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September 18, 2009

I've got good news and bad news.

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shane "helping" daddy a few years back

 

The good news is, we’re getting a new computer. Yay!

The bad news is we’re getting a new computer because our old one died.  : (  I’m posting this from our old computer, but it’s a race against time because inevitably it will be attacked by viruses and crash.  And the system can’t be updated.

Sooo.... I’ll have very limited access to the internet for a week or so.  I’ll be back the minute we are up and running.  See you soon, peeps!

 


Posted on 09/18/2009 7:56 PM Comments (6)

August 4, 2009

Helen Interviews Jet Lag Gemini [REPOST]

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[REPOST: some friends said they couldn't read the original post.  I don't know what the problem was, but I hope it's working this time.]

 


Matt, Misha and Vlad  (l-r)

Not every American rock band has three members who were born in eastern Europe.  Not every American rock band’s lead singer dares to stand on top of an audience of 15-year old girls at least once during every set.  Not every American rock band somehow managed to find a way to use the word “mensch” in their lyrics. Then again, Jet Lag Gemini is not every American rock band.

Jet Lag Gemini has always done things their own way. “Even when we first started out as a local band, we were the odd band out,” recalls Vlad Gheorghiu, JLG’s lead guitarist. 

Mahwah, New Jersey was the setting for the birth of JLG.  “We all met at Mahwah High School,” remembers lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Misha Safanov referring to himself, Vlad, Vlad’s brother Matt and Dan DiLiberto, the only member of the band born in the USA.  The four decided to start a rock band, but didn’t want to follow any trend, be it pop-punk or screamo, which was riding a wave of popularity when the guys came together.  “We always wanted to do something different,” says Vlad.

 


Vlad

One difference that is apparent when the band performs is that at some point in every JLG song, Vlad’s bandmates step aside to let him shred.  When Vlad, a self-taught guitarist, first picked up the instrument seven years ago, he not only immersed himself in bands like Green Day and blink-182, but was an avid student of classic rock and the blues. Vlad cites the late, great blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn and Brian May of Queen as two of his early influences.  He quickly found that his musical ear and nimble fingers  served him well in his quest to become a lead guitarist.

Lyrically, JLG’s songs on past albums seem to have shown the cynical side of the band’s outlook, but always done with intelligence and a poetic flair.

In the song “Bittersweet,” the narrator seems to be asking for a reconciliation through the use of strong, tangible images:

Wait and stay

Without you I’ll decay away

And there won’t be a whole lot that’s left of me.

With muscle and marrow and strength in my bones

I will tear out the bricks that are holding together the walls

That divide our frail homes.

 


Matt

 

On a lighter note is the story of how the word mensch, a Yiddish word meaning nice guy came to have a place in the JLG song “Fit to be Tied.”  When Vlad first saw the line Misha had written, “I’m such a mensch in my clothes,” he was sure Misha had written the line as a joke.  The band debated using the word, but Misha wasn’t about to let his “awesome” word go.  “Eventually it stuck with us,” recalls Vlad.  Apparently, fans must have agreed with Misha, as “Fit to Be Tied” became one of JLG’s most popular singles.

Another thing the song “Fit to Be Tied” is known for in concert is Misha’s crowd walk, or more accurately, crowd stand.  “The first time it happened my friend just threw me into the crowd.”  After that, Misha decided to make it a tradition.  But he doesn’t venture into the audience until he has determined if the group standing in front of him looks strong enough to bear his weight.  Once in a while his judgment fails him and he tumbles to the floor.  Watching Misha balance on top of a sea of teenagers makes an observer wonder whether Misha’s ancestors include circus performers as well as musicians.

 


Misha

 “Fire the Cannons” was released in January 2008, and the band is currently writing songs for their sophomore effort.  Not that the material on their first record was without hope, but the band has decided to go in an even more inspirational direction for their next record. “We’re trying to write a record that people will listen to and feel better, one that will speak to them about what’s going on in their lives,” Misha states.  According to Vlad, the band hopes to begin recording the new album in November of this year.

Where do the members of JLG see the band several years down the road?  While Misha would be happy if they were simply able to tour, put out albums and make a living, Vlad has a grander vision. “We want to be the ultimate arena band with crazy fireworks going off on stage and every song a hit.”

 


Dan

 

all photos courtesy of shotmonster.com

 

 


Posted on 08/04/2009 7:50 PM Comments (3)

July 29, 2009

Helen Interviews Jet Lag Gemini

 

Matt, Misha and Vlad (l-r)

 

Not every American rock band has three members who were born in eastern Europe. Not every American rock band’s lead singer dares to stand on top of an audience of 15-year old girls at least once during every set. Not every American rock band somehow managed to find a way to work the word “mensch” into their lyrics. Then again, Jet Lag Gemini is not every American rock band.

Jet Lag Gemini has always done things their own way. “Even when we first started out as a local band, we were the odd band out,” recalls Vlad Gheorghiu, JLG’s lead guitarist.

Mahwah, New Jersey was the setting for the birth of JLG. “We all met at Mahwah High School,” remembers lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Misha Safanov referring to himself, Vlad, Vlad’s brother Matt and Dan DiLiberto, the only member of the band born in the USA. The four decided to start a rock band, but didn’t want to follow any trend, be it pop-punk or screamo, which was riding a wave of popularity when the guys came together. “We always wanted to do something different,” says Vlad.


Vlad

One difference that is apparent when the band performs is that at some point in every JLG song, Vlad’s bandmates step aside to let him shred. When Vlad, a self-taught guitarist, first picked up the instrument seven years ago, he not only immersed himself in bands like Green Day and blink-182, but was an avid student of classic rock and the blues. Vlad cites the late, great blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn and Brian May of Queen as two of his early influences. He quickly found that his musical ear and nimble fingers served him well in his quest to become a lead guitarist.

Lyrically, JLG’s songs on past albums seem to have shown the cynical side of the band’s outlook, but always done with intelligence and a poetic flair.

In the song “Bittersweet,” the narrator seems to be asking for a reconciliation through the use of strong, tangible images:

Wait and stay

Without you I’ll decay away

And there won’t be a whole lot that’s left of me

With muscle and marrow and strength in my bones

I will tear out the bricks that are holding together the walls

That divide our frail homes

Wait and stay


 


Matt


On a lighter note is the story of how the word mensch, a Yiddish word meaning nice guy came to have a place in the JLG song “Fit to be Tied.” When Vlad first saw the line Misha had written, “I’m such a mensch in my clothes,” he was sure Misha had written the line as a joke. The band debated using the word, but Misha wasn’t about to let his “awesome” word go. “Eventually it stuck with us,” recalls Vlad. Apparently, fans must have agreed with Misha, as “Fit to Be Tied” became one of JLG’s most popular singles.

