The New Musings of a Quiet Geek

Thursday, I drove up to Bangor to see the play "A Year With Frog and Toad," which my second cousin was in, with my uncle and grandmother. My aunt and parents met us there. A drive that would normally take like 2 and half hours took about 5 because, well, the weather was just so awesome... The musical was great, as I still love the stories, with, honestly, the best parts thanks to my cousin as Snail and "The Terribly Huge and Hugely Terrible Frog." The best part of the evening came when we were going to our cars. (I and my traveling companions were going to my parents for the weekend.) My uncle goes to his car and can't unlock the door. We all assume the lock is frozen. My father down the street opened his car just fine so he didn't know what was going on. My uncle kept kicking the door with the side of his foot to no avail. By now, I'm sure you smart readers have deduced that it wasn't his car! Good times... I was intending to drive back down on Fri...

I can't believe I didn't discuss this in detail but about a week ago now, the seminary had their end of the year party. This included a reception and then dinner. The graduating seniors were recognized symbolically by each ringing a bell for the number of semesters they attended. Some had to ring it as much as 12 times! Friday, I went up to Ellsworth with my grandmother and uncle. The trip was long but I did enjoy being able to discuss and listen to music with my uncle. That night, the five of us, including my parents, went to see two of my second cousins in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! at the Grand. I discovered later that this was not the original production that starred Gary "Radar" Burghoff but the 1999 revival with Kristin Chenoweth as Sally Brown. (She won a Tony for it...). The difference is that the original version had a character named "Patty" which is not to be confused with Peppermint Patty. This character was replaced with Charlie'...

Music- "It's All Over Now"- The Rolling Stones I had to shut the cat out to actually get this post out. I'm catnip... The Sunday before last, and I can't believe I forgot to write about this previously, I went with my aunt, her co-worker and my cousin to see a stage production on the life of Henry W. Longfellow. It was held in the little theater on the second floor of Portland Stage. It was good but you had to pay attention the way the story was presented. There were three performers: Longfellow and a man and woman who are other characters as needed and sometimes act as narrator or Greek Chorus if you will. I liked it. Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house consisted of us, my uncle and grandmother, who I drove up with, and my aunt so it was a small but good group. Friday before my grandmother and uncle drove back, my uncle, father and I watched the classic Paul Newman movie Cool Hand Luke . I'm ashamed to say I'd never seen it before. Great movie. F...

So this weekend, well, Thursday, I went up north to the parental units to celebrate my natal day. The bus ride was pretty good thanks to my aforementioned mixes. My parents were both there at the station and we drove home where my father, bless him, had a six pack of my favorite beer (Amstel Light because domestic is skank) waiting in the fridge. Friday, the actual day, I organized some of my books in my bedroom or the room that is mine when I'm up and there isn't any more important guests. My grandmother and uncle arrived in the afternoon and then was present time! I received some good stuff this year. The Traveling Wilbury Collection with both albums and a DVD. (The DVD has a documentary of how the band was formed and all their videos. Yes! They have videos!) I also received the third volume of The Superfriends otherwise known as "the Firestorm series" and a DVD of Paul McCartney's 2005 tour. Finally, I received Vince Flynn's latest paperback and an autogra...

On Friday night, my parents and I went to see a production of A Christmas Carol at Hartford Stage. It was really well acted. This version had some interesting aspects to it. One: Scrooge's housekeeper was a transvestite. In fact, the same actor played Jacob Marley... Two: While the Ghosts of Past and Present were how we have come to expect them to look, the Ghost of Christmases Yet To Come wasn't a Grim Reaper type. He was a guy in a top hat and sunglasses riding a funky tricycle. My mother accurately described it as "Tim Burton-inspired." Yesterday, we had the Christmas Pageant at my church. We did the traditional Nativity story this year after letting the kids write something different last year. The best part of the play was watching was watching our preschool kids as sheep. The best part of the whole experience, however, was not having to be in it myself... Yesterday afternoon, my father and I went out to get the tree. It's now up and decorated! Woo Hoo! Last...

The major event of my birthday this year was going to another play but, unlike last year, this was at the Ivoryton Playhouse instead of on Broadway. We saw "An Inspector Calls." The play was very well acted and the plot was very suspenseful. The only drawback I can stress is that when the first act ends, there was some confusion as to if it was intermission or actually over. It could have been over but no one came out to give bows or anything. There was no mention of how many acts in the program as is usual and the director never gave a hint either way when she introduced it. It turned out all right but... This was the most "community theater" experience I've had here in Connecticut in that you could eat in the theater but the actors were still mostly professional. It was a very good time. Yesterday, I went with my mother and a colleague of hers to a Christian Education conference. I personally went to a workshop on children's literature where most age app...

