As The World Turns

When I was a tyke I spent quite a bit of time at my grandparents' house on the north side of Ft. Worth (looking back on it I guess it was el barrio but I was from a suburb so I didn't know any different). You see...

Both of my parents worked full-time jobs and on their way to work they would drop my sister and me (and then when my brother came along him too) off with my grandparents. Oh don't worry. They stopped the car so that we didn't have to do a tuck 'n roll.

When it was time to start school we were enrolled at a parochial school that was not far from them so that we could stay at their house after school until our parents could get us.

I loved my grandparents but my grandmother had this odd thing about television. You see...

She wouldn't turn on the television during the day while we were there unless it was time to watch the noon news, followed by Bobbie Wygant (the entertainment reporter on the NBC affiliate) who always ended her spot with "bye-bye!" It was then time to switch to the CBS affiliate to watch As The World Turns. I grew up with the Hughes Family and the Stewart Family. They were like family to us.

After As The World Turns was finished the television was turned off until it was time for Dark Shadows. Yes. I was a toddler watching a soap opera about vampires. When that was over the television was turned off again. On a rare occasion my grandmother might turn it back on for Dialing For Dollars.

OK. So back to As The World Turns. At one point (and this was after I had started school) my mom was working close to her parents so at lunchtime she would go over there. She started watching As The World Turns because her own parents would ignore her for thirty minutes while the show was on. My grandmother always referred to it as the show. And yes, even though my grandfather acted like he wasn't interested he could tell you every story line that was happening.

There was one character on the show named Annie. Annie was real sick. So one day back at my house we're sitting there talking about Annie being sick and my dad gets real concerned because he thought my Aunt Annie was really sick. We got a good laugh out of that because that is when we realized how the citizens of Oakdale had become a part of our life.

I don't watch As The World Turns much any more. My parents watch it religously and so does my sister. However, I can turn it on and in one episode pretty much figure out what has happened in the past year.

I had been alerted to the fact that Cyndi Lauper was bringing her True Colors Tour to Oakdale so I made it a point to watch it the other day. Cyndi did a great job on the show. And in case you missed it, I have the YouTube clips for you.

I wondered the other day what my grandparents would have thought of Nuke (Noah & Luke) kissing on the show. However, considering everything else that has happened on the show, I'm sure my grandmother would have sighed and said something in Spanish to my grandfather and left me wondering what was said.

I can definitely say, the show today ain't my grandmother's show.

True Colors Tour (corrección)

OK. So I took a quantum leap in time and erased about 7 years of my life. Unfortunately I have the wrinkles that proved I lived those years.

A reader of St8 Up With A Twist noted an error in years. And the reader is correct. She's So Unusual was released in 1983. I should remember that 'cause I had it on a cassette.

True Colors Tour

Sounds like I missed a (in the voice of Ed Sullivan) "really big show" last night in The Woodlands. For a review of the concert, go to this blog on the Houston Chronicle website.

The review said this about Cyndi Lauper:

The diminutive singer works hard onstage, more so than any pop act I've seen in recent memory. She pushes the crowd, pushes her band and pushes herself — almost to the point of exhaustion. It's a thrilling sight to see.

She's So Unusual

I got to thinking about Cyndi. I saw her on tour when she released She's So Unusual. So that was sometime in 1990. And get this, Flock of Seagulls was her opening act.

In May 1997, Tina Turner kicked off her Wildest Dreams Tour in The Woodlands. Oprah showed up that night. Cyndi was the opening act. It was a trifecta. I remember that Cyndi told us she had just found out she was pregnant. So she did most of her set sitting on a stool.

Then...when Cher came to town (the first of many times) in August 2002 with her Living Proof - The Farewell Tour, Cyndi was the opening act. What sticks in my mind about her performance that night is the fact that she performed on crutches.

You see...the previous night in Oklahoma City Cyndi fell of the stage during her set. She was obviously in pain when she performed in Houston but she gave it her all.

I *heart* Cyndi Lauper!

The Day After

I'm feeling a bit spent today. It's not that I was over served on adult beverages last night. However, it was a long but fun day and evening. After my run and running errands, I never really relaxed before heading out to sell beads.

I'll have photos posted soon from yesterday's festival. It was a bit wet during the festival and everyone who came out to partake of the festivities needs a nice pat on the back...and a dry towel.

The Krewe of Olympus did well on the bead sales. Thank you to everyone who supported us.

Doug and Micheal must have been doing their best rendition of Barbra Streisand's Don't Rain On My Parade because just in time for the parade to start the rain stopped.

I was home by 1030p and took The Calvinator out for a late stroll before I passed out on the couch watching Pulp Fiction. Just as well. The last thing I remember is that they were ready to give Uma Thurman a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart and I always look away during that scene.

It is just around 200p and it hasn't rained yet! The Calvinator and I went out over to Memorial Park for a 1+ mile stroll. He's passed out right now...seriously. I might join him for a nap before I go to 500p Mass at St. Anne's.

Looking forward to hearing a recap about tonight's concert at The Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavillion up in The Woodlands. Cyndi Lauper brings the True Colors Tour to town. Cyndi will be appearing with Debbie Harry, Erasure, The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip and The Misshapes. Margaret Cho is the host for the evening and Rosie O'Donnell will make a special guest appearance. Sounds like a little bit of something for everyone! I'll keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't rain on the those with lawn seats.