Your weekly reading assignment is at http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/story30.html
So get to it! I'm way ahead of you. This week must be book week. I went shopping this weekend and kept picking up discount books... I'm going to try to read 4 or 5 books at one time as my Goodreads/Shelfari shelves are lacking... and my friends are speeding past me in the book count. At Shelfari, I joined a short story group that is reading BASS 2007 and the first story out was an interesting clunker, Louis Auchinclosss, "Pa Darling." (That's what happens when Stephen King edits? The jury is still out. I'm willing to give the ole fopdoodle a chance... but selection no. 2 must be brilliant or else! And the inserting of the word fopdoodle was no accident... that is a gift from book no 2, "Poplollies and Bellibones, a Celebration of Lost Words" by Susan Kelz Sperling. It's not a good word... but it's not a bad word, just a mean 'un and is entirely unfair to the editor. So, I'll not give the explanation... Let's just say that when I'm cruising 'round the square tomorrow and I get cut off in traffic like I did this morning (I did! I did!) I'm going to hang my head out the window and shriek, "Hey you worthless fopdoodle! Where did you learn to drive?!? Or did you? Maybe you never got beyond parking? Maybe you drive like I program my dvd player, like I work my cell phone (barely, that is.)" Well anyway, because of the fopdoodle in the opposite lane, I had to park halfway to Anderson. Volksmarching in the the early morning! That's all I'm saying.
And speaking of Anderson! Thursday offers some entertainment there. Thursday means that it's time for Downtown Sounds! See the schedule at http://www.mainstevents.com/downtownsounds2.html
The music scheduled for this week is "ANDERSON'S OWN" MISS WANDA JOHNSON
If you like passionate vocals, powerful stage charisma, great original songs, and a soulful performer who really connects with her audience, you will love Wanda Johnson. She is accompanied by Charleston-based pianist/composer Shrimp City Slim (Gary Erwin) and his band.
Influences: All the great women blues, soul & gospel singers. Sounds Like: Uniquely herself, but Wanda has drawn comparisons to the young Irma Thomas, Nina Simone, Norah Jones, and (believe it or not) Amy Winehouse
Check her music out at http://cdbaby.com/cd/wandaj2
I liked her style... but I think I'll sit this one out. Price of gas isn't exactly going down... We must be choosy on behalf of the addled republic.
I did some interneting this weekend and I found this site: http://www.shopforthelibrary.net/
If you shop at the participating stores, you can earmark a certain amount of money for the library of your choice. I haven't checked out the fine print yet, but it looks interesting...
And as far as the theatre goes... my vote goes to the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta... A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Directed by Drew Reeves
April 11-May 4
$12 General Admission Preview April 10
Fairies, woods, and miscommunication…need we say more? Yes! Tickets go “swifter than an arrow from the Tartar’s bow!” Join the cast and crew members for a Question and Answer session on Sunday April 20 after the show!
I luv this play! I must see it again. Why, it's been years... since I saw my first Shax play and laughed my head off. The tavern is on Peachtree St and serves dinner with the play. Oh the Shepherd's pie... I would herd goats for the chance to eat that again... And the blondie brownie at intermission! And the best actors anywhere. Yes, I must put that on my schedule...
Good night!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
An Animal Theme
Breaking news! I noticed that Anderson, SC is starting their downtown music series this week: http://www.mainstevents.com/downtownsounds2.html I LOVE their downtown music jams! I discovered a couple of interesting bands last year and I didn't even attend one fourth of the shows. This year... well, this year is the year. Of the early bird. Of the go-getting go-pher it! Having said all of that nonsense, I doubt I'll make this first show. HA!
Well, I would, but the first group up is a band called The Nightcrawlers (yet another animal!). If you want to sample their music, check out http://www.nightcrawlersband.com/Home.html
From the website: April 3 - NIGHTCRAWLERS
A four piece from the Asheville NC area, they bring an improvisational blend to their blues, soul and rock and roll material while still maintaining the directness and vitality of a good dance band. Featuring guitar, sax/keyboard, bass, and drums – the band members provide a solid rock groove along with powerful vocals and tasteful solos.
