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Behold....The Toochis.
Time Machine tour 2010

 

 

 

August 28, 2010

No, I didn't forget Alex's birthday. I snail mailed him a birthday card last week. :-)

For the past two months ever since Caravan and BU2B were released I've been listening to them on my iPod or iTunes, but today I finally burned a CD with a custom label created on my computer so I could rock out in my car as well. My only question is, will the band finish the other 11 songs for Clockwork Angels when they go back into the studio later this year or are they going to continue dragging out the suspense with two songs every couple of months? I guess we'll find out in a few months. Meanwhile, I've got Caravan, BU2B, You Tube videos of the Time Machine tour, and still photos to tide me over. I won't be able to make it to either of the Florida shows this year.

 

P.S. Remember the hotel in Toronto that I blogged about on August 7th, the one that fraudulently charged my credit card during a telephone reservation back in April? I just sent a complaint letter to the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, and I posted a distant early warning on Trip Advisor.com encouraging other travelers to do the same. If I get a response from ORHMA I'll post an update here.

August 11, 2010

I just finished my first day at my new housekeeping job (see August 7th blog). I started at 9 a.m., finished by 11:00, and now I'm off duty until next week. It's funny how tiny and cramped that 4,000 square foot house used to feel when I lived there. Now that I've been in my studio apartment for eight years, Mom and Dad's house feels ginormous! This gig is a walk in the park compared to my previous experience cleaning hotel rooms where you do 15 rooms a day (sometimes as many as 20), thirty minutes per room, 40 hours a week. Yes, your boss times you, and you get dinged if you take too long, even if you need to take extra time to re-stock your cart with supplies and dump the soiled linens. The worst part is, you're cleaning up after total strangers, and that presents potential health hazards, especially when you clean up body fluids. Some rooms were so bad I should have had a HazMat suit on! Luckily, those days are long behind me. Now I just clean up my own messes and, for a hot little minute, my parents' messes. But I know where they've been so it's okay. :-)


I also have an update on my dispute with A T & T about my Go Phone refund (see July 12th blog). Last week I wrote a complaint letter to Randall Stephenson, the president of AT & T and today I received a call back from one of his staffers. She said that pre-paid account funds aren't refundable, that once you remove the funds from the phone they're gone for good. I told her that I was never informed of this policy and asked her to issue me a refund anyway as a gesture of good faith customer service. She that that wasn't a "valid reason". I replied that I have taken my business to A T & T's competitors as a direct result of the poor customer service I have received over the past four months. I don't think it mattered one bit to her, which is a shitty ass way to run a business. My suggestion for Go Phone users is, don't trust anything that A T & T employees tell you, and don't put any more money on your phone than you can comfortably afford to lose. If there is ever a billing dispute A T & T will NOT back you up.


First the Howard Johnson hotel (see August 7th blog) and now this. It's a shondah the way paying customers get treated these days. Are there ANY businesses left that still give a crap about us punters?? Test for echo...

If you need it, here's the address for A T & T's head cheese. Don't expect too much.

Mr. Randall Stephenson
CEO, President, and Chairman
AT & T
208 S. Akard Street
Dallas, TX  75202

August 7, 2010

I have to be honest, yesterday was the day from hell and I had a major case of The Black Ass. Then around 7 p.m. the heavens parted and delivered forth a much-needed ray of sunshine: a temporary housecleaning job! YIPPEEE! I'm stoked not about the housecleaning part but having a source of income to tide me over until I get my first criminal justice job (I graduate in October). The best part is, I totally sidestepped the hassles of job hunting that I kvetched about in the August 4th blog: I will be cleaning my mother's house. Not only am I familiar with her housekeeping style, I've cleaned her house under her direction many times in the past, so I know how she likes things done. She's a little more of a neatnik than I am but I can still meet her standards. I probably won't surpass them---she never thinks anyone can clean as good as she can---but I'll make her happy enough to stay employed as long as I need to.

I might have an even bigger triumph to report in the next few weeks. First, here's the back story. At the beginning of April I called a hotel in the town I'll be visiting on holiday this October to reserve a room. The next day I received a confirmation e-mail with fine print about a no refund, no cancellation policy that was never disclosed to me on the phone. When I called the hotel manager to investigate, he told me that my credit card had already been charged, another action that I never agreed to. My next group of calls was to my bank and the customer DIS-service number for the hotel chain. Both said they couldn't get involved and only the property manager could authorize a reversal of the charge. I then sent letters disputing the charge to the hotel property, a senior vice president at the hotel chain's corporate office, and my bank. None of these letters were responded to directly, although the one to corporate yielded an uncooperative e-mail from someone identifying themselves as the property's operation manager. All this time I'm being held to the terms of the cancellation policy as if I had signed a blood oath. After recently reading online reviews of this property from former guests I understand why. I'm identifying the property by name and address as a distant early warning to unsuspecting visitors. Getting nailed with fraudulent credit card charges may be the least of your problems if you stay there. I have dodged one hell of a big bullet!


After ignoring my repeated requests for their help in April, my bank has now started " stalker calling" me trying to collect the disputed amount: three calls and an e-mail in the past week. I reported the e-mail as spam and when they call (in blatant defiance of my demand to not be contacted) I hang up on them. My father feels confident he will have more sway with them and has offered to hondl on my behalf. I took him up on that offer, albeit with cautious optimism. The second this situation is resolved I'm canceling my accounts with the bank and taking my financial business elsewhere.


I have definitely learned my lesson. For future hotel stays I'll get my room like we used to do in the prehistoric days before the internet, or as Neil Peart once called it, the "inter-thingy": checking in at the front desk with a live human being. If I have no alternative other than a telephone reservation I'll rig up a recording device to document both sides of the call. One thing's for sure: I know which hotel chain I WON'T be patronizing!

August 4, 2010

Five weeks into my last semester at school, I've settled into a comfortable routine. Every week I have two classes on campus, one class online---ack!---and 10 hours volunteering as a student extern at my local felony probation office. (My career interest is working in celebrity protection and threat assessment).


