The Fountains Were a Superliciously Good Time!!!

It seems that many people are still not aware that The Fountains in Roseville has an ongoing FREE concert series in the center court Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. that is family friendly!!

Last Saturday I was there to enjoy classic rock and current hits by Superlicious. They are an energetic band that is fun for all generations. They are not just musicians, they are entertainers!

When I first arrived, I wondered why no one was dancing? After all, Superlicious is a dance band and I've seen them play before. It's hard NOT to dance! I began to encourage some wiggly toddlers to get out there and shake their little booties. I asked the adults why they weren't dancing and they informed me that "some lady" told them that they were not "allowed" to dance. I asked if she was Amish, when the answer was no, I of course wanted to meet this woman and have a friendly chat. My friends pointed her out to me.

I found her sitting in the back eating God knows what, and barely phased by the sizzling vocals being belted out by the bands lead female vocalist, Tiffany Norvella. I immediately knew this woman didn't understand live music! I introduced myself and asked her if we could chat. She dramatically threw both her hands over her ears and yelled at me that she couldn't hear me because the "noise" was too loud. I thought perhaps her hands over her ears didn't help, but what do I know? I invited her to step away from the "noise" with me so we could talk business.

It took some convincing but she eventually hauled her ass out of her chair and had a talk with me. I was as polite and professional as I could be, I swear. As I explained to her that I was a friend representing the band and the fans, she picked the remnants of whatever she had been eating out of her teeth. I explained that Superlicious is a DANCE Band and therefore people expected to dance. I asked who she was. She simply said "Liz" but refused to give a last name. She also stated that she did not have business cards or any contact information for

The Fountains. When I asked her to clarify her position and authority to tell people not to dance she simply said she booked bands but did not work for The Fountains. Huh. That's weird, right?

So of course I had to ask her why no one was "allowed" to dance. She replied that before I got there the toddlers that were dancing were at risk of knocking over major scaffolds. Huh again. I said, "so you feel that the set up here is so flimsy that a dancing 2 year old could take it out?" She quickly denied saying that. Then she said the kids were unsupervised. I had to beg to differ as I knew every mother of each tot and they were all in the front row with their children and watching them closely. Then I pointed out that I had heard she also told the adults not to dance and that they must be seated. "Why was that?", I asked. She explained that their dancing would surely knock the scaffolds down and that it was "too dark" to dance anyway. It was a dangerous situation and she didn't want to be responsible!...wow. I had myself a live one! Her implication that The Fountains set up concerts under unsafe circumstances was HUGE! I then re-stated what she had said, "So you feel that the adults that were dancing were out of control and at risk to knock over the stage set up at any time?" Again, she denied that was what she meant....but that Is, in fact, what she said.

Finally she pointed to an even darker area (by the way, the area in front of the band where people wanted to dance was lighter than any club I've ever been in!) about 100 yards away and said everyone could go over to that deserted area to dance. I was incredulous! "You don't go to many [any] clubs or concerts, do you Liz?" To which she turned and walked away as she waved me off with her hand saying "Fine! Everyone can dance at their own risk!"

FINE!

So we did! Within minutes everyone was on their feet and having the time of their lives.

I'm still researching this and trying to find out just exactly who "Liz" is. So far, it's my belief that she's an evil Amish hater out to ruin the lives of those who know how to have a good time!

But good always prevails and everyone, children to senior citizens, had a great time!!!

The pictures speak for themselves!

A New Attraction at the State Fair!

It's Called "Gangland"!

What could be a more wholesome pastime than taking your kids to the fair? After all, what is more American than that?

I know how I would have answered those questions a month ago. My opinion on the subject has changed considerably however, since I took my 15 year old daughter and her best friend to the California State Fair.

