I started it in the wake of previous class sites to see if a group blog would be a good way to keep people in contact. My conclusion, based upon pageviews is this:

You’re all really interested in each other – you just don’t have the time to update each other.

Hence, as Mr. Akerman suggests, Mr. Gray seconds and I approve, WAE is going offline. But we have an alternative and it’s one Brad, Gary and I have been playing around with for a while.

Facebook, for the uninitiated, is a social network. Before you freak out – check it out. It’s very easy, and can even go through some of your email address books (GMail, Comcast, etc.) to see if your friends are onboard. We have set up a WHS86 Facebook group, which will simply be an aggregation of people’s Facebook updates. That way, there is a constant flow of information without the awkward “how come nobody’s updating this crap?” feeling.
So, we’ll still share news, pictures, videos and information. In many ways, this is a preferable alternative – you can post pics of your kids on your Facebook page and feel fairly secure, because only people you approve can see your stuff.

WAE was an experiment – and a bizarre one at that. I wouldn’t have come close to guessing we’d do nearly 70,000 pageviews in a year with this thing. I’d like to thank everyone who participated, contributed and read this. I see no reason to erase the site – it’s hosted for free and is now an excellent archive. We’re just going to end further updates.

Sign up for Facebook, and then look for us online. As always – feel free to email me with questions: steviesaf (at) Gmail (dot) com.

Thanks for letting me take a little part of your day occasionally this year.

Class dismissed. That’s some attitude you’ve got there. Good night, Ned Jennison, wherever you are.

OK. Even with no clues, I’m gonna nail this one… (Rear, L to R): Kim, Heidi, Dana. (Front, L to R) Chris, Ben, Rob. YES! (Well played with the thin tie, Conte.)

Katie resized the hell out of these. So I am left to conclude that Mark is:
1. Giving a very bad golf lesson
2. Playing “hand slap” with himself
3. Without a WHS football jersey but is gamely wearing an orange shirt in an effort to impress babes
4. About to tip over to the right  

“Attention students: The person who can pull up their socks the highest will win a pair of too-highly-cut Warriors gym shorts.”

 
PICK A HEADLINE:
1. Now, if you give kids a cake with big lips on it, you go to prison.
2. Even from space, you can see Krissy Blom’s hair
3.  Katie and her big mouth
4. Loker Class of 1980 holds up Steve’s nap mat
5.  The original cover of the party game “Where’s Nilson?”

Thanks for the shots, KH. As for the rest of you, send ‘em in and I promise to make up captions that make you wonder why you bothered.

Anna Meira Green Neggaz. (Actual size.)

We cleverly changed the location of the show to “Wayland.” 

Insert your own tagline here. 

 
Brad A. as Birdie and, I think, Brad C. in the shades on lead guitar  

Choreography consisted of us standing around a lot. 

Curtain call. Steve, bowing, is now 3 feet tall.  

I just bought a pair of fatigues when I was at a thrift shop picking up a new chair for my home office (cheap). They had a pile of pants there and some were in my size. I am too chubby to be in the small range, and too skinny to be medium, so when I see pants that fit, man I buy them. Hey. These things are really comfortable. I am guessing that I will be ridiculed less at the garden center, now that I am nearly 40. I am really hoping not to get beat up.

I just developed these photos. There’s a great one of Steve. Look at that beautiful family.

Had you actually graduated from Wayland High School, Steve (and not just Loker, and WJHS) you’d know there’s a tradition of public school letter jackets. They were warm wool coats, designed for Metro West’s unforgiving weather, black as night, with orange accents that blinded non-Wayland residents. Folks like Flip, and Mike Short got their jackets by the end of Freshman year (or was it the end of eighth grade) and there were others, as active, as productive, but less sporty, who would eventually be rewarded with a new merit system. There were pins for the arts. (Unfortunately there was little recognition for Seth’s Y-Be-Fit achievements or Tim’s inventive airbrushing elective.)

There wasn’t a superlative for Most Class Spirit While Attending Another School nor for Class Webmaster, since there was no real internet in 1986. So, since there are no awards given out after high school we have to write longs posts like this.

Steve, thanks for keeping the class spirit alive. (Sorry there’s no pin.) I am sure Kerry, Kristin Richardi, Deb, Mark, and Sue Self would agree, what started out as a tireless effort by those humble visionaries has continued with you.

Clem’s the one in the “HTT” shirt (Hotdog Tree Team), and Gary is wearing the official light-purple Polo all hearty lumberjacks wear these days. (This is camoflague in case the boys suddenly find themselves in a backwoods Yale James Joyce study group.) Here in the north woods, only the trained eye can spot a ripe hot dog, and it’s up to men like Gary and Clem to make sure our weiners can roam free in the wild.

 After her death, her family began to seek an appropriate way to memorialize her life.
“We approached the (Historic District Commission) with a donation,” her son John said, “and asked the commissioners to present ideas for how the funds could be used. Both Chris Hagger, who was head of the group at that time, and George Lewis, unofficial town historian, put some ideas together, and it was agreed that markers outlining the Wayland Center Historic District would be of great benefit.”

John (far left, green jacket) and a pretty cool way to remember and honor Mom.

(Photo from The Crier, uncredited.)

Help rebuild New Orleans with Brad.

http://www.makeitrightnola.org

Jennifer King and Brad Akerman. Jan. 3, 1981.

Aw yeah.

Can you imagine if a school designated a smoking area today? First – the outcry. Then the local news vans would come in. Then it would make national news. Then the surgeon general would intervene. Cats and dogs living together…

Actually Steve, that is a picture of both of us. Jim has aged a bit, at
least as last I saw him, and I have gotten younger since retirement so we are
frequently taken for each other.

Stunning. And from a former biology teacher no less, so you know it has to be true. But that pales in comparison to this:

Jim has gone underground yet again. We did get a postcard this summer from Pyongyang, but that’s it.

That’s right. It’s possible Jim has weapons of mass destruction. We can only assume this means bad news for Weston. Thanks, Mr. N. for taking time from your well-deserved retirement (you put up with us, after all) for this vital update.

The Pirates are expected to officially introduce Russell, a former Pirates third-base coach, at a Monday morning press conference at PNC Park, according to the Beaver County Times. Russell managed Lehigh Valley the last two seasons.

Russell, 46, will succeed Jim Tracy, who was fired Oct. 5 after two seasons with one year remaining on his contract. The Pirates lost 95 games in 2006 and 94 games this season.

Russell’s hiring is the first major move by new Pirates general manager Neal Huntington, who took over with 10 days left in the regular season. The Pirates spent nearly a month looking for Tracy’s successor and had been the only remaining team in the majors without a manager following the Dodgers hiring of Joe Torre.

- this new Hipster Olympics clip …

- was based on this Monty Python skit…

heh heh.

I am so impressed with this gal. She’s down to Earth, can write catchy tunes, and was born in 1985.

[Youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKCkd_9-tQ]

“Having witnessed it first-hand last year, I have an accurate sense of what Hill Day looks like. The hill down which students descend (perhaps “tumble down” would be a more appropriate characterization) is very steep, slippery, and covered in poison ivy – safety. Some, certainly not all, students are hung over, still inebriated, and/or weary from a long night of partying – illegal. While this is the last day for seniors, it is not for students in grades 9 through 11. Nonetheless, their learning is disrupted as the leaders of the school run through the halls, banging on locks and classroom doors – disruptive.”

Well, on the one hand, yes. On the other hand – drunken high school babes. Come on, Tutweiler! You used to be cool! What happened to you?

I like this part of the article:

Many students were devastated, and they ignited with fury.

