Holiday Entertainment

Mary Poppins and Avatar in 3D...can't beat that entertainment for the holidays.

Even though I was sitting in the balcony at the Ahmanson, I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Poppins. I have to admit, being exhausted from rehearsals, traffic, etc, over the prior month, I had trouble staying awake through the first act;
I thought it was a little too long. However, there are so many talented people in the cast, many coming straight from the Broadway production. Ashley Brown, who originated the role on Broadway, and has won many awards for doing so, was superb as Mary. Gavin Lee as Bert originated the role in London and New York and likewise has been honored with many awards.

Things really moved fast in the second act, and there were some pretty amazing special effects, which I won't spoil for you if you plan to see it anywhere in the area sometime soon. Can never get enough of supercalifr...well, you know.

Avatar was something else! This was a very visually pleasing movie to watch. Okay, I had to hide my eyes once, but I'm such a scaredy-cat. Being a lavender lover, I relished the scenes with the beautiful flowers. The characters were riveting to watch. I couldn't believe it went by so fast. And you can understand when you hear it was one of the most expensive movies ever made: the special effects, animation. Watching it in 3D was such a pleasure. This was a great story.
I do believe its chances for an Oscar or two or three are good.

When we left the theater, I was amazed to see how many people were lined up to see Sherlock Holmes. Even if Guy Ritchie tries to turn Sherlock into a James Bond-like character as the critics claim, the trailer makes it seem appealing.

I just heard it was the biggest Hollywood box-office weekend ever. I can see why. I'd also like to see Blind Side.

Holiday Show

Haven't posted for awhile now...too busy with rehearsals for the show that my acting coach wrote. It's been loads of fun. Several new cast members have joined since our '06 show. Marvin the Menace, the bad elf, is the same, however. Mean as ever, but there are surprises in store. Everyone has a heart, really.

Love the song I sing, "My Simple Christmas Wish," as Glinda, the Good Witch. I was lucky enough to meet the man behind the clever lyrics and great song...David Friedman last year when he was visiting from the Big Apple. He and Kathie Lee Gifford work on several projects together. I believe they wrote a children's opera together.

Hope your holidays are going well. I'm really getting into the decorating spirit this year. The photo is from our first show in 2005. What a cast!

Good service

We always hear about the times we get poor service, particularly when dining out. Today, Julie blew us away! We only eat in this seafood restaurant about two or three times a year, because we only go to it when we're in the area. It's almost always busy.

Our last visit was perhaps two months ago. When Julie waited on us, she said, "Do you want the carmelized salmon again?" I looked at her in astonishment. (I did remember that she had waited on us the last time, but we didn't have a particularly chatty time then).

She didn't let it go at that. "Would you like to start with the shrimp cocktail appetizer too?" Again, my mouth dropped open. "Coffee to drink." The last time was the first time Julie had ever waited on us.

While we were waiting for our food, I remembered that we had a long wait because we got there mid lunch hour. I was just thinking that when she brought our food and said, "Better service than last time, huh? I was embarrassed the last time because it took so long," she said.

I just looked at her...she said, "I just have a good memory." Really!!

I just hope Julie gets incredible tips. There has to be some special reward for

that gift. Yea, we did our part.

Now, she had left one of those cards to fill out, asking for our email address for special coupons. I never fill those out. I'm already bombarded with Border's, etc., well, I do like some coupons. But, since Julie's name was on the bottom, and I'm sure she gets some kind of credit for this, I went ahead and filled out the form. Well, at least I'll get some kind of a discount for my birthday. It's the least I could do for that extraordinary service today.

Btw, I had mahi mahi today, just for a change. The next time I think I'll ask for Julie's station. I never can make up my mind on the menu. "Just bring me the usual."

Healthy and Green Living

There is a newsletter for which I signed up after a friend sent me an article from it. Care2 covers the gamut from healthy and green living, natural remedies, healthy mind, relationships and sexuality, garden and nature, pets, etc. Once you see all the topics they cover, you can personalize it to match your interests.

In almost every issue, I find myself reading at least one topic, more likely, two.
Today it was detoxing. The article covered all aspects of the subject. Personally, I've always thought it was a good idea, but I could never commit to a nine or ten-day detox program. The idea of doing a juice fast for even one day seems like a big deal to me. Maybe I'll try detox tea; that seems the easiest to follow.

But, the jury is still out on all the studies, there's no evidence that it's really necessary to maintain/achieve good health. Some doctors swear by it, though, judging by the improvement in their patients.

Enlightenment

I'm one who doesn't believe that spirituality and religion are necessarily mutually exclusive. This quote from "Why Walk When You Can Fly" by Isha (New World Library, 2008) hit home with me.

We often compromise our truth by playing small in order to make others feel better about themselves. We don't do what we really want to because we are afraid of losing approval, but enlightenment never compromises its own greatness.

My actor friend, Billy, had this quote at the bottom of his emails, which is another version of the same message:

"Your playing small does not serve the world."

The King of Rock and Roll

Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about Elvis Presley, you may find these tidbits from the BRI Elvis file interesting.

