John Travolta, You've Come A Long Way, Baby!

The remake of the movie, Hairspray, opens soon. For some reason, the role of Edna Tumblad has always been played by a guy. When I saw the musical, the role was hysterically played by the overweight guy from the last episode of Seinfeld (you know the one they laughed at and got arrested because of The Good Samaritan law); he's a very talented actor!

John Travolta reprises the role of Edna in this movie version. ..... My, from Sweathog Vinny Barbarino to Edna Tumblad, you've come along way, Baby!


As a teen, I had a crush on Vinny Barbarino, the hunky, but dense Sweathog on Welcome Back Kotter. (In looking at old clips from that show, I'm reminded just why I love Seinfeld so much!) He came to Dallas on some kind of promotional tour when he was just getting started in this role. I was about 15 and went to see him.


We got him to sing "Babarino" which he seemed to enjoy doing for us! Ron Pallilo (Horshack) seen behind him doesn't look very interested in watching the dance.
Yeah, you remember this song, right?!


And of course, this autographed photo was a delight!

Sigh.....

It's raining today.

Again!

Last year we were in drought conditions with watering restrictions. It's already early July and I am still pasty white in color. The sun rarely shines, hidden behind dark, low-hanging, ominous clouds ready to pour buckets at any moment.

For the 4th, the forecasters predicted storms and to move holiday celebrations indoors. For once, they were wrong! We had sun for a few hours! And we actually got to take the bikes down to the lake and ride. The lake water was really high. Debris was up on the shoreline indicating how high the water has been recently. The dog park has been taken over by the ducks, rightfully so at this point because the grass is beneath the newly formed ponds. Seriously, ducks were on the lake, but they had also taken up residence on the duck park ponds! Afterwards, we were able to enjoy a leisure lunch on a great outdoor patio. Just as we were walking back to the truck, the sky opened up again.

So, with the constant rain, comes new ways to entertain myself. I'm reading more. I signed up with a trainer so that I can learn some new exercise strategies. Sadly, he's into lunges, which I was hoping to avoid. Now I look like a dork because I rediscovered long-dormant muscles I'd forgotten until I had to do the lunges. I've always done bent-knee push-ups because, heck, I'm a girl and they're much easier. He makes me do the other kind. I can not do them properly! He assures me, he will get me there. Sigh...he is actually going to make me work out! And hard! He's also pointing out things in my diet he calls 'empty calories.' Are they really empty if they're part of my favorite food groups? He says "yes."

He did tell me about this free website; sparkpeople.com It's a pretty cool site...check it out sometime you find yourself landlocked with the rain and nothing to do.