Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Went to see Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon last night at the awesome outdoor venue Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. We really want to see Pat, who was awesome! You'd never know she was 57 now because she can still belt it out just like she did in the 80's. The crowd loved every song and was up dancing and singing.

I have to say, i think every baby sitter in Northern Virginia was working last night. there were some adults getting after the booze last night and dancing. With the kids away, parents will play!


REO came on next and well, the three songs we knew were fun... other than that... shut it.

such a fun night as you can pack a cooler full of food and beers and bring it into the venue. LOVE places like that! Picnic and music, what is better? 
 
Happy Wednesday Everyone? Anyone else seeing some awesome shows this summer?

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

is there anything better than live music?

I've been enjoying going to concerts, festivals and shows since i was a kid and im no kid anymore, but music puts me right back to being one. Its an instant time warp for me when i hear a song from a show i saw maybe 15, 10, 3 years ago. I love that magic!

Whether it was listening to my oldest brother school me on The Cure when i was 7, or my other older brother coaching me on European drum and bass I listened intensely learning to appreciate all the different types of sounds and melodies. As an adult, my musical tastes have changed but I never forget about my musical past where I was obsessed with my Madonna 'True Blue' record that Jilly and I would take turns singing. But, while most kids our age were obsessed with radio music, Jill and I wore out CD's of bands like, Bjork and Propellerheads. We loved Moby before he became lame and we knew every Prodigy song and even went to their show in the 90's! I may be dating myself with my massive crush on Damon Albarn of Blur, but, I will say that music has been a HUGE part of my life and I love my life more for it. I will say it even got me into the college of my dreams -- I skipped out on the last part of my SAT's to go see a festival (dude, it was Garbage, Goldfinger, No Doubt, etc!) and maybe if i stayed I would have gotten a better score, but, nope! I got a good enough score for the University of South Carolina -- GO COCKS! (that's ridiculous, I know and mostly, SORRY DAD!).

Jill, remember seeing Eminem (no one knew who the hell this puny little white rapper was) open for Black Eyed Peas (pre Fergie) and he was pretty much boo'd off stage because Blink was about to play parallel to his stage? awesome. Finding new and exciting music was the greatest feeling and then led us to falling in love with SXSW and music showcases.

 What I'm getting at here is that I spend a lot of money on going to concerts yearly and while I hate my dwindling funds, I look back at my musical memories and do not regret a single one, i never saw back street boys so I may have been upset at that lost dollar.

Dear Music, keep on keepin on.

now I will look at wedding bands and my main concern is that they play YMCA to make everyone there cringe. :) Life is good.

currently listening to Foxy Shazam's "Oh Lord".

Monday, June 28, 2010


This weekend was pretty great. we did sushi on Friday night and then did the Crohns and Colitis walk down in Washington, DC Saturday afternoon. Marv's Guts (my team) ended up winning the top honor of raising the most money for the friends and family category. I couldn't believe it and was so So SO happy! Having this disease hasn't been the easiest for me, but, having friends and family care has made it easier. I love you all!

Besides that, we went down to the lake house and tore it up with tubing and skiing. The water was unreal and that boat is just so fun!


After a long day of going nuts on the lake, we headed back to DC to take in a show at the 930 club. We went to see the train wreck that is Courtney Love of Hole and instead left with our minds blown from opener Foxy Shazam. The best way to describe this insanity on stage was that he totally channeled Freddy Mercury but had the looks of frank zappa and the destructiveness of Andrew WK. Mix that all into one and you have Eric Nally. I absolutely fell in love with them and their complete weird package. check em out, here.

as for Courtney, she was so So SO awful. She coughed during songs and forget lyrics or she simply didn't even sing any lyrics and just held the microphone to the crowd who wasn't singing either. She also had someone on stage filming her on a flip totally obstructive views. To say she was bad is an understatement. She was AWFUL! But, that's to be expected right? Typical Courtney... loves.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I drive down a toll road every morning and every night. I have been doing this for the last few months and I have to tell ya... people are stupid. The toll booths are marked very easily... 3 lanes are for EZ-PASS. 3 are for COINS ONLY and 3 are for FULL SERVICE. They are lit up on signs, large signs. You literally have to be blind to not see them. but, WITHOUT FAIL, someone ALWAYS messes it up. If you don't have coins, don't go in the COINS ONLY line. simple, really.  What's worse is the guy who doesn't have coins but is literally crawling around inside his car looking under seats, in-between cushions and god knows where else to conjure up 75cents. Take the loss for being stupid and run through... 9 times out of 10 you won't get a ticket, just a scary bell goes off. Or, there is the "deer in headlights" driver who literally doesn't know what to do and instead of driving through they sit there frozen in fear. Horns are honking, people are yelling and they continue to just sit there as if in ice. DRIVE!

