Thursday, February 26, 2009

20 Years Ago...

File Under: Family








February 27 1989. The day my father died. He was 54. He had a massive heart attack and died in his sleep.


I was at work when I got the call. My boss answered the phone, said "Jim, it's your mom and she doesn't sound right." I picked up and she asked if I was sitting. I told her that I was and she said "I think your father is dead. I went into the bedroom, he hasn't been out of bed all day and I tried to wake him. He's not answering, he won't move. I called the ambulance." I told her I was coming home. She said "Don't tell your sister...don't tell her." I told her that Georgette had called in sick and was not at work. She worked in the office across the hall from me. I hung up the phone, told my boss and she summoned someone to follow me home just to make sure I got there.


When I arrived at home, the ambulance was there. My father was dead. They were getting ready to take his body to the hospital (where I worked). May, my friend who followed me over, hugged both of us, told us that she would talk to us later and went back to work.


The apartment was quiet.


We figured out how we were going to tell Georgette. She was my dad's favorite. She knew it. His little girl. She was also 2 months pregnant.


We went over to her apartment. Her husband was home. My mom went into the bedroom to talk to Georgette. Her husband, Scott, asked me what was going on. I told him. At that point, Georgette had just found out because she started to cry. We were all crying at that point.


We stayed about an hour. We tried to get Georgette and Scott to come with us to have dinner. Somehow, in all of this, we remembered that we needed to eat. We tried to...we ended up just picking at plates of food.


The next couple of days were somewhat of a blur. Calls to family, a visit to a funeral home, going through paperwork.


My dad had been sick for years...he was diagnosed as manic-depressive and had developed a social phobia. He spent a lot of time indoors. He could be social in small doses. For years he was an alcoholic and when he stopped drinking, it changed him. Alcohol was his crutch and without it he became withdrawn. He didn't interact with friends, we didn't even see family very much. So when it came time plan my father's funeral, we knew it would be small.


My dad kept a stash of money in his passport case. On our birthdays or holidays, he would go into his cash stash and give us money. When we made the funeral plans, we remembered the cash stash. His cash on hand was the exact amount of his funeral costs.


The day of his funeral was cold and sunny. A dozen of us gathered, some prayers were read, and we were given a flag on behalf of the US Navy.


I feel guilty, I wasn't very close to my father. I loved him, but by the time I was old enough to understand everything, he had already changed. I remember good times...lots of fun family parties, laughter, great food. I remember him picking me up from school one afternoon, having just come from the car deealership, my parents just purchased a convertible. It went back the next day because it made him too nervous. I remember family vacations where we would all go but my father always stayed behind, in the hotel room, because he didn't feel like joining us.


He didn't mean to be withdrawn, I'm sure he tried to be there for us. I wish that he was. I loved my father, I just wish I had said it more when he was alive.

Countdown

File Under: Television Obsessions-a-Go-Go



Dancing With The Stars begins in 11 days!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Friends, Family and Facebook

File Under: Facebook Fun

Pictured above are my friends Donna and Lynn. The three of us enjoyed dinner together last Friday night.

Flash back to September 1972. Kindergarten. I was seated at a table with three other people. To one side of me was a boy, Tony. To the other side...I couldn't tell you who was there. Across from me was Lynn. At some point during our first day of school, Tony spit in my hair and Lynn punched him. Lynn and I have been friends ever since.



Here's our Kindergarten class:

Can you find us:

We went through first and second grade together. We were in different third grade classes. At some point, Lynn left school because her family moved away.

When I was 11, I got new upstairs neighbors. I watched the stuff being carried up then I saw an adult that I recognized. It was Lynn's mom. Sure enough, Lynn and her fmaily were our new upstairs neighbors. Maryann told me that Lynn would be home tomorrow, and she would send her downstairs.

We had fun as neighbors. I got to know Lynn's sister, Donna. She's a year older than us. They have an older brother, he basically teased us when he was home but was out being social as he's a couple years older than us.

We never lost touch, even after they moved out and we went to different high schools. We didn't see each other all that often but we managed to stay current.

Lynn and my sister Georgette both had their first children at the same time. Somewhere I have a picture of the two kids, both about 4 months old, laying on the floor together, looking at one another.

