The splint is out! What a relief. That piece of plastic was getting pretty gnarly from seven weeks of just sitting in my mouth. Yuck and definitely TMI! So now I’m splint-free, but sadly still on the liquid diet. I’m in a much better mood though now that the surgeon has had the chance to see me. It was just not knowing how everything was healing up that was bothering me and adding to my overall impatience.

PLUS, I can talk again!

On Friday night, we went to the Chabot Space Center to see Festizio [@festizioband] perform in the planetarium. YES, IN the planetarium. How cool is that? The sound was fine from where I was standing, but I think the dome didn’t help carry the sound properly to the rest of the space. No matter – it was still a great time! AND for the first time in a long time, I could actually introduce myself to people and roam around without keeping RV or Keane or the sister by my side. Those three were my interpreters for the longest time – poor things!

It was a good show overall. They played some new songs, one of which I am a huge fan of. I found myself humming along to the recording Keane did for me the next morning. Listen to it here!

I can finally see,
That you’re right there beside me.
I am not my own
For I have been made new
Please don’t let me go,
I desperately need you.

I am not my own
For I have been made new
Please don’t let me go,
I desperately need you.

Another year, another WordCamp. Once again, I was a volunteer. Woke up early on a Saturday morning to sign volunteers and Automatticians in. I think the day went well overall. I knew more people this year than last, which was very nice. Similar to last year, only some of the talks were relevant to me.

I think there were many [myself included] who wished that there were at least two-sentence descriptions on what the talks would be about. You’d find yourself in one spot because of an interesting title, and then five or ten minutes in, you wish you’d been at the other talk instead. Luckily, all the sessions will be made available on Wordpress.tv! So if you missed WordCamp, didn’t take enough notes, or were hanging out at the wrong session, no worries. I can’t wait to watch some of the early sessions that I missed while registering the volunteers.

Sadly, I couldn’t make it to the Automattic anniversary party in the evening. But it wasn’t without a very good reason. We went to Asian Rock Fest instead, where Festizio [below - middle], Johnny Hi-Fi [below - right], United High [below - left], and Burning Tree Project [above - left] tore it up. It was great!

More iPhone-quality photos from the concert: here!

On the plus side of having more free time, I am getting to do more things that I’ve been meaning to check out. This past week has been full of randomness – a book signing, sewing class, online television appearances, a birthday happy hour, moving furniture, lunch dates with friends… It eases my mind a bit that I’m not just wasting away at home. It really helps having supportive friends to fill the calendar!

I’m starting off the next week with the SanFran MusicTech Summit. Some very interesting panels about music and technology that hopefully don’t coincide with one another! The conference runs from 9AM onward with three panels every hour or so. The schedule is up for the picking and choosing of panels [15+ to choose from]! Some of the topics are: Music in Audio-Visual Works, Reaching Fans, Doing Deals, Webcasting Issues, Musicians as Active Participants in Their Own Careers, Social Networking & Music, The Future of the Music Industry, Brands & Bands: The Evolution of Music Marketing.

I’ll be learning, connecting, and of course, taking notes! If you’re at all interested in attending, registration link here!

Keane’s band Festizio performed last night at the Rockit Room. The venue was the same as the first time I saw his band play about a year ago, but it seemed more bearable this time around. A change of ownership, I heard.

Festizio was busy working on their CD [it's coming out early next year!], so no new shows in the last couple of months. They rocked as usual, and it was nice to hear their stuff live again. It’s funny how a song can seem so different when you hear it under different circumstances.

So there is news that Britney’s newest album was leaked over the internet. Well, I don’t have it, but I did get to hear bits and pieces, and I like it enough to want to get it when it’s out.

Yeah, I’ll admit it! Britney is definitely one of those guilty pleasures. If not the entire album, I’ve liked singles here and there from all of the albums. She’s a mess as a person, and her voice is all electronic. Still, catchy. Definitely good for singing along in the car or working out to.

While I like MOST of the songs, this cover is MEH.

Is she supposed to be the latest attraction at the circus? Bearded lady?

Tracks from the Wiki page:

Standard Edition
1. “Womanizer”
2. “Circus”
3. “Out from Under”
4. “Kill the Lights”
5. “Shattered Glass”
6. “If U Seek Amy”
7. “Unusual You”
8. “Blur”
9. “Mmm Papi”
10. “Mannequin”
11. “Lace and Leather”
12. “My Baby”
13. “Radar”

Bonus Tracks
1. “Rock Me In” (European and Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)
2. “Phonography” (European and Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)
3. “Quicksand” (European iTunes Deluxe Bonus Track)
4. “Amnesia” (Japan & UK Bonus Track)
5. “Trouble” (iTunes Pre-order Bonus Track)
6. “Rock Boy” (German Bonus Track)

I have always been drawn to the artistic types, whether visual or performing, when meeting people. Their perspectives/visions have always interested me because they were usually not of the norm or every day average. I admire their abilities and talents and wish that I would one day be able to find my own artistic voice. For now, I’ll keep associating myself with them… You know, hoping that it rubs off on me?

My friend Keane’s band Festizio is working on their debut album. Here’s a preview!

For last night’s Birthday/Halloween party, RV and I ended up dressing up as bacon and eggs. They were expensive for being cheap in quality, but still a very fun idea. I also picked up some devil ears to become a “deviled egg.”

Today is a hot and sweaty day.

I will be spending more than just a few hours in Concord. It’s likely to be over 90 degrees. Yikes! But it will be fun to get away. A friend is having a BBQ/music event in her backyard in Concord. Festizio, my friend Keane’s band, will be playing. Food, music, and good times. I’m excited to get out of the city and just hang out.

Lucky for us, Keane’s driving! After the show/get-together, we’ll be hightailing it back to the city. There are several birthday parties to attend to…

This weekend has gone by rather quickly. I’m barely getting enough sleep. I have a feeling that I’ll probably recuperate faster DURING the week than on the weekends. It’s such a busy lifestyle, being social and all. Tomorrow, Amanda will be back from her Hawaii trip. We’ll be doing our usual meet-up at Philz. Then, I’m headed for a show with JM. YAY. I won tickets to see Lunatique Fantastique. Here’s the blurb: Using plastic bags, plastic forks, foam, and even bare skin, the award winning Lunatique Fantastique ensemble tells the epic story of the Avian Flu from the birds’ point of view.

I haven’t really gone out for that sort [electronic music] of dancing in a long time. Going out now consists of hanging out at a bar. Not quite the same, and wow – hours and hours of house and beats that just move your body. It was quite the workout and would probably be my preferred method of exercise. I was running on music, sweat, and a bottle of water. There was a little bit of pre-drinking beforehand, but that had very little effect on my body at that point.

I was just having a good time.

I probably could have gone alone, but it was nice to have a familiar face to turn to at the end of the evening, even though he spent most of the evening with his face attached to this cute Danish girl. The music was awesome, and my feet were hating me by the end of the night.

I’m looking forward to next month when the event happens again. Next month’s will feature the House of OM – DJ Colette and Mark Farina will be present.

There will be bootyshaking.

My latest obsession is with Katy Perry. She has an incredible voice, and her songs crack me up. The only bit that throws me off is all the Youtube videos of little girls and boys lip synching to her songs… Not exactly appropriate.

I Kissed A Girl

Ur So Gay