Cami Black

2010-07-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

"Yeah, well, I've got a dream too. But it's about singing and dancing and making people happy. That's the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And well, I've found a whole bunch of friends who have the same dream. And it kind of makes us like a family."

- Kermit

Excerpt from "It's Not Easy Being Green

And Other Things to Consider"

Jim Henson - The Muppets and Friends

Cheerful Giving

2010-07-29T17:25:00.000-07:00

The Blind Side was a big hit seven months before I finally rented the movie.
I was sorry I hadn't paid more attention to the TV interviews with the family at the time of its initial release. Well, I needn't have worried, because People Mag did a nice interview with them recently and more interestingly, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy wrote a book with Sally Jenkins, entitled In a Heartbeat, about their family's journey taking Michael Oher into their hearts and home, eventually adopting him.

If you thought you knew enough about them, I'm telling you the book is really inspiring, telling about their individual backgrounds, how their own parents' giving influenced their lives at an early age. I couldn't put the book down, which is rare for one with my short attention span.

Michael must have cringed when he saw the scene where Leigh Ann comes onto the field to tell him how to play and S.J. drills plays with him. According to Leigh Ann, he already knew how to play when he got to their family.

Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw, who portray Leigh Ann and Sean, and all three of the Tuohy children (Collins, Michael and S.J.) get their say in the book as well.

Anytime a book can make me smile, laugh and cry, I say it's worth recommending. Of course, the main purpose in writing the book is to encourage those of us who saw the movie and now have read the book to go out and buy into the Popcorn Theory. You will have to read the book to find out what that means. Actually, it's on the first page of the book.

You don't have to do a lot to make a difference in someone's life; every day there are opportunities if only we pay attention to them. I found this to be an excellent lesson in cheerful giving.

A perfect wedding

2010-07-16T19:07:00.000-07:00

We hadn't been to a wedding in a long time and were ready to attend another when we received the invitation to Chris and Nikki's wedding, the daughter of our good friends, Betty & Frank.

If the venue that the bride and groom had initially picked out hadn't cancelled and left them not only disappointed but scrambling to find another one, it would have been a dreary and windy day in May for an outdoor wedding. This day in June, however, was beautiful. A string quartet played as we all entered the courtyard where the white rose-lined trellis and white pathway strewn with rose petals awaited the soon to be newlyweds.

Nikki, who has always been a beautiful blonde, looked gorgeous in her strapless beaded gown. The groom was handsome in his tux. The bridesmaids wore pretty black dresses. The "officiator" of the wedding was a close friend of theirs and did a marvelous job of setting the tone for the wedding vows. The brother and sister of the bride also spoke a lovely tribute to the couple,who had been dating for a few years before taking the plunge into holy matrimony.

Betty looked smashing in a lavender tiered floor-length gown. Frank wore a matching cumberbund, hanky and tie, which were made from the remnants of Betty's dress, which had been altered. Both sets of parents have happy long-term marriages, so Chris and Nikki have good examples for which to follow.

After the wedding, we drove to a nearby venue, which had previously been a dinner theatre. An open bar and many hot hors' doeuvres later, we had a delicious sit-down dinner of beef, potatoes, and veggies. The cake matched their colors of black and white and cranberry. We all danced and carried on and had a great time. Met some new friends whom we plan to see soon.

The truest words we heard that day in addition to the bride and groom vowing to love one another were when the officiator said to Chris, "Every married man in this room will attest to the fact that from this day forward you will now be made aware of faults you never knew you had." We ladies just smiled.

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

I spent my 30th birthday in the funeral home, receiving family and friends.
My dad died one day before his 54th birthday. How I miss Eddie Teener as my loving parent. You can tell where I get my curly hair!

On my 25th birthday, I was living in California and he in Ohio. I received a letter from him stating, "Twenty-five years ago today I went to a phone booth and called your grandmother and said, "I got my girl." You see my brother, Charles, had been born 2 1/2 years earlier, and my parents were hoping for a girl.

Now, all was not totally rosy as I was growing up. I always thought my dad was way too strict as a Sicilian father! I had always wished I came from a big family where I was not so much the center of attention. He really did spoil me in a lot of ways, however. If I was ever sick, he would bring me magazines and gifts to cheer me. Is it any wonder I had about six colds a year!

Transition to years later when I didn't understand why my hubby didn't make a big fuss over my ailments. So, it's not always mothers who spoil it for their sons' wives!

I liked having a father who was a musician, although in elementary school I would list my dad's profession as "magician." I got my love of music from him and my mom, who wanted to be a singer but was discouraged by her mom, because "nice girls didn't go into show business." So, my mom did the next best thing and married a guitarist.

They say a father gives his little girl self esteem. My father was constantly teaching me about how to get along in life. He taught me to set my goals high. However, I relied so much on his advice that it took me a while to have confidence in making my own decisions once I finally did leave home after college.

So on Father's Day, even though there's sadness in being without him for so many years, I feel very blessed for having had such a wonderful dad.

Nostalgic Radio Show

2010-06-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

We first met John and Larry Gassman years ago when they were recommended to us. You see, we had a 15 1/2-inch vinyl disc, which was a studio recording of my dad, whose professional name was Eddie Teener, when he was on the radio, WHKK, from Akron, OH, with his band.

We had never heard it played, because we couldn't find anyone who had the right equipment to do so. Well, these two, John and Larry, who happened to be twins and happened to be blind from birth, had just the right stuff to help us.

I was amazed, walking into their studio, to see the hundreds of vinyl records stacked neatly in cabinets on either side of the room with no visible markings on them. How in the world did they know what was what! Well, they had their own system. I found out later there are actually 20,000 reel tapes of old radio programs as well.

John and Larry host the program, "Same Time Same Station, where nostalgic radio shows are heard on Yesterday USA at live365.com. The shows are posted at vintageradioplace.com. Check out their website to learn more about these interesting men, who are not only passionate about radio drama but also barbershop.

Oh yes, back to our project...Larry and John told us that these studio recordings were played "from the outside in." Who knew? We're so happy we found them. Local announcements of garden shows, announced by townspeople reflect the format of the times. The recording of my dad's band that we now have on cd is a real treasure.

Say "Yes" to Life

2010-02-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

One of our heart challenges as we go through life is saying goodbye to close friends and relatives. My dear friend, Maria, died last week. One of the things we learn as "motherless daughters" is not to be afraid to use the word die, rather than passed away.

Maria and Peter were so much fun to be around. We would go to ball games together, the Getty Museum, out to dinner; whatever it was, we had a good time. Not to mention how supportive they were to me...attending all of my plays/singing engagements, even if it meant driving 100 miles on a work night. Having them present at a Hollywood premiere of a short film I did meant a lot to me. So many memories.

Maria's memorial service was a wonderful tribute to her life. Maria loved hearts. Anyone who knew her knew that about her. The heart flower wreaths there were some of the most beautiful I've seen. She had so many friends, who got up the courage to share what they loved about Maria: her consistency, her capability in whatever she undertook, her dependability, her promptness, her loyalty. Well, it went on for two hours. When there was a lull, her hubby would get up and share certain aspects of her life, which then would trigger a memory from someone else. When you hear that getting up and speaking is one of our greatest fears, it's really a testimony to how people felt about Maria to not let the moment pass when they could express their feelings for her. Co-workers from a decade ago showed up.

The one thing that I noticed as I reflected on Maria's life and heard what others had to say about her as well is how Maria always said, "Yes, " to whatever opportunity was presented to her. I believe this was the gift she was given having gone through a successful battle with cancer twenty years earlier. She didn't delay for another day or another time, because she knew today was what matters. It's ironic that her oncologist had just told her he didn't need to see her again when shortly thereafter she started having symptoms, which led to the diagnosis of recurring cancer. Maria told her family and close friends that she was at peace as the end drew near.

We are at peace, knowing that Maria will finally get to be with her mommy again who died in a house fire when Maria was three.

A life well-lived and a dear friend who will be missed.

A Special Valentine's Gift

2010-02-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

Our newspaper is soliciting stories of the best Valentine's Day gift ever received. Well, even though my sweetie has remembered me with roses, dinner dates, and other fabulous romantic gestures, he has never painted a heart in the sky with the small plane that he flies. Wouldn't that be great!

However, the story that I am submitting is the Valentine's Day gift I received from my 87-year old father-in-law who at the time was living in AZ in an assisted living facility. He sent me on yellow-lined paper, which is all he had access to at the time, a Valentine message mentioning my Sicilian grandfather, whom I adored, who passed away a few years earlier. I was so touched by the sensitivity shown by that gesture. Poppy died a few years later, but the memory of that special Valentine lives on in my heart.

Transplant Games

2010-01-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the year is a good time to reflect on what we want out of life, what was most satisfying to us in the past.

In that vein, I was attempting to declutter my office when I ran across old photos from my volunteering days with the National Kidney Foundation. My brother, Charles, died of kidney disease two weeks before his 16th birthday. I got involved when I interviewed a lady with NKF, who turned out to be a good friend, Norma Cherniss, on the talk show I produced and co-hosted several years ago.

Through Norma, I eventually became Public Relations Director and served on the National Kidney Foundation Board for several years, in addition to chairing one of their major benefits, The Great Chefs of Orange County, where we raised $40,000.

Another memorable opportuniy I had as a volunteer with them was when I participated in the 1992 Transplant Games, a bienniel Olympic-style event for organ transplant recipient athletes held at UCLA. It was the first year the National Kidney Foundation took on the management of this event, started in Texas in 1982. I formed a volunteer team from my workplace, AT&T, and we showed up and assisted in any way they needed us. I had the privilege of presenting a medal to a heart transplant recipient. That year there were 2,000 supporters.

Where else could kidney or heart transplant recipients get the opportunity to compete in say a 50-meter dash or swim the butterfly stroke across a 25-meter pool.

Since 1992, the games have been held in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Columbus, Orlando, Louisville and Pittsburgh, growing significantly each time. In July, 2008, a record-breaking gathering of 7,000 people, 1,200 of whom were transplant athletes from all 50 states converged in Pittsburgh, competing in

13 different sport competitions.

This program was started to demonstrate to the public the successes of the life-restoring therapy of organ transplantation and to call attention to the need for organ donation. It gave recipients and their families a chance to gather and share experiences, kindle friendships, and celebrate their "ultimate second chance" at life while paying tribute to those who make it all possible--the donor families. You can get more information on the games and/or the kidney foundation here.

P. S. I know, I know, the hair...what was I thinking?

Holiday Entertainment

2009-12-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T17:35:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-24T09:30:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

"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

2009-09-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-10T18:18:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-07-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

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

Eyes of Hope

2009-06-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here's an answer to those glasses for which you no longer have need and may just be accumulating dust or taking up space. More than one billion people in developing countries need eyeglasses but do not have access or cannot afford them.

There's a wonderful program where you can donate your used eyewear (lenses and frames) and have them refurbished and sent throughout the world to people in need. You can check with your eye doctor's office to see if they offer a donation box, or you can mail these accepted items: complete sets of eyewear (lenses and frame), including readers and sunglasses, cases with glasses inside. Mail to:

VSP Vision Care
Eyeglasses Donation, MS611,
10200 Systems Parkway, Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95827.

Hollywood has gotten on board. At a special event, Hayden Panettiere (Heroes), Kevin Dillon (Entourage), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) and Christian Siriano (who?)...he's the Project Runway, Season Four winner) showed their support for this important effort.

