One for the Road

Today is a travel day for me.  I’m out the door at 5:30a – so there’s not a ton of thought into this one.

This last week was good – if only for the fact that I got to see three good friends.  Four if you include Mark – but I only know him peripherally.  I like him though.   Oh – and Morty’s paint job, garage and patio look faboo!

I got to see Morty, Tom and Becca.  How fun is that?  Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them all at one time, but spread out over the week.  It is a fun combo when everyone is together (but then we would have needed Jon and Ditto too), it is just hard to arrange.

Poor Mort was under the weather and I felt bad that he felt he had to entertain me.  I left him and Mark to worry about Mark’s potential new garage.  But I did get to meet Skeeter, who is just such a good puppy and such a soft tongue.  Yes, I went and ruined all his obedience training by letting him jump on me and lick me.

Then it was off for a drink and dinner with Tom.  I had not seen Tom in maybe  year.  It is horrible that we have gone that long in doing that.  But it was nice catching up with him.

And then yesterday, Becky and the brood stopped by for a catch-up and pizza.  The girls are so damned cute and well behaved.  Those au pairs really did their job!  I swear the highlight of the evening (besides Nophie peeing in the dining room) was saved for last, when we were told that LDFRN wants to introduce Denton and myself to a gay male nurse she knows….because he and his partner are new to the area and don’t know anyone.   “Oh….and are they swingers, because I think Marc (I’ll just assume he spells it with a ‘c’) and his partner are.”

Don’t worry folks….it is not necessarily true….it’s just LDFRN being LDFRN.

I’ll be posting from the road.

The Simpsons Movie

Blobby’s Review: Eh.

I held no high expectations for this film, as the last few seasons have been marginal. Why would I think it would turn around because it was going to be on the big screen?

Gene Shalit said, “You’ll laugh till your knees hurt and you can’t breathe“. I’m guessing the same could be said about Mr. Shalit on a decent flight of stairs too.

NPR was probably more accurate with: ‘Bigger, Longer, Underwhelming‘.

There were clearly funny moments, funny lines and site gags, but it just didn’t gel with me. The entire cast of Springfield gets in on the act…..each for about 2.7 seconds. At least Ralph makes the most of his screen time – though you knew he would.

We took my niece and nephew and they seemed to really enjoy it. I just thought it was ok.

Anyway you look at it – the Simpsons Movie is leaps and bounds over the shit-pile that is going to be Alvin and the Chipmunks. ….and you only think I’m kidding!

When Cultures Collide

Yesterday I went down the Rock N Roll Hall O’Fame. Yes, you’ve read here before that I don’t care for the organization or execution of the Hall, but technically I didn’t go in and I certainly didn’t pay.

The CBS Morning Show (or whatever it is called) did their broadcast from there – but trust me, that was not the draw. The Friday morning concert was Patti Smith !!!! No – not Patty Smythe from Scandal (she is the Warrior – and victory is hers!). Nothing against Ms. Smith, but she’s not a huge name draw that GMA or Today Show gets. But I’m much happier with Patti than say, some crapfest like Brooks & Dunn.

I love(d) Patti Smith. Her first three albums were great and something unexpected for the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. These are the disks that really did get her inducted into the Hall this year.

I almost did not attend the show since I woke up to thunder, lightening and heavy rain. But by the time I pulled into the work parking garage, the skies had cleared and were big swaths of blue….along with some Simpsons like clouds. ‘Screw it’ I thought, and walked the three blocks to the Rock Hall.

At first I thought it might have been canceled due to weather, but as I got very close, I noticed they were set up, but not many people were there. I’m guessing less than 200. Sad.

It is safe to say that most people there showed for the cooking segment or to try to get on TV with their crappy stupid homemade signs. Sad Sad. People at work knew I was doing this and not one person knew she was – NOT ONE! I am not that old, but man – they made me feel ancient. Granted, she only had one “hit” and it was almost 30 years ago, but still…. Someone said, “oh, I think she sings commercial jingles”. I was all like, “I highly doubt that!” Sad Sad Sad.

