Funny Video
This video made me laugh pretty hard in some spots. I thought I would share it. I LOVE listening to these types of talks... So this is kind of hilarious to me because I've listened to literally maybe, thousands of these types of talks either while doing dishes, or mowing the lawn, or at the gym, or on runs and it's sooo true that they are all pretty much just like this.
Anyways... Hopefully it makes you all laugh too.
Lock and Key Event (Orlando Bloom Outfit Is A Hit)
Last night... I did not meet the girl I will marry.
Or who knows, heck, maybe I did but don't know it yet, or maybe she walked right by me outside on the sidewalk below and I had no idea. It's possible. She could have been at the place next door sitting with family or friends or a third or fifth wheel to two other married people, wondering if she'll ever get married one day herself. Meanwhile both of us have no clue just how close we were to meeting one another.
As of right now... I have no future wedding plans. We'll leave it at that.
Instead... I mean, it was entertaining at least. Also I learned few things...
For one, I'm not too bad off on the dating game game thing. I mean... I did draw some interest. So maybe I need to check my insecurities and worries as the door and let myself get a little confident. Maybe not overly confident because no one likes a cocky person, but hey... I'm not too bad looking when I get all dressed up, and I'm pretty funny and interesting. Being able to pull out someone's phone and show them my music on their Spotify app is a crowd pleaser for sure. And if that fails, there's always, I'm writing a book. And if that doesn't draw interest the Beverly Hills trust fund story is another card available, which I didn't mention last night.
I learned that people like things that are already made. Not... I'm going to be doing this, or making this. People like to hear completed past accomplishments and not... Future accomplishments in the works.
Seriously though, tonight there was a lot of hair flipping happening. That Yale course is SPOT on. Women really do flip their hair when they are interested. I bet they have no idea they are even doing it. They kind of sit up, or stand up a little more and arch their backs... It's crazy weird how true it is.
And when they aren't interested... They just kind of curl inwards and look away and avoid eye contact. Actually... That didn't happen tonight at all.
Funny how far a teeth stain removing/whitening... a haircut... a beard trim... and replicating Orlando Bloom's outfit will take you.
So, I left work at 5. I came home and catered to the cats. Then I put on my Orlando Bloom outfit... I fought the traffic and tried to find street parking, instead I just paid 20 bucks for parking instead.
I love street parking. It's like an accomplishment almost. If you can find it... You feel like... You won at the car parking downtown game. If you can't though? It's like... Okay, I guess I'll park in a lot and just pay the 20 bucks. I usually find a spot. Last night I ALMOST had a spot but I was forced to pass it on the first go around as the traffic was in too much of a steady flow and by the time I circled back around, someone was just paralleling into it.
So... When I first arrived it was a sausage-fest and a half. We sat around twiddling our thumbs just wondering if we'd been had. One guy asked "So, do you think any women are going to show up at all?". We were assured by the event coordinators that there were indeed a fair number for each sex.
Eventually one by one the girls shuffled in, very much so fashionably late.
All the guys received keys and all the girls received locks.
Immediately off the bat...
Things were a little tense.
There were two girls present that I'd been on dates with previously from the dating site. Lucky for me... They were both cool about it. It was just one of those.... We went on a date... It kind of was in that... "I'm not sure" phase... and never got past that.
The idea of running into people again that you basically think you will never see again... It just fascinates me. It's strange. We think that we'll never see someone again.. So we kind of do this thing where we're just like "Well, best of luck to you!".
And that's that. Best of luck... Like... See ya. Wouldn't wanna be ya. Peace out cub scout... You're forever gone from my life...
Until you walk into a room and there they are again. Oh. Hi. Soooooooo.
"About that whole best of luck peace out cub scout later alligator thing we said."
"Yeah. About that..."
"Soooo..."
"SOOOO...."
"What have you been up to?"
"Oh nothing. Just stuff. What about you?"
"Yeah. Same. Stuff."
Anyways... People locked and keyed. A couple of people did find matches. So each time you find a match you then get a raffle ticket. The more raffle tickets you have the better chance you have of winning. I found out that this guy named Greg had gone to at least 3 or 4 other lock and key events and he was just going around to EVERYONE not even talking, just locking and keying until he got a match. They apparently are going to ban him from signing up for the event as he keeps winning the raffle. And the point of the event is to meet and talk and not just win prizes.
