To say this was a busy week would be an understatement of ginormous proportions. To say that I can remember every day up to now would be lying. No I didn't pass out or anything like that, we just crammed so much into this past week that my brain has taken a vacation and I don't think it will be coming back until I rest properly and slow down a little bit. Which is exactly what we are doing today. So, I will post some pics that include highlights of our week such as meeting Tori, Erika's daughter, attending TISB's fantastic multicultural day presentation, shopping like a lunatic for a charity event, (this involved shopping for kids of all ages, then wrapping and labeling all gifts), going to the Guns n Roses concert (absolutely fantastic concert and our group ending up in the newspaper, teehee) attending the wonderful Make A Wish Christmas gift giving event (sooooo worth all the shopping and frustration that goes with trying to find the perfect gifts, not to mention trying to source wrapping paper, bows, labels, etc) and then partying up at Skybar to celebrate Tori's bday before she heads out to the UK for a short trip. Whew! I know I'm forgetting the other things we accomplished this week but basically, it was a wonderfully, busy week and I am feeling so fulfilled and blessed and just worn out but wouldn't have missed out on one minute of this past week. It was all really good:) Here goes.....keep up!
Hmmmmmm. Can't tell that these two are related at all can ya? Hahaaaaa, this is my favorite pic of mother and daughter. Probably for me because it brings out the whole mother's love thing. Erika being silly with her daughter Tori was just plain sweet. Love. And loved Tori:) She was full of laughter and energy and it was infectious. Plus she talked momma into going to the Guns n Roses concert which we'll talk more about later. It was fun being around a youngun and seeing Erika interact with her "older daughter". They were more like best friends and it was really awesome to see. It made me miss "my Tori" even more than I do on a daily basis. Thank you Erika and Tori for a reminder of how sweet the mother/daughter relationship is. And how massively fun it is too, lol, can't wait till the day me and my Tori will get to hang out with these two.
Now, to Kenya! Rajasthan, Mexico, China, Brazil!
Bruce's school, TISB, threw their annual multicultural day on Friday. Every year each class picks a country to learn about, and this year Bruce' class learned about Kenya. This entails all sorts of facts about the country as well as some hands on learning including eating cultural foods, having a crafts day (which we got to participate in) to make things that pertain to the country they are learning about, for Kenya it was stuff like headbands, chokers, anklets, shields, and paper mache masks. Every day Bruce would tell us something new about Kenya, such as what the big 5 animals are, or that the capital of Kenya is Nairobi. All of this learning culminates in the Multicultural Day.
There were quite an array of countries presented: Spain, Kenya, Rajasthan (state in Northern India), Greece, Mexico, China, Vietnam, and Brazil. For Bruce's class they all dressed as Masai warriors (another fact Bruce informed us of) and answered some questions about Kenya in front of everyone, and then they did their Kenya dance. Bruce was fantastic. He told the audience the capital of Kenya is Nairobi and then he wowed us with the dance he had been working hard on. We are very proud of Bruce and how he has retained the information he learned. We were also excited to see Stella, her class did "Rajasthan" and their dance and costumes were amazing. It was so fun to watch the children that we know so excited to display their knowledge of the countries they were presenting. Truly an amazing production by the TISB teachers, administrators, students, etc. Well done, well done! We absolutely love TISB, and are thrilled that Bruce is attending such an amazing school.
Now, to Kenya! Rajasthan, Mexico, China, Brazil!
Bruce's school, TISB, threw their annual multicultural day on Friday. Every year each class picks a country to learn about, and this year Bruce' class learned about Kenya. This entails all sorts of facts about the country as well as some hands on learning including eating cultural foods, having a crafts day (which we got to participate in) to make things that pertain to the country they are learning about, for Kenya it was stuff like headbands, chokers, anklets, shields, and paper mache masks. Every day Bruce would tell us something new about Kenya, such as what the big 5 animals are, or that the capital of Kenya is Nairobi. All of this learning culminates in the Multicultural Day.
There were quite an array of countries presented: Spain, Kenya, Rajasthan (state in Northern India), Greece, Mexico, China, Vietnam, and Brazil. For Bruce's class they all dressed as Masai warriors (another fact Bruce informed us of) and answered some questions about Kenya in front of everyone, and then they did their Kenya dance. Bruce was fantastic. He told the audience the capital of Kenya is Nairobi and then he wowed us with the dance he had been working hard on. We are very proud of Bruce and how he has retained the information he learned. We were also excited to see Stella, her class did "Rajasthan" and their dance and costumes were amazing. It was so fun to watch the children that we know so excited to display their knowledge of the countries they were presenting. Truly an amazing production by the TISB teachers, administrators, students, etc. Well done, well done! We absolutely love TISB, and are thrilled that Bruce is attending such an amazing school.
