Scurvyann. Rocknroll mum.

Scurvyannimation for Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women

2011-06-06T12:37:00.002-03:00

here is a video I made for Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women. The song is called "French Translation". Enjoy!

Ad Frank & the F.E.W. nominated in Boston Music Awards

2010-11-29T09:51:00.006-04:00

It is Boston Music Awards time! Vote vote vote for Ad Frank (best male vocalist) and Ad Frank & The F.E.W. (best song - "Winterthru"). You may vote as many times as you wish, oddly enough. Go here TODAY, voting ends at 5pm!

And here's a little somethin'-somethin' for ya. This is the video for WINTERTHRU. Enjoy!

Next Show: Thursday, August 26: AF&FEW with STEREO TOTAL!

2010-08-24T05:45:00.003-03:00

This is going to be a fabulous show. Downstairs at the Middle East, Cambridge, MA.We're on at 9:00, nice & early! Wewt!

Come to my next rock show: Ad Frank & F.E.W., Feb. 19, 2010!

2010-02-07T04:44:00.002-04:00

Come out, come out, wherever you are! A big night, upstairs at the Middle East with handfuls of great bands, y'see?!

My latest, most favoritest song and video: Vampire Weekend - COUSINS!

2010-02-07T04:43:00.001-04:00

This song just kills me. I can't help but listen to it/watch it over and over and over and over...

Angie C.'s Radio Progrum!

2010-01-27T17:37:00.003-04:00

The ever-so-awesome Angie C. does a radio "progrum" on Houndstooth Radio. Fabulous Kay Hanley wrote a WICKED CATCHY theme song for the progrum. So catchy, that it has inspired a few to do their own li'l 'tributes'. Here's mine!

c6's "get psyched" song for the new schoolyear so far is...

2009-09-03T17:57:00.002-03:00

Today was C6's "sneak peek" into his new classroom, where he got to meet his new teachers. On the drive over to school, he chose this as his "get psyched" song. Buzzcocks, Everybody's Happy Nowadays. Enjoy!

Scurvyann Hits The Road...(um, air?)

2009-08-06T21:32:00.005-03:00

I'm gonna be playing some rocknroll music with Frigate. We're touring with Slapshot. Here's the stuff:

Aug 14 2009

Trix

Antwerp, Belgium

Aug 15 2009

Endless Summer Open Air

Tourgau, Germany

Aug 16 2009

Backstage

München, Germany

Aug 17 2009

Café Central

Weinheim, Germany

Aug 18 2009

Landespavillion

Stuttgart, Germany

Aug 19 2009

De Kelder

Amersfoort, Netherlands

Aug 20 2009

Musikbunker

Aachen, Germany

Aug 21 2009

Zwischenfall

Bochum, Germany

Aug 22 2009

Rock My Ass Festival (Hauptsmoorhalle)

Bamberg, Germany

Aug 23 2009

Little Devil

Tilburg, Netherlands

Scurvyann luvvs "30 Rocks" on Sesame Street!

2009-07-08T21:42:00.003-03:00

C6 and I caught a bit of Sesame Street this morning. We turned it on in the middle of this bit and of course when I saw a lemon wearing glasses knew it had to be Liz Lemon! HAHRHHARH!!!!

Scurvyann luvvs Tinted Windows

2009-04-24T03:16:00.001-03:00

Tinted Windows:
Taylor Hanson, James Iha, Adam Schlesinger and...Bun E. Carlos!
Luv! Them!

Scurvyann & C6 luvv Gene Kelly!

2009-02-16T21:36:00.002-04:00

Our latest dig is right here, Gene Kelly tap dancing in An American In Paris. Luvving it!

Hey, maybe this is the year I'll finally get those tap shoes I request annually for my birthday ... (or the trombone ... or the Mariachi band ... or ...!!!)

Ahhh...Elbow.

2009-02-01T13:04:00.005-04:00

Somehow I had forgotten how much I love Elbow. Ahhhhhhhhhh. I particularly love "Newborn", especially the second half of the song. For some reason, the video (below) cuts out at that point but audio continues. Listen all the way through!

Elbow - newborn
And now, I do believe I've got to catch up and get their album "The Seldom Seen Kid".

Happy Superbowl Sunday or whatever!

Scurvyann luvs Theresa Andersson!

2009-01-29T10:07:00.003-04:00

I read about Theresa Andersson in BUST magazine and was fascinated by her approach to music. Look here:

Have a listen to more of her gorgeous music at her myspace page. LOVE! HER!

C6 loves Brian O'Brian!

2009-01-14T02:46:00.006-04:00

A few days ago, C6 and I caught an in-between-shows short on The Disney Channel. It was called "Brian O'Brian" and it really grabbed our attention. The theme music drew us in, and we found ourselves laughing out loud to the antics of a funny guy who was just trying to clean up a small spill on the floor of an art gallery. As he tried to eradicate the spot, it quickly turned into a larger, brilliant pink mess that kept getting worse and worse the more he worked on it. C6 was laughing as hard as I've ever heard him laugh! He LOVED it. Interestingly, there was no dialog - just the music, some vocal sounds, and, oddly, a rather loud audience laugh track.

A quick investigation found that Brian O'Brian is a series of these shorts, and the main character is actor Brian Stepanek, who is also in Disney's Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The series is made without spoken words in order to show it in non-English speaking countries without having to redo the dialog. Brian O'Brian has been compared to Mr. Bean. I can see that - and I think C6 would enjoy some of Mr. Bean's antics as well. (BTW, who knew there was a Mr. Bean animated series? I didn't!)

The day after discovering Brian O'Brian, C6 was EXTREMELY excited when we stumbled across the same episode embedded in a Handy Manny show we had DVR'd. He INSISTED C5 watch it too - he had excitedly told him ALL about it the day we had seen it. There are a couple of Brian O'Brian episodes on YouTube but, alas, not the one that had elicited such belly laughs from C6.

I like his suspenders!

C6, Santa, and Gingerbread Haus!

2008-12-22T07:01:00.004-04:00

Santa visited one of our favorite hiking spots, Whip Hill Park, last week. He was set up inside the Whip Hill Manor...

I have been dying to go in the house - it was so beautiful inside! And it was great to see Santa - he was awesome. Totally didn't rush the kids...was funny, and had the best deep voice, and booming HO HO HO! Truly magical.

In other news...here's C6 decorating a gingerbreadhaus! Merry Christmas!

Hiking, Hiking, HIKING!

2008-12-11T14:20:00.002-04:00

On a recent rare warm late-autumn day, C6 and I went HIKING...

We wub Wubbzy!

2008-12-09T16:45:00.004-04:00

C6 and I are quite fond of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! We especially dig the fun pop tunes. Here is our latest favoritest Wubbzy song called "Pet Party". We've been perfecting our Pet Party dance moves and we're ready to throw down. Yeah, YEAH!

C6's latest fave song: XTC's "Senses Working Overtime"

2008-11-20T10:22:00.006-04:00

C6 likes all the senses and the counting in XTC's "Senses Working Overtime">. He also likes that Andy Partridge sings about lemon and lime. Lots to like about this one! Although everytime I hear the line "...and all the world is football shaped" I recall seeing a Laser Show at the Museum of Science years ago. At this lyric in the show, the graphic that whirled above was an american football shape. I do believe that XTC had a soccerball shape in mind, don't you?

C6, Peep, and the Big Wide World

2008-11-01T06:00:00.007-03:00

We started a new twist on our morning routine a few weeks ago. When C6 wakes up, he'll come down to Mummio & Daddio's room and hop into bed. Okay, that part is not so new. But, for the most part, the kid hits the ground running, so he usually wouldn't stick around with us - after a quick hello, and the obligatory climbing all over us and being the exact opposite of cuddly, he'd bound down to the kitchen to "make breffix". This could be either a delightful surprise (good aim with getting the juice *in* the cup, milk AND cereal *in* the bowl) or not so delightful (making peanut butter and marmalade sandwiches and storing one of them on a shelf in the cupboard "for later!", putting the peanut butter-smeared utensils back into the drawer...)

So here's the NEW part of our morning: C6 hops into bed, we all chat a bit and then I fire up the laptop to watch Peep and The Big Wide World. Every day on the website there's a different episode. And it is about 8 or 9 minutes or so long, giving us a few more minutes of sweet, sweet, cozytime.

The show itself is really good! I like the simply drawn characters (especially the blue duck with the sailor hat named "Quack". It is pretty funny and there's a science or math twist to each episode. And! It is narrated by Joan Cusack! OH! AND! Yesterday, Megan Mullally (Karen, from "Will and Grace") showed up as the voice of a rival duck! What's not to love?

C6 also likes the games on the website - particularly the paint mixing one. Try it - 'sfun!

Of course, right AFTER our Peeptime, C6 is off and running. What'll it be for breffix this morning?

happy halloween!

2008-10-31T16:55:00.003-03:00

Here are some Halloween drawings for you, courtesty of c6. Happy Halloween!!!

My fab Wonka T-shirt, Built By Wendy!

2008-10-14T15:50:00.002-03:00

Last month I got this most excellent T shirt! Pictured on it is the scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder version, natch) where Charlie returns the everlasting gobstopper. The image of Gene Wilder's hand covering the gobstopper and his fingers curling over the edge of the desk really stayed with me all these years and it is so cool to see it on a shirt! Oddly, my brother John and I were talking about this scene like 2 days before I came across this site (Built By Wendy) - I wasn't even looking for Wonka things.

...here's the detailed drawing:

I only ordered this a few weeks ago...the price has gone up quite a bit - it had been $25, now it is $45! Wow! That is quite an increase. But it is a fine shirt.

c6's "get psyched" song...

2008-09-16T10:42:00.003-03:00

This is C6's latest "get psyched" song, for the ride to school. It is "Stutter", by Elastica and does he ever rock out to it.

ps: this isn't exactly a kiddie song...lyrics are slightly risque!

When ya walk it goes "rump-pum-pump"...

