You didn't think I'd forget to post "The Perfect Year" did you? She was totally right about 2011. Happy New Year, everyone!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
she's comiiinnnggg!
According to her website, Patti will be at the Ravinia gala this coming July! With Patricia Racette, which is intriguing, because she's an opera singer. Whatever can this mean? I guess it's something for us to look forward to!
Below is a portion of the calendar with this info (sorry it's so eensy weensy)- I tried the Ravinia website, but don't see anything about the Gala listed yet...
Friday, December 16, 2011
you sunk my battleship!
I remember playing Battleship in grade school when we had indoor recess. And since it's Chicago and it rains/snows a lot, we had indoor recess quite a lot. It really is kind of tedious, yes? If only there were aliens involved in the actual game, like there apparently are in the movie, that would make it much more fun. Still, as I'm sure I've mentioned, it has men (Alex!) in uniform, and that's all I really ask for in a movie based on a board game.
Happy Alex Friday!
Friday, December 09, 2011
happy alex friday!
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a huge-ass planet colliding with earth! Whhaaaaat??? We don't know what's happening in this movie, really, but it was great to see you, Alex, especially all done up tuxedo style!Wednesday, November 23, 2011
what a difference a year makes!
A year ago today, everything came crashing down around me. It was probably the lowest I've ever, ever been. Ever been released (unfairly, but that's another story) from a job two days before your birthday? And right before Thanksgiving (by a deeply unhappy, vindictive bitch set out to sabotage you? Sorry, sorry, another time.) It sucks. It makes the holidays really suck.
But I'm thankful, this year, for my family, my friends, my new beautiful boss and delightful family of colleagues who have helped me rediscover my confidence. It's probably not healthy for me to carry around this resentment and anger for what happened last year, so I'm going to attempt to stop griping about it. Forget, possibly, but forgive, I don't think so. I know there's a distinction between things that are personal and things that are business, but this was personal. But what do you know? Good triumphs over evil, every time.
"so I said satan farewell - and now I'm all ready to fly!" Patti, who I am sure would agree with me about the benefits of holding a grudge (we're both Italian, after all) will say it better, so take it away, lady!
But I'm thankful, this year, for my family, my friends, my new beautiful boss and delightful family of colleagues who have helped me rediscover my confidence. It's probably not healthy for me to carry around this resentment and anger for what happened last year, so I'm going to attempt to stop griping about it. Forget, possibly, but forgive, I don't think so. I know there's a distinction between things that are personal and things that are business, but this was personal. But what do you know? Good triumphs over evil, every time.
"so I said satan farewell - and now I'm all ready to fly!" Patti, who I am sure would agree with me about the benefits of holding a grudge (we're both Italian, after all) will say it better, so take it away, lady!
Friday, November 18, 2011
gq man of the month...
And, to be honest, Man of the Blog, pretty much all the time. Yes, it's Alex Friday!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
if you haven't missed me...
Maybe you missed seeing Alex's hunky visage? Feast your eyes, friends, I'm sort of figuring out what to do with this blog. I started it out when I got a job in the arts, but I won't (can't) talk about work details. Confidentiality is the nature of the job. So I could talk about shows I see and stuff, but lots of people do that much better and more eloquently than I do. I was having fun writing the True Blood recaps, but the show's on hiatus now until June. I have started a little blogging side project (I'm just playing around with it, I promise I'll share when I've got something good) and I'm having a blast with it because it has a purpose (that little flame... that lights a fire under your ass... anybody?) and it's fun and I'm having so much fun doing it. This one feels old - even though I really really love posting pictures of Alex. How can that ever get old? But is it a fan blog? Not really. I called it the spastic starfish after that immortal line in Billy Elliot and because, at the time, I was working for a dance company and trying my hand in dance classes. I no longer work there and I was awful at dancing (spastic starfish, indeed!) so the name is untrue (even though I am still rather a spazz in regular life). So we need a facelift and some new ideas and a new title. Maybe I'll just tell you stories about myself. We'll see. I'm still thinking.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
let the season 5 countdown begin!
Waiting really does suck, and now we fans of True Blood have a very, very long time to wait until we find out what happens to our favorite residents of Bon Temps, LA. But I was wondering about next season and what book elements, if any might appear next season.I started re-reading the series. There's a lot that can't happen in the show because they've gone in a different direction (killed off characters, brought in other ones, etc). So. There's no more Sophie-Anne and so probably (most likely) no Andre, Siegebert, or Wybert. We've met Hadley and she's not a vampire (at least, she wasn't the last time we saw her. Who knows what might have happened in the interim?). Sookie won't have a reason (at least, she won't have the same reason) to go to New Orleans to clean out Hadley's apartment and probably won't meet Amelia.
A lot of the next book has to do with Jason shifting and becoming settled in the werepanther community. The nice guy Calvin in the books turned into dead uncle-daddy meth dealer, so his side plots are done. However, despite the fact that we haven't seen Crystal and the rest of the panthers on the show for a while, I think it might be optimistic of us to think we're done with them. It seemed to be too quickly and easily resolved. Although Jason does seem to have enough to keep him busy what with Hoyt hating his guts, his new friends with benefits thing with Jessica, and Steve Newlin on his doorstep (possibly a vampire now, and most definitely hating Jason's guts also).
Other things that show up in the next book - the packmaster contest, the supernatural sniper, and the pirate vampire. The packmaster contest on paper was between Alcide's father, and Patrick Furnan. It could be shifted to be between Alcide and whoever. Although there wouldn't be much point of a contest now, since he took Marcus down by force, somebody would have to challenge him. Besides, and more to the point, do we really want to see a packmaster contest?? Was that a chorus of "Hell no's!" that I just heard? Yeah, me too. The only thing we could get out of it, as far as I can see, is the introduction of Quinn. He can be a little bit of eye candy (like we need anymore) --- uh, I mean, another love interest for Sookie, now that she's ditched the vamps (let's see how long that lasts, shall we?). Besides, I like tigers.
As for the sniper - they could introduce a sniper, I guess, one who is picking off shifters and weres, but that seems a little tame for the Bon Temps of the True Blood universe.
The pirate vampire - again, they could introduce Charles Twining (but, as I said about Terry's war buddy - does this show really need some more random characters?). He would be fun character to have around. But his purpose in coming to town - exacting further payment for the death of Long Shadow) doesn't apply here. Bill already did that, in creating Jessica, unless Long Shadow's sire is really holding a grudge.
I wonder too about the Authority - something's gotta happen there, right? Like we actually find out who they are? Since Russell's coming back, I think that will bring more vampire politics back to the fore. Did he actually marry Sophie-Anne in the series? Will he make some claim on Bill's kingdom (how much longer will he actually have a kingdom, anyway?)?
I also just read that Tara may or may not really be dead. Will she come back as a ghost that possesses Lafayette? Will Sookie's shrieks for help summon a vampire who saves Tara by turning her?
Who knows? But the countdown to season 5?
Begins now.
Monday, September 12, 2011
post mortem: "And When I Die"
True Blood Season Finale!!!!
(note - includes spoilers from both the series and the books. Can't say I didn't warn you.)
Was it me, or did this one seem to drag a bit in the beginning? I feel like Jesus was a little slow in discovering Lafayette's altered state - he didn't even seem to have thought about the possibility of Marnie the crazy witch seeking out Lafayette, the powerful medium. Really, senor brujo? He should have figured it out WAY before he got stabbed in the hand with a fork (as we'll see later, Tara, who's about as magical as a corn fritter, figures it out just from seeing Jesus's body). I feel like the moment that he agreed to give Marnie his brujo juju should have been BIGGER. Instead, it was like, slurp, slurp, done and done, ding dong the brujo's dead, Marnie's got the head of a cage fighter and the body of a fry cook. Awesome. It felt a bit like the part when Bill and Eric blithely agreed to kill themselves in exchange for Sookie's freedom. It was too easy, and it should have been a big moment, but it just felt lifeless. And then Jesus was lifeless, and it was like, oh, okay. Is it because there's so much going on that we don't have enough time to get really invested in these characters?
And, oh, it's Halloween, and Merlotte's is fully staffed (!) and decorated for the holiday. The employees, too, are all decked out in costume (although zombies wearing thumb necklaces? Not what I want my server to look like!). Sookie got unfired, once Sam figured out what the heck had happened. It's weird though that Sam didn't try to figure out why Sookie was missing so many shifts in the first place. If she hadn't come in, he'd still be hanging around wondering where the heck she was (although she's rarely at work, so maybe he hadn't noticed? He's been kind of busy lately, after all). Some other stuff happens - one of Terry's war buddies comes into the bar - because what this show needs is more characters who are all mysterious and kind of shifty. Holly comes to work dressed as a fairy (and she looks truly terrifying) and smoking a joint. Tara shows up and tells them both that Marnie's back. And that she's taken over Lafayette. See? She's really firing on all cylinders tonight!!
Sookie can't get Bill or Eric by phone - so the three of them go running off. They find the two vampires, divested of their shirts (thanks, Marnie!) and chained together, on top of a pyre. Someone's planning a vampire bonfire. (Are you ready for this witch crap to be over yet? Because I totally was, by this point in the episode.) Holly, Tara and Sookie start chanting. It's Halloween, and, as Holly told us, the barrier between our world and the spirit world is especially thin. Hmmm, huhhh, wonder what's going to happen now? Gran and Antonia emerge from beyond the veil, spouting fortune style platitudes like "change is hard" "follow your heart" and so on. They leave again and take Marnie with them (after Lafayette puked a bitch out). Again, this should have been a Big Moment, right? But it was kind of anti-climactic.
