12.23.10 ~ Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone that reads my blog.  I hope you all have a great time with family and friends this weekend.  Oh, and make sure to sing PLENTY of CHRISTMAS CAROLS!!
Speaking of Christmas Carols, tonight at the Speakeasy we are in store for some great ones I’m sure.
Christmas Songs heard tonight:

1. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
2. Little Drummer Boy
3. Please Come Home for Christmas
4. The Hanukah Song
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. Blue Christmas

Tonight’s Line Up

1. Please Come Home for Christmas ~ Bon Jovi
2. I Think Were Alone Now ~ Tiffany
3. Queen of  Hearts ~ Juice Newton
4. Son of a Preacher Man ~ Dusty Springfield
5. Blue Christmas ~ Sheryl Crow
6. I Love A Rainy Night ~ Eddie Rabbit

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Tonight’s COCKTAIL of Choice: Hot Buttered Rum ~ Christmas In a Cup
Tonight’s Treat: German chocolate filled cupcakes w/ chocolate frosting ~ Merry Christmas Karaoke regulars!

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A whole concoction of songs this evening.  Everything from Ice Ice Baby to Johnny Cash to 80’s.  Watch out world we may have a musical explosion on our hands.
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Shannon, a regular, is belting out Man in the Mirror.  I LOVE THIS SONG!
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When I arrived this evening the bar was pretty hoppin’, by the time I got to my second song the place had emptied out.  You know what that means?  Shorter Karaoke Rotation!!! WOOT WOOT!!  A great way to kick of Christmas Weekend!
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It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!  Yes someone is singing Mister Rogers!  Fantabulous!
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So, I don’t know if we will actually have a musical explosion tonight.  There wasn’t really enough craziness for that to have happened.  All though Jeremy did get Shannon to dance.  Shannon doesn’t dance!
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To top the night off….I was singing my last song “I Love A Rainy Night”, Not only did I have a few dancers but I also had a percussion section complete with spoons!  Rock On!!!
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May you all have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
~The Boss Lady!

E.O. 12.16.10 ~ Back in the Swing of Things

12.16.10 ~ Back in the Swing of Things
It has been a WHOLE month since I have been able to share some great karaoke stories.  I am hoping that tonight brings some great of those stories!

Tonight’s Line Up

1. Be My Baby ~ Ronettes
2. Bette Davis Eyes ~ Kim Carnes
3. Queen of  Hearts ~ Juice Newton

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Tonight’s Drink of Choice: Pumpkin Pie Martini ~ Delicious
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The place is filled with all kinds of people tonight; birthday parties, end of the term parties, and just people out to have a good time. 
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The best line I have ever seen on the karaoke screen -  (do human beat box for 22 measures)
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Chris, a semi-regular is bringing done the house with Jump by Van Halen including jump kicks.
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It is now that time for Christmas Karaoke.  Someone just sang Last Christmas by Wham.  Did you know that this song is the most-hated holiday song in Bulgaria.
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I know that I should really be paying attention to the karaoke singers singing a “great” rendition of Love Shack, but I would rather be reading my favorite blogs.  Oh Wait!  That’s what I am doing!
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I love hearing GOOD powerhouse voices sing!  Right now there is a girl belting out some Amy Winehouse!
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I was thinking as I am sitting here waiting for my turn, which should be very soon, that people may think that I am anti-social.  Staring into a computer screen probably doesn’t help.  Or the fact that I sit in the same spot every week.  Whatever, I say!       1.  If people want to talk to me they can come talk to me 2. My spot is reserved!
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Thank You Shannon for the Quote of the Night: “You don’t smell bad, but you sure don’t smell pretty”
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The shotgun seat was occupied by Atom tonight.  Thank you for the crazy conversation and yes you do '”remind me of an old black man”. (you kinda had to be there)
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I only sang three songs tonight because I left early. The Reason: I have a Christmas Party to get ready!
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See you on the flip side ~ The Boss Lady

Making Apple Cider

 Thank you to my bestie Michelle and her parents Marilyn and Steve for the Apple Cider Making day!  With out all your apples and really sweet apple cider press we wouldn’t have been able to make those 14.5 gallons of apple cider.  Can’t wait to drink it at my annual Christmas Party!
 

