2-24-10

Last night Talia, Casey, Kristi and I went to Khan's Mongolian BBQ to celebrate Talia's 10th birthday. 10 is a extra special birthday because you are in to double figures. Next special birthday is 13 for Talia. Emma will be driving me around, figuring out how to use a vehicle.

I was thinking the other day about self-absorption. Are all these great tools for connecting to people, online open diaries like blogs, and sharing of information in a split splat second. Are these tools making us more self-absorbed? Immediate gratification. Immediate transfer. Download feels good doesn't it. When it's done and that little alarm goes off.

I'm starting to recognize Chopin all the time. I'll look up from the computer and yep, Chopin. I've learned Alfred Brendel is a Beethoven master and Artur Rubenstein is the man for Cho-pan.

The gym is going good so blogs are dropping.

Back to self-absorption. This is something that over the years I have wrestled with in my head. It think it's helpful to go back and pay attention to what your close friends over the years say about yourself. Some people think critical self examination only distracts you. Maybe it's more of a process upgrade. I always like the correlations between computers and human beings. How's your hard drive? How much RAM do you have left? You seem to be experiencing a system error.

Just to be a little self absorbed for a minute... I have a lyric in one of my tuns that goes: "I got a virus that's eating a file".

Thank you for tolerating that moment of self indulgent self absorption.

I used to be more aware of this and therefore really "tried" not to appear self indulgent. I think in doing so, I ended up being perceived as more self-indulgent. Because I was quiet, maybe didn't have much of an opinion either way about things. But it's fine to have an opinion. It's good if you like who you are and what you have to say. You only grow and become a better person from the experiences.

Overly self indulgent in your self awareness are you?

Tonight is the return of Dead Night at the Suburban World Theatre. Looking forward to seeing my friends on stage and having the time of their lives. Thinking about it a little more I think Tuesday is the better night with all the music out there to support in town.

Casey is waking up from nap. We're heading to the YMCA.

Enough about me and my self indulgent, self centered behavior. Maybe to counteract this illness I will need to step up energy towards services to others.

Either way it's self indulgent.

2-23-10

Hey look at me not blogging.

Isn't funny how you start something thinking it's gonna be great...winds up being almost therapeutic, then you get bored with it? Blogging and going to the gym are two things you should do routinely and often, even though it's work.

Going to Day 3 at Ymca today. Casey and I are motivated again and coincidentally back to the blog. More exercise=more blogging. I see.

In the last few weeks a few things have happened. Emma and Talia both had birthdays. Casey reached 5+ months and can now sit up and roll over a bit. My parents are in Hawaii for their annual Feb. escape. Jealous.

Nick and I have been doing the brunchtime sets at the Suburban World Theatre in Uptown. Going really well. People keep comin out and bringing their kids. The kids will dance in the front and run around the theatre. We think they are staring at us and so engulfed in the music but really they are staring at a 15 ft cartoon Bugs Bunny. The huge movie screen shows classic Looney Tunes (these are when cartoons were actually good...Bugs Bunny, WildECoyote, Tom and Jerry's...you know, not Transforminators or Chuckle Brothers or Rugrats) So, that has been a fun to do. Great bloody mary. Pretty good breakfast (ask for hash well done).

Played a Sir Paul set of music at the Cabooze with Tom Collins, John Heinen, and Mitch singing leads. Really dug the Yesterday and the Band on the Run. Always wanted to play that song. Kudos to all the players who really studied the material.

Finished up an albums worth of material from TC and need to get it downloaded to disc.

Other than that...don't stop till you get enough.

2-4-10

Just got back from Crave and contact lenses with Emma.

I had such a great time hanging with my 12 year old. I have to admit my daughters are the greatest. Emma got contacts and we had sushi for dinner.

Catching up, I just got back from the BWCA winter dogsled adventure. I do this every year with DCI. We bring a bunch of people up north to Camp Menogyn on Bear Skin Lake.

