Signs - McDonald's

I spotted this McDonald's in the Chicago Theater District. It sure looked fancier than a regular McDonald's sign! I didn't have a chance to look inside of the restaurant to see if it WAS fancier; I had to get right on the tour bus after seeing the musical "Once".

For more signs, visit Lesley here.

Once is not Enough!

Back in 2007, a movie came out called "Once". It didn't make a big splash at the theaters, but it was a gem of a movie.

From Movietimes.com, "Once is a modern-day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring Glen Hansard and his Irish band The Frames, 'Once' tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse, and record songs that reveal their unique love story."

If you have not seen it, I would HIGHLY recommend it.

I can't embed the video, but here is the link:

http://youtu.be/I6xIF92OUos

Now they have turned "Once" into a musical. Last year it won 8 Tony awards!

Here is their performance at the Tony Awards:



I got a chance to see this musical in Chicago this past week. What an enjoyable experience! The following pictures are from Broadway in New York that I got from the internet. Obviously cameras weren't allowed in the theater!

What's really cool is that the stage was set up like a bar. The show was scheduled to start at 7:30 pm. But at around 7:15 things started happening on stage. They allowed the audience (from the ground floor) to come up on stage and order drinks from the bar!

After a few minutes the musicians/actors began to play music and sing. I wonder what the people thought who were arriving at that time? "Did the show start already?" Although the house lights were still on! Finally, at 7:30, the people on stage were ushered off except for the musicians, and the play started.

They didn't just stand around and play their instruments. There were a lot of dance movements, too.

The musical was funny, tender, and had great singers and music. If you have the chance to see it, jump on it!

Friday's Funnies #32

Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, "Never take candy from strangers." And then they dressed me up and said, "Go beg for it." I didn't know what to do! I'd knock on people's doors and say, "Trick or Treat. No thank you."

RITA RUDNER

Signs - Standing on the Corner

In keeping with The Eagles theme, here's a photo I took at the corner in Winslow, Arizona. The town cashed in on the line "Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona" in the Eagles song, "Take It Easy". The main part of town is basically one street with two gift shops. This display is on the corner, with the song "Take it Easy" blaring from speakers from the gift shop.

For more signs, please visit Lesley here.

One of THE Funniest Commercials EVER!!

I came across this ad the other day when I wanted to view another video. You know when that little window pops up and says, "You can skip this ad in 5 seconds?" Well, I thought this was so funny that I watched the whole ad, TWICE!!

Tell me what you think!




I haven't tried this product.....but I sure am tempted!

But, seriously, you have to carry this around in your purse?

The Eagles in concert

Photo credit: James Glader

My friend Kim and I went to hear The Eagles in concert last night.

They were great!

It didn't matter that most of the band members were in their 60's. Their voices sounded about 95% of what they did back in the 70's.

That's pretty damn good!

The show opened up with Glenn Frey and Don Henley walking onto stage, each holding their guitars. The audience went wild. Don sat down on an amplifier, Glenn a chair. Yellow lights hung low from the ceiling. Don explained to the audience that this was how it was in the beginning - just the two of them singing together in small clubs.

It was magical.

Bernie Leadon, an earlier band member, joined the duo and stayed for the first set. Other band members also joined in.

Joe Walsh, the blond in the picture above, is an unbelievable guitar player. I guess he has quite a past with drugs and wrecking hotel rooms when on tour (in the past). He DOES seem older and wiser, but his crazy personality showed through on stage. The crowd loved him.

I remember the Eagles more for their "easy listening music". And they played those songs like "Hotel California", "Peaceful, Easy Feeling", "Already Gone", "Desperado", "Witchy Woman", "Tequila Sunrise", and "One of these Nights".

They also covered the years when they did more rock songs. That's when Joe Walsh really shined.

I'd say the audience was half gray-haired baby boomers and half young adults or "new comers" to the Eagles. The man sitting next to me had gray hair - I couldn't guess his age - probably was my age or older. He sang all the older songs and luckily had a pretty decent voice. This, of course, encouraged me to sing along, too.

It was a great night. I felt young again.

That is, till I got up this morning.

My body ached from walking all the way from where we parked to the arena. Then walking up and down all those stairs.

Yep. I'm still young on the inside.

But on the OUTSIDE, this old broad is pushing 60 in a couple of years! Hard to believe!

Friday's Funnies #31

Does it REALLY matter where you put the price tag?

Uh, yes, I believe so.

Take a look.

Next time I am out and about, I am DEFINITELY going to keep my eyes open for bad price tag placement. I'll be sure to share them with you - because I know you all have a sick sense of humor just like me!

Signs - That's one tall drink of water!

This is one tall scarecrow that I came across at a local pumpkin farm! He's about 8 feet tall!

His sign reads, "Here I stand Big and Tall, Guarding Pumpkins, All this Fall!"

For more signs, Halloween-related or not, visit Lesley here!

Friday's Funnies #30

When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, 

I climb out.

ERMA BOMBECK

Signs - Tell Me My Fortune!

Are you game?

I actually went to this psychic about 10 years ago. Back then she charged $5 to answer 3 questions. Looking back, she was pretty damn accurate!

For more signs, visit Lesley here.

The Armchair Book Review

I have a few books here that I have been meaning to recommend to you. The first two are similar as they contain a lost red-haired young girl as the protagonist. The third book is totally opposite these books - it is about the devil!

The first book is:

This is a fiction novel based on true events of the "orphan trains" that came out of the East Coast, filled with orphaned children, and headed to the Midwest, often stopping at small towns. The children were met by families who either were looking for babies, or strong boys to work as farm hands. Young girls were harder to place, unless the woman needed help around the house. Some children were treated poorly or abused. Some were placed in good homes. The trains ran from around 1854-1929. This is the story of Vivian, who is now in her 90's. She is thrown together with Molly, a teen-aged girl who has to work off some community hours. Molly helps Vivian organize and clear out her attic. Together this odd pair develop a friendship and find out that their are more alike than they first believed.

I thought this was a great story, AND I learned about a piece of history that I had never heard of before.

Second:

This is a story of a bright, spitfire 9-year-old Starla who lives with her strict Grandmother in Mississippi. Her father works on the oil rigs and only comes home once in awhile. Starla's mother left her when she was only 3 years old. Starla is constantly butting heads with her Grandmother. She thinks she is too mean. Starla decides to run away and go to her Momma "Lula" who lives in Nashville and is supposedly a star. Starla gets picked up by a black woman named Eula, who is traveling alone with a white baby. The three of them get into a lot of mixes and you wonder if they will ever survive.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it!

Thirdly:

This is written by fellow blogger Otin. I think he said that he's finished writing his FIFTH book now! I've always enjoyed his short stories that he posted on his blog. This guy is a fantastic writer, and you will love him especially if you are into Stephen King-like stories!

This is about a couple, Violet and Johnny Dotson, who move to North Carolina to start anew. Violet had suffered from many miscarriages and both thought that maybe a change of scenery might do the trick. Little did they know that they really had been summoned to the area by a greater power.....

Some man by the name of J.C., currently in a mental institution (of course!), who only mutters the words, "I am the son of God!", was the only survivor at a murder/suicide scene. He seems to always be in the middle of many bad events. Is he to blame?

This is well-written and scary!

Happy Reading!

Friday's Funnies #29

The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.

LANE OLINHOUSE