Talkin' It Up

Last night, I saw Jimmy Fallon at the Warner Theater. I became a huge Jimmy fan when he started as a featured player in 1998 on Saturday Night Live. I might have even used the Internet (which was new to my family at that time*) to find all the Jimmy information I could - which wasn't much, back then! I think I still have the binder of printed out pictures and notes about my favorite sketches of his. I even used to audio-record my favorite sketches off the TV... yeah, a bulky tape recorder held up to the small TV with the manual channel dial.

*My family is retro, y'all! We still use a rotary dial phone.

The second Jimmy ran on stage last night, I was a thirteen-year-old girl again. I couldn't stop clapping and smiling. He had some really funny jokes and bits, and even did The Barry Gibb Talk Show (um, I LOVE the BeeGees) using a girl from the audience! He talked to people in the first few rows, but it was more jokey than typical heckling, which was nice. He performed some songs, and ended the night with impressions of other comedians that had performed at that theater.

Jimmy was funny and all, but the best part of the evening was the middle-aged woman next to me. When I scooted down the row, I saw that she was in one of my seats, so I called her out. While digging in her purse for her ticket, she said "It doesn't matter!" Listen, lady - I'm not getting kicked out of the theater because you're in my seat! She had the seat on the other end of my two, so we just sat in one of mine, and her original seat. We figured giving in would be the easiest solution, and would shut her up.

WRONG!
After we settled in, she decided we were friends. "Were you a fan of Jimmy on Saturday Night -" (I started nodding) "I mean, the Late Night show?" I explained that I sometimes watch him, but often forget when it's on - I'm still in the Memphis time zone. I said that I loved him on SNL, ever since he was a featured player. She scoffed at this, and I grabbed her by the hair and shook her while yelling "I KNEW HIM BEFORE YOU DID, BITCH!"

During opening comedian Wayne Federman's set, she would occasionally laugh, let out a "Ha!" or loudly state "Oh, that's funny!" I'd smile broadly or laugh to myself when something struck my fancy. However, one joke in particular cracked me UP. I couldn't stop laughing out loud, which means my shoulders were shaking and I couldn't calm myself down. When this happened, the lady sighed and hollered "Bring on Jimmy!" Oh, you can audibly enjoy certain jokes, but when I can't stop laughing, the man needs to leave the stage? Sorry to inconvenience you with my laughter!

Once Jimmy came on, she was much more vocal. So much that I decided she must have been drinking since 8am. The day before. She had a bottle of something-or-other in her purse, and she kept hefting the huge bag onto her lap, uncapping the bottle, and taking a generous gulp. She would yell stuff to Jimmy, try to deliver punchlines before he did, and kept leaning into me, saying "He's SUCH a nice guy!" She should know.

Eventually, her purse found its way almost onto my lap. Therefore, her wallet found its way to my pocket. Just kidding, just kidding! Geez, lighten up.

Towards the end of the show, Jimmy announced a song about cougar hunting. All of the older women in the audience cheered wildly. Except the lady next to me. The dyed-blond, overly-made-up-but-still-not-concealing-the-wrinkles woman beside me was quiet for the first time in the entire evening. People laughed and cheered during the song, sang along when Jimmy asked for it, and still, she remained silent.


This is the question that has been bugging me since:
Is she so rooted in reality that she realizes she is NOT attractive enough
to actually be a cougar, though she is old enough, or is she so delusional
that she does not think she is of age to achieve cougar status?


I expect many sleepless nights to follow, until I solve this riddle of the ages.

(from my hometown)

The past weekend was spent in Memphis - a wonderful weekend full of family, friends, and first meetings.

My parents and I explore the river one day; it's still dangerously high from all the rains.

Those trees normally grow from soil, as trees do, and
there's usually a bank of rocks sloping down to the water.


I've never seen Memphis more beautiful than this.