This year I pulled a ten pound lake trout out of the ice. My first time ice fishing. We brought it back to camp and baked it in the oven with lemon and salt/pepper. It was fabulous.

This weekend I have a show at SWT. Haiti benefit show. I'm scrambling to find mics and mic cables, but thanks to my good friends in Absolut Gruv I think we got it covered.

SWT. I'm not sure what to say about that right now. Still in flux.

I'm back on the health kick. The dogsled weekend was a good kick start to wellness. My good bass player buddy Tony Franklin is inspiring me to live clean and healthy. It's the only way. I always say Mind Body Spirit...and we often forget the body part. Need to take care of yourself. One more year and I turn forty. Hello old man.

I have a new Toshiba laptop now. We took in our computer we got back in 2007. It would cost about 500+ to get it repaired, put in a new battery, and get all the bugs out of it, so for 100 bucks more we upgraded. Big screen. Windows 7. Just transferring all the data from the other computer is going to take some time.

It was nice to be up in the BWCA but it's twice as nice to be home with Kristi and Casey. Casey is amazing. He has the coolest hair. I just got mine chopped by Kristi's friend Heather. Pretty short. These days I just say "#4 clippers all around". I've had way too many hairstyles over the years. My cousins can attest.

Next weekend we are doing our annual GJ Valentine's show and this time doing some Paul McCartney music with singers Mitch, John Heinen, and Tom Collins. Just rehearsed "Jet" today with Tom. Looking forward to the night. I need a good night of ragin some tunes at the Cabooze. I tried to think of how many shows I've played at that venue over the years and I can't even tell you. Someday, maybe they'll dedicate the green room to me. Bah.

At this moment, I can't think of a time in my life where more things are happening all at once.

My friend Nicholas Mrozinski and I have been playing every Sunday at the SWT from 11-2pm. Great breakfast, brunch and bloody marys.

Full steam ahead. Family. Health. Making it happen.

1-21-10

Today my website launched: http://www.jasonfladager.com

Check it out.

I'm sorry to Marie and the three other people who read up on my blog, but seriously this month is sooo busy between working at the theatre and working with Vega, trying to be a good stay at home Dad, and balance it all with a full time job. I need some serious organization. Missed a couple appointments and had to reschedule this week. Must slow this ride down!

I am looking forward to the Dogsled trip to Camp Menogyn in the BWCA. Leaving a week from Sunday for four days. Need to hit the reset button and get geared up for all the work in February.

1-12-10

Casey is beginning to figure out how to grasp things and "feel" things now.

My mind has been in overdrive today. Marie told me that I have been a straight slacker on the blog and at the gym.

Unfortunately she's right. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it's mid January and we're in the peak of bleak. Funny, I don't feel bleak.

Quite the contrary actually, I think I feel so good about things in general that I often choose to forget to do that things that help me enjoy this ride a little more. Namely, the gym...the diet.

Also, I just got off a great 2010 trip to Lusten with Casey and Kristi. If we could have just had the girls come along it would have been perfect.

I love bands. Bands have life and dynamic. A band seems like an old fashioned idea. The dynamic that occurs between a few unique individuals representing various tones on a scale and what they are able to collectively join forces in creative process. These days you can make a band in your basement on your laptop with a few tracks. Couple days later you have an album that you played every instrument on and you sang every harmony on and played every bass line. Constructive yes. (this actually may be a worthwhile project....Spend one month in the basement writing an entire album of music playing every part. Seeing what happens. Maybe get people all riled up about the band "CAT BATON". Have it come time for the CD release and it's just me on my computer. Do it.)

Hey it's January in Minnesota. It's time eat hotdish and stay indoors where its warum doncha know.

Had an interesting concept for reducing overtime at our organization. Something about flex schedules.

The girls came over tonight and we had steak fajitas. Man they are getting big. We stopped at the store for sour cream, lettuce, and black olives and they just ran in, got the items and came back to the car. Amazing they grow up and can do that all by themselves. I guess I must be easily amazed.

