End o' week musings

Oh, don't look so disappointed... I know it's Thursday, but I'm off to the NAMM (International Association of Music Merchants) show through the weekend. I'll be hunting down all the coolest new music products and rubbing elbows with the stars. I have to keep up on these things you know....

Saturday was pretty cool. I went to see "Circa Something" at the Gallery at the End of the World in Altadena. My friend Carrie said that she had never seen art like this before, but she liked it. I have to agree, it's an intriguing exhibit and the artists are very inventive in their use of re-purposed materials.

After hanging out at the gallery for a few hours, Carrie and I stopped at Conrad's in Pasadena for dinner. Yeah, it's sort of an upscale Denny's, but the food is consistent and the service is good. The reason I mention my visit there is because they had a special salad that night which was awesome- spinach, apples, maplewood bacon, feta cheese, carmelized walnuts and raspberry vinagrette. It was filling, but I didn't feel stuffed at the end of the meal. Give it a try if it's available when you stop there for the always-good coffee.

Sunday I caught "Daybreakers" with my friend and movie critic Vernor (see Tickets Please at www.DaBelly.com ). Not giving away too much, we liked the film because it was a different take on the usual vampire story, yet adhered to many of the traditions from myth. It was creepy and violent and not for the queasy. (I slept OK and didn't have to check under my bed, so it wasn't that bad lol!).

My "minor" celebrity status has come back to light as of Monday, when KPCC "Off-Ramp" host John Rabe interviewed me about my stint as the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Queen. I shared my thoughts on my reign, as well as dispensed wisdom on what it takes to be Doo Dah royalty.

You can listen to the interview by downloading it at
http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2010/01/16/reign-on-my-parade-or-how-to-be-the-next-doo-dah-q/

or by listening to "Off-Ramp" at 89.3 FM noon Saturday, Jan. 16 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17.

If you visit the KPCC Web site, http://www.scpr.org/ , you can also check out John's blog entry about and with me.

I really enjoy the "Off-Ramp" blog and read it daily. John shares all kinds of interesting things, from news to history to personal insights. Always entertaining and informative!

My podmate Linda invited me to join her Tuesday to see Paul Casey's Elvis tribute show at the Covina Performing Arts Center. It was a free preview, so we only saw half of the performance. I'm not a huge Elvis fan, so I can't speak for authenticity, but Paul is very talented and had a great rapport with the audience and his band. It is an enjoyable show for anyone who enjoys music.

This weekend it will be everything NAMM. ... However on Monday I will probably join my artist friend Johnny Fox for a trip to see "Gaze" at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.

I had a few good interviews this week too. I spoke with artist David Weidman (Mr. Magoo and Popeye animator, printmaker and ceramist) about his work, then I chatted with Mike Molina, drummer for Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos and today I will be speaking with vocalist Jason Cruz of Strung Out. Stay tuned to the newspapers and http://www.sgvn.com/ to read my stories.

In rotation this week: Orange Sky, Joe Walla, Iron Maiden, Tribe of Gypsies and Joan Baez.

Photos we got 'em: My friend Joanne's dog Colonial Flannighan is quite the jumper in his agility class at the Pasadena Humane Society (http://www.phspca.org/ ), plus a cute donkey pic sent to me by Valerie and a great cat photo from Stuffonmycat.com.

Thought o' the week: Save! I'm having a hard time this week financially. I had to renew my asthma prescriptions (which cost over $100 every three months) and then my car started acting weird so it's in the shop, plus I had to pay the bulk of my monthly bills and have my six-month dentist checkup. I probably would have been fine except for the car... But I'm doing OK emotionally. Why? Because I'm a saver.

I have two savings accounts at two different institutions to which I contribute every paycheck. We also receive some compensation for mileage at work and I occasionally earn money from my dancing or sewing. All those funds go into savings as well. Once the money is there, I act like I don't have it so when I really need it, like now, I can use it without feeling guilty or getting nervous about other possible impending doom.

In addition to savings, I have a 401K and a few other little investments that I'm tucking away into for those "golden years."

I'm always amazed by how many of my friends, particularly my older ones, who live paycheck to paycheck and have nothing for emergencies. They say that they don't make enough to put anything away. Well, they obviously haven't looked at my paycheck nor my expenses. I don't live extravagantly (no cable television or other goodies), but I still have to pay rent, car insurance, utilities and other bills.

You can always save, even if it's only $10 a week. And it's especially important now, as who knows where your job will be in a month, six months, a year? You need to have a minimum of 3-6 months living expenses put aside to help tide you over until you get back on your feet. You can do it, little by little- be persistent and consistent.

Take care of yourself so you can relax during hard times and

keep on rockin'

Mickie