BOSCH SMOSCH

Bosch . . . and people I love,

Some of you went shopping with Carol and me last year when I bought my Bosch dishwasher at Lowe's. The old Frigidaire dishwasher had gone to hell. The pump on it was broken. I didn't know how old it was, so rather than spend a fortune fixing it, buy a new dishwasher.

I did all sorts of research. Tons of people said Bosch is the best dishwasher, but you have to get used to it because it's not like American dishwashers (no garbage disposal in the bottom--instead a filter that traps stuff; doesn't get really hot to dry the dishes--use the sanitize button and pour in a little white vinegar).

I could handle that. I found a Bosch on sale at a good price. It did everything I wanted except put the dishes away. I bought her.

nice black dishwasher in my black-and-white kitchen

filter in the bottom--easy to remove
never has anything in it, but it gets moldy FAST

Bosch and I had a good relationship for a year. I put dirty dishes in her. She washed them. I took them out and put them in the cabinets. I used her about twice a week. But when that year was up, the year of her warranty, she attacked me. She quit draining. She wasn't full of water, but she had too much water in her bottom.

I had purchased the five-year extended warranty on electrical crap. I called Lowe's. They sent a repair person. He took out a little tiny piece that he said had broken off the pump. He'd get a new one. It was covered.

He returned a few days later and put in the piece.

She's been out to get me ever since.

After I run her, I never know if she'll have some water sitting in her bottom. I never know if the dishes are clean. They seem kind of scummy even though I use those dishwasher tablets that Big Mama Bosch says I should use. Sometimes the container with the tablet doesn't open at all, so there's this wet, crumbly tablet in it. I have to take it out or move it around or whatever, and then eventually she works.

Bosch, you are a bitch.

I keep thinking I'll call the repair people again, but I'm afraid it won't be something electrical because of the thingy with the tablet not opening. Then the repair person will charge me a million dollars for every fifteen minutes he's here.

Besides, SOMETIMES SHE WORKS! I never know when she's going to work. It's this grand and glorious surprise when I open her and there's no water in the bottom and the dishes are clean and God is in His heaven and all is right with the world.

She is out to get me. If I call and ask for service, then she'll work. Or I'll call and ask for service, and it will cost all kinds of money I don't have.

Maybe i'll take her temperature rectally.

Nah. She'd fart in my face.

I want my daddy.

Daddy would make bad Bosch behave.

I can tell you one thing for sure: I will never buy anything other than a Maytag dishwasher ever again in my whole life. NEVER.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

Franklin says:

Wow, Franklin! 

Where did you learn that naughty language?

Yeah, I know Frankie.

It's mommy's fault.

SHE SIGHED

"I wish I were dead," she sighed.

"Why?" he replied. "You already are."

THE CEPHALOPOD COFFEEHOUSE: CREATING A JOYFUL LIFE BY JENNIFER WILLIAMS-FIELDS

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

It's time for The Cephalopod Coffeehouse, hosted by The Armchair Squid.

The idea is simple: On the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same.  In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.

Last month I had the great honor of introducing you to the adorable children's book, Ten Zany Birds by Sherry Ellis, which I edited. You can purchase it on Amazon at http://goo.gl/at9OTL.

My favorite book for June is one that I'm equally honored to present because I edited it (before you know it, I'll be tellin' ya that I've edited every book in the world), and because it happens to be a great book. It's Creating A Joyful Life: The Lessons I Learned from Yoga and My Mom by Jennifer Williams-Fields.

Jennifer very graciously gave me a copy of this book, but, of course, I do not receive remuneration for the reviews I write. You can buy the book on Amazon at http://goo.gl/miKmgb. It looks like this:

Isn't that a beautiful and inviting cover? I'm impressed.

Here's how our author sums up her book:

My mom was a yogi before the term yogi went mainstream and became synonymous with yoga pants, yoga teacher trainings and mala beads. A flower child of the Sixties, my mom was raised on 'all you need is love,' the laws of karma and female empowerment. As far as I know she never stepped foot onto a yoga mat until I became a yoga teacher and she came to my class just to be sure I had at least one student in attendance.

Williams-Fields goes on to teach us ways to learn about ourselves and how to solve our problems. She offers meditations, affirmations, personal experiences, and yoga movements.

I loved editing this book because as I worked, I felt as if the author wrapped me in a soft blanket and patted me on the back and said, There, there. It will be all right.

