1) Frank McCourt

2) Max Cavalera

* * *

I have mentioned before that I sing with a choir. We aren’t a church choir or one of those a cappella groups that dresses up at Christmastime and sings in malls (Although, were I to be honest, I would love to do that someday. The choral arts are where my geek roots live.). Choralis is a 100 person mixed voice chorus within an organization that consists of 5 different choirs including three youth choirs. This year we commissioned a piece from a local (Washington D.C.) composer in remembrance of 9/11 and in May we will be singing Bob Chilcott’s Requiem and it will be conducted by THE ACTUAL BOB CHILCOTT.

The big choir is something I am intensely proud to be a part of. Music fulfills me in a way that most other things cannot (except maybe bacon). This is the choir that allowed me to cross two things off of my life list back in December when I sang on stage during The Messiah sing along at The Kennedy Center.

This year it means even more to me.

This year both of my children auditioned and got in to the children’s choir.

I didn’t start singing choral music until I was in 10th grade, but my kids are only in 2nd grade and this choir gives them opportunities to sing in places and with conductors and orchestras and soloists that most people will never even have the option to see, and Choralis makes it fun for them. They are learning to read music and they think it is a party. I couldn’t ask for anything more from the staff.

Of course, I am totally fine asking for something more from you. We are trying to raise $20,000 as an organization. If you wouldn’t mind giving something – even $5 – it would mean a lot to me and to my kids.

They will put your name (or your businesses name) in the program if you donate certain amounts, but I can totally top that. I am willing to put myself on the line for my cause. I am willing to give back. So if you donate:

• $5 – $19 – I will offer you a 30 day link in my sidebar (WAY lower than my normal rates)
• $20 – $49 – I will offer you a one year link in my sidebar (hundreds of dollars lower than my normal rates)
• $50 – $99 – I will write a guest post for your site on a topic of your choosing, or guest appear on your podcast and you get the link for a year.
• $100+ – I will write a post on my site about how awesome you are and your link will be permanently added to the blogroll on SATGS and Sarah Reviews.

Of course, if you don’t have a blog, just e-mail me and we can negotiate payment. If you are local I am an awesome babysitter.

Did I mention I can win prizes for raising the most money?  I can also win prizes for having the largest number of individual donations, even if they are $1 *bats eyes*. And mostly, I want to raise more money than my kids and they are going to do a lemonade stand.

So, please be generous and please let me know if you donated and remember that all donations are tax deductible. Tell them Goon Squad Sarah sent you. Sure, I want the credit, but I also want to see the looks on their faces when they keep getting donations referred to them by Goon Squad Sarah. I don’t think they know I’m a blogger.

DONATE HERE

Read more about Choralis here.

Thanks,

Sarah

Her: This isn’t a very good song. I don’t even like classical music.

* * *

I have to tell you that I chickened out.

I said I wasn’t going to do it. I believe the reason I gave my husband was that I was “too pissy to sing a solo”, but then I went next door and my neighbor was auditioning for a different solo and somehow that made me brave so I did it.

When the director asked who wanted to audition, I held my hand up high.

I also noted that the only other three people were all in the select small ensemble that I didn’t even come close to getting in.

That reminds me of a story my mom told me the other day. My mom told me (and I have no idea why she told me this, my birthday is in like five weeks) that she bought me a birthday card. The outside has two girls and one girl says something like “Where is your birthday party at?” and the second girl says “You shouldn’t end sentences in a preposition.” On the inside of the card it says “Where is your birthday party at, bitch?”

Of course this is exactly the perfect card for me because it involves grammar rules and calling people names – both things that I enjoy.

Anyway, the audition was weird. We all had to stay late, so while I was very warmed up from having just sung for two and a half hours, my voice was also kind of blown out already. Most of the notes I sang were lovely, but the lowest one didn’t come out AT ALL. It was just an air noise. It was also just the four of us standing around a baby grand piano which seemed so much like a scene in a movie that it was distracting. I think if we had had some wine and cheese and weren’t competing with one another we could have had a lovely time or formed a barbershop quartet.

Whatever, I don’t think I got the solo — probably due to lack of the low note, which I totally normally have, it isn’t even all that low, I was just tired. I honestly think I didn’t get it because other three women all had very, very lovely voices and are in the blue-chip group, having already proven themselves worthy.

That being said, I am very glad I tried. I feel good about it and I appreciate all of you who encouraged me to do it. It isn’t so bad not being the one selected when this is the group she is choosing from.

