Meet the Cast Monday #31: Guest Starring Word Up Bro

Okay, this is my first ever Meet the Cast Monday featuring a guest star! But, if you read the blogs regarding our wine tasting and karaoke adventures in California a month or so ago, you know why Word Up Bro deserves his own Meet the Cast Monday. He got his blog nickname because he told us that he really liked watching Heidi and Spencer and enjoyed Spencer's favorite phrase, "Word Up, Bro."

You guys are learning about him along with me here.....but what I can tell you is that this guy is an absolute riot and So.Much.Fun. I could not be happier that our paths randomly crossed and that for a short period, he guest starred in the plot. I only hope he will continue to make more appearances in the years to come!

Meet Word Up Bro!

We met on your first trip to the U.S. Tell us where all you went, your favorite part, your least favorite part?
I BEG YOUR PARDON!!! It was not MY first trip to the USA, it was The Swan's however.... I have been like totally 7 or 8 times.... though first time to the west coast i admit..!... So we started in the "concrete jungle where dreams are made of" never have truer words been spoken!! .... Then flew to SF, then Los Gatos, then Carmel, Montery, Big Sur, San Louis Osbispo, Malibu Vegas, Palm Springs, and finally LA baby! As much as I wanna say wine tour for best bit, I feel it is a loaded question.... so I have to say Vegas Baby.... because I just pure love the hedonism of it all!! The worst bit was definitely doing the laundry in the Tenerloin SF. I mean A...i have never done my own laundry...B I never knew what a laundrymat was (we have our own washing machines). C.... The smell of the poor people was awful (and I know that is awful to say), but to give them there due, they do seem to take good care of fluffing and folding their own clothes. {On the wine tour, they were reeling from this experience---if you've ever been to the Tenderloin, you understand. I mean, laundromats are bad enough, but this would be like the worst possible location!} Tell the story of how we met and about our day wine tasting from your perspectives.Sooooo My friend The Swan and I go on this wine tour to Napa from San Francisco.... we were boozed the night before, so we were feeling a wee bit delicate... {How much do I love the way that Scottish people tal? Wee bit delicate. I'm going to start using this phrase!} anyway dam the bus that picked us up at our hotel about 2 hours earlier than required...... so we sat down like naughty boys near the back of the bus... and had both checked out the other tour guests.... who all looked like something from a day release programme from a category C prison.... Except one group that caught our eye.... "the Gossip Girls" ... so called named as Blonde Oklahoma Girl was telling a story as we walked past which included words such as "like totally, and oh my gosh".... {LOVE this!} anyway after that point it all becomes a bit fuzzy... not because i had drank then, but because of how much i had afterwards.... it was something about either I asked BOKG or she asked me to take a photograph... blah blah blah...and the friendship was born!
What is it like living in Dubai?
Living in Dubai is Glamourous and Oppressive, Rich and Poor, Hot and less hot, Dusty and less dusty, Hectic and chilled, Fun and boring, moralistic and hypocritical, Expensive and Cheap,.... I could go on... its just full of ridiculous contrasts.... but hey ... I pay no tax...so what do i care!!!

Why do Australians hate kangaroos? {I learned about this fact on the wine tour and was in shock! We asked a lot of questions about this issue.}
Kangas is for The Swan to answer... but i think i know one of the reasons...being his mum keeps crashing into them.... and that can be dangerous...coz they are heavy beasts and tend to defecate when they die… which can be rather unpleasant if their arses are through the windscreen of one’s Ford Escort!!! {You can see the sense of humor that drew us right to these guys, no?}

And now for a special treat, we have a guest appearance in the guest star blog from The Swan to give us his Australian perspective!To all outward appearences, it would appear that Australians like kangaroos. On the official symbol of Australia - the Coat of Arms, a Kangaroo stands opposite an Emu, both supporting the sheild. They owe this recognition to the fact that they are both native Australian Fauna, and it is often claimed that both these animals were chosen as neither can walk backwards.....progress and all that. The Kangaroo is therefore an iconic symbol of Australia. Personally, and I may speak for others, I do not like them at all. The are large, powerful animals that run wild at night time, often bounding across major roads and highways that run through the bush. It is so scary driving at night time wondering if at any moment a Kangroo will bound out and smash into your car, causing chaos. Its happened to me, its happened to my parents and when you drive around the streets and see dead Kangaroos lying on the side of the road, you know its happened to lots of others too. The thing is, if you do hit one, you want to make sure it doesnt come through your windscreen (like it did to my parents), and you want to make sure it is dead, else it will scratch your face off with its paws. These are some of the reasons Australians may not like Kangaroos

