I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, In Perfect Harmony!

This title lies. I love the world full of disharmony and dissonance... neither of which are displeasing to this girl! Somehow all the stars alined and the Whipty-Do! Crew was able to have a night on the town, aka down the street at Red Rock Karaoke night, but same difference. We belted our hearts out to the irritation of a specific bartender, who we decided wasn't worth our worry, and we continued, maybe even louder. Natalie and I started the night off with a twang-y and pitchy rendition of Sugarland's (what can I say, new obsession, oops!) Somethin' More. Then we all sang Stay Beautiful and Party in the USA (picked by our new bestie, the DJ). Ally and Ellie were super brave, no liquid courage necessary, and sang solo's of I Hope You Dance and Hey Jude, respectively. The next song Natalie and I lined up was dedicated to Abby, so naturally we picked Your Body is a Wonderland, we just couldn't keep it to ourselves everyone joined in. We made friends with the fellow karaoke-ers, G and Tina, Karl and Buck. Heck Yes! Best Friends for Life. If only we were going to be around next Tuesday... and not off starting new lives in many different cities. Maybe the Chicago Girls will be up for Karaoke too, here's hoping!

Alway's Buzzin' Just Like Neon

Once in a while we are given the great pleasure in life to be completely transformed from the inside, out. Does it seem possible that something that begins with the simple movement of finger against string can be converted into a sound wave that can hit the ear, bypass the all too analytical brain and suddenly ignite the heart and awaken the soul? John's fusion of blue-y rifts and eloquent lyrics touch the spirit in more than one way. Suddenly it is possible to see right through his tattooed layers into a broken soul, that is waiting for love to gently reclaim territory. And at the same time it is as though he ascends his own trials and understands exactly the darkest emotions buried inside each of us. When he sang Heartbreak Warfare: "Drop his name, Push it in and twist the knife again, Watch my face, As I pretend to feel no pain" he might as well be channeling my own feelings of discomfort when certain people are surprisingly worked into a conversation. To John, the crowd is not faceless, and not simply a ca-ching! of $42.50 or more. Each of us in a journey, laced with the desire to love and be loved. John has for so long kept the dream alive for me that people truly have the capacity to create such tangible songs. John was in the flesh, no frills, flawlessly raw and intimate and as good as it gets. His appeal is not solely that he has a creative mind that works differently than any other artist, it is his utter relateabilty, knowledge and courage to say to a packed theater what many of us keep hidden and could not confide with our closest friends. Some may say that it is a strategically planned ambiance, but I prefer to think of it as just his style. When you think that John is so in touch with the troublesome emotions of the crowd, and they expect another heavy song, he lifts the crowd and remedies by playing something uplifting of his own, "Good Love is on the Way" or one that certainly got the people with blood shot eyes around me excited, "Who says I can’t get stoned?, Turn off the lights and the telephone, Me in my house alone, Who says I can’t get stoned?" Or he breaks into the vault of his predecessors, and sings out classics such as Raspberry Beret and Don't Stop Believin'. Often when a song is covered the original sensation is lost, and the crowd may not be as rapt in the music, but the way the John makes it his own is unreal and it is impossible not to instantly fall in love with the song all over again, like hearing it for the very first time. 

My Lovely Loyola Ladies

Whipty-Do! Loves Johnny

After moving the crowd for two hours with his musical wiles, it is expected that they would only crave more. When he appeared for the anticipated encore, holding just an acoustic guitar without the accompaniment of his band, my heart fluttered, recognizing the rarity that was about to happen. Then the slow harmony of "Your Body is a Wonderland" came through the speakers and I realized just how rare the moment was. See, John has said that he does not play that song because he feels as though he was young and ill-guided when writing it, and somehow thinks that it doesn't deserve airtime. IT DOES JOHN, IT DOES! The end of that song slowly melted into my all-time favorite, Neon. I don't know why it is my choice, maybe it is because it is what I would like to be sung about me and I like the imagery, "She comes and she goes, like no one knows, She's always buzzin' just like Neon". The first three second, distinguished guitar rift sent chills up my spine and caused me to involuntarily scream. The recording has much of my voice in it (hence why I didn't put it up) because I couldn't help but sing along, but then again you can't blame me because John even said that the experience must come along with the person beside you singing off-key because they needed to, and that person was me. 

Although I enjoyed his witty commentary on the improvements Body 2.0 would have; the real highlight was the more sophisticated, multifaceted use of his guitar. He played it on the ground and behind his head. Nonchalantly, of course. 

Who does that? He was so cool, they need a new word for cool. 

Crucial Knowledge

There are some facts in life that you need to know off the top of your head. No, I'm not talking about China's GDP, the current President of Spain, or even next year's starters for a certain Florida NBA team. What I am talking about is more vital than that, and has currently become the mini obsession at Whipty-Do!

1. Adam Brody 2. Jake Gyllenhaal 3. Matt Damon 4. Prince William of Wales 5. David Beckham 6. George Clooney 7. Patrick Dempsey 8. Richard Gere 9. Chris Noth 10. Jude Law

What started out as innocent fun during a slow hour with Abby Brown, turned into a heated discussion about our Top Ten. (or as Abby more delicately says, "Guys whose bones I want to jump"). Believe me, this list was not easy. There were preliminary candidates, semi-finalist and our final list comprises only who we see as "la crème de la crème". It might seem trivial to some, but the day will come when I am strolling around London and run into Prince William and Jude Law simultaneously. Now I know for sure who I must pick. 

P.S. Another minor obsession is Fondant cake icing. Abby and I made a cake of our own after being inspired by one at Ally's graduation party, and then one for Natalie's family Pondfest. Here is our creation: Groovy right?

Happy Birthday Whipty-Do!

I went back to the Whipty-Do! on Tuesday with Jackie, which was a great mix between both my home and Chicago worlds. I think its safe to say that she was pleased with the colorful umbrellas, painted seating and classic cheery yellow house that has become less like work and more like home. This Thursday I was back with my Whipty-Do! family making cones, shakes and generally delivering happiness to the greater Landen community. It may have started off with a rocky because of my lack of usual excitement, but as soon as I saw my best partner in Whipty-Do! crime, Abby Brown, things were hunky-dory once again. Saturday (today) is Whipty-Do!'s first birthday!! It is decorated to the nine's and cones were only a dollar, I enjoyed a great raspberry flavorburst dipped in ch-AH-colate which is a GREAT thing. Filming the birthday video was chaotic with confetti poppers and blow horns, but Joe's, Blair's and my singing is pretty much a mixture between Fergie and Jesus, so of course that's bound to be good. In other news, I was SO thankful that the peanut-air-infusion was merely gossip but also bummed that BAM! is no longer an acceptable way to hand out delicious treats. All in all, its great to be back at the Do!

P.S. New Challenge: Efficiently made Dip-Top with Sprinkles. It can be done. I promise.

(The Whipty-Do! Family)