Friday, April 24, 2009

Simon's infamous Vegas bass drop

The Kiss at The Pearl. Simon just drops his bass down. No tossing it up in the air as some claimed. (Thanks Carl)

79 comments:

  1. All I have to say is this: they play 3 hr shows for us! They probably fuck up their bodies constantly for our enjoyment! We shouldn't confuse pain or exhaustion for diva-ness.....! I had the cure show of my life that following sunday with Robert's hand looking like a baloon! -Mark PS: Saw depeche tonight in LA..cant wait for them at h-wood bowl in Aug! met andythecure fan...funny and cool to meet a person from this great site! love you all :)

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  2. LOL I was one of those claiming it went "up in the air", but we were way over on Porl's side. I caught the red flash from the corner of my eye as the neck and back went a lot higher up than I'm used to Simon's bass going. :p I've still stand by the statement that I've never seen him handle his bass like that.

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  3. You know... I think it was just a cool punk rock/rock 'n roll moment. I remember seeing Kurt Cobain destroy a guitar once. It was more along the lines of "Whoah! Badass!" and not "Whoah! He is PISSED OFF!"

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  4. So glad video of this finally surfaced!

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  5. You know (again)... this makes me think of something Simon said before the show.

    A friend and I caught him outside the bar (ok, we followed him!). I rode my motorcycle to the Vegas show and as we were taking pictures with him and talking I asked him about his motorcycle boots and if he rode. He told Amanda and I that he didn't ride a motorcycle, but, a mountain bike. Simon said that he wears the boots and dresses the way he does because he wants to look as little like everyone else as possible and joked something along the lines of "I want people to think I'm a grumpy old cunt!"

    Simon is such a riot! I love tha guy!

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  6. ps: hey rev...i like your insights and footage....but the most impressive...and what I agree with most....is the primary colors of the cure...they are very kubrick imagery turned into sound...-mark

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  7. Thanx for the video - fantastic!!!

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  8. Funny story about Simon, Carl! Thanks again for the great videos.

    Mark, I appreciate you saying something about the 'Primary Colors' blog post. It's one of my personal favorite pieces of writing that took quite a bit of research and thought. It's nice to hear that someone finally read it besides DJ, LOL!

    *waves to Olga*

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  9. the throw was actually more aggressive then I remember. I was right in front of him and it seamed more of a toss in the air in person, but more of a throw on film. We almost always prefer Simons side and commented towards the end of the show to eachother about how upset he seamed. even more then his usual "grumpy old cunt-ness" ha. but perhaps thats just his way of being into the performance.

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  10. WOW do some of you like to make s!#t up huh? Turns out all of you dip s!@ts were way off! Wait till the smoke clears before you make up such stories and assumptions. Some of you have stalker like mentalities and that is scarier than s!@t!!!!!!!

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  11. REV,

    Yeah..I usually keep to myself and just check the news daily, otherwise I would have voiced my kudos a while ago. I'm an aspiring novelist out here in LA and when I listen to the cure and hit the keypad they often envoke that exact imagery...so good perception...
    AND TO

    "MEWANTBEER"

    Shut up. Don't make fun of these pps. I was debunking the simon theories, but just judging by your name, you are in no position to question the healthily obsessed cure culture. Aka Fuck off... -Mark

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  12. *waves back to Heron*
    Actually, i've read "the primary colors of the cure", too. And liked it very much!!!!

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  13. "Me want beer" (raaar)....

    I'm about as diplomatic and generic and passive as it gets...but i like to interject when someone acts like a bully...and as far as "cure culture" is concerned...it subtly exists...look at the numbers. peace...-mwb

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  14. Even I said he threw it, I guess I over exaggerated but THAT is how I remembered it! It happened oh so fast.

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  15. I have no problem with you andy.You are are a true fan and it shows. You don't come off like a f*@ktard. Much love and respect to andy!!!!!!!!

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  16. Truce....im buzzed and typing and on a depeche high...this has been quite dorky...-mb.

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  17. btw: i am med free...haha :)

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  18. Truce. Mark. Keep the buzz going!

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  19. Def Brotha Mon...after all...were f'n fans of the same music...rock on :)

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  20. Its 4am Mark, what the hell are we doing on Chain of Flowers?!

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  21. Right on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MARK!!!!!!!!!!!

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  22. I'm feelin' the love, peeps! Yay!!!

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  23. !!!!**** This is shocking !!
    How can he do that with a bass

    Imagine Pavarotti dropping down his Stradivarius ??
    (If he's got one)

    It's not good for the instrument !!

    Yeah and he really toss it up a little

    Just
    WHY ??

    (Too much Forests maybe??)

