HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

It's 4am in London and I am about to crash...Happy New Year to one and all!!!!

MARY POPPINS was delightful.

Tomorrow is a day trip to Oxford.

Details to follow.

Rule, Britannia!

FLT3

Day Three In London

Last night was SPAMALOT at The Palace Theatre (former home to LES MIZ which has now moved across town.) Amazing...phenomenal...I can not say enough good things about SPAMALOT. Even those who are not Monty Python fans should love it. A complete hit!

Yesterday's tour was fun and informative...a high point was driving down Fleet Street and seeing the locale of Sweeney Todd's atrocities. Ghoulishly clever of them to have a pie shop on site...

Today will most likely include a visit to Harrod's, and possibly a walking tour. I am definitely planning a day trip to Oxford, which may be on the agenda for tomorrow. So much to do, so little time...

It's good to recharge the batteries with a few days here in The Motherland. If I don't breathe English air every couple of years or so, I begin to get depressed. Every day here makes me feel more rejuvenated, despite the fatigue from walking everywhere (well, okay, there is the tube and the taxis, but you get the drift...)

More later...cheers!

FLT3

First Dispatch From The Motherland

Saturday Morning, 8am: Just finished breakfast and am about to start the day. Arrived safe and sound yesterday and managed to stay awake through the day by basically never slowing down...took a long walk and, admittedly, got blissfully lost in London. A couple of hours of complete displacement was delightful.

Staying at the St. Giles' Hotel, which is quite nice. It's within walking distance of King's Cross Station and the West End, which is very convenient. Last night was fun...had dinner with some friends at a cafe in Covent Garden, and then saw LORD OF THE RINGS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Amazing stagecraft, phenomenal sets, a technical treat...with one of the most pedestrian scores I have ever heard. The Tolkein fans should keep it alive for a while, but I don't know that it will ever join MY FAIR LADY and HELLO, DOLLY as one of the classic musicals of all time...

Today is our half-day tour of the city, including The Tower of London, which I have not visited in years, so it should be fun. Tonight will probably be either MARY POPPINS or HAIRSPRAY.

Will post more later...Rule, Britannia!

FLT3

Boxing Day and Off To The Motherland...

Happy Boxing Day!!!

Yes, Christmas has come and gone, and tomorrow we leave for The Motherland...14 CenterStagers and I are departing for London tomorrow afternoon. We will be there for a week, and I am ready to get there! This time tomorrow, I will be approaching The Sceptered Isle... Friday night brings Lord Of The Rings at Her Majesty's Theatre, and the week beckons beyond that...

The holidays were, as always, wonderful. My mother truly outdid herself on Christmas dinner, which was simple but outrageously good...standing rib roast (medium rare, of course) with a mountain of mashed potatoes, green peas, and salad. Add some melt-in-your-mouth garlic rolls, a pretty decent merlot, and some lemon cake and ice cream...and that was Christmas dinner at chez mum and dad. I honestly don't remember when I've had a better meal. :-)

Saw Sweeney Todd last night with some friends. I loved it, but I am not a Sweeney purist. I understand that to those who are persnickety about such things, the singing by Depp and Bonham-Carter was not up to the stage version, but I really enjoyed the film.

Not sure what internet access will be like for the next week, but will try to post from time to time.

Today's News From The Motherland...will be reported in person ASAP. :-)

FLT3

Flatus Interruptus...?

Not much time to post today...between performances of A Christmas Carol at BCT...

Today from The Motherland, a gassy pensioner is ejected from his pub.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7126973.stm

FLT3

Christmas is here again...

Tonight was opening night for CenterStage's A Christmas Story. We had a good opening, a somewhat small but receptive audience, and a very nice cast outing to Formaggio's afterwards. Yesterday was opening day of A Christmas Carol at BCT, and it is going well. We have already done 4 performances. Obviously, I am beginning to feel the Christmas spirit.

I was taking a reflective moment today at BCT...and I started recalling the very first time I worked there. It was 1985, and I was 15 years old, playing the "goose boy" who fetches the bird for the newly-redeemed Scrooge on Christmas morning. I remember thinking the Birmingham Civic Center was the most massive theatre in the world...and one of the most modern.

There was a special feeling to that Christmas. This is complete conjecture, but I think my dad got a substantial rise that year, or perhaps there was some investment that really did well for my parents. Whatever the reason, that was a particularly lavish Christmas at our house. Gifts had always been plentiful at Christmas, but that year I remember my sister and I were basically swimming in gifts. It was also (and much more importantly) the first year I truly felt the significance of giving. I was a sophomore in high school and there was a collective drive to provide gifts and food for a needy family. I remember walking through the hall on the way to homeroom and contemplating the act of giving and enjoying the way it made me feel. (Don't misunderstand...I am no saint, but I do enjoy giving to others.)

Anyway, 1985 will always be remembered as the "Rich's Christmas." Rich's was a department store in Birmingham at the time. While not extremely expensive, it was a notch or two above the other department stores. Rich's was a little more dimly lighted, the walls were stained a darker wood-tone, and the salesgirls were just a bit prettier than the ones at Parisian or Pizitz. The Christmas lights were rich and luminescent gold and red, and the piped-in music at Rich's was usually a symphonic recording of something like "Coventry Carol" or The Nutcracker. In short, Rich's was the "nice" department store.

We usually bought a few special gifts at Rich's, and then went to the more everyday stores for other gifts. My parents, while very kind, loving, and giving, were not ones to pay an extra five dollars for the right of carrying a Rich's bag through the mall...especially if the bag contained an item whose identical twin could be purchased elsewhere for less.

For whatever reason, we bought pretty much every gift at Rich's that year, and I will always associate BCT and A Christmas Carol with that really wonderful Christmas I had in 1985. I even remember my mother picking me up at the theatre one day and asking if instead of going back to school (we were doing daytime shows requiring a "check out" from school) I would like to get lunch and go shopping. Needless to say, my answer was yes.

We ate lunch at cafeteria in the mall and shopped at Rich's after I performed in A Christmas Carol at BCT in the morning. That day remains one of my favorite Christmas memories...a very uneventful and ordinary day, but for some reason one that has become emblematic of warm holiday happiness.

I know, that story had no point...I am just free-flowing.

Today from The Motherland...Sarah, the wife of PM Gordon Brown, promotes reading. I agree.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7122428.stm

FLT3

Thankful...

Somewhere in one of his commentaries, professional curmudgeon Andy Rooney said that Thanksgiving is a "good, quiet, low-key holiday." I agree. Basically, the day consists of eating, sleep, and more eating. Not a bad way to spend an autumn afternoon...

It finally feels like autumn. Outside, the trees have turned a Norman Rockwell brown/red/orange and there is a definite nip in the air. Even for us warm weather fans, it's kind of nice.

I won't get obscenely maudlin and do a syrup-laden "this is what I am thankful for" essay, but I will say this...I have a pleasant, satisfying life, some good friends and a loving family. I am lucky, and I know it. :-)

Paula Deen is prattling on the tv screen across the room...I find it very amusing that she keeps talking about "using her grandma's pot" or "how wonderful grandma's pot always was" or my favorite..."grandma's pot was just something special." Yes, she's talking about an antique cooking utensil, but the thought of Paula and Grandma Deen getting completely baked is entertaining...perhaps that's why Paula became a cook...

In today's News From The Motherland, a look at the colonies...and the good news that The Grinch has not stolen Christmas after all...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7107264.stm

FLT3

Diamond Day...

Today from The Motherland...a royal anniversary.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7101094.stm

Not much else to say today... God Save The Queen!

FLT3

Good Day Thought...

Today has been a very good day for a variety of reasons...won't bore any of my seven or eight readers with the details...it's just been a nice day.

That sort of set me thinking about the absolute crapshoot that is any given day...when we wake up in the morning, it's a clean slate. Nothing has yet happened, failed to happen, etc. All is possibility...then we begin to take actions and make decisions, and the day becomes whatever it will be. Granted, our actions mold and shape our outcomes, but there's quite a bit of random chance and dumb luck involved. If one was inclined towards Calvinism, predestination could be blamed. I, however, believe that God gives us the power to choose, and then sits back and watches us to see what happens...

Okay, moment of depth is over...here's a lovely story from The Motherland about a Swiss gentleman who blamed his excessive speeding on the absence of goats on the road.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5322302.stm

FLT3

God Bless Us Every One...

Yes, it's that time of year again...I have been cast once again as Bob Cratchit in BCT's A Christmas Carol, which is always one of my favorite holiday stories. Yes, it's syrupy, hackneyed, trite and predictable...and I love it! I have always read the Dickens book on Christmas Eve (you can read it in a couple of hours) and usually either perform in or see at least one stage version per year. Add to that the near-ubiquity of the various film incarnations, and it's pretty hard to escape Scrooge and Co. at the holidays!

A Christmas Story is moving along nicely. Ralphie's eye is still intact, but that BB gun could lead to trouble...

On a personal level, I am happy to say that my dad is out of hospital and back home. He seems to be recuperating slowly but steadily, which is just fine. I spent a little time with him this morning, and he seemed in good spirits.

Our London excursion draws closer...from 27 December to 03 January, I will be leading 15 people on a trip to The World's Greatest City...a few among us have never been, so I am looking forward to playing unofficial tour guide. Rule, Britannia!

Not much else going on right now...the pre-primaries continue apace. So far, my girl Hillary is doing well. A few missteps aside, I think the nomination is hers for the taking. Hopefully by this time next year, we will be reading news stories about President-Elect Clinton.

I will withold comment on Dubya the dumbass. I'm in a good mood and want to keep it that way.
The whole "I'm gonna veto health care for poor kids but give me countless billions for a pointless war" thing just gets me riled...

Today from The Motherland...some changes in EuroStar service to Paris.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7093761.stm

FLT3

Guy Fawkes Day

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
I know of no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

05 November is an important day for us anglophiles...it was on this day that Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent to blow up king and parliament...(with apologies for what I am sure is a paraphrased quote.) I haven't seen too many effigies burning in Birmingham, Alabama. Oh well...there it is...

