The Return of The Lola Shuffle

Finally the weekend is here and Lola is ready to shuffle! Let's see in what kind of mood she is...

1. Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles -Not a favorite. I mean it's the Beatles and it's nice enough but...meh.
2. Apologize - Timbaland ft. One Republic - Ooooh I really like this song...it's got an ethereal vibe about it - not Enya-ethereal, but more trippy ethereal. Great lyrics too!
3. I Drove All Night - Cyndi Lauper - I LOVE this song! This version though - NOT Celine Dion's! Lauper's voice is fantastic in this song...
4. Blessed - Martina McBride - This is a sweet song - puts things in perspective by reminding us how lucky we really are. I like all her songs, they're accessible, a slice of real life. She has a great voice and is so pretty!
5. Wherever You Will Go - The Calling - I had forgotten about this song, when I saw it come up on the shuffle I had no idea what it was. But I remember now, it's great - one of those Snow Patrol/Owl City/Maroon 5/Train type songs - they're all fabulous songs but the bands are completely interchangeable.
6. La Gloria Eres Tu - Olga Guillot - Guillot was one of the great Cuban torch singers - all her songs were so dramatic and so passionate and so so...much. She had a hell of a voice and could rock a ballad like nobody's business, this is one of her best songs.
7. Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley and The Wailers - What a great song for this year - the year of the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement! "Get up stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up stand up, don't give up the fight". As relevant to day as it was in 1973.
8. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - This song is so impossibly romantic - the lyrics are sensual and the music is all about getting close to your partner and swaying. "
   
9. Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi - JOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! This song is awesome - it instantly transports me to some of the best times of my life - I was 23 when this came out - good lord, this song is 25 years old this year!
10. Weekend in New England - Barry Manilow - Awwwwww....this is another smile-inducer. It is so sappy romantic. It's also one of the songs Manilow bashers kinda sorta maybe likeish.

Lola did a great job! A little bit of everything...

Have a wonderful weekend...find a song that makes you smile and then sing it really really loud!

International Women's Day Centennial

YAY Us!

Happy Birthday IWD! 100! You don't look a day over 25.

I was going to Blog some disheartening news about women in the US, but I'll wait for another time - today we celebrate.

In honor of International Women's Day we have a very special Lola's Lady Shuffle...let's see what we get!

1. La Vie en Rose -Edith Piaf (France) - Great start Lola! A perennial classic. It doesn't get better.


2. Emabhaceni - Miriam Makeba (South Africa) Mama Africa...wasn't she awesome?


3. The Lucky One - Alison Krauss (USA) & Union Station - I love her voice, so powerful yet soft.


4. Heaven's What I Feel - Gloria Estefan (Cuba) My home girl - Cubanita made good. I'm so proud of her - succesful career, seemingly happy family, no scandals, no rehab, and remarkable recovery from a horrible accident. She's da' bomb.


5. Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks (USA) -Love them, love this song!


6. Chasing Pavements - Adele (England) - I love this young singer, her voice is so emotive...


7. Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna (Barbados) - How far she's come in a relatively short time, and so pretty. This is a fun song!


8. Fergalicious - Fergie (USA) - Did you think the pretty girl in Black Eyed Peas would blow up like this? And how much fun is this song?


9. Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman (USA) - From her early years - this song is fabulous as is Tracy - you "hear" the soul in her voice.


10. Whenever, Whatever - Shakira (Colombia) - Wooo...shake it! Great song, outrageously beautiful woman and a brain behinmd the pretty face.

If you're a woman celebrate your day...if you're a man, celebrate the women in your life.

