Have you read the news? In the Soho Tribune? Or anywhere else?
Four of the most iconic 80s bands are coming together for the Stadium Tour of a lifetime. Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts will be touring together beginning in late June.
The nearest they’re coming to us is down at the Hardrock Stadium (home of the Dolphins) in Miami. If you click the link above, you can see if they’re coming anywhere close to you.
For tonight’s serenade, I’m choosing one favorite from each band. While I’ve never seen the Crue or Def Leppard, I have seen Joan Jett several times and she still kicks ass.
But one of my most surprising experiences was seeing Poison a few years ago. If they’re left over from some of the cheesier 80s moments, nobody told them. They get out and absolutely rock it on stage, and I’d go see them again in a heartbeat.
If the tour is not going to be close enough for you to go see them, or you’re like me, broke AF, maybe these blasts from the past will give you a little taste of the show.
I hope you’re having a great weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
It’s Super Bowl Weekend. I’m no football fan and I picked the Saints to go all the way, so I know you’re wondering why I even bring it up.
In my side gig (teaching English online to children in China), they define culture as food, art, and celebrations. Well, that about covers it, don’t you think?
I think that, like Thanksgiving and the 4th of July, the Super Bowl is a quintessential American cultural phenomenon, and even if you’re not a sportsfan, there’s something in it for everyone–sports, food, music, entertainment, fireworks… It’s all there.
I love that this year, the half-time show will be Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. For tonight’s song, I’ve chosen Shakira’s Whenever, Wherever, but I had a hard time deciding. Both women are gorgeous and talented, but there’s something so down-and-dirty sexy about Shakira. Call it the erotic romance novelist in me, but that’s where my decision went.
The best thing about the Super Bowl, in my opinion, are the commercials. Several have been ‘leaked’ and I’m showing you my favorite so far. On SNL back in the days of Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch, they had a running bit featuring characters who were Southies, and this ad from Hyundai brings it all back with a cherry on top. Okay, the cherry is Big Papi, but how can you resist Smaht Pahk?
We’re spending tonight getting everything ready for loaded nachos and hot wings. Tomorrow, we’ll relax in front of the television with about 100 million other people and enjoy the spectacle. Hope we bought enough wings…
Enjoy your weekend, and be sure to hug those you love.
I love a good story. But I’m a writer, so I don’t think that comes as a big surprise.
I tend to write long stories. For me, the characters are everything. Their strengths, their vulnerabilities, their past experiences, their flaws and self-doubts blend together to make them relatable. I always want readers to feel like they know the characters, like they’re friends. And that takes time to build.
As a reader, the best books are the ones where I intentionally slow down about halfway through because I know I’m going to miss the characters when I finish the story. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was like that for me.
That being said, I’m always impressed with writers who can communicate all that emotion in fewer words. Like in a song, for example.
Tequila by Dan + Shay tells a great story. This video enhances that story. Be sure to stay until the end. 😉
And because I have a perverse sense of humor, I’m taking a left turn at Albuquerque. (You have to be a certain age to get that reference.) On my summer television guilty pleasure America’s Got Talent, a guy performed a karaoke version of a different Tequila. Enjoy.
This weekend, we’re well into summer, and in the States, we’re celebrating Independence Day this week. I wish you a wonderful 4th of July. Enjoy your time with family and friends. Don’t hold fireworks in your hand, y’all, because DUH!
Be sure to hug those you love. Happy Saturday night!
June is Pride Month. I could endeavor to explain the meaning, but I’d rather defer to a source that can do it so much more succinctly than I ever could.
June is Pride Month, a month to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual people, plus all other sexual orientations and genders. The month is celebrated in June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, which kicked off the first major demonstrations for gay rights in America. On June 28, 1969 police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village, but bar patrons — gay men and drag queens — fought back, a spontaneous incident which is now marked as the beginning of the gay rights movement in the United States. Brenda Howard, a bisexual activist, organized a march and other events to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the riots and is known as the “Mother of Pride.” Today, Pride Month features marches around the country, educational and awareness events, and parties to celebrate gay pride!
NationalToday.com
While I am not gay, I have a number of friends who are. My step-daughter is. And I support them 100%. I can’t imagine living in a world where I could not be my authentic self, where I had to pretend to be just like everyone else out of fear of rejection or worse.
