Dancing in the Summer

I was listening to Rockapella's "In Concert" CD* today (you know, the one wherein you can hear me "whoo" after scat segments), and there was Kevin, singing "Dancin' in the Streets."

Those of you that are familiar with Kevin's occasional forgotten-lyrics moments all know about the wrong verse being sung during "Tempted" (on this CD), and the wrong part of the refrain during "I'll Hear Your Voice" (on the Live in Japan CD).  

Some of you are also familiar with John's and George's lyric errors during "Up On The Roof."  How is the roof at the top of the hill?  That always ruins the moment for me.

Well, listening to this song has always taken me aback (as opposed to being taken "aforward"), and I couldn't figure out the reason.

Until today.

Here is the lyric that Kevin sings:

"Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's gone and the time is right
For dancin' in the streets"

OK, so here's my problem.

If "summer's gone," why is this now the right time to dance in the streets?  Or is he singing "Summer's come"?  

The original lyric, the way that is sung by Martha and the Vandellas, is

 "Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the streets."

Kinda different, Kev.

Because, like, why would I be happy that summer is over?  That's when you're supposed to go back to school.  Well, unless, like the Staples commercial says, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" at back-to-school time, and the dad is dancing through the aisles of the store.  I love that commercial, by the way.  Oh, and Barry Carl has done voiceovers for Staples.  So there's the connection.

ANYWAY, is it the right time for dancin' in the streets because the asphalt isn't too hot in the fall?  Why are they dancing in bare feet outside anyway, then?  That would just be filthy.  Especially in all of those major cities they sing about.  

I know what you're thinking: "Clearly, she's thought about this WAY too much."  Or perhaps you're wondering if I've been drinking some of that leftover sangria that I have yet to blog about. Or maybe my cute shoes fit a little bit too snug today.  But no.  The correct answer is this:  Sherry needs to see Rockapella soon before her brain rots.

6 weeks away ... seems like frickin' forever.  Hurry UP, already!!!

*WOW!  People are asking up to $112.91 for this CD!  My "whoo"s are worth more than I thought!

Chichester Calling

There are several times that I've wished that I lived in London.

This is one of those times.

If I lived in London, I'd have a better chance at seeing Joseph Fiennes in the leading role of the play "Cyrano de Bergerac."  

Alas, I still need to renew my passport and get some money together, and that ain't happening soon.

Here's a link to an article about the play, which includes a short video of Joseph and director Trevor Nunn.

Sigh.   I love looking at him ... even when he's got that crazy facial hair.

DLR LotD 04/26/09

Disneyland Resort

Line of the Day

Sunday, April 26, 2009

"Your mouth can handle hot stuff better than your hands." -- Glenn, to Cindy, at Catal Uva Bar, mere hours after asking Sherry if she would "suck that down."  TWICE.

5 Bros and A Million Sisters

New Kids on the Block

The Palladium -- Hollywood, CA

Saturday, April 18, 2009

When the tickets for this venue were made available, I had decided that I didn't want to spend the money to stand for hours without an assigned seat.  The week, came, though, and Donnie asked why any CA people were not attending the Palladium show, since it was the last one on this tour.  Then they also announced an after-party at House of Blues.  So I checked my account, saw that I could spare the $, and bought the ticket on Thursday.  Because I'm insane.

The day came and I was exhausted by noon.  I had worked overtime in Hollywood for our sister department, still needed to sing in church, then make my way back to Hollywood for the show.  I was still tired by the time I reached Hollywood in the evening, but as soon as I saw the buses, I perked up.  It's amazing what adrenaline can do.  The Jabbawockees were just going into the theater from the stage door entrance as I walked toward the front entrance.  Well, not the front entrance: that was actually the exit.  The actual entrance for patrons was on the west side of the building, where there was another parking lot.  I had never been in the Palladium before (at least not that I can remember), but had read reviews that it was much nicer after the remodel.  I wasn't disappointed.  

The Jabbawockees took the stage and I tried to find a place where I could see.  I had worn flat-heeled shoes so that I wouldn't kill my feet from all of the standing, but this also meant that I was still my 5'2" self, and had to stand on my tip toes to see anything for awhile.  Eventually, I was able to find a place where I could see over someone's shoulders.  I was situated House Right near one of the steps that led to the floor area, so there was movement from time to time.  I kept hoping that the guys would get on those stairs so that I could see them up close, but that didn't happen.  From what I could see of the Jabbawockees, they had a great show.  The crowd went crazy when they did they did their 80's medley, which included NKOTB's "The Right Stuff."  I especially liked seeing them do Beyonce's "Single Ladies" dance.

