My Big Gig at the Big Gig

IT'S FINALLY HERE! Today is opening day at SUMMERFEST, the World's Largest Music Festival, and it's held nowhere else, but right here in humble ass Milwaukee, WI.



Thousands of people come every year to listen to live music by headlining bands, they also come for the abundance of food, beer and of course, for the opportunity to dance drunk on a picnic table.

Summerfest has something for everyone...I usually just suggest leaving the kids at home after
5 pm. There's nothing that makes me more crazy than watching some pathetic excuse for a parent, drag their children through a sea of drunks rockin' out to Steely Dan, while they spill beer and ash on anyone who has the great misfortune to bump into them. For Christs Sake...if ya' can't find a sitter, sit yer' ass home! Summerfest will be back next year!

That was exactly the case for me last year. The timing just didn't work out for me and Kevin, and when we did think about going to the "Big Gig", we couldn't find a sitter for the kids, so we haven't been to Summerfest in 2 years.

Such is not the case for me this year though.

I have my own Big Gig at the Big Gig on Friday. I guess you could say I have to work, but not really. I'm going to be modeling in an editorial shoot for a magazine, and Summerfest is the location!

Wisconsin Trails Magazine is doing a spread on Summerfest and I will be playing the role of fest-goer with my "husband", George, who is a fellow model and really great guy. I guess the only down side (if you can call it that) is that the magazine is pretty conservative, and they were looking for more of that, 30-ish married couple. I was selected because of my look and compatibility with George, and I was told to look "more momish and 30's". I was like, "WHAT?!!! Thats what I'm always trying NOT to look like!" Oh well, it's good exposure. I just can't wear short shorts or fitted tops...it's probably better for the public if I didn't anyway!

So if you see a photographer and a group of people taking pictures all around Summerfest tomorrow between 1:30 and 5:00...chances are, thats me! If you don't make it to Summerfest this year, be sure to check out Wisconsin Trails coverage of Summerfest in their August Issue!
I'll even autograph your copy! It might actually decrease its value! ; )

SEE YA' AT SUMMERFEST!!!!

THE DOCTORS APPOINTMENT

Today, I had to go see my doctor...my "woman" doctor...my OBGYN. For all of my male readers, an OBGYN is

I wasn't really as nervous as I used to be in the past. Now, I simply see it as one more awkward thing I have to do, just like Christmas at the in-laws. I can't complain too much though, my OBGYN is a great guy. YES, HE is a GUY, and NO, my husband isn't jealous. Cause I know some of you fellas would be.
This was the first time I had been back to see him since my six week check-up after giving birth to Madison. Again, for my testosterone filled readers: After a woman has a baby, a follow-up appointment is made six weeks later so the doctor can determine that the womans body is healing properly after childbirth. It's also when the Doc usually gives the go ahead to return to a normal sexually active lifestyle.... which for most men, is an anxiously awaited day. Though most women aren't extremely thrilled about the mere idea of sex, since they're barely done bleeding by the 6th week. Yeah- I went there, whatcha' gonna do about it?

So today was my annual appointment, complete with a pap smear and a breast exam. WOO HOO! As I said earlier, this was normally something I avoided at ALL costs in the past. I never cared about the well being of my body, I just knew I wasn't going to let some strange man (or woman) delve inside of me unnecessarily, at least not without buying me dinner first. You can say I built up a wall to protect myself from such circumstances, as I didn't have the best introduction to the element of sex when I was younger. But thats an entirely different blog post!
You know you've lost that girlish attribute and have become a tried and true woman or mother, when you can comfortably carry on a conversation with your doctor or nurse as they examine you. Here I am, feet in the stir-ups, spread eagle, with a spot light illuminating me "down there", and just as Dr.Caldwell snaps on his rubber gloves, he asks me, "So, how's the modeling business going?". So I begin chatting with him and the observing nurse about the Boys and Girls Club fashion show! The nurse complimented me in all my exposure, saying I was one of the only moms she knew that could continue modeling Jr's Fashions after having 2 kids. When the Doc agreed, I thought, "Hey, he must know what he's talking about. After all, he HAS seen more panooch than Ron Jeremy!" Probably not, but anyway.
After my internal exam, I received a new tetanus shot. Last week, I was pulling weeds in my yard, around the enormous junk pile that once was our deck before we remodeled the house, and I pierced the arch of my foot with a well camouflaged, old rusty nail that was sticking out of one of the scrap boards. The profanities flowed from my lips, as I hobbled back into the house, bleeding like a stigmatic. I knew the tetanus shot was good for 10 years and I was sure I got one before I had Vinny, but I just wanted to be safe. Of course I flinched like a little girl as the needle was inserted into my arm. God, I HATE needles! I don't know how crackheads do it. Now I feel like a real sally because my arm actually hurts. It's more like that dull pain that only intensifies when you strain the muscle. The only upside to being violated and stuck like a voo-doo doll, was being able to renew my prescription for the birth control patch. As far as I'm concerned, I have no plans of entering the office of my OBGYN for any other reason until my 2007 annual exam.

God Bless the cold, clammy handed doctors of Obstetrics and Gynecology!
Boldly going where no man has gone before seeking courage from a bottle first.

Transformations 2006 Fashion Show : Continued

A week has passed since the Boys and Girls club held their annual Fashion Show to raise funds for thier facilities. The show was absolutely amazing! I was totally floored by the professionalism that went into this production. It was very "New York Chic" with martinis, elaborate table settings and white covered couches that were situated at strategic places ON the runway, for special guests of honor.
The show is now available for viewing on Time Warner Cable's Digital IN DEMAND Channels. You can find the fashion show on the "Wisconsin On Demand Channel", Channel 1111
Use your remote control to select the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, and then select Transformations 2006 and play. You can even see my hubby Kevin, lurking at the end of one point of the runway. He looked totally thrilled to be there.(Yeah, right) I don't know why he wouldn't be, most of us models weren't able to wear bras or panties....and you could tell!


Here is some of the backstage photos that you won't get to see on cable. Though the cameramen WERE back there, maybe they figured it would be inappropriate to air an interview backstage, while there were naked models running around.
I took this first photo while the hair and make up crews were setting up. It looks like a ton of space, but when all was said and done, the models barely had enough room to get in line for showtime.




This next photo shows one of the models getting her "Do" Done, while the stylist dons a chair to secure the style. Not only was the model tall, (about 5'11) her hair was ginormously high. Let me just say, she is a beautiful girl, but she looked like the bride of Frankenstein with that bush on her noggin.













And this last photo shows the much coveted fashion designs that everyone came to see that night. It also appears to be a clever pic of coordinatingly dressed women, bending over in my shot. Strange how that works???
Ignore all the ass for a moment, and rather focus on the couture. If I pillaged that rack alone, I would have enough cash to begin building my dream home...thats not including the shoes, those would pay for my land!

I was truly honored to be able to take part in such a prestegious runway show. I'm sure the Boys and Girls Clubs rasied plenty of money for their kids. Thats really what it's all about.

I'll have more pics from the actual runway show later.

The Human Condition

Please Don't Push The Button

Transformations: 2006 Fashion show

I'm really pschyed because tonight is the rehearsal for the BIG fashion show/ fund raiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs. This is going to be one of the first times, in a long time, that I think I'll be really nervous on stage. The show is sold out and there is an expected 650 people that are going to be in attendance. The guest list includes Milwaukee County Sheriff, David Clarke as one of the Emcees, the mayor, congresspeople, and other WI politicians and people that have too much money, as well as high fashion designers, press and photojournalists from varying magazine publications. Time Warner Cable is also taping the show for broadcast on it's IN DEMAND channels.
The show couldn't benifit a better foundation. I grew up with the boys and girls clubs. In fact, I started going as soon as they allowed girls to attend in 1985. Before that, it was only known as The Boys Club. Later, I worked for the club and extended my experience to the Boys and Girls Club "after school programs", where I was the athletic coordinator for girls special interest programs at Walker Middle School and Mitchell Alexander School, both on the South side of Milwaukee.
The fashion show is no less than posh for Milwaukee standards. One of the dresses I'm wearing is on loan from Designer Carolina Herrera's line. It was one of the same dresses she showcased in New York's Fashion Week this past Feburary. I almost passed out when I saw the couture price of $52,000 hanging delicately from the silken tag. Maybe Carolina will let me borrow her gown this weekend as Kevin and I have to go to a wedding? Ya' think? Yeah, my dress would cost more than their entire wedding!
Well I have to get ready for the reahersal tonight. If, by some chance, you ARE going to the fashion show, here is the elite line up for tomorrow evenings events:

6 p.m. Reception & Silent Auction

8 p.m. Runway and Fashion Show & Live Auction

Emcee: Sheriff David Clarke & Male Model: Marc Marotta

LOCATION

Midwest Airlines Maintenance Facility

555 Air Cargo Way

Valet Parking Available

FASHIONS

AVERSA*CHARLES DWYER*BOSTON STORE*MISS GROOVE*GIGI OF MEQUON*ZITA*HARLEYS THE STORE FOR MEN*HERS*LELA*GARBS NUVO*PICARDY SHOE PARLOUR

