Last few books I read. A bakers dozen plus one ( in no particular order )

1. The Bible =basic instructions for everything - read a little every day
2. Clear the Decks - Daniel Gallery - Humorous novel about Navy Pilots - I laugh out loud every time I read it.
3. War in the Falklands - London Times Team = Very in depth history of the Falklands war.
4. Flying High - James Wynbrandt = Biography and history of David Neeleman and JetBlue
5. Blessed Life - Robert Morris = down to earth biblical principals that have challenged my heart.
6. the Source of My Strength - Charles Stanley = comfort for times of grief.
   
7. Anytime, Anywhere - Martin Caidin = Novel of A ragtag group of pilots
8. Thriving on Less - Leo Babauta = How to downsize your life
9. Sunshine Skies - David Henderson = A history of regional Airlines in the southeastern U.S.
10. the Case Files of Sherlock Holmes - Dr John Watson = a reproduction of Doctor Watson's actual notes of several great cases.
11. Sun Stand Still - Steven Furtick = What if we truly had audacious faith?
    
12. Amazing Encounters with God - Clayton King = stories that open your mind to God's power.
    
13. So You're Dead - Kevin Garrison = A tongue -in-cheek look at life and death by a fellow pilot
14. Plan B - Pete Wilson = What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?
    

Last night my wife and I had a great 'date night ', attending a concert by Randall Bramblett. They are trying something new at the Electric City Playhouse. here in town. It was a small solo unplugged show. Just a singer-songwriter, his guitar and his piano. Randall has one of the most soulful voices I ever heard and is an outstanding musician as his hundreds of recording credits testify. But above all he is a poet, writing and singing songs with such expressive and emotional lyrics.

A lot of the almost two hours he played was songs from the new cd "Meantime" his 7th solo work. It is such a laid back easy recording. In the vein of a male Norah Jones. These songs featured just a singer and his piano. Very nice. The cd is a slight departure from his norm but after only one listen I am hooked.

The "room" as Randall refered to it was great with comfortable theater seating in a semi-round high rising layout that designed for the community playhouse productions they normaly hold. The sound was near perfect. It is a very nice place for relaxing music.

Even after a few decades in the business Randall is still a down-to-earth guy. Very open and great to talk with. He even autographed a cd for me.

Walking in the door we were greated by our friends Dan and Mary. I had not thought to inform nor invite them. It never crossed my mind, but as soon as I heard Dan's voice (he spotted me first ) I thought of all the people I know he WOULD be the one most likely to attend. I was glad he didn't miss it. We had a wonderful time. I hope they hold more events like this. I even

Here is a short ( incomplete ) list of people Randall Bramblett has recorded with :

Sea Level
Chuck Leavell
Greg Allman
Levon Helm
Allman Brothers Band
Widespread Panic
Steve Winwood
Traffic
Gov't Mule
Bonnie Raitt
Delbert McClinton
Bonnie Bramlett
Roger Glover
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Cowboy
Elvin Bishop
Goose Creek Symphony
John Hammond
Warren Haynes
Robbie Robertson
Johnny Jenkins
Jerry Joseph
Jan Krist
Francine Reed
Vigilantes of Love
String Cheese Incident
Phoebe Snow
Grateful Dead

It's play season at Anderson University. Time to enjoy yet another year of fantastic live theater by the Drama dept.

Over the weekend we attended the seasons first offering. A little known play " Fiddler on the Roof" Obviously I am kidding. Fiddler is one of the most successful Stage presentations in Broadway history. In fact it was the first Broadway show to exceed 3000 productions. It was also made into an academy award winning motion picture. The film won three Oscars.

The A.U. production was large enough to be held in the biggest auditorium on campus. On the night we went it was about packed out.

Fiddler is a story centered on a simple man, Tevye the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions. He must learn to cope the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters as they choose husbands while dealing with the harsh life he faces as a Jewish milkman in a small Russian town. Dealing with the events of the Revolution and persecution of all Jewish people by the Tsar's government.

This production was directed by Deborah McEniry who also did an outstanding job last year.

The Drama department chairman David Larson, his students, and staff do an outstanding job. You really should check this one out.