It's such a comforting book, filled with kind knowledge. Of course, Creating A Joyful Life: The Lessons I Learned from Yoga and My Mom earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest and Most Loving Approval.

Jennifer Williams-Fields, I don't know if I'll meet you in person until we leave this earthly life, but I feel as if I know you. I am a better person for knowing you and reading your book.

Thank you for allowing me to be your editor.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

DID SID'S MA REALLY OFF HIM?

Dear Lady Macbeth . . . and the rest of you who simply cannot remove those nasty blood stains from your hands,

Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols was one of the contenders in my most recent Battle of the Bands. 

He lost.

Always a loser, poor boy.

Anyflop, a number of you seemed interested when I mentioned that Sid's mum admitted to killing him with an overdose of heroin because she knew he wouldn't be able to handle prison, which is where he was most likely headed as a result of killing his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Actions have consequences sometimes, Sid.

Sid and Nancy in happier times. Ha.

I decided to conduct a little research to see what I could learn about Sid's mum, and I reached the conclusion that no one knows the truth except the people who were there, and they are dead as can be.

That Sid's mum bought the heroin that killed him seems to be undisputed. Others attending the happy Sid is out of jail party said that Sid overdosed, so they kept him awake. He went and died on 'em anyway. Was it because his mommy gave him another shot?

Sid's mum committed suicide in 1996. Most likely BEFORE she died, she said she found a suicide note in his pocket. I've also read and heard that she gave Sid the overdose intentionally.

I don't think we're going to learn the truth, and it doesn't really matter.

Anycorpse, you can watch the movie Sid and Nancy, if you like. Gary Oldman is quite good as Sid. I've also learned that a documentary called Who Killed Nancy? is available on YouTube. Apparently a number of people feel that Sid did not kill Nancy, that he was too out of it on drugs to have stabbed her. I read a couple of reviews of the documentary. Most people don't think it's very good, so I doubt if I'll bother to watch it. 

My time is precious.

Now, let's let Beck take us out with Loser.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

Shut up, Kanye. Just shut the fuck up, and don't ever, ever again interrupt when someone wins an award. Yo mama did not raise you right.

And you and Beyonce and whatever might make a lot of money, but you will never play as many instruments as Beck does, you will never have the vocal range that Beck has, and I will never come to see you because I saw Beck and I don't need anything more.

NOT A SHUT OUT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

It's time to announce the winner in the current Battle of the Bands.

Although many voters didn't really like Frank Sinatra, they preferred his version of My Way to the "stylings" of Sid Vicious.

Francis Albert Sinatra is the winner with twenty-one votes. Sid Vicious had five votes.

To see the videos from the competition, please click HERE.

Both competitors were sad. Sinatra was well known as a big spender and extravagant host, but the man was a bully. I don't know how many times he retired and made a comeback, but toward the end of his career, he couldn't remember words to the songs, and he stumbled on the stage. Apparently his wife and children couldn't save him from embarrassing himself, or maybe they liked the money he continued to bring in.

Sid Vicious had a brief career as part of the Sex Pistols, and then a very brief solo career. He died at age twenty-one of a heroin overdose. His mother made a deathbed confession that she gave him the overdose intentionally because she knew he would end up in prison for murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, and he wouldn't be able to take life behind bars.

Now let's enjoy My Way as it should be sung. It's not my favorite song, but from the throat of Elvis Presley, it's beautiful. His voice is subtle and tender, and then he soars into the drama of the song.

Here's The King:




Elvis had his problems, too, and died so young. Like Frank, he had difficulty performing toward the end of his life. But I love so many versions of the songs he left behind.

I have some work to do, but I'll be in touch as often as possible.

Elvis and the Junebug have left the building, but I'll be back.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

YOU'RE THE BEST

Rosalind . . . and Orlando,

I have the best followers in the whole world. I hope I'm half as good as a follower to you as you are to me.

I appreciate it that so many of you expressed concern for me when I didn't feel well last night.

I am pleased to report I slept well. My back hurts more than usual, and it suddenly occurred to me a few minutes ago that the worst pain is where the doctor poked me in the back yesterday to find out where my back hurts. Well, I can pinpoint the places now!

Floating in the pool would probably help, but it's so hot I don't even want to go floating. Just leave me in the AC with my Franklin and my Netflix.

Keep on a-talkin', Willy Boy. Your sweet voice always helps me feel better. I like some of your other parts, too.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

NOT TONIGHT, DARLINGS, I HAVE A HEADACHE

Dear Battle of the Banders . . . and Loved Ones,

I'm sorry but I'm not going to get around to visiting your posts this evening. I hope I will be more productive tomorrow (Tuesday, June 16, 2015).

