Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 3 => Topic started by: bk on May 30, 2005, 12:04:23 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you know what the fashionable tuba player is wearing, and now it is time for you to post until the cows come home - they're out looking for black frock coats and tubae at the moment.
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And the word of the day is: EXSICCATE!
Smoke on your pipe and put that in.
And now - Dino at the piano.
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Or, as the hipsters like to say - EXSICCATE and blow away, baby!
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I see looky-loos, but I don't see no stinkin' posts.
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When I were a wee twig of a thing (3, to be exact) me mum sent me to tap school where the evil mistress drilled us over and over in "Shuffle-ball-change, heel, toe, turn"manner to which I took such an aversion that I refused to do HER steps ever again! I did my OWN and she banished me to a corner where I danced the year merrily away, to my mother's shame.
I won my first talent contest that year, singing "California Here I Come" with my own steps and tap shoes as big as a house.
My dance instructor's dead now, and i remember with much glee how, 16 years after that class, I got a standing ovation from an opening night crowd for the massive tap number to "Anything Goes" that I choreographed...with my OWN steps. And I finally came to California. So.....Where's your Moses NOW, bitch-lady?
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So you rave about this French movie but neglect to give us the title.
I had four years of guitar lessons at Wurlitzer Music Company in downtown Cincinnati, given by one Herman Crady, who also played in the house band on WLW-T's Fifty-Fifty Club hosted by Ruth Lyons. It was a half hour lesson that I think cost $2.50. This was in the late fifties/early sixties. I started in fourth grade, I think. Or maybe third. Because I broke my arm in fourth grade and so for six weeks couldn't take any lessons. Mr. Crady thought I never got the strength back in my arm, but the truth was I was not a particularly dedicated pupil. And my downfall with music was always the math...that counting thing. I did learn to actually read music because of the lessons (He wrote me out a new piece of sheet music every week to practice). After I could play up at the end of the neck (I guess, in one key...Hell, I don't know), all the same notes and chords changed position when he started to move me down the neck of the guitar. I didn't get it at all.
I still have the guitar. A 1957 Gibson that could be played either with an amp or without one. I also still have the amp. The Gibson is probably a classic right now and worth a fair piece of dough. My father paid beaucoup bucks for all us kids to have music lessons and our instruments. I still have all the music Mr. Crady wrote out for us and could probably still pick out Blue Moon and White Christmas on the guitar...if I knew how to tune it.
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I think your Moses shall have been a fool.
Moses supposes his toeses are roses.
EXSICCATE, baby, EXSICCATE!
Which reminds me of the story Jason Graae tells on one of my hidden tracks - where a high school was doing A Chorus Line, and they had to change the lyric of Dance: Ten, Looks: Three to "This and that, got myself a fancy pair"
And then the line, "You're all staring at my this, aren't you?"
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I was so busy raving I forgot the TITLE??? Les Choristes. I shall go fix that right now.
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Fixed, like a dog in heat.
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You're all staring at my this, aren't you?
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Welcome five GUESTS! We're talkin' about lessons we had as children.
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I did seriously think of taking piano lessons ten-twelve years ago when I bought The Lovely Wife the baby grand that sits in our living-room and even went out and bought self-help/how-to books which were helpful in the most basic way, since I could read music somewhat. But I ended up feeling I was too old to learn such a complicated skill. Besides I have short stubby fingers. Still...who knows what I'd know ten-twelve years later, if I had succumbed to the urge. My secret desire has always been to be a piano lounge singer, warbling all the great American Standards. Eat Your Heart Out, Bobby Short.
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Well, we wouldn't be staring at your this, if you'd just put it back where it belongs...underneath the Limbo Tree!
How Low Can You Go? Everybody! DO THE LIMBO ROCK!
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Limbo Lower now!
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How did you know that I was doing the Limbo at exactly this moment. That is because I'm quite limber.
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Now, can you Limbo whilst eating a sweet gherkin and wearing a black frock coat and playing the tuba.
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Not to be outdone, my ballet mistress in Munich, Germany, who had been premiere danseuse with the Paris Opera (the even MORE wicked Frau Frank) covered my nails with mercurochrome and slugged me in the shin with a stick every time I bit my nails. I still have the dents...come look! I don't have a Hah-HAH! to that tale, except she's dead now, and I'm alive, still biting my nails. Oh, and I do a wicked tour jete. And the only place she's "touring" is around in her grave.
My piano teacher in Berchtesgaden gave up on me because anything he played, I just played right back. I figured I didn't need to look at the paper for the "Here we go, up a row, to a birthday party" and "Dolly dear, sandman's near, you will soon be sleeping" ditties of TEACHING LITTLE FINGERS HOW TO PLAY.
So, for my final in English Literature at the University of Kentucky, I composed and wrote an interpretive piece based on a poem by Dylan Thomas, aced the class, and continued to compose incidental music for theater.
All to say, I guess Iwas supposed to be contrary in order to find m y own way. And all the teachers are playing with the Baby Jesus, while I am playing with all the Kimlets on the Internet!
I broke my cello, lost my flutaphone, had my guitar stolen, and never owned my autoharp. But I play them all...by ear. As well as comb and wax paper. Music's in my blood (she said, defiantly), if not in my list of formal schoolin'.
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You're all staring at my this, aren't you?
And now - Dino at the piano.
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I, most royally, shall now to bed,
To sleep off all the nonsense I've just said!
Happy Memorial Day, All!