Well, I actually left and went and got some food after the event was over with two of the other lock and key people. One of them was indeed a previous dating site person. We friended up on Facebook. I also friended up with her friend. But I think the keyword is friends. I just wasn't feeling a super romantic vibe. But I always welcome more friends in my life!
We ate and had another drink at this next place. They had to catch a train. I decided to go back in to sip on some more water to let the beer wear off before driving.
While I was sipping on some water, another girl started up a conversation with me. We chatted for a while...
Her boyfriend finally came over. We were introduced. The three of us started chatting. Nice people.
I feel as though I'm an expert at third wheeling couples these days. This happened last weekend at the Longwood Garden's Wine and Jazz Festival. The two people I met just kind of sucked me in.
It's not a bad thing... I mean, so ideally, in a perfect world, if you're single you get dressed up, and you go out... and you start talking to someone of the opposite sex that is single.
I mean... This isn't an ideal world. So... If I meet a couple and then they have a friend that I become friends with, and then that friend has a friend that was dating some guy for a few years and they broke up, and then that friend introduced me to the girl that broke up with her previous boyfriend... and then we end up hitting it off... Sometimes things go like that!
The best way to meet someone... Is to meet lots of people. Just like the best way, as Greg apparently figured out at the lock and key event, to win the raffle... Is to have a lot of raffle tickets by turning in as many matched locks as he could.
If getting married is like winning the lottery, and each lottery ticket is meeting a new person, even if they are currently in a relationship or married... You can increase your chances by buying lots of lottery tickets, or meeting lots of people. Not all relationships work out. Not all marriages work out. People that are in relationships or married have friends that are single. Making new friends could lead to potential dates. People are more likely to date a friend because they trust that person and know that person and there is less pressure.
Well anyways there you have it. Key take away from the night was... Dress like a celebrity! My next night out... I'm going to do some Google searching for celebrity fashion and then I'm going to do some shopping.
It's not only fun, it's a confidence booster. And then the whole night you know who you are trying to be. You're trying to become and act like that celebrity. You're trying to get into character in your mind and carry yourself how that celebrity might carry themselves. You can pretend that you not only look like a million bucks, you also have a million bucks. Because people are attracted to rich confidence.
Philly Beer Week Stuff
Somehow I managed to not do a single beer week thing. I wanted to go to at least one event.
I leave for Maine though next Sunday... So I'm busy organizing things for that. I have a friend cat sitting/house sitting while I'm gone and such.
I feel like I've just been busy again this week organizing and emailing and taking care of more things with both my mom's estate and our trust. The trust is now being setup with the new trustee and I was emailing with him yesterday and finding documents that he needed to try and quicken the pace along.
It looks like in the next couple months things will finally be completed with both of those and then...
I can focus on music and writing and what not. Eventually I plan to sell the house too and just downsize to a smaller apartment. This will give me more capital to invest in creative things and as well give me less responsibilities.
My plan is to basically get out and do more both with music and socializing. I feel like after the house is finally sold even and I've downsized significantly and I then have converted a lot of the physical things and all accounts have been disbursed... I don't know... It will be much more of a breath of fresh air.
I'll be able to travel freely and just have a small townhouse or condo or something that I don't have to worry as much about cutting the lawn or anything like that.
I'm going to try to make it in the mean time before all of this stuff is setup and I have all this capital to put into making music and writing books and maybe even going to acting auditions and such in NYC and other things like that... and just in general traveling. Maybe take a cruise or two here or there. I'm not sure yet.
It's all new to me. I've never had the amount of money I'm about to have. So, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. Obviously the plan in life was to have found a significant other by now and to have just shared all this wealth with her... But that didn't happen yet. So maybe by going out to lots of things like beer week events... and going on cruises and such...
I might then meet a girl. It would be nice. I just get so jealous when I see people posting on Facebook about "2 years ago today I met the love of my life" Or whatever. Or "Married 5 years and I can't imagine not coming home to this person."
Sigh. Some day I'll find that.
