The Sandwich Life

There's A New Blog In Town....

I give you......Living With Lego, written by Owen!

 

 

Random Pictures from the Sandwich Life

I love this Purple Beauty Berry....I HAVE to get one for our yard because I moan over it every September...

The cool weather has perked up the nasturtiums....they're happy as clams right now....

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1.  I was gone from the house from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. yesterday and it just made me realize how much I hate being gone that long.  I miss my babies.  I was dead tired when I got home and Ernie had roast chicken and vegetables waiting for me and it tasted like the best meal in the world.  Leo gave me lots of hugs and kisses and trundled off to bed to read.  Owen was tired and whiny and wanted me to read to him.  I told him I was just too tired----that I had worked 13 and a half hours that day.  He glared at me and said, "well, I worked six and it's harder than you know."  Probably true, probably true.....

2.  Well, the word has come down.  Leo has announced that he is NEVER trick or treating again.  I guess 11 is too old.  No more doughnuts, no more train conductors, no more Han Solo.  Sigh.

3.  The boys have been hard at work on their Lego base.  I always forget whether the clones are good guys or bad guys and they get really disgusted with me.  As they should of course.  Anyway....they were hard at work the other night and then called us up.  It was impossible to really photodocument but they had created Galaxy Idol---a Star Wars version of American Idol.  The had the ear buds from their mp3 player built into the Lego ("stereo" as Leo proudly pointed out) and a flashlight for stage lighting, a trio of judges and of course the performer.

4.  I'm greatly looking forward to getting together with some other people next weekend to commemorate Van Cagle.  If anyone is interested, here's the info:

Join us as we celebrate Van's life with stories, photos, memorabilia and of course MUSIC!

Featuring a live performance by 'The Trendy Bitches', with Roy Axford, Kenny Draznik, Tim McKeage, and Jimmy Wald

The event is free, but donations in Van Cagle’s name are welcomed, with the proceeds to be given in Van's name, to a good cause TBD by Van's family

Bring photos/memorabilia/writings/CD or MP3 playlists of music that reminds you of Van, and perhaps refreshments to share. We encourage you to dress like Van, if you dare to try to be as cool as he was.

Thanks to Theresa and Amara for setting this up.

5.  Here are a few pictures from the cemetery Ernie and I came across when we were out driving Saturday morning.

6.  Today is my mother's birthday.  I guess we'll have to do something special this evening.  I miss her so.  I miss them all so much.  The holidays are going to feel a little strange this year.

7.  My beloved Peter Case.....gee, I wish that show were still coming up!

  

 

Weekend Update....Fall, But Lovely.....

My big toes hurt yesterday.  But Owen told me I looked great wearing heels so I guess it was worth it.  By the way he did redeem himself.  When we got ready to go he told me that my outfit looked much better from further away.  Then he asked me to put my glasses on and when I did he said, "oh, now THAT'S gorgeous!"  Good Lord.

My friend Nancy's wedding was just beautiful.  I think I grinned like an idiot the whole time.  She and Mike both looked stunning and ridiculously happy.  As Owen said later, "two really nice people got married and I think they'll be really happy.  It's been a good day."  Oh my but that boy is a romantic.  He felt very good dressed up.  He LOVES wearing a tie and a jacket.

After the wedding we picked up Leo and went to Fries and Peanuts because, well I don't know why but somebody convinced me.  Ernie and I weren't hungry after the lovely food at the wedding but the boys ate and we stole a fry or two.  I kind of wanted to go home but the boys begged to play a game of Go Fish.  I agreed and then ended up laughing and giggling as I watched them.  I can't even describe how entertaining it was.  I have a hunch Leo might be a very good poker player....

Later Ernie and I curled up and watched the first couple of episodes of Mad Men.  I wasn't sure about it at first but it began to absorb us.  One more epidsode on the disc we have....  I went upstairs with a couple of gingersnaps and a little glass of wine.  I read and listened to the rain and finally turned my light off.  Of course a little bit later Owen bounced in and wanted to read a book.  He brought in A Wrinkle in Time and I started reading it out loud to him until we were both sleepy.  The cool air wafting through the room felt glorious.