After that, Sookie's helping to heal the rather crispy vampires (clad in matching robes) with her magical fairy blood. Choosing between Bill and Eric is, like, super hard for poor lil' ol' Sookie, and so she decides to choose.... herself. I don't understand her sudden wishy-washiness. Why on earth did she go and forgive Bill? He didn't deserve it!!! He had his chance and he blew it. Arrghhh, whatever. She cries for a while and then goes home. Can I pause for a moment here and say a big Brava to Pam for saying what all of us are thinking? How can somebody named "Sookie" come between her and her maker? It is a totally ridiculous name. Is it a Southern thing or something? Are there tons of "Sookies" running around Louisiana? Is it short for something? A nickname? It's never been explained how her brother is "Jason" while she got saddled with "Sookie".
Speaking of Jason, he got the tar beaten out of him by an enraged Hoyt (cuz well, duh. But he really was trying to do the right thing. And telling him would have been better than sneaking around, right?) and he was comforted in a very special way, by Jessica, wearing an awesome cape. But she doesn't want to be his girlfriend. So they're basically the vampire version of the movie Friends With Benefits (and maybe sometimes a little blood too?). Anyway, Jess left, and Jason was visited by Steve Newlin, flashing a pair of fangs (did he die in the earlier season? Or were the fangs a Halloween gag?)
Bill & Eric get a visit from Nan, who has left the Authority, blah blah blah. The two of them save us from having to listen to her anymore by killing her and her guards. Thanks, guys!
Alcide is visiting a parking garage (I don't remember what he has to do with this), which has a big old hole in it, like someone was buried in there and has just busted out. Oh, wait, that's exactly what happened. Looks like we're going to see Mr. Edgington again real soon.
Finally - Sookie returns home, alone (instead of bringing along a big burly Viking Vampire. Stupid, stupid Sookie.). It's dark and quiet. She calls for Tara, but... it's Debbie who steps out of the shadows. With a gun. They fight. Tara appears, trying to help, but gets shot when the gun goes off during a struggle. Sookie then shoots Debbie.
Well. That part was expected, since it does happen in the book (not as if that matters, but they were using the source material for some of this season). I had expected other deaths, and was especially worried about Lafayette. Cuz, if we're going by the book(s), he would have been the body in Andy's car in season 2. I don't want him to die, since he's a great character. He's always the one keeping it real, you know? But still, in terms of usefulness, he could have gone with Jesus. Anyway, I was real.surprised. when Tara was shot and (presumably) killed. In the books. she owns a clothing store. She's had some brushes with vamps, and she stays away, but generally, despite her childhood, she's happy and successful. She marries JB du Rone and has twins. Why can't we have introduced JB into the series and given Tara a little bit of happiness?Can't anybody in this dang town be happy? Clearly, Tara had jinxed herself by daydreaming with Sookie about their (vampire free) twilight years (har har) on the porch, watching the sunset with their grandbabies. So, goodbye, Tara. Oooh, I just had a thought - maybe Tara's angry spirit will take over Lafayette next? Ick, ick, ick, no, no, no.
I wonder who will come to Sookie's rescue (or who she thinks is going to come to her rescue - her house is out in the middle of nowhere. Who's gonna hear you, Sook?) My first thought was Eric, since he's the one who helps her with Debbie in Dead to the World. But that's unlikely, since she just broke up with both him and Bill. My other thought was a fairy - they could introduce us to Niall, her fairy prince great grandfather. Or maybe Sookie has another fairy godmother kind of creature lurking around?
Sunday, September 11, 2011
we remember...
"In those days, we finally chose to walk like giants and hold the world in arms grown strong with love
And there may be many things we forget in the days to come,
But this will not be one of them."
— Brian Andreas (Traveling Light: Stories & Drawings for a Quiet Mind)
It's one of those things, you know, when people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. I was at home, getting ready for work. I worked at a consulting firm in Skokie, my first job out of college - I had graduated in May, 2001 - ready to go out into the world, right?
But then the world changed. So I was getting ready for work. The tv was off - my dad, who worked nights at the time, was still asleep, and we didn't want the noise to wake him. We were waiting for the plumber. He's the one who told us to turn on the tv - a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.
We thought it was an accident, something that had gone horribly wrong. No one could even believe that it might have been done on purpose. Who could even conceive of such a thing? I had to get to work, so I got in the car and drove maybe 10 minutes. My office was right behind my high school, so this route was familiar to me. I couldn't help but think, though, that while everything looked the same, it somehow all felt completely different. Something had changed. Something was very wrong.
I remember I listened to Renee Fleming sing the Song to the Moon in the car on the way to work. It was soothing, and even though I didn't have all the details yet, I felt that soothing sounds were needed. I did not sit at my desk that day - someone was out and I was covering her phone - to add to the overall feeling of strangeness and confusion. I don't think any work got done by anyone that day - we were all online, or listening to the radio, trying to find out more news - what was happening out there. At the time we just didn't know, we didn't know if there were more planes, heading for Chicago, for the west coast, for the capitol. We had offices in Seattle and in Washington DC. Some of our consultants were traveling, so we worried.
I don't know why we all just didn't go home, but maybe there was a comfort in all being together. We had a staff meeting planned for that day, we ordered from a place called Pockets. we didn't have the meeting, but we still had the food. I remember eating it at my actual desk, scrolling through the news, emailing my mom (working at school) and my friends, trying to get more news, any news, about what was going on. I remember hearing stories of courageous rescuers and of incredible sadness and loss.
I remember the eerie silence of not hearing planes overhead, in the days that followed.
Friday, September 09, 2011
alex friday
So there is apparently a contest going on, and the prize is lunch with Alex and Kristin Bauer (who plays Pam on True Blood) which is probably the best contest I've ever heard of, but I'm so shy, I probably wouldn't be able to say anything to either of them if I won, I just get so nervous. Or, I'd probably ask Alex silly things about mayo or something. What am I saying? I never even get to babbling or asking silly questions, I would just turn red and go mute. It would be an awesome lunch though.
Monday, September 05, 2011
ding dong, the witch is???
True Blood - episode 11 "Soul of Fire"
Oh, True Blood.... here we are, at the end of the season, and all I can think is basically "WTF is going on in Bon Temps?" Here are some thoughts about the last episode, just randomly and in no particular order.
Oh, True Blood.... here we are, at the end of the season, and all I can think is basically "WTF is going on in Bon Temps?" Here are some thoughts about the last episode, just randomly and in no particular order.
The vampires arrived at Moon Goddess, badass soundtrack and flamethrowers poised and ready until Jason tells them to hold the phone - Sookie's in there, and they can't just level the place to the ground. The vampires grumble about it - hello Bill? Sookie has saved your ass many, many, times (from those drainers, like the first time you met her, remember? And from Lorena/Russell or whatever the hell was going on in Mississippi, and from the hotel when Eric was wandering around in a trance mumbling about killing the king.) And hello Eric? Sookie also saved you, from - uh - running down the street without a shirt on - and she took you in and sheltered you, and she almost certainly influenced Bill's decision on giving you the true death. So all I'm saying is that maybe you should think about that before getting all trigger happy with the torches. And also Jason is really firing on all his cylinders this season. He has been a multi-winner in the box of rocks (dumb as a) competition for many seasons, but this time, he's passed his crown on to other, worthier (dumber) characters.
Oh, and then Marnie shows up and says she's ready to negotiate - and her price for freeing Sookie is the lives of both Bill and Eric, and they agree. I know what I said up there just now, but it seems to me like they gave in to that a little too quickly. From calling her "f****ing Sookie" to being all like "yes, that's a great idea, kill me now!" Evidently, Pam felt the same way, because rather than shooting Bill or whatever she was supposed to do, she let loose a big old fireball that (duh) bounced off the protective wall thing outside the shop, frying poor Jason in the process. Jessica saves him and now there's a blood bond between the two of them, which seems to be spelling showdown between Jason and the increasingly unstable Hoyt.
Inside the witchy workshop, Jesus has finally figured out that the good witch in this scenario is definitely NOT Marnie and that she's crazy with power. The first indication of that was when she "puked a bitch up" in Lafayette's words and then bound Antonia to her. The second indication of that was when one of the witch-wannabes tried to escape and Marnie killed her. Kind of hard to believe that you're the good one when you kill people in cold blood there, Glinda. Jesus then convinces Marnie he feels a pulse in the girl and takes her away to do some brujo shit that ultimately unbonds Marnie and Antonia and sends Antonia off into the beyond of beyond. Finally. Sookie's fairy fingers also play a part in breaking some spells and the vampires come running back in. Bill shoots Marnie and just like that, she's gone. OR IS SHE??? Right at the end, she comes zooming in and gets swallowed by Lafayette. Oh. great.
What else? Andy is walking home from fort bellefleur, trying not to get "lost in the woods retarded" when he comes upon a fairy woman in the woods. She's gorgeous, he thinks he's hallucinating, one thing leads to another, yada yada yada, he promises to protect her. That does not seem like such a great idea.
Sam fights Marcus but, in a move that surprised NO ONE, it's Alcide who deals the final blow. (and that's when we fell for, the leader of the pack - vrrooom! vrooom!) Alcide was also none too thrilled to come back to his own house to find Marcus with Debbie in her underwear. Even though she swore nothing happened, he abjured her, which is a big hairy shifter deal.
I guess we'll have to see what happens on Sunday, although I think that Alcide will become packmaster or get set up for the packmaster contest that appears in the next book. Someone - either Jesus or some other witches, somewhere, will get rid of Marnie once and for all (at least, I hope they do, I'm ready for her to be gone). This will not be a bloodless coup, and I'm worried about Lafayette, and Jesus.
Sookie will choose neither Eric nor Bill, conflicted by her feelings for both of them and repelled by their vampire nature. I think she'll end the season alone (again), setting her up for the possible introduction of Quinn next season.
Friday, September 02, 2011
in our perfect park....