It took a long time for the stage to be set up for NKOTB, but I didn't want to walk around for fear that I'd lose my spot.  So I just stood there, looked around at all the people, and texted.  At one point, I had a flashback to the Intersection from Hell on Inauguration Day because there were people all around me in close proximity.  It wasn't as bad as that day, of course, because I was indoors and warm, but still, I grinned and thought of Liz and Marg.

NKOTB took the stage and I was happy.  I could have done without the really loud gals in back of me that sang along (off pitch) and screamed everything to each other, but I was able to see during most of the show.  Since the show is from the same tour as the other two I attended, and since I didn't take any notes, I don't have song-by-song details, but I do have some pictures/videos and some thoughts.

• Jon and Jordan didn't seem to be ill anymore, as they had been in Fresno (per Aura).  Jordan sounded fantastic on his falsetto notes, although he did mention that he was getting too old to go jumping around for the "Click" freeze moment.  I think that he was just tired.
• Jon and Donnie disappeared for a little bit before "Summertime," and Joe said that Jon was probably out smoking a cigarette and he didn't know where Donnie was, but he trusted that he was in the vicinity and started the song anyway.  No, Donnie did not miss a beat.
• Danny was wearing a tank shirt with a picture of him with his mom.  
• Joe played the piano and sang a new song that he wrote.  I'm not sure of the title, but for now I'll call it "Thank You," as it was dedicated to the guys and the fans, mentioning both in the refrain as "5 brothers and a million sisters."  I really liked it.
• The security guy by the stairs did a good job of fending off all of the people who wanted to go to the floor area.  When he was replaced, though, and the guys started "Tonight," and began to walk toward the floor area, the replacement was so busy trying to stop certain people that a bunch of people were able to get around him.  No, I didn't try.  I figured I'd take the place that one of them left, which I did.
• No "Baby, I Believe In You."  I was sad about that, because that's my favorite Jordan song.  I was all ready with the camera and everything, but I didn't have the greatest vantage point anyway, so I guess it's OK.  It might have been because the stage was small and there was no higher place to stand than on top of the piano.
• Donnie said, "About a month and a half from now, these 5 guys are going to be back in L.A."  Screaming.  "Another 5 guys are going to be in L.A., too."  Boos from the Lakers fans who knew that he was referring to the Boston Celtics.  I hissed at him.  He said, "I didn't say that they'd be victorious."  Lakers fans somewhat appeased.  "But THESE 5 guys will be victorious!"  Screaming again.
• So when the guys did "Hangin' Tough" while wearing their Celtics jerseys, they got booed again.  I was glad that I wasn't on the floor because the show ended with green/white/black confetti.  A LOT of it.  I would've been quite pissed.  Yet I have video of them in their jerseys anyway, because the lighting was better at the time.
• OK, Danny was wearing the track jacket with "NKOTB 09" on it this time. I still want that jacket!
• The instrumentalists were NOT all from Texas this time, as they were when I went to the Dallas show.
• Saw a lot of underwear being thrown on to the stage.  Did not see if the people throwing it were taking it off right then and there.
• Joe has been trying to get everyone to say "Let's Get This" on the tour.  Tonight, he saw someone's sign, and they handed it over to him.  He had the audience yelling "Let's F**king Get This!"  One of the gals in back of me said that she didn't appreciate the profanity coming from the stage.  Yeah, well I don't appreciate your off-key obnoxious singing, but you decided to share that with all of the people around you.  Get over it.

I was too tired afterward to go to the after party.  My back was killing me from the standing, and I didn't know anyone else, anyway.  I'm sorry that I missed seeing Jordan there, though.  Jon had other plans, so he wasn't there, so I wouldn't have been able to get a pic of him for Aura, so at least I didn't go through all the hassle.

Aura and I already have tickets for the next tour, and they'll be playing at the Irvine Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.  I'm looking forward to whatever "Full Service" that the tour is going to hold for all of us!  Meanwhile, I'll just follow them on twitter and be a happy girl whenever I see Jordan's icon. :)

DLR LotD 4/16/09

Disneyland Resort

Line of the Day

Thursday, April 16, 2009

"I owe you a thrown butter." -- Cindy, to Linda, at Blue Bayou

Happy Birthday, Linda!

DLR LotD 04/12/09

Disneyland Resort 

Line of the Day

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

"Goats...and...chipmunks."  -- CM Brent, at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, telling us the Peeps animal shapes

Welcome back, Big Thunder Ranch BBQ!!!!  We've missed you.

In Honor of Passover

Here's Rockapella founder Sean Altman, hilarious as usual.

I Heart You, Paul Rudd

Linda and I saw "I Love You, Man" last week.