Another thing the song “Fit to Be Tied” is known for in concert is Misha’s crowd walk, or more accurately, crowd stand. “The first time it happened my friend just threw me into the crowd.” After that, Misha decided to make it a tradition. But he doesn’t venture into the audience until he has determined if the group standing in front of him looks strong enough to bear his weight. Once in a while his judgment fails him and he tumbles to the floor. Watching Misha balance on top of a sea of teenagers makes an observer wonder whether Misha’s ancestors include circus performers as well as musicians.

Misha

“Fire the Cannons” was released in January 2008, and the band is currently writing songs for their sophomore effort. Not that the material on their first record was without hope, but the band has decided to go in an even more inspirational direction for their next record. “We’re trying to write a record that people will listen to and feel better, one that will speak to them about what’s going on in their lives,” Misha states. According to Vlad, the band hopes to begin recording the new album in November of this year.

Where do the members of JLG see the band several years down the road? While Misha would be happy if they were simply able to tour, put out albums and make a living, Vlad has a grander vision. “We want to be the ultimate arena band with crazy fireworks going off [on stage] and every song a hit.”

Dan

all photos courtesy of shotmonster.com

 

 

 

 


Posted on 07/29/2009 6:22 PM Comments (0)

June 10, 2009

Helen Interviews Sparks the Rescue


Alex

In a year highlighted by signing with Fearless Records, releasing their debut LP, “Eyes to the Sun,” and embarking on the Shh. It Happens tour, what has been the most exciting thing that’s happened for Sparks the Rescue recently? “We got a new van!” drummer Nate Spencer crows.

During one leg of their recent tour, their old van died and the five members of the band found themselves huddled on the floor of a rented cargo van, headed home. The musicians weathered that crisis with ease. “We’re getting used to roughing it,” says rhythm guitarist Toby McAllister. Natives of the state of Maine, Spencer, McAllister, and their fellow bandmates, Alex Roy, Patrick O’Connell and Ben Briggs, have Down East Yankee hardiness in their genes.

At least one of the bandmembers has a softer side, revealed when he tells the story of how this pop-punk quintet got its name. “I love cheesy romantic novels,” admits McAllister, The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks being one of his favorites. The band agreed to call themselves The Rescue, but discovered that another band had beaten them to it. They added the name of the author, and Sparks the Rescue was born.

Sparks the Rescue came together four years ago when Spencer, McAllister and Briggs, who were playing in a blink-182 cover band joined forces with Roy, who played in a rival blink-182 cover band. O’Connell, the only Sparks the Rescue member not playing in a blink-182 cover band, had been honing his skills on classic rock, trying to follow in the footsteps of Jimmy Page.

 
Toby                                                      Patrick

Today, Sparks the Rescue play their own original compositions. “I usually write the skeleton of the song and bring it to the other guys and they all help finish it,” says Roy. Sometimes it can take weeks for the band to fine tune a song to the point where it’s ready to demo. Other songs seem to almost write themselves. “Nurse! Nurse! (I’m Losing My Patients),” a single from the band’s EP “came together in an hour,” reveals Spencer.

Relative newcomers to a crowded pop-punk scene that already includes bands like All Time Low and The Maine, Sparks the Rescue plans to break out of the pack by making sure their live performances are simply unforgettable. Their unique and dynamic stage presence includes a tight rhythm section, (“They’ve been together since eighth grade.”), flawless vocal harmonies, and a lead singer who’s not afraid to literally reach out and touch his audience. When Roy says, “We bring it,” it’s not an idle boast.

Alex and Toby

 

Ben and Alex

This summer, Sparks the Rescue will play on the Shh. It Happens tour, headlined by Fearless labelmates Every Avenue. This guarantees that kids will pack in to venues across the country to see Sparks the Rescue “bring it.” Last summer told a different story for McAllister and his bandmates. They arrived at one venue only to be told that unless a requisite number of patrons attended their concert, the band themselves would have to pay the rental fee for the venue. McAllister’s response at the time was, “Dude, we can’t do that. We’ve got, like, five bucks.”

The shortage of funds at the time forced the band to load up the van and head straight for home. Despite setbacks like this, the bandmembers remained optimistic about their future. While some bands quit after one bad experience, Sparks the Rescue refused to give in. “We weren’t worried about if it would ever happen for us. It was just a matter of when,” says McAllister.

Signing with Fearless Records in March of 2009 has brought big improvements to the daily lives of these hard working musicians. They were able to hire a tour manager to handle everything from interfacing with venue management to what’s-for-dinner. In addition, instead of having to book their own shows, Fearless assumes that responsibility, along with all promotion of the band.

Despite growing success, one thing that hasn’t changed is the band’s genuine connection with the fans. They still write their own Myspace blogs (although now someone at the record label corrects their spelling), and they still make time for fans before and after shows. Spencer speaks for the band when he says, “We’re here because of you...If I could, I would take you all home with me and cook you dinner!”


Nate

all photos courtesy of shotmonster.com


Posted on 06/10/2009 7:22 PM Comments (3)

May 31, 2009

Where's Helen, Illustrated

 

There was a whole bunch of real life happening this week.  I’ve missed you!

 

First, we were in Pittsburgh.


silly cupcakes at the Oakmont Bakery

 


Then came Shane’s birthday.


 unrelated photo of Shane

 


Then came Shane’s spring band concert.

 

blowin' that horn

 

 

Friday night I interviewed Misha and Vlad from Jet Lag Gemini.


Vlad shredding (did you know he moved here from Romania when he was 10?)

 


Saturday I wrote up an interview with Sparks the Rescue. 

 

 Alex Roy of Sparks the Rescue


Today we saw Terminator Salvation.

Phew!

I still love Buzznet and hope to be more active; also I’ll do my best to catch up on your posts.

What have you been up to?

luv.....helen.....xo

 


Posted on 05/31/2009 7:31 PM Comments (5)

May 8, 2009

Helen Interviews Steve Juliano of I Am Ghost

 

photos courtesty of shotmonster.com

Steve Juliano doesn’t just sing I Am Ghost’s songs; he performs them.  He prowls the stage, from north to south, from east to west. His head bangs like a stamping press; his face twists into a tragic mask; his arms strike a dancer’s poses; his voice ranges from a whisper to a scream.

