Is That Pat Benetar?

Well, round 3 of Erie Idol down, semi finals and finals (fingers crossed) to go. This time we actually took pictures and now there is documented proof that I wore animal print, neon pink nail polish and a lace belt all in one outfit.
I was first to sing which made it both nerve-wracking and relieving all at the same time. I think I did great but effed up the lyrics. Also I couldn't down enough water beforehand and it felt like my throat was closing up at the end.

There were so many people that showed up, whether they knew one, two or numerous people in the competition! It was a good thing that I decided to sing another high energy song (Joan Jett's I Hate Myself For Loving You) because it seemed everyone else decided to do a slow song that evening.

Awhile back, my mother called the day after I made it through to this round and reserved the balcony area at Oasis. This is why Diana gets whatever she wants. You cannot tell my mother no. She will not accept nor acknowledge anything less than her ultimate outcome. That woman must have called Oasis 10 times making sure we had the right count and I had a thrown to sit on. They did draw the line at a crown. Some of the chicks of '96 came. Here's my BFFs from high school Mary (in pink) and Shelly (in virgin white) with their husbands Mike (no hat) and Chris (hat).

My sister Theresa showed up with her husband and invited her BFF from high school Wendy and Wendy's boyfriend Dan out as well. Wendy was celebrating her CANT SAY THE NUMBER birthday in a few days and decided to celebrate early with shot....

after shot....

after shot...Here's my brother in law Mike no doubt wondering what the hell he just consumed.

Jillian showed up with her baby daddy Kevin and their two friends in tow. Andrew and Andrew's wife, I wanna say Jen?, who were actually there to see another contestant. Anyways, when they get there the first thing out of Jen's? mouth to Kevin was "Oh my God, is that Pat Benetar?" with an eye roll towards me. And Kevin retorted, "No, that's Jill's best friend." HAHAHAHA Yes!

Jillian is awesome for many reasons but one reason she was legendary that night was because while I performed, she stood right behind the judges to see what they were writing about me. Stealth! It was pretty good except for one judge. We've named him Simon. He gave me a 5 out of 10 on stage presence. I would have to agree and I've been working hard on it since. Thanks Simey!

Shelly, Jill, Mary and I.

The chicks o' 96 are always a shoo in for best (worst) embarrassing pictures in public.

Theresa (after a few shots) wasn't afraid a no cuppage.

And my uncle Denny and my father were there for the whole thing. Awkward!

Matt and his favorite aunt Sandi (Chase) Staab.

My father in law Glynn and Granny Chase.

See Blogtopia, don't worry about us. We're good. Love Is A Battlefield.

My father is hilarious! He made signs for people to hold up. None of the people pictured came and my father in law that DID come was pissed he wasn't made a sign. I'm not the favorite daughter in law anymore.

This was Sandi's reaction to the other singers.

"WTF is she singing?"

My dad, although he came with the signs, was a total traitor clapping for the other contestants. DISCLAIMER: I realize sarcasm doesn't always convey on here. I have no qualms with my father or anyone else clapping for the other finalists. If you have the talent to be in this competition and you're good at what you do, you deserve the recognition and the encouragement. People have actually told me "these people are not your friends, they are your competition". I have never been, nor will I ever be, competitive to that degree. I can't stand that attitude of having to be better than everyone else. I give credit where credit is due. That's how my 'rents raised me. If they had a Miss Congeniality award in this contest, that's what I would win. That's just who I am. I'm Pat Fucking Benetar.

My mom in the green and my aunt Marge.

Lori, my sis Michelle and Mike: Honorary members of the Tam Fan Club.

Michelle, you look frightened.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Mike Mahler never takes a bad picture.

Too cute!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

This is Laurie (I'm dancing with her) who is another contestant that made it to semi-finals. The biggest reason I like Laurie is because she is "just there to have fun before she gets too wrinkled" and because she is "trying to get out of a sleepover for her daughter's brownie group which happens to be the night of the finals." Honestly though, we clicked right away and she has a great voice but doesn't exactly know it or care to rub it in your face.

