just before Mr. Cash got sick & stopped touring (1997). He gave me a harmonica at the end of Orange Blossom Special (as is his habit). My love for his music runs much longer then Walk the Line so don't start thinking I am bandwagon jumping. (Let me segue here & say I liked that movie more then I expected & while I am talking about Oscar winning movies - I thought Crash was a real stinker. Good try, subject matter & acting - HORRIBLY written). But, I was talking about country music... I've seen, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, Janis Martin, Hank Thompson, Rose Maddox, The Collins Kids & I am sure I am missing a few.

George Jones was one I needed to see - though he doesn't tour much out here on the west coast. Lucinda Williams opened up, but we were busy drinking (turns out we were drinking in the ladies lounge - who knew?) & missed most of her set. While we were tying one on, I mention that I had heard the George wasn't sounding so good lately. That he plays mostly covers of new country artists & I am thinking 'Great, George Jones covering Toby Keith (spit)'. Thankfully another fan tells me he has read recent reviews & how it really sounds good & I started getting excited about the show.

So Mr. Jones' back-up band (who were great by the way) kindly explained that George is there & will perform, but he has a real sore throat. That it'll be tough for him, but he'll do his best. Out comes George Fricking Jones & he opens with 'Why Baby Why'. It was genius! You could tell he was struggling with his voice but it really didn't sound bad at all. Actually it sounded great. I felt bad that he kept gesturing at his throat between songs - you could tell he was hurting. I was having a great time (snapping photos) & feeling so lucky 'Imagine how great he'd be if his throat wasn't hurting'. Then about midway throughout the show the whole right side tower of speakers decide to pop on & off for the remainder. I had no problem handling the throat issue, but the speaker issue seemed unforgivable. I was starting to flip out. I thought I was flipping out inwardly - but apparently not as my friend caught on & reassured me 'We will see him again - don't worry' which managed to calm me right down (well that & I complained to the stage manager who promptly blamed the George Jones supplied sound crew). So at just about the time I am calming down & starting to enjoy myself again, the poor woman seated in front of me, proceeds to shit herself. This was not gas - this was, well, shit. She rushes off with the lady sitting next to her & eventually the smell dissipates, the ladies return (smelling of cheap perfume, which I must say was nicer then the smell of poo), and we all enjoy the rest of the show (sans the crappy speaker situation). It took me the eight block or so walk back to the hotel to realize that I was so glad to have seen George Jones! And maybe next time he'll be feeling better and his speakers will work and no one will poo in their seat.

electric boogaloo

I know, I said that these marquees won't be the mainstay & they won't - unless they are irresistible as this one. Doesn't it remind you of those old cartoons? An angel on one shoulder & a devil on the other.

more with luke and those demons...

I showed my Mom this site & her first worry was that someone would see this (ha) & know who had taken the pictures/published the blog. I'm not worried. I am not planning on having the marquees be the meat of this meal.

view from my kitchen window...

Each Tuesday the church across the street from my house updates the marquee with the coming Sunday's sermon. I have been taking photos of the ones I find funny. Have also taken photos of some not so funny - for example 'Abortion: The Death of Children'. Thankfully most land closer to the funny side of the street. And I think I may have to pick up the old bible & read some of Luke. A lot or the marquees reference Luke. I particularly like this one - 'unrepentant sinners who hate' & specifically hate Luke apparently... Poor Luke.