My Denture Adventure began in May, 2017. I have documented much of it in YouTube videos. Here is my channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDgh1KG7RXb_2cvWcNA7WiQ?view_as=subscriber
Here is a playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbqPzJajp_fXuXOLfWuutK37X_Ek5ADoO
My YouTube handle is T00thless. Note the Os are zeros.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Music in my Car
I keep the car radio scanning most of the time. There is very little I actually care to listen to on the radio these days. I have a short list of songs that I will stop on when I'm scanning. They include Harvest Moon by Neil Young, Paralyzer by Finger Eleven, Here without You by Three Doors Down, Uprising by Muse, Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, anything by Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Boston or Barry Manilow, and a few others that won't come to mind at the moment.
During the Christmas Season, as I've mentioned in another post, I have a much better chance of hearing a Barry song than during the rest of the year. Also during Christmastime, I count the number of times I hear Please Come Home for Christmas by the Eagles, which is my all-time favorite Christmas song. I heard it for the first time this morning on my way to work. That's 1.
I am proud to say I now own Harvest Moon and Please Come Home on CD, so I can listen to both of these at will.
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During the Christmas Season, as I've mentioned in another post, I have a much better chance of hearing a Barry song than during the rest of the year. Also during Christmastime, I count the number of times I hear Please Come Home for Christmas by the Eagles, which is my all-time favorite Christmas song. I heard it for the first time this morning on my way to work. That's 1.
I am proud to say I now own Harvest Moon and Please Come Home on CD, so I can listen to both of these at will.
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Thursday, October 12, 2017
Mani-Show #7
I had no idea Barry was coming to Boston until a dear friend tagged me in a post on Facebook about it. I started looking for tickets the moment I knew. I didn't want to pay $300 for my seat, but I also didn't want to sit way up in the nosebleed $25 seats. To be that far away from him wouldn't even feel like being in the same room with him! I complained to my two sisters about the exorbitant ticket prices, and with my birthday coming up, they offered to pitch in and help me pay for my seat! What nice sisters. So I ended up purchasing a ticket in the 13th row on the aisle at TD Garden. Unfortunately there were a few tall people in the seats in front of me but I managed to get a good view by bobbing side to side and occasionally stepping out into the aisle.
I filmed as much as I could. The low battery light on my camera blinked once again, but it never did actually die. I left during Copacabana as I usually do. Did not care to stay and have streamers come down on me. I've only ever seen the streamers on video, never in real life.
Barry was great as usual, although he struggled singing "I am Your Child" and even said afterwards, "that was pathetic".
I was so happy I got to go! 7th show, 13th row. I don't regret a penny of the $294.50 my ticket cost, plus $35 to park.
I filmed as much as I could. The low battery light on my camera blinked once again, but it never did actually die. I left during Copacabana as I usually do. Did not care to stay and have streamers come down on me. I've only ever seen the streamers on video, never in real life.
Barry was great as usual, although he struggled singing "I am Your Child" and even said afterwards, "that was pathetic".
I was so happy I got to go! 7th show, 13th row. I don't regret a penny of the $294.50 my ticket cost, plus $35 to park.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Mani-show #6
I won an award at work that came with a monetary bonus that afforded me a ticket to go to see Barry at Foxwoods this past Saturday night, May 27th, 2017. What an amazing concert! I filmed as much of it as I could. I regret not fully charging my camera battery before going. I thought about it and decided against it because I had just charged it within the last week or so and had hardly used it since. However I should have charged it fully because the low battery icon started blinking well before the show was over. I filmed as much as possible and the battery never did die. I recorded "I Write the Songs", "I Am Your Child", "Even Now", "Weekend in New England" and "Daybreak", which I had never seen him sing live in its entirety but always wanted to, so that was a wish fulfilled.
My other regret was not studying the layout of the casino to figure out the best (meaning closest) parking garage for this theater. The first garage I parked in was ridiculously far from the theater but I had a lot of time to spare, so I went and tried to move it closer. If possible, I think the second lot was even further! But whatever, I can use the exercise.
Upon leaving, I discovered the very first garage entrance I had passed when I first got there, had a huge sign that said it was the best lot for the show. And that was when I remembered that that was the same one I had parked in the last time I had seen him there, the night I won $1,800 and sat in the second row on my nephew's birthday, March 28th, 2015, and it was ideal, indeed the closest lot.