La Jolie Femme
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"I Broke My Cello, Lost my Flutaphone, Had my Guitar Stolen, and Never Owned my Autoharp" - that's the title of my next novel.
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"Wise words in mouths of fools do oft themselves belie"
Name that show.
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Tomovoz ran away into the night.
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I've finished with the Limbo (it is not possible to go any lower than I have), and I'm now doing the Lambada (The Forbidden Dance).
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Will you please put that...that...that This back where it belongs! I'm tired of looking at it!
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Wait a mo...What is that on your This?...So that's where her flutaphone went to!
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The flutaphone is a mythical beast.
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I spy a Haitian Dog.
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I haven't seen this much late-night action since before I was married.
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Do you realize that if I had STAYED married that this year would be something like my thirty-seventh wedding anniversary? How horrifying is THAT?
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BOW-WOW-RUFF!!!
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Jose is staring at my this, isn't he? Or is he staring at my that? Haitian dog!
EXSICCATE!
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You may have it! I give it to you. If charity means giving, I give it to you.
Reminds me about how, when I was doing a production of "Fantasticks" and qwe got the music from New York, straight, apparently, from a high school production where El Gallo had forgotten to erase his pencilled-on changes and found out some nellie-aunt schoolmarm had changed the word "rape" to "abduction". Jesus help me! How does that go?...
Abduc-tio-o-o-o-on,o-o-o-on!
A-a-ab-du-u-u-u-u-u-u-uc-tion!
Du-u-uc-tion
A pretty abduction!
There's the obvious, open, schoolboy abduction,
With little mandolins and perhaps a ...SUCTION?!?
it boggles the mind, no?
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Shouldn't boggle too much, since they completely rewrote the song at some point even for the off-B'way production. Just more PC crap because people are too lame and too stupid to understand the use of the word "rape" in The Fantasticks MEANS abduction, as is well explained.
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I must now toddle off to the bedroom environment to get my beauty rest before mixing up a storm.
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Wise words, etc.....Beyond the Fringe.
BOW_WOW_RUFF!...Sunday in the Park.
You're ALL too quick for me
And this?
Me 'usband comes to me, 'is face a mask of grief, sayin' "Rationin' 'as been declared. I says, never you mind. I'll put on the kettle, an' we'll ave a nice cuppa boilin' 'ot water!"
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BED, I say! BED!!!!!
Kisses!
La J.F.
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Good Morning!
Haitian Dog, reporting for duty!
;)
Topic of the day...
Guitar - Yamaha, FG-45 - I think it's a 1/2 size. And I still have it. I begged my parents for one... and, well, they bought it for me. No lessons, just books. I learned enough chords in order to be "functional" in folk group in high school. And I can still read a guitarist's fingers and tell what chord and/or notes he's playing.
Alto Sax - Started in sixth grade - school band. Mr. Ward - Barry Ward - was my teacher. We rented a "dipped" one my first year, then eventually bought it. I was always embarrassed about it - it was "painted" with a gold paint since the original finish was no longer, well, finished, I guess. It was a Bundy - THE brand of student-level instruments. I had it through most of high school, then my parents finally bought me a brand spanking-new Yamaha. *We got a great deal on it since we had rented so many instruments from the same family-owned-and-operated shop. Of course, shortly after getting my new horn, I dropped band. I hated marching band! UGH! However, I often wonder if I would have liked it more if we were actually good... and had nicer - and more "breathable" uniforms. Polyester for days!
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Topic of the day - Part Deux
My mom signed me up for lessons at one of the piano/organ stores in the mall when we lived in Seattle. We learned on Yamaha "organs". I actually remember liking the book a lot. It was a mix of "teaching" material, as well as some classical themes. I specifically remember "Caucasian Sketches" in it.
*I also remember the Orange Julius stand in the mall... across from the Yamaha place. :) As well as the ice cream place where one of my cousins worked. -Bubble-gum ice cream with Chiclets in it, and Black Licorice ice cream which stained my teeth and gums for a few days. But I digress...
When we moved to Connecticut, my parents bought a piano - a Chickering upright - and I started lessons with Mrs. Young. At 9:30 on Saturday mornings. Ugh! Actually it wasn't too bad - I just didn't like the fact that I was missing my cartoons - especially the Kroft programs.
My first year, I went through four levels/books. I was a very good sight-reader from day one, so it was easy for me to advance through the books. And I also liked theory, so I made good time doing my "homework" in those books too. I used a Palmer-Lethco series.
When we moved down to Arlington, VA, I then took lessons, from Sister Edward Eileen, IHM. I took lessons in the convent before school, sometimes after school. We used good ole John Thompson Books- I believe I made it to the "G" level.
Once in high school, I moved on to Mrs. Anne Alexander - which then became Mrs. Anne Heritage. With her, it was strictly classical repertoire and technical exercises. I loved it. She would have group class every month, and it was fun reading through piano duet and two-piano lit with other students. It wasn't a "prodigy" studio, but there were some very good players. *However, the DC area is sort of known for some of their "wunderkind" studios - some amazing talent out there!
Then it was onto college where I studied with Dr. Sonia Vlahcevic.
And the rest is history.
;)
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WOW!
I just had a massive "case" of deja-vu...
Spooky...
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Oh... And I studied flute for a semester in college too... I never had the embouchure for it. But it sure was fun practicing by spitting out grains of rice!
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And since it's now 4:36AM here on the East Coast of the United States...
Good Night. Good Morning.
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DR Tom, the show was surreptitiously recorded (you didn't hear that from me) but we don't know the quality of the recording yet. Will know more in July when Anthony gets back from Virginia. I will keep you posted.