And then there's the ongoing struggle of being underemployed. The easy part is knowing what kind of work I want to be doing and who I want to work with.
The hard part is deciphering the complicated web of job hunting protocols. There are a million different steps to consider: writing the resume and cover letter, online applications vs. old school paper, networking, interviewing, etc. Each one of these elements yields an endless barrage of "expert" opinions, each claiming to be THE definitive answer. For instance, here's a list of 25 typical job interview questions and suggested answers. I'm already nervous meeting a total stranger for the first time (i.e., future boss), then I have to juggle THIS mental checklist in addition to the checklist about how to sit in my chair, how I'm dressed, whether my palms are shvitzy, etc. Also keep in mind that for every suggested answer you see here, I've heard five variations.
***cue tired sigh***.

1. Why have you applied for this job? Think carefully and mention the positive aspects that have attracted you to joining the company. Tell them about your relevant qualifications and experiences you have already possessed for this job. You can also explain that how this position and company suit your needs and expectations.You could say: I am looking for a role that helps utilizing my skills, work experience and knowledge to make a difference. 2. Can you talk through your resume? Use this opportunity to give your professional experience in detail. Grab the chance and present the employer list of your achievements, greatest talents and accomplishments. Remember never say negative about your past companies or bosses. 3. Where would you like to see yourself five years down the line? In this question the interviewer is looking to see that how dedicated you are to the job and the company. Even if you really do not know where would you be in five years, never say, I don't know. You could say: I exactly don't know but I hope that the skills and experience gained will help the company reach its goals. 4. What are your strengths? This is your chance to sell yourself. Stress on skills and experience that are relevant to the post. Tell them your ability to work under pressure, inquisitiveness to learn new things, quick learning ability and good interpersonal skills.Give examples to prove you to be meticulous, cooperative and result oriented. 5. What is your weakness? This is a very popular question. Be confident while answering this question and turn your weakness into your strength. Pick a weakness that is harmless to your job. For example emotional nature, never want to be a loser, highly ambitious, etc. 6. What do you look for in a job? You can frame your answer like: I am looking for opportunities that helps me to grow as a professional and enables me to serve the organization. 7. Cite an example when you have had to take initiative? This is an opportunity to prove that you have quick learning abilities, make the best impression in all conditions and work effectively with staff members for achieving goals. 8. How do you get along with your colleagues? In this question the interviewer wants to know your compatibility with your co-workers. Stress on points that show you are able to build strong working relationships and strong teams to meet goals. 9. How would your coworkers describe you? This is a chance to use encouraging and praising words to describe you. Use words like a good team leader, excellent communication skills, truthful, decisive and sensible. 10. How reliable you were? The interviewer wants to know that how you work on deadlines and how you come up with new ideas in a limited time to solve a specific problem. 11. What are your salary requirements? Be careful to answer this question you should know market value of the job you have applied. You could also say that you are expecting a salary based on your job responsibilities, work experience, skills and market value. But if you have a specific salary package in your mind go for it. 12. Why do you want to work for this company? Stress the positive aspects of the target company. It is always good to research the company in depth before interview. Talk about company turnover, products, policies, services, etc. 13. What do you know about this company? You would be surprised at the number of candidates who turn up for interviews with very less or no information about the company. It is important that you should gather information about the company.Collect all information on company's share, turnover, etc. 14. Have you been interviewing for other jobs? Say yes but also add: I have given first choice to your company. 15. What has been your greatest professional achievement so far? Use this question as an opportunity to explain your most rewarding achievement.Talk about substantial contribution, team achievement, unique expertise, etc. 16. How do you prioritize various activities? Often you might be in a position to decide on which activity to accomplish first. Respond this question by saying how you set priorities between urgent and important. 17. What motivates you to give your best? This is not the time to say money, even if it is. You could be motivated by recognition for a good job done. 18. What do you think of your boss? Tell them about your boss good points. If you do not like your boss even though don't say negative, find something good to say. 19. What is your code of conduct? You must be aware of the sense of rightness, fairness and goodness that are defined within the company. Instead of defining guidelines for conduct, you should define yourself as an all rounder candidate who loves to work and enjoys the challenges. 20. When would you start work? No hard and fast rule in your answer. Ask for 1 or 2 weeks grace period before starting your new job so that you would start your work without any hurdles. 21. Can you tell me something about yourself? {Shiksa note: Interviewers usually ask this one first, so it shouldn't be #21 on this list} It is the most common question. Be prepared to answer this question in about two minutes. Stress on the relevant facts about your education, career, work experience, skills and personal and professional life. Don't forget to answer briefly and honestly. 22. Why do you think this job is good for you? This is your chance to prove yourself. Tell about additional experiences and qualifications you have possessed which are relevant to the job.You can also say: I would like a role that gives me an opportunity to serve the company, the society and above all, my nation. 23. Do you have any questions for me? Don't forget to ask a question because it shows that you are interested in this job. You may ask anything about company and job you are applying for. 24. Why do you want to leave your current job? Be very careful to answer this tricky question. Don't mention anything negative about your current company or employer and not to sound angry or rude. For example instead of saying, I do get more challenges in my current job, respond, I am keen to get more challenges and chances to prove myself? 25. What experience do you have? Tell them your experience related to the company's concerns. Try to give examples to describe your job responsibilities. If you do not have relevant experience, you can mention about your training programs, skills and show them how customer service experience can be applied to management positions. Source: "Common Job Interview Questions" http://www.cvtips.com/interview/common-job-interview-questions.html

NOTE TO MY FUTURE BOSS: You're hiring me. I like to shmooze. Enough said.

July 21, 2010

Last week I was cruising Rush Is A Band and I found out about the "fan" who is suing Rush for breach of contract over a cancelled concert. I posted a response on the RIAB news bulletin but I need to add a few more thoughts here. Offline in private conversation I have no shortage of strong feelings and opinions, but this is the last time I will address this subject online.


The guy who filed that lawsuit does not deserve the title of fan, nor does anyone gullible enough to follow his charge. He's an indefensible disgrace to REAL Rush fans who genuinely respect the band and appreciate their music. I have no patience for people like him. Not only do they give the rest of us a bad name, they make the band members uncomfortable. During my time volunteering for REO Speedwagon I watched one "fan" sue the band not once but twice all the while operating as president of an unofficial REO fan club. Both cases were eventually resolved in the band's favor and to the best of my knowledge the litigant is long gone from the landscape. She did way more than sue them, but that's a story for another day. When I found about the recent Rush lawsuit my first question was why it took so long to happen. I saw some pretty intense fan behavior with REO Speedwagon but Rush fans have them beat by a country mile. That same intensity combined with a sense of entitlement drives fan lawsuits as well as more escalated behaviors. It's no damn wonder Neil (Peart) keeps his distance.


