The Commoner Watches the Grammies

Since I still have nothing to write about I thought I would have you watch the Grammies with me. I've always loved them, because unlike the Oscars I actually know all the songs.  The Oscars?  I never see all the movies until like 2 years later.  So I'm sparing Facebook and watching with you.

You know it's going to be good because it opened with Jay Z and Beyonce.  I have no idea what either of them was saying because they bleeped most of the words but I love those two so that's okay.  I hope they stay together forever.

Guess who won best new artist!  I love them too.  Can you believe they didn't have a label and yet now they are huge?  

Lord Lord was good.  And Nile Rodgers and the Robots.  I have a connection to Nile from the 70s when a friend dated him.  That's right. I ran with an older crowd.  That bully song by some kid I don't know was good too.  I was busy reading the quotes though so I have no idea what the singer was singing.

Now I'm watching Alan Thicke and Chicago.  It's a good collaboration because Alan Thick looks like he is the same age as them. But Lord that's a lot of plastic surgery up there.  Bring on the Blurred Lines.  Beth Matsui are you dancing?

Keith Urban's singing. I like him but I just can't do country music.  Bathroom break.  
John Legend songs bore me too.  Plus he's anti-teacher education reform guy.  He hates teachers.    I boycott his music.

Woo Hoo I love Dave Grohl.  Paul McCarney bores me a lot but he's a legend so it's okay. But why is Dave Grohls friend chewing gum on stage?  That's dumb.

Okay I'm going to say it.  I may be the only American who will dare say this.  But I can't STAND Taylor Swift.  I don't even mind her music but she and her phony act make me crazy.  Please don't show to many shots of her dancing.  I can't take it.
I forgot to say.  I loved  Katy Perry's performance.  And I love Katy Perry too.

Please LET Bruno sing! I can't wait for Sunday-oh wait Pink and the Fun Guy?  I'm in !  Love that song.  Love her.  Taylor you could use some personality lessons from a strong woman-if Pink could stomach talking to you maybe she'll give you some advice.

Seriously?  That Pink trapeze thing is amazing.  And this is one of my favorite songs-the Fun guy one.  I actually liked running to this song.

That Lorde is adorable.  She's like 15 or something right?  Cute.

 It's time to put Ozzy out to pasture. 

 I was actually never a Beatle fan but Ringo Starr reminds me of when I was little and listened to WABC radio.  Did I just see Yoko Ono?  True Fact.  I saw her once in Central Park.  I nodded like 'yo' and she nodded back.

WINNER!-

I thought Kendrick Lamar was married to a Kardashian and played basketball.  No?  Love Imagine Dragons though.  Ugh I don't like this collaboration at all.  It's too extreme. Followed by country.  Time for a snack.  Not sure what I hate about country actually but it's probably the only genre of music I will say I hate.  I'm sorry and apologize to all of you.

Trying to not comment on commercials but that Pepsi halftime ad was super fun.  LOL 

Ugh Julia Roberts. She reminds me of Taylor Swift.  I think I don't like her because of the cackle that she has to make in every movie.  I'm sorry it's too sad to see Paul and Ringo.  Just Paul and Ringo.  This song is ridiculous.  Paul-why are you still making new songs? I think you are out of things to say.

Can I ask why Gloria Estefan doesn't make music anymore?  I love her. What a talent.  And Pharrell you are on every album aren't you? Raking in the big bucks.

WINNER!!!!

Ugh more country music. Time for another snack.  Oh Kris Kristofferson (No idea how to spell that one) sadness. Mark Anthony just scared me.  Blake Shelton you are so TALL!  But these crowd shots are great!

GET LUCKY!!! I Love IT! Stevie Wonder?  Nile Rodgers?  This is going to Be so GREAT!  Watch me dance around the room like I always do when this song comes on.

Everyone's dancing-even Yoko!  Grammy dance party

Tapestry was one of my favorite albums in high school.  Sara Baralis kind of bores me.  But props to her for getting to sing with Carole King.  Carole King you are still beautiful.

Lorde looks super nervous.  She's very young and very cute.  She kind of looks like Katie Holmes.  No?  

