My Excellent Curling Adventure
(originally Posted on Blogcritics)


The family and I probably attend about five professional sporting events each year. We usually make it to three or so Lowell Spinners games (local Class A minor league baseball team), perhaps a college or minor league (Lowell Lock Monsters) hockey game, and the odd Red Sox or New England Patriots game.

Last weekend, we delved into the exotic, a professional curling tournament.

Not just any tournament or bonspiel, this was the Men’s World Curling Championship. Now, ordinarily I don’t think I’d travel all over the place for a sport I have barely no knowledge of – but this event was staged right next door at the Paul E. Tsongas Arena (Lowell, MA). We opted for tickets during the first weekend of the round-robin style matches, and now I wish our calendar conflict would allow for our going this coming weekend, it was that cool.

There was not a huge crowd at the 7,800-seat arena. The empty seats were a bit obvious – but once the action got going, the enthusiasm of both fans and players made up for it.

I knew this was going to be a special event, – there were cowbells. To me, the cowbells added a bit of sporting chic. After all, I only hear them when watching some sort of Wide World of Sports televised event. Oh yeah, this was the big-time baby. I swore that Amanda Peet was sitting in the row in front of us. I thought about getting an autograph, but I eventually realized it was just a doppelganger. Still – you never know who could have shown up. No, I didn’t crane my neck for a glimpse of Jack in his ever-present shades, but I felt that celebrity vibe for sure.

I noticed that seeing this sort of event live was quite different from the few times I’d seen curling during Olympic coverage. As a matter of fact, it strangely reminded me when I went to see a WWE live event, Backlash, last June. When my sons force me to sit and watch the televised wrestling antics of JBL, Triple H, or John Cena – a huge part of the show is the back and forth of the commentators. It was very strange, almost disconcerting to be at the live event, and to think how quiet it was. Oh, the audience was wild and strange - and loud, but the action in the ring was very quiet. And no commentary! Or, rather commentary that was intended for the Pay-Per-View home audience, not us in the Verizon Wireless Arena.

And so, this curling thing was not quiet by way of passionate fans, but missing was any Curt Gowdy (RIP) type broadcasting that a TV viewer like me is spoiled by. I had to rely on my in-laws knowledge of the sport. Not that they were huge curling aficionados, but they had at least watched just about all the coverage from Torino, and knew which ‘end’ was up.

I needed the help too. First of all, I thought I was just going to see Ireland vs. USA, but there were there were four busy sheets in the arena. Sheets are the ice ‘fields’ that the matches are played on. So, even though it was somewhat distracting, it was also pretty cool to see these fine gents in the additional and simultaneous contests: Finland vs. Norway, Denmark vs. Japan and Germany vs. Switzerland.

Right after the Star Spangled Banner ended, the players took to the ice to stretch out. That alone was an interesting scene. Seeing the all the curlers gliding across the sheet in that funky low down - parallel to the ice – throwing stance was kind of amazing. It almost had the feel of synchronized swimming; there was a certain grace exhibited, to be sure.

Also, there was something about that clunk of one rock hitting another one. I love that sound! It’s a bit like the smack of billiard balls hitting one another. Fittingly, because curling has been likened to both billiards, and chess. It’s a simple game in design, but very difficult in execution. Also, each play is different from the one before, in tempo and temperament.

In basket ball, or hockey for example, you see variations of the same thing, not that these sports aren’t exciting to watch, but pretty much the speed will remain the same, fast.

In one respect, curling could be compared to baseball, some plays are slow, a player might walk on base – or even if someone hits a home run, he’ll take his bases slow and leisurely. Other times, speed is crucial to a win or loss. In curling, you could have a fast hard throw of the rock down the sheet, in hopes to either knock the opponent’s rock out of the way, or to place yours exactly in the button. Other times, the rock will get a softer throw, and the sweepers simply act as escorts, keeping the same pace as the rock, not too fast, not too slow, when suddenly the skip will start yelling, and the sweepers start brushing…”Hard, hard, hard!” Then they slow down, watching the rock, then speed up again until they manage to get the rock exactly in the right spot. Incredible.

