EW Lists: The Top 25 Band Front Men (or Women)

EW has a new list up. It's the top front "men" of bands. They define a front man as the sole singer of the band (a la Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones). The "face" of the band.

Some of the singers included in the list are:
Bono - U2
Mick Jagger - Rolling Stones
Gwen Steffani - No Doubt
Debra Harry - Blonidie
Jon Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi
Ozzy Osbourne - Black Sabbath
Janis Joplin - Big Brother & The Holding Company

I think Bono is probably the quintessential "face" of a band. Plus, he's become so much more well known since he began his charitable work.

The ones I see missing are:

Sting from the Police, Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran and Adam Levine of Maroon 5.

Who are your favorite front men (or women)?

Goooooood Girl...

Look at the long suffering puppy dawg. Yeah, her ear is being chewed on. She never growled, snapped or anything. She just finally got off the chair and walked away.

Naughty kitty.

Book Binge

I went to Borders today and managed to spend $40 on books. This isn't unusual for me, I do spend a lot of money on books, but it was surprising, mainly because I didn't go in to pick up anything in particular. I'd thought that I'd browse and maybe pick up one. For the record, I bought:

Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
Taken by the Night by Kathryn Smith
Untouched by Anna Campbell
Her Secret Fantasy by Gaelen Foley
Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins

I'm pretty excited about them, as it means this weekend will be full of vegging on the sofa and reading. I'm currently reading Ice Storm by Anne Stuart. I simply adore her heroes. They're always practically unredeemable and I hit the middle of the book thinking "How on Earth is she going to make be like this guy?" and somehow she always does. Killian, the hero of Ice Storm ends up being likeable by being a smart ass, which I appreciate. Anyway, prior to this book, my favorite of her books was Black Ice, but I think in the end Ice Storm will end up overtaking it as my favorite. I definitely recommend the "Ice" series by Stuart if you haven't read them. There are four so far in the series, so there's plenty to read and enjoy.

What books have you bought lately? Anything I should be reading?

Sad Day for Redskins Fans

Early this morning, the Redskins starting free safety, Sean Taylor succumbed to injuries sustained early Monday morning during an armed robbery at his home. The loss is truly a tragic one. He was just 24 years old, and after a tumultuous first couple of years with the Redskins had settled into his role as a leader on the defense.

As a fan, Sean was amazing fun to watch. He was a monstrously gifted athlete, possibly the most gifted athlete on the team. I used to regularly say that he was a "beast" on the field. He was one of the players that opposing teams really had to game plan for and what most would call a "game changer."

I'll miss watching him play, it's a huge loss for his family and friends, and also for the team I love so well.

Pooped

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Ours was great. Lots of family time, fun movies, friends and of course, delicious food. But no surprise, I'm completely wrecked. Monday I start my new position at work. I'm looking forward to getting started.

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday full of fun, family, friends and food!

Happy Turkey Day

I'm thankful for many things in my life: my good health, my general happiness with where I am in my life, but most of all for my family and friends who make my life worthwhile and filled with fun and laughter.

So to all of you who are part of that, I say thank you for being witness to and part of my life. I value each of you more than I can say.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Way Back Machine

One of my all time favorite bands from my preteen years has a new album out. Red Carpet Massacre by Duran Duran dropped last week to extremely favorable reviews. It shocks me that a band that I adored when I was 13 & 14 is still making music that is getting great reviews. I haven't listened to RCM yet, but I'll more likely than not end up downloading it to my iPod. The magic of iTunes knows no bounds, that's for sure!

Duran Duran took up a lot of my time when I was 13. I was going to marry John Taylor, their bassist. My best friend, Nicole, was going to marry Nick Rhodes. LOL!

Anyway, of course that didn't happen, but I do still really enjoy their music. My favorite song by them is still The Chauffeur, which is a little known song from Rio. But it still will get me to sing along.

How 'bout you? Are you a Durannie? Do you have childhood bands that you still love?

PS - Congrats to Rebecca's team, the Loudoun County Raiders, who won the VA State Volleyball Championships on Saturday. I'm so proud! Go Raiders!

RAIDER RIOT!!

Rebecca's team won again. My dad just called to say "They clobbered them! 3-0!" It was over in less than an hour.

Now, they move on to the State finals!

Keep your fingers crossed.

GO RAIDERS!

Friday Meme from Meghan

It's a dilly, but looks fun!

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments...what do you get?
Produce: Potatoes
Bakery: A loaf of Challah bread
Meat: Deli Ham
Frozen Goods: Eddy's Slow Churned Chocolate Ice Cream
Dry Goods: Honey Nut Cheerios

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. Clean underwear
2. Long sleeved t-shirt
3. Warm socks

If I were to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be likely to hear?
1. "This is Kati, how may I help you?"
2. Yes, sir?
3. Get down!
4. No! or Hush!
5. Stupid Redskins.

What 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do them, you wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. Drinking a diet Pepsi
2. Checking my email/surfing the internet
3. Reading

You just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3-hour block with no one around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Napping
2. Watching a movie
3. Shopping
4. Reading
5. Watching football

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Big Cats
2. Monkeys
3. Elephants

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on TV. Your choice. You can choose between 4. What are your choices?
1. Friday Night Lights (then I could visit Meghan!)
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. The Ellen DeGeneres Show
4. Battlestar Gallactica

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple-dipper ice cream cone. What flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. Chocolate Fudge Royale
2. Mint Chocolate Chip
3. Really, another scoop of Chocolate Fudge Royale

Someone stole your purse or wallet. In order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. Driver's license
2. Debit Card
3. Insurance card
4. A receipt for my last car payment
5. Mastercard

You're at a job fair and asked what careers you're interested in pursuing. Let's pretend you have every talent and the ability to be whatever you wanted. What 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. VP of Events for the National Football League
2. Working at a horse farm
3. Working at the Westminster Kennel Club show (maybe showing dogs)
4. Buyer for a book store

If you could go back to the old you, when you were in high school, and tell yourself 4 things, what would you say?
1. Try to apply yourself a little more.
2. Don't pretend you're a grown up, you're not!
3. Don't smoke!
4. Have a good time. (Oh...wait, I did that!)

A Companion Blog to Yesterday's

So today I'm thinking about movies that everyone else loves that I don't. For me, it's Titanic. I hate this movie. I remember when it came out. My roommate at the time went to see it in the theater six times. Six times! (I would judge more, but I believe I saw the first Lord of the Rings movie five in the theaters).

I remember going to see it about 6 weeks after it opened with my boyfriend at the time. I hated it. The syrupy sweet music, the stupid old woman who threw a million dollars in jewels to the bottom of the ocean, the headstrong (stupid) heroine, the hero who's butt I could have kicked with one hand tied behind my back. What was all the fuss about?! I loved the set pieces and the costuming was glorious. But $200 million to make this movie? I just don't get it.

Plus, I'm not a big fan of "unhappily ever after" love stories.

Tell me, what movie do you hate that everyone else loves?

Raiders Rock!

Well, they did it. My niece Rebecca's volleyball team, the Loudon County Raiders are going to Richmond, VA this weekend to play in the Virginia state semi-finals. That's our girl in yellow right smack in the center of the photo.

Rebecca had a MONSTER game last night, leading the team with 18 digs and 17 service points (which means her serve was kicking some major booty last night!).

I couldn't be prouder!

Go Raiders!

The Worst Movie I Love

Ross: Rachel claims this is her favorite movie.
Chandler: Dangerous Liaisons.
Ross: Correct. Her actual favorite movie is?
Joey: Weekend at Bernie's.

We all have them. That one movie that intellectually you know is terrible, rotten, awful even. And yet secretly, you love it.

For me, that movie is A Knight's Tale. I have a deep and dirty love of the movie. Based on multiple reasons. First and foremost, the incomparable Paul Bettany who plays Geoffrey Chaucer, a ne'er-do-well storyteller, who creates the "legend of Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein." The first shot we get of Bettany in the movie is of his pasty, naked behind. The genius continues from there. The second reason I love the movie is the stupendous soundtrack. It features such songs as "Golden Years" by David Bowie, "Taking Care of Business" by BTO and of course, "We Will Rock You" by Queen. I love the dichotomy of the setting and the music.

Really, there is very little to recommend the film. It's hardly even a costume drama, has no basis in historical fact, and really barely makes more than a nod to the time period, it's pretty poorly acted. And yet...I love it.

I spent actual hard earned dollars in order to own the movie (that's right...$6.99 at Target), and will still stop and watch it every single time I pass it on TV.

So, spill, you've got a worst movie you love. Tell me all about why you love it.

The Best Show You're Probably Not Watching

I think I've established here that I'm a television junkie. I love it and find myself ridiculously invested in some of the shows I watch. And generally, if a show is really good, I watch it. That is to say, that if the general populace is talking about a show, more likely than not, I'm watching it. But I have two shows that I watch that I don't know anyone else who watches. The interesting part is that, I'm deeply invested in both shows. One will probably make it. The other has little to no chance of getting a third season, or even of coming back after the television writers strike is over.

First, is Friday Night Lights. The show, set in fictional Dillon, Texas is about a high school football team. Not just about the players, but about the coach and his family, and those people associated with the players. It is one of the most thoughtfully written, beautifully shot shows I've ever seen. The cast of mostly unknown young actors is amazing and the directors have the knack of pulling these wonderful, understated performances from these kids. The show is lead by the incredible Kyle Chandler and Connie Briton who portray a married couple, deeply in love, but with all of their ugly underbelly showing. It's wonderfully written and a critical darling, and probably won't survive the writers strike, which is really sad.

