THE GIRLS OF SUMMER…
Summer Time Fun – now – Let’s just go over the Rules Again!
It’s been way too long since I’ve written, but so many days in summer – so little time. I’ve kind of been enjoying the days a little more than I should, but still there are things to be noticed, things to be shared. I’ve kind of enjoyed sitting back and watching the summer unfold for once. The only part of summer that I’ve really recognized as per usual, is the eternal interacting between the boys and girls again. Remember the boys of summer? Well the fantastic part of the boys of summer is that it turns out there are some girls of summer as well. I’ve been surrounded by them! It’s awesome. Finally – the battle of the sexes has been defeated and all is fair in love and war once again.
I’ll re-cap the “Boy of Summer” for you. It’s the guy, (or guys, let’s not be shy) that capture your attention for a few months in the summer time. Sometimes it’s love – sometimes it’s not – ok – most times it’s not but it’s always hilariously fun and has endless possibilities. You know – until it doesn’t and then everyone gets to go home to start planning…whatever, Thanksgiving? The point is – every summer should have one. Even if it’s an innocent flirtation that goes nowhere and just stays in your day dreams or your drunken text messages, the point is it’s FUN!
Well, as it would turn out there’s “Girls of Summer” too!? Who would have thought? The reason I know this is because I’ve been around a bunch of these “girls” this summer. The only little difference is that there are more rules for the girls than there are for the boys. Not rules – not like – What’s that, Miss Manners-name? No – No – No. It’s a little different. There’s a playbook that if you want to be a good girl of summer you have to follow. I believe I’ll get crucified for spilling the beans – but I’m going to do it anyway. I have nothing to lose and summer is almost over.
So the way it works is this, the more men you flirt with the more options you have to meet more men. Fixating on one – should not be an option for summer, that’s for the Fall – but not for summer months. Did I mention that shameless flirting is a good thing? Great – point number one is over. The other thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of ladies are heading to the internet to find these boys of summer. That’s perfectly acceptable. Why not – once more – the more men you meet the more options you have. It’s what I call the grown up version of “bar encounters/boys of summer.”
Next up – is getting out of your own environment. You have to – because well, there are more options. It’s like swimming in the same pool every weekend. Same pool – same people. It’s not that you don’t like that pool or those people – but sometimes going to a pool that you’ve never been to before has the better sun!? You got me folks? Making new friends takes a little laughing, a little talking and a couple of beers. Ladies – try it. Trust me it works.
The other thing that’s kind of essential is a good wingman. I’m probably not being PC when I call them a wing man – but I like Top Gun and I’m not PC so I’m going with it. The point is, you need a good spotter and person to cover your ass. The spotter (wingman) makes first contact for you – because let’s face it girls – most times are friends are better at making initial contact and introductions than we are for ourselves. Plus – you’ve got to get the conversation started and two girls to one guy has better odds for conversation. If they can withstand the verbal jousting of two females then you are in good shape for conversation. It’s kind of like the test – if they can’t speak to both of you, they probably have a hard time talking in general…and then that’s a long night!!! Better to know now.
Also when your wingman is covering your ass, she knows when to step in and say, either your lipstick is on your teeth, your skirt is tucked in your underwear, NO – you can’t leave with that guy with the knife in his back-pocket, or my favorite: my car broke down – I need YOU to give ME a ride home RIGHT NOW!!!
Lastly – no attachments can be made immediately. This is a conversation I’ve had repeatedly with a few of my girl-friends. The point is fun. Doing something different, trying something new. Getting out and not settling for the first thing to tell you in a drunken slur – “BUT I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU”. There are places to go, bars to stumble into and many-many new friends to meet.
The time has come ladies for all of us to embrace our inner boy – and I call it boy because boys are so flighty and quick to pick up and move it along – I think some of us have been doing it wrong for way too long. Have a good time this summer. Look for some fun and enjoy it. Before you know it, summer is over and the only thing you are looking forward to is cooking a Turkey or a ToFurkey.
Get your kicks – while the sun is still up and the lights stay on longer!
xox – Ms Amanda Jones
photo originally published here
FEAR AND LOATHING AND OBSESSING OVER ROCK BANDS…
My trip to Vegas with a girl, a bottle of Vodka, and tickets to see one of the greatest rock bands!!!
It all started with an idea, a very simple and yet dangerous idea. How hard would it be for me to sneak into Coachella? This is the first year concert goers couldn’t buy single day passes. As it turned out this is the first year also where I was ABSOLUTELY going to spend the money and buy tickets for Saturday and Sunday – but the organizers of Coachella went and screwed that up for me! But I digress. So I began thinking of ways to scale a fence, bypass a security guard or ten and get into Coachella without dropping hundreds of dollars for a three day pass and another three hundred dollars on hotels, etc.
I started trying to enlist people to go along with this plan of mine and no one seemed all that interested in driving for 2 hours to “maybe” get into a show – or “maybe” get arrested (although I really don’t think that would happen – we’d simply be escorted from the premises). So the next and possibly more subdued idea for my plan was to legally get a chance to see Muse. Then it hit me – LAS VEGAS BABY!!!
I had been checking the Muse website to see where and when they would be around Los Angeles but I was positive the show would be sold out. Turns out Vegas still had tickets and I was now determined to see this band that I’ve been playing on my iPod, in my car, while I cook dinner, when I’m taking a shower. MUSE! Over and over and over again. I sent out a FB message saying I was thinking of getting tickets to see Muse in Las Vegas and immediately one of my best Girl-Fridays said they were down!