Perhaps there was a ‘concert’ after the CBS show – but I don’t know…I do have a job. I couldn’t stick around. I stayed from about 7:30a to 8:45a and she only sang three songs – but you know how those concert series work.

There was a heck of a lot of just standing around, as if you’ve seen these things, the band usually only plays two songs…and sometimes will play others to take the show in and out of commercial break. Which songs were what, I have no idea as I didn’t see the actual show (duh!).

Patti did the Doors’ “Soul Kitchen” off her new disk of cover material, as well as the Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”. She was in great voice and really seemed to enjoy herself. She didn’t even seem to mind doing “Because the Night” – which you just know has to become laborious after 29 years of performing it – and it’s not even her material.
Yeah – I would have liked to hear ‘Frederick’ or ‘Dancing Barefoot’ , “Rock N Roll Nigger” (as if CBS would allow that!) or even her covers of “Gloria” or “So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star”.

In those 200 folks down there was my nephew, Matt. I didn’t see him, but I got back to my office and my sister left me a message he was there. I was surprised he knew how Patti Smith was – she replied he didn’t, but likes attending these type of events. Maybe he’ll get turned on to some other music – though he’s pretty good at that.

What struck me is how the different and the same we have become. There was Patti, doing what she’s been doing for the last three decades. Then there I was in my button down (I had jeans on – because it was ‘casual Friday’), working from my BlackBerry and taking pictures with my cellphone.

That I even have to use the term ‘casual Friday’ sort of made my skin crawl.

(as always, click images to make ‘em bigger)

Lament on the Outerbelt

Why must you be so troublesome, I-270?

Built umpteen years ago (or possibly 32), you’ve been in perpetual reconstruction ever since. Nary a day has gone by that I have ever been on you that lanes, ramps and entire sections of road have not been closed. The orange barrel your only friend.

Your on and off ramps are mocking to the best of drivers and deadly to the worst. Is having 75 feet to merge onto the highway while the same stretch to get into the corresponding off ramp funny?

I have been on your surface but single digit times over double digit years and yet only for moments do I forget why that is (save moving from your city limits a dozen years ago). You are a cruel by-pass that takes longer to use than going through the center of town. You take me to places I would not normally venture nor ever really want to go. You have cruel signs that read North, South, East and West. You keep a multitude of minivans in perpetual hell. They spin in their own orbit from Westerville to Hilliard to Grovetucky to Worthington where they seemingly have no way to break the inertia.

It is no wonder no one can break your spell. Your signage is beyond comprehension and no one who does not drive you daily could ever find which exit to get off at and how to break through the barriers to get there.

Jon used to ‘joke’ about never driving beyond the outerbelt. My theory is: It is not the life beyond that cement band that had him frightened – it was being sucked into you soulless vortex that scared the bejesus out of him.

He had no idea how much like heaven Delaware could be compared to you.

Image Day

If this were on a toasted cheese sammich of a tortilla, I could easily sell it on eBay for billions and billions of dollars.

Shopping w/Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun – though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think!

Should I even be surprised that the Nut-tastics and the Snausages are located right next to each other in the grocery store?

In reality, shouldn’t Nut-tastics be right under the Snausages? If I were still a stock-boy in a supermarket, that’s how I would have arranged it.

Record of the Month

I figured I’d do a monthly ‘what I’m listening to’ kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it’s my blog! So there!

These may or may not be newly released disks. They might not even be a good disk – just what is been in heavy rotation in my car (as usually the iPod is playing anywhere else).

The first four Crowded House albums are very good to excellent affairs. So I was thrilled when I heard they were attempting a new disk – 14 years after their last one. Ok…the last part of that line had me more than a little worried.

As much as I like Neil Finn, his solo disks have been spotty. That and it really wasn’t going to be Crowded House, as Paul Hester hanged himself three years ago.

Had I wrote this review three weeks ago, I would have completely panned it. But since I’m too lazy to even take it out of my car CD player, I’ve had lots of time to give it lots of listens. It is growing on me.  Possibly it has grown as much as it is ever going to.

