Marty and Moose

I met Moose when I started junior high school in the Fall 1967. We've been close friends since 1969, 40 years. These Thursday posts have been to honor that milestone. I'm Marty. Happy New Year, Moose.  Don't let the title of the song below fool you. It's a beautiful rendition.

And for old long past, my joy),

For old long past,

We will take a cup of kindness yet,

For old long past,

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And days of old long past.

And surely you will pay for your pint-vessel!

And surely I will pay for mine!

And we will take a cup of kindness yet,

For old long past.

We two have run about the hillsides

And pulled the wild daisies fine;

But we have wandered many a weary foot

Since old long past.

We two have paddled in the stream,

From morning sun till noon;

But seas between us broad have roared

Since old long past.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend!

And give me a hand of yours!

And we will take a right good-will drink,

For old long past.

A B C Wednesday, Round 5

 

 X is for The xx.

I recently discovered a new band that fits in perfectly today - The xx. They are from south west London, England. They formed in 2005 and released an album in August 2009. Here is the cover art for the new album:

You may hear their music at MySpace. 

X is for The xx. ABC Wednesday is hosted by Denise at mrsnesbittspace.
Happy New Year to my ABC Wednesday friends!

Ten on Tuesday

T

My Top Ten New Year's Resolutions post may be viewed here.  Ten on Tuesday is hosted by Yano at yanowhatimean?. Next week: Ten Things You Are Looking Forward To in 2010


End of Decade and Best and Worst 2009 were posted earlier.  Continuing with my best and worst for 2009:

The Worst of 2009: The Year of Crazy or The WTF? Year
The Decade: The Big Zero
Personal Decade: The best highs and the worst lows

Best Books I Read in 2009:
1) The White Tiger
2) The Help

Best New Music I Heard in 2009:
1) One Eskimo
2) Joshua Radin

Favorite Song 2009:
Kandi - One Eskimo

2009 was the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival

Men I Loved in 2009:
1) Jon Stewart
2) Steve Martin
3) Chris Rock
4) Nate Silver
5) Barack Obama
6) Corey Booker
7) Bill Moyers
8) David Sedaris
9) Matt Taibbi
10) Al Franken

Best New Websites I Found in 2009:
1) Supercook
2) FORA.tv

Most Trusted People 2009:
Elizabeth Warren
Chairman of Congressional bank bailout oversight panel
Championing the Consumer Financial Protection Agency
Harvard professor of law
Scholar of the dwindling middle class

And, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger
Safely landed plane in the Hudson River, NYC

2009 was the 40th anniversary of the "War Is Over! If you want it" campaign

John Lennon and Yoko Ono launched the "War Is Over!" campaign in December 1969 with billboards across the world. Below the billboard in smaller letters read "Happy Christmas, John and Yoko".

Happy New Year to my Ten on Tuesday friends!

Meatless Monday

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. Our goal is to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.

Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

It has always been my goal to open the pantry, see what is there, and prepare a meal dependent on what is available. I don't work particularly hard at that goal but I am getting much better, with a little help from food bloggers and websites that drop recipes in my email once a week.

This week's dish is Spicy Baked Macaroni, recipe by Giada De Laurentiis. While this pasta dish reminds me of a summer pasta with spinach and cherry tomatoes, baked and spicy seemed more appropriate for winter. I'll admit I have a bad habit of substituting and leaving out ingredients - it is just enough to drive a Type A personality crazy! I'm getting better about that, as well.

Substitutions to help empty my pantry and refrigerator and to avoid waste:
1) Instead of elbow macaroni, I had three boxes of different kinds of small pasta (bow tie, penne, and shells), about 1/3 in each box. Perfect.
2) I only had shredded mozzarella cheese.
3) I used ground red pepper.
4) I substituted Parmesan cheese since I didn't have any Romano.
5) I used fresh spinach.
Other than that........ sorry, real cooks, Type As, and Giada. Five substitutions should qualify for an adapted recipe, don't you think? Oh! I used my frozen homemade bread cubes for the bread crumbs. I grated those and the Parmesan cheese in my mini-food processor. I felt like a real cook!

