Another Rockin' Weekend

I don't what the hold up is, but someone forgot to get Spring on the flight back to MN! I may just go out of my mind if I have to wear gloves for another week. Just a week and a half ago, Jay and I rode all weekend long and now.... well, you've seen the snow.

I've definitely enjoyed every lazy minute that drained me of energy and ambition this winter, but I'm ready to pull out of hibernation NOW. My lungs itch and yearn for some level of hysteria to test their stamina. Oh, adrenaline, how I miss my old friend. Sure, I didn't train for racing whatsoever this winter.... yeah, I'll be happy to just finish races in April..... oh, but I just want it to be here so bad that I'll take the humble crawl to the finish just to sweat outdoors again.

In the meantime, though, I've tried to indulge myself with life and excitement wherever possible. On Saturday, Jay and I kicked in into high gear early with hours and hours of errands and a brief trainer ride at the shop. Come nightfall, we gathered our weary selves and headed out to the Cabooze for some live music and good times. The lineup was great, opening the evening with Chooglin, a killer rock band with high energy and horn accents, almost giving you a giddy fun feeling of watching the Blues Brothers light up a room. At the edge of the stage set for 3 bands, they played every riff with fever and wild enthusiasm. I'd never heard them before, but it was just what I needed to know I'd definitely go again. Unfortunately, we only got to enjoy 3 or so songs before their set ended and Skybombers took the cramped stage.

Skybombers were a little more UK, but I missed a lot of their show when the rest of the crew started to arrive. Wheels, Karen, Crossmax, and Leslie were all out for fun that night, and we had a great time takin' in the show together. As the hours went by, the room filled with more and more rockers.

X was the headlining band, rocking their 31st Anniversary Tour. Punk, when punk meant Sex Pistols, Ramones, and the Clash. And they had all the energy you could imagine - Exene moved around the stage as the music flowed around us and our bodies resisted the urge to move in time with the beat. I personally enjoyed the simple grin permanently stamped on Billy Zoom's face as the played guitar on our side of the stage. Maybe it's the 3000 pages of Vampire stories I've read this month, but I was certain that, if vampires did exist...he was one. One that had consumed an entire bottle of Prozac before the show, grinning contently as he played every riff, moving lithely in our eyes.

We ended the night with after bar pizza and Guitar Hero at Crossmax's, before crawling into bed exhausted at 3:30 in the morning. It was a blast - thanks, Cross! You rule for gettin' us out there.

Upcoming on the music scene.... The Mood Swings are playing the Entry on Friday, April 12th - get yer a$$es out and see 'em. Sally & Ashley rock! And who else but ACE FREHLEY of KISS is coming to First Ave on Thursday, May 8th! So much music, so little time....and it's not even Rocktober!

Rockin' in the freezin World,
Kristy Kreme

Happy Birthday Jay!

Yesterday was my wonderful fiancee's birthday! Unfortunately, I couldn't get the day off work to play hookie with him, but we found a way to make the evening an absolute riot.

Jay and I headed out to none other than Red Lobster for dinner. It just so happens that Jay's birthday falls in the middle of Lobsterfest every year, so he can fill his belly with shellfish and rivers of butter. The wait was insane, but luckily the rest of the group wasn't coming for 45 minutes, so they'd never know. Randy & Terri arrived to help us finish out the remaining 15 minutes of our hour wait with drinks and fun conversation. Quite fittingly, once the table was ready, the host escorted us to a C-shaped booth in the far reach of the restaurant. Chucker and Shannon arrived soon after, already amused by the energy in our booth.The neon buzz of excitement hovered around our table as we conversed a decibel or 5 too loud, laughing without reserve or refinement. We were freed from conventional family-restaurant dining as we fed off each other's jokes and stories. My face hurt from smiling, tears hid in the corners of our eyes as we laughed.We were like teenagers, adventurous and alive away from our confines of daily responsibilities. Whether or not we bothered the patrons nearby eluded us because, for those hours, we were the only ones there.

Celebrity guest trivia....Can you name the bands and the bass players hiding behind the napkins?
At nine, we finally glanced at the clock, realizing the need to rush off to the next adventure. We threw a couple pieces of plastic at an extroardinarily large tab, and tore out to our cars. Weaving in and out of traffic and short-cuts, we made our way to the Uptown Theater to catch the last showing of "In Bruges" for the night. It was Jay's and my second time seeing it, but it was still wonderful revisiting the town that means so much to us.

As the credits rolled, we redressed in our light layers and piled back into the car. It was just Jay, Terri, Randy, and I at the movie and maneuvering to yet another event. We made it to Lee's Liquor Lounge swiftly to see the Dolly's, a beautiful trio of women w/ a little taste of country in their voices as they sang oldies and folk songs alike. I don't know how, but I was still smiling and enjoying myself 19 hours into my day, with only 5 hours of sleep that had preceded it.

