voxtrot... my new addiction

i know i've already ooh'd and aah'd over them but i can't stop. i put one of their songs on my phone/mp3 player to listen to and i keep playing it over and over. this song, the start of something is like a really long smiths's song. you expect it to end half way through but it keeps going and going. it's really energetic and lovely at the same time. it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. and i want to break out dancing. anyway, i was thinking about them and how they have a couple of songs for downloads on their website. they have a couple of more songs to listen to on their myspace page. i listened to all of them, over and over. and can't get enough. so i went and ordered both their eps. i hope they come soon. i really need more to feed my addiction on.

they are so good. it's a bit refreshing. i can't get over how much i like them. it's so rare these days. i know there is good music out there but i'm always disappointed. nothing has made me stop in my tracks like this in such a long time. they seem so genuinely talented.

i wish we had gone to their gig at the bottom of the hill. that would have been awesome. oh well.

the start of something... voxtrot

venue: slim's
artist: elefant, voxtrot and some forgettable opening
who: betty
when: 27 may 2006 (saturday)
doors open at 8p

betty and i saw elefant on saturday at slim's. we were there for the first opening band but i can't even remember them because they were so unoriginal. they sounded grungey. it was very 90's. slim's was actually really packed.

the reason i like elefant is for this song called make up. it's a really sweet and romantic song. and unlike most of their other songs which are on the cheesy side. or, it's the way their singer sings them. he's such a drama queen. he sounds like he belongs in theatre. there are a few other songs i like on the first album but the second one hasn't grown on me yet. they were okay. betty remembered them from popscene ages ago. i don't. that's how it is with most bands i see at popscene, they are all forgettable. it's sad really.

speaking of forgettable, well unforgettable more like, surprise surprise. i found myself truly enjoying the second opening band. they were called voxtrot and are from texas. they introduced themselves as 80's revival which initially turned me off. but with every song they played, i was in jaw-dropping shock the whole time. i liked their entire set. i think i liked them better than elefant. they were just so cool and fun. i'm getting their cds! so, does that mean i like 80's revival? um...

after we heard make up, we decided to leave so we could hit the dance floor at leisure for a couple hours. it was after midnight when we left. we had less than two hours. despite the expected crowd disappointment, the music was still pretty good. and we danced our hearts out. it was so much fun. we always have so much fun.

good times...

it was a night of dancing non-stop (for me & betty, anyway) and vic trying to catch up with us. at the dna lounge last saturday in the city. the night was popscene vs. new wave city. the big dance floor was all 80's and the small room upstairs was the indie/brit pop room, which was a lot more crowded than the big room. they played oldies like send me an angel by real life and unbelievable by emf. aside from the gross 40 y/os and gigantic 6+ foot woman, we had a grand time.

afterwards, we got crepes from the crepe-a-go-go place we try to frequent after nights at slim's. it was yummy and the guys working there were hilarious. they wanted us to join in their dance party in the truck but we decided to have our own dance party out in front while waiting for our savory crepes. i didn't get home until after 3 and didn't go to bed until 5a as i was still buzzing from all the fun we had. my legs still ached yesterday from dancing but it was all worth it.

thanks for the memories (& the pics), vic!

observation

now that the sun has come out, sort of, open toe shoes (sandals, what have you) have come out. one thing though ladies, please, please, get out those callus stones/shavers/filers and home pedicure sets because if you are going to show off your feet, make sure they are presentable! trust me, people do look at your feet! and they are disgusting. sorry to break it to you but someone's gotta say it.

annual body scan...

my body scan for my thyroid cancer was this morning. i've been on a low-iodine diet since last saturday. and i think i've dropped at least 4 lbs. all i eat is fruit and veggies. i'm allowed up to 5 oz of meat/day. i'm always hungry. it sucks, i'm dying for a big piece of brie with crackers. ugh.

so here's what the scan entails:

early april, i see my endocrinologist with results from a recent blood test for my thyroid hormone levels just to make sure i'm ok in the medication department. then we schedule appointments for my thyrogen injections, I-131 pill and then the body scan. and i have to start this low-iodine diet 10 days before the scan.

22 april, i start my low-iodine diet. i buy a big container of fresh, pre-cut fruit from costco. then i pick up some fresh and frozen veggies from trader joe's. one thing, i can have alcohol! woo hoo!!

26 april, first thyrogen injection in the right upper butt cheek. i know, eek. but first, i get weighed and since the last time i was weighed (early april, see above), i'm 4 lbs lighter. i think it's the diet. i've cut out all processed foods. anyway, i go in to see my endocrinologist but i don't see him. i see him the next day so i don't have to pay my copay until the next time. nice. i have to stand on one leg and they inject the thyrogen in the side of the butt cheek of the leg i'm not putting pressure on. it hurts a bit and is sore for a while.

27 april, second thyrogen injection in the left upper butt cheek. so, i get these injections to trick my body into thinking i have no thyroid hormones in my body. that way, when i have the body scan, it doesn't detect the hormones and confuses it with cancerous thyroid cells. previously, patients were required to be taken off of the meds and went through hell. at least that's what i'm told. i never had to go through it. thank goodness.

28 april, 131 iodine pill. thyroid cells are the only cells in your body that absorb iodine. this body scan is specifically for thyroid cancer as it scans for iodine cells. basically, the iodine is like a dye that gets soaked up by thyroid cells. getting the 131 pill requires to fast starting at midnight the night before. oh and i had to go in for a blood test before the pill.

today, 1 may (can't believe it's already may), the whole body scan. i went in at 8a. they give me sour candy (lemon drops) to stimulate my salivary glands. then i lay down on the scan which they set up nicely with pillows and blankets. about 45 minutes or so, the top of the scan, which has these cameras in it, comes down about an inch from my body and scans my whole body very slowly. since i'm not allowed to move, i fall in and out of sleep during this time. after the body scan, my neck is scanned for about 10 minutes, then they put this plate beneath my head and scan me for another 5 minutes. finally, my nuclear medicine doctor reads the charts and tells me if i'm okay or not.

and today, i'm okay! two more years until i am cured! yay!