I believe the next thought went something like this: HOLYSHITHOLYSHITHOLYSHIT.
We were extremely excited to have a girls-trip, Vegas, and Muse weekend all rolled into one!
More plotting, scheduling of hotels, and then contemplating what we would do when we got to town went on. We decided on The Luxor Hotel, for it’s proximity to Mandalay Bay and on vodka for obvious reasons. Hunter S. Thompson kept being mentioned over and over again and there were some thoughts that maybe we might get into a fair amount of trouble…all of these things were good in our book. The big day arrived and we packed up the car with the appropriate amount of booze (ok, a lot of booze), fashionable glittery items, shoes, all of the Muse CD’s I own, and we were off. (more…)
When Am I Ever Going to Grow Up?
I wrote the title for this and it made me giggle silently to myself. The problem with the title is that I’m a 33 year old, with three kids and am completely responsible with a home under my belt to prove it. I throw dinner parties, birthday parties, cook for all of my friends and I can even make a killer Martini. The issue is that I’m 33 years old and still think like I’m 17 about a lot of silly things. I’ll give you a few examples to explain, the most recent happening a few weeks ago.
The Pixies were in town. This is one of, if not my absolute favorite bands. Ok, it’s neck and neck with The Pixies, The Clash, Minor Threat and Black Flag – but you get the idea. Now the last few times The Pixies have been in town one of two things occurred. I got so excited that I drank too much and ended up far more drunk than I should have been and had to be babysat all night by an unhappy boyfriend and or I would get so excited that would literally not be able to stop jumping around and or would get annoyed with the people around me because I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why they were all standing there staring at the most amazing band and NOT jumping around?
So The Pixies announced their Doolittle Tour and then I found out it was at The Hollywood Palladium. The HOLLYWOOD FUCKING PALLADIUM – where I spent almost every month, in my youth, watching some of the most amazing shows of all time (for the 90’s that is). I was thrilled and very much beginning to revert to the 17 year old. I was listening to Doolittle over and over again. Counting down the days till the show! However, I was also promising myself that I wouldn’t drink too much so I could really enjoy the show. I wore a cute skirt, put on some pretty make-up, and showed up on time with a friend that I had convinced needed to see this band with me. Off we went. I had a cocktail before I left the house and thought – Perfect – this is going swimmingly! Then I show up at the show and someone I know hands me a water bottle and says, “Here drink this quick” (It didn’t have water in it – by the way). So I do. Now, I am entering The Palladium and ever more excited!!! Woo-Hoo – The Pixies!!!! Then I think I should grab a beer because I am not leaving the show for anything!!! (more…)
The Great Debate: Medical Marijuana and the City of Los Angeles.
In the press, as of late, there is much talk about closing down Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. So much so that our fearless D.A. Steve Cooley has taken it upon himself to go to war with the dispensaries and the City Council that continue to try to regulate these establishments.
The issues that the City Council continue to struggle with is attempting to make dispensaries maintain a certain number of feet from public schools, parks, libraries and or any other places children could gather. However, a bigger issue seems to be lurking from behind.
That issue is the D.A Steve Cooley, and what I’m now referring to as his lack of understanding when it comes to the constituents that reside in the city of Los Angeles.
I’ll explain. (more…)
Amanda Jones’ October Playlist
Pixies – Doolittle
So this band, just a quaint little 4 piece, is playing at The Hollywood Palladium on November 5th. I WILL BE THERE!!!! I’m so excited, as this is my favorite Pixies album….so when you see the crying hysterical girl at the front of the stage – just wave hello – it’s me.
Jenny Lewis – Album: Acid Tongue
Over the years, I’ve grown to be especially fond of this woman. This last album of hers is really beautiful. It reminds me of the folk music I used to listen to when I was a kid.
The whole album is solid but my favorite tracks are:
“The Next Messiah”– which clocks in at 8minutes, 45seconds – and normally I would say this is way too long for one song, but it’s really fantastic.
“Acid Tongue”- the title track is a great song as well. I especially love that Chris Robinson sings back up vocals on both of the above tracks and anytime I even faintly hear that mans voice I’m happy.
Also, “Carpetbaggers” is so much fun – AND – Elvis Costello duets on this track with her. Have I mentioned I love him as well?
Definitely listen to this album…I love it and so does my daughter who is 2 – she claps at the end of her “favorite” songs.
White Rabbits – It’s Frightening.
I love this album. A friend of mine gave it to me – and I’m so glad they did.
The opening track is fantastic – “Percussion Gun”. It sort of set the mood for the entire album which is really really good. I also really like, Midnight and I.
This band is playing at The El Rey on November 2nd…and I will most definitely be there!!!
David Gray – Draw the Line
This is one of my favorite singers and this is his new album. I could tell you about how much I love this album but I won’t bore you. I don’t know anyone else that’s quite as fond of him as I am. I love all of the songs on it – but especially- “Harder”
It’s a good album and he is playing at The Orpheum on November 9th. I’ve never seen him live so I purchased one ticket. It’s the first show that I’m going to by myself and I think it’s going to be a blast. It’ll be like it’s just him and I! Xox.
Eels – Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Despair
Ok ok…everyone loves this band. I love this band. This album has already been talked about – but I like it so much – it’s in my purse right now. You see I keep carting it from my car, to my house, to my work…it’s that good. Every last song!!!