fun b-day: friends & Magpies

This past Sat. was my b-day. Like, my actual birth day, not just the day I celebrated it. It’s actually the 1st birthday I’ve had since 2005! I know that may seem hard to believe, but it was. Don’t think about that anymore. That’s not important. What is imp, is that I had a fabuloso time. (that’s just like fabulous, but in Italian stilettos)

So, on Sat, I woke up & just chilled. Had some yummy hazelnut coffee on the back deck & just watched the sky.

Oh, here’s the thing... every year, on May 17th, it is bee-u-ti-full. Gorgeous. 70 degrees & sunshine. Every May 17th. W/out fail.

So, obviously, I was really bummed out on Fri when I heard we were gonna have rain & 60 degrees all weekend. They said Sat would be rain, t-storms, & more rain. (I think I may have said "Stupid Global Warming" at least once an hour on Friday)

But all for naught, b/c it was 73 & sunny, just like God intended it to be every May 17th. Big ups to the G-o-d! Mad props at cha, baby!

Ok, maybe that last part was a lil wrong. But if you can't be blasphemous on your birthday, then just when is it appropriate?

So, the gals & I went to D'Vine for din & drinks. I have felt that I really haven't had any "just girls" time in a while, & it was almost detoxing to be able to have that time w/ them!

I also got to meet one of my blog-friends in real life, so that was really cool! I had "discovered" Gennifer sometime in like 2006. We both were reading the same political satire blog; there was some Cleveland-related post & when commenting, I noticed there was a like-minded Clevelander on there. Anyway, she came out & she is as cool, witty & charming in person as on her blog! We've been blog-friends ever since!

Then, we went on to see the Magpies play at one of my favorite places. They were so much fun, & I don't know if it was just me, but I think it was prob the best performance I'd seen from them this past year!!! They were really into the music. And it was super-cool of them to wish me a happy birthday & play a song for me. But then again, I've been to every single one of their shows (except the weekend of my sister's wedding) for a long, looong time. And my bff & I always bring at least another 10 ppl, who now love the band too!

*sidenote: you may remember me talking about the Whiskeyhounds back in the day. The Whiskeyhounds are now the Magpies. You know, like how Puffy is now Diddy. Just like that.

Oh, & one more thing... The Magpies were on NPR recently on Around Noon. If you click on that link, it'll take you to their interview. You can ff to around 31 minutes, that's where their part starts.

the peg-leg wants to be a priest.

Hello, can you say “Delusions of Grandeur”? This is insane!

Did you guys see that Sir Paul’s lawyer left court with her head all wet b/c Heather Mills dumped a glass of water on her?!?! She told reporters that she was "baptized in court". Uh...
♬♪♫ crazy ♬♪♫

Anyway, I think we all know from my previous post that I was no fan of hers from the onslaught. But it does irritate me how some women* marry a rich man for a few years, & then feel entitled to a ton of money. [ * I ain't sayin she's a gold-digga, but she ain't messin w/ no broke.... ]

Now, I can understand if they were married for a long time (10-30 yrs). In many cases, they struggled to make it happen before one of them got their break. But they BOTH went through that, & relied on each other to get to that point.

But c'mon now peggy, you can't be serious. I'm sick of ppl saying that they've "acclimated" to a lifestyle. Please! It was 4 years! If you lived your whole life with 2 legs & then one is taken away from you, you simply adapt, & learn to deal with having a peg-leg attached to you. You ADAPT.

Peggy's getting paid. And their child gets $70,000 a year, plus Sir Paul pays her school & nanny fees. And seriously, she said it was a "paltry amount" & "She's obviously meant to travel B class while her father travels A class". Yeah, peggy, obviously.

We all know how much Sir Paul cares about his kids, & I highly doubt he would trivialize anything for any of them. This whole thing is so ridiculous.

Why is it annoying me SO incredibly much, you ask? It's because when they 1st met & got married, he thought she was it. But it turned out she wasn't. I'm having issues with that. How does anyone know when someone is it? Esp when you find out they're not? You try to keep faith & believe, but I don't think Sir Paul's gonna open his heart again to another woman ever.

And the thought of any person doing that makes me sad.

snowed in

So, I'm kinda bummed. Was really excited about going to a pre-show party tonight for Red {an orchestra}. My good friend & I had gotten tics to this Cool Cleveland party before the show. It was an open bar w/ appetizers catered by another friend of ours (who owns Gypsy Beans & does the yummiest catering). So, we were pretty psyched* about it.

Red {an orchestra} was doing a night of movie music....

