Yeah, it’s been a fun vacation, but now it’s here — the day I’ve been both anticipating and dreading.
Back for Act II, where it really gets crazy.
Surprisingly, the flu thing is still hanging on by a thread. My intention is to just forget about it once rehearsals start.
Christmas Resolutions are in full effect. What resolutions have you made? Any?
Fink to the showers. Have a good Monday, fiends.
Still fighting the nasty flu, although it’s a bit better than yesterday.
Sad news from a couple of days ago. It looks like the Carousel Dinner Theater in Akron is closing tonight, after 35 years. I’ve seen 2 great shows there (Fiddler on the Roof and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers); it’s a shame.
As I continue my recuperation on the sofa, I leave you with this pictorial review of 2008. And this one. What a year it was…
Fink, back underground
PS – Happy Birthday to Helen!
Happy 2009 to you, my dear fiends.
It’s going to be a difficult, challenging, uncertain, but hopefully happy year for me. And I’d be fibbing if I said I wasn’t concerned about 2009 for the country as a whole. But, we shall overcome. We have in the past.
Truth is, we have many reasons to celebrate and look forward to the new year. You all know what your reasons are, and I’m confident they will continue to make you happy and grateful. We tend to complain a lot, when we’ve really no right to. I guess I should speak for myself: I complain a lot when I have no right to. I got no business griping when I have a great family who love me, a job I actually enjoy, good health, and fantastic friends.
What more is there to life than your family, friends and health? To me, that’s the perfect recipe for Happy. Well, almost perfect. I could do with a friggin’ decent salary, but hey…I have no right to complain, n’est-ce pas?
Happy Happy! I heart you all.
You may already know this, but before Hugh Laurie rocketed to superstardom in House on American television, he was half of a comedy duo over in England. Silly stuff.
He also plays a decent piano and guitar. Good singer, too.
Here’s a great video from A Bit of Fry & Laurie (lovingly referred to by the British public as ABOFAL), on the subject of the importance of the English language. I know some people don’t appreciate British humor, but I think it’s hilarious:
(Digression #1) This is hysterical. Michael (RtB poster and drummer friend in Florida) found a picture from what I think was our freshman year, judging from my memory of the dress. This would have been, what…1974-75? Check out my pointless shawl (but I did love it so) and Michael’s towhead blond hair (which, through the miracle of the peroxide weave, I now have myself). Thanks for sending that, Michael! Oh yeah, almost forgot — here it is.
(Digression #2) Last night, the Thriller and I had dinner while watching the news. In an interview, the “plus size” model who won on the reality show America’s Next Top Model said that she’s happy being larger. Larger. She wears a size 10.
Size 10 is now “plus size.” I’m going to shoot myself now.
Wait, check that. I’m actually going to meet my pal Bando for breakfast at Panera. Yay – I haven’t seen her in a long time.
Happy Tuesday. And oh yeah, happy anniversary to the Fink and the Thriller. 
Yikes, I overslept this morning. Had a great time with fiends last night, watching The Godfather II. Awesome.
So, Vince Gill’s still got it after all these years. I’m not a huge country music fan (not that country is ba
d, mind…I just don’t listen to it so I don’t know lots about it), but this voice has impressed me since “Let Me Love You Tonight” from 1980, when he was with Pure Prairie League.
Anyway. He’s been married to Amy Grant (yawn) since 2000, and they’re both still recording, which is cool. I read this morning that Gill was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a couple of years ago. Also impressive.
But this is how I remember Vince Gill:
Ten years ago, he released what I think is one of the most beautiful ballads I’ve ever heard. The style reminds me of the music my mother loved — lazy, heartfelt country songs with lots of strings and tinkly piano. Classic stuff.
I carved out a clip of the song if you want to hear it:
If You Ever Have Forever in Mind
(Boom-Boom — is this tune in your rep? If not, it should be! You’d sound great on it.)
I leeched this vid off Gill’s website — looks like Amy is attempting to cross genres again. But Vince’s weightless tenor is still there. Very nice. (Sorry about the commercial…I’m too lazy to edit this morning.)
OK, enough stalling. Time to study. Have a fab Monday.
Fink out.