Lynn and I have kept in touch via email these past few years. I've been to birthday parties at her home. She's married to a really great man and they've got 4 kids.

The most exciting thing was finding each other on Facebook. Finding her also put me into contact with Donna and we've all chatted constantly about getting together. Last Friday, we did just that and had such a fun time. It was the first of what will be many more and more regular gatherings. Some day soon, I'll invite them over so that my mom can visit with them, she'll be happy to see them and hear about all their kids.

Yet another happy connection, thanks to Facebook.

Parenting the Parent

File Under: Family Matters

As I've mentioned in the past, my mom lives with me. For the most part she's self sufficient but she has her moments where she neeeds me. She's diabetic, she's got high blood pressure, and her cholesterol is high so she's on meds to keep that in check. In her words "I'm a walking pill bottle!" She's on 6 different medications.

Over the past 4 months, she's been seeing her doctor monthly. Her blood sugar has been elevated, the doctor has her trying different medications to regulate things. She has days were she feels pretty good and her sugar level is closer to normal. However, the latest medication upsets her stomach severely. She looked it up in her PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) and the side effects she's experiencing are considered normal and over time, they subside. For the most part, they have. She's limiting herself to very mild (BLAND) foods.

Today, she's developed a sore in her mouth that prevents her from wearing her bottom dental plate. Without teeth, she can't eat. Tonight's dinner was a big bowl of oatmeal. She's drinking nutritional supplements to make up for the lack of protein.

I stopped at Target on the way home to pick up more Boost (nutritional drink) and oatmeal, and I picked up apple sauce, and packaged peaches (both sugar free) as well as sugar free ice cream and chocolate syrup, and some cream soups. I think I've given her enough variety so that she can blend different things together and have a few interesting choices while her mouth heals. Already tonight she said it was feeling a bit better. This happened three months ago and it only lasted a couple days.

It's always something, isn't it.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Rehearsal - Dancing With the Stars

File Under : Television Obsessions-a-Go-Go

Well, Belinda has begun rehearsals for Dancing with The Stars. Her partner is Jonathan Roberts. In Season 6, he danced with Marie Osmond and went to 3rd place. Okay, that was probably 73 billion Momons jamming the phone lines, and those were just her relatives. Previously he danced with Heather Mills, Paul McCartney's one-legged ex-wife.

Belinda Carlisle isn't an Osmond and she has both her legs. She's been performing on stage since 1979 but she's not known for choreography. Her signature dance is "The Belinda," which involves a shimmy and hip shake, a dip of the knees and arms up.

Belinda has been updating her Facebook daily, keeping fans and friends informed of her activities. She has been learning to Waltz and loves it. She thinks her partner Jonathan is perfect for her and she's having so much fun. She alternates between her UGG boots and her formal dancing shoes as she's getting used to wearing formal dance shoes. Mind you, on stage she often comes out wearing pretty shoes and promptly kicks them off and performs barefoot. Today's comment : day 9 - things are coming along really well. we throw in some samba to break things up and i have to say, i LOVE it. it feels gogo-ish.

Pictures have been released to media outlets of all of the stars in rehearsal. Because I know you're all so excited to see them, here's some photos of Belinda in rehearsal with her handsome partner.














And lastly, here's they are in one of their official promo shots. They make a really attractive couple!




Promo photos of the remaining couples can be seen here:
Dancing With The Stars kicks off Monday March 9 on ABC

The Cupcakes

File Under: The Sin


Per Joy's request:

Andrea had a yellow one, I had a green one. They were delicious!

Left To My Own Devices

File Under: In Charge?

It seems as thought I'm the highest ranking non-clinical person in the building today. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Everybody else is offsite at a monthly leadership meeting.

Maybe I'll actually get some work done around here today. Won't that be nice, for a change.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I Feel A Sin Coming On

File Under: FOOD

It's very quiet here at work today. At lunch, I looked at my coworker Andrea and said "I think it's a cupcake day!" She smiled (she's never been one to disagree when it comes to cupcakes) and said "I agree."

I'm headed to the bakery now. The last time it was a cupcake day, it was before the election and I also bought a Democrat donkey cookie for Dan.

