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I don't know what I'm more sad about... simply the fact that Eastern Market burned or that I won't be able to get hot dogs at the meat market there, or the lovely shrimp at the seafood vendor. *pouts* All joking aside, though, it really sucks for those guys vending down there. Hope the city really does pitch in to help rebuild quickly. Check out the rebuilding blog.
So, I'm up to my neck in pork fat at the moment... greasy keyboard keys are not sexy, so until I get this pig picked, go here and laff.
Courtesy of Diane Duane at Out of Ambit, who I sincerely hope is feeling a little better today.
If I didn't love Neil Gaiman before (which I totally did), I certainly do now. This is the type of person the world needs more of... the type who stops on the road and loads a lost German shepherd into his Mini and then takes him in, getting him out of a less than ideal situation. I'm just saying. Shout out for sure on that one. Good job, man.
All right, back to pig picking.
Today's YouTube RoundUp is dedicated to that stinking gasbag Bill O'Reilly. There are not even words to describe what I think this man deserves in terms of a smack down, but to have it delivered by an 8-year old? Priceless.
(In fairness, this is an ad for the band the Bastard Fairies, whose work I'm basically indifferent about, but who hired a genius in the director of this ad.)
Back to the point: O'Reilly was not really ever on my radar until his interview with Terry Gross (Fresh Air) aired on NPR, in which he conclusively proved what a complete asshat he is. From there, it was all downhill. Some of the many reasons I hate Bill O'Reilly:
Right. I swear to God, how do people like this get teaching jobs? Not the brightest bulb in the box, right? Good grief.
Shout out!! Fresh Disapproving Rabbits up over at Birdchick's blog. I seriously considered the options for getting a beautiful bunny when I caught an eyeful of Birdchick's beautiful Cinnamon. Gorgeous, and so cute!!
Need a good laugh? Visit DCDMV. (Yeah, just so you know, this is a parody site. Lots of un-P.C. humor.)
No, it's not the real DC DMV, it's a hell of a lot funnier. Because the real DC DMV is no laughing matter: it's more of a total joke, really. Sad, so sad.
I know my posts have been rather sparse and definitely not very in-depth lately, but between my friend being back in the hospital this week and all of the preparations for the bash last week I haven't found the luxury of time for myself to sit and write. I have so much to say and so many things to talk about-- the hospital, the party, the little dove on my back porch, and the garden, not to mention music stories, work stories, and cat stories, but for the moment they'll have to rest wile I figure out how to help my friend. I'll be back writing real stuff shortly, so hang in there.
Jesus holy effing God. This is what heaven looks like for me.
I have a love-hate relationship with food, but my favorite culinary memories can all be traced to my honeymoon in Paris. Exquisite coffee and breakfast, wonderful dollar-sandwiches, amazing pastries, and incredible wines. I've been trying to replicate some of that for almost seven years and itching to go back and experience it again. Trust Orangette to bring it all back in lovely drool-inducing spades.
Anyway, my friend is out, D and I enjoyed an evening of hanging out with a bottle of Moet (did I tell you I racked up 21 bottles of various forms of alcohol from the bash? Yeah, I need to write about that post-haste; I know), and I got a little dirt therapy in. That being said, I'm going to bed to prepare for a couple of days of crap-tastic running around. Hopefully I can squeeze in a few posts in the meantime, otherwise the RoundUp is the next stop. Cheers, and more soon.
I have a lot to say on this subject, but I wanted to post a heads-up about the upcoming project the creators of the Fauxharmonic Orchestra have put in motion to "perform" all nine Beethoven Symphonies, as well as point y'all toward the Wall Street Journal's May 5th article on the subject (you have to be a subscriber to access it).
Like I said, I have a LOT to say on this subject, but not enough time to say it at tthe moment, so I'll try to get back later tonight and let fly. In the meantime, investigate for yourselves.
... to the prettiest mom ever.
Finally, I have some real relief. I've been preparing for the concert I did tonight for months, and it's finally over.
It's not often that I get completely bound up about a performance, but this one was a little different for a few reasons. the main one is that I rarely have a chance to perform a solo or chamber piece with the composer sitting right there in front of me in the audience, and this is someone whose work I really respect for a lot of reasons. Another reason is that her daughter is a colleague of mine in the group giving the concert. How awkward would that be if I totally stunk it up, right?
