Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Pat Benatar.... cannot wait until August 12th!

I love the 80's. Love them. The hair, the clothes, the music. The lack of technology (though we thought we were so advanced then.)

My principal friend Laura and I have a blast together. We are close in age and just get along really well. We also have an infinity for all things 80's. We enjoyed quality concerts together (Rick Springfield, Cheap Trick/Poison/Def Leppard) and other outings (Denis Leary). She and I will be rooming together in NYC - we just do well together!!

Last August, we went to the Starplex (Superpages.com Amphitheater, but it will always be the Starplex to me!) to see Cheap Trick/Poison/Def Leppard. It was an incredible way to start the school year. I love Poison and it was good to see Bret (especially since he's hit a rough patch as of late). But Def Leppard ROCKED. I couldn't talk the next day at all from singing and screaming.

So I found us an 80's August Concert to start the next school year. It's Pat Benatar at House of Blues. I love House of Blues and we had a BLAST seeing Rick there in October '08. We invited our other principal friends, Cyndy and Kathy (who are also children of the 80's). We have another teacher friend joining us, so it will be so much fun. I cannot wait.

Trivia - We all know that "Video Killed The Radio Star" was the first video on MTV? What was the second? Pat Benatar's "You Better Run!"

As with each concert, I work on my list of what I need to hear to get my money's worth. Here is my "Essential Pat:"

1. Love is a Battlefield - Have you seen the video? The end.
2. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - great song - and it reminds me of my favorite musical, Rock of Ages.
3. We Belong - I love this song!!
4. Heartbreaker
5. Shadows of the Night
6. Invincible

I know that 80's people probably would like to play new music, but we really just want to hear the old stuff.

So Pat, don't be a Heartbreaker - play Mo's Essentials... and it will be a great night!!

The Benefits of Blogging

I've been blogging for almost 2.5 years and I enjoy it. I have a little following that likes to read and I get comments now again (though I get more comments face to face than I ever get on here!).

I've had some distinct advantages to have a blog:

1. I wrote about a book I read by the author Katherine Center. Since then, I've gotten to see her in person, read her two other books (LOVED THEM!) and have become her Facebook friend. I've learned a lot about the writing process from her and I hope that maybe it will give me the courage to pursue my dream to write a book of my own.

2. I blogged about my excitement (7 weeks from today I will be there!!) about going to NYC for my 40th B-Day girls trip! I can't wait to do the Sex and the City tour, so I blogged about it. They read and my group got a 20% discount code for our tix. I'm still bummed that they wouldn't swing for the $30 b-day chest in trade for me to blog about how awesome the tour is after I've done it.

3. You've read about my Alzheimer's Night Out a few months ago, right? Well, a reader (and one of my very dear friend's father) sent me a bootleg copy of Valentine's Day so I could see the end. Isn't that awesome? I got to see it and I loved it!! So thank you very much, FS, for reading the blog and answering my burning questions about the movie!!

I've had a few disappointments too:

1. OPRAH - For the love of all that is good in this world, I want to be on your show. I even signed a "No Phone Zone" pledge despite the fact that my drive to work is my most productive time on the phone. PLEASE get me tickets. I'm starting to lose my faith in you. Don't make me give up on you.

2. Kevin Bacon Project - I heard that Kevin has Google alerts for his name, so I challenged him to leave me a comment on my blog, but to no avail. Bummer.........

But, I'm always thinking ahead.... looking ahead... what else can I get going on here?

1. Jen Lancaster, if you are out there, please read my blog and leave me a comment. I want to be a writer just like you (but write about my own crazy life).

2. OPRAH - Again, c'mon, sister. What do I have to do?

3. Anyone related to the musical "Rock of Ages" - can you get us backstage for my b-day trip? I want pictures and autographs with the cast. Somehow I feel that sitting on the third row and possible getting spritzed by Constantine's sweat may not be enough for me to experience.

