Next to Normal Night in NY C

To celebrate Shane's birthday yesterday, we traveled to New York City,
ate at a very nice restaurant (Il Mulino in the Village) and then saw
Next to Normal on Broadway. It was the third time we saw the show and
is our favorite. There is now new people playing the main characters,
so it was different. Nobody can match Tony-winner Alice Ripley's
performance, but the new cast was also amazing. The show itself is
amazing and I highly recommend it. Both the music and story are very
good. I think Shane had a good day. I know I did. My wallet--not so
much.

NYC Trip--Filming Gossip Girl In Our Hotel

Happy Birthday Shane!

Shane turns 40 today, and to celebrate we're taking the train to New
York City! This was taken just as we were arriving in Wilmington, DE.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #251

Gary Coleman is still waiting on his tailor fitting.

This is my submission for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #251.  Let me know if you come up with a doozy. 

Maude's Not Thrilled to See the Vet Again

I took Maude for another visit to the Vet this morning, and she was not very happy about it.  She had a "scooting" issue that we thought needed some follow-up.  This was taken while we were waiting to see the Vet in the examination room--I just caught her in mid-meow.  She isn't as upset as this photo makes her appear.  This doesn't compare with her disdain when she was actually having her butt examined.  I never heard such a yowl.  However, she survived and doesn't seem the worse for wear.  We got some worm pills as a precaution and an admonishment about her weight (15 lbs. 8 oz., she loves to eat).  Luckily, her butt health seems fine.

Mark Is Old, But Still In His Forties

Our friends Dick and Randy sent me this birthday greeting today.  They are very sweet to remember me.  The video is hilarious.  Thanks guys!

I turn 49 today--another year closer to death, but still not dead.  As Dylan Thomas said, "Do not go gently into that good night."  And I don't plan to lay down and die just yet.  As a matter of fact, I think I'll start another running streak today (but I think that every day).

Maude Squats in Bed

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #249

Accounting just isn't going to approve buying 20 tons of sand.

No running!  No horseplay!  Final warning!

Ergonomic said this type of chair would fix my neck pain, but every 

time I reach for the phone, I fall on my ass.  Now that's your job.  

These are my captions for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #249.  Use comments to suggest other captions or, you know, to make a comment.

Hot Hot Hot!!!

That is 103 on the car thermometer. It just went down from 104!

Tweet of the Day - Yoko Tweets

July 24, 2010: "Next time you meet a 'foreigner', remember it's only like a window with a different shape to it and the person who's sitting inside is you."  Gotta love the Yoko... 

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #248

Sweetie, you don't always win by finishing first.

I need my oil checked. Where's your dip stick?

Fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy night.

I never met anyone with a dual exhaust.  It's kind of gross.

Will you please stop calling them headlights?

This is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #248.  Above are my suggested captions.  Which one should I enter, if any?  Let me know if you have any captions too.

Waiting to See Idina Menzel at Wolf Trap

Shane and I are sitting on the lawn at The Wolf Trap National Park
for the Performing Arts to see stage, screen and TV star Idina Menzel
perform. She was the original Maureen in Rent and the wicked witch in
Wicked. She most recently played Lea Michaels mother on Glee. We
also have watched her in the concert version of Chess. She is going
to be joined by conductor Marvin Hamlisch. We just saw her playlist
in the program and it includes Roxanne (by Sting), two songs she
wrote, Defying Gravity and I'm Not That Girl from Wicked, No Day But
Today from Rent, and 5 other showtunes. It should be good!

Maude Goes to the Vet

Shane and I loaded Maude up in her carrier and walked the two blocks to the vet for her first trip to the doctor.  Things went very well.  She did not like all the dogs in the waiting room, but once we were in the examination room, she did very well.  Shane snapped this while we waited for the doctor.

She got a clean bill of health, except for the advice for her to lose some weight, and we're waiting for the verdict on her stool sample.  She weighed 14.9 lbs. when we got her, according to the shelter records.  Today she weighed 14.12 lbs.  She is already on the road to a more svelte figure.

What Ever Happened to Doris Day?

I recently (9/13/11) replaced the video above with an audio video (the previous version from a movie was a broken link) and added the video below.  The scene below is a great one from The Man Who Knew Too Much by Alfred Hitchcock.  Doris sings "Que Sera Sera" very loudly so her kidnapped son, who they suspect is in the house, will hear.  Gotta Love Doris!

Maude Laying in the Window

Apparently I am becoming one of those bloggers that constantly posts photos of his cat.  Isn't she adorable? 

Patty Griffin Sings "Tony"

Shane heard this song on Pandora Radio. It is called Tony, by Patty Griffin. It is about a gay boy committing suicide--not exactly a happy song, but very well done. Shane can become obsessed over songs and want to hear them over and over and over. This is one such song. Hearing this has solidified his love of Patty, so we'll be hearing LOTS more from her. Thank Jeebus he is over his Yentl phase.

Classic Mrs. Slocombe from "Are You Being Served"

These are the types of things I can say now that we have a kitty.

And Then There's Maude!

Maude relaxes on the ottoman in our living room. She hid under the chair at first and I think she spent most of last night under the guest room bed, but she has used the litter pan (praise Jeebus!). She has only used the litter pan once in 24 hours, but she hasn't appeared to go outside the litter pan. She is a great cat, and we have no regrets. She loves to be petted and rubs up against us all the time. Things couldn't have gone better.

Riding Home from the Shelter

We picked our new cat, Maude, up from the DC shelter last night. She meowed all the way home, but has been adjusting pretty well to home life.

Living In a Musical

We went to visit Shane's grandmother in an assisted-living facility and we had to "SING" in and out.  Above is a photo of the Guest Registery with what we found out later was a slight typo.  I wish we would have figured that out before the second verse of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."