The Killers are Coming to MSG in 09

I've been cheating recently on my favorite band, Radiohead, with another-The Killers, sssh! I'm growing to like them more and more, a kind of throwback to the 80s in ways with all the synths they use, but singer Brandon Flowers' voice is strong and steady, and they manage to mix it up just enough that the music has a rich, full sound, charming lyrics. I really enjoyed their bside collection, "Sawdust," and I've been listening to the song "Read My Mind" over and over on the iPod.

Anyway, NME.com (link at left) just announced that they're going on tour in the US, in 2009, starting in January. They're going to be playing at MSG Jan. 25. Hmm, perhaps a belated birthday present to myself!

Perseverin' Through Hard Times as a Freelancer

With the economy crashing all around us, and the cost of groceries and movies going through the roof, entertainment that requires one to leave their home is considered to be an extravagance, at least for us. Unless I expect
to love it, I won't go. I'm trying to think of the last time i LOVED a movie, it was probably "Iron Man."

While I didn't LOVE per se "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," it was pretty damn charming, if a little self-conscious (kinda like "Garden State" in that respect.) But the genuine likability and chemistry of the leads, Michael Cera (who I think I'm getting a small crush on) and Kat Dennings carry it. The movie is a kind of love letter to kids growing up in New York. What happens throughout the movie is typical of many a night of any teen growing up in the city, and I loved that just about every shot of streetcorner the movie, I recognized, making me long for college days and money and barhopping for bands...maybe i had less money then, but got more for the little I had. The film's warm city night lights were easy on the eye too. I don't think I'm quite old enough yet to not be able to appreciate these things, and the random magic moments a night in the city can offer.

These days I bide my time alternating between NY1 for early morning news fix, The View for gossip and laughs, the Travel Channel for lunchtime fantasies, and then CNN for hours on end, to send myself into cardiac arrest (or a quick way to make me focus back on my work), because, I'm a glutton for punishment. For work (I work for the Labor Research Association), now that elections are near, I have had to write a lot of union president letters endorsing Obama, or comparisons between Obama and McCain. Strangely I feel I've gotten pretty good at the sell, if I could only sell myself. I have never in my life given as much attention to an election as I have this year, but I feel so jipped for the lack of knowledge I have on the candidates, left with only depressing economy stats. My day ends with a little "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" for more fantasies and laughs.

My daughter recently suckered me at a local street fair that had an animal shelter table to adopt a kitten-LIKE I NEEDED ONE! I now have three cats and a cocker spaniel. Little Pepper has quickly gotten acclimated and uses the litter and has begun to cuddle up to us-my younger cat though, (9yrs) Freddy, is a little depressed, I think. I've tried to explain to him that I think of each of my cats as a kind of "life insurance," each giving me a few years more a piece. He just rested his head on me and sighed.

'Night.

Another Lil Milestone

So today Amanda had her first full on attempt at babysitting Grace and Danny, for about four hours while Rose and I went to see Lauren and Charlie. We had done a dry run at our place last week, and that went pretty well. I was so good-I never called! Well once, just to say we were on our way back. I almost kidnapped Charlie and WOW, does he have neck strength for a two week old, holy smoke! He is absolutely precious, and Lauren has her mommy mojo down pat. Way to go, Chris and Lauren!

And way to go, Amanda! Mom's proud.

Everything in Its Right Place on 8/8/08

I haven't written here in WAY too long, not that there haven't been things to write about, but just been hectic and tense sometimes. Amanda is growing up, becoming a young lady and entering high school;been dealing with work; went to Maine, and brought Amanda's best friend Nora's family with us, which was awesome.

Tonight, Ian and I joined my oldest and dearest friend Sunita (we've been friends since kindegarten) for an evening with Radiohead at Liberty State Park, and it was a religious experience. Despite the weather earlier in the day, the evening was glorious, blue sky, cool breezes. The vibe at the venue was sort of neo-Woodstock, lotta hippie postcollege types, only grievance was the long walk from the train to the venue and uber security. There was a kind of 'corral' for folks drinking, with a bracelet with a five drink limit, and last call was at 830pm, before the main concert, we didn't get there til about 730. Not that i needed five beers per se, but it was just so...controlled. No matter really we had a fantastic time. That night, everything was in its right place.

