Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 1 => Topic started by: bk on February 17, 2004, 12:01:42 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you now know there meaning and intent, not necessarily in that order, and now it is time to post and post until the cows come home. And remember, there are two, two, two topics in one.
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Does "Assassins" count as "off Broadway"? I never really know what is "off". I can think of a few shows that should have been off Broadway - a long way off.
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Since Assassins debuted off-Broadway, yes, that's what the original production was, just like Little Shop.
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Topic of the Day #1: I don't recall ever getting to the point "When [I was] totally fed up, when [I could] take no more, when people or events [got] to [me] so much that want[ed] to burst..." I have to admit that I'm pretty mellow and can usually deal with situations in a calm manner (so far). I don't get very angry and I can't hold a grudge...well, not for very long.
Topic of the Day #2: I only know Off-Broadway shows from the recordings, but I love the recordings of:
Assassins
Dames At Sea
Eating Raoul: The Musical
The Fantasticks
The Last Five Years
Saturday Night
tick, tick...BOOM and
Zombie Prom
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I would like to add"
In Trousers
March of the Falsettos
Falsettoland
Someone should re-record all three since there have been changes to the score since all three have been recorded.
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Topic 1
To avoid it I usually go some place to be alone until I am not.
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The steamblower: a long bicycle ride, preferably to parts unseen.
I think I like off-Broadway revues the best:
Tuscaloosa's Calling Me ...but I'm Not Going
Upstairs At O'Neals
A...My Name Is Alice
(we certain proved the worth of that score last Thursday, as Bluer Than You and Pretty Young Men both brought down the house)
After too many years of way-too-depressing musicals (I call them "the miserables"), I stumbled into a show about the romantic troubles of performing Siamese twin sisters. It was called From the Hip and it was everything the premise demanded: hysterically funny from start to finish.
I'm also fond of The Fantasticks, and two that went on to Broadway: A Class Act and Avenue Q
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BK, I'm sure it was an awful day for you and I'm sorry for the frustration and aggravation. I'm really happy I wasn't there since I've seen the Wrath of Khan in closeup and it makes grown men weep. I do know that once your equilibrium is restored, as it seems to be, you'll find the humor in it and work it into something, maybe your next Kritzer?
As to Off-Broadway shows, I'd go for the following:
MAN OF LA MANCHA (I saw it at the old ANTA off Washington Square before it moved to Broadway)
THREEPENNY OPERA (Marc Blitzstein's great singable adaptation at the Theatre de Lys)
THE GOLDEN APPLE (imagine having the luxury to do an Off-Broadway show with a cast of more than 25 actors and orchestra of 24!)
MAN WITH A LOAD OF MISCHIEF (why the hell isn't this one on CD? There are some great songs: "Come to the Masquerade," "Make Way for My Lady" and the title song)
THE AMOROUS FLEA (I always thought the book was funny but the score not so hot)
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (still better than the last Broadway revival)
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Mary Rodgers, write some more music!)
FLOYD COLLINS (beautiful and moving production)
BIRDS OF PARADISE (good score by David Evans)
THE FANTASTICKS (still the best; I saw it in 1964 when I was 18, and whenever I see it, I'm 18 again)
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RE: Question #2.
I will play by Katz's rules, and only consider shows I actually saw in NYC, off B'Way:
The Club
I'm Geting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road
Boy Meets Boy
Fantastics
probably in that order
der Brucer (who avoided listing Let My People Come)
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Hmmmm....
The DSL men
The TIVO men
The FEDEX men
The Mail Man
The Lawnmower man (a "3hree" reference)
What must the neighbors (Not Jim) think of the parade (a two-fer reference, Brown and Herman) of men marching to BK's door?
der Brucer (a always, concerned for our dear moderator's reputation)
New Painting: "Jogging Jew Hurls Vile Epithets at DSL Man"
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Hiya, gang. My fav's are Jacques Brel and Fantasticks. Simplicity and heart.
BK - I go for walks along the beach, along a country road, in a park; I write in my journal - just dump it all on the page and get it OUT of my head, clear out the trash so Peace of Mind can re-enter. I listen to favorite music, feed the birds, watch a funny movie. I weed the garden. I turn my attention to a creative task, and the stress and sturm und drang just evaporate as I concentrate on Something Else.
We are in control of our own mental states. When we center ourselves, we have all the power. Nobody and nothing can break our balance without our permission. It's all in the intention. Beauty and abundance are all right there around us, mixed in with the ugly and frustrating. But the human mind can only concentrate on as many as five or six things (and that's pushin' it) at a given time... we can choose where to put our attention. We can choose peace and harmony and beauty.
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Oh - I forgot to mention this:
Bristol Riverside Theatre folk are coming to NYC on Monday, Feb. 23, in search of 2 men and 3 women of color for Ain't Misbehavin' -- tell yer Equity and non-Equity friends. It's a good gig, with nice housing, and they bend over backward to please their artists.
AND they need an audition accompanist- their guy isn't available that day. They are paying $15/hour, I think the gig is 11-5, and the number to call is 215-785-0100. Ask for Susan, and tell her I told ya to call about the audition pianist gig. (I know it's not a princely sum, but some of you might be unemployed, and might welcome a few dollars...)
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Sorry I've been E&T but the Internet Explorer on my computer at home has been doing losts of strange things... like freezing the computer. I'm at work now (and have already read the notes I missed - I'll catch up with posts later). I've copied the Internet Explorer from here and will replace the one at home with it which should hopefully correct the problem.
Favorite Off-Broadway Musical: MAN WITH A LOAD OF MISCHIEF.
Does any DR know the meaning of the term "bling bling"? I've seen it used in the papers in a variety of different ways and wonder if it has any meaning or is just a funny sounding expression.
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Does any DR know the meaning of the term "bling bling"? I've seen it used in the papers in a variety of different ways and wonder if it has any meaning or is just a funny sounding expression.
Hi - I think it means "shiny, sparkly stuff." The "Bling!" is meant to convey the momentary flash and brilliance - remember the Pepsodent commercials? Just a propos of "Bling! Bling!" - a staffer here at the theater mentioned yesterday that I seemed to have lots of sparkly stuff, sequins, glittery stuff... so I told the assembled the Orloff theory of theatrical presentation: Audiences (well, ME, anyway) are a lot like chimpanzees... when their attention wanders, it's good to give them something sparkly to look at.
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Hey, Brucer! Forgive my techno-challenged little self, but I just can't figure out how to work that message thing. So, anyway, I'm on my way to the theater in a little while, and I'll have the box office hold your seats for you. love, p
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So, anyway, I'm on my way to the theater in a little while, and I'll have the box office hold your seats for you. love, p
What color roses?
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BK, on hearing, yet again, that the DSL man "has been delayed":
(http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lg6410033.jpg)
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Does any DR know the meaning of the term "bling bling"? I've seen it used in the papers in a variety of different ways and wonder if it has any meaning or is just a funny sounding expression.
Well, word from the motherland is that "bling bling" is acceptable:
An article n MTV News (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471629/20030430/bg.jhtml?headlines=true) comments:
The next time you and your pals coin a slang term to describe your latest bejeweled accessories, don't bet on keeping it exclusive. The linguistics "gangstas" over at the Oxford English Dictionary aren't "new jacks" to the latest "def" lingo.
The venerable definitions resource has already added other hip-hop-turned-mainstream terms like "jiggy," "breakbeat," "dope" and "phat" to the online updates of the 20-volume dictionary, and now it has started drafting an entry for the latest OED-approved term, "bling bling."
The term, which is used to describe diamonds, jewelry and all forms of showy style, was coined by New Orleans rap family Cash Money Millionaires back in the late '90s and started gaining national awareness with a song titled "Bling Bling" by Cash Money artist BG.
The rapper, who is currently promoting his new album, Living Legend, told MTV News, "I'm so surprised that that word has spread like it has. But I knew it was serious when I saw that the NBA championship ring for the Los Angeles Lakers had the word 'bling bling' written in diamonds on it."
And while BG once felt territorial about his much-loved term, he's since opened his arms to the slang's universal appeal.
" 'Bling bling' will never be forgotten," he said. "So it's like I will never be forgotten. I just wish that I'd trademarked it, so I'd never have to work again."
der Brucer (maybe Noel can pen "Bling Bling - The Musical")
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There is NO SUCH THING as Customer Service anymore! :'(
Hmmmmmm.....Off Broadway shows I like....oh wait....favorites....hmmmmmmmm:
Eating Raoul
Little Shop Of Horrors
I will stop at two although I am close to adding Jacques Brel!
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I have a dear internet friend named Penny whom I met through my connection with Christopher Meloni, and she and I share everything on-line with each other - good times and bad. I've unloaded a lot of frustration on her, and she has done the same with me.
