You've Got to Hear This!

Not much gets me from idea to blog these days—but Splotchy and his Green Monkey Music Project always rouse the challenge in me. Volume 18 boasts a cool theme, thanks to Allen Lulu: The Unheard Monkey Mix—bands you may not have heard, but should be listening to. We music freaks stopped working on the perfect mix tape and came up from the parents’ basements to play: Grant Miller, Zombie Barbara and Tim Russell, as well as Splotchy and Allen.

And me, of course.

I went local for this GMMP. Georgia has a rich music history—probably one of the strongest in the nation. It’s the home state of the innovators: James Brown, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and R.E.M. Otis Redding, Gladys Knight (who went to my dad’s high school), the Allman Brothers, Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave fame), The B-52’s all started in Georgia. Athens’ Elephant Six groups are among those changing what we listen to today. I could go on in all the major genres—country, hip hop, alternative.

But let’s get to the reason we’re here: Georgia music you should be listening to. Here are six of my favorite Atlanta and Athens bands.

The Whigs :: Right Hand on My Heart

The Whigs, from Athens, are finally getting much-deserved attention, so hopefully you’ve heard a tune or two. “Right Hand on My Heart” was my birthday theme song last year; Favorite Boy and I played it quite a bit during our Asheville jaunt. The Whigs also performed it on Letterman not too long ago. A most excellent rock song.

The Selmanaires :: Nite Beat

The Selmanaires are the pride of indie Atlanta, playing together since 2002 or 2003. I stupidly just missed their show a couple of weekends ago.

What The…? :: 7 Women (A Guy Can Dream)

What The…? is my favorite new discovery in a couple of years. Eskimo Bliss’s Kim introduced me to Lee, the band’s groovy guitarist gal, on Facebook a few months ago, and I was hooked. How cool is What The…? This Atlanta band has played the Cavern Club, kids! Be sure to check out their most excellent e-jukebox.

Beretta76 :: Hit Parade

I’m stretching it a bit with my local theme. Beretta76 is a Phillie band, not an Atlanta one—but guitarist Pete Rydberg grew up here. He went to high school with All Things Dan, and Dan turned me onto the band a few months ago. Damn good band. Hope they play some gigs down here in the near future.

The Good Graces :: Real to Me

I mentioned above that What The…? is my favorite local find of the last couple years—but that declaration must be shared with The Good Graces—Eskimo Bliss’ Kim's band. Kim, in fact, owns her own record label, Eskimo Bliss. (Cool backstory: Kim won a nice jackpot during a trip to Vegas, and used that cash to start the label.) We heard several of her bands recently at a label showcase, but The Good Graces is still my favorite. Kim sings, plays guitar, and writes lovely songs.

Tin Cup Prophette :: Speak or Spill Down

Don’t you love it when you go hear a favorite band and fall in love with the opening act? Tin Cup Prophette is my latest opening crush, starting last week's show for Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3. This Athens band has a distinctive, interesting, lovely sound. Karen and I rushed to the Variety Playhouse lobby to snag the CD/T-shirt combo after their set. Our beloved Scott McCaughey stood at the edge of the stage before his set to catch them; he seemed to like them a lot as well.

A shoutout here for CD Baby—the best online indie music store around—that carries Beretta76 and What The…?. CD Baby also has the best damn acknowledgement e-mail in the business:

Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.

A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.

Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.

We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved "Bon Voyage!" to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, Tuesday, January 13th.

I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did. Your picture is on our wall as "Customer of the Year." We're all exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!

So. Click above. Download. Listen. Dance around your cubicle. Click over to Slotchy: The Unheard Monkey Mix for all six playlists. Buy their records and get ready to tell your friends “I started listening to them before they got big.”

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And So It Begins

I came home to this:


Yes, I’m turning fifty in two weeks — now the age of the aged, at least in the mind of the AARP. And yet … it’s not. I feel younger, more carefree, happier than the me who turned forty. Maybe that's why The Buzzcocks are singing AARP's tune.

There are things I want to do — or do differently — during my new decade. I’ve put a bit too much energy into my job, and my job really doesn’t define me.

Show of hands of those who know what I do. That’s what I thought — maybe seven of you. Of course, I may have just seven readers after my sporadic performance these last six months.

I want to learn Italian, maybe French. I’ve always wanted to play guitar. I need to travel more. Dance regularly. Meet and mingle every damn day. Skydive, bungee, live on the edge.

Blogging regularly is another thing I’d like to try in my fiftieth year — but don’t hold your breath quite yet. There are rumors, however, of the return of a once-popular segment, coming my birthday week.

So. I’m trying to be back. Pray to the blog gods that I stay off Facebook long enough to post.

Yep, after avoiding it for two years, I’ve become addicted to Facebook. Are you on Facebook? Friend me! You’ll get to see my face.

And now I must check out Coaster Punchman’s new series.

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The Sixes Meme

My loveliest and most talented near-neighbor I’ve never met, Eskimo Bliss, tagged me with another random things meme. I love lists and I’m rather random, so let’s play.

The Rules
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I’ve posted many (many, many) self-absorbed lists, so it was tough to come up with six things you haven’t read about me (and I told myself I can no longer include “R.E.M. is my favorite band” for six weeks). Let’s hope you find these somewhat entertaining.

1. I cannot step on a crack and break my mother’s back. I always step (sometimes hop) over the line.

2. I was once kicked off the bridesmaid team because Bridezilla said I wasn’t taking the wedding as seriously as she. Um, that counts as a duh, doesn’t it?

3. Broadway musicals bore me. I prefer my musical theater to be along the lines of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

4. I once had a sex dream about Corky, the mentally challenged boy on the TV show “Life Goes On.” What makes this particularly disturbing is I never saw the show. (And, yes, he was goooooood.)

5. I am a Target addict. Today’s ensemble includes the following Red Dot Boutique items: slacks, turtleneck, cardigan, panties and bra, tights, makeup. There’s a Target across the street from my office, so I probably average three pop-ins every week.