I'll take my phone and photograph the cupcake selection at the bakery.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Another Anti-Valentine's Day

File Under: "Holidays" I don't like.

I was going to blog about Valentine's day but it seems I've done that already. I just read my post from last year and, yup, I feel just about the same way.

http://tpgtl.blogspot.com/2008/02/anti-valentines-day.html

The commercials still bug me, the hearts and flowers bother me too. I think my level of bitter is dialed up a notch or two higher this year because I thought this one would be different. It's not.

For fun, I created a group on Facebook. it's called "SUCK IT, CUPID! - The Anti-Valentine's Day Group." I think I've got 14 or 15 members. Anybody can join. Actually a couple of the people who are members are partnered, they just liked the group.

CNN's website has a great article written by Roland Martin about his dislike for Valentine's Day. You can read it here. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/11/martin.valentine/index.html?iref=newssearch

Here's a guy who is married and believes that there shouldn't be one day to shower your spouse or partner with gifts and flowers. Why should February 14 be any different than other days? I like his take on it and if I were in a relationship, I'd feel the same way.

I did receive a lovely invitation for Valentine's Day. Dan and Luis are hosting dinner for the little group of friends. The invitation was sent via email and it said "Be Ours." I'm happy to be doing something that evening, thrilled that I'm spending the evening with people I love. It'll be a nice distraction and it won't be an evening of sitting home and feeling sorry for myself.

I will however, take time out of my day and listen to the song I listen to every year on that day.

"Valentine...I know you're not mine. You're somebody else's flame. But when those hearts and flowers fade, oh my darling, look my way."

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Psychic - New Season of Dancing With the Stars

File Under: Maybe I should call Dionne Warwick

Back in December, I was bored and decided to try to stir up some fun on the Go-Go's message board. I posted the following:

DANCING WITH THE STARS-A-GO-GO

Did anybody else hear or read about the casting for the next "Dancing With The Stars?" I don't recall where I heard or read this (these past couple of weeks have been a blur), but allegedly producers are talking to Belinda Carlisle about being on the show. The interesting twist is that one of the other contestants they're trying to get is Susanna Hoffs. So it will be a Go-Go versus a Bangle. Rumor, or fact? I love DWTS so that would be some added excitement to the next season.

So, today, this article appeared on the internet, revealing the upcoming cast for the latest round of Dancing With The Stars:

http://community.livejour...notheydidnt/31989178.html

An article on the internet alone would not be enough to convince me 100 percent but hints dropped on Facebook brought me to the conclusion last night. Belinda, who is one of my FB friends, mentioned a big surprise that would be revealed to everybody on Monday. Connecting it with the official announcements taking place tonight, I wrote her a note and said "I have a hunch. I'm guessing you may be trying on some new "Dancing" shoes." Her reply, "My lips are sealed. :) "

I'm absolutely giddy! I can't wait!

Have you seen her Nutrisystem commercial? She looks fantastic!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Once There Was This Band

File Under: Musical Roots

First of all, I'll warn you that this post is freakishly long, but it's the story of a band that Heatherton and I were once in. This was originally our publicity bio but became our Rolling Stone article and interview. We were supposed to be on the cover, but New Kids on the Block won the honor. Anyway, hopefully you'll find this somewhat entertaining and you'll wish you had seen us in our prime.

(yes, this is fiction...but it could have happened...)

So who is Chastity’s Bitch?

“Who aren’t we,” is how lead singer H-Bomb answered that question. “We’re family and friends and lovers and fighters. This was our destiny.”

H-Bomb and brother Jim met in July 1995 while visiting a timeshare in Butte, MT. “It was fucking horrible” said Jim, who is shaking his head in disgust. “I can’t believe they tried to sell us that crap. The carpeting in the living room was astroturf!” H-Bomb laughs and punches her brother in the arm. Yes, they are brother and sister. Twins, no less. And they didn’t know it at the time. “Fate brought us together” they both say at once. “No, it was my toxic farts” shouts Doug from across the room. The entire group laughs.