Sunday, Sasha's opening at Amara. Here we are, a bit blurry but happy just the same!  Her work looked wonderful and she looked gorgeous!

This little guy hung out on our sedum all weekend long.  He took off yesterday evening though...

 

Getting Ready for a Wedding

I'm off later this afternoon to see my dear friend Nancy get married.  I decided to go all out and wear.....makeup.  Yup, it's a big day.  So, as I stood at the bathroom mirror getting ready, Owen yelled from across the room.  "Mom, are you wearing a NECKLACE?"  I said I was and he raced over and examined it closely.  He said, "I don't think I've ever seen this before" and I told him that I didn't think I'd worn it before.  He nodded and said, "well, you've never worn it as a Mom."   Uh, yeah Owen.

Then he gasped, and said, "are you wearing MAKEUP?"  I said I was and he just backed up with his hands in the air saying, "I'm just asking, that's all....cause I saw some black stuff by your eyes."

THEN he said, "uhhh, is this what you're wearing?"  I again replied that is was and he kind hedged and said, "well, it's kind of interesting wearing that skirt with that jacket, that's all I'm saying.  But it's o.k. Mom."

And this is when he's EIGHT? 

What does the future hold?

Martha and the Muffins and Echo Beach.....Who Knew?

I've always loved this song.  I'm not sure when I got it...it came out in 1980 but I don't think I owned it until about a year later.  Possibly not until I starting going out with a record store guy....and records just began flowing into my life.  I do vividly remmeber making a cassette for a car trip in 1983 and I had this on one side of an orange TDK tape and on the other side was the Church's first album.  I remember driving across the country in Ernie's 1973 olive green capri (or his sexy European sports car as he described it on the night I met him when he offered me a ride home from the party we had outstayed).

So, as you may know, my husband and I can have a hell of a good time watching youtube videos in our kitchen as we cook dinner.  So the other night one of us found this vide and put it on.

And then as I looked, I began to see TONS of versions of Echo Beach.....  I never would have dreamed..... Cover after cover after cover after cover....  I know there are a lot of 80's bands out there....but still....who knew?

....starting with Toyah Wilcox:

moving onto Gabriella Cilmi:

then to a band called Carnaby Street:

the dead ringers:

Blue Arse Fly:

The Burning  Hell:

The Bad Dads:

Greavesey:

Spoz and Dave:

Version posted on youtube by NecroticZombie:

The Humms:

My Generation Band:

CrossOver:

Paul Childs and the Masqueraders:

a version posted by erteep

the Southamption Ukelele Jam

 
posted by Simonmapex:

New Aje Hero:

Strobe:

Lost in Bass:

Pirates of Sound:

more ukeleles posted by Perilousmojo:

Bark Like a Machiavellian with Pete Kazoo:

Too Much Stuff:

 
10ft Fez:

The 39 Steps:

Dark Star:

And last but not least---not that here aren't more versions, it's just that I'm tired---here is Fireware with the butterfly wing wearing sax player.

 

My Father and Geddy Lee

When I was in high school I decided I liked Rush.  Only guys liked Rush so I decided I was going to like them too come hell or highwater. This would have been late 70's.....78, 79 maybe?

Their show at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago was announced and I begged my parents to go.  They acquiesced and a friend and I made plans to sit out overnight for tickets.  Because that's what you did then....there were no wrist bands on online sales.  Just 'good' old Ticketmaster at your local record store. Or actually....this may have been the days of Ticketron....  The day before tickets were to go on sale my friend announced that her parents had changed their mind and wouldn't allow her to wait in line for tickets with me.  I was crushed because of course my parents said I couldn't go alone.  I don't remember putting up a battle....I just remember being crushed.  And of course, me being me, no doubt there were tears.

My parents conferred and I guess their consensus was that it wasn't fair for someone to change their mind at the last minute so my father said I could wait in line if he went with me.  Well, of course I was horrified.....I was 17 for God's sake.  My father finally agreed that he would sit in the car in the parking lot and not taint the line with his presence.  So off we went in the white and burgandy Monte Carlo. 

