Philippine Trip, January 2011

Baguio City

I had a marvelous time up in the mountains in the City of Baguio. Of course the weather didn’t cooperate…the first week it clouded up and rained. I told Mike that I don’t go out in the rain at home & I’m not going anywhere in the rain here. The second week it was sorta sunny in the mornings & overcast in the afternoons. Since I’ve visited Baguio City twice before & seen lots of the attractions there…I wasn’t worried I was missing out on any thing. The few things that I checked out on line before going, was to see the woodcarvers…Mike told me that would be nice, but they see you as a visitor/traveler/sightseer & want to sell you their work. I nixed that right away same as going to see the women who weave…I went on a tight budget so I wasn’t looking to do much buying. Oh everyone keeps asking me what elevation was I at. I didn’t know so I finally looked it up & Baguio City elevation is listed at 5100 feet. I could feel a difference in my breathing and when I walked about it seemed that I was running out of breath. I was just happy to use my Advair discus twice a day & had my inhaler with me at all times.

To Visit or Not To visit The Native Village

 The other thing was to go to a native village…recreated for tourism…but it wasn’t as close as I thought. Besides Mike nixed it…I wanted him and his girlfriend to dress in the native clothes when we got there. He said no way Ma!!! Do you know what the men wear? Well not much according to the pictures on the Internet. But since you live here & have gone native I thought you might do this for me. Mike said he was NOT putting on any loin cloth & g-string, not even for me. He also said, I don’t know who wore it before or if they washed it. He turned to his girlfriend & asked her…did you just hear what my mom wanted me to do & wear?

Botanical Gardens

 I suggested the botanical gardens, but with the wet weather, I nixed that because I didn’t want to tramp around any gardens that were not pristine. There were 2 or 3 other places I wrote down…but it’s a good thing we didn’t. The last 2 or 3 days I told Mike I didn’t have any money left to pay for our supper. At first we were taking turns paying for it—until he ran out of money. Then I took over. Mike said WHAT??? So I pulled out about PHp (Philippine Pesos) 550. and our supper usually cost around 700. So I dug deeper into my purse…I stashed away $500.00 American for coming back…I had him change $300.00 into pesos & I kept the other $200.00 so I would have some traveling $$’s & money when I got back. So we didn’t have to starve.

Luv my Panda Hat

I had him buy me a panda hat. I saw street vendors selling animal hats. Well I like baseball & I think he’s with the San Francisco Giants & his playing nickname is the Panda. I would see fans in the bleachers wearing panda hats. I told Mike if the street vendor has one that’s a panda I want it. So the next day he showed up with one. Yea, I have my panda hat & now when he plays baseball I can put it on!!!

Honolulu Here I come!

I got to spend the night before arriving in Manila in Honolulu. I had a lot of fun. I took a quick rest after getting to the hotel & then went down to the lobby and asked about muumuus…and where I might find them to buy. Didn’t quite understand his directions but the gist of it was 7 or 8 blocks down the street. But first I crossed the street and placed myself on Waikiki Beach. I wanted to go wading, but alas, I didn’t. I was wearing my big orthotic shoes & foot & ankle brace since I was going to be walking. Plus I was using my fold up cane since I was on the sandy beach. So I told myself this is enough…I’m standing on Waikiki beach. I pulled my camera out of my pocket and took a picture or two & left. If I had more time I would have found a place on the wall and propped my self up just to enjoy the ambiance.

I crossed back to the hotel side of the street & proceed down the way. Eyes agog, my mind whirling away know that I was in Hawaii, a dream come true. I should have taken more picture, but good thing I didn’t because I took an extra card (can’t remember it name…the one got full & I had no way to download the picts off it)…but I didn’t bring extra batteries for it. I sure I could have found some, but I didn’t want to lay out the dough. I would walk so far and then take a rest on the cement planters by the side of the street. I sat with the rest of the natives…It 

Sidewalk Vendors

 All along the sidewalk people were selling their wares, sitting on these cement planters. I just squeezed myself in when I got tired. I did the same thing after shopping in the International Market, I didn’t do a lot of exploring in there because it was around 4 pm & I could see that it was growing darker. I saw that I walking, or following a green line painted on the ground. So I tried to get my bearing so I wouldn't get lost in there…it looked to be a pretty big market. I found my muumuus and followed my green line back to the sidewalk. I retraced my steps, joining those reposing on the cement sidewalk planters when needed. I sat down on one & there was about 77¢ laying there. Of course, my first impulse was to scoop it up. But I looked around & just left it…I figured as soon as I picked it up someone would say something. And my instincts were correct. This bag lady came by & looked at it, she was checking inside the planters for aluminum cans or whatever else she could find. She went down the street a bit, then when I got up to leave she cam back & scooped up the change. This guy came out of the store just opposite & asked her what was she doing….She got a scared look on her face, opened her hand and then he told her just to take the change that she could have it. She turned and took her bags with her & left. I knew it was a trap.

Supper In The Hotel

 It was a nice hotel, I went down to have supper in their dining room and this is the not so good part. I guess I’m not one for ambiance when dining. The lights were low & the only seating they had left was my open spaces where there should have been windows. It might be nice when it’s warm, but the evening breeze was very cool. I didn’t like it so when they brought my food I asked it there was some other seating…the server said he would alert my wait person and see what could be done. My wait person said the only other available seating was across the room at the other open-air seating. So I just asked him if he could put it in a take out box & I would take it to my room to eat. He apologized all over the place and said that all the other seating had been reserved…Even when I came down for breakfast the next morning they were still apologizing to me. I had one of their surfer breakfasts, eggs Benedict, bacon, toast, and I opted for the fresh fruit cup. I hate to say this but the Philippines have better fresh fruit platters than Hawaii. The mango was passable, the papaya was okay, but the best in their was their pineapple. It was outstanding & very sweet, tasty, and I would have been satisfied to just have had pineapple. I think they sprinkled blue berries over it for contrast. The blueberries were not as good as what our farmers can grow here.