It seems that the 60’s were a very busy time for Jim and H-Bomb’s parents. “Nobody believes us when we tell them that we are the children of Martha Stewart and Elvis Presley!” said H-Bomb. The only way they can explain it is to go back to their east coast roots. Martha, caught the eye of Elvis during his ’68 tour and let him show her “little Elvis.” Embarrassed that she had become pregnant, she built her craft and catering empire as an elaborate disguise to hide her ever-growing stomach. She baked grand cakes and pies to distract people, and she hid behind cleverly placed flower arrangements. Martha gave birth, put the babies up for adoption, and discovered that she had a knack for “good things.” H-Bomb ended up the child of circus clowns and traveled from city to city with her parents. “It was fun, driving around in that little car. We had the coolest pets, and the bearded lady made the best cookies you ever tasted.” Eventually her family settled in southern California. H-Bomb became interested in music and dance and took the leading role in “Barbarella – The Musical” in Junior High.

Brother Jim had been thrown out of three orphanages by the time he was 10 months old. “They couldn’t keep up with me. I kept climbing out of my crib in search of the TV room. I couldn’t get enough of “Love American Style” and they didn’t approve of it at St. Eleanore’s Orphanage, so out I went. I was also caught smoking, and allegedly, they said I was making threatening hand gestures at the other babies.” As luck would have it, a family from Chicago adopted Jim and he grew up perfectly content, but knowing that show business was in his future.

Flash forward to July 1995. “The day that Jim and I met, I just knew that we had a lot in common.” The soft spoken Miss V chimes in “Just look at their chipped teeth.” Both H-Bomb and Jim flash a toothy smile, revealing a rather distinct chip in one bottom tooth. After the timeshare sales pitch, the two got to talking. They ended up having dinner at Bob’s Big Boy, and they started to compare their past. By the time the Jello was served, they knew they were related. Both carried with them an item that had been given to them by their adopted parents on their 13th birthday. At the same time they reached into their pocket and produced a # 8 pastry tip.

Both had to return home but kept in touch, sometimes talking three times in one day. H-Bomb was working on some songs that were inspired by the aging cast of Beverly Hills 90210 and late night infomercials.

“The songs that she was writing, well they were just so warped and beautiful, and just needed to be heard. We had fun tossing things back and forth but we needed someone to collaborate with us. Then one night I was at this cabaret show at the Romaine Room in Chicago and there was this woman playing her clarinet. The crowd was captivated. I was too and had to meet this person.” That person was Vahona. She and Jim talked for three hours and at the end, felt like life-long friends. “He’s got such a demented side, but he makes you think he’s really nice. I think he is, and he’s really caring, but hell, I don’t ever want to be on his bad side.”

Vahona’s a free spirit. It’s evident in her eyes. “I just knew when I met her, there was more to her than this lounge act.” “Yeah, a crappy day job” she replies.

This free spirit attitude comes from her unusual upbringing. Raised by a family of petty thieves, V learned at an early age the fine art of the five-finger discount, but managed to endear herself to people instantly. “For my 10th birthday, my family went on a trip to Los Angeles. We stayed in this dive hotel off of Sunset Boulevard. Mom and Dad went up to the Hollywood hills to fool around under the “Hollywood” sign, while I stayed in the area. I snuck onto a bus with these five women with all these musical instruments. One of them had the coolest purse, so I took it. Damn thing had only 14 cents and some cheap rubbers in it. A couple of the women saw me and began talking to me, inviting me to their rehearsal. Boy did they stink. But they were having fun. Later that evening, they asked me if I would help them carry their gear. They were performing at a club, so I hung out to watch. After their set, the bass player walks up to the mic and screamed “who stole my purse?” She was so pissed. I just laughed because I knew well that it wasn’t worth all the yelling she was doing. Over the 10 day period I followed them around, I got 8 purses out of that one. It wasn’t for the money, really. I think I cleared about $1.63 in total, but there were all these really pretty pills.”

Vahona had a friend named DeDe, whom she met a couple years earlier at an “Up With People” retreat in Topeka Kansas. “Work sent a bunch of us as one of those team building events, but while everyone was scaling mountains, catching each other, and playing Kumbaya by the campfire, I was smoking and writing letters to Simon LeBon. DeDe found me and I thought she was going to turn me in. Instead she sat down, we talked and found out that we had a lot in common.” DeDe adds “Yeah, Marie Osmond.” Well as it turns out, DeDe was the area president of the Marie Osmond Fan Club, and Vahona was Marie Osmond for Halloween when she was 7 years old. “We still laugh about that,” says DeDe.