Without a doubt.

1-10-10

01-10-10

Casey woke up to 4 months old on the shores of Lake Superior.

We spent the last three days relaxing at Bluefin Bay, getting massages, playing rockshows, and eating and drinking merrily. We have gone to Lusten every year for years and years now and we always have a great time. This year I chose no skiing and instead hung close to the fire and the family. We got in several hours of "TPIR" on Wii. Watched some football. Ate some fabulous Soup.

Destiny Rock makes the best soup in all the land. I swear by it. Mrs. Rock's Soups of Destiny.com will be around soon enough. This year she made a nice Minnestrone. The carrots just perfect and the broth not spicy at all. Before she has made Tortilla Lime soup that was awesome.

Good to be back home.

"I'm selfish, impatient, and insecure. I am out of control sometimes, hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best!" -Marilyn Monroe

Love that quote. So true.

Well we are about to embark (I love the word embark) on the annual Lusten getaway and man...I'm ready. Ready for four days of nothing but relaxing and spending time on the shores, in the hot tubs, by the fires, and on the stage. Did some rehersing with Tim last night and the other guys last week. Yeah...good times. Wish Jimmy could join us but he is still recovering from this condition in his forearms/hands.

Wow, so many things are happening right now I don't know where to begin.

Met with Steve McClellen (former talent buyer at First Avenue for 25 years) at Dulano's the other day. Brought Casey along. Steve did most of the talking so Casey was just starin at him and laughing. Just getting some advice on how to run a successful venue.

Anyway, vacation is calling. Must....wax.....skis.

1-04-09

Chopin "Nocturne No. 8 in D-Flat. Op.27 No.2

I love Casey. I haven't been keeping up with my blog. Isn't that how it always works? You get all hyped up and rarin' to go and then you lilt.

No more lilting in 2010.

Casey prefers me to walk around the house while he eats. Usually we sit down in the comfy chair and he messes with the nipple on the bottle and fusses and so on...so we get up and walk around and then he eats fine.

When we are walking around I imagine myself the big ape with a little chimp. Probably feels safer to keep moving.

Casey is getting very good at taking naps in his bassinette. We used to have to rock him to sleep for a while, but now we lay him down when groggy and he relaxes...and sleeps.

...and keeping moving we are.

Last night I watched a Nostrodomos special on History channel about 2012 predictions. They talked about how there will be "galactic alignment" in which the sun and the center of the universe will line up exactly with Earth. Apparently....never mind I'll just clip the entire definition of what it is:

Galactic alignment
In the mid-1990s, John Major Jenkins asserted that the ancient Maya intended to tie the end of their calendar to the winter solstice in 2012, which falls on December 21. This date was in line with an idea he terms the galactic alignment.[42]
In the Solar System, the planets and the Sun share roughly the same plane of orbit, known as the plane of the ecliptic. From our perspective on Earth, the Zodiacal constellations move along or near the ecliptic, and over time, appear to recede counterclockwise by one degree every 72 years. This movement is attributed to a slight wobble in the Earth's axis as it spins.[43] As a result, approximately every 2160 years, the constellation visible on the early morning of the spring equinox changes. In Western astrological traditions, this signals the end of one astrological age (currently the Age of Pisces) and the beginning of another (Age of Aquarius). Over the course of 26,000 years, the precession of the equinoxes makes one full circuit around the ecliptic.[43]
Just as the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere is currently in the constellation of Pisces, so the winter solstice is currently in the constellation of Sagittarius, which happens to be the constellation intersected by the galactic equator.[44] Every year for the last 1000 years or so, on the winter solstice, the Earth, Sun and the galactic equator come into alignment, and every year, precession pushes the Sun's position a little way further through the Milky Way's band.

