All Wrapped Up in a Sushi Roll...

I blinked…

Now it’s Monday, sigh…

I, however, had a great weekend.  Super busy, and my ass is super kicked!

Friday night, as I alluded to earlier, was the ZZ Top/Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at Riverbend (http://www.riverbend.org/).

The show started off with the band The Cadillac Black (http://thecadillacblack.com/), I’d never heard of them before, but I really liked them, they threw down some really good southern rock.  TrippyBeth likes some southern rock! 

Long haired country boys

After The Cadillac Black, Skynyrd took the stage, and tore it down!  The last time I saw them, with Kid Rock, it seemed like they were just phoning it in. But, Friday, they brought it!  I danced my ass off, sang at the top of my lungs and had a GREAT time!

And it was a great night for a hat!!!

Finally, ZZ Top came on… I was so looking forward to them; I’ve loved them for 100 years.  Friday night, ZZ Top were the ones phoning it in.  To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement.  However, they did play “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, I can’t say it was my favorite version, but it was all I really WANTED.  I shouldn’t complain.  I do think that maybe…just maybe The Reverend Willy G should stick with acting at this time in his career.  He is still the embodiment of cool, no doubt.  But I did not feel compelled to shake what my mama gave me while they played.

All and all, it was a fun night anyway… I had a couple of Yuengling Lagers, not too bad, I’m still not sure they completely live up to the hype that surrounded the release a year or so ago, not bad nonetheless.

One of the best things I heard all night was a woman proclaiming “I think I smell some mari-ja-wanna!!”  She must not have a very good smeller; the weed was burning from the minute I arrived until I left! It was Skynyrd and ZZ Top, Lady, what do you expect? Sheesh….

Saturday I slept late, did a little decorating around the apartment, I should have done laundry, but I really hate laundry.

Saturday evening I headed down to the Newport on the Levee to meet a friend for dinner.  The Hat had previously decided that we would dine at the new-ish Naked Tchopstix, a pan-Asian sushi restaurant (www.tchopstix.com/).

All that I can say is AWESOME!!!!! 

But I will say more than that, of course!

Our waiter was fantastic, sadly, I don’t recall his name. 

I started out with the sake/plum wine cocktail (yummy) and L had an IPA that they had on tap.

At our waiter’s suggestion, we tried the Playboy sushi roll…. And I hate to say this but OMG!!

It was DELISH!!  It has a bonus of being served, thanks to some everclear, by being lit afire at your tableside! The fire fuses the sauce with the roll.  The roll stuffed with shrimp and asparagus and tuna (?), the sauce….sigh….the sauce, I could have drank it!! Spicy, but not too spicy.  I want more, NOW!

The bibimbap as it was mixed together...

Then we had the more traditional dolsot bibimbap, which are veggies, beef, rice and an egg served in a sizzling stone bowl.  It is served with a smokey, spicy sauce which is quite tasty as well. 

It is a great dining experience, if you enjoy sushi or just trying new food…. GO…NOW!!!

Sunday, I went for late lunchtime beer at Haufbrauhaus with AW. 

I do not have one drop of German blood, but damn I love German beer!!  I, of course, had the Dunkel and enjoyed a nice visit sitting outside under the shade of an umbrella.  The weather was absolutely PERFECT!

Sunday TrippyBeth...

Sunday evening, I headed back to the Taft Theater to see Kenny Wayne Shepherd!!  He is soooooo pretty and so talented.  He is the ultimate SRV fan, plays Stevie’s licks to perfection.

Robert Cray (http://robertcray.com/) opened for KWS, and WOW… unique blues guitar style, and, holy hell, can that man sing!  I’m definitely a new fan.

As I sat there watching Mr. Cray, I saw people walking up and down the aisles of the theater.  It distracts me, maybe it doesn’t distract everyone, but it does me.  I decided that it would be much better if people were required to, as they travel up and down the aisles, to traverse them dance-dare style!! Shaking their money makers as they go up and down!  It would be an adjunct to the entertainment! So, as I watched the people make their way to and from their seats, I imagined them dancing… should be state law.  I have danced my way out of bars before, with C, it’s pretty fun, even though I am not a good  dancer, and I try!