DeDe got a call from Vahona soon after Vahona met Jim because she knew that DeDe wrote music with a partner, but as luck would have it, they had no lyrics. “Doug and I would write and write and write, but it was just music. Great melodies, really kick-ass tunes, but no words.” DeDe and Doug met at a Salt-n-Pepa concert. DeDe’s roots take her back to San Jose, CA where she grew up in a strictly Amish family. “It was rough, because all my friends were listening to records and got to wear cool clothes. I, on the other hand, had to wear clothes made by my mom and aunts, and for fun I got to help churn butter. Yes, it was difficult. People would honk at our horse and buggy when Father dropped my twin brothers Jebbadiah and Ezekiel and me off at school. When I was 15, my life was transformed by the Bay City Rollers and Shaun Cassidy. I spent 3 months mowing lawns and doing chores for neighbors across town and managed to raise enough money to buy clothes, get my hair cut and declare my independence. It turns out I didn’t have to do much because Dad ran off with the woman who demonstrated appliances at the local department store, and out of rage, Mom began smoking pot and wearing mini skirts.” Doug laughs while DeDe tells her story. “That always makes me laugh so hard I nearly piss my pants!” DeDe reminds him that his past is just as funny.

Doug was adopted by cold, heartless millionaires, and 10 months out of the year he was raised by a nanny named Hattie. At the age of 5, he was sent to boarding school, where he was made to wear itchy school uniforms. His first couple years of schooling were tumultuous, and he ended up being asked not to return at the end of the season. Hattie home schooled Doug and took him to her church every Sunday. Doug was the only white person at an all black Baptist church. “I just loved the singing and dancing. The Preacher let me lead the sermon once a month and I became very popular. I knew I needed to be on stage.” Years later, after Hattie died he became the sole heir of her fortunes. Her family fought Doug for the inheritance and it went to court. Eventually he won but seeing how money created greed, he donated all of his money to inner city schools and set up music scholarships for children. One of those kids was Raven Symone from The Cosby Show. She was very excited to attend a Salt-N-Pepa concert and Doug agreed to take her. DeDe says “So I’m sitting in my seat and I see this tall white guy walk in with this little black girl. She looked familiar but I wasn’t sure from where I knew her. They were both dancing and singing along. I offered Doug some Raisinettes and we began to talk. We just clicked and we’ve been friends ever since.”

Flash forward to October 1995 when Jim, Vahona, Doug, and DeDe traveled to southern California to visit Heatherton. Vahona and Heatherton hit it off immediately, both noting their love for Corn Nuts and old Barbara Walters interviews. Within a matter of minutes, they penned the song “If You Were A Tree.” Doug and Jim sat around critiquing porn and DeDe took apart Heatherton’s toaster. “That’s right, bitch, you broke my toaster.” DeDe replied “The piece of crap was already broken, I couldn’t get an evenly browned piece of toast out of it!” Everyone laughs. Later, while drinking screwdrivers and watching episodes of “The Sonny and Cher Show,” Heatherton mentions that she once roller skated with Chastity Bono. Doug was amazed by that and told Heatherton that had she remained friends with her, she could have been Chastity’s bitch. DeDe and Vahona both decided that we should all be in a band together and our name should be “Chastity’s Bitch.” Everybody decided that it was the perfect band name and the band was born.

Where on earth do you come up with those songs?

DeDe – “Many things inspire us. Sometimes it’s the weather, sometimes it’s something in the news, sometimes I’ll be watching an infomercial on TV and feel a song coming on.

Jim – “I’ve always hated clowns and it felt like therapy writing “Don’t Let The Clowns (Eat Me).”

Doug – “A doctor’s appointment I had became our song “Turn Your Head and Cough.” We love playing that song in concert. It’s a crowd favorite.”

Vahona – “When I was in eighth grade, there was this girl who lived down the street who always had boys visiting her. I was telling the story to Jim and in no time, we had the basic premise for “Slut On My Block.” Of course, we changed the name of the slut in the song, to protect the actual slut’s identity.”

