Eight is Enough

Tuesday - The Frames
While walking to the show I saw this handsome man talking on his cell phone. I first noticed his awesome shoes, then his perfect jeans that looked like they were made perfectly for his body, then his awesome shirt and great jacket. Then I saw the hair and I thought he was gorgeous right away before I even saw his face. Then like a dawning it hit me!!!! The jeans, the jacket, the hair!! It was GLEN HANSARD!!!!!!!!! I instantly grabbed Honey who was a little bit in her own world and she was totally caught off guard and was like WHAT??!?!?! my eyes were huge and I was like it's Glen!!! We stopped walking and I knew that he saw me. As soon as he was off the phone I was gonna make my move. I was totally freaking out at his hottness and the shock that he was even there!!! He got off the phone and started to walk away. I saw that his manager was waiting but I called out his name anyway and we walked over to him. He was really nice, not overly nice. But honey and I took pics with him. It was a really quick conversation. He said that he was on a pretty serious phone call and both Honey and I totally just looked at him with googly eyes. I remember telling him that he was amazing in DC when he opened for Damien and that it was sad that he didn't stay after. We also said that we were very excited for the show we were about to see. There were some other things but I really just don't remember bc it was so shocking!! I love that man!! The show was amazing!!! I mean really great. Town Hall is a great venue. It's pretty small, very warm. The violinist was amazing. The way his instrument swelled with the band was very moving. It was really a great show. I think it was probably amoungst my top ten!!! I got a pick and a setlist.

Thursday - The Fratellies
This was a nuts show bc there was some moshing and body surfing. Which can be fun but at a Fratellis show? It wasn't the right moment for that. The opneing band was alright, but while they were on stage I mapped out a whole business plan for them so they can be better. The #1 thing I thought they needed was Rehab all around, then some lessons, hot haircuts and finally some decent jeans!! But back to the Fratellis. The lead singer, John, who knew that he was actually really good looking? I sure didn't!!! but he really is! During the show some people were totally moshing on me and I was not happy. I braced myself and held onto the barrier and pushed my ass back so far that it was the length of 5 rows. .
I looked over at Honey who almost fell over bc she was laughing so hard. I didn't think that she was watching me, but she totally was and it made me laugh. I was just so annoyed. I only got bothered 2 more times during the rest of the show. so it must have worked. It was a great show Honey taped most of it and after the show she actually faught for that set list and GOT IT!!! I helped a little but I don't know if she really needed it. It was so unlike Honey to fight for the set list, but I was glad that she did. I got a pick. Outside the venue Honey and I waited for a little bit and it was such a short wait. All of a sudden Barry came out and I walked right over to him and took a pic. When I was in the pic with Barry I saw John walking to their car. In my head I was almost in full panic. NO ONE else was asking for pics or autographs so he was walking away. Everyone was just standing around looking.
So I yelled out John's name while still in the pic with Barry. I felt bad bc there wasn't enough time to get Honey in the pic with Barry, but I figured that John was more important. so I hopped in the pic with him and then I asked if he could take one with Honey. He then started walking again to the waiting car and I was at least able to tell him how much fun the show was and he said that he had a lot of fun too. With that he was gone.

Honey and I were the only ones that got a pic with him. I think the night of the Frames we were the only ones that got to meet Glen. Bc I eased dropped on a roadie and a manager. They said they were leaving in like 20 - 30 minutes and there were just too many people waiting. It was crazy.

In between that I met Honey's friend Mike and his wife Kaori. What a great couple. But the funny thing is that they totally looked like they stepped out of a magazine. We had a great conversation with them. Mike told this story about his childhood dog and I totally almost cried. They were really great to meet and I had a really great time.

