Davy Jones dies; goodbye, my childhood!

Sad news today: Davy Jones of The Monkees died today at 66. Goodbye childhood!

Of my earliest childhood entertainment memories, The Monkees are at the front of the line (followed very closely by “That Girl” and Carol Burnett, but that’s a story for another day).

In fact, as a child I got to meet The Monkees. How’s that for cool? (And possibly where the seeds for my entertainment writing stint were sown? We’ll never know, will we.)

The Monkees had flown into the Rochester, NY airport. It was maybe 1967 and I was maybe three-years-old, but I was old enough for the memory to be imprinted on my brain. I knew where we were going and who we were going to see. There was a crowd, and I remember being at the fence as the guys got off the plane – this was back when people got off the plane and walked around on the tarmac.

And then they came over to us, and I remember being scared. One of them had a beard and was carrying a movie camera and had it pointed as the crowd; my mom thinks it was Mickey. Someone – she thinks Davy Jones – wanted to reach over the fence to hold me and I started screaming like a baby.

Well, I pretty much was still a baby!

My mom thinks there may be a slide photo of the moment somewhere in the cases and cases of projector carousels I have stored in my spare bedroom that date back to the early 60s.

Yes, Kodak holds a special place in our hearts here in Rochester, and in our personal photo albums. It’s more than the decline of a company as Kodak gets out of the picture business; it’s the end of an era of memory-making. But I digress

Watching the video clip of the opening and closing credits from “The Monkees”, I realize how much pop culture really does shape our lives. It can be for good or bad – methinks today’s music falls on the bad side of the spectrum.

But in this case, it was good. Very bubble gum, pop rock, innocent cutesy, let’s try and walk like The Monkees because it’s fun kind of good. Super innocent, puppy love, Marcia Brady falls in love with Davy Jones kind of good.

It probably won’t surprise you that from The Monkees I graduated to … ta da! The Osmonds!

My sister and I reminisced today about seeing The Osmonds in concert – I was seven years old, I’m pretty sure. My dad took me and my sister, and my cousins came in from Pittsfield to see the show with a guy named Ernie who was dating their mom. I remember the opening act – Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, of ” One Is The Loneliest Number” – and that my dad bought me a life sized poster of Donny Osmond that hung on the back of my bedroom door until til it fell apart.

Sigh. Innocent pop music. Those were the days.

Today is a sad day. Rest in peace, Davy Jones. And thanks for the memories!

PS: My dad just called. He now lives in Pennsylania and he’d forgotten until he saw the local news tonight that Davy Jones actually lived in Middleburg, PA, just up the road half hour from where he is in Milton. Who would have guessed? See, your childhood never really goes too far away, does it? They’re going to have a celebration this weekend. Wish I could make the trip; it would be fun to have another Monkees moment, even if it is a sad one.

Scout gets to play some soccer with real soccer players

Today was the kick off for the next round of the ASPCA’s Shelter Challenge, and Rochester Animal Services hosted a little party in the park, with special guests from the WNY Flash women’s soccer team.

I headed down to take some pictures for the dog blog, and I debated bringing Scout. You know how much he loves to play soccer in the backyard, and how good he is with the ball. I thought he’d have some fun. But I also know how squirrely he gets in strange situations and crowds, and I didn’t want to overwhelm him in the heat, either. So I left him home.

When I got downtown, there wasn’t a big crowd (it’s hard to compete with opening day of Bills training camp). So I went home and got Scout.

I’m so glad I did! He was happy to get in the car, happy on the ride, and when we got there and he saw the soccer balls? In doggie heaven.

Forget about the people and the other dogs. All he saw was the ball. I dropped the leash, kicked him a ball, and away he went. Kaley Fountain of the WNY Flash spent some time with Scout running up and down the field and kicking the ball. A few times he looked to me as if to say, “This is OK, right?” Yup, it’s OK. Go, Scout, go! And then away he went.

If she had been up for it, I think he would have gone home with her.

Scout and Kaley Fountain from the WNY Flash

The girls had to take time for some photos with the shelter dogs, and then Scout went to play with the guys doing the soccer clinic. No kids? A dog will do.

It was a great day for my happy pup. I’d been worried since we found out he was sick that he might be prone to injury or something. But this week Dr. Hall said that she’d let him be a dog and not to worry.

