Sunday, August 11, 2013

June 2013 Wellington and Branch


June 16, 2013

Bridget took care of things today and made reservations at the Wellington Steak and Martini Club.

http://www.thewellingtonsd.com/

Check out the website.  Some pictures and of course food and drink menus.  The service and food were excellent.  The Beef Wellington was outstanding.  All in all a great place to try again.






June 29,2013

Uncorked Wine Walk  Wine - Food - Music

Bridget saw this and thought it would be something to do.  I know you are not going to believe this but we did not buy the wine tasting tickets. Missed the boat on that one.  Did not see all the food that was there but definitely saw the wine.

Participating Temecula Valley Wineries and the wines that will be poured include –

Lorimar Winery: Estate Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Granache Sparkling Wine
Europa Village: Viognier, Grenache Rose, Syrah, En Vie Blanc
Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery: ’12 Viognier, ’10 Sangiovese
Keyways Winery: Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Mataro, Valley Cuvee Du Nord
Falkner Winery: 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Rosato-Rose; 2008 Amante-Super Tuscan; and 2008 Meritage-Bordeaux Blend
Monte De Oro Winery: 2007 Syrah, 2009 Zinfandel, 2012 Nostimo White Wine
Callaway Vineyard & Winery: 2010 Chardonnay WR, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon SS, 2011 Gewurztraminer SS and Belle Rose Sparkling
Vindemia Estate Winery:  2006 Commonwealth Bordeaux Blend
Miramonte Winery: Estate Syrah; Bin 380 (Rhone Blend); Chardonnay
Maurice Car’rie/Van Roekel: Maurice Carrie Sauvignon Blanc, Maurice Carrie Tempranillo, Van Roekel Grenache Rose
Thornton Winery:  Thornton Non-Vintage Brut Champagne, 2012 Chardonnay, and the 2010 Thorny’s Coat Red
Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyard: Almond Champagne, Decadencia, Roussanne, Double Dog

First up for entertainment was Brandon and Leah.


Yep Jenner.

So many reasons for you to be smiling
But you’re not about to see ‘em,
You’re not about to feel ‘em,
You’re not about to be ‘em
You don’t believe them
So many reasons for you to be angry
So many reasons, it’s not the way you planned it
But all you can do is see ‘em,
All you can do is feel ‘em,
All you can do is let them be
Life happens
While you making other plans
Life happens
While you tryna understand
You’re kicking it in the shade
And you’re thinking you got it made
Life is gonna happen to you anyway
Life happens, life happens

http://brandonandleah.com/

http://brandonandleah.com/video/  Life Happens is good.

Not as bad as I was thinking when we got there.

Next up Michelle Branch

I remember playing The Spirit Room in 2001-2002 and we saw her when she was one half of The Wreckers when they opened for Keith Urban.

I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing are starting to get old
It feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
                                           MB



It was an acoustic set and she played for awhile.  There were some young girls with wristbands that did not look over 21, they were singing along to all the songs.  So she still is reaching new audiences with her older songs.


Now, don’t just walk away
Pretending everything’s ok
And you don’t care about me
And I know there’s just no use
When all your lies become your truths and I don’t care... yeah, yeah, yeah

Could you look me in the eye
And tell me that you’re happy now, ohhh, ohhh
Would you tell it to my face or have I been erased,
Are you happy now?
Are you happy now?
                           MB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1vjRu3WUEE



Poor girl, she kept thinking that in a few days she would be turning 30.  Here we go again - Life Happens. Going back in the studio soon, hopefully she will come out with some new music.

Turn it inside out so I can see
The part of you that's drifting over me
And when I wake you're, you're never there
But when I sleep you're, you're everywhere
You're everywhere
Just tell me how I got this far
Just tell me why you're here and who you are
'Cause every time I look
You're never there
And every time I sleep
You're always there
'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone
           MB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc9k3-fwwYM&list=RD02d1vjRu3WUEE

Had a good time and it was free.  Next year maybe wine tasting.  $10.00 was all it was so we should have done it.  Now we know they set up several little areas around the mall for the tastings with wristbands.