2008-09-06T01:55:00.007-03:00

I've mentioned how much I adore Liam Lynch's podcasts. Have you taken a moment to enjoy? This little ditty makes me laugh EVERY! SINGLE! TIME! (Especially the operatic singing near the end.) Enjoy!

PS: the "rump-pum-pump" line reminds me of Stewie's tuba playing job...

c6, fiona, and elvis costello.

2008-08-21T21:58:00.000-03:00

This is the biggest fun we've had on the porch in quite awhile:

No apologies for the abundance of cute.

Loving the Alpha Table

2008-08-21T16:23:00.004-03:00

I am in LOVE with this table. I LOVE IT! Pricey though. Say, anyone wanna buy me an early (or late) birthday present?

I get distracted from my job, cuz I keep thinkin' 'bout the cob...

2008-08-18T09:50:00.014-03:00

Had a sorta impromptu bbq gathering of the Dethmuffen gang this weekend. If I had tried to plan this weeks ago, it probably wouldn't have happened! Glad it did. It was good to see my old bandmates, bandspouses, bandkid, and our band 'Denmother' Sally Frank again! BONUS FUN PARTY PEOPLE: bandbrother, bandniece and bandnephew!

C6 had fun romping around and playing with Adam & Janine's little girl Fiona, age 2 1/2. Actually she's not that little - she's about as tall as C6! (Adam's a realllly tall guy.) There was dancing! Splashin' in the kiddie pool! The bubble machine was in overdrive! POPSICLES!

Janine made Roseanne Cash's Potato Salad, and it is really yummylicious. Who knew curry powder and pickles could make potato salad so awesome? I didn't! They do!

C5 enlisted Kevin to be the official cheeseburger tester. Well done, Kevin! (Or, medium rare!HAHRHARH!!!!)

Here's Ad and Leesa singing the famous corn song by
The Corn Sisters. Note my ***SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECT!*** (...wait for it.)

Good times. Good times.

Vacation, all I ever wanted!

2008-08-14T15:52:00.003-03:00

Maxxin' and relaxxin' at Cahoon Hollow, Wellfleet, MA.

Summer Breeze! Makes me feel fine,
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mi---ind!
(beew beew beeeeew beew, beew beew...)

Overheard at the Playground...

2008-08-14T15:40:00.005-03:00

Today at the playground I overheard this nugget of pure comedy gold:

BOY1: "What did the ghost say to the bee?"
BOY2: "I don't know. What?"
BOY1: "Boo, bee!"
BOY2: "Hahah - Boo bee! Boo bee! Boo bee!" (etc.)

...and I immediately rushed home to tell you all my new favorite joke. The end!

ADDENDUM: After telling my good friend Ad this little gem, he improved it a bit..."What did the ghost say to the SWARM of bees?" "Boo, bees!" I agree that is much, much better.

The Beatles: HELP!

2008-08-06T02:24:00.005-03:00

Greetings from Wellfleet, MA! We had a lovely day with friends - a little bbq, a little beachin', total vacation mode. Ahhhhhh.

I stayed up late tonight watching the fantastic Beatles movie HELP! I first saw this movie when I was 7 years old and it really changed my life. (Really!) Special thanks to my brother Dave, for insisting I watch it back then. I remember him saying "I think you'll like this movie!" And I totally did! (Also thanks again to Dave for getting me the DVD!)

My Mom got me the album in exchange for my agreeing to wear a pretty white dress for my first communion. (I was really against the wearing of dresses back in the day). I became OBSESSED with Ringo and wanted to change my name to Ringo. (My Mom said I could change my name to Ringo when I was 18. But by then I wasn't really as into the idea.) I thought I looked like him. We had similar haircuts and noses, and I was about as tall as him. HAHRhHRH!!!! (see haircut photo up there on the right.)

As I watched and listened tonight (with headphones) I was really sucked back in time - I listened to the album CONSTANTLY as a youngster. And I remembered the part where my well-worn record would skip during the marching band instrumental song - it sounded weird to me tonight when I heard it NOT skipping. HAHRHH.

Tonight though, something new. Ringo was my first Beatle crush. Then, in junior high, I was ALL about John. Tonight? George! Ahh, George. How did I never have a yen for George??? (*sigh!* he's so dreamy!) I guess I'll hit my Paul phase when I'm 64. (*groan*) Sorry.

Hey! It's a thingie! A fiendish thingie!

summer update...

2008-07-21T23:53:00.004-03:00

Yee! I keep meaning to come on back and say hi once in a while...but I suppose I'm gettin' all LUDDITE on yez. It's been a wicked fun summertime...C6 and I have been hittin' the beach quite a lot, puttin' the sprinkler into overdrive, fillin' up the inflate-o-pool,etc. I'm trying to live 2 summers in one, due to last years summer of SUCK.)

Anyway...to completely change the subj, (PURPOSELY TRUNCATED!)

...C6 and I concur that Beck's song GAMMA RAY is quite tuneful and boppable. I could listen to the intro to this song forever (& ever!) Now please come join us in a kitchenfestdanceparty while we DANSE!

Cornelius on Yo Gabba Gabba

2008-06-20T18:44:00.003-03:00

C6 and I both agree that this is one of the most awesomest things ever. Cornelius count to 6 on Yo Gabba Gabba.

And now we are practicing our beatboxing. Ta!

in case you missed my last ROCKNROLLSHOW...

2008-06-19T00:33:00.005-03:00

In case you missed it, here is a condensed version of the aforementioned Orbit show!

More in scurvyann's world of ROCK: last weekend I spent some time recording at the fabulous Moontower studio with Ad Frank and The Fast Easy Women. Even after all these years I'm not exactly in my element in the studio...I prefer the "anything goes"-ness of a live show vs. the preciseness of the studio. But I did way okay. Ad and I go way back (Miles Dethmuffen and PermaFrost, anybody? Anybody?) and he recalled a recording session (or 2) of yore when I cried in the studio. So of course, the rest of the (current) studio session I threatened to cry at each turn. It was fun! (And I didn't even cry!) It's going to be an amazing album. (Even though I didn't cry.) If you don't like this album, then I will cry. (With my fists! On your FACE!)

In OTHER rock news, there was ALMOST an impromptu Frigate thing this coming weekend. Unfortunately all of our schedules didn't jive, so it ain't happnin, but it was interesting that we all were very much into the idea of raising the shipwrecked Frigate for realsies. Who knows!?

In true Scurvyann fashion...it seems I can't be in just one band for very long! What's with that, anyway???

Come To My ROCKNROLLSHOW!

2008-06-04T00:14:00.003-03:00

This time up - it is ORBIT, this Friday, June 6th at TT THE BEARS in Cambridge. Here's a little article on Orbit from the Boston Phoenix.

with Taxpayer, The Fatal Flaw, and Airport
@ T.T. The Bear's Place
10 Brookline St, Cambridge MA 02139
617-492-0082
www.ttthebears.com

We're on at midnight. Take a nap and come out and see me, nnnnkay?

Coupla funnies

2008-06-02T17:56:00.004-03:00

C5 asked if I had seen the e*trade commercials with the baby. I hadn't! So he found them online - and I love'em! The baby's voice is key to the hilarity of the spots, in my opinion. Here they are for you to enjoy.

Outdoor kindergarten

2008-06-02T17:21:00.000-03:00

I just saw this little piece about outdoor kindergarden at Daddytypes. I know a certain nature boy that would truly dig going to school outside!

Weezer's "Pork and Beans"

2008-05-25T00:06:00.006-03:00

Ah. I luv the song "Pork and Beans" by Weezer. Have ya seen the video yet? It is chock full of internet video celebs. Scads of them! I was happy to see the Peanutbutter Jelly Time banana in there. He's still got it!

Addendum:
The video was created by Motion Theory and was shot in a studio in LA and on location in North Hollywood from May 7-10. The music video concept was hatched by director Mathew Cullen. Mathew has done music videos for artists including Beck, Modest Mouse and R.E.M. Well! There it is! Well done, people.

p.s.
Here's a little behind the scenes clip/story on rollingstone.com.

Ting Tings!

2008-05-24T22:35:00.002-03:00

C6 and I haven been groovin' to the Ting Ting's "Great DJ". I especially dig the odd little dancemaneouvre they do. This song is catchy as all get out. But don't get out. Get dowwwwn! In the name of the Ting Tings, I command you to get down!

Andrew W.K. and Paul Frank!

2008-05-23T16:48:00.005-03:00

I love Andrew W.K.! I was just thinking about him today, wondering what he's up to. Guess what? He's going to be appearing in NYC at McNally Robinson bookstore (Soho), reading from the first Paul Frank children's book "Only In Dreams". AWK & PF...what a perfect combination! Like orange & chocolate in an Orange Milano cookie. Nom.

This from A.W.K.'s website:
Storybook Sunday:
Paul Frank has chosen Andrew W.K. to present their first-ever bedtime story, ONLY IN DREAMS, with a special children's book reading in NYC.
"Andrew's dynamic and celebratory nature blends perfectly with the magical experience of the new book", says PF President Ryan Heuser.
The event will be this Sunday, May 25th, 2008.

More info here.

Hoping the book's good! It looks cute.

Andrew, you know, when it's time to party, we will always party hard. Party hard.

C6 C6 loves loves Cherry Cherry

2008-05-22T17:49:00.012-03:00

Today C6 and I were lunching at Kelly's in Saugus. Usually the music they play there is downright awful, but today, Neil Diamond's "Cherry Cherry" came on. C6 couldn't stay in his chair! He started dancing around like a boy on FIRE. What a great song! Jive for yourself:

HAHHrrrHAHR! - visit The Lovely Mrs. Davis, and see a clip from "Saving Silverman", featuring Diamonds in the Rough performing "Cherry Cherry".

ADDENDUM:
All afternoon and evening as "Cherry Cherry" went through my head, the song kept morphing into The Monkees' "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You". They are so similar - the intro, rhythm, the backup vox... Then I recalled - duh - didn't Neil Diamond write a few Monkees songs? Yes. Yes he did.

I'm still here!