Meeting Mike’s Fiancée

 I’m not sure what else there is to say, I enjoyed meeting Mike’s girlfriend, Alex. She’s a very pretty, polite young woman. She tried hard to communicate with me in her broken English. I tell anyone who has their own spoken language plus trying to communicate in English that they are way ahead of me. I only know English, and sometime I wonder about my ability to string to sentences together that make sense. So I told her just relax that she’s doing fine. I got to meet her mother, Olive. She came in about 3 days & visited with me & we all had dinner together. It was really great. I mean we made memories together. Good memories that will last forever. It was good to hear my son expound about his ideals. Ma, I’ve gone green, but blah, blah, blah….If this country wants to clear cut their rain forest, then that should be their purgatory. Don’t have other countries or organizations try to step in and tell them they can’t do this. Learn from our mistakes. Don’t tell the country what they can or cannot do with their own resources. But yes, they shouldn’t clear cut without reforestation. Nobody, no country, should clear cut without reforestation. And blah, blah, blah….It was really good to see this-grown up-side of him and know what he believed in. Yes, I think I raised a good boy, not to just take what people, organizations, or politicians say and parrot it back, but to think, reason, and make up his own mind. He a good man this son of mine…I think he’s a keeper.

Harold, My Son, My Son

 It was also good to have dinner with Mikes friend Harold. He happened to be Baguio City one day so he joined us in my room. Good conversation, lots of laughter, lots of love in that room. I could just cry remembering that evening. It was so much fun. Out conversation turned to the fake products one could buy in the Philippines. I was astounded…Harold had a fake iPhone…made in China….supposed to last a year, there abouts. But Harold said he’s dropped a lot of time, the back comes off, looks like an iPhone, but it’s a fake. And more than this, I had it several years. So I feel good that my fake phone still works. My son was wearing a fake basketball jersey…It was made in Korea…he said the Koreans are very good with their fake clothing, they get it right down to the last detail of what they are copying. Then I read in the Business Week, which was delivered to my room each morning, about the fake medicine the Filipinos could buy.  I tell you I was astounded at this information and to be sitting in this country where it was okay to buy fakes and you knew it was a fake…and not act you didn’t know it was a fake. Harold, by the way has been a good friend with my son for years. I’m happy that he’s still around. Harold was picked my Baguio City to work in their City Electrical System. He just happened to be their fixing something up so he called Mike & the rest is all history. Harold says, Mom, it’s so good to see you again. And I’m Harold, my son, my son…Here I go again always wanting to adopt some nice young men to be my other sons.

The Flight

 The flight over and back, by the way I went by Hawaiian Air, was very turbulent. The captain informed us on the way over to Hawaii that we were in for a bumpy ride. He would be battling 5o mile an hour head winds. Didn’t make me feel any better when the flight attendants gave us the spiel about emergency exit locations, life vest locations and yes, in case of a water landing we have two (2) rubber rafts located by the emergency exits at the wings. Oh Yeah!!! I’m sure in case of an emergency water landing two (2) rubber rafts are going to hold all of us passengers. Hey, women & children first. And looky me, I’m a woman & I’m going first into that rubber raft even if I have to beat off everyone else with my cane…so just get out of my way!!! I don’t think we had 50 mile an hour winds coming back but it was still a very bumpy ride. This captain informed us that he kept getting permission to go to a lower altitude to see if he could get us a less bumpy flight, but it didn’t do any good. All we ever heard was the ding, ding, ding & please fasten your seat belts, don’t leave your seats unless absolutely necessary. Even the flight attendants on the way back were given orders by the captain not to serve the hot coffee because of the turbulence. Then got to serve it about 30 -40 minutes later when we got a bit of smooth flight. My ears were all plug up when I got back to Sea-Tac Airport. I felt like my ears were roaring like the airplane engine…and this is the first time this has ever happened to me. I don’t know what the difference was. But I’ve always gone Japan Airways.

Getting Picked-Up

 Well when we landed in Sea-Tac Airport, the two guys sitting across from me stopped me & the one asked me if when I was in Hawaii, did I get mistaken for being Hawaiian. I told him yes, & he said so did he. I noticed them when they got on the plane in Hawaii—they were probably around my sons age…38. He one doing the talking said he got up to use the rest room on the plane & on the way back to his seat, this woman touched his arm and asked him if she could get two more blankets. He said just because I’m wearing a Hawaiian shirt doesn’t make me a flight attendant, so he just told her, sure, I’ll see to that for you. Hope she’s still not waiting for those blankets. Then the funniest thing happened. They must have heard me talking to the woman beside me, she asked if Seattle was my final destination or did I have more traveling to do. I said no, I have more traveling to do, that I was from Port Hadlock. Well she never heard of that, and she was from Everett WA. So I said Port Townsend & she said yes, I know of Port Townsend. Anyways the two guys asked me if I wanted to ride with them. He said they have their car in the parking lot and are going my way, and going to get such and such ferry and it was no problem just to take me home. Well I tried to smile, probably came out a grimace, but I thanked them for the offer & said I was staying over night in a hotel that has been reserve for 3-4 weeks, and I have a bus coming in the morning to bring me from the hotel to home, also reserved for 3-4 weeks and unless I gave them 24 hour notice I lose my money. So I’m in no position to lose money so I’ll just go with the plans made by my travel agent, and again thank you for the offer.