Today From The Motherland...an amusing story from the archives...about a monkey who likes to fly commercial air...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6936533.stm

FLT3

Quick Catch Up!

I am afraid I have once again neglected my readers...from what I have recently been told, there may be as many as 7 or 8 of you...can double digits be far away????

Lots has been happening...Thoroughly Modern Millie closed, rehearsals began for A Christmas Story, and Rumplestiltskin continues for this week and next with BCT. I really like my fellow actors, and will always seek out their friendship...however, I will not miss the show...six weeks is long enough...

Those of us who work in local theatre (I hate the term "community theatre") get rather spoiled with a 5 or 6 week rehearsal period followed by a two-weekend run...you really don't have time to get tired of the project at hand.

My dad has been in hospital for several days and will most likely be there several more...won't bore anyone with details...he's just getting old, and that's sad, but what can you do? As the saying goes, getting old beats the alternative...I have been trying to visit as often as possible, and my mother and sister are usually with him, so he hasn't lacked for company. Hopefully he can come home soon.

Mortality, as the saying goes, is a bitch. I was texting with a good friend today, and he mentioned having had chest pains over the weekend, which turned out to be nothing, but were still scary. I suppose we (my friends and I) are all reaching the age where we need to take better care of ourselves.

Time marches on...the BCT show was in Tuscaloosa last week, so I took a friend of mine from the tour out to Buffalo Phil's (beer and chicken wings) and another friend who had also gone to UA drove down and joined us. After we got through staring in utter confusion at all the junior high kids (who turned out to be college students,) we marveled at how much the landscape had changed...new buildings, etc. This reverie was wistful, but bearable, but then we saw...the horror...

THE BOOTH IS NOW A POLICE STATION!!!!!!!

For the uninitiated, The Booth was a grand old beer joint in the tradition of a bygone era...dark, smoky, loud, and in disrepair. A couple of mangy pool tables and a shabby bandstand were the only decorations other than grafitti. It was a low establishment, and reeked of beer, sweat, cigarettes and God-knows-what...relationships, vows of sobriety and good common sense seldom survived an evening at The Booth...

...and I loved it.

Now a cornerstone of my misspent youth is a police substation...all glass and chrome and shiny clean...no drug dealers, drunk sorority girls or aging hippies (except those in the drunk tank)...no beyond gawdawful student bands banging away atonally on stolen guitars...no loud laughter or rebel yells permeate the interior of this once revered/reviled establishment...

Farewell to The Booth...whenever I get almost-sick off watermelon shooters (not planning to anytime soon, but you never know...) I will think of the nights spent inside your walls.

Today from The Motherland...Harry Potter comes to Broadway...sort of...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7079618.stm

FLT3

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid...

Well, as usual, I have been remiss in updating this thing...Thoroughly Modern Millie turned out to be a tremendous success artistically. 4-star review from The Bham News, enthusiastic and respectably-sized audiences, and excellent performances from the cast. I am exhausted but very happy.

No rest, however, as we had our read-through for A Christmas Story last night. As with Millie, the cast is outstanding, especially local radio celeb "Dollar" Bill Lawson as The Old Man. Hopefully the antics of Ralphie and his BB-gun inspired mania will entertain and amuse... :-)

Not much else to report, but I will try and put down something insightful and pithy this weekend.

Today from The Motherland...Pottermania continues...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7062090.stm

FLT3

Sidewalk, etc.

To quote my friend and fellow blogger Aaron White (from several years ago) oh, I had me a blast at the Sidewalk. (I also ran into Aaron there this year, so he and Sidewalk have become inseperably linked in my mind.) For those who think there were two grown men playing marbles on the pavement, allow me to clarify..."Sidewalk" refers to the Sidewalk Film Festival, which is held every September in and around downtown Birmingham. I am slightly ashamed to admit that this was my first time to attend. It will not be my last! :-) The fare is mostly indie films (some locally produced) and I imagine the quality varies. The films I saw were all quite good...one was about an x-rated country singer (dirty lyrics, not coitus while singing...although that would be a neat trick...) Another was about 2 guys rowing a boat from New Jersey to The Bahamas (pretty good but a little dull in spots) and the third was a series of animated shorts ranging from outstanding to not-so-bad. In all, a very enjoyable weekend. Rumplestiltskin has hit stride and we are settling in for the long haul. Tomorrow is another three-performance day (ugh) but for the most part, it's fun. The kids seem to be enjoying it, I like all my castmates, and the paycheck, while not lordly, is decent. On other theatrical fronts, Thoroughly Modern Millie is showing potential for greatness. I don't want to tempt fate by gushing TOO much, but I think it will be quite good. Incidentally, if anyone was wondering, I did buy the Passat. I love it! It's amazing how quickly the year has gone by. I recently spoke with a friend who is going on the CenterStage London trip in December (still time to sign up) and she made the comment that we will be in London in three months. Wow. It seems like yesterday that I sent out the first "would anyone be interested in this" letter back in January. On that note, I will keep the British theme going with today's News From The Motherland...an Irish fair turns tragic when the Lord Mayor tries to jump over a human tomato... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7026851.stm FLT3

Home-School Day

It's home school day at BCT...wooo hooo! We just finished the first of three performances, and I can honestly say that we performed for more adults than kids. They were a sedate crowd, but really seemed to like the show.

Home schooling is an interesting phenomenon...it certainly leaves open the opportunity for abuses, as does just about anything, but for those who truly stress social interaction for the kids (ie scouts, theatre, athletics, etc.) it seems to work pretty well. The homeschoolers I have known have been, for the most part, very intelligent and well-educated...one does hear horror stories, though...

Thoroughly Modern Millie continues to make her way towards opening. I think we will be in good shape. I am really impressed with the vocal abilities of this cast...I don't recall such a strong group of singers in any recent shows.

Planning to see MCAT's Bye Bye Birdie this weekend. I have several good friends in the show, and it truly is one of my favorite musicals. The reviews have been uniformly positive, so I am anticipating enjoying it.

Considered buying a 2001 Mazda 626 yesterday...the price was right, and the car looked good, but after talking to several friends who know much more than I about cars (which isn't hard) I was advised that Mazdas tend to run out of steam around the 90k mark, and this one wasn't too far from it...the search continues, and must accelerate. My friends are getting tired of carting me around.

Today from The Motherland...a BIG baby... :-)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7015841.stm

FLT3

Car Woes

Well, as has been long-predicted by those who know me, my car has finally died. Yes, the seemingly indestructible Altima has finally passed away at the age of 165,000. Please do not send flowers, just a donation to the charity of your choice...like the Frank Needs A Car Foundation...



I have seen a car I would like to buy...a somewhat used but still in good shape Volkswagen Passat...such things as negotiation, counter-offers, etc. loom imminent. It would be nice to have the money to just buy a brand new car, but alas, that is not in my budget right now. Perhaps in a year or two...



We're between performances of Rumplestiltskin, and "10" was just called, so I'll close for now.



Today from The Motherland...Amsterdam brothels make way for condos...hmmmmm...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7005768.stm

FLT3

Second Posting...

It isn't often I post twice in one day, but this little nugget of joy from The Motherland was too good to pass up...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6993762.stm

FLT3

Three-A-Days...

Today is a "three-a-day" at BCT, meaning that we will do three performances, at 930, 11, and 1230 respectively. It's a bit taxing, but the trade-off is that we have Mondays off. (Of course, I have the luxury of working in a job where getting off work at 1:15 is a "long" day...:-)

Thoroughly Modern Millie is also progressing very well. The leads are particularly strong, and the ensemble is equally good and reliable. I think we will have a very successful show. More discussion of TMM as it progresses towards the 12 October opening.

Not much else to report...a semi-planned weekend beach trip has been scuttled due to the incipient arrival of Hurricane George. Somehow paying for a nice place to sit and watch the rain doesn't seem the best use of one's spending money...

Today's News From The Motherland...the QE2...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7005952.stm

FLT3

RUMPLESTILTSKIN, New Flat, and Notoriety

Today was opening day of Rumplestiltskin at Bham Children's Theatre. I am playing the role of Sir Hugo, a sort of puffed-up Royal Treasurer kind of fellow. I would be lying if I said it was the pinnacle of artistic gratification, but on a humanitarian level, it can't be beat...the show is performed in the "Wee Folks" theatre, where the target audience is kindergarten-3rd grade. Though the show is (understandably) simple and short, I have already caught sight of a couple of kids in each audience (2 shows per day) who seemed transfixed. When you stop to think that your performance may be creating a love of theatre in a young person, you can't help but feel as if you are doing something good for humanity.

The paycheck is nice, too...not getting rich by any means, but I can honestly say that I am a paid, working actor. That's not something that many people in Birmingham can say...

I just moved into a new apartment. For the few of you who may have seen my previous apartment, it was (to put it mildly) gruesome...Dank, dated, and dungeon-like, this little hole in the wall was not a place into which I would invite people. Why was I living there, you may ask? It was cheap, convenient to Southside, and when I needed a place to live a year ago, I honestly thought I wasn't at home enough to warrant a nicer place. Needless to say, I was wrong...

Anyway, my lease was up at the end of July and the place I decided to move did not have a unit open until 10 September. I can now say that at age 37, I survived six(!) weeks bunking at my parents' house. Actually, it wasn't so awful...they were very nice and accomodating, and I enjoyed spending some time with them. However, by the time 9 September came round, I had bag and baggage packed and ready to go...

I am now living at Wildwood Crossings, where I lived in law school. An interesting perspective on life has come round since then...when I first moved in in '97, the complex was brand new. I was literally the first person to ever live in my apartment. Through the years that followed law school, I looked back on Wildwood as a sort of suburban idyll, a fantasyland where all was bright and shiny. (Remember that after undergrad, this was my first really "nice" apartment.)

Ten years later...it's still very nice. I am paying the rent myself now, as opposed to mom & dad, so it isn't quite the enchanted spot it was before. Plus, it's now a 10-year-old complex, and while it's very well-maintained, the sheen of brand-newness is gone. There has been some redecoration, and the bold wallpaper (which I loved) has been replaced by a textured muted-beige paint/plaster design (which I like just fine.)

