The Haasienda on Shroyer…

The year 2014 will be the 75^th Anniversary of the premiere of the movie Gone With the Wind(GWTW) but many collectors and knowledgeable fans are saddened to see one of the great collectors and gentlemen won’t be there; Herb Bridges has passed away. Herb Bridges once owned one of the largest GWTW collections in the world and after selling much of it he kept other items on display at the Road to Tara Museum in Jonesboro, Ga.

Bridges, who always had a smile on his face and spoke with a slow southern drawl love to talk about “Mah-gret Mih-chull” and “Gown With the Wind.” He was a respected expert on Gone With The Wind and for years was a sought after speaker. With the enthusiasm he had for GWTW and for life in general it is hard to believe he was 83, almost 84. 

Herb passed away on Tuesday and as his family, wife Eleanor, sons Joe and Bill and daughter Anne Clayton gathered at their family home in Georgia,  they shared memories as well as tears.

“We think he must have had a massive heart attack,” said Anne. “While I am sad that he is gone, if I could choose a way for my dad to pass, this is exactly how it would be.  Anyone who knows him knows he would not have liked a long illness or confinement in a nursing home. He was walking to the pond and it was a beautiful day and he was out in the yard.”

Herb was active until the end, continuing to be involved in GWTW activites. In 2010 he traveled to St. Louis, Mo. for the “Gateway To The Wind” festival and wowed the audience with his  Gone With the Wind Power-Point presentation complete with pictures from the movie and movie premiere.

He had the credibility to talk on the subject as he had co-written several books including “Gone With the Wind, Screenplay (Simon & Schuster, 1989), “Frankly My Dear, Gone With the Wind Memorabilia” (Mercer University Press, Macon, GA 1995) and “Gone With the Wind, The Definitive Illustrated History of the Book, the Movie and the Legend” (Fireside by Simo and Schuster, 1989)

This past week Herb sent me some information and we spoke on the phone, something that was common for us throughout the time I got to know him. He always kept me in touch with what he was involved in and was excited because there is a traveling exhibit opening in Virginia around the time of Margaret Mitchell’s birthday Nov. 8, and it will feature several of the authentic bonnets he had collected from the movie. 

I is a Hollywood Costume exhibit and his GWTW bonnets were the only items from Gone With the Wind.  The exhibit, organized by the Victoria & Albert Museum of London called Hollywood Costumes explores the central role costume design plays in cinematic storytelling. It features clothing worn by unforgettable characters from such films as The Wizard of Oz, The Birds, My Fair Lady, Superman, Titanic, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and The Dark Knight Rises. 

“He was tickled to have his bonnets at the exhibit in Richmond,” said Anne Clayton, who had just arrived from her home in North Carolina on Wednesday.

“Most of the Gone With The Wind costumes are in the Harry Ransom Center in Texas and they will be having their own exhibit for the 75^th, so they (the Virginia people) were happy to get my two bonnets,” Herb had told me.

“How are you doing Herb?” I asked him and he answered with his customary “Fahhhhn, doin’ just fahhhhne.” 

He was happy because his beloved Eleanor had come along and was doing so much better after suffering injuries last year in a car accident. He never ended a conversation without mentioning how Eleanor was doing. 

Herb Bridges was my first friend in the Gone With the Wind world.  He invited me to Jonesboro, Ga. To a special dinner being held at Stately Oaks, a beautiful old “plantation” type house in Clayton County, where Margaret Mitchell’s family was from and where the book was set. At the dinner he introduced me to the people in attendance and told them I was working on a book.

Throughout the time I wrote the book, “The Making of a Masterpiece, the True Story of Margaret Mitchell and Gone With The Wind”  (Global Book Publishers, Beverly Hills, 2010) he was available to me and suggested people I could talk to and went the extra step in introducing me to those who could help 

At 2010 Gateway To the Wind: Back Row: Sally Rains, Herb Bridges, Greg Giese, Mickey Kuhn, Patrick Curtis, Joe Yakovetic ,Front Row:  Mark Rabwin, Paul Rabwin, Novella Perrin.

