That Fighting Spirit

I have to admit, when you're this ticked off about a play and you're making a billion dollars and married to the richest model on earth, I'm going to love you. Now some will say Brady was a brat for yelling at his young receiver for allowing a Redskins defensive player for undercutting him on the route, but you know what? I am soooooo happy to have and see someone who gives a flying fig about the outcome of a game. Sometimes we all take things for granted. And I know maybe if I had three super bowl rings and it was a forgone conclusion that I would be elected first try into the NFL Hall of Fame, I may have said, "Screw it....our defense blows, I'm taking it easy for the rest of the season". Not Tom Brady. And do I agree with him blaming Underwood for not catching the ball- no I don't. Plain and simple it was a crappy decision to throw the ball, and an even worse pass. But keep that intensity Tommy, the team needs to see you care and that you haven't checked out. And kuddos for Bill O'Brien for yelling back at Brady-he's a player and needs to be coached no matter how many wins he has. I kinda wish I was this intense about anything in my life right now. Well I kinda am, watching football. Here's to the upcoming Post season. I don't think my poor Pats have a chance in hell of making it beyond their bye week, but you know what, Play the hell out of the rest of your schedule and I'll love you even more.

Thankful and Grateful

Last week I went to New York City and got a bit of my soul back watching some wonderful Theater. Hopefully I'll find it in me to talk about all my experiences, but I wanted to take this time before Thanksgiving to say thank you to a certain group of people that through the years, have, without knowing, made life wonderful for me. Who are these wonderful folks? Well easy to guess, actors, stage managers, producers, dancers, set designers and all of the other wonderful and talented folks that make theater happen. From Broadway to small professional to student shows, theater brings me joy and energizes me in a way I guess nothing else ever has. I've shared moments with types of families, individuals and events during centuries I'd never really ever know or be near (unless I had a Tardis that worked!) thanks to the magic of Theater. So on this Holiday, I do thank my family for making me a little crazy, but most of all I want to thank all of those who create those wonderful magic moments on Stage.

There's a huge list of performers I've enjoyed through the years but here are some highlights: Douglas Sills in The Scarlett Pimpernel ,whose pure joy of performing I have never seen matched on stage (well maybe Hugh Jackman this past weekend, but that's another blog); Elaine Paige in Sunset Boulevard who with the 2 1/2 decent songs she had to sing worked a miracle and created one of the most intense, "hair rising up on the back of my neck" moments in musical theater I've ever experienced; Mark Rylance and Martin Shaw respectively in Jerusalem and An Ideal Husband for showing why Brits really do have a monopoly (for the most part) on amazing actors. The set design team and director Nicholas Hytner for creating for me what is the most beautiful and haunting first 10 minutes of a musical theater piece ever with the 1994 revival of Carousel; Janet McTeer and Harriet Walters in Mary Stuart, Robert Cuccioli in Jekyll & Hyde for making trash electrifying, and Hugh Jackman (I'll always get back to Hugh) for making dreck (worse than just trash!) like The Boy from Oz watchable. Ah how can I not mention Patti LuPone in her one woman show and Gypsy; or Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime (for that matter the entire amazing cast of the original production) This just scratches the surface, but you should begin to get the idea, so thank you to all. With it being Thanksgiving, let's make sure to give a little thanks to those that help bring a bit of magic and wonder in our lives! Happy Gobbles everyone!!!

Brit Wit

So I know I know, I haven't posted in a bit, okay, forever. So so sorry. Tons to talk about but I always find it so much easier for me to TALK than to write..but I will continue to try to post. Thanks to wonderful Adam for pushing me along. So today's post, simply: Why I love Brits. I'm not looking for the handsomest man-though if mighty Thor Chris Hemsworth likes older woman, who am I to say nay!-but what I am looking for, and what I do love in men is great wit! And those Brits have it in spades. Plus I really do love the accent..... So here for your viewing pleasure, two wonderful clips from The Trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (not quite as fun as The Wilde Boys doing Jersey Shore, but you get the idea- and ok technically those boys weren't Brits, they were Americans doing Brit accents, oh whatever....

The Kindness of Strangers........

