Duncan

I am sitting at my desk just now and this guy who is hotter than HOT just walked in the front door to the radio station with another guy. Both are carrying guitars. My it's-a-band radar went off. Not like it's hard to figure it out...they were carrying guitars for pete's sake. Ha. Anyway. I hear the other guy (who through my sleuth research I find out is a record rep) introduces the hot guy as Duncan. I start flipping thru my mental rol-a-dex and come up with Duncan Sheik. Then I google him...yup...that's him...AND he has a new CD. I listened to his live interview and performance. This is the kind of stuff that reminds me why I love my job.

And this little piggy went WA WA WA all the way home

I was at the gym for my cycling/spinning class today. I was running late so I was rushing around the locker room a wee bit. I turn to sit down and put my running shoes on and WHAMMY! I stub my pinkie toe on the chair. I grab my foot with one hand, waving the other hand in the air, mouthing the words "fuck fuck fuck" and hopping on my other foot. I take my hand away to find my hand COVERED in blood. I had sliced my toe quite deep from the front all the way to the back. OUCH! This lady in the gym says, "Man, you may need stitches." It still freaking hurts...and of course I have my 3 inch heels on today.... of course I do. So that little piggy will go WA WA WA all the way home.

Coaching

My dad retired (again) and has started coaching softball again. He has organized a softball clinic for 6 & 7 year old little girls that will be every Sunday in February. I have volunteered to help him. I love to watch my dad coach...and...well...an old friend (really good looking and single) of mine named Vince is one of the coaches too (smile).

I stopped coaching about 5 years ago because the parents were the WORST. My dad and I were coaching Natalie's competitive traveling softball team. The time commitment was huge. We had practice for about 3 hours 2 nights during the week....then games all day Saturday and all day on Sunday. My social life took a little hit too. And, this is all volunteer...I didn't get paid. AND the parents are all assholes. They think their daughter is the best player on the team...and can do NO wrong. I couldn't take it any more.

My dad has been nudging me to be his assistant coach this summer of his little girls softball team. After some thought, I have agreed to help with that too. I don't think the parents of little 6 and 7 year old girls will be as vicious as the parents of the 17 and 18 year olds.... but I have to be prepared for them to be worse...I guess. Batter UP!

Part of the Emilys

I went to Headlines the other day to get a highlight and haircut. As I was waiting for my stylist to mix up the blonde-in-a-box for my head, I glanced over at her appointment sheet for the day. Next to my name was a note that read "Part of the Emilys". I giggled. It sounded like we were like Heathers. At one point or another all 4 of the Emilys had their hair done there...and Em P lived next door to the owner of the salon for a couple years. Part of the Emilys.... I am cracking up.

Ever wonder what happened to the group Dead or Alive? Probably not, but...

…here’s what the lead singer is doing, anyway.

Real World - Breckenridge

I was a special guest star on MTV's Real World - Breckenridge this past weekend.

OK OK...not really... but it felt like it.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Stephanie was in town this weekend to ski. We skied on Saturday. Skiing was ok. I realized that I am done skiing forever. I have officially retired. After skiing, Steph and I headed over to the house in Breckenridge we were staying at with her friends. The house was amazing. It was 8500 square feet. I stopped counting bedrooms at 6 and I didn't even see the upstairs of the house. Huge. It was decorated fabulously...and I wasn't surprised to see pictures of the owners of the house.... 2 gay guys. There were 22 people staying in the house...not one was ugly. This group actually calls their vacations Real World, because last year they met Theo. I dunno who Theo is... apparently he was on a Real World series. Shrug.

I have several stories on my Real World weekend.

1. The "Girls"
When we first arrived I was making an effort to introduce myself to everyone. EVERY SINGLE ONE of the girls with a boyfriend there would introduce herself as follows. "Oh hi, I'm Whitney, nice to meet you, that blonde guy over in the corner is my boyfriend, we live together in Long Beach." OK - honey - I am not here to sleep with your live-in boyfriend. Relax. All of the girls were taking a territorial PEE around their boyfriends...I found it entertaining. There was one guy there named Tony who was completely my type....but his live-in girlfriend Amy made sure he was no where near any single strangers.