Friday - Muse/My Chemical Romance
So we head back to Honey's side of town. We went back to Honey's house b4 the show and just chilled b4 the concert. We headed to Maryweather Post and got there around 3:30ish. There was already a pretty serious line happening. It was going to be a long day with all the Emo loving, painted faced, zippery pants wearing teenagers. But to our surprise Honey and I struck up a conversation with the guys behind us. An uncle and his nephew. Someone that was actually around our age and his 14 year old nephew. He was taking him to his first concert. We ended up playing cards together (my Barbie cards are always perfect for that long concert line). We made a pact together to stick together. We realized that there was no way that we were going to get into the pit, but we made a pact that we would all save each other seats. So after all the waiting we had really pretty decent seats. Muse was OUTSTANDING!!! They really blew the crowd away. I'm still unsure why they were opening up for My Chemical Romance. But whatever... So after they went off the stage Honey and I wanted to do some stalking. So we left our seats and went to look for the best place. We were waiting around the VIP area and there just seemed to be no hope. We struck up a conversation with these awesome boys from the area. Joey, Mark, Thomas and Mike. They are really great guys. So I found out that we really weren't in the right place and we all decided that we were going to walk across the venue to stalk properly. We ended up hanging out with these guys the whole rest of the night. While waiting at the gate I saw Tom. I yelled, "Tom, Tom Kirk. I know you can see me." and I saw him again, and finally the third time he came over. Honey and I were able to take a picture with him and he was seriously too cute for words. I kissed him on the cheek bc I couldn't take the british hottness. He did a head count. The 8 of us. Me, Honey, Mark, Thomas, Joey, Mike, Chrystal and one more of their friends. It was gonna happen for us. But then it didn't. for the full story about the bitchy gate keeper, please read Honey's blog. Every time I think about it I get mad. I know that it shouldn't really matter bc I've met them twice b4 but I really want it to happen for the boys. We said good night to all. Hopefully we will all get to go to the Muse show with the Cold war Kids in August. That should be a lot of fun!! I look forward to it!!! Moshing with the boys!!!

While all this hoopla was going down. I became obsessed with Jane Eyre. I also became obsessed with Toby Stephens. The british hotness is surely on top of the list. The way he cries is amazing. When I got home from Honey I went out the next day and I bought the movie. I started to re-read the book. Though I don't really remember reading it (really reading it) in High school. I'm sure I read the cliffs note. But I don't really remember. I also don't think I would have enjoyed this kind of book in High School. I hated reading in High School. I love to read now, it's just hard to fit it in with all the tv that's happening. But back to the complete hotness of Toby Stephens. It's hard to believe that he is Maggie Smith's son. Maybe he could be in a Potter movie!!! Maybe not. But it would be nice. He really is a hot hot man!!! His man crying is hard to come by and I don't know of anyone who does it quite as well. It makes me love him even more. Man alive he's hot. Look here!!!



While I was at Honey's house there was something wrong with my car. I wasn't sure what it was but I knew something was wrong. Honey and her mom and I looked at the tires and we didn't see anything. so I was thinking and Honey was thinking that it might be the alignment and that is crazy expensive to fix!!! so we took it to midas and the guy drove it around and lifted it up on those things and he found that it was the tire. There was a big dent in the tire. I remembered that I accidentally went over a curb last week. oops... so we got the tire fixed and went to the mall.

I finally go my pictures developed from the night of Snow Patrol that we met Lisa, Nathan and The lightbody. And here they are!!! Look at Lisa she's just beautiful. I love her and wish her all the luck in the world!!









Here is Hot Smoldering Nathan!!! He really is so good looking it's shocking!!! He's also so gentle. But the hug he gave was really firm. He's hot!!!



And here is The Lightbody!! He's such a goober!! But I think he's swell!! They really put on a great show that night. He sounded so good. He was also really funny that night.
I can't wait for their next album to come out.








I just thought I needed to include this adorable picture of Ali and Bono. Look at how cute they are together!!! Is there anything cuter? She looks so happy. Sir Bono!! His demigodness and her demigodness I presume!!!


I really can't wait to see U2 again!!

Looking forward to More Muse, Damien, SHANE!!, Keane, Rocco Deluca, watching Dr. Who and my birthday (oh wait maybe I'm dreading that).

Enjoying: Life On Mars, Toby Stephens, Jane Eyre, Lost, Heroes, American Idol, Medium, Grey's Anatomy and my cats.

Happy Earth Day

So as I am sure everyone knows that our planet is falling apart but does everyone know that WE can change that. Just by doing little things. It costs only a dollar to plant a tree. There are many different organizations that you can donate to. Click here for more info. This week and weekend there were a lot of news programs focusing on things that can be changed. abc news, nightline, diane sawyer, good morning america, oprah, there are even Going Green website. There is so much we can all do. You can buy the energy saving light bulbs and they save on energy and your monthly electric bill.

I know that it's overwhelming but we can all do our part.

also in other news: I would like to send out my prayers to all the family and friends of everyone involved in the awful shootings at Virginia Tech. This was a senseless act and we are all pryaing for you.

On Oprah the otherday was a dialog about racism and sexism in America today. Please read this very interesting, compelling, impressive, well written and well thought out letter from poet/Actor Saul Williams. Thank you Honey for sending me the link. I actually remember this guy from a few episodes of "girlfriends".