I’m Young Again?

Oh and in the Philippine National Airport, the young man who came to help me with my luggage asked me how old I was, 57 or 58. God bless that young man. I told him no, no way… I’ll be 70 years old in July. He was the one then, no way. So it was nice to be thought of being young again, but I’ve earned every memory, every line in my face, every experience & I’ll keep my age thank you. There’s no way I want to do those 17 years all over again. . Oh, and I have to remark here that you have to pay PPh 750 or $17.00 American to leave the country. Each time I’ve been there I always get a kick out of this. Pay to leave their country….yup, I’m going, I’m leaving, I’ve had a good time, may come back to visit again, but yup, I’m leaving, here’s my leaving money. Nice to have visited your country. Don’t be facetious Fostine, each country has the right to it’s own rules & regulations concerning coming & goings of visitors.

Well my kitties, my luvs, I’ll leave you to stew over this long posting about my trip to Baguio City and my visit with my son. I need to get my picts downloaded off my camera. I didn’t take many, but I did take a few. Betty requested a new picture of Mike, so she’ll be happy that I accommodated her request.

     —glory-oskie Zero, I wish today were tomorrow, luv Fostine.

What the hell...

--PG Rated Adult 

First I have to look for the most perfect one. I’m sorry to admit this, but the size, shape, width, & length do matter—if you know what I mean.

After I’ve selected the one that is also the best eye candy I’ve seen so far...I proceed to take it into my hand and give it a gentle caress; being very careful. I give it my full & complete attention now.

First I give it little nibbles here and there, getting my first inhalation of its sent, my first taste, and my taste buds awaken to the fact that it’s finding something delicious coming it’s way.

I pause to appreciate what I’ve done so far—giving it a gentle brush with my hand; circling it, loving it, and wanting more. I bring my lips and mouth closer and see a bead of moisture forming—I can’t wait to press my tongue to this glistening globular delight.

Now I reflect on my headway, admiring at how far I’ve come...thinking all the while how delightful eating this masterpiece has been so far.

I bring my mouth to nosh at it more vigorously. I’m relishing every moment of this & my senses are almost on overload. I have to proceed faster now.

I have to crush my mouth on to this perfect chosen morsel. It’s almost there, the juices are flowing, my tongue is lapping at the sweet nectar imploding into my mouth now.

There is so much fluid its running out of the corners of my mouth, down onto my chin. My fingers of my other hand stroke my chin to wipe away the essence it finds there. This way I can slurp this delightful elixir off my fingers later.

Its getting smaller now & I take the whole thing into my mouth to make sure that no part of this ambrosia is lost.

I remove my mouth & gaze lovingly at what is left of my chosen pear. Pear? Yes a pear, the edible fruit, that is typically rounded, but elongated and growing smaller toward the stem. What on earth were you thinking I was eating?

Well my kitties, my luvs, my peeps, I’m gonna go lay down & read a marvelous book for a while, then I’m of to dreamsville & after this...I do hope they will be scintillating!!!

      —glory-oskie Zero, I wish today were tomorrow, luv Fostine.

OMG—I’m An Addict!!!

 Well the truth finally comes out—hanging my head in shame, shuffling my feet, eyes cast downward—I’m so sorry to have to admit this awful truth.

Well it all started with Celtic Thunder. Why does everything have to start with them you ask? And do you have to read this startling discovery? I really don’t care if you do or you don’t to be honest. But if you want to read the startling discover of my addiction, I guess you’d better read on.

Well when I first discovered Celtic Thunder, yes my handsome Irish Lads plus one handsome Scotsman, I ordered their CD’s from Amazon.Com. When they came I found out they had a website. Being curious, I typed in the URL and gobbled up everything that was there & found out they blogged, they were on Fan Pop, My Space, Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, You tube, & other places. In order to access all these places, I had to join to see all their information. Most of them I visit about once a month. EXCEPT FOR facebook & twitter. I go there every day.

Lead In To Addiction

Now here comes the biggie!!! Facebook—I didn’t do too much there because I didn’t know it’s power. And boy do I love power. I was friendless for the longest time. Then I let 2 or 3 friends know I was on there. WOW!!! What an explosion when I let my friend Claire know I was on there. I searched for her name & found her, sent her a friend request then she accepted. Then she sent me a message recommending her husband as a friend, then he recommended a friend.

 Hey!!! When are you going to get to the good part about your addiction?

In The Beginning 

Well, as I’ve said before, don’t get you’re knickers in a twist!!!  I’m getting there, if you’ll just let me tell my addiction story. I believe when addicts stand up and tell their story, they have the floor, they have the "talking stick," and get to speak without interruptions.

So, as I was saying, Claire’s husband Nick recommended John Doe  (name changed to protect the innocent as he's a minor) as a friend, so I sent him a friend request and that was the end of my peaceful life as I once knew it. Oh, oh, wait, I also have to lay some blame on my nephew Mike & his friend Fred. I let my nephew Mike know I was on facebook & he had me look up his friend Fred. I found him & clicked the friend invite button. Then Fred kept nagging (now don't say you didn't) my nephew. To ask Fostine to do this unbeknownst addicting thing!!!

