Diary of a Metal Mommy

Check it out. Mr. Pat Beyer has done it again–first it was a kick-A logo for my music business, Mod Pod Music, and now he’s rendered a cartoon version of me to put on there. Cory thought I needed a photo on my ‘About’ page, and I guess people do like to see the face behind the project…but something about it feels funny. I thought a caricature of me would be the perfect thing. I tried to do my own thing through ‘Comic Life’ software, but it just looks kind of lame. This, however, is awesome! How many people can say they have a cartoon of themselves?! I love how he has me holding a cup of coffee. I think I need to tease him about drawing my boobs, though. Kind of like the whole “Titanic” thing when Jack was sketching Rose’s boobs. Okay, maybe not like that since I’m not naked and I wasn’t posing live for Pat and we don’t have a luv thing going on, but still. It’s funny to think of someone drawing your boobs. Coreman joked around that he should have made my boobs bigger…I suppose I could be mad that he didn’t make them bigger but actually I prefer small boobs, so there it is.

What a weekend! It definitely did what Minnesota does and dumped about a foot of snow on us. Beautiful! Many people have been grumbling about it, but you know, I don’t mind at all. These days we don’t get enough snow as it is. I always feel like, hey, if it’s gonna be cold, we may as well have some pretty white stuff to go along with it. It’s not 20 below like it was for so long. It’s nearing the end of winter, so it will melt soon. And as I always say, it’s really easy to like the stuff when you don’t have to shovel/snow-blow it. Thanks to Coreman! (and as I’ve also said before, the only good thing to come out of a gimpy back.)

The snow really started kicking in early Saturday evening, as we were getting ready to head over to Stephanie’s for her belated 40th Birthday Bash. She was really bummed about it, understandably, as there were sure to be some folks that couldn’t or wouldn’t venture out in the slip and slide to get there. But no, not us! I will not let a little snow keep me from celebrating with my peeps. I told Steph I’d be there if I had to walk over in my snowshoes! (ok, I don’t own snowshoes, but I’d get some from Hoigaards just up the street.)

The party was amazing, as I knew it would be–definitely the highlight of the weekend. Stephanie looked beautiful in her fabulous forty glory, and she has wonderful, interesting friends that are definitely fun to chat with. Plus it’s always fun to hob-nob with a few local celebs like Andrew Zimmern and Rudy Maxa, who are just as fun and interesting as you think they would be. The highlight of the evening was definitely giving Steph a special birthday surprise–Mod Hair Ken. Stephanie had brought him up a few times when we’d touch on childhood memories–I’m sure it all started with the Dirty Barbie story. (those of you who have listened to the podcast know just what I’m talking about. If you’re curious, check out Episode #4 from our early days…) Kim thought of the wonderful idea of finding one for her, and good ol’ ebay provided once again. The presentation was hilarious–since it’s near-impossible to find Mod Ken complete with box and facial decals, we just had to make our own. I cut decals out of brown felt and labeled each one–of course I had to make up a few of my own. Ken just had to have a merkin. Kim’s hubby Brian made an incredible box to put him in, complete with original ‘artwork’ and an open display window. The funniest thing was the card we gave along with it–we did a photo shoot of Ken and a random lucky Barbie and posed them in all sorts of compromising positions–then Brian photoshopped Stephanie’s face on the Barbie. These we put on a self-made card that said, “You’re Never Too Old to Play Dirty Barbies!” The gift definitely got the response from Stephanie that we were hoping for…but of course I wasn’t counting on everyone at this glorious party taking a gander and seeing just what Kim and I are made of. Ha! Ah well, I can only fool people for so long. It’s not long before they start to see the real me. Like as soon as I open my mouth….

So! Into a busy week. Vivian has one more little thing to shoot for her commerical thang today at Fallon, so I’ll be dropping Sullivan off to hang with Cory at work, picking Vivian up early from school and heading downtown. It will be a lot of rushing, but there are worse things to do than hang out at a rockin’ internationally known ad agency on the 28th floor of a building in downtown Minneapolis.