Off-Broadway musicals I adored:
THE FANTASTICKS - the first one I ever saw so of course it ranks high on the list. That score is just one great song after another. Amazing work.
CURLEY McDIMPLE - a campy hoot
DAMES AT SEA - since I love old MGM musicals, this was like the next best thing to the "small" MGM musicals like I LOVE MELVIN and TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN - captured the tone and texture of those cartoon strips in a captivating way. Really did not like the revisionist revival of a few years ago.
AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND - the best revue I've ever seen with the most versatile cast I've ever seen.
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Yep bling is expensive diamond jewelry! :)
I think when I'm frustrated it definitely helps to write it down, either in a journal, or by writing whoever annoyed you a letter/email.
DR Jose: Why is your roomie doing all the cleaning? Shouldn't whoever MADE THE MESS be cleaning it?
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"What is bling-bling" was one of the questions on the Miss America Pageant this year. Only three of the five contestants knew.
(Ordinarily, I don't watch the pageant any more, but Clay Aiken was singing, so that's why I tuned in this year.)
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PennyO & DerBrucer --- Thanks for the definition of "Bling Bling". Next time I see it used at least I'll know what they are talking about. Where could I have found that out if it were not for our DRs.
Since I have not had the chance to check out yesterday's posts yet, I don't know if it was mentioned here or not that Nancy Opel has replaced Barbara Barrie as Yente in the FIDDLER ON THE ROOF revisal that is currently in previews. Ms. Opel is a fine and talented performer who will probably make a wonderful Yente, but she doesn't seem nearly as suited to the role as Ms. Barrie (who is also the sister-in-law of the lyricist Sheldon Harnick). Does anyone have "the story behind the story"?
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Matt---
What state was Clay representing?
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My pals from CA stick to the bigots on the right!
Front Page Story in the San Francisco Chronicle (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/17/LOGCABIN.TMP):
Gays answer GOP call for candidates
Log Cabin Club members vie for 4 Senate, 7 Assembly seats
Several weeks ago, Assembly and Senate Republican political strategists put out a call to GOP groups asking them to recruit candidates for legislative districts where the party needed to show the flag.
It turns out the flag they're showing is rainbow-colored.
The group that recruited the largest number of candidates was the Log Cabin Club, the main gay GOP organization in the state.
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If they become the party nominees -- and seven are running unopposed in the March primary -- that guarantees the Log Cabin members a seat on the state GOP central committee and the possibility of more seats, depending on how well the candidate runs.
"We want people to have a true choice," said Shane Connolly, 35, a corporate finance manager and a Log Cabin Republican running in the 13th Senate District, a South Bay seat. "We want to send a message that the Republican Party isn't what you may think it is."
It's a message that some Republican leaders are happy to send.
"We are the party that allows for diverse positions on any number of issues," said California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim, who spoke supportively of the efforts of the Log Cabin members.
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Even (Democrat Gay Assemblyman) Leno concurs that being a gay Republican "seems like a tortured and strained position."
Log Cabin Republicans say they're Republicans first.
"I could never be comfortable in the Democratic Party, no matter how supportive they were of gay rights," Bissiri said, citing his objections to the Democratic positions on foreign policy, taxing, spending and "the way they revert to class warfare."
"Gay rights ultimately will be won through the Republican Party because the only way we're going to win is when middle America gets it, and middle America is Republican," (state chairman of the Log Cabin Club) Bissiri said.
der Brucer (Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day!)
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Incompetence? Like when it takes the plumber three weeks to repipe a house? Or like when you're executor of a will and you can't get the stuff in order because one company won't give you the stuff you need and keeps requiring more and more papers?
I go to the park and feed the ducks. I've been feeding a lot of ducks lately.
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My latest run-in with alleged "Customer Service" was when I got this new computer a few weeks ago. They had not loaded a full version of Windows XP, sent no system disk, had not pre-loaded IntelliPro for the wireless keyboard and mouse, but, strangely, had pre-loaded some weird anti-virus software (Panda?--you've gotta be kidding me, is all I thought) which kept manifesting annoying pop-ups every 15 seconds telling me my registration info wasn't valid. No one at the computer 800 number spoke anything resembling English, and I finally gave up and simply fixed everything myself.
My fave off-Broadway show--well, I never saw it, but have always wondered about "the road you didn't take, etc." When I was back visiting family in NYC (probably the summer of 73, but don't quote me on that), an off-Broadway musical called "Smith!" had just "temporarily closed", looking for a bigger house. I believe (again, don't quote me--I bet Noel will know for sure) this was a Karr/Dubey show about a man (Don Taylor, IIRC) whose life keeps turning into a musical. I can't remember what the connection was, but one of my Uncles either was renting to someone in the show or one of the creative team, and I was invited over to a closed-house read-through they were doing to keep everyone fresh while they scouted for a new, bigger house. Well, I decided not to go, and, of course, they never found a bigger house and never re-opened and I have spent the last 30 years wondering what I missed.
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I was E&T this weekend having a great, relaxing time on the Isle of Long doing nothing, although Ant doesn't like it when I say that. We ate, played with the doggie MacGregor, laughed with his parents and went shopping. We took the afternoon train home yesterday and now I'm at work busily getting ready to teach some of my colleagues about how to better index grants.
Here is some news from Playbill On-Line about part of the Partridge Family and her offspring.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/84403.html
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Good morning.
bk - Is a "poion pen" some kind of French fish? (What is it, French fish?) It sounds like it would be delightful with a light fruity Chardonnay.
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Even Lucy had a chance to pose with Swedish Chef Hat over the weekend. She must have been thrilled.
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Help is here for diet conscious DRs:
WebMD (http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/Article/82/97114.htm?pagenumber=1)
Losing Weight With Cupid
Need a fun way to shed pounds? Try kissing and a little sex.…
The total stats for the Kissing Diet are nothing to sneeze at:
· 3 kisses per day at 9 calories per event X 365 days = 9,855 calories
· 2 amorous interludes (horizontal) per week at 212 calories per event X 52 weeks = 22,100 calories
· Grand total = 31,955 calories per year
…
der Brucer - left speachless by this comment:
"Do it standing up and you'll burn more calories and also stress bones and muscles in different ways that would be good for you. Hold your partner in the air and you'll burn even more."
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Oh - question #1 - When I get totally frustrated, fed up, whatever... I need to be by myself. Yelling obscenities at the walls works for me. Having a total meltdown works. But alone. I tend not to yell at others. Once in a while, very rarely, I'll really let loose on whoever is the cause of the problem. But usually I just get really icy and polite and fascistic. "You will fix this in the next 24 hours or I know people who know people who will send you to the Gulag." Like that.
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It sounds like it would be delightful with a light fruity Chardonnay.
Why dine with an anorexic trés-gay chap from Thistletown?
der Brucer (remember the no groaning rule!)
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Yelling obscenities at the walls works for me.
How about a screenplay where the walls yell back?
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Oh, Brucer! Roses, for ME???? Okay, so I love RED. But if you're really going to do that, could you please come early, and we'll rehearse a 'bit'? Something I love to do, whenever I have complicity from civilians... mwuah-ha-ha!
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And to answer Question #1:
Martinis with Olives and pickled tomatoes
Corned beef with cabbage and boiled potatoes
Filet steaks with Béarnaise and crisp onion rings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the TIVO breaks
When the phone never rings
When there’s no DSL lad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.
der Brucer (keeping the day job)
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But if you're really going to do that, could you please come early, and we'll rehearse a 'bit'? Something I love to do, whenever I have complicity from civilians... mwuah-ha-ha!
When and where shall we be complicit?
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Letting off steam: Some ways I cope with frustration of the people kind is:
1) Get on the computer and type it all out not worrying about spelling, grammar or punctuation. I then file it in my RANT file where it remains (hopefully) forever. I've accummulated quite an assortment.
2) Go roller skating. Yes, Virginia, roller rinks still exist. Somehow the combination of the music, roller wheels on the wood floor and going round and round calms me down.
3) Get a shiatsu massage. I emphasize shiatsu because they can really dig into the tight spots that inevitably show up in my back, shoulders, neck and upper arms. When it's over, I feel limp as a ragdoll and don't care about anything except to curl up in a ball and take a nap (which is another way I cope).
5) Lastly, when all else fails, I slam down the receiver!
One thing I AVOID doing is talking about my troubles to my best friend -- which I've found only increases my frustration and makes my friend feel miserable too!
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For Jose S. Piano, and all others herein, I, RLP, am Ron Pulliam returned to the fold after a well-earned break for reflection.
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Welcome back, Ron!