Opal Mining

In August I got invited to spend the weekend with my Aunt Sara, her husband Len and my cousin Austene.  They took me opal mining!  Len as been doing this with his brothers for a rather long time.  Len and his brothers have mine share in a little place called Virgin Valley, NV. 

We started out driving all day on Saturday, stopped in Lakeview, OR at a tasty place called the Snack Shack for lunch. 

After lunch we headed to the camp.  Right before the camp is an old homestead called Kenny Camp.  It is obviously abandoned now, but here are some really cool pics of it.

View Full Album

We shortly arrived at the Mill Site, got settled and visited with the others at the Mill Site.  They where all so nice and hospitable.  Almost every night we spent with them eating, laughing and sharing stories.
The next day we where able to do some exploring.  Len touch us to some spots he hadn’t been to in several years.  First we set out to find petrified log.














After the petrified log we hiked around found some spots where the mine for opals.  I even stuck my foot in quicksand.  Only the side of my foot got muddied.  My aunt also stuck her foot in the quicksand, but she  got muddied all the way up to her ankle!  I warned her…..HAHA!
Did you notice the RAIN in the last picture.  Now remember we where in the Nevada desert, in the middle August!  Rain….nope  THUNDERSTORM YES!!!!  It lasted for about 30 minutes.  I LOVED it….Austene hated it!  That evening we got rested up for tomorrow is Opal Mining Day!
MINING DAY!
The dirt piles.  Instead of digging in the side of a mountain you can actually order your dirt, they will dig it out of the mountain for you and you then dig through the piles.  We started at 8:00a and finished at 4:00p.

Here is proof that I dug ALL DAY!  You should have seen the sunburn on the back of my neck.  OUCH!
 














For being in the middle of no where there was a really cool
chance for some desert pics and really sweet full moon!





 

Thank You for the

Great Adventure!

E.O. 11.11.10 ~ Happy Veterans Day!

Missing a week a karaoke kind of throws one of kilter, But I’m back and ready sing!  Last week, I chose to stay home because I head to Redmond the next day to attend the funeral of my friend Jeff.  Jeff was an amazing, loving, humorous young man.  He was deeply rooted in his Catholic faith and will truly be missed.  God has one more angel in heaven.

Tonight’s Line Up!

1. Have Mercy by The Judds
2. These Boots are Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra
3. 9-5 by Dolly Parton

Looks like tonight we will have some good crowds.  The law students are coming down and they always show up ready to have a great time!

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After about a dozen singers it looks as though the theme for the night is Good ‘Ol Country!  YEE HAW!!!!

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I love cliché karaoke!   People thinking that everyone sings this song….I’ll sing it too!  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  Good or bad it’s always a crowd pleaser!

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A packed night at the Speakeasy…..which makes for a good night for the bar…but I’m pretty sure I will only sing 3 songs…maybe…

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When I was singing Boots, there was the biggest crowd on the dance floor.  It was rather overwhelming.  My karaoke bubble almost got popped.

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I got to sing my 3 songs by the end of the night.  I wonder what next week will have in store for us.

~The Boss Lady

E. O. 10.28.10 ~ Happy Halloween ~ BOO!

 

Happy Halloween from my bar stool at the Oak Street Speakeasy!  It should be a spook-tacular evening!Tonight’s Line Up

1. Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield

2. I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow

3. One Way or Another by Blondie (NEW)

4. Knock 3 Times by Tony Orlando

5. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper

6. Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton

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The evening is getting of with a slow start, but the night is still young.  I however have not heard any Halloween themed karaoke songs.  I’m waiting…………………

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Well for the kick-off of Halloween Weekend it is pretty mellow.  I do however get to chat with a karaoke regular, Jeremy. 

Thanks for the convo!

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For all those of you who karaoke regulars that did not come out tonight, I brought cupcake treats!

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Thank You Seth Rogan look alike for singing my favorite Tenacious D.

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Two Speakeasy Staffers in a row

Atom singing my fav BeeGee’s song Tradgey

And

Alex singing Feed My Frankenstein!

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I just sang One Way or Another…I killed it except the part I practiced over and over at home.  A little more practice and I will have it!!!

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Happy Halloween Everyone!

~The Boss Lady

E.O. 10.14.10

Welcome to another exciting week of the Empty Orchestra.  What is in store for tonight, well it is to early to tell. 

