White Light Spins Through the Fog

Last night, April 11th, was date night for me and the hubby. It's been a long time since we've had a date night. And last night gave us a great reason for one. One of our favorite bands, IO Echo, was playing in Denver at the Bluebird Theater, opening for A Place To Bury Strangers and The Big Pink.

We first saw IO Echo in Seattle in October of '07. They and Kenna were opening for She Wants Revenge. I had never heard of IO Echo, but by the end of the set I was a fan. I bought the cd they were selling at the venue and soon became my own street team for spreading the word about this incredible band. I had done the same with Kenna after hearing him for the first time in '03. When I fall in love with an artist who doesn't get the radio airplay or media attention that others get, I tend to go into uber-fan mode and do what I can to get people to notice them. It's the music-addict-geek in me, I guess, that makes me do it...

Anyway, since moving to Denver, I wasn't sure if and when I would get to see IO Echo live again, and once I saw that they would be playing here, I knew I had to go. I wasn't sure how we would do it as every penny we have is watched pretty carefully these days. But then by pure chance and luck, an opportunity came to me that I could not and would not pass up. We were going to see the band! Thank you Joanna for that gracious gift.

We got to the theater early-ish and got a spot dead center in front of the stage, not on the floor as it's about 4' below the stage, but on the first tier up - maybe 5 feet from the stage. Perfect. When the band came out I was one of just a few people to scream and whoop, but by the end of the set, the whole audience was clapping and cheering. And it's not a surprise.

Starting out with some new songs that will hopefully find their way onto a cd in the near future, I was totally impressed. Then Joanna announced that she had been battling bronchitis - you would have NEVER guessed, she sounded great. Soon came "While You Are Sleeping" which started with Joanna down on her knees on the stage and worked her way up to bouncing around. "I'm On Fire" started and my hubby said to me, "this is where she wins over the crowd." And she did. This song starts "quiet, they're all so quiet." It lingers and then like a kick to the face the drums and guitars assault the senses while she wails "I'm on fire!" - only to go back to the soothingly soft sounds of the beginning of the song. The set ended with "Doorway" which is one of my favorite songs. Still no signs of the bronchitis Joanna had been fighting - she sounded spot on. They left the stage to a cheering crowd, as it should be.

I got some pictures from the set, here are a few of them:




After the set we headed up to the merch counter, in hopes that they would be there. Leo was behind the counter, and the other band members, plus a few others were there talking. Finally, Joanna came up. She talked to the boys for a minute, then as I was going to go say hi, she turned around, saw me, said hi to me by name (uh, yeah, super cool that she knew who I was), and gave me a hug. We talked for a bit, I bought a limited edition t-shirt, then I got a pic with Joanna and Leo. We then went and watched A Place To Bury Strangers (which was good, albeit too loud - the guitars were way too loud and the vocals way too quiet - but still good music and a good set), and then headed home.

I had the best night - out with my wonderful hubby, an amazing live show in a great little venue, chatting with Joanna - couldn't have asked for more from date night! Thanks to IO Echo for their great performance!

Check out IO Echo on Facebook and MySpace. Listen to the music, become a fan. And if you get the chance to see them live, do!

Thanks for reading from Rdwnggrl's World!

It's Time To Give a Damn.

The semi-famous Stacy Soap Box has been pulled out today because I have something to say.

I am mad. I am disgusted. I am sad.

I was 7 or 8 years old, I think, the first time I heard the word "gay" in reference to people. I'm sure at that time I didn't fully understand it, but I do know I didn't seem to have a problem with it. By junior high and high school I had formed my outspoken attitude toward acceptance and equality.

Today, in 2010, you would think homosexuality wouldn't still be seen as a disease. You wouldn't think that the GLBT community would still have to live in fear of being disowned by family and friends or of being the victim of horrible hate crimes. You would think that the rampant discrimination they face at home, at work, at church, in society in general would have faded away. But sadly these are still daily issues.

I understand that a lot of people have issues with homosexuality because they don't understand it, or for morality sake. I get that. What I don't get is why that means it's okay to treat family, friends, and total strangers as if they should not be allowed to be loved and treated with respect, dignity, and equality. I guarantee you that whether you know it or not, there is at least one gay, lesbian, or bisexual person in your life - it could be a family member, your co-worker, former college roommate, a classmate, mail delivery person, hairdresser, a member of your church, your dentist - anyone.
Do they suddenly change when they tell you they are gay? No. They don't change, YOU do. You suddenly have other places to be, people to see, things to do. You are too busy to take their phone call. You are feeling under the weather so that lunch date has to be canceled. You change. They don't. They are still the same person who helped celebrate your birthday. They are still the same person who helped you conquer your fear of heights. They are still the same person who held your hand when your boyfriend broke up with you. They are still the same.