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And to answer Question #1:
Martinis with Olives and pickled tomatoes
Corned beef with cabbage and boiled potatoes
Filet steaks with Béarnaise and crisp onion rings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the TIVO breaks
When the phone never rings
When there’s no DSL lad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.
der Brucer (keeping the day job)
Good Lord, man, what size martini glass do you use??? I would think that those pickled tomatoes would take up a lot of room. I suppose you could put the tomato and the olive in the glass, and then just drink the gin right out of the bottle.
And speaking of Good Lord, did anyone else watch Mel Gibson's interview(?) with Diane Sawyer last evening. I would welcome your comments.
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Good Lord, man, what size martini glass do you use??? I would think that those pickled tomatoes would take up a lot of room. I suppose you could put the tomato and the olive in the glass, and then just drink the gin right out of the bottle.
I like your version, however, I use these:
(http://www.bryantpreserving.com/includes/images/tomolive2.gif)
put out by Old South (http://www.bryantpreserving.com/products.asp?id=94&topcat=1), who also botles a mean Pickled Brussels Sprout (not for Martinis!)
They brag:
No, it’s not an olive, but a unique pickled tomato grown from our exclusive seed. Hand-picked, cured, and finished in small batches. Tomolives make the “Ultimate”martini garnish and will liven any relish tray!
Ketel One Vodka has chosen the Tomolive® as the exclusive garnish for its signature "Ultimate Martini".
Actually, in addition to the Olive and pickled Tomato, I usually throw in a small pickled onion and a Pickled Baby Corn from Reese. When I get done it's like a small salad soaking up Gin (Gilby's when on a budget, Bombay for a treat, Sapphire if I'm blue.)
der Brucer (who is regularly berated by SWW for all the bottles of Martini stuff cluttering up his 'frige)
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Good Morning!
Topics of the Day:
#1 - Well, after my experience this weekend, I leave a nasty note, then camp out over at Steve's apartment for a few hours to calm down. Oh, and give the door a big ole SLAM!!! Otherwise, I usually pull myself from the situation, attempt to calm down... And if I happen not calm down, then I try my best to talk to the person who upset me, and talk it out. Or, I just drive around in my car and talk, well, yell, to the air. But since I hardly ever get upset - I think maybe once a year if that - "dealing with it" is something I hardly ever have to do - which, I guess, in the bigger picture, is a good thing.
#2 - Eating Raoul
Weird Romance
Assassins
Little Shop of Horrors
When Pigs Fly
Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down (a sentimental choice)
Closer Than Ever
And a few others I know aren't crossing my mind at the moment.
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DR Jennifer - Said offender did help clean up initially - at least that's what I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt for. But since he had to head back up to school, he was not able to do the "real cleaning" last night. However, I will give my roommate brownie points for actually coming home early last night so that he could take care of the cleaning. And he did a nice job too!
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DR DERBRUCER - Thank you for your "Tomolive" answer. I was almost thinking you had left out a comma:
"Martinis with olives, and pickled tomatoes"
-Have you ever tried/Do you like pickled okra? YUM!
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And, finally, at least for right now... The snow event is a non-event today. :( Ah, well... But the flurries looked nice.
Thus ends my mid-day posting frenzy.
Welcome Back, Ron!
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I second Jose's mention of
When Pigs Fly
I loved it when I first saw it and ended up dragging friends to it to share the insanity.
More later.
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Welcome back, Ron.
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I do try to stay calm but there are times when you have to yell and threaten, it seems, to get any results. My dealings with Time-Warner Cable of New York City are a good example. Anthony was there to be the calming influence and he was able to take the phone from me when I yelled at employees (who actually knew nothing but were following the customer service script, which doesn't deal in reality but only in common problems, but that's a whole nother rant) and speak calmy to them, but after one too many phone calls dealing with incompetent employees, I sat down and wrote a long letter to TWCNYC, made photocopies of THREE YEARS (yes, 3 years) worth of bills, and photocopies of every single complaint letter I had written and sent it, not only to TWCNYC, but to the Public Service Commission, the Better Business Bureau, the NY State Telecommunications Commission, the City telecommunications office, the state Attorney General, both of my U.S. Senators, my U.S. congressman, my state representatives, and my city council representative. I laid out a lot in postage but it was worth it because I was right AND I finally got some results. It took months of complaining and many trees fell for my cause but I felt vindicated. Woe be to the business that crosses a meticulously organized man who has three years worth of bills in a filing cabinet.
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A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod
For the last three days that has been all the NY papers have talked about. At first I didn't know what or who it was and then I discovered that is is a baseball player that is being paid $117,000,000 a year to play on the Yankees. And people think he is worth it. Where is today's value system. That money could certainly be put to better use.
I'm not putting the blame on this unknown ballplayer... it's the fault of a team that is willing to spend this kind of money. I hope they lose every game. Where are Joe Boyd and Mr. Applegate when you need them?
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derBrucer -- Thank you for the answer about the tomatoes. I had visions of a large beefsteak tomato taking up the entire glass (and probably crushing the tiny olive). Have you ever tried the olives soaked in vermouth. There is a company out of Portland, Oregon (Thompson's) that sells them by mail order. I have a friend who wanted them for every birthday and every Christmas.
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Well, Mr. TIVO man came, and this time I finally had someone who a) was good, and b) I had a good TIVO unit apparently, because every convoluted thing we had to do last time to get the unit to take the Direct TV nightly phone call we didn't have to do. It took him ten minutes to totally set up the unit, I now have slack on the wires and everything is hunky-dorey and also dorey-hunky.
As soon as Mr. TIVO Man left, Mr. Phone Man arrived. This was a different Phone Man than yesterday. He looked at the outside box and ascertained there is nothing wrong with my wiring - the problem is "on the pole" - they need to cut out something so the signal is receieved clearly. This, he says, will happen in a day or two and that I don't have to be here.
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Good Afternoon All Hainsies & Kimlets!!! :D
I have been e&t for a while now... unavoidably but regretfully, of course.
Ya want to hear scary incompetency stories? You all don't KNOW the meaning of "scary incompetence" until you have attempted to communicate with the Quebec Revenue Minister...
A couple of months ago the accountant for the lobby group I work for phoned me at the Montreal office to tell me that she had received tax forms from the Quebec government which she needed to fill out with all of the organization's Quebecois employees' incomes for the last year. Or something like that - there's a reason I am not an accountant. Well, they of course sent her copies of the form, in Toronto where she lives and works, in French with no English translation. She does not speak French. So, she was wondering if I could phone Revenu Quebec and make an official request for the forms in English.
Now this wasn't hard. I got the phone number, spoke to a very nice woman over the phone in French and in English (very surprising for a provincial employee) and was assured that the forms would be sent in English to the Toronto office ASAP.
A week later, I walked into the office and found an envelope from Revenu Quebec. Oh well, I thought, they must have just sent it here by mistake. Just to make sure they were the right forms I opened the envelope and found that I had been sent the French version of the forms.
Ooooookkkaaayyy. A slight error. So I phoned back and explained myself once again. I was apologised to over and over again and was told that the documents of the right language would be sent to Toronto.
A week later, I received yet ANOTHER phone call from the accountant telling me that the forms had arrived at her office and that they were in English. The only problem? They weren't the right forms at all.
I have given up and have officially delegated dealing with the Ministry to the other office assistant.
Now how do you like dem's incompetence?
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And speaking of Good Lord, did anyone else watch Mel Gibson's interview(?) with Diane Sawyer last evening. I would welcome your comments.
Darn!! I totally forgot about this! :-[
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A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod
For the last three days that has been all the NY papers have talked about. At first I didn't know what or who it was and then I discovered that is is a baseball player that is being paid $117,000,000 a year to play on the Yankees. And people think he is worth it. Where is today's value system. That money could certainly be put to better use.
I'm not putting the blame on this unknown ballplayer... it's the fault of a team that is willing to spend this kind of money. I hope they lose every game. Where are Joe Boyd and Mr. Applegate when you need them?
Bill, this unknown ballplayer (Alex Rodriquez) is one of the elite superstars in the game of baseball. For several years, he played for my beloved Seattle Mariners, until the fool that owns the Texas Rangers (no, not George W., another fool) offered Alex $252 million over 10 years. The Yankees inherit the remaining years of his contract. Although, still grossly overpaid ($25 million a year), Alex does not get $117 million a year.
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I just wanted to remind everyone that the new Broadway Radio Show with my chat with Noel Katz is up and running!
Enjoy
and remember, we look at the new recording of Sherry! on this coming Sunday's show
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Blowing-off steam...Never blow off steam at underlings. They're usually minimun wage phone jockeys who have no power, know nothing, and can't personally help you. Keep asking for a supervisor or manager, go as far up the chain of command as you can get, if you have to. Always ask for everybody's name and write them down. Keep your cool and keep on point. Make them squirm, keep reminding them that this is their problem and asking what THEY are going to do about it and how they are going to make up for your lost time and money? Be polite to those who actually do help you.