I listened to a song about Katrina and I liked it, but not enough for the price of gas. On the other hand, I need to buy BASS (le animal once more!) 2007 for a reading group, so if I remember to buy it... well, anything could happen. I really like going downtown, walking around and listening to the music or sitting around the courthouse and listening to music. And for the foodies who might be reading, they do have beer... which is...er practically liquid bread. And wine... which is er... smushed grapes. (Not to mention... roadkill! Sorry, but your roundup of current events has been interrupted by your subliminal animal theme!) Well okay, real food is... a restaurant away. Myself, I usually go and get the OREO Speedwagon from the E City Coffeehouse... which is gobs of ice cream and just enough coffee to singe my eyebrows.
But if you are traveling in another direction, you might do well to check out Atlanta Shakespeare tavern and their production of "Of Mice (OOOH! OOOH!) and Men" By John Steinbeck. April 6 is the last day so clutch your credit card now and put your credit limit in overdrive... The cost is $12 General Admission. From the website: A tender (yes! I think it counts!) and heartbreaking story of two emigrant workers who end up victims of forces beyond their control. In Steinbeck’s lovingly created adaptation of his classic novel, Lennie, a large, strong man with the intellectual capabilities of a small child and his short stocky companion George struggle to seek their own utopia in California during the Depression.
I do hate to be a total naysayer... but you know, I read the book so, I don't think I'll be making the trip (price of gas you know). It's a beautiful book, blah blah blah and I love-love-love the Tavern... but eh... I'm getting my funk on just thinking about the whole depressing, distressing, Depression of the plot, that whole ultra-reality thing which could bring on our looming recession just by way of... thinking about it all, so... I think by way of antidote, I'll watch 36 Lifetime movies instead. Or maybe the E channel... they're probably still showing old profiles of Anna Nicole. Surely I haven't learned everything...
And I vowed not to cover running since I've been doing so well with it, but since I ran (from... an animal????? ) tonight (3.6!) and since there's nothing really going on in the theatre world until next week... well, I might as well mention the Doug Harris Memorial Half Marathon and 10K on April 5th. Both races are trail runs through the Issaqueena Forest (loads of animals there!) in Clemson, SC
And in another direction, on the same day, Athens, Georgia is hosting the Saturday Red Carpet Day 5K Fun Run/Walk
Since I'm not really covering running tonight, you're on your own! Go to Active.com and check out the details in greater de-tail. And so we end with a tail! The animal theme sticks around to the bitter end!
Good night, night owls! (Oh, Oh! Oh!)
Well, I would, but the first group up is a band called The Nightcrawlers (yet another animal!). If you want to sample their music, check out http://www.nightcrawlersband.com/Home.html
From the website: April 3 - NIGHTCRAWLERS
A four piece from the Asheville NC area, they bring an improvisational blend to their blues, soul and rock and roll material while still maintaining the directness and vitality of a good dance band. Featuring guitar, sax/keyboard, bass, and drums – the band members provide a solid rock groove along with powerful vocals and tasteful solos.
I listened to a song about Katrina and I liked it, but not enough for the price of gas. On the other hand, I need to buy BASS (le animal once more!) 2007 for a reading group, so if I remember to buy it... well, anything could happen. I really like going downtown, walking around and listening to the music or sitting around the courthouse and listening to music. And for the foodies who might be reading, they do have beer... which is...er practically liquid bread. And wine... which is er... smushed grapes. (Not to mention... roadkill! Sorry, but your roundup of current events has been interrupted by your subliminal animal theme!) Well okay, real food is... a restaurant away. Myself, I usually go and get the OREO Speedwagon from the E City Coffeehouse... which is gobs of ice cream and just enough coffee to singe my eyebrows.