There’s been a story in the news in the last couple of days about a lesbian couple who were attacked on a bus in London. It seems a gang of troglodites were goading them to kiss, and when they refused, the women were beaten. What the hell? How is it that people aren’t left alone to live their lives?
Our good friends Susan and Lori have been married for years, and they adopted a little boy a couple of years ago. There has never been a child more doted on in the history of time. Together, they are a beautiful family.
But times are getting scary. There’s what seems to be a global movement to restrict the rights of people who don’t look or act or believe the way those in power do. Make no mistake about it–LBGTQ rights are human rights. To marginalize groups of people is to dehumanize them. And when you dehumanize people, you can treat them any way you like. Ask the Nazis.
Tonight’s serenade is a triumphant celebration of being exactly who you were created to be. I hope it find you and yours well. Be sure to hug those you love.
According to reports, around a billion people are expected to tune into Sunday night’s premiere of the final season of HBO’s blockbuster series, Game of Thrones. Mr. R and I will be two of those people. If you’re a fan of the show, you know what I mean.
If you’re one of those who hasn’t seen a single second of the show, I get it. Normally, I am that person. The one who bucks the trend and avoids that which everyone else seems to obsess over. I was that way about Breaking Bad, but I eventually saw the error of my ways.
I was also late to The Sopranos party. I don’t think I saw a single episode until after the entire series was over.
Fun Fact: Mr. R and I are currently binge-watching The Sopranos for at least the second time, LOL.
When Game of Thrones was first coming out in the spring of 2011, I read a lot about it from a lot of different sources. It really didn’t sound like my cup of tea. An epic fantasy filled with kings, queens, knights, wars, dragons, etc? On the other hand, did I want to miss getting in on the ground floor of the ‘next big thing’? So I decided to watch the first episode. Worst-case scenario, I waste an hour of my life.
But then I watched the opening sequence. In seven minutes and twenty-two seconds, I was totally in. I had no idea what was happening, but I was hooked. Eventually after that first season, I went back and read the books.
Game of Thrones is based on A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic fantasy series of books by George R.R. Martin. And he has worked closely with the creators of the show. As a writer, I’m fascinated at Martin’s ability to create a whole world–no really, the books include maps, and the locations in the show are based on those maps. He’s created characters that are rich and diverse and strong and flawed. Dragons aside, for me it’s the human drama that makes the show the achievement that it is.
Westeros and beyond is populated with strong women, ruthless warriors, noble folk, and monsters of the human variety as well as the supernatural ones. I was impressed by the fact that dwarf Tyrion Lannister (expertly played by the excellent Peter Dinklage) has a hugely prominent role.
Granted, the show is not for the squeamish–scenes of violence abound. And there is quite a bit of sex as well. These are not well-behaved characters, for the most part. But I wonder if you might see a few things that ring familiar, as well.
Music plays a huge part in Game of Thrones. In fact, it’s almost a character within itself, setting the mood, identifying the various families and banners. The opening theme, A Song of Ice and Fire, is iconic, and for tonight’s serenade, I’ve included two versions. The first one is an acoustic quartet, and the second is an entire orchestra featuring 2Cellos.
And…
If you’re still on the fence about Game of Thrones and haven’t seen a second of it…
Please grant me seven minutes and twenty-two seconds and watch the first sequence of Season 1 Episode 1.
Oh, and rule of thumb for watching GoT–don’t get too attached to anybody. Just saying… And be careful online–The internet is dark, and full of spoilers.
I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
We’ve reached mid-March, and you know what that means! What better way to start off a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day than with Irish Rover by The Dubliners and The Pogues?
I love St. Patrick’s Day. One of my favorite memories is the time Mr. R and I spent the holiday at the James Joyce Irish Pub in Ybor City. Ybor is the historic Cuban district of Tampa, so it makes for an odd choice of places to celebrate all things Irish.
But that day, we were lucky enough to snag a high-top table by the front window and we spent about six hours enjoying great Irish food, a pint or three, and terrific live music. Mr. R even paid the band to play Dirty Old Town.
Tonight, I’m giving you a playlist of great Irish music. Here’s the Pogues’ version of Dirty Old Town.
We’ll continue with Galway Girl. On my bucket list–pay someone in a pub in Galway to play this song. This is a great video!
