Well, we can?t complain about giving up coffee and soda when Jason, a homebrewer from Ellicott City, can?t even sample the fruits of his own labor. He shared over e-mail he?s abstaining from alcohol for Lent. On Valentine?s Day, Jason watched his wife sip Malbec while he squeezed lemon into his virgin iced tea.
On the other side of theological track, Michael from Baltimore helps his “Lent-restricted” friends by “using and abusing” their habits for 40 days and nights. Chocolate, coffee, cigarettes, beer ? they know they can trust him with their vices.
We raise our taste-free waters to you, guys. Thanks for writing in.
SHE SAID WHAT?
A cool $500 and an opening slot for Slick Rick are coming to the winner of Fletcher?s “Show Me What You Got” Emcee Battle March 4, 5 and 11.
Jessica: So, what do you think about emcee battles and their distant black-sheep cousins, open-mic nights?
Emily: All I keep thinking about is that Eminem movie, “8 Mile.” “Lose Yourself” is running through my head right now. And damn it if I?m not tempted to bob my head up and down to the beat.
Jessica: I?m going to the battle but I?ll be wearing the longest turtleneck in the world to cover my eyes and ears. I get nervous ? easily ? for the contestants. I can?t even watch “American Idol,” I cringe so much at people about to be made fun of and putting themselves out there.
Emily: This from the girl who has a karaoke machine sitting in the middle of her living room.
Jessica: I do it in the privacy of my home … with 90,000 cheering invisible fans. And my unenthused boyfriend. BTW, my favorite karaoke song is a tie between “Midnight Train To Georgia,” where I?m Gladys as well as the Pips, and Meatloaf?s “I?d Do Anything For Love (But I Won?t Do That).”
Emily: We were supposed to be working on that TOGETHER! It?s a duet. But I digress. I don?t think I?ve ever actually consciously experienced an open-mic night. I?m sure I?ve been to them but I?m usually concentrating more on yelling over the music or drinking the $1 beers.
Jessica: For me, the highlights of emcee battles and open-mic nights are hearing original rhymes and helping others get over their fear of performing in public.
Emily: Thanks, Dr. Phil. I?m just a sucker for musicians.
CLANCY WATCH, DAY WE-DON?T-CARE
We?re taking our mothers? advice for once ? we don?t have anything nice to say, so we won?t say anything at all. The line between love and hate is blurry … TOM. CLANCY. You Nancy.
CATCH US IF YOU CAN
In less than 24 hours, we?re going country and then ?80s. Before the Professional Bull Riders mosey into town for their shows Saturday and Sunday at the 1st Mariner Arena, we?ll get our eight seconds of glory … sort of. We?re sitting on a bull to get the feel of the beast. Later that night, we?re donning side ponytails and snap bracelets for RA Sushi?s I Love the ?80s Grand Opening Party. On March 6, we?ll suit up in our beer-diving gear for a tour of the Clipper City Brewery given by owner Hugh Sisson. Cookbook author Lucy Saunders also will be there to share some beer recipes.
And lastly, you might be green with envy if you don?t attend the 7th Annual Canton Irish Stroll on Saturday, March 8. We?re going, and in true Irish tradition, we?ll be drinking and singing “Drink It Up Men.” Plus Emily will be speaking in a fake Irish brogue. Badly. Be sure to bring two cans of food to benefit the Maryland Food Bank.
