Betsy's Blog

                      Have you ever heard a singer whose voice can fill a theater? Do you picture her in a long, flowing white dress and barefoot? Can she play the guitar and also write her own songs!? Does she live on her grandma’s farm in Iowa? She goes by the nickname Lissie for Elisabeth. I was fortunate to see her perform last night in the Troubador Theater where she first performed in downtown Los Angeles. My husband and I went with a local couple that we have known for over thirty years. When she started out, I am sure it was a cool part of the city. Lissie thanked the Theater Stage Manager and crew that she has worked with for years. There is still a 50’style music club next door with red leather booths where we had dinner before the concert. Homeless people hung around outside the theater and assured us the theatre doors would open soon. Most of the store windows were boarded up, and a few vintage shops had wind...

       I will never attend a Timeshare sales presentation again. Repeat, I will never attend a Timeshare sales presentation again. I didn’t expect to enjoy this event but thought it might be tolerable with the reward of a BBQ restaurant lunch coupon. The process began with a harmless spin on a roulette wheel at the Las Vegas Renaissance Fair. Beware! We didn’t win a prize, but my husband and I were invited to a timeshare presentation instead. This quick session was held at a fancy Las Vegas Hotel on the Strip with a free lunch afterward. Well, let’s just say that nothing is free or quick in Vegas. We showed up early at the fancy Jockey Club on Las Vegas Boulevard. We were seated in a Roman-style waiting room with white pillars and marble floors. Our own special sales representative in a Hawaiian shirt was an expert at small talk and offered us a bottle of water. Then he personally escorted us into the conference room and sat beside us so we couldn't leave. There w...

  Did you ever wonder what the dark side of the moon looks like? Roger Waters did and produced a 1973 album by that name with his band "Pink Floyd". That was quite a while ago and now he is back on tour at the ripe old age of 79. Recently, I was fortunate to see him perform at the Allegiance Stadium in Las Vegas with a crowd of blue-jeaned baby boomers in black T-Shirts at his concert. My husband actually saw him perform in 1972 in Denver, Colorado. I didn’t know what to expect, but Waters worked his magic again. He managed to keep the stadium crowd entertained for three full hours. Clearly, he thrives on writing and sharing his music.  Roger grew up in Surrey, England where I lived many years ago. Waters started his band, Pink Floyd, in 1965 and was named after two blues musicians. His controversial politics have appeared in the press over the years. We didn’t know what to expect until the concert began with a personal message displayed on the stage screen. Waters basicall...

                                                                                                              When I first heard David Bowie’s music, I was in high school. As his voice blasted out of my TV, Ziggy Stardust caught my eye with his orange mohawk hair, neon costumes, eye shadow, and high-heeled shoes. My friend in college dyed his hair and dressed like Bowie. I couldn’t put Bowie into a box as he burst into the 1970s music scene like a rocket. If you want to take a magical, music trip back in time, be sure to see Brett Morgen’s cinematic biography, “Moonage Daydream.”  The film was created by a 53-year-old dedicated filmmaker who almost died duri...

Do you find the lazy days of summer to be on the wild side this year? I do! Let me tell you what happened on the cross-country trip that gave us a taste of Americana with a twist. My husband and I drove from Nevada for our Michigan 50th High School Reunion. We drove off the beaten road, ate in local cafes, and spoke with people in small towns and campgrounds along the way. In the cornfields of Kansas, we had an interesting evening in a small town in the middle of nowhere. There were long, windy roads lined with farmhouses like in the Wizard of Oz. There was only one restaurant open in this little town, Pizza Hut which was empty. The small kitchen crew was busy making pizzas for delivery. We were the only ones to place an order from the bored waitress. She told us about men pinching and making suggestive remarks to her last night. She said her manager told her to tell him the next time and he’ll kick them out. We couldn’t even finish the large pizza and took the rest of it ba...

            Why am I signing up to substitute teach when I just retired? Guess I'm bored, missing students, or want to earn extra money. Probably a combination of all three. I find myself looking at back-to-school news and school supply sales ads online. So I just signed up to substitute for the upcoming school year. Even though I tested positive for Covid after school ended, I am ready to put on my facemask and teach again. On my last day of school in May, my husband and I had avocado toast at a local Vegas Casino. Then my husband put a coin in a slot machine and won $1.67. Lucky start to the day! I was the first teacher at school at 7am. There was nothing for me to do but wait for for the Principal to stop by and check me out. So I sat at my classroom desk and reflected on my school career in 11 countries and 7 states. The Principal finally came and signed my sheet. Then I walked out the school door with two gifts from my students, a red teddy bear ...

Did you know “The Turtles” and six groups are touring 15 cities this summer on a “Happy Together Tour”? I was fortunate to see them perform in Las Vegas last week. Not only did the concert include The Turtles, but they had six other popular groups from the 1960s too. It was upbeat, energetic, and fun. I was surprised that I remembered most of the words along with the crowd around me. The audience was singing and wanted to dance, but then the others couldn't see the stage. The crowd stood up and rocked out to the grand finale of timeless hits. It was a fun trip back in time, and the music brought back memories of friends, school, politics, and fashion. All of the bands were missing original musicians. I wonder how many of them are still alive or if they can even remember their touring days. One of the star singers needed guidance to walk offstage and his long hair covered his face so who knows if he was singing. The musical groups are still having fun performing and spreading that g...