Buffy and her friend and I are going to the No Doubt concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre tomorrow night. Buffy's friend bought her a ticket, so all I had to do was get my own lawn ticket and then drive them there. I have known about this for a very long time.

So you know I never did buy my ticket, right?

So today I remembered I had better get it before I forgot, but I wasn't really worried about it because I just wanted a lawn ticket and since when has the Shoreline ever sold out of lawn tickets? I mean... CAN they sell out of lawn tickets?

Why YES. Yes they CAN sell out of tickets at Shoreline. And they DID. The concert is SOLD OUT.

GODDAMMIT.

Did a google search for tickets, found some on Clickitticket.com for a total of $108 after fees. For a fucking $25 lawn ticket. I can't believe I waited SO LONG!!!!!! Why don't you all keep track of the things I need to get done and then make sure I do them, HUH? What kind of friends ARE you??

I need a personal assistant who will work for free, seriously.

The concert was good, but it certainly wasn't the best concert I've ever seen and it wasn't even in my top ten. I tried to pretend it was, but there were certain great things that kept overshadowing Britney and showing exactly how dull this concert was.

We got there early and bought t-shirts, then bought some "Britney pop-corn" which was a pretty big bag for $4.50, not bad. Then Buffy wanted a soda, they asked if she wanted the "commemorative cup" which was a little orange plastic thing and she said yes and we realized later it was $7.50. I made sure all the girls remembered their cups after the concert, that's for sure.

We sat down and had pretty good seats and the girls started getting excited. The stage was a three-ring circus and a pretty good set-up and we could see really well. Remember that my cell camera makes things appear twice as far and you'll see that we were pretty close.

So finally at 7pm the lights went down, my girls started screaming, music started, they announced the PussyCat Dolls... AND THE GIRLS LOST THEIR DAMN MINDS. I have no words to describe the screaming and jumping and hugging and ectasy that was coming from those three girls. The PCD came out, more screams, they "sang" and danced around all three rings, and I found out Buffy apparentely loves the blonde one. Okay, but THEN, when the girls brought their excitedness down to level 850, they were able to control themselves and start dancing, and GOOD LORD my daughter CAN DANCE. And shake her booty and other things that can be shaken. My daughter was a PussyCat Doll in training. EE-Yikes.

They ended with that Wanna Be Famous song and the girls screamed some more and then they left. Nicole Scherzelmmmmph yelled "Hello San JOOOOOOOOSEE" about 300 times during the concert, but I guess Britney wasn't listening. We'll get to that later.

So there was a ten minute intermission while they started re-arranging the stage and my girls started getting antsy and excited again. Suddenly the two side rings lit up and for fifteen minutes we saw some circus sideshows while they continued working on the center stage. There were acrobats and dancers and a hula hoop girl who was actually pretty impressive. I guess when those rhythmic gymnasts are done with the olympics they get jobs at the circus?? (yeah, I'm waiting for the hate mail - You don't scare me, rhythmic gymnasts!) As each act ended the girls braced for Britney's arrival but of course it wasn't until the lights went down again and the music started and the screams started and then lights came up...

And if Jesus had risen from the dead right then and there I don't think the screams could have been louder. I thought all three girls were going to have heart attacks they were so excited, seriously.

But for me, the excitement started to end there. Because this concert was not all that, and Britney was not up to par - not even close. There were a lot of problems and wierdness going on.

She doesn't dance. There were a few spurts of dancing here and there, but NOTHING that my girls coudn't do in a snappier, tighter fashion. Mostly she stood in one place kind of swaying around until it was time for back up dancers to carry her to another stage, or roll her to another stage. And that's kind of disappointing because you certainly don't go to a Britney concert to hear her sing live, so you expect some entertainment instead. I understand she's older now, but you have to understand - she was not dancing. She could have done better. Madonna is 50 and is better. Miley Cyrus is 16 and can do better. Missy Elliott is heavier and can dance better. We all know Britney can dance. (And side note: Britney looked great, she is def back in shape)

And like I said, we don't expect her to sing, I mean it's no secret that she lipsyncs but I've never been to a concert where they didn't even bother to pretend. I stood watching thinking "Good lord, they're just blasting her CD!!" There were some intro re-mixes, but the songs were just straight blasted from the stereo to the speakers. So essentually what we paid money for was to sit in our seats, listen to her CD, and watch her sway around and get carried across the stages.

