I did it!!

I finally wrote the Gaga poem I was hoping to write. I won't make this an official Poetry Challenge because it was so difficult for me to do, but you can certainly join in if you like.

I settled on Lady Gaga's "Telephone," mostly because I decided it's the only one of her songs I don't completely despise. Also, I think this cover of it is one of the cooler things I have seen recently on YouTube.



If you liked that, check out Pomplamoose's other videos on YouTube, I haven't seen a bad one yet.

So, on with the poem. A tiny bit of background: the other reason I chose that song to poem-ize is that while I thought the sentiment expressed (wishing to free herself from unrealistic expectations of a boyfriend) was admirable, I don't think she expressed it nearly strongly enough. So here's my poetic version of the song.

Leave Me the Hell Alone
(inspired by Lady Gaga’s “Telephone”)

Before you can say anything,
just listen to me speak.
I saw the million messages,
the texts you sent, you freak.

You could have made your plans with me,
but you just blew me off,
so now you can go kick some rocks,
I’m sick or something. *cough*

Just because you changed your mind
won’t make me change mine too,
I made some plans with my girlfriends,
I’m not stuck to you like glue.

Your pathetic badgering
only drives me away,
so why don’t you go get a life?
I have my own, OK?

I dare you to pick another song (or even the same one!) and take a crack at poemifying it! Go on, who's it gonna hurt?

Completely off that topic, but I wanted to add this: if you are looking for a cause to support for a Pepsi grant, please check out Give Kids the World. They sponsor trips for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to Florida to enjoy the various theme parks. Here is the link to vote for them; the top two will win $250,000. http://www.refresheverything.com/givekidstheworld I can't think of a better cause.

Early today.

All right, well, we have tickets to see U2 tonight and I doubt I'll have the energy to get back on here when we get back, so I will do a short blog now instead. The boy is already awake but whiny and I'm hoping he will take another mini-snooze so he can wake up happier.  He was SO good on the plane yesterday, it was really amazing. He usually takes a long nap in the afternoon and yesterday he only slept about 45 minutes, roughly as long as the first leg of our flight, but he still stayed pretty happy, etc. So I was proud of him. 

Here's a video of one of my favorite bands performing one of my favorite songs.

Haiku News

Jerkwad of the day:

Kanye grabs Taylor Swift's mike

when she wins award.

Child brides still exist.

This girl died of childbirth

at just twelve years old.

Parole hold keeps creep

who kidnapped Dugard back in

jail, where he belongs.

Summer Date Night

So, our in-laws treated us to another lovely summer date night at an outdoor theater venue, so we enjoyed a picnic alfresco as well as a spectacular concert by Tony Bennett and his infinitely talented jazz quartet. The two slightly dull spots in an otherwise glowing night were that his daughter Antonia opened the show with three stunningly lackluster numbers, and we had to wait 45 minutes for our train to start moving to get home. Ugh. Anyway, Bennett is a true showman. He is still in fine voice, even at 83. He warmly greeted the multiple standing ovations, parried an "I love you!" with "So you're the one!" and even signed a few autographs for lucky fans near the front. I spent most of the night tapping my toes. Here are a few of the songs he treated us to tonight.

This first one I couldn't resist including even though it's kind of "vintage" now, taken from the Doris Day Show. Warning: the banter at the end is very cheesy.

Okay, now this one is 75% of the same band he used today (the pianist was different but equally good) and I think the same suit. :) Among my favorite jazz standards ever.

And with that, I have to bid you adieu for tonight. I will try to do more substantive work tomorrow.

Haiku News

California burns

as it does every summer.

Blazing temps don't help.

Billings couple seen

on surveillance video

just before they're killed.

While I understand

not liking abortion, how

does this help your cause?

Slapdash Saturday

So, my mom will be here very early tomorrow morning, and my niece is going to sleep here tonight, and I still need to finish cleaning up around here, so I'd better make this quick. I'm sorry for the post-and-run, but you know how it goes sometimes.

A few awesome things I discovered today: Eric Whitacre, the writer and creator of the "Sleep Project" I showed you last week, is doing another one with his piece, Lux Aurumque. It is a beautiful song which I had the pleasure of performing with a choir I was in a few years ago, and you can bet I will be submitting a video to participate this time around! I recommend you do the same if you are a singer inspired by that first video he put together. You can find out the details here.

Mr. Whitacre also shared these two videos that I found extremely enjoyable as well, so here they are for your viewing enjoyment. 

First, a cute little girl turned into an electronic music project.

Next, a music video (I'm guessing it's Japanese, but I'm not sure...), in which there is amazing choreography using webcams. It doesn't matter if you have no idea what the words say.

With that, think of me getting up very early tomorrow morning and running my little heart out for 3.1 miles, then (hopefully) waiting for my mom and niece to finish. Should be a nice day, it isn't predicted to be very hot, and cool-ish is ideal for running. 

Haiku News

World's oldest man dies

at one hundred thirteen; vet

active till the end.

Homeless paid to hold

spots in Capitol Hill lines

for lobbyists? Hmm.

Motorcycle cop

kills woman at 14th stage

of Tour de France...oops.