Whack job "fans" are like corks in the ocean: you take one out and ten more bob up in their place. They are one of many unavoidable, ugly, recurring realities of living in the limelight. Rush's legal team, security, and management will handle those situations. In the meantime we as REAL fans will be of far more service to Alex, Geddy, and Neil by channeling our energies into activities that makes them feel genuinely supported, such as attending concerts and promoting their music. These guys work very hard and make a lot of personal sacrifices for the sake of entertaining us. The least we can do in return is make their world as comfortable as possible on their terms, not ours. Like Neil said in Beyond The Lighted Stage, "I don't want to trample the fantasy but I don't want to live it either." Go Neil!

July 17, 2010

Here are the guys' equipment list photos from Time Machine tour book. They make this shit too easy for me. :-)

Excuse me, sir, your pantyhose are running. You better go catch them.	Is that a sausage in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?	"It's apple juice. Honest! I swear!"

 

July 12, 2010

Today is the first day of my last semester at school. I graduate in October with my Bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Going to class and maintaing my 3.76 grade point average over the next 12 weeks is the easy part. The challenging part will be sending out my resumes for post-graduate employment in the next two weeks. I know exactly who I want to work for and what type of work I want to do and I have created a resume and cover letter specifically targeted to that company. Just to be a diligent little job hunter, though, I'm shopping my resume around to other companies for whom I have no interest in working but who are in the exact same line of work. The reality-hardened pessimist in me anticipates yet another rejection, or worse, no response at all. The stubborn-as-a-brick-wall optimist in me needs to have one little victory. This victory has a company name and a postal address and will receive my resume in two weeks. I can't say who it is online but my Higher Power knows and my Higher Power owes me this one, big time. So, H.P., I've come to collect! Don't make me put my pissed off Irish boot up your ass!

That success story has yet to be told. Meanwhile, I have scored my first victory in a lengthy battle with the corporate swine at AT & T. They owe me a refund on a retail purchase I made at the end of April and I have yet to see the refund check I was initially promised.


Ironically it was my brief upgrade to an iPhone that triggered this refund ratholing. The retail store took the unused funds from my pre-paid GoPhone and applied it toward the start up costs for my iPhone. I took the iPhone home, played with it for a couple of hours, fell head over heels in love, then reluctantly concluded that I couldn't afford it. Right now it's more of a want than a need; I barely use my pre-paid minutes. Anyhoo, I returned the iPhone to the retail store that same day and the associated charges were reversed within the first billing cycle. My Go Phone money, however, is still floating around somewhere in the inky black hole of the AT & T accounting universe and no one will give me a straight answer on when, or if, I will get it back. The retail store won't help me; they claim that they can't get involved in billing disputes and they refer me to the 1-800 customer "service" number. More like customer DIS-service in my experience.

 

I'm not as upset about the money as I am the principle of such blatantly dismissive treatment. Go Phone users are the equivalent of pond scum to AT & T. We aren't entitled to e-mail customer "service", we are not given access to a customer "service" snail mail address, and the only thing I've gotten from calling the 1-800 DIS-service number is the increased volume of smoke being blown up my ass. OK, fine! Two can play that game! Since my pond scum dollars are that inconsequential, AT & T won't miss them when my remaining air time expires at the end of this month. The victory I mentioned earlier is that I went to Wal Mart yesterday and purchased a Trac Fone. That, and alterting other uninformed consumers who run the risk of being taken to the cleaners by AT &T, whose only interest is how much money they can bleed off of their customers, especially the pathetic, nebish Go Phone users.

 

 

 

**triumphant grunt** My work here is done.

July 3, 2010

On the night of July 1st, immediately after I finished watching the movie and bonus features from Beyond The Lighted Stage, I whipped out my mini-tripod and digital camera and recorded this video review. Yes, folks, this is me, in all my radiant, way-too-close to bedtime beauty. There IS a live human being behind this website, not hamsters running on metal wheels or trained monkeys pushing buttons in a computer lab. And as you'll see here I'm no slave to fashion. :O) Please, no e-mails about my Snakes and Arrows shirt. It's just a shirt, and this is how I dress when I hang out at home being a lazy shlump. Enjoy!

P.S. I clean up nice when I have to leave Casa de Shiksa and go out into civilized society. Honest I do. Really!

 

July 1, 2010

My DVD of Beyond The Lighted Stage just came in the mail. It has the movie plus a second disc of Special Features. I'm going into lockdown mode.
No calls, no visitors. You'll see me when you see me.

 

June 30, 2010

So I understand that Hurricane ALEX is closing in on the Gulf Coast states and part of Mexico. This is literally the only time in my life I will hear the name Alex and think "Oh crap no!" I live on the east coast of central Florida so we're safe for now, but hurricane season only started five minutes ago. Good luck to everyone who lives in the path of BAD Alex. I also heard something on the news the other day that Bad Alex will hinder the BP oil cleanup. It seems to me like that particular project has been at a standstill ever since it was first reported, so there really isn't much to hinder. How do you construct and maintain that much pipeline deep on the bottom of the ocean floor and then be helpless to repair it when it springs a leak? &#$#! corporate pinheads! Do NOT get me started!

Anyhoo, I'm off to school to do a final Power Point presentation for Criminal Justice Capstone class, then my last final of the term is tommorrow morning, Alternatives to Incarceration. Here's the newest Rush puzzle to keep you entertained while I'm gone.

 

 

 

June 26, 2010...9:45 p.m....****SPOILER ALERT!!******

Beyond The Lighted Stage came on VH1 at 9 p.m., so I'm typing this blog during a commercial. (Commercials are the evil spawn of Satan). The DVD is on pre-order and will be here at the end of next week. I'll do a video review of BTLS when the DVD arrives because I want to hold it in my hand while I talk about it. Now the movie is covering Fly By Night & Caress of Steel. Did I mention that commercials are evil? :O)

 

10:30 p.m.