Five Foods Served at Elvis' Wedding Breakfast:

1. Suckling pig
2. Fried Chicken
3. Oysters Rockefeller
4. Champagne
5. Wedding Cake


The King's Four Favorite Reading Material:

1. The Bible
2. The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran
3. Captain Marvel comics
4. Mad Magazine

Elvis may have left the building, but the fascination never ends.

Source: Uncle John's AHH-INSPIRING Bathroom Reader, 15th Edition

Pursuit of Happiness

"Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit quietly, may alight upon you."

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

Tea for Two

If you're of the female gender and you've never been to afternoon tea, make a date with a friend and go! It's such a special treat. My cousin and I for several years would go to tea at the Ritz Carlton around Christmas when it was so festively decorated for the holidays. Overlooking the ocean, we would sip champagne, while we waited for our tea to brew. Out would come delicious tea sandwiches: cucumber and cream cheese, seafood, egg salad or chicken salad, many different varieties. A delicious platter of desserts would follow.

Recently, I had the best quiche I've ever eaten at Barbara's Victorian Tea House.

These people have been in the restaurant business for years and, it shows.

Barbara mentioned that, as a business, tea houses are not such a good investment, but it is a labor of love.

"Meticulously arranged platters of luscious sweets and perfectly brewed cups of tea await you," as their brochure invites you to partake. This house was filled with fantastic gift items, ranging from china to jewelry to antiques. I bought a wonderful wrap on this trip. Music from the movies by a wonderful pianist played in the background as we enjoyed our treats.

Did you know that although teacups are fragile, they are also resilient?

Ceramic objects may be breakable, but they are also amazingly resistant to weathering and corrosion and age. Much of what we know about acient civilizations we have learned from bits of pottery they left behind. China dishes recovered from shipwrecks are often good as new, long after the ship itself has dissolved in saltwater.

This and other interesting facts can be found in a book, "Everything I Know I Learned Over Tea" by Emile Barnes with wonderful paintings by Susan Rios.

"It's always tea-time."

THE MAD HATTER

in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Advertures in Wonderland.

Live in the Present

The more I read about Buddhism, the more I believe they're on to something.

I love rereading the Dalai Lama's Rules for Life when it comes across the email.

It's so true, isn't it, that we make ourselves miserable in life by regretting the past or fearing the future. But, it's easier said than done to always live in the present. After all, we shouldn't lose the lessons of the past, lest the challenges keep presenting themselves. I can attest to that.

This was all brought to mind when I talked to a friend today who said she heard her ex was getting married today. I asked her how she felt. And the answer was "happy and sad."

Woodstock Anniversary

Okay...I've never really identifed with Woodstock in any way. However, I do enjoy the history of it. 400,000 people, mostly hippies, attending a Music and Art Festival in Bethel, N.Y. on August 16, 1969, defined the 60's. The promoters originally expected 10,000 to show up. And then the rain came...and more and more people showed up.

When I heard the Orange County Market Place was doing a "Welcome Back After the Fair" event, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock last weekend, and I found out my friend, Connie Early, and her The Summer of Love Show, were performing, I knew I wanted to be there.

Also, it had been a long time since I had been to the "swap meet" there, so that was another reason to trek on down. I told a few friends, and we all met there to see the band perform. We had so much fun! I had first seen this band at the Orange County Pavilion. It is pure entertainment. Great imitations of Janis Joplin and Grace Slick (Connie) and Jimi Hendrix (Gerald Davis) were a delight to hear and see. This is a very talented group of people. Connie as lead vocalist, Gerald as lead vocal/guitarist/harmonica; Ron Olsson, lead vocals/guitarist; Julie Dolan, keyboards/vocals/harmonica; and David Abercrombie, bass/vocals. They are all having a great time performing, and the crowd really

got into it.

You can keep up with "The Age of Aquarius" performances and hear a sampling of their work here.

Interesting to note that at the original site of Woodstock, a not-for-profit foundation has been set up to run a museum and concert space. Concerts are regularly scheduled over the hill from the original stage at a modern, 4,800-seat amphitheater.

Joe Cocker and Santana boosted their careers at Woodstock. You can discover Woodstock on disc "Woodstock - 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm."

Julie & Julia

I guess it's just the difference in the way men and women think about or enjoy certain things. After reading two reviews by the male species, I expected to be at least a little bored or unimpressed with the "Julie" part of the show.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie!! Nora Ephron did her usual great job of directing this film (as well as writing it). "Cooking is all about time travel. Cooking is about traveling back in your memories." Meryl Streep is just...as you can imagine... sensational in this role! A true delight to watch. I loved the scenes where she was competing with the men at the Cordon Bleu school. I adore watching Stanley Tucci in anything. Remember how great they were together in The Devil Wears Prada. You won't be disappointed.

I guess the popcorn dulled my appetite a bit, because I didn't necessarily salivate over the sole meuniere. The food stylists did such a great job; all of the food displayed in the film was so tantalizing. I had been listening to Melinda Lee discuss in great detail the filming of the food and how audiences are so sophisticated today that you must use the real thing...no fake anything! Unbelievable how many lobsters, etc, it took to get just the right take. That's an interesting story in itself.

