We spent an afternoon in the sunshine (and evening in the bone-chilling fog) on Saturday in San Francisco at KFOG’s annual concert and fireworks extravaganza, Kaboom.  Some of these photos are posted on their website, and you can view a video of the fireworks there as well.

Lineup: Matt Nathanson, Collective Soul and Los Lobos

We went primarily to see our friend Matt with his full band, so of course it was our favorite. Frankly, the other two didn’t interest me one bit. To be fair, everyone else in my party (nine others, all of us squished together on 2 blankets) seemed to enjoy all three acts.

I was more amused by the many unfortunate shirtless wonders in the crowd (see photo below), as well as the huge line of young girls and college prepsters that awaited autographs from and a chance to meet Matt for two hours after his set. Watching his career grow from a guy with a guitar in the dorms at 18 to performing for 100,000 people is pretty amazing, and I continue to be both in awe of and very proud of him.

And then there were the fireworks, set to a great soundtrack. Thick layers of fog rolled in and blocked some of the larger displays, but it was very cool nonetheless.

That’s all, folks.

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Dear Mom:

Thanks for having me.

Also, I appreciate that you allowed me to watch television. Lots of it. From a very young age, and always without a filter. That is not to say that you failed parental obligations by exposing me to myriad evils on the small screen. Because obviously I can distinguish between fact and fiction. Except when I discuss characters on Lost with friends and fellow fans.

Although I know you would have preferred that I applied the same degree of effort and enthusiasm that I have for pop culture to, say, the stock market, you’ve never expressed anything other than support for every aspect of my life, job and hobbies. 

I love that you were my very first blog subscriber, and that you check the site every day for updates. I don’t even mind when you call to point out the rare grammatical or spelling error.

You rule, and so does my grandmother, your 97 year old mother. That I have gained even an ounce of your combined wisdom, intellect and personalities is an honor.

I hope you had a chocolate-filled Mother’s Day, because that is how the women in our family roll. Call me if you need an explanation about that phrase.

Love,

Jo

p.s. Thank goodness ‘being green’ wasn’t hip in the early 80′s; the amount of Aqua Net in my feathered hair is obscene. Also, sorry that the string of pearls & pink dress look never took. You tried your best.

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On occasion, I feel particularly uninspired…which is very disconcerting and depressing. Most of the time I can’t wait to get home from work and write about the pop culture world at large. But the well is empty. I have nothing for you.

Perhaps I’m wasting too much time and energy on Twitter. It could also be that I’ve been staying up too late every night, watching a variety of shows online.  Or perhaps it has been the lack of quality films released during the last few months, ostensibly removing one of my favorite activities/pastimes from the menu and quelling my overall enthusiasm for going to the movies.

I know I’ve hit a serious wall because I can’t even muster up a new Lost entry for my other blog, which I’ve been trying to do for days in anticipation of tomorrow night’s return.  I believe that I have blog block, an updated twist on traditional writer’s block.

There isn’t a real explanation or excuse. I just don’t want to bore you, so I’ll be back when something finally ignites and excites.

[update: My mom called to see if I was okay after reading this. I'm fine. I simply hit a rough creative patch and shared too much, as usual. But I appreciate those of you who expressed concern.]

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My friend went to a taping of Ellen yesterday and was on TV today, dancing next to her. I was jealous (of the proximity, not the dancing). It made me think about the activities I’d like to experience at some point before I die, as well as the ones I already have.

I’m not trying to be morbid, but I am attempting to be a little less tightly wound, and adopt a carpe diem attitude. Recent back surgery forced me to contemplate/acknowledge my mortality for the first time, and I have made an effort to become more flexible (emotionally, mentally & physically) as a result. I simply need to relax, enjoy and appreciate life more than I have in the past (and for the future).

Most people keep lists of dream vacations. Me? Not so much. Here are a few random things I’d like to experience in my lifetime, in no particular order:

• Visit the set of Lost, or interview some of the cast
  

• Attend a taping of Ellen

• Throw out the first pitch at a major league ballpark
  

• Fly to Boston & Chicago for baseball games at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field

• See both REM and Bruce Springsteen live

• Watch the A’s win the World Series at home in the new stadium

• Go to the Emmy Awards
  

None of the above are career-related, but my dream job would be to either be on the writing staff of a television series or write a pop culture column for a newspaper or entertainment magazine. No big secret or surprise there.

