Please Don't Snog my Blog........

though you may be tempted to.......

Friday, April 9, 2010. Wanted to see Neon Trees and 30 Seconds to Mars but the days had waned on with no luck of winning tickets. Three hours before the show was set to begin Jason and I decided that we would highly regret it if this opportunity drove on by. So I called the box office, got ready and we picked up our tickets at will call (no fees that way!). To our pleasant surprise our stubs led us straight to 3rd row center. The Pearl was quite full so our only contrived explanation to our premium seating was that the seats must have been on hold and released last minute.

The Neon Trees opened first. I learned of them from a friend and became an immediate fan. The best part is they're a bunch of Mormons from Provo! After they performed I caught up with them in the lobby and got a few photos and had them sign the CD Jason had bought.

Tyler (the singer) and me

Elaine (drummer), Chris (guitar), me and Branden (bass)



Neon Trees on stage



Next up was 30 Seconds to Mars. All you ladies out there who are my age I'm sure you remember a show called "My So Called Life." Everyone was in love with "Jordan Catalano"- his real name is Jared Leto and he is the singer of 30 Seconds to Mars. Now you know and knowing, my friend, is half the battle......
Jared sporting a pink mohawk

The place went dark and some random drum soloist came out on stage. Just when I was about to open my mouth to complain, Jason nudged me and pointed to our aisle. It was dark but I could tell something was going on. Just then a spotlight shown down upon a pink mohawk. Yes it was Jared Leto less than FIVE feet away from where we were sitting. It was a highlight for sure!

He talked and sang there for about 10 minutes then took off running through the crowd and jumped down to the floor area to make his way back on stage.

Saturday, April 10 we had the distinct honor of attending the concert of Muse with Silversun Pickups as the opener. Thanks to persistence, these tickets were free, won from 107.5. I really enjoy both of these bands so I was really looking forward to this night. This concert was held in the arena at Mandalay Bay.

Jason and I waiting for the concert to begin....

Muse on stage

They had great effects during the show and put on an extraordinary concert. When a show is that great you can't help leaving an even bigger fan.

Two great shows in two nights, it doesn't get much better than that! I have to add some footage of the concerts below. As usual the sound is crappy but I love the live action- almost like you were really there!! Well I was really there, but since you weren't, well I guess some of you might have been- just check it out.....

Neon Trees.....

Some Muse......

*disclaimer: blogger pretty much sucks at uploading videos so I only got these 2 up. Anything longer tha 40 seconds it just can't handle it! Step it up Blogger!!

HeRE i gO AgaIN.....

1. Glee and excitement soon turned to sadness and mourning-

Jason caught Jace this lizard just days before his birthday. Lizard was fed and sheltered yet still succumbed to death a few weeks later, much to Jace's dismay. The old saying still holds true-"It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all." RIP little lizard......

2. Memorial Day weekend is always fun when you can get out of town.

Took advantage of the long weekend by going to the cabin in Cedar City.

Lauren brought along her friend Shelby and together they had fun trying on the funky hats at the antique store.

Jace's hair was growing out of control so we talked him into a trip to the barber shop.

Ready for summer now!! Looks good!!



Lauren and Shelby drove around the go cart until it ran out of gas..... then we filled it up and they drove some more!


I had the privilege of shooting Jace's new BB gun.




Jace shooting his BB gun




He is such a good shot that he shot this lizard right in the head. Poor little lizard!!

Jace was the first to shoot through the red dot.

3. Cousins + swimming = lots of fun!!

Cousin Koben's first swim!

Jace causing trouble

Lauren's friend Haley giving cousin Ava a ride in the water taxi

Jace giving cousin Jaxon a ride in the water taxi

these two plastic cups entertained Jaxon for quite some time

relaxing in the spa!

4.1st annual Cub Scout carnival. Will the fun ever end??

the pic a part yard donated this car to be smashed up. This "game" had the longest line all night. I believe Jace did some damage on his turn!

Jace and I ran the bean bag toss game. When Jace saw this picture he laughed and laughed- he thinks he looks weird!! He told me not to put it up but it's the only one I got so too bad!!

5. Jace's first season of soccer comes to a close.

Coach Cory had a swim party for the team and handed out their awards.

6. Eight kids that are all bored?? Take them to the Springs Preserve!

It was a wee bit too hot for the playground

everyone say "traaaash"

watch out for the flash flood!!

