groupie up close

Last week I saw an amazing concert at Tupelo Hall - The English Beat, The Fixx and The Alarm.

The tickets went on sale while I was in Italy and not 'wired' so when I got back to Zurich and got the email about the show, I panicked, hoping that there would still be tickets ... there was only one left and I immediately grabbed it.

I had never been to a concert solo before and was somewhat apprehensive about it as the date of the concert drew near, but when the day arrived, I felt confident and v. excited.

I stopped and picked up some Newcastle on the way to Londonderry, pulled into the Tupelo and had great parking karma as I skillfully parallel parked into a spot v. close to the entrance and in a great place to exit quickly later. I freshened up my makeup, grabbed the six pack and headed in.

The place was already packed as I walked in and picked up my ticket. The audience was going wild and singing along with Mike Peters of The Alarm as he stood on a chair in the middle of the audience singing The Stand.

I found my seat, - between a married couple video taping the show and a group of guys singing every word of the song out loud - fell into the vibe and sang at the top of my lungs as well.

What a great venue for bands like these. It was evident that they were loving it too - I think it probably feels like the days when they were just starting out and playing in small clubs. Though we are all about 20 years older than when these bands were 'big', you'd never know it from the way both the musicians and the crowd danced, sang and even got airborne a few times.

Not having planned well enough to bring a bottle opener, I turned behind me to ask one of the guys drinking bottled beer behind me. I expected to have someone use an opener, but one guy took the bottle and tried to open it with a lighter and failed - in front of his buddies no less - then the guy directly behind me took off his flip flop and effortless popped the cap with the bottom - brilliant - my kind of shoes - (must remember to get some of these for a few people who remain nameless...)

The Fixx was up next. Also a great show - they played all their big 80's hits: One Thing Leads to Another, Red Skies, Secret Separation, Saved by Zero and Stand or Fall. Lead singer Cy Curnin didn't disappoint with his signature 'vogue-ing' and dramatic stage presence, though their set was a bit more more subdued and chill than that of The Alarm (and the English Beat, who finished the evening out).

I was getting v. excited about The Beat being up next and spent the brief intermission chatting with some v. cool women at the merchandise (swag) booth. One of the women was from LA and traveling on the tour bus with the bands as a summer job. Sweet! She was so cute - and totally unaffected by the 'fame' she was surrounded by - she told me she was really into 60's music (thus her total shag doo) - like Herman's Hermits and The Monkees. She is in love with Peter Tork! How hilarious.

I purchased a black tee with the Special Beat Service logo just as the fire alarm began to go off. The Beat continued playing initially, but once everyone started exiting for real, they stopped and went outside too. As I was kind of 'with' the women who were 'with' the band, I exited with them and we all congregated by the stage door.

While we were waiting to be able to go back in, I was introduced to Dave Wakeling the lead singer of The Beat and Wayne Lothian, who plays bass. They were v. cool - I told Dave that I wanted them to play for my 40th b-day and that, while I would love to fly them all to Zurich, we would have to make arrangements to do the concert in LA. (Where they are now based) He smiled and nodded his head as he asked for a pen and paper. I scrambled and found both, gave them to him and he scribbled his email address and said, "Just drop me a line - we'd love to play at your party." (somehow I also recall him alluding to the fact that there was no way I would soon be 40 ... and calling me 'love' - in the way that only Brits can - but perhaps that was a conversation I had with myself as I drove home alone later ...)

Just before we were allowed to reenter the building, Wayne introduced me to his girlfriend, a super-cool woman from just outside of New Paltz, NY. We immediately clicked as women often do and delved into a many-branched discussion of music, age, motherhood, LA, relationships and beer. Damned if I can't remember her name, though. I hate that.

The Beat set, though too short, was amazing and the crowd was on its feet the entire time. I was even invited to the front to dance by a group of people I had also met outside and had seats v. close to the stage. They found out I was flying solo and they (apparently) found me amusing so I took them up on their offer and sang all the words out loud back to Dave and Wayne and the rest of the band like a true groupie.

After the show was over, the people who were in the first 3 rows and had paid $100 for their tickets got to have a 'meet and greet' with the bands. I was hanging out with Wayne's girlfriend (I almost had her name for a second there) and she introduced me to Rhythm, another member of the band and also v. cool.

I told them I should be going, but they invited me to hang out and Wayne then joined us and we had a beer. We hung out on the side lines watching the fans ask for autographs and photos with Dave and Cy and Mike and tried to make Dave crack up as though we were all 12. It was a blast.

I finally bid them all adieu and we promised to email ...

I confess (then) I confess (now)I have now reached a new level of groupie-dom. Cool.

back in the 'yes...and' groove

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of performing with my old improv troupe, Stranger Than Fiction at the Players Ring in Portsmouth. I surprised the gang at rehearsal on Sunday afternoon and was then generously invited to join the fun for this week's performance.

It was a blast and confirmed just how much I missed performing, improv and these great guys. We had a great crowd - including the 'famed' Maureen, her beau, Jeff and daughter Caitlin, my beautiful Goddaughter.

This group is truly amazing and I am honored to be a part, even if from afar. Here is a clip of a game we played at a show a few years ago: pan right/ pan left

Also - be sure to check out the web series, GRAVITYLAND - you may recognize someone in episodes 5, 7 & 9 ... and watch the entire thing!

I'm looking forward to playing with the troupe again before I leave - and if you are in the area, be sure to check them out every Tuesday at 8pm at the Players Ring in Portsmouth.

back flips and black and blues

Saturday night, after many cocktails and little food, Maureen and I decided to begin a diving 'contest'.