2009-05-31T22:16:00.000-07:00

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

The King Family

2009-05-28T20:54:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-19T08:51:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-05-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-25T14:15:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-12T20:14:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-09T11:53:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-01T17:20:00.001-08:00

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

2009-02-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-14T20:00:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-03T17:58:00.001-08:00

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.

Autobiographies

2008-12-30T10:37:00.000-08:00

About the time I started one of my first acting classes as an adult, I happened to be rummaging through some memorabilia I had brought back to California after my dad died in Ohio many years ago. That was one of the most emotional weeks of my life, clearing out my childhood home with all the memories of years past with my brother, mom and dad. Anyway, this one particular day, I came upon a letter (one of the few my mom had kept for me) from Miss Parsons, my fourth grade teacher, at the end of the year. It stated that my reading was mostly biographical. I was amazed to learn (remember?) that way back then I still preferred bios to fiction.
She also mentioned that I "excelled in acting." Isn't that nice to know.

Some of my favorite books (particularly autobiographies) up to now that you may want to check out if you haven't already are:

Desi Arnaz - A Book - This was such an interesting story in that Desi goes into detail about some of the groundbreaking techniques they were able to discover in filming the "I Love Lucy" TV series. Many are used to this day. I read it a long time ago, but it has stuck with me. And of course any thing you can learn about Lucille Ball is a fascinating read.

Ingrid Bergman - My Story - I particularly like to hear the facts (as the actress tells it) about her life, rather than just rely on all the press reports that were written, particularly about the scandal back then when she became pregnant by her director lover, Roberto Rosselini, while still being married to another. They eventually married, but in that day and time, they withstood much gossip. You realize how much times have changed. Today, if that happens, the stars only make more money, get offered more projects, etc. She led such an interesting life, and her movies stood the test of time. Casablanca is a favorite for sure.

Elia Kazan - A Life - Cameron, my acting coach at the time, recommended this epitome (anything over 800 pages!) Kazan (or Gadg as he is called by friends) is brutally honest about his personal life, his flaws, his affairs (of which there were many...including Marilyn Monroe). I'm not much for seeing movies over again or rereading books, but this is one for which I might make an exception someday. As an actor, I was interested in the on and off set stories of the other actors, how he directed certain movies and actors, such as Marlon Brando whom he cast in the broadway production of Streetcar Named Desire. "The best and most human parts of you are those that you have inhibited and hidden from the world," Elia writes. Cameron used to say something similar..."What you try to hide from us is what makes you interesting to us." This one is worth reading from a history standpoint as well.

Quincy Jones - Q, The Autobiography of Quincy Jones - I've always been fascinated by Quincy Jones.
Being a singer, every time I saw a show, an artist, a project that I felt was outstanding, it had Quincy Jones' print on it. He either wrote it, produced it, directed it, or all three. There are too many superstars to even begin to name the ones he has walked beside in five decades of the entertainment business. He's an inspiration for his vision and accomplishments, considering he came from a poor family, and had a mother who "descented into madness." Quincy has had many triumphs, and it's nice to know among his honors is the selection as a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree for his lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts. You learn much about the "business of show."

dream lovers - The magnificent shattered lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee by their son, Dodd Darin.
I thought Kevin Spacey did a magnificent (if I may use the word again) job of portraying Bobby Darin in the movie of the same name. The thing I find most interesting when I think of Bobby Darin, is I always heard, "Mack the Knife," or "Splish, Splash, I was taking a bath," over and over again and yet, those are only two of the vast recorded songs that Bobby put out in his short 36 years. It's funny but for a long time, every time I heard a guy singing on one of the few "standards from the Great American Songbook radio stations," I would wonder who that good singer was, not realizing it was Bobby. He had such a sense of swing and his phrasing was excellent, right up there with Sinatra, dare I say. I was always disappointed Bobby and Sandra didn't stay married. I think that was a tragedy, since she never really found happiness again, it seems, at least from the stories that are told in this interesting book. What came through for me is that the love that these two parents had for their son is a wonderful legacy for both of them beyond their achievements in their respective successful careers.

Out of all these biographies, one thing stands out... the fact that these people led fulfilling lives, made mistakes along the way and learned from them. How grateful we can be that they help teach us life lessons by sharing their journeys.

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves, they have the first secret of success. Norman Vincent Peale

Friendship

2008-12-21T16:41:00.000-08:00

When I go away, it's nice to have a book to read, so it was with perfect timing when my cousin, Sandy, gave me "Getting Along Famously, A Celebration of Friendship" as an early Christmas gift just as we were leaving for Palm Springs. As it turned out, I had lots of time to read since P.S. had the worst storm they've had in 70 years!

This interesting book by Melissa Hellstern, author of "How to Be Lovely - The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life," told of many great friendships by famous women, such as Coco Chanel & Misia Sert; Julie Andrews & Carol Burnett; Audrey Hepburn & Sophia Loren, and Lauren Bacall & Katherine Hepburn. Much research went into telling these stories. It made me reflect on the wonderful friendships I've had in my lifetime up to now.

My neighbor, Lin, as it turns out, was indeed one of my best friends as I look back. Lin, who never smoked a day in her life, and had the most healthy lifestyle of anyone I know, died of lung cancer. Before we took our walks in the morning, she beckoned me to breakfast at her home. Creamy oatmeal, made with real cream and a robust cup of coffee with cream, just the way I like it. That was only one of the ways Lin spoiled me. If she knew we were entertaining, she would bring over orchids from her garden that day. She had a green thumb like no one I had known before. When I hosted a sales meeting at my home, she offered, no, insisted, she come over and cook for my sales group, consisting of 10 people. Lin made the best chicken stir fry I've ever had. She did her Chinese ancestry proud.

Once when we came back from a two-week trip, for which she always volunteered to take care of our mail and newspapers, I noticed our lawn looked exceptionally good. I said, "Lin, did you see anyone lingering around our home?" She looked at me aghast, as if I would think she hadn't guarded our property well enough.
I said, "There seems to have been a fairy gardener. Everything looks so trimmed and neat." She smiled sheepishly. I knew it was another one of her thoughtful deeds.

It was a sad day, but I was touched that her husband, Ed, wanted me to deliver the eulogy at her service. How lucky I was that this wonderful woman became my neighbor and dear friend by chance. Once when Ed was coming over for dinner recently, I instinctively set out four glasses for cocktails. I started to correct myself, but knew Ed would appreciate the fact that I still feel Lin's spirit with us to this day, seven years later.

The book is filled with wonderful quotes, "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" George Eliot

"The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money." Mark Twain

Southern California Peril

2008-11-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we like to joke about California's four seasons: fire, flood, mud, and drought, but there was nothing funny about the fact that last week the fire came within one block of our home. A shift in the wind and I wouldn't be sitting in my home office right now. Within a five-mile radius of our home, over 25,000 acres were burned. It took 3,700 firefighters to deal with this disaster. Over 250 homes were destroyed or damaged. Miraculously, there were only seven injuries, no deaths reported. We don't take for granted the people who keep us safe. God bless the firefighters, police force and highway patrol, and others who put their lives on the line to save our property and more importantly, our lives.

There's nothing like a peril such as this to put our priorities in order. When you're planning an evacuation, and say you only have 20 minutes, you go for the mementos and important papers, birth certificates, deeds, etc. (unless you already have those in your safety deposit box at the bank). Material things really don't matter. We know that, but this really brings it home. This has really made my job
of decluttering much easier. As a self-professed pack rat (I inherited the gene from my dad), I put too much emotional attachment into things. When I try to analyze it (and why would I take the time to do that unless I really thought it would help cure me), I rationalize that it's because I lost my family early in life. Now, I tell myself that the clothes I'm giving away will help a family who lost everything in the fire. It may be a coincidence that we received two give-away bags for charity drives within one week after the fire.

Although we all are busy with our everyday lives, this does bring us closer to our neightbors. We're all breathing a sigh of relief. It's stressful just being on alert for two days. After a time-out, I've reactivated posting in my gratitude journal. We feel blessed. Excuse me while I write a check to one of the many local charities who will help victims of this tragedy. If you want to help, the Red Cross is a good place to start.

"The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention."

Mystery Party

2008-11-08T17:53:00.001-08:00

My friend, Peggy, organizes mystery parties both here and in Ohio once a year.
It's a leap of faith to sign up for one of these things, because you never know who will show up, where you're going, what to wear (although she usually gives you a hint), and exactly what you'll be doing for the next several hours.

Last year, we ended up decorating the Burbank Rose Parade float. It was November... in the early stages of the preparation. It was quite interesting to see the wire mesh work and the internal machinations of the float. We cut dry flowers for a few hours. Doesn't sound too exciting, but it was fun to chat and realize that the flowers would end up somewhere on the float January 1 in the parade.

This year we were told to wear something black. About 26 people showed up at the designated location to carpool to our final destination. But first, you have to guess where you'll be going. If you have no idea, you can just put down something you'd like to do in the future. That's how Peggy gets her ideas. No one guessed our mystery venue.

I must have passed Hollywood Forever Cemetery a zillion times on my way to Paramount Studios. Well, actually, I was just passing there too. This vastly immaculately landscaped cemetery, boasting mausoleums, exhibitions, monuments and gardens was the venue for the 9th annual celebration of Dia de Los Muertos MMVIII. Don't ask me to translate. I only know that muertos means death or some derivation of it.

This annual celebration held on the religious "All Saints Day" allows one to partake of various sacred ceremonial tributes and memorable altar creations on the ground.
Actually, the altars were unbelievably elaborate and colorful. The place was packed with people in masks, skeletal costumes, etc. At this year's celebration they danced and sung in memory of Julian Trace Posada, known as "Happy Feet," 2006 - 2008.

To make things even more interesting at this final resting place for many Hollywood stars, Peggy organized us into two teams and sent us on a scavenger hunt. This is one great way to cover the grounds in a short period of time (well, actually, we had an hour to do it, and we needed every bit of it). Some headstones dated as far back as the Civil War. Rudolph Valentino is buried there, as well. It was quite interesting walking among the many imposing tall old headstones and towering monuments. Many had large pictures of the deceased imposed on the stone.

Johnny Ramones' cool grave site (guitar in hand) was on our list, as was Mel Blanc's ("That's All Folks!") We never did find Estelle Getty's resting place nor were we able to enter the mausoleum where Bugsy Siegal is entombed. I guess it was only fitting that the beautiful weather we had been having took a hiatus while it sprinkled and was overall a bit dreary while we were there.

If you're at all interested in finding out who's who in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located next to Paramount Studios, check out Tony Scott's book, "The Stars of Hollywood Forever."

Does Peggy know how to throw a party or what! I'm in for next year.

"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner."
Tallulah Bankhead

Tidbits from the Internet

2008-10-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

All of these email helpful hints...I had to start a "reference folder" in case I decided I wanted to use one of them. One of the best that I've tried and it works is adding baking soda to the water you use to boil eggs. It makes peeling them a cinch. Try it! I'm not going to put a hole in the top and blow on it to have the egg peel itself as demonstrated in the video. It just doesn't seem sanitary.

Have you tried any of the honey and cinnamon cures? Anything from pimples to cancer. Honey it claims can be used without any side effects for any kind of disease. The combination is quite good, but to achieve longevity with tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, you'd have to use four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.
If you try it, let me know how it works out.

What about all the things you can do with Bounce? Who knew?