The Lola Shuffle - The Chilly Lola Edition

Lola is chilly! Are there i-Pod Snuggies? I can totally see Lola in leopard print. Anyway, it's been an age since Lola shuffled publically...let's see what she has for us:

1. I'm a Woman - Peggy Lee - woooo you go Lola! Way to warm things up! Peggy Lee is smokin' in this rendition.


2. Check on It - Beyoncé and Slim Thug - Pretty hot..."Dip it, pop it, work it, stop it" indeed...


3. It's Oh So Quiet - Björk - Could be chilly, but her voice is so awesome, it heats it right up...


4. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police - Speaking of hot...hello Sting! Plus don't you ladies want your SO to say that about you? "Every little thing she does is magic. Everything she does just turns me on."


5. Calypso - John Denver - Ahhh sailing...warm breezes...tropical drinks. This is one of my favorite John Denver songs :)


6. Grace Kelly - Mika - Hahaha this song alweays makes me smile! It is so insidiously dark while sounding so upbeat and peppy. And Mika totally channels Freddy Mercury in this song...


7. You Belong To Me - Dean Martin - Smoldering heat in that deep smiling voice. And how handsome was he in his hey-day? Also a fabulous standard.


8. Head Over Feet - Alanis Morissette - The happy Alannis song! But she still sounds pissed - hahaha! "And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are I couldn't help it It's all your fault". That's right Alanis you give him the whatfor! Damn him for making you happy!


9. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac - Nothing like a good dysfunctional love song to say romance..."I think, I'm looking on the dark side But everyday you hurt my pride I'm over my head Oh, but it sure feels nice". 'Atta girl Christine...that's healthy! But it's a hell of a song though, 'cause we've all kinda been there.


10. Breaking The Habit - Linkin Park - YAY, early 2000s angtsy white boys! I love this song! They're all upset but don't know why but they just wanna scream..."I don’t know what’s worth fighting for, or why I have to scream. I don’t know why I instigate, and say what I don’t mean. I don’t know how I got this way, I know it’s not alright - so I’m breaking the habit tonight". Brilliant! I blame the video games - but that's just me :)

OK Peeps...go forth and weekendate! Stay warm, have fun, be safe and all that stuff like that there.

The Lola Shuffle - The "I'm Baaaaaack - Sorta" Edition

First, Happy New Year! I hope everyone's year is going well so far. Can you believe 10 years already? Man that really flew!

Next, it's been 2 months and 1 day since I last posted. That's bad. I'm sorry. Thanks to those who have contacted me both to ask if I'm OK and to tell me they miss the Blog - that's really sweet. I miss you all too! I am fine but I've been busy and distracted and well, just not inspired. I don't think I've given up Blogging, I think I'm taking a hiatus or a sabbatical.

Lola also misses you and is ready with the first shuffle of 2010...let's see what we have...

1. Abracadabra - Sugar Ray
2. Pinball Wizard - Elton John
3. One Love/People Get Ready - Bob Marley
4. Bubbly - Colbie Caillat
5. Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
6. This One's For the Girls - Martina McBride
7. Bonito y Sabroso - Beny Moré
8. Raspberry Beret - Prince
9. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
10. So What - P!nk

That's a nice mix...good job Lola.

Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm! OHMYGOD, I am so cold! I am not handling this winter well *at all*.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Lola's Baaaaaaack" Edition

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No not Lola Falana silly! I'll wait while you return from your flashback. I'm talking about Lola the iPod!

Yes it's true Lola is back and she's ready to shuffle.

Actually Lola needs an update soon, lots of new music to add. Maybe for next week. So, shuffle the oldies Lola and let's see what we get...

1. Hand in My Pocket - Alanis Morissette
2. YMCA - Village People (YAY!)
3. Island Girl - Elton John
4. May Your Music Live On - Terrance Simien
5. Shake Your Bon-Bon - Ricky Martin
6. Return To Me - Dean Martin
7. Under African Skies - Paul Simon
8. I Don't Love You Much - Guy Clark
9. I'm Outta Here - Shania Twain
10. 100 Years - Five for Fighting

Wow! Lola is all over the place and it's awesome...way to be eclectic!