Invites Roll In

Then when John Doe accepted my invite for friend, there’s a chat icon at the bottom of facebook—he was on line I was on line & we chatted. “What games do you play”, he asked. I responded, “none”. He typed back, “I said what games do you play?” Persistent little devil he was. Finally I typed back, “I’m new to facebook and I don’t play any, & I don’t know how to play games.” “Oh", he typed back. Then he typed again, “If I send you an invitation to play a game, will you accept?" “Okay, I can try, and it depends on what type of games, but I don’t promise I’ll be any good at playing games.” It took several tries of his sending invitations to play games because I didn’t know where to look for the invitations. So on chat again he gave me concise instructions were to look for the game invitation. It was fishville & fishworld. Then frontierville. I finally managed to get started in frontierville.

My facebook friend John Doe &  I played 5 games together. Gradually he dropped out of two, frontierville & zooville. Then it was no fun in zooville to play alone so I quit, too. Then we played fishville & fishworld—I finally decided I didn’t want to do fishworld anymore, so I’ve quit playing that game. Now I play zooworld, fishville, fishworld, farmville, & frontierville now. Oh, I'm back to playing fishworld.

So you see what’s happened here?: Because of John Doe, & my nephew's friend Fred I’ve become a facebook game junkie and an addict!!!

Here is an overview of the games I play. If you feel you know what my addiction is now & don’t want to peruse the rest of this post, that’s fine, I'll understand completely--or maybe you're panting with bated breath to get to your own games on facebook...

Frontierville

 Out of all of these games I like Frontierville the best. I’m building up a frontier town out of the wilderness, constantly battling to keep what land I’ve cleared off & homesteaded from nasty rattlesnakes, bears, foxes & gophers plus the constant growing back of grass, rocks, thorns, skulls, pine trees & oak trees. Always being given new challenges to meet while building up my frontier town. Also me & my neighbors can ask each other for various items or we can gift each other what we think is needed. We can buy animals, trees, decorations, buildings, and crops. We even earn ourselves a spouse, then a kid, then we have to get a school house and on and on and on. BTW when I earned my spouse, I got a warning that I had to keep an eyeon him because he might stray. STRAY? Even in games my spouse is going to stray? Well one day I clicked into my game & couldn’t find him. I looked & looked & then I found him at the very edge in the trees trying to run away. I clicked on him & the game posted you just kept your spouse from straying. Since then I called him “My no account spouse” when it’s said fast it sorts runs together, so I named him Noah. (NoahAccountSpouse—do you get it—my nephew laughed at this). Before I earned my spouse I had built our home, and a general store, a hotel, got the land cleared, of course, planted crops, etc. etc. It’s been fun to see if I could catch up with my nephew Mike’s friend Fred. Well I caught up and we leap-frogged each other for a while, but now I’m about three levels higher than him. I also play now with my great nephew David, in Wales, who is constantly leveling up much faster than I did. I also have some neighbors that come from Farmville, so I’m finally getting some neighbors. Oh and now I've also earned a child. I also called her "my no account brat" she was always hiding out like her dad. So now I've named her Noadeen--since on facebook my name is "Deen."

Farmville

And Farmville is taking the bare land you start out with & planting crops, gradually earning points & Farmville dollars to buy a horse stable, chicken coops, pig pens, animal nursery barn, storage units, barns, & other utility items, while visiting my neighbors & we help each other out. We gift each other items  Fred is at a higher level than me in this game, but my farm is cooler than his. (But don't tell him I said that, & Fred if you read this don't get grumpy with me.) My friend Claire posted on her facebook wall that her friend Fostine needed neighbors, so about 5 friended me & play with me. Then one of her friends, Jack Doe (name changed to protect the innocent) posted to his friends that he would vouch for me and that I needed more friends & Farmville neighbors. Well it’s a lot more fun to play when you have neighbors. Jack Doe really inundated me with friend invites from his friends. He posted on my wall that if I had any questions I could holler at him. I commented back that I might have to holder loudly. Being inundated with friends all at once was really neat. And sometimes the friend invites still come in--even neater. Oh and now my niece in Wales has come back to farmville to play--neat!!!

Fishville

My friend John Doe, Fred, my great niece Krissy play Fishville. They are all at a higher level than I am. We get an empty tank with a background setting that we choose. Then we have to buy fish, raise them & sell them to earn coins & fish dollars. We can gift each other decorations or fish & have fun playing. 

Zoo World

John Doe, my niece Anne & her husband, Philip, my nephew Richard & Brenda from Wales and then a friend they introduced me to & sent an invitation to be zoo neighbors with me in this game. Richard is at the highest level, than Brenda, than Anne, than her their friend, and then Philip, than me. I now have four islands with zoos on them & I’ve placed animals, kiosks, decorations, animal topiaries, animal statuettes—each island is of a different configuration. You earn zoo coins when you visit neighbors, click on certain trees, flowers, topiaries, animal  & statuettes I don’t have many zoo dollars though. I think I accrued another neighbor or two from farmville that play this game, too.

Addiction  & Fear

Now I’m sooooo addicted that I can’t leave my computer. After booting up my computer, I open my email first, then to twitter to read what my Celtic Thunder lads are up to. Then I open facebook—then I’m lost for the day. I just have to see what my game neighbors are posting, what they are gifting & who can click faster to get the gift first. I must say that sometimes gifts are gone in a matter of 30 seconds or less. I click & it says sorry this gift is gone, blah, blah, blah. I feel soooo lucky when I get something. Plus it’s fun to comment on postings.