6. Whenever I’m blue, I play three songs to perk me up: R.E.M.’s “Turn You Inside-out,” The Replacements’ “I Will Dare,” and Wilco’s “Heavy Metal Drummer.” If those don’t do the trick, I move to Sonic Youth’s “Incinerate” and Spoon’s “Did You Evah.” So far, I haven’t had to dig deeper into the playlist.


I’m tagging six sexy gals:

1. Flannery Alden at Prone to Whimsy got all sexy and sixy!

2. Christine at Real Men Don't Watch American Idol

3. Lisa at That’s Why got all sexy and sixy!

4. D. Guzman at Beginning to Bird got all sexy and sixy!

5. WendyB at Wendy Brandes Jewelry

6. Sue at Dating Rules for Sitcoms

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Gracing The King

I was so busy eating fried banana-and-peanut-butter sandwiches and chair-dancing in honor of Elvis’ (and David Bowie’s) birthday yesterday, I forgot to post these photos I’ve been holding for nearly a year. I visited one of my favorite buddies in Roanoke last March, and he took me on a tour of the town's cultural sites. The most brilliant was the miniature Graceland:

For a girl who loves her Elvis and misses her Barbies, this slice of heaven was absolutely divine. Sadly, I didn’t get close-ups so you could see the Barbie swimming pool or the lights in the performance arena (yes, there’s a performance arena!). It's the greatest dollhouse of all time.

Talk about your Mystery Train.

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16 Things You Don’t Know About Me

My favorite never-seen gal pal Katie tagged me with this on Facebook. I’m double-dipping, publishing this here and on Facebook. Maybe this will start a trend: blog posts at Cup of Coffey! I’ve listed a lot of things you once didn’t know about me throughout the blog years, so you may recognize a couple of these; just act surprised.

1. R.E.M. is my favorite band in the whole wide world.

2. I have a scar along the edge of my chin. Having the scar isn’t weird, although I have no idea how I got it. What’s weird is, until I was in junior high, I thought it was the seam for my skin … as if The Good Lord knitted my flesh Himself.

3. I cannot sit through a scary movie, except for vampire flicks. Dying to see Let the Right One In at the Plaza Theatre this week.

4. Shows like “The Bachelor” make me angry. Competing for a man? Puh-lease. If the Mormons are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage, why aren’t they going after that crap?

5. I have arthritis in my right big toe. The aches come and go, but it’s cool to crack the toe knuckle.

6. I could not say “goddammit” — not even sing it in a song (always replaced with “hot damn”) — until I started working at an ad agency in 1984. Those two years ruined my wholesome vernacular. Now, when this graceless creature drops something or bumps into something (a regular feature in my day-to-day life), it’s always “Oh, goddammit!”

7. I bite my nails. I occasionally quit, but I’ve been in mega-gnaw mode since August.

8. I haven’t been to a concert in six months. No wonder I can’t stop gnawing my nails.

9. One of my favorite songs ever is Wham’s “Everything She Wants.” Still treasure the 45. I throw my arms wide and belt it out every time I hear it, whether I’m in the car or in a store. Used to embarrass the hell out of the Beloved Ex.

10. I can go for a year without a date, but I get very depressed if I go more than two weeks without a flirt object.

11. I’ve never been married, and I don’t ever see myself getting married. I have, however, fallen madly in love more times than I have fingers. Who needs a ring when you’ve enjoyed so many fingers?

12. Jimmy Carter and his family went to our church when he was governor. One morning between Sunday school and church, I was drinking at the water fountain outside the sanctuary, and kept hearing my mom apologize to someone. When my thirst was quenched, I found that my little black patents had been stomping the hell out of the tips of Jimmy’s wingtips. Much to my great disappointment, the future president’s bodyguards didn’t wrestle me to the ground; I guess my twelve-year-old self wasn’t very threatening.

13. I kissed Warren Zevon.

14. I also kissed Rufus Wainwright. But only on the cheek.

15. I’ve been in the hospital just once, for a staph infection in my sinuses at the end of my freshman year in college. Never been through an operation, and I still have my appendix and tonsils.

16. 16 was my favorite number when I was a tweenie. Why? Because it represented being a full-fledged teenager. And 16 Magazine was my fave.


I'm not going to tag anyone on the blog. If you want to play along, type up sixteen things we should know about you.

And if you're on Facebook, friend me.

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Twelve Shades of Awesome

The Christmas season brought many things into my world: parties and prezzies, friends and family, imbibement and indulgence. Damn, it’s been a great holiday in my world.

Santa also brought me a much-anticipated blogger meet-up — with the headbanging, calculating* Mathdude, who was in town visiting brother Tony Alva**.

I’ve been a fan of Mathdude since before he started blogging. In fact, I pushed him to start*** after he started smart-alecking his way through my comment boxes. We’ve attempted a couple meet-ups, so I was determined to make it to the the face-to-face this time****.

Mathdude and Cup, about to walk into a brick wall.
Little birdies chirped and swirled around our heads
just seconds later as we bounced off the wall.

And so we met for brunch. We noshed and dished. He told great stories of his storied past with the above-mentioned brother or on his own. He even charmed me and avoided whining about my word verification in the comment box. If he hadn’t had to hit the road for that four-hour drive north, I would have squired him around my little corner of the world. He’s a helluva lot of fun.

In summary: Mathdude is cool. Tall and cute. Tells a good tale. Needs to actually listen to those R.E.M. CDs*****.

That's all I got for ya!


* In a math, not an evil, way.
** Bro Alva didn’t make it to brunch. It was raining. And sis broke the chair.
*** Yes, it’s my partially fault. I apologize. Or accept your accolades.
**** Though he didn’t let me know until Tuesday he was headed to town.
***** But he left me with a most excellent CD.

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All I Want for Christmas

The only Mariah Carey song I like:



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Another Cup of Christmas Cheer

Here's another favorite Christmas classic. This is the first song I play every holiday season. No better way to kick it off than with Dean Martin and "The Christmas Blues."