It was the first production of this season for the Anderson University Playhouse. “Little Women” done as a musical is a large production so for the first time the show was moved into the larger 1200 seat Henderson Auditorium on campus. Good thing, because the opening night crowd was huge, a sell out.

“Little Women” is a story about four sisters and their struggle as they grow into wives and mothers. They each have their own personality quirks and flaws to address. With Meg, it is vanity; Jo, has a hot temper; Beth, is painfully shy; and Amy, wants everything to be about her. She struggles with selfishness. It’s a story about life and family relationships. We all read the story as a child in school.

I am normally not a big fan of musicals but this adaptation was well done and I had a great time. I had a raging headache at the beginning but by the intermission it had vanished. It’s a longer than average play, but worth your time.

A.U. Theater. Check them out. They are superb.

Did you see us? We were sitting right in the middle of the front row. Jeopardy doesn't show the audience very often, but we did make it on camera just before the second commercial break.

Alex Trebek the host is a warm friendly man, who genuinely seems to enjoy talking with the audience. During each break and between shows ( they film several each day ) he came over and chatted and answered questions. Yeah he does seem as smart as he looks while hosting. And I've seldom met anyone as quick witted. Since Kristie and I were seated front and center we were able to talk face to face. He told us about the life of a game show host and his world. He even shared photos of his teenage children (Matthew and Emily) and had several of his dog Sonya. We stumbled onto a subject near to his heart. Thoroughbred race horses. He once owned a ranch and raised thoroughbred horses. During the late eighties I owned a share in a racing horse we found a common interest.

We also had a chance to meet and chat with last nights repeat winner. And his family. They were very nice people and explained a lot of the in and outs of being and winning on a game show.

If you missed us, you have one more chance. Tonight's show. Same time same channel. Look for us front row in the middle, grinning like we were on TV or something.

Mom and Dad came over last night to spend their July expiring movie coupons. Dad had said he wanted to see "Get Smart". So we all piled in the car and hit the cinema. They both loved the movie and we all laughed out loud.

Last year I think the funniest movie was "Wild Hogs"


"Get Smart" is the funniest movie this year so far. And it keeps getting funnier and funnier as it goes on. It contains a great back story of Max and his desire to become a field agent.

For me it will be an instant classic. Most adults will really love this movie because they grew up with the TV show. And it is very classy with several tributes in the credits. It's also filled with salutes, inside jokes and references to the series through out the film. Still you can enjoy it even without knowledge of the old series. I think mostly any ages can enjoy it as well. Except for small children who probably won't get about half the jokes, so there is no point in them watching it. It is rated PG-13


I think this is probably Steve Carrel’s best movie yet. He is a master of making you laugh with his face expressions. Get Smart features extreme laughter to anyone who watches it. In the theater everyone was truly cracking up.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who might be willing to die from a laughing coma.

After the movie we all “Frogged our Sides” at Dockside. Yummy

Quantum of Solace clips

AFI the American Film Institute named their “Top Ten” films.

The winners were chosen by actors filmmakers, critics and others in Hollywood from ballots that included 50 nominees in each genre

They listed the 10 most voted on films in several genres.

Here are some of the winners for each category.

Mystery: "Vertigo." -
Western: "The Searchers"
Sports Tales: "Raging Bull"
Courtroom Drama: "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Animation: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
Fantasy: "The Wizard of Oz,"
Science Fiction: "2001: A Space Odyssey,"
Romantic Comedy: Chaplin's "City Lights"
Gangster Flicks: "The Godfather"
Epics: "Lawrence of Arabia”

What would be your winners?

There have been a lot of extra hours at work for Kristie over the past few weeks. Her audit starts in full swing this week which made this past weekend the calm before the storm. It was nice to have the whole time together with no scheduled events other than church.

Friday night we planned a rare weekend date night. Normally our weekends stay pretty filled, and we enjoy our nights out more when the crowds are thinner. But tonight was wonderful. We had a great dinner at a fairly new place on this side of town. Dockside on Pearman Dairy Road.

There is no way I can fully describe the meal. I ordered a burger plate. Not any old burger but an amazing hand patted, charcoal grilled one and a half pound serious burger. And what appeared to be a full bag of fries. I didn't even eat half. Hurray for doggy bags. I've eaten there twice before. We were prepared with a small ice chest. Seriously !

