Cluster Fuggle, and a gun…
By Solitaire | August 21, 2008
…does it get any better?
Topics: Around town, Music, rogueblog2008, theatre | No Comments »
School Zones
By Katie-Did | August 21, 2008
Am I mother, no.
Am I a teacher, not yet.
Am I a cautious driver, sure try to be.
What I don’t seem to understand is how there is a posted speed limit sign prior to all school zones. It is there for a reason- Slow Down!
I drive through 3 school zones on my way to work and it never fails to amaze me when people fly through them at 40+ MPH. There could be a crosswalk with children in it, a child that decides to sprint out into traffic for some unknown reason or a teenager that decides to walk in the middle of the road. Whatever it is, there is a reason for school zone speed limits. How about we start obiding by them??
I saw many police officers out the first day of school pulling those over that decided not to participate in mandatory slow downs, but the past couple of days I haven’t seen any. Where are you guys?
I know it’s an inconvenience to those that are always 10 minutes late, but get it together and slow down!
(This rant brought to you by a disgusted driver in Fresno) 
Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Hey… it’s Greek Fest time again!
By joyunconfined | August 20, 2008
I’m not Greek.
I skew more to identifying with my German heritage, though for the most part, I’m just plain red-blooded Amer’c'n.
BUT… I was driving down Clinton early this week and saw the sign… The annual Greek Festival is THIS WEEKEND.
I don’t know about you, but I love me some great HOME COOKED, and REAL Greek cuisine, not to mention the fun attractions they have for the whole family at the festival. You can take the opportunity to visit the lovely St. George Greek Orthodox Church, and this year you can see “an actual Byzantine iconographer as he paints the final phase of the magnificent ceiling inside St. George, long considered one of Fresno’ s most striking houses of worship.” (I lifted that bit from the official website for the event., and by the way, it IS a lovely house of worship, and an important part of Fresno’s diverse landscape.) And, of course… there’s music, and my favorite thing of all… dancing.
I can’t help it. Whenever I see a line of people, pinkies curled together, or hands clasped lightly, feet weaving in and out, front/back/side, stepping and hopping in time to the music as they move across the floor… well, eventually I screw up my courage and add myself to the end of the line.
It’s fun! First, it’s like watching… well… intricate lace being woven out there on the dance floor. Imagine what it would look like if you could attach a trail of light to every foot out there. In no time you’d have a sinuous, delicate pattern just like lace. Then when you join in… it’s a mental and physical challenge. Keep up. Don’t misstep and throw off the person on either side of you. Smile. We’re having fun! Oops… sorry… ok, now I’ve got it. Yay! Look! I’m doing it! MOM! I’m DOING IT! Strangers are holding hands, laughing and smiling. Those who have been doing it all their lives are grinning, encouragement in their eyes for those new to the dance. The neophytes stare at their feet, or the feet of their neighbors, or the feet of that amazing woman skipping lightly at the head of the beast snaking it’s way all over the floor.
So. Who’s going with me this weekend? Anybody? Fresnocentric ladies? Should we make it an outing and bring cameras? I warn you, though, if you’re of age, you WILL try a bit of Uzo (mmm… but just a bit. That stuff is scary powerful, and not to be trifled with.) and you WILL dance with me.
Somebody will dance with me.
Won’t they?
Topics: Around town | 2 Comments »
Welcome to our newest Fresnocentric Chick!
By joyunconfined | August 20, 2008
Katie-Did is joining us here at Fresnocentric! Yay!
She says she’s just a regular girl born and raised in Fresno.
Katie’s a newlywed wife, mom of three kitties, student and (according to her) a super goober. She loves the Tower District, and things that bring a positive light to the Fresno area.
She is most often found smiling, and always up for some fun. She likes camping. I know. I’ve heard stories. Music is also on her list of fun things. This woman is always up for an adventure, and always interested in getting to know new, fun people.