I mean, it isn’t so bad not being the one selected when this is the group she is choosing from, bitch.

I have very exciting news. I am giving away a pair of tickets to the Duran Duran show at Constitution Hall on October 16th, 2011.

Thanks to Erin, I had the opportunity to see them live back in March and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I even got to touch (shake hands, but whatever) hands with both John and Roger Taylor. It was transcendent. I’d have a picture of Erin and me with John Taylor, but whoever I handed my camera to was inept.

*shakes first toward the heavens*

Duran Duran was so awesome that I am going to see them again. And yes, I am leaving my husband home with the children on my wedding anniversary to see Duran Duran. He has been very understanding about my Duran Duran obsession.

But back yo YOU winning the tickets.

If you live anywhere near Washington D.C. or you have the means to travel here I am going to make this really easy for you. Just leave a comment, preferably complimenting the Fab Five, on this post. You can also tell me your favorite Duran Duran song or about any other time you got to see them live.  I will have my children draw a name out of a hat or a bag randomly on October 9th.

You can get extra entries by tweeting me (@goonsquadsarah) with the hashtag #duransocial .

If you live somewhere else check these dates to see if Duran Duran is coming to a city near you.

Each comment is one entry. Please no more than 10 entries per person and make sure I have a way to get in touch with you if you win.

Good luck!

* * *

I suppose this goes without saying, but I am working with Duran Duran on this project. The tickets are provided by them and not me personally. That being said, all of these words and opinions are mine.

You know, the song that they would play for you when you come up to bat?

Sports fans are nodding their heads and hitting the comment button. For the rest of you, think of them playing “Wild Thing” for Charlie Sheen in “Major League” when he came out of the bullpen.

Like these:

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

No, I haven’t been approached by a Major League Baseball team (although I am certain that is what you were all thinking) but I have been drinking beer with the guys from my husband’s job and when this subject was broached I knew I needed to really ruminate on it.

I must choose a batting song.

So as I do, I am turning to you to help me make this important life decision.

Here are songs on my shortlist:

Bad Reputation – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
South Of Heaven- Slayer
Twist Of Cain – Danzig
Ace of Spades – Motörhead
Dies Irae – Verdi’s Requiem
The Usurper – Celtic Frost
A Fifth of Beethoven (Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Walter Murphy

Help me choose my batting song. Am I missing something really obvious? What would your batting song be?

* * *

Alice Cooper photo: David Guralnick

* * *

Me: I heard your favorite song at BlogHer.

Son: Six Foot Seven?

Me: No, the other bad word song.

Son: Party and *nods*

Me: Yes.

Son: Can I say it?

Me: Just one time.

Son: Party and Bullshit.

Son: Niiice.

Son: That felt good.

My Mom: Yup. That’s your son alright.

* * *

You know the part where Biggie says “All I really wanna know is where the party’s at. And can I bring my gat?”

That line has been bothering me for a full year now.

1) Biggie should not be ending a sentence in a preposition. Not that “where the party’s at” is his worst grammatical misstep, but you know what I mean.

2) Who asks permission to bring a gun to a party?

3) Or does he mean this kind of gat? And if so, I’m pretty sure it would be okay with the hostess if he brought it.

4) I’ve been wondering if my kids think he is saying “Can I bring my cat?” which changes the whole vibe of the song, but it would be a nice easy change for radio airplay.

* * *

A little off topic, but in her Pets Bunny Bunch DS game my daughter named one of the bunnies “Shit”.

Also my child.

* * *

I love how he rhymes “terror” with “era” but it doesn’t work with my mid-western accent.

* * *

I only really like the ratatat remix.

For your listening pleasure.

NSFW

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Getting sheveled.” he says.

* * *

Another song that sounds terrible coming out of a six year old’s mouth.

“Down to This” by Soul Coughing

First of all, I get to sit in a VIP blogger area back stage which is insane and amazing.

Second of all, this isn’t just a regular concert. This is Duran Duran Unstaged. This concert is directed by David Lynch.

David Lynch! Duran Duran!!

I’m completely geeked, and not to sound like an ad (my ticket was free, but I paid for my flight out here and I’m staying at Erin’s house for free and nobody is requiring me to write this) but you can watch along here at 10:00 pm EST. If you do look for me.

I’ll be the one looking like I cannot believe I’m there.

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