Category Archives: Thoughts

Jan30

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

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Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

I just signed up for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. In April, I will be blogging everyday except Sundays thematically from A to Z. I will blog about my 26 favorite things: music, movies, tv, sports, people, places and food. I will start on April 1st writing about my favorite thing that starts with the letter A, then April 2nd I’ll write about my favorite thing that starts with the letter B, and so on everyday except Sundays until I end on April 30th writing on my favorite thing that starts with the letter Z. It will be 26 of my favorite things in 26 days. I just have to figure out what favorite thing of mine starts with the letter X.

Jan2

Can 2012 top 2011?

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Can 2012 top 2011?

2011 was a fantastic year. (read my previous post) I don’t know how 2012 will top it. If the Denver Broncos win the Superbowl, that would help. If I get a job I love, that would help. But more than anything, just living back home in Maryland with my family and friends is sure to make 2012 a great year.

2012 will be the year I publish my book, On the Road with U2, about my travels to the 75 U2 concerts I have been to the past 20 years. I would love the publishing of my book to lead to a job in writing, but it will be great just to have it published and read by fellow U2 fans.

2012 is the year I turn 40. To celebrate this milestone, I am planning a trip to Las Vegas in October with my best friend and our familes. The other trip I have planned for 2012 is to Memphis for the Beale Street Music Festival the first weekend in May, an ongoing tradition of 10 years. I’m very excited I have trips planned to my two favorite cities.

In 2012, I will go to lots of Orioles games, especially on Saturdays when they are wearing their orange jerseys – and whenever Brady Anderson is there. In 2012, I will go to many concerts. It won’t be U2, but hopefully some cool groups will play Baltimore. And at the very least, I can see some great local bands. My two favorite things to do when I’m not home is to go to baseball games and concerts.

In 2012, I will go back to being a vegetarian. I started eating meat again while on the road this summer and just let it continue through the holidays – I love turkey sandwiches. It’s not a health thing. I just feel bad for the animals – guilty for eating them. In 2012, I am going to walk more. Elvis, Cilla and I really need to get back to walking. It won’t be along the Mississippi like in Memphis, but Centennial Lake is nice too. Hopefully eliminating meat again and walking more will get me into a little better shape.

In 2012, I will read more and watch less. I have vowed not to buy any more books until I read all the ones I have – and I have a lot. I tend to stock pile books, buying every memoir written by celebrities and politicians – and now I’m buying the classics. I do the same thing with DVDs – tv show and movies. I guess I’m making sure I have lots to do when I’m alone in my basement, which I love.

If all of this happens, 2012 is sure to be a fantastic year!

Dec1

World AIDS Day 12.1.11

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World AIDS Day 12.1.11

Today is World AIDS Day. It has been 30 years since we first heard about AIDS. And now finally and thankfully is the beginning of the end of AIDS, according to Bono’s ONE and (RED) campaigns. The goal is to end AIDS by 2015 and there is an electronic quilt to help spread the word.

my panel on the Quilt (#21170)

I first heard about AIDS when Rock Hudson announced he had it and then later Magic Johnson announced he also had it. I first heard about Bono’s ONE campaign during U2′s Vertigo tour in 2005. ONE is a grassroots organization that raises public awareness and pressure politicians to fight poverty and disease, especially in Africa. I signed up and received my first ONE bracelet. Shortly after I bought by my BO(RED) tee shirt to support Bono’s (RED) campaign, which raises money for HIV health and community support programs in Africa, especially for women and children. And this summer on U2′s 360 tour, I got my second ONE bracelet before the Salt Lake City show and wore it to the next 14 shows.

2005 ONE bracelet

my (RED) tee

2011 ONE bracelet

Thanks to the ONE and (RED) campaigns, millions of dollars have gone to make AIDS drugs and treatments available. The quest to stamp out AIDS is about the only thing Democrats and Republicans can seem to agree upon these days. For World AIDS Day, Bono was on various television shows last night and today including The Daily Show, Good Morning America and Ellen, as well on the World AIDS Day panel in DC with Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton. But Bono isn’t the only member of U2 speaking out for the end of AIDS. Larry Mullen made a videoa few years ago that was quite effective!

my wrist gear for the U2 360 tour

Please help spread the word to help stamp out AIDS and join ONE and (RED)

Nov22

I’m obsessed with the Kennedys, especially Bobby

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I’m obsessed with the Kennedys, especially Bobby

Today is the 48th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy – November 22, 1963. I’ve had a great interest in the Kennedy family over the years, but recently I’ve been quite obsessed. I have watched and re-watched The Kennedys 8-hour miniseries on tv, as well as The Women of Camelot , Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onasis, and Robert Kennedy and His Times miniseries. I have also been reading Ted Kennedy’s memoir True Compass. When I’m finished with Teddy’s memoir, I’m going to read Bobby’s and Jack’s biographies. Bobby Kennedy is the one with whom I am most interested.

Teddy, Jack, Bobby

I have a love and passion for history, especially post World War 2 American history. It is what I studied in college earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The Kennedys were a huge part of that post-WW2 American history that I adore so much. Also being an only child, I’ve always been fascinated with huge families. I thought it would have been great to be a Kennedy until I learned in Teddy’s memoir that each child was only allowed one napkin per week for dinner. I practically use one napkin per bite. No, I wouldn’t have made it as a Kennedy.

Of all the Kennedys, Jack has always gotten most of the publicity. I guess being President of the United States will do that, but it was his younger brother Bobby, Attorney General, who was behind most of Jack’s critical presidential decisions – including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights legislation. Jack was also interesting to the public because of his playful ways and playboy image, whereas Bobby was the more serious religious husband and father. Jack had Frank Sinatra, but Bobby had Bobby Darin – one of of my favorites! What I admire most about Bobby was his sense of right and wrong and speaking his mind no matter who he was talking to and no matter what it might have done to his political career. Bobby stood up for what was right, even when it wasn’t popular. And he loved dogs!

The world would have been a different place, a much better place, had both brothers not been assassinated within 5 years of each other. I truly believe the United States would not have endured all those horrible years in the Vietnam War had Jack and Bobby lived. Jack’s assassination in 1963 ended the seemingly carefree prosperous post-war era. Bobby’s assassination in 1968 ended America’s era of hope and, along with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr two months earlier, began an era of disillusionment and cynicism that is unfortunately still with us today.

Please watch the video of that fateful day in Dallas – 48 years ago today. Please watch the video of Walter Cronkite’s news broadcast on November 22, 1963.

Nov10

I Need to Write

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I Need to Write

I want to blog everyday, a sort of an electronic journal. Not that I really think anyone will be all that interested in what I have to say. But for some reason I feel compelled to journal my thoughts and my activities. In fact when I’m out at a game or a show or a festival, I’m already writing the blog post in my head. But sometimes my blog post will be as simple as reviewing movies, tv shows, and books. It truly will be about Deena’s Days. So ready or not, starting today I will post a new blog every day, or every other day.

It has been just over a month since I’ve been back home in Maryland. I never thought I would move back to Maryland, let alone back into my parents’ house, but I am truly loving it! I have made their basement into my studio apartment, complete with everything I need except a bathroom – but that’s only one flight up, two if I want a shower. Elvis and Cilla are quite happy because they have a huge yard to run around in and other people besides me to pet them – when my parents aren’t Florida.

I still have not found a job, but am confident I’ll get something soon. In the meantime, I am concentrating on my writing. Besides my two blogs and freelancing for others, I am writing my U2 Tours Memoir. I have talked with my literary agent, a fellow U2 fan I met at the 360 show in Minneapolis, and we are putting together a book proposal to give to publishers. My wish is to to make a living writing. Hopefully my book and my blogs and my freelance writing will make my wish come true. Maybe that is why I haven’t found a job yet – the universe is keeping me available to make my wish come true.