As for spectacle? I was REALLY disappointed on that point. There were a couple fireworks, one flame scene (that petered out too early) and not much else. A theater in the round prohibits most set design, so what we're left with were three worn stages with too few dancers running back and forth. There were five minutes of magic tricks - Britney appeared and disappeared, and was cut into thirds - but that was it. The pics I took on flickr make it look more exciting that it was.

The one set design that was awesome was the cylindrical screen that hung over the center ring. That continuously showed film clips, Britney videos, background artwork and animation - And I give MAD PROPS to the artists, animators and film people who set that whole thing up. It was beautiful and the photos DON'T do that justice. I could have looked at that all night long, especially when they shows new video clips of Britney and her circus act - GORGEOUS - but the beauty of those clips just kind of reminded you how naked the stage was and how boring the entire act was. There was a short interlude when a remixed "Sweet Dreams" was played with a beautiful video showing on that screen during a scene change - and it was the rockingest, funnest part of the night for me.

Another contrast serving to highlight the poor show quality was when late in the concert they had each of her dancers come out to do an individual solo while their names flashed on the screen. I was surprised that her dancers were so good because the choreography of the show was so sub-par. But these guys brought the house down with their solos - I loved Tiana the best. So while I loved that part, it also left me wondering why we weren't seeing their skills on stage. I mean, Britney isn't dancing anyway, so why not let the dancers entertain us??

There were some problems, as with any big show. One acrobat hanging from a silk piece seemed to be having some problems and I was afraid during his entire act that he would fall. After Britney disappeared and the magician jumped onto the set where she had "disappeared" the set didn't collapse all the way, kind of negating the whole "magic" idea. And there was one wierd scene change where a curtain must not have been down when it should have been. Britney just came crawling out of a hole on her hands and knees to the center stage and sat lacing up her boots, then stood up and started "singing". It was really wierd, and I'm SURE a curtain was supposed to be there.

And then... Britney yelled "Hello SACRAMENTO!" I started laughing, as did half the audience, the other half including my girls were looking at each other saying "What did she say??? Sacramento????" My thoughts were just "I guess she didn't hear Nicole yelling San Jose 300 times." My daughter turned to me and said "I don't really expect anything else from Britney." Which was kind of sad.

It ended and the girls seemed happy but strangely quiet. As we sat in the car waiting to get out I polled them all on their feelings. The concert across the board received a solid B+. Reasons cited were: Lip synching, no dancing, kind of boring, and... "What was up with 'Sacramento'???" and then... "The PussyCat Dolls were really good though!"

It wasn't a total loss, not at all. The girls were still so excited that they got to see PCD and Britney, and the screams I heard at the beginning were worth the money that I paid. They all agreed that they had a great time, it just wasn't the BEST time. I know that when I took them to see John Mayer of all people, there was much more excitement in the car and we couldn't even SEE him we had sat so far away. But that's because John Mayer puts on an AWESOME concert, and he sings for real and plays awesome guitar and is way better on stage than on your radio. He doesn't need spectacle and dancing to entertain.

But Britney didn't have enough of anything.

Have I mentioned that we're going to see Britney Spears in concert tonight? Yeah, nothing completes an Easter Sunday like Britney!

I was able to pre-order four tickets months ago, with the understanding that Buffy would invite two friends who would pay for their tickets. They are not the super expensive tickets, but they aren't the cheapest ones either - but reasonable, I thought. So for months Buffy has been the star at school - who would she pick to accompany her? Who would be the lucky two? She locked one down right away, a life-long friend who loves Britney.