Wall postings

Oh, Oh, Oh, not to get off the subject of games but, I posted on Neil Byrne’s wall about the travel mug I ordered & received I told him I was pleased that he had his picture on both sides of the mug, so it was good for both right handed or left handed people. I told him I was very pleased with all the merchandise I’ve received. Little did I know another fan of his would read my posting & comment “where did you find it, I was in his store & didn’t see it?” Well I found the email Neil sent me about his store. I clicked on the link then at the bottom I clicked on Neil on Reverbnation. That’s where the travel mug, tote bags were. I copied the link & went back to her comment, & did a comment of my own & pasted in the link & hoped it would work for her. She replied it worked very well, thank you for sharing. I did not no that anyone would really read my comments on facebook. But surprise, surprise they did. I even commented to another fan about Neil's’ appearance now, most of the time he’s not wearing his piercings (in his eyebrow & ear) & he doesn’t have his goatee anymore but some type of little chin beard that’s not a goatee. I said I missed his piercings, but that I would take Neil any way he wanted to change appearance. I also said I found him very handsome & sexy no matter what & enjoyed seeing him in concert in Everett WA. OMG, two people read my comment and agreed with me. This is another part of facebook that I’ve become addicted too, being able to post on my family & friends wall & comment back and forth. I commented to my great, great niece in Wales & she comments back In fact the other day she said she was going to start a story & every one write a line—that was hilarious. facebook postings are just lots of fun and good craic!!!

Summary

Yes, I’m a facebook game addict. I may soon have to join facebook games anonymous & stand up in front of my group & say, “ I’m Fostine, I have a big problem I’m addicted to playing games on face book.” the other day I set up a TV tray by my computer so I could try to click on gifts, and play a game & try to eat my supper. That didn’t work out at all, by the time I would remember to take a fork-full of food it was cooling down, then it was cold. Blast it anyway—maybe I can find one of those hats that have a place where people put a can of beer up there with a straw—I could get some of those instant breakfast that you add milk to & put them in a travel mug or something that I could stick a straw in it & then remember to take  a sip now and then. 

LOL!!! Some days I don’t even get dressed, I stumble from bed to the computer still wearing my night gown. & amble over to my computer, boot up, then go make my coffee & bring it back to my computer table. I’ve been trying to figure out how to sew & play games, but haven’t come up with anything yet. But my mind is stewing this problem like getting a lap top computer to take into the sewing room & placing it on the sewing machine table. But then I would need more eyes & extra hands to manipulate everything. Oh well I may tire of this addiction at some time—Oh, oh, oh, I forgot to tell you this is the first time I’ve ever played games on the computer. Maybe that’s why I can’t leave them alone-hmmmmmnnnn is that a truth or just an excuse?

Well my kitties, my luvs, my peeps, I’ll leave you to stew over this long posting. I must get back to my games, oops, did I just say that?

     --Glory-Oskie Zero, I wish today were tomorrow, luv Fostine.

Celtic Thunder Concert

Okay, I know, I know, it’s Celtic Thunder again, & again, & again. But this is different. I actually went to Everett WA last Friday, October 30, 2010 & saw them in person. OMG!!! Talk about chills, thrills, shivers, & all kind of good feelings running thru me each time one of the lads came up to sing or even when they all sang together as a group. I know this is going to be a long post so I’ve tried to break it up into sections for you to make it an easier read.

Act I

The Irish song portion was fantastic. I luved it when they did a little jig when they were singing. The Irish songs they sang were “Heartland sung by the group; Buachaill On Eirne by Damian; The Dutchman by Keith; Black Is The Colour by Ryan; Home From The Sea by the group. Other group numbers were; Just A Song At Twilight by Paul & Damian;

—now this is funny, Damian was wearing a white tie & it was long. He was sitting on the step & the lady on my left elbowed me & asked if I thought Damian ripped his pants when he sat down. I looked at his crotch & gasped, I hope not. I elbowed Melissa, she looked, we all looked again & again—because there was this white area that looked like a big rip in his trousers showing his underwear. After staring at his crotch area for awhile—& I think all three of us came to the same conclusion about the same time that it was his long white tie hanging between his legs—giving the appearance of ripped trousers. 

Oh, now back to the song list—Belfast Polka by the band; Noirin Mó Stoirin sung by Neil; Skye Boat Song by George; Red Red Rose by Paul; Whisky In The Jar by Keith & Neil, & A Place In The Choir by the group. Man-O-Man. I don’t think I’ll ever get over this. I yelled, I hollered, I screamed, I waved my arms, I clapped my hands, and made comments about the performances. All I know is that I want to go again. Our seating was on the floor, row 26, seats 19 & 20. Next time I want to be closer to my Lads!!!

Act II

The Lads perform songs from their latest show “That’s Entertainment. All my Lads did really well with their songs.

Review: Paul Byrom’s Performance

When Paul came out and sang “Sway” I had to take back everything I said about his version of “Sway”. It’s just so much more mahhhhvelooous when I’m sitting there & seeing him in person. Listening to him sing the song on a CD is just not the same thing!!! I don’t know how Paul did this—to remember the words to the song, sing the song, lean the floor mike back & forth with one hand, caress the mike with the other hand, sway his body in time to the music, & then give the audience smoldering looks with his eyes, what a performance!!! He was doing all kinds of sexy things to that microphone that should be illegal on stage & that he should be doing to me—I just didn’t know that Paul could be so “sexified”
OOPS!!! I have officially turned into a “Dirty Old Lady” now when I commented “He can caress me like that anytime.” The woman sitting on my left told me I heard that.