Devastated. They were devastated. And they ignited with fury. Good writing, to be sure, but somewhat florid given that they weren’t told they were, say, being sent to Iraq. They were told not to run down a hill drunk.

Perhaps some feel Mr. Tutwiler has not been here long enough to make such a dramatic change to our school…

Pop quiz: this was written in response to A. The school changing to the metric system B. Making the cafeteria go vegan C. The school’s new policy of “No Fat Chicks” or D. Deciding it’s not a good idea to have drunken minors run down a hill. (BTW – weak journalism to lead with “Perhaps some feel…”)

However, I have a solution – one that is based in compromise and still involves all the key aspects of keeping tradition. The students can stay up all night. They can get toasted on crappy warm beer that their older brother bought for them. But at the end of the night, they have to run up the hill instead. That should cut down on speed, injuries, and will probably end after two or three steps in a large flow of puke. This should entertain the school immensely and be a lesson for the underclassmen on the dangers of blah blah blah whatever.

Infectious and clever, James Hunter proves to be a man of impeccable taste who has learned from his influences rather than simply imitating them. Word on the street, he even writes the horn arrangements. Take that! …you artists that don’t arrange your own horn parts.

Oddly enough, this music would be more appropriate on our parent’s high school blog. Fortunately for us, they don’t have one…maybe Harriet does.

[Audio http://indeno.com/music/peoplegonnatalk.mp3]

Peace and Laughs -
sis kris

I salute the Men of Pure Genius behind this idea. I’m sure the logic was as follows:

1. How do we get girls to show up at a dance in their underwear?

2. That’s all I’ve got.

Why Mike Weiss felt it necessary to cover up Deb Gaffin with his flashing, I have no idea. Perhaps it was a designer label inside his lapel.

[Youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGUZGsBB7Q4]

That said, behold, Senior Ski Trip Memories 1986:

Who can forget Jim Nilson’s Frankenstein impersonation as he wandered the halls in search of more beer, fresh porno and available women?

Kim Mitchell, bored of watching Fletch for the 12th time in one night, decides to give her eyes a rest, while standing.

Years before the advent of Caffeine Free Diet Coke, Beth Walder’s exhaustion proved no match for the calorie free soda.

After two nights of festivities, consigliere Danielle Katz advises Claudine Coulon it might be time to call it a night.

Amy Larsen praises Vermont’s relaxed alcohol regulations.

Next up: Class Night Fashion Exposé.

Powered by Qumana

Pic via Boston.com 

Chris Marobella and I took in dino-rockers Genesis last night at the Boston Garden 2.0 and, as aging dino-rockers ourselves, completely enjoyed the return to the band’s prog-rock roots. Now, I know you’re thinking “Nerds!” And not without cause. Genesis is probably among the most maligned bands of the ’80s. But prior to its “Invisible Touch” and “I Can’t Dance” years, the band put out some terrific progressive rock that has long been overlooked – even by the band itself.  No – they’re not mosh-pit material. But if you liked them back in the day, the show was rewarding.

They revisited stuff from their “Trick of the Tail” and “Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” years and it was outstanding. Where keyboardist Tony Banks had been reduced to a series of beeping noises in the band’s final years, he got to show off his skillz as a true master last night on “Firth of Fifth,” “Duke’s End” and the excellent choice for an opener, “Behind the Lines.” Other old-school Genesis choices included “Ripples” and “Afterglow.” Sure, we were subjected to their “Hold on My Heart” and “Invisible Touch” crap, but Chris and I were absolutely blown away by how many back-catalog choices the group made.

This was not “Phil Collins and The Genesis Band’s Greatest Hits” tour. Back in the day, Genesis was legendary for its stage shows, and they put on a superb tech-and light background here as well.

The only drawback for us was a serious assholic who insisted on standing the entire night right in front of us. A twentysomething who clearly only knew a couple of the hits, he refused Chris’s polite request to sit when it was obvious the entire stadium was sitting. He refused the whole row’s “down in front” and “sit down, asshole!” requests and demands. And there was a girl in front of me who talked loudly to her boyfriend the entire time. The entire… goddamn… time. Has concert etiquette changed since Chris and I were Genesis fanboys?

Anyway, mock away at we nerd rockers. The band was solid, and even paid tribute to their Peter Gabriel-era roots more than once.

2. Because WHS ’87 just started a WordPress blog with our old look. Isn’t that always like a younger sibling to go and copy you? (But check them out for some good pics. Good work by Michael Weiss.)

Wayland - New Wayland High School Principal Patrick Tutwiler is generating about as much excitement in town as Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.

I saw Crowded House this week. They played at the Enormo-dome here in LA. So fun. I was “doing the math.” Was it 20 years ago? Don’t Dream It’s Over came out sometime Freshman year in college I think. I remember trying to learn it on guitar. It started out with a chord that I didn’t know even existed. It was just so refreshing. When I saw them the other night they played that song acoustic. I was transported.

I was really taken by the band—and I had high hopes. They’re not young looking anymore but act young, and they are just so happy, so thankful to be doing what they love—getting better with age. And at that age (50?) that’s not a bad place to be.

See ‘em if you can, if you like good music, if you like to be entertained.

[Audio http://indeno.com/music/shecalledup.mp3]

From CNN.com: Using more than 2,000 Post-It Notes, 19-year-old David Alvarez of Leavenworth, Washington composed a three-dimensional representation of Ray Charles. The piece has just gone on display at Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, Washington, where Alvarez is in his second year of studies.

The bulk of the Flyer’s passengers are commuters that arrive in Burlington in the morning and leave Burlington in the afternoon, but the numbers there are still lagging. On recent weekdays, approximately 20-25 people arrived in Burlington on each of the line’s busiest morning trains: the 7:23 a.m. arrival in Burlington and the 8:23 a.m. arrival in Burlington. Just three passengers took the trip to Burlington for the 9:23 a.m. arrival.

Shelburne resident Tracy Monelle boarded the train to Burlington at Shelburne’s station at 8:07 a.m. with about 10 others on Wednesday. Monelle, who works on Church Street with fellow Flyer traveler and Shelburne resident Ned Jennison, takes the train every day. Monelle said the Flyer makes her whole day better.

This could be the Ned-related breakthrough… With Mark Poirier and Starr Sinnett now found, Ned’s the MIA Loker Holy Grail. We will keep Krissy Blom updated as events warrant…

“Researchers found that it takes men until they reach the age of 65 to start enjoying life as much as they did in their late-teens and early-20s.”

“It makes them the least satisfied members of society, scoring well below teenagers, the elderly – and women of all ages.”

Help me out here…aka…WTF?!

I guess if I am putting this out there, I have to partake, so………………..I want to thank Gary Gray who actually was the reason I had friends my first year in college.  So, Gary, the first day at Columbia University, I was standing in line, alone, for some ridiculous orientation week magic show.  The girl in front of me, Michelle Gottlieb, turned around and started talking to me.  Turns out you guys went to camp together and while you and I never knew each other well, Michelle became my instant best friend simply because we both knew you.  We remain in touch 20 years later and her roommate is now one of my best friends in the world.  So, thanks Gary!

Thanks to this blog, WAE has re-found:

• Starr Sinnett
• Mark Poirier
• Doug Ansuini 

Ned’s still MIA. Mercifully. -SAS

You know those kids – the ones who were in Wayland for a year or two? Maybe they moved away in third grade? Maybe they came for 7th then left in 8th? They’re ’86ers. (Hell, if I am, anyone is.) So let’s make a group effort here, in two parts: In the comments below, everyone name an obscure ’86er. Then we’ll vote on a winner and try to use the web to find and re-adopt them. Instead of a “Whatever Happened To…?” section, this is more of a “No, seriously, what the hell happened to…?” section. Start naming…

And thanks again to all of you who donated, you rock. And if you didn’t get a chance to donate (or are just a stingy bastard) you too can still rock! You can still donate on the website, see large blue link on your right.