The other really good one is the five things you never knew your cell phone could do.
I keep it in my car. The Worldwide Emergency Number for Mobile, even if you're out of the network area, is 112. It will even work if your keypad is locked.

All for now. I have to check my email.

P. S. If your ship hasn't come in, swim out to it.

Comedy with a Flair

2008-10-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

Rita Rudner recently recorded her first television special in over a decade. Rita Rudner, Live From Las Vegas premiered on PBS in June, 2008, in conjunction with a DVD release. I missed that one, but since I've been a huge fan for years, I decided to see her live show recently. She came out in a beautiful blue gown and delighted the audience with her low-key hilarious act for over an hour. She is so relatable! The time just flew by (you know, when you're having fun).

Rita started out as a dancer on broadway. She has maintained her great figure through the years. Her first big break as a comedienne came in 1988 when she appeared on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. She did two HBO shows, Born to be Mild and Rita Rudner: Married Without Children. She can no longer claim the latter as she is mom to a six-year-old daughter.

Rita is also an author: Naked Beneath My Clothes: Tales of a Revealing Nature; and the 2008 I Still Have It...I Just Can't Remember Where I Put it: Confessions of a Fiftysomething. Rudner wrote, produced, and starred in the award-winning romantic comedy Peter's Friends, featuring Kenneth Branagh and Hugh Laurie! Why hadn't I heard of this before!

Since becoming a mom, she has settled in Las Vegas, where she has been named that city's "Best Comedian" for the last five years in a row. I can see why.

Opening for Rita was a fantastic jazz vocalist, Kitty Margolis, who lives in the Bay area and has had a successful international touring career. Just so happens I had taken a vocal workshop with Kitty locally about four years ago. She is a wonderful clinician (Harvard trained) as well as an "exhilarating and imaginative jazz singer of the highest order."

I loved the way Kitty came out singing her intro...high energy, great range, and commanding stage presence. She has many award-winning cd's out. I have Heart & Soul: Live in San Francisco, and Evolution, both winners.

A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Oktoberfest

2008-10-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's (later King Ludwig I) marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Oktoberfest in America is now an excuse to celebrate German culture and drink beer. I attended my first celebration a few years ago with my KSU Alum group, which coincides with Ohio's homecoming weekend. It's been a tradition of ours for the last three years. This year was no exception.

In Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held each year during late September (moved up a few weeks for better weather). It is the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year.

Oktoberfestbiers are the beers that have been served at the event in Munich since 1818, and are supplied by six breweries, known as the Big Six. Originally, Oktoberfestbiers were the lagers brewed in March and allowed to ferment slowly during the summer months, but from 1872 a strong March brewed version of an amber-red became the favorite Oktoberfestbier.

Since the 1970s the type of beer served at the festival has been a pale lager. These lagers may range from pale gold to deep amber, with the darker colors more common in the USA. In addition to the 6,940,600 litres of beer consumed, visitors also eat huge quantities of food, most of it traditional hearty fare such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (knuckle of pork), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Wurstel (sausages), along with Brezel (pretzel), Knodeln (potato or bread dumplings), Kasespatzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut, or Blaukraut (red cabbage), oxen, etc.

At our Oktoberfest at The Phoenix Club, we enjoyed potato pancakes, schnitzel (breaded veal), brautwurst (sausages), sauerkraut, and funnel cake (with strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar), the latter accounting for my increased weight the next day, I'm sure. Well, okay, maybe the large stein of Britmeister I had might have contributed too. There was a terrific band direct from Germany, and many cute couples performing for us. But, the crowd really gets into it, getting on our feet and out on the dance floor for the "chicken," flapping our wings, etc. and sundry other fun dances where we can exercise our geekiness without standing out.

Inspector Clouseau even visited Oktoberfest in the 1976 movie, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again." This event is celebrated all over the globe

If you get a chance to attend one of these events throughout the U.S. next year, do so, even if you don't drink beer. Bring some friends, and you'll make new ones too. It's that kind of atmosphere.

Acoustic Guitar Stylings

2008-09-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine with whom I co-hosted and co-produced a tv talk show several years ago gave me one of the most treasured gifts I own. Casey surprised me a few years ago by taking a cassette tape we had converted from reel-to-reel and made a cd for us of my dad's guitar mastery.

Boy, oh boy, we take technology for granted today, but back in the 60's, all we had was reel-to-reel for quality home recordings. My dad had driven down from Santa Barbara one evening, arriving at our apartment in Anaheim around midnight. My hubby had built a stereo system, of which he was very proud and asked Dad if he would sit down and play. So, off the top of his head, after driving for three hours, he sat down and from memory recorded song after song for over an hour on an inexpensive acoustic guitar, which he gave to Dave.

Well, we relished that recording, but little did we know it would be the only such one of my dad's talent that we would have. Well, I take that back, we did recover some records dad had of a few gigs, but nothing where he was solo, and the quality left a lot to be desired. My dad died six years later in Ohio one day before his 54th birthday.

It's just been recently now that we have all the equipment to make our own cd's that we decided we better get busy and make sure our close relatives, many of whom used to go to Dad's gigs both here and in Ohio to see him, had a copy of this.

When it was on reel-to-reel, we seldom played it because the tape was subject to breaking. Then we had it on cassette and played it for some friends one evening. To my surprise, several years later, our friends, Jim and Ruth, said they hadn't enjoyed a night of music as much as that since. With the holidays approaching, I think it would make a touching gift.

I'm so glad Eddie Teener played Misty for me.

Laughter is good for the soul

2008-09-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is all I have to show for attending the taping of According to Jim. You cannot take any electrical devices into the show. You are advised to leave your cell in your car, or it may be confiscated. They have their rules.

Actually, I also have a very nice program with this great casts' credits on it as well.

I can't remember a time when I have laughed so hard for so long. My friend, Peggy, organized a group of people who attended this taping as a fundraiser (Cota for Zac) for her friend's son, who is awaiting an organ transplant. When I mentioned to my hair stylist, Rosy, that I was attending the sitcom, she told me it was her husband's favorite show.

On this particular night, we got a treat by seeing an episode that hadn't been shown before. It featured a little girl, playing a spoiled brat pop star. Turns out, Jim's daughter played the little girl. She sang two songs during the episode, and when Jim brought her out (so sorry I can't remember the cutie's name!) to introduce her to the audience, he mentioned that she had never sung before doing that role. Well, she did a very credible job. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of this talented young lady in the future. Just look for the "Belushi" name.

While we were waiting for the show to begin, the warm up comedian came out to greet the audience. Well, it was non-stop laughter after that. Jim Belushi and Larry Joe Campbell, who plays Andy, play off of each other so well. This particular episode, "The Ego Boost," provided much laughter. It was written by Warren Bell and Christopher J. Nowak and directed by Jim Belushi.

Jim came out to warmly greet the audience before the show started. Scenes with Courtney Thorne-Smith,who plays Jim's wife, were taped prior to this evening since Courtney was still tending to her new baby. Jim anwered a few questions from the audience before the taping got underway. If you've never been to a taping of a show, there are many stops and starts. They reshoot each scene at least twice. The role of the warm-up comedian extends beyond the initial greeting.

I had never heard of Ron Pearson before. How anyone can get up and continually make an audience laugh so hard and cover an endless myriad of subjects amazes me. Ron was well traveled as evidenced by the number of audience members from various countries, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Holland, and France, with whom he could somewhat converse and relate experiences. But the most amazing thing this world-renowned juggler did (yes, he has that on his resume as well) is balance a ladder on his chin while juggling. Awesome.

The According to Jim set is really nice. At one point, Ron mentioned that this sitcom costs between $750,000 to $2m per episode! It's our civic duty to watch, don't you think?

Now, would I rather be guest-starring on the show instead of watching from the audience. You bet. Especially since in this episode the guest star had a very funny punch line near the end of the show. But those gigs are a little harder to come by. After watching this taping, I will be tuning in each week. By the way, According to Jim is shown all over the world. Our foreign visitors confirmed that. It's on ABC. Check your local listing. And if you want to attend a taping, this one would be a good one to experience.

Struggling with Weight Issues

2008-09-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I attended the premiere of the movie, disFIGURED, at the Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood. My friend, Staci Lawrence, was one of the female leads. In the olden days, I would have said "leading ladies."

Staci plays struggling anorexic, Darcy, who sees herself as hugely overweight. She was shocked when she's rejected by the members of the Fat Awareness Group, who refuse to believe they can have anything in common with the scrawny girl. But Lydia, gloriously played by Deidra Edwards, the self-help group's founder, realizes they're both wrestling the same demon--weight.

This film takes a thought-provoking look at America's body image issues. Everyone can identify even if weight isn't one's biggest problem. Ryan C. Benson also stars in this film, wonderfully directed by the writer, Glenn Gers (Fracture, Mad Money). All of the actors did a fabulous job of telling this story, which I would recommend to anyone you know who could benefit by the positive messages it conveys. Rex Reed calls it "warm, funny, and touching."

It was particularly interesting during the question and answer session with the writer/director and cast after the film to hear about the challenges Glenn had in getting the movie made. Deidra's patience in waiting one year before she could audition until they exhausted all "names" in order to attract financial backing should be a lesson to us actors. Isn't that the way of the business! Staci had it a little easier, as a friend who had read the script recommended her to the director. Of course, she had to deliver on the audition! And that she did.
I was so proud of her...particularly in the emotional scenes near the end. By the way, Staci isn't anorexic, and I could swear that Deidra looked a whole lot thinner at the premiere. I do believe they also had to be quite patient as post production took almost two years.

The film has won awards in various film festivals around the country, i. e., Grand Jury prize in Oklahoma City, Santa Barbara International, Cinequest San Jose, AFI Dallas International and Florida Film Festivals. Glenn was so anxious for the majority of the population to see this as soon as possible that he made the decision to go straight to dvd, rather than show it in the theaters. I believe the latter option is still open to them, but if you want to see disFIGURED, you can rent or buy it now.

Living in the Present

2008-08-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

"Great athletes win in it. Great performers work in this state. Great teachers teach in it. The charisma emanating from a famous actor is tangible." They all live in the present, according to Patsy Rodenburg. And she should know.

Patsy is recognized as one of the world's leading voice and acting coaches and has coached such luminaries as Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Holly Hunter, and Ralph Fiennes, among many others. She was voice coach at the Royal Shakespeare Company in London for nine years and Head of Voice at the Royal National Theatre for sixteen years. She also does much work with corporations,
all talking about "The Second Circle," ...How to Use Positive Energy for Success in Every Situation, a book which was just released in America in 2008.

So, when a friend of mine suggested I meet this incredible woman and sign up for a two-day workshop, I have to admit I was a bit intimidated. I needn't have been. For someone who has every right to have an ego, she appeared to have none. She was clearly there to help us achieve our greatest potential, not only in our profession, but our everyday life. At this particular seminar, there were 30 people, most of us actors. She spent the first day working on breath, voice, and body movements. The second day, Patsy generously critiqued each of us as we spouted off our memorized Shakespearean sonnets.

What impressed me so much about Patsy is how individualized her critique really was. A beautiful young girl stepped up, whom I thought had a really interesting voice, but Patsy was concerned for her. Apparently, the raspy quality that I found intriguing could be quite harmful for her long term. Because our class was so big, and because Patsy would not cut anyone short, we ran over an hour.

