don't take this personally?

I just had a look at my Spotify Wrapped. I'm not a daily listener, but I have the free version of Spotify for listening to music and podcasts. At the end of the year, it provides a fun little slideshow of the past year's activity - hours listened, favorite artists, favorite genres, etc.

From those stats, it comes up with a "listening age", and this is what it calculated for me: 

I'm an old soul?? Okay, what about the fact that I'M ACTUALLY 61 YEARS OLD. 

Okay, fine, whatever. I'm not bothered by the fact that my listening age matches my physical age. And hey, there was good music in the 80's!

But the previous slide before revealing my listening age? 

"don't take this personally" - HA! Uhm, what're they tryna say?

In other news, I've been basking in slothfulness this week. No tutoring after the frenzy of finals week. At least I have testing center duty tomorrow and Friday to perk things up.

When a semester ends, we typically get inundated with EMTs and Paremedics who have just finished their programs and need to get their official certifications. If there was ever a good time to have a medical emergency at work, it's during the couple of weeks after a semester ends.

Our college has a program for paramedics/ first responders. They have an ambulance simulator that I've only ever seen from afar. But it looks like fun.

The students get in there and practice securing the patient and gurney, taking vitals, jotting notes, all while the "ambulance" simulates rushing through traffic. I'd love to go for a "ride".

But considering my advanced age, it's probably too much of a liability.

*the shadow of a lover goes dancing by...

oh, nope. Just a little pooch.

The days are getting shorter and colder and I like it! We are under a freeze warning for tonight. I say "bring it!" a.k.a. kill the allergens, already.

I went for an enjoyable run this morning. The thermometer said 37F and the feels like said 30. I had a hard time remembering what I should wear for such conditions. As it happened, I had on one too many layers, but nothing crazy.

I enjoy being out there in the dark and quiet - after talking myself out of sleeping in.  Fall is my favorite time of year. Soon, the early morning hours will be icy and unwelcoming, but currently, they're perfect. 

There's very little activity at that time of day, save for a handful of dog walkers who seemingly like the feel of the dark, quiet, early mornings too. I shuffled by a few of them, each of us acknowledging each other briefly before continuing our morning solitudes - pondering our life choices, or unable to shake a random earworm.

Some have small lights on their dogs, others wear lighted/reflective vests and/or headlights. Me, I have a headlight, but nothing else to really help the visibility. 

I was over on J. Bezos's store site, looking at light vests, pondering. 


It's reminiscent of my glory days as an elementary school crossing guard.


Now THAT was high fashion.


sigh what to wear?

*This run's earworm:

crack me open so I feel the air inside me

Happy October, typically one of my favorite  months - not too hot, not too cold, not too dark, not too bright. It's the Goldilocks of months for me.

Yesterday, we went downtown to witness  our first Tour de Corgi. So many Corgis! 

We watched the cute,  slow, waddling parade, then checked out a few of the booths in attendance. 

It was a lovely day for the nice wholesome event that included a costume contest as well as the parade.

October also is the month of the inktober challenge, remember? Thirty-one days, thirty-one drawings? We're two days in, and my head is still above water.

This is good for me, I haven't touched my art toys in a long time. I literally had to dust everything off. 

Speaking of misfit endeavors, we watched the movie Dinner in America. What a hoot!

It started out feeling like a goofy, quirky, misfit movie, which it is. And it could've totally bombed. It's aggressive and edgy and there are lots and lots of f-bombs. But it has a rather deep - dare I say "sweet and meaningful"? - core to it. It's not for everyone, but I loved it.

Tour de Fat

Yesterday was Tour de Fat here in Fort Collins. Party for a cause.

I'd only ever heard of Tour de Fat since it was cancelled in 2020 ad 2021 because of, well, y'know. This year, it was back, and what a hoot. 

Fort Collins is home to over 20 craft breweries, including New Belgium Brewing Co, which is the fourth largest craft brewer in the U.S. It's also a very bike-friendly city, as I've mentioned before with the huge turnouts for bike-to-work, etc.

Any event having to do with bicycles or craft beer will be well attended here, and Tour de Fat is all about bicycles AND beer.

It starts with a parade...

   SOURCE

Magnum and I had to check it out despite not having funky costumes or funky bicycles. I guess our usual riding gear would be sufficient. 

The venue was PACKED, to put it mildly. Everyone there to have a good time, it is a philanthropic event after all. There were food trucks and plenty of beer, but fun activities for kids too. And the costumes - so many costumes! Better than comic con.