The following reports are from the Wayland police department as posted in the Town Crier. The stories are true. Well, mostly.

Wednesday, July 4, 7:10 p.m.: Police reported advising a household on Amey Road holding a large bonfire.

“Dudes, you call that a bonfire? Look, you want to build from the inside out…”

Monday, July 9 1:20 p.m.: A Boston Post Road caller reported larceny of a handmade sign over the July 4 weekend.

MISSING: Sign that says “Missing Sign.”

Wednesday, July 11, 5:08 p.m.: A Pelham Island Road caller reported a television in the street.

The Russells were doing the only advisable thing one can do when one is given a TV.

Saturday, July 21, 11:08 a.m.: A Parkland Drive caller reported an “08″ spray-painted on an area road sign, and two other road signs placed on pillars on Castle Gate Road.

That crazy class of 1908.

Sunday, July 22, 11:56 a.m.: A town beach employee reported a stolen sailboat with a red bottom.

(Grammatically, this does mean someone stole a sailboat and a red bottom. Or, possibly, someone with a red bottom stole the boat. Both good.)

Genuine Wookie Pleather

Okay, I’m not too proud to admit that if I had seen this ad (which is real) when I was 13…I definitely would have mowed some extra lawns to buy one. And I can think of at least three other 86′ers who would have too, so before you laugh at me take a good honest look inside. You may not want one now, but you want to have HAD one. Go on. Admit it.

This is from Wired: http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/08/httpwwwnational.html

HELLO?! Help me out here: Did these folks not see RoboCop or is it that they saw RoboCop and then decided to make robots…that are cops?

[YouTube= http://youtube.com/watch?v=o0kWgcIlWn0]

Hollywood is where it’s at. This badass bling sells for $4,955.

 Anyway, the last sentence of the caption captured 1980-1986

 perfectly for some of us. Back me up, Steve.

Dogs smile, but it’s a natural posture for their mouth when they’re relaxed. Some theorize that they’ve learned to mimic the human expression, and if that’s the case, this dog has learned to copy the smile of a smart, homely teenager who thinks that girl might like him. Uncertain, eager, happy to please.

]]> http://whs86.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/i-know-the-feeling/feed/ 4 marobella http://whs86.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/v66-new-music-friday-sandi-thom/ http://whs86.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/v66-new-music-friday-sandi-thom/#comments Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:50:01 +0000 Bradford Akerman http://whs86.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/v66-new-music-friday-sandi-thom/ ]]> These posts are in the spirit of New Music Tuesday—though it’s not every week and in this case, it’s Friday. I’m posting because I keep visiting the site for something new, and hey, now there’s something new.

Sandi Thom. No, it’s not the lovechild of Tommy Coleman and Sandy Potocheny, it’s another Brit on the music scene. Maybe you’ve heard her other stuff. Maybe you prefer the music from high school. I can tell you this gal would definitely have been on V66 if it was 20 years ago.

I like the energy of this song. It’s expressive. Not so into how she doubts everything. It would be a challenge to be with her in these moments, luckily it’s only a few minutes of doubting. Focused doubting. Smart. Get it over with.

[Youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBg5EpgunjE]

Wow! What’s so cool about this is the element of mystery. Is it black? Blue? Zune brown? Who knows, because the ad is in black & white. If that’s not awesome enough, they also spell Phone with an F (and no h!) which is like totally amazing and innovative. Also, unlike the plethora of headphone-based competition out there, the Bone Fone conducts music through your shoulder blades, leaving you safely immune from all the white earbud iPhone related thievery that’s plaguing America today.

I’m not sure what crafty way of dialing the phone is designed into the product, but I’m sure it’s awesome. Battery life is reputed to be good, as well, allowing for at least 90 minutes of uninterrupted shoulder jamming before the 14 AA batteries need replacement.

It seems that the lone flaw in the product is that it does little to revolutionize the way we listen to mono music, but surely that will be resolved in version 2.0.

Available in October at all local Tech HiFis.

It’s been as great as everyone says. I’m using it everywhere, listening to tunes in the car, watching video at the beach, beaming songs to everyone waiting in line for sodgeberry muffins (mmmm!). I’m honestly a little wary about taking it to the gym, only because the color is such a shimmery shade of brown I don’t want to sweat it up.

Mine looks just like this one, except I haven’t had any luck getting Paul Oakenfold to download to it, so that video is not on it.

Highly recommended to Brad or any other big time music fans who are looking to ditch the cassettes and go all out digital two-thousand-and-seven!

Then, for an encore, you do Radio Gaga.

From “The License Plates of Norway” collection of Olav Brekke. To learn more about Norwegian license plates, visit your local Norwegian DMV.

The trek continues.
Only thing better would be James Taylor working on the soundtrack.

So, the fact is that I might NOT be able to walk the entire three day, 60 mile trek — but I’m gonna try. Because really, think about it — I could just tell you all that I HAD walked 60 miles even if I stayed at home eating mocha almond ice cream and watching chick flicks, right?  But no, I’m actually going out there like a fool, so if you know someone with (or have lost someone to) breast cancer, please please consider donating whatever you can spare through my donation page right here. 

I’ll report back after the walk (which starts on August 3.) (Which is frighteningly soon.)

Also:
We really like this shot — look at those expressions! Click on the link to see it on Flick’r; right above the picture you can click on “All Sizes” to see it full-size.  Anyone who’d like a copy, click on “Order Prints”) Here’s the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10380543@N07/876188913/

State evaluates Wayland High’s condition

Wayland was one of 18 towns selected by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for on site evaluations, which took place June 20 to 22, according to Lea Anderson, chairwoman of the High School Building Committee.

“Ten people came out over three days to see the condition of the high school,” said Anderson. “That included architects, engineers, and the MSBA’s architect (Joseph) Buckley.”
In the past, Wayland High School has been graded a “3″ on a scale of 1 to 4 from the state, with “4″ as the worst condition for a building, said Anderson.

Tim Hoyt. (Pants shown actual color.)

You may enjoy this watching this.  After 600+ takes, they claim that it was filmed in real time with no editing or digital enhancement.

You can view the making of this commercial at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-luQbpi8x6g&mode=related&search=

You can also view a funny spoof of this commercial at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeANRQBz0Yw&NR=1

He’s right. It’s fun. Although I am slightly more kempt. Slightly.

ALSO: Things Paris Hilton Said to Larry King that Would Also Be Funny On An Ironic T-Shirt.

What Paris was thinking about during her CNN interview. 

Researchers, who studied over 400 male and female university students in the USA and Mexico, found that women spoke an average of 16,215 words everyday compared to an average of 15,669 words for men.

The lead researcher added that ‘the widespread and highly publicized stereotype about female talkativeness and male reticence is unfounded’.

In Rod We Trust.

Om krissyjmaterialet! Är något  jarlsberg eller har du frårfegnugeng kring-a-ling? Ja!  Javelinenmaidden! Kontakta informatörerna Kristin Blom eller der jangenhoopen vavenschoopel der “Smirky”. Der Smirky javel-kickenassen! Mmm bork bork bork!

Clearly, we have to get Smirky and Derimpostorkristin together to settle this…in Thünderdome!

This Kristin Blom is from Norway. According to the site:

Om kampanjmaterialet. Är det något du saknar eller har du frågor kring A-kassekampanjens material? Kontakta informatörerna Kristin Blom eller Hans Eric Holmquist.