Favorite songs? {Had to ask because let me just tell y'all, this guy is killer at karaoke!}
Fav songs... I live for the moment, so although i have many from over the years... I will refer to my IPOD for the 25 most played and take my pick.... All the Lovers - Kylie Minogue,,,Empire State of Mind Part 2 - Alica Keys and Jay Z, With every heartbeat - Robin, Happiness - Alex Jordan, Price Tag - Jessie J, Hello - Marin Slovieg Feat Drangonette, Hold it agaist me - Britney Spears, Judas - Gaga, Just cant get enough - Black eyed peas, I want all of you tonight - Neyo + Pitbull Favorite childhood memories?
Watching Splash and Back to the Future over and over with my wee sister. Getting my Dog Trixie who lived for 18 years, and my cat Topsy who lived for 21 years! BMX bikes and skate boards in the summer, and just going off for miles care free before pedophiles seemed to exist! Sledging down the hills, and snowball fights in the winter, when there was Snow in Scotland before Global fricking Warming ruined it all!! I’d like to say opening presents on Christmas morning, but that was often overshadowed by my friends in the street getting better pressies... ... I hated Santa for that!

What's your take on the Lochness monster?
The Loch Ness Monster is great, because the local tourism industry in the area thrives from silly American tourists coming to see if they can catch a glimpse of it....... and they spend all their hard earned dollar in the gift shop on worthless crap like monster fridge magnets and beer coasters and teapots etc... {Classic. But now I really do want a Lochness monster teapot....}
You have traveled a lot--what is your favorite place that you've been and why?My fav place outside the UK is New York… I really love the vibe there, the architecture, the shows, the people, the history, the hustle bustle, Central Park, Sex and the City, Friends (so 10 years ago) {You watch your mouth, mister!}, Bacteria filled Hot Dogs, Yellow Cabs, Gypsy Cabs, Dollar Cab, Holler Back.

My fav place in the UK is Cornwall, it is just lush and beautiful and quaint, and has an amazing tranquil feel about it, and one of the most stunning coastlines in the world.

What is something you know about life you did not know when you were 18?We learn from mistakes, we learn from pain, we learn from solidarity, we learn from experimentation, we learn from taking measured risks, we learn from good experiences, we learn from bad experiences we learn from listening to others, we learn from being selective and careful with what we listen to. {So true!}
Tell us what you're most excited about for your next American adventure to the Bible Belt.
I am going to search for Vampires, just like in Tru Blood. {Seriously? None of the Bible Belt dwelling girls he knows even watch Tru Blood. We were planning on taking him two stepping, out for a big steak, and to a college football game. He'll like that better, no doubt!}
What is one (or more) item(s) on your bucket list?I think most of my bucket list items are a bit rude for nice bible belt blog! {Love it!} I could say the standard “swim with dolphins” but I have done that now, and let me tell you… it was good… but soooo glad it wasn’t my dying wish… it just aint all it is cracked up to be.

I am going to have to be boring… I wish to have dinner with my favorite pop star, the gorgeous pint sized pop diva from down under: Ms Kylie Minogue. {Safe to say that's a new answer to this question that I ask every week!}

Girls Weekend 2011 Blog #3: Karaoke Stars

"Those who danced were thought to be insane by those who did not hear the music." ~Angela Monet

Quick commercial break.....remember Miss Canada? Well she's hosting a giveaway of Ty Christian Wilson's debut album on her blog.....enter here!! If she's giving it away, you know it's good--she won a freaking Canadian CMA you know!

Okay now back to the trip. When I told people that we were planning to spend one night of our trip at a karaoke bar, lots of people have commented that it seems very random to go to San Francisco and do somethign you can do at your local bowling alley. Well, I blame Georgia Boy for this being so high on my list.

