Today never felt so good

Mama is one happy lady. David must really feel bad for playing "Dancing Nancies" in Louisville when I couldn't make it to the show last summer because not only is he opening his tour in New York City (on the day his album drops mind you)...not only is he playing the Pete Seeger birthday show on May 3 at the Garden...but now he is playing the Today Show in early June?!

Dave in April, Dave in May, Dave in June - holy Zeus! This is how I always pictured my life! Oh David...I forgive you!! But please play Dancing Nancies at some point.

http://www.bumpershine.com/2009/04/02/today-show-concert-lineup-announced-dave-matthews-taylor-swift-katy-perry.html

Whiskey never tasted so good

Folks, it is April 1 - the month that I spontaneously combust from the hotness and perfection of DMB. Be smart and watch this clip to get a taste of what is to come on April 14.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOUUFpSeFQ

I have watched it 10 times now. I received it 10 minuets ago. Do the math.

Got shawarma?

It was a weekend for the books! Between the Wii, the Vickerys, the friends, the fun, the movie (I Love You Man) and of course the shawarma, it was beyond expectations!

It did however get off to a rocky start. Three of my girls were unfortunately laid off this past Friday. I love them all and I tell you (and not because I am biased), but they are all amazing and will be F-I-N-E. I will leave it at that because if they are not willing to dwell, I supposed I can not either...but know this - I LOVE THEM! You know who you are! ;)

On to the good news of the weekend - I was fortunate enough to gallivant even more than I had before! Friday night we grabbed some of the best pizza in the South - Mellow Mushroom. The

Kosmic Karma is dreamy enough to turn any square into a bonafide octagon (I admit, I have no clue what that means.) We (Kristal, Sarah and myself) went to Papa Mike's (SOOO good to see him) to eat and play some Wii with the family. Mike's wife Maria was awesome and made sure we had yummy desserts to cap the evening! Thank you Mike for jumpstarting my addiction to Wii bowling. :)

Saturday led to lots of sleeping and cheesecake with my "Live in Georgia, but are from Pennsylvania" parents! We had a fantastic time catching up and it was so nice to see them. I got to rub it in Roomie's face that I was eating cheesecake with the fam - doesn't get much better than that!!

Saturday night led to shawarma. Shawarma was all around. For those of you who are not aware, shawarma is the reason for the season. It is the essence of life, the essence of being. It is also a Greek method of cooking chicken or beef. But to all of those involved this weekend, shawarma is a way of living.

Saturday night was a blast. It was soooo good to be back with my girls and man (Jon is THEE man, very shawarma indeed). We ate, we danced, we drank, we sang. It was almost too good to be true!

Sunday consisted of Vickerys, sleep, "I Love You Man" (hilariousity), Little 5 Pizza and of course, my girls and favorite boyfriend.

Monday brought my Lia - which made me dance! It was great to catch up with her no matter the circumstance! We had our tapas and 1/2 priced wine before I headed to the airport. Sarah, Jon, Amelia and Kristal joined as well...I almost purposely missed my plane.

But now I am back in the big ole City...ready to plan (or actually have Amelia and Mike plan) for my next ATL adventure. I love and miss you all!! Thank you Mike and Amelia for making it happen!!

And thank you Megan My Love for the pics - they perfectly represent the weekend-o-shawarma!

ROOMIE DOESN'T SEZ

Can someone please shed some light through the Tinted Windows?!

With James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins on guitar, Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick hitting drums and Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne playing bass this melting pot of a new group doesn't sound too shabby, right? But then throw in mmmbopper Taylor Hanson as frontman and I get confused. I actually don't even know what to say about it. Apparently people were impressed by their SXSW performance but me, I'm struggling.

Check out this rad "Rock after Dark" preview and share your two cents...


Here are my two cents: (because I can always find something to say)
1) They are definitely Messing With My Head
2) Skinny ties, skinny pants and skinny mics don't make you phat

Need to see them with your own two eyes? They are playing at the Mercury Lounge on April 20th. Thank goodness they weren't booked for the first of April is all I'm sayin.

Missing in Action

So....hi everyone.

I can't believe its been over a month, but I am back, and I am ready to chat away! It's been a busy few weeks: From the Super Colon in Times Square (yes folks, an 8 ft x 20 ft inflatable colon - can't make this up) to a FDA Advisory Committee meeting in Washington , DC, I have been a busy gal.

