Friday, June 27, 2008 | by nathan

That Weird, Weird Guy

Brian took this photo of me at last Friday’s K.C. Clifford show at the Blue Door. I cannot explain this, so I’m not even going to try.

Thursday, June 26, 2008 | by nathan

Relics of Childhood, Part 2 (90’s Edition)

If this doesn’t make you laugh, and maybe pee a little, then I have to seriously wonder what you could possibly be enjoying about any of the rest of this website:

Thursday, June 26, 2008 | by nathan

Cock & Bottle

A few weeks ago we were out on the town with some friends, having drinks on the rooftop at Cafe do Brasil. As we watched, waves of patrons swarmed in and out of a new bar across the street. So we paid our tab at Brasil and walked down there, and we may have found our new "place." The bar is called James McNellie’s Public House, it’s in the traffic circle by St. Anthony’s Hospital, and, while the clientele are a little douchey, you can see how many beers they have on tap, and they served us the best order of fried pickles I’ve ever tasted. Here’s to Midtown Renaissance!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | by nathan

Right After She Grabbed My Hand

I *somehow* managed to forget to charge my little Panasonic point-and-shoot all day Monday. That little camera has become known as "concert cam," as I always try to remember to pack it along for concerts, as it’s got a great digital zoom and never gets confiscated. Still, somehow, my stupid ass forgot to plug it in, and of course when I went to get it to take along to the True Colors show on Monday night, it was dead.

So, when Cyndi Lauper ran right past the V.I.P. section at the zoo to the metal fence where we were standing and dancing, grabbed my hand and smiled, all I had was my iPhone to snap the moment.

Also, can I say? That was one of the most freaking amazing concerts I think I’ve ever been to. Right from the get-go, things were rocking. I’d never heard Girl in a Coma before but they rocked it out on the opening, followed immediately by Andy Bell from Erasure, who had people dancing from his first note. The Grape Ranch winery people were there, selling their fantastic Frozen Rose concoction, which is basically a red wine smoothie. These kept us cool and lubricated throughout.

Margaret Cho was especially hysterical and fantastic (on Larry Craig: "I just think he must come from Slytherin.")

Then, oh my God, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts hit the stage. The woman is turning 50 years old in September, and she looked 20. She rocked it out in a string bikini top, first of all, and handles that ax like few people I’ve seen before. I think I officially lost my mind when she did "Love Is All Around."

By this time I was dancing wildly, so when the B-52’s, who I’ve been wanting to see live for probably 20 years, came on, I was out of my mind with excitement. Of course they kicked ass, and by the way, if you haven’t picked up their new album, you really, really should, because it’s effing incredible. World’s greatest party band? Yeah, check.

And then Cyndi Lauper - dear sweet Jesus, Cyndi Lauper. Forgetting for a moment that she grabbed my hand - wow. It amazes me how much every single artist that performed that night seemed to have hit a new level not only of creativity but of sheer developed, measured talent. Cyndi’s voice sounded amazing and her stage moves were unmatched. She whipped the audience into a frenzy and held us in the palm of her hand until the very end. She, too, just released a new album that you should own. Every second of it makes me want to dance.

Ugh. God. It’s been a really long time since I had *that* much fun at a concert. I will say for the record that I think having a "V.I.P." section at a rock and roll show is complete bollocks, because the idea that the rich and connected should be able to lord it over us simple, middle-class plebians is sorta the antithesis of rock and roll. STILL AND ALL, I had a complete blast and if you get a chance to see True Colors in your city, absolutely you must take it.

Sunday, June 22, 2008 | by nathan

Relics of Childhood, If You Have 30 Minutes

There are at least 3 cartoons missing from the following collection of 80’s cartoon introductions. If you can name the specific three that Brian and I found, I may just have to send you some kind of prize. And no, neither Pee-Wee’s Playhouse nor anything from Nickelodeon counts; we’re talking network Saturday morning here, people. Still, it lifted my spirits when they needed some serious lift. Enjoy!

Friday, June 20, 2008 | by nathan

Whatcha Doin’ Tonight?

So, here’s what you should do. You should come to my buddy KC Clifford’s CD release party. It’s at the Blue Door, it’s $10, the doors open at 6:30 p.m., and ITSGONNABESOFUNZOMG. I said it earlier this week, and I’ll repeat: KC’s hitting her creative stride in a whole new way, and you’d be seriously remiss if you skip this show. Here, to whet your whistles, so to speak, is a video of KC singing one of her "greatest hits," The Barbie Song.

*Sam Fridays will be coming tomorrow afternoon, and believe me, it’ll be well worth the wait.

Friday, June 20, 2008 | by nathan

More?!

Okay, I get that I *may* be going a little overboard with photos of the flowers, but dammit, they’re so pretty, and I fully plan on coming back to these photos when the next ice storm traps me in my house for a week, and if you’re honest with yourself, you do too.

Thursday, June 19, 2008 | by nathan

I Grew This Salad

Well, okay. I grew the tomatoes and the basil that are in it. The spinach, onion, and cheese are all grocery store, baby. But damn, it was delicious. I was re-planting some potted basil last night, putting it in the ground as it had outgrown its container, and some of the plants didn’t come up with enough root to go back down. So, I took them inside, rinsed them off, and added them to this bowl. It totally made the dinner. Add a little low-fat bleu cheese dressing and voila!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 | by nathan

Pride Lily

This lily blooms every year during Pride Week. It’s one of my favorites in the entire yard, and as a bonus, it’s attracted a whole host of bees to pollinate my garden for me. So not only does it give a burst of life and color during one of the most fun weeks of the year, it’s going to make sure that, come the end of July, I’ve got full, ripe cantaloupes for breakfast every morning. Yay!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 | by nathan

Happy Pride Week!

This is Pride Week in Oklahoma City. Friday night Brian and I will be celebrating the release of our friend K.C.’s new live record at The Blue Door, and you should all come join us. We were there for the taping of this album earlier this year, and I can tell you firsthand that these are some of the best performances she’s ever given. That girl’s hitting her creative stride in a whole new way; the record and the show are going to be off the hook.

Afterward we’re hitting the bars to dance and party our tails off in solidarity with all of California’s brand-newlyweds.

We’re taking next Monday & Tuesday off work to party a little extra and to make sure we’re good and ready to get our groove on at the True Colors Tour stop in Oklahoma City on Monday night. Five hours of music and fun featuring Cyndi Lauper, The B-52’s, Margaret Cho, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Andy Bell and Carson Kressly.

For the unaware, Cyndi Lauper has released a fantastic new album titled Bring Ya To The Brink, and it’s one of the best, most fun albums I’ve purchased in awhile. It makes me want to shake every part of my body, hard. Here’s a video clip of the album’s first single, "Into The Nightlife." If this doesn’t perk up your spirits and make you want to dance, there might be very little hope for you: