October 25, 2007

Ryan's Two Today

It's been a tough week, but it's time to say Happy Birthday to the cutest boy in the world.

Posted by Shannon at 5:11 PM | Comments (8)

July 11, 2007

The Man Takes a Call

Posted by Shannon at 10:11 PM | Comments (1)

June 28, 2007

Meatloaf and Fried Chicken with a side of Mac & Cheese, Please

First off - last night was the third episode of Top Chef Season 3. So far, this is shaping up to be a great season - way, way, WAY better than Season 2.

Last night, the challenge was taking traditional home-style recipes and reworking them to make them low-cholesterol and healthier. The reworked dishes were then sprung on some senior-citizenly Miami Beach Elks club members.

Well. You should have seen the look on the contestants faces when they viewed these dishes. Tuna casserole? UGH. Meatloaf? YICK. Fish & Chips? HOW CAN I POSSIBLY LOWER MYSELF TO THIS. While I am thinking, I absolutely love to cook, and eat, all that white trash stuff.

OK, this is the one bad thing about having all these uber-experienced contestants. (Well, more experienced than in the past, anyway.) Sorry, but franks and beans ROCK, especially when you have a hangover - just ask any British punk rocker. Wait - maybe they only eat the beans. Whatever, you get the drift. Chicken and dumplings, mac and cheese, these are the foods I would pay extra for if they were done well. What were the contestants thinking?

As it was, they couldn't cope with it. I guess it could be the absence of fat that turned them all into a bunch of lame-asses. This challenge turned them all into Season 2 type chefs when up till now they were looking very Season 1.

Amuse-Biatch has an absolutely brilliant piece about last night's quickfire challenge, which involved sea creatures and quotes like "I don't dick around with conch." I wish I could write that well.

In other news, Wilco are coming to San Diego! August 29 at the San Diego State Open Air Theatre and I have KILLER seats, thanks to Mark. And Arcade Fire is coming to the Hollywood Bowl on September 20, so I'll be heading up for that. Tickets go on sale this Saturday... I scored a decent seat on the presale somehow. This is making up for me missing not one but TWO Spoon shows when I am in France in September.

So, it's good that I am finally feeling better, because there is a lot of stuff about to happen.

Posted by Shannon at 6:07 PM | Comments (1)

June 18, 2007

My Big News

I've been sick. Laid out, hot and cold, sweating. Unable to breathe or lift anything.

I love living alone but I'll say this: being sick alone? Beyond horrible. It's the only time I wish I had someone around to take care of me. I'm getting better now, thanks god.

Anyway. The "big news" is not so crazy; I guess it might have sounded that way because my sister-in-law Carrie called me to admonish me that she should be told of big news before my blog readers! Sorry Carrie. I'm not pregnant, getting married or divorced, I did not get fired or get a promotion, and I am pretty sure my cholesterol is the same as it's always been.

The big news then.

I've been a part of the slowtrav community for over five years as an active member. This is a group of people that have become like a family to me. Like, it is a HUGE part of my life.

Last week, Pauline, founder and "Queen," as we call her, asked me if I wanted to become a moderator and head up my own forum on Spain! After about five seconds of deliberation I said yes.

My job as a moderator will be to get people in there, so if have been to Spain, want to go to Spain, or, well, just like Rioja, please stop by. Just be nice, 'cause I have the power to whup your butt if you aren't. Just kidding, I won't whup anybody's butt. I don't think.

This is a cool new chapter in my life and I am really excited about it. So, onward! HERE is a link to the Spain and Portugal forum. As moderator, I command you to check it out! Just kidding. Maybe.

Posted by Shannon at 6:45 PM | Comments (4)

June 12, 2007

Tales from the Homeland

I'm not going to write too much about Sunday's Independence Jam. It wasn't a very good day - Miller Lite and White Trash Assholes equals Recipe for Disaster.

Spoon was OK. They were great, actually, but it's nothing I've not seen before. They only played one new song, Britt appeared to be wearing the same outfit I saw him in at their show here almost a year ago... not that this matters, really. But I was, between the assholes and the repetition, not only unmoved but unhappy. Could it be I am falling out of love?

Whatever. The rest of the show was fine, Interpol was good, but it was all pretty bland.

Thankfully, last night made up for a hundred shitty shows. Wife Hannah and daughter Emma being in Wisconsin for a few days, Brian asked me to join him for an early meal at The Vine. We met there and proceeded - with the help of the staff - to drink many fantastic bottles of wine. It was just a perfect Monday evening at The Vine, with a lot of comraderie and a killer dish of pasta with pancetta, broccoli rabe, and Boschetta al Tartufo - a cheese with bits of white truffle. That pasta, with the Nebbiolo and then the Barolo we drank, was really incredible.

It's always fun to hang out with Brian but to hang out with him on my side of the bar, instead of him waiting on me and everyone else at The Vine, was awesome. There was another dude in there too, John, who looks like the last real OBcian with a beard down to his navel, who instructed me about Permaculture. So not only did I eat some killer food and drink some unbelievable wine but I also learned something completely new.

Eventually Brian and I went to John's house and this is where the evening got trippy. John lives in a house that I have walked by a million times and I always loved the way it looked. It looks, well, like a house in OB should look - hippiesque, unkempt, welcoming, funky. So we go in and then to the backyard where there are a series of lean-to type structures and dudes are back there, living in them! It's like a jungle, like the treehouse at Disneyland but real, like some kind of crazy dream. Maybe it was the wine, I dunno, but it was intriguing.

Anyhow. For every bad day, a great night. Right?

Posted by Shannon at 6:32 PM | Comments (0)

May 19, 2007

Please Packed Your Knives and Go

Yes, that's right, it is 6:30 in the morning on a Saturday in May. "What is she doing up that early?" you ask. "Ah, she must be taking off in an airplane for somewhere really cool again." Because that is the ONLY good reason to get up this early on a Saturday.

Unfortunately though I am not taking off in an airplane for somewhere really cool. I woke up to the sound of screaming at 5:30. Seriously, it sounded like someone was being murdered. After some time I went outside and it was one of my normally quiet neighbors (most of my neighbors are really loud, so this was a surprise.) She was SCREAMING into the phone, crying hysterically, for a long time. Pretty freaky. Anyway I have to drive my grandma to Phoenix today for my cousin's wedding so may as well get an earl(ier)y start.

The sun has not come out here in days. It is May Gray and there is a cool wind off the ocean that I am going to really miss when I get to insanely hot and dry Phoenix. It's frikken 100 degrees there already. Yick.

Other than that, not much except for my very first magazine article was recently published and I am really happy with it. The article is about Venice, it's in Packed Magazine, and you can download it, very slowly I might add, here. I'm on page 42, which is weird because I AM 42. Or maybe that's not so weird. Whatever. It's the May/June issue.

One can only hope it leads to many great things. In the meantime, off to Phoenix.

Posted by Shannon at 6:34 AM | Comments (2)

May 14, 2007

ChChChChanges

It was only a matter of time; I've always known that Britt Daniel will eventually be a very famous rock star.

Now he's on the cover of Spin. It's started. Actually, he is not really On The Cover; unless you fold it out. The company he is keeping there is pretty impressive.

Well, (heavy sigh), life changes. I knew it would happen and I guess in the future I won't get to see Britt at smallish clubs like Canes anymore. I'll be forced to go to SOMA and wait on the friggen' pavement of a strip mall for four hours and then I won't even be able to pee all the wine I consume without fear of not getting back on the floor. Or I'll be sitting in row H at the Greek Theatre in Hollywood. I'm not so sure I like this chain of events. It really sucks, for me!

But it is good for Britt Daniel so I suppose I should be happy for him. Sniff.

Speaking of change, yesterday I took a long walk around my own neighborhood. I don't usually get much past the Vine, but yesterday I had a special hankering for fried seafood or some other kind of pub grub. I had heard about a new Irish pub on Newport called Gallagher's, but they don't seem to be open for business yet - though they look to be almost there. So I kept walking around the corner to Tower Two - a sort of fish taco/breakfast/cheap wine and good beer sort of place. Unfortunately for me, the three server chicks completely ignored me for about twenty minutes despite my meaningful glances. Guess it was a mistake to sit inside by the door (huh?) So finally I got up and left. Yesterday I did not have the energy to scream out "YO CAN I GET A PINOT GRIGIO AND A FISH TACO IN THIS PLACE OR WHAT?" Oh well. On my way out, I looked up and noticed that the OB location of Nick's at the Beach, after what seems like two years of getting it together, is about to open. Those chicks at Tower Two had better get their shit together.

Finally in a sort of I've Got to Eat Now or I Will Pass Out state of being, I wandered over to what used to be Ortegas but is now the Blue Parrot Cafe. I hadn't been back there since I got an extremely violent case of food poisoning there about a year ago, and it was with major trepidation that I ate my cheese enchilada. But I seem to be OK today (though the food wasn't so good.)

People were out in force, though it was not exactly warm, and everything was packed. I don't like Newport Street on the weekend so much. I definitely prefer it on my morning walks when there is hardly anyone out and when I sometimes see three or four people I know, because we actually live here.

Anyway. The Vine might be opening for lunch soon and then I won't have to bother with these other places at all. Now that is one change for the good!

Posted by Shannon at 6:41 PM | Comments (0)

May 9, 2007

Nightmare out, Reality TV in

You might be wondering where I have been. Well, I was traveling, and then I got home and I have been haunted these past few days by dreams and imaginations of bad, bad things. It hasn't been a good week what with the worries and the cold sweats. I will not bore you with details... after all I have a reputation to protect.

BUT.... big news and that news is, a new season of Top Chef is starting June 6. I think the REAL season actually starts June 13, but there is some stand-off episode between the winners of seasons one and two on the 6th. (I think.)

At any rate the contestants of next season are up on bravotv.com and in the very near future I will give you my run-down on all of them. I didn't do so good on my last season's preshow predictions; I did, however, do quite excellently on my predictions after the first episode.

Of course, I did not predict how I would end up rooting for Marcel in the end. By the time that came around, the show was so boring I didn't even write about it anymore. Let's hope they handle it all a little better this time.

What with all the concerts coming up - Arcade Fire, Raveonettes and THEN Spoon (whoo hoo!) AND Interpol in the first ten days of June alone, it's already looking like a crazy summer. So, it would be in my best interest to not think about identity theft or pole shift for a while. There are better things to obsess about.

Posted by Shannon at 9:25 AM | Comments (3)

May 6, 2007

Wine Baby

I am back and promise to post more soon. In the meantime ya'all have a look at my beautiful nephew.

Posted by Shannon at 8:32 AM | Comments (1)

February 26, 2007

Continental Lift

I am home. I got home yesterday, and I feel very, very lucky that American was kind enough to get me out of Houston on a Continental flight. Lots of people were stranded. Maybe I would still be there, I don't know. All I know is I am very thankful I didn't get stranded for very long.

