After getting shut out of three Steve Martin events, I was worried that my streak of seeing him once a year in person was in jeopardy. With the help of the "Highly Admire" gods and PR flacks, that didn't happen. My yearly Date with Steve remains in tact.
This year's encounter took place this afternoon at Barnes & Noble. He had a signing of his new children's book, "The Alphabet from A To Y With Bonus Letter Z". He was accompanied by the illustrator (and New Yorker cartoonist) Roz Chast. Barnes & Noble denied us photography, so no visual evidence this time around, but he was wearing an olive green suit and crisp white shirt.
The irony was that this was a signing of a children's book, yet there were only a sprinkle of actual children. The majority were older people. One of whom, was a gentleman next to me who felt it necessary to give a play-by-play of the happenings. "He has his own pens". "He's drinking Fiji water". "She's signing first".
Because it was just a signing -- no Q&A -- and it was just a signing of the children's book, the line went by very quickly. I told Roz Chast I enjoyed her New Yorker cartoons and told Steve I was looking forward to his memoir next month. And then I threw myself at him declaring my undying love forever. OK, maybe not that last part.
I always treasure my moments of being in the same room as my Ideal Man. He continues to live up to expectations.
Quote of the Day:
"Each person's life is lived as a series of conversations." -Deborah Tannen
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
The Second Coming
Sleep was sparse in October 2004. Nights were spent watching the Boston Red Sox work their way through the American League playoffs. I wasn't going to let a little thing like sleep keep me from witnessing history.
I was at Game 3 of the ALCS vs. the Yankees sitting in makeshift bleachers in right field. The temperature was very low and the lack of effort the Red Sox were producing erased any chance of cheering to warm up. I could see the wind swirling and even dropped hot cocoa when my hands were too frozen to grasp the cup. The Red Sox lost to the Yankees in or about 22-7, one of the greatest Red Sox collapses. The Sox were down 0-3, and another season was to be over..
But we all know, that didn't happen. The Red Sox made heart-pounding comeback after heart-pounding comeback. Games lasted over five hours and extended into the wee hours of the morning. Never before had I dreamed so much of Tim McCarver. Every pitch was entracing. The sheer drama made watching almost unbearable. But I did. And over the next week, each moment was more exciting that the last. When the Red Sox did defeat the Evil Empire and put the Curse of the Bambino to the test, I was elated.
The World Series wasn't as stress-induced as the ALCS, but yet couldn't help imagine how they would find a way to lose. In the last three outs before their victory, I was on the phone with my Mom, a lifelong fan. She refused to feel any glimmer of victory until that third out was made. When it was, Mom was overcome with emotion and so was I.
Fast forward three years.
I am reading InStyle's latest trends in boots when the Red Sox win the ALCS. "The Red Sox win the pennant!!", Joe Buck yells. Jason Varitek leaps into Jonathan Paplebon's arms and I give an extended glance before returning to the article. The game had been on in the background for most of the night, but my concentration is paring down my unread magazine pile.
I don't care about this Red Sox victory. As I watch the celebration unfold, I have no emotion. No twinge of celebration. No jumping. No screaming. No manic phone calls. I simply return to my magazine.
My disdain is at the new management. I hate how they have whored out the Red Sox legacy. I hate how they ruthlessly discarded many of my friends who devoted years to the organization. While I have nothing against the players taking the field (save for JD Drew), the spark that made the Red Sox special to me is no longer there. It's been five years since I left and too much has changed and not for the better there. I am eternally grateful for the years I had and the family I made. It saddens me to see that gone now.
If the Red Sox win the World Series, I'll give a small smile. But this series is nothing I'll lose any sleep over.
Quote of the Day:
"I couldn't remember when I had been so disappointed. Except perhaps the time I found out that M&Ms really do melt in your hand." -Peter Oakley
I was at Game 3 of the ALCS vs. the Yankees sitting in makeshift bleachers in right field. The temperature was very low and the lack of effort the Red Sox were producing erased any chance of cheering to warm up. I could see the wind swirling and even dropped hot cocoa when my hands were too frozen to grasp the cup. The Red Sox lost to the Yankees in or about 22-7, one of the greatest Red Sox collapses. The Sox were down 0-3, and another season was to be over..
But we all know, that didn't happen. The Red Sox made heart-pounding comeback after heart-pounding comeback. Games lasted over five hours and extended into the wee hours of the morning. Never before had I dreamed so much of Tim McCarver. Every pitch was entracing. The sheer drama made watching almost unbearable. But I did. And over the next week, each moment was more exciting that the last. When the Red Sox did defeat the Evil Empire and put the Curse of the Bambino to the test, I was elated.
The World Series wasn't as stress-induced as the ALCS, but yet couldn't help imagine how they would find a way to lose. In the last three outs before their victory, I was on the phone with my Mom, a lifelong fan. She refused to feel any glimmer of victory until that third out was made. When it was, Mom was overcome with emotion and so was I.