I couldn't sleep last night. This morning I had my yearly physical. The doctor I was seeing moved, so I made an appointment with her replacement. It didn't go well.

I slept this afternoon, and now I feel so sluggish that I think someone should pour salt on me.

As God is my witness, I will correct grammar again!


Infinities of love,

Janie Scarlett O'Hara


And now courtesy of fishducky, who so kindly filmed me:

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: MY WAY

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

It's time for the June 15, 2015, smack down of the Battle of the Bands. Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy provides us with this information about the bloghop:

The whole thing is really quite simple: You select two different versions of the same song (versions you feel might give each other some competition in the voting) and you post them on the 1st and the 15th of each month.

On the 7th and 21st of each month, you add your own personal vote to the mix, total up all the votes and announce the winner on your blog.

Beyond that, just try to have fun with it and let your readers/voters have fun with it.

Paul Anka, a successful singer in his own right, wrote English lyrics to a French song and called it My Way. Anka angered his own recording company by offering the song to Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in 1968 and released it in 1969. 

Because Sinatra is so closely associated with My Way, we'll begin with his version:




Sinatra died in 1998, a legend in his own mind time. I was never a Sinatra fan. His voice just didn't do it for me. He seemed so full of himself. It must be tough to live with all that adulation and not develop a sense of grandiosity.

A bit of trivia: Sinatra's mother, known as "Dolly," was an abortionist. She did not charge women for her services. She was arrested several times and convicted twice.

And now for something completely different, even though it's sort of the same song. Here's Sid Vicious after leaving the punk rock band, the Sex Pistols:






Sid's (John Simon Ritchie's) recording of My Way was released in 1978––nine years after Sinatra's. The same year, Vicious awoke in The Chelsea Hotel in New York to find his girlfriend Nancy Spungen––his equal in the unconventional and repellent––dead from a stab wound. Spungen is credited with introducing Vicious to heroin, but his mother already supplied him with a variety of drugs.  

Police arrested Vicious for murdering Spungen, but he drew a Get Out of Jail Free card when Mick Jagger paid his bail. In 1979, after detoxing and spending time in notorious Rikers Island, Vicious partied with his new girlfriend and some friends, including his mum, and overdosed on heroin. He was twenty-one.

I don't know if I'll vote for Sinatra or Vicious. Sinatra sang and danced in movies and won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for From Here to Eternity. He sang the conventional ballads loved by millions and was considered a brilliant stylist. Yet, I never liked him, and I've read many accounts of his cruelty to "friends" and lovers. The man had a vicious temper.

But Sid Vicious? He wasn't a real singer. He was all attitude. The Sex Pistols' "songs" leaned toward the nastay. Vicious helped introduce a new crudeness to music. Punk gave outcasts and rejects a home of their own. 

The Ramones, Patti Smith, the Sex Pistols: They led the way toward bands such as Nirvana. 

Courtney Love, formerly of Hole, is practically Nancy Spungen's clone.

I don't think many people would say Sid Vicious was a nice guy, but he was part of something new and different. He had a Sinatra temper.

Please vote in your comments. Do you prefer Frank Sinatra or Sid Vicious on My Way?

I'll cast my own vote on June 21st and tell you the winner.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

I GOT ME SOME READIN' TO DO

Dear Hearts . . . and Gentle People,

I have a manuscript to read. If all goes well, I will then edit the manuscript.

I shall visit you as often as I can, which could be a lot if I don't get the job.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

Franklin, you live here.
You know I won't ignore you, especially at dinner time.
You have to feed me.

VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

About a million years ago before I was busy editing and lots of other people were AtoZing, two bloggers nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

At long last, I accept.

I thank Cherdo of Cherdo on the Flipside and Veronica Rundell of V's Reads.


The Rules for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and link to their blog.

2. Display the award logo.

3. Nominate 15 other bloggers (more or less) and provide a link where they may be found.

4. Go to their blog, leave a comment to let them know they have been nominated.

5. Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks.

Nominate fifteen other bloggers? Uh, uh, most people don't accept awards, or they've already received this award. Let me see if I can find some sucker inspiring blogger who might accept.

I nominate:

1. A Life Examined

2. Baiba's Blog

3. 1 Making A Difference

4. dcrelief

5. Words Incorporated

Okay, that's five, and five is a multiple of fifteen, and it's a prime number, so I think we can stop there.

