Tag: HIM

  • I’m a …………….

    Mwsoulonfirewhite

    Last night was the best concert ever!  Ever!  It was utterly freezing….ran from Penn Station to Times Square with frozen throats and feet.  Was too cool to get to the famous location in New York where lit up signage must be viewable from the moon…..and in the center of it all is a large flashing "HIM" with a big red "SOLD OUT" across it, followed by video clips on the Nokia Theater marquee.  HCIT?

    I thought this would turn out crummy so I didn’t record very long, but here is footage of my favorite track, taken with my digital camera of the screen:  Soul On Fire!  I’m off to get ready for tonight!!

    Mwsoulonfire2

  • I’m a …………….

    Mwsoulonfirewhite

    Last night was the best concert ever!  Ever!  It was utterly freezing….ran from Penn Station to Times Square with frozen throats and feet.  Was too cool to get to the famous location in New York where lit up signage must be viewable from the moon…..and in the center of it all is a large flashing "HIM" with a big red "SOLD OUT" across it, followed by video clips on the Nokia Theater marquee.  HCIT?

    I thought this would turn out crummy so I didn’t record very long, but here is footage of my favorite track, taken with my digital camera of the screen:  Soul On Fire!  I’m off to get ready for tonight!!

    Mwsoulonfire2

  • G.F.

    What is G.F.?  Short for Girl Friend?  Maybe.  Good Food?  Great Find?  Got Fries?  Gab Fest?  Try this:  Get Factor.  Isn’t it cool when you know someone Gets you?  Don’t you love when someone says You’ll Love This, and you do?  It doesn’t have to be related to things you receive, it’s about so much more than that.  It’s when your people know you are passionate about something, and they feed you by sharing information, by sharing enthusiasm, by acknowledging your YOUness. 

    Mwgetfactor

    I want to share a few recent arrivals.  This just in from Julie.  It’s not even December and like a child I ripped open the lovely package.  You’ve seen it before:  page 43 of Sept/Oct Somerset Studio.  Isn’t it dreamy?  I am so lucky to have five pieces of art by Julie.  She is my idol, my mentor, my dear friend.  I keep moving it from room to room to see where she’ll be most at home.  I adored it when I got a sneak peek for the article.  She KNEW I’d spaz when it got here.  Love it, thanks Julie!

    Mwgiftfromjulie

    Judi took a swoon-worthy voyage to Paris and London.  She came back bearing gifts.  Gold, frankincense and muhr?  No.  Curd, clip, and dirt.  I’ll take THAT, thanks!  She got me dirt, can you stand it?

    Mwjudigift

    And how is this for clever?  Judy blew my mind with these….and she spray painted the package, almost too good to open but when it has Judy’s return address on it I know that contents will be even better!  Won’t those tabs be perfect in my HIMnal?  What you don’t know what that is?  Scroll down a few posts.  You can barely see it but the brads she uses to hold the tags in place spell H I M. 

    Mwjudygift

    Mwjudygift2

    This arrived yesterday.  If I hadn’t spent the day pampering myself I might have run off to the framer.  I had to dye my hair, and try my new eyeliner.  Have you ever used the liquid stuff?  I hadn’t until today and wanted to make sure I didn’t become a raccoon within a few hours.  I’m liking it.  May use it tomorrow night.  I think I’m all ready now.  Palpitating Heart.

    Mwvalopoe_2

    Mwconcert

    I KNOW I’ll have a good weekend.  Hope you do too.  And if you’re still making out your gift list, be sure to remember the GET Factor.  Be clever and creative and make your selections so that your gift recipients know you Get them.   

  • G.F.

    What is G.F.?  Short for Girl Friend?  Maybe.  Good Food?  Great Find?  Got Fries?  Gab Fest?  Try this:  Get Factor.  Isn’t it cool when you know someone Gets you?  Don’t you love when someone says You’ll Love This, and you do?  It doesn’t have to be related to things you receive, it’s about so much more than that.  It’s when your people know you are passionate about something, and they feed you by sharing information, by sharing enthusiasm, by acknowledging your YOUness. 

    Mwgetfactor

    I want to share a few recent arrivals.  This just in from Julie.  It’s not even December and like a child I ripped open the lovely package.  You’ve seen it before:  page 43 of Sept/Oct Somerset Studio.  Isn’t it dreamy?  I am so lucky to have five pieces of art by Julie.  She is my idol, my mentor, my dear friend.  I keep moving it from room to room to see where she’ll be most at home.  I adored it when I got a sneak peek for the article.  She KNEW I’d spaz when it got here.  Love it, thanks Julie!