Have a wonderful weekend...maybe shake you bon-bon a little, even if it's only in the kitchen while you make coffee...:)

The Lola Shuffle - The " ZOMG* What a Sucky Week" Edition"

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*ZOMG

Since my real life isn't stressful enough (yes, I know the stress is mostly in my own head - don't judge me!) I have embarked on a Second Life. And this week, within this second life, I have managed to find myself in two completely separate dramas - one of which I'm on the periphery, but the second one, oh I'm smack dab in the middle of that one.

It's ridiculous. I think that's why it's bothering me more than it should - I'm annoyed at myself for doing something stupid and not knowing better. I'm not trying to be mysterious, I promise, it's just that I don't want to mix the "two lives" - that would totally push me over the already precipitous edge.

I'll write more about Second Life at some point. Most of the time it's a lot of fun, but like real life, sometimes things get complicated.

So, Lola...do your magic...shuffle me up a good dose of whoopazz...or cheer me up - you decide.

1. Stir It Up - Bob Marley - Oy vey the irony!
2. Baby Can I Hold You - Tracy Chapman
3. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles
4. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac
5. Forever Young - Joan Baez
6. Saoco - Celeste Mendoza
7. Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
8. It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Buddy Holly
9. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Willie Nelson
10. Check On It - Beyonce and Slim Thug

Have a great weekend in whichever life you find yourself.

The Pandora Shuffle - The "Rest in Peace Mary Travers" Edition

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Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary died this week. An iconic figure in American music, specifically the folk music movement of the 60s, her beautiful voice served as a clarion to inspire so much of the awareness and eventual change that decade provided.

Today, rather than a Lola shuffle, I'm using Pandora to provide music that is *genetically* related to the music of Peter, Paul and Mary, as well as songs performed by them. I created a Peter, Paul and Mary "station" and I'm going to list the first ten songs it plays.

1. Sloop John B - Kingston Trio
2. The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel
3. Fly Away - John Denver
4. All My Loving - The Beatles
5. Shower the People - James Taylor
6. Day is Done - Peter, Paul and Mary
7. Flowers Never Bend With the Rain - Paul Simon
8. Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas
9. Wild World - Cat Stevens
10. If I Had a Hammer - Peter, Paul and Mary (A perfect song with which to end, in it Mary's voice is particularly strong and clear!)

"If I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning, I'd sing it in the
evening all over this land. I'd sing out danger, I'd sing out a warning,
I'd sing about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this
land."

That's exactly what Mary , along with Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey did for so many years and in so many songs.

There's a new angel's voice in heaven this week and an angel's voice is always needed - in heaven and on earth. It's been a rough week for me and for people about whom I care very much. Listening to these songs, most of them quiet, gentle and inspiring, has helped.

Have a great weekend!

The Lola Shuffle - The "Make Up for Last Week" Edition

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I'm sorry I missed last week's shuffle...I was busy and time got away from me. So today, Lola will shuffle up 20 songs to make up for the missed randomness.

Of course today is 9/11. Everything that has to be said has been said and then some. When I woke up this morning I found myself thinking about how I felt that day. Upon finding out there was initial disbelief and confusion. Then when they hit the Pentagon and we found out about the third plane there was panic. When I got home and started watching the endless coverage, I think I somehow skipped anger and went straight to deep, dull sadness.

That's what I feel today - sad for the victims, for the families of those we lost, for the country we used to be and will probably never be again, and for the subsequent victims - those who have died in the wars and their families. So much violence, tragedy and senseless loss.

So today I say a prayer for all those who were saddened to a degree that would seem unbearable. And today I gave my husband an extra kiss and a bigger hug when he dropped me off at work, because you just never know...

OK Lola...let's make up for lost time...