It was 104* that day and we pretty much melted. We went on Friday (opening day) and there was hardly anyone there...until 10:30 p.m. or so, that's when everything changed! I've never seen anything like it! There we were just going on one ride after the next with our unlimited ride wrist bands when we realized that the whole crowd had totally changed. No more families or cute couples! It was all gangs!! I don't have a prejudice bone in my body. It wasn't the color of everyone's skin that bothered me, it was the way they were dressed, their attitude and their language. At 11:00 we decided it was a good time to leave. We made it to the front gates while ignoring the many vulgar and threatening comments thrown our way. I stopped by some cops there to fish my keys out of my purse before we headed into the parking lot. Guess what? They weren't in my purse anymore. As I was searching I heard comments behind me like, "She be one fiiiine piece a ass!" and "That there be one hot, sexy mama!" and Maya's personal favorite as I desperately searched for my keys, "She be lookin' fo her crack pipe!" Wow! Good times. So, without keys we had no way to get home and no way to get in when we got there! Soooo, we headed to the lost in found...no keys. Hmmm, they be lost somewheres in da state fair! Bummer. I probably should've left the girls in the lost & found office but I didn't think of it at the time so we three headed out into the concrete jungle to find my "keys in a hay stack!"
We passed several (and I mean TONS) of groups of cops and asked each group if anyone had turned keys in to them. The answers were all the same; "No, and you girls shouldn't be here now. It's not safe!" DUH!! Then one of the cops pointed out how all of the groups of kids (ranging from 11 and 12 all the way up to late 20's) were wearing solid colored, matching t-shirts. Sure enough, there were groups in white, blue, red...whatever. The officer pointed out that they were all gangs and it didn't matter what color that particular gang wore, none of them were "nice guys" and we should get outa there. Great advice! I pointed out that I'd like nothing better but that, without my keys that was quite impossible.
That officer then pointed out that the area that we were walking into was the most dangerous. It was the Midway area and apparently the center of hoodlum hang out! He escorted us part way in when he announced he had to go back? Guess he got nervous. The thing was, the girls and I figured that we knew the most likely place where I would've lost my keys so we had to head back to that ride...regardless of where it was! We trudged deeper into the gang ghetto area of the fair until we reached the ride. The attendant was sitting outside the ride with, (TA-DA!), my keys hanging on a bucket next to him!!! Yay! I can't tell you how relieved we all were. We were then faced with the task of making our way back out of the "Riot Waiting to Happen" haven, and get out to our car in one piece. No small task.
The comments made to me earlier were nothing compared to the comments and vulgar suggestions that were being tossed at us from all directions as we attempted to inconspicuously slip out of there! Gangs of opposite colors were all around us and when they weren't yelling racial slurs back and forth to each other (which I find to be funny since they were ALL black, yet throwing the "N" word around like they could insult other African Americans with it, yet it wasn't an insult to themselves?) and trying to start fights, they'd focus on us and what "fine pieces of white ass" we were. Trust me, I'm sparing you the vulgar comments! I really would have been fine and not nervous at all if it was just me, but having my 2 pretty, teenage girls with me and the focus of so much gang attention and hostility was turning my stomach. Cops were everywhere but I guess they wait for someone to throw the first punch or wave the first knife before they do anything.
Well, we made it to the gate, with my keys in hand and I asked one of the 20 or so law enforcement officials standing there how well the parking lot was patrolled and if I'd be safe taking my 2 pretty girls out there. They said they had between 75-90 cops in the parking lot alone!!! Wow! If you wanted to commit a crime anywhere in Sac between 11:00 p.m. and midnight on any night of the Sate Fair, I'd say there wouldn't be a cop available to stop you!
So we practically ran to the car. I unlocked it with the fob on my key chain when we were within a few feet of safety and the girls practically dove into the car, slamming their doors! when I got in they were yelling, "Lock the doors! Lock the doors!!!"
As we drove out of the lot we saw several areas where squad cars had corralled groups of kids...okay, "gangs" and were either questioning them or arresting them.
Moral of the story...the state fair is just not a "family friendly" activity or place to be after 10:00 at night!

At least, not in MY opinion!