Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, April 27-Tuesday, May 3, 2022: Snail Mail | Lady Lamb | Blitzen Trapper | Interpol | Oberhofer | Parquet Courts | Adams Avenue Unplugged | ArtWalk | Old Town Cinco De Mayo | San Diego Book Crawl |

Lindsey Jordan, aka Snail Mail (Taken 8.21.2019)

There are some amazing shows this week. Like how did Snail Mail get booked on the same night as Lady Lamb? That is unfortunate. I won't be able to make either as I'm working for Jon Spencer and Quasi at the Casbah, a great show, too, but a much different type of show. 

I'll also be at Interpol on Friday, and if it gets out early enough, checking out Oberhofer at Soda Bar. Sadly, this means I can't make it to The Airborne Toxic Event with Mondo Cozmo opening. Hopefully he'll quickly schedule a small club headlining tour for the summer of fall because he is an amazing performer. 

The weekend is also packed with the San Diego Book Crawl, Adams Avenue Unplugged, Old Town Cinco De Mayo, a Tacos & Tequila festival at Petco Park, Art Alive in Balboa Park, and the classic ArtWalk in Little Italy. Darren will be working at the Safari Park all weekend, so I'll probably drag the kid around town before I have to work on Saturday night for Sleaford Mods at the Casbah. 

Speaking of, Nova turns 15 on Sunday and it is a very big deal around here but everyone is overscheduled so hopefully we can find a way to make her quinceañera special. 

Stay safe out there.  

Catching Up With COVID-19 News: Cases Rising, Funding For Testing & Treatments Running Out | US Secretaries Traveled To Ukraine | Macron Wins French Election |

Nova and Ficus at Fiesta Island (Taken 4.24.22)

I didn't expect to be more exhausted after the weekend than I was after the week. On Friday, I thought I'd take advantage of Nova being at school and Darren working so after getting my work mostly done, I spent a couple hours at the San Diego Zoo, and then went to Sea World because they were open until 8. But while I was there making kissy face with Mitik the walrus, I got a text reminder about doing merch at Soda Bar. Turns out I was asked about the wrong night, but still rushed home to take the job. It was a pretty easy and short night, but after a night of hip-hop it's hard to just go to bed when you get home.  

On Saturday, after Nova's derby, my sister reached out and took us to Record Store Day at Vinyl Junkies Record Shack for awhile before grabbing some grub, then heading home for a nap, because I'd been last minute hired to sell merch for Haliene at Music Box. Again, it was a pretty easy night but super long -- I was there more than 5 hours -- so on Sunday I was just wiped out, but we had to go help my dad twice...move him in the afternoon and then again before his bedtime. In between, Nova and I took Ficus to Fiesta Island, then dropped her off at home and then went back to the bay for Sea World, not realizing they closed at 7pm, not 8. Nova still got a couple rollercoaster rides in so it was all good. 

With Darren working such long hours in the sun all day, he's been pretty wiped out when he gets home, so we're still getting used to all of this. The good thing is that Nova is turning 15 in less than a week, so she can handle being alone, feeding herself, connecting with friends, or navigating public transit to get to GHYC, and I've been making it regular practice to work in the mornings and get out of the house every afternoon. Things may shift up when her lacrosse season ends, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. 

On Tuesday -- supposing I get adequate sleep -- I'll be tagging along with Darren to Safari Park again. This time I know where I can work (Zuest Woolshed or Sambutan Longhouse), where I can chill out and rest while charging my phone (Rest & Relax Tent by the Watering Hole) and that the 2nd to last tram is actually the best one of the day. If not, I guess I can always take the office setup back to the Zoo. 

Stay safe out there. 

San Diego Surpasses 30k COVID Hospitalizations Since Pandemic Start | Justice Department To Appeal Heinous Judge Ruling | Poisonous Plants For Pets | San Diego Zoo Readies More Changes |

 

Maza the Greater One Horned Rhino (Taken 4.13.22)

I'm only doing a post today because Wednesday is when the County updates all their COVID-19 info. Even the State has cut back and is only updating on Tuesdays and Fridays, so I'm not feeling so bad about my infrequent updates. Nothing you don't already know...cases are rising in the County, testing is declining, as I said yesterday, follow the poop and do what you have to for your own safety and that of your family. My big gripe of the day is how every news story talking about the judge's ruling striking down the mask mandate on transit seems to only focus on planes...a mode of travel which is really still for the more privileged amongst us. While it is true that "2,900,000 passengers fly every day in and out of u.s. airports" according to the FAA, a more striking statistic is that "34 million times each weekday, people board public transportation," according to American Public Transportation Association's 2019 data. These 34 million are often the most vulnerable amongst us: seniors, people with disabilities, low-income, people of color, many of whom may not even have basic health care coverage or adequate information and resources about the pandemic. Buses, trains, subways, light rail and other modes of transit are not known for their ventilation in the first place, and dropping mask mandates in these spaces is absolutely appalling. We'll see where the Justice Department's appeal goes, but I don't have great confidence in the courts doing the right thing, so ideally the individual transit agencies will implement their own requirements to continue following CDC guidance. 

Update: Just found this article from Time: Should You Still Wear a Mask on Planes, Trains, and Buses? Here’s What the Science Says. - Time (4.20.22)

But what I really wanted to talk about was the hot goss that I got at the San Diego Zoo today. I was lingering by the giraffes and Maza, who I've been calling Henry for over a year,  the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros at the end of the day and came across a trainer and asked why Henry's crate was out. The conversation was kinda funny but in case he was sharing not-for-public information, I'll just summarize and say that the story for the moment is that Henry is moving to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. When he leaves, there will be some upgrades made to his current San Diego Zoo habitat. Once that is done, Funani and Amahle, the hippos, will be relocated there for 6-7 months while their "Hippo Beach" habitat is upgraded and remodeled. From that you can imagine all kinds of possibilities, like maybe Amahle will be like Fiona in Cincinnati and be introduced to a young male partner after she's 3 next February? It will be a long process for visitors because the pool on the mesa is far inferior to the current hippo habitat, but if it's all for an upgrade, it will be worth it. I'll still be there as much as possible regardless of what happens. 

Stay safe out there. 