You know, God really does take care of things, even our dogs. I know it seems silly to some people, but watching my pup out there running around made me so happy. I know God cares about him even more than I do and I’m glad his last days – if these even are his last days; I think he’ll be here till Christmas - are filled with the things he loves.

Rochester NY woman arrested after video taping traffic stop (video)

On his radio show this morning, Glenn Beck highlighted a Rochester, NY news story about a woman named Emily Good who was arrested by police while videotaping a traffic stop.

Beck made a big deal about the story because he claims it points to the police taking away the rights of citizens. But his show producer, Stu, was on the side of the cops. And so am I.

I don’t think for one minute it was about the video taping. The officer never asked her to stop taping. He asked her to go in the house and tape from there, or get off the sidewalk, which is not her property.

We don’t know what the traffic stop was for, who it was they had in cuffs from the traffic stop (the “witnesses” said there was another person in the car), what she said before she started taping or what happened prior to the tape going on, and what other run ins she’s had with police in other antagonistic situations.

The police don’t know if they’re going to have a mob situation on their hands (she wasn’t alone out there) or what they’re dealing with with the person in the car, and they need to keep control of the situation. I think the cop was calm, rational, and within his right to ask the people to go inside to maintain control of the situation, bc these kind of seemingly innocent traffic stops can spiral out of control quickly when bystanders are acting like jerks

And let’s not miss one other important point: these folks videotaping are savvy. When the cop asks her what she’s doing, she says it’s her right. Who said it wasn’t? She’s already defensive and prepared to give the cop a hard time. And remember, we don’t know what happened prior to this taping. It seems as if she and the cop already had words. Her reason for staying outside? “I feel like I need the fresh air right now.” Riiiight.

The witnesses also said they had already called 911 to report the cop. But why? So they could inflame the situation, maybe?

So I’m with Stu on this one, Glenn. Remember Eric Massa? When you were ready to make him the poster child for political change? And that blew up in your face? I think this might be another one of those stories.

Conan’s advice to Dartmouth grads good advice for middle aged writers, too

My friend Kelsey Timmerman, writer of all things fun and cool, posted this video of Conan O’Brien’s commencement address to Dartmouth College, pointing out Conan’s advice about failure as good advice for grads.

But listening to Conan’s speech, it’s also great advice for … well, me.

Like Conan, I’m 47. And lately, I’ve been wondering if this is all there is. I mean, I’m past middle age – unless I’m going to live to my mid-90s, and even in that case the likelihood that I’ll be able to do anything more noteworthy than wipe my own nose is slim. So I’ve been musing – have I missed my chance to do something significant?

Then along comes Conan, and with his advice to graduates (offered up after 20 laugh out loud minutes) reminds me that sometimes the best years come after you think the best is behind you. Some of his key points:

“There are few things in life more liberating than having your worst fear realized.”

“Your path at 22 will not be your path at 32 or 42. One’s dream is constantly evolving, rising and falling and changing course.”

“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy. But if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound reinvention.”

“Whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.”

If you have 20 minutes, watch the video. It’s hilarious, and if nothing else you’ll get a good laugh. But you might also find a little inspiration in there, too.

Happy dog tongues (video)

I love watching the dogs after they get peanut butter. It’s the only way I can get Scout and Bailey to take their medicine. It gives them all happy tongues.

By the way – that’s Glenn Beck on the radio in the background. I don’t know what his calamity du jour is, but I’m pretty sure that peanut butter would make it all better.

Charlie Sheen: if life imitates art, what’s the problem?

For days now, we’ve all been having a good chuckle – or at least a head scratch – over Charlie Sheen’s interviews about his drug and alcohol problems. While he claims to be clean, you only have to watch a few minutes of interviews to realize that there is something not right about him.

But one thing I haven’t heard any bring up is this: Charlie Sheen is a drug and alcohol addicted, misogynistic narcissist playing a drug and alcohol addicted, misogynistic narcissist on the most highly rated television show on the air.

So … we love one and mock the other? It seems a little bit hypocritical, if you ask me.

Not that I’m trying to justify Sheen’s actions. Yeesh, the guy has gone totally off the deep end. Just watch the interviews.