Yesterday was my first Continental Airlines flight in, I think, something approaching twenty years. I'm scrunching up my forehead now, trying to remember if I have flown them in the near or even not so near past, and I don't think so. The last time I flew on Continental was so crazy and out of control weird and so completely impossible in the world we live in now, that I feel compelled to write about it. In twenty years, everything has completely changed.

In 1987 and 1988 I lived in New Jersey for a time - I moved there for love, but it was a sick and twisted love. Fucked up, alcoholic, kicked in the face kind of love. About halfway through my ten month sentence I decided I was going home for a couple of weeks, and when I say I decided, I mean I decided. I drank a few coconut margaritas and the next thing I knew I was at Newark airport. I had no ticket, and to make matters worse I had no cash. All I had was something like two hundred bucks in the bank and my checkbook. Who the hell was I kidding? I wasn't going to get out of New Jersey and back to California on that. Not on an airplane, anyway.

So me and my boyfriend are at Newark airport, and even though he is an asshole in general he sees the desperation and wants to help me get home for a while. At the counter, we are told by the agent that we are trippin'. Airlines don't book tickets at the last minute for $200, and they don't take checks. The fare is something like $350 in cash. (I had no credit in those days, I'd already crashed and burned as a college student with a Visa card.)

I was not surprised to find my hopes dashed. But as we walked away the agent called out my boyfriends name. Turns out, they went to high school together and while my boyfriend was currently a total dick, in high school I guess he was something of a legend. That was all it took - within minutes I had a ticket for a flight for San Francisco that I had purchased with the dregs of my checking account. As impossible as this seems in 1987, now it is just, well, Totally Impossible.

It gets better. On this Continental aircraft flying from Newark to San Francisco, they had a BAR. One you could go up and stand at! Sit at! Drink at! Have conversations with other passengers and flight attendents at! They were trying to make flying fun, so they put a bar in on the friggen plane. The thought of being able to get up and go hang out at a bar on an airplane is so weird and random and impossible now that if I had not experienced it once myself, I am not sure I would believe it really existed.

Our flight was delayed three hours, so drinks were free. DRINKS WERE FREE, AT A BAR, ON A PLANE. It's true, I swear it. I drank heavily with a bunch of surfers and it was really fun, but then things got a little out of control and they made us go back to our seats. I can still see all those mini bottles of Chivas and Stoli rolling around on that bar - it was insane. Insane, and fun. What happened? Flying is definitely not fun anymore.

So thank you, Continental Airlines, twice - once for the memory of the way life used to be, and again for getting me safely home yesterday. Now, if you could just hook up some San Diego to Europe non-stops, we'd be set. But even if that never happens, it's all cool for now.

Posted by Shannon at 6:15 PM | Comments (2)

February 17, 2007

Voros Bor, Por Favor

The other night, I was in the Vine and started talking to one of the other regulars about my upcoming trip to Berlin.

"Know any German yet?" He asked.

"Entshuldigung Zie! Bitte! Guten Tag! Weiss Wine! Rot Wein! Uh... uh...." I tried to remember something else. How are you... how are you... vie... vie... "uh... uh..."

"Rot Wein. That's a good one to know." Whew.

It is a good one to know, and I have been meaning to put together this list for some time. It's a work in progress, so feel free to comment if you have anything to add. I, for one, am dying to know how to say red wine in Polish, just in case.

HOW TO SAY RED WINE IN MANY LANGUAGES.

rot wein - German
vino rosso - Italian
vino tinto - Spanish
vin rouge - French
voros bor - Magyar (Hungarian)
sheraaz - Australian
rode wijn - Dutch
rodvin - Danish
vinho tinto - Portuguese
czerwony wino - Polish (Thanks Angie!)

As for any more, uh... uh....

Posted by Shannon at 6:00 PM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2007

Home

Is where the heart is.

More later.

Posted by Shannon at 3:09 PM | Comments (1)

January 22, 2007

On the Road Again

Yes, I am alive. Just on the road... one week down and three weeks to go. I've listened to Anthony Bourdain read "A Cook's Tour" (twice) and driven over the Golden Gate Bridge (twice) listening to Spoon's "A Mathematical Mind" (both times.) For the past few days I have been taking care of my 15 month old nephew Ryan. Kind of. Actually I have been helping my mom take care of my nephew. I have learned that it is virtually impossible to watch a fifteen month old by yourself. Not impossible, I guess, because people do it all the time. Maybe the right word is exhausting. I don't know how people do it. As a single, childless person, I can do whatever I want. If I wake up with a hangover and decide to lay on the couch all day, I can do it. If you have a kid, that's just not a possibility. I already had a lot of respect for the job of a parent. Now I have a sort of awe going on. How on earth do you do it with more than one? Also, if I was a parent I think I would be constantly worried that the kid was going to choke on something or fall off the slide at the park or somersault themselves into a head injury.

Tonight is our last night. I have a sort of empty feeling in there somewhere, along with the borderline exhaustion and emerging homesickness. I did learn a new skill - changing a diaper without puking. I have never changed a diaper before now, and I am forty-one years old.

It's been a dream of mine to have no home, and to just travel around and blog about it. But I am not so sure I am really cut out for that anymore. Could be age, could be that I really love where I live and don't want to leave for too long. Like being gone a month is... hard. Even with constant movement, with seeing all my old friends up here in the Bay Area.

So. Onward. I wish I had time to write what I wanted to write about the Golden Gate Bridge, I wish I had time to write about my now almost overpowering desire that I could not only meet Anthony Bourdain, but that I could BE Anthony Bourdain. About Top Chef: everyone knows what a mess this season is, and how it should be about the food (but not Kraft or Nestle) and not about these weird, petty squabbles. It's just getting really old now.

I'm off to Sacramento tomorrow for the Unified Grape Symposium, one of the only trade shows I like working. I'll try to write more after. Also, I had to turn off comments because I was getting spammed pretty bad, so go ahead, authenticate yourself. You know you want to.

Posted by Shannon at 4:59 PM | Comments (1)

January 5, 2007

Boy from the Hood

I almost forgot.

Lest you think I have given up on Top Chef, you'd be mistaken. How could I with bizarre head ensembles such as this? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

Posted by Shannon at 7:13 PM | Comments (2)

December 23, 2006

All I Want for Christmas

Is to pinch my nephew's cheeks.

Happy holidays, everyone.

Posted by Shannon at 9:08 AM | Comments (3)

November 28, 2006

Vellington Butzch

Today was one of those days where I ask myself: doesn't Christmas suck? This is my busiest month and it is crazy and I make good money and everything but damn if it doesn't just totally burn me out. I get sick of talking to people. Some lowly sales clerk at one of my accounts was a little short with me today ("what do you think of this book?" My contact asked him. "I don't think there is much there." Lowly sales clerk said. "Yeah, but they are SELLING." I say.) Upended back-hairs and borderline dirty looks ensued. Tis the season. I can't blame the guy for acting like a dickhead, as he has been having to explain why young, expensive Cabernet Sauvignon might not be the best choice to go with turkey and stuffing or oyster stew or whatever to way too many people in the past couple of weeks. And I can't blame myself either, because I have been working this account for fifteen years. Fifteen Fucking Years! I know what sells there, believe me. I have gone through the first three weeks of December - AKA Hell - for fifteen years straight, except for when I took a break to start my own catering company but then also moonlighted at another kind of hell, the Williams-Sonoma call center. Even when I lived in Italy I came home just before Christmas and went to work packing orders for the rep who was handling my territory while I was gone.

It's so exhausting. Also I think I might need glasses. Everytime I drive for more than an hour or so I get a headache. Does that mean I need glasses? At first I thought it was from playing Sonic Youth or Spoon too loud but today I was listening to a learn-German tape so that can't be it. Unless both loud music AND German gives me a headache. Today I learned some cool stuff, like how to go to a pharmacy and ask for some toe plaster in German. I kid you not. There is a plaster you can buy should you get a stubbed toe.

I do have something remotely interesting to write and that is this (especially for my readers who know her): I got an email from Lisa Doucette and she is living in NEW ZEALAND! Lisa is one of my best friends ever but she moved to Vancouver a few years ago with her husband and kid and we lost touch. I wrote to her a week or so ago and her email got bounced back - because they are in friggen New Zealand! Now with two kids. Thankfully she got a bee in her bonnet to write me just after I unsuccessfully wrote her. Her husband Andy is working for... OK this is how exhausted I am, I can't even think of the name of that Hobbit director dude. Anyhow. Lisa and Andy are blogging about their new life in New Zealand and it is hella cool. I've always wanted to go there, and now I HAVE to! Check it out.

New Zealand sure is lucky.

Posted by Shannon at 6:42 PM | Comments (1)

November 22, 2006

The Anniversary Party

First things first - today is the second anniverary of The OB Vine! Crazy to think that exactly two years ago, I managed to wander in to be the second customer (who was the first one? Can we cancel him out?) after many months of waiting. And now, the whole crew and the bar itself has become such a part of my life. It is remarkable, really. One day you are in a one place (in my case, a very solitary one), the next day you are in a totally different place, a better one. And that is because of The Vine and the people I have met there.

Second thing - Happy Thanksgiving. This is an American holiday, but with a sentiment I try to acheive every day. I am incredibly lucky and truly thankful every day. Regardless of the fucked-upness of the world in general, things and events I see daily remind me that there is a lot of beauty, love and compassion in the world. Maybe I am an optimist, maybe I am just blind, or stupid. But if you can take that love, even if it is blind, and spread it, well.. maybe you can shift everything from bad, to good.

I love my family and want to tell Jay, Carrie, Ryan, Tom, and my mom, Connie, that if it weren't for you I wouldn't be writing this mushy stuff right now. You are the best family ever. Kasch and Antonia, I can't wait for you to come here and hang out with us and I am oh, so happy that you will be here.

And then there are my friends. I have SUCH AWESOME FRIENDS. Colleen, you fucking rock and I would take a bullet for you. If there are things to be thankful for, it is friends like you. Leigh and Laurie, Chad, Ariane, Lisa, Prentiss... you are all family to me even though you don't live close to me anymore. No matter what though, you will be family forever.

My friends at home, my new home: well let's just say life in OB is good, but wouldn't be quite so good without you. Mark, Andy, Cheryl, Brian and Hannah, Margaret and Bob, the cast and crew of The Vine...

And then there my internet family from slowtalk. Who aren't really an internet family since I have met and partied with quite a few of them. It's a pretty awesome group - one that was enriched my life immensely.