Many of the exercises we did in this class are found in The Second Circle, available at many of the online book outlets. Taking this workshop reminded me of that psych course my first year in college, where I came home and analyzed my family and friends ad nauseam. I could clearly see where the people currently in my life fall into either the first circle (those whose attention is turned inward and come across as shy and ineffective) or third circle, the people who turn you off by their overbearing speech, talking at you rather than with you.

Hopefully, my following up with the lessons learned here will help me connect with people in an ideal state, "The Second Circle." Check it out.

Pageant of the Masters

2008-08-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar for next July and August. It makes such a nice outing to go to The Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. It's true. You can't find a more beautiful place to be on a summer day. The Festival of Arts is an outdoor gallery in Orange County, nestled in the canyon and only a few blocks from the ocean in Laguna Beach, one of the most picturesque places in the world.

Feeling the effects of the Great Depression and hoping to attract the attention of visitors attending the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, a group of Laguna Beach artists came together to host the first Festival of Arts. They turned Laguna into one enormous art gallery, selling their artwork along the main street. The inaugural Festival was a huge success.

Over 75 years later, the Festival of Arts has grown into a world-renowned cultural institution famous for its fine art show and the Pageant of the Masters, which draws visitors from around the world. It had been years since I had seen the "living pictures," the Pageant of the Masters, where works of art are portrayed on a large stage with painted backdrops, live music and narration. It takes many wonderful volunteers to maintain that stillness in recreating these remarkable works of art. It's a tradition that they end the program with The Last Supper. Tickets to the Pageant should be purchased about a year in advance. It's always a sellout.

This year's theme, All the World's a Stage, paid homage to the works of William Shakespheare. The artwork of Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Joshua Reynolds were presented, as well as Everett Shinn's painting, "Footlight Flirtation." Also incorporated into the evening was the Italian commedia dell'arte troupe .

Since I had recently attended a two-day workshop with Patsy Rodenburg, one of the world's leading voice and acting coaches, who was voice coach at the Royal Shakespeare Company in London for a number of years, I found the chosen masterpieces particularly interesting. More on Patsy in my next post.

The Irvine Bowl on the Festival grounds holds 2,600, and it was sold-out as usual the evening I attended. The Festival runs through the end of August. If you get there early, you can walk the shops on Pacific Coast Highway and the surrounding streets. There are lots of great restaurants along the way to enjoy as well.

On a Sunday Afternoon

2008-08-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

There really aren't enough superlatives to describe the talented pianist, Tamir Hendelman, to do him justice. You just have to hear him to experience something wonderful. I would encourage you to go and hear him live at one of the many venues locally, when he's not traveling the world, accompanying Natalie Cole, or performing with other great vocalists. But, until you have the opportunity to do that, you can now buy his debut cd, Playground.

On this particular Sunday afternoon, the concert was held at The Atelier of David Andersen Pianos, which was a beautiful garden setting, featuring wonderful scultures by Tanya Ragir. Tanya has her studio here and it was a treat to get a sneak peak at it when we took a break for food, drink and conversation after the first set. The garden displayed many pieces of her extraordinary work.

I first met Tamir at a Cathy Segal-Garcia workshop I attended over ten years ago.
What impressed me from the start was his ability to fine-tune the key to any song to fit each of the singers attending the workshop. Now, because my musician father had that ability, I thought all musicians could do that. I found out it takes a special talent. Tamir didn't need to see the music. He had all that in his memory bank. And he was (and still is) young!
Since then, Tamir has done many arrangements for me, which when other musicians see the charts are always impressed!

I must also tell you that I was very interested to see the pianos on display there that day. All exceptional...worthy of a world-class pianist such as Tamir. If you know of anyone looking for a concert grand or other fine piano, I'd check them out. David Andersen Pianos has just announced a new alliance with a fifth-generation Bavarian hand-built piano maker. If theirs are anything like the wonderful sound on Sunday's piano, I'm sure it will be a delight to hear.

What a special musical experience. Tamir's playing always touches my heart.

WINTER

2008-08-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Just saying the word WINTER cools one off in this really hot weather we're having, doesn't it?
I find it so inspiring to go see theatre, especially if one of my friends is associate producing and directing, as in the case of WINTER and Janne Halleskov Kindberg.

This play, by internationally acclaimed Norwegian playwright, Jon Fosse, seemed to be dialogue challenged, as the same phrases were used over and over, eventually with different meanings. It made one listen and watch more intently. It was quite the opposite of David Mamet's works with his clever, terse dialogue, using arcane stylized phrasing.

A lot of talent went into this show besides the Norwegian lead actors, Terje Skonseng Naudeer and Lene Pedersen. Show design by Ray Woodbury (Backstreet Boys, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson), Lighting Programmer Andy Figueroa (Neil Young, Stevie Wonder), featuring music composed by Gabrial McNair (Green Day, No Doubt) all added to the interesting, innovative elements, which made me happy I came to see this play, even if the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics were going on simultaneously. Janne had a nice crowd despite the competition.

And the locale, The Culver Studios, has such a great history, it makes one feel invigorated just walking through it...or on late nights, golf-carting through it. Gone With The Wind (my favorite movie of all time) was filmed there when it was the David O. Selznick Studios. Throughout the years, sets have been used and reused, from the days of Cecil B. DeMille's enormous stages for King of Kings, later used in King Kong, before they were burned down for the Atlanta sequence in GWTW.

RKO controlled it for 30 years bringing stardom to Bette Davis, Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and those wonderful hoofers, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Desilu Productions took over in 1956, where television emerged as the primary business at the studio, where Andy Griffith, the Nelson boys, David and Ricky, with their parents, Ozzie & Harriet, and Lassie all could be seen on the lot.

Thanks to the $26 million renovation in the mid-80's by Grant Tinker and Gannett, much of the original luster and beauty was restored. So successful was the restoration that it has served as a model for other studio projects.

In 1991 Sony Corporation bought the studio and sold it in 2004 to PCCP Studio City Los Angeles. Numerous feature films (Rush Hour 3, State of Play) and television projects, such as Deal or No Deal, America's Next Top Model, and The Bonnie Hunt Show are all home to the studio.

Ghostly sightings, i.e., Gloria Swanson roaming the halls of the mansion as she did years earlier, have been unsubstantiated, but eerily similar reports occur year after year

Free Stuff

2008-08-09T14:33:00.001-07:00

Don't cha just luv getting free stuff? I do. I mean, nothing's really free, is it? Example, I went to the Smart & Final...extra store opening a few days ago. Ask me why! Wall to wall, people. I even found out I could still have gotten the same savings throughout the coming week.

But, maybe they would have run out of free cups. Cups? With Smart and Final extra on them. So, now, I'm drinking my morning Starbucks coffee out of a white Smart & Final extra cup, instead of my glass Starbucks cup that I'm sure I paid for, since they don't give those away. Oh well, it was free, and it's sturdy. Even if it did cost me over $40 to shop there. They now have smaller quantities, but I'm not convinced the savings are as good as WalMart on some of those items. Yes, I shop at WalMart. I can get Starbucks Breakfast Blend for $7.

I'm sad...I just heard that Bernie Mac died...and I just wrote a post about him. As one of his many show biz friends said, "Heaven's a whole lot funnier now." I wonder if they give out free stuff.

Need a laugh?

2008-08-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

If you missed the comedy, Guess Who, when it was released in 2005, and you could use a little laughter, I think you'll enjoy this movie. This modern take on the classic, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, has a great cast: Bernie Mac and Judith Scott as Zoe Saldana's parents, who meet Ashton Kutcher, who plays her fiance. I thought the direction by Kevin Rodney Sullivan was spot on.

I'm not really a fan of remakes, especially when they're a classic, but the script was quite different. It's interesting, however, that I had rented the former movie recently, with the stellar cast of Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, to prepare for a scene in my acting workshop. While I wouldn't dare compare the acting, I thought this recent movie was far more entertaining.

While we're on the subject of Sidney Pointier, my actress friend, Barbara, who knew I loved autobios, loaned me Sidney's The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography. I loved it!

Earthquake Preparedness

2008-07-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

Several years ago when I was producing and co-hosting a tv talk show, we had a lady on demonstrating a survival kit in case of an earthquake. I ended up buying one. Then, not long ago, it dawned on me that the food and water meant to last for years had surely expired by now. Since we were preparing for a long road trip, we decided to update our kits, which we did a month ago.

The Red Cross has great information on what to do, where to go, what should be in your kit. Check it out.
Now's the time. Today was a wakeup call. We're about five miles from the epicenter of this 5.4 quake today.
I was in the car in Pasadena, so I didn't feel it at all. Not even an aftershock. But, it's a little disconcerting when you get home and see all the pictures on the wall askew, the photo frames on shelves fallen, opening the kitchen cabinets carefully, because glasses are leaning on the door, ready to fall out.

Funny thing...as I washed my favorite champagne glasses last Saturday after our company left, I remember thinking as I put them way up on that open glass shelf above the bar, "Gee, I hope these don't get broken in an earthquake." It's one of the few shelves that not a single thing moved. We shouldn't be so attached to material things, I know.

Text Messaging Etiquette

2008-07-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

I read an article today from a mom who just got into text messaging so she could communicate with her teenage/adult children. It was humorously written saying how she liked it because it eliminated "the attitude and rolled eyes" from her kids.

This reminded me of one of my plays I did where a girl in the front row text messaged through the whole first act. I wasn't aware of it because usually you can only see the first couple of rows because it's so dark, and I don't look so I won't be distracted. However, I did notice when I was attending the theatre recently that it was distracting to me as an audience member to see someone texting near me during the production.

It's gotten so bad that apparently when the announcers give their welcoming speech now, they not only tell you to turn off your cell phones, but ask that you refrain from texting during the show. Next, we'll probably have to check them upon arrival.

I'm just now getting into texting because it's how my agent notifies me that I have an audition.
It will be a while I'm sure before I get so addicted.

Past Lives

2008-07-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

My friend, Mary, who lost her mom at age ten, asked me recently if I had read, "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Brian L. Weiss, M.D. I had certainly heard about this New York Times Bestseller. It was probably on my list to read.

Since Borders sent me a coupon for my birthday (isn't that nice), I decided to forego any further procrastination and buy it. I was surprised to see that this was the 20th Anniversary Edition.

What a good book! It's the true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives. I read it in one sitting...well almost, I read the epilogue this morning. I'm more prone to liking books that may give me some insight as to why my brother died two weeks before his 16th birthday or why my beautiful mom's life was cut short at age 46.

Of course, it doesn't hold all the answers, but it certainly gives one something to ponder about our own mortality, or in this case, immortality. This may be something to check out if you have lost someone close to you. I think it might bring comfort to someone who has a terminal illness. I know it's a difficult subject to write about...truthfully, it is for me, but I'm mentioning it for the same reason Dr. Weiss decided he had to write the book. It may help someone.
And it did.

Songs of the Heart

2008-07-07T19:47:00.001-07:00

(Be sure to read my post on Taos below if you read these in sequence.)
Since I have been telling you about the parks we've visited over the years, it brought to mind an experience I had at The Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite National Park a few years ago.
Reservations at the resort are made a year in advance at this popular resort. An evening dress code is observed here.

We were enjoying appetizers and champagne before ordering dinner in this grand hotel's huge dining room, with a giant vaulted ceiling, massive peeled-log trusses and 24-foot plate glass windows. A beautiful haunting melody was being played on the piano at the far end of the room. It went straight to my heart. I can't remember ever having that exact experience before. I asked our waiter to please ask the pianist the name of the song he just played. I had to know. It was Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton and Will Jennings.

