Sadly, this blog is going to be abandoned for the next couple of weeks. That's right, no highly entertaining/fascinating posts from yours truly. I know what you are thinking, "How will I ever get by?!"
First, you should know it's nothing personal. I'm getting married. And then I'm going to Jamaica. Yay me!
Second, here are a few things you can ponder while I'm gone.
-Fun 4th
-Cow licks. This is an expression which must have derived from someone, somewhere actually being licked by a cow. How terrifying would that be?! My whole head could fit in a cow's mouth. And they have those flat bone grinding teeth. I really think people need to reevaluate how they use this concept in everyday conversation.
-How adorable this commercial is. My friend Bryan tears up every time he watches it.
-Snare A World Record - We need about 1,500 more people to sign up. That is a lot. But we can do it! You figure out how you can learn to drum or who you can recruit to participate while I'm gone.
-"Flower" by Amos Lee - A sweet little song that is sure to put you in a good mood.
That should be enough to keep you busy for awhile. And if you think of anything I must know while I'm gone, you can always leave me a comment here or send me an email (administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org) I would love to come back to a full inbox! Have a great couple of weeks!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Bring Your Friends and Get in the Picture
This year, the theme for Fun 4th is Bring Your Friends and Get in the Picture. Seeing as the festival is only about five weeks away, we are really trying to get the word out about every exciting aspect...starting with the theme! Today I went to Tunes At Noon at Center City Park (which you should definitely come check out by the way! It's free!) and spread the word about Fun 4th by having everyone take pictures in my red, white, and blue frame.
I'm going to be out and about with my frame a few more times between now and the Fourth and I would love for you to take a picture with me! Or, if you already have a picture of you and your friends in your favorite downtown Greensboro location, go ahead and email it to me! (administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org) You guys are all my friends, and I would love to be able to post on here, Facebook, and Twitter pictures of all of you hanging out with me for Fun 4th.
Pictured above are my pals Steve and Chuck (and Dolly) who will be performing at Fun 4th with their band Big Bang Boom. I did a little video blogging so you could get a sneak preview of some of the talented musicians we are going to have! It's a little hard to hear me, but they sound great.
So bring your friends and get in the picture! I can't wait to see you there!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Evolution of Dance
I have a friend who likes to add validity to his statements by prefacing them with, "If there is one thing I know, it's..." Sometimes it is legitimate, like "If there is one thing I know, it's Carolina basketball." But most of the time it is ridiculous, like "If there is one thing I know, it's interior design." Or "If there is one thing I know, it's plaid shirts." Keeping that in mind, you can interpret this next sentence however you feel most appropriate. If there is one thing I know, it's how to start a dance party.
With last week's death of Cali Swag District member M-Bone, a whole bunch of videos surfaced of various celebrities doing the group's signature dance move, the Dougie. This got me thinking about my favorite dances/moves and just how many good ones there are! At my previous job, we had a company satellite radio station that would play the same 100 songs on repeat every day. So, I started coming up with a weekly dance move that we would all do when our favorite song came on. I think my best work was definitely the Fan Man, which consists of planting your feet firmly on the ground and then flailing your upper body about as if it were independent from the rest of you. Like those big blow up men outside of sporting events with the fans under them that blow hither and thither uncontrollably. I would encourage all of you to put on your favorite song and try this right now. Or at least imagine walking in on one of your co-workers doing this as mine tended to do frequently.
Now it's just a guess, but I would bet that the Fan Man probably isn't going to catch on any time soon. It's like all great art - not appreciated in it's own time. But there are quite a few greats that will continue to make it into dance routines, dance parties, and dance offs for many years to come. Here's a list of a few of my favorites. Feel free to participate in your desk chair.
The Macarena - What a classic. It's fun, it's got that sexy hip swivel thing, the arm moves take a bit of practice so not just anybody can jump in and do it. And there is the added mystery of the lyrics. Is it a dance, it is the girl's name, if you play it backwards does it say "Paul is dead"?!
The Hand Jive - Probably most famous from the movie Grease, who doesn't wish they had a high school dance competition to go to later? It's fast and wild and it doesn't really matter what you are doing as long as you are throwing some combination of fists and thumbs ups around.
The Harlem Shake - If I had a genie, my first wish would be for Beyonce to be my friend. My second wish would be to have the physical ability to do this dance without looking like an idiot.
YMCA - I am still perplexed as to why anyone would ever write a song about this. But it's still awesome. I can't embed it, so you have to click here to watch it, but I swear on all things sacred it is worth it.
The Dougie - It wouldn't be fair to leave out the dance that started this post. I'm a big fan of hip hop dances that you don't have to be a rap super star to know how to do. Example, here is Barbara Walters doing the Dougie.
And if you are still feeling uninspired, watch this. I promise it won't disappoint.
Hopefully this has brought back some memories for you and made you ready to come dance to all our bands at the Fun Fourth! I'll be there. Doing the Fan Man. You can't miss it.
