Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Julia Nunes!

I got to see Julia Nunes live in London on the weekend and I took this video. It was a great moment, mostly because I enjoyed her enjoying the moment.

Help My Cat Twinkle, Please!

I need some help. My family needs some help. My beautiful cat Twinkle needs some help.

Twinkle is 18 years old and is a generally healthy cat. She is small, isn't as spry as she used to be and is going deaf, but she sleeps well, eats well, drinks enough water, and still uses the litter box properly. She purrs, sits on people's laps, shows affection. So, what's the problem?

She literally caterwauls all night long. She is exceedingly loud and she sounds distressed and deranged when she meows like this. We don't know why, but it is keeping everyone up at night, which is highly problematic. It is affecting my family's health and wellbeing, and they don't know what to do. They have tried sedatives on her and it just made her worse. They've tried catnip and therapeutic touch and still nothing has made her better. We don't know what to do but my parents and sister are living with this day after day and are at the end of their ropes.

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of something like this before, or has any suggestions of what we can do to help Twinkle. We don't want to have to put her down, but we are afraid that the vet will say that is the only option if we bring her in again with this problem, and things can't continue the way they're going right now. We are getting ready to say goodbye to her, but it will break our hearts. Perhaps there is someone out there who is willing to take good care of her for us. Or maybe someone knows about other options to cure this problem.

If you or anyone you know can help, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thank you.

God bless, Pete!

Pete Seeger, at age 89, is doing, saying and singing what needs to be done, said and sung.

Amen.  Amen.  Amen.

gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Music Meme

The rules are these:

a) List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring summer.

b) Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs.

c) Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Here are my seven songs:

1. Lothlórien from the musical of "The Lord of the Rings"
2. Wonder from the musical of "The Lord of the Rings"
3. Beautiful World by Eliza Gilkyson's new album of the same name
4. The Hurlers by Seth Lakeman from his new album "Poor Man's Heaven" - released tomorrow!
5. Sound of the Drum by Seth Lakeman also from the new album
6. Matthew by John Denver from his live album "An Evening with John Denver"
7. This Old Guitar by John Denver from the same album

Okay, now you try it. Put it in your own blog and let me know by leaving a note in the comments, or just leave your songs in the comments.

RIP George Carlin

When I was a kid my sister and I used to fall asleep on Sunday nights to CHUM FM's late night comedy show "The Sunday Funnies". It would run from 10 - 11 p.m. and I'm sure my parents could hear us giggling away as we listened to classic routines from Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Woody Allen and the like when we were supposed to be sleeping. It opened up a whole world of humour for me and I looked forward to it each week. George Carlin was rarely featured because his language was quite "blue", but "The Sunday Funnies" definitely introduced me to his crazy, word-obsessed, language-loving style of comedy.

This morning I woke up to the news that George, at the age of 71, has died of heart failure. I wasn't necessarily heart broken to read it, but I was a bit wistful for a time in my life when I first became friends with George. He was angry, quite messed up, fought a lot of demons, loved animals, and was very, very clever. My favourite routine of his was "Wonderful WINO" but I thought it was most appropriate to share the routine he's probably most famous for: "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television".

Warning: the language is strong, but it is marvelous. I think it is important to remember the context in which he first started doing this routine. Life - and broadcasting in particular - was quite different in the 1970s than it is now!

I know he didn't believe in any god, so I will just say "rest in peace" George. Thanks for the laughs.

For REAL?!?

Jab

Dear Lovely and Friendly Nurse Practitioner Who Took My Blood This Morning:

Thank you very much for your approachable and kind demeanour. I am very grateful for the National Health Service and the free health care it provides. Now, I know that in this country we use the term "jab" when referring to needles, but I was wondering whether you had to take that word quite so literally today?

Sincerely yours,

Slightly Bruised

Only God Knows His Evil Ways

My buddy Hal in First Life is Forsythe Whitfield in Second Life.

Check out his first music machinima video:



The world is an amazing place, it is.

Look At What I Bought!

Isn't she cute? I got her when my new friend Shannon (who is teaching Children's Literature here this term) and I went to Eastbourne on Monday and got sucked into Bonners Music Shop. We both walked out with ukuleles. We have decided to form the Herstmonceux Ukulele Chamber Orchestra (HUCO) as a way of bringing some culture to these parts. More information about tour t-shirts and other such merchandise coming soon to a blog near you.

I'm learning how to play "Something" by George Harrison and "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra to start off. It is so - much - FUN! And now I can jam with my Mummy and David and Hal next time I see them all.

For those who are wondering, here are her vital stats:

MODEL: VUK20N
TOP: Mahogany
BODY: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
FRETS: 12
BRIDGE: Rosewood
MACHINES: Open Geared
FINISH: Gloss

Haven't named her yet. Any thoughts?

To All the Parents and the Children of the World

Oh my lord, that was fun!

Effin' Insomnia

I want to sleep.

I cannot sleep.

I have to be awake again in less than six hours.

gah!

The Humans Are Dead

All Hail The Flight of the Conchords!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Dear Students,

Please be quiet during Quiet Hours. They're called Quiet Hours for a reason.

Also, please stop tampering with fire safety equipment. If it doesn't work because you have used it as a toy it is no longer equipment that will keep you and your fellow residents safe. This is a bad thing.

If you stop doing this stuff my staff and I will have more time and energy to do things that will make your time here much more pleasant.

Thank you,

The Management