Ironically, Juliano, lead vocalist/frontman for the L.A.-based band I Am Ghost, and a man who seems like he was born for the stage, joined his first rock band almost by accident.  His career as an animator for film and TV was well under way when he found himself at a party one night.  The band that was playing the party was minus a singer, so Juliano filled in by singing a Sublime cover. “After the party, they were like, ‘Man you sang that song really good.  We’re looking for a singer for our band...Do you wanna try out?’”  Juliano turned down the offer that night.  “I never thought I would be in a band. I was just doing it like karaoke, with a few beers in me.”  He happened to run into a guy from the band a few weeks later, and they still hadn’t found a singer. Juliano agreed to give it another shot. “I tried out and the rest is history. I loved it.”

It’s only fitting that Juliano is an exuberant showman.  Most of  I Am Ghost’s songs tell tales of romance, tragedy and death.  “We don’t sing about the government.  We don’t sing about ex-girlfriends,” Juliano explains.  Matched to the dramatic lyrical content is a musical blend of elements of hardcore, metal, pop-punk and screamo that produces a sound that is distinctly I Am Ghost’s.   Juliano and his bandmates, Timoteo Rosales (lead guitar), Ron Ficarro (bass/vocals), Chadd Kulengasky (rhythm guitar/vocals) and Justin McCarthy (drums), have even coined a new term to describe their music: “epic-core.”

Juliano assumes all the duties of lyricist for the band, but doesn’t make his contribution until after the music has been composed.  Guitarist Rosales and bassist Ficarro wrote all the music for IAG’s most recent album Those We Leave Behind, released in October of 2008. Juliano seems to trust his bandmates implicitly.  “The band knows the idea of I Am Ghost, the image and the vision. They’re not gonna write a poppy song.”

The stories told on Those We Leave Behind seem like they must have come from Juliano’s vivid imagination, such as this excerpt from Bone Garden.

I am the man they couldn’t hang,

A force-fed son of romance dressed in hooks,

who kissed your head, killed twelve dead, baby.

I am an addict burning winter, a closed-door annihilator

Motherf*cker burned who was married in your bone garden.

However, Juliano reveals that every song is based a real person who was connected to Juliano’s life somehow, and who ended up dying. Hence the album’s title.

Contrast Those We Leave Behind’s  roots in reality with the total fantasy that was the group’s first LP, Lover’s Requiem.  Released in late 2006, this work is what Juliano considers a “rock opera.”  Inspired by The Who’s Tommy,  Juliano, who, as a child, had acted in the musical, and his fellow bandmates at the time set out to produce an album on a similarly grand scale.  Juliano describes the story told on the album this way: “A vampire meets a girl; they both die at the same time.  He goes to hell; she goes to heaven.  And it’s this big epic battle in the afterlife trying to be with each other.” Each song on the album represents a new chapter in the story.  The production on the album complements the concept of the opera, incorporating a full orchestra and latin choir.

Apart from Juliano and Rosales, I Am Ghost had a different lineup at the time Lover’s Requiem was released, including female vocalist/violinist, Kerith Telestai.  As Juliano tells it, after touring with the band in 2007 and surviving  the rigors of Warped Tour, Kerith and bassist Brian Telestai decided that life on the road was not for them. The husband and wife team relocated to Utah where they work as schoolteachers. 

Juliano weathered a number of personnel changes to arrive at the crew he plays with now.  In assembling the current lineup for the band, Juliano searched for potential bandmates who were not only good musicians, but were also committed to the business of being in a professional touring band. While there’s something to be said for the chemistry of bands  made up of guys who’ve known each other since high school, Juliano thinks that can also work to a band’s disadvantage, the attitude being, “I’m on tour with my best friends; we’re just gonna have fun.” 

Juliano says he and his bandmates have fun and get along great. But when it comes to making I Am Ghost a success,  like Juliano, Rosales, Ficarro, Kulengasky, and McCarthy take their jobs very seriously.

 

Three Things You Didn’t Know About Steve Juliano

 

 

  • Steve took tap dancing lessons when he was a kid.
  • As an animator,  Steve worked on the highly popular HBO series “Tales from the Crypt.”
  • In his spare time Steve is writing and illustrating an original graphic novel.

Special Buzznet Addendum

While Steve Juliano can be considered a pretty serious guy, his eyes did light up once, toward the end of our talk when I mentioned that the interview would appear on Buzznet. “Buzznet?” he said. “I love Buzznet!”  (Don’t we all.)

 

 

photos courtesy of shotmonster.com

 

 

 


Posted on 05/08/2009 1:51 PM Comments (3)

March 28, 2009

10 Things about Me (tagged by the jovial starlorsummers)

**

1. Greatest Joy:  Being outside on a warm spring day.

 


also: Cotton Candy

 


**

2. Greatest Accomplishment:   Perfect apple pie from scratch

 



3. Greatest Fear: Getting old

 


4. Greatest Disappointment:  Fall Out Boy

 



5. Greatest Embarrassment:  My act getting gonged in my High School Gong Show

(I really wish I had a photo of this.)

 



6. Greatest Desire:  To be pretty (yes, I’m that shallow)

 

7. Greatest Fault:  Have you got a few hours to spare?

 

8. Greatest Pet Peeve:

     a)  Buzznet-style:  those people for whom you leave tons of nice comments and they never ever visit your page.

 


   **
b) Life-style: those itty bitty napkins that you get at the deli that you have to use 40 of them to do the job of one regular-size napkin.

 


9. Greatest Laugh:  I literally rolled on the floor laughing at Jim Carrey in “Liar Liar.”

 


**
10. Greatest Love: These 2 guys

 

One more thing about me is that I’m a world-class procrastinator.  That’s why I’m just getting this up now when I was tagged weeks ago! (If anyone wants to do this list, please be my guest.)

Hey, guess what? Karim (starlorsummers) just had a “Get to Know” feature written about him by Mark (panasonicyouth)   Check it out!


**starred photos are by me.


Posted on 03/28/2009 5:26 PM Comments (26)

February 26, 2009

Nutshell Reviews by Helen: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus "Lonely Road"


album released February 3, 2009

The scene: a Chili’s restaurant somewhere in Florida.

Red Jumpsuit member #1: Well, we have these 2 incredibly awesome songs. What should we do with ‘em?