Happy Christmas, my lovelies.

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One of My Favorite Christmas Songs

I never found the time to put together a Christmas mix tape for y'all, and I'm sorry. To get you through the next couple days, here's one of my very favorite tunes:



Thanks, Filegod!

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I Enjoy Being a Girl

The beginning of this week was one to be filed under “Horrific.” Imagine your worst nightmare coming to life. That would be Tuesday.

So, how did I get over it? Why, by cocktailing and baubling, of course.

One of my favorite local baublers, August Miller, had a trunk show at a local restaurant last night, and I couldn’t miss out the opportunity to rejuve the soul. And rejuve I did, with the best mojito I’ve had in years — and these lovelies:



August made the earrings while I mojito’ed.

August’s jewelry can also be found in New York, Chicago, and Nashville — and, of course, online. If you’re on Facebook, check out I (heart) August Miller Design Jewelry.

A mojito. A great sale on handmade jewelry. Girl talk. Damn, I really enjoy being a girl.

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The Bucket List: A Semi-meme

My sister e-mailed this to me. I’m too busy writing and being creative at work, so this slack-a**ed blogger decided to turn it into a blogpost.

Here’s The Bucket List of things I have or have not done throughout my life. If I haven't done it, the line is in green.

Gone on a blind date
Skipped school
Watched someone die
Been to Canada
Been to Mexico
Been to Florida
Spent the night on three or more continents
Been on a plane
Skydived
Deep-sea dived
Been lost
Been on the opposite side of the country
Gone to Washington, D.C.
Swam in the ocean
Wasted too much time on Facebook
Cried yourself to sleep
Gone parking post-college
Played cops and robbers
Bungee-jumped
Recently colored with crayons
Been overseas
Ridden a motorcycle
Driven a motorcycle
Sang karaoke
Paid for a meal with coins only
Talked to your pets
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
Fallen in love more than once
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
Laughed until you peed your pants
Run a marathon
Caught a snowflake on your tongue
Learned a second language
Danced in the rain
Been on television
Been on the radio
Been in the newspaper
Been in a movie
Written a letter to Santa Claus
Been kissed under the mistletoe
Walked with the back of my skirt tucked into my panties
Spent a birthday alone
Been married
Watched the sunrise with someone
Blown bubbles
Seen the Grand Canyon
Gone ice skating
Been skinny dipping outdoors
Gone to the movies by yourself
Gone to a concert by yourself

Some of the greens are on my to-do list before my fiftieth birthday — just three months away! Can you think of others to add to the list? Or feeling like playing along on your blog?

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Watch What Happens

Yes, I know; I’m one slack-ass blogger. You can’t imagine the time it takes to be a Bravo star — but I think we left y’all with a good impression of our fine city and our classy, fashionable Southern belles.

Though I haven’t been e-visible lately, I have been leading an interesting life — and at times it has resembled an episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Among the highlights:

• Still thrilled about the Obama win! Still angry about the Prop 8 win; watch for a post for that in the coming days.

• I just bought tix to this to kick off my fiftieth birthday celebration. Any of you New Yorkers up for cocktails in mid-March?

• I finally joined Facebook. Addictive — and it’s so great to see you bloggers from the front! Some cute blogging faces out there.

• There’s a lovely new romance in my life. I can’t think of anything that’s more rejuvenating than the early stages of a new romance. Toes remain curled, giggles erupt regularly. And that’s all I’ll write about that.

Come back to me. Tales to spin! Secrets to spill! A meme to fulfill!

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My Six Degrees of the GMMP: Boom Boom

I was thrilled with Splotchy recently announced the return of the Green Monkey Music Project. I love putting together mix tapes, but have been too busy the last six months to get back into the swing. When he offered those of us who’ve earned the highlight covered GMMP Master badge, I jumped at the chance to head up a mix. I wanted something challenging, something to make the fellow mixers think, a theme that would open up to different genres 1 and to just plain see how interesting the connections could be.

Lord, here I go again, sounding like a Kurt Loder wannabe.

And so I came up with Six Musical Degrees. Like the Kevin Bacon game, our GMMP musicologists had to connect six musicians, or songs, or covers. Splotchy has posted the track listing, and will soon have the files ready for download.

So let’s get to my six. I wanted to cross genres, to include some of my favorite covers and artists — and of course work in R.E.M. Let’s see where that got us:

John Lee Hooker: "Boom Boom"
I’ve always thought “Boom Boom” was one damn sexy song, and it’s one of my top five favorite blues classics. “I love to see you strut, up and down the floor / When you talking to me, that baby talk / I like it like that.” To quote Mr. Hooker, whoa, yeah!



Van Morrison feat. John Lee Hooker: "Gloria"
You can’t help but love the original “Gloria” by Them — but two covers are actually my favorite versions. This is one, from Van’s album Too Long in Exile (1993) — and, g*ddamn, is it sexy with Van and John Lee. My toes curl and I get a shiver up the back of my neck to the hairline whenever I listen.


Patti Smith: "Gloria"
And this is my other favorite version of “Gloria,” from Patti’s debut album, Horses. Love it when Patti snarls “Jesus died for somebody’s sins — but not mine.” I always play this song when I’m pissed off. It helps. Man, I remember when this album came out and I heard this song for the first time. I just stopped. Played it over and over and over before I could listen to the rest of the tracks. Sometimes I wish I were Patti Smith.


R.E.M. feat. Patti Smith: "E-bow the Letter"
Even if you’ve read just one or two Rolling Stone articles about R.E.M., you know that the much-beloved Michael Stipe always calls out Patti Smith as his biggest influence. So it was a big thrill for us fanatics when New Adventures in Hi-fi — a much-underappreciated album — came out and we heard Patti singing with Michael. R.E.M. doesn’t have many guest vocalists, so this was particularly powerful for us.

