The queen loves to clean

She mops for 30 minutes and then asks, "What else can I clean, Mommy?" Dishes, toilets, windows, dusting, etc. With the exception of dog-poop yard clean-up, I haven't found any cleaning job yet that she'll refuse.

Health food update

Whole Wheat Krispy Kreme!

The view from the back door

It's dog art. Mud on glass. The artists (there are two) seem to be saying: Don't shut us out of your comfortable existence with your scraps of cinnamon toast and leftover scrambled eggs. We want to challenge your idea that "normal" equals opposable thumbs and a brain larger than a walnut. In exchange, you give us the toast.

The Ordway did, in fact, rock

"Witness" review

The only things missing were the concert lighters. It's just not the same when all lighter-waving is confined to the designated smoking area.

I've never, ever had so much fun in a concert. It was exciting and kind of like a rave, maybe. Everybody has a soft spot for percussion and the percussion was awesome but I couldn't help but feel that the brass, strings, and woodwinds equally deserved acknowledgement for their totally awesome contributions. That music couldn't have been easy to play.

The audience jumped to its feet at the end of Dear Mrs. Parks so one of our singers passed out just to add to the drama. (She's okay.) I was on the fence about staying in the choir for another year because of the time commitment of the extra rehearsals and incidental (but ridiculously high) parking fees at The Ordway and Orchestra Hall, but I'm staying. It's way, way, way too much fun.

Okay so there is quite a bit of snow and wind

It is a little bit blizzardish outside. But it wasn't too blizzardy for me to make it to chorus rehearsal and Hank and Gary to the swim meet (one event down, one to go, 22 YMCA teams - ugh). Gary called and said the previous 8 and under boys 100 free relay record still stands (there was no expectation that it would fall today) and that there are quite a few energetic children milling about the aquatic center. Getting snowed in there would not be a good thing.

The concert is going to rock. The orchestra does things I've never heard before. I don't know when the woodwinds and brass players breathe. It would not be surprising to see a few bows and mallets go flying during the performance. It's the coolest choral music I've ever heard or sung. I'm feeling very fortunate to be in it and to have a husband who takes care of things at home so well on a busy week like this.

Snow hysteria

Last night every single local weatherperson went bananas with a prediction of 12 to 16 inches of snow coming in two waves of "the biggest snowstorm in eight years!" Instant mass hysteria. Me included: "Will they have to cancel the swim meet??" "What about the concert Sunday??!!" "DO WE HAVE ENOUGH GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AND WINE IN THE HOUSE TO SUSTAIN ME UNTIL WE CAN DIG OUT???!!"

We have our ears glued to the radio this morning listening for updates on the approaching blizzard. The forecast just went from 16 inches and probable school closings on Monday to "we're just updating the numbers as we watch how things progress" and "we're looking at a potential of anywhere from 4 to 6 inches by Monday."

We have a piper down!

I just thought of that line from another favorite movie of mine, So I Married an Ax Murderer, (take it away Misters FizzyLizzy and Bickerson), right before I had to sing an audition again tonight. It made me laugh because I felt like fainting. Get it? A piper down? As in singing pipes?

Okay, you can stop laughing now. Control yourselves.

My kind of race

ISU Doughnut Run

Word

Hey, I beclown myself at least once a day. I just didn't know it had a name.

Eureka

Have you ever in your WILDEST dreams imagined actually grating your own cheese? This is unbelievable.

Jane Fonda

She starred in my dream last night as Hope's kindergarten teacher whom I never bothered to introduce myself to until the end of the school year at Carnival Night. By the way, the PTO had gone all out last night and had installed a chairlift ride outside the school building. That part of the dream was fun. The chastising treatment I got all night from Ms. Fonda for not participating in my child's education was not.

I will try to shake those bad vibes with a run this morning with Peggy...OUTSIDE! Whoo Hoo! It's warm and sunny today!

The backyard is clean again

How much poop could a poop-chucker chuck if a poop-chucker could chuck poop?

Answer: A lot.