Heatherton – “I had just finished filming the “Love Boat” reunion movie, in which I played the casino girl and I brought a couple friends to the wrap party. It was a big affair. Heather Locklear was there, Jane Seymour, JM J. Bullock and Tammy Faye Bakker, Donna Douglas, Tori Spelling, Tony Danza, Ricky Schroeder…gosh I could go on. Anyway there was this really odd girl wandering around. She was totally out of place, in jeans and a vest, curly hair, ugly glasses. She kept licking her teeth and mumbling. She had this big back pack. I thought maybe she was the entertainment for the evening. She was, as a matter of fact. She kept mumbling “Charrrrrrloootte…Charrrrrloootte!!” She went digging into her fanny pack that she was wearing and I thought she was going to pull a gun and try to take out Mr. Spelling’s kids, so I threw my drink in her face. Turns out she was just fishing for a sanitary napkin. I thought she was some trigger happy party girl. She inspired a song of that same name.”

Have any of you had any musical training?

Jim: I play tambourine and cymbals. One doesn’t need much training for that. I’m too lazy to really learn anything else. DeDe learned to play drums when she left home. Vahona learned to play clarinet in high school and was first chair in the school orchestra. Doug picked up the bassoon at a young age and plays with his band when CB isn’t touring. Heatherton’s always learning something new, but has been playing guitar since she was nine.

Heatherton: DeDe, Doug, and Vahona are great. It’s fun playing with them. Jim can’t read music so it’s all about words. If he has an idea for a melody, he hums it.

What’s been your favorite gig to play?

Vahona: Mine was an early gig, the time we won the Battle of the Bands competition at the Thirsty Whale in Chicago. All these local favorites were playing that night. It was the finals and we were up after Evil Beaver. Doug surprised us and brought props out on stage. During “Douche” he threw kazoos to the crowd and had them play along. I think I was blowing bubbles at some point, and Jim was tossing gummy bears at the audience. It was a close race and we won. Evil Beaver was so much fun and we’ve since toured with them twice.

Jim: I really had a blast when we played “Chacko’s ‘Boppin’ Bindi Fest” on BBC6 in the UK. It was like playing Dick Clark’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” except it was for broadcast in Bombay. The host was a pervert. He kept trying to stick his face between Vahona’s tits and I swear he grabbed my ass once. We did three songs and those kids went nuts. I think that was the first time we played our song “Kama Sutra” in front of an audience.

Heatherton: Shit! We played this one gig at the sports and RV show in Kenosha Wisconsin. It was outdoors and next to us was the “Twiggy, The Water Skiing Squirrel” exhibit. I swear, this little freaking squirrel was water skiing. It was the coolest thing. So we’re on stage, doing our thing and the squirrel got away and ended up sitting on the drum riser during our set. He loved it. Doug sat down and was feeding him granola. We were really on fire that day. We’ve played so many gigs but that one was really fun!

DeDe: We went to Greece and played three shows at the Acropolis. We were Yanni’s opening act. Doug had just recovered from his surgery and his hair had not grown back so he took to wearing turbans. So we went on stage and I looked over and Doug’s in his turban but he’s also wearing what looks to be a white tablecloth. He looked like he was ready for a toga party. It was hot. During the song “Dolly’s Dirty Butterfly” Doug takes out this basket and pretends he’s charming a snake. The crowd went wild. Linda Evans was so turned on and was backstage talking to Doug for at least an hour. She kept saying something about wanting to see the snake. Yanni was not amused. We returned home the next day.

Doug: I like all the gigs we’ve played. I can’t think of any one that stands out as a favorite. I enjoyed the night that Jim fell off the stage and was caught by the crowd and body surfed all around the venue. The look of fear in his face was priceless. Only later did I find out that the show we played was a manicure convention and he had been surfed back to the part of the room where all the acrylic nail tip ladies were standing. I think he still has the scars on his ass. I guess if I had to pick out one favorite show, it would have to be Nudestock. We spent nearly 80 minutes on stage, doing our thing, completely naked.

What’s next for Chastity’s Bitch?