2008-05-19T15:54:00.007-03:00

Oh hi. I'm back! Sheesh, so much for my neo-luddite ways of late, tryin' to go off the grid and live in the woods and pretend it is the late eighties. Below is a little amusement, a blog offering. (Or would it be a 'blogferring'?) This is for you, Lllyiñette. I hope that it is enough to appease you and that you will not get all huffy and give me a blog wedgie. (Ew.)

C6 counting in Spanish:
"Uno, dos, tres, quatro, stinko..."

...until I emerge from the forest again, ta ta!
Love, Scurvyann xoxo
(lumbers off into the underbrush with C6, like Sasquatch-n-son...)

Stuck in Revertigo

2008-04-30T10:26:00.003-03:00

I'm still floating, days after the amazing Big Dipper show. Some switch was thrown...just...something's different now. As I mentioned, the show really just thrust me back in time. In a good way. And I think I'm stuck there! Uh oh!

Did I mention the song that played right before Big Dipper got onstage? It was "Swamp Thing" by Chameleons (UK!!!) My little group, and the whole place, was enthralled. Everyone sang along!!! Wow. It was amazing. I know I sound like a Dorkus Maximus. (And even moreso now for writing "Dorkus Maximus".) The entire event was something special.

AND I'm also airborne because Bill Goffrier answered my e-fanmail and wrote some sweet things. Eeeeee! I tell you, the Revertigo is hittin' me HARD. Geesh, I'm (somewhat of) an adult, and here I am like a giddy schoolgirl because a fellow musician answered an email.

Here's a story: a few years ago, when Ad Frank was recording his first solo album, he worked with my brother John, recording at the house in which I grew up. Ad had enlisted Bill Goffrier to do some vocals on the album. John had set up a "vocal booth" in MY OLD CLOSET! I said, if the Linda of yesteryear knew that one day, Bill Goffrier would be singing in her closet, she'd totally FREAK OUT!

Still freakin out,
Scurvyann
xoxo

PS: My friend Lees was sucked back in time by the show, too. Read here, about how the music GETS ya. And she made a COOL little music player of bands of the day. I think I might stay stuck back in time for awhile. Is that bad?

PS: Boston Groupie News has a few fun photos of the show here. All my pix of the show came out krappy!

Big Dipper Reunion = bliss!

2008-04-27T12:22:00.010-03:00

Oh, Big Dipper. Thank you for rockin' for us. It was pure bliss. I made my way to the front of the stage and travelled back in time. I haven't danced like that in oh, so very long. I don't think I stopped smiling the entire set.

Tha Dippah played so well and seemed to be enjoying it all! Especially Bill Goffrier - he just exudes GLEE. I'm so glad that I didn't miss this show.

And they played all my faves, with the exception of "Lou Gehrig's Disease". I'm happy they did "Hey, Mr. Lincoln"! I nearly jumped to the ceiling. Of course, the place exploded when Steve & Jeff started up "Ron Klaus Wrecked His House". At that point, the young kids behind me (they were YOUNG! I was surprised that they were SOOOO into Big Dipper. Ad told me that it was sponsored by ERS, so maybe that had something to do with the young'ns?) - anyway, these kids started pseudo-moshing and I stepped aside to let'em rip. It was a fun time jumpin' around! "Lunar Module" provided a slower tempo, so I could tone down the crazydancin and take a break from sweatin'. Then it was back into another rocker (unfortunately I can't remember the set order.) I was really happy that the Fertile Virgin girls hopped up for "A Song To Be Beaufiful"

Clearly, I had a case of Revertigo - when you revert back to who you were at a certain time in your life when something from back then triggers it. I was younger me, dancin' around in front, happyhappyhappy.

And this mornin', I'm movin' a little bit slower, I have "rockneck", and my foot's a little sore. But I'm happyhappyhappy.

Look, that's me and Steve Michener! Due to my revertigo, I was too shy to meet him before the show, but managed to muster up the courage to chat afterward. (Thanks for snappin' the photo, Jessica!)

Big Dipper Reunion!

2008-04-25T09:16:00.007-03:00

Tomorrow night (Saturday, April 26th), one of my fave bands from "back in the day" reunites and plays at the Middle East. Hurrah for BIG DIPPER!!!

Are ya goin? I've got my ticket. I can't wait!!!

Here's a bit of info.

Love,
Scurvyann xoxo

P.S. I'm gonna screeeeeeam my head off when they play "Ron Klauss Wrecked His House".

P.S. WooOooOoOoOoOoOOO!!!

Boston Rock-n-Romp 2, megafun!

2008-04-23T10:41:00.002-03:00

The 2nd ever Boston Rock-n-romp was so much fun! It wasn't as jam-packed as the first one, so there was more room for all the little rompers and their parents more room to move about. Much nicer, not having to fear treading on a tot!

We enjoyed the awesomeness that was Hallelujah The Hills. My friend Just Bill had clued me in to their deliciousness, so I was prepared for a great show. And it was SUPER!

Can't wait for the next Rock-n-Romp! Here are a few pix...

Psychedelic, man.

C6 wows the little ladies...

C6 and his pal Arlo belly up to the bar...don't they look like brothers?
(Photo from Arlo's Mum, Jen.)

The trumpet guy from Hallelujah The Hills was especially good with the kiddos. (C6 isn't in this shot - he was happy to stay off the stage and groove.)

C6 took this portrait of Arlo...

C6 drew a skull and crossbones! Arlo had drawn a nicely detailed Jolly Roger, but alas, I don't have a photo of it...

...and C6's bunch of skulls-n-crossbones...

...twins, walking to the car...

Come To My Rock And Roll Show.

2008-04-20T09:24:00.006-03:00

I've become somewhat of an outdoorsperson over the past weeks, not much indoor-at-the-screen time. I've sort of substituted proper posts with tiny little twitter updates. (see updates on sidebar, over there --->)

But I wanted to tell you to come to my rock and roll show. It is Tuesday! This Tuesday! The 22nd! Of April! Ad Frank and The Fast Easy Women are at Harper's Ferry in Allston, MA. With American Music Club! And Barn Burning, too. I'm told that we're on at 10, the middle act.

Please come, won't you?

The Gravel Pit - "Favorite"

2008-04-14T10:19:00.004-03:00

Woke up with this song in my head. Not a bad way to start the week! One of my (heh) FAVORITE basslines. You go, Ed Valauskas!

The Gravel Pit, performing "Favorite" at TT the Bears a few years back.

Don't Forget: Boston Rock-n-Romp this Saturday!

2008-04-11T15:43:00.003-03:00

Just a little reminder...the second Boston Rock-n-Romp is this SATURDAY, April 12th at 3:00. Great Scott, Allston. It is great fun! This romp's lineup includes Hallelujah the Hills, You Can be a Wesley, DJ Michael Savant, and special guest author of "The Creative Family", Amanda Blake Soule.

We'll be there. And you?

Oh it's Such a Perfect Day, I'm Glad I Spent it with You

2008-04-11T00:14:00.004-03:00

Today was about waking up, putting on frog boots and running into the yard to do a little springtime happydance. With no pants, even!

Later on, C6 and I went hiking and had a little picnic lunch. We sat on a log, munching on sandwiches, carrots, apples, and cheddar. Chatting about this. And about that, too.

Perfect day.

Rob, in a nutshell

2008-04-06T15:42:00.002-03:00

My wonderful friend Robin sent me a MARVELOUS package quite awhile ago and I've wanted to share the enclosed note with you. The package was loaded with a whole bunch of bathbombs from LUSH, and the enclosed notecard read "I did NOT send these to you because you smell. I sent them because I love you. Love, Rob". HArhAHRHAH!!!!

We Are Scientists.

2008-03-28T11:19:00.003-03:00

On Tuesday, C6 and I were SCIENTISTS. We mixed up water, colored sugar, and oil and SHOOK IT UP! It MIXED TOGETHER! And then...it SEPARATED! And weird little stalactites formed for awhile, then dissolved.

We also put some dried basil and parsley into a bowl of water to see if they would float or sink. Mostly, they floated!

Science, man. Yeah!

The Eggman

2008-03-26T17:00:00.000-03:00

C6 must've been a good kid this year – he got some pretty neat stuff in his Easter basket! My favorite were these awesome glowy Easter eggs. I found them through Mighty Junior. They glow and change color! Woo! C6 is using them as portable nightlights - he set 4 of them on his bedposts last night (see photo). He gave me one so I could have my own nightlight too. Must've been a good kid this year...

I Love You

2008-03-25T23:08:00.001-03:00

"I LOVE YOU" by C6.

C6 in the kitchen

2008-03-25T21:27:00.008-03:00

C6 and I are all about the cookies. Here's a shot of him assisting with the buttah for a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies. (The recipe on the lid of the Quaker Oats container has always been a fave.)

I wish I had a cool apron like C6's! I got it at Beansoup a couple of months ago and he's been getting a lot of use out of it. When I ordered the apron I inquired if I could have one made in my size and, alas, they could not, as they were all out of the cool retro dot pattern fabric. The person who answered my inquiry (Leigh) wrote that since they get a lot of requests like mine, they are offering the new fabric selections in sizes for kids and bigger people too. But no more cool retro dots. *sigh*

Today's cookin' with C6:

At breakfast time we made Strawberry/Banana/OJ smoothies (with waffles and yogurt)
For lunch, we made ham & cheese croissants. (We used refrigerated crescent roll dough.)
Also on the lunch menu were edamame beans, cucumbers and carrots.
Dinner time, we prepared slices of kielbasa on teeny tiny pumpernickel bread with mustard. We served'em with mashed potatoes and peas.

We like to watch "Cooking With Luis" on Noggin. We haven't tried any of his recipes yet, but C6 gets inspired to get into the kitchen after we watch. I like how Luis says "this is the best evah" kinda deadpan. D'ya think someone told him that should be his catch phrase? Other popular Luis phrases: "it doesn't get any better than this", "it's that easy", "good food, good fwends". We luv Luis!

C6 latest fave music, First Quarter 2008 style

2008-03-12T11:21:00.001-03:00

Here are a few of C6's latest loves...