It's 5:45am and we are about to load up Anthony's car for his drive to VA. Since we didn't get to bed until after midnight, at this moment, I'm rather tired.
Later.
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Thanks for that Ben. I didn't read it or hear it any where and especially not here and from you.
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Mr. Morelli is en route to Roanoke, VA. Estimated time of arrival is around 4pm Eastern Standard Time (if he doesn't stop much which is his way of long distance driving). Good trip vibes will be appreciated.
I just came back from the diner where I had breakfast, two eggs over easy, home fries, buttered whole wheat toast and large amounts of coffee. A change from my usual oatmeal with raisins. Since it's a quiet holiday in New York I may walk into midtown and see if there are any special holiday matinees on the TKTS half price board.
That's it for now. Later, gaters.
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You're all staring at my this, aren't you?
Actually, Dear Friend BK, I was staring at your those.
I could not sleep last night, and it wasn't a pain problem; I just couldn't sleep. DRTCB, sorry I let you down with the postings last night; you were revving up as I was closing down. Giving last night's sleeping success, I should have stayed online.
This morning I have to hie myself to my producer friend Matthew's and do a bit of fixes on his Broadway Tenors concert which is coming up with Mssrs Brent Barret, Sean McDermott, and another gentleman I've forgotten. I've also got DARLING OF THE DAY waiting on my desk.
TOD: I think everyone should have music lessons, and I'm appalled at the vast number of young men and women who never had any. Actually, I'm more appalled at their parents' not pushing lessons of some sort. My mother's family was quite musical, but hers was a typical early 20th Century family in which home music making was common and centered around the parlor piano.
I began with violin lessons and failed miserably: I needed better ear training, and I've never been a success at pressing my finger on a string and producing a decent pitch as I discovered playing with my brother's guitar. Piano was next, and I was much better there, although my left hand technique was never any good. My teacher was Irene Price, a wonderful and patient lady who was one of three sympathetic and encouraging music teachers in my adolescence; the other two were my junior high school choir director Valda Wilkerson, in whose class I met DRGinny's husband Richard, and my high school choir director Helen Weinberger. If the three graces ever need replacements, they should look no further than these women.
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My secret desire has always been to be a piano lounge singer, warbling all the great American Standards. Eat Your Heart Out, Bobby Short.
DRPogue, I find this very endearing, and I encourage such secret desires in one and all. I have always been capable of singing just under pitch, and I was lousy at playing and singing at the same time; it's a skill I admire in others and wish I had.
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I learned Japanese traditional dance for about ten years (three-twelve years old), as my mother had wished me to be a well-mannered girl, not to be a good professional dancer, and I liked dancing very much. However, when I entered a high school, for some reason, I quited it. I don’t remember why I quited it… Maybe it's that my teacher was very strict with me and I hated it. I think I needed more patience to continue.
I’ll post a photo of me dancing on a stage if I find it.
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Morning all!
I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back on the site last night. Something seems to be happening—it’s like everything freezes up. I’m having the same problem on a couple of other sites as well. I don’t know if it’s my browser (but I haven’t changed any settings---that I know of) or Road Runner or the site I’m trying to get on to. It’s starting to get very frustrating.
I worked on the lap top instead, transferring my address book and internet favorites to it. I loaded the Adobe photo editor on it so I can instantly upload photos of the upcoming trip onto the site but I’m going to have to test that later today to make sure it works.
I’m going to take a photo, load it onto the laptop, edit and upload it to this here very site and we shall see if we can see it.
TOD. I had the usual lessons in piano when I was a kid but the lady told my parents that my hands/fingers were too small. I could choke her with those small hands now because I dearly wish I could play/read read music.
Then there was ballet until someone told my Mom it would deform my feet and that was the end of that. She never thought of tap. I don’t honestly know if that was a good thing or bad.
Then my Dad got it into his head that I should learn to play guitar. It didn’t really interest me. It’s still sitting in the closet.
I tried to take piano lessons as an adult but it was too late. It’s like I have a block in my head that stops me from being able to learn to read music. If the teacher played the song, I would play it but I couldn’t READ it from the sheet music. I kept getting so angry at myself for just being like a tape recorder instead of doing what I was supposed to do that I quit.
I also took voice lessons and had more success with that. Not to brag but I was told I was quite good. That’s when I was working my way up the ladder with a local theater group.
That picture I used to use as my avatar in the blue dress was the night of my first solo at a fund raiser for the group. A week or two later, my Mom had her accident and that was the end of that.
I still dabble. I’m having fun with that singing software I bought—when I get around to using it. It’s nice to know that I can still sing on key but I hardly think I’m American Idol material.
:D
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I hope DR Charles Pogue got to see the Herc items I uploaded.
DR Jrand, not only do you know where to get Sod but also who to call if your ever arrested! LOL! Notice it's a 800 number.
Thank you and DR Jane for the kind words about the bird. It would sure be nice if it was that little bird. I honestly think it could be because I could see that this bird was just a little older then the first time I saw it. Still no mistaking that it was a baby but the wing & tail feathers were much longer.
I don't know how long it takes them to grow them that long but it would seem to me that it would be at least a week or so. That would make the time frame just about right from the first time I saw him/her.
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I've way too many posts to catch up with.
:-\
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I still dabble. I’m having fun with that singing software I bought—when I get around to using it. It’s nice to know that I can still sing on key but I hardly think I’m American Idol material.