Graduation

Amanda graduated from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs yesterday, and it couldn't have been a nicer day. The day started with a special mass in the morning, where honor cords were distributed for the kids to wear later in the evening. Amanda and I then went to breakfast with her best bud Nora (who also racked up a bunch of honors-both she and Amanda were the only two girls that received excellent athlete awards) and her mom, Maria, who will be joining us in Maine this summer. I love these two immensely.

Later that night, the ceremony went smoothly and swiftly, with Amanda racking up several more awards, including my personal fave, the St. John's University "Women in Science" award. Of late she's been talking about becoming an astronaut (her group in class also won first place for a science fair project on rockets, could be the start of something here...) and I'd love to see it happen.

I was pretty ok up til this point, actually, until I saw a parent of younger children who has helped me out tremendously this past year with some school events, and then it hit me that I wouldn't have to do this stuff at Martyrs anymore and we were both crying. Then when I saw Amanda's two main teachers and we gave them flowers, we cried some more. Her main teacher's son goes to St. Francis Prep though, so she reminded me that we'll be selling cookies together next year and I felt a little better.

Where does the time go?

Yer Out!

Bonnie Fuller is outta there! Bring on the champagne!

Electric Company is Coming Back

Gawker says they're bringing back one of my favorite shows ever, The Electric Company, in addition to shooting new episodes in Washington Heights. I just wanted an excuse to post one of my fave actors, Morgan Freeman here, as Easy Reader!

Meeting Mr. Met at Shea Stadium

Ian's uncle got us a bunch of tickets to go to Shea Stadium, and we took Amanda's best friend Nora along for the ride, her first time at a professional baseball game. Since Amanda, Ian and her grandad didn't have purses, they went on ahead to our seats early, while we had to be searched. But we came across the rare opportunity for a photo op with Mr. Met, so Nora and I obliged. It was a great day! Amanda also got to hang out with one of her favorite cousins, Brian, who is sadly going to be moving back to California at the end of the month, but now Amanda can go visit him!

Rock the Cradle

Is anyone watching this show? It's been quite entertaining, a few cringe-worthy moments, but some great ones as well. And I have to say, How did Dee Snider sire such a hot son? Jesse looks like a sharper, hotter, buffer version of Vince Neil, with a wicked smile, even if he is bratty. I love watching this guy with his acrobatics. He's not the world's greatest singer, but he's driven, charismatic, and having fun.

And Chloe Lattanzi? I have to give the girl props for having balls, she is a strange bird. Her dad lives in a teepee, and her mom is Olivia Newton John, who I love. Despite her hating the material, I thought she pulled Spears' "Toxic" off as one of her best performances on the show.

Out of curiosity, I looked up Jesse Blaze Snider's myspace, and saw a link to Lucy Walsh's, who was kicked off tonight. I have to admit, I found one song of hers, "Guilty" to be a pretty darn good piece of 80s style pop, at first it sounds a little like "Sunglasses at Night." Great dance track.

New Blog, Quirks

Please check out my new blog that I started today, Quirks (link on left or headline).

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Ian and I went out to see "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" last night which was so sweet and hilarious. I think my new crush is Jason Segel. I loved him on "Freaks and Geeks." And his birthday is the day after mine (of course he's a bloody decade younger than me!)

Forest Hills, My Kinda Town

After I left the gym this morning, I'm walking along Austin Street and see a couple of people holding up signs guiding along a stream of people walking together. I ask a lady where they're from and she said "Spain!" So I said "Enjoy, welcome!" and she said "Thank You!" It was just kinda cool to be on the flip side, to have tourists visiting my town. And let me tell you, Forest Hills Square is so pretty this time of year, trees in bloom and cobblestone streets, spring has sprung. It's good to be alive.

Not So Glamour-ous

I must be getting old for Glamour, because I admit I bought this issue out of boredom, and I thought the same damn thing. (click headline for link.)

Facebook Addiction

It's real.

A Fun-Filled, Life-Affirming Weekend

Busy busy. Friday night, I attended a 20-year high school reunion happy hour at a bar in Brooklyn called Union Hall (since I couldn't attend the actual reunion at school) where I mingled with old Technites, proud of my professional and personal station in life (only one other had a 14 year old- a boy!), filled up on a nice share of compliments, old hs stories and exchanges. Many looked the same, a few had radically changed (height? hair? no hair? It all evens out). After an old boyfriend got in touch with me about a year ago to apologize for some things (19 years later!), and seeing him at the reunion, it was positive reinforcement to me for acting the way I did then, and how I'm perceived now. I feel pretty damn good.

