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				When I was little, I was highly aware that being under constant supervision had drawbacks.  But I think I was irked by one specific aspect more than most other children are.  (Although, having never really discussed this before, maybe I'm wrong and you all felt this--if so, let me know and I'll stop feeling special.)  I recall being annoyed that I had to hear my parents tell the same stories over and over again.  Not because they were senile or simply liked to hear themselves talk, but because they had a lot of friends and close family with whom they kept in touch.  So if something of note happened at work or within their network, I'd hear my mom tell friends about it, tell my dad about it at dinner, talk on the phone about it, etc.  I'd hear it every time, with the same emphases given, the same intonations made, the same reactions solicited.  I thought about this last night as I was repeating my "the time I could have died in Jamaica story" to someone who, quite frankly, has probably already heard it before.  (Thankfully Guitar Boy wasn't there, because--God bless 'im--he could likely recite it himself at this point, even though I went to Jamaica years before I met him.)  And now, knowing that one day I will bug my children in much this same way, I am sort of thankful I was subjected to the repetition.  In all honesty, I think it's made me a better story-teller. [04.30.09] I received a link to this display of eager dorkdom at William & Mary from three people within a twenty-minute period.  I found myself immediately paralyzed--do I share the wealth and pass on a clip of something so ridiculous that it's sure to make my friends and coworkers smile/laugh/question life?  Or do I protect the image of my alma mater, an institution I obnoxiously bring up every chance I get?  While I pondered this, a fourth friend sent me the clip, and the sad thing is (in both this instance and for his life in general), he didn't go to W&M.  He also sent me this bizarre video of the Thriller dance as performed by inmates at a Phillipines prision.  So I figured the cat was out of the bag and immediately decided to post all of the above on A&A.com.  I'm sorry and you're welcome.    In other news, I borrowed K-Dawg's Twilight DVD and, due to an unfortunate incident of leaving the MINI's windows cracked in a rainstorm, I now own it.  I was really hoping to avoid that, especially since borrowing the DVD only confirmed that the movie gets worse with every viewing.  (But if you want to borrow it, let me know!!)    And finally, Jerry's Subs & Pizza is now using an Obama impersonator in their latest wave of radio spots.  I hope someone tells him that this, and only this, is the sign that he's truly arrived. [04.21.09] I was considering using this week's "What's Going On" to write what The West Wing would call a "process story."  In other words, a blurb about what it's like to come up with a blurb.  Notice I used The West Wing as a point of reference, as opposed to the real world in which the term "process story" actually exists.  Mostly what I planned to say was that sometimes it's hard to not write about the weather, which is the most mundane--but sometimes seemingly all-encompassing--subject.  Who knew you could feel the effects of SAD in late April?  But since the weather is boring, and telling you how beautiful D.C. is in the spring (jaw-droppingly) is bragging, I'll stick with posting some choice snippets from Jenn G.'s rebuttal to my Kurt Cobain is overrated rant.  First, she told me that she feels like she failed me, even though, despite my poo-pooing of grunge, there is so much I learned from her musically in the 80s and early 90s.  Second, pointed out that for us, some of my feelings are based on where we lived during the grunge era.  In the early 90s, we were living in California, at which point Jenn's playlist consisted not of grunge, but of a combination of Warren G and Morrissey.  In an email she noted, "I'm not sure you can accurately compare Nirvana and the Samples," and asked me to appreciate "Smells Like Teen Spirit" because "We can thank this song for the rise in flannel and decrease in showering."  Finally she asked, "Would Pearl Jam be who they are today if Nirvana hadn't been so influential?"  But having seen the movie Singles, and knowing there are some ridiculously diehard PJ fans who read A&A.com, I'm going to give a solid YES to that question.  After all, I know where my bread is buttered... [04.16.09]    I was informed that last Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death.  I remarked with my usual rant about how Cobain is overrated, is on too many magazine covers given the fact that he's dead, and is generally a bad person for killing himself and leaving his kid to be raised by cracked out Courtney Love.  My only surprise was that it's only been 15 years.  Given the number of times his death has been commemorated, I'd have thought we'd be gearing up for a silver anniversary.  But then that would have made me three years old when Kurt took leave of this cruel world, and I do remember it a little better than that.     Of course, I'm too young to "get it," I'm told, and maybe that's true.  After all, while I love me some 90s channel on XM, their playlists are not exactly focusing on the grunge scene.  But where would Cobain be now if he were still alive?  Playing at Iota in Arlington like once-hitmakers Jill Sobule, and The Samples, and Evan Dando of The Lemonheads?  Would Nirvana has been as revered?  Considered as influential?  Would they even stand a chance of opening for Pearl Jam today or playing a morning set on a side stage at Warped Tour?  As you ponder these questions, celebrate your flannel-wearing days with a "where are they now?" of grunge bands. I'll be over here rocking out to Color Me Badd and Mary J. [04.09.09]