Amy Adams is darling as the blogger who made her way through all 524 (?) recipes in Julia Child's, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I thought the casting of her husband, Chris Messina, was a wise one as well. I had just started reading Julia Child's autobiography, My Life in France, written with her nephew, Alex Prud'homme, and published after her death in 2006. I guess the publisher felt they could sell more books with "Julie and Julia" on the cover, but when I bought it at Border's, I told the clerk that I was disappointed in the cover. She said, "Oh, I'll go in the back and get you the other one," which happened to have a picture of Julia and her husband, Paul, on the cover.

Well, I went as far as to cut out the recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon that Cathy Thomas had reprinted in the newspaper because that looked so good in the movie. Will I be brave enough to cook it for guests? Why not! Why let 17 ingredients and several hours of cooking deter me.

Go see the movie. It's really not a chick flick. I heard many men in the audience laughing out loud, and everyone applauded at the end of the movie. I recommend you plan to go out with friends for a nice dinner afterwards. You'll definitely be in the mood.
But, skip the movie popcorn.

I wonder what my blogger friend, Jan at the Movies, will think of this film.

Overindulgence

Gourmets claim that the true enjoyment of fine cuisine requires that you stop just when you would like to have a little bit more. In this way, the connoisseur maintains his interest. Everywhere, knowing how to stop short of satiety helps you savor life and, more importantly, helps you be free. - EKNATH EASWARAN

There is a price to be paid for celebrating too much birthday.

Anne Frank

I've always been fascinated by the story of Anne Frank...maybe "touched by" is a more accurate phrase. A few years ago, I bought the video of her biography, and read her diary many years ago. Her writings are so poignant that I was happy to see her being introduced to children via The Mini Page in Sunday's newspaper.

The historical diary, entitled, "Meet Anne Frank" was told in a forthright manner, covering most of the details. It's hard to believe Anne Frank would be eighty years old today. If only...

Also, interesting to read that Miep Gies, one of the helpers to the Frank Family, who is credited with finding Anne Frank's diary and turning it over to Anne's father, Otto, who survived Aushwitz, turned 100 in February, 2009.

Cell Phone to the Rescue?

Remember that email that was circulating about "5 Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do?" Well, I unfortunately had occasion to try one...and it didn't.

Yup, I locked my keys in my car. I most alwayskeep my valet key in another small leather wallet in my purse. But for some reason, after lunching with a friend and using valet, I kept the key on my key ring.

So, I called home and had my main man use his remote for my car to see if it would unlock it while I held the cell phone near the lock. So, now my question is, "Why didn't it work?" I hope I don't have to try it again. Too much wear and tear on my long-suffering hubby.

Hot Weather Remedy

What do you do when the temperatures rise to over 100 degrees. Make a smoothie! We first tried this out in Maui years ago. We've altered the ingredients a bit, but today it was so delicious and cooling.

1 banana
1 papaya
4 oz. (adjusted to get right texture) passion, orange & guava juice
(You can buy it this way.)
Add an equal amount to above mixture of Tart Mango Frozen Yogurt (Dreyer's)
Mix in blender until ingredients are smooth.

Chill the glasses in the freezer while you're mixing this wonderful concoction.
Enjoy!

Happy Birthday!

I like having a July birthday. My mom and dad were also born in July. I arrived one day after my dad's 24th. They always made a big deal about my birthday. I had many birthday parties; however, no where near the grand scale that you hear celebrities are doing for their kids. In my opinion, it's just having your friends gather round for cake and ice cream and a few games that were joyful.

I also like making a fuss over my friends' birthdays as well. It's a nice excuse to see some dear friends at least once a year. I'm a one-on-one person. I'm a good listener, and over the years, I've gotten to know my friends on a deeper level because of this.

Which brings me to the subject of intimacy. Really? Yes, well, I'll explain. When I was in the corporate world and would make lunch dates, I was always surprised when a friend showed up with one or two other friends for our lunch date. That's really okay, we still had a good time, but it took me years to understand why this happened repeatedly with the same people.

It wasn't until I got into singing cabaret that I understood that certain of your audience will be made uncomfortable in a small setting and dare you actually look at them while singing. These people would be much more at ease in an arena setting for a concert. It's not to pass judgment but more of an observation. Viva la difference!

Now, on to what I really wanted to share was my birthday itself. When I heard the Laguna Playhouse was doing "My Way: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Sinatra," I decided I wanted to see it. Four great singers, two males and two females in a cabaret setting. The set design by Bruce Goodrich was gorgeous. They sang all or part of 57 songs in Frank's vast discography. The big iconic songs were sung in their entirety, but they also did abbreviated versions of lesser known songs. I love, "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry." Oh yes, and the Jobim numbers were nice. They all sang and danced, rare in this setting. The guy who best represented Frank's music (in that his style was reminiscent), John Fredo, was a great tap dancer. It brought me back to my childhood and all those dance lessons. (I loved my costumes...but I digress). The writer of this bio-musical, David Grapes, did not want any kind of imitations of Sinatra by the gentlemen performers. Vince Di Mura did a great job as Musical Director, Conductor, and Pianist.