We’re thrilled to have another outlook, another perspective, to offer our readers here at Fresnocentric. Katie-Did is definitely going to bring something unique to the mix.
Topics: Announcements | 3 Comments »
HEY HEY!!! COME HERE!! WEAR PLAID!
By MsJoey | August 19, 2008
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Few and Far Between
By teresa | August 18, 2008
I’m back folks. Its been a long absence, but everyone needs one every now and then.
So what have I been up to since, oh, say, June? I’ll start from the top.
1. I organized a Kissing Flash Mob (mob of sorts.)
I’m going to have to try it again because it wasn’t really a mob. And maybe kissing isn’t the way to go. In Fresno. In June.
2. Drove to the end of Sunset Blvd. and found out why they call it Sunset.
I also got lost in East LA at 1AM and found out that if you go in the other direction Sunset turns into Cesar Chavez Blvd. On one shoulder I could hear my mom freaking out and telling me to leave and on the other shoulder I could hear myself say, “I’m not scared. This looks like Fresno.”
3. Went on my first trip to Las Vegas.
I kept picking up the cards on the street and looking to see if I recognized anybody from high school.
4. Shot and edited a short film with Summer Arts.
Check out the behind the scenes footage.
5. Was in an earthquake.
6. Went to Metal School on Sunset.
The bass player is HOT.
7. Discovered Kombucha.
Have you ever tried this? You can get it at Whole Foods. I like the grape flavor, but I’ve sworn it off. It makes my head spin.
8. Discovered Bakersfield has cheap gas if you take the Ming Ave. exit.
9. Went to Rock the Bells in San Bernardino.
10. Got my resume together and took on the job hunt.
Maybe one day I’ll miss this…
Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Come out and support!!!
By Solitaire | August 14, 2008
Topics: Around town, Music, rogueblog2008, theatre | No Comments »
A Night of JOY!
By Solitaire | August 5, 2008
Come on out and have a GREAT time! Fresnocentric’s very own JoyUnconfined will be back behind the bar helping out as well! 
Topics: Announcements, Around town | 3 Comments »
Sheng Love
By MsJoey | July 30, 2008
No. this is not a roller derby post. *gasp* i actually have something to say other than roller derby, skate, chicks on wheels and give us money.
this is actually a post on my new found love of animals.
well i always liked animals from afar. well, maybe not cats so much but you know, i like animals alright i guess. i always thought they were cute and furry but mostly stinky and annoying and jumpy.
my daughter is 13. ever since she was 3, having a puppy was number 1 on every birthday list and christmas list. literally every year. 10 years is a long time to pine over a dog. she’s an only child and we live alone so i can understand her desire for a companion. but we also are both heavily involved in school, i also work full time and she’s with her dad every other weekend. so the idea of having a dog was never really feasible for us.
that was until the neighbor had puppies. well her dog had puppies. the neighbor couldnt really have puppies now could she? that would be weird. but i guess if a man can have a baby and a pig could have a monkey, why couldnt a neighbor have a puppy?
whatever.
so the neighbor’s dog had puppies about 2 months ago. and my daughter was swimming in the backyard and of course, heard the cries of cute little puppies and the neighbor said, come on over, so she did.
suddenly i hear the front door rush open and its the kid, wide-eyed, frantically waving her arms that i just HAVE to come see the puppies. i dont want to, was my reply. please just come look, she said. i’m tired, i said. please mom, they’re so cute. fine, i said i’d look. a bit curious as to what the commotion was back there.
in all honesty, i really just wanted to see the inside of their house. now you may think i’m weird and a stalker but seriously, doesnt everyone have a neighbor who you just dont know too well and want so bad to know what they are all about, starting with the inside of their house. are they clean, neat, dirty, eclectic, is it bright, dark, somber, happy? or is that just me?
whatever.
we walked next door and my neighbor took us to the back yard and there they were, 6 little fuzzy balls of joy. some were sleeping and the others were nipping and jumping on one another just as cute as can be.