I've been following the case of Constance McMillen. If you don't know, she is a young lesbian woman who wanted to take her girlfriend to the prom. Her school said no and canceled the prom. Then it was announced a prom would be held and Constance could go and take her girlfriend. But it was a fake prom. There were 7 students at this fake prom. Besides Constance, the other students in attendance were kids with disabilities. Where were the rest of the classmates of these kids? Oh, yeah, they were at another prom that the parents (and probably the school officials) put on, the "real" prom. It angers me to no end that they did this. What does that say about them as people, as a community? Not only did they discriminate horribly against Constance, but they discriminated against those with disabilities. They essentially said that if you are different from us, then you are not allowed to be with us and enjoy the things we enjoy. That is cold, heartless, and despicable.

I've also been disgusted by the reports of kids and teens committing suicide due to bullying. This is slightly off topic because not all the cases have to do with the child being gay or perceived as gay. But the fact that it's happening at all, for ANY reason is sickening. The kids doing the bullying can't take all the blame. If they are learning this type of anger, hate, discrimination, or behavior from their parents - then the parents need to have their parental rights stripped away. If you think it is okay for your kids to act this way, then you deserve to be punished as much, if not more, than your children that are doing these awful acts.


Here are a couple of organizations that are bringing attention to the issues of the GLBT community:
We Give A Damn
Human Rights Campaign
Get involved. Speak your mind. Show your support.
Even if you disagree with the lifestyle, but support the people in your life who are gay or lesbian, you can get involved. You can still show the ones you love, and the world in general, that you stand behind them and that they matter - as family & friends, as important members of society, as human beings. Just take that step. It could help open hearts and minds everywhere.

Okay, I'm putting my soap box away again...for now. Please be kind. Please show love. Our differences do not make us good or bad, better or worse than anyone else. Our differences make us stronger, better people when we can learn to live with and accept those differences for what they are.


Thank you for reading from Rdwnggrl's World.

Kids That Care Do Great Things!

It may be April 1st, but today's blog is no joke.

There is a young man named Tyler Chilcote who is raising money for the Diabetic Youth Foundation. His family (himself included) has been affected by Type 1 Diabetes. And as a family they are participating in the Families In The Forest Walk and FUNraiser in Sacramento. The event starts on April 18th and Tyler has set a goal of raising $3000 for the DYF.
PLEASE help Tyler and his family reach their goal. Their personal donation page for the DYF is HERE. Giving and helping is easy! Just click on the Sponsor Us Now link toward the bottom of the page. Enter how much you want to donate, your info, and you are set! It doesn't matter if you give $5, $50, or $500 - every little bit helps!

I would also like to suggest that you visit Diabetes Dog from Peticular Fashions on Zazzle. All proceeds from sales of Diabetes Dog products will go toward DYF.
Here are a few of the great products you can find there:

diabetesdog-bmc, www.firstgiving.com/tylerchilcote by PeticularFashions
Browse Dogs4diabetes Postage

Sully Diabetes Dog from PeticularFashions by PeticularFashions
Create a canvas tote bag at zazzle.com

Dog Shirt - I LOVE a Diabetci by PeticularFashions
Browse other Dog Pet Clothing

Sully Diabetes Dog from PeticularFashions by PeticularFashions
Shop for more stickers at zazzle.com

Also, if you would, join the Peticular Fashions Facebook page. You will not only get to see some of the great products available at their Zazzle shop, but you will hear updates about Diabetes and other causes that they support.


Thank you for reading from Rdwnggrl's World!

