DEAR HAVANAH, New Music

Are you looking for new music, a new sound? I’ve got a suggestion. Listen to Dear Havanah. (Two H’s…one N)

“Every so often, a band comes along that blurs the lines of musical genres. With hints of pop, soul, and rock 'n' roll, Dear Havanah is that band. The Boston-based group is celebrating the release of its second album, The Whole Way Home, produced by Alan Evans of Soulive.” With a “strong, soulful vocalist and a pocket heavy rhythm section garnished with screaming electric guitars, a whirling B3, and thick, funky horns”…Dear Havanah will knock your socks off.

An open letter to the band:

Dear Havanah,
I love your new CD “The Whole Way Home.” I downloaded it the first day it was released on iTunes. On a scale of 1 - 98…You were crushing it at “Ninety Eight.” I’ve been knocked out and “Reeling” from your fresh new sound.

I take your music everywhere I go…even in “The Rain”… “Ohio Sun”…and my last white-water trip down the “Big River.” And “when there is no more work to be done”….I like to “Burn like the sun”……….oooo yea…

I enjoy your music LIVE, but “I could waste all day” listening to you on my “A.M. Radio.”

“So Maybe I should try again” and say:
Good Luck to you Dear Havanah… “it’s all about you now.”


You can find Dear Havanah on iTunes or DearHavanah.com

Dog-gone Distractions

Go ahead and add Fido, Spot, and Rover to the list of distractions while driving.

A recent survey from AAA determined that 80% of dog owners bring their dogs with them on a variety of trips. 31% of them admitted being distracted by their dog while they are driving…which isn’t a surprise. Dogs move around the car, add to your blind spots, bark in your ear, and lay in your lap.

I hear there are even some dogs who have tried to commandeer the steering wheel. After driving behind some folks, I would say there a few dogs that would be an improvement behind the wheel. Take the Border Collie, for example…that dog has amazing dexterity. It’s not easy to catch a Frisbee in your mouth…it requires true skill. The steering wheel is just a bigger disc.

There are many dog owners who love their dogs more than their relatives. I can’t see them leaving their pooches behind or jailing them in the back seat. Take Oprah Dog Lover Winfrey, for example.

Oprah began a campaign against distractions while driving and asks her guests to join her cause by signing her petition. But the question is: Would Oprah add her doggie to her list of distractions…even when dogs are said to be as distracting as cell phones and texting? I think Oprah would prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, when it came to bringing up the issue.

Anywhooooooooo………..

I don’t bring Duncandog with me in the car…unless I absolutely have to. (I hear you can’t leave a dog in the house with food and water for extended perioods of time.)

And I never bring Duncandog in the car while I’m doing errands around town. It’s not because he’s a distraction while I’m driving…it’s because he’s a distraction while I’m trying to exit. When the car comes to a stop…he positions himself to bolt for the door because he doesn’t want to be left behind. He will break his limbs and mine to get out the door first. The Kat usually beats the dog to the punch. (Wait, you know what I mean. I would never Michael Vick my dog.)

I do make one exception when I’m willing to risk Duncandog’s antics. I bring DD with me when it gets bitter cold. He keeps my seat warm in the winter when I’m running in and out of different stores doing errands. Thanks DD.

But neither Rover nor Duncandog is more of a distraction than a woman shaving her legs while driving on her way to work. Or the kid in the backseat, kicking the driver’s seat and throwing his toys and bottle at the back of your head.

I think a new distraction survey needs to be done to include kids and ladies with hairy legs. I’m giving AAA a call in the morning.

Kat's Weigh to Weight-loss

Many of us (at some point) have tried a fad diet to lose weight...The South Beach Diet, Grapefruit Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Mediterranean Diet. Fad diets go in and out like our waistlines.

But in the end...we all really know that the real way to lose weight is simple. It has a lot to do with NOT eating the triple decker bacon cheeseburger with fries and gravy...and substituting it with 3 stalks of celery and two of carrots. Not a fair trade.