    Mwgiftfromjulie

    Judi took a swoon-worthy voyage to Paris and London.  She came back bearing gifts.  Gold, frankincense and muhr?  No.  Curd, clip, and dirt.  I’ll take THAT, thanks!  She got me dirt, can you stand it?

    Mwjudigift

    And how is this for clever?  Judy blew my mind with these….and she spray painted the package, almost too good to open but when it has Judy’s return address on it I know that contents will be even better!  Won’t those tabs be perfect in my HIMnal?  What you don’t know what that is?  Scroll down a few posts.  You can barely see it but the brads she uses to hold the tags in place spell H I M. 

    Mwjudygift

    Mwjudygift2

    This arrived yesterday.  If I hadn’t spent the day pampering myself I might have run off to the framer.  I had to dye my hair, and try my new eyeliner.  Have you ever used the liquid stuff?  I hadn’t until today and wanted to make sure I didn’t become a raccoon within a few hours.  I’m liking it.  May use it tomorrow night.  I think I’m all ready now.  Palpitating Heart.

    Mwvalopoe_2

    Mwconcert

    I KNOW I’ll have a good weekend.  Hope you do too.  And if you’re still making out your gift list, be sure to remember the GET Factor.  Be clever and creative and make your selections so that your gift recipients know you Get them.   

  • Just when you thought……

    ….that I might be done talking about Grave Dirt, I have more to tell you! 

    Mwsleepyhollow3

    Seriously, I was sure my chatter about cemeteries and dirt might have my readers dropping like flies….but you have surprised me in the sharing of my enthusiasm.  So many great comments and private emails related to the whole dirt thing has really touched me.  It’s turned out to be a really cool thing and I’m glad I shared it with you.  First up, me collecting a specimen from Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

    Mwsleepyhollow1

    This weekend we ventured up to Tarrytown, New York, to visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, resting place of many famous people.  It is a stunning place with it’s beautiful headstones and incredibly hilly terrain.  On the backside, down a steep slope, there is a small creek and some eery woods.  The chilly late afternoon left us wondering if we’d indeed see the headless horseman take a ride.  My parents were good sports to be led on our little mission.  Actually, it was a day enjoyed by all.

    Mwsleepyhollow2

    Both Fallon and I took turns digging some dirt.  There were people around but we didn’t care.  The earth was loose and just begged to be dug.  In the first or second scoop I came across a penny so set it back on top of the stone, which is where it must have placed by another visitor some time ago.

    Mwsleepyhollow4

    Here are some of the interesting tombstones.  If you are into walking beautiful cemeteries, especially on a late fall afternoon, when the wind blows and the leaves are falling, and crunching, and making you kinda jumpy, you should visit this one.

    Mwsleepyhollow6

    Mwsleepyhollow7

    Mwsleepyhollow8

    The one on the right was coming right out of the tree!

    Mwsleepyhollow10

    Mwsleepyhollow9

    Mwsleepyhollow11 

    Other activities:  saw Enchanted.  ADORABLE!  I was very impressed with the pop-up book thing they did at the end.  Here is the crew in the cute town of New Hope, PA.  Hope you had some quality family time this weekend too. 

    Mwsleepyhollow5

    And to my fellow HIM fans…..this just in:  Bleed Well (directors cut video).  We see them this Saturday and Sunday and I will come with gifts, of course! 

  • Just when you thought……

    ….that I might be done talking about Grave Dirt, I have more to tell you! 

    Mwsleepyhollow3

    Seriously, I was sure my chatter about cemeteries and dirt might have my readers dropping like flies….but you have surprised me in the sharing of my enthusiasm.  So many great comments and private emails related to the whole dirt thing has really touched me.  It’s turned out to be a really cool thing and I’m glad I shared it with you.  First up, me collecting a specimen from Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

    Mwsleepyhollow1

    This weekend we ventured up to Tarrytown, New York, to visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, resting place of many famous people.  It is a stunning place with it’s beautiful headstones and incredibly hilly terrain.  On the backside, down a steep slope, there is a small creek and some eery woods.  The chilly late afternoon left us wondering if we’d indeed see the headless horseman take a ride.  My parents were good sports to be led on our little mission.  Actually, it was a day enjoyed by all.