• COVID-19:
• Majority of Americans want masks for travelers: AP-NORC poll - kpbs/Associated Press (4.20.22)
• San Diego County Surpasses 30,000 COVID-19 Hospitalizations Since Start of Pandemic - County News Center (4.20.22)
• Vaccines, antibodies, antivirals: How some immunocompromised can cut Covid risk. Compared to last year, people with weakened immune systems now have several tools to protect themselves against Covid-19.- NBC News (4.20.22)
• A Reminder: When To Get Tested - CDC (Updated 3.31.22)
• Politics:
• Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate - AP News (4.20.22)
• News:
• Earth Day Event at County Operations Center Friday - County News Center (4.20.22)
• Other Reading:
• Poisonous Plants to Dogs and Cats - Rover
• Government:
• White House
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with President David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia
• FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Creates Cost-Saving Clean Energy Opportunities to Combat Climate Crisis
• Remarks by President Biden Before Meeting with the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Combatant Commanders
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 20, 2022
• FACT SHEET: Update on the Collaborative Migration Management Strategy
• Remarks on a Modern American Industrial Strategy By NEC Director Brian Deese
• FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces the Rural Partners Network to Empower Rural Communities to Access Federal Resources
• Dept of Defense
• Russia Notified U.S. of ICBM Test Launch
• DOD Aims to Close Gap in Bringing U.S. Tech Innovation to Market
• Dept of Justice
• Justice Department Announces Nationwide Coordinated Law Enforcement Action to Combat Health Care-Related COVID-19 Fraud
• New Jersey Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for String of Violent Assaults on Members of Orthodox Jewish Community
• Interior
• Interior Department Outlines Roadmap for Continued Renewable Energy Progress on Public Lands. Approval of more than 120 renewable energy projects with combined generating capacity of 12,000 megawatts; new BLM report forecasts additional activity 
• Global COVID-19 Stats (JHU 4.20.22 11:21pm):
•  507,044,649 Known Cases/31,207,734 28-Day New Cases
•  6,207,756 Known Deaths/103,189 28-Day New Deaths
• US COVID-19 Stats 
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Data Tracker
• American Academy of Pediatrics Children and COVID-19 Dashboard 
• JHU
• 80,801,713 Cases/950,971 28 Day New Cases
• 990,208 Deaths/14,737 28-Day New Deaths
• CDC Data Tracker:
• 40,925 New Cases/80,588,854 Known Cases 
• 385 New Deaths/987,034 Known Deaths
• 1,552 New Admissions/9,527 Current Hospitalizations
• California COVID-19 Information Is Now Only Updated Tuesdays and Fridays.
• State of California Safe Schools For All Hub
• Vaccination progress dashboard
• Coronavirus: Resources for Californians
• San Diego County 
• Free Testing Sites and Schedule in San Diego
• Vaccination Locations San Diego
• Vaccination Dashboard
• COVID ActNow Daily Updates for San Diego Metro
• San Diego Unified School District COVID Dashboard
• County Data:
• Influenza Watch
• Influenza Activity Slows as Flu Season Nears End - County News Center (4.20.22)
• 136 New Cases/2,351 Total Cases
• 0 New Deaths/4 Deaths
• 405 New Cases/755,863 Total Cases 
• Case rate:  7.6 per 100,000 residents overall
• 3.7 for fully vaccinated people 
• 6.9 for fully vaccinated + boosted people 
• 12.7 for not fully vaccinated San Diegans.
• 2 New Daily Deaths/5,233 Total Deaths
• 2,969,462 Partially Vaccinated 94.3%/2,607,527 Fully Vaccinated
• 1,237,325 Boosted 55.9%
• 82.8% 5+ Population Fully Vaccinated/78.0% Total Population Fully Vaccinated
• 3.3% Daily Test Positivity/% 7-day average/% 7-day average after 7-day lag/2.5% Test Positivity (14-day average)
• 8 Day Over Day COVID-19 Hospitalizations
• -1 Day Over Day COVID-19 ICU Patients
• COVID-19 Hospitalizations 100 patients. -46% over 30 days
• COVID-19 ICU 16 patients. -59% over 30 days
• 62 Staffed ICU Beds Available 
• 5 Community Outbreaks (7-day)
• Universities:
• SDSU COVID-19, UCSD COVID-19, USD COVID-19, CSU San Marcos, PLNU

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, April 20, 2022-Tuesday, April 26, 2022: Hasan Minhaj | Hot Chip | Spellling | Electric Six | Dent May | Earthfair | Orville Peck | Beabadoobee |

Beabadoobee Appears At Humphrey's On Tuesday Night (Taken 10.18.2019)

I was having a conversation with a friend about whether I'll ever get back to the pre-pandemic lifestyle of three or four or seven shows a week and I was quick to answer that it's just not in the cards for me anymore. For starters, I've given up rideshare apps entirely. After they poured millions into Prop 22 and since D quit driving, I'd just rather not support, which makes some shows logistically a little more challenging. I love public transit, but it is made for daytime commuters, not so much late night revelers. Nova is older, so it's not like we can just put her to bed and head out on the town, it has to be a little more planned when we're leaving, or for those all-ages shows she might like, if I can request and secure three tickets instead of just one or two, which publicists generally hate and decline. On top of all that, we're still helping my dad three or four times a week before his bedtime, which ends up taking an hour or so with the drive, right when a headliner would be coming on at most venues, so we just have to arrange too much with our schedules. 

And I assure you, I'm not complaining, but after two years, life is different. I'm different. The risks assessment is different, where none existed before. So you might see me bopping around at shows even if that means fewer of them. And I'll work the shows I'm asked to. But I also may show up 5 minutes before a headliner and cut out halfway through the set just to get by. It's all different. But that doesn't mean that I don't thoroughly encourage massive enjoyment of the great shows coming to town. If this week was pre-pandemic, for example, you'd probably see me at Hasan Minhaj, Wallows, Hot Chip and then racing to catch Spellling afterward, Dent May, Earthfair, Pink Mountaintops, Orville Peck, and beabadoobee. In this life right now, I may actually make it to one or two of those, if I'm really ambitious. It doesn't mean I'm any less grateful that we have amazing options in this City. But I still think if you're inside you should be masking up. 

Congratulations to all the SDMA nominees and winners. I hope it was a great night. 

Stay safe out there. 