The Milky Way near Cygnus showing the lane of the Dark Rift, which the Maya called the Xibalba be or "Black Road"
Jenkins suggests that the Maya based their calendar on observations of the Great Rift, a band of dark dust clouds in the Milky Way, which the Maya called the Xibalba be or "Black Road."[45] Jenkins claims that the Maya were aware of where the ecliptic intersected the Black Road and gave this position in the sky a special significance in their cosmology.[3] According to the hypothesis, the Sun precisely aligns with this intersection point at the winter solstice of 2012.[3] Jenkins claimed that the classical Mayans anticipated this conjunction and celebrated it as the harbinger of a profound spiritual transition for mankind.[46] New Age proponents of the galactic alignment hypothesis argue that, just as astrology uses the positions of stars and planets to make claims of future events, the Mayans plotted their calendars with the objective of preparing for significant world events.[47] Jenkins attributes the insights of ancient Maya shamans about the galactic center to their use of psilocybin mushrooms, psychoactive toads, and other psychedelics.[48] Jenkins also associates the Xibalba be with a "world tree", drawing on studies of contemporary (not ancient) Maya cosmology.[8]
The alignment in question is not exclusive to 2012 but takes place over a 36-year period, corresponding to the diameter of the Sun, with the most precise convergence having already occurred in 1998.[49] Also, Jenkins himself notes that there is no concrete evidence that the Maya were aware of precession.[42] While some Mayan scholars, such as Barbara MacLeod, have suggested that some Mayan holy dates were timed to precessional cycles, scholarly opinion on the subject is divided.[22] There is also little evidence, archaeological or historical, that the Maya placed any importance on solstices or equinoxes.[22][50]


Wow. How about that for mystical speculations?

Looking forward to the annual ski trip to Lutsen. Will be fun to get away for a few days and leave the world behind.

12-30-09

It's The Final Countdown!

Today I'm going to list things that made 2009 awesome:

1. Casey Robert Fladager born 9-10-09

2. Watching the girls grow up and being mesmerized by their talents

3. BWFRX. "Big Wu Family Reunion Ten" and $5800 donation to Owatonna schools.

4. Trip to West Hollywood and playing on the House of Blues Stage in LA (and subsequently aimlessly and blissfully wandering around Hollywood at 3am).

5. Father's Day 2009 at Alpine Valley. Thank you Kristi!

6. Upgraded: gutters, water heater, refrigerator, new front steps, new living room colors

7. On a whim heading to Red Rocks for the last Phish show. Great drive with Brad and awesome adventure (and so-so Phish show).

8. A fairly decent attempt at staying healthy throughout the year. Gym. Exercise.

9. A nice family trip to South Dakota for Kristi's baby shower.

10. Lusten 2009

11. Guns N Roses Tribute show with God Johnson (and many more GJ shows...)

12. Big Wu in Aberdeen in May (best Wu show of the year..).

13. Rock Boat II and performing with Bernie Worrell.

14. Discovering the best spaghetti sauce in the Twin Cities (Yarusso's)

15. Receiving a nice bonus at work for keeping OT low.

16. Release of The MN Beatles Project Vol. 1.

17. Discovering great classical music like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-4Bv5Ng0w

18. TherapyBlogging.

19. Suprise guest sit in from Jeff Austin on the Wed before Christmas.

20. DogSled Winter Vacation at Camp Menogyn, BWCA.

21. The Downtime Bar and Grill

22. The Fine Line Vega benefit

23. "A Night for Dean" at the Cabooze

24. Discovering the Suburban World theater.

25. Obamarama

26.

12-29-09

Wow, it's almost the end of 2009...we're really in the future now.

Things are afoot in Flad Manor. I think changes are in the wind. In addition to my work at Dakota Communities and Vega Productions, I think you may be looking at the talent buyer for the Suburban World Theater in Uptown. Finally got a call back from the owner who wants to meet on Saturday.