But for the other ticket... you wouldn't think it would be so hard to find someone to take it. Not for lack of girls wanting the ticket, it's the whole Easter Sunday thing that's holding them back. Parents don't want to let the kids go on Easter. I don't know about that. Easter has always been a morning thing for us. Even at my parents' house, Easter dinner was a late lunch. If I had wanted to go somewhere after that I know they would have let me.

But that is a parent's perogative. The fact is, all but one of Buffy's friends were told they couldn't go because it was Easter. The other friend didn't have the money.

So I was faced with an option: Sell the ticket to someone I didn't know, or bring Buff's friend and give her the ticket. And that's what I decided to do. I would rather spend the money and see a kid super happy than sell it to someone I didn't know.

So around 5pm we're driving to the HP Pavilion so we can buy shirts and things. Then at 7pm the concert opens with the PussyCat Dolls, and then Britney.

I doubt it's going to be an Easter themed or appropriate show, but I know three teeneage girls who are going to be very very happy tonight.

I take back any qualms I had about Tom Wopat playing in Chicago, because the man can SING. He has a beautiful voice and was a PERFECT Billy Flynn. It was a really good show and I'm glad we got to see it - Buffy and Mark had a great time too.

CHICAGO!!!

Buffy and I (and her ever-present friend Mark) are going to see "Chicago" tonight at the Center for Performing Arts! All three of us are so excited. And I just found out that the show stars...

Tom Wopat!

HAHAHahahaahaaaaaa. I think that's kind of hilarious. He better be good, haha, I don't want that good ole boy ruining one of my favorite musicals!

Britney's new Circus video.

You have to admit, *cough*, it's pretty awesome.

You all know me and Ms. Britney Spears have a major love/hate relationship going back many years (okay, it's all one-sided, WHATEVER!), and I missed the VMAs last night (but have Tivo set to record it tomorrow), HOWEVER, you cannot deny the happiness and life in this picture.

Ms. Britney, I didn't really believe you had it in you. Good one. I'm actually kind of proud of you right now.

That was one of the best Grammys I've ever seen.

Also, I would like to have whatever Tina Turner has been drinking for the last 50 years, because that woman... WOW.

And my sweet Amy Winehouse swept five awards and made me cry during her performance. I love her album like nothing else and was so happy to see her... better. It seems like she has a lot of people close to her who care about her very much, and I hope she can get better. The world will lose an amazing talent if she can't get her act together. Unlike some people whose names rhyme with Spritney Beers.

Anyway, yeah. Those Grammys were great.

So I went to school and took a test and went to lunch and came back...

And she's still in rehab? I was shocked actually that there was no new news in the time I was gone.

:-D

(A podcast I'm listening to right now is saying that Christina Aguilera could be caught on tape having sex with George W. Bush and she'd STILL come out ahead of Britney Spears, hahaha... crude and rude and awful, but so so true)

Oops, she did it...

...again. and again and again.

And Kevin has the kids and the world rejoices. And Satan makes himself a hot chocolate on account of all the snow outside his door.

Yeah, she's out and I'm done. I have too much studying to do to keep up with these stupid antics now.
Although the story that K-Fed told her he was going to ask the court to drug test her hair DOES sound like a logical-to-Britney reason to shave her head. I tend to not believe most of what I read (especially on the internet) but that story actually makes more sense than anything I've heard or come up with myself so far.
Anyway, she's out and on her own now.

Poor kids. Again.

She's in rehab now and that's a good thing. For her, for all of us, for anyone who really doesn't want to see the shaved cooch again.
The shaved head is fine, it's the other part I can do without.

But do we really need to see pictures of her walking the grounds of rehab? Should a photographer be paid thousands of dinero for snapping a photo from a helicopter of a woman who's possibly mentally ill (even if temporarily)?
No.
I don't understand why there aren't more laws regarding papparazzi - Yes, freedom of whatever and also "they asked for the fame" blah blah blah - but there are limits. Sick people should be left alone.