There was a fun bike pit with various "weird" bicycles - challenging geometry, off-center hubs, assorted two-seaters - to try to ride

Parking was a bit of a challenge 😁, as it should be.

We somehow managed to stumble upon Wolfgang. We figured he'd be there, but the odds of finding him among the  masses were slim.

Alas, just as we were heading back to the bike racks for the humble task of finding ours, there he was with a friend, the odds in our favor.

Before we left, we made a pit stop at one of the ample port-a-potty stations. While there we witnessed the arrival of this guy.

As seen in the parade video above, Darth rode in on this large black tricycle adorned with quite the sound system.  

He had some party music playing at first - Tone Loc's Wild Thing - but quickly switched over to The Imperial March, A.K.A. Darth Vadar's theme.

What an entrance! And it was still just the parking lot. Stud! (speaking of John Williams, I know nothing about Darth Vadar guy...)

Then he switched back to party tunes and had random people - maybe a little drunk already - bustin' a move or two.

With that, Magnum and I headed out and took the long way home. The entire ride home and beyond, I had The Imperial March playing in my head. 

That's an earworm for ya.

girl you know it's true

I got a sponsored ad on my f@cebook feed for these running shoes. Their claim to fame is that they're "the first" running shoe designed specifically for women. I kind of doubted that claim, and after reading the story, I think Under Armour is really splitting hairs. 

I dunno, I'm skeptical, but have not put a pair on my particular feet, so  guess they can advertise all they want. But my takeaway from the article was a (admittedly, rather immature) giggle at the name of the shoe: Flow Synchronicity.

Flow

Synchronicity

I imagine the marketing minds brainstorming away. What to name a shoe JUST for women? Ooh, let's throw together some menstrual connotations!  FLOW! SYNCHRONICITY!

I won't comment on the colorway, but here they are. Period sneakers. For women. Of course.

Okay, onto another subject. The second week of August '22 is in the books. With that, Magnum and I passed the 32-year mark on wedded bliss. A couple of kids back then. 

According to the internet (which didn't truly exist for the masses back then), it was the same year the Berlin Wall came down, Operation Desert Shield began, the Hubble Space Telescope sent its first photos from space, "Twin Peaks" premiered, and Milli Vanilli was stripped of their Grammy after it was revealed that they did not sing on their award-winning album. 

Alas, I was such a Milli Vanilli fan. Blame it on the rain.

They don't make fake bands like they used to. 

to feel all right okay

Back to work this week.  Nice to see my little team of coworkers (four of us plus a boss). Naturally, they were sympathetic about Hagrid's home.  Boss has a step-niece who was evacuated with her family, but their home was undamaged.  They weren't able to move back in yet since utilities were all turned off, but they've been back to look around.

They've got young kids who will have to be "prepared" before they return to what's left of  the neighborhood.  "Like another planet".

But we're back at the college for the new year.  Student's return for Spring semester on the 18th, so campus is pretty quiet.  

We've begun checking people's COVID status - fully vaccinated or recently testing negative - for access to the testing center.

I'm basically a bouncer.  Who'da thought?

We got a lot of snow, which has pulled us out of our drought for now.  We've entered the crusty yucky freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw-freeze phase from which Napolion likes to meditate.

He used to go outside each day and find things to kill or get in fights with.  Now he's strictly a housecat (not by his choice).  I wonder what he thinks as he sits on his window perch.  

Similarly meditative, y'know my young coworker friend, Malcolm, who died unexpectedly last year - he'd mentioned he liked to rap.  But whenever we asked him to lay some lyrics on us, he never would.  This week, I was led to a site where he'd uploaded some tracks.  Several tracks, actually.  More than 50 tracks over the span of about a year.  I had no idea he was so creatively prolific.

Now, I actually like some rap/ hip hop, which might surprise some.  There are also rap songs/ artists I can't stand.  I really like Malcolm's material.  And how nice to hear his voice again.

So 2022 has begun.  I don't have any resolutions, just the usual "get better".  Kaizen, yo?

oh m- m- m- my

My freshman year of high school.  Everybody knew and loved the song.  We bought the album because, back then, you bought whole albums to listen to one song.  And it was such a catchy tune, energizing, fun!  

It appropriately reached number one on the Billboard charts and remained for six weeks.  It went on to be number one on Billboard's 1979 top pop singles year-end chart.  Remember?