My one disappointment, if you will, is that I would have preferred to hear Frank's songs sung by female mezzo or alto voices. But that's just my bias, I guess. All in all, I would recommend seeing the show that has played to popular review in 48 states since its inception in 1999. It runs at the Laguna Playhouse through August 23.

The picture of the cake reminded me of the ice cream cake the tv staff were surprising me with one night during "The Talk Show," which I co-hosted years ago. Because of delays in the show, by the time they carried the cake out with the candles it was quickly melting all over the place. These are the moments of which fond memories are made.

Ribbons - Pick a Color

So, I heard the Tony Orlando and Dawn former hit the other day, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon," and now I can't stop singing it. It's been days.

My friend and former dj, Bill Thomas (you hear and see him on ABC7 Traffic now) told me about this radio station in Australia that plays music that is similar to what we played on KWIZ-FM when we were fellow dj's in the 80's. I love it. I listen every now and then when I'm online. Today I heard "Chances Are" by Johnny Mathis and Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby." Two songs I really like.

Today, yellow ribbons signify something quite different...supporting our troops.
And pink ribbons, of course, support breast cancer research.

My friend, Linda, is celebrating one of her milestone birthdays with an ice skating performance. She's been at it for a few years now, so it should be fun to see her in her tutu. No, I don't think she's going to wear one, but Bette Midler is her idol, so who knows how brave she'll be.
In lieu of gifts, she's asking for donations to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Linda's a breast cancer survivor and a very dear friend.

Healthy Lifestyle

I was surprised to learn that walking as little as 30 minutes five days a week is enough for you to get in good physical condition. If you're fortunate enough to have a park or lake near you, it's easy to get in the habit and reap the benefits of good mental health as well. Here's a picture of a park near our home.

Today we saw the usual ducks and geese and people walking their dogs, as well as a few motor-controlled miniature boats. I saw one that was really quiet, just skimming the water, much preferred to the noisy ones that are actually banned but seem to make their way there every now and then.

I much prefer this to actual repetitive exercises, i.e., my calves are noticably more toned without using the stair steps. With the good weather here in SoCal, there really isn't a good excuse for staying indoors if you're able to get out.

"To be alive, to be able to see, to walk...it's all a miracle. I have adapted the technique of living life from miracle to miracle."

Arthur Rubinstein

Optimism

In these scary economic times, couldn't you just use a word of optimism? I ran across a notebook while I was attempting to clean my office. The notes therein were from a "success" seminar I attended many years ago. Well, the information garnered there is still pertinent today.

Did you know that when Thomas Edison's building burned down, he said, "Thank goodness the mistakes are gone. Thank goodness we can start over." Three months later he invented the phonograph.

"Don't miss this moment. If there's hope in the future, there's power in the present.
An optimist is one who takes his last $2 to buy a money belt. He takes tartar sauce with him when he goes fishing."

Yes, Zig Ziglar was quite a motivational speaker. At 69 years of age, he said he was excited about the future. He felt he was 5-10-15 years away from his peak.
He's one of those who wanted to wear out...not rust out.

I think we run across information just when we need it the most.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
Will Rogers

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

The King Family

It was my privilege to attend a vocal workshop with L.A.'s premiere jazz singer, Cathy-Segal Garcia, and her guest clinician, Marilyn King. Cathy refers to Marilyn as the female Frank Sinatra.
I had been a fan since the King Sisters' grammy-nominated song, Imagination, became so popular. They were referred to as the female "Four Freshmen." They were all gorgeous, and had wonderful families to boot. Marilyn is still fabulous, talented, and funny.

We were so lucky to have her share a DVD of her solo variety show, in which she so beautifully wore Bob Mackie gowns. She told great stories (and she had plenty of them) about her travels as a King Sister, as well as her solo gigs. Marilyn had the lead roles in Hello Dolly and Guys and Dolls on Broadway. She is still out there doing it...and you can catch her tomorrow night (Friday, May 29) at Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill.

The King Family Show was a musical variety show in the 60's, which featured not only the King Sisters, but their extended family as well. The King Cousins were a group of talented offspring. Tina Cole, daughter of Yvonne was featured on My Three Sons and also Hawaiian Eye TV shows. I was happy to hear that the Family is back and 2009 will bring a host of new projects. You can check it out on their official website.

We had a fabulous pianist, Dave Moscoe, accompanying us as we each sang two songs. Marilyn's supportive critique was much appreciated. She's a real pro. It was a privilege to get to sing for her and especially for us to listen to her perform for us. What a talent. Get out to see her whenever you can. Her impersonations are not to be missed.

Inspirational Story re Blue Angels Flight

There was an article in the newspaper last Thursday about a man who lives in Newport Beach who out of the blue (as in Blue Angels?) received some unexpected news that would help him understand the fatal crash that cost his father's life at age 36 when he was just a boy of 12. Fifty years later a stranger would contact him with a very special gift.