But if you are traveling in another direction, you might do well to check out Atlanta Shakespeare tavern and their production of "Of Mice (OOOH! OOOH!) and Men" By John Steinbeck. April 6 is the last day so clutch your credit card now and put your credit limit in overdrive... The cost is $12 General Admission. From the website: A tender (yes! I think it counts!) and heartbreaking story of two emigrant workers who end up victims of forces beyond their control. In Steinbeck’s lovingly created adaptation of his classic novel, Lennie, a large, strong man with the intellectual capabilities of a small child and his short stocky companion George struggle to seek their own utopia in California during the Depression.
I do hate to be a total naysayer... but you know, I read the book so, I don't think I'll be making the trip (price of gas you know). It's a beautiful book, blah blah blah and I love-love-love the Tavern... but eh... I'm getting my funk on just thinking about the whole depressing, distressing, Depression of the plot, that whole ultra-reality thing which could bring on our looming recession just by way of... thinking about it all, so... I think by way of antidote, I'll watch 36 Lifetime movies instead. Or maybe the E channel... they're probably still showing old profiles of Anna Nicole. Surely I haven't learned everything...
And I vowed not to cover running since I've been doing so well with it, but since I ran (from... an animal????? ) tonight (3.6!) and since there's nothing really going on in the theatre world until next week... well, I might as well mention the Doug Harris Memorial Half Marathon and 10K on April 5th. Both races are trail runs through the Issaqueena Forest (loads of animals there!) in Clemson, SC
And in another direction, on the same day, Athens, Georgia is hosting the Saturday Red Carpet Day 5K Fun Run/Walk
Since I'm not really covering running tonight, you're on your own! Go to Active.com and check out the details in greater de-tail. And so we end with a tail! The animal theme sticks around to the bitter end!
Good night, night owls! (Oh, Oh! Oh!)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Runner's Story Time!
Yes, it's true I haven't blogged, but only because I've been out and about, doing this and that. So my sins are... well, minimized. Right? Well okay maybe not when it comes to my trip to Laurens, SC...
I spent my weekend traveling to and fro the lovely 5th Annual Laurens Little River Bridge 8K Run/5K Walk. Thanks to Google and my own incompetence, the trip only took 47 hours (Google promised me it was an hour and 37 minutes from my house! Those cyber cads!) and this greatly complicated my life as I got to the race with only one minute to spare. I had to sprint to the check in table... I grabbed my goodie bag... I gasped at the size of my goodie bag (it was so heavy it almost broke my arm!) As I was tying on my timing chip onto my shoe, I threw my wallet and keys into my large goodie bag/new pocketbook... and then panicked as I realized that I couldn't possibly run 5 miles with my new hulking goodie bag that surely weighed 40 pounds... So... I threw my bag at a startled volunteer and said, "See ya after the race!" And... I laughed and laughed and laughed at my audacity... until 2 miles later when the race was well underway, when I'm in the middle of a strange neighborhood 47 hours away from home.... er I remembered those keys, credit cards, accompanied by a little bit of the green. And then I cried and cried and cried at my audacity/foolishness... but running fool that I am, I kept on going, content in my belief that race volunteers are a cut above (they are!) and that every finish line brings about a happy result. So... I ran my race without a bib (oh the shame!) convinced that someone was going to pull me out of the race at any minute (no one did!), I ran through the most beautiful neighborhoods and people were watching the race and cheering us along all along the way (nice touch, Laurens, SC!)... I ran past a beautiful coffeehouse and made a mental note to return (I did! I did!)... and as I crossed the finish line, oh woe was me, I came to the bitter end... Somehow the goodie bag had walked away! Taken off for a better situation, probably 22 hours down the road ahead of me already... Well, at first I was calm. I slowly drank my water and recovered from the race, having a total out of body experience as the volunteers hyperventilated and madly searched for the goodie bag. I had total faith in them and only began to panic when I considered my miserable luck, incredible capacity for stupidity... and figured I would be completely stupid if I didn't panic (fractions are more honorable)... so I allowed myself to panic a bit... But even though my recklessness caused several heart attacks, my volunteers came through for me and finally it was revealed that Jonathon had the goodie bag in his truck for safekeeping. Yay! I think we all cried at that point.