Herb even wrote a blurb for the back of my book which read: “I enjoyed reading this book and feel that Sally Tippett Rains is covering new ground concerning ‘Gone With the Wind’ and Miss Mitchell…and I believe there will be a waiting reading public for “The Making of a Masterpiece”.

Bridges started out working at the Lowes Theatre in Atlanta—the same theatre where Gone With the Wind premiered when he was in high school. He would see the movie posters that were hand painted, and years later he was able to buy some of the original posters to add to his collection.

It wasn’t just the material things from the film that interested him. He was very interested in Margaret Mitchell, who he referred to as “Miss Mitchell” and he knew members of the Mitchell family. He knew people who had known her and he knew quite a lot about her.

“Miss Mitchell was a very private person and the fame that she got overwhelmed her,” he told me. “She didn’t need it because her family was already a prominent family in Atlanta and she was happy with her life the way it was.”

He knew Margaret Mitchell’s brother Stephens and even got to know Stephens’ sons who were the closest relatives to the author as she and her husband John Marsh did not have children. 

Stories he told were always interesting and contained “insider” information, some of which was personal and not used in my book,  but he never engaged In gossip or spoke ill of anyone in the Mitchell family.

There was always intrigue surrounding the remaining son, Joseph, who was rumored to have lived out his life in a big house with a staff who took care of him, and even called a “recluse” by some I spoke to. Even though He knew some private information about him Herb protected the family’s secrets and the memory of Margaret Mitchell. 

He once said he remembered seeing Margaret Mitchell in a picture christening the ship Atlanta, and said that even though she was a “frugal” person, “I noticed she had on a fur coat. I remember thinking to myself, ‘good for her, she finally spent some money on herself.’” 

He told the story of when Stephens suffered an injury from a freak accident just walking down the sidewalk.

And about her continued relationship with the family of the young man she was reportedly engage to who was killed in World War II:

“Miss Mitchell kept in touch with Clifford Henry’s parents,” he once told me.  “They would come to town to visit on their way to Floriday. She gave them a set of Wedgewood demitasse cups one year on a trip to Atlanta.”

 I asked him how he got involved in being such an expert on Gone With the Wind. 

“I was from Sharpsburg, Georgia an area just south of Atlanta,” said Bridges.  “There came a time in the 1960’s when Atlanta started building large hotels to attract the convention business.  People began coming to Atlanta in great numbers and they had this romantic picture of Gone With the Wind in their mind. They were asking questions and I found a niche, using my interest in Gone with the Wind for lecturing and speaking at conventions.

Among the many items in his original collection he said he was interested in the book itself and had several first editions, and had copies of the book in every language in which it was printed.

 Besides Mitchell’s family, Herb knew others connected to the famous author including her secretary Margaret Baugh. 

Years ago at a special Gone With the Wind event in Atlanta, Marcella Rabwin came in to give her memories. She was the executive assistant to GWTW producer David O. Selznick.  He was there when she became ill and was taken to the hospital and later was able to talk to her sons about knowing their mother when they were also in St. Louis for the  “Gateway to the Wind” Festival. 

This week as the news filters out about Herb’s death there will be many stories and happy memories from those whose lives he touched. I know mine is a lot richer for having known this great gentleman of the South.  I plan to watch Gone With the Wind again and I will be thinking of Herb Bridges.

My parents, Margie and Jack Tippett with Herb Bridges and one of his books he had just signed for them. 2010

………

Sally Tippett Rains is the author of “The Making of  Masterpiece, the True Story of Margaret Mitchell and Gone With The Wind” and is the content manager of StLSportsPage.com. You can subscribe to this blog and join her GWTWBook Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/GWTWbookcom/394926172974

Lunch today with a friend.

Tomorrow, breakfast with a friend.  Lunch with a friend.  Thursday will be a repeat of Wednesday, and Friday will boast a breakfast.

Cards, cupcakes, flowers, and hugs began arriving today with students and their families.

One tradition I’ve conducted for the past 12 years on my birthday is to go to Orville Wright’s home, Hawthorn Hill, and sit on the side porch with a cupcake and juice.   This will be the first year Flyer will not be with me.  I thought about taking The Kids, but this was always mine and Flyer’s moment.  I think I will just keep it that way.

