Friday, August 28, 2009

Brazen Mall People

Since when did those kiosk mall people become so brazen?

I barely got out with my face and nails in tact last night.

I've never appreciated those kiosks in the mall. I mean, you're in a mall...get a store already. They're in the way, make the traffic flow worse, and, mostly what they sell is cheap and lame. Especially the cart people. They are clearly all on commission because they will follow you down the mall to try to suck you in. Why is this allowed?

Yesterday, I was in Valley Fair, the nice, giant mall in San Jose, and I just went to buy a few things. As usual, I had a very specific plan about the stores I wanted to visit. And as usual, I wanted to get in, and get out. And I was doing well. I was on my way out. But I went out a different exit because I was meeting a friend for dinner. Now I know why I park on the top floor and go out on the upper level typically.

I was accosted by not one, not two, but THREE brazen mall people. And two of them were pedaling the exact same thing! The first, a man, not American, who I could barely understand, came toward me holding some sort of green leaf thing which I could only assume was some sort of soap. "Try our..." I tuned him out. He kept coming.

"What you clean your face with?"

"Excuse me?"

"What do you use to clean your face?"

"Um, I don't remember the name."

"You try this!"

"Uh, no thanks," I said with a smile. I didn't want to be rude, but I didn't want to play either.

Finally. Free.

Literally 27 steps later...a young woman came toward me from a completely different kiosk with the same soapy looking green leaf. Asking me the exact same thing!

"No thanks."

She followed.

"Thanks!"

I moved faster.

Goodness. The turn to the door was in my site, and I was focused.

"Do you always wear your nails natural?" she asked as she GRABBED MY HAND!!!!

"Um, yes?" I said pulling my hand back to safety.

"Come with me for just a second."

And she pulled me around to the other side of her cart...and started to pump a bottle of polish remover to remove the clear polish on my nail. I was clearly weak from having fended off the first two pushers.

"Oh," I said. "I don't want you to remove the polish."

"But see," she replied, pointing at her nail. "It look just the same."

"I see, but I don't want you to remove the polish."

She was preparing the cotton ball and readying her attack on my nail.

"But it will look the same."

"Yeah, I just don't want you to remove the polish."

This continued for another 15 or 20 seconds when finally, I was able to free my hand from her grip.

She was defeated.


I was the winner.

And I fled the mall like my life depended on it. No wonder I don't go very often these days. Geez.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Regrets...

I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.


(thank you, Frank Sinatra)


I truly have very few regrets in my life, but every now and then, I'm reminded of one of my biggest. And it happened in 1987. And every time Rattle & Hum is on TV, like it is right now, I feel that twinge again. And get a little bitter that I wasn't grown enough to make a decision and change a plane ticket. When you're in college, and your parents are paying, you don't really have a lot of options. This is definitely one thing I would go back and have a do-over for.


U2 had been touring the US in support of their Joshua Tree album. The tour began at ASU in April of 1987, and I'm not sure what happened, but I was not able to see either of the two shows...right there on my campus. So wrong. So so wrong. Later that year, after the tour had officially ended, the boys showed up in Tempe again, offering $5 tickets to fill Sun Devil Stadium on two different nights. These nights started the day AFTER I was scheduled to fly home for Christmas break. Bitter, party of one.


Seriously. $5. To see U2. And I couldn't go. I still can't believe it.


The night before I flew home, a few friends and I strolled over to the stadium from our dorm rooms in PV East (oh, the memories that just came flooding back!). It was raining, and we listened to the band rehearse for an hour or so. We couldn't see them as we were standing outside, but we definitely heard them. That was pretty cool, but all very bittersweet.


I'll never forget the feeling I had seeing Rattle & Hum on the big screen at Cine Capri in Phoenix. When the Sun Devil Stadium section started, and it was the first part in color, I thought the theater might lose its collective mind. It was as loud as being at a concert as we all went a little crazy seeing our school in living color on the big screen. Oh yeah, the U2 concert part was cool too. It still gives me chills when that part of the documentary starts...whether I'm watching on DVD or on TV. And every time, I feel that regret all over again.


When the album came out shortly after, and I opened the cover, I actually knew the guy holding one half of the giant U2 cutouts. If you have the vinyl, you know what I'm talking about. I couldn't believe it. I've always wondered what happened to that guy...no idea what his name was now. Bill? Bob? I don't think the photo was in the CD art, just the vinyl. Crazy.


It's one of my favorite U2 albums, and I watch the documentary every time I happen to catch it on TV...and sometimes, on purpose, when I put in the DVD.


I've seen U2 three times since then, and plan to see them again in the fall. They are amazing live, but nothing will ever make up for me missing them that year.


Singing ha-la-la-la-de-day...ha-la-la-la-de-day...ha-la-la-de-day...

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The 'foot never fails me

Oh Switchfoot. How I love thee. You never cease to bring the rock. I could have used about two more hours of you tonight.

This was the 9th time for me to see
Switchfoot in concert. There's no one I've seen more, and I can't wait to see them again!!

What was different about tonight was that they were the opening band, and when they were done? We left. I think that's the first time I've ever done that. But the fact is, we were only there for the 'foot. Blue October? Yeah. Just not that interested. It's weird to be home this early from a concert. But I'm okay with it. Extra sleep? Yes. I will take that.

Two more concerts this month...one band I've seen before - Daughtry...saw them open for Bon Jovi on their last tour. It will be my first time seeing Green Day, and I'm pretty excited about that. Small venue for Daughtry, big one for Green Day. And, they're two days apart. Should be quite the week!

Until then, I'm going to rest up...and go see the Giants play tomorrow.

Enjoy this little video from the Switchfoot concert tonight...first time using the video function on my camera...not bad! I have one more video which I'll try to post tomorrow...it was taking too long and my body needs sleep. Until then...