Though we were able to watch all four games at the same time, USA and Ireland was the match-up we were all most interested in. Wouldn’t you know they wound up tied at the 10th end. When the teams went into the 11th overtime end, USA had the hammer, which means the advantage of throwing the last rock. They deftly used this to their advantage, winning the end, and the game.

Currently USA is in 2nd place, right behind Scotland.

What’s even better is that BOTH my sons enjoyed it as well. The 17 year old had complained quite vigorously all the way leading up to the 4:00 start time, but when it was all said and done, he was the last one who wanted to leave. He, and the rest of us, had a great time.

Adam is leaving us. I feel like I've been kicked in the gut. No pun intended. Adam V. has been my man since... forever.

Foxboro Stadium - 1996, Bill Parcells was head coach, Drew Bledsoe was first string QB. One of those newbie expansion teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars, were playing at New England.This was my first Pats game in about eight years; I was excited, and having a great time. I didn't care so much who won, I was just having fun out with adults. It became quite cloudy and started to drizzle during the game. By the 4th quarter it was pouring rain. I wasn't having so much fun anymore. Even the close score didn't matter to me. I wanted to go home - wah!

Yes, I'm a bit of a wuss. Anyway, the score was so close, the game went into overtime. I didn't care WHO was winning, I was soaked! Next thing I knew, Adam was lining up for a field goal, kicked it - and wham - Game over N.E. 28, Jacksonville 25. Done. Thank YOU Adam!

As the years passed, I began to pay more attention to the game and the team and saw that Adam was actually an incredible player! Soon I was at the pro shop buying my #4. Cool. He's saved our collective asses on more than one occasion and I wore my jersey proudly.

And now, he's off to be a Colt. Drats. 'Course, that's not what I said last night when I heard this. But even so, not much we can do about it except wish him well and thank him for all he's done for New England.

Thank You Adam!

The March issue of Hot Psychology is up! Lot of cool stuff - interviews with Olympians, thoughts on privacy vs safety, same sex rights to marry, and the business of torture. Go see. Go now.

Here's the latest stuff - BlogCritics Radio - I am one of the guests on this weeks Podcast. It was a lot of fun, and sounds like everyone else had a good time doing their segments as well. Go give it a listen!

Well - I've been a busy gurl and have not been here to update much at all. A kind of cool thing that happened a couple weeks ago was that I was named Blogcritic of the Day. I don't remember exactly what day that was, I think the weekend of February 18th. Every couple of days a new Blogcritic is named, and we are urged to visit their home blogs and "pay homage". Kind of funny, yes? Funny but a nice honor.

The current Blogcritic of the Day is Jeff Kouba, he also happens to blog on the Fox show 24, just like I do. Our Blogcritics postings are linked together, along with any other BCers that wax so eloquently on the doings of Jack Bauer and Friends. There. I was going to throw my last two 24 posts here on All About Us - but now I don't have to! Just click the above! Easy!

Hey, speaking of easy, has anyone seen that Staples commercial - part of the Easy Button series? Invading soldiers rapidly approach a very small group of Chinese nobles - and well...just go click on the above. They can 'splain better than I. Anyway, it was pretty clever. You know, they sell those Easy Buttons. We used one at church, for a family game night. I'm trying to remember what it says, I think something like, "Now that was easy". Hey, it makes me laugh. What can I say.

An interesting piece by Blogcritc's John Spivey, about education. Check it out!

VALENTINES DAY – FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN LOVE
(reprinted from my first piece for Hot Psychology, February 2005)


Can You Hide in the Hype?

So, it seems as if we’ve just put Christmas to bed, and are now taking a breather. I have a lot of thoughts on Christmas, pleasant memories, over-commercialization rants, shopping frustrations, and all those ads! What hopes they conjure. I now know that if my husband brings me to a beautiful woodland setting, and the snow is lightly falling, the sun’s already slipped past the horizon – that the huge elm tree in front of us will magically light up – just – about --- now – AND, I will be presented with a fine piece of diamond jewelry. It’s true!