Every now and then it's nice to be reminded that there are nice people out there. And every now and then it's nice when that reminder comes unexpectedly, like it did for me this Labor Day Holiday. Here's the set up: I'm trying to be good, live healthier (no more sex with guys on subways-I kid-I kid) you know eat better, exercise etc. Well for the past two summers for my weekend exercise I walk around a local pond, Horn Pond. It's nice, busy but not too crazy busy, and it's about 2.25 miles around if you go some of the back routes. Now I've gone from a slow walk, to a brisk walk to a slow jog (I think it's a slow jog!) and I'm trying to add distance as well. It hasn't been fun, and honestly, I don't enjoy it I just do it cause I have to. I have a good friend who fell into running and she loves it. Again, SO NOT ME. So there I was, Monday, exercising cause I should, begging for it to end cause it was muggy and felt like soup outside. I thought I'd walk round twice, but it was so freakin' hot, I started to run just to get it over with. Monday, was fairly busy so I'd gone by a few walkers, have gone by some joggers, and had been blown pass by some runners. About 3/4 way through I'm sweating my arse off, my sunglasses are glued to my eyeballs and I'm telling myself "it's almost over, god when is it going to end!" when to my left a female jogger starts to pass by in the opposite direction I'm going. We catch each others eye, I do the smile (grimace more like it at that point), and she smiles back and says, "Keep going!" all cheery but with a great deal of sympathy kinda sorta like "God, can't believe we're out here, might as well finish what we started." Well thank you miss lady jogger/runner. You made my day and put a real smile on my face. It was the small bit of encouragement that I needed, and I also felt a bit of a connection to someone too. Didn't expect it, didn't ask for it, but it was so nice to receive. It did get me through my jog, and though I didn't wake up today with a greater appreciation for running, jogging or for exercise in general (I'm not even going to begin to talk about the kettle ball routine I did this morning!) I guess I was reminded in a way that my task (to paraphrase the great Bill Belichick) "is what it is". There's no easy way out of exercising, and I may never get faster, better, or learn to enjoy it more, but sometimes you just gotta do it. And every now and then, getting a friendly push from someone can help you make it just a wee bit easier.....So while poor Blanche Dubois tried to depend on the kindness of strangers and got screwed, my experience with my stranger truly was kind. So,thank you!

Just some stuff...

If you want to laugh watch "Legend Quest" on the SyFy channel. (I hate that the SyFy channel felt as if they had to change their name to SyFY from SciFi really, that's gonna bring you in more viewers?). Anyway, "Legend Quest" is like Nickelondeon's "Legend of the Hidden Temple" + "Raiders of the Lost Ark" x Geraldo Rivera's "Mystery of Al Capones Vault"- Anything Michael Woods has hosted on PBS. In other words, you will spend an hour each week, watching someone traipse around the world, searching for historical artifacts that may or may not exist, and here's the kicker finding absolutely NOTHING. You will hear the host, who I swear is sporting a fake Scottish accent, talk excitedly to his female assistant about what they've discovered, which is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I have honestly never laughed so hard in my life. "Imagine if this was the place that the spear that pierced Jesus was at. It would be a great discovery." But we can't search where we want to because 1) the land's protected 2) it's too delicate to dig 3) Pigs haven't started flying......well you get the idea. I loved watching a few episodes cause I think he's also actually making stuff up and adding things to already existing ledgends. Like Merlin-Everyone knows he's under stone, not in a glass tomb, that's SNOW WHITE...well anyway I encourage you all to check it out. Just to figure out how much money gets spent sending this guy to find again I'll note for you NOTHING!!!!!! PS watch Michael Woods stuff, at least he doesn't have the annoying assistant

Here's some links for fun!


http://www.syfy.com/legendquest/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy7grh_BZu8&feature=related

http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/wood.html

I'd Rather be doing.........

