candyfloss1214

I received this email from the Crowded House/Neil Finn site yesterday...I haven't tried to access the material yet-I have to go dig out my CD's from under something-but I plan on doing it soon. Thought I'd share...Enjoy!

Hello everyone

On November 24th 1996 over 120,000 Crowded House fans from all over the world gathered outside Sydney Opera House for the band

All three sets were really, really good. We got there at 7:30-just as Anders was starting and were able to sit right in the front row. It was too bad that there wasn't a larger crowd-we almost didn't go ourselves-Sunday night, tired, I'm big and pregnant-but we are glad we did. I think there is some kind of weeknight noise ordinance in the neighborhood because they finished up at 10pm sharp. We saw Neil Finn there on a Sunday night in 2002 and it was the same thing. If anyone has a chance to catch them, definitely do it.

I think the album comes out on Friday, maybe. We are seeing them at the Park West in Chicago on Sunday night. Each guy does a solo set and then they perform together. We are looking forward to seeing Jay at Park West-it's a pretty intimate venue.

FYI... just heard that this show will be taking place at the Aragon Ballroom. Tix go on sale on Oct. 28, but WXRT is doing a presale on the 27th. It's begining to be a busy concert season around here!

In the beginning we closed out eyes, whenever we kissed we were to suprised to find so much inside...

I can't really believe that none of these bands haven't helped him out at all. The guy from the Redwalls wishes him well, how about a couple bucks. I'm really kind of disgusted by the whole article. He's a decent poet who's become a novelty. How many people have been to a show and heard him read a poem, and not many understood what he was saying, but some dumb fuck starts cheering because he's known as "the weird guy who reads poetry before indie rock shows". I feel sorry for him, but I guess I don't feel any more sorry for him than any other destitute person. I feel that he's kind of been made a mockery of by the bands that let him go on stage.

What do yo mean they "haven't helped him out at all"? They've given him a stage, an audience, exposure...isn't that helping him out? Now they are supposed to pay his way as well. Well, how long can that go on before it gets old? The people in these bands have their own bills to pay and are working hard in order to do it. It seems to me that Thax started to wear out his welcome because he expected more than just an audience for his poetry. If he was that good of a poet, don't you think his career would be a little more progressed at this point? Good luck to him in NY-god knows it won't be any easier there!

 

I never realized the seriousness of this book. Think Harper Lee drew a little inspiration from Betty Smith?

I adore this novel...have the kleenex ready!

Vals Halla in Oak Park, IL is closing its doors after 30 years.....sad.

 

LouieB

Update on Vals Halla...I heard that they are moving to a new location in Oak Park, on Harrison Street. The last day at the current location will be July 30, but the new store should be open in a month or two. That's good news!

Vals Halla in Oak Park, IL is closing its doors after 30 years.....sad.

 

LouieB

I drove by there yesterday. The last day is July 30.

i think it's interesting enough for a 9th grader (coming from me, who is 16), especially with the format of the whole thing, it's not set up like a typical novel obviously. my sister's in 9th grade and i'm making her read it haha.

Let me know how she likes it. It's always good to have a test audience. Thanks!

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time-mark haddon

I read this in about 4 hours one evening last month. Loved it. I think I'm going to make my 9th graders read it as outside reading this next year.

Just finished The World According to Garp, John Irving.

Starting The Master Butchers Singing Club, Lousie Erdrich and a Dave Eggers collection on deck.

Johnny Depp

Edward Norton

Val Kilmer

Nicolas Cage

Julian Sands

(In no particular order.)

Coupling is hilarious. There was a short-lived (thank god) American version a few years ago that sucked ass. PBS shows the original on Sunday nights at 10:30 (in Chicago anyway.)

Some of our other favortie shows...

Homicide, Life on the Street

Sports Night

Buffy

We are on Season Four of Homicide: Life on the Street. Best show ever. (Well, one of the best shows ever.)

When I was born, they looked at me and said,

What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.

And when you were born, they looked at you and said,

What a good girl, what a what a smart girl, what a pretty girl.

We've got these chains that hang around our necks

people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.

Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same,

when temptation calls, we just look away.

This name is the hairshirt I wear

and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair.

This song is the cross that I bear,

bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me, be with me tonight,

I know that it isn't right, but be with me tonight.

I go to school, I write exams,

if I pass, if I fail, if I drop out,

does anyone give a damn?

And if they do, they'll soon forget 'cause it won't take much for me

to show my life ain't over yet.

I wake up scared, I wake up strange.

I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change.

I wake up scared, I wake up strange

and everything around me stays the same.

I couldn't tell you that I was wrong,

chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song.

I couldn't tell you that you were right,

so instead I looked in the mirror,

watched TV, laid away all night.

We've got these chains, hang 'round our necks,

people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.

Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same when temptation calls ...

When I was born, they looked at me and said;

What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.

And when you were born, they looked at you and said;

What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey

E.M. Forester-A Room with a View.

I'm teaching it for the first time. I know most of them won't love it like I do, but i can try, right?

Well, a person can work up a mean mean thirst

After a hard day of nothin' much at all

Summer's past, it's too late to cut the grass

There ain't much to rake anyway in the fall

Sometimes I just ain't in the mood

To take my place in back with the loudmouths

You're like a picture on a fridge that's never stocked with food,

I used to live at home, now I stay at the house

And everybody wants to be special here

They call your name out loud and clear

Here comes a regular, call out your name

Here comes a regular, Am I the only one here today

Well a drinking buddy that's bound to another town

Once the police made you go away

And even if you're in the arms of someone's baby now

I drink a great big whiskey to you anyway

And everybody wants to be someone's here

Someone's gonna show up never fear

Here comes a regular, call out your name

Here comes a regular, Am I the only one who feels ashamed

And even alongside old sad eyes, who says

"Opportunity knocks once then the door slams shut"

All I know is that I'm sick of everything that my money can buy

A fool who wastes his life god rests his guts

First the lights, and the collar goes up,and the wind begins to blow

You turn our back on a pay-you-back last call

First the plants, the leaves, the grass and here comes the snow

There ain't much to rake here anyway in the fall

Krik? Krak. by Edwidge Dandicat. Contemporary and horrifying Haitian stories.

We teach this in the Sophomore Lit. class at the school where I teach. I've been meaning to read it for years, but don't teach that class, so I haven't gotten around to it yet. I know that it's a pretty popular read.

I just finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I don't usually enjoy fantasy but I loved it. Anyone who ever loved the Wizard of Oz needs to read it.

I dreamed about killing you again last night

And it felt alright to me

Dying on the banks of Embarcadero skies

I sat and watched you bleed

Buried you alive in a fireworks display

Raining down on me

Your cold, hot blood

Ran away from me to the sea

I printed my name on the back of a leaf

And I watched it float away

The hope I had in a notebook full of white dry pages

Was all I tried to save

But the wind blew me back via Chicago

In the middle of the night

And not without fight

At the crush of veils and starlight

I know I'll make it back

One of these days

And turn on your TV

To watch a man with a face like mine

Being chased down a busy street

When he gets caught, I won't get up

And I won't go to sleep

I'm coming home

I'm coming home

Via Chicago

Where the cups are cracked and hooked

Above the sink

They make me think

Crumbling ladder tears don't fall

They shine down your shoulders

And crawling is screw faster lash

I blow it with kisses

I rest my head on a pillowy star

And a cracked-door moon

That says I haven't gone too far

I'm coming home

I'm coming home

I'm coming home

Via Chicago

Coming home

Coming home

Coming home

Searching for a home

Searching for a home

Searching for a home

Via Chicago

I'm coming home

I'm coming home