Play it the way that you feel it

Over the summer, when I was anticipating going to see Fleetwood Mac with my mom in Milwaukee, I wasn’t exactly composed or eloquent about it.  I really just can’t help myself!  Something about Her Most Fabulousness Miss Stephanie Nicks just makes me go all floopy.  (It could be a word.)

I felt the same way anticipating my second Fleetwood Mac show, this time here in London, but found myself feeling the need to reign it in a bit more… It’s one thing making a fool of yourself in front of your mom – who once gave birth to you, diapered your poopy butt, watched the worst of your tantrums, etc etc etc and still loves you anyway.  It’s a whole ‘nother matter doing so in front of your husband, a colleague, and colleague’s wife who you have only just met!

After that first show, I posted a pretty comprehensive review of what was one of the best nights I’ve had in my 27-holy-crap-almost-28 years!

And I have to say, this time around was much the same!!!  Despite a few twats in the row behind us, The Mac most certainly did not disappoint!!!

The Evening Standard published a really great review and I generally agree wholeheartedly with Mr David Smyth, except that I’d give it 5 stars instead of just 4!

“How heartwarming it is when a band of a certain vintage recognises that another new album would be about as welcome as rheumatism and heads out to play everyone’s favourite songs with no ulterior motive.

“This time we said: ‘Let’s just go out and have fun,’” claimed guitarist Lindsey Buckingham as Fleetwood Mac’s Unleashed tour arrived in London for the first of three arena shows. There have been rumours of a new album and even of Sheryl Crow taking the place of the long-departed Christine McVie but perhaps they got bored waiting for inspiration and decided to remind themselves of their many finest moments.

With a set drawn largely from the classic Seventies album trilogy of Fleetwood Mac, Rumours and Tusk, there could be few complaints about song choices. Other bases were briefly covered with a solo composition each for Buckingham and co-vocalist Stevie Nicks, a nod to the band’s early hard-blues incarnation with Peter Green’s stormy Oh Well and even a gibbering Mick Fleetwood drum solo.

But the music that dominated was that written by Buckingham and Nicks when they were in the middle of an agonising relationship break-up. Dreams, Second Hand News and Go Your Own Way all summoned glorious melodies from a painful place.

Here the ex-couple arrived on stage arm in arm and embraced after Nicks had finished her ballad Sara. In his sixties, Buckingham has become more of a rock singer than he was, often barking his lines and offering a finger-bruising solo interpretation of Big Love.

Nicks remained instantly recognisable in floaty outfits that were only missing a maypole. In black here, if she had appeared on your doorstep this weekend you would have handed over all your sweets quick for fear of being egged. That reedy voice, though, remains a thing of witchcraft.

With Rumours still high on the list of the biggest-selling albums ever, the band can’t be journeying the globe again just for the money.

Furious drawn-out versions of Gold Dust Woman and World Turning demonstrated an undimmed passion for playing and suggested a simple truth: they still love these songs as much as the rest of us.”

Saturday night was their second of three London shows, and I’m just so SO glad that I went!

Our seats were right next to the stage, which was a bit odd, as we were mostly watching their profiles..  But it was all the more thrilling when they turned towards us, because we were also in the centre of the fourth row, only just above their eye level, and you guys, I’m not even kidding…. Stevie walked towards our section, arms raised and waving, and I swear she was looking at me and smiling!!!

I love Smyth’s line: ” That reedy voice, though, remains a thing of witchcraft.”  It’s true, you know… she is MAGIC!!!

anniversary goodness

I received my first email from Ush on 19 October 2004 and wrote this about a week later on my then-blog:

Random: I have a London friend! Via myspace, I’ve been emailing back and forth with this guy just about every day, and it’s so fun! He’s hilarious.. Makes me happy. He’s NOT one of those “oh baby, you so fine” shmoozers, which is a lovely change of scenery on myspace.  His band, which just split up after quite a few years, has played with Sum 41 and the Lost Prophets, just to name a couple. They had quite a following in the UK, apparently.  (PS – Amber, I asked him his full name.. it’s “Ushwin” )

Amber had come down to Illinois for a visit that weekend and giggled with me as we looked up Mumcuss and scoured their site for pictures of him.  I remember we found a poorly focused one that didn’t show him as the hottie that he so clearly is, and we were a bit.. concerned.

One year later, I’d been living in London for over a month and was loving it all.

And the year after that – on 20 October 2006, exactly two years plus one day after that first email – we were married! I still think this is a pretty perfect summary of the day:

Yayyyyyy!!! We’re married!!!