Here is one of my all-time favorite Irish bands, The Prodigals. I first met them when they came to Irish Fest in West Palm Beach, but I had the opportunity to see them in their ‘natural habitat,’ their home bar Paddy Reilly’s on the lower east side of Manhattan. Weile Weile Weile is a little creepy, but it’s a traditional Irish song.
All of those are great, but I can’t end a St. Patrick’s Day playlist without the boys from Boston.
I hope you are doing well this St. Patrick’s weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
Happy last Saturday of January! Can you believe it? Next week, it’s February. It seems like the month has passed quickly.
Have I mentioned that I’m a HUGE fan of musical theatre? Just kidding, I know I have said maybe one or two things. Possibly more, LOL.
Which is why I’m so excited about Sunday night’s live performance of RENT on FOX.
Loosely adapted from Puccini’s opera La boheme (in fact there’s a song called La Vie Bohème), RENT ran on Broadway for twelve years and won several awards including a Tony for Best Musical. It was also adapted into a movie which featured many of the original cast, including the amazing Idina Menzel.
Fun Fact: I mention RENT and La Vie Bohème in the first Rannigan’s Redemption book, RESISTING RISK.
The LIVE telecast starts at 8pm EST Sunday on FOX. So guess where I’ll be?
I hope you’re staying safe and warm this last January weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
Hello, August!
It’s the middle of summer, but I always used to dread August, because that means Back-to-School. But now, while my teacher friends are gearing up for battle, I’m ready to release my 9th book, and I’m 25k words into the next one. There’s enormous freedom in giving up a steady paycheck for a career that nourishes your soul.
So this Saturday finds me feeling light and happy. I’ve pulled up an older song that makes me feel the same way. Mary Chapin Carpenter released Down at the Twist and Shout in 1991, and it won a Grammy the following year. It just makes me want to go to a country bar and two-step all night.
Look closely–she’s backed up by members of traditional Louisiana cajun/zydeco band BeauSoleil. I saw them perform once in downtown West Palm Beach as part of a free outdoor concert series, Sundays at the Meyer. Then-Mayor of WPB (now US Congresswoman) Lois Frankel went through the crowd handing out chocolate chip cookies, which is the part my kids most remember.
I’m tucking in a little BeauSoleil just for fun.
I hope you’re having a relaxing summer weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
Who doesn’t love a royal wedding? Today’s ceremony was absolutely perfect! I’m the dork who was up before the sun to watch the whole thing live. Wasn’t it just beautiful?
So now I’m in the mood for pure romance. Do you wonder what song Harry and Meghan will use for their first dance? I have an idea. You know how I love Ed Sheeran, and this version of Perfect he did with Andrea Bocelli just gives me goosebumps.
I found a love for me
Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
‘Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow
Your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you’re holding mine
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it,
Darling, you look perfect tonight
Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I’ll share her home
I found a love to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids but we’re so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we’ll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I’ll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
When I saw you in that dress
Looking so beautiful
I don’t deserve this
Darling, you look perfect tonight
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don’t deserve this
You look perfect tonight
I hope you’re having a magical weekend. Be sure to hug those you love.
It’s Cinco de Mayo. Just like everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s day, don’t you just have to have a margarita (or three) on May 5th?
Only this year, you have to choose between a margarita and a mint julep, because it’s Derby Day. It’s the 144th Run for the Roses at the Kentucky Derby.
I must confess a little fondness for the races. Mr. R and I have been to Gulfstream Park a couple of times, and it’s lots of fun. I have a scientific method for picking winners–I pick the names that jump out at me. It’s 2:26pm as I’m writing this, and I’m all in with #10, My Boy Jack. He’s currently 18:1, but I don’t pay attention to odds. I’m the proud mom of a 7-year-old German shepherd named…Jack. It’s kismet.
But tonight, I will be curled up on the couch with popcorn and a glass of wine to watch the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on HBO. This year’s honorees are Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I can’t wait to see the show, and I’m bringing a little preview for tonight’s serenade. Dire Straights has a lot of cool songs, but I’m choosing Walk of Life.
Here’s wishing you felicitaciones, may your horse come in first, and I hope they play your favorite song. Be sure to hug those you love.
Adventures in Date Night 
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