Besides unpacking, getting settled into my new place, looking for a job and writing, I haven’t done much else since I’ve been back home. That all changes this weekend though. Some U2 friends and I are going to the Maryland Irish Festival Saturday to see U2 tribute band 2U. And Sunday I’m going to my goddaughter Keira’s 5th birthday party. Next weekend my dad comes home from Florida, and we’re going to the Ravens game. When I’m not out, I’ll be watching Christmas movies and continuing my current obsession with the Kennedys watching the mini series and reading Ted Kennedy’s memoir.

Remember, always pursue your passion and do what you want. Until tomorrow…

Sep20

Maryland Move Countdown: 8-10 days

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Maryland Move Countdown: 8-10 days

Just over a week to go until I move back home to Maryland. I scheduled the movers today, and they will be here next week – either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday – and I will be in Ellicott City two days later. I scheduled Salvation Army to come pick up a bunch of stuff I’m donating, and they will be here next Tuesday. I have a backup plan in case I don’t sell the piano, and they will be here next week to pick it up. And I have 2 people interested in buying the jukebox, and they will look at it the next couple of days. I have cancelled my MLGW, DirecTv and alarm as well as changed my address to have my mailed forwarded. I made one last trip to the grocery story – hopefully. I went to Saturn to get the oil changed for my final journey home, but hit a snag when they couldn’t get the hood opened – 3 hours sitting in the dealer reception area.

What I haven’t done is pack. I’ve gone through everything and picked out what I want to get rid of, but I actually haven’t packed anything into boxes. But for the next 4 days I will be doing nothing but packing. Then Sunday I drive to Nashville for the Broncos game and to pick up mom, who is flying in to help me pack. Then we will continue packing Monday and Tuesday. If the movers come Wednesday, then we’ll leave. If they don’t come until Thursday or Friday, then we’ll hit the slots in Tunica – and maybe a final trip to Graceland.

Things I will miss about Memphis: Graceland, Sun Studio, everything being so close, the warm weather. Things I will not miss about Memphis: the slow drivers, the crime, the tornadoes, being away from my family and friends. Things I am not looking forward to in Maryland: the cold weather and driving miles and miles to get everywhere. Things I am SO looking forward to in Maryland: being near my family and friends, Ledos pizza, low rent, going to Orioles games, being near lots of U2 friends.

I probably won’t write again until after the Broncos game Sunday night. And I won’t continue my U2 360 recap on my On the Road with U2 blog until after I’m back in Maryland. But once I’m settled in the next couple of weeks, I plan on writing everyday. So please stay tuned!

Sep12

I’m moving back home to Maryland

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I’m moving back home to Maryland

I have decided to move back home to Maryland. I have had a wonderful 3 years in Memphis, but realized that it’s more important to live with your family and friends rather than in a city you love – plus I’ve spent all my money. I don’t regret moving to Memphis or spending all of my money because I’ve done so many fantastic things that I never would have done if I had stayed in Maryland.

I wanted to live in Memphis, so 3 years ago I quit my good job and sold my nice house in Maryland and moved. I was finally living where I vacationed and where I loved. I moved to a house 5 minutes from Sun Studio and 10 minutes from Graceland. I worked for a while at the National Civil Rights Museum earning a small wage. Then I decided to quit and just enjoy living in Memphis, which I did immensely. I visited all the local museums, ate at all my favorite restaurants, got yearly passes at Graceland and the Zoo, and bought season tickets to the Memphis Grizzlies. I became friends with a great local singer named Nancy Apple. I attended annual local festivals and local movie screenings, such as Footloose, Johnny Cash’s America and Daylight Fades. I went to the annual Blues Ball, Who Shot Rock n Roll photography exhibit at the Brooks Museum of Art, the opening reception for the Elvis: from Memphis to Manhattan exhibit at Stax Museum, the famous HiTone music venue, the Arts Memphis Bravo season kickoff party featuring the Bluff City Backsliders, WEVL’s annual Blues on the Bluff featuring the BoKeys, Marshall Grant’s (Johnny Cash’s bassist) final performance and book signing at the Brooks Museum of Art, and the Memphis Roller Derby.

