How to wake up looking like a rock star

It is a proven fact that, after attending a music show, if you have a semi-curly perm and you fall into bed with all of your makeup on and get about 4 hours of sleep, you will wake up looking like Stevie Nicks.

The probability of your getting a pimple on your cheek is also quite high.

The good news is that I didn't need to recreate my smoky eye look for today. I woke up with it.

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Last night with The Hounds.

Just a tad because 1. it's either very early or 2. it's very late.

Thrice.

Boots and whiskey.

Renee.

Slingerland.

The Lady of the Lights. At the controls.

Before the show.

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I wish I could get paid to blog because then I could lie around at home and tell you all about it. I also wish I could get paid to sleep. I'm pooped.

xoxo

Rockin' the Irish Tonight

I finally get to say this for reals... I'm with the band.

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After work, me and my little camera get to prowl around backstage, dressing rooms, light booth, etc. for the St. Patrick's Day performances at the Great American Music Hall. My favorite Irish band, Culann's Hounds, is playing tonight and the photo above is part of a set I took a few months ago when they played at the Plough and Stars Pub on Clement Street.

Tickets are still on sale, if you're looking for some great music in the city tonight!

I hope to have some awesome shots for you soon. (I have to admit I'm a little nervous.) Wish me the luck o' the Irish (or the luck o' the photographer with the band).

Name that Pumpkin!

I could not help but think that this is one of the more ingeniously wicked pumpkin carvings I've seen recently. It's cannibalizing right in my neighborhood for all to see. I'm a little envious... if I can remember correctly, my pumpkins were always kind of mediocre and common.

I am sure there are a few of you out there who can come up with a fun name for this Halloween pumpkin. I seem to only have ideas for Election Campaign Buttons these days.



My cabinet posts are filling up! But I need more good people.
And I keep thinking about what goodies I might possibly put in my little basket o'treats for the winner.



I think julochka, despite whatever other post I might appoint her to, is readily proving herself to be my Secretary of Campaign Buttons Extraordinaire.

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I hope you all have fun starting NOW.



I'm ready for an action-packed few days off, starting with a musical date with my future Secretary of Cultural Awesomeness, Ms. Red Shoes and that great Irish rock band, Culann's Hounds. And a pint of cider.

And then a Saturday date with my buddy Little C., as I'll be her escort to the California Academy of Sciences I told you about. She was so excited for her first visit there that she begged me not to tell her anything about it, because then she'd be "too excited to sleep!" Now that is my kind of little science dweeby girl!

And then a bunch of other stuff I can't remember right now because I forgot to have a cup of coffee this morning and now it's too late for brain recovery.

Have a good weekend, folks, and don't forget to join my administration!

I'm with the Hounds

Two Irish pubs, two glasses of cider, same night.

First, at the Blackthorn Tavern to watch the presidential debate (more on that later) with my new blog friend Greg of the famous N-Judah Chronicles, accompanied by his brother and brain buddy "Mason Powell." (If you live in San Francisco, you'd already know why that is an awesome pseudonym.)

And then to The Plough and Stars to see Culann's Hounds play, known as San Francisco's "Hardrocking Acoustic Irish Band." And that they are.

My beautiful friend Red Shoes (also my sister in tango) has been friends with the members of the band for years and takes guitar lessons from Fiddler, aka Steve Gardner. I'm so glad she invited me to join her...I'm totally hooked and groupie-fied on each and every one of them now.

See, I even have my own t-shirt.

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Here's some info about the band: The inspiration for the group’s name, Cuchullainn, or Culann, was an epic warrior in Irish legend. Steve, who plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin and also sings, explains: “We embody a certain brash, perhaps over enthusiastic quality that might be attributed to Cuchullainn." He says, “I like the connection because deep inside me, I still love the hero tales and the faerie stories. I believe they are hidden wellsprings of cultural wisdom. We try to reframe these ideas in ancient tribal urban folk rock.”

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I was so stoked that Mike was cool with me taking pictures. I was nervous about it, one--because I still feel very shy about photographing people and two--because the lighting there wasn't ideal (well, it was ideal for a band playing, but not enough light for me). The pressure was on--I had to earn my t-shirt.

I think I did okay in some of these. What do you think?

I couldn't have had a better time. The band is energetic, sexy and uber-talented. Every song makes you want to jump up and dance, and the room quickly became a sauna from the heat generated.

The band played a waltz so Mike could get off stage and dance with lovely Red Shoes.

For the most part, and no small thanks to my new Lightroom software, I think some of these photos turned out pretty well, considering the lighting conditions I had to deal with. I like that these photos capture the magnetism and energy of the group.

But don't take it from me. Go to their website, get a CD, and if you're local, find the Hounds and see for yourself.

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And if you don't think a girl playing the accordion is one of the sexiest things you've ever seen in your life, think again. Renee makes me want to take up lessons. Or just have a big ol' crush on her.