With last week's death of Cali Swag District member M-Bone, a whole bunch of videos surfaced of various celebrities doing the group's signature dance move, the Dougie. This got me thinking about my favorite dances/moves and just how many good ones there are! At my previous job, we had a company satellite radio station that would play the same 100 songs on repeat every day. So, I started coming up with a weekly dance move that we would all do when our favorite song came on. I think my best work was definitely the Fan Man, which consists of planting your feet firmly on the ground and then flailing your upper body about as if it were independent from the rest of you. Like those big blow up men outside of sporting events with the fans under them that blow hither and thither uncontrollably. I would encourage all of you to put on your favorite song and try this right now. Or at least imagine walking in on one of your co-workers doing this as mine tended to do frequently.
Now it's just a guess, but I would bet that the Fan Man probably isn't going to catch on any time soon. It's like all great art - not appreciated in it's own time. But there are quite a few greats that will continue to make it into dance routines, dance parties, and dance offs for many years to come. Here's a list of a few of my favorites. Feel free to participate in your desk chair.
The Macarena - What a classic. It's fun, it's got that sexy hip swivel thing, the arm moves take a bit of practice so not just anybody can jump in and do it. And there is the added mystery of the lyrics. Is it a dance, it is the girl's name, if you play it backwards does it say "Paul is dead"?!
The Hand Jive - Probably most famous from the movie Grease, who doesn't wish they had a high school dance competition to go to later? It's fast and wild and it doesn't really matter what you are doing as long as you are throwing some combination of fists and thumbs ups around.
The Harlem Shake - If I had a genie, my first wish would be for Beyonce to be my friend. My second wish would be to have the physical ability to do this dance without looking like an idiot.
YMCA - I am still perplexed as to why anyone would ever write a song about this. But it's still awesome. I can't embed it, so you have to click here to watch it, but I swear on all things sacred it is worth it.
The Dougie - It wouldn't be fair to leave out the dance that started this post. I'm a big fan of hip hop dances that you don't have to be a rap super star to know how to do. Example, here is Barbara Walters doing the Dougie.
And if you are still feeling uninspired, watch this. I promise it won't disappoint.
Hopefully this has brought back some memories for you and made you ready to come dance to all our bands at the Fun Fourth! I'll be there. Doing the Fan Man. You can't miss it.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
What Will You Be Watching?
As many of you know from reading this blog, I watch a lot of "guilty pleasure TV." I plan my weekday evenings around it and I have been known to cancel plans with actual human beings in order to see said shows. Now I know that most of you are thinking, "Hey blog girl, get a life!," but I would say that is completely unfair. Look at your life. Look at your choices. I would imagine that you yourself have at least one show that you watch every week no matter how bad it is, no matter how many times you say you will never watch it again, no matter that your kids don't have a ride home from baseball practice. What's that thing about glass houses? Hmm?
So now that the awkward part is out of the way and we can all just admit that we are a little bit addicted to the mind-rotting phenomenon known as prime time television, I can share with you what I learned this week. This time of year is always a little bittersweet. All the shows that we have watched for the past several months are ending, either for the season or forever, probably with a cliffhanger or someone getting shot. That's the bitter part. The sweet part is that stepping up as their replacement is the summer reality TV lineup including, but not limited to, The Bachelorette, Big Brother, and So You Think You Can Dance. As if we needed another excuse to pay absolutely no attention during work, or anything else for that matter, during these next few warm and fabulous months.
But, before we can celebrate all these things, it is also the time of year that the networks reveal what shows are getting the axe. I guess for a lot of people this is kind of a downer. But for me it is just like reading a celeb gossip column. Who sucked so much this year that they are kicked off of TV forever? I mean come on, that is juicy stuff! So the following is just my abridged version of the complete list. To view the whole thing, go here!
ABC
Officially Renewed:
-Cougar Town (Whyyyyyyy?!?!?!)
-Modern Family (Of course! If you don't watch this, we can't be friends.)
-Grey's Anatomy
-Private Practice
-Desperate Housewives (Good grief, will this show ever be over?!)
Officially Canceled:
-Mr. Sunshine (Matthew Perry your career is over...accept it.)
-V
-Brothers and Sisters
-Off the Map
-My Generation
CBS
Officially Renewed:
-Two and a Half Men (No need for my commentary on this one, it speaks for itself.)
-How I Met Your Mother
-NCIS
-Survivor (Yet another show that I feel like has been on since I was in elementary school.)
-Undercover Boss (I have cried at the end of every episode of this show. It's so messed up.)
Officially Canceled:
-Medium
-The Defenders
-Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
-Mad Love
-Live to Dance
NBC
Officially Renewed:
-30 Rock
-The Biggest Loser
-The Office (Which will surely be on the canceled list next year without Michael Scott.)
-The Sing-Off (Never watch American Idol again, watch this.)
-Chuck
Officially Canceled:
-Undercovers
-Chase
-The Cape
-The Event
-Perfect Couples (Bad choice NBC, bad choice.)
Fox
Officially Renewed:
-Glee (Why?)