Bottom line: what was once a never-never land of parties and the last burst of carefree youth is now a slightly more shopworn but still comfy and happy "real world" home. I still have to chew on the philosophical implications of all this, but I think my surroundings sort of reflect the disparity between the late 20's and late 30's. The latter still has fun and laughs, but perhaps slightly muted by time and creeping maturity. Not all bad, to be honest...

As for the notoriety, I have once again been mentioned on my friend Aaron's blog. Aaron is quite a fine writer, and I always enjoy seeing myself through his eyes. I usually fare pretty well...can't say I would enjoy it as much if he devoted a weekly column to "Frank is a bastard and here's why." Hopefully, that won't happen... :-)

Today from The Motherland...The Sex Pistols reunite! I remember listening to "Never Mind The Bollocks" back in the day...now most of the original fans have SUVs and 401(K)s. Sort of makes you doubt mainstream commercial anti-establishment musicians, huh...?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7000180.stm

FLT3

I Love My Cast...

No, I haven't broken an arm (though I suppose a leg would be appropriate, given my profession...) I am making reference to the cast of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE which will be presented by CenterStage in October. This cast is really something special...

First, they are almost scary-talented...this is a group of truly brilliant performers. At a recent music rehearsal, I was out of the room for a moment, and honestly thought someone was playing the CD...but it was just our cast singing. :-)

Not only are they talented, they are also incredibly nice and friendly and agreeable. I honestly look forward to seeing this group of people every night! I predict that MILLIE will be a tremendous success, due not only to the sheer talent, but also the tangible warmth and goodwill among the cast.

SO...please come and see the show...you won't be disappointed!

In today's news from The Motherland...a very special kitty! (I love the British term "moggie...")
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6989055.stm

FLT3

Warm & Fuzzy Story

Today from The Motherland...a story about motherhood:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6984122.stm

Although the potential for abuse is high, and regulation & enforcement will be difficult if not impossible, it's damned civilized to see that Queen & Country care about good nutrition for babies. It makes me smile to think of it. :-)

FLT3

Try To Remember...

As I write this, I am sitting in a friend's office downstairs at Virginia Samford Theatre (thanks, Lucas!) waiting for my next entrance in the VST Gala. Above me I can hear another friend masterfully singing "Try To Remember" from The Fantasticks (excellent job, Carl!) I just glanced at the news online and saw that Madeline L'Engle died today. One of the first "grown up" books I ever read was A Wrinkle In Time, and I have always credited L'Engle with helping me discover a lifelong love of reading. Add to this passing that of Pavarotti, and the "Try To Remember" song takes on a particular poigniancy...

Life, however, goes on. There will be other magnificent authors and other incredible singers, but the world is a bit less "sparkling" tonight with these two missing. Rest In Peace, both...

On a more cheerful note, an amusing story from The Motherland:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6981956.stm

It's nice to know that in a world of violence, sadness, and assorted acts of nastiness that Alan Cumming's arse can still cause a stir in Scotland.

FLT3

Get Well, Maestro...

In today's News From The Motherland...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6980686.stm

...opera legend Luciano Pavarotti is reported in "serious" condition. Our prayers are with you, LP...God, what an amazing voice...

The frailty and temporary nature of the human body is sort of terrifying if one really stops to consider...thousands of living, functioning component parts...no matter how well they are maintained, one too many will go sour within 100 years or so, even by the most optimistic statistics...mortality is, as the saying goes, a bitch.

FLT3

History Again at The Tower

From The Motherland...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6975559.stm

It looks as if one of the last bastions of the old-boy network has been breached. For the first time in history, a female Beefeater is on duty at The Tower of London. I must say, "well done!"

Admittedly, I am a traditionalist when it comes to The Sceptered Isle. I mourned the passing of the barristers' wigs, I long for the return of Latin to the C of E services, and if the pound sterling gives way to the euro, I may have to take to my bed...

However, I am definitely a progressive in terms of equal opportunity. If there are women who wish to serve as yeoman warders at The Tower (and obviously there are) I think they should be given the opportunity.

In other news, the VST Gala continues to grow and blossom. I do hope it will be well-attended...I may have to send out a mass email later tonight. I usually hate the "come and see my show" propaganda that surrounds the opening of a performance, but this is something special...

Today is Labor Day. I think we all need a pleasant, quiet, low-key holiday once in a while, and Labor Day fills the bill quite nicely. It's sort of like Thanksgiving or Easter...not a frenzied high-intensity holiday...just calm and restful.

Rehearsal begins tomorrow at BCT for Rumplestiltskin. I am very happy to say that my good friend Ron Dometrovich is in the show, so I will look forward to the performances...even the tour won't be so gruelling with a friend along for the trip. Of course the paycheck is another nice incentive...

FLT3

One Wealthy Dog...

Today's news from The Motherland actually concerns a story from The Colonies...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6969648.stm

It's nice to see that someone as (reportedly) vile and mean-spirited as Leona Helmsley can still love a pet.

It's late, and I don't have much to say, so I'll leave my readers (all 4 of you) with this thought...is Leona related to Sherman "George Jefferson" Helmsley?

Well we're movin' on up...

FLT3

Confusion

Today from The Motherland...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/6961980.stm

I must confess to a bit of confusion. I always assumed the C of E and a Champagne Bar would be a perfect match. I especially liked the quote about Champagne Bar patrons not pooping outside. Class will tell... :-)

FLT3

Good Doggie

In today's news from The Motherland...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6960750.stm

Short post today...not much new to report. As the saying goes, it has been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon..."Comedy of Errors" continues tonight, and I'm sure we will once again have good, solid performances. I am also in rehearsal for the VST Gala, which runs at Virginia Samford Theatre September 6-9. It is going to be AMAZING. I don't say this very often, but all my readers (all 3 or 4 of you) REALLY need to come and see it. It's going to be one of the better pieces of theatre seen in Bham in a while...tickets are $25 for just the show, or $80 for opening night, which includes the foo-foo reception.

I have been singing "Vindaloo" for the past day, having posted it on my last entry (see song #1 from yesterday's post.) I find myself sitting at the computer or whatever softly singing "Na na na na na na na...we're Eng-a-land...we're gonna scooooore one mooooore than yooooou" over and over. (Yes, I am bizzare...I have accepted that...)

That's all for now...

Cheers!
FLT3

A Few More Favorites...

I have been on a YouTube kick, I suppose...after my last posting, I realized that I had several more favorite musical bits to include...

1. Fat Les' "Vindaloo." This was the (un?)official song of the British team during the World Cup of 1998. I spent that summer in Durham (a couple of hours north of London, not far from Newcastle.) You literally could not go anywhere without hearing the song. I, of course, got attached immediately.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1pXsJp_go&mode=related&search=

2. "Come Dancing" by The Kinks. This is early high-school-era music for me. I always associate it with happy times...I remember I had the song on a mix cassette (yes, I'm that old) and the label said "happy music." Indeed, it was...I can listen to this song, and it's 1985 again...geez...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3awgkHHtQ0

3. Closing credits and chase sequence from The Benny Hill Show. Just because I love the song ("Yakkety Sax" is, I believe, the title.) It's also fun to watch the sped-up film...a gag that never seems to get old...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuiA2j52rP8&mode=related&search=

4. "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson, from the movie Curious George. I love Curious George...always have! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNzFFvW20G0

5. B-52's "Love Shack." What "Come Dancing" was for high school, "Love Shack" was for college. Oh, the happy Saturday afternoons on the back porch of the fraternity house...beer, music...idyllic times, where have you gone...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8NhJNpQlsY

6. The Three Stooges "Swingin' The Alphabet." I had this on a videotape when I was a kid and must have watched it a million times...I always thought the "Curly's a dope" line was pretty funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFlDUK7YG6A

Today from The Motherland...who would have ever thought that The Rolling Stones would be banned from smoking onstage? I assumed Keith Richards had a cigarette genetically attached to his lower lip...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6958627.stm

FLT3

Musical Entertainment

Okay, I know I have a bizzare sense of what is entertaining. That said, here are a few of my favorites from YouTube. Enjoy!

Prologue: "Rule, Britannia." My favorite tune...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5UP5n91-JQ&mode=related&search=

1. "Beebopareebop, Rhubarb Pie" from A Prairie Home Companion. I grew up reading the Garrison Keillor books, and love the radio show, so the movie was a must-see! This little ditty between Keillor and Meryl Streep (who, by the way, is still beautiful at 100) is one of my favorite parts of the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsdHSGtxOlk

2. "Frankie And Johnny," also from A Prairie Home Companion. A pre-felony Lindsay Lohan sings the classic tune in a new way...in the film, her character is basically thrust in front of the mic and told to sing, with humorous results...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-87HUtpY0xU&mode=related&search=

3. "Liquor And Whores," a slightly ribald but funny song by "Bubbles," from Trailer Park Boys. (If you don't know this hilarious Canadian sitcom, you should check it out...) He is apparently performing the song on a radio show.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aoOY3_2bmlU

4. "Minnie The Moocher" from the BBC series, Jeeves And Wooster. If the actor playing Bertie looks familiar, that's because he's Hugh Laurie of House Fame. Another of my favorite series of books is the Jeeves collection by PG Wodehouse.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BWnB0hQWGdI

5. Merv Griffin sings "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts." Just because.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Td4uqWTDt9w

6. The "Ascot Gavotte" from the 2002 London revival of My Fair Lady. While I don't condone sneaking a video camera into the theatre, this guy did manage to get a decent shot. I saw this production about six months after it opened, and LOVED it! While I do think the costumes are too dark (I preferred the Cecil Beaton black & white) the number is flawless...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JQ78BpYZS0&mode=related&search=

Epilogue: Stewie Griffin sings "My Fat Baby Loves To Eat." A modern classic...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PWcOvwcNGaA&mode=related&search=

Those should make everyone's day at work a bit more fun. :-)

And, as always, a bit of news from The Motherland...I can't say that this particular link is to anything all that interesting...just a story about a strike among tube workers...however, just reading about the "Bakerloo Line" made me think about The Underground...mind the gap...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6957825.stm

Cheers!
FLT3

MFL Re-Examined And Other Thoughts...