I only saw three concerts at Ravinia this summer, and they all happened to be in August. It’s such a summer tradition for me and I was kind of bummed that I didn’t have a chance to go up there earlier in the season. It’s so nice to wander around the park before show time – you can marvel at the new pedestrian underpass (seriously, it’s pretty rockin’), stock up on glow rings at the gift shop, buy some overpriced food (although the giant carrot cake cupcakes and the garlic parmesan fries are totally worth it) and people watch. My mind is always blown by the amount of stuff people bring to the park. I’m all about minimizing the stuff I have to schlep around. I usually sit in the pavilion anyway, but on the rare occasions when I’ve brought food, it’s been a pretty modest spread. Sandwiches, bottles of water, fruit, a little dessert. Chips, maybe. Cole slaw and/or potato salad if I’m feeling ambitious. No chairs, no table, no candelabra, no keg, no coolers, no wine. No flowers. No knitting. No board games. Nothing crazy. But people go all out, and more power to them, I say, because it’s fun for me to look at.
Anyway. Wednesday night was our final visit to the park this season. We saw Mandy Patinkin** and Nathan Gunn. Together. At the same time. An exciting yet rather perplexing combination of performers. Mandy clarified for us how the evening came to be – they had apparently shared a dressing room (which they both referred to as “a closet”) for one of the Sondheim birthday concerts. They got to talking, like you can’t help doing when confined with someone in a really small space, and a bromance was born, brought to vibrant life for us in Highland Park.
The stage was mostly empty except for two pianos (grands? Baby grands? I really have no idea. They were quite large and black and shiny), two chairs (one on each side of the stage) and two small table to hold glasses of water etc) and two festive floral arrangements on either side of the stage. The crowd was mainly an older, north shore kind of bunch (not as extravagantly decked out as the group we saw who had come to see “Chicago” over the weekend. No glowy rings or light up sequined fedoras, more’s the pity). Our seats were decent (center section, row CC).
On with the show. The two gentlemen were both in great voice and horribly overdressed for the warm evening. Nathan had a suit on, for god’s sake, with a jacket and everything. Mandy was in his concert blacks (pants and long-sleeved v-neck shirt, possibly sweater), and was obviously hot and uncomfortable. He rolled up a bandana at one point and wrapped it around his head (possibly to keep the sweat out of his eyes) which, with his beard, made him look sort of pirate like.***
Although on paper it seems like a strange combo, in action, the two of them were really quite lovely. They were joined by Mandy’s son, Gideon, on a few songs (also wearing a long-sleeved shirt, although at least he could hang out in the air-conditioned back stage area when he was not on stage). They sang for almost two hours, without a break. They kicked off with a mash up that included a memorable rendition of Figaro’s song from the Barber of Seville – sung by both of them. There was some pop, some broadway (including Assassins and The Music Man, Camelot, no Evita, in case you wondered), some standards, some Yiddish renditions of broadway songs, including “White Christmas” (but why? It’s AUGUST!) and also “Maria” from West Side Story. When Nathan went up on some lyrics from Over The Rainbow, Mandy chimed in helpfully, “Do you want me to do it in Yiddish?” which he did – and it was back on track. They closed with "Sunday" from Sunday in the Park with George. Big sigh of contentment here.
They balanced each other out nicely – comedy and charm and great singing. I enjoyed it very much, and am even more of a Nathan Gunn fan than I was before. I will definitely see more of them in the future. And I am hoping that Mandy brings his little Sicilian friend back to Ravinia with him after their Broadway run in the fall (I heard they’re supposed to tour some more after that. So next summer? You bring the sass and I’ll bring the sequined fedoras?)
** Incidentally, my spell-check doesn’t know “Patinkin” and suggested instead: Potemkin, Patenting, Pataki and Paining.
***I have noticed this lately, at a few of the shows I have been to – and I’m here to let you know, performers of the world, that you can wear cooler clothes and we will understand. I know the leather jacket is part of your look, Bono, but you don’t need to wear it when it’s 90 degrees and humid. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at that show and I was just sitting around watching you. You can take off the knit cap, Edge, really, we’ll understand. Although then it might be all like, “Where’s the Edge? Didn’t he come?” so we’d be confused, but you’d be so much cooler. In the same vein, Nathan, just take off the jacket already. For real. They were both making me hot just looking at them and I was, as I say, just sitting in the audience, not running around under hot stage lights. I know you want to look nice and professional and all that, but honestly. A t-shirt would be fine. I’m there to see you, not your spiffy suit/leather jacket/knit cap/leather pants (also Bono)/sweaty bandana.
Anyway. Wednesday night was our final visit to the park this season. We saw Mandy Patinkin** and Nathan Gunn. Together. At the same time. An exciting yet rather perplexing combination of performers. Mandy clarified for us how the evening came to be – they had apparently shared a dressing room (which they both referred to as “a closet”) for one of the Sondheim birthday concerts. They got to talking, like you can’t help doing when confined with someone in a really small space, and a bromance was born, brought to vibrant life for us in Highland Park.
The stage was mostly empty except for two pianos (grands? Baby grands? I really have no idea. They were quite large and black and shiny), two chairs (one on each side of the stage) and two small table to hold glasses of water etc) and two festive floral arrangements on either side of the stage. The crowd was mainly an older, north shore kind of bunch (not as extravagantly decked out as the group we saw who had come to see “Chicago” over the weekend. No glowy rings or light up sequined fedoras, more’s the pity). Our seats were decent (center section, row CC).
On with the show. The two gentlemen were both in great voice and horribly overdressed for the warm evening. Nathan had a suit on, for god’s sake, with a jacket and everything. Mandy was in his concert blacks (pants and long-sleeved v-neck shirt, possibly sweater), and was obviously hot and uncomfortable. He rolled up a bandana at one point and wrapped it around his head (possibly to keep the sweat out of his eyes) which, with his beard, made him look sort of pirate like.***
Although on paper it seems like a strange combo, in action, the two of them were really quite lovely. They were joined by Mandy’s son, Gideon, on a few songs (also wearing a long-sleeved shirt, although at least he could hang out in the air-conditioned back stage area when he was not on stage). They sang for almost two hours, without a break. They kicked off with a mash up that included a memorable rendition of Figaro’s song from the Barber of Seville – sung by both of them. There was some pop, some broadway (including Assassins and The Music Man, Camelot, no Evita, in case you wondered), some standards, some Yiddish renditions of broadway songs, including “White Christmas” (but why? It’s AUGUST!) and also “Maria” from West Side Story. When Nathan went up on some lyrics from Over The Rainbow, Mandy chimed in helpfully, “Do you want me to do it in Yiddish?” which he did – and it was back on track. They closed with "Sunday" from Sunday in the Park with George. Big sigh of contentment here.
They balanced each other out nicely – comedy and charm and great singing. I enjoyed it very much, and am even more of a Nathan Gunn fan than I was before. I will definitely see more of them in the future. And I am hoping that Mandy brings his little Sicilian friend back to Ravinia with him after their Broadway run in the fall (I heard they’re supposed to tour some more after that. So next summer? You bring the sass and I’ll bring the sequined fedoras?)
** Incidentally, my spell-check doesn’t know “Patinkin” and suggested instead: Potemkin, Patenting, Pataki and Paining.
***I have noticed this lately, at a few of the shows I have been to – and I’m here to let you know, performers of the world, that you can wear cooler clothes and we will understand. I know the leather jacket is part of your look, Bono, but you don’t need to wear it when it’s 90 degrees and humid. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at that show and I was just sitting around watching you. You can take off the knit cap, Edge, really, we’ll understand. Although then it might be all like, “Where’s the Edge? Didn’t he come?” so we’d be confused, but you’d be so much cooler. In the same vein, Nathan, just take off the jacket already. For real. They were both making me hot just looking at them and I was, as I say, just sitting in the audience, not running around under hot stage lights. I know you want to look nice and professional and all that, but honestly. A t-shirt would be fine. I’m there to see you, not your spiffy suit/leather jacket/knit cap/leather pants (also Bono)/sweaty bandana.
Laura Benanti at Ravinia
How awesomely fantastic is Laura Benanti?? I was so excited when I got my Ravinia advance ticket order form and saw her name on the list - and for $10?? An absolute steal. (Plus we got free parking!)
Her concert was last weekend, in the Gordon Bennett Hall at Ravinia (the mainstage was occupied by the band "Chicago" and while I had a vague Peter Cetera-style idea of their songs in my head, at the time I couldn't think of a single one. And since I can never ever suffer in silence, I mentioned it to my friends, and we went trawling on itunes for Chicago songs. Now, we've been wandering around with songs like "What kind of man would I be" and "Glory of Love" in my head. Awesome. So maybe next year, I'll actually BE at the Chicago concert, but this year I was geeking out in the Gordon Bennett Hall.)
I knew Laura could sing, from seeing her in Gypsy (City Center and Broadway) and Women on the Verge. But I didn't know she was so hilarious. First off, she said "Nerd alert!" since we were all in there seeing her instead of being with the hip-er (or hip replacement-ier, judging by the hoardes of aging rock fans on the lawn) Chicago fans. She was surprised by how savvy we were as an audience, since we knew theater related stuff and could follow her anecdotes without lots of explanation. She, too, had been a theater geek since birth, practically, having a big time obsession with Stephen Sondheim (she even dressed up as Fosca for Halloween when she was a kid, eschewing the slutty nurse/slutty princess/slutty whatever costumes that would have gotten her more candy). Since all of us were also clearly geekishly inclined, we all ate it up with a spoon.
Anyway, she sang her face off - and it was a little bit of everything - broadway, rock, and an awesome medley that was started off, in all seriousness with "Single Ladies". Loved it. I kind of want to be her when I grow up. I hope Ravinia has her back soon, on a bigger stage and for more than $10 for tickets. It was a beautiful evening.