Aw, yeah. Sweet.

Jeez… Wayland Gary could outhit this guy…

Thus we begin our search for Garys A. through E., hoping valliantly there is a G. Gary Gray out there somewhere.

Fleetwood Mac: “Rumors”

Eagles: “Hotel California”

Boston: “Boston”

Meatloaf’s operatic “Bat Out of Hell”

Queen: “News of the World”

Aerosmith (ROCKS NATICK): “Walk This Way”

Peter Gabriel – (First solo album), features “Solsbury Hill”

“Never Mind the Bollocks it’s the Sex Pistols”

The Clash’s first album

Talking Heads ’77 (Has “Pyscho Killer” on it)

The Eagles: “Hotel California”

Steely Dan: “Aja”

James Taylor: “JT”

Elvis Costello: “My Aim is True”

Eric Clapton: “Slowhand”

The Greatful Dead: “Terrapin Station”

David Bowie: “Heroes.”

Adorable Gary Gray died of cancer April 4, 2006 at the age of 69.

You can, too.  Just go here: http://www.anagramgenius.com/server.html , type in your name and presto, instant anagram.

I typed in a few WAE blog writer’s names just for fun.  Because really, what else can one do on a Saturday night?

Result:

Steve Safran  =  Fervent as as

…..I mean, Steve Saffron  =  Fervent of ass

Deborah Bancroft  =  Breach of not drab

Chris Marobella  =  Balmier Scholar

Bradford Akerman  =  Freak random drab

Siobhan McGowan  =  Now bash on magic

Me (Krissy Blom)  =  Smirky Slob

Oh, but you should see what happened when I typed in Tim Hoyt’s name!  Go see for yourself! http://www.anagramgenius.com/server.html

This isn’t a post about T, and how he shaped what we all listened to (and what I would eventually play on my show). This post is about new music. “Tomorrow’s oldies.”

There’s so much great music out there. I posted an audio clip of Kate Nash before. Here’s a music video:
[Youtube= http://youtube.com/watch?v=orACIBjHuI4]

Happy Fathers Day.

I love this quote:

At the small, clean pizzeria, former owner Teddy Kosivas sat down for an interview  …

Those are the best adjectives they could come up with? Small and clean? Anyway, when the place opened in ’72, a small cheese pizza cost 75 cents. Now it’s $5. Still a good deal. Gary Gray’s buying. Enjoy……… S

Which has me wondering … how long until it’s “New Wayland Police Officer Kate Magidson?”

This website is amazing. Thanks to Steve Safron, or whoever is in charge. I went to Loker ’til 5th grade, at which point my neighborhood was re-zoned or something and I had to switch to Claypit. Soon after that, my family moved to Arizona, but I remember a bunch of kids from Loker, including Steve Safron (and his sister? Or some little girl who used to get on the bus at the same stop as he did), Flip Burr, Robert Chicowski (who ended up at Georgetown with me, though I saw him the first week, then never again), Craig Schneider, Tony Vaccarino (who was my friend until he began calling me “fag” for spending my recesses practicing backflips with the girls. We fought, and I kicked his 4th-grade ass, which ended our friendship. The kid was prescient, though; I’ll give him that), Sun Jin (whom we delightfully refered to as “Flat-Face” or “Pan-Face”), Mrs. Porter, Mr. Wiseman, Tommy Dretler (who was a grade below, I believe), Susan Rosenblatt, Courtney McCown (spell?)…Karen Pond and Kim Pond!

I’ll forgive Mark’s misspelling of my last name and a few others, as I’m sure I never got “Poirier” correct either. Mark – we’d love to hear more. So email me at steviesaf (at) gmail (d0t) com. Welcome home, Mark. You better still be a Red Sox fan.

There is no substance you can take that would make you see something as surreal as this…

Seeing Seth’s photo where he is rocking the yellow tassel reminds me of my obscure and futile attempt to smash the machine. It was like this: there were two colors of tassels. Some got white and some got yellow. The yellow signified that you had pleased The Man. You had measured up to some arbitrary and archaic standard. I don’t know, maybe you hadn’t vomited and smashed your guitar on stage, or you hadn’t parked your car in any place too outrageous on senior prank day.

Although I was annointed with a yellow tassel, I wanted to make clear my disdain for this ham handed attempt at social stratification.

Holding the tassel in my hand, I first ruled out partial immolation of the tassel. Unclear messaging, instead of broadcasting my ideology, I would simply look like a fool who had burned his own tassel in a smoking accident. I decided that if I bleached the tassel so that it was half white and half yellow, it would show my contempt for the system (while still not giving anyone the impression that I hadn’t measured up to that archaic standard).

I filled the bathroom sink in my house with bleach and gingerly dipped the end of the tassel in. No color change. This thing was appropriately-enough completely synthetic. I lay the whole thing in the bleach and came back a few minutes later. The color hadn’t changed at all, but the ends of the strands looked frayed. I drained the bleach and ran the tassel under cold water. As I was rinsing it, first one, then all the strands, completely unraveled. The end result was still yellow but more than twice as long as the original tassel.

While the protest symbolism was lost, it did look unusually weird, which seemed like a good enough thing to settle for, and I went with that.

To commemorate that monumental event, I dug through the archives and found this:

That’s right, it’s Seth graduating. Oh the thrill of shaking Dr. Zimmerman’s hand – the man who laughed in the face of countless would-be snow days. The joy of gazing into Sharon Hennessey’s eyes and thinking: awesome, never going to have to deal with her again.

What a day.

I hope you’re all celebrating this milestone in grand fashion.

Speaking of geezer reunions, Genesis is reuniting this summer. Well, ’80s Genesis anyway: Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. Sadly, no Peter Gabriel, which was what made Genesis truly great. BTW, I choose to remember Genesis as the band that existed up to and including the 1982 “Mama” album. After that they are dead to me. Dead! You hear me?!

Yeah. I hear you, although Gabriel left in 1975. Genesis performed last week on the VH1 Rock Honors and as you can hear below, Phil had to take down “Turn It On Again” quite a few keys so he could hit the high notes. Nonetheless, I’m a confirmed art rocker, and I got two tickets. (Who wants to come?) Turn it on. Turn it on, turn it on again.

Wow, it’s been quiet here. Is everyone on vacation or just tired about all things Wayland? What’s that saying? “When you tire of Wayland, you tire of life.” So true! It was what, six months ago? The reunion? Maybe it’s time for another one.

In an effort to keep things moving let’s bring back some music: Kate Nash.

What’s up with the Brits? They have so much good music there. I wonder if I was raised there I would be posting about Wilco and Jack Johnson.

I heard this tune and dug it. So talented. She can really paint a picture. It’s a bit of a sad one. I do listen to upbeat music. Swear.

[Audio http://indeno.com/music/wewouldgeton.mp3]

10:49 a.m. An Old Sudbury Road resident walked into the station to report a case of identity theft.

“And you are?”

Monday, April 9:

8:10 a.m. A caller reported the bunkers on the Nike site left open after construction work.

Upon further inspection, it turned out we had nuked Framingham.

2:15 p.m. Alarm, Whispering Lane.

An alarm. On Whispering Lane. The joke writes itself.

Wednesday, April 11

2:05 p.m. A Commonwealth Road caller reported finding a license plate.

“And there’s one on the back of my car, too!”

Monday, April 16

12:01 a.m. A Lincoln Road caller reported a large dead fish left on their doorstep.

I can’t write anything funnier than that.