This week I did something I thought I'd never do. I signed up with an online dating site. Now it's not the pay kind, but based on advice of a friend who did it she thought it was worth the effort as she had some nice dinner dates etc, and really I'm not looking for walking down the aisle (unless David Tuterra is going to be my wedding consultant!) After having gone through the process all I have to say is I really would rather be on the beach with Matt Bellamy. Outside of the fact that one has to write briefly about themselves, sell yourself with a photo, cause really folks that's what everyone is looking at, not what you write about how nice, kind, funny or smart your are), the sheer weirdness of having info about you online like this still strikes me as creepy. Now if I was someone that would get lots of interest just from a photo, I don't know maybe it would work, but I'm not. And then again, it's creepy if you're just picking someone off a photo, cause ew...well strip clubs exist for a reason. Now my dear friend Aimee has been my wing girl through this, and I won't give up since she put a lot of effort to sit with me and read my profile and review the "they could be your match" listings, but right now, I'm still in the eww state, and really doubt this will move beyond that. I mean will this really have the effect that I wanted which would be for Russell Crowe, Matt Bellamy or Matthew MacFadyen to email me with a "where have you been all my life ?" I know, unrealistic, but really when I get an email from someone saying "Hi, you look like a cutie" I mean, read my profile I don't think it would indicate in any way, shape or form that "cutie" is a phrase I'd enjoy being called. Enough bitching, back to work, and back to hoping maybe one day I'll get to hang on the beach with the Bells.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do....

I have a confession to make. Last night I got together with my ex. I know I know, not a good thing on most accounts, but actually this was fine,see the hook up was with my musical ex Josh Groban. Now for those who don't know me, my musical taste runs slightly all over the place. Favorite bands growing up The Who and Queen. Also loved Barry Manilow even enjoyed Hurricane Smith singing "Babe, What would you Say" (I dare you to remember that one!). The 80's were ruled by Duran Duran. Currently a 5 ft. 4" Brit named Matt Bellamy (he of Muse fame- I'm not talking about the whole Kate Hudson thing "lalalalala I can't hear you!") holds my heart in his hands, but the Grob, well, his voice does things to me. Ever since I came across his cute little 18 year old self talking to Larry King "So, Josh, this singing thing, you like it?" and saw a clip of him on Ally McBeal (never really watched the show-honestly-dancing baby puhlease)I just have been amazed by the beauty of his voice. Yes, he sings schmaltzy songs but I honestly have to say voice wise, his baritone, vibrato, control and depth of sound is brilliant. Well all was right in my Josh world, except I kept missing him in concert early on. So stints at the Wang Center and Great Woods (or whatever the hell it's called now) were missed. That said I made up with in it what about '07 by seeing him twice (Boston and CT at Mohegan Sun), then an appearance with the Pops performing on a PBS Chris Botti Special (Botti not so much interested in-but did also see Sting and John Mayer (and Steven Tyler who should have stopped at singing Cryin' instead of also doing "Smile") -so that was cool for the most part!-but I digress. Well what's the verdict. He was lovely in concert. Great voice, totally likable, if I were 25 I would so go after him, but honestly he seems like a good guy. Now I wasn't that thrilled with some of his music on his Awake album (Josh note to self Paul Simon already did Graceland, stop with the world music influence stuff) but I liked a good number of cuts on it. Then came his recent work "Illuminations" (I think) Heard it streamed on line and hated it everything...thanks Ric Rubin Mr. Producer of everyone. Sometimes folks should just sing, not write music, but you know what hey Josh do what you want and if you keep singing like you do, sure I'll find a cheap tkt to see ya but I may not buy your albums.

As far as the concert itself, personally certain artists should remain in smaller venues. I believed this with him in '07 and still do today after last night. The thing is is that regardless of offering an "intimate stage" in the middle of the floor, there really is not way to create intimacy at venues like the TD Garden. It was so funny but when the concert started all I could think of was how strange it was to come back to see a show maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full with a small stage compared to the sold out sweating and head banging crowd at Muse (sigh-you spoiled everything else for me boys). The Grob should play here in venues like The Wang or The Opera House. Two three nights and you'd have the audience size you had a the Garden (then again one night vs. two or three in one place). And honestly you could have saved yourself 15 minutes of jogging from one stage to the other which translates to at least 3 more songs to sing. Also if you're in a bigger venue, even if you say you want to be intimate you're selling seats in balcony far away seats (yes there were folks there), so you MUST have some type of video screen that will help the audience see you up close. At this concert and his past concert I saw he's had awful and I mean AWFUL visuals, ballerinas dancing, machines marching during a song called "Machine" well you get it Literal to the point of ridonculus! Then again why do I think Machines marching during "Supermassive Black Hole" is cool...ok I'll stop mixing musical genres.

So Josh when all is said and done, thanks for the one nighter...I miss you, and was happy to have you for a bit, but now you go about your business and I'll go about mine. I'll love ya but won't always like your music and when the next tour comes, if you're playing greatest hits from your first three albums, count me in....