(Sidebar - being a total geek, I had bought a bottle of bright blue nail polish called "Model Behavior" and it tickled me, since it was the name of Laura's killer song in Women on the Verge AND it sort of went with one of her costumes from the show. So I had big plans to give it to her, but did not get the chance, alas, alas. So now I have a bottle of bright blue nail polish...)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
post mortem: "burning down the house"
The good:1. Bill's new plan!!! We should have firebombed Moon Goddess a LONG TIME AGO, your highness. But he seems to have - ahem - seen the light, so to speak. And fortunately, he ordered a kickass attack soundtrack, too. Take up your flame throwers, vampires of Area 5.
2. Sookie and Jason recruiting Lafayette and Jesus - that's right guys! Now we're cooking with gas!
3. Holly and Tara - that's right ladies, get mad! Get even! Get outta that shop before it gets torched. You've got the juice. Now break that spell. Also? Way to get wise to the whole door-is-hot thing. You guys? Are definitely the brains behind the operation.
4. Jesus - way to get freaky with your inner demon-brujo self.
5. Antonia - girl, you were talking sense there, for one hot second. Should have left crazy Marnie when you had the chance.
6. Terry & Andy at "Fort Bellefleur" - I like that they fleshed out Terry's character a bit more, making him that pillar of support for his cousin Andy. But was it me, or did Andy not seem totally sincere in his vow to kick the habit? Maybe his long walk home to Bon Temps will change his mind?
7. Sookie, harnessing her glowy faery fingers to break up the big battle at the hotel (and keeping Bill alive, since a world without him would just be awful, or something) - leading to...
The Bad:
1. Eric regaining his memory. I'm sort of surprised that they did this now, rather than waiting for the very very end. And I know (I know!) that they aren't following the books exactly (at all!) and I see that they would need to shift the timing and circumstances of Eric's regaining his memory, since the witch was different and it was a whole other scenario. I get it. But in the book, his not remembering everything stretched out for several episodes. Now he remembers everything. Okay. Big problems there, for him and Sookie, obviously. Where does this go? And also, the next book deals with pack stuff and Jason becoming a panther, and I think they introduce Quinn - but what's next season going to do?
Sorry, I digress.
2. Tommy's death. I know that I should probably care more about this but, well, I just don't. I'm sad for Sam and all, but Tommy wasn't a great character. He had a tough life, with the dog fighting etc etc but he kept right on scheming. He took advantage of Sam, rather than trying to turn around his life. Sam gave him a job and a place to live and a chance to turn himself around, and he stole from Sam. Then he shifted into him and slept with his new girlfriend. He also scammed Maxine Fortenberry, who was teaching him to read and stuff, and he shifted into her too. This was a boy that was beyond saving. He seemed to be showing remorse at the end there, but he was dying. Everyone's sorry for stuff when they're dying. I didn't care enough about him to see him go. His death does seem to be the catalyst for several things though, and none of them good:
3. Sam wants revenge. He goes and beats the crap out of some henchwolf, and Alcide helps. Oh, and then....
4. Marcus and Debbie Hook Up. Yeah. As if Alcide needs another reason to hate you, Marcus. This seems to be leading to a wolf battle - and my money is on Alcide winning and becoming Leader of the Pack (vroom! vroom!)
5. Hoyt's descent into beer-soaked misery and continuous farting. What is happening to you, Hoyt? Get a frickin' grip, already.
6. Jason asking Jessica to glamour him to make him forget what happened between them. Loved her response - who will take away my guilt? (and then her wanting to go and eat someone, and then also her desire to blow shit up. Love Jess.)
7. Sookie being wishy-washy about Bill and Eric. Why are you so sentimental about Bill all of a sudden, Sook? Have you ever gone into any enchanted forests with Bill? I think not.
The Ugly
And "the ugly" prize of the week goes to.... Marnie! Here we were thinking you were the victim here, but hey, didn't you invite the spirit to come around in the first place? Yes I think you did. I think now that you've tasted real power, power beyond your limited means, you don't want to go back. People are listening now. They fear you. You're in control. Well, Marine, you're on a collision course with reality - in the form of a whole slew of angry vampires with blow torches.
I'm ready for this storyline to be over with so - burn, baby, burn (but Sookie, find a way out first, okeydokey? Or, hey, if not, the show could just be about the vamps, maybe?)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Post Mortem "Let's Get Outta Here"
The Good:
1. Dream Sookie: Let's face it, our girl has some of the best v-trip, blood-bond related dreams, like, ever (helloooo, snow sex with Eric!) Here, she has just gotten shot in a battle with a crazy witch (not like there was ever any question as to if she'd make it or not, but still), rescued by a werewolf with unresolved feelings towards her, brought back (again) by an ex-flame vampire who's now king, and off to find her current flame who's gone missing (presumed bewitched). And yet, she still has time to dream herself into a slinky red number and heels, complete with sexy noir-ish soundtrack for a little spicy menage-a-vampire. With both Bill and Eric. She has, at least in her dreams, neatly, sidestepped the whole Team Bill vs Team Eric debate. She's Team Both of Them (at the same time!), to which I must say, with envy, Brava. Go, dream Sookie, you telepathic siren, you.
3. Jessica's telling Nan: "This is the worst day of my life. I wish I was dead, except I am and it doesn’t even matter.” She is still a teenager, after all...
4. The Witchy Women (and man) of Bon Temps finally get their magic on: Tara and Holly F.I.N.A.L.L.Y start to understand that Marnie/Antonia is a few pages short of a spellbook AKA she's completely and totally nutso. These girls can do something about this, and now Tara sort of owes Bill for saving her from Pam. Let's hope she decides to call...
4. Jesus! Way to get down with your badass brujo self, mihijo! I was wondering what he was doing/where he was while his honey was getting possessed by the spirit of Mavis - I mean, presumably he was working, right, but since we were expected to believe he up and left work on a whim to go Mexico to see abuelito, so I kind of thought he'd stick around during all the supernatural weirdness going on. I guess not, but Jason (!) called him (!!) to figure things out, and he got Lafayette back to normal (relatively speaking). Now, the two of them need to free Holly and Tara (who should be doing some instructive reading while they are locked in the shop, right?) and work some magic on Marnie.
5. Hey, Mikey!! It seems as though the resolution of this Mavis thing also means the resolution of the whole Mikey the Demon Baby thing, yes? And while I love Terry the Doting Dad, there really isn't anything left to say here, is there?
6. Sam shifting into the bunny - along with Emma's comment about her turning into a bunny so she could pet herself... awwwww.... Growing up Shifter.... Points for that, Sam, but the whole camping idea was weird.
In the Sort of Good category:
7. Tommy, apparently feeling some remorse, seems to want to do Sam a solid, you know, after sleeping with his girlfriend while shifting into him. So he shifts into Sam to go and beat up Marcus. This is an odd sort of favor, if you think about it, because if it went well, Sam would never know what had happened, only that Marcus wasn't bothering him too much anymore. However...
The Bad:
1. Sam & Marcus: on the surface, this might have been a fair fight. They're both short guys, with slight builds, both shifters. Sam theoretically could probably shift into a wolf, to give them even footing (pawing?) but that's probably frowned upon, or something. But then you've got Tommy-as-Sam shooting off his mouth versus a whole room full of crazy weres, all of them (except Alcide) spoiling for a fight. Then Tommy shifts back into himself, cuz he's gotten the pulp beaten out of him. Oh, and because he's a dumbass.
Speaking of dumbasses...
2. Insecure Debbie's back on v and then she goes to see Sookie, offering her help. Now we all know she's not to be trusted, but what is this offer of help for? A case of keep your friends close but keep your enemies even closer? Was she supposed to give Sookie's presence away to Antonia in the magic shop? Was that (gasp, clutch pearls) a double cross? From Debbie? Surely not! But then, plan foiled, she serves as the getaway driver, even though she drives like a girl, despite her werewolfy badassness.
3. What's up with Alcide kissing the ring? You are too much of a lone wolf my friend - you're either going to leave this pack or end up running it.
4. The Convention of Tolerance - too obviously thrown in as a means for Antonia to strike. But also? Nan Flanigan, Jessica is totally right, you are nothing like you are on tv. Maybe someone can throw a wayward stake your way?
The Very, Very Bad:
1. Evil Antonia's use of 'The Blond One' for her evil bidding. Are Sookie and Eric never to be happy? I am so stressed out now about what's going to happen to Eric, I cannot even tell you. I'm thinking (hoping) either the local witches will get wise or the fairy blood will give him an extra boost to break free of the spell.
And Finally -
The Ugly:
Hoyt, you get The Ugly Corner all to yourself!!! Dang, but you've gotten mean and bitter. And, I mean, I get it. You're upset. You're heartbroken. You gave her your heart, she gave you a pen, and you used that pen to write "Monster's Box" on a cardboard box that held her possessions (was that a copy of Twilight I spotted in there, by the way?). But listen Hoyt, seriously: she warned you. You could be happy as a pig in poo with Summer, eating her biscuits and so on. Jessica tried to stay away from you. She told you what vampires are like. But did you listen? No. Is this her fault? Not completely. The monster here? Is you, buddy. I liked you better when you were sweet and standing up to your overbearing mama.
1. Dream Sookie: Let's face it, our girl has some of the best v-trip, blood-bond related dreams, like, ever (helloooo, snow sex with Eric!) Here, she has just gotten shot in a battle with a crazy witch (not like there was ever any question as to if she'd make it or not, but still), rescued by a werewolf with unresolved feelings towards her, brought back (again) by an ex-flame vampire who's now king, and off to find her current flame who's gone missing (presumed bewitched). And yet, she still has time to dream herself into a slinky red number and heels, complete with sexy noir-ish soundtrack for a little spicy menage-a-vampire. With both Bill and Eric. She has, at least in her dreams, neatly, sidestepped the whole Team Bill vs Team Eric debate. She's Team Both of Them (at the same time!), to which I must say, with envy, Brava. Go, dream Sookie, you telepathic siren, you.