Red Jumpsuit member #2:  Let’s make an album!  (makes phone call)

RJA#1: What are we gonna put on the rest of the cd?

RJA#2:  We go into the studio in 45 minutes. Here’s a cocktail napkin. Write 9 more songs.

No, seriously.

The album’s first track, “You Better Pray,” opens with a wailing guitar lead coupled with a wailing vocal lead and doesn’t let up 'til the last note. That’s right; you’ve got yourself an undeniably kickass Velvet Revolver-ish tune right there.  

After that, the band seems to have almost completely ran out of inspiration. Most of the other songs have a very pop music vibe, featuring simple melodies, “ooh-ooh” backup vocals, well-meaning overproduction, and inane lyrics on the order of :

No matter what the others might say,

We will always stay this way.

Only one other track rises to the occasion: the anthemic Lonely Road.” Make sure your cell phone is charged before you go see these boys in concert. I guarantee you’ll be swaying and singing with the rest of the crowd when they perform this inspirational number.  I wonder if they’ll bring the gospel choir on tour with them.

Boy, that should teach me not to buy a cd based on listening to the first single off of it.

Helen's rating: 3 Ozzys      




 

 

 

 


Posted on 02/26/2009 7:39 PM Comments (9)

February 10, 2009

An Unexpected Conversation with Matthew Davies of Funeral for a Friend




A couple of weeks ago Shane and I attended a Funeral for a Friend Concert at the Fillmore in New York City.  The experience turned into something more than just the average concert. Here’s how it went down.

We strolled up to the doors a half-hour before they opened, and a very large man stuck his arm out to block our entry.  “Line’s back there,” he growled.

I unfolded my early entry pass, and suddenly he was the epitome of graciousness. “Right this way, I’ll take you up.”

He led us up the steep stairs of  the old venue, as we passed the posters of the acts that had played there: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, The White Stripes, etc.  The man took his leave of us at the top, and another man handed Shane his limited-edition poster and pointed the way into the concert hall.

Shane and I stepped onto the hard-wood floors of the room and peered around, squinting like Ozzy our hamster when she just wakes up and climbs out of her house.  There were about 30 people milling around, but no familiar “table” with the bandmembers seated behind it signing things.   Suddenly, an unassuming fellow in glasses and the most non-descript attire you can imagine--Pete Wentz doesn’t need to worry about any sartorial competition here—approached us. He stuck his hand out and said, “Hi, I’m Matthew.” (pssst. He’s the lead vocalist and frontman for FFAF.)

I was slightly taken aback, but the manners I had been taught as a kid reflexively kicked in. “Hi, I’m Renata and this is my son, Shane.” 

No one said anything for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably 4 seconds.  Shane was standing there agog, so I knew it was up to me.  I decided to simply have a conversation with him as if I had just met him at a cocktail party.

“So, is this your first time in NewYork?” I asked idiotically.

Very politely, he answered, “Ah, no, no. We’ve been here many times.”

[*swoon*  Welsh accent!  Welsh accent! You know how we Americans are gaga for the accents. It doesn’t matter if the accent is English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, or Australian, we love the accents. I have no explanation for it; we just do.]

Here’s the rest of the interview. (Remember, I was totally unprepared for this; hence the lameness.)

H: So, is this the beginning, middle or end of your tour?

M: We’re sort of in the middle. Tomorrow, we go to Asbury Park, New Jersey, which I’m very excited about because that’s where Bruce Springsteen is from.

H: Do you get any time off, or do you tour year round?

M: We take two weeks off a year, which we spend with our families and use to write our next album.

H: I noticed on the liner notes of your new album that members of the Lostprophets sang backing vocals on several tracks.

M: You’re right!

H: So I guess you guys are friends with the Lostprophets?

M: We’re friends with all the Welsh bands; it’s a very small country.

H: You’re all from the same town, right?  (yeah, I know, witty.)

It was at this point I decided not to overstay my welcome.  I asked Shane if he would like the band to sign his poster.   He nodded vigorously.

“Come on, lads,”  Matthew said. (Actually, he didn’t say “lads,” but I wish he had.) The rest of the band gathered around to sign Shane’s poster and take photos with him.


Since FFAF were the headliners, it was some time before they took the stage. The boys launched right into “Rules and Games” from their latest release Memory and Humanity.  Suddenly Matthew, the guy who looks like an Associate Professor of Anthropology at SUNY Albany was transformed into a rockstar.

“Newww York!!   It’s bastarrrd cold out therrre. We doon’t have THIS  kind of WEATHerrr where WEEE are fruum!”

Gotta love ‘em.

Annie*, if you’re out there, I apologize for “bastardizing” the Welsh accent.

luv...helen...xo

*annier


Posted on 02/10/2009 7:29 PM Comments (10)

February 3, 2009

Helen Solves a Nagging Buzznet Mystery

 

Have you ever had a “Featured Photo” that didn’t appear on the Featured page?  (One in three of mine doesn’t appear on the featured page. But that’s not what I’m here to talk about.)  What’s annoying about that phenomenon is that someone went through the trouble of viewing your photo, decided it was nice enough to hit the “Suggest” button, and most likely left a comment.  You would like to thank your friend, but have no way of knowing which friend it was.

I have been frustrated by this in the past, but lately have found a way to discover who these mystery suggesters are. And I’m pretty happy that I was able to do this without bothering Mark about it.

The problem is, I think, that when a person suggests multiple photos, only one of the photos they suggest can appear on the Featured page at a time. (I don’t know how it is decided which photo they suggest appears.)

So the solution to finding out who suggested your photo so you can drop them a ‘thank you,’ is simply to do the following.

* Go to the Featured Photos page.

* Start looking through the featured photos.

* When you find one that was suggested by one of your friends, click on your friend’s name.

For instance, I see that “desert” suggested a photo by millieann. I click on “desert’s” name.  The following page shows me all the photos that were suggested by desert.




 

And Voila!  There is my photo of the Necco conversation hearts. So now I know that desert suggested that photo.  THANK YOU!!  (I was lucky that time, cuz it just happened to be the first name I clicked on.)

I hope this helps some of you.  Happy hunting, and let me know how it goes.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

And now, from the Department of Additional Advice You Didn’t Ask For:

Here are 3 songs that are terrific in making a workout session on the stationary bike at the gym go faster:

“Paper Chase”  by The Academy Is....