-The Simpsons (How?)
-American Idol (What?)
-Bones
-House
Officially Canceled:
-The Good Guys
-Lone Star
-Running Wilde
-Traffic Lights
-Lie To Me
I have never heard of any of these shows...perhaps why they are being canceled?
So now that you may be having a panic attack about what you are going to watch come fall, fear not! Remember the sweet part? All the summer trash TV we have to look forward to! And if you get bored with that, you can always take a breather and come hang out with me at the Fun 4th! I will be happy to discuss with you the outcomes of any and all reality television, plus with all the fun stuff we have planned there is no way you won't have a good time, even if TV isn't involved.
So now that the awkward part is out of the way and we can all just admit that we are a little bit addicted to the mind-rotting phenomenon known as prime time television, I can share with you what I learned this week. This time of year is always a little bittersweet. All the shows that we have watched for the past several months are ending, either for the season or forever, probably with a cliffhanger or someone getting shot. That's the bitter part. The sweet part is that stepping up as their replacement is the summer reality TV lineup including, but not limited to, The Bachelorette, Big Brother, and So You Think You Can Dance. As if we needed another excuse to pay absolutely no attention during work, or anything else for that matter, during these next few warm and fabulous months.
But, before we can celebrate all these things, it is also the time of year that the networks reveal what shows are getting the axe. I guess for a lot of people this is kind of a downer. But for me it is just like reading a celeb gossip column. Who sucked so much this year that they are kicked off of TV forever? I mean come on, that is juicy stuff! So the following is just my abridged version of the complete list. To view the whole thing, go here!
ABC
Officially Renewed:
-Cougar Town (Whyyyyyyy?!?!?!)
-Modern Family (Of course! If you don't watch this, we can't be friends.)
-Grey's Anatomy
-Private Practice
-Desperate Housewives (Good grief, will this show ever be over?!)
Officially Canceled:
-Mr. Sunshine (Matthew Perry your career is over...accept it.)
-V
-Brothers and Sisters
-Off the Map
-My Generation
CBS
Officially Renewed:
-Two and a Half Men (No need for my commentary on this one, it speaks for itself.)
-How I Met Your Mother
-NCIS
-Survivor (Yet another show that I feel like has been on since I was in elementary school.)
-Undercover Boss (I have cried at the end of every episode of this show. It's so messed up.)
Officially Canceled:
-Medium
-The Defenders
-Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
-Mad Love
-Live to Dance
NBC
Officially Renewed:
-30 Rock
-The Biggest Loser
-The Office (Which will surely be on the canceled list next year without Michael Scott.)
-The Sing-Off (Never watch American Idol again, watch this.)
-Chuck
Officially Canceled:
-Undercovers
-Chase
-The Cape
-The Event
-Perfect Couples (Bad choice NBC, bad choice.)
Fox
Officially Renewed:
-Glee (Why?)
-The Simpsons (How?)
-American Idol (What?)
-Bones
-House
Officially Canceled:
-The Good Guys
-Lone Star
-Running Wilde
-Traffic Lights
-Lie To Me
I have never heard of any of these shows...perhaps why they are being canceled?
So now that you may be having a panic attack about what you are going to watch come fall, fear not! Remember the sweet part? All the summer trash TV we have to look forward to! And if you get bored with that, you can always take a breather and come hang out with me at the Fun 4th! I will be happy to discuss with you the outcomes of any and all reality television, plus with all the fun stuff we have planned there is no way you won't have a good time, even if TV isn't involved.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Snare A World Record
Some exciting news! This year at the Fun Fourth we are going to try and set a new world record by having 1,776 drummers perform a five minute snare drum roll. The drum roll will take place at 11 am on Monday, July 4 in Downtown Greensboro.
Obviously, a feat like this is going to require the help of all of you! We are in need of 1,776 participants who can successfully perform an open drum roll for five straight minutes as well as volunteers and snare drums. If you fall into any of these categories, go here and register to be a part of this potentially historical event!
Snare drummers from all drum corps, student drum corps, schools, churches, garage bands, and individual drummers are all encouraged to participate. Also, if you have extra snare drums available to donate to the event, we need your help too! I can't think of a better way to spend the Fourth of July than by breaking a world record with your friends.
You can get more details here:
topics.digtriad.com/drumming
funfourthfestival.org
or email me at administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org
I hope to see all of you there!
Obviously, a feat like this is going to require the help of all of you! We are in need of 1,776 participants who can successfully perform an open drum roll for five straight minutes as well as volunteers and snare drums. If you fall into any of these categories, go here and register to be a part of this potentially historical event!
Snare drummers from all drum corps, student drum corps, schools, churches, garage bands, and individual drummers are all encouraged to participate. Also, if you have extra snare drums available to donate to the event, we need your help too! I can't think of a better way to spend the Fourth of July than by breaking a world record with your friends.
You can get more details here:
topics.digtriad.com/drumming
funfourthfestival.org
or email me at administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org
I hope to see all of you there!
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