(Best. Dream. Ever)
2. The Man with the Plan.... Jason Stackhouse (!?!): Remember last season when Jason was only playing at being a cop to impress a girl? Artfully dodging his written exam, doing drug-busting ridealongs to Hot Shot, making paper clip chains on desk duty? Now, he's the Voice of Reason on the Bon Temps PD. I say again: Jason "I'm too dumb to be depressed" Stackhouse is The Voice of Reason on the Bon Temps PD. Scary no? But he handled the Lafayette/Mavis baby Mikey kidnapping hostage situation very well (I bet HE would have remembered to bring Hoyt some pants!) And then, he brought Jessica's box of things to her (smartly scribbling over angry, angry Hoyt's writing of Monster Box - but more on him later). Speaking of Jessica, I am rather liking this Jason/Jessica pairing, although it feels like the Hot Shot plotline was way too easily dispatched. Which is fine by me, personally, I am all for pretending like Crystal and her freaky panther crew never existed, but I have a feeling that they'll be making a reappearance. Poor Uncle Daddy Jason...
3. Jessica's telling Nan: "This is the worst day of my life. I wish I was dead, except I am and it doesn’t even matter.” She is still a teenager, after all...
4. The Witchy Women (and man) of Bon Temps finally get their magic on: Tara and Holly F.I.N.A.L.L.Y start to understand that Marnie/Antonia is a few pages short of a spellbook AKA she's completely and totally nutso. These girls can do something about this, and now Tara sort of owes Bill for saving her from Pam. Let's hope she decides to call...
4. Jesus! Way to get down with your badass brujo self, mihijo! I was wondering what he was doing/where he was while his honey was getting possessed by the spirit of Mavis - I mean, presumably he was working, right, but since we were expected to believe he up and left work on a whim to go Mexico to see abuelito, so I kind of thought he'd stick around during all the supernatural weirdness going on. I guess not, but Jason (!) called him (!!) to figure things out, and he got Lafayette back to normal (relatively speaking). Now, the two of them need to free Holly and Tara (who should be doing some instructive reading while they are locked in the shop, right?) and work some magic on Marnie.
5. Hey, Mikey!! It seems as though the resolution of this Mavis thing also means the resolution of the whole Mikey the Demon Baby thing, yes? And while I love Terry the Doting Dad, there really isn't anything left to say here, is there?
6. Sam shifting into the bunny - along with Emma's comment about her turning into a bunny so she could pet herself... awwwww.... Growing up Shifter.... Points for that, Sam, but the whole camping idea was weird.
In the Sort of Good category:
7. Tommy, apparently feeling some remorse, seems to want to do Sam a solid, you know, after sleeping with his girlfriend while shifting into him. So he shifts into Sam to go and beat up Marcus. This is an odd sort of favor, if you think about it, because if it went well, Sam would never know what had happened, only that Marcus wasn't bothering him too much anymore. However...
The Bad:
1. Sam & Marcus: on the surface, this might have been a fair fight. They're both short guys, with slight builds, both shifters. Sam theoretically could probably shift into a wolf, to give them even footing (pawing?) but that's probably frowned upon, or something. But then you've got Tommy-as-Sam shooting off his mouth versus a whole room full of crazy weres, all of them (except Alcide) spoiling for a fight. Then Tommy shifts back into himself, cuz he's gotten the pulp beaten out of him. Oh, and because he's a dumbass.
Speaking of dumbasses...
2. Insecure Debbie's back on v and then she goes to see Sookie, offering her help. Now we all know she's not to be trusted, but what is this offer of help for? A case of keep your friends close but keep your enemies even closer? Was she supposed to give Sookie's presence away to Antonia in the magic shop? Was that (gasp, clutch pearls) a double cross? From Debbie? Surely not! But then, plan foiled, she serves as the getaway driver, even though she drives like a girl, despite her werewolfy badassness.
3. What's up with Alcide kissing the ring? You are too much of a lone wolf my friend - you're either going to leave this pack or end up running it.
4. The Convention of Tolerance - too obviously thrown in as a means for Antonia to strike. But also? Nan Flanigan, Jessica is totally right, you are nothing like you are on tv. Maybe someone can throw a wayward stake your way?
The Very, Very Bad:
1. Evil Antonia's use of 'The Blond One' for her evil bidding. Are Sookie and Eric never to be happy? I am so stressed out now about what's going to happen to Eric, I cannot even tell you. I'm thinking (hoping) either the local witches will get wise or the fairy blood will give him an extra boost to break free of the spell.
And Finally -
The Ugly:
Hoyt, you get The Ugly Corner all to yourself!!! Dang, but you've gotten mean and bitter. And, I mean, I get it. You're upset. You're heartbroken. You gave her your heart, she gave you a pen, and you used that pen to write "Monster's Box" on a cardboard box that held her possessions (was that a copy of Twilight I spotted in there, by the way?). But listen Hoyt, seriously: she warned you. You could be happy as a pig in poo with Summer, eating her biscuits and so on. Jessica tried to stay away from you. She told you what vampires are like. But did you listen? No. Is this her fault? Not completely. The monster here? Is you, buddy. I liked you better when you were sweet and standing up to your overbearing mama.
Friday, August 19, 2011
american girl in italy
This iconic photograph turns 60 this month!! I remember, several years ago when I was studying abroad in Italy, it was actually pretty close to this, particularly in Southern Italy. We'd walk down the street, cute young college girls and we'd get the eye. I remember a guy almost fell off his scooter because he was looking over his shoulder at us instead of looking at the road. And one morning, in Sorrento, we were having some breakfast cappuccinos at a cafe on the street, and some guys across the street were hanging off the balcony to watch us. It wasn't weird or creepy or anything, and they never did anything else but give us the eye and go "Ciaooooo" (the equivalent, I guess to "How YOU doin'?"). This photo reminds me of that summer in Italy.
alex friday - man of style
Look who's In Style's Man of Style for September!!
I got the magazine itself in the mail a few days ago, what a pleasant surprise in the midst of the brick-like September issue! Go and pick it up or read the article at askarsgard.com!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Finish
This is Finish, my sweet kitty girl, who we lost earlier this week. You can't see it here, but she had little extra toes on her front paws, so it looked like she was wearing mittens. She was 18 years old (over 80 human years) and she was a very good girl. She and her brother, Start, came to us about 10 years ago when we adopted them from a co-worker of mine who was about to have a baby. Her husband was phobic about having the kitties around the baby so he made her give them up (HATEFUL!). I don't get that, because I've had cats my whole life, including when I was a baby, and I turned out just fine. Whatever. They brought much joy into my life and I'll miss them both very much.
Post Mortem: "Spellbound"
Things are really starting to heat up in Bon Temps (and I'm not talking about the temperature, ya know?) - it's episode 8 and we're in the thick of season 4. Let's get down to business. First off, though, are we liking the Good, Bad and the Ugly breakdown? I feel like it lets me hit the highlights and make comments while not having to summarize the whole episode. Right? Okay then. I'll do it this way until I think of something else... Cool?
The Good:
1. Uhhhhhhh, do you have to ask? Sookie has a magic shower that is able to transport her to a magical, Narnia-esque place filled with snow, a fur lined bed, and a clothes-less Viking vampire, with no memory and lots and lots of time on his hands.
2. Jess not being dead (yay, Jason!)
3. Sookie's being able to use her fairy fingers to fight off one of the witches (and her looking at them, kind of astonished and going, "THANK you!"
4. Marcus (Leader of the Pack! Vroom! Vroom!) keeping out of the vampire/witch war. Good, yes. Way to have strong leadership and do something not stupid.
5. Pam's got her face back (for now?)
6. Sam and Luna are back on track.
7. Sam gets cat barbie to like him (ah, no, just kidding, this is so far inconclusive).
8. Bill saving Tara ("Yew know whahhh" - No Bill, yew really need to spell this out for her, since she is pretty much as dumb as she looks)
9. Sookie and Eric (looking kind of American Gothic-y) telling Bill they wanted to fight with him. YEAH! Let's kick some witch butt, y'all!! And Sookie reminding Eric that he's a warrior (so maybe next time HE should do the battle planning?)
The Bad
1. Andy's V Addiction is SO BAD, he'd be willing to scarf down melty vampire entrails in the middle of the street. GROSS. Get him to v-rehab or something - stat!
2. Tara. Still following Marnie/Antonia (Marntonia? Antnie?). Do you really not remember what it's like to be possessed? Remember Eggs and Maryann? Yeah. Crazy. Not fun. Stop this madness!
3. Poor Jessica. Getting her invitation recalled from not one but two homes. What's a girl to do? And Hoyt, what a meanie. What happened to him? Why can't we have one happy, decent character without them getting irreparably scarred?
4. Marcus (vroom! vroom!) busting in on the cozy domestic scene involving Sam, Luna and Emma. Yeah. Way to not make rational decisions. Apparently his packmaster mentality doesn't spread to his personal life (no wonder people think werewolves are thugs!). And while I'm thinking about it, isn't it weird that he would have been married to a shifter in the first place? Aren't they all about preserving their were-ness?
5. Debbie telling Alcide to stay away from Sookie. Yeah, right, as if.
The Ugly
1. Bill Compton. I have a feeling that you and your "leadership" are part of the reason why the South lost the Civil War. What.Were.You.Thinking? Hey Antonia, let's totally meet. We can have peace! How does that sound? Good? Rockin. See you in the cemetary at midnight!
Did he really think that one phone call laying on the vampire smarm would be enough for her to suddenly turn rational? Instead of talking, they should have shown up in force, with maybe one or two other witches (duh! you guys are vampires! find some friendly witches and have them help you out!), and ambushed her. Shot her, exorcised her, whatever. Take her down. Without her, the other witches in the coven wouldn't be as powerful. They could have been glamoured to forget. The "Authority" wouldn't even have to know. Now as it is...
2. Sookie gets shot. Arrghhh! And then she's saved by Alcide, who is being watched by Debbie. Yeah. Someone hasn't kept his promises - to Debbie about staying away from Sookie, and to the new pack, to stay out of the vampire/witch thing. We knew he wouldn't be able to stay away, of course, but it's just going to lead to more trouble.