If you still do not get a satisfactory solution, write a letter to the head of the company. Detailing your time spent, detailing the answers and run-arounds you got from each individual. Praise those who actually helped; be specific about those who didn't. Detail the mouth-breathers' rudeness, casualness, helplessness. Intimate that you expect some form of compensation for your wasted time and trouble resolving this.
Make the letter witty or acerbicly witty, if need be...but definitely let the top dogs know that you are disatisfied with their service. It always helps to enclose such phrases, "I was really looking forward to such and so and had heard such good things about your company. How disappointed I was." The old jockeying praise with complaint ploy. "I don't how such a fine company could condone such poor service." "I thought I should bring this appalling situation to your attention as I'm sure you are not aware of how your company is being represented in the field."
Always a litany of dates and times and what happened specifically with each individual is important. Blame those who deserve it; praise those who deserve it. Don't vent in a tirade or just spew invectives. Be creative and amusing in your criticism.
The more intelligent and collected your comments are, the more your complaint will be paid attention to. Searing satire leavened with a heaping dose of sardonic, incisive humour is always more effective than a flailing scream-fest where you just call everybody an asshole.
Usually, the classier the company, the better the results. Once Virgin Airways was late sending us our tickets. They finally came before our trip. But not before I had written them a rather long witty, entertaining letter, telling them how much I enjoyed their airline and how I'm sure this was some sort of aberration in their usually excellent service and giving them a humourously exasperated account of employees (by name), excuses, misinformation, conflicting information I had received in trying to facilitate the problem. This resulted in an apologetic phone call and getting a seventy-five dollar voucher for duty-free items on the plane (or maybe we could just take the cash). The point was they accommodated us for our trouble. (I was angling for a bump up to Upper Class, but alas...).
Be polite, but firm, and witty. Stern and unyielding, if need be. But once you scream, you've lost the upper hand.
If none of the above works, crank up the CD player, crawl in a fetal ball, and fortify yourself with lots of potato chips, chocolate, and other comfort foods.
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I just wanted to remind everyone that the new Broadway Radio Show with my chat with Noel Katz is up and running!
Enjoy
and remember, we look at the new recording of Sherry! on this coming Sunday's show
Who???
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DR Kerry please email me your snail mail address so that I can put Jeanne Eagels in a box and send her to you. ;D
It is 36 degrees here and it seems like spring after the below zero we have had lately!
I ordered the Pickup on South Street DVD. Of course recently my Criterion A Night To Remember stopped playing on my RCA DVD player. Hmmmmmmmm....tried cleaning it...no luck. Message is either No Disk or Disk Not Compatible....but it is a Region One disk and has played before....and everything else works. Oh well!!
Here is your Allison Hayes picture of the week - a lobby card from a favorite movie of Mr BK Attack of the 50 Foot Woman with her co-star a lovely 1958 Chrysler Imperial convertible! ;D
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This will be number 59 and then we should move to page 3
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and here we are at page 3 all ready to fill it up
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I did want to mention that this weekend I had the great honor of listening to a really wonderful CD of DR Ann's recital. Due to a large printing job over the weekend for my little home buisness (The Birkeland Touch), I was only able to give the CD a cursory listen, but so far I have been extremely impressed. I plan on spending a lot more time savoring her CD tonight!
Topic(s) du jour!
I usually deal with those types of problems by keeeping it all bottled up inside. Unfortunately, eventually some innocent person gets the brunt of the nuclear meltdown, when I finally do let it out.
The Fantasticks
Little Shop of Horrors
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MR BK! Look what I found in one of my books! ;D
Miss Thelma Ritter & Mr Richard Kiley from
Pickup On South Street!
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Miss Ritter's finest hour, the scene pictured in the photo.
Well, you won't believe it - I can barely believe it myself and yet I must believe it because it is true. I called the DSL people back, just to get the latest tech info into the record. I got a really nice guy, and he ran a test on my line (others have done so at every step) and here is what he told me: You're too far from the base station to get DSL." Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I am too far from the base station to get DSL. Now, wouldn't you think that at some point someone would have figured this out? I canceled service and everyone was very apologetic about it.
I now have to decide on an alternate plan of attack. Direct TV has a company that does high-speed internet, does anyone here use them? I think it's called Directway or something. They use a satellite dish and apparently (according to them) it works great. However, for the first fifteen months of service the cost is $99 a month, which is just nonsense. Fifty of it is paying off the 500 charge for the dish. So, I don't think I wish to do that. I certainly won't do Adelphia cable because I hate them with a passion. So, what are my alternatives, dear readers? Do any other companies in my area offer DSL or cable or some other form of high-speed? I look forward to your thoughts.
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"Bling Bling" is the term currently used to describe the kind of jewelry that is bright and flashy and used to be seen only on drag queens, but is now popular again.
Der Brucer (who has never worn bling bling), is testing the new DVD player by playing the disc for Spirit, Stallion of the Cimmaron, his way of commenting on my "nag"-ging him earlier. ( :-* ) Lordy, what a score! A little of that goes a long way! It sounds at first like it's quite melodic, but the volume keeps pushing and pushing, and it gets so repetitive that it's eighty minutes of oppressive pop. Bleh. Zimmer and Adams should be stuck on a mule in the middle of the Indy 500 for this one.
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BK - You may be able to get high speed internet from your local cable company without having to take cable as well. That's what we have at the office.
Perhaps the $117 Million figure I read on A-Rod was for the term of the contract. Still $25 Million a year just to play baseball is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.
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I rarely blow my top at anyone. I likely would just go and grab a pack of cigarettes and/or a cup of java to make me fell better!
The one time in recent years that I became quite upset was at Target (which up to that time was my FAVORITE store). They would not allow me to exchange a telephone that didn't work because I didn't have the receipt. For the life of me I could not find the receipt, but since it was one of those Michael Graves designs telephones that only Target sells I figured it would not be a problem to simply exchange it for a working model. I didn't want a refund or anything, just a phone that worked. I was wrong. I did go up the chain of command as far as I could and was finally told that I was just one of many other customers and he couldn't do anything special for me. That is what he said. I had remained calm up to this point. Seeing as how I had worked in retail for 13 years I could not fathom a store manager telling me that I was just another customer! Anyway, after I told him off, said I would no longer be shopping there, and then stormed out I discovered that I had forgotten that one of the other reasons I had gone to Target, aside from exchanging the telephone, was that I wanted a pair of the jeans that they had on sale! LOL! So I waited several hours until I thought most of the people who had witnessed my tirade were off work and I went back in...wearing my glasses and a complete change of clothing so as not to easily be recognized (LOL!) and bought the jeans!
What should happen but while waiting in line the customer service manager, whom I had told I would never shop at his store again, comes and opens up a register and the cashier whose line I am in indicates to me that it would be quicker for me to go into the other line! Yikes! LOL! Oh well, so much for standing up for my principles! But those jeans were such a good price!
I have long forgiven Target and it is once again my favorite store. By the way I got another telephone by going in and purchasing a new one, then using that receipt to return the non-working one with. So simple it was!
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BK, doesn't AOL have it's own DSL? Then you wouldn't have to change much of anything.
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This was in response to a comment from PennyO
When and where shall we be complicit?
To which I have to add, don't let me forget to bring the camera.
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AOL has what they call "broadband" but it requires a high-speed cable or dsl line in place. Pointless sort of. Adelphia does offer high-speed cable but I won't do business with them. So, I need other options.
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BK, on hearing, yet again, that the DSL man "has been delayed":
LOL-that is great!! ;D ;D
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In response to Donald's announcement of the upcoming Radio Show, this was posted.
Who???
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Not who, dear DR TCB, but what. Sherry is the musical based on The Man Who Came to Dinner, the score only now having been released (after many many years) on CD.
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Blowing Off Steam (which I never have to do because I am so perfectly eventemter...uh, evyntem... Eventewlnsbngaslks DAMMIT!): I find a two-step process works best. First, isolate oneself. Second, work on a project that has nothing to do with the cause of the blowup and requires your concentration.
Like baking cookies!
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Off-Broadway Musicals: I've got a question about this question. Is an "off-Broadway musical" one that has played in an off-Broadway house, officially designated as such, or simply one that has not played in a Broadway house?
In any case, I have long been in love with the score for A New Brain.
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Did anyone else, besides myself, notice that the new FOX series The Little(?) Bridegroom is only going to be two episodes? Doesn't that seem rather short to you?
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I got another telephone by going in and purchasing a new one, then using that receipt to return the non-working one with. So simple it was!