Can you believe it's my arch nemesis Britney that brings me to blog again. Back to Aeschylus I go.

~~~Because in an hour Spike and I are going to a Contributors Party at Cinequest - YAY!
And then back to Aeschylus - BOO!

So...
Ya'll know I hate Britney. With a wild passion.
I hate that this beautiful girl could rule the world except that her damn stupidity keeps getting in the way.
I hate that she keeps proving the old adage "You can take a girl out of the trailer park, but..."
And while money can't buy happiness, it certainly can buy you some good clothes and a stylist or something.

On the other hand, I've had some compassion for her in the last few months. True, I've been voyeuristically following her trainwreck self, and loving every minute of it. But I also know how really really really crazy you can feel during a divorce - no matter how ridiculous it would seem to others that your kids could be taken away, the very idea can drive you insane. I've been there, I remember. I don't absolve her of blame - really Britney, would it kill you to spend TWO MINUTES with your kids?? and... panties, hello? But some of the stupid stuff she was doing I guess I hoped she would figure out eventually. And she hasn't.

So then she goes and shaves her head. And a big deal is made of it and she is headline news on fucking CNN of all things... and so the only questions the media thinks are valid are: Did she do it for publicity? or Did she have a breakdown?

There are two other possibilities: Did she get sick of that ratty, bleached and dyed, knotted up with extensions hair and decide the best way to deal with it was to start over?
or Did she decide she wanted a completely new and beautiful look?
Either one is a non-crazy question.

The media coverage intensely bothers me as many reports are saying Britney was "out of control" and "a nightmare" etc., during her shave and later tattoo... but the photos clearly show smiles, and the VIDEOS show a very calm Britney getting her tattoo. She may have been upset when she shaved her head, but she seemed to be completely within her senses.

Now this morning I see this. And that, is ridiculous.

Damn Britney, even if you woke up and realized you made a horrendous mistake - you look good bald! Take ownership of your bald head! Be Proud! Say "See Ya'll, I shaved my damn head and I look HOT. Let's see Paris look this good bald!"

But no, instead she puts on a cheap Buffy wig she got from the Halloween store (my daughter has the same damn wig). Can 100 million dollars not buy a nice wig? And can Britney Spears not rock a bald head without shame?

What happened to the new and improved Britney we saw on David Letterman just a few months ago? What happened to the person who dressed her that day?

As much as I hate the girl, I do wonder what is going on in that shaved little empty head. Part of me really wants her to get her act together and prove that she CAN rule the world.

And the other part of me wonders why I just spent all this time on this post instead of reading Aeschylus.

I just saw the Public Affair video right now, and I have to say it (and the song) is so bad it just kind of made me hurt.

I was thinking that if I were Catie I would say it kind of hurt my feelings it hurt so bad,

but then I decided it would be more like Catie to say it hurt her so much it made her want to punch Jessica Simpson in the head.

And then I would have to agree with her.

To be fair, Murphy pointed out that the Brit picture below is photo shopped, with the original to be found here.

Which does point out the horrors of celebrity-dom, because that is pretty damn horrible to have a picture of you changed like that and then posted all over the internet.

But two more points:

First of all, Britney is still far from ready to go out of the house in the real picture. I never drive down the street and see anyone looking like that who is not either a) selling something in the vicinity of the vagina, or b) happy the last sale bought enough crack to last the day. Britney has millions and millions of dollars, why can she not find a nice comfortable dress to wear, something presentable, I mean those shorts don't even look comfortable. I don't think celebrities need to dress up to leave their house, but there are comfortable weekend wear to be found at any clothes shop, be it K-Mart or Target or fucking Bloomindales or Dolce & Gabbana or WHEREVER. GET DRESSED FOR FUCKS SAKE.

And second, except for these photoshopped pictures, I'm not buying the "Scary papparrazzi" story. You never see any other papparrazzi in the pictures, I didn't see any photographers with their cameras shoved into the car windows as she drove off with the kid on her lap. These pictures actually seem to be taken from a distance away, so I just don't buy this supposed "danger".