:D
Good morning, DRDanise! I think you should keep up your singing. I personally believe that the "American Yokel" candidates know nothing about singing, and their professional judges are morons who know next to nothing about the musical values of phrasing, meaning of the text, or how to do anything but promote a generic soulless "pop" sound of their creation and promotion.
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Being an arts baby, I started dance at a young age - six. I took twelve years of tap and jazz dance as a kid (and took tap and musical theater dance for about five years here in town with some other actors just to keep my skills sharp), just for fun. In the South in the 50s and early 60s, a career in show business seemed a pipe dream, so I was allowed to take all this arts training but it was all for hobby's sake. I was expected (and I thought I needed to as well) to go to college and study for a "real" profession.
Anyway, in addition to the dance, I took five years of piano and during the last year of piano, I started studying clarinet in school and was taken into the high school band at age 12. I became the first chair clarinet in the eighth grade and kept it all the way through high school.
During elementary school, I took two years of baton. Yep, I never twirled a baton before anyone but my teacher, but I did take lessons because I thought it was so neat. I also took voice when I was in college, but I was so busy with studies and other things that I gave it up after a year.
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Good morning back to you, DRs Elmore & SWW!
Thanks, DR Elmore. I do still sing. In fact, I'm ready for the next reality show--American Shower Singer SuperStar! ;) :D
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You know, I often wonder if all the kids that played in school bands still play their instrument by the time they are in their fiftys.
They should have a Seniors Marching band in the Macys parade.
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A friend and I are going to STAR WARS III this morning (I'm expecting him any second to pick me up). I should be back later in the day to give reactions. I must say I'm not expecting a whole lot. I did not like either I or II very much.
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Being able to play the clarinet was a great asset when I auditioned for A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE.
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In the South in the 50s and early 60s, a career in show business seemed a pipe dream, so I was allowed to take all this arts training but it was all for hobby's sake. I was expected (and I thought I needed to as well) to go to college and study for a "real" profession.
That's a shame but I have heard that before. Unless it's a nine to five, five day a week, it isn't a "real" job. Some people don't know what work really is.
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Enjoy the Star Wars movie. It's a lot darker then the others but I have a real beef with one part of it. After you get back, I'll tell you about it, DR Matt and see if you felt the same way.
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I am poking my head from beneath a pile of Bacharach scores in order to say Hi!
I started piano lessons at a very early age. When I was 2 or 3, my Mom said I heard "Small World" on the radio and toddled over to the piano and began playing the melody perfectly. She knew that was a bit unusual and I think I had my first lesson by the age of 4. DR Pogue: I, too, have very stubby fingers for a pianist (I stare in awe at some of Gershwin's voicings), so don't let that hang you up. Someone who came to one of my jazz gigs was talking to me and I mentioned something about my stubby fingers and she said, "That must be how you can play all those notes in between the spaces so well." :)
At various other times in my life I have played clarinet, drums/percussion, flute and various saxes. I have absolutely no guitar ability whatsoever.
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I've finished with Friday's posts.
Welcome, Jinx! Post again soon!
I've enjoyed most of what Guettel and JRB have written. On the other hand, I've never cared for LaCuisa's work, or however he spells it. I'm looking forward to Light in the Piazza, when I can finally find it.
As for Elmore's pic from Naked Boys Singing, all I can say is that it's a good thing none of those boys were wearing dunce caps! ::)
On to Saturday's notes (when der B hogged the computer all day because he had work to do, all of which had to be done on-line, but at least he was earning some extra money in the process).
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So you rave about this French movie but neglect to give us the title.
Les Choristes (The Chorus). I agree with Bruce, a must see movie.
So what did win best foreign film?
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Before I move on to Saturday, here's a few porpoises that have been bobbing around town.
For example:
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/7525187/98550059.jpg)
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I was so busy raving I forgot the TITLE??? Les Choristes. I shall go fix that right now.
I was wondering how Charles missed that-LOL.
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Here's a Liberty porpoise!
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/7525187/98550062.jpg)
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Do you realize that if I had STAYED married that this year would be something like my thirty-seventh wedding anniversary? How horrifying is THAT?
LOL-horrifying for sure. ;D
Wednesday is our 36th and thank God my reaction is one of joy.
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Two views of a Noah's Ark Porpoise.
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/7525187/98550231.jpg)
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/7525187/98550057.jpg)
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TOD: I have had no musical training.
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DRLaura the photo of the chocolate cake was pure torture as I am on a diet. The photo of Scotty however is precious, and though tempting he is all yours.
Hisaka I look forward to the photo of you dancing.
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SWW I think that Liberty pose is a bit scary. ;D
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In 7th grade I took the violin and did well enough to compete for the first three chairs. The second half of the year we had to tune our own instruments and that was the end of my violin playing. I was fortunate not to end up last chair. I’m sure I tortured my family with my playing. Years later Bryan got me back when he briefly took lessons at school. ;D
I begged and begged my mother to let me have piano lessons and she refused. After listening to my older siblings practice their lessons she didn’t want to go through that again. So my siblings could play but I couldn’t. I learned one song, On Top of Old Smokey. Unfortunately I can’t read notes anymore.
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Ok folks, here is the test. I'm on the laptop, using my backup battery for power and I just took and resized some photos on the lap top. Let's see what we get.
Here is my lemon tree.
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Here is a picture of the my desert rose.
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Jane, I had that problem with the guitar as well. That put a big dent in my progress. :D
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Good Morning! Good Afternoon!
Ah, sleep... and yet more sleep!
And now...???
