Ma Vie en Rose

L'Ordinateur Super!

2006-11-22T02:05:00.000-05:00

After you type blogspot enough times in a row…it is surprising how many variations of it you spontaneously come up with…

Why have I been typing blogspot obsessively for the past half an hour? Ah ha…that is a good question…with a very exciting answer!

This is the first post from a sweet little purring machine that is nicely toasting my chilly fingers…

Drum roll…MAC BOOK PRO!!! Ahhhh…it even sounds beautiful!

(Hey…if I can write two posts out of…hmmm…not many more than that…about my car, then I am allowed to write one about my computer. Just in case you thought I was a geek or something. No comments please, unless you are Jereme, Josh, or Nina, because then you understand ☺ )

Although, I admit…I can’t take the credit for this one (except for perhaps MAC propaganda)…you see, “my” and “mine” are relative terms when used in this post. I am currently embarking on a sort of “will work for computer” program; in other words, a joint freelancing effort, which I am really looking forward to. And, thus I am indebted to the owner of the business (for at least six months probably) for the use of this pretty little piece of technology.

And then of course there is the added benefit of being able to add a new reference to my “Babysitting Technological Equipment” resume.

Quandary

2006-10-24T23:20:00.000-04:00

"Do you hate me, or.... do you love me?
Either way, I think we've got a problem."

"I hate you....and, I love you."
(~House, 08/13/2006)

Words of Choice

2006-10-07T01:26:00.000-04:00

Fantastic is a very satisfying word. When I say it it just feels like I have captured all of the fantastacism of what I am describing. That is why it is my current word of choice.

Then there is horrific. The only problem with horrific is that it is far too close to horrible, and you run the risk of producing some expletive like horrificable, which by the way, totally ruins the impact.

Though I have to say that my favourite will always be the
B. Calhoun original...“No, Please....” I have to give credit where credit is due for this one. So I hear, I get credited for it...but its actual author was none other than the above. (I just made it famous.)

Nice....

Resemblances

2006-09-07T11:57:00.000-04:00

The other day I saw Jeff Savigny playing the trumpet in The Z Street Band.

Today, John Locke came in to fix the gaping hole in the ceiling of our computer lab.

After the Convention Reuben Michler waited on our table at Hops in Lake Mary.

Kaira Candalaria is in Monsters Inc.

Every morning at approximately 8:00am, Mr. Kohli (the cousin) from Bride and Prejudice comes into Panera on Lake Mary Blvd, and orders coffee and a bagel. (Try me, you can't miss him...)

Kevin Murphy stars on the Late Show with Conan O'Brien, and Jereme Brower in Johnny Bravo.

Caleb is currently studying with Boone.

And, the man on the front of the Dignity WT resembles...well, a woman, I guess.

Then, there's a whole brand of people in the world who are Tom Cruise look-alikes, ever notice that? My boss, my cousin's exhusband...

At least, I think so. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. But that is the funny thing about resemblances. You would think that if someone looked like someone else, then that was just a fact...like Jereme Brower looking like Johnny Bravo, I guess that's a fact, but that seems to be the exception. So often it is such a subjective science.

A rose, by any other name, would smell so sweet. ~ William Shakespeare (who, by the way, at least according to the opinions of some, had quite a strong resemblance to the Queen of England....)

Blogging

2006-08-21T22:33:00.000-04:00

Well, it is approximately 15 days short of a year since I have been blogging. Tis curious who has a blog that didn't, and who keeps it up, and who doesn't. Evidently I fall into the latter category. Eh hem..well, will be curious if anyone actually sees this post....

Ma Vie En Rose will shortly be receiving a much needed facelift: Home-made, and devoid of the attractive circa 1970's puke green, I promise. Will let you know when, and where it lives.

Ciao!

Dinner Table Conversations

2005-09-05T01:27:00.000-04:00

What classes a conversation as a 'dinner table conversation' or as is more often heard, 'not a dinner table conversation'?
Here's a few precious samples...