It's so crazy. I am living alone and have been for some time but to be totally honest, I feel totally surrounded by people and energy all the time. I am lucky. I am thankful. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Posted by Shannon at 8:23 PM | Comments (3)

November 7, 2006

Coming up for Air

I am tired but it is done:

Thank the fucking gods. Yo, all you who want to a) write about food or b) think it's really fun or c) think you'll make a lot of money or d) would like to self publish a book. I've got news for you: it is hard, it is time consuming, it is expensive, and also, it takes all the fun out of life. There. I said it.

Anyhow, it is done, and in the end, if it helps even twenty people to find some great food, killer wine bars, and awesome times in Venice, then, well, it is all worth it (I guess.) In a nutshell, my version of a Jeff Spicoli-esque plug.

In other news. Due to exhaustion, I haven't been feeling up to much. It's funny though, because I have a feeling that all I have really been missing is my on and off infatuation with Britt Daniel. Sometimes I forget about him now, and this is totally horrifying to me. I think it is these moments (the non-Britt ones) that I am at my most bored and lethargic. Not even Top Chef can rile me up at these times, and that is sad.

But in the end, I still love, love, love Britt Daniel. You know those ads on TV for that movie Stranger than Fiction with Emma Thompson and Will Farrell? That music - that killer song - on that ad is SPOON.

Yes. They are on the verge of superstardom... they are almost as big as Wilco... and soon there will be a million Britt loving wanabees... and I will go to Spoon shows and will have to squish and shove and say, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY, I WAS HERE FIRST. BIYATCH.

Whatever. I'll never grow up. In the meantime, for my listening pleasure, and yours if you want it, is a New Tune from Spoon.

Yep. It's not the Beast and Dragon Adored... not yet... but it is awesome, and the best possible cure for this tired girl.

Posted by Shannon at 8:40 PM | Comments (1)

Coming up for Air

I am tired but it is done:

Thank the fucking gods. Yo, all you who want to a) write about food or b) think it's really fun or c) think you'll make a lot of money or d) would like to self publish a book. I've got news for you: it is hard, it is time consuming, it is expensive, and also, it takes all the fun out of life. There. I said it.

Anyhow, it is done, and in the end, if it helps even twenty people to find some great food, killer wine bars, and awesome times in Venice, then, well, it is all worth it (I guess.) In a nutshell, my version of a Jeff Spicoli-esque plug.

In other news. Due to exhaustion, I haven't been feeling up to much. It's funny though, because I have a feeling that all I have really been missing is my on and off infatuation with Britt Daniel. Sometimes I forget about him now, and this is totally horrifying to me. I think it is these moments (the non-Britt ones) that I am at my most bored and lethargic. Not even Top Chef can rile me up at these times, and that is sad.

But in the end, I still love, love, love Britt Daniel. You know those ads on TV for that movie Stranger than Fiction with Emma Thompson and Will Farrell? That music - that killer song - on that ad is SPOON.

Yes. They are on the verge of superstardom... they are almost as big as Wilco... and soon there will be a million Britt loving wanabees... and I will go to Spoon shows and will have to squish and shove and say, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY, I WAS HERE FIRST. BIYATCH.

Whatever. I'll never grow up. In the meantime, for my listening pleasure, and yours if you want it, is a New Tune from Spoon.

Yep. It's not the Beast and Dragon Adored... not yet... but it is awesome, and the best possible cure for this tired girl.

Posted by Shannon at 8:40 PM | Comments (1)

October 27, 2006

Guess Who's 1?

He's his uncle Tom's nephew. A future rock star.

He's also takes after me in some ways.

Damn. Is he awesome or what?

Posted by Shannon at 8:26 AM | Comments (1)

October 26, 2006

Sangria + Lychees = a Recipe for Disaster

I have some questions. Firstly: Is This Hot?

NOT. This is the contestant who is not afraid to use her sexuality? The one who shook her ass on camera in her audition tape? Man, she is butt-ugly. She's all crosseyed and shit. Plus, to make matters worse, she's a PASTRY CHEF WHO ISN'T VERY GOOD AT MAKING DESSERT. Hmmm. The whole situation is a little sketchy.

Mommy, Otto did something bad and I'M GOING TO TELL. Oh wait, I'm not going to tell. I'm going to huff and I'm going to puff and then, I'm going to get ELIA to tell.

Lame.

Second question. WHAT IS UP WITH SAM'S HAIR?

Dude. At least Midgely had the good sense to cover his up. Also, you look way too serious all the time.

Posted by Shannon at 7:46 AM | Comments (0)

October 19, 2006

Tattooed Love Boy

He did it! That sound you hear is the bitching and moaning of the millions of people who HATED JEFFREY.

Laura was robbed! (Bullshit.) Uli was robbed! (Well, maybe.) Michael sucked but he's so young! (Uh, yeah.)

But Jeffrey got it and he deserved it so la, la, la.

I'll write more about Top Chef later but for right now, this morning I had the craziest dream that I was ON Top Chef. As a CONTESTANT. Also I was MAKING OUT WITH HAROLD. I love dreams! Anyway, it was almost a complete episode, with snarky comments like "I can't believe two of the chefs are actually making out when they are suppose to be cooking" and lots of video footage of said making out. Also, me and Harold were a team but I was in charge of table service, and had to put a bowl of soup on a table that was already set. Unfortunately for me, a napkin was askew, and the judge got a little nasty about it. I was like, I didn't actually SET this table, but let's face it, if I wasn't making out with Harold, I probably would have noticed the askew napkin. I woke up before the judging, thank god.

Anyhow. I will write more about the actual episode of Top Chef later but for now, the Yes No and Maybe:

Ilan D. Hall: YES! He WON!
Sam Talbot: YES! He won the quickfire. I LOVE him and hope to have some dreams about him soon.
Marissa Churchill: Maybe. She was looking pretty confident in the quickfire for a pastry chef.
Otto Borsich: NO. Not if he keeps running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.
Cliff Crooks: WHO? Not sure I noticed him.
Suyai Steinhauer: Sadly, being cool did not help her. She is already OUT.
Michael Midgley: Maybe. If he lays off the Bud Light and flies under the radar.
Mia Gaines-Alt: Maybe. Knows frogs legs, but does she know tripe?
Josie Smith-Malave: Maybe. She's everyone's lesbian big sister.
Marcel Vigneron: Yes. Sadly, I think this guy is going all the way. I could be wrong, but he has a bit of a Stephen air to him, without the fun. Speaking of Stephen, where are the wine geeks? No sommeliers? What a drag. Also, this guy is lame.
Elia Aboumrad: Yes. She is a little too serious though. Give the girl a Bud Light.
Emily Sprissler: Maybe, but give the girl a Bud Light, also some mascara.
Frank Terzoli: Maybe. If he has any Bud Light, please don't let him near a karaoke machine.
Betty Fraser: Yes! She's everyone's helpful mom.
Carlos Fernandez: Ugh. No. Have you ever slept with someone and then after, felt feelings of revulsion? I have, and that is how I feel about this guy. I can't believe I ever liked him once, I must have been drunk.

Now I am off to eat some frog leg and chicken liver cakes. NOT!

Posted by Shannon at 8:38 AM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2006

Please Get Your Knives Out Soon (Before we all go crazy.)

In two days, a killer night: the finale of Project Runway AND the first episode of Top Chef 2.

WHO will it be? I think everyone pretty much knows who I want to win, so I won't go any further there. But there has got to be a reason only one of them is smiling. Right?

Anyway. On to Top Chef. Most of the contestant videos are up on BravoTV.com and here are my pre-vision predictions.

Ilan D. Hall. Anyone with a weird name and a funny haircut stands a chance to make it about half way even if they kind of suck. He's a bit young though. Favorite ethnic food is CHINESE? Wrong answer, go to the back of the line, I take it back about what I said about names and haircuts.

Sam Talbot. Kind of a dork but cute and has a lot of experience. Solid, like Harold. Also hates salmon and I hate salmon too! So he's got that going for him, for me, at least (besides the cute part even.) A contender.

Marissa Churchill. A pastry chef. Unless every possible stroke of good luck hits her, she has absolutely no fucking chance making it to the top three. She could, I guess, be one of those uber anal pastry chefs who never party and therefore, won't show up for a challenge hungover, whereby she could win with a pastry wrapped oyster with a passion fruit glaze. Still, I predict she won't make it past five or six challenges.

Otto Borsich. This guy will either make it all the way or will get booted within two episodes. He is half Italian and half Hungarian (that is quite a volatile combo) and his favorite food is PORK. Gotta love a guy who knows himself. He has a ton of experience and will either be a really great guy or a total dickhead. We shall see.

Cliff Crooks. Snore. That's all I have to say. He might get pretty far because he is so boring that no one will even notice him or his dishes, thereby never being on the top or at the bottom. Congratulations, you have made it to the next level, because no one noticed you.

Suyai Steinhauer. Love her! Want her to go to the top three out of sheer coolness. She's funny and hot and used to be a vegan but now she eats meat. She loves eating with her hands. I love her.

Michael Midgley. Homeboy is a line cook in Lodi, California, the heart of Nowheresville. He wears flip flops from Walmart and loves Big Macs. He doesn't have a chance in hell. I give him three episodes unless, like Miss Pastry Chef, he gets handed some serious luck.

Mia Gaines-Alt. Oh wait a second. I was in error when I said Lodi was the heart of Nowheresville. Actually, OAKDALE, where this chick is from, is the heart. Lodi is like, the spleen or something. I don't know which one is worse, the heart or the spleen, when referring to a place in this manner. Anyway, she at least has her own place so she might get a little farther, even though her clientele are "cowboys."

Josie Smith-Malave. I foresee her saying "multicultural" too much. Loves sandwiches and also, condiments. She's really loud and looks kind of scary so I think she has a good chance.

Marcel Vigneron. He doesn't seem too creative but says he has an experimental palate and likes exotic ingredients. Also likes collard greens? And sour gummy candy? Hmm... he may have the name/haircut thing on his side. But then pops off stuff like "Bell Peppers are over-utilized." Really? Where? At Round Table Pizza? The Greek place down the street? Ah, the young.

Elia Aboumrad. Another crazy name, but she has tons of experience in France and now in Las Vegas. Plus she is Lebanese but grew up in Mexico and I doubt she will throw around the word "multicultural" too much. From the first impression standpoint she seems a very strong contender, and she is only 23! I don't see her showing up with too many hangovers, but I also don't see her being a bitch about everyone else's.

Emily Sprissler. She hates mayonnaise. She pronounces Gyro "jie roe." She will eat bad tiramisu. She doesn't stand a chance.

Frank Terzoli. He's from San Diego, and I'd like to support the home-town boy, but... Well. He does have experience, but he hangs out at karaoke bars. His favorite food is ravioli, which is a plus. His explanation of Italy, not such a plus. But whatever, I'll root for him just because he is from San Diego, even if he is sort of a dork.