For anyone who knows me, the fact that My Fair Lady is my favorite musical is hardly new news. I have performed in the show multiple times, seen it in numerous venues (the best of which was at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket) and watched the movie ad infinitum. I would have been willing to bet that there was nothing new I could possibly find in it. While this is true in terms of lines and musical numbers, I have found it to be untrue in terms of theme and character...

I recently watched the movie with someone for the first time. (It wasn't the first time I watched it with another person, but rather the first time the other person in reference had seen it.) As the story progressed, we made occasional comments about the characters and situations. It is interesting to see it (in a way) through fresh eyes, unaffected by 20-plus years of exposure to the story. With this in mind, here are my new thoughts...

1. Higgins is basically an insensitive bastard who softens when he finds himself attracted (on some level) to Eliza. I had always sort of viewed him as a lovable curmudgeon, but when you really break down his lines, they're actually quite hateful. Rex Harrison's charm made Higgins likable in spite of himself, but at least for the first half of the story, he's pretty much a jerk. That said, I remain convinced that the actor playing the role HAS to make him endearing in some way...if you go strictly by the dialogue, the audience would want to kill him before intermission.

2. Eliza's treatment of Freddy seems less capricious when you consider the fact that the two primary men in her life are Higgins (see above) and her father, who is perfectly willing to sell her as a whore to Higgins and Pickering if it means he can get five pounds on which to get drunk. I always wondered WHY she spurned a nice-looking, well-mannered man who obviously adored her. (Okay, that whole hanging out for days on the street where she lives is a bit creepy, but still...) The main problem with Freddy is that he has been raised as a gentleman, and has no concept of anyone ever behaving otherwise. In modern parlance, Eliza has "baggage" and "issues" which Freddy could never begin to comprehend, much less address. When she goes back to Higgins, it's really a classic example of dysfunction meeting dysfunction. Yes, we are led to believe that they will get along and (perhaps) love each other, but it's highly unlikely that there will never be fireworks...conflict is a comfort zone for both.

There are some more "new" ideas rattling around in my brain. Maybe I'll get to them sometime after the long-promised "Harry Potter" discussion...

On other fronts, Comedy Of Errors had a successful opening weekend. I am happy to say that while my lines were certainly not letter-perfect, they were (for the most part) accurate and correctly placed. Last night's performance was our best yet, and I think the entire cast agreed that we have hit our stride. Next weekend should be solid.

Today from the motherland...an adorable baby animal:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6955014.stm

The heat continues to bake the brain and dry the throat. (People were actually excited last night when it was mentioned that today's high was only 97 degrees.) I have been guzzling water for the past couple of weeks, and despite the heat find myself with a sort of renewed vigour. I suppose there's something to be said for hydration...

Michael Vick has apparently reached a plea agreement on the dog-fighting charges that have been nipping at his heels (pun intended.) As an animal lover, I think he belongs UNDER the jail, but I suppose he will get off with just a couple of years in prison. Oh well, it's something...at least he isn't walking away with a slap on the wrist. How anyone could find the brutal slaughter of innocent animals "entertainment" is beyond me...we (as a society) pride ourselves on our civility, yet some among us seem scarcely removed from the savages.

On a more cheerful note, the various work projects are going well. I have finally finished a script I am writing for the VST gala, and I begin work at BCT next week. In the meantime, there's always subbing...

Not much about which to rant in the political realm. I suppose the departure of Beelzebub Rove has left those among the party faithful (on both sides of the aisle) sort of stunned. My thoughts are chronicled one or two entries below, so I won't bore the reader with repetition. Let's just hope he returns to whatever primordial ooze spawned him...

Signing off for now...

FLT3

Another Fine Mess...

As always, news from The Motherland...the BBC had this to say about a proposed statue of Laurel & Hardy:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6949693.stm

I remember watching L&H when I was growing up...somewhere in my early teens I "discovered" them on late-night television, and immediately became a fan. I particularly enjoyed the musical numbers they presented, including "In The Blue Ridge Mountains Of Virginia" and "Shine On, Harvest Moon." My absolute favorite short was "The Music Box," where the boys attempt to move a piano up an extremely steep flight of stairs. (Point of trivia: the same set of stairs was used for a similar film in which The Three Stooges played ice men trying to deliver a huge cube of ice.)

Here's to Stan and Ollie...long may they be remembered!

FLT3

Those randy Brits...

Today from The Motherland...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6947678.stm

One does have to wonder, however, if one of Her Majesty's Finest couldn't have found a more romantic (and sanitary) place for an assignation than the loo...

FLT3

Don't Let The Door Hit You In The Arse On The Way Out...

Well, well, well... Karl Rove is officially leaving his post at the White House. While I can't shake the image of the rats jumping off the sinking ship, I am a bit concerned as to how the powers that be will replace him. (Is the devil you know better than the devil you don't know...?) I did have to smile at John Edwards' "goodbye and good riddance" comment. While I remain a staunch Hillary supporter, I have to give Edwards points for succinct eloquence.

Rove was (and remains) such a symbol of the malevolent arrogance of this administration. King Georgie II has to have assembled the most mean-spirited group of minions in presidential history. (Imagine Cheney as Emperor Palpatine, snarling "Rise, Lord Vader..." as he conjures the Dark Side of the Force, aka the Republican Party.) What's sad is that my absolute favorite President was a Republican. I have NO DOUBT that Teddy Roosevelt is turning backflips and triple-lindys in his grave as he considers what the party has become.

I may shock my readers (all three of you) when I say this, but I really don't think Dubya is inherently evil. By now he has most likely suffered the taint of those who surround him, but by nature he's probably an affable clod...a good ole boy with whom it may have once been fun to have a beer. One has to wonder how he would have turned out had he become Commissioner of Baseball instead of President of the US. My guess is that he would have been remembered as a good-natured and beloved bumbler. He could mangle the English language with impunity, and his off-the-wall comments would have been endearingly "colorful." The congnoscenti of Major League Baseball may have chuckled at his malaprops, but the Commissioner of Baseball can easily (and harmlessly) be viewed with affectionate condescention. That said, the brainless charm does NOT work when you are the most powerful individual in the political world.

Maybe it's the influence of "Comedy of Errors" (opening Thursday at Aldridge Gardens, by the way) but I see an almost Shakespearian level of tragedy in Dubya's reign. Take the brain-dead son of a former king, raise him in wealth and privilege, and then when Daddy and his cronies decide sonnyboy is ready, stick him on the throne through treachery and deceit...surround him with evil yes-men and give him a malevolent second in command who really runs the show...send the country into an unjust war to vindicate Daddy's ego while the economy goes straight to hell...strengthen the power of the government to almost dictatorial levels...accuse any who disagree of disloyalty...wrap the whole administration in an absurdly transparent package of morality and patriotism...and then sit back and wait for the inevitable crash and burn...

Hillary's arrival on the scene as a flawed but idealistic warrior queen adds an interesting twist...Queen Bodaciea, perhaps? Elizabeth I dueling with the privy council? The imagery can really become interesting when you think about it...

Enough political ranting for today. As usual, something from the Motherland...an otherwise dull story, but the last paragraph is priceless...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6944878.stm

FLT3

Oh Merv, We Hardly Knew Ye...

A sad passing was reported today...Merv Griffin has died at the age of 82. I suppose just about everyone over the age of 30 or so can recall Merv on television...I remember watching and enjoying "The Merv Griffin Show" at my great-grandmother's house when I was about 3 years old. (I'm not sure the 3-year-old demographic was Merv's target, but there you are...) I think I'll try and download "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts" and remember Merv's smiling face...

Today from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6943271.stm

Farewell, Merv... may flights of angels guide thee to thy rest...

FLT3

Simply Absurd

Once again, I find myself shaking my head at some of the atrocities perpetrated in the name of Christianity:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070811/ap_on_re/gay_funeral_4;_ylt=AoJZ8D7gN4KXhrQaZsDf5f8E1vAI

Feel free (anyone) to contradict me, but didn't Jesus himself associate with lepers, whores, and outcasts? (Not that being gay is analagous to any of the above, but you get the point...) Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't one of the basic tenets of Christianity supposed to be love for one's fellow man? How about the whole "judge not lest ye be judged" concept? If I may quote from The Book Of Common Prayer:

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

(I may have gotten a word or two incorrect, but a lifetime as an Episcopalian has enabled me to pretty much quote verbatim the most often-used sections of the BCP.)

Religion is a complex thing to say the least...I don't pretend to have all the answers, and more often than not, I find myself looking up at God and basically saying "I know you're there, I believe that you are loving and kind, and I am just going to trust you and not try to figure it all out." That may or may not be the right approach, but it works for me, and God & I are just fine. I am not ashamed to admit that He and I talk every day, and I think/hope that I am kind and compassionate to my fellow man. Beyond that, it's all as much a mystery to me as to anyone else. However, I do feel sure that to deny one of God's children the civility and courtesy of a decent church-based Christian funeral is pretty far off from the teachings of Christ.

To paraphrase George Carlin, do you see any of these preachers going out and giving their posessions to some poor unwed mothers, sitting down in a soup kitchen to comfort a homeless man, or adopting an unwanted black crack baby? NO!... That might actually be something that Jesus would do...

Sorry for getting on my soap box, but that's how I feel.

On a more cheerful note, here's today's story from the BBC. :-)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6941611.stm

Closing question: why does my blogspot clock always register posts several hours earlier than they were really written? Of course it makes it look as if I am always up bright and early, but it's a bit unsettling...

FLT3

Yet Another Of The Gazillion Reasons I Love The British...

