2013 August Happiness Challenge: Day 12

Today's happiness: Hotels. I woke up this morning for the third, and final, morning at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. I loved the antiseptically clean bathroom, the fluffy fresh towels and the travel-sized shampoo and conditioners. The ones we didn't use, I'm sending off to the troops in Afghanistan, c/o Operation: Shoebox.

In praise of Chad and Jeremy

How I once loved these two British imports! They weren't the Beatles, of course. No one is that good. But these two were terrific, nevertheless. Not only did I enjoy their folk-tinged music, they were so funny. They memorably appeared on Batman (the dastardly Catwoman stole their voices!), The Patty Duke Show (as Nigel and Patrick, who rehearsed in the bedroom of that lucky Patty Lane!) and the Dick Van Dyke Show (as a fictional group, The Redcoats, who appeared on The Alan Brady Show).

But, like Peter and Gordon, Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Dave Clark Five, Chad and Jeremy hit the charts big in 1964 and disappeared by 1966. I have their greatest hits on vinyl packed away somewhere in a closet, but I haven't listened to, or even thought about, them for years.

Now 71, they have reunited and are doing a handful of concert appearances. Fortunately, I was able to catch them here in Chicago at The Fest for Beatle Fans. They are charming raconteurs, regaling us with their few and very humble encounters with John Lennon and Sir Paul, as well Batman and Robin and Rob and Laura Petrie. Then they sang and I was shocked and pleased by how gorgeous their harmonies still are.

Here they are, half a century ago, singing (or rather, lip synching) my fave rave on American Bandstand. I heard them perform it live Saturday afternoon and was not at all disappointed. Some notes are no longer held as long as when they appeared with Dick Clark, but the sound was pure and lovely and very original.

2013 August Happiness Challenge -- Days 10 and 11

The past two days' happiness: Excess. I did too much on Saturday and Sunday. With my oldest friend in town, I laughed too much ... ate too much ... spent too much ... slept too late ... and it was entirely enjoyable.

We were at The Fest for Beatle Fans/Chicago and a fine time was had by all. As lifelong Beatle fans, it was good be among our own kind. And with her unexpectedly losing her job, and me worrying about the axe blade at my neck, it was helpful to just concentrate on something that only makes us happy. And that would be the Lads.