Sweetest Perfection - Violator at 20

March 19th and 20th marked the 20th anniversary of the release dates (UK & US respectively) for Depeche Mode's Violator album. For many it was their introduction to Depeche Mode thanks to the success of the songs "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence." For others it was the next step for a band who had just about 2 years earlier had put on the concert of a lifetime at Pasadena's Rose Bowl with the 101st show on their Music for the Masses tour.
By the time Violator was released in 1990, I had been listening to Depeche Mode for 6 years. My introduction to their music came in 1984 with the song "People Are People." I still remember going to the record store and buying Some Great Reward on cassette. Soon after that came the purchases of Speak & Spell, A Broken Frame, and Construction Time Again, where I learned that I had also heard "Everything Counts" and "Just Can't Get Enough" on the radio long before PAP. I just never knew who sang them and was, I guess, too young at the time to have really formed a deep connection. But I soon became a devotee. Walls that were once covered in posters of Duran Duran became covered in posters of Depeche Mode. My first live show was on May 2, 1988 at the Seattle Center Coliseum on the MFTM tour.
I eagerly awaited the release of the follow up album, but I will confess that the first time I heard "Personal Jesus" I was less than impressed. It took me a few listens to warm up to it, but once I did, I was hooked. When Violator was released I was working at a record store so I was able to buy it right away. I was also able to play it when I worked - over and over. And over and over again I did. I loved this album. From the opening beats of "World In My Eyes" to the closing notes of "Clean" there was something special about Violator. The only song that didn't wow me was "Policy of Truth" - which to this day is still my least favorite song on the album. I don't dislike it, but it doesn't touch me in a way the rest of the songs do. Three of my Top 10 DM songs are on this album (Halo, Enjoy The Silence, & Waiting For The Night) with two others (Blue Dress & Clean) creeping in depending on my mood.
I wish Violator a very Happy Anniversary. It will always be a special album that will fill my life with incredible sounds and fun, exciting, and emotional memories. The subsequent tour found me traveling to both Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR to see them perform, and again, I was not disappointed. They remain, to this day, one of the greatest, yet most underrated (to non-fans) live bands around. And 20 years on, "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence" remain concert staples - with occasional appearances by "World In My Eyes," "Policy of Truth," and "Halo" - always crowd favorites.

Thanks for reading from Rdwnggrl's World.

Are We Listening to Hymns of Offering?

The title of this blog comes from the "The World I Know" from Collective Soul, a song I love and that seems to ask questions about us and our role in this world we know. Seemed fitting for this blog post.

I wanted to do a quick spotlight of a few things/causes that are important to me. One is new, the others I've mentioned before but are worth mentioning again, as they should not be forgotten.

First I want to bring your attention to a young lady named Satori. She is the daughter of a friend I've met through Twitter, Melissa from @HautTotes. Satori, or Tori, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (type II). She is going to be undergoing a full spinal fusion at the end of March. Her mom has started a campaign to gather (receive) as many postcards as they can, addressed to Tori, from all over the US and the world. Please read my friend's blog and consider sending them a postcard. The blog, Postcards for Satori, explains what Tori will be having done, what they hope to be learning with the postcards, along with the address to send them to.


Next I want to remind everyone about Bears On Patrol! They are working to make tough situations bearable for children in traumatic situations. When police officers respond to emergency calls and children are involved, wouldn't it be nice if they had a soft and cuddly teddy bear to give to those children to help calm them? That's the goal of Bears on Patrol. Through auctions, direct donations, and a special shop on Zazzle, BOP is raising money to purchase bears for local and distant police departments. Please consider visiting their website to find out more information and for ways you can help. And check out their Zazzle shop for awesome products with great designs by fellow Zazzle artist. On the website you will also find the link to their Facebook page.


While the climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro may be over, the need for clean water still goes on, thus the continued fight by Summit on the Summit to bring attention to the global clean water crisis. On Sunday, March 14th at 9pm ET, MTV will be airing the Summit on the Summit documentary which chronicles the need, the fight, and the climb. Thanks to Kenna, a group of artists, activists, actors, and more joined together, trained, and climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in January of this year. Inspired by stories told to him by his father about losing family to waterborne illnesses, Kenna knew he needed to do something to bring attention to this little known issue. Please visit Summit on the Summit for more information and to donate. Follow Kenna and Summit on the Summit on Twitter (@OKKenna & @SOTSK) and on Facebook (Kenna & Summit on the Summit).


Thank you for reading, thank you for supporting, from Rdwnggrl's World.

What is this Zazzle thing anyway?

And what is a rdwnggrl?

I try to do a blog report every day (at least every week day) and most of them are promotional blogs for products that I sell, or that friends sell, on Zazzle. But I realized after talking to some people that not everyone knows what Zazzle is or what they do, so they have no idea what it is I'm even promoting.

I also know not many people know what "rdwnggrl" is or means. The answer to that is quick and easy. Rdwnggrl = Red Wing Girl. It comes from my love of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team.

So back to Zazzle. Zazzle is a POD, or Print on Demand, site where designers can open up a shop and place their designs/photography on different products and put them up for sale. If someone comes along and sees the item, likes the items, and decides to buy the item, they purchase it and then Zazzle prints and ships it. To find out more about Zazzle click HERE. There you can learn about the company, buying, selling, creating, and becoming a Zazzle associate. If you love to take photographs, draw, design, do digital art, then consider opening a Zazzle shop. If not, then consider shopping at Zazzle. It's the place for unique, fun, beautiful, creative, and different designs.
Zazzle is a great place to make a little extra money. Some designers make a living off of Zazzle. I'm not one of them, but I do make a little here and there to help out. You don't even have to be a shopkeeper at Zazzle to make money. Sign up, become an associate, and promote other peoples products. If it sells, you get a referral fee from it! Find out more about the Zazzle Associate Referral Program HERE!

The product quality is great and the selection of design and designers can't be beat! The Zazzle family is second to none, seriously. I've been with Zazzle for 3 1/2 years now and can't imagine ever leaving.

Besides the thousands of talented artists and designers on Zazzle, you can also find musical artists, causes, world famous brands, and more! Where else can you customize Star Wars, Disney, and Barbie gear? Choose your design, choose your style, and add some text if you want. The possibilities are endless!

Product types available on Zazzle range from shirts to skateboards, letterhead to mugs, invitations to pet clothing, stickers to shoes - and everything is customizable. When you see a design you must have on a shirt, but you don't like the shirt style or color it's displayed on, change the style, change the color. Do you want to add text to the awesome magnet you found? Go for it! That's the really cool thing about Zazzle - besides getting original designs by talented artists, you can customize it to make it even more unique and just the way you like it!

Here are samples of a few products that you can find at Zazzle:

PeaceLoveEngland by rdwnggrl
Make a magnet on Zazzle

Shamrock by rdwnggrl
See other Ireland Stickers

Staff Meeting by rdwnggrl
Design mousemats on Zazzle

Happy Birthday! by rdwnggrl
Create custom imprinted coffee mugs at Zazzle

Save The Date by rdwnggrl
Browse more Hydrangea Cards

Speckeld Flamingo by rdwnggrl
Design your own custom shoe at Zazzle

TrainOfThought by rdwnggrl
See more Train of thought T-Shirts

Tying the Knot by rdwnggrl
Browse other Couple Postage

From Out Of The Fire by rdwnggrl
Browse more Skulls Skateboards

Any occasion, any reason - whatever you need, you'll find at Zazzle. So check out Zazzle today and be sure to keep up with my blogs for great products, great ideas, and great specials! You never know what you might find!!!

Thanks for reading from Rdwnggrl's World!

Police Officers, Children, & BEARS - Oh My!

Have you heard about Bears On Patrol yet? If not, then what are you waiting for?
Bears On Patrol provides police officers with teddy bears to give to children in times of crisis. They have been approached by the Philadelphia Police Department to provide them with 1,000 teddy bears. But to do that, they need to raise the money to purchase the bears and dress them in shirts with the police department logo. Visit the Bears On Patrol website for more information, including ways to help out and donate.
One way Bears On Patrol is trying to raise money is with a special shop on Zazzle. The proceeds from all sales at the Bears On Patrol Zazzle Shop will go toward their goal for the Philly PD, along with other departments that request help. They have asked fellow Zazzle designers to help create teddy bear designs to place on the great products Zazzle has to offer. I'm very proud to say that my 5 year old son wanted to help our friends at Bears On Patrol and did his very own drawing of a teddy bear that is now available as a card. He has a favorite teddy bear that he got when he was born that he named Bear Bear (or Beary for short). His drawing is based on Bear Bear.

Here is his contribution, along with a few other products available:

Bear of Encouragement by BearsOnPatrol
Browse more Bears Cards

Bears for BOPS by BearsOnPatrol
Design a make a tote bag from Zazzle

Just A Bear by BearsOnPatrol
Make personalized coffee mugs on zazzle

Chip the Bear by BearsOnPatrol
View other stickers available on zazzle

Basic Bear Hug by BearsOnPatrol
View other Bears T-Shirts

Ricaso Fuzzy Friends by BearsOnPatrol
View more bumper sticker designs on zazzle.com

This is by no means the entire collection. PLEASE visit the Bears On Patrol Zazzle Shop and/or Bears On Patrol to see other products and other ways to help.

I also want to remind everyone about another great shop on Zazzle that is raising money to help Hope for Haiti. Hearts 4 Haiti is selling stickers, buttons, and magnets with all proceeds going to Hope For Haiti. All of the beautiful designs were created by a number of talented Zazzle artists and brought together by JamieCreates. She has worked tirelessly to set up the shop, upload all of the images onto the products, and promote this great cause. I encourage you to check out this shop.

Thank you for reading and helping support some great causes from Rdwnggrl's World!