Happy Easter! love, the 80's!

I actually have a copy of this commercial on a VHS copy of the stage production of Peter Pan with Mary Martin which aired on NBC one year. I have no idea if it aired every year or what, because once I had it on VHS I watched it approximately every single day for the rest of my life. 

Black Velvet Band

the cleanest ferret video you'll see today*

I am ferret-sitting for one of my friends. Weasel and Rascal arrived last Friday in a travel kennel. Amy and I set up their temporary cage, which is a lot smaller than their multi-level home in Amy's house.

She fretted as she unpacked their belongings, "do you think they'll be too cramped?"

"Don't worry," I said with assurance. "They'll have free reign of the living room when I'm home."

I shampooed the ferrets later that day to keep them fresh. Bathing them can't happen too often, but should also not be too infrequent. I remembered that from living with ferrets for part of college.

I did not remember how adorable a ferret's attempts to get dry are.

I also forgot how quickly I bleed when scratched by an angry, wet, animal.

No more baths.

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*Maybe. I guess I shouldn't make too many assumptions about your taste in ferret videos. Sorry, dude.

Woo and Bieber: Roommates - Episode 4

Justin doesn't want to use his comp tickets on Woo

Woo and Bieber: Roommates - Episode Three

The latest in the Woo and Bieber series:

A Moment Is...

Thank you to Rachel Braidman for leading me to Olive Gold and Wine, and therefore this video today:

Gorefest Music Video, the making of

For the first time in the history of Gorefest, we're creating a music video.
The video features the opening number¹ from this year's Gorefest, Cirque De Slaughté. It was filmed this past weekend under the direction of Matt McLaughlin.
Here's a sneak peek:

>Featuring:  (front row) Jenna O'Brien, Jenny Foster (rear row) Natalie Cowell and Deana Tolliver

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1: The Show Must Go On, music and lyrics by Steve Gilbane

Danny and Annie

I heard about this animated video from a friend at Improv Boston.

It is the story of a couple, married in 1978 and separated by cancer in 2006.
In 2006 they recorded their story with StoryCorps, and their interviews were combined into the video below.

Listening to Danny and Annie talk about their love and respect for one another reminds me of my grandparents, Ben and Adele, talk about one another. It reminds me of the faith and infinite patience of my friend Veronica as she waits by the bedside of Rob, her fiancé who is recovering day by day from a motorcycle induced coma. It's a testimony to how amazing the phenomenon of love really is. Human beings have a (possibly) unique capacity for experiencing and expressing enduring affection for another person. When the mutual act of giving of self becomes the driving force in every aspect of a shared life, the miracle of that is really obvious to everyone else who comes in contact with it.

Watch the video first (it's a tear-jerker, you've been warned); then for more info check out their story on NPR's website.


Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Happy Father's Day from Improv Asylum

Fathers Day from Improv Asylum on Vimeo.


Writer /Director: Evan Kaufman

Director of Production, Editor, Composer: Chris Loughran

Produced by Improv Asylum

Featuring: Kirstin Opstad, Evan Kaufman, Matt Catanzano, Kiley Fitzgerald, Dan Faneuf, Misch Whitaker and Richie Moriarty

100 Beds for Haiti Video

Here's an awesome video by Daren McKelvey from the YoYoYo 90's Jam fundraiser for 100 Beds for Haiti on March 23rd. The video includes a couple clips of me and Colleen W. talking about Hopital Sacre Coeur.*



YOYOYO 90's Jam: Heal The World Edition w/100 Beds For Haiti from 100BedsForHaiti on Vimeo.


* Be sure to watch for when I can't decide between saying DVT and "deep vein thrombosis," and end up almost saying  neither. Then go donate!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

If you are in the Boston area tonight and trying to decide which bar to cram yourself into look no further.
Tonight from 6pm to 8pm at GOODBAR the one and only Conor Shanahan will be playing  traditional Irish drinking and dancing songs for your drinking and dancing pleasure.
Check out the facebook event page for directions and even some sample videos of Conor strumming and singing to fan the flames of your Irish music passion.*

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And now... a video of my dear friend Pim (Cage Pearson) playing one of my favorite songs:



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* Yeah, I re- read that sentence and decided to stick with it.

Having A Dream

When I went to college my first major was Social Thought and Political Economy. My hunger and thirst for justice were fueled by one of the best teachers I had in high school, Judi Freeman. But my first sense of why I should care about the rights or lives of others came from my faith based upbringing.

