I know...

I miss you, too.

I feel all of the pain and confusion.

It's terrible. Horrible, even.

and very difficult. Empty. But it is what it is.

if I could type a heart, I would...

Strange Wilderness

Yes - I realize this is 3 posts in 1 night, but I am catching up.

A group of us started a camping trip last year that is a spin-off of a trip we took as kids with our families. Theirs is still a yearly occurence called "Cosmic Campout" - how groovy of them. Ours is dubbed "Sexy Backpack", which is timely and funny, but we will hate it shortly. Actually, I already hate it and come to think of it, I wasn't that fond of it when that was the name we decided on. My Bro-in-law had a really good name, but I can't remember it now. Oh well.

We go to Manistee National Forest and camp feet away from Lake Michigan. It is absolutley gorgeous and relaxing.

This year, I want to do some fun camping-type stuff. But, I have no clue what that might be. I was a Girl Scout as a girl and a Girl Scout Leader as a gal, but I doubt that my friends are going to want to go "snipe hunting" or make a kaper chart.

I would love to hear any ideas you have for fun things to do. Pranks, great camping recipes, fun campfire stuff, cool gear and gadgets that I should buy, etc.

Lets hear it!

It might be great to be back...

Hey all 3 people that read my blog on a regular basis, remember the blog link that I posted a while ago about the party that I went to with Star? Just to refresh, it featured naked people, Texas Hold 'Em and some other things that all blend together now that it's been a while. I'm old, what do you expect?!?

Anywho - everyone in the know calls that party "The Naked Party". I am going to another party at that same house on Saturday. It's my friend from high school's birthday and he is throwing his own party. Which I am not knocking. I have done that many a year in a row - you always get a party if you throw it yourself!

I am anticipating a replay of the nakedness in some form and hoping to be able to play some poker again. This is just a "stay tuned" message because I am certain that there will be some blog-worthy goings-on.

Just Like Baskin-Robbins - Delicious and 31

Okay - that's a little conceited of me, but who cares? It's my blog, right?

So, I will be 31 in a little more than a month and I can't help but think about some things that just have not happened for me, yet. No, THAT happened a looong time ago, and has improved a lot over the years. But, I digress, there are things I can remember thinking when I was about 14 or 15 that I would have done by the time I was in my 30s. Here a quick list:

Be Married - to my first love and only love at that point (he's married, I am not)

Adopted a child - I always swore that I would not have a baby of my own because there were too many children without parents (so Jolie of me, I was way ahead of my time)

Moved out of Michigan (no clue where, but out of Michigan)

Be a famous TV anchor or radio show host (um...yeah)

Own a really awesome wardrobe (I pretty much do - and you know it)

So, you see where my priorities were at? The same f-in place they are at today, with none of the goals accomplished except the one that keeps me in the poor house (and the "pour house"). What the hell happened to the years? What in god's name happened to my face? and my breasts? Damn it, I am the same age that my mom was when I started 1st grade!

I will say that other than the few loves lost, from long ago to more recent times, and the lack of fame, my life is pretty good as it is. I have a loving and completely crazy family, great friends, a decent job and many years ahead of me to keep pushing forward.

Oh, if only I could be on Fox2 News...I could meet Ben Bailey and make him my husband. We would adopt a baby Amanda, Jr. from a Slovic country and have a lovely home in Gold Coast, Chicago. Then life would be just as it should be.

Music - A Novice Review

I went and saw a few bands on Saturday at the Majestic Theater as part of Rock City Fest. Here are my thoughts:

9:15 p.m. Solitary States: Bor-ing! This band was so typical of everything I hate about music created in a Sound-proof finished basement in West Bloomfield as opposed to a skanky garage or a studio apartment in Cass Corridor. Here's another thing to think about before you download this band's music - Their self-chosen band description on MySpace Music says, "Pop / Healing & Easy Listening" HEALING? Who are you? Gandhi? Gross.

10:15 p.m. Mason Proper: Over-all, I really liked them. The lead singer looked like a cross between Buddy Holly and random average-looking dude with a full beard - but, he acted like a cross between a spaced-out hippie dancing naked in the mud and David Bowie. Sounds cool, huh? Their music was good, except one song that was a little too trippy in a forced kind of way. I recommend checking them out if you get a chance.

11:15 p.m. Friendly Foes: Okay, when guys see a chick come out on stage to sing, they get excited, but when they see a chick come out on stage to play a huge bass guitar, they go NUTS! With that said, I have a feeling that is the solitary reason why there is so much local hype around this band. Why, you ask? because THEY SUCK. I have never said, "I hate this" and "they honestly suck" so many times while watching a band perform. Wait! I just thought of another reason why they are all hyped up locally - The dude guitar player of Foes WORKS at Detour Magazine (he told us when there was a break between songs in their set). Hmmm...no wonder their shows are plastered all over the damn city. I bet you are now wondering why I didn't just leave and cross Woodward to Unions Street to proceed in getting plastered. Read on, lovey...

12:15 a.m. Sloan: Slo-oan! Slo-an! This was the band we planned our evening for. They have been in existence since 1991 - so they are not young and stupid and their music proves it. You know you are watching a good band when they come out and electrify the room with their sound. I am a fan, so of course I loved the show - but not because they have a cool backdrop and wear awesome clothes (no backdrop, screens or name behind the drummer - they were randomly dressed and I even think that one of them had on a plain t-shirt, jeans and cross-trainers). It's because they are really great live - I almost feel like they are better live than recorded. They don't lose the feel of their songs but they add their personalities and rock out. Check this band out - you will love them. They just released a new album in the states on Tuesday and we listened to it on the way home from the show. It was really good. Their last album, Never Hear The End of It, was awesome - the one before that, not so much, but they have other really noteable albums, such as One Chord to Another that I highly recommend.

Thanks.