2. Full Frontal Nudity
The couples got the bedrooms upstairs. And the singles all stayed in the basement. The basement was like it's own separate condo. It had a full kitchen, pool table, living room with 5 couches, bathroom with a shower and 2 huge bunk beds. I went into the bathroom to take a shower after skiing. I had just turned off the water, dried off, put the towel on my head, to hear this person shaking the door handle to the bathroom.... like they were trying to get in. POP! The lock came undone and this girl flew the door wide open with 2 of the single guys standing behind her. I am standing there, full frontal nudity, for all 3 to see. She says, "Oh geez, sorry." Slams the door shut. I just stand there. Numb. I don't know these people.... so is that better or worse? I muster up some courage and after I get ready I head upstairs.... only to be faced with a hush that fell over the room and the "you're that girl huh" looks from everyone. Well. Apparently, she went upstairs and told everyone she had seen me naked. Nice. Later in the night I over heard the 2 guys who saw me naked say, "At least we got to see a naked girl." Again, not sure if that was a good or bad thing.

3. Indoor Uggs
One of the "girls" had all of the other girls (except me) gathered around her as she showed off her "Indoor Uggs". One of the other girls said, "oh, are those real Uggs?" And this statement triggered a conversation that still cracks me up about how she won't wear them outside because they were out of the special Uggs leather treatment. Whoa. And for the record, I think Ugg stands for UGLY. I don't think these shoes are attractive at all. But still....all 8 of the girls were slobbering over this girl's real Uggs.... the most unintelligent 10 minutes of conversation ever had.

All this happened in the 2 hours I spent with these people. Regardless, I had a great and entertaining weekend!

Ultimatum

If someone says, "I am not giving you an ultimatum, but...." They ARE giving you an ultimatum. Period.

And the award for singing the wrong song lyrics goes to....

I am the champion of singing the wrong words to songs.

I thought that the song "Charlotte Sometimes" by The Cure said "Shut Up Sometimes". (Excuse: Robert Smith mumbles)

I thought the song by Big Head Todd, "Please Don't Tell Her" was "Please Don't Sell Her". (Excuse: it really does sound like he's saying that.)

I thought that the line in "Blister In The Sun" by the Violent Femmes that says "I'm so strung out," actually said "I still strike out." (Excuse: I was a young softball player when I first heard that song and didn't know what being strung out meant.)

I thought the song "Bette Davis Eyes" was "Better Days Aside". (Excuse: I am embarrassed...I really don't have a good excuse for this one....Pitiful)

I KNOW there are more for this list. I will post updates as I remember..... it's truly a sickness. I think I need to buy Q-tips. Ha.

Let it snow... let it snow... let it snow

All winter I have felt ripped off because we haven't gotten much if any snow in town. I love the snow. I can see outside while sitting at my desk...and I keep looking outside. It's soothing in some way to me. Don't get me wrong...I hate driving in this crap. Not because of MY driving...and I have an SUV. It's the other idiots on the road. I am still shocked by the people who don't turn on their headlights when driving in any sort of weather. Come ON! Regardless...I love the snow. It looks like a snow globe outside.

My college teammate and her doctor pals are coming in town this weekend from California to ski. FUN! I am not a big skier. I own my own equipment...and am a quite good skier. However, I am not a big fan of an activity that requires me to get up at the butt crack of dawn on the weekend, to sit in traffic, to go out and drop a small fortune to freeze my ass off. I am picking Steph up at the airport at 10:30 tomorrow night. We will get up at the butt crack to drive to Keystone to ski...then we will stay with the big group at a condo in Breckenridge. I am getting up early (again - blech) on Sunday to drive home to watch the AFC Championship game. My dad is pretty pissed at me for skiing on my bad knees. I understand his concern... since some days I drag a leg behind me because they hurt so bad. I tried to explain to him that I am not too proud to stop skiing and sit in the lodge and drink beer.... in fact... that will probably be what I do.

"Nobody goes on after The Killer"

For the record, I am pulling for Walk The Line tonight at the Golden Globes. I loved loved loved that movie. I worked in Oldies radio for over 5 years and every summer we produced a huge Oldies festival full of Rock 'n Roll legends. I got to meet and mingle with some of the hugest musical influences of all time. So as you can imagine, I heard and witnessed a TON of stories about these music legends. In the movie Walk the Line, the character who played Jerry Lee Lewis (aka The Killer) taunted Johnny Cash by saying "No one goes on after The Killer!" I squealed with delight when he said that, because Jerry Lee Lewis said that exact quote to us during negotiations for his appearance at one of our concerts. Jerry was the headliner....because "No one goes on after The Killer." It still gives me the chills. Jerry...in true Jerry form... was a no-show for our concert. So The Killer never went on.... I still can't hear one of his songs without thinking about how PISSED I was that day. We called his daughter Phoebe after Jerry didn't get off the plane the day of the the show. She said her this sweet southern accent, "Well there's weather in Tennessee, and daddy doesn't get on planes in weather. Stars fall out of the sky when there's weather." Hum. I guess I kinda understand his fear after how many young musicians died on planes when he was growing up. We should have demanded that he flew in the day before the show.