Upon further investigation, I learned that this is the song Eric wrote the lyrics to in memory of his son, Conor, who tragically fell out of a New York City apartment window in 1991. Conor was only four years old.

If you have a chance, download on iTunes or listen to it on You Tube - Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven. We all have our own way of dealing with pain, don't we.

Taos, NM

2008-07-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

If you see a guy over 50 who doesn't have a long grey ponytail, then it's a sure bet he doesn't live in Taos. All the great artistes from this place sport one. I love this town!

There's historic Ledoux Street (where arts and style come to live). In the winter, Taos Ski Valley offers lots of activity. Some extol it as "the Soul of the Southwest."

We stayed at The Historic Taos Inn. Every room is decorated differently. All with so much charm. It was such a welcome relief after the usual motor inn chains at which we had been staying the past two weeks. Although we were only there one afternoon and evening, we made good use of our time. Visited quite a few shops with wonderful art and gifts. But, clearly, with 600 businesses and lots of sites we didn't see in Taos, we need to schedule more time and come back.

In the lobby of the Inn, for the cocktail hour, there was a terrific trio, playing western music: a lady bass player who also sang, and two fellows who played guitar, one also playing the mandolin. I wish I gotten their names. They were from another part of the state but drop by for an occasional gig here. Usually I like to hear recognizable songs...but there was probably one one song out of the hour-plus set that I knew. It didn't matter...they were thoroughly entertaining.

Since we had gotten up and wanted to leave early before the dining room was open, we asked some locals for breakfast recommendations. Michael's Kitchen provided a great morning walk. Oh my, if we hadn't been eating cinnamon rolls almost every day at the breakfast buffets provided at all of our stays, we could have partaken of the wonderful bakery items they had on display. Couldn't even apply them directly to the hips. There was no room. They have over 250 menu items to choose from for breakfast and lunch.

If you love Santa Fe, you should check out this enchanted town too.

Cowboys and Indians

2008-06-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of Cowboys and Indians, The Premiere Magazine of the West, until my friend, who lives in Big Horn, WY, called to say there was an article about the polo field near their home in the current issue. They had built this beautiful home there several years ago, and we were fortunate to finally visit them when we flew our small plane there a few years ago.

So, I promptly picked up a copy with Tom Selleck At Home on His Ranch on the cover and much to my surprise found the entire issue thoroughly entertaining and interesting.

The teasers on the cover of this Special 15th Anniversary issue are:

-Cowboys: Men Who Made the West
-Boots: Envy-Worthy Kickers
-National Parks: The West's Best.

How apropros since we just returned from visiting two National Parks: Mesa Verde in Colorado and Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Shay) in Arizona, where we had taken tours to learn how the Indians lived 300 AD. It was interesting to note that we had actually visited over the years nine of the 15 listed as the best . We had stayed in two of the four "Lodge Envy" resorts listed in the parks: The Ahwahnee at Yosemite Nat'l Park (where two deer walked right past me as I was headed to my cabin from the main lodge). We actually never stayed at Old Faithful Inn, but we watched the rain come down and ate lunch there once. El Tovar, at the Grand Canyon, which hosted Zane Grey, Albert Einstein, and Teddy Roosevelt, among others, underwent a $4.5 million facelift shortly after their centennial.

In 1995, Sharon Stone called and cowgirled her way onto the first celebrity cover of C&I to promote her movie, The Quick and the Dead, about a female gunslinger. That changed everything for the Western-lifestyle magazine. Movie-star covers became a staple for C&I, allowing them to find a niche where celebrities and the West melded into Americana. Consider John Wayne, Robert Duvall, Sam Shepherd, Sam Elliott, Robert Redford, Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford and Tom Selleck (again) and Tommy Lee Jones as appealing cover cowboys.

I, who have never really been in to cowboy/cowgirl gear, was even fascinated to see the selection of great boots. Check it out: Star Boots Jolly Roger, inspired by the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.
Cool features: Skull-and-crossbones inlay on toe and heel.
Best worn with: A leather motorcycle jacket, big loop earrings, and lots of chunky bracelets that jingle.
Why cowgirls like them: They're Nancy Sinatra-tough.
Sheryl Crow wears a pair of the Old Gringo Cowgirl boots with pink inlay breast-cancer-awareness ribbons on the toe, shaft and heel of the boot.

The story about best-selling author, Robert B. Parker, provided more education. Fans of Parker's 2005 Western novel, Appaloosa, are eagerly awaiting the film adaptation, starring Viggo Mortensen as Everett Hitch and Ed Harris (who also directed the movie) as Virgil Cole. Appaloosa--which costars Renee Zellweger and Jeremy Irons--is slated for a fall release.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this July, 2008, issue (try Border's), while it's still on the newstands.

Beware of Ethanol

2008-06-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

Proponents of ethanol tell us that it can significantly reduce our dependence on oil for transportation fuel. Truthfully, I never gave it much thought one way or the other.

Since our experience with it on our recent road trip, I have paid more attention to what I read, and in a recent "Parade" magazine article, it states: Since 2005, U.S. energy policy has mandated that billions of gallons of corn-based ethanol be mixed into gas every year. Last year, more than $3 billion of taxpayer money was spent on subsidies to achieve that goal, and 20% of the corn crop went into making the biofuel. Now, a new U.N. report cites our emphasis on ethanol as a contributor to high food prices. Scientists also believe than an expanding "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, which is killing aquatic life, is caused by increased fertilizer runoff from Corn Belt states."

Now...my only purpose here is to warn you that it's important to know if you are getting ethanol in your gasoline and/or how much. We had been averaging about 28-29mpg in my new Honda CRV. Not great, but we can live with that. One time, 32 mpg, another 34. Not bad. So, on one long stretch through Northwestern Oklahoma, off the interstate highways, we had 340 miles to cover that day before reaching our destination. No problem. However, this just happened to be an area where there were few tiny towns and NO gas stops, and no cell phone reception. We were becoming increasingly concerned as the gas gauge headed for empty. We made it to our destination with about one-half gallon to spare (22.5mpg).

When we later mentioned to people we met along the way, they quickly added, "Oh yeah, you get 30% less mileage." This effectively adds $1.25/gallon for the mileage traveled.

While I'm a rather adventurous person, that's one scenario I'm glad we didn't have to play out.

Tombstone, AZ

2008-06-26T14:24:00.001-07:00

Remember the scene in High Noon when the streets are empty, waiting for the gunfight at twelve o'clock sharp?

Well, we started our trip early on in Tombstone. What an interesting and fun town, which was established in 1877. Billed as "The Town Too Tough to Die," it is truly a Historical American Landmark. Tombstone is America's best example of our early western heritage. It is well preserved in Tombstone's original 1880's buildings (not a stage-prop town) and artifacts featured in numerous museums.

We were there the end of May, before the kids get out of school, so there was hardly a soul on the street, except the usual suspects: stagecoach driver, dance hall girls at the Bird Cage Theatre, roaming the streets, looking for customers, etc. It reminded me of the scene portenting doom.

We took the Tombstone Trolley tour around the city to hear all the interesting facts. In its heyday, this mining town brought in $22 million a day! Home of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson, it was famous for the Gunfight at the OK Corral. At the trolley site, we met a gentleman, in his 80's, who retired here after traveling the country, playing Abe Lincoln in a one-man show. He did resemble the President.

We asked where the locals ate and ended up at the Depot Restaurant, four blocks from the tourist area. We can vouch for the beer on tap, the chili and the patti melt and onion rings. Remember, this is the start of our three-week vacation. So, we ate whatever we wanted. Met another couple who was on the trolley and overheard us asking the driver about a good restaurant. The first question this Florida couple asked us was, "What's the price of gasoline in California." At that time, it was under $4 here, over $4 there. More on gasoline in my next post.

Vacations

2008-06-22T18:37:00.001-07:00

Oh my...been back a week from a three-week road trip. Almost forgot how to blog. But I must get back to it, because I have so much I want to say about our trip. I would not call this a relaxing vacation by any stretch of the imagination, but it was interesting.

Seeing aging family members was the main reason we planned this trip to the Midwest, and now that we're home, we realize how important it was that we did spend the time with family.

We knew that this time of year is not the best weatherwise, since there were tornado warnings all over the place. Early on in our trip to White Sands, NM, as it looked threatening, I said, "I don't mind if it rains, but I don't want it to hail on my car." Of course, the words had no sooner left my tongue than nickel-sized hail fell with a large clunk. I couldn't imagine that there would be no damage to the car, but for some reason, not a mark on it when we arrived at our destination.

Three weeks is a long time to be away, but I doubt that we could have done it in less time since we spent several long days in the car. Covering barren landscapes, particularly in Texas, with no cell reception made me particularly uncomfortable. Unbelievable how we could have lived without that convenient communication just a few short years ago. XM Satellite was a godsend, although we were gone so long, I swear they repeated the same songs over and over.

More tomorrow...just needed to keep in touch!

Lars and the Real Girl

2008-05-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

I don't imagine I would have gotten around to seeing Lars and the Real Girl had I not been given a scene to do in my acting workshop. Anytime I get to watch Patricia Clarkson, I consider it time well spent. She's such a good actor. No acting...that's why she's so interesting to watch.

I loved the movie. I thought it started out slowly, and I wasn't sure about it. About half way thru, I started really getting into it. You can tell it was written by a female. Boy, do we need more female screenwriters. This is such a sweet story. I can't imagine a town being so taken in (without giving away the plot), nevertheless, you want to believe it. I hope you get a chance to see it.

By the way, I had the rare opportunity to get to pick my scene partner. We usually just show up and rehearse briefly before we film it. Ky Evans is such a strong actor that I knew it would be fun to do. And I love playing a therapist. Oh, and did I mention that I thought Ryan Gosling gave an award-winning performance.

Nobody does parties like PartyCharlie

2008-05-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

As I recall, one of the rules, if you will, to being an optimist, is to be as happy about others' success as you are about your own.

That certainly is the case with my friend, Charlie Scola. Charlie is a renowned party planning authority, columnist, author, as well as an actor. We met in an acting workshop about eleven years ago. After the class was over, I wasn't sure I'd ever see or talk to Charlie again, even though I thought he was very nice. He called me a few months later to tell me about a class on the "business of acting" that he thought I would like. I was pleased to hear from him...and as it turns out, he has been a friend of the family ever since. One we've flown to Catalina for lunch, one who has come to support me at my cabaret performances, plays, etc. I've always cherished our friendship.

This past week we were privileged to attend Charlie's book signing at Borders in Century City. His book, the culimination of one of his dreams, Party Planning Secrets, is full of great ideas for creating an outrageously exciting party! It was no small feat to get a Borders book store to turn over their whole store for his party! But, this he accomplished, and party we did.

There was a tarot card reader, numerologist, astrologist and magician at the party, as well as entertainment by Franki Love, Jason Farnham, and David Williams.
Free flowing champagne, vodka martini's (the pear was especially good!), and a fabulous buffet of delicious food. Asian salad served in mini-take-out cartons, sandwiches on delicious buns with turkey or veggies (yum...peppers, zucchini), a wonderful array of cheese (I loved the goat cheese covered in herbs), slices of great-looking fruit, cookies, and brownies. All top notch!

Charlie generously donated all net proceeds from the book sales to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. Charlie was told by Borders a few days later that his event was the most exciting they've had and had the most people attending since Martha Stewart's book signing.