Our day was PERFECT. Perfect from start to finish in proverbial shiny, sparkly letters and a pretty font.  I’m working on a rundown of the pre, during, and post wedding events to share with you later, but for now here’s a quick one:

I had a wonderful time with friends and bridesmaids the night before; my family arrived safely and on time; the weather was ideal (which was worry #1); I was relaxed and excited; my groom wasn’t bricking it like he thought he’d be; I felt beautiful in my dress, hair (worry #2), and makeup.  The ceremony evoked tears in nearly every attendee (even the registrars said it was the best wedding they’d done all year); the pre-reception dinner was lovely; and the reception was an absolute blast and a half: speeches were hilarious and touching, dancing was insanely fun, food/drink was great, our friends are amazing.  Wedding night hotel was incredibly lush. The next day was family day with a bus tour around the city, lots of laughing, Thai takeout, and an amazing double rainbow.  Ush and Alex are really excited about being brothers

I’m so wonderfully blessed.

And now, 5 years later and 3 years later respectively, here we are!

We spent our first two wedding anniversaries on long weekends down in Seaford, but unfortunately it was not possible this year because of work and other such hoo-ha.

No matter! This year, we celebrated by going out to dinner and to the theatre to see ‘Wicked’, which really was, I have to say, wicked!!

I love you, Ushwin Pai… No one else has ever evoked from me such a broad spectrum of the things of life – passion and rage, fear and security, love and hate, contentment and pure bliss.  I just think you’re amazing.  And I look forward to another year of surprising you with random cups of tea

it’s not the same without the hay bales to sit on

Do me a favor, those of you who live anywhere acceptably near Mukwonago, Wisconsin.. Go visit the Elegant Farmer on my behalf, please!

I had a long talk on the phone with my mom tonight (while she was driving to Iowa.. I scolded her when, at one point, mid-sentence, she exclaimed “Whoops! I’m going 90!”) and I can’t remember what it was in our conversation that made me think of it, but I really miss the Elegant Farmer.

Specifically, making caramel apples.

You’d go into the barn and join the queue… Choose your apple from the various barrels, put it on a stick and have it dipped in caramel (or you can opt to have it cut up in a little paper tray and drizzled with caramel), move on to the ‘toppings’  (I always chose chopped nuts), and then go sit on a hay bale and enjoy!

(If you can get to this point while the caramel is still warm, that’s ideal!)  I always liked to first eat the bits of caramel+nuts that had dripped down into the tray.  Then, you pick up the apple-on-a-stick and get to work.  That first bite is always kinda tricky – it’s mostly caramel and not so much apple.  But once you take a good chunk out of the apple, it’s easy to chow down!

Sigh.  YUM!

If you don’t want a caramel apple, then there must be something wrong with you then at least go and pick up an apple pie baked in a paper bag!

–

EDITED TO ADD:
I don’t often miss ‘things’ from America – people absolutely, but not stuff.  Most things that I enjoyed over there I have either found here a suitable equivalent, replacement, or I just haven’t really missed them.
So it’s odd to be struck twice in two days with things that I really love in America and can’t get here – either of comparable quality or even at all.  Today’s American thing I miss is rootbeer!!
I was at the grocery store shopping for my dinner tonight (crackers plus ingredients for my guacamole – no need to eat REAL meals when the husband is away!) and was suddenly struck with a craving for a rootbeer float.  But I couldn’t find any rootbeer.   I briefly considered getting some Dr Pepper, but it would have been a poor substitute.   I’m sure IS possible to find here, having been imported from somewhere or other.  But still.  It temporarily bummed me out.

can I get a witness

Last night we went to dinner with a fantastic couple whom Ush has known for years and who have, from the beginning, been two of my favourite people in London.

They each played active roles in both of our weddings.. In October 2006*, at the actual wedding in London, Tiggy was a bridesmaid and helped plan my hen night (bachelorette party) and Matt was one of the DJs at our reception.  In April 2007, at the USA reception, they both flew out and splendidly represented our London family (along with Raj and Matt Luker).  Matt, again, played DJ.

They’re the types of friends that we don’t see all that often, but we have an understanding that that has no bearing on how much we matter to each other.

They got engaged last year, have a date set for next year, and last night they asked us to be their witnesses for the ceremony!! (Fun fact:  They said that was the first wedding decision they’d made without a hint of argument!)  So honoured, so very chuffed, and super happy for them!

