July 8, 2005

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       I had a fantastic week.  I worked 6 days in a row last week which is a lot for working in the ER.  The good news is I saved 2 people's lives!!!!  I was definitely looking forward to 4th of July weekend, which did not disappoint.  On Saturday, I joined Mixygirl's clan for her cousin Bryan's wedding.  The ceremony was enjoyable, but the reception was really special.  They had it at a cool Art Deco Latin/Italian restaurant in downtown LA.  LA doesn't have much more of these places left.  I felt like I was attending some sort of swanky function in Gotham City.  The band was really good also. 

  
  

       Speaking of bands, on Sunday my band Gravely Disabled got together since a prolonged absence (October was our last gig) to play the 4th of July (but on the 3rd) party for the UCLA emergency medicine residents.  Its also a traditional party to welcome in the new incoming residents.  The gig went very well.  Mixygirl said it sounded the best yet out of all of our shows.  The residents even crowdsurfed for one of the songs!!!  The songs that I sang were Photograph, I think we're alone now, In your Bed, and Rock 'n Roll Radio. 

  
  

  

  
  

       On the actually 4th of July, I had to work in the ER.  It was pretty cool though,  when I got off, I drove to Anaheim Hills to join Mixygirl and Toro to check out the local fireworks from their hillside vantage point.  Mixygirl just got the new Lexus hybrid SUV, so I was definitely excited to check it out.  The car is awesome, and probably the most comfortable and best handling car I've ever been in!!!  After checking out the fireworks in Anaheim Hills, we drove back to West LA.  On the way back, every 30 seconds, you could see fireworks all along the freeway route.  It was like the whole city of Los Angeles was one giant celebration.  Definitely a really special moment. 

  
  

  

  
  

       On Wednesday, Mixy, Toro, Julie Butler, and I headed to the Pantages in Hollywood to check out the 2004 Broadway musical Wicked.  I thought it was incredible.  It has the reputation of being a little too mainstream, but I thought it was really well done and clever.  It retells the story of the Wizard of Oz, but from the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked witch.  It cleverly shows us that it was her that was actually the "Good Guy"  all along.  The music wasn't that strong, but there were a few really good numbers, including my favorite, the Act I closer, Defy Gravity.  The second act definitely is not as good as the first one, but overall a very cool musical. 

  
  

  

  
  

       I definitely made the most of yesterday.  Had the day off, and Juddy just got back from Buffalo, so we went downtown together and joined Mixygirl for lunch at LA's best seafood restaurant (which I've never been to yet), the Watergrill.  The food was awesome, and I see how they get their reputation.  I had a grilled Yukon river salmon, which in my mind redefines the word salmon.  It tasted incredible.  The color of the meat was a brilliant orange, rather than the pale pink that so many overcooked and poor quality salmon filets have.  It just melted like butter in my mouth, and you could cut it with a fork and it wouldn't flake.  You all need to check this place out!!!

  
  

  

  
  

       Early that evening, Mixygrirl and I had the pleasure of checking out the Eels with strings.  For those of you that forgot, the eels are a cool band whose only hit was in the late 90's, called Novacaine for the Soul.  The lead singer, named E, has had quite a productive career since then, if not in the commerical arena.  The set this time was backed by a string quartet and was truly unique and original.  E was really funny, and I hope to catch them again during a rock and roll format show. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

       Instead of an opening act, the Eels played a Russian stop motion animation.  I have to say it was probably the weirdest opening performance I've ever seen.  It was a cute story of an alligator and a tiny mouse named Cheburashka.  They were travelling to Moscow, along some train tracks, and in doing so stopped environmental polluters and poachers along the way.  Cheburashka was very cute.

  
  

  

  
  

       In true punk rock fashion, cause the Eels show was early, Mixygirl and I headed over to the Knitting Factory afterwards and caught a blistering set by the Muffs.  We convinced Bagal to come along, and he brought his friend Steve, who is the owner of Fais-do-do.  The Muffs show for some reason was more enjoyable than the last one at the Spaceland.  I think it was a cool, the way we saw the almost classical music type perfomace of the Eels, and then got to see the Muffs rock out.  That's all for now.

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