pop songs with string arrangements are another greatest thing.
the certainty of chance, the divine comedy
(note: the illustration is not from the video of the song posted.)
2010/02/28
strings
dear project leader:
pop songs with string arrangements are another greatest thing.
the certainty of chance, the divine comedy
(note: the illustration is not from the video of the song posted.)
pop songs with string arrangements are another greatest thing.
the certainty of chance, the divine comedy
(note: the illustration is not from the video of the song posted.)
slots
dear project leader:
went to valley view casino last night to enjoy their legendary buffet with the in-laws. in-laws didn't end up staying to eat, but kindly handed over pre-paid buffet tickets, and mom-in-law's players card.
prime rib. something difficult to replicate at home for two; something not to be missed when available otherwise.
go for the food, yes...but stay for the slots. certified as san diego's loosest, the say. can't vouch for that, but we did break kinda even (thank you obi-wan, you were my only hope).
supercrowded on a saturday night. we'll have to try it again during the week and see if i can't get to my barnyard invasion machine.
went to valley view casino last night to enjoy their legendary buffet with the in-laws. in-laws didn't end up staying to eat, but kindly handed over pre-paid buffet tickets, and mom-in-law's players card.
prime rib. something difficult to replicate at home for two; something not to be missed when available otherwise.
go for the food, yes...but stay for the slots. certified as san diego's loosest, the say. can't vouch for that, but we did break kinda even (thank you obi-wan, you were my only hope).
supercrowded on a saturday night. we'll have to try it again during the week and see if i can't get to my barnyard invasion machine.
2010/02/26
howdy neighbor
happened upon an acquaintance in the rest room at a local gay hangout. neighboring urinals. ended up talking about social security benefits and at what age we anticipated being able to retire.
2010/02/25
rodgers & hammerstein
dear project leader:
the root of "the gay": my dad was a contract musician for theater companies, both local and national, who brought their stage productions to our area, so my exposure to musical theater as a kid was pretty good.
"if i loved you", from carousel
i've seen professional, or professional-ish, productions of the following:
Oklahoma!
Carousel
South Pacific
The King and I
The Sound of Music
and seen these tv or film versions:
Cinderella (television)
Flower Drum Song
(and all the above)
i still love, love, love rodgers & hammerstein musicals. another greatest thing from my childhood.
the root of "the gay": my dad was a contract musician for theater companies, both local and national, who brought their stage productions to our area, so my exposure to musical theater as a kid was pretty good.
"if i loved you", from carousel
i've seen professional, or professional-ish, productions of the following:
Oklahoma!
Carousel
South Pacific
The King and I
The Sound of Music
and seen these tv or film versions:
Cinderella (television)
Flower Drum Song
(and all the above)
i still love, love, love rodgers & hammerstein musicals. another greatest thing from my childhood.
2010/02/24
their crimes
dear project leader:
"for me to be called a pervert by these extraordinarily sexually dysfunctional people..."
"for me to be called a pervert by these extraordinarily sexually dysfunctional people..."
the movies
dear project leader:
really, a greatest thing for me is "movies". i love going to movies...in fact, the husband and i have a pretty good routine in place for our weekly outings:
i love going to the movies...but the movies we see? i often don't care for them. makes me wonder why i still love going so much. i guess it's because when i do like a movie, i really, really like it...and that cancels out the dozen or so other movies that i hated.
really, a greatest thing for me is "movies". i love going to movies...in fact, the husband and i have a pretty good routine in place for our weekly outings:
- see an ad on tv and say "we should see that this weekend"
- somehow get out of the house before 10:00 on a saturday or sunday morning
- using the indoor kiosk, buy our two tickets for the first show of the day, just $6 (US) -- full price for any other show is $11
- grab seats along the center row, which is fronted by a dividing rail, perfect for use as an ottoman
- one of us goes back to the concessions counter to get the #1 combo, a large popcorn (no butter sauce) and a large diet coke, in a cardboard carrying tray
- the popcorn purchaser returns, and we split the popcorn to two servings, one remaining in the popcorn bag, the other poured into the carrying tray
- we then pour the peanut m&ms which we smuggled into the theater, into each share of the popcorn
- attempt not to finish the popcorn by the time the preview trailers are through
- watch the movie
the last step:
- one will say he loved the movie, the other will complain at how bad it was; it's not often we actually agree in our critique.
i love going to the movies...but the movies we see? i often don't care for them. makes me wonder why i still love going so much. i guess it's because when i do like a movie, i really, really like it...and that cancels out the dozen or so other movies that i hated.
2010/02/23
intrigued
dear project leader:
chris stein reports that the new blondie album cover will be by chris berens, the person who painted this:
could be a radical change, in that the "typical" blondie album has a cover featuring a photo of (members of) the band.
intrigued!
chris stein reports that the new blondie album cover will be by chris berens, the person who painted this:
could be a radical change, in that the "typical" blondie album has a cover featuring a photo of (members of) the band.
intrigued!