Tonight’s Line Up

1. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelle’s
2. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
3. Hot Stuff by Donna Summer 

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It has been a long week and I am so ready for some kick ass karaoke this week.  I’m gonna try at least one new song tonight maybe two….All depends on if I’m feeling it!  

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I must say that there are some pretty dandy singers here tonight.  I haven’t heard an out of tune singer yet.  The night is still young.

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Last week we had the MacNcheese guy singing the Humpty Dance.  This week we have a spunky red head gal bringing down the house!!!  Not the person I would have imagined to sing the song but way to rock it!

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Tonight has been filled with all kinds of great karaoke I just heard “Whole New World” from Alladian and for your listening pleasure a version of Oke from Muskogee that I have never heard!  Amazing(sarcasm included)

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The night is complete when the staff and I dance to Paper Airplanes by MIA

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GO Jr.from North Carolina GO ~~ Last Dance with Mary Jane…..Jr. is Freestylin’  Tom Petty … WOW!! 

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Shake it like a polaroid picture…..Note to shelf: If you want people to dance while you sing or cheer really loudly BRING YOUR OWN POSSE!! 

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Thank you karaoke singers of the world for REALLY getting into your songs…..even if it means you have the urge to yell into the mic and you act on that urge.

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All that and Chicken Wings…

~The Boss Lady

E.O. 10.21.10

Good Evening Everyone!  Well tonight we may be store for some good crowds. The Ducks won their game tonight against UCLA and I’m pretty sure that people are going to want to celebrate the #1 team!

Tonight’s Line Up

1. Rocking w/ the Rhythm of the Rain by Judd's
2. We Belong by Pat Benatar 
3. Dream Lover by Bobby Darin
4. SheBop by Cyndia Lauper

Well two of the regulars to karaoke just made my night!  Jeremy is singing “Girl You’ll be a Woman Soon”  and now B-Rad with “Hey Kids Rock n Roll”  Way to Rock it Guys!!!

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Now this is a guy singing a song that I don’t know BUT he reminds me of my cousins Nathan and Brian and I’m pretty sure that if they where to karaoke they would dance around just like this guy!

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Back in the day my brother would get mad at me if I sang along with the guitar parts of a song.  Well I kinda understand why he would get upset now.  A young lady just sang Say it Ain’t so by Weezer and decided that it would be a grand idea to screech along with the guitar parts.  Not a good idea!  I don’t think I was ever that bad!

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The Speakeasy is packed tonight!  Duck fans do know how to celebrate!

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I was just up singing We Belong and the token drunk girl decided that she needed to dance on the stage with me……not to much of a fan when people pop my karaoke bubble.

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Back Back Back it up….Stop and wiggle wit it!  To the windooooos … to the waaaaaaaaallls!  It’s a crowd pleaser! 

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12:15am and it has slowed a bit …. the past three hours have been of the hook!  It was a super busy night for karaoke!  Fantabulous!

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Alex + AC/DC = Kick Ass …… Shook Me All Night Long!

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Just heard my first ear bleeder of the night…..me oh my!

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There’s a first for everything…tonight’s first: live harmonica accompaniment with karaoke 

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~The Boss Lady

10.7.10 ~ Special Guest Night

Tonight’s Special Guests are my Mom and Dad.  My mom didn’t have to work this Friday so they came down to visit me.  YEAH!  I love when my parents come and hang out on karaoke night!

To recap last week ….. well I sang 10 songs.  Usually on a “slow” night I sing 6…..Tonight I think I would be lucky to sing 4-5

Tonight’s Line Up

1. Be My Baby by the Ronettes
2. Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton (luv you Mac)
3. Winds of Change by Scorpions
4. 9-5 by Dolly Parton
5. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
6. We Belong by Pat Benatar

It’s looking like a prosperous night….

I just heard the best karaoke version of the “Humpty Dance” (sorry Adam…i still love your version too) This guy just shows up out of know where…munching on some mac n cheese…..and brings down the house…..

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You know it’s gonna be a Helluva night when the line dance lessons start happening!

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So, I’m sitting here with my parents and my Dad decides to tell me a joke…..here it goes….”They kicked me out of  Boy Scouts because I ate a Brownie.”   Thanks Dad!  HAHAHAHHAHA!

