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.

http://www.occidentalhotels.com/resort/royal-hideaway-playacar

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.

April 2013 Texas

April 6, 2013 Saturday

Courtney and David are getting married in Mexico.  There are no direct flights from San Diego to Cancun. Most go through Texas so we thought we could spend a few days there before heading down to Cancun.

We decided to take a later flight so we didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn.  It put us in Dallas around 8:30 pm.  We got our rental car and drove to The Colony.  We stopped at Whataburger and ate dinner before we went to the Ingram's house.  
http://www.whataburger.com/

Luke was still up so we got to play with him awhile.  He was shy and not feeling well.

April 7, 2013 Sunday

We went for a little walk in the neighborhood.  Luke still not up to par.  Skype with Uncle Noah.  Jen fixed Chinese food for dinner.


Chicken dance after bath.

April 8, 2013 Monday

Play day at the park.

Walking back to the house we saw a grasshopper.  Of course we had to stop and investigate the "buggie"

For dinner we went to Mooyah Burgers and Fries.

http://www.mooyah.com/


April 9, 2013 Tuesday

I made made my trip to Dunkin Donuts.  There are none in California.  Jen took Luke to the doctors.  He has strep throat.  He got a shot in his leg.  We went to Rosa"s Cafe for lunch.  Here he Luke climbing up in the chair with Grandpa.

http://www.rosascafe.com

Of course he needs more Trojan gear.

April 10, 2013 Wednesday

Jen got her hair cut today.  We got to babysit but Luke slept the whole time.  His leg was really sore from his shot yesterday.  

Playing in the playroom.

 We got him that shirt at Disneyland last November.

 Like his Mom.  He loves books.

Had dinner at Dickey's BBQ.

http://www.dickeys.com/

Who put the M in Manchester? See 2/27/13

February 2013

February 3, 2013

Super Bowl

We went to Christine and Betsy's for the Big Game.  Betsy was really pulling for her 49ers.  Connie  and Russ were there too.  It's always great to be around family.  I have a dislike of Jim Harbaugh since his run in with Pete Carroll and "what's the deal", also the Lion's coach.  I think Stone Brewery named a beer after him- Arrogant Bastard.  If he was this wired as an athlete you would think he would have won some hardware. Captain Comeback always came up short.

The Spread:

Yummy.  Drove home full and tired.

Feb 9, 2013

Ponies at Santa Anita.

We celebrated Connie's $#@! birthday at Santa Anita.

http://www.santaanita.com/

Connie, Russ, Christine, Betsy, Bridget and myself got together to celebrate another year older.  There are no pictures because we forbidden from taking any subject to harsh punishment.  We all had a great time. There was no winner that day, but if someone now says they won big, don't believe them.

February 23. 2013

Baby Panda and Mom at the San Diego Zoo.

Xiao Liwu (or "little gift") Baby Wu

Bridget has watched the Panda cam since birth.

February 27, 2013

MORRISSEY

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job and then I found a job
And Heaven knows, I'm miserable now

In my life, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?

Two lovers entwined pass me by
And Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job and then I found a job
And Heaven knows, I'm miserable now

                                           Morrissey

Morrissey is coming back to San Diego, this time a smaller venue at the Balboa Theatre.  We just saw him in May 2013 so Bridget didn't want to go.  I bought one ticket then waited to see if the concert would ever happen.

He started off back east and did about 9 concerts and then had to postpone the next 19.

Upon his return to the States, the singer himself was then hit with Barrett’s esophagus and a bleeding ulcer forcing a number of shows to be cancelled.

Read more: http://www.live4ever.uk.com/2013/03/morrissey-cautioned-to-retire-from-music-after-illness/#ixzz2bELaFNNP

He was able to do 6 more, one of which was San Diego then,

Sweetness, sweetness
I was only joking
When I said I'd like to
Smash every tooth in your head

Sweetness, sweetness
I was only joking
When I said by rights
You should be bludgeoned in your bed

And now I know how Joan of Arc felt
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt
As the flames rose to her Roman nose
And her Walkman started to melt

Bigmouth, Bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race

                       Morrissey

You would not think a vegan would get a bleeding ulcer or that sick.

His second comeback ended permanently not long after following a diagnosis of double pneumonia.

Balboa Theatre is a theater located in downtown San Diego, California. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Built in 1924, the Balboa Theatre was a grand 1920s movie palace with a seating capacity of 1,600. Wikipedia

 

SETLIST
01 “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”
02 “Everyday Is Like Sunday”
03 “How Soon Is Now?
04 “Irish Blood, English Heart”
05 “November Spawned A Monster”
06 “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
07 “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris”
08 “Speedway”
09 “Action Is My Middle Name”
10 “Alma Matters”
11 “You’re The One For Me, Fatty”
12 “You Have Killed Me”
13 “Still Ill”
14 “To Give (The Reason I Live)”
15 “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I want”
16 “Meat Is Murder”
17 “Let Me Kiss You”
18 “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side”

The first song was tongue in cheek.  He was suppose to be on Jimmy Kimmel but the other guest were the cast from Duck Dynasty.  Since they are hunters and he is pro animal he refused to go on.   In the clip, Kimmel also says he chose to keep "Duck Dynasty" on the show because "they have guns and Morrissey doesn't." He also said Moz "keeps finding ways to depress us."