BERNARD HERRMANN: MORE THAN THE MOVIES | 3.8.08

Red's sixth season comes to an exciting conclusion with a concert featuring the music of film composer Bernard Herrmann, whose scores for classic films of Alfred Hitchcock--Vertigo, North By Northwest and Psycho--are unmatched in their distinctive style. His style as a film composer, keen psychological atmospheres made with simple means, was formed in his concert music. His early pieces in the manner of his idol, Arnold Schoenberg, matured as he worked in radio and then Hollywood, his ambition remaining high, even as his film music eclipsed all other efforts. In this unique program, film clips featuring Herrmann's Hollywood music mingle with a suite from Psycho, and work from his time in the 1930s at CBS Radio. The highlight of the program is a group of excerpts from his unproduced opera, Wuthering Heights, perhaps the greatest unknown opera in the history of American music.

Sounds cool, huh? I KNOW! I was really looking forward to it, but just hoping now that they may reschedule. I mean, they've all been rehearsing for this show for a few weeks, I'm sure.

So, they were planning on doing a bunch of pieces that composer Bernard Herrmann did for Alfred Hitchcock's movies, but they were going to do excerpts from an unproduced piece too?!?!?! Seriously?!

They HAVE to reschedule!

Oh, did I mention the reason everything's cancelled? B/c of the winter storm. We were so ready to brave it. I went out there to my car. The snow drifts are 3 to 4 feet, I made it to the garage w/ the help of my trusty snow shovel. Then I opened the garage door......

Yeah, that wasn't gonna happen. No way my Corolla's makin it out of the garage. So, I call my girl to see what it's like where she is, cause I can make it to the end of the street w/ my snow shovel. She gets outside, & makes it as far as the end of the street....

No more.

Dude, you've gotta give us credit for tryin though. So, we're on the phone figuring out that this is just not gonna happen for us tonight, & go back into our respective homes. I get upstairs & turn on the news, & see that in some counties, the police are actually fining/ticketing ppl who are out on the street if it's not an emergency!

*do ppl still say psyched?

operas & parties

I haven't been posting because I didn't want to bore all of yous guys with my mundane life. But I've got nuttin else to say, so here we go....

I've been pretty busy (too busy to post, as you all know). You might remember my mentioning it in past years, but I've just gone through my busy season at work. I've put in 11-hour days on most Sundays & some Mondays for the last 2 months. But now, I'm free.

I'm looking for a new apt, so a lot of time is used up doing that. So far, nothing good. By "good", I mean a place with 2 bedrooms, where you can actually fit a full-sized bed AND a dresser in BOTH bedrooms. I know, I know.... I'm just soooo demanding!

We had a snow storm on Tuesday, & I went out to see Steve Poltz that night at the Beachland Ballroom. That was fun, he did an impromptu "rock opera". I'm not just over-using quotes there; trust me, it's in the quotes for a reason.

Then, Wednesday, I went to see Mozart's Die Zauberflöte*. I loved it, not as much as Le nozze di Figaro*, but I did enjoy myself. I went with one of my closest friends, Urban Cowgirl. She loves classical music (I just love it when it's live). I did kinda nod off during the 2nd act; not b/c it was dull. I think it's just cause I've been running myself ragged, & also most of the "songs"** were low (bass/baritone). And the low notes tend to put me to sleep sometimes (I've also nodded off at cello or double-bass recitals for this same reason).

Anyway, it was cool, I esp. loved Papageno & I'm sure he's everyone's fave character in it. So ridiculously funny, he is! But The Marriage of Figaro is still my fave, b/c I was in stitches throughout that whole opera. I'm a big fan of that silly-humor.

Then, last night I went to Urban Cowgirl's 1st 29th birthday party. That was a complete blast. I had so much fun, hanging out at their house w/ a gaggle of fun ppls. I was there until almost 3 am, & still coulda stayed all night, but I could see others were getting tired.

So, that's it for now. I hope to have more things to post about soon. I keep thinking of things I wanna post, but then actually forget them when I'm in front of the comp.

* yes, that's me being snooty. But you're allowed to be snooty when you go to see an opera.
** I'm pretty sure they're not called songs; but they're not all arias, so I don't know what word to use for them.

seeing killers - missed opportunities

So, about 3 months ago, I was offered free tics to go see the Killers. I remember exactly when it was b/c it was the night before we drove down to C-bus for my sister’s commencement ceremony at OSU. I felt guilty about accepting the free tics, b/c I felt that I didn’t work for them or earn them in any way. Does that make sense?

So, anyway, they were in town Friday night, & Mr. T got to hang out with them for afterhours. They were down where Mr. T works after they finished up their show at the Wolstein Center to chill & hang out.

I normally go & hang out w/ Mr. T on Fridays, but this Friday, I was just too exhausted to do so. (I'd only gotten 2 hours of sleep the night before). It's cool though, I mean what's meant to be will be, right? I guess it just wasn't meant for me to see any killers this year.

at a loss

You know how there are some ppl in this world that have a talent so profound, it just stops you? Like, you hear Pavarotti start singing, you can feel yourself gasp?