Now I'm supposed to mention three things that inspired me the most during the past few weeks.

1. Franklin (he's not really a thing--he's a person, only better)

His kindness inspires me because he will
drive me anywhere I need to go.

2. Willy Dunne Wooters (he's not really a thing except when I objectify him)

Need I say more?

3. Shady Del Knight

He's a peeping tom, and I love him for it.

Thanks for the award. I doubt if I inspire anyone to do anything other than take off their clothes.


Infinities of love,

Janie Juneubug

VOTE COUNT & I ORDERED A SWIM SUIT

Romeo . . . and Juliet,

I should have given you the vote count for my Battle of the Bands (see HERE and HERE).

Including my vote, it was nineteen for The Muppets, and twelve for Wayne and Garth. When I wrote the post, I thought, Everyone will vote for the Muppets. They are sooooo cute. I felt happy that Wayne and Garth received their share of votes.

Party on, Wayne. Party on, Garth. Party on, MUPPETS!






I want to start swimming again. Our thunderstorms usually don't arrive until late afternoon, so I can swim after lunch, AND I AM NOT WAITING AN HOUR AFTER LUNCH BEFORE I SWIM, MOTHER. We didn't need to do that. We still don't need to do it.

I ordered a swimsuit today because, although the one I had last year was soft and nice, it didn't exactly fit properly. My right boob popped out of the tankini all the time. Not cool.

So I ordered a one-piece suit. I am a bit worried. I bet you think I'm afraid my left boob will pop out, but that's not it.

I'm afraid I'll have droopy boobs because the suit doesn't have underwire, not does it have a shelf bra. I want to be comfortable, but I don't want boobs down to my knees.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

sorry

I'm sorry I haven't visited your posts. I'm sorry I haven't posted and replied to comments.

Mommy has a headache. Sucky allergies all weekend. Told Willy Dunne Wooters to please go home about eight last night. I was asleep thirty minutes later.

See ya soon.


The Junebug

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY WINNER

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I have the winner for my first Battle of the Bands. The song is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. My competitors were Wayne and Garth of Wayne's World v. The Muppets.

To see the competitors, click here.

And the winners are (drum roll, please), by the hair on Animal's head,

Rather than re-play the competitors, I give you Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen at Live Aid, 1985.



Can you do the fandango?


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

BIG BATTLE OF THE BANDS ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

You have until midnight tonight (it's Saturday, June 6th, 2015) to cast your vote in my Bohemian Rhapsody Battle of the Bands.

Click here to see the post and vote, if you haven't already. It's Wayne and Garth (with Queen) v. The Muppets. Tomorrow I'll cast my vote, struggle to add the total number of votes, and then announce the winnah.

Yesterday I wrote a post about how much it bugs me to try to talk to call center reps in India. Click here to read the post.

I want to add something about pay in call centers. ABC News reports that the average India call center pay is $2,400 a year. The average American working in a U.S. call center allegedly earns $20,000-$40,0000.

I've never worked in a call center. I've also never earned $20,000. The most I've ever earned in a year is $18,000.

Yeah, small town newspaper journalists don't earn diddly squat. Considering I can't find a job, I would be super grateful to earn $20,000. I also suspect that $2,400 goes a lot further in India than it does in the U.S.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

I AM DONE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS IN INDIA

Dear Othello . . . and Iago,

I suppose someone will call me a bigoted bitch today, so go ahead: Get it out of your system.

Janie, you are a bigoted bitch.

But am I? Are you sure?

When a number of American companies moved their customer service call centers to India, I felt concerned about the loss of jobs in the U.S. They weren't usually high paying jobs, but sometimes making a bit is a whole heck of a lot better than making nothing.

Call center employees in India usually earn $2,400 A YEAR.
Employees in the U.S. make $20,000-$40,000.
Information from ABC News.

Today, I had to call Norton, the company that's supposed to protect my computer. As soon as I heard the voice of the customer service representative, I knew the person was Indian. Are you from the U.S. and working in the United States? I asked.

He admitted he wasn't, but requested repeatedly that I give him a chance to solve my problem. I requested repeatedly that I be assisted by a rep from the U.S. who works in the U.S.

What's my problem?

As I age, my sight and hearing diminish. Although many Indians know English grammar better than people in the U.S., their voices tend to be somewhat high pitched. They talk in the singsong manner of a person reciting memorized scripts, or of a person who is Indian but speaking English.

