COMIC CON PLUS

July 24, 2010  Happy Pioneer Day.

Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
It had the one long horn, one big eye
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple eater to me
It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)
                                Alvin & the Chipmunks


I bought tickets for one day admission to Comic Con back in Dec 09. Today was the day so we woke up and ate breakfast and drove to the San Diego Convention Center. We parked about a mile away (advance parking was sold out) and walked to the center. The line to get in was short so our expectations were about to be dashed. We wondered around in the exhibit hall & then decided to try & see The Green Laturn, Sucker Punch and Harry Potter. We got in line behind the center and wondered about getting in. After being in line for an hour they announced the event was full. The hall held 6500 people but there were probably thousands in front of us. Why didn't they cap the line? Sucker Punch.

Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman.

All the world's waiting for you,
and the power you possess.
In your satin tights,
Fighting for your rights
And the old Red, White and Blue.
Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman.
Now the world is ready for you,
and the wonders you can do
                   Norman Gimbel/Charles Fox

Now we knew. There were a couple of programs we wanted to see so we got in line for the one before the one we really wanted to see. You could stay in the room & move up if other people left. We sat in on "The World that is God of War" back with Ghost of Sparta. It is a video game. I no long play video games. I wasn't much of a gamer in the past. It was interesting but it lead to...

"Teching Out on TV" with Pauley Perrette (NCIS), Barrett Foa (NCIS LA) & Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds). Now that was a great program and each person had a sense of humor during the discussion. B really wanted to see this one and it didn't disappoint. We grabbed a quick lunch and then headed for the next program.



"Comics After Paper" about cartoonist working on computers, e-readers, mobile phones & touchscreens. Very interesting and I knew about Robert Berry and Ulysses Seen. Since Ulysses is my all time favorite novels I knew about the attempt to bring it to Apple ipad and the problems. You can check it out here http://ulyssesseen.com/. All of the comics were funny and engaging, especially Dylan Meconis http://www.dylanmeconis.com/.

Then we saw "Dark Shadows: the Classic Series, the Comic Book, and the Upcoming Film. It ran from 1966-1971 and is still very popular. Two of the actresses were there Lara Parker and Kathryn Leigh Scott and they had a video from Jonathan Frid. A great program with personal stories. Great to see.  Look for a major motion picture of Dark Shadows featuring Johnny Depp & directed by Tim Burton if you believe the rumors.

We then wandered the exhibit hall. All during the day we saw great costumes and had a great time,  I especially liked the women with few clothes and thongs. There was actually a stabbing at one of the larger halls, but everyone seemed quite happy and enjoyed themselves. We left as the hall was closing scoring some free T-shirts at the end.

Our day was not over. B really wanted to see Kris Allen and he had a second concert open up at Anthology. Here is what Anthology is http://www.anthologysd.com/index.html. We have seen Jennifer Knapp and Jamie Cullum there. It is a very intimate concert venue with food. Two times we have been on the floor level less than 10 yards from the stage.

Sometimes we fall down, can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough?
'Til it's to late, it's not too late
Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you, what would you wish you would've done?
Yeah, we gotta start lookin' at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin'
If every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying
                          Kris Allen

We walked back to the car, stopping at the Westin to have Cokes and relax. We were seated at the club and I had seafood linguini and B had ceasar salad and fish tacos. There was an opening band Grass Heat which featured his bass player Chris Torres. Then Kris came on and put on a good show. I don't care much for American Idols, but B has dragged me to more than I care to admit. There was a funny part see video.

http://www.twitvid.com/RAJBB

All in all a great day and looking forward to COMIC CON 2011. Very tired though.

Dinner & Jamie Cullum

Sunday 7/18/10

It's just another story caught up
In another photograph I found.
And it seems like another person lived that life
A great many years ago from now
                                                   Jamie Cullum


Today was dinner & a concert.  We went to the newly remodeled Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island.  The weather was great and we had an excellent table.  We ordered Spring Rolls for an appetizer B ordered Chicken of the Gods & I had Duck Breast.  It was very good.

We walked down to Humphrey's by the Bay.  The venue seats 2,000, so it is very intimate.  A beautiful setting in San Diego.

Jamie Cullum (born 20 August 1979) is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums.

This is the 4th time we have seen Jamie Cullum.  He performs with a lot of energy and really pounds the keys, after all the piano is a percussion instrument.


Dinner at eight, that sounds fine,
I suppose that means you'll turn up 'round nine.
Bought a bunch of flowers, just for her,
She says the burden's on the receiver.
I opened the door and you walked in,
(Sniff) The scent of wild jasmine.
The room, seemed to freeze in time,
My regular table will be just fine.
Radiant and elegant, you might be
But your concentration is so go-lightly
Both of your eyes reflecting the moon,
You really think you own the room.
So What Game Shall We Play Today?
How About The One Where You Don't Get Your Way?
But Even If You Do,
That's Okay.
                 Jamie Cullum

He is also married to Sophie Dahl, who has a new cookbook out.  Check it out.

Check him out at:  http://www.jamiecullum.com/:

View from our table.

After years of expensive education
A car full of books and anticipation
I'm an expert on Shakespeare and that's a hell of a lot
But the world don't need scholars as much as I thought
Maybe I'll go traveling for a year
Finding myself, or start a career
Could work the poor, though I'm hungry for fame
We all seem so different but we're just the same
Maybe I'll go to the gym, so I don't get fat
Aren't things more easy, with a tight six pack
Who knows the answers, who do you trust
I can't even separate love from lust
Maybe I'll move back home and pay off my loans
Working nine to five, answering phones
But don't make me live for Friday nights
Drinking eight pints and getting in fights
Maybe I'll just fall in love
That could solve it all
Philosophers say that that's enough
                               Jamie Cullum

Saturday 7/17/10

Out & about on Saturday.  Shopping @ Nordy's anniversary sale etc..  Ate lunch at El Indio Mexican Restaurant.  Established in 1940.  Excellent Mexican food on India Street towards Old Town. 

In Pete We Trust

July 15, 2010

Look, if you had one shot, and one opportunity

To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
Yo
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin, how, everybody's jokin now
The clock's run out, time's up, over, blau!
Snap back to reality, Oh, there goes gravity
Oh, there goes rabbit, he choked
He's so mad, but he won't give up that
easy, No
He won't have it , he knows his whole back's to these ropes
It don't matter, he's dope
He knows that, but he's broke
He's so stagnant he knows
When he goes back to this mobile home, that's when it's
Back to the lab again yo
This ol' rap shit
He better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime...yo
                                         Eminem

And the Trojans take the field at the Los Angeles Coliseum. 
 
As a member of the Trojan family the words in the title had special meaning.  Pete Carroll was coach of the USC football team for 9 years.  His list of accomplishments are as follows and we trusted him:

Two BCS Championship Game appearances (win over Oklahoma, and a loss to Texas)

Two national championships, including the Associated Press 2003 national championship and 2004 national championship.
Seven consecutive Associated Press Top-4 finishes
A record six BCS bowl victories
A record seven consecutive BCS bowl appearances
A record seven consecutive years as Pac-10 Champions or Co-Champions
A national-record 33 consecutive weeks as the Associated Press's No. 1-ranked team
A winning record of 97–19 (85.6%)
A winning record of 16–2 against traditional rivals Notre Dame and UCLA
A NCAA record of 63 straight 20-point games
Twenty-five 1st team All-American
53 players selected in the NFL Draft, including 14 in the first round.[47]
Three Heisman Trophy winners (Carson Palmer, 2002; Matt Leinart, 2004; Reggie Bush, 2005)
Four Top-5 recruiting classes
Win streaks for home games (34) and Pac-10 home games (22).
In 2007, USC became the first NCAA FBS team to achieve six consecutive 11-win seasons[48]
In 2008, USC added an unprecedented seventh consecutive 11-win season
A 28–1 record in the month of November
Only team in history to win three consecutive Rose Bowl Games
In July 2007, ESPN.com named USC its #1 team of the decade for the period between 1996 and 2006, primarily citing the Trojans' renaissance and dominance under Carroll.[49][50] In 2007, his effect on the college football landscape was named one of the biggest developments over the past decade in ESPN the Magazine.[51] In May 2008, Carroll was named the coach who did the most to define the first 10 years of the BCS Era.[52]

It was a fantastic time at USC and the LA Coliseum.  Pete has moved on to anotrher coaching opportunity, another challenge. 

He was in San Diego as part of his book tour and I went and saw him.  He was at the San Diego Hall of Champions.  Win Forever means be the best you can be at all times.  He is quite an engaging speaker and very charismatic.

Buy a book, save a life! Every $ I make on "Win Forever" goes straight to @ABetterLA.  from Twitter Pete Carroll.

Who We Are:  A BETTER LA, founded by football head coach Pete Carroll, is a 501(c)(3) that unites local leaders from the private, non-profit, social service, faith-based, education and law enforcement sectors. We are committed to supporting Los Angeles communities in their goal to reduce violence by empowering change from within.

By mobilizing the knowledge and skills from within a community to inspire its individuals to dream, work and play without fear, we believe it is possible to build a better Los Angeles, one community at a time.

“We are here to make a better Los Angeles one neighborhood at a time. Are you IN?” - Pete Carroll, Founder, A BETTER LA

It was a cool evening enjoyed by all.  Folllow Pete Carroll on Twitter.

SOTD- Song of the day
#SOTD! any way you want it by journey from Twitter Pete Carroll

Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it
She loves to laugh
She loves to sing
She does everything
She loves to move
She loves to groove
She loves the lovin' things
Oh, all night, all night
Oh, every night
So hold tight, hold tight
Oh, baby, hold tight
Oh, she said
Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it
                      Journey

Vive La France

July 14, 2010

Relatives on my mom's side were English, but they were Norman not Anglo Saxon.  Sheriff John not Robin Hood.  I enjoyed my visits to France and I'm totally a francophile. Even though a frenchman did not win the stage at Le Tour de France we celebrated.

Bernardo's restaurant in our local hometown serves great French cusine from a real Frenchman.  He is a runner & a triathelethe and I have passed him on the trails.  They had a special menu - 3 course dinner.  B & I started with the French Onion Soup Gratinee.  It was excellent.  The bread was a bagette that was crunchy on the outside & soft on the inside. 

For the entree B went with the Beef Bourguignon with fettucine, aged parmesan cheese.  I opted for the New Zealand rack of lamb, potato-fennel gratin, ratatouille, oven crust, demi Glaze.  I also had the wine pairing.  French Chardonnay with soup, Bourdeaux with entree, & Sauternes with dessert.  For dessert we both chose the fresh vanilla bean creme brulee, fresh peach coulis, fresh berries. 

I would have taken a picture, but was too busy eating.  It was a great evening.  Happy Bastille Day.  Vive la France.

MOPA

July 10, 2010

Kodachrome

They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away
                                          Paul Simon

We went down to Balboa Park to check out the new exhibit at The Museum of Photographic Arts.  It was a beautiful afternoon when the sun finally came out.  The exhibit was interesting and engaging.  The photo of John Lennon & Yoko Ono taken by Annie Leibovitz on the day he was murdered was just one of the photos on display.

Taking Aim


Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash

June 12 - September 26, 2010

EXPERIENCE THE REVOLUTION THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF CULTURAL HISTORY

Taking Aim spans more than fifty years of music-making as seen through the eyes of 40 legendary photographers including Lynn Goldsmith, Annie Leibovitz, Henry Diltz, Jim Marshall, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Francesco Scavullo, Graham Nash himself, and others. The selection of photographs presented in the exhibition expresses Graham’s view on the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll music, and depicts stunning images ranging from live stage performances by Jimi Hendrix, Iggy Pop, Elvis, The Beatles, and Kurt Cobain, to intimate, behind-the-scenes moments of Johnny Cash and June Carter, Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Janis Joplin and others.