2010/02/22
2010/02/21
doctor me
dear project leader:
dr webmd says that these are possible causes of tinnitus:
dr webmd says that these are possible causes of tinnitus:
- A buildup of earwax. [no]
- Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol or caffeinated beverages. [no on the alcohol; possibly on the caffeine]
- Ear infections or eardrum rupture. [no]
- Severe weight loss from malnutrition or excessive dieting. [no, quite the opposite, thanks]
- Repeated exercise with the neck in a hyperextended position, such as when bicycle riding. [lol, yeah, exercise. no]
- Nerve problems (neurologic disorders), such as multiple sclerosis or migraine headache. [no: my migraines only make appearances on mondays]
Other diseases. [no]
downtown
dear project leader:
another of the 50 greatest. somehow when i was just five years old, i became aware of petula clark's "downtown". i mean, it seems (from what i read) the song was everywhere, so it's not unlikely that i'd have heard it. but still.
downtown, petula clark
the parents of marcella, my neighbor / best friend across the street had petula's album, and we begged her mom to play it for us everyday.
the lyrics are remarkably naive, even for 1965. wouldn't it be true back then that offering a gentle hand to guide a stranger along would be greeted with suspicion? but the big brassiness, and insane optimism of the song can't be ignored. nor the fact, absolute fact, that the lyrics plant images in your mind of wandering around the big city lighs.
i'd say this is my favorite record of all time.
When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - no finer place, for sure
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows - downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close - downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown - waiting for you tonight
Downtown - you're gonna be all right now
[Instrumental break]
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - don't wait a minute for
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown ...
another of the 50 greatest. somehow when i was just five years old, i became aware of petula clark's "downtown". i mean, it seems (from what i read) the song was everywhere, so it's not unlikely that i'd have heard it. but still.
downtown, petula clark
the parents of marcella, my neighbor / best friend across the street had petula's album, and we begged her mom to play it for us everyday.
the lyrics are remarkably naive, even for 1965. wouldn't it be true back then that offering a gentle hand to guide a stranger along would be greeted with suspicion? but the big brassiness, and insane optimism of the song can't be ignored. nor the fact, absolute fact, that the lyrics plant images in your mind of wandering around the big city lighs.
i'd say this is my favorite record of all time.
When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - no finer place, for sure
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows - downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close - downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown - waiting for you tonight
Downtown - you're gonna be all right now
[Instrumental break]
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - don't wait a minute for
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown ...
no stars
dear project leader:
another adorable from the late 80's - early 90's. sweet and romantic without being in danger of being covered by celine dion.
no stars, figures on a beach
produced by ivan ivan, who, by all indications at the time, should have blown up to be a huge, bigname producer extraordinaire; but he never really did get much further after the book of love records, and some pretty good remixes by depeche mode, xtc, echo & the bunnymen, and devo.
well...who's to say what makes one person successful, and another just missing the bullseye. or, who's to say he didn't see that as highly successful. certainly more notoriety than i'll ever gain (except among my very loyal readers).
another adorable from the late 80's - early 90's. sweet and romantic without being in danger of being covered by celine dion.
no stars, figures on a beach
produced by ivan ivan, who, by all indications at the time, should have blown up to be a huge, bigname producer extraordinaire; but he never really did get much further after the book of love records, and some pretty good remixes by depeche mode, xtc, echo & the bunnymen, and devo.
well...who's to say what makes one person successful, and another just missing the bullseye. or, who's to say he didn't see that as highly successful. certainly more notoriety than i'll ever gain (except among my very loyal readers).
inexplicable fandom
dear project leader:
more of the 50 greatest things: is there any justification for how one becomes an obsessive fan of something that, objectively, isn't just all that? i've had my moments.
more of the 50 greatest things: is there any justification for how one becomes an obsessive fan of something that, objectively, isn't just all that? i've had my moments.
king kong 76the list could actually be much, much longer.
pufnstuf
twin peaks
mary tyler moore - bob newhart - carol burnett
petula clark
a flock of seagulls
nothing is real
dear project leader:
(from the no exit album, 1999.)
still eagerly anticipating the new album, due this spring.
(from the no exit album, 1999.)
still eagerly anticipating the new album, due this spring.
2010/02/20
the wolfman
dear project leader:
the husband and i went to see the wolfman today...classic victorian-era horror styling really made the movie for me. i'll admit that i ws nervous about the opening titles: really poor choice of typeface made the titles look cartoony, topped by a blood-dripped headstone image of the title: reeediculous. but the rest of the imagery was fine.
the manner in which the story was presented seemed very old-timey, but somehow, that was totally okay.
anthony hopkins was fun, and hugo weaving was a VERY welcome sight. del toro? way out of place here. but he didn't wreck the movie at all.
but if anyone tosses me into a fireplace, know that i'm not going to be the only one who ends up getting barbequed.
the husband and i went to see the wolfman today...classic victorian-era horror styling really made the movie for me. i'll admit that i ws nervous about the opening titles: really poor choice of typeface made the titles look cartoony, topped by a blood-dripped headstone image of the title: reeediculous. but the rest of the imagery was fine.
the manner in which the story was presented seemed very old-timey, but somehow, that was totally okay.
anthony hopkins was fun, and hugo weaving was a VERY welcome sight. del toro? way out of place here. but he didn't wreck the movie at all.
but if anyone tosses me into a fireplace, know that i'm not going to be the only one who ends up getting barbequed.
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