Saturday, April 21

11:05 a.m. Police arrested Richard Harlow-Powell, 23, of 13 Silver St., Salem, on charges of possession of a class D drug (marijuana) and failure to wear a seatbelt.

“Dude – we were totally cool with the pot. But no seatbelt? Get in the cruiser.”

Saturday, May 19

11:49 p.m. A Barney Hill Road caller reported a large amount of youths exiting her home as she came home.

Given the hour, I’m gonna guess the caller was a mom who was supposed to be gone until Sunday, May 20.

Oh Flat Plain! My Flat Plain! Our trip to Hoover Dam is done;

The Strip has blackjack’d every deck, the prize we sought is won;

The buffet is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While quarters to the slots ente’er, and waitresses bring beerings.

Walt Freakin’ Whitman. Love that man.

 Kristin, as some of you know, works for a Major Drug Company. And, as some of you also know, I work for The Portion of the Federal Government That Approves (or Rejects) Applications From Major Drug Companies. A quick consult with the ethics chiefs resulted in the conclusion that Kristin could, in fact, buy me dinner and put it on the expense account, as we have a prior relationship (handy, that). But to avoid “the appearance of impropriety” we did what any normal person would do–we skipped out on the bill.

Pshaw, you know I wouldn’t do that. Or at least, I wouldn’t be telling you, right? Nah, we made Mr. Unpronounceable’s company pay for it. And then we ordered another bottle of wine, and made Mr. U drive us home.

I’ll spare you the details, but yesterday I took away the bottle cap Coby had been playing with, as punishment for a bottle-cap-related offense.

Coby: When can I have it back?

Daddy: You can’t.

Coby [getting upset]: I never get it back?

Daddy: That’s right.

Coby [angry]: Well I WILL get it back because you’re going to die before I die, so I’ll get it back then!

Daddy [trying not to laugh]: Okay, fine. You can get it back when I die.

Gotta give him credit:  He didn’t hold back!

It’s impossible not to watch the whole thing…. 

Online collaboration. 

Vocals: me, Brad, any other takers? (I volunteer Brad because I *know* he’ll do it.
“Hey, Brad, will you sing someth…”  “Walk down that lonesome road…!”)

Music: WAE volunteers? I don’t know who plays what.  The more disconnected and random the better.  Accordion, anyone? Ocarina? Spoons?

Song: Suggestions?

Format: Audacity (it’s free)

Compilation and mixing: Steve

Video files: whatever.  I’m sure Steve has a few things hanging around…

Thoughts?

That’s right, two pristine Senior Show rundowns.

Why I’ve been saving these for over two decades, and why they survived the relocation to Los Angeles, I hadn’t a clue until now; to take a picture of them hanging on my bathroom door and post them on this blog.

At last, they can meet their destiny in the trash heap. My fiancée will be so happy.

Note: it appears that whoever made the original signs was really serious about silence off stage.

Ah, the memories of getting creamed. Still, you have to admire Levinson’s attempt at cheering me up.

“And thanks for littering the walls with semi-literate posters because people gave a crap about who the seventh grade treasurer will be.”

NOW is the time to use the British spelling of caliber? “We were especially honoured by the colours of your jumper, whilst your debate offered splendid defence and manoevres and was amongst our favourite .”

… by losing.

They did not.

I actually have a bunch of ’86 time capsule stuff that I will post as I digitize it. For today, ignoring all copyright issues, I offer up this bit of video — I believe a film project of Ben’s from the college years.

Points for identifying the singer. More for identifying the original song.

Cheers.

-Matt J(ohan)

We’re still waiting to see what the effects of all that electrostatic stuff will do to our bodies. I say there’s nothing to worry about, as long as you don’t mind an occasional extra finger or third eye…

As for the witches, they’re awesome. Very environmentally friendly and great for the tourist dollars (hahahaha). In all seriousness Wayland doesn’t know what it’s missing. I’d call to let them know but Wayland has no bars!!!

“…(the Zoning Board of Appeals) agreed consultants were necessary for a variety of reasons, most notably in helping the board understand how the microwave radiation of a cell tower would affect a residential area.”

“The board also will’d to know if these magick ‘cellular telephones’ wouldst turn their children into witches within’ a fortnight and cause upon their young men to be posses’d of a great demon.” Seriously? Just say it: “I don’t want towers in my backyard. It will screw up my property value. Put them in some poor person’s backyard” At least be honest.

I am waiting for the day one of the “no cell towers here” crowd gets into a bad accident and tries to call for emergency help – and can’t. Can you imagine trying to get regular phone lines passed today? “Yeah – we’re gonna stick a giant pole in the ground every few hundred feet and run long black cables between them. Also, they’ll carry electricity, and if you touch them, you’ll die.” Wayland would still be sending wireless telegrams.

She trashed my summer, too.  Apparently, she only wanted to be in “Study” with me for her own advancement.

I feel so used.

This obviously raises many questions. For starters, why would Steve want to cover this up? Meira’s reasons are obvious enough, especially when you consider this revelation could be a career-killer amongst the Guatemalan Reproductive Health intelligentsia. This also solves the question of where Safran went after sophomore year. That whole Rivers thing was merely a cover story.  He sold that load of crap to all of us. In reality he was off raising their ill-gotten love child.

For all those who question the validity of this inscription, it’s clearly affirmed by Meira’s consistent misuse of your in the place of you’re. However, the sexually suggestive phrase “ah-ah” does have me a bit concerned…

Meira didn’t just call me “queer,” she chose to call me “really queer.” The question of “queer-gay” or “queer-odd” lingers, as I’ve been called both—especially by the always delightful Wayland populace. One depiction is grossly incorrect, and the other is, of course, a compliment. Either way, Meira’s attempt to derail my summer of 1981 proved unsuccessful.

It’s worth noting that yearbook inscriptions like this are precisely what got Miera booted from the Color-Name Alliance that the Brown brothers (Ellis & Mike) co-founded, and subsequently recruited Steve White, Miera and I into. Of course, the exclusion of Miera left it yet another group of guys with no girls in sight – just like that damn A.V. team.

Now it appears that Miera’s attempting to assuage her guilt over childhood yearbook infractions with all this Guatemalan reproductive do-goodery. Well, at least she can’t do much about the humidity.

… the dreaded (ha-ha). I will overlook the your/you’re grammatical error here, as this was a Wayland education after all. I work with professional writers that still don’t get the ‘re and ‘s thing straight anyway. But I ask you – what did she mean by (ha-ha)? Clearly, Meira is mocking me by building up my confidence at first, before striking me right down with her cruel laughter. “Have a great summer?” After that? I stayed in my room weeping until the following Labor Day.

Congrats to Yvan and his wife Takako on the birth of their son Yosuke.

Above is a tribute to Yvan as a father. Taken 8 years ago with Yvan and my daughter in San Diego.

[For the statistically minded, the birth weight was 4020 grams...which is like 4 kilograms.......which is like 40 pounds, or something]

Yes, winning the Achievement Award got you mad cred with the Supermog production crew, and might even have helped you land some ass on the NYC/DC trip when you weren’t hauling gear, but did it allow you to walk out of classes whenever the desire struck? This IMC Media Pass did just that.

In Junior High, these things were gold. Oops, Tornrose is getting ready to collect the homework and I don’t have it—Pass time. Schnidman’s gearing up for an oral exam—I’m needed in the darkroom. Gulley’s just standing there at the head of the class looking all Big Bird weird (while simultaneously being afraid of Styrofoam)—I’m outta here.

So, while others of you might have been been proudly displaying your Achievement Awards, socializing with girls, or even playing sports, the chosen few got to ditch class on a whim.