There are many things I love about being a musician, but one of them is not the nervous anxiety before a big concert. I swear, sometimes I think I'm giving myself an ulcer. Sleep becomes a figment of my imagination, and when it does occur the dreams I have are vivid and really frightening. Not to mention what it does to my blood sugar numbers. By about two days before the performance my mind is desperately wishing for the moment after it's over.
Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy with the performance we gave, and I got soooooooo many compliments on my playing (and my shoes). I always know when I've really given it 100% because I have this heady "no-regrets" feeling afterward, which I'm enjoying at the moment. I think the stress was just about worth it this time.
So my Manolos and I are going to head out for a little beer, then a lot of sleep and a bit of a vacation in which I'll be playing in the dirt for a few days. Without my Manolos. Be back soon.
But I love slick neighbors with video cameras.
I'm so angry right now I don't even know what to do. I went over to hang out with The Muse tonight, and while I was upstairs looking for her guest parking pass, my car got towed.
But here's the great part:
The guy who towed my car totally ran my car into the van that was parked next to it, then proceeded to break into my passenger side door to look through my glove compartment. (My bumber's all scratched on the front driver's side. Rrrrr.) All the while talking to his dispatcher on his cell phone.
Oh wait, that's not the great part, this is: how do I know this happened??
Because The Muse's slick neighbor caught it all on video. Even the part where he bumps my car into the van and gets out and says "SHIT!!" Don't worry, it'll be up on YouTube as soon as I can get the video. How crazy is that?
P.S. Had a little problem with MT that I fixed tonight before this debacle, so there are some back posts that will be appearing shortly. Yay!
So, just thought you should know... Bella's babies have long since hatched out and taken off. Here's a photo from before they flew the coop.
I'm sure by now, everyone has seen the incredible video of ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" in Central Park, but I just had to share it again here.
Ukulele Jake is one of the most incredible instrumental artists I've ever heard-- this version of the song is also one of the most incredibly musical performances I've ever seen as well. Hubby and I were so excited about him the we decided to make the trek up to Philly to hear him play live, but our trip got scrubbed at the last minute because of the flooding last summer. By the way, the video of him with Tommy Emmanuel below is one of my favorites. If you haven't heard him play before, go forth and listen. You won't be disappointed.
Life is always changing, bringing sudden if not unexpected shifts that can change the scope of your world.
This morning I said goodbye to The Muse for a while. Today she's making the long drive to move back home to Alabama for grad school: maybe not a permanent shift, but still it takes her out of my little circle of DC girls for the forseeable future. I wanted to be strong and smiling when she left my doorstep this morning, but at the last moment I found tears welling up in my eyes as we stood at the back door to embrace. (Nevermind that I'll see her in Birmingham in a month.)
You see, I have a lot to thank her for this past year. When she moved up here, I was in the middle of another big transition/decision, and having her around to lean on kept me sane. Having her here reminded me, the perpetual hermit, of the joys of hanging out with your girlfriends and that it takes time, patience, and intelligent work not only to play the flute or grow a garden, but to grow a friendship.
However, as much as I'll miss her, I'm glad for her that she's going back. She's starting a new chapter in her life as well as returning to the old one, and at the end of today's long drive she goes to the warm embrace of my sister, her other best friend. So tonight I will raise a glass of Morgan Creek Magnolia Muscadine to the Muse as she treks homeward to the South, to home and family, church and tradition, and rejoice that she's back in the place that gives her such joy and inspiration, even if it's only for a while.
I'll miss you, girl. Now Turn it up.
Shameless plug-- go vote for my picture in the Shrek the Third: Fairy Tails contest on SnapFish!!!!! There are a bunch of prizes for this contest, including a PhotoSmart printer and other stuff... stuff which I could actually use! Go! Vote!! Please!!
So how do we celebrate Memorial Day here at Chez Sassy?? Well, this time it was with fried chicken, mashed potates, muscadine wine and a healthy dose of Captain Jack Sparrow. Now that we're all caught up with the first two Pirates movies, we're free to go see the next one tomorrow. Yippee!!
This page contains all entries posted to SassyBlonde in May 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.
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