And what wonderful trinket might come my way on February 14th? I am holding my breath in anticipation.

But what about someone who is not attached, married, coupled up, or in love? What will they do for Valentine’s Day? Should a single person feel deprived, or left out? I had been that person in the past. Oh, not despairingly so. Mostly during high school and college, when the dating was intermittent. Luckily, for me, I was not alone in my ‘aloneness’. Being single on Valentine’s Day was not a huge issue as a teen and young adult. Dating life improved as I got older, and before I knew it, I was married so any angst over ‘V-Day’ was banished.

It has been well documented that the holidays, especially Christmas can bring about this angst, stress and depression, particularly if one is alone. But, if so inclined, there are lots of things to be involved with, at least at Christmas time. Everyone has someone to shop for, even if it’s your landlord. There are charities for donating and cookies for baking. You could gild everything in sight and craft cool swags out of evergreens and household items. Point is - Christmas has come to mean many things to many people. A single person can blend in, diffusing attention away from their solo status. Romance to be sure, is just one part of Christmas, but it’s the whole bloody reason for the holiday we know as Valentine’s Day. Of course, it all began quite differently.

Who Was Saint Valentine?

Way back in about the 3rd century the Romans were having a swell time celebrating a pagan festival called Lupercalia. This partying and carrying on was typically during mid February, and there would be goats and or dogs sacrificed to honor Juno, Goddess of Fertility. (Supposedly, also being honored was Fannus, Roman God of Agriculture, and Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.)

Anyway, with the sacrificing and all, the young men would run around chasing the young women, whipping them with strips of goat hide that had been dipped into the sacrificial blood. Strangely, this was desirable for the women, the more blood, the more promised fertility. The women would then write their own names (presumably in blood) and place the names into an urn or something, hoping for the hottest of young Roman hotties to pick their name. Once the names were picked, and the girls and boys would be coupled up for the rest of the festival. Sometimes these matches would last for the next year, and then result in marriage.

Obviously all the young hormonal coupling and marrying was generally thought to be a good thing. Except to the Emperor, Claudius II. You could call him the Grinch of Valentine’s Day. Except there wasn’t any Valentine’s Day – yet. Actually, ‘ole Claudius’s nickname was Claudius the Cruel, which, when you think about it, is rather Grinch-like.
In those days, Claudius II was having the devil of a time with all the wars and such, and military enlistment was (so I’m told) at an all time low. He assumed the reason was that the men didn’t want to leave their wives and girlfriends. (Suppose any underlings dared to ask him “Hey Claude, you know what happens when you ‘ass’ume”?) Actually it does make sense that the dudes wouldn’t want to join up to fight Charlie or whoever the enemy of the time was. I suppose what we know as the draft, wasn’t yet invented, so Claudius banished marriage. Gasp. Pretty cheeky I’d say. You can see why he earned his nickname.

Somewhere around the same time, give or take a bunch of years, there was a kindly (some say epileptic) priest by the name of Valentine. Actually history has blended fact with legend, and it’s quite foggy, but there were at least two, if not three priests and or holy men all named Valentine. (Curiously, they are all reported to have been martyred on February 14th.)

Now, from what I can gather, the kindly (and possibly epileptic) priest was secretly marrying the Young Lovers. Obviously, once Claudius found out, he ordered Valentine to be put to death. It’s either this same Valentine or a subsequent Valentine who was helping Christians with whatever Christians needed help with at the time. Like staying alive, for example. This aid to Christians was quite the faux pas of the time, and naturally Valentine was jailed. In jail he fell in love with the jail keepers daughter, named Julia. Julia was blind, but the love of a good Valentine cured her. Amazing! Anyway, This blindness-curing, Christian-aiding Valentine was put to death, but not before he had a chance to send Julia a little love note, signed “From your Valentine”. I’m guessing priestly vows of Celibacy weren’t the fashion of the times. In any case, there was turmoil, lust and bloodshed surrounding the origins of Valentine’s Day. Luckily things have changed.