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DR Danise - It looks like your pics "worked"!
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I just received the cutest E-mail. I ordered a CD and this is what I got as a confirmation that it was sent:
Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.
A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.
Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.
We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved 'Bon Voyage!' to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, Monday, May 30th.
I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did.
Your picture is on our wall as 'Customer of the Year'. We're all exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!
Thank you once again,
:D ;D :D
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Hmmm... I'm actually thinking of heading down to Richmond in a little while. A friend is having a cookout tonight, and I can crash at his place and then head back up tomorrow...
Hmm...
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DR Danise - It looks like your pics "worked"!
;D
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I slept way too late and now I'm way too behind, so I must throw on some clothes, brush the teeth and hie myself to Vinnie's to mix.
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BUTT - before I go, may I just say - You're all staring at my this, aren't you?
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And y'all must be too much in awe of the word of the day to use it.
EXSICCATE, baby, EXSICCATE! Amaze your friends.
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What do you want me to do with THIS?
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Piano lessons - still can play a little bit.
Guitar lessons - only two, couldn't get it.
Dance of all types and gymnastics. I can still dance, but I have done my last backbend, walkover, OR backflip.
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I shall now be on my way to Vinnie's. Keep the home fries burning, and I'll try to post from his house.
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elmore, I'm a shy singer...strictly shower and car and places where the world at large cannot hear me...though I do it all the time. The Lovely Wife, the real vocalist in the family, is always very complimentary and encouraging, telling me I have a nice voice. She heard me whistling a rather complex Miklos Rozsa piece once (I'm a very good whistler...eat your heart out, Muzzy Marcelleno and Elmo Tanner) and said: "Let me hear that again." After I complied she commented: "Just as I thought. You have perfect pitch." How she knew this, whether it's true or not, and just what perfect pitch is, I have no idea.
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What happened to the lemon tree?
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Getting ready for rehearsal! OLIVER here I come!
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TOD - I started piano lessons when I was 5 and continued with them, through my second year in college. I started the flute in 4th grade and was a flute performance major during my first year in college. I pretty much gave it up after that, except I still get it out once in a while just for fun. I played piccolo in college marching band....we did a dance with the tuba's during one half time show.
Let's see, I taught myself the guitar, and a number of other instruments - clarinet, sax etc. and also had voice lessons for a very short time in high school.
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Have to run, it's my best friend's birthday and we're meeting for a late lunch...
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Cillaliz have fun.
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Noel Coward would have loved the word exsiccate, since he had such a dry wit.
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I'm going to split for a bit, will return later.
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I'm going to split for a bit, will return later.
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Danise, I certainly did see the Hercules goodies. Thanks for sharing them with me.
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Mr. Morelli is safely ensconced in Roanoke, VA and ready to being rehearsals for Forum tomorrow.
As mentioned earlier, I will be having a theatre marathon before the Tonys this Sunday. Doubt tomorrow, Spelling Bee Wednesday and Pillowman Thursday.
Back to work tomorrow after this beautiful day off. The weather in NYC has been gorgeous today. It's not supposed to last. We shall see.
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Back from STAR WARS. Maybe a touch better than the last one, and it was nice seeing the story come full circle. The story has never been Shakespearean despite the depths some people want to read into it. I've always seen it as a sci-fi comic book on the screen, and as such, it's OK.
But the dialogue is so trite that even good actors like Samuel Jackson and Jimmy Smits end up looking like really bad actors. Perhaps they're just TOO accomplished to handle it; mediocre actors might actually do a better job with it. Frank Oz's Yoda, as was the case with the last movie, is the best thing in the movie, and I liked Ewan McGregor the best of the human actors.
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Still have 8 1/2 to finish and THE MAIDS to watch (can't believe I didn't get to it during the entire weekend).
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Tonight, we're going with make-up and the costumes that are ready. We have an IDR WEdnesday so really only tonight and tomorrow night to fiddle with things before there are people out front watching.
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Enjoy the Star Wars movie. It's a lot darker then the others but I have a real beef with one part of it. After you get back, I'll tell you about it, DR Matt and see if you felt the same way.
I just saw it on Saturday. I'd be interested, too. :)
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When I was probably seven or eight years old (we were living in Colorado), my parents bought a piano from friends of theirs. My sister got the piano (and piano lessons) and I got an accordian and, appropriately, accordian lessons (a My Favorite Year reference). Anyway, my sister didn't last very long at all on the piano, but I did take accordian lessons for a couple of years. After we moved here to Washington, I started dinking around on the piano. I took for four years (7-11th grade) and when I went to Centralia Community College, I took piano for the two years there.
After I transfered to Western Washington University, I dropped the piano lessons and took voice. I was planning on becoming a high school choir teacher...it didn't happen. :P I also had to take some pedagogy classes, where we were supposed to learn instruments just enough to be able to teach a kid how to play the instruments. I took classes on the basoon, clarinet (surprisingly easy to get the low notes...everyone else seemed to have trouble with the low notes), tuba, viola, cello (my favorite) and french horn. Well, I never became a choir teacher. I didn't even do my student teaching. I dropped the "education" part of my music education degree and just got a BA in music.
When I was at WWU, I was in a couple of theatrical productions and fell in love with the acting part (I had already loved Broadway cast recordings since early high school) and continued after I moved back home. But I never really played any instrument since...even piano...I still have that original piano that my sister got (I traded her a pair of binoculars and a clock radio for it), but it's buried in my extra bedroom (a.k.a. indoor storage ::)). So that's my musical education in a nutshell. ;D
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Well, I'm off. My parents are having a barbecue and after that, my friend Margo's eldest daughter is having a group recital with the seven high school seniors who take voice lessons from the same teacher. I'm going to that recital. It should be quite good.
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I am a sweaty mess. I have built a shoe shelf in the bedroom closet and have been sorting and cleaning and tossing stuff into a garage sale pile.
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This morning I watched another Roy Chiao movie called DEATH TRAPS. It is very Hitchock-like and is about a woman who gets drunk and hires a hit man to kill the woman she mistakenly thinks is having an affair with her fiance. Unfortunatley the hit men end up thinking she herself is the intended victim.
Roy was as handsome as ever, but didn't have a whole lot to do in the film other then look handsome...which is still worth the price of admission.
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George you should put the piano someplace where you will play it again.
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Sandra how is Scotty?
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Scotty isn't anywhere in the house. My brother is out in the living room watching TV, so that might have something to do with it. My dad saw Scotty the other day and thought he was looking at Joshie, so we might be able to keep him around for a long time, provided he, Joshie, and my dad are never in the same room at the same time.
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"The Chorus" is one of my most played Cds this year. The film did quite well on the Art House circuit here and the DVD has a release date of June.
From memory, François said it was indeed a remake of an earlier film. I am looking forward to seeing it as too are Colin and OzDerek.
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Okay Sandra, I have a feeling I should know the answer to this but..... Why can't they all be in the same room at the same time?
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TOTD: Not from a musical family and did not have lessons. Of my childhood friends, I can only remember one having music lessons - mandolin.
I guess we didn't miss what we didn't know. Schools certainly did not offer lessons in the 1950's.
I did take "Music Appreciation" as a subject - so that I could escape Art. (I guess that would have been at your High School level. (aged 15/16). I remember needing to "Sight Read" for my final examination and only getting marks for naming the notes!!
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If my dad realizes that they're two separate cats, he'll throw Scotty out. He's not what you would call a cat person.
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Never answered the TOD. I am not musically trained, even though I performed in musical theatre, but from what I have seen of those in the business, many of my other compatriots were in the same boat.
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What happened to the lemon tree?
**Chuckle** I think it's looking pretty good, Jane. You should have seen it when I got it in the mail. It was just a twig with two leaves.
Star Wars III rant. Was it just me or did anyone have a problem with the good guy cutting someones legs and arm off, watching him catch fire, helpless, in horrible pain and then just leaving him to slide slowly down into the lava river? He was the bad guy. I get that part but it seemed unhuman to me not to put him out of his misery. I had a major problem with that.
No matter what someone had done to me or had done in general, I never, never EVER could have been that cold and heartless not knowing that he would receive medical attention of some type or at the very least, finishing what I started and put him out of his misery.
Rant over.
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Danise, I meant there wasn't a photo of the lemon tree.-LOL
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I skipped your Star Wars rant. We have plans to see it on June 2nd even though we aren't expecting to like it. Odd to go to a movie with such low expectations.
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Sandra it would be cute if you can get a picture of Joshie and Scotty together.
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Danise, I meant there wasn't a photo of the lemon tree.-LOL
You can't see it? ???
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**Chuckle** I think it's looking pretty good, Jane. You should have seen it when I got it in the mail. It was just a twig with two leaves.
Star Wars III rant. Was it just me or did anyone have a problem with the good guy cutting someones legs and arm off, watching him catch fire, helpless, in horrible pain and then just leaving him to slide slowly down into the lava river? He was the bad guy. I get that part but it seemed unhuman to me not to put him out of his misery. I had a major problem with that.
No matter what someone had done to me or had done in general, I never, never EVER could have been that cold and heartless not knowing that he would receive medical attention of some type or at the very least, finishing what I started and put him out of his misery.
Rant over.
DRDanise, it's you. If my friend went over to the Dark Side and I had to fight for my life against him, I wouldn't stop to pee on him if he were burning.
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TOD - no music lessons for me when I was a child. In fact, I was discouraged from doing anything musical by my school teachers (who should have been fired) and by my sister (who could sing). I really identified with "Sing" from A Chorus Line. I was so traumatized that I wouldn't even sing at a birthday party.
In my early '20's, encouraged by DR elmore and others in our local community theatre, I took voice lessons. Now, I am by no stretch of the imagination a singer, but I did get to participate in some musicals and, for a while DH Richard (a very good singer) and I were in the choir at church. I didn't add much, but at least I turned the pages at the right times!
We acquired my mother-in-law's piano when she moved to a retirement community. No one really plays, but a couple of years ago I took an evening class called "Piano in a Flash" at our local campus. It was taught by Scott Houston, who you now see a lot on PBS, especially during fund drives. He made a lot of sense to me and I've been able to play a little. I don't have much time right now to devote to it, but I'd like to delve more into his methods. He's online at:
www.scottthepianoguy.com (http://www.scottthepianoguy.com)
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I played clarinet for a few months in 4th grade. I've had about a total of 5 years of piano lessons (the piano came much easier than the clariinet) and that was after two years of playing by ear. I had one year of guitar in high school and I thank my mother daily that she made me take guitar, because if she hadn't, I wouldn't be able to do the job that I do today - teach classroom music from room to room, no piano to lug around. Good times :)
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DRDanise, it's you. If my friend went over to the Dark Side and I had to fight for my life against him, I wouldn't stop to pee on him if he were burning.
