I realized that I hadn't memorialized Dan Seals on my blog. I saw him in '77 or '78 at Six Flags, before he crossed over to country. On balance, I probably enjoyed his country works better (or maybe I don't want to admit that I listened to '70s pop music).
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
30th Class Reunion
I participated in a planning meeting last week for my upcoming class reunion next month. This is a big one.
Three decades.
Wow, where'd the time go?
Actually, our planning group (four of us), was only ten shy of a full [surviving] class reunion, since there are fourteen remaining. I guess you could say it was a small class. The wife of one of the out-of-town alums was reported to have remarked to him that "so many of your classmates are either dead or gay."
I guess that's sort of true. We started with 16, over the years learned that two are gay, and have lost two to tragic circumstances.
Anyway, we came up with a theme, a sort of menu, and drink list. With a group our size, it's easy to have whole families attend. Most of us started families late, so I don't think any of us has kids who've graduated college, but many of us have high-schoolers and grade schoolers. None in diapers, as far as I know.
Should be fun, even if there isn't any element of "Hey, do you remember me?"
Three decades.
Wow, where'd the time go?
Actually, our planning group (four of us), was only ten shy of a full [surviving] class reunion, since there are fourteen remaining. I guess you could say it was a small class. The wife of one of the out-of-town alums was reported to have remarked to him that "so many of your classmates are either dead or gay."
I guess that's sort of true. We started with 16, over the years learned that two are gay, and have lost two to tragic circumstances.
Anyway, we came up with a theme, a sort of menu, and drink list. With a group our size, it's easy to have whole families attend. Most of us started families late, so I don't think any of us has kids who've graduated college, but many of us have high-schoolers and grade schoolers. None in diapers, as far as I know.
Should be fun, even if there isn't any element of "Hey, do you remember me?"
The Blind Cowboy
I stole this from "That Dude's" blog:
Blind Cowboy
An old, blind cowboy wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake.
He finds his way to a bar stool and orders some coffee.
After sitting there for a while, he yells to the waiter, 'Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?'
The bar immediately falls absolutely silent.
In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says, 'Before you tell that joke, Cowboy, I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things:
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3. I'm a 6-foot tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter.
5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.
'Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?'
The blind cowboy thinks for a second, shakes his head, and mutters,
'No...not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times.'
Blind Cowboy
An old, blind cowboy wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake.
He finds his way to a bar stool and orders some coffee.
After sitting there for a while, he yells to the waiter, 'Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?'
The bar immediately falls absolutely silent.
In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says, 'Before you tell that joke, Cowboy, I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things:
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3. I'm a 6-foot tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter.
5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.
'Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?'
The blind cowboy thinks for a second, shakes his head, and mutters,
'No...not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times.'
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Quickie Movie Reviews
Since it was so wet this weekend, I ended up renting nine DVDs at the Family Video store, and got them back today before late fees start accruing. Here's some quick picks and pans:
Out Cold - Basically a bunch of stoners/slackers working in a ski resort in Alaska, playing pranks. Lee Majors as the hotshot Daddy Warbucks developer who tries to buy the resort and take it corporate. Recommendation: Don't bother.
Dr. Detroit - Husband and wife Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon in a comedy. I was busy making breakfast, but the few scenes I saw didn't cause me to want to watch it later.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - As I have written previously, I'm trying to do some remedial movie watching of films of cultural significance. While I missed the first part of this one, cooking again, I caught most of it (had read the book in junior- or high school). It was fun to see Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito in some of their earliest roles. I didn't consider Louise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched as evil as I had envisioned her from the book.
Hooper - I wanted to show the kids that Reynolds' dramatic turn in Deliverance was somewhat of an anomaly, by juxtaposing it with some of his bubble-gum fare. Will probably rent The End, Cannonball Run, or Smoky and the Bandit as a tribute to Dom DeLuise. Cannonball would be a hoot just for the all-star cast.
James Bond: Quantum of Solace - I admit to not watching a single frame of this one. My middle son chose it and seemed to enjoy it. I liked Connery and Moore as Bond, wouldn't mind seeing Live and Let Die again, but otherwise not a huge Bond fan. In case you're wondering, as I was before msn.dictionary-ing it, a quantum is the opposite of plethora. Do you know what is a plethora?
Outlaw Justice - I guess I'm easy pickin's for Willie Nelson flicks, even after that last one that was a total dud. I figured Kristofferson and Travis Tritt couldn't hurt. And, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Waylon had a minor role and some narrative work (a la Dukes of Hazzard). Jonathan Banks, Victor Maitland's goon from Beverly Hills Cop, does a turn as an impotent Sheriff. Not cinematic gold, but one thumb up.
The Pursuit of Happyness - My disappointment was that I didn't have time to watch this, but have already seen it on the big screen and would've given it two thumbs up from my recollection.
I know this doesn't add up to nine movies. One was a unicorn movie for my daughter, and I just can't remember what the last one was.
Out Cold - Basically a bunch of stoners/slackers working in a ski resort in Alaska, playing pranks. Lee Majors as the hotshot Daddy Warbucks developer who tries to buy the resort and take it corporate. Recommendation: Don't bother.
Dr. Detroit - Husband and wife Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon in a comedy. I was busy making breakfast, but the few scenes I saw didn't cause me to want to watch it later.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - As I have written previously, I'm trying to do some remedial movie watching of films of cultural significance. While I missed the first part of this one, cooking again, I caught most of it (had read the book in junior- or high school). It was fun to see Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito in some of their earliest roles. I didn't consider Louise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched as evil as I had envisioned her from the book.
