Big Leather Couch

So I hope y'all remember that the place to find out what happens each week  on Dancing With The Stars is to visit TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts" each Tuesday and Wednesday.It is great for me, because I always miss a portion of Monday's show. 

And don't forget he is the originator of FIVE ON FRIDAY, a cool way to share a set of music with others on Friday's. There are some real music fans who lurk around here and some who show their faces...I double-dog dare you to take the challenge and post your 5 song 'themed' set on Friday and link it back to Travis.

And you...yeah you, you know who you are, sitting there saying 'well I don't blog, so no worries.' Well, you have a Facebook page, OH yes you do too! You can post it on your Facebook page. Just go to www.playlist.com and you can register for free and then search for the songs that make up your list. Then click the SHARE MY LIST at the top, select the list and it will post immediately to Facebook.

The theme can be anything you want.  5 from the same band.  5 of the same song done by 5 different artists. 5 that have a common theme (love, sun, beach, dance etc etc)...I think you get the idea...so

Remember...

I have spoken of my Fraternity Brother, Bruce Byers. He is a photojournalist who has been fortunate enough to now have the chance to travel the world on missions of hope. His main focus has been in bringing need to those in third world countries with cleft and dental conditions. He has given his time to organizations like The Hope Foundation.

Bruce is the creator of a video after his latest trip with Dr Shahid Aziz from Smile Bangladesh.Org and
and it will be running on the 7 story Nasdaq screen at 43rd and Broadway between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm on April 6th 2011.

So, if you are in New York, you can check it out.

Thinking I am going to get to see some friends playing tonight. Perfect storm on Beale street with two different acts playing across the street from each other.

Should be fun

So, Dancing With The Stars has begun again and I really should not be giving it publicity since I know it takes some live ears away from MOTC, but as our resident Dance Guru, TRAVIS from "Trav's Thoughts" has already stated, this is a real good cast.

There aren't any real unlikeables (at least for me) as there have been in seasons past. This DJ guy, who the heck is he anyway? And who knew a wrestler could be so darn agile and light on their feet?

But I am really here just to tell you that the aforementioned Travis is doing his two posts a week on the show. First giving his opinion of what happened on the dance floor and also from the judges. He is not shy to poo-poo their scores and comments.

Then he gives you some insight into what happened during the results show and searches the internet for videos in case you did not see the dancing.

Check it out.

Learned how to get a ton of phone calls during MOTC. Bring on a 13-year old guitar player and the girls call in! Actually, Matthew Davidson might be 13, but he is very mature and well spoken and I enjoyed our chat. Remember, you can check it out in the archives.

My second guests, Bryan and Ben from the band Grand Marquis were great guys and I am looking forward to seeing them play live again when they do a gig on Sunday in Memphis.

ONE MORE DAY
ONE MORE DAY
ONE MORE DAY

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The sun will shine again...the grass will be green, the sky a deep rich blue. The sound of a ball smacking the leather of a glove which emits an aroma of oils that have been rubbed into it to mold it to the hand.

The crack of a bat as it connects perfectly with a ball coming in at 90moph, nothing harder in sports...round ball, round bat,less than 2 seconds to see it, decide what the pitch is, swing, don't swing, a blink of the eye and it is over.


YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Baseball is back in
ONE MORE DAY
ONE MORE DAY
ONE MORE DAY

Had an incredible week sailing on the Norwegian Spirit with our group of 14:

14 strong.  The rules were you could do anything you wanted as long as you were at the restaurant at 8:00pm for dinner.

We ate ate the Windows restaurant the first night, but from then on ate at the other main restaurant for the rest of the week (except for the last night), as it gave us the opportunity to have two round table next to each other.

We tried to mix up parents with the kids a couple of nights, but the kids (young adults) wanted their own table.  They had too much fun together and all the cousins welcomed Peter to their band of merry men and women...

Food was good...the portion controls left a lot to be desired though.  On the first night, three people ordered the Salmon and when their plates arrived the size of the Salmon was different on each.  Now, you can order another if you care, but it is little things like that which I notice.  Across the week, my double espresso at the end of each meal came in three different size cups with different amounts each time...portion control.

The staff tried to rush us almost every night.  That was bothersome.  When you are at a table for 8 and 6 are still not there, do not shove a menu in my face please.


It is different today.  On past cruises, you had the same staff waiting your table for the week and you tipped them individually...You met your room steward the first day and saw them during the week if oyu needed anything and tipped them accordingly.  I never met our room steward this cruise. and different people provided different services  Now, they add a $12/day per person gratuity to your room bill.  At the end of the cruise, I asked it to be lowered to $8/day per person due to the lack of services...plus, every alcoholic drink you order has an automatic 15% gratuity added to it.

Shows were well done on board especially the troop from Second City who performed three times during the cruise including a last night late show for mature audiences.

Matt ended up on stage with them during one of their routines where he had to fill in words throughout the sketch.  They were at a Radio Shack where one of the people was looking for...(insert Matt here ) "Vibrators"...well that took them off on a tangent indeed!

The performance took another turn when one of the audience decided to pass gas that enveloped half the room including the stage area...they people from second City did not let it go unnoticed, which became a hilarious bit in itself!

More cruise pictures will be forthcoming for those without Facebook as they are posted on my page there.

Came home to the news that a co-worker had lost his 5 month battle with cancer and attended the Memorial service for him Tuesday afternoon.

Jim leaves behind 5 children under the age of 16...a very sad situation.

Congrats to Jennifer Gray for her winning the Crystal Ball on DWTS. Did not see the final shows, but did see news reports about Bristol not winning and scandals over voting and mom not being there for her, instead, attending a book signing...