I believe that we are all called by God to serve one another. Serving others is a common theme in several major world religions, leading me to believe that no matter which one you practice, we're probably all on the right track when it comes to that particular point.

Christians are taught that we're all different parts of one Body. We're each called to a unique and different vocation, and we are meant to utilize our own gifts as well as we can so the body is complete. It follows, although this is not part of the verse I am thinking of, that different parts of the body should protect and care for one another. I use my hands to wash my face, my nose stops me from eating rotten foods in my fridge (or purse), and if my immune system starts to attack me instead of intruders, there's a serious problem.

It's an analogy that works well for most non Theists too, I think. The reason I should care about your lot in life is because ultimately your lot and mine are inextricably connected.

I left the Social Justice and Political Economy program because during my dad's illness (and after his death) it became increasingly necessary for me to do something immediate and tangible to save people. "I needed to get my hands dirty," was often how I'd answer the unavoidable questions from professors about my change of heart. When I made that (admittedly rash) decision to change my course of study I had no idea how hard the next four years would be. I also didn't know how much being a nurse would change and shape the way I view the world every single day. I don't regret that decision one bit.

Still, when I made that decision I also left behind a wonderful network of people who really do believe that they can make a difference and leave the world a better place than when they got here. I miss that zeal. I miss rising to meet the challenge of making change happen. I miss the implicit expectation within that community of rising above selfishness and apathy. Every day.

I am humbled by the perseverance of those who dedicate their lives to human rights.I am floored by the hope that they carry like a lamp for the rest of us.

Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Let's also celebrate the lives of all those who have given themselves in the constant struggle for justice and equality. While we're at it, let's celebrate each other for the fullness of life we bring to one another and to the world when we act out of love instead of hate. Let's celebrate how far we've come, and let's vow to go even further. Let's celebrate God. And Love. And let's vow to use our own unique gifts to fill the world with beauty, peace and compassion.

Dan: 1, Crime: 0

I've heard several different reactions to the story. Some people think it was foolish to fight back. Others hail Dan as a hero. But deep down either way, anyone who knows Dan personally is just glad that he's ok.

Don't tell the mermaids where I'm going...

Yesterday's post was a bit heavy, even for me. Let's all enjoy my day off together by watching this.




Fun fact: The last two years of college I lived in a three family house. I used to drum this on the wall of my bathroom and my friend in the adjacent apartment would drum it back on his bathroom wall. Adorable.
And... great video.

Toy Boat Toy Boat , T-Pain, Bless my throat

Laura called me into her room to watch this last night when I got home from work.
I loved it. It's no Dick in a Box, but these days what is? Without spoiling it I will say that the exposition to the joke is quick and easy, the rhymes are clever (and some of them are even tight), and the simplicity is inspired. Of course, as soon as T-Pain got involved I was hooked anyway. My favorite very quick shot (don't blink, you might miss it) involves a man who is very unhappy with grass.
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In other internet news my favorite blog author is back in the country and is writing again. When Other People's Emergencies lit up again in my Google Reader I thought I was imagining things. Welcome back, TS!
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Annnnd in real life news, I was at St. J's Saturday night for the 7pm Mass to lector when Sister M informed me that I was also going to be helping with the Blessing of the Throats. I got a bit anxious. But then I thought about all of the things I usually dislike about the Church and one of them is how I feel that the hierarchy can get really possessive about God. So for a lay person like me to go around blessing throats, that's way more in line with my actual beliefs. I don't think we always need intercessors. We can bless each other.

So I stayed and blessed throats after Mass. The absolute best part was that once I memorized the blessing I could look into people's eyes. I was smiling uncontrollably because it was kind of silly -- me with those huge candles and so much shorter than everyone else. Since I was grinning so madly, the otherwise very solemn congregation started to smile back. So as I said the blessings, we just smiled at each other, and sometimes laughed a little.
I got to just stand and make eye contact and smile with so many strangers. To me, that was the whole blessing in a way. As we handed candles back to Fr. M later he winked and said, "You know it doesn't work without the candles." And we all laughed, the veil lifted. We don't need candles or oils or waters. It's all in the people. Tradition is just a way to get everyone there at the same time. Like going to your high school football game on Thanksgiving. Being in a church where the priests think that way and understand religion in that way too is so refreshing.