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  24. That's a thunderbird, is it not? Anyone else cringe to see it thrown (dropped, whatever) like that? Can really fuck up a guitar.

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  25. Oh, and something i find funny about Simon is that he looks all intense, often angry, and badass on stage. He is a rock-god. But that he's often the one, apparently, who wants to play the pop sets and also much of what he's written is very pop-oriented (such as "Mint Car").

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  26. THAT WAS IT?!?!?!

    You guys had us worried over that? What happened to the "he threw it over his head" and "it went up in the air" stuff? I knew we would all be laughing about this someday but my God did this snowball into fear quickly.

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  27. Yea, i guess that wasn't his usual approach to putting a bass down. But after seeing the video, i just think he felt the passion of the song. who knows what goes through their head when they play these songs, he could have been reminded of a time in the past of something that happened and was just affected by that. OR yes, it just seemed like a thing to do because they just kicked ass on that song and he just was like take that! I don't think it's anything.

    I like the look on Robert's face tho he kind of smiles like thinking "oh, that Simon" :P

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  28. @ Maree, if she happens to read this

    Please check your MySpace inbox..

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  29. wow.
    I understand people that were in the show and talked so much about that later, and those who made it bigger, because when you're watching a show, your emotions get elevated.
    fortunately, they were at Coachella two days later and proved everything is alright.

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  30. And I don't know if I'm being foolish.
    Don't know if I'm being wise.
    But it's something that I must believe in.
    And it's there when I look in your eyes.

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  31. "I want people to think I'm a grumpy old cunt!"


    LOL....It's true.

    When I met him about 10 years ago, it was the same. He was the sweetest thing in the world. He chatted with us forever (mostly about his bicycle:) and smiled when I gave him a kiss on the cheek as he left.

    He is very, very nice :)

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  32. mewantbeer! said...

    "Mark. Cure culture? Take your meds u fu*@tard! Holy sh*t you sound just as mad as the rest of these MOOKS."

    MOOKS? You must be the one on Youtube who posted this:

    uncobone71 (5 hours ago):

    Thanks for the post now I hope that all the dumb MOOKS on cof can just STFU about this and move the fk on. Making a big stink because of this! Thanks again carltapia, for you I am grateful.

    ______________________________

    If you find us dumb, then just leave.

    ______________________________


    And pps...just ignore him.
    Remember the first rule of the interweb:

    Don't feed the trolls.

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  33. Love is in the air.
    In the whisper of the trees.
    Love is in the air.
    In the thunder of the sea.


    Dearest Anah, keep up! A truce has been called, and everyone including normal peeps and trolls that talk funny are now truly, madly, deeply in love with one another.

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  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  35. *smiles, kisses Anah on the cheek, and leaves*

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  36. Ya, I met Simon in New Orleans in 2000 and he is a very sweet guy.

    and love and all that stuff to everyone too.

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  37. I was right in front of Robert on the rail. I thought the throw was very aggressive. I mean he just threw it down like bam "there have that." I thought he did look very angry. For a second I even thought he was mad at his bass especially when he threw it. I thought it had a lot to do with the technical stuff. I never thought for one second that things weren't going to be alright. But for sure being right there it was like "WHOA"

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  38. Thanks for the video carl! At least now we all know how it went down and it doesn't seem too bad. Yes it's a bit strange but it wasn't an over the top reaction.

    I'm sure if I saw it myself I would have thought oh no what's wrong, this doesn't look good. But when you see Robert smile a bit after that, you kind of know its all OK just Simon having a bad ass moment!

    Simon was most likely upset about something and it was his way to blow off some steam. And playing The Kiss is just so intense, I think his little toss just added to the performance. Pure Punk and R&R stuff!

    Hate to say it but it does feel good to throw stuff around when you’re mad & upset!

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  39. Anyone remember The Troubadour show when Robert came out and said "We're going to do pop now because Simon likes pop" or something of the sort. Awww I love his accent. Now everytime I put in the "pop" stuff I think of Simon.

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  40. I recall Simon seeming pissed off too! He was spitting in the air and did that several times, something I never saw him do before. But, I wasn't worried about the band or anything. I knew something happened for them to end early, but thought it was more about the sound being off. The sound was off on several songs. I was on the rail, and sometimes that makes the sound seem bad, but the first 7-10 songs sounded gorgeous.
    And, I really can't stand when trolls get on here and want to start throwing jabs at all these beautiful Cure fans! Grrrr.... Speaking for myself, I am obsessed and stalkerish! SO WHAT! Besides my family, The Cure is my life and of course we are going to talk about every little detail! Who cares! Let us be, for eff sakes!

    PS-so please send me icing and decorating sets
    i enclose a cheque and postal order number...
    SO WHAT!