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It is top notch tonight!!!!!!!!  By far one of the best karaoke nights in a really long time…..It just makes you feel so good!

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Tonight has been very entertaining!…..Especially when Atom sings my favorite song….TRAGEDY by the BeeGees!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

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Well I ended up being able to sing all 6 songs tonight.  It was a good night!

~The Boss Lady

9.30.10

Louis Armstrong has been reincarnated as a short jewish man AKA Squiggy.

Welcome back to the Empty Orchestra……where it is always unpredictable. 

Tonight’s Line Up

1. Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton
2. Be My Baby by The Ronettes
3. Levon by Elton John
4. She Bop by Cyndi Lauper
5. I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick
6. Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield
7. Like a Prayer by Madonna
8. I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit

Time to get down to business:  So far the good is out weighing the bad.  Hope that’s a sign for what should be a entertaining night.

Heartbreaker by Pat Benetar + The “Hippie Dance” = OhMyGosh

I have a fan tonight….see the very first line……..Make that two fans tonight…..I Rock!

As I was sitting here reading the EW, which is one of my weekly rituals, the karaoke crowd disappeared. =(  So sad…..how am I supposed to blog if there is no one to blog about.  It’s 11:45p and I have already sang 4 songs that never happens….. but because of this Jared and I got to sing 2 duets: “I Got You Babe & Dammit Janet”   Pretty Fantabulous if I do say so myself!

Everyone SHOULD be at the

Oak St. Speakeasy

EVERY Thursday night for Karaoke!!  It is the best place to karaoke in town!

 Amazing Staff + Divine Drinks +Fantastic Food + Great Patrons = FABULOUS BAR!!!  Love you all!!

“This is dedicated to the long haired guys in the pool room”  Looks like I’m not the only one with a fan tonight.

Thank You for watching/listening to  the “Mariah Show” brought to you by the Oak St. Speakeasy & Caught in the Act Karaoke.

Peace Out Girl Scout

~The Boss Lady

p.s “Shotgun” says Heeeeyy!

9.23.10

Week two of the Empty Orchestra……Wonder what we have in store for the evening. I’m just getting over a crap cold, so tonight it will low note songs for me.   All the college students have arrived this week and I have a feeling this could be reason to hear some lovely tunes tonight.  Or maybe it can be blamed on the full moon.

Tonight’s  line up:

1. Stand By Me by Ben E, King

2. Talk To Me by Stevie Nicks

3. I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit

I’m always open for new song suggestions….So send in those request…..

At the moment there is a hipster cowboy bustin a move to Summer Nights from Grease.  WOWZER!!  If only he where the Rhinestone Cowboy, now that would make it…well …. really sparkly!   I don’t think this the last of him.

Tonight we have a going away party, a birthday party and a lovely array of characters….speaking of characters the hipster cowboy is singing right now!….”Baby Baby I’ll have you for me”  Man does he love to stomp around in those boots!

And when there is an eclectic array of characters we get an eclectic mix of songs…..for instance we just heard “Once Upon a Dream” yes that would be a Disney song…..

TURN AROUND BRIGHT EYES!

Tonight is “One of Those Nights”

Right now two guys are signing Alanis Morrisette.  I guess if it’s OK for me to sing songs normally sung by guys then it’s OK for guys to sing songs normally sung by girls. 

It’s definitely “One of Those Nights” .  You know how we acted when we where surprised with  sub in class all hell broke lose….That is how tonight is but it includes alcohol….Double Awesome!

Or have you ever been to a small town Homecoming Dance?  Well imagine that!

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Kudos to the guys up on the stage singing MY GIRL!!  Thanks for bringing the night back into focus.  Rock It!

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The only thing I can say right now is “Midriffs are Out”

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And now for the latest karaoke fads to hit the stage

Karaoke A cappella ….. Answer that riddle for me please….Because it is happening right now and I can not figure it out!

AND!

…..ALL PLAY KARAOKE!  Rules: The entire bar must sing along with the singer.  Enough said.

Final thought for the night………....                                                                Midriffs + Z sits + Evanescence = Crowd Pleaser …. to me it’s just creepy!