I always loved hearing about all the wonderful parties Charlie was planning for celebrities. We actually attended one in Malibu a few years ago that was nothing short of fantastic. It was a benefit. We tennis enthusiasts were excited to see Pete Sampras there with his then fiancee, soon-to-be wife...an actress whose name escapes me now. Bob Sagat was there with his small children. Charlie catered a thanksgiving bbq one year for Jen and Brad, when they were married.

My friend, Denise, and I were pleased to see Barbara Rush, who looked great. Denise went up to say, "Hello." She was very gracious. Thirty years in the business has given Charlie a long list of satisfied customers.

I would recommend that you get his book, even if you have small gatherings once in a while.
He walks you through every detail of planning a successful party from ambiance to vendors, including how to create the perfect invitation, menu and theme, plus expert advice on budgeting, entertaining, safety and more.

In addition, I recommend you get on his email list for his newsletter, where he shares great recipes, and gives away tickets to some of his fabulous parties. Check it out at http://www.partycharlie.com/.

What especially made the evening fun was to meet Charlie's mom, who happened to be celebrating her birthday that day, and his brother and sister who all flew out from back East to be with Charlie. I'm proud to call this eternal optimist, Charlie, my friend.

The Huntington

2008-04-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you've never been to The Huntington, in San Marino, CA, you really should go. The Huntington is a private nonprofit collections-based institution, founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington. This site is one of the finest research libraries in the world. It also houses a fabulous art collection, including The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, circa 1770, and Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1794.

There is also an array of more than a dozen botanical gardens with plants from a geographic range spanning the globe, which covers 120 acres of the 207-acre grounds. There were several roses named after famous ladies. Unfortunately, the picture I took of the Princess Diana rose didn't do it justice. You can't possibly see it all in one day, which is why several in our group had already been there a few times.

You can make arrangements for a guided tour, which I would recommend. Our guide had a myriad of tales and had worked at The Huntington over 50 years ago. She was very interesting.

The Library's collection of rare books and manuscripts in the fields of British and American history and literature is extraordinary. It has on display some of the finest rare books and manuscripts of Anglo-American civilization. Altogether, there are about 6 million items! Again...not all in one day.

We had a lovely tea buffet luncheon with finger sandwiches (I know it sounds very girlie, but the guys enjoyed it too), with many different kinds of wonderful cheese, and the desserts were scrumptious, pecan tarts, lemon bars, and of course something chocolate. Fortunately, we were able to walk off a calorie or two after lunch. The unfortunate thing about the day was the temperature. If it wasn't 100 degrees, it was very close.
Heed the warning to wear comfortable shoes.

They had a nice gift shop too. Of course, I never met a gift shop I didn't like, but the little "rose" items, such as soap and stationery, make nice presents. And it was air conditioned! A big bonus for the day.

We were all speculating on how much this land would cost today, as our guide mentioned that when Henry bought it in 1902 for $600,000, everyone thought he was a little crazy, because there was nothing much there. Such is a visionary.

Listen to My Heart

2008-04-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

I can remember the first time I heard the song, "Listen to My Heart." I was driving on the freeway, and I decided to finally listen to the Nancy LaMott tape my cousin, Sandy, had given me a long time ago.

When that song came on, it took my breath away. I thought I was going to have to maneuver three lanes over and stop on the side of the road and just listen. I thought it was the most beautiful melody I had ever heard. And to this day, I still do. I'm sure the orchestration with the strings had a lot to do with it, as well as Nancy's beautiful voice.

Several years after hearing that song for the first time, I had the opportunity to meet the composer of that piece, David Friedman. I am so glad he decided to do a vocal workshop in Southern California last weekend. And I'm most happy that he turned out to be such a wonderful, inspirational person. After all, his songs are all about inspiration, love and hope.

My wanting to meet him goes beyond that one great song. I also had the good fortune to sing another of his fun songs, "My Simple Christmas Wish," when I played Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in "Noses are Red." This was an original musical my acting coach, Alice Carter, wrote and directed two years in a row. This was a dream come true that I would get to perform this song in front of an audience that included many actors. The lyrics are so clever.

"Just in Time for Christmas" is another gem of his that I sang at a private party over the holidays. If you want to check out his music, go to David's own company, MIDDER Music Records, where he wrote for and produced all of the late, great Nancy LaMott's CD's, most of which I own. In addition to the songs I've mentioned above, be sure to check out "We Can Be Kind," "Trust the Wind," and "Ill Be Here With You." The latter song was the title of a wonderful cd that features all of David's songs and was a benefit recording for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Friedman's credits include musical direction and vocal arranging for five Broadway shows and numerous Disney feature films, including "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," Pocahontas," and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

His songs have been recorded by Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Kristen Chenoweth, Kathie Lee Gifford, Petula Clark, Lainie Kazan and many others.

Charlton Heston

2008-04-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

When I heard about Charlton Heston's passing, I remembered the time my hubby and a friend flew down in our club's Cessna 172 to Palomar Airport, where a limo picked them up and drove them the short distance to the La Costa Resort for lunch.

In the 70's, it was the new hot spot for tennis enthusiasts, and we first discovered it when we went there on our Sunny Hills Racquet Club's weekend outing. In any event, on this particular day, Dave and Bill had to wait in the limo for some time before they could get back to the airport for the return trip home. It seems the limo was waiting for Mr. Heston to finish his tennis game (or lunch) as he showed up in his tennis gear with a uniformed airline pilot.

Mr. Heston apologized for keeping them waiting. When they got to the airport, he pointed to a twin-engine turbo jet and said, "That's Bill Cosby's." He then went over and boarded a single-engine Cessna 182 (a step up from our 172) and departed. The plane may not have been a status symbol but having your own airline pilot standing by sure was.

It's good to know that when these great actors leave this planet, we still have their wonderful movies to watch whenever we want. And it's nice to recall that Charlton Heston was a true gentleman.

Begin each day

2008-03-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

I recently went up to Santa Barbara to see my friend, Judith Scott, in "Doubt," a thought-provoking play by John Patrick Shanley that is set in the 60's. Really enjoyed it...and the q&a session afterwards.

While having breakfast at Andersen's Danish Bakery the next day, Judith happened to mention she stayed in bed that morning just thinking of all the wonderful things she liked...almonds, flowers, etc. I said, "That must have made you feel good." What a great way to begin each day! And if you went to bed listing five things for which you were grateful, that would really set the stage for the next day. I'm going to try it, starting tonight.

We stopped to shop, of course, and found a great place on State Street, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art store. It fed our artistic souls. Bright colors, unusual jewelry, unique handcrafted art glass, educational books and creative toys for children.

Santa Barbara is a wonderful town. It seems no matter what the temperature happens to be, it's a beautiful day. The architecture is extraordinary. Lots to see and do.

Up, Up, and Away

2008-03-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

I hope I don't wait until I'm on my deathbed (one word or two?) before I gain clarity.

Wouldn't it be awful to wait until then and think, "Oh, that's what that meant." "I should have taken advantage of that opportunity instead of worrying about whatever it was I was worrying about." How many times have we heard that before people check out, they say they only regret the things they didn't do.

Well, I'm pretty much of a risk taker. Flying in a little single-engine plane for many years...three trips back to Ohio and a couple to Oklahoma...qualifies me, I think. There was the time on one of those Ohio trips, we were over 29 Palms after flying around clouds most of the day (before my pilot was instrument rated and couldn't bore holes in clouds)...we had been climbing and wanted to level off at around 7,000 ft. That's when we discovered there was a problem. It's like stepping on the accelerator of your car and passing someone at 75 mph and then letting off the pedal, only it wouldn't let up. It's like it stuck down. Well, it could be just as serious in a car...maybe more so with traffic. Thankfully, we hardly see any planes up there except when we near an airport.

However, we were flying over mountains...and looking down, there was no place to land safely.
That's when we radioed Palm Springs and told them we had an emergency. I was sure they would give us some sage advice. Only, "How many aboard?" Excuse me...he may have said, "How many bodies aboard." That's how I read it.

In any event, my good pilot used his head and figured out that he could turn off one of the magnetos (there are two) and it would let up enough to get the reading off "red line," so the engine wouldn't overheat and quit. That was the fear. It's the opposite of what most pilots are trained to do. You're trained to handle an "engine out." Not a wide-open engine. It doesn't happen. Well, now we know it can...and did. The worst part was having to dive (literally...since we couldn't slow it down as one usually does to descend for landing). It felt like my head was coming off. When we had the runway lined up, I was told to push back my seat as far as it would go...we had to shut off the engine completely in order to slow it down enough to stop at the end of the runway, which meant if there was any wind gust, we would not be able to adjust.

Palm Springs was chosen as our landing site because we figured if the jets could land there, the runway would be long enough to handle the speed of our little Cessna. As it turned out, that was the calmest day I've ever seen in the desert.

Truthfully, the air traffic controllers at the Palm Springs airport were most gracious. After we radioed the emergency, they cleared the airways for us. Didn't that make us feel important...and there was even a fire truck to greet us.

Well, I took the liberty of saying, "we" throughout, but the credit all goes to Dave Black. Whatever you do, if you are going to fly in a little plane, pick a good pilot.
Oh yes, I think I deserve a little credit, because I found out in an emergency, I just shut up and let the pilot figure out how we were going to get out of this. I do remember thinking as my birthday was near, "Oh well, I guess turning 32 isn't any big deal." Thank God, I found out it even gets better.

Solving Life's Problems

2008-02-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

You don't have to be an actor to get a lot of the book, the ARTIST'S WAY, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. I was reminded of that when I had lunch with a friend who said she hadn't spoken to her dad in three months due to a misunderstanding.

The first thing that came to my mind about my friend's situation was the advice about writing a letter to the person with whom you want to say things to that you know may worsen a situation and that you may later regret. You write the letter and tear it up. I've never done that...but I have used my morning pages from the ARTIST'S WAY to unleash any anger I may have toward someone.

But, this daily act, which is one of two basic tools Julia recommends in this book, has far more reaching benefits than just that. It gives you clarity. It helps clean house...(don't I wish)...of the brain that is...clear away the clutter. What is getting in our way of being our authentic selves?
Julia says, "The pages lead us out of despair and into undreamed-of solutions." She states, "When I am stuck with a painful situation or problem that I don't think I know how to handle, I will go to the pages and ask for guidance."

Three 8 1/2 x 11 pages written in long hand of whatever comes into your mind. It's called stream of consciousness writing. It works.

And now, I've got to go back to rereading this wonderful book. I have to admit I've lapsed and not done my morning pages in quite some time. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to
post more often. My creativity has been stifled. Look out. I'm coming back...it says here
in fine print.

Italian Goulash

2008-02-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

After moving out here from Ohio after college, I landed a job in Newport Beach, which happens to be where I met my husband. Being a newlywed, I was seeking new recipes. We had a potluck one day, and a nice lady named Rita shared her recipe for Goulash. I remember she used hamburger. Over the years, I've tweaked it a bit to fit our taste. I thought of this dish as more of a family meal on weekends, because it is so good leftover too.

I made it a few times for company, and much to my delight, everyone loved it. So, I thought I would share this with you. I made this dish for the cast of one of my plays on our rehearsal night, substituting Italian turkey sausage (it was spicy!), because I knew a few didn't eat meat. It was very good.