Excuse this little digestion.....I mean, digression...but I remember in college when I decided to go on the ultimate fad diet...an ice cream diet. My roommate told me about it...and I remember thinking I was gonna be living Heaven on Earth. I couldn’t have been happier. I was gonna lick myself to a skinny body. But after having ice cream for each meal for two days…I would have given anything to sink my teeth into something crunchy…a celery stalk, bone marrow....anything.

Anywhoooo..........

It seems everyone has some weight-loss diet out there. So I’ve decided to join in and write my own weight-loss book. It will be a diet plan with a totally revolutionary idea. I’ve decided to call the book: “Kat’s Weigh to Weight-loss.” And it will employ my scientific ELEM method…Eat Less and Exercise More.

Step One: Weigh yourself. “No way...“Yes, weigh.” But forget weighing your food...and never bring food scales to restaurants. I have found that it is hard to weigh the Never Ending Pasta Bowl of Pasta Carbonara at Olive Garden...too slippery for the scales.

Step Two: Two step. (No, that isn’t a typo.) Dance the two step or salsa (if you prefer Mexican over country-western.) When the buns move...the jelly does too. And my favorite is Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly on some piping hot cross buns. Oooyea.

Step Three: Replace every third glass of wine with red colored water. After a few...you don’t really notice.

Step Four: Replace every third burrito with ...beans only. Beans...the musical fruit not only provides interesting sounds...but is also good for you.

Step Five: Repeat Steps 1-4...as necessary.

Feel free to comment and weigh in on my new revolutionary weight-loss plan...on a scale from 1 to 10...or join me in a sticky bun.

Pig-Out this Labor Day

It’s Labor Day. Time for a last blast of summer.

What is Labor Day without a cook-out of burgers and dogs... the all-American meal for an all-American holiday? Actually, I remember a particular Labor Day with a certain pig. I’m not talking about anyone in particular… I am talking about a big ass pig with pig ears, pig’s feet and a squiggly tail...the Real McPorky.

Once Upon a Time...we lived in a neighborhood that got together every Labor Day, One year we decided to forgo the burgs and dogs...and roast a pig. Believe me, it wasn’t my idea. I wasn’t particularly excited about seeing a whole pig choking on an apple, rotating and roasting over an open fire pit for 12 hours. I’m pretty sure a few neighborhood kids needed psychological counseling after that day.

Anywhoooooooo....

Our buddy, Lou, volunteered for pig duty for the Labor Day party. He picked up the pig the night before (not in a bar, smart ass) and needed a place to store it...so he put it in his bath tub. Might sound crazy/cozy, but it wasn’t like he was taking a bath with it. Although Louie confessed to washing the pig’s back.

Lou unwillingly became close and personal with his piggly wiggly friend when he slipped...trying to lift the pig out of the tub. Lou landed right on top of him in an open Bacon sandwich. Yet, a few more kids needed counseling, after seeing Lou press the ham.

Have a great Labor Day. Go hog wild, burger happy, or hot diggity dog crazy..and enjoy the last blast of summer!

Stay Away Earl

Hey Earl...I hear you are planning on visiting us sometime tonight. You haven’t visited since 1991, so you probably think we have missed you...but you would be wrong. Stay Away Earl.

I don’t think it’s really about you wanting to have a nice calm visit with us. I think it’s all about you needing a final place to land and carry-on before you fizzle out. One last blast.

I hear you’ve been hanging out in the tropics for the past few weeks, sucking up all that “tropical water” with all your other buddies down there...and now you’re looking to bring your wild ways...our way.

Apparently you like making a big entrance, and having people throw your name around before you actually arrive. You seem to enjoy putting on a big show.

Anywhooo...........

We have a close eye on you and know you are making your way up the East Coast....probably thinking about a stop in Wrightsville Beach and wreaking havoc with our friends in the Carolinas.

Earl, you will find that we are not excited to see the likes of your kind. We don't appreciate the force, devasatation, and chaos you bring with you...the way you break and destroy things in your path.