Subdivisions was profiled just now. Some fans were interviewed about how that song reflected their own teenage experiences. Neil's ambivalence about interacting with fans was also addressed. I have had profoundly damaging encounters with obsessive fans so I understand his hesitation a thousand percent. That's why I too keep my distance from Rush fans. It doesn't matter that I'm a Rush fan too; I'm protecting myself from how certain human beings choose to behave and it doesn't matter if they're Rush fans, dog catchers, or house painters. Offline, in face-to-face relationships and in private correspondence,
I can be me in all my radiant, effervescent Shiksa-ness. Just ask the band members about the snail mail they've been getting from me these last 5 years.
Oh wait, you can't. Ha!!

 

11:30 p.m.

And then it was done {cue contended sigh}. The events surrounding Neil's Ghost Rider trip were tastefully presented and didn't go into any more detail than what most Rush fans already know (if you need more detail read Neil's book Ghost Rider: Travels On The Healing Road). There's awesome footage of Neil on his motorcycle, and a lot of his Ghost Rider-related interviews show him sitting outside under a tree with his bike in the background. And I don't even want to ask about that long, skinny white apparatus that Geddy was given in the dressing room scene. Show, don't tell indeed. **wink to Ged**

The best part is at the very end when the end credits roll. Alex and Ged are in a car being interviewed and Alex is asked why they stay in rock and roll. He says, "Chicks," and Geddy laughs. Then you see the three band members kibbitzing at a restaurant over a bottle of wine. Geddy's mom has the final word of the show, saying that she likes Rush now, the louder the better! Go Mom!

**wink to Alex**

June 25, 2010

RE: the June 21st blog: All this time my focus has been on the logistics of immigration. I thought that creating a backup plan here in the States would jinx my plans. Yes I'm eager to get the hell up out of Melbourne but it's more important to STAY out of Melbourne. I've done way too many "boomerang moves" where I get the instant gratification of leaving quickly only to return quickly because I didn't plan my escape {cue Roll the Bones version of Dreamline}.


My immediate focus over the next couple weeks will be sending out resumes to my international employer of choice as well as a select group of employers in the U.S. Those contacts should generate a modest number of call backs, at which time I can plot out my travel itinerary for interviews. I'll have my Bachelor's degree by October 4th so appointments in cities with extreme winter climes will be scheduled within the first two weeks. Once I get the job offer and accept it, I still have two months to prepare for "the white shit". Speaking of which...check out my You Tube video. Let's just say I would require training in snow survival in addition to job training! :O)

 

Getting a job is the linchpin of my relocation program, particularly if I land my dream job with the international employer. Newly landed immigrants without a job offer are required by this country's government to have a certain amount of money saved, depending on the number of people in the household. (A) Nest eggs don't last forever; (B) having an offer of arranged employment provides immediate peace of mind for my arrival. Even better, if I have a job waiting for me the proof of funds requirement is waived! I probably should have a small nest egg in addition to arranged employment but that's too much to take on right now. In the immortal words of Sheriff Buford T. Justice from the movie Smokey And The Bandit, one shit at a time.

Research and Development is rapidly grinding to a halt. It's time for Action. And shpilkes. **nervous sigh** This is really important and I can't afford to screw it up. I have to get it right the first time.

June 21, 2010

Cabin fever is setting in at Casa de Shiksa. The current semester at school ends on June 30th, then I have almost two weeks off, then my last term runs from July 12 through October 4, at which point I will graduate with my Bachelor's degree. Meanwhile I'm having great difficulty finding work, my checking account is nearly depleted, bills are piling up, and I'm using my credit card for survival expenses. This is the most depressed, lonely, anxious, and frustrated I've felt in a long time. So much so that tonight I got the wildest wish to fly, i.e. take my holiday trip at the beginning of July instead of my original mid-October timeline.
My father, ever the pragmatist, encouraged me to stick with the October plan and do more advance preparation between now and then. My mother, also a pragmatist, pointed out that I can't start a new job abroad this summer because I would have to return home to finish school.

They're both right. I'm **this** close to accomplishing my most important task toward the immigration process, so I need to stick it out a little while longer. Following my father's advice, I will now be focus on identifying other potential employers both in the U.S. and my country of interest, send out resumes, and schedule as many post-graduation interviews as possible. My father is also going to put me in touch with a guy who is a native of the town I want to move to and who can give me a realistic picture of what living there entails.


All this thinking is making my head hurt. I really, really, REAAALLLLY liked the idea of getting on that plane on July 1st instead of October 4th, damn it! Ugggghhh!

June 10, 2010

I was searching for the word "eddy" in today's word search puzzle, a term referring to a whirlpool of water, and there was a "G" in front of it! Whooo hoooo!
Now my Rush puzzle collection is complete!

 

 

 

 

June 1, 2010

 

The Rush boys have laid down a couple of real barn burner tracks here. Caravan has it all: spooky synthesizers, blistering lead guitar, heart-stopping percussion, and bass lines that melt my shoes to the floor. The lyrics---at least the way I'm interpreting them---tell the story of our familiar Rush protagonist, someone bravely forging ahead on a life path of their own creation in defiance of what is expected of them. Which is exactly where I'm at right now in my life. BU2B, meanwhile, is standard issue Neil Peart philosophical/spiritual exploration about the discrepancy between what we've been brought up to believe and the reality of what real life has taught us, as well as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind trust. Unlike the relatively genteel tone of Caravan, BU2B slams you upside the head from the first note with intense, dark, unrelenting instrumentation. Darker than the inside of a cat's belly, as my late grandmother would say, but the music is the perfect complement to the lyrics. One thing's for sure: anyone who attempts cover versions of these songs is going to get one hell of a workout.

NOTE TO ALEX, GEDDY, AND NEIL: You guys are merciless! Thank you! (Kim kneels reverently at the band's feet).
Now if only I can figure out what a BU2B is....