As you know, C6 is in LOVE with Tracy Bonham's "Something Beautiful". IN LOVE!

For awhile now he's been really obsessed with the Killers' version of Joy Division's "Shadowplay". I hear him singing the high "hoo hooo hoo" part at night in his bed.

Another fave that C6 sings out at bedtime is Tokyo Police Club's "Your English is Good". We listen to this one quite a bit while out motoring!

He's recently gotten into Spoon's "Don't You Evah". (My latest favoritest bassline, too...it follows me around in my head all day and that is a good thing!)

A longtime fave is Flogging Molly's "Selfish Man". He goes totally nutty! (...um, also? I do too.)

And C6 digs Feist's "My Moon My Man". He is also partial to Feist's "1-2-3-4", but the video for "Moon" has a moving sidewalk, so, obviously, it wins! (Not to say the choreography in "1-2-3-4" isn't as breathtaking!)

C6's green guy

2008-03-11T17:27:00.000-03:00

Here is a drawing C6 made back in October. It is "a guy". I am particularly fond of this guy. I just like him an awful lot. That's all!

C6 Luvs Tracy Bonham!

2008-03-05T00:21:00.003-04:00

C6 is in luuuuuuuv! He is totally smitten with Tracy Bonham and her song "Something Beautiful". And who can blame him? Both are lovely, lovely, lovely. We listened to the song about 28 times in the car yesterday alone! He is always very quiet and pensive while listening to this song, sometimes humming along very very softly...

Yesterday we were playing and C6 turned to me all wide eyed, and said, out of the blue, "Mum! I know! I think we should invite Tracy Bonham over for PANCAKES!"

I think it is a good idea.

Rock-n-Romp Boston a SMASHING SUCCESS!

2008-02-25T10:00:00.017-04:00

Yesterday's first ever Boston ROCK-N-ROMP was fab! Great turnout, bands, guest authors, activities, fun! Well done, Kerry & Carl!

It was so nice to hang with friends I hadn't seen in quite awhile. A lot of conversations were of the minute-and-a-half variety - (oops, gutta reel in the kiddo before he unplugs all the band's pedals and tuners...be right back...etc.) I liked seeing all the next generation rockers out there. I don't think I saw one kid who wasn't having a good time. It was cute to see the teeny tiny babies rockin' out too.

We enjoyed the music of Wonderful Spells and Bon Savants (though we ran out of steam after a few hours of rockin' and rompin' and had to leave halfway through the Bon's set). Jarrett J. Krosoczka, the author of Punk Farm, (one our fave books!) was there and gave a great, energetic reading - everyone was involved! It was extremely punkrock, if you can believe it. Neal Pollack, author of Alternadad, did some mighty fine reading as well - this was more for the adults, but since some of his subject matter was about POOP the kids dug it, too. POOP! I loved when Neal asked the kids what their favorite bands were. I wish we had been up front for that part - C6 and I would like to meet the kid whose favorite band is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs!!! If you haven't yet read Punk Farm and/or Alternadad, I implore you to do so!

I got to thinkin' that the Rock-n-Romp wasn't so different from rock-n-roll days of yesteryear, spent chasing inebriated band members around the club, wondering if they were going to break something, have a rumble or get into some other kind of trouble...or end up covered in bodily fluids! HAHRHAHR. Ah, the good old days. (I'm exaggerating. None of my former bandmates were really THAT bad...were they?)

C6 was dancing up a storm in the area to the left of the stage at Great Scott. The dance floor in front of the stage was pretty packed, and C6 requires room to roam! I had to switch the videocam to "night vision" to film this, that's why it looks a little strange. Here's C6 dancing in the darkness to the tunes of Wonderful Spells. They were wonderful!

We can't wait to go back to Rocknromp - word is, the next one's in April - see you there!

The squeaky wheel gets the rock! Hurrah!

Scurvyann,
over-n-out
xo

Scavenger Hunt and PEPPA PIG!

2008-02-20T16:53:00.007-04:00

Lately, C6 and I have been WAY into SCAVENGER HUNTS. I will make a bunch of notes leading one to another, going all around the house, up and down, and back again. I read the notes with C6, showing him the words. Sometimes I draw pictures on them too. The first scavenger hunt we did was on his birthday and there was a present at each spot - (whoops, big mistake!) There weren't too many stops on that scavenger hunt. Nevertheless, nevermore! Now there's merely one prize at the very end of the hunt, and it is something small, like a little notepad, etc.

That being said, today's scavenger hunt's prize is kind of big. It was something I was going to give C6 anyway - so why not make it into a GAME? The prize is a DVD of PEPPA PIG! We've only seen tiny shorts of this fun little Brit cartoon on Noggin (or Nick Jr.?), between shows. It is a truly adorable cartoon about Peppa Pig and her piggy family. It cracks me up that every 3 sentences or so, whichever pig is speaking just lets out an oinky snorty pig noise. HAHRHR! It is simply drawn and we luv it. Here's a little promo for Peppa Pig!

...and here is a fun Peppa Pig game that C6 is diggin'.

SNORT!

ADDENDUM: C6 likes to make "Scabenger Hunts" for me, too. He writes down some letters on different colored papers and puts them throughout the house. We go from one to the next...I ask him to read the clues to me. C6 is getting quite good at writing his letters and some numbers! Scabenger Hunts rule, O.K.!

Here Come The 123s even better than Here Come The ABCs!

2008-02-08T11:07:00.000-04:00

Ah, thank you, thank you They Might Be GIants! (Or "John and John" as we call them here in our house.) We've been cooped up for days and days with a nasty cold/flu thing. When "Here Come The 123s" arrived in our mailbox a couple of days ago I couldn't have been more excited! (We've been WAITING!) We popped in the DVD and enjoyed the heck out of it. Our favorite song at the moment is "Figure 8". It's a rocker. And it has a zamboni in it! The song itself reminds me a little of a pepped up version of "So You Wanna Be a Rocknroll Star". We watched the video 11 times in a row yesterday. We love it! C6's next favorite is "Nine Bowls of Soup" and then "One Dozen Monkeys". The animations are all very fun and cool, and of course the "John and John" puppets are hilarious. (I like when John F. puppet does the "Can you hear me now?" Verizon guy thing - he DOES look just like him!) Anyway, just a quick little blurb for today - now it is back to my sickipoo little boy. Do pick up "Here Come The 123s" and enjoy enjoy enjoy!

Scurvyann over-n-out6t7n5t65bntt6tyrttggggggggggggT(C6 is 'helping' me now).

ADDENDUM: Listen to tracks from "Here Come The 123s" here.

Rock N Romp Boston update

2008-02-05T13:17:00.000-04:00

The Rock-n-Romp show mentioned here is now on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24th at 3:00. Same place! Seeyas!

Rock n Romp Boston is HERE!!!

2008-01-30T20:53:00.000-04:00

This just in...Rock-n-Romp is starting up in Boston in just a couple of weeks! What's Rock-n-Romp? Basically, a daytime rockshow for parents and their kids - with music that isn't "kids music" per se, but is kid-friendly. Read here for my previous blabbin'.

I recieved this very megasuperwickedultra important missive from Kerry, Boston Rock-n-Romp host:

Hey Linda,

Kerry Lavin here. If you haven't heard RnR is officially scheduled (finally). Its on 2/23 at 3:30 at Great Scott. Founder Debbie Lee is bringing Neal Pollack (Alternadad) along for a mini tour. The bands will be Wonderful Spells and Bon Savants. It will rock (and romp)

Thought you should be the first to know. I've just started a myspace page.

Spread the word! Hope to see you guys there!

hugs

Kerry

Kerry will be co-hosting with her husband Carl Lavin, who books for Great Scott and O'Brien's.

Dudes. I'm STOKED! I haven't been able to get C6 a convincing enough fake ID to smuggle him into rock shows, so this is just what we need. Lookin' forward to sippin' a frosty one while C6 hits the pit. See you at Great Scott on Feb 23rd. At 3:30. That's PM!!! The Squeaky Wheel gets the rock.

(UPDATE: The show is now Sunday, Feb 24th at 3:00 - same place!)

(Previous gushing 'bout Neal Pollack can be found here and here. Thazzit!)

uuɐʎʌɹnɔs

2008-01-28T21:16:00.002-04:00

¡¡¡ɥɹɥɥɹɥɐɥ ˙pɐǝɥ ʎɯ uo ƃuıpuɐʇs ɯ,ı

ADDENDUMMMMM:
For those of you wondering how I did this amazing trick...it took hours of sweating over hot code. Actually that isn't true at all. Simply go here - 'tis easy as PIE! ¡¡¡oooɥ oooʍ

C6 Storms Stage at Paradise, film at 11:00...

2008-01-20T23:39:00.000-04:00

Here's a little video of C6 dancing around onstage at Orbit soundcheck a couple of weeks ago. He just walked up onto the stage and started boppin' around. (First rule of stagecrashing: act like you're SUPPOSED to be there.) The song is "Nice Ride", and I always thought of it as one of our more chill-out kinds of songs, but C6 connects to the intricate beat. He feels it, man. Here you will see young Arlo Robbins playing the part of The Bouncer! C6 was actually wearing his all access pass so it was all good in the end.

PS: a special shoutout to my pal CousCous for remarking last night that he was surprised there wasn't any video of C6 on this here blog... thus prompting me to finally figure out how to get the dang moving pictures out of that confounded motion picture camera and onto m'dang computing machine and onto the world wide internet. TA DAAA!

Scurvyann luvs Dan Yaccarino!

2008-01-07T10:22:00.000-04:00

I've already confessed my luv for Oswald, created by the ubertalented Dan Yaccarino. I was curious as to what Mr. Yaccarino was up to these days so I visited his website where I discovered his latest book Every Friday. I bought it for C6 and it immediately became his (and C5 and my!) new favorite read. Not only is it a really cool little story, it is beautifully illustrated. Retro-ish, daddio. (And the dad looks just like C5, but with darker hair!)