4. Free shit - anyone got any? I want some.......

So I guess I'll keep this blog up and going and we'll see what happens.... Please leave me some comments and ideas about what I can do to make my wishes become reality!!

It's Skin Cancer...... AGAIN!!

I swear, it's less than 60 days until I turn 40 and things are just starting to fall off of me.

My biopsy I had a couple of weeks ago when I went to deal with my fungal skin infection (which I'm still dealing with.... which is pissing me off because it's costing me $$ and nothing is happening and I know people are looking at me like I'm some kind of freak of nature!) came back as nodular basal cell skin cancer. My PA also adds that they can "spit seeds" (Ed.'s note: Are we talking skin cancer or watermelon?) and that she notices a few other very tiny spots that they may want to cut out while I'm being worked on. It may make me require a plastic surgeon, but I shouldn't worry because I wear bangs, so no one will really now that I have a freaky scar under there.

Now, if you have to have cancer, skin cancer (excluding melanoma) is really the way to go. It's cut out, you go on with your life. It could be so much worse. It's truly more of a pain in the butt than anything.

So I go for my consult on Wednesday to see what the doctors say about having it. I'd like to wait until June, but that may not be an option. So there's another $600-$1000 that I hadn't budgeted for - bye, bye summer road trip!! :(

I've said it before and I'll say it again..... USE SUNSCREEN!! DON'T PAY HOMAGE TO THE SUN GODS!! Tan is no plan, but pasty is tasty!!! (WTF????)

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang..... LIVE!

So last night, I went to the Verizon Theatre (formerly Nokia - why do they always keep changing names?) to see Chelsea Handler. After the pretty long, stressful and generally crappy week I had, it was great to go and LAUGH.

Sarah, Danyielle and I decide to start the evening with dinner at Smashburger in Addison. Omigod - it was soo yummy!! I had the BBQ burger with the Smash fries. It was delicious!! I will go there again and I highly recommend it! Our highlight though was as we were leaving, we saw an SUV that looked like an episode of Hoarders - there was stuff piled high everywhere, leaving just enough room to sit and drive. I would be afraid if you took a corner too hard, something might take your head off!

We finish up dinner and then head to the Verizon. About a mile before our exit, traffic just stops. Apparently there was also horse racing going on at Lone Star park. So the two miles took like 25 minutes. We finally get parked and get inside. We decide to get a drink, the line for beverages took another 25 minutes.

Brad Cohen was the warm up act. We missed part of his show because we were getting drinks. He was funny!!

But Chelsea was hysterical. She did comedy from her book "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" and talked about all others kinds of things. She loves her the profanity (which doesn't bother me), which made some things funnier.

The only bad part was the guy I was sitting next to. He was using my cup holder for his spit cup and he did it throughout the show. It was so gross. He also sat with his legs spread open (over into my seat area) so that they were pushing against my legs (which were definitely on top of the seat in my area), which was pissing me off.

Loved the show, loved Chelsea, would recommend it if you have the chance to see her in person!! Great time had by all!!

Good Hair (2009)

Who knew Chris Rock was a documentary filmmaker?

Good Hair is Chris Rock's adventure in trying to understand black women's hair. As the father of two young daughters, he was upset when his daughter told him that she didn't have good hair. So he went on a quest to find what was good hair.

He learned about the history of black hair care products and visited a hair show where they have a contest to see who does the best cuts. Not just sitting and cutting hair, there is underwater stunts, cutting hair upside down, scenes involving women on a bed, and a marching band. To determine who does the best cut - I'm serious.

Chris learned all about relaxers (which straighten out the curly hair). The chemical is so dangerous it can disintegrate a coke can. And you put it on your hair. And it burns. And if you aren't careful, it'll burn your hair off and leave you with a scab. Some girls as young as 3 participate in this endeavor.

So what are you other options? Weave!! This part hysterical as you learned about the different weaves. The women interviewed (included Nia Long, Eve, and other celebrities) talked about how no one can touch their weave and how they can't swim in their weave. Chris then interviews a bunch of men who talk about not touching a black woman's hair. Chris couldn't keep himself from laughing.