    Mwsleepyhollow2

    Both Fallon and I took turns digging some dirt.  There were people around but we didn’t care.  The earth was loose and just begged to be dug.  In the first or second scoop I came across a penny so set it back on top of the stone, which is where it must have placed by another visitor some time ago.

    Mwsleepyhollow4

    Here are some of the interesting tombstones.  If you are into walking beautiful cemeteries, especially on a late fall afternoon, when the wind blows and the leaves are falling, and crunching, and making you kinda jumpy, you should visit this one.

    Mwsleepyhollow6

    Mwsleepyhollow7

    Mwsleepyhollow8

    The one on the right was coming right out of the tree!

    Mwsleepyhollow10

    Mwsleepyhollow9

    Mwsleepyhollow11 

    Other activities:  saw Enchanted.  ADORABLE!  I was very impressed with the pop-up book thing they did at the end.  Here is the crew in the cute town of New Hope, PA.  Hope you had some quality family time this weekend too. 

    Mwsleepyhollow5

    And to my fellow HIM fans…..this just in:  Bleed Well (directors cut video).  We see them this Saturday and Sunday and I will come with gifts, of course! 

  • Day 3 & 4: Dead End, New Beginnings

    Trying again.  Have had two posts eaten up.  My goal yesterday was to get some cork wall tiles for Sam’s room.  He has about thirty wall calendars hung in perfect lines around his room and each month when he flips the pages he has to re-push-pin back in the wall.  Cork makes sense, yes?  Do you think Lowe’s or Home Depot had them?  No!  I did find an online source, just waiting for confirmation of the thickness – need them to be push-pin appropriate.  Crossing fingers it’s not another dead end.

    Mw_himnal1_2

    Continued working in my Himnal.  Not Hymnal.  HIM lyrics + Journal = HIMnal.  *cracking myself up*

    Mw_himnal2_2

    Mw_himnal3_2

    One of my favorite new things is this paint dabber.  Works great on alphabet stamps over a painted page.  Sometimes ink just doesn’t cut it.  These are just the trick! 

    Mwpaintstamps_2

    Watched Corpse Bride with Fallon last night.  It’s a good thing to watch a film over and over…you see things you might have missed the first or tenth time.  Found this photo of the puppet guy settting up a scene.  How about that staircase?  My uncle is a Construction Coordinator in the movie industry.  Before I was married I thought about moving to CA to work for him.  How fun would building sets have been?

    Corpse1_2

    Corpse3_2

    And now for new beginnings.  I have had this doll for years.  How hideous is that attire she came with?  The collar, yes!  The rest?  No!  I have a gigantic clock case she will reside in – so grungy and weathered it looks like it came from the floor of the Titanic.  I’ll be painting some tyvek clothes for her – in black and white of course, and we’ll have to do something about the purple on her head.  Bleh! I know, spray paint!  She’ll look perfect on our red bedroom wall.  As you know, Pierrot is my Muse…should be fun.  Stay tuned.

    Mwpierrot_start_2

    Next up:  The Mall, by request of the kids.  Here’s out routine:  in through Macy’s to navigate the Lucky Brand jewelry, then Hot Topic, Vans, Journeys, Pac-Sun, Spencers, Claires, Sephora, food court, home.  Band merchandise will be involved, twist my arm.

  • Day 3 & 4: Dead End, New Beginnings

    Trying again.  Have had two posts eaten up.  My goal yesterday was to get some cork wall tiles for Sam’s room.  He has about thirty wall calendars hung in perfect lines around his room and each month when he flips the pages he has to re-push-pin back in the wall.  Cork makes sense, yes?  Do you think Lowe’s or Home Depot had them?  No!  I did find an online source, just waiting for confirmation of the thickness – need them to be push-pin appropriate.  Crossing fingers it’s not another dead end.

    Mw_himnal1_2

    Continued working in my Himnal.  Not Hymnal.  HIM lyrics + Journal = HIMnal.  *cracking myself up*

    Mw_himnal2_2

    Mw_himnal3_2

    One of my favorite new things is this paint dabber.  Works great on alphabet stamps over a painted page.  Sometimes ink just doesn’t cut it.  These are just the trick! 

    Mwpaintstamps_2

    Watched Corpse Bride with Fallon last night.  It’s a good thing to watch a film over and over…you see things you might have missed the first or tenth time.  Found this photo of the puppet guy settting up a scene.  How about that staircase?  My uncle is a Construction Coordinator in the movie industry.  Before I was married I thought about moving to CA to work for him.  How fun would building sets have been?