The story is about a Dad who takes his son out to a diner every Friday. As they walk along, they observe all that's going on in their city neighborhood, taking their time and enjoying each moment. It is their special time together, just the two. At the diner, they talk about "all sorts of things". At the beginning of the book is a note from the author explaining how he and his son have breakfast every Friday at the corner diner. Dan writes "I hope that you, too, will start a little tradition like ours."

And guess what? C5 and C6 just started the tradition too! Hurrah for pancakes!

As Oswald's pal Daisy says, "Keen-o Yaccarino!"

C6 and Motorhead

2008-01-03T01:27:00.000-04:00

C6 rockin his Power Tour Guitar!

Uncle JohnBean gave C6 this awesome rock guitar which allows one to play along with some rock-n-roll faves. C6 runs around with his guitar playing Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" - full-on rockin' out. (That is the ONLY song he will play on it. Over and over and...)

That's m'boy.

The shot of C6 above shows him 'soundchecking' with his guitar at the Paradise this past weekend. It was a great couple of nights! More rocktalk later - so very very tiredzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rumbly!

2007-12-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

I just plugged in to rehearse a little for the Orbit shows. I cranked up the fuzz and started playing the part to "Machines". After 3 seconds, 2 framed photos that were hanging on our wall fell to the floor.

HAhrhHR!!

another Orbit show...

2007-12-21T09:06:00.001-04:00

Orbit will be playing part of the TT's Jeanne benefit series, Thursday December 27th. As of this writing, there are still some tix left for the official reunion shows at the Paradise on Saturday - Friday's sold out.

At TTs tonight (December 21st) - I'll be playing with Ad, Ned, and Caitlin as "Joe Jackson't" or "Pretty Women Out Walking With Gorillas". Come on down and hear me doing my best attempt at being Graham Maby. MABY I'll remember all my parts! HAHRHARHHARHRHHrhhhrhr!!!!

The Sweet Smell of Christmas

2007-12-19T21:30:00.000-04:00

The Sweet Smell of Christmas, by Patricia Scarry, illustrated by J. P. Miller.

Dudes. This was my FAVORITE Christmas book as a little'un. It is a scratch and sniff story about a little bear and his mom and pop at Christmastime, and all the great Christmas-y smells they encounter. I LOVED this book so much, the scratch and sniff labels were pretty much scratched all the way off.

Last Christmas I couldn't believe my eyes when I found it in a bookshop - I was so excited! I had been looking for it but I couldn't remember the title. ANyway, there it was! I snagged a copy for my li'l brother, because he loved it as much as I did.

C6 is loving it too. I think I may need to buy another copy because the scents aren't all that strong even though we are scratching the HECK out of those little stickers.

C6 has inherited my love for the combination of chocolate and orange. First, we scratch and sniff the hot cocoa, then quickly scratch and sniff the christmas orange.

Then we eat some Pepperidge Farm Orange Milanos.

Awwww yeaaaahhhhhh.

PS: Santa, if you're reading, I've been Extremely Very Good this year and if it isn't too much trouble, could you please leave a Chocolate Orange in my stocking? Cheers!

Scurvyann luvs Stiff Little Fingers! (um...I mean, the band)

2007-12-17T21:11:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back, I saw Stiff Little Fingers at the Paradise. (A shoutout to me ol' Frigate mateys who guestlisted me: THANKS Darr Of The East and Jolly Roger!) Before the show there was a little shindig with SLF next door at T's pub that Darr had put together. I would call it a meet-n-greet but I really really dislike that phrase, so I won't call it that. Nope. I won't.

Every time SLF comes to town, a bunch of folks from the statehouse brings'em around and shows them a good time, y'know, playing tourguide. Here's a little article about one of the last times they came around. My pal Darr was part of the contingent.

In the pic above, that's me with Jake Burns and Steve Grantley. Steve's the drummer these days, and he regaled us with an amusing story about auditioning for the Clash and completely stinkin' up the place. The guy was a laff riot!

Wotta show! I was having so much FUN! Which is exACTly what I like to have. The guitar line in "Roots, Radicals, Rockers & Reggae" is one of my all time faves and boy, was I hollerin' along.

A bit into the show, I decided to strike out on my own, away from my pack of revelers. I ventured across the club to get a better look at bass player Ali McMordie - he's the original bassist. The last few times I've seen SLF, Bruce Foxton was on duty. And you know how I feel about him! Anyhoo, along the way across, SOMEHOW I managed to be on the outskirts of a skirmish and I got knocked to the floor. To my credit, I did not drop or spill my beer! TALENT. Unfortunately, my arsebone hurt like The Dickens for a few days. By the by, Ali was spectacularRrrR! Well worth the price of a blacknblue'd keister...and much much more!

Over the past few months I've seen some of my most favoritestest bands - Dropkick Murphys, Bad Religion and SLF. Heaps of inspiration - a good boot in the butt...(or, as it were, a floor on the butt...)

Scurvyann, over-n-out!
xoxo

ps: my bumpus on the rumpus is all better now, in case you were worrying. You worry too much! Stop it!

psssss: bumpus on the rumpus made me think of "dumpus all encompass".

Orbit Reunion Shows at The Paradise, Boston

2007-12-01T15:35:00.001-04:00

I'm gonna be rockin' a lot this month!

First: December 8th - Ad Frank & The Fast Easy Women! At Great Scott, Allston, MA. Apparently, it is a GLAMSTRAVAGANZA! Who knew? Also on the bill are Me & Joan Collins, Logan 5 & the Runners and more.

Then: December 21st - I'm in a mysterious yet-to-be-named, one-time-only cover band...we'll call us "Pretty Women Out Walking With Gorillas" for now! (hint, hint) A benefit show for Jeanne at TT the Bears, Cambridge, MA. Wonderful lineup tonight, take a look.

And Finally: December 28th and 29th - Orbit Reunion Shows! At The Paradise, Boston, MA. Also on the bill, The Sheila Divine who are also reuniting. Party like it's 1999!

Ummm...I'd better get to rehearsin' all this, yaTHINK?!

Charlie and Lola!

2007-11-27T22:07:00.000-04:00

Hi all. I'm back! Between my phoneline having a "service blackout" or somesuch krayp and my powerbook being in the shop for weeks, I've been kinda OFF THE GRID.

But now here I am for a quick howdy and to tell you all that C6 and I are in LOVE with Charlie and Lola. It is a really cool British cartoon that is on the Disney channel. I looooove the way it looks. It is really photomontage-y and texture-y, scribbly, with lots of fabric patterns. I've seen little bits of it before in passing - it caught my eye. But we never really hunkered down with an episode until recently and we are both hooked.

Each episode begins with Charlie, a 7-year old boy, saying "I have this little sister Lola. She is small. .. and very funny." Lola is 4, and Charlie's right - she's very funny.

Just a quick look on Youtube - ah, here's an episode titled "There is Only One Sun and That is ME". Take a look - Part 1 and Part 2.

The titles of some of the episodes we've watched are hilarious – witness: "I'm Really Ever So Not Well", "I Do Not Ever, Never Want My Wobbly Tooth to Fall Out", "I Must Take Completely Everything", and ''I'm Far Too Extremely Busy". This is the way Lola speaks, and I'm totally charmed, akin to how I'm charmed by Eloise's pattern of speech.

I love that Lola has an imaginary friend named Soren Lorenson. I love the pissacool style of it all, the music, the clothes they wear, the conversations...well worth a viewing!

And. I think Charlie looks a bit like John Vanderslice, don't you?

(John Vanderslice photo by by Autumn de Wilde.)

Yo Ho Ho!

2007-11-02T15:19:00.000-03:00

Shiver me timbers!

MESSY DAY(S)...the Airplane

2007-10-26T15:40:00.000-03:00

For a while now C6 has been wicked into "awts an cwafts". One day, over a month ago, I took out a big cardboard box and we decided it was an AIRPLANE. Since then, almost every day we draw on it with crayons, paint on it, put stickers on, glue pompoms on, glue beads on, glue cotton balls on, then paint OVER the stuff we glued on...add more layers of stickers...glue on toilet paper rolls...paint them...etc. We cut out pictures of food from magazines for the "airplane food"...drew dials, on off buttons...etc...there's an ignition switch where he can put a key in. There's also a place for him to plug in his headphones.

He loOooOooves hangin' out in his airplane.

It is awesome.

Ivy - Edge of the Ocean

2007-10-12T17:32:00.000-03:00

A couple of years ago the song "Edge of the Ocean" by Ivy was on constant play in my head. I'd almost forgotten about it! Oh no!!! But it popped back into my head today and I'd like to share it with yez. Isn't it beautiful? I hadn't seen the video before today but it is quite fitting I think. Love it all.

Freezepop: Less Talk, More Rokk

2007-10-12T15:13:00.000-03:00

Love! Them!

Freezepop.com

Salteens, Mark Mothersbaugh and a theremin on Yo Gabba Gabba

2007-10-09T10:18:00.000-03:00

C6 has TOTALLY warmed up to Yo Gabba Gabba. (His very first time acknowledging it in a positive way mentioned here.) Well, we can't get past one particular episode that we DVRd (because he wants to watch it over and over...his modus operandi). In it, the Salteens perform an extraordinary song that WILL make you happy. It'll chase the grumpies away! I can pretty much guarantee it.

Hey! Did you know that Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer do some of the animations on Yo Gabba Gabba? Pissa!

We both really enjoy watching the Draw-with-Mark-Mothersbaugh part of the show. Of course you remember Mark from Devo! ("Real Devo" as C6 calls them, vs. "Kid Devo", which is Devo 2.0) Mark is so much fun - C6 loves his glasses!

In the Salteens episode, a guy named SoCo (on the rocks?) demonstrates a theremin. C6 LOVES this part, too. I love theremins! Some of you that were at my birthday party at the Kirkland many, many moons ago (the one where I smashed a pinata with my bass!) may remember that I guest-played the theremin with friends Curious Ritual. I hardly even used my hands!!!! HAhrhHArh!!! (use your imagination.)

When I played in Orbit, guitarist Fred played a theremin on the song "I Wanna Make You" It was always a real crowd pleaser! Here's the video for "I wanna Make You" (the video is pre-Fred and Linda.)