How you like me now Ken Keyes?

Yes, it’s awful. But as one YouTube commenter rightly points out, it doesn’t suck nearly as much as the Bears’ own Super Bowl Shuffle.

Have you heard of Feist? I love that gal—she’s great. Her last album is a classic. (As good as American Beauty or From Her to Eternity.)

That reminds me of a joke: What did the deadhead say to the other deadhead when they ran out of pot? “This music sucks.” (Ah, I tell that joke to Bunky all the time.)

I discovered Feist when I heard her cover of Secret Heart by Ron Sexsmith. (I love that guy—he’s great.) Some songs stay in my head for days. (It’s like I having an iPod with one song on it, or in our case, a cassette single with an auto-reverse player.) I have heard this song over and over again in my head these last two weeks and it won’t leave. Maybe I need to let it go here.

“So Sorry” is an advanced released from Feist’s website. This song is on the new album due out any day. I can’t guarantee you’ll like it but I can guarantee you that I like it.

[Audio http://indeno.com/music/sosorry.mp3]

2. Pete Townshend is coming out with a website that promises to create your musical portrait from personal sittings or something like that by using music loops. Prediction: everyone will “look” like that keyboard into to “Eminence Front.”

You, too, can look like these men.

Oh Stewie.  (We had these little pet names for each other.) I did not forget any definite articles in my sentences either.

Now, why she chose the odd “Base 30″ system of grading, I don’t know. But a 30/30 is an A+. And, as a copy editor, I take issue with the red pen addition of “the” as the third word. I believe the sentence stands on its own. Further, check out writing like this:

I still write about international affairs, and I can tell you I would get away with this sentence today. Actually, the paper largely holds its own, until this act of bullshit:

Ah, yes, fish. We traded the Chinese this mysterious object we call “fish.” Because China doesn’t have, say, a 9,000 mile coastline nor any major rivers, the Chinese were unfamiliar with this aquatic treat and required the U.S. to provide it for them. Fish: Common to Us, A Total Friggin’ Mystery to the Chinese. (This would go on to be the title of my next paper.)

Anyway, thanks Mrs. S for overlooking that act of B.S.-ery and seeing the future correspondent — and capitalist — within.

Attention all Kristins: Pay close attention to the quiz section of this show…

For an added bonus, I’ve included Lee Adam’s yearbook inscription to me.

Vrablik and Tally both clearly hate Pac-Man, and then there’s that mystery hater who clarified his hatred in red. Any guesses who that might be? Ken? Tim suggested that I look like a Pac-Man, and then retracted. Kavet reaffirmed his hatred of Pac-Man, and in true yearbook style, Lee wished me a good summer.

As for Pac-Man Ellis Brown, let us never forget that he stole Walter’s Fresca on the Cape trip.

Note that to this day many video game luminaries such as Trip Hawkins continue to carry the Pac-Man sucks torch.

Also, Ms. Pac-Man is a whore.

Bet you guys don’t have one of these babies. Signed by the man himself. Actually, you probably all have one of these. Bet you can’t FIND it though!

To refresh, Tom and family moved to Hong Kong at the start of Sophomore year. Can you imagine? Today that event would be an entire series on MTV.

There was a void in the neighborhood when the Colemans moved. It was really tough having my best friend leave. And why I wondered would anyone choose to leave Wayland, MA? My 14-year old brain worked on that one for a long while.

Tom and I stayed in touch though and I am so happy we were able to meet up last weekend. What a great trip.

Here is the first of two:

Really, I love the man to death. But a girl’s gotta have time to herself every once in a while.

Second day of work, and Chris & co went back to Landham’s place to finish installing the windows, a french door, and some more great food into their faces. 

Their second job was to move two small outbuildings several feet to the left.  I know that when the infrastructure fails up here, it’s the Shedmoving I miss most. 

No, actually, this was a crucial task in preparing the lot where the new Baptist church will be built, the old one having been swept away.  The “Church”, of course, is still there, as in “Gonna have some Church tonight” and that’s just what they did.  The service began calmly enough with requests for volunteers to sing hymns, etc. (Sarah is a minister and has a particularly gorgeous voice; she stood up to sing one and they wouldn’t let her sit down until she’d done four) But as the evening went on, the little gathering got to jumping and shouting and calling and responding, stand up sister and shout AMEN!  Chris said it was almost impossible not to fall into it and, you know, what the hell?  I mean heck.

Chris also weathered “Grumpy Lady.”  He said that he’d heard that this woman had been so cranky that a big group of volunteers walked out on the job.  Well, turned out that she was perfectly lovely, and the volunteers had left after she tore them new ones about hanging the wrong kind of wallboard in the wrong places anyway… all perfectly reasonable.  Chris & team tore out the old stuff, put up the new stuff AND installed kitchen cabinets to boot.  i mentioned to my husband that if he wanted to relive his trip when he got back, i knew of some kitchen cabinets that could use replacing…  I was, apparently, not funny.

Here are some interesting things that you would see in your backyard if you lived in Pearlington.  First, it’s wet.  The water table is so high that if you dig a hole in your yard more than six inches deep it immediately starts filling with water. 

Second, crawdads build drip castles.  Apparently it’s so wet everywhere that these guys don’t just live in the bayou (or whatever) they live in your yard, tunneling into the mud like clams, sending up a similar little tower of dirt, in some cases six or eight inches tall.  Nifty!

Also today, the group went to find Royal Royal (I shit you not, that’s his name) the friend of one of our parishoners.  Royal Royal looks like a really skinny Santa.  You know, in case you ever need to find him. 

Tomorrow morning, a quick trip into New Orleans, ’cause ya gotta, and then back on the road again to come home.  it’s 10:00 now, and Chris called to say they’d just gotten back from the worksite.  He didn’t have many fascinating anecdotes or observations to share, he was just bone tired.  Poor guy.

The town itself is tiny; the recovery center is a former elementary school. The kids have all been bussed to other schools because of the residual toxins from the Katrina sludge.  The Army Corps of Engineers eventually removed most of the sludge (where they put it is another problem for another day) but the recovery center workers told Chris that he had to wear shoes when he walked out to the showers, no bare feet, no flip flops, because the stuff on the ground is a sort of an Agent-Orangey type thing, not good for the pedicure.

Pearlington looks very third world right now — plywood buildings, destroyed furniture, army tents, boarded up and gutted houses.  Everything is a matter of expediency, of must-have-now.  All of this, building the dorms and showers, dealing with the port-a-potties,  feeding and housing volunteers, processing requests from people in the town and sending out volunteers to work on them, everything is done by citizens who are devoted to the rebuilding. There is no government involvement at all, nothing federal, nothing local.  (I’m kinda thinkin’ that’s why it works, but that’s just me.)

In the afternoon, Chris and Todd worked on installing windows for a guy named Landham, who is rebuilding his house for himself, his daughter, and his mother.  He had just come to the recovery center two hours before to ask for help, so he was pretty surprised to see volunteers coming that day.  Right away Chris was able to tell him that he’d been sent the wrong type of window… but also that he could make them fit.  Sweet!  While they were working, Chris asked how much water they got in the house. Landham said “Oh, it was about knee deep.”  Chris thought, well, not too bad… until he realized that Landham meant knee deep where they were right then, on the second floor.  

Chris & co also delivered donations to a 4′ 10″, 200 lb, tattooed lesbian grandmother.  I mention her proportions only because they are striking, but it was the whole lesbian thing that caused all the fuss.  At a town meeting early in the recovery process, there were some who opined that she shouldn’t get the same help everyone else was getting because… well, I’m not even sure how you’d frame a statement like that.  In any case, the minister of a local church rose and essentially told those folks to SHUT UP.  And now this lady is running the donation distribution for the whole town, so there. Chris said I had to use the adjective “kickass” when describing her — ok, tattooed kickass lesbian grandmother. 