April 20, 2007
An Open Letter To Oprah, By Saul Williams
On the heels of this, spoken word poet and hip hop statesman Saul Williams offers an eloquent response to Harpo's analysis of the problems plaguing rap:

Dear Ms. Winfrey,

It is with the greatest respect and adoration of your loving spirit that I write you. As a young child, I would sit beside my mother everyday and watch your program. As a young adult, with children of my own, I spend much less time in front of the television, but I am ever thankful for the positive effect that you continue to have on our nation, history and culture. The example that you have set as someone unafraid to answer their calling, even when the reality of that calling insists that one self-actualize beyond the point of any given example, is humbling, and serves as the cornerstone of the greatest faith. You, love, are a pioneer.

I am a poet.

Growing up in Newburgh, NY, with a father as a minister and a mother as a school teacher, at a time when we fought for our heroes to be nationally recognized, I certainly was exposed to the great names and voices of our past. I took great pride in competing in my churches Black History Quiz Bowl and the countless events my mother organized in hopes of fostering a generation of youth well versed in the greatness as well as the horrors of our history. Yet, even in a household where I had the privilege of personally interacting with some of the most outspoken and courageous luminaries of our times, I must admit that the voices that resonated the most within me and made me want to speak up were those of my peers, and these peers were emcees. Rappers.

Yes, Ms. Winfrey, I am what my generation would call "a Hip Hop head." Hip Hop has served as one of the greatest aspects of my self-definition. Lucky for me, I grew up in the 80's when groups like Public Enemy, Rakim, The jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, and many more realized the power of their voices within the artform and chose to create music aimed at the upliftment of our generation.

As a student at Morehouse College where I studied Philosophy and Drama I was forced to venture across the street to Spelman College for all of my Drama classes, since Morehouse had no theater department of its own. I had few complaints. The performing arts scholarship awarded me by Michael Jackson had promised me a practically free ride to my dream school, which now had opened the doors to another campus that could make even the most focused of young boys dreamy, Spelman. One of my first theater professors, Pearle Cleage, shook me from my adolescent dream state. It was the year that Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" was released and our introduction to Snoop Dogg as he sang catchy hooks like "Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks..." Although, it was a playwriting class, what seemed to take precedence was Ms. Cleages political ideology, which had recently been pressed and bound in her 1st book, Mad at Miles. As, you know, in this book she spoke of how she could not listen to the music of Miles Davis and his muted trumpet without hearing the muted screams of the women that he was outspoken about "man-handling". It was my first exposure to the idea of an artist being held accountable for their actions outside of their art. It was the first time I had ever heard the word, "misogyny". And as Ms. Cleage would walk into the classroom fuming over the women she would pass on campus, blasting those Snoop lyrics from their cars and jeeps, we, her students, would be privy to many freestyle rants and raves on the dangers of nodding our heads to a music that could serve as our own demise.

Her words, coupled with the words of the young women I found myself interacting with forever changed how I listened to Hip Hop and quite frankly ruined what would have been a number of good songs for me. I had now been burdened with a level of awareness that made it impossible for me to enjoy what the growing masses were ushering into the mainstream. I was now becoming what many Hip Hop heads would call "a Backpacker", a person who chooses to associate themselves with the more "conscious" or politically astute artists of the Hip Hop community. What we termed as "conscious" Hip Hop became our preference for dance and booming systems. Groups like X-Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, Arrested Development, Gangstarr and others became the prevailing music of our circle. We also enjoyed the more playful Hip Hop of De La Soul, Heiroglyphics, Das FX, Organized Konfusion. Digable Planets, The Fugees, and more. We had more than enough positivity to fixate on. Hip Hop was diverse.

I had not yet begun writing poetry. Most of my friends hardly knew that I had been an emcee in high school. I no longer cared to identify myself as an emcee and my love of oratory seemed misplaced at Morehouse where most orators were actually preachers in training, speaking with the Southern drawl of Dr. King although they were 19 and from the North. I spent my time doing countless plays and school performances. I was in line to become what I thought would be the next Robeson, Sidney, Ossie, Denzel, Snipes... It wasn't until I was in graduate school for acting at NYU that I was invited to a poetry reading in Manhattan where I heard Asha Bandele, Sapphire, Carl Hancock Rux, Reggie Gaines, Jessica Care Moore, and many others read poems that sometimes felt like monologues that my newly acquired journal started taking the form of a young poets'. Yet, I still noticed that I was a bit different from these poets who listed names like: Audrey Lourde, June Jordan, Sekou Sundiata etc, when asked why they began to write poetry. I knew that I had been inspired to write because of emcees like Rakim, Chuck D, LL, Run DMC... Hip Hop had informed my love of poetry as much or even more than my theater background which had exposed me to Shakespeare, Baraka, Fugard, Genet, Hansberry and countless others. In those days, just a mere decade ago, I started writing to fill the void between what I was hearing and what I wished I was hearing. It was not enough for me to critique the voices I heard blasting through the walls of my Brooklyn brownstone. I needed to create examples of where Hip Hop, particularly its lyricism, could go. I ventured to poetry readings with my friends and neighbors, Dante Smith (now Mos Def), Talib Kweli, Eryka Badu, Jessica Care Moore, Mums the Schemer, Beau Sia, Suheir Hammad...all poets that frequented the open mics and poetry slams that we commonly saw as "the other direction" when Hip hop reached that fork in the road as you discussed on your show this past week. On your show you asked the question, "Are all rappers poets?" Nice. I wanted to take the opportunity to answer this question for you.