All in all a fabulous production by TISB, can't wait till next year!
Now onto the Guns n' Roses Concert!
Wow. I mean WOW! Was excited to go to this concert, wasn't sure what to expect as we all know, Guns n' Roses is now Axl and some "other guys", and well Axl no longer looks like the Axl we remember dancing so serpent like with the microphone. Boy were we wrong. I don't know if it was listening to so many favorite songs with the band literally just a few feet in front of us under a starlit night and fantastic weather or what. It was an amazing concert and we all had a fantabulous time. Did not expect that, and didn't know what to expect buying Gold tickets instead of Platinum, at the end of the evening though we were left completely satiated of good music, good company and a good time. Here is my guest blogger John, to tell you of his experience of Guns n' Roses.
Now onto the Guns n' Roses Concert!
Wow. I mean WOW! Was excited to go to this concert, wasn't sure what to expect as we all know, Guns n' Roses is now Axl and some "other guys", and well Axl no longer looks like the Axl we remember dancing so serpent like with the microphone. Boy were we wrong. I don't know if it was listening to so many favorite songs with the band literally just a few feet in front of us under a starlit night and fantastic weather or what. It was an amazing concert and we all had a fantabulous time. Did not expect that, and didn't know what to expect buying Gold tickets instead of Platinum, at the end of the evening though we were left completely satiated of good music, good company and a good time. Here is my guest blogger John, to tell you of his experience of Guns n' Roses.
Friday night was the big Guns N' Roses concert. No, we didn't know they were still touring, and when cynthia sweetly asked me if I wanted to go the concert I agreed but had low expectations. We got there pretty early and were surprised to see that our Gold tickets were actually pretty good. Basically we stood at the front row, and though we were prepared for the crowed to be insane and stinky, we decided that when the concert started we would stay upfront for a few songs and then we would move away from the crowd. GnR was supposed to come on at 6:45pm. As we were there early we had time to kill and decided to hit up the bar. Here is where the differences in concerts in the US and India differ greatly. The beer truck was missing. And there was no back up. And I repeat the "beer truck" was missing. Not beer trucks, plural but just the one. Also there were no vendors selling cokes, and tons of different foods. The concert was sponsored by Lipton tea, so you could get a cup of tea I think and or water and that was hit for beverages. The snacks were laid out on a table. They were Indian cakes and some cupcake looking ones too and a few sandwiches. They were set out on a table and that was that for the food. Cyn took pics but is having trouble with the download. Anyway we immediately thought it was not a great start to the concert. However our mood brightened when some of our friends arrived. They too were dismayed that there were to be no beverages while we were waiting for GnR but good company is good company and we had fun hanging out until the band took the stage. Finally after a late start, a much older (and heavier) Axl Rose than we remember stepped on stage with a bunch of strangers, we weren't expecting too much. But the songs speak for themselves, and Axl should teach a class to other bands about showmanship. As soon as Axl shouted out "Do you know where you are?" everything fell into place. The musicians were excellent and we had a wonderful time. They played for 3 hours, and I heard them play every single song I wanted to hear.
We were in the very front, only two security in front of us and we had a great view of the band since they were only about 10 feet away when they came to our side of the stage. I was stoked when the played my favorites like Nighttrain and Civil War, but definitely the highlight was during Sweet Child o' Mine where Cynthia is up against the front row and I am behind her with my arms wrapped around her. Axl came over to our side of the stage right up to us, sang one of the verses and then gave us a point before he headed off. Great stuff! We ended up staying upfront for almost the whole duration of the concert. Even though it was crowded it wasn't any worse than any other concert we've been to that was standing room only. The show definitely exceeded my expectations bigtime. It was also the first time Cynthia and I went to a concert together in over 8 years that we've been together. Yes, really, I don't count the Madonna concert.