The A&A brand has gone bicoastal.  Just nine short months after opening a Chicago branch of the A&A conglomerate, we set our sights on the West Coast.  This past weekend involved a scouting trip to the northern region of California to determine (a) where we'll open the new base of operations, and (b) whether the area would be able to handle having their minds blown by an A&A infiltration.  Not surprisingly, we encountered a friendly and receptive vibe!  T-Diddy has even agreed to take the California state bar exam.  Of course we had to get right down to business.  Our first and foremost priority was to determine which libations would be served at the "A&A Goes California!" launch party, which required several days of wine-tasting.  It was a tough job, but thankfully Guitar Boy, T-Diddy, and T-Diddy's sister M-Diddy  were there as reinforcements.  Now you may ask what it is exactly that A&A, Inc. does, what goods we sell, or what services we provide--above and beyond the weekly nuggets of entertainment and wisdom found here on A&A.com, of course.  To that I say, you are so East Coast, getting all bogged down in the details.  Those things will come.  For now we're just laying down the infrastructure for our eventual world takeover.  Well, at least for our national takeover.  The world comes next... [05.28.09] We're going to start off with a heart-warming link from Annie D. this week:   click me.  Why?  Because it will put you in the right mindset for...well...everything, but specifically for Memorial Day weekend.  Last week A&A.com showed its appreciation for Havre de Grace.  I want to keep the warm fuzzies coming.  So in addition to feeling good about elementary school a cappella versions of Fleetwood Mac, let's have a round of applause for Sarah G. having a baby.  Let's give a hand for perp walks.  And lastly, let's praise the powers that be for finally giving William & Mary its due for...breaking the Thriller record?  Sigh.     As you can see on the left, Tom Brokaw spoke at W&M's graduation last weekend.  The speech is decent--it meanders a little bit, and of course he does a plug for his book, "The Greatest Generation," (to which Guitar Boy belongs, according to Annie D.)--but there's a great reference to Jon Stewart, which is always sure to be a crowd-pleaser.  Brokaw called Jon to ask him what his lasting impression of his alma mater was, and he said, "Just four words. Paul's Delly cheese fries."  So let's hear it for cheese fries, too!  In the immortal words of Potter, as she walked into Paul's senior year, "I could be down for something cheesy and greasy."  Happy long weekend!! [05.21.09] An Ode to Havre de Grace, Maryland: My grandmother's house sits on the Chesapeake Bay.  Right on it.  I've been going there as long as I can remember, though the hour-and-a-half drive from D.C. seemed like an eternity when I was a kid.  Now it's effortless (with the exception of Thanksgiving, of course), and I appreciate what's on the other end more and more.  When I was little, the pool and the swing set made Nanna's house equivalent to King's Dominion in my mind.  Now that my tastes have matured, Nanna's house and the quaint, understated, and quirky town surrounding it are equivalent to a fancyfree weekend away at a high-end B&B.  Of course, it's better than that, too, because I don't have to talk to strangers over breakfast, and because we have CRABS.  Crabs, RC Cola, Snickers ice cream bars, and--if we're lucky--sourdough pancakes the next morning.  I know I'm not alone--lots of families have a getaway they cherish.  And this isn't a revelation--I've always loved it, and in fact have talked about the town's fantastic July 4th celebrations on this site many times before.  But I guess I'm in awe that, decades after my first visit to Nanna's, I've learned to look past the pool to the bay beyond it, look at the house with the azaleas below it, look at the crazy dogs and my crazy sisters running behind them, and really GET it.  It's amazing.  And that's my Ode to Havre de Grace. [05.12.09]    As you see from the yellow box on the left, President Obama and Veep Biden crossed the Potomac River on Tuesday to get some good ole' Virginia noms.  They chose Ray's Hellburger, which is nestled in an unassuming location between Courthouse and Rosslyn in Arlington.  I like that they're getting out and about in the area, and obviously their next destination has got to be somewhere in Maryland.  But I wonder, was Ray's Hellburger their best option?  Locals, please weigh in via email or the guestbook.  RH has only been open about a year, so it doesn't have the same sense of history and tradition that Ben's Chili Bowl does (Obama's first stop when he arrived in D.C. for the inauguration).  If it were ten years ago, and the joint hadn't yet become a nationwide franchise, the obvious choice would have been Five Guys.  (Bonus:  the low-rent, low-maintenance original location of the chain is around the corner from my hizzy!)  I can't help but think that Whitlow's would have been the way to go.  Best brunch in the D.C. metro area, people!  Of course, a visit to mug night would have made Obama a bunch of new friends.  And, while he was at it, he and Biden could scoot on over to Iota to enjoy some local music!  If it's good enough for the West Wing, it's good enough for a real life prez. [05.07.09]