“Constant Illuminations” by Funeral for a Friend

“Take My Hand” by Simple Plan

Try ‘em!

luv....helen...xo


Posted on 02/03/2009 6:29 PM Comments (10)

January 23, 2009

The Tale of Dinky: A Small Story about a Small Creature


~~ Instead of funny foto friday, I have a cute li'l story for you. I hope you like it. ~~



The other night I opened my closet to find a mouse staring back at me.  “Eek!” I squealed appropriately.

Matt and I talked about it, and decided that instead of killing it, we would catch it and release it into a nearby field.  Matt devised a contraption to catch the animal. The photo you see above is not the first contraption he conceived of. We tried a few modifications which all centered around the idea that the mouse would be lured to the end of a precariously balanced object and fall into a bucket where it would not be able to escape until we freed it.

Several nights passed during which the mouse, whom we named “Dinky,” succeeded in eating the bait, but not tipping the piece of wood into the bucket.  Matt thought the mouse must be outwitting us.  But I thought that it was probably so full from eating the trail of chocolate Matt had left, that it didn’t even bother eating the last piece of chocolate.

Whatever the explanation was, it seemed that Dinky was not to be caught in Matt’s con-trap-tions.   A local hardware store recommended the Havahart trap, a humane way to catch animals.  They come in all sizes, whether your quarry is a dog, an armadillo or a chipmunk.


You put the bait inside the trap, and as soon as the animal enters it, the two doors on either end slam down, and it’s caught inside.  We set it up that night.

Early the next morning, before I opened my eyes, I became aware of a soft, metallic rattling sound coming from the closet. Sure enough, Dinky was in the trap, trying to find a way out. We all trooped over to a field about a mile away and released it. (It ran away so fast, there was no chance of getting a photo.)

Ironically enough, Dinky has none other than Ozzy, the hamster to thank for its freedom.  Before we adopted Ozzy, we  might not have thought twice about using the old-fashioned killing trap.  Having Ozzy in our family has made us more sympathetic to the small animal kingdom.

Who knew that hamsters could save lives?



Posted on 01/23/2009 7:40 PM Comments (12)

January 15, 2009

Helen's Favorite Buzznet Photos of 2008--Volume One

Back in December, Mark and Bree announced they were putting together a Best of Buzznet 2008 collection for which we were invited to submit nominations. I don’t know whatever became of the results of it; I never saw the post. (If anyone has a link, shoot it my way.)  At the time, a light bulb immediately went on in my head to do a list of my own which would consist of my favorite photos of 2008 from all my friends.(I don't know if these are the best, but they're my favorites.)

Well, this turned out to be the Mother of all Projects. I’ve been working on it since the end of December. It’s still not done, but here’s Volume One. (I’ll post Vol. 2 as soon as I get it together.)  There were only two requirements to be included in this list:  If you  posted an original photo as recently as October 2008 and have been in touch with me in one way or another, then you are included here.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the photographic achievements of some of Buzznet’s most  Beautiful People.

 

 
“Concentration” by crash13 (Sue).

*After being away for what seemed like an eternity, she’s back!*

 
“Good Morning” by nessalh (Vanessa)

 
“Silly Donkey” by hidedontseek (Kerri)  *Who can resist this?*

 


“Bounce” by kassady (Becky)

 


“Sci Fi Scene” by kassady  

*With city photos--both candid and posed--her specialty, it’s so hard to choose just one!*


Bizarreland (J.J)  posts a wide variety of photos, from scenes with her cute zombie toys to amazing close-ups of insects, but her squirrely and chimpmunky friends are favorites of many of us.


“Squirrely Wednesday”


“A Squirrel’s Nightmare.” by bizarreland (J.J.)


“Holding the Heavens”  by eyelinersmudge (Madison)



“So many kids” by that lovely Scottish lass brokenglassheart (Lucy)



“Chap-Stique”  by tryingtofindthewords (Savannah)

 
“She is Killing Me”  by tryingtofindthewords. *THAT HAIR!*



“I’m not so attached to this face.”  by ikkyg (Kristyn)

*Brave and Creative.*



“Beautiful Girl” by darkxhuntress

 


“Dancing in my new shoes” by vero333  (Veronika) 

*She doesn’t post much, but everything she posts is beautiful.*

 


“Our New President”  by rhiannaresolution (Rhianna)

 


“Untitled”  by breesays  *One of the best The Academy Is... shots everrrrr.*

 


“Metallica at the Great Western Forum”  by panasonicyouth (Mark)

 


“Cute dog at Reverse Prop 8 rally”  (mark)  *awwwwwwwww*

 


“She’s not Coming” by elrich (Rich)  *Rich created this for susieq’s birthday, and it was love at first sight for this photo and me.  True artistic creativity with an added touch of wistfulness.*

 


“She spins her web undisturbed” by 5footer (Sue)

 


“Thinking” by allynallynallyn

 


“You can never have too many giraffe pictures” by alyheartscandy (Aly)

*Have you ever seen anything quite like this?  I haven’t!*

 


“So this is Christmas” by alyheartscandy

 


“Brr, this frosty grass is cold”  by annier 

*Beautiful sunrises and sunsets are one thing, but even they can’t match the charm of Annie’s inimitable dog, Hovis.*



“Untitled”  by anrathebadangel

*Known more for her drawing talent, this is a great photo anra took of her super-happy Dad.*

 


“Golden Bunny Ears” by ashdood (Ashley)  *Rockin’ iconic photo*

 


“Cacti” by arenee (Renee)


“Really romance is not my thing”  by azepuzha 

*Perfect match of photo and caption.*

And that’s it for tonight, gang. Hope you enjoyed it. After my “top friends list,” I’ll be going alphabetically. And look!  I’ve already done the A’s!!

More to come!!


Posted on 01/15/2009 6:42 PM Comments (24)

January 11, 2009

What the heck is this photo and why am I looking at it, Helen?



(still from video)


Well, I’ll tell you.  As some of you know, AFI is running a contest for all fans interested in singing on their upcoming album.  They asked us to make a video of ourselves (2mins. or less) and post it to a special AFI group set up on youtube.

 

I made one of these videos.  And you, my Buzzfriends, are a big part of the reason I got up the nerve to do it.

 

Two years ago I never would have dreamed of videotaping myself, and posting it on the internet for all the world to see.  All my life I have let the fact that I am a small, mousy person get in the way of living life to the fullest.  But two things contributed to helping me take what, to me, is a big step.  The first is the band, AFI.  If you are a fan, you know that it’s not “just another band.” It is a unique band composed of its extraordinary members, Adam, Davey, Hunter and Jade.