Tonight, I finished teaching, walked the dogs, and am eating a sliced tomato and cottage cheese while watching MODERN FAMILY on television.

This afternoon, my younger brother, Destin, wrote a touching birthday greeting:

What does how old we are really mean? Wednesday, my older brother, Darin L. Jolliffe-Haas, will be celebrating his birthday (he is 10 years older!), and I used to always joke about him being so much older, but then I realized, what does our age really mean? I have seen my brother over the years, act like he was Parker, Freddie, or Carolyne’s age when he knew he needed to be at “their level”, but I have also witnessed him with people in their 80’s and he shares his wisdom in a mature way. So remember, our age is how we act and feel! Happy Birthday to my older brother on Wednesday! He has always been there to listen, to help me with school work, and give me a good laugh over the years! Love you, Bub!

This birthday has already gotten off to a wonderful start – and it is still 2.5 hours away!

When I begin directing a theatre production, I give the entire company three pieces of advice at the end of my speech at the first rehearsal.  At the half-way point of the rehearsal process, I remind them of these three items, and on closing night, as we gather in our final circle-up following the closing curtain, I offer the advice one last time.

If, on your journey through life should you see someone without a smile, always share your smile.

If, on your journey through life should you see someone who needs a hug, always, always share your hugs.

If, on your journey through life should you see someone without any color in their life, always, always, always share your crayons.

At midnight tonight, I will begin my 50th year. I will only be turning 49 years old, but I will have begun my 50th year of life on this earth.

It’s been an interesting year, a fun year, a year with excitement, a year with some sorrows mixed in. But mostly a year of tremendous growth, understanding, and an expanded vision.

This past year I made many new acquaintances, welcomed one or two dear friends into my close circle of life, ushered out a few who were becoming terrorists with my inner peace, and continued to learn as much about myself as I possibly could – about my permanent and ever-changing self, and the world around me.  I am eager to welcome new folks into my life, and am certain there will be those who will need to be ushered out of the auditorium for causing a disturbance, or who will move along by their own volition.

It seemed as though this time last year, I was attending a number of family and friends funerals. Several folks made premature departures and are still sadly missed. And there were some folks in my life who decided it was time to move on in a different direction. I wish them well.

The saddest departure had to be that of my dear little pal, Flyer. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her beautiful spirit, her everlasting devotion, and her companionship. Perhaps one day, I shall be able to think about her, or discuss her without tears filling my eyes. Rest in peace my beloved pal.

Although I’ve already accomplished two items on my Live Out Loud experience that will officially commence tomorrow, I am excited to embark on the next 47 adventures. I still have several more to add to the list, and I am sure those will be terribly creative and fun.

So, here’s to the last full day of being in my 40s – or for those who still do not grasp this concept – my last day of being 48 years old.

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There seems to be an element of stupidity that is running rampant with just a few people walking dogs.  If I thought drivers on the road were getting worse (from a previous post), some dog walkers are demonstrating a terrific lack of responsibility, and a horrible lack of respect for people and property.

I have a list of strictures for walking my own dogs:

1. Thou shalt do the big potty before leaving our property.
2. Thou shalt not walk into other people’s yards; stay on the sidewalk, or by Dad while walking in the street.
3. Thou shalt only hike on telephone poles and/or trees; flowers/plants, either in the park(s) or other people’s property is not permitted.
4. Thou shalt be aware of others walking, and keep a distance (move over to the easement, or even across the street) unless they make an advance to stop and talk; not everyone likes dogs, and some people are afraid.
5. Thou shalt play give and take with other dogs and owners coming our way; some mornings the regular fellow walkers and us take turns on who moves over, or holds.
6. Thou shalt always be in control of our pets while walking in public areas.

For the most part, there are some very friendly, responsible dog walkers who make public walks more enjoyable, and less stressful.  However, there are several in our neighborhood who really need to be addressed with the deplorable behavior – theirs, not their dogs’!