You may be thinking, how could you leave us and not give us any kind of warning, and to that, I apologize. I am not one to dwell on the past or live in regret, so let us look to the future that is full of possibilities, full of excitement, and best yet, full of Dave!

Roomie and I are about to embark on a wild couple of months - April and May are sure to cause me to spontaneously combust. Look at these "Key Dates o' Awesome:"

April 12: Easter. Though I am not a religious person nor am I going home to celebrate, I felt I should highlight this day for two reasons: 1) Ten Commandments will be on TV (best movie ever) and 2) Chocolate bunnies.

April 14: Release of the DMB Album: "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" AND the Madison Square Garden show. I have taken both the 14th and 15th as vaca days as I will be useless in a work environment. I fully intend to become the Groogrux Queen.

April 17-19: Celebrating nephew's b-day in Connecticut. Birthday cake.

Weekend-o-awesome (This will also be a separate post...too much to talk about right here)

• May 2: Roomie's favorite day of the year...Dane Cook show


• May 3: Tribute to Pete Seeger at MSG: We're talking Dave, Eddie, Ben, Bruce, Kris...it's out of control. If Kris Kristofferson sings "Me & Bobby McGee" and Dave and Ben/Eddie sing together, I will die. Die.

May 14: Leave for Miami with Roomie...party it up. Reconnect with the family and tan, tan, tan.

May 15: Scott & Trina's rehearsal dinner - yum.

May 16: Scott & Trina's wedding - I am "Best Woman" on Scott's side. We will dance like we've never danced before.

May 17-18: Hang with the Muzzarelli's in Ft. Lauderdale - yah!

May 21: Happy Bday Fasha

May 30: Scott & Trina's reception in Illinois - woo-woo!

That's it for now - but a busy two months ahead!

It's Not Fare

As if I needed more motivation to walk to work, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted this morning to cut service and raise single-use subway and bus fare to $2.50 -- up from the current $2 fare. The new fare will take effect May 31. Commuter rail fares will increase on June 1. Tolls on the authority’s bridges and tunnels will also go up, with the increase taking effect in mid-July.

Board members said the only way to stave off the hike would be if lawmakers in the state capitol decide to provide more funds. If lawmakers do eventually pass a rescue package, authority officials say they may be able to stop the changes before they take effect. Here's hoping! Visit The New York Times for more depressing details.

ROOMIE SEZ

33 Variations

By now you might have heard the buzz that Jane Fonda has returned to the Broadway stage for the first time in 46 years, at the age of 71, and man does she look good. She hasn't missed a beat! Carly and I had the pleasure of seeing her in action before the play officially opened this past Monday.

Fonda plays music researcher Dr. Katherine Brandt who goes to Bonn - that's in Germany - to understand why Beethoven would spend so much time on Diabelli's waltz. Similarly Brandt is suffering from a progressive illness that brings her story to perfectly parallel the big wig composer's. The play cuts back and forth between Beethoven who is going deaf and working on not one, not seven but 33 variations of the piece, and Fonda's Katherine who is trying to find meaning behind the music and complete her final book/presentation before illness takes over.

Yes, Fonda is the star and deserves all the hype but so do her amazing cast mates:
- Samantha Mathis plays Clara, Fonda's not so warm daughter
- Colin Hanks plays Mike Clark, Fonda's lovable male nurse who becomes Samantha's boyfriend
- Susan Kellermann plays Greta, the German curator of Beethoven’s music archive who turns into Fonda's right hand research buddy
- Zach Grenier plays the dynamic master Ludwig von Beethoven
- Don Amendolia plays Anton Diabelli, music publisher and writer of the waltz that consumes Beethoven

An added bonus to the ensemble is Diane Walsh on piano. Her music really guides the play and perfectly enhances the storyline.

Overall this play was fantastic. My only complaint is that I think Samantha needs to get comfortable in her role and work on her delivery. It seemed to me that she was over compensating and over projecting which made her character awkward and the strain between her and her mother feel forced.

However, anything that may have seemed out of place was saved by the performance of Colin Hanks. He was a natural in his Broadway debut. His character provides wonderfully quirky comic relief, a shoulder to lean on.

Regardless, 33 Variations is one thing from beginning to end, moving. And speaking of the end, there is a wonderful moment where all of the characters come together to waltz. It seriously brought a tear to my eye. Bravo!

Don't want to take my word for it, need more variation? Check out a bunch of reviews and get general information on the play here, at NewYorkology.