Tom Berg who tells this story in a very interesting way said he was constantly surprised while writing this and had to rewrite it due to last minute-news from an eye witness to the crash. Check it out. If you decide to write a screenplay, let me know. I could play the mother.

Griffith Observatory

The problem with living here in Southern California is there are so many cool things to visit that it's easy to put off actually going. So, when we had an opportunity to sign up for a trip to the Griffith Observatory with a fine restaurant, Mr. Stox, who charters a bus, serves us wine and lunch on the way, and dinner when we return, we just did it. This particular Sunday wasn't the clearest we've seen, which was a little disappointing, because the view is magnificent from Mount Hollywood, 1,134 feet above sea level.

The Griffith Observatory, which opened in 1935, with leading astronomers and architects who guided in the design and construction, is an icon of Los Angeles, a national leader in public astronomy and has become the most visited public observatory in the world. It offers public telescopes, astronomy exhibits, and a planetarium theater, where you lean back on comfy chairs and are treated to a wonderful view of the solar system. I'll warn you, though, if you're a teeny bit tired, it's easy to take a nap and miss the show!

After 70 million people had entered the building from 1935-2002, it underwent a major restoration. The ironic thing is when we were there Sunday, they said the construction is such that it would be a good place to be when an earthquake hit. I came home and was sitting at the computer when a 4.7 quake, which lasted 15 seconds (seems like 15 minutes!) hit. Regardless, I think it would have been scarier to have been in that huge structure with all those people.

I'd recommend a visit to enjoy the amazing views of Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign, and beyond. Did I mention that admission is FREE!

Motherless Daughters Day

Every year the day before Mothers Day, those of us who lost our moms when we were 21 or younger get together to celebrate our mothers' lives.

One of the things we do is get in what we call the "Circle of Remembrance" and join hands and give our name and our mother's name as well, i.e., "I am Cami, daughter of Cecelia." It's a touching moment. I look forward to being with my Sisters at Heart on this day in what we call the "unsought sorority."

I won a fabulous prize from Wine Country Gift Baskets and got to take home a tulip plant from Trader Joe's as well, which now resides in my front yard.

If you know of anyone who had an early mother loss, please recommend Hope Edelman's book to them, Motherless Daughters, A Legacy of Loss. It's a great way to begin the healing process.

My friend, Derek, called and invited us to an event at which he was performing in Beverly Hills last Sunday. He couldn't give us many details, so we had no idea what we were getting into. If you've read this blog before, you know I'm game for spontaneous outings, especially if it benefits a friend.

This took place at Beverly Hills High (you know, 90210). So, we showed up at 5:00 p.m. as ordered. The show was supposed to start at 5:30, but in typical Southern California fashion, it started later. The audience appeared to be mostly teenagers and some parents scattered here and there. Much to our surprise, the evening
turned out to be quite inspirational.

It was a benefit for the Vahagn Setian Charitable Foundation, set up by the father of a former BH high school student, who was killed by a drunk driver. Karen (there's a mark over the "e") gave a touching speech, warning students about the ills of drinking and driving and drug use. "Believe me, nothing good can come of it."

The first two performers were terrific. A 12-year-old whose vocals and guitar playing were excellent. http://www.jessarae.com/. Carolina Liar is a group of three great singer/musicians, who sang their hit, "Show Me What I'm Looking For." Their music has been featured on many tv shows, including "90210." They also won the "Responsible Artist Award" this night. http://www.carolinaliar.com/.

There was an auction with terrific prizes, ie., two polo lessons at the California Polo Club, Tour of the Playboy Mansion for six, two upcoming Steve Carell Movie Premiers and After-Parties. Following the intermission there was a terrific fashion show. Much to our amazement, the models were not professionals, but high school students. That became clear as the students in the audience cheered and called out their names. The models remained poised and polished.

After the fashion show, there on a large screen were Vahagn's large brown eyes. Then, we heard Derek Bently's voice, singing in Italian, Gira Con Me. He slowly walked down the aisle towards the stage. It was perfect placement in the program. Derek sang it beautifully. The audience loved it.

Apparently, the money raised prior was used to present a two-day event designed to dramatically raise teenagers' awareness of the potentially lethal consequences of drinking alcohol. All the students of BHHS were involved and were encouraged to reflect on personal choices when alcohol is involved. The program challenged participants to make mature decisions and recognize that their actions affect others besides themselves.

The foundation also gave Vahagn Setian Financial Awards to three talented and deserving BHHS seniors, whom teachers and students at the school had nominated. This is a 501(c)(3) foundation as well as classified as a public charity 509(a)(1), which makes all contributions tax-deductible. The Foundations' Federal IN is #20-8057062.

The evening ended with a visual presentation of Vahagn's life, showing his love of music. As his father mentioned,he was an old soul. How many teenagers do you know who know Billie Holiday's music, or Miles Davis' genius.

Looking around the theatre at the audience, and watching these teens interact with one another, it was very refreshing to see the next generation. I left with a good feeling, as well as feeling the father's pain in losing a beloved only child, whose life touched so many.

