D life

More public transportation for me this weekend, as we took the Metro from the (FREE) Universal lot to Hollywood for Sunset Junction.

One the way, 3 girls complained about the five block walk. “Isn’t there a stop any closer??” they whined.

Really?

But they weren’t hefty so I couldn’t be rude and say “Well, you look like you could walk a little.” Still. Everyone needs to walk a little these days. I suppose I should just be glad they used public transit.

Sunset Junction was alive and awash with some of the greatest people watching spots ever. For those not in the know (and before Saturday, that was us) they close down a section on Sunset in Silver Lake, put up 3 to 4 stages, rides, vendors and alcohol tents and charge about $20 to get in. All the vintage comes out, the hip kids, the hollywoodies and some crazies too, because you can’t be near Hollywood without some loonies.

We came for the Cold War Kids but took in some Broken Social Scene, which sounded pretty damn good. And pretty much like Broken Social Scene. Don’t really have much to add to that. After chowing on a sausage (heh heh) and some Sake drinks, I braved the job-johnnys.These people are serious about their  port-a-pottys. One set had a group cheering every time someone came out.

Cold War Kids kicked major ass, and now I’m afraid to see them again, cuz we all know how THAT will go. Maybe as long as I don’t pay for a large venue? Still can’t quite figure out the shirtless, hairy fat dude banging the drum during the final song.

Now why doesn’t the Metro go to the Westside??

What did we do again? Oh yes! I had some very girly girl time with the fabulous Teresa. It was her birthday weekend and we spent Saturday all over the Westside. This girl loves her some Japanese treats! I got a good reaction from her after stopping in Giant Robot, Giant Robot 2, and Happy Six. But when we went into the Tokyo Discount or whatever it’s called, all hell broke loose. With 5 minutes left on the meter, she oohed, ahhed, and squealed over every last item in the store. So I told her, “Um, we can go by Mitsuwa later. If you like this, just wait…”

At the beach, I tried on my Sketchers skates for all of five minutes, and I was done. I need an empty lot, a whole lot of padding and maybe a couple of cocktails before putting those damn things on again. Glad the birthday girl was such a good sport, as we changed our plans to shopping/people watching up and down Venice and trying out a new cafe. There, we wet our whistles with a carafe of Sangria (delicious! could have had more!) and a cheese plate (oh so yummmy!).

Tired of that local color (and the people down there are quite colorful) we headed to Mitsuwa, and proceeded to spend about an hour oogling the items. T had to touch, sniff, and ponder EVERYTHING. Makes me very proud to have such places in my ‘hood. We know we were both from Japan in another life. That is, if there is such a thing.

Sunday there was merrymaking at the Getty Center with the Malloys. They are all J’s, and we met up with them for the childrens music hour, an event which I give an A+ because it is FREE! (well, if you take the bus and don’t pay for parking, then it’s a whole lot cheaper) You’d think between 4 adults we could handle 2 four year olds and an 18month-er, but man did they wear us out. Get Jimmy and Kieran together, and the energy just explodes. They ran up and down the hill a thousand times, hit on some neighboring teenage girls, and found a play toy in the large wicker baskets put out with free blankets. Not such a great idea. About as good an idea as all of us going out for dinner at Don Antonios afterward and expecting them to sit still and behave. (LOL)

After failing to get them interested in doing the Hokey Pokey with Julie and I, you can see we clearly needed some refreshment:

Wine in Plastic cups. Hey, atleast they had wine. Thank you, Getty!

OK, how could I not love a band who throws out lyrics like this

You said “send me stationary to make me horny”
So I always write you letters in multicolours
Decorating envelopes for foreplay
Damn extended metaphors, I get carried away
On the back of a natural disaster, fixed with parcel tape and with kids sticking plasters
Nothing says ‘I miss you’ quite like the poetry carved in your door with a stanley knife

–from My Year In Lists, Los Campesinos!: Hold On Now, Youngster

I never thought the twos should be labeled terrible. I braced myself, and thought the threes were going to become terrible. But folks, NOW we’ve entered that other dimension. A dimension that’s slowly driving me out of my mind. There’s the signpost up head: we’ve arrived: The TERRIBLE FOURS!

Kieran has turned into a whining, complaining, fit throwing monster-kid. He’s like me around my time of the month, only every single day. He had his first meltdown since he was 2 in the grocery store recently because I refused him a Hot Wheels car. Before this, he might whine slightly, or pout with his thumb in his mouth, then suddenly be distracted by something else and become chipper and talkative again. Not now, in THE TERRIBLE FOURS! With every no comes back talk (“Don’t say no, mommy!” “Stop that!” “YES!” “I want to!!”) With every gentle urge to help clean up or to stop playing with his penis for five minutes, comes endless whining or a loud “NO!!”. No more helping him dress or he fiercely grabs his clothes and yells, “I CAN DO IT!” Try to talk to him seriously about his behavior and he walks away, or crumples to the floor, or turns in the other direction and sulks. Let him scream and cry it out in his room and he’s back there again in no time. Oh, and accidentally bump him, and he’ll say, “Say you are SORRY to me, mommy.”

I feel like I’ve turned into this monstrous witch, who is constantly growling, snarling, yelling, pointing fingers, and having to punish this once incredibly lovable and inquisitive little boy. He’s always gotten into some trouble here and there and received punishment, so I do not believe it’s any lack of rearing. We’ve just found ourselves suddenly thrust into unknown territory, that, as I scour the web, I find is all too common. Whew. At least I feel better that I’m not the only mom-demon out there.

What kills is that he’s perfectly well-mannered, jovial, and listens intently at the day care. That Ya-Ya’s got to have some funny tricks up her sleeves….

Something I have learned this summer: I am not as crazy about seeing bands I love a second time. Well, at least not if I went CRAZY over their first show.

While Me First & The Gimmie Gimmies was fun last night at the House Of Blues, it just didn’t have the awesomeness from the show at the Troubador a few years ago. That show was even more intimate, yet I don’t remember much of a mosh pit down front. Everyone was just singing along, jumping up and down, they were all casual in their Hawaiian shirt. This time, to get somewhat close you had to be willing to get tossed around, and I had had enough of that in the recent earthquake, thank you very much, and didn’t care to relive it. But to hang back behind the huge pit of moshers, everyone just stood there like a lump of clay, leaving me to be the sole loser “getting my groove on.”

So, going with what I’ve learned here: If I go see The Cold War Kids at Sunset Junction, I might have the best time ever and fall even harder for them.

Good to know!