Hindu Love Gods: "Wang Dang Doodle"
What a thrill when two of your favorites come together. Throw in a drunken recording session, and you have music gold, my friends. My R.E.M. boys Peter, Mike, and Bill supported the beloved (and kissed) (and missed) Warren Zevon on his 1987 album Sentimental Hygiene. The foursome got a bit blitzed on beer, and started playing around with all sorts of songs. It’s not a stellar album, but it’s damn fun — and you gotta hear their cover of “Raspberry Beret.”

Warren Zevon: "Boom Boom Mancini"
Here’s a track from the aforementioned Sentimental Hygiene — bringing “Boom Boom” full circle. That’s Peter, Mike, and Bill backing Warren. Brilliant album; this is maybe the sixth-best cut on it.




Here are my six songs, mixed by Splotchy. Want the rest? Then head on over to Splotchy’s spot.

So. Enjoy. Debate. See what our other musicologists strung together. And visit their blogs, too.

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Wilco the Song

God bless Stephen Colbert. And Jeff Tweedy.

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Happy Halloween!

I haven't gotten around to dusting off my Mix Tape Fridays — but here's a musical bag of tricks and treats from A Million Miles Away's KS. Better than candy corn!

If you have yet to visit The Big Wicked Online Pageant, keep scrolling down the page. There are some GREAT photos of these folks.

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The Big Wicked Online Pageant

The first annual Big Wicked Online Pageant is here! Visit these blog-ghouls and e-goblins. Leave trick or treat comments. Discover new bloggers. Then come back here and let us know whose photos are your faves.

We're adding new pageant contestants nearly every hour, so check back regularly. There are some great costumed memories on the blogs this week!

• Dan at All Things Dan

• Barbara Bruederlin at Bad Tempered Zombie

• Dguzman at Beginning to Bird *

• Cormac Brown at Cormac Writes

• Beth at A Cup of Coffey

• Samurai Frog at Electronic Cerebrectomy *

• Sean at Everything Is Pop, Pop Is Everything

• Allison at Flying Buttresses

• Gifted Typist at The Gifted Typist *

• Grant Miller at Grant Miller Media

• MNmom at Happy to Be from Iowa *

• Johnny Yen at Here Comes Johnny Yen Again *

• Splotchy at I, Splotchy

• McGone at International House of Blogcakes *

• Brothers Tony Alva and Mathdude, together at Intravenus de Milo *

• Marni at It’s a Pug’s Life

• Lulu at Land-o-Lulu

• The Dena at Linkadelica *

• Dr. Monkey von Monkerstein at Monkey Muck

• Gizmorox at My Head Is a Box Filled with Nothing *

• Dale at Passion of the Dale

• BeckEye at The Pop Eye *

• Flannery Alden at Prone to Whimsy *

• Artful Dodger at Rants Raves Life and Anything Else That Comes *

• Katrocket at Rocketradio

• Doc at Social Zymurgy: Culture of Beer

• Skyler’s Dad at Some Days It's Not Worth Chewing Through the Leather Straps *

• Chris at Some Guy’s Blog *

• Bubs at Sprawling Ramshackle Compound

• Suze at Suzel’s Sass *

• Tanya's Alexander at Tanya Espanya *

• GETkristiLOVE at Two Minutes in the Box *

• Evil Genius at What I Like About the Universe

• Red at What I Like About the Universe

• Cap'n Ergo "XL" Jinglebollocks at With a Twist of Lemon *

Check back later today and throughout the week, as other blog-ghouls plan to post photos in the coming hours and days.

* Tuesday's newbies!
* Wednesday's children!
* Thursday's players!

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My Moment in the Big Wicked Moon

So here I am, hosting the first annual Big Wicked Online Pageant — and I can’t find a Halloween photo from my youth. ‘Tis a sad thing, as Halloween was just about my favorite day of the year. I got to dress up, run around the neighborhood with Holly and Renae, and bag tons o’ candy. I usually went as a gypsy, with lots and lots of baubles accenting brightly colored skirts. (Come to think of it, I still dress like a gypsy two days out of five.)

But I’m not going to let something like poorly archived family photos keep me from playing — so here I am in a rather creative costume, circa 1990:



That’s me: the opening credits to the Twilight Zone. Fun costume, but I ended up being a literal wallflower since I always had to stay within extension-cord distance of a wall socket.

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The GMMP Great Eight

Looks like we have a great eight for my GMMP challenge — those musically daring souls willing to connect six degrees of artists or songs:

• iSplotchy’s GMMP master, Splotchy

• Allen L

• Bad Tempered Zombie’s Barbara

• The Pop Eye's BeckEye

• Monkey Muck’s Dr. Monkey von Monkerstein

• The KatBox’s Glassmeow

• A Million Miles Away’s KS

• And me!

We’re waiting on a couple entries — then we’ll hit PLAY and roll this mix tape, with Splotchy and me posting everyone's six. The kids will be tracing their six degrees of musical brilliance on their pages, as well.

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Six Degrees of the GMMP

Now that Splotchy has resurrected the Green Monkey Music Project, he’s offered the GMMP masters the opportunity to helm our own mix. I’ve missed my weekly mix tapes (but still can’t find the time to put them together), so I’m grabbing this opportunity to semi-mix.

The theme: Six Degrees of Music

The idea: As with Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, you need to connect six degrees of musicians or songs. For example:

• The Box Tops: “The Letter” (Alex Chilton, lead singer)
• Big Star: “Kizza Me” (Alex Chilton, lead singer)
• Alex Chilton: “Make a Little Love”
• The Replacements: “Alex Chilton”
• The Replacements: “I Will Dare” (Peter Buck, guitar)
• R.E.M.: “Jesus Christ”

Your sixth-degree connections can be by musicians, or cover tunes, or whatever musical notes you come up with.

We need six people to monkey around with Splotchy and me. Are you up for the challenge? Leave a comment here, and start connecting your musical dots.

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The One Wonders Meme

Fellow metro Atlantan Mathman6293 tagged me for an interesting meme: answering one-word questions. I need to get back in blogging shape, so let’s go, Number One!

1. Clothes: Whenever I’m in public, absolutely. At home, maybe. Oh, you mean where do I get them? Wherever a display grabs my attention. I’m more of a visual shopper, less of a label one.