—

* Whoa! Third anniversary is coming up soon!

the circle of life and legos

I finally went back to work last week, on Thursday. I think the timing was perfect.  On Thursday, I tried to stay at my desk as much as possible, and when I did move around it wasn’t far seeing as everything I needed was within a dozen or so paces from my desk.  I felt pretty tired by the end of the day, but Friday was much better.  And by the weekend, I was fit as a fiddle!  I had this same virus about 5 years ago, so let’s hope it stays away for another 5 years (and of course by ‘5 years’ I mean FOREVER)!

Yesterday Pramila cashed in on her birthday present from us and we all went to see The Lion King musical in Covent Garden. It was a fantastic show and two points for Ushwin for getting the best seats in the house!  The production was beautiful, the music and dancing were great.  It was a fun afternoon, and a lovely day for walking around central London.

We had an early dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Leicester Square called Chiquito’s, where I had the best burrito I’ve ever eaten and came away with new ideas for marinating pork.

And then Ush and I spent the rest of the evening playing LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures on the Xbox.

I have to say, it was a pretty perfect Saturday!

And lest you think my heart is burning any less for Twilight, rest assured it is not.  I listen to the soundtrack while cooking and walking my dogs, I check the Lexicon every day, and I’m currently reading Wuthering Heights because 1) it’s a classic so I should read it anyway and 2) Edward and Bella discuss it a few times in [I can't remember which book].

We watched a bit of the Teen Choice Awards today – not sure why it was on as it aired about a month ago – and Rob Pattinson won Choice Male Hottie.  He said that his favourite hotties are Twilight fans.  He was talking about me!!!

Crimean Discovery: Days 1 to 3

When the taxi arrived to take us to the airport, I’ll admit, my blood pressure was probably a bit high. I was anxious. Wanting to get out on time but also make sure everything was ready for our friends aka dogsitters/housesitters but also make sure we didn’t forget anything for the trip.  So I admit that it was probably my fault that Toby was also on edge, scurrying about, following us up and down the flat, wondering what we were doing with those big box-like things filled with stuff.  It’s my fault that he let out a big ol’ whimper when we walked out the front door, a whimper that made me tear up and start to cry and feel like a complete jerk.

Not the greatest start to a vacation, but there you go!  I learned my lesson. (I hope!)

Anyway!  It got exponentially better from there!

It was a full flight to Greece, but I had a window seat and the sun was shining, my friends!!  Absolutely breathtaking views as we flew over France, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, etc… I was once again brought to tears by the stunning beauty of the sky, of clouds, of the Earth as seen from an airplane.  (I was listening to “Tusk” as we flew over the Alps.  Seemed rather fitting!)  I thanked God over and over again for such beauty.

Despite arriving in Thessaloniki to a bit of rain, it soon cleared up and the air was warm, sweet, and lovely.

We read that The Calypso is the smallest in Thomson’s fleet.  I don’t know what we were expecting, but when we stepped through to the harbor and saw this big boy, our jaws dropped.  Clearly, we were cruise newbies.

We explored the ship, deciding we better carry our Deck Map with us because the ship was so huge.  (See? Newbies.)

I couldn’t resist:

We were shown to our room and were very pleasantly surprised at the location on the 4th deck and its unobscured window! (We got to wake up every morning and look out the window at a different country. Amazing!)
We embarked around 10:30pm that evening and waved goodbye to Thessaloniki.  We’ll see you again in a week!

Day 2 was our Day at Sea.  Oh man, the weather was stunningly lovely, the Med was shockingly blue, and we felt like the luckiest people in the world – spending the day sitting in the sun, reading, chatting, drinking mocktails, wandering around the ship (no longer need our Deck Map!) and planning our excursions for the week.

Ush wanted to go up to the top deck and grab a couple of sun loungers.  My version of sunbathing? Being covered in SPF 50, wearing a hat, tshirt, shorts, and with beach towel draped over my legs.  So I geared up, grabbed a book, and we headed on up.
My dear husband lasted approximately 8 1/2 minutes up on those sun loungers and then decided he was too hot.  An almighty, Screw this!  We went down to a more breezy, shaded spot and decided sunbathing is not for us.  (Or rather, I already knew it wasn’t for me.  He had to accept the truth as well.)

We took our first (of several throughout the week) afternoon siesta, and then got dressed for the evening’s formal ‘Captain’s Dinner’ at the ship’s main restaurant, L’Orchidee.