I took day trips to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN, the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR, Elvis’ birthplace in Tupelo, MS, and the casinos in Tunica, MS. I visited Johnny Cash’s childhood home in Dyess, AR and Jerry Lee Lewis’ current home in Nesbit, MS. I spent a weekend in Nashville visting the Ryman, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Broncos win over the Titans. I took a 5 day road trip through Mississippi visiting the sights in Jackson, Biloxi, Vicksburg, Greenwood and Clarksdale. I took a 10 day road trip out west along route 66 through Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico then toured all around Texas on the way back visiting sights in Lubbock, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas – and then Shreveport, LA. I finally made it to Chicago (and Wrigley Field), and have been 3 times since it’s only an 8 hour drive from Memphis. Then of course there was the 3 month road trip back and forth across the America to all the U2 shows in the US.

Besides all these wonderful places I’ve visited and great things I’ve done because I moved to Memphis, it was in Memphis that I discovered that I loved to write. I started this blog to share all of my activities and travels and then starting writing for Examiner.com about events in Memphis. This led to my second blog On the Road with U2 about all of my travels on the U2 tours, which led to me writing my U2 Tours Memoir. Now I’m trying to find a job writing, so I can make a living doing what I love to do.

I’ve done everything I set out to do when I moved to Memphis. It’s been a great 3 years. I don’t have to ever look back and wonder ‘what if’ because I did it. Now it’s time to go back home to Maryland to be with my family and friends and hopefully make a living as a writer, but you can still call me Memphis Mullen.

Feb21

I haven’t forgotten

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I haven’t forgotten

Not sure who is actually reading this blog, but just in case there are readers out there I want you to know that I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth. I haven’t been writing on this blog regularly because I have been concentrating on my other my blog at http://ontheroadwithu2.com. I have been spending my free time at home reading on my front porch, writing my u2 tours memoir and watching movies and tv – and recently walking along the Mississippi River with Elvis and Cilla. But I do have some non-U2 events coming up that I will be covering here. That’s it. I just wanted to check in.

a beautiful Memphis morning along the Mississippi

a beautiful sunset from my porch

Nov25

Thanksgiving 2010

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Thanksgiving 2010

For the third year in a row, I’ve spent Thanksgiving alone at home with my 2 dogs – and it has been fine. No drama, no fighting, no showering – just eating, watching and doing whatever I want. My parents are in Florida, and I don’t want to travel there because I’ll be traveling to Maryland in a few weeks to be with them for Christmas. The first year I was in Memphis, I ordered take out Thanksgiving dinner from the Cupboard – and it was very good, but a little expensive. Last year, I got the vegan turky dinner from whole foods, which wasn’t very good. This year I baked my fake turky roast, which I eat all the time on sandwiches, and got mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese premade sides from whole foods. It was a perfect meal! I watched the Macy’s Parade, the dog show, a little football, Miracle on 34th Street and a couple other Christmas movies . It was a perfect Thanksgiving. I do miss Mom and Dad, but I’ll see them in a few weeks. I was invited to a friend’s house, but it’s more alone at someone else’s house than at your own. I did the important thing on Thanksgiving – shared what I am thankful for: my parents, my friends, my dogs, my health, my house and car, and the opportunity to do whatever I want. Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov20

my first week of work

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my first week of work

I finished my first week of work this afternoon. It was only 16 hours over 4 days. The second day I had to literally give myself a pep talk to go into work. I haven’t really worked in so long that I am completely out of the habit of having to be somewhere at a certain time in a certain outfit. But once I got there, I was fine and actually enjoyed it. Well I didn’t exactly enjoy hours on the computer by myself, but I have to learn their system. I did enjoy the last hour of work last night because I was out front talking with the guests giving advice on where to have dinner. Today was a training class, which was fun. Next week I’m only working 17 hours over 3 days because it’s slow for Thanksgiving, but I’ll be out front with the guests – not on full concierge duty yet, still learning how the hotel works, but at least I’ll be helping the guests while learning.