An Asian couple who lives in the apartments across from Lincoln Park has the worst lack of responsibility.  They have a very large, beautiful Siberian husky for which they exhibit no control.  Numerous times I’ve seen them walking along Shroyer Road – a terribly busy course – and their dog is actually walking in the street.  Cars, and even an RTA bus, have had to slow down, stop, or move over to the second lane.

One day, I saw them coming and filmed their dog peeing on my front hostas, doing the back kick and throwing up grass and dirt, and then coming clear up to the shrubs below my kitchen window.  I had never seen the dog come that far into my yard before, and I am glad I had my video running.  I could not believe it.

VIDEO:  http://youtu.be/5_HHRHKXCNs

Most days, our fellow dog walkers are wonderful pals and pooches; however, there are those few dog owners who need the obedience training – not their dogs.

After two extremely busy, fun-filled days with minimal sleep, I figured I would sleep until 8:00 AM. I even left the dogs downstairs so they would not wake me. However, 5:50 AM found me wide awake. By 6:15 AM, Navi and Chief were whining at the kitchen gate.

There is no prescribed schedule for my Sunday mornings and early afternoon. By 3 PM, I am teaching my senior students who are geared toward music education or music theatre as a career. Thus begins my teaching week, and a full round of breakfasts and lunches with friends to celebrate the birthday week.

It is now 7:41 AM, and the two furry natives are beginning to get a bit restless. I am sure they are eager to hear the little jingle sound as their leashes are pulled from the hook.

I don’t know which is more consistent; my body refusing to allow me more sleep on a free weekend morning, or the dogs always eager to start the day.

I am exhilarated, but a tad bit sad that the past two days have finally come to an end. I had been eager for each event for well over a month, and now that they’ve passed, I wish they were each still in the future.

Saturday morning I hit the Oakwood farmers’ market before leaving town at 9:30 AM. I had an easy drive for 90 minutes, though still managed to arrive 20 minutes later than anticipated.

I met up with my friend, and we strolled through the nearby college campus to the downtown street fair. The local university was hosting parents’ weekend so the place was bursting with excited parents, most of whom were easily identified by university logo T-shirts stating they were a proud parent.

We lunched at a local cafe, and caught the matinee of Brian Friel’s, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, a play I’ve waited to see for nearly 20 years. And, it was worth the wait.  The company did a remarkable job with this tender production.

Following the production, there was a tremendous amount of walking and talking, sharing, laughing, aharing our mutual passion for each of our careers, as well as our deeply shared love for music and theater, and simply enjoying the beautiful day in one another’s company.

Supper was an absolutely delicious, authentic Mexican meal in a local eatery.

As the salmon-colored rim settled to the west, silhouetting the distant landscape, eight hours of an absolutely perfect day with my friend came to an end.  When I returned home, I found something my friend had written: “Today went by much too quickly.  Anyone have a lead on a pocket universe where time stands still?”

Thus, two eagerly awaited days – flying to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and spending an entire day out of town with a dear friend – have come, and gone.  There will be more thrilling days as I proceed with my Live Out Loud list, but I doubt they shall compare to this weekend.

Since I teach in the late afternoons and early evenings I am immune from rush-hour traffic. I also do not fight early-morning school and work traffic. Friday morning, yesterday, I experienced both.

Friday morning, it took me nearly 7 minutes to pull out of my driveway due to the school traffic. I had allotted myself one hour to get to the Dayton – Wright Brothers Airport in Springboro, but actually got there with about 45 minutes to spare.

Of course, this is typical of me. My grandfather was very obsessive about not being late. Not only did I inherit much of his genetic makeup, but also this one particular trait. And, it is a good trait to have.

When we returned from Pennsylvania a little after 5 PM, a large storm was about 10 to 15 minutes out. As I prepared to pull out onto 741 and head north, I was greeted by a long procession of speeding, aggressive traffic. It was eerily similar to driving in downtown New York City. And how I do miss those days!

I could not believe the traffic’s impatience, aggression, ferocity, and complete disregard of the speed limit. Trying to get into the turn lanes in the Austin Pike area was like trying to fight your way out of Midway or Vietnam. You needed guts, determination, and heavy artillery.

