First Friday: Crazy Fair Food

"It's that time of season, it's that time of year! The Allen Co. Fair is here!" It is so funny how certain jingles are so memorable and widely known. Anyway, it is fair season!

When I was younger I went the the fair once or twice every year. I rode rides, won a few pictures of Haley Joel Osment or dogs, and ate elephant ears. But that was it- elephant ears and an occasional funnel cake. Where did all the crazy "fair food" come from? I didn't go to any fairs in college, however I heard all about the crazy food that was becoming a staple at every fair in the country. That is all anyone talked about. On Lopez's show he had a fair food bracket contest that included things like fried Twinkies, pork parfaits, fried butter, a double cheeseburger in between two glazed donuts, and chocolate covered bacon. Now I love food that is not good for you, chocolate and fried things and some of my faves- but some of it sounded disgusting. So I decided that I had to at least try it sometime. Even if at first you cringed when you heard about it, they always had positive reviews of how amazing it was afterward.

Cut to last year, when it had been at least 6 years since I went to a fair, and I walk into the Allen Co. Fair with Cece on our lunch break. I am expecting it to look crazier from what I remember as a kid but it looked the same...down to where the pizza booth I always frequented was located. So we walked around, had a hot dog and I looked for the crazy fair food so I can try something ridiculous, but everything was the same. It is cart after cart of lemonade, pizza, fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, elephant ears and funnel cakes...the "normal" fair food. So I do not know if it just Lima trying to keep the fair healthier (yeah right, that is only thing to do here in Lima-eat) or if we are just behind the times. Either way there is only one stand that is offering a few of what is to be thought of as normal fair food everywhere else. So I ended up trying a fried snickers....good. Not an everyday snack, but a once a year kinda thing. Not earth shattering as I was led to believe. This year I tried a fried twinkie- and it will be my last fried twinkie.

So in conclusion the crazy fair food not all it is cracked up to be. I would rather come back to Lima and get the normal for here fair food- hot dog, fries and a funnel cake. Mmmm.

Why Music Matters

Why Music Matters is a campaign to preserve the importance of music and obtaining that music ethically. (Something I support) Their most recent video is about the latest artists to join their campain...Paul and Ringo, the remaining Beatles. The video is pretty awesome  and reminded me of my latest Beatles experience. I love how they talk about music as it were a friend...I defiantly have felt this over the years. If you know about me I did not have many friends when I was younger (too crazy awesome for some to handle) but I did have a lot of music friends. Like No Doubt (Tragic Kingdom what what!), Alanis Morissette, The Temptations, of course the Beatles and even the Spice Girls. ("What?? She is talking about the Spice Girls again!" Yes...get over it). And also take note how they use the term "shared experience" which as you may know, I love. So enjoy this video and check out their website for more!

* I also love how they used a song by each of them...they are so talented.

Music Monday: Top 10 Fake Bands

Here is my list of my Top 10 Best Fictional Bands of All Time for Music Monday. A common theme is that I own their music, love the show or movie they are in and quote them often. Enjoy.

10. School of Rock (School of Rock)
"No one can stop, the School of Rock!" I love Jack Black, Mike White, Joan Cusack and their band of talented children. Great stage presence, musicianship and songs about getting picked on, paying rent and school. I have seen the "real school" this was "based" on and it was disturbing...I prefer the School of Rock.

Best Song: School of Rock

9. Gemini Twin and 7 Degree Celsius (Saturday Night Live)
I could not decide between these two of who should make it so I put them together. Both of them had ever-changing lineups and great accomplishments from appearing on TRL to Cribs. If you have never seen these I highly recommend you check them out. Gemini Twin is 3 strong women who can sing...vis-ual :) and then we have the second best boy band parody band from the early 2000's complete with a heartthrob and a guy who cannot dance and has kids but trying to pass as 17. Great stuff.

Best Moment: 7 Degree Celsius press conference, Gemini Twin on TRL


8. Robin Sparkles (How I Met Your Mother)
Yes, technically she is not a band. But I love her so much she had to go on here. Who else would tell me to go to the mall..today! (all in a Canadian accent) Her song is great, video awesome and dance moves the best. Her follow up song to gain artistic credibility featured the one and only Dawson, and an even more awesome reoccurring character- the robot.

Best Song: Let's Go to the Mall

7. Mouse Rat (Parks and Recreation)
You might know them as Scarecrow Boat, Everything Rhymes With Orange, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, The Andy Andy Andys, Andy and the D-Bags, or Malice in Chains, but currently they are the number one band in Pawnee, Indiana. They are the ones behind hits like November, Anne and 5,000 Candles in the Wind. Led by their lovable leader Andy, this band is a must see if you are ever visiting the historical Pawnee.