Who knows... Maybe I'll run into her at this lock and key thing.
Anyways... For now... I'm just going to consolidate and wrap up things with my mom's estate and the trusts and move all that money into income generating investments.... Eventually sell the house and buy a little condo or townhouse or just rent.
Then I'll travel a lot more. I'll just focus on trying to maybe play shows in different cities and go out and try to meet as many people as I can in hopes of finding that one girl that we both just end up status updating about one another and how we can't be with out each other. That is the dream after all. Just trying to find a little piece of that dream for myself that so many other people seem to have found and tell to the world on all their social media accounts every day.
So hopefully I find that too. Just have to keep up hope that she's out there somewhere and we eventually cross paths.
Lock and Key Pre-Blog
As I mentioned last night that I'd finally picked out an outfit for tonight along with a hair-doo and had my teeth all shammied up nice and white again, I'm now ready to take on this lock and key singles event.
Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm kind of nervous. Why? Actually truth be told I hate going out in the city. I mean, I like it... But... It's always a process. I always worry about someone breaking into my car, or some sketchy character walking behind me... I don't know... the city just kind of has always weirded me out. But the city is where all the people are. SO... To the city I go!
But that's not why I'm nervous... It's more that basically I'll be like... The undesirable guy in the place, while all the other guys all quickly pair off with a girl left and right, and then I'm there left talking to like 3 other guys that also didn't seem to make a connection either. For a guy, grabbing a girl's attention is REALLY hard. I mean... After all why should she even give YOU the time of day when she could give ANY other guy the time of day? And ANY other guy probably makes more money than you, is taller, is nicer, is funnier, is more qualified for the job of being 'boyfriend'/'eventually husband'. SO why should she even waste her time talking to you.
I hate that. And when I AM talking to a girl... I'm just thinking okay... So what's she thinking right now? Is she bored? Is there another guy across the room she's more interested in and I'm in her way. Is there another guy maybe elsewhere that she's thinking about? Is she only out at this event because her friends forced her to do it instead of her sitting at home again another night being single.
You never know. My big thing mostly is... Everywhere I go... I'm like... the short guy. So I'm standing around with a group of people and there's these guys to my left and right talking to girls and the girls are all twirling their hair in their fingers.... and super interested. And here I am like trying to look up over someone's shoulder even to be seen just to order a drink. Meanwhile some guy that's 6'2" is like "What are you having buddy? I'll order for you."
And then the girl next to him turns to him and says, "That was so nice of you to help him out!" And then her and him start chatting.
But, I guess I just keep trying. Just keep going out and eventually there will be that one... I mean... Maybe not.... maybe I'll just end up like in my mid 50s and still single. Who knows. But.... Just have to keep trying. At least I tried.
So I'll go and just kind of see how it is. Anyways... I think my outfit looks decent and I'm just going to try and strike up as many conversations as possible and have her end it. I'll keep talking to someone until she looks at her watch and says... "Well look at the time!"
And that will be that. Maybe if a girl seems kind of interested... I'll offer to buy her a drink. I did that at the wine and jazz festival. She was talking to me while tasting for a little while, and even kind of made a couple jokes. And then I made a joke back. And we both laughed. So I offered to buy her a glass and then she was like "Well if you're offering I'm not going to turn down a drink!" and as soon as I bought her the glass of wine she was like... "Well thanks for the drink!" And off she went in the complete opposite direction.
But hey... That's how it goes in the dating game. You get a lot of bad leads. You chase people that aren't 100 percent about you even if you are 100 percent about them. But at the same time you also have to figure out how to back away from someone that might be 100 percent about you that you're not 100 percent back. You basically get kind of trampled on a lot, and at times I guess you also unfortunately have to trample on other's hearts... until you meet that one person that makes all of those failed attempts into this one time it does work... It makes it seem sweeter than ever because all of a sudden there's someone that doesn't just walk off with a free drink. They actually care about you. They don't just kind of think you are interesting or funny but not interesting or funny enough to date. Or they don't just want to be friends. Or they don't just want to kind of hang out with you sometimes and not others.
They want you. For you. And they can't imagine life without you. And you can't imagine life without them. And then you look back at all the super crap-tastic dates, and all the nights you fell asleep drunk and alone...
