YAWN.... SHORT NIGHT....

You all know how I feel about aging, (yes I'm STILL thinking about that).... but, last night was proof positive that it's really just a number.  A number that can get under your skin, IF you let it... which I am bound and determined to quit letting it get to me.

I saw Madonna in concert last night. 

Now she's about my age.  

We do not act the same.

Nor do we dress the same.

(photo from UK Mail)

Nor are we going to start.

BUT, with that said, I need a shot of adrenaline... and she needs an alarm clock.

The concert was to start at 8 pm, or so the ticket said.  My friend Karen and I got there in good time, time enough to wait in line for a drink and find our seats and have a couple minutes.

A COUPLE MINUTES???? How about 2 and 1/2 hours??? Now we all know I'm nothing if not a little lax in punctuality? (where'd you people think the term 'trumpy time' came from?) But seriously?

First Paul Oakenfold came out and did his thing with mixing music... it was cool, for the first 1/2 hour, maybe, but it seemed to go on and on.  We wondered if maybe we hadn't got the memo, and it had turned into a club night.  Then came the intermission.  Can we call it that? The main star hadn't actually started... where the hell was she?  I was not the only person wondering.  People were restless, looking at their phones, watches, getting more drinks (great ploy United Center).

Finally, she came out.  Her first 'set' was just not well thought out for Chicago.  It was all guns, blood splatter, complete with brain matter....murder... you know a typical Saturday night in the city.  REALLY???? I couldn't help but wonder how the two stupid women with their small children, YES I SAID SMALL CHILDREN, probably between the ages of 6-11 - 4 little ones, one rocking a hair bow, felt.  First of all, Madonna is an ADULT entertainer, Second, she likes the shock factor; Third, she's known for her adult activities.  Fourth,  she's got a rather colorful use of language (as do I, but not for little ears).  So in WHAT world would you think it was a good idea to bring your little ones, a school night no less?

Okay, I digress...

The concert started out too loud and she sounded awful. She came into herself, and overall I thought she ended up sounding great. The effects going on, on stage were FABULOUS. Her costumery was nothing short of what you'd expect from her, complete with a famous conical bra (see above) and dropped drawers reminding us their might be a 'full moon' tonight.  (Her words).

( photo from Chicago online)

She got in a political dig, and the crowd went wild, making me think this election MIGHT go well.... well, as well as it can with our current choices.

Long story short, she rocked the house, she needs to leave well enough alone with her oldies. Recognize that that is what your fans want to hear.  Not a version of 'Like a Virgin' so slow I didn't recognize that's what it was until she was well into it. Serious.  But, she brought the crowd to their feet several times, sang her heart out, and didn't fail to give us what we'd paid for.

However... she could have done all this 2 1/2 hours earlier, and we would have all been happier. And my poor friend Karen, would have gotten a decent night's sleep BEFORE her TV debut this morning... remember, Karen...Preparation H will make your eyes not swollen, and it will not make you a butt head.

You people didn't know you'd get beauty tips here too, did you???

"hOliDaY....CelEbRaTe...." going to be a singing day of that I am sure ~ maybe I should take fashion tips from Madonna...spice things up around here...

AND SO IT GOES....

I lived through another one.

Birthday, that is.

I do not care for my birthday so much.  I don't think it's the actual day... its the realization that I am another year OLDER.

What an ugly word...

I remember thinking I couldn't wait to be older... what a perfect fool I was....  ugh....

Ok, ok, enough gloom and pity...

It was a lovely birthday.  My family rose to the occasion, and treated me royally!  Mark, Jessica, Blain, Scarlett, Dan and Scott (Dan's brother) took me to dinner.  Well, Mark did, but the kids joined the festivities.  Corbin had a prior commitment so he was missing, I was disappointed, but understood.  His boyhood best buddy's little boy turned 1.  Hard for me to fathom that Corbin's buddy Lucas could possibly be old enough to have a child... seems like they were just naughty little boys getting into mischief.

....here we go again with the damn age thing.

Anyway, we went for Tapas, and it was so fun. I love Tapas.  Perfect dining if you ask me.  I like small plates, and hors' deouvres dining...just ask my kids. They grew up on a diet of such... I had a friend that used to tease me about the movie 'Mermaids' - dining Ardith style.  It worked for us, Mark traveled, why not make dinner an adventure? I feel that all 3 are ready for a life of cocktail parties and the like.  Attractive grazing.... perfect.

Okay, I'm rambling.

Anyway, the b-day weekend was nice, finally got out for a sail on Monday, when Lake Michigan calmed down (10 foot waves just aren't my idea of a nice sail).  Now it's onward in the month, and I realize we are almost at the end of this sailing season.  Boo.

WHERE DID SUMMER GO??? (old person statement).

I think having a wedding made summer seem to fly, so maybe if we are lucky, winter will fly by since we are having another then.  Works for me.  Speaking of weddings... I'm starting my dress collection for the winter one.  You know me- I gather many, and then decide and return.  Just finished returning from the last one.  And don't even get me started on the shoe situation... there's a lot of shopping pressure here!!!

And, lastly, don't forget to check out my stamps if you are a card maker... or if you are not, become one and start with mine!!!

http://www.madformarkers.com.au/catalog/

http://www.stampaffair.com/main.htm

Happy Fall~

HAVE PENCIL...WILL DRAW....

I've got so much free time on my hands, I thought I'd add a little business on the side.  I'm so funny, when I'm exaggerating....

Seriously, I work better when I have a LOT going on, or am under pressure.  Not sure why that is, but it is.  So, with that said, I unveil to you, a new FUN endeavor, besides planning wedding #2.

If you know me, you KNOW where my logo comes from....

I'm drawing images for a couple of companies that sell digital and/or rubber stamps to card artists!  And, I am loving it!.

Quite a few of them were done whilst I sat at the hospital with my mom, while they were trying to figure out WHAT was causing her to feel so crummy. (she's better now - whew).  But, if any of you have sat at the hospital with someone, you know how LONG and exhausting it can be.  This provided a little relief! I stuffed my sketch book into my purse, and it gave me something to do to while a way the time, and, in this case, be productive too!

So, if any of you have a desire to purchase digital designs, go here...

http://madformarkers.blogspot.com

and if you want a rubber or acrylic stamp, go here....

http://www.stampaffair.com/main.htm

and, if you've never tried copic markers to color with, then you haven't lived. Plain and simple!

So, check out the stamps, and I, am off to spend the day on the boat with my husband. I mean, seriously, you can't work ALL the time!

Ahoy!!