Learning how to drive through the Indiana countryside was a piece of cake. I was raised in an era where there was far more civility on the road. There was the occasional bird getting flipped, a few cuss words here and there, but nothing like the road rage I witness as an adult.

People appear to be in a tremendous hurry these days. And with this intense rush comes an intense utter disregard for the safety of fellow drivers on the road. I can never understand, nor appreciate, those who feel the need to wedge themselves in front of me when there is plenty of room behind me. Most often it seems to be when there are just a few feet between me and the car before me.

For so many drivers, turn signals, or directional lights – as we called them when I was a kid – seem to be a thing of the past. I do not care how antiquated society deems turn signals; I will always use them. I even use them in the parking lot at Kroger or other stores. After all, the law that specify that they are to be used whenever we are preparing to move in a different direction.

I feel fortunate that my driving needs are minimal. I do thoroughly love taking long drives, such as this one today; however, I tend to take the back roads or scenic routes so that I may enjoy the trip all the more. I so love what alternate routes often yield with scenery that you simply do not get on interstate.

Happy and safe driving to all.

This post will fall short of conveying what I hope to say – the words for capturing my experiences are just not on my palate.

Today, September 20, 2013, my LIVE OUT LOUD list commenced!  And, I knocked off two birds with one stone: flying in a small aircraft, and visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s magnificent, Fallingwater, thanks to the kindness and generosity of two friends, Kevin & Shelly Houser.

At 8:30 AM, Kevin and I were 3000 feet in the air heading toward Springfield’s airport to pick up his sister-in-law, and my good friend, Becky Brunsman.  At 10:10 AM, and having flown at an altitude of 9000-10,000 feet, the four-seater Cirrus Turbo landed at an airport about 12 miles from Fallingwater.

The rolling hills that led to the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania were refreshing to see after the monotonously flat landscape of Ohio.  The scenic drive through lush forests and hills were much like driving through The Smokey Mountains.

Fallingwater… unimaginable!  Frank Lloyd Wright is a Michelangelo of architecture, and his seldom unwavering control gave birth to one of the most beautiful, fascinating things I’ve ever seen. The details to every item reminded me of a good theatre director with a vision and concept.  This is a place I definitely wish to visit, again.

As we passed through Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, nestled around the Youghiogheny River, we stopped for lunch at the Ohiopyle House Cafe where the three of us had the most delicious wraps!  Our sodas were brought out in quart Mason jars!  Loved it!

By 2:30 PM we were loaded back into the plane and leaving the rolling beauty of Pennsylvania.

The clouds were especially magnificent on our return trip, and I found myself thinking more and more of Wilbur and Orville Wright, and Katharine.  In the musical I am writing with Gail Whipple and Leslie Merry, Katharine sings, “Touch The Sky.”  Although Gail’s lyrics escaped me – even the ones I wrote for the chorus – the melody continually rewinding in my head was apt accompaniment.

After landing at Springfield to return Becky to her car, and to refuel, Kevin and I aimed toward Springboro’s Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, just missing a storm front within 15 minutes.  I loved identifying Ankeney Middle School, The Greene, Centerville High School and stadium, McCutcheon Music, and even some homes of friends.

I am so grateful to Kevin and Shelly for bringing to life two of my LIVE OUT LOUD items.  This was one heck of a magnificent day I shall never forget!

For the past 23 years I’ve thoroughly, even ecsatatically enjoyed every production (even the student directed productions) at a local university.  This evening, I feel as though I attended a fairly mediocre high school production of the classic comedy, HARVEY.

There were numerous times throughout the play where I wondered if characterization had even been addressed with the fine, capable actors this school magnificently collects. More often than not, it seemed as though the actors were simply mugging caricatures of various media comedians, or re-creating some of their favorite roles from high school.  Had the actors been afforded stronger leadership from the directing chair, their character choices would have been much, much closer to target.

Two fine actors I’ve enjoyed in previous productions played the roles of Elwood P. Dowd and Dr. Sanderson with far more accuracy, and believably, than their cohorts.  Elwood was cute, sometimes smug, and offered a more energetic approach than the oft repeated, less-energetic Jimmy Stewart portrayal.  Dr. Sanderson was polished, and never deviated into the campy and absurd.

