I kept telling people that the 60+ degree temperature and sunny skies of last week was premature.  This weekend saw a return to more seasonal weather.  Saturday, I tagged along to the zoo.  Since I had to be back for mass at 6, I drove myself.  I did fine until I exited the turnpike and took the wrong branch off.  Fortunately, my mistake was remedied quickly as all I needed to do was turn around and head back.

Upon paying for admission, I decided to get a membership to the place since for some reason, I ave been quite a bit of zooing lately.  Not that that is a bad thing… as the slogan goes “I Love My ZOO!”  and not a bad deal either.  Discount prices to many zoos throughout the country plus I can bring a friend free each time.  Plus, I got to help a complete stranger by allowing him to get in on my pass.

Because the weather was cold and rainy, our band spent most of the few hours in the indoor exhibits.  The little ones spent a large part of it at the indoor play area.   They even took part in an activity in which they made toys for the birds!  The little one occupied himself with chalk and a beehive.  My little buddy!

After the zoo, we checked out Crazy Prices!  A very cool store with CRAZY Prices!  I picked up a fleece OSU blanket for $5 which usually runs upwards of $30.  Will come in very handy later tonight!  I looked at some hooded sweatshirts that were just as reasonable… BUT… wouldn’t ya know… the largest they had was a Medium.  I’m sure I’ll be back!

After returning and singing at mass, a friend and I closed the evening by watching Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.  And this leads me to wish everyone a Happy Pi Day.  If you don’t get the connection, watch the very fun film!  We won’t get into the hour loss.  Just happy that is behind us and can now catch up on a bit on the rest!  What a Super Saturday!

There are three shows being presented by area theatres that pique my interest.  First on the list is the Village Players little three person cast play, Miracles.  I was loaned a copy of the script and I read it twice.  It is very emotional and thought-provoking with a few moments of lightheartedness.  Definitely would be the most challenging show ever.  It does have a little singing in it for the one male character and the teenage girl.

ACT is performing Seussical in July.  I discussed this with my mentor and we both agreed that while it would definitely be fun, it would also be a cakewalk.  It has been years since I last was in an ACT’s production of Fiddler on the Roof and would like to one day return to their neck of the woods.

I have nothing really against Oklahoma! (the final show on the horizon) but it has been done so many times in HIGH SCHOOLS.  I’m sorry but I really want to challenge myself with something outside my safety zone.  But I will audition for it if neither of the other two shows pan out.  Plus, being the last show to audition for, I wouldn’t have any other choice… trying out for no show is not an option!

The last few weeks have not been a good one if you were young or were related to some figure in the public eye of the 1980s.  First, it was Andrew Koenig (of Growing Pains fame).  Last week, Marie Osmond’s young son was found dead.  Yet another blow in her long list of tragic events.  And this morning, yet another teen figure gone astray: Corey Haim… one of the famous “Corey duo” of such 80s teen fare as The Lost Boys, License to Drive, and Dream a Little Dream.  Sadly, Corey was always one who seemed to live life on the wild side and it finally caught up with him.

It just seems so tragic every time I hear something like this in the news.  They may not have been A-list stars but many seem to fall under the allure of the old Hollywood glamour and glitz instead of focusing on their God given talent.  Even more tragic is the reality that many fail to recognize or plain don’t want to realize the grip that the “glamorous life” has on them until it is far too late.

I’m not sure what influence events such as this have on the public at large but someday you would think that  people in similar situations would look at the tragedies and seek some form of help in dealing with it.  Turning to friends, family, or God Himself for guidance.  A bit of “tough love” may even help.

So, to all the Lost Ones out there, I would hope and pray that they look at these recent events  learn from them, and may break free from the demons that seemingly control them.

Well… today was eventful.  The H.S. Boys Basketball team is in the District finalS for the first time since 2001.  The final will be Friday night at the “Grand Canyon.”  This made for a very UNeventful evening at work.  From 7pm-9pm, I probably could count the number of customers I had on one hand.  I then walked home and listened to the final quarter of the District semi-final.

About 9.30, I traveled to B-town and took a nice long walk with Megan.  About an hour and 15 minutes after, we made our way back.  As we passed another friend’s house, we wagered who would be bold enough to go and knock on the window.  After we both thought better of it, I did make a loud “HALOOOOO” sound, but apparently not loud enough.  So by 11.15, we made it back and the light misty rain made it wet enough that it was time to wrap it up.  Fun time and good exercise walking at a nice, brisk pace.  Good companion who kept up with me at what others have often complained is too fast a clip.

GO BULLDOGS!

Before the newest in the endless stream of Robin Hood tales hits the big screen this summer (the first film featuring the outlaw dates back to 1908… the character is hundreds of years old), I recently revisited the 1991 Kevin Costner version Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.  Lots of memories dating back to the summer going into my senior year in high school. I of course saw the movie in the theatre.  I really liked it but found some bits a little unnerving.  Would Maid Marian, a woman of noble blood during the Crusades of King Richard the Lionhearted really hit a man “below the belt?”

I vividly recall the remarkably gifted character actor Alan Rickman in his delightfully delicious turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham.  From the original Die Hard to the continuing Harry Potter saga as Prof. Snape, Rickman shines in the most seemingly villainous of roles.  Anyone who orders the cancellation of Christmas is pure evil!  Was the birth of Christ celebrated in the 12 Century?  Who cares anyway?  Too much digging into a movie is bad for the enjoyment, in my opinion.

Back to the school year.  After the success of the Bryan Adams hit from the soundtrack, the choir sang “(Everything I Do), I Do It For You.”  Along with “Unchained Melody” from Ghost, the two songs made for a nice duo of songs from the movies.  The score by Michael Kamen is perfect!