GO WALK THE LINE!

Golden Globes

I am soooo looking forward to the Golden Globes tonight. It is my favorite awards show of all award shows.

1. The dress is elegant...yet... more stars take more risks....than they probably should. I love to see the Best and Worst Dressed and shout out at the tv "Oh Paula, Paula, Paula, WHAT were you thinking when you got dressed tonight?" So you don't think that I only pay attention to the poorly clad crowd, I do give a head nod and a clap to the ones who get it...the well dressed group.

2. The stars are seated at round tables...with BOOZE on each table. I think it is so funny to watch them all party down.

3. I love that it's both TV and Movies! I just printed up all of the nominees to vote on who I think should win! Overall the GG are a party with a dash of awards. Can't wait!

Mushy

Ahhh...my day all about ME was perfect. I got up... chatted on the phone about last night's fun bowling....then headed out to my massage. My massage was dreamy and I feel all mushy and gooey and relaxed.... still 10 hours later. After my massage I went and had a yummy sushi lunch. I came home and napped. YUM. Then I was awoken by the douche bag above me playing his sick techno music (I pounded on the ceiling with a broom...like the ol lady that I am.... he turned it down.) Then I watched my favorite home team boys, the Broncos, beat the crap out of the New England Patriots. I truly enjoyed the game...I called my brother every 4 minutes to comment on the last play and cheer together for our fav team. I am so excited that they are going to the AFC Championship game. Now, I am sitting in front of the tv watching SNL because my new favorite band Death Cab for Cutie is the musical guest.

Update on my baby sister's wedding. NO free trip to HAWAII. Waaaaaaaa! She wants to have the wedding here now and go on their honeymoon to Hawaii. It's cool...She can do what she wants...But damn...My free trip to Hawaii just went POOF. Grunt. Pout. Boo. I mistakenly told her about my someday wedding plans and now she wants to do that. WHY? WHY did I do that? Now I can't do MY plan if she decides to do what I told her I wanted to do. Ouch! Note-to-self...never tell people... especially your little sister what you want to (and always have wanted to) do for your wedding. We will see what happens.

It's all about ME

Since before Thanksgiving, my weekends have been full of stuff to do and people to see. Don't get me wrong, it was all stuff that I wanted to do... but I haven't had one whole day to myself. A whole day to do that things that I wanna...on MY time-frame. I got a couple spa gift certificates for Christmas and round one of the fun is tomorrow....I have declared Saturday, January 14th, "Emily Day". I am starting my day with breakfast out (not sure where yet). Then I am going to the spa for a one hour aromatherapy massage. Yum! Then I am going to go rent a movie to watch as I melt into my couch after the massage. THEN, I am gonna watch the Broncos playoff game! Woo Hoo! AND, if I decide to NOT do any of the above...it's cool... it's all about ME.

Green Eggs and Ham?

I am always shocked by the things that the folks in the science and technology fields are coming up with. I often have NO idea why in God's GREEN earth we need the things that they make. Notice the reference to green. OK. I just read (and you can too) that scientists created GREEN pigs for stem cell research. OH my OH my. Green Eggs and Ham anyone? Ewh. I would rather starve than eat some genetically engineered pork. Ehw. I like my pork pink. (I am soo cracking up right now.)

People's Choice Awards

I love awards shows. I enjoy seeing the stars fashion sense (or non-sense). I love seeing the stars in a some-what of an unscripted environment. So with that said, I spent 2 hours watching the People's Choice Awards last night. I will never get those 2 hours back.

First, I started to notice that when they announced the winner of a category, that the winner was there, but the other nominees...where not. I started to realize that all of the winners were notified before the show. So every time the camera scanned the crowd and I saw the stars, I would know that they were gonna win. So the suspense and the real surprise wasn't there... as with other awards show. All of the speeches were prepared.... and it was boring. But I kept watching because I was entertaining myself playing my own smaller version of the game "memory". The category and nominees would be announced...and I would start thinking.... "oh, did I see Ray Romano in the crowd? Oh yea, I did, he must be the winner." And I would be right every time...and that was a fun.... a little.