Lauren and her friend Haley getting cool by the stream

and that my friends is what we have been up to. THE END

you gotta check out this video. The girls were driving the go cart around but Ray (the dog from down the street) kept running in front of the them. It was quite funny!

the streets of......

SAN FRANCISCO


it was march, the 25th to be precise, when we began our journey to the great city of san francisco.joining us were our friends donald & angie and kevin & belinda. we stayed in union square at the marriot hotel and were pleased with our accommodations. after arriving our first adventure lurked only a few blocks away- chinatown. seemed to me to be your average "tourist trap" with a plethora of trinket and souvenir shops carrying just about anything you can dream of that's "made in china." we decided to be brave and have lunch in this foreign land. after passing a few questionable places that may have been a little too authentic for our taste , we asked some guys who we'd assumed were undercover cops on a stakeout what they would recommend. they didn't lead us astray and we ended up having quite a tasty lunch.

it's me entering chinatown

thought these hanging lanterns were quite cute

ohhh the ambience

-i was pretty much in love with all of the architecture and took lots of pics but i will spare you and keep it simple.my favorite, the columbus tower, also known as the sentinel building, was completed in 1907. its distinctive copper-green edifice shows one of the few examples of buildings remaining in san francisco that pertained to the flatiron style (it is known to locals as the flat iron building) of early 1900s american architecture.the tower is the home of francis ford coppola's zoetrope studios and he also owns cafe zoetrope that sits at street level.wow it looks quite capacious compared to that wee pointed building behind it......

ohhh wait, perhaps that was just an optical illusion considering that pointy building happens to be the tallest building in san francisco at 850 ft. tall. it is known as the transamerica pyramid. it was designed by architect william pereira and was completed in 1972.

-our next stop was none other than the world renowned golden gate bridge. finished in 1937 it was the longest suspension bridge and has since been surpassed by eight other bridges. design credit goes to irving morrow while engineering credit is a bit controversial.

got this picture riding in a topless double decker bus.....



jason is checking out the view

it's me and golden gate

look here we are again- we like to hang out

-rumour had it that wicked was playing so after some investigation i had acquired 2 tickets. i had heard all the hype but really didn't quite know what to expect. let's just say i wasn't disappointed, in fact i pretty much loved it. eden espinosa played elphaba and she was fantastic. it really was one of the highlights. this mural was painted on the building.

the orpheum theatre was absolutely gorgeous!
Built by impresario Alexander Pantages (1867-1936), the theater was inspired by a real 12th-century Spanish cathedral and is over 80 years old.

beautiful on the inside and the outside

Jason ready to go in

isn't this the cutest little lantern! couldn't pass by without a picture!

-the next day we braved the infamous alcatraz. it wasn't as creepy as i had been led to believe, though it sounded like this was a place you did not want to be sentenced to.

inside the cell

old stairs on alcatraz with an old lady in front- wait that's me!!

the people who worked here were lucky enough to enjoy this view

i think jason would have fit in nicely....

-next we decided to visit fishermans wharf where we had lunch at the boudin sourdough cafe. quite tasty. checked out the shops and the stands selling fish that didn't seem to meet the health code requirement.

the carousel at the pier

jason donating to the breakdancing fund- i would bet these guys make good money!!

the hercules tugboat

me, belinda and angie on lombard street, yes it's the curviest street

we pretty much walked up this steep street from the bottom where the water is. good thing we stopped for a ghiradelli sundae about half way up. the sugar rush gave me the strength to go on....

a little drive- by on haight- ashbury in our topless vehicle. we found out we arrived about 40 years too late for the summer of love, so we moved on.......

but not before seeing this.....

the six painted ladies. aren't they beautiful........

jason insisted we ride a cable car, it really would be a shame not too

we ate at the stinking rose. it 's name suits it's cuisine because everything is made with garlic and lots of it.

kevin and jason enjoying their garlic

after dinner we walked up telegraph hill to the coit tower just in time to watch the sunset

this art deco tower was designed by architects arthur brown, jr. and henry howard. it was completed in 1933.

at the top....

jason and i checked out the uss pampanito WWII submarine

bringin' out the big guns.....

thought this cable car was pretty cool


and that sums it up. loved san fran but it was pretty chilly- wore my jacket the whole time!! hopefully one day we will be able to go back and maybe even take the kids.