Monthly Archives: April 2010

Well, I WAS…

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…going to upload some Flip video of the House Jacks rehearsing yesterday during the vocal jazz/pop festival I judged at yesterday, but NOooOoooOoOO. The Fink is video-editing challenged. Or FlipShare just hates me. Or both. BLAH

I had a great time. I’m sure my fiend Brad — who put on an excellent event once again — won’t mind that I snagged his photo of the House Jacks — amazing vocal band. I judged 3 groups with Deke Sharon (I heart him), and did two tandem clinic sessions with Roo, one of their tenors. Great guys all.

~

Last night’s concert began with Tiffin University’s groups. It’s great to know that there is such fine jazz and pop singing going on in Ohio — especially at a college where there is no bonafide music major option in the catalog. Check out Up in the Air — they are awesome as well.

Now it’s the Indians game tomorrow — what a hoot! It’s been a crazy week. Someday, when I actually learn how to use FlipShare, I might upload a video of our national anthem performance, and maybe even of my student, Travis, throwing out the first pitch. How cool is that.

FO

BTTH XI

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Michelle Obama’s campaign to kick childhood obesity is getting revved up (I think I like this First Lady “cause” the best out of all of them in recent years), receiving top-level press and visibility. Jamie Oliver, a chef from a country definitely not known for its healthy cuisine either, is beginning to make a difference in some US cities (and I hope it turns into a tidal wave of change), and the Healthy Schools Campaign in Chicago is starting a trend for the millions of children at risk for obesity and its related dangers.

Then KFC comes out with a new sandwich.

Today’s boot goes to the “Double Down” — what better way to complement the aforementioned healthy eating campaigns than to introduce “food” that’ll have microscopic beavers building dams in your major arteries faster’n you can say atherosclerosis?

I mean, listen. I’ll eat the occasional Fluffernutter, and I do like having a decadent treat once in awhile, or celebrating on a special day. But this is an affront to anyone who’s ever cared a minute about his or her health in the slightest. Who needs bread when ya got two pieces-a fried chicken you can slap together around bacon, cheese and goo? How delightfully American.

The numbers on KFC’s site look suspiciously low.

Anyway, BOOT to the head for them. Trying to eat healthy is hard enough on everyone. And don’t even get me started on the food in my school cafeteria…

FO

Various & Sundry XXIV

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So…Rooney slaps Gorgeous here on the wrist and says, “Now Benji, this is the LAST TIME I’m bailing you out for being so incredibly stupid and pompous as to get yourself into another ridiculous mess where you insinuated your beautiful, Roman god-like body parts onto the person of a young female. I know I told you last time was the last time, but I’m not kidding — this is the LAST TIME. And next time will be the last time, too. And I mean it!”

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Com·mit·ment – the act of binding oneself to a course of action, especially for the greater good of a group. Synonyms – dedication, loyalty, pledge. Imagine that.

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There needs to be a switch in your brain you can throw for “Instant Good Mood and Sunny Outlook.”

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Saw this as a fan group to join on Facebook: “Don’t blame our generation. Your generation raised us.” Don’t. Get. Me. Started.

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The plates. Gotta keep spinning the plates…but hey:

  1. There are still good people in the world who care about things that might just actually NOT be about them personally (my favorites of whom are reading this right now).
  2. I will get to see my grandsons this weekend.
  3. July will be here before we know it, and I will be motoring west.
  4. Starbucks is open, and I’m already showered and dressed. Bring it.

FO

Booky McTattleman

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Kitty Kelley has written another tell-all biography. This time, the lucky winner is Oprah Winfrey. Kelley has also written about the British royal family, Jackie Onassis, Nancy Reagan and others over the years, and according to this suprisingly well-documented entry at Wikipedia, has yet to be successfully nailed for libel. Her most famous unauthorized biography — His Way: the Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra — prompted the Chairman to slap her with a $2M lawsuit (which he later withdrew). I read the book ten years ago, and I must say that I’m certain it was infuriating to have someone say those things about oneself and not be able to do anything about it. Where does reporting stop and slander begin?

Regardless, his lawsuit just skyrocketed the book to the top of the New York Times Bestseller List, so there went that effort. Oprah’s people are probably kicking the cat right now too, since the tattlefest debuted at the top of the Times list.

*drumming fingers, drumming fingers, drumming fingers*

I must buy it.

Interesting quote from Richard Roeper in his op-ed in the Lake County News-Sun (formerly the Waukegan News-Sun — remember, Mavis??):

Oprah isn’t offering comment on any of the claims Kelley makes in the book — but wouldn’t it be awesome if she booked Kelley as a guest? It would make the James Frey beatdown look like a love-fest.

Heh.

Happy Tubesday. It’s almost the middle of the week, yippity.

Hotel

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Remember that TV series from the 80s? I liked it.

Yesterday, I finalized all our lodging for the Route 66 Odyssey. Took me 12 hours. The Thriller and I are both getting bigtime excited for the journey. Hotels will be our life, with the occasional laundromat thrown in. And we’re long on variety, too, in an effort to experience some off-the-beaten-path Route 66 gems and other quirky, cool places, in addition to the mainstream chains. Oh, the places we’ll go!

Behold the stops along the way, and some on the way back home:

  1. Red Roof Inn – Joliet, IL
  2. Budget Lodging – St. Clair, MO
  3. Munger Moss Motel – Lebanon, MO
  4. BoomR and BluVox’s Paradise – Dallas, TX – the nicest resort of them all
  5. Days Inn – Austin, TX
  6. Sleep Inn – Amarillo, TX
  7. Rodeway Inn – Gallup, NM
  8. America’s Best Value Inn – Needles, CA
  9. Wigwam Motel – San Bernardino, CA
  10. Orleans Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
  11. Canyon Country Inn – Williams, AZ
  12. Super 8 – Denver, CO
  13. La Quinta Inn – Omaha, NE

That’s a partial (but almost complete) list. More will appear when plans to visit Mom of Thriller firm up. Do you think we’ll be sick of living out of a suitcase after 2+ weeks? I think I’ll love it.

But for now…it’s Mondayne, and time to go to school. Yay.

RF, jonesin’ for July