Scurvyann, over-n-out!

PS: Girls's Gone Child has a nice little somethin' bout Yo Gabba Gabba tunes right here.

Scarce

2007-10-08T09:11:00.000-03:00

I can't believe I missed their reunion show Saturday night. Crap.
I love them. Don't you?

There's a nice bit of stuff on Scarce here at Speed Of Dark.

...and here's an article on Scarce from The Boston Phoenix.

...and a great review of the show here at Pocket Full of Chump Change.

Another delightful chicken dish

2007-10-07T21:31:00.000-03:00

I was looking for a recipe for something delicious, interesting, and healthy that the three of us would all enjoy. I found this Chicken and Basil Stir Fry recipe and it fit the bill.

I made a couple of changes to the recipe. I didn't use Thai basil, regular ol' basil worked just FINE. And I didn't use as much garlic as the recipe called for - I only used 2 cloves. I used red, yellow, and green bell peppers to make it all purty-like. I served this over brown rice (or "tan rice" as C6 called it)...and THEY ATE IT! MmMmMmmMmm - it was gooooOOooOOood. Next time I will double the amount of liquids to make more sauce - cuz it'd be nice to have more flavor on the rice, knowwhatimean?

Delightful, I say!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

2007-10-07T08:20:00.000-03:00

It has been awhile. But I think it is peanut butter jelly time RIGHT NOW, don't you?

Now sing with me:
peanutbutterjelly!
peanutbutterjelly!
peanutbutterjellywithabaseballbat!!!

If you aren't familiar with this particular piece of art, you can read up on its history here.

My other favorite silly old web thingies are Badgers! and, of course, The Hampster Dance.

Love,
Scurvyann

PS: Yikes!!!! I almost forgot Spiderman Has Made You Gay!!!

Pick it up!

2007-10-06T02:08:00.001-03:00

C6 FINALLY allowed himself to watch a little bit of Yo Gabba Gabba last week at Grandma & Grandpa's. (He hadn't been into it at all.) I was psyched, because *I* finally got to see it, too! On the episode we watched, Tony Hawk skateboarded! And we watched this WICKED cool animation for a really fun song called "Pick it Up!" - performed by GOGO13. We both LOVED it.

Pickituppickituppickitup!

It has a real 2-Tone -ska style feel to it - both sonically and visually. The footprints/dance diagram, the mod bullseye, checkerboard patterns...how the dad's shoes are like the 2-tone logo guy...I have a dress very similar to the little girl's and I feel like breakin' it out an' SKANKIN' right NOW!*

Pickituppickituppickitup!

*while pickin' up the house...

What's Your Themesong?

2007-10-05T09:05:00.000-03:00

Sweetney posed the question "what is your themesong?"
Since high school, mine has been the song "Green Onions" performed by Booker T & the MGs. Well alrigheeeeeet! So do you have a themesong?

Goodbye, Freeman Frank.

2007-10-03T15:22:00.000-03:00

My friend Freeman Frank (Ad's dad) passed away early Wednesday morning. He was a real gem - something special. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Goodbye, Freeman Frank. We miss you.

(Photo is from early 90's - Miles Dethmuffen.
That's me holding a really cool photo of Freeman.)

Ad Frank and the Fast Easy Women

2007-10-02T22:37:00.000-03:00

Last Thursday was the much-anticipated Ad Frank/Freezepop rawkinroll show at the Middle East. I love rockin' the downstairs stage at the Middle East, I do. I am going to toot my own horn here: I did pretty well for someone who still limps and kinda hurts and doesn't really have her balance back yet. (The bum leg situation explained somewhere in this post if you need catchin' up.) I almost fell over a couple times but nothing too extreme. I managed to stomp on my instrument cable and disconnect it from my tuner. But that's not cuz of anything medical...I just get a little stompy sometimes. Can't hep m'sef!

Did you miss the show? Pity. It was amazing. And we looked fabulous. Witness:

All of these rather splendid photographs were taken by Rick Webb. Take a looky at his stuff - he took tons of great shots of Freezepop too. Now I wanna get me a fancyass camera!!! (I'm savin' my pennies...)

Up on Mars

2007-09-28T16:25:00.000-03:00

A couple of years ago, I was in a delightful band called Well, and we did a combination rock & 'lectronic kind of music. It was really fun!

Part of our act was a videoshow projected behind us, which was synced up to beats and keyboard tracks. All that stuff was masterminded by Jeff Robbins, (with whom I played in Orbit, as well.) He sang and played guitar as well as creating all the backing tracks and most of the other videos. We did have a REAL drummer (Hahha - I almost called him a "brick and mortar" drummer!) named Robert Brazier. He's a gadabout!

Though we had lots of stuff going on with the tracks and the visuals, we were pretty much a kickass rock trio. (As evidenced on one of our first shows when there were technical difficulties with the backing tracks and we had to go without! Rocked.)

I made an animation for our song Up On Mars, one of our mellower tunes. Originally created to be projected behind us for the show, there are a few sections that seem a little slow watching it here without the band playing in front of it! Enjoy my awesome handiwork! HAHrhAHRHA!!!

Love,
Scurvyann

ps: do you recognize that astronaut chick in the video? HINT: It's me!

Time to make a plan which...involves a SANDWICH!

2007-09-26T09:02:00.001-03:00

C6 is into eating sandwiches these days. (You may remember that he did not like them...even though he really did.) Then he decided that he DID like sandwiches and we got into making them together. We remembered the episode of the Upside Down Show where Shane and David learned how to make sandwiches by watching a kid demonstrate the process. They gave their play-by-play description. "... and for the crowning glory ... a piece of green, green lettuce, ... the ubiquitous pat-down ... and we have total sandwich." C6 remembered, and we always do the ubiquitous pat-down.

So anyhoo, I got an email from a musician named Ira Marlowe who does kids music. He's got a CD out called The Teasing Bird. What does this have to do with Sandwiches? Plenty! One of the songs on the CD is called SANDWICH and it is funny and cute and will stick in your head. In a good way. Here's the quirky little video for it. C6 can't get enough of it - it is his favorite video now. We watch it a LOT. And I mean...a LOT.

Watch for appearances by Paul McCartney, Ace Frehley, Pete Townshend, in bread form, and Elton John as Cheese!

I like the little conversations between the rasta bread dudes and the "May-o!" part...

Visit Ira's site Brainy Tunes for more info, games (there's a SANDWICH game!), songs, and videos.

Scurvyann luvs Ayun Halliday!

2007-09-24T17:34:00.000-03:00

Have you read anything by the hilarious Ayun Halliday ? If you read BUST magazine, you've encountered her Mother Superior column.

She's living in New York, raising 2 cute kiddos (Inky and Milo) with her husband (Greg). She writes about mom things ... the kiddos ... life ... and traveling all over the place...Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia...with the kids!

(Psssst! Ayun Halliday is my hero!)

Ayun publishes her 'zine The East Village Inky quarterly, and I recently became a subscriber - I implore you to follow my lead here. * Not only is this little maggy JAM PACKED with adorable little cartoon illustrations and hand-letttered stories, but it is made in a really handy size - perfect to slip in your bag for emergency fun reading material. Doesn't take up much room, but will keep you entertained for a long time - it is really dense! (I mean...lotsa stuff in there!) If your vision ain't what it used to be, you may need to utilize a magnifying glass. Cuz...you won't want to miss a thing. My first issue (#35) was about the Balkan-y trip. I especially liked Ayun's description of the kitchens in some of the apartments in which they stayed. It's just a fun read, babes.

What can I tellya? I'm a gush-er.

One of Ayun's Mother Superior columns in particular struck a chord with me. It was about how she's not so great at securing a babysitter. I totally, totally relate to that! Other than begging family members and trying not to wear out the one sitter that I can get to come, I'm not so successful.

I popped onto Ayun's message board and left a little luv, and she wrote me a sweet email. (She called me a "Daymaker"! I loved that. Daymaker! Who knew?) Anyhoo, I told her how much I liked the babysitting article but couldn't find it online - and she graciously agreed to send it along. I know there are plenty of others out there who would luv to read and/or re-read this piece...and so, with permission from Ayun herself, here it is. Enjoy!

MOTHER SUPERIOR
November 2006
“Babysitter”
By Ayun Halliday ©2006.
Originally published in BUST magazine. Used with permission of the author.

It seems that engaging babysitters is just one of those activities that I’m insufficiently adult to handle in any responsible way. Like cleaning the bathroom or paying bills, the prospect of conjuring someone to keep the children alive and occupied while Greg and I spend close to a hundred bucks on burritos and a movie fills me with boredom, resentment and dread. Other mothers hit the phones, checking references and setting up face-to-face interviews with candidates who pass muster. I take a far less organized approach, sheepishly attempting to poach last-minute coverage from the fresh-faced counterpersons manning whatever café I happen to find myself in the day before an event I’ve known about for weeks. I figure they’re already working for peanuts, perhaps they’d like to earn some more before their own fabulous, childless evening out.

Clearly, I’m clinging to memories of how things were done in the Old World. On those rare occasions when my grandmother was unavailable for duty, Mom would pay an eighth-grade girl 50cents an hour to keep watch over her precious only child. I used to love fooling with their hair while they confided their crushes and boyfriend troubles. Then, after I proved my maturity by ditching one of them with neither house keys nor emergency phone numbers and successfully hitching a ride to the vet’s with the young man whose automobile had delivered a glancing blow to the family dog, I entered the teen babysitting racket myself. In several years of active duty, I’ll bet I amassed close to three hundred dollars, as well as a near-theological reverence for certain passages in The Joy of Sex, a surprisingly common household item that most couples seemed to store in a concealed location in the master bedroom. I also ate an entire package of edible chocolate liqueur cups found in the recesses of a dining room cabinet.