It's been a year & 2 months since I posted about his pancreatic cancer. You can read all the posts I've written about him all together by clicking here. You don't have to click to read the posts, but I am very fond of the pics I put up to accompany the posts. I picked out older photos of him that I thought showed a lot of who he was beyond a maestro.

So, there's not much to say; I'm sure you all have heard by now that he's passed on. Instead, I'm going to post a bunch of things he's said over his 71 years.

Above all, I am an opera singer. This is how people will remember me.

Am I afraid of high notes? Of course I am afraid. What sane man is not?

At the age of 4. I jump on the table. I am a little tenor. And I begin to sing, La Donna e Mobile.

Children should be given the chance to play instruments, to sing.

Every Italian play football. The first gift they give you when you are 3 is a ball.

For me, music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion.

For an Italian, being honored in America was a big privilege.

I am open to everything.

I am proud to be a messenger of peace for the United Nations.

I haven't seen the Elton John, but I have seen Rent on many occasions.

I made 12 duets. It was such a pleasure to know these people from the inside, not from the cover of an album.

I smoke cigar in the summertime. Probably in three months, 10 cigar.

I want to reach as many people as possible with the message of music, of wonderful opera.

I would like to raise money for the kids from the world. To do that, the only way, it was to call pop singer. If you call pop singer, you can sell the ticket.

If children are not introduced to music at an early age, I believe something fundamental is actually being taken from them.

If you see me once, you cannot confuse me with another.

If you want to do something really bad to me, you invite at your home, and put one record of mine. And my digestion will be finished before begin.

In opera, as with any performing art, to be in great demand and to command high fees you must be good of course, but you must also be famous. The two are different things.

Learning music by reading about it is like making love by mail.

People have a right to criticize.

Sometime to be called Pavarotti is not always an advantage.

Why should be elite, music? Excuse me. Music must be for everybody.

We just baptized my daughter, and we have 300 people in the church. When we are going to be married, we will be alone.

With the piano, at the age of 18, I was already singing for $1, $2 a performance.

You don't need any brains to listen to music.

No regrets, no regrets.

If music is central to a person's life, it can be something very special and life-affirming.

I am a very superstitious person.[When he performs, Pavarotti wants nails strewn all over the stage, and won't tolerate the color purple. In former times, priests wore purple, and artists couldn't perform during the season of Lent. So, purple, to an Italian, to an artist, means no eating, no money, no work, no women.]

Olive oil is so incredibly healthy -- as a digestive. I love it and I use it despite the fact that it's the most caloric thing in the world.

I am not a boiled potato -- I am a fried potato.

I have lost twice 85 pounds. Can you imagine? Twice.

Despite the fact that I was born under the sign of Libra [balance], I am a person who calculates little and dreams a lot. With the grandissimi advantages and the grandissimi disadvantages. But, the advantages are 90% and the disadvantages, 10%. So it's worth living as a dreamer.

I love Ballo [Un Ballo in Maschera -- The Masked Ball, a Verdi opera] for many reasons .... The tenor character Riccaredo is a good man who is deeply in love with his friend's wife. I sympathize with him, not because I have ever been in love with a friend's wife, thank God, but because I know how pwerful love can be and how it can make a man do things that he knows are wrong.

I know one second before if is not going well. Absolutely. I feel it.

Teaching I think is the most difficult thing. Teaching is more difficult than singing. ..... Why? Because you have to transfer a thought from your brain to the brain of the other person and the throat of the other person. [2005 - This was when Pavarotti announced that he was retiring from performing, & was now going to teach for free.] I'm going to teach for free. I don't want to teach people just because they pay me. I want to teach people who really are good. I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation."

Mandy's umbrella

I like Mandy Moore. I don’t have a girl crush on her like I do on Salma Hayek. But I like her; I think she’s adorable. I don’t really listen to her music; just b/c I’ve never really heard her cds or anything. But isn’t she just the cutest thing? I do like the movies she’s done. She did crack me up in that American Dreamz; & made me cry in A Walk to Remember. I guess others thought it was a corny movie, but I liked it a lot. It struck me. I saw Because I Said So too; but I really like Diane Keaton too. And I can't wait to see License to Wed.

Anyway, I heard she’s re-doing that “umbrella” song* by Rhianna. Uuggh. I can’t stand Rhianna. I just don’t like her; something about her. I don’t like any of her songs either. I’m always asking y’all to sign petitions & if there was a petition to get this Rhianna-chick to stop making albums, please send me the link to it. Thanks.

Yes, this was a no-point post; & I prob wasted your time. But that’s all I’ve got to say right now.

*Ok, so I don't like any of Rhianna's songs, but I do kinda like Mandy Moore's version of it. Maybe it's just my bias b/c I like her, & can't stand Rhianna. Rhianna. Uuggh. Yek.