2. Furniture: As with clothes, wherever something strikes my fantasy.

3. Sweet: If I’m slugging at home, it’s Häagen-Dazs’ Vanilla Swiss Almond with hot fudge sauce or Magic Shell. If I’m out, whatever sounds most decadent and gooey.

4. City: San Francisco, with Paris and New York City very close behind.

5. Drink: Since Coaster Punchman’s visit, I’ve been hung up on grapefruit margaritas. I guess I’m not ready to stop reliving that magical night.

6. Music: It’s my reason for living. Here’s a little secret: R.E.M. is my favorite band evah.

7. TV Series: Pushing Daisies

8. Film: I can’t pick just one, so here are some of my favorites: An Affair to Remember, Diva, Wings of Desire, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Amelie, Bridget Jones' Diary, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Harold and Maude, Parting Glances, All About Eve, The Evil Dead trilogy, The Women (the original), The Philadephia Story, Truly Madly Deeply

9. Workout: Lately, my most vigorous workouts have been chair-dancing at my desk at work. I’m starting a new vigorous regimen in a couple weeks, though.

10. Pastries: The chocolate croissants at the DeKalb Farmers Market — they’re perfect.

11. Coffee: Strong dark roast (preferably French), black. If I hit Java Monkey on my way to work, it’s a 16-ounce skim latte with an extra shot.


And now the 1s I’m tapping:

• Eebie at Modern Day Hobo has one-upped!
• Red at What I Like About the Universe has cussed me and one-upped!
• Skyler’s Dad at Some Days It’s Not Worth … has one-upped!
• Pagan at The Pagan Sphinx has one-upped!
• Mathdude at Eating Chicken Vindaloo has finally one-upped!

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The Power Pop Return of the GMMP

The beloved and musically brilliant Splotchy has resurrected the beloved and musically brilliant Green Monkey Music Project with the Power Pop Mix Tape. Having been undercover from the blogworld for several months (I’ve watched “Fringe” a bit much, haven’t I?), I nearly missed my opportunity to play. I begged Splotchy … bargained with him … offered cash bribes … and he finally relented.

Plus, the musical nerd occupying most of my soul was highly offended over a power pop mix tape without a single Big Star track — considered to be THE power pop group. And I worried that some of you may not be familiar with Big Star — a sad, sad thing. So let’s spend a few moments in music school.

Alex Chilton started his music career as lead singer in The Box Tops, which evolved from a band he started during high school in Memphis. The band scored with blue-eyed soul classics such as “The Letter,” “Cry Like a Baby,” and “Sweet Cream Ladies.” Alex was 16 when he recorded “The Letter”; next time you listen (which you can do as you read this, if you click the link below), remind yourself he was a kid.

Chilton joined Chris Bell’s Big Star in 1971. They recorded three brilliant albums — #1 Record (1972) Radio City (1974), and Third/Sister Lovers (1978) — none of which sold well. BUT. Big Star was a big influence on some of the best groups in the 1980s, including my beloveds R.E.M. and The Replacements. Chris Bell was killed in a car accident in 1978. Alex Chilton now performs solo, and also has reformed Big Star with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow.

But who wants to read when music’s dying to play? Here are my GMMP Power Pop selections:

The Box Tops :: The Letter

Big Star :: Don’t Lie to Me

Big Star :: September Gurls

R.E.M. :: Jesus Christ

Alex Chilton :: Thing for You

The Replacements :: Alex Chilton

Cheap Trick :: In the Street (That 70s Show theme)

The Posies :: What’s Going Ahn

A mix tape for me is like a bag of Lay’s Potato Chips — I can’t havee just eight. So here are a few more Big Star songs and covers, to give you a hint of their influence:

Big Star :: Kizza Me

Afghan Whigs :: Nighttime

Jeff Buckley :: Kanga-Roo

Wilco :: Thirteen

Yo La Tengo :: Take Care

I hope I’ve sold y’all on Big Star, that you're dancing in your chair and singing loud enough to bug those sitting near you.

And welcome back, Splotchy’s Green Monkey Music Project!

* * * * * *

The Big Wicked Online Pageant

A couple of years ago, this blog circle participated in quite the entertaining online event: The Little Miss Sunshine Online Pageant. Participants posted a grade-school photo, and Dale and I linked to those posts on our blogs. The contest was a smash, with about thirty folks posting their lovely piccies, and people from far and wide clicked their way across our blogworld. It was a hoot seeing who was a third-grade hottie and who was fourth-grade nottie.

I was a nottie.

Some of us discovered new blogs to read, so it was well worth the time to dig through the boxes in mama’s attic. But we haven’t done anything fun like that since 2006.

That is, not until Bubs over at Sprawling Ramshackle Compound put on his cocktailing thinking cap. He contacted Dale and me with a great idea: posting our favorite Halloween costume photos. Ideally, these would be photos from your childhood — but we’re easy. We’re talking the ultimate in tricks and treats!

Rules for The Big Wicked Online Pageant

• Scan a photo from your Halloween past.

• Post it on your blog Monday evening, October 28.

• Once you post your photo, e-mail me at the address on the navbar. If you can, include the URL to that specific post.

• I’ll post a link to every participant’s blog Tuesday morning by 9 a.m.

So start digging through your archives. Warm up the scanner. Get ready to don your best Halloween masks!

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Coffeyfornication

Last week, while debunking the myths surrounding this summer’s disappearance, I noted the following:

I am not the reason why David Duchovny checked into that sex-addict rehab clinic. But he’s going to be in town next month shooting a movie, so maybe I can work in a relapse.

Since I posted last week's not-so-juicy gossip morsel, Sitemeter has informed me that the blog has had several West Coast hits — from Los Angeles and Seattle, Portland and San Francisco — via this Google phrase:

coffey duchovny

Methinks Duchovny’s looking for me. And a relapse.

I feel a bit guilty, though. I loved Tea Leoni in Ghost Town — and, well, in anything she does — so I’d hate to cause her heartache.