But really, didn’t we as the American viewing audience – or at least those who watch the show – just encourage his behavior? Who are we, really, to make a show like “Two and a Half Men” #1 and then turn around when life imitates art and shake our heads in judgement?

A day at the funny farm, in pictures & video

Today, darling husband was getting rid of a tree stump and some trees to get ready for the fence guys. The hens were out scratching for bugs, Scout was hiding by the house because he’s afraid of the chickens, and Bandit … well, as you can hear in the video, Bandit was just being Bandit.

Sound the alarm!

Darling husband taking a break to get the deer update from the field. He'd rather be hunting.

When the chain saw broke, darling husband got resourceful and pulled out the circular saw.

Gee, look how much room we have without those stupid bushes.

That song that's stuck in my head

I woke up this morning with a song stuck in my head. That happens once in a while. Usually it’s a tune that I’ve never heard before.

I’m not a musician, so it’s not like I can write the song down or record it. Usually, it only takes a few minutes for the song to fly away from my mind when I wake up. But today, I woke up with a familiar song in my head and I can’t get rid of it.

The song?

Sheena Easton’s “Morning Train.” Good grief.

I have no idea where that song came from. I haven’t heard it in a million years, and I didn’t dream about it last night. And yet there it was this morning, in my head, and it’s been playing over and over and over all day.

Somebody make it stop. Please.

I’ve tried several times to read the book “This Is Your Brain On Music,” because in it the author supposedly explains why songs get stuck in our head. But it’s so technical that I can’t get past the first chapter or two.

I’ve heard that when you get a song stuck in your head it’s like your brain is itching and the song satisfies it. I don’t know if I believe that. This is like nails on chalkboard. Which is not very satisfying at all.

Oh well. If Ihave to hear this song all day, I thought you might want to join me. Because once you hear it, it’s not going away.

Visit my new blog, Bark Around Town!

That song that’s stuck in my head

I woke up this morning with a song stuck in my head. That happens once in a while. Usually it’s a tune that I’ve never heard before.

I’m not a musician, so it’s not like I can write the song down or record it. Usually, it only takes a few minutes for the song to fly away from my mind when I wake up. But today, I woke up with a familiar song in my head and I can’t get rid of it.

The song?

Sheena Easton’s “Morning Train.” Good grief.

I have no idea where that song came from. I haven’t heard it in a million years, and I didn’t dream about it last night. And yet there it was this morning, in my head, and it’s been playing over and over and over all day.

Somebody make it stop. Please.

I’ve tried several times to read the book “This Is Your Brain On Music,” because in it the author supposedly explains why songs get stuck in our head. But it’s so technical that I can’t get past the first chapter or two.

I’ve heard that when you get a song stuck in your head it’s like your brain is itching and the song satisfies it. I don’t know if I believe that. This is like nails on chalkboard. Which is not very satisfying at all.

Oh well. If Ihave to hear this song all day, I thought you might want to join me. Because once you hear it, it’s not going away.

Visit my new blog, Bark Around Town!

Kittens at the shelter (video)

 

I went over to the shelter this morning to learn how to take photos of the cats so that I can hopefully lend a hand once in a while. I say “hopefully” because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that I’m often more of a hinderance than a help to the folks at RAS. Thank goodness everyone is so patient with me.

I think I got the computer stuff down OK; I took good notes. But as for the photos? All I can say is that it’s going to take me a while to figure out how to open a cat cage, get the cat to sit still, then take a photo and not have anyone escape.

I opened one cage and while I was trying to snap a photo of one kitten, it’s companion leapt over my head out of the cage and onto my back. Across the aisle in another cage, a kitten reached out and batted all of the paperwork out of the holders and onto the floor.

These two kittens in this video cracked me up. The black kitty is high on catnip, I think, because he was going nonstop the whole time I was there. He’d reach out with both paws and grab anything that went in front of the cage – people, paper, you name it. If he could have squeezed his head through the bars he would have been out. Both kittens are just a few weeks old.

The white kitten seems so mild mannered, but watch what happens when he catches sight of the black kitten’s tail. It’s almost like he doesn’t know it’s connected to the kitten that was just all over him. He reached out. And then whomp! Wrestling match.

I wish we could set up a kitty cam, because it’s hilarious watching the kittens.