I just love this man so much! I loved him when I was young and I still love him now. I am so happy he's still alive, especially with all these great musicians dying lately, like David Bowie, Prince and more recently, Gregg Allman. I'm so grateful he's still performing! Even though his shows these days are few and far between.
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My other regret was not studying the layout of the casino to figure out the best (meaning closest) parking garage for this theater. The first garage I parked in was ridiculously far from the theater but I had a lot of time to spare, so I went and tried to move it closer. If possible, I think the second lot was even further! But whatever, I can use the exercise.
Upon leaving, I discovered the very first garage entrance I had passed when I first got there, had a huge sign that said it was the best lot for the show. And that was when I remembered that that was the same one I had parked in the last time I had seen him there, the night I won $1,800 and sat in the second row on my nephew's birthday, March 28th, 2015, and it was ideal, indeed the closest lot.
I just love this man so much! I loved him when I was young and I still love him now. I am so happy he's still alive, especially with all these great musicians dying lately, like David Bowie, Prince and more recently, Gregg Allman. I'm so grateful he's still performing! Even though his shows these days are few and far between.
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Cinco de Mayo twenty-ten
Before the memories fade I should capture my thoughts on the Tom Campbell Workshop. Well, first of all, being in his presence is vastly superior than watching him or listening to him on the computer! Tom seemed as glad to meet me as I was to meet him, and although I reached out to shake his hand, he wasn't having any of that, it had to be a hug. I was starstruck and dumbfounded, and all I could think to say was "You're real! You're really real!" as if there was ever any doubt. They were in the midst of last-minute preparations so I just settled into my seat and worked it out so Bette, Art and Katie could sit up front with me, and it didn't occur to me until the second day or maybe even the third that I had mentioned to Bette previously in a private message that I hoped the door would be in the front instead of in the back this time because she wanted to sit near the door and I've always liked to sit up front.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
The Big E
I've been going to the Big E (Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA) for 25-30 years now, practically every year. It's usually a few weeks before my birthday, so I started a tradition many years ago of buying myself a new and different pair of crystal earrings from the same kiosk every time I go. This time was no exception. I bought a lovely pair of dark pink heart-shaped ones. Last year I purchased the same heart shape, only in a deep purple. This year, I also managed to get a replacement for an earring I lost, although there were actually two singles I was hoping to match, but they only had one not the other.
Besides my annual earring purchase, the other highlights were the weather (about 85 and bright sunshine, possibly the best weather of any year I've gone) and hearing a Barry Manilow song being piped through some speakers hidden in some trees. It was "Ready to Take a Chance Again", not one of my favorites, but I was delighted to hear him nevertheless. It was so odd and unique, hearing Barry at the Big E, I decided to capture it on video, just in case no one believed me.
I often combine my annual pilgrimage to the Big E with a visit to my sister's town fair, Celebrate Shutesbury. The dates usually coincide. Sometimes I am thwarted by traffic for the Belchertown Fair, which is often on the same weekend as Celebrate Shutesbury, but this year I was not bothered by any traffic, because the fair in Belchertown would be the following weekend. As delightful as the weather was for the Big E, it was equally perfect for Celebrate Shutesbury. It was nice spending time with my sisters and brother-in-law, and watching my sister and brother-in-law perform.
Two other highlights of the Big E were seeing my friend Nan, who I met over the summer and works year-round at the gift shop on the fairgrounds, and following a little boy in a wagon whose parents had bought him a battery-operated bubble-blowing machine, which he was happily playing with in the wagon. I actually did a 180 to follow that little boy, and it occurred to me had I not been alone, I may have been embarrassed to ask anyone I was there with if we could please follow that family because I was enjoying the bubbles. I went to the bubble-gun kiosk twice, wanting to buy one for myself, but the vendor had no bags and it would have been awkward to carry around for the rest of the day, along with my water, keys, sunglasses, reading glasses and everything else I had on me. I don't like to carry a bag if I can help it.
Besides my annual earring purchase, the other highlights were the weather (about 85 and bright sunshine, possibly the best weather of any year I've gone) and hearing a Barry Manilow song being piped through some speakers hidden in some trees. It was "Ready to Take a Chance Again", not one of my favorites, but I was delighted to hear him nevertheless. It was so odd and unique, hearing Barry at the Big E, I decided to capture it on video, just in case no one believed me.