Tomorrow: the Unitarians go to a Baptist revival meeting! And also Outback Steakhouse, which is nowhere near as exciting.  OK, I’ll skip the Outback part.

———————————————- 

By the way…

Steve thinks he’s “created a monster” by which I assume he means me letting loose with my wordy and psychotically digressive writing style.  So yeah, I see the point: Hemingway I ain’t.  But some people seem amused (or possibly bemused) by the babbling brook of my blather, and if you are too you can read more, MORE!  I keep a blog for my sister, and will be tracking my training process for the Komen 3-Day at www.staceyreport.com.  (Yeah, it’s a cancer blog, but a funny cancer blog! Ha ha ha!)

It’s been a while. How you been? Just got back from North Carolina. (I had only been there in my mind before.) I visited relatives who recently moved down there. Wow, so lovely. Sunshine. Moonshine. Looks like it goes on forever. (Forgive me.)

But really, it looks like everyone’s movin’ down South now. That place is growing so fast—buildings, grass, everything. Mark my words: coastal cities are on the way out.

I had the opportunity to see an old friend while I visited my folks. Good thing I brought my MacBook—I was able to interview one of these holy hosts standin’ round me (St. Zef’s confirmation). Hope to upload that post tomorrow.

http://www.tragicfate.com/videofiles/charlietheunicorn.mov

Best line ever?

“Awright, fine! I’ll go in the freakin’ candy cave! Jeesh!”

MWAH HAH HAAAAAH!

No, actually, I have no evil plans.  For WAE, at least.  I do have plans to report daily on Chris’s trip to Pearlington, Mississippi.  He is leading (if you can “lead” two other adults) a trip sponsored by our church (if you can call UU a “church”) to help Pearlington rebuild from Katrina. 

A few months ago, representatives from the Pearlington Recovery Center gave a presentation at our church (it really IS a church, I was just kidding).  Pearlington is an unincorporated town, officially known as a CDP, a Census-Designated Place.  Is that not just the dumbest… whatever.  People live there.  And Katrina flushed 12-20 feet of toxic water over them, washing away most of the buildings.  trouble is, when you’re an unincorporated town you get NO federal or state assistance.  Isn’t that fancy?

OK, me?  I’d be movin’ on, folks.  I’d look at the mudhole that used to be my house and say “Cannot deal — smell ya later!”

But the citizens of Pearlington didn’t see (or smell) things quite that way.  They looked at their collective mudholes and said “Hey look, it’s Pearlington!  We just need to, you know, build some stuff.  Like houses and town buildings and churches and… well, everything.”

So now they have an ongoing recovery project and have invited anyone who can help to come down, drop your duffle next to a cot, and start working.  (Uh, well, you do have to call them first and stuff like that…)  They’ll feed you and house you and tell you what to do and you’ll do it.  Simple as that.

Those of you who know Chris well know about his mad carpentry skillz.  If you put Chris down in a field next to a big pile of house ingredients (like lumber and, I don’t know, glue and stuff) he could build you a house.  Except I hope you like secret compartments and sliding panels and hidden staircases because he loves doing that stuff.  Anyway, he’s driving in his 17-passenger van (affectionately called “Gigantor”) so that he can bring all his tools with him, set up, tune in the local NPR affiliate and hey presto! New porch. Or whatever. But with secret compartments.

Today’s postcard is all about driving. Driiiii-iiiiii-ving. Our three travelers expect to arrive at about 11:00 tomorrow morning after taking turns driving all night.  About mid-morning they hit the storm that’s coming through and had about 300 miles of rain and snow.  The worst point was a complete traffic standstill where a bunch of trucks were parked on the highway because they couldn’t get down the icy offramps.  The van made one of those “It’s totally illegal to make a U-turn here!” U-turns and wended their way around the jam on side streets. 

Current status: Chris called about an hour ago to say goodnight to our older daughter — he said they were about to stop for dinner (a nutritious roadside meal I’m sure) and then keep going.  Every time there’s a noise outside, our dogs prick up their ears to see if it’s Chris coming home.  And I have placed Netflix orders for lots of movies starring Johnny Depp and John Cusack who are totally my boyfriends.

More news tomorrow!

    I started mine at three o’clock today, a mere 7 hours into the severe nor’easter, that is expected to last three days.  As they say we’ll be getting catastrophic winds and astronomical high tides. It’s kind of a Perfect Storm  thing .All my neighbors and I are on flood alert. The calls go back and forth “do you have water yet?” We dread water because when the first person goes down it’s just a matter of time for the rest.  It’s like downtown Wayland, bring out the canoes and go to the store.

   I have replaced more carpets than I care to remember. I’ve shop vaccumed up more water that you’d believe. And I now look forward to FEMA coming into town, they’re old friends, like  the first name basis kind. I know the west has earthquakes, down south has hurricanes and the mid west has twisters. My heart goes out to all of those people. But when I saw the first few gallons creeping into the basement today I wanted to scream. So I’ve taken a break from the lumber mill to vent my frustration.

   I wish you all a safe and dry Patriot’s day…….

This afternoon, after wondering around BlockBuster, I picked two movies and went to pay for them:

 

Young BlockBuster Associate (YBBA):  “Find everything, M’am?”

 

Me: (Cringing from being called “M’am”)  “Uhhh, no actually.  Do you have the new Nintendo Wii Mario Brothers game?”

 

YBBA: “I don’t think its out yet.  Do you know the whole title?”

 

Me: (Thinking: What a dork, he doesn’t even know it?) “Let’s see, there’s Super Paper Mario and there’s also Super Mario Galaxy.  Uh…..this is for my sons.”

 

[I knew the game titles. Now who’s the dork?]

 

YBBA: (Checking the computer) “We don’t have Super Paper Mario and Super Mario Galaxy isn’t out until June”.

 

Me: (Looking aimlessly around the store) “Oh”.

 

I proceed to pay for my two movies. YBBA hands them to me, enthusiastically pointing to my receipt: “Here’s a coupon for a free rental of any item in the middle isles of the store!”

 

Me: (noticing the Nintendo Wii games are in fact in a middle isle of the store!) “Really? Can I put that towards a Wii game rental?”

 

YBBA: “No M’am, just the movies.  But your BlockBuster Rewards account has also earned you a free rental at the end of the month!”

 

Me: “And can I put THAT towards a Wii game?”

 

YBBA: “No.”

 

ME: (Sigh) “Oh.”

Somewhere peppered in between the Nintendo Wii games, soccer practices, birthday parties, parent-teacher conferences, swim lessons, preschool art shows, dentist appointments, and car pooling, I have my own life with no intrusions from my children.

But really, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

• Dirty Laundry – The Eagles Selected Works 1972 – 1999

This is the Eagles playing the famous Don Henley song live. “Dirty Laundry” is, of course, the anthem for every local news person. It’s a cynical, biting attack on local news: “I just have to look good, I don’t have to be clear. Come and whisper in my ear, give us Dirty Laundry.” Don Henley meant it as an indictment of everything that’s wrong with news. In news, however, we find it hysterical and often use the song as background music for our blooper clip reels.

• Nowhere Man – Paul Westerberg – I Am Sam Soundtrack

There will be a lot of Beatles in this mix. My favorite band – always have been. “I Am Sam” had a soundtrack with nothing but Beatles covers and this wasn’t one of the best. “Two of Us” by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn was better. I’m not one of the “nobody should cover the Beatles because they’re perfect” nuts. They’re songs. They should be interpreted.