My sister in law (and my buddy band buddy) brought her boss Therese (Sassafras Street Hair owner) and Therese brought her daughter, Stephanie. Her head doesn't always float like that.

"Buddy Bands! Hey... They work."Therese picked this guy up at the bar. Actually that's Bob, her boyfriend. They are totally going steady.

.

.

Granny in her infamous yellow hat. Quite possibly the cutest picture ever.

When they called the numbers of the contestants who made it through, they called my number last! I was so sure I was gone. But then...

Semi finals Bitches! April 10 (Good Friday) at 8:45 pm. Bring it Cell Block! But please leave your gats at home.

Wearing O' The Green

I realize the holiday has come and gone but this is the first time I was able to sit down and post (with pictures) about St. Patrick's Day. Matt had the day off and Britain has preschool only in the morning so they went out together while I had to work a half day. He dropped off Britain at school and met up with my cousin Steve and Steve's girlfriend Amy for green eggs and ham at Calamaries.

Then he picked up Britain and they had some green popcorn at Plymouth.

I'm assuming this was not BRIT'S green beer, but I also wasn't there so I can't say for sure.

Then they headed up to Molly Brannigan's where I was to meet them for lunch. Britain was excited I was coming to save her from sitting in booths and chairs all morning. By the way, I put her in an authentic Irish kilt which she totally didn't wear last year. Someone came up to me at Molly's and asked if she was an Irish dancer. I told them she's been doing it since the 6th grade.

The scene from the balcony at Molly's. This was at 1 pm.

Then I was out of work and showed up. That day was beautiful weather wise and standing in line outside Molly's was really pleasant. I was still a bit angry and apprehensive towards Matt because of all the trouble we've been having. I got there and I just felt rubbed the wrong way so it was hard for me to just JUMP right in to St. Patrick's Day. I realize this is because of how I feel in my own head but it still sucks a lot to corner, face and tackle your deepest, dirtiest issues. It also didn't help that I had worked all morning and they were at least 4 to 5 drinks ahead of me. Add to that that there was a cover charge to get in the place. Plus Britain totally ignores Matt when I am around and was hanging all over me, whining. And to top it all off, the waitress hadn't come with the drink I ordered via text 1/2 hour ago. It started off horribly for me.

Ugh: WORK HAIR

I cannot stand to go to a bar and just drink. I don't know how many of you reading this have ever been out with me but if you have, you know I go out for a purpose. It is not to sit on my ass and throw back shot after shot. I am normally like this anyway but especially when I get alcohol in my system. We need to be doing something else: darts, pool, dancing, body shots SOMETHING! So, I left them upstairs and took Britain downstairs where the action was (yes into the green mob from the picture above) and were jigging and shuffling like the best of them. By this time I had some Irish coffee and 2 Skinny Bachs (Bacardi and diet) so I felt a bit better. It's horrible to say but sometimes when I don't have to be reminded of my problems by Matt being right there, I'm in a better mood.

We then moved on to the new sports bar downtown, Sluggers. The walk from Molly's to Sluggers was only about 6 blocks and it was so nice out. It was cute walking Britain in her little outfit down State Street. Even the grumpy old homeless man talking to himself stopped and smiled. Sluggers advertised a full line of entertainment later in the day so we thought the 3 o'clock arrival would be a good time to go. My cousin Steve turned me on to that place because of their amazing food. I think I've been there every week since I first went. And it wasn't nearly as crowded. I did feel a little trashy taking my child out with me to my St Patrick's Day celebration, but I also felt if we had her in by dinner, most people wouldn't blame me. I'm teaching her about her culture, afterall.

Britain and I danced some more at Sluggers. The DJ was even kind enough to play one her favorite songs "Walking On Sunshine" and we only got two bitchy looks from some whores at the bar.