I am tired of saying, Pardon me? Please say that again. I can't understand you. I can't hear you. You have not solved my problem. It's clear to me that you don't comprehend my problem.

While it's true that a rep working in the U.S. might not solve my problem, at least I understand what the person says. When I call Amazon, I'm told which city in the U.S. I'm reaching.

I knew today that I was done with call center reps in India. I also tried online chat. The rep spelled my name "Jain." Few names in the U.S. are simpler than Jane. If he couldn't read and then type "Jane," then how could he help me? I called again and spoke to a woman on the telephone. Are you a U.S. citizen working in the U.S.? I asked.

No, but I can help you, she said.

I told her what was wrong. She didn't understand. I had difficulty understanding the questions she asked me. Finally, I said--yet again--I want to talk to a citizen of the United States who works in the United States. She tried again to get me to change my mind, and then reluctantly gave me a different phone number.

I called. I understood the man. He understood me. He asked me to forward some emails to him. He will figure out what's wrong.

Even if he can't figure it out, at least when he tells me, I'll know what he says.

From now on when I hear a foreign voice on the telephone when I need customer service, I shall demand that I be allowed to speak to someone from the U.S. who works in the U.S. I read an ABC news story that said some call centers have departed India to return to the U.S. because it takes multiple, frustrating calls to an Indian center to resolve a problem. If you feel the way I do, then I hope you'll insist on speaking to a U.S. citizen who is in the U.S. Let's bring those jobs back to our country. Let's bring those voices we understand back to our ears.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

MOVIE WEEKEND: CAKE AND STILL ALICE

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I am appalled. I have not written a MOVIE WEEKEND since Feb. 26th when I reviewed Whiplash. We have us some catchin' up to do.

We begin with the movies I watched most recently. They focus on women.

The first is Cake (2014, Rated R, Available on DVD). I saw this movie on a DVD that arrived in my mailbox thanks to Netflix.

Cake generated some Oscar buzz because of Jennifer Aniston's performance as Claire, a woman who lives with chronic pain because of a terrible car accident.

Jennifer Aniston always looks so perfect that I enjoy seeing her look like crap (Am I mean? I never watched Friends and didn't get the hooplah over her hair hanging in her face.). She doesn't seem to wear make-up except for that which creates scars on her face and body. She is pretty good at moping and groaning because of the pain, but an Academy Award nomination? Nah. No nomination was the correct decision.

This movie is not for children. I don't know if teens would want to watch it. Cake earns The Janie Junebug Seal of I Admit I Walked Out Of The Room To Pee Without Hitting The Pause Button. The movie simply roamed the screen. I won't tell you not to see Cake; I won't tell you to see Cake. Maybe you love Jennifer Aniston. Maybe you want to see her look sad. It's up to you.

Our second movie is excellent, and won a well-deserved Best Actress Academy Award for Julianne Moore, who is Still Alice (2015, PG-13, Available on DVD). I watched this movie on a DVD, again very kindly delivered to me by Netflix.

Alice Howland is a brilliant linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. The evening I watched this movie, Favorite Young Man came over to get a dog crate for his puppy. I couldn't think of the words "separation anxiety." In my own small way, I felt Alice's pain. I thought, OH MY GOD. I HAVE ALZHEIMER'S. I am a word person who often cannot think of a desired word. It drives me insane.

This movie is beautifully written. Alec Baldwin plays Alice's husband, John. He is a dickwad. I know he behaves exactly the same way my own ex-husband would have if I had received such a diagnosis: He puts work ahead of relishing time with Alice--the final days that Alice can remember, partially, and enjoy.

Still Alice is very dramatic. I read some reviews that say Julianne Moore is too dramatic. I thought about how I would feel if I learned I had Alzheimer's. How would I react? I'd probably be more dramatic than Moore. I also don't believe she won the Academy Award because people felt it was her turn.

Watch the movie. See what you think.

This movie is not for children. I don't know if it would interest teens, but they might want to see Kristen Stewart, who plays one of Alice's daughters.

Still Alice earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Sad Highest Approval.

Willy Dunne Wooters was not interested in these movies, so he didn't watch and provides no rating other than I'm the hostess with the mostest.

I can't say happy viewing today. I wish you thoughtful viewing instead.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

LYRICS TO BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Because I used Bohemian Rhapsody for my Battle of the Bands post (CLICK HERE to see the post and vote if you like), I think it prudent to post a version of the song with the lyrics. For years, I wasn't sure what the heck Queen was singing.