When we were summer associates together, we all went karaoking one night and had so much fun. And Georgia Boy was a rock star at it. So....I knew we had to do this again and it made sense for our mini summer associate reunion to involve karaoke! (Note to self.....wear heels in pictures so you don't look like a midget!)
The night started with dinner at Osha, a great Thai restaurant with the girls and several people who I worked with as a summer associate. It was great to catch up with everyone! (I got no pictures....fail!)

And then after dinner...the real fun started. Enter Silver Cloud karaoke bar. It was sort of a dive in the Marina--nothing fancy, tons of typos in the song list (i.e. Pasty rather than Patsy Cline, Toxie by Brittney Spears instead of Toxic...you get the idea).

And the cast for the evening included:

Georgia Boy and his wife, Superwoman

Gonzaga Friend

Word Up Bro (who as you learned yesterday we met earlier that day..told you he was up for anything!)

And the four of us.

I knew it would be fun, but Oh. My. Double. Gosh. (Totally our new saying thanks to Word Up Bro!) It was just beyond a blast! I'll let the pictures do the talking.

The night started with a Black Eyed Peas duet between College Roomie and Word Up Bro. And they were right....tonight was going to be a good night! Even when the stupid screen screwed up and they didn't know the words....I have to tell you that I as shocked to see College Roomie on stage first. I mean don't get me wrong, obviously I know she's fun...she's my best friend and all! But I love that she, the quiet, calm, reserved one of the group, got right up there and rocked it out.
And then, the saddest part of the evening was that Georgia Boy can't read. He determined there was no Johnny Cash in the song book, which meant he couldn't do his signature song, Folsom Prison Blues. Well, we learned later that they did, in fact, have like 10 Johnny Cash songs in the book, including Folsom Prison. When some other dude sang it, I thought that Georgia Boy might have a heart attack.

Instead, he signed up for The Gambler. Turns out, he didn't know any words but the chorus. He sang a lot about not knowing the words, actually. :) But have no fear, he redeemed himself when he sang the Beach Boy's "California Girls" with Word Up Bro and the place went wild!

Then it was time for the Gossip Girls to do our thing. Song selection? Sweet Caroline. Karaoke classic. We rocked it out. And back at the table, Word Up Bro taught everyone that when we sang the verse "Good times never seemed so good" that they should scream as loud as possible "I don't believe ya, you're making it up!" Apparently it's a European thing?

Next up, Word Up Bro sang a great rendition of some song I don't remember. Here were the girls watching the show. Put a crazy fun dude with a Scottish accent on the stage, and we're mesmerized!

And then, it was time for the Brittney tribute. Superwoman selected Toxie (i.e. Toxic, in properly spelled English) for our song. I can assure you, I knew 5 words of the song. Did I care? No way---we just had a blast up there! Georgia Boy has video....I'm hoping that Superwoman ensures that gets burned.

Then there was the Snoop Dogg incident. We were on stage singing "Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" and this random dude comes on stage, joins us, and seriously knows the song better than us. He proceeds to tell College Roomie that Snoop just walked by. She tells me and I, being responsible (and nosey) jump off the stage, chase the dude down, only to learn it was not, in fact, Snoop. Apparently there are lots of liars in San Francisco. Remember that for my upcoming blog about the race...

Anyway, for our final song recap, we have a duet that was planned during the bus trip home from Napa. An emotional tribute, if you will. "Tried to make me to go rehab, I said no, no, no...." Oh yes, they did.

The night ended with lots of crazy events including the worst shots ever (so bad I couldn't even put it in my mouth for fear of getting sick), followed by a make up for the last one being so bad drink from the bartender (much better!), an almost fight with the music guy for playing the wrong song, having to do some major detective work to determine the location of Word Up Bro's hotel, some near inappropriate comments from Georgia Boy in the car about my physical therapy experience and his wife's prior marathons, and stopping in a field because, well, when a girl's gotta go, she's gotta go.You know those nights where everything just works? Everyone has a great time together, no matter how different they are or how well they know each other. And no one worries about how they look or what other people think, they just let loose and do their thing? When you look around and realize how lucky you are to have these people in your life? Those nights when life is....just good. That was karaoke night in San Francisco.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a picnic on the beach!