I’m thrilled to have already had the opportunity to experience and participate in a few amazing events, including:

• Meeting Mary Lou Retton & attending the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles (I was a budding/failing gymnast at the time)

• Having coffee with Shawn Colvin in London before her show in 1993 (I was studying abroad, it was snowing outside, and she invited me in to watch rehearsal)

• Working as an ‘extra‘ on The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1994 (a story for another blog post altogether)

• Attending a private benefit honoring Ellen DeGeneres in 1998 for her groundbreaking coming out episode (and meeting the Indigo Girls)

• Being among the 73k fans watching the Women’s World Cup semi-finals at Stanford in 1999 (USA defeated Brazil)

• Hiking through the rain forest and cave-tubing in Belize

• Climbing to the top of the Duomo in Florence, Italy
  

• Seeing Barry Bonds hit #71 & #72 at PacBell Park in 2001, breaking the single-season homerun record (not a huge fan of the man, but it was electric in there)

• Watching The Incredibles and Cars at Pixar Animation Studios before they were released (both for events benefiting local education)

• Going to  Sundance in 2007 (the coldest days of my life)

• Sitting in the front row of the bleachers at the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in SF (and not getting pummeled by large men attempting to dive for homerun balls)

• Attending the Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice benefit show earlier this year

This summer, I will be going to Comic-Con in San Diego, and I’m pretty sure that it will wind up on the list above.

I can’t believe that this entire post was inspired by a friend dancing onscreen with Ellen for three seconds, and I’m not sure I even had a point. Oh well. I know that my List of Things To Do Before I Die will be amended and updated shortly and often, because there are far more places I’d like to travel to and events I’d like to attend.

Thanks for reading yet another entry of rambling and lists. Good night!

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Oh happy day.

Although it might seem that blogging, movies and television rule my life, I actually have two other favorite hobbies: baseball and music.

Not only am I enjoying opening night of A’s baseball on TV right now, I am setting up the newest addition to the JOpinionated family of gadgets. I have a new toy, one which I’ve been waiting patiently for.

Say hello to my little friend…

She’s a Classic; thin, beautiful, spacious (160GB; room for approximately 40k songs/25k photos/200 hours of video), and my new best friend.

Given that I already have a 40GB iPod (functional but with a cracked cover and weird mechanical sounds), I had to justify this purchase. Here goes:

1. I have been selling various gadgets & electronics on CraigsList just to buy this. My hand-me-downs have been other people’s treasures. Thanks, strangers!

2. I am about to fly back and forth across the country for the first time since back surgery in December, and rather than schelp my laptop & accessories, I can watch TV on this instead. Yeah, it’s good for my back!

Many of my friends have iPhones, but I do not like having music on my phone and it certainly cannot accommodate the amount of tunes I like to have at all times. I know, I know, the iPhone screen and functionality is amazing. I have email/Internet on my cell phone, and now I have 160GB to hold ALL of my music & photos, plus several seasons of TV shows. So I am a very happy camper.

I have to christen the iPod with some new music, and I’m open to suggestions. Right now the new REM and Counting Crows albums top the list, as well as the Madonna/JT and Death Cab for Cutie singles. My favorite song of the moment is Bruce Springsteen’s “Girls in Their Summer Clothes,” but by all means…recommend some others.

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Is it me, or does there seem to be a serious drought in quality movies and television right now?

Usually the crap movies debut shortly after the Oscars, and the potential blockbusters and award-winners are released later in the year so they are remembered and considered. But it’s almost April, and I feel like we’re stranded in the arid entertainment desert without an oasis; no country for old men, women or children.

The only films I’m interested in shelling out $10 for in the next month or so include George Clooney’s Leatherheads with John Krasinski from The Office, and Smart People with Dennis Quaid, Ellen Page and Sarah Jessica Parker. I will more than likely wind up waiting to rent them both, but I like to pretend that I get out more than I actually do.

Obviously the Writers Strike has affected the current television landscape, and we’re experiencing a lull between new episodes of many popular shows. It doesn’t help that new series’ are being prematurely yanked after only one or two episodes or moved to a different date/time, before we’re given a chance to date and fall in love. I’m disappointed with Fox’s decision to essentially kill Canterbury’s Law by moving it to Friday nights; it is a pretty decent series and I like Julianna Margulies. And where will Cashmere Mafia wind up, if it even returns at all?

I have also been enjoying new episodes of Top Chef and The Riches while watching the unaired remainder of the canceled series Kitchen Confidential on Hulu (clearly I have a thing for Bonnie Somerville).

But enough of the gloom and doom; many shows are coming back very soon. For a complete list, see Maureen Ryan’s excellent summary.

April 3: My Name Is Earl

April 7: Samantha Who?

April 10: The Office

April 10: 30 Rock   

April 10: Scrubs

April 13: Desperate
Housewives

April 14: Bones

April 20: Brothers and Sisters

April 24: Grey’s Anatomy

April 24: Lost (2nd half of Season 4)

April 24: Ugly Betty

April 28: House

If I come across as cranky, let’s blame the sinus bubble that has taken up residence behind my right eye. Good times!

Oh, and my healthy holistic friends suggest that I purchase and use a Neti Pot, which supposedly cleans up your sinuses for an entire allergy season.

Yeah…I’m probably not going to buy some hippie genie lamp to stick up my nose and filter water through the other side. Seriously.  Click on this demo with the zombie woman. It freaks me out, and I couldn’t help but create this little ditty as I watched it with morbid curiosity:

I’m a little teapot, short and stout.
Stick me up your nose, then pour your nasal out.

Um, no thanks.

Have a nice weekend!

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