Betty Fraser. She has her own restaurant and she makes "California Comfort Food." Sounds good to me. Has never been to Europe, wants to go to Barcelona to eat tapas. Homegirl, give me a call and I'll tell you some better places to get tapas. She is the "Dave" of this season, but with a really short skirt. I foresee a soggy nacho or two for sure, but I think she has a chance to squeeze in to the top despite her goofball star earrings.

Carlos Fernandez. HE'S been to El Bulli. HE has his own restaurant. HE is a good looking dude. HE is this season's Harold. HE will make it pretty far.

Also, I think there will be a Tripe challenge. That's it for now.

Posted by Shannon at 6:51 PM | Comments (0)

September 6, 2006

Happy Birthday Tommy. Love, Sis

My brother's 40th birthday is tomorrow and I just want to get this in today in case he checks in the morning:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM! YOU ROCK.

Last year I had my 40th in Sicily, with people I love. This year Tom will have his in Belgium, with people he loves. I wish I was there, but I can be there in spirit. Yum, frites taste GOOD.

Anyway Tom, if you get this (or Kasch if you read this print it and bring it to him) I want to say I love you and I am proud of you, little brother. Have a fantastic day.

All my readers feel free to leave Tom a little birthday message of your own. ESPECIALLY the ones who know him...

Posted by Shannon at 6:41 PM | Comments (7)

August 13, 2006

Antenna to Heaven

Something a little crazy happened yesterday. I have a six-CD changer in my car, but for the past few weeks I have been jumping around from Radiohead's The Bends to Spoon's Kill the Moonlight (sometimes I listen to "Jonathan Fisk" over and over just so I can listen to Britt's little moan at the beginning) and Eels' Beautiful Freak, ignoring the other CDs in there, pretty much. So yesterday I am driving around San Diego, a beautiful Saturday morning, and Takk comes on. After one minute, maybe two, of listening, I was suddenly gripped by this overwhelming sense of sadness. It was, well, almost crippling, and I almost had to pull over. Instead I kept driving, all over OB, stopping at stop signs and sitting there not knowing what to do and what the hell this was all about.

For a while I played with it in my mind. Just like everyone else, I am worried and scared and horrified by what is going on in the world, but it wasn't that. I am really super bummed that I probably can never take wine or water on an airplane anymore and I am really not looking forward to flying through London in October if I have to check my cameras and carry my passport around in a plastic bag. But this is not freaking me out so bad I can't breathe.

So finally it dawned on me. Takk. Nancy. Duh.

Nancy Lytle died suddenly a year ago last Thursday, and I wrote about it, but it was an angry piece, and I pulled it down. I think about Nancy all the time, and of course thought about her Thursday night as I sipped on many glasses of wine at the Vine (always the self-medicator, me.) But the sense of loss and sadness that gripped me yesterday was so overwhelming, and it was Takk that brought it on. Because one day after Nancy died I drove to Hollywood to see Sigur Ros at the Avalon, and heard those songs for the first time - the record wasn't even out yet.

The music in my car brought me back to a grief a year old. It was the craziest thing. The heart, the mind. Crazy. Once I understood, I forced myself to listen to the entire record, and I drove all the way over to Pacific Beach and back. I drove and listened and tried to process it. It was a major relief when it was done and The Bends came back on.

I really, really miss Nancy. I am crying right now. But Brian has promised to play The Eraser and Gimme Fiction at the Vine later, because it is Sunday. And that is something to look forward to.

Posted by Shannon at 9:56 AM | Comments (0)

August 2, 2006

Emma's Dad

Today was Mr. Brian O'Loughlin's birthday. I can't say much more than: it was immense.

We drank so much good wine it was obscene. Also I ate half a ham sandwich. I'm not gonna use that word. I'M NOT GONNA USE THAT WORD.

Oh, whatever. I can't help it. It was AWESOME. Happy Birthday Brian!

Posted by Shannon at 11:10 PM | Comments (0)

July 20, 2006

Supermassive Time Hole

I've been wanting to do this for oh, so long.

Novocaine for the soul
You'd better give me something
To fill the hole
Before I sputter out

ANYWAY. It's been awhile, mostly it's been kind of crazy around here. Not really crazy so much as HOT and just, well, SUMMER. It seems that summer sort of takes away from introspection. Summer and introspection don't really go together, do they? Plus my apartment is a little sweatbox and I can't hang out in it for too long. Though, it has sort of cooled down a little.

Summer. It seems as if time really accellerates when summer comes. There is, well, just so much going on, and it makes everything fly by. I highly recommend writing a blog, since you can actually go back to weeks or months or years prior and see what the hell you did. Did I spell accellarate right? Fuck.

Summer is sweat, the crack of the bat, the feel of something cold on your tongue when you are hot, sand in the bathtub, too much energy, not enough energy, not enough real sleep. Because sleeping in the heat is way hard, of course. Corn. Summer is also, corn.

I think I have been spending too much time at the Vine. But it is really fun down there.

And tomorrow I am going to see Muse at SOMA. I have mixed feelings about this show, but only because I truly hate SOMA. How about this: SOMA IS THE WORST LIVE VENUE IN SAN DIEGO. There, now I will get at least fifteen google hits a day. It is really an awful place to see a show, but I really want to see Muse, even though compared to The Eraser Muse's new record Black Holes and Revelations sounds sort of superfluous and overambitious. ME: the new minimalist. All because of Thom Yorke!

Well, it can't be anything but good since I am so scared of it. I do love that crazy Muse.

The other night I dreamed about a friend I lost about a year ago, because of a stupid misunderstanding and also, the cruel manipulations of someone else. I can't believe it has been a year, and it is weird that I dreamed about him now. Mostly because I have had time to get over it, and with the shit that is going on in the world today, I just have to say: there is no room, or reason, in the world for this kind of meaningless bullshit. Seriously. We should all just concentrate as much as possible on the positive as we can right now. There is absolutely no room in the universe for any kind of negativity. Did I spell negatevity right? Fuck.

Posted by Shannon at 7:11 PM | Comments (1)

July 4, 2006

Red, White and Hot

Ladies, get thee down to the market to pick up the new issue of Rolling Stone. Not for this:

But for this:

Believe me when I tell you, that the photo of Johnny Depp inside the issue is AMAZINGLY HOT. GOD BLESS AMERICA. France, too. The question is, does he like Radiohead?

So here it is 4th of July already. I went down to the beach at 9:00 A.M. and it is already packed. OB Street Fair is for the locals. July 4th is for, well, everyone else (it seems like.) The cops have their ticket books out, many cans of Coors Light are cooling, the mayo is already getting rancid, and copious amounts of sunscreen are being applied. Yippee. It's a long, long time until the fireworks.

So the Mudsharks shredded at Winstons on Sunday.

I kind of wish I could go on tour with them. Next year, I have to make that happen. I could get a laptop and I could document the tour on my blog. Would that be cool, or what? It would be a different kind of vacation, that's for sure.

Have a great day and try to stay out of trouble. Heh.

Posted by Shannon at 10:28 AM | Comments (0)

June 25, 2006

Wonderland Part II

A little about yesterday.

Wonderland. This is sort of bizarre but: a few days ago I had a blog entry titled Wonderland. I pulled it down (as I do from time to time when my writing is boring and trite) but it was there. And then I go to the OB Street Fair yesterday and there is this arrow that points to Wonderland. And just today, someone actually SAID to me LAST NIGHT WAS LIKE WONDERLAND.

So what the fuck up with all this Wonderland stuff? It's a mystery to me.

Whatever. It's weird but I have to move on. Practically Levitating, I am not. I'll save that for tomorrow.

So the day itself was pretty chill - it was cloudy and overcast here, and I was on a mission to stay sober until night.

This is some of the crew from The Vine partying at Shawn's as I made my way to the beach. Actually they are ALL from The Vine, except for that dude to Renee's right. I don't know who that guy is.

I mostly hung with Brian, Shannah, and Emma at the beach.

Emma is such a cool baby. She's a little bundle of awesomeness (with some pretty meaty thighs, as well.) She'd be the coolest baby in the world, if it weren't for my nephew Ryan. As it stands now, she runs a very close second. I can't WAIT until Emma and Ryan get married and have kids that will be so cool that they will basically rule the planet. The Spawn of Brangelina will look like friggen Oompa Loompas compared to Ryan and Emma's kids.

OK I know that is a pretty crazy idea, but you never know.

So... made it over to Shelter Island in excellent condition, and the Pink Martini show was really fun. I will say right here and now that Humphey's is a lame venue for this kind of show, because for the most part you are not allowed to stand up and dance. However, knowing this, Mark and I didn't even go to our seats but instead, stood by the little cement wall where security will let you hang out if you can't sit still. So there was me, Mark, and two other people behind us standing and dancing a little, and then all the seats filled with prosperous white people sitting down behind us.

It was killer though. Someone told me later, it was the best concert they had EVER seen at Humphrey's. And these people get these subscription packages and go to many, many (populated by the yuppified set) shows. Pink Martini are just totally and completely awesome and they have this new (at least new for me, I think) cellist that totally rocked my world - Brant Taylor. Man. He almost stole the show from singer China Forbes last night, but this could be because he was on my side of the stage. Funny how a passionate Cello playing nerd can suddenly become the hottest guy in the universe.

It was windy, and the palm trees around the outdoor theater were blowing around, and I never looked at a face behind me, because I as close as I could possibly be. It was kind of magical.

After the show I saw Thomas who owns the wine bar in Portland (he was also really great last night) and the first thing out of my mouth was "THAT CELLO GUY. STRAIGHT OR GAY?" Man I can sure be obnoxious sometimes.

So. I am now exhausted because due to a few turns of events I didn't go to bed until really late and I also have a hangover today. Tomorrow is Radiohead and because of said turns, I am not in the same mood I was two days ago. In one moment, everything can change completely, and I feel like in my life these one-moment changes are like a domino game and there is danger around every corner.

Having said that, if Radiohead plays one of the following tomorrow (or Tuesday or Friday) I will be a very happy woman: Lucky. Pyramid Song. Black Star. Just. Like Spinning Plates. How to Disappear Completely.

There are a lot more but I won't bore you with more until Tuesday.

Posted by Shannon at 7:38 PM | Comments (0)

June 15, 2006

Five Years of Slowtrav Awesome-ness

Today is the 5th anniversary of www.slowtrav.com and the Slow Traveler's Community. Trish from Baton Rouge put together this little collage of us all hanging out in front of the Sorrento webcam. Crafty!

The Slow Travel Community is AWESOME. For those not in the know, Slow Travel is travel utilizing vacation rentals (like villas and apartments) instead of staying in hotels. Also, Slow Travelers take it SLOW. Like, two weeks in one place. For lazy people like me, Slow Travel was a way of life before there was ever a name for it.

The creator of www.slowtrav.com, Pauline Kenny, has really done something remarkable - she has somehow created a place that not only brings people together, but keeps them together. I have made SO many friends through the message board, www.slowtalk.com.

