Taking It Back Tuesday...

Let's take it back to 1999.  Life was simpler then, right? A time where we believed in Y2K and overplayed one of Prince's greatest greatest hits.


As I was standing at the corner of 16th and Wisconsin, anticipating a light change to cross the street to head to the gym, I was passed by a bus that in large letters along the side was the name "CLEOPATRA."  And although many of you may have begun to think of the woman Elizabeth Taylor once portrayed on the big screen, I happened to get carried back to 1999.  Some of you may already know this about me, but I tend to operate through music.  At times in conversation, I may hear something and it reminds me of a song lyric - sometimes to to point that I start singing.  So, when I read the name, my mind immediately went to a song by the 90s female British R&B group Cleopatra.  That's right, three pre-teen sisters singing a song called Cleopatra's Theme where they even, multiple times, spell out Cleopatra.  Wow, what a song.


To give you a better idea of what I'm talking about, why don't you too go back to 1999 and check out this hidden gem of a song:

Mass Texts

This weekend clearly marked the beginning of the holiday season with Thanksgiving and of course, Black Friday.  Thanksgiving is often marked by informing those you love that you're thankful for them and the relationship in which you share.  I was actually unable to make it home for this year's celebration of giving thanks, but was fortunate to spend the weekend with friends I consider to be family.  For those who I was unable to spend the actual day with, but wanted to inform them that I was thinking of them, I utilized technology through skype and text.

And although I utilized technology, there is one thing I did not do: send out a mass text message to my entire phone book.  Now, some of the mass texts I received or my friend received on the holiday were fairly creative or very nice.  However, some of them that I received were from people I don't even talk to anymore OR numbers I no longer have saved in my phone.  Following the holiday, my phone buzzed to inform I had a new text.  It was from a number I didn't know and it asked who I was so they could add me to their phone.  Not knowing who I was speaking with, I asked for their name - which after their reveal, had NO clue who this individual was.... she then texted shortly thereafter and told me she assumed those in a mass text she received were also her acquaintances.  Not the case. 

So, why is it that people choose to send a mass text to their entire phone book on holidays?  I can understand going through and letting those few individuals know, but is it necessary to go all out?  I'm not saying don't be nice to people and I for one did enjoy the very creative texts in my inbox...  I guess what I'm saying is it's OK to not reach out to everyone you know on a holiday.  I'm not going to be upset because I didn't hear from people I never talk to on a day I want to spend with my closest friends and family and I would assume many others would feel the same way.  So, just know, I won't be offended if you don't send me a text on Christmas.  Chances are, I'll be singing carols and drinking hot cocoa.

Indie Music and Hipster Staches

After the summer of 2010, I realized something.... I left my heart in San Francisco.  So naturally, I had to come back to the city by the Bay.  When I was out here last summer, I wanted so very badly to attend some shows in the city.  I was able to go, but due to the CalTrain schedule, was unable to see the show in its entirety.  This trip was going to be different.

Last night, we were fortunate to score tickets to the Blind Pilot show.  If you have no idea who this is, please check them out.  They are a great and if you like what you hear of their recordings, imagine it being that much better live.  

To couple this amazing music experience, I was surrounded by my favorite counter-culture throughout the entirety of the evening, hipsters.  We saw a fair variety of mustaches and thick rimmed glasses.  Folks were enjoying cheap adult beverages and were wearing a good amount of flannel.  I pretty much was in hipster heaven.

To top the evening off, Blind Pilot decided to give an encore where on their last song, came off the stage, had the audience sit on the floor and without microphones or anything fancy sang this tune: 3 Rounds and a Sound.

What an amazing way to end a night in the city.  And it's moments like this where I hold firm to thinking San Francisco is the greatest American City.