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Our super-friend (who’s powers activate regularly), scored her, her hubs, the Dotsons, Mommy Strangelove and myself 6th row tix to see Anthony Bourdain wax philosophical (we suppose). Kudos to my hubs for agreeing to kid-sit the Overtly-Trite kiddo. Thanks to the amazing OT for who she is. Thanks again to Ashley Capps for getting him here, and thanks to Anthony Bourdain for not laughing hysterically at the suggestion (we think). Looking forward to this!!!! Buy your tickets at the Tennessee Theatre for April 4th with Tony Bourdain…sure to be fab! Please, don’t ask me what he’s going to do – we don’t care, we just dig him, umkay?! Oh, and if, perchance, Mr. Bourdain stumbles upon this site – you have got to try a Litton’s Burger while in town. Let me know if you need a tour guide. Woohoo…good Friday!
Hello Knoxvillians, there is so much I need and want to blog about but tonight, I’m going to blog about BOURDAIN. In a feat of amazing fabulousness, the ever hip and cool, Ashley Capps somehow lured the rock-star chef, Anthony Bourdain to Knoxville, Tennessee for 1 Night only at the Tennesse Theatre. The minute the Dotson’s clued me in I was IN, IN, IN. I am a big Bourdain-fan. I have a secret love of cocky men who are actually good at what they do. While there are a few things about Tony that annoy me, I’ve enjoyed his books, love his TV show and pretty much am going to plunk down some of my hard-earned cash to apparently see the man talk. Funny thing was that when he did his “viewer contest show”, I had remarked to the Jim all the places that I would take him in Knoxville for some good grub (Littons, Magpies, etc.). It’d be fab to show him around a city that I’ve been transplanted to and learned to love as it’s a different perspective. In the meantime, I would SOOOO pay the steep price to be a VIP, but since the Jim has agreed to watch a youngin’ for some friends I’ll be flying solo that night and I can’t convince him that I deserve to schmooze at a meet and greet with Tony. Look, I’m not sure what he’s going to do for the full “performance” but I’m willing to be there just to find out. Tickets go on sale this Friday so get in line folks for the April 4th engagement.
Thanks Mr. Capps for keeping the talent coming to Knoxville…it makes me feel like I live in a bigger city that’s more cosy.
Somehow I managed to get a gaggle of good friends together today to go see the new animated 3D extravaganza that is Coraline. I was surprised at the reviews – solid 87 on Rotten Tomato, and my film guru, Ebert liked it but thought the subject matter and movie was a little less than kid friendly. It’s definitely a good tale for kids to digest. It’s essentially about the lack of luster behind the belief that the grass is already greener on any side than the side you live on. It makes me think of some specific people in my life who seem to believe that life is a smorgasbord and people are expendable as long as life seems more golden wherever you decide to be…but I digress. The real-D was stunning and not at all full of the trite 3-D surprises that every other movie appear to be about. The story is taken from Neil Gaiman, whom is brilliant. It is a dark story, but a valuable lesson in working to make your “life” something wonderful once you realize that you’re responsible for making that life happen, not that life is always “done to you”. I don’t want to get preachy, so I’m not. While no children appeared to be freaked out significantly in the theatre, I’d recommend it to any parent/child that can glean more understanding from the heart of this story. Plus the main character has blue hair, and that’s just cool. Oh, and great performances by my favorite duo, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French…oh and the one funny moment is when I said “OH NO!” because I mistook that Keith David provided voice talent for the film not David Keith. Ha. ***1/2 Stars out of 4
For the first time since Tuesday, I ventured out into the public. Nose ragged from the relentless sneezing, blowing and such; hair unkempt and just managed to be whisked into a ponytail (I love having long hair); just needing to get into the sunlight and enjoy what was a wonderfully balmy day. I’m still stuffed up. I’m still coughing up gunk; but I needed to get out of the house. I was becoming one with the couch and the bed. So, surprisingly it was a good outing…
Step 1: Go to Pelanchos with a couple of good friends…the Jim, Mister PC (of Please Feed the Monkeys), and Mister AS. Eat entirely too many chips because you haven’t eaten a lot for a week and laugh a lot. Realize that we all need to get together more often.