I have used that method of replacement a number of times. :D
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Blowing Off Steam (which I never have to do because I am so perfectly eventemter...uh, evyntem... Eventewlnsbngaslks DAMMIT!): I find a two-step process works best. First, isolate oneself. Second, work on a project that has nothing to do with the cause of the blowup and requires your concentration.
Like baking cookies!
Then eat the cookies!!!
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I just ordered Adelphia high-speed cable. It was the only other alternative, and I had a long chat with their tech-support folks and it sounds like it will be fine - plus I can then get rid of my second phone line which will save ten bucks and change a month. Adelphia is quite cheap for the first three months, then it will even itself out because I have finally ridden myself of Web TV. So, it will really only cost me about twenty bucks more than I'd been paying with aol and webtv and the phone line, if that. They're coming next Tuesday with the modem and the cable and hopefully it will be much simpler to deal with, plus there is no "contract" - just month by month, so that if I'm not happy I can just cancel.
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Ben I’m impressed with all the letters you wrote. It must have been a big problem.
Charles Pogue your advice was absolutely great. Keith’s letters get a response, unlike mine. I tend to do better on the phone.
Bruce I have refused to do business with so many places I hesitate to suggest you return to cable. It is possible they have corrected the problem you had with them. If we had a choice we would prefer cable or DSL over the satellite. Keith has spent a good number of hours on the phone with the satellite company correcting problems. It was a disaster when we tried their email service. Since then the problems have been fixed and our change back to direcway email is a great improvement. We now have more speed and, so far, no spam.
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I just ordered Adelphia high-speed cable.
;D You posted while I was typing.
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Did anyone else, besides myself, notice that the new FOX series The Little(?) Bridegroom is only going to be two episodes? Doesn't that seem rather short to you?
Perhaps this will be a parody, of sorts, of Miss Emily Latella's story about the little bitty, eensie-weensie, teeny tiny Prince who married a little bitty, eensie-weensie, teeny tiny Princess who, on their wedding night, discovered that the Prince had a....[never mind]
If that's the case, the show wouldn't go much beyond two episodes, I wouldn't imagine.
:D
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We're getting little flakes of snow coming down! Not whole big clumps, just little flakes drifting towards gravity's pull, dancing lightly as the breeze blows them about. Happy Happy Joy Joy! :D
Der Brucer: "I didn't order snow." (grumble grumble)
Me: "I did!"
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Question #1: I vent. I vent to everyone and I take long walks and vent to the air. Chocolate helps too. A sense of humor while venting is a good thing. Exercise, laughter, and chocolate are the best way to increase ones endorphins.
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Snow is nice. We have had rain for two days now.
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LOL MBARNUM......it happens everytime. And yes buying a new one and using the receipt to return the other one is a good way to bypass the red tape. I have done it myself a couple of times when nothing else seems to work.
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TO VENT - I walk the dog. Which could explain why she is so extraordinarily healthy at thirteen!
OFF - BROADWAY:
SCARMBLED FEET is my number one pick.
PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES - country for people who don't like country.
OIL CITY SYMPHONY - more of the above.
ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE
DAS BARBECU - not to be confused with DERBRUCER
THE FANTASTICKS
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
EATING RAOUL
PROMANADE
THE MADWOMAN OF CENTRAL PARK WEST
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Echo is outside playing in the rain by herself since I decided to stay in until the weather improves a bit. As of today I have had this cough for two weeks. It improves daily & really isn’t a big deal, but the muscles in my upper body are all very sore from the intense coughing I had been doing and every little cough hurts.
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Was "A Man Of No Importance" Off Broadway? Not that it matters really - it is just a delightful show. Same with "Bat Boy" - small scale but fun. As a total outsider, the line between Off and On Broadway seems somewhat blurry.
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LOL MBARNUM......it happens everytime. And yes buying a new one and using the receipt to return the other one is a good way to bypass the red tape. I have done it myself a couple of times when nothing else seems to work.
You guys are sneaky. But great idea.
I'm surprised they wouldn't exchange that phone though. I recently was given a blow-up exercise ball that was made by Wallmart. It was missing the piece to hold in the air (and the instructions). I didn't have the receipt. I simply went to Walmart, got a new one and exchanged it at the customer service cash. And I had no problem. They were really nice about it too.
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In response to Donald's announcement of the upcoming Radio Show, this was posted.Not who, dear DR TCB, but what. Sherry is the musical based on The Man Who Came to Dinner, the score only now having been released (after many many years) on CD.
No, DR SWW, I am well aware of the musical Sherry. My "Who" was a, hopefully, humorous reference to the interview with that complete unknown, Noel Katz.
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Welcome back, DR Ron, er. . . RLP.
Earlier today, I read the songs that each of tonight's contestants on AMERICAN IDOL are going to be singing. My only comment, "Ugh!"
I know, they can't hope to win America's heart by singing Tony Bennett oldies or Harold Arlen classic songs, but geez, I feel so OUT OF IT when I read their song selections and also read whom they consider their music inspirations.
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:) :) :) :) Now that was funny TCB.
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Very interesting lists. I also remember The Amorous Flea, which played out here at the Las Palmas theater with my pal Phil Proctor and Lew somebody who was very funny.
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Was "A Man Of No Importance" Off Broadway? Not that it matters really - it is just a delightful show. Same with "Bat Boy" - small scale but fun. As a total outsider, the line between Off and On Broadway seems somewhat blurry.
Perhaps, Tomovoz, if you didn't drink before breakfast, things would not be so blurry!
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*I am in the middle of writing the most boringest paper known to humankind*
Remind me to drop the next class I take where the prof starts off his first lecture with: "this is the exciting part of the course" and then proceeds to bore you half to death.
Oy.
Good news though! I got accepted to the Women in the House Program which means that I have a legitimate reason to skip school to party in fun filled Ottawa with a bunch of girls.
Oh wait. Is that good or not? Double Oy.
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BTW...
My Favorite Off-Broadway Shows (in no particular order) and please note that all of these selections are based entirely on their cast albums because I have never had the chance to see an off-broadway show:
1) The Last Five Years (big surprise! no five point essays please)
2) Bat Boy
3) A New Brain
4) The Falsettos Cycle
5) Avenue Q (if it counts)
6) Eating Raoul (snippets that I've heard I enjoy)
7) The Fantastiks
8) Parts of Zanna Don't
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*I am in the middle of writing the most boringest paper known to humankind*
Remind me to drop the next class I take where the prof starts off his first lecture with: "this is the exciting part of the course" and then proceeds to bore you half to death.
Oy.
Good news though! I got accepted to the Women in the House Program which means that I have a legitimate reason to skip school to party in fun filled Ottawa with a bunch of girls.
Oh wait. Is that good or not? Double Oy.
Women in the House, Emily, isn't that the new reality series on FOX?
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Yes, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE was off-Broadway as was A NEW BRAIN. I think they were both done at the Mitzi Newhouse at Lincoln Center which is considered an off-Broadway house. But our NYC DRs can probably say for certain about that.
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So now I should find an alternative to drink. Had that yesterday TCB - with breakfast! I think I was blurry then too.
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Good Afternoon!
Just wanted to check in before heading to class...
Nice, big snowflakes right now, but nothing is sticking, so... It still looks pretty.
Had a good lunch courtesy of the health food store down the street. Kind of "international" sampler: Indonesian style chicken breast, spicy brocolli rabe with pine nuts, and some genmai chai (roasted green tea). Very eclectic. Very nice. And very filling.
-And very "approved".
OH! -And I also had a nice trip to the post office. AND I could not believe my eyes! ALL FOUR "windows" were manned and womanned! Will wonders never cease!?!?! I should have taken a picture! That occurs less often than a solar eclipse!
OK... I'm late, I'm late...
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Welcome back DRRLP!
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Ooops---I meant to say Don Murray was in "Smith!" I know that must have been bothering everyone.
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Goodbye, Mr Chips! the musical in letterbox on TCM right now!
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You know, Herbert Ross did a terrific job on the dances and numbers in "Chips."
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Topic of the Day #2: I only know Off-Broadway shows from the recordings, but I love the recordings of:
Assassins
Dames At Sea
Eating Raoul: The Musical
The Fantasticks
The Last Five Years
Saturday Night
tick, tick...BOOM and
Zombie Prom
I have actually seen productions of Assassins and The Fantasticks, but not any of the others. After reading today's posts up to this point, I realized that there are a lot of Off-Broadway shows that I forgot that I really like. All of these have been mentioned, but I want to re-mention them:
**Angry Housewives
**Das Barbecü
Bat Boy
Closer Than Ever
Floyd Collins
**Falsettoland
Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly
Howard Crabtree's Whoop-De-Do
In Trousers
**Little Shop of Horrors
A Man Of No Importance
**March of the Falsettos
**A New Brain
Scrambled Feet (I have a copy of the video with Madeline Kahn!)