After the meal it was off to the movies. I liked the old TV series and have really been looking forward to "Get Smart" the movie. It's been four days and my sides are still sore from laughing. Great movie. I am heading back to see it again today. Look for a review.

After the movie we headed back to Dockside to share a massive blueberry cobbler with ice cream. The staff remembered us from earlier and seemed both pleased and amused to see us back for more. They brought out the dessert order you would not believe the size. I kid you not when I say the bowl was the size of a hubcap. It was filled with fantastic cobbler and topped with six scoops of ice cream. Though it was near three hours and neither of us ate even half of our dinner, we ALMOST could not finish it all. I said almost. It's not good to eat until you are sick, but someone had to do it. I think of mom's admonishment when I was a child. To clean my plate. I did, but driving straight home to crash on the couch seemed the best idea.

Yummmy

Can you guess what I was reading today ?

Every once in a while a film comes along that so surprises, so enchants, so delights captures your imagination that that you can’t wait to see it again. I just watched one such movie. “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”

It’s a story about a magic toy store where everything comes to life. When 243-year-old Mr. Magorium played by Dustin Hoffman plans to give the store to its manager, Molly (Natalie Portman), things start going haywire. He hires an accountant played by Jason Bateman, who really needs a life outside work. Henry the accountant was one of the best jokes of the film with everyone calling him a counting mutant.

A few of the “critics“ gave this film mediocre reviews. That by itself is a good reason to like it. Interestingly the fan reviews rate it much higher. The critics don’t seem to understand normal values at all. There is something magical about this film and it is great for the family.

The visuals both inside and outside of the store, the “Wonder Emporium”, are fantastic to see. Whether it is LEGOS coming to life or Kermit the Frog strolling down the aisle with a shopping cart, it is definitely going to keep you interested and surprised.

Well the credits have just ended so please excuse me. I need to press ‘start’. I wanna see it again.


Late Addition: I forgot to add this movie addresses the whole hot dog bun issue, that has plagued mankind for years.

Last week during Kristie’s regular night out with her friends, I went to see “Iron Man”. Last night we finally found a time to see a film together. Our “Date Nights” often include a movie and it was her turn to pick.

When we were in California we repeatedly saw trailers for the romantic comedy “Made of Honor”.

On the surface it looks like a typical chick flick, a remake of “My Best Friends Wedding”, but it was more than that. Yes it was a story about a guy afraid of commitment waiting until it was almost too late. When he realizes the girl of dreams, his perfect partner is right in front of him, he learns she has become engaged. And worse she asks him, as her best friend to become her Maid of Honor. So Tom (the hero) with some deviously funny help from his friends uses that assignment as a tool to ‘win her back’ so to speak.

It’s really a pretty good date movie. The women will love it yet there is enough quirky humor to keep guys interested. Yes, it's totally predictable. But I found the main characters to be likeable
and the cinematography around Scotland was breath taking. And it was funny. When you see it if you don't laugh out loud it's because you are determined not to laugh. Laughing hard during many scenes, and I even found myself thinking like his buddies, coming up with ideas on how to reach their goal of "stealing the girl."

Overall - it was funny, entertaining, my wife loved it and for a "chick flick" it was very enjoyable. No need to sneak a listen to your iPod on this one!

Next up for us. Indy Jones

Sydney Pollack in his final role as Tom's Father.

Tee dom dom dah da dom dom.

"The Andy Griffith Show."

We all know that song. "The Fishing Hole"

Just hearing the whistling of those opening notes always puts me into a great mood.

Earle Hagen, composer of that and several other memorible television theme song died today. He was 88.

Hagen composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes, pilots and TV movies, including theme songs for "That Girl," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer," "Make Room for Daddy,"and "I Spy." and for several movies. He even won an Oscar for one score.

Hagen called himself "A Famous Composer -- Nobody Ever Heard Of." In fact that was the title of his autobiography. Hagen wrote two other books on the subject of composing.

Kristie and I went to a movie tonight. "Made of Honor" I'll likely write more about that later. We didn't realize it until tonight but Actor, Director Sydney Pollack who passed away yesterday had his final role as an actor in this movie as the hero's father. He was 73.

It's been a long time since I posted one of these. Kevin was visiting and he got to talking about illusions so......

What do you see?