 

The second thing is the Buzznet community.  Since I became a member here, you, my friends, have consistently shared your friendship and support and have helped greatly improve my confidence. 

 

What I am finally learning almost halfway through my life is that if you never take any risks in life, you will reap very few rewards.  In making this video I know that I only have a miniscule chance of winning the contest. But if I hadn’t made the video, I would have no chance at all.

 

While many of you can’t relate to my feelings or my life experiences, perhaps there are a few of you out there who can. And to you I say, “Mouses of the world, come out of your holes, and go after that cheese!”

 

Thank you for reading this, dear friends, and if you’d like to see the video I made, I’ll get you a link.

[note: I posted this same exact thing as a photo.]  (link)



Posted on 01/11/2009 8:05 PM Comments (2)

December 16, 2008

Let's Talk about Christmas for a Minute....



I don’t know about you, but I celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is a holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the son of God.  I don’t go to church.  I’m not religious.  I don’t know if God exists.  Furthermore, I don’t like to feel like a hypocrite. But I celebrate this holiday with gusto. And sometimes my little voice inside asks, "Why?"

I was raised Catholic by two loving and devout parents.  Christmas eve meant Midnight Mass, the church filled with poinsettias and the comforting scent of melting candles. We would rustle our Christmas dresses in the pews as we waited for midnight. The congregation would hush as the minutes drew close.  At the stroke of midnight, the whole church would erupt into “Joy to the World!” and my sister and I would show off by singing the harmony.

When my family and I arrived home after mass, we kids were not immediately shooed off to bed. There was still an important ritual to be performed.  Now was the time to place the figure of the “baby Jesus” in the crèche*, which we had set up on the mantel. One of us kids carried the figure, while the rest of the family members made up a little parade behind him or her.  The kid in front would zig zag around the house and we would sing “Tu Scende Dalle Stelle,” an Italian Christmas carol, until we arrived at the crèche to place the baby Jesus in between Mary and Joseph.

Then I grew up. (And you kids out there might not believe it now, but you’ll grow up too.)  After college I stopped going to church, stopped practicing any “religion.”  I went through the motions of Christmas because everyone else in my family celebrated it. For a while I had vague misgivings about it, until one day a light went on in my head, and I thought, Why shouldn’t I celebrate the birth of Jesus? 

I’m actually sort of a fan of Jesus. Wasn’t he the guy who said, “Love thy neighbor”?  Wasn’t he the guy who said “Blessed are the peacemakers”?  Wasn’t he the dude who said, “Yo, listen up!  If any of you out there have no sins, then you can throw stones.”  Wasn’t he the man who put his hands on the lepers to cure them?  I wouldn’t do that in a million years!  And so I celebrate Christmas.

Also, I get all excited to see what Santa left in my stocking. 

No, but seriously, one of the reasons I’m telling you all this is related to my current photo series, “12 Days of Christmas.”  I want you to understand some of the images I may be posting up there, and also to hope that you won’t be offended by them.  By the same token, whether you go to church on  Christmas, or wait wide-eyed for Santa with your children or little brother and sister; whether you celebrate Hanukkah, or simply go on a ski trip with special friends; as long as you spend the holiday in a true and joyful way, then I am celebrating in spirit with you.

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY BUZZNET FRIENDS!!




*I snagged this creche from google in case you didn't know what it was. 

[12 Days of Christmas series, Day Four]


Related Groups: MONDAYEYES, Word Play
Posted on 12/16/2008 8:29 PM Comments (19)

December 9, 2008

Dear friends, regarding Featured Photos....



Let me start by saying Thank You sincerely to everyone who has ever suggested a photo of mine to be featured. It makes me so happy to think that you like what I do!

I want to say the next thing without coming off as a "whiner".....

Lately, I’ve had a bunch of “featured” photos that haven’t appeared on the featured page. For my own sake I’m not really bothered, but if my photo doesn’t appear on the feature page, I don’t know how to find out who suggested it.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that if I don’t thank you for suggesting my photo, it’s not that I’m being rude, it’s just that I don’t know who to thank.

And while you’re here, may I ask any of you who might be reading this:

1. Have you ever had “featured” photos that didn’t appear on the featured page?

2. Do you have any idea why this happens?

3. Do you know of another way to find out who suggested your photo?

Here are some photos that I couldn’t find on the featured page. A Big Thank You to whoever suggested them.


I'm just getting off for the night. If you leave a comment, I'll see it tomorrow, k?

luv....helen

 

 

 

 



Posted on 12/09/2008 8:44 PM Comments (11)

November 15, 2008

When GrownUps Go to Concerts (it's a blog, for a change)


Chiodos-November 7, 2008

     Last week Shane and I attended the Chiodos/Silverstein/Escape the Fate/Alesana/Skylit Drive (phew!) concert at Roseland in N.Y.  Between ETF and Silverstein we went back to the bar to buy Shane a soda.  As the bartender handed Shane his drink, he remarked, “Do you know how lucky you are that your mom takes you to concerts?”  We just smiled and nodded. Little did the bartender know, he had gotten it backwards.

      Lots of grownups attend the concerts I do.  But not for the music. They are there as combination taxis/chaperones/banks.  They linger on the periphery drinking grownup drinks, talking on the phone, working on their laptops, reading their books. There are even the unfortunate ones who have forgotten their books and have nothing to look at but their watches.  

      But as I stand watching the band of the moment in my 9 inches of space amongst the throng and look around me, I am usually the only one in the audience over thirty.  And I can’t help feeling akin to that early 20th century actress, Lillie Langtry, who flouted convention by smoking cigars in public.

      The other fans are always there with their friends, and I feel a little lonely. Don’t get me  wrong; Shane is wonderful company. But in a few years, he’ll start going to shows with his own friends. And who will go with me?  If I ask any of my friends to go to a Chiodos concert with me, I would get one or more of the following reactions:

1. tolerant chuckle

2. raised eyebrows

3. blank stare

      Then I think of all the friends I have on Buzznet, and wish that at least on concert nights I could be transported to an alternate reality where I could stand in the audience at a The Academy Is... or Paramore, or AFI concert with Vanessa & Sue; Savannah & Sara; Jessy & Jenna; Madison & John; Pam & Lucy; Viki & Barb; Becky & Millieann; Lory & Kay; Elisha & Rihanna.  Wouldn’t that be awesome?  And with you I wouldn’t worry about what you think. You already know me.