AND
3. Antarnie HAS ERIC! Someone's gotta rescue him fast (my guess - Pam or Tara will intervene)
So good job, Bill. That went well.
4. Lafayette getting, I don't know, visited by? Possessed by? That strange lady singing to baby Mikey in Merlotte's kitchen. Who is this chick? Do we even care? And LaLa's going to get into SO.MUCH.TROUBLE for kidnapping the baby. I thought maybe he'd be the one to go up against Martonia but now it seems like he's been sucked into a secondary storyline (that sucks!). And what happened to Jesus?
5. Tommy skinwalking as Maxine Fortenberry to get that money. Once again, Sam, you should not let this one out of your sight. Home skillet can TURN INTO YOU. No good can come of this. (What we were thinking is maybe Tommy will be posing as Sam when Marcus finds him. That would neatly and quickly get rid of him.)
So. I think that's it for now. Until next week - remember to take something warm into the shower (because you never know when you might end up in Narnia, with Eric. And living in Chicago, I can tell you. It's no fun to be outside in the snow.),
The Good:
1. Uhhhhhhh, do you have to ask? Sookie has a magic shower that is able to transport her to a magical, Narnia-esque place filled with snow, a fur lined bed, and a clothes-less Viking vampire, with no memory and lots and lots of time on his hands.
2. Jess not being dead (yay, Jason!)
3. Sookie's being able to use her fairy fingers to fight off one of the witches (and her looking at them, kind of astonished and going, "THANK you!"
4. Marcus (Leader of the Pack! Vroom! Vroom!) keeping out of the vampire/witch war. Good, yes. Way to have strong leadership and do something not stupid.
5. Pam's got her face back (for now?)
6. Sam and Luna are back on track.
7. Sam gets cat barbie to like him (ah, no, just kidding, this is so far inconclusive).
8. Bill saving Tara ("Yew know whahhh" - No Bill, yew really need to spell this out for her, since she is pretty much as dumb as she looks)
9. Sookie and Eric (looking kind of American Gothic-y) telling Bill they wanted to fight with him. YEAH! Let's kick some witch butt, y'all!! And Sookie reminding Eric that he's a warrior (so maybe next time HE should do the battle planning?)
The Bad
1. Andy's V Addiction is SO BAD, he'd be willing to scarf down melty vampire entrails in the middle of the street. GROSS. Get him to v-rehab or something - stat!
2. Tara. Still following Marnie/Antonia (Marntonia? Antnie?). Do you really not remember what it's like to be possessed? Remember Eggs and Maryann? Yeah. Crazy. Not fun. Stop this madness!
3. Poor Jessica. Getting her invitation recalled from not one but two homes. What's a girl to do? And Hoyt, what a meanie. What happened to him? Why can't we have one happy, decent character without them getting irreparably scarred?
4. Marcus (vroom! vroom!) busting in on the cozy domestic scene involving Sam, Luna and Emma. Yeah. Way to not make rational decisions. Apparently his packmaster mentality doesn't spread to his personal life (no wonder people think werewolves are thugs!). And while I'm thinking about it, isn't it weird that he would have been married to a shifter in the first place? Aren't they all about preserving their were-ness?
5. Debbie telling Alcide to stay away from Sookie. Yeah, right, as if.
The Ugly
1. Bill Compton. I have a feeling that you and your "leadership" are part of the reason why the South lost the Civil War. What.Were.You.Thinking? Hey Antonia, let's totally meet. We can have peace! How does that sound? Good? Rockin. See you in the cemetary at midnight!
Did he really think that one phone call laying on the vampire smarm would be enough for her to suddenly turn rational? Instead of talking, they should have shown up in force, with maybe one or two other witches (duh! you guys are vampires! find some friendly witches and have them help you out!), and ambushed her. Shot her, exorcised her, whatever. Take her down. Without her, the other witches in the coven wouldn't be as powerful. They could have been glamoured to forget. The "Authority" wouldn't even have to know. Now as it is...
2. Sookie gets shot. Arrghhh! And then she's saved by Alcide, who is being watched by Debbie. Yeah. Someone hasn't kept his promises - to Debbie about staying away from Sookie, and to the new pack, to stay out of the vampire/witch thing. We knew he wouldn't be able to stay away, of course, but it's just going to lead to more trouble.
AND
3. Antarnie HAS ERIC! Someone's gotta rescue him fast (my guess - Pam or Tara will intervene)
So good job, Bill. That went well.
4. Lafayette getting, I don't know, visited by? Possessed by? That strange lady singing to baby Mikey in Merlotte's kitchen. Who is this chick? Do we even care? And LaLa's going to get into SO.MUCH.TROUBLE for kidnapping the baby. I thought maybe he'd be the one to go up against Martonia but now it seems like he's been sucked into a secondary storyline (that sucks!). And what happened to Jesus?
5. Tommy skinwalking as Maxine Fortenberry to get that money. Once again, Sam, you should not let this one out of your sight. Home skillet can TURN INTO YOU. No good can come of this. (What we were thinking is maybe Tommy will be posing as Sam when Marcus finds him. That would neatly and quickly get rid of him.)
So. I think that's it for now. Until next week - remember to take something warm into the shower (because you never know when you might end up in Narnia, with Eric. And living in Chicago, I can tell you. It's no fun to be outside in the snow.),
Monday, August 15, 2011
rufus!
So, last night was my first trek to Ravinia this season (I can't believe it's already August!) and I saw Rufus Wainwright. I've enjoyed his music for some time, but in a sort of casual way. I love his voice, from songs like "Hallelujah" and "Complainte de la butte" from Moulin Rouge! and I even have one of his albums, Poses. I've seen his concerts at Ravinia advertised in the past and always wanted to go, but never really got around to it. But I decided this year was the year, and I got myself a ticket. I'm glad I did, too, because I can now say with 100% certainty that I am a big, huge fan. Much love for you, Rufus.
Anyone who knows my ticket buying tendencies knows I like to be close up, right in front of the action, but at Ravinia, it is kind of a crap shoot - I am a donor and I filled out my early ticket form and just waited to see what I'd get. Well, I had an awesome seat - row D, seat 13, center section. I was so close, it was ridiculous. I think it was because I had bought a single seat, so it was easier to fit me in. I don't know what the reason was, and I don't care because it was, as I say, an awesome seat. Behind me an older couple bickered about their seat locations and then the lady commented, "I don't know this Rufus Wainwright." and I was kind of puzzled, because unlike other arts venues, you can't really buy packages at Ravinia. So, like, say you buy a 5 play package - you may know some of the plays and the artists and not know others. But this is not, as I say, the case at Ravinia, so some thought must have gone into the purchase of these tickets. They left after intermission anyway, which I think is a DAMN WASTE OF ROW E TICKETS when I am sure some actual fans would have enjoyed those seats a whole lot. Anyway.
The first part of the concert was devoted to a Shakespearean song cycle that set the Bard's sonnets to music (played by the CSO) which were pretty. I'm not familiar enough with the selected sonnets to really go into a lot of detail, but I enjoyed them.
Then there was an intermission and I made it to the ladies' with plenty of time to watch the stage get flipped from a CSO configuration to a totally empty stage with a lone piano. When Rufus came back out, he commented how strange it was to be up there by himself when he'd just been on with a whole stage full of people. "It's like the wizard of oz," he said "when they draw back the curtain, except instead of the wizard, it's a gorgeous guy!" Hee hee. Funny boy. He told us how he'd been "Nice'd to death" in Michigan and broke out into "Falling in Michigan" to the tune of "Falling in love again." Adorable. He's just the cutest thing on this earth and I am now obsessed with his voice.
I was happy, happy, happy that he closed the show with his haunting "Hallelujah" - {swoon!}
and then I went back out to my car a happy girl.
(You'd think, wouldn't you, that since I was so close, I'd be able to take many many completely awesome pictures - but I forgot the camera, and the one on my little phone is awful. I didn't even think of it until I was halfway to the park, and I didn't think I'd need it because I always take pictures of the same exact things - carousel horse, banners, etc etc. Le sigh. Maybe next time.)
Anyone who knows my ticket buying tendencies knows I like to be close up, right in front of the action, but at Ravinia, it is kind of a crap shoot - I am a donor and I filled out my early ticket form and just waited to see what I'd get. Well, I had an awesome seat - row D, seat 13, center section. I was so close, it was ridiculous. I think it was because I had bought a single seat, so it was easier to fit me in. I don't know what the reason was, and I don't care because it was, as I say, an awesome seat. Behind me an older couple bickered about their seat locations and then the lady commented, "I don't know this Rufus Wainwright." and I was kind of puzzled, because unlike other arts venues, you can't really buy packages at Ravinia. So, like, say you buy a 5 play package - you may know some of the plays and the artists and not know others. But this is not, as I say, the case at Ravinia, so some thought must have gone into the purchase of these tickets. They left after intermission anyway, which I think is a DAMN WASTE OF ROW E TICKETS when I am sure some actual fans would have enjoyed those seats a whole lot. Anyway.
The first part of the concert was devoted to a Shakespearean song cycle that set the Bard's sonnets to music (played by the CSO) which were pretty. I'm not familiar enough with the selected sonnets to really go into a lot of detail, but I enjoyed them.
Then there was an intermission and I made it to the ladies' with plenty of time to watch the stage get flipped from a CSO configuration to a totally empty stage with a lone piano. When Rufus came back out, he commented how strange it was to be up there by himself when he'd just been on with a whole stage full of people. "It's like the wizard of oz," he said "when they draw back the curtain, except instead of the wizard, it's a gorgeous guy!" Hee hee. Funny boy. He told us how he'd been "Nice'd to death" in Michigan and broke out into "Falling in Michigan" to the tune of "Falling in love again." Adorable. He's just the cutest thing on this earth and I am now obsessed with his voice.
