Santa Baby!

Tess made her Christmas debut last night, in a very special "fashion!"

This story actually starts about 9 months ago, when my friend Lindsay gave me a huge tub of hand-me-down baby girl clothes. Among all the adorable outfits was a little black dress with a hot pink tutu attached and the words "Santa Baby" written across the front in pink sequins.  Grandma (Melody) took one look at that little dress and fell in love, and asked if she could keep it for "inspiration." 

For months now, Grandma has been looking forward to the Christmas concert for her junior high and high school choirs, so that Tess could make a special appearance in this dress.  Specifically, she wanted to introduce Tess to the audience right after the chamber choir girls sang "Santa Baby" to the Santa Claus pictured at right (and that's the much-anticipated dress!). 

Sweet little Tess sat so patiently through the first half of the concert, waiting for her big scene. And I waited for the cue to bring Tess up to stage left and hand her off to Grandma for "the big showoff."  Of course my baby was a total hit with everyone, and now all the choir parents of Fowler junior high and high school know the story of how Grandma learned that she was going to be a Grandma in 2011.  It was a fun memory for Tess's first Christmas....and for Grandma's first Christmas, too.

Incidentally, the people in the row behind us didn't see much of the show because they kept whispering how CUTE my baby is. Sorry, Mom!

Belated Birthday Treat

This past weekend my parents made good on my birthday gift from November.... tickets to see Tierney Sutton in concert. Tierney is AMAZING! We snagged front row seats and soaked up every note. The concert was just as good as seeing her in 2007, and like last time we got to meet the band and have them sign their latest CD.

We had a lovely dinner before the concert at Cafe Rousseau in the Tower District, and afterward Chad and I hit up Ruth's Chris for dessert. It was a night of total and complete yumminess, all around!

Kutless Rocks On!

Last weekend, while Chad was debating, I had the opportunity to see Kutless in concert (for the 3rd time) with some of my girlfriends. Like the loyal fans we are, we drove all the way to Bakersfield for the show. It was worth the trip, especially because we got to meet the band after the show. Here's a pic of me, Danielle & Tiffany with the lead singer, Jon Micah Sumrall.

DMB At Save Mart Center!

So last night we saw the Dave Matthews Band in concert at the Save Mart Center, and it was a great show! As usual, they totally rocked and showed off some impressive musical expertise. This is our 2nd time seeing Dave and it had been way too long. (Our first DMB concert was the summer of 1997 at the Shoreline Amphitheater, for our one-year anniversary, and at the concert Chad gave me a "promise ring." How sweet!) The band is touring for their new album, Big Whiskey & the Groogrux King, which we think is one of their best ever. We had a really fun time, complete with spending way too much on t-shirts!

It's A 2-Concert Week (Part Two)

Last night (Friday) was Tierney Sutton at the Fresno Jazz Festival, and all I can say is......aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh. It is so hard to describe the delicious jazzy goodness that is Tierney Sutton. As I write this I'm reveling in all things Tierney and the newest CD (purchased last night and autographed by the band)!

I must give credit to our friend "CW" who introduced me to Tierney several months ago.....I had just purchased my first CD ("Something Cool") when we learned she would be coming here. Went to get tickets last week and managed to get the last 5 for a sold-out performance -- whew! Despite open seating we were "front and center" in the second row.

While Tierney's voice is impressive on record, it is unforgettable live. Seeing IS believing -- the only way I can describe it is to say she plays her voice like a talented musician plays a fine instrument of their own design. I mean, I have heard and seen great singers before, but nothing like this......To watch her vocally interact with the instruments/band (also indescribably impressive in their own right), play with the microphone like a mouthpiece, and see the notes written on her face was a delight. It doesn't hurt that she is strikingly beautiful! Tierney and her 3-piece combo have been playing together for 14 years and it shows -- every song was a masterpiece and an experience of its own.

If you have ANY interest in jazz, check it out because you won't be disappointed -- you can find her online at http://www.tierneysutton.com/.

PS -- The Rachel McAdams madness doesn't stop, for those of you who know about my celeb-lookalike......while drummer Ray Brinker was signing my CD he says, "You look so familiar to me, are you an actress?" Ha!!

It's A 2-Concert Week (Part One)

This week we got in touch with our youthful side (Thursday night) and cultured side (Friday night) with not one but TWO concerts -- very fun!

Thursday night was the Newsboys with Kutless at the Visalia Convention Center. Not much to say about this other than the Newsboys NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER disappoint! I saw them for the first time in 1992 at the Madera Fairgrounds; they were nobodies and I got to meet them, get autographs after the show. They were playing with now-hasbeens "T-Bone" (who?) and "Code of Ethics" (huh?). I have been about once a year since then, making this about my 15th Newsboys show. Talk about a loyal fan!! Anyway......the 'Boys have come so far......and their productions are now a full-blown multimedia experience. Peter Furler (lead singer) is an amazing performer and speaker. The show would not have been complete without "Breakfast" (and the requisite Captain Crunch throwing) and Duncan's drums platform elevating and spinning at a 90-degree angle to the stage WHILE HE WAS PLAYING a drum-off with Peter!!! Impressive, for sure.

I almost forgot my loyalty to the 'Boys with my excitement about seeing Kutless again. We saw them in October at the Big Fresno Fair (thanks to Tiff for encouraging me to go, and then loaning me all the CDs!) but didn't know them well at the time. Since then, I have become a huge Kutless fan and own all their music. This show did not disappoint except for being too short as they were an opening act and not the headlining gig. What a great way to ROCK OUT, though, with a positive message. SO fun. They can be hard and draw a rough crowd, but are talented and focused nonetheless -- lead singer JonMicah Sumrall really has a great voice, and he even did a ballad while playing keyboard. If you haven't heard them, check out http://www.kutless.com/!!