1 lb. hot Italian sausage
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 medium onion
1/4 chopped bell pepper
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
1 can black beans, drained
1 T. parsley
1 T. crushed basil
1/2 tsp. ground oregano
1 clove garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Remove sausage from casing. Brown in deep pan with 1 T. olive oil on medium high heat. Break up sausage into pieces after browning. Turn heat down to medium low and add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Saute for about 5 min.
Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and a little water. Add herbs and spices as noted above.
Cover and cook on low for about 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Add macaroni and cook until macaroni is al dente (about 15 minutes). Add beans the last 10 minutes.
Serve w/parmesan cheese on top and crusty french bread.
I precede this entree with a salad.
Bon Appetit!

Diva Dish

2008-02-09T22:47:00.000-08:00

If I hadn't gone about producing Butterflies are Free at my acting studio several years ago, I probably couldn't have told you who Eileen Heckart was. But, I researched the film role, and then learned Eileen had won an Oscar for her performance in that movie with Eddie Albert, Jr. and Goldie Hawn. She had also won Emmy's (for one...a guest starring role on Lou Grant) and
Tony's as well. In other words, one of those fabulous character actresses that you may not be able to identify by name but have enjoyed her work for years.

I ran across a book written by her son, Luke Yankee, last year. After thoroughly enjoying all the fantastic anecdotes he tells about his life with his mom and the many famous people with whom she worked and socialized, such as Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Ethel Merman, Lucille Ball,
I heard about his one-man show where he tells all these great stories.

We had a chance to see his show tonight, and I must say it was all I expected it to be and more.
Luke sang a few heartfelt songs and included tape of some of his mom's roles on broadway and film.
But, one of the most touching moments for me was when he acted out the last scene in Butterflies are Free, which he hadn't gotten a chance to do with his mom because she had become ill. Through the magic of technology, he performed the scene with his mom's voice. It's obvious that Luke inherited a whole lot of talent.

He signed my book...and I thought, he's just as nice as I expected him to be. Try to see it if it comes anywhere near your area. You'll be glad you did.

In truth, after months of rehearsing, and one-week before we were to open, we were not able to perform Butterflies are Free. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for the opportunity to revisit that wonderful movie and discover all the interesting things about the life of Eileen Heckert.

Trust

2008-02-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

I've never been very good at trusting. Maybe it's my Sicilian heritage, "Never sit with your back to the door."

I remember a management team exercise we had once where it turned out that having to trust was the secret to winning. Guess what...my team lost. I'm sure I was influential in the game.

Today, I finally got back to my yoga class after a three-month lay off...shame on me. Excuses like play rehearsals, the holidays, a week's vacation, etc., etc. Boy, did I miss it. However, I had a test today. (I'm getting back to the trust issue in case you're wondering.) I had just laid down on my mat as class was starting when I remembered I forgot to lock my car. Usually, I put my purse in the trunk before I leave home ever since I read an article that said baddies are on to the fact that women don't bring their purses into class, leaving them in the car. I forgot to do that this morning, so I put my purse in the trunk of my new car after I arrived. Maybe it was the fact I was admiring the Jag parked next to my Honda CRV before I went in that distracted me...but it just hit me that I didn't remember hitting the lock on the remote.

Choices...do I leave now and then be one of those people who come back in and make noise as everyone has just chilled out a little...or do I really test myself in "letting go of all worries" as Linda usually says at the beginning of class. Do I trust that the universe will send angels down to protect my car? There are usually people coming and going at the Center all the time, so I'm thinking, "Cami, relax. It will be there when you get out. It would be noticeable if someone were trying to steal your car."

Then I thought about the guy at the dealership when we bought the car who told us this car is one of the most stolen as he's trying to sell us the extra warranty and insurance.
I'm thinking...let's face it, not everyone would wait two months to get "green tea metallic." Now if it were silver, I might have to worry. In any event, I did finally relax thru class; and when I came out, there was my car safe and sound. Just as I was really getting used to it too.

Red Carpet

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't necessarily say I'm sorry I spent two hours watching the pre-show on the red carpet before the Screen Actors Guild awards, because the stars' outfits did not disappoint,
but watching the show was a little trying at times.

I never thought I'd hear myself saying, "Bring back Joan Rivers." Actually, I like Joan Rivers doing the red carpet interviews. Yes, she's a little over the top at times or a lot, but I found her patter at least entertaining. The stars may have gotten a little perturbed at her questions, but it couldn't have been worse than this year's interviews. I thought Juliana did a pretty good job, being called in at the last minute for an ailing Ryan Seacrest. She was up on all the star credits, etc, but did both women (I don't know the other woman's name) find it necessary to hug all the ladies as though they were their best friends...one even getting her body makeup on someone's white top!

At first I thought Javier Bardem was rude when he answered, "I don't want to talk about that," but a second later when I recalled the question (which I can't recall now), I realized his response was most appropriate.

Granted, it must be quite challenging having all the movie and tv info on the tip of your tongue as each nominee approaches the microphones. I'm sure they have something at their disposal (an ear teleprompter?), to assist them. Maybe the stars have been on those magazine programs and feel more comfortable with the hosts...I don't know.

I believe seeing Debra Messing in that gorgeous Oscar de la Renta dress was worth the time spent watching it! The stars looked beautiful...(Sandra Oh's gown was a stand-out too!) The guys weren't bad either. The step to show off the great shoes was a nice addition.

As far as the awards go, it was a good show...I just had such a difficult time watching that movie..."No Country for Old Men" that I'm thinking with all the awards it's winning, it may encourage others to make more movies like that. But, then, maybe there aren't too many other wusses like me around.

Parlez vous francaise?

2008-01-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

We went to see Forever Plaid this past weekend. It was a nice production...we enjoyed it, but I'm afraid seeing Jersey Boys kinda spoiled us. This was a dinner theatre production.

While we were chatting waiting for the show to start, we got on the subject of travel. Our friend said he and his wife (who was traveling on business) were considering going to Paris for their 25th wedding anniversary. I asked if they had been there before. He said, "Yes," and proceeded to give some tips that I thought would be useful if you were planning your first trip there.

He said there are only three fundamental things you should know in order to not fall into the "French people are so rude" trap. When you greet someone, whether it's in a retail store or on the street, you say, "Bonjour." Not "Hello." Not, "Hi." You say, "Bonjour." Then you can speak English all you want, but it's a polite acknowledgment that will go far.

Secondly, a common mistake is to call waiters "Garcon," which means "Boy." It's considered an insult. "Monsieur" is the proper address. They might even throw in an extra croissant.

Thirdly, don't expect waiters to hover over you or hurry you along after you've finished your
last bite like they might do here. You need to signal for them to come over to your table if you want a coffee refill or other service. The table is yours until you decide it's time to leave. (Isn't that refreshing?)

We haven't made it there yet, but several people I've talked with lately who have visited Paris loved it and are anxious to return. Maybe they talked to Tom before they went too.

The Secret to a Successful Marriage

2008-01-25T22:27:00.001-08:00

"I found someone who could put up with me," Delta Burke said recently when asked the secret to her successful marriage to Gerald McRaney. Estelle Reiner put it another way, "Find someone who can stand you," which is a funnier line, which you might expect from the wife of Carl Reiner, mother of Rob, and who delivered that classic line in When Harry Met Sally, "I'll have what she's having." Yes, I believe it's as simple as that. You're lucky if you find it the first time around. If not, keep looking (if you are so inclined), and you'll find that special someone.

Speaking of When Harry Met Sally, I finally bought the soundtrack to the movie by Harry Connick, Jr. which has been on my list ever since I heard it at a friend's house a few years ago.
Harry was only 21 when the director, Rob Reiner, was introduced to his talent by a friend and decided he had to have him do the music for the film. Very inventive jazz pianist renditions of the standards. Nice.

A Good Read

2008-01-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

If my friend, Laura, had not given it to me for Christmas, I might not have gotten around to reading this #1 New York Times bestseller, "eat pray love," by Elizabeth Gilbert, a 30- something journalist. (I'm so far behind on all my magazines.)

I was roaming around Costco yesterday, and I happened to see a lady looking at the book, and I said, "I'm almost finished with it...it's a good read." She said, "Well, I saw her on Oprah, and I didn't think she was my type of person." I said, "Well, she is different, but interesting." (I mean how many American women do you know who would fly to Indonesia, find a remote island there, and walk around the whole island day and night by herself?) She asked, "But did you learn anything?" "Most definitely...she takes you on her spiritual journey."

Well, I don't know whether or not the lady bought it, but I would recommend it. I found it highly entertaining. Liz, as she refers to herself, is intelligent, humorous and a great story teller. I was wondering whether or not men would like it, and then I read a quote from GQ that said "not just for the ladies, fellows!"

Cheers!

2008-01-08T21:16:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! I've never been one for non-alcoholic drinks...I mean, if it's a cocktail party, give me a glass of pinot grigio, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, etc. However, if you're serving guests, it's good to have one in your repertoire. I just discovered one that is served at

Blue on Blue in Beverly Hills, called "Mojito." It's pretty good.

2 tsp. mint (which grows wildly in our yard...accidentally, of course; otherwise intentionally we couldn't rely on it), splash of simple syrup (I used Karo...not knowing what "simple" means), Lime wedges, 2 oz. pomegranate juice and 4 oz. soda. You "muddle" the mint with a splash of simple syrup and three lime wedges in a glass. Fill glass with ice. Pour in pomegranate juice and soda. Garnish with lime wedge and a sprig

of mint. It's also pretty! Try it, you'll like it.

P. S. I just found out...Simple Syrup Recipe: Equal parts boiling water and sugar. Allow to cool before using. (I think Karo worked well!)

P.P.S. It must be good...my friend, Diana, to whom we served it, just emailed and asked for the recipe.

Holiday Spectacular

2007-12-31T20:38:00.000-08:00

One of the most enjoyable shows I've seen in a long time was The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring The Rockettes, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. What a fabulous show! Although there were only 18 high-kicking Rockettes as compared to the 36 that you would see in New York, it couldn't have been a more polished or enjoyable performance.

Every number was outstanding, but "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," which was in the original 1933 show and remains today, was definitely a favorite, as was the Raggedy Ann number which ended in the ragdolls doing the splits. All 11 scenes were spectacular, ending with "The Living Nativity," which was in the original show as well.

Since Radio City took the "Christmas Spectacular" on the road in 1994, 62 million people have seen it. Usually, there are two scenes that are swapped out every two years; however, since the show is celebrating its 75th year, the producers really went all out, changing half the show.
I absolutely loved the Santa Claus ad infinitum number, "I'm There," that addressed the age-old conundrum: How can Santa Claus be every place at once? It was so much fun to watch...a real crowd pleaser!

The Rockettes were a marvel of synchronicity...rehearsed to perfection! The costumes were beautiful. Today's Rockettes must be between 5'6" and 5'10 1/2" tall...and two local Orange County women were among the group who made it through the tough auditioning process.
Karie Anne Seasock is a member of the Radio City ensemble who grew up in Garden Grove.
Amy Lenhardt, a graduate of Orange County High School of the Arts, joined the touring group three years ago, after competing with 500 dancers in Los Angeles.

Even though I loved taking those tap dancing and ballet classes when I was a child that resulted in recitals with pretty costumes, I know I would never have the discipline it takes to be a precision dancer like that. I so admire their talent and dedication. As Amy said when asked how reality matched up with her dream of being a Rockette, "I couldn't ask for more. The girls are wonderful. I've made lifelong friendships. I hope I can do it for 15 more years." I'd love to see it again next year!