    Corpse1_2

    Corpse3_2

    And now for new beginnings.  I have had this doll for years.  How hideous is that attire she came with?  The collar, yes!  The rest?  No!  I have a gigantic clock case she will reside in – so grungy and weathered it looks like it came from the floor of the Titanic.  I’ll be painting some tyvek clothes for her – in black and white of course, and we’ll have to do something about the purple on her head.  Bleh! I know, spray paint!  She’ll look perfect on our red bedroom wall.  As you know, Pierrot is my Muse…should be fun.  Stay tuned.

    Mwpierrot_start_2

    Next up:  The Mall, by request of the kids.  Here’s out routine:  in through Macy’s to navigate the Lucky Brand jewelry, then Hot Topic, Vans, Journeys, Pac-Sun, Spencers, Claires, Sephora, food court, home.  Band merchandise will be involved, twist my arm.

  • Mission: Accomplished!

    Report from Thursday:  Terrific show!  We passed off our precious cargo to the band’s manager.  It was a success!  Thanks for all your heartfelt and enthusiastic well wishes.  We are so thrilled!  Details below.

    Gdc1_2 

    The box – found at Marshalls.  (Bought myself the matching smaller version, of course!)  I was first attractecd to it by the colors and handsome brass details.  There were a few like this one that were slightly different in pattern – but I liked how this one had a cross-like emblem…but the clincher:  do you see "V"s?  Me too.

    Gdc2

    Here’s how the bottles looked in the box.  I made a journal to chronicle the tales, past and present, of the gathering and gifting of the dirt.  It was a rush job….wish I had 24 more hours.  I typed out a quick summary of how the grave dirt gift evolved and all who were involved with as many pictures and extra details I could pull together in one day.  (Chris you’ll see yourself in the journal….I wrote about how you gathered the California dirt for me!!  And Maj, you’re in there too!)

    Gdc3

    Gdc4 

    Gdc5 

    Gdc6

    Gdc7

    Gdc8

    Gdc9

    Gdc10

    So here’s how it went down:  After the opening band played Fallon and I were standing near the other Street Teamers….and it didn’t look like there was going to be any kind of meet and greet….when all of a sudden I see the band’s manager, Seppo.  He was just walking right past us in the club.  (He’s a recognizable dude…come on, you know we’re fangirls and we should know these things!)  So I grab his arm and pull him over.  I explained that I had this gift and he was aware that something like this was coming as our leader had emailed him to try to arrange a hand-off.  I pass off a black messenger bag for Ville, filled with some books and The Box.  He says he’ll go deliver right away and said they would be leaving directly after the show as they were really tired.  Fair enough, and mission accomplished!  If I wasn’t able to give the bag of goodies to Ville, Seppo was the man!  He was kind enough to hang for another minute so I could get a snapshot of Fallon with him.  It was a Rock Star Moment for Fallon to stand with Seppo. 

    So maybe like less than thirty minuted later HE COMES BACK.  He was all glowing and smiling and purposely came to tell us that the gift was well received.  Ville loved the gifts and was impressed with additions to the collection.  I could tell by the way Seppo was talking to us that he was sincere.  How cool was that to have him come back out into the crowd to share that news?  We were giddy.  Of course we had hoped to present the gifts ourselves but this was a terrific experience too!  Because he returned I was able to get an additional photo of myself with him.

    Fallon_michelle_seppo_2

    The concert was fantastic!  Great to her some of new Venus Doom tracks live for the first time.  Starland Ballroom is a great place to see your favorite band.  It’s general admission but there isn’t a bad place to stand….feels like you’re up close anywhere in the venue.  Ville was very animated and laughing and you could tell it was a perfect nght kicking off the new tour.  Looking forward to seeing them again in December when they wind it up in New York City.  We did stalk the bus after the show but security made us leave before we spied anyone from the band coming out.  (Did you notice I forgot to lean forward and my chin got caught on film?)

    Stage

    Aftershow

    Starland

    Books

    EDIT:  these just in from another teamer……Suukko4 (aka Sue from the PA Street Team)

    Suukko4

    Suukko3

    Suukko5

    One more EDIT:  Gossip from London: 

    MetalHammer announces:  The people who sort out the James Bond music have apparently approached Ville Valo from HIM to record the theme for the next Bond film. Might this end the speculation that Amy Winehouse would be asked to record the next Bond theme?