In light of my early work experience, it hardly seems equitable that I could take a less-than-charitable view of a young lady who somehow managed to switch our computer’s outgoing email identity from our names to hers. I had to call her up and ask her if she knew anything about computers because there’d be hell to pay if I didn’t figure out how to restore it to its original configuration before Daddy, I mean Greg, found out. It wasn’t transgression enough to discontinue our professional relationship – beggars can’t be choosers – but the next time I found myself in the position to require her services, Inky balked, complaining, “She never plays with us! All she does is sit in front of the computer!”

Shoot, that’s what I do, and ain’t nobody paying me $11 an hour for the privilege! I was hardly the world’s best babysitter, but even I knew to save that sort of extracurricular shit until after the children were safely stowed away for the night, particularly if they were old enough to squeal. I put a great deal of stock in Li’l Snitchy’s reports. Given my policy of suspending house rules regarding television, bedtime and dessert on babysitting nights, it’s usually a rave review, but individuals with a zest for arts & crafts and/or a willingness to receive makeovers receive an approval rating bordering on the pathological, even those who only worked for us once before moving out of state. Seems like the good ones are always getting away, lost to graduate school, real jobs, or babies of their own. This wouldn’t be such a problem if I kicked it old skool with an eighth grader, but the few whom I know are booked to the tits with internships and volunteer work, anything to get a leg up on getting into the college of their choice some time in the distant future.

There’s no shortage of career nannies in this neighborhood, but frankly, I shrivel like a spider on a hot skillet at the thought of any church-going, Caribbean woman who’s old enough to be my mother getting a peek at the state of my kitchen, let alone the contents of my nightstand.

Given the infrequency of the assignment, all I really need is someone who can keep a cool head in an emergency whilst refraining from the sort of extreme antics one wouldn’t want captured by the miniature camera implanted in a teddy bear’s head. Ideally, I’m not married to this person, though more often than not, I am, as is Greg. Separate dates! They’re the poor man’s separate vacations, and perhaps that’s not a bad thing in a household where the sitter is permitted to entertain callers of the opposite sex after the children have been put to bed for the night.

***

In addition to all the above mentioned swellness, Ayun's written a few books (on travel, motherhood, food, and her experiences in crappy jobs) - all of which are available here.

...and don't forget to check out Ayun's food blog Dirty Sugar Cookies!

(Psssst...did I mention that Ayun Halliday is my hero?)

***

Speakin' of New York-ish things, C6 is really into "New York City" lately - he is obsessed with the idea of riding on the New York Subway. Saturday evening we were at a get-together with some friends we hadn't seen in years. They're New Yorkers, and C6 made fast friends with 9-year old Amelia. She was such a good sport - she played "New York Subway" with him all evening, sitting down on the couch and waiting ... then getting up on the "train", zooming into another room...waiting for the doors to open ... sliding a subway pass (he was carrying his real MBTA subway pass with him of course) ... and finding the elevator. Seems to me it is time to plan a REAL trip to NYC with C6 in the not-too-distant future. Naturally, he'll expect the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to hang out with us ... If Ayun can tote 2 kids and a husband roun' the Balkan regions, mebbe I can tote 1 shortie and a husband to the Big City!

***

*While you are in a subscribing mood, why not pop over to BUST magazine and pick up a subscription there, too. 'Nnkay?

A quick one...

2007-09-22T16:18:00.000-03:00

Me: (driving past the back of my old elementary school, on a detour) Whoah! That's the back of my old elementary school! When I was a little girl, I played kickball RIGHT! THERE! MASSIVE FLASHBACK!

C6: Mummio! Whatsa massive flapjack?

Me: Massive flapjack - whoah! HAHRHH!!! That is awesome! Well - I said "Massive Flashback" because I was remembering being in the playground playing kickball. That's a flashback. And massive means biiiiiiiiig. But I like what you said - "Massive Flapjack"!!! Like a BIG PANCAKE!

C6: Mummio! I wanna make you some REALLY REALLY BIG PANCAKES!!! Massive FLAPJACKS!

Me: Well all riiiiigheeeeeeet!!! MASSIVE FLAPJACKS!

C6: MASSIVE FLAPJACKS!!!

etc...

Blue Man Preschool!!!

2007-09-21T14:53:00.000-03:00

<--- Photo by Ken Howard © BMP

Here's a quick link from Daddytypes -
did you know that the founders of Blue Man Group recently opened a preschool? Read on!

Hmmm. Interessssting!

A few years ago, my pal Robin and I attended a Blue Man show. Robin was plucked from the Blue Man Group audience to be the lovely lady who feasted on Twinkies with the Blue Men. I found the scene on YouTube, (but that's not Robin). It was really hilarious - the audience LOVED Robin and the Blue Men were pretty sweet on her too! Who wouldn't be?

link to The Blue School website
link to The Blue Man Group website

How did I miss it?

2007-09-20T17:19:00.000-03:00

How did I miss Talk Like A Pirate Day?

ARRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrRRRRgh.

We're going to celebrate today. Here's a link to Zooglobble's Pirate Day entry - let's celebrate a belated Pirate Day and watch Captain Bogg and Salty's Pieces of 8ight!

...cuz we love the Cap'n...and Salty too!

An easy chicken recipe we love

2007-09-20T16:21:00.000-03:00

Here is a chicken dish that sees a lot of table time here at our house. C5 and C6 LOVE'em! I call'em "herby chicken parm tenders", but the official recipe is called "Parmigiano and Herb Chicken Breast Tenders" - from the Food Network show 30 Minute Meals. I don't always use all the fresh herbs but I always make sure to include fresh rosemary - I think the rosemary makes this dish. I've made the sauce to accompany the chicken too, and though it is quite nice, often, we opt for a nice jar of Prego. (Don't mock me.) Add some pasta and salad...and don't forget the GARLIC BREAD...and a nice glass of Valpolicella for mummio and daddio...and Mmmmm, mmmmm. Mangia mangia!

They're good cold, too. I packed some up (without the sauce) for our last long car trip. We dipped'em in applesauce! It was "road food" and C6 was a real road warrior! This past roadtrip, we even managed to eat carrots and some yogurt too - a real success in the healthy eatin' on the road department - not always the case!

(Aside: "Prego" was one of my terms for pregnant back in the old days - "BC6" - Before C6.)

Rockness For YOU

2007-09-17T14:04:00.000-03:00

Hey there! Come to my show. It'll be great! Really! REALLY great! Ad Frank and The Fast Easy Women, Thursday September 27 at the Middle East (Downstairs), Cambridge, MA. Don't forget. In fact, buy your tickets now, as the show's a gonna sell out!

The art from this flier is from an old advertisement for Orange Crush - I thought it was suitable even before I realized that the kids pictured matched up quite nicely with each band member. We look just like'em! (click on the pic for larger image.) And this is exactly what our rehearsals look like. Orange Crush, bowl o'snax, banjos, LPs on the hifi! Yowza yowza yowza!

C6, Rocknroll kid.

2007-09-13T13:23:00.000-03:00

Good Mornin!

Guess what?

C6 went to his first BAND REHEARSAL last night!

More on that in a bit - first, I must tell you that we (Ad Frank and The Fast Easy Women) have a show coming up THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th AT THE MIDDLE EAST, CAMBRIDGE, MA! Did I mention the show is THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th AT THE MIDDLE EAST, CAMBRIDGE, MA??? Did I? And it is with Freezepop, whom I adore. (Get your tix early - it'll sell out for sure.)

ANNNNyway, with my recent medical issues and other band members busy schedules, we hadn't had too much in the way of full band rehearsals over the summertime. So the few rehearsals we do have scheduled are really important.

Late in the afternoon yesterday, C5's project at work went into overdrive and he had to work late. On rehearsal nights, I need to leave the house a little before 7:oo. He wouldn't be home by then and didn't know how late he would be. The rehearsal had to be 7:30 to 8:30 as other band members had commitments right after rehearsal, so delaying our start time wasn't an option. And C5 didn't know exactly how late he would be. Ugh! I scrambled to see about getting someone to sit with C6 but was AMAZINGLY UNSUCCESSFUL. I thought that I would have to bail on going to rehearsal. Then I thought- heyyyyy, why not try to bring C6 along? He likes the rock. He likes the roll. Maybe it'll work.

...and maybe monkeys'll fly outta my butt!

All the livelong day C6 had disagreed with EVERYTHING. EVerything! Every. Thing. Screamingly so. He even objected, tearfully, to my choice of shirt. ("NOOOO! NOT THE RED SHIRT!!!!!!") Now, I know I'm no fashionplate, but gimme a break, kid! He was in rare form, and so was I. By the afternoon, I was looking forward to the end-of-the-day C6 handoff to C5. I was looking forward to my big night out - rehearsal! (...and maybe even an ice-cold beer!) By the afternoon, I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. I was sore. I was sweaty and gross. C6 was a screaming tornado of rage. I was a puddle of goo in an (apparently ugly) red shirt. How did I expect to have any kind of productive rehearsal???

We picked up my band mate Sarah, who lives nearby, and headed into Cambridge to the rehearsal space. C6 was excited to be out in the evening! And he was a little taken with Sarah and sang her a few songs, including "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Poo".

C6 really enjoyed the rehearsal space - especially the smelly hallway with all the doors! When we got into our rehearsal room, he met all my bandmates and shook hands, just the way his Dad taught him ("look'em right in the eye!") I set him up next to me on the floor with his Sesame Street Water Wow book, a drink and a snack. We put in some earplugs but they didn't stay in very long. I brought some big headphones, which he liked trying on at home, but those didn't stay on either. (I thought they'd muffle some of the volume.)

We started to play and C6 immediately grabbed the guitar pick from my fingers. I gave him a few to play with but he always wanted the one I was USING so I had to go without for most of the rehearsal. Oh, the sacrifices we Moms must make!

He was happy while we played, dancing a little bit, rockin' out, putting the earplugs in a line (making the MBTA Orange Line and Purple Line on the floor), sticking all the guitar picks in the little hollow area of the monitor, playing his egg shaker.

I was pretty much on autopilot, playing with one ear on the music and the other on C6, the majority of my attention on the boy. I kept thinking that C6 would "go off", or unplug something, crunch his snack into the very nice carpet...but he didn't do any of those things. He was excellent! I was very happy about that. My playing wasn't great, but it wasn't atrocious either. Under the circumstances, we both did great. Whew!