I already posted this on slowtalk today, but here it is again. I am on a couple of music message boards and recently I posted an invitation for some Radiohead fans to come by and eat some food here the day before the first Radiohead show. Someone accused me of being a murderer and a rapist! As if! I've just been to so many cool Slowtrav gatherings that it didn't even occur to me that inviting strangers over is weird. At least on Slowtrav, they know I am not a rapist, just a drunken slut. (Just kidding. Maybe.)

Ruth and I could not have written Chow! Venice without the Slowtrav folks. Well, we could have written it, but we might not have sold any, or at least it would have been harder. They are a very supportive group. They also like to drink wine and party. I feel very honored to be among them.

So, Happy Anniversary Slowtrav! Because of Slowtrav, a gazillion journeys have been more colorful and way richer. And for that, we are all very thankful, because an enthused traveler is a citizen of the world and a better person all around. Plus they are better lovers. Right? Right!

Posted by Shannon at 7:40 PM | Comments (2)

June 10, 2006

Everything in it's Right Place

Today is my four year anniversary of living in Ocean Beach.

I still love it here. I mean, I REALLY love it here.

In my life, I have been in love with three places: San Francisco, Venice, and Ocean Beach. And I have lived in all three. My love affair with San Francisco lasted a long time, but it was sort of crash and burn with Venice. I still love Venice, but not like I did. It was probably too intense to keep that one going.

But Ocean Beach is different. Ocean Beach's call is sweet, easy. Never exactly intense. Damp on the skin, but never very cold. It's a small town inside of a big city on the edge of a vast sea. It's really awesome here. I swear.

Today I did what is easy to do in Ocean Beach - nothing. Nothing by the sea. Now I am going to eat Macaroni and Cheese and Ice Cream to celebrate my anniversary here. Thank you, Ocean Beach, for letting me in.

Posted by Shannon at 7:27 PM | Comments (2)

May 22, 2006

Tom and the Scoop

My brother Tom graduated from the music department of San Diego State this weekend. It was a really nice family weekend. We all got to hang out with Ryan and I am bummed because I won't get to see him for a long time. I am really attached to that little guy.

Tom worked his butt off to get his degree, and I can only hope two things. One that he doesn't move away, and also that he has some time to hang out with me a little before he goes on to Europe to tour with the Mississippi Mudsharks.

I'm so proud of both my little brothers. Having babies, getting degrees... in their late thirties! I guess we are all late bloomers. Or maybe this is the way it normally is.

Anyhow. I have a busy week - Wednesday I am going to Independence Jam again. I have already seen the Flaming Lips a few times and to be totally honest probably would not feel a major need to see them again, but I must say I really, really love At War with the Mystics. I love it so much I have to go see the Flaming Lips just in the hope they will play something really weird and not just the "Yeah Yeah" song. It should be a fun night, regardless - hanging with my friend Lil D' and watching five bands on a Spring evening will be cool no matter what.

Saturday I am going to the Eels show at House of Blues. I am really, really excited about this one. I have never seen Mr. Everett live and I love, love, love all of his records. I have absolutely no idea what to expect and this makes it even better. Me and Mark are going to take in a Padres game in the afternoon and then hang out downtown until the show which means one thing - Uber Buzz. It should be an awesome day.

Now if I can just get good seats for the two Radiohead shows at the Greek in L.A..... I am already getting butterflies thinking about it. Tickets go on sale Thursday. I NEED GREAT SEATS. Wish me luck.

Posted by Shannon at 7:31 PM | Comments (1)

Tom and the Scoop

My brother Tom graduated from the music department of San Diego State this weekend. It was a really nice family weekend. We all got to hang out with Ryan and I am bummed because I won't get to see him for a long time. I am really attached to that little guy.

Tom worked his butt off to get his degree, and I can only hope two things. One that he doesn't move away, and also that he has some time to hang out with me a little before he goes on to Europe to tour with the Mississippi Mudsharks.

I'm so proud of both my little brothers. Having babies, getting degrees... in their late thirties! I guess we are all late bloomers. Or maybe this is the way it normally is.

Anyhow. I have a busy week - Wednesday I am going to Independence Jam again. I have already seen the Flaming Lips a few times and to be totally honest probably would not feel a major need to see them again, but I must say I really, really love At War with the Mystics. I love it so much I have to go see the Flaming Lips just in the hope they will play something really weird and not just the "Yeah Yeah" song. It should be a fun night, regardless - hanging with my friend Lil D' and watching five bands on a Spring evening will be cool no matter what.

Saturday I am going to the Eels show at House of Blues. I am really, really excited about this one. I have never seen Mr. Everett live and I love, love, love all of his records. I have absolutely no idea what to expect and this makes it even better. Me and Mark are going to take in a Padres game in the afternoon and then hang out downtown until the show which means one thing - Uber Buzz. It should be an awesome day.

Now if I can just get good seats for the two Radiohead shows at the Greek in L.A..... I am already getting butterflies thinking about it. Tickets go on sale Thursday. I NEED GREAT SEATS. Wish me luck.

Posted by Shannon at 7:31 PM | Comments (1)

May 17, 2006

The Hidden Egg Roll Master of Top Chef

Well. I guess I am all of a sudden realizing that I am a sucker. A sucker! I bought into this whole Top Chef thing thinking it was real and shit. It can't be real. I am just realizing it now, but it can't be real.

It's TV, it's make believe. Hello-ey, girlfriend.

Anyway, Dave got the ax, and he didn't shed a tear - not one tear. The question is, did he deserve to lose?

First though a little on the reunion show, because I just watched it for the first time last night. It was pretty clear that everyone was HAMMERED. Except for maybe Harold and definitely Andrea. Did the producers deliberately set out to get everyone drunk? Tiffani was slurring, her eyes were like slits, and she appeared to almost puke on the side of the stage. Then there was the fight between Stephen and Kenneth... who would have thought Stephen would almost get into a fistfight? I guess it was the expensive Champagne talking, since he was holding an entire bottle with maybe a sip left by the end of the show. For the most part it seems all the contestants really like each other, with the exception of Kenneth and Tiffani who are pretty much universally disliked. Everyone even seems to like Stephen now. So take that, all you Stephen haters!

Then on to part one of the finale. I thought it was going to be one two-hour episode, but I was wrong. And four months have gone by, and now all the action has moved to Vegas. That breaks up a little of the momentum, doesn't it?

Anyway, Dave, Harold and Tiffani, show up for the quickfire challenge at the MGM Grand only to be told that it is not a quickfire - it is an elimination challenge. So instead of a two-hour battle between the three remaining chefs, there is a one hour battle, and whoever wins goes to the next one hour battle.

Here is where the believability factor started to head into the twilight zone for me. The challenge was room service, and it was broken up into three segments. The first was room service for high rollers, the second for poker players, and the third for acrobats in Cirque du Soleil. Whatever. The thing is they only had half an hour to cook each one of these, and there were two dishes required in the first, four (!) in the second, and three in the third. And they only had ten minutes to acquaint themselves with the kitchen, and the available ingredients, which were pretty much everything you could possibly imagine.

OK. Half an hour? And with not even having a fucking clue? Come on. Nine episodes have gone by and I haven't really tripped on the time thing, but tonight the clincher was, for me, seeing a tray of egg rolls during the poker player segment. So Dave, creator of said rolls, hasn't got the time to even breathe while making his four different dishes in that short time period. But there it is - a full-on shot of a tray with maybe ten egg rolls on it.

You can't make filling and roll all those egg rolls and then make three other dishes and fry shrimp and make the sauce for the shrimp and slice up salami and grill the panini, all in half an hour. You could maybe do it all, but you couldn't roll ten perfect egg rolls, at the same time. Something is very very fishy here. Now, if the egg rolls were all crooked and had stuff coming out the corners, I would believe. But they were PERFECT. (AND NOW I KNOW WHY - THEY WERE FROZEN, PREPACKAGED EGGROLLS. I DIDN'T GET THAT ONE LAST NIGHT.)

Also - the judges in the high roller segment were Lee Anne, Stephen and Miguel... I am not sure having ex-contenders as judges is fully kosher. And they all hate Tiffani, and wouldn't they be able to figure out which ones her dishes were? Even served blind, I have to imagine that they would guess where Harold's spicy mussel soup came from. And to not be able to tell Dave's plate from Tiffani's? No way.

Anyhow. Harold totally won everything (and I was sketched because they were making it look like he was going to choke) and then it was between Tiffani and Dave. All of Dave's dishes did really well in the judging, and Tiffani's absolutely did not. But Dave messed up badly on the third round and only made two out of three required dishes. So he lost.

At this point, it's all about hating Tiffani. The other chefs hate her, the audience hates her, she's getting some rashes on her face, from everyone hating her. Which kind of sucks. The thing is, they hate her for being an asshole, but tonight she really proved that she doesn't know fuck-all about cooking for Everyman. The poker challenge was a clear indicator of that. (Three different kinds of potato chips tossed with smoked Gouda? Um, bring me some Ruffles please.) I don't hate Tiffani, and I feel bad that she got that nasty rash. But the bottom line is, in a year's time, if Harold and Dave (and Stephen, and Miguel, and Lee Anne) all have restaurants, people will want to GO to them just to see Harold, Dave, Stephen, Miguel, and Lee Anne. I am not sure anyone would even want to go to Tiffani's restaurant, at least to see her. Which is kind of sad. She is not only a villain, but she is a villain that nobody wants to see for the pure pleasure of seeing a villain. Whereas, seeing Stephen would be totally and completely pleasureable.

Well, it is TV and next week I won't be able to see the final finale because I will be seeing We Are Scientists and the Flaming Lips at about that time... so the winner will cook and be chosen and I will try not to see who it is until I can watch the rerun the next day. I guess it will be Harold, because all that is good and true (and hot and sexy) gets ahead in TV land, and the nasty, rash faced villains only go so far, just to make it interesting.

I still love Top Chef. I am just a little pissed about the egg rolls.

Posted by Shannon at 8:46 PM | Comments (0)

May 16, 2006

Fog, and a Special Treat

Foggy here in OB, really, really foggy. It reminds me of what I grew up in, what I mostly knew as summer for much of my life. But it is warm and also, it is not summer yet. Also there are super tall and skinny palm trees on my street that wave to me every time I come home. So it is all good, even with the fog.

I came home from an evening at The Vine and was totally ecstatic to find that Bradley posted the recent Mogwai show in Boston on his blog. I LOVE Mogwai and am entirely bummed that I have not been able to see them on their recent tour. This is killer stuff. Check it out.

Tomorrow. Team Harold will prevail. Go, Harold, GO! Ya'all know what I am talking about.

Posted by Shannon at 9:43 PM | Comments (0)

May 6, 2006

B for Barbaro. R for Radiohead. V for Victory.

A is for Awesome.