Bob Dylan - Hurricane

Pistols shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
She sees the bartender in a pool of blood
Cries out "My God they killed them all"
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For something that he never done
Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

Three bodies lying there does Patty see
And another man named Bello moving around mysteriously
"I didn't do it" he says and he throws up his hands
"I was only robbing the register I hope you understand
I saw them leaving" he says and he stops
"One of us had better call up the cops"
And so Patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashing
In the hot New Jersey night.

Meanwhile far away in another part of town
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are driving around
Number one contender for the middleweight crown
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
Just like the time before and the time before that
In Patterson that's just the way things go
If you're black you might as well not shown up on the street
'Less you wanna draw the heat.

Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the corps
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowling around
He said "I saw two men running out they looked like middleweights
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates"
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
Cop said "Wait a minute boys this one's not dead"
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him that he could identify the guilty men.

Four in the morning and they haul Rubin in
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
The wounded man looks up through his one dying eye
Says "Wha'd you bring him in here for ? He ain't the guy !"
Yes here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For something that he never done
Put in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

Four months later the ghettos are in flame
Rubin's in South America fighting for his name
While Arthur Dexter Bradley's still in the robbery game
And the cops are putting the screws to him looking for somebody to blame
"Remember that murder that happened in a bar ?"
"Remember you said you saw the getaway car?"
"You think you'd like to play ball with the law ?"
"Think it might-a been that fighter you saw running that night ?"
"Don't forget that you are white".

Arthur Dexter Bradley said "I'm really not sure"
Cops said "A boy like you could use a break
We got you for the motel job and we're talking to your friend Bello
Now you don't wanta have to go back to jail be a nice fellow
You'll be doing society a favor
That sonofabitch is brave and getting braver
We want to put his ass in stir
We want to pin this triple murder on him
He ain't no Gentleman Jim".

Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
It's my work he'd say and I do it for pay
And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
And ride a horse along a trail
But then they took him to the jailhouse
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse.

All of Rubin's cards were marked in advance
The trial was a pig-circus he never had a chance
The judge made Rubin's witnesses drunkards from the slums
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
And though they could not produce the gun
The DA said he was the one who did the deed
And the all-white jury agreed.

Rubin Carter was falsely tried
The crime was murder 'one' guess who testified
Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied
And the newspapers they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand ?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game.

Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
An innocent man in a living hell
That's the story of the Hurricane
But it won't be over till they clear his name
And give him back the time he's done
Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

pimp me

Dear Xzibit,

It has come to my attention that my mySpace page is not properly customized. Well, I knew it before, but my BFF thinks that I should get on it. So, I'm writing to you. I need some expert help in this; & it's either you or the Orange County Chopper dudes; you both know the importance of customizationizing stuff. And just b/t you & me, they're a lil scary. Your gas crew is pretty cool & collected.

Here's what my boring MySpace page looks like right now:

I know, boring, right? I prefer the term "drama-free". I thought it was kinda special though... probably over 99% of all MySpace pages are customized & personalized & what-not. Right? So, that makes me diff, that mine's all nothing. Nada.

Anyway, YES, I do know that you guys all pimp cars, not MySpace pages. BUT, don't you have a brother/brotha who can maybe help me out? We both know the importance of a good pimp, & I know you knows ppls. I saw all the ppls you were talking to at that party a few weeks ago. The chicks were all OVER you!!! The dudes were all about you too; but I know how you feel about that, not too comfortable-like, so I won't mention it. Remember when you busted out that rendition of the Stereo MCs 'Connected'? That was really chill, man. You should've seen the look on some of the ppl's faces when you did that. Priceless.

Anyway, I want it all customized-able, my MySpace. Ya hear? Whoever you get to do it can basically have all the artistic freedom they want. I'm pretty open to new, creative ideas. My only request is that you put a lil avatar of me on it. Now, here's the thing... I want her to look like me. I know you can go to weatherpixie.com & get a lil avatar there for your page, but they don't really look like me. Here are the two closest ones (on the right).

And here's my Yahoo avatar:

I'm Indian, & there just aren't that many Indian ones. Oh, & I have curly hair. I straighten it sometimes, but it is curly.

OH, & a couple things. You see my Yahoo avatar? She's cute, isn't she? Well, see, she's got a lil sidekick dragon. I want my MySpace avatar (that changes clothes according to weather, remember) to have either a lil pink or lilac colored sidekick dragon. If you can have the guy pimping my MySpace to also make her puff lil clouds of smoke, that'd be pretty sa-wheeeeet! I know he'd/she'd be able to do flash stuff, so it's gotta be totally do-able. Oh, & I want her to dress up & go out dancing on Friday nights. Can you change the music to dance music when she goes out?