...he wants to go again next week and play the gween dwumset. I gave the Classic Mom Answer, "We'll See."

-Scurvyann. Rocknroll Mum, Over-n-out. xoxo

ps: BLAST FROM THE PAST! The photo is C6, age 2 months, sporting his "rock me" onesie, a gift from my pal Limey G.

David Collins of The Upside Down Show!

2007-09-12T17:45:00.001-03:00

Shane Dundas, Li'l Shane, Puppet, Li'l David, David Collins.
(The above photo brazenly swiped from the Umbilical Brothers web site.)

Early this year I wrote a little comment on the Umbilical Brothers messageboard. The Umbilical Brothers are David Collins and Shane Dundas, who are also the talented duo on The Upside Down Show:

Comment: LOVE LOVE LOVE the upside down show! GREAT work. Where can I buy T shirts for my 2 yr old and myself?

How shocked was I to receive an email from an actual Umbilical Brother? (at least I think so...)
Answer: wicked shocked!

On May 13, 2007, at 3:38 AM, David Collins wrote:

you sent this message to our guest book many many moons ago and i am only now getting to it. please excuse my late response.

t-shirts... hmm. to my knowledge there is no merchandise available for the upside down show. not sure why. and i can't tell you when or if any is going to ever be on sale. unfortunately it's not up to us.

i'll let you know the next time we are performing live near you. and if any small garments are made.

until then, be well.

david (the curly headed one)

So of course I had to write back. And of course it took me forever because that's just how it goes:

On 26/08/2007, at 6:24 AM, Linda Pardee wrote:

Dear David,

Thanks so much for writing back to me - that is very kind. And *I* apologize for *my* late response as well!

I am hoping to catch your act if you ever get to the Boston area - I have caught snippets of your live act on Youtube - you guys are just fascinating!

I hope that things are going well for you and Shane. I want you to know that my son and I adore "The Upside Down Show" and I am sorry to learn that there will be no more episodes.

Your show is very important. It is fun for everyone, and I know that isn't easy to pull off. But you did it. I'm very sad that Noggin didn't get it.

I must say...I got a big chuckle out of the episode where a bucket is handed over instead of a bicycle helmet....
"bucket".....
"what diiid you saaay???"
HAHRHARHAH!!!

...and similarly I recall a gag in the icecream episode...shmuzzies ...with the word "truck"...
"what did you call me?????"

Now...I might just have a vivid imagination....or not...but you guys were riffin' on the "F" word, weren't you? C'mon - TELL!!!

Best of luck in all your future work. I know we'll be seeing lots more great stuff from the 2 of you.

Sincerely,
Linda (Scurvyann)

I didn't really expect an answer but lo and behold...the answer to my Very Pressing Question!

Date: September 9, 2007 10:03:31 PM EDT

you know too much linda.

we got into trouble for the 'bucket' line, but eventually convinced them to leave it in. kids are going to have no idea and adults will get a kick out of it.

and had to fight for the 'truck' one as well. i'd forgotten about that one.

you are who we were making the show for it would seem.

david

HAHRrrrHHAHrhhaHR!!! That email made my day.

Oh Upside Down Show...how we will miss you. Please turn your attention to the Umbilical Brothers other offerings. Here is a little UmbiBros sumpthin-sumpthin - you can see the makings/inklings/sparks of the Upside Down Show in their act (...but it is kinda rated PG!)

ENJOY!

Dropkick Murphys Redux And How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2007-09-12T01:08:00.000-03:00

There's a wonderful article in this week's Boston Phoenix on The Dropkick Murphys. (Go ahead and read it...I'll wait!)

It reminded me that I forgot to mention my fantastic experience at their show last month! True to his word, Mr. Ken Casey, Dropkicks bassist extraordinaire, took care of me and C5. As promised - a comfy chair for my poor lame bones. And my Royal Arse was seated onstage. How's THAT for service?

Dropkicks shows are always amazing, but even moreso up close. Those guys are just so passionate about what they do - you can see it from the back row of the biggest venue, but to be right UP THERE is quite a special treat. It was an awesome show, in all respects. Extra credit goes to guitarist Marc Orell for not holding back for even one second - and because we were basically on top of him during the show. From the magnificence of the songs to the sheer strength of the performance to the crowd to everyone being so dannnng NICE to us...it was, as They say, all good.

Hey looky up there - there's a picture of me and Ken and my CRUTCHES!

Which reminds me...I never really explained the crutches, did I? Originally thought to be a sprain, my mysterious painfully swollen ankle and knee (after a bazillion trips to a bajillion doctors and a few pretty scary moments...Lyme Disease? Lupus? Gout? "Gout. Gout. Let it all out. These are the things I can do without...") was diagnosed as "reactive arthritis". (I know - I never heard of it either.) It is an inflammation of the joints causes by a bacteria, in my case, food poisoning! KICKASS!!!

I spent a month on crutches, with a whole week entirely off my feet. I'm still recovering - I have a really um...sultry?...swagger. That is a lie. I have a goofy limp. But who cares. At least I can carry a cup of coffee across the room ALL BY MYSELF!!!

Anyhoo - I do NOT recommend spending a summer like this. Thank God I have a great family who rallied 'round and helped take care of me, and helped look after C6 during the daytime while C5 was at work. Thanks, Fam!

Which reminds me...Dropkicks are all about Family. I love that. At their Boston shows you can see their families on the stage - from little kids to old timers. The whole clan. Love! That!

Which reminds me...C6 is reeeeeally into the "Dwopkick Mowphys" (his pronunciation) - he is NUTS about their song "Shipping Up To Boston" - he totally rocks it. (I haven't shown him the video - a little much for a young'n.) The lyrics are about a sailor who lost his leg and is shipping up to Boston to find his wooden leg.

Which reminds me...as befitting as it might have been for Scurvyann, I'm glad I didn't have to get a wooden leg!

HEY-oh! (see what I did there?)

Scurvyann, over-n-out!
xoxoxo

PS: The new Dropkicks' album, The Meanest of Times is out next week - be sure to get it!

PSS (...or is it PPS?): a couple of pix from the show...

Retro Bathing Suit BONANZA

2007-09-10T11:12:00.000-03:00

I wrote about my favorite bathing suit back in June. Now, I love my bathing suit. HOWEVER! Girl's Gone Child found the perfect retro suit for me! It is close to the same cut as my suit but woooooo! POLKA DOTS!!! Look here at Retrodress - the Esther Williams Collection!!! Here's my suit. I'm'a gonna git me some POLKA DOTS!

My Mum had an awesome navy blue with white polka dot suit back in the day. I always wanted one like it. Although Retrodress doesn't offer that exact combo, I could TOTALLY live with black suit-with-white-polka-dots!

And Fashiony-Fashiony Rebecca (Girl's Gone Child) is a polka-dotter too! HURRAH! Maybe we can start a CLUB!

I love polka dots I do.

The Magic Garden

2007-09-08T09:59:00.000-03:00

Well hello there! Here is – surprise! – another blast from the past. I'm sure y'all remember The Magic Garden. Anyone?

I tuned in to this show a lot - it was colorful and fun. The two stars of the show, Carole and Paula, would sing songs, tell stories (from the Story Box), tell jokes (in the Chuckle Patch), and hang out. And swing on swings! SWINGS!

But what I remember and love most about the show was the closing theme song - it sure is catchy. Seeya, SEEYA!

Their Hello Song was also catchy & cute.

According to their web site, it looks like Carole and Paula still perform now and them. I think that is GREAT!

Seeya, SEEYA!

Scurvyann, over-n-out!
xo

PS: At a party a while ago, the subject of conversation turned to kids shows from our youth. This one was a BIG hit with the lesbian contingent!

A You're Adorable

2007-09-06T11:20:00.000-03:00

Last Summer my Mother-in-Law (Mimi) sang a sweet song to C6 called "A You're Adorable" and I instantly loved it. C6 did too! It goes through the alphabet in a fun way. It's an older song, released in 1949. I asked my parents if they knew the song and sure enough they did - and we all had a singalong at the picnic table. It is the cutest song! Adorable, if you will.

Here's a little sample of Perry Como's version of "A You're Adorable".

Shortly after this, I found a book with the lyrics in it and we enjoyed that too.

Imagine how psyched we were to find a vintage Sesame Street clip with the song in it! And Cookie Monster too!!! We can't get enough of this one - it's a keeper. We really really love this song. Thanks Mimi!

The Electric Company and The Family Guy

2007-09-05T08:24:00.000-03:00

Another compare and contrast with The Family Guy - this time with The Electric Company! (Compare and contrast with The Family Guy and Sesame Street right here.)

Calgon, Take Me Away!

2007-09-02T09:38:00.000-03:00

As I've mentioned, I am totally addicted to Lush's Bath Bombs. But they ain't cheap! I needed to find a less-expensive substitute between Superbaths. So, when C5 and C6 were headed to CVS last week, I asked if they could pick me up some "Cheap bubble bath, bath salts...anything. Your choice - just not expensive." They returned with a box of Calgon "English Garden" Bubble Bath. It was $2.99. Perfect!

The box had a really strong floral scent and I wondered if it would be overpowering in the tub. I had to test it out! Honestly? I wasn't expecting much. Surprisingly, the bubble bath turns the water a soothing blue color. And it is pretty smelly but I got used to it. Funny, I don't recall this "bubble bath" actually making bubbles! The BEST part (besides the price) is that it makes your skin sooooo soft! And it stayed nice and soft, too. I was surprised about that. Bonus: the tub doesn't get too messy, which is nice.

I got 4 nice baths out of this box for less than the price of one Lush bathbomb!

Score!

The World of Commander McBragg

2007-09-01T14:29:00.000-03:00

Yes, yes. Still feelin' kinda nostalgic. I'm remembering more old cartoons I enjoyed as a youngster. Oh how I loved The World of Commander McBragg! Quite.

Wow! - Lookit all them guns!!! It sure was a different time, wunnit?