Today was a rollercoaster. I have been a little freaked for the past few days, because of the whole Radiohead-touring-these-small-venues thing. As in - can I get in? You can always get a ticket but it is so much nicer to get a ticket, and not get scammed by dickheads who are buying FAN CLUB tickets and immediately turning around and selling them on ebay for eight times the price. Please, don't get me started - I almost have an ulcer from the past 24 hours as it is. And yesterday when I tried, in vain, to get tickets to one of the New York shows, despite being in the Ticketmaster internet queue right when it opened, it totally freaked me out. I've never been shut out of a show before.

Yesterday was awful. I was beyond bummed that a lot of real fans in New York got shut out and seconds later all these tickets went up on ebay... it was sick. SICK. I have sold tickets on ebay before, don't get me wrong... but they were always tickets I got then couldn't use. The one time I made a huge profit (P.J. Harvey at the Belly Up a few years ago) I felt so guilty that I almost gave the dude the tickets for free. So now I just sell tickets I can't use on craigslist, at face value. Anyway.

I'd already made a pact with my Sigur Ros buddy David that we would each try to get tickets, for all the shows in San Diego and Los Angeles. But then I didn't talk to him, so I wasn't so sure he was still into going with me. Then last night at about nine, my cell phone rang, I answered it, and on the other end was live Sigur Ros. David was in Boise, at a show. I called him this morning. "You're in fucking BOISE?" I asked him. Homeboy is seriously into Sigur Ros and hung out with the band last night so he was pretty happy. "Did I wake you up?" I asked him. "Well I am totally tired and hungover but I have to get the RADIOHEAD TICKETS" he said. "OK you get Monday and I'll get Tuesday and I'll call you back at 10:15" I said. Then we hung up. Then I called him back. "If you get Monday fast then try to get Tuesday!" He was like, CHILL. THAT IS OBVIOUS. I was sort of going a little crazy.

So it went down pretty fast, I was sitting here neurotically hitting refresh until 9:59:50 (and that is when they went on sale - I swear it) and I scored the tickets for Tuesday. When I got back in to try to get Monday, all the tickets were sold out. I called David, and he had got the Monday tickets but couldn't get Tuesday.

A few minutes later Mark called. The first thing I said was "Mark I can't take you." What a friend I am. Well really, I am a really great friend. But nothing comes between me and Radiohead. Sorry bud.

After all that trauma and excitement I should have been flipping out, but I wasn't, I was merely ecstatic. But then I went to a Kentucky Derby Party in Mission Beach (KAMB - all of them - were there) and of course I threw down for the racing pool because I love to gamble. It was a random pick, and for some crazy reason, I got Barbaro. That was AWESOME... I knew as soon as the race started, that Barbaro and his jockey with their apple green outfits were going to bring it in... I walked out of the party richer, I walked out of the day richer.

True love waits, in haunted outtakes. I fucking love Radiohead, and I am so, so happy right now. Truly.

Posted by Shannon at 7:08 PM | Comments (0)

May 1, 2006

Lollipop Kids

That's a teaser. The best photos are below.

Five more days gone next week and then I will be home for a long while.

And in June, Radiohead is coming. Tickets go on sale Saturday, so I won't sleep well Friday. I'll be going to both San Diego shows, obviously, but it would be nice to get a ticket at the regular price.

I have been traveling so much that I have forgotten what it is like to be home. I love this time of year, when the days start to get really warm, but there is a mist on the horizon. I can't tell you, seriously, I can't tell you, what it is going to be like to sleep in my own bed tonight. I had this idea on this last trip, to take a picture of every single room I sleep in when I am on the road. But then I only took one picture. I could always take it with the TV on, to be reminded of what I have watched. Last night it was A Place in the Sun and then Top Chef. I remember, because it was last night. But where was I when I did take a picture? And what the hell was I watching?

I think it was San Luis Obispo. It's all sort of a blur.

Anyhow if I ever retire from the wine business I think I will set up shop as a portrait photographer. Check these out:

Have you ever seen a better looking kid than my nephew Ryan? Plus he is a born actor:

We represent, the Lollipop Kids. I will never, ever be able to look at this picture and not crack up. He is so freaking awesome, I can't even tell you.

Posted by Shannon at 7:43 PM | Comments (0)

January 28, 2006

Believing is Art

I am home! There is nothing like getting back home to OB.

It was kind of a busy trip, and pretty fun, too. I've got to get down to The Vine to get my fix but in the meantime, FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS.

Jason Mecier is a genius. I am so happy with my new purchase. Now, all I want to do is lay on the couch and look at my new picture.

I drove home, fast, from Sacramento. To break the monotony of 300 miles on the Interstate 5 I played "Crown of Love" by Arcade Fire over and over and screamed the lyrics as loud as I could. Finally I made it over the Grapevine, about to collapse from hunger and screaming, so I stopped at the In N Out Burger in Santa Clarita. Here, I learned something new. I am not really into In N Out and could never understand why people like it so much. Also, the fact that they put those scripture thingies on their cups kind of turns me off. But, I've now learned how to make In N Out taste good. You have to be hungry enough to eat plain ketchup. Also, it helps to chase it with a glass of Sangiovese. But mostly, be hungry enough to eat plain ketchup. Then, In N Out burgers taste like flaked Dungeness crab topped with shaved white truffles and melted imported farmhouse butter. I'm serious. Check it out.

Posted by Shannon at 6:33 PM | Comments (2)

January 21, 2006

Dude, Where's my Tam?

After a strange and unsettling week, I am now hanging in my old hometown torturing my nephew by trying to get a photo of him smiling. He smiles when the camera is not in view, but as soon as he sees the camera, he gets all sour and perplexed. He is not a photo whore like his auntie. Not yet, anyway.

Coming back to where I grew up is always weird. There have been so many changes in twenty years that it always makes me sad and sort of horrified when I visit. But today, it didn't seem so overbuilt and ruined as it has seemed to me before. Maybe because it was so green and lush out there that I didn't see all the houses. Or maybe it was because Colleen was with me and seeing it through her eyes, it didn't seem so bad. We went to the new Ritz Carlton which looks like a cheap copy of the Hotel Del Coronado without any of the charm. We had a drink in the "Conservatory." Wondering where Professor Plum was. The service was crap and the wine was sort of off, and the music was horrible. One wonders what the big deal is.

But it has been that kind of a week. Sometimes I just don't want to leave OB. Being here with Jay, Carrie and Ryan is great though. It just took a while for me to release my arms from their pharoah-like grasp across my chest. Ryan is movie-star handsome and also, totally brilliant. I would have trudged across eight thousand Ritz lobbies to spend just a few hours with him. Tomorrow, San Francisco, where I will eat way too much food with all my old friends and will also gaze, for the first time, at my Britt Daniel bean and noodle portrait. I'm feeling all nervous and jittery just thinking about it. In a good way, not in an arms tightly crossed way. Throw open those arms, and receive your new bean and noodle, baby. It doesn't get much better than that.

Posted by Shannon at 10:13 PM | Comments (2)

December 24, 2005

Holiday in the Sun

This is the first Christmas in many years where my little family is not hanging out at my Grandma's for several days. Since Jay and Carrie brought Baby Ryan down at Thanksgiving, Mom came out for that, instead. So this Christmas, I am kind of on my own.

Kind of. Today, me and my brother Tom are going out to my Grandma's for lunch. This evening, I am going to a birthday party (with a tropical theme!) Tomorrow, I am going to a Christmas dinner, and then another party. Thankfully I have both Monday and Tuesday off to recover.

I also have to watch all the movies I love to watch at Christmas. I already watched Auntie Mame. Tonight I'll watch Meet Me in St. Louis. Tomorrow morning - as I do every Christmas morning, I'll watch Babette's Feast.

Last night I watched Mostly Martha. I really love that film. I think I will add it to my list of movies I always watch at Christmas, even though the story of a wounded kid and an exuberant Italian guy breaking through to the closed-off heart of an uptight German chef isn't very Christmas-y. Neither is Babette's Feast. They are both films that make me feel happy and human and make me feel like celebrating. Babette's Feast always makes me cry at the end. ALWAYS. I love movies that always make you cry, no matter how many times you have seen them.

Happy holidays, or happy weekend, to all my readers, and even to the one-times who type "super sexy" into a search engine. Have fun!

Posted by Shannon at 7:41 AM | Comments (2)

December 7, 2005

NotLame

Type, into Google's search engine, "the most awesome website in the universe." Then hit search, or even "I'm feeling lucky."

As Napolean Dynamite would say, yesssssss.

Sorry Pauline, I know your website is way better. You just need to use the word "awesome" a lot more.

Posted by Shannon at 8:20 AM | Comments (2)

November 29, 2005

Kontroll

It's not often that I get infatuated with a movie. I never even get infatuated with movie stars, really, though I do sometimes get sort of into an actor here and there. Now I am infatuated with a movie, AND an actor, and I am also infatuated, once again, with a city I once lived in for a brief time.

I lived in Budapest a few years ago, when it was teetering on an edge somewhere between capitalism and communism. I loved it there. I don't know what Budapest is like now - it was changing rapidly as far as I could tell - but in 2001 when I lived there, it was sketchy, crazy, and colorful. The air was full of sex and violence and all the guys looked like they'd had their noses broken at least once. It was an energetic place to live, one that was scary and weird enough that you felt like you were really LIVING. My personal life wasn't exactly the best during those days but man oh man, did I get off on living in Budapest. Just thinking about it makes me want to change all my dollars into Hungarian Forints and go back.

My apartment was across the street from the insanely huge, American-ish West End Mall. I went there almost every day to go to the cheap internet cafe and eat nachos at (I kid you not) TGIFridays. To get to the mall, I had to go underground, through the Nyugati subway station, to emerge on the other side of busy Vaci Ut, the boulevard above. That was the most insane subway station I have ever been in. It connected to one of the biggest train stations in the city, so it was a double whammy. You could get anything down there - cheap wine (at about a penny a glass), pink-frosted donuts, a change of underwear, puppies, kittens, fresh corn or flowers brought in by peasants from the countryside, counterfeit phone cards, all manner of porn magazines (Budapest was heavy on porn), cheap cigarettes and Cuban cigars (ditto on cigarettes)... you get the idea. I probably walked through that station at least once a day and every single time I thought, if a bomb were to drop on this city right now, all of us stuck down here could live here, for a very long time, on all the stuff down here.

All this gets me to what I really wanted to write about (finally.) A few months ago, I read in a newspaper about this film that was completely shot in the Budapest subway, the subway that you could live in and never leave. And the film was even about a guy who never leaves the subway! So I put the film, Kontroll, in my Netflix cue. I figured it would be a sort of low-budget film with maybe some good acting and the novelty of being filmed in a subway.