"Its one of those things like being pregnant..."
"Well, I think there can be degrees of pregnancy..."
"No, you are either pregnant, or you are not. It is either a shark or it is not."
"If I was pregnant, and it was a shark, I would be most upset."

"What does ketchup mean?"
"What does mayonaise mean?"
"It is the French for 'jar of fat'."
"What does relish mean?"
"It is called relish because you relish it."
"I can't say that I have ever felt that emotion towards relish."

Some things sound funny with an English Accent...
"taa-cos", "maa-zda proh-teh-jay", "paa-sta"
Some things sound funny with an American Accent...
"I'll have the Caesar salad with Sal-mon. Sal-mon-Ceasar Salad...."
"Sal-mon-ella Salad...???"
"We are out of Sal-mon-ella salad, would you like chicken instead?"

WARNING: It has been scientifically tested and proven that the aforementioned 'dinner table conversations' can cause acute gastronomic discomforts up to and including pukin' sick!

Feel better A :(

__________ the Mazda 3

2005-08-15T01:18:00.000-04:00

Well, as most of you now know, poor Cleon is no more. He putzed his last into the Mazda dealership, and a very guilty-feeling me came home with a new Jemma Car. So, thanks to all the invaluable input from the blogging community, and despite the Scion propaganda :), I have at last solved the problem of what is a Jemma Car...

DRUM ROLL....
Mazda 3

There we have it, a happy Mazda family; 3 little Mazdas all in a row :) (We asked if they would give us an advertising discount, but they wouldn't sign us.)

However, again I am asking for help because now it needs a name; something I am ashamed at my lack of ability in. This was brought acutely to my attention by Polarduke's insightful assesment of the problems with the Neon:

"If my name was Cleon, I don't think I would run anymore either."

So, to prevent such a problem again...
"Oh what should I call my dear little [Mazda],
it's [lights] are small but it's [trunk] is enourmouse..." ~A.A. Milne

Comments, please.

Cleon the Neon

2005-06-24T00:20:00.000-04:00

Cleon is sick. What do you say to console a sick car? Really, I think that it is the owner of a sick car who should receive the condolences....
My car has had an oil leak, just a bit of a cold really, nothing too serious. However, in the process of fixing the oil leak, it appears that it is no longer oil that is the problem, but transmission fluid...TRANSMISSION. The Doctor informed me with a sad and serious expression, "It has gone into the lungs, I'm afraid." I just didn't know if I could take that kind of news...well, at least I think that I handled it better than my bank account. I had quite a job consoling my bank account. What a fuss! So, in lieu of his delicate condition, I'm thinking that Cleon's days are numbered...poor thing. He has been a good friend, it is a sad moment.

Tear :(

However, I need some help...
Because I can't have a horse, what is a "Jemma Car?" Comments?

Portrait of the Musician (painted by an artist) Vol.1 June 2005

2005-06-20T00:21:00.000-04:00

Letter from the Editor

Well, the real purpose of this sudden spring into blogging action is to say a little thank you to all my music junky friends who recently rescued me from a life threatening case of the "written live music review." As I sat wondering exactly how I was going to make "Great show, I had fun" fill the requisite 1-2 pages, I lit upon the gratifying realization that I had been shoulder-to-shoulder in the audience with an entire database of musical reference material. Check it out...if I worked it right, I could probably get away without actually writing any of the essay myself, and yet sounding like a true authority on this subject that I know nothing about. So there you have it...all you aspiring and up-to-the-minute local musicians are now published in the first (and probably the only) edition of "Portrait of the Musician; Online Music Review."

Much thanks,
The Editor.