If you could only learn to change your ways....maybe settle down a bit and not let yourself get out of control.

If you happen to show up at our house you will find the windows covered...and the doors secured. Things will be tied down and put away. We just can’t trust the likes of you.

You might want to keep moving...maybe go cruising out to sea.

And just don’t get any ideas of sending any of your friends our way. We’ve heard Gaston is just as troublesome.

New Face of Facebook

Usually new words and expressions start with the younger generation, then over time they make their way upstream...like salmon (which I should add....is especially tasty grilled with barbecue sauce.) Eventually they hit the mainstream population of the mommas, the papas, and the bubbas.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s...the hip generation was wearing bell bottoms, tie-dye, and platform shoes and saying things like “cool”, “groovy” “dig it” and “far-out.” They were also leery of old folks. Their motto was: “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” Thirty-somethings might just say trite comments like “Get a job.” (Wait...that eerily sounds like 2010.)

But as time went on...hip words made their way from the lips of beatniks to the lips of all micks, and worked their way into everyday conversations.

Before you knew it, your mom was standing in the kitchen saying: “I was having such a groovy day...and it was ruined when I burned the casserole I was planning for dinner. I was watching a far-out episode of the Monkees and lost track of time.” (Think Carol Brady catastrophe.)

But fast forward to 2010....and now we have new words...new technology...and a new world. A 2010 Carol Brady could be pictured as saying: “I was having an epic day, but it was freakin’ shit-canned when I burned the crap out of the casserole I was planning for dinner. I was watching an awesome episode of The Family Guy” that I downloaded off of iTunes onto my iPad and forgot what planet I lived on.”

So I got to thinking... Do once parents start using the same words...or join in on the fad...is it game over...time for the younger generation to move on?

Anywho..................

I’m actually surprised that Facebook isn’t considered passé with kids…now that parents have Facebook pages. Does it make it uncool to have parents friending them? It’s one thing to associate with parents as parents...but now friends??

I live and breathe my computer…but I can’t bring myself to go on Facebook. The face part of Facebook doesn’t phase me...no problem...I can upload a picture of any great face. But I’m afraid I might ruin their cool scene.

Besides....who could be cooler than Carol Brady? Especially with that hairstyle.

Multiply Your Luck

Can you believe it’s September 1st?? I remember when the summer season was first getting started and now it’s on its way out. Hare today...gone tomorrow.

Speaking of rabbits, I hope you said "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit" this morning. If you didn't...I feel very sorry for you. You’re doomed for the rest of September...or you’re S.O.L.

“Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” is said on the first day of the month for good luck the rest of the month. And our fam never forgets. We know better than to test the rabbit. Never DARE a HARE.

To be the recipient of the kind of luck where you say, “life is so easy, it's like shooting rabbits in a barrel”...you must say “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” when you FIRST wake up...and BEFORE you say anything else. You can’t even yell, “Sorry Duncandog, for stepping on your head...because you are always underfoot...and I didn’t see you...because I didn’t have my contacts in yet.”

This morning, my eyes popped open at 3:11 a.m. and I said, “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit”...OUTLOUD. Does that make me a weirdo, or the next LOTTO winner?

I’ve googled “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” to find out where this superstition might have come from. And “Presto” – a winner. I pulled a rabbit out of my hat when a whole Google page appeared regarding the superstition. Apparently I am quasimoto-normal.

Google says the saying has been around since 1800 and is a common British superstition. There is something about the rabbit being lucky and having lucky feet. (I wonder which foot is considered the luckiest.)

On a lop-eared note: I find it very interesting SLASH ironic that rabbits are commonly eaten in England. I guess the Brits like to multiply their chances and eat their luck...for good measure.

So to make sure the five of us are covered in the luck department, we send out “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” text messages..as a little hare reminder...because we care.

If you didn’t get the “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” memo for good luck...I would suggest eating a rabbit tonight for dinner....hare and all.