And it just makes this person seem so much more rare and amazing.
So, until that happens... I just keep trudging through the horrors of dating and forcing myself to go out to things like the lock and key singles event.
Because what else is there? So we'll see. I'll write a full post with all the details of the night. Even if I just end up standing in the corner all night drinking a couple beers and checking my phone a million times even though the last text I got was 5 hours previous.
Lock and Key Outfit
I've been debating what to wear all week for this lock and key event. I stood in front of the mirror trying different outfits on and different hair styles.
I decided firstly to get a haircut as my hair was just out of control. Initially I was going to go back to the standard spike cut. Then at the last minute I decided to instruct the hair stylist to leave it a little longer.
Basically what I have now is a little more of a sophisticated 30 something look. I was going for a more mature/grown up look to more match my age. I am still using styling putty but instead of looking like a punk rock kid... I'm now more of a groomed and combed 30 ish more mature gentleman look.
I trimmed my beard as well to the lowest level my beard trimmer supports. So now it says... Gentleman and maturity. The beard is neat and trim now and the hair is styled and shorter but with a little bit of length to still play around with and give it some wave to the styling component.
Next I needed the clothing bit. I searched for a few looks and then randomly happened upon the dress shirt with jeans look. I found an Orlando Bloom photo that looked like I might be able to pull off what he had going on.
I found one of my light blue dress shirts combined with my dark blue jeans. I matched that with a solid black belt and some sport shoes. I tucked in the shirt for more of a sophisticated look. Some pictures with dress shirt and jeans show the shirt untucked. I'm keeping the top button unbuttoned.
Finally I rolled up the sleeves half way. I don't know what kind of magic that is or how it works... But a fancy shirt with half rolled up sleeves just seems to looks quite dapper.
It's a start. I like it. generally I just go with jeans and a plain T.... But I like the more fancy T.
Next up, I had a teeth cleaning at the dentist this week to clean up the tea and coffee stain. SO my teeth are back to white.
I'm definitely ready to go to the lock and key event now! The event is tomorrow night. I'm not REALLY expecting to meet the love of my life there. In fact, I'm sure I'll leave alone and slightly buzzed and it will be semi boring. But what I'm more interested in is trying out new fashion trends. I've never really been one to really get dressed up... But the idea of Googling famous actors and trying to mimic what they wear and then going out on the town or to an event dressed like they are dressed is kind of really fun!
The idea just sort of sparked on me to... Why not FIND a photo of a celebrity that I like... and then try to match their outfit and hairstyle using what I have in my own closet? Or if need be I can go out shopping for some new things.
It's actually a lot of fun. So, this lock and key event is mostly just a test run for when I do meet that one that matters.
My next thing is to go shopping for some new shoes and belts. I want to check out some things around Philly that I've never been to before that require a more sophisticated dress code. Like I said before I've never been the type to go to clubs or fancier bars and do that whole try to pick someone up in that manner. I don't really see myself even talking to a girl at any of these events. I'm more just going for myself to boost my confidence and basically just go out dressed up real slick and fancy to a swanky place. Being like the ONLY single person of pretty much everyone you know, and for that matter... Not just single but... Almost EVERYONE I know is married. So it's not even that they are in relationships that are going nowhere or that they might eventually break up...
They all were in relationship that made it and they all did the whole engagement and wedding thing.
And I'm here just still going on a stray first date or send date every now and then and just really not making much of a connection. I want to try meeting someone out in the real world. I'm over the online dating scene. I really just want to meet someone in real life, exchange numbers, then go on a first/second/third etc. date. In real life.
Or, just go out and make new friends even! Nothing wrong with making new friends. A friend could have another friend that might know another friend that could be the one that I might end up marrying. Or at least finding myself in a relationship where we start to fall in love for one another.
So yeah, I'm excited now that I have an outfit for this event picked out. My new goal is simply to find neat and fun events...
And then build outfits to match the event. And if need be... Go out and do some clothing shopping to find something. Use celebrity fashion photos to get ideas for existing outfits and go from there!
So tomorrow night's outfit? Is Orlando Bloom inspired. Thanks Orlando!