Ingredients

• Salt
• 1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 pound assorted mushrooms, quartered
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cups bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup
• 1/4 cup Romano, plus 1/3 cup
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened, plus 2 tablespoons
• 12 ounces mozzarella cubed (about 2 cups)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Cook until the mushrooms are tender and the onion is golden, about 7 minutes. Add the tomatoes, spinach, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and 1/4 cup Romano. Spread the softened butter in a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish and sprinkle half of the bread crumb mixture inside the dish to coat.

In a large bowl combine the vegetable mixture with the cooked macaroni, cubed mozzarella, the remaining Parmesan and Romano cheeses, and the nutmeg. Spoon into the prepared baking dish, top with the remaining bread crumb mixture, and dot the top with the remaining butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Serves: 8 to 10 servings


BASIC FUDGE

I realize everyone made fudge BEFORE the holidays. I waited until AFTER the holidays. It is like wearing a red dress on Valentine's Day - why blend in? Wear it the day after, if you want to be noticed:)

I was always led to believe making fudge was extremely difficult and included scary things like double boilers, stirring and watching it constantly, and making sure it was just the right temperature. I believed this because I never seemed to have a consistent piece of fudge.

I set out to make the Easy Oreo Fudge from Taste and Tell; my mini Oreos didn't make it through the holidays. So, here is basic fudge - very easy and very good!

Ingredients:

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Line an 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides.

Microwave the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a microwavable bowl on high for 2 to 3 minutes, or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Blend in the vanilla.

Spread the fudge into the prepared pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Cut into 20-25 squares.

One more thing: I purchased cinnamon pine cones and vanilla candles recently, but there is nothing that makes my apartment smell better than the holy trinity - olive oil/onions/garlic!

Happy and Healthy Eating!

The Best and Worst of 2009

For anyone who might read this blog, you know my affection for lists. It is apparent that in my daily life they are ineffective as I tend to either lose them, forget about them, or stare at them paralyzed by their length!

This year, we have end of year and end of decade lists to entertain us. I have addressed this here (End of a Decade). Last year was filled with personal changes and presidential election anticipation (The Best and Worst of Everything 2008); this year has been labeled by more than one medium as the 'Year of Crazy'.  The following video helps us remember the other things about 2009:



Here are some of personal favorites for 2009:

Favorite Political Quotes:

1) “You want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not secretary of state.” — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during an August press conference in Congo

2) “On what planet do you spend most of your time?” —  Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), reacting to a town hall question that suggested a comparison between Obama and Adolf Hitler

Honorable mention for humor: "Keep your government hands off my Medicare." Speaker at health care reform town hall meeting in Simpsonville, S.C., commenting on the government-created Medicare program, quoted by The Washington Post on July 28.

Favorite 2009 Days:
1) Inauguration of President Obama
2) University of Alabama football team wins SEC Championship following a perfect regular season
3) Moose survives coronary artery bypass grafting.


Favorite Satirical News Stories:

1) Man Raised By Wolves Worried He's Slowly Turning Into Father

2) Christ Turns Down 3-Year, Multimillion Dollar Deal To Coach Notre Dame


Favorite Viral Videos:

1) David After Dentist

2) Surprise Kitty

3) Susan Boyle (and, yes, I still tear up when I watch it)


People I'd like to throw a shoe at:

1) Senator Joe Wilson (R-SC) - interrupted the President of the United States during a joint address to Congress and disgraced the Chamber by shouting "you lie"

2) Fox News infotainers/Sarah Palin/Michelle Bachmann/Dick Cheney/Liz Cheney/Dick Armey (one in the same)


Favorite 2009 Films:  (the favorites of the ones I've seen so far)

1) An Education

2) Away We Go





People I'll Miss:

1) Senator Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy
2) John Hughes (writer, filmmaker, director, producer)

More to come... Please, feel free to add your own best/worst 2009.