Music News:

• Belly Up to manage new Del Mar concert venue at fairgrounds. Remodeled Surfside Race Place expected to open later this year - Pacific San Diego/San Diego Union-Tribune (4.19.22)
  
• 31st Annual San Diego Music Awards 2022 Winners 
• San Diego Music Awards recognizes local artists Thee Sacred Souls, Sara Petite, Lords of the Satellite and more - kpbs (4.19.22)
• The Switchfoot Bro-Am is back on Saturday, June 18th at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas
• Live, in Photos: Coachella 2022 with Billie Eilish, Arcade Fire, Harry Styles, and More - FLOOD (4.18.22)
• Outside Lands 2022 Has Announced Their Lineup. (Official Site)
• Golden Gate Club Passes On-Sale Now
• SZA, Phoebe Bridgers, Pusha T, Mitski, and More Announced to Play This Year’s Outside Lands. The event—which also sees Green Day and Post Malone claiming headlining slots—will take place on the weekend of August 5 in Golden Gate Park. - FLOOD (4.19.22)
• New Show Announcements:
• May 12 - Sextile @ Casbah
• May 21 San Diego Freak Out with Wild Wild Wets @ Casbah 
• June 2 - Colleen Green @ Whistle Stop
• June 20 Orgone, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio @ Casbah
• June 24 Bright Eyes @ SOMA
• July 21 - Purity Ring @ Observatory
• July 22 - Purity Ring @ Observatory
• July 23 - Monsieur Perine @ Music Box
• July 23 - Burning Spear: Fan Appreciation Tour @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU
• July 27 - The Dream Syndicate - 40th Anniversary Tour @ Soda Bar
• July 28 Guerilla Toss @ Casbah
• August 10 -Lost Dog Street Band @ Belly Up
• September 10 - Los Ángeles Azules: De Iztapalapa Para el Mundo Tour @ Viejas Arena 
• October 2 - Rosalia: Motomami World Tour @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre 
• October 6 - Ural Thomas and the Pain @ Soda Bar

Wednesday, April 20, 2022:

• Hasan Minhaj: The King's Jester @ Civic Theatre
• Marc Cohn, Chelsea Williams @ Belly Up (Seated Show, SOLD OUT)
• Molchat Doma, Pompeya @ Music Box (SOLD OUT)
• King Whisker, C.Gibbs, Beech City @ Casbah
• Value Select, Jazz Emu @ Soda Bar
• San Diego Gulls vs Abbotsford Canucks @ Pechanga Arena
• Les Filles de Illighadad @ The Loft
• Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres @ Petco Park (1:10pm)
• Gilbert Castellanos Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Copley Auditorium, Panama 66
• Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• The Corncakes Kiki Ball @ The Merrow
• Tai Verdes, renforshort @ House of Blues
• Bob Fosse's Dancin' @ The Old Globe
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Half Hour Late, The Resinators + DJ Apaulo @ The Holding Company
• Militarie Gun & Mil-Spec, Headcount, Glean, Bent Blue @ Che Cafe
• Jazz Pocket Swing @ Tio Leo's
• Open Mic with Whit @ Pour House
• Carte Blanche - House Music @ Park&Rec
• Little Stranger, Big Yen @ Winston's 
• Karaoke @ Rosie O'Grady's 
• Slam Diego: Pro Wrestling & Lucha Libre @ Quartyard
• Blues Jam @ Navajo Live
• Open Blues Jam @ Bancroft Bar
• Skrewball Comedy Night @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Open Mic @ 710 Beach Club

Thursday, April 21, 2022:

• Wallows, The Regrettes @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (SOLD OUT)
• WILLIS, The Hails @ Casbah
• Dan Andriano & The Bygones, Emily Wolfe @ Soda Bar
• All That Remains, Miss May I, Varials, Tallah @ The Observatory
• Tempers & Leya @ Whistle Stop 
• The Maine, The Happy Fits, Charlotte Sands @ House of Blues
• An Evening With The Music of Cream ft. Will Johns & Kofi Baker @ Belly Up
• The Fall of Troy, Hail The Sun, Seeyouspacecowboy, InTheBackground @ Music Box
• Slappin’ Hands w/ Ric Scales, DJs Root & Dunekat @ Til-Two Club
• Tony Jaw presents Karaoke Madness Tournament @ Ken Club
• Twista @ The Holding Company
• Victoria Robertson @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
• Ultraviolet with DJ Instagator, My Digital Habit, Warren D @ The Merrow
• Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony @ Joan B Kroc Theatre, Kroc Center
• Bob Fosse's Dancin' @ The Old Globe
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Aztec Open Mic @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Lyrical Exchange Open Mic @ Queen Bee's
• DJ Mancat @ Mr. Peabody's
• Latin Jazz @ Border X Brewing
• DJ Fresco @ Park & Rec
• Open Mic @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Open Jam with Jeff Ousley @ Navajo Live
• Manzanita Blues @ Tio Leo's
• Karaoke @ Luau Bar
• Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club

Friday, April 22, 2022:

• Hot Chip, Hard Feelings @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Spellling, Carrie Feller, Dear Donna @ Casbah
• Boy Harsher, Troller, Adam Miller @ The Observatory
• 91X Inspired By The Music: SKEGGS, Miloe @ Music Box (SOLD OUT)
• Knocked Loose, Movements, Kublai Khan, Koyo @ Soma (SOLD OUT)
• MIKE + Na-Kel Smith + Mercury @ Soda Bar
• Ultra Q, Benches, Fashion Jackson @ Bridges
• Queen Nation, Lies N Roses @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
• Adam Miller & Inner Magic (formerly of Chromatics) @ Whistle Stop
• DakhaBrakha @ Baker-Baum Concert Hall, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center (SOLD OUT)
• Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour @ Civic Theatre
• Zarak Warak Comedy Show @ The Magnolia
• Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres @ PETCO Park (6:40pm)
• Padres BeerFest (Dodgers) @ Gallagher Square
• Decent People, The Gravities, Heaping Teaspoon, Jehlad & Moonshine Soul @ Ken Club
• Besos Trio @ Panama 66
• Troubadours: The Music Of Carole King & James Taylor @ The Moonlight Theatre
• Atomic Groove’s Parents Nite Out Express Soccer Club Benefit @ Belly Up (Happy Hour 5pm)
• Cold, University Drive, Black Satellite, Dead, In the Headlights @ Brick By Brick
• Lady Psychiatrist Booth @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
• Haley Mae Campbell @ Moonshine Beach 
• Lightning Drive @ Moonshine Flats 
• Rosalyn @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Blake Den @ The Rabbit Hole (6-9pm)
• Spinnie Cooper @ The Rabbit Hole (9pm)
• Gilbert Castellanos @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel 
• Rival Squad, Missing Limbs, Sucio, Inner Vision @ Til-Two Club
• Band of Gringos @ The Holding Company
• Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony @ Patrick Henry High (2pm)
• Sonic Tonic @ Fast Times
• Dj Thomas Fernandez & Stack-Aly @ Tower Bar
• ONCE @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Rock En Español Live @ Border X Brewing
• Bob Fosse's Dancin' @ The Old Globe
• The San Diego Black Artist Collective @ The Old Globe 
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Israel Maldonado Live in the Greenhouse @ Park & Rec
• Mike Pinto @ Winston's 
• Jeff Dunham @ Pechanga Arena
• The Mellow Downs @ Pour House (5-8pm)
• DJ Will Ayyy, Chopper Flynn (album release), Jupiter Flight @ Pour House  
• Locker Room with DJ Eli @ The Merrow
• Calisamba @ 710 Beach Club
• Tube Amp'd @ Mr. Peabody's
• Parmalee @ Live & Up Close, Sycuan
• BB & Company @ Tio Leo's
• DJ Shasta @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9:30pm)
• Daring Greatly @ Navajo Live 
• SD UNION W/ LTJ Bukem & Submorphics, Ghost MD, Horge, DJ Desi @ SPIN

