Kikagaku Moyo

     I am thankful for the 'Music education' from the Mason City native. He still surprises me on his knowledge of music. Today he tagged me on a Facebook posting, that I saw after a date, so I took it as he wanted me to listen to the song. It was a Japanese band, called 'Kikagaku Moyo'. I don't know Japanese but I trust his recommendations. I was given the link from Youtube if I am not mistaken. I said it was a little long, over 7 minutes, but it was all right. The instrumental parts were quite good, a comparison was made to Neil Young. This works for me as I like some Neil Young songs, especially 'Rocking in the free world' and 'Searching for a heart of gold'. In addition, he 'Sponsored' a band I really like, Pearl Jam. I said I took off points as the lyrics were unintelligible. I wondered if it was a case of what I have seen before, where musicians sometimes turn up their amplifier so high that it is hard to hear the lyrics. But he said it was in Japanese so it would be hard to understand no matter what the volume is. I have a college roommate that knows the language, been there twice. First was as an English teacher, the other in the Navy. But I am not sure if he knows Japanese music. I like the mention of 'Forest of lost children', since I like 'Lost soul' themes, feeling like one myself.
    I did have a date in the afternoon, at a Caribou coffee shop. We talked for 4 hours, NO JOKE. So I take it as it was going well, especially when I didn't look at my watch for a while. I finally did, but more than 3 hours in. I like finding somebody who seems to understand me, and accept me. And my date liked hearing about me doing comedy. I will admit that I am a little jaded from all of the quick rejections, but I trust the good feeling is warranted. And it will be if/when there is a second date. I made it a Facebook posting and got plenty of likes from friends, some comedians and some former classmates. I said the Ally Sheedy line from the movie 'Only the lonely' fits my mood: 'Don't screw this one up'. Will I get some joke material from it? Probably.
     I watched the Bears-49ers game in the evening on NBC tonight. Bears won 28-20, aided by 49ers turnovers, now the Bears are 1-1. After the game ended there was a GEICO commercial, Kenny Rogers was signing some of 'The Gambler' and it made me think of the DC native's 'Stolen penguin' joke. I let him know in a Facebook posting.

Guys And Dolls Play

    This afternoon I went to see a play, 'Guys and Dolls', at the Arts Center in Bloomington. I guessed correctly on one thing, when they spoke of a 'Crap game' I figured they meant dice, since it sounded like saying 'Shooting craps'. Besides the main character, Nathan Detroit, I also liked the 'General' of the Salvation Army- type organization, she was lively. Like many plays, the second act was shorter than the first. Since Cuba went communist in the 1950s the scenes in Havana were lost on me in many ways, as I haven't read much yet about Cuba being a rich person's playground when it was an American territory. The song in it I was familiar with, from an NFL commercial, was in the second act- 'Sit down, you're rocking the boat'. I got a good look around at this city government complex, there were ballerinas in one room and I got a photo from the doorway. Outside there was a sundial. On the upper level I discovered another art display, smaller than the one on the main floor. I found the upper level at intermission, I liked knowing there was a bathroom on that floor as well.
   The first event of the day was a brunch in Minneapolis, at a place called The Local in Nicollet Mall. The preschool teacher sent a Facebook invite, it was an early birthday celebration. I liked the food there, especially the scrambled eggs and bacon. I learned what a mimosa was, orange juice and champagne, as a drink was included in the buffet. It tasted fine. I got photos there and so did she. Another attendee was the roller grill comic's friend, who is not a comic but I have seen two of the plays he did with his friend at the Fringe Festival. When I went to the bathroom there I saw a 'Kissing room' with saloon-type doors on it. I took a quick look inside, it was vacant but I was told it can get 'Crazy' in there in the evening. I rode the light rail there and saw an IT guy from my workplace. He and his wife had bicycles on the train and were going to ride then back home.
   After the play I came home and rested and did chores like get groceries and do the dishes. So I have them all done, and Sunday is fairly open aside from a date already scheduled. I also listened to the sub teacher's radio show. One of his guests was the big dog, who 'Joined in progress'. Subjects covered included the deaths of Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Others were leaked photos, and an upcoming Nicolas Cage movie that a member of Duck Dynasty likes.
   The third and final event of the day was a comedy show. The Worthington native was performing and postage stamp was the MC. There was two guest sets, one was Mr. Pibb and the other was a
comic I haven't written about much yet. I think I will call him 'Jersey video' as he was in Mason City's Youtube video about the Kevin Love trade. On Youtube he is what you see on the 'Cover' of the video, suggesting to 'Pretend' burn the jersey. I had heard most of Worthington's jokes before, but I still liked them. The Greyhound bus story is a good one. Others were about being a cyber bully to his dad, and the 'Tough dad' speech. One of them I hadn't heard before, about slam dunking on the basketball court where he now lives in California. The headliner was from New York, and I liked a joke about being a hypochondriac. After the show 'W' played a Taylor Swift song, he knew it would annoy some. I liked hearing music on my car radio when driving home from the club- 'Lose Yourself' by Eminem, and 'Boulevard of broken dreams' by Green Day.