 

 

 

May 31, 2010

I wanted to be able to post high-resolution videos on this webste instead of puny little .mp4's, so this past Saturday night I uploaded all my original video files to You Tube. That way I can copy the high resolution embed code and paste it back into this website's code. I always disable comments on each video's page, both text and video, to prevent people from leaving obnoxious, mean-spirited messages. Here's my first upload, a 1989 sketch from Canadian comedy troupe The Kids In The Hall titled "Bass Player". Between Saturday and today it has been viewed 83 times. I dedicated it to Geddy in the video description. :O)

 

 

May 15, 2010

Yesterday I worked at Kennedy Space Center for the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch. Much to my surprise, I met another Rush fan during check in at the badging center at 7 a.m. He noticed the photo of the Gedmeister on the front of my ID wallet....

and said, "That's Geddy Lee!" I told him he had a good eye and he asked if I was a Rush fan. I said "Of course". He told me that his first concert was in 1982 and that he'd been to five other shows since then. I said that I'd been to one on the 2008 tour and we agreed that Rush concerts are memorable experiences. I also told him about my Countdown epiphany following the July 2005 launch where I reported to work at 5 a.m. for a 10 a.m. launch (that song describes what I saw and heard that day to a T). I told him how I always queue up Countdown in the car during the drive from the badging center to the viewing site. He liked that story, as I knew he would.

I went to the Shuttle Landing Facility Midfield, the location of the space shuttle's landing runway. That day it was being used as a parking lot for empty tour buses after they dropped passengers off at other viewing sites. I waited at the entrance to Midfield and waved the buses in, where the other 3 guys on my team coordinated parking.

 

Click here for more information about the Shuttle Landing Facility, and to see my videos of it.

SLF Midfield was a monster improvement over past locations where I had to spend upwards of three hours basting in the merciless Florida sun parking hundreds of cars. This time I had one or two buses every ten minutes over the course of two hours, and in between buses I sat in my air conditioned car doing word search puzzles and sipping ice water. I can't believe the temp agency PAID ME to do this! :-)

Suited up and ready for battle at the Turn Basin viewing site, May 11, 2009	The fruits of my schvitzy labors at the Turn Basin. Uggghhh.

Around 2 p.m. I bugged out from SLF Midfield and went back to the Banana River viewing site to capture the launch on video at 2:20. Just in the nick of time a thoughtful bystander told me that I was aiming my camera at the wrong launch pad. You'll hear my reaction: "Oh hell!" :-)

 

There are two more shuttle launches this year and then the entire program will be shut down. Growing up on the Space Coast, watching many launches from my backyard, it's been easy to take the space shuttle for granted. Now that it's so close to ending I'll probably miss it. Maybe I'll get a regular ticket for the mid-September launch so I can enjoy it like a civilized human being. :O)

Alex, Geddy, and Neil at Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981.
Thanks to Darren for forwarding this image!

Countdown from Signals album (1982)
The Shuttle Launch Control transmissions are real. Trust me. :O)

 

May 2, 2010

This is a podcast of a phone interview Geddy did at the end of April with radio station WYSP in Philadelphia. In addition to talking about why Rush did not perform at the winter Olympics opening ceremony and this year's tour, he talks about the new Rush documentary movie Beyond The Lighted Stage. The part that impresses me most is how he describes his discomfort over being the object of over-the-top fan interest, saying that he lives his life every day without thinking of himself in "such grandiose terms". That matches up perfectly with how I think of him and his bandmates. They each have expressed this same sentiment in other interviews over the years, yet this obsessive hero worship mentality from fans persists. In my opinion it's a monster waste of time and energy, the band's especially, and I want to keep things real where they're concerned. I think so much more fun can be had by all parties involved if we're in a relaxed, comfortable environment where we can be our true selves with one another. For my part I know what I would do, and as for what they would do....well, let's just say I've got some pretty strong theories. :O) The bottom line is, they would have an equal voice in setting the tone for those interactions, not me backing them into a corner with preconceived, projected fantasy expectations.

 

April 30, 2010

A crucial part of my holiday trip preparation is saving money, so to keep myself on track in that department I created this cute little Photoshop ad.
Click here for the backstory on Thrifty McBirt. Rush fans will of course recognize the Scottish gentleman pictured in the ad. **wink to Geddy**

Click here to find out what FICO is.

 

 

 

April 28, 2010

I went to sleep around 10:00 last night so I did catch a few zzz's but then I woke up at 4:00 this morning and I couldn't relax enough to go back to sleep.
I was feeling stressed out from a series of events over the past few days compounded by my prevalent stress, a credit card dispute with a nationwide hotel chain. They're playing hardball with me over a reservation I made earlier this month for my holiday trip in October. Hell-LO!! OCTOBER!!


The hotel claims that I made the reservation on the internet, which I did not. I called the property on April 6th and made the reservation with a clerk. It wasn't until I received a confirmation e-mail that I found out this particular room was pre-paid, no refunds or cancellations. I called the hotel back and spoke with the manager. He informed me that my credit card had been charged and he could not cancel my reservation or issue a refund. That's where it began. For the past four weeks I have been fighting against a wall of unyielding hotel representatives who are standing firm to the cancellation policy as stated in the confirmation e-mail, despite my protests that I never agreed to it. On Monday of this week I escalated this issue in writing to the local branch of the bank who issued my credit card demanding that they intervene on my behalf. What would be the next step if they rule in favor of the hotel? A nasty gram from a lawyer? ***heavy sigh*** I'm sure it will be resolved soon but being patient and confident in the meantime is challenging.


P.S. For my holiday trip I have abandoned my plan to fly first class (see previous blog) in favor of traveling via Greyhound bus. Although it takes almost two days to get there the fare is waaaay cheaper and we have a Greyhound bus terminal here in Melbourne as opposed to schlepping all the way to Orlando International Airport at the butt crack of dawn. I've done these overnight Greyhound runs several times and I always look forward to them as a magnificent adventure. I never remember the discomforts of sitting on a bus for hours and hours, only the sights outside my window, or what I did during layovers. Life is all about the journey, not the final destination, so what a fitting way to jump start this new chapter of my life!

Meanwhile I have seven more months left in Melbourne....talk about being patient....oy vay.

 

 

April 24, 2010

I just made an AWESOME discovery about my airline flight for my October holiday. I initially researched fares for economy class on my preferred airline but then I researched first class. After I discovered that there was only a couple hundred dollars' difference between the two (YAY!) I comparison shopped on travel discount websites (Expedia, Orbitz, etc.) as well as booking directly with 8 competing airlines. For a first class, direct flight to my destination, booking with my preferred airline is the best possible deal! Double yay! Cheaper fares on competing airlines, or traveling via Greyhound bus, would involve at least one, maybe two or three, layovers, not to mention more time in transit. No thank you ma'am! Traveling by air I can be at my destination in less than three hours, and flying first class I'll enjoy extra perks and pampering. Quick and dirty. :O)

In other shiksa news, I'm two weeks into the spring term at school and looking for another part time job. The receptionist job at the tax office was seasonal and ended on April 15. I got a kick ass letter of reference from my manager! :O) This semester I have four classes three days a week: Tuesday morning Criminal Evidence; Wednesday morning Women, Crime and Criminal Justice; Wednesday evening Criminal Justice Capstone; and Thursday morning Alternatives to Incarceration. This term runs until July, my last term runs from July to October, then I leave for holiday a week later. P.S. I got all A's from the Winter Term (October through January)! Whooo hooo!

 

April 4, 2010

Just when you thought it was safe to leave Photoshop open....:O)

 

 

April 2, 2010

Forget the happy dance from the last blog: I found something way better. I went to my doctor on Wednesday morning and got a prescription antihistamine called Xyzal plus a bottle of nose spray called Veramyst. I have two weeks' worth of medication to get through before I can pronounce myself cured but I'm on the fast track already. Are four boxes of Kleenex in as many days fast enough? Of course I always use Kleenex with lotion because my tender little nose chafes easily. Awwww, isn't that sweet? :OP


At the butt crack of dawn this morning I watched a cool CBC interview with Alex and Geddy. It's almost an hour long but well worth sitting through, especially the part where Geddy says "Y-Y-Zed." That's how Canadians pronounce the letter Z but that's the first time I've heard a Rush band member say it, particularly in reference to a Rush song.

Today the movie Strange Brew arrived from Netflix. It was exactly what I expected it would be: a fun, silly, cheeseball, 90 minute trip to Hoser Town. First of all, the McKenzie brothers had fuzzy dice on the rear view mirror of their van. They ROCK! (I have fuzzy dice in my car, too; does that mean I'm a hoser?). Even better were the location scenes filmed in downtown Toronto. My "money shot" was the van flying past the CN Tower before plummeting into Toronto Harbor.
I felt bad for the McKenzie Brothers because they were in the van at the time but it was still frickin AWESOME!! The theatrical movie trailer included on the DVD has a clip of Geddy's vocals from the song Take Off, although the song does not appear in the movie. And I'm afraid to ask how they hired Mel Blanc, king of the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner cartoon voice work, to provide the voice of Bob and Doug's father. After the movie I took off to the backyard and fed the squirrels, where I encountered the family of sand hill cranes. They roam all over our neighborhood going from yard to yard and they always get a grand feast at Casa de Shiksa because we put out squirrel food and songbird food. They recently had a little baby crane and he/she is growing like a weed! I was surprised to learn that baby sand hill cranes are called "colts", the same name as baby horses. Hmmm. Go figure!

 

My day is now officially complete so I'm settling in for a relaxing night at home. I have Saturday off from work so I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet weekend recuperating from my allergies, celebrating the end of the winter term at school, and taking a break from the exhausting daily ritual of over-the-top housecleaning to impress potential buyers. I had fun staging Casa de Shiksa from a realtor's point of view but now I have to maintain that staging every day while still living here and it's a major pain in the ass. What aggravates me more is that I didn't have any input into making the decision to sell the house. As a former real estate agent, I assumed my experience in that profession would have at least a smidge of value. I assumed wrong. Hell, I didn't even get a vote as someone who lives here. **insert tired sigh**

Anyhoo, here's my video of the sand hill crane family.

 

 

 

March 28, 2010

After a 6-day run at work I'm taking advantage of my day (and night) off relaxing at home, doing laundry and recuperating from allergies. I took Day Quil yesterday but it didn't provide much relief, so on the way home I stopped at Walgreens and got Advil Allergy Sinus. (Cue happy dance). I knew I'd found the good stuff when I had to show photo ID and sign for it. That's what you have to do now for any over the counter medication containing pseudoephederine. Drug dealers buy such medication in large quantities to use for illegal manufacturing purposes, so pharmacies are required to document all sales with photo ID's and signatures. Uggghhh.


While I was at the pharmacy signing my life away, the pharmacist noticed the photo of Geddy on the front of my ID pouch. He asked who that was, and after I told him, he and the pharmacy technician remarked that Geddy bore a striking resemblance to one of their regular customers. Really now....hmmmm.....

 

Work and school consume most of my time these days. I work part time as a receptionist in a tax office but it feels like a full time job. I'm looking forward to the break between semesters where I'll only have work to worry about. The term starts on April 13 and the gig ends on April 15 but I have to miss the first three classes because they were only offered in the daytime and I'm already scheduled to work during the day. My daytime school schedule will take priority on April 19th, and I am soooo ready.

The other big event at Casa de Shiksa is my recent discovery of a fabulous hair product called Wen. I saw it on an infomercial and was intrigued, so I ordered a 3-bottle sample pack to try out different "flavors" (Sweet Almond Mint is the best). After the first use I noticed an immediate, dramatic improvement in how my hair looked and felt. I've been using it almost a month and I'm totally hooked! As God as my witness I will never use regular shampoo again! Click here to find out more about Wen.

 

March 5, 2010

***SPOILER ALERT***

While other Rush fans were sweating over whether or not the guys would perform at the Olympics, I was watching Trailer Park Boys: The Movie and Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day to see Alex's cameos, which I've posted here for your viewing enjoyment. There are extra Rush goodies in the first one, but he's on screen longer in the second one, plus you get to see him in makeup and spike heels tackling intoxicated man whore Randy to the ground. That's the money shot in my book! ***wink to Alex***

P.S. I watched both movies from start to finish, thank you very much. The TPB's kind of grow on you after a while! :O)

 

Trailer Park Boys: The Movie

 

 

 

Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day

 

 

 

 

Make sure you spend lots of snuggle time with the one you love today. :O)

"The Geddy Bear" (Adobe Photoshop)

 

 

February 8, 2010

I froze my ass off in 42 degree weather standing in my front yard at 4:30 a.m. to get this footage (I live 45 minutes west of Kennedy Space Center). If you look closely in the middle of the screen you can see the orange glow of the shuttle lifting off of the launch pad. Enjoy!