Recipe: Okra Gumbo

After always having southern traditional foods for Christmas, i.e., ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, I was intrigued when a co-worker shared that her family serves gumbo on Christmas Eve. It sounded good to me and I had recently received an okra gumbo recipe via email. This recipe was attributed to Nathaniel Burton, former executive chef at Broussard's in New Orleans, LA, and from the book Creole Feast by Nathaniel Burton and Rudy Lombard.

Have you ever eaten okra and tomatoes over rice? This reminded me a tastier version of that dish.  While I always enjoy shrimp, I think it was the butter that added the most flavor.

Okra Gumbo 

2 pounds medium-size fresh shrimp (with shells)
1 gallon chicken stock
1/3 cup butter
3 pounds okra, sliced (I used frozen okra.)
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes (1-2# can)


Peel and clean shrimp. Put shells in the chicken stock and boil at least 10 minutes. Strain and set aside. Melt the butter in a soup pot. Add the okra, onion and green pepper and saute until liquid has evaporated. Add garlic and chopped parsley and cook for about 2 minutes more, then add the strained chicken stock and the tomatoes. Stir thoroughly and add the shrimp. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes. Serve with rice.

Makes 10 servings
 

Weekend Cat Blogging #238

Vincent

This week's Weekend Cat Blogging is the New Year’s Edition: Rocking New Year's hosted by Sir Tristan Tabby Cat Longtail. 

 

Photo by iStock

Film Review: Wonderful World

 If the glass is half empty, at least you can't drown.

Two things I enjoy: Matthew Broderick's acting and acoustic guitar. This film has both. Wonderful World premiered at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in April 2009 and will be in limited released January 8, 2010, i.e., most likely not in my immediate area. It may be seen now via Magnolia Pictures for OnDemand subscribers.

Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a divorced father, a failed but talented children's folk singer, a recently unemployed career proofreader, and a chronically unhappy person. His cynicism stems from encounters with greed, the "bottom line", and "the man", whom he encounters several times while smoking marijuana in the shared apartment with Senegalese roommate, Ibou (Michael Kenneth Williams).

Ibou becomes ill, which leads to a series of events that helps change Ben and his relationships with others, including his daughter. One of the primarily influences is Ibou's sister, Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) from Senegal, who moves into Ibou's room while her brother remains hospitalized. Ben begins to see the beauty around him and to understand perspective.

Aside from having difficulty understanding Ibou during a crucial conversation, I enjoyed the film tremendously. View trailer here.  Note:  As I understand it, the music is original to the film and there is a cameo performance by acclaimed musician Dan Zanes, the noted father of the modern independent kids' music movement.

4 of 5 stars

Feel Good Friday

Marty and Moose

Our Lifeline

Senate Passes Health Care Legislation, 60-39

There are few reasons I will set my clock for 6 a.m. on a day when I could sleep until I wake naturally. Watching the vote by the U.S. Senate to pass legislation of this magnitude is one of those reasons. It isn't what I had hoped it would be (yet), but it remains the largest domestic legislation passed in my lifetime. Now, President Obama will become involved in helping shape it, hopefully, into his vision.

Senator Edward Kennedy's family was in the chamber for the vote. Robert Byrd, the ill 92-year-old senator from West Virginia, cast his vote by saying, "this is for my friend, Ted Kennedy. Aye.". (Did anyone else see him being rolled into the Senate Chamber at 2 a.m. to cast a vote this week?)

The circus that passed for debate would have been, and in many cases was, comical had it not been such a serious subject. Between today and the State of the Union address in January, the tentative deadline for a bill to arrive on President Obama's desk for signature, havoc will be taken to a new level by our friends across the aisle. How does one top death panels, paying for forced abortions, killing grandma, and socialism? Stay tuned. We're about to find out. It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. I feel fine. (REM)

A Consumer's Guide to Health Reform

A B C Wednesday, Round 5

W is for The 'W

(Mississippi University for Women)

Columbus, MS

Photo and description from their website:

MUW is a public university that feels like a private college. Founded in 1884 as the first public college for women in the United States, MUW is a tradition-rich university that has educated men for more than 20 years.