Coat At The Cleaners

     I had the day off from work, and one thing I told myself I needed to do was check on my coat at the cleaners. It has been there for a while, but as a winter coat I didn't mind as it was out of season. I called in advance, just before midday, and the owner said it was ready. When I arrived she was not there, the sign was up saying 'Back in 2 shakes of a lambs tail'. I got some photos while waiting, and an episode of 'That 70's Show' was on. This is my Iowa Hawkeye coat, and this is why the owner calls me 'Iowa'. I had seen it earlier, after it was dry cleaned, it looked like a tye-dye shirt but I didn't mind. She also did some sewing on it, as it was ripped especially around the zipper. Some of the sewing was done right in front of me as I noticed one hole was not completely closed. I also gave her a postcard I found at Cheapo Records, it was a Laundromat scene with a man in a cowboy hat next to the dryers. She was arguing with an employee on the phone when I was there.
   After this I went to a Little Caesar's and got a large pepperoni pizza, so more airline miles. Then it was on to Midway Stadium as I wanted more photos there. There was a crew setting up for The Replacements concert scheduled for the next day, already saw the stage up, in the outfield near the scoreboard. I mostly got my pictures outside the stadium, especially of the murals. But I also got one inside as there was an open gate. This was how I got one of the stage. I even climbed the steps to some seating just beyond an outfield fence. I figured it was fine as long as no one said anything, and nobody did. I saw a few people there, but they seemed too preoccupied with their work to care about me taking some pictures.
   I chose this as a day off so it was easier to attend the homecoming football game at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, and the game started at 5pm. I did walk around the neighborhood a little before the game, after stepping off the light rail. Found a comic book shop, but it was closed and not sure when it would be open again, some mention of a recorded message to find out. Another thing was a model railroad museum. Roosevelt won their game, 42-8 over crosstown rival Edison. So it was the Teddies playing the Tommies. Roosevelt led at the half, 21-0, after the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. Roosevelt was helped by a fumble, as well as some bad snaps on punts, to get good field position which led to the first-half TDs. Edison finally scored near the end of the game. Edison was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, I always say this kind of penalty doesn't have to happen. Cooler heads should prevail. After a short time home, just over an hour, I was out again, this time the comedy club.
   At the comedy show, the sub teacher did ones about spaghetti and gas station pizza. Others were about the missionary position, and mom comparisons in his relationship. Worthington did one about taking a bus to Dallas. It would be like if the South fought itself, and his dad taking him off of speaker phone. Perkins did one about a family cruise, and trench foot. Others were about his mom's eye surgery, 'porn hub and Dahmer', and his dad who sweats after showers. Mr. Pibb did one about a book that led to a cop tied up in the trunk. Others were about clowns and commitment, Legos, and elephant condoms. Tortoise and Hare did one about the cemetery as a hoarder. Others were about shark week, and shopping at the same Gap. International Falls did one about looking somebody's friend's mom, by a street harasser. Others were about 'upset about ignorance', dream catchers, dog rescue and a police dog poem, and ripping out an IUD. Oklahoma did one about liking to leave 30 minutes earlier. Others were about local politics, waiting tables/tartar sauce, and cigarette lighters. Mason City did one about somebody passing gas in an elevator. Others were about Facebook likes, like a family reunion, and a bread raper. IED/IUD did ones about Jane Goodall, as well as sweatpants and crocs. I got a shout-out. Fantasia did ones about 'do they just want Taco John's', and how the Illuminati get pushed around on Youtube. Grizzly Adams did one about a bird feeder. Others were about a high school wrestler, walking his cats, college commercials, and a bald drug. Ragu did one about Comcast. Red-faced comic did one about 12/13 CDs. Others were about a pizza place, and a desert island. The bartender did ones about North Minneapolis, 'taco-cat', and an animal shelter.