Starting Here, Starting Now
Tuscaloosa's Calling Me...but I'm Not Going
Weird Romance
Zanna Don't
** I've seen productions of these, also (either local or in Seattle)
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Such a lot of flowers, . . . .
I have it on laserdisc. If it weren't so long, perhaps Warners might have put the musical remake on the same disc with the DVD of the original 1939 classic.
On the other hand, Warners may not hold rights to the 1969 version. MGM may still retain the rights to it.
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You know, Herbert Ross did a terrific job on the dances and numbers in "Chips."
Wow, there's a musical of it? I used to watch that TV show! Do Jon and Ponch sing and dance? Are Eric Estrada and Larry Wilcox in it and do their own singing? ;)
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Thanks to everyone who has welcomed my return to the Forum.
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Wow, there's a musical of it? I used to watch that TV show! Do Jon and Ponch sing and dance? Are Eric Estrada and Larry Wilcox in it and do their own singing? ;)
George -- ROTFLMAO!
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When and where shall we be complicit?
Meet ya at the box office at 7!! Oh, this will be FUN!!!
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Have just returned from the Post Office - almost a no queue zone. I must have just missed DR Jose. Today's exciting mail included a CD by Miss Candi Staton. On a "need to know" basis that must rate very highly. On a nedd to own basis too. Who does not need "Young Hearts Run Free" in their collection?
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Yes, I was watching a bit of CHIPS whilst I ate a late lunch...London is London. I did want to hang around for the divine Ursula Mossbank, but had to take a powder and get back to work.
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Also in the mail was an invitation to an exhibition of paintings by internationally acclaimed wildlife artist Paul Margocsy.
I don't think he would mind me sharing this with you.
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MR BK when you were doing your Titanic CD....did you listen to all the source music for the 1953 film?
I can indentify all the songs except one. At Chapter Stop 11 on the DVD when Audrey Dalton and Robert Wagner are dancing in the salon....what is THAT song? Help, DR's.....
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Ah DR George....I will just say Yes to all your questions?
Ursula...LOL...."are you still taking to drink in the second act?"
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TCB should be able to answer that one. He was dancing with Molly at the time.
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LOL Ursula Mossbank:
"Parents Day! What could be more rrrrrrr-iviting?"
"Darling, I rrrrrr-evel in early English perpendicular...."
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Welcome back, RLP.
Favorite Off-Broadway musicals include:
Dames at Sea
Promenade
Boys from Syracuse (Karen Morrow, et al.)
Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Now Is the Time for All Good Men
Streets of New York
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Trivia question.
Among the favorite off-Broadway titles:
1. He's a singer and producer
2. She's a lyricist, librettist and singer
What's the name of their kid, who's on a current sitcom?
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In mentioning my favorite off-Broadway musical, I can't believe I forgot any of the Al Carmines musicals of the 60s & 70s... PROMENADE, PEACE, CHRISTMAS RAPPINGS, THE JOURNEY OFSNOW WHITE, THE FAGGOTT, JOAN et. al. Actually, though, most were off-off-Broadway (Judson Poet's Theatre), not just off.
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I didn't listen to any of the source music, as I knew I only wanted the main title cue which, I believe, is the only dramatic cue in the film save for one small one towards the end.
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Tomovoz thank you for sharing. :)
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A. Lull.
I just ate a Jack in the Box California Club salad. They're quite tasty and then you want to vomit.
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On all four of my first trips to NYC, I went out of my way to see The Fantasticks, and I nearly wept when I heard that it would be closing. Without question, my favorite off-Broadway show.
Too bad the movie was unwatchable.
As to dealing with incompetence...this just happened to me today. I sent off for a rebate check for buying the deeveedees of X2 and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and it came back today with a letter stating that they could not give me a rebate because the original cash register receipt wasn't sent along with the rebate form. Inside the envelope was not only the rebate form, but the original cash register receipt.
Oy!
Hopefully, resending the envelope again will result in a rebate check...but Jesus, how stupid can these people be?????
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Good evening!
-Just got in from class, then shopping, then dinner...
Now watching "American Idol".... Ouch! Ouch!! OUCH!!!
Be back after the show is done... and after I catch up on the posts.
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I've been indulging in one of my favorite things for the past few hours: reading a science fiction novel while munching away on Lorna Doone cookies and chugging down whole milk*.
Ahhhh, the simple pleasures...!
(*I'm a farm boy, and could never get used to 2%, 1% or (horror of horrors!) skim milk. And after a farmboyhood, getting used to storebought milk was difficult enough.)
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Oh, and I just now noticed that I am now a "Full Member".
Wouldn't that be a great title for a musical?
The Full Member: A New Musical
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JRand53, Thanks for the Ursula bon mots. It's almost as though I stayed and watched it.
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Evening all.
Depending on the situation my anger/frustration until I lash out and then you want to get as far away from me as possible or I will go dark and not talk to anyone until I’m passed it.
I’m feeling very happy tonight! Went to the doctor’s office today and was told I’ve lost 11 pounds from the last time I was there! Even my doctor was impressed.
Another great thing is that I did it. I called a realtor and I’m going to look at one of the houses I spoke about. Tomorrow at six. Wish me luck! I’m excited and scared to death at the same time. The down side is if I do take the house, there won’t be any trips for me anytime in the near future.
I really wanted to either go see Michael Ball in SLC or go to NYC. Sigh. Can’t have everything, can we?
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Those new At&t commercials with split screen faces are scarier than Michael Jackson!
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LOL you are welcome DR Charles Pogue....yes what marvelous character...Sian Phillips was Margo Channing +++!!!
Thanks BK....it is a mystery song!
DRMattH did you watch ANY movies?
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BK-
I think you will be very happy with Adelphia. I have been using them and I have not had any problem.
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DRDanise - DRMBarnum is a new homeowner and he is very happy he made the decision, I think!
I am about to watch a PBS special on Lustron homes......
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VERY GENERAL AMERICAN IDOL COMMENTS. But if you didn't watch it yet, you may not want to read this:
Wow, American Idol was crazy tonight. I cannot believe how bad some of them were (especially the brothers).
My favorite was Miss Hawaii.
It's definitely looking better for Scooter girl and others to get into the Wild Card show (which is always my favorite show).
I wonder if these people just had bad nights or what. I kept wanting to say that the judges deserved what they got, since they let go some really good people and chose these people. I mean were they all good before? I don't think so. From what I remember I didn't like any of the people who screwed up.
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I forgot to tell you all about the close call I had on Sunday. Remember when I said I was scared to drive the bridge to St. Pete just about 2 weekends ago?
Well, I had a tire blow out on me. I was very, very, very lucky. I was just turning into Walmart when it blew. If I had been on that bridge...
I went to their tire center and was told it would be 6 hours before they could even look at it. I had to call AAA to come change my tire ( that was a 2 hour wait--no joke) and the spare I had was flat!
The guy was nice enough to take it to a gas station and fill it with air for me.
I know how to change a tire but I lack the strength to crack the nuts when their put on with an air hose.
Sad to say the same happened with the bathroom. I knew what needed to be done. Had, in fact, done the same thing before but I couldn't crack the bolt and was afraid I was going to break the pipe off (old house-old pipes). I had to call a plummer, much to my shame but he said the same thing about the pipe. If I had broken it, he would have had to taken part of the wall down to get to it. So I did the right thing by calling
You guys are so lucky to have such power in your hands and arms. That kind of stuff comes so easy for you. If I was hanging over the side of a building and had to pull myself up, you might as well lean over and kiss me goodbye because I would never be able to do it.
The only F I ever made in school was in PE because I couldn't do the fifty pull ups we were required to do to get a a passing grade. I couldn't even do five.
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I am about to watch a PBS special on Lustron homes......
There's a Lustron house about a mile away from me...it's pretty cool...!
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I've been busy catching up today, Dear Readers, ergo my apparent silence on this site.
I did find time this afternoon, however, to see The Dreamers, Bernardo Bertolucci's new film. This is a curious picture and, to be frank, I am not sure I got it. I believe it supposed to capture the frisson in the air in Paris during 1968. There is ample talk about Maoism, the conflict in Vietnam and pacifism, as well as depiction of the reaction to the expulsion from the Musee du Cine of Henri Langlois and, later on, violent street riots, though it is never made clear precisely what the rioters are protesting.
In this milieu we follow the story of a 19 year old female, her twin brother and a similarly aged American male. Brought together by their frequent sojourns to see classic cinema at the Musee's theatre, the three end up rather quickly in a bizarre menage a trois of sorts. They enjoy playing a psycho-sexual mind-game variation on the game of Charades, in which scenes from movies are played out by one or other of the lead characters. Failure to guess correctly by the other members of the threesome involves some rather unusual punishments.