Step 2: Go to Barnes & Noble and find some great new Foster Grant specs to help with computer viewing and have proof that I am aging. Ah yes. Some great scores at the bookstore and some new ideas about a side business project for me.
Step 3: Head out to Turkey Creek where I scored some great deals on tarts at Yankee Candle and some fun Clearance Items at World Market…then when checking out realize you notice someone and since you’re getting loopy because this is your first day out in the real world again you don’t say anything you just point and stare! Luckily, the fabulous Mrs. MBW and Mr. BW (of The House of Flying Monkeys) didn’t hold my sick-chic styling against me. It was good to see her out and about and being resilient with everything that’s been going on in her world. She’s a strong one and a fighter and frankly, someone I just enjoy spending some time with when we get the time.
Step 4: Meet up with the CREW at Aubrey’s on Paper Mill Road for a light dinner because by this time, I’m swimming in “you should be in bed-itis”. Had waaaaay too much fun with the incredible Mrs. AD & Mr. JD and her sister, Mr. PC (from above), and the awesomeness that is Mr. & Mrs. Dotson (of The Dotsons – go figure!). We dined and dished the dirt. Found out that Aubrey’s has really delicious cutlery (since the waitress couldn’t understand Maria’s accent); and just had a good time talking and catching up. We then settled back in at the House of Douglas where we enjoyed the song stylings of Wii Music (courtesy of Mrs. AD), swag from Mr. JD’s movie closet, random you-tube silliness and more….
I’m EXHAUSTED; but I was very happy to be out of the house and trying to get back into normal, non-sick mode. It’s amazing the effect that friends have on us. Better than the Tylenol Cold & Flu I had been doing shots with all week long. Much love and thanks to everyone for a great day.
How can you tell someone has the flu? Well, I’m sitting here doing clinical notes and watching The Jazz Singer on TV (not the Al Jolson version), but the wonderfully and slightly-kitschy film featuring Neil Diamond. I love it. It’s a slice of my childhood since my Dad was once a huge Neil Diamond fan; trust me, I enjoyed that fandom much more than his love of Richard Clayderman. Yikes! However it brings me to an observation I’ve held for about a year. I don’t know much about the teen phenoms “The Jonas Brothers”, but I have to wonder if they are the love-children of Neil and Lucy from the Jazz Singer. I mean, look at the similarities…uncanny no?
I mean please humor me here….
CASE STUDY 1: THE J BROS – google pictures of them….
CASE STUDY 2: NEIL DIAMOND – google pictures of him…
I mean come on?! The hair? The eyebrows? The apparent talent? There has to be a connection somewhere! I’m just waiting for the next co-headlining “family” tour. I’ll go, just to be vindicated.
Last year, I diligently got a flu shot in the hopes of combating the annual flu bug. Then we took in the kiddo last year, and learned that youth are sure-fire hosts or vectors for disease and bacteria. So I rang in 2008 with a fever of 102 degrees and a very unhappy flu experience. This year, I figured I was out of the woods cause I got the flu last year and I NEVER get something like the flu; plus I had got the shot last year which proved to be fairly ineffectual. So, last week I spent a whirlwind week in South Carolina and worked myself sick apparently (that’s what I get for trying to put too much on my plate in the short span of 3 and 1/2 days)…so here I sit, working from home finally on Friday after being sidelined since Tuesday with what I originally thought was a rancid head-cold. Sadly, the doctor confirmed for me that it was indeed the flu…AGAIN! Two times in 2 years! One time I had the prevention, the other, none. So perhaps it’s a gamble either way?! I don’t know. All I know is that I’m sick and tired of blowing my nose, monitoring my temperature and attempting to rest. I’m fast getting cabin fever as I’m used to being out and about and working my patootie off. It makes me feel vital. So hopefully, I’ll be back in full swing by Monday at work. So, what’s the verdict to have flu shot or not? Who knows!?