"Rowdy antics..." For some reason, that just made me smile... I also had to laugh at the thought of "couples copulating on the bonnets of cars." Hee hee hee... we've come a long way since Eliza Doolittle shocked everyone at Ascot by shouting "move your bloomin' arse."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/6939901.stm

Yesterday I had lunch with a good friend who reminded me of a comment by JK Rowling. (Which reminds me...for all three of my readers, I am planning to post the first HP commentary today or tomorrow and hope a discussion will follow...) Anyway, Rowling mentioned that in England, she met with one very polite request re the Christian imagery in the books. She received a letter from a clergyman who asked most respectfully (and with professed admiration for the series) that she consider not placing Christmas trees at Hogwarts School. Civilized and friendly, it was apparently one of those "please forgive this minor complaint and thank you ever so for your otherwise outstanding product" sort of letters.

In America...death threats and screaming hysterics from absurd fundamentalists. I have another friend whose nephew attends a "Christian" (quotes very much on purpose) school where Harry Potter is banned. The child in question is allowed by his family to read the books and see the movies, but can't talk about them at school for fear of being ostracized. To steal a line from The Man Who Came To Dinner, I may vomit. I personally think God has many more important things on His mind than whether or not a 12-year-old (or anyone else) reads a harmless fairy tale.

Rule Brittania!

FLT3

His Lordship...?

I suppose stranger things have happened...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6938131.stm

Time to start another day...the gloom I mentioned in yesterday's post seems to be lifting. Depression is a strange thing. In my case, it follows no pattern...I have been in an absolute funk for a week (for no real reason) and today I awoke with a sort of refreshed optimism (again, for no real reason.) Odd, admittedly,, but there it is...

Have not forgotten the intention to start a "Deathly Hallows" discussion...I am still sort of digesting not only the book, but the Harry Potter series as a whole. It is many things, including coming-of-age story, epic adventure, quasi-religious allegory, pop-culture phenomenon...and the list goes on...in a day or two, I should be at a point where I feel comfortable dissecting it with others.

Speaking of Potter...I suppose this means my plans to translate "Deathly Hallows" into Urdu and Sanskrit are now thwarted...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6936979.stm

...and just for a smile, look at the last picture... :-)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6938759.stm

FLT3

Shakespeare, The Blues, and BBQ

I suppose that sounds a bit like a country music song from some bizzare offbeat band, but it's actually my life right now. Shakespeare refers to "The Comedy Of Errors," which opens next week. I am playing both Dromio twins, which is a real lark. I am still struggling with the lines, but I will get there. I am infinitely more concerned with the heat index...we perform outdoors, which could open the door to some rather sweaty performances. Hopefully there will be a break in the heat wave by next Thursday.

As for the blues, I am really wrestling with them right now. I have been finding myself either sitting around moping, bursting into tears for no apparent reason, or being ridiculously ill-tempered for the past week or so. I could attribute it to the heat, but this is a pattern I know well. I get this way two or three times a year, and there seems to be precious little I can do about it. I just have to try extra hard not to be short or snappish with people, make every effort to at least appear happy, and just muddle through until it goes away (as capriciously and without cause as it arrived.) Someday when I have health insurance, some shrink will make a fortune off me, I'm sure...

On to happier subjects, I had a really excellent bbq chicken breast for dinner, from Bob Sykes' BBQ out in Bessemer. I grew up eating Sykes', and I still consider it the best (sorry, Dreamland!) It's funny how taste can be so evocative of time and place, but as I was eating it, I recalled countless meals at Sykes' as a kid. I'm sure my family ate there in all seasons, but I always associate it with cold weather...I was thinking while I ate, and actually envisioned sitting with my parents at the restaurant, looking out the window at a cold, dreary, sleet-filled sky. Despite the grim appearance of the outdoors, the feeling was quite cozy and content. When you're 8 or 9 years old, it's Friday night, the weather is gross, but you're with mum & dad inside someplace happy and warm, eating barbeque...well, all is right with the world.

Of course no posting of mine would be complete without a link to the BBC. Here's what's going on in The Motherland today...actually, the news is FROM The Motherland, but the story takes place in the USA. It involves a monkey, so I liked it. :-)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6936533.stm

FLT3

Too Darn Hot...

Is a great number from Kiss Me, Kate, but also a description of the weather in Bham...it's been scorching for a few days and shows no signs of cooling. I love summertime, but this is ridiculous...I'm getting ready for fall...

I helped a friend of mine unload some furniture this afternoon. (He is doing some remodeling and had to move some of his household things into temporary storage.) Anyway, by the time the first box had been lifted, I was sweating like a mule. Now most of you know that I am a pretty free sweater, but I literally looked like I had just been swimming. Yeah, it was just as gross as you think it was...

Today from the BBC, a story out of Asia...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6932801.stm

FLT3

Bum Pinching and Yard Work

Now this is just funny...apparently her bum was just too irresistable...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/6924592.stm

Not much going on this week...various workshops have drawn to a close and the mad rush of first-of-the-year subbing has yet to begin, so I have a week or so of relative freedom. I have been spending a lot of this time helping my dad put up a fence in my parents' back yard. From digging holes to mixing cement, I have done a little bit of everything, and actually sort of enjoyed it. We've been able to spend some time together, and the work has been hard but rewarding.

Comedy of Errors continues apace. I am struggling with memorization...Elizabethan prose is something you can't really paraphrase, so it's a bit tricky. The show is going to be performed outdoors in Aldridge Gardens, which will be very nice.

I have a few more Harry Potter comments, but I am still sort of forming my thoughts...lots of philosophical imagery...will post them soon and hopefully get a discussion going. It is fascinating to see how the series "grew up" with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The first few books were obviously for children, and then the series got darker and more sophisticated. I am still planning to read the entire series again, in sequence. Maybe I will offer a running commentary as I go along.

FLT3

BBC Link

God Save The Queen! The new PM, Gordon Brown, is in America talking to Shrub...I must confess to imagining Winston Churchill or Clement Atlee meeting Jethro Bodine...however, I will hope for the best. I just hate the thought of how many derisive laughs are gotten in the halls of Parliament over the dumb-as-a-bag-of-hammers American President.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6918997.stm

Potter Commentary

Well, I have sped through Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, and am now almost finished with a more relaxed, thorough second reading. IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK AND DO NOT WANT TO READ ANY POTENTIAL SPOILERS, STOP READING NOW.

Okay, now that the disclaimer is out there, we can continue...

I found the book to be very exciting and well-written, as is always the case with Rowling...I particularly enjoyed the escape with the "Seven Potters" and the ensuing shoot-out with Voldemort. Another favorite moment was Snape's back-story, which really created some true sympathy for the character. Fred's death upset me, as did the many deaths of various members of The Order of the Phoenix. However, we were warned by Rowling that there would be loss of life...

Rumor has it that JK Rowling's next literary undertaking will involve a boy archaeologist. I would hazard a guess that it will also be a well-written/well-received series, but nothing will ever replace Harry and Co. (At least not to this Muggle! :-)

If you have not yet read the Harry Potter series, please do...whether you're eight or eighty, you will love it.

FLT3

Back To Hogwarts...

Have read the first hundred pages or so of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. DON'T WORRY! I'M NOT GOING TO TELL ANYTHING ABOUT THE PLOT. Instead, I will just make a brief comment about what I saw at the bookstore. It was a joyous sight to me to see so many kids getting excited about a book. I always feel happy when I see young people actively enjoying reading...it gives one hope for the future!
Blackpool And Parrish continues apace. Tonight's audience was happy and lively, and as always, the show was great fun to perform.

FLT3

Back To Comedy...

Today was a very nice day...I started another workshop/teaching job, this time for Birmingham Childrens' Theatre. I have a great group of kids, and they are (at first glance) extremely talented. I am looking forward to working with them.

I also resumed rehearsal tonight for The Comedy of Errors, with Park Players. This is the same group with which I have been performing Blackpool And Parrish, so it's sort of becoming like an extended family. :-) As with Blackpool, the cast is extremely nice and welcoming. I am playing two twins (Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse) so I have definitely got my work cut out for me! The show seems to be taking shape nicely, and I predict quite a success. Comedy will be performed outside at Aldridge Gardens, which should be nice.

Not much else to say today. All is well, but somewhat uneventful.

-FLT3

Have Yourself A Happy Little Bastille Day...

Okay, admittedly, we are rather short on Bastille Day carols...I also considered "Have A Holly Jolly Bastille Day," "I'll Have A Blue Bastille Day Without You," and "I'm Dreaming Of A White Bastille Day," but none of them really seemed to work...

Feeling terribly Francais today, albeit (as always) with a British twist...I just read (on BBC.co.uk of course) the report of the festivites on the Champs-Elysees...and somewhat wistfully wished I was there. While England will always be The Motherland, I have enjoyed a few trips to France, and the Champs-Elysees has always been a high point of any visit to The City Of Light.

For a look at the day's events, click here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6899011.stm

And now on a completely different subject... I noticed that Pope Benedict has declared the Catholic Church "the one and only true faith." Interesting...

With all due respect, the Pope is full of crap...wouldn't the Greek Orthodox denomination be the closest to the original teachings of Christ? Of course, I am firmly convinced God is an Anglican, but I certainly don't think He turns a blind eye to those of other denominations or faiths...I fear that more revisionist back-tracking will be issuing forth out of The Vatican in the days to come... oh John Paul II, we miss you...

Thank God my inspiration comes from Canterbury and not Rome...

Au Revoir

Francois le Trois

Lamenting The Wigs

According to a story out of London this Morning, the Lord Chief Justice has announced that England's barristers will no longer wear the traditional horsehair wig in civil or family court cases. (They will remain in place for criminal cases.)
While I can't say this affects my daily life in any significant way, I am mildly upset at the news. When I was in Law School, I spent a month at University of Durham on an exchange program, and we were taught one class by an English barrister, who brought his wig to class a couple of times. It was far from what I'd call attractive, but steeped in tradition.
Oh well, here's the article if anyone is interested. God Save The Queen!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070713/od_nm/britain_wigs_dc_1;_ylt=Akp8EFexm6cRTUEH6r.xPcML1vAI

-FLT3

A Successful Opening

Well, we opened Blackpool And Parrish tonight to a very receptive audience. I have never performed on the stage at ASFA before, and I really enjoyed it. The show itself, while very funny, deals with such issues as death, destiny, good vs. evil, etc... it will make you laugh while making you think, which is really pretty wonderful...

