September, 2005

What oh what to say this month.....

Well, been a relatively uneventful month, really. OK, I lie - we spent about 3 weekends visiting with Sue's family... and now that that's over, I can get back to my regularly scheduled slacking off. Heh. Seriously, tho - it's always cool to visit with the fam, right?

September looks to be pretty awesome. I have tickets to see some great shows in California. Tori Amos will be playing the extraordinary Greek Threatre in LA, and Dead Can Dance are touring for the first time in nearly a decade, with a full orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. Ohhhh yeahhhhh....

Also, it looks like I'll be purchasing an upright piano from a good friend of the family. He's got a piano which was his mother's practice instrument (she was a concert pianist) which is wonderfully worn-in with relaxed keys and easy action. Clem basically offered this to me for a song, and I'd be crazier than everyone claims if I didn't jump on this one. Even Sue plans to get behind the keys here - she's always wanted to learn the piano, and so have I. For years everyone tells me it's the best way to learn music theory (since all the notes are laid out in an easy interface), so hopefully by this time next week I'll be doing my Chico Marx thing.

And was there anyone as fun to watch play piano as Chico Marx? Recently, I picked up two Marx Brothers DVD box sets. I haven't ever seen all their films, and now I can watch them in chronological order and witness their evolution from stage to screen. I love doing that with artists. This recent obsession with the Marxes stems from re-reading the excellent autobiography of Harpo entitled Harpo Speaks, which I highly recommend to everyone. If I had kids, this would be a book I'd enjoy reading to them. Even if you're not a fan of the Marx Brothers, this is an excellent read - easily the best biography I've perused in years.

What else, what else? Well, we went out to watch Bobcat Goldthwait perform at a cozy little lounge in the Palms Las Vegas. You know, back in the 80's I wasn't too big of a fan, although I thought he was interesting enough to watch. Now, he's come back with one of the funniest stand-up routines I've seen in years. Seriously. You can purchase the CD - which I highly recommend, altho I can't advise this for anyone from my Mother's side of the family with a clear conscience (well, except maybe Unca Bryan, heh heh heh).

Oh, and we finally started wiring up the whole house for stereo sound. Gosh, what fun. You know, if electronics are the modern garden of eden, then cables have to be the %&!#ing serpents in the garden. So I'm checking out the wireless options for transmitting sound upstairs & down. All suggestions are welcome.

And if you haven't yet picked up The Muppet Show Season 1 on DVD yet - well, what are you waiting for?

Stay tuned.