Smart Ride
So, I switched over to Nationwide for my car insurance. They gave me a really big discount to bundle car and home insurance and switch from Progressive. I've been with Progressive since 2007. It was definitely a decision that wasn't that easy to make.
Generally when I find something that works and I like it... I keep it. I'm not big on hopping from one thing to another to another to another. Usually there are hidden costs and other things that most people don't account for.
One thing is the time and effort it takes to make the switch. For example... If you're going to make 2 grand more a year to take a new job, but you have to move to an area where rent is 3 grand more a year.
Doesn't make sense. Also there's all the moving related expenses, packing up all your stuff and then getting to the new area. Making new friends, finding a new doctor, and dentist and favorite coffee shop and gym and what not. There's the time and effort to learn the new job etc. etc.
It's more about does it make you happy. A pay cut could be worth it if you LOVE the job.
Well anyways, I switched over to Nationwide because the service seems comparable and the savings are significant.
Just like my example above there is a "hidden" effort related cost. So they sent me a small device to put in my car and track my driving for the next 180 days. I didn't know this would be happening until after I received the device in the mail.
They have me using this thing called Smart Ride thing to track my driving and see how well I'm doing. Some people might not be happy about having their driving tracked in real time. It uses a cell network and you can see your information each day at the end of the day. You can see how many miles you drive, what times of day, how fast you drove and if you were stepping on the gas pedal and brakes really hard.
I drive like a grandma apparently according to the data. Not a bad thing... In fact, I'm green across the board. SO far I'm on track to save an additional 40 percent on my insurance!
My thing is... That's just how I normally drive. I like space between myself and the cars in front of me and behind me. I like to take my time and check for details. I do the same thing with work. I do the same thing in my personal life. I move slowly and cautiously. I take a long time to produce new songs, I'm taking time with my books. I edit emails. Pay attention to detail. Make lists and check things off the lists.
I'm not generally one of those people who rides someone's bumper. It's strange... I've always kind of thought to myself well... You can infer some things from people depending on how they live their life in other ways. Some people have said... Well that's not cool to judge someone's personality based on what kind of car they drive or how they drive... But...
I mean if you drive a hybrid and you have a yoga mat in the back of your car next to your whole foods grocery bags.... I think that says something different than if you drive a sports car and keep a gym bag in the back. Or if you drive a pick up truck and have your hunting equipment next to your pair of boots.
It's not bad... it just says something about your personality.
Nationwide apparently agrees. So if you hard brake a lot and hard accelerate a lot, which is defined by decelerating and accelerating more than 7.7 MPH that's considered higher risk for driving.
I think there are definitely personality types for driving. Just like Nationwide, I feel like if you accelerate hard, ride up on a bumper and brake hard...
You're more likely to get in an accident. You're less likely to be careful and pay attention.
Maybe I've just never really liked people who ride your bumper. Just like I don't much care for people who honk as soon as the light changes green. Everyone has a natural reaction time... I will give people at least a good 5 seconds or more to start moving. If they are obviously not paying attention I'll tap my horn. But I'm very conservative with it.
But... Why be in a hurry? I've found a lot of life is more about fate and chance and just being in the right place at the right time.
You could actually be so quick to get places that you miss a good chance!
So... I'll keep driving my slow and steady pace and get my discount for it. And those horn honking ride your bumper pedal to the metal and slam on the brake drivers? You can pay out the nose for car insurance.
I'll take my Smart Ride savings and be perfectly fine to drive the way Nationwide wants me to drive. Which just so happens to be the way I already drive.
Beer With My Cousin
Went out last night for a beer with my cousin. I hadn't seen him in a while. He's one cool dude. We hang out every now and then. My mom and him grew up together. He's traveled the world. Always traveling and traveling. He comes in to town every once in a while and shares stories of his world travels.
It's always nice to reconnect with someone from the your past/people who knew you when you were growing up.
I remember as a little kid we used to go over to his parents' house for dinners and such. He would always stop by when he was in town and show us some sort of international coin of some sort from his travels. His dad had an old world rare coin collection and would show us coins from European kingships and queenships.
Our plan is to grab another beer when he's in town next in December.
