End o' week musings

Can you spell exhausted? Well, yeah, I guess you can now you've read it. Anyway, that's me today. It's been a long week.

Last Friday I saw Little Joe y La Familia at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello and they were terrific! Little Joe has a beautiful voice and his band is top notch. The show was extra special because I had written a story about Little Joe and got to meet him before his set.

When we spoke previously on the phone, Little Joe told me how he was invited to perform at a Freddy Fender tribute and was asked to sing "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," which he had never done before. He was so moved by the song, that he when he returned to the studio to continue working on his next album, he ended up redoing everything and recording the tune as well. I asked him how the recording was going and he said he was almost done and was very pleased with the effort so far.

My biggest surprise came partway into Little Joe's set. He mentioned my story and thanked me for taking the time to interview him, then he dedicated the next song to me- "Before the Next Teardrop Falls." It was one of the best renditions of the tune I have ever heard. What a sweet man!

The rest of my excitment this week included two going-away parties for co-workers, signing up for a yoga class and rehearsing for my belly dance performance at the Los Angeles County Fair on Sept. 27. OK, I'll 'fess up! Last night I met one of my friends late in the evening and we went bar hopping in Long Beach. I didn't drink too much, but we ended up sitting and talking through the wee hours and I didn't get my zzzs. But it was worth it, as friends are part of what makes live wonderful.

If you get a chance, check out my story on the local band The Subs that published today http://www.sgvn.com/ and http://www.wearethesubs.com/

I'm offering you one weird photo- baby hedgehogs, they're in that fine line between cute and creepy... And the rest of the pics are photos my brother, Jason Mills, took at the Family Values Tour at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine over Labor Day weekend. As promised, there's some of my latest fave group Through You, plus Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescense and Korn. Can you find the rockin' redhead in the crowd shot?! Enjoy!

In rotation: Circus Diablo, Tribe of Gypsies, Dramarama, Droid, Through You, Five Finger Death Punch, Slayer, Cipes and the People, Racoon, Dengue Fever and Tiger Army.

I guess since I gave up sleep for friendship on a last minute whim my thoughts this week should be on spontaniety. It's healthy to break from your usual habits and do something out of the ordinary. Yes, we may thrive on routines, but change can lift your spirits and keep you young. You don't have to stay up late or brave the front row at a rock concert, you can do something simple like going to the movies by yourself and seeing what you want, eating ice cream for breakfast or just sitting under a tree in the park during your lunch. Be as creative as you dare and

keep on rockin'

Mickie