Friday, April 27, 2007

God Bless You Slava
This morning, Mstislav Rostropovich, probably the world's greatest living cellist died. I heard it on WFUV and then switched quickly over to WQXR to get the real scoop. I cried for about 10 minutes. He was such a great musician - soloist as well as conductor and showed such a great joie de vive while performing. He was so enthusiastic that upon completing a concert would hop off the podium and kiss and hug the musicians within reach. That's what being a musician is. That joy, that delight in every aspect of being a musician. I so wish I had gotten to see him live before he passed away. What a loss to the music world and everyone in general.

The photo, is of him playing his cello - the Bach Suites while the Berlin Wall is coming down.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

The Inverse Relative Baloney Theory
Kerry says I need to blog more to entertain her. So, in doing that, I offer you, dear readers my "Inverse Relative Baloney Theory."

I love baloney. I don't care that it's made the same way as hot dogs. I don't care that it's like the lowest on the cold cut totem pole (I'd put it somewhere below salami but above olive loaf and chicken roll). I love it. In fact, I do believe that on my way to the doctor's office (11:45am) I will indeed have a baloney sandwich.

Okay. My theory states, that as the price per pound of the baloney goes up, the taste of the baloney goes down. Inversely, as the price per baloney goes down, the taste of the baloney goes up. Case in point. I detest Boar's Head Baloney. It tastes soapy and the casing is tough. However, Shoprite Store Brand Baloney, is delicious and tastes like it came directly from a German delicatessen. And it's relative too. The Shoprite Store Brand is better, compared to the Hansel and Gretel baloney at Best Yet Market.

So there you have it. A scientific categorization of baloney.
Relay for Life
So, last night was Relay for Life. I pulled back this year and just was a participant. No running a team, no taking care of everything. Mom's nursing students had the cutest campsite set up - they had a whole tiki theme going. It was the best looking campsite there if I do say so. But I went, and did the survivor's lap and Tommy joined me for the caregiver's lap and we discussed his outstanding caregiving skills that he showed while I was sick. (If anyone ever needs to know how to flush a peripherally-inserted-central-line - go see him) But it was fun and happy. I always get a little weepy doing the survivor's lap, so I held Mom's friend's Carol's hand and we walked together. For some reason, it's easier to walk with someone during that lap.

But I digress....

Being out till 10:45p.m. in a very loud gymnasium where I had to yell to be heard did not assist my sore throat situation. Woke up at 4:00 a.m. in pain; couldn't swallow and felt all grunky. Woke up this morning feeling a little better, but now have PINK EYE! No rest for the wicked. So, now I need to make an appointment to get in just to get some drops for this glowing eye.

AND

I have a 6-hour rehearsal later. Luckily tomorrow is very empty. Maybe I'll make an appearance at a Bethpage game for a short while if I'm feeling better.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Tag, I'm It?
According to
Kerry now I have to post 10 things about me. Wacky things. Things people don't know. Hmmmm.....

1. I know more about 19th century baseball than the average guy.
2. I play loud music while cleaning the house. (Sorry Kerry, I kinda plagarized your thought there, but it is true.)
3. I met my husband on the internet.
4. I can't drive without music. I can't do almost anything without music playing.
5. I tried to teach myself Portuguese.
6. Mmmm...beef jerky.
7. I can play the tambourine and the crotale.
8. I have no problems with going to the movies, eating in a restaurant or doing social-type things alone.
9. I've never seen the movie "Titanic."
10. In college, I liked sneaking up on my roommates and scaring them. BOO!


And I'm supposed to tag other bloggers, but I'm embarassed to say I don't know any. I suck.

Monday, April 09, 2007

F*%^ You Cancer
It's been a while since I've taken a kickboxing class. So I forgot how cathartic (and exhausting) they are. Every time I take one I envision cancer as a horrible monster in front of me and aim all my kicks and punches in his direction. I think of him as looking like one of those boogey-men from "March of the Wooden Soldiers." I hit and punch and kick and show no mercy. Then I always feel better when I'm done. Refreshed and renewed.
WANTED, For Flagrant Sign Ignoring
Apparently I wasn't the only one acting foolishly in Philadelphia. If you look closely, you can see that the sign plainly reads "Please do not sit on planter." Sigh. You can take the boy out of Cicero but....