Saturday night, went to a buddy's surprise 35th birthday party, to find out my best-friend faced a life-threatening situation that thank God turned out alright. She was glad (and so was I) to cut the rug and have a few laughs to remember that we have our families, our friends and each other, and things are good.

Both Saturday and Sunday Amanda had her second AAU tournament in Millburn, NJ and we won all of our games! Her new coach is giving her confidence back that had waned thanks to a previous coach. The girls are great (many of who are the same, having jumped ship too) and I'm excited. Will post team pics soon!

As a complete non-sequitor, it was because of Paul Giamatti's amazing performance as Harvey Pekar in "American Splendor," that I took interest in his comic book (same name) about ordinary life in Cleveland, Ohio. He was recently tapped to appear in an episode of "Anthony Bourdain's No Resevations," and I'm just giddy again!

It's a good day.

Go Kansas Jayhawks!

What a helluva comeback! Ten seconds left and down three points, Mario Chalmers makes a three pointer with two seconds to spare, they go into overtime, finally win 75-68.

Fourteen

Happy Birthday or Joyeux Anniversaire! Je t'aime toujours, ma cherie.

C'est Vrai

Just a couple of (the many) good lines from last night's John Adams on HBO, which was wonderful.

“If ever there was a city designed to distract us from our troubles, it would be Paris.” -Thomas Jefferson

“Women would add interest to many things, Mr. Jefferson, if men would allow it.” -Abigail Adams

Must Read-The Lovely Bones

I'm probably the last person on the planet to read Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," which came out in 2002, but if you haven't, please do. I just finally read it over the past couple of days. It's a moving story about a 14-year old girl that is brutally murdered (that's the very beginning folks, I'm not giving anything away here), but the main character ascends to heaven and watches as her family's life unfolds and moves on, keeps an eye on her friends and her first love, and there's some surprises. The writing is beautiful and poignant, and Kleenex should be at hand.

My Daughter's 'Heavenly' Obsession of the Week

My daughter is in love with skater Ryan Sheckler. After saying "he's so hot!" about five million times while watching his show on MTV the other night, I was cracking up when she said "how does he live, doesn't heaven want him back?" And "Isn't he a hunk of heaven?" Too friggin' funny.

She also loves Johnny Knoxville and Bam. Let's see where this ride takes us!

Two TV Miniseries

Anyone catching HBO's miniseries John Adams with Paul Giamatti (whom I love) and Laura Linney? It's been great to watch, love the scene where Thomas Jefferson drafts the Declaration of Independence and then Adams and Ben Franklin read it over and discuss it with him. I also love the banter and affections between Adams and his wife (Linney)-poignant/scary scene when she chooses to innoculate the family against small pox and then her daughter gets it. Looking forward to next Sunday.

Also, there's a miniseries on the WE Channel, High School Confidential, where they follow 12 girls over the course of four years at a high school in Kansas, some pretty serious, candid stuff. I've been watching together with Amanda.

Nobody Owes You Anything, You Owe Yourself To Take Responsibility for Your Own Actions

I quickly became enraged this weekend when I began to read a story in this Sunday's paper (click my headline for link) about a woman-a lawyer no less, who is suing seven casinos $20 million dollars because she lost $1 million at the table and the casinos did nothing to stop her addictive-like behavior, which included staying at the table using disposable wipes to 'brush her teeth' and eat complimentary candy bars, so as not to lose her spot at the tables. Are you kidding me?

This calls to mind the cases years earlier against Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest when a couple of kids killed themselves and the parents sued the artists for the music for provoking their children. Where were the parents when their kid was depressed to talk to, comfort, look for signs until too late?

Mothers that complain that certain teen idols OWE their daughters to dress or carry themselves a certain way, because its the fans that got them where they are.

Nobody owes me anything. I owe it to myself to be a good person, to love and look after my family, my friends.

I am a very tolerant and forgiving person, but the gall of these people to blame their problems on outside forces and not take responsibility. It just kills me.

Leatherheads

These two are growing on me-George Clooney, who directs and stars in this 1920s football flick, along with The Office's John Krasinski, who looks hot in this pic.