Kenny Wayne on the right, Noah Hunt on the right... Yummy squared!!

When The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band took the stage, the whole place went cccrrrazy!  With Kenny Wayne playing some sick guitar and Noah Hunt (a Cinci boy!) killing some blues vocals, it was a great show!  I’ve seen them before and they do not disappoint!!

They ended the show with “Blue on Black”, “Oh Well” and “Voodoo Chile”… the whole place was on their feet, rockin and singing… great time!!

I get home last night, not too late, around 11:30 and I’m tired, yet sleep would not come! I was awake until around 6a, the alarm goes off at 6:30a… I may not look my best today, but I’m actually in a good mood, I know… weird.

My new Kindle Fire HD just arrived!!

I’m psyched!  I am a book lover, the feel the smell, the whole experience, but reading in bed had become difficult as I’m having trouble with my eyes (probably chemo related) so I broke down and bought the Kindle, I can’t wait to play with it!!

I HATE ICE CREAM TRUCKS.  It had to be said. 

Their creepy music just sends a shiver up my spine.  It could be due, in part, to never really being exposed to them until I was an adult.  There weren’t ice cream trucks where I grew up.

And, in part, to the ice cream’s association to clowns.  I don’t think I’ve mentioned my aversion to clowns before.  I know it’s not a rare aversion, who can forget Pennywise?? Dammit, I just creeped myself out.

J was telling me the other night that he had ordered a new “awesome” clown mask, as if such a thing could ever exist!

He asked if I wanted to see it “NO” I replied.

“Not even a photo of it?” he asked.

“NO” I replied again.

“Not even a picture?” he asked again.

“NO, and I don’t even like talking about it, honestly” I replied AGAIN.

“OH” he said “You’re one of THOSE.”

Sigh, I am one of THOSE…  it’s ok though, I’m good with it.

Punk, Pimples and Fireworks...

What a weekend!

I can’t believe that summer is unofficially over!  I’m disappointed that I went on vacation in May, because I really could use another one now.  I’m feeling the itch to get out of town. 

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. Mine was pretty good.

Friday I decided to be productive and rearrange furniture.  Which I did, then a moved it all back.  So, it was all for naught.

Saturday I shopped my ass off early in the day.  Thrift stores, antique mall and a discount store.  I bought a whole carload of stuff, clothes, books, glasses… it was a productive shopping trip.

Saturday evening I attended a show at the Taft Theater to see The Legendary Shack Shakers.  I’d never heard of the band, but I won the tickets and I love checking out new music.  Before the show, we went to Keystone Bar and Grill in Covington (http://keystonebar.com/covington/).  They are famous, locally for their mac-n-cheese creations.  I had the Black Sabbath, mac-n-cheese with steak and mushrooms.  It was sooooo yummy!

After dinner we headed across the Roebling to the Taft Theater.

The show was held in the bowels of the theater… The Ballroom.  The only seating was a smattering of sofas and love seats.  I enjoyed a Moerlein OTR and plopped myself on a sofa beside a father and son.  As I waited for the opening bands to start, I found myself wishing the lights were turned up as I would have liked to have been able to see the architectural details of the room.  But, alas, they weren’t.  So I occupied myself by people watching, which was also hindered by the lack of illumination.

The first band was The Tillers (http://the-tillers.com/).  I believe I’ve seen them before.  They played some nice bluegrass; I wish they thumped the upright bass a little more.  There isn’t anything much better than an upright bass in my opinion.

The second band was The Dirt Daubers (http://thedirtdaubers.net/).  They were awesome! There was plenty of bass thumpin!!

Then, the Legendary Shack Shakers (http://www.theshackshakers.com/) took the stage.  The frontman and the bassist were from the Dirt Daubers! But, wow! What a different sound.  Their music is a mix of bluegrass and punk.  It was fantastic! You can’t look away, especially when J.D (the lead singer) pulls off his shirt and bounces around the stage all Iggy Pop-esque.  He mostly sang through an old timey microphone and I had a little trouble understanding the lyrics, even though I cut my teeth on 70s and 80s rock.  It was, altogether, a really great show.  I will definitely try to catch them the next time that they’re in town!