My Sharona, the debut single from The Knack.

The novel I'm currently reading makes a teeny reference to "My Sharona", and I learned something new.  

The novel is "My Dark Vanessa".  Heard of it?  Read it?  It came out last year and tells the story of an inappropriate relationship between a 15-year-old girl and her high school English teacher.  

Told from the student's point of view, who is currently in her early 30's, via flashbacks and her current life, it's obviously disturbing.  I want to shake some sense into her 15-year-old self as well as her early 30's self.

But then, there'd be no book...

Anyway, during one scene, she's in the car with her parents who are streaming some of their fave tunes, one of which is "My Sharona".  She finds it amusing that her father is be-bopping along to the catchy song, unknowing of its origin and also unknowing of the nasty stuff going on between her and her teacher.

"My Sharona" was written by Doug Fieger, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of The Knack who, "instantly fell in love" with Sharona Alperin when he first met her.  He was 26 and in a relationship, she was 17 and had a boyfriend.  He apparently cranked out the song in about 15 minutes.  And yes, that's the real-life - braless and chilly? - Sharona in the iconic image of her holding the album.

The novel points out the lyrics:

Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a dirty mind. 
Always get it up for the touch
Of the younger kind...

Okay, so 9 years age difference doesn't seem so bad if it's say, 56 and 47, or even 36 and 27.  But 26 and 17?  Hmmm.  And actually, Doug Fierger and Sharona Alperin went on to be a couple for about 4 years and were engaged for a time before splitting up.  (I learned this stuff when I dug deeper after the book reference).

I guess I never paid close attention to those lyrics, or at least those coupla lines. I heard that Fieger later stated in an interview that he wrote My Sharona from the point of view of a 14-year-old boy, but seems he was trying to cover his butt, given that reference to "...the younger kind".  

Not gonna lie, though.  I still like the song.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:
1. Write about something new you learned recently.

got the club goin' up...

... on a Tuesday.

Okay, that's a reference to a hip hop gangster thug song that somehow made it into my brain on this snowy Tuesday.  The lyrics say something about having to work weekends (selling drugs?  I don't know gangster-speak), so he parties on Tuesday.  Well, I guess Tuesday is a party day for me as it's the end of my "weekend".

I went out for a snowy fun run, and while I was dashing through, that song started playing in my head. But I don't know the words, so it was just kinda,  "hummuh humm huum  on a Tuesday, mmm hummm humma..." 

I honestly don't even remember why I know that song exists.

Snow had been falling all morning and was supposed to taper off around noon, then the forecast was updated to keep on a-snowing, so I just got dressed and went for it.  It was actually a lovely day in its own way.

The snow was very light and fluffy... on a Tuesday.  Everybody sing!

I broke out my shoe traction things.  What are they called?  I want to say "microspikes", but I think that term applies to those more robust traction things that are for winter hiking. 

Anyway, I broke out the stretchy things with studlies and was glad I did.  There was more snow out there than I'd expected.  

The tutor  matching service I contract through asked us to complete a survey about online learning due to the pandemic and resulting "learning loss" if any.  

I do feel there's been learning loss.  My students say they feel less engaged in the lessons and don't feel as comfortable asking questions during an online class as they do in an in-person class.  These are high schoolers, I'm guessing the impact on elementary and middle school kids is possibly greater.  But then, they had iPads and such when they were babies...?

I realize that not everyone learns or has the same preferences when it comes to socializing.  I enjoy going to my job at the old folks' home mainly because I get to leave the house and do something useful among other people.  Then I can tutor a bit online from home and do something else that's useful.  It's a nice balance for me, thankfully.

on a Tuesday.  Or otherwise.

when the go gos don't

The year was 1980-blah blah something.  My friend Ron and I had tickets to see the Go Gos live at the state fair.  The concert was outside, late afternoon/ evening, and we made our way to  the front.  We were in the PIT, with all our 80's big hair cohorts!

Red Rockers were the opening band, and they put on a good show.  They wrapped up and we awaited the Go Gos.  Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan, but Ron was, and I felt they would put on a fun concert, and we were SO CLOSE!

As we waited, it got a bit breezy.  Then it got full on windy, gusty even.  A few raindrops began to fall.  Then, lots more.  Lots lots more.  It began to epicly pour.  I seem to recall an announcement over the din of the storm that the concert would be delayed.