Some of theThunder Heads have “tweeted” Paul wondering why Sharon won’t release the video of him singing “Sway.” Paul wrote on Twitter saying the comments he was getting about Sway were to hot to handle, & said they were getting to be PG18. I tweeted back & told him I couldn’t write my comment because he would have to go to “X-Rated!!! My-O-My I’m still in heaven! Paul also sang the “Doo Waka Doo” number & he out did himself again—. How can Paul go wrong when he wears a Tux with tails, and a top hat & twirls that cane, & dances while singing. The audience went wild. I know I did. When he was through I yelled out “Paul, my sister says you steal the show with that number”. I think I heard Melissa concur.

Review: Ryan Kelly's Performance

Yes, yes I know my favorite is Ryan & I’ve rambled on and on about Paul’s sexified performance, and I lead off this posting with Paul, but that doesn’t mean Ryan wasn’t as good. The stage lights were dimmed, but I knew immediately when he stepped on to the stage at the very beginning. Shivers ran through my body when he took his “spread-legged-stance.” I screamed out, “There’s Ryan, it’s Ryan, there’s my favourite.” OMG, he just looked soooooo handsome—I can’t help getting those shivers running through my body again--knowing he came on the stage. That sexy-raspiness of his voice when hes sings--I think is the 8th Wonder of the World. Now that’s just my opinion & I know you’re allowed your own, BUT you better not disagree with me to my face or...or I don’t know what right now. I love the song “Everything I Do”—yes I know Ryan, you do it for me & only me—I don’t care what the other fans think--

HE'S MINE, MINE, MINE AND ONLY MINE!!! 

When "It’s Entertainment” was filmed in Canada, I read that the men who performed back up with Ryan in “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown” were Canadians who auditioned & were hired to do that number with him. He did not sing “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown this time.
In this performance he sang, “Viva La Vida” which is a new song for me to hear, & it was really wonderful. But then again Ryan could sing to me from a set of encyclopedias & I would luv it.

Review: Damian McGinty’s Performance

Damian had no girls for him to watch when he sang “Standing On The Corner.” I know that when they are touring they must be limited as to who gets to come along.  

Just a little blurb here from Damian, he tweeted that he took stage & began to sing Standing on the cornor...OH NO!!! He said he just forgot the words. He didn't say what he did until he remembered what came next. He said I've been singing since almost age nothing & have never, never forgotten the words to a song!! 

His other song “Home” was performed well, too. He’s gotten so tall from when he started out. He’s almost as tall as George. And his voice is so deep now. My friend Melissa & I were trying to figure out which was deeper, baritone or bass. I was going to look it up, but haven’t yet. I mention this only because in the program I think it read that his voice was now baritone, when in the Christmas CD blurb it was printed that they didn’t know that Damian’s voice was going to go bass—or something like that. I’m not getting out the CD to read it & quote it verbatim. He tweeted on his birthday on Twitter that (not precisely, now) today’s my birthday, I’m 18, I’m an adult now. LOL!! When I turned 18 I don’t think I knew I was an adult—but then again I’m not a performer like him & have been doing gigs since I was young. It was sooooo much fun to sit in an audience of CT fans & hear them scream, whistle, get excited as I did yelling for their favourite or just because we all love Celtic Thunder!!!

Review: Keith Harkin’s Performance

Keith, we discovered has long, long, long, legs. The lady sitting to my left noted this & whispered it to me & I whispered it to Melissa. So we all took a good-long-look at his long legs.

Keith reported on Twitter, a day before the concert that he was in the hospital in the emergency section & sat & sat & the stupid doctors took a long time to get to him (not sure if it was in Oregon or if they had crossed over into Washington, he did not specify where). Some fans reported it was his hand, others his little finger, others his wrist. I think it was his wrist.

But he still performed “Surfer Melody” and sang & played his guitar. He wore his green suit, he says he loves his green suit & it's his, not wardrobe. But I don’t think he & Neil did that guitar duet together. His other song “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” was really, really wonderful. But then again Keith is one of my favourites. He got to do some surfing when they were in San Francisco. He tweeted that he needed to get back in touch with nature. I’m happy for him that he got his wish. He just looks soooo handsome in person, I love his blond hair & dimples. BTW, Keith changed his hair do. Now he has a more sophisticated look. I’m all for change, some fans don’t like it & told him so. At first when I saw him on TV promoting this tour I wondered who he was, then my mouth fell open when I realized it was him. Well I’ve become used to—sorta —to this new Keith look & I’m liking this new look!!! But I've noticed that he's letting his hair grow long again & wearing it as before.

Review: George Donaldson’s Performance

George, George, George, my big hunky Scotsman. I love that bald head, and I can't say here what I would like to do with it, you’ll just have to use your imagination. He sang; “Hello Again” & “Life Without You”—oh my goodness, George, I can’t imagine a life without you anymore. And to think you were working in a factory & performing whenever you could get a gig in now & then. I’m sure happy you auditioned for Celtic Thunder & were chosen. You add so much to the group & I like the way they let you lead the rest of the Lads out on to the stage when you sing group songs. Makes me sorta feel like you’re the leader. Now it’s not that there’s nothing to say about George’s performance, it’s just you’ll get tired of me telling you how handsome the Lads are and how well they performed. My seat mate to my left & her son & wished he could have sung 500 miles, but that song was in the last show. It’s a good thing he didn’t because as it was, Melissa whispered to me, that’s enough waving of your arm now Fostine. She followed up with sometimes I’ll clap my one hand on my knee. Well what did I do? I used my right arm to clap on my left knee—smart huh—NOT. When George left the stage, I screamed out, “you’re my big hunky Scotsman!!!”