A Little Bit of Shaking Goin' On

Watching TV last Thursday, when I felt a big jolt...the TV shook, lamps swayed. Oh, another earthquake. We have to have these every once in awhile to help us remember. Although, there are mixed messages about just where and what is the best position during a quake, we need to think about what we will do. Do we have enough water and supplies to last three days?

Thursday and Friday, there were about seven jolts...although I only felt two of them. The first was 3.8 (not to worry), then a 4.0 (that gets our attention) and then four hours later, a 2.6. On Friday, there was a 3.1. No injuries or significant damage, thank goodness. The epicenter was about five miles away, 30 miles east of downtown L.A.

I still prefer the risk of earthquakes to hurricanes or tornadoes. I always feel bad though when I hear about someone back East just visiting out here when we have one. But then, we're overcrowded as it is.

The Joy of Giving

This poem was found on the back of a greeting card I was going to give a friend for her birthday. I thought it was too good not to pass on.

If any little word of mine

May make some heart the lighter,

If any little song of mine

May make some life the brighter,

God let me speak that little word

And take my bit of singing

And plant it in some lonely vale

To set the echoes ringing!

-Author Unknown

Late Nite Catechism

If you ever get a chance to see Late Nite Catechism, Til Death Do Us Part (Late Nite Catechism 3), or any of its derivations, you will be guaranteed a fun-filled experience.

Maripat Donovan, Playwright/Producer and the original "Sister" created this unique series in 1993. She has starred in productions throughout the United States and in London, Dublin and Toronto. She is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Solo Performance and received a nomination for Best Writing. She also is the recipient of the coveted New York Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Solo Performance. The sequel to Late Nite Catechism is Sister Strikes Again, Late Nite Catechism 2 and Sister's Christmas Catechism, The Mystery of the Magi Gold.

Til Death Do Us Part is the third production of this series I've seen and I laughed as much as the first time I saw Late Nite Catechism, even if you sort of know what to expect in terms of Sister's conduct. You don't have to be brought up Catholic to appreciate this show, but it helps. What impressed me in this current show is how topical Sister is...mentioning Angelina Jolie, Ipods, etc. She pulls things from the internet straight from the Vatican to share current doctrine, changes from the new Pope, all told in an hilarious way.

Did I mention that it's interactive? Oh, yeah. Don't come in late, or Sister will really get on you.
And for heaven's sake, don't even think about talking on your cell during the show. Yup, someone in the center section had his phone confiscated for the whole show and coughed up $10 to boot. You don't mess around with Sister.

What did I learn? There's still a purgatory, but no limbo. That's huge.

Spring has sprung

Don't you just love Spring! People in other parts of the country think that if you live in Southern California that there aren't seasons here. Oh, contraire! There just may not be as dramatic a change, but we definitely can feel the difference.

If you have never been to Carlsbad and seen the flower fields, you owe it to yourself to visit. Fifty acres of extraordinary color in bloom on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a spectacle to behold.

So, today I planted morning glories, sweet peas (because my mom loved to plant these in our yard in Ohio), and California Poppies. Wish me luck. My track record hasn't been that great. However, two things have
inspired me: Listening to my cousin, Susan, talk about how much she loves gardening, and the other, watching my next movie in que from Netflix...greenfingers. The reason I had wanted to see this movie was I was searching out movies with Helen Mirren. Clive Owen does a great job in this as well. He sure is an interesting actor to watch. As you can guess, it's about gardening. If you haven't seen it, it's a real feel-good movie. I loved it.

"The grass is greener on the other side, but it's just as hard to mow."

Ella

I must confess that when I first heard The Laguna Playhouse was going to present "Ella," the life and times of Ella Fitzgerald, I wasn't very interested in seeing someone impersonating my favorite jazz singer. However, after I read a few reviews that raved about Tina Fabrique's voice and the terrific band performing with her, I hurried to see it on the very last day. I am so happy I did. I can't remember when I enjoyed a performance more. Tina is fabulous; it was a joy to listen to her sing nearly two-dozen songs associated with the great Ella. What a talent! A great actress as well with quite a resume.

When Tina finally left the stage after many standing ovations, the band played on, and many of us stayed until the very last note was hit. George Caldwell conducted and played piano; Rodney Harper on drums; Clifton Kellem on bass, and Thad Wilson on trumpet. They were outstanding! Harold Dixon did a good job of playing Ella's manager, Norman Granz.

Congratulations go to Andrew Barnicle, the Artistic Director, of The Laguna Playhouse for presenting this great program. I first met Andy when he came to the playhouse by taking an acting class he offered. I hadn't been pursuing acting that long after leaving a career in marketing. I learned a lot from him. This show was conceived by Rob Ruggiero (who directs) and Dyke Garrison. Musical Supervision and arrangements are by Danny Holgate.

Andy has continued to bring exciting productions to the playhouse, many being world premieres here. If you haven't ventured to Laguna Beach lately, why not make plans to spend a lovely day at this quaint beach city. I love walking in the shops and having lunch or dinner around their shows. I think I'll plan to come see the first show in this year's subscription series for my birthday in July, My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. If it's half as good as Ella, it will be a winner.