Table 41.  This is where we ate every night.  This is where we met our ‘cruise friends.’  More on them later

After dinner, we went up to one of the upper decks to secure a good spot, as we were soon going to be passing through Istanbul via the river Bosphorus, which splits the European and Asian sides of the city.

Night views never look as stunning on camera (or any camera I’ve ever owned) as they do in person.

Apparently the Calypso is the only ship in the fleet that can take this particular route because it’s the only one ’small’ enough to fit under that bridge!

We saw gorgeous views of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Florence Nightingale Museum.  It made us so excited to visit the city later in the week!

On the morning of Day 3, we looked out our window and saw Nessebar, Bulgaria!
You know it’s going to be a good day when your husband wakes up giggling and can’t explain why!

We had chosen the excursion, “Nessebar & It’s Churches” and so, after some breakfast, we left the ship to join the tour group.

Nessebar is a tiny village filled with loads of old churches, only one or two which haven’t been turned into mini museums.  Our tour guide, Hristina, was very knowledgeable.

After the tour, we had some free time to wander around the little market town.  (We only had half a day in Nessebar because 1) the time was required to reach our next destination and 2) there really isn’t enough to do in Nessebar to fill a whole day!)

I bought a pretty lime green scarf/shawl that would be needed for our excursion the next day (which I’ll of course explain when we get there) and then, because it was only 10:30am but already so hot, we stopped in a little pub for a drink.

One beer cost 1.50 Bulgarian lev.  (£1 = 2.18 lev! The beer cost less than £1! Amazing.)

Continuing our wander around the city, we walked past an alley.  Aw, look! There’s our ‘little’ ship!

We had about a half hour left before it was time to return to the ship, and did I mention it was hot?  We decided to go down to the beach  and cool off a bit.

A couple people were sunbathing and/or swimming topless.  Which made me remember, “Oh yeahhh! We’re in Europe.”  Moving on!

That stuff that looks like sand is actually ground up sea shells, which I found incredibly beautiful. (And really good for callused feet.)

Interesting fact: Bulgarians shake their heads to say yes, and nod to say no.

Interesting and confusing!

We headed back to the ship, had some lunch and attempted to sit outside and read, but once again instead succumbed to the afternoon nap.  (It’s not a bad life, is it?!)

And again we joined our cruise friends in L’Orchidee for dinner (Quote of the day: “Take that to a chemist and you’ll get some hemorrhoid cream!”) and then to the Festival Lounge for “Pop Goes the West End!” where the entertainment crew gave performances from Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Little Shop of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and We Will Rock You.

Alrighty, that’s enough for today.  Next time I’ll cover at least days 4 and 5 – Ukraine and Romania.  I’ve been sitting here for far too long, though, and have lost half my Saturday!

Before I go, I just have to point out again how really NOT small The Calypso is!!!

my heart is certainly here

Or should I say hearts.  Are here.

It was so great to be reunited with London yesterday. (I grinned as I walked up my road, to the high street, to the bank machine to take out some cash to pay the cab driver who collected me from the airport and kindly unloaded my heavy bags which I didn’t have to pay excess baggage charges for.)  I really love it here.

It was so fantastic to be reunited with my doggies, who are so soft and wiggly and cuddly and snuggly and happy and bouncy and ohmygoshilovethemsomuch.  I sat on the floor for a good 10 minutes snuggling them and letting them lick me and climb all over me smelling all of my foreign strangers+animals+farm+airport+airplane smells.

It was nice to view our flat with new eyes, remembering the things I love about it and renewing my zeal to finally finish decorating it and organising some of the clutter. (Because let’s be honest, I’ll never really manage to organise ALL of the clutter. I do live with Ush, after all. He hasn’t yet been able to admit he’s a hoarder, but we’re working on it.)

And best of all, it was amazingly wonderful to be reunited with Ush.  I’d spent the day doing a bit of unpacking, some cleaning and organising, but mostly trying to stay awake.  From the living room, just before 6pm, I heard the front door open.  I stepped into the doorway, saw him coming through the front door, and I’m pretty sure we both sort of ran to meet in the middle of the foyer, standing in a hug for several minutes… him saying “You’re home!” three or four times, me unable to say anything.

I managed to stay awake all day yesterday except for an accidental 20 minute catnap (or rather, a Grandpa nap… You know, the kind where you’re sitting there reading and all of a sudden you’re asleep? Whoopsie!)  And despite a good amount of sleep last night, I’m completely exhausted today.  Shattered.