One category I found interesting was one where the public had voted on the prettiest or freshest faced female movie star. Two of the three nominees caught my attention. One... Angelina Jolie. Two...Jennifer Aniston. Sweet Jen won! I pumped my fist in the air in celebration and gave out a "woot!". I DO NOT get what all the hoopla is around Angelina Jolie. I don't think she is pretty. I will give her the fact that she has a rock solid body....but she is always glaring, rarely smiles....and her lips are always chapped and look like she's been sucking golf balls through garden hoses. SISTER... put some chapstick on. Anyway. The official announcement that Angelina is pregnant with Brad's baby was announced today. My heart breaks for Jen. It's tough enough to end a relationship/marriage...but to have this new relationship and pregnancy wallpapered all over the world... makes a lump swell in my throat. I hope Jen's girlfriends are giving her love today.

Shit-Storm

I am knee deep in a shit-storm of work at work. I have been working a sick amount of hours...10 hour days are the norm right now. January is supposed to be my down-time. Sheesh. I am still sitting at my desk right now..... I am taking a break to blog....but still have more crapola to do. I just noticed that the time listed under my post says it 6 pm...it's really 7:25 pm.

I went to Ed and Skye's Engagement Party on Saturday night. I had a great time. Ed made his famous Gumbo... man...it was goooood. Close to the end of the party, Skye tells me that she has an extra ticket to a fundraiser Celebrity Poker Tournament for that night that is promised to be wall-to-wall Avalanche players and "single" guys. OK folks, I have been to this stuff before...the only "single" guy who goes to a fundraiser is gay...and the other guys there are with DATES. Well...my Monday morning report from Skye was that it indeed WAS full of eligible single guys. Humpf. Oh well. I have to admit, I enjoyed my night of popcorn and SNL (even if it was a repeat) a lot... so no regrets here.



OK OK...there is a small tinge of "what the hell were you thinking by not going to that event?" But what can I do now...but remember this story the next time.

Sleeping Beauty II

I just got home from my friend Katie's house. She got her new place a few months ago and we have been trying to find a time to get together so I could see it. Tonight was the night. Her place is gorgeous. She could host her own show on how to make your place look like a palace....all on a budget. Her stories of painting and refinishing were inspiring. She has a gift. We spent the night chatting up each other and laughing our asses off. Her 29th birthday was on the 30th of December and for her birthday she got a book from her best friend Christine called Sleeping Beauty II.

SIDENOTE: Several weeks ago we were all out for drinks and I overheard Katie talking about the book Sleeping Beauty II. She was going on and on about how she loves that book and hopes to get one someday. I, (in perfect Emily form) interrupted them and said "Oh if you love Sleeping Beauty so much, I have an extra copy of the DVD if you want it." I was talking DISNEY version....not..... so not the version that they were talking about. The book that Katie was hoping for as a birthday gift is a book of post-mortem pictures from the late 1800's and early 1900's. All of the pictures taken by a doctor and saved as a pubic file. Basically, back in those times pictures were very expensive and the only picture usually taken of anyone was after they had died. People would pay big money to have a picture taken in honor of their loved ones who had died. This doctor had complied a book of the death portraits that he had taken as a part of his practice. The first version was out of print and about $400 for one. Christine had bought her the second version.

OK - back to tonight. I told Katie I wanted to see her beloved book. I needed to see what all the hoopla was all about. Katie had told me that the pictures were beautiful. They showed love. They showed true sadness. They portrayed how delicate life truly is. I was careful to not bend pages when opening her book and starting leafing thru the pages. Whoa - the pictures!! It was truly eerie. It was shocking. AND it was utterly beautiful. The people from that time would take such care in setting up the picture. Some were covered in flowers. Some had the whole family around. Some had the eyes painted on to look like they were alive. Now, you have to remember....This is the ONLY picture they have of their loved one. The ONLY picture. Hard to grasp in a time where we video record every piece of our kid's life or take pictures with our wireless phones. As I turned each page, I found myself taking deep breaths as memories of funerals and loved ones I have lost popped into my head. The really ironic thing is.....over the past 3 days my good friend and ex-boyfriend Mike has been coming up in random conversations...I have been thinking about when Mike died in a car accident when he was 27 (I was 25). I told Katie the story of how he died. I told her what he looked like in the casket. How I was told he had died. How I had lost my Grandpa A just 2 days before Mike's death. Guess you could say I had a bad week. Anyway....I felt like Debbie Downer (a la Saturday Night Live). She understood. Didn't say a word... just understood. I think I need to go visit his grave. I miss him. Katie was worried that I would think she was sick to want and cherish a book of pictures of dead people. I really don't. I saw what she saw....I totally get it. I saw the love.

