Johnny Depp

We are on our mini vacation in Paso Robles. This town has real mineral hot springs. I am a Japanese, I have to soak in hot springs once in a while. Because of Mid State Fair, our favorite Paso Robles Inn was full.  I managed to reserve one night, but we had to stay in the different hotel last night. The hotel was quite nice. It has an in room jacuzzi.

At the front desk, we were asked what made us here, and said Hollywood Vampires! I am totally lame when it comes to movies, but I wanted to see an academy award actor once. I don't know many movie stars, but Johnny Depp is my favorite. An old guy with tattoos was checking in at the same time. He told us there is a surprise that Ian Hunter will sit in. We didn't really know him, but we heard of his name. We checked online and the guy actually looked like him. He had a guitar with him. I wonder if he was Ian Hunter

We ate at Berry Hill Bistro. 

I don't like alcohol beverage, but water melon margarita sounded so good. I had to order it because outside was like 90 degrees. Half the glass made me so wasted:( Straight to bed. 

Checking out an hour early because we got hungry. We ate at our favorite Cow Girl Cafe. Their breakfast is so good! We had to kill time until checking in at Paso Robles Inn. 

Well we were pretty disappointed by Paso Robles Inn. We were there a few hours before check in time. They couldn't let us in because the room we requested wasn't ready. We went to see a movie until check in time. The room wasn't still available even half an hour after checkin time  They said AC was broken. We were down graded to the ground floor which has way less privacy. The room is very dark and it isn't worth taking a picture. Down stairs bricks are from their original buildings, which was destroyed by fire in 1940s. It's said this place is haunted. A brave hotel clerk is still calling to inform there is fire more than half century later

The movie we saw was good though. StarTrek Beyond. We should've watched in 3D

I want this swing in my back yard. 

Wow! The shuttle to the fair is a school bus! Growing up in Japan, I've never ridden a school bus before. 

I am bummed that my fake Chanel sunglasses from Greece got broken We bought new ones at the fair

Meat meat meat

Last time when we were here to see Van Halen, it was packed! Today wasn't that many. 

I am the only Asian here probably 

Johnny Depp came out! Alice Cooper! Joe Perry!

Later I heard Joe Perry had been hospitalized, but he looked good!

After all no Ian Hunter sat in, instead Phil Collen sat in We just misunderstood the old man

We happened to catch Hollywood Vampire's last show in 2016. They did classic hits from Zeppelin, Who, Doors, and many more! The last song before encore was Sweet Emotion. Encore was Train Kept a Rollin' and School's Out. It was a fun concert

Heaven and hell

Wow! I got a lot of access even though my blog is secret hehe! My band experienced heaven and hell recently. We were treated as rock stars by one venue! Green room was excellent! There are a screen that we can see what's going on the stage. Marshall refrigerators have free booze. The bathroom has a shower! My favorite rock stars' gears are displayed! This place is super clean brand new! I hope they last for long time. 

Of course stage was amazing! Two big screens and Marshall stacks! A cat walk, too! 

It was like a rock star heaven!!! I felt like my band goes to a higher place.

On the contrary, we had a hard time playing in the city next day. No parking, very small stage that I couldn't move one step  I couldn't even go to the bathroom before the show because it had a long line! Plus I spilled my drink and broke the glass during my solo  I better not to upload the picture here. However audience was great there. They were totally into music more than I was  Thank you all for coming out! 

Happy elongated birthday and a gig

My birthday was two days ago. Ken bought me a cute cake  one day before. July 1st was too busy working and had to go to bed early for the big gig  for the following day. So I felt my birthday was soooo short  In America, my birthday is overshadowed by July 4th Independence Day. People think about only barbecue :( On my Facebook setting, I made my birthday private, so I thought no one knew my birthday. I was gonna spend my quiet birthday and felt lonely. Ken was working and came back 15 minutes till midnight. 

The show was from 10am and I got up at 5 in the morning! I had never played this early. Plus it was outdoor event. Luckily weather was nice  we played on the main stage for FOUR hours!!! Doing shows takes a lot of effort. We have to bring and set up all our equipment and driving to gigs are really tough. While driving I often regret and think why I am doing this, but the more I regret, the more I get better compliment after gigs. We all live for it. They prepared nice program, on which we can see our description. 

The show went ok. I always make tons of mistakes. Nowadays I am so nervous if people post videos on Facebook or YouTube. 

My auntie remembered my BD and posted on FB. Then people saw it, and started posting nice birthday messages. Two days later, I am still receiving happy belated birthday messages. With my band promotion and my BD thing combined, it ended up with an elongated birthday haha! We made $300 a piece for the show. After all it turns out to be a really nice BD

Congratulations!

Saw Dr. Lilja today and he told me "Congratulations!". Hearing this word from him is the happiest thing. Yes, I am a survivor and got my health back! I was diagnosed with ovarian and uterus cancer 5 years ago. When I was told this, I was scared and didn't think I could win it because my mom past away with the same disease over 20 years ago. I am lucky that Dr. Lilja removed all bad cells from my body and gave me the extended life! I am free from cancer! After this incident, I appreciate my life so much. I made myself rethink what I really want to do this life and realized I want to play guitar again.  I wrote this on May 24th, but 26th is my actual surgery date 5 years ago.

