Limerick Challenge!

I think I've found my calling!

So, They Might Be Giants has challenged their concert-going fans to write a limerick about the TMBG show they saw. I responded with a limerick of such brilliance that TMBG themselves were moved to comment on my myspace, "great limerick!" I feel so honored! The last line refers to their latest single, "The Mesopotamians."

I took the Red Line to the Avalon
(though the Metro is quite slow to travel on)
John and John played a song,
to which I sang along,
about four groovy kings of old Babylon.

I think this is a very good limerick. It features unusual rhymes without being cumbersome, contains specific details about the venue and city, and understands the historical reference of "The Mesopotamians." Visit TMBG's myspace for more fan limericks! (Most of them are "pop culture" limericks, in response to TMBG's "Limerick Challenge #2.")

I'm looking forward to hearing about the Northampton show. TMBG claims it will be very special!

Weekend of awesome!

John and I just finished our first weekend as a co-habitating married couple. YAY!

On Saturday, we saw sci-fi legend / literary hero / Pulitzer Prize winning author Ray Bradbury at the Duarte Festival of Authors. He gave a wonderful, inspirational talk on love -- finding it, living it, breathing it, being it. Then we met him, and he signed my copy of "Golden Apples of the Sun." *melts*


"Go to the top of a cliff, jump off, and build your wings on the way down."
-- Ray Bradbury

On Sunday, we saw The Philippine Madrigal Singers. They are an AMAZING choral group. Their vocal blend, resonance, dynamics, total musicianship and performance quality, and choice of repertoire are all excellent. I was really impressed! They performed a mix of traditional European early music, choral arrangements of Filipino folk songs, and even two Freddie Mercury tunes!! Do you want to see them? Oh yes you do. They're performing in Chino Hills this Friday, and Pasadena on Saturday.

I've been spending the rest of my spare time learning about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. I know I've attended my share of noisy nightclubs and raucous rock concerts. Starting now, I'm going to do something about it. Wish me luck!

Is-tan-buuuuuul...!

Eeeeeee, John's here!!!!!

Our first adventure as Los Angeles locals was to see They Might Be Giants at the Avalon in Hollywood. (Or, if you're old school like me, the Palace!) I'm really more of a casual TMBG fan, but their quirky, high-energy pop songs, fun and educational lyrics, and overall hilarity make for a really, really good show. Highlights included: Phone Calls from the Dead with Special Guest Lionel Barrymore; the English alphabet sung as the nations of the world (though technically, I don't think "Xylophone" is a country); a song about the kings of Mesopotamia; (edited to add) They Might Be Hollywood Horns, a horn section which rocked my ass on "Istanbul," and Lionel Barrymore being sent back to the grave during "Particle Man."

They're playing again this Friday at HOB Anaheim -- you should go! Really, you should. For the east coast readers of this blog (don't try and hide -- I know you own a TMBG foam finger and T-shirt), they're playing on October 20th at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton. ;)

Did I mention John's here? FOREVER?! Eeeeeeee!