Avalanche tickets

My sales manager just handed me a pair of swwweeeet tickets to the Avalanche game for tomorrow afternoon....complete with a VIP parking pass. The seats are right on the blue line, on the attack-twice end, 10 rows up from the glass..... the face value is $105 per ticket.

(Insert Here: a picture of me rubbing my chin....asking myself...."Now who shall I ask to join me?") FUN!

Pet Peeve

Here is today's installment.

I just heard a song on the radio where the artist sang that he was "ascared". No, you are not ascared. You may be.... Afraid. You could even be simply... Scared. But never could you be ascared. I promise.

Ew Ew Ew!

I was at Babies R Us on Monday picking up a present for Baby Jaycie. As I was coming out of Babies R Us I saw 2 employees loading a huge crib into the back of a pick up truck. Standing next to the truck was a very pregnant woman who if you looked up "white trash" in the dictionary her picture would be featured as the example picture on the page for "white trash". You know the type; dirty messy hair, black/brown roots with brassy blonde "hair", 4 teeth, an old torn sweatshirt, badly fitting Levis and tube socks and tennis shoes.... well and probably 15 kids under the age of 10 at home (in the trailer). Anyway...this WT was SMOKING a CIGARETTE in front of Babies R Us. Ew Ew Ew! I felt my chin jut out, my head tip to the side and my brow furrow as I stopped mid-stride and just looked at her. My mouth fell open. All I could picture was her 8 month old fetus with a cigarette hanging out of it's mouth. EW! I stood there for what felt like 10 minutes and contemplated saying something to her....but actually got this sick feeling in my stomach and just shook my head at her and walked away. Honestly, what was I gonna say that would change this women's path? Nothing. Sadly, nothing.

OK OK I will tell the story one more time

Last night I went out to a going away party for a female VIP of sales who got a huge gig as a General Manager for a group of radio stations in Seattle. All of the usual suspects were there along with a few surprises.

I got to see a guy that I worked with about 11 years ago that I haven't seen in years and years named Chris. I used to have a huge crush on him. He looks like John Gruden (head coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs). Anyway it was good to see that time has been good to him...he is still HOT.

The other surprise was my first General Manager in radio, Skip. I hadn't seen him in years. He now looks like Gene Wilder (the one in the middle)....which everytime I think of that... I crack up. Well I reminded Skip that he was the one who kept me in radio. Here's the story...When I started out in radio, I was an intern (a college grad...still an intern). About 2 weeks into my internship they fired this bitch-on-wheels Promotions Director named Robin. So the Promotions Coordinator started asking me to come in more and more hours. Suddenly, I am working full-time at the radio station and as many hours at the Hoffbrau waiting tables that I could get. Let's not forget that internships are unpaid. Nice. So basically to get my foot in the door, I worked for 8 months full-time for FREE. One night around 8:30 pm as I was actually typing my resignation letter to the radio station, Skip came back in from the bars and stopped by my desk. He said, "Oh hey Emily, I have something for you, I looked for you earlier but you weren't here." "I was waiting tables," I said. I opened the envelope and there was a $400 check. He then said, "Can I buy another month from you? I will have a job for you next month." Ahem...hell and yes. I turned the computer screen to show him my resignation letter and thanked him..... telling him that he just bought another month. And true to his word we signed on a new station that I got to build. So I have always credited Skip for keeping me in radio. When I saw him last night...I told him that story again. He (after many cocktails) proceeds to ask me to come around to each table at the party and tell them the story about how he kept me in radio. OK OK I will tell the story one more time. I probably won't remind him of that story next time I see him.

Congratulations Miss Skye

Whooo Hooo! Skye and Ed got engaged on NYE. I got a very happy voicemail from Skye on New Year's Day with the fabulous news. I can't wait to hear how he asked her... I love those kinds of stories. I am happy for you Skye and Ed! Smooch!

New Years Eve

I have to admit, I am happy that the holidays are over.

Last night for New Years Eve I had Briana, Kendall, my brother and his girlfriend over for fondue and board games. It was fun. The dinner was really really good. I love fondue.

We watched Dick Clark's Rockin New Year Eve Celebration on TV. He had a bad stroke last year and had to re-learn to talk and walk. His speech was slurred and it was tough to watch him stumble over his words...but at the same time.... it was so inspiring. What a HUGE step for him to be back on TV. It must have taken an enormous amount of courage to go on TV in front of millions of people when you know that you are not 100%...hell...he's not even 75%. What a wonderful inspiration. I don't know if I could have done it. Kendall had never seen Dick Clark countdown the new year.... she saw the best one yet.

Happy New Year friends! Cheers!