“And now for something completely different”. Before reading further, I highly recommend that you take the time to view the hilarious Monty Python You Tube video about spam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

I know that many people think that eating spam is “gross”, but believe me it is a staple food in Hawaii, where we grow up eating a LOT of spam. I’ve defended spam in the past, but suffice it to say, that I love spam (not the email version, which is bothersome, but the food variety, in all its many forms):

spam & eggs
spam sandwiches (cold)
glazed baked spam
spam musubi (wrapped in rice & seaweed, a local favorite in Hawaii)
chopped spam in ramen/saimin soup (even offered at McDonald’s)
fried spam with rice (in boxed lunches, called bento)
spam slices in somen salads (noodles with vegetables)

Gotta love that spam. And if you’re wondering why it’s so popular in the 50th State, I hear it was because during WWII food was scarce and had to be shipped in by boat, so spam was a big hit due to it being canned & long lasting.

Go to www.spam.com for recipes/products/info/even a fan club about Spam.

Did you know there’s a free SPAM Museum located at 1101 N. Main Street in Austin, Minnesota? Their phone number is 1-800-LUV-SPAM (what else?) One of my friends gave me a brochure from the Spam Museum, and I hope to visit it someday…

the ubiquitous can of Spam in Hawaii

I just listened to the CD soundtrack of Monty Python’s Spamalot, advertised as a CD “lovingly ripped off” from the Original Broadway cast recording. Actor Tim Curry is King Arthur on this CD.

poster from musical

But if you want to see the real live musical, then log onto Broadway in Tucson (www.broadwayintucson.com) or call 1-800-745-3000 and get your tickets now for the September 22 to 27 showings (eight performances in five days) here at the Tucson Music Hall. Note that the poster says that this musical was “lovingly ripped off” from their Holy Grail movie (more ripping off).

This musical (winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical) is also being touted as– The Best “Knights” Out in Tucson.

King Arthur's knights

I lived in England decades ago and learned to appreciate British humor, and also got exposed to Mad Cow Disease. I’m sure the Monty Python fellows could do a skit on that hilarious occasion. I guess I was forced to eat too much red meat back then. Regardless, as a consequence I can’t donate blood…even to vampires.

Were any of you there for the Loft Theater’s recent Monty Python Singalot on August 19? That was me, a loyal Loft volunteer, collecting tickets with the killer rabbit hand puppet.

Whatever you do today, “always look on the bright side of life.” I think I’ll make myself a spam sandwich for lunch. Yum.

Note: If you are wondering where the spam title comes from, it’s in the song by the Knights
of the Round Table singing–”We dine well here in Camelot… We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.”