City Pages, Stadium Concerts

    I do the routine thing of going through emails after work. Today there was actually two that caught my eye, about the same subject as they were both from City Pages. I read through the online version of the story and then went to the neighborhood grocery store to get the print version. The cover story is 'Midway Stadium's greatest hits'. It shows an LP record inside a baseball glove, in reference to this being a baseball venue primarily. It covers many of the concerts held there since the St. Paul Saints baseball team started playing there in 1993. Some of the acts I just have their CDs, like Soul Asylum. I am pleased to say I have performed comedy at one place this band was at, the 400 bar. I also have a Counting Crows CD, an act that performed there more recently. Two others sounded familiar, in terms of seeing them on the same tour but at different venues. I did see the B-52's/Pretenders show in 1998, and REM in 1999, at a suburban Chicago venue as I lived there at the time. The Pretenders show was memorable as it was postponed a few days due to a death in the family of one of the artists. This was my first year in the area. I went to Tinley Park, in the south suburbs, for both of these shows. It was called the New World Music Theater, and later on the Tweeter Center (not Twitter). This was the name of a chain of electronics stores, and was before the creation of the social media site. I have seen one show at the Saints stadium, and it is mentioned in the article. This was Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson in July 2005. I mainly went to see Willie Nelson as I am not too familiar with Bob Dylan's music. When I told my dad about my plans to attend the show he said 'They are two old hippies'. It was the same year Willie played Uncle Jesse in the 'Dukes of Hazzard' movie, and it was mentioned at the show. Naturally the article was inspired by the last scheduled event at Midway Stadium, The Replacements concert this weekend. I have one of their CDs.
   Like many Thursdays, this was a good 'Catch-up' night. I am thankful I got one thing in particular crossed off my list, listening to Bob Newhart on the Marc Maron podcast. It was from a month ago, another comic- University Accountant- informed me about it. The podcast was nearly 2 hours, but I liked listening to it. Plenty of stories were told about comedians he has worked with over the years.
   At work our department meeting has been rescheduled more than once, in hopes of finding a day where all of us can attend. My 'Work spouse' has been ill for the past two days, and I am out of the office on Friday, so it has been pushed back to Monday. The political science guy said 'Call me a field marshal'. He also asked me about internet dating sites I am on.

Circus World, Dirty Dozen

    I just waded through IMDB listings for John Philip Sousa, 'The march king', after seeing a response to my comment on Youtube after listening to 'The Thunderer' 2 months ago. I said it was in the movie 'Bronco Billy', where Clint Eastwood ran a circus, and 'Teddy and Alice', a play about President Theodore Roosevelt and his daughter. The response said it was in a movie called 'Houdini', the search result said it was from 1953. Most of the Sousa listings were for 'Stars and stripes forever', no surprise there. But there was listings for about a dozen other movies using 'Thunderer', including 'Dirty Dozen', and 'Circus World'. I found out 'Circus World' is a John Wayne movie. So this may explain why it was used in 'Bronco Billy' as well, keeping with what is appropriate on a circus theme. I like building my knowledge wherever and whenever I can. I find out sites like IMDB, Youtube, and Wikipedia are wonderful sources of information.
   At the comedy club tonight, the preschool teacher was MC. She did ones about singing 'down by the bay', ate a baby?, image search after getting dumped, a Huck Finn outfit, and OK Cupid. Mr. Pibb did ones about a cop in the trunk, along with 'clowns and commitment'. Perkins did ones about a family cruise, his mom's eye surgery, 'porn hub and Dahmer', and his dad who sweats after showers. The red-faced comic did one about 12/13 CDs. Others were about Little Caesar's pizzas, stuck on a desert island, and karate. Self-checkout did ones about fat or fatter, it did happen, talk to the dog, and his son's DARE seminar. Bathtub comic did ones about an escaped zoo animal, and polar bears sent to Detroit. Others were about stolen babies, and photo albums lost in a flood. The Wisconsin man did ones about the NFL's Packers doing yoga, ED commercials, Taco Bell/Liberty Bell, and a personal fat roll. Hillary Clinton look-alike did one about 'you get me'. Others were about a web cam channel, 'get you wet with tears', and a Brazilian wax. Oklahoma did ones about leaving 30 minutes early, tartar sauce, cigarette lighters, and college sports being like local politicians. The Bartender did ones about 'taco-cat', living in North Minneapolis, and an animal shelter. Kentucky did ones about dic-pics, a hernia test, and 'fish and dam'. The bankrupt guy from two days ago was also there. A comic I have seen before was there, he has two first names since his given surname is too long. He did one about smoking and working out. Others were about pushups leading to AIDS, and hearing 'you're handsome'.
I recognized many of the other comics. I write down notes on the comment cards at the table. I noticed one of them already had markings on it, appears to be a kid's drawing of a dog. it said 'Love Sadie'.
    I got a look at the sketch I was in, the trailer that is. I wanted to after I got a facebook message from the big dog asking why I had made no comments yet. because I hadn't seen it yet. so I did the first viewing overnight, liked what I saw. but I wanted to watch it again later on before I gave my full review. I viewed it two more times in the evening after work. then I left my comments on a different thread, saying I like the soap opera theme.

Converter Box, Best Buy

    I got a converter box at Best Buy tonight as I kept trying to use the one I had but it looks like it had crapped out on me. My dad gave me that one when he decided to get satellite TV. It was hard to find a St. Paul paper, but I finally found one after seeing it sold out in five different places. I wanted to read the article about the naming rights for the Saints baseball stadium.
   A good night as usual at the comedy club, Capital City was the show closer. She did one about being called a MILF, but she isn't one. This was in the viral video that Mason City did. Others were about a 'jannie', and being called 'Auntie' by her friends. Blind Side did one about a creepy office colleague. others were about 'The Simpsons' and 'Cops', and lions and jet-skis. Bartender did ones about 'taco-cat', and pets at the shelter. Self-checkout did one about 'fat or fatter'. Others were about  ugly people, or 'uggos' doing candid photos, and his son's DARE seminar. Mason City did one about Zoloft, and 'fight or flight'. Others were about half-day kindergarten, 'visiting angels' retirement home, an elevator ride, and 'Bilbo and bread'. Perkins did one about construction workers and tennis. Others were about a family cruise, his mom's eye surgery, 'porn hub and Dahmer', and his dad who sweats after showers.   

Chinese Sex Robots

    Tonight at the comedy club the Worthington native was show closer, and he did a joke about Chinese sex robots. I also liked how he brought back the OCD/El Camino therapist joke. And of course it was nice to get a shout-out. Others were about his dad's retirement hobbies, being a cyber-bully to his dad, and the bad boy of bass fishing. Before the show it was nice to see the godmother and the Mason City native, though neither were picked to go onstage tonight. As usual, Mason City was helpful on music. I spoke of finding out how 'Blinded by the Light' was a Bruce Springsteen song. I knew it as a number one hit, by Manfred Mann's earth band. He said there was another song Springsteen wrote that was a hit for another artist. It was 'Because the Night', I knew the 10,000 Maniacs version. Springsteen is a co-writer along with Patti Smith. It was also nice to see the big dog, since we shared a few laughs.
    Turtle Check did jokes about his parents arguing and how he 'changed shapes'. Laundry did ones about his kid doing a street jokes, and about mowing the lawn. Maryland did ones about Mr. Clean, hockey, his condo, yoga pants, and O'Doul's. Baby puppet did this joke. Others were about being a whiskey drinker, you're still here?, and a family reunion. The 'Extra murder' comic did ones about a new kitten, and the inspector related to it. Louisiana did ones about baggage claim, and serial killers. The Wisconsin man did ones about his butt being like Cuba, Taco Bell, and a personal fat roll. Perkins did ones about a family cruise and his mom's eye surgery. The big dog did ones about bad porn, practicing piano, chivalry is dead, and Christian mingle. Red-faced comic did one about karate. Fever comic did ones about airport sandwiches and deer suicide. A comic I see every so often was there. He now lives in Florida and was married to a Puerto Rican. He did ones about filing bankruptcy and waffle makers. Postage stamp did one about his niece trying to tell jokes. School bouncer did ones about Fox News, hoodies, and 'don't need you'. Bathtub comic did ones about a squirrel at a donut shop, living in a former doll factory, and a swing set. Opera singer did ones about his brother working as a re-enactor at Ft. Snelling, and the Mall of America.