But. He’s been on my Top 5 lists since 1995 … so suck it, Bree Sharp!

* * * * * *

Gimme Some Sugar, Baby

I’ve been fighting the Facebook temptation for a couple of years. It’s all I can do to keep up with the blog (as you gracious readers discovered this summer), so why add to my e-stress by joining a social network? But when Grant Miller asked me to be his friend, I considered it.

This past insomniaced Friday, I was up late Googling long-lost friends. I saw that one of my favorite long-losts was on Facebook, so I decided to give the page a turn.

The three minutes to sign up was worth it for this:

Yes, the man who always sits atop my Top 5 — whether I’m listing by lust level or alphabetically — is my Facebook friend.

Bruce’s next movie is scheduled to come out in late October. Here’s the (brilliant) trailer:



Awesome awesomeness, non?

p.s. The long-lost accepted my e-friendship request, too.

* * * * * *

Why I Love Dave: Reason #53

In case you missed last night's Late Show with David Letterman, the one John McCain bailed on because he had to rush back to DC to solve our economic crisis:

Seems McCain wasn't too busy for an interview with Katie Couric.

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People Who Understand You: Priceless

Had dinner tonight with Holly, one of my very favorite people on this earth — and one of Cup of Coffey's most loyal readers. It's liberating to spend an evening with someone who knows you better than most, who gets you, who just plain loves you. I'm one lucky girl.

The contentment of the evening reminded me of my favorite Mastercard commercial. I love these boys.



* * * * * *

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Many of you wrote to check on me during my extended vacation from the blogworld, and for that I’m grateful. However, I’m on too much of a squishy high over my new-friend crush on Coaster Punchman to write an intelligent, interesting post, so instead I’m going to address some of the rumors that swirled during my e-disappearance.

• I did not spend the summer traveling Europe with R.E.M. Dammit.

• I did not steal Peter Buck’s Rickenbacker.

• My looking into that house down the street is not the straw that broke the financial camel’s back. I don't think ...

• I didn’t win the lottery. Dammit.

• I am not the reason why David Duchovny checked into that sex-addict rehab clinic. But he’s going to be in town next month shooting a movie, so maybe I can work in a relapse.

• I am not among the seven people who actually paid to see The Love Guru. I may have been absent, but I still have taste.

• Obama didn’t fist-bump me hard enough to bruise my typing hands. Dammit.

• I did not sneak off to have a baby, although I was spotted walking around with a blanket covering my pudgy midsection.

• I may have stalked Dale. But just a bit.

• I didn’t track down Kid Rock to kick his ass for ruining a perfectly good Warren Zevon song. But I’m considering it.

• I did not knock Noel Gallagher on his bum.

• I didn’t see any concerts, except for Kathy Griffin. Dammit.

I will fill you in what I did during my summer vacation, so check back. Regular posting is back, baby!

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Cups and Coasters

While my Hillary dream was a fascinating moment to share, it was really a chance to stretch my typing muscles, to tone up, to get back in shape for this bragging post.

I, blogging lads and lasses, spent Tuesday evening with beloved blog vivant Coaster Punchman.


CP was in town on business, and I selfishly didn’t share that news with local bloggers (sorry, cuz). Since hotels were booked all over the downtown and midtown areas, he stayed a hotel in my neighborhood.

Mr. Punchman has posted his memories of the evening. Be sure to read his post; he remembers more about the evening than I do. And his includes more adventure.

In theory, it was going to be a perfect evening to introduce CP to the ATL. A couple of cocktails al fresco, then a two-hour cruise driving around the city, topping the evening with dinner at a neighborhood restaurant James Bearded for its twist on Southern cuisine.

In reality … well, plans are made to be broken, right? Especially when that grapefruit margarita is as tasty as it sounded on the menu. So, yeah, we made it for the cocktail or two … which I think ended up being five. Five divine margaritas. And no driving cruise around my lovely hometown.

Note to self: Always carb up at lunch for cocktailing. An empty stomach does not appreciate tequila.

Tequila is my Kryptonite. I know my limit: four, no more. After that, things get fuzzy, ugly, confusing. Last time I went the full five dive, three summers ago, I ended up kissing my (female) friend in the parking lot. CP was spared that, but he did have one damn drunk dinner date. Whose shoe broke at some point, which added to her drunken, staggering charm.

But the conversation was fantastic. It’s liberating when you meet a blogger. You’ve never seen his face, never heard his voice — but you know his personality, interesting pieces of his life. Ice breakers aren’t needed. Dishing and spilling come easily. So did the cocktails — and thus I've spent the last two days thinking of more questions to ask and stories to tell. I think CP needs to come to Atlanta regularly.

CP is more charming and handsomer than I expected. Funny, smart, interesting, irreverent. We gossiped about the bloggers we love, gossiped about ourselves. I’m sorry he’s moving across the country before I get to NYC. Poor George should be called Lucky George.

In summary:

• Coaster Punchman is adorable.

• Embarrassing hangover has passed, but my big toes are bloodily stubbed.

• Grapefruit margaritas are awesome.

• I plan to go cocktail-free ... until Sunday's bottomless mimosas brunch, that is.

* * * * * *

Here I Dreamt I Was Hillary Clinton

My Hillary self was seated in a restaurant near Richard Thomas (star of The Waltons and those Mercedes Benz voiceovers). We chatted and realized we had nothing in common belief-wise, which got us laughing hysterically. Bill was not amused.

* * * * * *

Gone Fishin'

I wish. But I'm going to pretend I'm off having fun while I tackle one rough workload. Coming back in about a week.

Don't forget me!

* * * * * *

Why I Love San Francisco: Reason #42

Proposed George W. Bush Sewage Plant makes ballot
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — A measure seeking to commemorate President Bush's years in office by slapping his name on a San Francisco sewage plant has qualified for the November ballot.

The measure certified Thursday would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.

Supporters say the idea is to commemorate the mess they claim Bush has left behind by actions such as the war in Iraq.