Thank you John. I had John write about the concert because I am more easily impressed than he is and believe me he was impressed. We all were, even Erika who swore the music Gods would strike her down for going to this concert,lol, had a great time. When John and I finally left the front row it was because at this time we were seriously thirsty and needed to drink something,anything, and unfortunately by the time we got to the beer counter, they were out. Dry. Our good friends Matt and Suman then came to the rescue (Erika and Tori had gone for a beer run earlier in the concert but could not make their way back up thru the crowd so Suman and Matt went to join them to make sure they were ok and most likely to drink beer too) and pointed us in the direction of a security guard who had stashed some warm Buds earlier and was selling them for 250 rupees each. Yes it was warm. But it was Budweiser! lol, you just don't know what you miss until you go without for so long....
Anyway, we hung out, we danced, we sang we marveled at what a great show was being put on. We were are all giddy and laughing and amazed that GnR really came through. I'm really looking forward to the next good band that comes to town. Here are some pics from the concert. Oh wait, and did I mention that the next day a picture of us made it in the Bangalore Mirror, the headline read "When Guns 'n' Roses came knocking on Bangalore's door". Haha! Coolio man. Coolio.
We were in the very front, only two security in front of us and we had a great view of the band since they were only about 10 feet away when they came to our side of the stage. I was stoked when the played my favorites like Nighttrain and Civil War, but definitely the highlight was during Sweet Child o' Mine where Cynthia is up against the front row and I am behind her with my arms wrapped around her. Axl came over to our side of the stage right up to us, sang one of the verses and then gave us a point before he headed off. Great stuff! We ended up staying upfront for almost the whole duration of the concert. Even though it was crowded it wasn't any worse than any other concert we've been to that was standing room only. The show definitely exceeded my expectations bigtime. It was also the first time Cynthia and I went to a concert together in over 8 years that we've been together. Yes, really, I don't count the Madonna concert.
Thank you John. I had John write about the concert because I am more easily impressed than he is and believe me he was impressed. We all were, even Erika who swore the music Gods would strike her down for going to this concert,lol, had a great time. When John and I finally left the front row it was because at this time we were seriously thirsty and needed to drink something,anything, and unfortunately by the time we got to the beer counter, they were out. Dry. Our good friends Matt and Suman then came to the rescue (Erika and Tori had gone for a beer run earlier in the concert but could not make their way back up thru the crowd so Suman and Matt went to join them to make sure they were ok and most likely to drink beer too) and pointed us in the direction of a security guard who had stashed some warm Buds earlier and was selling them for 250 rupees each. Yes it was warm. But it was Budweiser! lol, you just don't know what you miss until you go without for so long....
Anyway, we hung out, we danced, we sang we marveled at what a great show was being put on. We were are all giddy and laughing and amazed that GnR really came through. I'm really looking forward to the next good band that comes to town. Here are some pics from the concert. Oh wait, and did I mention that the next day a picture of us made it in the Bangalore Mirror, the headline read "When Guns 'n' Roses came knocking on Bangalore's door". Haha! Coolio man. Coolio.
That's me hamming it up for the camera, right next to me is Tori, John is looking intense "yeah!" Erika is the vixen behind me looking straight at the guy taking the pic and her husband Matt is the guy behind her in glasses. This is during Welcome to the Jungle....awesome.
The band played for three hours and it went by fast. We rocked along with every song, Matt and John got crazy with the air guitar and Tori and I of course used our beer cans as microphones to sing along during the last songs of the show. At one point we all looked around and at each other and we acknowledged that it was just an amazing moment....we were under the stars, you could see the stars....and we were singing to Guns n' Roses and we were having a far out time! We all embraced it and all the quirkiness of the evening and were psyched to be part of it together. Words fail me. It was just SO COOL.
I have alot of other pics but they won't download for some reason. But when we get together, I'll show them to you:)
I have decided to dedicate a whole post to the Make a Wish event. It was a wonderful experience and I want to write all about it and it needs it's own post, so I will work on that tomorrow and will include many, many pics.
Ok, so it's getting late now, after 11p.m. good night for now. Very tired, but will write again tomorrow I promise.
Love and hugs.
Me
I have alot of other pics but they won't download for some reason. But when we get together, I'll show them to you:)
I have decided to dedicate a whole post to the Make a Wish event. It was a wonderful experience and I want to write all about it and it needs it's own post, so I will work on that tomorrow and will include many, many pics.
Ok, so it's getting late now, after 11p.m. good night for now. Very tired, but will write again tomorrow I promise.
Love and hugs.
Me
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