Fifteen Seconds of Fame

That's about the amount of time my lovely image was on the screen. That's accumulated time. The longest single moment was around four seconds. Turns out 15 seconds is about as much as the average person can stand anyway. Isn't it interesting that the taping of the shows lasted almost five hours.

Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.-Sir Winston Churchill


To me it is funny how excited we both became at being on television. Especially since we never watch anything. Honestly, though it is in it's twenty-fifth year I never sat down and actually watched a complete episode of Wheel. Until this week. Now I've been in the room when it was on. My In-laws never miss a night. It's on every time I visit yet I never paid much attention to it.

That's the way it is with many church people when it comes to hearing God's voice. It's on. It's there, plain to hear, we just never pay much attention to it.

A few months ago our pastor challenged us to begin a quiet time with God. And for me that's been hard. Not that I don't want to. It's that I'm having to learn to. I have a very active mind, and it seems to dash off in 360 directions at every given moment. Like I said " sometimes the background noise is deafening".

Last night my wife and I ate our supper quickly, stacked the dishes, closed the drapes ( sorry window treatments) , turned off all other distractions, and got comfortable in our chairs to intently watch and hear what Pat, Vanna and the others said and did.

Fame has also this great drawback, that if we pursue it, we must direct our lives so as to please the fancy of men. -Baruch (Benedict de) Spinoza

I learned another lesson about how to connect with what God is saying. Pick a time, stack the days 'chores ' and put them aside for a moment. Remove yourself from the distractions of daily life, your job, the phone and kids. Get comfortable, tune in and then you can truly hear what God is saying.

Oh BTW even after seeing the game in person, I still couldn't solve the puzzles. I never was good at Hangman either.

Last night Kristie and I attended the Anderson University Playhouse’s production of “Steel Magnolias”. The Belk Theater was turned into Truvy’s. But it is really much more than a Louisiana small town beauty shop. It is the hub of social companionship between the group of lady’s who come there.

This play was perfectly cast and they did a splendid job. Each character was engaging and before long I was truly part of the story they were telling. Laughing and yes even crying just a little.

The drama team pulled all the stops and truly created a memorable production.

We had a great time. You should try to see a play there sometime.

Anderson Senior Follies presents Senior Moments

It's early march again and time for the 19th Annual Senior Follies. Every year Kris and I take my parents to see this wonderful stage show done in the old time follies style. And entirely done by local Senior Adults. Song, dance, jokes and comedy skits. It's good old fashion fun.

If you missed it there are still a few show left March 7th, 8th, and 9th.

Tickets are on sale now at the Anderson University Rainey Center Box Office

864-231-2080 or 864-231-2027

General admission: $12

We went to a play at the college last night. Boy am I ever disappointed. I thought Hamlet was about a little pig.
Kidding ...

The Playhouse at A.U. did their production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The Belk Theater was packed. The cast and crew did marvelous job on a task the director himself admits made him nervous. Most everyone can quote a few lines and you're thinking everyone has done this one. Right? Well honestly since we are not all that removed from the type events in this tragedy. Wars, assassinations, political intrigue, and people who strive to build a public image, yet don't even know who they are. It is worth doing here, if only to remind us.

Brad Brinkley did a superb job in the lead role, as did the cast as a whole. Even the sword fighting was realistic during the final act.

I had a good time and enjoyed the evening despite the downpour we had to suffer getting there. I can't wait the next event.

We all sing 'em Know the words by heart. But have we ever really listened to what they say?

I truly heard this one for the first time last week. Such an amazing song of hope. The whole story.

Pay special attention the the blue phrases and the solution in purple.

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th' unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till ringing, singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Longfellow wrote this song as a poem on Christmas day 1864 in the midst of the Civil War. He still greiving from the death of his wife and had just received the word of the serious wounding of his son in battle. It is filled with near dispair, yet in the end offers the strong hope because "God is not dead." and the promise that someday there will truly be 'Peace on earth, good will to men"

This old hymn now has special meaning to me . I was moved ! From now on you can be sure I will really be listening to what they say.

Merry Christmas

Did you go to the Greek Festival this past weekend? We had a good time and ate massive amounts of interesting foods. Looked at the Arts and Crafts, placed a bid in the silent auction, (we lost ) and learned some Greek dance steps along with a little history.