In other news, I emailed the trustee and he emailed back. Let's just say... My life is definitely going to change fairly dramatically in the coming months... No two ways about it. It feels a little like... I guess for lack of a better term, a transfer of a crown.
There's just kind of a strange comforting feeling knowing that there's money out there with your name on it. Even if you don't have the money in your pocket. Knowing that it's out there and your name is on the owners label and that it's being managed for you by a team of individuals. It just makes you feel more grounded. More calm and at ease. I can't explain it. It makes you feel a little more confident and kind of... Like you're "in the club" of whatever the club is. Like I'm at the helm of a ship now that I used to just be a passenger on. With my crew beside me assisting.
Like a fringe royalist. I don't think that's a term. I don't know what a fringe royalist is. But I'm going to call myself a fringe royalist. Not really royalty. And I don't know if I'd want to be. Maybe. I don't know. That seems like a strange life to lead. I don't know if I want to be a royalist even at a fringe level. But I like to say that I'm closely tied to money that initially, if you trace it all the way to its roots, came from a prince of some sort in old school Germany. There's apparently some castle that still stands that was once owned by someone in my grandfather's lineage on my mom's side.
So, historically speaking, I'm fringe royalty. And I guess my cousin might be as well.
So there we sat last night sharing stories and a Stella at a local pub. Much like our ancestors might have done many years ago.
3 Arts Entertainment
New development today on the serendipity thing.
I'm chatting with my friend Kate about life and what not (we know one another from way back in high-school days). Turns out... There's a production company that also calls the same building as my trust their home...
Now get this, my friend Kate writes for a show on Tru TV called "Those Who Can't" that is produced by a company in Beverly Hills...
Which company?
3 Arts Entertainment. Which just so happens to be the SAME company that shares the same building as my trust.
Yep. Parks and Rec is one of the shows they have produced. In the movie side of things they also have a few heavy hitting films.
What are the odds? Small world. Could this be the production company to bring a cinematic version of my book to life? Maybe. Only time will tell. I have just finished crafting a "quick hello" letter to my new trustee. I plan to edit and proof it before emailing it his way.
Who knows, perhaps one day a copy of my book might find its way on to the desk of one of the 3 Arts Entertainment executives.
Maybe not. Maybe it's nothing. But maybe it's something. Everything starts with a maybe and a possiblity.
I find it kind of crazy that I have not one... but two separate contacts closely associated with this production company.
Here's a little list of their credits...
Water for Elephants
30 Rock
Bored to Death
Chelsea Lately
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Everybody Hates Chris
Extract
The Goode Family
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
King of the Hill
Kings
Maneater
The Office
Parks & Recreation
The Starter Wife
The Extra Man
Here's a longer list of other things that 3 Arts Entertainment has produced...
Wine and Jazz
Went to the wine and jazz festival at Longwood Gardens on Saturday. It was a LOT of fun. I actually wasn't sure what to expect or how it might go, but it was REALLY neat!
I got up early, so as to be able to leave early, and... get there early. At least that was the idea when my alarm went off. I had a list of chores I wanted to accomplish before heading out. I also had a quick prep list as well for the wine and jazz event.
-Make meals to bring with me since they allowed us to pack a cooler and bring food to the event.
-Pack sunscreen. LOTS of sunscreen. I burn and crisp like nobody's bizznisp.
-Pack poncho and umbrella in case of rain, it was a 30 percent chance.
-Find lazy creek chair. Or whatever it's called. It's one of those sit on the grass loungy chairs that you can lean back and put your feet out and it holds your back up with the front. Came in handy during the final concert.
-Throw together extra clothing in case of rain, or major wine spill catastrophe.
With my food and items all packed I set off. Unfortunately I had forgot that I needed to get gas as well, and visit the ATM for extra cash. So I did those two. I ran into some traffic on the drive there, it was only about an hour or so away and on a Saturday as well, but there were plenty of cars also driving my way.
I arrived and parked in the sticks. I was directed to an overflow field type of parking lot WAY off away from the main Longwood Gardens parking lot.