So, besides taking my doggies for a walk (done) and going across the road for a few things from the store (next up), I plan to do a whole lot of not much today.  The unpacking can wait.

I had a date last night

…with this gorgeous girl!!!

She’s my sister in every way except by blood.  Squeee!  Love you, Sara Lynn.

Yesterday’s gone

I’m still grinning after last night’s show and Stevie Nicks has been serenading me in my daydreams since we left the Bradley Center last night.  So I have some stories to share, but I’ll spare you my own review – filled with exclamation points, CAPS LOCK, and various other teeny bopper expressions of delight OMGLOLZ!!1!!111!!  And instead I’ll post Dave Tianen’s review for JSOnline, “Fleetwood Mac keeps the classics fresh: Material might be familiar, but time hasn’t hurt well-loved tunes” .  What it lacks in passion and poetry (and squeals!),  it makes up for in general accuracy and insight. 
I just want to paste it here so that any skeptics can read an objective (aka non-crazy superfan) perspective. Then I’ll follow up with my own additions.  Ready? Here we go.

* * *

The classic Fleetwood Mac lineup has released exactly one album of new material in the last 21 years.

Monday night in concert at the Bradley Center, they totally ignored that one album, “Say You Will.”

I seriously doubt anyone cared. The Big Mac is on the road to milk the catalog, and that is surely what the fans want. Of the 23 songs in the current set, 14 are from the two classic mid-’70s albums, “Fleetwood Mac” and “Rumours.” Those are two of the classic pop rock albums of the ’70s, or any other decade for that matter. It’s a set list loaded with hits and classics, including “Rhiannon,” “Dreams,” “Gold Dust Woman,” “The Chain,” “Landslide,” “Monday Morning,” “Go Your Own Way” and “Don’t Stop.”

When a huge band decides to take the oldies route and work the old hits, some questions are logical. First of all, do they seem bored or just going through the motions? The answer to that would seem to be an emphatic no. If Lindsey Buckingham was bored Monday night, it was the most frenetic display of tedium I have ever seen in my life. There is also a slight freshening effect because the old Christine McVie hits have now been parceled out between Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Second, has the passage of time and the weight of the years compromised their ability to deliver the goods? That’s a logical question. Buckingham will turn 60 on Oct. 3, and he’s the youngest person in the band. Again, Buckingham is a dynamo physically. He may be the only 59-year-old guitarist on the planet who bounces when he plays.

If Buckingham is the engine and musical master behind Fleetwood Mac, Nicks was always the visual and theatrical center. That still holds true in slightly muted form. Although she still dresses in shawls and loves to strike theatrical poses on stage, Nicks isn’t quite the wood sprite sex kitten of yore. We got exactly one of the old spinning moves with the arms outspread. At 60, Nicks is a little less Tinker Bell, a little more the well-preserved Witch of Eastwick.

One of the smart things they’re doing on this tour, since there aren’t any new songs: They’re giving us something new about the old songs. In introducing “Gypsy,” Nicks reminisced about the first band she shared with Buckingham and their days of opening for Santana and Janis Joplin in San Francisco. Buckingham spoke at some length about how “Big Love” became the template for the solo songs he wrote later in his career. This is a band with history, and I think it’s wise to share it with the audience.

And as Buckingham acknowledged, they also have a “complex” emotional history. Those old storms seem to have quieted with the years, and at least on stage Buckingham and Nicks seemed to have reached a state of genuine warmth and affection.

One other thing came through. I’m not sure Buckingham has ever quite gotten the credit he deserves as a guitarist. For several tunes, in the second half of the set, it was just Buckingham playing behind his own voice and Nicks, and the sound never seemed withered or small.

* * *

There are also photos here.

* * *

So, Mom and I arrive on 4th Street, balk at the price of parking, make our way into the venue, balk at the price of merchandise ($40-50 for a tshirt?! I don’t love anyone enough to spend that much on one of their tshirts), and head upstairs to our section.  The guy points us in the direction of our seats; we crane our necks up to see where he’s pointing.  We look at the empty row directly in front of us, turn to look at its angle with and proximity to the stage, turn back to the guy, and ask, “Can we sit here instead?”  To which he shrugs and says, “Fine with me, until you get kicked out!” 

We get settled and proceed to sweat (Mom) and fidget (me) with anxiety over the possibility that someone would come along who was actually supposed to be in those seats and we plan where we’d move next if they did.  We make jokes and speculate over what I’d do (which is drool and murmur incoherently) if I met Stevie.  Minutes tick by ever so slowly as we watch the arena fill up and yet no one came to our row.  I spew forth random Fleetwood Mac facts that I read on their websites earlier in the day.  We marvel that these seats up in section 423 are so much better than being in the back portion of the floor seats.  We declare ourselves “so rock & roll.”