Saturday, April 23, 2022:

• RSD! Record Store Day! Check out your local shops for DJs, Live Music, and RSD limited releases. Vinyl Junkies Record Shack, Lou's, m-Theory, Reanimated, Red Brontosaurus, and more! 
• Landis Bikeway Grand Opening @ Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis Street, San Diego, CA 92105)
• The Evolution of Transportation Illuminated at the Green Transpo Expo @ Westfield North County
• City of Oceanside “Earth Day of Service and Celebration” @ Buccaneer Park (9am-1pm)
• Spring Food Truck Festival @ Bate's Nut Farm (10am-3pm)
• Electric Six, Volk @ Casbah 
• Dent May, Jimmy Whispers @ Soda Bar
• Brian Jonestown Massacre, Mercury Rev @ The Observatory North Park
• An Evening With Grateful Shred @ Belly Up  
• The Farmers @ Navajo Live
• Punks for Autism Presents: Hoods, The Cutthroats, Legions, Triste @ Ken Club
• RIo Peligroso @ Rosie O'Grady's
• BOOTY BASSMENT w/DJs Dimitri and Rob Moran @ Whistle Stop (8:30pm) 
• Shawn Rohlf & Friends @ Whistle Stop (4pm)
• ONCE @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido (2pm & 7:30pm)
• San Diego Gulls vs Tucson Roadrunners @ Pechanga Arena
• Pancho Barraza, Banda Cuisillos @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU
• Suicide Dies Tonight with Blackcast, Deadrise, Revitalize, Pudre, Mouthguard, Sidewalk Ends @ SOMA Sidestage
• Tori Roze and The Hot Mess Quartet @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (1-4pm)
• The Chats, Mean Jeans, THICK @ House of Blues
• Joy Again @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres @ PETCO Park (5:40pm)
• Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour @ Civic Theatre
• San Diego Gay Men's Chorus: Broadway, Our Way @ Balboa Theatre
• The San Diego Sound Project: Alex Arango @ Museum of Making Music (7pm, Live or Free Livestream)
• Robin Henkel with Horns @ Panama 66
• Haliene, Escalation @ Music Box
• Dr. Jordan B. Peterson: Beyond Order @ The Magnolia
• Chickenbone Slim @ Pour House (5-8pm) 
• Big Rig Dollhouse, Three Chord Kings, Legendary Swagger @ Pour House (9pm) 
• Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason @ Baker-Baum Concert Hall, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center (SOLD OUT)
• Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees Tribute @ The Moonlight Theatre
• Fast Times 5th Anniversary Party with Sonic Moonshine, Big Tooth Comb, Left On Everest @ Fast Times (5-10pm)
• Bob Fosse's Dancin' @ The Old Globe (2pm & 8pm)
• The San Diego Black Artist Collective @ The Old Globe 
• Cabaret in the Courtyard: Simply Sondheim @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido (7pm)
• Comedy Show: Ryan Talmo @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Ascension with DJ Robin Roth, DJ Kaerie @ The Merrow (9pm)
• Hickies & Dry Humps @ Park & Rec
• Rosecolored Glasses & American Fire @ Queen bee's 
• Puente @ The Rabbit Hole (9pm)
• Queercore Show: The Gay Agenda, Middle-Aged Queers, Razor Nights @ Che Cafe (7pm)
• Nightmare on 80's Street @ The Holding Company
• IYP Presents: Jagged Baptist Club @ Tower Bar
• Live Music with Slack Key Ohana @ Luau Bar
• R&B Block Party: All White Everything - Attire & Affairs @ Quartyard
• Lightning Drive @ Moonshine Beach 
• Haley Mae Campbell  @ Moonshine Flats 
• Throwback Jams w/ DJs Root & Dunekat (80s/90s/hip hop/funk/RnB) @ Til-Two Club (9:30pm)
• Tim Cappello (Lost Boys, Tina Turner)@ Til-Two Club  (Early Show, 7-9:30pm)
• Resurrection Radio @ Mr. Peabody's
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Night Club "Die In The Disco Tour 2022" with Holy Wars @ Brick By Brick
• Kevi Kev & Pho King present the Hillcrest Variety Pack Cabaret and Drag Show @ The Merrow (6-8pm)
• Holly Hofman @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel 
• Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club
• Diggin Dirt, Lost Monarchs @ Winston's (9:30pm)
• Kevin Thomas Band @ Winston's (4pm) 
• Betamaxx @ Tio Leo's
• Ron Houston & the Berry Pickers @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5pm)
• Detroit Underground @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (8pm)
• bo-lo Presents Alex Kislov @ SPIN 

Sunday, April 24, 2022:

• 30th Annual Multi-Cultural Earth Day @ WorldBeat Center
• EarthFair 2022 @ Balboa Park (10am-5pm)
• Mogwai, Nina Mastasia @ The Observatory North Park
• Pink Mountaintops, Ashley Shadow @ Casbah
• Ways Away, Crossing I's Dotting T's, Sparkler, Yujin13 @ Soda Bar
• The Record Company - Play Loud Tour @ House of Blues
• Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters, Francis Blume @ Belly Up 
• Enjoy, Tommy Midnight, The Mainliners @ Music Box 
• ONCE @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres @ PETCO Park (1:10pm)
• San Diego Sockers Playoffs Round 2 @ Pechanga Arena
• Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour @ Civic Theatre
• San Diego Gay Men's Chorus: Broadway, Our Way @ Balboa Theatre (3pm)
• #IMOMSOHARD: The Getaway Tour @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• John 5, The Haxans @ Brick By Brick
• Turnstyled, Junkpiled (songwriters in the Round) @ Til-Two Club
• Sprague Plays Simon @ Dizzy's
• Beach Punx Sundays@ Winston's (5pm)
• Karaoke "Jose Sinatra hosts O.B.-o-ke - San Diego's Best Karaoke" @ Winston's (8pm)
• Madde, Tarnish, DSCO, The Renters @ Che Cafe (7pm)
• Mama Cass' Birthday Extravagana - In Concert Variety Show @ The Merrow (6pm)
• The Cryptics@ Bancroft Bar
• /si-um/ @ Baker-Baum Concert Hall, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
• Karaoke - Special Early Edition @ The Merrow (12pm)
• Jazz Jam @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• The Morning Glory Family. / The Good Gravy Blues Brand @ Sycamore Den (6-8pm)
• Local Band Showcase Presented by Red Hairing @ The Holding Company (4:30pm)
• Vic Mean Guitar Licks @ Fast Times (3-6pm)
• Jungle Poppins @ Pour House (4-6pm)  
• Rip Carson @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (1-4pm)
• The Sunday Wind Down w/Dj Spinnie Cooper and Cariposadar @ Park & Rec (3pm)
• Bob Fosse's Dancin' @ The Old Globe
• The San Diego Black Artist Collective @ The Old Globe 
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Salsa Sundays @ Queen Bee's (All Ages)
• Anthony Ortega Jazz Quartet @ Mr. Peabody's
• Rob Thorsen @ Veranda Bar, Westgate Hotel (10:30am-1:30pm)
• Jess Wright band @ Navajo Live 
• Karoake @ 710 Beach Club

Monday, April 25, 2022:

• Orville Peck - Bronco Tour, Teddy & The Rough Riders @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay (SOLD OUT)
• Canceled: Ringo Deathstarr, Rosegarden Funeral Party @ Casbah 
• Supercrush, Mo Troper, Jinx!, Sustains @ Soda Bar
• James Arthur: It'll All Make Sense Tour, Nina Nesbitt @ The Observatory
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's 
• Paul Galbraith, 8-string guitar @ La Jolla Athenaeum (7:30pm)
• Christian Hell (hong kong fuck you), i.O. (canada), Those Darn Gnomes, Zendejas (i.O sitting in on all sets) @ Til-Two Club
• Ines Irawati, piano & Sophie Webber, cello @ La Jolla Athenaeum (Mini-Concert, 12pm)
• Chronic Tiger, Ritz Vanity @ Navajo Live 
• Blue Monday with DJ Camilla Robina, DJ Heather Hardcore @ The Merrow
• Trivia Night w/Kyle @ Pour House 
• Monday Blues Jam @ Aztec Brewery, Vista
• Itzhak Perlman @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• The Bachelor Live @ The Magnolia
• Open Mic with Jay Cain @ Mr. Peabody's
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Karaoke @ The Holding Company
• Caliente Mondays Salsa y Bachata @ Tio Leo's
• Karaoke @ The Holding Company
• Writer's Round @ Park & Rec
• Line Dancing Lessons @ Moonshine Beach 
• Bancroft Bingo Night @ The Bancroft
• Mic'd Up at Moonshine  @ Moonshine Flats 

Tuesday, April 26, 2022:

• beabadoobee, Luna Li, Wallice @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Keb' Mo', Jackie Venson @ Belly Up (Seated Show, Sold Out)
• Hip Hop Battle Bot @ Casbah
• Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin: Stygian Bough, Vouna, Abyssal @ Soda Bar
• together PANGEA: “How to Dye” Tour 2022, Tropa Magica, Sad Park  @ SOMA
• The Offspring: Let The Bad Times Roll, Radkey, Blame My Youth @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU
• Yumi Kurosawa and renowned table player Eric Phinney @ The Loft
• Ric Scales and Its Raw Poke present a night of Hip Hop @ Winston's
• Theo & The Zydeco Patrol @ Tio Leo's
• SKETCH PARTY- Drink & Draw! @ Whistle Stop
• Reggae Tuesdaze Presents Sandollar & Crucial Blend 4 Krystal Dyers Bday Party + DJ Lexy Love @ The Holding Company
• San Diego Gulls vs Stockton Heat @ Pechanga Arena
• Bob Fosse's Dancin' @ The Old Globe
• Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience @ Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Dr. Jordan B. Peterson: Beyond Order @ Balboa Theatre
• Blues Berry Jam @ Queen Bee's
• Trivia Night @ 710 Beach Club
• Karaoke @ The Merrow
• Karaoke @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Comedy Open Mic Night @ The Rabbit Hole
• Karaoke @ Bancroft Bar
• Trivia @ Quartyard
• Terrible Tuesday All Vinyl DJ Night wtih DJ Lexicon Devil @ Pour House 
• Karaoke @ Peabody's
• Trivia Night @ Park & Rec
• Karaoke with Christine @ Navajo Live 

Assholes Were Always Assholes: Stop Blaming Mask Mandates | Council Approves Sale of Tailgate Park Setting Up For More Surplus Land Act Violations | Watch The Poop |

 

Meerkat at San Diego Zoo (Taken 4.19.22)

It has been nice taking longer breaks between posts. It means I've actually been doing stuff, like making the San Diego Zoo a daily weekday habit - on Friday I even did San Diego Zoo and Sea World in the same day! - and also that I'm just not having such constant thrumming of stress and outrage at the news and instead can look more at the overarching newsy things, take time to process, share the critical stuff. 

The weekend was great. Darren had 4 days off, so on Saturday after Nova's derby, she had piano in La Jolla so I got to hang out at La Jolla Cove for about an hour, then we met up with my sister who was camping at Sweetwater with some of her friends, which happened to include a girl married to one of my best high school friends so it was a nice little reunion. Nova stayed to camp with them, while I worked at Soda Bar and Darren worked at the Casbah. Without the kid around, Darren and I spent Easter preparing some food and enjoying some adult bevvies before spending the evening with the family. Could we have had better weather?