 

~The Boss Lady

Welcome to the Empty Orchestra

To say karaoke is hobby of mine is not true.  It is a PASSION of mine!  On Thursday nights I spend my time at the Oak Street Speakeasy “Singing My Face Off!” And now every week I will be blogging as I karaoke, sharing the good, bad and ugly with the world.  Thanks to the Oak Street Speakeasy and Caught in the Act Karaoke it is the best place to karaoke in town!  Here we go!!!!

~The Boss Lady

9.16.10

Well tonight is a pretty exciting karaoke night.  There is going to be a contest for Heart Tickets.  Heart is playing at the Cuthbert this coming Tuesday and who ever sings the best Heart Song will win 2 tickets to the show.

Tonight’s Line Up:

1. Will you Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirrelles

2. Rehab by Amy Winehouse

3. Dream Lover by Bobby Darrin

4. Benny & The Jets by Elton John

5.  Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes

SPECIAL CONTEST SONG: All I Wanna Do I Make Love To You

Now on with the evening…….

The night started of with me, only because I was the first to turn in my song choices.  I was followed up by some good singers.  Then came along a fella who decided that it would he would sing “Lady is a Tramp” Christopher Walken style.  He dedicated it to the ladies.  The  funny thing about that; it was only dudes on the dance floor. 

Now for real time, one of the regulars, Adam, is singing “Humpty Dance” always a fav of mine!

Up now we have some handsome jocks that are signing “Bohemian Rhapsody.”  I feel like I am in an episode of Glee. :)  Another patron said “I didn’t know voices like this could come out of such big bodies.”    They are very entertaining to say the least!

Atom and his magical falsetto are taking over the stage right now with “More Than a Women” by the Bee Gees!  Atom you rock!  Next time you karaoke I wanna hear Tragedy PLEASE!!!!

The Heart Ticket Competition is beginning!  First we have Lee singing Barracuda….and she’s rockin’ it….. I just sang my song…It was pretty good….Now Monique is up signing “Crazy On You” …. She is kicking ASS!  It’s gonna be a tough choice just between 6 people!  Up Next is Alex singing “Magic Man”…..LOL Go Alex Go!  Well Timbalina is up and he is signing Straight On …Interesting…….Last Up is Caleb singing Alone (Mac is excited now) ……. “Wow” is all I can say about this one….AND THE WINNERS ARE…..Alex and Monique!!!  Enjoy the show…You both earned it!

So far karaoke has been rather great….

My buddy B-Rad is up signing is heart out now!  He is one of the Speakeasy regulars and Thursday night would not be the same without him!  Tonight Brad has been signing all new tunes and owning that mic!  Keep up the great work!

I shot the sheriff is coming through the speakers at the moment…hmmmm…. I do have to give credit to those who get up and sing….good, bad and indifferent.

Just finished was the battle of the Alleluia.  Two strong voices not working well together…..well ‘nuff said.

WE ARE STRONG!!!!

I LOVE how eclectic karaoke at the Speakeasy is!  A person can sing Disco, the next person will sing Heavy Metal, then that would be followed by a Country tune.  You never know what you are going to hear! 

OOOPS I DID IT AGAIN!  EEEKK!!

One night down….many more karaoke saga’s to come!

 

Peace Out Girl Scout!

~The Boss Lady

The Dress

 

So I had 2 weddings to attend this summer and of course that was reason to bust out the sewing machine and re-visit one of my favorite hobbies ~ SEWING!  So I had some great fabric that was just dying to be sewn into a dress.  Below is the pictorial:

 

The Bodice

Piecing it Together

  Buttons

Zipper

Blind Hem

 

The Top 

The Skirt ~ Which was made from an old curtain!

THE DRESS!!

Me with some of my fav cousins at one of the weddings,

in THE DRESS!!!

Camping Misadventure 2: Waldo Lake

What can I say but HOLY MOSQUITO!  Waldo is such a beautiful place on this lovely earth but the mosquito’s DOMINATE!  Myself, Michelle, Josh and Tina (michelle’s sis) all headed up the mountain to one of the clearest lakes in the world to camp for an extended weekend.  We enjoyed some swimming and a wee bit of hiking, but most of the time we played kill the bug.  I’m not usually one who get’s a lot of bug bites, but this time I came home with several.  For the most part we tried to enjoy ourselves.  I did however get some great scenic shots!

WALDO SUNSET 

5:00 in the MORN   

THE GANG

  

 

Next time it’s just a day trip!