I see a frog hopping in the grass. Certain weeds have thrived in the wetness and grown dangerously high. The frog's legs get caught as he jumps, and he lands with a thump and has to try again. My mom scoops him up for a quick photo session.



Just chillin', checkin' out the scenery.
She lowers him back to the grass after I take a handful of shots. He sits there, frozen, until we pretend to step away. Then his little heart starts pounding, his little lungs rapidly inflate and deflate, and he scurries away.


On the drive back from downtown, my dad asks me, "When you visit Memphis, is it a vacation, or is it home?"

I have to think awhile. So long, I almost forget I am pondering a (fairly) simple question.
          "Well, it's like a vacation because I'm off from work. And I'm living in a guest
           room, out of a suitcase."

Then I compare Memphis to how comfortable I feel (or not) in Virginia. I think about driving a stick shift down those streets I've been familiar with for the majority of my life. I think about the history I have there, the family ties, the roots.




I change my answer.

Play that song again

OK Go played the 930 Club last night. The 930 Club lets the artists declare the photo policy for the show. OK Go is awesome and self-made and not label-driven or full of themselves, so OK Go established no photo policy. I was able to bring Big Guy (my Nikon D80, until I can think of a better name for him. Suggestions?).




Damian ventured offstage to serenade the crowd with a ballad.




Damian asked the audience to practice a line of "This Too Shall Pass" to sing during the song's chorus. We sang it twice, then Damian wanted Tim's reaction, which was not favorable. Damian said, "I've seen Tim angry, but I've never seen him terse."
It was pretty much the funniest thing I've ever heard.


The guys learned handbells for a remix of "What To Do."



See more at my Flickr.

I thought it was one of the best rock shows I've seen, especially since the two opening bands were actually good - how rare is that?! Some other people were apparently not as pleased, but I know to expect "gimmicks" when OK Go is involved, and I want to be entertained at a rock show. Personally, I think confetti canons, lasers, and light-up suit coats are pretty frickin' awesome!

Current Obsession: Little Britain

Lately, I've been completely obsessed with Little Britain. We had seen a few clips in my WIT Sketch Writing class, but I was still in the thick of the school semester, and didn't have time to look it up.

At first, I wasn't sure what to think. It's a little hard to get used to the accents, so I missed a lot of jokes on the first episode. By the time I finished the second, I already had favorite characters. By the time I finished the first season, I was slipping into (horrible) British accents in regular conversation, and yelling out characters' catchphrases randomly.

Now I'm completely addicted, and waiting for Netflix to send each disk is torture. So, to tide me over, here are some of my favorite clips and characters. *** means you HAVE to watch at least this one, or your life will be incomplete.

My favorite character is Emily Howard, a crossdresser. Her original video is probably my favorite, but the first one where they introduce her friend Florence is a close second.
Introducing Emily - "I'm a Lady!" ***
"Two Ladies for Tea, Please!"

Another favorite character is Ray McCooney, a man who runs a Scottish hotel, speaks in riddles, and plays a wooden flute. I'll admit it's hard for me to choose between Roy and Emily, because they're both so outrageous.
"Ye Know Too Much!"
"If You Asked Me..."
"Have Ye Any Nuts?" ***

A close runner-up is Carol Beers, a banker with no enthusiasm for her job and a random, yet seemingly persistent, cough.
Man Wants a Loan
Kid Wants an Account ***

I actually don't really like this character, Vicky Pollard. She's just trashy enough to remind me of people I know in real life. But this sketch is actually hilarious, if just for the last seconds.
Vicky in the Pool *** (at least from 1:25 til the end)

Lou and Andy always have funny bits, though they also make me feel a little sad...
Andy's Birthday
You've Got a Strike ***

Here are a couple random characters I like. The shopkeeper owns a different store in every skit, and Mr. Mann always comes in looking for something: Pirate Memory Game
The Bitty sketches... well, they're so disgusting you have to laugh. It keeps the vomit at bay: "I Want Bitty."