The Big DumpTruck

Joined my sister’s family for an outing at Witch’s Woods (at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford) and a fabulous time was had by all. Well, all but Junior (8), who was thoroughly freaked out and finally said he wasn’t going to go in the last attraction. (One other girl in our group, who I think is 9, also skipped one of the attractions 9, but not the same one Junior and I did.)

I was a little put off by the price (22 for adults, 20 for kids 12 and under) thinking I’d be giving them hard-earned buckaroonies for 15 minutes of people in makeup and wigs. On the other hand, we were there for 2.5 hours, had the bejeezus scared out of us over and over again, and just really enjoyed the whole party atmosphere. My one complaint is that they sold pretzels and fried dough but didn’t sell popcorn. I love me some popcorn.

There isn’t much I can say here to sell you on it that wouldn’t spoil it for you, so I won’t. I will say that if you are like me, and detest the idea of people popping up out of nowhere, this is probably not the place to spend an evening. (For instance, I hated playing hide and seek as a kid because I hated being startled by the other players when I was “it”.) The one section we didn’t do was the one with 3D glasses where you can’t tell which things are mannequins and which are real people who will pop out of the walls, etc. etc.

There is a “no touch” rule – they will never touch you and you cannot ever touch them – that doesn’t stop them from standing as close behind you as humanly possible. If you are last person in your group, don’t be surprised to find someone breathing on the back of your neck. Heh.

I give witch’s woods 4 out of 4 bats. I would leave the 5 and under kids at home, and maybe anyone under 10 who can’t handle haunted houses, ghouls and surprises. Otherwise, have fun!

I am participating again. Christine had better start planning now, because I’m not going to take no for an answer this year. Do you hear me, Christine? Reid, are you out there? I’m talking to you! Plus we can use it as an excuse to have girl’s night out at Panera Bread, or someplace like that. Not you, Reid, you live too far away. But you are welcome to join us, if only in spirit.

If you sign on, let me know and I’ll add you to my list of friends (or whatever they call it) on the Nanowrimo site.

So all you old school ELO fans should recognize the title of this post is the B-side of a circa for the All Over the World 45. That’s right, kidlings, I’m talking about a 45-RPM recorded disk that was issued back around 1980 from the soundtrack to the movie Xanadu. You have seen Xanadu, right? But have you seen it lately? You MST3K-wannabes can have a LOT of fun with this one. I think someone should do Xanadu 2 and show what happened to Sonny Malone when his dream establishment, a roller disco rink, failed in spectacular fashion less than 2 years after it opened. Because we all know how roller disco rinks maintained their cutting-edge popularity over the last 25 years. You can’t swing a dead mirror ball without hitting a roller disco rink.

But I digress. Drum Dreams, in this case, actually refers to the Blue Man Group concert we attended last night. Can I just say how much I adore Blue Man Group? This tour, called “How to Be a Megastar” is actually just a slightly updated version of their Complex tour, but I am so hooked on The Complex that I’m okay with that. I didn’t get to see The Complex when they originally toured, so last night’s concert was FINE with me.

It does make me want to run out and buy some PVC pipe. BMG has a hands-on exhibit at the Children’s Museum in Boston and I’m wondering how bad it will look if I pry the kids off of it so that I can take a turn. Sure, they’ll cry, but I’m bigger than them, so who cares? We’re talking about Blue Man Group!

Wow, how long has it been since I posted one of these!!! As I was telling dump reader (and now my Toontown friend) Beth the other night, one of the first regular features of the original dump 11 years ago was a Lord of the Dance Update.

Because the people need to know.

I got an email this morning from something along the lines of “Broadway Across America” (I think they have my email because I bought some concert tickets (not Broadway show) online. Anyway, it was an announcement that for three shows only, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance will be in Boston…on my birthday.

So I had to tell Mr. Dump.

Me: Lord of the Dance is being performed on my birthday (“3 shows only!”). At what point is he going to be too old to do this show? I’m impressed that he’s maintained his energy – that is, unless he’s not actually the Lord of the Dance, he’s the grandpa of the dance.

Mr. D: Wow… 3 shows all on your birthday. Talk about energy!!

Me: Well, the 26th and 27th. And on the 28th the Lord rested. BWA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!!!

If anyone is going to go, you have to provide us with details. And if you want to read some of my past Lord of the Dance updates, throw that phrase into the Google search over on the right and search the archives.

I just saw a news report that you people aren’t watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the brilliant Monday Night show that you are supposed to be watching.

I certainly hope you aren’t watching something else. Or worse, not watching television at all? Now I’m the first to not watch things. There are a LOT of shows that I don’t watch. But of the handful of “grownup” shows that I do Tivo and actually watch, this is one that I want to survive for at least a season.

So here is your required viewing: Studio 60, My Name is Earl, and The Office. Those are the only three that you are required to watch. If you’re smart, you’ll also watch E’s “The Soup” and the brilliant Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Brilliant brilliant stuff, and if his son Nick isn’t huge some day, I’ll eat my puppy socks.