Google images are often fun and interesting and our Google friends have been going all out this week for the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. I finally decided to check it out and spent way too much time on the Sesame Street Web site today. What I found was some pretty funny stuff. I think I could fit right in with the people behind the scenes there. While it has always been a good show for kids, you can tell they’ve put some fun stuff in there for us adults. too.
If you go to their site you can find some videos of some bad singing but also some that are called Sesame Spoofs. They spoof Mad Men, 30 Rock, and other famous shows. I finally had to get off the site. The bright colors that are specifically geared toward little kids were making me dizzy. But I clicked back to the Cookie Monster videos one more time because he’s my favorite—even though the producers sold out to the masses and had him start eating vegetables. Visit the site and click on the video that has him singing about losing his cookie in a disco. Good stuff from the old days!
And finally, after reading the lyrics for the theme song, I think I now know why I grew up to be an optimist. I want to move back to this place. I’d even put up with the Big Bird doo doo in the streets. The lyrics are below. Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!
Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street
Come and play
Everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That’s where we meet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
It’s a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To happy people like you–
Happy people like
What a beautiful
Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street…
Some time ago I wrote a post about Bart Simpson chalkboard quotes and thought it would be fun to examine them again (and some of his other lines from the show) and see how Bart’s genius can be applied to all kinds of situations. Yes, I’m stuck for a topic and didn’t really want to delve into a political discussion or the recent elections. So here goes.
You’re asking the wrong guy, Millhouse. They all look alike to me.
Yes Bart, it can be hard to distinguish between our elected officials at times but everyone should educate themselves on the issues and vote.
I am not certified to remove asbestos. I am not a dentist. Organ transplants are best left to professionals.
Even Bart can see the need to hire the right people for the right job. The latest unemployment numbers are scary but there are still skilled people out there so let’s get back to work!
I will not strut around like I own the place.
I’m only adding this for the benefit of a certain neighbor of mine. Just a little reminder to all of us to be considerate to others.
Underwear should be worn on the inside.
This was my bad. Once when I was babysitting my nephews I had to help the little one get dressed and I ended up putting his brother’s underwear on him over his diaper. Okay, it was early in the morning and I was a rookie.
I am not a 32 year-old woman.
But if you are a cute 32 year-old man, I could be.
You’re turning me into a criminal when all I wanna be is a petty thug.
More commentary about our elected officials and the news media. It’s funny and it’s not at the same time.
I will remember to take my medication.
And I hope the crazy woman down the street remembers, too.
All he does is lie there like an unemployed whale.
I know you weren’t talking about me dear Bart. I am busy doing things like coming up with lame posts for my blog and walking Grendel.
It’s a weird tradition and for some reason we go along with it. You know, candy solicitation. Last weekend, I went trick or treating for the first time since I was in short pants (that’s an old phrase meaning I was a little kid). My whole family gathered on Saturday to watch Harmon play soccer, to celebrate my brother’s birthday, and of course to watch the kids build a huge cache of sweets.
We began the day watching my seven-year-old nephew Harmon and his team play soccer. It wasn’t the World Cup but entertaining nonetheless. The coach was admonishing his son to stop jumping around like a ballerina (to which he then demonstrated the objectionable movements). And then I commented that in the midst of all these kids with unusual names like Harmon, Cian, and Zino, there was a refreshing reminder of normalcy in a kid named Joe. His dad was sitting next to me and said it was only fair because he had a long, hard to pronounce (and remember) Italian last name. I’m so glad that stereotypes are alive and well in an Italian kid being named Joe. Thank God for traditionalists.
Anyway, fast forward to just after 6 p.m. as the family walked out the front door to go trick or treating. In their usual Roadrunner-like speed, my brother’s family managed to get to the first house—next door about 15 yards away—some time around 6:45 p.m. I admit some of that time was for a photo shoot but a lot of it was taken up by Harmon’s indecision and issues with the container he was going to use to collect candy. As his parents were going in and out of the house to try and solve this dilemma, he and I sat down and had a philosophical discussion about Star Wars characters and his and Grendel’s role as said characters for that evening’s rounds.
Harmon got a bit sensitive when I inaccurately stated he was a storm trooper. “I am a clone,” he said. “I thought they were the same thing,” I replied. “No, the clones fought for the good guys—the Republic—and the storm troopers were turned by the Sith.” He then got upset because he figured everyone was going to make that same mistake. Because the Crowe kids were all garbed in Star Wars outfits (Julia was Darth Vader and Tyler was Luke Skywalker or a “rebel engineer” whatever that is) we decided that Grendel should play along, too. I thought Chewbacca was a good idea seeing how they are both furry and make the same kind of moaning sounds but once I said Jabba the Hut, Harmon was stuck on that. There was no outfit or anything, we just pointed out to the candy-givers the rolls of fur on Grendel’s neck and said, “He’s Jabba the Hut.”
When we reached the third house and Harmon announced in what I can only describe as a not-so-secret code that he had to “squeeze the lemon” I knew it was going to be a long night. And shortly after that when it started to rain and Harmon asked all the grown ups “who would like to volunteer to carry my blaster” I knew that next year I was going to go back to standing in my doorway and giving out the candy. But not like the creepy guy who made the kids sing a song and pick the candy out of the bowl he kept on his lap. There’s a fine line between being fun and being a weirdo.
I hope everyone had a happy Halloween. I was going to have a contest to vote on who had the cutest costume but only one person sent me photos, so her little ones win. Here are some cute kids in costumes.
From the Observation Deck 