Leaving (for) Las Vegas!!

Yep, folks, I'm leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow morning. It's so strange - I really never had any desire to go, but, here we are!

My youngest brother, Ricky, turned 21 this year (hooray!), and my other brother, Adam, wanted to take him on a trip to celebrate. After doing some research, they chose Las Vegas.

A few weeks ago, Adam was telling me about their plans to go. All of the sudden, he stops himself and says, "Wait - why aren't you and Lindsay joining us?!?!"

Lindsay and I checked our calendars and we realized that we could totally go - we could plan the first sibling vacation!!

So, now, all four of us are going to Las Vegas, and we are absolutely thrilled. We got tickets to see Penn & Teller (YAY!!!). We've gotten lots of good suggestions of places to go, things to see, and buffets to patronize.

Do you have any suggestions? Any memories of a trip to Vegas that stand out?

Wish us luck - we'll be back $1,000,000 richer!! :)

The Miracle of Karaoke

So, you know that I am, and have been for some time, a karaoke addict. During rabbinical school, I would often go out for karaoke at least twice a week, and I became good friends with the DJ and other regulars. It was a huge part of my life for years. Now, I still try to go every few months.

However, last night, I witnessed the MIRACLE OF KARAOKE!!

What miracle? Well, I had dinner at a congregant families' home, and it turns out that the husband and wife met at a karaoke bar. They told me the story of how she sang, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," and how he was totally smitten from that moment on.

At that point, their son called out: "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for karaoke!"

Yes, folks, karaoke can truly be a miracle, and can bring about life. No, really!

After dinner, we all sat around and sang some karaoke songs ("Torn," "I Gotta Feeling," "I Feel Fine," "Crazy," "Before He Cheats," and more).

Now, I believe in the power of karaoke even more than before. Hallelujah!

Funny thing happened on the way to dinner....

Just had a share a really funny thing that happened while in Toronto:

Lindsay had some free time, finally, on Saturday night of the convention. She hadn't been outside of the hotel for DAYS, so we decided to take a walk and find a nice sushi restaurant. The concierge had recommended a place called "Ki," and it would take about ten minutes to walk there.

So, we head off, using one of those helpful "Tourist Map" things that they hand out at the front desk. We got our bearings, walked for a few blocks, and began to feel more and more confident that we were heading in the right direction.

Finally, we got to a street that seemed like the next street we were supposed to turn onto: We were looking for "Bay Street."

However, the street sign read: "Locust Street."

Hmmm.....

Luckily, there was a policeman right there, so we asked him where Bay Street was.

"Right here," he said.

"What??? But this says, 'Locust Street.'"

He smiled and replied, "Actually, it is Bay Street, but they are filming a movie here, so the crew changed the street signs."

At which point, Lindsay exclaimed, "Wait a minute - how do we know you're a real police officer?!?!"

Laughing, he answered, "I am a real cop, don't worry."

Passers-by were so interested in our conversation, that we had an audience for this whole exchange. With much gratitude to the (real???) cop, we went off on our way and found our restaurant shortly thereafter.

(it's funny that, with all the movie sets in and around NYC all the time, we've never had anything like this happen before!!)

Weeeeee!!!! Wiiiiii!!!!

Well, I've finally done it. I bought a Wii!!!

I have been hemming and hawing for quite some time now about getting a new videogame console. I have the PS2, which I have had for about five years. I use it often (thought not much over the past few months, what with the new job and the high holidays), and have loved getting the many Guitar Hero games.

However, when I learned about the wonderful world of Wii Fit, I decided that I really had to go out and get one of these machines. Plus, Beatles:Rock Band has come out, and I really wanted a new system in order to get the most out of it.

The Wii arrived yesterday. It is beautiful, and it is so fun to use. Even navigating around the main menu is fun.

I oriented myself on Wii Fit Plus (which just came out a few days ago), and it feels so good! I am delightfully achy this morning. I enjoy its sense of humor and how encouraging it is.

So, do you have a Wii? What are you favorite games? What should I consider buying?

Marci Through the Ages....???

Thanks to a friend, I just found out about an amazingly fun website called Yearbook Yourself. It allows you to upload a picture of yourself, and then format it into yearbook pictures from 50 years worth of hair and clothes styles. CRAZY! Let me know if you try it :)

1952 Marci.....

1966 Marci

1978 Marci (my actual year of birth!)

1984 Marci

1994 Marci

The Gays of our Lives

(Lindsay, Justin, Michael, Me)

"Like sands through the hourglass...."