So some things I'm watching: obviously I think a Federal judge, rated "not qualified" by the ABA, making a ruling that affects public health is bullshit and am not happy with the removal of mask mandates on public transportation. It is reckless and tells an entire segment of the population that their lives don't matter -- from the same party in the Venn diagram who swore #alllivesmatter. I rode the bus today and was glad masks are still required as the stagnant air on there cannot be good for anyone, pandemic or not. 

And it's true, cases are down in San Diego...but so is testing. Follow the poop. If you look at our wastewater data, as of April 13, the viral load in our wastewater was 2,478,325. We were at 2,382,735 on December 3rd, right before the County shot up with the Omicron variant. And each sublineage detected appears to be in the 'not more deadly, just more transmissible' zone, but just read anecdotally some of the accounts of people catching it and you still really don't want it. 

The last thing I saw was the story about the City Council approving the sale of Tailgate Park to the "real-estate arm" of the Padres. Forget that it already appears to violate the Surplus Land Act for not offering to a development with more low-income housing, but we've seen this before when the City kicked homes and businesses out of East Village with eminent domain, JMI was sold land at pennies on the dollar, developed projects, and then took the money and ran. Any public mitigations like parks and public amenities, like the current fight over who should run bathrooms at Fault Line Park, after it was supposed to be the developer but then they sold and split and left it a huge problem the City is still dealing with, need to be deeded out for a hundred years. And I don't know the details of this specific proposal, but NO new properties should be allowed to be used as short term rentals for I don't know - 20 years? 50 years? It is absolutely absurd that the City systemically allowed the demolition of low-cost SROs in the past 20 years and just keeps approving luxury housing, as if that is any solution to our City's real problems, now or into the next 10, 20, 50 years. Pure insanity. 

Can you tell I'm stalling on doing listings?

Stay safe out there. 

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Extended 3 Months; CDC Extends Transit Masking 2 Additional Weeks | CA Postpones School Vax Mandate To 2023 | San Diego Rerports 2nd Pediatric COVID Death | Inflation Feeds Inflation |

Golden Takin Kid Born March 19, 2022 (Taken 4.12.22)

As I'm sure you can tell, I've backed off on the daily posts. With Darren working and Nova in school all day, I've been trying to reclaim my days. On Monday I tagged along with Darren to the Safari Park and just took my laptop with me, but haven't really found an optimum place for working. On Tuesday I had to knock off several tasks -- filed my taxes, deposited a check, did some shopping because I've finally worn out my favorite zoo shoes, stocked up on necessities at Costco, and then got a couple hours in at the zoo, before coming home and having a sushi dinner and being up all night to do my listings. That made for a more sluggish Wednesday for sure, but I still got my animal time in. The San Diego Zoo is a bit more crowded right now than normal because of varying spring breaks, but it's still easy to find spaces and places away from everyone else. Some days I'll just sit with the two mandrill juveniles, some days I'll hit the aviaries, others I'll ride the Skyfari and do the long slow walk around elephant odyssey to the hoofed mesa. I kinda freaked out yesterday because they've got a transport crate in with Henry, the greater one-horned rhino, but someone on staff said it is probably just for his semi-annual checkup and not a transfer. Henry is like a big puppy and comes when you call his name, and makes a 'moo' noise and wriggles his ears when he's excited. 

There's obviously a ton of news this week, but mostly I'm just sticking to the highlights so I can get out of the house and get some Vitamin D before everyone comes home. I'm trying to figure out a regular posting cadence and still have a ton of actual show recaps and photos to post, but again, it will all have to wait or I'll go stir crazy on this couch. 

Stay safe out there.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, April 13 - Tuesday, April 19, 2022: SDMA Showcases | Spiritualized | Idles | Yard Act | Baby Bushka | The Stone Foxes | Sons Of Kemet | Pup | TWRP | Girl Talk | San Diego Music Awards |

Pinegrove at Observatory (Taken 4.5.22)

Another week and a lengthy list of amazing shows to catch. These didn't take quite so long as I'm learning to shut off all other stimuli as I work through them, and the bonus that it's Easter week means some venues are just offering fewer shows. And while that may seem like a bad thing, it actually can help in decision making, without the tough choices when there are half a dozen or more amazing shows all falling on the same night. Some music news, this week's shows, and a little COVID ranty rant from me. All after the jump. 

DC Superspreaders: Wear A Goddamn Mask! | Pandemic Trauma | Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes History |

Lowland Gorilla at San Diego Zoo (Taken 3.2.22)

I ended up getting a weekend merch gig for White Denim and Nick Perri so at the moment I find myself at Music Box and it's kind of an ideal show, both in capacity and ease of the merch setup...mostly just clearing out old random sizes of merch that James of WD found around his house. And I'm able to have cocktails since I'm riding the bus home...just hope I'm outta here in time to catch the Rapid at 12:09 or I have to wait an hour for the 1:09. 

It has been a low-key weekend, in that I pretty much was up all night Friday and slept the day away. We are all just getting used to each others' new schedules and I'm just trying to sleep when it comes to me. It's the best I've got right now. No big Sunday plans but this show just ended so I gotta wrap it up. 

Stay safe out there. 

Congress Approves Future SCOTUS Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson | Pelosi Tests Positive | San Diego Needs To Shove Bike Lanes Down Your Unsafe Driving Assholes' Throats |

 

Today was that kind of day. Tiger at San Diego Zoo (Taken 4.7.22)

I was gonna skip a Thursday post but then I started it and felt like I'd rather do it now than Friday, or bump until Saturday, and because today was so historic in the approval of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Of course, she was actually only approved and won't be confirmed until Justice Breyer retires, but the point remains that it was a big day and worth a post, though I got about 32 emails about it so now it already feels like old news and suddenly we're going to forget the misogynistic and racist attacks she had to endure to get here. I am not looking forward to the hellish depths that midterm elections are going to bring. 

With Darren now happily working -- and loving his new job in spite of the commute -- I've had to go back to shuttle mom, so while I did get some time at the San Diego Zoo today, I had to leave to pick Nova up from the house, take her to her piano lesson, met up with Darren at Rite-Aid to swap baggage then sorted out that he would go home and pick-up tacos for dinner and I would pick up the kid and get home and we would all finally have a couple hours together before we were reminded it was our night to help Dad so we were off to Chula Vista and I was just feeling a little overwhelmed and tired and I don't know how people do this all the time, like my sister, shuttling her girls to soccer after working full days and my mom taking care of my dad all day long and I'm whining in my own head because it's hot and I justifying that I had to get outside time at the Zoo while trying to figure out how to wear earbuds, a mask, realizing hoops were a terrible idea, while trying to shoot photos and toting around a retro 32 oz drink in my hand all the while, knowing I had work to do, posts to post, emails just vying for my attention. At least I started the work newsletter early so I was done by the time we had to drive to Chula Vista. This post is really just for my own peace of mind as I know there is no demand for my hot takes on why people complaining about bicycle road-striping all need to STFU because if the news really reported how many pedestrian and bicycle deaths occur every week, how many hit-and-runs, and if cops didn't falsify reports all the time to benefit drivers when dead cyclists can't speak, perhaps we'd have a little more tolerance for any measures that slow our roadways down for ALL users. San Diego needs to push through, stick with the bike plan, and everyone will get over it. On my way to pick up Nova, I drove the length of Adams Avenue to 30th, and 30th down to Upas, and every restaurant was full to the brim. The streetscapes full of yes, cars, but also bikes, pedestrians, and patio diners. It is beautiful and isn't news. The rest of the roadways will be the same. (My high school English teacher's red pen is stroking through this whole paragraph of run-on sentences and non-sequiturs. Love you, Grace!!)

My problems are so dumb, and then I look at that little 'Spot On' app reminder and it all makes sense. So we got home from my parents', where I hijacked booze from a closet of booze they'd long forgotten about, had a few drinks with Darren, and will fully reset for Friday. 

Whatever variant or recombinant is rolling through DC is super "catchy", and though it doesn't appear so prevalent here, it could be soon as tourists descend on our city because it is the best place to be. Always. Even when it's 95 degrees in April. 

Stay safe out there. 

San Diego Scales Back COVID Testing | Southern California Under Heat Advisory | Biden Extends Pause on Student Loan Debt | Center For Hate Report: IG Doesn't Act On 90% Of Misogyny | Gas Prices Drop |

 

Red Panda at San Diego Zoo (Taken 4.5.22)

I don't know if you happened to turn on your TV to the hearing with oil execs today, but it was a doozy. Seeing these thugs cry about their perceived losses (which only means "we didn't get as rich" in 2020) was absolutely disgusting. And of course the daily reminders of gas prices crawling up was on the news every day, but my gas today was 60 cents cheaper than just two weeks ago, and I don't see any reports thanking Biden while everyone was quick to blame him for the rises. Rockets and Feathers, they call it. I understand the whole market it way more complex than that, but it was nice to see an ease nonetheless. Meanwhile the latest outrage in San Diego is more bike striping -- which takes cars off the roads when people can safely use bikes -- and it is just hilarious to hear people getting their panties in a bunch about having to slow down on roads where they're "used to driving double the speed limit" according to one Point Loma man. 

My day didn't really go according to plan. My up all night, sleep all day plan was foiled by three cats and a dog who just didn't want that to happen, and the incessant rolling in of emails and things to stir my brain. But I did finally get a nap, then spent the afternoon at Nova's lacrosse game, jammed home to get Darren, and we had a big family gathering with Jochi Filipino food to celebrate my parents' anniversary. We haven't all been together like that since Christmas, so it was brief but nice. 

I've been thinking now that Darren is working I have to make better use of my days, so perhaps I'll get on that just as soon as I work off this sleep debt. In today's data, we learn that the County is modifying and scaling back testing, so make note if you need tests. We actually increased in cases week to week, so we're back to "substantial spread" and should all be taking appropriate precautions. Meanwhile, I've been thinking about how easy it was to sneak into hotel pools when Nova was smaller and now there's an app that charges and I wonder if a middle-aged woman can just show up with a laptop and appear to be a hotel guest. If anyone works at a hotel that wouldn't mind me sitting by the pool for a few hours with my laptop, please let me know.   

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, April 6-Tuesday, April 12, 2022: Mattiel | Journey | Big D & The Kids Table | June of 44 | Bad Religion | White Denim | Hippo Campus | + Music News |

Pinegrove at Observatory (Taken 4.5.22)

Since I hadn't planned on the Pinegrove show on Tuesday until the very last minute, I got a little warped with my schedule. But since Wednesday is gonna be kinda crazy trying to coordinate with getting my work done, maybe hitting the Zoo, getting to Nova's lacrosse, Darren coming home from work, and meeting up with my family to celebrate our parents' anniversary, I knew that putting off these listings was just not an option. I just knew I wouldn't have the time or the will on Wednesday to do them. Overnight working has fewer interruptions anyway-- fewer emails coming in, and just my dog wanting to go outside and me having to take stretch breaks to do Wordle, Quordle, Octordle, Sedecorle, and Worldle. 

There are a lot of great shows this week, including several San Diego Music Award showcases at Pour House, Casbah, Navajo Live, and Humphrey's Backstage. If you're thinking about going to see Valerie June on Saturday at the Belly Up, there are only a handful of tickets left before it's sold out, so don't wait on that. I don't have any merch jobs or shows to shoot this week, though Bad Religion is always an amazing show so we'll see if I get the impulse to finagle that into the plans. 

Beyond that, it is worth noting that even though some COVID protocols have changed, a lot of the clubs are keeping vax or testing requirements, so make sure you know before you go. And while masking isn't required either, you'll notice that a ton of bands and crew and staff are still donning them...if bands get sick and have to miss tour dates, they lose a shit ton of money for themselves and a lot of other people, so show some respect and mask up when you're not drinking, or especially when you're interacting with the band at the merch table or whatever. Can you imagine getting sick on tour and having to lose money while also quarantining alone in a hotel in a random city for 5-10 days? It would suck. Case numbers are certainly down, but so is testing and overall disease surveillance, so take precautions to keep yourself and the music community at large safe and on the road. A new wave of COVID would mean a wave of cancelations and we just can't keep bouncing back from those. 

I'm off to my daytime slumber. 

Stay safe out there. 