But Wait – What about the Singles?

Or have they? Well, there is still lust. Lust is always in fashion. Bloodshed? Not so much. Wait, I’m forgetting the Valentine’s Day Massacre. OK Chicago mobsters aside, what’s left? Turmoil. Oh boy, is there turmoil. Like I said, I am married, so I have not thought about Valentine’s Day as a single person in quite a while. But this is a day targeted for love, so what does it all mean for the unattached?

For those whose relationships have failed this last year, Valentine’s Day has not been observed, with feeling anyway, for a while. Even for those who are married or part of a couple, this day can cause anxiety. In troubled unions, nothing forces the couple to face the reality of their relationship like shopping for an anniversary or Valentine’s card. For the newly single person, they might be in too much pain to even acknowledge that such a hearts and flowers time is on hand. The holiday goes right under the emotional radar.

And for those who have been single all along? Do they cringe and mope every February? Yes. And no. I have known my share of Lonely Hearts, and they honestly do bitch and moan about their single state. And I know other singles, they take it all in stride.

Love, Actually

Simply put, it’s all relative. It really is. In the previous talk of Christmas, I skimmed over the ‘wrong’ parts of the holiday. Things that, if I let them, really get to me. I’m quite horrified to see garlands and candy canes on retail display BEFORE HALLOWEEN. Each year, I practically resent family members asking me what’s on my wish list. I whine that anyone who really knows me should not need to ask. PS2 becomes a dirty phrase. And so on. But what is key here - is that these things bother me, if I let them. It seems so cliché, but we really do have choices. We can celebrate all kinds of holidays whether they pertain to us or not. We can celebrate love in all its forms, not just romantic. We can continually work to become better people and love ourselves in the process.

In the opening narration of the film Love Actually, Hugh Grant muses about love. While voicing over everyday reunion scenes at Heathrow Airport, he tells us that despite the despicable acts of 9/11, the numerous phone calls made that morning weren’t filled with talk of hatred or vengeance. The calls were all about perhaps saying goodbye, but mostly “I love yous". Expressions of love made to spouses, lovers, families and friends. Grant advises us that all you have to do is look and see that Love, actually is all around.

Something very special for Valentine's Day.

Grey’s Anatomy


So, ya, you knew George was going to find his balls again and get Bailey all pumped and ready to deliver her possibly fatherless child. I really thought Tucker was checking out there. I really did. Speaking of dying, I thought Meredith was going to check out as well. Actually, no. I didn’t think that she was going to get killed off – up until I saw her lying on the ground, covered with ash and debris. For a moment I thought she was gone. But the Bomb Guy(s)? Did they turn into the ‘Pink Mist’ that chicken-shit Dr. Milton spoke of? Maybe the Mist would take Dr. Milton too?

Shame that Kyle Chandler seemingly bought it. I thought Meredith and he were going to start something. Why would they bring him? It was good to see him being a little disagreeable. The role he had in Early Edition (from what I remember) he was a little too nice. Oh, it’s not that I don’t like nice guys. They rule. But it was nice to see him a little less ‘nice’. Too bad he didn’t have that newspaper with him at the Bomb Squad headquarters. Maybe he and the squad could have stopped by the WW reenactment site before the damn bazooka was fired.

I love Yang, but why oh why the fuck did she have to open her mouth to Shepherd about Meredith holding the bomb? Why??? She seems smarter and less emo than that. But, sigh; guess it had to be part of the story. A bit corny that Tucker starts to flat-line at that instant by the way.

And the music, oohh the music has got to be the best soundtrack-y stuff out there. I have no clue what it is most of the time, but its perfect.

Well, tonight is another 24 episode, so I’ll be needing to get all psyched up for that.
Ta!

Snow!