So I just recently discovered a rapper dude named Deadlee–he was highlighted on CNN as a gay man in the rap business. You’ve gotta love that. I mean, you can’t get much more macho and homophobic than rap music, and I admire him for being out there–and I mean really Out there. I have to say, tho, I took a listen to him on itunes and was a little disturbed by some of the lyrics I was hearing. I don’t know what I expected, but I really don’t need to hear about someone putting their finger in a crack. I don’t care who or what is doing it to whom.–that’s just nasty! In a little movie clip he’s talking about the ‘kids’ who listen to his music and need an alternative to gay bashing, yet he’s rapping about butt-cracks. So even tho I admire his chutzpah, I guess I’m not all that thrilled with his role-modeling. Dang, Deadlee, you could have really been a good influence there!

Now the Dixie Chicks on the other hand, they are definitely my new heroes. Generous Barbara Kopple, the director who filmed Vivian’s recent commercial spots and also the Chicks’ documentary “Shut Up and Sing” recently sent us a copy of it. Now as you all know very well I am no fan of country music and so haven’t been too interested in these ladies–although I do have to say I have often wished I did like them just because they seem cool. After watching this documentary I can say that they are indeed cool–in fact, they may play some twangy tunes, but they are down-right Metal!

It all started with a silly comment as the war started to really heat up. One of the Chicks said from stage, “We’re embarrassed that Bush is from Texas,” or something to that effect. It is quite unbelievable to watch the repercussions of that benign statement unfold throughout this movie. All of these country folk are banning them, all of the southern radio stations. A woman holding her 2 year old child on her hip and telling her to say that the Dixie Chicks Suck on camera, and then in the same breath say how ignorant the band is. HUH??!! It’s embarrassing to be sharing a country with people of that mentality, that’s all I can say. I could rant about it all day and night, but of course I won’t. Through everything, the Chicks have stuck together and amazingly looked at the whole thing in a positive light, as giving them a chance to re-create themselves, if you will, and create the kind of music they really wanted to create. They still won’t apologize about the actual statement or feel sorry about it, and I LOVE THAT!

So there it is. I may even go out and buy their latest CD, just in pure support. Then my husband can listen to it on his way to work…he is very scarily listening to the country station in his car all the time now…eeeek! What’s worse, country or Alan Parsons?! (sorry, honey.)

I love my iPod. I was very much loving it today when I took it out with me for a walk/run! The first one in quite a while, it was heaven in this Minnesota-spring-like temp of 40 degrees!!!! Really, I don’t think I could exercise without music. Could you? The frustrating thing though, is how quickly one gets sick of their music. When a person is listening every day or every other day those 400 and something songs get old real fast. For those of you who only listen to music to and from work, and maybe some background stuff relaxing at home, I’m sure that’s hard to imagine. But music is very much an inspiration for me to get my butt moving, so it’s gotta be good. Sure I love my Lord of the Rings soundtracks, but they don’t normally inspire me for a good run. (although they are nice for a pleasant walk around the lake, to be sure.)

There are however certain songs that I never press the fast forward button on and for some reason I feel compelled to share them with you.

–Tainted Love and Personal Jesus, the Marilyn Manson versions (but of course!)
Originally recorded by Soft Cell and Depeche Mode, Mr. Manson has totally re-invented these songs, in my opinion. The lyrics to both are amazing (especially Personal Jesus) and with Manson’s driving beat, chunky guitar and haunting sexy voice
above it, oooweee! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. (I’m not sure what it says about me that I find Marilyn Manson both
interesting and sexy…I probably don’t want to know…)

–Starry Eyed Surprise by Paul Oakenfold
I first heard this song on a Diet Coke commercial and immediately loved it. I searched on itunes for what I thought it was probably called, and I was right! I love discovering new songs. This one makes me feel all dreamy and in a good mood and makes me think of a night on the town in my wild single days. (the kind of thing that is always so much more fun in memory than it usually was…!)

–Grillz by Nelly
Like I’ve always said about Nelly, you’ve gotta love a guy who dedicates an entire song to his shoes. (Air Force Ones, another great tune.) He is so clever with his rhymes, he just cracks me up. Grillz is just hilarious and I’m always joking around about how I need one. (for those of you not in the know, it’s the bejeweled mouthpiece that rappers often wear) My favorite line in the song has to be, “…got a bill in my mouth like I’m Hillary Rodham.” How can you go wrong with that?!