His performance was great.  I still enjoyed hearing all the songs.  It was a sold out show and everyone seemed to go home happy just to see and hear him one more time.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06yhyX20ywM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn2CzE4-xS4

Is it wrong to want to live on your own?
No, it's not wrong - but I must know
How can someone so young
Sing words so sad?
Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
Boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear
And don't go home tonight
Come out and find the one that you love and who loves you
Is it wrong not to always be glad?
No, it's not wrong - but I must add
How can someone so young
Sing words so sad?
Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow

                         Morrissey

His South American Tour cancelled in summer 2013 as well.  Might have been lucky to see him one last time.

Morrissey returned to Los Angeles after falling ill with food poisoning on the eve of the South American trek. A Chilean concert promoter originally announced Morrissey had postponed the entire tour, but then, days later, informed fans that the ex-Smiths singer was planning to rescheduling his concerts in Chile for early August, although two shows in Peru wouldn’t be made up.

A week later, the Chilean dates make-up dates still had not been announced, but now are scuttled altogether, along with shows in Brazil and Argentina that hadn’t been canceled.

Morrissey was to have resumed touring this month for the first time since his trouble-plagued North American trek in late 2012 and earlier this year that, after multiple postponements, finally was canceled altogether in mid-March. The singer’s publicists blamed the cancellations on “a series of medical mishaps over the past few months including a bleeding ulcer, Barrett’s esophagus and double pneumonia.”

January 2013

January 1, 2013 Tuesday

We close our eyes and the world has turned around again 
We close our eyes and dream and another year has come and gone 
We close our eyes and the world has turned around again 
We close our eyes and dream ... 
                           Oingo Boingo  (DE)


And so we're told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage
Though I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes
On New Year's Day
                     U2

Goodbye 2012.  Not a good year for us!

January 13, 2013

Keane last played in San Diego in September 2005.  They were touring in support of their first album Hopes and Fears.  Now over 7 years later they are returning.  We went up to Los Angeles last June to see them because they never came down. Got tickets for the show early at the House of Blues.  The concert sold out and was packed.

First up was Youngblood Hawke, a band based in Los Angeles.

http://www.youngbloodhawke.com/#!All

We come running
We come running
We come running
We come running

Under a pale blue sky
You never felt so cold
Another sleepless night
How could you ever let go
How do you recognize
The dirty face of gold
Behind that crooked line
Where you never knew you'd go

Headed for the open door
Tell me what you're waiting for
Look across the great divide
Soon they're gunna hear
The sound, the sound, the sound
When we come running
Never go where we belong
Echoes in the dead of dawn
Soon they're gunna know
The sound, the sound, the sound
When we come running
                           Youngblood Hawke

They were good and liked that Alice got to play a drum.  Bridget thought the male lead singer, Sam Martin danced weird.  Just looked like a white boy dancing to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2FCTtDdhwY

Official video swimming with sharks.
http://vimeo.com/53678956




They were good and got some airplay on the radio and VH1 this spring

So when the sun is coming up and you go
And there's still so many things you don't know
Don't you look back, I've no doubt that I
Will see you on the road

When the world's laying you low
Why don't you let me carry your load?
When things get bad you know you have a friend
All along the road
All along the road
                  Keane

Keane is made up of singer Tom Chaplin, keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley, drummer Richard Hughes, and bassist Jesse Quin. Keane released Strangeland (Cherrytree/Interscope) in May and the album entered the U.K. charts at number one, marking their fifth consecutive number one album, a record only topped by The Beatles.

Keane's set list.  It was still the Strangeland tour so similar songs as June 2012.  Classics mixed with new songs.

You Are Young 
Bend and Break 
On the Road 
We Might as Well Be Strangers 
Nothing in My Way 
The Lovers Are Losing 
Silenced by the Night 
Everybody's Changing 
She Has No Time 
Neon River 
Spiralling 
A Bad Dream 
Hamburg Song 
My Shadow 
Disconnected 
Is It Any Wonder? 
This Is the Last Time 
Somewhere Only We Know 
Bedshaped 

Encore:
Sea Fog 
Sovereign Light Café 
Crystal Ball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZTg95Efiqo

Of all the things that you don't know
You've got time to realize you're shielded by the hands of love
Cause you are young
You've got time, you've got to try
To bring some good into this world
Cause you are young
Cause you are young
                     Keane


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoCRfr6A9Z8

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/jan/18/concert-keane-sing-alongs-house-blues/


It was a total songfest with the crowd singing along all night.  Everyone went home very happy and Keane promised to come back to San Diego because of the fantastic reception they received.  Phenomenal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vR-hFZ4Qzc

Listen to the crowd sing all through the song but take over the chorus at about the 2 minute mark.

Four days after we saw them we also watched this concert live.  If you are interested there is a link to watch the full concert from Austin great video and sound.

Keane to Perform “Stageside Live” Webcast Concert 1/17/13
STAGESIDE LIVE from Austin aims to bring global music fans access to some of the industry’s biggest stars and rising talent performing live from the world-famous Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX. Fans can watch STAGESIDE LIVE webcasts live.

It is 1 hour 49 minutes.  Sometimes I put it on at work and just listen to the music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImzuSU5kw1g


I, I always thought that I knew
I'd always have the right to
Be living in the kingdom of the good and true
And so on, but now I think I was wrong
And you were laughing along
And now I look a fool for thinking you were on, my side

Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder I don't know what's right?

Sometimes
It's hard to know where I stand
It's hard to know where I am
Well maybe it's a puzzle I don't understand
But sometimes
I get the feeling that I'm
Stranded in the wrong time
Where love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme, a sound bite
                                                 Keane