Fast forward three years.
I am reading InStyle's latest trends in boots when the Red Sox win the ALCS. "The Red Sox win the pennant!!", Joe Buck yells. Jason Varitek leaps into Jonathan Paplebon's arms and I give an extended glance before returning to the article. The game had been on in the background for most of the night, but my concentration is paring down my unread magazine pile.
I don't care about this Red Sox victory. As I watch the celebration unfold, I have no emotion. No twinge of celebration. No jumping. No screaming. No manic phone calls. I simply return to my magazine.
My disdain is at the new management. I hate how they have whored out the Red Sox legacy. I hate how they ruthlessly discarded many of my friends who devoted years to the organization. While I have nothing against the players taking the field (save for JD Drew), the spark that made the Red Sox special to me is no longer there. It's been five years since I left and too much has changed and not for the better there. I am eternally grateful for the years I had and the family I made. It saddens me to see that gone now.
If the Red Sox win the World Series, I'll give a small smile. But this series is nothing I'll lose any sleep over.
Quote of the Day:
"I couldn't remember when I had been so disappointed. Except perhaps the time I found out that M&Ms really do melt in your hand." -Peter Oakley
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Runnin' Down a Dream
It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. So it's a safe assumption that my review of Peter Bogdonovich's 240-minute documentary, "Runnin' Down a Dream" about the band's 30-year history is going to be a bit biased. Here we go...
I have been eagerly anticipating this documentary since last summer. Although it comes out on DVD today, and will be airing on the Sundance Channel later this month, I felt compelled to see it on the big screen. It was shown last night at the Sunshine Theare and I was there.
I loved every frame of "Runnin' Down a Dream". What the band lacks in physical appearance and fashion sence is more than made up for in talent, ability, songwriting and stage presence. Part one focused on the band's roots in Gainsville, the formation of Mudcrutch and the move to LA.
Not a lot was new information, but I did learn that Tom exhibited pirate behavior more than once. He stole Ron Blair and Stan Lynch from another band. When Ron Blair left, he stole Howie Epstein from Del Shannon's band. As for songs, he kept "the Insider", written for Stevie Nicks for himself, and also Dave Stewart's "Don't Come Around Here No More". But having the best was important to Tom, and as fans, we are grateful for that.
Part two focused on 1985 to the present. After such care and detail was made to the first part, I was really surprised there was a complete omittance of the She's the One soundtrack (with the exception of a brief playing of "Angel Dream (No. 3)". That's a shame because it is a good album, and should have been recognized. Also, towards the end of the film, they show the band's live performance of Van Morrison's "Mystic Eyes". Although this is a great song, I would have preferred to see the band cover another one of his songs, "Gloria", which is one of my all-time favorite Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers performances. During the Highway Companion section, I was disappointed "Square One" was not played, as it is my favorite song.
There were so many great moments, that it's impossible to pick a favorite. I loved Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder, two musicians I truly admire, wax so poetically about them. Seeing footage of the Heartbreakers acting as the back-up band to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash were other highlights. I can't wait to get the DVD and watch it all over again.
Quote of the Day:
"Basic research is what I am doing when I don't know what I'm doing" -Werner von Braun
I have been eagerly anticipating this documentary since last summer. Although it comes out on DVD today, and will be airing on the Sundance Channel later this month, I felt compelled to see it on the big screen. It was shown last night at the Sunshine Theare and I was there.
I loved every frame of "Runnin' Down a Dream". What the band lacks in physical appearance and fashion sence is more than made up for in talent, ability, songwriting and stage presence. Part one focused on the band's roots in Gainsville, the formation of Mudcrutch and the move to LA.
Not a lot was new information, but I did learn that Tom exhibited pirate behavior more than once. He stole Ron Blair and Stan Lynch from another band. When Ron Blair left, he stole Howie Epstein from Del Shannon's band. As for songs, he kept "the Insider", written for Stevie Nicks for himself, and also Dave Stewart's "Don't Come Around Here No More". But having the best was important to Tom, and as fans, we are grateful for that.
Part two focused on 1985 to the present. After such care and detail was made to the first part, I was really surprised there was a complete omittance of the She's the One soundtrack (with the exception of a brief playing of "Angel Dream (No. 3)". That's a shame because it is a good album, and should have been recognized. Also, towards the end of the film, they show the band's live performance of Van Morrison's "Mystic Eyes". Although this is a great song, I would have preferred to see the band cover another one of his songs, "Gloria", which is one of my all-time favorite Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers performances. During the Highway Companion section, I was disappointed "Square One" was not played, as it is my favorite song.
There were so many great moments, that it's impossible to pick a favorite. I loved Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder, two musicians I truly admire, wax so poetically about them. Seeing footage of the Heartbreakers acting as the back-up band to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash were other highlights. I can't wait to get the DVD and watch it all over again.
Quote of the Day:
"Basic research is what I am doing when I don't know what I'm doing" -Werner von Braun
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