I had a baby once, in fact I had two babies 18 months apart. I still found presentable clothes to wear out of the house, and my hair usually looked like I had washed and combed it. And photographers or not (and there were NOT) I still found some nice comfy clean sweats to wear and a comfy t-shirt that made me look presentable - EVEN when I had baby-spit-up all over me I looked presentable. I have never ever ever ever, not even when I had the flu, not when it was 105 degrees outside, not when I was a size 6 and hot and cute, not EVER, have I left the house looking like a pregnant crack whore ready for the afternoon shift on second street.

And we were making $20,000 a year, so Britney, shut the fuck up and get dressed. And buy a fucking brush. I HATE stupid women.

Okay so I'm just going to admit it AGAIN, that I really do kind of love Christina Aguilera, and I REALLY. REALLY. LOVE. her new song "Ain't no other man". And the video is probably going to be played on my iTunes AT LEAST as much as Golddigger has been.

Face it. In the war between Christina and Britney, there is a clear winner.

First of all, Christina can sing. She can outsing Britney any day of the millenium. Christina will outsing Britney when they are both 80 years old and no one even remembers who that Louisiana white trash with the six kids was.

And then, you know, the whole growing up transformation thing. I mean, Christina went through her DIRTY stage, which drove me up the wall, but I kind of cut her a lot of slack for it because I understand the whole getting away from the Disney image thing, and the wanting the world to understand you're a full grown (dirty) woman now, and also - God help me if the press had been following ME around at that age, because I probably wouldn't have fared much better.

The thing is, Christina cleaned herself up real good. Britney is... done. You know, the sweet little sex bomb image is gone, never to reappear, and she never could sing. But Christina has it all, and you know what?

Good for her. Keep on singing.

I don't know if you all like to try different types of music, or music from different countries, but the kids and I REALLY do. And I've discovered that I really like 90% of the CDs put out by Putumayo (I HATE the Celtic one. HATE.) We have so many of their CDs, but this weekend I got the Italian Cafe CD and I really really love it.

Who knows, maybe some of you hate the Putumayo CDs, but the kids and I really do love them, and I really really love this one. So I'm just passing that along.

So don't you think they should come out with a waterproof iPod?
How cool would that be?
I could probably swim all day if I could listen to a book or music underwater.
Gosh that would be so great, why hasn't someone invented this already???

I'm ahead of my time I tell ya.

P.S. Just so there's no misunderstanding, I don't mind having my face in the water, in fact I love swimming at the bottom of the pool most of all (for fun), I just have a difficult time breathing the correct way. I never got that timing thing down I guess. That's what makes it difficult for me to swim more than a few laps at a time because eventually I look like I need rescuing as I gasp for air. I can swim across the pool with one breath - but only once. Anyway hopefully we'll learn that breathing stuff this semester. Although, as suggested to me, I did see one of the swimmers wearing goggles and a snorkling tube...
But if you think I would ever do that, you're crazy, heh. Not in class. You know me, I gotta be the BEST, all the time, and breathing through a snorkle won't cut it for me in class. Not to mention I bet it won't be allowed starting this Saturday.
Now, if someone would just please invent the waterproof iPod I would be a happy happy girl.

My iPod arrived today - Can you believe how fast that was?

So now I'm busily putting all my music onto it...

Wish it came with a little more instructions...

Okay, for instance - I had wanted to take the music and audiobooks off my computer once the were on the iPod so I didn't take up so much room on my work laptop - but it says if I remove them then they will be removed from my iPod at the next update... is there a way to avoid that? Do I HAVE to store everything on the computer also?

Super Freak just came on... you know those commercials where the iPod listener is bebopping down the street, dancing to music only they can hear?

That's totally going to be me.

I can't wait to go to the gym with this now - OH, but how the heck am I supposed to hold this thing at the gym??? I have the 30GB video iPod, there's no holder, no clip, nothing. And apparantely those armbands don't hold this... What do you all do with it when you're not holding it or at your desk?

I heart my iPod already.

My iPod won't be here until next week, but in the meantime I have iTunes now and have already spent $20 on Pink, Cake and Reel Big Fish. Oh, and some Black Eyed Peas. Tell me some good songs. To listen to at the gym. Happy, upbeat songs!

And now we Get This Party Started...

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