The genius, as far as the marketability, of Hip Hop is in its competitiveness. Its roots are as much in the dignified aspects of our oral tradition as it is in the tradition of "the dozens" or "signifying". In Hip Hop, every emcee is automatically pitted against every other emcee, sort of like characters with super powers in comic books. No one wants to listen to a rapper unless they claim to be the best or the greatest. This sort of braggadocio leads to all sorts of tirades, showdowns, battles, and sometimes even deaths. In all cases, confidence is the ruling card. Because of the competitive stance that all emcees are prone to take, they, like soldiers begin to believe that they can show no sign of vulnerability. Thus, the most popular emcees of our age are often those that claim to be heartless or show no feelings or signs of emotion. The poet, on the other hand, is the one who realizes that their vulnerability is their power. Like you, unafraid to shed tears on countless shows, the poet finds strength in exposing their humanity, their vulnerability, thus making it possible for us to find connection and strength through their work. Many emcees have been poets. But, no, Ms. Winfrey, not all emcees are poets. Many choose gangsterism and business over the emotional terrain through which true artistry will lead. But they are not to blame. I would now like to address your question of leadership.

You may recall that in immediate response to the attacks of September 11th, our president took the national stage to say to the American public and the world that we would "...show no sign of vulnerability". Here is the same word that distinguishes poets from rappers, but in its history, more accurately, women from men. To make such a statement is to align oneself with the ideology that instills in us a sense of vulnerability meaning "weakness". And these meanings all take their place under the heading of what we consciously or subconsciously characterize as traits of the feminine. The weapon of mass destruction is the one that asserts that a holy trinity would be a father, a male child, and a ghost when common sense tells us that the holiest of trinities would be a mother, a father, and a child: Family. The vulnerability that we see as weakness is the saving grace of the drunken driver who because of their drunken/vulnerable state survives the fatal accident that kills the passengers in the approaching vehicle who tighten their grip and show no physical vulnerability in the face of their fear. Vulnerability is also the saving grace of the skate boarder who attempts a trick and remembers to stay loose and not tense during their fall. Likewise, vulnerability has been the saving grace of the African American struggle as we have been whipped, jailed, spat upon, called names, and killed, yet continue to strive forward mostly non-violently towards our highest goals. But today we are at a crossroads, because the institutions that have sold us the crosses we wear around our necks are the most overt in the denigration of women and thus humanity. That is why I write you today, Ms. Winfrey. We cannot address the root of what plagues Hip Hop without addressing the root of what plagues today's society and the world.

You see, Ms. Winfrey, at it's worse; Hip Hop is simply a reflection of the society that birthed it. Our love affair with gangsterism and the denigration of women is not rooted in Hip Hop; rather it is rooted in the very core of our personal faith and religions. The gangsters that rule Hip Hop are the same gangsters that rule our nation. 50 Cent and George Bush have the same birthday (July 6th). For a Hip Hop artist to say "I do what I wanna do/Don't care if I get caught/The DA could play this mothaf@kin tape in court/I'll kill you/ I ain't playin'" epitomizes the confidence and braggadocio we expect an admire from a rapper who claims to represent the lowest denominator. When a world leader with the spirit of a cowboy (the true original gangster of the West: raping, stealing land, and pillaging, as we clapped and cheered.) takes the position of doing what he wants to do, regardless of whether the UN or American public would take him to court, then we have witnessed true gangsterism and violent negligence. Yet, there is nothing more negligent than attempting to address a problem one finds on a branch by censoring the leaves.