• All Things Must Pass – Paul McCartney – Concert For George

See – lots of Beatles. This is Macca singing George Harrison at the concert in tribute to The Youngest Beatle a year after George died. Amazing concert at Royal Albert Hall, led mostly by Eric Clapton – who stole George’s first wife, Patti Boyd. “Layla” was Eric’s song written about his desire for Patti. It worked. He stole Patti and yet he and George remained lifelong friends. That’s the ‘60s. “All Things” is my second favorite George song. “Isn’t It A Pity” is the first.

• Airhead – Thomas Dolby – The Sole Inhabitant

Matt Johan (’85) turned me on to Thomas Dolby, who pretty much everyone knew from “She Blinded Me With Science” anyway. “Airhead” was a hit the summer Matt, Brad and I spent together on the Cape in 1988, off “Aliens Ate My Buick,” so I think of those guys when I hear it. This is from a live show Dolby did solo. That’s right – he has so many loops going that he can play his stuff without backing. Science!

• I’m Not Your Stepping Stone – The Monkees

I was so into The Beatles that I was into The Monkees, too. The original pre-fab band, they weren’t supposed to be this good. Dammit – they were. Saw them live at the Cape Cod Melody tent in the early ‘90s without Mike Nesmith. They still sounded just fine. My favorite Monkees song: “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” (I’m for the Micky Dolenz vocals, not the Davy Jones stuff.)

• Can’t We Be Friends? – Jamie Cullum – twentysomething

“I thought I’d found the girl of my dreams / so it seems / this is how the story ends. She’s gonna turn me down and say / can’t we be friends?” A perfect song for anyone who was a Sensitive Guy in high school or college. Plus Jamie’s one of the few keyboard players who doesn’t look like a total tool when he’s playing.

• Livin’ La Vida Loca – Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas – Shrek 2 Soundtrack
  

Dammit. Random list. Look, I have three kids. Besides, if you’re gonna hear “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” it may as well be by Donkey and Puss In Boots. Also, as sung by Ricky Martin, it’s a perfectly good pop song.

• This Is Where You Ain’t – Glenn Tilbrook — The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook

Tilbrook’s the lead singer of Squeeze, which I’m surprised didn’t show up on the random list. The band broke up about a million times, and of late he has put out a couple of solo albums. “This Is Where You Ain’t” is typical of the wordplay lyrics he and Chris Difford were famous for. The two of them aren’t speaking. I wonder if “This Is Where You Ain’t” is about them fighting.

• Not The Girl You Think You Are – Crowded House – Recurring Dream

I liked Crowded House because they reminded me of Squeeze. And this song sounds like a Beatles song. So there you go. It’s a pretty biting one, too. When the Finn brothers are talking, they can write a pretty good track. “Come on, believe you have one in a million / You’ re not the girl you think you are /Someone’s standing in your place / The bathroom mirror makes you look tall/ But it’s all in your head.” I’m listening to it now. Good God, download this song.

• Tomorrow’s Just Another Day – Madness – The Rise and Fall

Not a bad representative sample, actually, of how my taste in music has hardly changed since high school. Honestly, I have music recorded since after 1983. But I guess when you’re loaded with oldies, the randomizer is bound to come up with more of it. Love Madness, and I have their box set loaded. “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day” is a perfectly cynical song. The quote speaks for itself, and would make a great high school blurb. Or this line “I need a moment to reflect on the friendships I have wrecked.” That would work in a yearbook, too.

(Photo by Mr. Unpronounceable)

What’s so frickin’ fascinating in the above picture? Why, Steve’s video, of course.

You might have thought that guy in the flames shirt taking pictures was a hired gun, but no, he’s my husband. I gave him a camera, told him to go forth and document, and he parlayed it into free drinks at the bar (bastard!). I gotta give him props–how many people can go to a reunion where they know only a handful of people and actually enjoy it? Then again, he did have free booze.

 After 20 years, I’ve become increasingly generous, which you can all thank me for…I did not post the ones where people look really, really bad. You know, the pictures where you’ve got a booger hanging out of your nose, or you’re completely hammered.

 Mind you, I did not say that I deleted the embarassing pictures…no, no, no…I saved those for later.

So, ya wanna see ‘em? Go here:

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/552365589oYwNcQ?start=0

If you are near Oberlin, OH on April 28th, around 7:30ish, then you need to go to the “Woodshed” performance space. Andrew will be playing his first solo show. He will have friends join him on some songs and a call and response thingy to get the audience participation going, but for a good portion it will just be his voice and guitar.  Congrats and good luck Andrew. He also reports that everyone in the audience will be invited back to his place for drinks after the show. This is fine if there are only 20 people, but what if there are 200 or 2000? He didn’t think that was going to be a problem, but I told him not be so sure…..

Andrew, any chance you will be audio or video taping this performance? Let me know if you need a video camera and I will send you one.

Heart Palpitations, anyone?

One Creme Egg weighs 1.4 oz (40 g) and contains 171.6 Calories.[2] While many people feel that the size has diminished since its introduction in 1971, Cadbury maintains “It hasn’t—you’ve just grown up!” [3] However, 1.2 oz (34 g) eggs – made in England but licensed to The Hershey Company – are now appearing on shelves in the United States. That means the original weight of 1.4 oz (40 g) has been reduced by two tenths of an ounce, or six grams. That is a 15% reduction. [4]

So Cadbury is shrinking our little delicious treats of cocaine-strength sugar and denying it. It took an actor from “The Office” to expose this. Again, from Wikipedia:

Cadbury’s claim denying the reduction in size of the candy egg was refuted by actor B. J. Novak most notably of NBC‘s comedy,The Office. In a televised interview on a April 5th, 2007 episode of Late Night with Conan O’ Brien… B.J. searched his house for an unopened prior year’s Cadbury Creme Egg. After mentioning this plan, B.J. pulled from his pocket a 2007 Cadbury Cream Egg and a Cadbury Creme Egg claimed to be from two years prior. The camera zoomed in on the two eggs for comparison purposes, and a visible size difference was revealed, with the prior year’s egg noticeably larger. (Pictured: Cadbury Creme Egg from 2005 on left, one from 2007 on right.)

You can watch the segment here:

UPDATE: Honest to God – while I was writing this entry, Kate posted the ad below for the Creme Eggs. (Look at the timestamps.) Obviously, we’ve touched a nerve.

trust me on this…

Adds Steve: Holy crud – it’s the Cadbury Creme Egg ad. Excellent find. And further evidence for our conspiracy theory.

The Celtics are assisting in the investigation and are hoping to sign the suspect to play guard.

Thursday, March 15
2:07 p.m. A Decatur Lane caller reported being the victim of a telephone scam.

“Police? I’m the victim of a telephone scam!”

“Sure you are.”

“No, seriously!”

“How do we know you’re not scamming us right now?”

Monday, March 19 (Note: an especially busy day)
1:34 p.m. A Lake Shore Drive caller reported a lost cell phone.

OK, I’ll bite: if she lost her phone… how did she call the police?

4:09 p.m. A Squirrel Hill Road caller reported their snowblower on fire.

Surely either the snow or the blowing would put this out, no?

10:40 p.m. A Lodge Road caller reported a water problem in their basement.

“No, dammit – you cops call the plumbers. What am I paying my tax money for?”
Friday, March 23
3:16 p.m. A Commonwealth Road caller reported a stolen plow.
It turned out to be the owner of the burned-out Squirrel Hill plow hoping to dump it for the insurance money.