We waited in the rain, not wanting to give up our perfect location.  Eventually, people began to filter away to shelter.  Ron and I followed and waited in the grandstand.  From there, we could see what a mess the storm continued to make of the field/ mud bog.  After several minutes, the announcement came the the concert was canceled.  The electronics for the show weren't a good mix for all that water.

Ron and I walked back to the car soaked, muddied, shivered, and dejected from the concert that wasn't.  Did we ever get reimbursed?  I don't remember, I just wanted to see the Go Go's.  It's like a page is now missing from my history book.  I understand the Go Go's are still performing live concerts, but I prefer the see the 80's version.  Now would be a good time for a time-traveled Go Go's Vacation from the pandemic

And since we're going back in time, another artist I never saw in concert but would've liked to in the 80's is Michael Jackson.  Yeah, he got weird toward the end, and there are questionable accusations about  him and young kids... But he knew how to put on a show, and he was peaking in the 80's when I was in college and broke.  Maybe I'll learn to moonwalk during the pandemic?

And honestly, I haven't been to a live concert in so long.  Raising kids, paying college tuition, etc. put concert-going in the backseat.  More like in the trunk, really.  Now live concerts are postponed until...?

Last summer, Meego went to see John Bellion in concert, and I was all, "GASP, I love that song of his!"  Honestly, I didn't know of any other of his work at the time, but loved the one hit.  Not surprisingly, Meego said it was a great show and that JB really connected with the audience.

Another artist I would love to see live is Machine Gun Kelly, because I find him talented and strangely adorable, and I bet he puts on a good live show.  He was in Denver last year.  I missed it.  Those near-to-tears girls singing along in the audience?  Yeah, that's me on the inside.

On the outside, yes, I'm old enough to be his mom.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:

2. List the top 5 musicians you would see in concert.

I know I listed just 4, and I'm not sure that they'd be the "top", but it's who came to mind on the fly, OKAY!

inspired

Me: "What school do you go to?"

Her "(that school)"

Me: "Oh, really?  A good friend of mine used to work there.  Did you know Ms. Haley? Tiffany Haley?"

Her:  A pause.  A recognition

"Y-y-yeah..."

Me: "Yeah, she was a good friend, I miss her every day, still can't believe she's gone"

Her:  "Oh?  I was at her funeral"

Me:  "Really?  So was I!"

Her:  "You were?!  I didn't know her all that well, but I sang with the choir"

Me:  "Omigosh, you guys did an amazing job!  Your Hallelujah rendition was beautiful.  Really special..."

-------------------------

I began working with a new tutor student today.  SAT prep.  Her dad was referred to me before we moved from Colorado Springs.  I'd let him know I'd moved, and he contacted me this week to work with his daughter online.

While getting to know her, I learned she attends the high school where my friend Tiffany worked before her surprising and abrupt death at the end of last summer.

Recall that I'd mentioned that there was not a dry eye in the house at her well-attended funeral.  One of the reasons for that was the opening with a rendition of "Hallelujah" the acapella choir group from the school performed.  They really nailed it.

Their choir director shared a 1-minute video later, of them warming up.  It's plenty grainy enough to not worry about identifying anyone...

 Not the best audio, but still lovely.  Give a listen to the start of it via this [link] for a taste.

So often, we hear stories about "kids these days!".  No respect, no discipline, lazy...

But as the student and I reminisced a bit, I was taken back to that morning in the church at Tiffany's funeral as those kids made everyone cry big cleansing tears.

Test day, here we come.

I won't even wish for snow

I hope your wishes come true!  Say what you will about Mariah Carey, but her "All I Want for Christmas is You" articulates my feelings of Christmas.

And ever since I came upon this video a while back, it's the only way I "see" this song.  It's that time of year again.  Crank the volume.

Go.





Meet me under the bridge?

Guitar

I once tried to learn to play the guitar.  Nothing formal, I had a cheapo guitar and a book and a video (days before YouTube).

I learned a few chords, but eventually threw in the towel because I wasn't willing to put in the time to get good.  I appreciate that people who play the guitar well can manipulate their fingers the way they do.  It was a struggle for me.

This week's prompt at Illustration Friday is "guitar", and I'm remembering my inflexible and uncoordinated fingers.


Wolfgang and Meego can both play guitar, so I really can't blame my fingers, though.  Neither of them has exceptionally big hands or long fingers.  Maybe I should give it another try.  Or start with a ukulele.

