Brain Drain Game

 

"Never use a big one, when a little filthy one will do."

~Johnny Carson

Yes, I know, I was MIA yesterday, because, well, I didn't wanna. I feel like I am one horrific Trump incident, from checking myself into Briarcliff! ( see American Horror Story/Asylum ) because the truth is, Tuesday kicked my ass! We won't even know for several days, or even weeks, what the what will be as far as the California races go. However, there are some things that seem clear right now. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass will go on to a runoff in November, but it hasn't been determined yet if Spencer Pratt is who she will be running against. Also, it's fairly clear, at least to me, that in the governor's race, Xavier Becerra and Steve Hinton will face off in the fall, as Tom Steyer is out of the running. Yikes. I have a knot in my stomach just thinking about it. But for right now I am not thinking about it, I'm concentrating on enjoying my summer, and not taking it all that seriously. I need to take my vitamins. Laugh as much as possible and enjoy life, because there will be a lot to fret about come the autumn. So, while I deal with the overwhelming brain drain I am experiencing, lets take a look back at the Johnny Carson show from November 12th, 1976. 

Frank Sinatra, Olivia Newton John and David Janssen!

True celebrity royalty!

Bonus Video... The Full Wedding Of Tiny Tim to Miss Vicky

December 17th, 1969

Ukalele Lessons

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."

~Plato

While on my little art walk down Addison st last month, I looked up from the poetry panels and noticed this sign outside a music shop. The thought of learning the ukulele made me smile. I have always thought of maybe taking music lessons, but the piano was what I had in mind, I had never considered the ukulele. But somehow, as I was smiling that day, the idea of playing that particular instrument intrigued me! Sure. Why not?

I have officially added ukulele lessons to my bucket list!



Sing, it with me now...

Tip-Toe Thru The Tulips With Me

                                                 Tiptoe, through the window
                                           By the window, that is where I'll be
                                        Come tiptoe through the tulips with me

Ladies And Gentlemen... Tiny Tim (Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In)




I can see myself holding impromptu ukulele concerts. You'd come... right? 

Mood: Silly

~Me :)

He Made Me Laugh...

"Honestly, it's the kids that made us successful. They had a good outlook, and we made it fun."

-Dick Martin, referring to the show "Laugh-In."



It made me sad today to find out the comedian, Dick Martin, had passed away last night. It always makes me sad to hear that someone with so much talent for easing the stress and sadness of the world, has passed on. As you know, humor has saved me more then once, in fact, humor mine and others, continues to heal me in all sorts of ways. Part of what is keeping me going, when it comes to Elvis's illness, is the fact that he is a natural comic. He does something unusual or funny every single day.

Most recently he made us laugh by belching. See, he has to take a certain anti-biotic by mouth twice a day. He hates the taste, but he takes his medicine with very little complaining, however, he does get a little nervous about it, and usually swallows a lot of air, as he swallows the medicine, resulting in... well... belching. And not just little kitty belching... lion sized belching! LOL. It might sound mean, but I can't help but snicker. It's so cute, and yes, funny.

Elvis likes the sound of laughter, so after he is done with the excess air, he usually gets a little grin on his face, similar to a baby who has just passed gas, and then comes over for giggle time which included playing with his favorite mouse and a ball of yarn. There are more funny little routines he has, but I have gotten way off topic, the death of Dick Martin.

I loved watching him on Laugh-In when I was a child. Martin was the comedy to Dan Rowan's straight man. I loved his humor. I loved his facial expressions, and I loved how he interacted with the cast members and the guest stars. I especially loved the clip above, which I found in YouTube a few months back. In my opinion, it is one of the best moments out of the series. Watch it... it will make you laugh out loud. It's a classic. It is a performance of Tiny Tim, singing his uber hit rendition of, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips."

Thanks Dick Martin for making me laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

-Bill Cosby

-OndineMonet

1 Of 40 Million

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."

-Benjamin Franklin

One of the good things about having a mother who was legally insane, was that it was perfectly ok for me to completely skip my bedtime in favor of watching The Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson. LOL. I don't know why I have been having so many memories of my family coming up in my brain lately, but if the truth be told, those memories aren't always so bad. Like the night my mother, my sister and I watched Tiny Tim marry Miss Vicki on the Tonight Show. It was December 17th, 1969, and I really thought that must have been the wedding of the century. Actually, I found out from TV.com that it was the highest rated episode of the tonight show, during it's entire run! We were one of 40 Million households that tuned in that night.

My sister and I always stayed up late watching TV or gabbing away as sisters do. She is 10 years older then I am, and so often times she is the one who took care of me. Mom would be in some dark, vacant place that depression takes you, so bedtime wasn't strictly enforced. Dad worked the graveyard shift, so it was just my sister and me... watching Carson. It's a happy memory, it only sounds sad. On the night Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki, sis and I went all out. We made cheese puffs in the oven, Jiffy pop on the stove, and drank a few bottles of very cold Coca-Cola, you know, out of those little green bottles. :)Yum. And we laughed. But when the wedding started, everything went quiet. Mom came in the living room about half way through, and sat down with us on the sofa. She smiled, then she laughed, then we all laughed. You could just feel the usual tension lift away.

I was hoping I could find a video of Tiny Tim's wedding to Miss Vicki on YouTube, but it was nowhere to be found. I did however find this video of him singing, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. It is worth watching, so give it a look see. He will make you smile, if not for his quirkiness, then certainly for his charm. I miss his brand of odd charm and silliness. He was an original to be sure. Do you know, my whole life, whenever I get scared I sing. I have no idea why, but I do. I usually sing some novelty song, such as "People Are Strange" by The Doors, or "Home On The Range," or my very favorite for when I am truly petrified, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips." :) I think I have Tiny Tim to thank for seeing me through a lot of panic attacks! Thanks old friend! :)

Tiny Tim Memorial Site

Tiptoe Through The Tulips
As Sung By Tiny Tim and Carly Gordon :)

Tiptoe through the window
By the window, is where I'll be
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me

Oh, tiptoe from the garden
By the garden of the willow tree
And tiptoe through the tulips with me

Knee deep in flowers from the garden
We'll keep the showers away
And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight
Will you pardon me?
And tiptoe through the tulips with me

Go ahead... sing that song to yourself and try not to smile. :) I dare you! :)

-OndineMonet
Pictures 1, 2, 3
Golden Gate Park
Tulip Garden and Windmill
San Francisco, California
March 21, 2007
Late Afternoon