Name calling, racist generalizations, sexist perceptions, are all rooted in something much deeper than an uncensored music. Like the rest of the world, I watched footage on AOL of you dancing mindlessly to 50 Cent on your fiftieth birthday as he proclaimed, "I got the ex/if you're into taking drugs/ I'm into having sex/ I ain't into making love" and you looked like you were having a great time. No judgment. I like that song too. Just as I do, James Brown's Sex Machine or Grand Master Flashes "White Lines". Sex, drugs, and rock and roll is how the story goes. Censorship will never solve our problems. It will only foster the sub-cultures of the underground, which inevitably inhabit the mainstream. There is nothing more mainstream than the denigration of women as projected through religious doctrine. Please understand, I am by no means opposing the teachings of Jesus, by example (he wasn't Christian), but rather the men that have used his teachings to control and manipulate the masses. Hip Hop, like Rock and Roll, like the media, and the government, all reflect an idea of power that labels vulnerability as weakness. I can only imagine the non-emotive hardness that you have had to show in order to secure your empire from the grips of those that once stood in your way: the old guard. You reflect our changing times. As time progresses we sometimes outgrow what may have served us along the way. This time, what we have outgrown, is not hip hop, rather it is the festering remnants of a God depicted as an angry and jealous male, by men who were angry and jealous over the minute role that they played in the everyday story of creation. I am sure that you have covered ideas such as these on your show, but we must make a connection before our disconnect proves fatal.

We are a nation at war. What we fail to see is that we are fighting ourselves. There is no true hatred of women in Hip Hop. At the root of our nature we inherently worship the feminine. Our overall attention to the nurturing guidance of our mothers and grandmothers as well as our ideas of what is sexy and beautiful all support this. But when the idea of the feminine is taken out of the idea of what is divine or sacred then that worship becomes objectification. When our governed morality asserts that a woman is either a virgin or a whore, then our understanding of sexuality becomes warped. Note the dangling platinum crosses over the bare asses being smacked in the videos. The emcees of my generation are the ministers of my father's generation. They too had a warped perspective of the feminine. Censoring songs, sermons, or the tirades of radio personalities will change nothing except the format of our discussion. If we are to sincerely address the change we are praying for then we must first address to whom we are praying.

Thank you, Ms. Winfrey, for your forum, your heart, and your vision. May you find the strength and support to bring about the changes you wish to see in ways that do more than perpetuate the myth of enmity.

In loving kindness,

Saul Williams

Anyhoo - I am very much looking forward to seeing the Frames on Tuesday. I also am excited to see the fratelli's. I think they are going to be a lot of fun. The Chemical Romance and Muse show is causing some ageda. But I know it's going to be crazy fun!! That's it for now.

In your opinion

What' s worse:

Being a regular on a daytime soap opera, but not just any soap, we are talking about General Hospital. And you are the sister of a main character and has several story lines before you left the show...

OR

Being a main character on a prime time soap on upn? The show in question is "American Heiress".

i have to say in my opinion I would think that General Hospital would be a better choice. I know that the other show is on prime time, but NO ONE!!! I mean no one watches it. I was only watching bc I was flipping during commercials and I saw this girl that was on my soap. and was thinking to myself why would she do that? why? The actress that I am talking about is Alicia Leigh Willis. Tell me your thoughts...

Also to check out something funny, go to Honey's blog and watch Muse being asses!!! hhaaa It made me laugh.

Lisa Hannigan, Gary Lightbody and Damien Rice

I titled this blog with these 3 names bc apparently everyone is finding my blog by searching these 3 people and the "scandal" surrounding these three people and what I wrote on my blog. I haven't really even been in the loop bc of the Passover holiday but Honey told me today that there was some talk on Snow Patrol boards and I found on Damien boards that some people have a problem with the truth. I can't even believe that I would be called a liar and then to call Honey a liar as well is beyond preposterous. Why anyone would lie on a personal blog is beyond me. NO ONE even reads my blog so why would I lie on it? Why would I tell a detailed conversation with Lisa and lie about that? Why would Honey post the same exact story if we were liars?!?!? Please get a life!!! If you can’t tell that Lisa was kidding when she was making ME feel better about Shane’s engagement then you need to re-read my blog. She is an amazing person who has a very funny personality and she was joking!!! Instead of being mad or jealous about Gary and Lisa we should be happy if in fact they are dating bc they are both great people who both are so gentle so it would be great if they were together.

Fantastical things happen to me when meeting bands. I have crazy ass conversations with people famous and not. Just read my blog and you’ll see. I on purpose did not post anything on any boards bc I knew that people would think that it wasn’t true. Enough…. I’m done. If you want to believe the truth then great, if you don’t than I don’t care.

Rochi has a funny nickname for Sanjia on American Idol… Sangina. It made me laugh. Anyway, Passover is tiring. Turning the kitchen over and making the first seder. It’s a lot of hard work, man. I can’t wait till it’s over bc it’s just a lot of work.

Lost is on so I am gonna go watch.