Sunday it was Riverfest in the Ohtucky!!  This is a big party on both sides of the river to send the summer out with a bang!  The party is topped off with an amazing fireworks show.

This year I had tickets to the Fireworks Party on The Purple People Bridge.  Which wasn’t technically ON the bridge, but was on the ramp to the bridge.  There was a BBQ dinner, craft beers, blues music and RAIN.  And it rained like a mother fucker.  Water ran down the ramp like a small river.  Everyone at the party huddled under the tent as monsoon passed over.

The Turkeys setting up to entertain.

The party was sponsored, in part, by the Cincinnati Beer Fest folks, so there was a good selection of craft beers.  I love trying new beers, but the first one I had was the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  I've had plenty of it before, but it is soooooo yummy!!!

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Then I had a Rivertown Roebling Stout, which I’ve also had before, but I really like it as well.  I think I have one of these in my fridge…hhhhhmmmmm…

I followed up with a Red Ear Mad Alex Chocolate Oatmeal Stout (http://www.redearbrewing.com/our-beers.html) ooohhhh damn was that ever good!  And it’s brewed right here at home in Covington!!  Do yourself a favor and find this beer, you won’t be sorry.  Dark, smooth, not too sweet, with no bite at the end.  After checking out their website, I see that I can visit the brewery and pick up a growler of fresh brew, OH YEA!  This is absolutely on the TrippyBeth agenda!

Red Ear M.A.D. Alex Oatmeal Stout

I followed these up with a Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA.  I’m generally not huge on the pale ales.  I’m definitely a dark beer kinda girl.  I like beers that you have to chew!  The monster was a good ale, super duper hoppy with just a hint of sweetness.  Not bad, not bad at all.

Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA

The rain, thankfully, let up somewhat in time for the fireworks show to begin.  We stood at the end of the bridge, in our ponchos, to watch.  I didn’t get a lot of photos, as I didn’t want my iPhone to get as soaked as my bones were.  But I did manage a few.

I actually really like the juxtaposition of the bridge against the fireworks, makes the photos a lot more interesting to me.

Now that you’re all caught up on my excitement for the weekend… I have a little rant.

I work with all women, minus our administrator, who just doesn’t count.  If you walk into the office with, heaven forbid, a new top or slightly different hair, it’s LOUDLY announced to the entire office. ”IS THAT A NEW SHIRT?”  It annoys me sooooo badly, but I do my best to shake it off and head back to my desk at the far end of the office.  But they also seem to take pleasure in pointing out the negative.  Case in point, I am sitting innocently at my desk trying to work, diggin on some White Stripes, minding my own business.

M walks up to my desk to ask a legit work question.  But then it rolls right off of the track.

I had a pimple on my chin, it is healing, but there is still a red spot remaining.  Yeah, it sucks, but pimples happen.

M “Is that a pimple on your chin?”

I don’t reply to the question about my physical deformity, I just answer the work related question.

M “Right there on your chin, is that a pimple?”

I close my eyes for a moment to suppress the urge to stab her with my Office Depot letter opener.

M is an older lady, old enough to be my grandmother, and I try to be respectful to older folks.  But sometimes they mistakenly get the idea that they can say whatever they want because of their age and the respect that is due them. This is not cool.

I continue to try and ignore the pimple query.

Then she reaches out and nearly touches my face.  It has previously been established that TrippyBeth doesn’t like being touched.  And touching my freakish pimple affliction, well that’s not gonna happen.  I recoil.

“Is it really necessary to point that out?  Do you honestly think that someone could have a pimple right in the center of their chin and not know it? I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish other than possibly embarrassing someone, and if that’s it, you’re going to have to try harder.”  All of that spewed out before I realized it.  M is not accustomed to that, most people just think she’s funny, when sometimes I think she’s being mean while wearing the grandmotherly/comedian mask.

I think that the next time I get a pimple, I’m going to make a sandwich board and wear it into the office “I HAVE A PIMPLE AND I’M AWARE, SO FUCK OFF”

Do you think that would be rude?

Me either….