–Only Time by Enya
Yes, here is the cheezy reflective side of me. This is also more of a ‘walking around the lake’ song verses a work-out inspiration, but I love it. Enya’s music is so dreamy and reflective and as you can tell from my blurb about Starry Eyed Surprise I like to feel that way. I like the idea behind this song, too, it makes you remember that you don’t and shouldn’t have control over everything. (which is a constant struggle for me…!) “Who can say where the road goes?…Only time….”

–Celebrity Skin by Hole
You’ve gotta love someone who refers to another as ‘ a pound of flesh’. Brilliant. I love the raw emotion and once again chunky guitar in this song. I love the way this song is so melodic and so grunge at the same time. And I can totally relate to the whole Hollywood vibe, after living there!

–Lacrymosa by Evanescence
Oh man, this is a total Goosebump song. It’s relatively new and I just get the chills everytime I hear it. To me the ultimate sound is to mix beautiful classical instruments and sounds with chunky, loud guitar. I just love the paradoxical element of that. When this song resolves in the end on that final chorus of “Amen” it’s another “ooooweeeee!” The Best!

So, there it is . A short list of Songs I Never Skip On My iPod. How about you?

So I go into Macy*s yesterday to replace my almost-empty (at least I think it’s almost empty…those damn flesh colored pump bottles make it impossible to tell, I just kind of guessed by the fact it was feeling light and it farted at me last time I squirted a little on the back of my hand…) HG (holy grail) of foundations, the Lancome Renergie Lift Make-Up, and I am pleasantly surprised with being greeted by a ‘Free Gift’ display at the counter. Nice. Rarely am I lucky enough to run out of something just at the right Free Gift time–it normally pops up right AFTER I’ve been there.

The Gift is quite generous–my choice of 3 different little make-up bags, all filled with the same stuff. An eyeshadow ‘quad’ (which I have to say looks amazingly like the last Free Gift quad that was given out sometime over the summer), a mascara, a lipstick that I’ll actually use, (although it does have a bit of that old-lady lipstick smell. One of the reasons I buy most of my lipsticks at Mac.) an eyelash curler that I probably will never use, some eye make-up remover, and a small jar of moisturizing cream.

I was curious about that cream. I’ve come a long way with my facial accoutrements, spent a lot of time trying this and that and getting it just right, that I don’t try new skin-care things lightly. It smelled good, I liked the consistency. I decided to look it up on line to find out just what I was supposed to do with the stuff and what exactly it’s supposed to do for me. Let’s see here…oooh! It: “…fights visible effects of age and hormonal changes.” Right on, I’m there. “…skin regains youthful substance, firmness, and radiance – as if signs of aging are visibly repaired.” Bring it on! “Visible Repair: Wrinkles appear reduced. 85% experience improved elasticity and firmness. Intense Moisture: 91% feel skin is nurtured. Re-plumped with life. Clarity: A radiant, even skin tone is revealed.” Dang, this stuff even has wild yam in it. (the sweet potatoes…!) And it’s only….wha?? $108.00??!! That’s almost as much as the latest Coach spring/summer bag I have my eye on, and they want me to use this on my face every day? Grief.

I never used to care much about make-up. (check out that hair-do!) Back in the day I never would have dreamed about using foundation–it didn’t fit the whole rock and roll death look I was going for. A little powder, absolutely NO blush (again, too life-like for rock and roll) tons of black eye liner and the finishing touch of some bright red or purple lipstick. I splurged on lipstick from Aveda, but everything else could be bought at your local Walgreens. Of course back then youth didn’t come from a bottle, and I WANTED to look made up. (there’s Lori and I back in the day-ha!) Now I’m spending out the wazoo to give the illusion that I don’t have much on. Oh, the irony. And it’s all so addicting! What starts as a Free Gift here and there becomes an obsession for that beautiful sparkly eyeshadow that looks almost identical to the one you just thew away because you found you never used it. Craziness I tell you, craziness!

I can only hope I don’t end up liking this moisturizer. So does my husband, I’m sure. You men out there, you’re so damn lucky!