What a huge opportunity that would be. Transform Uptown Music Scene. Employ the counsel of people who've been successful at it? Asses the area. What kind of music is going to do well there? What kind of entertainment will do well there? The Uptown hipsters are gone as is the Uptown Bar and Grill. Let's birth a new scene down there. Pro-coordination is what it takes. Execute. Deliver. What if you romanticize this? I think there is a clue there. Enter into a loving relationship with your work and put in the passion. You will be successful.

I recently watched the entire series of this: http://www.thewaytohappiness.org

Kristi got me my favorite Twins jersey of all time. I am looking forward wearing it at the new Ballpark.

Today we had our work luncheon. Casey and I attended. He was a great kid the entire time. He got passed by the colleagues.

Tonight we have girls, piano and I'm going in to work to do the overnight.

I called my good buddy Taco who talent buys at the Cabooze. Mentioned I had this interview on Saturday. His piece of advice:

"Don't book any shows you like, they rarely do well."

12-28-09

This morning was an early riser. My staff called with a situation at work so I dashed outta here around 4:37am. Dealt with that and was back by 6am or so.

I find that my most productive time of the day is definitely very early in the morning. When I got back to the house I dove into all my paperwork and billpaying and all the while monitoring the "situation" at work.



Today I'm working on making spaghetti sauce with Casey. As previously mentioned, I love Yarusso's sauce. Their sauce is a step above Chef Boy-r-dee. I mean it's not bold and tangy like a Buca sauce or Prego or whatever. It's real tomato based and limited spices. I bought some plain ol' 28oz cans of Hunts Sauce. Plain. In a boiler pot I stirfried garlic, chopped onions, white pepper, olive oil, salt, and pepper. When the onions got soft, I stirred them into the sauce. I added about 1c of red wine to the sauce and 2 Tbsp olive oil (liberal with the olive oil). The thing that is missing is boiled and peeled fresh tomatoes. I think it's all about the fresh tomatoes and either straining the seeds or not. I don't see much taste difference in not straining. Right now it's on very low and simmering for about 4 hours. I'll make the meatballs later.



Casey has been recommended to be on tummy time at least 3x a day for 5-10min. He doesn't really care for tummy time. I also heard that if he sleeps on his back all the time he'll have a flat back-of-the-head. I think he's going to turn out just fine.

I bet Yolanda at the YMCA has been wondering where we have been? I hit the gym hard yesterday in West St. Paul. Did 1 hour cardio and full lifting cycle. I'm just caught up in cooking right now. (only an excuse).

12-27-09

Today was a great day.

Yesterday the girls came over and we had family Christmas at the house. Girls were excited to get their Rockband 2 for Wii. The two of them seem to want to see Dad shed a tear or two on Christmas. Last year they made us a Love Family painting with wild colors. We had it in our bedroom for the entire year. This year they decided to frame a poem.

Hold the bounty that's before you,
like a bird with a broken wing,
Or a life held by a string.
This gift you've been blessed with
shall surround you forever.
But acting against it shant gain more or less
for everyone and everything gets, gains and gives-->LOVE.

From your daughters Emma and Talia: Merry Christmas Family! Love is the very thing that keeps us a family. And it will be that way forever and ever!

Right, so yesterday we opened gifts and playing the Price Is Right Wii game with the whole family. We ate a fat ham and had scalloped potatos with extra Christmas music and games and fun and perfect. We all crashed out pretty early last night.

Today we got up early and had a ham and egg breakfast and played some more Wii. Talia and I then went out to Kristi's car which was snowed-in, in the back alleyway. We dug it out and drove it back around front.

I took the girls home and then went to the YMCA for an hour of cardio and some lifting.

Today I was thinking about how Twitter and Facebook and Blogger are essentially all "Diaries". I don't remember too many boys having diaries but these days...you have 4-8 online diaries all laid out naked on the table for everyone to see. Since everyone has 5 diaries out on the table for the entire online community to view and comment on (depending on privacty settings), how is that going to affect us interpersonally in our communities? Let's say you are meeting up with new client who I already know everything I need to about them from LinkdIn or Facebook or their Blog... what kind of impacts will this have in the next ten years. This is what I was thinking about today in the parking lot of my local Bergren's SuperValue.

