Posts (page 2)

It's Chase Utley Saturday once again!

Jun 14, 2008
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I think I missed a week, though; but in the rapidly-becoming-immortal words of Harry Kalas, "Chase Utley, YOU ARE THE MAN!"

(Chutterday? Chutleyday? I need a catchy name here.)

Vox Hunt: Favorite Video

Jun 5, 2008
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Show us your favorite YouTube video.

Gotta go with Barbie Pride and Prejudice.

I LOL every time Darcy pops out from behind the rock. And does Bingley have Kung Fu Grip? If not, he should.

How come no one's written a mystery series set in the world of competitive figure skating yet? (At least I don't think they have.) I would think the title Death Spiral would be a slam-dunk. You could call it the Gold Medal Mysteries (tho' that does sound a little bit like a baking mystery). Maybe the Triple Axel Mysteries? Sharp Blades Mysteries?

No, I'm not going to write it. Well, maybe in some amorphous future when I have copious amounts of free time.

Vox Hunt: Way Back Wednesday

May 29, 2008
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Share a song you loved way back in the day.

Back in the day heck, I still drive around with this blasting. Well, maybe not as much now with the price of gas being what it is.

And now I feel like posting some more of Mags' Hits of the Eighties. How about some Duran Duran? Mmm, Simon le Bon. And this is still a kickass video.

And my other favorite blond British boy from the Eighties, and possibly the anti-Simon, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard in his strategically ripped jeans. I once had a really cool dream that Joe Elliott was following me around Beaver Stadium to tell me he loved me.

Leave my Crocs alone!

May 28, 2008
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Crocs

What's with the hating on Crocs? They are the most comfortable shoes ever invented. Birkenstocks run a close second. Admittedly Crocs make Birkies look positively fashion-forward, but I don't understand the visceral hatred I see about the Internet. I think high-heeled pointy-toed obscenely price-tagged Sex and the City shoes look dopey and women wearing them are generally IN MY WAY as they totter down the pavement while I'm trying to walk somewhere, but hey, whatever makes you happy. My Crocs make me happy. They make my feet happy. They're ooshy and gooshy and cradle my poor abused tootsies in softness. They're super light and come in such fun colors and give my toes so much wiggle room. And yes, I would wear them to the office if I could get away with it.

My Crocs are here, they're ugly, get used to it! :-)

(And really, after a while they don't seem so ugly.)

We hereby declare this Chase Utley Saturday

May 24, 2008
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Chase

Because every Saturday should be a Chase Utley Saturday. Go Fightins!

Kate and Lauren FTW!

May 15, 2008
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Kate Smith

The Flyers had to win tonight to stay alive in the playoffs, and they did it! w00t! I saw a guy getting off the train tonight, obviously on his way to the game, in an orange t-shirt that said, "Why Not Us?" Why not indeed.

I had my book group, and the trains were screwed up and running late. I had the game on the car radio and pulled into Barnes & Noble around 7:30, just as Lauren Hart started to sing "God Bless America." At the second verse, Kate Smith's voice came in and the Wachovia Center went nuts. Then Lauren's voice joined in (and she has a gorgeous voice, with power and style) and I was sitting there in the B&N parking lot in tears. For a lifelong Flyers fan, there's just so much history there and so much emotion. (Lauren's dad Gene was the Flyers' play-by-play announcer for many years.)

And the good luck charm worked, by the bye...Flyers 4, Pittsburgh 2. They live to fight another day.

Here's a 1975 article from the New York Times about Kate Smith singing before a Flyers playoff game. They won the Stanley Cup at that one. Not bad. :-) A former co-worker was at the 1976 game against the Soviet national team, sitting up near the roof of the Spectrum, and said when "God Bless America" was played before the game, the crowd was so loud that the beams were literally vibrating. Wow.

I'll be at the Philly Book Festival on Sunday

May 15, 2008
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The beautiful cover of my book

I nearly forgot! I'll be signing copies of The Jane Austen Handbook: A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World at the Philadelphia Book Festival this Sunday, May 18th, from noon till--not sure when. 1 or 2 p.m. Probably 1. I guess I should find out.

**UPDATE** They said I could stay "as long as I want" so let's make it 2 p.m.

I'll be at the Quirk Books booth, No. 8, about the same place as last year, it looks like from the map (PDF): 19th Street above Vine Street.

A blast from the past

May 13, 2008
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Anybody remember Tony DeFranco and the DeFranco Family? Cute little Tony making like Donny and Michael in the teen-idol department. Their big hit was "Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat."

He's still cute. And he isn't one of those Tragic Teen Idol stories, either...though with the mortgage crisis, we might see him on Extra yet. ;-) (Kidding! Kidding! Who loves ya, Tony!)