Hallelujah

I've always been a little behind the times. I know I've heard this tune because it has been used in a bunch of television programs. There have also been a bunch of covers of this song as well. This one is especially nice.

Wow is right!

How do you compete with this? Yes it is a progressive state that has been in the Obama column for a long time. But what other candidate this year has come close to this kind of a turnout? 65,000 people - and another 15,000 who couldn't get into the park!. Read the full article from the New York Daily News.

The Play's the thing

Yesterday my partner and I went to Studio Theatre to see History Boys. It is an award-winning play by Alan Bennet - performed in London and around the world. And a film was made with the original cast.

The production we saw was local to DC and we have seen Floyd King who plays Hector, and Tana Hicken who played Tottie in many plays at Studio, Arena Stage, the Shakespeare Theatre among others.

At one point I was struck by how different the experience of seeing a live production is from seeing even a really good film. The empathy with the actors - flesh and blood actors sharing the same physical, intimate space - is so different from watching a movie.

It is very hard for screen actors to draw us into the moment - and if we're watching the movie at home where so many things can distract us - it becomes even harder.

The play is the thing - and it was outstanding!

Project Runway for the Polygamist Sect

Okay - I only saw part of one episode of Project Runway - so I at least know who Christian Siriano and Tim Gunn are. But this is too funny.

Parsing Clinton

I was just reading this article from the Time Magazine website. And it quotes Senator Clinton from her victory speech in Indiana from Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

I thought she said - Full speed ahead, on to the White House. But they have it as Full speed ahead, onto the White House. Maybe that is her secrety strategy. She's not planning to win the nomination or the election - she's planning to climb the building and stake her claim from the rooftop.

Now that I'd like to see!

Time for an aria

'Nuf said?

Fountain of youth - my virtual age - 28.3

Well no wonder I feel young and still think of myself as being around 25. According to this Life Expectancy Calculator my virtual age is 28.3 -- not bad for someone who is just past 49.5!

There are a whole series of questions about health and lifestyle. According to that I should live to be 96.7 years old! I was hoping for 107 - but if I were to switch to a fat-free diet I'd probably make it.

Why 107 you ask? Because in 2063, the State of West Virginia will celebrate its Bicentennial and I'd like to be a part of that in my hometown - maybe as the oldest person there - that would be really cool!

Or I could make it till 2076 for my 100 year high school reunion - and the nation's Tricentennial. But that might be pushing things. Hope I can still play in the band!

Looks like we made it!

I am thrilled and relieved that it looks like Senator Obama will be getting the nomination for the Democratic Party. I have never felt this strongly about a candidate - and I've been voting since Jimmy Carter's first run in 1976!

Taking pictures

Okay - I know that Facebook and the new world of life online demands photos, but I'm more circumspect about taking photographs.

In 2002 I travelled to Australia with a group. There was discussion about how much film people were taking. I mentioned I had 7 rolls of film. Two of the women laughed and and said, "Amateur."

During the course of my travels I may have used 3 rolls of film. I had my camera with me most of the time, but there really wasn't a lot that I wanted to capture on film. I have a pretty good opinion of my skills as a photographer and pretty much all of my photos were worth keeping.

My Dad was a photographer who had a very good sense about how to frame a shot. He got some great photos and I learned a lot from looking at his photographs.

On a trip to France with some friends we stopped for lunch and there was a pretty church nearby (that applies to most any spot in France). One friend scoped out his photograph and took his picture. And I changed my perspective a little and took my photo and as soon as he saw what I did he said, "That's the photo I wanted to take."

Okay - so I added that just amaze my readers about what a clever guy I am! But in truth, as much as I like photographs, I don't always enjoy the distraction caused by taking them. Not every moment in life needs to be a Kodak Moment. Sometimes it is enough to just be there.

Politics is a horserace

On Saturday a friend from the band and her husband hosted their annual Kentucky Derby Day party. It sounded like fun - I had a hat to wear and there would be yummy food to eat. I placed a modest bet on a horse Gayego - based on name. Later I looked a the odds.

I didn't know much about the line up for the Derby except that there was one filly in the field - Eight Belles. Apparently Sen. Hillary Clinton made much ado about the one filly in the race and was placing her bet on that horse.

Interestingly - the filly came in second to... Big Brown. So not only did the filly come in second, sadly it was injured and had to be euthanized. I do feel sorry about the horse. But as an analogy, I hope it holds up.

Middle Name Meme

I saw this on a blot - Let me Tell you all about it, Sweetie and I thought it was fun

Use the first letter of your middle name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things…nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person you took this from had the same first initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Middle name letter: E
Famous artist/band/musician: Elton John
Four-letter word: Edgy
U.S. state: Edward Island, Prince (not a US State, I know...)
Boy name: Edgar
Girl name: Ethelreda (St. - see Ely Cathedral)
Animal: Egret
Something in the kitchen: Electric skillet
Reason for being late: Euphoria
Body part: – Eyes
Drink: Egg cream
Something you shout: Egad!
Something you eat: Eggs Benedict