Tolls are like the security line in airports... some people have it down (a la "Up in the Air" with George Cloony). Others scramble, fall and get so paranoid and end up causing the line to wait for their idiotic'ness longer than they should.

I need to invest in a helicopter to commute. I'll look on craigslist for a used one.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Crab Crush - Engagement Party


I don't know about any of you, but I need a weekend from my weekend! I had Scottie's family in town for the first time so we decided to throw a Virginia Engagement Party. (Yes, we had one in LA, but I needed a bi-coastal deal). Anyhow, we decided to have a good ole east coast crab crush complete with kegs, baggo, flip cup, beer pong, burgers, chicken and full kareoke! HAHA! Now, having kareoke at 3:30p in the afternoon is a pretty bold step, but, with this group... it was a hit! I had so much hanging out with everyone, laughing and smiling. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend and I already miss Scottie's family. Can't wait to see you all in August!

Naturally, here are some photos



flabongo's made it!

best cupcakes ever! thanks, Jen

such a great group of people

Keg bus shananigans!

future in-law, future bro-in-law and future sis-in-law - RAD!

group shot!

thank you to everyone who came, scottie and i couldn't have asked for a better day! Love you all!
everyone else... you should defo have a crab crush "Kirby Style" very soon. :)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Meet My Flabongos


I bought a flabongo. Scratch that... I bought TWO flabongos (so they could mate, naturally). I love my flabongo and think you will too. They are much prettier than the average beer bong and obvi I love that they are pink. :)

Meet Fla...


now meet, Bongo


now meet my favorite napping place.



Tuesday, June 15, 2010

THEY'RE ALMOST HERE....YIKES

Carrie........FREAK OUT.........My family is almost here and I'm pretty sure YOU ARE terrified!
Look at us? We're nuts!!I'm excited to see Kevin and Linda, Lisa and Ryan and making a special appearance Andrew "THE CUZ" Baumgartner who might as well be my other brother.



Looking forward to an action pack weekend where The Kirby's meet the Marvin's..........what is going to happen???????
Namaste

Monday, June 14, 2010

Driving to work this morning I noticed i needed to stop for gas. I continued down the street and saw three gas stations... two were completely packed and you had to wait on the street to turn in and then there was one lonely gas station completely empty. Who was that gas station with no customers? BP. Yep! Good. Stay that way.


yes, I realize that gas stations are typically individually owned and franchised but it's still BP and they have a massive mess of spillage and ocean life death. I have two nephews who live on the gulf and my parents have a house there too... I will never buy BP gas again.

Happy Monday, Folks.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Ive always been obsessed with skin care, moisturizer and eye cream. I have been slathering eye cream on my eyes obsessively since i was about 20 years old because I'm paranoid of crows feet. Always have been even when I didn't have them. So to make matters worse, i have spent lots of dollars on these miracle creams and I think i found one that I actually LIKE! It's called Kinerase and yes, it's exy (expensive) but, I truly think I see a little difference! I've tried, clinique, prescriptives, le mer, etc ... but this one wins for me! Well, this week at least. : )


totally didn't know Courtney Cox was the spokesperson, love her!

I was not paid to make this endorsement, I just wanted to share.

IN OTHER NEWS:
I'm bored at work and it's about 100 degrees outside and my stupid office-mate is wearing a sweater vest and long sleeved collared shirt. I'm going to take most of the day today and see if I can snap a picture of him for you. To say the least... we are not friends and it would be super awkward if he caught me doing this. CHALLENGE! Stay tuned.

still bored, carrie

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Shows, Shows, Shows... I love Shows

I have been attending concerts since i was a teenager. I blame my brother Drew for instilling the love of live music but also in opening my ear buds to other genres other than top 40. While I strongly disliked his LOVE for electronica, industrial and good plain ole, SCREAMO music it did teach me about unknown artists and indie rock which i love. This summer we have tons of shows that we're attending and have already attended. we love shows and I love photographing shows, in my mind, music just makes you feel GREAT!

Here are the shows we have on tap this summer... with more to come I am SURE!

Good Ole War - rock and roll hotel. They sound happy, so i like it.
Hole - 930 club. Courtney Love is just one hot mess that I cannot miss. I hope she freaks out. "I am doll parts"
Pat Benatar - Wolf Trap Barns. Does it get any better than "we belong" at a BYOB venue? Nope!
She and Him - 930 Club. I love Zoey.
We are Scientists - Black Cat Club. love thier energy and they always put on a good show.
Ed Sharpe - 930 Club. I have to show Scott these guys live... unreal. If I were 22 I'd probably be stalking begging Ed Sharpe to join his band.
Dave Matthews and Zac Brown Band - Nationals Stadium.
Deadmau5 - 930 club
Arcade Fire - Merriweather Post Pavilion. There is NO BAND THAT GETS ME MORE HAPPY! I cannot WAIT to see them again! I already have goosebumps.
Kings of Leon - Merriweather Post Pavilion. Pit tickets, sweet!

