Yes, it’s another fuzzy pic – my apologies. You Pasadena locals will get the joke…
UPDATE: This is my homage to Pasadena at this time of year. December is when Pasadena gussies up for the rest of the world. We have no crime (ahem), no gangs (ahem, ahem) and the parade is controversy-free. Riiiiiiiiiiggggghhhhhtttttt.
The ever brilliant Neil at Citizen of the Month has posted The 2007 Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert. Check it out here.
Thanks, Neil, for the wonderful assemblage.
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PS – You may have seen AP’s post about playing the piano…”I am an awesome piano player” he says. And you may have thought to yourself, “Self, that’s just AP shootin’ off at the mouth again.”
But I was there when AP took the bench. I’m waiting for Chopsticks or Heart and Soul and out comes a little Bach, a little Chopin, and some seasonally correct Xmas carols.
So it is true. AP is awesome piano player.
Likewise, my friend Lilli Cloud (who also witnessed AP tickling the ivories) is an awesome singer. Back in October, I got to hear her in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. I liked it because it hasn’t passed into the realm of overused Xmas music. I’m really having a hard time with Xmas music this year. Well, I have a hard time every year, and this year is no exception. More on that later. In the meantime, click on that link to Bach because it isn’t the whole thing, just a little taste, and it is beautiful, and it won’t make you throw up like all that Xmas crap.
So AP played the piano, and Susan and Doc M and Lilli and I sang The First Noel. I guess because it was live and because Lilli sings like a pro, I didn’t toss my cookies.
A plug for Lilli: She’s got a new business . Here’s an excerpt from the site:
If you’re ready to make a career change, launch your own small business or give your business a boost, you’ve come to the right place. Step inside and replace those pumps and penny loafers with your very own Blue Feet.
You can read about Lilli’s adventures in Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands, here.
Santa leering in Old Town.
For years, I’ve been getting e-mail from Bob Stane at the Coffee Gallery Backstage up in Altadena. He produces a tasty line-up of singer/songwriter types for our listening pleasure.
Imagine my surprise – I’m reading Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up. He mentions appearing at the Ice House in Pasadena, and he mentions Bob Stane–who is the founder of the Ice House!
I feel like a Wings fan who just found out that Paul McCartney was one of the Beatles.
Saw this while on south Raymond last week (click to embiggen):
It’s kind of fun to happen upon a float here and there before the parade. Just what is being represented by this Native American? The good old days of cigar advertising? A memorial to the Tongva?
The parade titles are always so lame. This year it’s Passport to the World’s Celebrations. Bet those Chinese who aren’t allowed to leave China would love such a passport.
One imagines that some T of R members have a bit of a headache this morning, what with the negative press about the China-sponsored float heating up. Here’s the link to the Reporters Without Borders page on their China campaign. On that page, note link to sign petition.
I hope that Native American float is sponsored by a SoCal casino. (Though the Tongva aren’t into gaming.)
Hats off to Jacque Robinson, who instead of employing cronyism to distribute her allotment of Rose Bowl and Rose Parade tickets, held a raffle at a District 1 community meeting yesterday.
Those of us who weren’t able to attend the meeting had the opportunity to mail in our raffle entries. Jacque herself called to tell me that I won Rose Bowl tickets. Or more precisely, I won the opportunity to buy Rose Bowl tickets at face value.
Which I will do. So USC fans, prepare to be milked.
West Coast Grrlie Blather 