The most enjoyable aspect of The Dreamers is when Bertolucci intercuts scenes involving the three main characters with clips from the movies from which their actions are drawn. Scenes involving Greta Garbo in Queen Christina and three actors whose names I do not know in A la Bande (I hope I have that correct) racing through the Louvre were particularly endearing.
It was never clear to me where the relationships amongst the central trio were going, be it as a threesome or when they left one behind to form a pair. As pretty as all three main characters were, I found it somewhat difficult to sympathize with any of them, and found myself little invested in their experiences. The story just sort of stops, with no resolution.
The picture's credits roll from the top down (the credits in every other movie I've seen roll from the bottom up.) This is fine when information falls on one line. Multiple line credits, however, such as for the songs and film clips used in the movie, of which there were many, were impossible to read. Someone was being arbitrary and ought to get his or her butt cheeks slapped from here to tarnation for doing such an annoying thing.
Anyone who is uncomfortable with depictions of full frontal nudity (male and female), simulated sex, incest and/or poor housekeeping should avoid this picture.
With this post, I shall inaugurate the Jay Rating System. On a scale that ranges from "Run to see it now" to "See it after you've seen the other top items on your filmgoing list" to "Wait for the DVD" to "Avoid at all costs," I say The Dreamers rates a "Wait for the DVD."
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Since THE FANTASTICKS has been mentioned a lot, I thought you might be interested in what I have felt about that show. I saw many productions over the years --- a touring company, dinner theatres, high school, etc. --- and found it mildly enjoyable. Then one day I was at TKTS and there was nothing much of interest so I decided to see THE FANTASTICKS at the Sullivan Street Playhouse. What a difference - that was a magical show and everything I had heard. No other production came close to capturing what was on that stage. That was in 1990 and I saw it several times between then and the closing. I have never found any other show that only "worked" in one production.
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Danise good luck tomorrow.
Good night.
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The one time in recent years that I became quite upset was at Target (which up to that time was my FAVORITE store). They would not allow me to exchange a telephone that didn't work because I didn't have the receipt.
DR MBarnum: Well, this has happened to us enough times, that I would recommend Joe's strategy. Maybe not entirely on the up-and-up, but it works.
Phone don't work and you got no stinking receipt? Simple. Go in and buy a new one. "What?" I hear you cry, "Now I've paid twice for one phone!" Not at all. Next day, you use the receipt for the new phone to return the non-functional phone and get a refund.
OOOOPS!! I just read the end of your post and found you did that very thing.
He says sheepishly: "Never mind." Oh, and Emily Littella reference!
As for what to do when the world dumps a load of ickies on me... Last Wednesday, when they took Joe away, I came home, screamed and yelled and cursed and flung obscenities at the top of my voice (and the top of my voice flung some of them back at me!). Then I cried. Then I screamed some more. Then I played Elton John singing "The Bitch Is Back" at high volume ten times straight [or at least gaily forward] (and if Lady MacBeth could hear it... well, if the foo sh*ts...).
Then I came to the computer and read all your lovely posts and felt much better, because I know that not everyone in the world is a f&%#$@!!! )*\}!!
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Which may be why the film doesn't work WEL. It is the only way I have seen the show - it just does not get performed here because of the limited opportunities with such a small cast - non professional theatre companies need a cast big enought to sell tickets. One of those shows (like "110 in the Shade") that I guess I will only ever get to enjoy as a recording.
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I just ate a Jack in the Box California Club salad. They're quite tasty and then you want to vomit.
So, you're switching from Atkins to the Carpenter Plan?
Der Brucer was stuck with JitB a few times while working on political campaigns. The nice thing was that he never complained about my cooking once after those experiences. (Not that he complains often, but he did tonight, and rightly so. Sorry about missing the mark this time, der B.)
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One of those shows (like "110 in the Shade") that I guess I will only ever get to enjoy as a recording.
You could come and visit me, Dear Reader Tomovoz, and see 110 in the Shade when the Pasadena Playhouse does it later this year.
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Trivia question.
Among the favorite off-Broadway titles:
1. He's a singer and producer
2. She's a lyricist, librettist and singer
What's the name of their kid, who's on a current sitcom?
Jon Cryer, of the current version of My Two Dads (or whatever it's called).
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Thanks for the offer Jay. Can you get them to hold over the show until Fall 2005!
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I will play by Katz's rules, and only consider shows I actually saw in NYC
Not sure how such a rule got named after me.
If I suggested a "rule" it was this
"If some of a musical's pleasures are surprising plot twists in the libretto, don't ruin it for yourself by seeking out a synopsis, even if the only place the show is currently playing is New York City."
I also said "Do what you want to do" but what do I know? - I'm a little light-headed due to the paucity of good cuisine in this food-deprived metropolis. ::)
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Danise - congrats on the weight loss.
I haven't read all of today's posts. Will catch up later. Have some work to do tonight.
Lovely bird portrait, Tomovoz. Margocsy is a Hungarian name. Wonder if that's his heritage.
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WEL -- I agree with you about The Fantasticks. I saw the show for the first time in 1966, here in Tacoma, and the production was sheer magic. In the years since then, I have seen the show done dozens of time, including doing it twice myself, and the show was usually good, but nothing very special. After a while, I just assumed that the first time I had seen the show, I must have just been in the right frame of mind. Finally, in 1980, I got to see the production at the Sullivan Theatre, and suddenly, it was magic time all over again. I can't explain the difference, the same set, the same show, talented actors, but only twice did I ever experience that incredible magic that made the show run for over forty years.
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A lot of nervous singers on AMERICAN IDOL tonight, but I felt really badly for Matt Rogers, the bearish ex-Rose Bowl footballer, who did a vocally crisp and commanding song and got dumped on by the judges. Then, one after another, as the singers went down in flames, they of course did not go back and say how fantastic he was in comparison. The guy had stage presence, an excellent voice that he used to sing with but not in any kind of showy, cheap way, and stayed on pitch constantly. For a big guy, he also was very smooth in moving around the stage. The judges berated him for not singing what they thought he should be singing instead of evaluating the actual performance he gave. Again, their function on the show frustrated me.
And then after having poor performances from so many others, they gave unfairly earned priase to a couple of singers who really didn't deserve the kudos.
Just like last week. the producers of the show put the two strongest singers on at the beginning and end of the group. I only hope America noticed that as well.
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I did that, too. I named only shows I had actually seen and enjoyed.
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I had the loveliest time on Saturday night and met 4 of the nicest people I could ever hope to meet. (5 actually, if you count the wonderful employee of the Annenberg Theatre who let us in an hour early so that we could change into our evening clothes. Saved me from having to go behind a pillar in the parking garage in my skivvies.)
Jason Graae, his Glen, Liz Callaway and DRJay are wonderful, and I want them all over to my house for a slumber party!!!!!!
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Another: DRs Jay and Sandra and me
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The lovely Liz
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TCB should be able to answer that one. He was dancing with Molly at the time.
That is true, ducks, but Molly and I were dancing back in 1912, and Jrand was asking about the movie in 1953. I am sure it was different music, since all of the musicians that played for Molly and I were dead.
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Jay, have they announced any of the cast of 110 in the shade?
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After much thought, I want you All over for a slumber party.
We need a piano, many pillows, popcorn.
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You could come and visit me, Dear Reader Tomovoz, and see 110 in the Shade when the Pasadena Playhouse does it later this year.
Is Robert Horton going to play the lead?
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After much thought, I want you All over for a slumber party.
We need a piano, many pillows, popcorn.
Oh, that is a wonderful idea Kerry! Can we have a taffy pull???? Can we, huh, can we, please????
...............Okay, Kerry, this time you can be Taffy.
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;D
LOL, TCB. You stole the words right out of my mouth!
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Is Robert Horton going to play the lead?
My only reason for watching Wagon Train.
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That is true, ducks, but Molly and I were dancing back in 1912, and Jrand was asking about the movie in 1953. I am sure it was different music, since all of the musicians that played for Molly and I were dead.
They played different music in the film?
Next you will be telling me that Celine Dion's song was not on played on the voyage..
I am shattered to learn that there would be such inaccuracies in filmdom.
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Just got the Rondo results back. JEEPERS CREEPERS did not win. But if you're going to lose anyone, losing to Bernard Herrmann is an honor.
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My only reason for watching Wagon Train.
Mr. Horton AND Denny "Scott" Miller.
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Lovely bird portrait, Tomovoz. Margocsy is a Hungarian name. Wonder if that's his heritage.