U.S.News & World Report has consistently ranked MUW among the top Southern public master's universities. MUW also has been prominently ranked in other leading publications such as Kiplinger's Personal Finance and Consumer's Digest magazines.

I went to college at the 'W' right out of high school. At the time, it was Mississippi College for Women or MSCW.  Fortunately, the women no longer wore uniforms; therefore, we weren't easily recognized by the locals and labeled a "W girl".

My dorm had painted floors where paint chips stuck to your feet; there were radiators and centralized rest rooms/showers; and NO air-conditioning but lots of dorm rules, classes and studying. Yet, I now remember the friends I made, the music, the bar-hopping, sitting up all night playing cards, and missing curfews.

The college is located within comfortable driving distance between Mississippi State University (one-half hour) and The University of Alabama (one hour) so there was no shortage of guys. The worst part: one had to pass a swimming test to graduate!

There are numerous myths floating around the W. Some of these include:

The Old Maid's Gate and The Kissing Rock:
When entering campus, if you walk through one particular gate (The Old Maid's Gate) on front campus, you must walk backwards or you'll never get married.  However, if you kiss The Kissing Rock, it negates the effect.

 

Ody Owl:
There is an owl on the top of Orr Chapel.  The night before a test, students can throw pennies at it.  If a penny hits the owl, you'll ace the test.

 

Mary Callaway:

The W was used as a hospital during the Civil War.  Mary Callaway was a nurse there.  She nursed a wounded soldier back to health and fell in love with him.  When he was healed, he promised that he would return for her when the war was over, but he never did.  Mary was so distraught that he may have died that she got very depressed and hung herself in the clock tower.  She haunts Callaway Hall now, but she's a nice ghost. It is rumor that at midnight on Friday the 13th, she makes the clock strike 13 times.

W is for the The 'W. ABC Wednesday, Round 5 is hosted by Diane at mrsnesbittspace.

ASC Holiday Music Mix 2009

If this album cover was a woman with white hair and a cat with black fur, it would feel very close to home! NPR's All Songs Considered compiled their annual Holiday Music Mix for 2009.  It feels a little 'indie' to me (not that there's anything wrong with that), but worth a listen. If you are in the mood for a different music soundtrack this holiday, you may listen and download these here and also locate more music by these artists. I have highlighted my favorites is red.

1) Regina Helcher Yost
     Song: Up on the Housetop
     Album: Winston's Wonderland
     Comment: I never like a song when dogs are involved.

2) The Raveonettes
     Song: The Christmas Song
     Album: The Christmas Song

3) Bob Dylan
     Song: Must Be Santa
     Album: Christmas in the Heart (Deluxe Version)
     Comment: Love Dylan, but don't particularly care for this song.

4) Sufjan Stevens
     Song: Count Thou Fount of Every Blessing
    Album: Songs for Christmas
    Comment:  Actually, quite nice.

5) Snowden
    Song: White Christmas
    Album: Licorice LP

6) Quasi
     Song: Merry X-Mas
     Album: When the Going Gets Dark

7) Various Artists
     Song: You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
     Album: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Original Soundtrack)

8) Various Artists
     Song: Santa Fix My Toys for Christmas
     Album: American Song-Poem Christmas

9) The Leevees
     Song:  How Do You Spell Channukkahh?
     Album: Hanukkah Rocks

10) Laura Gibson
      Song: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
      Album: Peace On Earth: Vol II

11) Goldblade
       Song:  City Of Christmas Ghosts
      Album: City Of Christmas Ghosts

12) Various Artists
       Song: Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
       Album: Maybe This Christmas Tree
       Comment: Always my favorite!