1. Dead and Gone - T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake (Wow - that was totally random!)
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Wake Up Alone - Amy Winehouse
4. 'Round Here - Counting Crows
5. Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? - Dinah Washington
6. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Beatles
7. Ugly - Jon Bon Jovi
8. Jungle Love - Steve Miller Band
9. Cry! Cry! Cry! - Johnny Cash
10. Botch-A-Me - Rosemary Clooney
11. I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
12. The Dirty Boogie - Brian Setzer Orchestra
13. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
14. Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
15. Seven Bridges Road - The Eagles
16. Luck Be a Lady - Frank Sinatra
17. City of New Orleans - Willie Nelson
18. Anyone Else But You - Michael Cera & Ellen Paige ("Juno " soundtrack)
19. Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Elton John
20. New World Man - Rush

Have a safe and happy weekend!

The Lola Shuffle - The "Fantasy Football Draft" Edition

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Yes boys and girls it's Fantasy Football Draft time! Hubby participates in a "league" that consists mostly the husbands in our group of friends. This year however, there is speculation that one of the wives might participate (GASP!). Seriously, this girl knows her football. Through the years we (the other wives) have considered holding our own fantasy draft based on stuff like who's cuter, who has the nicer uniform, do we like the team's city, etc. But usually we just go out for dinner while the boys do their thing.

We used to stay while they did the draft but they are way too intense and we were "bothering them". Honestly, the planning for the invasion of Normandy was more relaxed than the draft - you'd think they were deciding the fate of the world rather than picking football players. This year the wives were considering having a *Pride and Prejudiceathon* where we would (in a completely different house than where the draft was going on) watch the entire BBC version - the one with Colin Firth (sigh) - of Pride and Prejudice. But the boys haven't gotten their shit together so we don't know when the draft is actually going to happen but it has to be before the season starts which is...soon (?).

Anyway, Lola and I were expecting the draft to be this weekend so, her shuffle this week is draft inspired...take it away Lola!

1. A Change Would Do You Good - Sheryl Crow
2. I Don't Feel Like Dancing - Scissor Sisters
3. Lonely No More - Rob Thomas (he's kinda yummy)
4. Rockin' All Over the World - John Fogerty
5. Black Is The Color - Nina Simone
6. Midnight Blue - Melissa Manchester
7. Mockingbird - Carly Simon & James Taylor
8. Ironic - Alannis Morissette
9. Luxurious - Gwen Stefani
10. Eternal Flame - The Bangles

Wow - some of those hadn't shown up for a while...good job Lola!

Have a great weekend y'all...stay cool and do something fun.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Working From Home" Edition

I've been working from home for the past two days because my stomach has declared war on me. That's my view up there...the laptop and the TV in the background, but I usually don't have the TV on, I listen to music.

Bleh. It's been a day, I'm in a mood.

Lola, go ahead and shuffle something up for the nice people who came to visit...

1. Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5
2. Shut Up - Black Eyed Peas
3. The Lucky One - Alison Krauss & Union Station
4. You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac
5. Tradición - Gloria Estefan
6. I Don't Want to Wait - Paula Cole
7. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
8. Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
9. Passionate Kisses - Mary Chapin Carpenter
10. Hotel California - The Eagles

That's a pretty good shuffle Lola - good job.

Everyone have a great weekend, stay cool and do something fun.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Woodstock 40th Anniversary" Edition

This weekend commemorates the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Woodstock is now the age against which the attendees were rebelling.

What a weekend, huh? What a lineup - here are just some of them, the ones that I would have wanted to see:

• Melanie
• Arlo Guthrie
• Joan Baez
• John Sebastian
• Santana
• Grateful Dead
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Janis Joplin (!)
• Sly and the Family Stone
• The Who (they sang 25 songs starting at 4 a.m.)
• Jefferson Airplane
• Joe Cocker
• The Band
• Blood, Sweat and Tears
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Neil Young
• Jimi Hendrix

Except for the mud and the whole being outside thing - I would have loved to have been there. Since then we've had events like Live Aid and other multi performer events, but the aura of Woodstock was never recaptured. There have been attempts, but they've failed because the world is so different now. Things were far from perfect then, and the festival had it's dark side - but I think there was a level of sincerity and innocence that isn't as prevalent. I think those kids really believed in their hearts as well as in their LSD and pot infused brains that they were going to change the world - and to be honest they did in a lot of ways.