Not. Kontroll is a beautifully filmed and well-acted story full of characters and moments I won't forget (especially because I plan on buying the film.) It has a mysterious and sad but strong leading man, some truly inspired chase scenes, dozens of characters that are really like the fairly bizarre citizens of Budapest, and color. The film swims in color. The color of a face that never sees the light of day, the color of a green wall lit by florescent lights, and in the end, a kaliedoscope washing over all the color of a black and white existence. I know that doesn't make much sense now, but you just have to see the film.

The story is basically this: Bulcsú, the dark and mysterious ticket inspector played by Sándor Csányi, heads up a group of inept ticket inspectors, all of them funny and unique in their own way. They go around trying to get people's tickets, but the subway riders don't give a shit about them. These guys can't even get a ticket out of a group of Japanese tourists. They wander around trying unsuccessfully to do their job, and get pretty thrashed trying to do it. Bulcsú seems above it all, but something in the real world above has scared him into a place where he can't go back up, so he lives below, sleeping on platforms. There is a subway driver, Bela, who gets so hammered in the morning that he drives his subway past all the passengers waiting, and has to back up, and his daughter, Sofie, who has to wear a bear suit for her job and who ultimately, will change Bulcsú's life.

There are whores and pimps and street punks, housewives who will beat the shit out of you if you ask them for a ticket, deaf people and stutterers. There is also a guy with a black leather jacket and a hood, that is killing people by pushing them in front of moving trains.

So Kontroll is a film about life and death. I think - though I can't be sure - that it is about Bulcsú's choice between his own life and death. I think it may even be a side of Bulcsú that is pushing people off - well, I won't go there and spoil it for everyone. Just check it out for yourself. You'll fall in love with Sándor Csányi and you'll want to check out the Budapest subway, yourself.

Posted by Shannon at 8:24 PM | Comments (0)

November 26, 2005

The Cult of Ryan E.

It's really weird how having a new baby in the family totally changes EVERYTHING.

The last few days, all we did was feed the baby, play with the baby, and try to get the baby to stop crying, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. I never did graduate to the changing of the diaper, so I can still say I've made it to forty without ever changing one. Even with the aroma, Ryan is the most fantastic baby EVER. He is only a month old and his hair is already two inches long. My brother Tom has nicknamed him "Scooper" - and it seems to be sticking.

Scooper, or "I have a potato in each cheek."

The Vine turned one year old this week. I won't say "what did I ever do before The Vine," because I ALWAYS say that. Oops, I did it again. Whatever, I fucking love The Vine. The only bad thing about The Vine is, I really will have a hard time ever moving away from OB.

Now I know Brian is just smart, and definitely not gay, despite the wall of boys that first night.

Nope, not gay. I think Baby Emma was getting a little sick of the anniverary party at this point. It was a fun party and a great year.

Well, that's pretty much my week. Babyland, a lot of wine, and a new pink suede jacket. Onward.

Posted by Shannon at 3:31 PM | Comments (0)

November 4, 2005

Random moments of Uber-Laziness

I hardly made it out of the house this week. I seem to be in some kind of nesting/laziness mode. Also, it has been a little hard for me to write in my blog lately. I guess I also have a bad case of brain-freeze. It's a good thing I am not a professional writer or I would really be freaking out.

Tomorrow I have to go back up to L.A. to drive author Kevin Zraly around to some events and tastings. It should be cool - he seems pretty chill and we get to stay at the uber-fantastic Hotel Figueroa. Of course, the famous author gets the Medina Suite and I just get a regular room. He should trade with me! Yeah, right.

After tomorrow night's tasting and class, I might just have to drag him to Philippe's, home of the French Dip. Have you ever been to a funky diner with sawdust on the floor and $4.00 sandwiches, but also Silver Oak Cabernet by the glass? I friggin love that place. Whenever my company has a trade show to attend in L.A. we go there, order seven different wines by the glass, and then we get them all mixed up. "Is this the Chimney Rock?" "No, that's the Chimney Rock." Of course after an hour or so it doesn't really matter any more.

I don't know why people diss on L.A. so much. I kind of love it up there. There are these little gems like Philippe's and the Hotel Figueroa. Of course, I am the one who is always whining about the L.A. people at shows.

A few years ago, there was another author in L.A. - Tom Stevenson, a really great wine writer and a cool guy, too. This really weird paparazzi guy who loved Champagne (Tom is a Champagne expert) got Tom to have dinner with him and a bunch of his cronies at this incredibly tiny, expensive Sushi place on Rodeo Drive. Well, me and my bosses Elliott and Donna went with him, but they pretty much gave us the boot. Elliott had brought some of Tom's books because the paparazzi guy asked him to, and then proceeded to SELL them to everyone (did the guy think we were just going to leave them there?) It was all kind of bizarre. Anyway, we left and went right down below the Sushi Place to a steakhouse for dinner. After a couple of hours, we needed to get Tom out of there, so Elliott called the Sushi place and asked for Tom ("urgent call from London" or whatever.) Then we told Tom I'd be up to get him in ten minutes. When I went up there, the paparazzi guy, all smiles now, greeting me warmly and then said, "thank god, you got rid of those AWFUL people." Meaning Elliott and Donna. So I said, in front of the white-male between 62 and 65 crowd of ten guys, "oh, you mean my PARENTS?" Paparazzi's guy's jaw dropped. Tom Stevenson loved that. I hope tomorrow is as fun as that night was.

Posted by Shannon at 5:33 PM | Comments (0)

November 1, 2005

Day of the Alive

Things are suppose to slow down in the Fall - aren't they? But they aren't this year. The whole year has been one big crazy fun party-type situation. And there is no end in sight. There are a bunch of shows this month - Rolling Stones (that one is going to be interesting), Spoon, Dandy Warhols, and then Super Furry Animals on December 1. Plus by some excellent twist of fate I have been asked to find a place to take the Furries after the show, so they can play some records and hang out with their uber-fans (like me.) This is a tough, and also scary, situation to be in. For one thing I don't go to downtown clubs that have turntables, so I don't know where to look, and for another I'll maybe have to talk to them, and really and truly, I am kind of shy when I am around the bands I love. If I don't love a band it is no biggie to be around them, I can talk about whatever, but if I love the band then I get all tongue tied and my chest turns bright red and I get all sweaty and nervous.

Thankfully, I played the new Furries CD for my brother Tom on the way to my grandma's house on Saturday, and he loves it, and he's really hard to please. So now he is going to come with me and it will all be fine, because he is a musician and doesn't have these foot-in-mouth problems that I have around musicians. Assuming it all works out the way it should, and if I can figure out where to bring them.

It is really hot here. November 1st and something like eighty degrees. It was insanely hot in L.A. yesterday and I drove home at dusk and it was one of those inky purple dusks that just wraps itself around you and makes you all sleepy.

Sunday, there was another Slowtrav party, like the fifteenth this year or something. It was held at the home of Liz, and seriously, that house made me crazy. Outside of the flat I used to live in with Leigh and Laurie in the Castro, I think this house was the coolest I have been in, ever. Liz loves the same colors as me and she has all kinds of trippy paintings and ceramic ballerina figurines from the '50's (I think, don't hold me to the decade) and other things to look at. I love it when a place can totally occupy me for hours just looking at all the trippy shit. The dinner, people, endless supply of wine, early sunset; a perfect Fall day.

Now I have to write constantly between now and December 3rd for the slowtrav contest. And on the 13th I get to go up and see Baby Ryan. Last night my mom said, it's like being in love, and it is.

Crazy Fall days...

Posted by Shannon at 5:53 PM | Comments (0)

October 29, 2005

Stop it, you're killing me

Posted by Shannon at 8:40 PM | Comments (0)

September 10, 2005

Forbesalicious

Pauline made some needed changes to my blog today... now you can check out some of the blogs I read over there---->. Also some of my crazy trip reports and stuff.

Pretty soon, I hope, we will get some Poptarticus TShirt action going. I am sure you'll ALL want one. What should I put on the back (if anything?) I want to get them made in time for Spoon's show so I can give one to

WAIT JUST A SECOND. I AM NOT GOING TO MENTION ANY NAME HERE. DO YOU THINK HE WILL PICK IT UP IF I THROW IT AT HIM?

Tomorrow night will be a fun one. Pink Martini is coming! I am going to eat some ice cream tonight in anticipation of burning it off. San Diego sucks for live shows but when bands do come, we often get to see them in more intimate spots. Like, tonight Pink Martini is at the ginormous Hollywood Bowl, but tomorrow I get to see them at the smallish Belly Up in Solana Beach were I can get all in their face and shit. I'm sure China Forbes has heard girls scream her name on many an occasion, but not with the same ferocity as moi. She's enough to make a girl go whatever. (Laurie Bushman, you'all know what I'm talking about... I'll miss you tomorrow for sure!)

Posted by Shannon at 7:50 PM | Comments (1)

September 2, 2005

Question of the Day

Are there firemen at a Fireman's Ball?

I'll check it out and let you know later.

Posted by Shannon at 8:35 AM | Comments (0)

August 23, 2005

Happy Birthday Colleen!

I love, love, love my good friend Colleen. It's weird how people show up in your life and then never leave. This is what happened with Colleen, and it is because it is totally and karmically meant to be. It's so awesome and cool that I am one of the lucky ones karmically connected to Colleen. Lucky me!

Colleen is the best kind of friend. She is totally cool, supportive and fun. Plus she likes to do things like go to Sicily and drink wine on balconies when everyone else thinks it is too cold. Also, she is always, and I mean always, thinking of others. Way more than me, that is for sure.

If I ever move to Northern Spain I want Colleen to come with me, at least for part of the time. But in the meantime, we are going to celebrate her birthday here. That's right, we'll be partying with non other than Wayne Fucking Coyne. But who cares about Wayne when Colleen Alley will be on the ship?

Whateves. She probably won't even read this for awhile but Colleen, when you do, I love you, sister.

Posted by Shannon at 7:57 PM | Comments (3)

August 7, 2005

Google THIS.

Thought ya'all might like to check out some of the search engine requests that drive people to my blog (besides super sexy and sexy blog - those are the heavies.)

willie aames mullet (So I am not the only one who searched!)

women love when i grope them in crowded trains (DUDE!)

whitney houston strung out (OK, this we all know.)

britt daniel sexy. (Again, I am not the only one. Sigh.)

And that was just yesterday. Happy Sunday everyone.

Posted by Shannon at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

August 5, 2005

My Dead Muse

There have been many people and events that have shaped me and made me into the person I am. My parents, obviously, and my brothers; my 10th grade English teacher, Mrs. Elder shaped me in a good way by encouraging me to write, and my newspaper teacher Mrs. Radcliffe in a bad way by chopping my very first newspaper article cleanly in half, making it look totally weird and stupid. That was in 1981 and the article was about Punk Rock. My school just wasn't ready yet I guess, even though Punk Rock was practically over at that moment in time, for a while, anyway.

