Lynn's Random Thoughts

Simon & Garfunkel are reuniting for a North American tour later this year. RollingStone.com reports that the Hall of Fame-inducted duo will play 13 dates beginning April 24th at the New Orleans' Jazz & Heritage Festival.  The New Orleans appearance was widely-promoted, but most of the upcoming trek features newly-announced gigs.  From New Orleans, Simon & Garfunkel will travel north of the border to General Motors Palace in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a show on April 29th. The tour continues through mid-May.  Tickets for most dates will go on sale this Friday.

Simon & Garfunkel have disbanded and reformed throughout the years, but haven't released a studio album since "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  The duo has -- however -- released two live albums since that 1970 disc.  They've released 1982's "The Concert In Central Park" and 2004's "Simon and Garfunkel: Old Friends - Live On Stage."

Here is list of dates on Simon & Garfunkel's 2010 Tour:

April 24 - New Orleans, LA @ Jazz & Heritage Festival
April 29 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
May 1 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
May 2 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
May 4 - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
May 5 - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
May 7 - Fargo, ND @ Fargodome
May 8 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
May 9 - Madison, WI @ Kohl Center Arena
May 11 - Detroit, MI @ TBA
May 12 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
May 14 - Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place
May 15 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre  

I see a lot of these limited engagement tours in the news, but this is the first one to come to Michigan.  I'll keep you posted about the venue.  You can, of course, always keep an eye on our concert page as well!

It's been well over a month since I last blogged about it and FYI, it's STILL going on.  McDonald's in Grand Haven still asks me every single morning if I want a bacon, egg and cheese McGriddle.

A couple of weeks ago I asked one of the employees if they were aware that they'd been asking me the same question every morning month after month after month and I was told that, yes they were aware and that it was a mandate from corporate.  Soooo, I just found the corporate website and wrote them a nice long complaint.  I'll let you know if/when they respond.  Heck, maybe I'll get a free Big Mac out of it! 

Well, mine is anyway.  I've been searching for a part-time job to make ends meet for the longest time, and now I've finally found one.  You come see me at the Family Dollar in Cloverville and I'll ring you up, Baby!

The manager there said that back when she had no jobs, she had tons of applicants, but that since then, people have just quit applying.  If you're one of those who've given up looking, now might be your chance before the extended unemployment benefits finally run out.  After that....fugettaboutit ;-)  

An elderly British woman is crediting a few bad habits for her long life.  The "Daily Telegraph" is reporting that 100-year-old Lorna Gobey says cigarettes and alcohol have helped her live this long.  The Gloucestershire resident has been smoking since 1940, and estimates that she has inhaled more than half a million cigarettes in her life.  Gobey remarks, quote, "I like my smokes, a drop of whiskey and Guinness and I still love to play skittles.  Perhaps it's part of the reason I have lived for so long."  Gobey says her family knows not to ask her to quit, adding, quote, "If they did, I'd put them across my lap and give them a slapped bum."

Go out and have a fun weekend guys!

It was on this day in 1970 that Janis Joplin was fined 200-dollars for hurling obsenities at the cops during a show in Tampa Florida.  It was later determined to be free speech and the case was dismissed.

I found her mugshot at The Smoking Gun.  I thought you might be interested to see it, although it's interesting that what looks like a calendar in the background says it's the 17th...of what month I cannot tell.  Still, all my sources say that today is the anniversary.

Bass player Tom "T-Bone" Wolk -- best known for playing bass with Hall & Oates -- has died.  RollingStone.com reports that Wolk suffered an apparent heart attack over the weekend and passed away on Sunday at age 58.  Outside of his work with Hall & Oates, Wolk had a long run with the house band on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" from 1986 through 1992. He also worked with Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin, Billy Joel, Squeeze, and more.  Daryl Hall issued a statement in response to Wolk's passing, saying, quote, "T-Bone was my musical brother and losing him is like losing my right hand."

Hall & Oates was back on the frontlines of popular culture recently with a Grammy nomination for in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category.  The group was nominated for "Sara Smile" featured on its "Live at the Troubadour" album.

So often the people responsible for the wonderful music we enjoy never get the fame or accolades.  I wanted to be sure to remember T-Bone on my blog today.

Which fads and pop culture figures do you miss?  A third of those taking part in a Dunkin Donuts poll would like to see Polaroids make a comeback.  And despite the convenience of cell phones, 26-percent say they miss the prevalence of pay phones.  Among TV shows, a "Friends" reunion might go over well, as 27-percent wish the popular sitcom was still in production.  Just over 20-percent long for "Cheers" to return.  GM execs might want to take note of this -- 32-percent would enjoy cruising around again in a Pontiac GTO, and 26-percent would love to slide behind the wheel of a new El Camino.  Regarding fashion trends, 20-percent of respondents would be happy to see bell bottoms back in vogue.  But you might want to keep those balloon pants tucked away in the closet a while longer.  Only two-percent are interested in seeing that style return to stores.