When I FINALLY got to the entrance it was almost 45 minutes after 2. The event began at 2pm. Drats. That's okay though, plenty of time to enjoy wine tastings and music. I pulled out my phone and member card along with driver's license. They scanned all three and I was on my way into the gardens and festival.
My first stop was the table containing all the wine tasting glasses. I picked up a complimentary glass and headed to the first tasting tent. The tents stretched on as far as the eye could see! There were LOTS of wineries/vineyards present. Each one had a very nice selection of wines.
A full list of the wineries along with links to each one can be found on this page, it's on the left side of the page in the gray box "2016 Wineries"...
http://longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/wine-jazz-festival
They had 4 different stages setup with music cycling through at different times. Each artist had a couple set times so if you missed one, you could get them again at the next show. I managed to get to three, I missed the 4th stage, or I at least walked by it, but didn't really get to sit and watch. So I spent my time wandering around chatting with different folks, tasting different wines, and taking in the tunes.
I bought two bottles of wine. One was just a cabernet sauvignon--or as this one girl standing near me kept calling it "cab sav"--that I really liked. The other was an interesting port wine. The second was my "wild card" purchase. I decided to purchase one good normal one and then go for something different or interesting for my second bottle. A red wine that was infused with grape brandy and espresso beans. Oh gosh. So good. It's called The Raven's Roast, after Edgar Allen Poe's poem.
http://www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com/index.php/wine-shop/product/41-ravens-roast
The wine tasting and 3 of the jazz stages ended around 7pm. At that time the 4th stage, or main stage, became the place to be. The final act was hoppin'. People were dancing. Lots of people that had purchased bottles were opening their bottles and sharing with neighbors, friends, strangers. Wine = love. Lots of love happening.
The main act was a fellow by the name of Arturo Sandoval. A trumpet master from Cuba. He put on quite the show. Everyone laughed and enjoyed the music.
Here's the blurb from the website:
"The dynamic and vivacious Cuban jazz trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval, will provide an electrifying Wine & Jazz finale on our Orchard Stage.
Arturo Sandoval has been seen by millions at the Oscars, the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards. A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences to American Jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer."
For that final show I linked up with some new friends that I'd started chatting with a short while earlier on the way down to the Orchard Stage, Kyle and Chelsea. We sat on the grass chatting and sharing wine and making jokes. It was a fun time for sure. Sadly I didn't manage to swap any contact information with the couple so... They went their way with their wine, and I went mine.
Well, a lot of people, myself included just kind of waited around a little while for the traffic to trickle out. I munched on some of my food that I still had remaining and listened to some music in my car.
Guilty pleasure: I may have listened to Justin Timberlake's new single maybe 2 or 3 times before listening to my usual playlist.
So, that was the wine and jazz festival recap. I'll be back next year. I had a LOT of fun! And I ended up purchasing two nice bottles of wine as well to have at home and enjoy at a later time.
Related Instagrams:
Jazz music at its finest. #WelcomeMyCubanFriend #MuchLove #ArturoSandoval #LetsBeBestFriends #wineandjazz A photo posted by Kenny (@kennywest82) on
Lady Dragon Gold’s Cosmo Girl Fan Club (Cosmopolitan Magazine)
So, I followed Julie Vadnal on Twitter out of boredom. Or, more curiosity I suppose.
Who is Julie Vadnal? Let me back up.
On Saturday night I was out in West Chester. I was at a bar watching a DJ and drunk people dance. I was having a beer. I decided, out of boredom at the bar while I was finishing my beer and then waiting to be sober enough to drive home, to make up a game:
Try to find someone famous from my Facebook friends' friends' friends' friends... Etc. However many levels of friends it took.
I failed to find anyone famous. Instead, I found the senior editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Not bad. I ended my game, and went on my way.
Fast forward to today. I was looking back through my Facebook posts. I found that post from Saturday evening.
Out of curiosity I did a quick Googling. I found her Twitter. I followed her on Twitter.
I decided that it's high time I complete my Twitter story. Because I want to go back to normal Twittering. But, I have to finish the story first. So, I'm going to finish it.
In a way Julie has inspired me to try and finish my Twitter Story that I started last summer. So, thanks Julie for the quick bit of inspiration that you have no idea you gave me.