The question is, what made me write about Punk Rock? What got me to that point where I have remained ever since? People never really advance past the age of fifteen. Of this I am convinced. Fifteen or even younger.

I had an uncle, his name was Mark, he was nine years older than me, and he was a lot like me. He wore purple pants and wrote crazy stories. He was wild, reckless, bisexual, and creative. He liked to party. And more than anything, he loved music. He had a tattoo that said "Janis Joplin Lives in Me." She was his dead muse.

Well, I wasn't TOTALLY like Mark, but there are many similarities there. At a younger age I listened to my mom's Beatles and Elton John records. But the defining moment of my teenage years - maybe even the defining moment of my life up till now - was sitting in a room at my Grandma's house with Mark. I was thirteen years old and he put a record on the turntable. It was David Bowie's Space Oddity. I will never forget how that first line, Ground Control to Major Tom, sounded to my pop radio listening ears. After a steady diet of the Bee Gees and the Grease soundtrack, it was like a whole new world to me. All the while Mark is telling me about David Bowie, about the New York Dolls, about Iggy Pop. He played me Cheap Trick and Blondie and we looked at the album covers together. We always had a bond, but we were bonded that night in a way beyond uncle and niece. It was musical, it was spiritual, and it was religious. That was my entry into the church of rock 'n' roll. He was my brother, my mentor, and my friend.

Then, exactly 25 years ago today, we lost him. And I just happened to be visiting at the time.

Every summer I would visit my grandparents at their townhouse in San Juan Capistrano for a couple of weeks. Mark was living in Laguna Beach that summer, renting a room from a famous rock star in a three story house on the cliffs. We had plans to go to the Sawdust Festival together, but Mark had an accident and couldn't go. Someone was lowering a phone from the top balcony of the house to the bottom, and he dropped it on my uncle's head. Mark was OK but had to get stitches, so he postponed us hanging out for a couple of days.

The next hours and days were a painful experience that even today is hard for me to think about. The following day, after going to the Del Mar racetrack with my grandparents, I called Mark to make our new plan. There was no new plan, because he was dead.

The rock star was on the phone, asking to talk to my grandparents. I knew something was wrong when my grandma started wailing. I ran to my room, then back down, where my grandparents were walking out the door. They had, understandably, forgotten about me. They looked at me, and at each other, and then my grandfather said, "Mark is dead."

I went with them to Laguna Beach. It was the hardest drive I have ever taken. My grandma was rocking back and forth in the front seat, moaning and crying. My grandfather was silent. When we got to the house, they told me to wait in the car. I sat in the back seat wondering why I could not cry. I tried to cry, but nothing came out. Two guys pulled up at the cliff in a Blazer, listening to Van Halen. All I wanted was to be in that Blazer and not in the back of my grandparents car trying to cry.

The next few days revolved around the funeral, my grandma's tears, and alot of casseroles. I remember telling my mom "please don't cry" and her saying "I have to cry." Finally, at the funeral, I cried, in the arms of the guy who dropped the phone on Mark's head. Even though in the end it wasn't his fault, he felt responsible. For some bizarre reason, I reached out for him in the end.

So what killed Mark in the end? The pain medication. It wasn't much, but after years of abuse combined with a soul not-of-this-earth, it was enough.

Mark dreamed of his death. He wrote it down several times, and I know because I have read it. In the dream he is laying in his bed listening to his stereo. A dark figure enters the room, and Mark is scared of it. While the figure walks toward him Mark looks at a red light on the turntable. If the light stays on, he will live. If the music keeps playing, he will live. But if figure touches him, he will die.

The turntable was still playing when they found him the next day.

It took a long time for me to cry. But Mark is with me, and will always be with me, because our connection was so strong. Every time I buy a new record, get a crush on a musician, or fall in love with a song, Mark is there. Twenty-five years later, he is totally there. He is my dead muse.

Posted by Shannon at 5:13 PM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2005

My Rack Overfloweth

Wine Alert! Wine Alert!

My buddy Steve just started co-managing a wine store called the Wine Room - they do mostly phone sales but do have a physical presence as well. The guy who ran this place before Steve stepped in bought about 80,000 times more wine than he was selling. Hence, the Wine Room has too much wine. Therefore, they are selling a bunch of it off at FIFTY PERCENT OFF.

I called on him last week to say hi and drop off a catalog and ended up walking out with a case of wine. There goes my commissions from this account for infinity, but oh well. This is one of the few bad things about my job - excessive wine purchase disorder.

Whatever. Anyone into good deals on wine should check this out. Of course, you'll have to pay shipping, but seriously some of the deals here are too good to pass up. I can't actually list the wines due to the wineries freaking out if they see this. Here is the website. Call and talk to Steve and Jason and they'll tell you what they've got going on. Tell 'em poptarticus sent you (they probably won't know what the hell you are talking about.)

Wine. It's not just for breakfast anymore.

Posted by Shannon at 6:33 PM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2005

Eau de Yum

When I was in Venice, I received a truly unique and exceptional gift. I must admit, when Vincenzo first handed it to me, I was sort of bummed... the gift looked, at first glance, like a bottle of perfume, which I never use.

But the bottle was not full of perfume, it was full of grappa. Grappa SPRAY.

What will those crafty Italians think of next?

Yes indeedy, it is a perfume bottle full of grappa. You can spray grappa on your coffee, your eggs, or even, as I did when trying unsuccessfully to photograph myself spraying grappa into my mouth, on your face and hair. You can spray it anywhere! Pretty damned hot, let me tell you.

Sky with Grappa Spray. He ain't no pussy!

It is quite fun to spray grappa into unsuspecting mouths. Most people don't have much experience with grappa, but most people (at least the ones I know) will let you spray some into their mouths, if you tell them there is alcohol in it. Since grappa is somewhat of an acquired taste, I've seen some pretty baffled, almost frightened faces after a spray in the mouth of this stuff. And we are talking seasoned drinkers here, and also, a decent grappa.

I love grappa, but it took me a while to get it. I love that there is grappa in a spray bottle. I could do some serious damage with this thing, but I think I will hog it from this point on. Unless I want to scare some people at my next dinner party. We shall see.

Eric, the owner of the hair salon next door to The Vine, was happy to demonstrate the spraying of grappa on his spinach salad for your viewing pleasure.

Yum!

Posted by Shannon at 8:22 PM | Comments (3)

April 12, 2005

On the Fairy Train (of Thought)

It's that post-trip love affair you have with home.

Fucking A. It's enough to make you realize you can give up grappa, but let's face it, you don't really HAVE to.

On the Carlos D front, I found this most hilarious little ditty from another cult member. How did we ever amuse ourselves before the internet discovered us?

I just bought tickets on ebay to the Doves/Mercury Rev show at the Fillmore in San Francisco May 1. Bastardi, not only skipping San Diego but skipping fucking LA! No they aren't bastardi, I love them, and I love the Fillmore too. So it's all good, just a little more time consuming and expensive than normal. Whateves, they are worth it.

In the meantime I'll just be hanging out in this paradise until I have to head out again for work next week. So indulge me if I post more killer sunsets here. I can't help it.

Posted by Shannon at 10:56 PM | Comments (2)

March 23, 2005

Stimulus in Overdrive

I am full of food and wine with another dinner coming in only two hours, listening to Oasis in the internet bar by our apartment. It smells like incense in here. Wonder what they are smoking in the back. Two more days of this, then I retreat to calm and peaceful Venice.

Yesterday we went to the "must-see" city of Mdina. It is an old Norman walled town. It took us a gazillion years to get there. They have these crazy yellow buses all over Malta, and they go everywhere but you always have to change in Valletta. Like, every single bus goes to or leaves from Valletta. So it totally sucks unless you are staying in Valletta or you really like buses, which I do not. My philosophy is, life is too short to take a bus, unless it is faster than the train, or you have no other choice. In Malta you have no other choice. Unless you drive, but that is opening a whole 'nother can of worms.

The buses are old here and have no spring in the seats any more. Was it worth two hours of butt-bruise to go to Mdina? Not really. I've been to a lot of walled towns. I've already seen a few Maltese churches. So I already did Mdina even before I'd done it. I was really happy to get back to the grime and neon of St. Julian's - way more my scene.

We did have a really nice lunch in a restaurant called Bacchus, in a wine cellar. In fact, if you were to ask us our favorite things of the day:

Lisa: the architecture in Mdina
Colleen: the view from the back wall of Mdina
Shannon: Lunch in Mdina, except for that corn nut in my salad. That was weird.

After Mdina we walked over to Rabat. Rabat used to be where they buried the dead people from Mdina. Now Rabat is the working town, and Mdina is the tourist attraction. In Rabat we went to the Grotto where Saint Paul lived for a while after he got shipwrecked here and went all Jesus. Then we went to the catacombs, one of the burial places dug down into stone, little beds and big beds for dead people. Then back on the bus for another two-hour, butt-injuring bus ride home.

We were so exhausted last night (we could barely speak until the first glass of wine went down) that we stayed home and ate. Colleen and I had found some homemade frozen meat pies in the supermarket and bought them in case of emergency. They were awesome! Colleen had a salmon pie (mmm... salmony) and Lisa and I had beef pies. Then we watched part of a movie, dubbed in Italian, where Linda Fiorentino was ankle cuffed to a hot dog stand while Wesley Snipes talked to her in a microphone and shot a bunch of people. We had no idea what was really going on, but we were too full of pie to change the channel.

Yesterday I also ate some lamb and mint flavored potato chips from the U.K. The chips make up for the Oasis song that is playing right now.

Today Colleen and Lisa went off on their own (I am totally anti-bus, you won't get me on another fucking bus for a while) and I went to the home of Angella and John for lunch. They are from San Francisco and moved here last August. I hooked up with Angella via the Chowhound message board. They are really cool and made me a fabulous lunch served up with some great Sicilian wines. We hung out and talked, ate and drank for almost three hours - that is why I am so full - and they are coming around to pick us up at 8:00 to take us to eat fish in the fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Damn! I am such a piggy.

Seriously though they are hella cool and I think they are going to take us around the island tomorrow, making it totally unnecessary to ever board a bus again, at least for a while.

Only two more days! Everything is going by so fast.

XOXOXOXOXOXO
XXannon

Posted by Shannon at 9:18 AM | Comments (0)

February 1, 2005

Attenzione Commentors!

I have disabled the function that makes it so you have to register to comment here. No one could figure out the registering part. Except for one person, Southern France livin', Scotch swillin' Gulley Jimson. Or maybe no one like, uh, wanted to comment. Whatever. The only thing is I have to approve all comments now before they are posted so if you DO comment, give me some time (days, weeks) before you try to post the same comment again. In other words it is not instantaneous.

On the fuckU2 front, their fans are Really Pissed Off. I guess U2 management had some thingy where people pai