I love this smalltown grocery store in the heart of South Minneapolis Nokomis. We could drive just a mile or so down the way to MEGATarget, but why. We like the service and the nice folks who work there and it's really not that much of a difference. Yes, sometimes we got to ERNOMOTarget, but it's still important to support the local good guys. Skip Starbucks and check out the local coffee shop, Sister's Sludge (I am always hoping the coffee at Sister's Sludge taste betters than Caribou or Starbucks). This little coffee shop is run by three triplet sisters.

So, the rest of the day looks like homemade chicken pot pie and crab legs (only 9.99/lb at Bergren's!).

Also I have been thinking about resolutions for 2010. I am torn between "not putting toxins in my body for a year including all alcohol and bad food" and "begin MA pursuit" and "ReExamine, Reload, and ReEnergize".

I am Twitter buds with Tony Franklin. Famous Bass Player and legendary musician. He is virtually toxin free. His goal in 2010 is to go caffeine free and be done with it. I need to go in this direction. We should go one hour cardio in the morning and one hour after dinner. Headphones. Live Music. Everyday. The though of experimenting with this shift in lifestyle is something that intrigues me. I wonder what being in optimal health feels like. Only one way to find out right?

It was a great Christmas 2009. Lots of reminders about what life is all about.

12-25-09

Christmas 2009

Woke up from a long winter's nap to the sound of scrrrape on the driveway of my parents house. My dad was outside shoveling snow. I quickly sprang from my bed, went down, and started helpin out. My dad is pro shoveling. He refuses to buy a snow plow in favor of the exercise. Good idea. Plus it enhances "you" being Minnesotan. I love that.

My mom, Kristi, and Casey are all in the kitchen getting ready for today's huge meal. My sisters and other family members are battling the weather to get here. We were expecting about a foot snow but instead got a few inches of ice rain. How fun to scrrrrape it off the driveway.

Andy Miller sent out his annual Confessions from Padre email and it was quite entertaining. I have to say he's a much better writer than I am. Very descriptive and colorful. He should start a daily blog in 2010. Big fan of blogs, twittering, facebook, and social media these days. Maybe I should look into RSS feeds next?

My parents always get a real tree. When we were kids my Dad would load up the Country Squire station wagon (wood trim of course) and head south of Hastings where we would hunt for the right spruce and chop it down. My Dad confessed last night he wanted to annually, and spacially, plant spruce trees one year apart for five years. Trees get more expensive every year.

Time for more coffee.

(8:26pm) Back at the house. Was a great day with lots of family and good cheer. Mom and Dad got everyone this cool little JVC video cams. The kids all had a great time and we all ate way too much food. I will get back into exercise here for the next four days. I have been slacking and need to have enough energy for NYE.

Currently watching NFL on the computer. I have the speakers for the studio set up so the sound is perfect. The picture is HD. This is the future of television I think. The annoucers and commentators are dreadful. Actually this whole broadcast is terrible. Mostly people making comments and interviews with players and then maybe they will show a little football, then back to talking? What is this?

You can control everything from your laptop or device from your phone. Your TV. Your Phone. Anything. Information is instantaneous. What will be the reprocussions of all of this I wonder? Andy Miller knows.

My friend Mitch is calling. Mitch is a great vocalist. Probably the coolest vocalist all of us really know. Mitch and Alli. They got a cool thing goin on. Great example of a super great marriage.

I'm full of wine and bird now. This NFL.com LIVE is awful.

12-24-09

Christmas Eve 2009

Last night it snowed about six inches. Got up early and shovelled. Really don't mind the shovel. I feel like a husky Minnesotan. Love my state and my city.

Casey is sleepin now. He's in his rockstar outfit. We have several.