Despite the turmoil and problems of the era, IMO for one weekend in upstate New York it was a magical moment. Sadly, we may need to wait 100 years like Brigadoon, or perhaps wait for "when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars and peace guides the planet" before the zeitgeist produces another Woodstock moment.

OK Lola, give us a Woodstock worthy shuffle - who knows we may get a ghost of rock festivals past...

1. Crazy - Willie Nelson (Don't start Dixie!)
2. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
3. I'm in You - Peter Frampton
4. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield
5. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
6. Un Poquito De Tu Amor - Desi Arnaz
7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
8. Pinball Wizard - The Who (WOO HOO - Woodstock sighting!)
9. Mercy - Duffy
10. Crazy Little thing Called Love - Queen

So this weekend, stay cool, have a glass or two of Mateus or Lancers - maybe listen to a little Hendrix, some Joplin or some Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Send out good vibes so that some day we will again know the pleasures of peace, love and rock and roll.

But keep out of the mud and most importantly stay away from the brown acid.

The Lola Shuffle - The "It's Been a Good Week" Edition

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To paraphrase my new boyfriend Craig Ferguson, it's a great week to be an American!

Oh my God - the news keeps getting better and better. Let's recap:

• Ford announced that their sales had increased for the first time since 2007 thanks to the new "Clash for Clunkers" program
• Speaking of clunkers, Paula Abdul quit American Idol! YAY!
• Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea, met with Kim Jong Il and got two imprisoned American journalists released and returned home
• Sonia Sotomayor got confirmed as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice
• Congress approved refunding the successful Cash for Clunkers program
• This morning we woke to the news that the unemployment rate has dropped
• Our Republican Senator Mel Martinez is resigning office before his term ends in 2010. Of course he'll be replaced by a Republican, but still this will casue trauma in the Republican party and that amuses me :) .

Come on Lola - shuffle us up a happy shuffle!

1. Mi Tierra - Gloria Estefan
2. Sunday Girl - Erasure
3. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (that's what I'm talkin' about)
4. Closer - Ne-Yo
5. Blue Skies - Willie Nelson
6. Is This Love - Bob Marley and the Wailers
7. Turn Me On - Norah Jones
8. Paradise by the Dashboard Light - Meatloaf
9. Don't Stop Me Now - Queen (my favorite Queen song!)
10. Walk in Jerusalem - Mahalia Jackson

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the waning days of summer...

The Lola Shuffle - The "Summer Colds Suck" Edition

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UGH! I'm miserable...not so sick that I can't function but sick enough to not want to.

So, let's just shuffle and get on with it...(sniffle)

1. Instead - Madeleine Peyroux
2. A Girl Like You - The Smithereens
3. Piano Man - Billy Joel
4. Bye Bye Baby - Bay City Rollers (OK, this made me smile)
5. Rock This Town - Brian Setzer Orchestra
6. Nah! - Shania Twain
7. Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin
8. Penny Lover - Lionel Richie
9. We Will Rock You - Queen
10. Let Her Cry - Hootie & The Blowfish

Have a great weekend, stay healthy and stay cool...

The Lola Shuffle - The "Summer in the City" Edition

Up top there is the icon on my Google Desktop for the weather in Miami today. The high is expected to be 92 and the low 76 with the humidity at 77% - but it feels way more humid than that - it's your glasses get fogged up when you walk outside humid. Actually it feels like you can chew the air. I'm not complaining, I've lived here for 41 years - this is the way it's supposed to be, and I think the humidity helps our skin look younger, particularly those of us of swarthy Mediterranean stock.

So yeah, it's summer in Miami and it's hot and humid.

Aren't you glad you took the time to read my Blog today?

So the always cool Lola, will now shuffle us up some tunes to help us forget it's muggy and yucky and ugh.

