Do The Math!

Word!

My new Basement Floor

Like a white lava flow slowly marches on!

What I'm Watching #289

Just watched the film version of Li Cunxin's autobiography, "Mao's Last Dancer." It's a lovely film, not a terribly good film.

But it's an amazing story, a story that overtakes the faults in the film to leave you amazed and enchanted by his life. It makes Cinderella look pedestrian.

Random Quote 141

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

~ Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948

My First (And Only) Birthday Party

I was in elementary school, maybe 3rd grade. And the really interesting thing is how I can still remember the names of the kids in this picture on my 51st Birthday!

In a rambling left to right order: Julie Somerville and Diane Wren (holding green balloon), Peter Keim, Karen Standhart, Kenny Robideau (shortest kid in the room, held up by others), Randy Taylor (peace sign blue shirt), Kent Miller (glasses), my little sister, Michael McCleery (yellow shirt/no face), Lori Kabosky (front right), the girl behind her's name is a blank, but I remember where she lived), and ME! Half a face behind her.

The venue was the basement of the home I grew up in, the home were both of my parents died. My father in 1986 and then my mother in 1992. The year of the photograph was c. 1969.

Today's Sermon

I Am What I Am

I am what I am,
I am my own special creation
So come take a look,
give me the hook or the ovation
It's my world that I want
to have a little pride in
My world and it's not a place
I have to hide in
Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say,
hey world
I am what I am

I am what I am,
I don't want praise I don't want pity
I bang my own drum,
some think it's noise I think it's pretty
And so what if I love each feather
and each spangle
Why not try to see things
from a different angle
Your life is a sham 'til you can shout
out loud
I am what I am

I am what I am
and what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck
sometimes the ace, sometimes the deuces
There's one life
and there's no return and no deposit
One life
so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say,
hey world
I am what I am

~ Jerry Herman, 1931 -

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Coming Week ~ January 29th to 4th!

Pre-Birthday Celebration!

At the time of my 50th birthday, my dear friend Perri took me to the Kennedy Center to see the Broadway touring company production of "South Pacific." It was marvelous!

Today, for my 51st birthday, we again rendezvoused at the Kennedy Center here in DC for the Broadway touring company production of "La Cage Aux Folles". Everyone deserves such a wonderful friend, n'est pas?

Unlike "South Pacific" I knew virtually nothing about the musical version of La Cage. Sometimes that's the best way to experience something, sans espérance.

The leads were in the hands of George Hamilton and Christopher Seiber. I was a little surprised to learn that George was still alive!--truth in blogging--and I'd never heard of Monsieur Sieber before. The result? George was très charming, managed to hit all of his cues and was actually quite funny at times. I also thought that at times during the second act he was 'tired' in moments when he wasn't doing anything specific in a scene. But Christopher Seiber was dynamite! He rose to and above the occasion without any hint of anything but tenderness toward the older Hamilton. In a word, He was Fabulous! and the chemistry between he and George was very sweet.

The production was held in the Eisenhower Theater which was just perfect. It's a more intimate setting and the production was from the onset very audience interactive. Our seats were in row five from the stage smack dab in the middle. Any closer and I would have strained my neck.

Can my 52nd birthday be better? Peut-être!?

Poster Children For The All American Couple!

A True Horror Story

Rudi van Dantzig -- RIP

The Dutch dancer and choreography, Rudi van Dantzig died on January 19th. I wonder how many of my friends would even know who he was. I know him from his semi-autobiographical film, "Voor een Verloren Soldaat" (For A Lost Soldier). It told the story of his experiences with a Canadian airman who was downed in the Netherlands during World War II and kept incognito by Dantzig's community. A classic war story of courage and unity in the face of unspeakable evil with one twist: The soldier and he (an adolescent boy) shared intimate relations. Filmed in 1992, "For A Lost Soldier" remains a controversial film and properly so. Yet, to experience it is to fully understand the complexity of the situation. His need to share his story, no matter what you might think of it, was an act of profound courage.

Remodeling Project: Basement Lego Heaven!

I have just begun recovering my basement floor. I did the other side of the basement back in 2003. It's held up beautifully, and it was simple to do. On the other side I also had to finish the walls. The walls on this side are vintage pine panelling.

I am also having recess lighting installed and the ceiling drywall replaced. The changes are long overdue. It's time I had a proper Lego Room!!

What I'm Watching #288

"Harvest," or in the original German "Stadt Land Fluss," is a interesting little independent film by Benjamin Cantu. It's the story of two young men who meet at an agricultural training farm and discover in each other the thing that they have been waiting for.

It's a simple story told with an acute eye and some amazing cinematography. At times I was imagining an album cover by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós; stark yet exposed.

It's a sweet film.

Random Quote 140

"My continuing passion is to part a curtain, that invisible veil of indifference that falls between us and that blinds us to each other's presence, each other's wonder, each other's human plight."

~ Eudora Welty, 1909-2001

Happy New Years!

Presidential Race 2012 - #1

Tuesday Funny

What I'm Watching #287

The Help is an Oscar contender on many levels and as usual, I'm late to the dance.

I enjoyed this film for its' acting and myriad of cameos. In an oscar competition I wouldn't know who to give the award to. Everyone was more than adequate, but the whole story seems so "wishful thinking". Rewarding such racial fantasies seems very un-PC.

So great movie, but not a necessary premise. "Cookie's Fortune" was a better pic in this genre.

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Coming Week ~ January 22nd to 28th!