I learned that a lot of weave comes from India. Women (and children) grow their hair, then get their head shaved. It's a huge industry. And a good weave can cost several thousand dollars - women actually lay-away their hair? Wow - and I complain about $120 for a cut and color!!

This film was funny, but I did learn a lot about "Good Hair." All I can say is that I'll take my thin, fine, straight dirty blonde over all the grief these women have to deal with.......

Mo's Review:
Good Hair (2009): 4 out of 5 stars

Xanadu, Part Deux

I love Xanadu so much on Tuesday that I went back today with friends. I loved it even more today. The crowd today was a little more subdued - on Tuesday, during the song "Xanadu," everyone was up on their feet, singing and clapping. Today, not so much.

After Tuesday, I had ordered the movie, the movie soundtrack, and the musical soundtrack. I'm patiently awaiting their arrival.

I love the 80's and I love Xanadu!!

Pineapple Express (2008)

I learned that the Pineapple Express has nothing to do with Hawaii. ;)

It's a Judd Apatow film, starring Seth Rogen (surprise!) and James Franco (cutie!) as stoners. Denny (Rogen) witnesses a murder, leaves a roach (of a type of marijuana called Pineapple Express) at the scene that leads them to his dealer, Saul (Franco). Denny and Saul go on the run, trying not to get found by Ted Jones (Gary Cole, who will always be the Office Space manager or Mr. Brady to me) and his female cop partner (Rosie Perez, whose annoying accent hasn't decreased in all these years).

Maybe because I wasn't stoned, this movies was funny in a few parts, but mostly stupid. However, there was enough funny to string me along until the end.

If you enjoy Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow films, or pot.. then this is a must see!! If not, take it or leave it, depending on your mood.

Mo's Review:
Pineapple Express (2008): 3 out of 5 stars

All this for a rash?!?!?!!?

I've had a rash for the last couple of weeks, it comes and goes. So finally I decide that I'm going to the doctor to have it checked out. (Ed.'s Note: I didn't think people over the age of 3 developed rashes. News flash - we do!! I'm telling you, the closer I get to 40.... don't kick the tires, something may fall off!!!) So I leave school a bit early and head for the dermatologist.

It's a fungal rash. Ewwww.... gross!! She gives me some medicine for the fungal infection (that just sounds gross) and then a pill for when the itching bothers me. (She also biopsies a spot on my forehead.... please, please, please..... no skin cancer for me!!)

I'm in and out in 20 minutes, so I head to Kroger to fill my prescriptions. I catch up on the latest "In Touch" while I'm waiting. (In case you are curious: Jen & Brad are getting back together, Kim Kardashian is "hand that rocks the cradle"-ing her sister Kourtney's baby, and Gwen Stefani's kids looked like normal kids for Easter.) I get my meds and some Smart Ones and head home.

I have this peculiar habit of checking my meds online. Don't ask me why, I guess it's the OCD in me?!?! So my drug for the fungal infection, I look it up and it states that it is used "for fungal infections in people with severely compromised immune systems, like those with AIDS." Uh, okay..... I don't have AIDS. Right? I don't, I'm pretty sure. I haven't been sick in a while, so how can that be? Maybe she's just given me a really strong drug to knock it, so I should be happy.

Then I look up my medicine to help me not itch. It states that the drug is used "for the short-term treatment of nervousness and tension that may occur with certain mental/mood disorders, such as anxiety and dementia." Dementia, seriously? I check the prescription to make sure I got this from the dermatologist, not my therapist. So dementia and allergic itching are related? Well, call me demented and lock me up!!!!

Let's just pray that I'm a rash-free, non-tense, non-anxious, dementia-free girl come tomorrow. If not, I'm afraid I'm one step away from the commitment hearing!!! (crazy psycho laugh inserted here.... bwwwwahahahahahaahahaha!!!!)