We got the girls some great presents. They are in Wisconsin until Saturday.

Kristi and I got a new giant monolith refrigerator as part of our Christmas present to eachother. I think someday aliens will be hovering over our house in a flying saucer and beaming up our giant monolith refrigerator to the tune of Also Sprach Zarathustra. I can picture them assorting and studying various leftovers and deli meats, trying to understand human nutrition.

Today Marie suggested checking out the Magic Flute from Motzart so YouTube'd it. I'm still on my Artur Rubinstein kick. I love the black and white videos of just he and the piano in front of an all Russian audience as some Moscow theater. Performance. It's amazing that his mind works like that. I'm in awe of amazing piano players.

We are about to camp out at my parents for a few days. Tonight we'll enjoy the annual clam chowder, homemade cinnamon rolls and seven layer salad. Cream...whipping cream...half and half...butter....dough....

Hook me up to a feeding tube and I'll be set.

12-23-09

Grieg Arietta Op 12 No 1 Melody in F ......had to quickly turn on the blog to capture this one. Wow. About one minute of sweetness!



Could slept in later.



Feels like sesmic shifts in tetonic plates are happening right now. Vega is moving fast forward, blazing a new trail in non-profit sustainability. Still have yet to connect with the SubWorld guy. I think I have been overanxious with me emails to Don. Will leave him alone until after the holidays. I had a dream about working there as the talent buyer. Small office in the basement of the theater, booking great gigs in this fabulous venue. Would love to make it happen. Nobody said I wasn't overly ambitious. I seem to like to keep myself busy.

Found a couple pointsettia leaves on the floor. Yesterday Kristi said she has a hard time with Pointsettias. Did I mention how amazing our gardens look. She truly has the green thumb. And the shopping thumb thankfully.


Casey is doing great. Just the other day he looked like a little man more than a baby. He's very happy and content. "The best gift you can give to your kid is a happy childhood". This is a Paul Hagen quote. He's got some great advice and quotes. "Give the best you have to give because how much you'll never know.." "Grant me the serenity to dance with the things I cannot change". More about Paul someday. He's always Mr. Bright Side.


Yes, so maybe it's the end of the year and we look back and wonder if we accomplished everything we set out to do. For me personally it was a great year. I'll wait til 12-31 for the year end review but I have to argue it was tip top as far as my life goes. #1 spot. Who's up for knockin off the champ!

12-21-09

Well I cannot stop thinking about the Suburban World Theater in Uptown. With the Uptown Bar closing, that neighborhood needs a serious venue to showcase talent in the Twin Cities. I dream of being the Bill Graham of the SubWorld!

Today is going well. I picked up the girls with Casey and went to the YMCA to get in some swim time. After, we all drove to Sam's to get envelopes for the Xmas cards (these need to go out today!). Dropped off Emma to go sledding with her friends at Cornelia Elementary. Talia, Casey and I then went to Noodles-n-Company and Talia suprised me with a Curry Noodles. She went in and ordered lunch to go for us. She's growin up too!

While driving around we all listened to the MN Beatles Project vol. 1. The girls are big fans. Vega is already getting tons of inquiries about next year's Project. 2010 could be a very good year. If I can get this talent buyer position from the SubWorld, then Vega would have a venue in its back pocket. I think of getting SubWorld on Twitter, Facebook, and every social media outlet possible.

J

12-20-09

I just got back from Sam's. Picked up the Christmas Photos to send off to friends and relatives. Picked up some other Santa items as well. Couple of lobster tails for tonight. What a great Sunday. Just hanging with Casey and Kristi and rehydrating from last night. Doin laundry. Being lazy.

Sam's wasn't too crazy or maybe I wasn't too irratable. Got the photos but forgot the envelops, or maybe th....

...man I hate that when that happens. I was bloggin about last night's show at http://www.suburbanworldtheater.com and how I wanted to inquire about being a talent buyer for this venue. Dreams of weekly shows and weekend headline acts dancin in my head.....I wrote a good couple of paragraphs but, as it has happened before, I hit some button by error on the keyboard and it deleted 3/4th's of what I had written. Bugger.

I'll leave it at that. Looking forward to football, hydration, playing with Casey, and enjoying some lobster with Kristi.

12-19-09

Saturday morning at Flad manor which usually includes bacon and coffee and some form of egg. Today however, just coffee and something light. I've been eating up the leftover lasagne from the company xmas party so probably should get to the gym here soon.

Casey was in a bad mood this morning. I think he's extra constipated and needs relief. Right now he's napping. Hopefully that moves things along.

Tonight my friends in the Jones Gang are playing the Suburban World theater. Something tells me this is a great venue for this band. I'm also curious if it actually works as a local venue to maybe do an event. Our friend Bess at work just got out of heart surgery and is looking to do a benefit to pay for her Mayo billz.

Kristi is my superhero. She is out shopping at Target and Sam's Club on the weekend before Christmas. It must be madness out there. She got all of the Christmas shopping done and I'm very happy about this. Being around crowds of people grabbing things isn't fun for me. I think my Dad and I are about the same on this.

Today I will make it to the gym at some point! That is my goal. I have these new Sony ear buds that have great sound. Looking forward to using them. I find that earbuds don't last very long. The input jack either gets slightly bent and when you go to plug it in you only get one side of your ear or worse.. flip flopping sound between each ear.

The work Christmas Party was the best we've had in my four years at the company. Made 4 huge serving trays of food. 2 pan lasagne and 2 baked rotini. Went over very well. For an activity one of my staff read the Night Before Christmas aloud while we exchanged white elephant gifts everytime the word "THE" was read. Not all the lasagne got eaten so it's been sitting on the back porch in the cold air for a few days now. I've been eating mostly lasagne as I said before.

Well, we have the new giant monolith refrigerator in our small kitchen. It's huge, but it works. Let's see so far in 2009 we've got new gutters.....a new hot water heater....new front steps....new mancave music room. Upkeep on a house gets expensive.

Looking to refinance our mortgage. I wrote Bank of America, who currently holds both our mortgages, and said look, we taxpayers bailed your ass out of debt now it's time you do something for us homeowners! Not getting too worked up about it. We don't qualify for Obamaloans currently. BOA did get back with me and is looking at some available products.

I miss the girls a lot today. They are growing up so fast. Slow down and enjoy the ride!

12-18-09

12-15-09

It's cold in here. It's -5 outside and these tiny drafts keep coming through the floorboards. Casey's stocking is hung high in the air. It's royal blue with a big gold "C". The Xmas tree has presents under it. Time keeps flying by. I thought it went fast when I was 30. You must be straight dizzy by the time you hit 60. Take more action and get it done. Like Chad Ochocinco says: "Be grate today!". (intentionally mispelled).

Last night I did the over night. I was really tired when I got there so falling asleep was easy. Woke up at around 545am and crawled back in to bed at home by 8. Had a McDonalds small milkshake last night. Couldn't stop it from happening.

Today again I'm not going to the gym. It's really cold out and while I could get Casey all bundled up and ready to do this...why. It's cozy here and we need to get cooking. We're making some of the main dishes for the holiday party tomorrow.

Grieg is just killer. I love me some Grieg. Check out: "Morning". You will recognize the melody.

Watching the CMT's the other night made me realize melody has totally disappeared in popular music. Ugh, it's so generic how can you even stand it.

It's been a great morning already. Getting a few things done and getting ready to cook massive quantities of food tomorrow. Also our refrigerator comes tomorrow. Hope this one fits. We are excited to stock it full of fresh and new items. A new A1 Steak Sauce. A new Mayonaisse!

Faure "Impromptu No.3 in A Flat major, Op. 34"

Today I got final approval on a work trip to Florida in March. Looking forward to it. Maybe write a book about it sometime. It would be a good story.