Lou Reed.  I'm so sad he's gone.  He reminds me of home.  The dirty New York.  He reminds me of high school because that song was so bad to listen to at a young age in catholic school.  I saw him as a guest of U2 in concert once in NY .

I'm not going to lie.  I'm tired.  It's 11 PM.  I have to go to sleep.  I already know all the winners and youtubed the Madonna performance.  Here you go!

I cried a little.  Well I don't cry but if I did I would have.  

Have a great night everyone.

The Commoner's Play List

I haven't done this for awhile-and seriously I have very little to write about these days.  I've written about the weather for cry in out loud!
So let's put the running list on shuffle and see what we come up with!

We Are Young by Fun

This song is great because honestly.  If I didn't convince myself that I was young when I was running-if I thought about my real age? I could never do it.

No Church in the Wild -Jay Z-Kanye and other people

You know I can't run without listening to Jay Z and his here's the kick in your butt you need to get going lyrics.  Let's face it -most days I couldn't go to work without Jay giving me a kick in the butt. I love that this song says -"whats a mile to a king".  I think it says that.  Maybe not but I'm going with it. 

I love the Great Gatsby because it reminds me of home and the driving beat to this song is enough to make me lift my knees when I run.

Treasure!  Bruno Mars-

When ever I listen to Bruno Mars I think about the way he bops around on stage like he's from Motown.  That entertains my head for 2 minutes and 59 seconds.  It's happy it grooves and it bops.

Some Nights by Fun-yes another Fun song.  I admit I'm tired of this one and usually skip it.  But it has a driving beat and it says some nights I don't know anymore.  Like when I lay in bed and my body hurts from running.  I love these guys though.

I'm always surprised that groups put production money into videos any more.   This video is great-maybe I won't skip this song next time.

And number 5 the song I never get sick of -like ever.  When it comes on I usually hit repeat the rest of my run and run a full minute per mile faster.  

Can't Hold Us by Mackelmore.  I know I'm not supposed to like them right now because they are from Seattle and part of the 12th man which kept Colin from the Super bowl.  But I can't help it. I LOVE this song.

Random Pictures Connected to The Songs.

The Commoner Talks About the Weather

Lately in California all we talk about is the weather.  I know what you are thinking what weather?

Since moving here almost 17 years ago (and yes I'm still adjusting) I have learned that Thanksgiving can be 90 degrees and Easter can be freezing.  Summer doesn't begin until August and there are weird 4 O'Clock winds from March until November.  The winter gets dull and dreary as rain comes in, is heavy, causes flooding, and bad driving.  AND fog is construed as marine layer.

I've learned all of this.  I tell you that I love love love the sunshine and have a hard time dealing with the grey.  I much prefer a New York snow or thunder storm to the gloom the rain causes here.

Having said that.  I will tell you that I am not comfortable with climate change in general.  There was a polar vortex all over the country we had 75 degrees and sunny.

Now the problem with this beautiful weather.  Day after day of 73 degrees and sunshine is that it comes at a cost.  While I generally am anti-rain.  I welcome it once a week or so but I don't like it.  However-I know we will pay for this at some point.  We face a huge drought.  We have already gone to emergency status -which means that we are supposed to cut back by 20%.  Worse yet?  This is our summer and we don't even realize it.  I'm not wearing shorts and my legs are pasty white.

Running will be hard when it rains for a month.  As it is now I run in two temperatures-35 degrees or 80 degrees.

Lake Tahoe has minimal snow which means no one is skiing and enjoying trips to winter.  Not that I ever do but other people do.

Summer for us this year might be cold and wet and no one wants that.

The price of wine, lemons, and salad and nuts will go up and we don't want that.

It means there's an earthquake coming and we don't want that.

Plus it's still 35 degrees in the morning and at night.  Heat still comes up and I'm still wearing boots.  

So please beautiful warm weather-if you are here to stay fine, but if you have other plans in mind-then please come back in June.

The Commoner's Thoughts in Pictures

The Commoner's New Years Resolutions

I feel propelled to make some resolutions -1 week late.  Mostly because I have nothing at all to write about.