Xanadu

Last night, I got to go see Xanadu at the Dallas Summer Musicals. I truly loved it!! I loved it so much, that I bought tickets and I'm going again to see it on Sunday!!

Three years ago, I went to NYC in the summer and wanted to see Xanadu on Broadway. Unfortunately, the lead actor Sonny fell and broke his femur during rehearsals and had to leave the show. They went with a new actor, so they pushed back the opening date, so it didn't coincide with my trip. I was crushed.

(A little Rock of Ages trivia for you: The original Sonny was James Carpinello, who plays Stacee Jaxx in ROA. The original Clio/Kira was Kerry Butler, who just finished a run as Sherrie on ROA. I can't wait to see Rock of Ages - two months and five days until I am on the third row!!)

Anyways... Xanadu was awesome!! The cast was great, the show was laugh out loud funny, the music was fun (I kept catching myself singing along). As soon as I left, I called D (my theatre buddy) and notified her that we would be going to this show. I've also ordered the original movie and soundtrack as well as the Broadway soundtrack from Amazon. Can't wait!!

I think one of the neatest things about this show is that part of the audience sits on the stage. You actually become part of the show. It looks so fun!! I tried to get our tickets to be on the stage, but it wasn't available.

On a side note, no Roland and Sylvia at this show either. I hope they will be there for Little House on the Prairie or Wicked. I miss them. As a matter of fact, Tuesday was not crowded at all!! Lots of empty seats - lots of people that missed out on that 80's goodness!!

Next up: Little House on the Prairie on May 18th (Melissa Gilbert is now Ma.... everyone is getting older!!)

My Friend Jason Huffman (May 2, 1971-April 7, 2010)

I'm sad tonight about the loss of my friend Jason. Jason was a co-worker of mine as well as a friend. He had this incredible laugh, a great sense of humor and an air of mischeviousness about him that was fun to watch. He was a friend to everyone as well as a loving husband and a devoted father to Jack (9) and Caroline (6).

Jason and I had a whole history that we didn't even know we had. He taught at Hamilton Park Pacesetter in Richardson about 4 years after I did. One of the 5th grade teachers I worked with ended up becoming his mother-in-law. His mother-in-law Jeannie married a the father of a friend of mine that I grew up with - it was just all such a small world.....

Jason was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2006, just as I was finishing my first year as an administrator. When he came back to school the next year, he was bald headed as could be, but once I heard that laugh, I knew it was the same old Jason. He also blogged and we loved to read and comment on each other's blogs - we provided each other with quite a few laughs this way. (His blog is still linked on my page - it's the JDHTeach blog if you'd like to go back and read some of his posts.)

The last year has been hard as he has fought graft vs. host. His physical body was betraying him though his spirit was strong. He worked until a few months ago, when he just couldn't do it anymore.

His passing today was sudden... and sad. I regret not having talked to him while he was in the hospital, being caught up in my life and my work. I hope he knew that I loved and cared for him, that my heart hurts for him, but also the family he has left behind.

RIP Jason, we will miss you. But I'm pretty sure the angels are doubled over laughing just like you had all of us down here doing when you were around.

The September Issue (2009)

I loved the movie "The Devil Wears Prada." It was so good. They say that movie is based on Vogue Editor Anna Wintour. This movie is a documentary following the Vogue staff as they prepare to put together the September 2007 issue of the magazine.

Anna Wintour is scary. She rarely smiles, people are scared of her, and they are desperate for her approval. She clutches her Starbucks as she pulls pictures off of the wall (where they layout the magazine) while the editors try not to show their disappointment. She attends fashion shows in NYC and Paris wearing dark sunglasses.

My favorite person in this movie was one of the editors, Grace. Grace has this mane of red hair and she is fairly simple in her dress and demeanor. She's know Anna a long time and they work well together, but boy is she unhappy when Anna starts cutting her photos. Grace was a model and has worked at Vogue for 20+ years.