You know when you see those artistic images, perhaps on Christmas cards, or some such rendering of wintertime? You see maybe a window, outlined in frost and snow? The window I look out of now, has that white wave of snow at the bottom. This occurs though, because the wind fiercely whips snow about, creating those smudges on the panes. The wind outside is wild right now. You can hear it against the house, you can see the white whirls creating the drifts that might block our front door if we let it.

I'm lucky I don't have to be out in that right now, but will probably do some shoveling assitance later on. I'll maybe make some cookies too. I don't know why, but I always seem to make cookies when we have a snow storm. I guess I want the kids to have that 'fresh baked' smell to come back to after being out in the snow.

That's it for now -

I was recently reminded that I had never posted the results of a previous Movie Quiz - So, I'll get right to it!

1. "...the soft glow of electric sex" - From A Christmas Story referring to the 'Major Award' leg lamp

2. "I've got a bad feeling about this" - taken from numerous Star Wars films, spoken by actors such as Harrison Ford, or Ewan McGregor

3. "...and the schnozberries taste like schnozberries!" What else could this be but Willie Wonka

4. "Sometimes you just gotta say, 'what the fuck' " Spoken by newcomer Tom Cruise, in the 1983 classic Risky Business

5. "At my signal - unleash Hell" My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius - aka Spaniard, aka General, aka Slave, aka Gladiator.

6. "Quid pro quo!" Eww, this still gives me the creeps, when I imagine the words spoken by a creepy Anthony Hopkins' 'Hannibal Lector' to Jodie Foster's 'Clarice' in Silence of the Lambs

7. "Are you stalking me? Because that would be super" In the 2002 flick, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, a very funny Ryan Reynolds asks this of Tara Reid, fellow student and journalist.

8. "I'm gonna give you to the count of 10 to get your ugly, yellow, no-good keister off my property before I pump your guts full of lead! One, two, ten!" - Home Alone! Love that movie!

9. "Fuck Grandma" This is 'Gramps' response whenever family members would ask him if he missed his deceased wife, Grandma - in 2002's The Sweetest Thing. This movie didn't really go places, even with a cast including: Thomas Jane, Christina Applegate, Cameron Diaz, Parker Posey and Selma Blair. Oh well, I still liked it.

10. "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony." A little nothing of a film made in 1975, created by and starring some blokes in England - Oh I don't know...something to do with a Holy Grail - or some such nonsense - Monty---something?

: )~

24 - Hour Seven: The Art of the Bitch Slap


[Previously Posted on Blogcritics.org]

Interrogation in Logan’s office, Walt sweats and trots out his “Patriots” line again. No Honey, sadly they were not in the Super Bowl this year. Déjà vu as Logan asks Pierce to get Walt out of his office again. Jack thinks Logan was talking to him, he heads out as well. “Jack – wait, we can work this out, I still love you!” No, Logan didn’t actually say that. But I giggled, cuz that’s what it reminded me of, when Prez pleaded with Jack to stay on the case. When love doesn’t work, Prez tries another tack, “Jack, please, we have to do it this way, so we can introduce your daughters’s story arc!” Jack considers briefly, “Yes, Kim is rather hot, sure, I’ll stick around and search for that…” (scratches 5:00 shadow)…”nerve gas – right, sure, let’s get that nerve gas, maybe Hot Kim can help”.

Logan sighs in relief, not that Jack will help, not that Hot Kim might swing by, but relieved that he can stop making so many faces.

The Russians realize that they cannot work the canisters. Sucks to be Russian! YellowTieKeyCardMan, who thankfully now actually has a name, Earwig? Airwick? knocks his buddy to the ground with a swell elbow strike, an elbow bitch slap – if you will. Airwick growls and reminds stricken Ruskie to stop messing around and improve his accent. Just in time, Airwick gets a call from a secret admirer – “I saw your name on MySpace.com, liked your profile, say – need help with those pesky canisters?” Secret Admirer has one of those great voices you never forget – is that Sydney from The Pretender? Yay!