      The fact is, I can’t help liking the music I like. And I can’t help wanting to see it performed live. It would be as hard for me to stop doing what I do as it is for a shoe lover to stop buying shoes.  Or for someone who loves working out (these people do exist) to skip going to the gym for one day. Or for Gabe Saporta to miss an episode of “Gossip Girl.”

     I could try. I could try to confine myself to bake sales at the middle school, volunteering at the library and perfecting my chicken cutlet recipe.  But my spirit would feel a little squelched.

     Do you have any thoughts on this?  Should I keep on living life unsquelched? Or what?


Craig Owens of Chiodos


note: sorry for the crappiness of the photos. i've discovered you can't really get good concert photos unless you're right in front of a well-lit stage. 

update: oh, man, i knew i was gonna leave someone out!  kerri, can we go together, too?


Posted on 11/15/2008 7:52 PM Comments (20)

October 6, 2008

The Academy Is... Go Back to School and Don't Quite Make the Grade




     Excited for new music from The Academy Is... I clicked *play* on the first track of Fast Times at Barrington HighAfter twenty seconds, I examined the cd (I do buy ‘em.)  to see if they had accidentally put the wrong cd in the case.  No, there it was: “The Academy Is...” They had not made a mistake.  With a sinking feeling I continued listening to the rest of the cd.

      If I had to sum up my reaction to FTABH in one sentence, I would say: Why, when The Academy Is...  was doing so well sounding like themselves, did they suddenly want to start sounding like everyone else? 

      Gone are the musical roller coaster rides that were Almost Here and Santi. Compared to those two albums Fast Times is a Sunday stroll down a country lane. The best way to stress how bland Fast Times is is to remind you how great Almost Here and Santi are. 

      On Almost Here, remember the irresistible “Black Mamba” with its catchy “Pick it up, pick it up” refrain, the standout drumming of the Butcher, the acoustic guitar added for interest, the in-your-face lyric “I’m sick of this f*cking apartment.”

      Remember the passion of “Checkmarks.” You don’t know who William is singing about but you know how he feels about the person.  When he sings, “Just take your cold, cold heart and drown. And don’t forget to take deep breaths,”  in that choked-off voice,  you feel that odd sensation in your throat every time.

      Remember all the high points of Santi:  the perfection of “Seed,” with its “Lonesome Highway” guitar sound, the heartbreaking ballad “Everything We Had,” the sheer exuberance of  “Neighbors,” the unforgettable minor key of “We’ve got a Big Mess.”  And I should mention “Sleeping With Giants,”  with William repeating the phrase “you’ve got to find a way”  so many times you almost can’t stand it, before he completes the line with “before you fold.”

      You won’t find anything to match the uniqueness of TAI’s previous two albums on Fast Times.  All the peaks have been leveled out to where most of the songs are  just sort of pleasant and forgettable.  Honestly, I have a hard time telling “About a Girl,” “His Girl Friday,” “The Test,” and “Coppertone” apart. “Paper Chase” could be the theme song to High School Musical IV.  And I don’t say that like it’s a good thing.

         This album has no bite. From the song title, I thought “Beware! Cougar!”  would have bite, but it ambles along like so many of the other tracks until it gets to the line “Let it roll. Let it Ride. Ride,” and the Jimmy Eat World dischord chord is thrown in. (And I thank them for that.)

      As for the production, there’s a uniformity about the overall sound of this album.  In their previous albums the other band members were given solos to show off their talents, for instance,  Sisky’s strong bass line in “Bulls in Brooklyn and the Butcher’s mad drumming in  “Skeptics and True Believers.”  In Fast Times there is very little chance for the individual members of the band to shine. Even William’s pretty voice is often lost in a sea of overdubbing.  Bring back Butch Walker!

      All this is not to say that Fast Times is without its charms.  I’ve already mentioned “Beware! Cougar!”,  a song that at least nips, even if it doesn’t quite bite. 

       I think my favorite track might be the melancholy “Automatic Eyes,”  with its seductive hook, “Do you want me to stay, do you want me to go?”  I picture myself listening to it with my head pressed against a window on a rainy day, writing someone’s name in the condensation.

      Does my disappointment in TAI’s new album mean that I’ll throw out my t-shirt and turn my back on them?  No!  I will go to the concert at Roseland Ballroom in November, and I will swoon like any 16-year-old just for the night. 

      And I will hope for better things next time around.  I guess I must be a Die Hard.

 

Agree?  Disagree?  Confused?  Please let me hear all about it!

Photos courtesy of www.shotmonster.com where our motto is, "Please DO steal our photos!"


       


 

  



              

 

 




Posted on 10/06/2008 7:02 PM Comments (20)

September 30, 2008

The Best Thing about not having a Badge (This is dedicated to the ones I love.)


I am a real girl!

10/3/08 NEWSFLASH! Yesterday "they" bestowed the OG badge on me. So now I have a few more things to say:

1.  The blog below was not a backhanded plea for a badge; I really was fine without it.  All I really care about is being loved by my friends.

2. But thank you for the badge anyway. 

3. I'll leave this journal up because it is a nice tribute to my superfriends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The best thing about having no badges is knowing that all of you who visit my page and leave me comments, notes and messages are doing it because, well,  I guess you like me and the things I post.  You make the time in your busy day to visit me, even though I am badgeless.  And that makes me feel great!

 Hello Friends!

It’s been one year since I posted my first original blog. It got a total of 1 comment!  So much has happened in one year: I have met many amazing people; I’ve had 25 featured photos; I have collected just under 3000 buzz;  and most important of all, I have made some very good friends.

I am cool now with having no badges. I confess that I went through a period where each time a “new kid” got a badge I would don my "angry eyebrows" and threaten to quit.  But I was just bluffing.  I know I could never leave. I would miss you all too much.

I would miss...


Sue, with her impressive courage, intelligence, common sense and warmth.

 


Kerri, with her big heart and fascinating glimpses into farm life.

 


Barb, who posts lots of photos of her adorable daughter and  who won't give up trying until she reaches that golden ring of happiness.

 


Vanessa, who I would dare anybody not to love, and who I wish I could wave a magic wand for and turn the Walmart into Cinderella’s castle so she could live happily ever after.

 


J.J.-Joanne, with her unfailing generosity and love for the natural world.