Reluctantly, as the night wore on, we slowly admitted to our desires of sleep. We drove home along the quiet streets, worn by the energy and life that filled our night. Exhausted, we curled up and drifted to sleep happily. Another night sharing our laughter with our friends had come to a close. The weightlessness of it all still lingers as I look back at pictures and hear the stories whispering between my ears. Spring is here, and life rejuvenated. With no dread of aging, we celebrated the simple joy of living. Cheers to another amazing year, Jay!

Kristy Kreme

Party at Hwood Cycles!

Last Friday night was our Silver Cycling night at Hollywood Cycles. Wit some snacks and bevies in hand, we mingled with our teammates about our upcoming year. As the night wore on, we opened our doors to friends of all freak-flags, broke out the Guitar Hero, and had a blast!

For the full slide show, check HERE!

Party On!
Kristy Kreme

Reading, rather than writing

Lately, I've not been able to pull myself out of books long enough to post anything, and it apparently hasn't gone unnoticed. So, I'll let you into my little world as of late.

As few may know, my silent pleasure is a monthly book club I enjoy with a handful of girlfriends. Ever since I was a kid, the only child in a single-parent home, I've enriched my mind with tale after tale, textbooks and guides, and enough Nancy Drew to create a CSI, only to entertain myself when companionship was unavailable. As an adult, I've valued the variety my book club has challenged me with....long, confusing midevil novels...crushing love stories....adversity....but this month was different. This month's book took me to an entirely new level of books that I'd never known. Sure, I've laughed, cried, shuddered, and had moments of reflection with many of the books I've enjoyed in my life, but never so deeply within my being as this.

My Buffy loving friend, Stephenie, picked "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer - a young adult novel about a girl strangely drawn by her heart to a mysterious classmate she can't describe. This highschool Junior finds herself falling madly in love with the most dangerous suitor....a vampire. Becoming closer and closer to him, Bella endangers her own existence as her handsome Edwards fights his natural urges to taste that which makes her human...her warm, sweet blood.
Of course, I can't write a teaser like that you'd find inside the jacket cover, but what's most intriguing is the way it comes alive all around you. I began the 500 page book last Saturday, unable to put it down as Jay napped for 4 hours. The way she described touch was none like I've ever read. As a very tactile person, I relished in the ability to feel the stone cold skin on Edwards face, felt leaves on my skin, I could sense the pounding force against my rib cage as Bella's heart raced. I found my world altered and I couldn't put it down. By Sunday night I'd feverishly devoured every last word, and was thirsting for more. I didn't sleep that night, as my brain ran wildly with anticipation of what would happen next in the series.

I thought I'd remembered my friend saying it was part of a series, so I dashed off to the computer frantically to find out. To my surprise, 2 more books were available with the final book due in August of this year, so I searched which stores carried both that I could obtain fastest. By lunch on Monday, I had torn through the local Borders Store and rushed to the cashier with my prize in hand. I returned to work with enough time to read a chapter of "New Moon" before my lunch break was over. I sped home at the end of the day, yearning to rejoin my new friends in their world. I read and read, I giggled and gasped, as book two continued to fuel my obsession. In parts of pain, I found myself sobbing almost uncontrollably, feeling their loss and agony. Poor Jay had to deal with the "I could never live without you" speech that night, and it took everything in me not to call my parents professing my love and admiration for them, too. By Tuesday night, I had eaten yet another full plate of my vampire love story, but still wasn't full.

In some effort to maintain any level of self control, I banned myself from book 3 "Eclipse" until the weekend. By Thursday afternoon, I couldn't help but open to the first chapter. I had cleaned the house and prepared dinner in an attempt to keep myself occupied until Jay got home, but worked just a little too quickly - allowing myself 2 hours of reading before he arrived. This book, this story, and these characters have been all-consuming. The way Stephenie Meyer has written them is simply captivating like nothing I have ever read. I've never felt my emotions parallel with that in a book before. There were different chapters along the way that actually elevated my heart rate....and I am not saying just a beat or two more a minute....I'm talking over 150 bpm without any exaggeration!

Between Thursday and today, I have forced myself to read slower in some attempt to prolong my existence in their world, a way to make the wait for the final book shorter. I tried to taste every meal (not the blood), to feel the rain on my skin, hear the wind as it coursed through my empty living room. I digested every last word so not to miss an ounce of foreshadowing or emotion. Then, as Jay quietly slept beside me today, I turned the last page and silently laid it beside me. Satisfied, joyful, and content, with a strangely peaceful resolve to wait anxiously for the rest of the tale. Part of me wishes it were already out, but I know what a joy it will be this summer to pick it up and come back to this story I've loved so much.

I know I said it was a young adult novel, but it's worth every moment. As an adult, I feel like I better understand the emotions and the thoughts the characters portray, having experienced pain and love like they were going through. I was a pretty late bloomer in life, so I honestly don't think I would have truly invited it into the greatest depths of my being as I had. Everyone in my book club has expressed similar passion for it....we've even picked up 3 new members last week ...all of who were currently reading one of the books, or had just finished all 3 themselves. Honestly, check it out. Read the teasers. Take your allowance to the local bookstore and join the obsession. You'll not regret it.

Thrice bitten,
Kristy Kreme