On Thursday evening, we used the last of our special Hartford Stage ticket things and saw A Raisin in the Sun. Of the three plays we saw this was the only one I had heard of before and actually seen. (I also read it.) It is such a great play and the acting here was great although one does wonder how they fair in the new house. Someone should try and obtain the rights to write a sequel. I originally saw it as a taped performance in college with Ester Rolle and Danny Glover. I think it was done in the eighties. At the time I saw it, I think Rolle was doing commercials for some psychic hotline. Remember that financial crap I mentioned about the cancelled spyware software. Well, I received my bank statement today and they refunded my money! This means I have a little money in there if that date actually happens next weekend...

Thursday night, we went to see legitimate theater downtown. We saw Moon for the Misbegotten which I discovered was the last play written by Eugene O'Neill. Our seats were great. We could actually see the expressions on the actors' faces. The play itself was pretty good and fairly engrossing. I would recommend it for those readers who want a little culture. Friday afternoon, we went to the mall and I bought A Bigger Bang which is the new album from the Rolling Stones. Such a great album. The overall feel of the album to me is that the Stones have matured to their age but still remember how to rock. One song Jagger complains she drives too fast and in another complains he's eating breakfast at 9 and she's just getting in. It's quite amusing. As many may already know, the song "Sweet Neocon" basically rips the current administration a new one. Gotta love it. Friday night, we went to the movie theater to see Memoirs of a Geisha . I went because wh...

LADY OF THE LAKE: What ever happened to my part? It was exciting at the start. Now we're halfway through Act 2 And I've had nothing yet to do. I've been offstage for far too long It's ages since I had a song. This is one unhappy Diva The producer's have deceived her. There is nothing I can sing from my heart. Whatever Happened to My Part? I am sick of my career Always starting second gear Up to here, with frustration and with fears. I've no Grammy no Rewards, I've no Tony Awards, I'm Constantly replaced with Britney Spears Whatever Happened to My Show? I was a hit, now I don't know. I'm with a bunch of British Knights, Prancing 'round in woolly tights. I might as well go to the Pub They've been out searching for a shrub Out shopping for a Bush Well they can kiss my Tush It seems to me they've really lost the plot Whatever Happened to My I'll Call my Agent, Dammit Whatever Happened to My Not Yours, Not Yours, By My, Part!

A day or two ago my mother found out that her cousin's cancer was in the final stages and she didn't have much longer to live. (This was the mother of the groom at the family wedding I talked about going to awhile back.) I'm glad my mother was able to enjoy herself at the play despite. Also, remember I mentioned my "Bosnian sister" was moving to Detroit? Well, she called from the road yesterday. They're probably there now. Oh, and I mentioned that my Florida cousin was going to be affected by Hurricane Wilma. She and her family did evacuate but they're back home and there apparently wasn't any serious property damage. I loved Spamalot perhaps more than the movie it was "lovingly ripped off" from although I admit Holy Grail isn't my favorite Monty Python film. That honor goes to Life of Brian which I suppose has to do with my wall-to-wall church childhood but who knows or gives a damn? I bought a tee-shirt and when to the lounge of our...

As you may already know if you read the Lady's comments before coming here, I have a cold. I started feeling ill about Wednesday night but then really started to feel crappy. I don't recall the last time I had such a persistent sore throat and the lack of body temperature regulation is driving me insane. So to pass the time, I had a "Super Marathon" of sorts. First, I watched the episode of Smallville from this past Thursday which rocked my socks then I watched Superman III . I have to admit it was odd seeing Annette O'Toole as Lana but I think, aside from the extremely slow beginning, the movie was pretty good. Hell, Richard Pryor is hilarious without really even trying. Despite my illness,we went downtown Hartford last night for the East Coast premiere of Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky which was kind of a country-western musical. I was hepped up on cold medicine but I really liked it.

You know what's worse than listening to the horrible Fox commentators during a baseball game? When my Sox lose it, that's what. The most idiotic comment they made, besides once again dissing Bellhorn (Yes, we know he pretty much always walks or strikes out. Move on!), was when they suggested that Mueller and Mirabelli should use a hit and run play. Any broadcaster who does any kind of homework would know, no matter how little they watch the team, that Mirabelli can't run! What I hate most about Fox is their incessant need to analyze and kiss up to the Yankees. At least this week they were actually playing the game; which does not usually matter. Surprisingly, the ESPN morons didn't piss me off this week. Sure they went on and on about the Yankees as well but with Leiter giving a surprisingly good show, I found that acceptable. ESPN also hardly ever discusses the Yankees unless they are actually playing that particular game. Unfortunately, not even having the great Jerry...