Local Republicans say the plan stinks and they will oppose it.

* * * * * *

Proud to Be a Georgian

This lovely local wedding has been making the rounds this weekend. Be sure to check out the slideshow at the end of the article.

Scattered, Smothered, Covered and Hitched
Couple marries at Waffle House

By Alex P. Joyner
Staff Writer

DACULA — As the famous twang of Hank Williams Jr. blasted from an SUV stereo Friday afternoon, about 30 folks socialized, sipped soda and puffed on cigarettes.

No, this wasn't a Fourth of July backyard barbecue. It was the run-up to a wedding.

In a Waffle House parking lot.

The lucky couple, George "Bubba" Mathis and Pamela Christian — both 23 and employees at the Dacula diner located at the Ga. Highway 316/U.S. Highway 29 interchange — wouldn't have it any other way.


"I don't know, it's something different," Mathis said while fixing his tie prior to the ceremony.

For years, the couple tried to marry on their Independence Day anniversary. But the bride was always scheduled to work. Instead of waiting any longer — she got the day off at the last minute; Mathis had to report for the morning shift — the couple of nine years decided to seal the deal at work.

The result was what a NASCAR tailgate might be like if Hank Jr. himself stopped by with all his rowdy friends: Loud and proud — country music, storytelling and plenty of Dale Earnhardt paraphernalia — and not an iota of pretentiousness.

Shortly after exchanging vows under the shade of a tree next to the parking lot, both man and wife let out sighs of relief as they picked up their two little blonde girls and chatted with family and friends. But there was not time to relax — the wedding cake had to be cut inside.

"It's been crazy, madness," the bride said. "Finally, everything worked out."

Standing nearby, the father of the newly minted Mrs. Pamela Mathis, William Christopher, wondered if anyone had videotaped the ceremony. He wants to send it in to CMT.

"I think it's pretty redneck myself," he said, laughing. "But I'm a redneck anyway, so."

The couple plans to honeymoon Monday and Tuesday, but then it's back to work.

The destination?

"I don't know yet," Mathis said.

As Countess DeLave (The Women) would say, “L'amour, l'amour.”

* * * * * *

Cup's Getting Serious

Things with Favorite Boy are going relatively well. He lives a few states away, but I get to see him regularly. (Not as much as I’d like, of course. Damn fricking long-distance romances.) He’s funny, and kind, and smart, and naughty. We’re having a good time — I want to keep it that way — so I passed a rule that we cannot talk about Where This Is Going until at least the end of this month. I want to enjoy Phase One as long as I can. And, although I'm a girl, I really don't enjoy The Big Talks.

But Favorite Boy broke the rule, bringing up a serious relationship topic the other night, one that kept us talking into the wee hours of the morning.

The topic that broke the rule? Our Freebie Fives.

I love talking about my Freebie Fives. There’s something wonderful about fantasizing and objectifying men. Here’s the problem: Every time I think I’ve settled on those lucky five and head to the card-laminating shop, I think of someone else I wanna get all freebie with.

Help me, kids. Help me anoint the boys worth a throw-down.

Here’s my list so far:

1. Bruce Campbell

2. David Duchovny

3. open slot

4. open slot

5. open slot

Three open slots. And who’s in contention for the coveted three through five? These lovelies (listed alphabetically to avoid jealousies):

Anthony Bourdain
Peter Buck
Michael Chabon
George Clooney
Johnny Depp
Jeffrey Donovan
Colin Firth
Tom Glavine
Hugh Grant
Jon Hamm
John Krazinski
David Letterman
Ewan McGregor
Chris Noth
Keith Olbermann
Clive Owen
Paul Rudd
Nick Simmons

Convince me. Throw some pros and cons on these tasty male-morsels in the comment box.

Who made Favorite Boy’s Freebie Five list? He has three definites — Jennifer Aniston, Liz Phair, and Laura Linney — which make sense, since they look a lot like me.


And, yeah, I think I’m back. Some great stories to tell — including finally checking off one of my Before I Dies last weekend — so come back in the coming days.


Photo credit: The lovely and talented Str8jacket

* * * * * *

It Can't Bea!

The best Sex and the City parody I've seen.



These girls prove you can be a classic and still have it going on. Or so this near-classic is praying.

* * * * * *

What's the Frequency, Coffey?

Quick report: Saturday's R.E.M. show was beyond amazing. I've written a full blog post — in my head — but have yet to find the time to put fingers to keyboard. Look for a full report (with groovy pix) in the coming days.

The kids in the R.E.M. office think it was an amazing show, too. According to REMHQ.com:

R.E.M. Returns Home in Style
R.E.M. ripped through a muscular 27-song set Saturday at Atlanta's Lakewood Amphitheatre on a balmy Georgia night, the last of the sixteen dates on the band's North American leg of their current world tour. It was arguably the finest show on a tour replete with stellar performances and highlights. The near capacity crowd, teeming with friends and family, witnessed a band at the top of its game, blending high energy rock, including a generous helping of the high-octane tracks from ACCELERATE, with some of the more poignant numbers from their vast catalog of songs — Time After Time, Let Me In, and Nightswimming.

For those who cannot wait, here's the setlist:

These Days
Living Well Is the Best Revenge
So Fast, So Numb
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Time After Time
Driver 8
Man-Sized Wreath
Walk Unafraid
Hollow Man
Ignoreland
Houston
Electrolite
(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville
Auctioneer
Harborcoat
The One I Love
I've Been High
Let Me In
Bad Day
Horse to Water
Orange Crush
I'm Gonna DJ

Encore:
Supernatural Superserious
Losing My Religion
Pretty Persuasion
Nightswimming
Fall on Me (w/ Johnny Marr)
Man on the Moon (w/ Johnny Marr)

Brilliant set of songs, huh? Just wait until you can read my gushing, workshipful review of the show.

* * * * * *

I Feel (More Than) Fine!