13) Christmas Jug Band
       Song: Santa Lost a Ho
       Album: Uncorked
       Comment:  Cute. Great title:)


14) Ronnie Spector
       Song: It's Christmas Once Again
       Album: Last of the Rock Stars

15) Low
       Song: Silent Night
       Album: Christmas

16) Frightened Rabbit
       Song: It's Christmas So We'll Stop
       Album: It's Christmas So We'll Stop

17) Zee Avi
      Song: No Christmas For Me
     Album: This Warm December A Brushfire Holiday

18) David Bowie and Bing Crosby
       Song: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
       Album: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy            

Ten on Tuesday

10 New Year's Resolutions

I have made resolutions in the past, some I've kept and most I haven't - you know the story. I think I'm about as good as I'm going to get. Certainly, we all want to do and be better. If I keep focusing on my potential future self, I may miss the moments in which I'm living today. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it for today.

1) See more films at the theater, rather than waiting for OnDemand or cable as per earlier post,

2) Learn to use my iPhone more efficiently, and

3) Be prepared for the change in my work responsibilities.

4-10) If I lose a few pounds, exercise more, read more, save money, etc., etc., that will be great, but if I don't, I don't and that will be okay too.

Ten on Tuesday is hosted by Yano at yanowhatimean?!

Happy Holidays to my Ten on Tuesday friends!

I Heart Burgers!

Named in Atlanta's Creative Loafing by readers as the Best New Restaurant in Atlanta 2009, Flip Burger Boutique has come to Birmingham. Located at The Summit, Flip is the brain child of Barry Mills, an Atlanta industrial engineer, and his "Big Brother" since age 10 and Birmingham native, Ron Stewart. Together they recruited chef and former contestant of Bravo's Top Chef: Chicago, Richard Blais.

Why Birmingham as the second location? According to Birmingham Magazine, Mills and Stewart spoke with regular customers who named Charleston and Birmingham as cities of food lovers. That is great to hear!

If beef is not your favorite, you may choose from tuna, salmon, turkey, lamb, and even chickpea patties. Each burger is paired with homemade condiments, unique sides, and seasonal produce. There is a wide variety of wines, beers, margaritas, and martinis, as well as milkshakes. We're not talking vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry milkshakes! We're talking Nutella + burnt marshmallow; krispy kreme; pumpkin pie; spicy chocolate mole; key lime pie; pistachio + white truffle; and, foie gras. Yes, milkshakes! The burgers and side items are equally unique. For the full menu, go to Flip Burger Boutique.  

Although the scheduled opening was listed as December 14th, I was there before the 9 p.m. closing time on December 20 and they either had not opened yet or were closed.  A full review will follow as soon as I have the opportunity to dine. In the meantime, check out that menu!

Happy Winter Solstice 2009

Today is the winter solstice and the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the sun is closer to the horizon and yields the least amount of daylight annually. For those who dislike winter, remember the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days and leads up to the summer solstice.

Photo from iStock

Meatless Monday

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. Our goal is to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.

Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

This week's highlighted recipes include:

Marmalade French Toast Casserole
There’s no need to make the toast piece-by-piece with this breakfast casserole, which can easily be assembled the night before. 

Baked Pumpkin Mac & Cheese
This classic with a cold weather spin incorporates the delicate roasted pumpkin. 

Raisin Walnut Spiced Rice
Savor the Swiss chard as it soaks up every bit of the shallot, ginger and walnut flavors in this rustic rice dish. 

Almond Butter Cups
Pass out these candy treats at your next party, and give healthy hearts to those you love.

Note:  Meatless Monday is in the process of launching a The Kids Cook Monday site, featuring kid-friendly recipes, articles, tips, and educational tools. The center point of the site would be short (4-5 minute) videos of kids cooking with their parents, or adults cooking with younger neighbor kids/relatives.  If you are interested, send an email to my blog email address and I will put you in touch with the executive assistant of the Monday Campaigns.


Healthy Eating!

Film Review: An Education

I was initially drawn to this 1960's coming-of-age story because of screenwriter Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About A Boy, Fever Pitch) and actor Peter Sarsgaard. An Education was adapted by Hornby from Lynn Barber's memoirs.

Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is an exceptional 16-year-old student headed for Oxford and loving all things French. Living in surburban London and stifled by a father who does not participate in the life around him, she is understandably smitten when David (Sarsgaard) approaches her - a handsome older man in a sports car with a broad knowledge of everything Jenny is anxious to experience.

I suppose one might rightly feel uncomfortable at the age difference and by what is likely to come (and did). I admit I didn't. The intelligence of Jenny and the man-child sweetness of David suggests they are closer in age than they are. It felt much less about the sex than Jenny discovering what she believes to be sexy and her desire to experience what, to date, she knows only through books. What did cause me pause was how easily Jenny's parents allowed it to happen.

While I thought I knew where it was headed, I admit it took me by surprise. I always respect that in a film. Yet, the strength of this film is in its performances. While Mulligan is older than 16, as I suspected, her performance remains believable. Best of all, it appears to be an intelligent film written for an intelligent adult audience. I would expect nothing less from Hornby.

If handing out stars, I give this film five of five.  View trailer here.

Weekend Cat Blogging #237

Happy Holidays to our Weekend Cat Blogging friends!

Jules, Vincent, and Judi

Jules and Vincent

This weekend's Weekend Cat Blogging is hosted by Samantha Black and Mr. Tigger at Life From a Cat's Perspective.

Illustrated photos by iStock.

Feel Good Friday

WTF?! Thursday

Update, (very early) Friday a.m. - I forgot to mention I found some speakers I really liked. Aren't these great?

They're Opere Sonore Sogno speakers, metallic and modern, and some other stuff about materials coexisting "in a sinuous ensemble". $263,000. WTF?!







Those liberals! "They're debating whether it is smart and ethical to have a mandate without a public option," reports Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. On the other side of the aisle, GOP senators are attempting to "kill health reform through God's intervention". Concerns? According to Jim DeMint (R-SC), it is "funding abortions, rationing care, funding medical marijuana, and euthanasia" that give him "heartburn". Of course, none of those things are actually in the bill. Scary!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

WTF?!
As reported on NPR today: In Oklahoma, a new law requires any woman seeking an abortion to first answer dozens of personal questions, including why she wants the procedure. That information, names omitted, would eventually be posted on a state Web site.  more....

WTF?!
Buttons worn in my workplace: "God's Gift Merry Christmas!"

Nate Silver of  FiveThirtyEight writes "Why Progressives Are Batshit Crazy to Oppose the Senate Bill". Side note: Nate Silver has replaced Paul Krugman on my Men I Love list.

So, people, WTF?! Yes, Nate, it is time to stop being polite and start getting real.

More personally, my insurance premium has been increased. WTF?! My 401K has been frozen. WTF?! My annual Christmas bonus hasn't found its way into my checking account. WTF?! My hair has started flipping up on the right side. WTF?! It just goes to show you...it's always something (Emily Latella).

Marty and Moose

Peace, Love, and Rock & Roll!

1960-1972

A B C Wednesday, Round 5

V is for Venue

(věn'yōō)  The scene or setting in which something takes place; a locale: "that non-cinematic venue of popular nightmares, the discotheque" (P.J. O'Rourke).

In 1978, I saw Animal House at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham. So what, you ask? Below is a photo of the theatre auditorium:

Photo from Wikipedia

What an experience! What a Venue! At that time, the Alabama was still functioning as a regular theater. As the credits began to roll and we prepared to leave, we heard loud music coming from the stage and the famous Wurlitzer organ rose from below the stage and began to entertain us with music from The Beatles!

The Mighty Wurlitzer: The Alabama Theatre Pipe Organ is Wurlitzer Opus 1783 or "Big Bertha"

Since that time, this has been a Venue for plays, concerts, private events, and the season's annual Holiday Film Series. If you are in the Birmingham area, take time for a tour. Or, you may take a virtual tour here.

V is for Venue. ABC Wednesday, Round 5 is hosted by Denise at mrsnesbittspace.

Happy Wednesday!