The Chronicler Stalks — and Sings

Originally published March 2010

Chronicler is thrilled and terrified to announce that she will be singing one song, one night only, in the Angel Drake Presents: Songs to Stalk By show at Wings Theatre on Saturday, March 20, 8 p.m.

As Chronicler's bio notes on the first link, she began stalking at a young age, pacing desperately in front of the house of a very sexy high school guy while warbling “On the Street Where You Live” (he had a really hot motorcycle, which in her mind justified her obsession). 

Will Purple Monster attend? Those of us who know her well are well aware that she disapproves of stalking. Except ... we also remember that in A Very Crazy Christmas, The PM Saga, Book XIII, she was not always above a bit of obsessive behavior. So if you attend and see a puff of purple appear on the pouf, she has decided to check out the warbling of her literary recorder.

What song will Chronicler sing? And does she sing it to Derek? To Sir Simon? To Riccardo? Or to some other much obsessed-over, but unnamed, object of her affection? Hate to keep you guessing, but what is life if not a mystery? After the singers sing and are interviewed by Miss Drake, the audience votes on the most stalky singer. Chronicler hopes to pack the house and win the 50 bucks. But first she has to go warm up and practice, practice, practice!

 

The Earthquake in Haiti

Originally published January 2010

The devastation Haiti is suffering from the Jan. 12 earthquake is almost too horrific to contemplate. Those who have followed the PM Sagas over the years will know that PM, as the North Pole ambassador, tries to rally the forces of the Christmas spirit all year round to help those in need. And Haiti needs our help.

The Huffington Post has posted a list of organizations that are helping. Your Chronicler, though strapped for cash right now, has managed to give up a few self-indulgent activities to donate to Save the Children, an organization she has followed and given to over the years.

Save the Children and the other aid groups are on the ground now, helping as best they can. Chronicler and the other Christmas Crew are grateful for all that they do and hope the aid that is arriving in Haiti will save lives and ease the suffering.

 

Happy New Year! (Good Riddance, 2009)

Originally published January 2010

Good riddance, 2009! It's about time you left, you with your self-aggrandizing martinets, your liars, your feckless fools, your vicious slanderers, your greedy bankers and your pandering patriotism police. Goodbye to the sadness and the loss and the constant churning up of fear — of unemployment and terrorism and ... shall we say it? ... socialism! 

Let's hope we're saying goodbye, too, to the political concept that health care is a profit-making right of insurance companies. And let's hope we're saying farewell to the media's conviction that the public is so bored that it clamors for unending coverage of empty balloons and golf-playing adulterers, of right-wing jingoism and left-wing incompetence. What the public clamors for is more popcorn! (I have this on good authority.)

Ah, 2009, you did have a few good moments. The Yankees did win the World Series and retook their rightful place at the top of the baseball food chain. And your Chronicler did go back on stage after a 20-year intermission. These were definite pluses in a year that ripped away much-loved people and valued ideals.

All in all, 2009 deserves to be thrown in the trash heap with other garbage years. 

Welcome, 2010! May you bring in new hope and fulfillment, and may our goals be the ending of war and the erasure of hatred. May we usher in peace and the love and concern for our fellow human beings and the other beautiful life forms that inhabit our planet. May good will to all replace the "What's in it for me?" mantra that we've heard so much this past year.

Good health. Love. Good friends. Joy. I send these wishes for the new New Year.