Second and infinitely more successful is Brothers and Sisters. What a great show. It has a powerhouse cast of actors who chew up the scenery and spit it back out. The show is this heady combination of extreme drama and humor. Much like I experience with Grey's Anatomy, while being completely different. It's completely normal for me to be laughing hysterically one moment and have my eyes well up with tears the next. Headlining the show is the sublime Sally Field, who portrays Nora Walker, the matriarch of the Walker clan. She deals constantly with the drama in her kids' lives, and suffers deeply from "over-involved mother" disease. She's both incredibly moving and riotously funny as she manipulates and maneuvers and supports her kids. I simply adore the show and for the life of me can't figure out why more of my friends aren't watching and talking about it.

Either way, my TiVo is always set to record these two shows and I enjoy them from the privacy of my recliner. I just wish more people were watching with me!

What are your favorite shows that others might not be watching?

Grace Kelly

A couple of weeks ago, AMC hosted a Hitchcock marathon. They showed Dial M for Murder; Vertigo; The Birds; and one of my two favorite Hitchcock movies ever, Rear Window (for those wondering, North by Northwest is the other).

Rear Window is such a tightly written, inventive script. It's diabolically suspenseful. There is a scene in the movie that literally makes me want to crawl the walls with nerves every single time I see it. James Stewart is brilliant in his role as a photographer with a broken leg who becomes overly involved in the lives of the people living in the building across the courtyard from his apartment. I love the movie and would recommend it to anyone.

But what makes the movie for me is Grace Kelly. She plays Stewart's girlfriend. And is wonderfully feminine and plucky as he draws her further and further into his suspicions that something horrible is going on across the courtyard. But that's not really what draws me about the movie. It's the costuming. Now, Kelly was far and away one of the most beautiful women who ever lived. She actually lived a fairy tale, growing up in Philadelphia and literally marrying a prince who swept her off her feet. The costuming in Rear Window, done by the legendary Edith Head, was some of the most wonderful ever. Kelly wears a dress as she returns from a dinner engagement at Vogue that is among the most stunning I've ever seen. It's pictured here. I remember seeing the movie for the first time in color and being blown away by her beauty and the glory of her costuming, which epitomized everything magical to me about 50s clothing. The movie began my love affair with Hitchcock movies.

What's your favorite Hitchcock movie? Who was your favorite 50s actress?

The Mom Song

Seriously. This is for every single Mom I know. Have your volume up for this.

Of Turkeys, Dressing and Friends

Last year, my roommate and I, along with our good friends Chris and Beth decided to host a pre-Thanksgiving dinner for our friends. It was a potluck dinner where everyone brought their family's favorite side or dessert. We had a terrific time, full of fancy food, wine and good friends. It was such a success, we've decided to do it again this year. Last year, Chris and Beth hosted at their house, this year H. and I will host at our place. We're really looking forward to it, we had almost 100% acceptance rate, which is wonderful. So on Saturday night, we'll be hosting a group of 19 friends for dinner.

I love seeing what everyone brings to share. Last year's biggest hit was provided by our friends Rob and Jen who make a butternut squash soup with duck. It was a monster hit with everyone, and Rob and Jen will be doing it again this year. H. and I will be cooking turkey (our first time ever) and some stuffing, and I might make a chocolate pie, if I'm feeling energetic.

It's a great opportunity for all of us to gather together before the holiday craziness begins and to enjoy a wonderful meal with good friends. Yes, it will be a lot of work, but honestly, I'm hosting my family for Thanksgiving this year (group of 17), so it's more or less the same thing.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

Dig It.

We're not athletes in my family. Well, my sister's girls swim, and did/do quite well, my nephew Jackson plays lacrosse, my nephew Conor is a wonderful distance biker, but generally we're not athletes. Personally, I excel at being a fan.

And yet, my niece, Rebecca, is an incredibly talented, driven volleyball player. Saturday I had the chance to go and watch Rebecca play in the district finals for Loudon County where she is a senior. The team was playing Broad Run, a team that has given them some trouble in the past. Saturday was no exception, the girls had to play five games to lock it up. Thankfully they did. They move on to the Regional competition on Thursday, having received a bye on Tuesday due to their stellar unbeaten record. You can read about her team's success here.

Here's a picture of our girl getting looooooow. Amazing. Can you imagine what the ligaments in her knees must look like?

My family is enormously proud of Rebecca. She's quite an athlete and truly a sweetheart as well.

A Little Friday Pretty.

I give you...Denzel.

His movie, American Gangster is getting phenomenal reviews. The older he gets, the more gravitas he has. And also, look how pretty.