Dr. Chumley was nothing more than an Orval Redenbacher knockoff, and came off even less believable.  Elwood’s sister, Veta, seemed more suited to the role during the first act, but somehow, during the second act, became Florence from the television sit-com, THE JEFFERSONS. Veta’s daughter, Myrtle, had a voice that was too brassy, sometimes abrasive, that the diction was unintelligible.  To match this, the characterization was mostly misplaced.

In a short while, Mr. Wilson’s (the orderly at the mental facility) way, way over the top antics and shouting became a tsunami of angst. The nurse was hot and cold, but mostly leaned more toward the hot side when paired with Elwood or Sanderson.

It seemed as though Dr. Chumley’s wife and the cabdriver did not even receive a nod from the director. It was a grand feast of overacting, supplied with gestures and staged gimmicks from mediocre high school productions.

I am still proud of the work the actors attempted.  They were swinging hard, but the coach neglected to hand them a bat.

And at the end, everyone around me commented on the fact that Harvey did not receive a bow.

While discussing the perils of romance with a younger friend, I was reminded of a wonderful song I sang my senior year for the very classy, Broadway-style Elwood High School Variety Show.

Over the years, Walter Marks’ music and lyrics have always served as a guideline for how I wish to approach life, and, live it. I forwarded the lyrics to my friend, hoping they can provide some sort if answers to a few of life’s mysteries.

“I Gotta Be Me”
Words & Music by Walter Marks
From the musical, GOLDEN RAINBOW

Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be
I can’t be right for somebody else
If I’m not right for me
I gotta be free, I just gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I gotta be me

What an incredible night!

Surprises all around.

The show, “Becky’s New Car,” is absolutely, and without a doubt, a freaking incredible piece of theater.

I was not expecting, whatsoever, to settle into my seat and be blown away by such a creative, magnificent production. I don’t know if I was laughing so hard at times because the lines were funny, or because I saw segments of my own life unfolding before me.

The assembled cast was absolutely incredible, believable, and tremendously 3-D. And Steven Dietz script seemed to fade into the background as these wonderful actors brought us along on this often times, funny, yet very real and deep journey.

What I am trying to say, very poorly, is: ignore everything I’ve written, and just go see the damn show.

Get on this website and order your tickets now! http://www.humanracetheatre.org/

From the blog of my friend, Cindy, who has adopted older children multiple times. This lady is a gem!

Big Mama Hollers

Posted: 19 Sep 2013 04:48 AM PDT

Tomorrow, Friday, I will be flying in a small plane to visit Frank Loyd Wright’s, Fallingwater. Later that evening, I will attend Wright State University theater department’s production, Harvey. Saturday morning I will leave Dayton to spend the day with a good friend, and attend the theater production of the show I’ve wanted to see for many years.

This morning, I thought I would already set my fun weekend into motion by watching my newly received video, Jesus Christ Superstar – the 2012 Arena Tour.

A fantastic production.

I’m not a big fan of the early 70s movie of this musical, but I do like the one that was taped in 2001, starring Glenn Carter is Christ, and Jerome Praden as Judas. In this production, the Pharisees and Jewish priests are portrayed like a bike gang, wearing black leather. Very intense.

Each time I watch Jesus Christ Superstar, or listen to a recording, I am always reminded of what great young talents Andrew Lloyd Webber and Timothy Rice were. It’s been fascinating to realizevhow they’ve matured as artists, and how their work has grown these past 45 years.

As human beings, it is so easy for us to become conditioned to societal demands. Any attempt to undo what is considered normal by society standards often requires miraculous give-and-take as we undergo change. However, sometimes old dogs can learn new tricks.

Now that Sunday is technically the first day of my work week, Wednesday and Thursday have become my Thursday and Friday. I’ve come to enjoy having an alternative schedule for the week. Sunday afternoons and evenings were always my least favorite day because the weekend was winding down. Now, Sundays are revving up the new week.

One thing I’ve been trying to do with the start of this new schedule is to accomplish a little bit of house or yard work each day rather than allowing it to pile up to the point it consumes an entire day or at least a large part of a day.