Even though I have surely been BANNED from Laurens, SC for several lifetimes, I had a wonderful time and got to meet some incredible, if slightly stressed volunteers. Why next year I'm going to run under an assumed name... and when they see my mug coming, people are going to scatter! Yes, that plan is flawed, but oh well... I'm still going to put this on my schedule for next year. This was my best race ever! I haven't even had any post race soreness and this was my first 8k. And I was so impressed by those volunteers... I got to talk to several and one of them, the startled volunteer who had the misfortune to get my bag at the beginning of the race actually told me later that she was prepared to drive me back home... the whole 47 hour trip. Now that's courage, isn't it? Committing your evening to driving a crazy woman around the southeast... There were several volunteers that helped look for the bag, so I want to publicly thank each and every one. I remember your mug and will... er... leave you in peace next year! Thanks so much Laurens, SC!
I spent my weekend traveling to and fro the lovely 5th Annual Laurens Little River Bridge 8K Run/5K Walk. Thanks to Google and my own incompetence, the trip only took 47 hours (Google promised me it was an hour and 37 minutes from my house! Those cyber cads!) and this greatly complicated my life as I got to the race with only one minute to spare. I had to sprint to the check in table... I grabbed my goodie bag... I gasped at the size of my goodie bag (it was so heavy it almost broke my arm!) As I was tying on my timing chip onto my shoe, I threw my wallet and keys into my large goodie bag/new pocketbook... and then panicked as I realized that I couldn't possibly run 5 miles with my new hulking goodie bag that surely weighed 40 pounds... So... I threw my bag at a startled volunteer and said, "See ya after the race!" And... I laughed and laughed and laughed at my audacity... until 2 miles later when the race was well underway, when I'm in the middle of a strange neighborhood 47 hours away from home.... er I remembered those keys, credit cards, accompanied by a little bit of the green. And then I cried and cried and cried at my audacity/foolishness... but running fool that I am, I kept on going, content in my belief that race volunteers are a cut above (they are!) and that every finish line brings about a happy result. So... I ran my race without a bib (oh the shame!) convinced that someone was going to pull me out of the race at any minute (no one did!), I ran through the most beautiful neighborhoods and people were watching the race and cheering us along all along the way (nice touch, Laurens, SC!)... I ran past a beautiful coffeehouse and made a mental note to return (I did! I did!)... and as I crossed the finish line, oh woe was me, I came to the bitter end... Somehow the goodie bag had walked away! Taken off for a better situation, probably 22 hours down the road ahead of me already... Well, at first I was calm. I slowly drank my water and recovered from the race, having a total out of body experience as the volunteers hyperventilated and madly searched for the goodie bag. I had total faith in them and only began to panic when I considered my miserable luck, incredible capacity for stupidity... and figured I would be completely stupid if I didn't panic (fractions are more honorable)... so I allowed myself to panic a bit... But even though my recklessness caused several heart attacks, my volunteers came through for me and finally it was revealed that Jonathon had the goodie bag in his truck for safekeeping. Yay! I think we all cried at that point.
Even though I have surely been BANNED from Laurens, SC for several lifetimes, I had a wonderful time and got to meet some incredible, if slightly stressed volunteers. Why next year I'm going to run under an assumed name... and when they see my mug coming, people are going to scatter! Yes, that plan is flawed, but oh well... I'm still going to put this on my schedule for next year. This was my best race ever! I haven't even had any post race soreness and this was my first 8k. And I was so impressed by those volunteers... I got to talk to several and one of them, the startled volunteer who had the misfortune to get my bag at the beginning of the race actually told me later that she was prepared to drive me back home... the whole 47 hour trip. Now that's courage, isn't it? Committing your evening to driving a crazy woman around the southeast... There were several volunteers that helped look for the bag, so I want to publicly thank each and every one. I remember your mug and will... er... leave you in peace next year! Thanks so much Laurens, SC!
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