Don't forget, X, that I love me some gay-ass dance music; I've gotta have some ole Madonna & Pet Shop Boys (George Michael, you know how I do). In addition to all the reg dance music that most other ppl like. Oh, & Prince. You know how I love Prince.

Thanx, X~2~Z, you rock! Just have whoever you find to do my page to leave me a comment, & we'll get going on it. I know you'll find someone who can do it up right!

ghosts passing by

If a tree falls in the woods, & no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? What if over a thousand ppl are there?

One of the greatest musicians in the world played for free, & barely anyone noticed. The Washington Post did an experiment, & they had Joshua Bell, one of the greatest violinists of our time to play in a Metro station plaza during rush hour. You'd have to pay at least $100 a seat to see the grammy-winner perform live. He played some of the most beautiful (& challenging) pieces of classical music written.

The Washington Post wanted to see if their ppl had time for Beauty? If a supremely talented violinist playing a 3.5 million dollar violin was playing in a commonplace setting (in a t-shirt, jeans, & a baseball cap), will ppl take notice & observe beauty?

How often do ppl stop in wonder of rainbows? It's a really interesting article, & they video-taped the whole thing! You can read the article here: Pearls Before Breakfast.

Spoiler alert!!! Only 7 out of almost 1100 ppl actually stopped to listen for at least a minute. When Leonard Slatkin heard of this hypothetically, he propositioned that said violinist (not realizing it would be Joshua Bell) could draw a crowd of about 100, & make about $150. Oh, did I mention that he put some seed money in his case & turned it around; as a street musician. And he made 32 bucks & some change.

Ghosts: that's what the Post called these ppl just passing by Bell whilst he played.

Oh, & you can listen to his complete performance here.

My life as a 12-year old girl

Today’s post is actually 2 separate installments of my real-life conversations. One actually happened during the month of January, & the other yesterday. While I consider myself extremely intelligent, sometimes I realize I come off as a 12-year old girl. The following are examples of these circumstances.

In January, my parents decided to leave us visit India for a month. Yes, they took off for a month-long vacation to India. During this time, I took over their guardian role for my teenage brother. He’s in high school, so I took him to a college day thing, & I was in charge of cooking dinner, making sure he ate*, did homework, & also the fun job of chauffeuring him to & fro his important high school activities. On one such occasion, I was to pick him up from a group study session (or group project, or something):

[I pull up & he comes out of the building. As he approaches the car, a Justin Timberlake song comes on the radio.]
Me: Ooouuu, you lucked out! This JT song just began.
Him: Uh, I don’t like Justin Timberlake.
Me: Oh, so maybe you’re not so lucky. [as I proceed to turn the volume up.]
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

At work yesterday, this woman called me & gave me her address so that I can send her something. She lives in Arlington, VA; right next to the nation’s capitol.

Me: so that’s xxx Garfield Street? Garfield, as in the cat?
Her: uhhh….
Me: [light bulb going off]Um, I guess that’s probably Garfield, as in the president, huh? [realizing that a street named Garfield next to the nation’s capitol is named after a former prezzie, not a kitty.]
Her: Yeah, it’s Garfield like the president.

actors & hookers

You know what I was thinking about last night? I was thinking about how actors & prostitutes are pretty much the same.

I mean, they both do & say as they are told. There is someone there to "direct" their actions. The prettier ones make a lil more moolah. They both get paid just for showing up & doing/saying what they're told.

Then I started thinking about Will Smith. I think I was thinking about all this b/c I saw some commercial for that new movie of his before I went to bed. I wasn't watching tv, but you know how if the tv's on, it's in the corner of your eye?

So, then I was thinking how Big Willie started out mostly in music, & is now mainly acting. And his wife was mostly acting before, & now she's mainly singing (she's always on tour w/ her band whenever I hear about her). Funny, huh? (ironic-funny, not haha-funny).

UPDATE: After I wrote this, I remembered when I was in school. I went into my undergrad to study architecture & sociology. I recalled that in my 2nd year of studio, we were told that architects are like whores, b/c you have to 'put out' whatever the client wants. Only a very select few will ever get to design what they truly want. I eventually switched outta arch, & just finished w/ a major in Sociology, which I love.

my gay Christmas

So, I put a smile on some truck driver's face this morn. Wanna know how? I was rockin out in my car to my gay Christmas music. Last night, I went through my cds & found what I was looking for. My fave Christmas mix that I made a few years back.

So, I was totally rockin out in my car. Dancin in my seat, boppin my head, shakin all around, & singin my own harmonies when their was just music & no words. This is 'how I do' when I'm by myself.

But it makes me happy. And I know this pickup truck driver was one of the construction ppl who's having a hard time getting the project they're working on done, b/c they keep getting bothered by ppl who know nothing (that reminds me of Schultzie from Hogan's Heroes "I know NUTT-THING!"). Sorry, I'm just completely cracking myself up this morn. Anyway, what I meant to say is that the pick-up truck driver-dude saw me boppin around, & I know he thought I was silly, but at least for an instant he wasn't all worried about his day. And that's kinda cool.

Ok, so back to my Gay Christmas music. Now, don't get all 'huffy-puffy-whaddya-mean-gay-music'. I'm not sayin it in a bad way at all. There's diff types of music. Let's all face it. Esp w/ Christmas. There's the breathy Christmas music (ie, 'Santa Baby', & any Christmas song done by Christina Aguilera). There's the sentimental stuff (ie, Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby).

And then there's what I was listening to this morn. Christmas music written by George Michael. Actually, it was 2-fold gay, cause not only is it George Michael music (which I love, love, LOVE; btw); but it's also a version of his song that's sung by 2 gay-homosexuals. Yes, I know it's redundant to say gay-homosexual, but that's just how I roll.

It's the little things I do that crack myself up. I do tend to amuse myself. Like, one of my fave things to do is to mix up numbers & letters when I'm making lists. I'll start off w/ the 1, 2, 3, then put down 'd'. It cracks me up! I know, it's silly, but I'm just a corny person who loves corny stuff. I also love Bob Newhart & his old funny records.

a rose by any other name....

Ok, so the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens was a man previously known as Steven Georgiou, & eventually called himself ‘Yusuf Islam’, has released an album where he is simply going by ‘Yusuf’. Is he pulling a Madonna (or Cher)?

I’m all for ppl changing their minds. I know I’ll change my mind a million times, & then back to the original thought at the last sec. But I don’t do so in a way to confuse ppl. Even when he changed his name when he converted to Islam, I still called him ‘Cat Stevens’. So, I think I’m gonna continue to do so.

Even when Prince went to ‘the Artist’, I still called him ‘Prince’. He was always & has always been Prince to me. So, I’m gonna keep callin him Cat Stevens. Not ‘Cat’. The full name, Cat Stevens.

This reminds me of a story of a boy I met in my college days. Wanna hear? Ok.

So, my bff & I met this dude at a party, & (we swear) we were introduced to him as ‘Bob’. We met him at a party, & maybe it was the noise/music/medley of tonix*/whatev; but we thought his name was Bob. So, we continued to call him Bob for the next 6-8 years. I don’t know how long exactly, but a long time. We still see & talk to him. My bff is still good friends with him. Point is, a few years ago (3-4, again time can be hazy), he told us that his name was not Bob, but really Rob. He had always answered to Bob, b/c it didn’t bother him, but now he’s decided to let us know. So, for the next 2 years after finding out his real name, we (or mostly I) called him ‘Bob-Rob’, or alternatively ‘Rob-Bob’.

*tonix is a word made-up by moi. It’s a combination of tonics & toxics. It can apply to anything, & only I & others that may have been present at the time may know what it applied to in any given instance.

sharing fake plastic love

I’ve never even attempted to fill in the profile thingie on this Blogger. I really don’t even have time for that; b/c the music I listen to is so incredibly eclectic. It would prob take up a ton of space. I literally listen to just about every type/genre of music (well, except country).

I listen to what I like. If it affects me or moves me in a way, I like it. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, “the heart wants what it wants”. There are times when I just want to listen to females, & I listen to a lot of Tori, Sarah, Fiona, Belly. I get in my Madonna moods. Yes, folks, say what you will, but sometimes when you’re driving down I-71 w/ 2 hours of highway ahead of you, on your way to pick up your sister*, rolling down your windows & singing along to some ole 80s Madonna really gets you through the day.

I was listening to a lot of hip hop/r&b before. I’ve always loved Mary J. Blige, India.Arie, & Outkast. There were a lot of really great beats & songs coming out of the hip hop community for a while. One great jam after another. But lately, I haven’t heard anything worthwhile or intoxicating from them.

I was listening to classical music a lot this summer. Mostly Tchaikovsky.

I work in an area where there’s a lot of college-age kids. They keep talking about some band called “Fall Out Boy”, or at least they did for a while. A lot. Now, I haven’t really heard anything by them, & if they really were all that, I’m sure I would’ve by now. Regardless, I only mention them b/c I was flipping through a rack of cds this weekend trying to come , & I stumbled across a whole row of these Fall Out Boy cds. I mean, there were like 5 or 6 of them. Aren’t they new? How do they have more cds out than bands who’ve been out for a decade or two. It reminds me of those writers who churn out a “novel” once a year, every year. I mean, Holy mass-produced music, Batman!