Eventually CTU traces phone call ‘tween Sydney and Airwick, pin points where Sydney is – and who he is. Dude is named Rossler, in some high-rise, conveniently close enough for Jack and Curtis to rendevous there.

Another interesting phone call, is the one Samwise McGill gets from his sister Jen. Who is that girl? She looks a little like Amanda Plummer, most famous for her role in Pulp Fiction, and this Jenny person definitely seems as nervous and strung out as Honey Bunny was.

Chloe asks Bill to let Spenser help by hacking into the convenient high-rise, Edgar blusters, Chloe kicks him under the table, and Bill gives in. Spenser tries to make nice-nice with Chloe, she just makes one of her faces and tells him to shut up and work faster. Or something like that.

Logan still scrambles to apologize to Martha for nearly shipping her off to Vermont. She talk about the good old days, when they used to be a team, he looks at her with affection, and suddenly, wham – she totally bitch slaps the Prez! Just then, Mike knocks at the door, “Mike, PLEASE come in”. Prez is feeling so wussed out he apologizes to Mike as well, and when Mike suggests yet another cover-up to explain Walt and his ‘Patriotic’ ways, Martha disagrees, saying ‘let’s be honest’. Mike and Prez snicker for just a second, but Prez is still wussed and agrees with Martha. Martha sticks her tongue out at Mike, Mike looks dejected. Poor Mike.

At the convenient high-rise penthouse, Curtis, Jack and CTU folk storm the building. Wee! Such excitement, shots fired, guards down, Curtis down! Oh no! Whew, just got his vest. God bless Kevlar! They shoot Sydney/Rossler (but not enough to kill him – of course) and find Michelle Trachtenberg’s clone in the bedroom, all banged up and scared. “I was left behind on that Eurotrip. And that bad man with the cool voice hit me!”

(Red Alert - Senator John McCain is working at CTU, hiding out after bitchslapping [verbally] Illinois Senator Barack Obama.!)

Meanwhile, nerve gas toting Russian bad guys Airwick and friends get help from friendly Orange Country Chopper dude. The fact that there are weapons involved had nothing do to do with it OCC dude helping out with his precision cutting tools. Swell!

At the ugly convenient high-rise penthouse, Jack and Curtis interrogate Syndey/Rossler. His voice doesn’t sound so nice now, a little scratchy. Still he has chutzpah. Even tells Jack to “go to hell!” Wow! Sydney must have balls of steel. Doesn’t he know Jack will bitch slap him? Or at least cut his eye out? Jack does not disappoint, wham – slap. Nice backhand slap. Love it.

At CTU Spenser has outlived his usefulness, Chloe offs him. Not really, just fires his ass, Edgar gloats. Senator McCain nods approvingly.

Orange Country Chopper dude finishes cutting all 20 canisters. Airwick bitchslaps him with a bullet. Saw that coming a mile off, right?

Sam/Lynn goes to meet with sister Jenny, it was supposed to be ’20 minutes’ later – but in the weird space/time thing that is 24, it’s more like 30 minutes later. Honey Bunny sure looks like she’s using. Sam/Lynn wants her to go see the White Wizard, and offers to pay for everything, but that’s not good enough for Honey Bunny or Pumpkin, who comes from behind and mugs Sam/Lynn. Wham! Bam! Ker-Plooey! Pumpkin takes some cash, and a curious card. Now, you know that’s going to be of importance later on, either it was a Yu-Gi Oh! “Blue-Eyes White Dragon”, or Sam’s CTU ID card. Both very important.

At ugly Penthouse, Jack has arranged for Sydney/Rossler to get some perks, such as a signed certificate of authenticity that he can go anywhere he wants, and get the keys to the City of Los Angeles. Also in the package is Eurotrip Inessa, who balks at the plan. “Bad man hit me, no wanna go – you can’t make me” Jack tells her to go get dressed. No Jack, don’t’ be stupid! Remember what happened when Martha went to get dressed? She fuckin’ ran! OK so Inessa IS in high-rise, the chance of her escaping out the window is nil, but seriously Jack. Never let a woman get dressed alone!