As if seeing this matinee wasn't pleasure enough, we followed up with dinner at
Ruth's Chris Steak House...divine food. I got adventurous and tried the Venison with Blackberry Sauce. I know, you vegans are cringing right now...but I must say, it was most enjoyable.

A delightful way to celebrate our anniversary, which just happens to fall during the Christmas holiday.

And now I am contemplating whether or not to make any new year's resolutions on this eve.
Whatever you decide to do, have a happy and safe one.

Do you have a hero?

2007-12-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Four years ago, my cousins, Terry & Mary, adopted Joey (4) and Katie (2), the only parents these two children had ever known. This came after 14 years of fostering children who returned to their biological families or were adopted by others. They were never given the chance to adopt these children but felt the heart pangs of seeing them leave after being in their home sometimes for years.

By the way...Terry and Mary successfully reared two biological children of their own before entering into this selfless act of caring for others. I always thought them to be ideal parents, encouraging their children to venture out and pursue their passions without fear. Now, Joey and Katie are filling their lives with joy once again...and they even have a new grandchild to love as well.

Speaking of heroes, and I was, I heard recently that Sal Guerneri with whom I went to grade school and high school passed away recently. I don't know the details, but I recalled how Sal once rescued me as I was being bullied crossing the street to go to school when I was a child.
That qualifies for heroism in my book any day of the week. May his soul rest in peace.

The Greatest Gift

2007-12-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

I always get a little melancholy around this time of year, missing my immediate family. I was looking at a picture of my brother, Charles, who died two weeks before his 16th birthday and feeling grateful that he was in my life for those first 13 years.

I attribute my relationships with Charles, my father, and grandfather to have set me off on a good course of appreciating men. Thank God I am married to a man who is secure enough in his masculinity to allow me to have male friends. Of course, they most often become "our" friends as well.

One of the best things that came out of my producing and co-hosting "The Talk Show" for three years is finding the National Kidney Foundation. A guest on one of our health segments told me about the Great Chefs of Orange County event. A few years later, I was honored to have co-chaired the benefit in memory of my brother who died of kidney disease. The benefit, which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach, raised $40,000 for the charity. It was the first year we had a major sponsor in Evian. It was my privilege to have served on the NKF Board for three years.

Recently, some friends of ours invited us to a play, entitled "The God Committee" by Mark St. Germain at the Actors Co-op in Hollywood. This play was about a hospital which had one heart available, and the "committee" was to determine which lucky person would be the recipient.

Afterwards, there was an audience participation discussion about organ donation. A woman was there with her husband, whom she had given one of her kidneys. They answered questions from the audience and a heartfelt discussion of this important topic ensued.

I remember reading about the stunt lady who donated one of her kidneys to actor Ken Howard. She had been a friend of Linda and Ken's for years, Linda also being a former stunt woman.

In this season of gift giving...is there any more precious gift one can give. More good information can be found at http://www.organdonor.gov/ and http://www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org.

A Visit to the Desert

2007-12-03T22:05:00.000-08:00

This past week, the weather was fantastic for this time of year. Late November can be iffy...by that I mean chilly. But, it was perfect tennis weather until the end of the week when the badly needed rain fell for one day and night.

Fortunately, we had done most of the things on our agenda before the rain storm hit toward the end of the week. After being so close for so many years, we finally visited The Living Desert. It was so interesting seeing giraffe, zebra, ostrich, and other animals roaming around. There was a very impressive train display...the longest model train trestle in the world. We took a walk through the botanical gardens. The whole experience would be great for kids.

One of the things I always look forward to doing when visiting Palm Desert is the College of the Desert Street Fair on the weekends. The day after the storm was the only day I had to go shopping there, and the wind (which almost always follows the rain) was enough to send the vendors packing up as I arrived mid morning. The last time we visited in the spring, I found a beautiful piece of art in red stained glass that I had hoped to use in the set design of my latest play, House of Yes. It didn't work out for the set, but I was delighted to display it over the bar in our family room.

With all the shops on El Paseo (the equivalent of Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive), I really didn't feel too deprived in skipping the fair this time around. However, we still couldn't resist stopping on the way home at the outlet stores in Cabazon. I was surprised to see more upscale stores since we last were there. St. John, Donna Karan, Ellen Tracy, Geoffrey Beane, Calvin Klein and others are there now as well as the usual anchors, Eddie Bauer, Dockers and Mikasa.
One could easily spend the entire day if you have the stamina going from store to store.

Gourmet cooking

2007-11-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Seeing all the Thanksgiving turkey dinner recipes this past week makes me realize how spoiled we've been over the years. Never had to cook a holiday dinner. Always go to my cousin's home. Bernie and Susan are perfect hosts.

Bernie was Art Director for Bon Appetit magazine for years. He got to sample a lot of the dishes shown in the magazine. Being creative to begin with, his meals are not only scrumptous, but the presentation is as attractive as anything you'd see in the magazine. We love his Italian sausage dressing! I usually bring my salmon ball appetizer w/crackers.

One of the best foodie things we've ever done is belong to a Gourmet Club. When we were newly married, I joined the American Association of University Women. We had groups of four couples. We'd rotate duty as hosts. The host couple came up with the menu and assigned the various dishes. The hosts usually prepared the entree and provided the drinks. Everyone kept track of their expenses, which we would divide at the end of the evening. Everyone had a copy of the entire menu. I can't imagine any one couple preparing the whole meal. The experience opened us up to a whole new array of ingredients and recipes.

The first year or two were devoted to different countries. It gave us a chance to share my Italian recipes. We made homemade lasagna noodles. One big lesson learned was when I doled out the recipe for "Braciola" or beef rolls. We had to completely rewrap it when the couple got there. My instructions left a lot to be desired. I'm in awe of how quickly Rachael Ray and Emeril turn out their cookbooks.

Two meals that stand out as real winners were China and England. The couple who shared their Chinese ancestor recipes included, Thousand Year Old Egg, Westlake Duck (which they deboned from the inside out), and Winter Melon Soup (which they served in a carved out melon). A Toast to Merry Ole England included Tenderloin of Beef Wellington, Yorkshire pudding (which is now in our repertoire) and Bibb Lettuce Five Crowns style.

A life well lived

2007-10-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

Why are the most heartfelt things so tough to write about? A member of my extended family passed away this week. I loved Marjorie Schwartz.

When Susan Bernard joined our family by marrying my cousin, Bernie, it was a very happy time. The more I got to know Susan's mom, the more I wanted to be around her. She had such panache. She wrote a weekly article for the West Los Angeles area newspaper. When she and her family came to visit, we would later read about how much she liked our bbq ribs. When we were celebrating a special birthday or anniversary, we'd see our names in print then too.

I went to the theatre with Marjorie when she prepared to review a show. She would have loved the play I'm doing now... "Sideways, A Musical."

She supported me by coming to The Gardenia when I did my one-woman cabaret. We went together to her grandson Alex' third grade class when Susan asked me to sing "something Italian" when they were studying the arts of various countries. I sang, "That's Amore." So many memories. And when we'd get together to celebrate either of our birthdays, you could count on both of us wearing our favorite shades of purple/lavender.

I miss her fun jewelry, her shoes, her great stories about her parents' friends, George & Gracie Allen, Mary & Jack Benny.

I feel blessed to have spent time around this wonderful woman. In fact, the last time we were together was at a Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica where we saw Dick Van Dyke dining. He even helped Marjorie with the car door on the way out as he was leaving as the valet pulled up. Susan is preparing a special memorial to celebrate her mother's life. It will be interesting to hear what the Rabbi will say from all the input of her many friends and family.

A life well lived, leaving behind many who will miss Marjorie's joie de vivre.

Legendary Singer and Artist

2007-10-10T13:30:00.001-07:00

Last week when I was waiting in the doctor's office for my annual exam, I picked up a copy of a magazine with Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera on the cover. I always bring my own reading material with me just in case I have to wait anywhere I have an appointment...but then I invariably see one of the magazines displayed that I never get to read and curiosity gets the better of me and I read theirs; although, I don't think it's a good idea...because of germs, especially in a doctor's office.

In any event, in this instance, I had recently seen the duo perform on one of the award shows, and I was impressed with how the much-younger Christina held her own with the master. I haven't really followed her career, although I own almost every album/cd Tony has put out.
I like Christina's voice and admire her confidence in the way that she promotes herself.

The interesting thing about this article that talked almost exclusively about Tony, not only his singing, but his art work as well, are quotes from two talented persons. One is from Phil Ramone, who produced Tony's "Duets" cd. Phil mentioned that among musicians, Tony is admired and known for never performing a song exactly the same way twice. (If you're a singer, you can appreciate this with all the thousands of songs he has sung.) Phil states, "I think he's one of the ultimate artists in seeing life from a musical point of view. Whereas many performers need a crowd's response to spark a fresh idea, Tony completely comes from within himself."

Paul McCartney, on meeting Tony, "I was reminded that most of the great people are nice to be with, because they don't have anything to prove."

He's certainly one of my favorites. And congratulations to his son, Danny, for his vision in managing his father's career.

Second-guessing Yourself

2007-10-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how your life might have turned out if you had made a different decision? Every time I see Johnny Grant presenting a celebrity with his/her star on the Walk of Fame, I think back to the time I met him. More years than I care to think about, he was there at a business convention I was attending in Anaheim. He asked me if I would be willing to pose for "Stars and Stripes." I recall that I didn't even bother to ask him what that was. I just blurted out, "Oh, no, my husband wouldn't like that."

Now, truthfully, it wasn't that I was such a hot babe, but I was the youngest by about 20 years among the other women, so I suppose I stood out for that reason. However, even though I can't remember what I ate for dinner last night, I can remember the dress I had on. It was one of my favorites...beige with a black wide cloth belt that tied on the side..black sleeves, above the knee. I must say, it was one of my more flattering outfits.

Unfortunately, my focus at that time was not on show business, being seen, achieving fame nor fortune. I wanted a family. I was afraid if I got sidetracked in a career I loved, I might postpone having a family.

Interesting, how things work out. I never had a family...God knows we tried. I had a succession of jobs that were really not my cup of tea but ones I could safely leave without missing them. I waited until I completed a 20-year career in marketing to puruse my passions of acting and singing. I love it how actresses today can seem to balance their exciting careers, marriage, and motherhood.

I don't think Johnny Grant would be making any such offers today. And, oh, by the way, when I got home and told my hubby about it, he said, "Why didn't you do it?!"

And just when I thought I had men figured out.

Huey Lewis and The News

2007-09-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

The other day on KOST 103.5, I heard, "If This is It, by Huey Lewis and the News. Oh, nostalgia time. Transported me right back to KWIZ-FM, where as an Air Personality, I played all those great songs from the 80's: Lionel Ritchie, Kenny Rogers, Simply Red, The Bee Gees, Journey, The Eagles, Chicago.

One of the first things you're told in deejay school is that you're not there to entertain yourselves...but the listeners. Well, it doesn't hurt if you actually like the music you're playing.

I enjoy listening to K-EARTH 101 as well, especially Christina Kelley in the evenings. We were in school together a long time ago...of course, she was much younger than I (around 18 at the time). I always knew she would go far. Of course, having Jim Bain as our instructor didn't hurt! Oh yes, and if you hear those traffic reports on the radio and TV by Bill Thomas, well, he's also "Bain trained." We recently got together to reminisce. Oh, the good ol' days!