My thoughts:

• The embarassing speaker-phone call in the car reminded me of one of my friends talking about the stuff she did with her boyfriend before I met him.  When I met him, all I could think about was that this was the guy that did ... whatever ... and then she married him.  Yes, I still think of him that way.  People, maybe I should meet him BEFORE you tell me that stuff.  OK, I'm on a tangent.  Anyway, yes, it's OK for you to tell your friends about stuff you do with your guy, but no, it's not OK if you get upset when the guy talks about the same stuff with his friends.  It's only fair.  
• I really dug that blue tux.
• Loved the whole storyline with Lou Ferrigno.
• The billboard ads were hilarious.
• Jane Curtin!  Wow, where's she been?
• Man Cave.  Awesome.  I need to think of some kind of female equivalent...but I don't think that I would have the same, um, stuff on my side table.
• RUSH!  Oh, yes!  Totally missed playing with Caught Knapping during this part.
• Why the heck was he wearing those UGG boots with the shorts?  I mean, I know that women do it, but I hate that look on them, too.  If you're cold enough to wear the boots, then frickin' wear pants.
•  Anwar Sadat and the poster of the actual Anwar Sadat.  Great stuff.
• "He's going on a Man Date."  I didn't know that there was such a term before, but I like it.  So if it's two gay men, is it called something else?
• Jason Segel and Paul Rudd were a great duo.  That's my kind of buddy movie.  
• I wasn't that crazy about the women, even though I do like Rashida Jones.  
• I loved all of Peter's unsuccessful attempts at creating a nickname for Sydney: "It's better than 'Joben'."  
• Actually, I loved all of Peter's unsuccessful attempts at being a dude: posing in the tux, talking about self-gratification, and the primal scream, for example.
• Ooh, the setting for the wedding was very pretty.  I liked the stuff hanging down from the tarps.  Ok, I'm a girl.  I can't help it.
• TOTES MAH GOATS!

Fun movie, and it provided much-needed laughter.  There were so many great moments that I can't even remember what had me giggling silently and doubling over to the point of my stomach aching...but I loved it.

Thanks for the fun evening, Linda!

MvA 3D

I saw Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D last weekend.

My thoughts:

• I like that 3D makes things like animation more realistic.  Yes, there were sight gags, but it IS a kid's movie, after all.  
• The opening scene where they show Space was awesome.  It earned an "OOOOH!" from Cindy and me.
• Ginormica is NOT a flattering name for any woman, especially for someone as cute as Reese Witherspoon or her alter ego.
• Seth Rogen as B.O.B. was hilarious, especially the scene at the party with the Jell-O.
• I liked that the meteorite landed in Modesto.  I'm going to Fresno in a couple of months, and I only wish that I could see a giant person walking around just to have some entertainment.  OK, maybe not.
• How many times must the Golden Gate bridge be repaired after all of these monster movies?  No wonder you have to pay a toll.
• Do ALL United States Generals have Southern accents?  I don't recall Colin Powell speaking that way, but they always have the accents in the movies.  I did like Keifer's voice work, though.  Not Jack Bauer scary, but a different kind of crazy/scary.
• I like Insectosaurus, and knew that he'd be a plush.  Reese Witherspoon gave one to Ellen Degeneres on her show, and Ellen wasn't sure what to do with him, but it was cute!
• Galaxhar's suction-feet thingies:  weird, but amusing.  
• I wanted to maniacally laugh with Dr. Cockroach, PhD.
• Why did Derek look so much like Conan O'Brien?  Was that on purpose?
• Yay!  Stephen Colbert finally got to be President!  Lovin' his mad skillz on the keyboard

Fun stuff.  :)

Let Me Take You on an Escapade

APPARENTLY, I'm attracted to actors who portray criminals trying to escape from prison.

First of all, Wentworth Miller in "Prison Break."  His picture can be found in different rooms in my house, but here's another one.  Just 'cause.  I mean, HELLLLLOOOOO!!!!

Then today I find out that my dreamy Joseph Fiennes was in a film shown at last year's Sundance, titled "The Escapist."  It's available on DVD in London right now, but I'm not there.  The film is supposed to be screened in L.A. beginning April 10, but no showtimes have been scheduled yet.  It will be shown at the Laemmle on Sunset, so I'm hoping that it will come to Pasadena as well.  Not that I wouldn't drive to L.A. to see my man.  

As my friend Aura says,  "Joseph Fiennes = Riiiiippped (that's 'ripped'). Wow."

Wow, indeed, girl.  The trailer can be viewed here.

Here's another picture.

Somebody needs to find this Gap ad for me in print and frame it.  Oh, and give it to me.  Please.  Thank you.