Best Song: The Pit

6. Dingoes Ate My Baby (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Here we have the first fictional band on the list that's music comes from a real band. Four Star Mary is the music behind this Sunnydale band. You might catch them at the Bronze or on campus at UC Sunnydale, but I recommend staying away if there is a full moon.

Best Song: Pain

5. Zach Attack/Hot Sundaes (Saved by the Bell)
What can I say about this amazing band of friends led by the heartthrob Zack Morris? They are great. Casey Kasem even says so! And then the Hot Sundaes! I am so excited! Both great bands from one show that you know has to be pretty sweet since it is still airing everyday.

Best Song: Friends Forever

4. Munchhausen By Proxy (Yes Man)
"Hello James. Penelope, Regina, Phillip, Zachary- we are Munchhausen by Proxy!"
Ah, Zooey Dechenel and some great lyrics about not being a whore, networking and keytars. I know that Yes Man is not considered a huge hit, but I love it! I also love Munchhausen by Proxy....do you think they will ever release a full length album? Here's hoping!

Best Song: Uh Huh (Who are you)

3. Flight of the Conchords (Flight of the Conchords)
This fake/real band walks a fine line to be on this list. Some may say "There were a band before any radio or TV show so they are real" some may say "they are a fake band because they do style parodies!" Either way, I love them. Their show- hilarious. Their songs- hilarious and pretty accurate style homages. Even just looking at the "fake" band in the show: who doesn't want to rock the party? Or tell Bret he has it going on? That is what I thought.

Best Song: This was tough but here is a classic- Most Beautiful Girl in the Room and my fav Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros (feat. the Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenoceros) Oh and I have to give the best band manager ever some love: Leggy Blonde.

2. 2gether (2gether movie and TV series)
If you were not an MTV junkie like I was back in the day then you might have missed the awesomeness that was 2gether. What started as a boy band parody movie turned into a TV series, 2 albums, Making the Video specials and an opening slot on Brittney Spears' tour back in her heyday. They had some classic songs like 5gether, Say it Don't Spray it, Awesome Lover and of course U + Me = Us (Calculus). I still listen to their music...regularly. It was like they were made for me! (2gether fans anyone?) I wish they would put out the series on DVD, I know two people who would be first in line to buy it...at midnight.

Best Song: The Hardest Part of Breaking Up (is Getting Back Your Stuff)

1. The Blues Brothers (SNL and The Blues Brothers movie)
Classic. The Blues Brothers (and their band) are the best. They play good music, really well. They are funny too- which is always a plus with me. I grew up watching their movie (I know it is rated R, but that and Christmas Vacation were always allowed.) The movie revived the careers of legendary artist like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and James Brown. Oh and did I mention this movie is a riot of laughter, hilarity and car crashes? Because it is. And the soundtrack- the best.

Best Song: Everybody Needs Somebody To Love


11. Spinal Tap
I know, I know "11? that does not make sense?" They are the best fake band ever. They are so good they go to 11, and rearrange the numbers so 11 is the best. If the question were "Could they be any funnier?" the answer would be "no, there are none more funnier." They have been rocking loudly since the sixties with hits like Listen to the Flower People, All the Way Home, and Tonight I'm going to Rock You Tonight. "This pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is enough to prompt the question, 'What day did the Lord create Spinal Tap, and couldn't he have rested on that day too?'" The craziest thing is that their music could have easily been huge hits...you may have even heard their songs in commercials. They have even reunited for tours (I saw them!) benefit concerts, DVDs and CDs with ridiculous packaging. Simply put they are Spinal Tap, and they are the best.

David St. Hubbins: We say, "Love your brother." Well...we don't say it really, but...
Nigel Tufnel: We don't literally say it.
David St. Hubbins: No, we don't say it.
Nigel Tufnel: We don't really, literally mean it.
David St. Hubbins: No, we don't believe it either, but...
Nigel Tufnel: But we're not racists.
David St. Hubbins: But that message should be clear, anyway.
Nigel Tufnel: We're anything but racists

Best Song/scene: Stonehenge



So what are your favorites?? Honorable Mentions below the jump!

*This post inspired by the awesome website HelloGiggles...this post, and this one too.

MUPPETS!!

So I LOVE the Muppets. As I am listening to this and getting excited for the new movie's release, I though I would share a few Muppetational things for your enjoyment!

A new one...

and an old one...

so get excited!!

My lastest obsession combined with a classic fav...