TICKETS

$60 per individual unreserved seat

$450 per reserved table for four

$600 per VIP runway table for four

Wish me luck, and maybe I'll see some of the "Elite Bloggers" in the audience. Charlie Sykes maybe? Man, Aaron woule be really pissed then! :)

The Perfect Post Awards

I've recently caught wind of this site that allows other bloggers to recognize their favorite posts from the previous month.
Unlike other blogs, that focus on religion or the political arena, these blogs deal with the things that SHOULD BE nearest and dearest to our hearts, Family.
There's nothing wrong with politics or religion, it's just that there never seems to be a common understanding, or better yet, agreement on how they should be conducted. You'll always have someone walking away from the discussion unfulfilled.

With a post like "A Day In The Life", it really helps put things back into perspective, by demonstrating that the daily chaos that comes with family life, are the very same rituals we would long for if taken away. The actual winner of the Perfect Post Award went to Sugar Mommy, and her post about being able to see the big picture.

Just a heads up....have a tissue handy.

All of the candidates blogs are worth taking a moment to delve into. The most cherished elements in life are not what the politicians are doing or what celebrities are wearing, it's the little things that make your life amazingly unique apart from everyone else.

Yeah! New Sidebar Additions!

After my recent post about the progress of our well developing volleyball team, two (or 3 actually) other bloggers made contact and I was floored that they actually had something to do with volleyball themselves!

April dropped in and wished us well, and she also noted we were the Misty May and Kerry Walsh of the volleyball modeling world. April just started her own personal blog, which is delightfully entitled VOLLEYBALL VOICES. Her other blog, "April's Beach Volleyball Blog" is well established and is worth checking out. So I wish her well and I am expecting some amazing reading material on the passion we both share.

Then, like theives in the night, Jack and Dave stopped by with some additional praise for Team Serves You Right, and left me wondering who these "Volley gents" were. I checked out their site, and was very impressed , and a little envious. Jack and Dave travel around the country, following and covering the AVP in style. Their Head Blade Adorned RV looks like a metallic twinkie, and gets plenty of attention from AVP fans and media alike. Maybe they'll take a side trip to Milwaukee when the AVP hits Chi Town again.

I've been waiting for some great volleyblogs to come along. Frankly, I've grown tired of the political shit everywhere I turn. So I'm gonna add April's Site and Jack and Daves site to my sidebar so I can live vicariously through them!
I'm glad they dropped by and I look forward to hearing more from them in the future!

Beach Volleyball 2006 *Update*

So with 5 weeks into Team "Serves You Right"'s Season... our standings are an incredible 11-4. Which is incredible for us. For those of you who don't follow, we have 11 wins and 4 losses on our record.

Of course, we're no Misty May and Kerri Walsh, but who the hell is? They're the best in the world for crepes sake. Our team has made leaps and bounds in the areas where we needed improvement. Our passing has come a long way, we're more aggressive, and even our "petite" players can be found kicking up some sand while going up on the net for a big block!
(You go Dani and Julie!)
Last night, we beat the team that always gave us a run for our money in the past few seasons. We were always neck and neck with them, but were never able to pull out the victory from under their sandy little feet. Well last night, we swept them for the second consecutive time! WOOP! WOOP! Our team finally got the hang of picking on their worst player, and exploiting their teams weaknesses. In this case, it was a big fat chick that has absolutely no skills.

What has made it both more challenging, and exciting, is the fact that we've never played with a full team of 6 until last night. We had been playing with only 4, and still came out victorious in the end. It is difficult to transition from playing and entire SECTION of court with 4, and then going to 6 where you have destinct zones. We sometimes got in each other's way....but I'd rather see 2 or 3 go for a ball then to have everyone stand around waiting for someone else to be aggressive.
I told you I would post some pics up here, so you can witness Team Serves You Right in action.
Since it is early in the season, you can expect to see more exciting photos, but for now, this is all I've got. At least it will help you put a face to the names of my teammates and myself when I discuss our fantastic volleyballers!




Here's Kim and our newest player, Julie
(in the cute cowboy hat), stretching before gametime. Pregame warm-ups are crucial girls.




















Here I am, (in the shorts of course to cover my stretch marks) anxiously waiting to set up a beautiful pass to my outside, leftie hitter, in-law, Kim.



Kathy stealthly digs our opponents spike, giving Julie, our setter the perfect opportunity to feed one of our hitters.
The crazy looking line judge watches intently, while Dani is perfectly covering Kathy on the pass.
















And finally, my favorite part of the game....the perfect set floats over to me, where I meet it in mid-air and send it over the net, sealing another triumphant victory over our competition!

God I love this game.