Lifeinthekeyofme

But “no shit”, I do in fact remember that the Bon Jovi concert is this Monday at HP Pavilion. Aside from the fact that I love Bon Jovi, I still vividly remember the surcharges and fees you stuck me with on each ticket. I actually added them up and I could have purchased a new cardigan at a plethora of fine retail establishments (if you consider Gap to be one). Side note: I don’t really wear cardigans but the word was more impactful than “sandals”.

I have officially been in my new place in the Upper West Side for a month, and since the first day I have been wanting to paint the walls of the apartment. Those who know me, are fully aware of my “sometimes” impulsive personality. This impulse usually lends itself to things like buying an expensive jar of olives with anchovies despite never actually trying them; but feeling guilty because the store clerk gave me a whole lesson on the process of sticking it in the olive.

So where is this impulse when I need it most? By now my walls should have been painted “artichoke” or “roasted squash”, but nope, not at all. I’m over analyzing and scrutinizing the idea of painting, I also suck at anything remotely creative (that includes manual labor) so this being a DIY job scares me as well.

Ugh, I need some olives

I was headed to the 1 train this morning, fully indulged in my daily routing of hitting “shuffle” and anticipating music to show up from days of ex-girlfriends passed -while secretly looking for some Miley Cyrus, followed by Wilco.  So back to the daily routine, in the middle of my walk I had “American Pie” hit my ears.  Crossing streets and avoiding 8 years old’s on the way to work, I got to the lyrics “the day the music died” ..queued up, I started “so bye, bye…Ms American..WHAT!?” My iPod went DEAD.

CREEPY or an OMEN or ???

Gulp

This is a jam, you know it. Just don’t tell anyone I said that

Even though I’m guilty of bashing U2 albums, I do enjoy seeing them live. I haven’t missed a concert since…uhmm, Zoo TV Tour? My memory is foggy, but I do remember seeing that tour. Live performances do a lot for me, which is one of the reasons I dislike Dave Matthews so much. Everyone says they’re so great live, but the ONE time I saw them, the sucked.

Back to U2, so I’m seeing them tonight and tomorrow at Giants Stadium. Tonight we have the crappy seats, and tomorrow we have the slightly crappier seats. Full reviews will go up later and of course I will be tweeting and status updating like an addict.

So I left work yesterday with the full intent of going home. Earlier in the day I had commented about how I was skipping a chance to see Depeche Mode because I just couldn’t rally. So I left work and then I realized….”hey, you might be missing Depeche Mode for the last time EVER”. Yes, I know I said that back during the Exciter Tour (was that 2005?), but I think this time it had more validation.

So I got off the Herald Square stop and walked to Madison Square Garden. I stood in line and lucked out when a girl asked if I needed a single ticket…(score!). She ended up being really nice and we chatted during intermission, etc and it was all around a good experience. Depeche Mode was…well, Depeche Mode. It reminded me so much of what made my youth so great. I left feeling like I really should not look negatively on my youth, I lucked out. When friends of mine couldn’t go see the Violator tour, I did (thanks Mom & Dad). The first time I drove to Phoenix by myself (from Tucson) was for the Devotional tour, yeah, got lost. I realize that Depeche Mode was so much of my teen years, first love, first fan club, first heartache. Thanks DM

It was a nice escape from reality.

Seriously, has it been 3 years since the last album? And almost 7 since this masterpiece? I remember taking my ex-gf to the Strokes show, that was the night she decided it would be “ok” to date me, I think she can blame the alcohol for that silly mistake

I’m gonna enjoy St.Patty’s Day by going to see Primal Scream in concert tonight @The Fillmore, I also plan to drink some tasty beer.  I still remember buying “Screamadelica” on cassette back in 1991, and I probably just dated myself even more so by saying that.

“I’m movin’ on up now, out of the darkness”

After spending 24 hours in Venice (we’ll be back on Saturday), we jumped on a train to Rome. I decided that the ride would be best spent with a nice “soundtrack’. The songs didn’t start out intentionally having a theme, but it kinda ended up that way.

I call this playlist “tripped and fell”, after the same titled song by Townie that made it on the list

(Celebration) Got It Right This Time
Keith Urban

Motorcycle Emptiness
Manic Street Preachers

C’Mon People (We’re Making It Now)
Richard Ashcroft

Movin’ On Up
Primal Scream

Tripped and Fell
Townie

Desolation Row
Bob Dylan

Mrs Potter’s Lullaby
Counting Crows

Then I went on shuffle while dozing in and out, so not an exact order:

Win, Lose or Draw
Allman Brothers

Helplessly In Love
Debbie Gibson
*yes, I have her on my ipod, she was a teen idol when I was a teen!

Sky Blue
Peter Gabriel

Long Walk Home
Bruce Springsteen

El Novio Del Olvidio
Andres Calamaro

I woke up today and saw that it was Wednesday, and immediately thought “@$R#@$#, I need to move my car, I parked it on a street that has cleaning today”. After getting up and moving my car in pajamas, I came back to further realization of things  I must do before I leave. So I’m sitting here, with the backpack empty and surrounded by visual reminders that I am no longer an eBay employee (last pay stub, info on how to file for unemployment, etc).

I am hoping that Italy is theraputic for me, in the way that it was for Diane Lane in “Under The Tuscan Sun”, just kidding…I never would watch that crap The weather isn’t going to be the highlight of the trip, as we arrive to basically San Francisco weather (high 50′s, raining on/off).

Rats, 72 hours to Italy…, my to do list:

• File for unemployment
• deposit last pay check
• decided whether to buy a raincoat or just wing it with what’s in my closet
• buy snacks
• unload the boxes of my eBay crap from the car
• make some KILLER playlists for my ipod
• set Tivo to record the HBO special “You’re welcome America, a final night with George Bush”
• eat some oranges

Yup, that looks doable. Now there are 71 hours left