And, I’ve stuck to my guns about not doing any house or yard work on my days off. Those days have become strictly my own days for doing what ever I please.

An old dog can be taught a new trick, and love it.

I still feel I am not hitting the mark each day.  Perhaps it is the seasonal transition that is creating a shift, or the doggone sinus garbage that prefers to annoy me.

It is 9:38 AM and I just now finished breakfast.  Our walk commenced at 8:15 AM – 90 minutes past the time we normally walk.

I have been making fruit smoothies all summer – banana, strawberries, blueberry yogurt, a diet citrus drink, and ice.  Yesterday, I added juice from two small lemons.  Nice touch.  I am hoping the additional Vitamin C will aide in the battle of the sinuses.

The first four days of this week will be packed with teaching: 13 Monday, 16 Tuesday, 12 Wednesday, 15 Thursday; Sundays, I teach my 9 older students who are preparing for careers in music or music theatre.  This is a full, full week.

Friday morning, we will fly out of Dayton’s Wright Brothers’ Airport, heading east toward Mill Run, Pennsylvania to visit Fallingwater.  Some family friends are flying me in their private plane to visit one of the places I’ve always wanted to visit, and an item on my LIVE OUT LOUD list.  Thus, five days early, I shall commence with two of forty-nine items to complete within the year: flying in a small plane, and visiting Fallingwater.

We will return home early to mid-afternoon (which blows my mind we will fly there and back within a few hours!), and I will attend Wright State University’s production, HARVEY.

Saturday morning, I will hit the road around 9:30 AM to spend the day with a dear friend.  We plan to attend a local festival, lunch, and attend a matinee of playwright Brian Friel’s, DANCING AT LUGHNASA.  I so wanted to see this production when the Human Race Theatre produced it here in Dayton in the mid-1990’s.  So, I am eager for Saturday to arrive, too.

I have a ton of items to accomplish this week, and I am hoping I can rev up!

After returning from the cross country meet, I quickly downloaded photographs, and got ready for the remainder of the evening.

Doug Malcolm arrived with a friend from Cedarville University, and we proceeded to Lincoln Park to take Doug’s head shots (for professional theatre) and his senior year. The fountains’ area were packed with Fairmont homecoming folks taking photographs.

After a quick dinner at Panera Bread, we ventured on to Centerville High School to see MOON OVER BUFFALO.

Another fantastic job by this incredible cast of young adults!

Saturday morning I ventured about 18 miles north to Clayton, Ohio to watch the Alliance cross country meet where 15-17 of my students were participating.  3.5 hours of standing in the hot sun with my camera, and a few folks with whom to chat. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and would like to attend another.

The students worked hard, and two – freshman, Matt Gregson and junior, Taylor Davis – received second and fifth place for Beavercreek High School.

Congrats to all my students, and a super congratulations to all the hard working runners who kept going to the very end.

Tonight, I was fortunate to see my third fantastic production of Ken Ludwig’s, MOON OVER BUFFALO.  I first saw this hilarious comedy in New York, starring the incomparable, Carol Burnette in the mid-1990’s.  The second production was at Northern Kentucky University in the mid-1990’s. 

My third production was by another class act company, The Centerville High School Theatre program.  

The minute you walk into the lobby there is an air of professionalism, and this professionalism carries one into the auditorium, through the production, and back to the lobby when the cast greets the audience, not in costume, but in dress attire. 

This cast is incredible with the timing in this very physical comedy, and I found myself howling throughout.  Junior Justin Matthews’ incredible energy is amazing, and brings hints of Matthew Broderick to his character, making George Hay all the more endearing. Justin was surrounded by equally strong, talented cast mates that made this one heck of a solid show. 

I am returning to the final production, Saturday evening, with some friends.

Thank you, CHS Theatre!  

All week long I’ve not been on my mark. I faddle sluggishness and a bit of fatigue. Motivation has been a terrible struggle. My sleep patterns, though consistent with times of going to sleep and waking, have only differed in what happens in between. Some nights or more restless, and some nights are filled with crazy, non-disturbing dreams.

Right now, I am downtown Dayton waiting to meet a friend for lunch. I am sure that once Doug and I start laughing, my energy will return in full force.