Paul Margocsy is a delightful man. He was born here in Melbourne in 1945. His dad was Hungarian. (His mother was born in England).
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Paul Margocsy is a delightful man. He was born here in Melbourne in 1945. His dad was Hungarian. (His mother was born in England).
Just how small a continent is Australia??? Do you know everybody that lives there? So, what is the real dirt on Mel Gibson?
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If I suggested a "rule" it was this
"If some of a musical's pleasures are surprising plot twists in the libretto, don't ruin it for yourself by seeking out a synopsis, even if the only place the show is currently playing is New York City."
Noel, you are making the assumption that the person listening to the OCR has the ability to see the show, in NYC or elsewhere. Much of the time, this is simply not the case. Expenses alone can kill this line of opportunity. A CD can run fifteen bucks; in comparison, even if a show hits the road, this still means shelling out for tickets, transportation, food, quite often childcare...this bill is tallying up rather quickly. For someone who does not live in a major metropolis, or close to one, this can further turn into a trip of not one but two days. Considering how often you yourself have complained about your poverty level, I'd think you would have more sympathy towards others and their financial problems.
Further, you have not addressed the question of what those of us who do not see the show on stage are supposed to do when the damn thing closes! As an example, I can cite Nick & Nora, the Laurents/Strouse/Maltby collaboration that sadly bombed. I have the CD, and enjoy it a lot; "Look Who's Alone Now" is a great torch song, one of the handfull written specifically for a male voice, and alone would make any show CD worth having in a collection. In Ken Mandelbaum's liner notes, he includes the statement "This cast recording should go a long way towards increasing appreciation of the achievements of the authors of Nick & Nora," clearly acknowledging the fact that most people buying the disc will not have, and probably never will see the show. But the synopsis included leaves us hanging as to what the hell happens towards the end of the second act, and dammit, knowing that I will probably never get to watch a staged production, I'd like to know! For that matter, if I were the director of a theater company, I'd like to know before deciding to stage the show myself!
Please don't go waving this flag of yours that reads "See the show," because in too many cases that simply isn't gonna happen.
I also said "Do what you want to do" but what do I know? - I'm a little light-headed due to the paucity of good cuisine in this food-deprived metropolis. ::)
I never said NYC was food deprived, or lacked good cuisine. I said that, due to everything being imported, it has never developed a cuisine of it's own. I was using food as an example of how everything has to be imported into that city. To indicate that I said anything other than that is disingenuous. Find some other excuse for being light-headed next time.
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Paul (now there's a name) is unassuming enough to have Colin and myself on his Christmas card list. We are acquaintances. Mel Gibson is of course American so I know little about the man. A reminder that Mr Crowe is from New Zealand but Mr Jackman is Australian I am pleased to say.
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Matt H., I too am rooting for the footballer who, by comparison to the mediocrities and downright awful singers they had on tonight, was certainly among the top two or three. But I did feel he picked a bad song to show off his good and powerful voice. I kept wanting something more from him.
No one kicked into second gear tonight...a few never even got to first. Some of the worst song selection I have ever heard and really flaccid, ho-hum performances. I said to my wife, "Well, if it continues in this vein, they've certainly lost me for next year and I may not even stick around for the rest of this one."
JRand53, I'm mystified why you were pleased by the Hawaiian girl and also why the judges were so relatively kind to her. In the lead-up to her song, they showed a clip of Simon telling her she had to get over her nerves. I felt her voice was quavering from nerves from the beginning of her song to the end.
Oh, and to the girl in the blue top, bad attitude and the one thing a professional never does is make excuses! That sinus infection whine won't wash. Very bad form.
I think it's the football player and red-head and maybe the last girl who I found singularly unspectacular, though the judges seemed to tacitly endorse the Hawaiian, but I'm not sure why. What is this special vocal quality of hers they're talking about? I didn't hear it.
Boy, were the brothers ever bad...neither could carry a tune in a bushel basket.
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Sorry, it was Jennifer, not Jrand, who was a fan of the Hawaiian girl on American Idol...I still don't get it. Didn't find good or memorable.
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Well, you will all have to excuse me for the rest of the evening. I have a date with Bud and Lou in the bedroom. They have asked me to Hold That Ghost.
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Well, my tech woes continue, but at least I know the prob now. As I mentioned the other day, my keyboard froze. We fixed it by removing the computer's battery and then putting it back. It froze again just a little while ago, so I did the same thing and while I was doing it I noticed the computer felt pretty warm. That made me realize that I haven't heard the fan in a couple of days. I called Dell and we ran a diagnostic on the fans - the processor fan was working fine, but the motherboard fan isn't working at all. So, the computer overheats and the keyboard freezes. Simple. So, tomorrow I must order the part (I'm out of warranty, of course) - luckily the part is under fifteen bucks. However, I must then take the computer somewhere and have someone install it, and I'm sure that won't be fifteen bucks. I found some places in the Yellow Pages, and I guess if one of them can send someone here to do it, then I'll use them. Otherwise, they're all in close proximity, but I don't want to leave the computer there. The tech said it should only take them about ten minutes to swap out the fan and use some compressed air to clean out everything, so that's good.
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Pleasure to read all your posts, DRs. Sorry not to contribute, but I'm not in a chatty mood tonight. Perhaps tomorrow. 'Night, all.
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Finally here to chime in on today's discussions...
Topic #1 - I usually just mumble and grumble to myself and avoid all human contact for awhile. Then I usually make DR Ann suffer through my venting the next time I catch her online. :D
Topic #2 - I'll cast the 143rd vote for The Fantasticks. Unfortunately, I never made it to NYC to see the show while still running, but when I hit the city last year, I did make sure to go by the Sullivan Street Playhouse.
Also must mention Assassins, Floyd Collins, and one that I'm rather surprised to have not seen listed yet today, Violet.
I watched American Idol this evening (had never watched before this season, but have watched fairly frequently this time around). All I can say... ugh. I never did understand why those brothers made it this far. I was even somewhat surprised they made it through the first round! Would have liked to see better performances from both the first two singers (Football Guy and Suspender Gal), whom I've enjoyed up until tonight.
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Had our first rehearsal for Children of Eden this afternoon, going over 5 of the songs with my all-female chorus. They seem to have pretty decent ears, and ,thankfully, aren't afraid to give some volume. I had visions of my shouting "Sing out, Louise!" non-stop for the next two months (and receiving blank stares in response, of course), but it looks as though that won't be a problem.
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Bonnie and Buster are both amazing to me.
Earlier, I decided to nuke some popcorn. The moment the celophane wrapper crinkled, Buster was in the kitchen, anticipating. The other dogs have liked popcorn, but Buster is the first one I've had that associates the microwave and the sound of popping with what is to come.
This afternoon, Bonnie was sitting on my bed, resting her chin on the headboard and looking out the window, watching it snow. Der Brucer saw her in this pose, and accused me of having an influence on her. Could be!
And just now, the two of them were out in the yard, barking at something. I tapped lightly on my window, which is above their yard and over a bit. Seconds later, they both came charging up the stairs and into my room, damp and happy. I never would have expected them to associate my room with the direction the tapping sound came from.
They only pretend to be dumb animals.
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Had our first rehearsal for Children of Eden this afternoon, going over 5 of the songs with my all-female chorus. They seem to have pretty decent ears, and ,thankfully, aren't afraid to give some volume. I had visions of my shouting "Sing out, Louise!" non-stop for the next two months (and receiving blank stares in response, of course), but it looks as though that won't be a problem.
Getting blank stares? They've probably heard it before...and not only know the quote, but can tell you a few personal stories of their own that fit it quite well!
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How I wish I thought you were right, SWoody. Sure, they'd get the "sing out" idea, but I'm pretty sure that I'd see many a blank stare wondering, "Who the hell is Louise?" While I'm fairly confident the assistant director would know what I was talking about, I'm not even too sure I could say the same for the director. ::)
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My goodness gracious - a sheer lack of denizens. I see no denizens except PennyO and myself. That is two count them two denizens.
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Well, the large actor in the apartment above mine is lumbering around quite a bit... so I've been dragged from slumber. Not that I'm that good a sleeper, anyway. But, heck, i WAS sleeping! Okay, so I thought I'd check up on y'all. Howdy. And good night. Off I go again, to see if i can catch a few zzzzz'z before I bounce awake at the crack of dawn.
Just btw - Brucer and Woods, I looked it up; it's a two and a half hour drive! Yipes. Now, that's devotion! Nitey-nite, guys. (Oh, and YES, dogs are some of the smartest, best folk I've ever known.)
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Hi, Bruce! Yeah, we are the late-night denizens, all right. it's 3 AM here. And I've been enjoying your story!
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Alone together, again, in the middle of the night