The R.E.M. show is tomorrow night — and this excited fan is beside herself! It's going to be a great night shared with great friends — and, I think, a great moment or two. I've been dancing and singing and reliving my twentysomething R.E.M. shows all week.

Here's something to help you get into my R.E.M. non-sleep mood:



Who knew HE was a fan?

The mix tape posts will resume next week. My PC's been under the weather, and thus I haven't been able to get to my MP3s. The Beloved Ex will save the PC day this weekend.

* * * * * *

Why Work When You Can Sing?

The pop-culturally Beckeye is running a lyrics contest on her blog — it’s tough and it’s fun. Waste valuable office minutes today trying to pin the singer and title to the lyrics. Who want to be work-productive in June when you can sing tunes from the sixties through nineties?

* * * * * *

A Slack-assed Blogger Fakes a Meme

Yeah, I know. I haven’t been e-round. My recent life has been a circus — professionally and personally — so I haven’t been able to find an hour to write all the posts in my head. Plus, my PC is being rather uncooperative lately. I went three days without e-mail access!

Excuses, excuses.

To get me back in the blogworld, I thought I’d answer this e-mail from my sister on the page. Play along if you wish.

Were you named after anyone?
My mother got the slightly unusual spelling of my first name from the actress Lizabeth Scott, who starred in Loving You with Elvis. My middle name comes from my great-grandmother who raised my mother.

When was the last time you cried?
This morning, after seeing Tim Russert’s son on Today. And ten minutes later over something personal.

Do you like your handwriting?
Somewhat. I like my g and 8, which I copied from the person who most influenced me: Mrs. Barrett, school newspaper advisor and toughest teacher I ever had. I’d love to find her so I could tell her how well I've done with everything she taught me.

What’s your favorite lunch meat?
Very rare roast beef or that pressed turkey in a package.

Do you have kids?
Two cats, one boyfriend, no children

If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Yep. I’m a lot of fun and I’m loyal to my beloveds. I occasionally rank an eight on the High-maintenance Meter — but what interesting woman doesn't?

Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Definitely; it's my family's language. I had to learn how to dial it back during the Beloved Ex era; who knew sarcasm could be hurtful?

Do you still have your tonsils?
Yep; appendix and virginity, too.

Would you bungee jump?
Absolutely. French and I almost did at a WRAS music festival in 1992, after a great set by the Soup Dragons. We were quite drunk on some alcoholic lemonade, and jumped the bungee way. It closed down as we got to the line, so we missed our chance.

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Nope. Why waste time on something unnecessary when I could be dancing?

Do you think you’re strong?
Yes. The Beloved Ex says I'm the strongest person he knows. And he'd know.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person?
The eyes. Or her baubles/his height.

Red or pink?
Depends on how it’s used.

What’s your least favorite thing about your body?
The excess junk in my trunk and my too-short legs.

Who do you miss the most?
OM

What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
No pants; I’m wearing a darling green print sundress. The shoes? Adorable two-inch strappy sandals. And you should see the baubles: recycled glass from Coke bottles!

How about your shirt?
Turquoise T-shirt. It looks fabulous with the green print sundress.

What’s the last thing you ate?
Currently munching on a salad while dreaming of cookies.

What are you listening to right now?
R.E.M.’s Accelerate — and getting pumped for this Saturday’s show!

Who’s the last person you spoke to on the phone?
Favorite Boy, late last night

If you were a crayon, which color would you be?
Periwinkle

What’s your favorite smell?
Favorite Boy — because if I can smell him, he’s in town. If he’s three states away at home, then it’s the scent of a spring rain I most enjoy sniffing.

What’s your favorite sport to watch?
Is Project Runway considered a sport? If not, then baseball.

What color is your hair?
Black, with more shoots of gray every year. I’m going for the Susan Sontag/Bride of Frankenstein look.

What color are your eyes?
Hazel — or as I like to describe them, green with freckles.

Do you wear contacts?
Since my freshman year in high school. I am one blind blogger without ‘em. The Beloved Ex used to enjoy taking away my glasses and quizzing me on what I could see (not much, unless I was living in an impressionist universe).

Favorite food?
YES! God, I love food (see: the excess junk in my trunk). Thai’s probably my favorite; Italian is my comfort food.

What’s your favorite cereal?
I tell people Cheerios (especially this time of year because I can put fresh peaches on top) — but it’s really Cap’n Crunch. I haven’t spooned the Cap’n in four or five years, sadly; it's not on the approved Weighty Waddlers list.

What’s your favorite ice cream?
Häagen-Dazs Coffee Heath Bar Crunch (which is hard to find) or Vanilla Swiss Almond (with hot fudge or Magic Shell drenching the top)

Favorite dessert?
Cake or cookies with buttercream frosting

Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings. I’m such a wuss over scary movies — unless Bruce Campbell is starring in it.

What’s the last movie you watched?
Bridget Jones’s Diary on Bravo over the weekend. If it’s on, I must watch.

What book are you reading now?
David Sedaris’ new collection, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Busted out laughing twice while reading it on the bus this morning.

Summer or winter?
I’m really a spring/fall chick. Of the two queried above, I’ll pick winter any day. I hate the heat; I get whiny and bitchy and irritable when the humidity hits.

Hugs or kisses?
Yes … oh, God, yes.

What’s on your mouse pad?
Don’t use one; I surf barebacked.

What did you watch on TV last night?
The neverending Tim Russert coverage on MSNBC. I adored Tim Russert; his death hit me hard.

What’s your favorite sound?
Someone laughing over something I said. Or the opening note of an R.E.M. show.

Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Can’t pick one over the other; they’re both brilliant.

What’s the farthest you’ve been from home?
Europe. Of the countries I’ve visitied, I guess Italy’s the farthest away from Atlanta.

Do you have a special talent?
Yes; just ask Favorite Boy. Seriously, I’m very comfortable talking in front of an audience, and I can also rhyme on a dime and whip up a song parody in no time — family traits I’m proud to possess.

Where were you born?
Right here in Atlanta.

Who do you want to answer these questions?
Every damn one of you!

* * * * * *