    Reportedly, the Bond soundtrack writers David Arnold and Don Black approached Valo at the BMI Awards last Tuesday here in London sounding him out about working on the title song for the next film. One of those sources told the tab: "David Arnold and Don Black were in deep conversation with Ville on the night. They love the song that won him an award (Wings of a Butterfly). They think he has just the right ear to write a classic Bond hit with them".  {Swooooooooon – the right voice too.}

  • Mission: Accomplished!

    Report from Thursday:  Terrific show!  We passed off our precious cargo to the band’s manager.  It was a success!  Thanks for all your heartfelt and enthusiastic well wishes.  We are so thrilled!  Details below.

    Gdc1_2 

    The box – found at Marshalls.  (Bought myself the matching smaller version, of course!)  I was first attractecd to it by the colors and handsome brass details.  There were a few like this one that were slightly different in pattern – but I liked how this one had a cross-like emblem…but the clincher:  do you see "V"s?  Me too.

    Gdc2

    Here’s how the bottles looked in the box.  I made a journal to chronicle the tales, past and present, of the gathering and gifting of the dirt.  It was a rush job….wish I had 24 more hours.  I typed out a quick summary of how the grave dirt gift evolved and all who were involved with as many pictures and extra details I could pull together in one day.  (Chris you’ll see yourself in the journal….I wrote about how you gathered the California dirt for me!!  And Maj, you’re in there too!)

    Gdc3

    Gdc4 

    Gdc5 

    Gdc6

    Gdc7

    Gdc8

    Gdc9

    Gdc10

    So here’s how it went down:  After the opening band played Fallon and I were standing near the other Street Teamers….and it didn’t look like there was going to be any kind of meet and greet….when all of a sudden I see the band’s manager, Seppo.  He was just walking right past us in the club.  (He’s a recognizable dude…come on, you know we’re fangirls and we should know these things!)  So I grab his arm and pull him over.  I explained that I had this gift and he was aware that something like this was coming as our leader had emailed him to try to arrange a hand-off.  I pass off a black messenger bag for Ville, filled with some books and The Box.  He says he’ll go deliver right away and said they would be leaving directly after the show as they were really tired.  Fair enough, and mission accomplished!  If I wasn’t able to give the bag of goodies to Ville, Seppo was the man!  He was kind enough to hang for another minute so I could get a snapshot of Fallon with him.  It was a Rock Star Moment for Fallon to stand with Seppo. 

    So maybe like less than thirty minuted later HE COMES BACK.  He was all glowing and smiling and purposely came to tell us that the gift was well received.  Ville loved the gifts and was impressed with additions to the collection.  I could tell by the way Seppo was talking to us that he was sincere.  How cool was that to have him come back out into the crowd to share that news?  We were giddy.  Of course we had hoped to present the gifts ourselves but this was a terrific experience too!  Because he returned I was able to get an additional photo of myself with him.

    Fallon_michelle_seppo_2

    The concert was fantastic!  Great to her some of new Venus Doom tracks live for the first time.  Starland Ballroom is a great place to see your favorite band.  It’s general admission but there isn’t a bad place to stand….feels like you’re up close anywhere in the venue.  Ville was very animated and laughing and you could tell it was a perfect nght kicking off the new tour.  Looking forward to seeing them again in December when they wind it up in New York City.  We did stalk the bus after the show but security made us leave before we spied anyone from the band coming out.  (Did you notice I forgot to lean forward and my chin got caught on film?)

    Stage

    Aftershow

    Starland

    Books

    EDIT:  these just in from another teamer……Suukko4 (aka Sue from the PA Street Team)

    Suukko4

    Suukko3

    Suukko5

    One more EDIT:  Gossip from London: 

    MetalHammer announces:  The people who sort out the James Bond music have apparently approached Ville Valo from HIM to record the theme for the next Bond film. Might this end the speculation that Amy Winehouse would be asked to record the next Bond theme?

    Reportedly, the Bond soundtrack writers David Arnold and Don Black approached Valo at the BMI Awards last Tuesday here in London sounding him out about working on the title song for the next film. One of those sources told the tab: "David Arnold and Don Black were in deep conversation with Ville on the night. They love the song that won him an award (Wings of a Butterfly). They think he has just the right ear to write a classic Bond hit with them".  {Swooooooooon – the right voice too.}