Hooper - I wanted to show the kids that Reynolds' dramatic turn in Deliverance was somewhat of an anomaly, by juxtaposing it with some of his bubble-gum fare. Will probably rent The End, Cannonball Run, or Smoky and the Bandit as a tribute to Dom DeLuise. Cannonball would be a hoot just for the all-star cast.
James Bond: Quantum of Solace - I admit to not watching a single frame of this one. My middle son chose it and seemed to enjoy it. I liked Connery and Moore as Bond, wouldn't mind seeing Live and Let Die again, but otherwise not a huge Bond fan. In case you're wondering, as I was before msn.dictionary-ing it, a quantum is the opposite of plethora. Do you know what is a plethora?
Outlaw Justice - I guess I'm easy pickin's for Willie Nelson flicks, even after that last one that was a total dud. I figured Kristofferson and Travis Tritt couldn't hurt. And, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Waylon had a minor role and some narrative work (a la Dukes of Hazzard). Jonathan Banks, Victor Maitland's goon from Beverly Hills Cop, does a turn as an impotent Sheriff. Not cinematic gold, but one thumb up.
The Pursuit of Happyness - My disappointment was that I didn't have time to watch this, but have already seen it on the big screen and would've given it two thumbs up from my recollection.
I know this doesn't add up to nine movies. One was a unicorn movie for my daughter, and I just can't remember what the last one was.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Cabin Fever
With the unpredictable weather, and the dearth of entertainment venues due to the pig flu (e.g. Mayfest cancelled), it's been a quiet beginning to the weekend.
Having read the blogs of others, many of whom are much more familiar than I with classic films and literature, I have decided to rent at least one 'landmark' movie each weekend, the kind that could be described as what author and researcher E. D. Hirsch Jr. might've included in his treatises on cultural literacy.
I don't mean to say that it will be all Casablanca and African Queen type of fare (neither of which I've viewed in their entirety), but rather some of the common titles that most people of my generation should be familiar with. I've introduced my kids to It's A Wonderful Life (lots of times), Harvey (the original - the remake with Harry Anderson was OK, but Barry Bostwick would've been a better pick for Elwood Dowd), Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy, Pale Rider, and Deliverance.
This weekend, we will watch, topically (see post below), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and have already watched Hooper (not necessarily a classic) and a forgettable buddy film with Joe Pesci and Danny Glover, Gone Fishin', both of which referenced Deliverance. Thanks to a commenter on my Must Love Dogs musings, I will include Dr. Zhivago on my future list.
This morning I had a song stuck in my head, so I dug out a 70's compilation CD with Beach Baby, by The First Class, a one-hit wonder from my junior-high years. Good stuff. Maybe some vintage Chicago later.
Happy wet weekend, everyone!
Edit: I was at the video store yesterday, Dr. Z will have to wait for a weekend when I don't have the kids - it's 200 minutes running time.
Having read the blogs of others, many of whom are much more familiar than I with classic films and literature, I have decided to rent at least one 'landmark' movie each weekend, the kind that could be described as what author and researcher E. D. Hirsch Jr. might've included in his treatises on cultural literacy.
I don't mean to say that it will be all Casablanca and African Queen type of fare (neither of which I've viewed in their entirety), but rather some of the common titles that most people of my generation should be familiar with. I've introduced my kids to It's A Wonderful Life (lots of times), Harvey (the original - the remake with Harry Anderson was OK, but Barry Bostwick would've been a better pick for Elwood Dowd), Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy, Pale Rider, and Deliverance.
This weekend, we will watch, topically (see post below), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and have already watched Hooper (not necessarily a classic) and a forgettable buddy film with Joe Pesci and Danny Glover, Gone Fishin', both of which referenced Deliverance. Thanks to a commenter on my Must Love Dogs musings, I will include Dr. Zhivago on my future list.
This morning I had a song stuck in my head, so I dug out a 70's compilation CD with Beach Baby, by The First Class, a one-hit wonder from my junior-high years. Good stuff. Maybe some vintage Chicago later.
Happy wet weekend, everyone!
Edit: I was at the video store yesterday, Dr. Z will have to wait for a weekend when I don't have the kids - it's 200 minutes running time.
Friday, May 1, 2009
KISSillineSS
At one time, long ago, Rock-n-Roll was the voice of rebellion, of dissent.
But now, we've got the Rolling Stones' tours sponsored by Geritol and Depends. And instead of Sex, Drugs and Rock-n-Roll, it's more like Cialis is the sex drug of rock & roll.
Anyway, if KISS does another tour, may I meekly suggest that Suzuki should be its sponsor?
Sorry the Ace image didn't reproduce any larger...
Edit: The SD&RnR comment in the second ¶ is intended as an acknowledgment of the common perception, not acceptance of the drug culture.
For an insightful view of the role of dissent in the public discourse, I direct the gentle reader to the next to last verse of this song.
But now, we've got the Rolling Stones' tours sponsored by Geritol and Depends. And instead of Sex, Drugs and Rock-n-Roll, it's more like Cialis is the sex drug of rock & roll.
Anyway, if KISS does another tour, may I meekly suggest that Suzuki should be its sponsor?
Sorry the Ace image didn't reproduce any larger...
Edit: The SD&RnR comment in the second ¶ is intended as an acknowledgment of the common perception, not acceptance of the drug culture.
For an insightful view of the role of dissent in the public discourse, I direct the gentle reader to the next to last verse of this song.
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