I am on the brink of a fairly busy weekend, and I’m hoping to read of my energy so that I may enjoy it.

Today I just felt off-kilter.  Everything seemed to move along as expected, but I just could not find the button to give my mind clarity, and my body energy.  Everything just seemed off track.

While I was working from my bedroom, I watched an exceptional Netflix documentary, THE BOYS: THE SHERMAN BROTHERS’ STORY.  These were two remarkable brothers who gave us a plethora of film scores (CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, MARY POPPINS, JUNGLE BOOK, etc) and a ton of individual hits.  I ended up starting the documentary over to listen to it again.

Lessons ran smoothly from 2:00 PM – 9:10 PM despite my struggle to maintain alertness.  Some really great progress with several students.

The walk, tonight at 9:15 PM, was actually pleasant.  It is still 80-degrees, but it was not hateful outside.  In fact, I really didn’t even break a sweat.

Dinner is out of the oven, and I am finally sitting down to eat at 10:15 PM.

Here’s to a better tomorrow (although, this was no a bad day, at all).

September 25th is nearing, and I am still eleven items short for my LIVE OUT LOUD (LOL) list.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share!

There seems to be a huge difference the way we address things.  I almost typed: another new week.  It had the sense of complaining.  When I typed: starting a new week, that sounded far more positive!

Saturday was a whirlwind.

Sunday was a mini-whirlwind with some surprises.

• 7:15 AM  Walk with the dogs
• 8:30 AM  Worked on musical
• 10:30 AM  Surprised by two former students who stopped and coaxed me into a long hike/picnic through Sugarcreek Reserve
• 2:00 PM  lunch and a quick shower
• 3:00-7:45 PM  Taught tlessons to my college students assigned to me
• 7:45-8:30 PM  Met friends, David & Mary, and their pooch, Malcolm, to go for a neighborhood walk
• 9:00 PM  supper with fresh veggies and worked on musical until 10:30 PM

I woke this morning, and just did not wish to get out of bed.  We started our walk at 6:45 AM, and upon our return, I checked the mailbox – despite knowing the postal carrier does not deliver so earlier – and found a delightful, touching surprise.  Joanie Pollock had made up a beautiful album filled with Flyer’s pictures through the years!  The kids and I sat on the front steps to look through the album together.  A beautiful way to start this new week!

THANK YOU, JOANIE!

Finally fell asleep by 2:00 AM.

Saturday was a whirlwind of activity:

• 7:15 AM  walk with dogs
• 9:15 AM – 11:00 AM  hike through Grant Nature Park
• 11:30 AM  met friends: Diane Bently, Pat Hill & her grandsons at Oakwood Farmers’ market
• 1:00 PM  worked on musical
• 5:00 PM  met Aaron Jacobs for supper at The Pub at The Greene
• 7:15 PM  walked the dogs while chatting on the phone with a great friend
• 8:30 PM  ran to Kroger and Meijer
• 10:30 PM  home with groceries put away
• 2:00 AM  went to sleep after working on the musical, reading a book on former presidents out of office, and enjoying time with Navi and Chief

Sunday morning’s walk was enjoyable and the weather gorgeous.  The projected high is 83-degrees, and we are already at 77-degrees.

A majority of the day will be spent at the computer, writing.

I’ve heard people mention Grant nature park ever since I moved here in 1990. However, today, 23 years later, I am finally at the park. The funny thing is, I’ve always lived within several miles of the park.

The park was once part of one of the largest properties in South Dayton, belonging to Richard Grant. Mr. Grant founded Reynolds & Reynolds Company, and lent his hand to technology by inventing the Grant light: the little light that comes on when you open your refrigerator or car door.

I have a close association with the Grant family having served as director of music at Normandy United Methodist Church in the mid to late 90s.

It’s a beautiful early September morning, and the temperature is riding in the low to mid 70s. I’ve already logged 2.6 miles with the dogs earlier this morning, and have already logged 1.5 miles at the park.

This is a nice respite from writing and researching all week long. However, Grant Park is already recharging the endorphins, and getting me all psyched about writing the minute I get home.