Anyway, the reason I’m even writing about this, is that rock musicians have really been bringin the good music lately. I can’t get enough of that “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. Yes, I think of Denny when I hear it, & sometimes it does bring a tear to my eye. Shonda, I can’t believe you KILLED Denny Duquette!!! How could you?!? Well, actually, I guess I can believe it. I mean, you hired someone just to kill off the famous violinist that was Burke’s hero, you allowed Annie to be killed off (although, I agreed w/ that one; if you allow a tumor to grow for a year w/out doing anything about it, you need to pay the piper). OH, & you killed off the cute bomb-squad dude that I really was hoping might become a recurring character. All that tension b/t him & Meredith, that could’ve turned into something. C’mon, you have to admit, you wrote in a lot of tension there. Um, and he was cute. Oh, speaking of that bomb epi, does anyone know the name of that haunting song they played as they were wheeling the body w/ the bomb in it to a diff OR? (It's one of these songs, but I'd have to find a way to listen to clips of them to find out which one). I really loved that song, & they usually list the songs they play on each epi on their website, but I couldn’t find it.

Sorry, back to my point (again, the one I meant to get to in the last para, but didn’t). Since I have this new car w/ the cd playa, I put in a cd, & was listening to Radiohead this morn on my way into work. I remember when I was working at Ray’s in college; one night I got off work, & joined a table full of ppl. I sat down next to a girl (that I didn’t know) & she was listening to a portable cd player (it was the 90s, we didn’t know what mp3’s were yet), & had earphones in her ears. I smiled at her, we introduced ourselves to each other, & I asked her what she was listening to. She said it was this new band called Coldplay; & if I liked Radiohead, I would love them. So, being a huge Radiohead fan, I took her earphones & gave 'em a whirl. To this day, Coldplay’s ok, but they ain’t got nuthin on my Radiohead. Yes, I know Thom Yorke’s doin a solo album, but I love my Radiohead.

If you like the Bends, get the Clueless soundtrack. No, I’m not kidding. The Clueless soundtrack. There’s this acoustic version of “Fake Plastic Trees” on there. If you play it at just the right volume, sing along, & let it overcome you; then you’ll get goose-bumps. Seriously. You will.

So, on my way into work, I drive through the ghetto. No, I’m not kidding, I really do drive through a ghetto. I don’t necessarily have to, but it’s quicker so I do. I’m talking drug-dealin, drive-by-shootin, all in the middle of the day, ghetto. So, I drove through the ghetto on my way into work this morn. Normally, I don’t like to play my music at a loud volume when I’m in town b/c I don’t like it when other ppl force their music on me, & I don’t want to be one of those ppl. Also, if my music has bad words, I don’t want to be responsible for lil kids hearing it. So, I’ll blast it on the highway, but not in town on local roads. But this morn, I felt the need to share my fake plastic love w/ the punks on the street. That is def a song that songs incredible acoustic, but I would love to one day hear it w/ a full orchestra. That would seriously give me the chills.

*BTW, I will no longer be driving down I-71 to pick her up from OSU, b/c she now has her VERY OWN CAR!!

da pumpkins are back, baby!

Guess what?!? The pumpkins are reuniting!!! I'm completely stoked about this.

If you go to their site, they don't have anything up, but a brief message that says that they're in the studio right now.

It still looks super cool, though.

JT, why ya gotta hate?!?!

I just found out from Vi, that Justin’s been dissin my boy Taylor. That’s just wrong. I’m really pissed at JT now. I mean, what’s up w/ that yo?!

I mean, seriously, weren't you in the Mickey Mouse Club?!?

JT, you used to be cool. I loved Justified. Yes, folks, I loved it. It was one of my fave albums of that year. I thought the whole album rocked & I listened to it straight through constantly.

Here’s what Justin said about Taylor:

“People think he looks so normal, and he’s so sweet and he’s so earnest, but he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. If [Hicks] has any skeletons whatsoever, if God forbid, he’s gay, and if all these people in Mississippi who voted for him are like [then he takes on a thick southern accent], ‘Oh my god, I voted for a queer!’ It’s just too much pressure. I have a strange relationship with that show. I despise it, yet I’m completely fascinated.”

This is from an interview in Fashion Rocks, a supplement to Vanity Fair magazine.

random rumblings

Don't have much to say. Just a few thoughts on stuff (gripes, mainly). I've been pretty happy (like super-happy) all day long, & I think I wore the happiness outta me. I haven't really had time to even read much news or anything (blogs) lately, but I've been catching up. Now I'm getting sleepy, but I thought I share what’s on my mind.

1. I’ve never liked Katie Couric. I now know I am so totally in the minority here. I didn’t realize how obsessed this nation is w/ her. I’ve always been an ABC news gal. I loved Peter Jennings, wish Elizabeth Vargas all the best w/ the birth of her baby, stayed up all night w/ Bob Woodruff when he was in the eye of the storm in Houston during Hurricane Rita, & respect Charlie Gibson.