Links

Pelle the Conquorer
My Life as a Dog
Brian Regan, Interview in The Gothamist

Speaking of Cher

I know you're dying for more. I happened across this treasure and I know you are all going to be better people after watching it:

(I'm having a hard time coming up with adequate linky words here so just click.)

You're welcome.

Dilemma

Caption: "I have room on my shuffle for one more song. What will it be: Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings or this?"

Krispy Kreme Burger

I'd give it a try. Would you?

First graders are amusing

Did you know that the game Rock, Paper, Scissors isn't just rock, paper, and scissors anymore? Hank informed us tonight at dinner that there six choices: rock, paper, scissors, glue, gun, and hot lava. Glue beats everything. Hot lava beats everything except glue and the gun, depending on the caliber. He only showed us one hand shape for gun. I'm not sure how the caliber is played in the course of the game.

Red alert! Red alert!

10,000

Happy Valentine's Day

From me

and Hope

and Hank

No, she won't.

"She'll love it!"

Mr. Bickerson knows better. I'd rather get have a gift certificate for a Rug Doctor rental (which is what he joked about getting me for my birthday.)

Yet more swimming

Gary and I were convinced that the swim meet last Saturday (sectionals) would be the last of the season. We are ready for a break. The swim team has involved way more swimming than we expected. But Hank has really enjoyed it and we've all made some nice friends with the parents as have Hank and Hope with the other kids. But the swim meets are LOOOONNGGG. Parents with older kids tell us how nice it is with school swim teams when the competition has a much more narrow age range. With club meets like the Y there are so many age groups that the meets go on for hours.

So we thought we were done with the season until I learned tonight that Hank's two relays qualified for the state meet. Hank is excited and we are so proud (a little surprised!) yet very, very tired.

And I guess I will have to miss it because we have el grandé choir rehearsal that same day. So. Sing or swim? I guess both. Mr. Bickerson will have to cheer twice as loud as usual.

GO HANK!!

Of course they are.

Valentine bouquets 'are bad for the planet'
That's why Mr. Bickerson has been staying up late the past few nights crafting a lovely bouquet for yours truly out of recycled beer cans, bottle caps, wine corks, and empty cigarette lighters.

Guinevere and Sir Lancelot?

Or is it Guinevere and King Arthur? (The musical, Camelot, by the way, is coming to the Twin Cities. Saw it once at The Civic Center in Des Moines (starring Richard Harris) with my mom. I would see it again 100 times.) But Mr. B. and I took the kids out for some calture (use your SNL "Tayergit Lady" accent) and wound up at the Minneapolis Istitute of Art Family Day. It was FREE and there were swords to see. So there we were. And here they are. Hank looks gallant. Hope could have used a boost.

Halliburton

(I once had a visitor to this blog who came from a Halliburton domain, but that's neither here nor there.)

Did you see the opening sketch from SNL? Dick Cheney and his wife were reading aloud their Valentine cards. One was from "your friends at Halliburton" and it included a gift card to Barnes and Noble for $500,000. Hardy-har-har. I thought that was pretty funny.

What would you buy at Barnes and Noble for $500,000? I would buy subscriptions to 40,000-50,000 magazines.

Lights in the sky

Did you look out in the north-northeast sky tonight at 7:23 p.m. to see the two Iridium satellite flares? Hope and I were the only two in the house excited enough to bundle up and drive over to the parking ramp near our house. I guess Peggy was semi-excited, too. She jumped in the van so we took her along. At exactly 7:23 we looked up in the sky and saw two bright lights next to the Big Dipper. They shone for about 6 seconds and then it was over. I wasn't sure how many degrees up the lights would be so I decided the top level of the parking ramp would be a good spot for viewing but I guess that wasn't necessary. Gary stepped out on the deck and there they were.

Sakura

Art from Hank's unit on all things Japanese. Cherry blossoms are a nice thought on a cold day like today.

Is my daughter a spy?

She has been persistent in repeating this message to me today, whispering it in my ear:

"The secret to 'uh-veye' [as in eye] is FRIENDS."