Councilmembers Traveled To DC; Got COVID. Who Could've Seen That Coming? | NIght Owl Validation | Spring Heatwave On The Way | Alvarez & Gomez Heading To Run-Off Election |

Pinegrove at the Observatory North Park (Taken 4.5.22)

Today KHN has an article about an Italian study about how night owls actually benefitted from the pandemic in as much as it allowed work-from-home flexibility. And though it isn't peer-reviewed, reading the analysis of it was a bit of an a-ha moment, though something I've kinda known all along. Everyone thinks it's hilarious to make fun of my sleep habits, but insomnia is anything but funny and at times downright miserable, not to mention depressing, alienating and lonely. So reading it at least gave me that comfort of knowing I'm not the only one. 

I try to counter it all the time, too. There is a real thing called "sleep debt" and you can never really catch up, but you can try. Like Sunday, for example. My brain was racing all night and I couldn't get comfortable and didn't sleep a wink until I finally fell asleep at 7am on Monday morning. I slept while Nova was at school and Darren at work. But then that night, I popped 20mg of melatonin to try to sleep "normal" hours. This resulted in me falling asleep around 1:30am, but then waking up wide awake at 4:45am. 

And when you wake up at 4:45, you have big visions of the day, while trying not to wake up your fellow humans or animals. I can go to Sea World AND the San Diego Zoo in the same day! I'll get my listings done a day early! I can do a Costco run and be the first one there! I'll make myself a big breakfast! I'll do my taxes!

In reality, I made an order online for Costco. I checked email on my phone...those east-coasters love west-coasters to wake up to an already full inbox. I read the news. By 6am, Nova was up, by 6:30am, so too was Darren. I tore apart my room looking for my W-2s to do my taxes (to no avail.) Then Darren mentioned he needs a watch for work, so he doesn't use his phone for time. I again, tore apart my room looking for a specific bag I have of about a dozen watches that I gathered at the beginning of the pandemic to take in for batteries. Again, couldn't find it anywhere. Then I told Darren about the order I made for some shorts and got the wrong size, so I attempted to cancel the Costco order, but it was too late. All this to say that I was NOT actually productive at all, the whole morning was a fail, and I would've done anything to have just slept through all of that wasted time. 

Eventually they left, I couldn't go back to sleep so I did in fact, make that big breakfast. I did some work. I finally got about an hour nap in. And then I forced myself out of bed, into the shower, and to the San Diego Zoo, where my day got infinitely better, went home after for a quick bite, and the three of us went to the Pinegrove show at the Observatory. But now I'm right back in hell because I will be up until sunrise working on my listings. This cycle is torture, but at least I don't have a 9 to 5 that, according to the study, could literally kill me. And at least I can attempt to sleep through the heat wave. 

Stay safe out there. 

|COVID "Recombinant" Variants Spread | Biden Economy "From On The Mend To On The Move" | Grocery Strike Averted | 8 Weekend Mass Shootings In US |

 

Happy 52nd Anniversary, Mom & Dad! (Taken 12.25.21)

Today is my parents' 52nd anniversary, which is nothing short of a miracle considering how bad my dad was just four months ago. While he's still considered in a hospice/palliative care situation, the support he's gotten from the VA, from a hospital bed with CPAP, a full transfer lift, and in-home nurse and doctor visits, he's still with us and certainly hasn't lost any of his mental faculties. We'll celebrate on Wednesday, when everyone can get together around work, soccer, and lacrosse schedules. 

Today was a big day of change around here. Darren started his job at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Of course, most of his week will be onboarding and what I guess we'd call 'workplace culture' education, I had the house all to myself all day long. What I didn't know about my anxiety is that it doesn't just exist for me, but I was up all night with nerves for him, so I took full advantage of a quiet Monday by sleeping. I'm not looking forward to this week's Santa Ana, but I'll probably work from the Zoo or tag along with Darren to the Park just to be outside and have some stimulation since I can pretty much tether from anywhere. Which also means I'm going to try to cycle back to normal hours, so I'm off to sleep. 

Stay safe out there. 

Catching Up: Know Your BA.2 Symptoms | Boost Up | Biden Announced Oil Reserve Release | ICE Blasted By SPLC Report | Another Positive Jobs Report |

 

Walrus Kisses at Sea World (Taken 4.1.22)

I'm sitting in Bob's Razzmatazz Room at the Casbah, currently selling merch for Bob Mould and it is a perfectly chill show to get my work done. On Friday we spent a few hours at Sea World. I had a little special moment with the walrus who was just giving me uninterrupted attention for about 10 minutes, about as curious about me as I was about him, thus the super blurry cell phone photos, but it was too cute and magical to not post. By the time we left Sea World, slammed some dinner, then went to help my dad, I didn't have much motivation to do any work. So today is kind of a hodge podge of yesterday's news, and I guess things will slow down as everyone seems to just be in the living with the virus phase of life, rumors swirl that Jen Psaki is leaving the White House for MSNBC, and the war in Ukraine rages on as mixed and unconfirmed intelligence continually report conflicting accounts. I'm gonna go shoot some pics of Bob before he finishes. Also, Darren finally got the call from Safari Park that he's starting on Monday!! YAY!! 

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. 

Stay safe out there.  

US Government Launches One-Stop Shop COVID.gov | Congress Hammers Out COVID Funding | Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Enters 2nd Month |

 

Mama & Kid Golden Takin (Taken 3.25.22)

I am so behind this week. My inbox from Thursday is still full of Wednesday and Thursday emails, I still haven't watched County Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher's State of the County address, and now I have at least four shows worth of photos and posts that I need to get up, but like I warned at the beginning of the week, it's Spring Break for Nova so we've been running around, my sleep schedule is eternally out of whack, and I had to make sure to get some San Diego Zoo and Sea World time in this week or else I go kind of crazy. 

Today, Nova actually came with me so she got to see Wildlife Explorers Basecamp for the first time, and she also got to see the animals at peak interaction...the mandrills smiling at us, Denny the gorilla checking out my photos on my mobile, and Amahle the hippo swimming over and giving kisses through the glass, then doing a double somersault. Pure magic. I also ended up going to the Good Morning show at Soda Bar, though I was called off as merch person at the last minute, but it gave us more time at the zoo and we were able to get some shopping in at Vons before they go on strike, which seems imminent because the corporation and the union are miles apart on acceptable wage increases. Hope that works out for the workers. I'll hopefully get somewhat caught up on everything this weekend and may also brave into finally doing my taxes...if I can even find all of my forms this year. Fun times all around. 

Have a great weekend, maybe I'll see you at Bob Mould. 

Stay safe out there.