Enumerated Update

Whewwww... we made it to Friday, friends.

We are so very pleased to report that Skip's dad went through his hip replacement surgery like a champ. He was discharged home after 36 hours (too soon... we don't recommend it), and is doing well. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes.

Otherwise, here is what's on our minds:

1) Shave Ice: When I was pregnant with William George, I consumed quite a bit of shaved ice. The previous owner at our Sno Shack did not open on Sunday (which normally I applaud), and that created a pregnancy hardship that was difficult to take. Everyone chuckled at this craving, while I secretly schemed about a shave ice business that delivered to pregnant women. Do you know what I would have been willing to pay to have shave ice delivered to my doorstep? In July?? In the American south??? More than would be imaginable and advisable, I can tell you.

We do not frequent our local Sno Shack nearly as often now, although it is one of Lauren's favorite treats. Last year we managed to go exactly once right before it closed for the season, and she is not going to let us get away with that procrastination this year. We have already been twice this year, and I am pleased to advise that the new Sno Shack owner reports that "Pickle" is their number one seller by far, and it sells exclusively to pregnant women. I'm telling you... create a delivery option, and the sky is the limit.

By the way, this post is not sponsored by Sno Shack, although perhaps it should be.

2) Christopher Cross: So we shop at Publix, and on two prior trips I have heard the theme song to Arthur by Christopher Cross. If you're in my demographic, the angsty, stank-y, melodramatic delivery of the Arthur Theme is indelibly imprinted on your brain. The song always starts playing right when I hit the fruits/vegetable section. The first time I heard it, I thought, "Well, hey, you don't hear that one every day," and I was tempted to belt out the chorus, you know?

If you get caught between the moon and New York Cit-eeee
I know it's crazy, but it's true

Are you feeling me? I mean, I didn't do it or anything, but inside... yeah, I was singing along.

The very next trip at the same spot in the store the Arthur Theme played again. The second playing detracted from the earlier experience. Although that seems unfair, it just did. Repetition cheapened the experience, and I imagined some (aged) song list playing on a loop. Shame on you, Publix.

However, earlier this week, I was again perusing the fruit, making my apple selection, which takes some time because we have some strong preferences viz apples at our house, when I heard the Christopher Cross voice yet again. The universe knew I couldn't handle the Arthur Theme again so this time it was Never Be the Same, which is probably the most obscure of Cross's hits. And I have to stop right here and express some incredulity that I am actually talking about Christopher Cross, a singer who would barely even register in a footnote of the soundtrack of my childhood but that's just how big Arthur was, you know? Liza Minnelli? Dudley Moore? Huge!

But so there it is, Never Be the Same, playing over the loudspeaker. I was shocked to realize I remembered every lyric and again suppressed the urge to sing aloud, although I did impress Skip by singing it line by line later that day.

Personally, I like to imagine Cross clicking refresh on his bank's website as all the Publix/retail airplay royalties are deposited into his account. If only we could data mine points of purchase with the store's live feed so he could say, "Hey, look... that lady there by the apples is singing along!"

3) McCartney: In more serious music news, Paul McCartney's One on One tour opened in Fresno, California last week. McCartney on tour isn't really news because he toured last year as well. What was very surprising was his live performance of Hard Days Night. I'm watching this tour closely for added (and closer) tour dates.

4) Losing My Religion* is one of my favorite REM songs, and it may be yours, too, given that it's their best selling hit out of an impressive inventory of highly successful songs. I'm always interested in how writers write and how songs are made, and in this article the band members discuss how the song was crafted. I'm always fascinated by how artists can make something from nothing. Details like Buck teaching himself the mandolin while watching a muted baseball game, or Stipe walking in circles in his home while coming up with the lyrics are riveting to me. I can never get enough of that. I need to know that Berry prefers recording in a large room, and that Mills asked the age old question: what would John McVie do? The more idiosyncratic the detail, the better.

Some people like reality television... I want insight into the creative process.

*I try to forget that the song was featured in a 90210 episode. Although I didn't see it, selling the song to that vapid show devalues the currency.

5) Coachella: Some insight into the most commercially celebrated music festival. 

To summarize:

Because of its proximity to Los Angeles and its noncommittal brand of hipness, Coachella has become a site of celebrity pilgrimage, providing an air of glamour not typically associated with extreme heat, dust and physical discomfort.  

That sentence is why Coachella is not featured on my life list. There is nothing glamorous or fun when one is enduring extreme heat, dust and/or physical discomfort.  No, thanks.

Happy weekend, friends!