1. Jesse - Carly Simon
2. San Zarabanada - Willy Chirino
3. Quiet Times - Dido
4. Weekend in New England - Barry Manilow
5. The Way You Look Tonight - Rod Stewart (Is it just me or are Barry Manilow and Rod Stewart morphing into the same person? They look a lot alike now.)
6. My Interpretation - Mika
7. Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey
8. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
9. Swing - Trace Adkins
10. I Could Fall in Love With You - Erasure

Everyone stay cool and enjoy your summer weekend!

The Lola Shuffle on Wednesday - "The 'Toon Tuesday" Edition

I've lapsed on my Blogging. I don't know why - maybe it's the heat. It is definitely summer time in Miami. Maybe it's because I'm now playing yet *another* online game Second Life. It's not a game really, I'm not sure what the official name for the genre is - but it's been quite an experience. Maybe I'll blog about it some day, in the meantime, I've added a few links to Blogs by "friends" in Second Life to my side bar under "Life in Second Life" if you want to check it out.

I've also been helping a friend with her Blog where she talks about a student trip to Paris that she's chaperoning. And I've written a couple of restaurant reviews on a food Blog to which I contribute. So you see, I've been blogging, just not here.

So today - Wednesday - I'm posting the entries for last Friday's Lola Shuffle and yesterday's 'Toon Tuesday.

OK Lola...time to catch up with ourselves!

1. 's Wonderful - Sarah Vaughn
2. Rags to Riches - Tony Bennett
3. Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
4. Spirits in the Material World - The Police
5. The Lily of the West - The Chieftains with Mark Knopfler
6. Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett (a summer classic! Don't start Dixie!)
7. Freewill- Rush
8. Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles
9. Knowing Me, Knowing You - ABBA
10. This Side - Nickel Creek

Wow! That was eclectic even for Lola!

Hopefully I'll be a good Blogger and retunr to some semblance of a routine.

The Lola Shuffle - The "R.I.P Michael" Edition

Today Lola is shuffling within her Jackson 5/Michael Jackson content, let's see what comes up...

1. The Love You Save
2. I Want You Back
3. I'll Be There
4. Never Can Say Goodbye
5. ABC
6. Heal the World
7. Rock with You
8. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
9. Man in the Mirror
10. Black or White

It still doesn't seem real that he's gone. May he finally be at peace and have the happiness he never knew.

The Lola Shuffle - "The I Missed a Week" Edition

I don't have a good excuse...I just haven't felt like Blogging. I don't even have a picture for this post! I suck.

Last Friday I worked from home and completely forgot about the shuffle...my bad.

So, here's my makeup shuffle...let's see what Lola has for us.

1. I Am Woman - Helen Reddy (this one's for you Dixie!)
2. Who Am I (What's My Name)? - Snoop Dogg (it's kinda bad that I really like this song - the uncensored version no less - isn't it?)
3. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
4. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
5. Hump de Bump - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Love You Inside and Out - Bee Gees
7. Roxanne '97 (Puff Daddy Remix) - Sting and the Police (Apparently Lola is in a gangsta mood)
8. Sway - The Pussycat Dolls (Yes, The Pussycat Dolls - don't judge me people!)
9. May Your Music Live On - Terrance Simien
10. Stay - Cyndi Lauper (an excellent version of this song)

I don't know why I'm so disaffected lately. I guess my muse is on summer vacation. Lucky her.

Stuff has been going on too. I was summoned to Federal Jury Duty. I went on Monday and went into a court room for jury selection but didn't get picked for the trial - maybe because on the Judge's questionnaire I said I was against the death penalty and against the Three Strikes law.

But here's the kicker - I'm "on call" for two weeks. Every night this week and next week I had/have to call and see if I have to show up the next day.

To be honest Federal jury duty wasn't nearly as soul shatteringly boring as County jury duty - they kept us busy all day between filling out the questionnaire and the jury selection show. One of the times I was called to county jury duty I sat in the frickin' frackin' jury pool room all day - brutal!