Heatherton: Well, we have been very lucky. We’ve been trying out different things. Vahona has a foot controlled bubble machine. Doug throws Jello out to the crowd. DeDe flings Ritz Crackers into the audience. Our CDs have sold well. We’ve got a great fan base and most of our shows have been sellouts. After 4 albums, we were able to release a greatest hits and then the foreign audience (Europe and Asia) demanded a box set, so our overseas label released a repackaged greatest hits with a bunch of our b-sides and some demos. Things that we may release in the US later. A German toy maker wants to make CB dolls but that project is on hold for a bit because none of us like how they’ve sculpted our bodies. Vahona and I want bigger tits, Jim and Doug don’t feel that they’ve been accurately represented either. DeDe doesn’t like her hair. We want instrument and accessories too and we're not sure if the manufacturers are going to commit to the making of all of the accessories.

Jim: We were approached by a producer recently. Apparently they think our lives are interesting enough to make into a movie. I’m not sure I agree and I know that it would have to carry a rating of NC-17. I mean, none of us are saints. I wouldn’t be comfortable if our story wasn’t accurately and truthfully told. It wouldn’t be fair to our fans or to the public.

Creatively, we’ve been writing together and look forward to going back into the studio sometime this fall. H and I already started on some songs. I think my favorite of the new batch is “Who’s Got A Pussy (Here Kitty Kitty)” which we plan to begin playing when we do some shows later this summer.

Individually we’ve all got something going on. I’m experimenting with faux finishes and have been reorganizing my socks and underwear drawer, as well as working in my topiary garden. Heatherton’s been taking riding classes and trying to figure out the Colonel’s blend of 14 herbs and spices. Doug’s kept busy doing home dentistry and animal husbandry. Vahona’s been doing voiceover work for a local TV station and singing radio jingles. DeDe landed a gig as the lottery girl and can be seen four nights a week on TV pulling balls out of a drum. She’s also produced the debut album for a local band who just got signed to a major label. Lastly, DeDe, Heatherton, and Vahona did some post production work on Madonna’s last album.

Any parting words?

Doug: Don’t take your eyes off of the bitch. Live it, love it.

Heatherton: And don’t chew with your mouth full.

----
Note: The band never reunited. Our record label dropped us, or management team went to work for Sheryl Crow, and we decided to just call it a day. We're all still good friends.

Monday, February 2, 2009

It's a Family Affair

File Under: Twinsies



Meet my twin sister, Heatherton!


People don't believe it when we tell them but we're the illegitimate twin siblings born to Elvis Presley and Martha Stewart. She's rock and roll with a creative edge, I'm crafty and good in the kitchen and I play the tambourine. For the first few years of our lives, we were shuttled between Martha's (MOM'S) Turkey Hill Home (our bedroom was in the basement, we were a secret. ) and Graceland (aka DAD'S house). We had much more fun at DAD'S place because Lisa Marie loved us and we got to hang with great celebrities. Uncle Frank (Sinatra) would come over and he taught me to mix the perfect martini. Auntie Liza would stop by and would have us alphabetize her pills. Good times. Eventually she ended up in Los Angeles and I ended up in Chicago. We reunited about 5 years ago.
Heatherton fronts a band called Pink Slip. The band was part of a new music showcase and they visited Chicago and I got to see them live. One of the highlights was when they performed a song that she and I cowrote. Bet you didn't know I was a songwriter, did you?
During their visit, some of the band members hung out with us on a Friday night. Here's a few vintage photographs. See if you recognize a couple of the faces.




Heatherton, Vahona, Jim

Vahona, Dan, Eddie, Heatherton
Pink Slip, rocking out at Wise Fools Pub in Chicago
Heatherton contacted me last week and is now a follower of my blog. She is preparing the relaunch of her website, on which her beautiful photography is featured. When she's ready, I'll share the link with you so you can visit her site.




I finally did it, and it's a big one!

File Under: Size does matter

I've been talking about it for some time, Dan and I have been discussing it recently. Saturday I finally did it. I bought a new TV. I got a Vizio 37", 1080p LCD television. I wasn't sure I'd go that big but I went to Costco and it really was the best deal.

It looks great and I love it and I'm glad I did it.



(forgive the surrounding mess)