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  41. /blushes @ S.


    Maybe someday I will scan my pictures of when I met them, and post them here... I just looked at the one with Simon, and it made me smile. Although I love the one with R , my head is resting on his shoulder and my eyes are closed...like I am sleeping on him...Silly Anah...

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  42. I did notice the spitting too and he was doing it a lot it seemed. I figured perhaps a mixture of the frustration and the alcohol. I could be wrong about the alcohol but to me he seemed a bit overly intoxicated. Still sooooo cute though!

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  43. You know, I find it interesting that Simon is now into the pop side of things, because around the release of Pornography, he wanted to go in a darker, more gothic direction, while Robert wanted to lighten up.

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  44. what would pavarotti be doing with a stradivarius?

    and what the fuck is a MOOK?
    lets get it together, people.


    simon always seems a little bit peeved to me. he'll always be punk. it looked more "eff this. i'm getting a beer" than "eff this i'm leaving the band".

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  45. what would pavarotti be doing with a stradivarius?I wondered the same... :)

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  46. From urban dictionary.com----"Mooks are archetypal young males(teens-early 20s) who act like moronic boneheads. They are self centered simpletons who live a drunken frat-boy lifestyle."

    Not one person on the COF is a Mook! So let's just ignore this troll and move past his MOOK comments!

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  47. o_q

    Hmm. Hmm. Move along people, nothing to see.

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  48. Ooh, that Thunderbird. I still feel bad for it. pretty red color too. He tossed it and dropped a $2,000 bass. For me it was dramatic and he seemed a little upset.

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  49. "what would pavarotti be doing with a stradivarius?"

    Cause He's a Rock Star !!

    He was a BeeGee in the Disco days before the 80s when he went Goth (lots of beer, black dyed hair).
    I guess he had a big turn in carreer when he was introduced to classical music with that duet with U2, for that Sarajevo contest.
    I really liked him for his work with Brian Adams. Awesome. I quit the fanbase when he got 100% Opera & Classic. Although I like a bit of Mozart.
    He said too that he liked instruments cause it enables him to express melodies & emotions he can't express while singing.
    And a Strad' is so fragile, kind of thing you can break with one shot. They should do them in plastic or rubber for rockers.

    Maybe Simon's bass was rubber after all. Might be the trick.
    Big shaking ropes on Red Rubber that's good.
    I hope he spares his bass so he can use the idee for a video with Ashley Simpson (or Axl Rose).

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  50. Something happened with Inbetween Days bass during intro
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNgUgv5-3Ec

    Plus

    Bass drop during The Kiss
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI9KoBoI1Xw

    Plus

    Simon coming in late for At Night intro?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AINaeeHHeWE

    Plus

    Did Jason come in late for M intro?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwzVThhSww8

    Equals = Things that had people talking?

    or

    Equals = Practice show for Coachella?

    Just something I was adding together while reviewing the videos I took.

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  51. They practiced in London on Wednesday night and then flew to Vegas on Thursday.

    THEY WERE JETLAGGED AND TIRED, ESPECIALLY SIMON HE TOLD ME SO AND TOLD FUJI THE SAME THING.

    They should have flown in on Wednesday, practiced in Vegas and RESTED up for the show.

    YOU HEAR ME, ROBERT!! Please, next time check your schedule with me first!!!!!!

    lolololol

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  52. @love-the-cure

    Stop tempting him. He's married.

    You could check my shedule.
    I've got a lot to put at the right moment at the right place
    and I could definitely use a hand.

    I like your Lolling too :)

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  53. @ Maniken PYS

    I have no idea what this means:
    "I've got a lot to put at the right moment at the right place
    and I could definitely use a hand."

    please explain :)

    ps - what's a temptress to do if she can't tempt????

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  54. pps - I would be tempting SIMON not Robert if that's what you were insinuating. :)

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  55. Mmmmh You like his Thunderbird
    Do you

    I heard he likes to toss it up
    and drop it hard
    On the floor

    Naughty girl

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  56. YES! I like it when he raises his Thunderbird high and brings it down hard!

    lolololol

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  57. Oh yeah
    D'you think he'd let you touch it??

    You obviously go for the guy who plays with the bigger stuff, so
    you can nickname me "TheHotDog" or "T-rex", as you wish

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  58. To the loving room with you two!

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  59. Hit a nerve did I ? All the troll was trying to point out is that you should wait and see what unfolds until you start making up such bullsh*t! Obsession well? Ok ?maybe? Stalking is a bit fkn scary and in most countries against the law. Why don't some of you take all that wasted energy and cure a disease. You do understand other than you being a CuRe fan Robert does not give two sh*ts about you personally right? If by any chance you don't, I seriously feel very scared for bob and the boys!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  60. @h v, you jalous cos she's about to get very happy

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  61. "Mmmmh You like his Thunderbird
    Do you

    I heard he likes to toss it up
    and drop it hard
    On the floor"

    RAWR.