Saturday, April 07, 2007

I See the Lion Captive in the Kitchen
I don't care if it's cheesy. I don't care how dated it is. I don't care if it's "too cheery." I love this album. I love how it's its own little entity - back in the days where artists created whole albums, not just strung a series of singles together, hoping they'd be downloaded as an album. (Don't get me wrong, I do download single songs, I just prefer the completed-ness and the sanctity of albums as wholes.)

I had to buy it second hand off amazon, and of course after I did, I discovered that Sony put out a box set of his first 3 albums. D'oh.

But listening to it is comforting. This is one that was almost constantly on the reel-to-reel when I was little. It's something that is so familiar in tunes and lyrics that even though I hadn't heard it in probably almost 20 years, I knew all the lyrics and the sequence of tracks. I love the way it's such a studio album - the musicians on there are great - soulful bass lines, Michaels Jackson and McDonald singing inobtrusive back-up. I love how the instruments on there are varied, mandolin, accordian, strings.

Allmusic.com classifies "Keep the Fire" as:
"Smooth
Searching
Gentle
Poignant
Soothing
Laid-Back/ Mellow"
and I have to agree.

Friday, April 06, 2007

I Am Iron (Wo)Man
Here I am being foolish in Philadelphia (ooh - that sounds like a signature to a "Dear Abby" letter). Philadelphia was fun. We did the following:

- Ate expensive (and utterly delicious) filet mignons at Smith and Wollensky.
- Walked among beautiful and old architecture.
- Tried to figure out where Sixth Sense was filmed.
- Stayed in luxurious accomodations (thanks Priceline.com!)
- Got shoved and pushed at a children's museum. (apparently it doesn't matter what state you're in - hands-on museums bring out the worst in everyone)
- Walked around and shopped and purchased Gap Heaven perfume and a decadent brownie at a special chocolatey shop.
- Ate a hoagie and a Philly cheese steak. Then bought another one to share later.
- Came back to the hotel and relaxed by the pool.
- Shared above cheese steak at 10:30 p.m.
- Wandered about Philly in vain looking for said chocolatey shop to purchase another brownie, realized was walking in the wrong direction, swore and trudged back to the luxurious accomodations. (all me.)
- Made it back home in one piece.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Is This Sad, Funny or Both?
So I found this picture of Annie and me at the Madame Toussard Wax Museum. We're with a "like-ness" of Donald Trump. And then this morning I see that he shaved Vince McMahon's head because of some wrestling match. (What's funny is that I clicked on the headline thinking Donald Trump shaved Ed McMahon's head!) When looking at the photos, it seemed that the "live" Donald could easily be confused with the wax Donald.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower
I was flipping through the channels while waiting for dear heart to get off the phone for supper. I discoverd this little gem of an Audrey Hepburn film, entitled "Paris When it Sizzles." The irony that I had just played a song that contains that very phrase was not lost on me. It was cute and funny and witty. I actually laughed out loud with self-unconscious guffaws. As an added bonus, it was on TCM, which meant no waiting through mindless commercials. Audrey of course was her usual delightful and sparkling self and William Holden was funny and gruff and dashing. It made fun of itself and the whole Hollywood movie world. Go find it and have a good laugh at Tony Curtis who makes an extended cameo.
Mmmmmm....Almond-esque Tiramisu*
I might have discovered a little more heaven on earth. I had been to Peter's Pasta in Babylon and had an amazing dessert there. It was like tiramisu - layers of ladyfingers, custard and a dusting of topping. But the similarities ended there. The ladyfingers were soaked in amaretto instead of rum (which I don't like anyway), the custard had an almond taste to it and was lighter and the top was coated in toasted almonds. It was divine. So I figured it was an artsy fartsy kind of thing. But ahhh......I encountered its sweetness again at the Milk and Sugar Cafe in Bay Shore. Hooray! I thought. Gotcha! And then......after a long weekend of cello-ing, while of all things grocery shopping at Shop Rite (I've never understood that name - are they implying that by shopping there I'm doing the 'rite' thing?) - lo and behold, there it was in the case at the bakery department. Nestled in a little paper holder. It was delicious. And I didn't share a bite. And it was a third of the price of the 2 previous times I had it and just as delicious. And I made yummy noises the whole time I ate it.

*To be said in a Homer Simpson voice.