Oh Baby! Congratulations

A big congratulations to Jeff and Lore on welcoming their beautiful son Caleb Gregory into the world, who was born at a record eight minutes after arriving at the hospital! Leia, time to get out the big sister tshirt!

Christian? C'mon...

Look, the guy's got some mad skills but... Of the three, I'd wanted Rami to win. Figures friggin Victoria Beckham loved Christian's collection.

Patrick Swayze, Please Say It Ain't So

Since I first posted this a couple of hours ago, it's all over the place now. Not that any cancer is good but isn't pancreatic extremely painful? My thoughts are with his wife and family.

I'm On Smith Mag's Homepage

Whoo-hoo! My entry is on the homepage of featured submissions for "Brushes with Fame!" on Smith Mag. Well for the moment, anyway.

Next up, folks, six word memoirs. Anyone?

First Podcast

Yup, I've got a podcast! And so can you. Please bear with me. Ian told me about this and was so excited for me to do one-at 1 in the morning, when I was half asleep! Props to drop.io for making it possible.

http://drop.io/coffeendanish

Another Site To Check Out-Smith Mag

Thanks to an email from NPR, I found out about this site Smith Mag, (link on left) it's a fun spot for writers! Apparently it's been around for two years now, I wish I'd known sooner. Anyway, I joined and added a couple of celebrity anecdotes to the "Brushes With Fame" category (if you look at the tag words, look up Wham or Duran Duran.) Let's all add 'em!

Another point of interest on here is the Six-Word-Memoir. I have to mull this over, perhaps you'd like to take a stab at it too.

Yay! Radiohead is Coming!

Radiohead and Jack Johnson will headline the first All Points West Music & Arts Festival, to be held Aug. 8-10 at Liberty State Park! Thanks for the Pop Candy tip, Roe! I haven't been to a concert in ages! Actually, last time Ian & I saw Radiohead was at Liberty State Park, right before 9/11, when I managed to get some last minute tickets through work. I think the last concert we saw was White Stripes at KeySpan Park two years ago.

New Band To Check Out-& They're From NY!

The name made me curious, and if you like ska/punk style music, with some classical and African influences, you'll like this band, Vampire Weekend. I think they formed at Columbia U.


Here's their MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

Newsweek Cover

I don't like her body language here, not for a magazine cover.

New Blog Link

I've added a link to the blog Polly Vous Francais? at the left. I've been reading it for a bit, most recently entertained by anecdotes she gathered about a charming car called the 2CV. Apparently for some time after WWII, the French government gave one of these to families upon birth of a fifth child, as an incentive to repopulating the place. Perhaps it's not the most glamourous looking car, but still, could you imagine ever receiving a car from the American government? And then listening to traveller's tell their tales, it makes for a fun read.

Next Purchase for Wii-American Idol

Since they don't make Singstar for the Wii, I think I'm going to get the American Idol set w/ the microphone, pretty good song selection mix. I heard that you shouldn't get Boogie, it's more about making your avatar dance, plus the songs aren't the actual songs but someone else singing them.

That just drives me nuts, like those Kidz Bop cds. Why they heck would someone buy a cd of kids singing the songs instead of the artist? Unless it's fbomb laden or something, but I wouldn't imagine they're choosing songs filled with curses.

The NY Giants RULE!

Need I say more? Friggin' AWESOME game!

Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon

This is friggin' hilarious!

Sad News

I was really shocked and saddened to hear about Heath Ledger's death. Amanda heard word from a friend yesterday afternoon, I was sure she misheard something along the way. For years, Amanda has loved the film "10 Things I Hate About You" and now is of the age to call him "gorgeous" (I wholeheartedly agree.) Aside from his handsome looks though, he is a fine actor, loved him in "Brokeback Mountain," and now I imagine "Batman: Dark Knight" will have the same dark shadow cast over it that "The Crow" did when Brandon Lee died. He also seemed like a truly doting dad and a down to Earth person, a rarity in the Holllywood scene these days.

Looks Like St. Francis Prep is It

Up til today, we were all fine. Come noon time, all of our brains were blotto, with the realization that today was the day we'd get notification on the Catholic High Schools. That damned postman was ever so slow! I was pacing my block furiously, practically stalking the guy. I couldn't think straight or do any work. In a rarity, my daughter bolted home from school, but her teacher had already tipped her off that things were looking good.

After loving it, loving another and then loving it madly all over again, Amanda has made St. Francis Prep. She made the others, too, one was with honors and an incentive to take senior classes at St. John's University. But it's St. Francis Prep all the way, she says. Gulp. Where do I get my shovel?

Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled for her and loved watching her do her happy dance...we did apply for the specialized high schools too (earlier this year it was looking like more of a necessity than a choice...) but we won't hear word on that til March or so. But, going to Prep is going to be a commitment of paying $28,000 for the next four years!!!

The other day, there was a small news item about how Yale is offering a 50% reduced tuition rate for students whose families make less than $120,000. You think at first hearing this wow, that's great! That's still $120,000 or so for school, before all other expenses. And Amanda isn't going to college for another four years. So now we'd have to take a vow of poverty to accept...going into poverty...it is a vicious cycle.

Twice is Nice

Hey folks, I'm up for two PPA Awards (Parenting Publishers of America) for a news feature and a general feature I did in Big Apple Parent last year, I'll find out March 2. Even getting nominated is nice, of course, but it would be cool to win one (or two.) Now I'm working with the Labor Research Association.

Uggh!

Out of curiosity, I went to iTunes to listen to tracks from the newly released Broadway production of Xanadu, one of my fave movies as a child, especially because of the fantastic music by Olivia Newton John and Electric Light Orchestra. When I listen to ELO sing "All Over The World" I am a kid again on roller skates. That song always puts me in the best mood.

This new production is pitiful! Painful! I did see a performance once on The View that looked and sounded horrible too, but I thought I should give it another chance.

Humming Underwater

I hum tunes from the new Radiohead release "In Rainbows," which is just haunting and brilliant. There's this beautiful fusion of orchestral compositions with fuzzy guitars and sometimes trance-like beats...and Thom's voice is an amazing instrument unto itself. I'm no music critic, but it's just beautiful. I got those Bose earphones at Christmas, and listening to it is like a religious experience.

I think it's a true gift that someone can come up with tunes that seem like they've been around forever, and I'm jealous of them at the same time. How do they do it? They put it all together and the final product is timeless. And easy to remember.

Did you ever try to hum in the bathtub? Submerged under the water, I mean, not above it. If you try, you will find that your humming is SO loud! There's no way to 'hum softly'. I don't know what kind of strange phenomenon it is, but it's weird.

First Love, Testing Friendships, A Whole New World

As of December 15, Amanda has embarked on her first relationship with a boy named Chris. He attends another Catholic grammar school nearby, and has known Amanda for several years, first meeting her at (seriously), summer choir camp. He is completely in love with her and, all things considered, Ian and I have been very happy and supportive for Amanda in her first experience in romance. You go in preparing for the worst and when we met this sweet boy instead, we were disarmed.

He is an avid hockey player on a team his father coaches, and had been asking Amanda to attend one of his games for some time. We were finally able to work out her going one (on the 15th) after agreeing to meet him privately the night before, and he seemed very nice and sincere. His dad has been bringing her and one of her friends to the games. We met the father too, and that day was sort of an official blessing on both sides for the relationship to go ahead. He has a very solid family life which also makes us feel good about things, plus good taste in music, a personal plus for Ian and I.

While in the throes of it all, Amanda seems very happy and slightly skeptical about the future of the relationship all at once. Her feelings on love (for the moment) are that a person can love several people in the course of their life, but that they will only "fall" in love once. She has tried to seek out my feelings and says, "I see that look of reminiscing on your face, what do you think?"

I'm stumped. What do I say? I would have thought to say that some people may fall in love several times, but will only find true love-or their soul mate-once. But is that the only time you 'fall'?

This has also been a slightly trying time on one of her friendships, a girl who has brought Amanda to tears on several occasions because she feels Amanda is too wrapped up in her relationship. Tears, forgiveness, joy, the cycle has played over several times now. I really don't like how this chick is constantly testing my daughter's feelings, I didn't like the mind games when I was a teenager, or even as a young adult. Her other best friend has been very sweet and supportive, (my personal fave of the two, she towers at 6'2" and is just a very smart, goofy, sweet-hearted person.) Oh God, and this is just the beginning of the perilous mine fields of the teenage years!


All I know is, we're just trying to keep an eye on things, keep a running dialogue with Amanda, just taking things one day at a time.