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  62. i think i'll cure deafness. is that a disease?

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  63. Here's my one and a half cents...

    He's pissy, tired, fuzzy and playing a not so great show as far as his bass playing goes ( see the vacancy smiles' post ). Anyone's who's ever played in a band knows that some nights are heaven and other nights you just want to take your guitar and throw it to the ground!... He was obviously a tad tissed at something as he did throw down his bass without cutting off his board or amp... as a musician you just don't do that unless you are pissed or want to put on a show as one bad ass.... and I say that in reference to the person who brought up Nirvana smashing their instruments, because if you know about Nirvana then you know that they did it "to look punk rock.. if you finish a show by smashing your gear for 20 minutes, the crowd would forget you just played a crappie show and you would always leave with them cheering for you"... or something like that

    NOW.. here's where the haters can join in! I love using that word haters, makes me feel cool! I'm guessing that not only was he having an off show, but perhaps Robert ( jokingly or not) said something to him about it which just pushed him to the edge... and Robert is very, very well known for doing this... a very reliable source.. *cough *cough hey how's Erin?... told me that Robert always likes to have complete control of what happens on stage and he makes it very clear what he expects through his glances and comments.. and that if you (band members) don't like it, tough do-do! Perhaps Robert saw he was pissy, said something that made him more pissy and he reacted... The fact that Robert is kinda giggling after it all happened also leads me to think this way

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  64. Upon review of the evidence. Simon Gallup is found not guilty.

    He is still, however, sentenced to one week solitary confinement with Jo.

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  65. I was standing on the side between Robert and Simon. From my point of view it seemed that Simon was in a bad mood. It seemed obvious that he tossed his bass onto the floor intentionally. I didn't notice the spitting but I did see him curse out loud like saying the "F" word like he was mad about something. My friend from Germany made several comments that he thought Simon was in a very bad mood. He has seen literally hundreds of Cure shows. Frankly, I really don't care if he was upset or mad I still enjoyed the show regardless of what happened. I was happy to be about 3 to 4 people back from the rail. Rock On Simon!

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  66. Dumb Anguish said...
    "Upon review of the evidence. Simon Gallup is found not guilty.

    He is still, however, sentenced to one week solitary confinement with Jo and Anah."

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  67. I don't get what the big deal is? He threw/dropped his bass....on purpose!!! Gasp. anyone ever been to a nin show? People get caught up in a moment. You guys were/are acting like he pushed Robert or threw his bass at Porl. Maybe it was a bad day at the office. ever had a bad day at work? Concerts are fun (hopefully) for the fans, but it is work for the band (hopefully enjoyable work). Maybe he was in a bad mood..no big deal. It was a dramatic ending to a show, much like coachella (playing while people are pulling the plug..or when RS dropped his guitar. i doubt he was upset at the end of the show.) Must bve weird having people put every motion under a microscope.

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  68. Woohoo, Tim! I like the way you think

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  69. Robert john said...
    "but perhaps Robert (jokingly or not) said something to him about it which just pushed him to the edge... and Robert is very, very well known for doing this... The fact that Robert is kinda giggling after it all happened also leads me to think this way"

    Hahaa! Robert's such a bastard!! <333
    Makes me even more curious about what happened to his hand...?
    If he does say something about it, and guessing that he doesn't think it's anyone's business, he'll likely make up some nonsense as he's wont to do in circumstances like these...

    My goodness, we Cure fans are an especially observant lot... albeit sometimes a little too much so. *points at herself* X)

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  70. mr. beer- Pfff. LOAFS?! I see no reason to go around judging other people... especially since no harm has come to anyone.

    I really *love* bannana bread, btw.

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  71. I think they had a fight with the crewmembers
    judging by the new Robert Rocker pic

    I think Robert punched one

    Since this is the 82nd post of this thread
    it seems very plausible

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  72. Mr. MWB. Hey, we are here because we are avid Curefans. Obssessed, even. We all do other shit to make a living and and have friends, relationships, children, etc., but we love The Cure and like pondering the "minutiae" as Craig points out on the top of his site. So, you know, damn, why are you here so much if it makes you so angry? (Sorry for feeding the troll.)

    I do like banana bread also, Helsa! Had some last night, oddly enough. (Whilst pondering Cure minutiae and hangin w/ my 2 y/o.)

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  73. LOL. Jeff: :)
    I also like to bake mine with blueberries & strawberries sometimes! I use my moms recipe. YUMMIES! <33

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