...In Which Anthony Enjoys A Show and Bemoans Summer Colds...

I hate being sick when it's warm.

Went to see Harry and the Potters at Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena yesterday eve, met up with Maggie (cruciverbalist), Yuko (snogmonkey) and Michael and had a blast. They're much more fun live than they are on their album, and their album is a fun time to start with. And it's a great schtick--as described at the show by Harry Potter (year 4) while he vamped while Harry Potter (year 7) fixed his E String:

So I was at Hogwarts sitting on my bed studying some really cool magic from this book, and then suddenly Woosh! There was Harry Potter standing there, but he wasn't me, he was all older and stuff, and he had this hourglass thing around his neck. And I said to him "you look really familiar..."

He said "Yeah, because I'm you from the future! I've come back on an important mission!"

I asked him what that mission was, and he said "I'm on a mission of Rock!"

But then I asked him about time paradox, and ripple effects and if Marty would ever get the DeLorean back to 1985--

"It doesn't matter!" he said "all that matters is the music!"

"But I don't know how to play any instruments," I told him.

"But I do!" he said.

And then he taught me how to play keyboards, and guitar, and to sing, and we went into the Room of Requirement, because we required a place to practice, and we did all the time, and then suddenly an audience appeared in the room, because every rock band requires an Audience, right? And then we started touring, and then we came here. To Rock!"

There was a huge crowd there on the back patio, something like 150-200 folks in the crowd, ages ranging from 4 to 64, lots of kids--teeny boppers, and a good smattering of 20 somethings rocking out on the edges of the crowd. Very nice. Everyone went nuts when they busted out their new song--written on tour--from the new book. The best lyric got everyone hooting: "My Wizard Scar Still Burns For You!"

They're a good time, and I hope they come around again, soon! (check out their sounds at http://www.myspace.com/harryandthepotters)

I sped home after chatting with Yuko and Michael for a while, and after a quick minute fending off calls by Justin to come over and hang out ("Dude! Come over!" "Man, it's 11:30. I've got work tomorrow." "Dude, come over!") I found myself quite tired and crashed out on the couch.

I woke up this morning with a stiff neck, a throbbing, echoing head, and a scratchy throat full of gravel. Gah! Sickness! It took me a long while to actually move before I actually called the office. The truly sucky thing is that it's summer, and it's hot and sticky in the house. And this is an end to my lucky streak of not having been ill since September--which was Strep.

But of course, today has been filled with the house phone ringing over 14 times (yes, I've kept count), including multiple telemarketers, two bill collectors, a bunch of wrong numbers, and just a bunch of stupid things of folks trying to catch up with family. My phone's rang a couple of times, but it was stuff that needed to be dealt with. And then there's the doorbell. Three--THREE times!

*Sigh*

At least I caught this one early on. Usually, I try and work or push myself at this point. And I end up kipping it on my ass for the next four days. Maybe this time--this time--I'll nip it in the bud and not be down for the count for a change.

Dude. From Rock to Snot in 24 hours. How big a pain in the bootay is that?