The cast for this show is rather small (only 5 of us) but it has definitely been one of the most warm, inviting, and all-around "fun" groups of people I've ever worked with. The director has been a good friend of mine for years, and the rest of the cast & crew are just so incredibly nice that mention must be made of the fact. We all play together so well that we (as a group) are already looking for projects to do together in the future.

Not much else going on. I am doing some writing again for WBHM, which is good from both a creative as well as income-based perspective...I've also been teaching at the CenterStage theatre workshop, and will begin working at BCT's workshop next week.

Shameless self-promotion time... Blackpool And Parrish runs through next Saturday. For ticket info, please visit www.bhamparkplayers.com

-FLT3

This Sceptered Isle...

Once again it's 4 July and most Americans are celebrating the break from Mother England 231 years ago. While I will admit that life under George III was probably not an idyll, I still sometimes wish we hadn't been so hasty...

If anyone knows me even remotely well, it's not a shock that I am an Anglophile of the first degree...no disrespect to the USA, but there's just something in the Motherland that really speaks to my soul...

Short posting today, but it's late and I've had a full day. I am happy to say that I did not embarass my parents (who had a very nice cookout) by breaking into "Rule, Britannia" or "God Save The Queen" at any point during the proceedings...although the thought did cross my mind... :-)

FLT3

Retraction

Okay...I have to take back the begrudgingly-positive things I have been saying about Dubya for the past day or so...I really agreed with him on the Scooter Libby thing...(see post below.) 30 months for perjury seemed excessive, and I really believe that non-violent crimes can be punished adequately with fines, probation, etc.

Now, in typical fashion, Dubya has issued a statement that a full pardon is "not out of the picture."

Yeah, my jaw hit the floor, too.

Once again, this corrupt, self-absorbed, maniacally delusional MORON is taking care of his cronies and thumbing his nose at what is right. This man Libby was involved in a massive cover-up FAR beyond anything Clinton ever lied about. (Hmmmmmmm...one lied about the outing of a CIA operative and covered up illegal acts by the Vice-President while the other lied about sex with another consenting adult...you tell me who did more damage.)

President Dubya has once again proven himself to be beneath contempt. The beautifully-choreographed visit by Putin to Kennebunkport was just ruined by the comment on Libby.

Hillary in '08...Hillary in '08...Hillary in '08...

FLT3

Scooter, Scooter, Scooter...

The announcement came today that Dubya has commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence. If I understand correctly, he will still have to pay the fine and bear the stigma of the convicted felon. The only deus ex machina turn is that he will not have to actually serve time in prison.

While I am disgusted by Libby's actions, it may shock some of you to learn that I have no problem with the commutation. I have long held (and espoused) my belief that non-violent crimes can usually be handled outside the penal system. I just think prison sometimes creates more problems than it solves...and tossing Libby in with serial killers and hard-bitten thugs wasn't the answer. (I also think Don Seigelman and Richard Scrushy could have been punished outside the prison system, but that's another story...)

A quarter-million dollar fine, two years probation, and forever being branded a felon is punishment enough for what Libby did. I know that many of my fellow Democrats will be screaming for blood, but for once (JUST ONCE) I actually agree with Bush...Libby's sentence was too harsh.

...but I still think Dubya is an idiot. ;-)

FLT3

Small Things

I just ate the most wonderfully cold, sweet, crunchy watermelon I have eaten in a long time. I know it sounds silly, but it actually got me thinking about all the tiny little pleasures we take for granted in our daily lives. With that in mind, I started thinking of others, including...

.A nice, hot, shower with plenty of soap and shampoo. When you stop and think of how many people on Earth don't have this luxury, it really makes it seem special. I have always loved the shower...I used to take toys into the big shower in my parents' bathroom when I was a little kid...I'd stay in and play with Star Wars figures or whatever until I literally looked like a prune. As I got older, I discovered that I could lie down diagonally and take a nap while the water cascaded down...this became a bit of a ritual when I was in high school...I never fussed too much about getting up because I knew I could catch another 15 or 20 minutes of sleep in the shower before someone would bang on the door and wake me up.

.Books. I have hundreds (literally) spread between my apartment, my friends' houses, the homes of various family members, etc. etc. When you read some statistics on literacy (or the lack thereof) it will blow your mind at how many people do not have the skills to lose themselves in a book.

.Ice Cream. Yes, I'm being a bit cheeky, but sincere. I love ice cream. I could eat a gallon of it at a time. I love everything from cheapie store-brand to Haagen-Dazs...pretty much any flavor, although my absolute favorite is Mint Chocolate Chip. Bryer's Vanilla Fudge Twirl is a close second. As far as life's little pleasures go, ice cream is near the top for me.

.Friends. I have some really good ones.

. This is a bit more esoteric, but there is a particular tingly feeling that you get when you are about to kiss someone for the very first time...you're close enough to smell her perfume, you've both got your eyes closed, and the head-tilt has happened...yet for one brief shining moment (with thanks to Alan J Lerner for the phrase) you just hang there in space with delightful anticipation. It's a second or two at the longest, but wow...what a rush...

.Music. I can't imagine my life without it...I grew up in a house where the radio or record player (yes, I'm a child of the 70's) was usually always on. Getting in the car usually meant turning on the radio, too. Throughout my life, music has always been a backdrop to the day's events.

...and the list goes on. I suppose the point of all this (if there is one) is to point out some of the small things that make life pleasant, yet often get overlooked. I'd love to hear some more from others...anyone...?

FLT3

Sunday, Sunday...

I have always enjoyed Sundays. There's a serenity and happy glow to Sunday that goes all the way back to childhood for me...especially in the summertime. I always associate Sundays with going to church, going someplace nice for lunch, and then just relaxing for the rest of the day. Obviously, some Sundays are more full than that, but the overall flavor of the day is one of contentment and coziness.

When I was living in Tuscaloosa, I went to Christ Episcopal, which was a little grey church with a tiny courtyard and a beautiful little sanctuary...I always felt peaceful there. Having grown up in Birmingham, I have always gone to church at Advent, which is much more grand but equally soothing. When I was a kid I used to want to be left entirely alone in the church so I could take a nap on the pews...I suppose they have rules against such things, but it always sounded so restful...

Sunday nights always have had an appeal as well...I find myself going to Books-A-Million frequently on Sunday nights, especially in cold weather. Getting a coffee and browsing the shelves while the cold wind and rain spits and sputters outside always seems comfy, safe, and good.

Sort of a rambling rumination on Sundays today... I think I'll leave it there. I'll hold forth on politics, theatre, my life, etc. next time. Today's post is just warm, fuzzy, and happy.

After all...it's Sunday... :-)

FLT3

Hear, Hear, Jocky!!!

Yes, that is a rather cryptic headline for today's post, but it is most apropos given the day's events. With yet another car bombing (this time in Glasgow) I fear my beloved UK is truly under seige. After watching the news report from the Glasgow airport, I kept thinking of a minor character from Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting. Jocky Linton's primary distinguishing characteristic is a tattoo of a Lion Rampant with "Scotland Forever" beneath it.

While I'm not going to rush out and get a tattoo like Jocky's, I share in his feelings. My heart lies in England, but Scotland is "part of the family," and She just got attacked. Today, we are all Scottish. Since I indulged in a little free-flowing reverie yesterday when London was hit by two (mercifully undetonated) car bombs, I think it only fair to pop in the cd of Brigadoon and reminisce about Bonnie Scotland...

I have flown into Glasgow and spent a little time there, but my main exposure to Scotland has been through the city of Edinburgh, which I have visited a couple of times. Actually, Edinburgh dispelled me of the delusion that there is no such thing as bad fried chicken. The KFC I visited served something grey and vaguely meat-like, but it wasn't the southern-fried goodness we all know and love. Who cares? I'd still eat a bucket of it today just because...

Edinburgh Castle is a great sight/site to see, and I especially enjoyed the Scotch Whisky tasting offered there...The Royal Mile is home to some amazing shopping. I got my mother a red serape cape there about 10 years ago, and I think Alabama has gotten cold enough to allow her to wear it 5 or 6 times so far. Oh well, it looks great in her closet...Aberdeen is another neat Scottish town, home of Loch Ness, where Nessie, alas, failed to appear the one day I visited her loch...perhaps she was getting her beauty sleep.

FLT3

God Save The Queen...

...and the rest of London. This morning was most distressing. I awoke to the news of a car bomb having been discovered in the West End of London. Within hours, Buckingham Palace had been sealed off and a second car bomb had been located in the Haymarket area, also near the West End. Apparently Al-Quaida is the obvious source of these instruments.

As usual, I am waving the Anglophiliac flag with pride. Today, I would honestly join the British Army if I could. Just the thought of someone attempting such a despicable act in what I consider to be the most wonderful city on Earth (in the most wonderful country on Earth) makes my blood boil.

Today has been a busy day, but I still took the time to say a little prayer and ask God to watch over the metrop. I have been humming "Rule, Brittania" all day, and will have a cup of tea in a little while (at 4:00 of course! :-)

Thinking lovely thoughts of Harrod's...Soho...Trafalgar Square...Shaftesbury Avenue...Hyde Park...Westminster Abbey...The Tower...Park Lane...Covent Garden...St. Paul's...Big Ben...The Adelphi Theatre, where I once saw Me And My Girl with a lovely British girl. (Yes, it was one of those nights when God was in His Heaven and all was right with the world.) Actually, it's a story that bears re-telling...

In 1991, I was in London for my 21st birthday (thanks, Mum & Dad!) with a friend of mine. He and I had separated for a few hours, and were due to meet at a particular pub at 10:00. By 9:45, when I realized I was hopelessly lost, I stopped a group of girls to ask directions. Well, as it turns out, they showed me where the pub was, and I asked them to join my friend and me for a drink. They accepted, and by the end of the evening, I had a date for the following night with (in my opinion) the loveliest of the bunch. While a gentleman never kisses and tells, I think her reputation will be safe if I only mention her first name, which was Joy. The date was, without exaggeration, idyllic. We saw the play, had dinner, had a drink, and took a long walk around the city. We wound up spending the next week basically attached at the hip. (Luckily, she and my friend got along just fine.)

