Live chat: "Summer ... turns me upside down"
In Florida, we don't brag about summers. Nobody visits us Floridians during this season, because tourists generally fear 90-degree temps, coupled with the 90 percent humidity and squadrons of bugs the size and shape of the moon transport vehicle in "Space: 1999."
(That TV show scared the hell out of me. I still have nightmares about particular episodes.)
TONIGHT'S CHAT TOPICS: Summer songs of the 80s, the latest Stuck in the 80s podcast, the new Cyndi Lauper album. Whatever you want.
If you're like me, sometimes summer can be a little depressing, so I cooked up a "Cheer Up!" playlist today in my spare time. Consider it a soundtrack for tonight's chat. Feel free to add suggestions to it.
Meanwhile, grab a drink with a little kick to it, and let's chat...
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Sure you don't need me to call you and whisper Top Gun lines to the Mrs?
Posted by: Spears | June 02, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Excellent, Douglas. I'd hate to think of you wandering around back in the recesses of some arena. "Goodbye Cleveland!"
Posted by: jane | June 02, 2008 at 12:04 AM
FOR ALL MY SIT80'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS I SWEAR, BY EXCALIBUR, I WILL WHISPER IN THE EAR OF MY BELOVED: WE WILL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER, FOREVER, IN ELECTRIC DREAMS....AND FOR JANE, BEYOND MY CONTROL!
GOOD NIGHT NOW!!
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 02, 2008 at 12:03 AM
I chose that earlier Marissa. have to take advantage when you can. Its like planets aligning sometimes. I say go for it Mikey.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | June 02, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Mike, Mike, Mike.
That is all.
Posted by: jane | June 02, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Just be careful not to get caught in the jetwash.
Posted by: Spears | June 02, 2008 at 12:01 AM
oh, Jane, I found my way offstage ok. I remembered to take that left in Albequerque.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | June 02, 2008 at 12:01 AM
YA know, it's pretty bad when a guy chooses a babe over his buds. But do what you gotta, Mike.
Posted by: Marissa | June 02, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Oh Mike -- you're like Maverick, trying to get Iceman to pull off because you have a perfect shot on the Mig.
Posted by: Spears | June 02, 2008 at 12:00 AM
My brothers and sisters,the One Mickey's Big Mouth is kicking in and quite frankly, the Ms. looks mighty inviting!
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 01, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Perhaps the key is to not stop drinking, then...
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I'm back...trying to catch up on all the posts is a bit daunting...Tonnianne...we are broken up??? Never knew we were an item...I take it you didn't like Indy 4 that much? Ahhh well, we'll always have Paris...
Spearsy I liked your playlist for cheering up. I left a comment.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | June 01, 2008 at 11:58 PM
The only bad thing about drinking in Vegas -- the dryness. Makes the hangovers so much worse.
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:57 PM
It's my life is one of the few songs I can vividly remember dancing with Angelina while we were dating!!!
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 01, 2008 at 11:56 PM
dogs and cats living together -- mass hysteria!
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:56 PM
It's already on the list. I read about it too -- and i'm nothing if not efficient.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Mike says he's nervous?
Dogs and cats living together.
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:56 PM
I had to check out that video.
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I'm getting nervous....what the hell is going to happen in Vegas??
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 01, 2008 at 11:54 PM
ps: any playlist with "and we danced" and "it's my life" is more than a little bit alright in my book.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:53 PM
I hear Alka-Seltzer has a new "hangover cure" recipe. I looked for it today but couldn't find it.
Put THAT on the list for vegas.
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:52 PM
I've got the camera on the increasingly-getting-longer list of sh*t we need for this trip. It's right above "tambourine and maracas" on the page.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Off to bed, goodnight.
Posted by: Rosa | June 01, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Is Mrs. Mike getting jealous? Tell her she's still my first love.
Get the camera ready.
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:47 PM
matching tats you say, maybe like the tat from the video Postcards From Paradise from Flesh for Lulu.
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 01, 2008 at 11:47 PM
The whole Pacific Age album by OMD is great.
Thanks for the email, Rosa. Glad to know someone likes the playlist.
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:45 PM
I dunno, Mike. Are you reconsidering the matching tats?
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:45 PM
While I liked the mar-bits, I preferred my Bits unsullied. Just plain, devoid-of-nutritional value sweet delicious cereal.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:44 PM
The playlist brightened my day.
Posted by: Rosa | June 01, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Secret and So In Love...
Steve getting emails from Rosa....hhmmmm....should we be jealous?
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 01, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Didn't I say something earlier? ::scroll:: Nope. I guess not. I felt perkier after clicking play.
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Steve, check your Yahoo email.
Posted by: Rosa | June 01, 2008 at 11:41 PM
I'm not hearing a lot of love for my "cheer up" playlist.
No one loves OMD's "Secret"?
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:41 PM
They don't make concert tee's in my size.
Posted by: Spears | June 01, 2008 at 11:40 PM
My sister worked at the Kraft plant. Her division made the 'mar-bits' -- people would buy bags of just the tiny marshmallows
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:39 PM
And like they effed with the formula for AlphaBits. They totally took all the fun out of it when they made it sugar-free. Pfffft.
Yes, I'm cranky about that. AlphaBits was my fave cereal as a kid.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:37 PM
They still taste the same.
Posted by: Rosa | June 01, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Do you think they changed the formula for Pop-rocks like they changed Cap'n Crunch cereal?
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Steve, HELL YES I'm buying concert Tees in Vegas. I love walking around Austin with my Depeche Mode tees.
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 01, 2008 at 11:34 PM
'cause they killed mikey, man.
Posted by: Tonianne | June 01, 2008 at 11:29 PM
and that makes perfect sense, marissa. it all works together.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:29 PM
I haven't had pop-rocks in a long time. It's not that i've not yearned for them. They've just not been available.
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:28 PM
pre-pop rocks. which then seal the deal.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:28 PM
as in "been there. done that. bought the tshirt"
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:27 PM
is that pre- or post-pop rocks, ladies?
Posted by: Tonianne | June 01, 2008 at 11:27 PM
I'm thinking that means the deed is done and someone needs to go home, Jane. :)
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:26 PM
hell, i thought "buying concert shirts" was the euphemistic phrase in question... shows what i know.
Posted by: jane | June 01, 2008 at 11:25 PM
with the "e" that is
Posted by: Tonianne | June 01, 2008 at 11:23 PM
forplay
Posted by: Tonianne | June 01, 2008 at 11:22 PM
oh yeah ... what's two big mouth mickey's mean,then?
Posted by: Marissa | June 01, 2008 at 11:21 PM