Sometimes my husband just shoots…sometimes he shoots and scores! The Jim posted this video clip on his Facebook profile. It’s hysterical and just awesome. A bit of some back-story on why I love it? Well, I studied to work with the gerontology population when I was doing my masters degree in Philadelphia. The unexpected loss of my Mom with 1 semester left side-tracked me from fully pursuing my focus in grief and loss at the time but now I have been blessed to work with this population primarily with my new job. I LOVE MY JOB! I absolutely love my job. I work for a great Medicare Advantage Plan and am able to work 1:1 with clients regularly. I have never enjoyed a job as much as I do this one. It makes me want to tell everyone to value our older generations…they are a wealth of wit, good humor, sage advice and experience that we can learn from EVERYDAY. Enuff with the focus on youth…youth is overrated and loaded with foolish choices and rash decision (i.e. Michael Phelp’s unfortunate bong incident – come on folks, he’s in college…leave him alone, he made an “image” mistake…yeesh!). Anyway enjoy the wit and wisdom of Gladys Hardy on the Ellen Show (we love Ellen, one of the best comedians of our time and always great on her delivery).
I just watched another one of her clips and she says she’s originally from Knoxville, Tennessee!!!! GO FIGURE! How awesome is that?
Every day, I hear about someone close to me either losing their job, or their job changing due to the economy. If this isn’t disheartening, I don’t know what is. Perhaps, I’m going to add to a rant started on the divine Ms. House of Flying Monkeys blog, but I want to add to the notion that I AM SICK to death about hearing about people at the “top” getting bonuses of obscene amounts of money while us in the middle and lower sector are struggling to retain our jobs and our sanity. Trickle down only works if there is benevolence at the top. Our country has lost it’s way folks. We have used excuses like capitalism, a belief in survival of the fittest only, and even Christianity to back up a belief that we are entitled to more, while conveniently disregarding the fact that we should be there to help one another (love thy neighbor – forget about that? Oh, and not your rich, Lexus-driving neighbor.). So the rich continue to pad their pockets while those of us who have never made a six figure salary wonder if tomorrow will be the day we get the pink slip handed to us. It’s a crappy time and a lot of it is due to our collective tendency to live in excess and believe that more is better. I’m sick of people criticizing every effort to think of a strategy to dig ourselves out of this nightmare, and yet no one has a sensible and workable plan either. This my dear friends is a crappy time in our country. It’s bringing out both the best and worst in all of us. Perhaps we need to remember that class seems to be firmly rooted in the middle. We’re the people who keep this country running folks and most of us have never received a million dollar bonus to do those jobs. I pray each day that my friends and family will be okay during this tumultuous time in our history; and that the error of our ways as a country will serve as a lesson on how to move forward. I still love America, and being an American; but the old way of doing things isn’t going to work anymore and remember…our ability to connect with each other and help one another will inevitably help us survive in the end.
It’s been a while since I posted. First of all, I was in South Carolina ALL last week and did a stupid thing…I scheduled home visits which had me out till around 9:30 PM almost every night. Never again. My “over-doing” has resulted in one spectacular head cold that sucks and sucks the life right out of me. In fact the only thing that’s perked me up today was this:
HOLY HECKERS! THAT’S MY HIGH SCHOOL TEAM!!!!! Plus that’s the exact year and team right after my senior year!!!!! One of my best hs friends, whom I’ll call “Rubber Duckie i.e. JS” posted this on her Facebook and I couldn’t be more excited! Woohoo!
Okay, so it sounds more elaborate than it really is right? This is our little slice of internet nonsense, which basically is our on-going effort to keep our friends and family up-to-date on our lives, our love and our continuing pursuit of pomegranates. In this modern age of movement, we’ve realized that distance is not an excuse to not keep everyone posted, so please - stop by anytime - in person or internet-ly and know that you are all never far from our thoughts.