Speaking of music, we went to a high school basketball game this week.  Meego plays bass guitar in the pep band, and they always get the crowd good and peppy.  This particular game pitted Meego's school against the school I'd worked at last semester, so I knew several of the players from the visiting team as well as a couple of coaches.

Major bonus for anyone who can spot Meego, who is not  holding a bass, but rather eating Panda Express...

I thought I might feel some loyalty to the visiting team, because I like the kids/players and knew the coaches quite well and liked them too.  But  nope.

It was a close game, and I found myself really hoping for a home team win, and I don't even know ANY of those players.

But I know the band.  And thanks to them, of course, the home team got a win.

After the final buzzer, I recognized the entire security team from the visiting team as well as some administrators on the floor.  There to curtail any rivalry activity, I suppose.

Magnum asked if I was going to say "Hi" to any of them.

I didn't.  We're still in the awkward post-breakup window.

And the hometeam won.  Nanny nanny poo poo.

do you remember...?

... the 21st night of September?

I went back and looked.  I did not write a blog post last year on the 21st of September.  Why is this significant?  I don't know.  I'm still wondering why the 21st night of September is so specifically referenced by Earth,Wind, and Fire.  Even Wikipedia didn't know:

"September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 101 days remaining until the end of the year."

Well, how enlightening.

But Meego informs me that even kids TODAY jam to that song on September 21st.  He was the one who reminded me that today is that day.

Me:  Fall officially begins on Friday
Meego:  Yeah, but you know what Thursday  is, right?  "The 21st night of September"!
Me:  <crickets>

What I WAS blogging about around this time last year was mostly about how woozy I was feeling all the time.  And now I remember. September 2016 was particularly drunken.  This September is mucho better.

Maybe the allergy shots are responsible, plus I've been doing the neti pot (as opposed to that other pot).  I honestly think the neti pot is making a difference because I started it before the allergy shots.  I just noticed that when I began to google "neti pot", I got "neti pot death" right away.

I don't plan on death by neti pot.  I only use distilled water.

Anyway, as unglamorous as it is, the silly thing seems to work.

So, upon that realization, I feel like dancing.  Get that disco ball spinnin' because I'm not!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up with Mama Kat for the prompt:
6. What were you blogging about last year at this time? How have things changed?

sci-fi, jets, and a roast pig

Magnum, Meego, and I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 yesterday.  As I was watching, I realized I remembered pretty much nothing from the first movie, other than the characters.  And the music.

I may not know my comic book plot lines, but what's not for us old folks to love about the Guardians of the Galaxy music?  Like this mix from the first movie and this other mix from Vol. 2.  I had a Sony Walkman just like Peter Quill's.  Good times.

The movie theater was quite crowded, probably because the weather was crap.  Grey, cold, windy.  We decided to go to the movies along with everyone else.  Our May has not been particularly flowerish, but more showerish, snowish even.

SOURCE

At least we had ONE good weather day this week.  It happily coincided with graduation at the Air Force Academy, which is always special because the Thunderbirds come to town and give a good shake to our windows and foundations and teeth.

So the flick was silly entertainment if lacking in a thick and juicy plot (IMHO).  Gotta love all those characters.  Afterwards, we went out for some Mexican food.  Meego ordered probably the most calorically hefty item on the menu - Fajitas Gargantuas or something like that.  If I ate like Meego does, I'd weigh about 400 pounds.  My metabolism hasn't reached heights like that since I had that Sony Walkman.






And speaking of food, today is my Uncle's birthday.  I have many relatives in the Philippines, and I only know them through facebook.  They seem like a fun bunch.

Here's my uncle, the birthday boy (Mom's youngest brother) and one of my cousins.  Check out the spread, that pig still has a face!

I think I'd like to party with them.

the big bang

As I mentioned, I managed to get some bootlegged video of the winter percussion championships.  Typically, video recording of these things is discouraged because of student privacy.  Another band mom shot these on her phone, so the video quality is not so great.  As such, it's a bit difficult to make out individual people, let alone their faces, so I'm okay with it.

Anyhoo, I'd never heard of winter percussion before Meego got into it his freshman year.  Shows are performed inside and are limited to, I think, six minutes, which includes setting up, tearing down, and getting on and off the floor.  Groups are penalized if they go over that allotted time.

They score points through a variety of factors including

• complexity of music 
• playing in synch 
• audience engagement
• "general effect".  

