BufBloPoFo- Days 2 through 13

Mr. Garvey- if you read this- cut me a bit of slack... I've been sick for 5 weeks now. Doctors won't give me antibiotics 'cuz it's viral and I'm not in the BEST OF MOODS. So, I would like to catch up on the last 13 days of BufBloPoFo.

So, here we go...

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 2:What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten?

I think the best gift I ever got was actually last year. I wrote a show called "Familiar Strangers", and it was a dance musical as told through the music of Joni Mitchell. 28 songs- I put my heart and soul into that bugger. Most Beefy Gen 1's were around to read about it.

My boyfriend at the time, A Boy, did this beautiful piece of artwork for me. He calligraphied a variety of lyrics from each of the songs in the show into the gorgeous mosaic. This thing was huge- probably 32 inches by 24 inches. It must have taken days and days for him to do. I looked at it for the first time and cried. No one had ever done that for me before. It was absolutely beautiful.

Too bad I ripped it up when I found out he was tryin' to bang his ex while we were together. It was much prettier in 84 pieces than in 1, anyway.

Next topic...

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 3: Those who know me know I tend to look for what’s wrong with something. I’m a happy man, but a consummate pessimist. Ignore the same tendencies you may have and write about the things that went right today. Plenty of Wegmans brand raisin bran for breakfast? All green lights on the way to work or to school or to Wegmans to buy more raisin bran? Maybe other good things happened that were not cereal related? Share!

Let's see... what was right about today...

- my Desi Arnaz CD came in.
- my nose wasn't as stuffy as yesterday
- my house is quiet.
- I had Tim Horton's coffee for brunch.
- Angus has slept all day.
- I did 2 loads of laundry.
- the sun is shining at 6:45pm.
- I visited my parents.
- I talked to my oldest sister (which really made my day!)
- things are... good.


BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 4: Who would play you in a movie? Who would play me?

I think Vincent D'Onofrio would play me in a movie. People say I look like him and I always loved his creepy performance in The Cell.



Who would play you, Mr. Garvey? Ummm... I think Kevin James.

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 5: Patty recently instructed on Starbucks etiquette. Beers and I occasionally talked about the proper way to ride the el in Chicago. Everyone has an opinion on the correct way to hang toilet paper. What do you think too many people do wrong? Well, here’s your soapbox, participants. Take a stand and teach society something.

I think too many people use the word "myself" incorrectly. People nowadays are afraid of the word "me". "Should you have a question, please contact myself" is INCORRECT ENGLISH. "Please contact ME". Oh yeah, and starting a sentence with "Should" means you are afraid of the word "IF."

We didn't have these issues in the 70's OR 80's.

*sheesh*

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 6: What kind of stuff (toys, books, TV shows) were you into when you were a kid? Do you think that had an effect on what kind of a person you are today?

Toys: Lincoln Logs; Tonka trucks; string; making forts out of blankets; getting Colecovision at the age of 7 was thrilling, even though we only had 1 game for it and noone knew how to play it; stinkbomb berries in the backyard; mud pies; basketball and hockey in the driveway; fisher price everything; and I will never forget my Snoopy jack-in-the-box.

Books: All of the Ramona and Beezus books; Where The Wild Things Are; Rikki Tikki Tembo; Judy Blume (!); Madeline; Richard Scarry bedtime stories...

TV Shows: Guiding Light (after school, being latch key meant I got to fall in love with Reva AND Josh Lewis!); World News Tonight with Peter Jennings; The Waltons; The Brady Bunch; The Love Boat; Fantasy Island; Dallas; Silver Spoons; Punky Brewster; The Cosby Show.

All of it has helped shaped me into the person I am today. I wouldn't change any of it for the world.


BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 7: Open up your wallet/purse/backpack/hobo bag on a stick. What’s the one thing in there that no one else has in their wallet/purse/backpack/hobo bag on a stick? What’s been in there the longest, having never been used?

The one thing in there that no one else has is a picture of my sister with her feet on a statue of a midget pegleg sea captain.

What's been in there the longest? My Social Security Card from when I was 12.

What's been in there the longest that's never been used? An old phone # I got. It's now in the garbage.


BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 8: What are you listening to these days? New stuff? Old stuff? This isn’t a hipster competition; I just want to know what’s in everyone’s ears out there. Playlist me. Or, if you don’t feel like making suggestions, open up your ipod on shuffle and just jot down the first ten songs that pop out.


Beefy Music Sunday - March 16, 2008

1) Feedback - Janet Jackson
2) Briony - Atonement Motion Picture Soundtrack
3) It's A Good Day - Peggy Lee
4) Piece Of Me - Britney Spears
5) Whatever Lola Wants - Peggy Lee
6) Get Me Bodied - Beyonce
7) Hey Baby - Bow Wow and Omarion
8) With My Own Eyes - Atonement Motion Picture Soundtrack
9) Sea Lion Woman - Feist
10) The Girl From Ipanema - Peggy Lee

Can you tell I'm:
1) writing a Peggy Lee musical
2) teaching hip-hop class (which as changed names to ABP: Adult Booty Pop)
3) obsessed with light-classical soundtracks with typewriters as instruments?

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 9: Share your own insider’s perspective on your hometown. Most of you, like me, are Talkin’ Proud, so share your expertise. What’s your favorite way to spend a Buffalo summer day? Which old timey Buffalo movie theatre is to most old timey? What’s your most vivid Buffalo memory (any Buffalonian worth his or her road salt knows where they were when the pigskin went wide right.) Your favorite Buffalo restaurant? (If you say Wild Wings, you’re dead to me.)

My hometown... I am a huge Buffalo fan. I moved back here 5 years ago after a brief stint in Fort Lauderdale and I'm so glad I did. My parents are still here, and 1 of my 5 sibs is here with his family as well. So, I get to be Super Uncle to Aidan, Zach and Lola. My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's last year, so it's extra special that I'm here so I can help him and my Mom whenever they need it.

My favorite way to spend a summer day is to play lots and lots and oodles and oodles of tennis. Then go down to The Hatch for Perry's Ice Cream and watch the boats on the water.

My favorite movie house in Buffalo is the North Park. The seats may be uncomfy, but the tickets are $5, the popcorn is free and the ceiling is out of this world spectacular. And it's rarely, if ever, busy. Last movie I saw there was "There Will Be Blood." I drink your milkshake!

My most vivid Buffalo memory (personal memory) are 4th of July nights at Bassett Park with the family. Those nights were always wonderful.

My favorite Buffalo restaurant varies. For the french onion soup, it's Gabriel's Gate. For the ambience, it's Mother's. For old time good "Buffalo feel", it's Jovi's. For an all around great evening, it's anywhere with friends.


BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 10: Remember elementary school when your teacher would let you write about whatever the hell you wanted? Well, I’m heading to the teacher’s lounge for a stiff drink, so write about whatever the hell you want. Got a post in you about Van Halen? Mitochondria? Pominville? Samuel Gompers? Spuds Mackenzie? Do it up.

I am going to steal Mr. Garvey's idea: 50 random Buffalo things that stick in my mind:

(1) Clint Malarchuk's neck (2)Jimbo's on Genessee (3) BBQ chicken wings from Marvino's (thanks, Jimmie!) (4) Club Heat (5) the smell of Cheerio's on a spring evening (6) ghosts on Linwood (7) Millard Gates and Nurse Michael (8)Sabres Sundae (9) TED'S (10) Franklin Street Theatre (11) Summer movie night at Bacchus (12) photos at Delaware Park (13) Wegmans (14) the 33 (15) the 198 (16) MUNY tennis tournaments (17) BAC Hip Hop (18) coming back on tour and playing Kleinhan's as Big Bird (19) La Mancha at The Kav (20) Huntington (21) Danny Moves My Fanny In The Morning (22) that wiggly thing they used to hand out in the early 80's that looked like an uncut penis - was it the "Whammy"? (22) Susan Hunt on PM Buffalo (23) Brian Kahle and Cindy Abbott on AM Buffalo (23) Commander Tom (24) UB Elicott Dorms (25) Katharine Cornell Theatre (26) Aunt Rosie's Loganberry (27) pre-casino Niagara Falls (28) hookers on Chippewa (29) Buffalo Bandits (30) Molly's Pub (31) Goldie on PBS (32) The Great TV Auction (33)RAY FLYNN'S (34) underage drinking at RAY FLYNN'S (35) singing Handel's Messiah at RAY FLYNN'S (36) Fun House Pinball at RAY FLYNN'S (37) Tim White shaking Tic Tacs to Santana songs at RAY FLYNN'S (38) not being able to walk at RAY FLYNN'S (39) breaking up with my first boyfriend at RAY FLYNN'S (40) being counseled by Marie at RAY FLYNN'S (41) finding a homeless man in my car on my 22nd birthday at RAY FLYNN'S (42) The Jackson 5's 1984 tour (43) Ani DiFranco (44) The Glass Room at AKAG (45) The Planetarium (46) Tifft Nature Preserve (47) Anderson's (48) nosebleed seats for Hulk vs. Andre the Giant Steel Cage match at the Aud (49) Forest Lawn Cemetery (50) Artie Awards.

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 11: Answer these questions:

1. What is your favorite word? What is your least favorite word?
2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? What turns you off?
3. What sound or noise do you love? What sound or noise do you hate?
4. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? What profession would you not like to do?
5. What is your favorite curse word?
6. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

What is your favorite word? quiet
What is your least favorite word? moist (ew)
What turns you on creatively? classical music; angles in art; bold colors.
What turns you on spiritually? happiness
What turns you on emotionally? strength of character; honesty.
What turns you off? someone being a total douchebag for no reason whatsoever; lack of intellect.
What sound or noise do you love? violins; tennis balls bouncing; laughter.
What sound or noise do you hate? forks on teeth.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Theatre owner.
What profession would you not like to do? Doctor or nurse
What is your favorite curse word? fuck
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Michael, this is your Grandpa Caisse and this is your Grandpa Walline."

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 12: Write an “About me” paragraph consisting of things your readers don’t really know. We all “like to read, travel, and party with friends”, but your next topic is to talk about the things that are totally specific to you.

OK...

About me- I, Michael Walline, like to sit at home alone with no TV on and listen to Gustav Holst music (especially "Venus" and "Mars"), I do all my choreography when I drive, I pull out 5 paper towels every time I go into a public restroom after washing my hands, and I refuse to wash utensils (unless I live alone- if not, the roommate has to do it).

BufBloPoFo Topic for Day 13: When the writer’s return kicks back in and all the good TV comes back, what’s your viewing list going to be?

Oddly enough, I don't have ABC,NBC,CBS or Fox. So this doesn't really pertain to me. And I just watch TLC and Bravo anyway, so if it isn't reality-based or doesn't have the word "Project" or "Top" in it, I probably don't watch it.



I am now up to speed, Mr. Garvey. Thank you for the reprieve.