Review: Neil Byrne’s Performance

And last but not least, my Neil Byrne. My goodness, such a versatile performer. Lead guitar player, plays the drums, singer, performer. Sigh, sigh, sigh & shivers, shivers, total body shivers. Phil Coulter wrote a special song for him to sing in this tour called, “Noirin Mó Stoirin” Ooooooohhh his beautiful voice & that song just meld together to make gorgeous sounds. Many of Neil’s fans wanted to know more about the song so he replied in his facebook page. Here’s the link Neil shared on Twitter about the song.

http://www.neilbyrnemusic.com/2010/10/noirin-mo-stoirin/

I wish Neil could have sung “When You Wish Upon A Star” I play that song over & over & over. I just sigh (I know, you’re getting tired of me saying sigh, but I just looked up synonyms for it & can’t find any I like. So if you want to comment on a synonym for me I’d appreciate. You know I am trying to keep this from being “X-rated.” I just love looking at Neil in his kilt when he’s working in the band. He changed into his Armani suit when he did “Hallelujah” with Ryan & Keith. Faint away, I could just faint & slide off my chair on to the floor….My three favourite Lads on the stage together, singing--their voices blending so well. Looking sooooooo resplendant . The lady sitting on my left whispered to me I hope they don't have to carry you out, I was so excited. I told Melissa I made sure I brought my medical card in my wallet & I used my Advair inhaler.

Review: Closing Song

When my Lads came out on stage in their Kilts my heart beat so fast, I knew in my head it was the last song of the show coming up. They sang “Ireland’s Call” I just love that song. And their legs—I love looking at their handsome legs. I do luv a man in a kilt. Especially these Celtic Thunder Men in their kilts. Is it possible that when thousands of men who auditioned for this job that these 5 were picked. In the song book I bought they described Ryan as the typical Irish male. Now tell me if he is, the typical Irish male are there no unhandsome men in Ireland? I’m telling you I think I’m almost ready to move to Ireland. You know I do have roots on my Dad’s side that go back to Dublin Ireland. When the Lads turned their backs to the audience & then turned back around & swirled their kilts—screams emanated from the audience—I screamed swirl those kilts, swirl those kilts Lads.Paul really swirled his kilt & “I saw London, I saw France, I saw Paul’s Thunder Pants!!!” & you know what? They were “tidy whitties.” I forgot, I keep telling everyone, I saw six good looking Celtic butts when my Lads had their backside to the audience.I think I’m getting all hot all over again just writing about it.

Stunned

When the song was over & the lads exited the stage & when the people started leaving the arena—I wondered what was going on. I couldn’t get it through my head that the concert was over. I stood there stunned. The lady on my left, asked me if it was over. Finally it got through my head that it was . I still want more!!! Can anyone fault me for wanting more? I can’t repeat it enough that this was a wonderful experience for me. I very happy that I got brave enough to call about tickets & I’m very very happy that my friend Melissa was able to join me. She helped me be brave enough to do this whole trip.

When we left the staging area & walked to the elevator, there was a group of people all ready there. We all waited & waited. Finally a young man asked “did anyone push the down button?” Everyone assured him they did. We waited & waited some more. Finally the young man asked his elderly grandmother if she thought she could do one flight of stairs. She said she thought she could. Then he said, “this is silly, as soon as we leave the elevator will come.” So they came back to wait. Others left to use the stairs. Then the young man said maybe we just need to sing it down. So I told him if he started a song we’d all join in. He started singing “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” & we all joined in and by golly by gum here comes the elevator. Well we finished the song inside the elevator & the grandmother told me I had a good singing voice. MOI??? I thanked her, but I’m sure I can't carry a tune in a bucket. But maybe, just maybe, some of the essence of Celtic Thunder surrounded me & helped me sing the elevator down, too.

Oh another tidbit here, the older lady sitting in the row in front of me turned around & asked me if I could stop screaming so much. She said she had one bad ear & my screaming was irritating it. I just looked at her & said Lady this is a music concert—a Celtic Thunder concert—what did you expect when you came here? If you have a bad ear, maybe you should have brought some ear plugs. I told her my friend Melissa wasn’t sure how loud things were going to get so she brought earplugs. My seat mate on my left hard the lady complaining to me & told me what a rude lady she was. There was no way I wasn’t going to stop & not enjoy myself at my first concert. If I wanted to scream & holler I will, by dag gum I will & I’ll enjoy every last minute of this concert—So There!!! I think I'm a late bloomer.

One last tidbit & it’s what my sister told me I should do when the Lads come out in there kilts. She said I should get up out of my seat & roll down the aisle until I was right at the stage so I could peek up & look under the Lads kilts!!! OMG—I mentioned it to the lady on my left & we just laughed & laughed. Watch out, crazy old lady rolling down the aisle!! LOL!!! What could the show management do—escort me out—it’s the end of the show!!

Oh, oh, I didn't even mention the Pre-show Dinner Package which you get all of the following:
    -Dinner Buffet (menu listed below)
    -Entertainment
    -Prize giveaways
    -Private entrance to event
    -No Service Charges
    -Access to VIP Club Lounge at intermission
    -One (1) parking pass per two (2) dinners

Dinner Buffet Menu:
    -Baked Salmon with Tomato Hollandaise Sauce
    -Chef Carved Honey Orange Baked Ham with Roasted Pineapple Salsa
    -Rice Pilaf with Garden Vegetables
    -Mixed Greens with Smoked Bacon and Egg tossed in a Honey Cider Vinagrette
    -Dill Glazed Carrots
    -Assorted Rolls and Butter
    -Assorted Cakes and Pies
    -Cash Bar
    -One complimentary beverage

It was a lot of fun to attend this dinner. Melissa and I were seated at table four. I hate to keep saying how much fun it was to be in this dining hall & be seated with other CT fans. I chatted with the other fans seated at the table.I'm glad I decided to include this package along with the concert.