Bailoon pants, hah!  Never owned 'em, never will!  I have to say though, I thought all the girls looked better when the bell bottoms came back in style.  I'd buy nothing else, given the opportunity.  Obviously a lot of people miss good music, too.  I'm thankful for that.  It keeps me employed.

What do you miss?

Marie Osmond's son, Michael Blosil, left behind what authorities are calling a suicide note revealing how the final moments of his life transpired.  TMZ.com reports Blosil's note was meant specifically for a neighbor he referred to as his only good friend in Los Angeles.  Blosil had plans with the woman Friday night.  He texted her right before 9:00 p.m. to let her know he had left her a note in his apartment.  The woman went there, his roommates let her in, and then the group found the alleged suicide note together.  The note mentions that he was unhappy and he had done certain things in life for the last time, but did not talk about suicide.  It is believed Blosil's roommates didn't know anything was wrong up until the moment the note was discovered.  Shortly after the woman and roommates found the note, sirens were heard and emergency vehicles arrived at the apartment building. 

Michael Blosil was 18-years-old.  Los Angeles police say he leapt to his death Friday night from the downtown apartment building where he lived.  The show Marie Osmond headlines with brother Donny at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel Showroom has been put on hold.

Michael is the little fellow in the white shirt and vest.

18 years old!  I feel so terrible for Marie and her family.  I'm hard pressed to imagine any other happening in a persons life that could be as horrible.  I have a 15 year old son who is the light of my life.  It would be bad enough to lose him, but by his own hand?  How do you live with that?  My thoughts and prayers go out to the Blosil's.

Steven Tyler is excited to announce that he's "back in the saddle again" with Aerosmith. On a video posted on the Boston band's official website, guitarist Joe Perry introduces Tyler who, in turn, says that he's officially back. 
                   
The video accompanied news of the band's "Cocked, Locked, and Ready To Rock!" tour through Europe.  The tour announcement wraps up months of speculation about the band's future.  Perry had spoken openly about looking for a replacement for Tyler after the singer reportedly expressed interest in focusing on his solo work.  The trek will launch with an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 10th. 

Whose could it be?

A bizarre discovery was recently made on New York's Coney Island. A 140-year-old hot dog was found encased in ice underneath Feltman's Kitchen. The restaurant was once owned by the man who invented the Coney Island hot dog. Officials with the Coney Island History Project say the aged piece of food still had its receipt attached to it. Local resident Quincy Cook remarked, quote, "Coney Island holds a lot of history of Brooklyn and New York, and for them to find a hot dog is just something to add onto it." The hot dog and its receipt will go on display on Coney Island beginning March 28th.

Florida Woman: "My Love Handles Saved My Life"

A few extra pounds may have helped save a Florida woman's life over the weekend.  The "Press of Atlantic City" is reporting that Samantha Lynn Frazier's love handles prevented a bullet wound from taking her life.  The 35-year-old was visiting Atlantic City when shots were fired early Saturday morning.  Frazier -- who was not the intended target -- was struck in the side and rushed to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.  Fortunately, Frazier's pudgy exterior kept her from dying.  She states, quote, "They said my love handles saved my life."  She adds, quote, "I'd been hollering how I want to lose weight.  I don't want to lose weight anymore.  I want to be as big as I can if it's going to stop a bullet."  Police are still searching for the man responsible for the shooting. 

I love it!  I get so tired of people who want to tell us what to weigh, what to drive, how to think, you name it.  The next time some perpetual nag suggests you might want to drop a few pounds, tell 'em, "Hey Know-It-All, my fat makes me bulletproof!  Superman ain't got nothin' on me!"

Billy Joel and Sir Elton John are scrapping plans to tour together this summer.  "The Chicago Tribune" reports that the two rockers -- who've collaborated on their "Face2Face" tour for years -- have canceled all summer dates.  John announced the cancelation on Friday during satellite interviews to promote the Chicago run of his musical "Billy Elliott."  The pop vet said, quote, "It's not my decision, it's Billy's.  He has decided to take a year off.  It doesn't gel with my plans but he's a friend. And as an artist you have to respect his decision."  The English "Rocket Man" added in his comments to Chicago media outlets that he was, quote, "bitterly disappointed" not to be playing at Wrigley Field.

I wonder if this has anything to do with Elton's controversial comments to Parade magazine last week.  I didn't catch the whole interview, but Sir Elton saying that Jesus was "a super-intelligent gay man" might have made Billy want to keep his distance.  I mean, heck, you don't just cancel a major tour with Elton John because you suddenly decide you need a vacation, right?

I don't really know what Elton meant when he made that comment.  I'd like to think that, like most of us, he was personalizing Jesus in order to feel close to him.  How do you feel about it?