I wanted to be like you
I wanted everything
So I tried to be like you
And I got swept away
I didn't know that it was so cold
And you needed someone
to show you the way
So I took your hand and we figured out
That when the time comes
I'd take you away
If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
was somebody who cares
                             MB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aViAxK3SKU&list=RD02d1vjRu3WUEE



Saturday, August 10, 2013

May 2013 Charli XCX, Marina and Brunch

May 10, 2013

You're the one that can make me stay
You're the only one who makes me feel this way
You're the one that's been stealing stars
Your golden arrow went through my eye
You're the one that can turn the Wage
You're the one that gave me light in another gage
Now I'm dancing in the tide
                               Charli XCX

Marina and the Diamonds are out on tour and they were coming to the House of Blues in San Diego.  They were also going to be at Nokia in LA.  While I was still thinking about it the San Diego show sold out and the venue in LA was changed to The Shrine.  I started looking on StubHub and 3 days before the concert the prices were dropping, so I scored 2 tickets in the seated balcony.

The opening act was Charli XCX,  a 20 year old British singer songwriter. She wore huge platform sneakers and danced around alot.



Charli XCX works laddered tights


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y4YtwelAVg

I got this feeling on the summer day when you were gone.
I crashed my car into the bridge. I watched, I let it burn.
I threw your sh*t into a bag and pushed it down the stairs.
I crashed my car into the bridge.

I don't care, I love it. I don't care
                                     Charli XCX

Yes she co wrote this song.

Singer-songwriter Charli XCX, who co-wrote this week's Number One single 'I Love It', says she doesn't regret giving the song away to Icona Pop. 

Charli XCX wrote the song with producer Patrik Berger during sessions for her own album, but the single has become a hit for Swedish duo Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX. 

Bridget had heard this song before (not me) and so did the crowd.  I love it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_5b5BLT1CM&feature=c4-overview&list=UUOvEMf00DnwdkpOCRWdc6uA


She was really good but now it was time for Marina.



Marina and the Diamonds

Marina Lambrini Diamandis was born in Wales to a Greek father and a Welsh mother.

The Lonely Hearts Club Tour  Setlist
Encore:


EVERY BOYFRIEND IS THE ONE, UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVEN
THE GOOD ARE NEVER EASY, THE EAYS NEVER GOOD
AND LOVE, IT NEVER HAPPENS LIKE YOU THINK IT REALLY SHOULD
DECEPTION AND PERFECTION ARE WONDERFUL TRAITS
ONE WILL BREED LOVE, THE OTHER HATE
YOU'LL FIND ME IN THE LONELY HEARTS
UNDER "I'M AFTER A BRAND NEW START"

AND I DONT BELONG TO ANYONE
THEY CALL ME:

HOMEWRECKER, HOMEWRECKER
HOMEWRECKER, HOMEWRECKER
                                         Marina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeO3hnlAJYo
Complete concert.

Taken from the balcony.  See the crowd below.
Drinking champagne, made by the angel
Who goes by the name of Glittering Gabriel
Drinking champagne made of an angel's
Tears and pain, but I feel celestial


Rule number one, is that you gotta have fun,
But baby when you're done, you gotta be the first to run
Rule number two, just don't get attached to, 
Somebody you could lose
So le-let me tell you
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger, a player
Singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger, a player
Singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do!
Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you.
Rule number three, wear your heart on your cheek
But never on your sleeve, unless you wanna taste defeat
Rule number four, gotta be looking pure
Kiss him goodbye at the door and leave him wanting more-more

This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger, a player
Singing I lo-lo-love you

How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger, a player
Singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do!
Marina



Don't do love, don't do friends
I'm only after success
Don't need a relationship
I'll never soften my grip

Don't want cash, don't want card
Want it fast, want it hard
Don't need money, don't need fame
I just want to make a change
I just wanna change

I know exactly what I want and who I want to be
I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine
I'm now becoming my own self-fulfilled prophecy
Oh, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh
                                  Marina



It was such a great show.  The songs were a good mix of her albums.  Also happy she is getting all the international attention for her songs and performances.  Really glad we went and especially glad we had seats.  It was super crowded on the floor. If you watch the concert you can see the crowd surge during the faster songs, also hear them singing along to all the songs.

Primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave

Primadonna girl,
Would you do anything for me?
Buy a big diamond ring for me?
Would you get down on your knees for me?
Pop that pretty question right now, baby
Beauty queen on a silver screen
Living life like I'm in a dream
I know I've got a big ego
I really don't know why it's such a big deal, though
                                                 Marina


May 19,2013


Photo




We went out to brunch to celebrate Mother's Day.  Always so crowded on Mother's Day so we celebrated it a week later.  Bridget got two Mother's Days this year.

Started off with a pitcher of Sangria.  Then wine country omelets.  Sat out in the patio.  Nice So Cal day.

http://www.cafemerlot.com/index.html




http://vimeo.com/25701513



Friday, August 9, 2013

Wedding in Mexico

April 11, 2013 Thursday

We said our goodbyes to the Ingram's and headed to the airport.  We were flying out of Love Field so we had a little commuter plane to Houston, then on to Cancun from Houston.  There were weather problems that day and flights were delayed.  Our flight said it would be on time so we weren't too worried.  Well we should have been.  Pretty soon our flight was cancelled.  We went back to the ticket counter as they tried to get us on any plane headed toward Cancun.

They finally got us on a flight but it was leaving Friday morning, not today.  They put us in a taxi and booked us in a hotel room at DFW Airport Hotel and Conference Center.  We saw a lot of the same people we were waiting with in the airport now at the hotel.  We let everyone know we would not be in Mexico that night.

We walked down to Whataburger for lunch and then just hung out in the room watching TV and reading.  I also looked on United Airlines for flight delays and requested a letter on the cause of delay.  Later email revealed mechanical problems not weather.  We got 2 tickets for future travel with United because I raised this issue.

Jen, Brian and Luke came down to visit and we walked down to Aspen Creek for dinner.

http://www.aspencreekrestaurant.com/

 Coloring before dinner.

Playing at the hotel.

Luke was very excited because he got to ride in an elevator, or as he called it l va tor.

April 12, 2013 Friday

We took the shuttle from the hotel to the airport and we were on our way to Cancun.  The hotel was about 45 minutes away from the airport and south of Cancun and the airport in the Playa Del Carmen area.


On the van ride to the hotel we met Bonnie and Jon.  Friends of Courtney and David.  

Here are pictures of our room.




 Looking out from our balcony.




Court's gifts for the guests!

We met up with the Courtney and David and most of the wedding guests.  We had lunch with David's dad, Ed and his wife Rita at the deck.

That night Courtney and David hosted a Cocktail Hour.  We had met some of their friends on our other trips to Texas, so it was nice to see and talk to them.

Courtney and David had already taken care of the dinner plans.  We ate at Spices with Noah, Courtney, David and his family.


April 13, 2013 Saturday  WEDDING

The wedding was planned for 5 pm so we got to lounge around in the morning and early afternoon.  Breakfast at the buffet.  Bridget went over to Court's room and helped (watched) with the preparation.






Then it was time.





Ed, David and Andrew- The Jacksons


 Noah was there!


Courtney was a beautiful bride.  As everyone knows it takes awhile to get the wedding pictures from the photographer so that might be a future post.  Until then it is a combination of photos from everyone.

After the ceremony and pictures.   We had a little reception then dinner and cake.  Everything was phenomenal.  







April 14, 2013 Sunday

Rest and relaxation.








We ate at Palazzo with Courtney, David, Noah, Johan and Vanessa. We sat outside and enjoyed the food and views.

April 15, 2013 Monday

Leaving early in the morning.  Room service for breakfast.  Bye Mexico!




Johan and Vanessa.  Good Friends.

News about the bombing at the Boston Marathon dominated the TVs at the airports.  Back in San Diego and back to reality.