We parted ways: Steve and Amy went back to their hotel room at Avalon, Matt went to the Gannon basketball championship game and Britain and I went home and watched Barbie and The Diamond Castle. I intended on going out that night to see New Wave but thought better of it when we hadn't found a sitter, I had to work in the morning and St. Patrick's Day wasn't exactly all it was cracked up to be for me that day. I am officially old.

Erie Idol Revisited

Yea, it's kind of lame. Yea, it takes awhile to get through all the better than average singers in Erie to karaoke 12 songs. But it's a good time. And there's beer. Alright, it's no Wegmans but I'll be there...prob in something slutty. So support me, man. Have a drink on me, that you have to pay for.

Friday March 20
Erie Idol
Round 3
Oasis Pub
830 PM

If I make it this time it's off to semi-finals! Although if I make it to finals, I've already watched the winner perform last week. Her name is Amara. She's untouchable and the nicest little thing!
Eh, wish me luck anyways.

Enter Tam's Brain Here

Check out THIS blogger. I'm pretty sure my sister Theresa has been reading her for awhile and I finally checked her out. I personally love Jakezilla because it's about parenting and her child and monotony and bitchy-ness. But really, all of her blogs are great. I'm most jealous that she posts all the damn time on all of them and I am lucky to post once a holiday.

Speaking of holidays, catch New Wave Nation the 17th at Sherlock's! That's where I'll be. Sometimes I think about wearing any color but green on St. Patrick's Day. I don't really have a lot of green and it's so conforming. I wore teal one year. I DID pick up some cute Irish pins at Big Lots the other day. (Does anyone else love Big Lots?) The buttons have things written on them like "Irish In Training" and "Irish For A Day". They are only $1.20 for 8 pins! Oh, they also have Barbie undies in case you have a 3 year old daughter who has nothing in common with you.

"Barbie? Are you sure you want BARBIE?"

In other news Matt and I are close to imploding. I blame it on his schedule being exactly opposite of mine and the lack of money he is making at work. It has nothing to do with my neurosis or insecurities. It was awesome for so long and now we are back to being Mr. and Mrs. Bickerson. It's not a surprise that things may change soon. No, not the D-word! That boy is stuck with me for life! I mean he is actively looking. No, not for my sister wife!

Normal Is Boring

I realize by now this is old news but when you live in the back, you tend to hear things much later than other people.

I saw THIS on the Today show this morning. I can't believe how much rage and disgust I felt. I was screaming at Matt Lauer. I even teared up a little. I am still naive to the fact that even in this day and age, there are still so many assholes out there that believe if someone is a little different that they are obviously not allowed to be seen or heard and should go back to the sewer pipe they grew up in.

I have always been the kind of person that gravitates towards interesting and, for lack of a better word, abnormal people. Because growing up, I was taught that normal is boring. If you can't stand out then don't bother standing up at all. The differences in people make this world worth living in and accepting the nuances keep it interesting.

Now that that's been said, raising Britain with that knowledge is probably right up their with making sure she brushed her back teeth. (I've become a brushing Nazi, btw.) I would be mortified if Britain ever made fun of someone just because they didn't have an arm, had a lazy eye or they weren't wearing the latest shoes. So from where do you think this fear of differences in these children come? These parents, in my professional Have-Worked-With-Children-For-Over-12-Years opinion, are either making this shit up or have instilled this fear in their children. NIGHTMARES? Seriously? Well what the hell did you say to them, dumbass?

A normal reaction to that kind of question from a child should be very matter of factly, very shortly described and to the point. Kids usually just want to know why something is the way it is.

"Mom, why do the leaves fall off the tree?"

"Dad, why do you stand up when you pee in the potty?"

"Papa, why do you and Nana sleep in different beds?"

"Hey! What happened to your arm?"

And all of these questions are asked in the same exact way: without fear, without worry, just honesty, confusion and curiosity.

So 'rents, before you start spewing all your prejudice and slurs on your kids, break the damn cycle and tell it like it is. Then educate your damn self on what discrination really is and how much of it you probably do every day.