I was happy, happy, happy that he closed the show with his haunting "Hallelujah" - {swoon!}
and then I went back out to my car a happy girl.
(You'd think, wouldn't you, that since I was so close, I'd be able to take many many completely awesome pictures - but I forgot the camera, and the one on my little phone is awful. I didn't even think of it until I was halfway to the park, and I didn't think I'd need it because I always take pictures of the same exact things - carousel horse, banners, etc etc. Le sigh. Maybe next time.)
fix-ice machene - update!
According to Culture Map Houston, the "Fix-Ice Machene" sculpture is by artists called "The Art Guys". And the world makes sense again! The article below explains the inspiration for the sculpture:
Headed to the Windy City this summer? You'll want to stop by the Chicago Navy Pier, where the Houston-based The Art Guys have installed, "fix - ice machine," a treated plywood and lumber text-based sculpture. The work is part of an outdoor exhibition curated by Joseph Tabet in collaboration with Dave Hickey.
The Art Guys are accompanied by other illustrious art world names like Terry Allen and Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the iconic Obama "HOPE" poster. The Art Guys' mammoth sculpture features the typo-ridden advertisement, "FIX- ICEMACHENE." What may initially appear a commentary on global warming is in fact a Dada take on a local repairman's oft-misspelled advertisement signs. "There's a person in our neighborhood of Acre Homes that puts up hand-painted signs to fix things like washers and dryers," says Michael Galbreth of The Art Guys. The artist argues, however, that the appropriated phrase has no particular meaning, describing the work as a "big sculpture spectacle."
Despite the sculpture's meaninglessness, The Art Guys say they drew inspiration from such diverse sources as Texas highways and 1960s conceptual art. "The idea dates back 20 years to a very large 'T' that sits out in front of a business on the side of the freeway on the way from here to Dallas," says Galbreth, explaining that he became fond of the letter's non-sequitur appeal and the idea of "hovering words with no relationship to themselves."
The other half of The Art Guys, Jack Massing, adds, "It doesn't have meaning, but anytime you make anything, people automatically find meaning to it, like seeing God in the clouds. Since this work is language-based, there's obvious meaning spectators will associate with words. For example, the ice machine in my freezer is broken — but that had nothing to do with this project."
Massing says that the aspect of text as art partially derives from the work of Los Angeles-based artist Ed Ruscha. "Ruscha came up with the notion that a word could have a portrait just like a dog or a person," says Massing, who also cites Wayne White's paintings of words on landscapes as inspiration. Over the past decades, Chicago has evolved into a model for quality civic art agendas under the auspices of former Mayor Richard M. Daley. A city once defined by its manufacturing and commercial base is now widely associated with icons such as Millennium Park's "Cloud Gate" (also known as, "The Bean"), a massive, reflective steel structure designed by sculptor Anish Kapoor.
"Chicago is committed to the idea of public art integrated into the fabric of the city," Galbreth says. "It's a very urban, pedestrian place. They get that, so they invest in it. This idea of civicness — it's attractive to me." That "civicness" is on full display at the reinvigorated Navy Pier recreational destination on the shore of Lake Michigan. This year's summer exhibition represents a new initiative to annually employ temporary public art onto the site. An estimated three million people visited the sculptures during the weekend of their unveiling. The Art Guys were handpicked for the show by art writer Dave Hickey, who assisted the Navy Pier's curator Joseph Tabot. "We were contacted out of the blue at the end of April — it was a very, very, very fast turnaround," Galbreth says. Budget constraints led the team to plywood. Explains Galbreth, "It was so modest, but our goal was to try to do something that would be of interest to the general public. When people go to the Navy Pier, they are expecting to be entertained. It had to be palatable, and language is one of those things."
Headed to the Windy City this summer? You'll want to stop by the Chicago Navy Pier, where the Houston-based The Art Guys have installed, "fix - ice machine," a treated plywood and lumber text-based sculpture. The work is part of an outdoor exhibition curated by Joseph Tabet in collaboration with Dave Hickey.
The Art Guys are accompanied by other illustrious art world names like Terry Allen and Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the iconic Obama "HOPE" poster. The Art Guys' mammoth sculpture features the typo-ridden advertisement, "FIX- ICEMACHENE." What may initially appear a commentary on global warming is in fact a Dada take on a local repairman's oft-misspelled advertisement signs. "There's a person in our neighborhood of Acre Homes that puts up hand-painted signs to fix things like washers and dryers," says Michael Galbreth of The Art Guys. The artist argues, however, that the appropriated phrase has no particular meaning, describing the work as a "big sculpture spectacle."
Despite the sculpture's meaninglessness, The Art Guys say they drew inspiration from such diverse sources as Texas highways and 1960s conceptual art. "The idea dates back 20 years to a very large 'T' that sits out in front of a business on the side of the freeway on the way from here to Dallas," says Galbreth, explaining that he became fond of the letter's non-sequitur appeal and the idea of "hovering words with no relationship to themselves."
The other half of The Art Guys, Jack Massing, adds, "It doesn't have meaning, but anytime you make anything, people automatically find meaning to it, like seeing God in the clouds. Since this work is language-based, there's obvious meaning spectators will associate with words. For example, the ice machine in my freezer is broken — but that had nothing to do with this project."
Massing says that the aspect of text as art partially derives from the work of Los Angeles-based artist Ed Ruscha. "Ruscha came up with the notion that a word could have a portrait just like a dog or a person," says Massing, who also cites Wayne White's paintings of words on landscapes as inspiration. Over the past decades, Chicago has evolved into a model for quality civic art agendas under the auspices of former Mayor Richard M. Daley. A city once defined by its manufacturing and commercial base is now widely associated with icons such as Millennium Park's "Cloud Gate" (also known as, "The Bean"), a massive, reflective steel structure designed by sculptor Anish Kapoor.
"Chicago is committed to the idea of public art integrated into the fabric of the city," Galbreth says. "It's a very urban, pedestrian place. They get that, so they invest in it. This idea of civicness — it's attractive to me." That "civicness" is on full display at the reinvigorated Navy Pier recreational destination on the shore of Lake Michigan. This year's summer exhibition represents a new initiative to annually employ temporary public art onto the site. An estimated three million people visited the sculptures during the weekend of their unveiling. The Art Guys were handpicked for the show by art writer Dave Hickey, who assisted the Navy Pier's curator Joseph Tabot. "We were contacted out of the blue at the end of April — it was a very, very, very fast turnaround," Galbreth says. Budget constraints led the team to plywood. Explains Galbreth, "It was so modest, but our goal was to try to do something that would be of interest to the general public. When people go to the Navy Pier, they are expecting to be entertained. It had to be palatable, and language is one of those things."
Sunday, August 14, 2011
tall ships at navy pier
I took these Friday morning, on my walk to the Pier at the crack of 8:00 am. For some reason, the Pier's website lists this as the "Taste of Tall Ships" which is weird, I think, because I don't want to eat the boats, or even eat on them or near them. Still, they are quite nice to look at. Peaceful, and at that time of day, blessedly tourist-free.
They are only here for the weekend, and you have the chance to board them and sail on them (and possibly eat on them, too?) but I saw one of them had trouble late Friday afternoon, it was being pushed by a little dinghy back to the Pier. So maybe it's best just to admire them from a distance?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
can someone please tell me...
What does "FIX-ICEMACHENE" mean?? This (huge, kind of ugly) sculpture is at Navy Pier, right in the front, as you approach from Illinois and Streeter. I see it on a regular basis, and I find myself perplexed. WTF is this supposed to mean? Is it a request? Does someone out there really want ice? Or is it, like, a request for aliens who might happen to land (Welcome to our planet! Bring us some ice, dammit! Da Bears are on and da beer is warm!)? But why couldn't they spell "machine" correctly? Is it a joke that everyone but me is in on?
I'm puzzled.
Monday, August 08, 2011
"cold grey light of dawn"
So, it's been awhile since I've done a recap. I had gotten a little behind on my viewing, and then it was the case of so much happening that I didn't know what to say about the past several episodes (except, of course, {Erriiiicccc!! Drool! I'm sorry, what was I talking about?} and things like that...) But I'm all caught up now, and not a moment too soon, since the shit is really starting to hit the fan now for our friends in Bon Temps.
The Good
- Eric, Eric and more Eric. Frolicking in the sunshine, flirting with Miss Stackhouse, starting to learn about the vampire he was and the vampire he wants to be... recognizing that "King" Bill probably won't show him mercy, but being all shmoopy sweet, wanting happiness for Sookie.
- Bill letting Eric go (geez, there would have been some kind of uprising if Eric had REALLY met the Final Death) even though he knows that Eric will just run back to Sookie and they will (finally!) get it together.
- Eric and Sookie getting it together - pretty much all over Bon Temps (not that I blame her).
The Bad
- The vampires' plan to silver themselves into their coffins to avoid Marnie/Antonia's spell to make them meet the sun. Nice one, Bill. THIS is your master plan?
- Tara's willingness to go along with Marnie's plan. Girl. Seriously? You were possessed not too long ago by the maenad, remember? That was no fun, right? Why would you want to go along with this?
- Lafayette and Jesus in Mexico with el abuelito batshit LOCO. Arrghhhhhh. Dumb idea. But maybe it will be Lafayette to get rid of Antonia.
- Alcide and Debbie joining the new pack. Yeah, this is going to go well.
The Ugly
- Pam's rotty rotten-ness. I hope Dr. Ludwig's shots help her. And she'd better get un-hexed soon. Don't the vampires have any witches they can glamour onto their side?
- Tommy's skin-walking, life-ruining shift into Sam Merlotte and Sam's abjuring him. I know this is a big deal and all, but Sam should keep a close eye on Tommy. The guy can TURN INTO YOU, SAM. Even if he doesn't mean to.
- Andy and Holly's date. AWKward!!
