Madgirl Travels

I didn't make it back to France, or Europe for that matter, for quite a few years. But I got a call late in the Summer of 1999 from my good friend Michelle, who lives in Seattle, reporting that she and her husband, Scott were going over to Europe in September, and that I was coming along.

Our trip was 12 days; we spent 7 days in England and 5 in France. We had a bit of a crazy flight; we were flying (all together) from DC to London (and then on to Paris) and our flight to London was delayed because the windshield wipers were not working on the plane, and, go figure, it was raining in London. It wasn't my happiest moment with the thought that, well if one thing is broken... - but we were fine - except that Scott and I got air sick (the only time this has happened to me - I blame the airport food!). Once in London (we'd missed our connection) we caught a flight to Paris. We finally landed in France and made our way to our hotel near the Gare St Lazare. Our hotel was the Concorde St. Lazare, and it is a lovely place. It's located right in front of the Gare St. Lazare and extremely close to the shopping on Blvd Haussman. Since Shelly and Scott had never been to Paris (or France), we did a lot of walking and we did the "touristy" stuff: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur - which I love - so I was in heaven.

Our first night we made our way to the Eiffel Tower - which was, as ever, fantastic. We figured out that we were hungry and we decided to find a place to eat on our way back to the hotel. There were not a lot of choices - but we did find an interesting place - bistro-like - touristy (had an English menu) - but we were hungry so we didn't really care - called... Hippopotamus - which, of course caused me to sing "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" - it became a bit of a theme song. The food was more than adequate and we had a great time.

We decided because we had limited time in the city that we would do more of an "outside" tour - few museums - more "sights" - On Sunday we traveled out to Versailles to tour the palace. Little did I know that on Sundays (May - Oct, i think) - they turn on the fountains in the gardens and pipe in music. It was great - we took the audio tour of the castle and then spent a good deal of time walking through the grounds. A terrific thunderstorm blew through - soaking us and everything around. By the time we got back to the castle - they had turned off the fountains - Shelly and Scott got a special treat - they saw the fountains both on and off!

While it was a short stay in Paris - it was a great one. Michelle and Scott are fabulous traveling companions - and our time in England was wonderful as well.

So I now have a definate favorite on the show - JD Fortune. I think that his voice, look, style, etc, make him the best for INXS. He sings the heck out of the band's old songs and is great on stage. As previously reported, I've been checking out some fan sites - and getting the skinny on the show behind the show. reportedly there has been a lot of editing to try and make a little more drama. It's just ticking people off though. I'm a little afraid now that i've chosen a favorite that he will be doomed. But ya gotta have faith.

Photo is from INXS.com and of JD Fortune and Andrew Farriss in a now (to the show's fans anyway) infamous studio session.

I spoke with my Aunt Donna this weekend. She just returned from a trip to France and Sweden. She traveled with her sister (my aunt) and 2 of her cousins. They spent 4 days in Paris where they did the typical tourist track (it was 1 cousin's first trip) as well as some other interesting things - shopping, day a Versailles, 1/2 day at Musee d'Orsay, and the DaVinci Code tour (of Paris) - the tour took them to the different places mentioned in the book and gave them a listing of the paintings in the Louvre (and a ticket to the museum) which are supposedly connected. They had a fun time.

In Sweden they spent time in Stockholm and also traveled west to visit with some of our cousins. Aunt Donna and my mom had met a bunch of "cousins" on their trip in 1990 - and they've corresponded ever since.

It sounded like they had a lovely time -

When I was talking to her she was getting ready to go help Aunt Pat at the Grange Fair - but that's a whole different topic...

The US Open Tennis tournament has started up in Flushing Meadows, NY. Roger Federer comes into the tournament looking rather unbeatable - but he does only have 1 "major" so far this year.

Yup, more Rockstar stuff. I've been feeding my addictive tendencies by surfing the message boards on Rockstar.msn.com - and I was recently introduced to a JD Fortune website - it's so much fun reading about how nutty people are - there's a bit of solidarity in it; mostly because it's not just 15 year olds gushing over the younger performers - but folks my age remembering and continuing there rockstar fantasies.

Photo of Jon Farriss from INXS.com - great site with info about and links to rockstar - plus stuff about the band - they even have games - you know I appreciate that!

Still bitter about VH1 - but the show has been so much fun - and I've joined their message boards - I feel like a kid again, talking about how cute the different guys are, etc, etc.

photo from inxs.com - jon and andrew farriss - they're brothers, so it's okay for them to get that close.

Stoudt's Brewing Company

very likely my proudest moment - At the Stoudts' Summer Beer Fest (which began last weekend) I came in 2nd in the "cleevagheevin" (lifting steins of beer) contest - 2nd out of 20 ladies - not too bad for my first try - I lost to the reigning champion. I held 5 steins, in each hand, for 2 minutes (they said that each stein weighs about 5 pounds) - it was a blast. The picture is from the preliminary round when we had to hold 4 steins in each hand; and wow, that tank top - just adds a je ne c'est quoi to my "look" - foxy ;)

CBS has sold, given, lost (whatever) the Monday edition of the show to VH1. I don't have cable - I can't watch it! I'm very annoyed. Are they really going to get more people to watch (another) re-run of Two and a Half Men? come on now.

But the Rock Star experience itself is still exciting. Today on the radio in LA (and streamed across the world) 2 of the contestants (JD and Suzie) performed "unplugged" versions of 3 INXS songs, with 3 members of the band participating. I, like most, am at work so I missed the live feed, but a friend emailed me a recording of one of the songs "Never Tear us Apart" (which is my favorite INXS song). It's fabulous. Both JD and Suzie sing and they are both very good.

This stuff is like candy and/or potato chips - I get one little taste and I just want more and more.

Good stuff.

The show IS still on CBS on Tuesday and Wednesday nights - Tuesday at 10pm and Wednesday at 9pm. Thank goodness!

Have you been watching? I have, and I'm hooked. I wasn't planning on watching the show when it was first advertised (I was a little sad for the band) - but summer TV has left few alternatives and now it's become an obsession. The show is on 3 days a week (and some times they rebroadcast on the weekends) - so it's total saturation.

The gist of the show is that group of "undiscovered" rockers are vying for the chance to perform (and record) as the new lead singer of INXS. Since the death of Michael Hutchence in 1997 there have been a variety of "stand in" singers, but no one permanent.

Each week the rockers perform and the "world" (it's actually being broadcast globally) votes and then the bottom 3 are singled out and asked to sing an INXS song then the band chooses who will be eliminated.

I have some definite favorites among the group of hopefuls - but it's been the band that I've really developed a new (if not "rekindled") appreciation for. Monday through Wednesday are my new favorite tv days - and Rock Star INXS is my favorite show!