Cross Country Adventure on PAUSE

Well, we almost made it to Chicago, but Hindi (the car) had to shut off while we were driving on I80 in the middle of the corn fields of Indiana.  We were lucky enough to pull off the shoulder a bit on the grass.  We called AAA but they had a tow truck about 80 miles away.  A state trooper named Bill aka Big Bill "Grave Digger" kindly pulled over to help us.  We got a local tow company instead and hopped into Mark's flatbed truck from Cloverleaf Towing. 

 

Mark runs the tow company with his 2 brothers and has been a family business since WWII.  He also so kindly invited us to the Fireman's Ball if we had nothing to do last night.  He said there would be a band, bratwurst, beer and wine coolers.  AND he would've picked us up to go and "someone there would give ya a ride home later"...well, it was very nice and we were definitely tempted to go, but not really having a ride back to the hotel was the decision-maker. 

 

This morning Jay walked down to the garage where we left Hindi and the machanic checked it out.  The repairs would not be a guaranteed fix, so the dicision was made.  Jay is still there now and we finally got a verdict from the owners of Hindi, that would be Nancy and Ernie...let her go.  Nancy is looking up a rental car place as I write and also a car donation place.  Jay is walking back to the hotel now.  It looks like we will transfer the packed car into a rental and drive it to Vegas and unpack at Ernie's parent's house. 

 

Also, there is a western movie on AMC right now in my hotel room.  Grandpa...aw, gee...

 

Signing off,

Dee

 

-- "Life is short! Break the rules!
Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!
Laugh uncontrollably"

Hello!!!! We have embarked on a new journey across this great country. Heading to Chicago once again but continuing on the north route that takes us through Colorado and the rocky mountains. We've been contracted out by Nancy D's sister. Who is relocating to culver city CA. Grandpa Joe, uncle Rudy and Jose our guiding us through our journey and keeping us safe. Also Theresa once again blessed with holy water that she doused on us last night. Some of which ended up in my mouth. I've been having the holy shits since then!!!!! Kidding.

We will keep you all posted so stay tuned.

Love DD and JJ!!

Sent from my jphone

Lake Las Vegas

Well, we took a drive yesterday to see lake las vegas and it's surrounded by a private community so you can't get there.  It looks deserted anyway, but really pretty and huge houses there.

Today I had a job interview and Jay is going to a job fair.

Oh, I also got a keyboard off craigslist yesterday, yea!

Music Projects

Well, it seems that as of last week the starter band had found it's members and we were moving forward with a practice list.  As of this moring, the project has been put to rest, the new guitarist had a family matter that took him out of the project, yesterday the drummer was a no show to meet with my collaborator.  So the collaborator put the kabash on our band project today.  Honestly, we didn't try that hard to find musicians and only searched on craigslist, but if he thinks wer're done, ok.  I've got 2 other projects I'm working on for music anyway, solo and with the classic rock band "Silverado" who already has gigs twice a month, we practiced the other day and these guys are true musicians.

Another update, my scooter got stuck @ a friend's house and I realize I need to get a pick-up truck, something that will fit ruby in the back and is decent enough to drive with A/C.  For that I did look on craigslist and found 2 possible contenders, smaller pick-ups.  I actually like little old pick-ups.

Job Response

See, I told ya I would write more often.  I just got an email tonight from a job that I applied for online over a month ago.  They just responded with an "Idon't think you are a good match" today.  I know it didn't take them that long to look at my online stuff.  I think they just get a general overview of the tests and resume and probably some percetage of match for the position listed.  It's all done through a database and there is no way I wasn't qualified for that one.  Anyway, my scooter pooped on me today.  I had a great band rehearsal with "Silverado" and then went to leave and Ruby wouldn't start.  I think it's the battery, but really...what am I doing with a scooter in Vegas?  I've seen lots of them around actually and lots of motorcycles.  With the gas prices going up and up I would like to keep riding it, but you can't go too far here and it gets waaaay too hot in the summer to ride it.  I know I just posted this on Facebook, but.

Do I really have to get rid of Ruby and get a real car???  It's not really fun to ride her here, but when will I have a great placeto ride her?  Arg!

Two Months In

First of all, congratulations to Erica and her new baby Isabella, congratulations to Cyril and Sarah on their new house, Jeff and Jenn on finding a house... and a big hug and kiss goes for Jose, who now rests in peace, condolences to his family and I was lucky to have spent some time getting to know him before he passed.  A sorry also to Big Ernie and Marianne who lost their brother-in-law.  You all are in my thoughts and wish I was there to be supportive on all occassions joyous and sorrowful.  In spirit I am.

Wow, seems longer then 2 months.  Okay, so Las Vegas is good.  Jay and I have met a few cool people.  Ray and Kristine who I met through craigslist when I put my female singer looking for a band ad out there. They are great people, Ray is doing a audio demo for me to give to booking agents...we've done one song so far.  I was having a flat night and still coughing.  Apparently, there is something that happens to singers when they first move to Vegas, the singers voice, which means you lose your voice all together.  I guess it's the change into the dry climate and singing a lot.  Ok, so check on that one if I start to feel raspy, I won't panic.

Also Jerry and Linda, an older couple, who we met through meetup for a game night 2 weeks ago.  There are very nice, they lived in New Jersey and jave been out here for 11 years I think.  We played skip-bo and hand and foot, which just sounds like the disease to me, but it isn't and it was fun.

We've had one group of visitors so far, my cousin Donovan and Jenn...we had fun wandering the strip.  Next week a friend from college will be in town.  We have an air mattress and a sofabed, so let us know.

Things about Las Vegas:

U-turns everywhere...there are dividers on every street, so if you wanna take a left into a driveway, you have to drive down the street then do a u-turn.  We have to do it when we leave our apartment almost always, because we are at the end of the block and the highway is the other direction.

Little Squirrel-like creatures...they are the size of chipmunks with tiny tails, they are grey and fast, but for some reason they are called squirrels.

Tap water sucks....I tried it the first day, even filtering it through our brita twice it tastes gross.  We have a gallon bottle that we refill at the gas station, which is next door.  They have water machines for 25 cents outside every store.

Slot Machines...everywhere, as I was saying about the water machines, the slots are also inside the gas station, inside the grocery store...everywhere.

Empty Lots...you know in CT, or pretty much anywhere, if there is land that hasn't been built on yet, there are trees or overgrown fields or something there.  In the desert, when there is nothing built, there is nothing there.  It's like they tore down buildings and left dirt, brush and rocks, but that is the natural landscaping.
 
Color...or lack of...Yes, we are in the desert, but all the buildings are hues of sand colors like the surrounding mountains and valleys.  Ok, but when I'm trying to find locations to do my music video, I end up in the playground, LOL.  Yeah, I did.  There's one restaurant  near us that stands out because it is lime green and wood slates...it's a caribbean place, but I think it's closed.  Otherwise, every shopping complex and the multiple apartment complexes are all the same colors.  We drove out to Palm Springs after being here like 2 weeks and we noticed the green lush trees and grass everywhere.  Our eyes were in heaven.

Online applications...we've been filling out job applications like half the world, and now, because they can take the time, they have freakin' personality tests and accessments and it takes us like an hour to fill it out for one place.  What a pain.  Jobs which we are still figuring out.  My only grasp right now is being in 2 bands, one that plays out, the other is brand new.  Oh, and doing my pictures and demo for booking agents.

Hiking...Jason has discovered the mountain-man within him.  He loves it.  We haven't gone in a few weeks, but we've been sick and crazy. HA

I think I'm tapped out for now.  I'll post more often in the future, we do have lots of time on our hands still.
xoxo

Bellagio Gardens, Chinese New Year theme...year of the Hare

We went for a walk on the Strip last night cause Jay wanted to see his fountain show.  It is fun to watch and free, so that's what we are into, free entertainment.  We might be going to "Echoes of the 60s" at Planet Hollywood next week. I have a music contact to network with who plays for that show.

We are workin on the job search every day, yesterday we lost our internet for a few hours so we watched "West Side Story" and had some popcorn.  The best musical ever written in my eyes, by far.

It seems my whole family back east is sick as dogs with a bad, evil pukey awefulness.  Sorry guys and hope it passes fast.

Congrats to cousin Erica who just had her baby yesterday!  Woooowhoooo, 2 days of painful labor, but out came a beautiful baby girl...7lbs 11oz!  Happy Birthday Isabella!