Awww, Elmore, you would. :)
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We acquired my mother-in-law's piano when she moved to a retirement community. No one really plays, but a couple of years ago I took an evening class called "Piano in a Flash" at our local campus. It was taught by Scott Houston, who you now see a lot on PBS, especially during fund drives. He made a lot of sense to me and I've been able to play a little. I don't have much time right now to devote to it, but I'd like to delve more into his methods. He's online at:
www.scottthepianoguy.com (http://www.scottthepianoguy.com)
I've seen his show as well. I liked it but told myself that I've tried so many times and spent so much money on trying to learn that enough is enough. I bought that Patty Carlson "Play Piano Over Night" DVD but it really didn't teach how to read music or play anything.
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I've seen his show as well. I liked it but told myself that I've tried so many times and spent so much money on trying to learn that enough is enough. I bought that Patty Carlson "Play Piano Over Night" DVD but it really didn't teach how to read music or play anything.
Trust me, Danise, if Scott the Piano Guy made sense to me, he'd make sense to anybody!
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Danise I returned to page 3 and your photos. Your lemon "tree" has reappeared. :o
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It must be magic!
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I'm still here with Vinnie, merrily mixing away. Be home soon.
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That little ol'Mix Master, BK!
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Hope it is going well.
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Very pretty Lemon Tree DR Danise. I hope that the flowers are sweet and that the fuit is NOT impossible to eat. The Lemon tree is supposedly the most common plant to be in an Australian garden.
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How much mix would a Mix Master Mix if a Mix Master could Master mixing?
Oy! I'll get that right yet.
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Very pretty Lemon Tree DR Danise. I hope that the flowers are sweet and that the fuit is NOT impossible to eat. The Lemon tree is supposedly the most common plant to be in an Australian garden.
Thank you, DR Tom. I bought it because it said it was the sweeter kind of lemon. We'll see.
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Uh oh, methinks I hear fireworks going off and a "wolf" or "woof" at the back door. Let me go let Bear the Fearless in.
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Hi, elmore - did you know that Danise, Jane, and I are communicating about our get together in NYC the week of Oct. 3? I've already made my hotel reservation (same place, Comfort Inn-Midtown).
How are you feeling tonight?
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And DR Tomovoz - is your recovery progressing?
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I'm back.
We're calling it, "Girls Day/Night Out With The Guys" because we want everyone to come out and play.
I'm hoping we can talk DR Jose into a walking/eating tour during the day then dinner with those who couldn't make it for the day tour then maybe a show or just go someplace to chat for desert then maybe night cap then someone can roll me down the street to the hotel. Note the main theme of the day/night: EAT! :D ;D
Of course, as I've said, I'm open to any other ideas as well.
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DR VixMom said she would join us, didn't she?
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Hmm, last I know she wasn't sure if she could get the day off work.
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Hi, elmore - did you know that Danise, Jane, and I are communicating about our get together in NYC the week of Oct. 3? I've already made my hotel reservation (same place, Comfort Inn-Midtown).
How are you feeling tonight?
Oz the Great and Terrible knows everything. I actually feel pretty good; thanks for asking. I'm very sleepy right now, so I'll probably be in bed in another 30 minutes.
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There's still dinner!
Bedtime for me, all. Have a very good evening.
:)
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Hi Arnold. Did you have a nice birthday?
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And DR Tomovoz - is your recovery progressing?
Thanks for asking. I'll be more "myself" after tomorrow when I return to the hospital (for an hour or so!) to enter the next stage! Day by day is better. I'm getting that trapped in the house feeling so that's a good sign.
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AH... wise words etc.
BEYOND THE FRINGE
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I'm back. We managed to finish in one day, and I'll listen to it tomorrow to see if I have any fixes. Whew. Tomorrow Vinnie will address the couple of nitpicky changes on Guy Haines. And then, those are done.
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Tomovoz have a very good day tomorrow!
You too Bruce. :)
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Well, bathroom is now painted...it is blue...I am not sure if I like it or not, but Heck will freeze over before I paint it again...I HATE painting!
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I will now eat two turkey hot dogs for dinner and watch BOURBON STREET BEAT on TV.
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By the way Jane, did you ever watch those LAWMAN episodes? If so did Peter Brown make you as weak in the knees as when you were a young(er) girl?
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Sweet Folds O' Flesh! I am returned, and have spent the last hour or so catching up. Much good reading, much to savor!
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Some thoughts from days gone by...
A circus movie I like that nobody mentioned, I think, is called CARNIVAL STORY with the great Steve Cochran and also Anne Baxter as a high-dive artist.
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My favorite part of the Indy 500 is it brings Jim Nabors back to the mainland for him to sing "Back Home Again in Indiana". I trust he sang it again this year. I saw no coverage in the wilds of Vermont and New Hampshire where I roamed.
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Favorite quote from the past couple days:
"I think everything the show BKLYN has done has been shameless, stupid and pointless, including opening in the first place." --BK
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So, Rodzinski, you who know such musical obscurties as Larry Clinton and Bea Wain, surely you have some latent musical impulse. Was it ever harnessed into lessons of some sort of some musical discipline.
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I took piano lessons only briefly. Then in 6th grade, started playing the cornet and later moved to the baritone. Haven't played those in years, though I finally got my horn from my mom's place.
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By the way Jane, did you ever watch those LAWMAN episodes? If so did Peter Brown make you as weak in the knees as when you were a young(er) girl?
I only found one episode. He was cute, but only Keith still makes me go weak in the knees :)
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Back from Montreal with pictures. Will catch up tomorrow on all the notes and wonderful posts. Until then.....