Portrait of the Musician Vol.1: Feature Article

2005-06-20T00:07:00.000-04:00

SNOW PATROL Final Straw (Live)

"Whenever we go anywhere new, we're like kids in a huge empty house. We want explore all these big spaces, climb into the attic and rake among boxes and get down into the basement and find the stuff that has been stashed away. For us the world could never be too big....." Gary Lightbody

A quote that speaks to the roots of Snow Patrol. Snow Patrol began as a UK University duo who "clicked musically and...liked the same bands, so we thought 'Why not start one of our own?'" That is what lead singer, Gary Lightbody, and guitarist, Mark McClelland set out to do. Joined by drummer, Johnny Quinn, and bassist Eric Avery, they released their first album as Snow Patrol in 1998. “Songs for Polar Bears” was hailed by critics as an "infectious pop punk racket with a distorted, amp-popping twist." It's style reflected the young musicians' far-ranging musical influences, which at the time included a strong draw to the American rock scene. However, with the early 21st century obsession with the boy-bands, "dancers who get vocal training," and a heavy dance-beat craze, the traditional, do-it-yourself bands were feeling the cold. This, a small indie record label, and a tight budget contributed to the limited success of “Songs for Polar Bears,” and the subsequent album. But now, almost seven years later, "It just feels like there's a bit of a revolution come to bands writing their own songs and who can play their instruments," comments drummer Johnny Quinn. With the release of their latest album, Snow Patrol has ditched their small beginnings. “Final Straw” was deemed one of the top albums of the year and provided the band with their first charting hit in 2004. The same year they embarked on the first phase of their first US tour, the second phase of which found them Orlando-bound in May of this year.

House of Blues, Downtown Disney, May 27th, 2005.
On the bill for the evening was featured artist, Snow Patrol, with opener band, Athlete. The atmosphere was close and friendly, seemingly appropriate for a band who found much of their influence in the casual and relaxed garage rock style. Says fan Meagan Shiwnarayan, "I'm happy it was at the House of Blues... You could really push yourself up, see the band better." Comments Turi Weichman, drummer for local band Fletcher on the Right, "Snow Patrol looked like they were having fun...they were good with the crowd, genuine."
The show overall was musically solid . While none of the band members were very technical in their style, the band was very together in their performance, pulling funky breaks easily and naturally. Snow Patrol's sound was very typical of the American rock music scene, for the most part comprised of standard beats, and not harmonically complex. There was definite emphasis on song writing and stage performance. "None of it was bad music," says guitarist Ben Calhoun of local band On the Soapbox, "that was the first time I had head them, though, and nothing really stood out; no particular melodies, or guitar work that was really unique." And that seems to be the general consensus of opinion. Although billed as the opening act, it appears that it was Athlete that really stole the show.
"Athlete rocked the house! " says Turi. Athlete, also an emerging star on the UK indie rock scene, provided an interesting deviation from the main stream. This South London foursome debuted in 2003 with “Vehicles and Animals.” The band, made up of childhood friends drew a lot of their initial inspiration from the music of Oasis. Their style has since emerged into an experimental indie rock all their own.
Athlete's performance at House of Blues followed their innovative style which gave it a peak. Comments Tom Moore, vocalist and songwriter for On the Soapbox, "Athlete had a pretty original sound; was a little more interesting in terms of the instrumentation and more of a sound that...is refreshingly different to most American Pop/Rock music." While still following the standard rock formats, Athlete's music was more experimental and more complex. They used an interesting combination of traditional and electronic instruments which gave their music an almost hybrid rock/electronica feel.
Overall, this was a solid and reccommendable musical experience. "Good performance, good show...entertaining," says fan Sarah Jo Hart. Both bands are definitely worth a listen.
Snow Patrol and Athlete toured together in the US through Spring of 2005. Check Snow Patrol’s website for upcoming tour dates. (http://snowpatrol.amrecords.com)

Drum Roll Please.....

2005-06-18T01:50:00.000-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please.....

Just what you have all been waiting for....

drum roll....

gasp of anticipation....

eyes straining, ears pricked....

What is it? Its the one, the only....

Its....

A POST!!!!!!

Crowd roars and cheers!

(Well, that wasn't so bad. I should do this more often :) )

Well, well, well....

2005-02-01T01:11:00.000-05:00

Alright, I'm persuaded...not that I have a wealth of dribbling consciousness to comment on of quite such appeal as some of yours....but, here goes anyway.

Naturally I am much more interested in changing the colour of the background, and seeing just how much of the template I can avoid using...

Anyway, howdy....read my blog too!