Disneyland Glass Shop

The newspaper had an interesting story last week on the Arribas Brothers Shop on Main Street in Disneyland. The Spanish family set up shop at the theme park decades ago, and one family member is still there, Manuel Arribas. He is the fourth generation of his family to practice the ancient art of glass cutting, and he's been doing it at Disneyland for almost 42 years. His brothers operate the Arribas Brothers Shop at Disney World In Orlando, FL. This is where they both work their magic on fine crystal running against a copper wheel. Walt Disney brought them to Disneyland after seeing their work at the 1964 World's Fair.

It reminded me that I have had a beautiful piece of their work on a shelf above the bar in our family room for quite a few years now. When I worked for Pacific Telephone, before it became Pacific Bell and now called SBC Global, I was asked to be a volunteer in the Public Relations Department, speaking to community and business groups in the Southern California area.

One of our gifts at the end of the year was a beautifully engraved Mickey Mouse glass with my name on it, presented to us at the private club within Disneyland, where we were served an elegant lunch. It was a memorable event.

Last year, I met some of my telecom friends downtown Disney to visit Cafe du Monde. Since most of us had been to New Orleans before, we wanted to once again sample the beignets, those wonderful powdered donuts, which even if you buy the packaged mix will probably be unable to duplicate their goodness. I don't see it listed in the shops there anymore, but you can check it out on the internet.

I'd like to visit the Arribas Brothers Shop on Main Street soon to see what other gems they have. You can also visit and order online.

Multi-Talented Singer & Songwriter

Check out Mark Winkler's website and watch his new video, Sissies, a tribute to Truman Capote. I really loved it! A trip down memory lane with all the celebrity photographs.

"Do something that nobody else has done. Dazzle the world!"

Music, Music, Music

I'm organizing my charts (sheet music) today...don't know how things got so out of control. However, I feel compelled to write about music, in general, and the impact it has on our lives.

I can't imagine a life without music. I hear people say all the time how certain songs tranport them back to a time in their lives where it was nice to reminisce. When I sang, "Yesterday," at one of my cabarets at The Gardenia, one of my friends said he could remember driving to this girl's house for their first date when he heard that song on the radio. I thought, "How nice." I hadn't really had any song impact me that way until one day.

We were bbq'ing on the weekend, just the two of us...watching a PBS station playing songs from my teenage years. I was so enjoying singing along to these wonderful songs when I felt this overwhelming sensation that caused me to run up the stairs and into the bedroom. I started sobbing uncontrollably. What???!! I've always prided myself on my ability to control my emotions. Then it hit me..."Oh, I get it. This is the time my mom, brother, and father were all alive and well at home. My family was all there. " Just about the time you think you've dealt with the losses all these years, the feeling comes back. I guess there's more healing to be done.
Maybe that experience served the purpose.

Well, it doesn't have to make one sad to be transported. I think I'll take a break and listen to some new artists.
Make some new memories.

Forgiveness

Sometimes it's one of the hardest things to do, isn't it? Yet, I believe,
"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."

On a Clear Day

Did you ever find yourself disoriented while driving? It happened to me the other day. I'm sure my mind was on auto pilot when I suddenly wondered where I was on a route I've taken many times. You see, the landscape looked entirely different. Oh, look at those beautiful snow-capped mountains. And the tall buildings in the background. That's when you realize what a lovely day it is in Southern California. There's nothing like it after a storm has passed through. Breathe in the fresh air.

On a clear day is when you realize how many smoggy days we must have living in this wonderful place.
We get used to it, but isn't it refreshing when the weather is wonderful. I never really noticed smog that much until I started flying in a small plane. When you descend into it, you can see it and smell it, and it ain't pretty. However, I must tell you that this really isn't the worst in the country. Several years ago while flying across this great nation at around 7,000 feet, we were appalled to see the smog in St. Louis, for example. I believe the LA basin has actually improved over the years with the anti-smog technology for automobiles and other environmental factors.

Get outdoors and enjoy it while we can. I hear another storm may be headed our way, but that only means more scenery on the other side.

A yellow daffadil just popped out in our front yard. Spring is here! That reminds me of a great song.
My friend and fellow vocalist, Denise, just gave me a tiny frame with musical notes and a rose that says, "Love is the music in the heart of every flower." I like that. We went to a jazz brunch at Spazio's in Sherman Oaks today to hear The Flying Pisanos, Jeanne and John. They were fabulous.

Go unplugged

Did you know that as much as 40 percent of energy consumption in your home takes place when appliances are turned off? (Source: Treehugger.com) We leave most of our appliances--toasters, TVs, coffee makers--plugged in 24/7. It's more convenient, right? I really never thought about the fact that even though they're set on "off," they're still consuming as much as 1,000 kilowatts per household per year! Think about the printer, the cell phone charger and the hairdryer we have "on call," and unplug them to help reduce the $1 billion in energy we waste while our appliances are "off duty."

I've done my good deed for the day.

Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.

Popovers

We had company for dinner last night, and since we were having a bbq'd prime rib roast as the entree, I thought I'd make one of my favorite accompaniments, popovers.