i admit, i was smitten. they were so tiny and soft and their little breath was so stinky but sweet. immediately my daughter sat down and held one close. he was brown and white with a tiny little patch on his back that appeared to be shaped like a heart. kid said, mom look, he’s got a little heart on his back. he wants us to love him.
cheesy. but it moved me. a bit. she begged and pleaded and i didnt say no. which to her was a sign of good things to come. im very adamant when i put my foot down. i almost never give in. when i say no, it means no and dont even get crazy and think you can get it twisted. no means no. so i thought about my words carefully and chose to stay silent. damn kid knew what that meant so she really went for it.
mom please, my birthday is next month and i’ll be 13. i’ll be old enough to take care of him. he’ll be my pet. i’ll bath him and clean up after him and you wont even have to pay for anything. when gramma asks me what i want for my birthday i’ll have her take me to Petco and i’ll get all the supplies we need. I’ll make sure to house train him and he’ll be my best friend. mom please mom please please mom please please mom mom mom momom omomomomomomomommomomomomomomomomooooooooooooooooooooom.
i loathe whiners. especially snively ones who roll around with dogs. but i love that kid, man. she’s my hearts beat. so i took a few breaths, prepared myself for the fall out that would ensue with my answer and mumbled a yes.
i mean she was on her feet pawing at me clinging to me and jumping around me singing the, “i have a puppy, i have a puuuuuppy” song. her joy made me so happy i wanted to burst. til i thought about what i just said. ugh, a dog.
a stinky smelly, flea infested, pooping in my house, licking my legs, eating my stuff, dog.
So off we went home with the dog, our newest family member. i should’ve known what i was getting myself into. i didnt.
this dog was named instantly. my girl is obsessed with Mulan. she is her hero and who she wants to be like when she grows up, minus the fighting the Huns part. she believes in the story whole heartedly and is so grateful to Disney that they depicted a strong female who isnt afraid to defend the honor of her family at all cost. it came as a relief to her to see a girl who didnt wait for the mans kiss, give up her voice for the mans kiss, fall into a deep slumber without the mans kiss or throw down her hair only to be rescued by the man and his kiss. this was a fairy tale she could believe in.
so the name was easy for her. the puppy is a boy so the name would be Sheng, after the prince in Mulan. the one she saved from the huns. and Love came from the heart on his back which has now grown out and is simply a blob.
so we welcomed, Sheng Love to our family.
he was easy enough. didnt really cry at night. didnt really do much of anything besides sleep. he’d just lay there, take a drink of water, sleep. eat a little food, sleep. mostly he just stared at us and slept.
weeks went by and he became more active and alert. he was jumping all around and digging into things he shouldnt be into. he loved my closet and my stilettos especially. mostly he’d grab my panties from the hamper and carry them around til i chased him down. such a boy. but in general he was becoming part of us.
my girl stays homes with him every day and i usually go home for lunch to check on em. they are almost always intertwined. layed up on the couch listening to music or reading a book, watching TV or surfing the internet. he’ll jump up to greet me then go right back to his mamas lap. he’s as smitten with her as she is with him.
so the night i dreaded was upon us. the weekend with dad. how was this dog going to respond to this? well i’ll tell you. he cried and cried and wimpered and cried! his mama was gone and i wasnt enough for him.
lay on the bed with me, go to the floor, take him outside, bring him back in. he was never satisfied. that dog just wasnt havin it. he wanted mama and he wasnt going to stop til he got her.
finally after a few hours of sleep, the sun came up and i found him laying on the couch where they spend most of their time. i went to him and held him and he just fell into my arms. a little bundle of fur. i smelled her on him and i instantly missed her. i wanted her home with us. somethings just arent right when she’s not around.