There is a kick-ass diving board at my mom's pool which inspired us to be v. daring and crazy. I had forgotten that she once was a diver and she had forgotten the same about me. (I use the term v. lightly in reference to me).

We both pulled out our signature dives which were met with mad applause from my mother. Maureen then stepped up onto the board and did a back flip. I was immediately seized with envy and anxiety as I used to be able to do this fairly basic move, but had shelved it along with all other dives which I had categorized as 'risky' after I hit my head on the board about 20+ years ago.

Given my liquid courage, I was easily convinced by pal Maureen that I could indeed pull off this move so I stepped atop the board and got into position. I may have been a bit too confident because while I made it most of the way around, I didn't straighten my legs in time and so slapped my shins against the water.

Not wanting to quit in shame and feeling no pain, I dragged my ass out of the pool, receiving lots of encouragement from both Mom and Reen and got back on the 'horse' again.

While I cannot say exactly how many times I got back onto said horse, it's safe to say that I attempted this flip at least 10 times before once again retiring, citing exhaustion and a case of the munchies.

Fast forward to the next morning when I met mom and Maureen in the kitchen and they immediately called attention to my lower legs. Apparently, in my attempts at back flips, I had broken many, if not all of the blood vessels on the front of my legs and they were bruised blue and purple. Not pretty. (I took a photo, but it was such a sad representation of the true thing that I decided it was best to leave it to the imagination...)

** Those of you who know me know that I both bruise easily and am v. klutzy so this is not an unusual outcome, though I do believe the cause is a first **

Here is a photo of the instigator (Maureen) and I a few years ago:

time does fly

my apologies to those of you that have informed me that you actually look forward to these entries and are frustrated that you keep logging on and seeing that the Celtics won again ...

I am now in NH and since my last entry, was in Italy, NYC, Vermont, Maine and Boston - all of which were fabulous. I plan on touching upon some of these experiences in future entries soon but in the mean time, here is a brief summary: watched the Euro soccer cup in Zurich on the street while drinking huge cans of Carlsburg beer in the rain, headed to lovely Lake Como where we looked for George Clooney to console him after his recent break up, went to little villa in Tuscany and bought fabulous fuchsia suede wedge slingbacks in Greve and Juli bought a matching pair in red, Mark and Jeff split a 72oz piece of meat, we all ate much cheese and lots of wine, went to vineyards, met old, dear friend, Peter Sherwood and beau David for cocktails at the Savoy hotel in Florence, stayed on the ground while Juli, Jeff and Mark ascended the Duomo, dickered with a street vendor and got a great deal on a leather weekend bag for M. and fabulous green leather purse for me, saw David - both the inside and outside statues - amazing - we decided his hands were a titch too large for his frame, ate amazing gelato, headed to Cinque Terre, drove crazy-skinny switchback roads, floated with the greatest of ease in the Ligurian Sea, ate amazing seafood - one night all sardines and anchovies, hiked between the 5 towns and marveled at the gorgeous scenery and the stupidity of people along the way (a stroller?), played cards and drank beer after the beach, met a newly married, heavily pierced young couple from Minnesota and gave them marriage advice (I know), got stuck at the border trying to get 30Euros back from the tax incentive, ate cheese fondue back in ZH, swam in Lake ZH, said goodbye to J and J, regrouped, did a little laundry and headed to the US myself the v. next day (who planned this itinerary?) picked up by Sandra, Heath, Atticus and Eames in Burlington, biked on the rec path, ate fabulous food made by fabulous cook, Sandra, played deck hockey with A and E, drove to Maine playing the Skittles game, went to Dad's house on the beach, met a bunch of fabulous new people, went to Reny's and tried on matching dresses with Sandra, took the kids on a ride in the dinghy, saw dolphins, rescued an escaped princess flip flop floating out to sea, hiked Mt. Battie, sailed in the 4th of July race, made a great lasagna, got to drive Lee's (dad's awesome gf) brand new, kick-ass Volvo hard top convertible, had lunch with my 8 month pregnant, dear friend Heather Forcillo, whom I have known since we were 15 in Camden, met her kids and saw her new house, got to hang out with brother Keir, ate lobster and steamers, talked to Mark in Zurich and felt guilty that he was working so hard while I was playing, sent him a card, had lunch with my 'other' parents, the Furmans, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary in a few weeks, had a diving contest with dad and Lee's son, Adam at Lee's house in Searsport, watched a little reality TV, went to Reny's again, watched a kick-ass fireworks display from my favorite spot on the rocks on 4th of July, made and drank sangria, made a jigsaw puzzle with new fabulous friend, Sarah (Adam's wife) taught OG (Dad) and Lee how to play Left, Right, Center, drove Sarah and the kids to Logan airport, surprised friend Gale at work at Putnam in Boston, had dinner at Warren Tavern in Charlestown and finally made it to NH yesterday and got to see my marvelous mama, who had all sorts of surprises waiting for me and my childhood room all decorated and perfect ... what a lucky girl I am!

Today I am helping my mom vacuum the pool and get ready for the arrival of my best friend, Maureen. This is the Maureen that has been tracking my whereabouts like a kid on Christmas eve tracks Santa and the reindeer. She left a message at my mother's house a few days ago saying, "I know she's here - I can feel it. It's like having a pint of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer and not being able to eat it." I love being compared to ice cream. Really. I do. I'll have to remember to ask her what flavor I'd be.

I promise not to let so much time elapse before my next post
I promise not to let so much time elapse before my next post
I promise not to let so much time elapse before my next post