There is some good stuff, there is some fair stuff and quite honestly, there is some bad stuff. They open strong with “Nobody Wants To” and “Don’t Stop Now”. But then they plummet with “She Called Up”. It starts promising enough and when they get to a bad chorus of “la la la la la” it makes the Carpenters’ “Sing” sound like a frickin masterpiece. Ruckiry (not Jon’s boss), they rebound immediately with “Say it Again”.

After that it is kind of hit and miss. I like “Even a Child” and Heaven That I’m Making”. I really like “Walked Her Way Down” (best song on the disk). But if you count-up those pros, there are six good songs, but there are 14 on the disk. Do the math.

The ones not mentioned are fair to sub par, including his take on “Silent House”, which he co-wrote with the Dixie Chicks, who released it a year ago…and did a much better job of it. And “Pour Le Monde” is ok, though if you listen to it, I swear it could be a rejected song from John Lennon’s Double Fantasy.

The disk is still better than most stuff out there, but I’d never say it was on the same level as a true Crowded House disk. The great thing about iTunes: you don’t have to purchase the entire disk.

SIMPSONIZED

I am (or was) a huge Simpsons fan. I think anyone who was a fond of them from the beginning would be hard pressed to say the show quality has waned in the last few years. Sure, there are funny moments, but not hilarious shows.

I no longer try to catch it when original episodes are aired. Hell, I don’t even DVR them. If I happen to catch them, so be it. I much rather stumble upon the older ones during the early weekday evenings, but I’m not usually home by that time.

That being said – I am still REALLY looking forward to the Simpson’s Movie….which comes out this Friday. I’ll be there during it’s opening weekend. Most likely even taking my 14 and 16 yo nephew and niece….whom for the last few years, I’ve been providing DVD sets for birthdays and holidays. They are forever grateful…..their mother…..not so much. That’s why I’m an uncle and not a parent. Well…..ONE of the reasons.

I don’t go for fast food tie-ins for these big summer movies, well, because I normally like to avoid those places unless there is a dire need for food or bathroom (the latter usually necessitated by the former). Burger King is the sponsor here. I guess Krusty Burger was unavailable.

I will give BK this – they have had some weird-marketing things over the last year…one being the Subservient Chicken (creepy). This one is a little more fun, though frustrating. It takes longer than one might think and is not what I would call horribly accurate. My readers might disagree.

You can Simpsonize yourself. I’ll save you some time: if you do it the picture has to be colour and pretty much a full on close up. I know the directions say that, but who is gonna believe that creepy King? The program must have errored out on me a half dozen times, yet, since I clearly have nothing else going on in my life, I attempted to keep trying.

I’d say I achieved success…..but I’m not so sure.

Harry Potter

‘Tis (’twas?) the weekend.

A movie and the book. And in a way, the end.

We went to go see HP & The Order of the Phoenix and I thought they did pretty well with it….given the time contraints and all.

The girl they got to play Luna was great. Helena Bonham Carter was not as prominent as she could have been – but whatta gonna do? And of course, Ginny Weasley is showing much promise at a witch.

Is it just me who thinks that the woman who played Delores Umbridge struck an uncanny resemblence to Marion Ross, as she played Loreli Gilmore’s grandmother?

The last book was so easily available, we saw no reason to pre-order this one. The Half-Blood Prince could be picked up in almost any gas station or grocery store. Oddly enough that one and the new one were not available at Borders….ours anyway. Sold Out. But I prefer our slightly more independent bookstore anyway – even if the discounts were not nearly as great. And they have great balloon art (as you can see). We only got one copy. I will re-read the last one, while Denton gets first shot at the final book.

I joked that my plan was to go in at midnight, grab a book, flip to the last page and read it aloud……..then beat a path to the door. But I’m not that cruel………….honest.

However, I did walk into Joseph Beth and picked up the book, turned to Denton and said, loudly “did you know this was coming out? I had NO idea!” Some people looked at me like I was the biggest moron on earth…and some with complete bemusement.

Such is the story of my life.

Site of the Month

I can’t say it is a WOW site – but Rebecca says it is ’soothing mindless fun’ and it is. There is nothing overly cool about it especially, but it kind of becomes hypnotic and/or mesmerizing.

…or maybe I’m just so busy at work lately, that it is kind of soothing mindless fun just to play with for a few minutes.

Enjoy.