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!
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 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?
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?
...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.
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!
PS: the "rump-pum-pump" line reminds me of Stewie's tuba playing job...
This is the biggest fun we've had on the porch in quite awhile:
No apologies for the abundance of cute.
I am in LOVE with this table. I LOVE IT! Pricey though. Say, anyone wanna buy me an early (or late) birthday present?
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.)
Maxxin' and relaxxin' at Cahoon Hollow, Wellfleet, MA.
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.
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!
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!
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 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???
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?
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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...)
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!
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!)
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!!!
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...
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?
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.
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?
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.
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!!!!
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!
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...
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:
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 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.
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
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.!
Scurvyann over-n-out6t7n5t65bntt6tyrttggggggggggggT(C6 is 'helping' me now).
ADDENDUM: Listen to tracks from "Here Come The 123s" here.
The Rock-n-Romp show mentioned here is now on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24th at 3:00. Same place! Seeyas!
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
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!
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!"
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...)