PAUL SMITH

They seek him here
they seek him there
in Regent Street and Leicester Square.
Ev'rywhere the carnabytion army marches on
each one a dedicated follower of fashion.
                          The Kinks

Paul Smith, a British fashion designer, classic with a twist.  Author of You Can Find Inspiration in Everything* and if you can't, look again.  I have purchased accessories and sunglasses but never a shirt until this week. The feel of the shirt is soft 100% cotton and the stitching is impecable. The color intriguing. Can't wait to wear it.

www.paulsmith.co.uk/us/

Avenue Q AKA Schadenfreude

B got tickets to see a play at the San Diego Civic Theatre.  Avenue Q.  I was just along for the ride.

RATING: NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN DUE TO LANGUAGE AND ADULT CONTENT SUCH AS FULL PUPPET NUDITY AND SEXUAL SITUATIONS. PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED.




Whoa this was what I saw when we got there.  We had great seats and the play started.  Seseme Street with an adult twist.  Three actors (no Puppets) & 4 more using 9 Puppets.  They incorporated Gary Coleman in the play.  Kinda sad in light of what just happened but the theme that life isn't as easy as we are lead to believe prevailed. 
 
Songs included "What do you do with a B.A. in English", It Sucks to be Me",  "Everyone's as Little Bit Racist", "The Internet is for Porn", "You can be as Loud as Hell you Want (When you're making Love), & "Schadenfreude".  As my niece said it was  hilarious.  I was laughing quite a bit.  Even the sex scene with the puppets was outrageous.  I really enjoyed the play.  The actors with the puupets did an amazing job.  kudos to the entire cast.  B came through again.  Catch this if you can.  I know why it won 3 Tony Awards.  Funny, funny, funny.  Great entertainment.  
 
 
 

 

San Diego Padres

July 3, 2010

B & I got tickets through some special offer.  $10 off the tickets, a free hotdog & a free soft drink & a free cap.  Despite have only 2 stars on the team (Adrian Gonzalez & Heath Bell) the Padres are leading the NL in wins.  Their pitching is outstanding and leading the league.  The fact that only Gonzalez was the only Padre picked for the AllStar game shows that this season has been a group effort with a different player stepping up each day.  I have to admit I thought at the beginning of the season they were destined for last place.  The season is only half over so it will be interesting to see what happens.

I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don;t need this pressure on
                              Spandau Ballet

The economy is still effecting all areas including sports.  The Padres attendance is down this year compared to the past 2 years and this year they have a winning team.

Petco Park is a wonderful ballpark to watch a game and either before or after the Gaslamp District is right their for food & drink.

Okay today's game started at 5:35.  The sun was shining downtown so the cap came in handy right away.  The Padres were playing the Astros, whom they should beat.  The game was tight all the way with the Padres scoring one run in the bottom of the 8th and Heath Bell getting the save.  Padres win 1-Nil.  I have to be honest, it felt like a freaking World Cup soccer game, no scoring.  My guess is that now with steroid testing the hitters can't hit and the pitching is back on top.

 

San Diego County Fair

July 2, 2010

Nobody knows what human life is.
Why we come, why we go.
So why then do I know
I will see you,
I will see you in far off places?
                                Morrissey




B & I went to the San Diego County Fair on Friday afternoon.  The fair is located in Del Mar at the race track.  It is a wonderful location close to the ocean.  The fair like most fairs have animals, exhibits and fun zones.  In our younger days we spent more time in the fun zone.  Not anymore. 

Like most fairs there are concerts each night.  Friday night's concert was OneRepublic & Alpha Rev.  I listen to a wide range of music, but the only thing I knew about either band was 2 songs- Apologize and Stop & Stare.  Not much to go on.  Apologize was played to death even on UK radio.  Stop & Stare never did much for me so I was going along because B wanted to go. 

We had great GA seats and the Alpha Rev was a very good.  The band played a half hour set and even though I knew none of their songs I was feeling it.  After the change out OneRepublic took the stage.  There was a lot of energy and each member of the band (not drummer) played different instuments during the show.  It was really a good show that came with the fair admittance.

Afterwards - funnel cake.  What can I say?  Those of you that have eaten them at a fair know what I am talking about.

A spectacular afternoon & evening.