Today is 26th, my husband took me to dinner and we celebrated my health. It's almost midnight! I have to upload this today. Count down  543210!

Past midnight. It's 27th. My blog is always touched up correcting errors and typos later.  Here I go again:) I have a lot to say for my most important thing, which is my health. You've got to have a body to live this life! 
I am thankful to my mother for giving birth to me. I confronted this difficult disease and conquered and beat it because I learned how difficult to manage the condition by watching her. She protected me from the heaven. Thank you mom I am thankful to my husband, who have been very supportive and stayed by my side. I am thankful to Dr. Lilja for his perfect imaccurate surgery. Thanks dad,  who came from Japan to watch me during and after the surgery.  Thanks my boss, who waited for me to recover and kept the position open for me. Thankful to my friends who encouraged and cheered me up. Thankful to my band members who give me opportunity to perform in front of a lot of people. 

Greece Trip Day 9 Dinner in Athens

We are flying back the next day, so we enjoyed a nice dinner in Athens. Restaurants' workers hussle you to get your business on the street. We are not used to this, so we can't really ignore them:) The one hussuled the most got the business! There was a live music by three string instrument musicians playing Greek music. 

The location is in front of Hard Rock Cafe:)
We lacked vegetables. Hotels' breakfasts include only cucumbers and tomatoes. I wanted more leafy greens, so I ordered salad sampler. Again most of the vegetables are cucumbers and tomates:)

Before we leave Greece, I've got to taste a real Moussaka! Not too greasy, I like it! When we went to France, I missed Asian food so much because everything was butter flavored greasy food, but Greek food is not greasy. It is olive oil base and we ate Greek food everyday:)

Going back to our hotel

Kenny's right arm and right foot go together? 

In this hotel, I got at least 20 mosquito bites! 10 on my face! Even on my eyelid! There is no screen door and it came in the first night! The mosquito is lucky to get our blood and not to be killed yet I hope my eyelid look better before my gig this Saturday.

Greece Trip Day 9 Panathinaikon and Zeus

When I take a selfies, Ken wants me to say "one, two, three", so my mouth is not smiling all the time. 

If I don't say it, his hair gets messed up

Temple of Zeus was closed. We saw enough because of our first hotel location.

Hardrian's Arch

Greece Trip Day 9 City Walk

Well we couldn't reserve any tours last minute, so we walked around tourist places.

The railroad track. The contrast between old stones and graffiti is interesting.

Ken caught the train in the photo!

We walked to Parliament and saw the famous funny walk. We still don't know what it is called:) We didn't study enough about Greece.

We were yelled by the guard because you are supposed to take a picture one by one. 

 When we tried to take a picture three of us, he slamed the butt of his gun on the ground

He doesn't move! I wonder he gets stressed out after his work

He is a big guy:)

On the way to Panathinaikon Studium, where the first modern Olympic was taken place, we crossed the  national gardens. It was nice green walk. 

There are turtles in the pond! I always want them as my pets:)

Greece Trip Day 9 Another Gorgeous Day in Athens

Waking up with this beautiful view, listening to birds chirping, I feel like I can retire in Greece. Tomorrow we are leaving Greece. Once back in the States, I won't be able to keep my blog. Working and playing busy everyday. I spent too much money on this trip, but I made unforgettable beautiful memories. 

Greece Trip Day 8 Views from Lycabettus Hill

Views from the top of Lycabettus hill!

We saw the hotel we stayed the first and the second night. We recommend Royal Olympic hotel ! The black building behind Zeus. 

Going down the cable car ride was interesting.

Later my husband told me because of all the walking uphills (Acropolis, volcano, Fira, and this hill), his irregular heart beat was fixed! That is a great news. He was almost getting cardio version. 

Greece Trip Day 8 Plaka, Metro, Cable Car

We wanted to visit Meteora monasteries and gave an email inquiry to Keytour. There was no reply, so we actually went to Keytour. The lady at the front desk said it was either sold out or not operating during Easter holiday. She wasn't helpful, I realized Greek people are nice and I like them, but they don't really smile while assisting customers. We were thinking about Hydra island tour, but we decided to stay in Athens and do more shopping. There are many nice places in Athens that we haven't visited yet. Historical places are interesting, but we are not archeologist types:) Plus we are not young couple who can walk long distance. 

I love Greek Yorgert because it is not too sweet.

I bought nice sandals here. There is a note on this big sandal. It says "Don't try this. It is too big for you":)

In front of Monastiraki station.

After taking a brief nap, we went to Lycabettus hill, which is the highest place in Athens. We took Metro for two stops and walked to the cable car station. Old remainings in Metro is probably only seen in Greece?!

No wonder people take a cab to get there. So many upgoing stairs They are getting steeper and steeper. I think we went at least 200 steps?!

Finally at Cable car! They are operating until 2:30AM!

At the top, we ate Souvlaki. It was freshly made and so delicious!!! Only 2.50 euro! I thought it was called Gyro, but the guy at the counter said it's called Souvlaki. I think I liked the cheapest food in Greece:)

Top views are coming next.