I've got a relatively busy weekend ahead. Saturday morning I want to sleep in because I haven't been getting enough sleep. Then I have a Cuban cooking class for the Cuban Home Cooking Blog - we're learning how to make "Fritas Cubanas" - which is sorta like a Cuban hamburger only way better.

On Sunday, I'm going with my friend Cris to see a slightly scary performance - it's something called Fuerza Bruta. If I survive maybe I'll tell you about it afterwards.

So, have a great weekend...do something fun and stay cool.

The Lola Shuffle - "The Longest Short Week Ever" Edition

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I would love to be sitting in an Adirondack chair on the pier in the picture above with a book and a glass of Claret.

I only worked three days this week after a five day weekend and it feels like the
longest.
week.
ever.

But it's finally over. As of right now I have absolutely no plans for the weekend. Now last Sunday I had FOUR things to do - just on Sunday. This weekend - zip.

It's time for a shuffle...hit it Lola:

1. The Sound of Silence - Paul Simon
2. The Lucky One - Aliison Krauss & Union Station
3. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
4. Who Will Save Your Soul - Jewel
5. He Went to Paris - Jimmy Buffett
6. Copacabana - Barry Manilow (Stop laughing it me! Yes, Lola has "Copacabana" in her)
7. Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band
8. I Just Wanna Be Mad - Terri Clark (thus far, I don't - let's keep our fingers crossed)
9. Waterfalls - TLC
10. Message to Myself - Melissa Etheridge

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Lola Shuffle - The "Rainy Day Off" Edition

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It's finally raining in Miami! I took today (Friday) and next Tuesday off to get an extra-long weekend. Today I slept in until noon with a thunderstorm going on. I love sleeping during a thunderstorm.

We have a busy weekend ahead, but then I'll get a chance to relax a bit more before going back to work.

Lola...give us a holiday weekend shuffle.

1. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
2. A Whiter Shade of Pale - Sarah Brightman
3. Delilah - Tom Jones
4. There's a Kind of Hush - Barry Manilow
5. Help Me Make it Throught the Night - Willie Nelson
6. White Horse - Taylor Swift
7. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra
8. Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
9. The No No Song - Ringo Starr
10. Desperado - The Eagles

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend - and as we observe Memorial Day think a thought for our military men and women who have died while serving our country.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Season Finale!" Edition

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Wow! The season finales of my "must-see" shows have been fantastic so far! It started with Heroes last week, which was the weakest finale of the lot yet still good, and then Brothers and Sisters on Sunday. This week kicked into high gear with the mind-bending House season-ender Monday, on Tuesday we had the beyond freakishly awesome Fringe, then Wednesday we had the amazing LOST season finale and Thursday the heart-wrenching Grey's Anatomy ending. The only one of my main shows that hasn't ended yet is 24 - always exciting - and that ends next Monday.

It seems that while we weren't looking TV got good again. For example, "LOST" for all its frustrating contrivances is a *smart* show - and say what you will about TV making us dumber, I know that I have Wikipediad and Googled references to Egyptian mythology, religious symbolism, countless literary references and lots of other stuff because of this show. The writers have introduced concepts from a panoply of areas in an entertaining fashion, and I think that's great - I've actually learned because of it.

It had been a while since I followed so many shows. In addition to those I mentioned, there are others that I watch regularly but are less important: Lie to Me, Castle, and The Mentalist stand out.

If you haven't watched any of these, try to catch the reruns or online and let me know what you think - you may find a new favorite!

So Lola, just because I'm watching TV doesn't mean I don't love you! Shuffle it up baby...

1. It Had To Be You - Dinah Shore
2. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
3. S.O.S. - ABBA
4. You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
5. Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band
6. Sweet Jane - The Velvet Underground
7. Waterfalls - TLC
8. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - The Police
9. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
10. Luxurious - Gwen Stefani

Have a great weekend!