Thank you, God, for sending someone other than Al Gore to invent the internet so we can look up lyrics.




I read online, perhaps on all-knowing Wikipedia, that as Queen became increasingly successful, Freddie Mercury played the piano less, although he was a proficient pianist. The reason: He was afraid he'd make a mistake. He preferred strutting around the stage to rouse (not arouse) the audience.

I've never feared making mistakes on the piano, but I've never had thousands of people cheering me on. Perhaps now is a good time to start. Yay me!


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Gentle Readers . . . and  Maxwell,

Recently my beloved friends Cherdo of Cherdo on the Flipside and Shady Del Knight of Shady Dell Music & Memories became affiliated with a bloghop called The Battle of the Bands.

I don't know if the concept for this bloghop originated with Stephen McCarthy, but since he can be found at  STMcC Presents 'Battle of the Bands," I requested information. He added me to the list of participants and provided this simple format:

The whole thing is really quite simple: You select two different versions of the same song (versions you feel might give each other some competition in the voting) and you post them on the 1st and the 15th of each month.

On the 7th and 21st of each month, you add your own personal vote to the mix, total up all the votes and announce the winner on your blog.

Beyond that, just try to have fun with it and let your readers/voters have fun with it.

I definitely want to have fun with this hop, so my first song choice is Bohemian Rhapsody. 

You think I'm going to play Queen, don't you? Fooled ya already.

I begin with Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey)  from Wayne's World, along with some of their buddies. However, they are backed by Queen. According to the Internet Movie Database:

Myers had originally developed the Wayne character as a solo character while performing with Second City. The character of Garth was added for Saturday Night Live (1975). At the time, Carvey was arguably the bigger star.

The movie Wayne's World was released in 1992, and became quite a success:

Party on, Wayne and Garth!

My second version of Bohemian Rhapsody is by none other than the Muppets:



My favorite Muppets, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, appear in the video.

Jim Henson created the Muppets in 1955, starting with Kermit the frog. In 1969, some of the Muppets became characters on Sesame Street. They zoomed to popularity.They had their own television show, and made several movies. I understand they will have another series on ABC in the fall. I don't watch many series, but I won't miss the Muppets. The rights to most of them have been purchased by Disney.

Wikipedia states:
Disney began gradually reintroducing the [Muppets] franchise to the mainstream in 2008. As a method of regaining a wider audience, Disney began to produce and air their own comedy shorts on YouTube. After the "Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody" was posted on the Muppet Studios' YouTube Channel, it ultimately gained 25 million views and took home two Webby Awards. Videos are being posted on the site regularly.

I hope now that you'll vote in the comments section under this blog post. Do you prefer Wayne and Garth (with Queen), or the Muppets?

On June 7th I'll count your votes, cast my own vote, and announce the winner.

Enjoy!


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

P.S. I have two blog posts today because I'm participating in two bloghops.

THE FIRST QUESTION OF THE MONTH BLOGHOP

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I have two blog posts today (Monday, June 1) because I'm participating in two bloghops.

This post corresponds to The Question of the Month, a new bloghop started by Michael D'Agostino of A Life Examined. Here's the way he describes it:

We'll answer the question on the first Monday of each month. The question will be available via the tab at the top of this page [on his blog] and through an email I'll send out to all the people who have signed up. With every question, you've got to explain your answer.

Click on A Life Examined to sign up for the bloghop or to view all the participants.

Michael's first question is the following:

If your house caught on fire, what’s the one thing you’d grab before running out?

I won't answer something boring like my messenger bag or my laptop, and if you read my blog with any regularity, you know that Franklin would be the first one out the door because he'd be holding it open for me.

Look at his wary gaze.
He's always ready to protect me.

So I've chosen two similar items I'd grab. When my two (now) oxymorons graduated from high school, I had one of their senior pictures framed with the letter they earned in school for extracurricular activities. These items are precious to me, and I want to make sure my children have access to them.

Here's a very young Favorite Young Man:

Favorite Young Man played the trombone in the marching band,
concert band, and jazz band. He played basketball, too.

For those of you in Texas and other areas where the rain won't stop, you might think The Hurricane is in your state, but I promise she's not. She's on the wall in my dining room:

The Hurricane is the one on the right.
To her left is her dog, Emma.
She lettered in volleyball and squash.

I hope you have time to check out the posts by the other Question of the Month hoppers, and perhaps you'll answer the question yourself.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug