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This made me laugh, and not entirely in a good way. Look at some of his facial expressions!
Someone sent me a site the other day that showed a live clip of Tom Cruise jumping off the couch and attacking Oprah in a love-crazed-for-Katie-Holmes fit, and then back again in reverse, which made me laugh out loud. People at work made fun of me for watching it, or maybe just talking about it, ; ) but this was some hardcore mid-week craziness for anyone who's read People for as long as I have.
Defamer caught all the headlines.
There were thousands of comments on other websites.
Someone here said, "He makes me throw up in my mouth a little," which is simultaneously the worst and most appropriate comment I've heard in a while.
No, people apparently aren't that excited about their own lives, so they comment on celebrities. But from what I saw, this was quite the train wreck - highly commentable. If it is a pr relationship, invented to sell movies, that's sad. If it's real, and it's displayed on television for everyone to see and comment on in this bizarro fashion, well, it's still kinda sad. But all that aside, hey - Tom Cruise tried to wrestle Oprah. There goes his shot at a free car or getting his student loans paid off. What's next? Will Brad Pitt challenge her to a duel and stage dive into the audience? Will John Travolta leave Kelly Preston and challenge Oprah to an arm wrestling contest? Stay tuned.
Posted at 12:36 AM in Lunacy, PopLife | Permalink | Comments (6)
I love when life surprises me with happiness. Today turned into an even better day than anticipated. I already had party plans this evening, and started off the morning with the sunshine and the newspaper outside on the deck of my friend's house where I was dog-sitting. Lovely.
Then, an old friend from Borders called me, interrupting my thoughts of how I'd like to sit on that deck with a bottomless cup of coffee (and maybe happy hour beverages after 5) for the rest of the summer. She was the first person I met at the store, and is one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met in my life. I've missed her since I stopped working there, and don't see her enough. It was funny, because I had been thinking about her, as I really wanted to tell her about a job I'd seen that might be cool for her. I didn't have her number and the e-mail I had was bouncing. I had considered dropping into the store this weekend because I had some stuff I wanted to look for, and thought I might run into her.
So she calls. Very cool. And she was calling to invite me to her birthday party this afternoon. Her daughter is in town and threw it for her. I couldn't believe she turned 60 this month. She apologized for the last minute invite, but I LOVE last minute. I should have MAJORED in last minute. Drives other people crazy - but it keeps me on my toes. So I rounded up another friend who loves her too, and we went. It was at this gorgeous home, with a gorgeous yard, outstanding food, nice people, and a chance to celebrate one of the greatest people in my life. The man who owns the house makes beautiful pottery, and his yard and house are decorated with it in the most unexpected, creative, and beautiful ways. They had hired a guitarist who played for a couple of hours outside. Just very, very nice. Here's the only shot I took, of one of the areas of his yard. This sculpture is most appropriate for Patricia's birthday. The photo is off-center but I'm not digitized yet, so here's the best I can do:
Posted at 11:57 PM in Good People | Permalink | Comments (0)
Because freshmen never think about these things.
My favorite part of these stories is the commentary from the two opposing factions who unfailingly weigh in and have their words printed. This is my "favorite": "I know her intentions were to get them to think 'outside the box,' but you can do that without inference to foul language."
Maybe this person's teacher could have helped her not only learn the difference between "inference" and "reference", but what it means to do both. Or maybe someone was waiting on the sidelines waiting to FIRE HER too, so she got distracted.
No matter what side of the story you're on, it's still alarming to me that with all of the overwhelming needs in the public schools, these are the things that people get worked up about. And last I checked, Florida was not burning up the charts. If I have kids, I'm not sure where to send them, frankly. Maybe home-schooling people have the right idea. That's not easy either, but at least the Team America World Police are less obvious in the home environment - at least for now.
The worst thing is, the woman got released from her job helping HURRICANE VICTIMS at Project Hope for this also. Like people are lining up to do that kind of work.
Here are our priorities.
HERE IS REALITY. WAY DOWN HERE. IT'S A DIFFERENT COLOR, EVEN!
Okay. Rant over. For today.
Posted at 10:50 AM in Rantings | Permalink | Comments (0)
I am not ashamed to admit that I love Hootie & the Blowfish.
Cracked Rear View was released in 1994, and I made a cassette of it and "Under the Table and Dreaming" by the Dave Matthews Band for my Ohio slacker boy. I just remembered that on the way home. CRV is one of the few records on my "love every song on it" list. Lots of memories. Is it genius? Probably not. But it's hooky, and it's fun to sing along to, it's not completely idiotic, and it has moments of beauty. Sounds like a pretty typical day in my life, come to think of it. Maybe that's why I like it so much.
Anyway, I even bought the records that nobody else did (except for the last one a couple of years ago, I have to admit...) A fan, I have been. A closet fan, mostly - not that I've ever felt the need to hide my taste in music. I have enough cred to know that cred doesn't matter. What you like is what you like. But who's gonna ask, "Hey, whaddya think about Hootie?" It just never came up. I kept my listening binges to myself, and that was that. The funny thing was, I'd never seen them live. And I dug them way back when I had disposable income (or thought I did - what an idiot) for concerts a couple of times a month, and they were touring all the time.
The drought ended tonight, as they played Hometown Holidays in Rockville - the city's alternative to traveling on the holiday weekend, which actually isn't so bad. Two guys in the band are from Montgomery County, hence the tie. And double hence, the mayor declared today "Hootie & the Blowfish Day" in Rockille, which I guess means we should all say, "Hey, what're your plans for Hootie Memorial Weekend?" Or not.
Last Train Home opened the show, and that was pretty great in and of itself, but I've seen them about twenty times (it must be that many by now) in the past few years.
I have to admit that I went in with low expectations, but hey, it was free. Short story - it was a blast. A very good time. I was really impressed with how solid they are, and how much fun they still seem to be having after all this time. Let's face it - it's a pretty sweet gig, this rock and roll thing - and this is a group of guys who are pushing 40 or already there, and seem to have that concept well in hand.
The only alarming part was Darius Rucker, inexplicably, attempting to rap. I was in total denial when, in the middle of that "Old Man and Me" song, I heard them break into what I THOUGHT was Public Enemy, but thought, no way. Can't be.
'Twas.
All around me, in the Regal parking lot, Rockvillians were placidly responding to Darius's "Fight the power!" call with a WEAK "fight the powers that be?" response! There is no QUESTION MARK ON THAT, PEOPLE! Fight the Powers that BE! It's a statement! A command! Not a question! Somewhere, Flava Flav's clock was stopping. It was just random and very amusing...and that song should never be amusing, really. Word.
They also played a cover of REM's "Don't Go Back to Rockville", legend around these parts for its unintentionally prescient lyrics..."Don't go back to Rockville/ and waste another year..." I could go into all sorts of analysis about the irony of the populace screaming out THIS tune with authori-tah, at a concert celebrating the hometown holiday, but it's pretty straightforward.
And in what had to be my FAVORITE moment of the evening, Darius intros the song by gesturing to the two MoCo boys on stage with him, saying, "these two mother#$*&(s been talking about this place for twenty years!" The fact that he was playing for hundreds of families with seemingly endless streams of children did not stop him. My father can barely hear, so he had me repeat it for him, and we both cracked up. Rockville, thy ears were bleeding. I need to remember to check the Gazette this week to see if there are any angry editorials or letters. ; )
The rapping unfortunately began again in the encore, with Darius attempting songs that should never have happened in the first place, like "No Diggity" (I mean, why? I had to wrack my brain, going, "I like the way you work it - you got to bag it up," frightened that this sounded so familiar out of context, only to remember that it was a line from a most unfortunate song), Country Boy, by Nelly, I think, or who? I don't know. And several others, including Gin & Juice. Just...no. Bad ideas. I didn't know why the man was trying to rap, after having just done a serviceable "Black Water" cover and then bringing it round to home with "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by the Georgia Satellites. It felt like a schizo night with me and my iTunes, there towards the end. And after you've wrecked "Fight the Power", there's really nowhere to go but down.
But all in all, they stuck with what they do best, which is jangly guitar tunes, fun covers, and old hits, and that was pretty cool. It was also fun to watch the man in front of me who was obviously an old fan, sing along to all the songs with his wife and teenaged son - just having the BEST time. It's what music should really be all about.
Hence, song of the day - the Hootie and the Blowfish set list, minus the rap. I may have forgotten a couple. I think I'll buy the new record.
Time, Hannah Jane, Old Man & Me, Only Wanna Be With You, Let Her Cry, I Go Blind, Running From an Angel, State of Peace, Add it Up, Don't Go Back to Rockville, Little Brother, Hey, Hey, Wot Can I Do, Black Water, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You, Hold My Hand
Posted at 01:07 AM in LaurieRocks, Loves, Music, Song of the Day | Permalink | Comments (9)
I found this on a photo blog and think this is the coolest idea I've heard in a while! As soon as I get my decent camera (in June, hopefully...) and maybe even before, I'm going to do this! Wheeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! Fun! If I actually get to take the photo class this summer, it'll be doubly/triply/quadruply fun. I wish I'd found one of these when I was taking Photoshop. This would have been rad for my final project...I love the Wizard of Oz, and Dorothy falling asleep in the poppy fields would have been very cool for the "dream" theme.
Haha. The dream theme.
Anyway - here's the challenge. I found it in a group on the Flickr photo site.
"Remember the Wizard of Oz?
You are hereby photographically challenged to interpret the following 12 words:
HOME
JOURNEY
INTELLIGENCE
DOG
FAMILY
HEART
FLYING
MINIATURE
ROAD
COURAGE
EMERALD
FOREST
Want to join us? {Please note, there are no prizes, no rules, no deadlines, this is just about creativity sparking. We are in no way associated with MGM Studios. Hopefully that covers all the potentially cornfusing legal mumbo jumbo.}
Hope you'll join in the fun!
BONUS WORDS: RUBY, SLIPPERS, BASKET, WITCH, OWL, WOODS, TOAD, VODKA 'N TONIC
Have fun!"
Posted at 05:11 PM in Art, Delicious Ambiguity , Loves | Permalink | Comments (0)
Albert Einstein said: “Strange is our situation here upon Earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. However, there is one thing that we do know, that we are here for the sake of others. Above all, for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy.”
Posted at 05:01 PM in Wise Words | Permalink | Comments (0)
I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And I love me some Anthony Kiedis.
I can tell it's warming up outside and the sun has been mostly OUT for the past few days (thankfully) because I'm digging up all of my driving/summer/sunshine music. I should really listen to it in the winter when I'm all haggard and tired and pissed off all the time. ; )
Anyway, yeah, so it's "Can't Stop" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Posted at 10:45 PM in Song of the Day | Permalink | Comments (0)
Ray Charles and Norah Jones - Here We Go Again
Sigh.
This whole record is a smash but this song seemed especially lovely today.
Posted at 09:25 PM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0)
So this is the most beautiful song I've discovered in a while...For some reason it made me miss my best friend...This girl's voice is gorgeous.
Breathe (2 AM) ~ Anna Nalick
2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake,
can you help me unravel my latest mistake,
I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season.
Yeah, we walk through the doors,
so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize,
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason.
'Cause you can't jump the track,
we're like cars on a cable
and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button girl,
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe,
breathe, just breathe
In May he turned 21 on the base of Fort Bliss
Just a day, he said, down to the flask in his fist,
Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year.
Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while,
But my God it's so beautiful when the boy smiles,
Wanna hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it.
Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button boys,
So cradle your head in your hands,
And breathe, just breathe,
There's a light at each end of this tunnel, you shout
'Cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
These mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you only try turning around.
2 AM and I'm still awake,
writing a song
If I get it all down on paper,
its no longer inside of me,
threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to
But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand.
and breathe, just breathe...
Posted at 10:48 PM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

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