I stood, well sat actually, in line with all the older stoner dudes who told me stories about when they had seen Rush before.  A couple of them expressed concern that I was all alone so I finally confessed that my father was in his car in the parking lot.  They told me how cool they thought that was.

Around 5 or 6 in the morning my father took off and came back with coffee and doughnuts for everybody in the line.  Everyone was so impressed and I didn't even mind when he called me sweetheart.

I don't know if I ever adequately thanked him for that.  I don't really remember the concert but I do remember my father sitting in his car across the parking lot, keeping an eye on me....

A Joke from Owen and Two Links

Owen's joke of the day:

Q:  What did the zero say to the eight?

A:  Nice belt

And now a link or two....

from the News-Gazette we have news on my beloved Don Gerard:  Champaign man considers run for mayor.

and from the Riverfront Times in St. Louis we have this treat about my beloved Steve Scariano:  Local bassist reminisces about the legacy of Alex Chilton.  Look how cute!

photo: Jennifer Silverberg

 

Hopping Spiders, Nudity and Peter Case

Oh Lord no, I'm not going to quit blogging....but I must admit the comments were delightful!  Where else on earth would I get this much therapy for $15 a month? 

Exactly! 

I'm grateful for the lovely comments because otherwise this day appears to be starting out to be....well, one of those days.  I went to take a shower and was accosted by a HUGE (even Ernie admitted it was huge) jumping spider/cricket thing.  I did the logical thing---screamed and leapt into the dining room half naked while Ernie, Bob and Hattie went after it as it hopped around the bathroom. 

Ernie said we have a lot of them in the basement.  LAST time I ever go to the basement to get laundry.  HA! 

Ernie managed to wound it and then Bob took over, capturing it and enthusiastically eating it.  I stood in the dining room hoping the boys wouldn't come in while I was half naked.  Normally if this happens as I've really lost all modesty I just casually yell, "hey guys, don't look, I'm naked" which results in Owen running over and staring hard at me between the fingers of his hand over his face while saying consolingly, "Mom, it's OKAY....I mean you've seen ME naked, right?" and Leo dropping to the floor and practically blinding himself in an attempt to keep anything like that from ever being burned into his brain.  God I love those boys.

So the bug was eaten, I showered and then listened to Ernie and Owen drive each other crazy.  Could the two of them BE more alike?  Geesh.

Some more pictures of the Peter Case show.  Thanks Richard!!!

More Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1.  Feeling very random and a bit overscheduled.  Now that my focus on the Peter Case show has lifted I realize how much we've got going on in the next couple of months.  Very busy time at work with various evening/weekend kind of things, then the other personal evening and weekend things, an antique show coming up, and gotta FINALLY get my mother's house totally cleared out.  Whew.

2.  Oh?  And might I note the dearth of comments here?  Facebook's sucking them all away, aren't they?  My fault for trying to play two games I guess.  And of course I hear how blogs are dying....  I'm too wordy and personal for facebook though.  I figure I'm an acquired taste and don't like to ASSUME anyone will want to read me which is what I feel like when I post something on facebook.  Ah well.

3.  Owen is tremendously proud of the guitar Peter Case signed.  He told he's going to keep it for the rest of his life.  EVEN if he gets other guitars that are bigger and that he likes to play....he will ALWAYS keep this one.  And then he just stares at it and muses, "Peter Case is so lucky to have a silver marker.  That is so cool."  And I just nod my head and agree.  Because really....what else can you do?  Man I love sweet boys.  8 year old ones and 50 something ones.

4.  Richard Hill fixed the color, etc. on his picture of Peter Case so I'll repost it.  Ain't it purty?

5.  There's a new Art @ the Y series starting at the Y on campus.  The first opening is this Thursday and it should be great. 

 

Faces of Pakistan By Naeem Ur Rashid, Lahore, Pakistan © 2008

5.  Last night I was so tired I could barely speak.  I couldn't sleep the night before---too wound up I guess.  Ernie was similarly tired so we were lazy....just kind of sat and stared at each other....the boys went swimming and then we ordered pizza.  I went upstairs and read for a couple of hours, listened to the boys giggle and thought about how wonderful Peter Case was.  Not a bad night.....