I will not take any selfies-NONE-EVER

I will go to more parties and eat many sweets.  Like cakes!  I kind of did this this year but I can always improve.

I will learn to play an instrument and join  a band.  Ok -not so much-I'll go to a concert.  Ok -probably not-I'll listen to music on the radio.

I will definitely take a family portrait.  Judging by this one?  I will be the photographer and not appear in the picture.  I kind of have the hang of this.  Remember this one?

I will find time to sit on a bench.  Maybe that bench on the 4 mile rest area of my running trail.  

I will hold someone's baby.  Not sure whose baby-so if you have one let me borrow it.  The baby will cry but that's okay-it's for the sake of a resolution.

I will sit in a big comfortable chair.  I don't really do this very often but this is my year!  (Can I borrow a big comfy chair?)

I will eat a meal of cake outside.  Come on -that will be fantastic.  Who wants to come?  

I will take my favorite pillow and hang out on the beach.  For a nap.  With my sunglasses.  I love the beach this one is easy.

Finally-and seriously-I'll keep running long distances because I love them-even though I have this voice saying come on 10Ks are good enough.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Commoner's Old Year

Here is a look back at one highlight from each month.  Because you know you want them.

DUBLIN

MEGHAN'S NEW CAR

BENJIE'S NEW TOYS

LOVED ONES WE LOST

49ERS AT THE SUPERBOWL  (VERNON DAVIS OUR NEW FRIEND)

CHRISTMAS NAPPING

SEATTLE

CLASS

NEW PORT BEACH

NAVY GRADUATION

CHICAGO MARATHON

NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON SAN FRANCISCO

AVILA BEACH

It was quite a year-and there are big plans for 2014 as well.

The Commoners and the Getaway Car

I am going to tell this story in pictures and bullet points.

This is my new camera and I took it with me to Maggiano's for Our Christmas Dinner.  I was Lois Lane.  It is a lucky camera because lots of things happened

This is the horse that lives behind Kristen's house.  What's important about this horse is that is sparked a conversation as to the difference between mules and donkeys.  We're still confused .

We got a late start because Super Model Sosa took a long time to get to Kristen's house.  It takes time to be this beautiful.

 Sosa is bossy and made us walk the back streets of Santana Row to get to the restaurant but that's okay because we noticed that Vernon Davis was doing a signing.  My big camera made us look like paparazzi and we got in.

He has a foundation for the arts on the backside of Santana Row.  He's a sensitive good guy.  He's a 49er too.  I don't know where this is but Sosa might be able to get you there.

Finally we made it to the restaurant.  We were hoping for Carolers outside because Santana Row is like that.  There was only bad Karaoke of some sort.  Turns out -according to Sosa if you shop on Santana Row-which I do occasionally -you are rich.  Who knew that's all it takes.

The food is so good here and served family style.  My favorite thing is the fried cheese squares.  You know big cheese sticks.  So good.  This is the cheese cake-it's like silk.  We ate a lot of food.

We had to pull the table out for this picture because we ate so much.
Speaking of which, I asked the busboy if our plates of big food could possibly fit on the is table.  He looked at me like I was speaking a language he didn't understand.

Later we caught him speaking english when he asked if we were through with our coffee.  What ever.
We were finished and we couldn't eat anymore so we left.  Beth had 3 full bags of leftovers because the trick is -you can ask for seconds and then you can pack it for home.  We feed all the Matsuis.

On the way home we noticed a car drive by really fast.  Then we noticed cop car after cop car silently blasting past us.  What could this be?  Turns out it was a car chase.

Finally 10 cop cars later we noticed one was coming by slowly and was going to do that zig zag thing so we got off the free way.  As we went on the over pass we saw a fire-caused by tires and men with flashlights in the bushes.

I was there with my camera and my flash.  But then we got scared that the cops would think we were the get away car.  OR the bad guy would car jack us.  So we got out of there.

Finally we were back at Kristen's house where we met her cat Tony.  Tony is named after Tony Soprano because his job is to whack the mice.

And that was it.  Our last commoner trip of the year.  We all wish you a very Merry Christmas-and if you need something?  Lois Lane and her camera will be on the spot.