Sheng and i spent the majority of the weekend working around the house and hanging out and i found that i really liked this damn dog! who would’ve thunk!
by the time my girl got home, me and Sheng were like 2 peas in a pod. she missed him a ton and we both realized that we were full blown in love.
When i come home from work, he’s at the door jumping around for my attention. when i’m not giving him enough love, he’s nipping at my feet. when i’m tired and just want to rest, he’s breathing his stinky breath in my face. i love that damn dog.
suddenly i have this spot in my heart for this animal that i didnt even want to begin with. i mean i really really love that damn dog. and i’m mad because i didnt have room in my heart which is 10 sizes too small!
i never wanted to be a dog person. i always thought people who were overly into their dogs were a bit weird and just needed a hobby. now i totally get it. i understand the desire to spend every waking minute with them. i understand the need to hug and kiss and cradle your dog. i dont even refer to him by his name. he’s officially “the baby”.
when i call to check on the kid i ask, hows the baby. when i’m home and we dont see him near us i ask, “wheres the baby” when i know its time for dinner i ask, “did you feed the baby”. he’s my baby and i am so head over heels in love with this damn dog!
i am officially a crazy dog lady! i dont want to make weekend plans for fear of having to leave the baby. i dont want to go to work cuz it means leaving the baby. i worry that when school starts and the baby will be left outside all day will he hate me? can i bring the baby to work? to school? can i put him in my purse and be like Elle Woods? am i going to go stark raving mad if i go more than 4 hours without seeing the baby?
ugh! i’m one of those. those people whom i talked about. those people who obsess over their pets and just need to find a hobby. the problem is, i have a hobby and i wanna put the baby in some skates. he’s been officially dubbed, “smog dog” because he attended the last home bout. i wanted to skate around with him in my arms but the mean refs said NO!
so here i am, 34 and single with a kid who has a more thrilling life than i do and all i wanna do is love my dog. stay home, and love my dog.
how did i become “that woman?”
Topics: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
One of your Fresnocentric bloggers gets interviewed.
By joyunconfined | July 25, 2008
Me.
It’s ok. You can have your first reaction. I’m surprised, too!
After I got the call from Will Albritton of The Fresno Beehive asking me to be interviewed for a series he’s doing on local Fresno bloggers, I was first gratified and flattered, then shocked… then dismay set in.
I haven’t been blogging as much lately, here on Fresnocentric OR on my own personal blog.
But I suppose that doesn’t matter. I still blog. I’m just grateful that Fresnocentric has such FABULOUS BLOGGERS to keep it running. I’m not really needed here, even though I was part of what started this little corner of the blogosphere.
So… while I’m giving myself a vain little shout out, and wish to encourage everyone to check out The Beehive throughout next week to see what desperately lame answers I manage to pen to Will’s interview questions… I also wish to call attention to the people who are contributing so much more to Fresnocentric than I do, especially lately. MsJoey, and her series on the Smog City Roller Grrls, is brilliant. I can’t believe we landed her to share this blog space with us! Solitaire and her perspectives on theatre in the ‘No, Rogue Festival happenings, and a myriad of other local goings-on, are so appreciated, and I always find them interesting. Teresa… we haven’t seen much from her lately, BUT, when she has something to say, it’s thoughtful and intelligent, and I hope to see more from a woman so professional and talented. (She’s probably busy being professional and talented. As it should be.)
And while I’m at it… I’ll throw it out there again: If you’re a female in Fresno, or even Fresno County, and you’re plugged-in to something locally, you’re a part of a local scene (whatever it may be), you have something to say about our fair city… and you want to be a part of Fresnocentric… PLEASE contact us. Shoot an email to joy at joyunconfined dot net.
Fresno is diverse; there are many different perspectives, many different neighborhoods. Let’s hear about them all from the female point of view. Fresno is our place. Fresno IS its people. And it will be what we make it. Here’s a chance for your voice to be heard. We have a lot going on here, and the world should know about it!
Topics: Announcements | No Comments »