- JESSICA OPENING THE DOOR AND WALKING TO HER DEATH??? Jason, I hope you get there soon!
Monday, July 11, 2011
"If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin'?"
True Blood Post Mortem, Episode 3.
Sooo, what did y'all think? Here it is, in a nutshell:
The Good:
1. Eric calling Ms. Stackhouse "Snookie" (hee hee)
2. Eric giggling when Sookie was cleaning his feet off because "it tickles"
3. This conversation:
Eric: You live... in my house? Are you - mine?
Sookie: No!
Eric (considering this): Would you like to be mine?
(Us: Yes, please!)
4. Also this conversation:
Sookie: You just killed my faery godmother!
Eric: Sorry! {sheepish grin}
5. Jessica calling Bill "My liege" (doesn't this make her like a princess now, or something?)
6. Sookie reading a Charlaine Harris novel.
7. Seeing Alcide again! Hooray, werewolves!
8. Sam seems to be in a better mood. That's always good....
9. Jason's voicemail message. "If this is an emergency, dial 911 and ask for me..."
10. Oh, just watch this...
11. And finally: our meal: we've been having themed dinners at our little viewing parties - for the first two episodes (which we watched together - thanks again OnDemand!) we had fried chicken, hush puppies and french fries. This time, it was a Swedish feast, courtesy of IKEA and in honor of our favorite Viking Vampire: Swedish meatballs, pasta in the shape of elk (?), a sparkling peach beverage, salad and princess cake for dessert, that was approved by the King of Sweden himself, and that also came with helpful eating instructions on the box.
But back to the episode:
The Bad
1. All that godawful were-panther shit. Blah blah blah blah earth daddy blah. Not a fan of this plotline. Ugh. Ever since they turned Calvin all skanky meth dealer (and now, if I recall correctly, dead skanky meth dealer) I've found that I've rather turned against the panthers. Poor Jason. He did not deserve this. None of us deserved this.
2. Andy's v-fueled rant at Sam about his trees (although that was also kind of funny). But seriously here, can we get Andy off of the v now please?
3. What is happening with Tommy and Maxine? Is he scamming her or sleeping with her (ew. But with this show, you never know.) Is he just a substitute Hoyt or is she teaching him to read or what? His little forray as "Max Fortenberry" reminded me of a line from 30 Rock - "What's the past tense of scam? Is it scrumped? Because, Mz. Fortenberry, I think you about to get scrumped!")
4. Jessica glamouring Hoyt to forget her indiscretion. Why can't we have one sweet and happy couple??? Arrghhh......
5. The tray of "refreshments" Debbie offers Sookie. I can totally imagine it. Alcide hangs up the phone with Sookie and goes "Hey Debs! Great news, Sookie's not dead! And she's comin' over to ask me a favor!" "What? Sookie's not dead? Damn, I mean, what a shame, no, wait, I mean, that's real good. Uh... why don't I go fix up some food for when she comes? You think she likes sausages?" That's what you get when you put a former v-addicted junkie werewolf in charge of snacks.
6. Nobody listening to Lafayette when he outlines the best plan to deal with Eric. Let's just forget about it. Lay low. LaLa, you've got brains AND power! Use it wisely, my son!
7. Marnie and her coven getting all uppity about Eric entering (duh, it's a public shop, he doesn't need an invitation) and getting all up in their business. Well, excuse me, but it's not like you were sitting around peacefully mixing up potions. You wanted to raise the dead! That's not okay, missy! Not okay!
8. Marnie then channeling the Power (or whoever?) asking her to come and use her as her servant on this plane. Be careful what you wish for, Marnie. Because something wicked is definitely on its way up in here.
The Ugly
1. The Hotshot werepanther stud farm (oh, poor, poor Jason).
2. Bill and Portia. Dude. You're her great-great-great (etc) grandfather. NO. Wrong. Stop. (please?) Maybe Andy will find out and join in, to get his v-fix? Urggh, now I've grossed myself out. Sorry.
3. The creepy doll Jessica gives Arlene and Terry's baby (mercifully the only time we see those two crazies in the entire episode). Why do I have a feeling that we'll be seeing more of that thing?
4. Bill doling out justice. "Ah am sennucning yew to the truew deayuth" Arrrghhh. Why are you king? Why? Why?
5. The Marie Osmond belle halloween doll thing that Maxine orders. Why all the creepy dolls?
6. Those idiots that made the "vamps-kill.com" PSA. Why do I have the feeling we'll be seeing more of that thing?
So, yeah. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. The Eric. Sigh. I'm out, Trubies. Until next week. Do bad things.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
simple pleasures
So, yesterday I went to the Morton Grove Farmers' market. I love me a good farmers' market. I try to pass through the one downtown in Daley Plaza every Thursday (I have discovered that I can catch a 29 bus to Navy Pier on State Street and get some exercise and fresh produce in the bargain!). Now, that is a farmers' market. There's a huge selection of stands selling produce of all kinds, fresh cheese, flowers, and baked goods. Lots and lots of baked goods (including Amish baked goods).
The farmers' market in the MG, which started last year, is, shall we say, on a bit of a smaller scale. There are a handful of produce vendors and a few stalls selling baked goods. Sometimes the Lifeway company, based here in the MG, comes and sets up a booth so people can try (and sometimes purchase) Kefir. There was a guy with a meat wagon, selling different cuts of meat. There's a lady who sells delicious pretzels dipped in chocolate, and some ladies who sell healthy granola kinds of things. Then, because that would be about 6 stalls in a very large parking lot, the creators of the market got, well, creative. At the farmers' market, you can visit the MG Chamber of Commerce (to which I exclaimed "We have a chamber of commerce?"), make charming hand crafted corn husk dolls at the table belonging to the Historical Society, visit the PTA of Park View school (warriors!) and do... something... at the table set up by the MG Public Library. Yesterday, there was also the chance to enter a drawing - the winner would receive a basket of produce from every vendor at the market. Why not? So I did it and then we left, heading about our business.
Well, several hours later, I get a call - I had won a special drawing and could I come collect my basket right now? So we made tracks back to the market to get my winnings.
Can I say? The basket was a thing of beauty. It included a bunch of gorgeously ripe tomatoes, some beets, a few carrots, a zucchini and a yellow squash, some packets of seeds, a head of broccoli and some lettuce, a gardening trowel, a pair of gardening gloves and a little decorated tile thing that bears a cheery phrase (I don't remember what it is now, and my dad has already put it out in the garden.). I was so excited because I never win anything, and suddenly, here I'd gotten a spectacularly beautiful collection of produce. And that stuff's expensive, you know?
The other highlight of my weekend was when I went to visit the art fair in Skokie. We'd gone to the library, and I saw a small collection of tents set up and I exclaimed "OOOoohh! Art fair!! Can we goooo?" in a kind of excited, high pitched voice that only dogs can hear. So we went. It was really hot. And most of the stuff was just kind of OK. I like looking at jewelry, but at these things it can really go either way. It's either really expensive or really kind of cheap looking. And as for the art, it's not like I'm really in the market for big paintings or large photographic prints, however lovely, so I don't spend a lot of time at those booths.
But then - I saw it. The most extraordinary bracelet, made of copper wire, beads and semi-precious stones. It was easily the most unique (in a good way) stand I'd seen. These pieces were unique, distinctive, and totally different from anything I'd seen before. The bracelet that caught my eye was copper wire and blue stones. It was gorgeous. But it was over 50 bucks. We walked around a little more, and I decided I wanted to get the bracelet. So I DID, and I do not regret it. It's one of the only pieces I own that has a name "Cooler by the lake" which is SO perfect, because I work on the lake (pretty much IN the lake) so it was like a sign. The designer is local and I cannot say enough about her work, so go and check it out here: www.shelionstore.com
So yeah. That's my weekend in a nutshell. I got a new bracelet and won some vegetables, and I was happy as a clam. It's the little things, you know? And just to keep up with the breakneck pace of my whirlwind life, tonight, we watch the True Blood and have a Swedish feast (in honor of Eric, brought to us by IKEA). So watch out for a recap/Post Mortem as well as a detailed description of our dinner.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
When Soldier Field's A Rockin, Don't Come a Knockin'
U2's set list from last night - about 2 and a half hours of amazing rock & roll. (Got this from the Chicago Tribune's website - there are pictures and stuff as well.)
1 Even Better Than the Real Thing
2 The Fly
3 Mysterious Ways
4 Until the End of the World
5 Out of Control
6 Get on Your Boots
7 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For/The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen snippet)
8 Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
9 Beautiful Day/Space Oddity (David Bowie snippet)
10 Elevation
11 Pride (In The Name of Love)
12 Miss Sarajevo
13 Zooropa
14 City of Blinding Lights
15 Vertigo/Miss You (Rolling Stones snippet)
16 I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight/Discothèque (snippet)/Psycho Killer (Talking Heads snippet)
1 Even Better Than the Real Thing
2 The Fly
3 Mysterious Ways
4 Until the End of the World
5 Out of Control
6 Get on Your Boots
7 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For/The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen snippet)
8 Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
9 Beautiful Day/Space Oddity (David Bowie snippet)
10 Elevation
11 Pride (In The Name of Love)
12 Miss Sarajevo
13 Zooropa
14 City of Blinding Lights
15 Vertigo/Miss You (Rolling Stones snippet)
16 I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight/Discothèque (snippet)/Psycho Killer (Talking Heads snippet)
17 Sunday Bloody Sunday
18 Scarlet
19 Walk On
Encore
20 One/Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Shirelles snippet)
18 Scarlet
19 Walk On
Encore
20 One/Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Shirelles snippet)
21 Where the Streets Have No Name
Encore 2
22 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me/My Kind of Town (Frank Sinatra snippet)
23 With or Without You
24 Moment of Surrender
Encore 2
22 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me/My Kind of Town (Frank Sinatra snippet)
23 With or Without You
24 Moment of Surrender
25 One Tree Hill
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