Three Months in Review

Wow, I just realized I haven't really updated this thing in a while.  (Working as a manager in one of the largest toy stores in the world during 4th Quarter doesn't leave much time for blogging.) In the past few months, I've been to a few amazing shows, met some celebrities and got to spend an afternoon with one of my all-time favorite bands.

SOME RECENT DECEMBER SHOWS:

Nada Surf @ Bowery Ballroom 12/6

Werner, David and I went to see Nada Surf at my favorite venue in NYC - Bowery Ballroom. Werner and I have seen them numerous times together (it almost feels like it's a monthly date for us.)  Most of the recent memories I have with W are at Nada Shows, and in our old age, we're beginning to mix shows up. "Was  is the Bowery Show last winter or the Terminal 5 show where they pulled up the drunk girls onstage?"  "Remember that time we met Matthew Caws and he started speaking French to you?"  I almost feel like seeing a Nada Surf show is like seeing my old friends play in someone's living room.  We always make our way up to the front of the stage (Nada fans are not obnoxious or pushy and just give each other enough space.) And I'm starting to learn the band's little idiosyncrasies (the guitar player ALWAYS smokes during Killian's Red - How do you smoke, play guitar and sing at the same time???)  But my friend David was a Nada Show VIRGIN.  Needless to say, he was blown away.  He compared the energy in the room to a punk show, which I guess is a compliment.  I think we'll be seeing David at another Nada Surf show sometime soon.  Lucky for us, they live in Brooklyn so they come around often.

Oasis @ Madison Square Garden 12/17

My ex was a HUGE Oasis fan.  Everyone who knew him knew that about him.  He liked Oasis as much as I like U2.  So much so that we name our dog Liam and our cat Bono.  If we had kids, they probably would have been named Noel and The Edge.  We even planned our trip to Europe in 2000, so that we would be in London the same week Oasis was playing Wembley Stadium. SERIOUSLY.  

Back in 1999, during that tumultuous summer in Europe when he was trying to woo me away from my high school boyfriend, he made a power point presentation recapping our amazing summer for me using an Oasis song as background music.  He tried to convey his emotions to me using the handwritten lyrics to "Don't Go Away".  Cheesy, I know, but when you're a hopeless romantic 20-year-old girl studying abroad in Europe, that shit works.  Oasis music was a HUGE part of our relationship. During those years we were together, I probably heard more Oasis songs than the average British person hears in a lifetime.  I have every album, every b-side, every bootleg Oasis song that exists.  After we broke up, it took me months to be able to listen to an Oasis song without tears welling up and a montage of memories flooding my mind. I NEVER thought I'd go to an Oasis concert ever again; I never thought I'd WANT to.   But a few months ago, I rediscovered Oasis.  I was able to listen to the music and not be reminded of my ex.  I could just enjoy it for me.  They really are talented musicians.  The night their new album came out, I actually attended an 'Oasis Listening Party' with some English friends.  While my friends were on the patio smoking, I opted to go inside to sing along to anthems such as 'Rock and Roll Star', 'Stand By Me', and my personal favorite 'Live Forever'.  So when I heard that Oasis were playing MSG, I HAD to go.  I even was able to score Floor Seats!  (Sure I was on the OPPOSITE end of the floor than the stage, but it was a Hell of a lot better seat than the seats I had at Wembley Stadium eight years before!)  They played a 2+ hour set.  It sounded like Liam had a cold, but Noel was in top form.  The best part was when he played 3 acoustic songs alone on stage (Don't Look Back in Anger being one of them.)  Here's some pics from the show:

The Boys Take The Stage




One BIG Liam



Noel holding his own



Liam




Celebrities You Say?
Sadly, I don't have any pictures of the celebrities that have shopped in my store in recent months (and it's likely that I would no longer have a job there if I did snap some pics of them while I was working.) Here's a recap of the stars and their purchases:

1. Victoria Beckham (sans David & kids this time) picked up some books for the boys -Shopping With Dad (!) and The Book of Pirates. Posh said that she really needed something that would grab her kids' attention since they can't get them to pick up a book. Last time they were in FAO, the personal shopper told me that while she was ringing up their purchases, David was sitting on the floor reading a book to them. How freakin' adorable - wish I could've seen that one.

2. Liv Tyler picked up some (ok, $300 worth) of Legos for Milo's birthday;

3. Mira Sorvino and her HOT husband were right outside my bookstore - but shopping in the board games section instead.

4. Salma Hayek brought little Valentina in, picked up a few books, then the next day brought her to our Storytime! (She came 3 times that week alone!)

Yikes, it's getting late and I have to work tomorrow. My post about spending an afternoon with one of my favorite bands will have to wait til next time, kids. Sorry, but here's a clue: They've chased some automobiles, have quite a sweet tooth, and like to Jog. And if you watch Grey's Anatomy, you've definitely heard their songs. Stay Tuned...