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I don't know if it qualifies as a talent or a skill, but I have this thing where if I hear a song one good time--that is, I am paying attention to it--I will remember the melody. For instance, I could right now sing/hum a medley of every song that topped the charts from the years 1955-1988. I wouldn't know every lyric, but a good percentage. My memory of songs is just insane.
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Vermont was nice. It earns its state nickname well (The Green Mountain State). Spent some time near Dartmouth in New Hampshire (The I-Don't-Know-What State). Helped my buddy move into his Buddhist Teaching Center, drove around, went to Yankee Candle Co, saw the STAR WARS movie, which I didn't really want to see, drove rental truck back into city, caught up on posts!
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October weather, Danise. It has been generally pleasant. The potential for cold does exist though, but not too bad.
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Just took a nice drive to Amoeba to trade in some DVDs I don't want anymore. I got quite a bit of credit, and bought several region 2 Alexander Korda DVDS, including Sanders of the River, Elephant Boy, and The Drum.
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George you should put the piano someplace where you will play it again.
I wish I could, but there's no room outside of the extra bedroom. Someday (a West Side Story and "Hunchback of Notre Dame" reference), when I get all of my stuff out of the extra bedroom...and get rid of it all...I'll have the room in the room. :-\
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WARNING: STAR WARS DISCUSSION...CONTINUED!!
Star Wars III rant.
<SNIP>
Rant over.
Of course, Danise, if Obi Wan did get the appropriate medical attention for him, Anakin wouldn't have become Darth Vader and episodes 4-6 wouldn't have happened...it says so in the script! (a "Singin' in the Rain" reference...I think)
;)
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Well, bathroom is now painted...it is blue...I am not sure if I like it or not, but Heck will freeze over before I paint it again...I HATE painting!
My bathroom is painted blue and I have a blue shower curtain. I'd say the walls are just a little darker than sky blue and the curtain is a darkish blue, but not quite royal. I do like it. You'll probably grow to like it...if not love it. :)
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Late night for me because tonight was tech rehearsal and you KNOW how those always go. Slow, torturous, nit-picky. But necessary.
Going to be heading for bed any minute now.
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RE: the STAR WARS climactic moment:
It didn't seem much in the way of an honorable Jedi to leave Annikin there to suffer, but it was a personal vendetta, I guess, and even the best people can make mistakes, use bad judgment, let emotions trump common sense and decency.
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I'm back from the recital (obviously) and it was quite good. Only one of the students plans to study performance of any kind but they all sounded very good. The one guy cracked on the high notes and a few lyrics were forgotten, but overall, it was an enjoyable evening.
Tomorrow at work is our bi-weekly American Cancer Society Relay for Life bake sale. I'm now going to peel some Hershey's dark chocolate kisses so that I can make some dark chocolate fudge. I got the Hershey's dark chocolate kisses because I couldn't find any dark chocolate chips and I didn't want to buy a whole bunch of dark chocolate bars. Wish me luck. I've never made dark chocolate fudge before. We'll see if it works. ;D
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I am going to suggest QUILTERS to our Program Committee AGAIN! I don't know why they are not interested in this show. We have so many strong women performers, and this show would be great for them. Oh well.
Sounds like MR BK and Vinnie had a VERY productive day - the results will tell the tale, I am guessing.
Well - I studied my budget and order TWO cd's from Amazon today. Yes, two of them.
The OBC of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and DORIS DAY The 60's Singles! I am sure I will enjoy them both from comments I have heard about the former (here on HHW) and because the latter is, of course, MISS DORIS DAY - who can sing like no one else.
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DR MBARNUM - you have enough shoes for a shoe shelf? Mine are just thrown on the floor of the closet, and hopefully I can find a left and a right when I need them.
THE GENII LADY was hilarious, just as you said. It was a cross between Abbott & Costello and The Three Stooges. I do know that I enjoy Hindi singing much more than Egyptian singing, but that's okay.
Did Mr BK watch BLACK TIGHT KILLERS?
More OLIVER! tomorrow, and the next day and the next....whew!
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I never did figure out the Trivia Question. Hopefully there were lots of right answers.
And perhaps when that Sparkling Prize is sent out, the Sparkling Prizes for the Nudie Musical Trivia Contest will also be sent out. Signed - Mr GreedyGuts.
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DR RODZINSKI - I have to say that I did not see Mr Nabors sing - but that doesn't mean he wasn't here, because I didn't see ANY of the coverage of the race this year.
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LOL! Not that many pairs of shoes...I think I have a black pair, a brown pair, and some sneakers, flip flops, and sandals...I just got tired of them lying all over the place.
Glad you liked Geni Lady...ya, I was none to fond of the singing in that movie (didn't the songs sound like they were recorded in a tin can?!), although the singer himself was a very good actor and was fun to watch in this film...but I wouldn't judge all Egyptian singers by what you heard on that film! LOL!
Some of the popular modern Egyptian singers are great!
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I can't recall if BK had said he watched THE BLACK TIGHT KILLERS when we discussed those Japanese movies around these here parts a couple of months ago.
JRand, I will have some more DVD-r goodies for you soon, if you are up to it!
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Well , the long weekend is over and I guess I have to go to bed now, dang it.
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Yes, I've had Black Tight Killers since it came out a few years ago - wacky fun.
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Four days before opening night and out of the theater by 10:15... will wonders never cease!
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Was someone waving a gun DR Jed?
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The fudge is done! It now just has to cool overnight and tomorrow it'll sell but good! ;D
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