Of course we made all the standard promises to keep in touch, and exchanged a couple of letters and a phone call or two (this was before email.) Eventually, we lost touch and I have often thought of her. I don't know if she ever realized how perfectly perfect she made the trip for me. I hope wherever she is, she's happy and remembers our week as fondly as do I.

The memory still makes me smile.

FLT3

PARIS IS LIBERATED!!!!

Today has been an excellent day. Paris Hilton has been released from jail.

Okay, before the cacophany of "you just say that because she's hot" begins...well, you're partially right, but that's beside the point... The law used (or misused) to justify her return to jail was shaky at best and illegal in all likelihood. The activism and overreaching of the judge was most egregious, and the slippery slope down which he may have started will be treacherous, indeed.

Enough said. La belle Paris est la fille de liberte. Magnifique! (Et oui, elle est tres belle, mais n'est pas importante...)

Francois le Trois

Blackpool And Parrish

As usual, I have let too much time pass between postings...my apologies to all four of my confirmed readers. (Paul, Andy, Jennifer and Aaron, thanks for reading!) If anyone else ever reads any of this, please respond. I'm thinking of holding an appreciation lunch for my readers in a single booth at Shoney's...

I have been cast in a VERY funny play, "Blackpool And Parrish." It is directed by a good friend of mine, Clay Boyce. So far, the cast seems extremely talented and FUN! Nice, nice people and a hilarious script. I know the show will be successful, and I am going to do my best to get lots of people in the theatre.

Not much else to mention...the CenterStage Rising Star workshop is going well...the kids will be performing "Grease" next Friday/Saturday night, and I am really proud of the work they are doing. It's a talented group, and even the one or two slightly mischeif-prone kids are so good-natured it's hard to fuss at them too harshly. Besides, it's summertime and they're having fun, so all is well.

That brings up a point of philosophy I have been pondering lately in re CenterStage...for those unfamiliar with the Bham theatre scene, let it suffice to say that there is a LOT of theatre and as many philosophies as there are companies. Schools of thought range from "we're all here to have a good time" to "this is as serious as a heart attack." I think we (as a company as well as a collective of individuals who love theatre) have found a nice balance between the two. On one hand, you don't want to just goof off and do a crappy fraternity skit, but at the same time you don't want to make the process so opressively harsh that the final product, while good, is borne out of drudgery. It's a hard balance to strike, but I think we succeed.

"Futurama" is coming on now...got to run.

FLT3

FREE PARIS!!!!

I cannot believe this...out in LA, Judge Michael T. Sauer has sent Paris Hilton back to jail. I have never seen a more egregious and absurd display of judicial abuse of power. Driving with a suspended liscence...oh yeah, she's a menace to society. I can only hope that the citizens of Los Angeles create a sufficiently loud outcry to force this moron from the bench. If I lived in LA, I'd already be there with a picket sign.

I'm sure many of my readers (both of you) think I am merely taking Paris' side because she's beautiful (I suppose I should say "hot.") I'll admit that if she looked like Ernest Borgnine I may not be as passionate about the case, but the legal issue would remain...the sheriff had the right to release her to house arrest. This bastard judge is merely trying to make a name for himself, and I hope it will backfire. Hopefully he will become the most reviled figure in the California legal system.

O.J. walks free after killing two people, yet the system (and the imbecile on the bench) decide to make an example of a socialite with a traffic violation who couldn't hurt a fly. Where is the justice?

Today is day one of ParisWatch. Hopefully we won't even make it to day two. FREE PARIS!!!

FLT3

How do you set the Blogspot Clock?

It is now 12:10am on 4 June, but my last post, which is only minutes old, says that it was posted at 8:58pm. I'm so confused.

FLT3

I'll be 36 for another hour...

Yes, that's right. I am about to turn 37. Tomorrow (4 June) is my birthday. I am getting older, which kind of bites, but is, as they say, "better than the alternative." (Unless the aletrnative is living forever in some sort of Peter Pan-style Neverland, where one remains mid-20's in perpetuity. That could be nice.)

Anyway, I decided I would spend the last hour of my 36th year doing something I love...writing. This post will most likely be somewhat lengthy, rambling, and intermittently interesting. I can't promise cohesion of plot or even linear thought. Read at your own risk.

I spent a few hours this afternoon with my mother, which was very nice. We went shopping and stopped in at the World Market, which is sort of an importer's warehouse-ish "everything store." I, of course, wound up in the British food section, and eventually (with some help from Mum) found several tiny jars of Devonshire Clotted Cream. For those who have not tasted clotted cream, ignore the name. It sounds disgusting, which even those of us who love it will freely admit. When spread on a scone or shortbread cracker,however, it tastes beyond delicious. I didn't even wait to get home...I spread some on a cookie and dug in. Although my body was at the Galleria, my taste buds were at Harrod's. The best way to describe the taste is...well...just to say that it tastes British. That's the highest compliment I can give, and the only one that fits. Of course, that really doesn't describe the taste, so I'll do my best and describe it as a slightly sweet cream-cheesy-buttery-whipped-cream-icing-ish taste. Good stuff.

That taste took me away to London just as effectively as What's Up? took me to Manteo. (If you don't know what the hell that last sentence means, read the post from a few days ago titled What's Up?.) It's interesting that I would have two experiences of such a nature so close together in time. I suppose taste is another great memory trigger. Smell certainly is...if clotted cream tastes British, deisel fuel smells British. Any time I smell deisel fuel, it smells like Trafalgar Square...all the traffic helping to create a very specific (but not unpleasant) eau de metrop.

Twenty minutes into the hour, and I haven't yet started to ramble beyond all hope. This is a good sign.

I have been wrestling a lot with death lately. (No, I'm not, to my knowledge, dying.) Actually, that's the problem...none of us are "dying" in the sense of progressing in an orderly, predictable manner towards a specific and scheduled demise. It's all so random...the teenage kid in perfect health drops dead for no reason, while an octegenarian proudly attributes his longevity to drinking, smoking, and enjoying a high-cholesterol diet...a child is murdered and dies at 10 while another person dies in a car crash at 95...and so forth. It's the sheer randomness that I find so terrifying, yet oddly intriguing. There's an old Southernism, "you can't take the devil to the ground lest you got a hold of him first." That is exactly what makes death the rat-bastard that it is. You can't get a hold of something that follows no real pattern. (Okay, yes, as someone gets older, the likelihood of death increases, but the actual "when and how" are still capricious to say the least.)

Onward, onward...we're at the half-hour, and it's time to get on to cheerier subjects.

I saw the tail end of a news report on the Democratic Presidential Debates. I am holding my breath, but I honestly believe Hillary can get the nomination if she doesn't make any major blunders. My guess at this point is that it'll come down to Hillary vs. Rudy. As much as I hate to say it...I'm afraid she'd lose. Rudy is gonna ride that 9/11 train for all it's worth, plus he's the one Republican in the race who is completely detatched from Bush.We may have some hope that Rudy's famous temper will flare at the wrong time, and he'll be the new Howard Dean...aaaaaarrrrrghhh!

Hillary can beat John McCain or Mitt Romney. Bill Richardson should just go ahead and concede at the Republican Convention if he happens to win the nomination (unlikely.) Not sure who among the dems could beat Rudy at his best...maaaaaaaaybe John Edwards, but he'd have to play up the Kennedyesque resemblance to the hilt. If anything, Rudy is less attractive than Nixon, so maybe that would give Edwards an added edge. Personally, I think a Clinton/Edwards ticket could be formidable. It would be like having the second comings of Bill Clinton and JFK. (We should all be so lucky...)

A quarter to it, as Scrooge would say. I'll be 36 and writing for 15 more minutes.

Kelly Ripa really is hot. Just thought I'd mention that.

My childhood superhero fascination has been mildly re-ignited with the new Spider-Man and Fantastic Four sequels at theatres. I haven't seen either of the movies, but the surrounding advertising blitz has kept the characters in my face for several weeks. These were my two favorite comic books as a kid, so at least I recognized the costumes. It's interesting to me how sequels/recreations change the whole frame of pop culture reference...for instance, if someone mentions the character of Spider-Man, I immediately think of the comic books of the 1970's, while someone in his 50s would probably think of the original comics. A kid of 10 would probably think Tobey Maguire of the films. All three of us would be correct, given our frame of reference.

Five minutes of 36-hood left.

I really doubt that most "firsts" are remembered in equal proportion...I mean, I remember my first kiss, first car, first job, etc., but I couldn't tell you who my first best friend was, or what I ate for dinner on my first date, or the name of my first pet. I'm sure there are people who remember the exact "firsts" I have forgotten, and vice-versa.

One minute...okay, song lyrics...

"Forty-Seven Ginger-Headed Sailors"

Now there's a good ship, HMS Cock-Robin,
On her home trip. Up and down she's bobbin'
Well, the sea is so rough, the crew is so tough,
They're all fed up and say that they've had more than enough.

And then her father, he's an able seaman
And they call him Red-Haired Tom.
He wired to say "I'll meet you,
And with your friends I'll greet you,"
And who'd you think he's got a message from?

Forty-seven ginger-headed sailors,
Coming home across the briny sea.
When the anchor's weighed and the journey's made,
We'll start the party with a
"Me hoady hearty!"

Forty-seven ginger-headed sailors,
You can bet you're going to hear them when they hail us!
An old maid down in Devon
Said "My idea of heaven
Is forty-seven ginger-headed sailors."

( From the BBC Television series Jeeves And Wooster. )

Wow...I've been 37 for 4 minutes. So far, so good... :-)

FLT3

Don't Cry For Me, Argentina...

Tonight was fun. I saw a local production of Evita, which was very nicely done. The director and half the cast and orchestra are friends of mine, so it was nice to see so many people I know. All in all, it was an outstanding production with a few minor flaws. (I feel compelled to mention the flaws just to avoid looking too easily impressed.) I definitely recommend it to anyone who may be considering going.

FLT3

What's Up?