We Pulled An Overnighter

We decided to spend the night in Everett. Melissa’s husband suggested it, so she wouldn’t be driving in the dark after we get off the ferry in Kingston—she mentioned it to me, I said I gave it some thought, too. I booked us in to the Holiday Inn. The Comcast Arena in Everett worked in conjunction with the Holiday Inn to have a block of rooms set aside for concert people. By mentioning this, I got the Comcast Arena discount on the room. It was a lot of fun to spend the night with Melissa. When we got back to the hotel we asked about room service. The desk clerk said it was “iffy” because the kitchen makes up so much & as the supply dwindles in the night the selection get slim. She also suggested ordering out, Chinese or Pizza and that's as far as we let her go. PIZZA. Yes we ordered pizza & Pepsi. Boy oh boy was it a good after concert snack. When we ate as much as we could we turned off the lights, drifted off  to our beds, and had nice girl talk before our eyes tired & we wound down enough to sleep.

Well my kitties, my luvs, my peeps, I suppose I could write more things about this great adventure I could go go on, but I think this is enough. All in all I really enjoyed myself & I’m ready to do it again lots of fun and good craic!!! It was a Thunderiffic outing, too!!! I’m pretty tired so I’m going to get ready for bed and have good dreams for a long long time. Good night now.

       —Glory Oskie Zero, I wish today were tomorrow, luv Fostine.

Baseball, Apple Pie, & Chevrolet

Well, I luv baseball, I luv apple pie, & I did own a chevy Nova car way back when. So I guess I qualify, somewhat, to ramble on about this subject.

I used to be a Seattle Mariner fan, but that was way back when. Well, not waaaayyy back when, I'm not that ancient, yet. But far enough back like 6--8 years ago. At least when Kazuhiro Sasaki, John Olerud, Dan Wilson, & Jay Buhner played for them. When they used to win games!!! Oops.

Oh, I didn't tell you how I became a baseball fan. When my brother Bill was recuperating & living with my sister Betty, I used to go in when I could & sit with him, sometimes after work, sometimes on the weekend. He would be watching baseball & I sat with him & learned to luv baseball. He told me everything that was happening during the game, he taught me how to read the score board, and he would call the game while watching it, in fact, I think he called the game better than the announcers.

Well, I can't tell a fast ball from a curve ball like he could, I can't call a game, but I still enjoy watching baseball. I enjoy the banter between the announcers, I enjoy the roar of the crowd, especially when things get edgy in the game, I enjoy the brouhaha when the competing teams pile on top of each other brawling on the baseball diamond, I enjoy it when the umpire throws someone out of the game, I enjoy it when a team wins a game & the whole team comes out & they pile on top of each other & jump up & down, I enjoy seeing the players play ball, run the bases, & slide into a base or home plate, I enjoy seeing the ball thrown to try & get players out. What I enjoy most is just the players of the game.

One time the Mariners were playing the New York Yankees. That's when I discovered Derek Jeter. Pam was standing with me & I asked her, "Who is that player?" She said, "Oh, that's Derek Jeter, I used to like him, but I don't any more." Well I guess I took over liking Derek Jeter.

I tried to watch all the Yankee games I could on Dish TV, but alas there weren't that many. That's when Dish TV started advertising "MLB Season Ticket." Well, by golly, by gum, I investigated this season ticket stuff. Yes, it was sorta expensive, but when I wanted to become a Yankee Fan, just how much is too much to pay to see all their games.

I signed up for the season ticket the next baseball season. Yes, I used to rush home from work to catch all the baseball games I could, especially my Yankees. I luv to watch Derek Jeter, Captain of the Yankees, by the way, catch the ball & spin around in the air & toss the ball to first base for that double out.

Now I'm probably not the usual type of baseball fan--or so I've discovered. I don't really pick a team because it's my home team, or because of their stats, or because they have the best players, or because of their ratings. I follow baseball teams (yes, I said teams) because I may like a certain player in that team. Or I may just like a players name. Or I may like the manager of the team. Or, I may like a team because the player is good looking. Probably, most of all I like the way the player wears his uniform, especially when it fits well. And I must say Derek Jeeter wears his uniform well. But all in all, who really knows why I like a team--maybe at this point, maybe just maybe, it's just because!!!

I do know this, I like the New York Yankees the best because of the clause in the players' contract, that they will be neat & clean shaven. No facial hair--exception--a well trimmed, small, mustache. Hair cut appropriately, too, although there's more leeway there. I do like a man that's clean shaven. I really don't like those nasty mustache & beards that go around the mouth. They really look nasty. But then I do reserve the right to change my mind, depending on the man & the facial hair exhibited. I do like a goatee.

The only player I really, really liked that had facial hair & a wild hair do was Johnny Damon. I called him my "Wild Man." I liked the idea that the Yankees brought him over when his contract was up with the Boston Redsocks. But I hated to see his hair get cut off.

Well, below is a video of my favorite baseball men. Well, most of them--I guess if I had to hunt down all my favorites, I maybe here to dooms day. I hope you enjoy looking at them, if for no other reason you want to know what I like.

Well, my kitties, my luvs, my peeps, I'm a bit tired now so I'm off to my safe haven of my bed. Until we can watch a baseball game together....

       --Glory-oskie Zero, I wish today were tomorrow, luv Fostine.