I often combine my annual pilgrimage to the Big E with a visit to my sister's town fair, Celebrate Shutesbury. The dates usually coincide. Sometimes I am thwarted by traffic for the Belchertown Fair, which is often on the same weekend as Celebrate Shutesbury, but this year I was not bothered by any traffic, because the fair in Belchertown would be the following weekend. As delightful as the weather was for the Big E, it was equally perfect for Celebrate Shutesbury. It was nice spending time with my sisters and brother-in-law, and watching my sister and brother-in-law perform.
Two other highlights of the Big E were seeing my friend Nan, who I met over the summer and works year-round at the gift shop on the fairgrounds, and following a little boy in a wagon whose parents had bought him a battery-operated bubble-blowing machine, which he was happily playing with in the wagon. I actually did a 180 to follow that little boy, and it occurred to me had I not been alone, I may have been embarrassed to ask anyone I was there with if we could please follow that family because I was enjoying the bubbles. I went to the bubble-gun kiosk twice, wanting to buy one for myself, but the vendor had no bags and it would have been awkward to carry around for the rest of the day, along with my water, keys, sunglasses, reading glasses and everything else I had on me. I don't like to carry a bag if I can help it.
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Manishows #4 and #5
On June 16th, 2015, the night before his 72nd birthday, I went to see Barry in Boston. My seat was ok, nothing like the second row on March 28th but within the first 15 or so, on the floor again. I captured a few pieces on video and posted them to YouTube. Thank God for video since my memory is just not that great.
On March 15th, 2016 I went to see him for the fifth time. It was in Manchester, NH. I took half a day off from work so I would not be late for the show. I ended up killing so much time in the parking garage, I also killed the battery in my car! I freaked out a little, worried that I might miss the show. But triple A sent someone very fast to jump start my battery. The tow truck driver instructed me to leave it running for at least a half an hour to let the battery charge. After twenty minutes or so I couldn't stand it any longer. I was afraid I might miss Barry coming out so I turned off the car and ran to the arena.
My heart was pounding as I presented my ticket and passed through security. He had already started! I missed the opening but I was in about the ninth row and let me tell you, Barry looked FANTASTIC! Of all the times I'd seen him, this last one he looked the best. I think they made his eyebrows darker or something, but he looked amazing. At one point he opened his eyes really wide and I got a good look at them on the Jumbotron. The blue of his eyes made me swoon. I couldn't control myself and I said to the stranger next to me, doesn't he look AMAZING? Or maybe I said fantastic or fabulous but she turned to me slowly, nodding and grinning in agreement. What an incredible show.
Barry says he's finished with touring but that he is not retiring. He will still perform and record albums, he's just finished with packing and room service. Dear God I hope I get to see him again, but if it turns out #5 was my last, it's fitting that it was at the same venue as my first.
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On March 15th, 2016 I went to see him for the fifth time. It was in Manchester, NH. I took half a day off from work so I would not be late for the show. I ended up killing so much time in the parking garage, I also killed the battery in my car! I freaked out a little, worried that I might miss the show. But triple A sent someone very fast to jump start my battery. The tow truck driver instructed me to leave it running for at least a half an hour to let the battery charge. After twenty minutes or so I couldn't stand it any longer. I was afraid I might miss Barry coming out so I turned off the car and ran to the arena.
My heart was pounding as I presented my ticket and passed through security. He had already started! I missed the opening but I was in about the ninth row and let me tell you, Barry looked FANTASTIC! Of all the times I'd seen him, this last one he looked the best. I think they made his eyebrows darker or something, but he looked amazing. At one point he opened his eyes really wide and I got a good look at them on the Jumbotron. The blue of his eyes made me swoon. I couldn't control myself and I said to the stranger next to me, doesn't he look AMAZING? Or maybe I said fantastic or fabulous but she turned to me slowly, nodding and grinning in agreement. What an incredible show.
Barry says he's finished with touring but that he is not retiring. He will still perform and record albums, he's just finished with packing and room service. Dear God I hope I get to see him again, but if it turns out #5 was my last, it's fitting that it was at the same venue as my first.
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