They actually started working months ahead to creat this issue which was the largest (at that time) that they had published. It was like 800 pages. While I guess I'm not a fashionista and I didn't appreciate all of the styling of the shoots, you can see how much work goes into it and how disappointed the editors must be when Anna cuts their work.

This is a great movie if you are curious as to how the magazine business works. Or you love fashion. Or you want to see the documentary version of "The Devil Wears Prada."

Mo's Review:
The September Issue (2009): 4 out of 5 stars

Sex and The City 2 is coming!!!!

I'm so excited... I cannot wait until May 28th when it comes out - I will be there that night to see it.... it's just two weeks before we go to NYC and do the Sex and the City tour... and exactly one month before my birthday.....

I'm gonna get Carried away..... by the movie, then to New York.... woo hoo!!! As Carrie says, "Sometimes, you just have to get away with the girls!"



(Ed.'s Note: I know the video isn't great quality and my blog layout cuts part of it off, but who cares??? It's Sex and the City!!)

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

I'm going to see Chelsea Handler later this month at Nokia in Grand Prairie, so I was excited when Ashley loaned me her latest book. I've read (and own) her other two books, which I loaned to my sister over a year ago and I don't think she ever read them. I made her give them back to me so that Danyielle can read them since she is going with us to see Chelsea.

This book is hysterical, just like her others. She tells stories that somehow others believe, but she is witty as all. She is funniest when dealing with her family, whether it's begging for a Cabbage Patch kid, her family's Martha Vineyard summer house, or doing mushrooms with her brother.

If you are a fan of Chelsea, then you'll love this book as well. It just got me even more excited to see her in 3 weeks - woo hoo!!

Mo's Review:
"Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" by Chelsea Handler, (2010, 243 pages): 4 out of 5 Stars

Charter Member of the Nicholas Sparks's Fan Club

I think I've made it pretty clear about how I feel about the formulaic Nicholas Sparks. I've addressed in my blogs about his movies "Nights in Rodanthe" and "Dear John." Say what you will, but I'm on to something with my Nicholas Sparks formula.

I know there is a new Nicholas Sparks movie out called "Last Song." But hear me now and believe me later, I'm not going to see it. I KNOW what happens without having ever read the book or seen the movie. If you have seen the movie, click on the above links and apply the formula. I dare you to tell me I am wrong.

I have a wonderful friend Bronwyn, who I enjoy seeing movies with. She is like my cerebral friend, so we see documentaries and Angelika-type films together. She plays on the winning trivia team for our local trivia contest... and I have to admit I'm a little jealous by her intellect. She's even asked me to be on her team, but I'm scared that she may realize I'm not up to her level and discontinue the friendship. Just kidding.... (well, maybe not?!?!)

Anyways, she sent me an incredible link from a blog that shows how movies would have ended had they been Nicholas Sparks films. I laughed out loud reading it, it was too funny. Linda Holmes, I love you. You are so right!!

If you are curious to see how The Karate Kid, When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Women, Grease, The Titanic, The Breakfast Club, or Hot Tub Time Machine might have ended if they went through the Nicholas Sparks filter, click here. Great blog!!

Let me know what you think!!

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

My lazy Good Friday holiday was spent enjoying this film. It was listed by many critics as one of the best movies of 2008 and I can see why. I can also see why Anne Hathaway was nominated for an Oscar for her work in this film.

Hathaway stars as Kym, who begins the movie leaving rehab so she can come home for her sister Rachel's wedding. Kym has had many issues with drugs, even being high and causing an accident that killed her younger brother. Kym's father is very protective, which makes Rachel jealous and makes Kym feel that he doesn't trust her. Throw in the dynamics of the emotionally isolated mother, played by Debra Winger, and you've got one jacked up family trying to come together for the wedding.

If you don't like watching family dysfunction, then this isn't the movie for you. At times, it was uncomfortable, but very realistic. This isn't a feel good movie either. But it tells a story of drug abuse, guilt, jealousy, anger, and a family that is trying to persevere despite that.

Mo's Review:
Rachel Getting Married (2008): 4 out of 5 stars