From the dive karaoke bar in the Marina where we sang our hearts out....

Xoxo,

Gossip Girls!

Girls Weekend 2011 Blog #2: Napa and The Gossip Girls

"Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell and when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.” ~William Saroyan

Well we started off Girls Weekend 2011 with a wine tasting trip to Napa. Even before we left on our trip, I said to the girls that we would be "those girls" on the bus who were loud and having fun and the life of the party. I mean, we pretty much are always those girls. Well, we did not disappoint.

I have tried for like an hour to put into words how much fun this day was, only to decide there are no words. I'm doing my best to just summarize and hit the high points.

It all really started with this photo:

We asked a random guy standing around from our tour group to take the picture, and a friendship was born. Turns out, he and the guy he was there with had discussed on the bus who they would befriend on the trip...they thought we seemed fun, so they chose us and deemed us "The Gossip Girls." (Ironic that they name four backwoodsy country girls this considering that the show is about rich brats in Manhattan!) Anyway we were inseparable for the rest of the day. They moved to sit by us on the bus, fed us chocolate pretzels that they remarked, "Tasted somewhat like dog biscuits, but were actually quite good," informed us that Alec Baldwin was "gorgeous" and that Australians hate kangaroos.

Turns out these crazy fellas were a ton of fun and up for anything. We have named them The Swan (in blue) because he is from Australia and we tasted a wine named after the eye of some Australian swan. (This made more sense on our 4th glass of wine at the 3rd winery....) The other (in pink) is called Word Up Bro because that saying, via Spencer on the Hills, is his favorite American term. (NOTE: There is a chance that they will have a guest starring role in Meet the Cast Monday....let's all encourage them to join in!)

In addition to this friendship, we struck up friendships with lots of people on the bus...the nice couple from Texas after commenting on the man's full quill boots, the woman from Minnesota who was an attorney and does yearly girls trips herself, the two girls who didn't speak English, but loved me because I showed them free chocolate at one winery, the angry Canadian woman who cussed out Carrie Underwood for "stealing" Mike Fisher, the grandma and 10 year old grandson who could only smell the wine....we met them all.

And they loved us. The bus driver, however, did not. In fact, during one heated discussion of college football involving us, The Swan, Word Up Bro, and the man from Texas with the boots, the bus driver totally called us out on the microphone for being loud and distracting and yelled at us for 10 minutes. Jerkface. How could you yell at these faces?

Whatev. He got a pretty measly tip after that. Anyhow, we toured 3 wineries....

First was Madonna Estates, an organic winery between Napa and Sonoma. Wines were good, but sort of expensive. I liked to Pinot Grigio the best.

Next was Sutter Home Winery. The downside to this winery was that it's not a vineyard....which honestly seeing the vineyards is my favorite part of wine tasting. But, they had all sorts of snacks, the best wine of the three, a beautiful garden, and this good looking wine server. We hit it off with him right away when the Blonde Oklahoma Girl announced to the group that one of the wines "tasted like Christmas." Who knows.

Did I buy some wine? Yes. I LOVED the 2010 White Zinfandel Reserve and the Moscato. Did I get the cute wine server's email address? Yes. Are we now facebook friends? Yes. (Look hot tall he is....sigh!)

Then we took a little lunch break in some small town between Napa and Sonoma. We had lunch with our new friends (of course) and had a great time chatting and asking questions about our different countries and jobs and travel experiences...all in all...perfect lunch!

After this, we were off to Sebastiani Vineyards in Sonoma. This tour was the best because they really explained the winemaking process and grape growing and you know that was right up this farm girl's alley. I liked their wines the least of the 3 wineries, but Loud Oklahoma Girl, who is much more a red wine fan than I am, liked them the best. Go figure.

Like I said, words don't do it justice. It was the perfect day---beautiful weather, great new friends, hilarious quotes and stories and sayings, great food and wine----it really was perfect.

That's it for now, but stay tuned. Karaoke night is up next.

From Napa Valley, California with wine glasses in hand....

Xoxo,

Gossip Girls!