No, I'm not offering a casual salutation with today's header (although it can certainly be taken as such if you like...:-)

What's Up? is the title of a song made famous by a group called "4 Non-Blondes," which was popular in the mid-1990's. Lots of guitar riffs, a lyric which begins with a less-than-optimistic line, twenty-five years and my life is still trying to get up that great big hill... (and so forth.) My point in writing this is not to explore the poetry of the song (although that would be interesting) but rather to discuss how powerful music can be as a catalyst for emotional recall.

I have owned this cd since it came out, but had probably not listened to it in close to 10 years. We all have those cds...the ones that take up space in the folder, yet aren't disposable. Anyway, for whatever reason, I happened to pull it out in the car today and stuck it in the cd player. I immediately clicked ahead to What's Up? just because I recalled having liked it. Well, that's where the story gets interesting...

Within the first 10 seconds, I was absolutely transported to summer, 1994. That was a particularly nice time for me...I was working at a summer theatre called The Lost Colony in Manteo, NC. I had a pretty girlfriend who worked in the costume shop, a raggedy red convertible, and I was being paid to live at the beach. I was barely 24 years old (actually, I turned 24 during the rehearsal period) and life was good. It was one of those hopeful, happy times that remind us that life is worth living. (Side note...I can remember calling home on the Sunday night of the Tony Awards and telling my dad how I felt like I really "belonged" for the first time in my life.)

Back to the story...as soon as this not-heard-in-a-while music started to play, I listened with great happiness for a minute or so, and that is when it got weird. I realized that there were honest-to-God tears in my eyes, and a growing flutter in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't sad...it was a far more textured emotion than sadness...a wistful yet somehow pleasant melancholia would be the best way I could describe it. I had to turn it off, not because the experience was painful. It was...intense. I was having happy memories, but there was a tinge of regret at their being only memories. It was like seeing long-lost friends standing before you, but evaporating when you tried to touch or talk to them.

What does this mean? I suppose it means that I am at what most statistics would say is the half-way point of my life, and I am starting to realize the finite nature of things. Not being pessimistic, but there are so many things I will never experience again...and summer of 1994 is among them. There are, of course, good and special times to come, but that particular experience is gone forever. Such is the way of life. However, memories make us who we are, and even the ones you regret being "just memories" stand as proof of a life well-lived.

The comedian Jackie Gleason put it best:

"Acting young isn't what makes you young. But if you've got some memories, some good memories of when you were young, that's what keeps you young."

-FLT3

Horror

I suppose the header of this post could refer to a fun-filled summertime "scary movie" complete with vampires, monsters, and a snack of candy and popcorn.

How I wish it did.

Today in Texas, the bodies of a mother and her four children were found hanging in a mobile home. As in strangled to death. The one survivor was an 8-month-old infant. I can barely keep from crying as I think about it.

The news media are speculating that the case is a murder/suicide. This makes it even worse. Some mealy, self-pitying bitch hangs her children and then takes the cowardly way out by kiling herself. I have no doubt that there will be numerous attempts by psychiatrists and talking heads to explain how she was suffering from depression, or whatever. Allow me to call "bullshit" right now.

I suffer from depression. I probably spend at least 35 or 40 percent of my waking life either pretending to be happy or just trying not to be debilitatingly sad. Some days it's all I can do to get out of bed and not burst into tears for little or no reason. It hurts. It's very sad. My depression has cost me relationships, opportunities, and countless happy times that I could have enjoyed if I had not been curled up on my sofa sniffling.

HOWEVER, I have never once thought of harming anyone, much less a child...much less my own child...(not that I have kids, but you get the point.) I can only wonder how sweet, how trusting, how innocent those kids must have been, especially the 8-month-old who could only smile and make baby noises when her "mother" picked her up and wrapped a rope around her neck. God, it makes me want to vomit.

Those who know me know that I am a proud liberal. I think our jails are ridiculously overcrowded, and I believe that minor (non-violent) crimes can usually be handled outside the penal system. I think the death penalty is barbaric, and that even prisoners deserve humane treatment.. That said, I still wish that scum-sucking pig of a woman had lived so that she could be beaten, abused, gang-raped and eventually murdered in prison. Nothing that would be done to her could be half bad enough.

I am not proud of these thoughts, and perhaps as the immediacy of the event passes, so will some of the hatred in my guts. I doubt it.

If you are religious (and even if you aren't,) please pray for these poor, innocent children who had the misfortune to be born to a true waste of human life. I suppose if I truly lived my own religion, I would solicit prayers for the "mother" as well. That is, as the saying goes, "what Jesus would do."

I'm just not there yet.

FLT3

From the other side...a casualty.

I just read online that Jerry Falwell died today. While I rather enthusiastically disagreed with 99.999% of the bile he spewed on an almost daily basis, my immediate response was "oh that's awful." Aside from having been raised with manners, I have no idea why I said that. Obviously, his family and friends will be sad, as will a legion of right-wing extremist nutjobs, but I can't say that my daily life will really be affected.

The cleansing power of death is an interesting thing...earlier this year, Gerald Ford (who had been nothing more than a punchline for years) died at almost 100 years old. Although a slight nod to the Nixon pardon scandal was perfunctorally offered once or twice, the overall opinion of Ford seemed to be that he was a great statesman who made a difficult (but right) decision. It will be interesting to see if the mainstream deifies Falwell now.

Did I want to vomit at most of what he said? Absolutely. Do I think he will have "some 'splainin' to do" when he reaches the pearly gates? Without a doubt. (That whole hate-fueled bigotry thing you know, not to mention making millions in the name of God while ignoring that whole "love your fellow man" business...) HOWEVER, out of respect for the dead, I will say "so long Jerry." If nothing else, you were "to your own self true," and you gave those of us on the left a hell of a target. Requiem in terra pax.

FLT3

An Ethical Dilemma

I had a very nice (non-contentious) conversation with my dad this morning, which prompted some self-reflection. I mentioned having contributed to PETA in the past, and he asked me if I actually agreed with everything the organization represents. I answered that yes, I do oppose animal testing and animal cruelty. He agreed, but brought up the issue of eating meat (which I do.) I also enjoy fishing, but had always assumed it was "ethical" as we always eat the fish we catch. I don't enjoy hunting, but I have always believed hunting to be morally acceptable if the meat is eaten. (I remember being taught at an early age that hunting solely for a "trophy" was the pinnacle of trashy, unsportsmanlike behavior.)
After reflecting (and visiting the PETA website,) I suppose I would have to re-examine my beliefs. As a carnivore (and a rather enthusiastic one at that) I definitely do not live up to the full teachings of PETA. I am reminded of a marvelous song from the Rex Harrison film, Dr. Doolittle. (I believe the title was "A Reluctant Vegetarian.") In the scene, Dr. Doolittle is telling a friend how he became a veteranarian/vegetarian:

"When I see my fellow men consuming sirloin steak,
And I find myself enjoying tea and Dundee cake,
There is only one conclusion I can make...
I'm a devoted vegetarian.

When my host at dinner offers succulent roast beef,
proudly I refuse it. People stare in disbelief.
Lost in admiration as I nibble on a leaf...
A very noted vegetarian.

I stay away from deviled ham on principle.
I wouldn't eat roast duckling if I could.
Willpower has made me invincible.
(My word, those sausages look good.)

(Doolittle notices that two rabbits have eaten his dinner)

Where's my dinner gone? Who's eaten it this time? It's bad enough to have to eat this muck in the first place! Just because I eat this instead of eating them, they think they can take advantage of me!

I eat every flowering shrub there is except for gorse!
Sometimes I get luxuries like beetroot leaves of course!
My life's much the same as any English horse!
Why should I be a vegetarian???

Turnip pie and peanuts, that's the sort of filth I eat!
Any sort of rubbish that is wholesome and discreet!
Why don't I admit that my hypocrisy's complete?
I'm a cheat! I love meat! Yes I am...
I love red-blooded juicy chunks of meat!
Legs of lamb, sides of beef, steaks and chops
and ducks and veal, and pork of course my favorite meal!

(The pig, "Gub-Gub," squeals at this)

...and then I hear poor Gub-Gub squeal.
Oh me...oh my...a reluctant, but sincere vegetarian
am I.

And there it is. While I must admit I have not even tried to be a vegetarian (and am not sure I could succeed if I did try) I do sympathize with the Doctor's plight. It does present a moral conundrum. If I had to watch cows and pigs being slaughtered, would it make a difference? If I visited a chicken farm, would it make a difference? Perhaps.

The question of nature and nutrition come to mind. Are we, as humans, supposed to eat animals? One could argue both Biblical and evolutionary points to the affirmative. On the other hand, can we not get everything we need nutritionally from plants and grains? On a personal level, am I the product of 37 years of cultural conditioning? Is my body and my digestive system so accustomed to eating meat that it would be difficult to stop now?

These are difficult questions...perhaps I will try to take a "vegetarian day" every now and then, just to see if I could do it. No promises that I could ever give up steak and chicken, but who knows...?

The bottom line, however, is that I do agree with and support the mission of PETA. Do I live up to their every standard? No. However, there are quite a few issues with which I agree 100% with PETA.

Animal Testing: Absurd. Barbaric. (And even though I don't often use this word, IMMORAL.) Can anyone truly think strapping small monkeys and rabbits down and spraying them in the eyes with perfume is civilized? Injecting animals with household cleaners to catalog their response? Utterly inhumane. How about the baby monkeys and puppies sent up in tiny spacecraft with no plans for getting them home? (Luckily, this practice seems to have stopped.) Animals should never be abused in this manner.

Fur: We live in a world in which faux fur is literally indistinguishable from real fur. I have nothing against a glamorous look. (Hey, I like glamorous women.) However, I can not understand how wearing the body of an innocent animal who was raised just to be killed for it's pelt is attractive. I love leopard-print, and think it's the most alluring thing a woman can wear, but man-made leopard- print is just as sexy... and a woman with compassion as well as allure is even more so.

Animal Cruelty: Beat a dog, go to jail. Kick a cat, go to jail. Starve a horse, go to jail.

...which leaves only the food issue. I am flawed, but I am aware of this.

FLT3