 

February 6, 2010

I was a busy monkey yesterday. I did laundry, took my household trash to the county landfill, fed the backyard critters, and did website work for one of my freelance clients. But The Big Project was de-personalizing Casa de Shiksa for the real estate market, meaning that I removed most of my personal photos and tchatzhahs. We're not showing the house until March but I want to get as much done as possible before my work schedule kicks into overdrive. I've worked as a realtor so I know what buyers are looking for when they tour homes. The goal should be to create the illusion of as much square footage as possible, particularly in small living spaces like Casa de Shiksa. The best way to make that happen is to clear out clutter and personal decor. You want buyers to be able to visualize their stuff in the house. The other selling strategy is staging the house for showing appointments and open houses. That's when I use the good place settings at the dining room table and make the bed with the fancy shmancy bedspread, among other things.

Today was slightly less busy. I went to the bank, bought a shipping carton, and boxed up the crap I removed from the walls and shelves during de-personalizing. More cleaning, boxing, painting, and minor home repairs await over the next few weeks. P.S. Our realtor stopped by this afternoon to take pictures of the outside of the house and she liked what I'd done! :-) Once we get all the upgrades finished I'll post before and after videos.

 

January 19, 2010

So I went over to mom and dad's house a couple of weeks ago to get this photo....

Me, age 10, meeting country singer Ronnie Milsap
August 5, 1978---Salem, Virginia, Lakeside Park
NOTE TO RUSH FANS: I'm totally serious. That was the name of the venue!

...and returned to Casa de Shiksa with way more than I bargained for. My mom had saved a bunch of my old Ronnie Milsap swag from the late 1970's. Fan club newsletters, an autographed tour program, a personal letter from Ronnie in response to a fan letter I had written, sheet music, a promotional poster for his 1977 album It Was Almost Like A Song, magazine covers with Ronnie, the tour shirt I was wearing the night I met him. I recognized many items immediately. Others I didn't remember at all. For instance, my mom saved ticket stubs and tour programs from a show in West Virginia in July 1978 and an April 1979 show at Walt Disney World. I organized all my treasures into a scrapbook using a 3 ring binder and plastic page protectors. I put my tour shirt in a Ziploc bag and put it in the back of the scrapbook.

Being a member of Ronnie's official fan club was a pleasurable, fun activity, something that gave me fond memories and positive assocations. Back then there were no personal computers and no internet. I didn't exchange letters or phone calls with other club members and I didn't seek out fans in my hometown.
My parents supported my interest in Ronnie but gave me the privacy to be a fan on my terms. My #1 favorite past time was writing fan fiction, an interest I still indulge to this day. The only criticism I faced was from big mouthed bullies at school, particularly when I wore my tour shirt to school, but I learned to ignore them. For me, at the end of the day, what kept me going was how Ronnie's music made me feel. Just like with Rush, I was allowed to do my own thing and nobody hassled me. I thrived and flourished in my solitude. I didn't fare quite so well when I became an REO Speedwagon fan in 1981 and set Ronnie Milsap on the back burner.



I had never felt the need to associate with other Ronnie fans, yet I broke with tradition and got involved with REO fans in the fall of 1995, an oversight I paid dearly for and am fully correcting as a Rush fan. I want to believe that my current efforts will yield a much happier outcome.

 

January 9, 2010

My copy of Guitar Aficionado magazine featuring Alex's golf article arrived today, and those pages have now been added to my third Rush scrapbook. It's not a very long article but it's awesome, and the photos are spectacular! Some Rush stuff is mentioned, as well as how Geddy and Neil fare on the golf course. The article also revealed that Alex has a 1,200 bottle wine collection that he keeps in storage facilities in Toronto. Geddy, meanwhile, is the hardcore collector with a 5,000 bottle home wine cellar (per Entertainment Weekly article from March 2009).

 

Here's my favorite photo of Lerxst from the article. Yes, there is one of him sitting in the golf clubhouse holding his white Gibson ES-355, but I've seen him posed like that a bazillion times. This is my first opportunity to see him in action as a golfer! He has the biggest backswing I've ever seen in my life!
***wink to Alex***

The caption says, "Lifeson teeing off from Coppinwood's 11th hole, October 13, 2009".

 

January 8, 2010

Weather update: It's still cold as shit outside but the good news first is I never froze, so I didn't have to worry about thawing out. Although I did hear a rumor that we might see snow flurries today or tonight. Not enough to accumulate on the ground, mind you, but snow nonetheless. :-P If I can get video footage of this historic event I will most certainly post it here.


Now, on to more pressing matters. Referencing my other topic from the last blog: yesterday afternoon while listening to the 2007 tour CD I found another moment when Geddy spoke French to the audience in Montreal, between Entre Nous and Mission. His greeting once again started with simple phrases: "Bonsoir, Montreal! Ca va?" (Good evening Montreal! How are you!); "Bonsoir, mes amis!" (good evening, my friends). Then came the mystery phrase, capped off by the only two words I recognized: "beaucoup c'est soire" (much this evening).


In the last blog I left him a message of my own in French, which is too easy. This time he's going to have to work for it. :O)

BERICHT AAN GEDDY: Buitenlandse tongue, inderdaad! Ik weet wat niet u aan Quebecois zei maar ik houd van de manier u het zeggen van het klonk. Dank U zeer! **knipoog**

 

January 6, 2010

It's early morning as I type this and it's COLD AS SHIT outside! By Florida standards this means a bone-shattering,
oh-crap-I-can't-feel-my-face 30 degrees Farenheit (those of you living in single digit or negative digit climes under a thousand inches of snow can stop laughing any time). By the end of the week we expect the temperature to go back up to a balmy 60 degrees. I have to risk certain frostbite this morning leaving my apartment to take my last exam of the fall term at school. The new term begins next Monday, January 11th. After my test today I have to go clothes shopping for my new receptionist job. I'm in training this week, then the office opens up for clients at the end of the month.