Fleetwood Mac haven’t used an opening act in years and was scheduled for an 8pm start.  8:05.  8:10. *fidget fidget* 8:15.  Mom turns toward the stage, taps her watch, and calls out, “I start getting tired at 10!” 

Finally, a few minutes later, the lights come down and intro music starts… I can vaguely see people coming onto the stage, taking their positions.  A stream of something that resembles the English language is flying from my mouth: “IsthatheristhatherISTHATHER? OhmygoshohmygoshohmygoshOHMYGOSH! That’sher,theresheis! Ohmygosh, Ineedtositoverhere, sorryexcuseme!!!” And I basically sail over my mom’s body, probably kicking her in the face and gouging out one of her eyes on the way, to get into the seat on the other side of her.  And the stage lights come on and I proceed to squeal like a 12-year old.

*Insert 2 1/2 hours of what can really only be described as AWESOME-TASTIC-NESS*

Favourite Songs (no particular order):
- Dreams (I got choked up during her opening verse)
- Gypsy
- Big Love (holy WOW Lindsey Buckingham has fast fingers!!)
 - Landslide
- Tusk (not as awesome without the marching band, but still packed some good punch!)
- Rhiannon (I actually cried)
- Storms (they had never performed this one on stage before this tour)
- Gold Dust Woman (loved the imagery with the lights and her shawl)
- Silver Springs
- Don’t Stop (last song of the night capping off an incredible encore!)

Other Highlights:
- Stevie’s signature things: half moon pendant, flowy dresses and shawls, ribbons on her tambourine and mic stand, top hat, platform shoes, and spinning around to the music
- Mick Fleetwood’s crazy fab drum solo (“You still there?! [crowd cheers] Don’t leave meeee!”)
- Stevie and Lindsey’s random stories about the band’s history and/or stories behind certain songs
- Lindsey did a particularly awesome guitar solo.  Mom asked me, “Do your whistle!”  I complied.  She shouted towards the stage, “That’s from me!!”
- Mick Fleetwood’s lovely mid-encore introductions of each band member, calling Lindsey the maestro, John the righthand man, and Stevie the poet and their first lady
- Don’t Stop coming on the radio on the way home

It was just a most excellent night, and one I won’t soon forget!  A million thanks to my mom for getting the tickets for us

PS – Also, they’ve just confirmed a UK leg of the tour.  London’s Wembley arena, 30th October.  I will be there, on my own if I must!

DoJo

Since I have some time (can’t won’t walk the dogs cuz its raining) and access to the desktop (my tiny Eee is convenient at all times except for doing involved photo posts), I thought I’d dedicate a post to Dom and Jojo’s wedding.

In the theme of Brangelina and the like, I think DoJo is my favourite.  (We could be ‘Stush’, but I guess I always sorta imagined that would be our possible future unborn child’s nickname )

In true Mumcuss tradition, they made a flyer for the ‘gig’… Taken from American Pie: The Wedding. The lineup is Dom on guitar and backing vocals, Ush on lead vocals, Raj on guitar, Dave on bass and backing vocals, and Louis on drums.  (Louis is from Ush’s previous band, Orakai.  No original Mumcuss drummers were available and Louis’ old band DPH had supported Mumcuss in the past.)

(Past Mumcuss flyers can be found here:  http://www.cwhbrown.com/ Chris is a genius with Photoshop.  Admittedly the DoJo flyer was a bit of a rush job because Chris has a girlfriend now and so has less time at his PC, but it was also more complicated because of the weird angle and shape of Alyson Hannigan’s face, which doesn’t even look right in the original film poster.)

Domocles: Commander of the Armies of the North, and Lady Jojo of Worthingshire.

-aka- Mr & Mrs O’Brien

It’s because of photos like these that a windy day could actually be deemed a good thing.

Have you ever seen a bride play rhythm guitar? Jojo rocks the house.

That’s a lot of dress to carry around, but she managed it all night long!  (And I know from experience it was heavy – I helped her hold it up so she could pee!)

Just out of shot in this next one is the crowd going pretty nuts, including me bouncing around like a fool!!

I think this is the only photo of me from the whole day, off to the side, hanging out in my new H&M dress… I’m good at camera-dodging.

Woooo!  Marriage!!