The home video version is definitely in need of an upgrade.  The sound on the DVD I received from Netflix was not all that great even coming from the Blu-Ray conversion.  Maybe it will receive an upgrade prior to the new film.  Or I could watch “Robin Hood Daffy.”

Here’s the trailer for the new movie:

If nothing else, last night’s Academy Awards made a strong statement that traditional movie making is still preferable to the rise of technology…. in the eyes of the voters anyway.  Avatar may have earned $567,890,123.45 (that figure may even be low) at the box office but I think it was ultimately the big loser this year at the awards.  I really thing Dr. Doogie’s kick-off to the evening was the low point,  Did anyone else see his song (?) and dance?  If not… you will have to hunt yourself.  Honestly, I thought he was supposed to be good?  But I thought Mr. Baldwin and the ALWAYS hilarious Steve Martin were wonderful!

I knew that the time had come for the first female Best Director  even more so than the first African-American (forgive me if that is un-PC).  But I think the fact that Ms. Bigelow and The Hurt Locker swept the top two categories and was the biggest winner was a bit of a surprise.  However, looking back there have been other examples of David-Goliath at the Oscars.  Does anyone remember 1977 when a little movie called Star Wars was beaten by the less groundbreaking Woody Allen pic, Annie Hall?  Or 1982 when a little guy trying to “Phone Home” lost to Gandhi?  So how do we possibly explain the year of the water-logged boat sinking?!  A fluke!

I was happy to see Star Trek win in one category.  It tied with The Voyage Home (the one with the whales… very high on my list) for the most noms by a movie in the series.  Even The Motion Picture (zzz) got three.  Last night’s Make Up victory was the first win for the 44 year series.

So while I came in 4th in the pool, I did walk away with a nice gift.  The ceramic teddy bear banks are adorable, thanks Carol!  Always a ball worthy of the best Hollywood can throw!

I still had a difficult time voting for Sandra Bullock.  Maybe it’s her low opinion of one of her first on screen performances.  If you can’t be happy about playing the second Bionic Woman (and I’m not talking about the unremarkable series reboot of a few seasons ago) then… and what was with the lipstick… EGAD!

And what happened to the “No thanking” policy?  Not to be outdone by the endless Best Actor/Actress presentations.  So much for saving time.  And apparently, “research” doesn’t always help, right C? 😉

The return of the high school musical.  It has been years and long over due!  I’m sure there is some talent still in the school.  I remember the days when the musical was one of the highlights of the school year!  I may only vaguely remember seeing The Wizard of Oz back in the late 70s but I don’t think I have missed either being an audience member, in the cast, or helping in other regards of all the others.  I remember Carousel (my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein show), Music Man,  Finian’s Rainbow, and many others.

March 18th-20th, my alma mater will once again present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  I remember the last time the school performed it.  My two oldest brothers were in the chorus.  For the new staging, there will be a nostalgic feel.  Schroeder’s piano is being donated by the person who built it and had the role 25 years ago!  The mother of the actor and I reminisced the other day at the store.  Her daughter played Peppermint Patty.  Maybe would have been nice to have a show never done before at the school but at least the interest is there for the future.

A few posts ago, I was pondering the popularity of the extremely cool acapella group  Straight No Chaser and came across a website full of information, song samples, and discography.  I also discovered that a new song-filled recording is about to drop.  And quite remarkably this little group was organized on a college campus just to our west.

Check out this video that brings back great memories of performing with America’s Finest Singing Machine!  Just don’t ask me if it is better performed by a chorus of 80 or a small ensemble… just a bit biased.

Today would have been Carol’s 54th birthday.  So many wonderful memories.  I know the last show she saw me in was Idol Night at the Karaoke Place and the character I played which is the same as my blog title.  In the show, my best friend sang my favorite inspirational song made famous by my favorite artist.  The music and lyrics are just perfection.  So for Carol:

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

And yes, Mr. Groban is very high on my ipod shuffle.  I would consider it a Christian tune as I would many of my favorite songs by Josh.

Happy birthday to One More Angel in Heaven.

Or maybe that is what these so called “reality shows” are all about. I don’t watch but I do like to see the list of celebrities (most of whom I wish would just go away) who are willing to put their “talent” on display for better or worse.. probably the latter.  The talented celebrities for the upcoming cast of Dancing with the Stars defies my sense of logic:

• Pamela Anderson (will we never learn… Boobwatch was over like 20 years ago, right?  We won’t go into the Tommy Lee years.)
• Nicole Scherzinger (best known as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls… not to be confused with Josie and the Pussycats)
• Kate Gosselin (spent too much time talking about her already.  Doesn’t she have 8 kids to raise as a single mother?)
• Chad Ochocinco (the obligatory football figure WR for the Cincinnati Bengals)
• Shannen Doherty (WOW… is there anyone on the list who is actually noteworthy?)
• Evan Lysacek (just won the gold for figure skating… wonder if he’ll be as graceful without the ice)
• Erin Andrews (from the sports sidelines as a reporter to the dance floor)
• Aiden Turner (some soap star from All My Dingbats, I believe)
• Niecy Nash (“Reno 911?”  Nope… never seen it either)
• AND FINALLY…. MY PICK FOR THE SYMPATHY VOTE GARNERED BY CLORIS LEACHMAN A FEW YEARS AGO…. Buzz Aldrin?!.  That is just weird.  John Glenn next year?

I dunno… I wonder who Rod Blagojevich will fare on the new Celebrity Apprentice.

• In an unprecedented move, a new contestant was named that I did not learn of until this morning, the new Bachelor whatever his name is.  For crying out loud!  No wonder I don’t watch.