Meanwhile, in Rush news: yesterday afternoon I was listening to the 2007 tour CD from my Secret Santa collection. The show was in Montreal, Quebec, so Geddy spoke French to the audience between songs. Most of the time he kept it simple, i.e. "Merci beaucoup"(thank you very much) and "Bonsoir Montreal" (good evening Montreal). Between Subdivisions and Natural Science, however, he threw down the serious French when he recruited the audience's help to make his home movie of the tour. As a point of reference, on the Snakes And Arrows Live DVD he brought out his personal camcorder and filmed the audience in Rotterdam, Holland shouting "Hello Canada" on the count of three, all in English.


Relying on my command of college French circa 1987, I think he referred to the Montreal audience as je femme filles (beautiful young women) then on the count of un, deux, trois (one, two, three) he had them say something to the effect of vive les avetant or vive les evetant. Vive means live and les indicates more than one person, place, or thing, but I have no clue what that last word was supposed to be. The closest translation I've come up with is eventer which means fan, as in the kind you use to cool off in hot weather. He could have been using that word colloquially, as in "Live the {Rush} fans!" Like I said, it's been a few years since I was un étudiant de langue française.



MESSAGE À GEDDY: Vous, monsieur, êtes un exercice dans l'anéantissement! Je ne suis pas Quebecois; je parle très peu français!


Uh oh. 7:30 a.m. Time to make the donuts. I'll update the blog again in a few days after I thaw out.

 

January 2, 2010

Happy New Year, NOT!! Alex was included in VH-1's 100 Most Shocking Rock and Roll Moments countdown at spot #62, for his New Year's Eve 2003 encounter with Collier County, Florida sheriff's deputies. Of course they had to show the news photo of him wearing his bloody tux talking to reporters as he was released from jail. Panelist commentary portrayed him as a "closet bad-ass" in contrast to Rush's public image as intellectual prog rock nice guys and promoted the rumor that Alex attacked the cops first. The narrator closed the segment by clarifying that all charges against Alex were dropped, but then added a snarky comment about him being guilty of tarnishing Rush's squeaky clean image. I guess a protective father being brutally assaulted by enraged, psychotic cops doesn't make compelling enough copy.


In much happier Alex news, I have ordered the new copy of Guitar Aficionado magazine featuring a golf course interview with Alex. The article will be added to my third Rush scrapbook. :O)

 

December 30, 2009

This segment from Extreme Wild Parties on The Travel Channel gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "L'chaim!" :O)
I wonder if Moyle's Delight operates along the same lines as drinking the worm from a bottle of tequila....

P.S. Goyim who appreciate Jewish humor are welcome at this event! I have finally found my niche!

 

Meanwhile, in recognition of the impending New Year, I have done some minor redecorating at Casa de Shiksa.

 

The wall next to my desk	My Rush DVD "cubicle" next to the TV

 

With that back-breaking, time-consuming project completed, I have one more week on holiday before I take my two finals at school, then I start the new term on January 11th. ***heavy sigh*** I won't be completely bored, though; my Chuckle Buddy will keep me entertained!

 

December 24, 2009....Merry Christmas Eve!!

SERENDIPITOUS RUSH MOMENT #1092: Just now I was driving back home from my favorite coffee shop listening to one of my live Rush CD's sent by my Secret Santa. As I pulled up to a stoplight I was giggling at Geddy's spot-on Southern accent talking about "the new direction the band is taking" as they played a country & western riff. Then I looked at the letters on the license plate of the car in front of me and I couldn't believe it! YYZ!! There were no Rush bumper stickers on the car and the plate was Space Shuttle themed but c'mon! How else could you explain it? Unless the owner of the car is a commerical airport geek from Toronto and they were thinking about the FAA transmitter code for Pearson airport. Who the hell knows. At any rate, it was a fun coincidence, jamming to a Rush CD and then pulling up behind a car with a YYZ license plate. It's not a YYZ luggage tag from Pearson but it's a start!

 

December 23, 2009

This nifty little project was drying last night when I blogged about my Backstage Secrets DVD, but now it's ready for unveiling. I needed a new ID wallet on a lanyard with a clear photo pocket on the front. I had the lanyard (such as you would use for a laminated backstage pass), clear plastic badge holder, and the Velcro carrying case for my digital camera.


I used fabric glue to attach the clear plastic badge holder to the front flap of the camera case, then I used a rubber band to connect the lanyard to the hand strap on the back of the camera case. The fabric glue was fully dried this morning around 11 a.m., then I printed out this photo of Geddy from my computer to put in the badge holder. Speaking of whom....he would call this a Rube Goldberg job. The fabric glue and rubber band are what qualifies it as such.

 

 

 

December 22, 2009

I just finished watching the Backstage Secrets With Rush DVD, and.....OH-MY-FUCKING-GOD!!
WOW!! It starts out with the same exact footage as the 6-part video series on YouTube, but the DVD picks up where the YouTube leaves off....4 hours' worth, to be exact, spread out over 2 DVD's. A Rush concert is only 3.5 hours! Every aspect of production is shown: lighting, rigging, instrument technicians, stage managing, production managing, sound, video projection (i.e., "What's THAT Smell" from intermission), merchandising, etc. They even show the band's tour chef Frenchie spreading the culinary love. Alex, Geddy, and Neil appear in both DVD's, talking about their relationships with their individual instrument techs, as well as footage of soundcheck, the Bubba Gump room, etc. My favorite scene is when head rigger John Fletcher bends over chalking the floor for points. Hey Fletch! Nice toochis! **wink**


My only criticism is that the roadies' profanities are still bleeped out on the DVD like they are on YouTube. I'm a grown up and my ears will not crack if they hear bad words. Honest! I swear! :OP


Christmas has come a few days early to Casa de Shiksa! :O)

 

December 18, 2009

My Secret Santa from the Counterparts Message board sent me a Snakes & Arrows 2007 tour shirt
and a DVD of rare live Rush concerts from 1973 to 2004. Unfortunately the shirt was too small so I re-purposed it as wall art next to my
Moving Pictures jigsaw puzzle. I tacked it up with plastic push pins.

On the back of the shirt is a band photo and 2007 tour dates. However, this wall faces my bed and I decided I didn't want the guys "staring" at me while I slept. So I opted to display the front of the shirt instead.

 

 

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