I first had these ...well, let's see you can't really call them rolls, or bread...they're just in a class by themselves...at our gourmet club years ago. In any event, I really just learned that the difference between popovers and yorkshire pudding is the fact that the latter is made with drippings from the roast. I didn't want to mess around complicating the recipe as I was also in charge of the salad, consisting of living lettuce...(no jokes please), sliced pears, caramelized pecans, tossed in Champagne Pear Vinaigrette (Trader Joe's) and garlic mashed potatoes.

We also found some strawberries dipped in chocolate in time for a Valentine's Day dessert, albeit a few days early. But, back to the popovers. I remember that I was a little disappointed the last time I made them, so I dug out some additional recipes...with the help of the internet. Melinda Lee is one of my favorite radio chefs, so I went to her site and found some helpful hints to make these turn out just right. The last recipe I had called for a cold oven. Melinda says to preheat to 475 (what a difference). You turn the temp down later. She also suggests not overbeating the batter, and using a skewer the last few minutes of baking to poke a hole on the side of each popover to let out the moisture and dry out them out a bit.

The problem came when our guests got lost and were late...so I put the mixture in the refrigerator, rather than leave beaten eggs and milk out. I should have brought the batter to room temperature before baking. I know if any chefs are reading this, I can hear the "duh!" now, but it's always a problem, trying to converse and cook. So, I'm anxious to try them again...because the top did not rise (which is the best part of the presentation) and they came out looking like ordinary muffins. However, they still were very tasty, so all was not lost.
Check out Melinda Lee's recipe in her archive file. Your guests will love them.

Dog Whisperer

Why should I be so addicted to watching the Dog Whisperer when I don't even have a dog? Our friends, Claudia and Jim, who have had many dogs through the years...the last being a darling poodle, Gidget... introduced us to the show when we were staying with them last year.

Well, now I know. There was a great article in last Sunday's Parade magazine by Cesar Millan, the man himself, talking about "What Your Pet Can Teach You." You learn a lot more about people than you do about the dogs themselves. Most of the time, it's the people who cause the problems or make them worse in domesticating a dog. Cesar outlines eight points in illustrating how dogs have helped him become a better, happier, and more-balanced human being.

Two of the lessons I particularly liked were "live in the moment." Of course, in acting, we hear "be in the moment" as one of the most important tenets we live by. "Celebrate each day" is another lesson we can learn from dogs. My friend, Terry, has a small white Maltese (pictured above) that I need to visit now that I'm thinking about it to get my doggie fix.You can catch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel...here it's on Friday at 8p. Check your local listing, as they say..

To Kill A Mockingbird

You've heard, no doubt, that To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the all-time great classics. It had been a while since I had seen it again, so I decided to put it in my Netflix que. When I was watching it last night, I couldn't help recall how my father, who was living in Santa Barbara at the time, was excited to tell me that when he went to the screening of the new movie in Santa Barbara, much to his delight, Gregory Peck and his wife Veronique, were sitting right behind him. He didn't realize this at first, of course, until he overheard the blow by blow anecdotes of each scene.

How I wish my dad were still alive, for more reasons than one...I so wanted to call him up and say, "Tell me again, Dad, everything you remember about that time." Well, we are fortunate that the powers that be have included "the making of the movie" clips on DVD. This commentary track was so interesting! To hear Elmer Bernstein talk about how he chose the music he composed for each segment of the movie. I was astonished that even though I had seen Robert Duvall's name in the credits, I did not recognize him until I saw him in these clips.
I don't know the date that this was filmed, but it seems to have been not too long ago as they all had aged.
You realize that Robert Duvall has been a great actor for years, judging by the sutlety in this performance in such a key role in the film. Also, it was interesting to see and hear the wonderful child actors tell about their experiences some 40 years later! They were terrific in the film. And I feel a little more content now that I have heard Gregory Peck talk about his experience.

Speaking of Robert Duvall...one of the things I've loved about my acting workshop is the fact that I have gotten to act out scenes, such as the Robert Duvall role of Max in Tender Mercies. We turned it into a mother/son scene. Ky Evans was a fabulous scene partner...so giving. In ten years, I can say it was one of my favorite roles to date. To work with Robet Duvall would be a dream come true.

Losing a child

My heart goes out to John Travolta and Kelly Preston in the loss of their 16-year-old son, Jett. My mom and dad lost my brother, Charles, two weeks before his 16th birthday. It's a heartbreak you never get over. I was 13 at the time and adored my brother who spoiled me rotten.

I wish we had all had grief counselling at the time, but alas, no one to my knowledge ever proposed such a thing. My dad was a traveling musician, and this totally changed the direction of his career.
It was back to playing guitar with a trio in finer restaurants in the Akron/Cleveland area to stay closer to home. I do believe this loss contributed to the early deaths of my parents.

I know that children are resilient, but I hope that John and Kelly's darling daughter, Ella Bleu, will be able to remember all the good times with her brother and not dwell on the events of his passing. For years, I felt guilty. Why not me instead, dear God? My brother had such a joie de vivre, and I was a rather mopey teenager at the time.

One of life's mysteries. All you can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep going. My prayers are with the Travoltas.