The music of Meego's group this year was quite complex with several points requiring the marimbas to play very fast and in unison.  They were in third place going into the finals and totally got 'er done to take home the first place trophy!

So with that in mind, here's the bootleg of their finals opening number.  Probably not something you would choose to play at your wedding or background for the garden party, but it kicked butt at competition:





I include this portion of the video because in the beginning, there's a break where Meego, on bass, and the guitar player play behind their heads. They just decided to throw that in.  The video also  highlights those marimba skillz





So definitely a memorable finish to the season for this nice bunch of kids and their coaches!

oy vey and "oooooooh!" day

This morning was sort of an "oy vey" morning, and I'm not even Jewish, so allow me to vent a little.  Now, y'all know I'm prez of my local little P.E.O. chapter.  It's not bad duty, not at all.  In fact, I rather enjoy it.  At our upcoming meeting next week,we're planning to initiate a new member, which makes it a bit special.  I'll try to explain my oy vey-ness without (a) giving away any secrets of the 'hood or (b) being absolutely boring.

For an initiation, there are certain roles that each officer has.  Last week, alas, our "guard" informed me that, "SHOOT!  I forgot I'm gonna be out of town that week!"

Okay,  no biggie, just get someone to fill in.

Well, she didn't.  She just left me holding the empty bag.  Fine, I'll find someone.  One by one, each person I asked either said "no", including a load of excuses, or didn't reply until after I'd given  up on them and asked someone else.  I had my webcam up for skyping, and it got to be where I was opening my e-mail like this:

I understand that some people aren't comfortable getting in front of a group and such, but it's just US!  Oh well, I finally went to one of the "Go To" girls, Ruby*

While I awaited her response, I was feeling grumpy in part because of (1) this guard business, and (2) the fact that I'm still a bit of a stumbling drunkard with zero blood alcohol content.  Stupidly, I went over to fa(ebook.

Now, I'm not stupid enough to get into any of the political discussions, but there's this one guy I've seen on there before.  Maybe others are familiar with him - he does these "tricks" where he has you manipulate numbers and dates and stuff, and then he guesses your original thought?  Seen him?

His "tricks" are so lame and so figure-outable, and there was another of his videos that one of my friends had liked and shared because he got their thing correct.  *SIGH*  On a side note, we all know here that "liking" a video on facebook does not "lock in your answer!", right?!

Remember that I'm a tutor and a bit of a nerd.  I watched the video, and the many comments got me down.  "OMG, you're amazing!"... "How do you KNOW these things?!?" ... "OMG, that's my number!  Spooky!!".
Oh, Jiminy Cricket.

It made me grumpy.  Thinking about how poorly the U.S. has consistently been in math in recent years.  I know right?!  Why should I care so much!?  After all, it's job security!

So I actually left a comment, and I never comment on such things, particularly not haterish comments.  I pointed out that the "trick" was based on something we all learn (supposedly) in grade school.  I even included this snarky little sticker.  

So at that point, I knew I'd gone over the edge.  It was time to turn that frown upside down.  Thank goodness Wolfgang talked us into that gym membership, because I went to the gym to ride their bikes that go nowhere.  It proved to be good therapy, plus no one mistook me for a drunk person... at least not out loud.

Eventually, I got a reply from Ruby:

Ruby:  I've never done guard at initiation before...
Me:  Oh crapola, here we go again...
Ruby: ...but I'm willing to give it a try...
Me:  YES!! RU-BEE!  RU-BEE!  RU-BEE!  *ahem* Suffice to say, Ruby took a load off.

Then, I just happened to catch Britney Spears' latest video for that orgasm song, because I actually happen to like the tune.  Webcam still up...

She claims that the video "features lots of female empowerment".

Well, doesn't it now.  Little somethin' for everybody, that one.


*Name changed to protect the innocent

that thing they do

Terri says, "The percussion stuff sounds like a lot of fun! Maybe you can get video of them sometime and share it with your blog fans?"

I did manage to get an official copy of their show from last week.   It's shot from far enough away to see and hear what everyone's doing without identifying any individual students.  There's a bit of background chatter that I'm guessing is from someone near the camera watching a basketball game?? Making our own videos is frowned upon because of privacy rules and such - although I've seen plenty of cameras rolling in the audience.

Each performance lasts six minutes.  If they go even one second over, they're docked points.  Then there's a mad scramble to haul everything out of the way for the next group.  It's nice for spectators, not much downtime!

Anyhoo, I edited the video down to three minutes to give the gist of the thing.

Take the floor!

 


.

another day at the front lines

Meego and the troops had another rousing winter percussion battle today.  Magnum and I have not yet been band banned, so we headed on out to lend our support.

The trip was quite the contrast to the last competition we attended where there was deep snow everywhere.  Today was sunny and warm, like a day at the beach.  The only thing missing was... well... the beach.

much warmer warm-up than last time

Once again, the kids did a nice job.  They compete against the same groups each time, and it's interesting to see how each program has evolved from the earlier competitions.  It's a good thing I'm not a judge, I'd just want to give everyone top prize.

Along with Red, there were a few other baldies from the Bald 4 Bucks effort, even a few brave girls.
I tried to get some decent shots of the show, but my phone camera - she's-a not so good with the slightest movement.  Let's just pretend I was going for artistic flair rather than clarity:

BANGIN'!

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on a lighter, lower note

Thank you, everyone, for your comforting comments and thoughts regarding Mom.  It's truly a help.  As "they" say, life goes on.  And it's not all ham and jell-o*.

Meego's school is back up and operating, but students don't return until Wednesday, so he's still in lazy mode.  Extracurriculars are back on track, though, and Meego is in the Winter Percussion Ensemble playing bass guitar.  They have practice today.

It's a gloomy, grey day here.  I was sitting here finishing up a draft of Mom's obituary for my dad to look over.  On top of that, Magnum was home from work, still nursing his case of The Crud, slinking around like our own resident Quasimodo.

So when Meego asked if I would take him to the guitar store, I was happy for a change of place.  He had Christmas money burning a hole in his pocket, and he'd been stalking a new bass guitar.  Off we went.

What a nice little change of place it was.  Checking out all the guitars, being with other people plucking and test driving.  I've been there before with him, but I guess I appreciated the diversion more this time.

I even snatched this rare photo of Meego's orthodontiated teeth!  As rare as a Bigfoot sighting!

The outing was an utter success.  Meego got the 5-string bass he wanted, and was able to trade in his 4-string for a nice chunk off the price.  

Me:  Aren't you going to miss... what is your bass's name?

Meego:  No, the new one's much better!

Me:  But still, you've had good times with what's-his-name.

Meego:  {smirk}

Me:  Well, if you'd given him a name, you'd miss him...

...Kids these days.

Anyway.  It was fun.  And I don't know squat about guitars.

The store slogan was on the door when we walked in, and I thought it a bit of an overstatement.








But it actually wasn't all that far off.
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*"ham and jell-o" is a term I think of for somber events that involve food.  A while ago, the husband of one of my P.E.O. sisters died, and she had guests coming in from out of town.  We wanted to help her out, but at first she declined.  One of the others said, "No, you just take it easy.  We're all about ham and jell-o!", and it has since stuck with all of us.

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Silver Liningness Sunday

Happy Sunday!  It is currently a balmy 28 degrees, and I'm very grateful for that.  It was SO cold this week, 28 feels like springtime!

But enough about the weather, let's get on with the weekly recap, shall we??

First of all, as most of us know, Tuesday was Veteran's Day here in the U.S.  It's nice to set aside at least one day a year to ponder and be thankful for what our veterans have given us.

Meego had his first band concert for the year.  He's in the group for freshmen and other newbies, and they performed very well.  I will say that the high school demonstrates an excellent music program. Five different groups performed, so we also enjoyed the two groups that played before Meego's.  I was very impressed by the string symphony.  I told Magnum it was like we'd made a wrong turn and ended up at the Julliard School!  And really, it's just nice to see kids performing with such skill and poise.

As I was looking over the program, I saw that Meego was listed as playing a euphonium, and I was all, "What the heck's a euphonium??  I thought Meego plays a baritone?"  Magnum was no help.  Good thing for google:

Fig. 16.1

Figure 16.1 shows a side-by-side comparison of a baritone (right) and a euphonium (the other one).  They sound very similar, but the baritone is a bit smaller.  Gosh, this blog is so darn educational.

Anyways, enjoyable concert it was.

Also, I was able to spend a pleasant coupla hours with brother Guano yesterday as he was passing through to visit my nephew - his eldest who attends school near us.  Really, I think his whole family should just up and move here, but I'll take what I can get.

Fuzzy pic of the Guano I stole while in the coffee-for-Jesus coffee shop he found.

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