Get arrested on alcohol and drug charges in 2007...walk around free as a bird, acting like a total lunatic...get thrown in jail for months, but then released after two weeks...then go on Twitter and let the world know you failed a court-ordered alcohol and drug test...what does that get you? An arrest warrant, which will not be served for 5 days until a court appearance...Average everyday citizen?

Nope...It is that woman of character..that scion of legalities...Ms. L. Lohan in the news again.

Someone please make her realize she is not special and she is accountable for her actions.

Psssssssssssssssssssssssssst....see the widget over there on the right that says Food Blog Challenge? Look, it changed from last week. Now it says Vote For Me...so please click it and vote...

Especially you Starr and you Songbird, if you want the restaurant review, I have to keep moving on...

THANKS!

Yesterday I picked up garlic from a new friend here in Memphis. She has 'family' who own a garlic farm in Ohio.

Check it out, we ordered a 1/2 pound of each variety so we could try them all and next year just order our favorites...YES, there are different kinds of garlic. Honestly, I knew that but have never had the chance to order different varieties.

Here is what we got:

Music Garlic - Italian variety brought back to Canada by Al Music in the 1980s from his homeland. Sweet pungent buttery flavor, excellent for roasting and very tight, durable heads. Has a high content of allicin, which helps lower cholesterol, boost the immune system and increases circulation. Hardneck, 6-8 large cloves per bulb.

Bogatyr Garlic - Originates from Moscow. Beautifully marbled brown or purple striped cloves. Strong flavor. Good storage qualities. Hardneck, 6-8 cloves per bulb.

Georgian Fire Garlic - Originates from eastern Germany. Described as a truly "white hot" garlic by users. Raw taste is strong with a nice hotness that is not at all unpleasant. Great for salsa, salads and chilis. Hardneck, 4-8 cloves per bulb.

German Xtra Hardy Garlic - Outside skin is ivory-white, clove skin is dark red. Strong raw flavor, high sugar content, one of the very best for roasting. Good storage quality. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb.

Polish Hardneck Garlic – This is where the real flavor is, say garlic aficionados. Since hardnecks have many fewer cloves, the cloves are larger and easier to peel. The tall scapes, when cut, make a great vegetable stir-fry. Hardneck, 5-7. (only have 5 lbs of this king)

Gee..now I can introduce different garlic's as I compete in the contest.

HEY! Did you know Dancing With The Stars began last night? Well it did. And you know what that means, doncha?

It means TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts" will be giving us his in depth analysis of each contestant and every show

Go on, check it out...ya know you want to...

In our continuing search to amaze you with human exploits - WHAT? you already forgot about the ROSS SISTERS?!?!?!?!?!?!? - today we share the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) mascot Bango who, just a year after tearing an ACL on a trick shot, comes back this this total insanity!

Now watch closely as he steps up to the top step of the ladder, because it all happens quickly after that.

I kinda wish you had a slo-mo option on youtube sometimes...

Our friend TRAVIS from "Trav's Thoughts" will recap the results show for you...not sure who is going home this week, but I hope it is not Niecy...I like her attitude and dang she nailed her Argentine Tango on Monday. OK, I will give you Evan is a better overall dancer - I do not consider Nicole an option as she is not an amateur dancer. Sure they have had some singers who did routines during their concerts, but this woman was more a dancer than a singer - I just get more enjoyment watching Niecy dance then anyone else.

I have tried not to hype Music On The Couch other than Monday's, but if you enjoy Chicago Blues or Roots- based music sometimes called Americana - a mix of folk, pop, country and even bluegrass), then you should download the show from this week with Pierre Lacocque from the band Mississippi Heat and Carrie Rodriguez.

Mississippi Heat have been performing for more than 19 years and have a sound that hearkens back to the 50's in Chicago. Pierre has a very interesting story.

Carrie Rodriguez is going to be HUGE very soon. She has released her 4th CD, her first of covers, and she makes each and every song her own. I really enjoyed my chat with her and learned some things I did not know.

I am trying to drum up some downloads so I can take on the Todd Rundgren Show which holds down the first place spot in the music category most weeks. Wanna help? DOWNLOAD the show!

So, there you have my commercial for the show...OH and after the show was over and I checked my emails, I found out I was made a FEATURED Host. This gives the show more exposure on the front page over at BlogTalk Radio and some other behind the scenes perks.PLUS - and JAY of "Cynical B**tard" the chills...I will now have the option to use my web cam so that people in the chat room can be mesmerized by watching me sit in front of my computer and do the show!

OK, calm yourselves now! LOLOL

It was the best of final seasons, it was the worst of final seasons...

Two of my favorite shows on television are winding down to their final episodes and a life to be lived on DVDs for future generations to discuss and critique.

I received a nice email from my guest who missed the show on Monday. Joshua Stedman had some email problems and was traveling back from Colorado and just missed the date on his calendar.

I was disappointed the other night and stumbled a bit through the first 15 minutes until Chris Huff got my emergency email and called in earlier than scheduled.

I even received a call from Phfrankie "I will be there when a guest does not show" Bondo to help out. And just like last time, as soon as Phfrankie called Chris called in. I thanked him in private, but want to do so here in public...you rock Phfrankie!

Our most excellent friend TRAVIS from "Trav's Thoughts" is back to talking Dancing after taking a week off.

I have not been following the show as closely as I have in the past, but I know exactly what is going on from Travis' posts.

This Kate Gosselin diva is hopefully gone this morning. She being the mother of the 8 children who, along with her estranged husband (back when they were together) decided to cash in on having 8 kids and fed their kids to the wolves (not Travis, the publicity wolves), and then both cheated on each other and turned their lives into fodder for the world.

She acts like this diva b*ch on the program and when the judges criticize her for basically walking around the dance floor she gives them stares that would stop a clock...stop complaining about being tired because your kids came to visit their mother and leave the show...

OK, sorry for that rant...