Martha and Prez finish speech, good vibes all around. But wait, Mike calls. Is this a little one-up-man-ship? Mike says, “Sure, you and the wifey made nice-nice, wrote a little speech, but come lookey at what I got!

At Penthouse, Jack and CTU folk get ready to ‘move’ Sydney, someone orders, “Bring the girl out”. Out comes Eurotrip Inessa, but wait – she has a gun! She knows how to handle it too. Nice! Sydney is dead, Curtis verifies, checking his watch, “time of death, about 20 minutestoofucking soon!”

Prez and Martha meet Mike – oh no! It’s Walt! He’s hung himself! Ouch! I guess he and the Secret Service were playing hangman to pass the time, and they suggested playing by White House rules. Ooohh, now that’s some bitch slap.

Quiz Hint: For #2, the 'sexy' one in question, also played the role of 'Hannah' in last night's Grey's Anatomy. (February 5th, 2006)

ANOTHER QUIZ!



1. “Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste”



2. "She's so sexy. Look at her body language. All verbs!"


3. "You know, one of these days, you might want to consider sitting down with someone. You know, have a little share time? Get in touch with your inner child? Also, you just might want to consider blinking once in a while."


4. "Franks and Beans! Franks and Beans!"


5. "Oh, no no no no. Dead broad OFF the table!"


6. "Doesn't anybody notice this? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"


7. "Welcome to Earth!"


8. "They all have husbands and wives and children and houses and dogs, and, you know, they've all made themselves a part of something and they can talk about what they do. What am I gonna say? "I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork. How've you been?"


9. "And that's what she is, the Queen of Refuse. So bow down to her if you want, bow to her. Bow to the Queen of Slime, the Queen of Filth, the Queen of Putrescence. Boo. Boo. Rubbish. Filth. Slime. Muck. Boo. Boo. Boo."


10. "If I'm curt with you, it's because time is a factor here. I think fast, I talk fast, and I need you guys to act fast if you want to get out of this. So, pretty please, with sugar on top, clean the fucking car."

CD Review: Sarah Brightman – Love Changes Everything
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection: Volume Two

First posted on Blogcritics.org

Of course I’d heard of Sarah Brightman, I knew she sung, mostly in musicals or opera. I knew that she had been married to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, the amazing genius behind Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita and much more. I also knew she had a pretty face and a prettier voice. A few years back, I channel surfed into a PBS show, nearly at the end – as is my luck. Sarah was singing something – I didn’t know what it was – but it took my breath away. I’ve since tried to remember what the song was, and I still don’t know because now I have been hearing so many beautiful songs on this CD.

Sarah Brightman – Love Changes Everything is full of familiar Webber tunes, a couple from Jesus Christ Superstar, a couple more from Phantom of the Opera, and a few that I was not familiar with, but are now becoming new favorites. I can’t get enough of the anthem-like title track, “Love Changes Everything” from 1989’s Aspects of Love. I’m looking forward to when I get my car CD player fixed so I can do the sing-along on road trips. Also from the same show, is the duet “Seeing is Believing”, sung with Michael Ball. Simply gorgeous. Another unknown tune was “Whistle Down the Wind” from the 1989 show of the same name. I only had to hear it once though to consider it a favorite.

Of the more familiar tunes, I especially like “Think of Me”, from Phantom of the Opera. I had been listening to the Phantom soundtrack beforehand -- I have a serious theatre lover in the house – so I recognized the song. Sara soars on this one. She should, her future husband Andrew Lloyd Webber created not just the song – but also the role of Christine Daae expressly for her. And damn if it doesn’t fit like a lyrical glove!

Also familiar, sort of, was the song, “No Liores Por Mi Argentina”. You’d probably recognize it as, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, from Evita. Familiar yes, but delightfully new to hear it in Spanish. At first I was mildly frustrated that I couldn’t sing along – four years of high school Spanish and one year of college Italian still wasn’t enough for me to translate instantly. But without the distraction of the English lyrics, I actually could appreciate the intended beauty of the song. Maybe that’s why I’m so addicted to Andrea Bocelli’s, “Sogno”, sung in his native Italian. If I heard it in English, would I like it as much?

A minor complaint is Sarah’s rendition of “Any Dream Will Do”, from the 1968 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Oh, she sings it beautifully, but to me, that’s a song to be sung by Jason Donovan, Michael Damian, or Donny Osmond, who all portrayed Joseph in various productions of the show. Brightman’s wonderful 4-octave range could easily handle any of the female Narrator’s pieces and I wonder why those weren’t chosen instead. But who am I to quibble of minor points? Sarah Brightman has the vocal chops to perform darn near anything, and Love Changes Everything surely proves it.

As many of you know, I've been affiliated with Hot Psychology Magazine for a year now, first as a writer and now as Features Editor. We’ve been growing and looking better and better, and it has been pretty exciting!

This is just a heads up on Hot Psychology’s ‘appearance’ on the web radio program “Stars of PR”. This show, web-cast at business.voiceamerica, is part of the Voice America group.

PR specialist and "Stars of PR" host Cindy Rakowitz will interview our Editor-in-Chief Jim Idema and our Culture Editor Kimberly Berg tomorrow, January 19, 2006 at 7:00AM PT (10:00AM ET) Please tune in!

UPDATE!
Check out my post on Blogcritics.org, and while you're there, look for other posts on 24. Pretty funny!


In case you were too lazy to click on that link - and you know who you are - I was borrowing just a lil teeny bit from Dave Barry's hilarious commentary on 24.

It's almost time for 24 to start up again! Yeehaw! Or as Bruce Willis would put it...

"Yippeekaiyai^*$%&@*" Or something Like That.

I bet Chloe is now sporting a blackbelt in whoop-ass, and Edgar will have conquered numerous battles on G4's "Arena", and after each victory he declared with his sour stone face, "I'm dedicating this to my Mom, may she rest in Peace". Then after adjusting his Comm headset, he'd snap his fingers, give a quick gangsta style head bobble, and mutter, "That's how I roll - bitch"

Also, following a CTU directive, all Home Depots now maintain a "No-Shop List". Jack Bauer's name is right at the top.

Tony and Michelle are still together, but Michelle is now the drunk in the family. Tony likes it though.

For more 24 mania, or to at least understand a wee bit of the pop references I oh-so-coolly sprinkled throughout this post, check out the link. Yes, that link in the previous sentence. YES - THAT ONE. Sheesh!

OH Me Aching Blog!

Yeah, my poor lil' blog has been used and abused. Or actually more like neglected. I'm lucky there is no DYS or DSS for Bloggers, or else I'd have me arse hauled off to Bloggie Jail. So, its high time I get something down in print. I suppose it should be about quality not quantity, but maybe I'm still feeling the effects of NaNo (NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month) - which is all about quantity. Sadly I could not produce the necessary word count to 'win' NaNo, I was about 47,000 words short. HA! Yeah, that's a laugh. Couldn't produce much quality either, but it was fun going for a week or so.

And so here I sit. With bruised knuckle no less, courtesy of Eowyn. Now, Eowyn honey, don't feel bad, it's not like its the first time you bruised me. You know I don't hold a grudge. I'm sure by the time you go up for your black belt rank - and I'm on the panel - I'll have forgotten ALL about it.

Seriously.

Anyway, we did have a blast doing the rolling stick drills, DAMN that is so much fun. Maybe next time I'll bring the lightsabers.

Speaking of sticks, when I have time I will try to write about Guro Carlito Bonjoc, an Escrima Master. Way, way cool.

Off to basketball practice!

Something cute - sent to me by Rose. Thanks Rose!! Merry Christmas!