Photo taken at Greek Theater in LA for Flaming Lips Concert


Monday, June 7, 2010

baseball and an aussie!

I had quite a surprise this weekend! My bestie from Aussieland came to Virginia to surprise me on her USA tour before heading back to Australia. I was for sure surprised ... brat. :) We had a fun weekend that included watching my huzby-to-be play baseball! I haven't seen him play before so I was really excited... here are some pics! Linda, it was awesome!

he's awesome.

here's a pic of Me, carly and Scottie at O'sullys up the street from our house. I don't think ive heard people yell singing so loud in a long time! Thanks for visiting, Carly. You're the best and I'll see you again in a few days!


and, lastly... pops bought a new boat and I cannot WAIT to water ski all summer! (Scott, you better learn how to get up!)

Friday, June 4, 2010

"who's side are you on... What side is this anyway..."


We went to see one of our favorite bands play last night at the 930 club in DC. Oh 930, how I have missed you and your amazing acoustics, incredible views from every part of the space and fast as lightening bartenders. Its not rated Billboards club of the year for nothing. It's perfect in my eyes and in many others. So anyways, Passion Pit, you were awesome. Here are some pics:


and us being us,

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Dear Fridge,



Thanks so much for breaking this morning. It was a lot of fun waking up to your burnt out motor and having to scramble to find my beloved football cooler to fill the food YOURE supposed to be keeping cool. It was even more fun running to 711 to buy a bag of ice at the crack of dawn. You better hope that the two powerball lottery tickets I bought are winners because if they're not, I'll be reenacting the famous fax machine beating scene from the movie Office Space later tonight.

Tootles,

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

this photo could be two things...





the new ad at american apparel shops

or...

that he (me fiance) really needs a haircut.

either way, i love.

World Cup is not a new Cooking Show


WORLD CUP!!!!!

It's almost here!

It's not the NFL and the players end up crying on the soccer field like little babies a lot but it'll do for now. Scottie is extremely excited and purchased these rad shirts for us. I just really like the horn.


FYI - he is flicking off Carly, our Australian friend who continuously writes, AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI to Scott. He no likey.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

My Work Life On Paper

I'm home sick and was just thinking about my employment history. From the age of 16 to now, here are the jobs I've held...

Wet Seal (2 years) - Sales Girl - first job EVER working summers and weekends in high school. Kept me out of trouble and I made my own money to buy whatever clothes I wanted.
Abercrombie and Fitch (1 summer) - Sales Girl - I didn't do a darn thing!
Bartender (4 years) at the following bars in Columbia, South Carolina - Sharky's, Garrets, Group Therapy, Knock Knock and Flip Side. I truly believe that working as a bartender at 19/20 has shaped me into the little smart butt girl that I am today. :) LOVED it and made GREAT money.
Waitress At Texas Longhorns (3 Days) - I wanted the t-shirt that said, "don't mess with Texas".
Ticket Girl (1 year) - I sold tickets at an independent movie house called The Nickelodeon. I loved that place, it was very tiny and covered with old vintage movie posters. 
Recruiting Assistant (6 mos) - that was so boring.  
Marketing  (1 year) - I designed newspapers ads for a mortgage company and added words into the fine print that would get me fired if they actually looked at it. :)
Executive Assistant (2 1/2 years) - I worked for a non-profit pharmaceutical company and loved it so much. Totally would have stayed longer if the executive office didn't all get canned.
Project Coordinator (6 mos) - Recruiting office that I absolutely HATED my boss. I stayed long enough to get Roger Goodell into the position he is at today as the NFL commissioner. He sent me flowers and I love him.
Executive Assistant (2 years) - Lobbyist Firm working for the Congressmen of Houston. I mainly hung out with his wife and drove his awesome daughters to lacrosse practice.
Project Coordinator (2 mos) - Goldman Sachs, enough said.
Union Manager (4 mos) - My boss was going through a divorce and would drink wine from a bottle at 9am and blast Alannis Morrisette angrily all day and cry. I literally walked out of that job without saying word and never went back.
Researcher (1 1/2 years) - Entertainment Research for movies in Los Angeles. Best job EVER that I did NOTHING at.
Board Liaison (Current) - I am hoping to stay at this job. It's a digital media company for Video On Demand movies and its rad. 

That is ridiculous.