The main reason I never liked Katie? B/c she wore waaay too much eyeliner. It was horrendous, I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t get past that. And if I managed to (not be so shallow) for 2 secs, she’d start w/ the giggling. It was too much. Diane Sawyer doesn’t giggle. She makes witty comments, jokes, & teases her colleagues, but def doesn’t giggle.

I thought that when Katie left Today, that she’d fade away, but I see her all the time & everywhere. And she hasn’t even started her gig yet!

2. Our fantastic gov’t lost (lost) the original recording of the 1st moon landing. This is gonna make all those ppl who say the moon landing is a hoax veeerrry happy.

3. I love Ani DiFranco, & I’ve heard about this poem she read at the recent NOW conference where she also announced her PREGNANCY! I really want to read this poem & have been searching online for the text this whole past week. But I just can’t find it anywhere. They just have the video, & I can’t watch the video of it, I want to see the text, so if anyone knows where to find it, let me know.

All I know was that it was a weird moment; & she cried throughout her entire speech. Here’s what Allison Kasic over at Independent Women’s Forum said about it:

To celebrate the moment, Ani read an original poem. I wish I could relay what the poem was about, but truth be told, Ani lost me somewhere between the “patriarchy causing war,” a bomb dropping in Hiroshima, and the streets of Manhattan. When DiFranco finished, NOW president Kim Gandy thanked Ani for her courage and pointed out that there wasn’t “a dry eye in the house.” Hogwash, I thought. That poem didn’t even make sense! But I looked around and there really were people crying. How anyone could make sense of such a poem, let alone be moved to tears, baffles me.

And that's why I really wanna read it now.

update on Pavarotti

or, "He will not be silenced".

I don't want to start something, or talk about something, & then just drop it. So, I just wanted to write out a quick note to y'all that Pavarotti has finally been able to return home. Well, I really shouldn’t say ‘finally’ like that; it’s not like he’s been in the hospital forever. I do know that even 4 days in the hospital seems like forever when all you want is to go home. But I also know that many cancer patients spend months & months in the hospital. And we all know that you can't really rest there. There’s always someone who needs to check your vitals or take blood or something. Not that there’s anything wrong w/ that. Most nurses & doctors are just very caring individuals; you have to be to go into a field like that.

Anyway, I just wanted to update you ppls on Pavarotti’s condition. He’s home & says that he’s planning on finishing up his farewell tour next year.

The photo I've posted is from the Student Championship in Modena (1954). Betcha didn't know that our boy Luciano used to be a fabulous football playa (um, football-soccer, not American football). He chose to pursue a career in opera, for which we are all grateful, but know that he has many talents.

Tags: music, cancer, news

why can't they get along b/t the parties?

Remember last week, when I was talking about how liberal or conservative we all are? Well, I thought it was interesting that there was a quiz like that b/c it helps you see all the shades of grey in the middle. Everyone seems so intent on defining themselves as one type. I ended up having an email conversation about this as well.

Most of the ques were black or white w/ no room for grey matter; they were extreme "this way or that" type questions. The majority of ppl in the US who are declared party members (either Rep or Dem), wouldn't be on either extreme of most questions. That's kinda why I found this interesting.

I've always been independent until this last election (the primary in May), where I felt that I had to declare myself so that I could vote for the guy I wanted to run for election in Nov. Unfortunately, he didn't make it. I've never voted just in a party-line before, I would vote for whoever I thought had the determination to improve our society how I felt it needed improvement. Along the way, I've voted for all types-- indies, dems, reps.

I think that for ppl who do consider themselves hard-core one way or the other, if they answer the questions completely honestly, they'd be surprised at how they come out. Part of me knows that these quizes are not to be taken seriously. But I know, for me, it makes me a little more aware of myself. Even if it tells me something, & I'm all like "nu-uh, I'm not like that".

Anyway, the whole point is that it made me think of "The Beauty of Grey" (grey? gray? potato-vodka, whatev). You know that song by Live? So, I've decided to copy/paste the main lyrics* here.

the perception that divides you from him
is a lie
for some reason you never asked why
this is not a black and white world
you can't afford to believe in your side

this is not a black and white world
to be alive
i say that the colors must swirl
and i believe
that maybe today
we will all get to appreciate

the beauty of gray

The thing that prompted me to post this is b/c in today's NY Times, there's an article about how Lieberman's career is completely ruined b/c as a democrat from Conn., he gets along w/ Republicans. So, now other Democrats wanna feed him to the wolves & out him from their own party, just cause he's moderate! What's up wit dat, yo?

There's a quote from John McCain (R-AZ) on Sen. Lieberman in there:

"I hesitate to say anything nice about him, for fear that it would be used against him. And that’s a terrible commentary on the state of politics and the political climate today."

*I didn't want to put a link to a site that has their lyrics b/c I think the best place to get them is at the Live site I have on my sidebar. But you have to click on the 'view tracks & lyrics' for Mental Jewerly to see them.