Two of my dearest friends, Justin and Michael, came to town to visit last weekend. Michael is a friend from college - we did tons of theatre together over the years at Brandeis. During my senior year, he met Justin, and the two have been a couple ever since. They celebrated nine years together recently, and they are getting married in two weeks!! Though neither of them are Jewish, they have asked me to bless them during the wedding (though I am not officiating at the actual ceremony). I am so honored, and I am still working on what I am going to say. I just hope that I can get through it without crying!! No matter what, I will be sure to report on the wedding shortly thereafter.

In this picture, one of their friends, Luciano, joins Justin in making art. We call this one, "How do I love thee? Let me count the gays...."

In this shot, I was getting ready to complete my grandest aria yet! They inspire me, I tell you.

Hope all is well with you guys!!

Will we make it to the Mermaid Parade???

Okay, I need your help here - pray that it doesn't rain here in New York today. Why?

Because today is the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade!!

What is the Mermaid Parade, you ask?

From the website, we learn:

Founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the not-for-profit arts organization that also produces the Coney island Circus Sideshow, the Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island's forgotten Mardi Gras which lasted from 1903 to 1954, and draws from a host of other sources resulting in a wonderful and wacky event that is unique to Coney Island.

The Mermaid Parade celebrates the sand, the sea, the salt air and the beginning of summer, as well as the history and mythology of Coney Island, Coney Island pride, and artistic self-expression. The Parade is characterized by participants dressed in hand-made costumes as Mermaids, Neptunes, various sea creatures, the occasional wandering lighthouse, Coney Island post card or amusement ride, as well as antique cars, marching bands, drill teams, and the odd yacht pulled on flatbed.

I have lived in New York since 2000, and yet, I am so embarrassed to admit, I have never attended a Mermaid Parade. How can this be? I have no excuses. I have missed out on so much silliness!!

Let's hope that the weather holds out. I plan to report back to you all on whether or not our adventure was a success. (And I promise to post pictures!!)


[PS - You know what's REALLY cool about this? I never would have been able to consider attending a parade when my back hurt! It is so great to be feeling so much better!]

Movie Quotes Answers!

Wow, I am so impressed with all of you! It seems like a bunch of you knew all five answers. Kudos to Lindsay, Jessica and Sarene, who came in with the best scores, from what I can tell. However, you all get points for playing - thanks!

And the answers are...


1) "And in the morning? I'm making waffles!"

This one is from SHREK - a movie that never stops making me laugh :)

2) "I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."

Ah, SAY ANYTHING. What would Junior High and High School have been like if I hadn't always been on the lookout for my very own Lloyd Dobler? In fact, I think I am still looking...

3) "The Pit of Despair- don't even think of trying to escape."

Teehee - a quote from THE PRINCESS BRIDE. Another standard among my friends and me as we grew up. I probably quote this movie in some way at least once a day.

4) "I felt like destroying something beautiful."

A movie that totally blew my mind while in my early 20's - FIGHT CLUB. It had a raw quality, and a deep sorrow, that resonated with me at a particular time in my life. Never mind the fact that I have a huge crush on Edward Norton!

5) "Every time I try to talk to someone, it's always 'Sorry this' and 'Forgive me that' and 'I'm not worthy'..."

What would comedy be like without MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL? Another one that I quote often, this film gets funnier every time I watch it. Seeing SPAMALOT on Broadway just took the genius to a whole new level.


Well, thanks to all of you for playing. I hope this was fun for you. Should I do it again? Maybe once every other week or so? I might even vary the topic - movie quotes, song lyrics, television characters, showtunes... Ah, the possibilities are endless.

Sit on a potato pan, Otis

Hello!

Does anyone know what is special about the title to this post? Yes, that's right (and 10 points to you!) - it is a palindrome. Woohoo!

I have been thinking about palindromes lately, especially some of my most favorites ones. I think that we are all familiar with:

- A man, a plan, a canal: Panama

I just learned some new ones, though!

- Lonely tylenol
- I prefer Pi
- Was it Eliot's toilet I saw? (I love this one!!)


AND, there is apparently a word for an extreme fear of palindromes (I apologize if any of you suffer from this):


AIBOHPHOBIA (Phobia backwards and forwards, natch!)

Anybody know any fun ones? My brain totally celebrates when I think about these words and phrases - they are just so delightful!


(And thanks to http://www.palindromelist.com/ for the graphic at the top!)

My Personal DNA