 


Becky, with her caring friendship and incredible photographic eye.

 


Savannah, with her love of music, beauty and the written word. (also, I admit to being hypnotized by her shinygold hair.)

 


Kristyn, with her brilliant mind and talent in so many creative fields.

 


Ashley (rockinponda), with her great sense of humor, friendliness and fine artistic talent.



Verena, who not only is my hamster buddy, but is also a wonderful photographer.

 


Crystal, with her stunning works of fine art and sassy personality.

 


Madison, with her kind heart and sparkling sense of humor. And she’s one of the rare people who seem to ‘get’ me.

 


Elisha, my sweet li’l gal who could  become just about anything she  wants to be because she has so much talent already.

 


Ashley (ashdood), with her surplus of charm and happykittyrainbowsweet photographs.  (and comebacksoon.imissyou)

 


Rihanna, with her generous heart and kinda kooky view of the world.

The sheer beauty of the photography of my friends Sue, Annie, and Dusty.

All my friends and fellow fans of afi/dxh:  Anne, Jessy, Anna, Tara, Kris, Berry, Kay, Mallory, Karem, Veronika, Lory, Jackie, Stacey, Marcie, Aly and of course, My Jenna.

And to my newer friends, I hope to get to know you better in the future as we share ideas and images.   

There are more reasons to stick around:  One reason is that some friends of mine somewhere along the line seem to have vanished (phoenix82, djscribbles, rocker4815 and aameer713, sany83, kissinginparis). I want to be here if and when they decide to return.

 


And you didn’t think I would leave out Sara!   I certainly want to be around for the party when she gets her first by-line in Rolling Stone or is crowned “Miss Warped Tour ‘09” or by popular demand is chosen the next  America’s Sweetheart.”

So again, thank you all for being so wonderful and giving me so many reasons to hang out at Buzznet.  I’ll stick around as long as you guys do.

This also seems about as good a time as any to thank Mark for taking such good care of us. He’s the best Big Brother any of us could hope for.

luv...helen/renata....xo

ps. If I missed your latest post, it’s because this project took so long, and to top it off, I lost it the first time I tried to post it.  I’ll look at your stuff as soon as I can. I promise.


KEY:

Sue=crash13

Kerri=hidedontseek

Barb=heartbroken4stumph

Vanessa=hollow1005

J.J.=bizarreland

Becky=kassady

Savannah=tryingtofindthewords

Kristyn=ikkyg

Verena=csad2549

Crystal=drsirdrawsalot

Madison=eyelinersmudge

Elisha=missxshocking

Rihanna=blackparadegirl

Sue=5footer

Annie=annier

Dusty=dustylenscap

Sara=xblanksface

Mark=panasonicyouth


Posted on 09/30/2008 10:19 AM Comments (29)

September 9, 2008

HE KNOWS I EXIST !!!


...for the 20 seconds it took him to answer my question. LOL




 This is a screen cap of my question and Davey's answer on ASK AFI in the Despair Faction boards.

 Special thanks to my friend Mallory (xfallxintoxmex) for giving me some tips on how to get his attention.

 btw, I hope you're not angry with me for telling you my name was Helen. (even Samuel Clemens had a pen name!)

 

On a completely unrelated note,

 

if you'd like to win a ZuBoutique t-shirt follow this link. It will take you to the PETA website where you can watch Davey talk about veganism in a little video he made.

Below the video is an entry form for the drawing.  (I didn't enter because I was lucky enough to purchase one of the first t-shirts.)

Have fun, everyone!

luv.....helen....xo









Posted on 09/09/2008 8:39 PM Comments (36)

August 3, 2008

Guilty Pleasures: Music Department (Ooh, we haven't done one of these in ages!)


You know those artists you listen to when no one else is around?  Those artists you wouldn’t admit liking even to your best friend? Well, I’m about to admit it to my 226 best Buzznet friends. And after I go, then it’ll be your turn!

 
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE


I don’t really like this genre of music, but I think he’s a very talented musical hyphenate. (singer-dancer-writer-producer-impresario-actor)

Also, I just find him Sexy. There, I’ve said it. He’s not even really that handsome. The shape of his eyes is weird, and they don’t seem to have any discernible color.  I can’t figure out what color his hair is, either. It’s not brown, blonde, black or red.  It’s like taupe.  But when that video for “What Goes Around Comes Around” was in heavy rotation, I would not stir from the couch until the very last frame.

NEIL DIAMOND



If Neil were a pizza, he would definitely come with extra cheese.   This is the man who penned the following lyrics:

“I am, I cried!
To no one there.
And no one heard at all,
Not even the chair.”

Next time you’re in the mood for cheese, have yourself a heaping helping of Neil Diamond. And I dare you not to sing along with “Sweet Caroline.”

btw, have you guys seen the movie, Saving Silverman, starring Jack Black, Jason Biggs, Steve Zahn and Neil Diamond?  Well, if you like zany zaniness, I highly recommend it.

DAUGHTRY


I don’t know why I like this guy; maybe it’s because he reminds me so much of Vin Diesel (another one of my Guilty Pleasures). Maybe because I feel sorry for him having to go through life with his  American Idol stigma. He may as well wear a scarlet “A” on his chest, for pete’s sake.

I haven’t bought a CD of his, but I will admit I  bought the one song from his album that Slash played on.  That has to mean something, doesn’t it?

ABBA


Who can resist these singing Swedes?  Apparently, not many people, judging by the success of the Broadway smash “Mamma Mia,” (now a major motion picture)  based on songs that were huge hits way back in the 1970’s.

Put on “Voulez Vous”  and you’re instantly transported back to Studio 54. Look, there’s Truman Capote!  You just try to sit still.

JAMES TAYLOR


He’s the chamomile tea of singers.  I find him very soothing.  When “Fire and Rain” comes on while I’m pushing my cart down the aisles of the A&P, all the stresses of food shopping instantly melt away.

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH


Man, I am so picturing you howling with laughter right about now. No, but I like Hootie’s  voice. That’s not even his name; I don’t know what his name is. I think I like these guys because hearing them takes me back to a time when I was young, free and in love.

Phew, I feel so much better now that that’s out in the open! 

I tag:   hollow1005, crash13, kassady, eyelinersmudge, hidedontseek, drsirdrawsalot, skintight,  ikkygxblanksface, and anyone else with guts.

C’mon, ‘fess up!!


Posted on 08/03/2008 6:21 PM Comments (18)
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