I have always loved getting mail. Even bills. I just love getting things with my name on it out of our stack of mail, especially if I was not expecting it. Also, within the past 9 or 10 months I have also taken to nail polish. My collection has grown from 1 color for DM (Purple of course) and these two cheap random ones I found while cleaning to almost a whole drawer in my wheely cart. So, when I stumbled upon this deal I got a little excited. You take a short quiz, then they customize a little monthly set of stuff for you for over half off the retail, and send it to you in the mail for free! (as in free shipping) You can even request different stuff if you do not like it, send it to a friend for a month or two and cancel whenever you want. Plus with the code 2011FB you get another $5 off. What What! So, some of you out there I hope you like nail polish because one month this may be yours!

This is my manicure for the Paul McCartney concert using one of my favorite brands of nail polish Deborah Lippmann in Candy Shop!

Music Monday: I saw a Beatle!

(Yeah I know it is Tuesday..technical difficulties)

Yeah that's right. I saw Sir Paul McCartney LIVE!! Oh, and it was AMAZING!!!! It was outside and the weather was much nicer (as in not as hot and humid) then the Steely Dan concert a few weeks ago, my seat (that was much closer than I thought) was never in the sun as we waited for dark and I got a pretty cool souvenir t-shirt. As I waited for the show to start my seatmates arrived (the couple sitting next to me because I had an end seat) and they were pretty much clones for my parents and others from their group of friends. The girl (Linda) was nice and they kept offering to buy me drinks and food. They were fun.

I got there at 7:00 and they had a DJ on stage playing music, Paul's music. I have only been to one other concert where the artist played their own music during the preshow wait: Prince. Paul was slightly different in that they were remixes of his songs or the majority were covers done by other artists ranging from Booker T to Willie Nelson. It defiantly reminded you of how much of an impact The Beatles, and Paul specifically, have had on music. The concert started almost on time but for about 25 min. before they have this video going to his music which was fun to watch. Then, he walked out on stage...and didn't leave at all till about 2 1/2 hours later.

He started playing right away and just kept it going. He bantered with the audience but focused on playing as many songs as possible. And he played a little of everything (see set list below the jump) some I could have never seen coming. I have been a fan for a while, watched his concert DVD from 2 years ago, listened to his performances on the radio, watched his countless times on T.V. and heard reviews of this tour. Because of all this, I kind of expected a certain line up of songs- which was partly true, but also not. He has such a HUGE catalog that I guess he could play a different set list every night for a while before repeating...and most of the songs people would recognize. In that respect alone he is an amazing artist. Like I said I was expecting certain songs, and one I really wanted to hear going into it was "Maybe, I'm Amazed". He has rarely performed this song in the last 20 or so years but I though I would have a chance since McCartney was just remastered and reissued. When I heard those first few notes on the piano me, and everyone else there, freaked out. I was amazed. (haha, I crack myself up!) And to make it better he followed that song by throwing on his acoustic guitar and playing "I've Just Seen A Face" which is one I never saw coming- but one of my favorites. (The version from Across the Universe was on my year end cd a few years ago.) FUN SHOW!!!

Another surprise/awesome moment was when he asked us if we would help him sing this next one...met with a resounding scream from the crowd followed by shocked gasps, excited screams and people shooting up from their seats as he started playing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (another song from one of my year end CDs). Literally the whole place erupted into singing, dances and ska kicks. It was so cool. I am a fan of what Jimmy Fallon calls "Shared Experiences" and there were a lot of them at this concert that made me so happy and even gave me chills at times. (Example everyone singing "Hey Jude")

One thing that was so awesome to see was how much he LOVES performing, touring, and his fans. You can see that he genuinely appreciates the support and love of the crowd, and he works hard to put on the best show possible for everyone there. (He was even out on the corner earlier in the day signing autographs...I know, I am kicking myself for missing that one) So after 2 1/2 hours of music, followed by 2 encores, fireworks and confetti it was over and I had already decided "Oh I am definitely doing this again" because it is not will I go again but how many times? ("I think we are talking an minimum 8peat.") Anyone with me?

Pics, set list and more below the break!!

A little something to get you over hump day...

I did not forget about the Paul McCartney recap...it is coming (getting pictures downloaded now). But here is a little preview...it was LEGENDARY!!!!

I am back, kind of.

So I got back late last week from one amazing mission trip where I took 11 youth and 4 adults to Cincinnati to serve. It. Was. Awesome. I am so proud of my group, and also to be honest I am proud of myself. This was the first experience I have ever had being the sole leader and planner of a trip like this, and I did very well! However, after a whirlwind month I am beat. I still need to recover...I am trying to stay awake now as I write this, it is not going so well.

Anyway- I am so excited because tonight I will be seeing Thee Paul McCartney LIVE!! What! What! I am nervous about the drive home...pray that I can stay awake...but am super excited to see this living legend! I will let you know how it goes next week! Until then enjoy these awesome videos and a random picture:

How could any man handle the regaleness of that up do? Grace Kel-ley. Grace Kel-Ly.