I've asked for clarification but there seems to be no more information. She repeats the statement. Where does it comes from? What I am supposed to do with this semi-urgent message?

UPDATE: She's finally confessed it is something from "Sunshine Bear."

American Idol -- AGAIN!

Yes, it's true. I'm going to share my thoughts about tonight's show. You're welcome. I know...

Prediction: Tami, the Peddle/Pedi Taxi Driver? She's gonna win.

Why Paula? What does she offer this show outside of a lot of "I love you's" and speculation about whether or not she's drunk most of the time? Randy has semi-interesting comments. Simon's critiques are good.

I want a bumblebee t-shirt like Gina was wearing.

Update: Why hasn't Simon special-guest-starred on 24? Wouldn't that be fantastic?

Air Supply? Mr. Bickerson, surprisingly, does not have enough Air Supply in his/our library of music from the library. Culture Club and a lot of other crap but Air Supply? Nada.

Fox News promo: Is one of the anchors wearing a kimono??

UPDATE: It's either a kimono or jammies, or both.

American Idol

I'm thinking a Billy Idol song is almost never an okay song for an audition. And I think you should be disqualified instantly by the camouflage pants. Why the ubiquity of camouflage clothing in the civilian population, especially the elementary school boy group?

Now that we are utilizing our hi-def television capabilities here in the Bickerson household I am entranced by Paula's lip gloss and the hair on the back of Simon's hands.

Remember the widower with the petition to sing in last week's show? Wasn't that the best American Idol moment ever? Will that ever be topped? No.

Note to self: Let's use the saying, "Off you go," in activities of daily living. Also, say it with a British accent.

The jam sessions in the waiting crowd of singers look like a good time.

I like Simon.

My heart breaks for the delusional people who think they have a chance to make it past the first round. Why hasn't someone gently steered her away from putting herself in the position of being the butt of a joke on this show? I'm confused. I'm entertained by the (clearly people who are) nutjobs and the talented singers. I'm sad for the other ones. Did you see the tears pouring out of her eyes?

I used to think Randy Jackson was related to The Gloved One. Mr. Bickerson educated me.

What's the theme song? I really loved the "Had a Bad Day" song from the last season.

Uh oh. KFC commercial. Pavlovian conditioning kicks in. "POPCORN CHICKENNNN!" There's a 90% chance I'll be having some of that sometime tomorrow.

"The Wedding Bells" looks promising. And you know what I really need is another television show to record and stay up late to watch.

Oh, Akron! Those cousins were awesome. Don't you love seeing people THAT happy!?

Okay, so these auditions are unaccompanied. Is there some kind of loud background noise we the TV audience can't hear? Because a surprising number of these singers are plugging an ear so they can hear themselves sing over the imaginary background noise. That's a little odd.

Jack Bauer invades our living rooms at a special time next week for a full two-hour (literally!) television event! From the preview it looks like he's getting ready to torture a nuclear bomb.

I like it how Paula tries to soften Simon's blow.

Feeling Good by Michael Buble´makes me want to do some spinal twist yoga stuff from BodyFlow. Funny how a song makes you want to do sun salutations, chest presses, or clean and press. Thanks to YMCA classes almost all of my favorite songs are linked to yoga, tai chi, weights, and running.

I've never watched "Bones."

The first time I ate at a "Joe's Crab Shack" was in San Antonio.

I vote an automatic "no" for any singer sporting an Amish beard.

Who doesn't love Ellen Degeneres?

"House" is crazy but and that's why I love that show. He's a little cynical, isn't he.

JIMMY! "Cupid!" Freakin' really good. Very open, nice, ever-so-slightly raspy vocal tone. Nice.

A comment Prince's performance

From Ann Althouse's blog: (And whoever Drew W. is, she writes a little like Camille Paglia, imo.)

Drew W said...

I figured that Prince's transition to oldies act was complete after I heard that he was playing the Super Bowl. I’d read somewhere that he got booked because the promoters were still spooked by the Janet Jackson breast-baring incident a few years back and he could be relied upon to spare them any unpleasant surprises.

Ahh, but who remembers the nervous public perception of the sexually ambiguous -- and even racially ambiguous -- Prince in his heyday? He was a supercharged mash-up of Little Richard’s manic energy and Rick James’ raunch. Of the two leading nonwhite pop stars of the early ‘80s with broad interracial appeal, he was considered the “bad boy.” It was Michael Jackson whose persona appeared to be a “safe” alternative.

Today, Prince is honored rock royalty whose largely ignored albums still contain moments of brilliance, while Michael Jackson has become the butt of child-molestation jokes whose grandiose attempts to get another hit single are a source of general delight when they fail.

Ultimately, Prince just morphed into another eccentric pop genius, with the “eccentric” cruelly smacking down the “genius” when he changed his name to an unpronounceable hieroglyph, still used for the stage and his last guitar tonight. (And Prince was not even the first to replace his name with a symbol. One predecessor was a British band whose official name was a kind of conjoined circle, squiggle and arrow, called Freur. But Freur made it clear that their symbol had a pronounceable name, something Prince apparently hadn’t thought about.)

I could’ve done without hearing him play “Purple Rain” in the halftime set, as I find it enjoyable but a tad turgid compared to so many of his songs. I’d like to think that he skipped “Little Red Corvette” to avoid the appearance of impropriety since Chevrolet was a sponsor, and he didn’t do “Kiss” because it was so exhaustively played in “Happy Feet.” (And I suppose the pouring rain/Purple Rain connection was too good to pass up after all.) His revisiting of “Proud Mary” seemed a reasonable showbiz move, but when he tossed in “All Along The Watchtower,” he gave a nod not only to Dylan, but especially to his “black gypsy” forebear Jimi Hendrix.

I see Prof. Althouse managed to capture the guitaro-phallic pose he struck for just a moment there. It made my old heart glad to see that he hasn’t abandoned filth altogether. [My bold.]

And aside from playing electric guitars that still function while dripping wet, I think he (as much as his dancers) deserves credit for not slipping on that rainslicked stage. He’s a consummate performer, and he alluded to that work ethic in one of his wittiest tunes, “All The Critics Love U In New York”: “The reason that you’re cool is ‘cause you’re from the old school, and they know it.”

And on an unrelated musical note: Is it because I’m just too weary and old, but why am I not as incensed as I ought to be that Sheryl Crow is touting the Buddy Holly/Norman Petty classic “Not Fade Away” as a part of an ad campaign for Revlon’s Colorist?

A big fight broke out

at the Superbowl party. And it was all about this:


In case you missed it, Prince performed at halftime in the pouring rain, and we all agreed it was a great, great show. What kind of waterproof suit was he wearing? The marching band was awesome and it glowed in the dark! I don't care if he stole that idea from Gwen Stefani. Name me one musical performance that wouldn't be improved with the addition of a glow-in-the-dark marching band. See? You are unable.

So everything was going along great until the curtain went up and this unfortunate shadow came into existence. I still insist that the phallic display was an accident. Another in our group is pretty sure it was planned. Planned or accidental, two of us immediately saw a penis, one a devil's tail, and Gary saw a "really funny-looking guitar." He's so innocent.

Lame mnemonics

I created these two this morning for Hank's spelling practice:

1. also: "Ah! There's only one l! So?" (He wants to spell it will two l's like all so.)

2. The work in homework is giving him trouble, so: "Whoa! There's an r and a k in work!

Throwing hands up in the air for "Ah!" and "Whoa!" seems to help, too.

It would be warmer there today

It's -400 below today so I am dreaming about going here:

Bora Bora

Speaking of Google Earth, this is a fun website:

Virtual Globetrotting

Baker takes a break

My friend, Mrs. Rellim

So true.

Maybe okay for Casual Fridays?

You have to see this post from Fizzy Lizzy. I think any man would look stunning in it. Or maybe might be hit by a stun gun while wearing it. Mistaken for Big Foot, or something. Aren't fashion designers AWESOME. Yes, they are.